TF-A New Day, Part One

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers, or any of the song/movie quotes used in this story.  However, the idea for this story does, indeed, belong to me.

HERE'S YOUR TRADITIONAL, FRIENDLY NEIGHBOORHOOD REMINDER THIS IS NOT A SLASH FIC.

NOTE: DO NOT READ THIS FIC UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN DARK OF THE MOON/READ RISING STORM!!! MAJOR SPOILERS ABOUND!
A New Day, Part One
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Words: 12,482(Whole Story)

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ALL OF THE BATTLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING HE HAD UNDERGONE throughout his life had not prepared Bumblebee for this.  His Guardian protocols helped, and the time he spent looking out for Sam was also in his favor.  But his relationship with Sam was more that of a big brother-little brother, with Sam in the role of the elder brother, and even though it was undeniable that he and Sam were brothers, Sam was a human, not a Cybertronian, so it wouldn't matter anyway if Sam HAD been the younger brother in their friendship.  Bumblebee had never had an encounter with a Cybertronian who was actually younger than he was.  Never.  As the youngest of the Autobots and the only survivor from the Hatchling-Sparkling age bracket from when the Youth Sectors were attacked, that was to be expected, and it also made the likelihood of such an encounter impossible.

Until now.

They'd found Hatchlings.  Living, functioning Hatchlings.

It seemed unbelievable enough when they'd first found them in the abandoned Decepticon camp.  When Ratchet had pulled the precious few that were still alive-five in all-out of the barrels serving as pathetic makeshift incubation chambers, Bumblebee had simply stared.  He'd heard Optimus chuckle at his reaction, the Prime's voice sounding both amused and sad at the same time.

Are they…babies?  Bumblebee had asked, the innocent curiosity and awe clear in his words even if they were silent communication over his comm.  It would have seemed a foolish question if any other Autobot had asked it, but the young scout had never seen a Hatchling or even a Sparkling before.

His question was proof of the terrible cost the war had brought to the Cybertronian race.

"Yes, Bumblebee," Optimus had replied as Ratchet started to give the surviving Hatchlings to the other Autobots to hold.  "They are infants."

Bumblebee could remember, however dimly, how protective Ironhide had been over him when he had been a Sparkling.  Hatchlings, he knew, were even younger, closer to human newborns in terms of relative age.  He knew that Ironhide must have been even more fiercely protective of him when he had been a Hatchling.  He knew that, even though his relationship with Sam was of a different kind, how protective he was of the human and the human was of him.  He knew what that need and drive to protect felt like, and he understood why he and others felt it.

And so when Ratchet placed the smallest, youngest Hatchling in his arms, Bumblebee realized that he felt the same sense of protection towards the tiny Hatchling that he felt when he was around Sam.  It was a little different, of course, because this little Hatchling was far younger than his human brother, but the feeling was still there.  

Was it just because the Hatchling was the smallest and youngest, like he had always been?

Maybe.

But whatever the reason, he knew that he needed to protect this Hatchling.

And so he would.

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Bumblebee's inexperience in caring for a Hatchling showed almost immediately, but none of the others found him at fault because of it, and he felt relieved at that.

When it happened, they had all just gotten back on board the C-17 they had used to get to the abandoned Decepticon camp.  The human members of NEST who accompanied them there obviously had a lot of questions they wanted to ask, but they understood that it wasn't the time to ask them.  The Hatchlings might have been alive and they were not in any immediate danger, but they did need medical attention as soon as possible.  They had been left to their own for far too long to be safe, and the Autobots needed to make certain, absolutely certain, that they would be alright.  That involved getting them back to base, where they could be put inside proper incubation chambers, given the right Energon formula, and finally get the care and attention they desperately needed.

But first, they had to get there, and the longer they were on the transport, the more Bumblebee realized what a problem it was.

It was very loud in the hold of the C-17.  The older Autobots were able to turn down the volume of their auditory sensors so that it did not bother them, but the Hatchlings didn't have the ability to do the same yet.  So, to prevent them from becoming upset, each Autobot held the Hatchling they were responsible for (or Hatchlings, in Ratchet's case) as close to their Spark as they could.  It was a way of holding them that instinctively kept them calm, and it worked, causing most of the Hatchlings to fall into recharge.

However, while the older Autobots knew this from the start, Bumblebee did not.  The young Autobot looked at how the others were holding the Hatchlings they were responsible for, and tried to copy them, but he knew he obviously wasn't holding the Hatchling correctly-its increasingly loud whimpers were proof enough of that.  He knew even more that he needed help when the Hatchling he was holding went from simply whimpering to full-on crying.  Bumblebee winced.  For such a tiny Hatchling, it sure had a very loud voice; its high-pitched wails were making even his dialed-down audios ache. Instinctively, Bumblebee held it closer and tried rocking the little Hatchling to soothe it-he knew that rocking calmed human infants and he hoped that it might do the same for Hatchlings.  It did quiet the Hatchling's cries somewhat, but it continued to whimper.  Thankfully, Ratchet came over to assist him in calming the Hatchling the rest of the way, and Bumblebee chirped gratefully at him.  He knew the others would've helped, too-but the Hatchlings they were holding had all fallen into recharge and movement would probably wake them up.

"Shift your hold on him, Bumblebee."  The medic showed him what to do, as best as he could while holding two Hatchlings himself.  "Hold him there, right on the armor above your Spark chamber.  He'll feel the warmth from your Spark and settle.  There, see?"

Bumblebee did as Ratchet directed, and blinked in surprise when the little Hatchling instantly stopped whimpering, curling into a tiny ball in his arms as he held it against the armor that covered his Spark chamber.

"It's an instinctive reaction," Ratchet explained, answering Bumblebee's unspoken question.  "Their creators usually hold them close to their Sparks to make them feel safe; as they have Spark-bonds it's a way of letting the Hatchling know it's protected.  Of course, none of us have bonds with these Hatchlings, as we're not their creators…but they can still be calmed by being held near a Spark."

You said 'He', Bumblebee transmitted.  It's a mech?

"Yes.  They're all little mechs.  There were a couple of femmes in with the others but none of them made it."

What are we going to name them? Bumblebee asked curiously, looking at the tiny Hatchling he was holding protectively.  He was still curled in a tight little ball, making soft, contented clicking sounds as he slowly drifted into recharge.

"Nothing yet," Optimus responded, keeping his voice soft so he wouldn't accidently wake any of the recharging Hatchlings.  "Once they grow a little, and we discover their individual personalities, we will name them."

Who will their caretakers be? Bumblebee wondered.

"We'll worry about that once they've recovered from their ordeal," Ratchet replied firmly.  "They've been through a lot and need plenty of rest and care before they're ready to 'go out into the world', as the humans say."

I'd like to take care of this one, Bumblebee offered hesitantly, looking back down at the Hatchling he was holding-the little one was still curled in a ball and now fully in recharge-before looking at Optimus and Ratchet nervously.

The medic and the Prime looked at each other for a moment, and then Optimus replied, "We'll see."

Bumblebee took that to mean "sorry, but no", and tried not to let his disappointment show.  He knew he realistically couldn't expect to be chosen as a Hatchling caretaker when he was still a Youngling himself, but he'd felt an instant connect with the Hatchling he was holding-probably because he'd always been the smallest and youngest, too-and he'd known instantly that he needed to protect him, as well.  He tried to look on the bright side-he might not be able to raise the Hatchling, but he could help Ratchet take care of all of them while they were recovering.  He was still on indefinite leave from NEST duty, but he could manage that, if Ratchet would let him.

And Sam could help, too.  Sam would love the Hatchlings; Bumblebee knew he would.  Once they got back and everything was settled, he decided, he would go get Sam and bring him to see the Hatchlings.

"Like Ratchet said, it is too soon to be worrying about who will take care of the Hatchlings," Optimus Prime said, trying to ease the disappointment he knew Bumblebee was feeling.  "We will concern ourselves with that much later.  In the meantime, though, you should try to get some recharge as well, Bumblebee.  We all should.  It has been a very long day."

It had been a long day, and there was still quite some time before they arrived stateside again.  It seemed like several days since Optimus had arrived to ask Bumblebee to accompany him and the others on this mission, but it had actually just been a little over one day.  Bumblebee couldn't deny that Optimus had a point-he was exhausted.  The young Autobot shuttered his optics tiredly and leaned back.  He might as well get some recharge; it wasn't as if there was anything else to do on the C-17; he wouldn't get a full cycle in but he should get enough to stave off his exhaustion a bit.  He just hoped he didn't have any nightmares during his recharge cycle, like he did basically every recharge since Ironhide had died; he didn't want to risk dropping the Hatchling.  Instinctively, he tightened his hold on the Hatchling (but still made sure to be gentle) so that wouldn't happen.

As his optics were shuttered and he was well on the way into recharge, Bumblebee did not see Optimus Prime smile slightly at his protective action towards the Hatchling.

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After what had happened there, the Autobots were reluctant to even set foot inside their base in Washington, DC.  It had been cleaned up, and was currently in the process of having the damaged and destroyed sections rebuilt, but the memory of what had happened there was too strong.  It would never feel like home again.

But it was the best place for them to take the Hatchlings.  The temporary base set up in Chicago didn't have the necessary equipment there, and a battle-damaged city would not be an ideal place for the vulnerable little ones.  The DC base was damaged, but it was safer than the one in the city, so, despite their reluctance, it was where the Autobots were taking the Hatchlings.

The thought of going back there troubled Bumblebee, but, fortunately, not enough to disturb his recharge that day.

The young Autobot scout came out of recharge to Ratchet's voice, as the medic quietly spoke to Optimus.

"The humans still at the base are getting things ready for us," Ratchet reported.  He had already contacted the base, telling the humans who were already there what to get ready.  While the humans couldn't prepare the Energon formula the Hatchlings needed, they could set up the incubators and find thermal blankets for them-at this stage, it was very important that the Hatchlings be kept warm.  Their own systems weren't developed enough for them to maintain their own core temperatures, and none of them even had the beginnings of proper body armor yet.  That was another reason for the Hatchlings to be held close to another's Spark-it not only kept them calm, it kept them warm.

One of the Hatchlings the medic was holding unshuttered his optics, squeaked, and shuttered them again as Ratchet adjusted his hold on his Hatchling charges.  "I'm glad I took the time to make those incubators a while back; even though I didn't think we'd ever need to use them.  They're going to be a great deal of help now, though."

"Yes.  They will be very useful, at least until the little ones begin to form their outer armor and grow enough to regulate their core temperatures on their own," Optimus agreed.  "And even then, I have no doubts the incubators will still be useful; they will be able to function as berths for the Hatchlings once they no longer need them to function as a means to keep warm."

They can't keep themselves warm?  Bumblebee looked at the tiny Hatchling that was still curled in a ball where he held him against his Spark, optics shuttered as he continued to recharge peacefully.  Now that he looked closer, he could tell that the Hatchling didn't have any armor at all-he was just basically silver protoform.  Of course…makes sense they'd get cold easily.  Bumblebee couldn't suppress a tiny shudder.  He hated being cold, and he wouldn't wish it on any Cybertronian-especially a Hatchling.  He sat up, holding the Hatchling closer.  He wasn't going to let this little Hatchling get cold; he knew how awful that felt.

"Are you all right, Bumblebee?" Optimus asked in concern.  He'd noticed the young Autobot's shudder, and, knowing full well of the trouble Bumblebee had been having recharging, the Prime wanted to head off any problem and reassure the scout before things got worse.

I'm fine, sir, Bumblebee replied. I was just thinking about how awful being cold is.  I don't want the Hatchlings to get cold.  He looked at Optimus and Ratchet curiously.  How long will it be before they get their armor?

"A couple of weeks.  Maybe a month."  Ratchet frowned.  "It actually varies for all of them as they're all different ages.  Plus, their development might not be where it should due to the lack of proper care and nourishment they've experienced.  However, we should be able to get them back to where they should be, once we're back on base and have what we need."

Bumblebee lowered his optics.  I don't really want to go back to the base.

"I know," Ratchet said, and his normally strict tone was considerably softer with understanding.  "None of us do.  But it's the only place where we can care properly for the Hatchlings."

"I know it will be hard for you to go back to the base, Bumblebee," Optimus told the younger Autobot.  The Prime's voice, like Ratchet's, was soft with compassion.  Even though Sentinel Prime's betrayal had hit all of the Autobots hard, both Prime and medic knew that Bumblebee had been hurt the most by what had happened at the base in DC.  "You don't have to, if you don't want to.  We can take you back to Sam, if you'd like."

Bumblebee looked back up at them, sorrow clouding his optics.  But there was a glimmer of determination in them, as well.  He knew that he wouldn't ever fully get over what had happened at the base.  But he couldn't let it hold him back from helping, either.  No…that's…that's alright.  I…I want to help with the Hatchlings.  I'll try to not let it bother me too much.

"All right, Bumblebee," Optimus agreed.  "But if it does become overwhelming for you, let us know."

Bumblebee nodded.  Okay, sir.  Are we almost there?

"We are about an hour away."

Relative silence fell over the interior of the C-17 again.  The human soldiers were resting, and continuing to respect the Autobots' wishes to not answer any questions until the arrival back at the base.  Sideswipe, like Bumblebee, had briefly recharged but was awake again. The silver mech had initially been very uneasy about the fact that they were caring for Decepticon Hatchlings, but the longer they had been on the C-17 and the longer he held the Hatchling he was responsible for, the more accepting he seemed to become of this new development.  All of the Hatchlings were still in recharge and, aside from brief moments every now and then where one of them would shift around, squeak, and unshutter his optics before going back into recharge, they stayed quiet.

Do Hatchlings always recharge this much? Bumblebee asked.

"Yes.  They need more rest than older Cybertronians do, as they're still growing," Ratchet explained patiently.  "You took a lot of recharge naps when you were their age, too, Bumblebee."

I did?

"Yes."

Oh.  Bumblebee blinked.  I have a lot to learn about Hatchlings.

Optimus chuckled slightly.  "Yes, you do, Bumblebee. But that's nothing to be ashamed of.  We all helped raise you.  I'm sure that we can help you learn a thing or two about how to care for them."

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The Autobots' arrival at the DC base with their new charges was anything but quiet.  While the fact that Ratchet had called ahead to make sure that the incubators and thermal blankets would be ready for use upon their arrival had let the humans on base know that something was up, the medic had not mentioned what they were going to be used for.  The human members of NEST on base tried to guess what it was the Autobots needed the use of the incubators and blankets for-surely not for any newly arrived Autobots?  They were too small to be used for that.  But none of them were able to guess the true reason.  So, when the Autobots had arrived and revealed what they had found, a stunned silence briefly reigned throughout the base, before it was abruptly broken.

"Babies?  You can have children?"

Ratchet frowned at the human soldier who had made that remark.  "Of course we can have children.  Well, to be technical, we mechs can't, but femmes can.  What did you think, that the members of our species just magically appear?"

Bumblebee just barely managed to hold back a laugh at the medic's remark, welcoming the humor in light of the depression that had settled on him since arriving back at the DC base.  The knowledge that the humans didn't think that there could be Cybertronian children was weird for Bumblebee, at first; by Cybertronian standards, the scout was still basically a child, but then again, very few humans knew that (Sam being one of them).  Taking that into account, of course the presence of Hatchlings would surprise them.

"Well, no, but…" The soldier trailed off. "I just never thought about it, really.  And I never would have expected to actually see a baby one of you."

Director Mearing stepped forward next.  "When you left, you said that you were going to investigate a distress signal in Africa.  Were these…these infants the source of the transmission?"

"Yes."  Optimus nodded.  "When they are in distress, Hatchlings-that is what we call them-have the ability to 'call' out for help over a frequency only a Cybertronian can pick up.  The Hatchlings had been abandoned…probably ever since the fight in Chicago…and they were desperately in need of care they were no longer being given."

Ratchet snorted.  "I have my doubts they were ever given actual care in the first place.  Except for a very few of their number, the Decepticons were never known for their compassion."

"Decepticons?"  Mearing's gaze hardened as she looked up at the Autobot leader.  "You're saying that these…Hatchlings…are Decepticons?"

"No." Optimus's voice was firm as he repeated the same words he had said when they had first found the Hatchlings.  "They are not Decepticons.  Yes, their creators were, but the Hatchlings are innocent.  They have done nothing wrong, and we will not treat them as if they have."

Mearing still didn't look convinced, but Ratchet spoke up next, and the medic's words had the visible effect of making her understand.

"Blaming the Hatchlings for the actions of the Decepticons would be like blaming a human baby for something its parents did, Director.  It would be wrong and unfair."

Mearing looked around at each of the Autobots, taking in the sight of each Hatchling they held (or Hatchlings, in Ratchet's case) before nodding.  "I understand.  What are you going to do with them now?"

"We will care for them," Optimus replied.  "They are in desperate need of proper Energon feeding and incubation.  Once they are healthy again, and a little older, we will assign individual caretakers to raise them.  We will have to rotate who looks after them while they recover, however, as we are still needed in Chicago."

"I'll have to stay here on base," Ratchet spoke up next, picking up where the Prime had left off.  "I'll keep in touch with those on duty in Chicago, though, so if there is a problem there and I am needed, I will know.  And, as Bumblebee is currently on indefinite leave, he can stay and help here, if he likes." The medic glanced at Bumblebee when he said this, and the young Autobot nodded eagerly.  Ratchet refocused his attention back on the humans present.

"If there are no more questions," the Medic continued after a moment of silent had passed.   "We need to get the Hatchlings into the incubators and give them the Energon formula they need."  He paused, waiting to see if any more questions would be asked.  When none came, he went on.  "Optimus, Sideswipe, Bumblebee, follow me to the medbay, please."

Ratchet turned and headed towards the medbay.  Sideswipe followed, and, with a nod to the humans, Optimus too turned to leave.  Bumblebee hesitated briefly, looking back at the humans, expecting one of them-most likely Director Mearing-to protest the Autobots leaving all at once.  But no protest came, and Bumblebee hurried after the older Autobots, though he took care not to jostle the still-recharging Hatchling he held as he ran to catch up with the others.

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The soldiers had carried out Ratchet's request perfectly-five of the incubators Ratchet had assembled quite some time ago were ready and waiting for the Hatchlings, and more than enough thermal blankets had been found to provide extra warmth for the little ones.  The medic placed the two Hatchlings he had been caring for each into their own incubator, and covered them up with thermal blankets.  Once they were settled, he headed over to the cabinets that housed what he needed to make the Energon formula the Hatchlings needed.  

Bumblebee looked around.  Optimus was already moving to place his charge into one of the active incubators and Sideswipe was doing the same.  Although he knew that he should be doing the same, the young Autobot was afraid that the Hatchling he was holding would wake up if sat down, so Bumblebee just watched.

Noticing Bumblebee's hesitation, Ratchet paused in making the Energon formula, coming up to stand next to the younger Autobot. "Well, don't just stand there, Bumblebee.  Get him settled in an incubator and covered up, go on.  And don't worry if he wakes up.  He'll go back into recharge quick enough once he's warm. It's almost time for them to be fed, anyway."

Not wanting to annoy the medic, Bumblebee nodded and headed towards the last empty, active incubator.  He made sure to be careful as he gently placed the Hatchling inside.  The Hatchling whined softly when he was sat down, unshuttering his optics and shifting around fretfully.  Bumblebee quickly took one of the thermal blankets that was lying nearby and covered the Hatchling with it, hoping it would prevent another wailing fit.  To his relief, the Hatchling quieted back down once he was covered with the blanket, shuttering his optics and curling back into a little ball with a soft click of contentment.

"See, Bumblebee? Nothing to worry about," Ratchet told him as he returned to mixing the Energon formula.  "At this stage, what they need the most is to be kept warm and fed the proper type of Energon formula.  And to be in the hands of Cybertronians who will keep them safe, of course."  He began to add the complete formula into bottles that, like everything else they would be using now thanks to the new additions to their family, were specially made for Hatchlings.

Bumblebee watched as Ratchet began to feed the Hatchlings, resting his head on his arms as he leaned against a table near the incubator that housed the smallest Hatchling.  Regardless of the fact that he had not received the task of being his caretaker-and was in all likelihood not going to considering his own young age-he still felt that he should keep a protective watch over the Hatchling.  And if he was going to help Ratchet take care of them over the next few weeks until they were strong enough to leave the medbay, he needed to learn all he could about how to care for them in the first place.

Ratchet had just finished feeding all of the Hatchlings when Sideswipe, who had been quiet ever since Optimus had first announced that the Autobots would care for the surviving Hatchlings, finally spoke up.  "Do you think the Decepticons will come looking for them?"

"No."  Optimus Prime shook his head.  "The Decepticons who survived the fight in Chicago and fled afterward will be more interested in ensuring their own survival-it is the Decepticon way.  And if they had intended to claim the Hatchlings, they would have gotten to them before we did.  It is safe to say that the Decepticons do not care what happens to them at this point."

"You mean their own creators-if they are still alive-abandoned them, just to save themselves?"  Something flickered in Sideswipe's optics, and the silver mech clenched his fists.  "That's horrible."

But we care about what happens to them now and that's what matters, Bumblebee sent, looking up at Optimus.  Right, sir?

The Prime smiled slightly at the younger Autobot's assessment of the situation.  "Yes, Bumblebee.  That is what matters now."  He paused and considered the young scout for a moment.  He could tell that Bumblebee was feeling troubled about being back inside the DC base-though he was doing a very good job of not allowing it to prevent him from helping with the Hatchlings.   All things considered, though, the Hatchlings were all fed and back in recharge, so extra help was not needed at the moment.  "I think that we can manage for now, Bumblebee.  Why don't you go back to Sam?  I'm sure he's anxious to see you."

Bumblebee hesitated a bit before he answered.  He did want to go back home and talk to Sam.  He knew that he needed to learn about how to care for the Hatchlings and to do that he would have to stay on the base and talk to Ratchet, but…now that there was nothing to do for the Hatchlings at the moment, there was nothing to take his processor off of what had happened at the base, and the idea of staying any longer-even to learn something that he wanted to learn-was getting less and less appealing.  And Sam was probably worried, as when the scout had left, the reason for what he was needed for was unknown, and both he and Sam had been worried about a potential fight with surviving Decepticons.  Bumblebee needed to get rid of that worry.

Okay, sir.  Can I…can I bring Sam here to see the Hatchlings tomorrow?  I know he'll like them.

"If it is all right with Ratchet, you may."

Bumblebee looked earnestly at the medic.  Please, Ratchet?  

Ratchet waved a hand slightly, looking up from adjusting the temperature setting on one of the Hatchling incubators.  "Yes, Bumblebee, Sam can come and see the Hatchlings."

The young Autobot's optics reflected the thankful smile he could not show with his faceplates.  Thanks, Ratchet!  He turned to Optimus.  I'll be back tomorrow with Sam, sir.

Optimus inclined his head towards the scout.  "I will tell the guards to expect you two.  I will see you in the morning, Bumblebee."

Okay.  Bumblebee glanced at the recharging Hatchling he had been taking care of one more time, and then turned to leave.  Goodnight, everyone.

"Goodnight, Bumblebee."

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The depression that had been clouding his Spark ever since the arrival at the DC base slowly dissipated until it was gone completely as Bumblebee drove down the familiar street that led to the apartment Sam shared with Carly, Wheelie, Brains, and now, himself.  Sam, however, was the only one currently there as Wheelie and Brains were helping out in Chicago, and Carly had gone to visit her family and had had no idea when she'd be back, although she had assured Sam that she would be back.  Even though Bumblebee liked Carly, at the moment he was kind of glad that she wasn't there-especially after the find of the Hatchlings.  Her attitude towards him and the other Autobots had changed for the better after what had happened in Chicago, but he wasn't sure if she'd react positively to the Hatchlings or not.  He was glad he didn't have to find out yet-one less thing to worry about.

The young Autobot came to a stop outside of the apartment, and, revving his engine loudly, he sounded his horn.  Fifteen seconds later, Sam came rushing out of the door.  Upon seeing the bright yellow Camaro that was his best friend and adopted brother, the human's eyes lit up.

"Bee!"

Not caring if anyone saw him, Sam closed the remaining distance to the Autobot at a run, and all but glomped Bumblebee's vehicle mode in a hug, patting his hood and rubbing his roof affectionately.  Bumblebee chirped and clicked, letting Sam know that he was happy to see him, too.

"I'm glad you're back, Bee.  Are you okay?  Where did you go?  What did you find?  Are Optimus and the others okay, too?"  Sam paused to catch his breath, then asked again.  "You're not hurt, are you, Bee?"

"I'm-just fine," Bumblebee responded, patching together radio clips to explain what had happened as best as he could.   "Everyone-is fine.  What-we found-was not-a battle."

Sam leaned back, although he kept his right hand on Bumblebee's roof.  "So, no Decepticons?  What was it you guys found, then?"

"It's a secret-a surprise," Bumblebee responded.  Even though Sam knew that there was such a thing as children among Autobots-thanks to him knowing just how young Bumblebee actually was-explaining the concept of baby Cybertronians was too complicated for radio clips, and he knew it would be just as hard to explain using his own voice-what with his stutter and the chance his voice might short out completely.  Plus, this way, he'd be able to see how Sam would react to the Hatchlings-if the human didn't know what to expect, he'd be able to form his own opinion of them better.  At least, that's what the young Autobot hoped.

"A surprise?  Aw, come on, Bee.  You can tell me what it is."

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?"  Bumblebee retorted.   "I'll-show you-tomorrow-promise."

"All right, Bee," Sam relented, but he was smiling.  "Hey, come on inside the apartment.  I was just getting ready to eat dinner when you got here.  I'll eat and then we can watch a movie or something, okay?"

"Okay," Bumblebee replied.

Sam made to head back to the apartment, but hesitated.  "I'm glad you're okay, Bee.  That it wasn't anything dangerous you went after.  After what happened in…in Chicago…I was worried."

The young Autobot chirped softly in understanding, tilting slightly so that he was leaning against Sam-very lightly, course; he didn't want to knock his friend down.  He'd been worried about leaving Sam behind, as well, and until they had made their discovery in Africa, he'd been worried about what he was going to face, too.  Those worries had always been there, really.  Chicago had just made them worse.

They remained that way for a few minutes, both human and Autobot sharing the relief that the other was alright after the brief separation.  Yes, it had only been for a little over a day, but after Chicago, neither Bumblebee or Sam liked being apart from each other.  Besides, they were brothers, and brothers had to stick together.  Eventually, Sam pulled back, and, giving Bumblebee's roof one last affectionate pat, he motioned towards the freight elevator.

"Come on, Bee, let's go inside."