The song belongs to Big and Rich. Disclaimer in Chapter 1!


"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


Divorce Part 2

Griffin Rock, 2:00 am, Charlie's POV

I'm woken up by a screaming child—screaming, not crying—in the room next door. "I'll get it." Sage just mumbles beside me. I step into the toddler's room and make a face. "Stomach flu. Just what we need." I step over and pick Marianne up gently, planning to get her cleaned up, and to throw the pajamas in the washer downstairs so she'll have them for tonight. "I need to call your Daddy, don't I?"

"Wan' Dada…"

"I know, Little one." I grab her blankets, and undress her, then change her diaper and wrap one of Cody's old blankets around her before heading down to the garage to throw her things in the washer. Once it's started on a small cycle, I head back upstairs. I almost walk into Sage when we come off the elevator.

"What happened?"

I sigh heavily. "Mari puked. I'm about to call the base." She sighs softly. "You need to get back to bed, Sage. I can take care of her." She nods, and I watch her head upstairs before turning to the video phone and dialing Optimus' base.

An image of a white and red robot fills the screen. I guess their phone goes straight to the medic himself. "Hello?"

"Ratchet?"

"Obviously. Who's calling?"

Well, he's cranky, for being their medic. "It's Chief Burns."

"Burns…" His eyes widen. "Mari! Primus, is she okay?"

"She's sick, actually." He gets a look of horror on his face. "Easy, it's just a stomach bug. Kids get them all the time."

He sighs, relaxing slightly. "It's the same with our people. Do you need me out there? I'm sure I can leave Bumblebee with Optimus…"

"I'm sure I can handle a stomach bug, Ratchet. We do have a toddler who's just a year older than her."

"You're sure? Our fuel is dangerous—"

"Would you be able to get Optimus? It would be easier to discuss this with you both."

"I'll be back." He disappears for a moment before reappearing with a different background. "I've opened the comm in the main room so we can talk."

Optimus steps up to the screen with a small, winged toddler of their species in his arms, her head laying on his shoulder. "Chief Burns? Ratchet said you had a problem with Mariposa."

"Not a problem exactly…" I sigh heavily as the toddler in my arms gags, and simply set her down so she can throw up in the trash can at my feet. "Mari's got the stomach flu, and Ratchet was asking if he could come out to help with her because of the fuel she needs."

"Understood." He turns to the father. "Would you like to assist with Mariposa in Griffin Rock?"

"I-I thought you said I couldn't go to the island like this?"

"This is a special circumstance, Ratchet. Your daughter needs you."

He nods to Optimus and turns back to me. "Give me time to get a medical kit together for Mari, and I'll be there."

"Dada? Cha'lie, wan' Dada."

"I know, Little One."


Jasper, Nevada, 11:00 pm, Ratchet's POV

I look at my tiny, pale daughter on the screen anxiously. "Dada's coming, Little One. Dada's coming." I turn from the screen and rush to the medical bay to grab the supplies I had

gotten for her in the event of this.

"Ratchet?"

"I have to hurry, Optimus. She's losing fluids!"

Optimus lays a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, Old Friend. Mariposa will survive this. It is a minor virus, same as it is with our kind."

"Optimus!" I sigh and turn from the medicine cabinet. "The last time she had a "minor virus", she was in the hospital for two days!" I turn back to grab her popsicle mold. Won't hurt to have it, just in case.

"She had a serious virus. Agent Fowler explained that it looks like a minor illness at first."

"Either way!" I grab a few other medications and activate my holoform to zip the bag closed, then return to my normal form and pick it up. "This could be just as serious!"

"Which is why you are allowed to go. I will set the coordinates for your ground bridge." He steps over to the console, still giving me directions. "Take the ferry, and head to the firehouse. The family lives there. Do not, under any circumstances, let the children see you in your true form."

"I won't."

Optimus opens the ground bridge. "May Primus keep you on your journey."

"Thank you, Optimus. Make sure Bumblebee gets to school."

"I will, Old Friend. Worry about Mariposa."


Griffin Rock, Charlie's pov

I pace in front of the window, watching for the medic to pull up. With the kitchen and living room lights off, and the phone silent, it's surreal. Usually Sage is the one up with a sick child, but with her treatments and all…I couldn't ask her to stay up with Marianne. As it is, she puked again while I was making her bed—thankfully in a trash can. I took the opportunity to get her dressed again, and set the bathroom trash can, a couple large towels, and a box of wipes beside the crib for her father to use, and made it a point to get her dressed again.

I smile when I see the familiar red and white flashing lights, and nod at the silence. "Daddy's almost here. Sweetheart."

"Wan' Dada. No feels goo'."

"I'm sure he'll make you feel all better." I take her down in the elevator as the ambulance reaches the drive, and open one of the doors for him. "Ratchet?"

"How's Mari?"

"She's been up for an hour and thrown up three times already."

I watch as a human-like form manifests in his driver's seat, and reaches around for something before climbing out. "Mr. Burns, would you please stop staring. It's just a holoform."

I blink, and sigh softly. "My appologizies, Mr. Ratchet."

"Just Ratchet—or you can call me Richard in this form." He reaches over for the toddler, and I hand her off gently. "Hey, Sweetspark. I heard you were sick…"

She nods. "Uh-huh. Feels 'ucky. I puk'."

"I wouldn't doubt that, Little One." He turns to me. "Is there anywhere I can hide my vehicle mode?"

"Um…I can show you down to the bunker, but the alarm may startle Mari."

"I can handle her, Mr. Burns. I will ask that you hold her for me, though. It would make it easier to maneuver my vehicle mode."

"Of course." I take Marianne and move to the controls. "Just pull up onto the glass floor beside—" I watch him transform and step over between two of the rigs, managing to neither scratch nor dent the vehicles. "That works too." I lower the floor, then join the medic in the bunker. "Just make sure you're out of sight before three this afternoon. The kids get home then, and they usually bring Cody down to play."

"I will do my best, Mr. Burns."

"Charlie, please." I hand the now-returned holoform the baby and send the floor back up before turning back to the medic. "There's four large rooms to the back where you can hide your vehicle mode if you need to, and I can show you upstairs if you'd like."

He sets the toddler on the floor, deactivates the holoform, and starts for one of the back rooms. "I'll be back soon, Sweetspark."

"Dada!" She reaches for him and starts to cry, which brings the holoform running.

He scoops her up gently and follows me to the elevator. "You'll have to lock the back right door. I wasn't able to transform back to vehicle mode."

"Babies cry, Ratchet. She'll be fine. I've been through this countless times already, and I promise you, she'll be fine."

"Last meal?"

"Fried chicken. Sage took everyone on a picnic, and she fried it yesterday afternoon. She's a paramedic, so she's always been cautious about preparing food."

"And Mari's behaviors?"

"Fine…" I rub the back of my neck as I let him off the elevator before me. "She did panic over a Garter snake, though."

He chuckles. "Guess her first time meeting a serpent didn't go well…"

"Nope." I laugh. "Cody called it a rope." I lead him into Marianne's room. "I can get a cot in here for you. I usually keep them on the main floor for the EMT's who sometimes stay overnight."

"That would be great, thank you."

"I'll be right back with the cot, and I'll bring a blanket, too."

"Thank you."


Ratchet's POV

I lay Mariposa back in the crib on her stomach, with her cheek on one of the large towels, then pull her plush blanket up to her neck. I set the fleece and her teddy bear beside her, and smile when she grabs the fleece.

"Here's the cot." He hands over a folded metal berth. "And he's a blanket. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you." I make a bottle of half diluted low grade and half blue raspberry pedialyte, and hand it to her before setting up the cot and laying down beside her crib.


Griffin Rock, 6:00 AM, Charlie's pov

Cody comes in and wakes us up with his usual giggly behavior. While Sage starts getting ready for her appointment, I head downstairs to make breakfast. As I'm walking past Dani's room, I hear her alarm, so I know the others will be down soon. I sigh heavily and pull down some bowls. Guess breakfast will have to be cereal today.

It's almost an hour before anyone comes down. Graham's first, as usual, in a polo and khakis. "Morning, Dad." He takes one of the bowls and gets the rice krispies down. "Where's mom?"

"Morning, Graham. She's getting ready for her appointment."

"I guess we're taking Cody to daycare then?"

"I can—"


Ratchet's pov

I groan when I hear Mariposa shifting in her crib. This cot is not comfortable.

"Dada! I up!"

Thank Primus, she sounds normal. She still looks pale, though. "Good morning, Little One."

"Mo'ni'. Wan' baba."

I nod, and fish out the bottle I had given her early this morning before picking her up. "How's about we get you changed first?"

"Otay."

I change her quickly and dress her in a brown short sleeved T-shirt with a pumpkin graphic, orange and white polka-dot pants with ruffled cuffs, orange socks, brown shoes, and a brown and orange pumpkin headband, then pick her up and start downstairs.


Charlie's POV

Ratchet's holoform walks in with Marianne on his hip. "Good morning."

"Who's that?"

"That's Marianne's father, Graham. He came out last night because Mari's sick."

"Aw…" Dani steps in wearing an orange top and jeans, and tickles Marianne's toes. "Poor little Angel…"

"Mo'ni' Dani!"

I smile toward Ratchet. "She sounds better…"

He smiles. "She's acting better. I'm going to try giving her breakfast, and see if it stays down."

"Ugh. Stomach flu."

"Cody's got some banana cereal in the cabinet." I smile at Dani. "Could you get Cody's cereal?"

"Sure, Dad."

"Mornin'." Kade sets Cody in his booster, then steps over to the toaster and fixes some toast. Kade's wearing a yellow T-shirt and jeans, while Cody's wearing a white airplane T-shirt, khakis, and a green hoodie.

I set a bowl of the toddler's cereal in front of Cody and hand him a small spoon, then turn to the medic. "I can get her a bowl if you want me to."

He steps over to the sink and mixes up some baby cereal before putting a quarter of a banana, mashed up, in the bowl. "I'd rather just give her a handful to be safe for now." He nods to the bananas and rice cereal in his hand. "That's what I'm doing here." He fills a nurser bottle with blue pedialyte before adding something from a square container. He sits in front of the toddler, now in a high chair, and starts feeding her using one of Cody's toddler spoons. I step over and put a baby bowl of the banana stars beside his elbow, then set the rice crispies and milk, and a coffee mug beside his elbow. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." I watch him feed Marianne for a moment, then turn to check the time. "It's about time for you guys to leave." They rush off to grab their backpacks while I turn to Cody and wash his face and hands. "All right, Sport. Let's get you ready to leave." I grab a plush frog backpack that usually holds a full change of clothes and a couple of pull-ups just in case, and slip it on his back, then lead the toddler to his waiting siblings. "Keep an eye on him."

"We will, Dad."

"Love you!"

"See you later!"

I sit down at the table beside Ratchet as he sprinkles the cereal on her tray.


Ratchet's POV

Chief Burns joins me at the table with coffee after his children leave for school. "Did you say you had another child?"

I nod. "A youngling named Bumblebee. He's ten."

"Does he ever pick fights with his little sister?"

"No. He's really good with her. He watches her when I'm needed in the medical bay."

"He in school?"

"Yes, actually. He goes to Jasper middle. Seventh grade. Promoted him from sixth after one day."

"Graham skipped first."

"Impressive. Is he thinking of going into medicine?"

"Actually, he wants to be an engineer."

I nod. "I have a brother who's an engineer and inventor."

"Cool."

"Wan' dow'."

I sigh and get her out before turning back to Chief Burns. This is the first chance I've had to talk with the man Optimus has trusted with my daughter. I blink in surprise when I see my notes stuck to the fridge with a clothespin butterfly magnet. "I hope you guys don't mind that I send those."

Charlie looks up to find me pointing to the pink papers. "Oh, no. We're grateful for them, really. Every baby is different, Rick, and it's helpful to know a child's schedule when they come to stay with you—especially in our line of work." He shrugs. "We don't have the graduates meals you use readily available here, so she gets different meals, but she usually eats good, so we don't worry too much."

Mariposa steps over and waves her bottle. "Baba?"

"Of course." I take it and stand. "At least she's drinking something."

"I'd have to agree with you there." He stands with a sigh. "I have to get Sage to a doctor's appointment. I'm sure you'll be okay with Mari?"

I scoff. "Of course I will! I've been taking care of her for ten months now!"

He rubs the back of his neck. "Right… I'll see you later, then."

"You too, Charlie."

"Who's here, Charlie?" A pretty woman steps in. A low-level scan reveals a mass on her left breast. "Is it the babysitter? Did you tell them Mari's sick?"

"It's Ratchet, Sweetheart."

I turn to her with a smile. "Glad to finally meet you. Optimus agreed to let me come out, since my daughter was sick."

"He's not—"

"This is a holoform, Ma'am. My main form is in the bunker. I created this technology so the rest of the team and I could interact with Mariposa on a more "human" level."

"Okay." She sighs softly. "I'm ready to leave."

Charlie nods. "I'm coming."

I hand Mariposa her bottle and slump onto the couch. This family's about to go through some really hard times, and there's nothing I can do to help them. I sigh softly and pick Mariposa up. After getting her bag of toys, I start down the elevator to the bunker. Right now, I need to spend some time with my daughter.

Once we're in the bunker, and I have the chance to set Mariposa down, I deactivate my holoform and step out from the room I had hidden inside. I find some blocks, and step over to them as Mariposa toddles after me with her bottle. Before I start to stack them—in my normal form for once since there's more room down here than in her playpen—I fiddle with the radio controls.

"Dada? Wan' b'ocks."

"I know, Little One… Just give me a moment." There. That song definitely fits the mood of the day. "All right. Let's play."

The man on the TV's gone insane
Everybody's just laughin
People cross the world holdin on
The earth caved in
The oceans came down crashin
My neighbor lost his house
Cause he can't find a job
Don't you dare pledge allegiance
Don't you dare speak of God
Speak of God
Oh oh oh oh

Now I'm begging for forgiveness
I wanna make a difference
Even in the smallest of ways
I'm only one person
But I can feel it working
Even in the smallest of ways
That's why I pray

Some stupid video posted as a joke
Somebody's life gets ruined
Out of everything we can create
Where is the cure to keep the sick from losing

That line hits me to the spark. 'Where is the cure to keep the sick from losing? Primus, if I only knew… This family is going to lose a wife and mother before too long. Metastatic breast cancer if I'm not mistaken, and at least stage 3… Primus… Sometimes, I wish I could do more…'

"Dada otay?"

I sigh softly and realize I've been holding a block since my mind wandered. "Yeah, I'm fine, Little One." I start stacking the blocks again, and smile when she knocks it down. I want to keep her playing quiet games, rather than playing rough and making herself purge again. Thankfully she hasn't purged since she woke up, but I'm worried that she might start up again if we're not careful.

"Do 'gain!"

"All right." I start stacking the blocks again, keeping a close eye on the time. I can't help but smile when she knocks it over again, and sigh heavily. "We need to go change your diaper, Little One."

"Wan' p'ay!"

"And we will, after you're changed." I head back to the room and activate my holoform, then lock the door and pick Mariposa up on the way to the elevator. Once we're upstairs, I take her to their room for her and change her diaper, then set her on the floor.

"Wan' p'ay b'ocks!"

I sigh heavily. "Let me get a few things, then we'll go back downstairs."

"Otay."

"Want a bottle?"

"Wan' baba."

"Good." She needs to drink right now, and at least she's getting electrolytes through the pedialyte. I'm glad she's eating, of course, but she could start purging again at any time.

I fill her bottle using the blue raspberry pedialyte, then hand it to her and carry her and the diaper bag to the elevator. That way, we won't have to come back up in an hour. Once we get off the elevator, I check to make sure the door is locked, then set her and the bag on the floor and start stacking the blocks yet again. It gets mundane, of course, but Mariposa enjoys it, so I do it.


Noon

I take Mari upstairs and sit her in their high chair before getting a bowl of applesauce. She still has symptoms of the virus, so I want to be safe. I really don't want to have to watch her purge.

"Wan' do!"

"You'll make a mess, Mari."

"WAN' DO!"

I sigh heavily and hand her the spoon. "Toddlers." Of course, she makes a mess warranting a washcloth and immediate change of clothes, so I take her to her room and strip her, change her diaper, then dress her into a white long sleeved onesie with an orange and blue owl print, orange pants with ruffles on the butt, orange socks, blue shoes, and a blue owl headband.

"Wan' p'ay b'ocks."

"All right."


1:00 PM

I sigh heavily after she knocks down the most recent stack. "It's time for your nap, Little One."

"Wan' p'ay."

"You can play after you wake up."

"No nigh'-nigh'! P'ay b'ocks!"

I sigh heavily and take her upstairs. Even with her kicking and screaming, it's an easy path, though hearing her scream tears at my spark.

"Doesn't want to nap?"

"Yeah." I turn to see Sage on the couch. "She doesn't want to nap."

"Charlie's on a call."

"Do you need anything?"

She shakes her head. "I'll be fine, Rick." I raise an eyebrow. "Charlie told me."

"Ah." I sigh softly. "Well, I need to get this screamer down for her nap."

"Think she'll be able to go to Kade's game with us tonight?"

"I think so, as long as she's dressed warm enough."

"All right. When are you going back?"

I sigh heavily. "Soon. Agent Fowler needs my help moving to a new house."

"All right."

I take Mariposa into her room and tuck her in with her teddy bear and the fleece blanket, then cover her with her plush heart blanket before handing her an energon and pedialyte bottle, and setting a pacifier beside her. "Good night, Little One."

I step back into the living room and settle on the couch beside Sage. "So…you need to help who move?"

"Agent Fowler. He's our liaison back in Nevada, and he needs help moving into a new house because his wife kicked him out. So I have to help him." I sigh softly. "I'll leave the rest of the pedialyte I've been giving her today, and another bottle if you need it. There's a jar of applesauce in the fridge and some rice baby cereal in the cabinet in case she starts purging again."

"All right. Thanks for coming out, Ratchet. It was nice to meet you."

"You too, Sage."


6:30 PM, Sage's POV

I take Marianne upstairs and change her, then get her dressed in an orange long sleeved T-shirt, an orange and white cheer dress with their school name, white bobby socks, white shoes with orange laces, and an orange cheer headband, then set her on the ground so I can get my shoes on. Kade's got a game tonight, and we're going as usual to cheer him on.

Mari giggles, and reaches up to me. I smile and pick her up. Thank God she's feeling better tonight.

"Mom!? I'm gonna be late!"

"We're coming, Kade!" I walk down the stairs and set the toddler on her feet. "Evereyone else ready?" I scan the family once. Everyone's wearing school colors but Cody, because his is still in the laundry from when he spilled his drink on it week before last. He's wearing a white T-shirt, a green track jacket, black pants, green socks, and his tennis shoes. "All right, then. Let's go!"

"Finally."

"Yay!"

"Kade's gonna win 'gain!"

"You got that right, Sport."

We all head out together. Charlie carries Cody while I push Marianne in the orange stroller. The diaper bag, with Marianne's pedialyte and clean diapers, is tucked safely under the stroller.

"We go?"

"We're going to the game, Little One."

"Ga'?"
"Right."
"Kade's gonna win 'gain!"


8:00 PM, Charlie's POV

I change Marianne into her sleeper and tuck the toddler into her crib before leaving the room. She fell asleep right before the end of the game. Kade's team won by one point after a very close game.