Author's Notes: Thanks for the adding this to favorite stories, author alerts and reviews on previous chapters as you read them. I have zero computer access during the work day, secure financial setting so absolutely no outside contact. Questions and review replies only at night or early morning.

New story arc, more intense in this chapter. *feels tingle on skin* Yes, Bumblebee I am okay. No, I have not been around Ratchet too long. I was an EMT and volunteer firefighter and used that for the medical scene. And humor on scene is how we kept from crying sometimes. Hence rule 145, do I look okay?!

And Sam is more than a screaming, running for his life personality. Yes, he has a few issues, okay a subscription by now, but seriously. Everyone's worse fear is going crazy and not knowing if you really are or not. Mix in government agents and teenage into a man hormones around a sexy girlfriend, over protective parents, new college and a concerned car that is really an alien robot among a group of alien robots and try to have a good day. Onward to dealing with life's medical interruptions and showing you care.

142. Do not let humans intimidate, attempt to control, blackmail or command you to any action or forbid action not approved or ordered by Autobot Command and NEST approved officers.

Major Will Lennox rummaged in the back of his spare clothes closet, feeling for a little wooden shoebox. On hands and knees, his pose was undignified as a NEST field ops leader but the locked door to his quarters prevented accidental discovery. "Here somewhere. Light would burn out when I turned it on," he grumbled, pulling out old army boots, copies of field reports, data chips, and two jewelers' boxes holding medals. "Maybe I should ask Sarah to organize this next time she visits. I never have the time. Got it!" He pulled it out, popping the hidden spring lock.

Inside its velvet-lined space, a group of photos and papers sat nestled with dates and names on sticky notes. "Blackmail via digital image capture. Wicked!" A photograph of Sunstreaker, in his yellow alt mode, the interior shredded and claw marks on the glass was set aside.

"I remember that. New to earth, wanted to get Annabelle a kitten for a surprise. Read a report note about feral cats nearby and went to get her one. Only he did not realize the size difference between our worlds yet. Grabbed a sleeping cougar, shocking it to carry it back here. Then it woke up early," Will chuckled, recalling the golden twin rolling in, yelling for Ratchet. The driver door opening and the mad golden cat leaping out, running across the tarmac as soldiers dove for cover. "Oh that was fun. Cougar was released back and I got photos. Hmm, not the mech I need for this. Wheeljack? No."

A black and white security print, showing a small, balding man with large glasses running for his life and Ironhide right behind, firing cannon blasts as Optimus and Ratchet jumped to tackle him. "Ironhide? Hmm, he blackmails back. How was he to know Murphy's Law was a phrase? Bad luck the third liaison assigned was named Murphy." More photos were removed then set aside, each a story in itself.

"What is this doing here? Picnic last month." The color photo showed the beach, Annabelle's giant sand castle and the post picnic aftermath. On the side porch Sam and Mikeala were asleep, Bumblebee cradling them in his mechanical arms and he rested against one of Ironhide's cannons like a pillow. "Nothing odd there." He removed the photo then hesitated, glancing at it closer. Mikeala was leaning against Sam but he was resting on the mech's yellow armor, not her. One hand was outstretched into Bumblebees open metal palm. The Major frowned, recalling other odd behavior. "This can wait. I need to confirm an event." The box was closed, relocked and dumped back into the closet. Other items were tossed in, pushed back as they fell forward and the door wedged close.

Twenty minutes later the Major frowned again as the security image replayed itself. Sam approached the fire engine, identifying Optimus. "Nice cover kid. Only one problem," he mumbled under his breath. "You approached from the left and said hello before seeing the shadow. It was on the right side that late in the afternoon." He reached for the phone in his pocket and dialed a connection known to only a handful of humans. "Can you meet me in the main hangar? Have a possible situation involving little spark."

Ten minutes later, Optimus Prime watched the video sequence while replaying the event from his internal memory systems. "Confirmed. Sam approached before detection of the shadow. And he specifically mentioned the word 'pulse' when touching the trans scan vehicles earlier?" The man nodded then waited.

"Conferring with Ratchet now." Bright blue optics dimmed for a brief instant before returning to normal. "All scans are satisfactory. Mental processes are within tolerable levels for your race. It is not unheard of to hone perceptions in your race. Your training allows you to sneak up on potential targets without their knowledge and detect friend from foe before physical contact in darkness." He shrugged, a very human gesture. "I will talk with Sam. He has undoubtedly acquired the same skill. Do not concern yourself with this Major," the tall red and blue mech turned, walking away and effectively ending the conversation.

::Does he suspect?:: Ratchet

::Human curiosity. We will handle it:: Optimus

::Should we alert Bumblebee?:: Ironhide

::No, his concern for the boy is begging to interfere with his judgment:: Ratchet

::I will talk to Sam. You can compare in depth scans while he recharges:: Optimus

::I have checked them a thousand times Prime:: The medic sounded testy :: Small changes in the brain before Egypt with two major upgrades after, in memory and apparent skills acquisition. Data indicates the vast majority of information is dormant, unable to be accessed by biological means. Humans kept us from Sam the first weeks following the destruction of the whole Allspark. The afternoon you sent the call to the stars was the first time we were allowed together. By then any system alteration following contact with the Allspark were established. The only other medical records were primitive x-rays from his fall as a child off a swing set. Useless waste of thermal light if you ask me::

::Nobody did ask you bucket of bolts:: Ironhide quipped.

::I'll bucket your aft next time you want repairs:: Ratchet

Optimus closed the connection, knowing it would be a breem or more before those two quit. 'If Sam is becoming more sensitive to us, or even like us from the Allspark or Matrix, we must welcome the change. I will ask Bumblebee and Mikeala to submit to a deep scan from Ratchet. Perhaps they have changed as well. He handled the Allspark and was present when Sam found the matrix as well as the human sparkmate.'

He stepped around a unit of marching soldiers, careful to place his massive weight gently on the pavement. Internal connections completed their task, leaving a voicemail on Mikeala's phone and Bumblebee's signal processors. He waited for the supply tucks to roll by, before continuing towards med bay. Bumblebee echoed back a confirmation for his scan, en route shortly. Mikeala and Ratchet were waiting when he entered.

"Got your message. He," she gestured towards the medic. "Was explaining what and why. I don't like the idea of probing around in my mind. Would you submit to one?"

"I have." Optimus stated calmly. "Though for our race it is a more invasive and sensitive procedure. You will not be harmed."

::Been a while Prime. Shall I schedule you after them?:: Ratchet

::NO! Not needed.:: He snapped, then mentally flipped a processing unit as the medic's optics narrowed. He considered mentioning the recharge interruptions and nightmares then settled for the most obvious truth. ::I am concerned about Sam. He is my human son now. It is because of us the war was brought here and he has suffered. I do not wish him to lose what normalcy he enjoys by more of our actions::

::We cannot protect him forever:: Ratchet sent then focused on Mikeala. "By adoption, you are our family. We do not risk family."

"Uh, about that." She smirked, pulling on her ponytail. "Does that mean Sam and I are now brother and sister? That would be too weird."

"No," Ratchet answered while missing the hidden reference. "Mechs and femmes sparked at the same time, might be considered related units but your spark days are a year apart. Your pairing is accepted and spark mates take precedent over all other considerations."

Optimus closed his optics, feeling pain at the way he had left Elita to protect the Allspark.

143. Do not ask humans about previous mating relationships they have had. It is an intensely complicated subject and may involve hurt and emotions we are not equipped to handle or understand fully at that time.

Bumblebee wolf whistled as Mikeala walked out of the water, her swimsuit showing her curves very well. She blew him a kiss then chuckled as he ducked, pointing over at Sam.

"Get your own femme. I waited forever for mine." Sam instructed, holding out towels for her.

"Trying to cover me up Sam?" she asked, grabbing the first towel."No one on the beach except us."

"Me? Nah. One for your hair so it won't drip down your back which annoys you. One for your body, and one to wipe your feet since you hate sand sticking to them. Right?" He grinned at her shocked expression.

"You know everything about me?"

"Not everything. I uhm," he blushed, looking away.

"Ask me," she teased, wrapping her hair in the towel.

"Did you sleep with Trent?" He asked as Bumblebee yelped, sitting straight up.

"Nope. That was your big question? Oh, you didn't know did you?" She giggled, sitting down on the big towel. "Steroids. Gave him muscles from the waist up. Killed off everything from the waist down. I figured his big truck was his way to look manly."

"Whoa, I never knew."

"He never wore anything tight fitting and you're not the type to go looking at other men in the showers Sam. You barely look at me."

"Mikeala!" He yelled, blushing and hiding his head in his arms. A robotic chuckle only made it worse.

144. Do not assume human safety precautions insure safety to themselves or our race. Their knowledge, perceptual scope and reaction time is severely limited.

Wheeljack watched the human scientists charge the generator system, keeping his reaction system on full alert.

"That's it?" Sam asked. " A humming noise? I waited an hour for this to get extra credit for a science project? Should it, I don't know, feel like something powerful? Wheelie is small compared to this behemoth," the boy waved in the direction of the massive generator. "He produces like a hundred times this."

"Wheelie has Cybertronian technology and a spark. The generator will power the entire base in event of another hurricane for several of your human months on a single reaction of metal to water." The Autobot inventor kneeled, leaning down by the human for the rest. "They made it, I improved the design but they built and run it. Inefficient but the treaty forbids advanced technology. I did ensure adequate safeguards." His metal palm rotated up, displaying a holo image of the generators internal components. Cybertron glyphs listed safeties and overrides built in physically and by coding. Sam nodded, absently reading the schematic before turning and walking over towards the rolled up plans. He unfurled them, concentrating on finding the right one.

"'Jack, get over here!" He yelled, pointing down. "You out!" He commanded to the scientists. They stared open mouthed, not moving from their equipment. "The inner chamber is not walled. They also skipped the encoding double enforcement. Says here its phase II and III."

"It was an unnecessary expense in metal. Our design is safe. You are the one who is always blowing experiments up, not us." The head researcher argued pointing towards the stable readings. "One hour and not a blip. And you boy, what freshman college course taught you to be rude to a triple doctorate level physicist?"

Wheeljack read all the blueprints instantly, then turned wide optics to the machine, switching to scan modes too advanced to be described in the English language. "The metal is vibrating in the clamp. Shut it down. If it moves, the integrity field collapses causing it to fall into the water."

"Vibration? Everything moves bot! My field design is perfect enhancement on the original technology. And what happens if it falls? The machine melts. We start over."

Sam flipped through the blueprints, looking for the clue to what his mind was trying to tell him. The buzzing sound was getting louder to his ears. Then he saw it. "NBE-1. They copied it from NBE-1. It's Decepticon based!" His mind matched the data in a way he could never explain. "The power levels are for Megatron's main gun!"

Wheeljack's side bars flared rainbow colors while simultaneously engaging security overrides to release the outer lab doors and open the roof hatches. The buzzing turned to a roar as the machine began shaking. Time slowed. Scientists stared at the spiking readings, looking back at their machine. Wheeljack dove towards Sam as the world went white.

Sam's skin burned, his mind feeling the pulse that was Wheeljack flare and fade. The cement under him was cool but darkness filled the lab. "Jack? Can you hear me?" Silence was heard. He moved slowly, realizing he was encircled by hard metal. He relaxed, listening. Two mech pulses were getting closer. 'Not who I want,' he thought. 'I'm losing it.' The lightheaded feeling grew stronger as he imagined reaching out across the base."Bee? I need you Bee.' For one second, he felt the spark that was 'Bee. And connected. Then darkness claimed his mind.

An Autobot emergency all call went out when Wheeljack failed to answer a frantic Bumblebee.

145. When a human asks if you are ok / are you hurt do not answer:

a. Do I look slaggin okay?

b. My chassis is here but my arm and leg are there. Mind using your brain to retrieve them and not to ask dumb aft questions like that ?

c. Lovely day today. Thought I'd lie here and watch clouds go by for awhile.

d. I always *pant gasp* sound like this *wheeze* on the battlefield.

e. No, I'm fine. *pretend to faint and take optics offline* *Sunstreaker

f. Jump up screaming after pretending to be offline and the humans are poking you. *Sideswipe

g. You bleed red and I bleed blue energon. What color is this?

h. I'm not okay. My femme left me, my aft got kicked by Decepticons and my last optic view might be you fleshling! Primus hates me!

i.*cry and pretend to leak optic fluid* My paint is all scratched! *Sunstreaker

j. No, you must carry on.*hand them your energon sword, knowing they can't handle the weight*

k. That left a mark. No, a huge burning hole all the way thru so yes it hurts!

l. I think I'll feel that tomorrow. Wait, I feel it now! Ow! Ow! Ow!

m. Whatever the opposite of ok is, that would be me right about now.

n. Ratchet is yelling at me, you are holding my hand so what am I missing here ?

o. I was until you yelled at me if I was ok?!

p. I'm hurt not deaf and you are one ugly squishy.

r. Gasp and say "Rosebot" before going into stasis shock

s. Tell my femme *rattle off phrase only in Cybertronian* It's important she know that!

t. I don't mind joining the matrix. Could use the rest from you and this planet.

The faintest sounds brought Sam back to consciousness. He opened his eyes to darkness then reached, feeling cloth bandages on his face.

"Easy Sam, you're in med bay." Mikeala's voice comforted him, strong hands holding his tightly, her calluses rubbing on his soft skin.

"Your tissue is burned by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation producing the pain reaction." Ratchet explained.

"You're sunburned Sam. Did you have to make it sound life threatening?" He pictured her angry face, red lips pursed, and dark hair falling forward. "No worse than last summer at the lake when you fell asleep. Wheeljack blocked most of the explosion. I saw the flash from here. The bandages have lidocaine and aloe in them. You are the only dork I know," her breath tickled his ear as she leaned close. "Who goes to the beach and gets sunburned inside a concrete building."

He nodded, the pounding of his heart slowing. He felt three pulses in the room. 'One strong and closest is Ratchet, one fainter across the room is Wheeljack and the one between the two has to be Bumblebee. Know him anywhere.' He thought.

"Can I sit up? How soon can these come off? And relax Bumblebee, I'm fine." He said, freeing one of his hands and reaching his direction.

An anxious cooing sound and the middle spark moved closer. "How did you know Sam?" Mikeala asked.

"I need him. Where else would he be?" He covered rapidly then felt a tug on his skin.

"We're removing the bandages. Wait a bit." Cool air flowed onto his skin without pain. He blinked, seeing only darkness.

'Would leave my face until last.' He thought and kept his eyes closed. A hand touched his cheek, caressing it gently and teasing across his lips. He kissed it, smelling her perfume.

"He's fine," she giggled, pulling back."Well? How do you look? Beside lobster red that is?"

"Remove the bandage from my eyes and I will let you know." He said then heard her gasp. "What?" he opened his eyes wide, seeing darkness. The normal green color was gone, showing only milky white.

A short time later, the bots conversed in the hallway, out of his hearing range. "Flash blindness Optimus. A visual impairment following exposure to a light flash of extremely high intensity. The human specialist thinks it will last for a few days. The bleaching of the retinal pigment was a side effect. As the pigment returns to normal, so too will his sight." Ratchet explained.

"No permanent damage?" Optimus asked, keeping motion locks in place. His form was erect and balanced, the proper look of a concerned leader receiving a standard medical report. Only the rapid venting betrayed his anxiety.

"None. His vision will reset to normal. The boy needs rest and both Bumblebee and Mikeala stay close. He asked to talk with you." The medic stepped aside, sliding in between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. "Other visitors starting tonight but keep it short and brief." He hefted a wrench threateningly, seeing Hound and Ultra Magnus wince. The other Autobots nodded then left to continue set aside duties or continued their waiting in the hallway.

"Hello Optimus." Sam greeted him as soon as the doors slid apart and he took his first step inside. The boy looked at him, the cloudy white unsettling. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."

"I will always come Samuel." He reassured, his deep voice strong and sure.

"I thought you might be mad." The boy poked at the sheets, closing his eyes and leaning back. "I didn't mean to upset everyone."

"Why would you think that?" He settled his massive frame into the Autobot size chair, hearing it creak but holding his mass.

"The group in the hallway. Ratchet standing between them and the door. And Wheeljack left while I was sleeping, without letting me thank him."

"You can sense us." Statement and not a question.

"Yes," he whispered.

To be continued...