Drift worries as he waits to hear news about (Y/N). Everything goes well, and (Y/N) doesn't lose her leg. Drift temporally moves into her room to helo her during recovery. He worried she'd be traumatized after what happened but failed to consider her impatience and boredom. Add how (Y/N) feels this is testing if Drift wants to be with her or not. She tries to rush healing resulting in being reminded often how rushing will result in an outcome she doesn't want. Recovery is a challenge for (Y/N), no matter how well her leg is healing.
Drift's P.O.V.
Carrying (Y/N) back to the medbay, I am terrified we're too late. I don't know what blood poisoning is, but blood is like Energon for us, and Ratchet is anxious, so I should be.
Ratchet waited at the doors to the medbay. Jolt takes (Y/N), and the doors are closed in my face. I didn't expect Crosshairs to be by my side this quickly.
"She'll be ok," he assures me.
"No, I-I think she died right in my arms."
Crosshairs says nothing, not even suggesting we go somewhere away from here; he sits on the floor across the hall with me.
Three hours pass, and still no word. Would they keep me out if (Y/N) ended up on life support? Optimus comes by and joins us. He puts a hand on my shoulder.
"You know how skilled Jolt and Ratchet are, and she is a fierce fighter; she'll be ok."
"This wouldn't have happened if she wasn't trying to get to Starscream.
"You know the risk involved being in the military. She must care about you to take a risk like that."
"I will not leave her side once she's out of surgery."
"Very well, I will assign you to be her guardian, but you must promise you will no forbid (Y/N) from taking part in future battles."
"I know you love her, Drift, but it's not love or protecting her by telling her she can't be a part of the battles," Crosshairs adds.
If she's not traumatized by this, Crosshairs.
Another four hours pass; by now, Epps and Lennox wait with us. Both claiming Ratchet wouldn't keep us out even if (Y/N) was on life support. Ratchet finally comes out, wiping his hands.
"I'd like to know how the frag she could walk with the injury she had?" He starts, "I'll spare you the details; we saved her leg."
"Can I see her?" I ask.
"She's still asleep, but ok."
I go into the medbay and sit by the bed.
Optimus Prime's P.O.V.
"Those two like each other," I point out.
"yes, I can smell (Y/N)'s hormone changes when she's around him," Ratchet adds.
"He doesn't say much, but I can tell Drift likes her," crosshairs adds.
Ten minutes later
(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
I wake up, feeling out of it, struggling to sit up to feel if my leg is gone. I feel the cast, sigh, relived, and lay back down.
"I told you everything would be ok," I hear Drift.
I look to my right and see him smiling.
"Good, you're awake," Jolt smiles.
He walks in with Ratchet. I worry about what they'll say. I still have my leg, but is there too much damage, and they didn't amputate cause it was ok not to and because I was scared?
"We did the best we could to repair the damage and to make sure you'd have only a slight limp, but it's too soon to tell," Ratchet explains, "you'll need physical therapy, but its possible therapy will lessen the chance of having a limp. You'll stay here for four days. Jolt will start your physical therapy tomorrow if you're up to it."
Crosshairs, Epps, and Prime walk in and smile.
"I'm glad you'll be ok," Prime smiles.
"You worry too much," Crosshairs teases.
I laugh at what Crosshairs said as the three leave.
"You worry?" I ask.
Drift stands up and kisses my forehead, "Because I love you, even if you had to lose your leg."
"I've loved you since the day we met."
Probably considered too soon, but we have our first kiss.
Drift stays until nine at night. At that point, Crosshairs comes back. We joke he came to make sure Drift leaves to go to bed.
"You see how much be loves you?" Crosshairs asks, "at least he's not talking about you nonstop. I don't know if I could deal with that."
I laugh as he leaves the room.
Drift's P.O.V.
"You staying in her room?" Crosshairs asks as he closes the door.
"I don't think she'll want that yet, but it's going to be a problem."
"It's better than a female soldier who she doesn't know staying with here."
This is one problem there was no time to talk about. If (Y/N) didn't leave the medbay then pass out before returning, we could have talked about this. Sure, we spend hours together; but that's different from sharing a room. I hope (Y/N) doesn't feel like I'm rushing things.
The next morning, I talk to (Y/N) as we eat breakfast in her room on the medbay, worried she'll think I'm rushing things. Though I also worry about her mental state during recovery. Ratchet told me (Y/N)'s injury is more complicated than when humans break both the fibula and tibia. Even what Jolt and Ratchet did during surgery is different. She may need a little more time or a lot more time to recover. He wants to keep a closer eye on the healing bones than normal. It's hard to believe he's almost certain (Y/N) will only have a slight limp. He wouldn't lie either.
"We're not even together yet, and you already have to take care of me," she sulks.
"I have heard the wedding vow; in sickness and in health. To me, this should apply even if we're dating. Surely you didn't tell me you love me for us not to be together."
Ratchet comes in to talk to (Y/N) about her recovery. Stressing to (Y/N), she might need more time. At least she's able to put her leg down to use the bathroom while using crutches. Other than that, she must use a wheelchair and keep her leg elevated. I can smell her fear this will be more than a minor limp at the end of her recovery.
Jolt works on physical therapy for a few minutes while showing me what the current step in (Y/N)'s therapy involves.
All sleeping quarters in the base allow four soldiers or Autobots per room. (Y/N) is lucky to have a room to herself. I'm glad there's a bed above hers, so we don't have to figure out what to do about the furniture. The room shouldn't be too cramped for the wheelchair.
I wait until (Y/N) is released from medbay to go to her room. The bed is at the perfect height to move easily from wheelchair to the bed. Once I make sure (Y/N) is comfortable, I get a few things from my room. I will not move in — even if it's temporary and (Y/N) decides it's too soon for us to share a room. Though even Crosshairs says it's unlikely.
(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
I forgot about a picture I made... and Drift sees it; how embarrassing — even if it's not a Photoshop project putting his head on a nude body. He smiles as my face turns red.
"You know this wasn't a secret?" He asks, "we can smell hormonal changes."
Oh, great, which means he'll know when I'm on my period and when I'm in the mood.
Drift lies on the bed with me. I'm wondering how we would have admitted we love each other if I didn't get hurt?
I still felt embarrassed when Drift had to help me to the bathroom for the first few days. I can't believe how close he pays attention to my pain, making sure I don't wake up in the middle of the night with pain.
Jolt continues to do physical therapy in my room. Then Drift takes me for a walk around the park, even if I'm in a wheelchair.
"I'm not letting you stay in your room all day," he argues.
It's been nice going on walks with Drift, even though I'm not walking.
Six weeks pass before Ratchet believes I can try putting weight on my leg. I'm scared it's too soon with the injury I had, even if I'm starting slowly.
"No!" I cry.
"You'll be ok," Ratchet assures me, "you're healing well."
I hold on to Drift while putting my foot on the floor. Even though I'm supposed to only put a little weight on my leg, I'm still scared I'll cause a break.
"This is good; I want you to keep putting a little weight on your leg several times a day," Ratchet explains.
Though I'm only doing this five minutes each time, I'm still worried, and there's still a long way to go.
"You're doing great," Drift smiles as we sit on my bed, "you remember how bad your injury was. It's going to be a few months."
"I'm failing everyone! I should be in battle with the others!"
"You will be soon. We can't rush; otherwise, you won't be able to return to the battlefield."
Drift's P.O.V.
I worried she'd be terrified to return to the battlefield, but I didn't think (Y/N) would be impatient. I think she's bored. She's used to working out or training most of the week.
With Ratchet's approval, I take (Y/N) to the training room.
"At least you can do a little weight training. Soon you can try the pool," I explain to her.
I help her get on the seat to pull weights.
"You want to help me with cases?" Mirage asks.
This would keep her busy.
"Might as well get used to the only way I'll be able to stay in N.E.S.T.," she sulks.
Mirage looks at me, uncertain if he should leave.
"What's going on?" Lennox asks.
"Mirage asked me to help him," (Y/N) explains, "might as well, cause I'm not getting back on the battlefield."
"I know you're bored and frustrated, but you know we can't rush recovery," Lennox explains, "work with Mirage; that'll keep you busy."
(Y/N) agrees, but I worry this injury is affecting her mental health in a way I didn't think of.
I have (Y/N) work out for a while before Mirage takes her to his office, allowing me to talk to Ratchet. Ratchet isn't sure what we can do. She's not ready to have the cast removed. Though Ratchet agrees, that'll help a lot even if she's going to transition to an air cast. Though we both worry it'll be easier for her to refuse to wear it.
It's heartbreaking watching (Y/N) deal with the injury and now depression. How long before she thinks we're through? With how depressed she is, I worry she's thinking that way.
The second I say I want to talk to her, (Y/N) gets scared and tries to wheel herself away. I stop her, take her to her room, move her onto my lap as I sit on the bed, and hug her.
"Sweetspark, listen to me; I know you're frustrated how long this is taking, but you understand we can't rush this unless you want to work with Mirage when he's reviewing cases in his office. I told you already this is not a problem or a reason we can't be together."
I kiss her forehead, but she says nothing. I can't make her talk either.
(Y/N) is happy when Ratchet tells her she's ready for an air cast. It's a boot that allows a little more movement, but not too much. She's allowed to take it off, and we can enjoy swimming. He says she's ready to walk with crutches, but she must still be careful about weight on the leg and, of course, when going up and downstairs.
Ratchet tells me it might be a month before (Y/N) is healed. We'll be slowly cutting back on how long she wears the boot. Everyone is happy to see how far (Y/N) has come, even though it's been two months. She surprises me by telling me she wants me to officially move to her room.
(Y/N)'s P.O.V.
I don't know how things will go if I move into Crosshairs and Drift's room, and I'd rather not find out. I'm fine if Crosshairs wants to hang out with us — but not on mine and Drift's dates.
I don't need to be reminded to take it slowly; my leg tells me to rest after walking down the hall from the cafeteria.
"This is good," Drift smiles as we sit on the couch in the lounge room.
What's not good is the scarring. I think it's too late to do something. Ratchet did his best to avoid a long scar up my leg.
"You have your first battle scar," Crosshairs jokes as he sits next to me.
After a little rest, we agree to try a walk in the park. No way I'll make it there. Jolt can come along with us.
Jolt's P.O.V.
I watch (Y/N) walk a short distance on the path. She's doing well, but she's also trying to ignore the cues her leg is giving, saying it's time for a break. Drift has to make her sit on the bench. I look at her leg after the walk.
"This is normal. You're getting used to the repairs and not walking after two months," I explain, "you need to stop when you feel you need to rest."
(Y/N) rests for twenty minutes before walking again. She's definitely not ready to walk back to the base from the park.
I can observe (Y/N) as she walks around the base. Drift has to remind (Y/N) to rest for a few days until she can walk further.
"I think in a month she can take the boot off and walk with a cane for a while," I tell Ratchet.
"Yes, it's been a challenge for (Y/N), but she's almost healed."
"But we both know she'll need a little more time before getting back on the battlefield. Good luck telling her that."
Though the cons have been quiet since that day, we know they can attack at any time. I think (Y/N) thinks every time soldiers and Autobots go on a mission, she's missing a battle.
As Ratchet and I thought, (Y/N) is ready to ditch the boot off and use a cane. We are right about the slight limp, but that may go away. We let Drift train with her rather than have (Y/N) take part in Sideswipe's class for new recruits. Thankfully we're able to not mention his class; otherwise, (Y/N) would take it as she's very weak and starting over in N.E.S.T.'s ranks.
Drift's P.O.V.
It's been a challenging three months, but now (Y/N) is almost healed. We need to strengthen her leg, but at least she's not limited as much. I still need to limit how much running she's doing, but she'll be back to running miles like she used to in no time. Ratchet took pictures of (Y/N)'s injury and after surgery. Amazingly, she got this far in three months.
"I told her I was skilled," he reminds me, "plus the injury looked a lot worse than it was. Still, I thought the break would be unrepairable."
I plan a day together with (Y/N) and a nice dinner date. I try to get her to relax in the pool, but she turns it into a workout session. At least she relaxes at the end of our pool time.
She's not bothered. I went into her closet and found a nice dress. She finds the clue we're going on a date interesting.
"Our relationship is backward," she smiles.
"Na, so what if we're finally going out three months later? All the time together was like unofficial dates."
"Still, it's messed up; we tell each other how we feel, and you're taking care of me. I'd think that's something that happens after we've dated for a while."
"Not when I love you."
Our kiss turns into a make-out session before we even leave the room. It's going to be a great night.