My heart beat worriedly in my chest as I listened to Ratchet and Optimus conversing in dire tones. My eyes grazed over Bulkhead's processor scan, the amount of red across it making me worry even more. Ratchet explained that the information was slower taking over his mind, and soon, there would be none of Bulkhead's own thoughts left. Optimus nodded grimly.

"But... if you stop him, you won't have the full formula for the Synthetic Energon," I said sadly.

"You assume we have a means of stopping it," Ratchet said gruffly, making my face run pale.

"We must try," Optimus instructed. "I will not condone another Autobot loss."

Ratchet sighed, but nodded, still holding me close to his chest chassis. I looked up at him worriedly as he turned back to the monitor. I wondered I was bothering him while he was working. I leaned forward and tapped his metal chest. He glanced down at me, his expression first one of annoyance, but it became gentler when he saw my anxious look.

"Am I getting in your way?" I asked, leaning back while sitting on his servo.

He blinked, before his servo ever-so-slightly drew closer to his chest chassis. "No," he said simply, turning his optics back to the screen.

I watched him as he typed, his digits going a mile a minute. My chest felt tighter and tighter as he searched for a way to help his teammate. I couldn't really tell what the screen was actually saying, only catching the few things that Ratchet had taught me. I could tell, however, that it wasn't saying anything good, because Ratchet's facial expression turned more and more grim. He grumbled frustratedly as he kept looking, only to find a dead end again. My mood sunk deeper and deeper as the time went on. Every moment meant more information in Bulkhead's processor.

"Ratchet?" Miko said worriedly, running over to us. "I think Bulkhead is losing his mind!"

Ratchet and I both froze, looking up at her with tense expressions.

Miko's face fell. "You... already knew."

Ratchet looked left and right before answering her. "Miko, we did not want to alarm you." I nodded in confirmation, bringing my clasped hands to my mouth in worry.

Miko gave me a pained expression. "I just want to know... when Bulkhead's done spewing the formula, he'll go back to being regular old Bulkhead... right?"

Ratchet's gaze went downcast, but I couldn't look away from her. Her frightened face made my own eyes widen and brim with tears, my hands squeezing tighter. Miko's face fell, her own eyes growing bigger before she ran off to where her guardian was painting the equations.

Ratchet sighed, remaining at the monitor but his free servo was still. He stared at the screen with a blank expression, unmoving. His faceplate twisted slightly, and while I was still having a hard time identifying my own emotions, I was pretty sure he was feeling worried and lost.

I leaned forward again, hesitant, but... I wanted to help. I gently placed my palm on his chest and looked up to his helm. He started slightly and glanced down at me, raising an optic ridge. My eyes were still a little wet with tears, so I must have looked rather strange. He blinked, confused, before raising the servo I was sitting on closer to his helm, holding me right in front of his faceplate.

"Is... something the matter?" he asked, his voice gruff, but gentle.

I wanted to reach out to him, hug him the best I could, but resisted the urge. "Are you... okay?" I asked quietly, feeling a bit twitchy under the gaze of his vibrant topaz optics.

His helm tilted slightly, his derma turning up a little. I almost giggled at his expression of confusion.

"You seem... I don't know, upset?" I cursed myself at how dumb I sounded.

The medic scoffed. "This coming from the human that was a ridiculous mess earlier."

This was true. But it also meant I could tell when someone was hurting. I laid my hand on his digit and rubbed it gently. His faceplate turned to one of surprise as I leaned my head on it as well.

"You can do it," I said quietly, avoiding eye contact. If I looked at him now, my face would surely heat up.

I heard the embarrassment and fluster in his voice, though. "W-why are you..."

"Um..." I started, still looking away. "I just wanted... to comfort you?" The thing I was trying to avoid happened, and I whimpered at the heat in my ears.

He blinked, the servo holding me twitching slightly. "I..." he trailed off, unsure of what to say. "...Thank you."

I glanced up at him, a small smile playing at my lips. His optics were turned away from me, his derma a thin line. If I didn't know any better, I would say color had risen into his own faceplate. I wrapped my arms around his digit bravely and grinned broader.

"You can do it," I said again, struggling to think of what to say next. "You're really...smart?" The last part came out more like a question.

His optics laid on me again, before he lowered his servo a little. "I probably should get back to work."

I nodded, resting my head on his digit again. "I wish I could help you..."

He was silent for a little longer as his remaining servo typed quickly at the console. "..You already have," he said after a few minutes.

A goofy grin fell onto my face, and I surprised the urge to giggle. I was starting to get used to this happy feeling. I remembered I was almost always happy when I was with my mom, even after the... incident.

Suddenly, tears were falling down my cheeks, and a tiny sob escaped my mouth. I covered it quickly, trying to hide any more that would come out, a muscle memory. Ratchet nearly jumped, looking down at me.

"What is it?" he said, lifting me up again. His faceplate turned unreadable when he saw me, shaking and sobbing.

"I'm sorry.." I whispered. I had totally just ruined the mood. "Just a memory... don't mind me. You should continue what you were doing."

He raised an optic ridge, but didn't protest. He lowered me back down to his chest chassis, his optics back to the screen. But this time, he held me so close I was actually sitting with my back against the metal. I sniffed, rubbing my eyes just before I looked up at him. He wasn't looking at me, watching the screen as if it were nothing. I took a shaky breath, bringing my knees to my chest and hugging them. I leaned against his chest, closing my eyes and trying to relax. I slowly stopped shaking.

"Ratchet, prepare a Bridge," Optimus instructed, suddenly appearing behind us. "Bulkhead and Miko may be in danger."

While I jumped at Optimus' sudden arrival, Ratchet sighed and shook his helm. "I was wondering why Bulkhead hadn't given us any more of the formula equations." He walked away from the monitor, still holding me close, and pulled the lever to the GroundBridge. Immediately after, the Optimus, Bumblebee, and Arcee raced through into it, weapons at the ready.

I watched nervously, waiting anxiously as the Bridge remained open. "Do you think... is he.." I stuttered, my mind stuck on the horrible thought of Bulkhead, void of his own thoughts, or worse..

Ratchet looked down at me, worry brimming at the edges of his own optics. "I do not know. But it is highly likely..."

I shuddered, my eyes wet again. I reached out and hugged his digit again. He let me without a word or movement, just kept his gaze on the GroundBridge. After a few more agonizing minutes, Arcee came through, her mouth set in a thin line, her optics downcast. My heart skipped a beat, scared. Ratchet gasped slightly as Optimus and Bumblebee came in, holding up a limp Bulkhead in their servos. Miko was behind them, dragging her feet. Her eyes were brimmed with tears and stains ran down her cheeks. Ratchet hurried forward, being careful not to jostle me in his servo. Seeing Miko's face of despair, I tugged on Ratchet's servo, wanting down. He nodded, gently slid me down, and hurried over to Bulkhead.

I ran forward, stopping just in front of the distraught teenage girl. She was looking away, sniffing. My hands went over my mouth, my own eyes beginning to well up with tears. She finally glanced back up at me, her eyes full of sadness. And guilt. So much guilt. It felt overwhelming to look at. My chest immediately turned heavy, and an overwhelming desire fell into my body. I rushed forward in a split second, crushing her into a hug just as she did to me so many times. She was frozen for a moment, before she returned the hug, her fingers squeezing my shoulders. We both were like that for a little while, sometimes sobbing, sometimes silencing them with sniffles. Eventually we both let go, giving each other small smiles. She gave me one final quick hug, before turning and racing over to where the Autobots has laid Bulkhead. I tried to follow her, but my legs were still tired, so it took me a lot longer than I wanted.

"It's simply to early to not the extent of Bulkhead's condition," I heard Ratchet say as I finally rounded the corner. "A simple sight or smell, even a sound, could trigger his awakening." I saw home explaining this to Miko, who seemed to perk up. A second later, she dashed off with determination in her eye.

I limped over to Ratchet's pede, looking up at his faceplate. He was looking over at Bulkhead worriedly, his faceplate clearly indicating he was upset he couldn't do more. I tapped his pede lightly, shooting him a teary smile when he glanced down to me. He bent over, noticing my legs were shaking and my face was stained with tears.

"Are you... alright?" he asked, holding out his servo once more.

I sighed, hugging it instead of stepping on it. "I will be... I think." I looked back up at him. "Will you be?"

He sighed, using his other servo to push me into his digits. "Why do you care?" he said gruffly.

I was still hugging him. I squeezed my eyes shut. "I.. I'm not sure why.. I'm still.. figuring myself out." I chuckled at my own ignorance. "But I do know.. that I care."

His optics widened a little, before he glanced away. He was silent, no one saying anything until Miko came back, dragging an electric guitar and speaker with her. She got strange glances from each of them, before all of their faceplates relaxed in realization. I was still confused as she plugged it in and lifted her arm. I plugged my ears, wincing as she strung a loud, blasting cord. Silence assumed afterwards, and I rubbed my aches ears. Anxious glanced were all cast to Bulkhead, but when nothing happened, Miko's face twisted like she was about to cry again.

"YEAH!!!" Bulkhead shouted suddenly, shooting up from the berth, and scaring the heck out of a lot us. "I LOVE THAT SONG!!"

Each of us where taken back in surprise, before we all gave relieved and happy smiles. Bulkhead looked around, confused, before his eyes rested on his relieved charge.

"Miko!" he said sweetly, grinning.

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It was late at night, and while the others had all returned from bringing the children home, Bulkhead had yet to come back. None of us were worried, though. We all assumed he was jut having quality time with Miko, something the both of them needed. Optimus, Bumblebee, and Arcee had all gone to their berths, while Ratchet was still at his monitors. I was laying in the medical bed. Nurse Darby had made a quick drop by earlier, checking over me. At the end, she had smiled and told me I would be better soon.

I sat up in bed, my mind bustling too much to get any sleep. I turned my head over to where Ratchet was, who was studiously examining the equations that Bulkhead had written.

"Ratchet?" I called quietly, hoping not to startle him. He looked over to me, his optics half open. He looked stressed and... tired.

"Yes?" he sighed gruffly. "What is it?"

I shrunk back a little out of instinct. "Uh... nothing. Never mind."

He sighed again, turning away from us console. "Please, you should rest."

I smiled a little, the buzz feeling come back from his concern. "Maybe... you should too?"

He flinched a little, surprised. My face fell, and a hand flew over my mouth. Had I overstepped my bounds?

He blinked, before sighing again, turning, and shutting the screen off. He turned back to me, walking over and bending down. He raised on optic ridge at me and placed a servo on his hip.

"Are you sure nothing is bothering you?" he asked slowly and skeptically.

I blinked, blushing in embarrassment and surprise. "Um.. well, I was concerned that you weren't resting, but... you.."

"Well, you should be resting as well," he told me, chastising like a parent. "Nurse Darby supersedes my medical expertise in the human plain-field."

I smiled at him. "Okay. Sorry."

The corners of his derma twitched up a little. "Alright. Goodnight, Taylor." He then left, going to his own berth to sleep.

My eyes were wide with surprise, color rising to my cheeks. He had just called me by my name.. not only that, but he had told me goodnight.

My chest felt super light as I laid back in bed.

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Yay, another chappy out!! Sorry, I've been having to use my phone instead of my laptop lately, so I have more limitations. So sorry.

Love you guys! Thank you!

*waves*