Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait! I hope you enjoy!

Turns out, Bumblebee is still out doing whatever it was that he was doing but had already radioed ahead that he would be back soon, especially since Sam was waiting on him. So, when Sam exited Ratchet's cab in the Autobot hanger, it was to Ironhide, Optimus, Sideswipe and the blue sister, Arcee. The twins, the two other sisters and Bumblebee were out in the city doing who knows what. One of the large sliding doors for the hanger is wide open, while the other is closed, offering some level of privacy. The day was drawing, slowly, to a close, transitioning the sky from blue to the beginnings of a starburst of reds, yellows and oranges scattered across the horizon.

The lights inside the hanger are bright and harsh to the eyes, but Sam manages to adjust as he makes his way towards the other Autobots, giving Ratchet space to shift back into his bi-pedal mode. Earthquake, who Sam missed at first, shifts from the corner of the room, drawing closer to him with bright purple eyes.

"Hello, Sam," Optimus greets, warmly, going down on one knee to get a closer look at him.

"Hi, Optimus. You don't mind if I wait here for Bumblebee, do you?"

Something in Optimus's expression softens, a gentle smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Not at all, Sam. We're happy to have you."

"Happy to see you out of bed," Ironhide adds, stepping around Optimus with his arms crossed. "You feeling better, kid?"

Sam shrugs his shoulders, turning to look at the black and chrome bot. "I don't know. I mean, not really. The energy comes in spurts, I guess. I wanted to talk to Bumblebee, and well, I needed to get out of the medbay for a little bit."

Optimus looks at Ratchet, silent communication passing between them. Sam is starting to recognize that look for the concern and the searching that it is.

"Hey, Optimus!" Sam calls, pulling blue eyes back to him. "I will tell Ratchet if I need to go back. Or he'll tell me."

Optimus tips his head in acquiescence when Earthquake moves over to Sam, lowering down to a knee as well, tilting his head. There is a displeased look on his face. "Creator, you should be resting. According to Doctor Ratchet, until you are stable you should remain in the medbay."

Sam smiles, knowing that Earthquake is just worried about him, so he can't be mad. Like with Optimus. "Does it get me cookie points if Ratchet is here with me?"

Earthquake's eyes flicker as he looks at Ratchet, the little hands resting along the floor in their cape form twitch a little bit. He looks trouble, turning back to Sam. He opens his mouth, furrows his brow, then closes it again, considering. Finally, he admits, "This platform is unclear. Are 'cookie points' something this platform must obtain from the Great Prime? Or is it perhaps something Doctor Ratchet must prescribe?"

"They aren't real, Earthquake," Jolt says, coming up from behind Sam as he transforms from his alt mode. "It's a phrase. He's basically asking if it makes you feel better that the bot that set the restrictions is, uh, standing right there." He crosses one arm over his chest, points at Ratchet with the other before crossing that one too.

Ratchet looks over at Earthquake, pleased. "You needn't worry too much, Earthquake. I'll keep an optic on your creator."

Earthquake nods solemnly. He has complete and utter faith in the Autobot medic. "This Earthquake approves of Doctor Ratchet's methods of care. The most adequate of the Great Prime's retinue to care for the Creator."

"Might be because he's the only medic amongst us," Arcee offers, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And he is the CMO," Sideswipe says with a wave of the hand and leaning on one hip. "As Sunny always says, 'If it makes the most sense, it's probably because it's meant to be that way.'"

"Idiot," Arcee, Jolt and Ironhide add in unison. Ratchet rolls his eyes while Sideswipe grins, amused. Sam lets out a laugh, amused.

Optimus, unbothered, turns to Earthquake, nodding in agreement to his words. "You are correct in finding Ratchet's work to be excellent, Earthquake. He has been a doctor for a very long time and very good at what he does. He'll take good care of Sam."

Ratchet huffs, seemingly unaffected by the praise. Earthquake, though, seems pleased at Optimus's acknowledgement.

Standing around, chatting, Sam found himself leaning more and more against the warm metal of Optimus's leg as he's remained crouched down next to him. As they talk, Ratchet keeps checking on him, monitoring him closely. He knows that at some point in the near future, Ratchet will insist that they return to the medbay, but once more the older bot seems to be pleased with Sam not rotting away on that gurney like he usually is, day in and day out.

At one point in the conversation, Sam looked up at the large red and blue Autobot, asking, "Optimus, you wouldn't happen to know if I know someone named 'D' do you?" He's not sure why, but a part of him feels like the Autobot leader would possibly know. Perhaps belying the closeness that Optimus alluded to earlier when he said that Sam was very important to him. Optimus feels very important to Sam. Not just because he's the Autobot leader. But it feels like there is something more to it.

Optimus looks down at him with cycling blue eyes, considering the question as if it was significantly more important than idle curiosity. After a moment of thought, he says, "No one that you haven't met again, that I can think of. But perhaps, dad?"

Ratchet slaps a hand to his forehead. "Right. The human title for your sire."

Sam squints, feeling like that made sense, but it also didn't feel completely right. Then again, the message was, "D came for the sliver," which he supposed that could be it, even if it didn't fully ring true to Sam's mind. But why not just type out 'dad'?

"Or perhaps not," Optimus says knowingly, smiling faintly at the look on Sam's face. Then, having ascertained what Sam hadn't said, he adds, "Bumblebee might have a better idea than I."

He smiles up at the large bot, patting at the smooth metal along his shin, until the distinct sound of a growling engine that Sam subconsciously recognizes pulls his attention away from Optimus. His mind's eye sees Bumblebee with a clear vision before turning to see said Autobot drive in through the one opened door into the hanger.

The smile that spread on his face was of joy. Seemingly recognizing it, Bumblebee's engine revs, sliding up to offer his sleek profile to Sam, frame wiggling on the wheels, which makes Sam laugh.

"Show off," Jolt teases as Bumblebee transforms back into his alt mode, immediately going down onto a knee to smile at Sam. His wings wiggle in an adorably endearing manner.

"Hi, Bee," Sam says, consciously using the nickname that feels so right on his tongue. Bumblebee's eyes bright as he chirps happily.

"Look at you, my best friend," the radio plays. "Are you feeling better?"

Sam shrugs. "I'm okay. Tired, but I wanted to talk to you. Did you go out with Arcee's sisters and Mudflap and Skids?" He glances over past the yellow bot but none of the four of them were following him through the one open door.

He makes a gesture as if going their separate ways. "Went off. Patrol the streets of Gotham."

Sam makes a face, laughing a bit. "Gotham? Is this city really as dangerous?"

Bumblebee shrugs. "You never know, chief."

Sam rolls his eyes, still smiling. He shifts back to allow Optimus the opportunity to stand without smushing him. But once the bot has moved so that he could face Bumblebee, Sam leans against the smooth metal again, feeling a bit better with the Autobot leader. "Where did you go, then? If they are out patrolling?" He's not sure if he should ask, but if it's not something he should know, then surely Bumblebee just won't say, or find a way to redirect.

"To get all of house and home. College is the staple piece for all maturing boys and girls," the radio says.

Sam frowns a bit, tilting his head. "You.. went to my college?"

Bumblebee nods, reaching down to the ground, cupping his hand before pulling back. A box is there where his palm was a moment before. Sam bulks a bit in surprise. "Whoa! Did... was that magic?"

Bumblebee smiles, amusement tickling across Sam's skin. His EMP field, Ratchet had explained. Sam was able to feel their fields when they were close to him. It was a secondary form of expression for Cybertronians as their faces aren't exactly super emotive. Or maybe they evolved to not be super emotive with the assistance of the fields, but either way, it's there to help convey emotion.

Just normal humans don't feel it. But the All Spark's energy makes him sensitive to it. Easily to the point where it can overwhelm him.

And Sam's not sure what Ratchet means, the Autobots seem to be very emotive to him.

"Not magic, Sam," Optimus says, voice tinged with affection. "We have access to a separate pocket dimension where we can store things. We call it subspace." Sam wasn't even a little sure on how to better approach that. It still sounds like magic to him. Pocket dimension? That was really taking a running leap into the science fiction or fantasy realm of the way things are.

"Right," Sam says, unconvinced, which makes a small rumble of amusement come from the Autobot leader. "So, what's in the box?"

"What's in the box? What's in the box?" Bumblebee's radio plays, his blue eyes bright in amusement. He gestures to the box.

"Can I look inside?" Sam asks, finally moving away from Optimus over to the closed, simple brown box. Bumblebee nods, gesturing to it again. Sam looks down at the top flap, seeing his name written on to top. "Sam's miscellaneous?" He blinks a few times, surprised. "Oh, it's mine. You brought it from my dorm?" He looks back up to see Bumblebee nod.

Sam kneels down and opens the lid, looking around at all the strange, random items thrown into the box. Posters, some letters. A few trinkets and even some photos. Everything Sam looked at pulled some fragments of memories. And Sam was yammering. Showing off the items, surprised by how easily the memories were coming to him. Things from his childhood, gifts from his parents and friends. It was all so crystal clear. The memories, the feelings. He should have been embarrassed with all this talking, but the Autobots were listening whether it be intensely - like Bumblebee, Optimus and Earthquake - or respectfully like the rest with varying levels of interest based on what he was talking about.

Then, nearing the bottom, Sam spots two framed photos. One of him and his parents. He knows, the moment that he sees them. He's standing with his parents on either side of him. His dad's hand proudly on his shoulder and his mom's arm linked through his. They are standing in front of a beautiful house that Sam immediately knows is his childhood home. He looks like a teenage, probably in high school, and despite the bright and sunny day in the picture, the three of them are wearing ugly Christmas sweaters that Sam knows is a tradition for them. And they were happy. Sam remembers. This was the most recent Christmas.

He places the picture close to him, hoping Ratchet will let him bring it back to the medbay with him. Reaching in, he grabs the other picture frame and can't help himself but smile. "Aw, Bee." The nickname coming easier still. "It's us."

And it was. A boy and his alien car. Bumblebee is sleek and shining, the sun light and blue sky behind him is beyond flattering. Something taken out of a professional shot of the beautiful Camero. With the front door open, as if about to get inside before he stopped to take the picture, has Sam smiling brightly at the photographer. One arm on the top panel, the other across the length of the top of the door and just this look of relaxed joy on his face. A good time. A good memory.

Bumblebee chirps, something like surprise and affection washes over Sam's skin, leading the teen to wonder if the bot actually knew that it was there before. In Bumblebee's excitement, his wings flutter a bit as Sam turns the picture towards him to better see. Something decidedly gentle and adoring crosses over Bumblebee's face.

"Aw, look at us," his radio plays, "we cute."

"You didn't know I had this, did you?" Sam asks, studying those bright blue eyes.

Bumblebee nods. "Knew you had it. Not that you framed it. Or took it with," the radio jumbles together. "But it is expected. I'm a badass."

Sam laughs, looking back down at the picture. It was taken at Lookout Point, just a few short months ago. And he knows, he feels it in his bones, Mikaela took this picture of them.

Before he can ask on it, Sam spots something he doesn't recall putting into his box, something that seems benignly stuck on a case for a CD. He sets the framed photo of him and Bumblebee with the other, settling on asking Ratchet to bring them both with, before pulling out a few beaded bracelets. His mom had made them. One of purple and silver and one of black and silver with a little charm of a star. They were made years ago, he remembered. His mom had taken up the hobby and Sam had been the recipient of a lot of them for a time in his early teens.

He had kept most of them to make her happy.

Unless there was more in the box itself, Sam can safely assume that they were stuck on something that he hastily shoveled into his box when he was packing it. Or maybe his mom snuck a few things in without him knowing. He couldn't say.

The star charm on the one bracelet and the purple on the other seemed telling to Sam who he should give them to.

"Earthquake," Sam says, grabbing the bracelets and standing. "Come down here, I want to show you something."

Without hesitation, the large black bot goes from kneeling to sitting and leaning closer with big purple eyes as Sam moves closer, holding the bracelets up for him to see. "My mom made them. They are bracelets that go around your wrists. Well, not yours. But human's, I mean. But my mom made them."

Little hands flare out in surprise. "The Creator's Creator?" Sam laughs, and nods. "This construct knows little about this type of creation, but it must be superior to any other."

Sam laughs again, shrugging. "I'm not sure I would go that far, but they are nice, aren't they?"

Earthquake nods, solemnly, purple eyes bright. "Yes, very."

"She made a lot of them, see? This one is purple and silver. This one is silver and black - and look! It has a charm on it. A star, see?"

Enthralled, Earthquake leans closer, eyes spiraling to get a better look at the small charm. "Yes, Creator. This platform sees it!" Those little hands float around him, having broken apart from their cape form and making twitching motions in the air, as if excited.

Ratchet, who stood beside and behind him, looking genuinely... affectionate. Something soft and endearing as he looks at the larger bot. And when he looks at Sam, there is something like pride there. It brushes against Sam's skin, before it is gone again.

"I want you to have them."

Earthquake's body stiffens in surprise, purple eyes wide. "The Creator... would give something so precious to this Earthquake?"

His friend didn't have to know that there were probably dozens more at home, scattered across his room from years prior. Instead, Sam says, "Sure. You can't wear them as bracelets, but once you get an alt mode, I'm sure you can find some way to attach them to you. Besides, purple, black and silver? I think those would be great colors for you. And, well, I've always loved the stars."

Earthquake nods slowly, purple eyes still wide as he murmurs, "And this platform is an alien."

"That's not - " Sam starts, then squints, then nods. "Sure."

One of the small hands reaches over Earthquake's shoulder to let Sam place the delicate beaded bracelets onto the large palm. He brings them up closer to his face to further inspect them, softly asking, "What... what would the Creator like for this construct to do with these precious things?"

"Keep them close so a part of me is with you." And because Sam's sure that they won't last long, but seeing how attached Earthquake is to him, having something of Sam's with him might make him feel a little better. And, well, Sam thinks he would like it, which he obviously does.

Affection and adoration so strong that Sam was almost swept away with it as Earthquake looks at him with wide, bright purple eyes. He leans in close to stare at Sam. "This construct has the kindest Creator."

Sam blushes a bit, embarrassed. His lips part to say - what? He's not sure - when a sharp, feminine voice calls out, "Bumblebee! There you are! Where is Sam?"

The whole room freezes, all the Autobots turn to look at someone who is obscured by Bumblebee's body from Sam's view. Earthquake huddles close to Sam, guarding him with an angry hiss, little hands flaring out defensively, while Bumblebee twists around, still hunched. His wings, though, arch up and into a tight v.

There is a clanging noise of something metallic hitting the concrete floor as hurried footsteps come closer. "I have been trying to reach Sam for over a week! He's not picking up his phone and when I spoke to his roommate, he said he hadn't seen Sam since that first day. I checked the police station, but they said that the missing person's report was filed and then closed. That he had been located and was deemed safe. What's going on? Where is he?"

"How did you even get in here?" Sideswipe asks, crossing his arms over his chest, frowning down at her. "Someone is going to need to brush up on standard procedures with the gate guards." He rolls his eyes.

"I snuck in," she says, voice droll. "Although I do agree they need a brush up."

Ironhide snorts, amused, while Sideswipe rolls his eyes again.

"Bumblebee, where is Sam? I saw you at the dorms." That would explain how this unknown woman, who knows him, found her way here, Sam supposes.

"Sounds like the gate guards aren't the only ones needing a little reup on their education," Jolt jests, grinning at the scowl that Bumblebee sent his way.

"Mikaela," Optimus says carefully. Sam jolts. Mikaela? The Mikaela that he called? That had been blowing up his phone? She was here? Yes. Yes, she said that she was going to come see him. He had forgotten.

"Optimus, please," Mikaela says, cutting him off. Her voice is pleading, and Sam feel a horrible pain in his chest. "I'm scared that something is wrong with him. Please. Just tell me what's going on."

Sam gently moves away from Earthquake, running a hand along the large fingers defensively hunched over him. Earthquake doesn't want him to leave but doesn't force him to stay.

"Creator..."

Sam moves around Bumblebee, feeling across the smooth yellow plating with his hand, and Bumblebee's unease prickles the pads of fingers. Once he can see the girl, he catches Optimus, lips pressed tightly together, turn to look at him.

The girl is beautiful. Long dark hair, bright blue eyes, tanned skin. She's breath-takingly beautiful. And when she looks at Sam, in that first instance, there is relief and joy written across her stunning face. And when Sam's eyes meet her own, he knows her. He knows Mikaela. He sees her in his mind's eye as that little girl from his schooling. The one that he had spent all his school years with.

No, pining for. He could feel it. A love for her that was desperate - and old. Something equal parts desperate and deep, and shallow and distant. Something akin to affection rather than love.

And then she seems to see him. Really see him. And before he can decipher the look that crosses over her face, she's in his arms, hitting him with a force hard enough that he stumbles back into Bumblebee's leg and hand, as he tries to steady them. Across his back, he feels Bumblebee's agitation, his anger. And then pain.

"Bee - " Sam starts, glancing up at his friend when Mikaela grabs his face and looks at him, her face twisted in worry.

"Sam, oh my god. Are you okay? Look at you. What's going on?"

Sam, flushed, swallows nervously. "I- Uh. I, um..." His tongue won't seem to work. He's being yoyoed between the feeling of being a flustered boy in love with this girl, and someone who only knows her through an almost third person sense. He's nervous and can't bring himself to touch her. She feels both extremely intimate and like a complete stranger.

It hits him from all angles, anger, so intensely, so fiercely. Anger, rage, indignant, disgust, pain, pain, pain. And it's coming from all around him. From all of the Autobots, all of them feeling emotions so passionately, so intensely. It all just jams itself into Sam's brain, clogging up his veins. His stomach, his lungs. Any open space inside of him is packed full and he feels like his entire body is about to explode.

"Enough!" Ratchet snarls, loud voice piercing through the roar of his clogged ears. "Autobots, reign in your fields, now! Optimus, calm this place down now before Sam gets an aneurysm!"

Bumblebee stiffens, whining low in fear and pain, but everything else gets sucked away fast enough to make Sam dizzy. The weight of the calm that settles around them has Sam falling over, barely being caught by Mikaela and Bumblebee.

"Sam!" Mikaela calls, brows creasing in fear. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

Sam leans into the scoop of Bumblebee's hand, knowing his weight won't affect the yellow bot the same way it will Mikaela. Even still, she holds his hand as he struggles to fill his lungs and not eject his lunch.

"Are you alright, Sam?" Optimus rumbles, going down onto a knee once more to watch him. There is a sever look on his face that strikes sadness in Sam's chest, but he's easily distracted by his wonky equilibrium.

Ratchet scans him, tsking angrily at what he's seeing. "Keep your fields to yourself, pit spawns," he snarls. Then, to Sam, in a noticeably gentler tone, "Just breathe, Sam. It'll pass. It already is."

"Don't move, Bee," Sam mumbles. "I don't think my stomach can take it."

A low churr, but Sam's eyes are closed so he can't actually see the look of sadness that he knows is there. He can't open his eyes, or he will vomit. So, he breathes steadily and keeps still. It helps a bit.

He stays like that for a few minutes, listening to his breathing, and Mikaela's as she holds his hand. To the low thrum inside of Bumblebee as his inner mechanics whirl and piston and creak. To even the subtle shifting of the Autobots around them. Once the nausea clears enough for Sam to get his feet back under him, he pulls just enough away from Bumblebee to not be laying on him, but not enough to not still hold onto the larger yellow bot.

"Sam," Mikaela says quietly, as if being too loud would be too much for him. His green eyes meet her pleading blue ones. "Please, tell me what's going on."

She knows the Autobots. She wasn't surprised to see them. She was on first name basis with Optimus. And she knew Sam. She was friends with Sam. She was close to Sam. And yet, Major Lennox was a lot like all those things, and more. He actually worked with the Autobots, and still he didn't know what was going on. Major Lennox was close to Ironhide, and the black and silver mech said nothing to him as far as Sam knew, even days later. He looks around the room, catching Ironhide's eyes, and watches the subtle shake of the black and silver mech's head.

"I'm... sick," Sam says, pulling his eyes back to Mikaela's. He's not sure what else to tell her. He won't talk about the All Spark. He's not sure he's allowed to. And while he wants to trust her. He wants to assuage the obvious concern on her face, he can't. He could feel Bumblebee's unease. His anger. His fear. His pain. Sam doesn't know why, and he's not going to hurt his friend if he can help it.

But isn't Mikaela also his friend? She came all the way here from their home in Tranquility to not at least be that.

"Sick, how?" Mikaela asks, brow furrowing.

"I - " Sam studders, glancing over at Optimus. "I... have amnesia." Optimus's eyes flash. Through the calm, Sam feels the briefest, yet sweetest brush of affection feather light across his skin before the calm settles once more.

Sam looks back at Mikaela to see her frowning. "What? Are you kidding me? If this is a joke, Sam, it's not funny."

"It is no joke, Mikaela," Optimus rumbles softly, eyes spiraling down at her. "Sam was in an accident involving the power of the All Spark over a week ago that has left him disoriented and without memory for a time. He is gaining it back rather quickly, but for now we are watching over him."

A myriad of emotions play across her face as she finally releases Sam's hand, giving him a complex look. Like she wants to hug him, hold him, but doesn't want to overstep, and something clenches in Sam's stomach.

"Do you remember me?" She asks, voice soft.

Sam nods and there is a flash of relief on her face. Bumblebee tenses, but Optimus's features stay completely unmoving.

"You do?" Mikaela asks, hope in her eyes.

Sam nods again. "Yeah, we went to school together." Her face stays unmoving for a moment, before a tension takes hold and Sam realizes there really was more. "We were... we're friends."

No, her expression tells him. That wasn't right. Sam looks away in embarrassment and shame. Past Mikaela is a metal box. It's old and rusted, but there was something... something about it. Something that calls to him.

At this point, he was willing to walk off the side of a cliff if it meant not being part of this conversation anymore. He's hurting her. He knows that he is. But he's so conflicted, so confused. He should talk to her, try to explain, but it's easier to let Optimus do it. It's easier to let the burden fall on the large bot rather than take it on himself. Mostly he doesn't know what to say, or what he's allowed to say. It makes him horrible, he knows, but he's not sure what else to do. How to make any of this better. It's not fair to Mikaela or Optimus.

"Ouch," Sideswipe says, turning away. "I can't watch this."

Sam cringed. It seems as though he's not the only one that really hates what's happening here.

Jolt scowls at the fully silver bot, reaching up to slap at his abdomen. "Shut up, fragger."

"All I'm saying - " Sideswipe starts but Ironhide sends him a look that cuts him off.

"We know what you're saying, Sideswipe. The commentary isn't necessary."

Sideswipe shrugs, unbothered. Mikaela flinches at that and a touch of sympathy passes over Optimus's features. Sam's eyes flicker back over to the box, pulling slowly from Bumblebee to head over to it. There was something in there. Something he had to see. Something that was familiar to him. Something he couldn't place without seeing it. And once he got that figured out, he would hopefully have mercy on them all and try to talk to Mikaela himself.

Well, not that talking around the foot in his mouth will be much of a blessing, but it will be better than forcing Optimus to speak on his behalf. Maybe.

"I am sorry, Mikaela," Optimus rumbles, sounding genuinely remorseful. "He may not fully remember now, but he's better than he was when we found him."

"That's good," the brunette says softly, not sounding at all assuaged. "So... he hasn't just been dodging my calls? He just didn't pick up because he didn't remember me?"

"My phone came to life and met the business end of Ironhide's palm," Sam murmurs, glancing over at her. The large black and silver bot chuckles, amused by the imagery while Ratchet rolls his eyes. Sam looks back over at the box, finally giving in. He makes his way to it.

Mikaela considers for a moment, looking at Sam with big, sad eyes before shaking herself and mercifully turning to look at the red and blue Autobot leader. "So, this has to do with the sliver?"

"Silver?" Optimus echoes, before recognition flashes over his face. "You have the piece of the cube."

Mikaela nods, moving over to him. Tucking a long strand of dark hair that came loose from her ponytail behind her ear, she digs around in her pockets before pulling something out to hold out for him to see. Sam is too focused on the box he's now standing in front of to really tell what's going on behind him. Yes. He feels it. There is something in there.

"Yeah, Sam gave it to me to keep safe after it turned his house into a battlefield between his kitchen appliances and Bumblebee."

"Thank you for returning it to us."

Sam reaches out, grabbing hold of the lid, releasing one of the latches. It's there. Something is there. Calling to him.

Bumblebee chirps, making Sam pause for just a moment before he reaches for the other latch.

"What do you have there, fella?" Bumblebee asks through the radio.

"I kept it in my safe at the garage," Mikaela was saying. "But you'll never guess who came for it." She shifts, he hears it. Feels it, somehow, as he unlatches the last barrier keeping the metal box closed. "Wait! Sam! No! That's a Decepticon!"