chapter fifteen

Epps and O'Connell took guard the next morning. They watched with distaste as Ember put the others through their paces, being especially harsh to Lennox. It was like being back in basic, but at least there they had the security of knowing there was a purpose to the pain and the drill sergeant wasn't actually going to physically hurt them. Right then, watching as Ember drilled Lennox in the courtyard, Epps wasn't sure that Ember wasn't going to hurt Lennox.

The worst part was, there was nothing he could do. If Epps did step in, Ember would lash out at him as well. And then Lennox would walk all up and down his aft. She fought her own battles.

O'Connell glanced over at the courtyard and grimaced. "I wonder if Ironhide knows what Ember is doing." he muttered. "Talk about an overprotective boyfriend."

Epps snickered. "Don't let Lennox hear you say that." he said with a grin. "She'll have to beat you down."

"It's true!" O'Connell protested with a grin. "The Twins already have a betting pool up about what kind of spark-bond they'll have."

"Against who? Ratchet?"

"No – Hound and Bluestreak. Apparently they aren't as smart about not betting against the Twins." O'Connell shrugged. "But that's beside the point. I'll bet you didn't even know there were different kinds of spark-bonds."

"I am not intelligence officer on this team for nothing." Epps pointed out smugly. "I guess we'll just find out when it happens. Tonight." He kept going to say more, maybe make a returning jab at O'Connell, but sudden noise from the gates drew his attention. He gaped. "Oh, man – look at this." O'Connell looked, and his face paled.

"This ain't good."

Sam Witwicky stood there at the gate, arms crossed over his chest and glaring daggers at the other two guards. "What do you mean I can't see Bee?" he demanded. For an older man who was starting to turn grey, Sam was still a formidable foe when he wanted to be – whenever Bumblebee was involved. "You come to my house, take my friend away, and now you're telling me that I can't even come and visit him?! How is this fair?"

"In case no one has told you, Mr. Witwicky," Ember said, appearing right beside the guards, "life isn't fair. That's the way the world works."

Sam turned the force of his glare on her, and Epps watched with amusement as the smug expression melted from Ember's face. "Don't tell me about the world. What have you done in this job? Worked a desk? Are you good at pushing papers? What do you know of the world – or even the Autobots for that matter? You're holding them against their will. Do you know just how far they're willing to go for us? Do you have any idea what kind of allies they are?"

"Do you know how powerful they are?" Ember shot back. "What kind of enemies they can become? How are we supposed to defend ourselves against them?"

"What makes you think you need to?"

"Sam!" Lennox walked over to the angry man, drawing him aside and whispering something in his ear. There was a brief, quiet argument, before Lennox said something that apparently placated Sam. He nodded sharply and stalked off, getting back in the white compact car that Mikaela had bought them for times when Bumblebee wasn't there. Lennox watched him leave before turning back to Ember.

For a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Ember flashed her a smile. "You're lucky I have preparations to do, soldier. I don't like being interrupted." she warned softly.

Lennox nodded. "Understood, ma'am." Never mind that she hated the woman for everything she was doing to the Autobots. There were so many things she wanted to say, but landing in the brig for insolence would not go over well with the others. She wanted to have some sort of freedom tonight. Because once Ember left, she was going to find Ironhide. The pull was so strong, to be with him whenever she could, that once Cliffjumper had mentioned adoption she knew she would jump at the chance.

To have the excuse to stay with Ironhide, knowing that her soldiers were as much Prime's as they were hers . . .

She shook the thoughts away. Later. There would be enough time later.

/----/

Wheeljack smacked Ratchet in the back of the head. "If you don't stop squirming, I'm gonna blow one of your circuits!" he pointed out sharply. Ratchet stared at him a second before laughter escaped him. Wheeljack gave him a look. "What is wrong with you?"

"First time I've ever heard my own threats directed at me." Ratchet said. Optimus laughed at that. He was as uncomfortable as his fellow soldiers at the moment, as as Ratchet was about to be. Under normal circumstances, spark-bonding did not include increasing the spark intensity of one of the partners. On the other hand, usually spark-bonding involved two individuals that both had sparks. Wheeljack snickered as he finished his work and moved on to Ironhide. Ratchet slid his chest plates closed.

"There's no need, 'Jack." Ironhide said quietly. Wheeljack frowned at him, but Jazz reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Trust him." he said. "There's no need." Slowly, Wheeljack nodded and sat back.

"Then my work here is done." he said with an easy grin. "I just hope they get here quick before you guys overload and shut down on me." Cliffjumper snorted.

"Now that's just what we need." he muttered. Hound slapped him in the back of the head.

"Mute it." he snapped. "The last thing they need is you whining and moaning about it on top of the stress of bonding." Bluestreak snickered. So far the mech had restrained himself around the humans, but Jazz was waiting for him to bust loose and never shut up.

A few seconds later, the human door opened and Lennox's team came in. They were being quieter than normal for whatever reason, and Ironhide noticed with some concern that Lennox was limping. She flashed him a grin, and he relaxed. It wasn't anything to seriously worry about yet. Without a word, each went to their chosen Autobots. Hound wondered what made the humans drift towards certain warriors. Lennox and Ironhide were almost made for each other, but the others weren't nearly as obvious.

Wheeljack took a step forward. "Are you sure?" he asked, for the last time. "Once you do this, there is no going back."

There was no hesitation. "We're sure." Lennox said, and the others nodded, content to let her speak for them. Wheeljack nodded. No sense in stalling now.

"What I want you to do is touch each other." he instructed them. "Let the Autobots do the work – they know what they're doing. Just relax, don't fight it. It may hurt – in all honesty, I don't know. If it does, trust that it won't last long. As for you guys," he turned his attention to the Autobots, "if they show signs of pain, do not stop. You can't afford to stop. Understand?" They all nodded. "Good." Wheeljack stepped back.

Ironhide gently lifted Lennox into his hand, and the others did the same. He smiled. "Are you ready?"

She smiled back. "Beyond ready."

"Good." He opened his chest plates, revealing the blazing glow of his spark chamber. Gently, so very gently, he set her down in the cavity. He was vaguely aware of the others following the same procedure – it had been agreed upon that this would be the most effective means. "Go ahead." he encouraged her. "Touch it. I don't bite." He settled his processor, focusing on the young woman who was currently sitting inside his chest. He sensed her nod before her small hand pressed against his spark chamber.

Searing pain flashed through him, a sure sign that the bond was taking hold, and his chest plates slid shut to secure Lennox inside. The space had originally been designed for carrying anything from extra supplies in battle to incredibly young sparklings for short periods of time, but he found that Lennox fit in the space perfectly. He felt her tense, knew she was feeling the same burning through her chest that he was, but now he couldn't stop the bond energy even if he wanted to.

There was a sudden flash of hurt and relief right before he felt himself slip away into recharge.