Hope's Return

An Unexpected Confidant

"Would you hold your aft still for just one moment while I pull the shrapnel out of your shoulder?!"

Sunstreaker winced at Ratchet's less then gentle ministrations but attempted to do as he was told. Hope had picked a very inopportune time to go check up on the other Cybertronian settlements.

Sunstreaker had been training with the new base personnel when one of the rookie's cannons had misfired. He had shoved another mech out of the way but was unable to get to safety himself. To be honest, he was more upset about the damage to his paint job so to distract himself from the pain, he decided to tease the doc.

"What's the matter Ratchet,  missing my little sister already? She just left yesterday. "

His little comment earned him a whack to the helm and a hissing sound fro Ratchet.  Rubbing the dent, he glared at the fuming medical officer.  Ratchet held his glare for a moment before sighing and rubbing his servo's over his face plate.

"Sorry Sunstreaker.  I'm just worried about her. She did go to visit the Decepticon bases as well. Said that she wanted Soundwave and his kids to be with bots more familiar to them."

"Slag Ratchet,  she can take care of herself, plus Soundwave wouldn't let anyone get close to her. I hate to admit it, but that mech's not to bad now that we're all on the same side."

"Hmph, as if I'd ever fully trust a Decepticon,  former enemy or not, it's just..."

His voice lowered as if in embarrassment and Sunstreaker leaned closer to hear him better.

"How do you handle not being able to feel her through the bond as well when she's so far away? It's like I have a gaping hole in inside of me."

Instead of making a joke, Sunstreaker took the doc's question seriously.

"It's not like she's really gone though. You can still feel the connection, it's just not as strong. When I first lost her, the pain was so severe it felt like I was being pulled into a dark abyss. The shock alone sent me to my knees and when Side's emotions hit through the recoil...it took Ironhide knocking me upside my helm to stop berserker mode."

Ratchet looked up at the golden mech in surprise. He had forgotten that the three held a bond. A little more gently now, he removed the shrapnel and welded a careful seam.

"Do you think you'll see Sideswipe again any time soon?"

He regretted the question as soon as he saw the storm cloud pass over Sunstreaker's faceplate. The frontliner just shrugged and a silence fell between the two mechs.

"Sunstreaker...I'm sorry..."

"Am I good to go Ratchet?"

Ratchet faltered at the fake cheer that failed to mask the misery in Sunstreaker's voice and pulled his servo away. Turning his back to the mech, he made a show of cleaning his tools. Sunstreaker left without another word or optic contact.

Ratchet watched him go with a heavy spark before running a servo over it. With a sigh he sent a pulse to Hope and received a comforting pulse in return.  No words came through due to the distance but the love was there.  Feeling slightly happier, he mused that having Hope home would make even having the lambo twins back together worthwhile.

"Stay safe and hurry home my lady. We need you more then you know. "