Author's note: Sorry been a minute or two... end of term madness! Once again a huge thanks to Katt210 and MM for your continued support, very grateful.

This chapter is set almost a week after the last. Lennox is recovering well but confides in Epps on one of his visits that he has tried to contact Orianna and is upset that she has not been to see him. Epps lets him know just how much she has cared for him, and Lennox feels terrible, until he gets a visit from someone he was not prepared to see.

Denotes flashback scene/recalled conversation

/denotes internal thought/

Chapter 105: Paradigms

Lennox POV

My eyes stung, and a rivulet of blood trickled down from a large cut on my forehead, leaving a metallic tang in my mouth. But it didn't seem to matter. Adrenaline was pumping through me. I had a mission to finish. The Con's were on the run. /Just a little more mopping up to do and we could go home/.

''EPPS! GIMME EYES IN SKY – NOW!'' I barked over my shoulder to my Master Sergeant. ''I need a visual on remaining targets. Sweep the area and confirm bogeys.''

My breath was coming in ragged gasps as I clutched at my weapon and huddled close to what remained of a convenience store in downtown Detroit. Given the 'Cons were still effectively leaderless, the fight had been intense but relatively brief. /But that's why we were here – to keep it that way – to keep 'em weak and divided/.

''ETA 2 minutes!'' Epps yelled across to me from his position behind a crumbled cement pillar, walkie in hand. ''Rain's comin'!''

''Pop green flare to signal friendlies... And Epps..'' I stared pointedly at him and he pulled his face away from the walkie to glare back at me. ''Make sure it's a good toss this time!'' I managed to grin at him.

He muttered some unintelligible curse at me as he relayed the information.

''Major Lennox!''

''WHAT?'' I whipped my head around to see Captain Grahame rush up behind me. An explosion nearby forced us, and the other men in my small unit crouched nearby, to press up against the crumbling bricks and twisted metal frame.

''Prime's latest intel suggests he and the group of Autobots that ran point have eliminated Decepticon resistance on our right flank.''

I nodded. ''So, are we clear to push forward and achieve our objective?''

Grahame shook his head as the roar of jets closed in above us. ''Negative Sir. Optimus' energon readings indicate a concentration of 'Cons ahead of us, about 11 o'clock.''

Another explosion, this time nearer, caused mortar and debris to rain down upon us. I gripped my gun tightly, ''What's Prime's position?''

A flash of red, blue and silver glinted at me through the shattered building about 300 feet away. Optimus was making his way toward us at a rapid pace. I frowned and looked ahead to the abandoned car factory. /Something's not right/.

Before he had time to answer, I heard a harsh, metallic voice off to our left as a 'Con I had never seen before materialized out of nowhere. He was speaking Cybertronian as he raised his weapon to fire upon us.

''FALLBACK!'' Yet, even as I screamed the directive, I knew it was too late. We were right in his sights less than 100 yards away.

There was a loud guttural growl of rage as the shoulder holding the 'Cons' weapon erupted in a fiery explosion, and he staggered back a few paces. A second explosion collided with his right leg, bringing him crashing towards the ground.

I spun around to see what had bought us the reprieve, when I saw Prime racing toward the 'Con, battle mask clamped shut, blaster raised. He was closing in fast. A smile found its way to my face. /That 'Con is as good as dead now/. I hesitated a moment in my retreat.

And that's all it took.

The 'Con had managed to roll over and redirect his weapon towards us. The bastard was smiling as he pulled the trigger, and the explosion tore into the ground to the left of me.

I raised my arm up in a vain effort to shield myself from what was to come. Thrown back by the blast, shrapnel tore into my flesh as I was slammed bodily into the cement wall. My head hit something hard, and my vision blurred. My ears were ringing, and my jaw felt as though it was broken. I couldn't even scream in pain as I fell to the ground.

My leg hurt. My chest hurt. My head hurt. Everything hurt!

I lay on the ground on my side. I tried to look around me, to see where my men were but I couldn't really move. I thought I heard a familiar voice yell my name, but I couldn't tell. I couldn't answer them even if I wanted to.

My eyes began to flutter closed. Darkness was calling me.

I looked up in time to see a fireball explosion erupt from the roof above and a large section of the ceiling and wall began toppling towards me.

Everything went black.

I snapped my eyes open, gasping for air as I tried to raise an arm to shield my face. A scream was torn from my lips at the memory and from the stabbing pain in my chest. Wild eyes darted about the room as I struggled to get my bearings.

''Easy Lennox, easy! Shhh…'' A soft voice tried to soothe me, and I turned panicked eyes in its direction. A pretty face with concerned blue green eyes hovered before me. ''You're safe.''

''Wha.. where…'' I was panting heavily as looked from the pretty face to machines on my left and to the doorway behind the woman.

A hand reached out to comfort me. ''It's okay William. It was just a nightmare. You're okay now. You're safe.''

I closed my eyes as I swallowed the panic that had gripped me and relaxed back against the pillows. I remembered where I was and who was with me. I exhaled roughly. ''S..sorry Sarah.''

''Sorry? Whatever for?'' Genuine confusion gazed back at me.

''I don't know, I just feel kinda stupid for reacting that way.'' I felt a heat burn across my cheeks.

''Lennox,' Sarah released my arm and moved to look at the various monitors and machines around me. ''You were in a damn horrible battle in which you sustained almost fatal injuries.'' She threw me an almost chastising look as she came to stand beside my bedside. ''I think you have a right to be a little shaken.''

I closed my eyes as I grunted in reply.

''Anyway, now you are awake, how do you feel?''

''Apart like I've gone ten rounds with Muhammad Ali, yeah fine!''

Sarah smiled. ''Oh, I doubt you'd last ten rounds Lennox.''

I snorted. ''Gee, thanks!''

''Hey, I just call it like I see it,' Sarah winked at me as she carefully peeled back the sheets to examine my chest.

I felt a little exposed and strangely embarrassed as her fingers lightly caressed my skin, checking my wounds. It felt wonderfully odd. My breathing became shallow, and I tensed.

''Relax big guy. Nothing I haven't seen before.'' She smiled softly down at me before patting my shoulder gently. ''Looking good. Everything is healing well. Slowly, but well.''

I nodded at her as she replaced the sheets, and I relaxed a little. I smiled. ''Well, that's good I guess.''

''Very much so. At this rate, you might be out of here in a couple of weeks, after some physio of course.''

I stifled an unimpressed groan. /A few weeks!/ It felt like I had already been here forever. Even though I had been out of my induced coma for about a week, I was desperate to be up and about. Desperate to gain my independence and desperate for a Jake's place burger.

But even more than that, I was desperate to see someone. Someone I had thought would have been the first face to greet me when I woke up. I sighed softly as I looked at the doorway and then at Sarah as she continued her round. ''Has… has anyone been in to see me this morning while I was sleeping Sarah?''

Sarah paused, frowning in thought for a moment, before shaking her head. ''Not that I know of.'' She turned around to stare at me, a sad, knowing smile spreading across her lips. ''Anyone in particular you were hoping would show up Lennox?''

''Maybe more expecting than hoping Sarah.'' Her smile faded slightly as I released a loud and somewhat frustrated sigh. ''But clearly my expectations are too high.'' There was an acidic tone to my voice that surprised even me with its ferocity.

''Look Lennox. I'm sure Orianna will come to see you soon.'' Sarah took a step closer and placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. ''And I'm sure she will have a good reason for not being here this past week.'' I merely grunted, a surly expression on my face as I glowered at the door to my room.

Releasing my shoulder, Sarah stepped back, eyeing me carefully and with what appeared to be annoyance. ''Well, believe me or not tough guy, but despite her absence lately, you need to know that while you were in your coma, Orianna…''

''THERE HE IS!'' A cheerful and familiar voice erupted from the corridor moments before Epps walked into the room, grinning from ear to ear. ''The man who got more lives than a black cat!''

I couldn't help but smile broadly back at my friend. ''EPPS!'' I tried to maneuver myself to sit up, swallowing the groan of pain as I scooted back against the pillows. I slowly reached out the hand that didn't have a catheter in it, ''So good to see you man.''

Epps grabbed my hand as gently as possible and pumped it several times in greeting. ''You too man, you too.'' He nodded at Sarah as he released my hand. ''Sarah.'' Epps folded his arms across his chest as looked from Sarah to me and back to Sarah again before sending her a quick wink. ''How's he goin' taday? Behavin' himself?''

She chuckled and raised an eyebrow. ''Oh, he's behaving alright Epps. Behaving like someone pissed in his bedpan.''

My jaw fell open and Epps burst out laughing, shaking his head as he clapped his hands together loudly. ''So, you are gettin' to know him then. That's good.''

I glared at him in disapproval. ''Epps, if you've just come to give me shit, then you can turn around and piss off mate.''

Sarah grabbed her clipboard and sniggered. Her long, sandy blonde locks had been pulled back into a tight bun atop her head, accentuating her high cheekbones. Her blue green eyes shone brightly with mischief. ''See what I mean Epps.'' She sighed out loud and patted Epp's arm in mock sympathy. ''Tag, he's all yours! I've done my rounds for the day and I'm clocking off.''

I leaned forward reaching for her, hissing slightly at the sudden movement. ''Don't leave me here with him Sarah.''

''Funny, I was going to say the same thing to Epps,'' she winked at Robert and backed up towards the door, the smallest of smiles tugged at my lips. Epps was watching our interaction with amusement.

Pausing in the doorway, Sarah waved back at me. ''Later Lennox. Hope you get that visitor you were talking about. That might cheer you up.'' Without another word, she stepped out into the corridor and disappeared. I sat looking at the doorway for a moment longer, feeling somewhat emptier.

''Okay!'' Epps turned to face me, ''I've seen that look on ya face before Will.'' His voice had a tone to it I couldn't quite place.

He reached out and grabbed the chair beside my bed. Turning it around, he sat on it backwards, draping his arms over the back rest. ''But the person it was directed to, isn't here...''

''EXACTLY!'' I snapped angrily back at him. ''She's not HERE Epps!'' I leaned forward slightly, ignoring the pain that began to radiate throughout my torso and my broken leg. ''She HASN'T been to see me at all!''

Epps just stared at me, his dazzling smile fading as his eyes narrowed.

I reached out to the bedside cabinet in my room, wincing as bruised and battered flesh protested to being stretched in such a way. Grabbing my phone, I held it up towards him as evidence of my claim. ''No messages, no missed calls. Nothing!''

I dropped the phone onto the bed in frustration and anger. Throwing my head back against the pillows, I stared at the ceiling – stewing. ''Six days Epps. I have been out of my coma for six fucking days, and she hasn't even bothered to reply to any of my messages or calls!''

I turned to face my friend who was shaking his head at me. ''I know things have been a bit rocky between us lately and we had a fight before we left on our last mission,'' I looked away suddenly embarrassed by my behaviour, ''and I didn't tell her I was going 'cause I was mad at her.'' I closed my eyes for a moment as I took a deep, steadying breath.

I forced myself to look back at Epps. ''But surely she could have come to see if I was alright. Just once. Surely, she doesn't hate me that much?''

''Just once?'' Epps snorted in amusement as he shook his head and shifted on his seat. ''Man, Orianna didn't leave your side from the moment you were wheeled into intensive care, to the moment you woke up about six days ago.''

I stared at him dumbfounded, my mouth working silently as I processed this bombshell.

''She slept here and only left to go home shower, change and eat a decent meal. She wouldn't leave until she knew you would be okay. 'Till that day you came out of your coma, Orianna was a permanent fixture in this room.'' Epps sent me a hard stare. ''I can vouch for that myself man.''

''Well why the hell didn't she stay Epps?'' I growled angrily. ''Why did she leave me after all that time, right when I needed her the most?''

''Because she didn't think you would want to see her,'' a deep voice rumbled from the doorway as Prime's holoform strode in.