By-Layen

Chapter 4

I was awake, but not ready to open my optics just yet. I listened to my steady spark rhythm, and let myself feel every vent I took that brought my chassis up and down, that helped pump energon through out my frame, and looked for any sign of pain, before I tuned in. The conversation was garbled at first then it just sounded slightly muffled, but I could still hear what was being sad.
"Ratchet! After those wounds she got in battle on Cybertron, she's still in stasis. I don't think she's ever coming out of it. She been this way to long, why don't you just put her out of her misery?" It was Arcee. I couldn't tell if she was actually being nice or just being jealous. I know about her little crush on Optimus. I know just about everyone's crush, sexuality, I knew for a fact the last time I was awake that she was with Cliffjumper after Tailgate died.
"She's strong enough to pull through, she's done it many times, and she'll do it again." Ratchet argued back. I softly smiled. Of course Ratchet would defend me.

"I'm pulling the plug on her recovery pod. She's not waking." Arcee said I could hear her servo touch the plug and then the whirls of the pod stopping.
"NO!" Ratchet yelled as he tried to get Arcee away from the pod. I opened my optics as the door slid away. I took a step out rolling my shoulders and taking a deep breath in to smell rich soil all around us. I looked to the two who were frozen in shock as if paused in their fight. I opened my arms to Ratchet a smile appeared on his face before he let go of Arcee and walked to me.
"We've missed you Azles, I have missed you." He said bringing me into a tight hug.
"I know. And I'm sorry." I said into his chassis smiling. I heard what sounded like the screeching of tires, possibly three or four bots. I let go of Ratchet as he moved aside. A yellow and black alt form came in and transformed.
"Az?" Bee beeped. I grinned at him.
"You're not shaking me that easily kid." I spoke he swiftly ran at me scooping me in a hug. I heard his beeps of laughter.
"You really are a pain in my aft." He beeped setting me down. Two more alt forms rolled to a stop and transformed. Bulkhead walked to me and picked me up in his wrecker hug. I laughed.

"Hey, Bulk." I patted his shoulder when he set me down.
"We thought you weren't going to make it Azles." Bulkhead said being his honest self. I smiled at him, putting a servo on my hip.
"What would you numbscraps do without me?" I chuckled as we fisted bumped. My gaze landed on Optimus, his face plates to serious still the bot I never knew.

"Prime." I said in almost a snarl tone. He just stared at me, it was a cold blank stare. I turned my gaze back to Bee, my scarred dermas turning into a smile as he hugged me again."Can we show her to her room, Ratchet?" Bulkhead asked excitedly. Ratchet nodded as he went to a computer and started on something. Bee grasped my servo taking me down the hall. I turned my helm seeing Arcee glaring at me, and Optimus grasping her shoulder while shaking his helm.