Hey all - even though I'm still not feeling so good, between the episodes I managed to write this out. I hope this is a good chapter for you guys - some serious shit is going down next chapter! Some of you have been guessing what's about to happen for some time now so be prepared! I love you all, thank you for all the support you've given me. Whether it's reviews, messages, favorites, follows, etc. It all means the world to me. And to Bee4Ever, I LOVE YOU. You are a great beta, even though I sort of just post chapters sometimes, your input means a lot to me! So thank you, and as always
Enjoy~
Sam looked as if someone had just punched him deep in his gut; his mouth hung ajar and eyes practically falling out of their sockets.
"Did I just hear you right? Did you just say 'we have to go see –"
I held up a hand to stop him, "Yes Sam, you heard right."
At the seriousness of my tone, Sam's mouth shut and his eyes hardened. He gave a curt nod before putting a hand on my shoulder.
"If you're sure that's what needs to be done."
"Sam, both you and I know it's what needs to happen."
Sam gave me a wary look, "I know but I didn't think you'd tag along this time honestly."
It was my turn to shoot him a hardened stare, "I would never let my petty feelings get in the way of doing what's right. However, Mikaela will have to come along too – are you going to be okay with that?"
I could feel Sam's mood darken, "It's not like I have much of a choice."
"Be civil – or else." I warned, "I'll meet you down in your car. Actually, Mikaela and I will drive our car, you follow behind us."
Sam didn't argue, partly because I didn't give him enough time to as I dashed out of the room – only to collide with Mikaela just outside the door. We fell to the ground with a soft thud, earning two pain-filled groans in the process. After a moment of pain, Mikaela and I both stood up dusting one another off.
"What's your rush D?" Mikaela asked, she never looked in Sam's direction.
"Mikaela." Sam breathed.
I could feel the heart break in Mikaela voice as she muttered back, "Sam."
My eyes flickered between the two, and immediately I knew I was the only one in the room that knew how both of them felt. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes I turned to Mikaela and nudged her.
"We're going to see the Autobots."
Mikaela's brow shot up as she took a step back, "Did those words really just come from your mouth? Are you insane – do you know what you went through these past three years? You're finally getting your life together, picking up your pieces and– and now, now is when you decide that you're going to throw all of that work away for what? What?"
Sam looked at me with confusion, "What is she talking about?"
"Maybe if you didn't let that tramp run your life, you wouldn't have to hear about your own sister's problems years after they happened." Mikaela seethed, her eyes alight with a fierce fire.
"Okay okay guys," I threw up my hands in an attempt to soothe the situation, I didn't want Sam biting back. "Now is not the time to be having this conversation. Let's just get this shit over with so we all can return to our lives okay?" The sooner we visit them and leave, the better it will be for all of us.
Sam nodded, Mikaela copying him, and we all headed down stairs. Sam parted ways with us once we got to the first floor seeing as we needed to get our car. Mikaela and I raced to the car garage, and quickly jumped in our 2010 Mazda. I quickly drove up to meet with Sam, and as I came close to his little beat up faded yellow beat up version of Bee, Sam jumped in front of me. Shocked I slammed on my brakes so I wouldn't rear end up, he held up a hand to signal 'sorry but I have to be in front.' I rolled my eyes and followed him out to wherever the Autobot base was. I knew Sam had visited there before, but that was years ago. Sam had told me that they got a new base for the Autobots since they got a government contract to help rid the earth of Decepticons.
A wave of anxiety washed over me as we approached some off the beaten path road. Sam slowed to a stop in front of some men dressed in all black and I felt the clamminess of my hands, and the jumbling of my stomach increase. My heartbeat quickened as one of the guards walked back to Mikaela and I, we glanced at one another with worry as he rapped at my window. I rolled the window down and looked at him expectantly.
"Yes?" I asked him.
With a brow raised and a heavy frown the guard looked at me up and down. "Can we help you?"
"Yes, I would like to speak with the Autobots if I may." I tried to be as polite as I could.
"I'm afraid you are at the wrong building, I have no idea what an Autobot is." His tone dripped with sarcasm and I felt a flare of anger whip itself around.
"I'm sorry, I must be speaking with someone low on the totem pole. Can I talk with someone who is higher on the chain of command? I'm sure there's someone I can speak to who has the clearance and the brain capacity to be privy to that information." I snarled.
His frown deepened, a feat I didn't believe possible, as he took a step away from the car. He opened his mouth to say something but we were distracted by a loud banging sound from Sam's direction. Sam had been dragged out of the car and shoved into the cement, all the while he was shouting for Bee. I felt something in me snap at the sight of Sam being manhandled like that and I flew from my car, attacking the guard with all my might. He quickly shoved me off and swept his leg underneath my own, causing me to crash into the pavement beneath. I felt a foot stomp on my back and the wind leave me for a brief moment. Jazz's name ripped itself from my lips as I called out to the one 'bot I knew would never let me down. No sooner had I yelled for Jazz did I see a flash of yellow and silver whirl around all of us.
"Back the fuck off!" I heard Jazz command, Bee chirped in agreement.
I felt the pressure of the foot release itself from my back, and the air fully return itself to my body. I felt two hands grab my arms and lift me; I turned to see Mikaela next to me with a small smile on her lips. I looked over to Jazz and grinned, he was already looking my way with an Autobot version of a smile on his countenance. I waved at him before saying,
"Thanks for the help, long time no see."
He nodded, "It certainly has asshole."
I chuckled and walked around to Sam and Carly. I reached Sam just as he hissed something like, 'that's my car' at one of the burly guards. Not thinking much of it I clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled. He smiled back at me, and I could feel Carly's stare on my visage, however I didn't spare her a second glance as we were led into the building.
"You better not fuck with her." I heard Jazz warn as we closed the doors to the building.
After passing an insane amount of security we finally ran into a familiar face,
"Lennox!" I gasped and ran to hug him.
"Delyia – long time no see!" He smiled, wrapping his arms around me.
"Hey now, did ya'll forget about me?" Epps let out a gasp as I crushed him into a hug as well.
"How've you all been, Carly I didn't know you knew Sam?" Lennox noticed Carly in the back, and wrapped a single arm around the blonde devil.
She flashed him a smile, "Yes, Sam and I are actually together."
I saw Lennox's eyes flash towards a now silently fuming Mikaela, and an uncomfortable Sam.
"Ah I see! Well, our new boss would like to have a few words with you actually – heads up she's a little –"
"Lennox, these are the intruders I presume?" A stiff dirty blonde haired woman waltzed up, her assistant in tow.
Lennox immediately straightened, along with Epps, and saluted.
"Sir, yes sir."
A sound of disapproval escaped her lips as she studied each of us.
"What is this a class field trip? I don't allow random teenagers here – or are we doing that now?" She looked around and no one responded.
"Ma'am, actually –"
"Don't call me ma'am, my mother was a ma'am. Sir will suffice." She interrupted me.
I quirked up a brow and nodded, "Sir, we're actually the 'teens' who helped save the world with the Autobots those few years ago. Well most of us anyway."
She took a step closer to me, and help my gaze. I didn't falter as she crossed the boundary into my personal space.
"Listen, I don't care what you did, I'm in charge now. And I'm not going to allow these random visits to a top secret government facility. I don't know what kind of show they were running before I got here but now I'm in charge, and my will is law."
A felt a fire start in my chest as she finished, "Well ma'am, I'm afraid I don't answer to you. I answer to the big guy, so if I could see him that would be nice." I hissed.
Her blue eyes turned to ice as her lips set themselves into a thin line. Lennox stepped in a moment later, his hands up in defeat.
"Look, I can vouch for all of these guys. Three of them helped take back earth, and one of them has an important military background. I think they deserve to see their friends don't you? At least this once, what's the harm? They already know about everything."
She looked between all of us for a few moments before letting out a short sigh.
"Fine, but if any of you breathe a word about what's going on here, I'll have all of you in jail for life. Got it?"
"Crystal." Sam muttered as we all walked into the hangar.
I can't believe I sassed her like that, Christ I could've been thrown in jail. I shuddered. As we stepped into the hangar I noticed some new faces mixed with the old. I found the familiar silver 'bot and headed straight for him, not even looking for Optimus. As I approached him, Jazz turned to me with an Autobot equivalent of a smile on his metallic visage.
"Delyia damn girl! It's been a while huh?" Jazz exclaimed as he picked me up.
"Jazz, it has been too long." I smiled and hugged what I could. "So who are the new guys?"
"Oh right! I forgot you haven't met them yet – I'll introduce you!"
Jazz headed over to the group of bots and cleared his processor. All eyes were on us as Jazz spoke up,
"Guys, I'd like for you to meet Delyia, she's one of our closest our human companions! Delyia, starting over here we have Sunstreaker – Sideswipes' twin – " The yellow robot looked at me with a smug air about him, he merely nodded at me and returned to his conversation with his brother, " – then we have Wheeljack, Mirage, and Leadfoot. You guys better be nice to D or you'll have to answer to me!" Jazz threatened.
I gave a smile and a small wave to the new bots, "Hey guys, nice to meet all of you – and welcome to earth."
They all nodded in my direction, before returning to their previous conversations. I turned to Jazz and motioned for us to go off and talk alone. Jazz took me in a different room and set me down, transforming into his alt-form, and soon after his holoform walked out of the car. We both sat together, leaning against him, in silence for a minute before he turned to me.
"How have you been Delyia? I know we've talked through your earth paper before but, it's not the same as talking in person. Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, concern shone through his dark eyes.
I nodded, and then shook my head.
"To be honest, I haven't exactly been okay but I've been surviving. I just want to get this visit over with so I can go home. I-It's not you but –"
"I know D, it hasn't been easy watching them together. Surprisingly, I liked Optimus a lot better without Elita around – she just isn't the same anymore. She's grown cold, and calculating. It's weird, and I only get bad vibes from her – I don't know what it is about her. But, I've heard Optimus and Elita fighting – a lot especially recently. I don't know what it's about but damn they go at it."
I raised my brow, they're fighting?
"He doesn't deserve to be with someone like that." I sighed, my heart ached again.
"You really should talk to him, he asked me the other day if you replied to any of my letters but I lied and said you haven't. I didn't want him to get upset and do something fucking dumb. I think it'd be good for both of you to –"
Speak of the mother fucking devil. I thought as my heart dropped at the sight of the thirty two foot Autobot leader, waltzing into the very room. Jazz looked over in shock as Optimus noticed us here, please don't walk over here – fuck. I groaned in my head as Optimus turned and walked over to us. Jazz's holoform disappeared and he transformed. The two 'bots stood before me in silence as we all looked at one another. I could feel the tension in the air as we exchanged glances.
"I think this is good for the both of you – I'm going to pretend I have something else to do now. Oh God, I think I should talk to Sam about something I forgot to talk to him about all those years ago. Bye losers." Jazz waved and backed out of the room leaving just Optimus and I.
We remained silent as our eyes interlocked, neither of us made a move for what seemed like hours. Finally, I raised my courage and took a deep breath,
"So how are you doing?"
Optimus seemed to relax, only a fraction of a centimeter, but nonetheless he relaxed.
"I am – alive." He sighed, he sat before me and the ground shook a bit as his metal butt hit the floor.
"Well that's good." This was getting awkward. "How's Elita?"
"She's alive as well, although if you're referring to our relationship I can say it is a bit 'rocky' at the moment." He concluded.
I nodded, I couldn't help but feel guilty at the fact that I felt good about what he'd told me.
"That's not good."
He shook his head, "No it isn't."
"Maybe you should be talking to her instead of me then." I couldn't help but throw a little bit of attitude his way.
Then again, I was the one ignoring him.
"Have you gotten my letters?"
I nodded, "Yes I have."
"Why haven't you responded?"
"Do I really need to answer that?"
Optimus sighed, "Delyia."
I cocked my head to the side and feigned innocence.
"Yes Optimus?"
"Why must you be like this?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but I couldn't ignore the feeling budding in my heart. I was happy to see him, but angry that he could still be with her.
"Whatever could you possibly mean?"
"Stop playing games."
"Why that's all you seem to be doing – at least with 'sparkmates' or whatever you want to call them."
"Delyia I was doing no such thing."
"Optimus we're getting ready to waken Sentinel, we need you in the hangar." Someone announced over a speaker.
I sighed and started to walk away before Optimus called my name.
"Delyia, I would like to speak with you before you leave."
"Why?" I asked him, what else could he possibly have to say.
"Because, as I've said in my letters, I've missed your presence and though you are not happy with me, I need to hear your voice for a few more minutes."
And without saying another word, he left the room and headed to, where I assumed, this 'Sentinel' guy was. Even though he wasn't in the room, I could still feel his presence and it unnerved me.
I've missed you.
Hearing those words felt so different then reading them, it sent chills through my spine and caused my heart to flutter. Why does he have this control over me? I cried out in my mind as I felt a tear fall. As much as I hated to admit it, I missed him and his sweet baritone just as much – or possibly even more. And that's what scared me the most.