Disclaimer: All of these guys below belong to Hasbro. I just like playing with their fates and will return them when done.

Your Author: I can't believe I'm starting a multi-chapter fic. The bunnies were just that persistant. I hope everyone enjoys!

Winter had moved in swiftly and consumed everything it breathed across. No snow graced the ground, but the bitter cold was more than enough to send people running for the indoors. Students were returning home for the holidays to bask in the warmth of their families. Sam Witwicky was no different. He too had gone home to Tranquility, but lacked the cheer the time of season usually instilled within people. The immaculate lawn was still green even in this weather because of Ron Witwicky's attentiveness. The flowers his mother loved were curled and shriveled, hibernating until spring came and warmed the roots. The cold wind blew outside, tossing leaves and the occasional plastic bag around. It was eerily quiet as if everyone, and everything, knew that the young man needed silence. His fingertips, nose and cheeks were going numb, but he remained sitting on the back porch in deep thought. He should have gone inside to seek refuge from the cold, but he welcomed it open armed. It reminded him he was human.

Human. The word was so sweet on his tongue. Sam never imagined he'd have to remind himself that was his race of origin. He looked down at his hands, which were shaking slightly not from the cold. A decision weighed heavily on his mind and shoulders. He wished he could go into the garage and talk to Bumblebee about it just as he used to. His guardian was willing to listen to the young human rant about things that troubled him. Such as Mikeala or his parents. Unfortunately his problem lay within the realms that Bumblebee would find familiar. Realms that Sam himself began to fear. While it seemed like the logical thing to go to his guardian about this, he couldn't bring himself to. He knew what would be said. He had a fairly good idea of what would happen should NEST or the government find out. His body shuddered involuntarily. No. He wasn't going to even go there. That left him between a rock and a hard place.

He'd had a long discussion with his parents not long ago. One that left both quiet and staring at their dinner as if it were going to jump off their plates and do the tango. He flat out told them he couldn't go back to college. That nearly started an argument between himself and his father before he hastily explained himself. He'd spoken quietly as if fearful that Bumblebee would hear. Judy was sympathetic for her only son and Ron had appeared torn. Once he finished Judy suggested he go upstairs while she talked with Ron, instead he went to the back porch and hadn't heard from them since. He could tell his father was contemplating taking him to see a shrink or something equivalent. Not that Sam could really blame him. He sounded crazy even to his own ears. The only thing that would stop him from doing so was fear that Sam would end up like his great grandfather Archibald Witwicky.

The backdoor opened and out stepped his mother. She stood nearby and released a sigh. She was obviously frazzled and by the looks of it she'd also had a few drinks, presumably to calm her nerves. He looked up at her to acknowledge her presence before staring at his hands again. Like he couldn't believe they belonged to his body.

"Sam." Her voice broke the silence and gathered his complete attention. "Is this what you really want?" She sounded unsure, like when he was preparing to leave for college.

"Yeah," he nodded his head in confirmation.

"Your father is calling his brother. If he agrees, you can stay up there until you 'discover yourself'." Sam couldn't help but smile at her way of putting it.

"Thanks mom." She ran her hand over his hair, smoothing it out like she often did when he was younger.

"Now get inside, it's freezing out here." She wrapped her arms around herself to emphasize her point. Sam followed his mother inside, the warmth wrapping around him in near suffocation. Ron put down the phone with a heavy sigh and leaned against the counter as he turned to Sam. He took a moment to look him over. The son who had died in Egypt and somehow returned to the living. The same son who, when he was five, befriended Miles when no one else would. He'd grown up so much, but there was something in his eyes that was unsettling to Ron. He couldn't place it and doubted he'd ever be able to. As he stood there it was hard to believe he'd only been on the earth nineteen years. It wasn't long. Yet he'd been through so much within a few years time.

"I talked to him and Greg said it would be fine with him if you came to stay for a while." He sounded almost defeated. He wasn't able to go into detail, but as far as Greg knew Sam was having 'issues' he couldn't sort out at home. Greg liked his nephew and was quick to agree to the arrangement. "The only condition is that you work in his auto shop." Sam couldn't get away from mechanics it seemed, but he'd take it.

"Thanks dad." The older man merely shrugged and reached for his drink.

"He said you can head up tomorrow, if that's what you really want." It was decided then. He wouldn't tell Bumblebee where he was going, but he would tell him he was leaving and that he didn't want to be followed. That was a conversation he wasn't looking forward to.

-

It was late and dark. Crickets made their musical notes and tomcats roamed the streets, but activity within the neighborhood otherwise was limited to none. No humans should be active within the Witwicky house and yet Bumblebee's scanners picked up movement within the dwelling. Ron and Judy were unmoving in their room, fast asleep, which only left Sam. He maneuvered down the stairs and into the garage quietly closing the door behind him. He turned on the light and settled himself on the workbench. It was silent for a while as Sam picked out what he'd say, Bumblebee politely let him. He was obviously nervous about something, which didn't make sense. He'd never been nervous around him before. Finally his charge took a breath.

"I'm leaving 'Bee."

'We are free and independent, we go everywhere

And we gotcha gotcha all the way'

"No 'bee," Sam shook his head sadly. The camero sank down on his tires and made an inquisitive sound. "I'm going alone." At this Bumblebee transformed. The garage had been rebuilt a tad taller than it had been, but still Bumblebee had to kneel down. At least he could transform without damaging anything. He lowered his head and nudged Sam slightly with a finger. "Things are going on that I have to sort out."

"Sam," Bumblebee started to argue. His vocal processor was still scratchy and he used it sparingly, but it was getting better. The look on Sam's face, however, prompted him to change tactics. "What is troubling you? You haven't said anything about there being a problem." Sam seemed to deflate, refusing to look directly at Bumblebee.

"As I said, I have to figure it out myself." It was clear that he didn't intend on telling Bumblebee anything. His guardian seemed to sigh and cupped his hand around Sam, trying to give him what comfort he could. He was obviously distressed about this. Sam leaned back against the large metal hand and closed his eyes.

"Can you not do that here?" He inquired. Sam shook his head. "I will accompany you wherever you go." He sounded soothing despite the static in his vocals. Sam felt a pang of guilt within his gut, but ignored it for the moment.

"I'm going alone." The mere thought worried Bumblebee more than he would admit. Things happened to Sam when he wasn't around and he wasn't going to be quick to let him go again. Not after the last time.

"It may not be safe for you Sam." Many of his comrades would rather hide this particular fact from the human, but it was truth. Sam was a target for the Decepticons, the recent events proved it. Sam groaned in frustration.

"That's just it! I need to get away from all of this." He waved his hands around. "I will have my phone with me," he spoke in a placating tone. "If you think a Decepticon is so much as thinking about flattening me, call and I will get back here or wherever." It was a last ditch effort on his part. He tried to keep the desperation out of his voice. Whether or not he succeeded, Bumblebee didn't indicate.

"This is utterly necessary?" Sam merely nodded his head. "I will come and check on you from time to time." There was no room for argument there. He was upset that Sam couldn't share these problems with him, but if his young charge could sort things out perhaps things would be better for him. Maybe he'd recharge better as well. Only Bumblebee knew the young human was suffering from sleep deprivation.

"Thanks 'Bee." Bumblebee then nudged Sam gently, ushering him towards the door.

"Sleep." He watched him stumble through the door before transforming once more into his alternate mode. He didn't like this entire situation, but Sam looked as if he were fraying at the seams. If it wasn't clear he needed it, Bumblebee would have held his ground against this decision. He would stay close to Sam, but out of sight in order to give him the space he needed. He was his guardian, he wasn't about to let him go off alone. Sam settled into bed and nothing so much as twitched the rest of the night.