"JACK!" Arcee screamed, and ran over to the lifeless form of Jack. She skidded to a halt, and held the mech in her arms, "Jack please wake up," she begged, energon flowing all over her frame, "Ratchet! Get over here now!" The medic rushed over, skidding to a halt, and pulled Jack from Arcee's arms. He took out his medical kit, and quickly began working on Jack. Miko and Raf helped Starscream limp over, watching as Ratchet furiously worked on their friend. Starscream looked over at Arcee, then back at Wheeljack.

"You! Wheeljack! Do you have any more of that stuff that cause me and Jack to switch species?" he asked. Wheeljack looked at him, then nodded, "Give it to me."

"What?"

"Give it to me now!" he snarled, and Wheeljack handed him the vial. He limped over to Ratchet, "Move medic," Ratchet backed away, and Starscream pulled the stopper off the vial. Arcee looked at him, tears in her optics.

"What...what are you doing?" she asked. Starscream didn't answer her, just pouring the liquid down Jack's throat.

The same bright light and loud noise appeared, causing everyone to cover their helms. Starscream felt himself leave Jack's body, and enter into his own. Jack felt the same thing, and soon he felt no pain at all, except in his ankle.

The light disappeared, and Jack opened his eyes. Yes, eyes! He had eyes again, not optics! Jack looked down at his hands, and saw human flesh, smudged with dirt but none the less, he was himself again. He looked up at Miko, who had a big smile on her face. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. Jack was taken back by this action, and soon Raf gave him a hug as well. Arcee sighed with relief, "Thank Primus you're o..."

She was cut off by Ratchet, "Optimus! We need to get Starscream to the med bay now!" Arcee turned around, and gasped. Starscream's breathing was ragged, and his optics were once again, pale, pale blue, indicating he was blind. Energon was flowing from his wounds at a rapid pace. "Bumblebee, hold onto that vial for dear life!" he commanded, as himself and Bulkhead lifted Starscream off the ground. The scout looked down at the teal substance in the vial, the cure to tainted energon, and nodded. Optimus opened the ground bridge, and everyone went through.

Immediately, Ratchet rushed over to his tools, and began grabbing various ones, "Arcee, help me set up for surgery."

"Surgery?" she asked. Starscream groaned, and hacked up energon. She looked over at Starscream.

"Arcee, now!" Ratchet yelled, grabbing tubes and cubes of energon. Arcee walked over to the table, and wiped it clean, moving the spark monitor over. Bulkhead placed Starscream down on the table, and Ratchet began hooking him up to the cubes of energon, his hands moving quickly. Arcee watched from over Bulkhead's shoulder, "Bulkhead, stay here and help me. Arcee, go look over Jack's ankle," Wheeljack pulled the curtain in front of Arcee, shielding her from the operation. Bumblebee placed a hand on her shoulder, and soon Ratchet's hand came out from behind the curtain, "Bumblebee, the cure!" The scout placed the vial in the medic's hand, and soon it disappeared again.

Arcee walked over to where Jack was sitting, and mindlessly began fixing his ankle, her hands being gentle. Wheeljack emerged from behind the curtain, and pulled Optimus aside. The two began speaking softly, their whispers heard. Arcee finished up Jack's wounds, and wiped her hands clean. She looked over, and saw Optimus nod, and Wheeljack went down the hall to Ratchet's study.

"Arcee, Bumblebee, Starscream is in desperate need of energon. Would you be willing to give some up? Myself and Bulkhead are already giving some, but Ratchet says he needs more."

"How bad are the injuries?" Arcee asked.

"Very sever. One of his main energon lines was nicked, but it was enough to cause extensive bleeding," Wheeljack appeared, with cubes and tubes in his arms. He placed them down on a table, and Bulkhead came out from behind the curtain. He sat down and Wheeljack hooked up one of the tubes. The bright blue liquid slowly dripped into the cube. Wheeljack motioned for Optimus, and he walked over, Bumblebee and Arcee behind him. Carefully and quickly, he hooked the three of them up to the tubes, and began collecting the engeron.

"Where's that energon 'Jack?" Ratchet yelled from behind the curtain, and Wheeljack disconnected the tube from Bulkhead. He passed it to Ratchet, then continued removing the others. Arcee watched as the liquid finished filling up her cube, then Wheeljack took it and he and Bulkhead disappeared behind the curtain again.

"Is...is he going to be alright?" Raf asked, concerned. Optimus looked over at the curtain.

"We shall see Raf, but let us hope for the best," he answered, and sat down. Arcee was still standing, her arms crossed.

The hours seemed to go by so slowly, it was almost painful to sit and do nothing. Bumblebee was busy helping Raf with a puzzle while Optimus had drifted off into recharge. Arcee looked over at her leader, and saw his helm was drooping, his optics shut and arms folded across his chassis. She began to slowly pace back and forth, waiting. Jack and Miko had also fallen asleep, leaning against each other.

Finally, after what seemed like a vorn, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and Bulkhead appeared from behind the curtain. Ratchet looked exhausted, as he collapsed on a chair. He breathed out, his cooling vents working over time. Optimus woke up, and looked over at him, "Well?"

"He'll live," Ratchet said, wiping his forehead, "He's in recharge at the moment," Bulkhead also looked like he could use a good recharge, as his optics were drooping. Wheeljack had dozed off, his helm slumped to one side.

"I think we could all use a good recharge," Optimus said. Raf was curled up in a ball against Bumblebee's knee joint while the scout was leaning against the wall, also dozed off, "We've had a rough day," Ratchet nodded, and leaned his helm back. Slowly, his optics closed as well. Soon, Arcee was the only one awake in the base, and she looked over at the curtain. She walked over to a table, and climbed up. Curling up in a ball, Arcee let herself go into recharge.

Arcee woke up, stretching, and saw that everyone was gone, except Starscream of course. She stood up, and yawned. The curtain had been moved, and Starscream was still in recharge. She walked slowly over to him, and examined his frame.

Ratchet was a miracle worker. End of story. He had completely patched up Starscream's wounds, and it looked like the cure was working. His wings were returning to normal, and so was his armor. Arcee almost smiled at this, and saw Starscream's optics slowly open. The Seeker blinked a few times, and held his hand up in front of his face, "Yes, Starscream. You can see," she said, crossing her arms.

"It's still kinda blurry," he said, sitting up slowly. He looked around, "Where is everyone?"

"Out, I assume," Arcee answered, and walked over to one of the monitors. She felt Starscream's optics on her back, "Don't look at me like that."

"You were worried about me," he said, swinging his legs so he was sitting sideways on the table, "I could tell by your voice," Arcee snorted, "Don't deny it," She turned to him.

"I wasn't worried."

This is the start
This is your heart
This is the day you were born

Starscream chuckled, "Yes you were," Arcee turned around.

"Shut the frag up," she snapped, and strode over to him. She jabbed one of her fingers at his chest plating, "You have no right to say that to me," Starscream raised his optics. Arcee held back her tears, and lowered her hand.

This is the sun
These are your lungs
This is the day you were born

"Why not?" he asked softly. Tears threatened to break free.

"You know why," she snapped again, and crossed her arms, turning away from him. Starscream placed a hand on her shoulder, but she pulled away, "Don't touch me."

"Arcee," he said softly, "I'm sorry about Cliffjumper," She shook her helm, tears starting to run down her facial plating.

"Stop," she said, and wiped her optics.

And I am always
Always
Always yours
And I am always
Always
Always yours

"I am," he said once again in his soft voice. Arcee spun around, and faced him.

"How can you just say that?" she demanded, "You are one of the most...sparkless mechs I have ever met. I'll never forgive you for that," Starscream stared into her blue optics.

"I know," he said, and took her hands. Arcee didn't resist as he pulled her close. She placed her helm against his chassis, "And I am sorry."

These are the scars
Deep in your heart
This is the place you were born

Arcee wrapped her arms around Starscream, closing her optics, "I...I thought I was going to lose you as well," she whispered. Starscream lifted her chin and she was staring into his optics, "I couldn't lose you again."

"I know," he said once again, and kissed her forehead.

This is the hole
Where most of your soul comes ripping out
From the places you've been torn

"You left me," she whispered, tears following more freely now. Starscream began rubbing her back, knowing that action soothed her.

"I didn't want to," he said, "And you know that."

"But you went anyways. And left me."

And it is always
Always
Always yours
But I am always
I'm always
I'm always yours

"You know I never wanted to, but... Megatron..." Arcee looked away from him, "Arcee, you know I wanted us to be together, but...when the war broke out...did you think we would have been allowed? Megatron would have ripped me to pieces if he found out, and do you think Tailgate, Cliffjumper, or Bulkhead would have been happy? No," he said quietly.

"I need you," Arcee whispered.

Hallelujah
I'm caving in
Hallelujah
I'm in love again

Starscream looked down at her, and she met his optics, "And I need you, but...with this war going on, it's not possible," He wiped her tears away.

"Then we make it possible," she said.

Hallelujah
I'm a wretched man
Hallelujah
Every breath is a second chance

"We can't tell them Arcee," Starscream said, "Yes, they cured me, but who says they'll accept me? I've killed their friends, tried to kill them. That's something even Optimus can't forgive," She saw the sadness in his optics, "I do wish we could be together, you know I do."

And it is always
Always
Always yours
And I am always
I'm always
I'm always yours

"I know," Arcee said quietly. Starscream pulled her closer, and lowered his head, capturing her lips with his. Arcee respond, kissing him gently back.

Bumblebee watched this scene unfold before him from the entrance. In one sense, he felt betrayed by Arcee, but in another, he was glad to see her happy. She was like an older sister to him, and he didn't like it when she was sad. And, Primus forbid, if being with Starscream made her happy, then he would have to be happy for her.

After losing two partners and almost losing Jack, it was nice to see a side of Arcee that not even Optimus has seen. A more fragile side, a side that most soldiers would keep hidden from anyone. Bumblebee watched them pull away, and heard Starscream say something to Arcee, but couldn't make out what he was saying. It was also nice, in a sense, to see a different side to Starscream as well. It made Bumblebee remember that Decepticons had feelings too, and could care about others besides themselves.

Bumblebee heard the others come in the base, and kicked a table, causing Arcee to turn around, "Oh Bee. I didn't hear you come in," Soon, the others followed them, and Bumblebee was glad he was the only one who saw Arcee and Starscream together.

"Starscream, I'm glad to see you're awake," Optimus said. Ratchet walked over to the Seeker, and began examining him.

"Hmm, the cure is working. How many fingers am I holding up?" Ratchet said as he held up three. Starscream looked at his hand.

"Three?" Ratchet smiled.

"I'm impressed. It worked faster than what I thought it was," He turned to Optimus, "All that's left is to destroy the distributor."

"That won't be necessary," Jack said, "The ship crashed, thanks to Soundwave," He looked over at Starscream, "I guess that makes you the only Decepticon left on Earth."

"You're welcome to stay here if you wish Starscream," Optimus said.

"Thanks for the offer," he said with a smile.

The smoking ruins of the Nemesis lay in the woods, the trees around it scorched and snapped in two. A groan was heard from inside the ship, and Knock Out pulled himself up out of the ruins, coughing. He looked around, and his optics went wide. The last he remember was the ship lurching, the sound of metal tearing, and the alarms blaring. Knock Out stood up, his legs wobbling, and fell over on his knees. He coughed again, spitting up energon.

"Knock Out?"

He turned, and saw Breakdown stumbled out of the wreckage as well, "What...the frag happened?" his partner asked, rubbing his helm.

"We crashed," he said, and looked around.

"How?" Knock Out shrugged, and tried to stand again, "Where's Megatron?"

They turned, and saw the body of the leader floating in a pond nearby, "Do...do you think he's online?" Breakdown asked, as they slowly walked over to the pond. Knock Out grabbed a metal pole, and poked Megatron's frame with it. Megatron's helm snapped up, and he snarled at them. Knock Out and Breakdown stepped back, afraid.

"THAT TRAITOR!" Megatron roared, and his cannon came online as he began looking through the wreckage, "When I get my hands on that bot, he'll regret the day he was sparked!" Megatron spun aroun and stared at them, "Both of them, but right now, we have a more important matter to deal with."

"What is that, my Lord?" Knock Out asked. Megatron smiled at them, and held up the distributor, unharmed.

"Track down Starscream."

Hello, hello it's only me
Infecting everything you love
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe

Hello, hello remember me
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe
We can break through

Uh-oh.

The song used at the end is Evanescence's new song "What You Want."