A/N: I'm so sorry that this takes me so long to update each chapter. In my defense though, this chapter is definitely longer than the other two. And I am trying to cut down the time between each update. Other than that just know that I don't own transformers or any of its characters.

In the parking lot of Tranquility High, two sentient cars were in the middle of a rather intense staring match. One a smug, somewhat damaged, police car and the other a seething canary yellow Camaro. Barricade, for some strange reason, had been almost constantly following the two of them everywhere for weeks and Bumblebee was on the verge of going crazy. The 'con was right there but he couldn't do anything about it unless Barricade acted first and the 'con knew it.

The bell that signaled the end of the day rang out, quickly followed by the students ready for the extended break ahead. Sam came running out particularly excited. He had somehow convinced his parents to let him spend the entire upcoming spring break at Diego Garcia. Sam was a horrible liar and his parents had found out about the Autobots rather quickly. Judy's first reaction, of course, had been to pull out her bat and attempt to beat Bumblebee with it. But being the unusual, loving parents they were they ended up giving the Autobots a chance and actually liking them, or at the very least tolerating them and accepting how close their son had gotten to them. Sam almost never got to see any of the 'bots except Bumblebee since they'd moved to their permanent base on Diego Garcia. Though when he told Will and Epps this opinion they'd laughed at him and stated that he spent almost as much time with them as some of the soldiers that lived on base and was definitely closer to each of them.

Sam ran by Barricade streaking a hand across the hood and side, calling back,

"See you after Spring break Barricade!" The headlights flashed in acknowledgment as he ran the short rest of the distance to Bumblebee, slipping into the driver's seat. It was strange but shortly after Barricade started following them Sam had gotten a vague feeling that Barricade might have purposely let Sam get away when they'd first met and had since been watching over him for some reason. It was the barest ghost of something almost remembered, more intuition than anything, but Sam knew that Barricade wasn't going to hurt him.

"Hey Bee! Ready to go?" The seatbelt strapped around him as the engine started up and the Camaro peeled out of the parking lot of its own accord.

"I don't like how close you keep getting to Barricade, Sam. It would be so much easier for him to grab or injure you at such a close proximity." Sam merely rolled his eyes.

"Bee, Barricade's not going to hurt me."

"You have no logical reason to believe that."

"So? I'm human, I don't always need logic. In case you hadn't noticed we tend to rely on instincts and gut feelings and stuff for lots of things."

"That doesn't mean you don't need logic."

"I said that I don't always need it."

"Regardless, I would prefer you didn't get so close to him."

"Ok, Bee. I promise not to go within 100 miles of Barricade for the next week."

"… Sam …" Bumblebee gave a robotic version of a sigh before switching topics. Sam was annoyingly stubborn, even for a human and Bee decided to just let it drop. They talked about everything and nothing, listening to as many songs on as many stations as they could during the drive to their transport to the island.

XoXoXoX

Their plane landed and Sam quickly got out, followed shortly by Bumblebee.

"Hello Samuel, Bumblebee." Optimus greeted. Sam looked up and smiled giving him a wave.

"Hey OP, what's up?"

"Nothing is wrong at the moment. I have some good news that I've been saving till the two of you got here" Sam's smile broadened.

"Awesome, what is it?" The first time Sam had asked what's up the 'bots had just stared at him. Bumblebee had concernedly told him that it was 'to or at any point that is considered higher' while Ratchet wasted no time in performing a detailed scan claiming; 'If he does not know something as simple as the concept of 'up' then something must be wrong.' There were a surprising amount of things that couldn't be looked up on the internet that the humans (mostly Sam) had to explain to them. Optimus extended a hand for Sam to climb on, lifting him to a more comfortable level and carrying him over to the Autobot's side of the base.

"Later, for now Ratchet wanted to see you once you got here. Bumblebee, Ironhide has requested to see you when you are available."

Bumblebee nodded and headed off to the firing range where he undoubtedly was.

Sam shivered as they entered the med bay. He spun around to face Ratchet, who apparently had been waiting for them. In a rather childlike manner he stomped his foot, shouting,

"Ratchet! How many times do I have to tell you? That's a horrible greeting! Pick a different one!" The addressed mech crossed his arms,

"Hello Samuel" and proceeded to run a much more intense and invasive scan. "Is that better?"

"No! Quit scanning me! You know how much I hate it! Besides, it feels weird!"

"'It feels weird' is not a good enough reason for me to cease my scans" Sam opened his mouth as if to protest before Ratchet cut him off. "Not liking them isn't a good enough reason either. If I don't scan you regularly, how will I know the exact condition you are in at any given time?"

"Uh, how 'bout those ridiculously frequent torcher sessions you call checkups?"

"Your medical exams are not that bad and are only done when I believe they are necessary. Not that you bother to show up." Ratchet gave Sam a glare who responded with a sheepish smile. Sam didn't just, not show up; he ran and hid. Although, once he was caught he behaved for the medic. "Besides, while those usually have the detail I prefer, you have a nasty habit of hiding your injuries." Ratchet gave Sam a poke causing him to fall back. Sam, the mature teenager he was, retaliated by sticking his tongue out at him.

"You always think it's a good time for a checkup."

"By that logic you are saying that I think right now would be a good time." Ratchet gave a smile that didn't sit well with Sam. "I think I agree with you; now is a great time." Sam barely had time to shoot to his feet before Ratchet grabbed him out of Optimus's hand and receded further into the med bay. "Whatever your good news is you've had Irohnide and I waiting all week to hear it. You can wait to tell us a little longer while I look over Samuel." Optimus dipped his head in acknowledgement having already expected this.

"Very well, I will be in my office when the two of you are done with everything."

"What?! That's it? You're just leaving me to his cruel mercies?" Optimus smiled at the (half) jokingly distraught boy.

"Yes" And with that said, he walked away.

XoXoXoX

Ratchet only spared a moment to watch his leader leave the room before turning his attention to the boy in his hand.

"Come on drama queen. Even if I keep your medical short you still have a lot of studies to catch up on." Ratchet placed Sam on one of the berths

"Oi! I am not a drama queen. That would imply that I was a girl, which I am definitely not." Sam seemed to realize something. "Wait, can't we work on studying after whatever Optimus has to say?"

"No, now lie down and keep still"

The medical passed quickly with minimal complaining from Sam about the scans and minimal complaining from Ratchet about Sam's constant fidgeting.

"Ok, what do you remember of our previous lessons?" Since Mission City, Ratchet had been teaching Sam Cybertronian medicine and anatomy. This had come in handy a lot while repairing Jazz. Sam could easily reach places that Ratchet would need to perform extensive surgeries to get to that they often didn't have the supplies for. Sam wasn't good enough to do anything without Ratchet in earshot but he was learning fast enough that Ratchet was willing to teach him.

Ratchet quizzed him for a while, reviewing things he may have forgotten. When they had landed on this planet the thought had never even crossed Ratchet's processor to teach a human about Cybertronian medicine. It just sort of happened. Once while, as was common, Sam had been talking to him as he repaired Jazz, Ratchet in a fit of frustration had thrown the tool he was working with down. Concerned Sam had asked what the problem was and if he could help. Ratchet explained and let him try. Sam ended up doing a wonderful job and had gone so far as to stun Ratchet asking if 'the two dark blue wires half the size of my palm are supposed to go through the mesh look'n thing with the three silver colored wires going through it'. Ratchet had automatically told him no but realized a few moments later what he was talking about and that 'yes they are supposed to go there please fix them while you are down there.' When Ratchet asked Sam how he knew that he sort of shrugged and, much to the annoyance of Ratchet, stated that they just looked like they went there.

According to human records Sam was an average student, always had been. But he was able to learn from Ratchet very quickly for a human. But as far as Ratchet knew he had never shown an interest in anything mechanical. But he got the jist of everything Ratchet taught him. But he had trouble naming any specific parts. But he always understood what went where and how…

Sam had been pretty surprised when Ratchet later decided to approach him and Optimus about teaching him. He'd stormed in the room, stopping right in front of Optimus and glaring anywhere but at them.

"You are contradictive and confusing" was all Ratchet had said before in a rather un-Ratchet like move thrust out his hand, palm up in a silent, seemingly embarrassed, command to give Sam over. When it became obvious to Ratchet that they didn't know what he wanted he said. "If Sam is willing I want to see if he is capable of learning Cybertronian medicine." Still looking away and therefore unable to gage their reactions he didn't see Optimus's approving and Sam's excited smiles. Only Optimus had noticed Ratchet's shortened use of Sam's name though. Ratchet had had to be the only person Sam knew that would call him Samuel on a day to day basis and then use Sam when he was really angry, worried, upset, or in this case, nervous. Sam had jumped up clearly excited.

"You really mean it?"

So now, Ratchet had a new apprentice. Eventually today's lessons ended, thanks to Sam not able to take in a lot at once, and they did a few more repairs on Jazz before leaving the med bay. Ratchet paused on the way out, his optics flickering in a way that told Sam that he was doing something with his internal com. He then offered Sam a hand and headed off to Optimus's office. When they got there Bumblebee and Ironhide were already there.

"Finally!" Ironhide exclaimed. "Everyone's here. What's the big news?"

Optimus spoke slowly, anticipating everyone's reactions

"We have new arrivals coming." Everyone seemed to speak at once.

"What?!"

"When?!"

"No way!

"You idiot! You couldn't have told us sooner?!" This last statement was followed by a wrench that Optimus was only just able to dodge.

"I assure you that I have been preparing for their arrival since I found out. I was unsure if it was true and did not want to get your hopes up only to be wrong."

Ratchet seemed to accept that as he nodded and asked "How many, and when are they getting here?"

"There are five of them and they're getting here tomorrow." Optimus wasn't able to dodge the next wrench thrown at him.

"Tomorrow! You gave me till tomorrow to prepare for who knows who?!" Ratchet dropped Sam on Optimus's desk and transforming drove back to the med bay as fast as he could. Optimus slowly stood up, rubbing the new dent he was sporting on his helm. Bumblebee and Ironhide excitedly started talking about who it might be animatedly telling Sam all sorts of stories of comrades neither had seen since Cybertron.

A/N: I felt like this would be a good place to end this chapter.

Hope you liked it!