The Pulsing Darkness

Chapter Eleven

The rain poured outside the hanger. Michael was interacting with Ironhide on the side. Michael was sitting on a nearby tractor tire as Ironhide leaned against said tractor. Ratchet was clearing room in his ambulance for when he transports the siblings to the hospital. Optimus would glance toward Carrie's direction as she stayed away from everyone. 

"Ratchet," Optimus began in a murmur. Ratchet slammed the box of thermal blankets onto a shelf in his alt. 

"What?" He bitterly replied. Optimus looked away from Carrie and to his friend. Ratchet narrowed his eyes. "Oh, no." He shook his head. "We can't!"

"What if Barricade had seen them, Ratchet? I cannot simply leave them in the open." Optimus explained. 

"And if he hadn't?" Ratchet asked. 

"I don't see the harm," Optimus frowned. Ratchet shoved his hands into his haloform's pant pockets with a sigh. 

"I'm just saying, Prime. Wouldn't their lives be more at stake with them in our care? Besides, Galloway could strip more of our rights away walking into that base after not being there for a few days with two humans..." Ratchet warned. Optimus shrugged slightly but his optics glanced to Michael for a moment as he pondered his friends' concern. 

"I believe that would be a risk I would take. I'll assign guardians as Bumblebee has been for Samuel." Optimus nodded. Ratchet stepped down from the back of the ambulance and sighed. 

"Fine, but leave me out of it." Ratchet's hands flew from his pockets and shut the doors to the ambulance. Optimus nodded. 

"Noted." Ratchet paused and stared at him with a fierce look.

"I'm serious Optimus. Don't give me a charge." He pointed at him. Optimus ignored him with a blank expression and blink. Ratchet frowned. His eyes tore away as he looked away with a huff. 

"Why do you fear to have a charge to look after?" Optimus asked with furrowed eyebrows. 

"I don't. It's just the...forget it," Ratchet waved a hand as he began walking away. Optimus merely followed, not bothered by his friend's actions. Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder and Ratchet stopped walking. His body tensed at the touch and he looked over his shoulder. Optimus sent a reassuring nod. Ratchet lowered his head. "I don't think they'd appreciate my company. I don't want a charge to be uncomfortable even if it's for their safety." Ratchet began to mumble. Optimus felt his face soften toward his confession. "No human has walked to me without either trying to annoy me or running away in fear of the Hatchet of Doom." Ratchet shook his head and roughly moved his shoulder out of Optimus's comforting hand. Optimus frowned as he watched Ratchet storm to the other side of the hanger. Ratchet disappeared once he rounded Optimus's alt, assuming he turned off his holoform. He turned his head back to Carrie and watched her let her fingertips softly fall down her cheek as she stared at the ground, her mouth moving as she muttered to herself. 

Optimus began approaching her. Carrie snapped her head to him once he reached her side. Her eyes were wide with fear. 

"Don't!" She flinched. Optimus frowned and raised his hands slowly. Carrie blinked a couple of times and relaxed slightly seeing he meant no harm. 

"Carrie..." He spoke softly. She nodded hesitantly in acknowledgment. "Are you alright?" Carrie looked away.

"I'm fine." She whispered. Optimus set a hand on the gurney's sidebar. She cringed before she began relaxing. Optimus noticed she seemed to force it. 

"Well if you need anything, I can help."

"Do you have a phone?" She asked, small hope dripping through her tone. 

"No, I do not." Carrie snorted.

"Figures." She muttered. "I just want to be left alone and I just want to see my Mom again, okay?" Carrie asked looking at him. Optimus nodded.

"Of course, I will give you your space." He said and released his grip on the sidebar. He turned around and began walking back to his alt mode. Carrie watched him leave before shifting her gaze to Michael and Ironhide. Her hand reached behind her ear and felt the scar along the back of her eaar down to her upper back. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Ironhide.

"I can't believe he doesn't see it..." She whispered to herself as she watched Michael talk to Ironhide excitingly.