Prowl's P.O.V.
I realize why Mirage wants to continue his security duty. Jamie's guardians need a break, but she can't be alone. We don't want her to feel like a prisoner, either. What the frag happened?
"There's got to be something we can do," I hear Hound.
"Even I don't know what to do," Bumblebee tells him, "except that we need to be careful."
The terror twins join the conversation, though it's always the same; uncertain of what to do, the conversation is more like ranting. The four mechs want to get Jamie to do something, but avoiding having her feel like she's being forced is challenging.
As I walk down the hall to my office, I hear several groups of Autobots talking about Jamie. A few soldiers also talk about Jamie, worried about her.
You're loved here, Jamie. How can we show you?
I know it will be hard even if we know what to do. I know Optimus talked to Crosshairs and Drift. He likely knows more than the rest of us. Knowing he's not telling everyone or even only Ratchet, Rung, and I, he was told nothing new — which I doubt — or it's something we can't help with. What are the chances I was right about the two wanting to start a family? I see why that needs to be a secret. Everyone knowing wouldn't help right now. Everyone would have more of the feeling that they can't help, along with loving the idea of a baby at the base. Audrey, Hannah, and Leah are already three years old. Though they're definitely still the terror triplets. Those three will be friends for life. Hmm, I wonder when Jasmine and Ratchet will give Audrey a cousin? I can't believe how many things have changed from the day humans betrayed us ten years ago with Jamie's mental health five months ago. Sure, attempted suicide isn't better than now, and I doubt she's no longer thinking death is better, but now she's trying to hide from everyone and not eating much.
The challenge is balancing helping Jamie and causing her to feel forced. All we can do is wait and see if Jamie will be ok; I know everyone hates it.
Even knowing this, I didn't think the meeting the next morning would go this way. Not only does everyone agree to leave the lounge room for Crosshairs and Drift to get Jamie out of their room at night, but many want to help them more. They must know they're only asking for Lennox, Optimus, and me to tell them to leave the three alone. Though the response we get is arguing that we can't do anything. A few argue that Optimus gave up and we're to wait until we lose Jamie. Optimus walks out of the room. Lennox and I both lecture the Autobots and soldiers who question Optimus.
Optimus Prime's P.O.V.
The others would likely understand if I told them, but this would add to how they hate they can't help Jamie and her guardians. They know she's complicated and needs to be left alone, but I understand how worried they are. Not everyone knows Crosshairs and Drift struggle to get her to eat, but I suspect the ones who don't know are still questioning if she's eating.
I've gotten into the routine of checking on the three early in the morning since finding out how much they're struggling. Crosshairs and Drift are awake and waiting for Jamie to wake up. It's clear the two mechs grow more worried every day. I'm unsure if Crosshairs doesn't realize he's showing how worried he is or is ok showing me.
"... I don't know what we can do," I hear Drift as I open the door.
I see Crosshairs is uncertain about what to say, which is unusual. Though Hound has told me how Crosshairs' mental health slowly trained behind Drift during the nightmare situation. It was only a matter of time before he would hurt like this. No matter whose mental health is going downhill, this is not good, but if Jamie sees her mechs struggling, she'll think she needs to go home. I worry she's thinking about going home regardless of knowing if her guardians are struggling mentally. This is complicated.
"Sir?" Crosshairs asks.
"The others want to help."
"I don't know. I don't want to make Jamie cry," Drift sighs.
"She's crying anyway," Crosshairs comments, "I hate it, but we need to get her to want to be with our friends. I'd love to tell them the secret, but they can't help us. Not like she'd stop crying."
I know crying over not being able to get pregnant now seems ridiculous, but the lack of support and because this is what she wants upsets Jamie. There's another half to this that only a few Autobots know about. Jamie is afraid to tell Crosshairs and Drift, no matter how much she loves them. Knowing that Jamie dealt with bullying angers both. They don't ask why she was bullied. The reason she won't show her true appearance in her dimension. I still don't know how she separated her appearance, so we don't see any physical disabilities.
"Sir, are you ok?" I hear Crosshairs.
"I'm fine."
"You seem distracted," Drift comments.
I only tell them I'm worried about Jamie like everyone else. I will not stay and wait for Jamie to wake up. I'll try to talk to Jamie later. I'm tempted to talk to Jamie's parents, but I don't think they'd listen to a friend. My only option is to watch her hurt. Hoping she'll be ok and happy soon. I can't believe this is happening.
I leave the room, feeling tears in my eyes.
I cannot wait until I reach my mom before the tears roll down my face. I rush to my room before anyone sees me, close the door, sit on the bed, and cry. I feel like I failed Jamie.