A/N: Finals are coming up. Yay... But here's the next chapter. I thought I'd get it up before some hardcore studying.

Thanks for Alana Xavier1 for editing this.

I don't own Transformers.

Twin Times the Fun
Guardianship

Optimus thoughtfully pondered Ratchet's words. "Did Sideswipe say anything else?"

"Not really," replied the medic, "He just keeps saying how he needs to find her. If that's not guardianship, I don't know what is."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "If Sides has unknowingly assumed guardianship then we really have no choice."

"You can't be serious, sir," Ratchet said, "His major injuries are not healed completely yet and I haven't had a chance to even take care of some of the minor ones. He shouldn't be moving much less transforming. He could seriously damage himself."

Optimus sighed. "We do not have a choice, Ratchet. He is a guardian. To tell him that he can't find his ward is like telling Bumblebee he can never see Sam again. It's something out of our control. We cannot meddle in matters of the spark. You know this."

Ratchet fumed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, but I don't have to like it."

"Do what you can for Sideswipe. I'll alert Ironhide and Bumblebee and the Secretary. If we can the AEAC on this as well it will help. Did Sunny happen to remember where he left her?"

"No. He says he wasn't paying attention," Ratchet said gravely, "But really, I don't think he was Sideswipe to find her."

Optimus frowned. "Why do you day that?"

"Sunstreaker is very angry. From what I can sense, he is afraid of losing his brother. In many ways it's understandable. Nothing has ever come between before now. Not to mention Sunstreaker is getting feelings he doesn't quite understand because of Sideswipe's feelings for this girl."

"I see," the commander said softly.

"But Sunstreaker is being petty," Ratchet said, "He and Sideswipe are far to connected to split from each other. Think back to Cybertron. Every time they were split up they only thought of each other, if the other was alright. Even with the girl coming into the picture Sides would never abandon his brother, but I think that's what Sunny fears."

Optimus crossed his arms. "That makes sense. I would try not to separate them for long unless it was entirely necessary. They hated it. But this is out of Sunstreaker's hands as well as Sideswipe's. Neither can fight what has already been decided," he looked at Ratchet sternly, "Do a patch job on both of them. I'll talk to Sunstreaker and see if I can get a general location on where he left Hannah James, but first I'll alert Keller and Banachek."

Ratchet nodded. "Yes, sir."

When Ratchet announced he'd be doing a patch job on both of them, Sunny was gravely disappointed and Sides was overjoyed. Sunny was patched first and told that Optimus wanted to speak to him. It was hard not to roll his optics. He knew what is was going to be about and if he could he was going to keep from telling them where Hannah was. He didn't need her in his life or Sides and he was doing his brother a favor by keeping her out of the picture.

Still, if Prime wanted to see you, you went to see him. Following directions from Ratchet, Sunstreaker was able to navigate through the base to the location Prime was in. His main navigation systems and communication were out still, but he didn't need those. As he walked, he fumed at the base teeming with humans. They were everywhere, like rodents scurrying around his feet. Would it hurt to just step on one?

Much to his dismay, two humans in particular caught his attention. The female that was fixing Sides and the male that had been within Bee when they found him. Sam and Mikaela were their names. They were holding hands and talking. They stopped when they saw him and their smiles fell. He glared down at them. It was obvious they were the closest to the Autobots.

A brow rose on Sunny's face when the boy stepped forward. "How are you feeling?" he asked, "It's good to see you on your feet."

"Save it, maggot," Sunny spat, "I don't need your compassion."

He expected the boy to back down. In fact, he expected the boy to grab his apparent mate and run for it, but no. Instead, the boy rolled his eyes. "Fine. Asshole."

"Sam," the female hissed.

"What? I don't need to take crap from him," Sam said.

"Run along now, human," Sunny mocked, "Your female is getting irritable."

Mikaela was livid. She stepped around her boyfriend, "What the hell is your problem? What did we do to you? I helped save your brother's life and I don't even get a thank you?"

"Were you expecting one?" Sunny shot back.

"Kinda," she said, "I'm not trying to be greedy for the thanks, but you could be a little nicer. If you haven't noticed, you're on our turf."

"Do you think I'm afraid of your pathetic species?"

Mikaela straightened. "No, you're not. That's good, because we don't want you to be afraid."

"Then you have lost your argument," Sunny said.

He moved to step away when something Sam said made him pause. "He's more like a Decepticon than an Autobot."

Sunstreaker spun around quickly, intent on crushing the stupid humans, despite what one may have done for his brother when a booming voice stopped him.

"Sunstreaker, stop."

Sunstreaker growled under the power of protocol. Optimus hated using such power over his Autobots, but ones such as Sunstreaker, who had no regard for the consequences of their actions, needed a tighter leash. Optimus hoped for a day where he wouldn't have to lay down the law and leave Sunny to his free will, but now was not the time. Sunstreaker's body was quivering as he fought against his programming, glaring at Optimus openly.

Optimus sighed. "Sam, Mikaela, perhaps you should leave."

"You got it," Sam said a little nervously.

Grabbing Mikaela by the hand he pulled her away, the girl a little shocked. Sunny watched them leave, angry that, once again, the vermin escape his wrath.

"Follow me," Optimus said.

Sunstreaker really had no choice. He followed Optimus through a few corridors and massive hangers. Humans looked at them, but not for long, obviously used to see mechanic aliens walking around. It made him wonder why they were secret from everyone else on this planet. As far as he knew, only the US knew of their existence. He wondered what the rest of the countries in the world would think about that.

Eventually they were alone in a smaller room, but large enough to fit them both. The silence was thick. For the longest time, or at least it seemed like it, Optimus didn't speak and Sunny wasn't one to get the ball rolling.

"You know my policies on humans," Optimus said lowly, "They are not to be harmed."

"Your policy is wrong," Sunny bit out aggressively, "They nearly killed my brother."

"Those humans are being held accountable by this countries justice system. They were ordered not to engage you and they did," he stepped closer to the younger mech, "If you want to blame someone for what happened to Sideswipe, blame me. I signed a treaty with the humans, unbeknownst to the Autobots to not tell them that Sector 7 was operating within the Autobot-Earth Alliance Committee. Sector 7 violated that treaty when they failed to inform me that you had landed. I trusted a man by the names of Reginald Simmons when I should not have and I am sorry, Sunstreaker."

Damn him to the Pit. Sunstreaker's mouth was clamped tightly down as he refrained for yelling and attacking his leader. Prime wanted to take the blame for the humans? Fine. But that would not lessen the degree of hate he had for them.

"Now," Optimus said, "where is Hannah James?"

"I already told Ratchet. I don't know."

Optimus' piercing blue optics narrowed darkly as he took another step towards him. "You do. You know the general area at least."

Sunstreaker met his gaze. "I don't."

"You won't lose your brother to her."

Sunny recoiled as if hit. "What?"

"Ratchet and I have our suspicions as to why you would keep your brother away from the one his spark has chosen to protect. You fear that he will leave you."

Sunstreaker scoffed a laugh. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You do. Sides would never leave you behind, you know this. If this is about sharing your brother…"

"Sharing?" Sunny cried, "I don't think of him as something to share. He's my brother!"

"And he's Hannah's guardian."

Sunny's optics widened. "No."

"Yes," Optimus said, "All the signs are there. Why he wouldn't leave her, why he needs to find her now. It's a new bond, but a rather strong one all things considered." Once again, Optimus took on the stern authority of Prime. "You are hurting you're brother by keeping this from him."

"She's a human," the Autobot warrior stated scornfully, "We cannot become guardians to vermin!"

"You should see Sam and Bumblebee," Optimus said, "See how they are together, practically inseparable, the best of friends. Even Sam, as a human, would do all he could for Bumblebee. Sides and Hannah are the same way. You've seen them together, Sunstreaker. You know this."

Sunny was still in denial. "No."

"Where is she?"

"No."

Optimus sighed, shaking his head and he massaged the bridge of his nose. "Is she safe at least?"

Sunny cringed. "I don't know."

Optimus looked up, startled. "I know you left her in the wilderness. Was she injured in the attack?"

Sunny's optics became a little distant. "I…I don't…"

"Sunstreaker," Optimus said gravely, "Do you know what this will do to your brother is if she dies? Do you have any idea?"

Sunstreaker did have an idea. Guardianship wasn't a game in their kind. If you became the guardian of another, by choice or assignment, the failure and resulting death of your ward hung in your processor and spark for the rest of your life. It was rare to see a mech recover completely from such a loss. Part of them would have slipped away. And if someone like Sides lost a ward…Sunny would feel the repercussions for as long as his spark pulsed in his chest.

"Where is she?" Optimus asked again.

"In…Kansas. We made it into Missouri when we were attacked," he relented, "After Sides was…taken I took her into northern Kansas. That's where I left her."

Optimus was visibly relieved. "Thank you."

He walked away and left Sunstreaker alone.

So, Sides was a guardian and didn't even tell him. He couldn't deny that it didn't hurt a little, but he should've expected as much. He wasn't bound to his brother, they were connected. They could go off and live their own lives, but they chose to stick together through thick and thin. They were connected enough for Sunny to tell that something had changed when they met Hannah, especially after the incident in her parking lot. But Sunny was beginning to believe that Sides honestly hadn't realized what had happened. Neither one of them would've thought he could be the guardian of a human.

Sunny wanted to run his own little investigation. He wanted to confirm what Optimus had told him. He wanted to see mech-human guardianship in person and recognize it for what it was.

Finding Bumblebee wasn't hard. He kind of stuck out in a crowd of humans. He wanted to be surprised to see Sam and Mikaela there with him. The two humans were completely relaxed. Bumblebee, in a way was too, but he was relaxed in a sense that if there was a threat he would immediately put himself in front of the two young humans. But Bumblebee looked content.

Bumblebee detected Sunstreaker even when Sam and Mikaela didn't see him. Bumblebee didn't look at him though and Sunny was grateful. He didn't need any scrutiny at the moment. He couldn't help but make some comparisons between Bumblebee and Sam and Sideswipe and Hannah. For not recognizing it when he saw it, Sunny felt ignorant and stupid.

This did not change his opinion. To him, humans were useless meat sacks and a waste of universal space and until he was proven otherwise, his opinion would not change. Even if Sides was Hannah's guardian, no matter if he liked it or not, he still hated the female. He cursed the day they met her. He cursed his brother for asking her to come along and cursed the girl for agreeing. It all could have been prevented if he had just forced Sides not to confront her in the first place for directions.

But it was too late now. Sides was in deep and in result so was Sunstreaker. He left Bumblebee with his two humans and headed slowly back to Ratchet's medical hanger. Sides was getting off the table, rather slowly when he came in. Optimus was there as well and was explaining how they were going to round up a search party for Hannah. The grateful look on Sides face was actually heartbreaking to see.

But the grateful look fell away when he caught his twin's eyes. Immediately, Sunny stiffened. The anger in Sideswipe's optics was frightening. Never had Sides been this angry with him before. Part of him couldn't believe it. It wasn't hate, but it was pushing it. He thought back on his warning. He wondered what it would come to if Hannah wasn't okay. He wondered what Sides would do.

He couldn't let Sides see how this was affecting him. "Are we going to get her or what?"

"Sunstreaker," Optimus said tersely, "perhaps you should stay behind."

"No way," Sunny replied, "I wanna see this guardianship slag in action."

Sideswipes glowered.

"Let's go get your pet," Sunny said, turning from them and leaving.

"Alright," Detective Carl Johnson said, "we're looking for a twenty-three year old, Caucasian female roughly 5 feet, 6 inches. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Her name is Hannah James. She was last seen in a small town in Kentucky at a beauty salon and, according to ones she was traveling with, she changed her appearance slightly so these pictures may not be entirely accurate anymore."

When Keller had put him in charge of Hannah's search and rescue, he leapt at the job. He had a lot of sympathy for the girl. Her record indicated years of abuse and in and out of foster homes, always returning to her mother. Her father split and after her grandmother passed away the abuse escalated until she turned eighteen and moved out. Part of him wanted to do one last detective act and find this girl, make sure she was safe. So many children we abused and neglected and here was a survivor. He wanted to make sure she was saved.

"Those are your orders. Any questions?"

None.

"Good. Let's move. We have a long drive ahead of us."

Carl had wanted to call the Kansas state police, but had been shot down. Hannah's involvement with the Autobots had to be kept a secret and for a reason that was not disclosed him, the Autobots had to be the ones to search for her, one in particular. One of them, the red one, had agreed with him, wanting her found as quickly as possible. Keller wanted to keep this hush-hush.

Soon they were on the road. The Autobots leading, Optimus in the front. The semi's speed was unfathomable. A semi shouldn't be able to go as fast as he was, but then he remembered that this wasn't a normal truck. Sam and Mikaela were with Bumblebee and Ironhide had called Captain William Lennox to join them. The soldier had been eager to help his new friends and immediately agreed. The one named Sunstreaker had been shocked to see that Ironhide had been assigned to the Lennox family as their guardian and the Lennox's daughter, Annabelle, was in love with the mech. Well, as in love as a two-year-old could be.

With a police escort the highway was practically clear for them and if not, people pulled over and out of the way, left in the dust to wonder what was happening. Their speed cut the travel time in half even when the normal cars had to stop for gas. Eventually they reached Kansas and the general location in which Sunny said he had left Hannah. Instead of transforming, like he thought they would, Carl watched as men he had never seen before climb out of the robots, men he hadn't realized had ridden with them. He would realize that these weren't men at all.

The one from the Hummer went over to the one from the semi. "Shall we begin?"

"Yes," the semi driver said, "Ratchet, keep your scanners open. Sideswipe," he looked at the man from the red Lamborghini with the shaved head, "we'll find her."

Sideswipe glared at his exact replica, the driver from the yellow Lamborghini. "Yeah. We better."

Sam saw the confused look on Carl's face and grinned. "Holograms."

Carl awed in realization and nodded. "Of course. Holograms."

Optimus nodded towards the crowd. "Let's get to it."

"Optimus," Bumblebee said, "We have a problem."

Everyone turned on the blond, spiky haired boy in a black and yellow biker jacket. His bright blue eyes were alight in worry.

"What is it, Bumblebee?" Optimus asked.

"There's a heavy cold front moving in rapidly," he said, "It's going to get very cold, very fast and if she's been out her for more than twenty-four hours…"

Optimus looked grave. "She'll freeze."

Sideswipe staggered on his feet and into his alternate mode. Sunstreaker pointedly avoiding accusing glances from a few in the crowd including Ironhide.

"Then we have no time to lose," Optimus clarified, "Sideswipe," he said sternly, "get it together. You're not doing her any good. Autobots, move out and search."

A/N: De-Nile is more than a Rive in Egypt Sunny. Haha! So this guardian concept is very deep, especially if your spark picks the one it wants to protect, not necessarily fall in love with, but it's common. But don't expect Sam and Bee having a thing because he's Sam's guaridan. Friends are a good thing too. The cold front is a freak incident due to Mother Nature. Weather's been really crazt lately so I'm rolling with it. Thanks for reading. I hoped everyone liked it.

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