Moment of truth. First Aid would have held his breath if he had any. He was also never gladder that his face was concealed than now as Ratchet began to remove the spark monitor from Cosmos' chest. The medbay was silent, even the normal hum of machinery quiet in solidarity. The silence stretched on…and on…and on-

Cosmos' optics flickered, the blue slowly brightening. "R-Ratch?" his intake wheezed. "W-wha-what?"

"Don't try to talk," Ratchet said, gruff but not unkind, "you're still nowhere near ready to leave. Your spark is stable enough that I decided to let your self-repair do the rest." He vented slowly. "I won't ask further, but…do you remember what happened?" Confusion flickered in Cosmos' optics, before they widened. "Don't talk!" Ratchet snapped, then softened his voice. "I'll get you to make your statement once the rest of your injuries are healed."

Cosmos nodded just a little, before his optics offlined again. Despite the fact the saucer was nowhere near healthy, First Aid's spark pulsed with relief. He would be healthy, and that's what mattered. The junior medic waited until Cosmos was deeper in recharge before he spoke, "Ratchet, have you…what happened with Prowl?"

Ratchet's features were grim. "Prowl understands what he needs to, and Sunstreaker will be held for the other rules he's broken. Prowl can't promise anything more until Skyfire decides to file a complaint."

First Aid expected as much, but some part of him wished it didn't need a formal complaint. Thanks to a Decepticon attack on a power plant within the last week, he and Ratchet were busy with fixing injuries that First Aid hadn't been able to see Skyfire much. The most he got were glimpses of the shuttle skulking around the hall, perhaps moving back and forth to his room and the lab, or to get his rations.

First Aid didn't want to be disheartened, but it didn't look like anything had changed much. He vented quietly as he went to clean up his station. The medic shelved tools and cleared away any energon stains on the tables. He glanced over as Ratchet went to his office, but First Aid turned around when the door to the medbay opened.

Skyfire looked small. Despite his frame being tall enough that he needed to duck to enter the room, he stayed hunched and his expression downcast. When his gaze settled on Cosmos, Skyfire's features pinched in shame and guilt.

"He's going to be alright." The shuttle looked sharply at First Aid, who tilted his head towards the saucer. "That's why you came, isn't it? Cosmos was taken off the spark monitor just a few kliks ago. He was awake for a few moments, but went back into recharge-at this rate, Ratchet estimates he'll make a full recovery."

Skyfire's frame relaxed just a little. "That's good to hear." He hesitated, and rubbed over the weld on his wrist. "Would you…remove these? I've found them to be tightening on my plates a bit too much."

First Aid tried not to show just how much the admission relieved him. It left him grateful that Skyfire chose to seek him out than hide away. "Sure, this will just take a moment."

Skyfire settled on one of the clean berths, his pedes planted firmly on the floor, optics also not moving from the floor. He tensed when First Aid got closer, but didn't flinch. That…was a good sign? The medic tried not to dwell too much on it. The shuttle's expression tightened as First Aid gently unbound the plates, and cleaned away the excess.

"How does it feel now?" First Aid asked.

Skyfire rolled his ankle joint, then his other joints. "It's…better. You really are Ratchet's student." A slight, soft smile tugged at his lips, and First Aid felt a rush of pride. "Thank you, I should be going now."

First Aid's pride was swiftly replaced with panic. "Wait!" he didn't know what caused him to just blurt it out, but it did get Skyfire to pause. "Are…are you free right now? I was just about to take my break." It was wrong, this was so wrong-how could he have worded it like that-

Skyfire nodded after a moment of hesitation. "Yes, I was about to do the same."

First Aid's optic band brightened, despite how much of a mess he was inside. "That's great, looks like neither of us will be thirsty together."

Skyfire's expression was guarded, as if trying to discern if the medic were serious. When he came to his conclusion, he nodded slightly. "Very well. I'd…like that."

First Aid wished the shuttle could be more comfortable around him, but he was just happy Skyfire was trying to be less reserved. At least, that's what First Aid hoped was happening. "Great, I'll just sign out and we can go."

The junior medic quickly did that, and returned to see the shuttle waiting by the door. The taller mech stiffened when Ratchet came out of his office. Ratchet's gaze flickered from Skyfire to First Aid, and his expression tightened.

:It's okay, Ratchet, I'm not doing anything untoward with Skyfire. I really am trying to help him, please trust me.: First Aid sent to his mentor, and Ratchet's features pinched further.

:You'd better be careful, then. Skyfire is a mech, not a project.:

First Aid's spark pulsed, and he tried to keep his form from tensing. He understood Ratchet's concern, and it matched First Aid's own, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt he'd be accused of not being professional. :I do, Ratchet. Believe me, I'm never going to forget that.: