The girls are asleep; Bulma, Cade, and Hound want to talk to Crosshairs and Drift.
"What's going on with you two?" Bulma asks, "it's obvious that something else is bothering you."
Crosshairs and Drift look at each other. They didn't want to tell the others. If they weren't thinking about it by now, they didn't want to give the others more to worry about, but now they have no choice.
"We've been thinking about how bad this would be if this shit happened when the three of them weren't with any friends. If Jayce and J.R. had to deal with this alone." Drift starts.
"Watching their mental decline, I don't think Jayce would have come here to tell you what's going on, though I don't think she told you so you'd take over. They would have been alone, taking care of Jamie and dealing with their panic attacks and nightmares alone," Crosshairs adds.
"I worry, how bad will Jamie be? How are we going to help all three of them?" Drift finished.
Both Crosshairs and Drift looked at Bulma. Bulma knew Crosshairs didn't tell Drift how Jamie could be when she wakes up, and they both wanted to know if Jamie would end up like Jayce and J.R.
"Bulma?" Cad asks. It was clear Cade wanted to know and most likely Hound. Vegeta knew how Jamie usually is when she wakes up from a flare-up, but they wanted to know if she'd end up like Jayce and J.R.
"She will most likely be feeling weak for at least a week. I worry she'll try to go back to training right away since Jadin attacked," Bulma signed, not really wanting to continue, but they asked.
"She went through a couple of weeks of being in and out of short comas, but only the first time, when I tried to kill her," Vegeta sighed.
"That may be the case this time, but there's no way to know for sure until she wakes up. Unfortunately, I do think she'll be like Jayce and J.R. emotionally."
Everyone was silent for a few minutes. Bulma had the look of regret on her face.
"It's ok, Bulma. I wanted to know," Drift says, sadness in his voice, before going into the room.
"He knew it would not be good but wanted to know; we all did." Crosshairs says before going into the room.
"Come on, let's leave them alone," Vegeta and Cade get Bulma to go back to Cade's dimension. Bumblebee and Hound stay, hoping to get Crosshairs and Drift to go see Jamie.
"I shouldn't have told them," Bulma says as she looks over Jamie.
"They wanted to know, though they seemed to have figured it out without you telling them. Honestly, I think it's good Drift knows Jamie could end up in brief comas. Better than him panicking, watching her slip into one. You know he'll be with her a lot when she wakes up." Cade assures her,
"I'm surprised they're thinking of this now. They know it'll be weeks. That's how much they worry about the girls, damn." Vegeta says and walks out of the building.
Bulma and Cade weren't expecting Crosshairs and Drift to walk in ten minutes later. They watched the two sit beside Jamie.
"You ok?" Cade asks Bulma, seeing how upset she is.
"You see upset they are? And if they knew the specifics about taking care of Jamie during a severe flare-up. How.." she couldn't finish before starting to cry. Cade got her to leave the building before Crosshairs and Drift could hear her.
"They're going to have to know. Not now, but you know they must know."
"I can't. You know how upset they'll be knowing Jamie is on life support. How, without it, we lose her? I'm glad they don't want to learn about all this yet. Bad enough they know Jamie flatlined twice."
They know about the third time, but I'm not telling you. Cade thought.
"You sure they don't know? They seemed to understand when J.R. said `pull the plug'."
"You know that could mean giving up on Jamie. I can't take seeing them and the girls upset, and I have no answers," Bulma runs off.
Shit. Cade watched her for a second before going to his trailer. He knew he couldn't hide how concerned he was from Crosshairs and Drift.
"What is the problem?" Vegeta asked, concerned, as he sits next to Bulma.
"Jamie is still stable. I don't want to talk about it," Bulma couldn't stop herself from crying as Vegeta hugged her.
"They asked, and you know they hate not being told the details; they want to know. Cade is right, it's better they know now what potentially could be part of Jamie's recovery."
"They don't know all the medical details. How upset they'd be if they knew... I have to tell them, eventually."
"Yes, but not now."
Bulma goes back to her work twenty minutes later.
Two hours pass before Crosshairs and Drift decide it's time to go back to the girls. They didn't like that Bulma was still awake and working on her laptop at midnight. They leave but didn't tell Bulma why they think they're keeping her awake. They didn't lie either.
"She claims she was just finishing up work, but I think we made her upset by asking about the recovery process and if Jamie will be like Jayce and J.R. emotionally," Crosshairs sighed.
"She's getting too stressed like Jayce was," Drift says in a sad tone. Crosshairs knew what Drift was thinking. He stopped Drift in the middle of the hallway.
"You know she's worried about how long this flare-up has been going on, but she doesn't want to give up, even though we don't know if Vegeta's plan is going to work, and even if it does, she's clarified this will still last weeks," he thought for a moment, "I know you're thinking like Bulma, worried about Jamie but don't want to let her go, we all are, and worried about Jayce and J.R."
Damn it, he needs to destress, but he's worried about the girls.
They found Bumblebee and Hound in the hallway, who realized Drift is upset. Of course, this worried Bumblebee and Hound. Crosshairs had Drift go in the room.
"Jamie's stable but Bulma is upset that we asked her about what will happen as Jamie recovers, and you know Drift didn't like the answers though he knew he wouldn't like the answers, he wanted to know. Bulma has been slowly getting stressed, not having the answers, not knowing if Vegeta's plan will work and what will happen as Jamie recovers. All she knows for sure is that all three of the girls are going to have a long road to recovering emotionally."
"Two weeks just like Jayce, shit, and there's no one to take over for her." Hound worried. "Cade already feels bad he didn't let Jayce teach him how to care for Jamie, but he's right, now's not the time to learn.
"Bulma has cared for Jamie for two weeks, but she also has the emotional struggle Jayce and J.R. have been going through how this is now the worst flare-up, and she has no answers this time on her mind."
"You two should go back to Jamie's dimension."
"No, you didn't see what J.R. did last night when I wasn't with her. I don't know if she got scared she didn't see any of us or just me, but I'm not letting her go through that again." Crosshairs walks into the room.
"Damn it, he's right. J.R. gets scared if she doesn't see any of us and thinks Jamie died. Crosshairs comforts her enough to keep her calm, so he should stay with her. The same with Drift being with Jayce. I worry they'll take months to recover emotionally, and you know how Jamie already struggles mentally."
Bumblebee and Hound stay to try to help Crosshairs and Drift. Hound still had the goal of trying to get them to see Jamie more. He'd wait a couple of hours. Crosshairs was in the habit of carrying J.R. to another room a couple hours after she falls asleep. Bumblebee told Crosshairs that he'd stay with her, hoping it would give Crosshairs a break, though he knew most likely he and Drift would talk about the girls. He ended up thinking about what the two of them said earlier today.
Drift leaves the room after Crosshairs carried J.R. out of the room. Crosshairs didn't go find him.
He needs to be left alone. I don't think he left. I know he's too worried about Jayce and J.R. to leave, no matter how much he wants to be with Jamie.
Crosshairs waits forty minutes before going to find Drift. Hound stays in the room with Jayce, and Bumblebee was still with J.R. Though he was concerned, J.R. wouldn't let Bumblebee help her.
Crosshairs didn't expect to find Drift in Bulma's lab, nor did he know Bulma kept Jamie and Jayce's laptops in her lab and not in capsules. Drift was on Jamie's laptop. Crosshairs knew Drift knew the password; Jamie trusted him. He watched Drift look at the photos on the computer for a few minutes.
"Why are you looking at those?" He asks. Drift looks at him, surprised Crosshairs caught him.
"I know you get upset looking at those just like Jayce. I don't even want to look at them. You...you don't think she'll recover?"
"Isn't it obvious? She's only strong enough to... stay alive for a week..." Drift couldn't finish. Crosshairs wasn't sure what to say that would change Drift's mind, but he had to get Drift to step away from the computer.
"I know you're afraid she won't recover, we all are, but Bulma hasn't given up yet. She knows more about this than we do, even if she doesn't have all the answers."
"You know that if Vegeta didn't think of giving Jamie some of his energy, she would have told us she's out of options. We don't even know if his plan will work. You heard Bulma, it's most likely still going to weeks-."
"Stop, I know. We all have the same worries you do. I know seeing Jamie flatline scared you. That also scared me." Crosshairs got Drift to close the laptop and leave the lab. They went to the balcony, sitting on the floor in silence.
At six in the morning, Drift tells Crosshairs he wants to go see Jamie. Crosshairs also wanted to, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea right now. The two go to Bulma's dimension.
They didn't expect Cade to be awake already. They found him sitting on a car near the building. Crosshairs expected Drift to ask Cade about Jamie, but he activated his holoform and walked into the building.
"Is he going to find bad news in there?" Crosshairs asks, concerned.
"No, nothing's changed. At least Jamie's vitals. Is he ok?"
"No, you know he's been worried since this shit started, but after seeing Jamie flatline, he's been even more worried."
"Damn, Bee and Hound saw you two that night and told me, but we're not telling Buma. I didn't think he'd end up worrying that much more."
"Yeah.." Crosshairs trails off.
He's right to worry more if you think about it.
"You're also having a hard time," Cade observed. Crosshairs said nothing; he walked away. Cade walks into the building and sits at the table.
Damn it, I know why they're both more worried about Jamie. Bulma's most likely thinking the same.
Bulma wasn't surprised that Drift was with Jamie. She could wait a bit before caring for Jamie. She sat next to Cade on the rusted car. Cade knew she didn't care for Jamie yet and didn't want to talk. Vegeta sits on the other side of Bulma. She leaves on him and hugs him. Trying not to worry, Vegeta hugs her. Cade goes to his trailer. Drift comes out of the building fifteen minutes later and notices Bulma and Vegeta. Bulma was crying. Drift deactivated his holoform and headed to the back of the property. Neither Bulma nor Vegeta noticed him.
Something is wrong, shit.
Drift found Crosshairs on recharge. He sat next to him. You didn't even come into the building, Crosshairs. Did Cade tell you Jamie's declining? Drift slipped into recharge.
Bulma and Vegeta go into the building fifteen minutes later. Bulma wasn't expecting to not find Drift by Jamie, though it was good. Now she didn't have to ask Drift to move to check on Jamie. Cade walks in five minutes later. He and Vegeta watch Bulma, hoping that Jamie is still stable. They'd like to be told that she is improving, but they knew it was most likely still too soon to see improvement. Cade was also wondering why Drift left so soon? He's always with Jamie for at least four hours. Neither Cade nor Vegeta asked about Jamie when Bulma was finished, nor did she say anything. She just continued her work on her laptop. Everyone has been wondering what she's been doing, wondering if it's related to Jamie but didn't bother to ask. They just stood by Jamie.
"What are we going to do about Bulma?" Cade whispered. "She's getting too stressed."
"Nothing we can do. I think Bulma is working on developing either equipment for the Autobots or medication for Jamie. Even if we tell her not to, she's going to refuse to step away from whatever she's working on, though I think when she does walk away from everything, she still worries about Jamie like the rest of us. Honestly, I think she was more stressed the first time, not knowing if she could help Jamie. Now she doesn't know how long this will last."
"Or if she'll survive this time. You haven't noticed the pattern, have you? Jamie's only able to fight for a week, then her body gives up. Drift is very worried it's going to happen again, and he ended up worrying Crosshairs. Bulma, Crosshairs, and Drift are the most worried about Jamie. Jayce and J.R. have given up. If Jayce wasn't injured, I think they would have left by now. I know Crosshairs and Drift still worry the two girls will try to hurt themselves, and J.R. already showed that she'll run off first. I hope you giving Jamie energy will help her fight this. Sucks it'll still be weeks."
Crosshairs comes out of recharge ninety minutes later, not expecting to find Drift in recharge next to him.
Good, take a break, Drift. I know he's not going to recharge for much longer. He wouldn't allow himself to be in recharge for long since he's worried about the girls.
Crosshairs went back to the building to be with Jamie. He told Bulma, Cade, and Vegeta that Drift was in recharge.
Nine in the morning. Well, neither Bee nor Hound have contacted us, so the girls must be ok. After how J.R. was the other night, I don't know if it's a good idea that Drift and I stay away from both of the girls for long. I know Drift would like to be with Jamie more, but worries about Jayce and J.R. I can't believe how emotionally hurt they are. Are you going to be the same way, Jamie? Crosshairs held her hand. I don't think we can take seeing you emotionally hurt the way Jayce and J.R. are, especially Drift.
Cade watched Crosshairs closely. To Cade, it looked like Crosshairs was looking at all the stuff Jamie was attached to. He knew Crosshairs didn't just notice everything; he's most likely wondering what all the stuff Jamie is attached to was.
Crap, please don't ask. I can tell you about the IVs and the monitor leads, but like Bulma, I can't tell you how Jamie has been on life support. I know we're going to have to after this is over, and that's going to be hard.
Fifteen minutes pass before Crosshairs starts thinking about how he needs to get back to Jayce and J R., but he didn't want to leave Jamie.
"You want me to go make sure they're ok?" Cade asks. "As long as you two aren't going to be gone all day, I think J.R. will be fine."
"Fine, contact me if either of them aren't."
Cade didn't expect to see both of the girls still sleeping. He knew it was very likely J R. woke up in the middle of the night. Hound confirmed that. He tells Cade how she woke up at two-thirty and ended up having a panic attack from whatever her nightmare was about. Hound told Cade how he waited for a half-hour before giving in and using drugs so J.R. will be asleep for a little longer.
"Jayce was awake, but she feels like crap and fell asleep. I've been thinking about how these two don't ask about Jamie; they seem to have given up and are just waiting for her to die. What are their nightmares about?"
"If I had to guess, either the first time Jamie flatlined, but she isn't revived or Jadin attacking again. There's nothing we can do if we ask them what their nightmares are about."
"Those two having a hard time again?"
Cade nodded. "Crosshairs is with Jamie. Strange Drift isn't, but I doubt he's been avoiding seeing her."
No way I'm telling him about how Crosshairs was looking at the medical equipment.
Cade told Bumblebee and Hound that he'd stay for a while.
Drift abruptly comes out of recharge. He takes a minute to realize he's at the junkyard.
It was just memory playback, but...
Drift gets up and walks towards the building. He sees Crosshairs' vehicle mode in the carport. He stands next to the carport, activates his holoform, and walks into the building. He found it odd Cade wasn't around. Crosshairs tells him Cade went to check on the girls a little over an hour ago. Crosshairs noticed Drift is more upset than before he went into recharge. He knew Drift had memory playback of seeing Jamie flatlined.
Damn it, so much for a break from this.
