It's been one month and a half since Sideswipe left medbay. It took a day for Ratchet, Wheeljack, First Aid, and Jolt to repair Sideswipe. He had a nasty scar from when Ratchet had to open up his chassis and cut sensitive spark cables that surrounded his spark. Luckily, the bomb didn't damage the spark but the cables had to be replaced and the outer casing needs coolant applied every week until his chassis completely recovers. His pedes were melted and his chest was worse like he had been thrown into a pit of fire.

There was a few scrapes and cut wires and energon lines from the branches but hardly worrisome.

No one mocked or taunted him about his look to his surprise.

Sideswipe assumed it was Sunstreakers bidding. Either because the golden twin was more protective than ever, or because the Ark saw more of Sunstreaker than Sideswipe so they were at Sunstreakers mercy if they ever so ticked him off.

Bots visited him often. For the first month he was in medical bay but then he was able to go into his quarters three days ago. Bumblebee had stopped by with the humans, all were very sympathic for him. Sideswipe brushed if off, saying he'd been through worse.

Bluestreak also stopped by, guilty as ever. His blue optics were wide and gave off a puppy dog look. His doorwing were sagging and he nervously shifted on his pedes, apologising at a million miles per hour that he hadn't been covering for him but for Optimus. Sideswipe would occasionally get a word in but it was never any use.  Bluestreak only left when Prowl came by, suprisingly.

And Ratchet was Sideswipes number one visitor. He would show up randomly and do a scan of his systems then leave. Sunstreaker had retrieving energon duty.

Of course, there was no active duty for at least five or more months. The message was clear when Ratchet sent Prowl a lovely datapad with his strict terms. Prowl made sure Sideswipe didn't even get his servos on a weapon to spar or shoot once he started walking when he got back to his room. Ironhide helped Prowl reinforce it, mostly to his fear of Ratchet. They both knew Sideswipe would grow restless.

As good it may be, a nice recovery, no deaths involved, Sideswipe was growing anxious, to the correct prediction of Prowl and Ironhide. His servos would twitch from to time and his spark felt overwhelmed. He assumed it was because of the amount of meds in his systems but the feeling only increased each day that passed. Sideswipe wanted to tell Ratchet, he really did, but the Medic was getting so slagging protective, he didn't want the mech to rip open his chassis again and dig inside his spark chamber.

Sideswipe shivered as a chill washed over him. He didn't want to push himself but he couldn't believe he could stand the quiet and loneliness any longer.

He wasn't always alone. Sunstreaker spent all his time in the room when he wasn't on shift. He'd occasionally glance at Sideswipe then go back to his video games. Sideswipe wanted to play the games so badly but Ratchet forbidden it. Sideswipe huffed, having felt like a child then. Ratchet believed Sideswipe would get too "hyped up" and would do something that may pull an adjusting spark cable.

Sideswipe thought it was stupid and tried to even talk his brother into him using it but even Sunstreaker was agreeing with Ratchet.

Sideswipe was not a happy camper that day.

Sunstreaker knew his brother couldn't lay still all day without having action or something to do. He did his best to stay with Sideswipe and talk to him, even teach him how to paint, and plan future pranks with him for when he felt better.

It worked.

Until Sunstreaker left.

Sideswipe groaned as he stood from his berth, grabbing onto the wall. He hadn't been walking much but his pedes were still aching which made it difficult to get adjusted to. Sideswipe released a harsh vent and continued toward his door, determination in his optics. He stumbled slightly, having not walked for a while really getting to his legs. A flush of embrassment came to his face.

"Primus, I feel stupid. Can't even walk," he grumbled with a annoyance at his own expense. He hurried across the room and crashed into the door with a grunt. He vented and hauled himself upright before opening the door.

The coolness of the hallway hit him and it managed to sooeth his aching pedes. Sideswipe smiled slightly before stepping out the door. The door hissed behind him as it shut with a click. His optics looked right and left before settling right. His sore frame began heading that way.

As he traveled down the hallway he noticed how dark it was. He quickly checked his chronometer and realized it was getting late. 1900 hours in just a few more minutes.

Sideswipe began to realize he checked his chronometer much more often ever since his injury. It was almost a habit. Every time Sunstreaker left, he checked. Every time Sunstreaker arrived, he checked. Every time Ratchet came, he checked and so on.

Speaking of which, realization began to hit once he checked. Sunstreaker has only been gone for half an hour. He mentally groaned.

As Sideswipe turned the corner, a loud scream entered his audios. Sideswipe flinched, his warrior extinct kicking in almost instantly. A frown spread across his lips.

No one was there.

He opened his comm.

::Guys! Did you just hear that?:: he asked, clenching his fists. He took long strides down the hall, ignoring his pain shooting through him.

::What are you babbling about, Sideswipe?:: Prowls irritated voice spoke first.

::Some bot just screamed, no one heard that?:: he asked furrowing his optic ridges.

::No, what's your position?:: Ironhide asked, a bit of concern weaving through his tone. He never liked the thought of any bot in distress on base.

::Just coming up to the rec room,:: Sideswipe answered looking around. ::But I just passed by Hounds quarters.::

::I'm in the Rec Room. Ah didn't hear nothin'. Ya sure ya heard somethin'?:: Jazz questioned, uncertainty and doubt in his voice.

Sideswipe deactivated the comm with an annoyed sneer. Probably just one of the minibots playing a trick on him. The minibots and the twins always had a misunderstanding, it was only logical to blame them.

Until the scream came again.

Sideswipe stopped in his tracks, swearing the hallway grew darker. His optics grew wide as he noticed the walls growing larger, almost into a circle. "What the pits...?" He stepped back cautiously. His digits twitching at his side. More voices began to bounce off the large walls, as if it was a crowd.
He gasped.

"No.."

He turned on his heels and began running down the hall. Fear and adrenaline coursing through his veins. The screams and cheers grew louder. He grabbed his audio horns and groaned, tripping over his pedes and falling onto the floor.

"No!!!" He screamed, his optics squeezing shut. "It's too-I can't-stop!" He stuttered, shaking his helm back in forth. His frame was trembling as he curled up against the wall. He shivered, the coolness of the hallway no longer comforting. Boos from the crowd echoed in his audios as if reacting to what he was doing presently.

A servo touched his shoulder and Sideswipe screamed. His optics snapped upward to a blue visor and he shoved himself away from the unknown blurred being.

"Everythin' a-ok, Side's?" Spoke the calm but concern voice. Sideswipe blinked a few times, the crowd seeming to have never existed. The hallway was back to normal and Sideswipe starting wondering if he ever saw it at all.

"Yeah...I-I'm fine, Jazz." He breathed and looked down to his melted pedes. Two servos curled underneath his arms and pulled him up as if he was a child getting picked up by a parent.

"Lets get ya some energon, mech." Jazz spoke patiently with a small smile. Sideswipe couldn't bring himself to smile back as he avoided Jazzs curious visor.