So... Here's the next chapter, and if you need me, I'll be hiding... Yipes! *runs away*

He'd been given no warning. One moment, Optimus was sitting there beside them as they watched Bumblebee play. The next Optimus excused himself from the room and had yet to return. Afterwards, had come the worst comm-link of his life.

::Ironhide, I need you to go see Ratchet in the Med bay. It's Chromia::

Ironhide had been taken by suprise to the point that he didn't even register who had sent the message. He'd nearly dropped Bumblebee as he took off at a run. That led to where he was now. Standing at the only door in the way of him seeing his sparkmate, being held back by Prowl and Jolt. "Let me go! I need to see her!" Ironhide yelled.

"Ironhide! You need to calm down! Ratchet's doing what he can for her, so you'll have to wait," Prowl responded.

"Prowl, Jolt. Stand down," a tired voice said. Prowl and Jolt slowly released their hold on Ironhide as all three turned to the speaker. "I've got him. Jolt, you should be working with Ratchet. And Prowl, I need you to go check on how our mechs and femmes are doing." Each mech mentioned gave a quick salut before heading in their own directions. Ironhide stood where he was until a servo was placed on his shoulder. He looked up at Optimus. Nothing was said as the two mechs took a seat outside of Ratchet's Med bay. "She's strong Hide."

"What about my sparkling? I don't know if they are. What if we lose them? What if I lose Chromia?" Ironhide asked. His voice was soft as he fought back tears. He wouldn't cry. There wasn't a reason to yet. A servo was rested on the metal of his leg. He gently gripped it as he looked up at Optimus.

"You were there for me when I lost Elita. I'm here for you now," Optimus assured.

A few breems (hours) passed. Neither Autobot had moved from their chair. Optimus had sent a comm-link to Jazz to see if the silver Autobot had his son, and was fine with the knowledge that Bumblebee was safe. Ironhide's bond with Chromia was blocked by the femme. It was unnerving. The only thing stopping him from rushing in there to see his sparkmate was Optimus' servo on his knee. Not for the first time, Ironhide found himself greatful that Optimus was there for him.

Both mechs looked up when Jolt stepped into the hallway. "R-Ratchet w-wants y-you to-to c-come in. O-Optimus Prime, s-sir, you too," Jolt managed. He looked as if he'd leaked in front of Megatron himself when he spoke to them. Ironhide stood and Optimus followed as they entered the room.

The beeping of the moniters strapped to Chromia could be seen as both comforting and discouraging. Her spark chamber was open, and her optics were dim. Ironhide went to her side and gently took her servo. Her optics came back online and she gave a weak smile. "My love. I'm sorry," she greeted. Without explaining herself, she looked to Optimus and raised a servo to him. With a glance to Ironhide for permission, Optimus took the offered servo as he stepped towards her. Ratchet had moved to take Optimus' place at the foot of the berth. "Bumblebee is amazing, Optimus. You're a strong mech for moving on after losing Elita-One. I'm honoured to be your friend. Ratchet, thank you for everything you've done for us. You've been very kind. Ironhide, I love you with all my spark. Don't ever forget that. I'm so sorry. So very sorry..." She stopped speaking as tears began to pool behind her optics that threatened to fall at any moment. "Ratchet..." He gave a nod.

"Ironhide... I couldn't save the sparkling. I'm so sorry. I-" He was cut off by Ironhide servo suddenly being wrapped around his throat. Panic filled his optics as he was lifted off the ground.

"Ironhide!" Chromia snapped. Ratchet was tossed to the floor as Ironhide stormed from the room. Optimus helped the medic up before running after Ironhide. As soon as he could, Optimus gripped Ironhide's arm tightly. The door slid shut behind them.

"Ironhide. That was uncalled for. Ratchet-"

"Did his best. I know, I know," Ironhide snapped. Energon tears were dripping from his optics. He slammed a servo into Optimus' chest, but he didn't expect Optimus to be sent to the ground with the blow. He hadn't hit Optimus that hard, had he? He dismissed it as he let his frustrations get the better of him. "But what have you ever lost? Just Elita? Your pretty little femme? I'm losing Chromia! I feel her slipping! You've lost almost nothing!" He instantly sobered at the hurt look on Optimus' face that slipped into unexpressed fury.

"What have I lost? What have I lost? Look around you Ironhide! We're at war against my brother! Who I have to face every battle. I lost my sparkmate too Ironhide. I have to deal with the fact that I'm sending mechs and femmes with families to their deaths. I bare that in mind every waking moment! I watched my brother slaughter my family before my optics. My creators. My siblings. Maybe you should've left me where you found me. Abandoned by my brother. Freezing and starving to death," Optimus snapped. He forced himself to his pedes and left Ironhide standing where he was. Barely controlled rage burned behind his optics. He'd have to calm down. And he would. Soon. He wasn't a mech to remain angry for a long time. But until he did calm down, he didn't even want to be in the same building as Ironhide.

The door slid open once more to reveal a calmer Ironhide. Something like regret and guilt were dancing in his optics. He returned to Chromia's side. "You didn't hurt him did you?" Chromia asked gently. His optics spoke the truth and she sighed. Ironhide's attention was stolen from her when he noticed the glistening Energon present on his servo. He looked to Chromia's and found it to be lacking any signs of cuts or spilled Energon. "What is it?"

"Something that can wait. I love you Chromia. You can't go. I can't lose you too," Ironhide said. Chromia rubbed the plating of Ironhide's cheek before letting her servo fall back to the berth. Neither said anything as they cherished the last time they could spend together. When Chromia's spark went out, Ratchet gently, and cautiously, grabbed onto Ironhide's shoulder and led him away from his sparkmate's berth. Ironhide wasn't expecting what happened next. He moved to put a servo on Ratchet's arm, and the medic scrambled far enough away to avoid Ironhide's grasp. "Ratchet?" He asked in confusion. "I'm not gonna hurt ya. I promise." Ratchet relaxed slightly but still seemed wary of Ironhide.

"Where's Optimus?" Ratchet asked.

"I... I don't know," Ironhide responded. Ratchet pulled the curtain around Chromia's berth as he walked by it to leave in search of Optimus. "Where are you going?"

"We need to find him, don't we? What did you say to him?"

"That he hasn't lost much. I hit him in the chest, but not that hard. He still fell though. Ratchet, did I draw Energon from your neck?"

"No. You hurt it, but didn't draw Energon," Ratchet replied. He stopped walking when he noticed that Ironhide had. The black mech's optics were wide.

"Prime's hurt. This has to be his then," Ironhide said. He held out the Energon covered servo. He jumped from Ratchet suddenly had him arm and was running. They had to find Optimus. And soon.