(Please see all previous disclaimers. M Preg this chapter.)
Aquaformer sat quietly inside Skyfire's jet form. Aquaformer was trembling as she was cold, worried, and low on energon. Then she felt a pulse from her mate. She decided to comm back. "Aquaformer here" she replied weakly. She hoped her mate wasn't mad at her.
"Aquaformer, this is Optimus. Please tell me your status" Optimus asked gently, knowing his mate could be over sensitive at times.
Aquaformer sighed, as she wasn't sure what to say. "I…I'm riding home to the base inside Skyfire. I am just not quite capable of flying myself home at this time" Aquaformer answered, which was as close as he got to calling herself weak. She didn't want him to know that she was worried about his reaction to this whole episode.
"Please have Skyfire bring you to the med bay once you land at the base" Optimus gently reminded her. He was happy that she was safe and online for now.
"Will do, Aquaformer out" she replied. She was tired, so tired from this whole thing. She had no idea that was due to her being sparked yet again and so close to having previously sparked sparklings. Aquaformer informed Skyfire of what Optimus said.
"Okay" responded Skyfire. And soon, thanks to Skyfire's jet mode, they were back at base. Aquaformer carefully exited Skyfire before he transformed and led her inside the safety of the base and straight to the med bay.
Optimus was already there with Ratchet. Both were waiting for Skyfire to bring Aquaformer in. "Here she is, Prime" Skyfire stated before handing the weakened femme over to her mate. Optimus took his mate, concerned that she was so weak. Optimus thanked Skyfire who soon left.
"Help me get her to the med bay berth" Optimus said to Ratchet and the two soon got the large femme on the berth. Aquaformer hated feeling and looking so weak. She felt useless and anxious. Ratchet began scanning her while Optimus stayed close by. "You worried me so, my love." Aquaformer looked away fearful that he was going to yell at her for going her own way again. Optimus sighed at that. "I'm not mad, my love. Just concerned. You were not acting like your usual self."
"I…I had a nightmare. I…I felt I needed to escape. I didn't realize I was sleep walking. I haven't done that since I was a youngling" Aquaformer revealed, still worried and trembling. Optimus was concerned and looked to Ratchet.
"So what's the verdict?" Optimus asked Ratchet.
"Her systems are running too cool and she is low on energon" was as far as Ratchet got before Optimus butted in.
"How could that be, she drinks plenty and she usually runs warmer than usual?" Optimus asked, unprepared for what he was going to hear.
"Like I was explaining before you interrupted, Prime. There is a big reason for her being weak and cool. She is sparked again. And she only sparked her last ones a short time ago" Ratchet explained.
Optimus was stunned. He had no idea. But when he looked at his mate, he could tell this was hard on her and her systems. "Ratchet I need you to deep scan me" Optimus ordered.
Ratchet was caught off guard. "What? Why?"
"I need you to deep scan me too see if I have a sparkling development chamber. Because if I do, I want to take these sparklings from her and put them in mine so her systems can recover" Optimus answered, not caring about anything other than helping his weakened mate.
Ratchet did as asked. And to Ratchet's surprise, the Prime didn't have one sparkling development chamber but two. Ratchet had known Optimus had one chamber,but not two as the bigger one hid the smaller one. "You have two chambers but I don't know if the second smaller one is functional."
"Put her sparklings in me then" Optimus stated, getting onto a berth to prepare for the operation. Ratchet sighed but did as asked. Ratchet went in and removed all four sparklings from Aquaformer's two chambers. Three fit in Optimus' larger chamber and so the last was put in the smaller chamber. Ratchet watched carefully to make sure the sparklings attached like they should. Thankfully, all four attached.
"The procedure was a success. Now I need to solder you both back up and the run energon drips. It may take her systems a while to realize they are no longer sparked" Ratchet told Optimus.
"But she would have been utterly miserable carrying these" Optimus replied, having no idea how his systems were going to react to this.
"Rest for now. If you want some tips, talk to your mate or Jazz. They've had experience, especially your mate" Ratchet stated. Optimus nodded and asked Ratchet to move the Prime's berth closer to his mate. Ratchet obliged and soon left the two alone to rest, though was near by in case anything happened. Optimus carefully pulled his mate close. He would need her now more than ever, for their 6 sparked ones and the 4 to come.