*Again, this relates to no specific book*

A/N: So, I was reading Arya_Skye book World's Collide, and there was a point in the book that gave me this idea. Go check out her book it is AMAZING! Maybe you'll find out how I got this idea lol

Ratchet sighed heavily as the patient was slowly stabilized, nodding his helm over to the other medic's that were with him. Red Alert threw him a forced smile as he did some last minute work, his optics tired and stressed. As the white and orange mech looked at his co-workers, he saw the same thing in all of their blue optics. He had no doubt that those things haunted his own as well, if not more than just that. They took him off the medication, and it only took the patient a few moments to come back online. Red Alert helped him up slowly and led him to another room.

The medic quickly left the room now that his work was finished. His helm was beginning to ache from all the emergency calls he received day after day. Looking around the hospital, he was slightly grateful for the fact that he was leaving soon. The hospital had only kept him for this long because they had too many patients to handle, and quite a few of the medic's were under experienced. Rubbing his optics tiredly, he pushed past a few nurses who hurried by him, looking for a place where he could recharge for a while in private.

The field medic finally found an unoccupied berth room and sat on the bed, leaning his helm on the wall and closing his optics. He didn't care if anyone found him that way for the time being. His processor had just begun to shut off when his commlink suddenly began beeping loudly. He started upwards, blinking heavily, before he groaned and rubbed his optics again. He waited a few moments before he answered with a sigh, bringing his digits to his audio receptor.

"What is it?" he snapped into the link, annoyed.

-There is someone here to see you,- came Red Alert's voice from the link. He sounded a bit nervous. -It's Optimus Prime,- he said with a bit of awe in his voice.

Ratchet was immediately on his pedes and walking out of the berthroom hurriedly. "I'm on my way. Where is he?" he asked as he began to hurry through the halls.

-At the desk, but he says he wants to speak to you privately.-

Ratchet shut off his commlink without replying, turning quickly and heading to the front desk. He shoved past some other medics and nurses, ignoring the looks and grumbles he earned from doing so. His gaze was set and hard as he hurried around, having not seen his old friend in some time. War had kept them separated and on different plain fields, which made it difficult for them to keep up with each other. His optics lit up a little bit when he reached the desk, and indeed, Optimus Prime was waiting there, his servos at his side and his expression neutral, though it softened a little bit when he saw Ratchet coming. However, the medic could see distress in his teal optics, a dismal feeling within him. Ratchet knew his friend well, and even when the Prime was steely, he could tell what he was really feeling.

"Ratchet," Optimus said with a small smile, his voice not showing a hint of the pain in his optics. He held out his servo politely. "It is good to see you again, old friend."

Ratchet chuckled lightly as he took the servo and shook it once. "Don't think I qualify as that old yet, but I won't say I missed hearing that," he said with a light smile of his own. "Red Alert informed me that you wanted to speak in private?"

The Prime's optics went downcast for a moment and he nodded his helm. "If you are able, yes. I understand that we are both busy."

The medic turned to those who worked at the front desk. "Leave us," he ordered in a low voice. "If anything comes up, I will let you know."

The mech and femme that were up front shared a skeptical look, but slowly nodded their helms and took their leave. Ratchet turned back to his friend, motioning for him to sit. Optimus did so without a word, his optics still glued to the floor as he folded his servos together. The white and orange mech sat beside him, waiting patiently as he too clasped his servos together.

"It has been some time since we have seen each other, old friend," Optimus began with a strained smile. "Since the battle of Alpha Gorge, I believe?"

"From what I recall," Ratchet said with a nod, his optics looking over the Prime worriedly, knowing there was more to say. "If I remember correctly, Ironhide and a Wrecker designated Bulkhead were there, too, right? They did very well in battle, especially the Wrecker."

Optimus nodded his helm solemnly. "Elita One was there, too," he said quietly, avoiding his gaze.

The medic nodded again at the mention of Optimus' sparkmate. He remembered the light pink femme having been there for a brief time, though after she had had a quick word with Optimus, she had hurried off to another mission. He had been wondering what the two had been up to recently, but when he saw Optimus' grin expression, his spark clenched with worry. "How is she?" he asked carefully, scooting a bit closer with his optics a bit panicked, though he tried to hide it.

Optimus swallowed slowly, squeezing his servos so hard Ratchet thought he heard the metal denting. "It was over a year ago now.. she was called on a mission, near Tyger Pax. I joined her later on, but it was then that we were ambushed by Megatron." He paused for a moment, trying to find the words, although Ratchet already had a horrible guess. "Megatron... has extinguished her spark... right before my very optics.."

Ratchet gasped slightly and stood quickly. "Elita One is... offline?" he asked quietly, his voice displaying disbelief, even though he knew what it really was deep down.

Optimus vented shakily and nodded his helm, still gazing at the floor. "I never had the chance to tell you.. I hardly got the chance to mourn her. I was called away almost immediately after, and the war has kept me busy since then." The Prime sighed heavily, his shoulder plates deflating. "My spark still aches so much, Ratchet..."

The medic sank back into his chair, clutching his helm in his servos, his optics wide and staring at the white floor. He couldn't believe this, but at the same time, how could it not be true? All the signs were there. Optimus wouldn't feel a break in his sparkbond with her if she weren't truly gone. Images of the femme filled his processor, sadness overwhelming his spark. He had known her since before the war, much like Optimus. The three of them had remained strong friends for eons, and the realization that she was gone sent him reeling. He did his best to calm himself, taking heavy vents that seemed to shake with every effort, lifting his helm from his servos and looking at his friend. Ratchet suddenly felt terrible, seeing his oldest friend so distressed. Optimus continued to glare at the floor, his entire chassis shaking now with the effort to keep himself together. Much to the medic's surprise, his optics were beginning to brim with tears, threatening to spill if he blinked. Ratchet realized that this much be so much worse for the Prime, the mech who had bonded with her so long ago and loved her more than anyone else. The medic shakily rose to his pedes again, walking over to him and placing his servo on Optimus' shoulder plate. His optics stared at nothing in particular as he kept his helm down, his faceplate twisted in pain.

"It's alright, Optimus," he whispered. "You don't have to hold back in front of me. No one else is here. And you need it," he added softly.

For a few minutes, there was silence from the Prime. Then, his servos slowly released each other and raised to his helm, holding his faceplate tightly as he grit his dents. Ratchet remained still as Optimus began to sob silently, his own chassis beginning to shake as he did his best not to cry as well, though tears did fill the corners of his optics as he clenched his denta.

Megatron had murdered Elita One.

~

Ratchet sighed forcefully, rubbing his forehelm as he leaned it back on the wall. He had failed. The poor young mech would never be able to use his voicebox again, the only way of communication through whirls and harsh beeps. Bumblebee was very grateful to the medic for saving his spark, telling him not to worry about his voice even though he was a bit upset about it. Ratchet couldn't help but blame himself, however, wishing he had been able to do more. He wasn't a young medic, that's for sure, but he still had a long way to go, after this fail. He felt so inexperienced, although everyone told him he was one of the most brilliant of their times. All he could see was that poor little mech, barely past youngling age, dying on the medical berth in front of him, and now unable to truly speak ever again. The medic wanted to go back in time and try harder, push himself to the brink until he succeeded.

But he had failed. And he couldn't change that.

Megatron had tore Bumblebee's voicebox away from him, nearly taken away the mech's life. He couldn't help but remember that Elita One has been offlined in a similar way, and there was nothing he could do about that either. His frustration with himself suddenly turned to fury towards the warlord, the image of the silver titan hot in his processor. He lifted his helm and growled lowly, feeling the urge to kick something, which was very unlike him since he preferred everything to be neat and untouched by anyone other than himself. He clenched his fists and stood in the medical bay for a few minutes more, glaring angrily at the white floor.

-Ratchet!-

The medic jumped when his designation was called over the intercom, surprised when it wasn't his partner, Red Alert's, voice, but the mech Ironhide's. He straightened himself and brought his digits to his audio receptor.

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

-What the scrap are you doing in there?!- he shouted, and Ratchet heard gunfire from the other end. -Don't you hear what's going on outside?!-

Ratchet cursed himself, wishing he had been paying more attention. "What's your position?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

-About two kliks from yours!- Ironhide shouted from the other end. -We got injured soldiers over here, and I can't get ahold of Red Alert. He was supposed to be out here forever ago!- He stopped when louder gunshots rang around him, stinging Ratchet's helm. -You better hurry up and git over here, these mech's might not last much longer, and that door sounds like it's gonna give any day now!-

"On my way," he said, using his scanner to pinpoint Ironhide's position. He rushed out of the room, pushing past passing Cybertronians. He bumped into his former patient, Bumblebee, who looked at him in surprise.

<What's wrong?> he asked in his broken voice, wincing at the sound of it as he gazed at the medic with wide blue optics.

Ratchet patted his shoulder late a little as he hurried off. "Stay here! Doctor's orders!" he shouted as he sped away, running out of the building and then transforming into his alt mode. He raced off, hearing the explosions and gunshots as he got closer and closer.

The building where Ironhide was pinpointed came into view not long after he left. The medic saw a mech guarding an opening in the back, getting ready to fight some Vehicons that were approaching him. Ratchet pushed his engine harder, slamming into the backs of a few of them. He transformed back into his biped mode quickly, taking out his surgical blades and taking out the Vehicons quickly. The young soldier blinked in surprise, his deeper blue optics wide.

"Field medical officer Ratchet," he said hurriedly, and the young mech nodded, opening the door and filling the medic as he ran through.

"I'm Silverback," the mech muttered nervously as he followed him, struggling to keep up. "My carrier is in there.."

Ratchet paused for a moment, holding up his servo to stop him. "Silverback, I need you to remain at your post. I promise your carrier will be fine. Understand?"

Silverback hesitated, nodding once before turning back and running over to the entrance. Ratchet quickly turned back around and continued running, soon coming to where Ironhide and his team were stationed. Ironhide was holding a large blaster in his servos, his back against the door and waiting for anyone who would barge in. There were scattered soldiers around him, some peeking out from the open corners and shooting at the enemy. Ratchet's optics quickly fell to the few that were laying on the ground or leaning against the wall, clutching their open wounds with their servos.

"Have you made contact with Red Alert yet?" he asked as he bent over the first one and began working.

Ironhide shook his helm, going around a corner and blasting a Con that was getting close by and quickly coming back around. "None. He hasn't responded to any call."

The medic cursed under his breath as he welded injuries quickly. The injured soldiers were surprised at how quickly he worked with his emergency kit, expressing their gratitude as Ratchet ordered them to the back of the pack so no more damage would befall them. They all winced when they heard a loud explosion outside, the gunshots getting closer. The Decepticons were so near now that you could hear some of their enraged battle cries. Ratchet finished up another, standing up quickly.

"We're gunna hafta charge 'em," Ironhide muttered under his breath.

Ratchet approached his war comrade, taking his shoulder plate and shaking his helm. "Look at your soldiers! You are nearly tapped out! Retreat to the back while I fix up the last of them, and then we'll join you. If you make it to the medical bay, you should all be safe for the time being. It's heavily guarded and shielded."

Ironhide glanced between him, the approaching enemy, and his soldiers who were looking at him with desperate optics. Finally, he sighed in defeat and nodded his helm, sidestepping the medic and looking over the soldiers. "Alright, you pieces of scrap metal! Grab whoever isn't able to move and let's roll outta here!" he shouted angrily over the noise. He shot one last look at Ratchet before he led his team to the back, where Silverback was hopefully still waiting for them.

Ratchet sighed in relief as he once again bent over and began to patch up the last one left behind, a femme. He recognized her pattern, figuring this was Silverback's carrier he had been talking about. "Silverback is waiting for you at the back entrance," he told her as he finished. "You should be able to get to him on your own."

The femme nodded gratefully, squeezing her optics shut before he got up quickly, hurriedly limping after the others, and he heard her call her son's name as she disappeared. The medic stood up to follow her, but before he could take a step, the wall exploded from behind him, taking him by surprise and flying forward. He landed on his side and rolled, groaning a little as he did his best to get back up as fast as he could. He heard jet engines above him, then the sound of a Cybertronian transforming, and heavy pedes landing on the ground. Ratchet tore his optics away from a dent in his chest chassis to see who was approaching him. His optics widened and his vent hitched as red filled his vision. It had been quite a few years since he had last seen him, but there was no mistaking the cold look in the silver titan's optics and the burly form.

Megatron sneered at the medic, who was still doubled over slightly. "I see you are still as weak as I remember, lapdog," he hissed with a cruel smile, his sharp denta gleaming as he flexed his claws.

Ratchet stood straight, gritting his own denta hard as he took out his surgical blades again. "You," he spat, narrowing his optics. "Don't you realize how much pain and suffering you are causing?! You've murdered thousands, and injured others beyond repair!" Elita One and Bumblebee flashed in his helm and he clenched his denta tighter.

Megatron shook his helm with a cold chuckle. "Your little speech has fallen on deaf audio receptors, doctor. Though I can see that this war has pained you." His faceplate turned up into a larger smirk, obviously enjoying this. "Your partner shared a similar speech with me, though it remained just as dull. Watching the light die from his optics was what brought be satisfaction. Oh, what was his designation? Red Alert, if I'm not mistaken?"

Ratchet growled as he lunged at him, swinging at the mech and taking him by surprise. "You monster!" he roared as his blade made contact, a satisfactory shout of pain coming from the titan.

Megatron leaped back quickly, taken by surprise. To be honest, he hadn't seen that coming. Ratchet wasn't in his prime, but he certainly wasn't losing his edge either, though he had only watched the medic fight from a distance. The warlord grinned again, standing straight and taking out his sword. "A dual, then? For old times sake?"

Ratchet didn't need to be told twice, though this would be his first battle with Megatron. He knew that there would be more to come, but a part of him hoped he could take out the silver mech right then and there. He lunged at him again, but this time Megatron dodged, his leg coming up and kicking the medic in the abdomen. Ratchet grunted in pain, only slowing a little. He head butted the warlord in the chest, not able to reach his helm since he was so much shorter. When Megatron stumbled, he jumped up, spinning his blade at his faceplate. Megatron managed to dodge, but the blade still sliced the side of his helm, making him grit his denta.

"You certainly live up to your required field medic standards," he laughed breathlessly as he wiped the Energon staining his helm, backing away a few steps.

Ratchet released a few heavy vents, staggering back a little. "You just wait," he growled. He let his chassis stop shaking before he rushed him again, this time coming at him with a fist. Megatron spun out of the way, bringing his blade down quickly. Without a moment's hesitation, Ratchet brought his other servo up, which had transformed into a blade, and blocked it, holding the much larger sword back from his helm. The warlord's optics widened a little bit in shock at how coordinated the medic was, almost as if he had been expecting it. He let out a sharp gasp when Ratchet managed to not only shove his arm, and his sword, backwards, but his other servo charged at his helm, changing into a welder in a split second. Megatron roared as he felt it burn his shoulder plate and neck cables, coming close to his faceplate. He growled and retreated, kicking the medic again as he tumbled backward and away from the welder. Ratchet cried out when he was kicked again, not having foreseen that move. He, too, stumbled back from the blow, a little out of sorts. The silver titan saw this as the perfect opportunity, smirking as he raised his fusion cannon. The medic heard the blaster begin to fire up, looking up in terror at the barrel of the gun. Quickly, he started to flee, though shots rang after him. The best thing he could do now was get farther away. If he got hit while he was too close to the warlord, the blast would most surely offline him. The white and orange mech started to vent heavily as he dodged, accidently bumping into a battered wall when he jumped away from another blast. He rolled, grunting a little, and got up as quickly as he could to take off again.

However, a short moment after he got to his pedes, an Energon blast struck his backside. Ratchet cried out in pain as it burned him and sent him tumbling forwards, landing on his front and skidding across the ground, sending harsh metal screeching sounds into his audio receptors. Ratchet gasped sharply when he stopped, stunned and helm spinning from the pain. He willed his arms to move and he rolled himself on his side. His Energon readings began to deplete and he figured that the blast had not only burned him, but opened the metal on his backside, thus the Energon loss. When he saw it beginning to pool under him slightly, he knew it was leaking quick. He coughed weakly as his optics slid around, looking for the warlord.

Megatron had approached him with a cruel smirk. He kicked the medic onto his backside, causing Ratchet much pain, and pulled out his sword again and pointed the tip at his neck cords, right under his helm. "As satisfying as this has been, doctor," he jeered, "and believe me, I haven't had a good dual in a long time, I am afraid this must come to an end. I hope your friend Optimus does come along to avenge you," he said as he began to raise the blade, ready to bring it down into his spark chamber. "The Prime will be the best fight yet, and once I end him, all my plans will come to be."

Ratchet flinched as the blade came down quickly, but before he could feel the impact, there was a angry battle cry, and a clash of metal. The medic blinked in surprise as Ironhide kicked the warlord back, having run and jumped him with his leg out. The blow sent the surprised Decepticon crashing into the wall behind him. The followers of Megatron quickly realized that the 'dual' was over, and now it was their turn to begin fighting. Blasts began to ring out again as Ironhide rolled and jumped back up, shooting some of the enemy.

"Get him outta here!" he roared furiously, his optics not leaving the approaching enemy.

Ratchet suddenly felt servos touch his shoulder plates and looked up. Young Silverback was beginning to lift him, his expression serious as he flung Ratchet's arm over his shoulder plate and held his side. The younger mech nodded to the medic once, to which Ratchet returned with one of his own, and Silverback began to lead him out of the war area, back to the back entrance. To Ratchet's relief, the other soldiers seemed to have listened to their orders, for he didn't see them waiting and imagined that they were already at the medical bay by now. Pain flew up his whole body as Silverback helped move him, still feeling the Energon leaking out of him as he began to feel dizzy. He heard Ironhide shouting behind him, indicating that he had followed, before he felt himself go offline.

~

When Ratchet came to, he felt a throbbing ache in his backside almost immediately. He groaned as his optics fluttered open, not caring for the light that was right above him and stinging his vision. He turned his helm when he heard a surprised gasp, seeing young Silverback get to his pedes with wide optics. He smiled big and clasped his servos together.

"You're online!" he shouted happily, not giving Ratchet a chance to reply as he hurried out the door, leaving the injured medic stunned and confused.

The white and orange mech blinked after the younger soldier, before sighing and sitting up. This brought him a sharp pain, making him grunt, but he pushed through it anyway, swinging his legs over the berth and sighing heavily. He remembered fighting Megatron and nearly getting offlined, groaning and setting his helm in his servos. He felt foolish, taking on the Decepticon leader, a former gladiator, only because of hurt and fury. He sighed in annoyance with himself when he heard hurried pedesteps enter the room and looked up.

<You're okay!> Bumblebee cried happily, the young mech running over and hugging his shoulder plates.

Ratchet cried out in alarm and a jolt of pain, causing the yellow and black mech to back away with an apologetic smile. Silverback was behind him, standing at the door with a beaming faceplate. The medic rubbed his sore shoulder plates and looked to the scout, his former patient. "How long was I out?" he asked.

<Two days,> Bumblebee answered sadly, his chassis deflating a little bit. <You really scared us!>

The medic cocked an optic ridge, a little surprised to find that the younger mech cared about him so much already. Ratchet had met him quite a few times before during missions, and the two were good acquaintances, but Bumblebee clearly thought of him as more of a friend. Ratchet looked back to Silverback, also surprised to see that he was so happy. He had only met the young mech yesterday!

Silverback noticed his look and chuckled a little behind a servo. "I suppose it does seem strange that I'm this overjoyed," he laughed. "However, you saved my carrier back there, and I am eternally grateful." He went up to the medic, forcefully taking his hand and shaking it with a smile, before chuckling again and walking off with a wave. "I suppose I shall see you later, then!"

Ratchet blinked after him, still taken back. He finally sighed and slumped his shoulder plates, his optics going back to the scout. Bumblebee smiled at him and stood straight. <There's someone else waiting to see you, so I better go get him!> he chirped quickly, hurrying out with an excited look.

"Are there even allowed to be this many visitors right now?" the medic mumbled, a tad annoyed, though his spark did feel a little less heavy now. He peeked up a little more when he heard heavy pedesteps approaching, recognizing them almost instantly.

"Good to see you are well, old friend," Optimus said with a small smile as he entered. The little scout was behind him, but he only waved at Ratchet from the door before hurrying off again. "I heard you stood your ground against Megatron," the Prime stated as he sat on one of the chairs by the wall.

Ratchet snorted. "Yes, and nearly had my spark extinguished in the process." He sighed and set his helm in one of his servos again, avoiding Optimus' optics. "I don't know what I was thinking..."

Optimus was silent for a few moments. "While battling Megatron alone may not have been wise," he said finally, "I understand your spark."

Ratchet looked up at the Prime, his optics a little sad. "I couldn't stop thinking about them.." he said quietly.

The Prime smiled softly. "I understand that. The fact that you were fighting for them makes this a bit easier to carry, no?" he said, standing up. "I am grateful to know that you were not thinking of yourself in that battle."

The tired medic sighed again, nodding his helm once as he held back a small smile. Optimus said his goodbye and left the room, leaving the doctor to rest in the berth. Ratchet eventually laid back down, offlining his optics, though his processor remained awake. Visions of Bumblebee, Elita One, his partner Red Alert, and hundreds of other mechs and femmes that he had seen hurt of murdered by Megatron and that Decepticons filled his helm. He sighed softly again, his spark aching for them. A stab of pain in his backside reminded him that he was no warrior, not capable of taking down the Decepticon leader. He was simply a medic, supposed to be saving lives, not taking them.

He knew, however, that this would not be his only battle with Megatron.

~

This took for-FRAGGIN-ever to write!