His optics slowly opened, adjusting to the light of the med bay. His helm heavy, hurting from the drugs within his system. He slowly began to feel to is servos and peds, but it was a slow painful process. It took awhile for his systems to fully adjust. He tried to move but was quickly stopped. Trying to tug again, he realized he was chained to the table. "What the frag?" He whispered to himself. "It's only for precaution." He jumped slightly at the familiar voice, not realizing he wasn't alone. He looked over to see the familiar medic. His sparked warmed at seeing him. He could relax slightly knowing he wasn't being held prisoner by the Decepticons. That was until he realized something. "Ratchet, how....how are you here? How are.... you alive?" His voice hoarse from the damage he had taken. "The Decepticons had us down. They just can't seem to remember to make sure we are down before they leave. We were all badly damaged, but out of all of us," He paused for a moment, looking across the way.

Sunstreaker, still attached to the table, couldn't see what his fellow Autobot was looking at. "Optimus took the biggest hit. I have done my best." He went quiet, staring across the room again. "You're the best medic I know, Ratchet. He'll make it." "Sunstreaker being nice. Maybe I should get my helm checked again." Ratchet gave a small laugh, but a smile was present. "I'm sure I'm the one who needs their helm checked again." Sunstreaker looked back up at the ceiling. His optics went wide, realizing something. "Ratchet? How did I get here?" He stared at the medic, his optics still wide, mouth parted, his breathing becoming heavy. "Your brother and Nichole found you. It's a good thing too. Your spark was diminishing, very little energon in your system, under 5%. I'm surprised I was able to get you back."

"Nichole?" His spark sunk and the sound of her name rolling off his tongue. A name that used to bring him joy. "Sideswipe said she forced him to let her come. He said that she felt a strong pull at the same time Sideswipe did." Ratchet talked while looking over his computers and scanners. "She did?" A small smile formed, he felt now that he still had a chance. "When will I get to see her and my brother?" Hope filled his optics as he looked at Ratchet. Ratchet stayed facing the screen, pausing, his digits froze, optics refocusing every few seconds. "Ratchet?" His face fell. He knows something isn't right. "I don't want to be the one to tell you. I'll go get Sideswipe." And with that he left the room. Leaving Sunstreaker confused and worried.

*----------------------------*

They had been hiding in an abandoned workshop. It is large enough to fit the MKR16 and then some. Metal walls surrounding them, keeping out the wind, but not so much the cold. Snow had begun to fall. Being so far north and it is around Christmas time, snow was bound to hit them. She shivered inside of his cab. He had the heat cranked high for her, but nothing seemed to be working. She still felt frozen. "We need to get you somewhere warm?" He complained, hating seeing her in such a state. "Tell me how you survived and what happened and maybe I'll take you up on that offer." She argued. He sunk down on his tires a bit in a sigh. "I told you it already. There isn't much to tell. We got out there, it was a trap, Optimus saved the day, we got the ship running enough to get back. What more do you want, Nichole?" Aggravation showing as he spoke.

"How did you find me?" Even though there was nothing to see, but the inside of the workshop. She still looked out his window. "When we landed, Ratchet immediately made sure got medical scans done and patched us up. Well when I asked about you, no one seemed keen on telling me. Lennox said that you went with Sideswipe to get Sunstreaker and then you left. I knew exactly where you would go. So, when Ratchet cleared me, I left to find you." He explained to her. "What happened while we were gone? Sunstreaker was laying in stasis in the medical bay with cuffs on when I got there." A low growl released from her vocal cords. Eyes darkening at the mention of his name. Her heart betrayed her, beating faster. "He should be dead. He's the reason you almost died. Both times." Her voice was like acid, poisoning the words as she spoke.

"What are you talking about? Sunstreaker wouldn't do something like that." Diesel's remark only made her more upset. "He made a deal with Megatron and betrayed us all. Our last battle in Afghan...He was the cause of it. I was supposed to die and so were you." Her teeth are clenched together as she spoke. Fire in her eye, from the rage burning inside her. Diesel didn't speak, taking in the words she said. "Then why did you go with Sideswipe to find him?" Now it was her turn to be silent. "Nichole?" "I felt a pull." She said so quietly, he almost missed what she said. "What?" He wanted her to say it again, to hear it clearer. "I felt a pull." She said a little louder. "And you left him?" This time she was done talking, she opened the door and jumped out, walking towards the door of the workshop. "Nichole!" Diesel said in surprise but transformed none the less.

"You need to get back inside my cab. You could freeze." He called out to her. She stood by the doorway, hugging her arms across her chest. "I'd rather freeze to death." She stated, her voice dead. "You don't mean that." He seemed to whimper. "No!" She shouted, echoing throughout the shop. "You should of let me finish what I started." She continued. He stepped back, at first not understanding what she meant. "No, I saved you from doing something you'll regret." He bellowed. "How would you know?" Tears stained her eyes. "You're not like them. You doing that, would be you becoming just like them. And your nothing like that. Your so much better. Now please get back in the cab." He begged. She looked away, thinking about what he just said to her. Hydraulics hissed, and gears cranked together as Diesel transformed back into vehicle mode. With a barely audible click, his door swung open. "Please." She gave a sigh, throwing her shoulders and head back. "Fine."

*----------------------------*

"What do you mean you told her to leave!?!" Sunstreaker screamed at his twin. Sideswipe winced back and looked away from him. "We got into an argument about you. I'm sorry, okay. I regret telling her that. As well as not stopping her." He said with guilt overflowing though his voice. "I need to go look for her." He stated, starting to struggle within his binds. "Get these fragging things off me!" "Sunstreaker, stop fighting. You can't leave until you talk to Lennox and Bumblebee." Ratchet tried to keep him still on the berth. Sunstreaker still continued to struggle. "No, I need to get her...Now!" He screamed. "Sunstreaker." An authoritative voice came from below. "Lennox. Good timing." Ratchet panted. Sunstreaker stopped struggling to look at the Major. "I need to know what happened. Why did you give intel to the Decepticons?" A question Sunstreaker wasn't ready for. He knew it was going to happen, but he wasn't prepared to answer it.

He looked away, squeezing his optics shut. "Sunny, we need to know." Sideswipe pleaded, setting a comforting servo on Sunstreaker's shoulder. He continued to look away, but opened his eyes for a moment, before shutting them again. "I didn't know about Nichole when I made the deal. Megatron claimed he needed Diesel for some artifact. I still don't really understand what its for. All I know, is that Megatron had...." He paused, looking at everyone in the room. "He had information regarding a fellow Autobot and if I didn't help him, he was going to kill him." "Who Sunny?" asked Sideswipe. Everyone intently staring at Sunstreaker, waiting for his answer. "Kup."

*-----------------------------*

"We need to get you back to base. To Ratchet. Your getting a fever. You could get hyperthermia." Diesel worried. "I'm not going...(cough)...Back." She attempted to argue, her body shiver at a dangerous rate. "I know you don't want to, but I care more about your health right now, than your squabble with Sunstreaker." With that he revved his engine and soared out of the workshop, smashing though piles of snow that have built themselves around the area. Nichole began to go into a fit of coughing, causing Diesel to drive even faster. "You better make it. I will not let you die." He growled causing the whole cab to shake. "It's going to take over an hour to...(cough cough)... get back to base." Her head leaned back against the seat, still letting out small coughs here and there. "As long as I keep driving and don't slow down, we should be there by morning." Determination rippling through his frame. The only thing slowing him down right now is the snow. As soon as they get further south, it should get easier and he should be able to drive faster.