Enjoy!

As the second day of my arrival rolled around the corner, I found out a lot about Ratchet. I met other 'Bots who told me how cruel he could be and how violent he was. His 'throwing arm', they called it, was their main fear because it was the arm he used to throw tools like wrenches and other crazy shit at them.

I, on the other hand, did not believe them. Ratchet was nice to me. He took care of me like any medical officer should, he made sure I was comfortable and he always asked how I was doing. It was almost as if I'd known him longer and I think I wish I did.

Either he was being nice to me because he thought I was nice, or he was being nice to me because he felt pity for me. Either way, I appreciated it nonetheless.

"So," he began, interrupting me from my thoughts. "Tell me about your home life."

I shrugged. "Depends on what you wanna know." I sighed, "My dad died when I was little and my mom is currently going to school for nursing."

"She doesn't worry where you are?" Ratchet asked me, looking concerned.

I snorted, waving a hand. "I called sometime yesterday. She thinks I'm spending a few nights at a friend's house. It's all good."

"Oh," he said. After a second of silence, he cleared his throat. "If you don't mind me asking, what.. happened to your, um, father?"

My shoulders slumped. Why was this always so hard to talk about? It happened years ago, Jenny. You have to learn to move on. "My dad worked at construction sites," I began. "One day, my mom got a call saying he'd been in a terrible accident and had died. We weren't sure how bad it actually was until we learned the full news. Um, to put it lightly, a few limbs were brutally ripped off. There was nothing anybody could do. Accidents happen, so I try not to blame anybody for it. He was a good man."

"I-I'm sorry," Ratchet stuttered.

I laughed, to his surprise. "Seriously, don't worry about it. You learn to accept things after a while. I'm still learning."

"Well, you do realize that as an Autobot medic, I am required to learn everything there is to know about humans, so feel free to talk to me and I'm sure I can help," he offered.

I laughed. "Don't worry about it. I don't wanna play doctor and patient my entire stay here. I just wanna be friends, you know?"

He smiled. "I understand, Jennifer."

"And the first step," I pointed a finger at him. "Is to call me Jenn, Jenny or Jenn-Jenn."

He snorted. "Alright, Jenny."

I smiled, "See? Not hard at all."

"Any college plans?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I let out a large puff of air. "Uh, well, considering it doesn't look like I'm finishing high school anytime soon, I suppose not anymore. I did want to go to college for astronomy, but, I dunno."

"Why don't you know?"

I shrugged, "I'm smart, but I don't think I could do all that History-channel type stuff, you know? I'm not a genius."

"You learn with experience," Ratchet said to me. "I'll let you in on a little secret.." he leaned closer to me, and I had to catch myself from falling over. I wasn't very used to guys getting within a five-foot radius of me.. as sad as that sounded. "When I started my medical career, I didn't think I had what it took to save a life. I always thought I'd screw up and never be able to live it down, but you know what?"

"What?" I asked almost too quickly. I cleared my throat from embarrassment.

He smirked, "I ignored my fears and did what I wanted to do and, lo and behold, I succeeded.

"Well aren't you special," I joked. "No, but forreal, that's awesome. I just wish I had more confidence."

"You don't have confidence?" Ratchet asked, looking confused.

I sighed, "Let's just say, back at my school, I was the social outcast. Nobody wanted to talk to me, except.." I paused. "Alix. He was there for me and I thought he was the only human who was, besides my mom. But now I'm starting to wonder if he was nice to me just because he has to be, considering you guys are the good guys and protect us."

At that, Ratchet laughed. "Yeah, I would much rather doubt that one, femme." He snorted, "You should meet his brother."

"Alix has a brother?" It was very hard for me to believe. "No way?"

Ratchet nodded, "They're twins. His name is Sunstreaker. He doesn't often come around though, mainly because he doesn't get along with humans, but he will protect them just as much as we would."

"Well, remind me to stay away from him, then," I chuckled. "But yeah, I'm not very well-known around my school.. and if I am, it's only because of Alix."

"I don't see why not," Ratchet scoffed. "From my point of view, you seem to be caring, smart and deep inside, I see your confidence. You just don't seem to know how to show it."

I couldn't help but snort at that, earning a confused look from the docbot. "Please, Ratch'," I shook my head. "If I was confident, I would be showing it."

"You're talking to me, aren't you?" Ratchet asked.

I stuttered, "W-well, duh. You're like my doctor. I don't mind talking to you."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Jenn, I am an autonomous robotic being from Cybertron. I know things every single human doctor does not. An example would be.. you're still extremely nervous around me. Reasons are unknown."

"How do you-" I stopped myself. He just explained that. I frowned. "Am not."

At that, he laughed. "Come on, Jenny. I'm Chief Medical Officer. And an intelligent being from outer space with far more abilities than your kind. You are and, to be quite honest, I'd like to know why. If you don't mind."

Should I be honest and prove him wrong? Yeah, why not. "You're not smart enough to figure it out yourself?" I snorted when he remained quiet. "I mean, how else can you expect a girl to act around somebody as attractive-looking as you? You couldn't have picked an ugly holoform?"

WOW. I nearly screamed. I'd never complimented any guy on their appearance. Was it good, though, that it was making me feel more like a woman? A flirt, perhaps? Definitely not used to that..

And now.. he was giving me this look that made me want to be a turtle so I could hide in my shell. I swallowed hard, hoping I didn't offend him in any way.

"Wow," he choked on small laughs and that was when I felt like an idiot. I was about to just tell him I'll see him later and walk out, but he continued. "I.. I've gotta be honest with you, I am flattered. It's not every day that I receive such a compliment, even though this is just a holoform."

I shrugged, my hands getting a bit clammy and shaky. Why was this so hard to do? I smiled faintly. "Sure thing. Although I am.. not really confident, I try to speak the truth either way. You know?" I swallowed, wiping my hands on my jeans.

He nodded, chuckling. "I understand, but," he sighed, looking at his desk. "I have some work to do.. and I don't want you to just sit around here and watch me-"

"I don't mind," I blurted, not even realizing what I said until it was too late. WAY too late. "I mean.. I, uh-"

He smiled, "I understood what you meant. Don't get too embarrassed."

"I'm not embarr- shut up," I glared, finally accepting that he was right.

He laughed out loud. "I got you that time. I told you there's nothing you can hide from me that I don't know."

"I hate you," I sighed, not being able to help myself but smile. "I hope you knew that already."

He snorted. "Not surprising. Everybody I meet usually starts to hate me." I felt bad instantly, and I guessed he understood that. He quickly chuckled, "Nothing you need to worry about. I make them hate me on purpose. The more people dislike me, the less I have to deal with them. It's how I run things."

"Challenge accepted," I beamed.

"Beg pardon?" He looked confused.

"I'm gonna do my best to not hate you," I explained. "That's the challenge." I winked, hoping he knew I was only kidding and that I didn't actually hate him.

"Oh," he snorted. "I get it now, but I already know you don't hate me, so where is the challenge?"

I frowned. "Alright, now I hate you, Mr. I-know-everything."

"I prefer Ratchet," he said.

"Okay.. Hatchet," I randomly chose a word that rhymed.

He glared at me, "What the frag did you just call me?"

I swallowed. Did I offend him? Seriously? "Uh, I dunno, I kinda just picked a random word. Why?"

"Don't call me Hatchet," he growled. "Everybody does and I hate it."

I smirked. Oh, this could be fun. "Sorry, Hatch'."

At first he just glared at me, but then his eyes softened. "You're lucky you're a human, otherwise I'd have a wrench sticking out of your head."

"Whatever, Hatchet."

A low growl escaped his lips. "I hate you."

I only giggled, smiling back at him.

Yay, friendship! And Jenny is finally acting like a flirty-woman! ;P With Ratchet.. which is kinda scary once you think about it. ;D

Thanks for the reviews, guys!