randomplaces | CW 'verse. Nellis Airforce base. Discovery

Optimus looked up from his conversation with Jazz as the sandy coloured mech entered his office, his optic shutters narrowing slightly as he studied the young soldier.

"Sir?" Beamrider stood to attention, looking worried. "You asked me to come, sir?"

"Sam, you slaggin' glitch, when were you gonna let us know you was back?" demanded Jazz before the Prime could reply. "You git a kick outta seein' us go 'round with long faces?"

The younger mech winced, though he looked relieved as he shook his head. Blue optics flicked toward Optimus. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Go ahead." The Prime inclined his head slightly, still frowning as he watched Beamrider's body language.

"Thank you, sir." Beamrider turned to look at Jazz. "I'm not Sam. I'm just the mech he made to take care of his family after he was gone."

"Like slag you are," growled Jazz. "That mech never got finished. 'N it didn' have no spark."

"I'm still not Sam Walker. He's dead and gone on to his reward. I'm someone different, though I've got his memories."

"'N his spark code." Jazz folded his arms across his chest, his usually cheerful expression a dark frown. "I don't give a retrorat's aft if yer jes' a copy. Yer still Sam. 'N Optimus wants ta restore ya t' all yer duties."

"I can't be Sam. Think of the confusion. Or think of all the people who would want to be changed into Transformers," urged Beamrider, frowning. "Use your head, Jazz."

"So we tell 'em yer the robot he made ta take care'a his family 'n programmed with his memories." The small silver mech shrugged. "'Bee needs ya, man. She don't need no guy named Beamrider."

"But."

"That's a slaggin' order, ya glitch!"

"...Now listen here, afthead...."

Jazz snerked. "There. Cut the slag, Sam."

Sam groaned and facepalmed. "I don't have time to take care of directing the army. Isaac needs me."

"No problem, Major Walker," Optimus interjected gravely. "I am accustomed to doing such exercises myself now. Also, I understand that there is a custom known as 'maternity leave'. Do you think that six months of partial duty would be acceptable?"

"It was 'Captain' Walker, sir," said Sam, the vinegar fading from his voice and being replaced with automatic respect.

"Yeah." Jazz snerked. "It was. You got a promotion whether you wanted one or not, man."

Sam blinked and looked at Optimus for confirmation, then looked surprised at his affirmative nod.

"Can't have Will out-rankin' ya." Jazz grinned.

"Will." Sam sobered, thinking of Major Lennox's wife and how the other man might take news of his semi return from the dead.

"Relax, Sammy. He's one 'a the ones that squealed on ya." Jazz slapped him on the arm.

"I thought I was a better actor than that," grumbled Sam, embarrassed. "Who else decided I was Sam Walker?"

"Most of your former command, or at least those who have come in contact with you," said Optimus. "Though many seemed content to let you hide behind your assumed identity."

"And no one thought it was weird?"

"With all due respect, Major Walker, you're hardly the first person they've seen return from the dead." Optimus' mouth twitched slightly.

"Right." He sighed, then grumbled as Jazz gave him a teasing push. "Watch it. I'm bigger than you now."

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall." The silver mech chortled, then shoved him again. "Go take care'a yer lady 'n yer baby."

Sam sobered and nodded, then looked to Optimus for his nod of dismissal before slipping out of the office and into the hall.

"What did they want?" asked Bumblebee softly from where she stood a little ways away leaning against the wall with Isaac tucked in the crook of one arm.

Sam startled and gave her a guilty look. "Oh... ah.... They.... Um, do you want me to take Isaac?"

She looked down at her son, who was waving his arms and begging the sandy mech to do just that. "Sure. Here you go, Sam."

He froze. "I'm not...."

"You are. Just not the exact same Sam I loved." She looked up at him soberly as she tucked their tiny son into his arms. "That's okay. I'm glad for the parts God let me keep."

He cleared static from his vocalizer and blinked tears, holding Isaac close. "Bumblebee...."

"Shhh." She put her arms around him and lay her head against him, then stepped back and gently tugged on the arm that Isaac wasn't resting on. "Let's go get some oil."

Sam cleared his vocalizer again, and then managed a shaky grin as he reached down and took her hand. "That... sounds like a good plan."

Her mouthplate moved in her own grin, and then she cuddled against his arm for a moment before leading him out to the fuel depot.