Endpoint (A TFP Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

Taylor's face had gotten even more pale as her Autobot friend threw up the glowing blue subsidence, feeling her own stomach churn. Ratchet looked absolutely horrible, his servos stained with the Energon and his faceplate twisted in pain and lack of vent. He tried his best to stop, knowing he was giving the others a scare. When he stopped vomiting, he did his best to sit back up, bringing his servo to his mouth again as he continued to cough weakly. After another agonizing quarter of an hour of hacking and venting heavily, the flow stopped. Ratchet vented deeply and quickly, dazed as he leaned back on the wall, hanging his helm back to help vent clearer. Optimus was still knelt next him, though he had returned his servos to himself. Taylor was still shaking farther away, staring at Ratchet with a look of horror, her hands to her mouth.

Tears rising and falling quickly, she sobbed once and rushed forward. She stopped at his leg, placing her hands on it and looking up to Ratchet, her face red and splotchy. "Ratchet!" she called, doing her best to shake him, though it wasn't really much. The mech didn't answer, still venting heavily while facing the ceiling. His optic was still shut, his chassis limp and shivering. 

Optimus turned his optics to Taylor, then to his old friend. His spark was sinking lower and lower in his chest chassis, and he felt himself starting to rattle, too, the after affects of the panic from earlier. Taylor continued to try and catch his attention, but while the medic wasn't unconscious, he wasn't fully self aware, either. After several more failed attempts, which Optimus had added to a few times by shaking the mech's shoulder plates, Taylor turned to the Prime, shaking violently, but her eyes were desperate and pleading.

"P-Please," she begged silently, her voice rattling in fear. "Could you... lift me to his faceplate?"

Optimus nodded solemnly. He knew this was hard for her, but was glad she was facing her fears. He was honestly surprised, knowing that he was rather large and frightening to her, but would do it nonetheless. He bent over more and held out his servo, his digits firm for a good platform. The girl gulped, wringing her hands at her chest, and hesitantly stepped onto his large palm. She wobbled a little bit as he brought his servo up, so he slowed down. She was still shivering horribly, her eyes wide. Optimus could almost see the trauma hidden beneath the deep blue. For a moment, he thought he saw the color change into an Energon like glow, but she quickly turned her head to see Ratchet. Optimus decided to think nothing of it as he lifted her to his old friend's faceplate. Ratchet's gasps had turned into weak wheezes, but his optic was still closed, his faceplate stiff. He inched Taylor closer and closer, until his digits were just barely grazing the metal plates. Taylor slowly tiptoed over to the edge of Optimus' servo, getting down to her knees. She slowly reached out with her tiny hand, grazing it along his cheek. 

"Ratchet," she whispered, her eyes drooping. "Please wake up... speak to me. Do something." She suddenly sobbed loudly and leaned forward, hugging him the best she could. "Anything!"

Much to Optimus' surprise and relief, the medic's optic fluttered and he twitched, slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. When he realized that the young woman had her arms around his facial plate and neck cables, his optic widened slightly. His vent hitched and he twitched again while the girl sobbed into him. His vent quickening slightly, he tried to lift his servo up to her, but halfway up it rattled violently and fell limply at his side. He didn't have the energy to be annoyed, so instead he turned his helm to let her know he had noticed her.

"Ratchet!" the girl screamed, backing away but still holding his faceplate with her hands. "Why didn't you.. why didn't you tell me about this?! You s-scared me! I thought you... I thought you where gonna die!" she shouted at him between sobs.

"Talyor.." he gasped weakly. "I didn't... want to frighten you.."

She glared at him, a look on her that seemed unlike her. "Well, that's exactly what you did!" she cried, tearing still fresh and flowing. "I was so scared!" She sobbed for a few minutes more, before abruptly coming down and giving him a downright depressed and sorrowful look. "You.. you can't fix it. You're stuck that way.." she whispered. "You're going to keep that doing that.. for the rest of your life." She let it sink in, and her heart felt like it was being crushed inside her chest. "It must hurt so much.."

Ratchet stayed silent, listening to her ramble and sob while calming his vents. Eventually, when she calmed down and just cuddled him, he began to shake again. Optimus tensed, but the medic went limp with a groan, his gears steaming slightly. Taylor let go, sniffing and wiping her tears away with her hands. Ratchet watched her go the best he could, his gaze hazy. 

Optimus placed his free servo on Ratchet's shoulder plate gently. The medic turned his helm and focused on his leader, his expression weak and exhausted. "It is time you got the proper rest, old friend," the Prime told him firmly, nodding once.

Ratchet made no effort to reply, simply sighing tiredly and leaning his helm back again. His venting was normal now, but he was drained off Energon and strength. Optimus looked down to the human in his servo, who was watching the doctor with a strange look on her face.

"Taylor," he said gently, and she looked up to him. "I am going to have to set you down now. I am going to help Ratchet to the berth."

Taylor took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay," she agreed, before turning to the medic again. She stared for a second, before leaning forward and pressing her lips to his faceplate quickly. She pulled away a second later, her face a hot mess, and backed away on the Prime's servo. Optimus cocked his optic ridge at her, but said nothing as he lowered her to the floor.

"A-After you put him on the bed," she stuttered quickly, "may you.. let me sit next to him?"

He gave her a small smile and nodded. To his surprise, she beamed brightly, her face shining like it had in the pictures he had seen before. He felt better as he slung Ratchet's arm over his shoulder plates and stood slowly. Ratchet's chassis was limp, but he wasn't hard to carry. Using his other servo to steady him, he walked his friend over to the medical berth. Careful as he laid him down, he looked back down to Taylor who was waiting impatiently, looking almost excited. He smiled at her again, which she returned right away. She was no longer shaking, and seemed to be more at peace.

"Are you ready?" he asked gently.

She nodded quickly, raising her arms like a little sparkling. He held out both servos to her this time, and she jumped on instantly. He lifted her again carefully, setting her where he guessed she was most comfortable, between Ratchet's shoulder plate and helm. The girl stood on the berth, looking happy, but clung to his digits before he could pull away.

"Thank you," she said quietly, giving him a warm, grateful smile. She hugged his digits for a few moments, letting go and sitting down cross-legged. 

The Prime blinked in surprise, before nodding to her, feeling his own faceplate turn up. It felt like one of the first real smiles in a long time, and it felt good. 

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Wow! This was a long chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it, I really liked writing it.

I'm so proud of my OC!!! I really love her.

BYE!

*waves*