Unexpected Check In (Ratchet, Open)

[Ironhide]

((Autobot Base, Med Bay - NEST Base Washington DC: August 13th, 2027: 7:36 AM))

Ironhide vented a heavy sigh as he turned from Red Alert's office to head down the corridor towards the med bay. He wasn't sure how he would explain his visit to Ratchet, though he had ideas. He wasn't about to go into what had happened in Red Alert's office, though he could just let Ratchet know his tanks seemed to be getting increasingly more easily agitated lately. He nodded to himself as he headed down the hall towards the med bay, and his old friend Ratchet.

His thoughts drifted as he walked, remembering how they met, how close they had become, even becoming lovers before reunification, then drifted apart after all of Cybertron was finally at peace, tried again after the war started, only to later decide they made better friends than lovers while on the ship. They had remained close though, and losing Jazz twenty years ago had been hard on them all. Ratchet had tried so hard to save the cheerful silver mech, and Ironhide had tried to help. But there was nothing they could do, even as Ratchet yelled at Jazz to stay with them, nearly screaming the dying mech's name. But the distraught medic refused to stop trying and Ironhide very nearly punched Ratchet trying to get him to let Jazz go once his Spark had given out. Despite the teasing and threats, Ratchet had been close to Jazz, though not as close as Red Alert was. Ironhide was close to Jazz too, and his Spark still ached when he thought of Jazz, remembering his silliness and jokes that made the others smile and laugh, even in the worst moments of the war. That was simply how Jazz was, how he had always been.

Ironhide walked up to themed bay doors, paused a moment, vented a heavy sigh, then walked in, looking around for Ratchet. Once he saw his old friend, he gave the medic a crooked smile and waved a bit. "Hey Ratch, hows it goin'?" he said in his typical deep gruff gravelly voice as he walked up and sat down on one of the medical berths.

[Ratchet]

As the morning was still new for the medic as he tried too get most logs completed, as he started too think a bit on how far he had come though the years, helping and attending too other mechs. Ratchet was not too busy when he hard a mechs voice he thought he would never hear.. “Ironhide,” he said turning his upper torso too face the mech.. Looking at him “I am just fine Ironhide, what can I do for you old pal?" he said remembering how they once were but kept it casual as he walked over too Ironhide, giving him a caring gaze.

[Ironhide]

Ironhide vented a sigh and shook his head. "My tanks've been gettin' way too sensitive over the last, oh I dunno, couple dozen Ano-Cycles I guess. Coughed up a bit o' somethin' this mornin' n found metal filin's n rust in it. Ya know me, I got cold cast tanks, nothin' gets ta me, but slag it all, I just had ta choke on my own Energon this mornin'..." he grumped, clearly not liking the idea of being there, but from his explanation he really didn't seem to have much choice in the matter. He looked at Ratchet with a bit of a crest-fallen expression then. "Just, dun tell the others I went n got sick, okay?" he asked quietly, not really wanting anyone to overhear him. The only one who knew about it had been Red Alert, and that was only because it happened in Red Alert's office. He really did not need or want the others losing confidence in him because he wasn't completely the tough and indestructible burly grump of a mech they all believed him to be.

[Ratchet]

"Hmmm... Well, I can take a look. And do not worry, I will not tell anyone you were here." Ratchet replied, picking up his scanner that he kept not far out of reach. “Let take a look, shall we?” He lifted his left arm to check the left side first, looking at the monitor. “Well, you do have pits of rust and metal savings in your tanks, but it will not be hard to clean out. Now, lets check the other one here.” He moved around Ironhide, trying to be gentle, knowing how some areas could be quite sensitive.

“Well, Ironhide, it seems you are indeed need of a thorough cleaning. I can do this, if you would like me to.” He explained, wanting Ironhide's approval first before he continued. He turned, picking up a data pad to show him what was wrong. He explained he would have to take them out one at a time, and flush them out; thoroughly cleaning them and mounting them back on before doing the same with the other one.

[Ironhide]

Ironhide groaned heavily and vented a heavy sigh. "I was afraid o' that..." he grumbled irritably. "Aight fine, just be quick about it. I dun like my parts taken outa me as it is, but... rust's just..." he shuddered in revulsion and a bit of fear. Ironhide had always been a bit paranoid about, and a little fearful of, rust. It was not unlike cancer in humans, and just as crippling. The very idea of rust slowly eating away at his insides made the burly mech shudder and he turned away a bit trying not to go into a dry purge fit. Those were often excruciating and left a mech's tanks collapsed for a while, forcing them to require manual re-expansion back to their proper shape again. He finally laid face down on the berth and reluctantly opened the rear left section of his torso plating, allowing Ratchet to be able to carefully remove the left tank from below and slightly behind his left side cooling system bellows. His venting was heavy and a bit faster than normal, but he was in no danger, merely a sign of his nervousness. He hated being so vulnerable, and he hated being taken apart for repairs. Once Ratchet had the left tank in hand, he'd discover the flexible container was virtually empty and slightly collapsed already, as if the bit Ironhide said he had coughed up had in reality been a full and likely violent purging.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet watched as Ironhide laid on the medical berth, seeing him shift his back plates to allow access to the tanks. “Okay, Ironhide, let’s get this tank free.” He stated, assuring Ironhide that he was okay, and in good hands. Ratchet gently placed his hands on the outer part of the left tank lifting it free, after he had temporarily disconnected his energon lines, just in case. He saw that one of the bands on the left tank was locked up on the band above it, indicating a tank purge. The tank on the right had three of its bands locked up in such a way. "Ironhide, you said that you coughed up the rust and metal filings, but your tanks show signs of purging.”Ratchet stated sternly to Ironhide, walking with the tank in his hands over to the cleansing tube. Before he began cleaning it, he manipulated the band so that it was no longer hooked on the one above.

Once Ratchet had put the tank in the tube, he opened the top end and started to clean and scrape it clean. Getting all the rust and metal shavings out, Ratchet then coated the tank with an anti-rust solution that would protect his tanks from future problems, for a while. Ratchet then put the tank in a dryer, allowing it to completely dry before he went over to Ironhide to replace the left tank and retrieve the other tank so he could repeat the process with the right tank. “Care to explain how that happened?”

Once Ironhide’s two tanks were now clean and in the drying presses he brought over a device for flushing Energon lines, “Alright now, Ironhide, I’m going to flush out some of energon that is in your lines to make sure that no shavings or rust particles are in them so they don’t cause any damage to your systems.” He explained as he gently hooked up the pump to his Energon to begin to flush the lines clean.

[Ironhide]

Ironhide let out a snort in response to Ratchet's observation of his tanks but said nothing, merely turning his head away from Ratchet. When Ratchet replaced his left tank and pulled the right one for treatment, he let out a soft grunt. When Ratchet then asked if he would like to explain the signs of purging, Ironhide snorted again and turned his head the other direction. "Not particularly..." he muttered irritably.

Then came the part he really hated, a full systems flush to clear out debris and rust. Oh how Ironhide hated that, and to indicate such, he groaned and tucked his head down, pressing his forehead against the berth as he closed his optics. A systems flush was always exceedingly uncomfortable, and the last time Ratchet had to flush out his fluid lines, Ironhide's entire fluid system nearly seized up on him, making it hurt a lot more. This time it was his Energon system that had to be flushed out, a first for Ironhide, and the burly mech dreaded the procedure. His cooling systems vented hard, then went into an elevated cycling rhythm as he gripped the edges of the berth he was laying on, fighting the urge to fight his way out of the procedure and escape the med bay. As it was, his extremities were already trembling slightly along with the more rapid venting, indicating he was stressed.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet could see Ironhide was uncomfortable about this, but he knew it had to be done. “Not much longer, Ironhide. We’re nearly finished.” Watching the old energon empting in to the septet container as the flush was in motion, he saw a few pieces of rust and metal shavings flow in with the Energon “Primus, ‘Hide. It’s a good thing you came.” He commented, knowing that worse damage could have occurred.

After a few minutes, he saw the energon flowing into the container begin to run clearer, indicating the flush was complete. “Alright. Let’s get your tanks back in.” He shut off the machine, and, with at gentle tug on the flush lines, disconnected it form Ironhide’s energon lines. He then moved the machine back so he could walk around the table so he could replace Ironhide’s tanks. “That’s about it, but don’t think you’re getting off easy in regards to the purging. What happened?” He growled as cleaned the inner workings where some energon had seeped out of the lines when he removed the hoses.

He worked quietly as he waited for Ironhide’s response, fully intending to not let Ironhide leave, if need be. He wanted to make sure there wasn’t an underlying medical problem to it.

[Ironhide]

Ironhide snorted and shook his head. "Ain't nothin' ta say. If yer done, I got rounds ta do." he retorted irritably and pushed himself up to a sitting position again once Ratchet had finished reconnecting everything. He was clearly adamant he was not about to discuss the situation. "I coughed up a bit o' slag, so what? Slaggin' filin's n rust upset my tanks. Ya fixed it n I'm done." he added with a sharp vent from his cooling systems and started to get up off the berth, closing his back armor plates now that Ratchet had finished with what he was doing. "Thanks fer the fix, but I'm fine." he said in his usual grumpy air, though he felt distinctly empty and was thinking of getting some Energon on his way out for his daily rounds of the base. He tried not to think about the reason he had ended up purging so violently, he didn't want to think about it, fearing he would end up suffering a dry purging as a result.

[Ratchet]

Listening to Ironhide, Ratchet knew he could not keep Ironhide there, but he also knew that he had to find out what had happened, and why. He put his hand on Ironhide’s shoulder keeping him from getting up. “Ironhide, I’ve know you to slagging long to just let this go. Tell me what caused this. Now.” He told the black mech as he pressed down on his shoulder to keep him there. “You know you can tell me, and don’t make me strap you down to this table until I get it out of you.” He said with a stern, but caring, voice .

[Ironhide]

Ironhide snorted and pushed Ratchet's hand away then. "I said I'm fine Ratchet." he growled, but when he looked at his old friend, memories of their long history flickered through his thoughts. They had been close friends who became lovers long ago, drifting apart after reunification only to be thrust back together when the war started. They had tried to renew their relationship then, but their Sparks had rejected a bonding. As the big black armored mech looked at Ratchet, he could see the old medic still cared deeply for him, maybe even still loved Ironhide, and Ironhide could not deny he still cared for Ratchet too, though his Spark called out for another. He vented heavily and lowered his head then, feeling a bit defeated. He had already blown up at Red Alert when the poor security bot didn't really deserve it, saying some things he honestly regretted. He didn't want a repeat with Ratchet now. "It's just what it is, Ratchet. Rust n filings upset my tanks, that's all. Ain't nothin' ta say but that." he finally said, shaking his head. Red Alert knew about Ironhide and Barricade, and as much as he trusted and still cared for Ratchet, he could not bring himself to tell the medic, both out of fear for Barricade's safety and not wanting to upset Ratchet knowing he loved another.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet looked at Ironhide, feeling him push his hand away. He could see that he was hiding something but he didn’t know what it was, “Ironhide, I know things between us have been tense, and we decided to go our own ways, but if there is something you need to tell me, or want to talk about, I am here for you, as I always will be.” He stated, lowering his voice a bit. He then walked in front of the black mech, refusing to move. “Ironhide, you know I will do as I said, until I get the truth out of you” His tone was serious. He wasn’t trying to be funny, he was just trying to show Ironhide he was there as a friend. Ratchet knew something was up with Ironhide, for him to be so mildly-tempered. “It doesn’t have to be the whole thing.”he said calmly.

[Ironhide]

Ironhide just shook his head. "I told ya, ain't nothin' ta say 'bout it. I got sick, that's all. Ya fixed it n I'm better now. I got things I gotta do, rounds ta make. Just let me go do my job, Ratchet. I'm fine." Oh he was stubborn as the Pit, but then that stubbornness was what got Ironhide through the worst parts of the war, and how he fought his way to become a tribal leader before reunification. As far as Ironhide was concerned, what was done is over with and he had duties to attend to, and Ratchet was starting to get on his nerves, as the humans say. "Look, dun make me knock ya inta stasis, slaggit. Ya know I hate havin' ta do that but I will if ya keep pushin' n dun let me go do my job." he warned gruffly, balling up his fists for emphasis. He was quickly losing his patience with his old friend, and no matter how hard Ratchet pushed, Ironhide outright refused to speak of Barricade and why he suffered a hard purge earlier. As far as the Weapons Specialist was concerned, that was no one's business but his own, and no one was going to convince him otherwise.

[Ratchet]

Ratchet looked at him, making it clear that he was not just going to back down. “Ironhide, you know I am not just going to let you walk out and be upset like this. Slag it 'Hide, talk to me.!” he said to him, not moving. No matter what happened, Ratchet was not going to let his friends just leave this stressed, especially one he cared for - even if they were just friends now.

[Deleted]

Sideswipe sighed as he rubbed his head, his processor aching from his hang over of once more consuming more high grade then he should have been. In fact he was more or less abusing it to no end the last couple months and was hiding it the best he could, so far he was proving to be successful. Though as he was passing the med bay he heard the end of what Ratchet and Ironhide, some of his oldest friends, were saying and it seemed it was getting quite tense which was odd. Those two were always friends but nothing like this had ever nearly resulted in a fight.

Looking in Sideswipe was shocked to see Ironhide was literally ready to brawl with the medic and though Sideswipe knew his place he wasn’t going to let them beat each other to slag. Narrowing his optics he sped in and got between them, pushing his hands against their chests and keeping them apart,”Knock it off!”He snapped, a tone he normally never used with the older bots but he was irritated and slightly still getting over his hang over plus he didn’t want to see these two throwing away their friendship over primus only knew what. “Come on, Ratch,’Hide you two have been friends for centuries and your about ready to go into a full out brawl. Whatever it is drop it and calm down.” He said looking between them.

Both these bots were stronger than him, both in strength and bulk, but a few more dents didn’t seem really much to the silver blades master right now. He just wanted to end this fight then get some pain killer’s for his processor ache and the pain showed a bit on his face but not as much as the agitation of seeing this. “Now you two can run me ragged on the training course, beat me upside the head with a wrench for this, I don’t give a flying frag but I ain’t moving till you two back off.”He growled.