"He's lost a lot of energon."

....

"I knew I shouldn't have sent you all alone.."

....

"It's not your fault Heatwave..."

....

"Yes it is Blades... I knew this was too much for them to handle..."

....

"Professor Boulder? Can you hand me those tissues?"

"Of course Whirl."

"Thank you. Here you go Medix..."

...?

"I shouldn't have left him... this is all my fault..."

"Medix... you did exactly what you needed to-"

"No I didn't!!"

..!!

"Thanks to me, the one I love is in stasis lock!"

Stasis... lock..?

"He doesn't deserve this... it should be me in critical condition on this medical berth instead of him."

Medix... no...

Medix bursted into tears as the recruits tried their hardest to calm him down.

Blades finished tending to Hotshot's wounds and then approached the recruits. He knelt down in front of the chair Medix sat in so that they could talk face to face.

"Hotshot's going to be okay, Medix. I was able to patch up all of his wounds and his energon levels are slowly, but surely, returning to normal."

Medix immediately felt some relief.

But the guilt was still there.

Surprisingly, Chase caught it, "Medix... you did exactly what you were told to do... Hotshot may have saved you... but you still completed your mission of saving that little girl."

"You also reunited her with her family while also comming everyone to come immediately", Boulder continued.

"Thankfully we were on the island when you called. Otherwise, Hotshot would've been in fatal danger", Heatwave added.

"So in a sense... you also saved Hotshot", Blades finished.

Medix let a tear fall, "By that logic... Hotshot shouldn't even be on that berth with scratches that go deep into his armor and bite Mark's that could've torn him apart..."

"Well... no one's perfect", Blades said softly, "and like I've said, he's going to be okay."

"It'll take some time for him to heal and regain consciousness", Boulder added, "but he'll be back to his usual self in no time."

Wedge tried to lighten the mood, "Ugh great, that's definitely something to look forward to."

Medix smiled a little as everyone else giggled.

Chase checked the time, "As much as I hate to cut this short, it's time for you recruits to recharge."

The recruits waited for Medix to get up and go with them. But it was obvious that Medix had other plans.

"May I stay in here and recharge?", Medix asked.

Chase answered, "I don't think that's-"

"Of course you can, Medix", Heatwave concluded.

"Thank you sir", Medix smiled.

"I'll come by later tonight to check on Hotshot. Do you need me to bring you a pillow and blanket?", Blades asked.

"That would be very much appreciated", Medix said softly.

With that, the Rescue Bots exited the room.

The Recruits stayed behind for a little while longer.

"You gonna be alright, Medix?", Wedge asked.

Medix moved his chair right next to the medical berth, "I'll be fine."

"Would you like us to stay in here with you?", Hoist asked.

Medix sat down in the chair, "No thank you. I would like to be alone with him..."

"Okay Medix", Whirl said as she walked over and hugged him, "we'll see you tomorrow."

Medix gave his best friends a small smile, "See you tomorrow."

As soon as his beloved team left the room, Medix realised that he was now alone with the bot he loved the most.

Medix gently took Hotshot's servo into his own, intertwining his digits for a more secure grip.

Hotshot's servo remained unmoving.

Medix let a few tears fall as he began to speak, "H-Hey sweetspark..."

As expected, there was no response.

Medix continued, "I know you can hear this because your brainwave activity is consistent on the monitor. So I'll try my best to not say something stupid."

There was a spike in the brainwave activity.

Medix laughed slightly as he wiped away a tear, "I knew that would get you... I'm sorry for all this..."

Another spike.

"Don't deny it. Someone should be responsible for this... and that someone is me."

Medix... stop...

Medix chuckled softly, "But I know you... you'll keep denying it until I give up..."

Because it's not your fault.

Medix let another tear fall as he squeezed Hotshot's servo slightly, "But, if anything, I should thank you. Not only did you save that little girl's life... but you saved mine as well..."

I wasn't going to let them hurt you.

Medix let more tears fall, "You risked your life for my own without hesitation..."

Because I love you.

"You're the love of my life, Hotshot. I can't emphasize enough how much you mean to me", Medix kissed Hotshot's servo and then rested his forehelm against it, "you're a hero, sweetspark."

Hotshot's sparkrate started picking up.

Medix wasn't paying attention to it, tears falling as he finshes his words, "but you're not just any hero... you're my hero..."

Medix...

"-and I love you more than anything."

Hotshot so desperately wanted his systems to come online so he can kiss Medix with all the love he can muster.

But as time moved on, and his boyfriend actually fell asleep, Hotshot knew that it would have to wait.

Oh well... at least he's holding my servo.

----------------------------------------

"Mediiiiiiiix."

Medix stirred in his sleep.

"Mediiiiix wake up."

Medix turned his head away, "mmhn... five more minutes..."

A heavy sigh followed, "I've got this, Whirl. Medix, you're completely out of bandages."

Medix snapped awake, "I RESTOCKED LAST WEEK!"

Wedge nudged Whirl, "Works every time."

Medix sat up groggily, rubbing his helm as he groaned, "W...What time is it...?"

"It's almost 3pm", Hoist said as he steadied Medix, "we tried waking you up earlier... but you seemed pretty peaceful."

Medix tried to take in his surroundings as he realised that he was on a berth instead of a chair, "W...Where am I...? W-Why am I on a berth...?"

Whirl spoke softly as she sat down next to Medix, "You're in your berthroom, Medix."

It took a full second for Medix to register what she just said.

Then the yelling started.