Asking Too Much

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. What I DO own though is a couple of OC's.

Pairings: Optimus X Sam, Ironhide X Will, Bumblebee X Mikaela, Ratchet X OC Autobot femme (Red Cross).

Notes: I'd like to thank Jewelclaw Lady of Wind for the idea of the witness protection program as I've forgotten to write that on the last chapter.

I'm also very sorry for the late update… School is getting worse and just getting over my own bad break up with my boyfriend. And I'm sorry that's it so short too.

It was bright and early in Diego Garcia when Sam woke up. It was not the shots, shocks and clangs of the busy people and Autobots milling about in an army base that woke him up but the last echoes of the sound of an airplane leaving. There was no denying of the soul searing pain that shook him to his very core. Alone, that single word has brought him to his knees. He was alone; his parents left him like some useless ragdoll. His parents love him, he knew that much but the hole in his heart is burning him with anger and his soul freezes in despair and sadness. Sam just laid his head on his pillows, his tears falling like twin waterfalls but no sound emanated from him.

The human-sized doors to the Med Bay opened to reveal Major Lennox and Mikaela, who with haste ran to Sam who was still crying. Mikaela had tears shining in her eyes as well and had a shimmer of pity in her eyes. When they got to him, he just looked at them and said, "I know. They left right? Don't ask how, I just know." Sam's voice was hollow, almost dead.

"Oh, Sam..." Mikaela gushed and hugged him. She be there for him as much as he'd always been there for all of them.

"Sam, I – I went to their rooms after they left and I found this. I was hoping that they left some things that would indicate that they'd return eventually but all that was left was this letter." Sam took the letter and opened it; Sam immediately noticed the dried tear marks left on the paper. He realized how hard it must have been for his parents to have written this; maybe, just maybe he was wrong in his assumptions and started reading out loud.

Dear Sam,

By the time that you're reading this we've already left. We're sorry Sammy. It's just that it's so hard. Egypt proved just how hard. We, your father and I, we love you so very much. But we've got no place in your world. Please don't think that we've left you because we don't care, don't love you, that we're scared of you or any of that bullshit. But the truth is we do, we love you so much, too much, and that we ARE scared. We're scared FOR you and what would happen to you if something happens to us.

With the life you're leading now, the life that seems to be pre-destined just for you, we don't have a place there. You'll always be our son, as much as we'll always be your parents. We're liabilities to you and the Autobots. We know how loyal you are to your friends, just goes to show how we raised you so well, and how loyal they are to you too. You're a hero Sammy, even if you don't think so. Just like Major Lennox and his men, just like all of the Autobots. They need you more than us, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee specially; they both care very much for you. And we know that if the Decepticons smartened up and took us just like what happened this time, you'll follow. And we know wherever you go, the Autobots would as well.

We're liabilities Sam. We're putting you and everyone around you in so much danger. We know what you're thinking and you're no danger to us. In fact, you are a blessing to us, a gift that we cherish so much. We're your parents; we WANT to protect you, to hold you close to us. But we all realized the truth haven't we? Back in Egypt, you asked us to let you go. And right now, no matter how hard it is for us, we are. We're letting you go Sammy. As much as we need you and want you by our side, the world, the Autobots, Optimus Prime needs you more than us. Heaven knows just how many people need you but this place, where you are right now. This is where you belong.

The Autobots love you as one of their own. Their love for you can't be measured or compared just as our love for you will last through all of time, no matter how distant the difference it will be.

Always with love,

Mom and Dad

Sam while reading the letter let his tears fall for the 2nd time, he read the letter in front of the Autobots and the rest of the crew. Will and Mikaela listened once more to the heart-felt letter along with Leo, Simmons and Robert "Bobby" Epps. They were all crying silently except for the ones who were bawling, namely Leo. All the Autobots had a sad air around them and their gears were clanking around not in anger or irritation but just sadness.

"Creator leavin' their sparklin's… Unbelievable." Ironhide muttered to himself.

"Their cause might be slightly justified but they have no right to – to leave you like this Sam." Sideswipe said in an anguished voice. He was remembering the time when his own creators were taken away from him so many vorns ago at the start of the war when he and Sunstreaker were still reckless to the point of suicide. His creators didn't have a choice and Red Alert was so young still back then barely a sparkling. They didn't want to go but they were gone. Their creators fought to the end for them and Sam… Sideswipe felt a heavy servo on his "shoulders" and looked at Ironhide who was solemn in his contemplations. Ironhide lost both his brothers in the war, he knew what personal loss was like and Sideswipe just nodded in acceptance to his support to him.

Optimus looked to Sam wanting to say something but couldn't. He couldn't because he had no words to say. He knew deep in his spark that there were no words to express what he feels for Sam in this time of need. It just proves that maybe Optimus should start backing off and let Bumblebee a much younger mech, a mech who was closer to Sam take the place of what Optimus had been longing for. If it was coincidence or not, it still had hurt when Bumblebee approached his charged and gently lifted up Sam and held him like a child close to his spark. Sam still crying shook uncontrollably while clutching at Bumblebee's outer plates like a lifeline. Optimus raised his servo as if wanting to say something to Sam but backed down. Everyone noticed this action and with the exception of Ratchet, Ironhide, Will, Mikaela and Bumblebee thought nothing of it, thinking that he might just want to try and comfort Sam but didn't know how to. Those who didn't dismiss it as nothing watched the unusually bright optics of the Autobot faction leader. There was no denying the bone deep sadness that just seems to permeate from those usually lovely optics. Sam watched him in the corner of his eyes; he was still reeling from the revelations unveiled to him.

Sam quieted his sobs as he felt the sensations and heard the whisperings of the All Spark hidden in his body. Only he is worthy to know, for now. Tell him if you must but not all of it, not yet, anyways. Tell him of our presence, tell him of what has been prophesied, but don't tell him all of it. Hide what is the thing that he and you must develop for yourselves. You are our precious one, and he must prove that he deserves to stand by you and not the other way around. We are you but you are not us, when the time comes there will be no us and only you. You shall be their guide, their beacon of hope and Primus help us we will gift you and those who have been chosen the life that others want for them and to return the life too early taken. Sam hadn't noticed that he had closed his eyes and quieted as he listened to the insistent voice of the All Spark in him. Everyone thought he had finally calmed down but Bumblebee felt otherwise.

As close as Sam was to Bumblebee's Spark right now, he could feel the subtle shift of emotions in Sam. On a second thought, ever since he held him for the first time after Egypt, there was a difference in the feel of Sam's… aura. There was a sense of knowing hidden in the depths of his current emotions. Being a Sensitive, a being in their race, a mech or femme who in essence can communicate with the All Spark, with it gone, they were just normal mechs/femmes. But the slight undercurrent of power emanating under Sam's skin was if not similar, it might actually BE the All Spark.

Hmm… This child is intelligent. It may be prudent for you to also tell him Sam. He is quite a powerful sensitive, much more so than others we've encountered before him. Sam just accepted the decisions that the All Spark made for him. He couldn't argue with it. With the new sense of knowledge he had he saw the pros and cons of everything at almost at the speed of light. Maybe the changes were already starting, he knew that the first dream he'd had was obscuring some kind of truth and they HAVE told him of changes to occur to him soon.

Sam soon decided and pretended to be tired and wanting to rest. They all understood and most of them didn't detect the small white lie, and Bumblebee just brought him back to the Med Bay to rest.

"Sam, I'd like us to talk soon. There's something you're not telling and it might be dangerous to keep it to yourself." Bee said in a low voice as he knew that Mikaela followed them in, she was one of the people that detected the white lie, seemingly wanting to talk to Sam. Bumblebee felt a sting of jealousy shooting through his Spark but let it go. Ever since the first time he'd seen her back in the lake that Sam brought him to, he felt as though his Spark would stop pulsing. He'd heard the stories from Ratchet himself. How one's spark would lurch or give an intense reaction when they've met their sparkmate. Ratchet told him of the time he'd first met Red Cross, a femme and a medic just like him. He thought he was having a spark attack or a virus invaded his system since it felt like his spark wanted to jump right out of its chambers and go to the femme, who in his life he'd never seen before. It was a spark warming thing. Having a sparkmate was a coveted thing in their race. When they still numbered numerous chancing upon their sparkmate was a gift form Primus himself. Now, vorns after his creation, he'd met his sparkmate and of all things that Primus could have done, she was a human. A human who if they treated themselves right and had the luck would only live up to 150 if they're lucky, and that didn't even reach up to 2 vorns. Mikaela sent a beautiful smile at Bumblebee, seeming as if to thank him for caring so much about her boyfriend and Bumblebee just about melted at that smile. He was completely and utterly smitten with the small human girl but it was ok. He was sure that Sam, someone he looks to as his spark brother and his best friend, would take good care of Mikaela in the short lifetime Mikaela would live. He wasn't so sure about Sam living as long since well…

"Bee, I'd like to talk to Sam for a while can you please go out for a moment?" Mikaela asked in a respectful and gentle tone. Bumblebee just whirred a response and a nod, not using his voice or the radio. He slowly walked to the exit, not looking back and not seeing a longing look in Mikaela's eyes or the crinkling in amusement of Sam's. Mikaela turned and went up the berth and sat on the chair beside his bed. She felt a heavy presence on the chair and realized that this was where Sam's parents probably sat the night before. She moved to sit up and sit somewhere else but Sam's hands stopped her and guided her to sit on the bed facing him. They stayed silent, not saying a thing, holding each other's hands

"Sam, I…"and Mikaela trailed off, hesitating. Usually, Mikaela "Ice Bitch" Banes never hesitated but this was Sam, Samuel James Witwicky. The man who she loved for the past two years and probably still will even after an eternity. Sam, who loved her unconditionally for who was and not for anything else,. "I love you…" The first words to come out of his mouth when he woke up from death. No, she can't do this. This man, Sam surged back to life with her name on his lips.

Sam squeezed her hand, bringing her back to reality and she felt moisture on her face. She used her free hand and touched her face feeling tears. She never noticed that she was crying. She also didn't notice Sam raising his hand until she felt his warm hands wipe away her tears. "Don't cry, Kaela. Whatever it is that you want to tell me, say it. Trust me Kaela, whatever it is; it won't affect me as much as you think it would." Sam said with conviction and in his voice was an undertone of knowing. Mikaela couldn't shake off the feeling that the events of the past few days had much more impact than what was obvious.

"Sam… I don't know what to tell you… After what just happened this morning, I'm just not so sure that I should go through this…" Mikaela just looked into the distance to the open Med Bay doors, facing the ocean barely seen on the horizon. Sam shook his head at the hesitance of one of the most important women to him; he smiled, a small wry smile thinking of how he already knew what she was potentially wanting to say to him. It hurt, true, but from what he's been seeing, it's for the best as well. He can't have his two best friends be without the love the other longs for and deserves.

Sam cupped her face with only one hand and turned her head to face him again. Her eyes were shining with pools of tears ready to fall. "Don't despair. If it's for the best Kaela then let it be. I know that you feel it. We're not meant to be no matter how much we wish it to be. I know why you came here, what you wanted to talk about. And even if it hurts, it's better this way. If you don't have the courage to say it then I will. I love you, Mikaela Banes. I've proved just how much I loved you when I woke up from death with your name on my lips. But I love you too much, just as much that I know that you love me too much. This love, there's no boundaries but that in itself is the problem. Love won't carry us through whatever ordeal that our life will throw at us from now on and I'm afraid that eventually our love will become stale and we would hate each other. Love is about balance, a cupful of friendship, 3 and a half cups or more of attraction, a teaspoon of sweetness, a dash of passion, half a cup of bitterness and a generous portion of dissatisfaction and hate. The last three ingredients are needed too or else like everything sweet it rots too quickly but once you find a right balance things stay as they are as long as it's maintained."

"Sam…" Mikaela said in an anguished voice. Tears were freely flowed from her eyes once more. Sam wrapped his arms around Mikaela hugging her close to him. "I love you, Kaela. I love you more than anything else. That's why I have to let you go. But you'll always be MY Mikaela." Sam murmured into her hair.

Time Skip

It had been 2 days since Sam's parents left and the Autobots kept quiet and stayed in a near enough distance to get to him when he needs them but far enough that he won't feel caged in. Too many a time Sam sent them small grateful smiles. Mikaela stayed by his side most of the time, they never talked much but it looked obvious that Sam felt better with her constant presence near her. Bumblebee always accompanied the two, giving as much support as he could to his best friend. The rest of the Autobots were informed of the break-up between Mikaela and Sam. After looking through the net about break-ups the Autobots started stressing that Sam might do something, Optimus more so than others. Ratchet warned him that Optimus would land straight to the Med Bay if his spark beat faster than it already was.

Then just like dawn breaks the night it was Sam's first laugh after the events at Egypt that broke the tense atmosphere. It started that morning when Mikaela visited Sam again for the 3rd time in a row and unexpectedly some extra company went with her. Oh sure, Bumblebee was there but so was Leo, Simmons, Skids and Mudflap. Now, since it's been days and the mood was still a little bit somber, the usual troublemakers and weird ones hadn't done anything… outrageous just yet. But once you group together all of the "quirkier" beings together there was bound to be SOME trouble, add to that the little nuisance of a coward Decepticon, Wheelie. They are just asking for it.

It all started just after the four bumblers came into the Med Bay. Ratchet was out that day to have his training session done for the week. And the Chevy twins started their usual antics and fought each other. Now since the events of Egypt, Leo and Simmons officially were a part of NEST and was one of the few operatives to be partnered with an Autobot. Arcee was supposed to be partnered up with Mikaela but had to spend time with the NEST team first. Will is with Ironhide, Robert is with Sideswipe, and Sam is with Bumblebee and now, Leo is with Mudflap and Skids with Simmons. They were getting pretty close even just after 4 days-ish… Anyways seems that Leo and Simmons got, excuse me for the term not that it's rude or anything, infected with their little spiels of who's better or who's smarter or who's uglier. Now usually after a few blows to each other's pride Bumblebee would break the two up by butting their heads together and throwing them somewhere. Luckily they were outside of the Med Bay when the argument started with Mikaela with Sam inside watching. When Bumblebee started towards them to break the two up, he realized that Leo and Simmons were sitting on their partner's shoulders respectively. Now there's quite a dilemma because the two brothers started their brawl. Surprisingly, Leo and Simmons both had a strong grip and managed to stay on while the brothers actually made sure not to hit their brother's respective humans. While trying to get the two humans off the brawling brother's back, Bumblebee through a series of events got blasted not only off of his stabilizing servo but ON his stabilizing servo. He managed to escape it but the two brothers noticed what happened and got a mischievous glint in their optics that their humans mirrored. Bumblebee suddenly found himself almost dancing trying to save his stabilizing servos from being hit with the mini-plasma cannons that the twins had in their arsenal. It looked like a classic cartoon scene when someone's feet were being shot at and the character would look like he was tap dancing or something. The scene just seemed to trigger Sam's funny bone and what'd you know, he was laughing so hard that tears were leaking from his eyes.

It was also not a coincidence that the rest of the Autobots and some NEST soldiers ran to the sound of plasma cannons firing to see just in time Sam laughing his heart out. His laugh was positively infectious and everyone found themselves laughing for no reason at all. And after all the gust busting laughter session, Sam smiled a genuine true smile for the first time in the last week.

It was also 5 days after all the drama of Sam's parents leaving, Sam found it in himself to finally talk to Bumblebee and Optimus. It was then that he asked Mikaela if he could talk to Bumblebee and her alone.

No Beta so like please tell me if there's something wrong here.

And please review! I need more fuel so that I can update faster!