Title: Overcome

Categories: General

Disclaimer: Everything related to Transformers belongs to Hasbro. This story is for fun only.

Rating: T

Summary: Humans are fragile…and strong.

Thank you to Graycalls for Beta work, advice, and hand-holding.

*****

Humans are fragile.

The Decepticon favorite word "squishy" was very politically incorrect, but brutally frank. Humans were, indeed, vulnerable to all sorts of things Mech's were not. The heavy toll of NEST team members who paid with their lives was testimony enough.

And, although not an official NEST member, Sam was indeed a target at home and in the field. Even the Autobots couldn't protect him all the time.

It could have been worse. It could have been better. A severed spinal cord; the result of an explosion and fall. He was left paralyzed from the waist down.

To his credit, Sam didn't linger long on the "what if's". He was more concerned with tackling the challenges and just getting on with his life. He might have had a harder struggle if it hadn't been for the unwavering support from his parents, Mikaela, and the Autobots, but Sam deserved a lot of the credit.

He spent a month in the medical area, and then was right back to his goals of finishing college and ultimately becoming the alien ambassador that the Autobots wanted him to be. He was extremely vulnerable now to any 'Con attack, and the result was some very unique wheelchairs. The Minibots were happy to scan some concept wheelchairs, add their own touches, and become perfect guards and supercharged transportation. Ratchet even had to scold a few Minibots, reminding them that Sam was perfectly capable of maneuvering the wheelchair by himself 99% of the time, and that he needed the exercise. Also, "helping" Sam while he was learning to play wheelchair basketball was not fair to the other players.

Bumblebee added some accessories to his alt form dashboard to double for a car modified for handicapped use and continued his duty as Sam's main guardian. After the attack Sam was moved onto the base, and Bee drove him and his Minibot wheelchair to and from the campus. After two years of hard study, Sam graduated early with honors. He and Mikaela, who had become Ratchet's assistant, celebrated with a dual honeymoon/graduation trip to the new base on Diego Garcia, where they would now live.

Sam and Mikaela were married on base with all the Autobots attending. Sam sat proudly, watching his beautiful bride come down the aisle, her father beaming with joy. Mikaela's "man-child" father had grown up and proved himself a good parent who was delighted with his little princess' choice of a husband. Still, even the presence of Bumblebee and Ironhide hadn't prevented the ex-convict from telling Sam exactly what he would do to him if his baby girl was harmed in anyway. Ironhide had been impressed at the deviousness of the plan.

Sam's parents were thrilled with Mikaela, even more so when Judy, in her typical way, had very indelicately asked Sam if he could still give her grandchildren. Once assured that grandchildren were indeed on the agenda, Mama Witwicky's joy knew no bounds.

And so, as Optimus watched the young couple at their wedding reception, he had to smile, and his spark felt light with happiness. Humans were indeed fragile, but they were also so very strong in many ways.

He was proud to be their ally in the battle against the Decepticons.

The End