Immm Baaaaaackkkk! I know its been a while and for that I am sorry. However, I do have good news and the news is: I am done with school for the semester! Woo Hoo! Its time for Christmas break and I will have plenty of free time to write more chapters so good news there! Anyway heres the new chapter. I own nothing but Solarstorm.

It took a full two days, but I finally feel up to 100% again. The trip to the mines left me damaged and in quite a bit of pain. I had lost a lot of energon, but thankfully we had some extra energon to fix me up.

Ratchet was less than happy about the condition that I returned to base in. Luckily, he did'nt hit me with his wrench. Actually, I think he's waiting until he is sure Im not hurting anymore so he doesn't have to fix me up anymore then he has to.

I'm just glad that Bulkhead was there to help me back to base. Speaking of which, I need to make sure I thank him again. Not just for helping me back in, but for staying with me.

I'm not sure why but my spark seemed to flutter that day and I'm still trying to figure it out. I'm not real sure what to think of Bulkhead at the moment. He's my friend, don't get me wrong, but it just feels different now. I catch myself staring at him from across the room. I even catch him starring back with the softest smiles I have ever been given. I'm not real sure what's different but I am making it a goal to find out.

At the moment Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and myself were investigating something that Ratchet had picked up. Optimus and Arcee were off investigating while Bulk, Bee, and myself were searching elsewhere. We were currently searching around the half of the Harbinger, an old decepticon ship, when we come across something laying in the hall. We walk closer and were shocked at what we see. It was Starscream and he was completely tied with Arachnids web. We all look curiously at each other before we walk closer.

At the sound of our footsteps Starscream looks up and is worried about who he sees. "Autobots! What are you doing here?" Starscream whines.

"We could ask you the same thing." Bulkhead growls while activating his weapon.

"W-w-wait don't shoot!" Starscream screeches.

"Give us one reason." Bee beeps angrily.

"You wouldn't shoot a defenseless being would you?" Starscream asks.

Bulkheads reply is him powering up his wreaking ball even more and preparing to smash it against his helm until-

I grab his arm and say, "Bulkhead wait!"

He pauses and asks, "What? We all know he deserves nothing less."

"Look he's defenseless. He cant go anywhere, and more importantly your better than that." I reply.

Starscream grins and says,"Thank you, you marvelous femme!"

I turn to him and say, "Dont thank me just yet. I think it would be best to take you to Optimus."

His grin immediately vanishes as he says, "But I'm of no threat to you so what's the point."

"Your still the enemy." I reply with a glare. I then turn to Bulkhead and ask, "Mind getting him up?"

He just nods and pulls Starscream to his feet and making him walk in front of us, him complaining the whole time.

It doesn't take us long to make it outside and when we do we walk straight towards Arcee and Optimus.

"Move it!" Bulkhead commands.

"Urg no need to use force." Starscream complains. He is then shoved to his knees and continues, " I'll tell you everything you need to know."

"Is that right and what do you want in return?" Bulkhead asks with a glare.

"I want to be on your side." Starscream replies pitifully to Optimus.

Bulkhead laughs and says, "On our side? Yeah right and I've been lobbing with the fallen."

"You wouldn't betray the decepticons." Arcee states.

"Wouldn't I? What have they done for me lately? Besides humiliate me, spy on me, demote me. Megatron tried to extinguish my spark in cold blood and all but replaced me with that traitorous wretch Arachnid. She abandoned me and left me for scrap, so why not rat them out?" Starscream replies.

All of us except for Bee walk off to discuss this.

I look to Optimus and say, "He's telling the truth about Megatron trying to scrap him. I saw it with my own eyes."

Bulkhead then says, "Your not saying you actually trust Starscream?"

"Trust him? Never, but this may be the one time our objectives align." I reply.

"Your right to be worried Bulkhead but I agree with Solarstorm." Optimus says to him.

Once we get back to Starscream the web is removed but we quickly put cuffs to his wrists and wings. We then put him into Optimus' trailer. Optimus then tells us to transform and make our way to the other half of the Harbinger.

Optimus stops when we get there and transforms, us following suit.

"What do you know," Bulkhead states while looking at the archway.

"It could still be a trap." Arcee adds.

Optimus walks up and says, "Starscreams loyalty to Megatron has always been questionable. If he has truly split himself from the decepticons our prisoners knowledge of their agendas could make a valuable allie."

"You don't mean permanently? As in keys to the base and everything?" Bulkhead asks.

"However unlikely that scenario, every sentinent being deserves a chance of redemption." Optimus replies.

"Even bot killers? Like Arachnid?" Arcee asks angrily.

"Without that hope we may never achieve lasting peace." Optimus says to her.

We walk to the back of the trailer where Bulkhead opens it and pulls Starscream out saying, "Rise and Shine Screamy."

"We're here. Wheres the ship?" Arcee asks.

Starscream looks up and says, "Its through the arch among the stones."

Optimus looks back at it and then back at us and says, "Bulkhead, Bumblebee your with me. Arcee and Solarstorm remain with our prisoner." With that said he starts walking off with Bumblebee and Bulkhead in tow.

I was in no way shape or form happy about having to stay with Starscream, but who am I to question Optimus.

Arcee was even less excitied about having to watch him as well and she made sure to voice her opinion. "Optimus please." He turns back to look at her as she continues, "For Tailgate."

"Your desire to avenge Tailgate will only continue to cloud your judgement." He says to her and then turns back around and walks off.

I look at her and say, " He's right you know besides Its only for a little while, so dont worry about it."

She walks over to me and says, " I dont need a lecture."

I slightly glare and say, "I wasnt giving you one. No need to bite my head off."

She sighs and says, "I'm sorry. I've...just been on edge lately."

"I can tell, but your forgiven." I say while giving her a comforting smile.

We then hear Starscream making noises and he says, "Is the clamp really necessary? I promise not to fly away. It's really giving me a crick."

Arcee then walks up to him and says, "I can shove you back in the trailor." His response is sagging his shoulders.

I walk up to the pair and tell ask Starscream, "So what were you and Arachnid doing at that old ship anyway?"

He looks up and says, "It was intended that no one know about it."

I glare and say, "You are a prisoner of the autobots at the moment and it would be in your best interest to tell me what you were doing there and you better make sure its the truth.''

He sighs and says, "It was a weapon that Megatron wanted. Dont ask me what it is because he didn't elaborate."

"Now was that so hard." I reply. I then turn to Arcee and say, "If its something that Megatron sent his second in command to get then it must do some damage."

"Maybe. Guess we will have to find out." She then begins to pace in front of Starscream while I lean against the trailor.

Starscream watches her pace and says, "I'm not really so bad you know. Now Megatron, he's the evil one."

Arcee stops her pacing and says, "Tell it to someone who cares.''

"Like whom Arachnid? What I wouldn't do to get my hands around her wretched throat." He replies.

"So we can agree on one thing." Arcee states.

Suddenly I start to get a bad feeling that something is going on so I turn to Arcee and say, "Hey Cee I'm going to check something out. Make sure everything is okay."

"Optimus told us to stay." She replies.

"I'll be back before he does." I reply. I then turn and walk in the direction that the others went, not knowing what would happen when I left. I took a few minutes to search around the area and make sure everything is alright. Truth be told I felt like something is wrong, but I just dont know what. I spent some more time just checking the area when I decided to head back.

Once I get close enough back to the trailor, I hear the sound of metal hitting metal. I start running back to where Arcee and Starscream were and along the way I see Bumblebee just up ahead. I run up to him and say,"Bumblebee? What are you doing here?"

He dosent answer but instead looks at something in front of him and I follow his gaze and see Arcee standing over Starscream with her arm blade ready. It is shocking to say the least, I mean what reason does she have to suddenly attack him?

As if sensing she has company she looks up and see Bumblebee and I standing not to far away. She retracts her arm blade and stumbles off Starscream and its only then when I notice she had a wound on her side. "Arcee!" I yell while running to her with Bee in tow. We slide down the hill and make our way to her.

Once we reach her I check her side so I can see what kind of damage she has had done. Upon looking at it and find that they are claw marks...Starscreams claws. What happened while I was gone? I contact base and say, "Ratchet we need a bridge." Not long after a groundbridge appears and Bee and I quickly help her back to base.

When we walk in I see Optimus and Bulkhead frozen and Ratchet working on some stick looking thing. I turn to Bee confused and he just beeps saying later.

We get Arcee over to the medical berth and wait for Ratchet. He fixes the staff and points it at Optimus and Bulkhead and they start moving again. Oh it was some kind of immobilizer. I get it.

Ratchet holds it up and says, "The damage looked bad but it was a snap to repair allowing us to reverse its affect on you. You should regain your full range of motion before too long."

"And Arcee?" Optimus asks.

"She rather resilient, for a two wheeler." Ratchet replies.

We all look back at her and she looks back with much sadness.

Optimus walks up to her and says, "It is the external wounds which heal the quickest."

"I thought settling scores would help me to move on, but instead I chased away our chances of winning this war anytime soon." She replies.

"Wisdom cannot be granted Arcee, it must be earned. Sometimes at a cost." Optimus replies to her.

She just looks down in defeat.

I walk up to Arcee and say, "Arcee what exactly happened?"

"I cant tell you." She replies.

I look shocked and say, "What do you mean you cant tell me? Why?"

"Because if I tell you, it will only open up old wounds for you." She replies.

I still looked confused and say, "Old wounds? Arcee what did he say?"

She suddenly looks mad and says, "Why cant you just let it go. Just believe me when I say I shouldn't tell you."

Now I get mad and say, "Its obviously bothering you, and there is no reason for you to get mad at me when Im not the one who got your gears in a twist."

"You two that is enough!" Optimus commands in a stern voice. "Now Arcee I realize that you are upset but that is no reason to raise your voice to a fellow autobot who is simply concerned."

Arcee glares and says, "I'm trying to keep this from her for a reason. I dont want her to know what Starscream did to Cliffjumper."

"Cliff? What about Cliff?" I demand.

Arcee turns to me and says, "Storm...Starscream killed Cliffjumper."

I couldn't say anything. I felt numb and she was right, this had opened up an old wound. I had Cliffjumpers murderer right in front of me and I didn't even know it.

"Solarstorm?" Optimus questions me with concern lacing his voice.

However, I dont hear him. I quickly transform into my alt mode and speed out of base at full speed. I drive out into the desert with no care as to where I was heading. I felt myself about to break down back at base and I didn't want the others to see.

After about an hour I hear my com link go off with all kinds of messages. However, I just shut my com link off and keep driving. I dont want any words of encouragement and comfort because it wont do any good at the moment. Once I get tired I transform back into bi-pedal mode and walk.

I couldnt believe that Starscream was the one who took my brothers life. I knew it was a con that did it, but I couldnt believe that the one who did was the one standing in front of me today. I was so angry, so hurt, so broken that I just let out one big long scream. Tears of anger roll down my faceplates as I just sit on the ground.

I lost track of how long I was out there and eventually feel into recharge. When I came to I could feel myself being carried by someone. I open my optics a bit to see myself being carried by Bulkhead. "Bulkhead?" I say.

He looks down at me and say, "Hey Storm."

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm taking you back to base. You've been gone for hours. Gave everyone back at base quite a scare." He replied.

I look down sheepishly and say, ''I'm sorry. I just needed some time to myself and must have fallen into recharge."

He looks down at me and says, "Why did you turn off your com link? What if something happened and we needed to get ahold of you?"

"I'm sorry." I reply, not being able to say anything else.

"Dont worry about it. Now lets get back to base." He says. He then activates his com link and says, "Ratchet I got her. We need a bridge." He walks towards the bridge with me in his arms. As he is walking he says, "Dont you ever go out like that again. Especially with your com link off."

I look up at him and say, "I just needed to get away and have some time to myself."

Before he can reply he is interrupted by Ratchet running towards us once we are back in base. "Dont you dare pull another stunt like that again femme. You had everyone worried. What if there was a decepticon and you didnt know about it? You could have been killed before we could even get there. That was an incredably ignorant move and if you do that again I will weld your aft to the med bays ceiling."

I smile at him seeing the undertone of worry and concern in his little rant. "I wont Ratchet and I'm sorry to have worried everyone."

He just grumbles and walks off while muttering light insults about me.

Optimus then walks forward and says, "Solarstorm I realize that the recent news you recieved came as a surprise, but that was still no reason to run out of the base without your com link activated. If something were to happen here or with you, it would have been to late to offer aid."

"I realize that Optimus and I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that but I just needed to get out for a bit. You know clear my head. I wont do it again." I say to him.

He nods, looks to Bulkhead and says, "Bulkhead will you please take Solarstorm to her quarters so she may rest?"

Bulkhead nods and says, "You got it." He then walks, with me still in his arms, back to my room. He gets to my room and punches in the access code I give him and walks into the room. He then places me on my berth and stands beside it.

I look at him and say, "Thank you Bulkhead."

He leans his forehead down so hes touching mine as he gazes softly into my optics. "I meant what I said earlier. Dont you ever scare me like that again."

I look into his optics and say, "I didn't mean to scare anyone. I just...needed to be by myself."

"Come find me if you ever feel the need to go off like that again. I can lend an audio receptor if you need someone to talk to and I get to know that your safe." He says.

"Resonable request Bulkhead. However, you dont have to worry about me. I can take care of myself." I reply to him.

His gaze softens more as he says, "I know that Stormy, but if anything were to ever happen to you...I dont know what I'd do."

I start to sense a double meaning to his words, and its something he isn't telling me. "Bulkhead whats going on with you? You've been acting strange for a while now. Nothing bad just different."

"Solarstorm. I care about you...a lot. And when you ran off and no one could reach you...I got scared. I didn't know if you were hurt or if a con showed up and took ya. I also felt regretful because I didn't tell you what I should have a long time ago." He says.

My look softens some more as I ask, "And what would that be Bulkhead?"

He suddenly looks nervous and stutters, "Uuuh..I um..what I mean to say is I..Urg! Why is this so hard?!"

I don't know what came over me. I had this feeling in my spark that told me to just go with my gut feeling...and so I did. "Bulkhead." I gently say as I lean my head closer to his and I align my lipplates with his and then press them to his giving him a kiss.

Bulkhead was shocked to say the least. He was so shocked that he didn't respond to the kiss at all. I misunderstood his shock as him not liking it so I quickly take my lip plates off his and pull away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I then make to stand up to leave when I am suddenly pulled by my arm into a chestplate.

I go to ask him whats up when I am suddenly given a kiss by Bulkhead. I guess I was wrong about me thinking he was rejecting me. The kiss was sweet...very sweet. It was so Bulkhead, and I loved it. After a minute or two he pulls away and then pulls me into a hug.

"So what now?" Bulkhead asks.

I pull back and say, "Bulkhead I care about you too...I really do, but we're in the middle of a war and I wont be selfish and ask a mech to get attached to me when I may offline tomorrow and then he's left with a broken spark. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

He deflates a bit and says, "I know what you trying to say and I can understand where your coming from but I cant say that thats the best way to go. I mean don't you deserve to be happy."

"It's much more complicated than that Bulk. I'm not saying I don't like you because I do. All I'm saying is not now." I reply.

"Ok..ok I get it. Just so you know, any mech that tries to move in on you and Im gonna have to bash their head in." He jokes, but I know he is still being serious.

I give a light chuckle and say, "I would expect nothing less...Now I don't want to rush you off but I have had an emotionally exhausting day and I would like to get some rest."

"You do that." He replies. He then bends his head down and gives me another sweet kiss. He pulls away and says, "I'll see you tomorrow sweetspark."

I smile and say, "You bet." With that I watch him walk out my door and towards wherever. I lay down on my berth and think about how my day has gone. It started off with me finding out that Starscream killed my brother, but ended with me and Bulkead kissing.

That was without a doubt the best way to end a horrible day...Hey that rhymed!

Well there you folks have it another chapter! Bulkhead and Solarstorm finally admitted it! I hope no one hates the way I did the chapter, but I have a direction that I'm going in and thats how it worked out. Now since I am out for Christmas break I will have more free time to write so I will update better.

I would like at least a couple of reviews before I update again...Please! :D Anyway, tell me what you think and please no haters lol. Bye!