Chapter 7

Sometime during the night, SAW had began to have a minor fit; mere twitching and soft sounds in his sleep. Barricade gently handed Honeydew to Bumblebee, who cradled her to his chest near his spark to comfort her as Barricade climbed up on the recharge pad and held SAW to his form. Almost immediately, SAW regained calmness and remained that way for the rest of the night and well into morning.

It was Perceptor who quietly poked his head into the room near afternoon to check up on them. Ratchet was still fussing over his leader, who was trying to assure him that he was in fine working order, the twins had split; Sunstreaker remained at the base with Ironhide for guard duty while Sideswipe returned to the Eppses as transportation for them and the Lennoxes. Bumblebee looked up and saw him.

"How is he, Bumblebee?" Perceptor asked softly, stepping into the doorway. Bumblebee sat up, still holding the sleeping Honeydew to his chest.

"Better," Bumblebee replied, glancing at the sparkmates. "He had a small fit in his recharge a few hours earlier, but he's been calm since." He looked back at Perceptor. "Optimus?"

"Alive, well, and trying to get Ratchet to let him out of the med bay," the scientist replied. His face twitched in worry. "You, however, are in need of surgery. Your eye is still leaking some energon." Bumblebee reached up with a free hand to touch the hole in his face where his eye used to be. Perceptor held out his hands. "I'll take care of the sparkling, Bumblebee. You take care of yourself now."

Bumblebee sighed and relented, handing Honeydew to Perceptor. "Thank you, Perceptor," he said, leaving the room toward the med bay. Perceptor gently held Honeydew, stroking her back with one finger, and watched over SAW and Barricade, who were still in recharge.

One would have thought as a scientist, he would have been spared the horrors of war. But no. He had seen battles, he had seen with his own optics comerades and enemies alike be torn limb from limb. He had seen spark mates suffer and die terrible, agonizing deaths from being ripped by the spark from one another. He himself very long past had held a dying sparkling in his arms; one of the last ones born. That is one memory in his databanks he wished he could be rid of, but never could. And now...that terror had come to this small planet. One spark mate had died, and his mate had almost went with him. Thank Primus that Barricade had thought quickly enough, or SAW and the Allspark would have been tormented to death.

He glanced down at the sparkling in his hands, remembering what Optimus had told him awhile ago. That this sparkling--Honeydew--was one of what was to be many of a new breed of Cybertronian; a breed that could reproduce and self-sustain on their own. He remembered that Optimus said that this new breed was a miracle of Primus; His will that had led the Allspark to this planet where life could reproduce in its own, and eventually find a home in a being that could carry it on. It was Primus's will that if His own childeren could not fix their mistakes, then the Allspark would find something--or someone--that could.

"And you believe that this child--this human-turned-Cybertronian--is that someone, Optimus?"

"I do, Perceptor. He is our savior. His uniqueness given to him by Primus Himself is our second chance. Our only chance."

That was too much to put on the child, Perceptor knew. SAW had said so himself. It was almost too much just to bear the birth of Honeydew; now he was expected to bear an entire new breed; a new generation. How many until it would be enough? For Optimus? For SAW? For Primus himself, to be satisfied?

Perceptor shook his head and allowed himself a passive look as the sparkling blinked her golden eyes open and stared up at him. "'Ceptor?" she said softly, leaning her head on his chest. He nodded.

"I'm here, little one," he said softly. He backed out of the room. "Let's let them rest, yes?" Hearing her small chirp of agreement, he walked back to the main room to entertain her.

SAW opened his eyes again, though this time, it was without the pain and dizziness. Instead, he was filled with a sensation of warmth and security; his sight settled on the still-recharging Barricade, who was holding him close to his chest. He blinked once, and then remembered what had transpired hours earlier. Frenzy was dead...and in his being, he felt that Barricade...was his new sparkmate. Barricade had saved his life, easing both thier pains of loss. But then he had woken up and....he couldnt quite remember what had followed. All he could remember was rage and pain...and then comfort.

Sighing softly, SAW leaned his head back against Barricade's shoulder and absently tranced his finger along the metal in Barricade's arm. He found himself actually remembering when he first met him...him, in his true Cybertronian form. Scared the shit out of him, that's what Barricade did. He remembered being face-to-face with him, barely two feet between them. Strange, what a simple change in outer form could do to a person. His entire form seemed to change from a menacing metal demon to a strong, passive metal person, much like the Autobots. Barricade no longer frightened him after their second meeting. His tone had softened, as did the aura of toughness around his spark. Barricade had changed so much--and for the better, in SAW's opinion.

"I can practically hear you thinking, SAW."

SAW started sharply, unaware that Barricade had awoken while he was in his midst of thought. An arm tightened around him. "Easy, I didnt mean to frighten you..."

"No, you didnt," SAW part-lied reassuringly. "I was just thinking..."

"Very loudly," Barricade said teasingly. SAW rolled his optics.

"Alright, smart-aft," he retorted. "If I'm thinking so loudly, what was I just thinking?"

There was a slight pause. "...About us." SAW blinked. "I'm right, am I not?"

SAW grumbled to himself about Barricade being correct, then sat up and stretched. "I dont think I've slept so long since I became Cybertronian," he commented, rubbing his head. Barricade sat up as well and slid off the recharge pad.

"You should have Ratchet look you over," he said, helping SAW to his feet. "Everyone's been worried about you since you returned."

"Bumblebee?" SAW questioned. Barricade decided to forego telling him about Bumblebee's fit.

"He was the most worried for you," he replied. "He helped me to comfort you." He paused. "...He...cares for you deeply."

"And I care for him, too," SAW replied, looking over his shoulder at Barricade. "...And you."

Barricade shifted his gaze at SAW, and smiled softly.

"And I you." He patted SAW's shoulder and led him to the med bay.

It was good fortune that Bumblebee's optic was replaced by the time SAW entered the lab. Barricade figured that the less grief SAW had to deal with, the better. As soon as both SAW and Barricade entered the lab, Ratchet hastily pushed Bumblebee to clear the area up and began to fuss over SAW; asking questions, taking core temperature, checking every physical aspect he could find. By the time he was finished, SAW was wishing he hadnt come to the lab in the first place and it didnt help that Barricade was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and looking like he was repressing laughter.

It was humorously satisfying when after Ratchet cleared SAW, he rounded on Barricade and practically threw him on the med table for his own examination. SAW took up Barricade's former position on the wall to watch smugly as Barricade suffered through Ratchet's less-than-gentle care. By the time Barricade was allowed up, both he and SAW were glaring at Bumblebee, who was laughing at them both--on the inside, of course, but it was still apparent. After the fact, the three of them left the lab to reside in the main lab, where Optimus was taking over childcare from Perceptor, who was putting last-minute perfections on the cleaning and arranging like the perfectionist he was.

As soon as Honeydew saw her father up and walking, she let out a happy shriek, jumped down from Optimus's arms, and darted over to SAW and made a high jump enough to hug his waist. "DADDY!!!" she cried, hugging him as tightly as she could. SAW picked her up and gently hugged her. Barricade gently stroked her head with his fingertip and Bumblebee put his arm around SAW gently. Optimus looked over the small family for a moment before making himself known.

"How are you feeling, SAW?" he asked softly, stepping forward. SAW looked up and nodded.

"Much better," he replied softly. "I'm....still sore...hurting....but I'm feeling better." Optimus nodded, deciding to not give SAW the detail about the berserk attack made on his person.

"That's good," he said pleasantly. "However...I must ask if you are well enough for the arrival of Mikaela and Nathan tomorrow, because if you're not, we can postpone."

SAW thought for a moment, quietly, then shook his head. "No, let them come," he replied. "I truly want to be there for Mikaela, and show her how happy I am for her..." He broke off and cuddled Honeydew to him, going silent. Optimus sighed.

"Yes, I know," he said. "But at the moment, I'm concerned for your well-being." He put a hand on SAW's shoulder. "Tell me honestly. Do you feel up to this?" SAW looked up at his adoptive father and locked optics for a few moments before sighing.

"...I dont know," he finally said. "But I want her to come tomorrow. I really do..." He looked down at Honeydew. "I'll be happy for her sake."

Optimus stared at SAW for a few more moments before nodding. "Alright," he said, stepping back. "But if you should feel overwhelmed at all, just say so."

"Yes Sir," SAW replied. He stood silenty for a moment before turning toward the back way to go look out over the trees on the cliffside.

Optimus, Barricade, and Bumblebee looked after him, all three of them looking worried and apprehensive.

Hope this makes up for all that time loss! Next one coming up soon!