A/N

Sorry for the super long delay. The show ended and there went my inspiration and motivation. Then I got a huge story idea elsewhere and ran with that for a story and a half. But I just watched the TFP Predicon Rising movie and bang! Need more Knockout in my life!

XXI

Mary sat nervously behind the lady checking Kyle. They had returned to base where they already had a doctor waiting. She was the mother of one of the kids. They introduced her as June. Mary could hardly pay much attention though, watching her patch up the cuts on Kyle's face. She had a stethoscope, checking his heart. Not a word was spoken until June was done.

"It looks like he might've suffered a seizure," she offered. "And normally, you don't stop that with a blunt force trauma."

Mary blushed, offering a little smile.

"I bandaged the cut by his eye and the one on his cheek. All we can do now is wait and see if he wakes up," June offered, standing up.

"If he wakes up?" whispered Mary.

"It may have been a minor seizure but it was still bad. He might not wake up from it."

Mary shivered at the thought. June stepped away, allowing Mary to kneel by Kyle's side. She quickly gripped his hand, fitting a cliché role of a movie. His skin was cold. She shook her head, resting it on his bed side. This was madness. All hell was breaking loose and she was caught in the eye of the storm it seemed. Madness…

"Oh, Kyle…what mess have we gotten ourselves into? When did this all start? When did this take over our lives?" she whispered, giving in to her tears. "I feel so helpless…I don't want to be. Remember when you said I was strong? That felt like so long ago…long before this mess…oh what a mess this is. Can you even hear me?"

"I can hear you Mary…"

Kyle sighed, looking around the empty world that was his mind prison. It was becoming surprisingly normal. At least he had someone trapped with him. Knockout sat not too far off, arms crossed and leaning back in a chair he imagined. It wasn't the same robotic form he so desired but the human form Kyle had grown to like. The only difference between the two was the hair styling and the eyes. Knockout glanced at Kyle.

"Why do you even bother with that human? She isn't worth our time…" he snapped.

"I would gladly give me life for that 'human', you machine," hissed Kyle, spinning around to face his reflection.

"Well, because of that we're both a little stuck, huh? Cons got what they needed out of us! They will get Megatron, get to the device and return to their true forms, leaving us and your precious Autobots in the dust!"

Knockout stood up, allowing the chair to vanish behind him. Kyle rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. Knockout did the same, though with a grin. Kyle snarled. Knockout mimicked. Kyle threw his arms to his side. Knockout did the same.

"Enough of that!" Kyle shouted.

"Lighten up," chuckled Knockout, shrugging. "We'll be stuck here for a while I imagine…"

"Not unless we spring a deal," offered Kyle.

"Like I'd make a deal with you," snickered Knockout.

"Even if it included you returning to normal?"

"Miss Mary?"

Mary looked up from the table suddenly. Had she dozen off? How long had she been asleep? She rubbed one eye, turning around. It was one of the children…Jack was it? She offered a faint smile but he didn't seem to take it. She moved her hand away from her eye. It was wet. Jack sighed, looking around.

"It's getting late…do you want to stay at my place. My mom has a spare room set up…" he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No…" whispered Mary, glancing back at Kyle. "I want to be here when he wakes up…He's…he's gonna worry if I don't."

Jack nodded, but didn't turn to leave. Eventually he asked, "How did you even get caught up with him?"

Mary giggled, covering her mouth. "It was…by chance I suppose."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"I was in school…we both were, I guess. I was distracted, carrying a load of books to my next class and like the dork I am, I crashed right into him. He scrambled to help me. I scrambled to get my things…and just like one of those movies, our hands touched, we looked up and something…clicked," she whispered.

"Huh…" blushed Jack, again rubbing the back of his head. "Well, I'd better go…my mom's gonna be worried sick about me otherwise."

"Goodnight, then," hummed Mary, nodding him off.

It felt good to remember the old days. She nodded lightly to herself. Strong. She had come this far. She could see it through to the end.

"Do we have a deal?" whispered Kyle.

Knockout smiled, baring teeth slightly. He nodded. "We have a deal."