Alone
Chapter 7
Optimus trudged through the thick mud, water falling in rivets down his armor as thunder crashed above his head mournfully. Prime collapsed on the shore, doubled over and coughing in an attempt to get the water out of his air intakes. His entire body ached, arms shaking under the stain as he tried once again to get this his feet. He had to find Jazz. Prime had lost sight of him in the flood. He lifted his head to survey the area, coming to rest on a crumbled figure about a hundred feet from him. It had to be Jazz. Prime staggered to him, noting that Jazz's body was twisted in an awkward position but other than that, it didn't look like he hadn't sustained any other major damage.
"Jazz?" Prime called out as he reached the nearly lifeless body, carefully untangling his limbs so he lay flat on his back. Prime then turned Jazz's horned helm to face him, hoping for some sign of life. Hoping. Praying he was okay. When slowly, Jazz's optics un-shuttered and glowed dimly, a blue blotch of color coming into his poor vision. He tried to open his mouth to speak but coughed instead, his frame shaking with cold and fatigue. Prime rested his hand on his shoulder, unable to think of anything else to say. Usually, the Autobot commander was able to come up with the most eloquent speeches at the drop of a hat but this time, the words just didn't come. As much as he hated it, there was no way to lighten the mood; the way Jazz was always so capable of doing. Jazz knew how bad his condition was, the fear was in his naked optics. All Prime could think of doing was staying beside him until help came and knowing Prowl, the others would be here soon. Prime wasn't disappointed.
"There!" Sideswipe pointed, as the red Lamborghini skid through the mud, transforming in one fluid motion. Sunstreaker followed, along with Ratchet, Hound and Prowl; Ratchet pushing everyone else out of his way to get there first.
"Is he okay?" Hound asked, crawling down the embankment easily, while Prowl struggled with it. He was a Datsun, not a Jeep. And he was definitely not made for earthen terrain.
"I don't slagging know! Why ask me now?" Ratchet growled back, taking his respective spot beside his patient, nudging Prime away as the twins both crowded around Ratchet's head, looking on with hope and fear. He was almost tempted to push the two nosey twins away but then thought otherwise. Maybe later he'd yell at them but not now. Ratchet took out his scanner and ran it across the length of his body. Looked like a severed linkage and a large drop in energon levels (which of course he had expected, after being stranded for nearly two weeks.) He needed to get something in him and fast. Ratchet cursed under his breath. There was no way he was going to give Jazz up to the eternal pit without one hell of a fight. A harsh intake of air drew his attention back to his patient as his optics were fading again.
"Jazz." Ratchet shook the younger mech gently repeating the name with more force this time. "Stay with me. Don't doze off."
Aint trying to Jazz's mind argued, his body functioning otherwise.
Dazedly, Jazz brought his optics back online, trying with all his might to focus. Ratchet wasted no time, tenderly turning Jazz's head to the side, in his hand he held a small device. "This is going to sting, but it's going to give you enough power to hold out for repairs." Ratchet said soothingly, gently holding the modified syringe to Jazz's neck and pressing.
Jazz gave a soft whine, his hand flexing into a fist for the barest moments and the brim of his nose wrinkling under the pain before he went lax again. Sting, his aft! Jazz tossed his head side to side, wanting so badly to be able to move. Being mobile was something he would never take for granted again.
That done, Ratchet took a look at the cut on his side. The wound still sputtered a few sparks and Ratchet prodded it carefully. The wound could wait. He needed energy more than a patch job. Ratchet reached into his subspace pocket and removed an energy pack. It would ensure he could make it home. The Twins towered over the medic and patient, eagerly a waiting some news. Hound, Prowl and Prime were smart enough to get Ratchet room. Unlatching a port under the Porsche's chest, Ratchet plugged in the power pack. Jazz tensed slightly again but quickly relaxed.
"We need to get back. Now." Ratchet looked over his shoulder to Prime and the others.
Prime was never one to question the medic, despite the urge to ask for a status report. Instead, Prime just gave a nod to the medic before he gave the order to the others.
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Between Ratchet and Wheeljack it took a grand total of twenty seven hours to get the Porsche stabilized again. Reconstruction had to be completed on his side still, and he was covered in dent and scratches, but at least he was out of the danger readings. Energon now flowed through his circuits, his insides practically screaming for more and more.
Ratchet slumped into the nearest chair, tools still in hand and splotches of mech fluid and energon all over his chest plate and hands. Wheeljack didn't look much better but was still standing.
"Think we should go tell the others now? The twins haven't left the waiting room, and Prime wants them off the floors." Wheeljack explained, putting the last of his tools away.
Ratchet nodded weakly but stood back on his wobbly feet. "I'll take care of it. You go get some recharge." He replied and headed for the door.
The CMO knew better than most just how important Jazz was to the others. He was always the one who would show up in repair bay to check on everyone, bringing laughs and grins to each of the patients. Laughter was sometimes a better cure than anything Ratchet himself could do with his tools or medications and Jazz always had an extra supply of smiles to hand out.
Ratchet looked through the windows into the waiting room. There on the floor sat Sunstreaker and Sideswipe; Bumblebee, Hound sat on the benches and Prime pacing while Ironhide talked to him from his bench. It was obvious the Twins had been their longer than the others, as they looked half asleep and sprawled on the floor, empty containers littering the floor.
Everyone's eyes snapped back to the door as Ratchet stepped out. The hall remained silent for a moment, Bumblebee's feet shifting nervously on the floor.
"Well?" The little yellow bug broke the silence first, "Is he okay?"
The medic nodded tiredly but a hint of a smile found it's way on his face. "He'll be alright." Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief as Ratchet continued, "He'll be in repair bay for at least a week, and isn't going to be completely back to normal as far as optics and audios are concerned; but he'll be fine. In a while anyway."
"Can we see 'im?" Sideswipe asked, standing up and getting off the floor.
"No. He needs his rest. Maybe in the morning." Ratchet turned to go back to repair bay.
"But we've waited for twenty-seven hours! You made us wait that whole time and now we can't even see him?"
"I just now got him stabilized, alright? I need to recharge and I aint staying awake so you can visit with someone who is comatose. In the morning. Period." The CMO slammed the door.
And that was that.
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Author's Note: It's almost midnight so I hope ya all forgive me for making this short. ;) Thank ya Mariashadow, Whirlwind, Truebornchaos and RES for your comments! I know, I'll stop with the cliffhangers…for a while. I let him live, didn't I? Tormented him yeah, but you know I couldn't kill my favorite character, right? ;)
Oh, question for all you readers out there. Would anyone like to see Jynx in these last few chapters? I didn't know if I should add her because I wasn't sure how many people liked her. Some people aren't as keen on fan characters I know but if anyone out there would like to see her come in, let me know, alright? I could always use someone telling me they like my character. Much appreciation! Hope everyone liked the chapter. J
(Don't own the Transformers, BTW. I just write them, I don't own um.)