Chapter Seven

Moongaze lay on her berth, she knew she should have gone and to find Crystal since she gave her a convenient way to escape but she just wanted to be alone for a while. Who was she kidding she'd been alone for the past few days she knew it was bad of her to have missed out on the last days energon but she could handle it. She sighed as she realised that Ratchet would probably lecture her about how important energon intake was, she groaned and placed an arm over her optics. Though her mind didn't take the hint and continued with thoughts of the Autobot CMO. It had been years since she last saw him she had 'disappeared' back then also, her mind suddenly brought something he'd said to her to the forefront 'you're in love with him, aren't you?'. The Ford removed her arm and stared curiously up at the ceiling, was she in love with Surefire? She knew they were close but had she fallen for him during that time?

"Surefire." She whispered.

Surefire to Moongaze.

Moongaze was so surprised by the sudden communication that she fell off her berth. She sat up and quickly looked around her room seeing it was still empty. "Surefire?" she called out.

Come on, 'Gaze. Answer your comms.

I-I've…got to…be…dreaming. S-Surefire, is that you? She asked shakily.

Know anyone else who calls you Gaze? Surefire asked slightly sarcastic.

Everyone except Skybolt. The Ford replied casually.

Thanks, that makes me feel so much better.

The Fiesta giggled and suddenly gasped, SUREFIRE YOU'RE ALIVE!

Ow, he winced lower the vol…wait, you thought I was dead? What the slag give you that idea. The Ferrari asked surprised.

Try the fact that you never came back, never contacted me or even gave me so much as a hint that you were okay. She replied annoyed.

Surefire chuckled, you missed me didn't you. He said knowingly.

No. Moongaze replied quickly.

Yeah you did. You can't hide it from me, Gaze.

She giggled again, okay fine I missed you all, do you know what it's like to only have a human for company and thinking your entire team is dead?

We'll be back as soon as we rescue Tazer. He reassured her.

It'll be good to see you all again.

We'll see you soon. Surefire out.

Moongaze was ecstatic, her team was alive! They were alive! She ran from her quarters to the medbay knowing Ratchet would be there, she couldn't wait for him to hear the good news. She ran in calling out happily, "Ratchet!" she stopped when she saw he wasn't alone, standing either side of the medic were Optimus Prime and Jazz. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were busy." Suddenly embarrassed that she walked in on something important.

"That is okay, Moongaze." Optimus said reassuring the femme.

"We were just about ta call ya." Jazz said.

"You were?" the deep sky blue femme asked slightly confused.

Optimus gave a nod, "you took care of your team if they were injured, am I correct?"

"Well…yeah. I'm the first aider."

"We just rescued one of ya teammates from the cons, Bumblebee's bringin' him back now." The saboteur explained.

"Since you took care of their medical needs I would like you to assist Ratchet if need be." Optimus continued.

Moongaze gave a nod when Jazz's words sank in 'we just rescued one of ya teammates from the cons' and what Surefire had told her in his communication 'We'll be back as soon as we rescue Tazer'. "Wait, you already rescued Tazer?!" she asked both surprised and worried. She saw them nod, "but…but…the others…they're…they're….that's what they're doing!" she told them now extremely worried for her team's safety, if Tazer was already rescued they were going to waste their time and energy attacking the Decepticon base.

"Ya team?" Jazz asked.

"Yes! Surefire told me that they would return after rescuing him!" the Ford exclaimed.

Both the Autobot leader and saboteur looked at each other before looking back at the first aider. "Then we must stop them before they make their attempt." Optimus said, "Moongaze, can you contact Surefire again?"

"I-I don't know. Skybolt can be quite strict about communication when on missions." She told them.

Optimus gave a small smile behind his faceplate before saying, "we have to try and contact them. Moongaze, Crystal is still roaming the base believing we are not Autobots." Jazz gave a small chuckle, to which Optimus ignored "I would like the problem resolved before your team returns." He told her and headed for the door.

Oh yeah, Crystal. The femme lowered her head she'd forgotten all about the female when Surefire contacted her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Jazz smiling at her.

"Talk ta Sunstreaker 'bout helpin' out with Crystal, he seemed ta be gettin' through ta her when no-one else could." He said and followed Prime out the door.

Ratchet stared at Moongaze he'd been quiet throughout the entire conversation just watching her, listening to what she was saying. In a way he was happy that she had sought him out first but when she spoke of Surefire he was all too aware of the tenderness in her voice, even if no-one else was. He felt that pain again as he confirmed what he sadly already knew, the Ford was in love with Surefire. He turned away from her and sighed trying hard not to think it, about how his spark was breaking.

"Ratchet? Is everything okay?" he heard her ask, her voice was soft and concerned. No he thought. "Fine, Moongaze. Was there something you wanted to see me about?"

"I…uh…" she thought for a moment "why didn't you tell me they were going to rescue Tazer?"

Because I knew you wouldn't respond, not after what happened the last time you were here. He thought "it is not my fault if you 'disappear' and cannot be contacted." Ratchet flinched at his own words and how harsh they sounded.

Moongaze walked over to medic looking at him sideways on and took his hand in both hers. "Ratchet, I don't know if I'm love with Surefire. We're close friends yes, but lovers? I-I…I just don't know."

The ambulance looked over at her and saw the sincerity in her optics. He cupped her cheek "Gaze, believe me when I say that you are in love with him. I hear it in your voice when you speak about him, I see it in your face when you think about him. She looked down at their hands but before she could say anything he said "You better find Crystal." Walking off.

"Ratchet." The deep sky blue femme whispered sadly.

Sunstreaker walked down the corridors of the base, of all the mechs that damn femme had to choose from she went and chose him. He had a feeling Jazz was involved in that decision also, especially after seeing the look on his face after Sideswipe told him what happened. So thanks to both his brother and the saboteur he was once again looking for that blasted human. All he did was tell the small femme the truth, that Moongaze knew them. "If she hadn't of told them that the only Autobots were on this base we wouldn't be having this slagging trouble in the first place." He muttered. Truth be told he wasn't really looking for the human he'd just walk down one corridor then another then after he'd walked all over the base he'd just say that he couldn't find them and leave the rest of the searching to Moongaze. It still annoyed him that she was able to get a weapon on him so quickly and easily.

"You're the one I met a while ago, aren't you…uh…S…Sun…Sunstriker was it?" a voice said. Sunstreaker turned and saw the very human he was supposed to be looking for, frag it! Why is it I'm always the one to find her! Why can't someone else find her for once! He thought annoyed. "Sunstreaker." He corrected trying very hard not to lash out at the woman.

"I'm sorry. Sunstreaker." She smiled at him making the yellow Lamborghini a little wary "my names Crystal."

"Why are you telling me this?" Sunstreaker asked he already knew her name not that he cared.

"Friends are supposed to know each other's names." She replied walking towards him when she suddenly stopped and looked at him curiously her tilting slightly to the side. "We are friends, aren't we?"

I'm so going to kill Jazz for getting me into this. He thought. "Yes."

Crystal continued towards him smiling, "That other guy you were with…" she began.

"My brother." Sunstreaker interrupted.

"Your brother? Hm." She stopped and looked down at the floor "I really got to pay more attention to what people are telling me." She muttered.

"If you had just done that when Jazz was talking to you then we all wouldn't have to go through all this useless searching for you to convince you of who we really are." The yellow mech said uncaring as he folded his arms across his chest and boredly looked across the corridor.

The female looked up at him with sad eyes, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused, Sunstreaker…"

"I should slagging hope so." He interrupted again.