I am happy with how much love you all are showing my little baby here ^_^ As an active parent for about a dozen little over energetic fic it is hard to keep them in line even more so when they feel they are not getting the attention they want. But thanks to all you that is no problem.
Thanks to every single person who reviewed the last chapter I hope that this one get the same amount if not more reviews and views then the last.
Optimus sat at his large desk looking over the new reports from his scouts, surprisingly there had been little Decepticon activity the past few days and he for one was happy about that. He didn't want to have to deal with them for a while since his priorities had been rearrange. When he first came to Earth the only things he was concerned about where; fighting the Decepticons, the safety of the Autobots under his command and the safety of the humans. Now however a new wrench had been thrown into the mechanics of his mind and it rearranged everything.
His new number one priority was the well being of his sparkling, even though he hadn't personally sparked it he could already feel the bound between him and the little one. He was still concerned with if the sparkling would remember his old life as Sam Witwicky, but it was still too soon to tell. It had only been a week and a half and there was no telling when and if his old memories would come back. Optimus was amazed however at the rate of growth the sparkling was going through.
He had already started talking, not full sentences but he could get his general point across and he was learning more every day. Amazingly the first word he had spoken had been a few days after being brought on line and it had been the last thing he had expected to hear from the sparkling. He had been holding the sparkling in his arms talking with Ratchet about the signal from there transmitter that was sending there message into space for the other Autobots to hear when the sparkling spoke up.
"Why?" He had asked.
Being surprised isn't something that happens to often to him, but this one word coming from the sparkling had him speechless for a few moments. Only after he had repeated the question did he snap out of his daze and answer. Since then it was none stop questions from the little one, every other word was; why?
It was that fact that gave Optimus hope that Sam was still in there somewhere, the boy had always been asking questions whenever he was around an Autobot. He looked up from his data pad when the door to his office opened and Ironhide stepped in, his face was set in a firm scowl and he instantly knew why that was. He could just make out the small legs that where wrapped around Ironhide's neck and the head that poked its way around Ironhide's.
A gentle metallic beat was coming from behind Ironhide and when Optimus raised an optic ridge Ironhide just grunted and turned around. The little sparkling was giggling to himself as he tapped on the back of Ironhide's head and helmet. Optimus laughed and he saw the weapons specialist frame tense up. Optimus set down his data pad and walked over to Ironhide's back and wrapped his hands gently around the sparkling, he laughed and instantly let go of Ironhide. Optimus held the sparkling in one arm as Ironhide relaxed and turned around.
"Why did you place him on your neck?" Optimus asked confused.
"I didn't." Ironhide said gruffly. "He climbed up there."
Optimus was about to make a comment on that but Ironhide suddenly pointed at him.
"Watch out!" He said.
Opitmus looked down at where the sparkling had been a moment before but found that he was no longer resting in his arm. He felt something tug at a few plates on his shoulder and then he felt a small weight settle on the top of his head. When he shifted his optics up he could just make out the bottom of a pair of feet hanging over his forehead. He brought his hands up and felt on the top of his head and he heard giggling and happy clicks when his hands came into contact with the sparkling sitting there. He felt the small hands wrapped around his antenna.
"What are you doing up there little one?" He asked.
"Play!" Came the voice from on top his head.
Optimus laughed.
"Not now little one there is work that needs to be done." He said.
There was quiet for a moment.
"Why?" Came the reply.
"Because it is very important that it gets done." Optimus said.
"Oh." The sparkling said. "Can I help?"
Optimus chuckled and slowly shook his head which made the sparkling laugh.
"I am afraid not little one." He said.
A sad whine came from the sparkling and he finally let go which let Optimus take him down from the top of his head. Optimus looked down at the sad face and felt his spark pulse sadly at the look, a moment latter he started feeling a week feeling of sadness that came across the strengthening bond.
"How about I take a break from work and I introduce you to some of the other Autobots?" Optimus offered.
The sparkling instantly brightened and began to chirp happily. Although all the Autobots around the base knew of the sparkling and had seen him whenever he was out with Optimus or Ironhide none have had been introduced to him yet. He hoped that the sparkling was ready to meet the new people.
"Will you be joining us Ironhide?" Optimus asked.
Ironhide looked at Optimus and was about to say no when he caught sight of the bouncing sparkling and was forced to say yes. They left Optimus's office and made there way to the rec room where they spent there free time. Inside there was a dispenser that gave out energon cubs, several tables and chairs for them to sit and talk and a large screen in front of a big couch where they could watch T.V. or for some 'bots watch movies and play video games.
When they entered they found that there where several Autobots in there, many where sitting at the tables talking about different things while they sipped cubes of energon while others where gathered around the television watching Sunstreaker and Sideswipe fighting against Jolt and Bumblebeee in a game of Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Everyone looked up when Optimus and Ironhide came into the room and they where greeted warmly.
Ironhide grunted in response while Optimus nodded and said a friendly hello. Everyones' optics then turned to the bouncing sparkling who had once again climbed his frame in order to sit on his shoulder. Several 'bots laughed and a few waved to the sparkling which made him even more excited. Quickly he began to try and climb back down but Optimus caught him before he could go to far, he was afraid that he might fall and hurt himself. Once he had a grip on the sparkling he sat him gently on the ground and watched as he started making his way to the closet Autobot which happened to be Bumblebee.
Bumblebee was sitting on the couch intensely pressing buttons on the modified controller as he tried to throw Sunstreaker's character off the game platform. The sparkling walked up to his feet and looked up at the yellow scout who instantly paused the game and greeted the sparkling.
"Hello little one." He said.
Optimus didn't miss the under tone of sadness in Bumblebee's voice. He knew that Bumblebee was very upset with the fact that he had not been able to protect Sam, Optimus blamed himself for the scouts absence from Will's house that day. Bumblebee had been patrolling the surrounding areas of the base that night at Optimus's request so he was not with Sam like he normally was. Optimus hoped that Bumblebee would handle the sparkling well.
"Hi." He said shyly. "Who are you?" He asked.
"My name is Bumblebee. Whats yours?" He asked nicely.
The sparkling was quiet for a while.
"I don't know, I don't have one." He said.
Neither Optimus or Ironhide had given him a name, they wanted to wait and see if he remembered who he was before giving a name.
"That's too bad." Bumblebee said.
The sparkling shrugged a shoulder and Optimus, Ironhide and Bumblebee where instantly reminded of Sam. He had always done the same thing when faced with an unknown question or topic.
"What are you doing?" The sparkling asked.
"Playing a game." Bumblebee replied.
"Yes we are playing a game now can we get back to it so we can win!" Sunstreaker interrupted only to get hit hard on the back of the head by Sideswipe.
The sparkling looked at Sunstreaker and then to the screen which was frozen on Bumblebee's character.
"Can I play?" He asked.
Bumblebee looked back at Optimus and Ironhide both of whom nodded there heads encouragingly.
"Alright, here." Bumblebee said handing the sparkling a controller that was small enough for him to use.
Bumblebee then lifted the sparkling up and set him carefully on his knee where he took a position again like Sam use to. He looked over the controller before grabbing it firmly in his hands. Bumblebee ended the session they had been in much to Sunstreaker's dismay, thankfully Sideswipe stopped him from saying anything with another smack to the head.
They started picking there characters again and everyone was ready except for the sparkling who was looking at all of them trying to pick the one he liked best. He stopped over the picture of a man with pointed ears holding a sword and wearing a green tunic.
"Link." He said confused.
He began rubbing at his head like something was bugging him and Optimus and Ironhide moved closer.
"Are you alright little one?" Ironhide asked.
Everyone in the room was looking at what was going on. Bumblebee made sure to not miss anything that happened, he knew that some more of Sam was trying to push its way out. He and Sam had always played the game together and Link had been the one Sam always picked and he was very good with him.
"Something, talking." he said. "Want to remember."
He shook his head and let out a scared chirp before letting go of the controller and jumping from Bumblebee's knee into Optimus's chest. As soon as he came into contact with the metal there he hooked his fingers around the plating and held on tightly. Optimus brought both hands up to hold the scared sparkling there. He could feel him shaking and could hear several sad clicking sounds coming from him. He looked from the sparkling on his chest to Ironhide who was stunned to Bumblebee who looked torn between so many emotions that Optimus couldn't tell which one was stronger then the others.
"Come lets take him to Ratchet maybe he can tell us what is happening." Optimus said.
Optimus stood and was about to walk out of the room but the sound of the sparkling talking stopped him.
"What did you say little one?" He asked moving his hands so the sparkling could lift his head and speak clearly.
he looked up at Optimus his optics dim.
"Bee." He said quietly. "Want, Bee."
Optimus blinked in surprise but turned around and called into the room.
"Bumblebee, would you be kind enough to join us?" Optimus asked.
It didn't take long for him to jump off the couch and run to Optimus's side. As soon as the yellow scout came into view the sparkling rested his head back against Optimus's chest where it stayed until they got to Ratchet's med bay.
It was a couple of hours latter and Optimus, Ironhide and Bumblebee where still in Ratchet's med bay. The CMO had wanted to do every test he could think of to determine what was wrong with the little sparkling. But for every test that he did he was only met with frustration. None of his scans showed any physical problem which only meant that what ever was going on was all in the sparkling's CPU.
Ratchet led both Optimus and Ironhide into a separate room that was connected to the med bay while Bumblebee stayed in the main room watching over the re-charging sparkling.
"I am not sure what to tell you." Ratchet began. "All my scanners say he is fine, what ever the cause of his episode it was all in his mind."
"Before he jumped into Optimus's arms he said there was something talking to him, that he wanted to remember." Ironhide told him.
"Do you think that this is evidence that Sam is still in there and trying to come out?" Optimus asked Ratchet.
Ratchet was quiet for a few moments before answering.
"I am not sure, it could be possible but with no other recording of something like this I have no information to work with." He said. "Has he had moments when some part of Sam seemed to show up before this?"
Both Opimus and Ironhide nodded there heads.
"Nothing big, habits that Sam use to have." Ironhide said.
"He is as inquisitive as Sam was." Optimus added. "And he has kept the feeling of security that he had with Bumblebee, he made sure that Bumblebee was with us before we came here."
Ratchet made a humming noise as he looked back into the other room, his optics taking in the sight of the young scout watching the sparkling with unwavering optics. He sighed.
"I fear that there is nothing more that we can do right now. We will just have to keep watch and see if any solid memories surface."
Nodding in agreement the three of them went back into the main room. Ironhide moved instantly to the sparkling and lifted him gently into his arms. He stirred for a moment and Ironhide was afraid that he had woken the little one up, but his fear faded when all that sparkling did was push him self further into Ironhide's embrace and wrap his arms around a piece of his armor.
Looking up at Optimus he was happy to see the Prime give him a nod, the sign that taking there young spark was fine with him. Ironhide walked out of the med bay cradling the sparkling to his chest. He headed off in the direction of his room so that he could rest with the sparkling. He and Optimus had both decided that they would keep there separate rooms and just alternate which one the sparkling stayed in each night. True he had the sparkling with him the previous night but when he saw the way he jumped into Optimus's arms instead of his own he became envious of the stronger bond that the two had.
So he decided to start spending more time with the little one to try and strengthen his own bond with him, after all he was his creator just as much as Optimus was. Already he could feel his bond growing stronger and his spark pulsed happily with that fact.
"Do not worry little one, even if you don't remember I will always be here for you. You can be your own 'bot, you do not need to live in Sam's shadow if you don't want to." He said his grip tightening just a little more around the sparkling.
I know what your all thinking and I am right there with you.
Awww isn't Ironhide a big old softy. Like one review said; he is just like a big old teddy bear ^_^
I hope that everyone like this chapter, I am still mulling around with the idea of either giving Sam his memories back or not. Oh and speaking of which to the ones who might be wondering why the sparkling had his little episode when he saw the character Link and not when he saw Bumblebee; its because he was use to seeing giant robots that they didn't trigger any dormant memories he needed something he hadn't really seen before.
Any way Review or I will hold off on the next chapter... That's right I am holding this fic hostage and if you ever want to see it again you will give me at least 10 reviews. Mwahahahaha!!!!!!
Aren't I evil?? ^_^
P.S. I should probably add this somewhere in this chapter so I don't get in trouble; I do not own anything of Super Smash Brothers, and the onyl reason I used it was because I was lazy and didn't want to look up or really think about another multie person fighting game that would be appropriate for a sparkling to play.