"I remember years ago,
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love,
I did."

»«

Three months prior

"Ratchet?" Dana asked as she sat in his driver's seat, gazing out at the sunset from their perch. "I've been reading about sparks, and how they tie in to bonding and reproduction, but I don't quite understand how it all works. Because a spark is just like a human heart, isn't it?"

"Yes, and no." Her guardian replied. "A spark does pump energon through our systems, but it can also break apart. And when two Cybertronians give one another a piece, it creates a bond that brings them together on an almost spiritual level." He looked down at her. "And yes, the combination of two sparks can also create a sparkling, or a baby."

She paused for a moment, in deep thought. After a while, she gave him a tad of a shy smile, very much unlike her usual self. "Can I see yours?"

The medic was surprised. "My spark?"

"Yes." She nodded. "If that's okay with you, of course."

Ratchet was more confused than offended or reluctant. "Why would you want to see it?"

"Because things like that interest me." She smiled, standing. "I mean, you probably don't care to see anything on my flesh body, but Cybertronian anatomy is absolutely fascinating to me."

He paused for a long moment, thinking, then finally deciding. "Sure. It won't hurt anything." The medic had her get out before he transformed, taking a sitting position before offering his servo to her, allowing her to climb on and bringing her close, his chest plates shifting aside to reveal the bright blue light, which matched his optics, within.

"Wow . . ." Dana murmured, her breath taken away. The center of Ratchet's spark was intact, and in no specific shape, thrumming with energy as shards orbited around the centerpiece slowly, almost lazily. It stayed within the boundaries of the "casing," as it was called, but as Dana leaned closer to get a better look, some of the shards drifted towards her, stopped by the casing.

Her guardian looked almost amused by the rapt attention she was giving him, feeling his spark thrum in response to sensing someone he cared about. The medic wasn't disillusioned, he knew that the relationship between them was purely platonic. Dana saw no intimacy on the act, to her, it was just for pure fascination. And Ratchet was rather flattered that she was so interested. None of the other humans seemed that interested.

"What does that mean?" Dana pointed to the shards which were constantly beating against his spark casing - the act was gentle, so it didn't hurt, but he could still feel it.

"Because sparks are used to create such special bonds," he explained, "they are somewhat hardwired to react in such a way to anyone considered special by the 'bot. Familiar, or friendly."

Her eyes sparkled up at him. "Awe, I'm special to you, Ratch? That's so sweet!"

"Well, of course." He spoke, a little flustered. "You're my charge after all. I'm supposed to care about you."

She smiled, gently placing her hand on his spark casing, one of his shards sticking to the side in an effort to get to her; it was rather amusing, because though it was but a sliver, it was almost as tall as she was. "I care about you too, Ratchet." Her eyes looked up at him, her smile soft and genuine. "You're a great medic and friend. Y'know, I'm glad I got to meet you guys. That I got to meet you, and be your 'charge.'"

Surprise flickered across his faceplates, and then he smiled too. "Thank you, Dana. I suppose I feel the same way about you . . . Despite all the trouble you like to cause."

"Hey!" She whined, grinning up at him. "I'm not that bad!"

The medic gave her an oh really? look, which only made her grin wider. Her hand slipped away from his spark casing as she crossed her arms, but the shard within persisted, continuing to press against the wall that divided them.

"Admit it, you think. I'm great." Dana's wicked smile stayed on her face.

Ratchet raised an optic ridge at her, earning the medic an eye-roll in return. Her eyes focused back on his spark, her smile faltering a bit as she became more curious about the biomechanism once more. She carefully stepped on his open chest plate this time, allowing him to rest his servo as she balanced herself next to the casing.

"Can you control who you give your spark to?" She asked.

Ratchet nodded. "Yes. Usually the feeling between two Cybertronians is strong enough that they know they were meant to be together. Some bonds can be forced, but unless both parties consent, it is the most vile act anyone could commit, be they Decepticon, or Autobot. It is something we consider sacred, and which is unbreakable, for the most part. Exceptions are few and far between."

Dana chewed her lip a little, understanding the exact human equivalent. "I see." She tilted her head. "Can Cybertronian's make spark bonds with other species?"

"There have been rumors." Ratchet shrugged. "But one would think that if one species doesn't have a spark, then a bond can't happen."

"Though sparks can't seem to differentiate between species." She noted, tapping on the casing, where the shard still would not give up. Ratchet had noticed, but chose to ignore it. Mostly because all sparks reacted that way, regardless of who it was. Dana was nothing more than his charge, his friend. A similar tug had happened multiple times before. This would not be the first time, nor the last.

"Like I said," he replied, "they react towards anyone the 'bot feels friendly towards. Or protective, or caring."

"So as a medic, you must get this a lot, huh?"

"Yes." He confirmed. "It can be hard, sometimes, but over the years I've learned to ignore it. Or at least not pay as much attention to it."

Dana stared at the sliver for a long time, listening to her guardian talk. She was actually quite surprised at the reaction she had on his spark; while she knew that both she and Ratchet had a strong relationship, a friendly one of course, she almost didn't think he cared as much as he let on. But this confirmed it.

Because there was no perceived danger, Ratchet didn't mind keep his spark out and open for Dana to look at, enjoying the sunset as it slowly became darker and darker outside. It was one of the few things he could enjoy on Earth without reminiscing about home. Cybertron's star was too far away for such a magnificent display of color.

"Ready to head back?" His charge finally asked quietly.

He looked down at her. Her hand was still pressed against his casing, not even an inch away from the shard which thrummed against her. Oddly enough, she looked reluctant to part from the shard. A brief thought flashed across the medic's processor. Doing it would be a complete breach in their perceived friendship, diving into something that, if anyone else found out, could either destroy them or strengthen them. And the unknown effects . . . He couldn't think of a much worse scenario than accidentally bonding to a human.

But again, the stories were rumors, nothing more. And they were out here alone, not to mention Dana would not perceive this as anything more than a closer look at the object of her fascination. The spark itself was not made of energon, so it wouldn't kill her. He hoped.

"Dana . . ." He began. No going back now. "How would you feel about touching the shard?"

She looked at him in surprise. "Ratchet, isn't that, you know, dangerous? For both of us?"

"For me? No. And considering it isn't made out of energon, you could be fine." It seemed she was more aware of what it meant for a Cybertronian to offer up a share that he realized. "And when you're done, you can always put it back. Not like we can accidentally bond, or break it." I hope.

There was a long pause, and the medic thought about kicking himself. Why did he even think to ask such a question? Now she would think-

"Sure." Her answer actually surprised him. "If you're comfortable with it, of course. It's your spark, Ratchet."

He nodded, having her jump on his servo, his other free one very carefully touching the casing, giving permission for only a slight opening, and then carefully pulled the spark shard out and away from him, a thin strand connecting it to him.

Very, very carefully, the medic offered her a piece of his being.

Dana took it with more gentleness than he thought possible, even for a small human. Despite the shard being almost her size, she cradled it, feeling it thrum against her skin, smiling as the shard finally settled at her touch.

"Wow." She whispered again, absolutely enthralled. "So this . . . Is you, isn't it? You as a Cybertronian."

"Yes." He confirmed, watching as she handled the shard carefully, touching each crevice and observing every nook and cranny. "That shard has the potential to share all of my memories and experiences with another Cybertronian of my choosing."

His charge twisted and gazed at the piece of spark in her hands, unable to completely grasp the sudden depth of what she was doing, finding it almost beyond her comprehension. The energy tendrils twirled around her arms, but easily broke when she moved them or ran her finger across them. If she had a spark, then Ratchet would have no doubt created a bond by doing this; but because she was human they had nothing to worry about.

He hoped.

"Thank you." She murmured.

His optics blinked in surprise. "For what?"

"I know this must mean a lot to you, though as a human, I really can't comprehend it." She smiled at him, the blue of his spark dancing off of her green irises. "And I don't want you to think that this has to change anything. We're still the best of friends, and I am your charge, you are my guardian. But I am thankful you trust me enough to give you this opportunity, to see something no other human has probably ever seen."

Her guardian looked at her curiously, then smiled. "You're welcome."

She gazed at the shard a little longer before finally surrendering it back to him, feeling a little colder as the warm shield of the spark was taken away, the human shivering a little bit.

After he placed his spark shard back in his casing, Ratchet set her down and transformed back into his alternate mode, opening the door for her and buckling her up as she sat down, his vents blowing in warm air.

"Let's get you back to base." He turned around and began his journey back. "Your parents will probably begin worrying about where you are."

Dana smiled, patting his dash. "They know I'm at my science fiction club." Her gaze was more gentle now, the mood from before leaving a sense of calm and newfound respect between the both of them. "And that I'm safe. They shouldn't worry."

"Safe is a bit of a relative term." Came the reply.

She snorted. "Well, I feel pretty safe with you. And you clearly feel safe with me." Smiling, she leaned her head against his window and looked up at the emerging stars. "And that's what being a guardian and charge is all about, right? Being safe with each other."

"I suppose that is true." He agreed, getting onto the asphalt road that led back to base. For the next three months, they would go on to believe that their actions did not have consequences.

Until June Darby would walk out of the military hospital with news of Dana's condition and a question in mind.

What did you and Dana do three months ago?