Disclaimer: I own nothing. Seriously, I don't even own the title. A Nickleback song inspired this fic so that's the title I gave it.

Chapter 2

"Sideswipe!" Hot Shot and Blurr called out, rushing forward towards the young 'Bot. When they ran into each other they both glared at the other for a second before turning their attention back to Sideswipe.

"Move," Red Alert ordered pushing the two concerned mechs out of his way so he could attend to Sideswipe. After a quick diagnostic he turned to Smokescreen. "Can you carry him to the infirmary?"

Smokescreen nodded before picking up the much smaller 'Bot and heading for the infirmary. Unfortunately as soon as Sideswipe was out of the room Blurr and Hot Shot's attention could be redirected at another source.

"Who the hell are you?!" Hot Shot growled.

"His name is Spindle, he's here on recommendation from council," Optimus stepped in, trying to prevent the imminent fight that he sensed was about to break out between his new recruit and the Sideswipe's 'brother' and boyfriend.

"Sideswipe was fine before he saw you," Hot Shot growled.

"Well he probably wasn't expecting to see me here. Besides we didn't part on the best of terms," Spindle said in his defense…Only to dig himself a deeper hole.

"You parted?" Blurr asked, imaginary eyebrow twitching.

"Yeah. He said he didn't want to be tied down with one mech for the rest of his life and hit the road" Spindle said casually.

Optimus inwardly winced before looking at the kids, who had been unusually quiet till now. They—well Carlos and Alexis—would definitely be confused by the obvious allusion to there having been a relationship between Spindle and Sideswipe in the past.

Sure enough, Carlos and Alexis' faces showed confusion while Rad's was impassive, though Optimus was certain he saw a certain emotion just below the surface. That definitely couldn't be good. Sideswipe had been known to confide in Rad because Rad seemed to understand him. That made Optimus a little uneasy since he knew Rad's childhood hadn't been the best. A month after they met the kids, he had noticed that while Carlos and Alexis would talk about their mom and dad Rad would talk about a Mr. and Mrs. Bailey. After further questioning Rad told him that he lived with a foster family because of his own parents inability to raise him. Nothing more had been said on the subject.

"Really? He doesn't seem to—" Blurr started to say.

"Why doesn't someone show the new guy to his room," Jetfire cut Blurr off before he accidentally admitted his relationship in front of Hot Shot. Blurr glared at Jetfire but complied with the order.

"Come on," he growled.

"So I fainted?" Sideswipe asked.

"Yes," Red Alert stated in his normal monotone. "Care to tell me why?"

Sideswipe sighed. Red Alert wouldn't let him go unless he gave an answer. "I just wasn't expecting see Spindle… here… now," Sideswipe said, almost losing it. The other Autobots thought he was overly emotional, with no control what so ever. Boy were they wrong. He'd been holding the majority of his emotions in an iron grip since he was a very young mech. Since he met Spindle in fact. Spindle could read emotions like a data pad and took shameless advantage that ability. Sideswipe hadn't liked having everything he felt twisted around and used to control him.

"Optimus?"

Optimus looked down to find Alexis and Carlos staring up at him questioningly. This was the question he had been dreading. The kids were going to ask about the transformers mating habits. Once, when he'd voiced his concerns about this imminent conversation to Rad, the boy had laughingly compared him to a parent faced with giving his child 'The Talk'. Whatever that was.

"Umm… yes?" He asked.

"What—" The kids were cut off by some scuffling that appeared to be coming from the direction of the barracks.

Blurr wouldn't have gotten into a fight with the new recruit this early, even with the hint of a past relationship involving Sideswipe. Would he? Actually Optimus knew the answer to that.

"You okay?" Rad asked after arriving at the infirmary.

"Yeah. Just a little shaken," Sideswipe said with a half heated grin.

"Soooo… that was him?" Rad asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah," Sideswipe answered, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. He didn't want to breakdown in front of Rad even though he knew Rad would understand. Rad's past was so similar to his it was scary. They'd both been hurt badly by someone that was suppose to love them and they were both rescued from the situation by their older brothers. The only difference was the man that hurt Rad was in prison, so Rad's peace of mind was at the mercy of the parole board. Sideswipe's peace of mind had been dependent on how much distance he could put between himself and Spindle.

"You don't think he'll try anything do you?" Rad asked.

Sideswipe shook his head. "Doubtful. Besides, if he did Blurr and Hot Shot would probably kill him," Sideswipe tried to laugh. He didn't succeed.

"When do you get out?" Rad asked.

"I don't know. Probably whenever Red Alert's sure I don't have some deadly glitch that will slowly eat it's way through my system until I drown in my own fluids," Sideswipe sighed.

"Lovely imaging. I think you missed your calling," Red Alert said interrupting their private conversation. "Sideswipe's free to go whenever he feels like it."

"Thanks," Sideswipe said, getting off the recharge table. Red Alert nodded before going to replace some of his lab tools in their proper spots.

"So, you up for some climbing?" Rad asked.

"I guess. Why?"

"You need to get out and get over Spindle being here," Rad explained.

"What if I get distracted and fall off the cliff?" Sideswipe asked.

"The cliff I have in mind is only a hundred feet high. If you fall off that and get hurt you have no business climbing at all," Rad said rolling his eyes. Sideswipe had fallen off a five hundred foot cliff complete with sharp pointy rock at the bottom and been almost perfectly fine.

"Augh," a groan and sound of a fight reached them from the barracks.

"That sounded like Blurr," said Sideswipe.

"Shite," Rad said simply.

AN: When I say their older brothers rescued them, I mean the hot gay guy and Sunstreaker who may or may not make an appearance.

Brigg: Shite?

Xandra: It's what I say so I don't get in trouble with my parents. Just take the 'e' off and you'll get it.

Ceidre: That's a stupid word.