Bumblebee and Steeljaw listened to Starscream attentively, horrified by what the silver Seeker had seen and heard, as they accompanied him and Sandstorm to the med-bay, where all three medics were anxiously awaiting their arrival. Dead End took Sandstorm away from Starscream and settled him on the berth they had set-up. Knockout removed the cuffs and wing clamps, while Moonracer attached sensors to Sandstorm's frame.

"Is he going to be alright?" Bumblebee asked.

"Won't know until we get to work," Dead End answered simply. He approached Bumblebee and Starscream and started pushing them out of the room. "So it's time for you to leave!"

"I'm staying," Starscream stated, breaking away from Dead End.

"Sorry, but we can't have any…"

"I'm not leaving him behind again!"

Starscream's outburst shocked everyone.

Bumblebee looked between the two mechs, wondering if he should say anything.

"Starscream can stay," Knockout said. Dead End turned to protest, but the red medic wasn't finished. "So long as he remains silent and out of the way, I don't mind. Besides, we can't waste anymore time arguing."

"Agreed," Moonracer supported.

Dead End, far from pleased about being outvoted, but understanding the urgency of the situation, relented to the two younger medics.

"Very well…"

The former Stunticon then turned back to Bumblebee and Steeljaw, who had remained standing in the doorway the whole time.

"But you two? Out!"

Bumblebee didn't need further convincing. The only thing worse than getting on one medic's bad side was irritating a room full of them.

The med-bay doors automatically closed and locked behind Bumblebee after he exited the room.

"Can't believe it," Bumblebee thought aloud. "This is the second mech Starscream seems to regret abandoning. Or maybe it's the third? Scrap, I'm just confusing myself!"

The yellow and black mech vented and spared his companion a quick glance. Adding onto his already full plate of worries and grievances, Steeljaw appeared greatly disturbed. Remembering what happened earlier…

What almost happened again…

And in front of an audience no less?

"Lieutenant."

Steeljaw's voice broke the other mech out of his trance.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I must've spaced out for a bit there," Bumblebee apologized, rubbing the back of his helm. His frame slouched and expression turned into a frown. "Anyway, I was just wondering how you're handling things?"

Every part of Steeljaw's frame stiffened, flashes of fear and anger flitting across his optics.

"I'm doing fine," the Lupicon growled, turning his helm to look anywhere, at anything, except Bumblebee. "I'll feel even better once I've killed that fragger…"

The moment the last word left his vocalizer, Steeljaw flinched, curling his claws even tighter around his arms and tail around his pedes. Bumblebee recoiled slightly, genuinely feeling bad for Steeljaw. No one deserved to go through what he had to.

"Hey, Steeljaw…" Bumblebee started, but was interrupted.

"I'm not in the mood, Bumblebee," Steeljaw hissed the yellow and black mech's name. Not his designation, his name, something he rarely if ever did. "I don't want to talk about it."

Not waiting for a response, Steeljaw left.

Primus, this is going to be difficult, Bumblebee thought, staring solemnly at where Steeljaw was standing only moments ago. He vents a sigh of frustration and turns back to the med-bay doors.

Especially when it looks like there just might be two of them now.

.

. .

. . .

The mechs and femme on the other side of the door were not privy to what just occurred, as they were in the middle of repairing Sandstorm. The small flight-frame was in a sorry state, but he's looking much better already than when Starscream first came upon him, courtesy of the three medics attending to him. After checking for any internal damage, they got to work on the exterior; i.e. cosmetic damage. Knockout's favorite.

But Starscream was hardly paying attention. He's currently sitting in the berth across from Sandstorm, silently, just staring at him, no part of his frame moving. No wing flicker, no blinking optic; nothing. He remained a statue, and a very creepy one at that. Knockout had to pause in his work to try and rile up Starscream; seeing the silver Seeker so unresponsive freaked the red medic out.

Eventually, Knockout quit his antics and refocused his attention on the task at-hand. Only then, a couple hours later, did the three medics do all that they could, believing Sandstorm's self-repair system will take care of everything from there.

Again, as Dead End and Moonracer were putting things away, Knockout tried to get Starscream to move or say something. Still, he didn't respond.

Seeing that the silver Seeker is in his own little world, and won't be moving anytime soon, Dead End decides it's best to leave them be for now, and leads the younger medics out of the med-bay.

.

. .

. . .

1 hour later…

Someone brings Starscream an Energon cube. Without looking, he says,

"I'm not hungry."

.

. .

. . .

2 hours later…

Someone else brings Starscream an Energon cube. Without looking, he repeats,

"I'm not hungry."

.

. .

. . .

Many more hours pass, and with those hours comes a new bot with an Energon cube, attempting to get Starscream to move, or at the very least have some nourishment.

But no matter how tired and weak he feels from that lack of nourishment, Starscream can't bring himself to do such a thing. Staring at the unconscious form of Sandstorm, remembering what he has seen and been told of the mech, it all brings back bad memories from a past that is long forgotten to everyone, except Starscream himself.

Lost in memory files, experiencing emotional fluctuations, nearly completely disconnected from the present.

He can't bring himself to break free, no matter how much he wants to, so he remains where he is, trapped within his own personal limbo.

Suddenly filled with hidden thoughts and emotions, feeling like he's drowning in dark water, sinking to the bottom of a pit of anxiety and depression, Starscream curls upon himself atop his berth, bows his head, and cries. Not his usual loud, frustrated screeching; quiet and pained, wanting to keep it hidden from the outside world. From those that can hurt him.

The med-bay doors slide open and someone enters. Due to his senses not being on full alert, Starscream can't tell by sound alone, but based on the ped steps, it had to be one of the heavier-set bots.

"Go away," Starscream growled half-heartedly, seriously not in the mood or mindset to actually put forth any aggression. Whoever it was kept walking until they stopped right by the silver Seeker, still not saying anything.

Starscream remained as he was for a few minutes, but the stranger had yet to do or say anything. Getting fed-up with others coming in to bother him, even if they mean well, the silver Seeker just had to open his mouth.

"How many times do I have to tell you simpletons? I'm not… AH!"

Starscream finally decided to pay a bit of attention to this bot, but immediately regretted sassing them once he saw who it was.

"Shockwave! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you!"

The scientist seemed unfazed. He stood extremely close to the silver Seeker, holding an Energon cube in his free servo. Starscream eyed the cube.

"Did the others put you up to this? I thought I told them I didn't want one! I highly suggest you don't waste your time trying to force me to drink it, Shockwave."

Surprising Starscream, Shockwave didn't say anything. His body language expressed that he's relaxed, suggesting that he is more than willing to stay with Starscream for however long it takes for something to happen.

"Whatever," Starscream scoffed, annoyed. He rolled his optics and turned back to Sandstorm, attempting to ignore Shockwave and the cube.

.

. .

. . .

"Grr… fine," Starscream growled an unknown amount of time later, aggressively swiping the Energon cube out of Shockwave's servo. "Don't go boasting about it. I'm only doing this to get you off my case. Primus knows you won't leave me alone until I do the logical thing."

Shockwave remained as statuesque as ever. It irritated Starscream, but he still drank, slowly, cupping the cube in both servos. Every other sip, he spared a glance at Shockwave.

Why is he still here? Waiting for me to finish the cube? Check on Sandstorm for the others? Or both? As the humans say, kill two birds with one stone. But then… why is…

Starscream clenched his jaw and claws.

What is wrong with me?

Something touched Starscream's shoulder plate, startling him out of his inner turmoil. Jumping slightly, he turns to face Shockwave. The scientist shares the stare.

"Uh… Shockwave… you… ah… you need some… thing?" Starscream stuttered, his plating heating and spark reacting erratically.

All Shockwave has to do is dip his helm a little. Starscream follows his direction and chirps in surprise when he notices that his clenched claws are starting to crack the Energon cube.

"Oh, my bad."

To avoid a mess, Starscream downs the rest of the cube. He sets it to the side and relaxes.

"Thank you, Shockwave."

.

. .

. . .

"Starscream."

"Hm?"

"Are you alright?"

Starscream vented and leaned back, dull optics betraying how tired he is.

How emotionally and mentally drained he is of everything.

"You're the scientist," Starscream chuckled. "What do you think?"

Shockwave didn't answer. He didn't even need to ask the question in the first place. Both him and Starscream know that, and yet, he did. Some small part of Shockwave felt that he should ask the question Are you alright?

Why he did that, for Starscream of all mechs, Shockwave has yet to figure out.

Or rather, he knows, and has yet to come to terms with the answer.

Despite the lack of expression, Starscream can tell when Shockwave is stuck, and right now, that is all he is. The silver Seeker finds this funny and laughs.

"My-oh-my, those processing gears of yours must be working overtime. It's amazing, though, isn't it? That something that seems so simple is actually quite complicated. Don't you agree?"

Shockwave didn't appear to have heard Starscream, but after a minute, he nodded.

"Yes, complicated is the most logical term to utilize in such a description," Shockwave concurred. Starscream smiled, then yawned. "Starscream, you are not well right now. You should retire to your room and get some rest."

Unfortunately, Starscream retained his vow from earlier.

"I'm not sure if the others told you, Shockwave, but I'm not leaving Sandstorm."

"They did."

Before Starscream could say another word, Shockwave grabbed him, and once he was secured in his arms, turned around and walked out of the med-bay.

"Shock…Shockwave, what are you doing? Put me down this instant!" Starscream demanded, flailing in the other's grasp.

"Cease your struggle, Starscream," Shockwave reprimanded. "If you keep kicking, you may set-off my arm cannon. I don't believe I need to explain the end result."

Starscream muttered a curse, but obeyed Shockwave. He, dare say, sees the logic behind the scientist's words, as much as he hated to admit it.

"I hate it when you're right," Starscream commented, settling into the hold. He curled against the other's chassis, relishing in the warmth it radiated. "Mmm… who knew you were so warm?"

"Just don't move too much, especially your legs."

"I know, I know. Don't activate your weaponized arm, got it. Yeesh, you really think I'm that stupid? Don't answer that!"

.

. .

. . .

"If the modification fits."

"I hate you."

"Then why do you still allow me to carry you?"

"You yanked me straight off the berth!"

"And you still could have put in more of an effort to get away."

". . . We'll finish this discussion later."

"In private, logically speaking."

"Of course."