Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews and adding favorite story / author. Don't forgot to add story alert for new chapter updates. The boo bunny adventure continues. Yes, her personal bunny looks like Ironhide. Both have black armor and make growling noises. And boo boo bunnies exist, you can buy them premade now to slip an ice pack in. The terry cloth kind, however. The technological ones are still banned outside of the Autobot base per Optimus orders. Breem is 8.3 minutes and Joor 6.5 hours, Onward to hopping fun. Revised 08.18.19.
Hippity Hoppity Homeward
Ironhide vented deeply, the lighter purple coloring of his optics unchanging as she lay on the med bay berth. The abnormal coloring a mix of blue laced with the anger of red and self-processing, unseen by the human who was the intense focus of his gaze. Sleeping, the paleness of Annabelle's face only accentuated the forming bruise down her left cheek. The beeps and pings of the medical monitors barely intruded, his sensors locked on the unmoving shape. A silver wrench flung by, caught absently in his black armored hand without even the use of targeting locks.
"For the tenth time, she will recover to full functioning. Listen to me now, play it through your processors later but trust me as you have over the centuries," Ratchet reminded softly, leaning over the monitors to face the warrior mech. "Her parental units are recharging in their room. They trust me. There is no internal damage with blood loss minimal."
"Shouldn't have lost any," he ground out. His armored hand waved over the white medical drape covering her and the bandages on her lower limb. The sparkling size of her human shape dwarfed on the berth designed for larger Autobot frames another reminder of her frailness.
"The bot sealed the jagged edges and alerted us. We were signaled as emergency medical to her location within a nano second of the injury even as it began stabilization procedures," Ratchet tapped the shape, a black cube recharging on the main monitor. His processor shied away from the echo of the urgency of the call flashing across his systems, realizing Annabelle was injured and down.
"One breem out of my sight. Told her to stay on the bike path while I dealt with the latest twin prank and she disobeys. One breem and she is hurt."
"Hurt but not offlined old friend," Optimus comforted. His armored presence not required but med bay the first place he had gone after receiving the transmitted signal. "Annabelle slipped on a lava rock slope, slicing her leg and striking her head. The bicycle helmet you gave her preventing serious injury. She is young but strong and will recover. Go and recharge. Do not make me order you." The ancient Prime vented softly, remembering Prowl's advice on Annabelle. Nowhere in the galaxy would be safe from Ironhide if she or Chromia offline or is badly injured. Statistically there is little or no chance we could contain him if he became enraged. Not even you Prime.
"Her internal systems are functioning. The damage is external and will heal over time within normal range," Ratchet stated firmly. "You need to recharge and greet her in the morning. Not wobbling on your feet pads and making her worry. If Chromia were here and not in deep space with Magnus mining team she would haul your sorry aft back to your quarters."
In the end, their arguments helped but not enough. The ancient mech recharged on the floor by her berth, his systems tied into the monitors. Any changes and he would know instantly, triggered to full combat status. Ratchet flat refused to let him hold her while recharging and the other berths were bolted and hard wired to the floor, unable to be moved next to hers.
Sunrise dawned across the military island, her parents and Ironhide greeting her warmly as the young child roused. Ratchet stood nearby, relaying the events to the assembled Autobots waiting in the hallway.
"I'm sorry," Annabelle stated softly, trying to not rub on her sore jaw, instead pulling at the bedsheet. "I only wanted to pick the pretty flowers growing sideways. Am I in trouble?"
"No, you just need to get well pumpkin," Will comforted, both parents sitting on the berth on either side of her. Ironhide crouched alongside, his hands cupped around the family that meant so much to his spark.
"Hide saved me, didn't you?"
"Yes. Beat Ratchet there. Intercepted the distress signal," Will answered quicker, looking up into optics still more purple than blue.
"Beat me is right," Ratchet grunted leaning in from the far side while pretending to rub at a ding in his armor plating. "We collided on the path and flattened your wheeled conveyance."
"My bicycle? That's ok. Wheeljack promised a new one. I can add it to my birthday list."
"Armor and protective padding first youngling," Ironhide corrected.
"Good idea but your birthday is still a way off sweetie," Sarah cautioned, the look she gave the mechs full of warning. All items for Annabelle requiring her approval after Optimus and Prowl signed off, especially anything Wheeljack made. From self-powered wings that flew into the air to super-size airtight balloons designed to Cybertronian standards, all crafted without full planning to unexpected consequences a firm example of what could go wrong.
The screaming of the general alarm made them all jump; Annabelle giggling then wincing in pain as Ironhide gestured empty hands. Med bay protocols locking down his weapons and subspace pullers, blocking him from battle actions. "Stay safe. Whack the Cons!" she called, rubbing at her jaw ache. Whatever Will would have said blocked as Ironhide's black armored hand swept him up to armored chest plates while running out. Ratchet's optics slowed, then returned to full spinning as Sarah waited.
"Distress call inbound. Magnus's returning flight is off the landing coordinates. Way off and requesting full medical. I need to go. The twins will guard and be here shortly," Ratchet explained, spinning into his transform and racing out through the double med bay doors.
Afternoon time had Sarah eating and talking to the remaining Autobots in the main hangar, getting updates on the incoming shuttle. None mentioning the twins being out of the brig long enough to protect Annabelle. Or the threats openly sent on internal comms from Ironhide and Ratchet should anything get inside medical bay to Annabelle or Sarah while they were gone.
::Sides:: Sunstreaker sent, a mischievous idea forming. The twin lounged on a wall cabinet, holding his polishing rag in the air. His yellow armor reflecting a high sheen including the locks on every cabinet that had engaged when the room's security recognized their spark signals.
::Yes Sunny?:: Sideswipe answered quietly, watching Annabelle intently. Bruises were common on the soldiers, signs of rough housing or battle. Her skin discoloration disquieting to the red armored mech on a sparkling size being.
::Bunnies multiply:: Sunstreaker reminded, tapping one armored finger on the black recharging shape.
::No. I know what you are processing and Prime already ruled no advanced Cybernetic technology outside this base. Only medics can have them. And that human who has our weapons specialist wrapped around her fingers. One bunny and only one that looks like him if you needed reminding:: Sideswipe stated, focusing his attention back on adjusting a wheel bolt to prevent noise if he rolled around the room.
::Boo boo bot bunnies Prime specified to the medics, not Annabelle. He will not refuse if a second one appears that she loves. And our Autobot Commander, hero and ancient bearer of the Matrix is also known as the bunny bot bouncer. Denying her would only decrease his image more:: Sunstreaker
::Bounce us back in the brig if we disobey. We are released to protect her, not add to problems with our technology::Sideswipe cautioned.
::High technology is what the treaty forbids. A tweak there, an adjustment there and she has new friends to play with. For the sake of safety with redundant bunnies. Annabelle makes a large impact around here and we do want her happy:: Sunstreaker
::Only if they stay medical and family use only. And impact is what we will make if anything goes wrong from Ironhide and his cannons:: Sideswipe cautioned, giving in.
::It won't. They will never find out:: Sunstreaker smiled, compiling a supply list for their needs.
Ratchet noticed the second bunny, pink and white colored and assumed Arcee had left it. Or Elita One among the many presents the Autobots gifted the little girl for her recovery. A quick scan showed the external cube shape, recharging next to the black one on top of the medical monitors. Altered programming details were missed as it never transformed when any bot could see it. The medic made a note to access its coding next transform. Incoming wounded from the shuttle team, though all minor injuries, rotated the file to a lower processor permitting both bunnies to leave with Annabelle back to the family farm.
A week home and the pink bunny unfolded one night, hopping up to the window and sending out an encrypted signal. Autobot sensors, placed around the family farm failed to announce the arrival, the delivery drone recognized and granted access through the various protective systems before flying into the barn. The wooden crate opened, small shapes by the dozens flowing out and activating following preprogrammed commands. Most commanded to hide and wait in standby, two of the small shapes sent directly to Annabelle's bedroom. Gaining entry through an open window, they settled in and began recharging on the headboard by the other two.
Beeping, the alarm clock announced morning before a single push from Annabelle sent it sailing to the floor. "Humph, too tired." Rustling and movement of her jacket across the floor away from the clock brought her wide awake and sitting upright. Climbing out of bed, bare feet padding near silently on the carpet she moved closer, favoring her still healing leg. Rustling deep in the jacket left her curious and unafraid. A quick glance confirming her two bunnies remained on the headboard, watching her. Gently, she reached down and unfolded the jacket.
"Babies," she breathed. Two squares with bright blue optics blinked up at her. The first cube larger, the red and blue of Optimus with ears straight up and tilted back feet pads. The second smaller with a longer body and the yellow green coloring of Ratchet. Its front paws were multi-toed. A touch of her finger across their heads and they leaned into her touch, reassuring. Sitting down slowly, she heard the black and pink bunnies leaping off the headboard before going nose to nose with the new arrivals. Humming, they all surrounded the jagged edges of her healing leg scar.
"Shh, don't let mommy or daddy know you are here. I like secrets," she said. "I wish there were more of you."
To be continued…