After bidding their goodbyes, Marie watched as Jazz slowly made his way out of the med bay. She felt her heart—no, her spark—squeeze uncomfortably within her chest. Haven't I been through enough? She thought. Surely they could at least allow her some time to collect her thoughts and process the whirling world around her. Even though Jazz said she had time, the two both knew the truth. A decision needed to be made, and quickly. Marie gently placed her hand over her chest and heaved a heavy sigh. She feared for the fate of her spark. What was she to do next? Would her spark give out on her if she were to continue? Why was it pulling her in two different directions? Marie's head throbbed as she tried to contemplate her options. She turned around. Her eyes rested on Ratchet, whose back was all that faced her. He was hunched over his counter, focused on something else. In a way, Marie was grateful that he couldn't see her miserable expression. She cast her weary gaze back to the med bay doors and hoped that somehow, some way, she could find an answer. Marie sighed as she turned to look back at the medic, pausing briefly before hesitatingly opening up her mouth.

"Do you think it would be possible to move around a little bit? Maybe explore the area around here? Movement helps to clear my mind from thinking to much and right now I just want to not be able to think for a couple of minutes." Marie questioned

Ratchet stiffened before turning his body around to lock his sharp optics onto the young femme. "I don't know if it would be possible to leave this med bay. I do not feel comfortable letting you leave my sight and this med bay. Your body was severely damaged and I had to do emergency surgery to keep your spark beating." Ratchet explained.

"How bad exactly was the damage to my body?" Marie questioned.

"The damage was extensive and your spark was out in the open. Which since you do not know, it is in a way like having a whole in your chest and having the human heart out in the open for the elements. The seals that I put in place on your chest and your legs need to further strengthen before I can even remotely think about letting you stand on them. I might go ahead and give you another energon transfusion while I am thinking about it." Ratchet said

"Energon transfusion? What is that?" Marie asked

"Energon is our life force if you will. It is our blood and what we consume to survive. An energon transfusion is much like a blood transfusion." Ratchet explained while making his way over the counter and pulling out from one of the drawers a long sharp needle that had at the end of it a tube.

"Woah. What are you going to do with that?" Marie snapped

"What do you think I am going to do with it? Honestly. I just said this was similar to a blood transfusion. What do you think happens with a blood transfusion?" Ratchet huffed

"There is no way on God's green earth are you going to be sticking that needle anywhere near my person." Marie said

"Yes I will be. You are acting like a sparking! So suck it up and take it." Ratchet grumbled as he pulled out a bright glowing blue bag and inserted the tube into the pouch. Upon insertion of the tube Ratchet grabbed a pole from the side of Marie's bed and put the pouch on the top of the pole. After all of this was done he grabbed the end of the needle and turned to stare at Marie expectantly. Ratchet raised his optic ridge as he moved towards Marie to grasp her arm. Marie seeing this lunged herself backwards in hopes to escape from Ratchet.

"Oh come now. All that you are going to feel is a slight prick and then it is done. So just sit still and let me get this done and over with." Ratchet growled.

"A slight prick? There's absolutely nothing slight about that!" Marie huffed as she closed her eyes, "We both know this is going to hurt."

Ratchet, having had enough of Marie's attitude, grasped her arm and inserted the needle into her energon lines. The sensation caused Marie to freeze in place. After just a few moments, he removed the needle and released her arm, which she quickly pulled close to her chest. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, "See? It wasn't that bad, now was it?"

"W-wasn't that bad? You just jabbed it into my vein!" Marie hissed venomously

Ratchet rolled his optics in annoyance and transformed his arm into a scanner. After a few quick clicks and taps, he began performing multiple scans to check Marie's systems. As the green scanning light ran over her body, the med bay doors burst open, startling both Ratchet and Marie. A tall, red mech strutted into the room. He exuded confidence and swagger as Marie trailed her optics up and down his entirety. The mech was certainly taller than Ratchet, but just short of Optimus. She sensed that there was something oddly feral about him that put her slightly on edge. At the same time however, she felt that tightening in her chest that drew her towards him. Her eyebrow ridges furrowed in frustration—why did something always have to happen? When would she finally get a moment of peace?

"Hey Ratch!" The mech greeted as he strutted up to Marie and Ratchet. The mech turned to his right to peer at Marie and nodded his head in greeting. "And who do we have here?"

"That is none of your business you slagger. If your not injured than get the slag out!" Ratchet growled

The mech raised his servos in surrender. "I just wanted to meet the femme that Sunny and I saved."

"Well you saw her. Now leave." Rachet huffed

"Rude." The mech huffed, "Now what is your designation sweetspark?"

"First of all I'm not your sweetspark. Second of all why should I give you my name when I do not know yours?" Marie snapped at the mech.

"I happen to think that sweetspark fits you very well. And the names Sideswipe, sweetspark. So now that you know my name why don't you tell me yours?" Sideswipe said

"My name is Marie if you absolutely must know." Marie huffed

"Why is it that you have a human name?" Sideswipe questioned as he raised a optic ridge.

"That is none of your business Sideswipe. So get the slag out of here before I have Prowl come in here to haul your aft out." Rachet grumbled

"Sheesh Ratch it was just a question." Sideswipe huffed. Sideswipe turned his attention away from the med bot to peer at the femme before him. "It was a pleasure to get to meet you. How about when you are out of this joint I show you around? I wouldn't mind to get to know more about the femme my brother and I helped."

"Uhh…I think I will have to get back to you on that one." Marie responded tiredly as she raised her servo to rub her helm in exasperation.

"I will take that as a yes!" Sideswipe chirped. "With that I will take my leave. Talk to you later sweetspark."

Sideswipe started towards the doors of the medbay before stopping and turning his helm to throw a quick wink towards Marie. He turned back towards the doors before finally taking his leave. Marie stared at the spot the mech once occupied with tired optics before slowly turning her helm to peer towards Ratchet with a raised optic ridge.

"Should I even ask what just occurred here?" Marie huffed.

"Sideswipe is a very unusual mech. I assume he just wanted to stop by and see the femme that him and his brother were forced to carry back to base. If anything he, over time he will stop trying to go out of his way to annoy you." Ratchet said.

"Great." Marie huffed sarcastically.

"You look tired sparkling. Why don't you get some stasis? Your body needs it to make the necessary repairs." Ratchet said.

"Is this your way of saying that you are tired of talking to me? Cuz if so I hear you loud and clear." Marie said.

"No it is not. It is me saying that you need to rest your body if you want to be able to do anything within the next coming weeks." Ratchet barked. "Now get some stasis sparkling."

"Just how am I supposed to do that when my mind is filled with never ending questions?" Marie asked.

"It is just like falling a sleep for a human. If anything it should be easier for you since your body was not supposed to be active at all at the moment." Ratchet sarcastically explained.

Marie grumbled to herself before slowly positioning herself into a comfortable position to fall into stasis. Marie blinked her optics shut as she silently command herself not to think any further and to just get some much needed sleep. As she started to feel herself ebb away from the real world she could not help but think one last question that was on her mind. 'Why was her spark pulling towards that silver mech and what did it exactly mean for her?'


Ratchet did a quick scan on the femme laying on the medical berth to determine if she was in stasis before quickly making his way out of the medbay. He went down the long winding hallways before making his way in front of the Autobot commanders office. Without making his presence known to the one inside he pinged the door to open with a swoosh and rudely called out Optimus' name. Optimus- having put down his datapad- raised an optic ridge at his CMO.

"Yes Ratchet? What can I help you with?" Optimus politely questioned.

"Those slagging twins are already making their interest known towards the femme." Rachet grumbled

"This soon? I would have thought for sure that it would have taken them longer before initiating anything with the femme they were so against rescuing." Optimus said

"Well apparently they are. Sideswipe came into my medbay to meet with the femme and then offered her a tour of the base when she is well enough." Rachet said

"Was it just Sideswipe that was present? Did he mention anything of his twin while there?" Optimus questioned

"Sideswipe was the only one there. And to think of it I do not recall Sideswipe mentioning anything of his twin to Marie. Which is odd all things considered." Rachet mumbled

"Then it is too be presumed that Sunstreaker has nothing to do with it and Sideswipe is the only one wanting to know more about the young one." Optimus pondered.

"So then what are we going to do about that?" Ratchet questioned

"We will not interfere with it until the situation gets out of hand. For the time being just observe their interactions with each other." Optimus said

"Do you really believe that to be the wisest choose?" Rachet asked

"At this time I do believe it to be the wisest choose." Optimus replied

"I will follow you orders, but I will be closely watching their interactions to insure nothing arises from it and if something does occur I will step in. Do I make myself clear Prime?" Rachet snarked

"I understand." Optimus said

With that Ratchet nodded his helm and stiffly turned towards the door leading out to the hallway. Right before his pede crossed over the threshold of the room he paused and turned to look at Optimus.

"Don't think I have forgotten about your check up coming up. I do expect you there Prime and not having one of your unexpected meetings pop up right at the same time you are supposed to be having you appointment. Do I make myself clear Prime." Rachet barked

"It is not my fault that they decide to have meetings then." Optimus mumbled

"I said. Do I make myself clear Prime?" Rachet growled

"Crystal." Optimus said

Rachet nodded his helm before walking at of the door and into the hallway. When he was completely out the door swooshed closed leaving Optimus completely alone. Optimus stared at the door for a couple of seconds longer before sighing and letting his shoulders droop.


I want to apologize for how insanely long this took to come out. Things came up that was totally unexpected and this chapter had to go on the back burner for a little bit. But I finally got it done! Next chapter we are going to see more Sideswipe/Marie and Sideswipe/Sunstreaker interaction. Happy readings!-Spectra