Successfully making it back to base, Smokescreen lays on a large berth behind the walk way with all the screens. The mech had walked in holding Rachel, and Ratchet quickly took her from him and set her in the arms of William Lennox. However, as she was placed down, she wiggled out of his grip to stand. "I-I'm fine, honestly. I don't need to be carried like a princess."

However, as she reached up to lower her helmet, Major Lennox gasps at the dried red line of blood that was over her right eye. "You are not alright, Rachel. Come on, get over here." He calmed down again and leads her to the human medical team, which was next to the Autobots med bay.

However, Rachel refused to be turned away from Smokescreen. She wanted to hear everything about this new bot that made Optimus trust him so much.

Now, that leads us back to the present moment in time, with Rachel being inspected and Smokescreen being repaired.

"Where were you stationed, Smokescreen?" Optimus questions, standing at the foot of his berth while Ratchet repairs the large gash in his side. The rookie smirks, and swiftly replies. "I was guarding Alpha Trion in the final days of the battle before the fall of Iacon." This makes Optimus' optics widen, and Ratchet slows to a stop before continuing.

Arcee is the first to speak up, her two sisters being repaired by other trained humans while she somehow suffered no damage. "The Alpha Trion? One of the 13?" The femme looks at Smokescreen, then to Optimus. The Prime already replaced his expression with his steely faced one, but Rachel could tell.

"How did you arrive here on Earth?" He questions, and Smokescreen grunts. "I had been guarding Alpha Trion when I heard the battle grow closer. I was so excited!" His face brightens. "I was finally going to see some action, but.... then everything went dark." His optics fall and Rachel can't help but feel bad for him. She knew that feeling...

"When I came to, I was on board a Decepticon ship. I escaped and launched myself in an escape pod, which must have thrown me into stasis, because next thing I know I am crashing down here with a grand.... welcome party-OW!" He grunts and slightly moves away from Ratchet. The doc growls and drags him closer. "It only hurts because you keep moving! Now sit still."

Rachel's eyes widen and she cocks an eyebrow. The doc's tone went soft? That was odd. The wound must be worse than it looks. Rachel then proceeds to do the same to her doctor as they stitch up her head.

Smokescreen soon returns to his spot, and a grin plasters his face. "I have to be one of the luckiest bots alive to end up here, with Optimus Prime!" He slightly coughs, and this causes Ratchet to huff. "Well you're running out of luck unless you sit still and stop talking!"

Rachel turns away after this, having been dismissed by the medical officer that was patching her up. She begins to walk back towards her room until a hand gently lays on her shoulder. Turning, she meets the eyes of Sam, and they walk in silence for a moment. "You know you called Lennox 'Colonel', right?" He says, and Rachel's eyes widen.

Then, she giggles. "Guess I hit my head harder than I thought." She reaches up and carefully feels the stitching. The pain from it was barely there anymore due to the medicine she was given. However, she knew sleeping was going to be one heck of a challenge. 

As if he heard them talking, once they near Rachel's room, Major Lennox is waiting inside, his face unreadable. Sam pats her shoulder and gives her a soft smile before heading towards his own quarters.

With a sigh, Rachel steps inside and closes the door behind her. Turning towards Lennox, she crosses her arms. "Sorry for your demotion, Major." A smile works its way onto her lips, but his expression doesn't change. This makes the girl frown, and she drops her arms. Silence hangs in the air, and the tension makes the girl growl before she walks towards her bed and sits down.

All the while, Will just watches her. As she sits and lays her head on her hands, attempting to mask a yawn, he finally gives and unfolds his arms. "Why didn't you tell me?" Her head doesn't move, and Will walks closer. "You haven't been sleeping well and you don't think it's important to let your commanding officer know that?" His tone was strict and demanding, but laced with brother-like worry.

Rachel huffs, covering a yawn once more, but she doesn't speak. Lennox finally stands in front of her and gives off an irritated growl. "Captain Rachel P. Darby, stand up." For a moment, nothing happens, then, slowly, the girl stands. Her eyes were barely open, but she still held a glare towards the man.

Lennox only holds a level look with the girl. "Do I need to remind you of your duties with this title?" He says, taking another step towards her and getting in her face. "When you don't take care of yourself, and you don't let me know so I can help, you endanger everyone in your squad and on this team." His voice was low and dangerous, but the girl holds her gaze forward.

Gazing down at the woman, Lennox finally sighs, steps back, and rubs his forehead with his hand. A sniffle is the only thing that makes his gaze turn back to the girl, and he is shocked to see tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I kn-know the consequences of m-my actions are dire and could have lead to m-more than just myself getting hurt or w-worse, however there is no way to h-help the issue I have." She takes a deep breath, steadies herself, but doesn't wipe away the tears. She finally turns her eyes to look at Lennox, her blue eyes glistening. "These nightmares will eventually fade and nothing I have ever done quickens the process. 

"I know everyone is worried about me, so, if it will ease your mind, I will tell you everything right now, but you must promise me one thing." As she stops and stares, Lennox only returns her gaze. His head finally nods, and he steps closer. "I won't tell Optimus, or the others." He states, then he lays his hands on her shoulders.

"Rachel, what's got you so wound up? I've known about your nightmares from after.... And they didn't last this long." Will gazes at her, and she finally blinks before stepping back and sitting on her bed. Her head hangs, but she speaks. "Every night, I have basically the same dream. Something wrong happens a-and the Decepticons find us. As we retreat...." She turns to look at him, and he finally sits down next to her.

"I have seen you get blasted so many times, a-and Eps, Raf.... but it always ends with one of the bots saving my life..... and their spark being ripped out in front of me." She had her head hanging again, and the tears fall once more. "I-I always survive a-and B-Barricade is the o-one standing over everyone..... M-Megatron echoes around behind b-but..." She doesn't finish as a sob racks her body.

Gazing over the girl, Will huffs and allows himself to relax for a moment and let his brotherly instincts kick into high gear. He quickly wraps her in a hug, and she twists to cry into his shoulder. "I-I d-don't w-want a-anyo-one g-g-getting hurt b-because of m-me!"

Lennox says nothing, but gently rubs her back. He hushes her and she slowly begins to calm down. Finally, they are just sitting there, slowly rocking side to side. Finally, as Will opens his eyes, he notices her breathing has evened out. Slowly moving his head to the side, he smiles as her's are shut and the tears were dried on her face. Carefully, he moves her into a lying position and pushes her further onto her bed.

With a sigh, he stays for a moment, watching her, then leaves, content knowing that she had fallen into a deep sleep. 

Softly, he shuts the door to her room and releases another sigh. He never imagined that she would have those types of dreams, and it worried him. The sound of pressure being released from something mechanical makes him smirk. He, apparently, wasn't the only one. "How is she, Major Lennox?" Turning around, the Major smiles, then crosses his arms at the Prime. "She's fine, Optimus. The meds we gave her for the pain have kicked in and she's resting."

Optimus seems uncontent with this answer, and Lennox knows. He waves a hand. "It's not my place. She will tell you when she's ready....." Optimus' optics fall, and Will quickly adds as he walks away. "She just worried about you, Optimus. She doesn't want you to worry about you and get distracted.... and hurt..." He mumbles the last part...

But the audio receptors of a certain blue and red flamed bot pick it up with ease, and his optics widen as he turns to watch Lennox leave the hall.

Is that what she was trying to tell me before?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: YEEEEEEEEEEET two chapters in one week? *cracks knuckles* I think I'm back in it!

Anyways, Lennox seems to be hiding something???? Wonder what that is.... hmmmmmmmmmm.... how could he possibly know of her past nightmares hhmmmmmmmm??

Guess we'll find out huh?

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