I'm really not happy with the end of this chapter. But I promised ChloeBee I'd get it up. I'm so scared to write Scarlet that I seem to focus on Sapphire's side of the story a lot more than Scarlet's. Both femmes are very important to the story, and it's really starting to bother me that I can't seem to include Scarlet enough. Not to mention that I'm losing the will to write. That's something I'm terrified of... Anyways, I don't think that matters that much to anyone, so... please enjoy, I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.

Ratchet moved to his adopted daughter's side without saying a word. He wrapped his arms around her gently, tucking her helm under his chin. He rubbed the base of one her doorwings. Sapphire whimpered slightly, her frame shuddering with a pained sob.

Ironhide watched in silence. Yet another look into the femme that he hadn't expected, making him feel worse for attacking her in the first place. He hadn't known just who Sapphire was. And she had a point. She did wear the Autobot symbol on both of her doorwings. If only he had stopped to ask…

A shout from the young femme startled him from his thoughts and he returned his attention to her. She finally relaxed after a minute and clung to Ratchet. The red and white mech just gently tightened his grip on her and straightened.

"What's wrong?" Ironhide asked. Ratchet grunted. There was no actual reply, instead Ratchet moved Sapphire to a medical berth. Her side was still torn open from Knock Out's staff with dents lining her torso. It stung being ignored, but Ironhide brushed it off like he normally did. He stood out of the way as Ratchet worked on Sapphire's side.

The blue femme was surprisingly well-behaved, staying quiet and doing what was asked of her. Ratchet would gently lift her arm and she'd hold still, keeping her arm up until Ratchet finished. It was a painful injury to repair, with the way the metal was crumpled inwards. Even so, she didn't make a sound. Ironhide had to admire that. He shook his helm sharply, ridding it of the very thought. Something about her made him curious to learn about her. He wasn't sure why, but she was interesting to him.

"I'm fine. I'm just… tired," Sapphire said to Ratchet. She tapped her claws gently on his arm. She stood and started down the hall further into the base. Her doorwings drooped as she walked.

"Sapphire, Sapphire wait!" Ratchet called. He followed his daughter towards her quarters that she shared with Scarlet. She threw open the door and curled up on her berth. Ratchet sat at on the edge of it and held her close. "What happened?"

"Knock Out…" she whispered. She hugged her adopted sire back, thankful for his presence. Just like Scarlet, both Ratchet and Optimus wanted to allow her to be herself since they knew what she was like. Even around Bumblebee or Jazz or the Twins she still strained to be 'perfect' though she knew it was impossible. The thought made her bury her helm in Ratchet's shoulder.

"Oh," he said, "Again?" She nodded. "You're an Autobot. One of us… No matter what anyone says, you're one of us. You don't have the spark of a Decepticon. How's your helm?"

"Doesn't hurt anymore."

"Good. You just need to rest… I'll let Optimus know when he gets back that it happened again."

"Sire, why is it only me? Scarlet doesn't deal with this," Sapphire asked. Ratchet frowned, wishing like normal that he knew the answer. Every once in a while, Sapphire would experience great pain that seemed to have no cause. Nothing Ratchet did would ever help, and the only thing they could really do was hold her as she suffered. He didn't know why it happened but they had one clue. The clue was that Optimus felt the matrix react when he was near Sapphire during the times of pain. They just hoped that it wouldn't be for the rest of her life.

"I don't know," he honestly responded. Sapphire sighed and nuzzled him for a moment before she yawned, still feeling the effects of losing Energon. It was making her dizzy; the taste, the smell, the feeling of Energon in the air. Ratchet just chuckled softly and laid her down with a smile. "Tired?"

"Mhm…"

"Recharge, then…"

Ratchet stayed until she fell into recharge. He left in time to see Scarlet and Optimus return. They were both coated in a thick layer of dirt and grime from their patrol. Scarlet picked at the dirt but smiled when she saw Ratchet.

"Hey Sire!" she said cheerily, in a good mood from the time spent with Optimus. The medic nodded.

"Optimus, I need to talk to you when you have a moment. Good to see you're both safe," Ratchet distractedly stated. Optimus frowned as he opened his mask. He wiped the dirt from his optics.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. Ratchet stared at Optimus and sighed.

"Sapphire's in recharge," he said to them both. Scarlet's good mood faded.

"It's really early," she pointed out. Ratchet nodded. "Can I go check on her?" Once again, Ratchet nodded. "Love you Sire, love you Carrier." She left towards her quarters without another word.

When Scarlet disappeared from sight, Ratchet approached Optimus.

"Wash racks? As good a place as any to talk," Optimus suggested, motioning to the state of his armour. His mate nodded, and together they walked to the wash racks.

Neither spoke until Optimus had the water going to muffle their words in case someone was listening that shouldn't have been. He stepped under the spray and began to pick at the dirt just like Scarlet had.

"It happened again," Ratchet stated. Optimus frowned with a brief sigh. "I'm worried, Orion. It's happening more often and for longer."

"There is nothing I can do… If I could help I would, but unfortunately I am in the dark as much as you are. Is she alright?"

"She was distressed and miserable, so no. Apparently the pain went away, but since I don't have a bond with her, I don't know," a bitter note entered Ratchet's voice, making Optimus wince. He gently wrapped his arms around the smaller mech.

It was one thing they struggled with. They had strong bonds with Scarlet but none with Sapphire. Not even a whisper. So trying to take care of her, trying to help her, was difficult for them. They couldn't tell if she was injured without a report, if she was alright emotionally without studying her doorwings and tone of voice, if she was suffering without being careful to analyze every little thing she did. It was a pain that nothing could seem to soothe, and at times they did feel regret that they had chosen to raise her. The reason being the fact that Sapphire knew of bonds but had none, and that all three members of her 'family' couldn't feel her when they were so used to being able to feel those they were so close to. They struggled, but like always they did everything they could to get through it.

"She'll talk to us if something's wrong. We just have to trust her," Optimus assured gently. Ratchet just sighed and leaned into his mate's hold, ignoring the sludge running down the red and blue metal.

"I wish we could do more…"

"Ratchet, we will figure this out. I promise you, we will. But we must have patience," the Prime said. He tilted Ratchet's helm up and kissed him.