Hey all! I'm really sorry for the wait; I've recently started a new job, so `I haven't had time to update. Hope you're all still enjoying the story.

Disclaimer: I own only Lyn and her team. The Autobots and Decepticons belong rightly to Hasbro.

,,,,,,,,,,, Change in time

...Change in place

The ride back was long. Too long. Especially for the younger woman who sat with her knees pulled to her chest on the bed. The flooring rumbled underneath as the vehicle moved onto rougher ground. No, not a vehicle. It wasn't a vehicle. When she'd come round, she hoped and prayed that it was all a bad dream, a nightmare that would disappear from all existence the moment she woke up. No such luck. She had begun to panic, begun screaming and shouting when she'd heard the voice asking how she felt. If it hadn't been for Jack taking hold of her, she would have rammed her way out of the ambulance on to the road, and to an unforeseeable but easily imaginable fate. Now, all she could do was sit, staring blankly at the white walls of the interior of the vehicle, silent thoughts racing through her mind, serving only to heighten her already uneasy state. How could Lyn trust this...this...thing! It wasn't even human! How could they all have trusted it? How could they have never suspected, even for a second, that Doctor Ratchet wasn't even human?

"Shan. You ok?" She jumped at the sound of the voice, looking over to the technician. She looked down, scared eyes wide.

"I...I... No, I'm not." She sighed, shuffling up the stretcher bed as Jack swung himself over to sit next to her. Almost unconsciously, Shannon leaned against his shoulder, the technician being able to do nothing more than pull her into a soothing embrace.

"It'll be ok."

"How can you say that? Have you seen where we are!"

"Shannon, calm down and listen to me."

"No! I won't!"

"Shannon, please."

"I mean, we trusted him! Trusted him! And all along he was one of those...those...things!" The atmosphere seemed to tense around them. Jack dropped his voice, suddenly aware that their conversation could be heard. Not that it would make very much of a difference.

"Shannon, listen sweetheart. We're riding inside him. He saved our lives." Shannon pulled away from him, fire in her eyes suddenly igniting.

"That means nothing! I don't trust him." Jack looked to her, smoky brown eyes softening.

"Lyn trusts him." The assistant fell silent. That was true. Lyn not only trusted him, she loved him. She sighed, slumping back against him, suddenly exhausted. It had been a long, terrifying day, and now all she wanted to do was sleep.

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"Lyn. Lyn. Wake up, we're here." The paramedic started, wiping her eyes. She looked down from her position inside the cab of the ambulance to the speaker. Bright blue eyes met her blurry green ones. A weary smile spread across her face.

"Hey Ratch. We're here already? How are the others?" The CMO chuckled.

"They're ok. Shannon is going to take some time to get used to us. Jack is ok, though still a little shaky." Lyn nodded, eyes drooping.

"They'll be ok. Just have to give them time." She closed her eyes again, threatening to go back to sleep. Ratchet chuckled, unbuckling her belt and lifting her from the comfortable seat. She squeaked a little in shock, throwing her arms around his neck. A pout formed on her face.

"Ratch! I was comfy there!" The CMO laughed at the indignant look on her face.

"Indignation is not an attractive quality on you." The expression fell into a weary glaze.

"Too tired to argue back." Her head fell against the holoform's shoulder. Ratchet chuckled, shaking her shoulders slightly.

"Lyn, wake up, I need to set you down." The paramedic buried her head into his shoulder, a mumbled denial reaching the holoform's ears. Ratchet sighed. Without warning, he dropped her legs, earning a yelp from the woman as her feet hit the ground.

"Ratchet! A little warning next time!" Leaving go of the CMO, Lyn brushed her mucky uniform down and flashing the man an indignant scowl. Ratchet smiled before turning to the back of the ambulance.

"So, where are Jack and Shannon?"

"They're still inside. Under the circumstances, it may be wise if you bring them out." Lyn looked to him and nodded. If she knew Shannon, the younger woman would have been giving the poor mech quite a hard time. In fact, she was surprised the mech's audio receptors were still operational. Inhaling deeply, Lyn made her way to the back of the vehicle. The doors popped open, allowing her entrance. She smiled softly at the sight before her. Jack's head had lolled back, resting against the interior wall, eyes closed and mouth hanging open slightly. His left arm hung loosely over the shoulders of the young assistant, her head laid against his chest, her body curled up next to him. They were exhausted. Lyn felt guilty for waking them, but she knew she had no choice. Flashing a smile to the CMO, she grasped the handles and pulled herself up into the back. The holoform watched as she disappeared, sensors trained on the inside. He heard the muffled sounds as the two woke up, sensed the sudden peak in adrenaline from the female, and braced himself for the screaming...again. Absently, he rubbed his ear. His sensitive receptors were still ringing. Initial scans had shown no permanent damage, but he felt the need to run a full diagnostic, just to be sure. But that could wait. Right now, more pressing matters were revealing themselves. Looking over his own chassis showed the terrible dents and rips courtesy of the Decepticon's claws, easily seen from the outside. That would explain the strange looks he'd received from the civilians on the outside. They weren't life threatening, thankfully, as many of the main fuel lines had just been missed. It was still painful as the Pit, though. And, he knew, there would be more work for him the moment they entered the med bay. All the mechs involved in the battle bore injuries, though none of them were critical. Welding jobs, mainly. But first, he would have to patch himself up. After all, no one wanted to be treated by an injured medic. He sighed a little as he watched the three humans exit his interior. Jack was the first out, easing himself down onto the flooring, looking around his new surroundings. High walls of thick concrete and metal held up the concrete ceiling. The walls remained unchanged down the long corridors to either side of him. Turning, his eyes fell upon a giant metal door, one that seemed to have been newly replaced. He turned back to the ambulance, hobbling closer to the doors, offering a hand to the shaky assistant.

"Shan, you've gotta see this place. It's amazing." Shannon looked to him, keeping her eyes trained solely on the man. She didn't want to accept everything just yet. Jack led her a little way back from the ambulance, watching as Lyn lowered herself down to the ground. She looked over to the waiting holoform and smiled. Patting her teammates, she limped towards the holoform, standing next to him.

"Wow. Screamer really did do a number on you, didn't he?" Ratchet simply chuckled.

"Nothing I can't fix."

"You mean you and Wheeljack can't fix." Ratchet glanced at her. "C'mon Ratch, there's no way you can work on those injuries alone. You know that." He smiled, unable to help himself.

"Yes boss." She slapped his arm playfully, grinning.

"And don't you forget it." He chuckled, looping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to him. Lyn leaned in with no argument, unaware of their audience. Shannon glanced at Jack and then back to the couple, and, in spite of herself, smiled. Jack grinned.

"No two ways about it Shan. They make a cute couple. Even if he is a giant alien robot from outer space." The younger woman nodded, starting when a voice called from behind them. Spinning, she visibly relaxed when she saw an older man running towards them. Wait...another human? The man glanced at them as he went past, continuing on to his primary object. Lyn raised her head and let go of the holoform as Will came over to her, concern etched into his features.

"Lyn, Ironhide told me what happened. Are you alright?" Completely ignoring the CMO, he pulled her into an embrace of his own.

"Yeah, I'm fine Will. Honest. Just a little bruised and battered." He pulled away, grasping her shoulders. He shook his head, pulling her back in.

"Just like your old man." The medic smiled a little.

"Yeah, I know. Look, Will, I need to get myself sorted out." He let go of her, his eyes gleaming in a solemn amusement. Lyn smiled back.

"What are we gonna do with you?"

"I know something you can do for me. See those two over there?" He glanced back.

"Yeah, I was going to ask about them. Who are they?"

"They're my team. I need you to take them to get cleaned up. They're still too shaken up to have an Autobot tour guide, so to speak." Lennox nodded.

"Yeah. I hear you." He smiled, walking towards her teammates. She watched as he led them away, glances sent back towards the two left behind. Ratchet looked to the woman and smiled.

"So, it would appear we are alone." Lyn smiled, turning to him.

"Yes. Now, let's get you sorted out." The CMO seemed to slouch a little, earning a giggle from the woman. Rolling her eyes, she hooked her arms around the CMO's neck, and leaned in, allowing him to capture her lips in his. After a few moments, they pulled apart, simply embracing.

"By the way, thanks for saving our lives." Ratchet stroked his hand over her back, simply nodding. Kissing her head, Ratchet dropped his arms.

"I think we had both best get patched up." The holoform disappeared and, with a grating of gears and metal that sound quite painful and stressed, the ambulance stood up, lowering his hand and allowing her to clamber onto his palm. His joints seemed to strain as he stood himself up once again, the only evidence to his pain being the brief flash of his optics. Posture regained, he made towards the doors Lyn recognised as being the entrance point of the Med bay, entering and allowing them to close behind him.

Finally! This was actually quite a difficult chapter to write. Thank you all for being so patient.