GRV. Lamont Farm. Baby Steps to Recovery

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Optimus: *startles awake, his arms flailing out reflexively and then recoiling as one comes in contact with a wall of some strange, thin, plastic substance. Is too distressed by the dream to realize that he's in his bed under the white tent that Matt and the other human men made for him and Elita out of silage bags*

Elita: *awake! And now she's moving to try and calm Optimus down*

Optimus: *confused blinking as he turns his head toward the voice and touch of the femme* ...Elita? But... you died.

Elita: I was brought back, Optimus... *gently smoothing his helm*

Optimus: *still blinking, and then begins to shake again, as he has the other times he's wakened since his collapse after arriving at Matt and Dixie's farm* I... I'm confused.

Elita: *soothingly* Circulate... Everything's going to be okay. *pings Ratchet's comm in the hopes that the medic is taking a break for the moment*

Optimus: Where... where is Sentinel? Why isn't he here? *shaking harder, the sound startling the crickets to silence*

Elita: Sentinel is gone...

Optimus: *stares at her* What...? *then startles again as a blocky yellow form pushes the tent flap aside*

Ratchet: Easy, Optimus... *sounds just a bit worn out herself, since she's been working almost non-stop on repairing Jazz and Wheeljack* *will scan Optimus*

Optimus: *systems quickly hiking themselves up to panic mode again as he blinks at her without recognition*

Ratchet: *a bit sharply* [Optimus, report!]

Optimus: *winces and cringes* I... I... *shutters optics and breaks down weeping*

Elita: *hugs Optimus and tries her best to give comfort*

Ratchet: *very soft sigh*

Epps: *quietly, from the night shadows by Ratchet's feet* We gotta sedate him again?

Ratchet: We might need to...

Optimus: *softly, his voice like a lost hatchling's despite its depth* Where is my brother? Where is Sentinel?

Epps: *deep sigh as he shakes his head*

Elita: *quietly, trying to keep her voice even* They're gone, Optimus...

Ratchet: *moving to ready another sedative*

Optimus: Gone? No... Please.

Elita: *gentle helm smoothing* *quietly* Everything's going to be alright, Optimus...

Optimus: I... I... killed...

Ratchet: *tags Optimus with the sedative and catches him, then she and Elita are getting the Prime laying down* *very soft sigh*

Epps: *quietly* Is he gonna get better?

Ratchet: *softly* We can only hope...

Elita: *going to keep smoothing Optimus' helm for now*

Epps: *deep sigh* Director Mearing's getting pushy for news. *then lifts his head as he hears Jazz's voice echoing softly in the night*

Ratchet: *scowls at the thought of Mearing, and then she's moving to check on Jazz, silently thanking anyone who's listening that Catherine is a quick learner when it comes to repairs, as every extra set of hands helps*

Buddy: *awake as the medic enters the barn, his head turned and his tired optics bright as he calls to Perceptor, who is being sat on by an entirely too wide-awake Chrome*

Perceptor: My word. Chrome, please... oof!

Ratchet: ... *amused snort and headshake, moves to try and distract Chrome* *will also check for Catherine under some of the tarps, since the woman tends to fall asleep in the barn if Captain MacKenzie doesn't come get her in the evenings*

Buddy: *soft deep chuckle and a wince as the baby bot eagerly jumps up and cannonballs into Ratchet's legs* Hey, Katy, lookit that. *has his friend tucked into the crook of his arm*

Catherine: *soft, sleepy snerk as she watches Ratchet's fancy footwork* Hyper kid...

Dallas: *is that soft snore coming from under one of the tarps*

Chrome: *yap yap yap! Baby's not tired!*

Buddy: *so amused as he cuddles Catherine and watches*

Ratchet: *lifting Chrome and clicking to the active sparklet* You have far too much energy for this time of day, Chrome...

Chrome: Bweeeee! *laughs* Play! Play! *turns head* Daddy?

Ratchet: *dirty rotten grin, will go look for Ironhide then* Alright, let's go find him.

Ironhide: *strangely, is nowhere near the barn. Nor has he stepped over to the house to make sure the humans are alright*

Ratchet: *pings Ironhide's comm*

Ironhide: *pings present and functional*

Ratchet: //Where are you, Ironhide?// *looking around*

Ironhide: *present and functional*

Ratchet: *irritated growl, will continue to walk around and look for the old soldier*

soft clatter of metal: *comes from behind the old machine shed on the other side of the field*

Chrome: *perks in Ratchet's arms* Daddy! Mama!

Ratchet: ... *almost hesitant to approach the machine shed now, but approach it she does*

Ironhide: *comes stumbling out from behind it, unsteady on his feet and blinking* *gruff* What... whaddya want... Ratch?

Ratchet: ... Your sprog is hyperactive, and wants to play with you. *offers babby*

Ironhide: *blinks blearily at his son* So... so does his mother. *liiiist*

Chrome: *chortles at funny funny Daddy*

Blackout: *is that hand that reaches from behind the shed and shoves Ironhide upright*

Ironhide: *grumbles softly and leans the other way*

Ratchet: ... Carry on... *sighs and moves to bring Chrome back to the barn*

Ironhide: Hey. Wait... *faceplant*

Chrome: *so much laughing*

Blackout: *ditto!*

Ratchet: *stops and turns to look at Ironhide*

Ironhide: *out cold, charged to the gills*

Ratchet: ... Good grief.

Blackout: *wanders out, a little unsteady herself. Pokes mate, and then straightens to look at the medic with over-bright optics that are free from their customary visor tonight*

Ratchet: He can sleep it off. *will offer Chrome to Blackout*

Blackout: *sways slightly as she accepts the sparklet and studies him bemusedly* ...Didn't I just feed you?

Chrome: *laughs and waves both arms*

Ratchet: He's wanting to play... and was being a bit rough on one of my assistants.

Blackout: *thinks about this, and then starts swinging Chrome around, which brings about squeals of glee* *has forgotten Ironhide's injunction for silence lest she freak Optimus and Wheeljack out*

Ratchet: *sigh, will head back to the barn, after checking on Optimus and Elita one last time for the night*

Optimus: *sleeping soundly, his tall form sprawled on the crude mattress that the humans made for him from tarps and chaff*

Elita: *snuggling against Optimus and praying silently*

Ratchet: *small nod, will head for the barn and make sure Wheeljack's sleeping peacefully too*

Wheeljack: *seems to be free from dreams for the moment where she lays chained down to the trailer that brought her here*

Skymine: *looks up from where she's sitting next to the trailer, holding Wheeljack's hand* 'Jack sleeps.

Ratchet: *quietly* Good...

Skymine: *serious nod and quiet blinking of her scarred optics, then lays her head down on Wheeljack's arm and drops her new optic shutters* Sleeps.

Ratchet: *very soft chuckle, will grab one of the tarps and offer it to Skymine* Yes. Sleep...

Skymine: *deep sigh as she obediently shifts her systems into standby and recharge mode*

Ratchet: *gently covers Skymine with the tarp. Will go grab a second tarp to cover Wheeljack with*

Wheeljack: *slight kick, and then her optics are powering on with a confused frown*

Ratchet: *quietly* Easy, Wheeljack... I'm just covering you with a tarp...

Wheeljack: *blinks and turns her head to look at her friend* *nearly whispering* Ratchet? Why'm I tied down?

Ratchet: *quietly* You kept having panic attacks and lashing out at everyone...

Wheeljack: *frowns* Why? What'd I blow up?

Ratchet: *quietly, as she moves to scan Wheeljack* You went into the river to investigate something, and got ambushed by Decepticons... So you blew every 'Con in the river up...

Wheeljack: ...And me too, right? *turns her head again and then switches her optics off and groans softly*

Ratchet: You knocked yourself stupid.

Wheeljack: ...If what my chronometer's tellin' me's right, I must'a. *systems starting to slow and shift to normal standby and sleep*

Ratchet: *soothingly* Get some sleep, Wheeljack. *will get the chains off*

Wheeljack: *soft beep as she settles into the rest mode*

Perceptor: *soft whisper of small feet as he comes up beside Ratchet to look at the two sleeping femmes*

Ratchet: *quietly* Wheeljack will be alright... *so relieved*

Perceptor: *softly* Oh, that is so reassuring. *sees if he can't help Ratchet with the chains* You're certain that she isn't shamming, as she was in that incident that you related to me two days ago?

Ratchet: *quietly, as she works on another chain* I scanned her...

Perceptor: You had not done so during the previous incident?

Ratchet: I had, but she deliberately muddled the results...

Perceptor: But you are certain she is not doing something similar now?

Ratchet: I'm certain...

Perceptor: *looks at Skymine's contented form* Because of her reaction?

Ratchet: That, and when Wheeljack was shamming me, she got up, ran off, made mischief, and blew up a city block.

Perceptor: o.0 What a mercy we hadn't come to Earth yet at that point.

Ratchet: Indeed...

Buddy: *quiet backfire from behind them*

Ratchet: ... *facepalm*

Dallas: *bailing out of his bed under the tarps* *string of cursing in every language he knows!*

Catherine: *complaining bitterly* *totally doesn't have the 'oomph' to do more than that right now*

Buddy: *embarrassed set to his mouth and optics*

Perceptor: Oh dear. His fuel is not reacting properly yet.

Ratchet: *concerned* I wonder why? *yup. sealed her intakes* *moves to scan Jazz*

Buddy: *gives her a plaintive look as he tries to wave his hand well enough to make the bad smelling exhaust go away from Catherine* I don't feel too good, Doc. *none of the cheeky confidence that once characterized Jazz in his interactions with the female medic. He doesn't remember her, and doesn't know her well enough yet to really feel comfortable around her*

Ratchet: *scanning* We'll figure out why the fuel's not reacting properly... *making note of the lack of cheeky confidence*

Buddy: *winces as he backfires again* Maybe I should just stick with the pink stuff.

Ratchet: *raised brow ridge* Pink stuff? *has a hunch as to what it could be, but wants to be sure*

Buddy: *frowns as he tries to remember the word* The stuff that big black dame keeps pumpin' into me.

Ratchet: ... Hmm... *considering look*

Catherine: *quietly* Chrome called it 'energon'.... I think....

Ratchet: ... *to Jazz* I'll see what I can do..... *which happens to include asking Blackout where the slag she's getting energon*

Buddy: *cringes as the next backfire sounds like a small projectile weapon going off*

Perceptor: *gentle pat for the larger mech's arm as his blue eyes lighten with sympathy*

Catherine: *snuggles, even though it's quite likely that she's not too happy right now*

Ratchet: *going to try pinging Blackout's comm now*

Blackout: *present and functional*

Epps: *can be heard just outside the barn asking Dallas what he's waving and making gagging sounds about*

Ratchet: *pinches the bridge of her nose* //Blackout, where are you getting energon?//

Blackout: *present and functional*

Ratchet: .... *low mutter* I'm really going to have to knock some sense into them.

Perceptor: *looks up anxiously* What is it, love?

Ratchet: Blackout. *as if that explains everything*

Epps: *comes in* Blackout? She's feedin' her baby and usin' her ol' man for a pillow out by the machine shed. *pause, nose wrinkle* We gonna haveta pump Jazz's tank again?

Buddy: *slight wibble*

Ratchet: *as Catherine gently patpats Jazz's hand* I'll go talk to Blackout....

Epps: Okay. *blinking watering eyes as he turns to go join Dallas in waving by the door*

Ratchet: *patpats Jazz's shoulder and moves to go talk to Blackout*

Blackout: *gazing silently up at the stars of an Alabama early summer night as she listens to a symphony of bugs, frogs, and birds. Her head and shoulders are resting on Ironhide's back, and Chrome is cradled against her chest as he drinks energon through a tube that comes from her tank access port. Is plainly deep in recharge despite being nominally awake*

Ratchet: *stops as she sees what Chrome is doing* .... *raised brow ridges. And now she's got a bit of an idea as to where Blackout's been getting energon....*

Blackout: *quietly* What do you want?

Ratchet: *quietly, so as not to wake Ironhide* I was wondering just where you're getting energon....

Blackout: *frowns but doesn't move* Why?

Ratchet: Because Jazz is still having difficulties with converting the fuels we have available.

Blackout: *silent for a long moment. Then* So?

Ratchet: *starting to get just a bit annoyed* So, I want to help him recover. Obviously, the bio-diesel isn't helping....

Blackout: If he's low pump the energon out of the corpses I brought. *has no intention of admitting to this femmebot that she's been feeding her own energon to Jazz, and to a lesser extent to Wheeljack*

Ratchet: *sighs and shakes her head before moving to return to the barn. Is going to check her own fuel levels, and see if there's any tubing she can borrow...*

Blackout: *sharply* What did you do with that energon?

Chrome: *stirs and mutters, then snuggles as his mother catches the tubing he'd been drinking with and drains the last of the energon in it back into her tank*

Ratchet: We haven't done anything with it yet.

Blackout: Well I didn't drink it all.

Ratchet: Well, I haven't touched it....

Blackout: *sits up slowly, then tucks her son under Ironhide's arm. Doesn't look up as a shout of alarm comes from Optimus' tent*

Ratchet: .... *hurrying to Optimus' tent*

Optimus: *having a dream so bad that he's flailing even when sedated*

Elita: *trying to both comfort Optimus and avoid getting beaned by flailing limbs*

Ratchet: *moving to reverse the sedation so she can disable Optimus' motor controls*

Perceptor: *is small hands and feet scaling Ratchet's back and then hunkering on her shoulder as he watches her work. His expression is grave*

Ratchet: *reverses the sedation on Optimus, will disable motor controls, and scan the Prime*

Perceptor: *quietly* Ratchet, I'm beginning to think that suspicions that I harboured earlier are actually fact.

Ratchet: .... //What suspicions?// *narrowly avoids getting clobbered*

Perceptor: *as Optimus goes still but for trembling and the turning of his head to look at the medic* //His mind is shattering. The loss of so many mechanisms under his command, coupled with the strain of destroying his mentor, and followed by the sudden ending of the strife which has been his primary state of existence for the past vorns is too great.//

Ratchet: //... Slag....//

Elita: *moving to gently smooth Optimus' forehead, will click softly to her intended*

Perceptor: *softly, as he looks seriously up at Ratchet* //He must be given something else to focus on.//

Ratchet: //The sooner he and Elita bond, the better.//

Perceptor: //Precisely.// *looks down at the golden femme* *quietly* //I see nothing impeding the process now.//

Ratchet: //I don't either. We'll just have to make sure the humans understand to leave them in peace while their bond settles.//

Perceptor: *nods* //Indeed. That should not be too difficult, I think.// *frown of concern gets directed downward as Optimus gives a ragged sigh*

Elita: *soft, soothing murmurs, will gently touch her forehead to Optimus*

Ratchet: *slight quirk of a grin as she watches*

Perceptor: //Are you going to deliver the prescription, love?// *looks up at Ratchet, blushing slightly at having witnessed a moment so personal between the Prime and his fiancée*

Ratchet: *there's no way she couldn't have learned how to do that level of dirty rotten stinker grin on her own....* *to Optimus and Elita* I see what you're up to.

Elita: *SUCH a Look was never leveled at the Medic, even by Mearing* *yet she's blushing*

Perceptor: *now looking extremely puzzled as he looks from one femme to the other* *faintly* ...I've missed something again, haven't I?

Elita: Yes... Yes you have. *attention back to fussing over Optimus*

Ratchet: *soft, slightly sad chuckle* It was an old joke someone shared once..... In all seriousness though.... *looks to Optimus* There's no reason why you and Elita need to delay bonding, sir.

Optimus: *blinks at Ratchet blankly, but then looks around at the tent with a slight frown* *quietly* ...This is not what I had in mind for Elita's honeymoon sleep.

Elita: *IGNORING Ratchet* *soothingly* That's alright, Optimus. *nuzzle*

Optimus: *turns his face toward her, but then looks back to Ratchet* You're sure it will help?

Ratchet: *nods* The only real challenge will be keeping Mrs. Lamont, Mz. Lamont, and Mrs. MacKenzie preoccupied....

Optimus: *slight frown as he tries to remember who those people are*

Perceptor: Will we not explain to them exactly what is happening and why the newly bonded couple require undisturbed rest?

Ratchet: Yes, but from my observations, they tend to worry and check on everyone periodically through the day....

Perceptor: Ahhhh. Then we had better employ some of our human friends to guard the entrance to this domicile. That would serve the added advantage of no longer having bored military personnel teaching immature civilians undesirable games and habits.

Optimus: *faintly* Who's been teaching the children poker?

Ratchet: Some of the soldiers that Major Lennox sent to aid and protect us.

Optimus: *frowns* *vaguely, as his mind warbles back toward the edge of reality* I see...

Ratchet: *will give Perceptor a gentle nuzzle* Have your honeymoon, Optimus, Elita.

Elita: *a bit cheekily* Then go away and let us, Ratchet.

Perceptor: *contentedly squinted one optic at Ratchet's nuzzle, but now he's hiding his face against the yellow medic and blushing profusely as he apologizes to Elita*

Ratchet: *soft, amused rumble as she moves to give the couple privacy*

Perceptor: *deep sigh as they stop in front of the barn loft where the soldiers sleep, will watch as Ratchet gives the men their orders. And then he nearly jumps right off the yellow medic's shoulder at the flash that just threw shadows all over the yard*

Fluffy: *barking from the porch!*

Ratchet: *hand on Perceptor, looks over her shoulder*

Dallas: What the heck was that?!

Epps: o.0 Didn't sound like anythin' blew up...

Ironhide: *from over by the machine shed* *groggily* Who bonded?

Ratchet: Optimus and Elita.

Ironhide: Oh. *sound of a snore and a sleepy Chrome giggle*

Epps: Bonded...? *looks up at Ratchet from his place by the barn door*

Ratchet: They're married now...

Epps: Oh. I'll go congratulate 'em. *turns toward the tent*

Perceptor: *quickly* Actually, the wedding is why we're here to speak to you.

Epps: *stops and looks up again*

Dallas: *both brows up* Er.... Okay?

Ratchet: Optimus and Elita will need undisturbed rest for the next five to seven days, at the very least.

Epps: *deep frown* Just exactly what did this 'wedding' entail?

Ratchet: ....Er..... *bit of a deer in headlights expression*

Perceptor: As stated by the name, bonding involves the bonding of two sparks. The process effectively renders a bonded couple as one being in two bodies.

Epps: *slow blink, and then he turns and looks into the barn* ...You're part'a Ironhide?

Blackout: *from inside* Shut up.

Dallas: *blinking a bit* Wow. Something Ratchet didn't really know.

Perceptor: o.0 *looks at Ratchet* ...You didn't?

Ratchet: *sheepish expression is a go* It's not as though I had an opportunity to work with very many bonded couples..... *quieter, and over a private line to Perceptor* //I didn't even know about the energy transfer from kissing until.... recently....//

Perceptor: //Oh.// *gently pats her on the cheek*

Dallas: *decides to let the matter go* I'd better go check and see if Buddy's gonna let Miss Wyatt go so I can get her tucked into a real bed and not a spot on the barn floor....

Epps: *calls to two of the soldiers in the loft to come down and take the first watch at the tent. Then blinks as a big hand containing one sleeping Catherin Wyatt appears near the barn door*

Ratchet: ... *raised brow ridge, will move to see just what Blackout's up to*

Dallas: *carefully scooping Catherine up and carrying her towards the house* *as he passes Ratchet* Sheesh... Poor girl's gonna have dreadlocks by the time this is all over....

Perceptor: *nearly gives himself a twisted neck strut as he looks quickly after Dallas in surprise*

Blackout: *is... giving Ratchet a stink eye as she crouches there by Jazz. A tube leads from her other arm into his*

Ratchet: *blinks a bit* Er.....

Blackout: You wanted him to have more energon. *glare*

Ratchet: Yes.... But I wasn't expecting a direct transfusion....

Blackout: *glare changes to a confused frown* Nothing else is going to save him. He's suffering from energon deprivation, like that old fool Jetfire.

Ratchet: *quieter* I see.... *is wondering to herself now if there might be a way to convert the bio-diesel to energon before giving it to Jazz*

Blackout: *mockingly* You're telling me the best medic on Cybertron didn't diagnose that?

Perceptor: Don't be silly. Of course she did.

Ratchet: *quietly, doing her best to resist the urge to bristle at the insult to her abilities* I wasn't sure how well his systems would be able to process energon right off the bat. Especially what we've been able to refine.

Blackout: *subsides and looks down at the damaged mech* Not well. He was even worse off than Jetfire, though he'd been without energon for a shorter time.

Perceptor: *quietly* He had also had his spark extinguished.

Ratchet: *small nod* *quietly* Keeping systems strain to a minimum has helped in his recovery....

Blackout: *nods, and then disconnects the infusion tube and withdraws it back into her body* *stands* I'm going back out. *stomps past and fades into the night*

Ratchet: *will make sure Jazz is laying comfortably, clicking softly all the while*

Buddy: *startles slightly and peers up at her blearily* Where's Katy?

Ratchet: *soothingly* Dallas took her to get cleaned up and tucked into bed. She's safe.

Buddy: *sighs* Oh. 'Kay. *slight shiver as the new energon spreads through his systems*

Ratchet: *spreads a few of the tarps over the mech* Get some rest.... Miss Wyatt will no doubt be out to see you first thing in the morning. *as she has every single morning*

Buddy: 'Kay. *no cheek, no laughter, no sass. Just an aged and weary mech obeying a medic he doesn't know*

Ratchet: *finishes making certain Jazz is comfortable, will check on Wheeljack and Skymine one last time as well*

Skymine: *fussy sound* Sleep, Ratch.

Ratchet: *soft clicks and a quiet chuckle* Goodnight, Skymine. *heads for the barn door*

Skymine: *soft and firm emphasis* Sleep, Ratch.

Ratchet: *soothing clicks as she changes her course to sit down near where Jazz is laying. Hand on Perceptor* *has no intention of sleeping right now*

Perceptor: *thoughtfully* Do you think that direct physical contact with other Cybertronians may help Jazz? I cannot help but notice how quietly Wheeljack is sleeping as Skymine holds her hand.

Wheeljack: *for a definition of quiet. She just tilted her head in just the right way to make her scarred up intakes known*

Ratchet: *quietly* It's hard to tell right now... *softer* I just wish I had found out about him sooner....

Perceptor: *boggling slightly at the volume of that snoring* Well... would it hurt to test the theory?

Ratchet: *slight quirk of a grin at Wheeljack's snoring* I don't suppose it would hurt...

Perceptor: *scrambles down and arranges the extra tarps beside Jazz, then looks up at Ratchet with an appealing grin*

Ratchet: *soft chuckle as she joins Perceptor beside Jazz, her movements on the big puffy mattress full of straw heralded by crackles and rustlings*

Perceptor: *makes sure a roll of tarps is properly set beneath her head for comfort, then scrambles around making sure that she's covered. And then he stops and looks at Jazz as the warmth of Ratchet's systems fills the space beneath the tarps and causes the damaged mech's expression of discomfort to fade into true healing stasis lock* My stars and garters....

Ratchet: *blink blink blink* *very soft 'heh'*

Perceptor: *quiet smile* I wonder if this is why the young of both our own species and humanity tend to huddle together when they rest.

Ratchet: *quietly* Perhaps it is.... *snags Perceptor*

Perceptor: *meeps as her hands close around his middle* What...?

Ratchet: *will bring Perceptor under the tarp as well* *nuzzle*

Perceptor: *relaxes and curls against her* *soft chuckle* Oh.

Ratchet: *soft, contented rumble as she cuddles her favorite person to cuddle*

Perceptor: *does a little nuzzle of his own* Why don't you shut down, love? I can keep watch till you've recharged.

Ratchet: *hesitant to do so, since she knows Perceptor needs recharge too....*

Perceptor: *admonishing little pat*

Ratchet: *soft sigh* Alright.... But once I've recharged and am keeping watch, I want you to rest....

Perceptor: *is that mischief in his smile?* I am well rested, love.

Ratchet: *slight frown, before she thinks back to earlier in the day when she sighted him sitting on the porch with a book* ...You were recharging on the porch?

Perceptor: I was. *smile grows slightly as he pats her again* Now rest.

Ratchet: Clever mech.... *soft chuckle, one last nuzzle, and then she's shuttering her optics and shutting down for recharge*

Perceptor: *sighs with satisfaction, then peeks over her chest to wink at a secretively smiling Skymine before he settles down to surf the internet and wait for morning*

((Written with random_xtras))