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[The video clicks on and shows nothing but the ceiling of a room for long moments before it rattles and a hand obscures the camera. There's a scrape and a soft groan as Ratchet hauls himself as much into a sitting position as he can manage and finally manages to pick up the communicator and turn the camera towards himself.]

[He looks exhausted, his optics dim and his mouth drawn down. The hand not holding the communicator up is pressed carefully to his windscreen and his ventilations are labored as he wakes up a little more, his optics focusing in the low light of his room. His voice is soft and fuzzy with static when he speaks.]

Hey. What did I miss?

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I need a status update on Krok. Now, please. I can't get up to go check on him myself.

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You don't look well.

Magnus.

I've felt better.

What happened?

...ah. Well.

Hmm.

[He cycles his vents, looking more resigned than anything.]

Look, why don't you come over? I have something I need to tell you, anyway.

All right.

Should I bring you anything?

I--

[He hesitates, then looks away from the camera.]

No, thanks. I'm all right.

Edited 2014-09-29 23:22 (UTC)

[In that case.

Minimus makes his way over. He'll give a polite knock, but otherwise he's going to open the door.]

Come in.

[Ratchet's still stretched out on the berth, a mix of emotion on his face. Tiredness is the primary one still, but he sits up a little more anyway, one hand still pressed to his windscreen.]

Hey.

[A familiar frown forms on Minimus's face as he approaches Ratchet. Mostly, it's in concern for his well-being.

Something happened here.]

Ratchet.

[A hand rests on his friend's wrist.] Please. Talk to me.

...yeah.

[Ratchet slumps back a little, knowing he's about to get shouted at and knowing he deserves it. He rests his free hand on Magnus'.]

I don't know exactly how much you knew about Krok's nightmares. He hadn't recharged properly since--mmm. I don't actually know when. It was something Chromedome did to him, made his body relive injuries every time he slept like they were happening all over again, like his body thought he was reliving the injuries. It was... killing him, honestly. And I thought I'd figured out how to fix it, to at least let him get some rest.

I put him into medical stasis, and it worked, for a while. But somehow whatever Chromedome did was triggered, and the exhaustion on top of being in a coma on top of me forcibly trying to bring him out of the coma... means his spark nearly flickered out. And I--um. [He hesitates slightly--it had been the obvious thing to do at the time, but explaining it now feels a little ridiculous and he's unwilling to prevaricate, particularly not to Magnus.] Before that could happen, I grabbed a pair of jumper cables that were designed for use on a human car, popped us both open, and jumped his spark from mine. I... already knew we were a match. We both lived, obviously, but it knocked me out pretty bad and I've been in and out of recharge since. Um.

[He pats the back of Magnus' hand a little awkwardly.]

I'm all right, though. I meant it when I asked--did I miss anything important while I was out? I don't know exactly how long it was but it feels like a while.

[How much he knew about Krok's nightmares. How about little to none? He hasn't heard anything more on his condition outside of the fact that Chromedome performed mnemosurgery on him.

So that means Ratchet nearly killed himself trying to save Krok's life.]

I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know if you missed anything because you didn't tell me you had plans to put your life into jeopardy! That was impulsive and lacked any forethought! If anyone else had done this, you would agree with me!

Do you have any idea how much you mean to everyone here? Do you?

Look, he was supposed to just go under and we were going to watch him while he got some sleep, we didn't think anything like that was going to happen! He was dying, Magnus, what did you want me to do, sit on something I thought might help!

[That last catches him off guard and he falters a little, his mouth open, unsure of how to answer.]

I...

Don't be ignorant! I can't deal with this whole thing without you, Ratchet!

[Too emotional. He's not ready for this. Or anything, really. It's why he's rid himself of the armor for now.

He just isn't worth it.]

Magnus...

[That makes his optics widen, and his hand comes away from his windscreen to rest on Magnus' shoulder, worry flaring in his optics.]

Hey. Did something happen, while I was out? ...are you all right?

[Minimus goes still. Technically, something did. Nothing life threatening. Nothing that's ruining people's lives. It's delicate and kind of awful, and there isn't anything Minimus can really do about it.]

I suspect you already know what Chromedome did. With Rewind and Prowl.

...yeah. Yeah, I do. Prowl and I were--we talked a bit and I guessed.

[Ratchet hesitates for a long moment.]

Hey. Do me a favor? [He tugs at Magnus' shoulder a little.] It's... been a few days without contact. C'mere?

Then I-- there's nothing else...

[He trails off and hesitates at the request. It'd be cruel to say no, but it's almost harder to say yes.

Eventually, Minimus climbs onto the berth to settle his weight next to Ratchet.]

[Ratchet makes a soft sound and wraps a careful arm around Magnus' shoulders, a soft, pained hiss escaping him as he settles back and rests a hand on his windscreen again.]

Thank you. [His voice is quiet.] ...I'm sorry.

I'm just... I know you did what you felt was necessary. But please remember how much you mean to me. And everyone else.

[If anything, this is ultimately Chromedome's fault.

Again.

Funny how that comes around.

Minimus places an arm carefully across Ratchet's abdomen.]

...I couldn't fail him.

[Ratchet's voice is very quiet.]

Not again.

Even at the cost of your own life when apparently people come back to life here?

[Ratchet goes very still.]

[He leans back slowly, his optics almost comically wide as he stares down at Magnus, and he just gapes for a moment before he speaks in a voice smaller than Magnus has likely ever heard from him before.]

...I forgot.

Granted, it's... a very understandable thing to forget.

[He sighs and embraces Ratchet a little more tightly.]

Please talk to me the next time you have any inclinations about sacrificing yourself for someone else.

[Ratchet still looks thrown off-kilter, and more than a little abashed.]

Well, I didn't exactly plan it. It was the only thing I could think of at the time. And I'm not planning on doing it again if I can help it, it still feels like Ironhide punched me in the chest.

I know, we can't take away what was done.

All I can do is take this to Chromedome. [Yet another thing. Damn it.]

But I'm glad you're in one piece. Just never do it again.

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