Chapter 24

"Eventually It'll Die Down"

June 23, 2007

Ironhide used his finger to tilt Kadence's head up, he pressed a cloth to her nose and kept it there, placing his free hand on her forehead to keep her in place. The holoform frowned as he examined the red cloth, "This is a lot of blood."

"It's still going," The red head murmured, moving her head further back to keep the blood from trailing out of her nose.

The poor guardian thought he hit his charge on the nose during their spar, their careful spar, since Kadence still has her sprained wrist. He was molding that into her training and had her use only one hand. In the middle of the match, she felt faint and a trail of blood flowed out of her nose. Ironhide sighed, discarding the cloth and grabbing a new one, gently holding it under the girl's nose, "Let's get to Ratchet."

She nodded, letting him place an arm over her shoulders to direct her, even though the red head was fully capable of walking herself. It was a quiet walk, the previously cream white hand towel became crimson red, darker than the girl's hair. She scowled, there goes that towel.

Minutes passed before they found the med bay, walking in without more than a knock. Ironhide led Kadence over to the fluorescent yellow medic, who was waiting. Ironhide must've told him through the comm link. Ratchet grabbed a new cloth and placed it on her still runny nose, quickly catching the blood before it dripped anywhere.

He performed a scan and hummed, "Her body is trying to find new ways to expel the extra blood," The medic handed the girl another cloth, the blood was slowing. "Kadence, are you close to your cycle?"

She nodded wordlessly.

"Hmm... It might release the blood during that as well. Expect a lot," he eyed her, watching as her expression dropped.

"How long is this supposed to last?" She said, inspecting the cloth she had taken away from her nose before the question. Her nosebleed was coming to a stop.

"I'd say, with the amount of energon in your systems," he paused, thinking it over, "Give or take a week."

Kadence groaned, well... at least it's not longer, like a month or two. She placed the towel next to her once the bleeding officially stopped. The girl placed a finger on her temple, a headache was coming. And fast. The room was already beginning to spin. She just wanted to lie down, she felt light headed.

"Kadence, are you alright?" Ironhide stepped forward, "You look pale."

"She just needs rest," her father said, "Do you want to stay here to rest or go to your room, Kadie?"

The red head mumbled incoherent words before simply groaning and lying down, placing a hand on her forehead. Now her head hurt, this headache came quicker than she anticipated.

Ratchet's bipedal mode carefully scooped her up, concerned that he earned no reaction. The medic gently deposited her onto a human bed, placing the blanket over her exhausted body. Her chest rose and descended evenly. She had fallen asleep.

Kadence glanced around, it was dark. Shapes were subtly forming around her. They looked foreign. No... alien.They were a series of curves, squiggles, jagged lines, circles, you name it, all spread out around her and were becoming a light blue. They glowed in the cold darknes, the girl watched as they seemingly pulsed, like like a heart.Blue eyes appeared in front of her, she stumbled back and began falling onto her back, but made no contact with the ground.

A faint word was whispered, it said...

Kadence jolted awake, wide eyes staring at the dark ceiling. The lights were off, but she could see that the ceiling was far above her. Am I still in the med bay?

The girl tried recalling her dream, there were symbols, too complex for me to remember... And that word... what did they say?

The more she tried remembering, the farther it went. And soon selle completely lost it. With a frustrated sigh, she turned over and shut her eyes, entering a restless sleep.

But...

It was interrupted by a queasy feeling in her stomach not even two hours later. It was three in the morning, almost four.

Kadence stumbled out of bed, reaching for the bathroom and trying to swallow the bile to keep it from coming out onto the floor. She kneeled over the bowl, previously lifting the lid. The girl emptied her contents, mainly a dry heave besides the blood flying out.

A hand grabbed her hair and placed another on her back, rubbing soothing circles that magically calmed her stomach. Kadence recognized the black army boot as Ironhide's, he stayed? Spitting out a few more times, she took her head away from the toilet, letting Ironhide flush it for her. She leaned against the wall behind her, "Did you get any sle- recharge?"

"...No. I was watching over you."

The red head was too weak and tired to argue that he needs his rest. She settled for placing her head against his chest as a silent gratitude for staying with her. It was definitely not pleasant to go alone.

He looped his arms around her waist and pulled the girl to him, her back against his chest. Her cheek rested on his shoulder before she repositioned so she sat under his chin. Her stomach performed flips, whether that be because of the energon or the position, she will never know.

Kadence fell asleep in his arms. Before drifting off, she felt her guardian carry her back to bed.

She once again, awoke to a queasy feeling in her stomach. Kadence also felt something wet on her forehead, not bothering to open her eyes to investigate. She felt like shit and wanted to stay asleep, where she couldn't feel her sickness.

Finally deciding to open her eyes, she noted that it was dark. And that loyal blue eyes stared right back at her, Ironhide?Had he really not gotten anyrecharge?

It felt like a memory, when she had gotten up to purge her stomach. Kadence could barely remember anything, except his arms when she slept... A warmth spread across her face, and it took the girl a moment to realize she was blushing.

Ironhide took it as the blood rushing to my head, getting ready for a nosebleed or another dry heave.

Throughout that entire day, he stayed there at her bedside. Ironhide even declined a mission to jack up some spotted rogue Decepticons, and he never does that.

Kadence realized his true loyalty to being her guardian. Her lips pulled up into a smile.