Three chapters… three days. How did I manage this one?
Lol, anyway… THANKIES TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE REIVEWED! 13 reviews for one chapter, and ten of them within two hours of it being posted! I am amazed and awed. It is because of my readers, reviewers, and those who have favorited and followed this story that I write!
A BIG THANKIES TO ALL OF YOU AGAIN!
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Savannah was in her room packing, and the others were having a small meeting of sorts. Jazz was the one who had called the meeting. Ratchet, Prowl, and Ironhide were the only other mechs in the so called meeting. And the subject was Optimus.
"Come on Ratchet, you've said yourself that he needs a break from the base." Jazz grinned. "That's all you would say the entire week 'Hide and I were trapped in the med-bay."
"Jazz, I highly doubt that sending him with Savannah is going to let him get any rest." Ratchet scowled.
"But it'll be away from base, and there hasn't been any 'con activity in almost five months." Jazz argued. "It's the perfect time to send him on 'vacation.' You just have to be the one to give the order."
"Actually, Prowl can give the order too." Ratchet snarked. "But I seriously doubt that he—"
"Optimus does need some time away from the base, and Savannah is going to need some sort of protection just in case the Decepticons decide to try and attack her." Prowl cut in before Ratchet could finish his sentence. "If any mech could hold off a Decepticon attack until others could arrive, it would be Optimus. Therefore, I see no problem with Jazz's suggestion."
"Her parent's house is actually kind of close to where Lennox lives." Ironhide stated. "So Will and I would accompany them up to that point, and then we would be within responding distance if the need for help arises."
Jazz only smirked smugly at Ratchet, who was glaring at the other two who had taken the TIC's side.
"Oh alright." The CMO growled. "I'll put the order through and tell Optimus to get ready for a road trip."
"That's my mech!" Jazz laughed.
/Though I have a feeling that you have an alternative motive for sending Optimus with Savannah. / Ratchet grouched over the comm. link.
/Ratchet, you wound me! / Jazz responded with a laugh. /I was just looking out for my commanding officer's health! /
/And I'm looking out for yours. / Ratchet snapped.
"I also want to send Jazz with them." Ratchet stated. "That way we know for sure that Savannah is safe and he'll be able to rest and hopefully recuperate with no problems."
That statement didn't seem to have the reaction from Jazz that Ratchet had hoped for. No, the silver mech only grinned mischievously, and Ratchet realized that the saboteur had wanted him to suggest that.
"Ratchet…" Prowl sighed. "You do realize that Jazz had already asked to go, right?"
"No… I didn't." Ratchet deadpanned. "But I still stand by my decision."
Prowl nodded and turned toward his office. "Very well… Jazz and Optimus will accompany Savannah to her family home and then stay with her until she returns to base."
"What are you four talking about?" A feminine voice called.
The four in question turned to see Savannah with a small suitcase in her hand. She had replaced her slacks for blue-jeans and her blouse for a tank top, and she had pulled her hair into a tight braid.
"Who is going to accompany you on your leave." Prowl stated formally. "You are the Autobot Liaison and as such you need to have at least one, if not two guardians with you every time you leave the base."
"Okay… So who did you guys decide were going with me?" She asked as she sat the suitcase down and leaned against the wall.
"Optimus and Jazz." Ironhide stated helpfully.
Though none of them (except for Jazz, who had orchestrated this) expected to see a look of immediate disbelief cross her features; so when her jaw dropped and her eyes widened before glaring at Jazz… the other three didn't know what to make of her reaction.
"You guys are going to cut down the count of officers on this base that much?" She asked in exasperation. "The only officers that will be left on base are Prowl, Ratchet, and Red Alert."
"We realize that, however, the three officers that will remain on base are more than capable of keeping the others in line." Prowl stated with a sigh. "Though I thank you for worrying about that fact."
Savannah sighed and nodded in resignation. "I have asked Sam to step in and take care of my duties while I am gone. He is capable and ready to take care of things until I get back."
"Thank you, I was worried that Agent Simmons would be the one to take the position in your absence."
"Not on my life." Savannah muttered. "Oh, and explain to Skids and Mudflap that, no, I'm not leaving for good and that I will be back as soon as possible. For some reason they think that I'm leaving because they did something and that I'm not coming back."
"I will speak with them." Prowl nodded.
"Thanks." Savannah gave a tired smile.
"How are you doing?" Ratchet asked after a quick scan.
"I'll be alright in the long run." The young woman sighed. "I'm still a little shook up though, this is the first time my dad has been hospitalized since I was a little girl."
"I see." Ratchet frowned; his scans told him that she had not eaten in the past 24 hours. "Are you going to eat anything before you leave?"
Savannah shook her head. "I doubt that I could keep anything down… I'm that worried about him."
"You should at least try and eat some crackers, your health will decline and that will cause more stress on your father." Ratchet stated firmly.
Savannah sighed again, and nodded. "I'll try to eat some peanut butter crackers."
"Thank you." Ratchet nodded. "Now, I've got to go inform our leader that he is accompanying you on your trip."
Savannah stared after Ratchet with a bemused expression. She had already guessed that Jazz would try and get the CMO to make Optimus go with her.
"Jazz, can I talk to you?" She asked with an irritated smile.
"Of course kitten!" Jazz scooped her up and sat her on his shoulder. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Oh, I was just wondering why you convinced Ratchet to make Optimus come with me… and why you are coming along as well."
"No reason." Jazz grinned. "Just wanted to make sure you were well taken care of."
Savannah rolled her eyes, but a grin tugged at her lips anyway.
"If you say so Jazz."
~ 20 minutes later ~
"Jazz put you up to this… didn't he?" Optimus asked with exasperation.
Ratchet noted that the CO used a contraction, meaning that Ratchet's order had thrown Optimus off guard.
"Yes sir."
"He has not even been online for two weeks and he is already up to his old tricks." The Autobot leader sighed with resignation. "I suppose you have a few suggestions that I need to follow in order to assure that Savannah remains well."
"Make sure she eats, even if she says that she isn't hungry, and offer her moral support so that her mental health does not decline any more than it has." Ratchet ticked off the suggestions on his fingers. "Do not let her go more than two days without rest, try to get her to rest at least 8 hours in every 24… and try and get her to smile more often. It is proven that smiling will help her mentality remain positive."
Optimus nodded, he had guessed half of those instructions correctly.
"And Prime."
"Yes Ratchet?"
"Admit to yourself and her that you have feelings for her already." The CMO grinned mischievously. "It would save you the trouble of Jazz trying to put the two of you together."
"Ratchet…"
"I know, Prime." Ratchet laughed. "But I'm sure that you would surprise yourself if you did."
Optimus did a very uncharacteristic thing, and chunked a data pad at Ratchet's head. The CMO dodged the impromptu projectile with another laugh and ducked out of the office.
/Just saying Prime. /
/Go weld the twins to the ceiling or something. /
/I did that this morning. /
Optimus grinned at the lack of hesitation in Ratchet's response. He had wondered what those noises in the med bay were caused by.
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Whew! Now Ratchet is in on the act! And Jazz is so sneaky it surprises me sometimes! XD
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter too! If you read it, please review it!
Until all are one,
Chistarpax