Everything is fine for a few months until (Y/N) starts sleeping more often, which Jolt doesn't think is concerning until she starts sleeping in odd places and it's harder to wake her up. (Y/N)'s condition is getting worse, but there's a way to help her. Unfortunately, (Y/N) is terrified everyone will abandon her, so she leaves N.E.S.T. before that happens. Ironhide and Prime find her and tell her it's not true. Even Jolt swears he loves her.
Jolt's P.O.V.
Two months have passed. Things have been great until this past weekend. (Y/N) suddenly is taking a nap even though we're not working in the medbay. I think nothing of it, knowing how humans' sleep patterns vary. When I find her asleep at her desk Wednesday, Ratchet and I think she's overworking again. I left out how it took me a little longer to wake her up compared to previous days. Maybe going to bed at eleven is too late.
A week going to bed earlier, yet I'm still finding (Y/N) asleep at random times and places, taking longer to wake up every time.
"I'm just tired," she argues after being woken up, and I insist on giving her a check-up.
Yeah, tired, that's why you are sleeping in odd places earlier than the previous day. I'm beginning to worry I'm making a mistake not telling Ratchet this or how it takes longer for you to wake up.
Three days later
"Help!" We hear s soldier as they run into Ratchet's office. I get this feeling it's about (Y/N).
"You don't have to be dramatic to be seen!" Ratchet scolds.
"I'm fine; it's (Y/N)!" They yell, "I was getting a broom from the supplies closet, and found her, unconscious. I didn't see injuries, but I know not to move someone who could be injured. She wouldn't respond."
I feel my legs get weak, and I need to sit down.
"Jolt!" Ratchet worries.
Ratchet's P.O.V.
Its understandable Jolt would worry, but this is fear. The color fades from his face.
Frag, he's panicking.
I have him sit on the floor and take deep breaths; gather my emergency medical kit and a stretcher. The soldier and I go to where they found (Y/N).
What's strange is she's laying on the floor, not in a way she would be had someone thrown her in there. No way she'd be asleep if she wanted a place to cry. I do my assessment to make sure she isn't injured before putting her on the stretcher. I thank the soldier for finding her before going back to the medbay.
Once (Y/N) is in a room and on the monitor, I go to my office, hoping Jolt can help me.
"Jolt, has (Y/N) been acting differently lately?"
Tears begin to roll down his face, and he knows he's made a mistake.
"She's been sleeping more... and it's harder to wake her up," he says before falling apart.
Damn, he thinks I brought (Y/N)'s lifeless body back. I have him come to the room with me.
I make sure he's reading the monitor; (Y/N) is stable, and her heart rate is normal. Still, I worry Jolt keeping this secret has caused a serious consequence, and (Y/N) might be in a coma.
He's right about how it takes longer to wake her up. Twenty minutes before she wakes up. Jolt hugs her and apologizes for telling me about her sleeping habits.
"You do understand how serious this is, (Y/N)?" I ask.
(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
I thought I was working hard to need naps. Started out I'd go to sleep mid-day. Then I didn't know I had fallen asleep at my desk. Today I knew something is wrong when I knew I was tired and choose to sleep in the closet. Like Jolt wouldn't worry compared to finding out I went back to our room at eleven in the morning to sleep.
"You realize we could have found you and unable to wake you?" Ratchet lectures me before leaving the room. Its clear Jolt has been crying. He sits by the bed and takes my hand. Ratchet returns with the portable echocardiogram machine. Jolt watches, worried as Ratchet does the test. I told him not to give me a check-up; he could have found something sooner.
"I'll let you do it," Ratchet tells Jolt before leaving the room.
Jolt is worried Ratchet knows something already, and this is punishment for Jolt not telling him about my sleep patterns sooner.
Ratchet's P.O.V.
My computer and the echocardiogram machine can communicate with each other. I can sit in my office and see what Jolt is seeing. This does make figuring out treatment for our patients faster. I didn't know what the rest would find, but I guess I was trying to think it's not as bad as things are. There's worse (Y/N) requiring a heart transplant, but this is serious and will need open-heart surgery.
There must be other ways...
I continue to monitor the test as I look at the database for alternative treatments. I know I am denying a patient treatment, thinking about my work partner needing to put his girlfriend through such an invasive surgery.
It doesn't take long to find alternative options, but I still need to bring up the other two options to (Y/N) in case we have to go the more invasive route, even if it's ten years from now.
Jolt returns the machine to its place and sits in front of my desk.
"I can't tell her...," Jolt says as tears roll down his face.
Even as he's crying, we have to talk about treatment options. Not even hearing me say 'options' helps him.
Sideswipe unexpectedly came into the medbay and (Y/N)'s room. She's distracted, and we can talk to Lennox and Prime.
One hour later
(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
I can't believe it; I'm basically dying.
"Babe, listen to me; it's going to be ok," Jolt assures me as he hugs me.
"There's a minimally invasive option we can try,* Ratchet says, "and it's minimally invasive. A transcatheter aortic valve replacement."
"How is this minimally invasive?" I ask.
I didn't think Ratchet came prepared with the tools needed.
"I'm going to put in an artificial valve. I will cut your leg to guide this tube which will have the valve up to the heart, and put the artificial valve in place. Remove the tube out and stitch the incision and done; an hour tops. You'll stay here for three days — as a patient — then four days recovering in your room should be enough." Ratchet explains.
I know it's not enough to be ok for active duty, probably not even taking part in training... and if this doesn't work...
Ratchet is busy with other surgeries, and I'm scheduled for mine three days from now. It's s little reassuring; I'm not dying and have to go before the other patients, but I'm weaker...
Ratchet gives Jolt the rest of the day off since the surgeries aren't until tomorrow and the next day. It's two in the afternoon, but he plans a nice date. As we enjoy dinner together, I can only think I'll be more useless even with the surgery. I should leave before Lennox, and Prime kick me out... and how long before Jolt thinks I'm useless?
The next day
I wake Jolt up at four in the morning to spend a little time together before he leaves for the first surgery.
"This is nice, even if it's only for twenty minutes," Jolt smiles before kissing me.
I rest my head on his chest, dreading I have to break his spark, but it'll happen eventually. Wish I was well enough for our second and final fragging session. Odd way to say goodbye, but it's what I'd love to be able to do. We do have the last makeout session before Jolt leaves. I go back to sleep for a while before I have to leave. I can't even write a note.
Ten hours later
Jolt's P.O.V.
I feel bad I couldn't have lunch with (Y/N); it's been a busy day. Oddly, she didn't come by.
She's not in our room, the lounge room, or the cafeteria. Oh fuck...
Ironhide's P.O.V.
Something is troubling Jolt, but I didn't think he'd pass out into my arms.
"Go get Ratchet, now!" I order a soldier, "come on, wake up."
"(Y/N)...," Jolt panics right when he wakes up.
Ratchet rushes down the hall.
"I'll take care of him, go fund her!"
I get Prime to help me look for (Y/N). Washington D.C. is huge, but we agree it's best not to tell any of the others. Prime updates me on (Y/N)'s health — adding to how this is an emergency — we must find her.
It's a stressful twenty minutes before we reach an abandoned factory, hearing crying echo through the large, mostly empty building. Prime and I panic (Y/D) hurt herself while crying, but she's ok.
"Do you have any idea how worried Jolt is?!" I scold.
"Ironhide, enough!" Prime scolds, "(but he's right, Jolt is panicking, and now Ratchet is."
"It's only a matter of time before Lennox kicks me out, and sure even if this surgery helps me, Jolt will still worry about me. He'll get sick of having a girlfriend with health problems he has to worry about. I might as well leave now."
She gets off the crate she was sitting on and tries to leave, but Prime grabs her arm and sits her back on the crate.
"You know this surgery will save you, and you're not our first friend with medical issues. You don't have to fight with us. You do a great job in the medbay," Prime explains, "come on, let's go back."
We both notice she's tired. Fear fills me; this could be the time she falls asleep and ends up in a coma.
Ironhide: Ratchet (Y/N) is tired, and I worry she won't wake up. I know it's late, and you've had a long day in the OR, but I think you better do this now.
Ratchet: Scrap, try to keep her awake.
Damn it, Jolt will not like this, but I don't know if Ratchet can do the procedure alone.
I try my best to keep (Y/N) awake - even though Prime said we can break traffic rules, Lennox can explain if police follow is- it's still a twenty-minute drive. Add I fear her heart could give up. Maybe I'm overthinking, but I don't know how serious this is or if Ratchet is trying a noninvasive procedure cause it's an option.
(Y/N) is barely awake when I run into the medbay. I hate the look on both medic's faces as I lay (Y/N) on the bed.
Even if I'm sitting here all night, I will; I need to know she'll be ok.
Ninety minutes later
Jolt's P.O.V.
What am I going to do with you?
I sit by the bed, waiting for (Y/N) to wake up, hating what Prime told me. We don't know if this will work all her life, and even if it does, she'll need to be on a few medications for a while. This will mean (Y/N) will continue to think she's a burden on us, and I'll tire of her condition.
"Jolt?" (Y/N) asks, though she sounds muffled with the oxygen mask.
"I'm here, baby. I'll always be here."
I sleep on the other bed after Ratchet makes sure (Y/N) is doing well and goes to bed.
The next day, Prime and Lennox once again tell (Y/N) she will not be kicked out. We know this will be routine for a while.
It was fun treating (Y/N) as a patient in the medbay for the next three days. Ratchet adjusts the plan and gives (Y/N) and I both a week off unless there are emergencies that I need to help Ratchet with. (Y/N) is ok with the size of the incision, though maybe we can keep that from being a scar.
"...but I can't promise that. What I can promise is a little fun at the end of the week," I smile, and we makeout.