Chapter 4

Two weeks had passed since Amber had snuck away in the night and there had been mixed reactions from among the members of Team Prime. Most were concerned that Amber had played them all and was going to show up with her father and MECH on their door step. Even though she did not know where exactly the base was, they all knew how smart she was and most likely had already figured out its location. Optimus didn't believe so, there was more to her leaving and it wasn't to turn on them. He knew a lot had happened in the past week, a lot of it had been emotional and bring up her horrible past. The two of them had not had time to talk after her shouting confession in his room, though he had tried.

Optimus had planned to talk to her about it when picking her up from school but then the Decepticons had attacked. He along with Bulkhead and Arcee had gone to deal with the situation, leaving Bumblebee to pick up all 4 of their young charges. When Amber had been at the trial Optimus had gone for a drive to think over what he was going to say to her but had arrived too late to take her home. It had concerned him when Ratchet had told him how sad and dejected she had been when asking to be bridge to the Darby's house.

So despite the late hour Optimus had driven to the Darby's house intent on staying all night if he had to till he talked to her. He had been shocked to learn she had left without a word to any of them but not very surprised after he thought about it. Amber was use to running and hiding, and it was clear she didn't want to face her past.

-o0o-

It had taken Amber 3 days by bus to get to the small town of Breckenridge Colorado and then hike the last few miles to the old land that belonged to her mother's family. She was glad when she finally saw the old cabin and nothing looked too different since the last time she had been there years ago. It was only thanks to Amber's photographic memory that she knew where the old cabin was since she had been so little when she last came with her mother. She doubted that Silas remembered or even cared about the old place.

Using the spare key that was always hidden in a fake rock under the deck had given Amber entry to the cabin and she had spent the first 2 and half day's simply cleaning up the place, finding it relaxing. However all too soon she realised that she would have to take a trip into town for more food, especially if she was staying for a while. So with everything in the cabin sorted she went out back and unlock the secret bunker that had been there since the Second World War. If anyone had been on the property since her last visit, it was doubtful they would have found the bunker since it was so well hidden. Its main door being set in the ground by a big boulder that was under a huge tree, its roots had long ago grown over it. Opening the door she walked down the stairs, flashlight in hand since the main power generator was off.

She soon located the generator and was able to get the old thing up and running, no longer in the dark, she began to take stock of what was down there. Walking through each room in the bunker she turned on lights as she went, writing down what needed to be done down there. She soon had a list of things that would need to be fixed or replaced before she walked into the garage portion of the bunker. There was a few dozen vehicles kept down there, all former military and last time Amber had been there they were all still in working order. She very much hoped that was still the case well she headed over to the old jeep.

It took a bit of work, reinstalling the battery, putting in fresh gas she had picked up, brake fluid etc. but soon Amber had it running. After opening the bay door to the outside Amber drove it out and headed into town for some supplies, having grabbed some of the cabin's stashed money. She was planning to stay and live there for a while just doing some much needed repairs around the property and land and working on some little projects she had come up with well she had been with Team Prime.

Amber was actually working on one her little projects, soldering iron some wires together, when she found her thought on the bots and their human allies. She wondered what they would all be doing at that very moment. 'Most likely there hanging out doing their own things, or the bots had to go and deal with the cons. I wonder what Optimus really does in his down time?' she thought to herself putting the hot tool aside and pushed away from the work bench. It was late and she was ready to head to bed for the night. Like every night since getting to the cabin Amber was having a hard time getting to sleep, guilt at not talking to Optimus before she left nagged at her.

The next day it was in the late afternoon, Amber was out in the yard, cleaning up some fallen branches and other things when the wind picked up a bit. Moving her hair out of her face she looked up at the sky and saw that the clouds over head were darker than they had been earlier that day. 'Must be a storm rolling in.' she thought well she tossed all of the sticks she had in the wood pile next to the fire pit. She was heading towards the open bunker doors, intent on closing them for the day. Suddenly she heard a tree creak, followed by the sound of wood breaking and the groan of a falling tree. Looking behind her Amber's eyes widened when she saw one of the tall trees falling towards her.

-o0o-

June drove into the Autobot base, a frown on her face well she spotted Jack playing video games with Raf up in the sitting area. "Jackson Samuel Darby, do you mind explaining yourself?" she demanded well she got out of her car and approached her now worried son.

"Um- mom, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about?" Jack asked his mother.

"Oh really?" June asked him well she held out a report card and showed it to him, another paper slipping from her hand and fell. Ratchet noticed it and sighing he grabbed it between two fingers before it fell to the floor. He could hear June getting after Jack for his poor grades but he stopped listening when he saw that this was another report card from the school. He froze when he saw it was Amber's and felt his optics widen when he got a look at her grades. "What's that you're staring at Ratchet?" Raf asked the old medic, bring him out of his stupor.

"It looks to be Amber's school grades and I have to say that I am very much surprised by them." He informed the youngest of the kids, handing Raf the paper. Raf took it well Miko peered over his shoulder to look at the paper too, her eyes growing big well her jaw dropped in shock.

"Holy cow! There's nothing but A's on this!" she shouted for the whole base to hear.

"Yeah it took me by surprise too when I saw her marks." June said having finished her little talk with Jack and came closer. "I never figured under all that hostility there was a smart girl."

"I'm not surprised." Jack said joining in on the conversation. "All I've ever seen her read in her free time is books on engineering."

"Oh which type?" Raf asked curious.

"All of them."

"Ok so shes smart but why than did she leave? Ratchet can teacher more than what any book can about building gadgets and things." Miko stated to which the medic could not argue with as she made a good point.

Ratchet nearly jumped when his terminal suddenly beeped and a comm channel was suddenly opened. "That's odd." He muttered well listening to the transmission but all he could hear was wind and static from the other end. "This is Autobot Base Omega 1, please state your intentions for contacting us?" he asked but there was no reply. He felt like he had been in this situation once before and he soon remembered why.

"Is there a problem Ratchet?" Optimus asked walking over to his work station. Before Ratchet could answer there was a shout. (("Are you kidding me?! First a tree nearly crushes me and now there's a tornado coming right at me and ruining all my hard work.")) The whole base was silent when they recognised Amber's voice and Optimus felt fear in his spark hearing the panic in her voice.

"Where is she transmitting from Ratchet? Can you pinpoint her location?" He asked ready to charge in and help her, trap or not.

"I already did but I am afraid that she is right." Ratchet said finding the girls' location and picking up the weather that was currently happening there. "There is a strong wind tunnel near her location and it may affect the formation of a ground bridge."

Amber's shout came over the comm channel again and was followed by a loud crashing sound and her scream. Ratchet didn't hesitate to open the bridge after that, letting both Optimus and Bulkhead charge through. On the other side they saw the yard behind the cabin, where two trees had fallen down, one hitting the small building. Looking around Optimus spotted movement by that tree in its semi crushed branches.

Pushing against the wind he led Bulkhead over to it. "Amber!" he shouted, hoping she would hear him. He was relieved when her head appeared in a hole between some of the trees leaves. She looked at him in surprise but he took more notice of the gash on her forehead above her left eye, blood running down her face.

"Optimus?! I'm stuck!" Hearing this Bulkhead and Optimus grabbed the tree and lifted it, allowing her to crawl out from under the tree. She ran over to her guardian and grabbed on to his leg well he and Bulk put the tree back down. "How did you find me? Actually never mind, I need to go to the bunker doors and close them! Can you get me over there?!" Amber shouted pointing.

Optimus didn't respond but he did scoop her up in his hand and they headed in the direction she indicated, finding a huge set of doors. "I got it!" Bulkhead shouted grabbing both doors and shutting them. When she said they could only be locked from the inside, Optimus spotted a slab of rock and told Bulkhead to put it on the doors. Once that was done they ran back to the bridge and back into the base.

Everyone was relieved when Ratchet shut the ground bridge down and Optimus let Amber step off his hand to the floor. Seeing the gash on her head June took over taking care of her, leading her over to where they kept the human first aid kits. Amber didn't say anything well June cleaned and bandaged her head. That is until the nurse finished and glared at her. "Um- hi June." she said nervously.

"Hi June, that's it? That is all you have to say after you took off without a word? I have been worried sick about you and asked Agent Fowler to try and locate you. Where on earth have you been the past two weeks?!" she demanded cross but they could all see the look of surprise on Amber's face but it quickly left, replaced by a frown.

"At my family's cabin, or I should say my mom's family, in Colorado doing repairs and maintenance since my Uncle Karl is always busy with his farm, wife and kids. Silas doesn't care or remember where it is, or he didn't when I was younger. So someone's got-" she trailed off as she remembered the tree had fallen on the cabin roof. She fell back on the couch with a groan. "How am I going to fix the cabin's roof? Stupid tree falling on it, stupid tornado that came out of nowhere."

"Wait you have other family beside Silas?" Jack asked confused.

"Your family has a cabin? Can we go and spend the weekend there some time?" Miko asked excited.

"Of course I have other family besides Silas Jack and we'll have to see about that weekend Miko since I now have a roof to fix and who knows what other damages there will be once the stupid storm is over." Amber groaned rubbing her face. "Wait, if none of you knew where I was how did you find me?"

"You contacted base like you the last time over two weeks ago." Ratchet said, being vage not wanting to upset her about her latest run in with MECH. Amber frowned at him, saying that she hadn't contacted base, fishing out the device, cursing when she found it broken in half.

"Ok hold on I think we're getting side tracked here." June said still wanting some answers. "Amber why did you leave?'

"I was angry that you all seemed to be avoiding me once Fowler had announced that the trial was happening sooner." None of them could really look her in the eye once she said that, most looking ashamed. "I figured that you all didn't want me around. One less kid around for you bots to worry about was the way Arcee put it when she was talking to Bulkhead and Bee."

The three in question were a bit taken back. "You heard us talking?" Bulk asked.

"Yes though I don't know what Bee said that was so funny, since it seemed that you were looking forward to me being gone." Amber explained trying to not show how upset she had been about the whole thing by looking at the floor.

"Amber." Arcee said well she gently lifted the girl's face to look at her. "We never wanted you to leave, we were just uncertain about what you would chose to do. Also Bumblebee had said that we had had less of Miko sneaking onto the field with you around. Or did you forget you tackled her the last time she tried to follow us?"

Amber blushed well she laughed nervously, looking up at her guardian who had been quiet till this point. She bit her lip well gathering her courage. "Optimus, I'm sorry I called you stupid and shouted at you when you stopped me from killing Silas. I've had some time to think about it and you were right, I don't want him dead, I just wanted him to hurt like he had hurt me some many times before."

Optimus smiled well he reached down and carefully rubbed the top of her head with a finger. "Your apology is accepted Amber." She smiled at him well tears ran down her face, happy that he had forgiven her realising then that she had come to look up to him. And not because of how far his face was above her head.

-o0o-

The next day saw Amber, Miko, Jack and Raf, along with their guardians out at the cabin assessing the damage that had been done. Besides the one tree on the cabin roof and the one in the yard, the road to the place also was full of long branches, fallen trees and one deer that had not been so lucky. "I have no idea how I am going to pay for all this to be fixed." Amber said well Bulkhead and Optimus moved the tree off the house and to the side to be cut up later.

"Well maybe there is something you can sell that's worth a lot." Miko suggested well she looked around the cabin's now wrecked kitchen.

"Miko, she shouldn't have to sell something to pay for the damages and would you stop standing around and help me clean up." Jack told her well glaring at the Japanese girl.

"Actually Jack she may have something there." Amber said, finger on her chin well an idea came to mind. "I wonder if any museums would like to have any of the military gear and/or vehicles that have been collected by my mom's family through the years."

"That is a good idea but maybe a collector would be better." Raf suggested from where he was sweeping in the living room.

"That also is a good idea Raf but I do have to be careful what I sell to who. For example I don't want to sell the flame thrower to a collector, unless I decommission it." Amber said thoughtfully.

"YOU HAVE A FLAME THROWER?!" Miko shouted excitedly.

"MIko don't you dare touch that. My great grandfather used that in World War Two! Also you could really hurt yourself and others!" Amber said not pleased by the pleading puppy dog look on the other girl's face. "Miko you are officially not allowed down in the bunker without supervision."

Miko huffed well crossing her arms. "Killjoy."

Amber sighed well shaking her head. "Miko there is a lot of dangerous stuff in there, that is why you, Jack and Raf can clean up in and around the house. I'm most likely will have to get Fowler out here and get him to take a look at the collection and give me some advice."

"Amber!"Arcee called from the front of the house where she and Bee had been moving a few of the larger branches off the road. "We spotted some people coming down the road. Is that normal?"

Amber frowned confused coming outside. "There shouldn't be anyone."

"Autobots, to the front of the cabin and transform." Optimus ordered quietly but quickly running to the front where they all transformed and their Holoforms were all activated. All the kids headed outside to see who it was heading their way. When Amber got a good look at the group of 4, two adults and two children, her eyes widened and she gasped.

"Mommy… are we there yet?" Whined the little girl who looked to be 5 years old. "My legs are getting tired."

"It should just be up ahead sweet heart. Right dear?" the woman asked looking at her husband. The man was about to respond when he spotted the group that were waiting for them. He frowned, seeming confused to why they were there but he then saw the one teenage girl that slowly started to approach them and stopped dead in his tracks surprise. The woman was confused too till Amber came closer and finally got a good look at the girl too and she gasped. "It can't be."

"Um… hey Uncle Karl, Aunt Misty." Amber said well she looked at the two shocked adults nervously. "I know this may come as a bit of a shock but it's me Amber. Your niece who's not actually dead but I can explain."

Karl didn't hesitate to close the distance between them and wrap his arms around her, holding her tight. "I don't care what the story is Amber. I'm just so glad that you're here." he whispered to her well Misty and their two kids came over. He let Amber go so his wife could hug her too, not ashamed of the tears that fell from her eyes.

"I thought for a moment I was looking at your mother Cadence." Misty told her well her two children looked at the older girl confused. When Misty pulled back she turned to her children and said. "John, Lucy, this is your older cousin Amber, Aunty Cadence's daughter."

Amber smiled at her little cousins' well kneeling to look at them. "Well it's nice to meet the two of you. You both look like miniature versions of your parents." she told them fondly. The moment however was ruined when Bulkhead shouted. "Miko, don't you dare sneak down there."

Amber groan well face palming.

"Do you mind introducing us to all of your friends?" Karl asked well he laughed at Miko who was being carried back by Bulkhead's holoform. Introductions were given before the lot of them got to work in and around the cabin. Though the heavy lifting was easier with the bots in their biped mode but with Amber's family now involved they had to keep the bots true appearances a secret. Using tow chains and a chain saw Bulkhead, Optimus and Karl soon had the road cleared enough for them to drive through. This allowed Karl to bring his truck up to the cabin and park next to Prime's true from, which he admired for a bit. The rest of them stayed and worked on cleaning up the cabin and covering the hole in the roof with a heavy tarp for the time being.

When the question of how they were going to pay for everything came up Karl and Misty agreed that some of the military items of value could be sold. "Though I suggest donating the flame thrower to a museum after we're sure its tanks have been completely emptied."

"Awe come on can't we just try it out once before you do that?" Miko pleaded hopefully.

"NO!" Everyone told her.

By the end of the day a lot had been done and figured out before they all sat down to eat the simple dinner that Amber and Misty had made with what had been in the kitchen. The bots had to be careful during dinner to keep up appearances, each not taking very much. Also when neither Karl or Misty were looking Jack, Miko, Raf or Amber would take bits of their food. John and Lucy who noticed this thought it was a fun game and soon joined in.

"Well we better head back to the farm. I hadn't planned on being out here all day but I am glad that we got to see you again Amber." Karl said giving her a hug well Misy got the kids ready to leave.

"You and your friends must come to the farm for a weekend of fun sometime this summer or even sooner on a long week end." Misty said well she picked Lucy up, the poor girl was half a sleep after all the hard work. "Also what's your cell number I want to keep in contact with you young lady and I would like to talk with Mrs. Darby as well."

"Um- well I don't have a cell phone and both Jack and June have cells so no house phone to call me on either." Amber said with a frown. When Karl and Misty had asked where they were all from they kept to the truth about living in Jasper and had told them that they had been visiting the cabin for the weekend when the storm hit.

Misty smiled well she pulled out a piece of paper and some money. "That is easily fixed. I'll write down our house number and this should be enough to get you a phone of your own on a simple plan. Be sure that you put my name on it and that the bill comes to me."

"Aunt Misty I can't let you do that." Amber said trying to give her back the money but her aunt refused.

"We have missed too much of your life dear and I don't want to miss any more. Also consider it an early birthday present which I am more than happy to give to you. I do hope one day you will explain to us why your own good for nothing father told us you were dead." Misty said giving her an encouraging smile.

"Maybe one day when it doesn't hurt so much to talk about it." Amber told her well giving her a sad smile before bidding her extended family good bye, watching them go. Optimus's holoform stood next to her placing a hand on her shoulder, which made her smile up at him. This didn't go unnoticed by her uncle who watched the two in his review, a smile on his own face.

"You know I'm surprised you haven't bugged me more about why I'm legally dead." Amber stated to her guardian, hearing the other bots all transforming back to bot form now that her aunt, uncle and their two kids were gone. With most of the work done, Amber's things all packed and having pictures of things that she was going to look at selling, they were also ready to go.

"Like your aunt said, I am waiting till you are ready." Prime said, hold her close, his spark swelling when she put an arm around him in a side hug