Nexus and mbv, near the Black Dog and various locations, LOLs and Valentines
Denver: *Up early, has finished running her usual distance, in the form of laps around the gym. Has also finished her strength training and sparring with Sky Robertson, is on her way to the showers*
shower door: *doesn't go to the showers*
Denver: *Stops short when she realizes that she walked out of the reality again, curses after checking her pockets for her cellphone*
glass ball: *pops as it hits the ground in front of her*
Denver: Wh't th-?!
world: *suddenly looks different*
Denver: *tenses up, tries to see if she can locate the source of what she believes to be an attack. Is also paying close attention to how she feels, in case the glass ball had anything in it that could harm her* *Tension is accompanied by a soft whir that she can hear clearly, and a sudden readout across the bottom of her line of sight* ... *slowly moving her hands into her field of vision, isn't sure what to expect*
Tracks: *pauses to look quizzically at the femme bot of his own tech, shifting the box he's holding to his other hand as he does so* You look lost.
Denver: *looks from her hands to Tracks, startled*
Tracks: *raises his brow plates* Is something wrong?
Denver: *slowly, showing just how confused and brain-broken she's feeling* Ah... Think s'methin' 'appened.... Th're w's th's glass-lookin' ball...
Tracks: *pauses, blinking* ...Your voice.
Denver: *sounding a bit nervous now* 'T's me, Tracks... Ah... Ah dunno wh't 'appened... W's jes' walkin' int' th' showers, 'n wound up 'ere....
Tracks: *frowns. Cautiously* 'Me' who?
Denver: *Definitely nervous now* Denver...
Tracks: ...That's not possible.
Denver: Ah c'n prove it! *might be a bit easier if she didn't sound so scared*
Tracks: Please do. *struggling to understand what's going on here* Because if this is meant to be a joke I can assure you it's not funny.
Denver: Th' otha day, y'u made Samuel Robertson 'n 'is brotha patrol 'round th' outsahd'a th' lodge...
Tracks: *freezes for a moment, but then, quietly* Who was with them?
Denver: Mr. Watson, 'n y'u... 'N afta y'all came back in, y'u walked rahght int' th' trap Raoul set wit' th' chalkboard eraser 'bove th' door.
Tracks: *utterly bewildered now, but stepping toward her with his free hand out* Denver! I.... This is so confusing!
Denver: 'Ow d' y'u think AH feel?! *moves closer to Tracks, being careful not to step on the shards of the glass ball*
Tracks: *hand to her cheek as he gazes at her face and looks for a resemblance to the human woman he knows and loves, then gently pulls her close and hugs her*
Denver: *does bear some resemblance to how she normally looks, including having optics the same color as her eyes* *leans against Tracks, shivering very slightly due to a bit of sensory overload*
Tracks: *soft croon that she probably hasn't been able to hear before as he lightly strokes her back* I don't know what happened, darling. But we'll get to the bottom of it. Don't worry. *pauses then and looks at the box in his hand* ....
Denver: *small nod* ... *quietly, sounding a bit amazed* Ah c'n 'ear y'ur spark...
Tracks: ...You mean you usually can't?
Denver: *headshake*
Tracks: ...Oh.
Denver: *starting to calm down, has caught the scent of what's in the box Tracks is holding*
Tracks: *really not sure what to do here, other than comfort* ...We should go back. Raoul will wonder where we are if we don't make it back for breakfast.
Denver: ... *and now she's back to nervous* 'Ow're we gonna 'splain th's?
Tracks: .... The others who've been here probably know about LOLs, which is what I suspect this is. Your people... I don't know.
Denver: *cycling air quickly, and shivering a bit* Ah...Ah...*is at a loss for words*
Tracks: *stashes the box of smoked dinoham and puts both arms around her* Shhh. Circulate deeply, darling. It's going to be alright. Optimus and Ratchet will think of something.
Denver: *focuses on circulating deeply, still shivering*
Tracks: *gives her a softly tingling kiss on the helm as he gently rubs her back* Shhhhhh. I'm here.
Denver: *soft sound of surprise at the tingling sensation*
Tracks: What is it? *tilts his head and leans back a bit to try and see her face*
Denver: Ah... don' recall feelin' a tingleh feelin' th' las' tahm y'u kissed th' top'a mah head...
Tracks: No? *slight smile* I guess your organic circuits can't feel it.
Denver: *blink* 'S th't normal?
Tracks: I'm told it is. *still that small smile as he looks at her and is glad she still looks like herself. And thinks that he can appreciate her beauty even more now that it's not so soft and delicate looking*
Denver: *relaxes a bit, calming down as she reminds herself silently that she's a soldier. Yeah, this isn't what she had planned on, but plans often change, and she has to adapt to meet those changes* *quietly* C'n we talk t' Rachel 's soon 's we get 'ome?
Tracks: *nods* Just as soon. I'll radio Raoul and let him know we're busy with something.
Denver: *small nod, and then she's got a bit of an odd look on her face as she recalls something Tracks said just a few moments ago* Y'u've been tol' th' tingleh feelin's normal f'r bein' kissed?
Tracks: *blinks, a little derailed in the thoughts and trying to keep up with the switch* Yes. Some mechs swear it's quite pleasant.
Denver: ... *hedging a guess here* Y'u've nevah felt 't y'urself?
Tracks: No, I haven't. *curious brow quirk*
Denver: *considering something, small headshake as she decides that this area's too public* Le's go 'ome....
Tracks: *PINpoints them back to base... right to the med ward*
Rachel: *cereal is now in Jack's lap*
Denver: *still doesn't like PIN travel, looks queasy*
Jack: *Startled by both the cereal in his lap, and by the sudden arrival of Tracks and an unfamiliar-looking femme*
Tracks: *quick glance to be sure that Dr. House is actually taking his shift off, and then turns back to Rachel* Ratchet... we have a problem.
Rachel: *looking at her cereal* Yeah... we do. That was the last bowl of cornpops.
Jack: *glad that he's wearing pajama pants and not his usual dress slacks*
Tracks: Never mind that! Denver's been LOL'd!
Jack: *looks up from wiping cereal out of his lap*
Rachel: *looks at the red femme* .... Slagging frag.
Denver: *and now she's nervous all over again*
Rachel: *calls Patrick and Russell and tells them what happened*
Patrick: *will be there shortly*
Russell: *disbelief, will also be in the med ward shortly, if only to see just what's going on*
Rachel: *considers, and then calls Skylar too, since he's the one that's been to the Nexus the most that she knows of*
Skylar: *will be there, just give him a few minutes*
Rachel: *starts to tell Denver who she called, and then realizes that the transformed human will have heard all that. Including the code*
Denver: *looking a bit overwhelmed now, is circulating deeply and resisting the urge to hide her face against Tracks' chest*
Tracks: *again that soft croon as he puts his arms around her* It's going to be alright. Don't worry.
Rachel: *glances at Jack as she hears Tracks crooning* *mouth twitches very slightly at one corner*
Jack: *very slight smile, gives Rachel a small nod*
Denver: *small nod, taking comfort in hearing that soft croon, and the sounds of Tracks' spark and pumps working*
Russell: *gaping slightly as he arrives in the med ward*
Tracks: *a bit sharply* Don't stare!
Russell: *slight flinch, acks when Patrick nudges him aside*
Rachel: Easy, Tracks. He's just surprised.
Patrick: *gently, to Tracks and Denver, though he is also addressing Rachel* Do you know what happened?
Tracks: Denver? Can you tell Optimus what happened, darling?
Denver: *small nod* W's on mah way t' get cleaned up f'r breakf'st, 'n th' door t' th showers di'n't lead t' th' showers... Next thing Ah know, there's th's glass-lookin' ball th't's breakin' 't mah feet, 'n everythin's changed...
Skylar: *from the doorway* Sounds like a LOL... *slight frown* One that someone else mentioned, in fact...
Patrick: *Attention goes to Skylar* You've heard of this type of LOL?
Skylar: *nods* Petra and I met someone who got LOL'd into a Cybertronian femme the last time we went on a cookie run...
Rachel: *frowns as she watches Denver and then scans the femme*
Denver: *showing slight stress, no doubt brought on by being LOL'd and having a minor panic attack shortly thereafter. Other than that, she's healthy*
Skylar: *not gonna say the name of the other femme he met, as he's sure that'd just cause chaos*
Rachel: Do you want a light sedative, Denver?
Denver: *headshake* *murmur* Ah'll be alrahght...
Tracks: *gently rubs her back, that soft croon coming again* We need to think of what to tell the humans, Optimus.
Patrick: Rachel, does she have an alt-mode?
Rachel: No. She's got our tech, but none of the mods. How weird.
Tracks: *scowls, doesn't like 'weird' being used in a sentence referring to Denver*
Denver: *quietly* Mods?
Jack: The modifications that allow us to process human food.
Rachel: *nodding* And take a human alt mode.
Denver: ...
Patrick: *to Jack, Russell, and Rachel* Do we have any available?
Rachel: Any alt modes? Or any of the mods?
Patrick: The mods. The sooner Major MacKenzie can resume a human appearance, the better. And I have to tell Colonel Franklin what happened.
Rachel: *nodding* We've got them. But being modified is really Denver's choice, Chief.
Denver: *Silent, is trying to figure out how to comm Tracks, so she can apologize, as she didn't realize what he had gone through to have a human alt-mode*
Tracks: *looking at her with a compassionate and expectant expression* *gently* Darling, did you hear Rachel?
Denver: *Small nod*
Tracks: Do you want the modifications? *hand to her cheek and wipes something away from the corner of her optic with a thumb*
Denver: *small headshake, intakes hitch and then she's hiding her face on Tracks' chest and murmuring an apology*
Tracks: *holding her and crooning.* Shhhhhh.
Rachel: *concerned expression as she watches them*
Denver: *intakes hitching as she continues to murmur apologies*
Tracks: Denver... darling. You didn't do anything wrong. *kisses her on the forehead* Shhh. You don't need to apologize.
Skylar: [... Wow... I never would've thought someone like her'd be a soft-sparked person...]
Tracks: *stink eye*
Skylar: *Innocent look*
Patrick: *small nod* I'll go and talk to Colonel Franklin, and explain the situation...
Rachel: *giving both Skylar and Tracks a warning look* Alright, Chief.
Skylar: *quick glance to Rachel, makes an excuse and leaves the med ward*
Rachel: *turns her attention to finishing up the cleaning up of spilled cereal as she waits for Denver to calm*
Tracks: *kisses Denver gently on the helm, has forgotten about everyone else*
Denver: *circulating air, intakes hiccupping slightly for a little while as she tries to calm down*
Tracks: *gently wiping away her tears. Doesn't realize he's slipped into Cybertronian as he murmurs to her*
Denver: *rests her head on Tracks' shoulder, feeling tired and low on energy*
Tracks: *kisses her again and strokes her cheek* I'm here, darling.
Denver: *small nod, shutters her optics and just listens to Tracks' systems working*
Russell: *frown, scans Denver* ... *to Tracks, quietly* [She's low on energy...]
Rachel: Russ, will you go get some of the energon and calcien stuff? Either the kind from the Nexus or the stuff Melissa makes.
Russell: *nods and moves to leave the med ward*
Tracks: Russell's going to get you some breakfast, Denver. Do you want to sit down? *rubbing her back*
Denver: *Small nod*
Tracks: *slips an arm under her legs and lifts her up, then turns and sets her down on the examining table by Rachel*
Denver: *quietly muses about how her team will react*
Rachel: Worry about that after we've got you taken care of, okay? *patting her on the back*
Denver: *small nod, chooses to focus on circulating air and trying to stay calm*
Rachel: *quietly* You'll only be able to take in energon and things like that right now.
Denver: ...*another small nod*
Rachel: But if you get the mods you'll be able to eat anything you're used to eating. *looks at Tracks and wonders why he smells like Javan's kitchen*
Denver: Ah know... 's jes'... *feels guilty*
Tracks: What is it, darling? *concerned*
Denver: *unshuttering her optics to give Tracks an apologetic look* *quietly* 'F Ah 'ad known wh't y'u 'ad t' do t' 'ave th' alt-mode y'u do now...
Tracks: *slight frown and head shake* You were right, though.
Denver: *quietly* Th't don' mean 't's rahght f'r y'u t' give up somethin' y'u love.... *meaning the ability to fly*
Tracks: *softly* I want to do what's best for Raoul.
Denver: ...*circulating air, doesn't know what to say in response*
Tracks: *smiles at her, the smile itself unhesitating though the sadness still lurks at the back of his optics*
Russell: *back with a couple of energon and calcien bars*
Denver: *attention going to Russell briefly*
Rachel: *takes the fuel from Russell and gently but insistently shoves some into Denver's hands*
Denver: *taking a hesitant bite out of the bar in her hands*
Tracks: That's it, darling. *smile encouragingly*
Denver: *soft sound of surprise at the flavor*
Rachel: Something wrong? *slight frown of concern*
Denver: *headshake, offers Tracks a piece of the bar* 'S jes.. diff'rent fr'm wh't Ah'm used t'..
Tracks: *takes it and nibbles* Oh... that's lovely. I wonder where she got the flavoring.
Denver: *sniffing what's left of the bar* Smells lahk rose perfume... b't not th' 'spensive kahnd...
Rachel: *slight chuckle* The expensive kind's got real rose in it.
Denver: *nod, works on finishing what's left of the first bar*
Russell: *makes a quiet exit, intends to go see if Serenity's awake yet*
Tracks: *finishes his bit of bar, enjoying it quite a bit*
Denver: *will try and break the second bar in half so she can share it with Tracks*
Tracks: *accepts the half bar with a smile and a murmur of thanks*
Denver: *small smile*
Rachel: *jumps down off the table and holds out her hand to Jack, thinking to give the pair some space for a few clicks*
Jack: *Finishes wiping cereal off of his pants, will go with you, Rachel*
Denver: *finishes the half bar she has, blinking a bit afterwards*
Rachel: *from the desk* Try and have a nap, Denver. Your systems will need to charge up and I think your processor needs a slight reboot. *or just some time to come to terms with the changes*
Denver: *Small nod, moves to lay down on the table*
Tracks: *helps her, and then snatches a blanket from the nearest bed to lay over her*
Denver: *curls up under the blanket, shuttering her optics as she does*
Tracks: *hand on her shoulder, crooning softly as he watches her*
Denver: *quiet sigh before she powers down to rest*
Rachel: *asks Jack to bring the high stool over there for Tracks*
Jack: *nods and goes to get the stool for Tracks*
Tracks: *thanks him quietly and sits without taking his hand off Denver*
Jack: *nods, quietly suggests letting Raoul know as soon as possible, goes back to where Rachel is*
Tracks: *nods and then coms his protoge and explains what happened. No... don't come yet. Let Denver rest, alright?*
Rachel: *looks at Jack, her eyes twinkling*
Jack: *moves to cuddle Rachel, gently kissing the top of her head*
Rachel: Did you ever think you'd see Tracks acting like that?
Jack: Not in my lifetime...
Rachel: Me either. *her smile says she's not unhappy to be proven wrong*
A few hours later...
Rachel: *sitting on Jack in Dr. House's chair, sound asleep*
Raoul: *sitting in the rocking chair and silently watching Tracks and Denver*
Tracks: *still watching over Denver*
Denver: *soft sound as she begins waking up*
Tracks: *gently rubs her shoulder, which will feel different than when her shoulder is organic*
Denver: *awake! Relaxes when she remembers where she is, and picks up on who's around her*
Tracks: *softly* How do you feel?
Denver: Not 's tahrd 's Ah w's earliah....
Tracks: That's good. Do you need anymore energy? *will help her sit up if she's agreeable*
Raoul: *leaning forward slightly in the chair now*
Denver: *sitting up with Tracks' help, trying to figure out how to tell whether she's in need of energy or not* Er... Ah dunno....
Tracks: Do you feel anything from your tank? It'll be right around here. *points to an area on his own person*
Denver: *look of concentration* *quietly* Ah c'ld prolleh go f'r 'nother 'f those bar things...
Tracks: *reaches over to the bed table and takes the piece of huge cinna cookie that Raoul brought along when he came. Offers it to Denver, his optics brightening slightly at the wonderful smell*
Denver: *surprised by the wonderful smell, thanks Tracks for the piece, and has a taste*
Raoul: *slight grin. He's seen the other Autobots react to that flavor of cookie*
Denver: *pleased sounds as she makes the piece of cookie vanish*
Tracks: They tell me that's a cinnamon flavor. I've never seen the organic version, so I wouldn't know. But I'm glad you like it.
Denver: 'S pretteh spot-on... *yes, she's familiar with cinnamon flavored cookies*
Tracks: *smiles* How interesting.
Denver: *moves to get off of the table*
Raoul: *quietly* You gonna get the funky stuff to make you look human, Major Mac?
Denver: *seriously and quietly* Ah dunno...
Raoul: *quizzical and concerned frown*
Tracks: *quietly* Let her be, Raoul.
Raoul: *bigger frown for his mentor*
Denver: *checking out her systems and figuring out what each of the icons on the display that she can see means* *quietly* W'ldn't seem fair t' me...
Raoul: Fair? Whaddya mean?
Tracks: *slight, confused frown, will listen for Denver's reply*
Denver: *still checking systems* *quietly* 'Cause 'f wh't Tracks gave up....
Tracks: I still have my natural form.
Denver: *looks up, seriousness in those blue-green optics, doesn't say a word, because she isn't sure she has the right words to say what she means*
Tracks: *looks back* What will your team think?
Denver: *slight flash of annoyance* Th'y c'n deal wit' it.
Tracks: *softly* Denver, look at me.
Denver: *looks at Tracks*
Tracks: You were right about my alt mode. Now I want you to stop being so foolish about it.
Denver: ... *soft sigh, small nod* Alrahght....
Tracks: *slight smile* Thank you, darling.
Denver: Prolleh sh'ld wake Rachel up....
Tracks: *glances over* Yes. Though they look so comfortable.
Raoul: *snorts and drops something on the floor*
Rachel: *jumps and headbutts Jack*
Raoul: Whoops.
Jack: *Awake!*
Denver: ...*Facepalming*
Tracks: >_<. Raoul....
Raoul: :D
Jack: *cycling air and pinching the bridge of his nose*
Rachel: *rubs her head, blinking confusedly* Murrr?
Denver: *Quietly* Dr. Ruteger?
Rachel: *squints toward her* Yes, Denver?
Denver: Ah've changed mah mahnd 'bout th' mods...
Rachel: Oh. Alright. Tracks, and Raoul, do you want to go wait outside?
Tracks and Raoul: *don't want to*
Jack: *helping Rachel to her feet*
Rachel: *thanks her husband, and then limps over and gives Tracks a look that makes him sigh and kiss Denver on the helm*
Tracks: I'll see you in a little while, darling.
Denver: *Small nod, hugs Tracks* Alrahght...
Tracks: *hesitates*
Raoul: *scowling and shifting from foot to foot*
Jack: *quiet chuckle, moves to gently usher Tracks and Raoul out of the med ward*
Roughly two hours later...
Rachel: *watching the mods that make a human alt mode hard to tell from a real human settle in, then inputing an image of Denver's natural appearance for said alt* ...Did Sky and TC ever come for this? Or are they still running around reading bot while they look human?
Jack: *as he helps Rachel* I think they still read as bot...
Rachel: *snerks* They probably won't give up their wings. I'll make them both a signal blocker after this. *inputs the code to wake the LOL'd femme* I wonder if this will make any difference when she changes back.
Jack: We won't know for sure till she does...
Denver: *awake, blinking a bit*
Rachel: *smile for Denver* How do you feel?
Denver: Ah feel alrahght... ''T's okay f'r me t' sit up?
Rachel: Sure. *glances to Jack*
Jack: *nods and helps Denver sit up* *also gives her pointers on transforming*
Rachel: *turns her head as she hears someone bounce off the med ward door again*
Denver: *attention going to the med ward door* ?
Rachel: Haven't you seen Tracks and Raoul when they're bored? And even sometimes when they're not?
Denver: *facepalm* *cycles air for a few minutes, before giving her first transformation a go*
Jack: *amused chuckle* You even managed to keep your uniform, Major...
Denver: *checking the pockets once she realizes her necklace and dog tags aren't around her neck*
Rachel: Try subspace.
Denver: *expression brightens when she pulls both her necklace and dog tags out. Then she's putting both on and moving to get off of the table with Jack's help* Thank y'u...
Rachel: *grins* Just remember to put your clothes into subspace when you change.
Denver: *Nods* Alrahght... *glances down at her feet, soft snerk as she realizes she's barefoot* Guess not everehthin' made it...
Rachel: *chuckles as she lets Patrick and Colonel Franklin know Denver's condition* Mike says to turn your comlink on.
Jack: *Explains how to do that before Denver can ask*
Denver: *a bit of a mystified expression, but follows Jack's instructions*
Colonel Franklin: //Major MacKenzie?//
Denver: //Yessir?//
Colonel Franklin: //How are you feeling?//
Denver: //'M fahn... 'Sahd fr'm leavin' mah boots behahnd...//*chuckles over comms*
Colonel Franklin: //Are you feeling up to a short mission?//
Denver: //Ah believe so, sir.//
Colonel Franklin: //Alright. You're on mail run.//
Denver: //Yessir...// *intends to bring Tracks and Raoul, as she's not sure how much room she's got in subspace*
Colonel Franklin: //Thank you, Major. Franklin out.//
Denver: //MacKenzie out.// *closing her comlink now*
door: *thud*
Rachel: *snrk*
Denver: *going to the door now*
Raoul: *falls into the room when she opens it* *blinks, and then grins up at her*
Tracks: *pauses in stepping forward to save the teen* *blinks at Denver and then smiles* There we go.
Denver: *fussing over Raoul now, will help the teen up*
Raoul: *laughing, and then gives her a hug and tries to kick Tracks in the shin again*
Tracks: Raoul....
Denver: Alrahght y'u two... *fondness clear in her voice* Le's get outta 'ere...
Tracks: *pause* Get out of here?
Raoul: We goin' someplace, Major Mac?
Denver: *nod* Mail run... Th' mail w's late in town, 'n 'cause'a th't, Lt. Darby wasn't able t' pick it up wh'n sh' was gettin' supplahs.
Raoul: She ain't back yet.
Tracks: That's because the person on supply run always goes to the supply dump after they go to town, to get military rations and suchlike.
Denver: *nods in agreement to Tracks' words* Colonel Franklin jes' called me 'n asked me t' go get th' mail.
Raoul: ...You're gonna put shoes on, right? *disapproving kid is disapproving*
Tracks: *looks at Denver's feet and frowns*
Denver: *nods* 'N a coat 'n hat.
Tracks: You'd better go get yours, Raoul. *watches the fifteen year old run off down the hall and then transforms* ...Oh, I guess I'll need some sort of outdoor clothing too.
Denver: Ah think there mahght be s'methin' in y'ur sahze 'n storage...
Tracks: *nods* Shall we meet you at the front door? *letting no sign of the thought that he could have driven Denver there if he had his old alt mode show*
Denver: *nods, heading in the direction of the storage room*
Later, on the way back to the lodge...
Denver: *slowing the SUV down as she spots something under the bridge*
Tracks: *notices her attention shift and looks that way himself* ...That's one of your vehicles.
Denver: *pulls off to the side of the road before parking the SUV, turning it off, and getting out*
Tracks: *tells Raoul to stay inside and gets out himself, scanning the area* The bridge is icy....
Lt. Darby: *heard vehicle!* Help!
Denver: *gonna slide down the embankment now* Hold on, we'll getcha outta the'ah!
Lt. Darby: Sir! *voice strong, though shaking slightly* I'm pinned. Can't feel my leg.
Tracks: *just jumps down and lands next to the crumpled vehicle*
Denver: Jes' stay calm, we'll getcha outta the'ah... *calling Colonel Franklin as she tries to get to Lt. Darby*
Lt. Darby: I ain't scared. I'm cold.
Tracks: *chuckles, but then gasps as he sees the tiny puddle of blood on the ice of the frozen creek* Denver, she's leaking.
Denver: *sharp curse, tells Tracks to go back to the other SUV and get some blankets, works on getting to Lt. Darby by means of tearing the crumpled SUV apart*
Lt. Darby: *watching her with wide eyes as Tracks climbs back up to get the blankets* Uh... sir? I think I might've hit my head.
Denver: We'll 'ave Dr. Ruteger 'r Dr. House lookitcha wh'n we get back t' base.
Lt. Darby: I'm halucinatin' that I'm seein' ya rip the truck apart. *her left leg, when exposed, has been crushed between the dash and the door and shattered in several places. Bone is showing, and now there is more than a little puddle of blood*
Denver: *Curse, thinks quickly and gets her own belt off to use as a make-shift tourniquet*
Raoul: *at the top of the bank. Doesn't know how bad things are yet* Whoa, Major Mac, people're gonna see your pink panties!
Denver: *as she works on stopping the bleeding* Mah panties ain't pink, Raoul.
Tracks: *standing in front of the SUV now, his arms full of blankets* Honestly, Raoul, don't.....
pickup truck: *skids on the ice and rear ends the SUV*
Tracks: *sent flying as the SUV slams into him, comes down hard on his head*
pickup truck: *kept going and is gone*
Raoul: *incoherent yelling as he runs toward his mentor*
Denver: *eyes wide, quickly makes sure the makeshift tourniquet's secure before scaling the bank at a much faster speed than should be possible for her* Tracks!!!
Raoul: *kneeling beside Tracks and listening for his spark*
Tracks: *laying still, a red puddle forming under his head*
Lt. Darby: What happened? Sir? What's going on??
Denver: *puts her hand on Tracks, checking for the vibration that Dr. House mentioned. Calls Col. Franklin again, this time with an SOS*
Col. Franklin: *dismayed at hearing from her again so quickly* //What's the situation?//
Denver: *breathing quickly out of habit as she relays the situation with Darby, and the reason for the SOS* *hands are slightly shaky, and it's clear that she's upset, as her accent is making her difficult to understand* Th' truck c'me outta nowh're 'n 'it Tracks!
Col. Franklin: //Is there anyone in the vicinity?//
Denver: Darby's d'wn 'n th' cr'k bed... *trails off as she realizes she left her squadmember down there* $#*&$^#!!! *going to go get Darby out of there now*
Col. Franklin: //Denver. Stop and breathe. Help is on the way.//
Skywarp: *help is here!* *setting Dr. House and Sunshine down, and also Russell*
Dr. House: *trying hard not to hurl as his wife holds him on his feet*
Russell: Dr. House, Captain House, help Lt. Darby... *going to help Tracks*
Skywarp: *kneeling beside the prone Autobot, her face creased in a frown as she looks from him to Russell*
Sunshine: *leaps down to the SUV, husband still in arms*
Russell: *transforms, before scanning Tracks and getting out tools to stop the leaking*
Denver: *clears a bit more of the crumpled SUV away from Lt. Darby before moving to scale the embankment again. Is in full-on panic-mode*
Skywarp: *to Red Alert* How is he, Doc? That red stuff isn't actually important, is it?
Raoul: *watching in silence as he prays mightily in his mind*
Red Alert: It's coolant, and he's lucky he didn't hit harder... He'll be off his feet for a day or so, and after that, he'll need to take it easy for a few days... *closing off the leak now, and applying what looks like a bandage*
Denver: *shaking as she sinks to the ground, feeling helpless*
Raoul: !! *over there, his arms going around her* Shhhh, Major Mac. Dr. Anderson just said he's gonna be alright. Tracks is gonna be okay. *hug and rest his head against her shoulder*
Denver: *still shaking as she brings her arms up to gently hug Raoul*
Raoul: *hug* *softly* He's gonna be okay. Really.
Sunshine: *leaps into the air, a blanket bundle containing Lt. Darby and her husband in her arms as her wings drive her upward. Gains altitude and then triggers the PINpoint that Skylar gave her*
Red Alert: *finishes bandaging Tracks' head* *comms Colonel Franklin and reports on the situation status*
Col. Frankin: *acknowledges*
Skywarp: You need a ride back now? *glances toward Denver and Raoul and frowns*
Red Alert: *headshake as he transforms* Get Tracks, Raoul, and Major MacKenzie back to the lodge... I'll drive the SUV back there.
Skywarp: Yessir. *carefully scoops up the damaged Autobot, and then walks over toward the humans* Major MacKenzie?
Denver: *looks up at Skywarp*
Skywarp: You ready to go back, sir?
Denver: *manages a small nod*
Skywarp: *goes to one knee and offers to pick her up*
Raoul: *urging her to her feet* C'mon, Major Mac. We gotta get back.
Denver: *gets to her feet, nodding a bit and feeling like the proverbial rug's been yanked from under her feet*
Skywarp: *gets them both into her arms... and pauses with a suspicious frown* You're heavier than you should be.
Raoul: ...What?
Denver: *blink* ....
Skywarp: You're heavier than you should be. *frown deepening* It's you, Major.
Denver: *Quietly* 'S prolleh 'cause 'f th' LOL....
Raoul: Ohhh. It's okay, lady. She's an Autobot now. Just, can we please get Tracks back?
Skywarp: *frowns and coms Patrick*
Patrick: //Yes, K' ehleyr?//
Skywarp: //I've noticed a discrepancy in the composition of one of our allies, Captain.// *yes, she knows big words*
Patrick: *Has a hunch as to whom Skywarp is referring to* //Crusher informed me of the discrepancy in the composition of that particular ally.//
Skywarp: //Alright.// *gives him their ETA and signs off, then looks down at Raoul and Denver* Hold onto your guts.
Denver: *carefully tightens her grip on Raoul*
Skywarp: *leaps into the air. And then there's a jarring, mind-wrenching jolt.... And they're landing in front of the lodge and Skywarp's setting Denver and Raoul on their feet. Or trying to*
Raoul: *supporting Denver if she needs it*
Denver: *Needs it*
Skywarp: *transforms and shifts her grip on Tracks, then carries him inside*
Raoul: !! *urging Denver to follow with him*
Denver: *will follow, looking a bit queasy still*
Raoul: *pulls her arm around his shoulders and resumes speaking to her soothingly in his accented Spanish*
Denver: *taking deep breaths, murmurs a few replies in Mexican Spanish*
Raoul: *tells her she's beautiful and that he knows Tracks is crazy about her*
Denver: *slight wibble, nods* 'M crazy 'bout 'im too...
Raoul: *bit of a grin* [But you gotta be strong now, Major Mac. You're makin' the 'Cons look at you funny.]
Denver: *small frown* [They can look elsewhere then.]
Sky: *coming out of the med ward as they're coming up to it* Well excuse me for wondering why you're crying when your mate's still alive. *scowls and walks off*
Raoul: .... >_<.
Denver: ... *soft sigh*
Raoul: Me'n my ##@$@# big mouth.
Denver: *quietly* Le's go 'n see 'f th'y'll let us bring Tracks back t' th' room 'r not...
Raoul: *brings her inside... to find the med ward abandoned but for Tracks, who is laying on one of the hospital beds with his face very pale beneath the bandage* Major Mac?
Denver: ... *frowning more, calls Dr. House's cellphone*
Dr. House's phone: *goes right to voice mail*
Denver: *leaves a message asking Dr. House to call her back with an update on Lt. Darby's condition*
Raoul: Was she hurt so bad she'd need all the doctors?
Denver: Ah don' know... Dr. House di'n't answer 'is phone... *is worried*
Raoul: Well, you saw her. What were you takin' your belt off for? *glances around, and then goes to get the rocking chair for her*
Denver: 'Cause she w's bleedin' pretteh bad... *will sit in the rocking chair once it's brought over, and put her head in her hands*
Raoul: *hand on her back* It's gonna be okay. Don't cry, okay?
Jack: *enters the med ward*
Raoul: *perks* Hey... uh... Greg's dad!
Jack: *small chuckle* Hello, Raoul, Major MacKenzie.
Denver: *manages a nod*
Raoul: Why ain't there nobody here? *hands on Denver's shoulders protectively. He's more like his mentor than most people know*
Jack: *decides that honesty will work best in this situation* Most of the medics are working on Lt. Darby. Her leg was pretty much crushed in the accident...
Denver: *sharp rush of breath*
Raoul: *pales* Is she gonna be alright?
Jack: *nod* She didn't lose as much blood as Russell had feared, but she might not be able to be a soldier any longer...
Raoul: ...She gonna lose her leg?
Jack: It's too soon to tell at this point...
Raoul: *hands tighten comfortingly on Denver's shoulders*
Denver: *taking deep breaths*
Raoul: *quietly* 'N Tracks?
Jack: *as he scans the mech on the table* Well, his processor's been jarred badly... Russell said he'd be out for the rest of the day... But he'll be alright with rest and time to recover... And I have a feeling he's got two people who will make absolutely sure he gets that rest... *giving Raoul and Denver a knowing look*
Raoul: *just looks back, his jaw set*
Jack: Once he's awake, make sure he knows that he's supposed to be taking it easy for a few days... *yeah, like Jack's really the best person to be saying that*
Raoul: We'll make sure.
Denver: *small nod*
Jack: *gently* I'll go get you two something to eat.
Raoul: *blinks and gives him a funny look, wondering how the heck the guy can think of food right now*
Jack: And I'll bring another chair for you to sit in. *and then he's out the door*
Raoul: *frowns, and then goes and sits on the bed on the other side of Tracks* *And then he gets down again, because it feels strange to sit there without Tracks telling him to watch his shoes*
Denver: *gets up, and moves to gently smooth Tracks' hair*
Raoul: *sits on the floor and takes off his shoes, his face set and thoughtful*
Tracks: *hair has a bit of curl to it. It doesn't want to smooth. Beneath it, his face is very still; devoid of the thousand little quirks that usually animate it*
Denver: *quietly humming that lullaby she sometimes hums, and trying to keep her hands from shaking*
Raoul: *quietly* Major Mac?
Denver: *glances to Raoul*
Raoul: You're shakin' pretty bad. Maybe you should lay down.
Denver: 'M fahn....
Raoul: *crawls around the foot of Tracks' bed and gives her a Look*
Denver: ... *soft sigh, moves to get her boots off*
Raoul: *grins, and then settles on his belly on the floor*
Denver: *boots off and tucked where they won't be in the way, moves to settle on the floor as well*
Raoul: *points to the bed he'd just been sitting on* There's a bed right there.
Denver: *stubborn* Ah'm fahn 'ere.
Raoul: *worried frown* Tracks'll have a fit if he sees you there.
Denver: ... *small scowl, though there is a bit of fondness in her eyes* Y'u fahght dirteh... *sighs and moves to lay down on the bed next to Tracks'*
Raoul: Hey, he can really #$@#@#$ 'n complain.
Denver: *rolls her eyes, stretching out a bit*
Raoul: *gets off the floor himself and dusts off, then pulls off his sneakers and settles on the foot of Denver's bed*
Tracks: *breathes quietly and evenly*
Denver: *carefully turning onto her side so she's facing Tracks, worry clear in her expression*
Raoul: *also watching the unconscious mech, his dark eyes shadowed as he leans forward with the suppleness of youth and rests his elbows on the knees of his crossed legs*
Denver: *soft sigh, rubbing at her eyes a bit*
Raoul: *suddenly remembers that Denver's feet won't go to sleep anymore and wriggles around till he's using her shin for a pillow*
Denver: *quick glance to Raoul, small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, before her attention goes to the door*
Raoul: *curled up with his eyes on Tracks, unaware of Denver's look*
Jack: *has returned with a tray of food that won't go bad if it's left out for awhile. There's fruit, and several peanut butter sandwiches, as well as some juice and coffee*
Denver: *slightly tensed until she sees that the person she heard coming to the med ward is just Jack*
Jack: *soft chuckle when he sees where Raoul and Denver are, will set the food tray down on one of the portable tables and wheel that over to where it can be reached easily* Maybe you two should get some rest too...
Raoul: *quietly* Somebody's gotta keep an eye on Tracks, since all the docs're taking care of Lt. Darby.
Jack: *small nod, scans Denver* ... *slight flicker of what might be a frown as his scan shows that the femme is far more stressed right now than she was this morning* *goes to get something*
Raoul: *frowning after him*
Denver: *attention back on Tracks, doesn't notice when Jack returns*
Jack: *gently, to Denver* Major, I know you didn't want a sedative earlier... but your systems are stressed pretty badly right now...
Raoul: *sits up, frowning*
Denver: *attention back on Jack, frowning as well* ... *realizes what it is Jack's suggesting, frowns more, before sighing and nodding* B't Ah'd bettah not be loopy 'r anehthin'...
Jack: I figured that would be one of your concerns... So I grabbed one of the light sedatives. *explains how the sedative tab works, and about the different levels of sedatives available*
Raoul: *listening silently. Then* You gonna stick around?
Jack: *nod* Someone's gotta be here... *will move to apply the sedative to Denver. Nods once his scans show that the stress on her systems is lessened*
Raoul: Okay. *watches Denver, still frowning*
Denver: *blinking a bit, does look slightly more relaxed*
Raoul: *moves to put his head on her leg again*
Jack: *small nod, moves to sit at the desk and work on a report*
Raoul: They doin' anything to find the guy that hit Tracks?
Jack: *nods* Major McHale's team is looking into it now.
Raoul: *snort* The putzes.
Jack: Well, Blaster's also helping out with it... So I'm guessing it'll be about a day or so before they find the person...
Denver: *Quietly* Raoul, be nahce... Jerreh's squad's good 't trackin'.... Even 'f Jerreh's a dip.
Raoul: Have you seen 'em around the Dinobots?
Denver: ... *slight headshake*
Jack: *chuckles*
Raoul: They scream like little girls 'n run insteada just bouncin' the ball off Grimlock's head.
Denver: ... *soft snerk*
Lt. Wesson: *slips into the room and takes up the post by the door, his expression full of concern as he glances toward the occupied beds*
Raoul: For real! Even that Havoc guy knows better than that.
Denver: *Quiet chuckle* 'Avoc may know bettah 'bout th't... but 'e ain't too brahght wh'n 't comes t' women....
Raoul: Yeah, he's always chasin' all the other ones, 'n Lt. Darby's all inta him.
Denver: *Small nod* 'N 'e's convinced Darby's outta 'is league...
Raoul: *snort* Dork.
Denver: 'E's good 't 'is job.... *one shoulder shrug*
Raoul: *still a dork* *glances at her* You want anythin' from our room? *because he wants the nice soft blanket for Tracks, but he needs an excuse to go get it*
Denver: *blinks, thinking quickly* *nod* Mah yeahbooks... *yes, the ones that give her a sad look whenever she looks at the sophomore one*
Raoul: *sits up, thinking of that sad look* You sure?
Denver: *nods* Ah'm sure...
Raoul: Okay. *jumps off the bed and races out of the room*
Lt. Wesson: *glances at Tracks, half expecting the usual admonition for running*
Denver: *Soft sigh, reaches to gently touch Tracks' cheek, worry clear in her eyes*
Tracks: *sleeps on*
Raoul: *just PINpointed back, the soft blanket over his shoulders and a couple of yearbooks pressed between his chest and the vase holding the massive bundle of red roses he's holding*
Lt. Wesson: 0.o
Jack: *attention going to the sound of a PINpoint entrance, soft chuckle when he sees the roses*
Denver: *sitting up* Raoul, wh're'd th't come fr'm? *meaning the vase*
Raoul: *actually grinning as he brings the flowers over and sets them on the bed tray before quickly grabbing the yearbooks before they can fall* They were in our room. Lookit the card.
roses: *actually have a scent, and it's beautiful*
Denver: *reaching for the card, expression softening as she catches scent of the roses*
Raoul: *grin widening as he watches her open the little envelope and read the card*
card: 'For my dearest Denver. Happy Valentine's day! With love, Tracks'
Denver: *very slight wibble as she reaches to gently brush her fingers against Tracks' cheek and murmur a soft "Thank you"* *The only way the gift would be any better, in her mind, would be if Tracks were awake so she could thank him properly*
Raoul: *sets the books down beside her, and then lays the blanket over his mentor before settling into the rocking chair and pulling his knees up*
Denver: *moving to lay back down, holding the card close to her chest, yearbooks forgotten for now*
Lt. Wesson: *watching sadly*
Raoul: *quietly* Get some rest, Major Mac.
Denver: *slight nod, closes her eyes, still holding the card*
Raoul: *leans back and settles down to watch over his mentors*
((co-written with random_xtras))