Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ Cover Me ❯ What? ( Chapter 13 )

Cover Me

By Black Dragon Queen

Author's note: A BIG THANK YOU TO BLACK SILKEN KITTY FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER SINCE I COULDN'T CATCH UP WITH MY BETA'S DUE TO THE HOLIDAY. It was a really good thing she's so patient because I made some really silly mistakes… whoops. A little bit of a slow chapter but needed (for me at least) before the story could move on. Hope you enjoy!

PAIRINGS REVEALED THUS FAR:

Wheeljack x Ratchet, Past Prowl x Jazz

Font Index:

“Speaking”, `Thinking', “-Radio Transmissions-”, “Cybertronion”

~*~

Chapter Thirteen: What?

It had taken Bumblebee a few hours to override Barricade's control codes and finally get the garage door to actually open for him. Barricade immediately growled as sunlight suddenly flowed into the garage and the mustang hissed in annoyance. “Close the door!” he snapped.

`Bee sighed as he rolled closer towards the entryway of the garage and subsequently the `Con within. “Oh stuff it why don't you,” he growled. “I need to talk to you.”

“`Stuff it'? Barricade snickered. “Hanging around the humans a little too much, aren't we?”

The camaro growled, “Oh just shut up and listen.”

Barricade stared at the camaro actually pretending to think a moment. “No, I don't think so,” and he once more sent a signal to the automatic garage door opener and started shutting the door.

“Slag it! Knock it off! I really need to talk to you!” Bumblebee insisted as he quickly tried to override the system once again. The door hesitated in the middle of the entryway and began going up then down then back up then down again. Finally fed up, `Bee pulled forward again, forcing Barricade to pull back or risk touching bumpers as `Bee got his front half into the entryway making it impossible for the door to close completely. “Will you knock it off!” he demanded.

Barricade sighed as he released his hold over the door and the white paneling finally flew upward and just stayed there. “Alright, what do you want now bug?”

“I need your word that you'll behave.” Bumblebee stated seriously.

Barricade stared at the yellow car surprised. “What?” he asked completely confused at the request. “What are you babbling about?”

Bumblebee sighed in frustration. “Sam and I have to return to the base,” he explained grudgingly wishing that he didn't have to be placed into this situation.

“Hmm,” Barricade mused, wondering what was up if the bug actually was willing to leave him all by his lonesome. “Dare I ask why?”

“None of your business!” he snapped irritably. “I just need your word that you won't do anything while we're gone!”

“Oh for crying out loud!” Barricade huffed. “In case you missed it, it's been weeks and I haven't done anything to your precious humans.”

`Bee growled. “You could just be waiting for an opportune moment. I still don't trust you.”

“Really?” Barricade sneered. “News to me...”

“You're a `Con!” `Bee persisted. “Why should I trust you? Give me one good reason.”

Barricade sat back on his tires and sighed at the youngling's stubbornness. “Oh, I don't know, the fact that I'm actually trying to help your precious pet stay alive maybe.”

“Sam is not my pet,” Bumblebee snarled, trying desperately to keep his usually nonexistent temper in check while dealing with the `Con.

“Whatever,” Barricade replied unaffected by the threat in `Bee's tone. “Just remember that I was the one who warned you about Starscream and that I was the one who was nearly killed when I refused to tell him where Ladiesman217 was.”

Bumblebee snarled again and went to reply when Ron's car suddenly pulled into the driveway and Sam and Mikaela bounced out of the inert car. Both of the sentient vehicles instantly went silent and `Bee pulled back as the subject of their discussion wandered over. “Hey! You have the door up!” Sam smiled at the black and white as he set down his school bag. “Decided to let in a little sun shine?”

Barricade replied with a low snarl. “It was his idea,” he explained, growling at `Bee's direction.

Sam and Mikaela snickered at the surly mustang. “What are you? A vampire?” Mikaela asked as she wandered over to the tool table and Barricade hissed teasingly. She chuckled again as she once more moved to his front and tried to open his hood. “Dang,” she muttered when the hood refused to budge.

“Would you like some help?” Sam moved next to her and got his own fingers into the small gap, unknowingly traumatizing `Bee out in the process, but even with his added strength, the hood remained firmly shut.

“Yeah, this thing is good and stuck,” Mikaela announced after some struggles.

“So there's nothing else to be done?” Sam asked as he released the hood and took a step back. However he did not move too far from the mustang and Bumblebee pulled forward getting as close as possible to the group, not liking Sam near the `Con one iota.

“Nope,” Mikaela sighed. “I managed to fix everything I could with his undercarriage but since I can't get his hood up, then I've done all I can. So unfortunately, that's it guys.”

“What? What do you mean that's it?” Barricade exclaimed horrified at the idea that nothing else would be done.

“Well, I've fixed all I can.” Mikaela repeated. “The rest will just have to wait until a later date.”

“Then what am I suppose to do?” Barricade demanded crossly. “I'm a proverbial sitting duck like this!”

The two humans exchanged worried looks at this statement. `Well, it is true that Starscream could still be looking for him,' Sam thought before he turned back to the mustang with a hesitant smile. “Well, I suppose you could just stay here.”

“WHAT?” `Bee burst out behind him. “Sam!”

“Temporarily!” Sam clarified. “Really, `Bee. He can't access his weapons and we know that Starscream is after him. Besides, this way we'll know exactly where he is and what he's up too.”

“All I'm `up too' is rusting, that's what I'm up to,” Barricade groused.

“And besides,” Sam continued on, “it's really the best place for him. It'll be the last place anyone would think to look.”

“But I don't want to stay here…” Barricade whined and Mikaela had to turn her head to hide her smile at the `Con's petulant tone. “I'm going crazy cooped up in this thrice damn slagging garage!”

“Oh, it'll be fine,” Sam insisted. “I'm sure that once the others get here and everything at the base has calmed down, then Optimus will be able to speak to you about that truce.”

“But who knows when that will be,” Barricade bemoaned. “It could be decades before they finally get their afts together and Starscream may have reinforcements before then!”

“Um,” `Bee suddenly mumbled and the other three all turned to look at him questioningly. “That was actually what I was speaking of before,” he explained to the `Con before directing his voice towards Sam. “We need to go back to the base, tonight.”

“What? Why?” Sam asked confused and now a little bit worried at the news. Bumblebee was actually volunteering to leave a Decepticon unattended? Something had to be up. “Did something happen?”

Bumblebee couldn't keep the sound of his excitement from creeping into his voice as he spoke his next words. “You could say that,” he said. “The guys just got a signal. The others are coming!”

“What?” Sam cried out in joyful surprise.

“Oh, `Bee! That's wonderful!” Mikaela gushed as she leaned down to give `Bee's hood a hug.

“Wonderful,” Barricade mocked. “Just what the world needs, more whack jobs loose on the roads. I pity the city workers; their job's just got harder.” Bumblebee glared at the mustang but the two humans shared a smile. They had heard the small note of relief in the `Con's voice even if `Bee missed it. Apparently he was grateful that Starscream was currently out numbered, or at least that's what Sam determined.

It was odd… The `Con was practically living in his home but Sam really didn't know anything about him. He hadn't really gotten to speak to Barricade since that Friday afternoon when he showed up at the school. `Bee never left the `Con unguarded ever since Mikaela managed to bring him out of Stasis Lock. With a shrug, he turned back towards Bumblebee.

“So whom did you guys hear from? When are they arriving? Do you know how they managed to contact Optimus and the others? Last I heard the new transmitter was still unfinished.” Sam fired at his friend.

“Um,” Sam paused at the hesitant interruption and they all waited expectantly. “You see, I don't really… know all that yet,” `Bee admitted sheepishly.

Barricade let out a burst of laughter and even Sam was shaking his head at his car. “What do you mean you don't know?” Sam asked.

“Well, all I got from Ironhide was that the `others are coming' and that I was to get my tailpipe down there with you. He didn't really elaborate more than that,” `Bee said in defense.

Barricade huffed incredibly at the Autobots' lack of organization. “And I'm supposed to put my trust in these guys?” he muttered to himself as he let out a depressed sigh. “I'm doomed.” Sam must have heard him however as the boy turned back around and smiled at the car, surprising the `Con. As Barricade tried puzzle out this gesture Sam had already turned back around.

“So we have to head back to the base?” Sam asked the camaro.

“Yeah. As soon as possible, he said.”

“So that's why you told me to behave,” Barricade's smug voice entered the conversation. “You're off to meet up with your little friends. Gonna throw a tea party?”

“What?” `Bee muttered confused, wondering what “tea” was. “No, we're going to contact the others.”

Mikaela glanced at the mustang before turning back to the camaro with a raised eyebrow. “You're willingly leaving him alone?” she asked disbelievingly. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

Bumblebee let out a sigh. “Like I really have a choice,” he muttered. “It's not like I can just go over to Optimus and say `sorry we can't come because even though you said not to get involved with Barricade, he's currently camped out in the Witwicky garage and I'm not about to leave him alone'.” Bumblebee sighed. “Yeah, I don't think that would go over too well.”

“You never know unless you try,” Barricade suggested helpfully.

“Listen you,” `Bee snarled. “While I admit that you haven't done anything yet, that doesn't mean I trust you. I would rather I didn't leave you here unguarded but unfortunately due to circumstances I have no choice here.”

“My spark bleeds for you Blunderbug,” Barricade teased and this only caused the camaro to squawk and rev his engine in anger.

“'Bee! Behave!” Sam instantly reprimanded as he fearfully glanced around the neighborhood to see if anyone had noticed that a car just revved its engine without a driver. Luckily there was only one person out at the time and they were mowing their lawn so thankfully they hadn't heard `Bee's slip.

“If you have no choice then you have no choice,” Mikaela told them once Sam signaled the all clear. “I would think the others would find it odd if you didn't show up to greet your returning comrades.”

“'Bee, you knew this might happen when we brought him here,” Sam told the yellow car. “That eventually we would have to just trust him.”

“But he's mobile now,” `Bee insisted. “He may not have access to his weapons but he could still do a lot of damage.”

“Not really,” Mikaela informed them. “Most of his systems are still down. This means I don't want you driving all over town in the middle of the night!” The last part was directed to the mustang. “Short distances but any harsh jolts and some of your parts may fall off.”

“What am I going to do? Doughnuts in the middle of the intersections?” Barricade scoffed. The two cars growled at one another again and Sam sighed.

“Look, I'll pack quickly and meet you back here. I'll also speak to my parents `Bee, let them know what's going on. Maybe they'll go stay in a hotel or something.”

Bumblebee sighed, relieved. “Thanks Sam that would be very helpful.”

“Suck up,” Barricade muttered and `Bee growled at him again.

Sam shook his head as he and Mikaela turned to enter the house. “It's like two alpha dogs staking out their territory,” he muttered.

Mikaela giggled as she turned to glance back at the two cars. “Well at least they haven't challenged each other to a duel yet,” she told him.

“Thank God, or Primus,” Sam muttered as he yanked open the door. “I'm actually getting really sick of playing the part of the referee.”

Mikaela was quiet for a while before she reached out and gave Sam's shirt a little tug. “Do you really think he won't do anything while you're gone?”

Sam turned to her surprised. “You've been the one defending him all this time and now you're questioning him?”

“Well, he is a Decepticon,” Mikaela muttered, “and he did try to kill us.”

“Well, he wasn't really trying to kill us…” Sam muttered and Mikaela gasped in surprise.

“What?” she gapped. “Than what was up with that deadly chase?”

“Well, he was just trying to find the glasses,” he muttered. “He was following orders.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you're too trusting,” she sighed as they entered the kitchen.

Judy looked up from the skillet where she was frying the vegetables for dinner and glanced at the two teenagers. “Hi sweetie! Mikaela, are you going to stay for dinner tonight?” she asked going back to her stirring. “I could always add a few more in here.”

“Thank you Mrs. Witwicky, but I need to get home soon,” Mikaela declined as she bent down to glance at the chicken in the oven.

Judy looked back up from the stove. “I thought you were going to work with `Cade's engine today.”

“`'Cade'?” Mikaela mouthed and Sam shrugged just as puzzled. “Um, unfortunately the damage to his hood wedged it inward so we can't get it up without some modified tools. I'm hesitant to do so, however, since I have no idea how his engine is set up. It may be completely different from `Bee's.”

“Oh,” Judy replied a little subdued. “Then that's it?” The two nodded and Judy clucked her tongue. “Bet he wasn't pleased hearing that,” she murmured as she returned to her cooking. The two looked at each other surprised at her statement.

“Who wasn't happy?” Ron asked as he entered the kitchen and Judy whapped him with her wooden spoon as he reached for some of the vegetables she was frying.

“'Cade,” Judy explained as her husband retreated to the table. “The kids just finished saying that they've done all they can.”

“Who's ``Cade'?” Ron asked confused as he finished his pilfered carrot.

“Barricade,” Judy elaborated nonchalantly as she went back to stirring and all of the occupants just stared at her.

“WHAT?” Ron bellowed.

“He's not that bad!” Judy insisted as she added some more oil. “We actually had a nice chat this afternoon.”

“WHAT?” Ron repeated completely stunned.

“Mom!” Sam gasped, trying to form some of the words that were whirling around in his head. “You spoke to him? Why?”

“Oh for the love of… He's actually a really nice person. Car… Whatever… You just need to sit down and talk to him.”

“WHAT?”

“Ronald, it's fine,” Judy contended as Ron sputtered as he continued to stare at his wife.

“Mom,” Sam stared at her in disbelief.

Mikaela looked back and forth at the Witwicky family members who were currently having a three-way stare down. “Um, maybe I should go,” she said as she began making her way out.

“Hang on,” Sam called after her when she was almost halfway out the door. “'Bee and I will give you a ride on our way.”

“Your way where?” Judy asked, previous discussion already forgotten about.

“What?” Ron was muttering again, still in a state of shock. Judy rolled her eyes and fetched a bottle from the fridge. “Oh drink your beer,” she told him and he did so automatically. “So where are you going?” she turned back to Sam.

“Bumblebee got a call from Ironhide. The others got a signal from their comrades and he's needed back at the base.”

“Oh, then you won't be able to stay for dinner?” she asked, disappointed.

Sam and Mikaela glanced at one another. “Mom! I don't think you understand-”

Judy moved the skillet off the flame and turned to her son. “No I think I understand perfectly. You, or more specifically your car, is worried about leaving us alone with Barricade.”

Sam shrunk under his mothers glare. “Um…”

Judy stared at her son. “I'm sure it will be fine. I highly doubt he'll do anything,” she announced as she turned back to the oven.

“What?” Sam cried out. “How can you know that?”

Judy sent her son a small smirk. “Mothers intuition,” she said firmly and it was clear form her tone that that was that and the subject was now officially closed.

Sam opened his mouth to argue some more when his mother sent him another scathing look and he clamped his mouth firmly shut. With a defeated sigh, he finally decided to just turn and trudge up the stairs to fetch his things. Mikaela watched him go and shook her head in disbelief at the inner workings of Sam's rather odd family. She glanced at his father who was drinking his beer more out of habit than actual thirst before she glanced back at Sam's mother. “May I help you with anything?”

Judy smiled at the girl's consideration and passed over a mixing bowl. “Why thank you honey. You know, I'm surprised that you and Sam didn't make it.”

Mikaela smiled as she began to whip the potatoes. “We're better friends than a couple,” she admitted. “Besides, I think Sam has enough on his plate to worry about instead of silly things like dating.”

Judy sighed. “I suppose,” she murmured. “Still, it would be nice to see Sam with someone special.”

Mikaela sighed as well as she glanced out of the small window and at the now two cars still parked in the driveway. Apparently Barricade decided to come out of the garage. “He may already,” she muttered and quickly ducked her head as Judy turned to look at her in puzzlement.

“I'm all packed,” Sam announced as he returned and Judy smiled as she finished moving the food from the skillet to the serving dish.

“Did you remember to pack everything? Toothbrush? Clean underwear?”

“MOM!” Sam groaned. Mikaela giggled.

Judy just smiled “Mikaela, would you be a dear and help carry these to the dinning room before you leave?” Mikaela nodded and she and Ron departed with the few assorted plates. Ron was still muttering in a daze as Mikaela guided him out. Judy watched them go before she turned towards her son. “Sam,” she started but paused as her son turned to look at her.

“Yeah Mom?” he asked.

Judy hesitated, becoming a little unsure of herself... `When Sam learns that he basically condemned his friends to extinction how will he react?' she thought as she gazed at her son. He was so gentle and caring, and the fact that he thought the world of the Autobots just made it all the more difficult to say what she had learned from Barricade earlier that day. Would it be better coming from her or from his otherworldly friends? Was it really her place to tell him about what the destruction of the All Spark meant? `It's the Autobots personal business and they may not want him to know the truth,' she suddenly realized. `Perhaps I should speak to his “guardian” first before I say anything…' She finally sighed in defeat. “I'm just worried about you, that's all.”

Sam tilted his head, confused. “Mom, I'll be fine. `Bee will be there so I'm sure nothing will happen to me. It's you that I'm worried about…”

Judy gave him a small hug. “Trust me Sam, I'm older than you and I can spot a lie a mile away. Living with your father has managed to teach me that.” Sam gapped up at his mother, surprised at what she was saying. “What? You honestly think that I didn't know about that time he pulled you out of school to go to that amusement park when you were in fourth grade, did you?” Sam just gapped at her and Judy smiled as Mikaela returned from the living room. “Well have a good time. Say hello to Optimus and the others for me.”

Sam nodded dazedly and waved as he and Mikaela returned to the driveway. “I didn't know you spoke to my mother,” Sam directed to the mustang once they reached the two vehicles.

“You never asked me, did you?” Barricade said teasingly.

“Will you just get back into the garage?” `Bee growled at him as the two humans climbed into his cab.

“No, I think I'll take Ladiesman217's advice and get some sun,” Barricade returned smugly.

Sam paused before he stuck his head out of the window. “You could call me Sam, you know.” `Bee let out a small squawk as Barricade chuckled at the `Bots surprise.

“Why thank you Sam,” Barricade replied smugly, “and you can call me `Cade.”

“Can we go now?” `Bee growled, annoyed at the small banter.

“Sure,” Sam told him with a grin, ignoring Mikaela's searching stare.

“Finally,” `Bee snarled as he started his engine. “You better behave!” he growled out to the `Con.

“I'll be the perfect little angel,” Barricade snickered.

`Bee huffed and had just begun pulling out of the drive when Judy burst out of the house with rather sizeable box in her arms. “Wait!” she called out and `Bee was forced to stop as she darted over to the group. “Here,” she wheezed as she passed the box through the window. Sam looked down at the box surprised at the assorted Tupperware items within. “For the road,” Judy explained with a smile.

“Thanks Mom,” Sam said with a roll of his eyes as `Bee once more began backing up.

Judy waved as she watched them go. “You think he'll be alright?” Judy asked the mustang as she watched the yellow camaro disappear around the corner.

Barricade pulled up next to her, tracking the other car with his long-range scanners. “If there is one thing I have learned about you humans, it's that you are very resilient creatures.”

“I just worry about him,” Judy said sadly. “When he finally does learn what it meant to destroy your All Spark, I'm afraid he may not take it very well.”

“We've lasted this long,” Barricade told her. “Besides, I'm quite sure that the Autobots will break the news to him more gently than I when the subject finally does come up.”

“You think it will come up?” Judy asked surprised.

“Trust me, if the other Autobots are arriving it'll come up.”

Judy turned to him confused. “What do you mean?”

“Think a minute,” Barricade smirked. “My kind are all the same yet we are a sentient race who need companionship same as anyone else. Who do you think we end up with?”

Judy stared at him confused before her jaw finally dropped in surprise. “You mean you're all gay?” she gasped.

Barricade chuckled. “Well, we certainly are cheerful.”

Judy gapped slightly. “Err, that wasn't what I meant...”

“I know,” he told her. “I was just teasing.”

Judy was still reeling from the statement when another thought suddenly hit her. “Wait… so some of these arriving… what are you saying? That they're together as in a relationship together?”

“Oh it gets better,” `Cade said gleefully. “Some of them are even what you would call `married'.”

Judy just stared at the `Con before she turned and started heading into the house to her warm meal and hopefully strong drink. `Cade just chuckled as she left and pulled back into the garage. Once the door was shut, he settled in for a long night and even longer weekend as he entered his activation code into his communications system.

`-Have a great weekend Mikaela,-' Sam's voice flowed through the speakers and Barricade mentally smirked.

“Well, the `watch' works,” he muttered as he set the communicator to receiving only and settled back, finding a comfortable position. “Let the insanity begin.”

-To Be Continued