I remember how it all came crashing down. I didn't know it was even happening for a time due to denial, but I was already walking amongst rubble the day I woke up from my coma.
The denial would be impossible, eventually. Oh, and how things changed...
All of my hopes, they vanished like smoke. My fears went with them, I would not live to outlive anyone I loved.
My clock started ticking down to 'zero'.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Jenna opened her optics, and she looked around in confusion. That place... She did not recognize it.
"You are meant for great things, little artist."
"Who's there?" Jenna asked, then she recognized the voice and realized that she was standing on a restored Cybertron. "Oh my God... It's back?"
"You are meant to save two worlds, both of them yours."
"Primus?" Jenna asked, finally recognizing the voice. There was no reply, but she could see a fierce battle around a large hole in the ground.
It was the Autobots, Sari, Predaking and two new Predacons, the Predabots, and Knockout versus an army of undead Predacons led by a disfigured and purple-opticed Megatron. The Nemesis and Ultra Magnus' ship were crashed on the ground, with an injured Wheeljack being pulled from the wreckage while Optimus closed his optics and opened a reliquary filled with energy. Instead of it going into his chest - its intended location -, it entered a small figure.
"You are a bridge between two worlds." The voice went on as the figure was consumed by a white light, and the figure went out while the Predacons and Predabots tried to stop their undead ancestors. It raised its hands and released a brilliant white blast that destroyed them all instantly. "And the only one who can save everyone, including Optimus Prime... And your partner."
"Who is that?" Jenna asked, her optics wide as Megatron flew away and Starscream fled the scene, her gaze set on the figure. The figure went to the edge of the pit and let itself fall deep into the depths of Cybertron.
"Cybertron will be reborn and grow through you, little one." The voice assured her as millions of new and old Cybertronian sparks suddenly burst from the pit and rocketed into the sky. "Everything lost will be restored and everything to be gained will be claimed as long as you do this, as long as you obey."
"... What happened to that person, Primus?" Jenna asked quietly, her expression forlorn as several sparks drifted over to her. She reached out and tapped a few.
A red and silver one...
"You mess with Cliffjumper, you get the horns!"
A blue and green one...
"I can see your ship on my scanners!"
A black and gold one...
"Assess the situation, choose your move, and execute with graceful precision."
Jenna blinked, then she looked at the hole with a frown.
"The ones I've heard stories about - Cliffjumper, Seaspray, Prowl... They're dead." The girl looked down, then she looked up at the sky. "Are you saying that there's a way to bring them back? Will you... Let them come back?" Jenna slowly smiled. "All of the ones my friends lost in the war, they can come back. Prowl, Cliffjumper... The Wreckers." Her optics widened, then her expression fell as she looked down again. Her hands were shaking, so she directed her attention to the massive hole where the sparks were emerging from. "Wheeljack told me about this place. He called it 'the Well of Allsparks', the afterlife for Cybertronians. What... What do I have to do? I don't understand."
"Yes, you do." The voice was softer than it had been before. "You do, little one... I'm so sorry." Jenna looked up at the sky, stunned, then she closed her optics.
"'JACKIE!"
...
Jenna woke up with a start, sitting up straight and gasping quietly. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she raised a hand to her spark, shocked. It was just a dream, it had to be just a dream.
"... Jenna?" A voice asked, and Jenna looked up as her mother entered the room - her bedroom. Jenna blinked, and June slowly smiled. "You gave all of us quite the scare, sweetheart." Jenna blinked again, then she looked down at herself. She looked... Fine. "... Ratchet said that it's lucky that you're a techno-organic. He kept you on an Energon IV, and you began to heal up within a few hours." Jenna looked up at her mother, who was still smiling even though there were tears in her eyes.
"H... How long-?" The girl rasped, then she winced and raised a hand to her throat. June walked over and grabbed a water-bottle from Jenna's bedside-table, opening it and handing it to her daughter. Jenna grabbed it and drank from it, then she lowered it and took a deep breath. "How long have I been out?"
"... You've been out for nearly a month." June admitted, and Jenna's optics widened. "It's January 18th... Wheeljack's refused to leave the garage for the most part, and his holoform came to visit a lot. He didn't give me a warning the first few times though, so..." June gestured to a hole in the wall. "I shot it, twice. I really have become paranoid..." Jenna gave a small laugh.
"With the life we live, that's to be expected." Her expression fell and became worried. "Is everyone okay?"
"We're all fine." June assured, and Jenna sighed in relief. "... You were very brave, Jenna." Jenna blinked, then she looked up at her mother with a frown.
"Mom, I just did what needed to be done. I wasn't being brave..." The girl shuddered lightly on remembering the desert. "That was honestly very stupid, even for me... I'm gonna go and see Wheeljack." Jenna swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Her knees wobbled a little bit, but then she adjusted herself and stood up straight.
"That's probably a good idea." June chuckled lightly. Then, she smirked at her daughter. "And I know that this is the first time you've brought a boy home, but all the same... I think I approve." Jenna blinked, then she scoffed and turned to her mother.
"Mom!"
"He did get brainwashed as easy as the rest of us, but that's not his fault. He certainly feels guilty about it, which is a good sign - he genuinely cares about you." June began, turning away as she spoke. "And he was the only one who was able to resist on his own, which is also very good. If only he hadn't stabbed you... At least he's a gentleman. A little dense, though - I kept dropping little hints while he was helping me with some groceries and assisting me with taking care of you, and he didn't seem to pick up on any of them."
"Mom, what the H-?!"
"Sweetheart, you're going to live for billions of years. I can't set you up with a boy, so what else am I supposed to do?"
"Literally anything else, Mom!" The brunette shouted in frustration. "He's my best friend!"
"And?"
"He's my partner!"
"And?"
"He's one of my teammates!"
"And?"
"He's two-billion years old!"
"And?"
"Uh..." Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this the part where you should be saying 'oh, he's too old for you'?"
"Ratchet once mentioned that your protoform was probably at least a billion years old, maybe older. It's simply only been active for eighteen years. Either way, human or Cybertronian, you're-"
"Okay, stop with the logic!" Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose, annoyed. "For God's sake... Is this really a thing that moms do?!"
"You better believe it, sweetheart." June laughed at her daughter's horrified expression. "Let the meddling begin!"
"MOM!"
"And take a shower, before you head out." June advised, and Jenna blinked. "You have been out for a month, and your hair is... Not great."
"... Thanks, Mom." Jenna deadpanned, annoyed. "It's great to be back."
Jenna was surprised by how much the water hurt her skin. She took her shower as quickly as possible, and the second she stepped out, she was suddenly dry and wearing her black pants, black boots, and blue shirt again. Jenna winced, rolling her shoulders back as her whole body felt sore, then she approached the mirror.
"Agh..." The techno-organic gripped the sides of the sink, her expression pained, then she took a deep breath and grabbed her hairbrush. She brushed her wet hair out to remove the tangles, then she watched with a frown as her hair suddenly dried itself and returned to its usual volume and size. Everything felt heavy, and she felt more tired and weak than usual.
Slowly, Jenna raised a hand to her chest, and she watched as the portion of her shirt under the shadow cast by her hand became transparent. Taking another deep breath, Jenna rested her hand on the place where she knew the sword had pierced her body, her optics wide as she felt the skin part. She could feel the places where they welded her back together, and her breath shook as she raised a hand to her spark.
...
"The techno-organic must be destroyed."
...
Jenna hung her head and closed her optics, baring gritted teeth as she lowered her hand and felt the skin move back into place, the shirt becoming solid-color and covering her once more.
"O-oh, God..."
"... Here." A voice spoke, and Jenna looked back to see June entering the bathroom, dragging a stool behind her. Jenna blinked, then she sat down on the stool as June stood behind her and began braiding her hair.
"... I thought my hair was a lost cause."
"Well, a lot of things have been called a lost cause - and folks have been wrong before, you know. In the last few years, I think I've broadened my horizons. It comes with having what's basically a superhero for a daughter."
"Yeah." Jenna gave a weak grin, then she frowned. "Mom, I forgot to tell you before... Fowler thinks found out where Jessica and Jonathan Smith came from, before they dropped me off here in Jasper." June paused her fingers. "A small town, in Texas... He said I could look into things, if I wanted. What do you think?"
"... I think you need a win, sweetheart." June replied quietly. "Those two, they're gone... And if you find what you're looking for, I don't know if it will make things any better."
"I don't know, either." Jenna admitted, then she closed her eyes. "I honestly don't know how much I care about learning these things. I barely remember the Smiths, I just know they died for me instead of handing me over to the 'Cons... If they've got any living relatives left, I think I owe them some closure. I can't say everything, but... I know they were brave."
"I do, too... They gave us you, after all." June used a black hairband to finish the braid before setting it on her daughter's left shoulder. "... Do whatever you feel is right." Jenna gave a small smile, then she laughed quietly as she opened her eyes before reaching up and flicking the end of her braid.
"I look like a brunette Elsa." She joked halfheartedly. The braid was loose and messy, her grown-out bangs swished to the side or even included in the braid. "With a little less Disney-magic... What's the occasion?"
"I'm glad that my little girl's alive." June replied honestly, and Jenna blinked. "I'm proud od you, sweetheart, but there was a bit where things looked dodgy... Wheeljack blames himself." Jenna's expression fell. "He needs you, more than you know... And I think you're both going to need help, for a while."
"... You think we could develop PTSD, from what happened." Jenna guessed quietly. Pixels formed in the air around her body, and a copy of her old, oversized green hoodie was suddenly hanging from her frame. June sighed softly.
"Sweetheart, part of me thinks you should have had it since Darkmount. The trauma you two have endured..."
"We'll be okay, Mom." Jenna stood and turned to her mother, frowning. "Promise... We're stronger than you think." June gazed at her daughter forlornly.
"And weaker than you think... No one is invincible, Jenna, not even you."
"When did I ever say I was?" Jenna asked, looking at her mother questioningly. June shook her head.
"You didn't have to... I see it, in everything you do."
Jenna walked out to the garage, where a particularly aggravated white sports-car was having an argument with a teenage boy and a blue motorcycle over whether or not he was worried about someone. The car insisted that he wasn't while the boy and the motorcycle seemed pretty convinced. Jenna raised an eyebrow, then smirked lightly and leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms.
"Did I miss anything fun?"
"Jenna!" Jack noticed her and grinned, running over and hugging his sister tightly. She smiled, closing her optics and hugging back, then Jack pulled away and punched her arm lightly. "You nearly got yourself killed, you idiot!"
"Geez. Will everyone be this mad?" Jenna rolled her optics, crossing her arms again. "Sorry that I almost died while buying time for Sari to pull off her daring rescue and save your life, Jackson. If you really don't want me to, I won't do it again."
"You took on Wheeljack and Megatron alone!" Arcee transformed, kneeling, and she glared lightly down at the girl. "And refusing to fight?! Are you out of your fraggin' mind?!" To that, Jenna just shrugged.
"You know how I get. Fighting just one red-eyed robot is ever so boring, two is definitely the way to go - and making myself a vulnerable target? Brilliant." She smiled deviously as Arcee deadpanned. Wheeljack transformed, cringing as he hit his helm on a light, and Jenna looked up at him with a small grin. "... Hey, 'Jackie."
"... Kid." Wheeljack sighed, looking down at the floor. "I'm so, so sorry. You were counting on me, and-"
"Hey." Jenna walked over and pat his arm, smiling up at him. "I'm fine, aren't I? It's okay." Wheeljack blinked, then he looked down again.
"Kid, you're not-"
"And don't worry, I have my revenge plan ready." Jenna smirked, crossing her arms once more. "You won't know when or how, but I'll get you back." Wheeljack looked up at her, still frowning, and Jenna shrugged. "Okay. If you're going to be like that - you know, flashing the big blue Autobot-optics to make me feel bad... Screw it. Revenge!" Jenna whipped out one of her paint-bombs and pitched it at Wheeljack's faceplate, laughing as he glared at her while covered in green and pink paint. She drew her phone and made a call, grinning excitedly. "Ratchet, I pissed Wheeljack off! I need an emergency evac, stat!"
A ground bridge opened, and Jenna saluted Wheeljack, smirking deviously and winking, before she leapt backwards through the portal just before it closed. Wheeljack just gaped after her for a moment, then he shook his helm, giving a small laugh.
"Reckless little punk..."
"That was adorable." A voice commented, and the three remaining occupants of the garage looked up to see June standing in the doorway between the house and garage, grinning as she lowered a video-camera. "You know, you're just making this easier for me." Wheeljack deadpanned at the nurse.
"Not okay."
/\
Jenna walked out of the ground bridge to see the rest of the Autobots, and she blinked as she suddenly got crushed in a hug from Miko, Sari, and Raf.
"You idiot!" Sari shouted as they pulled away. Jenna gave a small, nervous grin at her livid glare.
"Sorry?"
"Jenna." Optimus got down on one knee, and Jenna slowly walked over to him. "What you did was foolish."
"Which part?" Jenna asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. "Fighting Wheeljack? Fighting Megatron? Stalling for help that had a possibility of not coming? Nearly letting myself get killed? Getting myself stabbed? It was all pretty 'foolish', but I couldn't think of anything else to do..." Jenna looked down, sighing. "I'm sorry, okay?"
"... Why?" Smokescreen asked, and Jenna looked up at him. "You put up a distraction and stalled the 'Cons long enough for all of us to get free... Thanks."
"We owe you, big time." Bulkhead grinned, and Ultra Magnus gave a small nod. Ratchet smiled slightly, the Predabots bowed t
heir helms, and Elita-1 gazed at the girl fondly.
"Thank you." Bumblebee smiled, and Jenna blinked. Then, she sighed in relief, grinning.
"I thought I was off the team for a second there, with all the grim behavior... Whoo..." Jenna shook her head. "Close one..." Though she smiled, there was still that darkness in the back of Jenna Darby's mind, the words and visions from her dream threatening to consume her thoughts...
Suddenly, Wheeljack and Arcee arrived through a new ground bridge with June and Jack. Wheeljack glared lightly at the girl as he scratched the rest of the paint-bomb's messy splatter off of his finish.
"Real mature, partner."
"Yeah, I know." Jenna smirked lightly, and he scowled. Then, Jenna looked over at the tree. "... No one opened any presents?"
"We waited." Arcee crossed her arms. "We wanted all of us to be here... The whole family." Jenna looked up at her, surprised, then she slowly smiled.
"Bet I got the best presents!" She shouted, and everyone rolled their eyes or optics as she turned and ran over to the tree. Then, they followed her and surrounded the tree, exchanging and opening presents as they had a late but very merry Christmas.
"... For Primus' sake, kid!" Wheeljack deadpanned as he held up a robot-shaped air-freshener, and Jenna laughed. "I told you to stop with these stupid things! They get caught on everything if I transform with one in me!"
"Oh, just for that bit of joy - I'm giving you your real present, now." The girl grinned, standing and walking away. Wheeljack blinked, not noticing the other Wreckers, Ratchet, and Sari grinning at him, then the white Wrecker stood and started to follow his partner to the platform that would take them to the rooms.
Wheeljack blinked as Jenna led him into his own room.
"What's all this about, kid?"
"Look around, tell me what you see." Jenna smirked, crossing her arms. Wheeljack blinked again, then he looked around.
"Err... A lot of grey?"
"Bingo." Jenna stated, then she turned away and crouched. Wheeljack watched, confused, as she stood and showed him something she had picked up: a mass of fishing-line stemming from her hand to the rest of the room. "You made my room better for me... So, I decided to do the same for you."
"What?"
"Oh, you're gonna love this." Jenna smirked, then she suddenly pulled on the strings. Wheeljack watched, stunned, as massive sheets of paper painted to match the walls slid out of place to reveal paint - but it wasn't Jenna's usual M.O.
On one wall was a painting Wheeljack recognized as based on the picture Miko had taken of Wheeljack and Bulkhead together before Wheeljack and Jenna had left for space. She had captured their expressions of confusion, the desert sky, and the shading perfectly. Wheeljack wanted to laugh at the image, at how it made everything better.
On another wall was a painting of Team Prime, all together with humans, techno-organics, and Cybertronians accounted for beneath the symbols of the Autobots, the Elite Guard, the Wreckers, Predacons, and the United States government. Every pose and expression was perfect, and Wheeljack found himself smiling as he saw his own smirking face while Jenna sat perched on his rotator-cup.
The back wall... That was impressive. It was the Wreckers, all of them - alive and dead, past and present. Jenna had found them, all of them - all of the members of Wheeljack's family, his best friends. Every expression and pose was so lifelike, he thought they would step out of the wall. Miko was holding up the collapsed Apex Armor with a devious grin on her face.
"Whoa." Wheeljack stared at the mural, stunned. "You got all of them..." The techno-organic gave a small shrug.
"Bulkhead helped with the names and poses, and Ratchet and Sari did research to find pictures... Do you like it?"
"... Yeah." Wheeljack looked back at her, smiling. "Thanks, kid."
"Hm." Jenna hummed, smiling, then she blinked. "Oh, wait - forgot one!" Jenna tugged on the strings again, and a piece of paper fell from the ceiling to reveal a painting of the Jackhammer flying amongst the stars.
"You never cease to amaze, kid." Wheeljack grinned, looking over at her again. Jenna beamed as he held a servo out, then she ran over and hopped into his palm. "Let's head back before we're missed."
"Alright!" Jenna held onto the strings to drag the papers out of his room as they departed. "Think the recycling company's gonna love me or hate me?"
"Why not both?"
/\
After everyone had opened their presents, Jenna sighed as she stood up and stretched.
Around her neck, there was a custom-made necklace that was silver in color and designed after the Wrecker emblem with two small shards of Energon making the optics glow. It had been Wheeljack's idea, and everyone agreed that it was a decent replacement for her lost TARDIS necklace.
"Well, it's been a month since I spread my wings." She announced, and everyone looked at her in surprise as her armor appeared on her body. "I think it's high-time I get myself back into fighting shape. We've still got a war to win, after all." Wheeljack blinked, then his optics widened as he reached out.
"Kid, wait!" It was too late. Jenna tried to will her wings out of her back, and there was a sickening sound of groaning metal. Jenna yelped, falling down on one knee.
"Agh..." The girl cringed, then she pushed herself up so that she was standing again. "The Hell..?" Jenna looked over her shoulder, annoyed. "Stupid wings. Why aren't they working?"
"Miss Darby..." Ratchet gazed at her warily. Jenna closed her optics and focused, and when her wings finally spread, her optics opened as she gasped in pain.
The wings were twisted, torn, and mangled with the left one half-gone - it had been blasted apart. Jenna looked back at them, her optics widening, then her wings suddenly gave out along with her legs and she yelped again as she fell over onto her side.
June and Jack ran over as she forced herself onto her hands and knees, wincing and even letting out a small cry of agony as her wings slowly forced themselves back into their compartment. The girl closed her optics and took deep, shaking breaths as June kneeled and raised a hand to her face.
"Sweetheart, can you hear me?" The nurse asked worriedly as Jack got down on one knee next to her. The girl took a few more deep breaths, then she looked up at them.
Ratchet and Sari explained the damage that had been dealt to Jenna's wings. It was as they feared, they hadn't healed on their own and she could no longer use them. Sari quietly told Jenna about how her father was working on a jetpack for her, and she expressed how sorry she was. Wheeljack stood with his back against a wall and his arms crossed, and he would not look at his partner...
"... Whatever." The techno-organic in blue shrugged, and everyone blinked. Then, Wheeljack's optics narrowed as he looked over at her.
"Whatever? Kid, I-"
"Whatever." Jenna repeated, looking over at him. "I was trying to save your life, Wheeljack - and having wings will never mean more to me than that, could never mean more to me than that... I got my wings clipped, but you're alive. You act like I should be crying on the floor, kicking and screaming - but whatever. I don't care." She gave a small grin. "I'm just sorry that you'll have to start carrying me around again so that I won't get stepped on."
"I..." Wheeljack stared at her, stunned, then he gave a small grin. "It's no problem, kid. You know that." Jenna beamed, crossing her arms.
"Then, we're good."
"... Miss Darby, I must stress that you should not try to deploy your wings again." Ratchet spoke up, and the techno-organic looked over at him. "Not only does the pain appear to be debilitating, but you could inadvertently harm yourself further and cause internal bleeding."
"You got it." Jenna nodded, not noticing Wheeljack's grin falling into a forlorn expression as her armor vanished to reveal her casual attire. "I won't try to use my wings ever again."
/\
After everyone calmed down, Jenna went out to the airfield to think. She just stood there, looking over the field, her arms crossed as she thought about all that had happened... Eventually, Wheeljack found her there.
"Hey." Wheeljack spoke, and she looked back as he approached. He was frowning down at her, his expression forlorn."Kid... I really am sorry."
"'Jackie, it's fine." Jenna sighed, shaking her head, then she looked up at him. "What matters now is that you got free, and everyone's okay."
"You nearly got killed!" Wheeljack protested, glaring lightly. "Megatron nearly killed you! I nearly killed you, I was the closest to pulling it off!"
"... Nearly." Jenna smiled kindly. "I'm tougher than I look, partner. You should know that, you helped me."
"I put a sword in your chest, shot your wing-"
"You were not in control." Jenna let her hands fall to her sides. "That was Soundwave, 'Jackie. Not you... I know you would never hurt me."
"... When will you stop riskin' your life to save-..?" Wheeljack took a deep intake of air. "To save mine, kid?"
"Never." Jenna admitted, and Wheeljack blinked. "I mean... It's not like you're any better, 'Jackie. You kinda tried to one-v-one Megatron, too." Wheeljack just looked at Jenna for a long moment, then he deadpanned heavily.
"Moron."
"Wheeljack-ass."
"Grr..."
"Love you, too, partner." Jenna teased, and Wheeljack glared. "Hey... I just wanted to ask... How did you break free from King 'Con's control, anyway? I was so out of it at that point that it all just sorta went over my head." Wheeljack blinked, then he gave a small shrug.
"Somethin' on the ship and damaged Laserbeak, I think it was Sari." He said, then he looked away. "I'm sorry that I-"
"Hey." Jenna placed her hands on her hips. "I do remember you fighting back. You might not have gotten completely free, but even struggling shouldn't have been possible without something interfering with what Soundwave was up to or you being a freakin' cyber-ninja... You fought back, 'Jackie, against impossible odds." She gave a small smile. "Just for little ol' me... I won't forget that, partner."
"... Maybe the 'Con played a wrong note in an already-terrible song and I woke up to kick aft and play critic." Wheeljack joked, his smile returning. "Or maybe I was so annoyed by your self-sacrifice plays that I had to come back and tell you so, you punk."
"Hm." Jenna hummed in amusement. "Yeah, maybe." Wheeljack slowly held a servo out, and Jenna blinked before grinning and hopping on. Wheeljack lifted her up and set her on his rotator-cup, and she sat down, smiling down at him. He looked up at her fondly, then gave a light smirk.
"It takes more than Megatron to bring me down, Snow Queen - especially when it comes to lookin' out for my partner."
"Heh." Jenna gave an awkward laugh as Wheeljack turned and started walking back to the hangar, the girl still perched on his rotator-cup. "Soundwave kinda made you stab me."
"Eh. You've had worse."
"No, I really-"
"Just a flesh-wound."
"'Jackie-"
"'Tis but a scratch."
"... Why did I show you Monty Python and the Holy Grail?"
"Heh. Biggest mistake you ever made, kid."
"I don't know. Letting myself get turned into a kabob is pretty high up there..." Jenna blinked, then she smirked. "So, I missed New Years while I was out?"
"Yep." Wheeljack nodded, giving a light grin. "Miko and Raf explained all of the traditions way back when, so the others had fun. I guess it was a shame that you missed it."
'That we missed it.' Wheeljack thought to himself. Jenna didn't catch on.
"Yeah... So, you had fun with some more of Earth's culture?"
"I guess so. My partner was in a coma, so... I'd call it a fifty-fifty." Wheeljack smirked, and Jenna laughed. Then, she wagged her eyebrows playfully.
"Did you kiss a pretty girl at midnight?" She teased, and Wheeljack deadpanned lightly before reaching up and flicking her off of his rotator-cup. Jenna yelped, and Wheeljack's optics widened as he remembered that she couldn't fly. He reached out and caught her, and they just looked at each other for a moment before Jenna started laughing. "Ooh, did I hit a sore spot?!" Wheeljack blinked, surprised, then he deadpanned yet again.
"Shut it, kid." He told her, then he suddenly brought her up to his chest, and while she stood on one servo, he cupped his other servo around her and closed his optics. It took Jenna a moment to realize it was a hug, or the closest he could get without his holoform, and she slowly smiled as she shrugged before stepping forward and placing her hands on his chest plate, resting her head right over his spark and closing her optics. "You keep cracking jokes, but... I really thought you were gonna die."
"Hey." Jenna lightly shook her head. "Everything has their time, 'Jackie - but mine's not up, just yet. After all... You promised me we'd go adventuring, again - and I wouldn't miss that for the universe."
"... Where do you want to go?" Wheeljack opened his optics and smiled down at the girl. "Anywhere you want, and we'll go - I'll teach you to fly, and you'll pick it up in no time." She opened her optics and looked up at him, grinning.
"I don't care where we go, partner. Surprise me."
"I guess I owe you some surprises - one for every day I've spent with you, and then some." Wheeljack offered, and the girl snickered. "I mean it." Jenna blinked, then she looked up at him again. "... How long do you want to travel with me, kid?"
"... Is to the end of the line still a good-enough answer?" The girl asked quietly, smiling. Wheeljack chuckled, nodding.
"Yeah, Cap. Works for me."
"You make for a good Bucky, Wheeljack-ass."
"'Cause I'm the guy who got brainwashed and came at my best friend with a blade, beating said best-friend senseless as they tried to get me to snap out of it?"
"... Because you're loyal, you throw a mean punch with a metal fist, you're a jack of all trades, and you look out for the scrappy kid who got powered-up in one of the most science-fiction ways possible." Jenna deadpanned, stepping back and crossing her arms. "I didn't just turn you into a nerd, I turned you into a pessimist." Wheeljack blinked, then he smiled awkwardly.
"It always ends in a fight." He referenced, and Jenna blinked. "Doesn't it, Snow Queen?" Her smile slowly returned, and she placed her hands on her hips again.
"Yeah, but that's kinda how we work." Jenna said, nodding. "And I wouldn't want it any other way." Wheeljack reached up and set her back on his rotator-cup, and she grinned. "Is it bad that I'm not gonna miss my wings, too much? I always liked this better."
"Figures, you prefer it when I literally carry this partnership."
"Hey!" Jenna complained, failing to sound annoyed. The two partners were quiet for a moment, then Jenna snorted and they both started laughing.
June Darby and Bulkhead watched Wheeljack and Jenna from just inside Hangar E.
"Looks like they're back to normal." Bulkhead gave a small grin, crossing his arms as he saw them laugh. "That's a relief. I hated seeing 'Jackie like that."
"... Bulkhead, does Jenna make Wheeljack as happy as he makes her?" June asked, looking up at the green Autobot. Bulkhead blinked, then he looked up thoughtfully before looking back at the two partners.
"Well... As long as I've known him, Wheeljack has never laughed nearly as much or as easily in any situation as he does when she's with him." Bulkhead admitted quietly. "Personally, I think she's a good influence on him. 'Jackie never changes, not really - but she's taught him to be a bit more careful, and I think that'll save his life in the end. He was always reckless, but since he has her to think about now, he's calmed down a bit because he knows that he has to get himself and her back alive if they want to keep this going."
"And... What is this?"
"They're friends, aren't they?"
"Well, yes." June crossed her arms. "It's just... I never saw my daughter like that until she met Wheeljack." Bulkhead blinked, surprised.
"Huh. Looks like a lot of 'never' became a bunch of 'always', when those two met."
"Yeah." June gave a small smile. "That's why I'm okay with it, with all of it... He's good for her, and I know that he'll always do everything he can to protect her." June's eyes narrowed. "Which is good, because I'd tear him to pieces with my bare hands if he ever hurt her." Bulkhead blinked, then he raised an optic-brow.
"Uh, June? Why are you asking me all of this?"
"... Wheeljack didn't tell you what happened on Christmas Eve, in my garage." June realized, surprised. "I only know because of the footage from the security system Raf and Bill helped me set up, when we moved to New Jasper. But... He didn't tell you?" Bulkhead blinked, then his optics narrowed.
"What?"
"Well..." June gave a small smirk. "It turns out, Bulkhead, that their partnership is a little bit more than meets the eye... Wheeljack-"
Wheeljack and Jenna looked up, surprised, as they heard a loud shout.
"WHAT?!"
"... Was that Bulkhead?" Jenna asked, looking at Wheeljack in confusion. He slowly nodded.
"Yeah..."
"Wonder what that's all about." The techno-organic in blue commented, raising an eyebrow. The white Wrecker shrugged, frowning.
"I dunno. It's not like I monitor him."
/\
It was getting late. The younger Autobots were lobbing with Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Elita-1 beating Bumblebee, Arcee, and Smokescreen, and Jenna leaned against a wall with her arms crossed. Miko stood nearby, and Jenna sighed before turning to face her.
"... Wheeljack was okay, right?" Jenna asked, looking at Miko worriedly. Miko blinked, surprised, before looking at her friend.
"You're asking me?"
"I know you'll be real with me."
"... He barely left your side." Miko admitted, and Jenna just listened. "We were kinda worried about him, especially since no one knew when you were gonna wake up. Ratchet thought it might've been years... And I honestly don't think that would have changed anything. He would have waited."
"Hm." Jenna looked over at Wheeljack, frowning as the game went on. "The 'bot who waited..."
"He was okay, though." Miko said quickly, and Jenna looked at her. "Promise... We looked out for him." Miko gave a light grin. "And hey, it's Wheeljack." Jenna smiled at that.
"Yeah... 'Jackie never changes."
"Alright, kids." June grinned as she led Jack and Raf over to Jenna and Miko. "It's time we head home." Jenna blinked, and June placed a hand on her shoulder. "I want you home, just for tonight."
"Alright..."
"Sari's staying here, and Wheeljack said he would give us a ride." June stated, and Jenna's expression lit up. "Bulkhead just wants to talk to him before we go."
After the game was over, Bulkhead pulled Wheeljack out of the hangar so that they could talk alone.
"I was worried about you, for a while." Bulkhead gave a small grin, nudging his friend. "What you were doin' while the kid was out was really out of character, for you." Wheeljack idly raised an optic-brow, quickly looking past his friend to check on something in the hangar - likely his partner -, then he looked up at Bulkhead.
"It was?"
"Yeah. You don't change, 'Jackie." Bulkhead crossed his arms. "At least now, things can go back to normal." Bulkhead watched his friend's face as the white Wrecker checked the hangar again, saw the distraction and the worry... "Unless there's somethin' you're not tellin' me."
"Huh?" Wheeljack seemed to be shaken from a daze. "Who, me? Nah. What would I have to hide?" The white Wrecker turned away, crossing his arms. "You're right. Things can go back to normal, now."
"Wheeljack, come on." Bulkhead tried, and Wheeljack looked back at him in mild annoyance. "... 'Jackie, I know it's your partner."
"What about her?"
"... Nothin'." Bulkhead sighed, smiling. "It's just... I'm glad that you've found somethin' that makes you just as happy as the glory days of the Wreckers." Wheeljack blinked, then he looked away again.
"My partner sure is somethin'. He admitted quietly. Bulkhead nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. She sure is."
/\
Wheeljack dropped Raf and Miko off at their homes before driving back to the Darby house. His engine idled as June and Jack climbed out and went inside, and Jenna looked back at him with a small frown.
"You heading back to the base?"
"Yeah. Bulkhead was actin' weird, today. I'm gonna make sure he's okay."
"Okay." A few moments passed in silence, then Jenna smiled and nodded. "Goodnight, 'Jackie."
"'Night, kid." Wheeljack pulled out of the garage, down the driveway, and into the street. The white Wrecker drove away, and Jenna sighed as she put the garage door down.
The techno-organic could not stop thinking about her dream, and now she was imagining the crashed ship and Wheeljack's injured form.
What did it mean?
"Jenna?!" June called from within the house. "Are you alright?!"
"... Yeah, Mom!" Jenna called back, entering the house. "I'm just... Tired, that's all."
Late that night, Jenna sat on her bed with a frown on her face, thinking of what her dream might have meant.
'Am I taking this too seriously?' She thought to herself, closing her optics. 'I was in a coma. It was probably something in my subconscious, making me see those things. I'm too fixed on the idea of death... I need to get some sleep.' Jenna sighed and laid down, trying to get comfortable. A few moments passed, then she groaned and sat up, opening her optics and looking around her room in annoyance.
"Fine, me. Be that way." The girl grumbled, irked. Jenna stood and walked over to her desk, sitting down and taking out a pen and paper. She remained there for a while, jotting down a note and sealing it into an envelope, and she left it in her desk. "There... Nothing will be left unsaid, if that stupid dream does happen..."
'What else do you have to do?'
"I'm not going to die." Jenna told herself, gritting her teeth. "I've come too far for that... That dream is not my mission. Primus wouldn't-"
'What else do you have to do?'
Jenna blinked, then she found herself grabbing another piece of paper. She began writing, and after several minutes, she finished creating a list. Jenna gazed down at it for a moment, then she wrote something at the top of the paper and underlined it.
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Bucket List
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-0-0-0-0-0-
A choice remains before me.
And, as much as it pains me, part of me wants to say 'no'.
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Ack, my heart!
Seriously, though - why do I do this? I take light-hearted stories, draw people in (including myself), and then I add in a little extra suffering 'cause everyone needs that. XD
I only own my OCs. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks! :)
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Comments Hall of Fame!
Estela prime
"En fait J'ai dit que Weeljack et Jenna vont devoir s'expliquer sur leurs sentiments car leur manège commence à me donner mal à la tête"
(Thank you for the clarification! Also...
What fun would a story be if it wa too rushed? Sometimes, you've just got to take things slow.
The payoff will be worth it. :) )
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I'm Just Here For The Memories / Don't Judge me I'm a Fangirl
"Not sure if this is gonna post as no, but in case it does, I used to be Don't Judge me I'm a Fangirl."
(Hello, again!)
"I'm crying now, THE FEELS."
(I'm sorry!
... Maybe?)
"HA I WAS RIGHT AND I AM SOOOO FREAKING HAPPY ABOUT IT"
(*rereads the chapter, sees just how depressing it was yet again* ... I'm glad you find joy in my work? XD )
"I SHIP IT"
(I know. But I know that, after reading this chapter, you'll recall a few things from the original story.)
"*Clears throat* This chapter is amazing! Your writing skills have much! Dude if I could write half as well as you do I would be so happy."
(Thank you for the complements! I actually want to write some novels, someday. :) )
"And I do have a question for a character, Miko to be specific."
(Oh-ho-ho. This'll be fun...)
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merendinoemiliano
"Very sweet and somehow sad chapter"
(I know... It hurt to write... But I did it anyway.)
"i really loved June."
(June is awesome. I had to give her some time to shine.)
"Best of luck with next chapters, also merry Christmas and happy new year."
(Thank you! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)
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Ask A Character!
I'm Just Here For The Memories / Don't Judge me I'm a Fangirl: "So, Miko, how long will you put up with it before you start scheming to get Wheeljack and Jenna together? And when you do, who are your allies going to be?"
Miko: *checking to make sure that Jenna ans Wheeljack are out of sight and earshot* "Smokescreen, you're on lookout-duty."
Smokescreen: *nodding* "Got it."
Jack: *sighing* "Miko, please-"
Miko: "I'm going to start by listing my allies. I can't trust Bulkhead to not sabotage, so he's out."
Bulkhead: *offended* "Hey!"
Miko: "So... First, I'm gonna go with Bumblebee and Smokescreen. I think they'd just have fun with it, and they wouldn't sabotage."
Bumblebee: *buzzing, holds a thumb up* "I'm in."
Smokescreen: *grinning* "Alright!"
Miko: "Next, I'm gonna bring in Elita-1. She's low-key, but she ships it just as much as I do - and as a Wrecker, she can help make up for Bulkhead. Plus, she's not afraid to get her hands didty to achieve a goal."
Elita-1: *shrugs and crosses her arms* "Fair."
Miko: "Next... Ultra Magnus."
All: "What?!"
Miko: *nods* "Yep. As the commanding officer of the Wreckers, he can make sure that Jenna and Wheeljack are always partnered-up. Also, I have a feeling he's warming up to the idea od the two of them being together based on how he talked to Wheeljack while Jenna was out of it... I think he'd help."
Ultra Magnus: *does not confirm or deny it*
Miko: "Last, but certainly not least..."
Jack: *annoyed* "Miko, enough. This is my sister we're talking about, and-"
Miko: *firmly* "Ms. Darby."
Jack: *jaw drops*
June: *grins and crosses her arms* "Now, you're getting somewhere."
Jack: "MOM!"
Miko: "Now, as for how much I can take before I start scheming... I'm gonna be honest - those two, their lifespans are going to be massive. A million years from now, Jenna probably won't appear to have aged a day."
Ratchet: *sighs, nods* "That is the case."
Miko: *tales a deep breath* "So... She and Wheeljack are gonna be around for a while, long after we're dust. I guess I've just sorta figure that, if they get together naturally, it might not be in our lifetimes or even our great-great grandchildrens' lifetimes. I respect the fact that relationships take time to develop, and right now, they're friends and partners fighting a war."
Everyone Else: *genuinely surprised and confused*
Miko: *continuing* "They're goofballs sometimes, but they've still got a lot to worry about since the Decepticons are coming at us harder than ever. And personally, I think Wheeljack's gonna be too worried about Jenna being flightless and feeling too guilty about what happened to even think about falling in love with her - and Jenna's got a lot to figure out due to her injuries, and she's been acting strange since she woke up. Plus, Ms. Darby's worried that they might have mental trauma... Those issues need to be addressed."
Jack: *stunned* "Whoa... Miko, that was really respectful, responsible, and mat-"
Miko: "I've already started my scheming. You saw what I did, Christmas Eve."
Jack: *eyes narrowing, fists clenching* "Miko!"
Miko: *places her hands on her hips* "Look, I've accepted the fact that they probably won't get together-together in my lifetime and that they've got a lot on their plates - but hey, I can still nudge them into forging a good foundation for a future relationship."
Jack: "Miko, this is crazy!"
Miko: *rolling her eyes* "Jack, you see how they look at each other - it may not be romantic, but there is definitely love there."
Jack: *frustrated* "I'm not arguing that. But-"
June: *deep breath* "I had cameras and mistletoe in the garage. Wheeljack kissed Jenna on the cheek on Christmas Eve."
*silence*
Miko: *quiet* "After the dance?"
June: *nods* After the dance."
*silence*
Miko: *smirks, her eyes narrowing* "Faster than expected, but all the same... It has begun."
Jack: "MIKO!"
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Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays! Thank you for all of your support! :D