they only head back to the base once Ironhides signal stops going off for good, they don't want to risk it waking anyone up.

the weapons specialist is silent and Ratchet respects his silence, offering silent support as they drive.

"Ratchet!? where are you!? where's the sparkling!? are you two okay!?"

Ratchet swerves catching Ironhides attention.

"you okay?" Ironhide mutters.

"Wheeljack just got up." Ratchet assures. "the sparkling, Ironhide, and I went out for a drive. we're on our way back to the base now, the sparkling is fine, just wouldn't sleep." Ratchet assures.

"thank Primus." Wheeljack murmurs.

"we'll be back soon, go on back to bed." Ratchet murmurs.

"you alright? you seem nervous." Ironhide mutters.

"I'm fine. just told Wheeljack we had the sparkling with us." Ratchet mutters.

"liar." Ironhide mutters.

"yeah I know, but I wasn't going to tell him why we were really out here and that we were without the sparkling." Ratchet frowns. it goes quiet between the two for a bit. "hey Hide?" Ratchet says.

"hmmm?" Ironhide asks.

"I don't want you running off like that again please. with your spark hurting like that. I may be the team medic, but we were sparkling hood friends first. I don't want you to just take off and yoru spark end up offlining you. at least let me know, okay?" Ratchet ask. the truck shifts as he drives, before bouncing slightly in a nod.

"alright." Ironhide agrees. "I'm sorry, you weren't my main priority, Reflect was. he woke up when I was trying to leave and I didn't want his cries to wake everyone up." Ironhide murmurs.

"I'd rather his cries wake everyone than your spark offline you." Ratchet frowns.

"I wasn't worried about that." Ironhide huffs.

"I know you weren't. you, Prime, and I are old friends though, you two are my oldest friends besides Wheeljack of course, I wouldn't want either of you to had issues like this and just... run off to die by yourself." Ratchet frowns.

"right, sorry Ratch." Ironhide frowns.

"don't worry Hide, just don't do it again." Ratchet murmurs.

they transform as they get to the base, quickly heading to Ironhides room to check on the sparkling. Reflect is sitting on the berth silently when they walk in. he looks sleepy still.

"hey sparkling, don't worry." Ratchet murmurs.

"wanna take him back with you?" Ironhide asks, scooping the sparkling up. Reflect clings to Ironhide, holding onto him hard. his little fingers sluggishly, poor little sparkling just woke up, dig into the seams of Ironhides armor, refusing to detach.

"I dunno Hide, looks like he'd rather stay with you." Ratchet frowns a little. "just let him stay with you tonight Hide, but if he gets to be a handful, just call me and I'll come get him alright?" he asks. Ironhide shrugs a little, shifting the sparkling carefully, he doesn't want to hurt the sparklings little fingers that are shoved into the seams of his armor. "unless you don't want to keep him tonight." Ratchet adds.

"no he's fine here with me, doesn't seem like he's gonna let go, better to just keep him. I don't want him to wake the base with his screaming." Ironhide says.

"I can handle him Ironhide. I could have him back in stasis before even leaving your room. this is up to you." Ratchet assures. Ironhide shakes his head.

"I'll keep him. he's fine here." Ironhide assures. Ratchet nods once.

"alright." Ratchet says. he leans over and rubs the little sparklings cheek. "be good for Ironhide, I don't want to have to come get you." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect leans his head against Ratchets servo, then cuddles into Ironhide. Ratchet nods and turns, leaving. Ironhide lays on the berth, cuddling the sparkling. Reflect settles immediately, going back into stasis with a plan, while Ironhide lays awake.

~

Will blinks at the bright light he still hasn't gotten accustomed to.

"hey! you! Past Prime guys!"

the Primes look utterly shocked to see him appear in front of them, but the main one quickly smiles at him.

"Lennox, or shall we call you Reflect now, what are you doing here? how did you get here? we didn't call for you."

"no, I called for you, sorry, I hope you guys weren't busy or anything."

they look confused, watching Will stand in front of them.

"you called for us? what is it little one? you need something we haven't noticed? we've been very attentive to your needs I thought..."

Will shakes his head.

"not me... well... kinda me... um not really me? ugh fuck, I need a favor. I know you guys can help me with it. surely if you can visit me while I'm dead or asleep, then you guys can help me visit Ironhide while he's asleep."

they look shocked.

"sparkling we cannot-"

"please let me explain."

he begs quietly, looking between the seven.

"alright sparkling, please explain."

Will lets out a sigh.

"you guys let me see into what was happening with Ironhide tonight, with his spark and everything... I don't want him to feel like that and I know there's nothing I can do about it, without ruining everything, but please. I need to visit Ironhide, as me not Reflect. I promise you, I won't reveal anything to him. I'll keep everything from him. I just want to see him please, this is physically destroying him, and his spark, thats not the Ironhide I knew when I died and its killing both of us. I know you guys are keeping an eye on me, but who is keeping one on Ironhide? I'm doing it best I can, but as a sparkling I can't do much. Ratchet is trying as well, but Ironhide's not letting him in. he's going to get himself hurt or worse killed, then what? I'll have been brought back for nothing... I'm begging you please. it doesn't need to be more than once, just this once is really all that I need. I just need to tell him not to give up hope. I think it'll help him. please."

he wonders if his begging is actually getting to them when none of them answer and he fears that they're just going to end this and send him back off into his normal stasis. he's terrified, he knows Ironhide and he both need this. its quiet for far longer than he'd like and he's ready to continue his begging, but the main Prime speaks up.

"alright sparkling. your request has been heard. we will handle everything. as soon as he enters recharge, you will be put into his dream state, you will have control of it for the most part, Ironhide will still have his main control. please be careful little one, if you expose yourself as the sparkling, it could destroy everything."

Will nods.

"thank you so much. I really think this will help him."

Will murmurs, looking relieved.

"you must go now sparkling. he'll be entering recharge soon. but be warned, you must get out of there before the rest of the base wakes up."

WIll nods waving at them and watching the bright light fade.

~
~~

Ironhide groans a little, slowly sitting up and grumbling.

"what the hell? what is this?" Ironhide grumbles. he looks around. he's at the beach he and Ratchet had just left, but its different. there's beautiful sunset in the background that Ironhide couldn't remember seeing when he and Ratchet were out there. "damn medic must've slipped me something." he huffs getting up slowly. he pauses and looks down at himself. "my holoform? great." Ironhide mutters. he walks off, looking around. "how the hell did I get out here?" he grumbles to himself.

he huffs quietly, looking around. Ironhide comes to a stop, there's another human figure standing not far away, he can't tell who it is, but he assumes its Ratchet. he squints a little before growling angrily.

"hey! Ratchet! you bastard! I told you I-" Ironhide cuts himself off. the words dying in his throat as the person comes into focus. its not Ratchet, its not someone he ever expected to see again. its Will standing there in all his glory. he's wearing the same clothes he always used to wear sitting on the couch watching movies with Ironhide. Ironhide can't focus on all the emotions he feels, but he feels so many he's nauseous. he just stares, wondering if he's dead. did his spark give out like Ratchet had warned? had his sanity finally snapped? had Ratchet slipped him some kind of drug? Will, of course, grins at him. he steps closer hesitantly. he's careful and slow, like he's not sure how Ironhide will react. "I..." Ironhide mutters, trailing.

"hey Hide, I-" Will tries. he's cut off with the bigger man launches himself at him, squeezing him tighter than ever before. if it wasn't a dream, the hug would've probably killed or severely injured him. Will doesn't dwell on it, simply returning the hug as tight as he can. its no where near as tight as Ironhides, but it doesn't bother either of them. Wills feet aren't even on the ground anymore, his face is shoved into the others chest. Will's never seen this much emotion from the mech.

the hug goes on for so long and Will doesn't want to make it stop, but he's limited on time.

"Hide? you alright?" Will ask. the man has his face buried in Wills hair.

"I don't get to see you often like this, usually its after you've been killed." Ironhide mutters quietly.

"its okay." Will assures, pushing back enough to look up at him. "I would love to sit here and hug you forever, but I'm limited on time. I'm not just a dream." Will says. Ironhide looks confused.

"dream? huh, I figured I was offline." Ironhide mutters. Will snorts softly. "how are you here if you're not a dream?" Ironhide ask, eyebrow raised. "and why am I human?" Ironhide frowns.

"I'm in control of your dream and I wanted you on my level, but I'm not a dream okay? I... I'm in the well of Allsparks alright? its complicated, but I finally found a way to see you. okay? try not to ask too many questions, I don't have any real answers." Will murmurs. Ironhide nods a little.

"you made me look like this?" Ironhide ask, finally putting Will down, letting him go hesitantly. Will nods a little.

"yeah, I can change you back if you want." Will assures.

"no. its fine like this." Ironhide assures, before hugging him tightly once more.

"sorry, I just wanted you a little more on my level." Will murmurs.

"don't worry about it Will. its alright, I'd rather be on your level anyway, its easier to hold you." Ironhide mutters.

"actually I did it, because I wanted to be able to see the emotions on your face and your faceplates are a little hard to read sometimes." Will admits. Ironhide snorts and goes quiet for a second.

"not that I will ever deny seeing you, but why are you here?" Ironhide ask.

"I needed to check in on you." Will murmurs. "it feels like its only been a few days, but I missed you." Will adds. the man doesn't let him go this time, squeezing slightly harder.

"its been almost a year." Ironhide mutters. Will winces a little.

"I'm sorry it took me so long." Will sighs. "but I needed to come see you. I needed to let you know its not over yet. okay? just don't give up. I've seen your future alright? you've got to keep moving, okay? let Ratchet help you." Will says. Ironhide looks confused, putting him down.

"what the hell are you talking about? you've seen my future?" Ironhide asks, confused. Will nods.

"and I can't explain, just want you to know, you can't give up okay? if I tell you anything then everything changes alright, so just trust me here." Will murmurs. Ironhide nods a little.

"uh, alright. I won't ask any questions then." Ironhide murmurs. "I'd rather just hold you anyway." he murmurs. its quiet again for a second. WIll smiles a little and nuzzles up against him happily, burying his face in Ironhides neck.

"you're doing pretty good with that sparkling." Will says. Ironhide looks confused.

"you know about the sparkling?" Ironhide ask.

"yeah. of course. I've been kinda watching you, when I can." Will says. he smiles a little. "going a little soft Hide?" Will asks teasingly. Ironhide scoffs.

"I am not soft for that sparkling." he frowns. he's annoyed but he'll take Wills teasing any day, everyday if it would bring him back. he hugs Will to his chest again. "you're short on time?" Ironhide asks, almost hesitantly. Will frowns and nods.

"yeah, I gotta be back before everyone on base wakes up, dunno why, but that was the rules. they didn't tell me how long that would be though." Will adds, cuddling up to him. "I assume they'll let me know when I have to come back." Will murmurs.

"good." Ironhide mutters, sitting down with him to hold him in his lap.

"don't worry about the sand or the water, its all just for looks, I know you don't like that stuff. I wanted somewhere we both had good memories of... but I thought throwing you into the house would've been a bit much for both of us." Will murmurs, cuddling against him.

"I don't care where we are and I don't care about the sand or the water, you're the only thing that matters." Ironhide mutters, holding him tighter. "you still have time right?" Ironhide ask.

"I assume so." Will murmurs, cuddling up to him. Ironhide nods and holds tighter.

they sit in their usual comfortable silence, Wills face buried in Ironhides neck. the bigger man, rests his chin on Wills head and holds him. Will sits still and quiet, letting the bigger man hold him as tight as he can. it feels great, but suddenly Will jerks.

"Will?" Ironhide asks, confused.

"somethings not right." Will mutters. the bigger man jumps up and his eyes widen. "Ironhide!" Will shouts.

~~

Ironhide jerks up off his berth, Ratchets standing in his room holding Reflect and screaming.

"Reflect!" Ratchet shouts. Ironhide gets up and looks over.

"whats going on?" he ask.

"how could you not know the sparklings spark stopped!?" Ratchet shouts. Ironhide looks horrified.

"what!? I... I didn't..." Ironhide tries, following Ratchet to the medbay. the medic doesn't pay him any attention and no one dares get in their way. Ratchets got the sparkling connected to him, attempting to jumpstart his sparklings spark.

"come on Reflect don't do this. please." Ratchet murmurs, laying the sparkling on a berth. Wheeljack immediately runs over,

"disconnect Ratchet I'm-" Wheeljack starts. the sparkling sits up with a scream, holding his chest.

"oh Primus." Ratchet mutters.

"what the hell happened?" Ironhide ask.

"I have no idea." Wheeljack frowns.

"in human terms it'd be referred to as SIDS, I believe, or something. the sparkling simply offlined briefly. sometimes sparkling sparks just give out." Ratchet murmurs, patting the sparklings head. he whips around to Ironhide, a fire in his optics. "you should've noticed you idiot!" Ratchet growls.

"I didn't know I was supposed to scan him while we were both in recharge! if this was something you knew could happen, everyone on base should've been warned! I don't scan him when he's taking a nap! I don't think anyone does!" Ironhide glares. the sparkling looks between them before reaching for Ironhide.

"I think not." Ratchet mutters, scooping him up. "you're staying with me and Wheeljack." Ratchet mutters. Reflect screams at him and jumps to Ironhide. the mech is quick to catch him.

"okay sparkling you need to stay with Ratchet and Wheeljack for a while." Ironhide murmurs.

"no!" the sparkling growls, digging his fingers into Ironhides armor.

"ow! little slagger! hey your fingers don't belong in there!" Ironhide growls, trying to pry the little fingers out of his seams. the sparkling had done it before, but not quiet as forceful as he had now and his little fingers hurt! "let go of me!" Ironhide growls.

"no!" he growls.

"get out of my armor you little slagger!" Ironhide huffs, trying to pry the sparkling off.

"Reflect let him go." Wheeljack frowns, walking over.

"watch your fucking servos." Ironhide growls. the sparklings fingers are dangerously close to his spark chamber latch and Wheeljacks fingers are too close to it for comfort.

"oh relax. I've seen your spark putting you back together." Wheeljack mutter.

"you hit that latch and not only are you gonna see my spark and hit the sparkling with my chamber doors, you're also gonna meet Primus! watch your fingers!" Ironhide snaps. "get your little fragging fingers out of my seams!" Ironhide glares. Wheeljack pulls on one of the sparklings hands and Ironhides armor makes an uncomfortable grinding sound.

"don't you dare shift your armor when my sparklings fingers are in your seams." Ratchet warns.

"thats not me!" Ironhide glares. "he's got his fingers in the worst spot!" Ironhide glares.

"let go Reflect." Ratchet frowns.

"no!" Reflect glares, holding tighter.

"ow! ow! stop pulling on him you're going to make my armor shift!" Ironhide snaps. "his little fingers are too close to the latch!" Ironhide growls. Wheeljack and Ratchet let go frowning.

"any ideas?" Wheeljack asks, looking at Ratchet. the medic frowns a little.

"fine you can stay with Ironhide." Ratchet says. the sparkling glares at him a little but slowly lets go and cuddles to Ironhides chest.

"little fragger. I don't want him." Ironhide huffs shoving the sparkling at Wheeljack quickly. he rubs his chest plate, glaring the little mechling down. "you've caused me enough trouble today. bother someone else." Ironhide mutters, turning and walking out. the sparkling watches him go, before slumping back against Wheeljack. he looks up at the inventor before glaring both the medic and the inventor down.

"don't be like that its your fault." Wheeljack frowns.

"be nice to him." Ratchet mutters.

"he's not being very nice." Wheeljack huffs. the sparkling squirms and shifts, before getting still, his optics glowing an unusual bright blue.

"Reflect?" Ratchet ask, walking over. the sparkling squeals and wiggles free from Wheeljacks hold, landing on his aft on the ground. he scrambles up, toddling off quickly. thankfully, after walking for a bit in his holoform, his body had seemed to pick up the action again, even if it wasn't fast. "sparkling come back." Ratchet says, following after him. but he doesn't. he's on a mission and he can't stop.

he walks to the rec room as fast as he can. he looks around before his optics land on the person he's looking for, Sam. he screams making his way over towards the man.

"hey cutie." Bumblebee chuckles, smiling. the sparkling ignores him, walking past him to head for Sam. "uh alright." he snorts. he looks over when Ratchet and Wheeljack walk in. "whats up with the sparkling?" Bumblebee ask.

"no idea scout." Ratchet frowns. the sparkling looks utterly determined to get to Sam. the man doesn't even notice him, on his phone with his mother.

"I'm at the base with Bee, I'm sure I'm fine, you and dad have fun on the trip." Sam frowns, rolling his eyes. the sparklings optics flash that bright blue again and he looks around carefully. he frowns as the flash goes away, then stands a few feet from Sam, facing the doorway.

"whats he doing?" Wheeljack frowns, looking at Ratchet. the medic shrugs.

"no idea." Ratchet mutters. no sooner do the words leave Ratchets mouth, does Sideswipe comes speeding/sliding into the room in his alt form, straight towards Sam. "Sideswipe! stop!" Ratchet shouts, running towards them. the Lamborghini's breaks are screaming as he tries to stop.

"Sam!" Reflect shouts, running towards him. he shoves the boy out of the way, much harder than he intended. it sends Sam sprawling to the floor looking up shocked. Reflect turns to face Sideswipe putting his servos out as if to stop the car. his servos are glowing the same bright blue as his optics had been a second ago. the moment the Lambo twin comes into contact with his servos, he comes to an immediate stop.

the rooms silent, staring at the three.

"holy shit." Sam mutters, sitting up slowly. Reflect looks up from Sideswipe, suddenly looking tired. he lets out a quiet whine before collapsing. Sam immediately jumps back throwing his arm under the sparklings head. there's an almost deafening crunch.

"Sam!" Bumblebee shouts, running over. Ratchet skids to a stop and drops beside the both of them. he scans them both before scooping up Reflect gently.

"get Sam to the human medics. he's got a broken arm." Ratchet mutters, standing quickly. he whips around kicks Sideswipes bumper. "Sideswipe you-" Ratchet starts. the mech transforms angrily.

"Sunstreaker you idiot! you almost made me hit the sparkling with your stupid prank! get back here you fucking bastard!" Sideswipe shouts, turning and running off. or attempting too. he immediately slides and slams into a wall.

the sparkling whines, slowly sitting up in Ratchet arm.

"Reflect!" Wheeljack shouts, running over to snatch the sparkling from his bondmate. Reflect looks confused, leaned against Wheeljacks chest plates. his optics drift over to Sam as Bumblebee carries him out, carefully cradling him in a way to keep from hurting his arm. the sparkling yawns a little, dropping his head.