Thunder boomed overhead as Ratchet stood in the doorway of one of the hangars that oversaw the Tarmac that was partially used for the incoming and outgoing of the cargo planes. His thoughts split between his task here and from the call that he and received from Optimus a couple of hours ago. Ashley had been woken up from recharge by a bad holoflux. He was worried about Ashley. Her physical injuries would heal in its own time but the emotional and mental injuries would linger and the recovery would be long. He wished she didn't have to go through all of that but at least him and the other Autobots would be there for her.

He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a plane approaching the Tarmac. He had been waiting for this plane for what seemed like hours. He had received a message earlier stating that the plane was going to be arriving at or around this time. He had made a promise that he was going to stay and wait for the Autobots that were coming in from a mission in Missouri.

The cargo plane activated the landing gear and with a skid landed on the black asphalt. It made a slow circle around the tarmac before the plane stopped with the cargo hold facing the open hanger. A set of matching Lamborghinis one bright red and the other a bright yellow color Both drove passed ratchet and beeped their horns. He waved his hand dismissively but inwardly he was happy that the twin terrors made it back without being hurt too much. The other was a blue BMW I8 that drove out and quickly made its way to the back hangars that were used for the Autobots personal quarters. Finally there a Mercedes Benz roadster that exited the cargo plane and then made its way across the tarmac towards him. The Mercedes dark green color was carefully camouflaged by the night sky coupled with pouring rain.

Ratchet watched as the car drove passed him before stopping in the middle of the hanger and transforming into its Bi-Pedal mode.

A feminine voice filled the hanger.

"I've missed you" She said as she approached Ratchet.

"I've missed you too," He said as he embraced her in a hug.

"How was the mission Moonracer?" He asked still holding her.

"It went well. All of us Autobots are accounted for but-" She stated as she broke away from the embrace that Ratchet had her in.

"We lost a few of the humans." She said as she looked down.

Ratchet felt her sadness through their bond. Moonracer was a sweet femme patient, and kind. She also abhorred violence. She hated that she had to kill the decepticons but understood that it was either her or them.

Moonracer than looked up "I spoke with Chromia earlier this morning and she said that we had a new arrival. Did another bot arrive?"

"Not quite," He responded.

"Do you remember Lucas Carter?" He continued

"Yes, I remember you and him were close. Why are you asking sweet spark?" She responded when she felt a heavy feeling coming from their bond.

"There was an attack a couple of days ago, at first it was thought to be an accident where Lucas lost control and crashed into a tree but upon investigation it turned out to be the work of Sideways and Smokefire. The two fraggers murdered Lucas."

Ratchet looked at Moonracer, "Please tell me that you caught the two pit spawned fraggers." She said.

"Unfortunately not, what's worse, his mate was with him when they attacked. They severely injured her and thought that they had killed her. However she somehow survived the attack."

"How is she doing?" Moonracer asked

"She is alright currently she is in the rec room with Optimus, she woke from a bad holoflux. Optimus was there keeping guard when he noticed her in distress." Ratchet motioning toward the main hangar

"Well at least she is being carefully cared for and being properly guarded." Stated Moonracer

"Yes, there is one more thing." He stated absently rubbing the back of his neck

Moonracer looked at him arching an optic ridge

"Upon her arrival it has come to my attention that she needed a guardian in order to protect her especially with the Cons still out there. She was Lucas's mate and I owe it to him, I have become her guardian."

She looked at him with wide optics and then smiled

"Are you sure love? You are the Medical Officer of the Autobots."

"Moonie, Lucas was my friend and I know that even though I couldn't do anything to prevent his death, this is something that I can do to honor him. Protect his mate." He stated looking straight as her

"Will she stay here completely or will she leave?"

"Right now she staying and is under Autobot protection and my care until her wounds completely heal after that it becomes her decision whether she wants to stay or not."

Moonracer took a deep intake and then looked deep into Ratchet optics seeing his determination and she could tell that this was something that he had made his mind about. There was no turning back, to be honest she didn't hate the idea of Ratchet becoming a guardian in fact it was kind of endearing.

"Ok Ratchet if she's your charge then by bonding she is also mine I will protect her as if she is my own." Moonracer stated while huddling close to her mate.

Ratchet smiled and silently thanked primus for his femme, in his head he imagined this conversation going 18 different ways. One particular way was Moonracer got so upset that she used her ion blaster to shoot his interface equipment.

"You can relax now Ratchet, I could feel the apprehension from the plane. Why don't we go and find this young women. I would like to meet her."

Ratchet smiled sheepishly and then nodded leading his femme toward the main hanger. To the Rec room where his charge was.

Meanwhile in the Rec room Optimus had been sitting in the Bot sized couch trying not to focus on Ms. Hale but instead bringing his attention to a few reports that needed his attention. He subspaced the data pads containing the reports and began to go through them.

In one particular report he read about The major twins, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, and how they set up paint and stink bombs throughout the entrance during Director Galloway's last visit, which coincidently did happen to be his last as they were getting a new director as per the request of Colonel Lennox, Robert Epps, a few his team members, all of the Autobots. The man was just not likeable and there had been many times that he wanted to reprieve the rule about not hurting humans just once.

What made him chuckle was not the stink and paint bombs, which he had to admit wass clever, it was the response that they had made when asked why they did it. According to the twins "He needed a proper send off." Optimus had been their when the so called "attack on his life" happened and although he had to keep a stone face if it wasn't for his battle mask everybody would have seen his smirk at the antics of the two frontliners.

"How long have I been asleep?" Came a voice breaking him from his thoughts. He looked up and there was Ms. Hale looking around.

"Only 2 hours it is currently 0500 hours." He stated

"Do you require anything?" He continued

"No thanks. Uhhh... Mr. Prime thank you very much for doing what you did and have done for me in the past few days."

"You're very welcome Ms. Hale." He said with a smile.

"Oh you can call me Ashley it's alright. Ms. Hale seems so formal." She said smiling

"Alright then you may refer to me as Optimus."

Ashley nodded.

At that moment Ratchet came in and Ashley had observed that he was being followed by another Robot…Autobot…Cyberter...something. She would have to ask again later.

"Thank you Prime for watching over her." Ratchet said as he reached the oversized couch.

"You are welcome, old friend." He responded and then said

"Hello Moonracer, are you well?"

"Yes Prime, and yourself?

"I am well thank you."

Then Optimus got up "I must leave I have to complete my patrol this morning."

Ashley got worried "Oh my gosh, Optimus I'm sorry did I keep you from getting enough rest I'm so sorry."

"It is quite alright Ashley, We cybertronians are capable of staying online for longer periods of time than you humans are before we need to recharge. Do not worry." He smiled and then left the room.

"I'm sorry Ratchet I didn't know that he had patrol I was so upset and I-."

"Ashley you heard Optimus it's alright and don't worry he will come back from patrol and then take a recharge, he really does not mind helping anyone."

She relented but inside she still felt horrible.

"Ashley there is someone I wish for you to meet." Ratchet said before moving out of the way. There stood another bot. Now that she was a lot closer and right next to Ratchet she could see that it was shorter than Ratchet was. It was also shaped differently more women like so she guessed that the bot has to be a she.

"Ashley this is moonracer, she is my Sparkmate." He said while putting his hand on the small of her back.

"What's a Sparkmate?" Ashley asked

"In human terms I am his wife." Moonracer answered.

Ashley smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

Moonracer held out her finger and Ashley shook it with her good hand.

"One of the reasons we wanted to speak with you was because as you know I am your guardian. Moonracer is my sparkmate so by bonding she is your guardian as well. But with the sensitivity of the situation this is only if you wish her to be." Ratchet stated.

He absently stopped his intake air while Ashley thought and studied to two and then said "I don't have any issues I think it would be kind of nice to have two guardians. Are you ok with it Moonracer?"

Moonracer smiled "Yes, if you are important to Ratchet than you are important to me."

"Now I suppose that we can bring you back the medbay." Ratchet stated as he carefully pulled the blanket off of her and offered her his finger to grab onto so that he could move her to his hand.

Moonracer stopped him and then asked "May I?"

Ratchet moved out of the way and moonracer carefully moved her hand close to the couch and did the offered her finger to Ashley just as he had done. Ashley grabbed on and Moonracer put her into her hand and brought her close to her chest.

The both of them then carefully made their way to the medbay.