Due to how late it had been, First Aid had only been able to check on Cosmos before going into recharge for the night to get up for his early shift the next day. Cosmos still looked worse for wear, but not as bad in little ways; his plates were still covered in cracks, but the welds sanded down and less noticeable, wiring carefully held inside the chassis, and Ratchet made a note that Cosmos would be able to wean from the spark monitor soon and his recovery was progressing well overall.

It was a bright spot, one which made First Aid recharge with just a little less tension before he got up, and went through his rounds in his section of the medbay. He fixed minor injuries from twisted joints on odd jobs, or deeper scraps and dents from patrols. Nothing from a skirmish from Decepticons so far, but First Aid was not naïve enough to believe this strange lull in 'Con sightings was good – they were likely planning something.

A bleak thought, which was becoming unfortunately a familiar one.

It made him remember that when Cosmos got better, Sunstreaker would be let out of the brig, and he feared another trip from Skyfire to the medbay. Unless Sunstreaker made him see Hoist again, because even the yellow bot seemed to suspect First Aid was being too 'nosy' now. There had to be something First Aid could do, maybe a second opinion…

First Aid shakily got up from his spot in his side of the medbay, and carried Skyfire's file over to Ratchet's side. "Ratchet," he said, catching the mech's attention, "could you…look this over? I'm not sure what to do."

The CMO vented, but held out his servo. "Fine, let me take a look then." First Aid handed him the datapad. "I'm not sure what could be so difficult that…" Ratchet's optics had skimmed the information at first, but as he trailed off, his gaze turned harder the more he read until his expression was unreadable.

'Please don't let this have been a mistake.' First Aid told himself, spark twisting in worry.

Almost as if hearing him, Ratchet looked up. "Are you certain about this?" First Aid nodded. "Do you suspect who?" First Aid didn't need to answer him, because Ratchet's gaze turned to Cosmos, realization dawning on him as he likely heard of just who put Cosmos there, and why they did it.

Ratchet's expression went blank for a moment, before anger twisted his features. "That fragging pit-spawned glitch! When I see him I'm going to-"

"You can't do anything!" First Aid said without thinking, and tensed when Ratchet's glare turned to him. "I mean, if you do something, Skyfire will know, and it's taken so much just to get him to trust me I can't risk it now. I'm taking a huge risk now in just letting you know."

Ratchet's anger simmered down, and he pinched the bridge of his olfactory, a human gesture he'd come to pick up. "First Aid, it's great you're taking doctor-patient confidentiality so seriously, but that rule doesn't apply when there is a clear and present danger to the patient."

First Ad stilled, uncertainty blooming in his spark. "It doesn't?" he asked.

Ratchet nodded, and shook the datapad for emphasis. "There's a clear escalation pattern to these injuries. I'm sure you've seen it too, or you wouldn't have taken the chance to let me know. I've seen cases like this, 'Aid." His optics seemed clouded with memory, frowning morosely. "It never gets any better; it might seem like it, there might even be a lull where things have been normal, but it only gets worse."

First Aid absorbed the information, his spark sinking deeper and deeper. He knew deep down that Ratchet was right, but he was just so lost as to what action to take. "I'm trying to get Skyfire to see that Sunstreaker is abusive." He said, the words catching in his vocalizer. It had to be the first time he'd ever actually said those words aloud. "I'm trying to help Skyfire, but…I don't know what else to do. I tried asking Prowl what the protocol would be, but…he can't make anything happen unless Skyfire files a complaint."

Ratchet crossed his arms, expression tight. "And you're worried about what Sunstreaker might do once he's out of the brig?" First Aid nodded, and the CMO vented deeply. "Just keep doing what you're doing then, and let me handle Sunstreaker."

First Aid looked at him warily. "Handle how?" he asked cautiously.

Ratchet sent him such a flat stare that made the junior medic look down. "I'm going to have Prowl extend Sunstreaker's stay in the brig." First Aid jolted, startled as he made a move to say something, but Ratchet held up a servo. "Calm down, I'm not going to say anything about why, but while Prowl might be a lot of things, he's a professional through and through. And right now, the least amount of mechs who know the better."

First Aid nodded, but paused. "I was going to talk to Hoist," he said slowly, "because there are several injuries I last saw on Skyfire that he admitted Sunstreaker had Hoist fix than come here."

Anger flared in Ratchet's optics, before he seemed to forcibly calm himself to avoid having another outburst. "I see." He gritted out. "Then I'll leave you to it." He nodded tersely, and walked out of the medbay, datapad still in hand.

First Aid belatedly realized what Ratchet had meant with 'say', but he hoped the medic was right about Prowl's professionalism. 'Prowl would probably have questions though.' He thought, and kept that in mind as he too, made his way out of the medbay.