Title: Healing

Rating: PG

Continuity: Movie'verse

Characters: Sam Witwicky, Optimus Prime

Disclaimer: Don't own. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

Prompt: This picture: tf-speedwriting . livejournal .

Prompt from: July 10, 2010

Sam stared at the roots of the torn out tree. The trunk was covered with moss now, and looked a little saggier than he remembered. The once scraggly, bare roots had broken and rotted, now just greenish stubs sticking up like the bony crest of a Triceratops. A few stumps sat around it, similarly covered in moss, and ferns sprouted up where the grass and weeds of the forest floor had been torn away so long ago.

He could remember it all, despite the ten years that had passed. Here was where Starscream had landed. Those trees still sported the deep burns – now just warped bark. Here was where Optimus had ripped Blackout's face off. Here was where he had landed, and Sam was sure that, had he dug through the moss a little big, he would be able to find the gears and bits of metal the Prime had "spit" out.

And there... That clear area, behind the sharp stump. That had been where Megatron had thrust his sword through Optimus's chest plates and snuffed his spark. Sam could see it all happening in his mind.

"Is the future of our race not worth a single human life?"

"You'd never stop at one. I'll take you all on!"

The hiss of energized weapons. The grinding of overstressed gears. The clang of metal hitting metal. The grunts as fists met faceplates.

But the peace of the forest overlay those sounds.

Birds chirping. The clear sound of a nearby brook. The rustle of leaves and needles in the wind.

Heavy footsteps behind him.

Sam stayed where he was, gazing at the worn down roots.

"Sam," a deep voice rumbled, and the boy – the man, finally turned to look up.

"Optimus."

They stood in silence for a long moment. Then, "Why did you return here, Sam?"

The man shrugged. "I don't know. Just... I guess I wondered if I could find it again."

Optimus Prime nodded. "I understand. I have visited this place before, you know. I, too, do not understand why."

Sam snorted, though not rudely. "You died here, Optimus. I'd come back too. And anyways. As long as there aren't giant alien robots tearing it up, it is kinda nice."

"I agree."

Sam mumbled in agreement, and silence descended upon them again. Peaceful, happy silence. It was no longer a place of nightmares, of burned stumps and torn up ground. It had healed, come back to life. The human smiled at that.

"Well, I'm ready to head back, Optimus," he said as he stood, arching his back and stretching. "Bee's probably wondering where I'm at."

"No. I commed him when I found you."

Sam snorted again, mumbling something about "nosy, gossiping robots."

Optimus laughed. A deep, rolling sound that echoed over the green woods. "Perhaps, but it is only because we care."

Sam glanced up at the leader of the Autobots with a soft smile. "I know. Thanks, buy the way. For saving my life back then."

"It was my pleasure. Thank you for returning mine."

The two exchanged nods, then started on their way back to base.