Yes I am still alive!

I'm so sorry that it has taken me so long to update. I should be able to post more regularly since i no longer work. Yay! That job was terrible.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I wasn't sure how well that last chapter would be taken so I'm real happy that you liked it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 36

Jamie Watson watched the slowly changing numbers as the elevator went down. Twenty-five levels below the ground the elevator stopped. He would have to change elevators on this level if he wanted to reach his destination. Stepping out off the metal box, Jamie made his way through the corridors searching for the next elevator.

Inserting his ID card, the camouflaged doors opened with a soft hum. He descended a further fifteen levels before finally reaching the floor he wanted. The doors opened again and he walked through the beige utilitarian corridors. His target sat in the middle of this maze of hallways.

Jamie nodded to the men he knew. They had all been part of Sector 7 longer than he had but Jamie refused to feel sorry for them. Even if he had any sympathy for them, his thoughts were already occupied with a pair of green eyes and smooth silver skin.

Finally finding the door with the appropriate name etched on the glass, Jamie entered without knocking. A man with dark hair and suspicious eyes looked up.

"Agent Watson. What are you doing here?"

Jamie closed the door quietly. "I have some concerns regarding the aliens' sir."

Agent Simmons gestured to a chair. "What concerns?"

"Concerns about security." He replied as he sat on the hard chair.

Simmons steepled his fingers on the desk. "Could there be a breach that we are not aware of?"

"I would like to say no sir, but to be sure I would like access to the personnel records of the soldiers at the alpha base."

"We have a traitor amongst out own men?" The older man scowled.

"There's only one way to be sure sir."

Simmons nodded and hammered on the keyboard infront of him. Half a minute passed before Simmons looked up again.

"Anyone specific that you suspect?"

Jamie leaned forward eagerly. "Ray Chet."

Cameron groaned as she felt something push at her shoulder. She rolled onto her back and away from whatever was interrupting her sleep. The nudging became harder and Cameron gave up her fight for a sleep-in. Her eyes opened minutely, Mr. Perfect leaned over her, his brow scrunched with a frustrated frown. A smile lifted her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Good morning."

Ratchet's frown deepened. "It's not morning anymore."

"Oh, well then, hello?"

"Hmm. Your father is here. He is in the main hall waiting for you."

Cameron shot up. "What? Why didn't you wake me earlier?"

He sighed. "I have been trying to wake you for ten minutes."

She struggled out of the blanket and threw her feet to the floor. "Quick, where are my clothes?"

Ratchet chuckled and kissed her swiftly before moving back and holding up her shirt. A blush crept up her cheeks as she took the top from him. It had been over a week since they had first bonded and she still blushed like a schoolgirl.

When she was fully dressed Cameron finally stopped and looked at Ratchet. His human projection was decked out in a very military-looking outfit. The khaki shirt fit well across his broad shoulders and the trousers hugged his long legs. Cameron's mind tallied up this new look and decided that it liked the look of him in a uniform, it was just missing one thing…

A grin spread on her face. "Does it come with a hat?"

His return smile was lascivious. "No, but it does come with handcuffs."

Cameron's blush increased. A small smile remained on her lips as she led the way to the main hangar.

Her father was pacing between Ironhide and Optimus Prime, Will Lennox and Sam sat at the table with a cup of coffee each, and Jamie Watson stood stiffly next to a beaten blue Jeep. Cameron leaned back and whispered. "You didn't say everyone else was here too."

Ratchet didn't reply. His side of their bond thrummed with tension. What was going on?

The moment her father saw her he rushed to her side, she hugged him tightly.

"Darling are you all right?" He asked, ignoring the man behind her.

"I'm fine Dad. What's going on?" She threw a look at the men around them.

Jonathan looked uncomfortable. "The government has decided to take a larger role in what happens here as your departure date gets closer."

Cameron's excitement for leaving was tempered by her unease over the government's interference.

"Ok. How can I help?"

Jamie came closer. "Just stay out of the way."

Cameron blinked. "Jamie, what's wrong?"

The man scowled and stalked forward angrily. Ratchet moved into a defensive position next to her. Jamie stopped inches away from Ratchet, his eyes dark with emotion.

"This man doesn't exist. Who are you?"

Cameron exchanged a look with Ratchet before speaking. "Of course he exists. Look." She poked Ratchet in the arm several times. He lifted a brow and she felt his amusement through their link.

Jamie's frown darkened. "Yes he is here, we can see him. But there is no Ray Chet stationed at any military base in this state."

Behind him Jonathan's face became thoughtful. At the table Sam sniggered and Will looked at him curiously.

"Then obviously I am not with your military."

"Then who are you with?"

"The military." Ratchet replied with a smirk.

Sam stuffed a fist in his mouth to stop laughing. Cameron hid her own smile behind her hand.

Will wasn't as silent with his thoughts. "Wait, Ray Chet? As in Ratchet?"

All eyes turned to the medical officer lounging against a wall. The green mech smiled indolently and crossed his arms over his chest. Cameron shared a secret smiled with him. The holoform wrapped its arms around her waist.

Will looked back to her and then to Ratchet. "I'm not getting involved." He muttered and sipped his coffee.

Jonathan turned back towards his daughter and choked on the words in his throat. The unknown man that Watson seemed to dislike had his arms wrapped around Cameron. Paternal outrage filled him until he saw the smile on her face. She wasn't looked at the man behind her but her hands were caressing his.

Jonathan's confusion wasn't helped when Agent Watson emitted a strangled cry. The man's face was a study of disbelief as his eyes darted between Cameron and the green robot.

"You…and you?" The disbelief turned to disgust.

Jonathan look to his daughter, she wore an expression of careless indifference. She shrugged at Watson. "I like shiny things and he's very shiny."

Watson sputtered and Jonathan watched as his face went red. Jonathan felt a current in the air and returned his gaze to his daughter, only to sputter and stare like Watson. Instead of a man behind her, now there was a smaller version of the green robot. Cameron's smile was no longer on the giant robot but on the one behind her.

Cameron saw her father's face go from confused to white. She quickly disengaged herself from Ratchet and moved closer to Jonathan.

"Dad, are you all right?"

"What is he?" He pointed over her shoulder at Ratchet.

Cameron threw a look back at her bonded's holoform and smiled, she was rewarded with a wave of love through their bond. She turned back to her father.

"He's a hologram, produced by Ratchet so he can be closer to my size."

"Why would he need to be your size?"

Cameron hesitated, she knew this would be difficult for her father to take in but she also knew that her family would have to be told eventually.

"We're together. He's my bonded."

"And what does that mean?"

Mr. Perfect was back and next to her again. "In human terms, Cameron is my soul-mate."

Jonathan didn't look pacified. "How long has this been going on?"

Cameron leaned back into Ratchet. "I'm not sure, it just kinda developed." Ratchet stepped infront of her protectively.

"I'm not sure that this is the best relationship for you Cameron."

"Do you think to separate us human?" Ratchet asked dangerously.

Cameron stepped between the men before the medic displayed his ultra-human strength. She turned to Sam for help and instead found Will looking at them with a strange expression, as though he had seen something bizarre.

What could she do or say to help them understand? They still thought of her as a human so her relationship with Ratchet must look a whole lot weirder to them than it did to her.

Thinking back Cameron realized that she had thought her attraction to the medic had been strange too. Dismissing their similar reactions she hoped that they would soon change their minds.

Jonathan's arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her away from Ratchet. Cameron stilled the medic with a thought and went with her father.

"For the moment I'm going to ignore what just happened, although I had hoped that you had gotten past liking inappropriate males after what happened with that Harvey boy. But apparently not. What was his name? Scott? Steven?"

"Dad, please don't get started besides Ratchet's a doctor, he's a good catch."

"Watson's a doctor." He pointed out wryly.

Cameron nodded. "Yes he is, but I love Ratchet and nothing is going to change that."

Jonathan raised a hand placatingly. "All right, I'll leave that alone, for now. The other thing I wanted to talk to you about, the reason I came here actually other than to check on you, is you leaving. I'm not sure I'm willing to part with you just yet sweetie, especially to a bunch of metal aliens."

He drew her into a hug. Cameron wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. Tears threatened to escape her eyes. In all the excitement of the Autobot base she hadn't realized how much she missed her family. She pulled back slightly.

"How Mum and Mitch?"

"They're fine. Your mother was very worried when you didn't call but I told her you contacted me."

"Thanks Dad, it's been hectic with the Decepticons and everything."

"That's no excuse for not calling you family. " He said with parental censure.

Cameron ducked her head. "Yes sir, I'll remember that."

"Call your mother tonight and let her know you're okay."

She nodded and smiled. They continued to walk around the perimeter of the hall, a comfortable silence hung between them. Eventually Jonathan stopped and turned Cameron to look at him.

"There was just one other thing. Before I was allowed to come here the department asked me to get a favor off you."

Cameron frowned. "What kind of favor would the government want from an eighteen year old freak?"

Jonathan rubbed at the back of his neck. "They want you to help with some weapons development."

"What? No way." Cameron declared loudly. A soft touch to her spark from Ratchet calmed her down. She breathed deeply. "Dad you know I don't like weapons."

#You do realize you are a powerful weapon.# Ratchet said.

She glared darkly at the medic whom smiled back. She looked back to her father. "I'm not doing it."

Jonathan sighed. "Just think about it. I've been told that if you agree to help, they will schedule your shuttle to be finished within the month."

"They're trying to bribe me?" Cameron was astounded.

Jonathan nodded. "It looks that way. But if you don't want to go through with it, and I don't blame you if you don't sweetheart, I have to let my superiors know."

Cameron nodded. "Just out of curiosity. How long will it take for the shuttle to be finished if I don't help?"

"I'm not sure, a few months, maybe up to a year."

A year! They couldn't wait that long. The longer they stayed on Earth the higher the risk of being found out. All it would take was a curious teen or fanatic to get past their defenses and snap some pictures, and then they would be up the creek with no paddle.

Pushing a list of horrible consequences out of her head Cameron centered her mind. Maybe she should at least consider what her father was asking.

"Dad, can you give me a couple of days to think about it? It's not just me that this would affect."

"Of course. I didn't think you'd make the decision today."

Cameron pushed a hand through her hair. "Thanks Dad. Will you come back?"

Jonathan smiled warmly and pulled her close for another hug. "Nothing could keep me away."

Cameron stood outside the imposing doors, her hood pulled low over her face. Her father was on one side while Optimus' holoform stood on the other. The door opened and Jamie ushered them inside. Cameron still wasn't sure whether this was a good idea or not. Unease flowed through her thoughts and she tried to suppress it. Ratchet was like a shadow in her mind, a calming influence.

The night after her father had visited Cameron had sat down with all the mechanoids and discussed the pros and cons of doing what Jonathan had asked of her. Optimus had suggested caution, Jazz and Bumblebee backed that idea, Barricade and Frenzy were all right with anything that would get them back to Cybertron and Ratchet was fully against it. Slider and Scorponok had sat behind Cameron silently, as long as it didn't interfere with their bond with the Allspark they didn't mind.

So now here she was, walking into a government building far from her friends and unsure of what was waiting inside. She brushed against Optimus' mind just to remind herself she wasn't alone. His hand closed over hers.

The inside of the building was fairly similar to the outside, dull and unassuming yet terribly intimidating. Cameron swallowed a bubble of fear and followed the doctor. She needed to be strong and focused if she was going to get through this without revealing too much to these government bullies. Jamie led them through several hallways and various rooms containing people and strange machines, he explained what each room was studying but Cameron didn't absorb any of it. She'd ask Prime what he was talking about later.

Finally they stopped in a large theatre. The walls rose two storeys high and lights shone a bright glare off the bare walls. In the center of the room were a small group of suits. Cameron immediately wanted to retreat but couldn't since Optimus still had control of her hand. Pushing her rising worry away, Cameron pasted a polite smile onto her face as they approached the Government officials. A man separated himself from the group and moved to meet them.

"Miss Oakham, it's good to see you again. How are you?"

Cameron wracked her brain to remember who it was now shaking her hand. He looked awfully familiar but she still couldn't place his face.

#Adrian Lores.# Ratchet told her. #He works with Defense Secretary Keller.#

"I'm fine, thank you Mr. Lores."

He smiled and nodded. "Good, good. Now I asked that you come here just so you could answer some questions."

Cameron nodded and stepped forward, Optimus and her father in step with her. A slightly balding man stepped away from the group. A small smile appeared on Prime's face.

"Defense Secretary Keller."

"Optimus Prime. It's good to see you again."

Optimus nodded and scanned the room. Keller looked down at Cameron and she felt the urge to hide behind the men.

"You must be Cameron Oakham." Keller held out his hand.

She shook his hand warily and smiled. "Hello."

"I'm glad that you agreed to come today. As we speak there are people working on the shuttle."

"Thank you Mr. Keller, but I won't be doing or saying anything until I get some things."

A frown crossed Lores' face. "This isn't a negotiation."

Cameron smiled stiffly. "I know but I think you need me more than we need you."

Keller rubbed his chin. "What is it you want?"

Encouraged because she hadn't been shot down she replied. "I want to see my family again before I leave, and not just over a video, I want to see them in person."

Keller looked thoughtful. "I'll think about it. Anything else?"

Cameron shook her head. "No, I didn't think much beyond that. If I think of something else can I let you know?"

The older man smiled. "I'll think about it."

Cameron turned to her father and shrugged. "Oh well, it was worth a try."

Jonathan smiled back and led her over to meet the rest of the group. Much to Cameron's surprise Dr. Vickers was there waiting as well. The woman greeted her warmly even though they had only met the once. The two other men there were heads of the science faculties in the building.

"Miss Oakham, if you would come with us, we'd like to get started." One of the scientists waved to a door.

Cameron nodded and followed the man. Jonathan and Prime were close behind her; following them were the rest of the group. The scientist led her to a sterile room filled with beeping machinery. The unease grew in Cameron until she had to search for Optimus' hand again to ease it. She felt like a little kid going to the dentist or the hairdresser for the first time, having to hold their parents hand.

"If you would sit here, we can start the tests." He indicated to a steel table and lifted up a set of electrodes.

"Wait. You said nothing about test." She looked frantically at Optimus and Jonathan.

Dr. Vickers was next to her almost immediately. "Don't fret. They're just to monitor your heart-rate and breathing."

Cameron wasn't soothed. "I don't breathe and I don't have a human heart beat."

The scientist looked between each other and started discussing something quietly.

She turned accusing eyes to Lores. "You said I just had to answer some questions, not have tests done."

The suit's face didn't change, he didn't care. Jonathan stepped infront of her.

"What sort of tests do they want to do? I'm not putting her through anything invasive or otherwise unnecessary."

Cameron felt a warm surge of love towards her father. He was protecting her from the badies again, just like he had when she was little and scared of the monster in her closet.

Dr. Vickers stepped forward. "I promise, we just want to monitor some of her body's reactions. You see, Cameron intrigued me when I first met her. She said she didn't breathe anymore and I got curious as to what other changes her body has made since then. Her skin is of particular interest to me."

Jonathan seemed to accept this answer and moved aside. Cameron stared at the woman, trying to gauge whether she was being truthful or not, her answer had made sense and sounded legitimate but Cameron was still wary.

Reluctantly she sat for their tests while Keller and Lores asked her various questions concerning her powers and the way she interacted with the transformers. Cameron wasn't too sure of what to tell them about her relationship with Ratchet, so she said nothing about it. She was fairly sure that Jamie had told them all he had seen but she wasn't going to give them anything else. Jamie was leaning against a wall near the door. He seemed far more relaxed than he had before at the base. Now and then one of the scientists would interrupt with a question about her physiology and occasionally she would be asked to stand or walk around or draw in as much air as she could but mostly told them what they wanted to hear. It was only when they started asking about the Decepticons that Cameron felt she had to be extra careful with her answers. A short time later they dragged her to another room and Cameron displayed some of her powers, on their own and with props. She even accidentally exploded a small machine by flowing too much energy through it.

By the end of the day Cameron was more tired than she anticipated. Her eyes barely stayed open as she bid her father goodbye outside the building. The sun had already sunk below the horizon so Cameron didn't feel as worried about her silver skin showing since it was a fairly quiet part of town.

"Do you think Keller will let Mum and Mitch visit me?"

"I don't know, I'll talk to him and do what I can."

"Thank you Dad. I'll see you soon yeah?"

Jonathan nodded and stepped back as she climbed into Optimus' cab. Cameron waved as they pulled out. She was asleep before they reached the end of the street.

Please review and let me know what you thought. The end is coming, I'm not too sure but I should be able to put together at least two more chapters before its over.

TammyCat