Ratchet's P.O.V.
Jasmine struggles to fight the flu virus Yazmine injected. It's a long seven days before Jolt, and I feel like she's well enough for the medically induced coma to end. She's still sick, but I can take her back to our room to rest. I haven't visited the baby since we rescued Jasmine. Not great to help my chance to adopt her. Damien and Ryley have come by a few times, worried they'd have to bury another family member. As we wait for Jasmine to wake up, they tell me the baby is doing well, though she still has a little way to go. I didn't think they'd talk about letting Jasmine see the baby. Now I have to ask about their plans. I know she won't be able to handle bonding with her sister to be told she can visit — even if it's every weekend — and if I'm right about them thinking we're too dangerous...
For now, I need to make sure Jasmine is ok with another bot being with her.
I wait ten minutes before she wakes up.
"Ratchet?" she weakly says.
"I'm here; you're safe. You're sick with the flu," I give her water to drink, "I know you just woke up, but I have a meeting. Do you want Jolt to sit with you here or go to our room? I'll see who'll stay with you."
"I feel too sick to move. Do you have to go?"
I text Damian and Lennox; I'm glad they agree to wait until later.
"Ok, I can stay for a while."
I can tell she wants to ask about the baby. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Yazmine told her. I hope she didn't watch her parents be murdered.
Jolt walks in ten minutes later with a tray.
"You'll want more than one cup of hot tea," he smiles.
He records what's on the monitor as I make a cup of tea. Jasmine now has the typical flu with a 103° fever. Other than that, her vitals are stable. The hot tea helps her throat, but it's not going to help her temperature. I don't know what to talk about as Jasmine drinks the tea. I doubt it's because she just woke up that Jasmine doesn't want me leaving. I remember the first night after she woke up from the coma caused by the Decepticon attack; she panicked, knowing I was leaving the medbay rather than staying in my office. I worry what nightmares she will have this time? If she knows about the baby, then one nightmare will likely be about her aunt and uncle not letting her see her baby sister.
I stay until she goes back to sleep. Jolt stays with her as I talk to her aunt and uncle.
We went to the hospital to visit the baby. Sitting with them by the baby makes me more anxious to talk about her future.
"This little one is on track to go home when she's considered thirty-four weeks gestation," Dr. Morton explains, "I can't say for sure, but at the moment, she isn't showing evidence of any disabilities."
Damian and Ryley insist I hold the baby. I don't know if I should refuse if they'll take the baby away, but if it'll be my last time...
I hold the baby, making sure she's covered with a blanket. I see why I was given a rocking chair to sit on.
"You can relax, Ratchet," Ryley smiles, "we want to make you and Jasmine her guardians, and we'll help take care of her."
There's still the chance the system won't agree, so I don't know if I should let Jasmine see the baby.
"Even if the system rules my wife and I are to adopt her, we can let you and Jasmine have her," Damien adds, "honestly, even if you two can adopt her, we hope to be very involved."
"She likes you," Ryley smiles, "have you thought of a name?"
"No, I'm hoping Jasmine and I can talk about a name."
"Do you remember when I suggested transferring the baby to the medbay? I think that will help Jasmine," the doctor explains.
I still don't know if it's a good idea, and I tell him no for now. The baby lasts ten minutes before getting cold. I put her back in the incubator, but she looks at me. We decide now is a good time to start the adoption process.
Jolt's P.O.V.
Jasmine isn't asleep for long before I watch her shiver and try to get warm. I forgot we removed the I.V. from her arm and should have put medicine on the cart. She was asleep by time I checked on her as Ratchet left.
"I'm sorry, I should have put medicine on the cart."
I give her the medicine, watching her have difficulty sitting up. She takes the medicine and lays down, and I get a cooling cloth and put it on her forehead.
"What happened to the baby? Ratchet hasn't said anything."
Great, I wasn't told not to tell her anything, but I worry about the meeting he's currently in.
"She's a fighter," I tell her.
Jasmine doesn't say anything else and tries to go back to sleep.
Ratchet returns an hour later with Damian and Ryley. I don't ask, but I see Ratchet is happy. I didn't think I'd be allowed to know what was going on, but the couple got Lennox and Prime first before saying anything.
"Sorry, we probably shouldn't have assumed you'd know there'd likely be a baby living here soon," Ryley apologizes.
"We knew it's what Ratchet has been hoping will happen," Optimus explains, "how is the little one?"
"She's doing well, but it'll likely be a month before she's released," Ratchet explains.
"Don't take that as a deadline for Jasmine to recover mentally," Optimus adds.
"We talked about what we'll do if the system rules we are to adopt the baby," Damien explains, "we will be able to give Jasmine and Ratchet gaurdienship and take her."
We're lucky there's a very good chance everything will be fine in terms of Jasmine taking care of her baby sister. The concern is her mental health; she might be too sick, and that's what's keeping her relaxed.