Ultra Magnus found Drift and Bumblebee staring at the ground with Drift's Mini-Cons trying to lift their spirits but with no luck.
"What's with the sad faces?" Magnus asks as he walks up to them.
"They are still upset that they attacked Cadet Strongarm," Slipstream replied.
"We tried to get them to overcome this obstacle but sadly we aren't having any luck," Jetstorm added.
"Bumblebee, Drift, I have some news."
"What is it?" Drift asked.
"Strongarm has woken up and she's gonna be just fine, and she said she doesn't want you two beating yourselves up over what happened."
"Thank the AllSpark," Bumblebee said as relief washed over him, "And Steeljaw?
"He's holding up, he's happy she's finally awake. He sparkbonded with her which is what brought her through, so we owe her life to him."
"I'm just glad she's going to be ok," Bumblebee stated.
"What about Metalsound's condition?" Slipstream asked.
"She'll be just fine as well, she's resting right now."
"That's good," Jetstorm said with relief.
"You can see her when she's feeling better."
The twins both jumped back when they heard Thunderhoof, they looked behind them to see Thunderhoof and Soundwave behind them, "How long have you been standing there?" Slipstream asked.
"I was going to check on Steeljaw," he replied, "Metalsound's sleeping right now so wait until she wakes up and is well enough to get company and you can see her."
"We will certainly go check on her when she's well enough," Bumblebee says as Thunderhoof walks off. Bumblebee and Drift followed after Thunderhoof to see Steeljaw and Strongarm while the others went on with their own business.
Steeljaw was awakened by a knock on the door, "Who is it?" He asked with a little growl.
"Easy, we're friendly," Thunderhoof replied as he came in, "We wanted to see how you two are doing."
Bumblebee and Drift walked in behind him and looked at Strongarm, "Strongarm wake up we have company," Steeljaw says as he tries to wake his mate.
"Let her get some sleep Steeljaw, I'm sure she could use the rest. We just wanted to see how she was doing," Bumblebee tells him.
"She's doing good, she's finally out of the danger of offlining."
"That is good," Drift replied, "I hope that she can forgive us for our actions, even if we were under their control."
"I know she will, she knows you two weren't yourselves."
"Of course, I forgive you two," a faint voice came out from Strongarm who had just woken up.
"I thought you were sleeping," Bumblebee stated.
"I was, just woke up."
"How are you feeling?"
"Very sore, in a lot of pain, but alright. At least I'm gonna live."
"We should let you two get some rest, between your injuries and Steeljaw not allowing himself to get any sleep. We'll come back later," Drift suggested, "I am glad you are out of danger Strongarm."
"Thank you," Strongarm says as she rests against her mate. Bumblebee and Drift leave.
"So you're holding up alright Steeljaw?" Thunderhoof asks.
"I'm alright, just tired. How's Metalsound doing?"
"Doing good, she's resting right now. Maybe now you'll get some Energon and fuel yourself up, you've been lacking on Energon since we got back."
"Yeah, just let me have ten more minutes," he said as he drifted back to sleep.
Strongarm smiled as she hugged him and held him close, "Don't worry I'll see to it he gets some Energon."
"Thanks, and congrats on the sparkbond," he said with a smile as he started to leave.
"Thanks," Strongarm replies before drifting back to sleep.
Metalsound's optics snapped open from the dream she just had, it felt so real. She saw her parents standing in a meadow, she could feel their warm embrace before she woke up. Placing her paw over her optics she stifled a sob, "Why did you two have to die?"
Just then Thunderhoof comes into the room and hears her sobbing and he rushes over to her, "Metalsound, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just a dream I had," she replied trying to dry the lubricants from her optics.
"What about?"
"I saw my mom and dad."
"Oh. What were they doing?"
"They were in a meadow, I just ran over to them and they hugged me. It felt so real," her claws sank into the berth as she laid her helm on his lap.
He pulled her into a hug, "I know you miss them, it's gonna be alright."
"If papa was still alive he could tell me what is going on with my paws. I feel like I'm forgetting something though."
"Like what?"
"I'm not sure, maybe he had done the fire paw thing."
"Do you think it could be genetic?"
"Maybe, he was able to control fire."
"Hmm, then that's most likely where you got it from."
"The odd thing was that the flames didn't even burn my paws, they just felt warm."
"You're probably resistant to it since it's coming from you."
"Maybe," she whispered.
"Don't worry, we'll work through this together."
"Thank you Thunderhoof."
"Anytime babe."
"Can I have some Energon?"
"Of course," he goes to get some for her before returning and giving it to her, "Here you go."
"Thank you," she said as she lapped up her meal, "How's everyone else?"
"Everyone's doing good. Strongarm woke up and is gonna live, she's recovering pretty well."
"That's good, I'm glad she's going to be ok," she says before looking at him with worry, "Those witches didn't do anything to you, did they?"
"Just try to seduce me."
"Good, if they did do anything to you they would have had to deal with me in my berserk mode," she teased lightly.
"And I don't want that," he replied with a chuckle.
"You have no idea how much I want to pounce on you right now," she replied with a sigh.
"For what?"
"Just to get rid of their scents on you. And to try to seduce you," she whispered as her tail slowly made its way up to his back.
"You don't need to pounce on me to seduce me, you can seduce me in any form."
"Glad to hear it," she replied as she slowly sat up, closing the distance as her lips met with his.
After about half an hour Strongarm wakes up and looks over at Steeljaw, she leans in and kisses him which causes him to wake up, "Sorry," she says hoping he won't go nuts from being woken up.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" He asked with a smile.
"I know you don't like being woken up."
"If it's you then I don't mind."
She smiles at him, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Did you?"
"Yes. Feeling recharged?"
"Yes," he replied as he nuzzled her, "Would you like for me to get us some Energon?"
"If you would please."
"I'll be right back," he kissed her helm before leaving.
"Alright," she says as she watches him walk out.
After a few minutes, Steeljaw came back with an Energon cube, "I hope you don't mind sharing."
"Not at all."
Sitting beside his mate he offered her the cube, "I am glad you are alright."
"I am too," she says as she takes the cube and starts drinking. Steeljaw didn't say anything, he just watched her with a loving smile. After a few gulps, she hands the cube to him, "Your turn," Steeljaw snapped out of the trance he was in and took the cube, taking a few sips of his own. Strongarm giggled, "Why were you looking at me like that?"
"No reason really," he replied with a blush.
"You're blushing."
"I am not," he growled softly as he took another sip, trying to hide his blush.
She chuckled a bit, "Yes you are, looks cute."
Steeljaw grumbled as he handed the cube back to Strongarm, "You can have the rest," he turned away to hide his blush. Even though he was upset he liked it when she called him cute. He sent a wave of love through their bond to let her know that he wasn't upset with her.
Strongarm could feel his frustration through their bond and her enjoyment turned into sadness, "I'm sorry, here just drink the rest out there with the others," she says as she puts the cube down next to him, "I'm just gonna try to go back to sleep," she says as she turns over hissing in pain. She grips the sheet from all the pain she's in from moving.
Steeljaw inwardly growled to himself when he heard her hiss in pain, "I'm sorry, I wasn't upset with you. Why don't we both go join the others? We've been cooped up in here for the past few days, besides I'm sure the others would like to see you," he didn't like seeing her in pain, or sad. He held out his servo to help her up, "What do you say?" He asked with a small grin.
"No, you go ahead, I don't think I can move right now."
"Then allow me to help you," he said as he put the cube down and carefully picked her up.
"What!? Steeljaw! What are you doing!?" She asks in complete shock.
"What does it look like? I'm carrying you outside," he replied with a smile.
"Alright if you want to be that way about it, but I can walk," she says as she pushes herself out of his arms, her feet hit the ground and she got so much pain in her back strut she started to fall to the ground but she was still holding onto Steeljaw which stopped her from falling. She placed a servo on her back while she hissed in pain.
Steeljaw caught her by her arm before she fell to the floor, "Are you sure you can walk on your own?" He asked in concern.
"I'm sure, let's get going already."
Staying by her side he helped her outside. He sent a wave of love to her through their bond as they stepped out into the sunlight. She felt it and sent a wave back. They start walking out but after a few steps Strongarm was being hit with pain in her back and in her stomach which was so bad it was affecting her walking, she started stumbling, hissing in pain with every inch.
"Maybe you should rest for a while," Steeljaw suggested in worry.
"No, I'm fine."
"Strongarm, you can hardly move without stumbling," the mech pointed out, "Where does it hurt?"
"Just my back and my stomach, but the pain is so bad..." she started falling forward.
Steeljaw caught her as he picked her up, taking her back inside, "Do you want Fixit to have another look at you?"
"No, but could you see if he has any painkillers?"
"Yes," he placed her on the berth and left in search of Fixit.