Sunstreaker's Charge ✔️

Ch. 42 A New Concern

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
Lily had a good time out of the base.  Everything was fine until she thought she'd do fine without the sunglasses. That didn't last long. This was at the end of our two hours out. She wanted to deal with the headache without pain relief, but I didn't want her to have a migraine when she woke up. Lily has been on strong pain relief. Ratchet lets Lily try over-the-counter pain relief. It's hard not to sketch her sleeping, but I don't want to while she's in the medbay. I want a nice background.

Lily's blue eyes stare at me.
"Feel better?" I ask.
She yawns as she moves to the edge of the bed, "I ruined the afternoon out."
"Not my fault you didn't listen. Crosshairs and Drift dealt with someone else recovering from a concussion. They knew you weren't ready for no sunglasses. They know you're bored and are trying to help."
"I just hope Ratchet doesn't decide I can't leave the base for another week. Oh, crud, the last week of school is in two weeks!"
"Calm down. I'm sure Luke and your parents are trying to figure out how to keep you from repeating the grade."
I text Luke, hoping Lily's family has news other than Lily has to repeat the grade.
I know even if Lily could go back to school next week, she missed a lot. 

Ratchet lets Lily come with me to the cafeteria for dinner and to do a little art in our art room.  I know Lily doesn't like the idea of painting from reference that's a picture, but she loves what we're painting; the ducks in the pond at the park. A little harder for her, but I love teaching her new painting techniques.
Luke texts me that there will be a meeting tomorrow about Lily and school, but I will not tell her until tomorrow morning.

Lily's P.O.V.
Sunstreaker decides two hours is enough, and I am to go to bed. Oddly, I am tired even after my nap. Sunstreaker carries me to my room in the medbay, but he doesn't stay.

I didn't think I'd wake up to Sunstreaker asleep on the other bed. So because I didn't know this was his plan, I was fine. Which means this won't happen every night. I tear up at the thought.
"Lily, what's wrong?" Sunstreaker asks as he hugs me. Jolt runs in, worried. He probably thinks I have a terrible migraine but quickly leaves. Sunstreaker isn't liking what I'm telling him, "I know, but I want you to be fully recovered first. Then we'll deal with nightmares. Maybe our time together during the day is helping."
He hugs me and rubs my back. I notice Crosshairs didn't retrieve his sunglasses yet. They're still on the table.
Sunstreaker tells me we have a meeting with my family. This can't be good. No matter how often I tell myself Optimus would be part of the meeting if this is about Sunstreaker, I can't relax.

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
This is part of the problem; she's terrified her family will ruin everything. I suspect they were told my history while Lily and I waited out in the hallway, yet they're still allowing this.  I know Rung said I must tell Lily my history, but not now.

Lily is happy that her parents convinced her teacher to give a final exam to determine if she needs summer school or to repeat the grade. This is scheduled for the first day of summer school. Ratchet permitted Lily's parents to give her a study guide. She can study, but not all day.
"I don't understand how studying for this is helpful. She missed the lessons," I point out.
"They want to make sure she understands what she is to know to move up a grade. The school lessons go more into detail and, depending on the subject, have many more examples. The study guide could be all Lily needs, or she needed those class lessons," Lexie explains.
This is still confusing, but hopefully, this helps Lily. We drop off the study guide folder in her room in the medbay and go to our art room. Lily still worries about needing summer school as we work on our painting.

I worry about that and telling her my history. I don't think Rung will like it if I wait a few years.
I ask Crosshairs and Drift to take Lily for a walk around the park while I talk to Optimus.

I don't like that Lennox and Prowl are in his office. They just finished a meeting, but the two decide to stay.
"I'm not asking to go back to Cybertron if that's what you two are hoping to hear," I tell them. They still choose to stay and claim they want to hear what I have to say, knowing it's likely a problem, hoping they can help, "Rung says I have to tell Lily my history. I can't... even if she wasn't dealing with nightmares."
"Because then she'll realize she should stay away from you!" Lennox comments, "I can't believe her family thinks she's safe with you!"
I wonder if Annabelle wants to stay here, but Lennox forbids her. But then, why let her come here at all? Not my problem, but I worry about his distrust of me.
"She knows the twins were abused by their parents. Sunstreaker getting the worst of it. Unfortunately, she is aware most are avoiding her, and Ironhide has tried to get her away from Sunstreaker, but Ironhide now understands how hard Sunstreaker is trying," Optimus explains.
"She.... watched me kill her captive," I add, "that's when she became terrified of me. Lennox is right, my sire is right; no one will love me."
I try to leave, but Optimus tells me to stay.
"Rung is right; you must tell Lily about your past, but I believe she will not walk away from you."
"I know she'll have a hard time with the facts," Prowl adds, "but she didn't listen when she was told to stay away from you. I agree with Prime."
"I will talk to Rung about allowing a meeting rather than leaving you to tell her alone," Prime concludes.
I leave the room, not feeling any better about this. Thinking about Lily being terrified of me again and possibly for good this time...

Lily's P.O.V.
Crosshairs and Drift kept the walk short this time. Sunstreaker is walking down the hall towards us, but something is off. I don't have time to point this out before Sunstreaker goes down. Sideswipe rushes down the hall to where Sunstreaker is. Crosshairs and Drift rush to Sunstreaker, but someone is holding me back.
"Optimus?"
"He'll be ok."
It's interesting seeing how well Crosshairs and Drift work together, but it's odd how they know all this medical stuff without being medics. Sideswipe stays with them, though there's nothing he can do.
Sunstreaker wouldn't respond to anyone for a long minute. Even with no mention of his heart stopping, weakened heartbeat, or decreased breathing, this is scary. I try to break free from Optimus' grip. 

"Sideswipe?" I hear Sunstreaker weakly say.
Now Crosshairs is getting medical equipment. What happened now? And did Crosshairs open a portal or something? As I see a full first aid kit suddenly next to him.
"Lily!" Optimus yells as I finally break free and run toward the scene.
Crosshairs stops me from laying on Sunstreaker.
"Stop, he's ok," Crosshairs assures me
"Just a little extra oxygen for a few minutes," Drift explains as he puts the mask over Sunstreaker's head. Once it's situated, he and Sideswipe get Sunstreaker in a sitting-up position by the wall. I'm allowed to sit on the floor between his legs. Even while out of it, Sunstreaker hugs me. I notice the device on his finger. "he's doing better," Drift points out.

A few minutes pass before Drift believes Sunstreaker no longer needs extra oxygen and tells Sideswipe to take Sunstreaker to their room.
"Let him sleep if he wants to," Drift instructs.
I move out of the way as Sunstreaker is helped up. Sideswipe holds on to him as the two walk down the hall, "I'm going to inform Ratchet," Drift tells Crosshairs before leaving.
I thought they forgot I was here until I try to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Crosshairs asks without looking up from what he's doing, "leave Sunstreaker alone for now."
Something is going on. Is falling for a human dangerous to Cybertronians?

Ratchet's P.O.V.
I didn't think Drift would tell me that Sunstreaker passed out when he walked into my office. This concerns me, considering the conversation Sunstreaker had with Rung and me minutes before this event.
"Neither one of them is being honest with the other right now, and it's frustrating!" I point out.
"This is a potential problem," Drift adds, "Sunstreaker hates when anyone lies to him, but he's not telling Lily everything. He's still learning, and she's only twelve, but still...."
"I have a feeling her being injured is going to help them. I know terrible way to think."
"Yeah, I get it; he can show Lily how much he cares about her. This is complicated, and Sunstreaker is trying so hard."