Rachet was at his wit's end. These humans were going to cause his spark to be extinguished from stress alone. Those three have already been in some of the worse scenarios in a short period anyone could imagine. He knew that Miko was the main cause for some of the incidents but others were just bad supervising on the Autobots part. It was kinda comical if you thought about it. Ancient alien species couldn't manage to keep two human teens and one preteen from risking their lives weekly. So far they have all been lucky. Nothing more than scrapes and bruises that he's learned to handle.
Today was one of those days, a particularly stress-inducing day. Having the children get stuck in another dimension was something he never thought possible. Sure there were theories, but to see the process occur was a true spectacle. 'How in the world did this even happen' he questioned himself. They had managed to recreate the same conditions and brought them back, but not before Jack reached his limit. The teen had taken a few steps into the base, huffed at Miko then promptly collapsed. Even he hadn't seen that coming. One moment Jack was acting normal and slightly peeved then he was on the floor. He was as still as death, terrifying the medic.
He watched the children panic and try to shake Jack awake. Raf was feeling his wrist for a pulse and sighed with relief. Miko, still unaware of Rafs new mood, was shaking the poor teen while slapping his cheeks between jarring movements.
"What in Primus's name are you doing?" He shouts at the girl while pushing the other bots out of the way. "Someone get the children away from him before they do more damage!" He snipes. His message was heard as Bumblebee and Bulkhead gathered their charges and moved out of the way. Huffing, Rachet leaned down and proceeded to scan the child. His dental ground together in a frown. Gently, he gathered the boy's body and walked over to set him on the couch. He could hear the worried bots hovering behind him, wanting answers. Reaching for the blanket on the ground next to the couch, he moved it over the child with care. He watched Jack groan and settle into the plush surface. His face was whiter than normal, scrunched up in discomfort.
Rachet rubbed between his optics, 'time to face the questions' he groaned, turning around. He was bombarded, questions flying at him at rapid speed.
"Will he be okay?" Arcee questioned.
"What happened to him?" Raf question while Bee attempted to comfort him.
"He just dropped, I don't think anything hit him in the shadow zone. If he was hit we were as well." Miko called out from Bulkheads servos.
"I think you did more damage to him than that con did Miko," Bulkhead commented to the energetic girl. Said girl look horrified as she looked between him and Jack on the couch. That caused a few chuckles to escape them, lifting their spirits slightly. Not for long as the worrying silently came back.
"Tell me, old friend, what has happened?" Optimus questioned him. The worry was evident in his strong voice.
Rachet turned back and continued scanning Jack. Moving over to the computers he linked the data to go over the possibilities.
"He will be fine, nothing sleep and food won't fix. You should be lucky that this is the only bad thing to happen. You could have been killed. How did you manage to survive that in one piece and long enough for us to help? It's a miracle you even survive half the situations you get yourselves in. I swear you will give me a spark attack!" Rachet ranted to no one in particular. He was just so frustrated. The kids were bad enough without one somehow only able to eat Energon. Turning to face the silent audience he frowned, "Now be quiet so you don't wake him and that means you, Miko." He made a shooing motion and heard the grumbles as they went to their own devices.
He tried to get work done but still felt the large presence behind him. He knew that Optimus was worried and could tell something was up. Normally the medic would be more worried and taking care of things right away with a patient. The larger bot noticed he was stalling and attempting to get everyone out for privacy.
"If you have something to ask, you might as well say it?" Rachet asked the screen, refusing to meet his optics. Rachet still remembers the argument about whether to tell the others. Rachet still thinks it's best to, at the very least, bring the Prime into the loop. Optimus may have answers that Rachet didn't, but the boy refused, and he understands why. They both had no clue what was happening and pulling the whole team would distract them, just as Jack said. Rachet still believes it's wise to tell them, but he has come to respect Jack, so he doesn't.
He felt a servo on his shoulder plates gently turning him to face the Prime.
"Old friend, I have noticed your stress levels increased a while back. It has something to do with young Jackson if I am correct." Optimus stated. Rachet felt his optic unconsciously flicker to the child resting on the couch. His frame gave under the primes gaze. The medic walked to the berth and plopped down with a metallic bang. His aching joints relaxed and he places his helm in his servos.
He heard and felt his friend sit next to him, waiting silently for a reply.
"I don't know what to do Optimus, the children are bad enough but having Jack is just more confusing." Rachet paused as he realized he might have let too much slip. When the Prime just sat silently he deiced their leader wasn't going to demand anything. Venting, he continued, "I won't tell you what's happening out of respect for Jack, but I am so lost. I can't figure out what's occurring. All I can do is help, even that's very little. I agreed with him to keep it secret until we understand, but I don't think we ever will. Now with him collapsing, all my scanners pick up is him sleeping and needing food. No scratches or bruises. Nothing." He cried out. He was too old for this. Silence engulfed the two bots. Rachet waited patiently for his friend's response.
"I understand your situation. I am not going to ask what is happening. I trust both of you to tell us if it's life-threatening, but I do wish Jack knows he won't be a burden if he does confide in the others and myself." Optimus explained before gathering himself and leaving after glancing at both Jack and Rachet. Rachet could see the worry in the ancient optics.
"Just what am I going to do with you, Jack." The medic whispered to the emptied room. At least he thought it was emptied and that he was quiet.
"Sorry" the small voice caused Rachet to look over to the couch. Jack was standing by the railing, unsteady and still pale but awake.
"You shouldn't be up. Go lay back down before I tape you to the couch." He growled. He waited till the child was situated on the couch before chewing him out. He was sometimes considerate. "Why haven't you been using the gum. You should have some left by my calculations. You're meant to keep me informed if it works or doesn't. That's the deal, or I tell the others." He threatened and watched Jack sink under the disproval.
"I know Rachet, the gum is working but I have needed to take more than before. I was going to tell you today. I had my last piece this morning, but Miko happened." Jack explained. Rachet heard a ping from something metal hitting the ground. Looking down he saw the tin he gave Jack there. 'Maybe I shouldn't be that hard on him.' He thought while picking up the small till and replacing the contents inside. Closing the small tin he passed it to the child.
He watched with a smile as Jack fumbled with the tin before fully grasping it. He poped it open and tossed one back. Jack was starring at his hands as if they did something crazy. Rachet was confused till he spoke.
"Rachet, I know this might sound nuts, well more so than the normal, but I think I can transfer energy from myself to other Cybertron stuff." He said in awed fear.
Rachets only response was a groan. "I guess we know why you passed out now. Time for new tests, get ready to enjoy." Rachet said obtaining tools to see what Jack could do. He was enthusiastic but sadly not his patient.
"You know I want to help but look at the time, mom will be expecting me home so maybe another time." Jack was heading down the stairs and heading for the back where the rest went. He was sadly headed off by the large steps of Rachet himself.
"I think not," he said, grabbing the human who gave protests on the way to the workbench.