Author's Note: This is the revised Chapter 5.


Chapter 5

A week later marked Sam's first night out of the med bay, and to say he was ecstatic was a definite understatement. But no one was more excited about this than Bumblebee. He could not wait to be able to hang out with Sam outside of the medbay, show him around the base they had established, and even go for drives with his friend. He missed simply being able to be around Sam without being around Ratchet, or anyone else for that matter.

The young techno-organic sat happily upon his guardian's shoulder, smiling brightly as the two enter the Rec Room. They found all of their acquaintances gathered there (which Bumblebee had been aware of beforehand; after all, who planned the celebration?). With a loud shout of 'surprise' and a rather large amount of confetti, the 'Bots and humans welcomed Sam back. The boy could not help his bright smile as Bumblebee lowered him into the grasp of his parents. The two immediately began to look over their son, making sure that he is indeed alive.

Bumblebee took this little bit of time to mingle with the other 'Bots, having spent most of his time as of late in the med bay with Sam. The first mech to greet him was Optimus, giving him a strong pat on the back and a kind smile. "Be careful, Bumblebee," Optimus seemingly ordered, still maintaining the kind expression on his faceplate. Bee knew better, could feel the joy the other felt for him over the guardian bond they shared.

"I will, sir," Bumblebee's answered as he moved away and through the sea of metal and flesh, searching for two mechs in particular. He gently steps around the Lennox and Epps families, waving down to the little kids who wave eagerly back up at him. He continued to drift through the crowd, tossing out assorted greetings and such. Until he found two servos clasped onto his shoulders from behind.

"Look who it is, the bumbling little Bee!" Two voices chimed in unison, in a rather frightening fashion.

"Where's your human?"

"Yeah, where is the little squirt?"

Bee turned to face the gold and silver mechs, chuckling lightly, "Hey Sunny, Sides. Sam is over with his parents." Bee noticed their devious expressions and felt his spark drop. "What are you two planning now?"

"Nothing!" The silver and gold mechs chimed together in a sing-song fashion before scampering away laughing. Definitely not a good sign.

"Ignore them, 'Bee," Ironhide advised as he came up and placed a servo on one of the yellow mech's shoulder struts. "They're just... Well, ya know the twins." He shrugged indifferently before chuckling at the exasperated look on Bumblebee's faceplate. "So, how is Sam, anyways? Has he adjusted to being part Cybertronian yet?" Ironhide's questions were rather timid for the typically boisterous weapon specialist. He had not yet apologized about yelling at Bumblebee so harshly about Sam's attempt at suicide. He knew it was not really his fault, and Ironhide was not a mech that would typically say something so harsh as what he had. He honestly was not sure what had come over him at that moment.

"Somewhat," Bumblebee replied as he let his optics search for Sam amongst the crowd. "He was real scarred by the whole, 'interfacing' talk, but seems to have come out of the ordeal otherwise unscathed." He chuckled slightly as Ironhide gives him an odd look. "At least, that is what Ratchet said." Both mechs found themselves laughing at that, easily breaking the small amount of tension that had settled itself between them. It was not rare for two Autobots to have a falling out like theirs, but such things were not entirely unheard of. To say that all of the room's occupants who picked up on the shared laughter were relieved was an understatement in and of itself.

"Bee!" Sam called, pulling the yellow scout's attention from Ironhide as he ran around the walkways that were suspended from the ceiling of the hanger-turned-Rec-room to his guardian. His face was alight with joy as he skids to a stop on the strip by Ironhide and Bumblebee, looking both mechs in the face. "Guess who is here!"

"Who?" Bumblebee asked to appease his charges excitement.

"Miles and Leo! They both came!"

Bumblebee's groan was heard by everyone as his shoulder struts fell in dismay, as did his doorwings. "Which one threw up in me?" He asked, his voice exasperated and distraught at the memory.

Sam and Ironhide, as well as a few others nearby, chuckled as Sam answered, "That would be both of them."

"Wonderful..."