Hey everyone! I'm so sorry for taking so long to update this, I was having a bit of writer's block. Every time I tried to think of what to write for this chapter I always ran into a blockade. But I finally got an idea and was able to get the chapter out! I have not abandoned this story if anyone was thinking that, I still very much intend to finish it. ;)

Enjoy! :D

Bulkhead and Bumblebee arrive on the other side of the groundbridge, just outside the cave Raf believes Arcee to be in. They scout the area and find the cave entrance blocked, :: We're at the cave but it appears there was a cave-in. ::

:: That's probably why Arcee's signal cut out. She must be trapped in there. :: Jack responded over the comm.

:: Well if she is in there we'll dig her out. ::

:: Just be careful. You could cause more rocks to fall and crush her. If she isn't already. :: Ratchet voiced in.

"Are you kidding? This is Arcee, she won't get crushed by some rocks." Bumblebee buzzed.

:: 'Bee's right, Arcee is tough. But I will be careful not to cause another rock slide. ::

:: Just inform us when you make any progress or when you find her. ::

:: Will do. :: Bulkhead cut off the comm and him and 'Bee began moving the rocks.

"What has happened!? Why haven't Soundwave returned with Arcee yet!?" Megatron's voice echoed throughout the bridge.

"We're not certain sir. We can't get in contact with him and we lost his signal." One of the Vehicons working the computers responded.

"How long has his signal been out?"

"Almost an hour my liege."

"AND I'M JUST NOW FINDING THIS OUT!?"

"Sorry sir, we thought his signal would be back soon. We-"

"Enough of your excuses! What is his last location!?"

"Where the femme went, sir. Which was an old mining cave."

Without another word, Megatron walked off. He got a group of soldiers together and headed to the groundbridge control room. He looked up the coordinates used by Arcee and Soundwave and he activated the groundbridge. Once him and his team made it to the other side they found themselves in a cave surrounded by fallen rocks.

Megatron could tell right away the cave was unsteady, "This is why Soundwave hadn't returned yet. Him and Arcee must be buried underneath these rocks." He then turns to face the Vehicons that are with him, "Start digging carefully. We don't need to cause another cave-in."

"Yes sir." The Vehicons all said before getting to work.

Soundwave looked at his visor as he examined the damage. It's not damaged beyond repair, thankfully, but it is bad enough that he can't fix it right now. He would have to wait until he gets back to the Nemesis where Knockout can help him fix it.

Soundwave couldn't help but scowl at the thought. After what he did to his Arcee - wait, not his Arcee - after what he did to Arcee he can't stand the thought of being in the same room as that mech. But he knows he needs his assistance if he wants his visor fixed properly.

Soundwave looks over to Arcee who is now laying on the ground in stasis. He's surprised she even feels comfortable with him enough to sleep in his presence, especially after she was just telling him how she doesn't trust him. Either she has at least a little bit of trust in him or she's just that tired. Most likely the latter. But still, Soundwave feels slightly relieved to think she might trust him a little bit.

He still remembers when he realized he had feelings for her. It was at the time Starscream had captured her and hounded her for the coordinates to Optimus' location. Soundwave had already known about her, he had heard many stories of her abilities and fighting skills. But it was when he had seen her in person, her feistiness and sheer determination not to fall to Starscream and give him the information he desired, that he started feeling something for her. The fire in her optics as she defied Starscream, making her look dangerous and beautiful, just woke something in Soundwave and made him start feeling things he never felt before, things he didn't know he was even capable of feeling.

But at the time he just shrugged it off as a sort of malfunction. He listened to Starscream rant about how he can't get the two Autobots to give the coordinates they posses and he just rolled his optics as he came up with the solution for him, as usual. He taps Starscream on the shoulder to get his attention, once Starscream turns to face him he points to the location of Shockwave's lab. Afterward, he felt a ping of guilt and regret. But why? He could care less about what happens to these Autobots, so he shouldn't feel any regret sending them to Shockwave.

It was after Starscream left with the two that Soundwave realized he was concerned for Arcee, more than he should be. For the first time, he was wondering if he did the right thing. But he quickly shook that away, of course he did. They're the enemies, she's his enemy. He started hating himself for feeling concerned for an Autobot, and these damn feelings that are so new to him. Surely he's not falling for her, he can't be.

Soundwave hated himself more for even thinking such things and feeling these feelings. She's the enemy. He went on with his duties to get his mind off it and thankfully it worked. But after a while, he got word that Arcee and the mech had gotten out of Shockwave's lab and they managed to escape through a groundbridge, after taking out Shockwave and the other Decepticons. Starscream of course coward and fled. Then there was a blast as something blew up.

After hearing about it all Soundwave could only feel relief that Arcee managed to get away unharmed. But afterward, he pushed her from his processor, he wanted to forget her and the feelings she caused him to have. It worked for a while since he didn't have another run-in with her after that. He hadn't even heard anything about her, which made it really easy to forget about her for a while.

Until they went to Earth.

After some time Soundwave discovered that Arcee was there with team Prime. The two sides had their fights but he never saw her, only heard of her from those who encountered her in battle. It would seem she had gotten more fierce. The feelings started stirring again and once again he hated himself for it.

Throughout their time on Earth, he had no encounter with her, until the day she came onto the ship with that mech, Bumblebee. They were looking for a cure for Optimus because he had gotten sick with the virus Megatron had created long ago. It was after they retrieved the cure from Megatron's mind that they discovered their presence.

The two were already in the process of leaving through the groundbridge, he noticed that Bumblebee had made it through already but Arcee had to stay behind to shoot out the support cable from Megatron's chest. Soundwave didn't know what came over him but he couldn't let her get away, so he threw out his tentacles and caught her legs in time before she got through the portal.

He pulls her in to where she's between him, Starscream and Knockout. He sees her bring out her blades but he isn't fast enough to prevent her from cutting his tentacles. While he's recovering from the pain he sees her jump up and swing her leg at him to kick him. But again he was too slow to bring up his defense and he gets kicked in the side of his helm.

What in the pit is wrong with him? He's always on top of his game. So why is he having trouble with this blasted femme?

When he looks at Arcee again he sees her heading to the groundbridge that is still open, he can't have that. He catches her with his tentacles again but this time he slams her onto the floor, then he retracts his tentacles and places a foot on her to keep her down. He can't believe he's being this ruthless with her, but there's something in him that just won't let him allow her to get away.

"You're our prisoner now, Arcee. Well done Soundwave. Now take her to the brig."

Soundwave heard Starscream speak and he looks over to him to see him pointing a missile at her. Now it's really starting to sink in. He's captured her and the groundbridge had disappeared, taking away her opportunity to escape. She's their prisoner and at their disposal to do with her as they please.

It's now hitting Soundwave as he watches Arcee sleep that she's in this mess because of him because he couldn't let her get away. But he's not too sorry for it. After all, they wouldn't have had the moments they had if he hadn't captured her. Megatron even told him he can make her his mate, he ordered him to make her his mate. The idea excites him. But he can't force it on her, he needs to win her affections if he's gonna make her his.

He knows he's not the only one to have feelings for her. Starscream had feelings for her from their first encounter. He always tried to hide it with his aggression towards her but Soundwave can tell he has a slight crush on her. But he's too egotistical and too focused on trying to rule the Decepticons and the universe to try anything. Instead, he just tries to kill her. So he doesn't have to worry about him.

Knockout is also attracted to her, but he's too much into his paint job and keeping up with his good looks and too set in his ways to try a decent approach. She certainly won't want anything to do with him after he tried to rape her. So he doesn't have to worry about him either.

Megatron would have been the greatest challenge of them all, but thankfully he decided not to pursue his feelings. He only wants to use her against the Autobots, he has no desire to actually make her his. Besides, Soundwave can tell he still has feelings for Optimus even though he's obsessed with destroying him. He tries to conceal it but Soundwave can still tell.

So there really is no one that can be much competition, except the Autobots. But Soundwave isn't too worried about them, they seem to only see her as a teammate and nothing more.

Arcee starts to stir and he pulls his attention from her back to his visor and examines it some more. He just needs to give it time, he'll get her affections eventually.

Hmm... Who will get to the pair first? LOL

I'll try not to take so long to update this time. Here's hoping I don't run into another blockade. xD