Chapter 35

Repairs went quicker than before.

She knew a lot of it had to do with the fact that, compared to the Mission City incident, the damage she'd acquired in her battle wasn't nearly as catastrophic. The only problems were the missing half of her helm and the damage done to her spark and her missing arm. But Ratchet had already completed her spark chamber, since it was the most crucial, and had just now reattached her missing arm.

She was sitting up now, with him standing in front of her as he guided her through a set of motions to test her new arm. She held the restored limb in front of her and wordlessly followed every command, deploying and then retracting her claw blades, repeating the process but spinning them before she sheathed them again.

Demona raised her eyes to him when they finished, "I've never had a medic tend to me before. I've always had to take care of my own injuries. But thank you."

A quick flash of anger, but it was gone in an instant as he pushed gently, "why?"

"Megatron wanted me to stay hidden," Demona answered, lowering her hand to rest on the berth, "a veiled threat...the only one allowed to see me was him and him alone."

The medic grumbled something darkly, turning away to rearrange his set of tools, ones too big or complex to build into his hands. She turned her gaze towards Optimus, sensing his question through their bond before he spoke it. He's so awkward...she noted as he tensed slightly, feeling her slight curiosity through the bond, He's never made a bond before...he's new to it...

Really, Demona wasn't so different.

She was used to Megatron, who, if he caught the faintest curl of fear or pain, would automatically slam into her spark and punish her for her weakness. She was used to submitting, to letting the opposite end take control and force dark thoughts or snarling reprimands into her spark. She was used to someone feeding her hate and darkness.

But Prime...

He was the complete opposite.

If he felt a ghost of pain from her, he opened himself to her and let her lean on him until it passed, even if he seemed hesitant. He had used the bond only a few times after creating it to ask her personal questions or to tell her something important. The fact that he was her 'uncle', for example. She knew he had to have some kind of tie to Megatron, but to have one so close shocked her. If prime was Megatron's brother, then what the slag had happened to twist her mech creator so badly?

He fed her strength, and comfort. He was trying his hardest to make fragging sure she would make it, no questions asked. Instead of warping her with a dark influence, he was kind, and gentle. And he didn't, or didn't know how, to hide his sense of guardianship over her.

He was ready to protect her.

The thought made her warm on the inside, and she once again wondered at how mad her life had been, spiraling into a black hole only to have light shed upon her world by what was supposed to be her enemies. These autobots had pulled her from the wreckage of battles, inside and out. They had taken her in, and healed her.

Like that fragging organic family... She let a small smile show on her face, and gently reached out through the bond to touch his spark, 'what is it?'

She didn't miss the amused glance Ratchet tossed at his leader when he almost jumped. Prime sent his medic a slightly sheepish look before fixing his bright blue eyes on her, 'do you remember your femme creator's designation?'

She felt him recoil slightly when a pain lanced through her spark. She gentled her gaze, reigning it in, 'No. I've never known it. The hour I was created, Megatron killed her for birthing a femme. She had enough time to form the bond before she was gone.'

She felt a shock of anger and pain curl around his spark, so she reached back towards him and imagined wrapping her hands carefully around that pain and anger, shielding him from it. He tensed again, but his optics stayed fixed on her's. 'I regret that I did not find you sooner.'

'you've done more than enough,' she argued lightly, waiting for the negative feelings to fade from him before she pulled back, 'you're saving my life, when I once tried to take yours. You pulled me from the destruction in Mission City before you knew who I was...and now you've opened yourself to me in a bond...'

Painfully honest, his strained words reached back for her, tugging lightly at her, 'you were different...you weren't like him, and I have lost so many in this war...I had just found you...I couldn't lose you as well...you're so young...'

"I'm not going anywhere," she promised out loud. He held her gaze. She smiled again when he reached through and squeezed her spark carefully before completely retreating.

Demona turned her red optics away from him to land on the missing side of her helm on the other berth across the room. Ratchet was nearly finished with it, and soon she would have it back. Dark pain encased her when she spotted the scratched, broken decepticon symbol.

I was never one of them. Never will be.

Demona turned her attention to Gears when she walked into the room, hands pushing through her red hair. She asked the human, "have you told them yet?"

Gears sent her a wide grin, one that was becoming common, "Nope, want it to be a surprise. As soon as Ratchet puts you back together we're taking a stroll to go see them. Alex is going to go crazy when he sees you upright and walking around."

Ratchet sent her a sharp look, "don't put ideas in her head."

Gears shrugged at him, "what? She's a tough girl, she can take it."

Demona looked between the two, then focused on Gears again when she walked up the wooden steps to her berth. The woman reached her and hopped up on her leg, getting comfortable and leaning back so that she was laying down. Gears blinked up at her, "how are you feeling?"

"Better," Demona answered, "stronger than I have in a very long time."

Gears sent Prime a grateful look, "you've got a good uncle, Dem. He's going to take care of you..."

I know.

"...you're lucky you've got such an awesome family, with such a sweet uncle and adorable brothers and an amazing, cool mom..."

Gears grinned when Demona let out a soft laugh. She continued, "So you better make damn sure you cherish every moment you have with us."

Demona fell quiet, staring down at her.

I already do.

:D Sorry, couldn't squeeze the boys in this one...but I did get a little convo between her and Prime in there...it seems awkward, but I wanted it to be, considering, in this story, Prime has never made a bond of any kind before and he sees her as more of his child now than just some youngling...

Love to my readers!

Demona, Gears and her family, and the story belong to me. Transformers does not.