One Earth week passed, then two, then three. The injuries caused from the massive city invasion slowly healed, and the previously wounded Autobots were discharged from the medbay until there was only Wheeljack and Prowl. Bluestreak spent a majority of his time in the medbay, sitting with Wheeljack and visiting Prowl. Rodimus Prime had given him some time off- ample time to help Wheeljack get back on duty. As time passed however, and the engineer still refused to leave the medbay, the young Prime was starting to get a little agitated. -
"C'mon, Wheeljack! We need you back in your lab!" Rodimus pleaded, obviously exasperated, "The Decepticons could mobilize any orn now. We need your inventions!"
The Lancia had not answered, had barely even responded, and Rodimus had eventually left, irritated.
"It's fine, 'Jack. We'll leave when you feel ready to." Bluestreak reassured, and had gone on chattering about all the inventions he could build. But his optics flashed with worry.
Later he had tracked down First Aid.
"Wheeljack seems to be experiencing the first stage of Spark-Snap Syndrome." The new CMO explained, "It's not incredibly common, since most bondeds don't survive their partner's deaths."
The Praxian considered this. "So, what's the first stage? Actually, scratch that. What are all the stages? Just so I know so I can be prepared and help him if he needs it." "S.S.S -that's abbreviated- is similar to what the humans call the 'Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle,' except with fewer stages." First Aid began listing off stages, ticking the stages off on his fingers as he said them: "Denial, anger or increased aggression, depression, and acceptance. The Kubler-Ross has bargaining, which isn't apart of S.S.S. I like to think that Cybertronians are smart enough to know that we won't get our bondmates back."
"So he's in denial, and he's not leaving the medbay because.."
"Because he's been waiting for Ratchet? Yes."
- I guess he's not in that stage now. Bluestreak thought as he watched the Lancia shake with fury while glaring at an equally outraged Rodimus Prime.
"I know your position is unique," the Prime said slowly, pressing his servos together, "But it doesn't mean that you can spend all of your time here." A pause. "The rest of us are suffering too, you know. I miss Optimus as much as you miss Ratchet."
Wheeljack's winglets stiffened at the mention of the late medic's name. He was silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice rising dramatically in pitch, "Have ya forgotten that it's yer fault that Optimus is dead in the first place?!"
Something seemed to snap in the flame-colored mech and he lunged forward, arm snapping back as if he were going to punch the engineer. Fast as lightning, Bluestreak stepped between the two mechs, spreading his arms in front of Wheeljack and narrowing his optics in a determined glare. Rodimus's optics widened and he attempted to pull his punch but it was too late. The Datsun took a blow to the jaw and stumbled back against Wheeljack, who caught him, confused and a little shocked.
Pain exploded through Bluestreak's jaw, causing him to see spots. The engineer set his mate on his pedes and pushed him aside, advancing on the flustered Prime, his optics brightening with renewed fury. As soon as the spots cleared from his vision, Bluestreak saw Wheeljack heading towards Rodimus and lunged, grabbing ahold of Wheeljack's arms and stopping him from hitting Rodimus.
He whispered fiercely into the struggling mech's audios, "Hey, can you hear me? Calm down. Just calm down." Wheeljack glanced back at Bluestreak but otherwise kept struggling. "See? I'm fine. I'm not hurt. Just calm down okay? And we'll go back to your lab." He tried sending a few calming waves through their bond, well aware that Wheeljack had closed himself off awhile back. It didn't work, and he hadn't expected it to.
Suddenly a servo touched his shoulder. Bluestreak jumped and swiveled his helm back to see Hoist. The assistant medic leaned over and slid something into the gunner's servo. He pointed to Wheeljack, then moved away. Without relinquishing his hold on the engineer, Bluestreak opened his servo to see a tranquilizer.
- A deep growl rumbled deep in Wheeljack's engines as he surged against the mech holding him. Fury overrode his systems and threatened to push him into stasis lock, but he fought it, determined to teach Rodimus a lesson. He felt Bluestreak's grip loosen and was gathering his strength to break free when he felt a pinprick in a transformation seam on his side. The anger immediately siphoned out of him and a searing numbness replaced it. He sagged against the Datsun, unable to stand.
Bluestreak lowered him to the ground as Rodimus looked on in confusion, empty tranq. "Oh.. Well, nice job Blue." The Prime turned to leave, "Take him back to his lab."
The Praxian watched him leave, then hoisted Wheeljack up and helped him out of the medbay, toting him towards the lab. The engineer was sluggish, but not knocked out. He let himself be lead willingly and didn't protest when Bluestreak weaved an arm around his waist and laced his fingers through his.
- Once in the lab, Bluestreak settled Wheeljack at his workbench and propped himself up on the edge.
"Maybe I shouldn't administer such a high dose next time, eh?" He caressed Wheeljack's mask. His movements were slow, but his thoughts were racing. Wheeljack became even angrier after Rodimus had punched me-the thought of the blow brought forth a bloom of pain to his jaw- trying to protecting me maybe? Was it possible that the engineer is finally, finally returning my feelings?
Taking a chance, Bluestreak manually triggered the retraction of Wheeljack's blast mask and traced the edge of his scarred mouth before capturing his lips in a gentle kiss. While the gunner had been doing this, the engineer had remained passive, staring at the Datsun as if confused. Now, he stiffened with surprise and gripped the edge of his workbench, but he didn't pull away. Bluestreak noticed Wheeljack's reaction but refused to acknowledge the simmering disappointment that bubbled up from the depths of his mind. He tilted his helm and squeezed the Lancia's servo before pulling away. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that..."
Wheeljack reached up and slowly triggered his mask closed.
When he spoke, his words were slurred, "How.. Long?"
Bluestreak remained silent for a moment as a tidal wave of memories threatened to suck him under. He smiled sadly, "A long time."
End Chapter 5
(This is a scene I wanted to put in there but couldn't fit. Loved it too much to leave it out. Enjoy :))
Wheeljack hadn't told anyone, he suspected First Aid knew though. He hadn't left the medbay because he knew, just KNEW, that if he waited long enough, then one red and white medic in particular would come waltzing around the corner, brandishing a wrench and his best I-can-kill-you-with-my-optics glare