Hey everyone! I promised that I would close the poll by this chapter. I have. The winner will be announced at the end of this chapter. )

Last time, we left Will and Sam in a pretty bad condition. Are they going to be alright? Why are the Decepticons attacking now? Will everyone make it through? Read on to find out!

Lyn: do I get to do more treating in this one?

Me: you seem overly excited by that.

Lyn: (rolls eyes) well, if you had nothing to do for about four days, you'd want something to do, too.

Me: (innocent smile) well, you know, I've had to give you a chance to meet everyone before you do anything. Besides, have to give and a certain someone to get to know one another.

Ratchet and Sideswipe: who? (Crowd round.)

Me: (backing up) erm, can't say, it'll spoil it. (Runs)

Lyn, Ratchet and Sideswipe: (run after me) c'mon! We want to know!

Sunstreaker: (shakes head) looks like it's up to me to do the disclaimer. Oh look, all my adoring fans are waiting for me. (Big bright grin) Corona doesn't own any of us, just Lyn. Ha! As if I could be owned by anyone. I'm just too good looking. (Clang) OW! Watch the paint!

Corona: (rolls eyes and shakes head) On with the story.

"Talking"

Thinking

: coming:

:: spark link::

The sound of explosions echoed throughout the base. Lyn was treating Will as best she could in Sideswipe's hand. The ground suddenly rocked as something blew up nearby, causing Sideswipe to stumble. Luckily, they were at the med bay. He hastily, yet gently, placed them on the ground. His faceplates were stern, an expression that didn't suit the mech at all.

"You guys had better stay in here and stay out of trouble…I can't believe I just said that!" He smacked his hand on to his forehead in the way that he had seen the humans do when they were showing disbelief.

"We'll be fine, just as long as I have enough to help them." Lyn waved her hand at the two injured men.

"Hatchet'll have something; you'll just have to look for it." An excited smile flickered on his face as the sounds of gunfire began drawing closer. "Gotta go, Gorgeous!" He ran out of the door. Lyn sighed after him.

"Be safe, Sides." She turned to the job in hand.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .

Many times during her treatment of the teenager and the Special Ops captain did Lyn jump at the sound of battle. She had Mikaela help her with Sam, he had sustained more injuries, and it took her mind off that fact. From their perspective, it sounded like the battle was drawing to a close, and it had moved outside. The crescendo of gunfire, shouting and explosions was almost deafening even from inside the med bay. They had been lucky. It seemed that none of the Decepticons had bothered with the bay, leaving them pretty much safe. Lyn was brought out of her thoughts by a quivering hand tapping her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Mikaela looking towards the door. She turned round. It was silent. Deathly silent. The women exchanged nervous glances, almost dying of fright when the med bay doors slammed open. Numerous mechs were brought in injured by the battle. Lyn was glad that she had finished patching up Sam and Will and that she had had them moved to one side. Now it was a case of waiting for them to wake up.

"Ha ha! Did you see the slaggers run!" Sideswipe cheered as he was brought in to the med bay. A gash ran down his arm, but on the whole seemed happier than ever. Sunstreaker, on the other hand, wore a deep scowl on his faceplates.

"Yeah, I did Sides. But if I ever get hold of Vortex, he's gonna wish he was never brought online. Just look at this mess! Doesn't he realise how long it takes a mech to get this kind of shine?" Lyn could see why he was seething now; deep scratches, dents and gashes plagued his chassis.

"Well, you will dive right on him when he's brandishing his rotary blade, Sunny!" Bluestreak replied.

"Mute it, Blue!" he growled, receiving a slap on the upside of his head from an irate Ratchet.

"Don't talk back to him, he's right. You're a stupid Slagger, Sunstreaker. You could've been killed!" Sunstreaker mumbled something and then went quiet. Cliffjumper looked smug, almost looking the injured warrior up and down. Unfortunately, Sunstreaker saw him, and, in his current mood, it didn't take very much to push his anger up.

"What the fraggin' pit are you looking at, midget?" he yelled. Cliffjumper simply smiled.

"Something that isn't worth naming." Sunstreaker growled, almost leaping at the minibot warrior. Sideswipe and Bumblebee managed to hold him off. Only just.

"Sunny, chill! He's doing it on purpose!" Sideswipe yelled, his voice strained with the tension.

"Yeah, I said before he's only trying to get under your armour. Don't give him the satisfaction!" Bumblebee replied. Sunny grunted, glaring at the smaller mech, before turning around and storming past his brother and the scout. Lyn simply watched in disbelief as the yellow mech grunted and walked away. She looked to Cliffjumper, who looked rather smug and proud of himself.

"What's his problem?" she asked Mikaela.

"Who? Cliffjumper or Sunstreaker?"

"The former." Mikaela looked at the red warrior, distain apparent in her eyes.

"I don't know. He just doesn't like Sunstreaker. Or Sideswipe for that matter."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. But he doesn't have to be so vocal about it. And to purposefully bait Sunny? That's just childish." Mikaela nodded in agreement.

"It's only because Sunstreaker is so easy to bait. He's not much of a socialite, if you get my meaning."

"Yeah, I see what you mean. I guess that's why he and Sideswipe are so compatible. They're so different."

"Yeah. Well, they're twins, so I guess it's only right that they're compatible." A groan caught their attention. Lyn was immediately at Will's side.

"What happened?" he asked, groaning and trying to sit up.

"Easy there. Lay back down. We were attacked by the Decepticons, remember?" Lyn replied, gently pushing him back down.

"Oh yeah, I remember. Sam? Is he alright?" he asked, looking round for the teenager. He lay next to him, bandaged up. He was also out cold.

"He'll be fine. He suffered a few more injuries than you did, but he's ok. He's fit and healthy, so he'll pull through fine." Will nodded slowly and looked around. From the side of the med bay which they occupied, he could see what was going on. Ratchet was fixing up a mech, it looked like Gears from their point of view, and Sideswipe was talking animatedly to Bluestreak, obviously about the battle. Lyn couldn't help but smile at how excited he was about what had happened.

"He's just like a big kid talking about a fairground ride or something," she chuckled. Will and Mikaela laughed too. They were suddenly cast into shadow as a mech stood over them.

"Lyn, are you hurt?" It was Ratchet. Lyn blushed slightly before replying.

"Not seriously, Ratchet. Sam should make a good recovery, and Will's doing just fine. Mikaela's alright, too."

"Well then, if that's the case, let's get you sorted out."

"No, Ratch. You have enough to do. It's just a few scratches. If there was anything else, I would know about it. And stop scanning me, for crying out loud!" Ratchet seemed to jump slightly. At first he seemed to grump, but he couldn't stop the small smile from forming. She sounds just like me.

"Well, what are you standing around for? You have 'bots to help. And I have humans to help. Hey!" Before she knew what was happening, she was lifted into the air by the medic.

"I hope that you're not giving me instructions in MY med bay, young lady?" Lyn smiled her most innocent smile. Ratchet simply shook his head, before putting her down on a nearby berth.

"Hey! What about my patients?" she asked. Ratchet gently placed the two men on the berth next to her, helping Mikaela up as well.

"I would rather you treat them where they won't get squashed under foot, if you don't mind," he replied, placing his hands on his hips. Lyn did the same, matching his expression easily, neither one wanting to back down.

From the other side of the med bay, the twins were watching them with some humour.

"It must be a medic thing when they do that," Sunstreaker chuckled.

"Yeah, it must be," Sideswipe replied. Sunstreaker picked up on the lack of enthusiasm on his brother's part.

:: Someone's jealous:: he joked through their link. Sideswipe shot him a glare.

:: Am not::

:: Are too:: Sideswipe sighed outwardly, before chuckling slightly. Maybe he was a little jealous. He liked Lyn, he really did. But, if she chose the medic then, fair play to them. They certainly did seem to be compatible with each other, it was just if it would last, or if they even realised it. Or if they even realised it, hmm?

:: Hey, Sunny? What say we give them a little, how shall we say, 'nudge in the right direction':: He looked questioningly at his brother. Sunstreaker looked back at him disbelievingly.

:: No way did you just ask that!::

:: Aw, c'mon bro! Just look at them!::

:: No:: Sunstreaker replied monotonously.

"Ah, you're no fun."

"Sideswipe, its delicate business, and we're not exactly the most delicate of mechs. Even I'm willing to admit that much!" Sideswipe seemed to consider it a moment, until the mech in question approached them.

"What are you two planning?" Ratchet asked, raising an optic ridge. Sideswipe smiled innocently.

"Nothing, Doc. Honest." Ratchet grunted in disbelief.

"Sideswipe, the day you two don't plot anything will be the day thermals will be needed in the Pit. Now move so I can sort your brother out." Sideswipe winked at his twin, who rolled his optics and shook his head.

"See ya soon, Sunshine!" Sunstreaker growled at the nickname and watched as Sideswipe walked over to the humans, throwing a dirty look at the sniggering Cliffjumper.

Lyn didn't notice the red Lamborghini approach, too busy in checking Sam, who had now woken up.

"Heya Gorgeous!" he greeted, making her jump. She spun round, clutching her chest as if to try and calm it.

"Sides! You scared the living daylights out of me! Jeez! Warn me next time!" Sideswipe chuckled slightly.

"Ah, I'm sorry Lyn. Didn't mean to scare ya. How're you doing guys?" he asked, looking to the two men.

"Better now. Lyn told us about Cliffjumper. What's that guy's problem, anyway?" Sam asked. Sideswipe simply shrugged.

"No clue. He's just decided that he doesn't like Sunny, I suppose. Though, he really should watch what he says. It doesn't take much to work Sunshine up, and once he gets started he won't stop until he's certain that they won't do it anymore. Pretty effective towards D'cons, but not really to comrades." Lyn nodded.

"I know the feeling. We've got someone back at MCH who's more or less the same. She likes to bait anyone she can. She's one of those snooty receptionist types, know what I mean?" Sideswipe laughed again.

"Say, would I be interrupting if I asked if you wanted to go for a drive?" he asked after a moment of silence. Lyn looked at him, then back to her patients. Really, she needed to be close to them in case anything went wrong. But then again, she did need to go to the Hospital and talk to 'the boss'.

"Well," she started after weighing out everything. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. I need to go to the hospital anyway and see Dylan, anyway."

"Not without permission, you're not." They looked up at the CMO as he stood next to them.

"Huh? But…"

"No 'buts'. We can't risk you going outside yet, at least not without Prime's permission first. The Decepticons could still be out there."

"Aw, c'mon Doc! We just whipped their afterburners from here to next week! They won't make a show now! Not yet at any rate!"

"I don't care, Sideswipe. They gave up too easily. They're planning something, I can feel it. Lyn, speak to Prime first. He'll tell you whether or not you can leave." His tone told them that they weren't to argue, but when did Sideswipe ever listen to warnings.

"Ratch, you're starting to sound like Red Alert! Will you stop worrying?" The CMO growled dangerously. As if on cue, Optimus himself entered the med bay.

"Here's your chance. Sideswipe, no arguments. Take her over to Prime." Sideswipe sighed, holding his hand out for Lyn, who quickly clambered on.

"But what about my patients?" she asked, turning back to the yellow-green mech.

"I'll take care of them."

"But you have enough to do as it is. Don't you think that…"

"If it gets too much, I'll simply call First Aid in to help. Now go on, the both of you." Lyn nodded, although she couldn't help but notice the slight glint of jealousy in the CMO's optics.

Optimus was looking around the bay at the wounded. Some of them were heavily injured, but most of them had only suffered scrapes and dents. All of them were talking lively, despite their predicaments. He spotted Sideswipe walking towards him. He turned fully towards the red warrior.

"Erm, Prime? Ratch said to talk to you."

"Oh? About what?" he noticed the female in his hands. He smiled softly. "Hello again, Lyn."

"Hi. Erm…" She couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by his height, no matter how much warmth radiated from him. Shaking her head quickly, she got back to the task in hand. "I was wondering, Optimus, when will I be able to go home?"

Hurrah for chapter 8! That took a while. Sorry guys, I know it was a long time.

Well, as promised, I'm now going to reveal the winner of the poll. Drum roll please!

(Everyone crowds round)

Ratchet: C'mon, we don't have all day you know!

Sideswipe: ooh, someone's impatient! (Laughs)

Ratchet: mute it, before I weld your vocal processor!

Corona: (clears throat) and the winner is…..Ratchet!

Thanks everyone for voting! (Blows on party hooter) See you next time!

Please RnR, no flames, but as always, constructive criticism is welcome!