Well, I decided to put this one out tonight as well. So two chapters in one night! Yeah!

Anyways, make sure you don't skip the chapter before this one because I know I've done that when an author has uploaded more than once chapter at once.

This was another hard chapter to write and I hope you guys don't kill me for what I did to Bee. I really do love him! He's one of my two favs. The other is Barricade who will show eventually in this story so be patient.

So, enjoy.

The next orn

Rachet had been recharging in Bumblebee's close off area to be close by incase of an emergency but never expected it to come so soon. He jumped awake hearing the struggled wheezes and gurgles of a mech downing on his own energon.

"Hold on," Rachet said, tilting his head back to freely open his mouth and let the fluid gush out for a moment before it lessoned.

"It hurts," Bumblebee wheezed, his hand touching his chest plate.

"More than before?" he asked in concern. The CMO knew Bumblebee was on a dangerous edge and he need to be on his toes, ready for anything.

Leaning down over the youngling, Rachet could hear a soft clicking that wasn't there before and another large wave of energon spilled out. Frowning, Rachet rolled Bumblebee over slightly and sighed when he saw evidence of what could be a serious internal leak. Something had to be done immediately, the medic knew he couldn't wait till the shipment.

"I'm going to put you under," he told the youngling gently.

"Why?" Bumblebee managed to asked with a gasp.

"I need to look inside you and see what's happening. Why it's making you hurt."

Bumblebee nodded.

"Alright. It will be quick. I only want to see. You'll wake in less than a joor," Rachet said, smiling at him while pushing the dark liquid into Bumblebee's systems.

Soon the mech had drifted off, his body still jerking as it reacted, trying to clear the fluid from his mouth.

Rachet moved quickly, removing the chest plate and digging past incredibly sensitive wires toward Bumblebee's spark chamber. He found it almost instantly. The main line had been cut slightly, not yet severed but still causing a severe leak that filled his breathing tanks and caused the coughing. A simple patch job would not be enough. Rachet would need a replacement and that meant he needed a mech with such to spare. A hard thing in the time of war after so many had been injured countless times, and not just any mech would do. Bumblebee's size required a certain type.

Deciding he had no choice, Rachet put a temporary solder on the leak and closed Bumblebee back up just in time as the youngling's optics brightened.

"Rachet?" he asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"How is Sunny and Blur?"

"They are fine. A few scrapes and dents but fine. They are more worried about you. They want you to be strong again."

Bumblebee seemed relieved at the news and smiled slightly but it was erased as he gasped, tightening his fists for a moment.

Rachet wished he could take all the pain away but he needed Bumblebee conscious as often as possible with his condition. A single reserve working overtime trying to keep the mech alive could spell disaster if Rachet didn't see the signs of failure soon enough because Bumblebee was unconscious.

"Bee?" a deep voice nearby asked and Rachet groaned as the guardian shuffled over, ignoring his own risk at overworking his own reserve.

"Sit down! You're lucky you didn't rip it open again!" Rachet hissed, finally getting the will power to confront the stubborn weapon specialist and forced Ironhide into a chair next to Bumblebee.

However, Rachet's anger vanished when Bumblebee broke into a wide smile seeing his guardian by his side.

"Hey, Bee. How you doing little guy?" Ironhide asked, leaning closer.

The response he got was a rough cough and small amount of energon dripping out from the corner of Bumblebee's mouth. Ironhide's spark stopped. He couldn't bear the pain the little mech was in. Not even older mechs had been subjected to such pain and torture from a horrid wound.

"Rachet, what's going on? He's losing so much energon at once and is in pain."

"I'm sorry Ironhide. I'm trying. I just checked him over. I can't wait till the shipment comes in. He needs surgery immediately but I fear I will not find the replacement he needs. It's possible to keep closing the wound every joor but it will be even more painful for him and cause more suffering," Rachet said, sounding tired as thousands of vorns of experience pressed upon him to think of a way to keep the mech alive.

"What is it?" Ironhide asked, wanting to know if there was a possibility he could help in saving Bumblebee.

Rachet quickly explained what was needed to help the youngling and Ironhide immediately jumped at the opportunity but Rachet quickly turned him down.

"You are simply not a right size for him. This time not just any mech can come to Bee's rescue."

Ironhide slumped in defeat. He burned to help the small mech, unable to watch as Bumblebee suffer and shake with pain every breem.

"I will need to call a conference. I want them all in one place at once so I can do it quickly without hunting everyone down," Rachet said, standing and going to his desk for his personal comm to Optimus.

"Optimus, I request a mandatory conference immediately. Everyone needs to be present," Rachet said.

"What is going on Rachet?" Optimus asked in surprise.

"It's for Bee. He's not doing good and I need a volunteer immediately to save his life. Even if the shipment is moving faster and gets here tomorrow, Bee's systems can have taken too much by then and may permanently shut down or lock."

"I will see to it. Who will look after him during the meeting?"

"Ironhide. I can give him a few essential training tips and make the meeting as short as possible."

"Very well, I will speak to you soon."

It was only a few breems later Optimus' voice rang out over the intercom.

"Level 5 mandatory meeting. All Autobots required to attend immediately," he said and clicked off without further explanation.

Quickly, Rachet taught Ironhide how to watch over and record Bumblebee's vitals and to recognize what signs would require the weapon specialist to go out and grab the medic as soon as possible. Thankfully, the room where the meeting was being held was a short distance away since the main conference room they usually used had been near, completely destroyed from the recent battle.

By the time Rachet reached the meeting a few breems later, all the Autobots had arrived and were buzzing with questions as to what could be so important for such a large assembly.

Optimus, standing in front raised his hands as the medic entered and headed to the front.

"This needs to be done quickly," Rachet said, taking Optimus' place, ignoring any formalities. It was by Rachet's actions that they all sat straighter and gave him their attention realizing the importance to the meeting for an older Autobot to push aside such tradition.

"As everyone knows, Bumblebee received very devastating damage from the battle. He is still in an unstable condition that can turn for the worst at any moment. The initial damage caused large amounts of energon loss to his system, enough that would have taken any mech down. Also, both his energon reserves were completely destroyed, requiring immediate transfer, which came from Ironhide. However, there are a few areas outside of my reach until the shipment arrives with that I need but we all know it could be many orns before so. Bee is in a critical condition now. His main, internal line has been cut and is draining into his breather tanks causing him to choke on the very energon that is trying to keep him alive. I can't fix it with a simple solder like most injuries because it can only be done with a replacement. That's where this meeting comes into a place. Normally any Bot can volunteer to help out another when it comes to a needed replacement but not this time. It takes a certain type and size for each mech for a replacement of the main line. So, with little time I have to help Bee, I had to bring you all together at once. Mechs that are willing and have F37 frames stand."

After a pause as every Autobot digested what Rachet had just said, six finally stood, two were the twins and one of them Jazz.

"Alright. There are a few more questions…" he said but he was interrupted.

"Rachet," Ironhide gasped, leaning against the door frame, panic in his optics, "it's Bee."

Rachet jumped down from the podium immediately.

"You six come with me now," he commanded, sprinting out the room, not bothering to look behind to see if they were following.

"Ironhide, you too!" he yelled back down behind him. Jazz and three other bots were soon behind the medic while the twins had fallen back to help Ironhide.

Running in, Rachet immediately went to Bumblebee.

"Rachet!" Bumblebee gasped, his hand reaching out to the medic in panic before it collapsed and his frame shuddered as he choked. Energon was pooling thickly around him as he struggled to breathe past it.

"Hold on, Bee," Rachet said, going to work.

Bumblebee wheezed, the energon stream not relenting in anyway and his back arched as he cried out in pain.

Rachet's eyes went wide realizing what had happened. The solder had broken, ripping the main line slightly more. It was what he feared earlier, the solder was a dangerous temporary solution only meant for buying more time. He had to roll Bumblebee over to help the youngling's systems as even more energon rushed forward.

The young mech shook and gasped, trying to hold onto consciousness.

"Bee, keep calm. It will pass," Rachet said, reaching over to grab tubing and inserting it into Bumblebee's mouth and down into his breathing tanks.

Once the suction was on, the energon flow from Bumblebee's mouth lessened and Rachet sighed with relief as he positioned the tube for the best area to help with the crisis. He didn't want to resort to such a measure knowing that such methods only worked for so long and if the flow increased, Bumblebee would truly be in trouble.

A breem later, once the situation had calmed, Rachet could only find the strength to fall into the chair by Bumblebee's bed as the young mech quieted making soft whimpers of pain and light coughs in recharge.

"Primus," Jazz gasped after seeing what had happened. It frightened him that what was regarded as such precious energon was instead now threatening the small mechs' life.

"He is fine for now," Rachet said, struggling to keep his voice steady. He succeeded in the small goal knowing that he couldn't afford to instill even more fear into the seven Autobots' sparks than was already there.

"Ironhide, are you alright?" Rachet asked, going to the weapons specialist that was supported by both twins.

"Yeah," he said weakly, "I'll be fine."

"You need a recharge. It's already put hard pressure on your reserve," he said and Ironhide opened his mouth to argue but Rachet was quick to cut him off, "and it will do Bee no good with you in a serious situation as well."

Ironhide looked down at his small charge before allowing the twins take him away to his bed.

Making sure Ironhide was staying in bed and not putting up a fuss, Rachet pulled the curtain back around to hide Bumblebee from the view of the others and faced the six volunteer Autobots.

"I will need to inspect each and everyone one of you before I can ever ask you to decide. Who wants to go first? It needs to be done quickly."

Jazz instantly stepped forward.

Six joors later Rachet had finally finished after extensive testing. The results had shown Jazz, Sunny, and Bluestreak were perfect candidates for Bumblebee.

"So decide who it will be. I will not lie. It is a very serious procedure that can cost you your life in return. I want you aware of the risks you will take."

"I would do anything for him," Jazz replied and Sunstreaker nodded. Bluestreak fidgeted for a moment, not voicing the same or having an immediate reaction suggesting such.

Rachet did not fail to notice this and knew the mech's internal dilemma of not wanting to be looked down on for not risking his life for the little mech. While the CMO was disappointed of Bluestreak's reaction, he knew as a medic he could not hold it against him and also knew that if he brought it to light Sunstreaker would never respect the Autobot again and make sure all others would follow his lead. In turn, Jazz would make is his personal mission to hunt down Bluestreak and give him a good idea of what it meant to be abandoned and betrayed.

"Actually, Bluestreak. One of your tests had a small abnormality and I don't think I want to risk it with Bee in his unstable condition."

Bluestreak looked relieved at the news and Rachet had to look away for fear the disgust he felt would give him away.

"So, Jazz, Sunny, who?" he asked once the mech was gone. They had been none the wiser to what just happened.

"I know you will do it as willingly as me," Jazz said to Sunstreaker.

"Then we let Bee pick," the gruff Autobot reasoned, "It's only fair to him."

"Alright. Let me see if he's able to do this," Rachet said.

Bumblebee's systems were wearing down from the constant strain. The split had widened more, causing Bumblebee to scream out only a few joors ago and the flow was just above too much for the medic's recent design with the tubes. Now, the youngling was having to again cough the energon out of his systems, the sounds of his struggle echoing throughout the med bay.

"Bee," Rachet said softly, gently touching the suffering mech's shoulder.

Bumblebee turned his head and his optics focused on the three near him.

"Hey buddy," Jazz said quietly, "how you hold in up?"

Only a nod could be managed as more coughs racked Bumblebee's frame and the energon never ceasing.

It saddened Jazz to think of the amount of pain the youngling was experiencing.

"Sunny?" Bee asked after a few breems once the attacks calm and he was able to face them again.

"Yeah, I'm right here."

"Bee, they want to talk to you about something important," Rachet said.

Deciding to spare Rachet from yet another painful and sad explanation, Jazz jumped in and cut the medic off.

"Bee, hey little buddy, you're cut up inside really bad and it's getting worse," he said and Bumblebee nodded to show he knew the same thing, "Well, Rachet can fix you by giving you some of our parts but there's one thing. It's a dangerous thing for either me or Sunny to do it and we want you to choose."

They looked at Bumblebee in alarm as he shook his head franticly, optics widening with fear.

"Bee?" Rachet asked in concern.

"No," he gasped, "No, Jazz and Sunny will not risk their lives. I will wait till the shipment arrives."

"Bee, please. You can die by then," Sunstreaker said.

"No. I will not have anyone risking their lives for mine."

Sunstreaker groaned and Jazz stared at the mech, shocked that the youngling wasn't willing to risk the life of others for his own while he was willing to do the opposite and the reason why he was in such a situation now.

"Rachet, please talk some sense into him," Jazz said a moment later.

Unfortunately, Rachet could only shake his head slowly. It went against his programming to force Bumblebee to accept the surgery, no medic could go against a patient's wishes, no matter what those wishes may be.

"I'm sorry Jazz, Sunny, his word is final. Not even I can supersede that."

"Slag it!" Sunstreaker yelled after Bumblebee slipped into a much needed recharge, his rage building, "Bee put his life on the line to help me and Blur and because of our incompetence this is what happened! I will not sit here and watch him die. He is a far better mech and Autobot than over half of those out there. He took down three, no four Decepticons single handedly! It's my fault he's like this. I didn't double check, I didn't make sure that fraggin Con was dead! It's my fault!"

Instinctively, Rachet shrunk away from Sunstreaker's rage, fearing a physical lash out from the grief. Even Jazz had backed away defensively.

"I can't. You say Bee was protecting you, well he still is. He is putting his life before yours as he did during the battle. Can you really blame him for that? He is an Autobot through and through and he'll never stops protecting those he holds close," Rachet said a few moments later when the red tinge had finally faded from Sunstreaker's optics.

What seemed like a million different emotions raced through Sunstreaker, causing his shoulders to slump as the weight of guilt pressed down heavily. He recalled the fear of when he watched as the Decepticon was at Bumblebee's back and tore through the younglings frame with that grusome blade. It was at that moment Sunstreaker knew he had failed in protecting Bumblebee. If it wasn't for his twin and Bumblebee still being alive, Sunstreaker was sure he wouldn't have allowed himself to live much longer. Every Autobot on board the Artemis felt a part in raising the youngling and the responsibility of protecting him, but it was only a handful who took that responsibility to the next level of commitment. Their own leader, Optimus and their weapon specialist Ironhide were personal guardians to Bumblebee and Sunstreaker could only dream of being that close to the youngling. Instead, he was a part of the next protective ring. The small group who put aside hunting down Decepticons during a fight and instead sought out to find and protect Bumblebee. Those with him in this exclusive group were Mirage, Jazz, his own twin, and Blur. At the beginning of the battle, Sunstreaker had been alone and found he was relatively close to Bumblebee's quarters and made it his goal, along the way he had met up with Blur. Not even an astrosecond later they had been ambushed by the slaggin Decepticons. Then, without warning, Bumblebee was there, rapidly going on and convincing them to let him stay at their side. Sunstreaker hailed Blur on his private comm and they quickly discussed the pros and cons. Little did they know that what seemed a logical conclusion then was now an obviously stupid idea and why Bumblebee was in the med bay now.

Jazz had to focus on something other than Bumblebee for a moment as Sunstreaker's words hit him in the gut, stinging painfully. No Autobot aboard the ship would have wished to learn exactly what Bumblebee was made of in this way. They hoped that the skills they taught him wouldn't be put to use till many vorns down the road, yet now Bee lay on the edge of life and death. Jazz couldn't help but think of the last Autobot death that occurred vorns ago and that they had been lucky in losing no more brothers, for the moment.

"It's not right. By Primus it's not right. Why would he give us such a gift as Bee to only take him from us?" Jazz asked, looking to Rachet for a much needed answer.

Hanging his head in defeat, Rachet put a hand on the sad mech's shoulder to try and comfort Jazz but he never answered. Too many times in his career had he asked such a question. Too many times had he never received an answer.

*hides behind Ironhide*

"Don't hate me. I'm just trying to get to the main part of the story."

*peeks out slowly*

"Reviews would be appricated."