I have a poll on my profile page asking a question I really want to have answered. I'm trying to get as many answers as I can, and very few people visit my profile. I've gotten literally one answer in a week, and that's sad. Please answer, and be honest about it.
I only own my OC's!
Bad News
the next morning, early (7:00 AM)
"Mari…wake up, Sweetspark."
"Aid?"
"Yes."
"What's wrong? Is Spot sick again?"
"No."
"Fixit?"
"Nope. Ironhide."
I sit up carefully, since I'm still on top of Spot. "Well he wasn't on my list…"
"Mine either. I thought Ratchet was sick." Aid sighs heavily before leading me down the stairs. "Ratchet needs us in the med-bay, A-S-A-P. He told me to make sure we were both fueled first, because he's not sure when we'll be able to come back in."
"All right." I get myself a cube before turning to Aid—who has his own—one that's already down to ¾ full—with a sigh. "Do we know what's wrong with 'Hide, or is that still up in the air?"
"I've got an idea, after what happened with Ratchet, but I'm not sure, so we'll see."
"I used the same strength on everyone, Aid…"
"I'm aware of that, Mari. I was watching you the whole time."
"Then how would I have managed to spark someone else up?" I shake my head before draining the rest of my cube.
"I don't know." He sets his now-empty cube in the sink, then takes mine. "Let's go. Ratchet's waiting."
"I'm right behind you."
Aid and I step into the med-bay to find a harried-and-tired-looking Ratchet and a purging Ironhide. "Ratchet?"
He glares up at me. "I swear, if you went overboard again…"
"If I did, I didn't mean to." I step over to the two, noticing rather quickly that Ratchet is looking paler by the second. "Aid, get Ratchet a bin, and get him settled on the other berth please?"
"Taking charge in my med-bay now?"
I cross my arms and glare at him. "Ratchet, you look like you're about to either join 'Hide, or pass out, neither of which you need right now. Get to a berth before you do, because Aid and I neither one are strong enough to pick you up if you go down, and if you purge, I'll purge too."
He gives me a concerned look. "Is the feedback that bad today?"
I shake my head and huff. "No. My stress level is that bad right now, and you're not helping matters. Aid? Please?"
"Come on, Ratchet. It's for your own good…"
Ratchet sighs before shaking his head, and moves the hand that had been resting on Ironhide's arm. I notice immediately that he's shaking. "Ratch…" I step over and take the trembling hand in my own. "This isn't normal…you don't usually shake like this…"
"I'll be fine, Mari." He turns to Aid. "If you could help me to my office? I am a bit off-balance this morning."
"Of course."
I watch for Aid to come back, all the while running through re-checking the vitals Ratchet had taken before we got out here. "Is he okay?"
Aid nods. "He'll be fine, Mari. Trust me."
"But…"
"He's okay." Aid picks up a scanner—the one he'd used on Ratchet and Fixit last week—and starts a spark scan on Ironhide.
"Mom." I cross my arms when he turns to me. "Just…promise me he's not going to die again?" Aid closes his eyes, and looks away. "Mom? He's not dying, right? I…I didn't save him for nothing?"
Aid sighs heavily. "I need to run to KSI for something. Can you handle this?"
"KSI… F***…" Aid turns to me in shock over my language, only to see the tears in my eyes. I shake my head and start for the door. I will not break down in front of Ironhide. I swallow the forming lump in my throat before nodding to Ironhide. "Excuse me a moment."
Third POV
First Aid stares after his sister—and daughter—for a moment before turning to Ironhide with a heavy sigh. "Would you be okay on your own for a minute? I think she's taking this hard…"
"You weren't even able to tell her…"
"I think she's already figured it out…after I mentioned KSI… She's as hyper-aware as Street some days…"
"I know that… What…what is KSI?"
"Joshua Joyce learned how to refine and use Cybertronium a couple years ago—he used it in an egocentric fashion until he officially got to know us, but now he uses it sparingly, and sends most of it to us for use in repairs…and I showed him how to refine it properly—he's our main supplier of medical-grade Cybertronium. He's the CEO of Kinetic Solutions International, a robotics company—that is KSI."
Ironhide looks up to First Aid sadly. "Ratch relapsed?"
"I think so…I'd have to run a test to be sure, but I'm sure he's already doing that…" He sighs. "'Hide…there's very little Cybertronium left on this planet…and Mari knows that."
Normal POV
I run over to the Maple behind the med-bay and sit on the snow behind the wide trunk before wrapping my arms around my knees. I bury my face into them and start to cry.
"Mari?" Aid crouches to me and lays a hand on my shoulder. "Mari, Sweetspark…"
"I-I c-can't… I can't lose him again, Mom! I can't!"
Aid closes his eyes sadly. "You knew…"
I nod. "I-I read about it…a few months ago…before I came here… It's still too fresh…and I can't…I can't watch him die, Mom… It was hard enough in the movie…at Lockdown's hand… I just watched my human mom die a couple years ago… I can't do it again…"
"It'll be okay, Mari. We can get through this. I already have once, and if you're anything like me, you can too." He sighs softly. "And I'm sure Ratchet would feel very, very bad if he knew you were out here in the snow, crying your spark out over him."
"I-I didn't want to be…but I couldn't break down in front of Hide…"
"He'd understand, Mari. He helped Wheeljack and Ratchet raise all ten of us, after all. He's seen it all."
"O-okay…" I let Aid pull me back to my feet.
"Now… I need to get to KSI, okay?" I nod. "And you need to stay with 'Hide." I nod again. "I need you to try not to let on that you know about this, for me, okay?"
"B-but…"
"Ratchet doesn't want anyone to know. Only Optimus and the ones who helped Wheeljack with us and the Aerials' know—and me, and now you too. Defensor is aware of it as well, but, while it may become necessary, we don't want the others to know just yet. Leave telling the team to Ratchet."
"Okay…"
Aid hugs me close for a moment. "It'll be okay. We'll get through this. It might just be because he sparked, in which case, he could go back into remission after the sparkling comes."
"I-if n-not?"
"Then we'll handle it. We've got this, Mari."
I watch Aid pull out before turning and heading back into the med-bay. Ironhide looks better now—thank Primus—and the bin is sitting off to the side. "Sorry about that…"
"You're fine, Mari." He sighs softly. "Are you okay?"
I nod weakly, not trusting my voice on the matter. I step over and check the scanner. "Are you feeling any better?"
Ironhide nods. "I'm still feeling sick, but I don't think I'm gonna purge again."
"That's good…"
"I still expect to see you at four."
"I've got class at six, and I need at least 45 minutes to get ready."
"Then I won't keep you past five, all right?"
"That'll work." I glance back over the read-out. "But I think you'll need to be re-cleared first."
"Mari?"
I shake my head. "Ratch won't be happy…"
"What's wrong?"
I sigh heavily. "I did it again." I shake my head at his confused look. "I haven't quite learned how to control my fire yet, and we learned with Ratch that I can, through the inferno, create a second spark during a revival…well…it happened again, and you're carrying. Just cut back to low-grade for a while, and it should help with the nausea, but you'll have to be re-checked by Aid or Ratch before we can start my weapons training."
"It happened again?"
I glance over my shoulder at the voice, smiling at the same time as I fight to hold back tears. "Yeah… It happened again." I sigh softly. ~Ratch's up, Aid.~
~I'm almost back. How's Hide?~
~I did it again…but he's starting to feel a little better, and I recommended low grade, so… But he needs to be cleared for my weapons training.~
~You did everything right, Mari. Have Ratchet clear and release him. I'm turning on our road now.~
"Ratch?" The yellow medic steps over. "He needs to be cleared for my weapons training, and released." I lay a hand on his arm lightly before stepping away.
He quickly clears Ironhide for "teaching only" and sends him on his way, then hands me a cleaning cloth soaked in chemicals before moving to grab the bin 'Hide had been using. I start wiping down the berth quickly, glad to have something to take my mind off the moment. "Mariposa?" I turn to him, barely trusting my eyes not to give away that I know. "I will be all right." I close my eyes and turn away, only to have him lay a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down. It's okay." I look up at him. "I figured Aid had explained things to you." I nod, and give him a weak, watery smile. "There we go. That's what I wanted to see. Now, I need to see you and Aid in my office after we are done here." He looks around. "Where is Aid?"
I can't keep the whimper out of my voice. "H-he went to K-KSI. H-he's almost h-home…"
"Mariposa…"
I finally give up, and wrap my arms around him as a tear rolls down my cheek. "I just lost my human mom a couple years ago… And… I-I can't watch you fade like that!"
"Easy… I still have a few years in me yet…"
Aid steps in with what looks like a paper bag in one hand—the kind pharmacies use for large orders. "Mari—" He smiles up at Ratchet. "How are you feeling?"
Ratchet sighs. "I think we need to go into my office for this… Aid?" He hands him the bin. "Dispose of this for me?" Aid nods. "Mariposa?" He waves for me to follow him, then turns to Aid. "Join us when you are finished."
"Yes, Sir."
Rather than sit on the other side of the desk, he takes the chair beside me, and takes my hands in his. "Mariposa… I assume First Aid told you about my condition?"
I nod weakly. "Wh-why didn't you tell me before?"
He sighs. "I believed there was no reason to…I had been in remission for so long…" He sighs heavily. "I have a deficiency, Mariposa, and it seems to have returned with a vengeance since I sparked."
"Cybertronium…" I'm barely keeping myself in check—and it's not even a meltdown this time!
"Yes." He sighs heavily. "Since we are living so closely at the moment, I will have to tell the team soon, but I would appreciate being allowed to tell them myself."
"A-Aid said th-that…" I blink, and a couple tears roll down my cheeks.
Ratchet reaches over and wipes them away with a thumb. "Mariposa, I am not dying yet. There will be a time for tears later on." He sighs. "There must be a better time for this…but with everything that has happened just this morning…I feel we must get this covered before things get worse."
"R-Ratch?"
"Hear me out, youngling." He sighs heavily. "I know you are young for our kind, but you are an adult by the standards set by those who raised you…" He squeezes my hands gently. "And if you wish to try having a relationship with me, even with what has happened… I am willing to try." I can barely nod. He squeezes my hands one more time before moving to the chair behind his desk and turning to the door at a soft knock. "Come in."
"Ratchet? Was there something you needed?" He holds out the bag. "Besides your meds, that is? You left them on the counter." I watch as he takes the bag and sets it on the desk before sliding a datapad across the desk to Aid. "Oh… Ratchet…" Aid sighs heavily. "Primus…" He moves to slide it back across the desk, only for Ratchet to push it toward me.
I pick it up with a sigh—it's his medical file. I skim over it, not wanting to pay too close attention to his private files, but take note of the section on his deficiency—his current levels are so low they're almost non-existent. "C-could that have been from KSI too, though? I mean, they were melting Autobot frames for a while there, and…he may have taken some from you before… They were melting you in the movie…"
"That wouldn't affect the levels in his energon, Mari…"
I all but wilt in the chair. "Ratch…"
"My levels were worse than that the last time I went into remission, Mari. I will get through this." He smiles. "I have something to fight for this time."
I blush—something Aid catches quickly—almost like he's channeling Streetwise. "Mari?"
I smile over at him. "I got my answer…"
"Oh?" He glances between Ratchet and I for a moment. "I assume it was a 'yes'?" I nod. "That's great, Mari!" He sighs heavily. "We need to get up to the house. You have some news for the others, I need to get some med-grade to Spot, and someone needs to be there for Fixit." He turns to Ratchet with a stern look. "And you'd better not skip this time. I don't want to see my little girl hurt because you won't take care of yourself."
Ratchet chuckles. "I will, Aid. Now go on. We have to open the med bay in a couple hours, and Mari needs to calm down before then."
"Yes, Sir."
I nod, and hold up my hand in the "I love you" sign in American Sign Language as we leave the office.
8:00 AM
"Mari? You okay?" I nod, but move closer to Spot before clinging to him. "What's wrong?" I finally let myself cry into the fire-bot's chest. "Hey… Hey… It's okay…" He looks over to Aid curiously. "What happened out there?"
Aid sighs, his professional façade quickly falling away as tears come to his eyes. Spot pulls him closer, moving me over some so he has room to hold both of us. "It's back…"
Spot leans Aid back slightly. "Ratchet?" Aid nods. "Oh, Aid…"
"What's back?" Fixit's eyes widen when he catches on. "Who's sick?"
Streetwise sighs heavily before moving over to the three of us. "Ratchet…"
Groove sighs sadly. "It's not our place to tell, Fixit… You'll find out soon enough…"
Blades shakes his head. "And right after Mari told him how she felt…" He sighs before pulling me away from Spot, and holds me close for a moment. "I'm sorry about this, Mari… No one should have to go through this…"
"Blades…" I blink before looking up to him with a watery smile. "He's in… We're going to at least try…"
Blades sighs. "That's going to be even harder, Mari…"
"I know…" I straighten up and stand to my full height.
Life's not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain't what it's all about
You just might miss the point
Trying to win the race
Life's not the breaths you take
But the moments that take
Your breath away…
"Mari…"
I sigh softly. "I know, that this won't be easy, but I'll never turn my back on him…" I glance back toward the door. "On anyone who needs me… Because that's what love does—it stays…" I lay a hand over my chest. "Love doesn't run when things get hard, and I won't leave him." I start for the stairs. "We've got two hours until we have to open the med-bay. I'll be in my room if anyone needs me."
Spot sighs, and rests a hand on my shoulder. "All right. We'll be right here when you need us."
"Thank you…" I slip away from the group, and force myself to walk up the stairs and into the room I'd share with Fixit if I wasn't part of Defensor. I close the door as normally as I can, shift down to human form, and walk over to the bed. I grab my stuffed dog—it was a gift from Mam when I was nine—and my fleece blanket—Mom bought the kit for me a year before she'd died from kidney failure—and slip into the closet before crawling under an old card table—I'd stapled old fleece blankets to it, and made myself a "hidey-hole" for when I couldn't handle something anymore, because I don't want to bother the others all the time, but this is the first time I've really needed it. I settle in with my phone, and open a picture of Ratchet before starting to cry—just seeing him hurts…
Main Base, Optimus' office, third POV
Optimus looks up at a knock on the door. "Optimus?"
"Ratchet? Come in."
The medic steps inside and sighs as he settles into the chair opposite the Prime. "I…" He shifts, and fidgets with a few scattered paper clips. "I relapsed…it… It could be because I am carrying, but I…I cannot be certain…"
"Should I… Do you want me to tell the others?"
Ratchet sighs before nodding. "Please? I am not sure I have the strength…"
Optimus nods. "Try to rest. I will have First Aid open the medical bay."
"Thank you…"
Optimus watches Ratchet leave, then reaches up to his comm. "Prowl?"
"Sir?"
"It's time…for that announcement…"
"The one about…Ratchet?"
"Yes…"
"Mariposa did not cure him?"
"Apparently not…"
"Could she?"
"We don't know… Ratchet didn't seem hopeful…"
"Did he not mention it to her? She could be his only hope…"
"Prowl, she is special needs—"
"I am aware of that."
"Almost exactly like your logic glitch. I doubt Ratchet would have piled that much on her… He'd never want to risk a crash…"
"I will send out the announcement…over comms, I assume?"
"In person would be better…but I assume you are as pained as I am over this…"
Prowl's Office, Third POV
"Yes, Sir…" Prowl sighs before resting a hand on his forehead. This isn't going to be easy… "Attention, Autobot crew. It has been brought to our attention that one of our own…our CMO…has a possibly terminal ailment… We request that visits to the med-bay be strictly for emergent cases until further notice. There will be a medic available at the Protectobots' base in case of minor damage."
hhh
House, third PoV
"She's not okay, Spot."
Hot Spot sighs. "I know, Street, but we have to let her work through this herself."
Groove sighs heavily. "You're sure? She did come here to get killed…"
Spot sighs. "She'll be okay, Groove. She's still in the bond, she's just— Ugh, hold on." He reaches up to his comm. "Yeah?"
"Did you get the announcement from Prowl?"
"I got it from Aid…this morning…"
"Flight's a mess…how are Aid and Mari?"
"Aid's…okay, we've been through this before… But Mari's taking it hard…"
"I'm here if you need to talk…"
"Thanks…" Spot sighs heavily before turning back to the others. "Leave her alone for now, and don't crowd her. If you think you need to check on her, keep it quiet. Remember what happened when Aid was overloaded." They nod. "I'm going to see Silver. Let me know when she comes out. Aid, I know you'll need to help Ratchet—"
"I'm running med-bay today, actually. Ratch is taking the day off…" Spot raises an eyebrow ridge. "Optimus commed me."
"All right then. Call Mari off for the morning. If…when…she comes out, she can decide if she's able to work the rest of the day. And don't…don't hover over her, all right? Street, Groove, you're late for City patrol. Let dispatch know we've got a family emergency, and that we will be unavailable for anything but a Mass Cass. First Aid, keep an optic on Ratchet. Blades, you've got Fixit and Jasper—and make sure Miko doesn't hurt Jasper. She's just a baby."
"I've got it, Spot. I can take care of a kitten, and Fixit's great with the cats."
"And let Mari be, Blades. I know the two of you are close, but she just needs some time to process everything."
"I know…"
Main base, third POV
Hot Spot sighs as he knocks on the door. "Silver?"
Air Raid pulls the door open with a sigh. "Hey. He's busy with Flight right now…"
"I know… How are you taking this?"
Raid shakes his head. "I don't know what to think… Didn't Mari just revive him? It should have…"
Spot sighs heavily. "We don't even know if that would work, Raid, and she's never healed anything more than battle damage before…"
"Hot Spot?" Silverbolt steps over quickly before pulling the fire-bot in for a hug. "Are you okay?" Spot shakes his head. "Raid, take the others down to the rec-room, and for Primus' sake, don't fight with Flight, and don't let Slings pick a fight with him either." He turns back once they're gone to find Hot Spot in tears, and sighs before pulling him closer. "Hey…it'll be okay. I'm right here. We can get through this…"
