A/N: Here's another drabble for my lovelies. R&R. Enjoy!

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Nightmare

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Optimus watched helpless as time seemed to slow down. The debris was falling, crumbling as the building crumbled. Gun fire and missiles were passing him, missing him, hitting other buildings, possibly hitting his Autobots; Optimus didn't know. He was too focused on the horrifying sight before him. Whatever battle they were in, whoever the enemy was, didn't matter.

What did matter was Cade, his human, his Cade, falling along with the debris and the rubble as the building he had been standing on firing shots at the enemy crumbled beneath his feet. All Optimus could do was watch as Cade, his human and spark mate, fell. By the time he was finally reacting, it was too late.

The cry that was torn from his throat was inhuman and unrecognizable even to his own ears. Optimus ran towards the crumbled, destroyed building, hoping…hoping…but knowing deep inside of him that it was too late. Gun fire followed his steps, missiles hit the other buildings around him as they missed their target.

When he arrived at the building that had been Cade's post, Optimus stopped dead in his tracks. His optics didn't have to search long to find his human. There he was, crushed under a large, heavy piece of the very roof top he had been standing on. A loud, anguished roar erupted from his throat and…

Optimus bolted up in bed, his chest rising and falling with every pant. His skin was wet with sweat and he felt something running down his cheeks. Upon lifting his hand, he realized that tears were flowing freely from his eyes. Looking to his right, he saw, much to his relief, that Cade was sound asleep beside him. Sighing heavily in relief, Optimus collapsed back onto the bed. One of the down falls of using his human form was that it behaved exactly like a human body, sweat, tears and all.

"What was it about this time?" Cade's sleepy voiced asked him. Optimus turned and stared at him, blue eyes wide, a frown on his face, and soft pants still coming from his lips.

"It was nothing, Cade," Optimus told him, unable to keep the tremble from his voice. Cade frowned and turned on his side so that he fully faced Optimus.

"You're a horrible liar, Optimus Prime," Cade told him. "You'd better tell me."

"Cade, it was merely a dream," Optimus said.

"Yeah, huh, right. I've never seen a dream frighten the shit outta someone," Cade replied.

"Are we really going to argue over terminology now?" Optimus asked his spark mate, sounding tired and exhausted. A nightmare could do that to someone.

"No, we aren't because you're going to tell me all about it," Cade said, standing his ground, refusing to budge or back down, stubborn as always. It was one of the things Optimus valued dearly about his human.

And what got him killed in the nightmare…

"Hey," Cade said softly as he reached out and grasped one of Optimus' large hands with his own. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I'm here for you, Optimus. I was when you were away and I'm still here."

Optimus felt his spark surge at such show of devotion, loyalty, and affection. He reached out for Cade and pulled him to him, holding him in an embrace that he knew was too tight for human comfort, but he didn't care. What he wanted right then and there was just to know Cade was there, alive and safe from harm. Nuzzling his neck, Optimus allowed himself to relax and breathe in Cade's scent.

"Optimus," Cade gasped. He loosened his grip but he didn't let Cade go. Optimus was never letting Cade go, ever.

"I…had dreamt that…you died," Optimus finally admitted. He felt Cade tense in his arms and then he felt his human start to rub his back soothingly.

"Everybody dies, Optimus. Ever you're going to die someday," Cade told him, being honest and truthful, although his voice was soft and not unkind. "But I don't plan on dying any time soon. Not until I'm old and grey and you'll no longer want me anymore."

"I will always want you, Cade Yeager," Optimus said fiercely, squeezing Cade for just a moment.

"I'm glad to hear that, Optimus, but that's not the point. The point is everyone dies; it's not something that can be changed. We just have to learn to accept it and get through it when it does happen," Cade said. "I can't promise you that I won't die because I will someday. But I can promise you that I'll be careful and mindful, especially if anyone or anything comes after us."

Optimus knew that he was overreacting but he couldn't help it. He had lost so many comrades and friends in his existence that Cade's loss would be a crushing one. Losing him, Tessa, or any other member of his now smaller family would be difficult for him to bear and he wasn't sure if he would be able to return from one more loss.

Never before had he felt so emotionally; it must due to his constant use of his human form and all of his time being spent around humans. Right then, though, he didn't really care. All he cared about was that Cade was alive an in his arms.

"I know that you will be mindful, Cade, but that does not relieve all of these…emotions," Optimus said. Cade pulled back from him and brushed his black hair away from his forehead while giving him a soft, loving smile.

"I know it won't, but I wanted to reassure you. Besides, I have something else in mind that might take your mind off things," Cade said.

"What would that be?" Optimus asked him.

Cade's smile widened and he leaned forward, pressing his lips to Optimus'. At first, the kiss was soft and sweet, but then it turned heated, desperate and passionate. Before Optimus knew it, he was lying on his back with Cade straddling his hips. When the need for air became hard to ignore, they pulled apart and Cade pressed their foreheads together.

"Is it working?" he asked, grinning down at Optimus. Smiling up at his spark mate, Optimus ran his hands down Cade's bare back, enjoying the shivers that he caused.

"I am not sure, Cade. I believe I need a little more coaxing," Optimus answered.

"It would be my pleasure," Cade said and kissed him again.

Optimus soon forgot all about the nightmare and the fear that it had caused him.