Hey, ya'all! How's it going? So I'm posting this chapter a lot sooner than I have for most of the other chapters. I'm warning ya that there is my own twist on alien medicine in this chapter, so sorry if you don't like it. Shall we continue the story?
Legend: Speaking in thoughts purposely aimed at Edward
Thinking
Emphasis on a thought/word
**** swear words
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Transformers or Twilight, all I own is Katherine, students that were hurt/died in the attack, and the plot.
Alien meds rock
I somehow made it through the next day with only one freak out from when I attempted to go into the cafeteria again because I had told myself that I could handle it. Apparently my subconscious disagreed as I found myself having a strong reaction once more. Thankfully, Bella and the Cullens didn't try and force me to go in and they sat out in the hall with me during lunch. Alice and Jasper went home with Edward while my cousin drove to Seattle to drop me off at the airport after I had grabbed my duffel.
She helped me check in as Chromia somehow got her alt mode on and I impatiently waited for the flight to end. I was flying to Nevada before getting on an aircraft from N.E.S.T. that would take me to their current base and it seemed to take forever to get to the base. Chromia had to stay in a different part of the plane, so I was harnessed in a seat while surrounded by a bunch of trainees.
"So who are you?" I glanced up in surprise at the man across from me, "You definitely ain't a soldier, so what are you doing here?"
I shrugged with my good shoulder and decided I didn't like his cocky attitude, "Visiting my family. They all work on base. And trust me, I am a soldier. Just like my father."
He rolled his eyes and started mouthing off about girls and such until we landed. I was the first to unhook myself and I threw my duffel bag on my left shoulder before using my crutch to get off the plane, "I don't see any wimps like you, girly. Go to the kitchen and cook us dinner."
I grinned at the sight of my dad standing near Ironhide's holoform because they were both close enough to hear the man's statements, "Daddy! Hide!"
I threw myself into my dad's arms and he laughed as he swung me around, "Hey, sweetheart. You're looking good."
I smiled before hearing the man from earlier mutter, "She's the major's daughter? ****."
I smirked back at him as my dad glared at the man, "You've got that right, soldier. Report for duty and you'll regret it if you ever even look at my daughter, understand?"
The man saluted, "Sir, yes, sir," before running off to join the other trainees that were meeting with Epps.
I hugged Hide before releasing him and he raced to sweep Chromia's holoform off her feet. My dad and I chuckled before he took my bag and we slowly walked the rest of the way to the base, "Carlisle has been calling me every week to report on how you were doing. He said you've been having trouble with sleeping and being idle," I froze and he paused beside me, "Do you want to talk about it?"
My hand clenched on my crutch, "No, I'm fine. He just worries too much." My father's eyes showed how much he doubted the truth in that statement, but he also knew I wasn't going to talk until I wanted to.
He sighed before nodding, "If ya say so, angel. Come on, you're bunking with me while you're here." I grinned and followed him to his room. His room was the same as any other on base, except he only shared his room with Epps, unlike the other soldiers that all had to share with at least six people in a room and my dad's room had a bathroom attached.
My dad set my bag down on one bed, "Well, you know the drill of sharing the room with us. Lock the bathroom door if you're in there, clean up after yourself, and no boys in here unless Epps or I am here."
I rolled my eyes, "I know, dad. It isn't the first time I've stayed on base with you."
He smiled ruefully, "I know, but this is the first time you'll be staying without your mother." I flinched and looked away as his face showed his sadness, "I miss her too, angel. I wish I could bring her back."
We shared a tight smile before the door opened and a familiar voice cried, "Why didn't my niece come say hello to her favorite uncle?!"
I chuckled as Epps proceeded to gently yank me into a hug, "Hi, Uncle Epps. I missed you."
His laugh shook me and he ruffled my hair, "Missed ya too, girl. Come on, the Bots are anxious to see you." Us three returned to the Autobot's main hangar and I waved at all the Bots, "Hey, guys. Long time no see." In a flurry of activity, they all transformed into their alt modes and activated their holoforms. I was passed to each one until I ended in front of Optimus, "Hey, Boss Bot. Miss me?"
He softly laughed as he embraced me, "Indeed, little one."
I smiled before hugging his sparkmate, "Hello, Elita."
I was shocked by a voice speaking behind me, "Why didn't I get a greeting like that?"
Optimus had to steady me as I whirled around and I couldn't stop the Chesire grin that spread across my face when I saw the yellow Camaro idling beside a familiar teen. I limped forward as fast as possible and was caught by the teen as the Camaro transformed, "Sammy! I didn't know you were going to be here too!"
My boyfriend laughed and kissed me softly before smiling down at me, "It was a surprise for you. How are you doing? My parents and I saw the news about the memorial."
I couldn't stop full body flinch from the reminder and I quietly responded, "I'm doing great," I quickly turned my attention to Bee's holoform, "Hey, BB. You keeping him out of trouble?"
He held a hand to his head and dramatically replied, "Nigh impossible!"
I laughed and nodded, "You poor Bot having to do that on your own." He heaved a huge sigh, which set Sam off on him, and I grinned as they playfully debated about how much trouble Sam could find. Us three somehow ended up playing tag, which I wasn't too good at since I couldn't run and they both held back against me.
THIRD P.O.V.
The elder Bots stood with Will and Epps as they watched the three teens goof around and Optimus glanced at the femme weapons specialist, "What do you have to report, Chromia?"
She sighed and her eyes darkened as they followed her young charge, "Physically, Katherine is healing better than expected. She will be able to lose the sling in a couple days and she has to do very light physical therapy with her arm while her leg can actually do some of the heavier stuff. However, the doctor says that she will permanently have a limp unless new medicine is found and her shoulder is always going to tire easier than the other. I overheard him talking to his wife and he said that Katherine will be lucky if she can ever play her instruments without a lot of pain."
Will frowned before gaining courage to ask the one question he feared the most, "What about mentally and emotionally?"
Chromia's eyes darkened even more and Ironhide put his arm around her as her sisters gently put their hands on her arms, "She barely sleeps at all anymore. I can hear her screaming or crying out before she wakes and then she sits there crying and whispering to herself. She feels as if she should have acted sooner to save those five kids. I heard the Cullen kids talking to their father and apparently Katherine has had a severe reaction to entering the cafeteria. She panics and throws herself as far away as possible before begging whoever she's with to not make her go in. And Primus forbid she is ever idle. She starts thinking about what she could have done differently that day if she ever gets a free moment. And many times she brings up Sarah," Will couldn't stop the sadness he felt at the mention of his late wife, "My apologies, Will, but Katherine is constantly asking if you and Sarah would be proud of her or ashamed that she didn't save those five kids. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before she breaks and I don't know if any of us will be able to save her." With heavy hearts or sparks, all of them turned to watch the three teens in time to see Katherine fall to the ground as her leg gave out.
KATHERINE'S P.O.V.
I was heaving for air, but it felt so good to have fun that I didn't pay any attention to the pain in my leg until it collapsed from under me. I let out a yelp of pain and curled towards my leg at the agony that seared up it as footsteps raced towards me, "Move it all of you! I'm the fragging CMO and I know more than the rest of you on how to take care of injuries!" I couldn't help the slight chuckle at the everyday bellow from the medic of doom, A.K.A. Ratchet the Hatchet. His holoform kneeled beside me and eyed me up and down, "Sparkling, you need to calm your breathing."
I tried, but couldn't get my breath under control and I started to panic, "Can't...breathe."
He snarled before disappearing and he snatched me up in his bipedal form's hands, "All of you stay out of med bay. I'll report later." He rushed off and I struggled to try and breathe as my airways felt like they were closing, "Katherine, I need you to relax. Focus on evening out your breath." I don't know how long it was, but he eventually sedated me and I entered a world of darkness.
Eventually, I woke up to everyone around me and I cracked a grin, "Hey, guys, hope you didn't have too much fun without me."
My dad laughed, but it was more out of relief as his grip on my hand tightened, "Don't you ever do that to me again. Do you know how worried you made me? Made all of us?"
I cringed, "Sorry, daddy. Sorry, everyone."
Ratchet spoke up before anyone else could, "It isn't your fault, sparkling, you didn't know."
We all looked at him in confusion and my dad repeated, "'Know'? Know what?"
The CMO sighed, "Katherine's body has been on bed rest for so long that she wasn't ready for that much activity and stimulation yet. I gave you some medicine only we have and it has advanced the healing process to an extreme. Your injuries are now only scars and you will soon be able to have almost full motion and range of your leg and shoulder."
I froze and questioned, "You...you mean, I'll be able to play...music...again?"
His smile was soft as he nodded and vocalized, "That's exactly what I mean," his smile fell as he continued, "However, Dr. Cullen is correct when he says your shoulder will tire out much more easily, same with your leg, so don't try and overdo it, understand?"
I grinned and hugged his hand that was by me, "Thank you so much, Ratch! You're awesome!"
He chuckled before shooing all of us, "Get out. I want peace back in my med bay." I rolled my eyes as Ironhide picked up my dad and I before everyone left Ratchet to himself.
The day went by without any other hitches and I eagerly clambered into bed beside my dad that night, "It's good to be back."
He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around me and we both burst out laughing as Epps mumbled in his sleep, "Back off, Santa. Those are my cupcakes." My dad and I eventually calmed down enough to fall asleep on our own, but I woke up with a scream.
I sat straight up before running to the toilet and vomiting as my dad and Epps both flailed around in their beds at the sudden wake up. They both swore while stumbling their way to the bathroom and my dad gently pulled my hair out of my face, "What's wrong, angel? Want us to get Ratchet?"
I shook my head as I flushed the toilet and brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth out, "It's nothing. Just nightmares. I'm sorry for waking you two. I'm just going to go for a walk and clear my head." I threw on my slippers and walked out the door as the two men slowly climbed back into bed.
I sat on the ground outside the Autobot hangar as I stared up at the stars and I jumped at the light voice behind me, "You should be in bed and asleep, little one."
I turned to give a bashful smile at the towering femme, "Hey, Elita. I was asleep, but a nightmare woke me up."
She slowly sat beside me and I subconsciously curled closer to her body that gave off warmth to fight the cold, "I have found that talking about your nightmares helps. Want to talk about it?"
I sighed, but I knew she wouldn't leave me alone until I spoke a little about it, "I didn't know anybody had died until I accidentally saw the news. Three of them were dead there, one died on the way to the hospital, and the other died in surgery. I had the best doctor in Forks saving me...why me? He could have saved her...she didn't have to die because I couldn't get to the man quicker."
She growled, "Stop that thinking right there, Katherine. You never could have known that a man was coming to shoot a high school. You did what you could and when you could before almost losing your life to save all those other kids. Yes, it is saddening that five kids lost their lives, but think of how many lives were spared that day, including your life. Fate isn't done with you yet, Katherine Lennox, but we are all happy beyond words that you're alive and safe. This never has been and never will be your fault, got it?" I nodded somewhat and she began to point out different constellations to me until I fell asleep against her leg.
