Transformers ( Bayverse ) - I Bleed Into Darkness

15 - Out Cold

        ~~~

        It didn't take a minute before he found her.

        Optimus paused and stared at where she lay, completely still aside from the rise and fall of her chest. Not even a fitful shifting of a restless sleep.

        "Filly . . ." He slid off Bear's back, walking over to where the Luna rested her head on Fay's chest and abdomen protectively, her ears flicking back and forth as his feet imprinted on the earth. Optimus shuddered as he spotted the blue and red stains in the moss, in the grass, in the edges of the miniscule stream. His hand reached out for her slowly.

        But a scream ripped through the air, and he froze as Charlie sprinted past him, Trinity not ten feet from Bear. She tore over to Fay and Luna lifted her head, ears rotating between the blonde girl and the now silent Optimus. He watched, not even daring to breathe as tears slid down Charlie's cheeks and her arms lifted Fay off the soft ground.

        Her attention snapped back to the holoform of the Prime, the leader of the Autobots.

        "What the hell did you do to her, you bastard?" She screamed, grinding her teeth together in her frustration, her pain, as she clutched Fay to her body. "She said you were a good one! I trusted you to be good to her and you broke her!"

        Optimus paused, looking between Charlie's infuriated, crying face, and Fay's still one. She was so motionless. If not for the fact that she was breathing, he would have been nervous that she was dead. Even though she was breathing, part of him was still paranoid that she wasn't with them anymore.

        "I didn't think she would react this way . . ." He told her quietly, unable to look away from Fay's face, the way she didn't look back. He wanted to see her open her eyes again. She had to open her eyes again sometime soon. She certainly wouldn't just stay like this. She'd wake up. He'd apologize. And they'd work through things. She'd adapt. Wouldn't she?

        "What did you do, Idiot? I asked a question!" She clutched Fay tighter, protectively. She refused to let go of Fay. She was beyond protective. She'd trusted Optimus to take care of her, and look what had happened. Fay was out cold, unresponsive. And he'd admitted to upsetting her. On the anniversary of all days.

        "We can talk about this soon enough," he told her calmly, using his self-control to restrain himself from reaching for Fay. He was certain that even if he tried, Charlie would slap his hand away and glare at him, like she wasn't already. "I need to contact Ratchet. Just . . . Keep an eye on her."

        Charlie scoffed, glaring at him. "Can do. Since you apparently can't." Her words were biting. For good reason, too. She hated him a little for what had happened. She blamed him. And she was certain she'd have even more reason after all this was said and done. She stayed on the ground with Fay as Optimus walked a fair distance away and made a call, though she couldn't see his phone. She looked down at Fay's too-peaceful face and murmured, "Hang in there . . ."

        Optimus activated his com link once he was a fair distance away from Charlie and the unconscious Fay. "Ratchet," he spoke cautiously, waiting for an answer from the Autobot medic on the other end.

        "Optimus. Have you found the girl? Have you seen IronHide?"

        He let out a slow breath before replying to the medic's questions. "I've found Farrah. I haven't seen IronHide in some time now, Ratchet. She needs medical attention. You need to rendezvous at my coordinates as quickly as you possibly can. Do you understand? This is an urgent matter, Ratchet. We don't have time to spare."