Object of Affection

Chapter 4

He slowly onlined his optics. He could make out 3 helms through the blur.

"Is he onlining?" a deep voice asked.

"Sadly, he is," a gruff voice answered.

"I hope so, so I can offline him myself," a feminine voice growled.

"Surely you won't harm him," the deep voice said.

Knockout blinked to get rid of the blur. Now it was clear to see the faceplates of Bulkhead, Ratchet and Arcee swarming above him. Slag. He passed out, didn't he? Slag, slag, frag. Now they were sure to question him.

"Follow the light," Ratchet said as he shone a little light in Knockout's optics. The red mech did as he was told. "Good," Ratchet said, huffing. A beep sounded to inform the CMO that the scan was completed. "As far as I know, there's no processor damage," he said. Knockout laughed.

"Processor damage, me? Nah, not this pretty helm," he said. "Then you won't mind explaining me why I found you passed out on the floor of the Nemesis," Arcee said sternly. "That while you should still be in berth to heal your legs," Ratchet added. "And why where you searching items about double crossing groundbridges?" Bulkhead asked.

Knockout held up his servos as they shot questions at him. "First off, yeah I thought I was good enough to walk, my bad, but you obviously spied on me so you have no right to question me," Knockout said, looking at Arcee. She began to protest, but Knockout continued," Second, save yourself the swearing and threatening Ratchet, I know I fragged up. Third, that is none of your business."

Bulkhead looked like he wanted to say something, but kept quiet. "I guess I'll be going," he mumbled," 'Cee you coming?" Arcee stared at Knockout with a frown on her faceplates. "Arcee?" She huffed and turned around, leaving the medbay followed by Bulkhead.

"Knockout..."

Ratchet's voice was so much softer that Knockout stared at him in shock. "I know you don't really feel like it, but you are our business, my business in particular," Ratchet said. His optics had a certain glow, as if he knew how Knockout really felt. That scared the red mech. He was nobody's concern, he couldn't be. He was alone and he knew that. They couldn't convince him with lies, that he wasn't alone, that he was cared for, that he was loved. The only mechs he once cared for were gone.

Warm servos suddenly grasped his upper arms. He only then noticed that he was shaking badly. "Knockout?" Ratchet asked softly. The red mech looked at him with wide optics. "Hey," Ratchet almost whispered," I lost you there for a second. Are you okay?" Knockout didn't flash his usual smile, he could not bring himself to.

"Yeah, I'm just..." Knockout said, adding 'having a breakdown in the middle of the medbay' in his processor," cold." Ratchet laid his servo on top of Knockout's forehelm. "Hmm, you don't have a fever, but you are running a little hot," Ratchet said," I'll get you a thermos blanket." He stroke Knockout's helm and walked to the closet. "You're probably cold because of your low energon level this past week," Ratchet explained as he gathered the blanket in his arms," Even though I had you on drip. Seems like the recovery of your legs drains your energon."

Knockout looked the other way, ashamed of himself. Ratchet didn't know Knockout had tampered with the energondrip to make it give him less energon than needed. The CMO placed the thermos blanket over Knockout's frame, tugging him in.

"There you go, better?" Ratchet asked. Knockout nodded, baffled by how gentle the medic was. "You take some rest now, you need it," he said and petted Knockout's helm again. Knockout blushed slightly as he saw Ratchet disappear into his office. His optics felt unusual heavy and he decided to let recharge take him.