CHAPTER 7- Near Death?

Cherish POV

I was estatic. Ratchet had just told me that Bumblebee was coming by… and he was bringing Jackie! I was beyond happy! It seemed like I hadn't seen her in forever, but it hadn't even been a week. Ratchet had actually listened to my ramblings that had been present since I'd found out she was coming. He smiled at my enthusiasm. At least that's what I thought he was smiling at.

I was sitting on my bed, laughing about a time when me and Jackie had egged her ex boyfriend's house when he was out of town. By the time he got back, there were buzzards and a not so pleasant smell. Ratchet came barreling into my room, flinging open the door. When he saw me, his eyes narrowed.

I rolled my eyes. What was it this time? Whatever it was, I was sure the twins were behind it. I expected to have him yell about me about something that the twins told him I'd done: done something stupid that could hurt my injury, ate too many oreos, ect… Imagine my surprise when he scooped me up and took off toward the medical bay.

"What are you doing?" I was quickly get nauseous from the speed.

He didn't answer me, just kept moving. When we finally got to the med bay, he set me down on the operating table.

"Jeez, Ratchet! I can understand if I went cliff diving or something, but the most athletic activity I've done since I got here was to pour a glass of-agh!"

Holo form Ratchet appeared at my side. "Be quiet. The twins told me."

I rolled my eyes. "So I ate a few oreos. So what?"

He glared at me with his blazing blue eyes. "That is not what I mean and you know it!"

"What the crap are you talking about?"

"Be quiet. You are in need of medical attention."

"No! and if you don't tell me what's going on, I'm going to jump off this table!"

He regarded me as if to wonder if I would actually attempt that. "The twins told me that you've been feeling ill."

"How the heck would they even know that?"

"You told them."

"And I suppose they have "proof"."

Ratchet started shifting from foot to foot. He looked totally out of character. "Yes…"

"Lemme see it."

Ratchet had calmed down a bit. I didn't think he was about to attempt to kill me with over protectiveness, so that was a plus.

Reluctantly, his holo form disappeared and his true form stepped forward, holding a small disc. He slid it into a slot in the wall and pressed a button. Side's voice filled the room.

'Hey, Cher. You Ok? You've seemed a little off lately.'

My voice answered. 'Maybe…I'm not fine. I'm throwing up and getting dizzy."

Sunny answered. 'Are you Ok? Maybe you should tell somebody…"

'Please don't tell Ratchet!'

'Well, perhaps you should.'

'Come on, have a spark.'

I could still here the smile in Sunny's voice. 'Fine, but you owe us one…'

I felt my anger rising with every word. Those conniving, stupid little glitches! Apparently I was talking out loud because Ratchet spoke.

"You really didn't think they'd keep something like this from me, did you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Ratchet, I hate to burst your bubble, but that was a set up."

"What?" I could see his suspicion.

"That conversation was when I was eating oreos and they caught me."

"So, your not sick?"

I laughed. "Sick of the twins, maybe, but…"

"Are you sure?"

I nodded vigorously. "If you don't believe me, strip the main sound out of the recording. I'll bet my life the background noises don't match up."

He looked horrified. "Don't bet your life on anything!"

I chuckled. "Figure of speech, Ratchet. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to plan the demise of a certain set of twins…"

Ratchet nodded, setting me on the ground gently. "Look, I'm sorry. I just assumed-"

I waved him off. "Don't worry, Ratchet. I know you were just looking out for me. It's kind of a nice change from my family. Thanks."

Ratchet looked away and quickly busied himself with something on his workbench. I frowned. Did I offend him? "Your welcome. If you need any help dismantling the twins, let me know."

I grinned and gave him a mock salute. "Yes sir!"

I scurried out of the room, still wondering about his weird behavior.

Ratchet's POV

When she was gone, I punched my worktable in frustration, causing the tools to scatter. It gave me something to think about other than her.

Primus, what was I thinking? She was barely more than a sparkling… well. That wasn't particularly true, not according to the rest of the human species. W

hy was I feeling this overprotective feeling? I had ruled out guardian. I had seen Bumblebee and Sam interact and their feelings to each other were nothing like this. I shook my head. I should just forget about it. She was going in a few days, right?

Right. She would leave just as soon as her arm healed. She would leave my life forever.

And take my spark with her.

Cherish POV

Since Jackie came to stay, I've hardly seen any of Ratchet. Why would he be avoiding me like this? I didn't think that I'd done anything wrong, but… what if I had? I hated this empty feeling. I hadn't realized how much I looked forward to talking to him every day.

Jackie was here because Optimus decided I needed human interaction (thank goodness he hadn't invited Mikaela), but it wasn't the same. I sighed. Bumblebee was here. He seemed to be here a lot lately, more so when Jackie hadn't been here.

Hmm… Just observing the facts.

Me and Jackie decided to watch a movie tonight. We went to the kitchen for the popcorn. Ratchet and Bumblebee were there already, talking. Bee waved and Ratchet gave a mumbled greeting.

I sighed. I didn't know what I'd done.

Anyways, we came here for a reason. I looked to Jackie. "You get the drinks and I'll get the popcorn."

She nodded. "Where are they?"

I pointed in the general direction. "Over there, by those. They're right above that stuff over there from that place…"

She walked over to the fridge. She opened it and grabbed two canned sodas; they were right next to the orange juice and above the Chinese leftovers.

She set them on the counter. I looked over to her. "Hey, did you move the popcorn?"

She looked to be thinking. "Oh, yeah. It's over there by that thing."

I nodded, grabbing the popcorn that had been set next to the box of cereal.

"What else?"

We thought, then looked at each other, having the same idea. "Hey, can you grab the-"

I nodded. "Yes, if you'll get the…"

She nodded. I grabbed the bowls and spoons while she got the chocolate ice cream she had brought with her.

I looked at the ice cream longingly. "You know what'd be perfect with this? That stuff from that place we went to…"

Her face lit up. "I remember that! Remember that guy that was there?"

I nodded smiling at the memory. "You got the movie?"

She nodded. "I brought our favorites. I was thinking about that one with that guy in it…"

"That went to that place?"

She shook her head. "No, your thinking of the other one."

"Oh! That one! I love that movie!"

We stacked the now popped popcorn, drinks, and ice cream on a tray. We turned to leave, only to see two very confused autobots standing in a bit of a daze.

I looked up at them. "What's the matter? Look, if it's about the ice cream, I swear I'll live…"

Ratchet just shook his head. "How…?"

Bee cut in. "How did you do that?"

Jackie looked as confused as I felt. "Well, you put the popcorn in the microwave…"

He shook his head. "No, I mean communicate. You weren't even using full sentances!"

Me and Jackie looked at each other and shrugged. "I guess that's what happens when you grow up with your best friend."

Jackie shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "I guess it's a girl thing."

I nodded in agreement. "So, if your done wondering about the depths of our smartitude, can we go watch our movie?"

We walked passed them, not waiting for an answer. We collapsed in laughter when we got to my room. Jackie was nearly passed out she was laughing so hard.

"Did you… see the… look on his face? He looked at me like was mental or something."

I laughed too. "I didn't even realize… oh, he must think I'm crazy!"

She looked up at me curiously. "Who are you talking about?"

I looked at her. "You first."

"Bee." I nodded.

"Ratchet."

We looked at each other. She grinned. "Ha, figures you'd fall for the boring one…"

I glared at her. "Ratchet's not boring! Wait, what? Falling? I don't-"

"Yes you do! I've seen how you look at him when you think nobody's looking."

I blushed. "I do not!"

She chuckled. "Do too! I've know because you talk in your sleep. You-"

"Ah!" I clamped a hand over her mouth. "I do NOT talk in my sleep!"

She wrenched out of my grasp. "You do! I heard you! You said- oomf!"

I whacked her upside the head with a large pillow. She glared at me. "You are so dead!"

I smirked, glad I had gotten her off topic. "Bring it."

She slung her pillow at me. I jumped on the bed before it made contact. She glared at me. "Cheater."

My response was to stick my tongue out at her and hit her back with my own pillow. An all out war ensued. It ended with both of us lying on the floor, exhausted. I gave her a final whack before collapsing.

She laughed at me. "That was pitiful."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. You gonna watch the movie or not?"

She nodded. We laid back, ready to watch the movie. We fell asleep before the first ten minutes.

The next morning we woke up around noon. We groggily headed to the kitchen. I grabbed the milk and orange juice and Jackie got the silverware and cereal. We laughed at each other's sleepy expressions and started eating, while discussing various topics of no specific importance.

We had just started cleaning up when we heard a voice that annoyed every fiber of our being.

"Well, if it isn't thing one and thing two! How life on the street corner treating you?"

We turned to face a haughty Mikaela. Jackie snorted. "Well if it isn't Miss Queen Bee-Otch. You should know. Weren't you just voted 'most likely to be a hooker' at high school?"

Mikaela scowled at us. "Why, you little-"

Bee walked into the room. Mikaela's face and posture changed dramatically. "sweet gals! It's been so long! I've missed you at school, Sherry."

I rolled my eyes. "The name is Cherish."

Bee looked between us, looking quite confused. I sighed. This was never gonna work out.