Rose was starting to fall into a routine. She had quit school prefering to study with Ratchet, who was actually enjoying learning about human subjects and helping his charge. Her anxiety was still high, and she was often nervous when left out of Ratchet's sight. He was her big metal security blanket. She most enjoyed when it was just the three of them. Ratchet, herself and Miracle...like today.

Mira was growing at an alarming rate and could already sit up almost completely unassisted. The infant sat nestled in her mother's lap as the young girl studied for the next quiz in her home-based schooling program. She was thankful to June Darby for helping set that up with little fuss from the school, especially as she now had no human guardians to speak of.

****

Ratchet was tinkering in his lab, he would occcasionally look up at Rose with a hint of a smile before diving back into his work. The kids were at school and the other Autobots were out on a routine patrol, scouting for Energon deposits. He liked the quiet too. Rose was a welcome addition to the team. She needed him, and he found for once he didn't mind being needed...not by her at any rate.

'Ratchet....We're in need of assistance' Optimus' voice cracked over the com 'I'm transmitting our coordinates.' Ratchet huffed lightly before replying 'Understood, Optimus. I'm on my way.'. He fired up the groundbridge a small voice breaking through the silence.

"Ratchet.....don't leave me..." Rose choked, she felt stupid as soon as the words left her lips. The medic-bot vented heavily.

"I have to go....they need me. It's my job." He had never felt so torn as he transformed, driving toward the groundbridge. He stopped short, opening his door. "Get in..... If you were Miko I'd regret this!" Rose scooped up Miracle, getting in carefully.

****

"Stay out of the way..." He ordered her , letting the girl out a split-second before transforming and jumping into the battle. Bulkhead had a critical injury to his shoulder strut. It wasn't Spark-threatening, but it would put him out of commission for a bit. Ratchet tried to assess the injury as well as keep the line of fire off him. Suddenly a Vehicon blasted through the rock Rose and Mira had been hiding behind. Ratchet turned just in time to see their near-lifeless bodies crumble to the ground. "Rose!?!" He screamed, all but abandoning the now stable Bulkhead to race to his charge.

"Rose???" The other bots looked at each other in confusion. Before anyone could say anything else he was rushing the pair back to the base, back to the med bay.

****

Rose gurgled faintly before Ratchet injected her with something to knock her out completely. He knew he'd have to act quickly, before the others came back and questioned him; or worse yet tried to stop him. The medic set to work painstakingly building her a Cybertronian form. His optics constantly monitoring her rolling brainwaves, making sure he didn't lose her completely before the process was done. He then set to building a smaller cybertronian body for Miracle, praying to Primus the youngling would take...Praying this would all be over before the others came back and found him out.

Next came the tricky part, Ratchet opened his chassis, carving out a small piece of his spark and binding it to her human heart. He watched as the dead human organ was slowly taken over by the Cybertronian one. Once he was confident the spark would hold he took a small chip from Rose, crafting it to Mira's heart with careful precision. He watched the process in awe. He knew in his pit this was bad science, but he couldn't lose them. He had grown to care for Rose too much, and knew she would never have lasted without her daughter;Not again.

Ratchet stood back slowly, waiting for the pair to come online. Rose twitched, groaning softly. "Ratch..." she whispered softly, sitting up and looking around " We got shot! It was awful! Ratchet we got SHOT! Mira?? Where's Mira????"

"Ep...Ep....Everything is Alright. You're fine. Mira is fine. Everything is fine." Ratchet assured her, handing her the small 'bot.

The girl wasn't processing everything that had happened until she looked down. "Ratchet.......Ratchet what happened??" She asked, her frame beginning to tremble, realization starting to kick in that she had a FRAME now and not a human body anymore. She wasn't HUMAN anymore. "Ratchet???" Her optics blinked in confusion.

"Your human body was rendered useless... Instead of letting you go through all of the pain, Instead of letting you .....die..." He vented. "I'm sorry."

The young femme nodded. "You saved me, Ratchet...you saved Mira and me."

Ratchet nodded "Of course I saved you. I told you I'd always protect you Rose....you're going to need a new name...Rosie..." He chuckled softly.

The femme shook her head fiercely "HE used to call me Rosie. " her vocalizer shifted to a growl trying to mimic her human father's voice "Rosie get me a Drink....Rosie, come sit on daddy's lap." The bot trembled, tucking her helm against her chestplates in the same shy way she had as a human.

Ratchet growled "Slagging human.... waste of space..."

Rose just nodded. "Gemini? It was my sign as a Human....and...I feel like I'm of two minds. I'm Cybertronian...but I still feel human in here...." the femme tapped her helm"...and here..." she tapped her chestplates next. Ratchet vented softly, nodding. She could tell his processor was turning as she spoke.

She walked over, hugging Ratchet gently before she quickly pulled away "Even as a big, huge bot there's still a scared little human girl locked inside all this."

"You aren't human anymore, Ro....Gemini..." Even Ratchet stumbled over her name, frowning gently as his optics searched hers.

Gemini only nodded in response "Try telling my processor that, Ratchet..." she vented slowly. Her old insecurities still as present as ever.

Ratchet shook his helm. "Hopefully in time your processor will catch up to the rest of your Cybertronian physiology. You aren't human....you never will be again." He wasn't trying to be mean. He was being...Ratchet. He was being honest with her as he always was, even about the tough things. Finally he spoke again "Transform..."

Gemini blinked "Transform....Into what??" The medic walked over to the computer, tapping a few keys before a pink and purple motorcycle, similar to Arcee popped on the screen. "Scan it....and transform."

The femme shuttered her optics briefly, scanning the bike once they opened again "Okayyyy..." she blinked as.....nothing happened.

"Empty your Processor....just...feel it." Ratchet instructed. Slowly, clumsily Gemini transformed into the motorcycle "I did it!" She laughed, driving around in circles slowly. "This is Freaky!"

Ratchet chuckled "Very good..."

"Now How do I transform back?" Gemini asked.

The medic grinned softly "Just think of your bot mode..." as though it was the simplest, most obvious thing. It took a moment....longer than it should have before Gemini was a Bot again. "Ouch...."she rubbed her elbow "I think I clipped something!"

Ratchet just laughed "You'll get used to it, you're still figuring everything out."

She smiled "I have you, and the other Autobots to help me." Ratchet nodded "You do." though he looked almost nervous at the mention of the other Autobots. They would be back soon and his secret would be found out.

Gemini looked at him worried "You did something bad didn't you?" Ratchet just vented "The others will be back soon."

"What will Optimus say?" Gemini asked, the sound of the bots coming back to the base audible in the distance.

"We're about to find out..." He answered.