d2mv. Autobot Base. Surprise!

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Ratchet: *frowning as he changes the nuts on Jazz's arm* A month and a half to two months. Bumblebee carried her twins the full two months. I strongly suspect that Chromia's gestation was shorter. *sharply* Can we change the subject? *it's been two weeks since he and First Aid lost their sparklet, and he still has no interest in bringing up the topic of younglings in general*

Jazz: *blinks up at him, and then goes o.O* Hey, Ratchman, chill. I needta know this stuff. But don't worry, I'll just ask Sparkie sometime when you ain't around. *glances over at Sparkshield*

Ratchet: *growls quietly and gives her arm a slight jerk, then absently eats a nut. He usually throws things at people for eating nuts*

Sparks: *Looks worried at this, offering Jazz a small nod.* That's probably best...

Ratchet: *still growling softly as he eats another nut. Then pauses to check in the crate that's sitting above Jazz's head on the examining table, his sharp optics softening as he looks at the frail inhabitant of the nest of blankets and giant ragbunny that is in that crate. Gentle big finger gently touches First Aid's shoulder*

Jazz: *slight wibble as she watches him, her dark optics full of sympathy and hurt*

First Aid: *Drums up enough energy to tilt her head and nuzzle briefly against that finger, optics dim.*

Spark: *Just looks... pained for the two*

Ratchet: *soft clicks, his finger going to First Aid's mouth and oh so carefully and tenderly giving her a shot of the energy that the tiny femme is unable to take in by any other way right now* Shhhh. I'm here. I'm here.

First Aid: *Doesn't resist this, just curling up against his hand with a quiet whine.*

Ratchet: *softly* I'll be finished soon. *gently tucks her blankets around her, then makes sure she can see her bunny's face* *quietly and woodenly, his voice flat with pain* I'm here.

First Aid: *Nods mutely, shifting to nestle in against the bunny*

Ratchet: *aches inside as he turns back to Jazz, wishing he had the easy ability to say love words that he's seen Optimus and Ironhide use, or at least Optimus' ability to use a pet name. Sighs deeply as he sets back to work, his processor once more going to that tiny light that he'd been unable to save. For some reason today the thought hits him especially hard, and he suddenly finds himself gripping the edge of the table with both hands as the room rocks around him with nausea*

Jazz: *sits up with alarm* Ratch? Man, what's wrong?

Ratchet: *blinks at her absently, but then makes a small sound of discomfort and grips harder as his knees try to buckle*

Sparks: *Is at the medic's side quickly, reaching to help keep him standing, guide him to a berth.* C'mon... let's sit you down here...

Ratchet: *gasps* First Aid! I can't... can't leave her. *too weak and sick to even be able to turn back toward the table*

Jazz: *grabs the box and hops down off the table to follow* She's right here, Ratch. Don't worry.

Sparks: Jazz can keep an optic on her for a click. *Gets Ratchet laid out before running a scan on him*

Ratchet: *gasping and shaking as he whispers his mate's name. And inside his torso, the tiny body that is just starting to form twitches unhappily*

Sparks: *Just... STARES at him a moment, stunned speechless*

Jazz: *stops and gives Sparkshield a wary look* *slowly, as she holds First Aid's box protectively close to her chest* Sparkie? What's wrong?

Sparks: *Blinks at this, looking at Jazz.* ...Gonna need a box.

Jazz: *bewildered look, then drops her gaze to the box in her arms* Uhhh...

Ratchet: *groan full of utter misery*

Sparks: Nu-uh. A sparklet box.

Jazz: *very confused* Sparkie, you ain't makin' any sense.

Sparks: ...Ratchet's carryin their sparklet. *Dazed sounding*

Jazz: 0_0 *forgets the language in the infirmary law* You're #@$#@@in' me.

Sparks: *Absently, as she leans back over Ratchet to get to work.* Language. An keep an optic on First Aid.

Jazz: *stares up at the tall female medic, and then turns her gaze down to the tiny one in the box she's holding* First Aid. First Aid, can you hear me? *gives the box a tiny shake*

Ratchet: *soft fading whir as he passes out from dizziness*

Sparks: *Gets to work taking care of Ratchet and that sparklet*

First Aid: *Looks up sluggishly at that shake, with a low whimper*

Jazz: *a bit sharply* 'Aid! Ratchet 'n your baby need you! Snap outta it!

First Aid: *Lets out a low hollow sob* My baby is gone...

Jazz: No. No she ain't. She's alive 'n knockin' 'er ol' man flat off his #$@#$#%.

First Aid: *Just shaking at this point*

Jazz: *sets the box down and gently fishes out First Aid* Sparkie, open him up so she kin see.

Sparks: *opens up the armor so that The small femme can see*

Jazz: 'Aid, look.

sparklet: *twitching again, unhappy and scared tiny who hardly looks like anybody yet. Little spark just a pulsing*

First Aid: *Peers at the little spark... and then just bursts into tears*

Jazz: Hey... *cuddles her close and rubs her back* Shhh. I know.

First Aid: *Is relieved... but her spark is still hurting over this*

Sparks: *Busy affixing that sparklet box to Ratchet's spark chamber*

Jazz: So how'd the kid get over there? ...'N what's she doin' inside Ratchet, anyway?

Sparks: I couldn't tell you... Guess the sparklet knew where she'd be safe. As for how? Got no clue

sparklet: *trying to hide from the sparklet box, but is still too tiny and frail and curled up to do much other than twitch*

Sparks: *Soothing little hum as she adjusts it, letting some of the energy from Ratchet's spark flood the box, to encourage the little spark to take up residence there instead*

sparklet: *finally calms down, her tiny back set to the bottom of Ratchet's spark compartment and her little head bowed in sleep*

Jazz: *just boggling with silent wonder*

Sparks: *Once she's settled, will close that box up so she'll be safe*

Jazz: *looks at First Aid, and then sets the little femme on Ratchet's chest once Sparkshield has closed it up*

First Aid: *Snuggles in on Ratchet, still crying quietly*

Jazz: *frowns slightly* Ratch gonna be alright?

Sparks: With some supplaments and rest, he'll be fine.

Jazz: What'd he fall over for?

Sparks: Cause his system's been running on rations for one when he shoulda been taking more. *Huffs in Ratchet's direction*

Jazz: *wince* Um. Is this a guy gettin' pregnant?

Ratchet: *groggily* No.

Sparks: Speak of the devil.

Ratchet: *confused look*

Sparks: Figure of speech. So, how're you feeling now?

Ratchet: *soft grumble as he manages to get a hand up to cover First Aid* Dizzy. Ill. *more quietly* Very relieved*

Sparks: *Nods* Rest and more rations will help with the illness.

Ratchet: *winces at the thought of fuel* *quietly* I'd rather eat scrap.

Jazz: You already ate a lotta nuts.

Ratchet: 0_0 *sigh and grumble*

Sparks: Some yes. But you've been feeding three on one mech's rations.

Ratchet: *thinks this over, and then sighs again as he nods* *quietly* I wasn't thinking clearly.

Sparks: No one blames you. We're all just glad you're okay.

Ratchet: *looks down at his mate*

First Aid: *Just huddled down on his chest, shivering quietly*

Ratchet: *softly* First Aid?

First Aid: ...Yes?

Ratchet: Your daughter is as resourceful and determined as her mother.

First Aid: *Offers a faint trembling smile at this*

Ratchet: I hope she also becomes as beautiful.

First Aid: *Ducks her head, blushing*

Jazz: *shoves a pizza box at Ratchet after finding his stash* Here ya go! Eat up.

Ratchet: *stops short and goes wide-eyed as the smell hits him, and then he's trying not to urk*

Sparks: Jazz. I don't think he's ready for that yet... *Sympathetic smile*

Jazz: *backs off fast* Ratchet not ready for pizza??

Ratchet: *would be pale and sweating if he were human. Instead he's just shaking slightly*

Sparks: Not yet, not

Jazz: ...Then whaddwe feed 'im?

Sparks: Enriched fuel, and scrap.

Jazz: ...Can I have the pizza?

Sparks: *Rolls her optics and shakes her head.* Yes Jazz. Just... eat it elsewhere.

Jazz: *big grin* You need me for anythin' else?

Sparks: Nah. Go on, scram. *Offers a grin in return.*

Jazz: *gone! Is going to set the other babies loose on this!*

Ratchet: *rumbling, shaky sigh. Then turns his head to look at his assistant*

Sparks: How're you holding up, Ratchet?

Ratchet: ...Don't tell Ironhide. *in other words, he's still a bit out of it*

Sparks: *Soft snrk of amusement* I won't. Medic's honor.

First Aid: *Just curled against Ratchet's armor, not budging for anything*

Ratchet: *and then startles as Optimus' voice comes from the door*

Optimus: Don't tell Ironhide what? *frowning with concern at his CMO*

Sparks: Oh, good news, for a change. *Indulgent smile*

Optimus: *comes into the infirmary, the frown still on his face* Then why keep it from the others?

Ratchet: *quiet and weary muttering as he holds his wife close*

Sparks: Ratchet just doesn't want to get teased.

First Aid: *Soft little whimper. She's not nearly so unhappy as before, but the shock still has yet to wear off*

Optimus: Teased for what? *over by the table now, a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder*

Sparks: We found their sparklet.

Optimus: *shoots her a startled look* Where?

Sparks: It moved to Ratchet.

Optimus: 0_0

Ratchet: *sighs and quietly passes out*

Optimus: *alarmed expression* Ratchet? *looks to his wife* Sparkshield?

Sparks: He's sleeping. Carrying the youngling takes a lot of energy, and he's not been getting the diet necessary.

Optimus: *frowning again, though this time in thought* Does he need to stay here in the infirmary? He may be more comfortable in his own bed.

Sparks: Hmm... you may be right.

Optimus: *nods, and then gently lifts Ratchet and First Aid from the table* *softly* Let's get you home and in your own bed, old friend.

Ratchet: *sleeps and hugs First Aid*

First Aid: *Curls in against Ratchet, otherwise not moving.*

Sparks: *Gathers up the box that Ratchet had been carrying First Aid around in and nods* Need me to open the door?

Optimus: There should be no harm from the infirmary being unmanned for the length of time it will take for you to accompany me and do so.

Dentoo: Sparks: *Amused chuckle* Alright then. *Leads the way to Ratchet's quarters*

Optimus: *soon has Ratchet and First Aid carefully tucked into bed. Had to step over one of the skitties on the way over, and hopes that the little one wasn't too frightened* What is the box you're carrying, Sparkshield?

Sparks: *Sets the box down on the night table in the room* It's where Ratchet was keeping First Aid so he could keep an optic on her.

Optimus: *looks inside the box and quirks a brow plate, then lifts out the rag bunny and studies it quizzically* A doll?

First Aid: *Sheepish little squeak* OnO

Optimus: *looks at her* Yes, First Aid?

First Aid: ...That's mine. *Quiet, embarassed tone*

Optimus: *expression softens* *quietly and gently* A gift from Ratchet? *offers the soft toy*

First Aid: *Nods quietly, accepting the toy back and settling down again* Yeah...

Optimus: *carefully pulling the blankets and tarps back up over her and making sure they're tucked around Ratchet* It is aesthetically pleasing. *steps back with a nod* I know that Ratchet will be safe in your care.

First Aid: *Another nod, nestling down under the tarps* I'll take care of him.

Optimus: *nods again* Rest well. *turns to leave the room and then the apartment*

Sparks: *Follows after him, pausing to dim the lights before closing the door behind them.*

Optimus: *stops in the hall and reaches toward her with one hand*

Sparks: *Blinks at this, reaching a hand out to put in his*

Optimus: *pulls her close and hugs her gently* *over their bond* -You're certain it is the sparklet they thought was lost?-

Sparks: *Snuggles gladly into that hug* -Positive.-

Optimus: *soft affection* -Is Ratchet in any danger?-

Sparks: -Not that I can see. The sparklet is developing well, and I got her into a box, so it should be simple now that we know she's there.-

Optimus: -Another female?-

Sparks: -Mhm.-

Optimus: *feeling of a smile* -Do you have the supplies that you need to attend to him?-

Sparks: -Thankfully, yes. it should be fairly simple, unorthodox surprises aside.-

Optimus: *quiet rumble* I'm glad. *nuzzles her helm* But I must go and attend a meeting now. *bit of uncertainty concerning that meeting*

Sparks: Meeting? What about? *she senses that concern, oh yes.*

Optimus: *quietly* It seems that NEST is moving its home base.

Sparks: ...Where to?

Optimus: I do not know, as of yet. It is to be disclosed at the meeting.

Sparks: *Worries!* Well... okay.

Optimus: *echoes that worry, and also lets slip a wash of sadness at the thought of leaving the graves that rest on this island*

Sparks: *Shivers and hugs him tight, trying to be reassuring*

Optimus: *nuzzles her helm again, and then gently pushes her away* *quietly* I'll see you tonight, love.

Sparks: Alright... *Can't help but worry... but Optimus has a job to do.*

Optimus: *affection and contentment in knowing that she is there, and part of him. And then he turns and strides away*

Sparks: *Watches him go a moment before heading back to the medbay to clean up, keep herself occupied.*

((Written by sparkshield and random_xtras))