Note: MageBreaker: THANK YOU!

The Diego Diaries: Shadow Box 6 (247) edited for boo boos :D

-0-At the Habitat

He roared in parking the segway. Waiting for the airlock to equalize, he fidgeted. When it opened he ran through the inner airlock and hung his face mask on a hook. Rushing into the big common room, he looked around. "Epps!"

A group paused their meal and glanced in the direction of Graham. "What?"

"I just got back from Ops Center. I got some new scuttlebutt. Elita and Jazz are back from their mission and they brought back Prime's parents."

They sat looking at him, then each other. Then they jumped up and ran for their masks and the airlock beyond.

-0-At the hospital

Ratchet stood at the computer terminal going through the data. The sound of movement behind him drew his attention. Walking over to the berth where Kestrel lay with energon feeds in his lines, he paused. "Kestrel, if you lie still we can move you sooner. I am pumping energon into you, good energon."

He looked at Ratchet, his expression strained. "My son," he said quietly.

"I'll get him," Ratchet said. "If you promise to lay still I will get him for you."

Kestrel looked at him, then nodded. Glancing around, Ratchet alerted an orderly that he was going out of the room. He walked over and stood at the foot of the berth nodding to Ratchet. That bot hurried out heading for the theater next door. Optimus was standing beside the medberth holding his father's servo. Tagg was recharging, his energetic affect much improved. He stopped beside Optimus automatically checking the data monitor. "He's improving. Kes wants to see you."

Optimus glanced up and nodded. Gently tucking his father's servo under the thermo blanket, he turned and followed Ratchet into the other room. Walking to the berth, he paused reaching under the blanket to take Kes's servo. "Ada?" he asked quietly.

Blue optics onlined, a ghost of a smile managed, Kestrel looked at his son. "Orion."

"How do you feel, Ada?" Optimus asked around the emotional turmoil in his spark.

"Better," he whispered back. "Tagg?"

"He's recharging. He's better," Optimus said. "Ratchet is the best doctor ever produced on Cybertron. He's taking care of both of you."

Kestrel nodded slightly. "The boys who helped us ..."

"They have family. Friends, Ada. They're taken care of well," Optimus replied.

"They came for us. We were running. Tagg was afraid for you. We both were. We were going back to the Palace to find you."

"I wasn't there, Ada. I was at Simfur," he said gently. He squeezed his Ada's servo.

"I know. We were mixed up. It was terrible. We were at the Jumble looking for friends. We wanted to help them get out but they were already gone. The bombs came and we ran. We were not going to make it when the boys came. They came and took us away."

Optimus nodded. "They were Elite Guard from the Palace, Ada. They loved you. Remember?"

Optimus watched his Ada's face as he rested. The memories came to him as he waited. It had taken all the persuasion he had to get them to live with him in the giant Palace of the Primes. One mech alone in the massive structure had been ridiculous to him. Having his genitors with him ensured their comfort and welfare. That they didn't feel the same was not surprising.

They had been overwhelmed at the idea of luxury and had gone out of their way to not 'be a problem'. They were mannerly in all their undemanding dealings, kind to all the staff and very appreciative of the help the Elite Guard mechs in his security detail who liked to assist them with things they needed or wanted gave to them happily. Kestrel and Tagg were unobtrusive, gentle and kind. Everyone in the household including security adored them.

The new Prime and his family were a breath of fresh air.

It was no surprise to Prime that the Guard had gone to find them. He would be ever grateful to them that they did. His battle at Simfur had ensured he would not be able to save them himself.

Kestrel looked at him again. "You look so handsome, Orion. I hope you had some pleasures in your life. Your burden was so heavy."

"Ada, I did. I want you to meet my family when you are able," Optimus said. "I have a family, a bond."

Kestrel looked at him a moment. "Is it someone I knew? Is it that nice mech, Prowl?"

Optimus blinked. "Prowl?"

"He liked you terribly. He didn't know how to tell you but I could tell," Kestrel said. "I could see it on his face."

Optimus looked at Kestrel. "I didn't know you even knew him."

"He would come by the Palace to speak with you about business. I could tell," Kestrel said with a slight grin. He vented a sigh, relaxing slightly, his optics dimming.

Optimus grinned slightly. "You were right."

Kestrel looked at his son. "I was always right, Orion. I knew you would be a great mech some orn."

A figure appeared in the doorway standing back. Optimus turned and nodded. "Come in."

Prowl walked in and paused by the berth. "How is he?"

Optimus looked down at Prowl's serious expression and found a grin slowly creeping over his face. "He's psychic actually," he replied.

Prowl's look of confusion would carry him through the night.

-0-At the Residence of the Prime

Venture and Miler finally tucked everyone in. They walked back to the kitchen cleaning up the dinner things. Prowl had helped them but had gone back to the hospital. He was running the show as well as looking after Optimus as he waited for more word on his parents.

"I wonder how they are?" Miler asked as he began to clear away dishes.

"I don't know. Prowl will tell us. I asked him to," Venture said. "Optimus is stunned. So am I."

"It was a miracle either set of us survived. Praxus during the barrage and Iacon during the Seeker swarm. We both should be dead and so should they."

"If it wasn't for the Guard, I imagine they would be," Venture said as he began to wash the dishes.

"I wonder what they must be like. I imagine pretty wonderful given they have a son like Optimus," Miler said watching the water in the sink rise. The bubbles sparkled as Venture began. Miler pulled a towel out of a drawer and waited. "I hope they are alright and able to have a full life. There is so much going on for Optimus, I would hope his genitors won't be a big worry too."

"I know. We can help them," Venture said. "We can help them get around if they need therapy or things done. I can imagine Optimus must want them to stay in the Residence for a while."

"That would be for the best I think," Miler said as he began to dry the dishes. They would chat for a while, then retire to a spare berth room. Optimus and Prowl would not come home until the morning.

-0-At the hospital

They sped in hugging the wall as they made their way through the lobby. Entering the elevator, Epps pressed on the panel placed nearly at floor level for their convenience. Up they went to the emergency level-floor one, getting off when the doors opened.

The waiting space was darkened slightly as evening was automatically accommodated by the lights. Sitting and standing around the room over a dozen mechs and femmes kept the family company. Prowl was standing in a doorway talking to Ratchet who held a datapad. Ironhide was sitting on a couch talking to Springer and Drift.

They turned and drove to them, pausing before the trio. :Ironhide, how is everyone?: Lennox asked.

The big mechanisms paused, then looked down at the humans. :Will Lennox. You have heard?:

:Everyone in the city has heard: Epps said. :I heard it passing the bar at Club Cybertron:

Ironhide nodded. :They came in bad condition and they have improved. Ratchet told us that they will be put in a ward when their transfusions end:

The soldiers nodded. Jessie Landon hopped down and began to run for the emergency room door. It would take a ridiculous amount of time for her to get there. As she did, Prowl looked down at the floor. Waiting until she arrived, he put down his servo and she climbed aboard. Prowl straightened, both he and Ratchet looking at her with a nod.

:Prowl, we all have heard. How are they? Are they alright?:

:They are getting better: Ratchet said. :They came in pretty debilitated but we're putting them back together:

:I never asked Optimus about his family. I know you are so lucky to have yours: Jessie said. :We are all so happy for Optimus. I wanted to tell you myself:

Prowl nodded. :Thank you, Jessie. We are more than lucky:

:Is that one of them?: she asked nodding to the figure on a medberth nearby.

Prowl nodded. :That's Kestrel, his ada. Tagg, his atar is in the next room:

Jessie nodded. :I want you to know that every human on this planet is happy for both of you. We're going to be in the next room. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask:

Prowl nodded solemnly. :Thank you, Jessie. My house appreciates you very much: With that, Prowl leaned down and put her gently on the floor. With a nod, he turned and walked to the next room and Optimus.

Jessie watched him go, then turned to Ratchet who was grinning broadly. :What?: she asked noting the look Ratchet had usually meant something more than just humor.

:You don't know Praxian customs very well. You just made a pact with Prowl:

:I did?: Jessie asked with surprise.

:Sure. You made an agreement to assist his family that sort of transcends the usual casual agreement. His formal answer was the tip off: Ratchet said with a chuckle. :He was honoring your offer with a formal response. Its a mannerly, Praxian sort of thing:

Jessie considered that and grinned broadly. :Cool!: she said.

Ratchet grinned. He didn't tell her that even though Prowl honored her goodhearted offer with the formal binding response, he would never hold her to it.

-0-A joor later

The orderlies arrived with gurneys. Pausing in the big open space, Ratchet began to direct the transfer of the patients to the ward floor. Optimus and Prowl stood in the room as several big medics gently and carefully slid Kestrel onto the gurney. When he was on, his blankets settled and his medication lines sorted, he was moved into the lobby again.

The gurney transfer for Tagg was made and the two were turned to be rolled to the elevator for the trip down. All of the mechs and femmes in the room stood watching silently, the humans as well. They passed by and disappeared into elevators, the rest of them following along behind.

Ratchet stood beside Kestrel as they made the trip down, Prowl accompanying him as well. They reached the floor they needed and the doors opened. The big wide corridor was empty but for the night nursing staff and the party. Rolling Kestrel forward, they walked down the quiet hall to a big room at the end. Entering, Ratchet supervised their transfer and settling. When that was accomplished, he stood in the corridor talking with Prowl and Optimus.

"They will be resting. In fact, I am going to put them into a mild level of medical stasis so they can get rest without waking. I would suggest that you both go home and recharge. When the morning comes, you can be here when they have breakfast."

"I would like to stay here, Ratchet," Optimus said. "There's a spare berth in the room and I can rest there."

Ratchet glanced at Prowl who nodded. "I'll go home and get things organized there. If this is okay, Ratchet, I think it will be for the best."

Ratchet nodded. "Alright," he said. "There won't be anything to do, Optimus. I am expecting you to sleep."

Optimus nodded wearily. "That won't be a problem," he said.

"Good. I'm going to organize their care and hit the road. You too, Prowl," Ratchet said turning to walk inside the room. He checked the monitors, programmed a light stasis for both, then turned to speak to the staff. Knockout listened to Ratchet, then watched him leave with the family. He as Officer of the Orn-Night Shift would be in charge.

He watched them go, then turned to look at the two mechs recharging on the berths. It was unbelievable that he was the one who was in charge of keeping the genitors of Optimus Prime optimal during his shift.

Or in any other situation for that matter.

"Knockout, you are living a very strange life," he said to himself as he turned and walked to the nursing station. He would stay there all night, only stepping away to direct the repair of a mech who had fallen off a derrick.

The night would pass quietly as Optimus Prime reclined on the berth next to his parents. He wouldn't get a moment of recharge all night.

-0-TBC

2013 (3)