"no, I can't just leave Reflect." Ironhide glares, rubbing his thumb gently over his bondeds arm.

"I need you to help me get Wheeljack out of here." Ratchet says.

"I will not leave my fragging bondmate, carrying our sparkling, alone in here!" Ironhide snaps. Inferno walks over.

"I'll stay with him, its alright, just help them get Wheeljack to the medbay." Inferno says, crouching beside Reflect.

"alright Reflect, Wheeljack, this is gonna hurt, m'not gonna lie to either of you. its really going to hurt. just try not to move." Ratchet says. Wheeljack groans quietly.

"Ratchet..." Wheeljack mumbles.

"get off." Reflect whimpers. Ratchet nods. Ironhide reluctantly grabs Wheeljack and moves to crouch over the mech.

"1... 2... 3 lift!" Ratchet orders. together the four lift Wheeljack up, the inventor and the neutral Prime both let out wails of pain. "step over Reflect, not on him, lets go come on." Ratchet orders. they carefully get Wheeljack out of the room, leaving Reflect to lay silently on his back with Inferno leaning over him.

"you're okay, just lay still." Inferno murmurs, patting his servo gently.

"no m'not." Reflect whimpers. "everythin' hurts." he whines.

"I know but just lay still. they'll be back in a few minutes." Inferno says softly.

"m'tryin'..." Reflect mumbles. the mech sounds as though he's about to start sobbing.

"its okay. its alright. Ironhide will be back in a few moments. they'll get you up and moved into the medbay. it'll be alright Reflect." Inferno soothes gently. Reflect whimpers, head flopping over.

"Irroonnnhiiiiidddeee." Reflect cries, choking on a sob. Inferno immediately looks alarmed.

"hey. hey its alright. don't go crying. its okay. he'll be right back." Inferno assures gently. it does nothing to stop the mech from sobbing and crying out for his bonded. "hey, its alright. Reflect, look at me. Ironhide will be back in just a few minutes. I promise." Inferno murmurs, patting his servo gently. "I know you're really upset, but you have to calm down, its alright." Inferno soothes gently.

"what did you do to him?" Ironhide snaps, walking in. he growls, storming over.

"nothing. he was fine for a few minutes but then he started sobbing." Inferno says getting up.

"don't yell at Inferno. Reflect is scared, hurt, and probably dizzy. leave Inferno alone." Ratchet frowns, walking over quickly. "alright kid, we're gonna get you up, okay? it's gonna be painful. okay?" Ratchet ask softly. Reflect whimpers.

"its alright." Ironhide murmurs.

"alright, ready Ironhide?" Ratchet ask. the black mech nods at him.

"ready." Ironhide murmurs.

"okay Reflect, we're gonna pick you up. its alright." Ratchet soothes gently. Reflect looks up at Ironhide, looking ready to sob again.

"alright come on, we've got you." Ironhide murmurs. they lift him carefully, trying to ignore the strangled scream Reflect lets out. "I know Reflect I know." Ironhide soothes gently.

they're quick but careful, carrying him to the medbay. he's in tears, dripping energon all over the floor by the time they get there.

"I've got to get Jacks side fixed up." Ratchet says, scanning over Reflect. he quickly stops the leak in the bigger mechs arm, but doesn't set to work patching him up. "I don't think they're hurt, but keep an optic on him while I get Jack fixed up. if anything in his condition changes, let me know." Ratchet says, walking over quickly to his bonded.

"I will." Ironhide assures. he sits beside his bonded, taking his servo gently. "just try to relax a little. I know you're in pain and I know you're upset, but just try to calm down some, okay? Ratchet'll be done with Wheeljack in a bit." Ironhide assures, kissing the back of his servo.

"what happen...?" Reflect whimpers.

"we don't know. something in the lab exploded." Ironhide murmurs. "don't worry on that okay?" Ironhide ask.

"whats going on?" Bumblebee mutters.

"don't move Scout, I was setting you up to put your doorwings back on when the lab exploded. took out Wheeljack and Reflect. let me get them fixed up." Ratchet says.

"is everyone okay?" Bumblebee asks, looking over.

"Wheeljacks in pretty rough shape but it looks like his body took the brunt of the blast. Reflect looks over." Ratchet assures gently.

"s'he okay...?" Reflect mumbles.

"he'll be alright." Ironhide murmurs softly.

"I didn't mean for anything to happen." Wheeljack mumbles. "I-I wasn't even working on anything." Wheeljack adds.

"I know Jack, I know." Ratchet murmurs.

Reflect goes quiet after a bit, looking tired and pained. Ironhide gently holds his wounded arm so Reflect can hold the sparkling bump. Ironhide puts his free servo over Reflects resting on the sparkling.

"you okay? you're being awful quiet." Ironhide murmurs.

"long as I stay still it, don't hurt bad." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide nods at him.

"okay." Ironhide murmurs. Ratchet looks over at them carefully, before patting the back of Wheeljacks thigh.

"alright Jack, lay still for a bit. I've got to get to work on Reflect." Ratchet says.

"m'kay." Wheeljack mumbles. the medic walks over to him and moves Ironhide out of the way.

"alright kid, let me get a better scan, just lay still." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect whines softly, watching him. Ratchets silent, looking him over. "I don't see any internal energon leaks, the sparkling seems okay, just got a little squished. let me get your arm fixed up. you're going to be sore for a while. okay? no way around it, you're both going to be sore, but you'll be alright." Ratchet explains, while working on Reflects arm. Reflect mumbles at him, hissing quietly when Ratchet moves his arm.

"I'm already sore. I'm always sore." Reflect mutters.

"I know kid. just a couple months left." Ratchet assures.

"I hate you." Reflect growls, glaring at the medic.

"no you don't." Ratchet snorts.

"he hates being reminded of how long he has left Ratchet." Ironhide mutters.

"I don't need you to explain for me." Reflect growls at Ironhide. Ironhide chuckles softly at him.

"let me run and get you and Jack a cube, want one Ratchet?" Ironhide ask.

"yeah." Ratchet mutters. Ironhide gets up, patting the mechs servo gently with a smile.

"I'll be right back Reflect." Ironihde murmurs.

"m'kay." Reflect mutters.

when Ironhide comes back, Reflects leaned against Ratchet, standing beside the berth he'd been laying on a few moments ago.

"if you'd have waited for me to get back." Ironhide frowns, setting the four cubes he'd grabbed onto the berth. he walks over to Reflects other side.

"I wanted up. m'already sore the longer I lay the more it'll hurt." Reflect grumbles. Ironhide puts his arm around Reflect, holding him up gently. Reflect pulls his other arm free from Ratchet to hold the heavy bump. "its carrying always miserable?" Reflect ask.

"it depends from carrier to carrier." Ratchet says. Reflect glares at Ironhide.

"unless you intend to carry a sparkling, we're not having anymore." Reflect glares firmly.

"one sparkling is fine.' Ironhide mutters.

"mmhmm." Reflect huffs, rolling his optics. he recalled Sarah saying the same words to him after she had Annabelle.

"we should have another." Will grins.

"unless you plan on carrying the baby, we're not having any more kids. I was miserable."

"well, I guess we should stop with perfection. Annie is perfect."

now he understood and felt bad.

Reflect hisses, gripping part of Ironhides armor hard when he takes a step forward.

"you alright?" Ironhide ask.

"thats fucking stupid question." Reflect snaps.

"I know it hurt, but I want to know if it hurts because the sparkling or because you were blown up." Ironhide says.

"I know know why it hurts, it just fucking hurts." Reflect glares. Ironhide picks a cube up with his free servo.

"here." Ironhide murmurs, holding it out to him.

"am I too grumpy for you?" Reflect glares, snatching the cube.

"no I just know that you did lose a lot of energon and you're a little snippy because you need a cube." Ironhide soothes. Reflect huffs and sips the cube. "yours and Jacks are on the berth. I even grabbed one for Bumblebee." Ironhide mutters.

"can I roll over now?" Bumblebee frowns. Ratchet looks over.

"hang on scout, we'll get you sat up and get you a cube." Ratchet says, walking over quickly. Reflect sips his cube, leaning against Ironhide hard.

"is Wheeljack alright?" Reflect ask.

"m'fine kid. I'm so sorry. I never... I... I wasn't even working on anything. I'm so sorry." Wheeljack says.

"everyone's okay Jack. me and the sparklings and you. its alright." Reflect assures.

"they've gotten everything mostly cleaned up. right now the burn marks are being scraped off the floor." Ironhide says.

"I need to talk to Prowl and my com link isn't working." Reflect mutters, sipping his cube.

"I'll Prowl, you sit down and let Ratchet patch your link." Ironhide says. Reflect nods and sits back down on the berth, slowly. if he moves too fast it'll hurt more.

"should be an easy fix kid." Ratchet assures, walking over. Reflect nods, sipping his cube. Ironhide walks out of the medbay to find Prowl.

"so, question, I haven't seen anything on it in the medical pads, but can sparklings be sparked early?" Reflect ask. Ratchet nods, working on his com link gently.

"yes. actually. a sparkling can be sparked basically any time after dropping. anytime. Nitro was sparked, in human time, about a month after he dropped." Ratchet says. Reflect nods a little.

"I was done being miserable." Wheeljack mutters.

"is it dangerous?" Reflect ask.

"it can be, as long as its at least three weeks after dropping though, its usually not." Ratchet assures gently.

"ugh, so I've got at least 2 more weeks. can they be late?" Reflect ask.

"we don't allow that. if the sparkling hasn't been sparked by the end mark of the expected gestational period, we induce." Ratchet assures.

"okay. so at most, 4 months." Reflect groans. Ratchet chuckles softly.

"its not going to be so bad, but you may end up laid out on a berth for the last few weeks." Ratchet says.

"I'm fine with that." Reflect mutters. "its soooooo heavy." Reflect mumbles, putting his servo under the bump to hold it up.

"I know." Ratchet frowns.

"I was working on something for that... but now I'm afraid to hurt you." Wheeljack frowns.

"at this point I don't even care." Reflect mutters.

"give it two weeks and you can try fun measures to try and induce sparking." Wheeljack says. Reflect looks over at him confused and Ratchet snorts.

"you mean like you did?" Ratchet laughs. "I'll never forget walking into our room and you were standing on your freaking head." Ratchet chuckles.

"you can spark early on purpose?" Reflect frowns.

"oh yeah, I was determined to have my sparkling and not have to carry anymore." Wheeljack laughs.

"I am determined. tell me." Reflect says.

"I tried everything, but the only thing that worked, I made a ball and bounced on it for like two hours and boom, Nitro arrived." Wheeljack grins. "I still have it somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it out for you." Wheeljack says.

"I would appreciate that." Reflect murmurs.

"just be careful alright? the only reason he stopped after two hours was he burst a main energon line and that is what caused the sparkling." Ratchet frowns.

"I'll be fine." Reflect says, waving his worry off. "so what if I accidentally burst a main energon line, at least I won't have to carry this freaking sparkling anymore." Reflect grumbles.

"what about the sparkling?" Ironhide ask, walking back in with Prowl.

"I'm going to find a way to enduce sparking so I don't have to fragging carry anymore." Reflect grumbles.

"alright, be careful." Ironhide snorts.

"hey Prowl, sorry to drag you down here." Reflect says.

"I've already put the list in your room if thats what you're going to ask about." Prowl says, sounding amused. Reflect chuckles at him.

"well, then I'm really sorry to drag you down here for nothing." Reflect laughs.

"actually, you have a visitor, outside the base." Prowl says.

"Barricade?" Reflect asks, curiously. Prowl nods once.

"he's waiting outside if you feel up to heading out there." Prowl says. Reflect sighs a little and reaches for Ironhide.

"alright, help me up. lets go talk to Barricade." Reflect says. Ironhide snorts and carefully pulls him up. Reflect leans against him.

"alright come on." Ironhide murmurs.

"just be careful you two. you did just get blown up." Ratchet frowns.

"Wheeljack took the brunt of the blast." Reflect says, looking over.

"I have never been happier to take the brunt of an explosion. I'm glad you two are okay." Wheeljack says. Reflect smiles at him.

"alright come on." Ironhide murmurs. he easily supports his bondeds weight, letting the mech weigh on him heavily.

"any idea what Barricade wants?" Reflect mutters.

"probably an attempt to negotiate him seeing the sparkling while still a Decepticon." Ironhide snorts. Reflect winces a little. "you alright?" Ironhide ask.

"no this fucking sparkling is heavy." Reflect grumbles.

"how about we stop in the room and you lay on the berth, I'll take your holoform out there to see him. it'll be less exhausting for you." Ironhide murmurs.

"that sounds like a great fucking idea. thank you." he mumbles. Ironhide chuckles, scooping his bondmate up gently.

"alright come on." Ironhide murmurs. he takes the other mech into their room and lays him on the berth. Reflect lays on his back wincing. "come on." Ironhide snorts. Reflect activates his holoform, ignoring Ironhides awaiting servo, onto Ironhides shoulder. the mechs snorts and heads out. "let me know if you need another cube when we're done with this." Ironhide murmurs.

"m'kay." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide turns and heads out of their room. he enjoys the feeling of the holoform curled up on his shoulder, leaning against the side of his head, something Will used to do a lot when exhausted.

Ironhide heads outside, looking around. Barricade is standing not too far away. he makes his way over, watching a confused look come over the Decepticons face, until he motions to his shoulder. the confused look immediately turns into a look of understanding.

"I see you've reached the miserable part of carrying." Barricade says, when Ironhide gets closer.

"its all miserable." Reflect grumbles.

"well, since you're miserable, I appreciate you meeting me out here." Barricade says. "where are you at?" Barricade ask.

"our room, laying on a berth." Ironhide says. Barricade looks a little relieved.

"good. that means you're not laid up in the medbay." Barricade says.

"I was, but not from what you're thinking." Reflect mumbles.

"Wheeljacks lab exploded again, thankfully Wheeljack took the majority of the blast, but he and Reflect were both in the blast zone." Ironhide mutters.

"but m'okay. I do appreciate you dragging my ass out of that hallway." Reflect says.

"I tried to get out of there before Starscream found you, but it didn't work." Barricade frowns.

"thats okay, Wheeljack came to the rescue until Ironhide could get there." Reflect mumbles.

"well, you seem thoroughly miserable and tired. I guess I'll leave you alone." Barricade snorts.

"have you put any thought into what I told you?" Reflect ask.

"I have, I'm still not leaving the Decepticons to become an Autobot scum." Barricade frowns. Reflect snorts.

"you'll change your mind. I know you will.you want to see the sparkling. you'll change your mind." Reflect murmurs softly. Barricade frowns.

"you sound so sure of that." Barricade frowns.

"because I know you want to be in this sparklings life and you know I won't be taking them off base to meet you privately." Reflect says.

"actually," Barricade says. he shifts on his peds. "I have been given permission to come onto the base to see the sparkling. of course, with an escort." Barricade says, glancing at Ironhide.

"if Reflect doesn't mind, neither do I." Ironhide shrugs. Reflect doesn't look too impressed with the idea, but he doesn't argue.

"if you have permission, then absolutely, but you know how I feel about my sparkling meeting a Decepticon." Reflect frowns. "however, I won't push you, I will compromise with you. if you can come onto base I will let you meet the sparkling." Reflect murmurs.

"I appreciate your compromise. I will think about what you've said." Barricade says. Reflect nods a little.

"alright, I hate to cute this short but," Reflect starts. his holoform immediately cuts off.

sorry I got sleepy.

don't worry about it.

"he got tired." Ironhide says, before turning away.

he heads back into the base, stopping to grab Reflect another cube, before heading back to their room.

"you okay?" Ironhide ask.

"if you ask me that again I will smack you upside the fucking head with a datapad." Reflect warns. Ironhide chuckles softly.

"alright, I'm sorry." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect grumbles, curling up on his side. Ironhide crouches beside the berth, smiling a little. he reaches over to rub his cheek gently with his thumb. "now think about this seriously before you smack me okay? I get it you're sore, but I'm not asking physically. I'm asking you if you're alright, not because you're physically exhausted, but because you're mentally exhausted. I want to know that you're okay. I know you're struggling Will, thats why i'm asking. I want you to be honest with me." Ironhide murmurs softly, watching him.

"I'm fine Hide. as soon as I spark this sparkling, I'll be fine. I promise. I just have to make it a little longer." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide nods at him.

"I'm doing the best I can to help you, but you've gotta tell me when you need help. if you need something, you want something, tell me. I'll do what I can to make it happen. to make you comfortable with it." Ironhide murmurs.

"you mean that?" Reflect mumbles. Ironhide sighs a little, the tension leaving his shoulders. whatever it is, he'll do it.

"yes. I do. getting you sparked wasn't my intention but you're fighting to do this on your own and you don't need to." Ironhide murmurs. "so whatever it is you're thinking, just tell me." Ironhide adds. Reflect sighs a little.

"off base. I just want off this fucking base for just a little while. I get frustrated and tired just staying on base for so long and I used to be able to leave with you whether it be driving myself or you driving, and now I'm just fucking stuck here. I'm getting angry and tired." Reflect sighs. Ironhide listens, before nodding, standing up.

"alright, you want off base, that will make you feel better?" Ironhide ask.

"yeah I can't relax on this fucking base." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide nods at him.

"I'll make it happen." Ironhide assures, smiling at him. he walks out of the room, leaving Reflect confused.

"where are you.... Ironhide." Reflect calls. the mech stops in the doorway, smiling.

"just take a nap, relax." Ironhide murmurs, leaving. Reflect watches him go, before rolling on to his back.

"relax he says. yeah. relaxing isn't an option." Reflect mutters.

"knock knock."

"Sideswipe? why didn't you just knock on the door?"

the door flies open and Sideswipe walks in, the door shutting behind him.

"because I wanted to make sure you were awake." Sideswipe grins.

"what are you doing?" Reflect ask.

"just stopping in to check on you and the sparkling." Sideswipe says. "last time I saw you, Wheeljack was pinned to you and both of you were miserable." Sideswipe frowns. Reflect shifts, holding the sparkling bump.

"thanks, we're good, just tired." Reflect murmurs. "and sore." he frowns.

"how long before we get a sparkling?" Sideswipe grins.

"couple of weeks, hopefully." Reflect mutters. "I have two weeks until get to the point I can attempt to enduce sparking." Reflect adds.

"ohhhh enducing?" Sideswipe ask.

"I want this fucking sparkling out of me as soon as possible." Reflect glares. Sideswipe laughs and nods. "what time is it? I went outside earlier, sort of, but I couldn't really tell." Reflect ask.

"it'll be getting dark in a few hours." Sideswipe says. Reflect nods at him. "but you know you could just check yourself." he chuckles.

"I forget I can do that." Reflect mumbles.

"well, I'll let you catch a nap. later." Sideswipe waves, walking out. Reflect mutters and tries to settle in for recharge.

he feels like he's only been asleep for a few minutes when Ironhide wakes him up. his internal clock says its been two, almost three, hours.

"hey baby." Ironhide murmurs.

"why did you wake me?" Reflect growls. Ironhide smiles at him.

"come on, get up, I've got a surprise for you." Ironhide says, helping him sit up.

"leave me alone." Reflect whines.

"nope, come on. I let you sleep for almost three hours, now its time to go." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect whines getting up off the berth. "come on with me." Ironhide smiles.

he drags his unwilling bondmate outside.

"now I know you can't transform and walking hurts when you walk for too long, but just come on with me over to the target storage." Ironhide murmurs.

"thats such a long walk." Reflect whines.

"I know but, you'll like it." Ironhide murmurs. "Ratchet helped me set this up. Wheeljack wasn't really in the position to help." he adds.

Reflect whines the entire walk, but Ironhide is just amused. his whining immediately stops upon seeing the target storage shed. there's a projector set up and, what looks to be, a pretty comfortable sitting spot.

"what is this?" Reflect ask.

"you wanted out of the base. its not safe to take you that far off in case the sparkling decides to make an appearance, or worse a Decepticon. so I set up a move, give it an hour and we can see the stars." Ironhide murmurs. "and we're going to be staying out here all night unless you need to move back in." Ironhide murmurs, smiling at him.

Reflect looks at the spread, in awe. he's utterly surprised Ironhide did this for them.

"you're gonna make me cry Hide. I wasn't actually expecting you to do anything. I was just ranting a little." Reflect murmurs.

"I know you were, but I knew you meant it too Will. I know you did." Ironhide says softly. "come on. I stole the projector and now we're going to watch a movie." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect looks around and and leans against him, pouting a little as he wraps his arms around him.

"awww Hide. don't fucking do this to me." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide chuckles softly, holding him gently. he leans down and kisses the top of his bondeds head.

"I've already done it. now come on." Ironhide says, pulling him gently over to the spot to sit.

"you better not have picked a movie thats gonna make me cry." Reflect huffs.

"yeah, I ran into an issue picking a movie I thought you'd handle, so you're going to pick the movie." Ironhide murmurs.

"what about that one movie you liked? the creepy kids movie?" Reflect ask. "I can't remember the name of it." he frowns.

"don't focus on me. picka movie you like." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect cuddles against him as they sit down.

"The Lovely Bones." Reflect murmurs.

"that one is going to make you cry." Ironhide snorts.

"I know, but its a good one." Reflect mumbles.

"alright." Ironhide chuckles, turning the movie on.

"this is sweet Hide, thank you." Reflect murmurs.

"of course." Ironhide smiles. Reflect leans against him quietly.

"the ending of this movie always pisses me off." Reflect mumbles as the movie finally starts. Ironhide chuckles, kissing his head.

Reflect only makes it thruogh half the movie before the stars catch his attention. Ironhide pauses the movie.

"you alright?" Ironhide ask.

"I'm gonna smack you next time you ask me that." Reflect mutters, looking up.

"did you want to watch the movie?" Ironhide ask.

"I want to but... the stars." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide pauses the movie.

"we can go look if you want. I'll help you up off the ground." Ironhide offers. Reflect nods at him.

"yeah just for a few minutes, then we can get back to the movie." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide nods, getting up. he carefully pulls Reflect up to his feet and they walk away from the little set up, just enough it gets dark, before laying in the sand.

"see? I can't do much, if anything to help you, but I can do some little things like this." Ironhide murmurs. "I know we can't get far from the base, for you and the sparklings safety, but if you need time off base we can come out here and relax. watch a movie and look at the stars if thats what you want. just a few hours off base." Ironhide murmurs.

"I appreciate it. I need to just. get off that stupid base sometimes." Reflect mumbles, shifting beside Ironhide.

"I know. sometimes just a little time away helps." he murmurs. "just because you're one of us now, doesn't mean anything. we both always needed time off base now and then. that doesn't change." Ironhide adds softly.

"it just feels stupid because this is my home now and... I shouldn't need time away from home like this." Reflect frowns.

"everyone needs time away Will." Ironhide says firmly. Reflect pauses, looking over at him.

"you stole that from me too." Reflect snorts. Ironhide nods.

"you weren't wrong." Ironhide chuckles. he goes quiet for a few moments, before shaking his head. "I'm sorry you were put into this position." Ironhide says, motioning to the sparkling bump.

"its... not what I expected, but I wouldn't trade it Ironhide. I know more thats to come than you do." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide smiles at him. they lay there for a bit, before Ironhide takes his servo.

"you ready to keep watching the movie?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods.

"yeah, lets get back to the movie." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide gets up and helps him up off the ground and back over to their movie.