3. Family (A TFP Fanfiction)

Chapter 13

We drove down the road for a little while, not wanting to seem suspicious to my grandmother who didn't know the whole truth. Ratchet's holoform still hadn't left, sitting in the driver's seat and holding the wheel with one hand. The other was still placed over mine, his thumb softly rubbing up and down mine. I sat a little distance away, my eyes fixated on my lap as my face and ears burned with a blush. Once we had begun to head out, I had abruptly calmed down and turned into a flustered mess. 

I couldn't even look at him..

Ratchet stared straight ahead at the road as his real form took us down the dirt path, farther and farther away from the farm I had lived in for so many weeks. I had grown to like it there, but my heart was yearning to go home, to my real home. I wanted to see the base, the team, the kids. I wanted to see my family. 

I was finally able to look up, peeking at my guardian as he drove down the road. Then my heart stopped and I jumped a little, causing him to peer over at me a little in curiosity.

"We're.. we're together now?!" I blurted loudly. It came out more like a panicked question.

He raised an eyebrow before turning his attention back to the road. "If that... if that is what you want," he said after a moment of silence.

I quickly realized my mistake, my other hand taking his and squeezing it. "N-No, that's not what I meant!" I said, flustered. "I-I mean... I want to be with you, yes," I finished after a sigh, feeling foolish over my own stuttering. My neck felt even hotter as I stared at my lap harder. 

He was silent for a moment, then a light chuckle lifted into the air. "Good," was all he said.

My heart was thumping so loudly I was almost sure that he could hear it as well. Well, it wouldn't really matter if he couldn't anyway, he most certainly could feel my spark going crazy. I could feel his as well; I was surprised that he was so calm, his spark only betraying a little bit of embarrassment. It was honestly a bit calming, though I was still a blushing mess. Sighing, a squeezed his hand a little harder. 

"I'm not super flustered because we're together now... though, that's part of it," I added quietly, covering my face with my hand. "It's just... the others. What are they.. what will they think? What will Optimus think?"

I felt Ratchet stiffen as I asked these questions in a tiny voice. He stopped on the side of the dirt road, out in the middle of nowhere, and I felt his holoform shift. As I also felt his spark send hints of worry, I looked up slowly to see him, his eyes watching me carefully. I knew I was still bright red, which was quite embarrassing in and of itself, but I didn't look away as I waited for him to answer. His topaz eyes looked a little uncertain as he thought for a moment, before his hand reached out and stroked the top of my head. 

"We'll deal with that when it comes," he told me softly. "I'm not suggesting we keep it from them... only that we will answer if they ask. There is no need to... stress them over a thing such as this." He glanced away for a moment, the worry growing stronger in his spark. 

Getting a little worried myself, I scooted closer to his side, until we were just inches apart. He didn't look up at me, and as I felt his emotions barrel into me at full speed, I knew he was under a lot of stress. My embarrassment seemed to simmer away quickly as I reached up with my hand and gently brushed some of his hair, hoping the calming gesture helped. The medic sighed softly, his hand squeezing mine a little harder. "Is everything okay back at base?" I asked quietly, continuing to play with his hair as I waited for him to speak. 

It was a few moments before he finally replied, another sigh leaving him beforehand. "Is it ever?" he mumbled. "Nothing too serious, unless you count our situation." I said nothing as I waited for him to continue, stroking his head and watching him carefully. "The Predacon we faced before severely changes many things, including our chances. Shockwave seems intent on collecting more Predacon bones to clone them, which would only cause more problems for us." He sighed again, lifting his hand and brushing his own hair, finding my hand up there and taking it slowly, though he still didn't look to me. "The fact that their activity has diminished lately doesn't bode well for us; it could mean that they already have what they need."