Alpha 'verse. Iacon. Start of the story.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet had just gotten back from the bar in that nexus between realities, but even a rousing good poker game with his alternates hadn't helped him to feel better. The murder of his friends Bladewing and Skystriker was just too recent, and the uncertainty over the fate of their newly sparked Seeklet worried him so much that his energy wasn't sitting properly in his tank.

He sighed as he turned into an alley that was a shortcut back to his clinic, and then froze and scanned his surroundings as he thought he heard something. "Hello? Is someone there?"

Comments

[alpha_prime]

A navy, red, and black Seeklet peaked over the rim of a nearby trash bin and chirped at Ratchet, it was curious as to why he was there but scared of him at the same time.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet nearly jumped out of his brake shoes at the chirp, but as he looked down he realized why he hadn't sensed the other bot. It was a tiny Seeklet. One that he recognized, since he'd been the one to help her into the world.

He started to speak, but all he could do was static and then circulate air in an effort to calm down from his fright.

[alpha_prime]

The Seeklet tilted her head and chirped again, then let go of the rim to raise her hands to Ratchet only to end up falling back into the bin and landing on her back. She chirped in pain as the her wing nubs were roughly pinned beneath her, Energon tears streamed down her face as she cried.

[random_xtras]

Startlement faded instantly in the face of tiny tears, and Ratchet went to one knee as he gently scooped the baby into his arms and turned her to check for injury. "Shhhh. Let's see those wings."

[alpha_prime]

Still crying she moved her wings nubs a little bit, while she tried to snuggle up to him. Her paint was dull from lack of fuel and the grime that also covered her, an untreated wound could be seen on her right arm.

[random_xtras]

"Shhhhh." He gave her a very light pain override to mask the discomfort, and then pulled a long, flexible straw out of his subspace. One end of this went into his tank, and the other was coaxingly poked at the Seeklet's mouth. "Are you hungry? Hmmm? You might even like this, Optimus' son was feeding me his sweet sparklet blend."

[alpha_prime]

The tiny opened her mouth and gnawed at the end of the straw, while her wing nubs moved a bit. The chirp of Ratchet's Comm Link startled her, she looked up at him curiously.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet blinked and shifted the Seeklet to one arm, making reassuring sounds as he did so, then looked at his internal displays to see the ID of his caller before he responded.

[alpha_prime]

It was Wheeljack calling him; the Seeklet continued to gnaw on the straw and watched Ratchet

[random_xtras]

The medic sighed and answered the call. "I can't come dig you out right now, Wheeljack. I'm right in the middle of something important."

[alpha_prime]

//I wasn't calling about that; I was wondering if you were back yet and if you were I wanted to know if you wanted to get some Energon with me?// Wheeljack said/asked as the Seeklet chirped loudly when she was done.

[random_xtras]

"Not now." Ratchet took the straw and shook it slightly, then rolled it up and put it back into subspace before closing his tank port. This done, he put the bitty up to his shoulder and patted her carefully on the back to get out any air bubbles she might have formed. "I've got a patient that I have to finish tending to."

[alpha_prime]

The Seeklet burped and Wheeljack asked //What was that?// And then the seeklet chirped and then wrapped her arms around Ratchet's neck, her tiny engine purring in contentment.

[random_xtras]

"That's my patient," said Ratchet quietly, rubbing the tiny back and starting to baby dance slightly. "She's just new."

[alpha_prime]

//You know you could bring her with you, I was thinking about going to that new Café near your clinic.// Wheeljack said as the Seeklet chirped and nuzzled the side of her helm against Ratchet's

[random_xtras]

"Sorry, buddy. She needs repair and a wash." He gently rubbed his cheek against the snuzzly little helm and dropped his voice. "And I don't feel comfortable having her out in public right now."

That last will probably give his adopted brother a good idea just who this little patient is, since both of them had been worried over the fate of Bladewing and Skystriker's daughter.

[alpha_prime]

//Do you want me to come by your clinic and help with her, you know how close we both were to them// Wheeljack said without actually saying their designations.

The seeklet yawned and pulled herself closer to Ratchet falling into stasis, knowing that she was safe with this mech.

[random_xtras]

"Sure, if you want. Just don't touch anything without my say. She's too little to understand loud sounds." He glanced toward the sleeping tiny against his shoulder. "I need to get her home. See you soon."

[alpha_prime]

//See you soon too buddy// Wheeljack said and cut the transmission, he was waiting outside the clinic when Ratchet arrived. He smiled behind his mask when he saw the little seeklet "How is she Ratchet?" Wheeljack asked

[random_xtras]

"Open the door quick," said Ratchet quietly, wanting to get the baby inside before he talked about her. "You know the code, I lied about changing it the other day."

[alpha_prime]

Wheeljack nodded and put in the code and opened the door for Ratchet, he quietly gasped when he saw the wound on the seeklet's right arm. "Where did you find her Ratch?" Wheeljack asked quietly

[random_xtras]

"Hiding in the garbage behind Tray's." Ratchet quickly grabbed patching material from the shelves, working one handed. "Gimme back that three micron spot welder you filched the other day."

[alpha_prime]

"I didn't take the welder, you must have misplaced it" Wheeljack said

[random_xtras]

The white medic stopped and gave his brother a surprised and distracted look for a moment, but then nodded and walked over to take the welder out of the place where he'd hidden it. "Right. I knew that."

[alpha_prime]

"Yeah right if I hadn't of said anything you would have forgotten" Wheelack said with a sigh then said "Let me hold her for you while you work on her"