Sorry it took so long for this chapter! I had a lot of Senior crap to do and on top of that…I got sick with bronchitis! I actually finished this chapter sick! I also revised the other chapter! Nothing too major, just fixed the repetitious part and added a little something.
Anyway, enjoy this chapter while I finish dying for the nest few days! (TT)
He had left the base an hour early so he could have time to think before he had to pick up Sam, and had shut off his communication's link to keep anyone from disturbing him. He was hurt when she decided to ride with Bumblebee to school, but he knew she had a reason. This made him feel all the more guilty. His spark felt heavy when he thought about that night. He kissed her. He was her guardian and he kissed her. He was so lucky Ratchet didn't find out.
He could feel Sideswipe trying to contact him, but he felt something was off. His twin was angry about something. He debated whether or not to answer him. He had blocked him out of the bond so he wouldn't be distracted. Was that why he was so angry?
'Primus, what was I thinking? I'm so stupid!' he thought angrily to himself as he continued to drive. He had upset his charge and now his brother was upset about something, and for the first time in his life…he didn't know what to do. He switched his mind from his brother to Sam.
He knew he couldn't deny his feelings for her anymore. He had felt this way about her for a very long time.
He first realized his feelings for her when she was about six years old.
Flashback!
Sam and her mother were staying the weekend at the base. Nina was working late with Ratchet, so Sam slept in their room by herself.
Sunstreaker woke up to the sound of his door opening and saw a frightened Sam with a tear-stained face. He nearly jumped out of his berth and rushed to the child. Sideswipe had woken up and was watching, but stayed at his berth. He already knew his brother's feelings towards their little friend even before Sunny did through their bond.
"What's wrong, Sam?" Sunstreaker asked.
"I had a nightmare." She sobbed. As gently as he could, he scooped up his charge and carried her back to his berth. He laid down, flat on his back and placed Sam on the center of his chest, just above his spark. She laid down on her stomach, the light thrumming and radiating warmth relaxed her and she slowly began to drift off to sleep. He stiffened a little when she began to absent-mindedly trace circles on his chest.
He relaxed when her breathing slowed and she stopped tracing his chest, but continued to stare at her. It took every ounce of power to control his spark from beating too hard and waking the sleeping child, and his coolants were on full blast. Why was he feeling like this?
"When are you going to tell her?" Sideswipe's sudden question almost made him jump. He looked over and saw his twin sitting up, facing him. He squinted his optics in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" he whispered.
"When are you going to tell Sam the truth?" he replied, sounding a little aggravated and using his head to gesture towards Sam.
"I'm not hiding anything from her." Sunstreaker hissed.
"Don't give me that scrap, Sunstreaker. You love her and you know it." He said, raising his voice a little. Sam suddenly twitched, mumbling in her sleep; the twins froze. She turned over and fell silent again. Sunstreaker let out a breath of relief, then turned his attention back to his brother, narrowing his darkened optics.
"Would you keep it down, glitch-head? You almost woke her up."
Sideswipe held up his hands and backed down. "Sorry, sorry. Anyway, you should tell her, because I'm getting pretty tired of feeling your love for her through our bond. Just tell her you love her, then spark bond with her when she's older."
"I can't do that, Sides. Nina and Ratchet would kill me, for one, and two, I don't think she'll even know what I'm talking about. She's just too young. I'll tell her eventually, when she's old enough to understand. I promise." He said, looking back to Sam before falling asleep.
End Flashback!
Back at the Base
Sideswipe hung out in the main hanger, trying to contact his brother, but for some reason, he had his comm. link turned off and was blocking him through their bond.
"Damn it, Sunny!" he cursed. He didn't understand it. Why was Sunstreaker ignoring his calls? Did he even know about Sam?
"Sunny, answer your slagging comm. link!" he shouted at him over the bond. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he got a response.
"What do you want, Sideswipe?" answered Sunstreaker through the comm. link.
"About time you fragging answered!" He shouted. "We've been trying to contact you for over an hour! Where the Pit are you?"
He could almost feel his brother flinch at the tone in his voice.
"I'm on my way to the school to pick up Sam. I got sidetracked and now I'm late." Sunny replied.
"Well, it's too late about that. Sam's gone!" Sideswipe heard the squeal of Sunstreaker's tires as he slammed to a halt.
"What?"
"Sideways was detected in the area where she was. Optimus and the others are on their way to the high school right now. But," he paused, feeling a break in his voice as he the overwhelming pain in his spark made itself known. "He took her, Sunny. She's gone."
With Sunstreaker
He ended the transmission with Sideswipe and sped off towards the high school.
'Oh, Primus. Please, no.' he silently prayed. This can't be happening! Sideways couldn't have gotten to her. After his previous attacks, the warning from Barricade, being merely a few miles away…and he still failed her.
He failed to protect her.
Rage burned inside of his spark and he picked up speed.
"I will get you back, by Primus I will!" he growled. "And I'll tear that Con to pieces when I find him."
With Sam
I slowly began to wake up, feeling intense pain in my back and my head. I groaned as my stiff muscles tried to move and push me up. I felt cold hard ground beneath and I looked around to discover I was an abandoned warehouse. I looked around and noticed I was completely alone.
Using this chance, I quickly searched my pockets for my cell phone. Aw crap! I forgot that through the hustle of being chased by the Con cop car that was apparently trying to save me, I shoved my phone into my bag.
I looked around. Nope, no bag. I must have dropped it when Sideways shot at me.
"Well, this is just perfect." I growled. Now how was I supposed to contact the Autobots. A deep chuckle and the sound of something big walking towards me caught my attention. I gasped when I saw who it was.
"It's too bad the poor little human can't contact her guardians to come and save her." Sideways mocked. I glared at him, not letting my guard down around him, I watched his every move as he walked around me.
"What a shame, it would have been beneficial to my plans." He looked at his claws in a relaxed manner. Not understanding what he was saying, I slightly cocked my eyebrow. He noticed it.
"Why, my plans for destroying the Autobots, of course." He stated as though I asked a question. "I allow you to make contact with them, 'Help me, help me! I'm being held prisoner !'" he mocked me. I just stared at him like he just sprouted two heads.
This guy was insane! No wonder Megatron ditched him!
He regained his composure. "And when the Autobots come for your rescue, I'll torture you in front of them and bring them to their knees. When I see their lack of motivation, I'll rip their sparks from their chests!" he laughed maniacally.
"You're insane!" I shouted. He stopped laughing and looked at me. I couldn't tell what he felt, if he even felt, but I saw anger, amusement, and something that resembled lust in his optics. I backed away in fear as he stepped forward. He picked me up in his claws roughly and held me to his face.
"You're pretty brave for a fragile human child, knowing your chances of survival are slim to none." He grinned. I knew I was testing his patience with me, but I kept pushing him.
"Your plan is never going to work! I don't even have a way to contact them!" The look on his face made me wish I hadn't said that.
"Oh, but you see my dear, I do." My eyes widened, then narrowed.
"It doesn't matter what you do, the Autobots are still going to destroy you, and it's just too bad Megatron hasn't yet!" I gasped when his grip suddenly tightened at the mention of Megatron. I think I may have crossed the line on this one.
"Don't you ever mention that name in my presence. Believe me, I can still use your dead mangled body in my plans for crushing those Autobot-scum!" he growled. I gulped, feeling all color drain from my face. He turned his attention to the other side of the ware-house.
"Barricade!" he shouted. Barricade emerged from the shadows, fists clenched. I was pretty sure he saw the whole thing.
"What do you want?" he snapped. Sideways tossed me over to him. I yelled as I flew through the air, but, luckily, Barricade caught me.
"Watch over the girl. I've got some planning to do." With that, he walked away. I could feel a deep rumble in Barricade's chest that resembled a growl and I looked up at him. What I saw surprised me; he was giving Sideways a death glare.
Once Sideways was gone, Barricade gently set me down on the ground.
"Are you okay?" he asked, gruffly. I only nodded, unable to speak.
"You should've run away like I told you to. If you would have listened to me, then you wouldn't be in this situation."
I put my hands on my hips. "Well, excuse me for trying to get over the fact that a Con was trying to help me."
"I'm not a Con anymore!" I stumbled back at his outburst. It had taken me off guard.
"What did you say?" I asked.
"I'm done with this war." He said, softly. "Too many had died fighting for the same reason: to build a better world."
"So, does this mean you'll be siding with the Autobots?" I asked, hopefully.
"No, it means that I'm going to remain a neutral. I'm not fighting this war any longer."
A part of me wanted to reach out to Barricade, I felt bad for him. Before this war started, I bet he had a bunch of friends, probably even from both sides, that died in the war. Another part of me wanted to try and get him to come to our side, but I knew that wasn't going to happen. What if the Decepticons and Autobots thought the same thing Barricade did…I didn't even notice I started laughing.
"What's so funny, femme?" he asked, confused at my sudden change in mood. I tried to settle down.
"I-I'm sorry, Barricade." I managed to stop laughing and tried to breathe. "I was just thinking. What if the Decepticons and the Autobots decided to become neutral. That would end this war."
"Your spark, erm, heart's in the right place, youngling. Unfortunately, some things aren't so easy for us to control." He stated. I didn't quite understand.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Both leaders want the exact same thing; however, both viewpoints are incredibly different. They both have a mind set on what their world should be like, but the other's visions get in the way. This war has brought out the worst in many of our kind; don't think the Autobots aren't as guilty as the Decepticons." He looked at me when he said the last statement.
"It's just like our war." I whispered in realization.
"What?" Barricade asked. I looked up at him.
"My planet's war. We humans fight each other for the same goal, but with different views. We try so hard to make change, but, in the end, don't realize the destruction and pain we cause to others." I look into Barricade's optics. "Are we any different from you guys?"
"Your race is capable of great violence and mass destruction, much like our own. So much so, in fact, that I sometimes wonder if we're even still fighting over the same planet."
I look at him with confusion. He looks down at me and explains further.
"Both of our races our fighting for the better of our home planet."
With that final statement, Barricade stood and walked out of the ware-house. I heard him transform and drive off, but I didn't care about that. I was too busy thinking about what he just said. He was right. Both of our races really are fighting for the same thing, which makes me realize:
We humans have our own Decepticons and Autobots, fighting for the salvation of our dying world.
Again, so sorry it took a long time to update! I'll try to update the next one sooner! Thanks!