Disclaimer; There are oc's in this story but they are all I can claim as mine. Other than that everything else in the this story belongs to those who own Transformers.
Next chapter 13
Contamination.
Mirage and Optimus Prime were discussing the mission to find the missing canister. Prime had the notes Strobe had found in the safe open on his desk,
"Take Bumblebee with you and be careful," he warned, "We don't know who we are dealing with"
"Yes sir," Mirage replied in his heavy Italian accent.
The scout and the spy left the base and set off to the first point of their investigations...the research installation.
Charlotte bustled into NEST just as Mirage and Bumblebee were leaving and looked around the place, since the new arrivals the place was looking decidedly cramped and maybe it was time that NEST was moved out of Washington and back to its original base in New Jersey. She couldn't quite understand why they were moved from New Jersey in the first place, from what the reports were saying the group were quite happy there. Another thing she wanted to lay to rest was the missing canister. It was a loose end and she wanted to know what the Autobots were going to do about it.
"Who is this woman?" Sunstreaker asked
"Charlotte Mearing," Sideswipe sighed, "A not so pleasant member of the human race. We nearly lost the battle in Chicago because of her."
There was still a lot of contempt for the woman among the Autobots and many of them didn't acknowledge her arrival. William walked through the main double doors and greeted her civilly before contacting Optimus Prime. The automaton walked up to the catwalk and greeted Charlotte with respect,
"Optimus Prime what is the situation with the canister?" she asked stiffly. Prowl walked up to Optimus and stood beside him, a habit he'd picked up from his days as 2IC. He glared at her rather harshly,
"I have Autobots out looking for it now," Optimus replied,
"Were they the ones that just left?"
"Yes they were," Prime replied,
"How long will it be, I have people needing answers?"
Optimus Prime pushed air through his vents impatiently and narrowed his optics, "Charlotte Mearing," he spoke in a firm and authoritive tone, "If you kept a tighter rein on things this wouldn't have happened," he retorted angrily, "Myself, Strobe and any other Autobot is not responsible for the disappearance of the canister of energon. You need to hope it doesn't get into the wrong hands before we find it because if it does we will deal with it anyway we see fit!"
"Optimus Prime," Charlotte replied, "I will not have you threatening me or anybody else,"
Optimus Prime got down to her level and looked at her squarely in the eye, "Miss Mearing," he replied dangerously, "That wasn't a threat that was a warning. I suggest you heed it!" He stood up straight and looked at her,
"I do not like her," Sunstreaker snarled, "She is an obnoxious squishy,"
"Huh, welcome to earth," Skids replied sarcastically as he stood beside the yellow frontline warrior.
Beth woke up feeling not quite herself; her throat was a little tingly, her chest felt tight and she felt unwell. She got out of the bed but the twenty four year old suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed onto her table before she fell.
"Great," Beth said as she watched the four plain white walls slowly stop moving and thought about her next move.
She could either take the time off work or she could just take something for it and continue with her day, after all it was just a cold wasn't it? If it wasn't just a cold then the woman in the cafe yesterday would have been at home. Beth decided on the latter, she loved her job as a soldier and she loved working in the NEST team so the last thing she wanted was for them to consider her a burden, and anyway she had already had loads of time off what with the injuries she'd gained during the battle and the attack from Simon.
Beth got dressed as normal and tamed her curls into a tight bun behind her head. Beth looked in the mirror, her skin looked a little pale and black rings were forming under her eyes. Whatever she had, Beth knew it wasn't going to be good but she was determined to fight it and carry on. She walked out of her room and went to the rec room to get a coffee, as she walked in she sneezed gaining everybody's attention.
William strode into the rec room as well and went to tell Beth about Optimus Prime's decision,
"Amersham," he called. Beth turned around to face the Lieutenent, "Are you okay, Beth? You don't look well,"
"Just a tickly throat, sir, I'll be okay to do my shift,"
"Alright then. Optimus Prime has agreed to letting Aiden see his wife and family but he will be under supervision,"
"Thank you, sir," Beth replied politely.
"Your welcome,"
The young woman picked up her breakfast of a coffee and a bagel but when she looked at it she couldn't face eating it, even the smell of the coffee was repugnant to her churning stomach, and that was unusual for Beth.
Sideswipe saw Beth sitting at the table alone with her elbow on the table and her head resting on her hand. The coffee was in front of her going cold and the bagel had been pushed away. She didn't seem her normal vibrant self and it made him feel like he wanted to pick her up and keep her with him for a day but the twenty four year old was working. One thing he knew he could do and that was activate his holoform because she sure looked like she could do with a hug.
Beth felt a hand on her shoulder,
"Are you okay, Beth?" he asked as he moved around to sit in front of her, "You don't seem yourself,"
"Yeah," she replied flatly. Beth's body jolted as she coughed a dry hacking cough and rubbed her chest, "A woman sneezed on me yesterday, I think I caught her cold,"
"I won't catch it will I?" Beth looked at him with dismay, she wasn't feeling well and here he was concerned that he'd catch it.
"Go and ask Ratchet?" she snipped as she trudged out of the rec room and to her post.
"Woah, you got the touch there Sideswipe," Strobe teased, "What did you say to her?"
"She isn't feeling well so I asked her if I was going to catch what she had?" he replied,
"Nice one, Sides." Strobe quipped, "Not very sensitive are you?"
"Yeah Sideswipe, it doesn't matter what species we are but a femme is a femme and when we are sick a little bit of sensitivity is what's needed," Moonracer laughed as you she beside Strobe,
"Well I see you two have become acquainted," Sideswipe replied,
"We're the only two femmes here. What do you expect us to do...ignore each other?" Strobe asked sarcastically, "I suggest you go and sort out that charge of yours,"
"She has a name," Sideswipe snipped as he left the rec room to find her. Moonracer and Strobe looked at each other and smirked.
Sunstreaker was walking up in the different direction to Beth and even though he didn't know her very well he did notice a change in her demeanour,
"What's wrong soldier girl?" he asked,
"Ask your brother!" she snapped.
Beth's snappy attitude annoyed by him, he stood there looking at her and narrowed his optics,
"Where is Sideswipe, shouldn't he be taking care of you?"
Beth shrugged her shoulders and put her hand up against her painful throat as she tried to swallow and pulled a pained face, "He's more concerned about catching what I have and besides which I don't need to be taken care of, Sunstreaker. He's my friend, not my wet nurse," Beth replied with a raspy voice.
She sneezed, Sunstreaker pulled a disgusted face, "You contaminated me, argh, I'm going to need deep cleaning now. Get away from me squishy," he replied as he pushed her. Beth stumbled backwards and scowled at him,
"Don't be ridiculous Sunstreaker," she replied as she got up and anchored her hands on her hips angrily, "And don't push me you brute."
Sunstreaker looked at her a little surprised. A squishy was standing up to him. He smirked at her and walked off to find his brother. Beth watched him and scowled before completing her journey to the human command area.
The soldier she was going to relieve looked up at Beth and smiled with relief at her arrival, he was tired and feeling a little bit jaded from the long night,
"Hi Beth, how are you?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm okay I guess," she replied, "What's been happening?"
"Nothing much, we picked up a signal from outer space which was a little bit suspicious but it seems to have disappeared,"
Beth looked at the screen, it was certainly showing nothing abnormal, "Did you log it?"
"Yes I did and I told Lennox,"
"Cool," Beth replied.
The soldier yawned and stretched, "Well I'm turning in, it's been a long shift,"
Beth smiled at him and sat in the seat he was sitting in and ran through the log with the faint signature and frowned. It was certainly nothing she had seen before but there was nothing more they could do at the moment. Beth sat silently phasing in and out every now and then and went over her first real experience with Sunstreaker. He hadn't exactly endeared himself to her and she decided he was to be kept at a safe distance. Beth heard footsteps walking along the catwalk and smiled at the sound of her friend humming along to a tune she had heard. Jenna was on the same shift as Beth and took her seat next the twenty four year old,
"Ooh, you look terrible today, Beth," she said,
"Thanks," Beth groused as she looked at the screen, "You don't look so crash hot yourself,"
"I have my reasons," Jenna quipped.
Beth smirked, "Hard night on the town?"
"No," she replied defensively before turning to her screen.
As the morning went on Beth was becoming steadily worse, her throat felt like somebody was continually rubbing it with sandpaper and her head was pounding. On top of that her joints ached and she could feel herself getting warm. Jenna watched Beth as she sneezed for about the hundredth time that morning and blew her nose again,
"You know what?" she said, "You should be in bed,"
"No I shouldn't," Beth replied,
"Well you shouldn't be here, we're all going to get it."
Beth sighed, Jenna was right but she couldn't do anything about it now. William was not around and besides which her shift would be over at five o'clock and it was...only, Beth looked at her watch nine thirty am. She groaned as she placed her elbow on the desk, her head on her hand and slouched forward. She still had seven and a half hours to go.
Jenna looked at her concerned, "When did you last take something?" she asked,
"I haven't this is the worst I felt all morning,"
Jenna sighed she had forgotten her water bottle so she quickly went to get it and brought Beth back a glass of water and two painkillers. It was quiet for a while and Beth could feel herself drifting off to sleep. There was the sound of footsteps which stopped behind her and the hiss of hydraulics as a servo prodded her, she turned around to find a very concerned looking Sideswipe behind her. Beth's eyes widened as she looked at him and held her hands up,
"Oooh don't get too close to me Sideswipe. You might catch it," she teased
"Very funny," he replied, "I came to see how you are and to say I'm sorry for this morning."
Beth looked down at her feet and sniffed as she rubbed her itchy nose with her hand, "Yeah, you were a bit insensitive," she replied as she looked up at him.
Sideswipe noticed how her eyes were looking glazed and her skin pale, "I'm sorry," he said,
"It's okay, Sideswipe," she said as and sneezed again.
He stroked her face with his servo, she felt hot, "You have a fever," he said.
Jenna came back with the water and pain killers, "Here Beth, take these," she said as she handed them to her.
Beth took the water and the tablets and swallowed them, "I'll be alright," she replied but just as she said that she stumbled backwards and fainted.
Jenna caught her and laid her down in the recovery position and loosened her belt and then she called William. First Aid was walking through the command area and saw the young soldier lying on the catwalk and so did William as he walked through the door.
"Is everything alright?" First Aid asked,
"Beth is ill, and she has fainted," Jenna replied,
"Then she should be resting," he replied as he looked down at her and stroked her head, "I'll take her to the med bay, she feels quite hot," he said,
Beth groaned as her eyes fluttered open, she looked around at the sea of concerned faces looking at her,
"It's alright, Beth," Sideswipe called,
Beth went to get up but First Aid held her down, "Just rest sweetheart, you're ill,"
"I'm alright," she relied,
"No you're not Amersham. I'm putting you on sick leave it looks like you have flu,"
"What's flu?" First Aid asked,
"A virus," Jenna replied, "It makes us very ill,"
"Yeah, she'll be down for a week," William replied, "Have you called a doctor?" he asked Jenna,
"I'm here," a middle aged man replied as he bent down beside Beth and took her temperature. First Aid watched with a keen interest as the doctor treated Beth, "Thiry nine point four degrees," he said, "What have you come into contact with to get a temperature like that?" The doctor listened to her heart and checked her breathing, as he did she sneezed into her hands.
"Ohhh I feel so ill," she moaned as she allowed herself to fall backwards.
"You have the flu, Private Amersham," he replied, "Plenty of rest and fluids,"
He helped her up but as he did Beth started to feel dizzy again and stumbled. Sideswipe picked her up,
"Lay down," he said to Beth while placing her in his hand, "I'll take you home,"
"I feel awful, Sides," she moaned,
"I know sweetspark but we'll get you better," he said as he carried her into her quarters.
Beth lay in his hand helplessly too weak to do anything or even protest at being carried around. On their way they met Strobe who was also planning on seeing how Beth was after Sideswipe had treated her the way he did. She didn't like the young woman. Not yet. She still had a long way to go before she felt she could trust Beth but she did feel sorry for the young soldier, she looked so ill in the morning.
Strobe saw Sideswipe walking toward her with his hand held out. Strobe could just make out the form of Beth between Sideswipe's servos,
"What have you done to her?" Strobe asked,
"Nothing she's just got worst," he replied, I'm taking her to bed it's the best place for her,"
Strobe looked into Sideswipe's hand; Beth was laying in there all curled up and shivering. She was pale and listless, Strobe went to touch her with her finger, she felt warm to touch and sweaty and yet she was shivering. The femme looked at Sideswipe confused,
"Why does she feel hot and yet she is shivering like she is cold?"
"I don't know," Sideswipe replied, "I guess it's part of the illness,"
Strobe looked at her again and then at Sideswipe, "She looks like she's going to die,"
"Thanks...Strobe," Beth replied weakly, "I don't intend to die although I feel like I want to right now,"
"I need to get her to bed, Strobe, it is the best place for her. Come and walk with me," Sideswipe said,
Strobe thought about it for a moment before she finally nodded, "Okay," she replied.
Strobe stepped into Beth's quarters, she looked around; everything was so neat and organised. There wasn't a lot in Beth's quarters, she'd lost a lot of stuff from when she was burgled actually her flat still needed sorting out but Beth hadn't worked out what she wanted to do with that yet.
Sideswipe laid her on her bed but she sat up and pulled her beret off and her army shirt so that all she was wearing was her t shirt and army pants. Beth pulled the hair net and clips from her tight bun and let her curls fall around her shoulders. She flopped onto her pillow again and lay there silently while Sideswipe removed her boots,
"Now what do we do with her?" Strobe asked, "We can't leave her like this,"
"Yes we can," Sideswipe replied, "The best thing for her is complete rest,"
"How do you know?" Strobe asked,
"I don't, I'm just guessing because it's what Ratchet says to us when we're ill." Sideswipe replied,
"He's right," Beth murmured.
Ratchet entered her quarters with a jug of water and a glass, "First Aid told me what happened,"
"I'm alright," she said, "I've done this before,"
"No doubt you have," Ratchet replied, "But it's new for us." He squatted down next to her and stroked her hair, "Make sure you get plenty to drink, Beth and I'll check on you later,"
Beth smiled at him "You remind me of Ironhide, he fussed over me a lot when I hurt myself once, during training,"
Ratchet smiled sadly, he knew about how the old weapons specialist had taken a shine to Beth and took her under his wing. She never had the same relationship that he had with William Lennox and his family but it was pretty special,
"Thank you," he replied, he pulled the covers over her, "Just get some rest Beth." he said as he patted her arm gently a couple of times and left.
Strobe listened to the conversation intently; she had a relationship with his brother. She felt a connection to the young soldier through her brother she walked up to Beth and kneeled down in front of her,
"You knew my brother,"
Beth's eyes fluttered open, Sideswipe put his hand on Strobe's arm,
"Now is not the time, sweetspark," he said, "Wait until she's better and then you can speak to her about her connection with Ironhide,"
Strobe looked at Sideswipe, "I want to stay, to get to know her,"
Beth groaned, she wouldn't get any rest, "Sideswipe," she exclaimed,
"Strobe there will be plenty of time for that later, let Beth rest," he replied firmly.
Strobe looked at Sideswipe desperately, "We'll take it in turns, I'll get first watch,"
"Nah uh," Sideswipe replied, "You won't leave her alone. I'm taking first watch and you're leaving,"
"But..." Strobe went to argue,
"You heard him Strobe, Beth needs to rest." Ratchet replied, "You can both leave,"
Strobe flashed her optics angrily at the medic and stomped out of Beth's room. Ratchet and Sideswipe turned to each other and smirked,
"She's passionate, I'll give her that," Sideswipe said,
"She's always been passionate," Ratchet replied, "That's why Jazz liked her so much." He patted Sideswipe on the arm, "Look after Beth, I like her...a lot," he said his piercing optics blazing.
Beth smiled, she'd never heard the medic say how much he liked a human and some told her that he barely tolerated them. Ironhide had told her that one or two humans had made their way into the old medics spark, one of them was Mikaela and when they did they had a friend for life. Now it looked like she had the honour as well.
Strobe sat in the rec room silently sulking, what was so important about this human, she was organic, insignificant and...,
"What's up with you?" Moonracer asked,
"Nothing," Strobe groused as she folded her arms and turned away from the turquoise femme,
"Huh, I heard about how you sulk a lot, now I can see it's true," she said and perched on a chair in front of the table where Strobe sat.
Strobe looked at her and narrowed her optics, "I don't sulk," she barked.
Moonracer laughed, "Yes you do, Ironhide told me you do." she laughed again as a memory emerged "I remember when you were sulking because Ironhide wanted to go out with Chromia instead of spend time with you. It was so funny,"
"There was nothing funny about it," she bellowed, "And Ironhide wouldn't have said that to anybody about how I sulk,"
Moonracer knew that wasn't true, Ironhide always complained about how Strobe sulked but to take this any further would have aggravated the femme. Despite their differences they were close but now he was gone so she had nobody she could say were her close family. Sure she was a member of the Autobot family but they weren't tied by energon,
"Seriously Strobe, what's wrong?" Mooracer asked sympathetically.
Strobe shrugged her shoulders, she wanted to stay with Beth for her own selfish needs and she knew it. She wiped a tear from her cheek but it wasn't as discreet as she would have liked,
"Come to my quarters, Strobe. Let's talk" Moonracer said
Strobe didn't need to be asked twice; she got up and followed the turquoise warrior to her quarters, flopped on her berth and broke down. Moonracer held her until she'd stopped crying, she didn't say anything or do anything until she was sure the jade green and black femme was ready to talk,
"I heard about what happened to you, you've been through a lot," Moonracer said gently.
Strobe nodded.
"Jazz is gone, Ironhide is gone. You were very close to them both."
Again Strobe nodded.
"And now you're on a strange planet with tiny organics who tortured you and one of them is here,"
"Not just one of them, the sister of one of them as well. It's just that I found out she was really close to Ironhide as well."
"Ahhhh, Strobe," Moonracer replied, "I'm so sorry,"
"I wanted to talk to her but Sideswipe said not now because she is ill,"
There was a moments silence before Moonracer spoke carefully, "Beth looked very ill this morning you knew that Strobe,"
"I know I know," she sobbed, "And I know I was being selfish but it just seemed to make me want to connect with her a bit more when I found out how close she was to my brother."
Another minute's silence.
"Strobe just because you couldn't speak to Beth then doesn't mean you can't later. She just needs to rest right now. I read about the flu and it makes the humans very ill."
Strobe lifted her head off of Moonracer's shoulders and looked at the turquoise blue femme,
"I know," she replied, "I was being selfish,"
"Not selfish," Moonracer replied, "You're grieving Strobe, it's only natural you'd want to know about Ironhide and how he died and lived, but just be patient and let Beth get better. There is going to be plenty of time to speak to Beth, my understanding is she sees us as her family because she doesn't have any so I believe she's going to be round for a long time. Have you tried to get to know her?"
Strobe shook her head, "She's the sister of Aiden Amersham," Moonracer was blown away by this, "Wow, she's so different. You know we could get to know her together, she seems like a respectable human,"
Strobe had never thought about it like that, a respectable human...she frowned and cocked her head. Was there such a thing? Moonracer seemed to think so,
"How can there be respectable humans, look at what they did to me," she asked,
"Look at us Cybertronians, Strobe," Moonracer replied, "Look at us, Strobe. Did you not torture Decepticons? I was out there shooting them along with everybody else,"
Strobe looked at her through narrowed optics, "That was different, Moonracer and you know it!" Strobe retorted angrily, "We had to fight,"
Optimus Prime overheard the raised voices of Moonracer and Strobe, he thought about knocking and seeing if everything was alright but decided to leave them to resolve this themselves.
Moonracer stood up and faced Strobe, "And so did Beth, in a battle she didn't have to fight in, anybody who does that earns respect in my eyes," Moonracer retorted sharply.
Strobe thought about it for a moment, she slid off the berth and stood with her back to Moonracer. She nodded slowly and looked down,
"You're right," she croaked, "You're absolutely right. I've been a glitch,"
Moonracer raised an optic ridge, "I wouldn't go that far," she said. She walked up to Strobe and looked at her compassionately, "Get to know her, if Ironhide could then you can." A pained expression crossed Strobe's face as she looked down again,
"Alright...I will," she replied.
Ratchet went back to the med bay, Leadfoot was already in there helping Hound with his new helmet while Mark watched with fascination and First Aid was running a final scan on Bluestreak, who for once is quiet,
"How is Beth?" First Aid asked,
"She is very ill with the flu," Ratchet replied
"Huh, I'm not surprised; some sick women sneezed on her yesterday in the cafe,"
"That's disgusting," Bluestreak replied,
"Bad mannered as well," Leadfoot retorted,
"Is she alone?" Mark asked,
"Sideswipe is with her," Ratchet replied,
Mark frowned, "I'll go and visit her later,"
First Aid chuckled, "If you can get past Sideswipe, has anybody else noticed how close he is to her?"
Mark smirked, "I have," he replied.
Sunstreaker suddenly burst into the med bay, "I need a deep clean, I've been contaminated," he groused as he marched up to Ratchet.
The not so pleased CMO glowered at Sunstreaker, "What is this the meaning of this," he bellowed,
"That human female soldier sneezed on me and now I've been contaminated. I need a deep clean! Argh! I feel so dirty, she is so disgusting. They all are,"
Mark looked at the bright yellow transformer pacing the med bay floor with bewilderment. He couldn't quite grasp what his problem was; the humans always caught viruses,
"Calm yourself Sunstreaker," Ratchet snapped,
"No, I won't calm myself. That femme is disgusting," he held out his arms and shook his hands as he inspected himself for any signs of contamination, "She should be put into quarantine,"
Ratchet looked around for a wrench and found one near Hound, "Mark get out of here," he bellowed.
The human soldier had never seen Ratchet this mad before. He quickly slid down the ladder and run out of the med bay while those within the direct path of the medic's missile ducked.
Clang!
"Owww!" Sunstreaker bellowed,
"Pick it up!" Ratchet barked.
Sunstreaker glared at the CMO, picked up the wrench and took it back to Ratchet. The seventeen foot robot snatched it from the frontline warrior, he stood in front of Sunstreaker still glaring daggers at him,
"That femme..." Ratchet repeated sarcastically, "...Happens to be a soldier who fought against the Decepticons and an integral member of the NEST team and you will not refer to her in such a derogatory manner again." he continued as he prodded Sunstreaker's chest, "Your only problem is me because I will not tolerate that sort of behavior again. Now get out of here!" Sunstreaker growled, if Ratchet wasn't going to do anything than he would take things into his own hands, "And you leave Beth alone," Ratchet bellowed after him, "Or you'll have another dent to match the one you already have,"
Mark walked back into the med bay, "What was that?" he asked with a smile,
"That was Sunstreaker at his worst," Hound replied,
"Wow I hope he's better at his best,"
"Nope," Bluestreak replied, "Watch him; he is quite a vain mech who will happily squash any organic who happens to wonder too close to him."
There was a snicker in the med bay as Mark pulled a face. "A narcissist robot...the mind boggles," he thought.
Mark looked at Ratchet who was still seething at the frontline warrior, he knew what he was going to do and felt it prudent to go and rescue Beth before the frontline warrior got to her.
Meanwhile Strobe had decided she would go and visit Beth, she stood silently in the sick woman's quarters quarters for a moment and watched Beth as she slept. The soldier sniffed and moaned as she moved under her covers and then coughed. It was deep raspy cough and by the sound of Beth's second moan it was hurting her. Strobe sat herself against a wall and activated her holoform, which approached Beth and touched her forehead. She was hot. Very hot.
The holoform shook Beth gently, "Beth, wake up," Beth wouldn't respond, "Beth," she called again, "Beth wake up,"
Beth stirred slowly, "Go away," she moaned as she went to hit at the intrusion to her sleep. A hand grabbed Beth's arm, "Beth wake up," Strobe said again.
Beth turned towards the familiar voice, "Strobe?" she exclaimed as she sat up and winced at the pain in her head,
"Beth, you're too hot...,"
"Yeah, I'm aching too," she replied,
"Then I must call Ratchet," Strobe said.
Beth didn't miss the concern lacing Strobe's voice and smiled, "No Strobe, you don't need to call Ratchet, I can take care of myself. I have some...," she felt her pockets for the ibuprofen but it wasn't there, she sighed as she threw the covers back and got off the bed,
"What do you need Beth?" Strobe asked,
"My Ibuprofen, I think it was at the post I was working at this morning." Beth replied but as she stood up she became dizzy and stumbled,
"Careful," Strobe said as she held onto the young woman.
She cringed as she held onto Beth, this was an organic and she was holding her. Yuk! How gross! However, Strobe was careful not to express her feeling in word or touch so as not to offend the sick woman because she had come here of her own initiative,
"You had better lay back down, Beth, you're too sick to be moving about. I'll get your i...ibu...what did you call it?" she asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
Beth smiled, "Ibuprofen," she replied,
"Yeah, that!" she pulled the covers back over Beth, "I'll be back in a minute,"
Beth lay on her bed and looked at the ceiling, she frowned, "Hang on a minute; that was Strobe, what has got into her?"
Beth watched as her holoform disappeared and her real form came back to life and left Beth's quarters. Strobe made her way through the base and up to the catwalk to where Jenna was sitting. Jenna caught Strobe out of the corner of her eye and watched her suspiciously to see what her next move would be,
"Calm down human," Strobe snapped, "I've come for Beth's ibuprofen,"
Strobe watched Jenna as relief washed over her features, "They're here," she dipped her hand in her pockets and handed Strobe the strip of tablets. "She needs some more; I'll get them for her when I go off duty,"
"That's very kind of you," Strobe replied as she took the medicine strip.
Jenna was a bit puzzled with this change in Strobe but she smiled at her as she asked how Beth was. Strobe shrugged her shoulders,
"She's hot and complaining of aching,"
"That's to be expected," Jenna replied matter of factly.
Strobe became offended by Jenna's lack of interest in her friend, "Don't you care?" she asked.
Jenna turned back to the screen briefly to see if the signal had changed at all, "Yes I do," Jenna replied. She looked back at Strobe, "But this is nothing new to us," she continued, "Tell Beth I'll visit her later when I drop in some more ibuprofen." Strobe nodded, "Oh...and thanks...for fetching her medicine. Beth has a habit of just suffering,"
"Why?" Strobe asked,
"I'll let Beth tell you when she's ready," Jenna replied, "She told me in confidence,"
"Confidence...what's that?" Strobe asked,
"Beth told me in private to be kept as a secret. She finds it hard to trust people because she was hurt as a child, so be careful Strobe because she is very sensitive."
Strobe frowned, all these times she'd been unkind to her not knowing that she was already hurting. She made her way back to Beth's quarters, poured a glass of water which she handed to Beth along with the strip of medication,
"Thanks Strobe," she said.
Strobe smiled at her, "Get some rest," she said, "I'll call in on you later." Beth frowned, she knew they were making progress but she didn't think they'd got this far.
She drifted back into a restless sleep grateful for the femme's show of concern but she was disturbed by her door being opened and shut again and feet stomp towards her,
"Femme, wake up!" an angry voice barked. Strobe opened her eyes a little to see who was there and met Sunstreaker's angry optics, "You have contaminated me femme. What are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing," she replied as she rolled over.
Sunstreaker growled and narrowed his optics, "Don't you turn your back on me, squishy."
Beth rolled back over, the yellow frontline's face was right above hers, "If you're that worried about me contaminating you why are you in here now?" she yelled and coughed as she held her chest and pulled a face. Sunstreaker stopped and stood up straight and then he bent down over her,
"Well I'm already contaminated so it doesn't really matter now does it?" he replied sarcastically.
All Beth wanted to do was sleep but she wasn't willing to close her eyes while Sunstreaker was in here. Who knows what he would do to her while she was sleeping, "Sunstreaker ," she rasped in a frustrated tone, "Get out of here,"
The yellow frontline warrior glowered at her, "Are you ordering me around. Don't you know what I could do to you?" he asked quietly
Beth sneezed again,
"Eew that is so disgusting" Sunstreaker snarled, "All you organics are disgusting and germy and gross,"
Sunstreaker..." Beth rasped, "Get out of here before I use you for a tissue," she snarled,
"What did you say?" he asked as he bent over, "Don't you dare touch me with your germy fingers, organic!" he snarled back.
Beth had had enough of the yellow frontline warrior she sprang out of her bed and picked up the first thing she saw...her boot,
"Get out!" she screamed as she hurled it at him and then burst into a fit of coughing.
Ratchet was almost near Beth's quarters when he heard her scream at the frontline warrior. He burst through her door and caught the boot as it flew through the air. He looked at the sick soldier who had flopped back on her bed visibly upset and the frontline warrior who was watching her victoriously. Sunstreaker turned to see who had just come in and met Ratchet's piercing optics,
"Out!" he barked as he pointed to the door, "Wait for me outside while I deal with Beth,"
"Yeah deal with her, she contami...,"
There was a range of noises and sounds from the medic and a wrench hit the frontline warrior across the helm...again. Beth rolled her eyes and turned around to get back into bed. The CMO watched him leave with his tail between his legs and turned back to Beth,
"Alright?" he asked,
"Yes thanks, Ratchet," she replied, "Thanks for coming when you did. He's nothing like his brother,"
Ratchet chuckled as he pulled the covers over Beth and helped her to feel more comfortable, "Sideswipe isn't that much better when he gets going. Get some rest now, Sunstreaker won't be disturbing you anymore." He replied.
Sideswipe was coming to visit Beth when he saw his brother outside looking shamefaced. He walked up to the his twin and playfully punched him in the arm before giving Sunsreaker a hug but the frontline warrior pushed him away,
"What's up with you?" Sideswipe asked,
"Ask your charge?" Sunstreaker replied sarcastically.
At that moment Ratchet walked out and glared at both the twins before he turned back to Sunstreaker,
"Med bay. Now!" he barked.
Sideswipe looked at the medic who was glaring angrily at his brother and his face darkened, "What did you do?" he asked.
Sunstreaker rolled his optics and walked off with Ratchet while Sideswipe walked into Beth's room,
"Hey, Beth, it's me sweetspark,"
A smile lightly graced Beth's pale face, "Sideswipe," she croaked before her body jolted,
"What happened?" he asked her,
"Strobe and Sunstreaker came to visit me,"
"Strobe did?" Sideswipe asked,
"Yeah, it was very strange, she actually cared for me. Which is more than what Sunstreaker did." Beth sat up, the ibuprofen had eased her aching joints and her headache, "Apparently I contaminated him," she replied through a blocked up nose
A smirk formed on Sideswipe's face, "You contaminated my brother?" he asked,
"Yes, I sneezed on him so he came in and became quite offensive," she replied,
"Well why doesn't that surprise me? You will have to excuse my brother he is a little vain,"
"Well according to Ratchet you're not much better. Is that a weakness, Sideswipe?" she teased,
Sideswipe frowned, "It seems you're feeling better," he replied,
She sniffed making her blocked up nose worst, "For de bobendt, de ibuprofen has kicked in,"
Sideswipe looked at her and burst into laughter, "You're talking funny,"
"Sidedwipe," she whined as she hit him playfully, "By dose is blocked up, of course I dalk fuddy."
They sat there quietly for a while before Beth looked at him and screwed her face up, "Sides, why are you here anyway?"
He looked down at her and smiled, "Because I care about you," he replied, "Can't a friend, do that?"
Beth shrugged her shoulders, "I suppose," she replied lightly.
Sideswipe moved around so he was facing her, "Beth, I really care about you," he replied sincerely.
Beth's stomach nearly fell through the floor, was he saying...he loves her? How can that work, she was only five foot nine human and he was sixteen foot Cybertronian.
Well that took Beth by surprise. What happens now?