"OW!!!"

That was the first thing out of Jetstorm's voice box as he snapped back into wakefulness. His optics were wide open and then clenched shut again as the pain set in. "Ah...!"

"Oh please, I barely touched you."

He forced his optics open again as he heard Ratchet's voice speaking, but was it to him? Was he finally back where he belonged?

"Brother!"

Jetstorm yelped as his brother shoved Ratchet aside and practically squished his twin as he rushed in for a hug. But the pain was immediately replaced by a huge wave of joy and relief slamming into him; his brother was touching him, he and his brother were reunited.

"Brother...!" He whimpered, and then he began to cry. Not the frightened, confused tears of last time, but just the relief of being home and all of the stress being let out at once.

Jetfire began to cry as well, and Ratchet stepped back to allow them this moment. They clung to each other, gripping each other's armor for dear life. "You are awake...!"

"I am touching you!... I am home...!"

A few minutes passed, and then Ratchet finally broke it up. "Alright alright, before this gets any less sappy." The medic gently pushed Jetfire back, "I still have some work to do. Lie down."

Jetstorm obeyed but took his brother's hand as Jetfire rushed around to the other side of the table. Now that they were able to touch again, they didn't want to let go. "...Alloy is she-"

"Your weird friend is fine." Ratchet muttered, "Bumblebee is teaching her how to play video games... Oh, joy."

"AH! Ow ow ow...!"

"Sorry about that, Kid. You know how much I hate to cause pain..."

"That is being sarcastic, yes?"

Ratchet chuckled, "You pick up on things fast, Kid...Bite down; this'll sting."

The twins' grip on each other's hands tightened as Jetstorm grimaced, but he tried to focus on his brother's pulses of energy through their bond. It was as strong as ever now, that connection that would forever make them a part of each other.

The medic finished up his work and then started to walk out of the medical bay. "You two can have some time, but..." He narrowed his optics as he waved a finger at Jetfire, "No throwing things around, got it?"

"I am knowing where he is now!" Jetfire complained, and then as the medic left, he climbed up onto the table with his brother. "You alright, Brother?"

Jetstorm smirked, "...What does your spark feeling...?" He asked, poking a finger at his brother's chest plate.

Jetfire chuckled and gently poked Jetstorm back. "Tired... I missed you, Brother..."

"Same to me, Brother..." He placed his hands on his brother's shoulders, "...I could feel you, Brother... But I couldn't feel you...You knowing?"

"I am knowing..." The fire plane curled up beside his brother on the table, the pair pressing their helms together. "...Resting now...No being locked up in plane..."

"No more Shadowzone..."

"How're they doing?"

Optimus kept his tone low as he saw Ratchet leaving the medical bay.

The old medic was silent for a moment, and then gave a smile. "Heh. They're going to be back on their stabilizers in no time, Prime."

Optimus gave a sigh of relief; the last thing he wanted to do was tell Sentinel that the pair weren't in good shape and he'd be here even longer than thought. But they were safe now, and soon everything could be back to something close to normal.

"What about you? You're still limping."

"I'm fine, Ratchet." Optimus looked down at his leg where the zombie had bitten into his metal, and was quite relieved that it was now locked up. "I only wish we could have avoided all of this."

"You can't plan for what you don't know exists, Prime."

The pair then grimaced as they heard a cry of despair from Bumblebee. "He must've lost again."

They walked back out into the living room, where Alloy was draped over the couch and Bumblebee was pouting.

"How do you do that!?" The little yellow autobot complained, "I thought I was the best at video games!"

"From your reality, perhaps." Alloy teased, and then flipped up onto her feet. "Well, I enjoyed our little time, but its time I go back to my own peeps! They'll be waiting on the data I've got!"

"But I thought you were pulled into the Shadowzone and were stranded here." Sari expressed.

Alloy giggled, "I never said that I was stuck here! I was simply having far too much fun to call for a pickup!" She twirled around and then took on the form of a tall, slender femme and saluted. "Tell Stormy 'goodbye' for me! Maybe you'll come to my world next time. Ta ta!"

She then tapped the side of her helm, "WARP ME AWAY, STAR!" and in a flash of white light, she was gone.

The Autobots were all quiet for a moment, and then Ratchet shook his head. "Kids..." He muttered as he walked away, "She could have left us alone a long time ago..."

Optimus smirked, and then looked out the window. "Looks like the storm is starting to let up... Anyone want to go throw snowballs to pass the time?"

Bumblebee was up in an instant, "You read my mind, Boss Bot!"

"Wait for us!" Sari hollered as she and Bulkhead got up.

The three youngest members of the team dashed outside, and Prowl settled down for a nap in the rafters. Optimus was about to head outside as well when he saw Sentinel spoke his name.

"Optimus..."

The young prime paused, "Sentinel?"

"...Thanks." Was all Sentinel muttered, and then he retreated from the front room and back into the halls.

Optimus smiled a bit, wondering a bit just what exactly Sentinel was thanking him for. "You're welcome..." He whispered.

He hoped the two of them could move on from things now, that after all this time, the past could finally be buried, but even if it wasn't... Optimus was just glad that this time, things turned out for the better.

He headed outside to join his teammates in their play, and the front room was empty...Save for a pair of glowing purple eyes peering out of a reflection on a sheet of metal, a mischievous giggle echoing softly.

"Joyous...! Very entertaining, but just you wait my little tin soldiers... There is much more fun to be had...!"