CHAPTER 6
Exam

Jeff felt uncomfortable coming out the next day.

He'd never lost control of his bladder in a foster home. But of course, he'd been in foster homes before the nightmares became truly horrific. But still, he couldn't help but feel a certain level of shame. Especially as he and Prowl sat in their little office.

He wondered what Prowl thought of him. A boy who wet the bed? A boy who wet the bed at fifteen. If he didn't already suspect something from his nightmares he found him weird he figured. It bothered him so bad, that eventually, after a long moment of staring at Prowl, he said it again: "I'm sorry."

Prowl looked down at Jeff from his own desk. "I fail to see why you're sorry."

Jeff was silent for a moment, his eyes looking around. A part of him wondered if anyone was listening. But after he was certain that no one was listening - he spoke up. "For wetting the bed, Prowl," he explained, voice breaking a little bit. "I know you said it was OK. But I feel bad. You had to clean my sheets and all. And I'm fifteen... You must think I'm really weird."

Prowl shook his head slowly, trying to give as warm a smile as he could. "On the contrary, I was merely concerned, Jeffrey. As you said it is unusual... If nothing else I was worried about your night terror last night," he explained, leaving Jeff a little surprised. "Are you certain you do not wish to convey what happened in it to me?"

Jeff shook his head, looking away from him timidly. He'd opened his mouth to say "No" when the intercom went on with news, and he nearly dropped everything. "Prowl, Prime's here to see you, should I send him in?"

The teen felt his breath caught in his throat. Optimus Prime was here? He'd tried to hide it when Prowl had brought him up before. But of course, Jeff was deep down totally awstruck by the Autobot leader. Most humans were after he'd lead the assault to save Chicago. He'd lead with such integrity, taken out so many Decepticons...

Heck, he'd even stood up to help rebuild after the destruction was over.

Prowl looked at Jeff a moment, seemingly asking if he wanted to continue the conversation. But after a moment, the boy shook his head, and Prowl answered. "Send him in, Dataclerk," as if on cue, Jeff heard the door click open. "Everything alright, Prime?"

Jeff felt such intimidation in Optimus Prime's presence. Dumbfounded that he was actually in the great Autobot leader's presence in such a way. The giant mech stood there, a smile on his face, and within a moment, Jeff was on his feet, attempting a salute. The action surprised Prowl very obviously, having not gotten anything close to that.

Optimus simply chuckled. "At ease, young one," he noted, the action barely phasing him. "You must be Jeffrey Devlin."

Jeff's words stumbled over each other as they struggled to get out. His fanboy now showing more than he would have liked. "Y-Yes sir. That's me, Jeffrey Devlin, at your service," he explained, managing to finally make a coherent sentence. "I um... It's an honor to meet you sir."

"Likewise to you as well. I do hope you've found your time on our base suitable so far," Optimus replied, his optics filled with softness. "As well as that Prowl is treating you well. I have no doubts on the latter, but if I can help to make your time here more comfortable, do not hesitate to ask."

Jeff was surprised, at least to a point. He'd always heard of Optimus' legendary kindness, but it still surprised him. He nodded his head a little bit, trying to think of how to response. "Yes sir, I'll keep that in mind," Jeff managed, a frown forming on his lips. "It hasn't been so bad, I guess though. I'm the source of most of the trouble."

"You've hardly been trouble."

Optimus believed that already - just from looking at how nervous the child was. After a long moment, he decided to answer with. "I'm sure that you have been fine. I have gotten no complaints about you on-base. Which is more than one can say for many in your program," Jeff took mental note of that for when he met them. "Now, Prowl, if we could get down to business..."

"This about you-know-what?" Prowl asked, his optics turning to Jeff.

Optimus nodded his head a little, keeping his optics on Jeff as well. For a moment, Jeff felt that he might have to leave, but Optimus simply continued on. "The Decepticon from the images has been spotted two cities over," he explained, voice tense. "We have found some of what he was searching for... Specifics. We think that, going by the files he stole, he is looking for a young teenager. Blood type, Type A Positive."

Jeff's eyes looked over at Optimus, but he kept silent. What did that mean, exactly? Why was a Decepticon looking for someone like that? "That's helpful. I suppose we need to send over the records of all children in the age range within the city to narrow our search," Prowl explained, then looked at Jeff, seemingly implying he might have been one of them. "I'll speak on the subject to Ratchet when I take Jeffrey for his check-up this afternoon."

"Take Jeffrey for his what now?"

Prowl looked over at the boy, then added. "I was going to speak of this to you later. But Ratchet is requiring a medical exam on you as he does any child entering our base," he explained, then added. "Do not ask if I can reschedule it. You do not want to keep him waiting."

Jeff shook his head, throwing up his hands. "Wait, like I'm cool with the doctor and all. But an Autobot doctor? Really? Does he even know how to perform exams on humans?"

"He's been doing it for years, so I'd venture to say, yes."

Jeff bit back any other response he had in his mind, but felt nervous. A giant robot performing an exam on him? It almost sounded scary, but at the same time he was recognizing his lack of choice in the matter. "Very good then, I will leave that to you then," Optimus nodded to Prowl before turning to look back at Jeffrey. "Do not worry too much, young one. Ratchet may be a little rough, but you could be in no better hands for medical reasons."

Jeff took a deep breath, looking down and then nodded. "Yes sir," he replied, then added. "I guess I probably need to get a refill on my prescription for my inhaler."

Prowl looked over at Jeff curiously as he took out his inhaler. Thankful that he had reminded him of that - given he was still getting used to these details. "I'd venture to guess that would probably be a good idea," Optimus agreed. "Now then, I need to release the information I have to remainder of those who need it. Jeffrey, it was a pleasure to meet you."

"You too!"

"Have a good orn, Prime."

As the mech left, and Jeff could finally breathe, he turned to see Prowl merely looking with a smile. He put his hands in his pockets and blushed. "Don't give me that look. He's just... He's really cool, OK?" Jeff replied, trying to keep his cool. "So when do I have to see the "good doctor"?"

Prowl chuckled. "Two hours," he explained. "... Jeff, aren't you a Type A positive blood type?"

Jeff licked the side of his lip. "I uh... Don't know, am I?"

Prowl had a sinking feeling he was, and for one reason or another, that made him nervous. Could the Decepticon be searching for him? He was getting closer to the city now, and the age range... Could Jeff actually...

No, he tried to assure himself of the low probability of that. Tried to assure himself he hadn't ended up with even more than he thought he would be... It was impossible...

Wasn't it?

Jeff found that the med bay wasn't half as strange as he expected.

It looked like a normal doctor's office, when one took out the fact it was built for both Cybertronians and humans. It was sterile white in color, with tools and medical instruments all around. The beds lined the walls like a hospital room, which was probably because it was mostly one giant room. With a few surgery rooms, and an office being the exception.

Ratchet, for the most part however, came off kind of scary.

He wasn't tall, but he sure was bulky. With the face of an older mech, complete with a small mustache/goatee combo. (Who knew a robot could have facial hair) His armor was a deep greenish-yellow, and his blue optics were sharp and serious. What's more, he hadn't really smiled since he'd come in.

"Mmmm alright then, Jeffrey Michael Devlin. Fifteen... Existing medical condition of Asthma. Prescribed medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder as well," he rambled off as he examined a data pad, and looked between Prowl, and his patient sitting on a medical berth. "Have I missed any details, youngling?"

"No, that sounds about right."

Ratchet nodded his head, looking Jeff over. A slight tickle went through his body as Ratchet started with a full-body scan. He nodded his head, seeming to be OK with what he saw. "Well you seem to be in relatively good health from the scan. "I am picking up some old wounds along your body however. Is it safe to assume that this is nothing new?"

Prowl waited for the answer to this. Of course Ratchet had picked up some wounds, he figured. He'd already figured out that, at some point in his life, Jeff had been abused. But it still made his spark churn to hear it confirmed. "No, they're old," Jeff muttered, seemingly embarrassed. "You uh... You can tell all of that just from doing a scan?"

Ratchet nodded his head, turning to Jeff. "Indeed I can. Part of my training as a medic included this," he explained, looking Jeff over, who seemed to look on in wonder. "Now, tell me the truth. As these next questions are something I'm required to ask... I apologize, Prowl."

"Proceed." Jeff's guardian replied.

"Has Prowl abused you since you've been here?"

"No."

"Have you gotten enough food to keep you fueled?"

"Yes."

Ratchet nodded his head, Jeff's answers may have been blunt, but he knew that he could trust them. He didn't seem to be looking nervously over at Prowl after all. "Alright then," Ratchet spoke up, then added. "You are required to get a flu shot this time of year. So I will prepare one and after that, you can be on your way."

Jeff raised his eyebrows, curiosity filling his eyes. "That's it?" Ratchet looked confused. "You can tell that I'm healthy from a scan and two questions? Don't you have to hit my knees? Shine a light in my eye? Something?"

Ratchet paused. "My scans are usually accurate, but if you believe it is necessary. I will perform the medical examination in a way you are more familiar with," he then added with a rather blunt tone. "Just don't go and complain when I don't have a perfect bedside manner. Too many of you younglings these days seem to bellyache about it."

Jeff shook his head in response to that. "Well, I mean, you need to at least check my breathing, right?" he asked honestly. "If it's irregular enough I could have an attack. Might as well be on the safe side."

Ratchet paused again. But this time, even Prowl gave a look of surprise. Most children didn't think about that too much, so to have one actually take note of that was surprising. "I can check your breathing in the scan. But you are correct, a second check can never hurt. I had planned to do so after giving you your flu shot," after a moment he added. "You seem to think through medical procedures more than most of my human patients."

Jeff shrugged his shoulders as Ratchet's holoform appeared. Preparing the human medical equipment he normally only kept around in case of emergencies. But the medic supposed if the boy insisted, he'd do it, if only not to cause an argument. "I uh... I want to be a doctor when I grow up, or some sort of one. If they'll let me with my history," Prowl perked up a bit, surprised Jeff would offer that. "One of my foster parents was one. And he kinda showed me the ropes. I've been interested ever since."

Ratchet hummed quietly at that, his older holoform stepping over to begin the more "human" check-up. The medic looked at the teenager, then at Prowl. "Pretty unusual to hear someone so serious as a teenager in the system," he explained. "Where did you find this one Prowl?"

"Juvenile Hall."

"Ah, so that's what you mean about your "history"," Ratchet nodded his head. "Well, the best I can say is stay in school. Go to college... If you're meant to be in the field, it shouldn't matter."

Prowl looked at Jeff for a moment, and then noted. "He'll be staying in school for as long as he's with me," he explained, then added. "So a doctor? That surprises me, you never struck me as the type."

Jeff shook his head. "Is a doctor supposed to strike you as something?"

Ratchet snorted at that. "He's just used to medics having a bedside manner like mine."

"You don't seem so bad to me."

Ratchet waggled a large robotic finger at him in response to that. "Oh just wait until the first time you pull something stupid. And given you're a teenager you will," he explained. "You do not want to see me angry."

Jeff smirked, almost seeing that as a challenge. Because with the way everyone had talked this up, he actually wanted to see it. "Ratchet, before the thought leaves my mind. I also have more details on the Decepticon's target," the medic became alert now, keeping his holoform's focus on Jeff all the same however. "I've sent it to you. And I ask you take blood from any patients in the age-range you see so we can confirm the blood types of the humans in the city and keep them safe just in case."

Ratchet groaned, it was of course going to be a lot of work. But at the same time, he understood the situation was going to become more and more serious it seemed. "Very well, I'll start with yours then," Ratchet tilted his head at Jeff. "But as I assumed before I took the needless steps in the process... You're fine. Your breathing, heart rate, and reflexes are all normal. I will order a refill for your inhaler as well."

"Thanks doc," Jeff replied. "And it may be pointless, but you never know."

Ratchet grunted, the boy may not give him crap. But of course, he seemed to still get snarky. "Yeah, yeah. Don't think just because you want to be a doctor you can correct an actual one," Jeff opened his mouth, but Ratchet spoke up first. "Now, while I'm preparing his blood work, and his flu shot. I do believe you also are in need of a check-up, Prowl."

"... I have a meeting to attend to."

"No you don't! Sit your aft down. You've avoided this for two months, now it's time for a check-up," Jeff started to chuckle, ah, there was that already infamous bedside manner. "Primus, don't make your youngling the "tough" one here."

Prowl groaned, unlike Jeff he hated medical check-ups. But at the same time, Ratchet had him cornered, given he was here for Jeff's. If he tried to leave, he could already imagine he'd drag him back in. "Very well," Prowl replied. "Make it quick."

"Come on, Prowl," Jeff replied. "Toughen up."

Ratchet gave a smirk at the boy, already getting the feeling he was probably going to like him. Finishing off Jeff's examination, he looked thoughtfully. He didn't know the boy's issues, so leaving him alone was probably not the best. But if he left him there, he also had a feeling he was going to ask a million questions, as a curious boy who wanted to be a doctor, so... "I suppose you've never seen an examination of a Cybertronian?" Jeff shook his head. "You can observe this if you'd like. "I'm sure you won't understand much of it. But it may be enlightening to someone who wishes to go into the medical field."

"Really?" Jeff asked excitedly.

"As long as you keep questions to a minimum," Ratchet explained honestly. "This takes a lot more time and concentration than a human examination."

But Jeff didn't care, instead, he only made a motion that he promised to keep quiet enough. And after a moment, casually made his way next to Ratchet to watch the procedure. And though neither could have known it, this would hardly be the last time he was in this same position.

A/N: I know, this chapter was sort of filler. Butttt next chapter we also get some action, so yay! Also wanted to make sure I made it clear that Jeff's medical interest will stay in-tact!