Enter Dante, The Rev-9: Book 2: Revelations

Chapter 13: Hurt

3rd Person POV

Manhattan 

"All I'm saying is that it looks like a great movie," Dante complained as they rode through the dark streets of Manhattan. He and Arcee, arguing back and forth multiple times after exiting the subway, decided to change the subject.

"Whatever you say, Dante," Arcee said, a smirk evident in her voice as they pulled into an alley with Elita and the others right behind them.

As they entered the Groundbridge back to base, Dante spoke up again. "Still, I was kind of wondering if, you know, after the others get back, you and I could go on a..." he trailed off.

"Date?" Arcee supplied.

Dante nodded. "Yeah. You up for it?"

"Well, are you a Rev-9?"

Dante smiled and relaxed in his seat as they exited the Groundbridge... only to swerve wildly to avoid Bulkhead, who was lying limply on the ground. Arcee lost control and tipped over, transforming as Dante skidded across the ground, rolling to absorb the impact.

Behind them, Elita screeched to a halt, and Miko and Jack got out while Arcee and Dante got to their feet. The five of them stared in horror as Ratchet applied a pair of defibrillators to Bulkhead's chest.

"Bulkhead, respond!" the medic shouted and applied the defibrillators again.

"Bulkhead!" Miko tried to run to his side, but Dante and Jack caught her. "Let me go!" she yelled, struggling.

"There's nothing you can do," Dante said, holding her back.

Arcee whirled toward Bumblebee, who was standing off to the side. "What happened?" she demanded while her sister ran to help Ratchet.

"Tox-En among other things," Ratchet answered, scanning Bulkhead. "Bulkhead has suffered a complete systems failure."

"Hold on," Arcee demanded. "Tox-En?"

Ratchet checked his wrist monitor. "Help me get him into the medical bay, now!"

Dante turned to Jack and Fowler, who had arrived. "Hold her." The two nodded and held Miko while Dante shifted to Cybertronian size and helped the others carry Bulkhead into the med bay. As they carried him, Dante noticed a large wound in the Wrecker's back, and he was certain Miko noticed it, too.

As Elita and Ratchet started checking Bulkhead over, Dante walked over to the humans, shifting back to normal size.

"How is he?" Miko asked desperately.

"Elita and Ratchet are stabilizing him," Dante assured her before turning to Fowler. "How did he get injured?"

"Hardshell sucker-punched the big lug when he was down," Fowler growled.

"Who?" Miko and Dante snarled.

"Some Insecticon," Fowler replied. "Point is, Miko, it's not your fault; you got that?"

"Got it," Miko growled and turned back to where Ratchet and Elita were helping Bulkhead.

Timeskip

Dante leaned against the wall in Cybertronian size, an arm wrapped supportively around Arcee while they watched Ratchet and Elita do their best to help Bulkhead. Optimus had arrived back at base several minutes ago and watched silently as well. Dante had used his exoskeleton to heal Bulkhead as best he could, but he couldn't do anything about the Tox-En that Bulkhead had been exposed to.