The bots stared in surprise as they watched the creature. They weren't exactly sure what it was to begin with. It seemed to eat anything that was metal. Optimus found it hard to be in his alternate mode and still try to fight it. But they couldn't do anything because of all the humans that were around. Bumblebee and Bulkhead watched a little girl run around. They went over and spoke with her only to have her scream at them. She quickly ran off but the-

"Potato beast."

"... what?"

"It looks like a potato, but with a bug face and arms."

"Alright."

The potato beast picked her up and the bots stared at it. They weren't exactly sure what to do and wanted to help. Optimus-

"Oh I know!"

"Yes?"

"Can I tell the story?"

"If you would like."

Optimus transformed into his biped mode and narrowed his optics. The others followed and the people stared in surprise. They watched as the bots attacked the bad potato. The people were unsure about what to do. The potato let go of the girl and she screamed as she fell. Bumblebee caught her and ran for cover.

"I'm Bumblebee." The small yellow bot said as he smiled slightly.

"I'm Sari." The girl smiled as she looked up at him. It was clear they would be fast friends.

"Oh don't be. I like my name." He said as he stopped suddenly and looked around.

"No." She giggled and shook her head a little. "That's my name."

~

"Why is her name sari?" Troy asked as he furrowed his brow. Oliver scrunched up his face and shrugged.

"I don't know. I made it up." He said as he smiled brightly and looked at him. His grandfather chuckled softly and fixed the oxygen tube the boy had.

"I don't think that's how the story should go." His brother muttered and looked at him. "Bumblebee doesn't talk remember?" He asked.

"Oh... ya..." he whispered quietly and looked at his hands. Troy smiled a little and gently rubbed his head.

"He can talk in your story." He said as he smiled a little.

"Okay it's my turn to try." His brother muttered and folded his arms. He didn't really care for the stories and thought they were dumb.

~

Optimus narrowed his optics as he ran at the Decepticons. He growled lowly and shot at them repeatedly. He was angry with the ancient villains and knew they needed to pay. He fought them and got angry with Megatron. He shot the con then the leader.

"Give me your face!" Optimus boomed angrily as he beat on the con. Everything around him was exploding. His whole world falling apart...

"I... don't think... Optimus would say that..."

~

They were silent as they listened to the boy. He looked at them and frowned deeply as he folded his arms.

"I've noticed you like to add explosions to your stories Sam." He said gently. The boy huffed angrily and flopped on the couch the room had.

"You'd add explosions too if your world was falling apart." He muttered bitterly and glared out the window. Troy wanted to talk to him but knew when he got like this he didn't listen.

He sighed shakily and ran a hand through the small boys hair. He'd be starting his treatment soon. Oliver looked at him tiredly as tears filled his eyes. He stared at the heart monitor and watched the lines.

"Can we go home?" The boy asked and looked at him. "I'm bored and this place is scary." He whispered as tears fell down his face. Troy sighed shakily and rested his forehead against his.

"Not yet little one." He mumbled then thought for a moment. He closed his eyes as he listened to the boy sob silently. He hated to see him so distraught and in pain.

"Grandpa please...." the boy sobbed uncontrollably as he gripped his jacket weakly. "I... I don't... want to be... here." He choked as his tears fell down his face. Troy fought back his own tears and hugged him tightly.

"I know..." he whispered quietly and hugged him tighter. Sam watched as tears fell down his face. He choked back a sob then went over and hugged them both tightly.

Yes he was angry, but that didn't mean he hated them. He was hurting like his brother, but in a different way. It was hard for him to accept that his brother was so sick.

Hard to accept that he may come to the hospital one day, and his brother would be gone. He was only ten and didn't need to be worried about his brother dying. His brother was only six and should be thinking about other things as well.

Sam thought for a few minutes then let go and walked over to his backpack. He pulled out the lion their grandmother made and handed it to his brother. She had made Sam a bear because he felt they were better.

"Look who I brought for you Oliver." He whispered as he sniffed sadly and wiped his tears away. His brother looked at him and smiled brightly. He hugged him tightly and held on for a moment.

"Thank you." He said and hugged the lion tightly as he nuzzled it. Troy smiled slightly and ruffled Sams hair.

"I... I brought you... some cars too." He muttered and set them on the little stand. "That way you won't be so bored." He said as he smiled a little. "Don't worry I had the nurse clean them... the cars I mean." He explained. Oliver smiled more and hugged him tighter.

"I love you big brother." He said and his brother hugged him tightly. Sam fought back tears as he held his now frail brother. He was so scared but wanted to be brave for him.

After a few minutes he let go and curled up on the couch again. Going back to his game system and escaping from the world. Troy watched sadly and sighed forcefully. He helped get Oliver situated and comfortable.

"Grandpa?" The boy asked quietly and looked up at him. "Does... does Optimus ever get sick? Like.... like me?" He mumbled and buried his face in the lion. Troy stared at him blankly then furrowed his brow. He smiled a little and gently rubbed his head.

"Yes. There was one time when Optimus got really sick." He said as the boy looked up at him.

"Really?" He asked as he furrowed his brow. "What... what did he do?" He whispered. Troy smiled a little and started his tale again.

~

Optimus slowly walked through the deserted ship as he looked around. Ratchet followed and scanned the area as they searched. It was extremely quiet and they noticed other bots just laying on the floor. Ratchet bent down and scanned for a moment.

"By the AllSpark... it's a plaque ship." He muttered and stood up. "We need to leave immediately." He said seriously.

The ship shook and something above them moved. Optimus looked up and shined a light as something fell a little. A drop of energon fell and hit him in the faceplate. He grunted and stumbled as he tried to get it out of his optic.

"No." Ratchet gasped as his optics widened in surprise. He-

"What did he do?"

~

Troy stopped suddenly and looked at the child. Oliver had been allowed to go to a room where the children played. It was in the cancer ward and he had been saddened to see so many. He had decided to tell Oliver the story because he didn't want to play with anyone. But now a few children had gathered around as they listened to him spin his tale. The small boy that interrupted him was a little younger than Oliver. His brown eyes wide with wonder as he listened. Troy noticed a few simply watching from a distance.

"Gather around and I'll tell you what he does." He said with excitement to help them get into the story.

~

"Cybonic plague..." Ratchet muttered. Bumblebee looked at the others with fear and worry. They knew what it meant.

"You... have a cure don't you?" Raf asked hesitantly as he looked at the medic. Optimus groaned weakly and looked at them.

"No.... cure..." he rasped weakly then winced as he relaxed again. They looked at each other with worry for their leader.

~

"Time to head back." The nurse said and all the children groaned in protest. Troy watched quietly as they all left to go back to their rooms. A little girl ran over and looked at the man.

"Will you be back tomorrow?" She asked quietly. He smiled slightly and nodded as he glanced at Oliver.

"Yes of course." He whispered quietly and she smiled hopefully before heading out.

Oliver remained quiet as he was led back to his room. He gripped his grandfather's hand as he hugged his stuffed lion tightly.

"Grandpa?" He asked quietly and looked up at him. The man stopped and bent down to his level. "Does Optimus make it?" He whispered.

"Yes." He said quietly as he gently gripped his shoulders. "You have to remember the hero always makes it in the story." He smiled and poked his nose. He nodded slowly and looked up at him again.

"I want to be a hero like Optimus." He whispered quietly as tears filled his eyes. "Because then I'll make it." He said. Troy stared blankly at him then hugged him tightly. How was he supposed to respond to that?

He knew the boy was going through so much for his age. These weren't things he should even be thinking about. He shouldn't be afraid of the future and wonder if he would live to see another day. Troy squeezed his eyes shut as he let his tears fall silently. Oliver sobbed uncontrollably as he held on to his grandfather tightly.