Queen's note: I liiiiiiiive... kinda. Yeah. A lot has been happening and I know I've turned to epicly glacier slow lately. I'm no longer desperately writing to keep my sanity, but instead I've started writing for fun again... and really its amazing to have a reset and just rp/write with friends. And hopefully be here for my adoptive sister right now.

Hopefully those that still took the time to read and reread as well as be so kind to keep dropping reviews all this time, I hope you enjoy this update! It turned into something extra long, and I managed to lay some foundation that links this story to a few others [I finally know where I'm going with this- I think, but there will be cutes all over still].

Just A Stray, Just A Cover

Chapter Fifteen

Just Some Hope Needed

Waking up was a little strange, and it took him a bit to realize why it was such.

Well, it really was not just any one thing. The biggest though, for sure was that Crosshairs felt... rested. For the first time in longer then he would have ever imagined coming to this planet. Hell the last time he recharged that hard and long was after coming to the planet and finding the Wreckers. Getting to flop on Topspin's personal berth after getting all but stuffed with a good grade energon, that had been awesome.

He wondered if Jolt might have found some good energon, he had just down some of the basic rations before passing out. Crosshairs started to stretch, the cleft pedes flexing and curling not unlike thick talons as his shoulders started to roll, and then he froze. Holding perfectly still as his recent memory before he knocked out.

Carefully he patted around his chest, and then sides, then blunted claws ever so gently checked the inside of his over armor with a soft worried sound. There was no tiny form cuddled up, no soft weight in his armor pocket, and he had not moved from the berth yet. Or at all.

Crosshairs turned his attention partly inward, even as he glanced around to where the little 'restroom' box was. Not seeing Amy, or the thing he made for her to use. Then his chronometer spat out the time and date, both in Cybertronian and in local time.

A growl slipped out of Crosshairs as the trooper sat up, his claws sliding out of their sheaths, scrapping on the berth as he looked around. Where had his bug gone?

Why in Primus' name did Jolt and Leadfoot not wake him up?

The mech stood up and running his hands over his sides and down to his holsters to make sure nothing was taken (and a small part of him listening for any little yips). He paused and back tracked to pick up the puffy blanket that had been in his under armor. Shaking it out, freeing it of any dust from the underground base. The mech snorted softly as he folded the cloth sized blanket, noting to wash the thing properly. If Amy had not love it so much he might have already flopped it back onto Bumblebee's head already.

Crosshairs squinted his optics, scanning back in forth in the tunnel for any sign of where the others where, standing poised and raised a hand to his head-

Pretending he did not just smack himself with his own rarely extended talons, the mech retracted those claw tips and then listened. Amplifying his audios for a clue. Picking up on faint but still Cybertronian voices in the direction of deeper into the base, and it sounded like three voices.

"Did someone else show up? The frag didn't those slaggers wake me up?" Crosshairs grumbled starting in that direction, squinting at the walls but not snarling at them. IF they had tried this shite before he would have been far more inclined to rip a limb off rather than just... punch... someone...

"Oh…" Crosshairs paused mid pace, blinking at the middle ground as he belatedly under stood why Leadfoot and Jolt let him have a full recharge and then some. "I'm an ass."

That-

...that made sense really.

Crosshairs had planned on a bunch of 'short' naps until he felt better, but probably Leadfoot just let him recharge all at once as it was, admittedly a shorter time to recover. Even being a full local week and change.

At least, he hope that the other two knew how to care for a human. Crossharis had a hard enough time at points not knowing what to do. He defaulted on sparkling care and it seemed to work. Jolt worked and lived with humans before right? The food that was set out was gone, like it was moved too.

Did Ironhide leave anything for humans? Crosshairs frowned as he made a note to snoop more once finding the others. There was a layout, there was a reason for the lay out but it was done to a plan Ironhide knew of, or the flow of the mining before?

A soft sound in one of the side rooms had Crosshairs pause, perk up and walk over as quiet as he could. Peering in and letting down one lens to see better in the low light. Making out a familiar scout frame curled around some extra padding. It was the dimly colored lights faintly glowing that had Crosshairs pausing as he realized that even if Bumblebee was recharging (possible as hard as he had been) he felt safe enough to let his bio-lights show as well.

He hesitated a moment before carefully patting a stubby door wing as he walked away, each step quiet.

The green and black mech stood out in the hall, thinking as he looked at the dimmest of colors on his fore arm around the hidden shock absorbing systems. Those ran all throughout Crosshairs' frame like the biolights. He dimmed his optics as the mech walked down the tunnel and shook himself all over, the over armor swaying as Crosshairs arched his back and stretched his arms over his head. Spinal plates smoothly shifting and the shocks stretching a little and then resetting, there was less tension in his neck cables then before he recharged so internal repairs did some work.

Crosshairs shook again, and finally admitted fully, if only to himself that he felt better, and safer in this underground base. It reminded him of the few times he got to see the levels on Cybertron. The mech stopped resisting in letting his own biolights show, not as dim as in the elevator shaft, but surprisingly bright along his frame. It was more obvious on his sides and under his loose over armor as shades of teal, yellow and green reflecting on the flex-metal on inside of the 'coat'.

The mech tracked by sound where the others where, keeping a close optic on the ground just in case there might be a tiny young organic. Crosshairs was pretty sure Amy would not be running around, at least not alone. She only seemed to have been willing to explore when in sight of him or one of the others.

"Well look who finally woke up, the sleeping not-so-beauty," Hound's voice drawled, bringing Crosshairs to the present as he walked into another side passage. Not unlike the rooms, only the space was bigger. Ironhide must have taken his time here, as it was circler in shape and had broad wide 'steps' down to a pit. It was a bit of a Cybertronian tribal stile but still a basic area for socializing.

"Yeah, yeah," Crosshairs huffed as he jerked his head back, just catching the large can that Drift tossed at him. A pleased sound escaping the mech as he read the glyphs, and then twisting the top open to get a sip of the refined energon, "Where is she?"

Leadfoot pointed at where Jolt and Drift were relaxing opposite of him, and it would not take long for the trooper to spot the bundle under Jolt's left hand, "Right over there lad, just sleeping."

He relaxed a little, not completely as Crosshairs walked down the sole ramp into the space, settling down on a ledge spot near but with Drift between him and Jolt, but able to see the tiny thing. Unable to not think in the back of his mind and processes that Crosshairs was aft...leery that the Autobot might just take over Amy's care... take the little soft sparkling he had gotten attached to- he had been trying to take care of her. Really. "...she been alright since no one woke me up?"

"She's been exploring, not far from one of us but improving." Jolt hummed, and then chuckled, lifting his left hand and flexing his talons, showing the same kind of sparks and energy charge that he had used in the lift. Carefully resting his hand over the human for a moment before moving his hand back. There was an easing of tension in Amy's sleep showing that Jolt was still watching out for signs of pain, "Does not need my help as much."

But he would still do the energy 'painkiller' to let the child sleep soundly and not wake up stiff.

"Kid's a noodle, but, an adaptable noodle. I'll give ya that much ya green bastard, you didn't scare that out of her." Hound snorted, shifting as the big mech got up, stretching his spinal struts and one leg was shaken out.

Crosshairs frowned at that, not noticing that Drift did as well.

"Welp, now that Crosshairs seems to be awake, I'm off to recharge." Hound waved at the trooper as he scratched blunt digits around a pack on his middle with the other. "You should get some recharge too Leadfoot, between Crosshiars and Jolt we should be safe enough. As long as Crosshairs doesn't take off again."

The older Wrecker frowned, using the makeshift cane to smack Hound in the thigh as he passed, glanced at the trooper that was starting to bristle. The look Leadfoot gave had Crosshairs settling, this was not a time for infighting. Not to mention that Leadfoot had no shame or hesitation to beat unruly mechs back in line. With or without a Prime or Foreman around for that matter.

Crosshairs glared at Hound's back for a moment before his optics slid to the side. Feeling guilt starting to swirl around his Spark casing as Crosshairs remembered that he had been the lookout before during the day... he realized he was looking at Drift's legs and glanced up. Teal optics meeting blue as the two older mechs left the room. Crosshairs shifted his gaze over to where Jolt was lifting his hand off Amy.

After a klik of silence, Jolt spoke up, "They were not far behind you. Maybe a few days," He was speaking so his voice would not carry out of the room. "Bumblebee found some of our tracks, Leadfoot's cane marks. So they looped around farther."

Drift shifted and leaned to his left, his shoulder guard nudging Crosshairs, "I do not fault you Crosshairs... You had stayed awake and alert for longer than we were traveling together, with little recharge. So others could rest, and," He glanced to the side where the human was.

They had forced the human sparkling on, to stay with Crosshairs in part (yet Drift had not been comfortable with taking a human that Crosshairs took off the streets).

Crosshairs vented deeply suddenly, slouching in spot as if part of him deflated, running a hand over his helm and reflexively checking the lenses resting there. "...for wot' it's worth...Imma sorry. I just… had ta vent an'…get space." Crosshairs said, accent slipping, as he remembered the fight that had him walking away, almost forgetting Amy doing so.

"We are all safe now my friend." Drift said, leaning a little more firmly into Crosshairs' shoulder. "Let us keep it that way."

"For as long as we can." The lighter blue mech said, and then Jolt nudged Drift to getting up.

Sliding over into the now open space Crosshairs vented again, taking a humming tone that reflected the gratefulness in his field to reach out. Blunted claws carefully scoop up the bundle of tiny, transferring Amy to the spot she had seemed to like braced between forearm and his front. He looked up and met Jolt's optics, the two closes enough that they could feel out the others' fields for the first time without the high tension from before.

Drift did not hide the smile as he saw the subtle tension between the two mechs in front of him ease. Recognizing how Crosshairs' shoulders relaxed and he settled into the 'happy' slouch that the paratrooper had. While the building static sparks in Jolt's frame around his shoulders and right arm started to not show as much, and then after a crawl of energy over his face plats, just vanished.

The swords mech gave a pleased nod, his first friends since joining the Autobots were not wanting to kill each other. Maybe not really get along as well as Drift might like but it was peace. As Crosshairs slid over to the left again, Drift moved to take his seat back.

A faint purring started as Drift felt Crosshairs lean heavily onto his side. That meant he was feeling better, starting to act like some gigantic green and blacked stripped feline. Not as demanding of attention as before the hunts, and as Drift looked over he saw that his friend was focused down on the girl.

...maybe...

Maybe...it was a healthy thing Crosshairs had started to bond onto Amy as much as the human sparkling seemed to be bonding (imprinting? Did humans imprint?) back.

Crosshairs gave a huffing sound, shifting to be able to stretch his legs out, crossing them at the ankles. Over the next while as the three talked, updating the trooper on what had happened when he left, and after he had gone into recharge. Thankfully no one had spotted any unknown and strange humans, or human made drones.

"So this place is fully stocked?" Crosshairs asked, he had slumped down into a slouch that could only really be comfortable for him. He kept from disturbing the sleeping girl. "We could hide down here until the human's attention span fizzle and find out how to get off planet?"

"Maybe..." Drift started, only to trail off as Jolt shook his head.

"No," Jolt said firmly, he gave a chuff like sound, "Not when we have allies that still need help. Mecha and our humans."

"I doubt there's many humans that are allies..." Crosshairs grumbled.

"There are enough that Ironhide added supplies for humans in his bolt-holes," Jolt leaned forward from where he had leaned back on the deep stone carved 'steps,' "Food, a space that's been growing food things and an air scrubber to let them breathe down here."

Crosshairs started to open his mouth, but paused as he thought about it. Jolt was right.

"I know you don't have the best of experiences with humans," Jolt hummed, keeping the energy from sparking again, "We had partners, mecha loyal humans. Not just the soldiers, support staff and civilians, even the families that relied on us. There are still civilian mechs too that we got safely to places and humans that we trusted."

Jolt looked down at his talons, flexing them slowly closed and open. "If you wish to stay here where its safe and recover, you're welcome to do so. But once I'm rested I'm going back up to find out what's happening. Leadfoot can recover and get his leg fixed here, we got that CR chamber starting up."

He motioned to the general area of medical that was set up, and the critical repair chamber that had been pulled off of the Ark.

"You're really leaving?" Drift asked, hesitating as he had to really debate internally what he wanted to do,

Jolt nodded, now it was his turn to press a shoulder against the swordsmech's right side. Inadvertently giving Drift a comfortably squished sensation for a minute. "Yes. I promised Ironhide that I would get as many of ours safe as possible. I'm going to try and find where he or Jazz got too, though he was up in Canada if I remember right. And..."

"...Do you know where any others are?" Crosshairs asked, tilting his head thinking of those he had re-united with before the attacks and the hunting... poaching of Cybertronians.

"I know of a few mecha closer. I would like to get to them, and some of our humans allies if they are still alive." Jolt chuckled and glanced at the entrance while motioning at where Leadfoot had been. "Even if it wasn't the right thing to do, Leadfoot would have my fuel pumps. Plus I promised I would go back for them once he was safe."

As the other two looked at him Jolt continued, "It's a story for sure, and I'll tell it once the wrecker is recharging for once. But from what Topspin said before we split up from him, Roadbuster should be in California, there's at least two bolt holes I know of that where there. One completed and one not."

"If we find Roadbuster, Topspin won't be too far away," Crosshairs shifted to sit up a little.

"Or the other way around, those two are bonded right?" Drift perked up, even if it was at a vast distance bonded mates could sense the way back to their other. That was one of the many things he had heard about spark bonds, even if bonds where slightly different from each other.

Jolt nodded, "They are Wreckers, so even if we find their humans, I know a Wrecker, let along the Foreman and his Second would not be too far behind looking for what is theirs. So to say." He smirked at Drift and pointedly looked at where the Paratrooper was.

"It's not as hopeless as I thought." Drift smiled, a real smile that showed again as he admitted to his fears. That was at least four more names then he had expected.

"...maybe the Prime isn't dead after all?" Crosshairs whispered, more to himself as the little bundle shifted against his arm, feeling the first strings of hope starting to rebuild again on his spark. If the Foreman of all mechs was still alive, surely a Prime could have the same tenacity to stay alive.

Right?

If Megatron could not kill off the Prime after so long... surely humans could not!

Crosshairs glanced at where Hound and Leadfoot had been, then up and over in the direction that Bumblebee was in recharge. They had… six strong at the moment. Autobots could do a hell of a lot at that number really, plus two were wreckers! he sat up a little bit more, as Crosshairs really truly started to think and remember who was here in the bolt hole.

Leadfoot was an engineer, Bumblebee was special opps not just his frame type of scout. Drift had the Decepticon experience as well as scouting too, Hound was a walking armery for everything pretty much. He had skills as a sniper as well as basic engineering- basic for a Cybertronian at that. Human tech was not too hard most of the time, just different. And Jolt?

That mech was one of the few that were in that strange spot between a normal warrior, black opps and liaison.

Surely they could do something yeah? Find the others, find why the hunts happened-

There was a soft squeak that drew Crosshairs attention down, and Drift's over. The green mech flashed a smirk as he focused on little green eyes that were widening as the owner stared back. "Look who woke up at last. Took ya a while."

Crosshairs hunched down even more in his spot, smiling now as there was an exited chirp of, "Crosshiars!" as Amy woke up fully, scrambling to get up from her nest.

The trooper ducked his head with a low purring, the muscle cables in his neck and back doing an interesting thing as he hunch over to meet the girl. Feeling the small hands on his chine, and then nasal ridge, nose, and then against his left cheek. Safe from prying optics in this position, the mech indulged almost shameless in sharing affection now. Nuzzling the little sparkling sized girl.

Crosshairs was in a much better mood now that he had a good long recharge and rest...and after some real hope again.

The mech smiled and rubbed his cheek against the girl, Crosshairs lifting a hand to touch her back, the purring deepening as he felt her give his cheek a kiss.

"Missed me then didja junebug?"

To the reviews! (holy cow look at them all)

PhoenixLordess:
Thank you so much! I hope you can survive the cute, I still have a few things in mind to kill with cute.

Guest [Mariah]:
I do! I'm helping with the ranch and working on dream catcher commissions between smaller jobs (its been super fun doing character themed ones!). Still looking for a full time job.

Wolfimus Prime:
It did? That makes me so happy. As for Sam... that... THAT I am not going to give a way as its going to be apart of another story connected to this. (That's all you get for now until something comes up in story text!)

Regan:
Considering how slow I've been with posting chapters for a while, It's all good Regan! I fully admit that I am an evil writer, that's why I'm 'mean' with all the feels. Hopefully you enjoy this new chapter as well!

SoundlyManners:
I'm safe! I promised, plus we're sure it's my fault that its raining so much in my area. It followed me from Washington XD But just in case we have plans for evacuation if a wild fire comes, plus we are taking care of the place to keep a wide fire break [no vegetation around the house for a distance].

SoundlyManners it meant so much to see your review, and to see you're proud of me, thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and expressing yourself as well.

WendyLeaf:
I'm happy that you enjoyed this story! I am trying my best with getting my plot bunnies in some semblance of an order.

Moony R.J. Lupin:
Hello there! I'm happy the cutes have gone over well! Also I will admit I may have cried writing some points with Sam. I do think he is a lot smarter then the movies depicted him at times. [Also I full on head cannon that Bumblebee is a big cuddler to those he trusts and feels safe with]

Mkae:
Thank you! I' proud of my little shy noodle child n.n and steeljaw will at some point get a true cuddle from the Tiny.

Sarah:
Yay! Also I agree he would be fun to get a snuggle, but also... dude, the glyphs are amazing, I tend to do it as a headcannon that the glyphs have a meaning. Even if they are just a type of tattoo equivalent.

Dracologistmaster:
I'm glade you enjoyed the last chapter, and like the now once more aware Crosshairs!