This chapter is mostly filler with some details on Cybertronian and such thrown in to make it interesting. I hope you all enjoy it; because if you don't then Ratchet will throw a wrench at you and make you read Megatron's 5th Grade spelling homework for the rest of your life.

*le` gasp* OH NOEZ! Hahaha.

I mostly wanted the conversation between Ratchet, Ironhide and Tessa to emphasize the different levels of intensity involved for a Cybertronian.

Energon Signature/Marking: A commitment step similar to openly being in a relationship. It lets other Cybertronians know that the one bearing the scent is off the market.

Interfacing: Cybertronian sex. Much like humans, it can be done for fun; with no emotional attachment between the two parties. You know, how humans can sleep with someone and it doesn't mean anything? Yeah, that's possible for Cybertronians too; it's purely for fun; not 'Bonding' purposes.

And finally…

Sparkbonding: The most intimate relationship a Cybertronian can offer. I imagine it to be something like tying the souls together; they love each other eternally and the bond cannot be undone.

Anyhow, I'm going to go make myself some lunch, enjoy the chapter!

"Honestly, I can't believe he actually gave his Energon signature to you…it's so unlike Optimus to be so open. He's a soldier; he's never let anyone that close." Ratchet pondered aloud as he worked, "When you came in, just…covered in his signature; you almost gave me a damned Spark attack!"

Tessa giggled and shrugged, "Sorry, Ratch; but it serves you right for not telling me about it in the first place."

"I didn't think it was that relevant." He responded, welding precisely to Ironhide's leg where Jolt had managed with his whips; having gotten underneath the armour 'skin' to the sensitive wires underneath. He'd been limping into the medical bay and demanded Ratchet repair the 'humiliating' injury.

"How could it not be relevant?" Tessa squeaked, moving around the gurney and hopping up to sit cross legged beside Ironhide's head, "I had a faint signal from your leader burned into my skin, and you didn't think that maybe I'd want to know?" she couldn't help but laugh as Ratchet just gave another shrug. In any case, Ironhide was the one who responded to her; looking over at her as she sat beside his head.

"Well personally I think it's about. Fragging. Time!" he scoffed humorously, "The two of you have certainly taken your sweet slagging time; at least now my reason for guarding you will be valid."

"Wait…what do you mean by that?" Tess asked, turning to Ironhide and leaning casually on his forehead with her elbow; looking down into his optics as Ratchet worked. She was currently off-duty, and simply killing time before she decided to go home; after all she much preferred being her with her robots than sitting on her couch trying to find something good on television. Without moving his head at all, Ironhide's optics focused on her as she leaned against his brow.

"What I mean, is that by all aspects of the matter; I am to protect you as I would him. Even before the two of you were…official, it was easy to see that you were already important to him. I looked at you as a minor extension of Prime; but now, you bear his genetic signature. As a soldier to Optimus, I am required to guard you."

Tessa scoffed and poked him playfully in the forehead, "Aw, you don't have to do that you cranky old fart. It's sweet that you did; but honestly, you don't have to."

Ironhide shook his head at her before he spoke, "It doesn't matter what you-OW! Frag it, Ratchet; be careful!" he spat, looking down at the medic; who gave a grumbling scoff in response.

"You've suffered worse; you'll live." The cranky old medic teased gruffly, waving a mechanical hand disinterestedly at the weapons specialist. Ironhide snorted and chose to ignore her; instead continuing with his conversation with Tessa.

"Anyway," he said, shooting a vaguely dirty look down to Ratchet as he worked on Ironhide's leg, "it doesn't matter what you say; I will protect you."

"For Optimus, right?" she asked. He rolled his shoulders in the gesture of a shrug before he answered her quickly and with a very stern conviction.

"-Because you are my friend." He said firmly, reaching up to poke her playfully in the ribs; making her giggle, "But there is something you should know, Tess. If, and I assume when the two of you Sparkbond, I will not only be his soldier…I will also be yours." Her eyes widened a little in surprise, taken aback by the seriousness in his tone. His optics were locked onto her eyes to convey the magnitude of what he said.

Tessa felt an embarrassed blush cross her features as she spoke, confused by the sincerity in Ironhide's tone, "Sp-Sparkbond? Wait…doesn't that have anything to do with what Optimus did with the signature thing? Is that kind of like Sparkbonding?"

"Not exactly," Ratchet cut in, tinkering with some of the wiring as he spoke, "what he did with the signature was purely a marking procedure. That's a relatively standard commitment step amongst Cybertronians in a significant relationship. Then there's interfacing, which your species is well acquainted with in its own right…" the two mechs earned a violent red blush from the female before Ratchet carried on; seemingly oblivious, "interfacing, just like organic human sex; is able to be done without a romantic connection; for fun, but Sparkbonding is something much more binding. One who is Sparkbound will love only that one mate; and will never feel the same for any other."

Tess tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully for a moment, "Actually, I think I remember Chief saying that once before; he was confused about what the concept of 'divorce' was. Human's often don't stay together…" she huffed and looked up at the ceiling, appearing a little forlorn with the thought. She couldn't imagine not having Optimus, just having to leave the base to go home for the night was bad enough. She liked being around him, she liked being around the Autobots.

This in and of itself was unusual for her, because although Tessa was easily a very friendly and amicable person; she spent much of her time being solitary. Spending her life covered in car grease and thinking up engines had given her little opportunity to really spend the time needed for lifelong friendships; mechanics was a singular hobby after all. Certainly she'd had friends throughout her life; but on the general whole she was rather socially awkward and tended to relate better to machines than she did to people.

Just one more reason to love her Cybertronians.

"In any case," Ironhide said, poking her again to bring her mind back to the conversation, "When you and Prime are bound, I will be your soldier as well as his."

"We all will." Ratchet added simply; closing up the panel on the stout, black mech's leg.

The little mechanic shook her head at the two of them with a laugh as she placed a hand on her forehead; rubbing her temples gently, "But you guys don't need to do that-!"

"-Tess," Ironhide said sharply, "it isn't a matter of choice. On Cybertron; being the Sparkmate of a Prime is considered an honorary title. As soldiers, we are programmed to protect our leaders; and in the case of a Prime's Sparkmate, they are dire to the leader and therefore dire to us."

Ratchet continued for Ironhide, clearly they were both well aware of this protocol, "If a Prime is killed and there is no new Prime to take over the role; his Sparkmate becomes a temporary leader until the next Prime is chosen. If you two were Sparkbonded, and Optimus were to die-"

"-Don't," she hissed achingly, feeling the familiar grief of when he'd fought with Megatron and really had died, "God, please don't…"

Ratchet paused a second before he finished his sentence, "…in a case like that, then any order of yours would be treated as his own."

She shook her head, clenching her fists in her lap, "I wouldn't want that…I could never…order any of you to do anything."

Ironhide, whom Ratchet had finished working on by now, swung his legs over the side of the berth and placed a palm on Tessa's head; his hand engulfing her as he laughed loudly. Evidently he was laughing at the irony of her phrase; and he told her so, "And yet, you seem to have no problems ordering Optimus around, hm?"

She shrugged and gave a giggle; the sound echoing under his metal hand, "Yeah, but that's different. Optimus is my bitch."
"Is he now?" Hide laughed.

Tessa poked her head out from under his hand with a grin and looked up at him, "Yep, and he loves it." Ironhide's hand lifted itself from her head and he roared with mirthful laughter at her silly joke. He had no doubt that she was more than capable of keeping the Prime in line, and no matter what she said about being unable to give any orders to them; he had no doubts that she probably could if she had to. She may have been the modest sort; but he would never expect her to back down from what was needed of her.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Tessa as she thought of Optimus; remembering his almost dazed expression after he had marked her. "Hey, guys; how does the signature transfer affect a Cybertronian? I mean…after he'd marked me, Chief seemed like he was…I don't know...basking or something…"

She heard Ironhide snorted amusedly as he placed a hand on his head, "Yes," he answered, "they say it's a very relaxing state; quite pleasant apparently."

"Pleasant; pleasant how?" she questioned.

Ratchet was the one who answered; providing what sounded like a medical diagnosis, "It's supposed to be…an afterglow, so to speak. The equivalent of how a Cybertronian feels after an overload; it is in fact, a basking sensation."

"…What's an overload? I don't understand what that means-"

"-It's our race's equivalent to a human orgasm. The signature marking gives the sensation of the afterglow, without the actual overload. There is no climax with a marking." Ratchet said matter-of-factly, ignoring the embarrassed, fire-engine red blush of death crawling across her face.

Tessa nearly died at the thought, if Optimus had been given that 'post-overload' sensation when he'd marked her, then it was no wonder he'd been so distracted; it was a feeling similar to coming down from a high. In the back of her mind, she found herself just a little bit proud that she had been able to take part in providing him some sort of relief. She couldn't deny the fact that she was attracted to him; she loved him, it came with the territory. But the fact that through no real participating on her part, she had been able to be the outlet to make him feel wonderful; and evidently, relaxed.

Ironhide was testing his leg now, walking in slow, tentative circles to make sure it was functioning properly before he turned to Ratchet. "What's the prognosis, Doctor." He asked mockingly.

Ratchet waved him off with an amused sigh, "You'll live; unfortunately."

Tessa found their banter hilarious, because although it was gruff and snippy, and appeared hostile from the outside; it displayed their comfortableness with each other and showed just how long they had been comrades. She scoffed at their antics and glanced up at the clock; it was already a quarter to 9 at night. The little female gave a sigh and decided it was time to go home to bed.

"Well guys, I'm going to start heading home. Thanks for all the information; I really do appreciate it." Tess said, patting each of the robots' legs as she made for the exit; her body turned towards them to face them as she moved backwards, "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Ironhide took a step forward, a startled look on his face, "Hold on, Tess wait! Optimus is right-"

Clang!

"…behind you."

The little mechanic had walked backward into a massive metal foot, her heel tapping gently against the metal. Pressing her back up against the leg, she tilted her head backwards and looked up at Optimus with a grin as he regarded her, "Hey there stranger," she said gently, "come to say goodnight to me?"

He gave a chuckle and bent down to be eye level with her, "I wouldn't have let you leave without doing so."

"Oh I see," she said teasingly, "gosh Chief, you're so possessive."

"For Pit sake, go outside and be sappy," Ironhide scoffed sarcastically, "just don't bore us with it!"

Tessa moved to place a hand on Optimus' face before looking over at Ironhide with a massive, cheeky grin, her eyes glittering with mischief. "What? You mean like this?" she turned her face and planted a kiss on the leader's lip; causing him to startle a little and look down at her; having been unprepared for her actions. She held her mouth to the metal for a good few seconds before she looked back at Ironhide, "He's my robot; I'll do what I want with him."

The mech roared with laughter at his leader's expense, shaking his head and looking at Optimus with an incredibly amused expression, "Sorry to say it Prime, but it sounds to me like you're just a toy to her."

Tessa responded by affectionately touching Optimus' face and sharing a fond look with him before she turned back to the weapons specialist with her hands on her hips, "What can I say 'Hide? He's just my metal Boy-Toy." She waved her hand at him with another laugh, "Anyway; I'll see you guys tomorrow," then she turned to look at her 'Boy-Toy' with a loving smile, "Let's go Chief; you can walk me to my car."

He gave a chuckle and lowered his hand to the ground and allowed her to climb onto his palm. Once she was secured, he raised her up to her now usual place on his shoulder; waiting for her to have a firm grip before he lowered his hand and walked out of the hangar.

The walk across the tarmac was fairly silent; but it was by no means uncomfortable for either of them. Tess was quite happy tucked into the groove on his shoulder, tracing insignificant patterns into the gear at the base of his finial; and he was more than content to let her. She decided not to say anything about his basking moment after the Energon marking, considering that it wold probably not only embarrass him; but that it didn't matter all that much.

She was just happy.

"…Penny for your thoughts?" she asked gently as they walked.

The moon was gleaming down on them, making Optimus' metal shine rather beautifully in her opinion. That was one of the things she loved about his appearance; he was so shiny. As they strolled rather leisurely across the tarmac, she heard him sigh gently.

"I have started trying to pinpoint Megatron's location. We will be using Decepticons as anchor points to try and determine if they know his whereabouts."

Suddenly she realized that the air was a little heavier now; not out of any discomfort, but because she could feel his stress now. She felt her empathy flare up as she imagined how hard it must be for him to be a part of this war; he was not the type who enjoyed war, he was a gentle soul. It actually made her angry that this 'Megatron' and his obvious desire to just destroy everything was constantly keeping Optimus from being able to let his guard down; to just be himself. With a heavy sigh, she leaned forward a little and traced a finger along the edge of his mouth.

"Look at me, hey. Chief, look at me, please." Tugged a little at him before he turned his head and cast his gaze on her; drinking in every detail of her face under the glow of Energon from his optics. She paused and bit her bottom lip softly, her thumb tapping softly against his lip before she whispered to him, "Do you want me to stay with you tonight?"

He paused for a moment before he exhaled deeply, the decompressed air gently brushing her face as he did so, "I appreciate the gesture Tessa, really I do; but I will not have the time tonight to be with you. Lennox, Epps and I are trying to plan a tracking tactic; I simply came to see if you were still on base so that I could say goodnight."

She smiled sadly at him; knowing that he would much rather be quietly relaxing with her than planning an attempted assault against the Decepticons. As they reached her car, he gently dropped to one knee and plucked her off his shoulder to set her down on the concrete. Gently and ever-so-carefully, he barricaded his hand around her back and slowly pressed her towards his face. Understanding, she reached up her arms and hugged his cheek to her as well as she could, given the size difference between them. She held him for a good full minute before turning her head and planting a kiss on the blue metal where the Cybertronian was scratched into it.

"Well, whatever you work out Chief, I'm right here whenever you need me. Hell, you can call me in the middle of the night just to say hi if that's all you need; please, please don't try and bear everything yourself." She traced his face, memorizing the planes in the metal and the scratches that grooved beneath her fingertips, she could hear the minute whirring sound as his optics slid shut at her touch.

"How did I exist without you…?" he whispered to her; his voice making her extremities tingle as it reverberated down her spine.

Tess crooked a small smile in response and closed her eyes as she cuddled him, "The same way that I existed without you," she murmured back to him, "surrounded by people we care about and building ourselves as individuals. We existed wholly before we found each other, Chief; all we're doing now is making it better…"

He turned his face into her softly and nuzzled at her tiny form, still bracing her with his hand against the back of her body. He made a cycled intake through his nose; clearly inhaling her scent, one that was now mixed with his own.

His Spark purred happily knowing that Tessa was branded as its own; and for now, that would satiate it.

Finally he moved his hand away and allowed her to take a step back from him; still watching her with a loving expression on his facial plates. He had never, in all his existence, thought that he would have allowed himself this kind of companionship; but now that he had, he couldn't imagine being without it.

Without her.

Then he noticed that Tessa was stifling a yawn behind her hand; a gesture with both made him laugh, and reminded him that she needed to rest. Brushing the tip of his finger from her head and over the length of her back, he gave a rumbling chuckle; relieved to have been able to take some time from his tactical planning to be with her.

"You need sleep, Tessa…it's time for you to go home."

She gave a heavy, saddened sigh, but nodded her head, "Yeah…I know." Tess placed a hand on his chin guard and pressed her lips to his in one of their frequent, but clumsy, human-robot kisses; they may have been cumbersome, but they were her favourite kind, "Goodnight Optimus."

He bid her one last notion of affection by touching her hair again before allowing her to climb into her car and start the engine. Warning her to drive safely, to which she scoffed and told him she was a good driver, he watched her shift the pale, blue muscle car into gear and roll slowly over the tarmac towards the exit to base.

Earth nights were short…but he would still miss her, regardless.