The Med-Bay
Wheeljack was recharging against Bulkhead's shoulder when they got there and Bulkhead smiled. Ironelle looked at the two suspiciously.
"What's wrong with Jackie?"
"Uh...well...We were in the wash racks giving Shadow a bath and the small spark transferred. But it happened twice. We both think he may have had some kind of relapse."
"You say it happened twice?" asked Ratchet.
"Yeah." Ratchet whispered in Ironelle's audio.
"Hey Bulk. Wake Jackie up. We want to run a few tests." Bulkhead gently shook Wheeljack. The white mech groggily opened his optics and looked up at Bulkhead.
"You woke me from a dream Bulk. What's up?"
"Ellie and Ratchet want to run a few tests on you." Wheeljack groaned and rested his helm against Bulkhead's shoulder.
"I'll do it tomorrow. Let me recharge."
"It has to be done now Jackie," said Ironelle.
"Fine." Bulkhead put Wheeljack down and he rolled his optics.
"Put him on a berth." Wheeljack sat down and let Ellie take a sample of energon.
"Let me scan you Wheeljack," said Ratchet. The white mech stayed still as Ratchet used the scanner.
"How is that possible?"
"Is something wrong with the sparkling Ratch?"
"No Bulkhead. Ironelle come over here." She looked over at Ratchet and walked over to him.
"Look at this." He handed her the scanner.
"What's wrong with our sparkling?" asked Wheeljack.
"Take a look." Ironelle gave him the scanner and he looked at the picture on the screen. Bulkhead looked over Wheeljack's shoulder at it.
"T-Two sparks," breathed Wheeljack.
"Twins," said Bulkhead.
"Which is the reason there were two spark transfers."
"But when I scanned Jackie a few days ago there was only one small spark signal." Ratchet turned to the two.
"Have you two interfaced anytime this month?"
"Ratchet!" the two mechs yelled. Ironelle hit his arm.
"What? Shadow and these two were created some way!"
"Ratchet They don't have to tell about their love life. Would you like it if I told everybody about our love life? Red was created some way." Ratchet glared at her for a minute and then turned back to Wheeljack.
"The way twins are created is if a couple bonds or interfaces after a spark has already been created and it makes the first spark split into two. It's rare to make a spark split especially if two mechs are the creators. But there is the occasional odd ball where two sparks are created without a spark splitting itself." Wheeljack looked down and Bulkhead looked at Jackie.
"Two weeks," mumbled Wheeljack
"Two weeks what?" asked Ellie.
"We bonded again two weeks ago."
"How come I couldn't pick up a second spark when I scanned him a few days ago?" asked Ironelle for the second time.
"It could have been hid behind his spark."
Later...
Bulkhead carried Wheeljack back to their quarters. He laid Jackie on his berth and then saw Shadow on Wheeljack's berth struggling to stay awake.
"Shadow?"
"Daddy!" She stood up but fell onto her aft.
"Come here." Bulkhead picked her up and she snuggled against his warm spark chamber.
"Let's recharge Shadow." Bulkhead sat Shadow on his berth beside Jackie who was on the far side of it. He smiled and kissed both their helms before lying down himself. Shadow once again snuggled into his chest. He smiled before falling into deep recharge.
The Next Day
Ironelle held Red in her arms and looked at Ratchet.
"I think your daddy's tired Red." They looked at Ratchet who was recharging in the floor of the med-bay. Red laughed.
"Yeah I think so too." Ironelle put Red down and they both tried to wake him up. Red sat on his chest and Ironelle smiled.
"I have an idea Red."
"What is it?" Ironelle bent over and kissed Ratchet's lips. Ratchet cracked an optic open and he looked at her.
"Morning Sleepy head," she said. Red slipped off his chest.
"It worked! It's like Sleeping Beauty. Except daddy was Sleeping Beauty and mama was the prince!" They both stared at him.
"What?" He looked back at them.
"Oh yeah! I forgot! Shadow wanted to tell me something! Bye!" Red ran in the other direction towards the rec-room.
"He's still running like he's in pain. I'm going to have to run a few more tests on him."
"Don't do too much Ratchet. You'll scare him."
"I just want to know what's wrong with his legs." Ironelle looked at Ratchet directly in the optics.
"I know you do. And obsessing about it isn't going to get you or Red anywhere."
"I'm not obsessing!"
"Yes. You are. Every time you've seen him run this week you've said that same phrase. Over and Over again."
"I—"
"Shut up already Ratch." She gently pressed her lips against his. He chuckled against it and let go.
"You know how to make me shut up don't you?"
"Yes. That's the point." Ratchet used the back of his servo and stroked her cheek. She chuckled.