Chapter 3

Gathering evidence, opinions-he could do that if it meant helping a patient. Working up the nerve to speak with Prowl was harder. First Aid knew he wanted to help Skyfire, but he still found himself debating if this wasn't just some big mistake. Or if he accused Sunstreaker of being abusive and it backfired.

That scared him, honestly. First Aid wanted to believe that the mechs on the Ark were above pettiness and spite, that they could look beyond Skyfire's unfortunate past friendship with Starscream or being tricked into joining the Decepticons.

Skyfire was valuable in the war, maybe not as a soldier, but he was still both an Autobot and a comrade. Much as he didn't want to think it though, First Aid also knew Sunstreaker was more important. If only for his fighting prowess.

A prowess that may have been used in hurt- 'No, don't go there. You can't let Prowl know anything's wrong-at least not yet.' The SIC was a shrewd mech, perceptive and logical, despite his supposed coldness, and he was the best choice.

First Aid couldn't bother Optimus as the Autobot leader must have been busy all the time, and while Jazz was easy to talk to, Sunstreaker would be suspicious and on alert if he thought someone was following him or Skyfire.

Sunstreaker knew Prowl, knew that he always thought he was up to no good, and Prowl was good at keeping his emotions in check-and he wasn't scared of Sunstreaker. First Aid felt a flush of shame; not like he was.

First Aid vented slowly, and knew that if he didn't knock on Prowl's door soon that Red Alert might think he was up to something- as if he already didn't think that of course. The medic worked up his nerve, telling himself to start small and work his way up to the big issue. He knocked on the door.

"Come in."

First Aid found Prowl at his desk, datapad in hand and doorwings held in their usual taut way. "Are you busy? Should I come back at another time?" Honestly, First Aid was hoping for an excuse to leave, but Prowl's curt shake of the helm dashed that hope. Just as well, Skyfire wouldn't be able to get help from someone who couldn't even stand his ground. And if First Aid ever came across Sunstreaker alone, he'd need to be able to do at least that.

"Has something happened?"

First Aid blinked behind his visor. Right, he was a medic. Get a hold of yourself, 'Aid, you're better than this. "It's about the rules actually." He got the reaction he was hoping for; Prowl straightened up and put his datapad down, all audios.

"Yes?"

"The fraternization one." First Aid nearly stumbled over the words; it was embarrassing to bring this up. "I'd like to be clear so I'm not breaking coda."

Prowl vented slowly, his posture tense. "The rule is that there is no be no romantic relationships among the crew-or at least that's how it should be." He huffed briefly. "Circumstances have dictated otherwise though. Rule or not, Prime thought it was too much to ask of the mechs to keep to themselves-he believes we'd have a mutiny if we denied the crew a basic right given lack of civilian options."

"So that rule doesn't apply anymore?" First Aid asked, but jerked back when Prowl gave him a hard stare.

"Among the crew, yes, but there will be severe consequences should one fraternize with the enemy." His optics narrowed. "And of course, medical personnel are forbidden from engaging in relationships with current patients. All of us will get hurt, but that does not give you the right to take advantage of them."

First Aid stiffened. Is that why Prowl thought he'd come here? Did he think First Aid was the one who wanted either romance or an interface? He would never use his authority like that. "Ratchet taught me better than that." He said more defensively than he'd have liked.

"Was that all?" Prowl questioned, his optics straying back to his datapads.

First Aid vented this time. Right, this wasn't about him, this was about Skyfire. "What is the protocol regarding…abusive relationships?"

Prowl's reaction was instant. His helm snapped up, his frame was tense and his optics hard once again. "Is there a reason you would bring up such a thing?"

The medic shrank in on himself, but he kept his voice steady. "Let's just call this a hypothetical situation. I'd like to be able to know how to help…should something so awful ever happen."

Prowl gave him a keen stare before settling back into his seat. "Very well." He said tersely. "In your…hypothetical scenario, the first thing to be done would hold the offending party in the brig. An investigation would be conducted into the allegations and the necessary safety pre-cautions would be taken; keeping the two parties from each other, having the suspect under watch until a decision is reached. The victim would be checked-over by you or Ratchet, while both parties would undergo a psych evaluation from Smokescreen. From there Optimus would have final say about what to do."

"If the allegations were true." First Aid winced as he heard how bitter his own voice was.

Prowl choose not to reprimand him for his tone, keeping his own voice professional. "We must take all possibilities into account. However distasteful it may seem, on Cybertron there were cases of false accusations." For a moment his icy demeanour thawed. "Though that is not to say all cases are like that. Should it come up, we would take this very seriously-we are an army, and we must have trust in each other."

First Aid let the words sink in. It had never occurred to him that Skyfire might not have been believed; or perhaps it had, and he was too naïve to think his comrades wouldn't spin it around on him. 'Everyone thinks Skyfire's so lucky, would they believe Sunstreaker could be capable of hurting him?'

Sunstreaker was abrasive and violent, but he had been an Autobot from the start. Skyfire was too new an addition and he had a stigma surrounding himself like an ever present sign on his back. First Aid could still remember how not even two weeks on the Ark he'd been told about Skyfire.

And then there was Sideswipe. Sunstreaker's attitude didn't make him any friends, but Sideswipe's did. He was brash, funny, and outgoing; he was also likely to-no, it was a damn near certainty- back Sunstreaker.

And First Aid didn't doubt Sideswipe could be vicious if he wanted to be.

"But before any of that can occur though," Prowl's voice startled First Aid back into paying attention, "there must be a complaint filed from the victim."

'Oh no.' This just got so much harder. If everything he'd outlined had First Aid feeling ill and hopeless, how was he supposed to get Skyfire to say anything?

First Aid vented in calm himself. He'd do this one step at a time then. And the first thing he needed was for Skyfire to admit there was a problem.

It wasn't going to be quick or easy, but doing the right thing never was.