Who Guards the Guardians? (TFP/Bayverse crossover)

Rescuing the Rescuer

[Rachel's POV]

Everything hurt. Airachnid's venom was stinging as it flowed in my veins. It contrasted with the energon blood, and even though I could feel it starting to sizzle away, the damage it was causing was affecting not just myself.

But also my spark.

Jazz was quiet, hiding his pain, and Broadwing was trying to comfort me. I can hear voices around me, one sounds like my mother.

Mom...

I had just helped rescue her from that spider-con and MECH. Now they were rescuing me. 

Ironic.

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[Jack's POV]

"Mom, please! You can't touch her-" I try to hold her back once more, but my mom only scowls at me. "You can't tell me what I can or can't do! That is my daughter, your sister!" She yells, gesturing down at the floor of the helicopter where Rachel was currently resting. She was splattered with energon and the poison from Airachnid, and it was difficult enough to see this....

But having to keep mom from her?

"Mom, I know that! But if you get hurt because I let you touch her, how would she feel?!" This seems to snap my mom into reality as she looks at my face fully. Tears were streaking my cheeks. "I know it hurts mom, but you can't touch her. That blue stuff is toxic to humans. Ratchet can help her..... And we are almost there?" She looks at me confused, and I see her mouth a question, but I don't hear it as said medic's voice echoes over the speakers. 

"Agent Fowler! What's the iss-"

"Get a table ready, doc. Rachel's in bad shape."

"Understood. I'm sending Optimus up to retrieve her."

"Ratchet? Their mom is here..."

Silence rings out for a moment, then I hear Optimus reply. "We will explain everything later. For now, Rachel is top priority. I am coming up now." I nod and quickly jump off the helicopter as it lands. My mom follows suit, but stumbles as the ground shakes. She turns to look, but I don't have to. Her gasp doesn't surprise me, but I just watch as Optimus slowly reaches in and carefully takes Rachel into his grasp. I trust Optimus, but seeing her so limp....

"B-Be careful!"

It slips before I can stop it.

The Prime turns to me, and I see the worry in his optics before he can hide it. "I will be gentle with her, Jack. You have my word." He then carefully makes his way over to the elevator, and I hold my mom back once more. She turns to yell again, but I shake my head. "If she drips any of that on us, we will get hurt. WE can wait.... She can't."

Her eyes widen, and she reluctantly agrees. She stays next to me, and keeps a tight hold on my arm. She says nothing, but I can feel the questions she wants to ask. There is only one that matters right now.....

"She'll be okay mom.... Ratchet knows what to do."

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[Ratchet's POV]

I have never seen Optimus so distressed before. The last time he was ever this worried was during the war on Cybertron... And we lost contact with Elita-1. They had a large argument after that, however each still consider the other friends.....

But even this is more unusual.

HE is quiet, hasn't left the med bay, but he stays out of my way which is nice. His optics keep flickering back over towards Rachel as I work on her wings first. Despite the serious slashes on her front half, her wings hold more nerves than any other place on her body. This is where most of her pain will be coming from. I'm working on relieving that pressure first, then I can use my holoform to mend her chest and optic.

Eye. I meant eye.

"Aye, doc? Ease up on that wire. She's struggling to stay still when you tap it."

My optics flicker up for a moment to the screen. It holds three signatures on it, Jazz being the one to have spoken. I gaze back down at the severed wire near my knuckle and sigh. "I understand, but it is the last part that needs to be patched up. This.... will hurt a bit."

Silence greets me, and I shake my helm. Carefully and quickly, I begin fixing the wire, and I feel her move beneath my steady servos. I change one servo into my welder, and swiftly replace the paneling covering the now fixed wire. Rachel shifts again, and her grunt echoes through the med bay. This time I feel Optimus move closer, standing almost directly behind me. "I'm nearly finished with the cybertronian aspect of her wounds. If you would like to stay.... I need you to back up, Optimus."

I feel the Prime slightly stiffen, and I turn to him. "Optimus.... I... I know. But I need you to not be hovering over me while I work....." His optics lock with my own, and I give him an understanding nod. "She is in good servos." He finally says, but his faceplates still showed his worry. He turns to leave, giving one final glance to Rachel. "You will be the first to know... Trust me."

He finally leaves, and I turn back to Rachel. Once I finish the paneling, I sigh and step back. "Are you going to stay silent the entire time, or tell me what's on your mind?"

At first, I get no response. Then, "How did you know I wasn't still out?" Rachel's voice is slightly scratchy, but loud enough. I smirk, but hold back my snicker. "Your spark rate increased when Optimus started speaking." I stretch out my servo to have it level with the able before transfering my concious to my holoform. It sizzles to life in the palm of my servo, and I quickly jump over to the table. I tap a few buttons on the computer nearby, carefully flipping rachel over to reveal her front half. "You two have been dancing around each other worse than Starscream and his conspiracies against Megatron."

I get a soft chuckle from that, but it ends in a coughing fit. Rachel's real body shudders in protest, and I remove my hands until she settles. "How long have you known?" She asks as I continue working, slowly applying an antivenom to each wound. I think back, remembering their first interaction that I witnessed. "Long enough...." Silence meets me once more so I continue with the work.

Her wounds were not that deep, but my thoughts were deeper. She was thinking, her brain waves were spiking, and I was curious as to what she was thinking of. I simply keep working. When she is ready to talk, I know she will, so for now I will be patient. I finish with the antivenom and move on to sowing up her wounds. However, I find myself slightly miffed. Although my servos are steady, my holoform hands seem to be more.... shakey.

I growl, not wanting to hurt her more. "Ratchet?" Her voice asks, however it was unsteady as if whatever she was about say she wasn't sure of. I gaze at the monitor just as she continues on. "I know it may hurt your pride a bit, but you could call in my mother." I stiffen at the thought, but she continues. "They would have filled her in by now.... And she is a nurse, Ratchet. She can help."

I slightly huff, but I nod my head. "I will com for her...." Is all I say, and I feel the girl beneath my hands relax. "Thank you..."