Authors Notes- And here I am back once again with Chapter Seven of The Art Of Loving You. As you can gather by now I don't own Transformers that belongs to Hasbro. I, however do own the plot. Now that we got that out of the way here is Chapter Seven. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Seven: Ambush

As Wheeljack soared through the clear night sky he couldn't help but think back to his conversation with Arcee. A low growl escaping his lips as he did. Did she really think he was so stupid that he would seriously endanger the rest of the Autobots?! Who did she think he was? Smokescreen? Miko? And as to her questioning him on what he was doing? Why should she care? As far as she was concerned he was just off-lining Vehicons, and who really cared about them? To most Autobots Vehicons were just sparkless, faceless puppets to be used and abused by the Decepticons.

So, why was it a big deal? Megatron didn't really care, unless Wheeljack did something really insane like blowing up the mine...Actually, that wasn't such a bad idea now that he thought about it. He knew it upset the Decepticon leader when he had blown up one of his mines, and had threatened to continue to do so until the Decepticon leader coughed up Hardshell. Wheeljack knew it was one mine that had been blown to scrap so it wouldn't do much to the Decepticon cause. But, it would make him feel a hell of a lot better. Not like the 'Cons would miss one or two mines.

Hell, Megatron had his greasy claws in all but a few of the mines here on Earth. So, why not inconvenience them? Nodding to himself Wheeljack felt a smile creep to his faceplate as he flew off in the direction of where he knew one of the mines was located. Unbeknownst to him, that things would go differently for him.

Okay, Bulkhead would admit it as he limped around the base, optics narrowed in concentration as he did his laps around the base. As Miko offered him some encouragement, and Ratchet grumbled about how he should pace himself, how he shouldn't push himself too far and inure himself further. But, Bulkhead wasn't listening his thoughts were currently focused on Wheeljack. It would seem that Arcee hadn't been the only one to notice that Wheeljack seemed off.

Seeming more distant than normal, and that was not all, as days went on by it would seem that Arcee had been acting different too. But if Bulkhead was being honest Arcee always seemed kind of distant, not in the same as Wheeljack was but still. And to top it off Bulkhead even noticed that Arcee seemed...drawn to Wheeljack for some reason. Perhaps when he saw her later he would ask her.

"Whoa!" Miko's exclamation cut through his thoughts, blinking Bulkhead look down at Miko looked up at him. "Watch where you're going, Bulk. You almost stepped on me." She growled.

"Oh, uh, sorry about that Miko." He said, sounding sheepish. "I wasn't paying attention." He told her.

"Well, could you perhaps pay attention? I squish easily." Miko growled.

Giving her an apologetic smile Bulkhead stooped down to pick her up, when he noticed an odd look on her face. "Is...something wrong?" he asked. "I mean, aside from almost stepping on you that is." As he said that Bulkhead felt even more sheepish.

"I got a question." Miko spoke, jerking Bulkhead from his thoughts.

"What's up?" Bulkhead asked.

Miko chewed on her bottom lip as she thought for a moment. "Have you noticed how Arcee has been looking at Wheeljack lately?"

Bulkhead blinked as he looked down at her. "What do you mean?" Sure, Bulkhead would be lying if he said he hadn't noticed things between Arcee and Wheeljack. And to be honest Bulkhead just thought it was them being themselves.

Odd as that sounded for as long as Bulkhead had known either of them he knew they were always known to be rather aloof. But now that Miko mentioned it there was certainly something odd between the two of them. At first Bulkhead had to wonder if Arcee was drawn to Wheeljack simply because of how odd Wheeljack had been acting as of late. But something told Bulkhead that wasn't what was Miko was hinting at.

"Bulkhead?" Miko asked, jerking the wrecker from his confused thoughts.

"Hmmm?" Bulkhead murmured. "You kind of zoned out there for a moment after I asked you a question." She told him.

"Oh, uh, sorry..." Bulkhead rubbed at the back of his head.

"Well, whatever I was just noticed how strange things between those two." Miko sighed.

"How do you mean?" Bulkhead asked.

"Well," Miko chewed on her bottom lip. "Well, I've just seen how Arcee has been looking at Wheeljack. And I've sorta come to the conclusion that she might like Wheeljack." Miko said, as Bulkhead looked down at her once more. Was that what she was thinking?

"Miko," Bulkhead said. "I don't think that's the case. Ever since Arcee lost..." He trailed off.

"Lost Cliffjumper?" Miko cut in, arms crossed over her chest. "Look I understand that, and I can understand...Er, I mean I've never lost anyone... yet. And I know we're in the middle of a war and got far more important things to worry about. But, maybe..." Miko trailed off, looking away from the green wrecker.

Actually now that she said that out loud she realized how silly this all sounded. "You know you're right I'm over thinking things. Arcee isn't the type to have feelings like that."

"That's not what I said-" Bulkhead spoke.

"And Wheeljack isn't the type to develop feelings either." Miko said with a shrug of her shoulders.

Man, Bulkhead thought, as he placed Miko down on the platform, allowing her to join Raf and Jack. She's really obsessing over this. "I mean you might not be wrong but..." Bulkhead was not the Autobot to have to conversation with him, him talking about things like romance was something out of his league.

As he would rather discuss the various ways to wreck Decepticons, or tell stories of his times on Cybertron with the wreckers. But this was out of his league. Maybe Ratchet...actually no...

"P-perhaps you should have this conversation with either Wheeljack or Arcee?" Bulkhead suggested, as Miko looked up at him.

Miko chewed on her bottom lip her gaze going to where Arcee stood, typing away at the console, a strange look on her faceplate, before she glanced in Miko's direction. While Bulkhead did have a point, but Miko was never one for giving up too quickly. Perhaps when Arcee wasn't busy she would take time to talk to the femme. A sly grin formed on Miko's face as she turned to join Jack and Raf on the couch, as the boys played the racing videogame. Every once in a while she would glance in Arcee's direction.

The bearings of this wrecker. Dreadwing thought as he peered from the shadows of the energon mine when he caught sight of the Jackhammer in the distance. Wheeljack. Dreadwing should have known that it was the wrecker that had been causing Lord Megatron so much trouble with these attacks on the mines lately. Hence why Dreadwing was stationed here among these Vehicons, patrolling the area, blasters trained on anything that moved. If the wrecker wanted to play then Dreadwing would oblige him. A smirk forming on his lips as he disappeared into the shadows, waiting.

Wheeljack smirked as he crept through the shadows, creeping towards the Vehicon closest to him, before driving his blades through his chestplate. The unfortunate Vehicon let out a strangled cry, as Wheeljack pulled his blades out. Energon spilling from the wound as it dropped face first on the ground, lifeless as Wheeljack disappeared into the shadows once more. However, as he continued to take out the Vehicons that were standing outside the mine. He couldn't help but think back to his conversation with Arcee.

Did she honestly think that Wheeljack would get into any kind of trouble while out here? What did she think he was some rookie? At that Wheeljack let out a low growl as he moved towards the cave entrance. Like he didn't know what he was doing. The nerve of that femme. Are you sure that's all that's bothering you? He thought, as he stepped into the mine.

She obviously knew you were up to something, but she certainly doesn't know why you're doing this. Doesn't know how all of this is plan to lure out Megatron and his Decepticons, and snuff out their sparks one by one. Or end up having your spark snuffed out trying. He thought, his back pressed against the wall as he gritted his denta.

His hands tightening around his twin blades as he stepped out from the shadows, the remaining Vehicons stopping in their tracks to look at the Autobot intruder, before aiming their blasters at him. That was all the prompting Wheeljack needed, a cold smile on his faceplate, his optics narrowed as he charged at the closest Vehicon. His blades slicing through the Vehicon before he turned his sights on the remaining Vehicons.

Energon splattering onto the ground and walls. And to top it off Wheeljack was also covered in it. Some of it dripping off of his faceplate as he turned back to the entrance, but not before glancing over his shoulder at his mess. The corner of his mouth turning upwards as he stepped out of the mine, and headed to where the Jackhammer was. Hopefully by the time he returned the base Arcee wouldn't be there, watching him from the corner of her optic every time he stepped into the base.

Did she know what he had planned? And if so what then? Would she rat him out to Prime? Or perhaps she would join him? Wheeljack hoped so. He had heard stories of what happened to Arcee through the grapevine, had heard about what had happened to her old partner Tailgate at the hands on the rogue Decepticon Airachnid. The question was, Wheeljack thought, as he saw the Jackhammer in the distance, if Arcee had the chance to snuff out Airachnid's spark, would she hesitate? Or would she kill her without a second thought? Giving his head a shake Wheeljack sighed. Why was he thinking this? He was certain that none of the Autobots, even Bulkhead would stoop this low.

All so I can have some peace. And then maybe the nightmares will stop. Wheeljack thought. Nodding to himself he moved towards his ship. Only to be knocked back as the small starship exploded. Bits of debris raining down on him as he looked towards the smoking wreck. There could only be one person who was capable of this. As the moment Wheeljack picked himself off the ground did he catch sight of the Decepticon on question.

Dreadwing.

Wheeljack scowled as he glared up at the seeker. It looked like things had finally gotten interesting, he thought, as he drew his blades once more and charged at Dreadwing.

Authors Notes- And thus concludes Chapter Seven. I hoped you enjoyed it. And I'll try to get the next chapters up as soon as possible.