I only own my OC's!


Settling In…Again

med-bay

Fixit and I step into the med-bay. I'm back in my bot form by now, which makes it easier for me to carry him if he needs me to. "What's going on, Mari?"

"Hey, Aid." I sigh softly. "Fixit needs a spark scan, and I need someone to explain how to form symbiote bonds."

Aid quickly steps over with a scanner, and boosts Fixit onto the berth before starting to scan him. "You would do the same thing we did with you, unless there was some extenuating circum…ooohhh…" He sighs softly, and steps over to me. "Did he know about—"

"Sparkling?" Aid nods. "Yes. He was really scared he'd lost her."

"He really could have, Mari. He could have. It's weak, but holding steady for now." He sighs heavily. "If you hadn't already made up your mind about him, I'd be trying to push you toward a symbiote bond. He needs one more than ever, or the sparklet won't survive, and his spark won't be able to handle another loss."

"But…how…"

"You'll have to take it slow. Even a light merge could hurt both of them at this point, which means we'll have to keep him close for the next several weeks. Once the sparklet transfers in about two weeks, we'll be out of the danger zone, but that doesn't mean we couldn't still have a traumatic end to this carriage. I'll have to teach you about docking for sure. He's going to need you through this, Mari. You have to stay strong… We'll be here for you, but you've got to be here for him."

"I already promised the little guy, Aid. I'm not leaving him for anything." The two of us step back over to him. "Aid, could you bring that image up again?"

Fixit shakes his head before looking up to me with pleading eyes, still more tears starting to roll down his faceplates. "P-please d-don't…"

"Of course, just give me a moment…" Aid looks down at the scanner and hits a few keys. "There."

I run a gentle hand over the minicon's head, then use a clean cloth from the counter to wipe the tears away. "Fixit, it's all right, Sweets… Just relax…" I reach over and take the scanner from Aid before showing him the image on the screen. "See? It's okay…"

He runs a finger over the image of the weak-but-obviously alive newspark on the screen as fresh tears roll down his face. He looks up at me with a watery smile. "Mari, she's okay!"

I nod, tearing up a little myself. "Yep. But we'll have to be very careful for a few weeks, okay? You have to stay with us in the big room for a while."

"O-okay… M-my bitlet?"

"We're going to do our best, Sweetspark, okay?" I scoop the minicon into my arms gently and start toward the door, planning to take him back to the house. "For now, we need to get some energon in you, okay?"

"Don't wanna purge anymore…"

"Oh, Sweetspark…" I sigh softly. "That's unavoidable right now, but you need to eat something, or she won't make it, and I don't want to see you hurt like that again, so…"

"I-I'll eat…"

"I can get him some medical grade if he needs it."

Fixit turns to him from my arms. "Th-thanks, First Aid…"

"Fixit?" The three of us turn to Ratchet as one. "What's going on?"

Aid sighs. "Fixit's going to have to stay with Mari for the next several weeks, but I don't want him working for at least the next two—not if he'll have to be on his feet."

"Aid…"

"High-risk carriage, Ratchet. I just confirmed, and he's two weeks in."

"We're going to be working on revivals for a few weeks yet, so he can go on light duty, but I'll still need him to help out a little, okay?"

"I-I can do it."

Ratchet nods. "Have him take it easy today. That crash-landing couldn't have been good on the sparklet…" Aid hands over the datapad chart he'd been updating for Fixit. "Or for his own spark… Primus…"

"…Ratchet?"

"You've lost four sparklets in the past?" Fixit nods. "Fixit, all you would have needed to carry safely to term was a stable bond with someone—preferably a symbiote bond, of course, but any connection would have worked just fine."

"No one ever w-wanted me before…b-because of m-my g-glitch… I-I c-can't t-talk r-r-right…"

"Fix, Sweetie, calm down, okay? You're getting all worked up again, and that's not good for your spark, or for your bitlet's, okay?"

"I know…" He gags suddenly, and Aid rushes over with a bin moments before the minicon purges on me. After he purges—into the bin thank God—with a harsh-sounding retch, I help him shift so he can lean over the bin Aid's holding, but with my hands now completely full, I can't really comfort him through it, so I have to leave that to Aid for now.

Ratchet, rather than Aid, steps over and lays a hand on Fixit's back at another violent retch, trying to calm the trembling little mech. "Easy, Little One… Easy… Just get it out… You will feel a lot better…"

Fixit sits up with a heavy yet relieved-sounding sigh, and runs his arm over his mouth. "Th-thank you…"

"Don't mention it." Ratchet shrugs. "You are not the only one going through this right now. I am due around two weeks after you are."

"Really?"

"Yes. Though mine was sired by Mari's inferno." Ratchet waves us toward the door. "Now, you need to get him inside. It is far too cold out for him at this time, and his spark is not strong enough to handle the temperature change while growing that sparklet. Make sure he gets a cube of medical grade before he recharges, and Fixit?" The minicon, now thoroughly exhausted from both the tears and purging, and still trembling slightly, turns his head to Ratchet and gives him a bleary-eyed look. "I want you to at least try to keep it down, okay? I know it won't be easy, because I have been having problems with that myself, but it is very necessary."

"I'll try."

Aid hands me a small cube of medical grade energon. I turn back to the door before stepping through it, cringing when the little mech starts trembling worse, especially since I have no free hands to even try to keep him warm. "Just hang on, Little One. We're almost there…"

"I-I'm c-c-cold…"

"I know, Bitty. I know. I'm hurrying as fast as I can…" I quickly step into the back door and slam it with my foot, causing Hot Spot to turn to me in shock.

"What's wrong?"

"Fixit's freezing." I set the medical grade cube on the counter before pulling him in front of me. "I need you to run upstairs and get me one of those plush blankets at the foot of my bed, then I need another ride, and he comes with us. It's an emergency."

"What—" Hot Spot shakes his head and rushes up the stairs after the blanket. ~Mari, what's going on?~

I slip the energon cube into the microwave to warm it up and tap in the time before turning my attention back to the shivering minicon in my arms. ~Fixit's sparked, two weeks in, and it's a weak spark. His own spark is really damaged from past miscarriages, so it's pretty weak too, and he's having trouble regulating temperatures because of the sparklet. We have to keep him with us if she'll have any chance of surviving, because he needs that symbiote bond, but we can't form it fast because it could kill the sparklet. Aid wants Fix off his feet as much as possible, so we'll need to get things set up for the little guy ASAP.~

~Got it. I'll see if I can get Optimus to come with.~

~What?~

~I'm taking you, but we'll need the trailer so we can get everything home today. If it's as bad as it sounds—and I'm going to talk with Aid about it too—then we need to find a way to get what you need home now. We wouldn't have time to wait for it to be shipped here. Aid.~

~What's wrong, Spot?~

Hot Spot steps over and lays a dark pink plush blanket over my shoulder. I glance up to him and mouth "Thank you" before setting Fixit on his feet and wrapping the blanket around his shoulders. Once he's bundled in the blanket, I pick him back up, and get the now-warm energon cube out of the microwave with a towel before handing both to the minicon in my arms. He immediately starts drinking it, guzzling about half the cube before looking up at me with a small smile. "Getting warmer now?"

"Yeah…" He yawns before turning back to his cube. "I'm tired…"

"Try to get some rest, Sweets. I'll be right here when you wake up."

"M'kay…" I look up from the minicon and start to tidy things up with one hand, taking care of clutter and wiping up a small energon spill in the microwave before the next user incinerates the machine with it. While I work, I turn my attention toward the bond, and listen to my brothers discuss the situation.

~I need to know how serious Fixit's condition is. I'm taking Mari back into town to get some more things for him, and…~

~Five carriages, first four ended in miscarriages, current one is high-risk, even if the newspark wasn't as weak as it actually is. Fixit could die if he loses this sparkling, Spot.~

~So it is as serious as Mari says, isn't it?~

~I want to put him on berth-rest for the entire carriage, but neither Ratchet or the patient in question would allow it to happen…~

~Why not?~

~Fixit's just gotten Ratchet to let him help out in here, Spot, and… And he's really insistent on pulling his own weight here, so… I'm worried about them, though…~

~It'll be all right, Aid. He'll get through this. Mari won't let anything bad happen to the newspark, and I know she won't let anything happen to Fixit. She's already really protective of him…~

~She has been since we found the pod this morning, Spot…~

~I know, Blades.~

~We're taking him in too, aren't we?~

~Mari is, so…yes. Don't complain to her, though. Fixit—~

~He could die without us. I'm not going to argue.~

~Wow. Someone alert the media. Blades is actually showing compassion.~

~Shut up.~ Blades laughs through the bond. Obviously he knows what I'm doing, and doesn't have much of an argument for once. ~Just because I love to fight doesn't mean I don't have any compassion. I just don't like Cons.~

~I don't like Cons either, Blades, but I don't like to fight either. Reminds me of when I had to defend myself back home…~ I look down at my arms to find Fixit dozing off with the almost-empty cube still in his hands. ~Guys, you need to see this. It's just adorable…~

~What is?~

~Fixit's asleep—well, I don't know if he's sound yet, but he's definitely out—and he's still in my arms, and curled up in a blanket, and…~

~Adorable. I got it.~

~Are we still going soon?~

~As soon as you get Optimus, and he gets his trailer.~

~Do you know what you want to get?~

~A little pillow, two big pillows, a few more plush blankets, another bed for him in my office, a human-sized couch for my office, a chair his size…~ I pause for a moment. ~A bucket to keep with him and trash cans for the living room, my office, the library, and my room just in case he can't get to the bathroom before purging. I also want to get three more litter boxes for the cats, and…I think we need to remodel the downstairs bathroom so that a human can use it as well, just in case Fixit needs it.~

~I'll get onto the remodel as soon as I can. What are we going to do with Fixit, though? He doesn't have a holoform yet, and Ratchet won't allow him to have one until after he sparks…~

~They know about us now, Spot, so he can go as-is.~ I think about that for a moment. ~We'll have to keep him bundled in the blanket until we can find him a coat, though… Aid himself said he can't regulate his temp that well right now, so…~

I hear the door open and shut behind me, and look up when I feel a hand on my shoulder. "You ready to go?"

I nod. "Yeah…" I sigh softly. "Could you take him so I can go back to human form?"

"Sure." I lay the tiny-looking minicon into Spot's arms and return to my human form—which is wearing a black and white striped sweater and jeans—before taking the minicon back in a bridal hold. "All right. Let's go."

"What about…"

"I'll wake him up when we get there. He's exhausted, Spot…"

"I'm sure he is." The fire-bot leads me out front before transforming and letting me in on the passenger side first. I climb up carefully and get Fixit settled in before walking around to the driver's side. It makes me feel closer to Spot when I take that seat.


Furniture Store Parking Lot

I climb up on the passenger side of the truck and open the door before leaning inside. "Fixit, Sweets, wake up."

The minicon stirs before looking around nervously. "Where are we?"

I reach over and take his hand. "We're outside a furniture store, in Spot. Optimus came with us so we could take everything home tonight."

"Wh-why are we here?"

"We need to get a few things for you."

"Oh…okay…" He moves to curl back into the seat, only for me to boost him onto the ground. "Mari… I'm tired!"

"I know, Sweetspark…trust me, I know… But you have to stay close to me right now, okay?" I lay a hand on his shoulder gently. "Now, you have to tell me if your chest starts hurting, okay?"

"Okay…"

"And you have to make sure you take it easy. If you start to get any more tired, you need to let me know, and I'll have Spot get a chair, okay?"

"Okay…"

"All right." I put an arm around him and lead him into the store. "How are you feeling, besides tired?"

"A little queasy, but it's not too bad right now…"

"That's good." I turn to my oldest brother. "You need to go get another flat cart, and get the bathroom stuff. I'll stay with Fixit." I stop to think. "And sorry if I'm taking charge again… I'm really not trying to undermine your authority…"

"You're fine, Mari." He glances up to the markers on the ceiling. "Where will you be?"

"Beds and Bedding, for now. I don't know about later." I stop and pick out a sturdy-looking wooden twin bed before taking one out and laying it on my own flat cart. It's barely even noon, but I feel like I'm going to be up until midnight putting all this stuff together.

I choose a mattress before getting another white fitted sheet, and a red top sheet and pillowcase before grabbing the new pillows—making sure to get two long pillows for him to sleep on if he wants to. After that, we go to find a new couch and chair just big enough for Fixit to use—the chair matches his armor, and the couch is his favorite color. On our way to find Hot Spot, we stop and get several different colored trash cans and a red bucket, then sigh heavily. "Stinkin' furniture store doesn't have cat stuff…" I shake my head. ~Groove?~

~Yeah?~

~Would you be able to run to the store and get me three litter boxes for the house? That way, the cats won't mess in the house when they're allowed to roam. I'll need more litter for them, too.~

~I got it, Little Sis. Anything else?~

~More of the plush throw blankets. I get the feeling we're gonna need them. We'll need at least three, preferably more, and… Grab a couple red mugs, just in case… And if you could find a men's coat that'll fit him…~

~I'll have them home in about half an hour…~

~Thanks… Sorry I had to ask…~

~Don't be, Mari. You've got your hands full. What's Spot doing?~

~He's getting stuff to add human fixtures to the bathroom downstairs.~ I glance down to find Fixit sitting on the flat cart. Behind us, a man is pushing a cart holding the couch and chair we'd selected for Fixit. ~Meet me at the registers when you're done.~

~Any other stops after this?~

~Nope. Groove's getting the blankets, cat boxes, and litter for us, and I think this little sleepy-head needs to get to bed…~ I look up as he walks up behind me. "You got everything?"

"I think so."

"All right, then. Let's pay for this stuff and get it into the truck so we can get home."

"Is that a transformer?"

I glance from the cashier, to the minicon, and back to the cashier. "Yep."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Nope." I swipe my new credit card before glancing back to the cashier. "Fixit here is an Autobot, and they're the good guys."

"Some of us are starting to figure that out, but it's still not easy to believe…especially after what their kind did to our city…twice."

I look down at the memories from the movie. Even knowing that Defensor wasn't here then, I still can't help but imagine what would have happened to them if they were… "Mari? You okay?" I look up to Spot and nod. "Chicago?" I shrug. "Mari… Don't… Don't leave us out. I know you don't mean to, but we still don't like it when you leave us in the dark like this…"

"It's not you guys… It's Sentinel… Fix told me a lot of what he caused on Cybertron, and… I can't believe it, Spot… I know it happened, but…I don't want to believe it…"

"It's okay, Mari."

"You're one of them."

I turn to see the cashier's frightened expression, and sigh heavily. "Again, Autobots. Not dangerous. Good guys." I huff. "And they're Cybertronians, not "transformers"."

He sounds really unsure of the whole situation. "Really?"

"Really." I shake my head. "Ever needed police?"

"No."

"Ambulance?"

"Nope."

"Firetruck?"

His eyes widen, and he nods. "About two weeks ago, when my apartment caught on fire. Why?"

"Was the main truck blue?" He nods, causing me to smile, and point back to Hot Spot. "Then it was him. His name's Hot Spot. He leads the Protectobots."

"Mari, we need to get Fixit home."

"I know." I sigh softly. ~I know you hate it when people think of Defensor as equal to the Cons, so I'm trying to remedy that. Besides, you need to comm Optimus, and let him know we need his help to load the trailer.~ I turn my attention back to the cashier. "The Protectobots become Defensor. He's big, and his eyes may be red, but he's not a Decepticon. I can personally vouch for him, because I live with them. They're not going to hurt anyone."

"I'll take your word for it. Need any help loading the truck?"

"We've got it. I think you've had enough of a shock today." I push my cart out behind Hot Spot, and follow him to Optimus' trailer. We quickly load up the trailer in our bot forms, then I take Fixit from Spot and get him settled into the passenger seat, then walk around to the driver's side before climbing in. "Let's get home."


Once we pull into the drive, I slide out and walk around to get Fixit, but instead of waking him up this time, I simply pick him up in my bot form and carry him inside before laying him on the couch. Once I'm sure he's settled, I turn back to help Hot Spot and Optimus bring things in. "Need any help?"

"Your hands…"

"Are more than capable of carrying furniture, guys." I flex my wrists a couple times, the rubber brace Aid had given me for my bad wrist still in place and helping with the achiness I usually have in it. "I can do more in a brace than I can do out of one most of the time."

Optimus sets the red couch down and sighs before laying a hand on my shoulder. "We know you are more than capable of helping us, but Ratchet and First Aid both insist that you focus on Fixit at this moment."

"You can arrange it once we've gotten it inside, okay?"

"Okay…" I glance over to the sleeping minicon who is still wrapped up in the dark pink blanket. "Watch for Groove. He should be getting home soon."

"I will."

I watch them for another moment, directing them to where the new purchases go—the red couch to my office with the dark wooden bed and the new mattress, the orange easy chair and matching footstool to the living room, and the toilet and sink Spot had bought to the bathroom downstairs. Then Hot Spot moves to get started installing the new purchases in the bathroom while I assemble and make the bed in my office before moving the little guy inside and tucking him into the new downstairs bed so I can shut the door and muffle the sounds of construction.

Spot's done by the time Groove gets home. While the two of them check to make sure it's installed properly, I get the new plush blankets put away on a shelf before setting up the new litter boxes and releasing our cats to roam. Once we're all secured, I finish a small project in my bathroom—making a little counter just high enough for Fixit to use—and get one of the extra jars of Blades' polish set up on it for the little guy, with his own personal red towels and washcloths settled in the cabinet under it.