Chapter 13
It happened two days later.
I didn't expect it, not at all. But I blame myself for not figuring it out sooner. I'm completely disappointed in myself for being this stupid and not putting two and two together. I was trained for this... well not this exactly. But there's nothing I can do about it now. It happened and I have to live with it. But let's get some exposition on this so you don't get lost.
I sustained a seemingly normal routine in those two days. Wake up, have breakfast, help with chores, play with Annabelle, go to the afternoon meeting then do miscellaneous things until bed time where I would cuddle up with Ironhide. The days were passed without many pondering thoughts from me. Coming and going in a dull blur in my mind.
But not today, today I woke up feeling giddy, like little fireflies were fluttering in my belly. Even my beast paced restlessly in the back of my mind. Waiting. Watching. Something was going to happen today.
I still continued the day as I had the two previous. And everyone behaved like normal until about noon.
After I had a generally peaceful lunch with the Lennox's, Will and I made out way to the Barn to commence the daily meeting. Once inside, Will continued towards the conference table; while I made a beeline to Ironhide's un-moving form. I gave him a customary pat on the leg before tearing myself away and went to the table with the others. Pausing only for a second when I felt a strange pressure in my chest. It didn't hurt, but I definitely knew it was there.
After I sat myself in the nearest chair the meeting started. Optimus began to speak about how the rest of the Autobots were doing and when it might be that they return to the main base.
Not even ten minutes in, my giddy feeling bloomed from little fireflies to full on bee hive of activity. I found myself looking over to my unconscious pack member every few minutes. Barely paying attention to Optimus as there was so much anxiety coursing through me –Courtesy of my beast— that my fingers rapped on the table with quite the speed. I could tell I was bothering some of the others. They would keep glancing at me from the corners of their slightly glowing eyes, with ever a sliver of annoyance in them.
Not that I cared much, I was far too distracted with the sudden clench in my chest.
"Miss Ren" Optimus's slightly worry laced voice rang out. I snapped my head up to meet his holoform's eyes.
After a minute of staring at him blankly I responded "Sorry, what?" I asked dumbly.
"Are you alright? You seem distracted today" he asked, looking to the others for assurance in his observation. I followed his gaze to the others, sitting up a bit straighter in my chair in slight denial.
Squinting my eyes a bit I looked down at the table with a frown. Briefly contemplating on just pawning it off as nothing; but another clench in my chest made me think better of it.
"I don't know" I said honestly, sitting back in my chair again and placing a hand on where the pressure was. "I've been feeling weird all day."
Within seconds Ratchet's holoform had disappeared and his normal giant self was picking up my chair to bring me closer to him. He wordlessly scanned me a few times while I rubbed what I finally figured out was my heart clenching. The others silently watched from their chairs, concern marring their eyes. But I ignored them, annoyed at the babying behavior they've started to give me since I started to act weird.
"Your heart rate is extremely elevated, like you've just sprinted across the country." Ratchet said, taking his free hand and using his index finger to gently press at my chest. "Are you having any difficulty breathing?" he asked. I took a few small slow breaths just to check but I had no difficulty.
My ears flattened against my head as I shook my head. "No but my beast has been pacing around like a mad woman since this morning" I muttered, just loud enough for only him to hear. He nodded and turned to walk us towards his work station. After he placed my comfy swivel chair down on his work table, he brought up his touch-pad. And proceeded to search the through his files for any explanation.
Without notice, a wave of excitement and anticipation crashed over me like a tsunami; making me jump out of my chair, startling the others from their own thoughts. The team watched me curiously as I paced back and forth on Ratchet's table. Ratchet tried to stop me and get me to calm down. But I brushed him off. My heart gave another clench, making me pause in my pacing and crouch down on the table to wait it out. Again it wasn't painful, but the emotions it caused to run through me were intense enough to make me stop. I needed to get this damn adrenaline out of me before I had a heart attack.
But just as I was about to open my mouth to voice my intentions to Ratchet, a loud rough groan sounded from behind the medic.
We all froze in our spots. The team members that were on the conference table stared wide eyed at the medical berth where Hide slept. I heard movement coming from the place and Ratchet turn around to look as I tried to peer around his metal form. After a moment I huffed I annoyance at Ratchets body for blocking my view. I walked to the side of the table where he wasn't standing to take a look.
I saw the one and only Ironhide sitting up on his berth probably not even noticing that anyone was around, rubbing his head with one of his metal hands as the other supported his weight, keeping him in an up-right position. His face was slightly pained and his eyes were still closed.
My eyes joined the rest of the team in their wideness and my mouth fell open in shock. But I doubt it was for the same reason as them. My beast jumped with joy inside me as I continued to stare slacked jawed at the newly woken alien. Though my heart was in enough strain as it was, it seemed to beat faster by the second. I started towards the end of the table, but before I even knew what was happening. My knees weakened, collapsing under me and making me fall off the table's edge. I felt myself falling to the ground but I passed out before I got there.
The first thing I took notice of was a constant beeping sound coming from my right. Slowly I cracked an eye open, to be pleasantly surprised at the dim lighting that surrounded me. I was lying on my loft area on top of the hay with a light blanket covering me from the stomach down. Looking around a bit, confused as to why I was there, though my beast was more than happy to remind me.
I had fainted – not a very endearing moment for me—and fell off of Ratchets table. The reason behind the fainting was something I didn't really want to think about. But did I get hurt? Is that why Ratchet has me strapped to this idiotic heart monitor?
Whatever had happened, I was fine now. The giddy feeling had dissipated and my beast is content for now.—Purring away at the day's events, the evil little minx— There was no more clenching in my chest thankfully.
I groaned as I sat up not because of pain but more out of the effort I had to put in. It was awkward to move with all the cables attached to me but I managed. I contemplated just ripping them off but a few experimental tugs revealed that the tape keeping them down was stronger and stickier than it looked. With an annoyed sigh, pushed reached for the monitor thing to try and find an off button.
My random button mashing ended up giving more trouble than I thought. Since the machine started to beep loudly like an alarm. My ears flattened against my head and I scrunched my nose up in displeasure as I made it worse my tangling myself in the cables.
Not even half a second latter the curtain of fabric that shielded me from the rest of the barn was ripped open to reveal Ratchet with a panicked look on his giant metal face. I froze at his sudden appearance, probably looking every bit as crazy as I feel –Thanks to this retched beeping— We stared at each other for a while. Me waiting for him to scold me for messing with the machinery; and him... just standing there with an unreadable expression.
Eventually, he same back to reality. And a small amused smile appeared on his face. I gave an embarrassed smile back. "Hey Ratch. What's up?" I asked, trying to act casual.
"I'm glad that you are alright Ren. You had us all worried." He said while getting close enough to help me out of the machinery. I grimaced at the memory of the earlier events but said nothing as I was de-tangled and had all the tape removed.
Once I was finally free I stretched my arms out to loosen myself up. "I'm sorry." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "I didn't mean to worry you guys so much." I frowned.
"It's alright Ren. No one is upset with you." Ratchet said shaking his head and placed his hand right next to me. I took the hint and scooted towards it until I was comfortably seated in his palm. He lifted me up to eye level and gave me a scan again. "How are you feeling?" he asked, stepping back and moving towards his work table.
I shrugged my shoulders "Fine. My chest feels normal" I said, looking around the barn to find it lacking any other person except the cause for my former torment. My eyes glued themselves on Ironhide as he sat in his alt mode by one of the dim corners— Probably asleep by Ratchet's orders— My beast purred at the sight but I ignored her. The others were probably all outside. "How long was I out?" I asked.
"Only a few hours." He responded, setting me down on the table and started to mess with his touch-pad. "Ironhide woke up without any complications." He commented. I tensed, my eyes snapped from Ironhide to him instantly but I caught myself before I said anything I didn't want to.
"Really? That's good, how is he?" I pried, trying to act casual. I don't think I was succeeding.
"He is doing fine. I had him go into recharge just in case" Ratchet responded then turned to me fully, leaning down on his hands to be face to face with me. I looked back at him, unnerved by his gaze.
"So tell me" he started. "What happened earlier?" he asked. We watched each other for a few seconds before I sighed.
"It's a demon thing, you wouldn't understand" I said, frowning.
"Try me" he said.
I glanced nervously at Hidy's resting form before motioning to Ratchet to move closer to me. So I could whisper to him.
"Ratchet. What I am bout to tell you must stay between us. Alright? You mustn't tell anyone. I am trusting you as the medical official around here, my friend and fellow pack member." I urged, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.
Ratchet seemed to think it over for a second then nodded in agreement. I closed my eyes and breathed out a sigh. My eyes then quickly found the source of my budding headache. Ironhide. At the sight of him, my beast started to purr like a little tamed kitten again. Damn her! I scowled and turned back to Ratchet.
"It seems that I have found him, Ratch" I whispered to him.
"Who did you find Ren?" he urged me, leaning in closer to where our faces where inches apart.
"My mate."