[Rachel POV]

Rachel keeps her optics on Optimus as Ratchet moves closer. "Optimus, please. Save your strength. Rachel is.... safe now." He turns towards me, and I slightly nod my thanks. Optimus didn't need anything new appearing yet. The Prime doesn't move, and instead attempts to speak my name again. "R...Rach...." Ratchet moves closer and gently touches Optimus' arm. "Rachel is fine. I need you to power down right now......"

This doesn't seem to work, as Optimus' optics harden towards the medic. Jazz speaks what I was thinking. "Doc.... He's not going to listen till he knows, for sure, that she is alright...." I huff and lower my head, which apparently was enough for Optimus to realize he wasn't on a berth. His helm tilts and I feel him move slightly. I try to hold still again as Ratchet presses him down. 

"Optimus, please.... A lot has happened. Just let me-"

"Where..... is..... she....?" His voice cracks, and I feel my spark beat hitch at it. It hurt him to speak like that, I could feel it. I felt it....

As if it was my pain.

After a moment of silence, I lift my helm, and turn my optics towards the Prime. He  catches the movement and gazes towards my direction. I realize he couldn't fully see me yet, and I lift my helm as far as I can. Our optics lock the moment they meet. I feel my spark race, but soon I realize it wasn't just mine. It feels like an eternity passes as we stay like that, optic to optic.

Finally, he speaks.

"R.....Rachel? Is that.....?"

I solemnly nod my head, slightly closing my optics. "Yes, Optimus..... It's.... It's me." I open them again, to see his shut off as he falls into emergency recharge. Ratchet gazes at me, then begins working on the Prime. "I suggest you find a way on the berth so you can rest your legs. You will be here for a while, I'm afraid."

I give him a look, and Ironhide walks over. "What do you mean, Ratchet? Why can't she leave?" Jazz actually barks out laughing, and Ironhide glares at the computer. "The same reason you and Chromia can't be separated for more than 1 vorn without losing your processor!" I turn my helm away, feeling my faceplates begin to turn bright blue. I didn't know much about cybertronian relationships, but I sure as heck knew what Jazz just alluded to, and Ironhide stutters for a moment before catching that as well.

"Wait... you mean...?"

I sigh, and turn back towards them all. "Yes.... Fine, yes! Okay, I have feelings for him! I hate seeing him hurt, I always enjoy his company, I don't like him going out on his own and putting his life on the line and I wanted to completely tear each and every limb from that blasted excuse of a tin can's body for harming the one I love!"

I feel my spark skip not at what I said, but how I said it. My voice changed, and I feel something stir inside that I did not like at all. It was a rage I had never known, but Broadwing calms me. I tell him he will explain himself later, and he nods before kicking Jazz in the back slightly. "What the heck, man?!" He shouts, and the Predacon snorts. "That is for blurting out her secret to the whole base instead of letting her speak it." I say nothing, but a smile does appear on my face.

Darn dragon beat me to it.

Wheeljack is suddenly next to me, a servo on my shoulder....

Well, my first shoulder.

His optics lock with mine, and he smirks. "Kid.... we've all known for a while...." I feel my faceplates flush and Optimus stirs on my back as I feel my sparkrate spike. Ratchet turns towards me, and says nothing, but his optics warn me. I take a few deep breaths and calm down.

Untils realization dawns in my min-excuse me, processor.

"W-Wait..... S-So are you saying that.... this is only happening b-because..... Optimus... He...." My gaze sweeps around the room, and the face everyone gives me only confirms what I was thinking. Arcee was smirking, and Cliff was next to her with a similar expression. Ironhide was close to me still, slightly nodding his helm while Sideswipe was with Smokescreen doing the same. The twins were snickering and I could tell Bumblebee was holding it back himself. This makes my faceplates brighten to a bright blue again, I could feel it. My gaze turns to Ratchet, and he has a calm look on him...

Til his optics hit mine.

Then he smirks.

My spark races and I feel my thoughts completely scatter. He.... He feels..... Oh my Primus he actually..... I don't.... I-I.....Oh gosh.... Jazz suddenly comes next to me and lays a servo on my back. "Easy, Rache. Breathe. In and out, girl. In... and out." I try to listen, but it takes Broadwing coming over and laying his wing across my back strut to calm me. He was still bigger than me, even in my predacon state, but it was nice to be of similar size for once. It made things like this easier. I could feel my spark steadying and I take in a deep breath.

"Uh... Not to worry you, but ya might want to head back to your main consciousness again." I gaze at him confused, until I realize I had completely retreated into my mind, and I was possibly in a standing recharge state.

I feel my optics online again, and a light blinds me slightly. "Easy, Rachel. Come on back now." I hear Ratchet talking to me, and I blink rapidly, shifting on my legs as I feel them cramp. "You scared us there, Rache!" I hear Sideswipe say. I blink again and look at the bots who had now surrounded me. I shake my head and take in another deep breath.

"I... I-I'm sorry guys. I just... I didn't think he, uh....." Wheeljack was still next to me, and his grip tightens on my shoulder plate. "We should be the sorry ones, Rache. Shouldn't have dumped it on you like that." Everyone suddenly looks guilty and I laugh. "No, no guys! It's okay, honest! I was just.... shocked, you know? He's our leader and the one we look up too. I never thought...."

Elita-1 slowly walks over, leaving her sisters behind her for a moment. Her servo lifts my helm up slightly and my optics meet hers. "Rachel... He has felt this way about you for a very long time." My optics widen as she simply chuckles. "You know, I used to be his.... partner if you want to call it. I know when he is being flirty and protective." I try to lower my helm, but she keeps it up. "I'm not holding anything against you.... you are the one for him, able to fill a gap I never could." She smiles, and I can't help but feel my spark soar that she was okay with this.

I feel Ratchet working on Optimus, and I do my best to hold steady. "Rachel?" I turn my gaze towards Sideswipe, who jabs his thumb towards the berthroom hall. "Do you.... uh... want us to set up your room differently?" I suddenly realize that I am completely and one hundred percent NOT human anymore. "Oh... uh, y-yeah. Thanks, Swipes." He nods his helm, and Ironhide follows him. Soon, everyone seems to disperse to their own places....

Except Wheeljack.

He stays by my side, and I turn to face him. "Jackie?" I cautiously ask. He turns towards me, and I can see many questions swimming in his optics. "Yeah, kid?" I sigh, and nudge him. "C'mon, Jackie. You're normally more.... I don't know.... not this quiet?" His optics trail over me, mostly out of.... confusion? 

My optics widen, and I realize why he was like this.

"O-Oh!" I move my helm to gaze over myself, then return to facing Wheeljack. "Onyx Prime said.... because of his and Primus' help, the process accelerated and.... this was inevitable." Wheeljack still seems unsure, and I feel my knees-or cybertronian equivalent- vent. The gears were tight, and I feel Ratchet stop for a moment and shift towards me. "I... uh.... Yeah, this was mostly under the skin. However, Onyx had told us that my body could only handle so much, so when it was time it would take a lot of.... energy."

Wheeljack nods his helm slightly, lifting his servo to rub his chin in thought. "The blast from Megatron's blaster...." I nod my helm, feeling my chest tighten slightly. "Exactly. However...." The pain slightly returns, and I hear Jazz grunt. I hold it back myself. Wheeljack suddenly leans in, and I hold a growl back.

Wait.... why?

Confusion just rises up in me, but Jazz slightly crumples to his knees. "R...Rache....?" I grunt, and Wheeljack growls. "His blast was pure dark energon...." I feel my optics lock with his, and his narrow. "Fight it, Rachel. It may not be much, but it could affect your systems negatively." I feel unknown irritation, and Jazz starts to snap, but I quickly smack him away. Broadwing growls, and I send him a glare. This was affecting all of us....

Not good.

I nod my head, feeling my knees vent again and begin to shake. Ratchet walks over towards my helm, stopping working on Optimus for now. I feel the unnecessary anger rise up in me, and I push it away. The doc kneels down and locks optics with me. His own widen slightly, but he regains his composure. "You need to carefully lower yourself and rest. Wheeljack is right. The blast may simply work itself through your system. But, because your cybertronian body is new, it may have lasting symptoms for a while."

I growl again, and Ratchet narrows his optics. "For Optimus, you need to calm down." At the name, I feel my spark skip and I calm. Slowly, I lower myself, but my optics don't leave Ratchet. "I will be calm when he is able to move again." Ratchet doesn't react, but simply helps hold Optimus steady while I settle. When I am secure, he begins working on Optimus again. Wheeljack stays next to me for a moment, but I don't turn my helm towards him. My optics have fallen on one of the screens that is shut off. I can see my reflection in them clearly.

My right optic was cyan, but dull.

The left was purple.

Bright, glowing purple.

"Jazz.... This is not good."

'What gave that away, pip squeak?'

~~~~~~~

Sorry for the absences! I was so tired from holidays and just meh.

But happy New Year! How's 2020 going for y'all? I hope good! 

Anyways, as always,

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