Her Family is Gone

AB- Sorry this took way longer than I thought it would... I started my summer class and I have been working a full-time schedule on top of it so things have been a bit crazy. Well without further ado, peace and love.

10

Weeks passed and Sari's condition had not improved much but she seemed to be getting stronger. The incision on her body healed slowly and it would slowly fade away to a scar that split her body in two. Team Prime took turns sitting and talking to the girl and Optimus took up residence in the med-bay refusing to be away from Sari anymore than he had to. Even Miko, Agent Mearing and William Fowler took turns sitting next to her berth and talking to her, hoping the attention would force her to come back to them.

Agent Fowler returned early in the morning one day to visit Sari, Optimus Prime was shocked to see a man following behind him. He walked passed Prime as if he didn't notice him and went up to where Sari lay on the bed. The blonde haired man shook with anger as he took the young girl's hand in his and squeezed it gently. He leant over her slowly before kissing her forehead, a few tears running down Fanzone's cheeks.

"Prime, this is Captain Carmine Fanzone, Sari's Uncle," William Fowler stated, "I've kept him away for as long as I could but I think I will do her good to hear his voice."

"I agree," Optimus Prime stated, stepping back to give Agent Fowler and Captain Fanzone some space. The police officer nuzzled the child and talked to her soothingly before the girl began to make a fuss. This was something that happened from time to time usually in the early hours of the morning or late at night, but Prime found a way to calm her down. "Allow me." The mech reached over and scooped Sari up gently in his servo bringing the child to his spark and holding her there being mindful of the IV attached to her arm. After a few minutes of listening to the steady beat of his spark, Sari calmed and the leader gently placed her back on her bed. "I'm still here with you youngling, you are safe," Prime spoke soothingly before slowly replacing her on the berth.

"How did you know that would work?" Carmine asked looking up at the mech for the first time.

"Prime has been with Sari since they brought her to the base. He's barely left her side and won't until she's awake and recovering," Agent Fowler answered for Prime.

"I have done it before, as Agent William Fowler said I will be here until Sari makes a full recovery," Optimus added.

"Why do you even care? I'm assuming you are one of the good ones, but all you guys have ever done for Sari is make things worse," Carmine shouted, "My best friend died because of them and you think I trust you to take care of his child."

"I care for Sari in a way I cannot fully explain, although I have not spoke to her I know that I would never allow any harm to come to her. At the moment, Ratchet is the only one that can take care of her and make sure she is fully functional when she opens her optics," Optimus stated trying to get through to Fanzone.

"If she wakes up," Fanzone's voice cracked when he spoke, "I can't lose her too."

"She will come back, Sari is very strong. While I did not know Isaac Sumdac, I am sorry for your loss," Optimus Prime said solemnly.

After that things remained silent, everyone was content to sit around Sari and simply watch over the child as if she would open her eyes any moment. It would make it easier on all of them if she did, especially Agent Fowler whose conscience weighed down heavily since it was in part his fault. Captain Fanzone stayed in the area for about a week to help look after Sari and reluctantly left her in the care of the Autobots, but especially the watchful optics of Optimus Prime. The two had a silent understanding, Captain Fanzone would be alright with this situation only because he could see the care Optimus held for his niece.

The leader's spark lifted at the mere thought of Sari waking, he knew the recovery would be long and tedious. Prime felt a bond with Sari, a protectiveness and unexplained love in his spark. He knew that he would do anything he could if it meant she was safe and healthy.

After Captain Fanzone left Miko came in to sit with Sari and chat with her "baby sister". It was obvious to Bulkhead and Optimus Prime the level of guilt the girl felt over not being there to save her. She knew her and Bulk could've intercepted Knock-Out but nothing could change it now. "You've been sleeping for a long time Sari, Ratchet told me at first it was because you needed to heal but now he thinks you're just being stubborn. I bet you could open your eyes and look at me if you tried," Miko spoke bluntly, squeezing Sari's hand. Miko laid her head down on the berth when Sari squeezed her hand back, startling Miko back into an upright position. Sari's optics were open shining a dull blue, looking at her foster sister in shock. The child's expression held shock and fear, instead of yelling for Ratchet the teen decided to calm Sari down a bit first. "You're okay. You are safe here, some of my friends saved you and fixed you up. I'm going to get the medic, okay? I promise he's not going to hurt you," Miko explained and Sari looked like she understood.

Ratchet had sent everyone out on patrol, the constant fretting over the youngling was grating on the medic and he understood they would be looked at with fear when she finally opened her optics. Optimus Prime was meeting with Agent Fowler and his higher-ups about having Sari put into the team's custody since her recovery would be a long one and the team was the only chance she had of being safe from the ever looming threat of the decepticons coming to take her again. Ratchet thought back to the numerous nights the leader kept watch over Sari, as if the darkness posed just as much threat to her as Megatron did.

Miko ran up to Ratchet interrupting the mech's thoughts with her urgency. "Ratchet, she's awake," Miko exclaimed looking up at the medic.

"Very funny Miko, it was not funny the last time you tried this and I know you are worried about Sari but pretending like she woke up is not going to make her wake up," Ratchet dismissed.

"I'm not joking, she's awake," Miko argued. The girl went back to the med-bay to check on Sari. "Come look at her please."

Ratchet followed the human girl reluctantly, what he found was Miko reassuring Sari of her safety as the medic came into view. The younglings optics widened and she flinched away from Ratchet moving as much as the inactivity would allow. He stared at her in utter shock the last thing he expected to happen was for their youngling to wake up while everyone besides Miko was gone. Since this is not what the medic had expected he had not realized how close he was to the girls and to him it felt as if he was looming over them. "Ratchet you're scaring her. It's okay Sari, he's not going to hurt you. I won't let that happen again," Miko promised.

Ratchet shook his helm before stepping back and trying his best to calm her. "I apologize. Miko is right, I have no intention of hurting you. I do need to run some scans and make sure everything is alright," Ratchet allowed a certain level of sincerity mask his usual sarcasm. Sari still looked at him in shock, it was as if she finally saw he was not the monster that harmed her before. The realization was small, but Ratchet would take anything to get her to see he was not dangerous to her. Miko stepped back and Ratchet came closer. "I'm a doctor, I know it's hard to believe but you're not in any danger. You'll see a light, it's just me scanning your systems. I won't do anything else without telling you first." The medic did as he said and Sari never took her optics off the red and white mech. "Everything looks alright, you've improved from when you came here. It'll take some time for you to get back to normal but the fact you are conscious and responsive is a step in the right direction. Do you think you could try speaking for me?"

Sari glanced at Miko, who nodded in encouragement. "It hurt," Sari managed to communicate but what came out to Miko were a series of bleeps and clicks. Both Ratchet and Miko stared at the child in shock, the medic because he did not believe she would be able to speak at all for the time being and Miko was confused at what Sari said since she couldn't understand.