Atonement

Chapter 8—One Step Closer

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.

Springer ignored the stares he received as he walked down the corridor from the med bay with Hot Rod. He knew by now it was probably all over the city about his condition, Echo and everything. He didn't care, either. He was just glad to be out of the med bay for a little while, even if it was under Hot Rod's supervision. It was the only way Ratchet would let him out, and Primus, he needed it. And though he wouldn't admit it, a part of him didn't want to leave Echo. Or Prowl. Prowl was still unconscious, and Ratchet had been holding Echo when he left the med bay.

"Want some energon or not?" Hot Rod asked, snapping Springer out of his thoughts.

"Not really," Springer said. "Ratchet has me on medical grade for now, because of Echo, and the fact I got myself shot up."

"Want to go to the rec room?" Hot Rod said, hopeful.

"Nope," Springer said.

"Courtyard?"
"Can't we just walk?" Springer said.

"Not for long," Hot Rod said. "It's my aft if anything happens to you while we're out. Ratchet said not to push it, and you already are."

"I'm sick of Ratchet," Springer said.

"He's CMO," Hot Rod said. "You're not."

"I know," Springer said. "And you're a Prime, and you can't get him off my back?"

"You saw how well that went yesterday, didn't you?" Hot Rod said.

"I didn't think you had it in you, Rodi," Springer grinned. "I've never seen Hatchet speechless before."

"Neither have I," Hot Rod said. "I thought First Aid was going to glitch when he saw how angry Ratchet was. Not that I can blame him. How is Prowl, anyway?"

"He hasn't woken up since he collapsed," Springer said. "First Aid said he just needed some rest."

"That's good to hear," Hot Rod said. "Hey—have you started to feel bond with Echo yet? Aid told me how she's doing, and said you two should have a bond, it's just taking time to make itself known."

"I'm starting to feel when she's hungry, or happy," Springer said. "Or not so happy."

"That's good isn't it? Right?" Hot Rod asked.

"It means she's getting better," Springer said.

"Have you and Prowl talked?"

"Rodi, cut it with the interrogation, will you?" Springer snapped.

"I'm just wanting to know how you're holding up," Hot Rod retorted.

"How do you think I'm doing?" Springer said. "I'm strapped with a kid, my relationship with Prowl is in ruins, and now I have to try and put it all back together. I'm great."

Springer watched his friend's face harden. "If you don't want Echo, or Prowl, why don't you just tell him? It'll make things easier. You know, you've always been stubborn, but I didn't know you were this selfish. You'd walk away from your own sparkling?"

"Not Echo. I know now I can't, now that I can feel her, I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to her," Springer said.

"What about Prowl?"
"I don't know," Springer said. "Enough about me. When are you going to decide to do something about Optimus?"

Hot Rod stopped, frowning. "What makes you think I need to do anything?"

"I can see how miserable you are," Springer said. "And somebody would have to be blind to not see how you feel. Take a risk, Rodi."

"You're giving me your blessing?" Hot Rod asked, incredulous.

"Whatever," Springer said. "Rodi, you have a chance to be happy, so why not take it? Quit denying you can have what you want, that's all."

"Look where that got you," Hot Rod said.

"I made a decision I can't take back, and I'm going to do the right thing. I'm going to stick it out. I have to," Springer said. "It's time I grew up. After all, I had a good example, hot shot."

"Me? You've got to be kidding," Hot Rod replied.

"You accepted that the Matrix chose you, and you didn't walk away," Springer said. "I can survive being a parent, and accepting my choice."

Hot Rod vented air, throwing his arms around his friend. "What pair we are," he said.

"I know," Springer said, hugging Hot Rod back. "I hope you're ready to be an uncle. Bet you haven't even thought about that, yet?"

"No," Hot Rod said, letting it sink in. He hadn't considered it, but he already liked the idea. "

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Optimus Prime walked into Ratchet's office, sitting down in a chair across from the medic. Ratchet didn't look up, but kept working. "Echo is fine, Springer is out with Hot Rod for a bit, Prowl will wake up eventually, and when he does, I'll take care of it. Anything else I can do for you?"

"I did as you suggested, and tried talking with Hot Rod," Optimus said.

Ratchet frowned, setting down his data pad and stylus. "Tried?"

"He wouldn't talk, just said it was his personal business, nothing important, and you needed to butt out," Optimus said.

"He said that, did he?" Ratchet said, crossing his arms, sitting back. Well, he wasn't going to butt out. He'd fill Optimus in on some of what he needed to know, but he'd have to get the rest out of Hot Rod. The medic was tired of watching them dance around each other, when they needed a good shove.

"Primus knows I'm going to overstep my bounds and break patient-medic confidentiality, but in this case, I believe it needs to be done," Ratchet said. "Hot Rod was fine while he was Prime, he had his issues, but he did well. And then you died a second time. I wasn't back on duty full-time yet, but that's when First Aid came to me and told me Hot Rod was having the nightmares, and it only got worse after your second death. Hot Rod started having nightmares again, episodes so awful he stopped recharging, and then, fluxes. The first occurrence was the worst. . .but. . .

"He's better since you've been back, but he still isn't where he needs to be, no matter how much he denies it, or acts like it. He works himself to exhaustion, and in that respect, Prowl hasn't been a good influence. But there is something you need to take to spark—when Hot Rod was accepted by the Matrix, he was a terrified, innocent kid, fighting the battle of his life. First Aid only came to me about what happened because he didn't know what to do, and I'm telling you, because you need to get it out of Hot Rod. He won't let himself get close to anyone, but I've seen how you look at each other. Now, do me a favor and let me get back to work."

"But. . ."

"The ball's in your court, Prime," Ratchet said.