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!
Aid's Sick
The next morning, 7:00 AM
"Mari?"
I sigh heavily, and turn toward the voice. "Aid?"
"Hey, Sweetspark."
"Morning, Mom. How was your night with Dad?" I sit up from where I had been cuddled into Spot's chest—as usual. "Mom?"
"One, how did you know I wasn't with all of them, and two, how did you know I spent the night with him?"
"Spot and I do talk, Aid, and…" I smirk. "You just proved the last part."
"Oh…" He sighs and sinks to the berth.
"Mom?"
"I'm fine. I just…need to sit down."
"Aid…"
"Yeah Ratch?"
"'Jack's in med-bay… He's purging, and I don't know if I can handle it right now…"
"Mari and I can handle it…just…give us a moment to get breakfast…"
"You don't sound like you're feeling good, Aid…"
"It's…probably just the feedback…from Spot and Fixit…I'm fine…" He sighs before standing, only to lay a hand on my shoulder.
"Mom, stay in here. I can handle Wheeljack…"
He shakes his head. "You're too untrained. We're both going."
I follow him downstairs, and get two cubes of low grade while he takes his seat. I huff softly before setting one in front of him, then setting mine down and sitting beside him. "This isn't feedback, or I would be sick too… What are your symptoms?"
He sighs, and lays his head on his arms, which are resting on the table. "I feel sick to my tanks, Mari…"
"I figured that when you blamed this on feedback." I slide his cube a little closer to him. "It's low grade, okay? If you think you'll purge this, I can go get some med-grade."
"This is fine…thank you, Mari." He props his head up on a hand and slides the cube closer while mumbling. "Primus, I hope…"
"You hope what?"
He huffs. "It's not important right now, Mari…but…" He sighs heavily. "I spent the night with your sire, as you found out earlier, so…I'll leave you to figure out what "I hope"." He sips from the cube before sighing again. "I don't have the time to carry again right now…not with Ratchet sick…"
"Mom…you have me…" I lay a hand on his head. "And I don't think this is because you might be sparked…again…" I shake my head. "Aid, you're burning up…"
He sighs. "I don't have the time to…" He trails off and groans. "Get sick either…"
"Aid?"
He shoves the cube back and runs back to the bathroom before shutting the door. "Shit…" I sigh heavily and knock on the door. "I'm going to check on 'Jack, then I'll be back in, okay?"
"Yeah…"
"Want me to get Ratchet?"
"No…" I cringe when I hear the sound of purging through the door. "Just get me some med-grade, a nausea tablet, and a fever reducer. I can't miss work. I'm the only trained medic right now…"
"Easy, Mom… Do you want me to get anything else?"
He sighs heavily. "Just in case…get me one of the carrier tests. I showed you where they were…" I sigh at the sound of another retch on the other side. I'm starting to get worried now. "Last week."
"Do you want Spot?"
"Yes… But I don't want him getting sick…"
"He probably wouldn't mind it, Aid… I sure don't…"
"Get Spot first…please?"
"Of course." I run up the stairs to find the others just starting to get up. "Spot!"
"Mari, what's…" He sighs. "Where's Aid? Med-bay, or—"
"Downstairs bathroom. He's sick, Spot—like, running a fever and everything!"
"Calm down, Mari. I've got this."
"I need to get what he asked for from the med-bay, and then I need to check on Wheeljack…"
Spot sighs heavily. "I'm not fully trained, but I've learned enough from watching Aid…that if you need any help, call me. Where's Ratchet?"
"Not feeling good…I think he's still in bed…"
"Okay, then. We'll be alone in this, and—" I watch as he swallows hard before rushing out the door, toward the upstairs bathroom, with me in pursuit. "I think we'll need Silver. Get him, then get what Aid needs, and…get Flight to stay with Aid."
"Yes, Sir." I run out of the upstairs bathroom, out the back door, and into the base before rushing back to the Aerials' door. "Silver!"
"Mari? What's wrong?"
"Aid's sick, Spot's purging, and we need help!"
Silver lays a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, we're on our way. Flight, let's go! Spot and Aid need us!"
"Coming!"
I dart into the med-bay and start rummaging through the drawers. I find the medications quickly, but it takes me a moment to find the test—the exam room itself was out, so I had to find them in the store-room. Once I do, I quickly grab a cube of med-grade, then run as quickly as I can back to the door. "Mari? What's wrong?"
I sigh heavily, and duck back into the store-room after another carrier test. "Take this, and bring it up to the house when you're done. Aid's sick, Spot's purging, Ratchet's not feeling good, I don't know about the others, Silver and Flight are on their way, and I'm losing my mind."
"Oh, crap." He hops off the table with his own bin. "I'll be over in a minute, Mari!"
"Thanks!"
I run into the house to see Spot sitting on the coffee table across from the couch, Aid laying on the couch, and the others—including Silver and Flight—standing around Aid. "I'm back…"
"Did you get the meds?"
I nod, and pass them over with the med-grade, keeping the test concealed for the moment. "Aid?" He sits up a bit and takes the pills before turning to me. I point to the bathroom, causing him to sigh and stand. "I'm coming, Sweetspark…"
"Mari…"
~Carrier test…just in case… I spent last night with Flight…~
Spot's eyes widen. "Oh…so…" He nods, and lays a hand on his shoulder. ~Let us know, all right?~
~I will…~ He sighs, and follows me into the bathroom, where I hand him the test.
~Wheeljack's here.~
~Let him in, Spot…~ Aid sighs and sets the test on the counter. ~I'm on my way out…~
~The test?~
~Test?~
~Carrier test, Fixit…~
~What?~
~Yep…~ We step out, and Wheeljack slips me his own before stepping over to check on Aid and Spot. Meanwhile, I look down at the one in my hand. ~Whelp…we'll be swimming in sparklings…~
~What?~
~Yours, Fixit's, Wheeljack's, Ironhide's, Ratchet's… And Aid might be carrying…~ I sigh and turn to Wheeljack with a nod, causing him to grin.
"It's just a virus, Wheeljack. I'll be fine…"
"What is going on in here?"
"Morning, Ratchet…"
He sighs, and shakes his head. "I do not feel good, and I have a helm-ache, so if you could try to keep it down, I would be very grateful."
"Okay…" I sigh softly. "Aid's sick. He's got a fever and nausea. Spot started purging again, but I think it's just feedback from First Aid. Also, we just learned that Wheeljack is sparked, and we're waiting on another test…"
"For Wheeljack?"
Aid, who has been hovering around the door to the bathroom, ducks back inside so quick I'm scared it's because of his nausea. A moment later, he steps out, reading his. "For me… Flight…" The Aerialbot's head pops up suddenly. "I'm…I'm sparked again…"
Ratchet stares at him for a moment before swiping the test from the younger medic. "Primus…" He sighs, and rests the back of his hand on Aid's forehead. "Berth, now."
"But…the med-bay…"
"I know. I can handle it for a few hours, and Mari's a good assist. You need to rest before you get worse. I'd bring you out to the med-bay so I could observe you, but you would only try to work if I did, so get to berth."
"All right…" He sighs heavily. "I'm going… Spot…"
"I'm coming up with you, okay? I'll help you get settled."
"I will send Mari in with some more fever medicine, but if he gets any worse, send him out."
"All right. Thank you, Ratchet."
"Mari?"
"Yeah, Ratch?"
He hands me the pill bottle. "Take this in to your Carrier, then come back. I'm going to be setting up appointments for the carriers' exams next week, and I'll need a little time to myself."
"Yes, Sir."
"You'll be alone in the main med-bay until I'm done. If it gets too hard for you to handle, come get me."
"Yes, Sir." I watch him leave, then huff as I look around the room. There's nothing to do. ~Tell him, Mari~
~Rest, Mom.~ I huff over the bond. ~I'll do it, all right? But you need to rest for me. I need you.~
~All right, I'll try to recharge. Let me know if you need me…~
~Yes, Sir. I'll be in with the meds from Ratch when I'm done.~
~Thank you, Sweetspark.~
I sigh before starting for the office door. "Ratchet?"
"I thought I said I needed time to myself."
"Ratch…" I sigh softly. "I need to talk with you…as a medic…not as a student…"
"Come in." I push the door open before stepping inside. "What is it?"
I sigh heavily and settle into the chair across from him. This isn't easy—I'm terrified of his reaction—but I have to say this without showing that fear. "Sir… Optimus and I… We found a cure."
His eyes widen. "A cure?"
"Yes, Sir. I went into the Matrix to make sure of it. I've got a cure."
He gives me a confused look. "For my deficiency?" I nod. "Primus…" He leans back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
"Sir?"
He gives me a watery smile. "They said there was no way to cure it… A-are you sure?"
I nod. "Aid said I needed to wait until your sparklets transfer at the earliest, but I do have a cure."
His eyes widen in surprise. "Your fire. It's the inferno."
"Yep."
He sighs heavily. "I guess I can wait that long. I'll be more than ready by that point."
"And Ratch?" He looks up to me. "Thanks…for giving me a chance…"
"You are quite welcome." He sighs. "Did you take that medication to your Carrier yet?"
I shake my head. "He wanted me to talk with you about that first."
"Okay." He nods. "Take the medication to him, then get back out here. I will need your help until we are able to use the cure."
"And even then, you'll need help because you're carrying."
"Right."
"All right. I'm taking the meds into Mom now. I'll be back in five, then I'll handle whoever comes in."
"Thank you, Mari."
I leave his office and head inside to give Spot the meds before returning to the med-bay with Ratchet. He's starting to sort things on the counter and restock the supplies now. "Ratch?"
"Hey, Mari."
"Anything I can do?"
"Mari…"
"I'm serious." I huff when he glares at me. "Ratch, I can't just stand around and watch you restock. Now tell me something to do so I'm not just standing here looking frazzled."
"Looking frazzled?" He turns to me. "You look like the picture of calm." He smiles. "Not to mention a very pretty femme."
I sigh heavily. "Okay, feeling frazzled, and thank you."
"Why are you feeling frazzled?"
I huff. "Why aren't I feeling frazzled…" I sigh heavily. "Ratch, Mom's sick and sparked, Spot's sparked, Fixit's sparked, you're sparked, Hide and Jack are both sparked, and I'm only one person. While you and Mom may be able to help, you'll be full term, and so will Mom…not to mention you're at risk for complications because of your deficiency. Fixit's high risk… My sister is still in Indiana, and I can barely hear her, let alone feel her… I'm a fragged Prime and I don't know if I can fill Prime's shoes if the need arises…not to mention that I don't want to be a commander in the first place!" I groan. "And I really shouldn't be burdening you with all this, but Mom's sick and the others are busy with him, and even if he is my Dad, I can't go to Flight because haven't really talked this stuff over with the Aerials before."
"You are panicking."
"No shit Sherlock." I huff, and stare at the cabinets behind his head. "Besides…I love you, and I could lose you…and I'm not ready for that, Doc. I'm not ready to lose you…not after I just saved you…and I'm still…I just…" I turn away moments before a sob breaks out. I really don't want to cry around him—especially not when it's over him.
I turn back to him when I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Hey. I will get through this, Mari. I may be sick, but I am still reasonably healthy, and I will survive this. People with a worse version of this have carried safely before. I would know, because I oversaw the cases personally before the war."
"Ratch…"
"I know… It is…different…when it is someone you love."
"Ratch?"
"Mari…this… It is genetic."
"Oh… P-parent, or…" 'Or kid?'
"I never even got to meet her…"
I know what that means—he'd lost a carriage, just like Fixit had. "Oh, Ratch…"
"Don't… Mari, please…"
"How far?"
He sighs, and glances away. "Half-way. Made it past transfer, only to fade out within a month…"
I sigh, and step over before hugging him gently. "It'll be all right, Ratch. You can get through it this time—and you won't be alone no matter what happens with this one." I smile up at him and rest a hand on his shoulder before taking his hand in my free one. "I won't let you go."
It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it's dark
This part of life
Oh, it finds us all
And we're too small
To stop the rain
Oh, but when it rains
I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you've done all you can do
And you can't cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go
"Mari?" I look up to find Blades and Hot Spot in the doorway. "Is everything okay out here? Aid was worried you were getting upset again…"
Ratchet and I share a look. "We'll be all right."
Blades steps over and lays a hand on my shoulder. "Mari…"
"We're both getting upset out here, actually, but we'll be all right Spot."
"Both?"
"I'm frazzled and freaking out, and he's…scared…but we'll get through this, Blades. We're strong, and I'm not turning my back on him no matter what."
"Good." Spot sighs. "You both need someone like that."
I smirk. "Like you and Silver?"
Spot nods, laughing. "Or Aid and Flight…Optimus and Elita… Hide and Chromia…Jazz and Prowl…"
"I think she gets it, Spot." Blades sighs and pulls him back toward the door. "We need to get back to Aid, and I think we interrupted a moment."
"Sorry…"
"You're fine, Spot…" Ratchet and I turn to each other and laugh softly once they're gone. "Siblings…"
"Gestalts…"
We start laughing again, for we'd said that at the same time. Once I finally calm down, I turn back to Ratchet with a smile. "Better get used to it, Ratch. You're dating part of one."
"And I don't think I'd go back…for anything…"
