[Location: Autobot base]

The wayward travelers were greeted by the rest of their colleagues, but Optimus Prime stood just on the other side of the ground bridge. While June and Jack exited their Autobots so Ratchet and Arcee could transform. Elita simply transformed where she was, falling into herself as her bot body up-righted, Miko resting on her shoulder after a squeal of excitement.

"It is good to have all six of you back home," Optimus said with a smile.

"It's good to be back," Elita replied, "thanks to the hard work on both sides." That gained a surprised, bashful smile from Rafael, and a small smile from Ratchet.

But the medic had other things in mind at the moment. Focusing back on Optimus, the older Autobot gave a slight sigh. "Optimus, we discovered something I believe is important." All eyes and ears instantly focused on the red and white bot.

"What is it, Ratchet?" Optimus asked.

"During my scans on Elita while she was recovering we discovered that," he paused as he looked back at the fem, "her human body can create energon."

"Really?!" Miko said from her shoulder, "that's a good thing, right?"

"It's a dangerous thing if the 'Cons find out," Arcee said quietly.

"Or M.E.C.H.," Agent Fowler added.

Optimus looked at Elita, watching the way she shifted. She knew what he was going to say, but he still said it. "I recommend that you stay in the base for the time being, Elita, for your own safety."

Nodding, the Autobot-human hybrid replied, "Yes, sir."

Everyone settled in for the report Elita gave them about her trip up to the point where the others had joined her. At that time Ratchet took over, filling Optimus in on what his scans had discovered. It seemed that when Prime had chosen Jack to guard the Key to Vector Sigma, that the mystic system had scanned the young man, finding many good qualities about the human body that could be beneficial. Later, when the Autobot leader attempted to purge the virus out of Elita's archaic systems that he had left some energy tags from the Matrix in her system that Vector Sigma detected.

Using the human DNA in the blood that was hidden deep in the robotic body the woman had become trapped in; Vector Sigma blended the aspects of both races into a balanced system. By doing so, it had to make sure that Elita had to have a way to intake nourishment and be able to convert it into energon that both systems would need.

But thinking on all of that made Ratchet privately wonder exactly what all of the aspects of the human body that Vector Sigma deemed worthy of keeping in her. As they all ventured away from the main room, the medic looked on as Elita, with Miko on her shoulder, headed down the hall, no doubt to check on her garden. He'd have to run even more detailed scans on her, which was not going to make her happy. Looking over at June as she was speaking with Jack and Arcee, he made his way over. "Nurse Darby."

The raven haired woman looked up at the Autobot, "Yes, Doctor?"

"Might I have a moment of your time?" He asked. When she nodded, Ratchet lowered his hand and waited for June to step onto it and hold onto his thumb before he lifted her up and walked over to his little section of the main room.

"What is it, Ratchet?" June asked, seeing that he was having trouble with his thoughts. His glowing blue eyes focused on her as he frowned a bit.

"I believe its past time that I start learning about the human body," he stated bluntly. "If something were to happen to the children again…" he trailed off, his eyes looking around at his equipment.

"It's not just the children," June asked quietly, "is it?"

"I fear I am at a disadvantage in helping Elita out to the best of my abilities, yes."

"Tell you what," June said, smiling gently up at the mech, "I have my old text books from medical school I can give you, though I'm not sure how much that will help. I can also take a look-see what computer programs I can find about the subject."

Nodding, she could see the relief in his eyes, "That would be most appreciated, Nurse Darby. I fear that the children have annoyed me a bit on the subject by telling me to 'Brain pick it'; whatever that means."

June had to fight giggling, so she coughed into her other hand. "Brainpick is an internet search site that is quite popular, but I strongly recommend that you don't go looking up this sort of topic there."

"Ah, noted and thank you." Turning back to walk into the main part of the room, Ratchet thanked her again before returning June to her son's side.

Elsewhere in the base…

Miko was idly looking over the plants as Elita, in her smaller form, was tending to her garden. Her larger body was currently in its vehicle mode, resting nearby. The black and pink haired girl sighed and moved a strand of hair out of her face. "So… you gonna talk?"

"About what?" E said as she gently pulled a dying leaf from a tomato plant and put it in a bucket that hung on her arm.

"Ya know… about how Ratch came in and saved the day for ya." When Elita didn't answer her, Miko pressed on. "He didn't really rest, ya know? Driving us all up the walls by being even crankier than usual."

"I'm sorry to have done that to you all," was the quiet reply.

The teenagers' head and shoulders dropped a bit to the side as she looked at the woman, who obviously was missing the point. Well, no better way than being direct. "I think he's in love with you." Elita didn't even stop, nor glance at Miko, at this revelation. "Aren't you going to say something? I mean… this is huge!" Her arms flew up and out in emphasis.

"Miko, please understand something," E said quietly as she gently pulled a couple of ripe yellow squash from their vines, "I have a lot to figure out on my own without dragging Ratchet into a relationship I don't know if I'm ready to handle or not."

"Why not?" The red head looked over at Miko, who now had her hands on her hips and that darned determine expression to her face when she was being bull-headed on getting what she wanted.

"This is what I'm going to give you to think on," Elita said calmly, but there was a firm tone to her voice that meant she would broker no argument. "The last guy I dated, the only guy I dated, was for years. He pinned me under his thumb so tightly that I didn't realize it until I told him to hit the road. And come to find out that our relationship was only because he was ordered to do it and he had been my handler the whole time and beyond that.

"My world is upside down still and I'm still trying to figure out how my bodies work now. There's a lot more that I have to think on and consider before I jump head first into anything like that. I need time."

Miko's look softened, even looking heartbroken for the woman. "Ratch isn't going to hurt you," she said gently, "He's a great guy."

"I know he is," Elita agreed, "but I can't put what I need to in a relationship right now and expect it to survive. I respect him enough to do that for him."

Understanding her words, Miko nodded and they both turned back to the plants.

FIN

Author's Notes: I don't own the shows. Thankies! And Brainpick search doesn't exist.

Yes, short chapter. Especially after that last long one. Thanks for sticking with me though this crazy ride. Thanks for all the favorites and reviews.

Thanks to EmoPirateLuv for writing Intertwined, which helped me overcome my fear of mixing the two shows.

Thanks to my husband TexMECHs for proofing and supporting my silly habit. And thanks to our daughter for letting Mommy write for you.