(please see all previous disclaimers)

A couple weeks after revealing their past dating history to each other in the med bay, Aquaformer and Optimus were starting to get to know each other better. Aquaformer didn't like certain things the Prime did, and Optimus couldn't stand some of the things that the femme did. They bickered a few times, but it always seemed to end in an amicable way. Optimus got on Aquaformer for a few things and vice versa as both were extremely stubborn and hard headed.

Ratchet and Ironhide were key confidants as Aquaformer and Optimus were feeling each other out. Aquaformer often talking with Ratchet while Optimus went to Ironhide. Ratchet and Ironhide tried their best to support their friends.

"Man, is he a stubborn aft" Aquaformer spouted off one time to Ratchet, after Aquaformer had been yelled at by the Prime for something minor, or at least minor to Aquaformer.

"What happened, Aquaformer?" Ratchet asked, knowing Aquaformer had a history of not listening to her superiors at times and was out and out defiant at times.

"So I went and blew up a con installation on my own. Big deal. You'd of though he'd of been happy, but no. He says I was too reckless" Aquaformer spouted off.

Ratchet looked at the femme. "Was this con installation near a large earth city?"

"Yeah, so?" Aquaformer asked, not quite as careful about humans as she needed to be at times.

Ratchet sighed. "Aquaformer, you have to remember, we aren't on Cybertron anymore. We are one earth and earth is populated by humans and creatures, both of which are much smaller than we are and can easily be taken out by a misplaced shot or a well intentioned strike. We have to take care. Yes, we are in a war, but we are not like the cons. We have to remember that we protect all lives, including those that dwell on this planet." Aquaformer sighed. Hearing Ratchet say that, she knew she was in the wrong. "Were any humans hurt?"

"Just one, but I got him to a hospital after stabilizing him" Aquaformer replied. "Human medics said he would survive."

Ratchet smiled at that, as he could see the nurse bot that Aquaformer had been hiding under the warrior she had been forced to become. "I suggest you go talk to Optimus. Tell him what you told me."

"You think he will listen after I blew it?" Aquaformer asked.

"You don't know if you don't try" Ratchet replied, hoping Aquaformer wouldn't go off and do anything stupid.

Aquaformer nodded and then headed off to find Optimus, unaware he was talking to his friend Ironhdie.

Meanwhile, in another part of the base, Optimus was talking to his friend Hide. "I can't believe she did that" Optimus stated sternly to his friend. "She could have killed hundreds of humans and put many lives at risk."

Ironhide listened. "Well, you told her to go search for the con installation."

"I did but I didn't tell her to do anything else with it. I told her to comm and have us come for backup so that the humans wouldn't be in danger" Optimus replied.

"Sir, may I ask you something?" Hide asked.

"Go head" Optimus replied, unsure of what Hide would ask.

"How many humans were hurt or killed in the process of her destroying the installation?" Hide asked.

"I…I don't know, but even one is too many" Optimus replied firmly, unaware of Aquaformer's history of being a nurse bot.

"Do you want to know what I think, Prime?" Hide asked.

"What? What do you think?"

"I think you need to talk to her and listen to what she has to say. You barked at her before you gave her a chance to defend herself. I know you two are getting closer, but you have to allow her to speak and state her case before you go off the deep end on her" Hide stated, hoping Optimus wouldn't be mad.

Optimus sighed. This was why he hated getting too close to anyone, as it always seemed those he loved ended up hurting him – whether through dying or just walking out of his life. But he supposed he should give her a chance to speak. "I suppose you are right. I will go find her and speak with her now."

"Prime, let her talk. You listen" Hide stated and Optimus nodded before heading off to find Aquaformer. Hide could only hope that Optimus would listen to what the femme had to say and that the femme had a good reason for what she had done.