Let Him Live Chapter 10
Ratchet scowled as he straightened out his tools. He fought the urge to go back into ICU Bay – 1. He knew that if he did he would find Hot Rod stretched out on the berth hooked up to life support, energon, processor and spark monitors, and an energon drip. The kid was still in critical condition, but there was nothing more, medically speaking, that could be done for him other than trying to keep him as comfortable and stable as possible. Ratchet didn't like that.
The CMO knew that there was one other procedure that could be done, but it was outside his jurisdiction. It was not a medical procedure, and would require the consent of another, so he knew that he could not push the issue. Pit, he could not even bring it up unless he was asked. Ratchet was seriously considering saying "to hell with it" and mentioning anyway.
With his tools straightened and cleaned he turned back to the speedster's medical report, trying to find something that they could have missed. The allergic reaction had caused Hot Rod's defence systems to work in reverse, and instead of trying to push the poison out it actively absorbed the poison, spreading it to every system, not just the injected ones. They had managed to flush out or neutralize most of the poison in Roddi's body, except for in the systems closest to his spark. Even to a mech with a healthy spark leaving the poison alone could be fatal. Hot Rod, with his fragmented spark had no chance of survival. He also had no chance of suvival if they tried to use the neutralizer. Still Ratchet had seen miracles before. He could only hope the brash young mech would prove to be another one.
The med bay doors slid open, revealing a tall green mech. Ratchet didn't look up.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up." Springer didn't bother answering that. Instead he cut right to the chase.
"What, exactly, is wrong with Hot Rod?" Before Ratchet could reply the doors swung open again and a small grey mech shoved his way past the triplechanger. The doorwinged mech barely spared the Wrecker a glance, but both elder mechs could see the way Bluestreak's hands tightened around the book he was holding.
"Hi Ratchet. I was wonder if I could visit Hot Rod because we're reading the Harry Potter series together and Roddi really likes magic did you know that? We're on the seventh book in the series, well actually we're almost finished with it because we only have five chapters left and since Roddi really likes the book I thought that maybe I could read to him? Please?"
"Go ahead Blue. I'm sure he'd like that."
"Thanks Ratch."Bluestreak disappeared into ICU Bay – 1. The CMO turned his attention back to Springer, but was distracted when the med bay doors opened again, this time admitting Jazz, who was dragging a petulant looking Mirage behind him.
"Sorry to bother you Ratchet, but Mirage here's having some trouble with his electro disrupter. Seems every time he turns it on it gives him a wicked processor ache. Silly mech thought he's just deal with it." Mirage looked at his superior in horror. Everyone knew that you didn't tell the CMO you would rather deal with pain than seek out help. Fortunately for the noble, Ratchet was willing to let it slide. "I need him back in time for our next mission, kay?" Ratchet nodded, already leading the racer over to a berth.
"Alright you, get up there. Springer, I'll deal with you after I've finished up with Mirage. Go sit with Hot Rod until then." The lead Wrecker nodded curtly. He left the main bay and headed to the critical care units. Bluestreak had drawn the privacy curtains. Slowly, Springer peeled a part of it back and slipped inside.
"...Then a figure rose from the Slytherin table and he recognized Pansy Parkinson as she raised..." Bluestreak read quietly. For once he did not ramble; instead the words were clear and concise. Springer stood quietly to the side, listening to the young gunner read. When Bluestreak finished the chapter he closed the book and turned to look at his best friend's mate.
"He's going to die, you know, He fighting for his life right now, fighting hard, but he can't win. Did you know that when you break a bond you have to break part of you're on spark? I didn't know that. Prowl explained it to me. He said that when you purge a spark from your own you are essentially purging a piece of your very being. You were so entwined in Hot Rod's essence that it actually fragmented his spark." Bluestreak still didn't ramble, and his optics were impossibly sad. It was almost like he didn't have the energy to speak in his normal manner. "I think he knew that it would hurt you, drive you away from him if you thought he didn't love you. I think that maybe he thought pushing you away would spare him the pain of his death. Your spark will survive because you're just missing the bond, not the pieces of his spark. He loves you that much. But then again, that wouldn't explain the suicide injections. Unless he didn't know, and was holding out for rescue until the last possible moment." Clearly, Jazz and Prowl had wanted the spare their adopted youngling from the entire horrifying truth. He didn't seem to know about the forced bond. "I don't know. I guess I shouldn't speculate. Only Roddi can tell us what why."
"Bluestreak, can you come join us please? There is something you need to hear." Looking up, both mechs spotted Prowl and Ratchet lingering in the doorway.
The young mech stood. "We're on page 513." He pressed the book into Springer's hands. "Bye."
----------
Springer sank down into the vacated chair. His mind was in turmoil. First and foremost there was fear. Fear for his ex-mate's life. Next was anger. Hot Rod should have found a better way, damn it! Maybe then this could have been avoided. Immediately following that was guilt. Why hadn't he noticed his mate's fear and pain? Was it because he kept his own side of the bond closed? Over and over these thoughts tumbled in his head. He was no closer to getting an answer now than he first was when the bond was broken. Looking down, he noticed that he had taken Hot Rod's hand in his own. That was another thing. Would he want to reform the bond with Roddi after he was better (Because Hot Rod was not going to die, damn it!)? Could he ever trust him enough for that again? Was he the one in the wrong?
Finally, Springer settled on one conclusion. He was still angry; there was too much hurt there to be pushed away because of Bluestreak's words, but he could ignore it in favour of concern for Hot Rod's life. After that he could worry about the rest. The kid had been right about one thing: only Hot Rod could explain the "why". Springer looked up as Ratchet came back.
"Hot Rod left a message on the encrypted Ops channel. Jazz managed to recover it. This," the medic held up a data chip, "contains the part directed to you." Ratchet pressed the tiny chip into Springer's hands before leaving. The Wrecker stared at it for a long moment before jacking it into his audio port. For a moment the room as silent except for the sound of Hot Rod's goodbyes. When he recording was finished he called for Ratchet.
"Who gave him the cyanide?" Ratchet looked at him strangely. Well, Springer would find out anyway.
"Ops."
"I see." The mech's face was blank. "And there is nothing more that can be done for him?"
"Well, there is one thing, but it's not a medical procedure. If it doesn't work however, it will kill you as well."
"Explain."
"When a patient is terminally ill and has slipped into a coma we can temporarily bring them on line if their will has stated that they wish to say goodbye to their loved ones. Using that idea I could induce Hot Rod into a level of consciousness. If you were to use that time to bond it could stabilize Hot Rod's spark and help him regain the pieces of it he lost when your connection dissolved. It would have the added benefit of draining a minute amount of poison into your spark, which would have only a mild affect on you, given the ratio of your size to the amount of poison. The amount drawn from Hot Rod would increase his chance of survival. However if his spark were to fail during the bonding then he would die and take you with him. Should he survive that and die after your sparks have separated you run the risk of having to live through a second broken bond."
Springer looked at his dying lover. He took a moment to think it over. He had to think of it from a commander's perspective. If he died doing this, how would it affect his team, and the Autobots? Could he live through a second broken bond? In the end though, there could only be one answer. Burning blue optics met Ratchet's.
"Wake him up. Let's do this."
----------
I don't own Harry Potter. JK Rowling does. The partial quote is from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and can be found on page 490.