Author's Note: This one is short, but I felt like ending it where I did was the right thing to do, y'know? I'm already mostly done with the next chapter, so that'll be up in the next few days hopefully. Enjoy.


Chapter 14

"I doubt you know much about the culture of Cybertronian seekers; few of the mechs here do." Ratchet said offhandedly. "They form a group called a-"

"A trine." Sam finished, having heard the spiel about them from Primus plenty already. He likely knew more about their species' history than Ratchet; he just had not bothered remembering every designation Primus had mentioned. There were a lot of them! "I get that. Who's trine were they a part of?" The medic eyed him for a moment before Sam felt Ratchet prodding at the firewalls the medic had helped him set up in his processor.

"Down," The medic commanded, expression stern. "Or I'll use the backdoor code I put in earlier. Your choice."

Sam blinked, lowering the firewalls easily for the medic. It had taken him quite some time to get used to the action, but now it was like second nature. "I thought you would have already searched my processor. What're you doing, Ratchet?"

"I must have missed something." The medic said, searching incessantly through Sam's processor for anything out of the norm. He delved as deep as he could without invading Sam's privacy and digging through actual memories. He scanned and scanned for anything out of the ordinary. He had never mentioned them to Sam, and the others had no reason to discuss trines. But nothing strange came up. "Who told you about trines?"

Sam almost said Primus, barely stopping the name from tumbling free. That would likely not end well. He would prefer to avoid meeting the other again any time soon. He bit his lip lightly, trying to brush it off as confusion. "Y'know, I don't know. I just… knew about them." He shrugged lamely, knowing very well Ratchet likely did not believe him. If he tried hard enough, he could probably get the other to drop it. He just needed to not waver at all in his story.

"That… Is possible." Ratchet acquiesced after a moment's pause. "You appear to be lying, but I can see how that would be true. Like before, when we were dealing with the fallen, when the allspark had stored information inside of you, it is likely to have done so again. Granted, you are better equipped to understand it now." He sounded very hesitant as he voiced all of this, eyeing Sam cautiously. Was Ratchet making an excuse up for him? Holy shit. "Also, there have been trace amounts of allspark energy on you. That makes sense."

"You don't believe it."

"It doesn't matter what I believe when it comes to you, Samuel." And with that, the medic stepped back and went to sort through things in the medbay. "Skywarp and Thundercracker have returned here peacefully with Megatron. So, it seems I don't need any supplies. You need to go properly fuel up. Just energon. Your reserves are alright, just top them off. And tell 'Bee no funny business, you are still recovering."

Sam grinned, moving to climb slowly down from his berth. He was a bit shaky, but not nearly as much as he expected. "Thanks a bunch, Ratchet!" He called, moving to hurry out of there.

"Samuel, we are talking later. With Optimus." The medic said sternly as Sam approached the door. His optics left no room for argument, so Sam gave him a soft nod.

"Okay, Ratch. Comm me when." He mumbled before scampering out.

. . .

News of Sam's awakening spread shortly after the seeker scare. The base was bustling with all sorts of activity as quarters were made for the seekers and mechs and humans alike argued over seeing them and Sam. The three of them did not get to meet for a while, although they did not wish to; Sam killed their third, so it was best they did not meet. And Bumblebee was happy to keep Sam occupied and away from them. In fact, he was happy to keep Sam away from most everyone. He hovered over his charge almost obsessively, foregoing his work shifts to spend time with the other. Optimus excused it simply because Sam had been in a comatose state for so long, and that had taken its toll on Bumblebee's mental state for long enough. He felt it through the bond they shared and knew there was no point reprimanding Bumblebee. Not then, anyway.

Sam was happy to spend so much time with Bee. He did not care how much the other doted on him and how Bee barely let him walk anywhere. He had missed the other just as much, if not more. Sam had nearly balled when he finally found the other while wondering the base. He had just slipped out of the medbay, with the unfortunate promise of another likely awkward talk hanging in the air. No one was back in the base yet, so he simply wandered about in search of something to occupy himself with. He was nearly to the rec room when he heard the familiar heavy footfalls of one of the Transformers. He grinned, hurrying to find the source of them. He wanted to see everyone- no, he needed to see everyone. He needed to know they were alright.

He did not expect to round the corner and spot the back of his guardian, doorwings slumped a bit low but he appeared to be alright aside from the fact. Sam simply stood there for a few moments, watching as Bee picked up on his spark signature and spun around quickly. Sam felt his whole body quivering with joy, and he most definitely did not feel like he was about to cry. No. He would not cry, not in front of Bee. Oh, but the other's optics looked so conflicted and lost as he took a few cautious steps towards Sam.

"Please," Bee's voice sounded raspy, so full of emotion that Sam once would have thought a robot incapable of feeling. "Please tell me you are real, and I'm not just going insane." Sam could only nod in response, fearful of what he would sound like if he tried to speak. Sam barely registered the other making his holoform before he felt soft hands on his face, pulling him in. Yes, he thought, moving easily and pressing his lips to the other's. Yes, I am alive. This is me. I am real. He tried to pour each of these into the kiss, hands slipping into the other's hair and gripping a bit tightly. :I love you.: