Here's yet another long fragging chapter. And this came out fast too! Only because some idiot – that would be me – decided to put a deadline on finishing this fic so the idiot can get started on the Kacey/Bee love story. I'm doing my best to finish this fic by Valentine's Day. Not sure it's going to happen but I'm giving it my best shot!

Now, on with chapter 47.

Optimus

The view of Cybertron was…awe inspiring. It always was in my imagination. Everything was restored to its original beauty. Iacon City. Crystal City. Decagon. It had always been my hope that one day we could restore Cybertron to its original form. Hope that was all but obliterated when I had to send the All Spark into space.

I knew my actions that day would probably mean the end of Cybertron. I had wept alone in my office, praying to Primus for forgiveness. After all, what right did I have to destroy what he created? Yet, I saw no other way to stop my brother's relentless hunger for power. I saw no other way to protect as many of our kind as I could and to preserve our way of life. So if I must burn in the pits in the after life for destroying our world to save our kind, then so bit.

Cybertron has always been home to me. My spark longs for no other planet. It's such a shame that my younglings will never see it as I see it except in pictures. They will never see the moons rise, they will never see the beautiful steamy oil lakes. They will never smell the sweet metallic atmosphere of home.

"Quite beautiful I'd say."

"Yes it is," I sighed in agreement.

It took me an astrosecond to realize someone else had said that. I turned to my right to see a well armored, lovely femme beside me. Slender arms and legs. Sinuous curved form. Topped off by a face that was quite striking and familiar too.

"Kacey?"

"Yes father. It's me," she smiled.

Yes it was her. I'd recognize that smile anywhere. It was her mother's smile. Hang on…

"How did you get here?"

"Not sure," she shrugged. "I reached out to you. It took some effort to get to you. But…here I am."

I stared at her trying to figure out if she was really or not. If she wasn't real, she was still a wonderful sight to behold.

"Or I can just be a figment of your imagination," she smirked making me laugh.

"Well, it is wonderful to see you," I smiled warmly at her. "It gives me a chance to…"

"Is this how you see Cybertron?" she asked, interrupting me, taking a few steps forward. Her door wings arched up proudly as she stood before me observing the landscape. "It's even more beautiful than the pictures I've seen."

"Yes it was always more beautiful to see with your own optics," I exhaled. "It had been my hope that one day Cybertron would look like this once again. But…that will never come to be."

My sadness overwhelmed me causing the landscape to change. It was still Cybertron. Only the light, the radiance…was gone. Ruins littered the landscape. Smoke blew through the air, blanketing the sky. Fires and corpses were scattered across the plain before us.

"Tiger Pax," Kacey commented. "I recognize the mountain and the plains. This was where it happened, wasn't it?"

I looked sadly down at her when she turned to face me. It's such a shame that my daughter knew of such things.

"That was the day you saved our kind from total annihilation," she continued.

"That's not what history remembers," I told her.

"Yes, it is father. You're just being too hard on yourself."

My spark sank. She was right. No one was harder on me but myself. Not even Elita's legendary wrath could be harder on me.

"Would you like to see my vision of a possible future?" she asked, smiling up at me as if understanding I needed to be cheered up.

I nodded curiously. And in a flash the world around us had changed. We were on Earth. I easily recognized the trees and birds. The water of the lake was crystal blue. We were standing on the shore. They sun was high and the sky richly blue. And out in the middle of a lake was…a city.

It was of Cybertronian design and it was beautiful. The skyscrapers that cluttered in the middle of the city reached high. A bridge extended to the shore on one side and another bridge did the same on the other side. It hummed with life that I could feel at such a distance.

"I call it…Autobot City," she smiled proudly.

I raised an optic ridge at her.

"Yeah, I know, it's so unoriginal," she chuckled. "But I believe that's what the humans would be able to understand. They don't know of Cybertron, Iacon City or even Decagon the way we do."

"I must admit, it is beautiful in this setting," I smiled.

"Father, this is the future I see for us. More and More Autobots are arriving on Earth. We can't keep digging into the mountain. What we need is a place to call our own. Wouldn't that be wonderful? A new place to call home?"

"Yes it would my child," I sighed, my optics glistening with tears. It would be nice to live there, to make a place with my family. But alas this future was for my daughter and the Autobots. I was dying. I knew that and there wasn't much I could do to change that.

"Don't you dare think that way!" she snapped at me.

I looked over to see the fury on her face. Primus, her eyes looked just like Elita when she was pissed at me. My spark longed to say goodbye to my love.

"STOP! IT!" she yelled angrily, tears streaming down her faceplates. Then her face softened and I could see the sorrow, the regret for yelling at me. She did nothing to hold it back. "You have to fight father…please!"

"I can't my child. I don't have the strength anymore."

"Then take mine," she said, extending her hand.

I stared at it for the longest moment. Not understanding what she meant.

"Take it!" she insisted, stretching it.

Again I made no move to take it.

"Do you love me, father?" she asked.

"Of course! I will always love you!"

"Then take it! Take what strength you need from me and make it your own! TAKE IT!"

I stood motionless. How could she possible help me? This was all in my imagination wasn't it? But that can't be. I never imagined a Cybertronian city being built on Earth. That sounds like something Kacey would have come up with on her own.

"Father…please," she begged, optics full of huge tears.

I could never resist my child or any of my younglings when they made that face. Elita said I was soft and that each of them had me wrapped around their fingers. But they were my younglings, a part of the femme I loved more than life itself. How could I not give them my love that I would never deny her?

Ever so slowly I slowly reached for Kacey's hand. Even before I grasped it I could feel her energy radiating from her. It was warm…inviting, beckoning me to grabbed hold. I could even feel a pull on my spark.

My hand gently wrapped around hers. At first I felt nothing but the warmth of her metal skin in mine. Then she smirked at me. I gave her a puzzled looked just before a jolt of electricity ran from her arm up mine. Sparks crackled up my armor and across my chest. They did not hurt. They actually tickled.

Once over my spark chamber the sparks disappeared into my armor and I felt an increase of energy. It happened again and again. I could literally feel myself growing stronger with each energy discharge. I was about to ask Kacey how that was even possible when I noticed her energy was declining as her optics dimmed, she didn't stand as tall as before, her door wings sagged. I quickly letting go of her hand. Only she held mine even tighter that before.

"Kacey let go!"

Another jolt of energy hit me. I cried out in surprise.

"Kacey…no!" I yelled desperately, seeing her getting weaker before my very optics while I was getting stronger. I tried prying her hand from mine to no avail. She somehow fused her hand to mine when my fingers tried pull her fingers off. "No!"

"I'm sorry father…I cannot let go. I love you so much. I would do anything for you."

Kacey suddenly reached and grabbed hold of my chest armor with her other hand. I couldn't pry that off either as her hand melted into my armor much like our hands seemed permanently linked. Tears rolled down my faceplates. I couldn't watch as my daughter was dying before my very optics.

"It is alright," she smiled affectionately. "Please do not be afraid for me."

Before I could speak Kacey's body disappeared…more like…transformed into a brilliant, radiant light form. I could still feel her hold of me as the glow before me pulsed steadily. I could feel it within me. It pulsed in the same rhythm as my own spark.

"Do not be afraid, father. I love you."

"Kacey…"

Her energy form enveloped me. I could feel her essence fusing with my own. It felt similar to spark merging with Elita. Only it was much different. There was no rapture, no feelings of pleasure. Just the loving warmth of my daughter caressing me as her energy intermingled with my own.

I still wasn't entirely sure if this was all my imagination or not. At this point I didn't care. If this was the only way I could say goodbye to my daughter then I was going to make this moment last as long as I possibly could.

On instinct I reached back to her through our bond. My essence was eagerly taken in. I could even hear the giddiness in my daughter's laugh as we merged.

"You always said that together, we can accomplish anything," she whispered making me smile.

Leo

"Kacey!" I screamed as I came out of recharge.

My spark was racing. Darkness surrounded me. I sat there in confusion as my processor tried to make sense of what it'd seen. Did I just have a bad dream? Instinctively I reached to my sister for comfort and reassurance. Only…Kacey didn't reach back.

I gasped loudly. I could barely feel her within my spark. Just like…just like I could barely feel father!

"Oh no!" I cried jumping off my bed. "Primus, please no! Not my sister too!"

I raced out of our family's quarters as fast as I could and ran for the med bay. I knew that's where Kacey would be. Mother said so when she kissed me goodnight after I asked where Kacey was.

"Leo…stop…no!" Red Alert shouted, lunging for me when I bolted towards the private room where my father and Kacey were.

I was forbidden to go in there but I had to see Kacey. I ducked Red's outstretched hands and zipped right between his legs. Being as small as I was, I knew how to take advantage of the others being so big and making myself very hard to get.

The door was open so I rushed in. I skidded to a halt when I saw my father on the bed. My optics widened upon seeing my father in such a state. I could feel my spark clench with fear and grief. I've never seen him so…

"Leo!" Red shouted.

I quickly turned. My attention was back to what I came here for. There was Kacey on another recharge bed. She appeared to be recharging. But I knew she wasn't. I could feel it. I rushed to her.

"Kacey, wake up!" I screamed, grabbing hold of her and shaking her.

"Leo, you're mother is going to kill me," Red growled, grabbing my arm.

I wrenched myself free from his grasp and latched my hands onto Kacey.

"KACEY!!!! WAKE UP!" I cried out, tears pouring down my faceplates. My spark was screaming to for her. "She won't wake up Red! She won't wake up!"

"I'm sure she's fine," he insisted.

"I can't feel her," I countered, pounding a fist against my chest. "Please, Red."

Red Alert sighed then turned his attention to Kacey.

"Leo, get out of here!" mother said, rushing over and picking me up.

"KACEY!" I yelled as loud as I could, reaching for her with my hands and my spark. "Why won't she wake up mother?!"

"Red, what's…" mother started to say.

Red Alert abruptly ran out of the room only to return a moment later with some medical supplies. Now mom was as frightened as I was. We held each other and watched anxiously as Red Alert worked on Kacey.

"I don't know…I don't know what's wrong with her. Ratchet's on his way."

"Is Kacey dying too?" I asked.

"Shh baby, don't cry," she cooed, pressing her cheek against my head, holding me close.

"No, she's not going to die, Leo," Red answered plainly.

"What is it?" mother asked.

I turned to look into his face. I needed to know what was wrong with my sister.

"I honestly have no idea," he said and I felt mother's arms tighten around me ever so slightly.

I buried my face on her neck and wept.

Ratchet

I rubbed my optics they were so tired. I lost track of how long I've been at this. The only time that registered was how much I had left. Fifty-eight hours and counting down before I had to...

Primus, how was I going to be able to do that to Optimus? I love him far too much to kill him.

Frag, my optics burned so badly right now as I fought my tears.

"Ratchet, you need to rest," Wheeljack quietly said, his hand gently touching my shoulder. When had he gotten up? I never even heard him move across the room. "You've been at this nonstop with no rest ever since you brought Optimus back to the base."

"We will contact you the moment we find something, Sir," Sockets said helpfully.

"Yes, we have plenty of coffee to keep us going," the female called Maggie smiled.

I was a bit aggravated about the coup Kacey pulled and sending Sockets and the humans to help. If I hadn't known Sockets so well I wouldn't have let him come. Sockets was a bright mech and was going to make an excellent medi-bot on the battle field. He had good instincts and more importantly the desire to not give up on his patient.

However, I must admit the young mech had a fresh set of ideas as did the two humans. I now see why Optimus speaks so highly of them. For such fragile creatures their spirit rivals our own. They too have the fierce desire to do good in the universe. And together, the three of them thought of things Wheeljack or I might never have thought of.

It fired up the processor. It got the energon pumping rapidly again.

It gave us hope again.

"Ok, I'll recharge for an hour or so," I relented rising to my feet. "Three max."

Wheeljack chuckled returning to his station in the lab.

"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it," he mumbled.

"I heard that," I said, glaring at him.

He wisely ignored me. He was right though. I probably won't recharge and would be back in less than an hour. But it would be a nice break to give me some time with my family. I needed to see them actually. Their loving presence in my arms always lifted my spirits.

"Jack…"

"Don't worry my friend," he smiled. "I'll call you the moment we find something."

With a nod, I rose to my feet and dragged my tired self out of the lab. My recharge programs were happily booting up. Well…perhaps a short nap would do me some good. I'll just have Moonracer wake my after an hour. But no more. I refuse to spare more than that when a life was at stake.

"Ratchet, this is Red Alert! I need you at the Medbay A-SAP!"

"On my way!" I responded without questioning and started running.

My only thoughts were of Optimus. I couldn't lose the lugnut. So many of the Autobots needed him. One particular femme desperately needed her father back.

It was while running and thinking of Optimus that made me realize my medical alert system never sounded. I was linked to it and had it programmed to inform me of any decline in Optimus' condition.

"Red…"

"It's Kacey, Sir."

Primus no! I ran as fast as I possibly could.

My worst fear was losing more than just Optimus when he passed on. I knew it was possible the younglings couldn't handle it and that I would lose them as well. It has happened where sparklings or small younglings died shortly after the loss of a parent. Their young sparks couldn't handle the pain they felt as their creator died.

Rushing into the private room I saw Leo absolutely had lost it. He was crying hysterically, calling for Kacey over and over, calling for his father over and over. Elita was doing her best to comfort her son, cooing to him, rocking him, caressing his small back. Nothing seemed to be working.

"Elita, I think it best that he be taken else where," I suggested tenderly.

"I know," she said, barely able to hold back her own tears. "Chromia is on her way to get Leo. I'm meeting her on route. Please, just tell me what's wrong with Kacey."

"As soon as I know, you'll know," I said to her before focusing on Kacey. My initial scans indicated that nothing was wrong with her systems. "Talk to me Red."

"I don't know. Leo was saying she wouldn't wake up. I saw that she wouldn't even as Leo shook her. So I scanned her recharge systems to make sure they were functioning properly. Ratchet, her recharge systems aren't even on."

As usual, Red was accurate in his assessment. Kacey's recharge systems weren't even humming. Everything appeared as if it were in stasis. All except her spark. Her chest region's temperature was abnormally high.

"I need to run a complete diagnostic on her systems," I said, lifting her up into my arms. "I'll take her into the other room. You stay with Optimus."

"Yes, Sir."

I quickly glanced over at the monitors to verify what the link was telling me - no change in Optimus' condition. Not that I'd expect any. He was locked in stasis and wouldn't be able to know what was happening to Kacey, not even on the subconscious level.

I did note that as I made my way to the door that his spark's temperature level had risen slightly. However, I didn't have a chance to question it when Kacey's body started convulsing in my arms. Her back arched so hard and abruptly I nearly dropped her.

"Ratchet!" Red shouted just as my medical alert system sounded.

When I turned Red had just lurched forward to hold down Optimus' body. To my totally disbelief Optimus' body was shaking as violently as Kacey's! Not even thinking about it I moved to lay Kacey back down on the portable recharge bed in the private room. Optimus' condition was worse since he was dying and he needed to be the focus of my attention.

But the oddest thing happened. After I had only take a few steps back into the room the seizures stopped for Kacey and Optimus.

"He's stabilizing," Red announced. "What the frag just happened?"

I raised an optic ridge at Red Alert. I very rarely ever hear him use profanity. But he did make a good point.

On a hunch I stepped back with Kacey towards the main room. And as soon as I reached the threshold hers and Optimus' seizures started up again. I quickly went back into the room and their forms grew still again.

"Unbelievable," I gasped, gently laying Kacey back down. "Red, check Optimus' energy levels. If my theory is correct, they should have increased."

As Red did as I instructed I ran my own medical scan on Kacey's energy levels. The results confirmed one half of my theory.

"You're right!" Red exclaimed.

"What the frag is going on?" Ironhide asked barging in. Elita not far behind him. "I've never seen Leo so upset!"

"Ratchet, have you figured out what's wrong with Kacey?" the femme asked.

"Unbelievable," I repeated, caressing Kacey's head, tears in my optics.

"Ratchet?" Ironhide questioned, one large hand on my shoulder.

"Primus, I've only read about this occurring and all those instances it was only twins that did it," I rasped. I started crying. I couldn't help it. It was one of the most beautiful ways to express how deeply the love this child had for her father. "Our sparks, our bonds have been studied since the beginning of our existence," I explained, wiping my tears away. "Yet there is still so much about them we don't know." I turned and looked directly at Elita. The poor femme was past her wits end. "Kacey is using her bond to give Optimus the energy he needs to help fight the virus…and its working. His repair systems aren't able to purge the virus, nor will they ever be, but they're combating it."

"She can't keep that up for long," Elita said. "Can she?"

"No, her energy efficiency levels have already dropped to ninety-five percent," I replied. "Red, bring in another med bed. Set it up as close to Optimus as possible. The closer the better."

"Understood."

"Ratchet…"

"Elita, right now its best to not interfere with what Kacey's doing. When the time comes I will do what is necessary to separate their bond. You will not lose them both, I promise."

"I don't understand how she's able to do this," the femme wept.

"I don't fully understand either," I replied, hugging her tightly. "I doubt even Kacey knew what she was doing. Something like this has only happened a few times throughout our kind's history. And under similar circumstances. One mechanism simply could not live without the other and was desperate to save them. I've always known how deeply Kacey loved Optimus. She never hid those feelings. They are what brought her to Earth. Perhaps it was that love that enabled her to do this. We may never know."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Be there for Leo and the others. They need their mother. Red will keep his optics on Optimus and Kacey…"

"So will the rest of us," Ironhide spoke up interrupting me. "It's all over the base that Kacey's…"

"I just heard Kacey's dying! Why wasn't I informed immediately?!" Prowl demanded as he ran in.

I groaned, wiping a hand across my face. The Autobots loved rumors!

"First of all, she's not dying," I said. "Second, this is a private room and there are far too many of you in here! Third, I need to get back to finding a cure for Optimus. I'm not going to lose either one of them!"

"But…"

"I don't have time for this! Red will fill you in Prowl. Ironhide, if Elita permits it I will allow only one visitor at a time in there to be with Kacey and Optimus and trust that you monitor that. I'll not have half the Autobot army packed in here like sardines! Now if you'll excuse me I have work to do!"

Ironhide

I watched my friend leave. Ratchet had that look in his optics like he was either going to find that cure for Optimus or die trying. As expected, that was the last time I'd see my good friend for some time as he continued working on a cure for Optimus.

The hours had passed into a day.

A day turned into two.

Time was passing too quickly! I wish to pit I could stop it so Ratchet and the others could find that cure for Optimus. I wasn't sure if I should pray or not. I wasn't as religious as Ultra Magnus. Besides, it seemed like Primus was against us taking two lives with one blow. I questioned why He would allow a youngling, one so innocent with so much to live for, sacrifice herself because of the pure love she had for her father.

Of course my questions went under answered. I even went so far as to tell Primus to go frag Himself! Religion does not suit me. Instead, I did the two things I did best in life. I prepared for an upcoming battle with the Decepticons and provided what comfort I could to my family and friends.

My son, Nitro was especially upset. He'd been trying to hide it from me. Only he's far too young and inexperienced for this sort of thing. I could always feel what was in his spark if I reached out to him. Still, he refused to cry in front of me though; he wanted to show me that he was a mech too and that mech's don't cry. At least not in front of other mechs. No, he saved his tears for his mother's shoulder.

Mia, my love, my life as always handled each situation magnificently. She like many of the Autobots held onto the hope that Ratchet would find the cure. Her words of comfort to Prime's little ones were sparkfelt and seemed to make them feel a little better. And as always, she was there for Elita. The two femmes were the best of friends, closer than most sisters. One would always be strong for the other depending on who needed the other's strength. Optimus and I never did anything to take away from that friendship.

The bonds of friendship were strong amongst many of us. Including those with Kacey. Those of us who were dubbed her uncles were now more her friends and mentors than anything. I always knew that one day she'd out grow calling us uncle. But it was enlightening to see how the bond of friendship to the young femme affected each us differently.

Prowl was a mech who showed few emotions. He always appeared calm, collected, about to handle any situation with ease. But I could tell his was upset about the situation. I'd known him since he was a recruit trying to learn his place in the Autobot army. I learned that the more he hid his emotions completely the more he was hurting.

He worked closest with Kacey since he had the responsibility of preparing her for being a leader. He always had a stern, yet kind way of dealing with Kacey. He never yelled at her like he did when the twins and Bumblebee were younglings. She never seemed to make him angry no matter what prank she pulled.

I suppose it's partly because she's a femme and Prime's daughter that many of us are lenient so with her. But just because she's a femme doesn't mean she's any less of a trouble maker! Her pranks rival and in some instance surpass that of the twins! I'll never forget seeing Ratchet storming down the hallway, his armor all hot pink! As a precaution, I always inspect my shower before cleansing.

I think the twins were suffering have been most during this crisis for I've never seen them so distraught. It nearly broke my spark to see them standing beside Kacey, crying their optics out. Sunny often treated Kacey like a little sister. Sides too, always doing anything his brother would do. It was a comforting thought knowing the two brothers would protect her with their lives if they had to. They loved her that much. I just pray Sunny hasn't corrupted her processor.

I lay in the darkness and realized that I'm probably already too late for such prayers. I'm sure Kacey's mind has been corrupted! I thank Primus she's just one hundred times smarter than those two idiots!

"Hide, recharge," Chromia murmured, her form snuggling up against mine.

"Sorry love…I can't. Not with the deadline only a couple of hours away."

"That was the original deadline," she sighed. Her hand reached, grabbing my arm and pulled me onto my back. Our optics locked onto each other's in the darkness. "Remember, Ratchet said that whatever Kacey is doing has given them some extra time."

"I know. I remember," I said, turning the light on and sitting up. "But it's only a few extra hours. The child's energy levels are now just below fifty percent. The energy she's giving Optimus is just enough for his repair systems to fight the virus. But if her energy levels drop below thirty-five percent Ratchet is going to have to put a stop to it. Otherwise we could lose both Kacey and Optimus."

"But those hours could be what makes a difference."

"I know!" I growled, not at her but at myself more than anyone.

"Hide, this is not your fault," she said firmly, always one for knowing what was truly bothering me.

"But I'm his guardian…I was supposed to protect him. Sentinel trusted me to protect Optimus! It should be me in that med bay!" I yelled getting to me feet. "I've always protected him! Always!"

"That's not true," she countered sitting up, never afraid of my anger. "There were many times when it was Optimus protecting you. He's a grown mech and can take care of himself. He's Prime for frags sake! He's at risk more than the rest of us. Yet, he has survived. He's come back from the brink of death a few times. He can't be protected every astrosecond of everyday no matter now much you try. And I think you've done a remarkable job as his guardian my love."

I frowned thinking I still could have done better, that if I were standing at his side I could have stopped that fragging spawn from biting Optimus.

"Go, be with him," she smiled. "It's what you want to do."

What did I do to deserve a femme like her? She knew me like no other.

"I love you, Mia," I said as she got off the bed. "I love you so much it hurts."

"I know," she whispered, caressing my face. "I feel how much you love me every day. Now go. Be with Optimus."

I nodded then kissed her deeply, our love for each other caressing one another over our bond. I made sure to check on my children before leaving our quarters. Sidewinder as usually fell into recharge with his favorite toy guns on the bed, a hand stubbornly clinging to one when I tried to extract it. Nitro seemed to be finally recharging peacefully. Poor young mech was having a terrible time because he was so worried about Kacey. Not even Firestar could calm him.

When all this is over…whether Optimus and Kacey survive or not, it is time I had that talk with Nitro. It's time to share a few of my secrets about keeping your femme happy with him. I believe he's finally ready for it.

I sighed heavily.

The trek through the hallways was eerily silent as if impending doom lay ahead. The only sound was the hum of the lights and my heavy footfalls. It was predawn, usually a few bots would be up. It seemed like the entire base was in mourning, even me. It was a feeling I could not shake.

When I entered the med bay I found Red Alert recharging on one of the med beds. The mech looked as exhausted as the rest of us felt. Careful to not wake him I moved quietly across the room for the private suite where Optimus and Kacey were being cared for. As I approached the door I heard a voice, a mech's voice. He was talking in a whisper it was difficult to hear. None the less, I stood by the door and peered in slowly to see who he was.

It was Bumblebee.

His back was turned so he didn't see me. His shoulders were shaking. My spark sank…he was crying. I was about to move in and comfort him when he spoke and I noticed him holding Kacey's hand. Now I'd seen him hold her hand before…but never like this.

"I'm praying really hard that Ratchet finds a cure to save Optimus," he sniffled. "I know in my spark that it's the only way to save you, Kacey. I know you love your father so much that you would sacrifice yourself trying to save him. So, this may be my only opportunity to tell you. It'd been my hope to tell you this when you were a mature femme but…" Bumblebee paused as he sobbed uncontrollably. It took him a few moments to gather himself up enough to continue. "You see…I love you Kacey…with all my spark. You are the light in my life, the energy of my soul. Without you I am incomplete, I'm nothing…an empty shell, one useless half of a whole."

I'm sure that if I were standing in front of a mirror I'd be able to see the utter surprise on my faceplates at what I just heard. Bumblebee in love…with Kacey?! When the frag did that happen and why had none of us noticed?!

I glanced over my shoulder. Red alert was still in deep recharge, snoring loudly.

"Why Primus?! Why must you take her from me?!" the young bot cried out. I quickly turned my head to see him staring up the ceiling, daring Primus to answer him. "Take me instead! Take my life so that she may live!"

Frag, he was breaking my spark. He truly loved her. I'd recognize that anguish in a mechs voice any day. I'd heard it in Optimus. I heard it in Prowl's voice when he first learned of Jazz's death. I've even heard it from myself when I nearly lost Chromia.

Not wasting another astrosecond, I stepped into the room and made my presence known.

"Ironhide!" Bumblebee exclaimed, dropping Kacey's hand and wiped his tears.

"How long?" I asked.

"I've only been here a few hours," he answered nervously. "Red needed to rest. I said I'd alert him if there were any changes in Optimus' or Kacey's condition."

"No, how long have you been in love with Kacey?" I asked, keeping my tone soft.

I wasn't mad at him. Once I realized that Nitro and Kacey were not a couple I wondered how I'd react to a mech who'd approach Kacey, I loved her like a daughter and would protect her from mechs like myself. But Bumblebee…I actually couldn't think of a better mech for her. Bumblebee was intelligent, kind, affectionate, honorable. A very mellow mech, perhaps not as mellow as Jazz but fragging close.

"I…um…" was all he could say as he bowed his head in shame.

"Bumblebee, I know you. You are a good and honorable mech who would never take advantage of a femme. I know you would wait until Kacey was of the age of consent. Now I'll ask again. How long have you been in love with her?"

The young mech looked up at me. Tears slowly rolling down his faceplates. Such sadness filled his optics. Yet when he spoke, he spoke with confidence.

"The day she arrived on Earth…when my optics saw her face for the very first time. I felt it in my spark. Almost as if it were calling to her. Are…are you going to tell anyone?"

I pondered his question for a moment. The first person I would tell would be Chromia. I hide nothing from her. I can't. It's impossible. Damn femme knows when I'm hiding something and beats it out of me if she has to. Then I'd tell Optimus. I was never one to keep such things to myself. However…this was different.

"No, I swear I will not tell another mechanism," I answered and instant relief washed over Bumblebee. "I can see it hasn't been easy on you."

"No, it is most difficult especially now that Kacey has entered the final stage of her youngling hood. She's…beautiful."

Primus above, he had it bad for her.

"Yes, I've noticed the changes in her form," I said. "I don't think there's a mech on this base who hasn't. We'd all have to be dead to not notice. She's going to be even lovelier than her mother."

"If she survives," he said sadly.

He lost control again and wept. Moving over, I gave him a much needed hug, allowing him to cling to me like a sparkling. He was still so young. Once he's old enough he'd be able to handle his emotions better. It took a long time for Optimus to be comfortable without his battlemask on all the time.

"You'd better get control of yourself," I said gently. "Someone might come in and I'm not kissing you to make them think we have a thing going."

Bumblebee choked out a laugh.

"I'm actually glad someone found out," he smiled, wiping his tears. "I feel as if some of the pressure as been lifted from me."

"Seven years is a long time to keep something like that a secret. I'm amazed you've been able to do so."

"It hasn't been easy," he spoke softly, moving over and taking hold of Kacey's hand. "I tried leaving the base, thinking that if I didn't see her it wouldn't be as difficult. That was a lame idea. It only made me love her more. But now…Ironhide…if she pulls through this…I'm not sure I can contain my feelings for her any longer. I feel as if my spark is going to explode!"

"Then it is time for you to return to your station as the boy's guardian," I said.

"Sam isn't a boy any more. But you may be right. I won't be tempted if I'm not around her all the time. And she is older. She'd be able to handle me leaving much better than before. But how would I explain my desire to suddenly leave the base?"

"Leave that to me. In the mean time…"

"This is a level one alert! All officers report to the command center on the double!" Prowl's voice over the officer's frequency sounded.

"We'll talk about this later," I said to Bee. "We'd better get going."

"Can I have a moment?"

I nodded and then moved to the door to keep watch. When I glanced back, I saw Bumblebee kissing Kacey on her forehead, holding her hand close to his spark. Oh yeah, the poor mech was absolutely smitten!

"Are you with us or against us, Primus?" I asked quietly. "Because it'd be an awful shame to not see those two get together in the future."

"Ironhide, acknowledge!"

"I heard ya, Prowl. I'm on my way. I was just telling Optimus he'd better not die on us! What's up anyway?"

"Teletran 2 has picked up a large number of Decepticon energy signatures. They're within one hundred miles of the base and heading straight for us."

As if on queue, the base's alarms sounded.

I looked over at Optimus half expecting him to jump up at the sound of the alarms. Only he didn't and my spark sank. My sadness overwhelmed me. It wasn't going to be the same without him on the battle field. He was more than just our leader…he was our…inspiration.

Up next: It's a race against time! Can a cure be found for Optimus? Or will Megatron finally have his revenge and destroy the Autobots?

BTW: That scene with Bumblebee and Ironhide was originally intended for the Kacey and Bee love story. However, a couple fics, not mine, involving Kacey and Bee made me decide to put the scene in this story. It seems some of you are anxious for the love story! I'm writing as fast as I can so I can start it!