Fingers softly brushed across my jaw and I grabbed the hand tightly, digging my long fingernails into the flesh. There was a hiss as I opened my eyes and looked at Jazz's android. "Easy, Maj. I'm only admiring, that's all. No need for violence." I huffed and flung Jazz's hand away forcefully, rolling and stretching out so I was lying on my belly with one arm under my head and the other draped over the end of the mattress. I heard Jazz's footsteps go towards the window, followed by a heavy sigh. "Some day, huh?" he said with a tense, breathy laugh. My eyes flew open at his tone and I pushed myself into a sitting position, tucking my legs up in front of me. Jazz stood with his back to me, silhouetted against the window. The setting sun had turned the world outside orange and black while I was sleeping. I flicked my eyes over Jazz, taking in the straight spine and bunched shoulders, the balled fists and hanging head; all signs of stress and sadness. I sighed, pushing my escaped curls out of my face and smiled sympathetically.
"Yeah," I confirmed. "It wasn't the best."

Jazz turned his head to look at me, his face half lit by the light from the window. I considered turning on the torch but decided that I liked the soft, dramatic lighting nature had provided instead. Jazz looked at the vacant spot in front of me, then back to me. I smiled at him invitingly and he walked over slowly before taking a seat. I rested my head against the wall and Jazz mirrored my position, bending down to my eye level. "I don't know what ta say now," Jazz admitted. I smiled, closing my eyes and shrugging before meeting his gaze again.
"That's okay. There's really nothing else to say. We both know what's wrong with Prime, and we're both worried about how the future's gonna turn out now. But right now, I think you just need someone who won't ask questions and won't try to fill the space with meaningless chatter. Sound about right?" Jazz nodded, eyes shut tiredly. "Yeah, that's what I thought," I said, taking his hand and squeezing gently. Jazz moved, straightening up before bending forward so my head was tucked under his chin, putting an arm around my shoulders in a kind of casual, one-armed hug. This time I didn't mind as much as I usually would.

Jazz and I chatted for hours; he even took me to the mess hall so I could get a sandwich before going back. We watched movies on my laptop, and listened to music; during which I found out that Jazz is an annoyingly cool dancer. But I suppose it's not surprising when you consider the fact that his name is 'Jazz.' He left and the mood darkened again as he went off to be with the other Autobots and we both returned to the problems at hand. After I watched Jazz reluctantly walk away, I had a shower, changed into my pyjamas and went to bed, watching anime on my laptop. When I realised that it was midnight and I still couldn't settle, I shut the laptop, crept outside and climbed the ladder to the roof. The night was still, only the guards at the gate were around, and the moon was gibbous. I sighed, pacing around the edge of the roof before pausing and tilting my head when I spotted the robot footprints in the dust heading over in a wavering line to a cluster of outhouse storage units that... weren't frequently visited. And were big enough to hide a truck behind. Sighing, I made my way to the closest utility ladder and clambered down to the dry earth below. Looking around to make sure there weren't any soldiers or suits to ask awkward questions, I loped over to the outhouses and paused.

I thought I was familiar with all of the Autobots' expressions of pain from my work in the med bay, but the low, soft moan I heard on the other side of the buildings wasn't one I had heard before. Somehow, it sounded even more vulnerable and pathetic than the agonized screams and rumblings from before. Being injured serves to make folk restless; but sickness drains the energy and leaves your body beaten. This understanding finally managed to bring out my softer nature and kick my wish to comfort into overdrive. I sighed; both in frustration because of my empathetic nature and out of empathy for the creature in obvious discomfort just around the corner.

Walking over and sheltering partially behind the building, I rested my head against the bricks as I took in the situation. Prime was on all fours, hanging his head and shaking. Another low moan escaped him and he pressed a hand against his abdomen. I was aware of the different ways people react to company when they're ill, and I wasn't at all sure Prime would appreciate my being there. "Prime?" I said hesitantly. Startled, Prime whipped his head around to look at me. Although he didn't look pleased to see me, he didn't appear hostile towards me either.
"Titania," he rasped, turning away again. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I couldn't settle. I was worried about you."

"You remember... what... Ratchet told you... about viruses?" he inquired, shifting uncomfortably.
"I believe so," I confirmed curiously. Prime shuddered and I clearly heard mechanical components protesting; grinding and creaking in what I could only assume was a painful manner.
"Perhaps it would be best... for you to leave," he suggested, tensing visibly.
"Do you want me to leave, or are you trying to protect me from the emotional trauma?" I prodded, still sheltered. Prime moaned and shuddered again, bringing on more abnormal mechanical sounds that just proved that something was malfunctioning internally.
"You don't need to witness this," he told me in a rush.

"Do you want me to leave?" I repeated in a firmer tone. Prime didn't have time to respond to me before a strange clicking noise started up in his throat. Prime opened his mouth and a stream of dirty brownish-red fluids poured from it. Stepping out from behind the shelter of the wall, I waited for the flowing to stop before I pressed my palm against Prime's forearm. It took a moment for Prime to get over the shock before he managed to acknowledge me, looking at me with a tense, miserable look. "Forgetting about sheltering me and maintaining my naivety; would you rather I stay or leave you to it? Or should I fetch Ratchet?" I questioned softly, tilting my head as I waited for his answer. Prime gave me a bitter, resigned smile as he looked me over before responding.

"You have a far... far more... comforting bedside manner than... Ratchet does," he told me. There were a few more clicks and Prime turned his head and spat out another mouthful before returning his attention to me. "I think he's become too desensitized... to the suffering of others." I shook my head.
"Not true," I said. "He's just not as emotive as I am. He's gruff because he can't express himself in the same way I can; he's got a job to do. I'm just an accident trying to put herself to good use where she can," I shrugged. "Now, yes or no, Prime: do you want me to leave?" Air rushed through Prime's vents in a defeated sigh as he hung his head again, shaking it.
"I don't," he confessed. I smiled at him understandingly, nodding my head in satisfaction.
"I kinda guessed as much, but I had to be sure," I told him.

He started clicking again, the robotic version of gagging, I observed, and another flood of fluid gushed from his mouth. When he was finished, Prime moaned again, shutting his eyes, and lowered himself so he was lying on his side, one arm under his head, the other tucked up against his chest like a child. I always maintained the notion that all men were part six-year-old. It would appear that even Optimus Prime had his moments reinforcing the validity of that observation. After a pause, his eyes flicked open and found me, standing in front of him, wondering how, exactly, to proceed now. "Come and sit by me," Prime requested, hand patting the dry earth by his head. Walking over to where he now lay, I settled myself and reached out to rub his head and neck comfortingly. Prime made the same appreciative purring engine sound Ratchet had made when I cleaned his suspension coil. His discomfort eased visibly, so I shifted in order to reach his neck easier, humming quietly without thinking.

"You have a lovely voice," Prime murmured. "Do you sing?"
"Sometimes," I confirmed with a shy smile at the compliment.
"Will you sing for me now? I am curious." Clearing my throat, I started singing the first soothing song that came to mind, running through my list as I continued to stroke Prime's head comfortingly. Prime stretched out a little more, some of the tension and distress leaving him as I did my best to accommodate him. It was predawn when Prime and I finally stumbled back into the med bay, waking Ratchet in the process.
"Where have you two been?" he demanded sharply, standing and crossing his arms, watching as Prime curled up on the bed and tucked his face into his enormous pillow. "Prime, you should know better than to leave the med bay without my express permission! We don't know how this virus is going to affect you!"

I yawned widely, placing a hand over my mouth before blinking up at Ratchet sleepily. "No, we found out," I told him. Ratchet glanced at me worriedly and returned his attention to Prime.
"And?" he questioned in a rough voice. I could hear the genuine concern, even if Prime couldn't.
"I've been purging," Prime mumbled, shifting. "And I think my thermoregulation systems have been compromised." Ratchet nodded thoughtfully, turning to head back to his work desk before he remembered that I was there.

"Uh... Titania, that means..."
"He was throwing up and now he can't control his temperature properly; yeah, I know. I was there when it started," I said, cutting off his explanation and rubbing my wrist over my eyes. "And now I'm gonna go catch up on the sleep I missed. You can summon me if you need anything," I told the pair, walking out of the still open door. Sticking my head back in the doorway, I noticed that both robots were still looking the way I'd gone. "I mean that," I told them firmly, setting aside my exhaustion. "If you think I might be useful, you can call me." I disappeared from view again and headed for my room.

Some hours later, I heard the familiar hurrying and fussing that happened before the Autobots went out to fight Decepticons and quickly changed from my PJ's, pulling on a t-shirt dress. I hurried over to the door just in time to catch Bumblebee's android rushing past. I caught hold of his arm and he paused, giving me his full attention.
"Another attack?" I asked anxiously. Bumblebee nodded. "Far away?" Bumblebee held out his hand and tipped it from side to side.
"... Surf... bikini babes... famous beach..."
"Miami?" Bumblebee flashed me an approving smile and nodded. He looked down the hallway and back at me reluctantly.
"Best get goin' now..." he told me grimly. I nodded mutely, keeping my hand on his arm and stepped out, shutting my door behind me. He blinked and took a hesitant step away. I let my hand drop and fell into step beside him as we hurried to the hangar together.

It was bedlam. This time there were soldiers going with them, led by Uncle Will. He caught sight of me and pressed his lips into a hard line, shaking his head. Bumblebee's android fell apart and poured back into the car before he transformed into his robot form again. "Maj!"
"Sideswipe!" Sideswipe approached and picked me up, setting me on his shoulder without hesitation as everyone around us prepared themselves. "Looks like you're gearing up for a big fight," I commented, looking around.
"There's a big attack going on right now," Sideswipe agreed. "And we don't have Prime." I looked him over closely and noted that, in spite of his battle hungry bravado, he was hesitant to be going without his leader.

I sighed and shifted to put my arm around his neck, resting my cheek against his temple. He reached up and rubbed my thigh with a fingertip absentmindedly. "Sideswipe, put her down," Ironhide ordered. "We're leaving." Sideswipe did as he was told, setting me down by his feet and giving me a falsely confident smirk.
"Wish us luck," he said brightly. He didn't wait for a response.
"Whatever good luck I've got left, I want you to have it," I murmured as he walked away to join the Autobots who were leaving. There were Ironhide, Jazz, Bumblebee, the Twins, the Wreckers, and Dino. The others were staying to hold the fort and, I suppose, for back up. Jazz glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of me. I watched as he gave me a small smile and transformed with the rest of them, heading off. The human soldiers followed behind them, Uncle Will at the front.

"I'm worried, too," Arcee said, standing behind me. I looked up at her, surprised. We didn't really speak to each other. "They won't let me fight with them anymore," she continued, staring after her friends, her family. "Not since my other two bodies were destroyed. I used to have control over three, you understand," she explained, looking down at me. I smiled at her, determined to make the most of this olive branch.
"Skilled," I stated, nodding appreciatively. Arcee smiled at me and presented her android so the height difference wasn't quite as bad, even though she was still a fair bit taller than I was.
"I was, actually," she agreed. "But then the other two were taken out in Egypt."
"Yeah, that would suck," I sympathized. Arcee laughed.

"Not as much as what happened afterwards; what's happening now. Now, they treat me like a princess in a tower." I snorted.
"Yeah, I know what that's like," I told her, rolling my eyes. "Just because you belong to the fairer sex, most guys tend to believe that you're weaker and more sensitive than they are. I mean, maybe I'm not the most physically impressive girl around, but I'm not completely useless!"
"I know! Tell me about it," Arcee complained, leaning against me dramatically. We grinned at each other.

"Well, there's no use waiting around here," I said, looking around the now empty hangar. "Want to come and watch some movies with me 'til they get back?" I offered.
"What have you got?" Arcee asked, tugging on my arm so I walked out with her. I smiled.
"All sorts," I told her. "I'm big on movies. And T.V series."
"Sounds good," Arcee agreed. "But we'd better not let Wheelie or Brains catch us. Then they'll want to stick around and they can be so..."
"Pervy and annoying?" I suggested, smirking. Arcee nodded.
"Precisely."
"Okay, we can make it a girls' day. Want to invite Mikaela?"
"Sure, I'm fine with that."
"Great."

We watched the complete first season of BBC Robin Hood before the call came in that the Autobots were back with the soldiers. The three of us leapt for the door immediately, which meant I got sandwiched between the other two as all three of us tried to get out of the door at once. "Ow. Guys, stuck," I pointed out as we struggled. They both stopped and I pulled backwards so they went through first and I followed along behind them. Looking around the now crowded hangar, I spotted Uncle Will and stalked over to him. He was preoccupied with some of his buddies so he didn't notice me. He did after I smacked him on his already bleeding arm.
"Ah!" he shouted, stepping away from me and clutching at his arm, frowning at me like I'd gone insane. "Are you completely off your head?!" he demanded.
"Don't ever go off to battle without saying goodbye to me first again!" I yelled back. Uncle Will immediately looked contrite.
"Oh, shoot, Maj... I'm so sorry," he told me, grabbing me and pulling me into a strong hug. I put my arms around his ribs, pressing my ear against his chest and listening to his heartbeat, ignoring the fact that he was covered in battle filth. The other soldiers left us to it. After a moment I pulled back and stepped out of reach.
"Never again," I reminded him pointedly before turning my attention to the Autobots.

I looked around at them all gathered around the med bay doors. There were many different injuries, but none of them seemed to be particularly concerned for themselves, casting glances towards the med bay every now and again. I noted the missing robot and looked at the med bay as if I could see through to who was inside it. "Ironhide."
"He got shot," Sideswipe confirmed, limping over to me. "Same as Prime."
"A sick Ironhide," I breathed, casting another worried look at the med bay doors. I pulled out my radio and clicked the button. "Ratchet, let me in," I demanded without preamble. There was a pause before the doors opened and I hurried inside before the medic could change his mind. The door slid shut behind me and I turned to look up at Ratchet in irritation. "What part of 'You can call me' didn't get through to you?" I snapped, crossing my arms. Ratchet frowned at me in evident confusion.

"I didn't think you and Ironhide got along," Ratchet told me. I shrugged.
"Well, I don't plan on marrying him, that's for sure," I snorted. "But that doesn't mean I want you to cut him open!" I waited for a moment as all three robots present stared at me, stunned by my new attitude. Arcee and Mikaela rubbed off on me, what can I say? "Well?" I sighed in irritation. Ratchet sighed and looked at Ironhide quizzically. Ironhide looked from me to him and grunted.
"I'd rather not be cut open either," he grumbled. I smiled.
"Good choice," I said approvingly, climbing into Ratchet's palm. Ironhide watched me apprehensively and I sighed again.

"Okay, what can I say to make you... not necessarily trust me, but at least not eye me off like I might try and kill you myself at any moment?"
"I've seen you let emotion get the better of you before," he told me flatly. "I don't think there's anything you can say."
"If you're worried about my emotions getting the better of me, perhaps it would be prudent not to provoke my vicious side," I suggested warningly. "Although, you won't have anything to fear from me, specifically. I'll just let Ratchet and his cutting reinforce my displeasure with you, 'kay?" I stated, flashing Ironhide a cheerful smile. Ironhide shifted uncomfortably, closing his eyes and snarling. I sighed again, this time in sympathy for Ironhide. "Okay, what are we working with here?" I inquired seriously, getting down to business.

"There's a bullet lodged in his hip joint, and another one just under his chest," Ratchet informed me in his own clinical voice.
"And what are we doing as far as restraint is concerned?" I asked, untying the knot in my tee shirt to change it from a midriff back into a normal tee and twisting my hair into a fluffy bun to keep it out of my way.
"I'll go see if Jazz can come in, and possibly Bumblebee," Ratchet responded, walking out.
"Okay, Ironhide, you were there when we did Prime, so you know how this goes," I said. "At least we'll only need to fix two wounds; you got off relatively easy."
"Easy?" Ironhide echoed. "You call getting shot with a virus easy? The rest of them out there; they got off easy."
"They did this time around," I agreed. "But I think it's a safe bet that the Decepticons are just looking to pick you off over time. We don't know who's gonna get what next time," I pointed out. "You got off relatively easy," I said, repeating my point.

Ratchet walked back in, followed by Jazz and Bumblebee. "Ooh, Jazz, battle filth is a good look for you," I commented, looking him over appreciatively. He was covered in fluids and soot and brick dust from the battle, and he had a few visible scratches. Jazz blinked at me, clearly surprised by the comment.
"Ya like violence?" he questioned with stunned curiosity. Bumblebee looked between the two of us uncomfortably, and I doubted that Ironhide or Prime was listening. If Ratchet heard, he chose to ignore.
"Sure; I like the idea of a man capable of defending me," I confirmed with a shrug. "Does that bother you?" Jazz shook his head.
"No, it doesn't. Ya just didn't strike me as... that type of woman." He grinned at me, apparently pleased by the new revelation as Ratchet walked over, now prepared for the procedure.
"Wipe that stupid grin off your face," Ratchet barked, "we have serious work to do here. Don't get distracted." Jazz's smile immediately fell as he set his mouth in a grim line, taking hold of Ironhide's shoulder and arm as Bumblebee did the same on the other side. He seemed to be a little upset with me; he glanced at me sadly, like he couldn't figure me out. "Bumblebee, pay attention. Titania's got a job to do, too." Bumblebee looked away from me and back to Ironhide. I frowned at him, puzzled.

"I'm ready when you are," I announced. Ratchet nodded.
"We're prepared," he told me. Without any more fussing, I climbed onto Ironhide's abdomen and reached into the bullet wound on his hip. It wasn't as deep as the ones Prime had, so I managed to pull myself up with the bullet in hand, not without getting a few fresh cuts as Ironhide yelled and thrashed. Ratchet took it and I moved on to the wound beneath his chest. This one was much deeper than the first, but because of the angle, I was able to stretch up into the bullet hole and reach the projectile before pulling backwards, using my weight and gravity to help me remove it. Ironhide has an awfully loud voice.

"Okay, that's my part done," I huffed, dropping the second bullet into Ratchet's palm.
"Yes, that is all, Titania. You may go," Ratchet told me dismissively. I nodded, turning and heading for the door.
"Titania?" I turned around to look at Ironhide curiously. "Thank you," he said gruffly, looking away, obviously unused to the type of situation he was in. I smiled in response.
"You're welcome, Ironhide," I replied sincerely, going on my way.

I went back to the med bay at eleven to check up on Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet, getting Sideswipe to open the door for me. Prime was shifting in discomfort on his bed and Ironhide was lying still, waiting for the virus' symptoms to hit. Ratchet was bent over his desk, staring at a massive desktop computer and typing furiously with a dour scowl fixed on his face. The lights in his eyes flickered and he rubbed at them in frustration, engine growling, expressing his displeasure. "Working late?" I inquired gently, alerting Ratchet to my presence. Ratchet pushed air out of his vents in a sharp sigh as he switched his attention from the screen to me.
"I need to crack the Decepticons' code," he told me resignedly. His eyes flickered again and he blinked tiredly. I sighed at him, crossing my arms.

"Take a break, Ratchet," I instructed softly. "Get some rest. I'll watch your patients for you, and I promise that I'll call you if anything changes." Ratchet shook his head.
"No, I can't, Titania. I need to keep working on this," he told me, nodding at the computer. I huffed in irritation, looking away for a moment.
"Okay, let's try a different approach," I said, looking back at him. "If you don't go and rest right now, I'm gonna call Jazz, Sideswipe and the Twins to come in here and pester you on purpose," I told him forcefully, biting the insides of my cheeks and raising my eyebrows at Ratchet, daring him to try me. He stared at me darkly, wondering whether or not he should test my threat. We were both equally surprised when a weak, thrumming engine noise started up behind Ratchet. We both looked at Ironhide; I curiously and Ratchet slightly put out.

"Looks like she's got you figured out, Ratchet," Ironhide told him, amused by our standoff. I grinned at him.
"Doesn't take a genius, mate," I said before eyeing Ratchet off, considering. He looked back at me, exasperated. "I've seen the way you interact with the others, and I've seen how often you retreat to the sanctuary of your med bay. Now off you go." I waved Ratchet away and he turned to grab a device that was sitting on the table before handing it to me. It was some sort of modified headset.

"This is so you can call me when you need to," he informed me as he walked out reluctantly, leaving me to it. I put the headset around my neck, and climbed Prime's bed leg to get to the top and stand next to his shoulder.
"Hello, Titania," Prime mumbled at me. I smiled in response, climbing up to sit on his pillow.
"I feel like a pixie," I told him, giggling. "You make me seem so tiny." Prime smiled weakly, shutting his eyes again. "So, have I missed anything important?"
"No, nothing you didn't already know," he responded.

"You feel very warm," I told him, placing a hand on his forehead. I could feel the hot air rushing out of his vents, too. "What has Ratchet done to fix that?"
"The bucket," Prime rasped, looking past me to the bedside table. His voice was weaker than it was before, but not as strained. I turned and found the bucket. It contained cool, fresh water.
"Okay, then," I said, pulling the bowl closer to the edge of the table so I could reach it easier and picking up the bath sheet Ratchet had been using as a flannelette. "Same as with humans?" Prime nodded slowly, closing his eyes again. I dipped the towel into the solution, wrung it out, and pressed it to Prime's forehead, dabbing lightly. As I continued to cool the heated metal beneath my hands, I started humming again softly. The corner of Prime's mouth twitched up into a tired smile as he listened.

A low moan drifted through the curtain between Prime's bed and Ironhide's, and I glanced across Prime's chest to the faint shadow cast by the figure on the other side of the partition. It was apparent that Ironhide was now sitting, but the curtain blurred the silhouette, so his condition remained a mystery. I sighed quietly and met Prime's faintly lit, curious gaze. It seemed that he was unsure what my reaction would be to his friend, since it was a well-known fact amongst the Autobots that Ironhide and I were not particularly fond of each other, and usually kept ourselves purposefully separated since he told me I had to leave. I smiled at Prime apologetically, setting the towel back into the bowl. Prime widened his optics in mild surprise and stared at me intently. Before I moved to climb down the bed leg, he halted me with a shaking hand as another low moan sounded.

"Titania, I know you and Ironhide aren't on the best terms," Prime mumbled anxiously, "but he is not as cold and hard as he would have you believe. I... I know you are aware of the effects that a strong illness can have on a person. I know you understand how it can leave you feeling... weak and... and vulnerable," he stumbled over his words a little as he tried to voice his thoughts acceptably. "Titania, please remember that Ironhide feels the same things," Prime implored in hardly more than a whisper. I smiled at him reassuringly, reaching out to rest my hand on the massive surface of his.
"Try to relax a little, Prime," I breathed soothingly. "I am not as against Ironhide as you and the others seem to believe. I have no intentions other than to do what little I can, as a simple human girl, to make him a little more comfortable. That is all." Prime's gaze met mine, searching until Ironhide moaned again, this one accompanied by the creaking of a metal system taking undue strain.

I vaulted over Prime's hand and proceeded to scamper down the leg and cross over to climb up to Ironhide. Ironhide was sitting on the bed with his legs hanging over the far side from Prime. He was hunched forward with both of his arms wrapped around his abdomen and a large tank in front of him on the bedside table, clearly there for when he began 'purging,' as Prime had called it. "Ironhide," I said softly. Ironhide glared at me sharply before turning away from me deliberately. I tilted my head and gave a small smile. "I understand," I told him gently. "If there's anything I can do..."
"Leave me alone," Ironhide grumbled without looking back at me. I nodded, somewhat unsure of myself, and climbed back down to the floor.
"Would you have me fetch Ratchet for you?" I inquired in my most respectful tone. Ironhide started clicking and I lowered my head discreetly as he spilled fluids from his mouth into the tank. I waited calmly and patiently for him to finish. After there was a moment of quiet, I repeated my question to him.

When no reply came, I dared to glance up at him to find his dimming optics fixed on me without expression. I slowly raised my head, awaiting further instruction. "I don't understand you," he told me finally, shaking his head. "Why are you here?"
"To try and help however I can," I responded immediately.
"Why help me?" he demanded, scowling at me.
"Because I do not stand against you, Ironhide, contrary to popular opinion," I huffed, annoyed by the assumption. "I know that you are fiercely loyal to your fellow Autobots and the human soldiers, and I know that you are brave and thoughtful. I know because I've seen you around the base and on the news. And even if you do not approve of my presence on this base, or the way I interact with its occupants, I still hold a certain amount of respect for you and what you do. Does that make my position a little clearer to you now?" Ironhide shifted in pain as his inner workings complained audibly, grinding and creaking.
"Yes," he confirmed, "though I didn't realize that you were so observant of us." I ventured to give him a kind smile.
"I'm good at being invisible," I shrugged. "The fact that you were openly ignoring me just made it that much easier to note your behaviour in various scenarios."

Ironhide started clicking again and I averted my gaze again to give him what little privacy I could afford him. "Ironhide, would you be more comfortable if Ratchet were here?" I asked him carefully, looking back when he was done. Ironhide shook his head tiredly.
"Nah, you're right. He needs to rest; he'll be no good to anyone if he doesn't take care of himself." I nodded my agreement and tilted my head to regard him with innocent curiosity.
"Can I do anything for you?" Ironhide pushed air from his vents in a fed up sigh.
"My thermoregulation systems aren't working," he grumbled.

"Yeah, I know. I've been cooling Prime down. Can I help you, too?" Ironhide's body shuddered and protested the malfunctioning loudly.
"Yeah," he answered me gruffly. "Don't want to overheat."
"Okay," I nodded determinedly. Slipping the headset on properly, I pressed the first button on the right ear and waited to see what happened.
"Titania, what's wrong?" was Ratchet's immediate response.
"Nothing," I rushed to reassure him gently. "I just need to know where you keep the buckets, please."

When Ratchet decided that he was rested enough to come back to the med bay, I was working on autopilot and Ironhide was purring as I rubbed the cool towel over his wide chest. It took me a few moments to acknowledge Ratchet when he spoke to me, and when I did, he kicked me out into the Autobots' hangar. I yawned, rubbing my eyes with my wrist and blinking sleepily over my shoulder at the closed med bay door. Someone's fingertips brushed my arm softly and I looked at Bumblebee's android, covering another yawn. "Hi, Bee," I mumbled. Bumblebee smiled and jerked his chin towards the door on the other side of the hangar leading to where my room was. "Are you offering to walk me home?" I wondered and Bumblebee nodded shyly, looking down and scuffing the toe of his shoe. I smiled. "Thanks, that'd be nice," I accepted. Bumblebee beamed, tugged his shirt straighter and held out his arm to me. I giggled and tucked my arm through his, allowing him to lead my sleep deprived self to my room