Jayce wasn't surprised Crosshairs and Drift are still with Jamie three hours later. At long last, they were doing what she thought was right. Still, she knew they were only there because of the news Jayce told them. It's been an eventful day, she is exhausted but didn't want to disturb them, she'd rather they be with her than avoid her. She and J.R. were sitting at their usual spot near the building.
"Hey, I know what you're thinking, and...well, this might sound stupid, but..." J.R. trailed off.
"Yes? Tell me," Jayce begged.
"What if the bond between those three is strong that it helps Jamie fight the flare-up?"
"That... might be possible, but you are thinking because they're with her. I don't know if they're just there for tonight," she sighed.
"You will have to see them. You haven't checked on Jamie in four hours, and I'd think-."
"I want to leave them alone with her and," she was trying not to cry, "I don't think there are any changes," Jayce walked away.
Fuck. J.R. realized Jayce thinks Jamie will die. This was very concerning.
Should I tell the others? Just Cade? This isn't good.
It was late, and J.R. was tired. She'd talk to Cade and maybe the others tomorrow.
Crosshairs walks out of the building an hour later. He deactivated his holoform. Drift deactivates his holoform and meets him two minutes later. They didn't realize how long they've been with Jamie and found it strange Jayce and J.R. weren't around.
"Cade, have you seen Jayce and J.R.?" Crosshairs asked when he noticed Cade heading to his trailer.
"Not in the past five hours," he answered as he walked up to them, "that's strange."
"We'll find them, Cade," Drift tells him, he and Crosshairs walk away as Cade went to his trailer.
"This is unusual," Drift fretted.
"At least for Jayce. J.R. already flew off today."
"I don't think she would now after what happened."
The two went separate ways to find the girls faster.
:: Drift, I found them.:: Crosshairs commed five minutes later. Drift runs to Crosshairs' location. They found the two girls laying on the ground, sleeping.
"What do you want to do?" Crosshairs asked.
"Leave them. They'll be fine," Drift assured Crosshairs. Saying nothing else, he walked away. Crosshairs stayed, he knew where Drift was going. Though Drift was right about the girls being fine sleeping outside, Crosshairs stayed in case Jayce ended up waking up from a nightmare.
Crosshairs was right to stay. He heard Jayce moaning several hours later. Crosshairs watched Jayce for a few minutes, hoping the nightmare would end, and she'd stay asleep. Still, when she started crying while asleep, Crosshairs decided he had to wake her. Holoform would be best for this. He thought.
For a mech who once found them useless, he realized how useful they could be. Crosshairs sat next to Jayce and moved her onto his legs. Sure he wanted to wake her but also trying not to scare her awake. Crosshairs felt how tense Jayce was. By now, J.R. is awake, not knowing what time it is.
Is she wondered if Jayce got a suitable amount of sleep since she might not fall asleep once woken up. She watched Crosshairs try to wake Jayce.
How bad is this nightmare? Jayce would be awake by now, especially if we were under attack. J R. wondered, thinking of all their past adventures and the times they were attacked in the middle of the night.
It took Crosshairs seven minutes to get Jayce to wake up. She had a scared look.
What is scaring you like this? Crosshairs thought as he hugged a bawling Jayce.
Damn. I think I know what caused the nightmare this time. J.R. watched, uncertain if she should say something. Crosshairs was now debating getting Drift involved or leaving him alone.
Jayce cried herself back to sleep. Crosshairs held her. He sighed, relieved she fell asleep but continued to wonder what happened in her nightmare.
Had to have been worse than the last couple of days, before she talked to Drift and I, or did no one hear her?
By now, J.R went back to sleep.
"What happened?" Drift asks as he walks over.
"These nightmares are getting worse. Jayce woke up scared and bawling. She cried herself back to sleep two hours ago. I doubt J.R. didn't hear her. Most likely, she just watched."
"And I said they'd be fine," Drift sighed.
"It's fine, Drift. I know you wanted to be with Jamie."
"You have to see her more, Crosshairs," he said in a sad tone before walking away. Crosshairs couldn't believe that Drift was losing hope that Jamie would survive. Now he understood the nightmare that frightened Jayce.
The sun rose in a direction that allowed Crosshairs' Cybertronian form to provide shade.
Good, she can sleep a little longer. Crosshairs looked at Jayce still in his arms. J.R. awoke five minutes later. She looked at Crosshairs holding Jayce and frowned.
"Damn it," she mumbled but loud enough that Crosshairs heard her.
"You know what's going on?" He asked.
"Yes. I was going to tell you, Cade and Drift, this morning."
"Still have to tell Cade and Drift. We need to figure out what to do about this."
J R. Nodded and walked away.
So you figured out what's going on just by Jayce's nightmare last night. That's how bad it was, fuck.
J.R. found Bumblebee, Hound, and Cade talking. She didn't care about the subject until she heard Cade say Drift's name. She walked closer to them but didn't want to join in.
"He just drove off?" Cade asked.
"Yes - that's not - like him," Bumblebee commented.
"Especially if it's a problem related to Jamie," Hound added.
"Unless...damn, he thinks Jamie will die." Cade guesses.
Bumblebee pointed past Cade as he was talking.
Cade sighed, "how long have you been standing there, J.R.?" he asked with concern as he turned to face her. Saying nothing, she ran away. Cade didn't stop her; he was concerned Jayce was thinking the same as Drift and gave up. Cade didn't even think J.R. would tell Crosshairs Drift left.
J R. was thinking about telling Crosshairs, but she also thought she'd wait until Jayce woke up so they could all talk. She tried contacting Drift, but he turned off his comlink.
Fuck, this isn't good. J.R. thought as she punched a car. None of the others heard her.
J.R. was getting angry, thinking of all that happened the past nine days and sad about how much this hurts the others. She fell to her knees and let herself cry until she started coughing. It was hard to stop, but when she was able to stop crying, J.R. just sat quietly, trying not to think about anything, but it was impossible. J.R. was hoping by now Cade, Hound and Bumblebee were away from the storage building where Jamie was. She was in no mood to talk.
Good, they left. I don't see Cade in there either. I can't believe they're giving up. J.R. thought as she entered the building. I'm afraid she'll die too, but I'm not giving up. Jamie's been through this time and time again for fourteen years now. Even what happened last night wasn't new but, it's still terrifying to witness.
J.R. compared what she recorded to what Jayce recorded last night. No change at all. She tried to find the notes from the last severe flare-up that caused Jamie's heart to stop, but she couldn't figure out Jayce's system. She figured this would take her a while, but she kept searching.
"What happened?" Cade asked when he saw Crosshairs holding Jayce.
"What do you think?" He replied in an irritated tone.
"Damn it," Cade mumbled, unsure if he should say anything now.
"Something wrong?" Crosshairs asked, worried.
"Drift left, but I wouldn't worry."
Damn it; he's hurting. I can't leave now, and he'll be back. Crosshairs thought, looking at Jayce.
J.R. found what she was looking for two hours later. She was expecting Cade to walk in by now, but he hasn't.
Damn it; you got to be kidding me. We can't take another seven weeks of this. I can't take seeing Crosshairs, Drift, and Jayce hurting anymore.
She tried not to cry, knowing the others would hear her but couldn't. Sure enough, Bumblebee heard her. He walked into the building to see what was going on. Bumblebee saw J.R. sitting at the table. He knelt beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. J.R. looked to see which Autobot came up to her.
"I'm Fine, Bee."
"Doesn't look - like it," he said. Bumblebee picked J.R. up. She didn't bother fighting him. Bee carried her out. He saw Cade, walked up to him, and put J.R. down.
"What's wrong, J.R.?" Cade asked, noticing she had been crying.
"She was looking- at the computer."
"You looked at old records, didn't you?"
"Only one, to show everyone there's still hope," she explained, trying not to cry again.
"Show me."
J.R. walked back to the building, and Cade followed. J.R. showed him Jayce's laptop.
"Ok, I see what you mean, but you know you can't compare past flare-ups?"
"Can't just think Jamie can still fight this?" J.R. ran out of the building and flew off.
"Great," Cade watched, displeased at how J.R. reacted.
By now, Crosshairs wasn't holding Jayce. He laid her on the ground so he could deactivate his holo-form. He was trying to contact Drift. Crosshairs tried for five minutes with no success.
"Damn it."
"What's wrong," Jayce asked.
"Guess who took off again?" Cade said as he walked up to Crosshairs, unaware Jayce was awake.
"Again!" Jayce said in an angry tone.
"I didn't know you were up. Yeah, J.R. took off after...well she can tell you when she comes back," Cade looked at Crosshairs, wondering if he should say more. Crosshairs shook his head no.
"I'm done with her shit. She can leave this dimension for all I care," Jayce said as she got up and walked away.
"Great. Crosshairs, I'm thinking part of Jadin's plan was to tear everyone apart while trying to kill Jamie."
"If that bastard shows her face, I will kill her," Crosshairs swore.
Jayce didn't care if J.R. came back or left the dimension, but when she couldn't find Drift, she was concerned. Jayce knew Drift wouldn't go far and would be back, but Jayce couldn't believe he left.
I shouldn't have told either of them.
