One Day At a Time ✔️

Ch. 22 Afternoon at The Park

Ratchet's P.O.V.
I had a few medical personnel from the hospital try to help Jamie, but she got anxious. They all agree she was tortured like they used to in asylums; this is on top of her mental struggle before this scrap. The problem is that the solution will involve having Jamie panic as Jolt and I try to spend time with her.
We can use a low dose of a relaxant for a week tops.

Crosshairs and Drift are part of this conversation. Drift holds Jamie as she sleeps. The two mechs are displeased with what we'll need to do. The problem is, unlike a child, it's going to be a challenge to distract Jamie.
As for why Jamie isn't talking unless she's upset, it's hard to figure out why. This is more challenging to deal with.
"Damn it, I can't do this," Drift says sadly, hugging Jamie.
I know the two mechs hate seeing Jamie upset; we all do.

Drift's P.O.V.
I hate I have no choice but to watch Jamie be upset for some time as she learns to trust Jolt and Ratchet.

I sit on my bed, holding Jamie as Crosshairs sits on his bed.
"She'll get over this," Crosshairs assures me.
I know he hates seeing Jamie frightened and upset.

We plan on taking Jamie for a walk later today. I hate we need to have a few other bots come with us as we don't know if Megatron is still after Jamie. The twins and Mirage want to come with us. Sunstreaker wants to do another sketch with Jamie. With Ratchet's approval, we added going to dinner to our plan. There's a playground at the park we like to watch the ducks at. Sometimes I see older kids, teens, and adults on the swings. I want to get Jamie's playful mood showing again. Not sure if 4" 7' is small enough to play on the rest of the playground.

I'm thinking about how to make this a good day, and I forgot Jamie has been having nightmares even during her nap. Seeing the other medical personnel triggered these nightmares.

Jamie is violent until she realizes she's dreaming. Crosshairs and I have been kicked and shoved while trying to wake her up. She tries to take the trach out if I don't restrain her.
It's a long twenty-minute battle before Jamie is awake and trembling.

Crosshairs' P.O.V.
I worry Jamie feels guilt once she realizes we're safe. I hope she doesn't realize she was fighting us. Today, Ratchet sees it all. I leave the room as Drift tries to get Jamie to relax.
"How long has this been happening?" Ratchet asks.
"Since you brought the other medical personnel to help," Crosshairs sighs, "we didn't want to say anything if they could help."
"They helped, but there is no way we will deal with any issue within four days."
I already feel bad, Ratchet; thanks for making me feel like scrap.

Sideswipe's P.O.V.
Seeing Ratchet talking to Crosshairs worries me, even if they're not. They tell me everything is fine as I see Jamie clearly frightened. I ignore them and go into the room. I crouch down in front of Drift and take Jamie's hand.
"What's the matter?" I ask, even though she likely won't answer.
"I said everything is fine because I don't want you in here!" Ratchet scolds me as he hits me in the head with a wrench.
Jamie smiles, but I realize she doesn't have the speaking valve on the trach. I ignore Ratchet for a few minutes - getting whacked with the wrench - before my head hurts.
"I'll be back later," I tell Jamie before leaving.

"What did you do?" Sunstreaker asks as I walk into our room and try to get comfortable with my throbbing head.
"Made Jamie happy," I reply.
Sunstreaker laughs. I now have a headache to deal with before our walk later.

I feel better in time for the walk. Jamie has the speaking valve on. Sunstreaker and Mirage join us. The plan is to go to the park and let Jamie and Sunstreaker work on a sketch. Depending on how long that takes, we will go to a playground or for dinner.
"Hey, do you feel be-? Ouch, Sunny!"
I was not planning on getting a whack on the back, but it's great hearing Jamie laugh.
"As much fun as beating you up is; get up," Sunstreaker scolds.

I feed the ducks while Jamie and Sunstreaker sketch them. It's hard to believe Sunstreaker hates humans with how he treats Jamie. Like the rest of us, he's getting frustrated she's not talking unless she's upset.

Everything is fine until two doctors walk by, likely on their break. They have no intentions of walking toward us, but Jamie panics the second she sees them. Sunstreaker didn't think Jamie would turn to hug him tight.
"You're safe," he tries to assure her as Drift sits on his knees beside him.
With her eyes closed, Jamie doesn't know it's Drift and panics more as he tries to put the oximeter on her finger.
"No, trust me; we have this under control," Mirage tells the two doctors.
Damn, so they can tell we have medical equipment with us and worry this is a medical emergency.
"Take her," Sunstreaker insists, even though being handed to Drift while her eyes are closed is frightening Jamie more.
"95%," Crosshairs tells us.
No doubt that number is going to decrease.
"Shhh, you're safe," Drift assures her as he rubs her back.
What did they do to you? I don't think even a young child reacts like this.

A few minutes pass before Jamie is calm, but her oxygen level dropped to 90%. I watch a couple of ducks approach Drift and Quacking as if they're having a conversation.
Wild ducks choosing to go near us.

I watch the male try to steal the bread Crosshairs put in his pocket, and he watches the duck approach and smiles.
The duck jumps and grabs the bread.
"Hey!" Crosshairs exclaims.
Jamie laughs, and the female duck seems like she's laughing. Though it's supposed to be a call when she feels threatened, Jamie's pet female mallards would always make this quack on cue, as if they're laughing.
The two ducks enjoy the stolen bread as Sunstreaker takes a picture.

Drift puts Jamie in the wheelchair and checks her oxygen level before putting the oximeter away. He tells us her oxygen level is going up.
These ducks are unusual even if they're used to humans being around; I'd think they wouldn't interact like this.
"Now what?" Mirage asks, "time to go home?"

Drift's P.O.V.
I ask Jamie if she wants to go home, hoping she'll verbally answer me.
"No," she says.
Why am I thinking she's only saying something because Sunstreaker is here?
Jamie wants to stay here for a while longer. With her oxygen level stable, I let her out of the wheelchair and sit by the pond.
We stay for another thirty minutes before heading towards our destination for dinner.

I get Jamie her favorite for dinner, though I'm expecting her not to eat much, and I'll have to tube feed her when we get back. Jamie is cold, which is good; no one can see how skinny she is. She eats half of what's on her plate, which I say is progress in healing her stomach.

We all guessed Jamie would be asleep by the time we got back to the base. Sunstreaker oddly wanted to take a picture. I take Jamie up to our room while Crosshairs talks to Ratchet.

Glad you're a heavy sleeper, and I can change your clothes.
I hate seeing how skinny my girl is and the feeding tube port. It's hard still using diapers.
I'm able to cover her in a way to tube feed her.

Ratchet's P.O.V.
It hurts hearing how much Jamie panicked seeing two doctors walking in the park. Not even young children panic like that.
"I worry, what if part of the torture was they raped her?" Crosshairs asks.
"No, I would have discovered if she was when I put the catheter in."
There's not much I can do unless we force Jamie to tell us what happened, and fellow doctors at the hospital have advised me not to do that.
"Aside from that, she had a good afternoon. She ate more than we thought she would," Crosshairs finishes before leaving the medbay.
All we can do is help Jamie heal, but mentally healing will be a challenge.