Chapter 14

It was quite some time before Elita-One led SAW back into the base. By that time, Mikaela had left and Optimus was looking at the information on the disc she had left. Bumblebee was taking care of Honeydew, who was currently napping on his chest. Ratchet and Barricade were with Sunstreaker, who retained yet some more damage to his person, courtesy of Arcee, who was off somewhere with Perceptor.

"You should take a light recharge, SAW," Elita-One told him softly. "In fact...I think you should take a light recharge after every stress episode you have. It'll make things better."

"Yes, Ma'am," SAW murmured tiredly. He did in fact feel a little drained. Elita-One squeezed his shoulder and sent him off in the direction of his room, then stood beside Optimus as the Autobot leader surveyed the information on the disc with interest.

"...I've sent SAW to his room," she said softly, getting Optimus' attention. "He seemed drained." Optimus nodded.

"That's good," he said softly. "...Mikaela was sad that she didnt see him."

"He blames himself for things that he neednt take the blame for," Elita-One informed. "...He's too sensitive to everything. Every little mishap is the apocalypse to him. It's a terrible state of mind to have."

"I'm aware," Optimus sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose, his agitated habit. "...I just dont know what to do about it."

"There's nothing you really can do about it, Optimus," Elita-One replied softly, holding his arm with both her own. "All you can give him is your support and guidance. Let him do things his own way, figure things out for himself. We cant hold his hand forever." She leaned her head against his shoulder. Optimus shifted his gaze down to her.

"...I know," he replied. "...It's just hard...I have to restrain myself from helping him with every little thing..."

"You really do act like his father," she said, smiling. "I've been here for some time...I've seen how fathers hold thier young one's hand...teach them things...force themselves to let go to let the child do things for themselves...I've seen how it is. And you're a prime example."

"Am I really?" Optimus asked.

"You are."

There was a few moments of silence.

"...So, what about this wedding?"

SAW was indeed tired, but he couldnt seem to slip into recharge. He just laid there on his recharge pad, staring at the wall until his optics blurred. He sighed and offlined his optics. This was so infuriating! He hated the fact that he couldnt slip into a recharge, even if he tried to force himself. He had taken to playing movies or music to himself at recharge time to pass the time, but that was quickly getting old.

After two hours of trying to fall unconscious, SAW finally heaved a sigh and glared at the wall, debating whether or not to go break something in Ratchet's lab to warrant a few smacks to the head with a tool. He really didnt want this. He just wanted to be normal. In Cybertronian sense, this time, anyway. This sucked.

He was too busy griping over his lack of ability to do something as easy as slip into a little effing recharge that he didnt notice Barricade come in. He must have been grumbling out loud, because Barricade paused at the door and listened for a moment, piecing together what he was trying to say. After that moment, he quietly slipped inside, shut and locked the door, then went over to SAW's recharge pad and sat down on it next to SAW.

"...Are you alright?"

SAW jumped a little, and turned to see that it was just Barricade. "...Yeah," he replied. Barricade made a soft sound.

"No you're not," he replied softly. He reached over to stroke SAW's head. "...I've been sensing this for some time, SAW...why wont you just tell me?" SAW's optics flickered for a moment, then he sighed.

"...I cant recharge properly," he said. "...Not since I was put into this body. Two or three hours, at most."

"Two or three...? SAW...that's not good."

"I know that now," SAW replied. "I mean...physically, I feel fine...but I think I'm starting to suffer mentally..."

"...You cant recharge, even now?" SAW shook his head.

"No." He heaved a sigh. "...It's frustrating..." Barricade made a thoughtful sound, then gently picked his mate up. "...Um...what're you doing...?"

"Helping," Barricade replied, holding SAW as he laid down on the recharge pad, then rearranged SAW on top of him so they were chest-to-chest. "...One of the best ways to induce recharge is a light overload..." He brushed his fingers over the top of his chest, opening it and revealing his spark.

"...Sparking?" SAW blinked, being drawn in by the beautiful blue light. Barricade nodded.

"...If you want to," he said softly. SAW blinked again. He an Barricade hadnt sparked even once since they had become spark mates, as far as he knew. He gently brushed his fingers over his own chest and revealed his spark, immediately feeling the pull between the two sparks. Barricade made a grind-purring sound in his vocals.

"...Did you know that...your spark is an exotic color?" he asked softly. SAW shook his head. He never really had the opportunity to look at it himself. "...It's gold...like your eyes...so beautiful..."

"...Really?" SAW felt another pull and leaned down to press his chest to Barricade's, letting out a trilling groan. Barricade slid his hands up to SAW's back and slipped his fingers around the metal plates.

"My mate..." Barricade growled, his own spark pulsing into SAW's. SAW groaned again and felt his spark flutter, his vocals making a sound to mirror the flutter. He relaxed his body over Barricade's, his fingers digging into the metal on the bigger mech's shoulders. Barricade pulled SAW closer to him, reveling in the sensation of their sparks flaring toward the other's.

SAW could feel the pulse of the spark connection flow through every wire in his system, making every little sensation multiply by the tens by the moment. He made soft keening sounds and writhed around on top of Barricade, whose arms were the only things keeping him from toppling onto the floor. Barricade's purring mixed with SAW's keening, and their sparks flared again, making SAW dent Barricade's armor with his fingers.

SAW squirmed around harder against Barricade, his keening growing louder and more needy. Barricade growled, keeping SAW's body held firmly against his own as their sparks pulsed more sharply. It was SAW who first let out a primitive high-pitched shriek as his systems seized up in a blissful overdrive, his spark pulsing frantically, before settling down, rendering him exhausted. Barricade followed just moments later, he himself letting out a loud growl that would've sent anyone unaware of the situation running in terror, but to SAW, it was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard; it was a sound of love and protection and possessiveness.

Barricade held his sparkmate to him, letting their sparks calm down and retract back into their spark casings. After a moment, he gently lifted SAW up and closed their chests, then held SAW to him again, stroking his fingertips down SAW's back. Upon hearing no response, he turned his head to look at SAW.

He had fallen into a deep recharge. Finally.

"Sunstreaker, what the frag are you doing!?"

Sunstreaker jumped from his previous position of standing in front of SAW's closed door, his head pressed up against the door and audio receptors on full blast, and turned to look guiltily at Arcee, who was standing right behind him, arms crossed and visage scowled.

"...Nothing."

"Do I need to send you back to Ratchet not a half hour after he finally got done with you?"

"NO!"

"Then quit being a pervert and go find something productive to do!"

Sunstreaker slid away from the door, mumbling to himself in Italian, then flipped Arcee the middle finger behind her back.

"I saw that, dumbaft! Dont make me break it!"

Sunstreaker quickly exited the premises, still muttering obscenities in Italian. Arcee smirked behind his back, then went into Ratchet's lab to tell the medic exactly what Sunstreaker was in fact doing.

The yellow Lamborgini was back in that lab for more repairs not five minutes later.

It's short, it's sweet, and it's the last bit of fluff you'll see for quite some time. Enjoy it. *evil laugh*