In an AU where N.E.S.T. is relaunched after the events in TLK. Where Starscream is repaired and online, other cons are rebuilt as KSI drones and survived Shanghai. Where Epps decides to come back to N.E.S.T., and also Sunstreaker eventually came to Earth to be with Sideswipe; (Y/N) is a new member of N.E.S.T. and has fallen for Drift. She keeps it to herself, believing he'd never fall for a human. While on a mission, she gets seriously injured and is terrified, and Drift dreads watching her this injured.

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
It's been interesting being a part of N.E.S.T. and being friends with advanced alien sentient robots. Most of them chose to use a gun or have blades in their armor that extend. It's interesting to watch Drift with his swords. However, he's great at hand-to-hand training. It's funny watching him kick Crosshairs' ass.
"You daydreaming about Drift again?" Crosshairs teases.
"Fuck off!"
I get up and walk out of the cafeteria.

As I walk down the hall, I watch Drift's bipedal form walk into the training room. I've seen him train and meditate in both bipedal form and holoform.

I wait a few minutes before sneaking into the training room. Drift is training with his swords in his bipedal form.
"You know, secretly watching people is rude," he says and looks in the direction of my hiding place. I show myself embarrassed I was caught by the one I love. He activates his holoform and walks towards me.
"If you want to train with me, all you have to do is ask."
"I don't know how to use a sword and weak compared to you in hand-to-hand combat."

Six months fly by, and Drift believes I am skilled not to need his teaching, but we can continue to train together. Six months, but I can't tell him I like him.
Our training is interrupted by Sunstreaker telling us we're needed for a mission. Shame there's no sword I can use to slice Decepticons.

Barricade, Soundwave, and Starscream ambush us. We engage in battle; I'm helping other soldiers until I see Drift fighting Starscream. I run into the fight.
"Oh no, you don't!" I hear Barricade and the sound of his gun. I scream as the shot lands on the ground behind me, causing the ground to rise, and I'm sent flying. I feel the worst pain ever once I land, screaming before I know what's wrong. While I've never broken a none, I don't think that hurts this bad. I locate the pain is coming from my leg and stare in horror.

Drift's P.O.V.
I panic as I hear (Y/N) scream. Epps and I are the only ones who can get to her right now. It's scary watching her go from sitting up to laying on the ground, but what we see when we get to her is horrifying.
"Requesting immediate medivac, several soldiers wounded!" Epps radios.
She's losing blood fast, and that pipe could be filthy and cause infection. I'm terrified the human I've come to love will die. I hate I can't go with her.
"Go, you should be able to get back to the base as the helicopter does," Epps tells me.
:: Go, Drift, the cons left; we'll make sure the wounded are safe until the helicopter gets here. :: Crosshairs says.

I wasn't allowed to wait for the helicopter to arrive. It felt like hours waiting in the lounge room before Optimus got me, and not even my best Autobot friend is with me.

Using our holoforms, Optimus and I enter the medbay. I'm angry (Y/N) isn't considered the most severely injured soldier. The medics on the helicopter wrapped her leg the best they could. As if things couldn't get worse, Ratchet orders anyone who isn't injured out, except for Optimus, of course.

Crosshairs waits for me in the hallway, suggesting we do something until Ratchet can talk about (Y/N)'s injury.
But what if she's dying, Crosshairs?

Four hours later

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
Staring at the ceiling, I wonder where I am and how I got here? Sitting up, I quickly get my answers and am horrified; I remember now.
"... it's bad, snd going to be a challenge to remove the pipe. I worry I might have to amputate," I hear Ratchet.
No, then I will be discharged from N.E.S.T. and never will be able to train with Drift or even see him.
I can't rip the I.V. out of my arm — too dangerous — but I can remove the infusion tube. I drag my injured leg as I walk out of the medbay. I can't believe no one is stopping me.

Ratchet's P.O.V.
"... I'm going to need blood from the hospital, and... scrap," (Y/N)'s room us empty, and there's a trail of blood, "JOLT!" Jolt runs in, concerned, "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING HER!" I wack Jolt with a wrench, "we need to find her. If she has blood poisoning, then there's no chance to save her leg."
Optimus has Drift and Jolt search for (Y/N) while I prepare the operating room.

Drift's P.O.V.
No way (Y/N) would walk through the city. She had to have gone to the field in the back of the base.
Sure enough, we spot her trying to climb up the hill.
"Come on, that pain medication is temporary and will stop working soon," Jolt informs me.
For Jolt to say temporary worries me. Do you mean to tell me it doesn't last as long as other pain medication?

"(Y/N) stop, please," I beg.
"No, you're not cutting my leg off!"
What does she mean? Questions later, we need to get her to the medbay now. I activate my holoform and get closer to her, but (Y/N) moves faster up the hill using her arms.
"No, you're not cutting my leg off and rendering me useless!"
"No, (Y/N), it's a possibility, but unlikely of we get you to surgery now," Jolt explains, "you're risking blood poisoning, which increases the chance we will have to amputate."
We didn't know Optimus found us until he gets a little closer to (Y/N).
"You know how skilled Jolt and Ratchet are. You know the longer you delay surgery, the more likely they can't save your leg."
I'm able to get close enough to pick her up.
"I like you," she whispers.
"I know; I like you."
It's scary she passes out. Hard to think, are we too late? Is that why she finally confessed she likes me?