Shelby scrambled out of Optimus's arms. He tried to hold on, unsure if she should be near the waking giant, but she fought. She used every ounce of energy she had left to get down. Optimus wouldn't let go. He fought back, gripping tightly to her arms. Though, the minute her feet got to the ground, she pushed forward to get him to release. 

While Optimus is trying to hold her back, Ratchet runs into the room. He strides quickly over to the side of the berth, where Dreadwing is sitting up and attempting to get off the metal slab. Yanking at wires, the wires that were keeping him alive. The screaming has stopped, but now he's growling. His eyes are glowing even brighter than before. 

"Dreadwing! You need to calm down." Ratchet roars at the enraged Con. "You are at the Autobot base. You were just in stasis. You are safe." 

"Dreadwing!" Shelby calls out, still struggling against Optimus's grip. 

Dreadwing snapped his gaze to the young women. Immediately stopping his thrashing. Eyes going wide, can't believe what he is seeing. He had spent so many months in torture, thinking she was dead. There she is, being held by Optimus, screaming out his name. She's alive. When he was caged and being dissected, she was all he could think about. When she showed up at the building he was being held, he thought he was only imagining her. Though, here she is. She is real. 

"Shelby? You are alive." His voice came out in a crackle. 

"Yes, I am. I didn't mean to leave you. I'm so sorry." Tears dripped down her cheeks. All the emotions she held inside are coming to the surface. 

"How did I get here?" The room seemed to settle. 

Optimus let go of Shelby, but she stayed standing next to him. Unsure if she should move closer. Her whole body telling her to run to him. Ratchet huffed and began checking him over. Most of the wounds have seemed to healed. His eyes still not leaving hers. There is unsureness between them. They have been apart for so long. It's still hard to believe she is really here. As Ratchet starts unhooking wires, deeming him stable enough to be without the support. 

"Don't stand up just yet. You will most likely need physical therapy to get motion back in your legs. I still want you to stay for observation for now." Ratchet explains. 

Dreadwing was barely listening. His focus on Shelby. He is afraid she is going to disapper if he looks away. She slowly takes steps towards him. Her heart is beating rapidly. She is sure all the bots in the room can hear it. After all the lies being told to her. Telling her that none of what happened to her is real. Now standing in this room with metal giants and the one she rebuild. She brought him to life and her father trying to destroy him. 

The power core she placed within his chest hums to the beat of Dreadwing's breathing. The air coming through his olfactory sensors, running through his vents. Cooling his heated system. His chest, that was heaving up and down rapidly, starts to slow down. He brings his servo down to the floor and nods to her, giving her the go. She pushed away from Optimus, racing over the berth. She doesn't care that Optimus almost fell over from her force or that Ratchet wants her to be careful. She skids to a stop right before his servo, letting herself fall into his palm. He brings her up to his face. Looking at her with deep regret. Pain from the day he woke and found out she had traded herself to save him. It's a pain he will never forget. 

"Dreadwing." She sobbed, holding tightly to one of his digits. 

"Why did trade yourself?" He asks aloud, staring at her as he brings her up to his eye level.

"It was the only way to save you. I couldn't let them kill you again." She cried. Hugging his digit even tighter. 

"They told me you died. You were in a coma. You were dead. I failed you..." He stops short when she places her hand on his faceplate. 

"Hey hey. I know. We don't need to get into all that. We can talk about it more after you recover. There is a lot to clue you in on. But we don't need to talk about it right now. You need to rest." She says quietly. 

Optimus and Ratchet leave the room. Leaving the two alone. Its been a long hard road for the both of them. Something neither of them expected to happen. They are together now and that is all that matters. The two sit in silence. There is nothing being spoken. They don't need to speak to hear each other. They just need each other. They both need to heal. There is so much healing that needs to be done. For any of them to continue. 

The rest of the crew hangs out on the others side of the medical bay. They are trying to stay distracted, not peeking in through the windows. They know the two need to be alone. Unfortunately for one bot, he doesn't understand what the relationship is. All he knows is he isn't sure he likes it. He can see how everyone else trusts him, but the Decepticon that is sitting in there with a femme he just met, is not something he is comfortable with. 

The night went on. Ratchet went in every now and then to check on Dreadwing. After about an hour the two were asleep. Something Shelby had been lacking lately. Ratchet couldn't help but smile at the two. It was nice to see them both resting peacefully for once. Something he didn't think would ever happen. For the first time since they lost Shelby, everything seemed to be at peace with the world. 

What they didn't know that lurking beyond the shadows. Yet to know where she had gone. He continued to search. He wasn't going to stop until she was within his clutches. This would be the second time she had slipped away. He would not allow for a third time. Once he had her, everything would fall into place and then he would kill her. There was no doubt in his mind. She would be destroyed. 

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Hey guys, 

I'm sorry for taking so long. Been busy with multiple problems. But hey here is a little something for you. I also apologize if I keep going back and forth from present to past tense. I have noticed from rereading. I take so long to write in between that I forget when I start writing again. I am so sorry for that. 

I hope y'all have a great day. I hope to get more out soon. 

Love y'all