Chapter 5- Gain

The Autobots watched and waited for almost a half hour before they all felt the spark bond complete itself. Barricade slumped forward weakly, barely able to keep himself upright with both arms still around SAW. Using what little energy he had remaining, he pulled SAW away from him and closed the smaller mech's chest, then his own before leaning back and holding SAW with both arms once more. After a few moments, Optimus stepped forward.

"Are you alright to walk back to the base, Barricade?" he asked softly. Barricade looked up at him with hazy eyes, then nodded. He carefully tucked one arm under SAW's legs and lifted slowly dragged himself to his feet, pulling SAW up with him. "Do you...?"

"I'm fine," Barricade cut in weakly. The Autobots waited until Barricade had taken a few steps before proceeding back to the base, Optimus in the lead and Barricade behind.

Ratchet kept in stride with Optimus so they were side-to-side. "What now, Optimus?" he murmured softly so only Optimus could hear.

"...I really cannot say, Ratchet," Optimus replied. "That is all up to SAW now, what to do next."

"There's something that's bothering me, Optimus," Ratchet suddenly said. "It's Thundercracker. Of all the Decepticons, he and Skywarp were the closest to Starscream. Why would he betray them? And what were he and SAW talking about? I know they were alone together, or Thundercracker wouldnt have brought SAW back."

"Again, I cannot say," Optimus said. "Soundwave concerns me as well. His Cassettes were the only things that came before Megatron, and now Starscream has just killed one of them."

"Do you think that Soundwave will turn on Starscream?"

"...I dont know, Ratchet."

A short silence.

"What about Bumblebee?" Ratchet said softly. "How is he going to take this?" Optimus shook his head.

"Maturely enough, I hope," he said solemnly, looking over his shoulder at Barricade, who had fallen a little behind. "All of us knows how much Bumblebee adores SAW. I overheard him telling Perceptor that he wishes he could have been SAW's bonded spark mate." He shook his head again. "He and Barricade just forged a friendship. I would hate to see that go to waste because of Barricade's actions."

The rest of the way back to the base was in silence. A few moments later, the base was in view, and Perceptor was standing in the doorway, looking upset. "Is everyone alright?!" he demanded. "I heard a riot not five miles from where you came from!"

"Starscream and Skywarp attacked," Optimus said, walking past him solemnly. "...Frenzy was a casualty." Perceptor put a hand to his mouth, but said nothing more.

"Optimus!"

The Autobot leader whipped around to see Bumblebee running toward him, Honeydew in hand. The sparkling was crying and twitching violently, her golden optics dimmed. "What happened? Honeydew's been having fits for almost an hour! Where's SAW!?"

Optimus was silent for a moment. "...Starscream and Skywarp attacked us just as we found SAW," he said soflty. "...Starscream...shot and killed Frenzy."

Bumblebee's optics flashed in panic. "Then were is he!? We have to save him--!"

"I already did."

Bumblebee turned to see Barricade just coming in, with an unconscious SAW in his arms. He walked up to Bumblebee, his red optics dim and his head lowered, as though shamed. "...He...he was dying, Bumblebee," he said with a slight stutter. "I had to save him...I'm...I'm sorry..." Without waiting for a response, Barricade shifted around Bumblebee and headed for SAW's room.

Bumblebee stared into space for a moment before emitting an angst-ridden sob. His legs gave out and Sunstreaker and Sideswipe barely caught him before he hit the floor. Ratchet gently took the still-twitching Honeydew from Bumblebee's shaking hands to prevent any accidental harm.

"...Help him into the lab," Ratchet instructed to the twins, who nodded, each grabbing an arm to hoist thier adoptive brother up and to follow Ratchet.

Ironhide, Optimus, and Perceptor stood in silence in the main base, not knowing what to say. Perceptor excused himself to see if he could be of any use to Ratchet.

"...Bumblebee took it better then I thought he would," Ironhide remarked. Optimus shifted his optics to him.

"I just hope he takes it a lot better when Barricade fully explains himself," he replied. "Their feud over SAW might rekindle if Bumblebee isnt willing to accept reality."

"Do you think it was right?" Ironhide asked. "To let Barricade bond with SAW, I mean."

"He was the only one of us that was in the proper state to do so," Optimus replied. "Frenzy and Barricade had a bond as well, and he was hurting, just like SAW. They both needed that bond."

Ironhide stared at Optimus. "...That doesnt answer my question," he said before turning and walking out of the main base, leaving his leader in silence. Optimus, now alone in the main base, remained silent for a few moments, looking around pointlessly. He let out a soft sigh and allowed his faceplate to retract before he sat himself down and put his face tiredly in his hands. It were times like these that he wished he had SAW's ability to cry.

Sorry for the wait! --bows head humbly-- I had midterms and my computer is screwy, and the only internet I have is my mom's computer and the ones in the library. I'll try to get the next chapter up faster! --looks up at the last paragraph-- See? Even Optimus Prime has his weaker moments. --nods-- Until next time!