The Autobots were busy again, so Ratchet became the one to escort them back and forth from school to base since they were still targets of Decepticons.
Jack sat in the driver's seat, holding the wheel and pretending to drive. He was a good kid, always looking out for the bots. He was the first one who noticed there was something off with Ratchet. "Hey, Ratch'. You're kind of dirty."
"I have been busy, Jack," Ratchet said. He sounded irritated, but he didn't hate the children. They weren't convenient, that was all.
Miko piped up from the back. She was strapped on something. Ratchet wouldn't have began driving if she wasn't safe. "We could bathe you, Ratchet."
Raf laughed, sitting in the passenger seat. He nodded. "We could. Go to a carwash, Ratchet."
The medic hesitated before he did what he was told. He parked in the do-it-yourself stall and he let the humans out.
Pink soap was on him within minutes and the children were rubbing it all over him with brushes and a rag Ratchet had in the back. Most of the soap got onto the children. By the time they finished, the children were squeaky clean and extremely wet. Miko was dripping water all over the floor in the back.
Ratchet drove carefully, and to Raf's amusement, the sirens came on and he soared through the intersections. The cars parted for them, made room for them. For a brief moment, the children felt special. And then they started to get cold.
The medic had tuned himself to the children and was turning up the heat for them. Their shivers stopped and they became sleepy.
Ratchet arrived with the humans sleeping in his alt form. When he transformed, he held them in his servos.
"You have worn them out?" Optimus came closer, tipping his helm and he frowned.
Ratchet nodded and he took them to the catwalk, laying them down. "Indeed."
Optimus smiled. "You look clean and nice."
"Mm."
But Ratchet was smiling down at the children.