Author's note. In this chapter we find out what's wrong with Skyfire and what the consequences could be. Sorry for shortness of chapter, I have a bit of a headache but the next chapter will be much londer.

Enjoy and please review.

"He's got a virus."

"That's not the only thing that's wrong with him."

"What do you mean?" Skywarp cried in alarm. "What else could be wrong with him?"

"Hang on a minute, I'll explain once I've made your Mechling more comfortable," Hook said, rushing over to a cabinet and taken out a sedative and needle.

But as he came back over, Skyfire clung to Skywarp, trembling all over. The little Shuttle's optics were fixed on the needle and he whimpered.

"No, not another needle, they hurt."

"Hold him," Hook said calmly as he reached the table.

Regretfully, but knowing it needed to be done, Skywarp did as asked, even though Skyfire was crying with pain and fear.

"I'm sorry young one, but this needs to be done," Hook said as he positioned the needle at the little Shuttle's rear. "It'll only hurt for a moment."

Skyfire gasped as he felt the needle go in and whimpered again as he felt Hook inject its contents into him. But as Hook withdrew, he could feel it taking affect as his limbs stopped shaking and he suddenly felt very sleepy.

Skywarp gently rocked him in his arms as the little Sparkling's optics slowly closed and then finally shut. At Hook's direction, the purple Seeker laid the now limp body on the berth, though not without a tear at the sight of his little Mechling.

As Hook started to work on him, Skywarp asked in a tone of greatest worry.

"So, you said you'd tell me what's wrong with him."

"Firstly he's got a virus that the jab I gave him wasn't able to protect against," Hook said before giving Skywarp a sharp look.

"Sparklings are very susceptible to infections, my jab was a broad one and couldn't hope to cover every little microbe or pathogen," Hook continued as he opened a panel on Skyfire's leg so that he could examine his thrusters.

"But what's the other thing?" Skywarp asked impatiently, practically hopping from one foot to the other.

"I tell you if you can manage to keep calm," Hook growled, giving the Seeker a ferocious glare, causing said Seeker to come to a halt.

After a moment, Hook said.

"That's better. Now about Skyfire," he nodded at the limp form.

"When he and the other Autobots were turned into Sparklings, they were literally turned into Sparklings, they don't just have Sparkling bodies, they also have Sparkling minds, understand?"

Skywarp nodded rapidly.

"Well, thankfully for most of them, their systems have accepted this and their adult abilities are now dormant, and there shouldn't be any problems."

"Most of them?" Skywarp repeated as Hook looked him straight in the optic.

"However, Skyfire's code is somewhat different from theirs, despite being frozen for millions of years, he has a much more advanced fire wall and various security, antivirus systems in place."

"To put it simply, his body is rejecting the effects of being made a Sparkling again and is trying to correct it."

Skywarp's optics had widened with horror, and he said in a whisper.

"You mean he's going to turn back into an adult?"

"If only it were that simple," Hook grimaced, closing the panel on Skyfire's leg.

"But that fact of the matter, is both his body and the Sparkling program are fighting each other and I can't say who's going to win. And this virus has only made things worse, he's going to be very ill unless something can be done."

"Please," begged Skywarp as he dropped to his knees to cradle Skyfire's body to him. "Can anything be done?"

"I'm a Medic, not a scientist," Hook said gruffly. "I'm afraid we need an expert for this, the one who invented the Sparkling program."

Skywarp looked up at him.

"Starscream," he said, a frown spreading across his features. "He's the one....but he hates my little Skyfire, he won't help."

"He'll help, if he knows what's good for him," Hook said grimly before adding. "I don't think Starscream will let him become permanently damaged, from what I've seen he just likes tormenting the Shuttle."

"Over some silly quarrel," Skywarp huffed, making Hook chuckle.

"Yep, that sounds like the Screaming one alright."

Seeing how unhappy Skywarp still looked, Hook said.

"Appeal to Megatron or Soundwave if you're worried about Starscream mistreating your little one, he won't dare try anything to horrendous then."

As Skywarp nodded, Hook continued.

"I'm afraid Skyfire will have to stay with Starscream for now, I can't risk this virus mutating and being past to the other Sparklings, they could end up experiencing the same problems as Skyfire."

"My poor baby," Skywarp whispered as he climbed onto the berth so he could hold the little Shuttle.

"Will he be okay for now, I'd rather talk to Megatron in the morning if that's possible,"

Hook nodded.

"He should be alright till then at least, I halted the process, but that's all I can do, I'm afraid."

"Thank you," Slywarp said softly as he settled down.

Hook nodded and went over to the berth he used whenever he slept in the Med Bay. He did this when he had patients, just in case they needed him. But he thought he wouldn't be needed this night, that sedative should keep the Sparkling asleep till morning, when his condition could be dealt with.

Hook really did hope that he got a good night's recharge, he had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be one huge processor ache.

To be continued.

Author's note. Find out Starscream's reaction in the next chapter, till then.

Haluwasa2: *still hugging Ratchet and rocking* "I swear if Starscream hurts him..."