Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers

Summary: Abandoned by the Decepticons until she can prove herself again, Alice decides to go against Megatron to find a way for peace. To do so, she accidently enlists the help of Leo Spitz. Can they put the past aside and find a way to attempt to end the Cybertronian War?

Rating: T

Before It's Too Late

Chapter 8: Confessions and Cave-ins

"OH, COME ON!" Alice yelled, still trying to punch through the door. "THERE IS NO DAMN WAY I'M GOING TO SIT IN HERE AND DO NOTHING WHILE LEO IS IN DANGER."

"Alice, if you move, I can try and shoot through the door." Optimus said.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?" Alice snapped, turning to face Optimus with her hands on her hips. "I just wasted loads of time, trying to punch through a wall that is impossible for me to break, while you just stand there and watch. Leo might be dying! He might be dead! Hurry up and blown the door down!"

"Then get out of the way." Optimus said, loading the gun. Alice stepped around behind him, and watched as he shot the door. The stone crumbled away, leaving a large hole that led into the assassin chamber. Alice ran into the chamber, and saw Epps standing in front of the assassin, and Leo standing behind the assassin on the other side of the chamber, running his hands over the wall, as though he was looking for something.

"Leo!" She exclaimed and ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Alice, now is not the time." Leo said, prying her arms from around his neck. "I'm looking for a way out, or we're all dead."

"But..."

"But what?" He asked.

"I'm so sorry, Leo. I could never hurt you." She reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. "I came back to rescue you... I should never have got you dragged into this mess. I'm sorry." She stood up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "And I love you."

"Wait... what?" Leo asked in shock.

"That's why I could never hurt you... that's why I feel so good around you... it's why I never want to lose you..." Alice said, staring up at Leo, whose eyes were wide with shock. "Will you say something back? Please?"

"... Damn." Leo said, and pulled Alice into his arms and kissed her.

Optimus stepped over Epps, and charged into the assassin that was getting ready to fire a large gun off at the soldier and almost definitely kill him. Optimus dove on the assassin, and dragged it down onto ground with him. Epps dodged the falling robots, whilst Alice and Leo finally broke their embrace and flattened themselves against the wall to prevent Optimus and the assassin crushing them both. Epps ran over to them both.

"Are you two okay?" He asked.

"We're fine." Leo replied.

"Come on, let's get out of here." Epps said.

"How?" Leo asked, looking around. "I didn't find an exit. How are we going to get out of here?"

"Like this." Epps strode over to the main door to the chamber, and raised his sabot launcher, aiming it at the door. "You better cover your ears, Leo." He squeezed the trigger, and fired off the round. Leo ducked behind Alice and covered his ears. She looked down at him and smirked. The door exploded in a shower of dust and rocks. Epps grabbed Alice's hand, and dragged her out of the chamber. Leo got to his feet and sprinted after them, as the tunnel began to collapse behind them. He stopped and turned on his heel.

"OPTIMUS!" He called, cupping his hands around his mouth. "THE TUNNEL IS COLLAPSING. COME ON!"

"Leo!" Alice ran back and grabbed his arm. "There's nothing you can do for Optimus... he'll get out of this fine. He is a Prime after all, and a big pile of rocks isn't as dangerous for a transformer. Just come on!" She grabbed Leo down the collapsing tunnel, running after Epps, who was trying to find the exit.

"YOU TWO! THIS WAY!" Epps yelled, pointing down the tunnel. "I CAN SEE LIGHT!" He grabbed Alice's arm again and dragged them both towards the exit, and soon they were standing in the sunlight, blinking at the brightness. They all turned around and watched as the tunnel finished collapsing, along with most of the Temple of the Sun. Alice turned around again, and tapped both Epps and Leo on the shoulder.

"Uhm... guys? This could be a problem." She pointed to a banged up tour bus that was slowly approaching the ruins. "When Optimus comes out, how are we going to explain him and this?" she gestured to the ruins.

"Leo did it." Epps slung his sabot launcher onto his back and folded his arms. "That's the excuse I'm sticking with."

"HEY!" Leo scowled. "I'm not the one who blew the door down!"

"They don't need to know that." Epps said.

"Do you speak Spanish?"

"Not really."

"Well they will know about it, because I'll tell them."

"Or, we could all go and hide somewhere until Optimus gets out." Alice suggested with a shrug of her shoulders. "That way, we won't have to tell anyone what happened or answer any sorts of awkward questions."

"I hate to say it, but she's right." Epps admitted. "Come on, we can hide behind one of the giant piles of rubble that we just created."

"And do what?" Leo asked.

"Wait until nightfall." Alice replied. "Then we can try and dig Optimus out if he hasn't escaped already."

"Come on, we better hurry." Epps said, gesturing to the bus, which tourists were staggering out of. Let's go."

xXx

"Can you see any of them?" Mikaela asked, climbing off the bus that had taken them to Machu Picchu. Sam had got off the bus before her, to give the area a quick check for any familiar faces.

"No, I can't see anyone." Sam replied.

"Well, as derelict as this place is, I don't think that giant pile of rubble is meant to be there." Mikaela gestured to the pile. Sam looked at her, then at the rubble, and back again at Mikaela.

"I think you might be right." Sam said. He started walking towards it. "Come on, it might give us a clue to where Leo is. He also mentioned something about Epps and Optimus in his patchy phone call."

"Don't forget about Alice." Mikaela said. "She's the one who kidnapped him."

"We don't know if she did."

"Well I wouldn't put it past her. She has tried to kill us all before." Mikaela felt the need to remind Sam.

"I know, 'Kaela. I was her main target." Sam sighed. "Can we just go and look for them now?"

"Sam, I want to find them as much as you." Mikaela said softly. "No matter how much Leo gets on my nerves sometimes, we went through hell together. He's my friend too."

"I know... I'm sorry." Sam sighed, heading towards the piles of rubble. He climbed on top of one, looked down, and screamed. Sam then fell off the pile of rubble, and landed on the ground with a thud.

"Sam?" Mikaela called, following the path he had taken. She looked down, and saw Sam laying on the ground in a heap, with Leo, Epps and Alice sitting with their backs against the pile of rubble, looking up at her. "Well, it looks like you found them."

"Help... please..." Sam mumbled.

"Where's Optimus?" Mikaela asked, sliding down the rubble and helping Sam to his feet.

"Erm..." Leo looked at Alice, who looked at Epps.

"What?" Epps asked. He sighed. "Optimus is... under this pile somewhere."

"..." Mikaela said nothing.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Sam laughed nervously.

"Nope." Leo said. "It was Epps's fault. He collapsed the tunnel by firing a sabot round in there."

"Leo, if not for him, we would be dead now." Alice said.

"Who even said you were allowed to speak?" Mikaela snapped.

"Geez..." Alice rolled her eyes. "Are you still mad I kissed your boyfriend."

"Yes, I am." Mikaela growled.

"Oh. Well, that overcomplicates things." Alice shrugged. "You can kiss my boyfriend if you want to get even." She nudged Leo.

"What the –?" Mikaela's jaw dropped.

"Did I hear that right?" Sam asked. "You –" he pointed to Leo. "– And you." He pointed to Alice. "Are in a relationship?"

"Erm... yes." Leo answered.

"I never expected that." Sam said, and looked at Mikaela. She shrugged and sat down next to Epps.

"Sam, nevermind." Epps said. "Just sit down. We're waiting for Optimus to get back out."

One more chapter after this, methinks. Keep the reviews coming!