This is the last chapter of Object of Affection.

I'd like to thank everybody for the kudos/likes/favs, comments/review and reading/views.

"Knockout! Stop it!" Ratchet yelled as Knockout pulled the energondrip out of his arm. "No!" Knockout yelled back. "If you don't get energon inside your frame fast, you'll offline!" Ratchet said frustrated. Why was Knockout being so stubborn? Didn't he realize how close he was to permanently offlining? Maybe he did…

Ratchet was not ready to lose Knockout. "Maybe I'm better off offline," Knockout muttered. He realized he said it out loud when he looked back at Ratchet who had gone quiet, shock clearly on his faceplates.

"You don't mean that," Ratchet said invariably. Knockout said nothing as tears welled up in his optics. "I am not. Going. To. Let. You. Go." Ratchet said through gritted dentae. He tried to stick the needle of the energondrip back into Knockout's energonlines, but the red mech struggled. "For Primus' sake, Knockout!" he yelled.

He was not ready to lose another mech, another friend. He had said it out loud and Knockout stopped struggling and looked at him with optics blown wide. Ratchet took good use of the mech's shock, slipped the energondrip in his arm and gave him a slight sedate. Knockout's expression turned to a look of betrayal. His optics were half closed as the sedate began to work.

"You really are my friend," Ratchet whispered and stroke Knockout's helm. Knockout mumbled something incoherent back. Now that Ratchet was confident Knockout wasn't able to pull the energondrip out, he went to remove some of the monitors.

Right that moment, the medbay doors opened with a bang and revealed a heavily cycling Soundwave. "Soundwave?!" Ratchet asked in shock, sparkmonitor in his servos," What…how?"

Soundwave's spark stopped. He couldn't be too late…no… He dropped to his knees. "No," he croaked with his real voice. Ratchet rushed towards the mech, scanner in his servo. He quickly scanned Soundwave, but he turned out to be fine. "Please," Soundwave said, begging as he grabbed Ratchet's servo," Please."

Ratchet was surprised by Soundwave using his real voice, he had never heard that before. Suddenly he realized what Soundwave meant. "He's going to be ok," he said and helped Soundwave up," he has a very, very low energon level. It'll take some time before he's fully recovered, but it will be alright."

He brought Soundwave closer to the berth. "Knockout, you've got a visitor," Ratchet said softly, shaking the red mech. Knockout looked up with blurry optics. As his vision cleared, his spark pulsed harshly.

"…Soundwave?"

Soundwave took hold of Knockout's outstretched servo. "I'm here," he said," and I'm never going to leave." The medic smiled as tears rolled down his cheekplates. "You're not a fidget of my imagination," Knockout whispered. Soundwave removed his mask, showing his own tears.

He promptly pulled Knockout in for a kiss. All the tears made it feel weird, but both mechs thought it was perfect.

"You need to rest, Knockout," Soundwave said," You've been through a lot." Knockout snorted, but closed his optics. He had an iron grip on Soundwave's servo and refused to let go. Soundwave smiled and laid on the berth next to his love. After a bit, he too fell into recharge.

"Do you think he knew?" Bumblebee asked. Him and the others had been back just in time to see it all happen. "Yeah, makes you wonder how long he's been around," Smokescreen said, making the laughter die down. "…Let's not think about that," Wheeljack stated. "Good idea," Arcee agreed.

"I'm just happy that they got back to each other," Bulkhead said," Knockout was so miserable…" The others nodded their helms. "Alright, let them recharge," Ratchet said, shooing them out of the medbay. "Aww, but they're so cute," Bumblebee joked. "you are cute," Smokescreen said and smooched him. Bee blushed and lightly shove Smokescreen.

The others didn't look at all surprised. They had all seen it coming. Smokescreen laughed and pulled Bee along. Arcee shook her helm as she followed the two. Wheeljack and Bulkhead waited for Ratchet to close the medbay doors and join them. "You did well, Doc," Wheeljack said and grinned. Ratchet offered him a small smile. "Let us get some energon," he said," It has been a long day."

Knockout slowly onlined his optics. "Sorry to wake you, but I need to, to check for processor damage," Ratchet whispered softly. Knockout nodded.

"What's your designation?"

"Knockout."

"Where are you right this moment?"

"Medbay, Autobot HQ.

"Last question," Ratchet said," who is currently lying beside you?" Knockout's expression turned from tired to confused. He turned his helm and almost got a sparkattack when he came faceplate to faceplate with Soundwave.

"Soundwave?"

Ratchet nodded, a smile on his face. "Oh, I had Laserbeak detach from him in order to check her vitals," Ratchet said. Knockout could see the bird-like creature recharging on a desk nearby the wall. "I'll make sure he won't freak out," Knockout said softly. Ratchet smiled and left again.

Knockout studied Soundwave's features close. Never before had he had the chance to see Soundwave's faceplates. He softly stroke Soundwave's cheekplates with the tips of his digits. He let them glide over every part of Soundwave's faceplates, memorizing it.

Slowly, those beautiful optics onlined, instantly focusing on Knockout. "Oh Primus…" Knockout whispered," you're so handsome…and you're not a dream…" Soundwave took hold of the servo that had been stroking his cheekplates and kissed it. "I will never be a dream," Soundwave whispered.

Knockout was still amazed by the sound of Soundwave's real voice. "You are to me," Knockout whispered back. Soundwave smiled and wrapped his arms around Knockout. He sighed, content to finally be able to hold the medic. "You have no idea how long I've longed to be able to touch you," he murmured against Knockout's audio.

"Or you, how long I've been dreaming of my knight in shiny palting," Knockout chuckled. "We both know you're the shiny one," Soundwave said laughing softly," Even Laserbeak knows." It was quiet for a moment, Soundwave realizing that a part of him was missing. Knockout could see the rising panic in his optics.

"Calm down, Ratchet detached her to make sure she's alright," Knockout explained," Primus knows what happens to those who've been stuck in the shadow zone for a long time." Soundwave calmed down as he sensed Laserbeak close by.

"I can tell you, it's a living nightmare," Soundwave said," No matter how long you're stuck there you're vitals stay the same, you need no energon or what so ever. Being so close, yet so far. Hearing and seeing everything, yet you do not exist. Nobody can hear you, see you. You can't touch anybody and phase through walls. It's very lonely."

He let out a sigh. Only know did he notice the trembling frame next to him. "I'm so sorry," Knockout choke out," it sounds horrible." Soundwave smiled and pulled the red mech close. "Shhh, it's alright. All is well now. I'm with you," he said. Knockout clung to his plating afraid to let go.

Soundwave lifted Knockout's helm and looked into his red optics. He pressed their lipplates together, slowly deepening the kiss. Knockout mewled in surprise, but closed his optics and kissed back. Soundwave didn't want to pull away, he wanted to stay like this forever, but did pull away eventually.

They looked in each other's optics when suddenly Laserbeak landed on top of Knockout. She chirred loudly and softly pecked at the cherry red mech. Knockout laughed and petted her. "It's good to see you too," he said as she nuzzled him.

Soundwave turned a bit so she could attach herself again. With a chirr she did just that. "She's very happy to see you're okay, she was worried," Soundwave said as he petted his chest. "You probably woke her with your excitement," Knockout smirked.

Soundwave smiled and laid back, pulling the medic close. He smooched the top of Knockout's helm. It didn't take them long to fall into recharge again, intertwined with each other.

Soundwave awoke suddenly. He looked around in confusion. What had awoken him? Then he heard a metallic clank and some angry hissing that could only come from the CMO of the Autobots.

"I told you to leave," Ratchet's voice sounded from outside the medbay. "I just wanted to see how they're doing," said a mech. "I'll tell you one last time, Smokescreen, they're still recharging," Ratchet said," Now leave." The rookie's pedesteps resonated through the halls as he quickly left.

Soundwave grinned. Now he had the time to watch his recharging beauty. He really wanted to stroke the white faceplates, but he was afraid to touch. Afraid that he was finally gone mad in the shadow zone and his mind was making an alternate reality up. His fear subsided as he very softly touched Knockout's cheekplates. He decided that if this really was an alternate reality, he was completely fine with it.

He trembled slightly as he stroke the cherry red mech's cheekplates. With his other arm he pulled the medic as close as he could. He could still hardly believe it. Knockout loved him. Knockout loved him and was so lost without him, he'd unconsciously was offlining himself, but he saved him. From now on, he'd always be there to guide the way. Knockout would never be lost again.

"Soundwave," Knockout's voice sounded, muffled by Soundwave's chest," you're smothering me." Soundwave loosened his grip so Knockout was able to look up at him, he had unconsciously squeezed Knockout tightly against him. "Sorry," he muttered. Knockout smiled at him and leaned up to kiss him. Soundwave eagerly returned the kiss.

But before he could deepen it, Ratchet entered the medbay. "Calm down or you'll tire the patient," Ratchet said smugly. Soundwave pulled back, blushing. "Aww, you're so cute when you blush!" Knockout exclaimed and laughed.

Soundwave covered his faceplates with his servos. "And you know no shame," Ratchet said. Knockout shrugged. He took hold of Soundwave's servos and pulled them away from his faceplates. He softly kissed Soundwave. Snuggling up to each other, they fell into recharge.

When Knockout emerged from the medbay, the other Autobots were all present and clapping for him, making him slightly embarrassed. It had been Bumblebee's idea to throw a little party, well…it was only a bit of music and some energon, but none the less.

Bee and Smokescreen were the first on the dancefloor. The wreckers and Ratchet were content with simply drinking their cube of energon. "You know I have to kick your skidplates the next time you do something stupid like this," Arcee said. She sat at a table with Soundwave and Knockout. Soundwave held Knockout's servo, not feeling comfortable with the threatening of his mech.

"You know you won't have to, it will not happen again," Knockout said, snorting," Come, Soundwave, dance with me." No sooner had he said that or he was dragging Soundwave to the dancefloor. "You know she isn't really threatening me," Knockout said softly so only Soundwave could hear. Soundwave hmpf-ed. "Besides, you don't react like this when Ratchet's threatening me," Knockout said. "That's because that's his way of showing affection," Soundwave said," but no other gets to threaten what's mine. And you're mine."

Knockout chuckled. A slow song come up and they started to shuffle softly with each other. When Soundwave looked at Knockout, those beautiful faceplates, he suddenly felt the urge to kiss him. So he did. He dipped Knockout low and pressed his lipplates firmly against Knockout's. Soundwave was not ashamed. He wanted to show everybody that Knockout was his. So he deepened the kiss and dragged a moan from his love, smiling happily.

Life couldn't be better, even thought life at first was at its most difficult.