Long Road To Recovery

First Snow

Long Road to Recovery

By Steph

Unconsciousness….

Tight folds of darkness surrounded the small enclosures of Sam's mind. He was safe here, safe from the horrors of the very real world. Sam instinctively curled his body inwards despite the constant nightmares he wasn't ready to wake up. Not yet. He didn't want to face reality. That place was where the pain was. Where Bee was, fighting for his life and it was all his fault.

"Do you think he can hear us?" A voice whispered softly in the distance. Sam felt a light touch on the side of his face, it felt a lot like metal. He immediately clenched his eyes tighter together, ignoring the gentle caress that slowly moved to his hair.

"Let him sleep, he has being through much." Another deeper voice answered the first. The small background noises that were once quiet now rose in volume, like someone slowly turning up a radio. Sam cringed, feeling the encroaching awareness of the outside world call him away from his peaceful slumber. A light breeze ruffle past his face as his body gave an involuntary twitch. Gears whirred just to the left of his head.

"I think he's awake. Excuse me, I must go and let the others know of the news." The sound of doors shutting filled the room as a gentle metal finger gingerly touched the side of Sam's face. "

Sam? Can you hear me?" the voice asked.

Sam heaved in a deep breath, coughing as cold wet air hit the back of his throat. Slowly the teenager's eyes lifted opened as blurry white light clouded his vision. Squinting, Sam lifted a hand and rubbed the thick wads of sleep that layered his eyes with the back of his sleeve. A net of thick black wiring met his vision as Sam's eyes finally cleared. Stretching, Sam attempted to sit up but was stopped by a yellow palm.

"Easy Sam." The young teenager's eyes darted upwards as his body quickly tensed up but soon began to relax as he met the gentle glow of Ratchet's blue optics. The medic gently eased Sam's body back down into the soft feathery mattress he was currently laid upon.

"You need to be careful, I have had to brace the breakage in your chest. Your very lucky that rib of yours did not puncture your lung."

Sam's gaze flickered towards his bare chest, noting the large white bandage that now covered the left side of his skin. He frowned staring up accusingly at the neon hummer.

"You undressed me?" As soon as the words had left his mouth he regretted it. For one it sounded just plain wrong…

Ratchet merely rolled his optics, his face radiating light amusement at the teenager's poor choice of words.

"Yes, to simply repair the damage." Ratchet explained, but not without adding, "That you failed to tell me about."

Sam rolled his eyes, noticing the stern look the medic pinned him with. He ignored the jibe, turning his head to assess his surroundings. Large shelves of equipment surrounded the room to one side in a non synchronous order, making the place look like some sort of demented storage chamber. Sam blinked, allowing his eyes to wonder. Small trails of wiring lead from his left arm up to a huge machine set up next to the berth. Staring at the red luminous glow, Sam squinted, trying to decipher the symbols that flashed quickly over the screen. Ratchet watched the young human's actions with a smile.

"It's a bio- techno monitor, adapted to read human physiology." Ratchet explained, turning his attention towards the screen. "Far more advanced then anything used by human doctors. It allows me to directly monitor your body's vitals, without having to resort to invasive surgery."

Sam visibly paled at the words 'invasive surgery'. Several images of Barricade came to mind as his memory worked over time. Sam's body responded accordingly, his heart rate increased as floods of adrenalin filled the human's bloodstream. The display on the giant machine flashed, alerting Ratchet to his elevated fear. Acting quickly the medic gently placed a hand over the human's body bracing the sudden convulsion that were sending Sam's body into shock. Warming up the metal alloy surface, carefully Ratchet pressed the metal digit upon the human's skin.

"Relax Sam, you are still injured, you need to allow your body the time it needs to recover. Getting yourself worked up is not helping."

Slag it! It's too early to sedate him again. Come on Sam, calm down…

Sam took a deep breath, trying to will his body into a relaxed state, but try as he might he simply could not stop the constant shaking that rattled through his chest. Tears filled Sam's eyes as his mind replayed the recent events over and over like a deranged horror movie…

"Pathetic human! I will take great pleasure in crushing your guardian's spark."

Sam watched in horror as Barricade clamped his silver metal claws down on Bumblebee's neck joint, wide blue optics caught Sam's brown eyes. Bumblebee struggled violently as Barricade lifted the mech's body clear off the ground…

"Bee!"

"Sam! Listen to me. Your safe, nothing can hurt you here."

Ratchet closed his hand all the way around Sam's body, lifting the human upwards before gently settling him directly over his own spark chamber cupping his hands around the shaking form effectively cutting off all resistance. It seemed to work as Sam's shakings began to slow, like some old subconscious instinct that responded to being enclosed in a small warm space. Sam felt all the energy drain from him, he slumped heavily against the medic's armour allowing tears to consume his face.

"It's all right Sam." Ratchet murmured, feeling the teenager's tears drip onto his metal. His spark clenched, seeing Sam in this state, looking so much like a helpless child that just wanted to be held, and protected. One finger gently rest against Sam's head, stroking through his brown hair, Sam sniffed, huddling closer to Ratchet's chest plating. After some time, Sam's sobs quietened though his tears continued to fall.

"Ratchet?" Sam mumbled "Can I…see Bee?"

Ratchet frowned, Bumblebee was still critical. After stabilizing the youngling's spark, Optimus, Ironhide, and Ratchet had quickly hurried to the old base in Tranquillity. It had been quicker then going back; time was something Bumblebee didn't have on his side. The young mech was now in a modified stasis whilst his own repair systems got to work, fixing the damage Ratchet was unable to repair.

"Sam… Ratchet began. "Bumblebee is not in any condition to be visited. I am sure he wouldn't want you traumatized any further."

Sam sniffed, lowering his head towards the floor, Ratchet watched, feeling guilt wrenched at his spark chamber.

"Please Ratch, I need to see him."

Ratchet gushed air from his vents, seeing tears trickle down Sam's face. "Very well, but prepare yourself Sam, it is not a pleasant sight."

Sam nodded, tightening his grip on the medic's armour as he began to the short walk to the medical bay. There was a pause as Ratchet came to a stop outside the double doors where Bumblebee was currently being treated. Tapping a short code into the panel on the wall, both doors slid open, Sam's breath caught in his throat at the sight that now lay before him.

Upon a metal berth lay the battered form of his guardian. Thick clear cables protruded from the mech's chest connecting him to a huge metal machine, a glowing blue substance flowed directly from it straight into Bumblebee's open spark chamber. The machine beeped with each spark thrum sounding just like a human heartbeat sensor. Sam grimaced as his eyes flickered over Bumblebee's motionless form. The mech's normally bright blue optics were a darkened grey colour like he was recharging, dents and scratches still layered angrily all over Bumblebee's metal body. Ratchet watched Sam's reaction carefully; he didn't need him becoming stressed again. Only when Sam showed no signs of distress did Ratchet walk forward. Slowly the medic approached the metal berth gently setting Sam down upon Bumblebee's upper arm. Sam leaned his head forward, craning his neck to gaze at Bumblebee's expressionless face. With tender like care Sam stroked one small hand down Bumblebee's faceplate, flinching back at how cold the metal surface felt under his skin.

"Ratchet, what's wrong with him? He feels so cold."

The medic turned with a grave expression, "Bumblebee is in a modified stasis whilst his repair systems get to work fixing the damage, I have shut down all but necessary functions. Only his spark and processor are now online. He has being severely injured Sam."

Sam sighed once more, huddling his body closer to Bumblebee's neck joint, feeling the tears once more threaten to fall. "Will he live?" Sam's voice sounded, muffled by Bumblebee's metal.

Ratchet looked up from calibrating the machines controls, "Bumblebee is strong. I only hope it will be enough."

Sam nodded, gazing down at Bumblebee's face. Gently, he lay one hand on the mech's cheek. "Come on Bee, keep fighting."

....................................................................................................................................

Darkness….

Cybertronian characters began to scroll from across the blackness before faltering across a blank screen, deciphering and decoding themselves into a semi synchronous order.

Sam… My friend, my charge… Protect…

Only the darkness surrounded him, errors upon errors registered themselves deep in within his own programming.

"Ready to die Autobot?"</b>

That voice…

Images of broken memory files flashed up quickly in the offline mech's processor…

ERROR.

FIREWALL BREACHED.

"I will take great pleasure in crushing your pathetic human!"

He was down, helpless, blinded. Had to fight back! Couldn't let Barricade win…

"Come on Bee, keep fighting…"

That voice… Sam?

FIREWALL INITATED.

PROCESSOR STABLIZED.

....................................................................................................................................

White bands of colour appeared as the darkness parted in two distinct halves, bringing with it coherent vision. Codes of programming began to reassert itself as it warmed, summoning power back to the main systems.

Consciousness…

Bumblebee groaned deeply, his cold offline vocalizer sparking to life with a sharp hiss. Optics and audio receptors followed suit, crackling to life as they too came online.

"Bee?" A small voice questioned. Bumblebee blinked, trying to clear his distorted vision. A small warm hand gingerly touched the side of Bumblebee's metal face.

"Can you hear me buddy?" Bumblebee flickered his optics to the right, seeing the worried expression of his charge.

"Saamm." Bumblebee's vocalizer crackled. He tried to sit up but found his main motor functions were still offline. Instead Bumblebee carefully attempted to lift one metal hand, it took a great deal of effort but Bumblebee found he was able to cup one metal palm across Sam's back reassuring the teenager he was okay.

"Bee, I… I…" Sam began, only to find words were not enough. Instead, Sam threw both of his arms around Bumblebee's neck joint, pressing his face against the sleek metal surface. Tears of joy began to flow down Sam's face,

"Sam." Bumblebee sighed. Relief filling his spark, at hearing Sam's own heartbeat echoing in his audio receptors. The yellow mech acquiesced the embrace, tightening his grip around Sam's shoulders.

"I'm so glad your okay." Sam murmured softly, lifting his head to see the gentle glow of Bumblebee's familiar blue optics staring back at him in the low light. Tilting his head to one side Sam glanced around the room, seeing the machine besides Bumblebee continuing to flow energon into his body, Sam grimaced, it looked painful…

"How are you feeling?" Sam asked, wearingly eyeing the piece of tubing that was still stuck in Bumblebee's chest. The yellow mech whirred thoughtfully until the very last thing Sam expected to hear filled the room.

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gunna keep me down…

Sam burst out into laughter shaking his head. "Your definitely feeling better." The music abruptly stopped as Bumblebee pointed towards one of the bandages that was visible on Sam's arm. Clicking softly Bumblebee gently tapped Sam's arm with one metal finger.

"Your hurt." Bumblebee said softly. "My fault." His bright optics dimmed in sorrow. Sam patted the side of Bumblebee's metal head with a smile.

"It's fine, nothing Ratchet couldn't fix. You just concentrate on getting yourself better now okay? No worrying about me, you've got all the time in the world for that."

Bumblebee smiled, stroking down Sam's back, then gently wrapping his entire hand around Sam's body, he eased the teenager down into a laying position. Placing his palm over Sam's form as the teenager tried to sit up, Bumblebee twittered shaking his head.

"Be that as it may, I am still your guardian Sam Witwicky, now you get some rest as well."

Sam grumbled good naturedly but settled his head down in the crook of Bumblebee's arm, he closed his eyes but not without adding.

"Your one stubborn bot, you know that?"

Bumblebee chuckled, placing his hand lightly over Sam's body to keep him warm, humming softly in his chest.

"Yes, and your one stubborn human, you know that?"

Sam opened one eye, jokingly tapping the metal beside him with the back of his open palm. "I guess I am." he laughed, once more settling down. "But your worst."

Bumblebee opened both optics, giving a mock warning glare to his human. "Goodnight Sam." he said before shutting off both his optics.

Sam laughed, taking that as his queue to just shut up and drop the matter. He closed his eyes feeling the familiar humming sound echo throughout his body as Bumblebee powered down into recharge. Bumblebee's metal abruptly began to warm as his coolant systems powered down, Sam pressed his chest against Bumblebee's warmed arm he was resting against. It soothed the dull aching pain in his rib as his consciousness too began to leave him. Smiling happily Sam curled up closing his eyes, falling asleep next to the mech who truly was his guardian, and this time, the nightmares didn't follow.