Ratchet might have had ulterior motives for contacting Cybertron, but he couldn't deny that first and foremost what he needed was all the Predacon information from the Nemesis' memory banks and saved files. The medic was loathe to admit it, but he could count on Shockwave keeping all his research meticulously documented-he paused, frowning as he realized that had the Autobots not rescued him and Jack when they had, Shockwave would be no doubt testing out his plans for Jack right now.
His servo clenched the edge of the console he was at, optics narrowing. He hadn't been fond of the children at first, seeing them as too soft and rambunctious, but the more time he'd reluctantly got to know them, they had grown on him. Ratchet glanced over at Jack, who was still sleeping in root mode at the corner of the room. I suppose I underestimated just how much I grew on them.
A beeping brought his attention back to the computer, feed going in and out before a familiar voice rang through the room, "Ratchet? How's Earth treating you? Not sick of it already are you?" Bumblebee teased.
Ratchet harrumphed. "Surprisingly my tolence has increased." he replied. It was good to hear 'Bee's voice again, with how cheerful he sounded, but unfortunately this was not a social call. "Though despite that, I will be space bridging to Cybetron in the morning, Earth time."
"Oh? What's the rush, docbot?" Bumblebee questioned curiously.
Ratchet silently vented; this was not going to be easy to explain. He barely understood it himself, but he gave his word he would help Jack. "I need all the files on the Nemesis pertaining to the Predacon project. I need to familiarize myself with it to help Jack."
Bumblebee was silent for a long mment, and when he spoke, his tone was worried. "Is he okay?'
The concern was touching, in all honesty. "Yes, Jack's quite alright. It's just..." Here he had trouble continuing, but he made himself spit out the words he hadn't thought he'd ever say. "Jack wants me to be his first time, and I wish to accumulate the knowledge of Predacon anatomy before we continue further."
The silence this time was more stunned, and when Bumblebee finally did say something he sounded just as baffled. "Did-did I just hear that right?"
Ratchet sighed audibly this time. "You did indeed." he replied. "I will be administering Jack's stabilization serum in the morning before I come to Cybertron, please have the information I need gathered up by then."
"Wait-you can't just spring on me that you're gonna interface with Jack-which I don't think is possible-but you're just gonna react like it's no big deal?" Bumblebee asked incredulously. "You just dropped a bombshell!"
Ratchet had an idea that things wouldn't be going smoothly, because of course nothing did. "It is difficult to explain properly, and when I am on Cybertron I will clear things up to the best of my ability. Right now I need to finish Jack's serum."
"Oh, well, you do that then," Bumblebee said awkwardly, "but don't think this is gonna be just swept away."
"Believe me, I do not expect that to happen at all." Ratchet said. He could very well see Arcee at least being overprotective of Jack in this situation, and that was not even getting into how groan-inducing things would be when Jack told his mother of this. He highly doubted Jack did tell her yet, as June was not camped out beside Jack to 'keep an eye on him'. "Goodbye, Bumblebee."
"Bye, Ratchet." 'Bee said, his tone dazed as the connection was cut off.
The medic vented once more, and he walked over to Jack's side. He shook the former human's shoulder, and his optics blinked open slowly.
"Hmm? Oh, Ratch, is something wrong?" Jack asked sleepily.
"Nothing like that, but I thought it was best to inform you that after I administer your stablelizer I will be going back to Cybertron for the information regarding Predacon anatomy." The medic explained.
Jack tilted his head. "Oh, okay then." he closed his optics and Ratchet was about to turn away when Jack's optics snapped wide open, the words likely having sunk in. "Wait, what?!"
"Keep your voice down, I do not need complaining humans on top of everything else." Ratchet said tersely.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, but unfortunately he didn't look like he was going back into recharge any time soon. "Seriously though, why are you going back so soon?"
Ratchet raised an optic ridge. "I figured you'd want this to be over and done with quickly."
Jack frowned, his optics lowering to his lap. "You don't have to put it like that." he absently drummed his digits on the floor.
Ratchet observed him closely, and it became clear he was agitated about more than just the medic's curt responses. "Are you...certain you want to go through with this? You would not be the first one who had regrets-"
"I won't regret it as long as it's with you!" Ratchet's optics widened, and Jack looked just as shocked by what he'd blurted out. Jack's shock turned to nervous unease, his tail curling around himself as he looked away. "Well, this is humiliating."
The gears in Ratchet's processor started turning, and slowly he began to piece together why Jack was so insistent that it was him who he wanted to interface with. "Jack," he began seriously, "what is it you really want? An interface or a...a relationship?"
Jack refused to answer, and looked for all the world like he just wanted to disappear.
Slag, Ratchet thought, things just got even more complicated. As neither of them were willing to brooch the subject, Ratchet thought it best to just let it lie for now. "I likely won't be gone for more than two days at the most, depending on how much information I will need to sort through, but perhaps in that time...we can both think of where this could go."
Jack bit his lip, and just for a moment, he looked grateful. About what, Ratchet couldn't be sure.
