I originally intended for this chapter to be kind of short. Key word on intend there. My muse kind of went out of control! Lucky for all of you! So without further delay here's chapter 59. Once again I want to thank everyone for their reviews and for reading MBRS.

Author's notes: italics denote flash back scene, '-' talking over a bond

Warning: Slash moment with mech and mech, pg 13 rated. Don't get mad if I messed it up! First time I ever really tried mech with mech!

Ratchet

"Ratchet, I can finish up now," Sockets spoke softly as I tended to hooking up Elita to the necessary medical monitors and energy back up.

"As you grow older and gain more experience you'll find that you need to see things through to the end when it comes to certain patients," I smiled at him. As always, he nodded, taking what I said serious. "Go. See what Red Alert needs help with."

"Yes, Sir."

"Oh, and Sockets…" I paused, waiting for him to turn back to me. "Excellent job today. I believe you are ready to be promoted to a full fledged medical bot and no longer an apprentice."

"Thank you, Sir!" he said with youthful enthusiasm running over and shaking my hand. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Now go," I chuckled, giving him a helpful shove on his way.

Once alone, I returned to finishing up with my patient. Only when I hooked up the last line was I finally able to relax. Almost instantly the stiffness in my neck and back became painfully obvious. I exhaled, stretching my neck and shoulders a bit to loosen it up. My own tiredness would have consumed me long ago if I wasn't performing such a complex and delicate surgery. Pushing aside the weariness was something that a medical bot learned over time. I could not afford to be tired when a patient was critical. I learned that rather quickly as did most medical bots.

'Ratchet?'

A warm smile spread upon my face as I felt Moonracer's love fill me up. I eagerly wrapped myself in it, weeping to her over our bond. I had longed to hear her sweet voice, to feel her gentle caress ever since I felt her very essence fading from me.

'Shh, I'm fine. I'm waiting for you.'

'On my way as soon as I can, my love,' I told her pulling a thermal blanket to cover the unconscious form of Elita. "And you femme commander, are one lucky femme. I'll send Optimus in here to be with you. I know the lugnut is probably worrying himself to death out there."

I synced my alert systems with the medical monitors so I could continue to keep a close optic on Elita. Then I left the surgery room for the first time in…Primus…ten hours. At first I stood there, stretching my back for a moment. It did not surprise me to see the med bay filled to capacity. There were even several mech's sitting on the floor still being tended to by Sockets.

As the CMO I had to make a quick round to check on them all. The majority of the injuries were minor and sadly low priority until all the surgeries the critical patients were dealt with. The Autobots here on Earth were used to waiting because I was always so short staffed.

I damn near jumped for joy when Sockets approached me when he was a mere teenager and expressed an interest in the medical field. I started training him that same day and thanked Primus repeated when he came back the next do to continue his training.

Now that the critical patients were resting comfortably, Sockets and Red Alert would tend to the rest. I passed by several, scanning each mech to determine what they needed so that Red or Sockets could efficiently tend to them and send them on their way. I prided myself on keeping my med bay as clear of patients as possible.

However, during my rounds there were a few patients that needed my special attention I felt. I could not in good conscience skip them no matter how long it took to get to Moonracer. She understood that better than anyone and I loved her so much for that.

First was the young femme, Starbreeze. I grabbed her medical chart and read over the detailed descriptions of her meds and notes for the procedure. Wheeljack would have made a fine medical bot if he wasn't such a brilliant engineer. He reattached the femme's arm leaving only a slight mark that would be the faint scar.

He was able to do the same for Elita only a short while ago when I called him in. I couldn't let Optimus see such terrible scars on his femme. I know him so well. The mech would be consumed by guilt and beat himself up whenever he saw the mark that took away his little sparks.

"Magnus, not you too," I joked when I moved on and grabbed his medical chart. I scanned it quickly. He just smiled warmly at me looking a bit dazed. Red always did over medicate with the pain relievers, making a few of the mechs a bit loopy. "Ouch, that must have hurt. A dented chest plate is never fun."

"Tell me about it," Magnus chuckled as I pulled the thermal blanket down to exam his chest. The welding was solid in his protoform skin. "No transforming for another day at least. Stay in your protoform. I don't want to risk tearing the welding."

"Akima will like that," he grinned winking at her. The femme blushed, covering her face and then gently slapped Magnus' arm.

"Well, no horizontal tango for a while longer," I ordered. "I will release you from the med bay in the morning."

"Thanks," he replied, nodding his head and then his optics locked back onto Akima and hers on him.

It was a wonderful sight seeing how much in love they were. I have a feeling they'll be bonding soon enough as Akima has moved into Magnus' quarters now. I wonder…now that would be an interesting combination for a sparkling. Both warriors…frag, the little thing would probably put dents in all the walls practicing combat moves or something.

"Hey Ratchet, will you tell him it's not is fault!" Sunny begged as I came over to Bumblebee's medical bed. The young scout was clearly upset as he threw his head back hard against the med bed.

"Yeah, he nearly got killed trying to rescue Kacey from those 'Cons," Sides added. "He did his best."

"My best wasn't good enough," Bumblebee growled angrily through his tears, hands in tight fists at his sides.

I did a quickly scan of his systems. The young mech was not resting as he should be. His repair systems were hampered by his agitated state and the fact that he's resisting his automatic recharge system. Glancing at his chart I read that he refused any medical remedies to help with the pain even as Red pulled the bullets from his armor.

"I'll take care of him, you two go get some recharge or go bother Prowl for a while," I ordered.

Sides was obedient but had to pull Sunny along with him. I smiled reassuringly at the mech to quell his fear for his friend. The trio had always been as close as brothers since they're roughly the same age and were raised together.

Funny how Sunny was always the loudest and most outgoing of the three, yet it was Bumblebee we always had to keep our optics on. The little fragger was too smart for his own good! Got into anything and everything with that curiosity of his. Never hesitated to tell you how he felt about things either. I lost track of how many times I got lubricated on just because he didn't want his maintenance check up done as a youngling.

So I was not surprised in the least at how hard he was taking Kacey's abduction. He was a lot like Optimus in that regard. He took things so personally and was a mech of deep feelings for one so young.

"I want you to listen to me good, Bumblebee," I smiled caressing his helm much like I'd done whenever he was an injured youngling in my med bay. "Stop beating yourself up. It's not good for your recovery. No one blames you for anything."

"But this is Kacey we're talking about," he wept. "I'm her favorite uncle. I promised I would always be there for her! And I failed!"

"Stop kicking yourself in the aft over things you cannot control. You are not the only one upset about Kacey. My spark is aching too. But crying or being angry about it isn't going to help now or later. Have faith in Kacey. She is one incredible femme. You know that more than anyone since you are almost as close a friend to her as Nitro. Now, I'm going to give you a sedative to help you rest so your repair systems can finish, ok?"

He shuddered and then slowly nodded.

"You're a good mech, Bumblebee. Don't doubt yourself," I smiled as I injected the sedative into his neck. "Now rest so you can get better. Because I know we will all need to be in prime condition when we go after Kacey."

"Thanks, Ratchet," he sighed as he slowly slipped into recharge.

"You're welcome my young friend," I whispered, covering him up.

I grabbed his medical chart and marked down the time I gave him a sedative.

"Ratchet, I just did the rounds. All is in order. I've already released several patients and put everything in a report for you to read later."

"Thanks Red but…"

"But nothing," he said taking the medical chart from my hand and returned it to its place on the med bed. "I have made Moonracer comfortable in one of the private exam rooms to give you some privacy with your family. She's alert and responsive and with your younglings now."

"And Optimus?"

"With Leo of course," he smiled. "Go, do you duty with Optimus and then be with Moonracer. Don't make me declare you unfit for duty."

I snorted, "As if! The entire base would fall into chaos if that happened."

"Just go my friend," he grinned, steering me towards the private room.

"One question. How is Leo?"

"Recovering remarkably well much to everyone's relief."

"Good, that's good," I sighed, rubbing a tired hand over my face. "Right, I'll talk with Optimus. Then go see Moonracer."

Red patted me on the back and gave me a gentle nudge. Thinking about it, he and Wheeljack both deserved accommodations for their work today as well. Without them I wouldn't have been able to save half of these mechs and femmes. Without them I might have lost Moonracer. Stepping into the private room and seeing the young mech lying on a med bed…frag, we might have even lost little Leo.

I looked sympathetically at Optimus as he sat beside Leo's med bed. One hand caressing his son's head. The other holding his son's hand close to his spark. I could just barely make out the tune Optimus was softly humming.

Moving further in I noticed Orion and Ariel curled up on the spare bed. Even in recharge I could see their grief. Poor little ones. They should never have had to suffer as they did today.

"Ratchet…how's Elita?" Optimus asked quietly, rising to his feet and gently setting Leo's hand down.

I waited as he came over to the corner of the room where we could talk away from the younglings.

"She's going to make a full recovery," I said and Optimus nearly collapsed with relief, leaning back against the wall. I smiled, giving him a few moments to collect himself as his optics filled with tears.

"I don't know what I would have done if I lost her, Ratch," he whispered, covering his face with one hand.

"You would have continued on for your younglings," I spoke softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You can pull yourself together when you have to for you younglings. You did it for Kacey when you thought Elita was gone. You've done so countless times when we needed you to be our strong leader."

"I was different then. I was young and naïve. Now…now there is so much more at stake. I…I have so much more to lose now than just the Autobots."

"Father…is mother ok?"

Optimus quickly straightened, getting rid of any evidence of his tears and hurried over to Orion. The young mech was in tears as he looked past his father to me then back to his father.

"You're mother is fine," he said, kneeling before his son. "We'll be able to see her very soon."

"Actually, I was here to let you know you can see her now," I smiled.

"She's really ok, Ratchet?" Orion asked hopefully.

"Yes."

Optimus looked over at Leo. I could read his processor.

"I'll have someone stay with Leo incase he wakes. Your place is at Elita's side. She should be waking soon."

"Ariel and I will stay so you can have some alone time with mother," Orion smiled.

"I won't be long," Optimus said, kissing his son's head. Then he rose to his feet and turned to me. "Ratchet, I know Elita will want to see her younglings, including Leo after I've talked with her."

"That's not going to be a problem. Leo is stable enough to be moved. In a few hours, Elita will actually be brought in here to share the room with your son. Shall we?"

"I'll come for you shortly," he said to Orion.

Once he was satisfied his younglings were ok, Optimus finally followed me out of the private room.

"Shouldn't you be with Moonracer about now?" he gently asked.

"Once you're with Elita, I will be with my family."

"Ratchet…Elita…how badly damaged was her…her reproduction systems?"

"They've been fully repair," I smiled. "The two of you can still have sparklings. Although why you want more than the four you have now is beyond me!"

"I missed having a sparkling around," he confessed. "I miss that dependence they have on you. My four younglings are all so independent now. I feel kind of useless at times."

I laughed heartily.

"Oh Optimus, you are anything but useless as their father. Believe me! Besides, I know for a fact that they will always need you one way or another."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you still need me or Ironhide from time to time, youngling," I smiled affectionately at him, patting him on the shoulder. "Go, be with your femme."

He nodded and then headed for the surgery room.

"Optimus…I agree that we do have so much more to lose now. However, we're even stronger than before because of the bonds we've made and the sparklings we've raised. Our families give as a strength we never knew we had."

"That they do, my friend," he smiled and disappeared into the surgery room.

For me, I finally headed to the private exam room Red Alert indicated. The room wasn't nearly as big as the private medical room I had for certain patients as it was only an exam room. But we didn't need much space. When I entered I found Moonracer wide awake and waiting for me. Our children curled up, one on each side of the bed with her, both clinging to her and in deep recharge.

We didn't even speak a word to each other as I moved to her side. I simply rested my forehead against hers, cupping her face tenderly in my hands. While we could not physically touch one another the way we wanted to because of her injury and because the younglings were kind of in the way, our sparks eagerly sang our love and affection to one another over our bond.

'I'm sor…'

'Don't say it,' I told her over our bond, sending her a powerful love surge bringing tears to her optics. 'It wasn't your fault. I'm just so glad you're ok.'

"I love you."

"I love you more," I whispered then kissed her deeply.

Elita

The first image I saw was Optimus recharging in the chair beside me, his head resting on the side of the med bed in an awkward position that made my neck ache. Next was the memory of all the emotions I had felt out on the battle field. The loss I felt so acutely on the battle field was just as potent now. Only out there I heard and felt Optimus' anguish when he too felt the little sparks perish so suddenly.

Tears filled my optics. My vision blurred so badly that I could barely see that Optimus' slumped form beside me had begun to stir.

"Elita? Hey…shoo…Elita…" he said coming out of recharge presumably from feeling my distress. It only made me cry that much more for disturbing him. Tender fingers wiped my tears away and I saw Optimus handsome face become clear before me. He smiled so affectionately at me through his tears. "Don't cry, my love."

"It's my fault they died," I sobbed, reaching up and grabbing his chest armor with weak arms. Optimus leaned closer, accommodating me. "I should have stayed behind like you wanted."

"I never said I wanted you to stay behind," he spoke softly caressing my face. "I would never ask you to be anything less than the femme you are. Never. I would never change anything with the femme I love more than anything in the universe."

"I'm so sorry."

"Shh, Elita," he cooed, pressing his cheek against my own. "I know there's nothing I can say or do to take your pain away. My spark is breaking too over our loss. I mourn for our little femmes as much as you. Please, try to take solace in the fact that Ratchet did a wonderful job on your repairs. You will still be able to bear sparks in the future…when we are ready once again."

I clung to him, weeping uncontrollably. I allowed my spark to do all my talking for me over our bond. At the same time Optimus supported me, caressed me, and did his best to easy my pains with his love over our spark bond.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he whispered in my audio receptor. "Nothing at all."

"I want my sparklings…please…Optimus I need them right now."

"They were just in here and will be back in a few minutes. I had to send them with Chromia so they can get some energon. Ratchet had to give you another sedative last night to help you rest more comfortable. So of course, I couldn't leave y…"

"Optimus, what's wrong?" I asked, when I suddenly got the sense that he was procrastinating. He only did so when he had bad news to tell me.

He closed his optics covers exhaling slowly. Then he opened them back up and spoke softly to me.

"Before you can see your sparklings, I must talk you."

Fear flashed through my systems making my spark tremble. What happened to my sparklings? It had to do with them, I could feel it did!

"They are all alive," he said seriously to me, cupping my face gently in his hands. I nodded, fresh tears rolled slowly down. "It seems my brother knows no limits to how low he will stoop. He attacked the femmes first as a means to distract us…"

I gasped, "The younglings."

"Every one of them are alive and doing just fine now. They're still a little shaken but Ratchet says they will all be just fine. However, there were a couple of injuries when the Decepticons breached our base. Nitro received a nasty concussion for his efforts to defend the younglings but has recovered nicely. It was…um…"

"Optimus…tell me, I must know everything if it has to do with our sparklings," I insisted when he hesitated.

"Leo…Leo was shot at close range by a plasma rifle."

I reached out to Leo instantly through our bond. Only he didn't reach back like he always did. I started shaking, whimpering for him. I needed to see him. Why wasn't he reaching back to me? I could sense him…

"Shh! Elita…be calm my love, he is heavily sedated and recovering just remarkably. I will bring him to see you in a few moments. Right now I need you to be calm for the next part."

"Kacey," I wept, reaching out for her but not feeling her. Not even an inkling of her presence!

"There's no way easy to put this. So I will give you all the facts as I witnessed myself. It was Kacey who protected all the younglings. It was through her actions that prevented the Decepticons from taking any of them."

"You told me all the younglings were alive!" I cried out at him.

"And they are," he seriously said, taking my hand and holding against his chest. "Kacey is alive. She is far too valuable alive." I closed my optic covers. I had an idea of what he was going to tell me next. "She is a prisoner of the Decepticons. And I tell you this - my brother will not kill her because he knows the consequences of such an act."

"Not Kacey," I whispered, my processor taking in all that Optimus told me.

"Prowl is using all available resources to locate the Decepticon base. We will find our daughter, I promise you."

I nodded, blinking back my tears.

"I just hope we find her before…"

I heard Optimus shudder when he stopped talking. He rarely ever did such a thing. But I know why. Like him I too was familiar with Decepticon interrogation tactics.

"Kacey will be fine," I firmly told him.

"She's had no training for this," he said, his proud shoulders sagging as if defeated. "We've trained her to fight. But not for torture. And being tortured by a human is nothing to what Soundwave will do!"

"Optimus, Kacey will be fine," I reiterated. "Kacey has been prepared." He blinked at me in confusion making me sigh. "I knew one day I was going to have to tell you."

"Tell me what?" he asked, looking even more confused and a little hurt.

"Kacey has been trained to resist the kind of torture a mech like Soundwave is capable of," I stated plainly.

"WHAT?" he exclaimed, dropping my hand. "Who trained her?! Tell me!"

"Prowl did so…"

Optimus tore across the room and pounded his fist against the intercom opening up a channel before I could even finish formulizing the sentence I was trying saying.

"PROWL! I WANT TO SEE YOU! NOW!"

"On my way!"

"Optimus…"

"How long?"

"Please, be calm."

"HOW LONG?!"

"Since she was eighteen," I answered deciding it was best to tell him everything he wanted to know.

He gasped in shock. I could feel how betrayed he felt over our bond. When I reached to calm him he flinched away. Optimus had never done anything like that over our bond.

"I'm sorry," I wept, not knowing what else to do. "I only did what I thought was best for our daughter."

"What you thought? What you thought? Kacey is our daughter. Yours and mine. We make decisions on things together! Always. Without fail."

It was at that moment that Prowl arrived and hurried in. Optimus glared at his own second in command and started to march towards him.

"You're right!" I quickly said, stopping Optimus in his tracks. "We do make decisions on everything for our younglings except for this one thing. But only because I know you Optimus. I know it would have ripped your spark up to make that decision for our Kacey."

"But to go behind my back!"

"It was necessary," Prowl chimed in, standing his ground.

"So, it was your decision to train my daughter to be tortured?" Optimus growled at Prowl.

"No. I went to Prowl and ordered him to train Kacey as…as he had once trained me."

Optimus staggered back a step in total shock upon hearing this. I could feel his rage slowly swelling but I couldn't warn Prowl in time before Optimus threw his fist knocking the black and white mech to the floor.

"What else have you been keeping from me about my family?!" he growled, yanking Prowl up to his feet by his chest armor.

"Hit me if you want! But I was doing my duty as Second in Command!" Prowl shouted back in a rare emotional outburst. It seemed to work for Optimus let him go and backed away. "Regulations stipulate that the Second in Command's duty is to protect his Prime at all costs. And that includes preventing you from having to make those hard decisions involving your family if they are captured."

"Yes, I trained Elita to withstand the worst kind of Decepticon torture when it became obvious that you loved her and would do anything to protect her. I knew the Decepticons would find out about her and use her to get to you. It was inevitable."

"And I'm so glad he did," I added. "For I was able to survive my first ever interrogations long enough for you to rescue me. If Prowl had not trained me…I would have been a shadow of the femme you loved before I was captured."

"I did not tell you because I knew you would have forbid me too," Prowl continued. "You are a good mech Optimus. One of the best Primes we've had. It is an honor to be your second in command and your friend."

"Then why behind my back?" Optimus asked. "Friends don't do things behind each others backs!"

"Your love, Optimus," Prowl stated. "The love you have for Elita…for Kacey…for all of us. It is both a curse and a blessing for you. Your love gives you an unimaginable strength when you seemed to need it most. But it also blinds you at times from not seeing all that you must. That's where I come in. I make the decisions that would hurt you the most. You never would have given me the order to prepare Elita."

"You're right, I wouldn't have," Optimus frowned, bowing his head. "And you are right too, Elita. It would have ripped my spark to give such an order for Kacey. I'm sorry…to both of you. It's just that Kacey has been through so much for one so young. All I wanted to do was protect my daughter anyway I could."

"And you have," Prowl smiled. "I saw the video images. Kacey fought admirably. You've given your daughter the ability to survive. As have I. Now we must put our faith in her as she has in us. We must find her for she will be expecting us to."

"Pfft, if she's like Optimus…which she is," I smirked. "Kacey won't sit and wait for us to show up. She will try to escape."

Optimus smiled. I could feel him begging me for forgiveness over our bond. Of course he didn't need to. I should have told him sooner.

Once again the door to my private room opened and Ratchet walked in.

"You mechs aren't fighting in front of my patient are you?" he grumbled, glaring at Optimus and Prowl. "Red said he heard raised voices."

"Everything is fine, Ratchet," Optimus said, moving to my side.

"Good. Now you've got three very anxious younglings wanting to see their mother."

"Leo?" I questioned shakily.

"Is awake and on his feet, much to my dismay. Little fragger is just like his father!"

"Mom!"

"SEE!" Ratchet exclaimed after the door opened and Leo was standing in it being held up by Orion and Ariel.

Tears instantly burst from my optics when I saw the injury on his chest. My little sparkling…oh Primus…I completely broke down. I was tired and needed to recharge again. I was holding out though until I saw my sparklings.

"I'm ok, mom," Leo said, his voice suddenly so close.

When I regained enough of my composure I saw that Leo was on the bed with me. He gently lay down so I could wrap my arms around him. Beside me was Optimus with Orion and Ariel. Ratchet and Prowl were now gone. It was just the family.

"Come here my sparklings," I wept, reaching for them.

Orion was quick to get on the other side so I could hold him in one arm. My injuries ached but I didn't care. I needed to feel all my younglings. Even Ariel who seemed content to stand nearby. Optimus understood my need and lifted her up, gently setting her with her brothers.

'Optimus, I don't want them to ever know about the little sparks we lost,' I said over our bond. 'They need not be burdened with such things.'

'I agree, my love.'

"What the…frag it to pit?! What part of letting her rest did you not understand, lugnut?!" Ratchet growled when he suddenly reappeared.

"I am resting," I answered, kissing each of my younglings in turn. "Forgive me, Ratchet. While your skills are extraordinary in saving lives, there is no medicine in the universe that could replace the love of my sparklings."

"Or your sparkmate," he snorted. He pointed at finger at me, while glaring at Optimus. "No interfacing in my med bay! I've locked the door open in the hopes that you two will keep your hands off each other until Elita is fully recovered!"

"It's ok, mom," Leo smiled. "Orion and I can get a curtain to cover the door so you and father can have alone time."

"Good Primus, I should have kept him sedated," Ratchet grumbled as he left.

"A curtain? Now that would have come in handy on a few occasions," Optimus smirked.

"Get your processor out of the pit my silly mechs. I need to recharge."

"Me too," Leo yawned.

"Optimus?"

"Yes, love," he smiled, leaning down and kissing my cheek.

"I will be fine. Go. See if Prowl has found out anything about Kacey."

"My place is with you," he spoke softly.

"I'm asking you do to it for me because I cannot go myself," I told him seriously. "Optimus, please."

"I understand," he said then kissed me tenderly on the lips. "Take care of your mother my sparklings."

"We will," Orion grinned, snuggling closer.

"Father does realize I'm not a sparkling anymore, right?" Leo asked after Optimus left.

"Of course he does."

"Will he find Kacey?" Orion asked.

"Of course, he promised," Ariel confidently answered. "Father never breaks a promise."

"Optimus will not stop until he finds Kacey," I told them. "Now, get comfortable my sparklings."

"Mom," Leo growled softly.

"Oh shush, you will always be my sparklings even when you have sparklings of your own. Now recharge with your mother. I need to recover as quickly as possible so I too can look for Kacey."

Prowl

"FRAG!" I shouted flinging the datapad across my office.

It was obliterated the moment it collided with the wall. I didn't care at the moment. It was just another datapad full of useless information. Kind of like the large stack on my desk that took me hours to go through. And in one sweep of my arm they all went flying off my desk and onto the floor.

I growled rising to my feet, kicking my chair over before storming over to the window of my office.

Most days when I needed to clear my processor I would look out the window and watch recruits training on the grounds. The well organized rows of young mechs and femmes in formation had a calming affect on me and helped me to see things more clearly. Everything in its place - neat and orderly. It was the only way I could function at times when I needed to find a solution that totally eluded me.

Only nothing seemed to be helping. The result of my growing frustration was my anger getting the better of me.

"Why can't I see the answer?"

"Because sometimes you're looking too hard," came the unexpected response.

I sighed, closing my optics covers briefly. When I turned around I saw Jazz looking at the mess on the floor with his hands on his hips.

"Jazz, I wish you would not just waltz into my office and would knock on the door like all the other bots."

"But I'm not like all the other bots," he smirked, making me roll my optics. Then he frowned at the mess on the floor, even spotting the datapad that was broken into pieces. Of course Jazz would notice that, he was keenly observant and noticed everything. "Wanna tell me what's bothering you so much that I could feel how frustrated you are over our bond even though you're trying to shield it from me?"

"I don't have to answer that, you know what's bothering me," I huffed, bending over and picking up my chair.

"True but I also know it's not like you to have such emotional outburst where you destroy things. That in itself tells me you need to take a break."

"I can't afford to take a break! I have to find where the 'Cons took Optimus!"

"Prowl, you've already got every informant and just about every Autobot working on finding Optimus."

"I know, I know!" I groaned dropping into my chair. "But I must find him. I…I promised Elita I would find him."

"Now why would you make a promise like that?" he asked, concerned. "You know better than anyone you can't make those kinds of promises to mechanisms when their loved ones have been captured by the Decepticons, even it the mechanism is the big bot himself."

"You didn't see her face, Jazz. It was the first time I had to tell someone their loved one didn't make it back. And it's even worse because it is Optimus, our leader and friend. Argg…FRAG IT TO PIT!"

I glared harshly at the floor attempting to calm down. I didn't like being even a little out of control. I prided myself on always being calm and collected during any intense situation. I very rarely ever got so angry that I lashed out.

Jazz in turn said nothing, making me wonder if my anger scared him off or something. My optics glanced over to where he was standing only seeing his feet, afraid to look up at his face, afraid to see the disappointment his optics probably held for me.

'I could never be disappointed in you, Prowl,' he suddenly said over our bond as he came to me.

My optic covers shuddered and I bowed my head down.

"How is it that you can always read me so well? Even too well at times."

"Because we've been bonded for so long now," he smiled, lifting my face up with a gently hand. "I know you and you know me."

"Yes, I do know you," I snorted, instantly recognizing that tone in his voice. "Honestly, Jazz, we don't have time for that!"

"On the contrary," he drawled out as his hand slipped from my chin and hovered over my chest. "You're so wound up you need to relax in order for your processor to see things clearly. And I know having a visit with Ratchet isn't going to do it. So, Jazz medicine is best."

I felt the pleasantness of a small magnetic pulse hit me just above my spark chamber. I could do little to resist a hit that close as it sent my spark whirling within.

"You and your slaggin mag pulses," I muttered, weakly fighting off the euphoric sensations around my spark chamber.

"You love them and I know it," he smirked, this time sending a more powerful pulse.

"We shouldn't…not here," I panted as my systems tried to recover.

"We can," he whispered, lips so close to my audio receptor now. When did he get that close? "I locked the door after I came in and told Ironhide we're not to be disturbed."

"But…I'm in charge. I need…"

My vocal processor cut out when he hit me with two mag pulses on the chest from both his hands. Primus, Jazz was good! My coolant systems already kicked on as my interface systems heated up rapidly.

"You've delegated the work as a commander does," he spoke softly, kissing my audio receptor. "You've done all you can for now." He kissed my forehead at the same time sending soft, continuous magnetic pulses with one hand as it slid across my chest. "Let them do their job in searching for Optimus." I arched my chest into his hand, wanting…no needing more. "Your job now is to wait and give the order once you receive the right information."

I couldn't hold back. My hands reached up and gently grabbed his face. I could hear his laughter over our bond as I kissed him deeply.

'Only you can drive me to the edge like that, Jazz,' I told him over our bond, caressing his end of the spark link with my love. The gesture was returned in full and then some as I pushed him to the floor, holding him close to me.

I sat up quickly as I was jolted out of recharge. My spark cried out in disappointment and fluttered in irritation within its chamber. My systems were in somewhat of a daze caught between the realm of remembering such pleasures and taking in real world around me. The memory of one of the most intense and pleasurable bonding sessions with Jazz was still so prominent in my processor.

"Primus, I do miss you Jazz," I whispered, slowly putting my feet on the ground and resting my elbows on my knees.

The ache in my spark hadn't been this intense since the day I learned of Jazz's death. Frag it to pit! I needed him now more than ever. Only he wasn't here to reassure me, to help me relax enough to see the answers I was seeking.

Burying my face in my hands, I wept softly for my Jazz. And as a result of my suffering, I never heard the override code being punched in or noticed that my office door had opened right afterwards.

"Prowl?"

"Optimus!" I exclaimed, literally jumping to my feet. As quickly as I could I dried my tears and hurried to sit in my chair behind my desk.

"Is everything alright? I chimed the door several times but you didn't answer."

"Oh," I frowned, now knowing what jolted me from such a wonderful dream. "I was in deep recharge. My apologies."

"No need to apologize," he chuckled, moving to sit in the chair in front of my desk. "It comforts me to know that you actually do recharge, even if it's in your office. May…may I ask what was troubling you so much?"

"I was…I was thinking about Jazz and how much I missed him," I answered, fidgeting with a datapad on my desk unable to make optic contact with my friend. I'm not even sure why I just told Optimus that. I usually never tell him or anyone when Jazz was on my processor.

"It's getting more difficult for you, isn't it?"

My optics snapped up to look into his face. How did he know?

"To be honest, I truly thought we were going to lose you once you found out that Jazz had been killed," he spoke softly, such tenderness and understanding in his optics as he looked at me. Tears instantly filled my optics and rolled slowly down my faceplates. "The two of you had been bonded for a long time. I was reluctant to even take Jazz on the mission because I knew that being separated would be a great strain on you both."

"He was the logical choice, you needed him," I numbly responded. "And Jazz was so sure that we would be reunited because he couldn't bare the thought of living without me. He knew I would survive until we saw each other again. I did, only for his sake. Then when I got to Earth…I…I never expected him to be gone."

"And I continue living because I know that's what he would have wanted. It was easier for me when the younglings arrived…when Kacey arrived. I knew you needed me more than ever. Even now, I know that you need me. But…it's harder to keep going." My voice dropped to a whisper as I looked intently at my friend. "Optimus, a huge part of me wants to give up so that I could be with Jazz in the afterlife."

"Can I ask you to hold on a little while longer? Please, for my daughter's sake," he begged of me. "I promise that once Kacey is home where she belongs I will support any decision you make."

My optics widened in surprise. I never thought that Optimus would let me go like that.

"What about Kacey…the others?" I asked.

"We will all miss you if you chose to end your life. I know it is not uncommon for the surviving bond mate to take their life. There is even a ceremony for it if you recall. A sort of…farewell party giving friends the chance to say goodbye…a chance for closure. Something we don't often get to do when a loved one falls during battle."

"I…I'll have to think about that. I…I…"

"Shh, think about it," he smiled. "In the mean time, I came for an update. Elita…and I want to know if we're getting any closer to finding Kacey or not."

I frowned. That was the problem, what had provoked me to have that dream with Jazz when we first lost Optimus in battle with the Decepticons. It was the most agonizing two days of my life when we couldn't locate him. It's even more agonizing for me now because it's Kacey that was taken. She's only a youngling for pits sake!

"We were able to find out where the Decepticon shuttle departed from after Kacey was taken aboard," I explained, activating my monitor and showing him. "Teletran picked up her signature briefly here, about ten miles out from the base. I suspect it was as they emerged from the tunnels just before they entered their shuttle that Kacey was exposed long enough for Teletran to pick up her signature."

"Was Teletran able to follow the shuttle?"

"Not once it lifted off. They cloaked and we lost Kacey's energy signature. There were several brief disturbances in the atmosphere here that we just happened to pick up," I said, changing the display. "Probably the other Decepticon shuttles after they left the battle field. We lost the signal on them like on all other occasions. We weren't even able to try and hypothesis a trajectory. There was too little information."

"We know they're base is not on Earth or the moon," he said. "Which suggest they have to be on one of the planets in this solar system or they're using the wormhole technology and transporting to Earth."

"I do not believe they're using a wormhole," I stated confidently. "One because Teletran is monitoring specifically for just such a disturbance in space around Earth. And two, because it's not in Megatron's nature to be so far away from a fight he seems intent on seeing to the end."

"Agreed," he mused, rubbing his chin, his optics focused the monitor. His other hand reached and changed the image on my monitor to the surrounding solar system. "They must be in this solar system. How many probes to we have left searching the planets and moons?"

"Two out of the five," I sighed. "One was obliterated by an asteroid, another malfunctioned and crashed into a planet and the third…well…Wheeljack made a very slight miscalculation and the probe crashed into the debris that makes up the rings around Saturn when it established an orbit. But it was able to complete its scan and transmit the data back to use before it was destroyed."

"So which planets have yet to be scanned?"

"The furthest celestial bodies are Pluto and Neptune. One probe has just reached Neptune and has begun its scan. The other just finished scanning the asteroid belt and is on its way to Pluto. Wheeljack is almost done constructing another probe to send to Mars. I, like you, believe that they must have a base on one of the planets or moons in this solar system."

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the desk.

"Perhaps, there is another way, a faster way," I suggested. "We could modify the engines on the shuttles so they could travel far enough to reach the end of this solar system and back without draining its power supply too quickly. Right now they're only able to travel a short distance using the hyperdrive. Of course, communications would have to be redone too to reach that distance."

"Not to mention adding a weapon system, defense system in case the shuttle is attacked," Optimus added.

My doorwings drooped sadly.

"Sorry, I didn't think of that."

"No need to apologize," he said. "It was a good idea. I'm just not willing to risk anymore lives. We can however, use a shuttle to ensure a save delivery of the probe to Mars. If there's an asteroid field, a cloaked shuttle will be able to maneuver through and put the probe in orbit. How long will it take for Wheeljack to finish his work and the probe to finish scanning Neptune?"

"Jack said he could have the probe done in by is day after tomorrow at the earliest. It takes two days for a probe to thoroughly scan a planet the size of Neptune and its surrounding moons. The other probe will take…Primus…two weeks to reach Pluto. I suggest sending the Neptune probe to Pluto once it was done as it will only take three days to get there."

"Do it," he ordered. "And one of our shuttles can reach Mars in less than a day by using the hyperdrive system for a short burst without taxing the engine's energy too much."

"So, three to seven days to find out if the Decepticons have a base on Mars, Neptune or Pluto," I thought out loud.

"How long will Kacey be able to withstand the Decepticon's interrogations?" he asked, looking directly at me. "And answer me honestly, please. I need to know."

"Each mechanism is different. You were able to withstand two weeks one time. Elita five days. I myself was able to go nearly two weeks. The three of us are all strong willed and understand our enemy. Kacey's has trained three times a week for the past six years but isn't as experienced as the rest of us."

Optimus raised an optic ridge at me.

"I had only intended one session a week," I smiled proudly. "It was your daughter who insisted upon two more sessions a week after her little coup to save your life. Kacey said she wasn't ready to be a leader. Primus, she is so driven. Much more driven than even you were. It showed in her training."

"Kacey feels she has something to prove to herself and everyone else. Neither her mother or I could convince her differently."

"If you want my honest opinion…Kacey will hold out as long as she can. But as I said before, we each have our own limits. I do not know Kacey's. Only she does. I'm sorry Optimus I know that wasn't the answer you wanted."

"It was honest. I thank you for that."

"However, I will say this, she excelled in her training and I put her through more than I ever did Elita."

"As Prime that brings me some comfort," he said, standing up. "As a father, I cannot help but be frightened for my child no matter how much she's been prepared."

"I think we're all frightened for Kacey right now. But I have faith in her."

"And Primus?"

"I pray He gives me the strength to endure the waiting," I smiled. "I no longer have Jazz to help me with that."

"But you do have friends," Optimus countered.

I nodded and then watched him leave wondering if that was a plea to sway me. It was hard to ignore the constant ache in my spark. I sighed, leaning back in my chair pushing those thoughts aside. Such thoughts were for later, after we find Kacey and bring her home.

Leo

I lay on my own medical recharge bed alone yet close to my mother. Orion was snuggled with mother. Both were in deep recharge for the night. Even Ariel was in recharge, opting to lie on the spare bed brought in to the room. Father had his optic covers closed but I wasn't sure if he was recharging or not. He was sitting up right in a chair between mother and me.

While I was truly grateful mother was alive and well I was still so worried for Kacey. My spark missed her so much it hurt. I couldn't recharge knowing that she was with our enemy. I'm not stupid. I've overheard the stories about what Decepticons do to their prisoners.

I'm afraid for Kacey. She's so alone now wherever she is.

"You need to recharge, my son," father whispered, his optic covers slowly opening and his deep blue optics locked intensely on me.

"I can't," I said, tears instantly filling my optics. "I'm scared for Kacey."

Father got to his feet and moved to a table across the room. I sat up, blinking away my tears to see what he was doing. His back was to me but when he turned I saw what he was holding and I broke down and just cried uncontrollably.

"Leo, Kacey will return," father told me gently setting her neatly folded cloak and sword on the bed before me then rested a hand on my shoulder. "Until then, I believe you should watch over these for her. I know it's what she would want. Can you do that?"

My hand trembled as I touched the soft fabric of her cloak and the cold grip of her sword that would only extend out for her. Then it suddenly dawned on me. These were all I had of my sister to cling on to for right now.

"Yes, father, I can," I said, holding her cloak and weapon up against my chest. "I promise to keep them safe and to give them to her the moment I see her again."

"Good, now move over and make room for your father. My neck can't take another night in that chair."

I giggled and did as he said. Then I watched in awe as his battle armor retracted. That was the first time I ever saw him do such a thing. I kind of gasped. Father was till a big mech even without his armor!

And suddenly for the first time, as I looked up at my father's face, I came to fully understand why mother often teased me when she said I was just like father. I was just a smaller version of him. Our faces were even similar with a slight variation in the way the optics and nose are set. We even had the same smile.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just came to realize why Kacey always called me little lugnut all the time," I smirked at him. "I look like you."

"You haven't spent much time in front of a mirror, have you?" he chuckled, climbing onto the bed and laying on his side.

"I'm not vain like Sunny," I replied, snuggling against him, making sure to keep the cloak and weapon close to my chest. "Besides, I don't need a mirror. I know I'm good looking."

Father barked out a laugh then quickly went quiet, glancing over at mother. She was still recharging away oblivious to our little discussion.

"But I don't think I ever really paid too much attention to how closely we resemble each other. And that was really cool how your battle armor retracted. I can't wait to do that!"

"Leo…"

"Yes, father?"

"Recharge and don't grow up too fast."

"First, will you tell me a story about Kacey? You know, like something that happened before I was born. I like the ones you tell about her practical jokes on Ratchet. Those are always funny. And mom's in recharge, so she won't know you told me."

Father pondered for a moment and then smiled brightly, "I think I'll tell you about the day she arrived on Earth. She was…a sight to see in the sky."

My optics widened and my audio receptors were tuned in. Kacey flying always made for a wonderful story. I kind of wished that her transformation systems would come online so she could fly home to us. I know it's a silly wish, one a sparkling would come up with. I'm a teenager now. But it's still my wish.

Up next: We go back to Kacey.