9 – Vulnerable

Sam never spoke about himself often; Bumblebee noticed.

Sure, the human would talk to him periodically about things in his life, but he never really let out any real reasons or emotions. He always covered things up, or left things out to make things seem a little less intense.

It was like he thought that he was invincible.

Bumblebee wasn't sure about certain things on this strange and still unfamiliar planet, but he knew that Sam was anything but invincible; he was just as vulnerable to things as Bumblebee was.

Right now he could feel Sam sitting quietly in his driver's seat, not moving much, his hands resting on the wheel but not driving. Bee did the driving with no protestations, though he knew that Sam was far from the driver's seat; his mind was far away. Something had happened with Mikaela, Bee knew it.

Bee took the first step; he carefully turned on the radio, the song he had chosen filtering from his speakers.

"Share with me the secrets that you kept in…"

There were several moments of silence, and then Sam spoke slowly. "Nothing really, Bee. It's not a big deal, I can handle."

Bee frowned mentally, and let the song continue.

"Tell me tell me what makes you think that you are invincible? I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure. Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable!"

Sam blinked in surprise at that, glancing down at the radio reflexively before focusing back on the road in front of them, his hands tightening marginally on the steering wheel. "Mikaela said that we weren't working out." the boy whispered after a few moments. "I guess she's right, I don't know if I feel the same way for her now that I did then. I just… I thought that things would work out."

Bee was quiet for a moment, and then he spoke, using his soft voice. "Sam, you know that you can share these things with me, no matter what? I'm a good listener."

Sam couldn't help but smile at that. "I know Bee. You've always been that way. I just… sometimes it's hard for me to tell you things, because I don't want you to think that I'm a whiner or something."

The Autobot snorted faintly at that. "I would never think that of you Sam. Just because you're hurt doesn't mean that you shouldn't bleed. And I will always be here for you, no matter what."

"… Thanks Bee."

Song: Vulnerable by Secondhand Serenade (don't own)