xx

Chapter 17

Chicken pox and smiling Doc bots.

xx

Tai had always thought of herself as an unusually healthy person. She hardly ever got colds, she'd never had the flu once in her life, she managed to avoid any major outbreak of disease at NEST which was a relief because some of them were pretty nasty, and even as a child, she never had to call in sick.

But today, she didn't feel so hot. She felt uncomfortable, hot, and just plain not good. Her throat was unbelievably sore and scratchy, so much in fact that it hurt to talk and it made her sound like she had been smoking since she was seven. Her human eye was red and bloodshot, while her optic was a dull blue color instead of the bright azure color it usually was.

She couldn't be sick, it was impossible.

"God, I feel like shit." She grumbled to herself as chugged some cold water from her water bottle. Reaching the recreational room, she spotted her Dad, Barricade, various other Autobots, various soldiers, and Sam who was sitting on the human couch with Sparrow and Techno, reading Scott Pilgrim to them.

She really wished Jazz was here, but he was on a scouting mission with Bumblebee.

Sam jumped slightly when he felt the couch dip. Turning his head to his right, he grinned when he saw Tai sitting there but it faltered slightly in worry at the tired look on her face, her flushed cheeks, and the dark circles under her eyes. Err..eye.

"Yo, Tai." He said, getting the attention of the three mechs who were closest. Optimus, Jazz, and Barricade.

"What's up?"

Tai turned her head to him, too tired to even lift it up properly. "Nothing, just feeling a little tired." She tried to sound cheerfull but her tone was underlined by a dull tiredness.

"You sure, cous?" He asked. "You seem a little iffy."

"I'm fine, dude." She laughed, though it was a very half-assed laugh so to speak. "Stop being such a freaking worry wart."

"I am not." He grumbled.

"What is he not doing?" Barricade asked, wandering over to the two teens, curious about the conversation they were having.

"I think something's wrong with Tai!" "I'm totally fine, 'Cade! He's just being a spaz!" "AM NOT!"

The car rolled his optics as the two cousins started arguing, which wasn't anything new. "Shut the hell up, both of you. I'll run a scan on Tai, and settle this. Now hold still for a sec, alright?"

Tai nodded and the odd sensation of being scanned swept over her. 'Cade's scanners ran over the techno organic, inspecting every inch, right down to the very cell membrane.

He was silent for a moment before he found something out of place. "Uh-oh." He said.

That caught the attention of the very concerned Optimus, who promply stepped forward and kneeled in front of his daughter. "What's 'Uh-oh'?"

The ex-con turned to him, his red optics widened slightly. "Prime, she has a fever." He said in a concerned tone. "Her core temperature is over a hundred degrees."

Optimus's optics widened before he gently reached forward and placed his large pointer finger on his daughters forhead. Sure enough, it felt hot to the touch.

Tai sighed softly in contentment when she felt the cool metal of her Dad's finger on her forehead, it was way better then any cold rag.

Before she could say anything else, an odd sensation tickled at her neck, causing her to reach up to scratch at it.

"This doesn't look good." Optimus muttered as Tai grumbled, now scratching at her arm. "I'm picking up traces of a viral infection." A metal finger then stopped her from her continuous scratching, his optics now noticing the small red dots now littering his daughter's human flesh. "Stop scratching, sweetie. You'll irritate it."

"Viral infection?" Tai whimpered out, her small hand clutching onto her dad's large finger. "I never get sick."

"Evidently, you get sick like any other human." Barricade mused. "The infection is a disease known as 'Chicken pox.'

"Chicken pox!" Tai exclaimed in fear. "I thought I already had them."

"Uhh..Tai, I may have an answer for that." Sam spoke up, causing everyone to look at him. "Yeah, my mom said it wasn't actually chicken pox, it was an allergic reaction to wool..." Sam had already had it so he wasn't worried about getting it again.

"Oh that's just peachy.." Tai whimpered out, burying her face in the couch arm in despair.

"But after this, you won't get them again." Barricade assured his charge. "Your immune system and internal repair systems are downloading information on the virus so you can fight it off again and again. But as of right now, you are a contamination threat."

"I'll get the face masks." Sam muttered. "Come on kids, let's get away from your diseased mother." He picked up Techno who squeaked and chirped cheerfully while Sparrow turned back to her Mom.

"Get better soon, Mama." She squeaked out, giving Tai a hug being careful not to irritate the red dots on her skin.

"Don't worry, baby, I will." Tai was careful not to breathe in her daughter's direction as she scampered off after her cousin.

She then turned her feverish gaze to her father and gave him her famous 'Puppy dog eyes.' "Daddy." She whimpered out, holding her arms up. "Carry me."

Optimus smiled slightly, unconditional love for his ailing daughter in his optics. "Of course, my little one." He then gently picked her up, his cold metal hands nice against her slowly burning skin, earning a soft sniffle and a whimper from the sick Techno Organic, but she felt content.

As Optimus carried the girl off, Barricade shook his head in concern for his charge as Breakaway walked in, staring after the departing Prime. "Yo, 'Cade." He greeted.

"Hey, Break." He grumbled back.

"Is Tai alright?" The Jet then asked. "She didn't look like a happy camper!" It was known Breakaway was very fond of Tai, almost to the point where Jazz had to threaten ripping his interfacing equipment out once or twice a week.

"She caught a human virus known as Chicken pox." The Shelby Mustang explained.

"Ew. A virus?" Break asked in alarm. "Aren't those tiny micro-based parasites that infect the DNA of cells to spread itself?"

Barricade raised an optic ridge. "Yeah, that is exactly what they are. I'm shocked you even know that."

"Wait a sec!" Break suddenly exclaimed loudly. "How could Tai get a virus? Shouldn't her Cybertronian half prevent her from getting sick."

Barricade rolled his four optics. ""Virus' infect human cells. Her Cybertronian Energon System can't detect which is the virus, becuase they alter her human cells. Her immune system is enough to fight it off, but it will be a rough week or so for the girl."

"Ah." Break then got nervous as he glanced back at the Ex-Con. "We can't get them can we?"

"You're an idiot."

xx

She hated being in the Med-bay, it was way to bright, it smelled like medicine, and it was way to clean for her liking.
But unfortunatly, that is where she found herself, now back in her pajamas, on a huge medical berth waiting for Ratchet with her father.

She was absolutely miserable, she felt hot, uncomfortable, and even itchier then before. Which was a complete and totally suckish feeling, especially with the first two problems.

"This really sucks and blows." She whimpered, reaching to scratch a spot on her shoulder. A large metal finger stopped her, causing her to whine like a child.

"Aw, Dad." She whimpered out. "Why?"

Optimus sighed softly, sitting in a large chair beside the berth. "All scratching will do is irritate it, causing it to icth more, sweetie." He said to her, stroking her messy hair carefully.

She then coughed, the motion causing her already sore throat to hurt even more. "Man, this sucks, I hate being sick." She curled up more on her bed.

"I know." Optimus said with sympathy.

"You wouldn't know, you guys can't get human viruses!" Tai said, grinning slightly at her Dad whom smirked slightly.

"True. But I was only trying to sympathise."

Tai managed to giggle slightly but that ended up in a coughing fit that made her throat hurt even more and her skin burn slightly. But she managed a small grin. "Thanks, Daddy."

"My poor girl-" The Prime said before the large door suddenly banged open, causing both father and daughter to jump.

"Hello everyone!" Ratchet called, sounding gleeful, which was frightening. "Ah, there's the sick little Prime spudling!"

"That makes me sound like a menu item!" Tai exclaimed in fright. "And second, why so gleeful? Been throwing wrenches at the twins again?"

"Why yes, yes I have been! But back to business, it appears you have the chicken pox, quite nasty little pests!" He then strode over to his large medical tool box and pulled out a needle that was at least nine feet long with some sort of bubbling concoction.

"I have developed a special medicine for just such occasion. But given the fact I just invented it, it may feel like acid burning your insides but that's price we pay for wanting to get better faster, eh? Arm out, please."

Tai scooted closer to her father, her eye and optic wide in terror. "Um, Dad? You have any more sympathy? Cause I could really use some."

"No, but this is the part where I give you a fatherly kiss and run the heck out of here before he tries something on me!" And with that, he gave her a gentle kiss on her head and bolted out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Oh FML..." Tai whimpered, her eye and optic closed tightly.

Ratchet then withdrawed the needle.

"Just kidding, my dear one!" Ratchet said with a smile, setting the needle on a nearby counter. "That was just carbonated water, just to scare your father out of here."

Tai felt immense relief as she sank back onto the pillows.

"The best medicine I can offer is bed rest, plenty of liquids, and antibiotics." He then pointed his finger at her. "And no scratching!"

Ratchet promptly pulled out some cups, a bottle of water and some antibiotics, setting them down next to Tai and whipping up a quick healthy drink of the stuff for her, the girl breathing in relief that she wouldn't be impaled.

"I'll repeat myself; If you scrath those itches-" The Hummer said sternly. "Then I really WILL whip up a good drug to stab you with. Now then-"

Quickly retrieving the needle, he stated, while grinning: "I think Ironhide needs a lesson in fear. Oh, and Breakaway as well! and maybe Barricade! Oh, the pranks I'll make with this thing! See you later, Tai. Drink your water slwoly and easily, alright?"

"Yes sir."

"Good girl." Ratchet said, before skipping off, singing: "Ironhide! Time for a jab, you old rustbucket!"

"NO! Get away, you psycho!"

Tai giggled softly to herself, before sipping some of her water. Grimacing at the medicine dissolved in it, she lay back, ingoring the damn itches, and sighed, aiming to get some good shut-eye. Damn this feverish pain in the ass...

xx

Sarah Lennox had arrived a few days later to visit Will and everyone else at Base. She was known as the N.E.S.T., she would cook homemade food for the soldiers, talk to them about their problems, and to babysit Sparrow and Techno, who she adored.

"Hello everyone!" She said in a cheerful, kind voice. Optimus smiled, turning away from Techno and Sparrow, who squealed happily at the sight of the blonde woman.

"Sarah!" Sparrow giggled, running to her and hugging her legs tightly.

"Oof!" Sarah gasped out before kneeling down to hug the little white and gray femme tightly. "Hey, little song bird!" She then smiled as Techno toddled over. "Hey, little guy! You're getting bigger every time I see you!"

Looking around, she noticed someone was missing. "Hey, where's Tai?" She asked. "She's always here to tackle me in a hug."

"Well, I have bad news." Optimus sighed. "Tatyana has caught the virus known as the chicken pox. She is in her room, asleep, under light quarintine until the disease has abated."

"Oh, poor dear. Well, don't worry about me, Optimus." Sarah replied cheerfully. "I had the pox when I was younger, so I'm immune to it now. When she wakes up, I'll pay her a visit. I did after all bring her her favourite treat, which is also a good disease fighter."

"Is it anti-viral chemicals?" Ratchet asked.

"A microscopic anit-viruis weapon system?" Ironhide asked.

"Is it Santa Claus?" Jolt asked.

"Nope." Sarah grinned, reaching into her bag. "When you're sick, your sugar levels tend to go down. A perfect boost, in small doses, is this-"

Everyone gasped in amazmenet as the woman pulled something out of her bag, before realising it was-

"Just a metal can of surgary liquid." Ironhide grunted. "How not fun."

"Not just ANY can of sugary liquid. It's THE can of sugary liquid." Srach grinned. Tai would be feeling better in no time with her to help. "When I was a little girl and I was sick, my mother would bring me my favorite drink and it made me feel better in no time at all. Trust me, I'm a mom, I know these things."

Optimus smiled, trusting this woman. "Alright Sarah, I'll take your word for it."

xx

Tai was fast asleep when Sarah poked her head her in. Tai looked miserable even in her sleep, her cheeks flushed and her breathing congested.

Sneaking in quietly, Sarah walked over to her bed and smoothed the Techno organic's hair back in a motherly fashion, removing the dish rag and rewetting it with cold water before placing it back on the ailing girls forehead. The movement jostled the excausted girl out of her sleep and she opened her human eye while her optic came back online with a blue flash.

"Hey Sunshine!" Sarah greeted with sympathey in her eyes as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Heard you weren't feeling well."

Tai sat up against her numerous amount of pillows and nodded. "It really sucks, but Dad comes by every ten minutes to see how I'm doing which is awesome. He won't let me scratch though." Tai whined, feeling the nagging sensation in her aching body.

"Well, that's good of him!" Sarah said in a motherly tone, patting Tai's robotic hand soothingly. "He really loves you, Tai. He's a good Dad."

Tai smiled at the thought of her father. "Yeah, he is." She then smiled at the blonde haired woman, who she considered a Mom. "Thanks for coming to see me, by the way."

"No problem, sweetie!" Sarah said in a kind tone. "Oh yes, I almost forgot, I brought something for you!" Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the soda can and handed it to the sick cyborg girl.

Tai's feverish eyes lit up in happiness as she took the can and popped it open. "Thanks!" She then took a dip sip and sighed in relief as the cold liquid soothed her throat and she felt the sugar perk her up.

"Thanks, Sarah!" She said in a happy tone. "I really needed that!"

"I figured that would cheer you up!" Sarah smiled and then gave Tai a motherly kiss on her warm forehead.

Tai smiled.

xx

A week passed and sure enough, Tai was out and about, still sporting a few spots but she was no longer contagious.

"Glad to see you are feeling better, sweetheart." Optimus said with a kind smile as Sparrow drew on his daughter's arm with a marker.

"I feel so much better, Dad." Tai said with a smile as Sparrow finished her handiwork before scampering off to find Jazz and Techno. "And Sparrow enjoys playing connect the Dot's on mommy's arm." She held up her arm and showed off her daughter's latest piece of art. "Look a sail boat!" She then rolled her optic and eye and rolled her sleeve down.

Optimus smiled.

Just another day at N.E.S.T. headquarters.

xx

YAY!

Done finally!

I hope you all enjoyed it!