Author A/N:

Okay, this is my response to the rather heartbreaking reality that is the Dark of the Moon. Not that i was a bad movie, but it had a few holes I was upset with. The death and forgetting of a certain black mech for starters -.-

Anyways, this is a bunny that just would not leave me alone. So, after watching the movie a couple times, I gave in and this is the result.

I would like to mention that I have only ever seen the 1986, 2007, 2009, and 2011 movies so I apologise now if anything ever seems really off.

I would also like to mention that; My spelling? Not good. My grammar? Not good. I know this, and right now my computer is slagged and I have lost Microsoft Word, and with it the spell check, so If you find any mistakes I ask you to let me know, and I'll get to fixing them asap.

I would like to send a very special thank you to Eowyn77 aka Botosphere for her permission to use their Autobot Holoform names in this fic. And for the ideas she so lovingly offered to make this story all the better :) I highly recommend checking her stories out if you haven't already done so.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no ownership over the Transformer franchise, this is meant to be strictly for entertainment purposes.

With that, let's get this show on the road!

It was ... peaceful. And warm, and overall comfortable. He was laying on something soft, a plush mass supporting his head, and a cool sheet seperated him from the scratchy wool of the heavier blanket over him. As more of his senses started to boot up he was aware of the familiar hums, beeps and smells that accompanied the med bay. Ironhide sighed softly, curling up slightly under the blankets and willed himself back to sleep. If he was in the medbay then Ratchet was probably hovering somewhere nearby, and he didn't really feel like arguing with him yet. He was just about to drift off again when deep voices penetrated through his comfortable haze.

"-at even possible?"

"Normally I would say no, but it's kinda hard to ignore the evidence that's right in front of us."

"This creates a interesting situation to deal wi - ow! Slag it Ratchet that hurt!"

"Well sit still then! Primus Optimus you're as bad as he is sometimes. It's not my fault you got your arm severed at the shoulder ... you're slagging lucky I was even able to reattach this."

A heavy, pained sigh. "When do you think he'll wake?"

Another sigh, this one more tired. "By my scans, he should be awake at any time now. Neural processor activity and spark stability are both at a good level. Diagnostics aren't detecting any problem areas in his repair or motor functions ... other than the obvious, he's in as good of health as he's ever been."

With a small frown, Ironhide tried to boot his systems up past 'too slagging early to be functioning', as Bumblebee had dubbed it a couple years eariler. He could already tell something was wrong. His sensors were more active than normal, taking in details he normally wouldn't think twice of. He was more aware of things around him, from the twitch of his own fingers to the light that was leaking over his shoulders.

He felt, alien. Something was very wrong, but he couldn't place it. He slowly booted up his optics, taking in the scene in front of him with a growing sense of dread. Optimus Prime was siting on a berth in front of him with Ratchet sitting beside him working on his shoulder. His arm was attached, but still needing obvious work. But that wasn't what had his attention.

He slowly drifted his eyes down to look at his hand, his humanoid, skin covered hand. His tanks clenched as his vents suddenly flaired to life in attempt to cool his panicing frame. With another cruel twist, warnings started flashing through his system, and pain caught him in a tight grip. He couldn't stop the tight groan that slipped through his vocalizers.

"'Hide?" Ratchet was suddenly there, metal fingers hovering over his body and, good Primus, had his hand always been that large? "Ironhide," Ratchet said, a bit more firmly, "are you awake?"

"What ... the ... FRAG?" A heavy sigh, "I died, didn't I?" Ironhide managed to grind out as he rolled slowly onto his back and opened his optics again. Optimus had stood and moved beside Ratchet and they were both looking down at him with worry showing clearly in their optics. At his staement, Optimus chuckled softly and Ratchet rolled his eyes.

"You gave us quiet a scare there, old friend." Optimus spoke softly as Ratchet dropped out of view with a flurry of movement. A few seconds later and Ron Hatchett, Ratchet's holoform identity, was beside him. With a well practiced hand the blankets were pulled down to his hips. Ratchet tapped his chest gently, and Ironhides' eyes widened as the material of his shirt and skin underneath opened and shifted away like his normal armor would. His innards were still his recognizable metal frame, as though someone had shrunk him to human size and used his holoform as a cover.

"So ... what happen-ugh." Ironhide cut off with a low moan as Ratchet injected something into an exposed fuel line and the sharp pain faded into a dull ache. He ignored the knowing smirk on the medic's face as metal shifted back into place and skin smoothed over again.

"Better?" There was a familiar, almost smug tone to Ratchet's voice that Ironhide chose to ignore. Instead, he struggled to a sitting position, almost falling back if not for Ratchet's supporting arm around his shoulders. He waited until he felt more balanced before gently swatting him away.

He took a few minutes to take in his surroundings. Just as he originally suspected, he was in the medbay, the human sized cot he was on was placed on Ratchet's work table, close enough for Ratchet to hover, yet still out of the way if a berth was needed. Optimus had taken a seat on Ratchet's chair while the medics' holoform fussed.

"What do you remember?" Ratchet asked while running a series of scans. Ironhide frowned as he tried to access his memory files. He came up with the feeling of satisfaction he always got after he slagged a few cons, pride towards his students' abilities, and the sense of excitment he got when a battle was approaching. Then ... pain, sharp and sudden through his chassis, from Sentinel, Sentinel shot him.

"That fragging, slagged son of a glitch," he growled as pulsing pain worked over his side, "I'm gunna shove my cannons for far up his aft-"

"No, you won't," Optimus cut him off, completely unfazed by the heated glare aimed his way, "Sentinel has been taken care of, both him and Megatron." Ironhide blinked, put slightly at ease with the knowledge the threat was no more.

"How long have I been out?"

"It's been three and a half human months since you were shot," Ratchet supplied, "and before you ask why you're like that ... I don't really know."

"And here I though you were supposed to be the all-knowing medic." Ironhide smirked as Ratchet smacked him lightly over the head.

"Far as we can tell," Optimus spoke up to prevent a brawl, "your spark chamber cut off and detached as your frame was broken down. From there your fall back systems took over and compensated for your situation."

"I know what happened, you got any files on medical procedures for frame break down from before the war?" Ironhide asked as Ratchet's holo flicked out of existence and the familiar sound of shifting metal filled the room.

"Refering to somehing specific?" The medic asked, slightly distracted as he normally was when going through this medical files.

"Just something that was installed before the war, a form of Pretender programming that used to be used in the higher ranks in the Cybertronian military."

"Ah, I got it, it was used before my time as a medic. It's a last resort system that used to be used before the war. Essentially, it is a program that breaks down the frame to when total damage exceds 89%. It uses what it can to reformat you into a Pretender frame. But as time progressed, it became a necessity that took valuable time to work with. It took this long for all your systems to adapt and settle in, and we were luck I even had a back up of your files, or you would basically be a completely new mech. It's another precaution used in case the officer was captured, they have no information at all. Over time it became something that just couldn't be afforded on the front line as the war took over. Why you have it ... well doesn't really surprise me but was unexpected." Ratchet explained.

"It would also explain why the rust overtook you so fast." Optimus commented, "Your programs were focused on reformatting you, not fighting the disease."

"Rust, it would be slagging rust," Ironhide muttered to himself, "so ... am I stuck like this?" he asked, flexing his fingers.

"No, it will take time, we need to get you a new frame for starters, and I need to do some more reading up on this, but in theory we can get you back to normal. Until then, you've been adjusted from Topkick to Pretender."

"Goodie." Ironhide's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he hauled himself to his feet.

"You're taking this awfully well." Optimus noted as he moved his hands to support him if he needed.

"I probably hasn't sunk into his thick processor yet." Ratchet voiced, Ironhide threw a rude gesture at him, earning an amused chuckle from his Prime.

"It's good to have you back Ironhide, things have been way too quiet around here without you."

"Quiet? Not a word I would ever use to describe our group. How's everyone holding up?" Ironhide asked, hesitating for a second before before stepping onto the offered hand of his Prime.

"Good for the most part, most of the damage has been fixed, now we are helping the humans repair as much damage as possible. They have suffered greatly in our battle." Optimus sighed heavily, and Ironhide knew he was blaming himself for every bit of it.

Before the mood could get any darker there was a loud squeal of tires on concrete pierced through the silence. Ironhide shot Ratchet a questioning look, but the medic just shrugged.

"Bee wanted me to tell him when you were up and functional enough for visitors. Scans read all clear, so as long as you take it easy and come to me if anything feels wrong you're free to go." He reached over and plucked Ironhide from Optimus' hand when all he got was a dismissive grunt. Holding him at optic level by the back of his black shirt he glared at his long-time friend. "I mean it, Ironhide, the second something feels wrong I want your aft in this medbay or I'm locking you in a jam jar like a bug."

"That glare didn't scare me before, what makes you think it will work when I'm a fraction of your size?" He smirked crossing his arms in defiance as the sound of shifting metal drifted through the door. "And I know I've shrunk, but I'm not small enough to fit in a jar."

"Is that a challenge?" Ratchet huffed, but the smile on his face gave away his true feelings. His optics softened slightly as Bumblebee came through the door with a excited trill when he spotted Ironhide.

"I promise, Ratch," he said as Bee held out a hand for him, giving Ratchet the same unhappy click he gave anyone if one of their human charges were man handled. Optimus chuckled again as Bee grabbed him into an improvised hug, cuddling him close to his cheek plate and making happy clicks and chirps.

"Gah, Bee!"

"You can take him and let everyone know he's alive and kicking." Ratchet laughed. Bee didn't need to be told twice as Bee turned and strode quickly from the room. Optimus smiled and moved to follow, but a bright hand on his shoulder stopped him dead.

"And where do you think you're going, I'm no done working on your shoulder yet."

Lieutenant Colonel Will Lennox sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose in attempt to fend off a headache. It had been a long couple of months of meetings, rebuilding, and the heart-stopping fear that his robot guardian was dead. Sure Ironhide was tucked safely away under Ratchet's care, but Will was still afraid it was all just a dream and the gruff mech he'd become so close to was really gone.

He was the one who found Hide was still alive. He'd been sitting outside at the time, having finally managed to grab a few minutes to himself after things had settled. He'd gone out to try to give his family's beloved guardian a final goodbye when something caught his eye amongst the pile of rusted metal. Not really wanting to get too close, he'd hopped up on a nearby dumpster to try to get a better view, and nearly forgot to breathe at what he saw.

The face he'd come to know as Aaron Hyde was laying curled up in the exposed chest cavity where the mech spark would normally be. Afraid to hope, but controlled by some unknown force, he'd charged forward and crawled over the rusted skeleton. The body was solid and very real beneath his shaking hands, and he could feel the familiar pulsing of the weapons specialist's spark against his palm. It was a matter of minutes before Ratchet had come to his calls and swept the unresponsive form into the medbay.

Things had been mercifully busy for him after that, leaving him with barely enough time to breathe as clean up efforts took over Chicago. He'd made an effort to get in to see Ironhide as much as he could after Ratchet had confirmed that he was indeed alive. But the wait for him to regain consciousness was taking its toll.

"-nnox. Lennox, earth to Lennox. Hello?" a familiar voice cut through his thoughts causing Will to blink and look to his left. Robert Epps had come up beside him with two steaming cups of coffee, and silently offered him one. Will sighed tiredly and took it with a soft thanks before glancing around.

It was still early, the sun just peaking over the distant horizon, and there wasn't a lot of life signs in the half repaired N.E.S.T. headquarters. Most the autobots were clustered off to one side. Optimus was with Ratchet in the medbay, and Bumblebee had taken off somewhere not long ago. Sam and Carly were in a modified barracks with most of the other soldiers, content to stay among friends rather than go back to their apartment.

"How you holding up, man?" He sighed again, wincing slightly as a sip of coffee rewarded him with a burned tongue.

"'ve been better." He mumbled taking another sip. They could hear the steps of heavy, metal feet coming their way, and turned to greet the yellow mech. The greeting died in Wills throat as a very familiar gruff voice reached their ears.

"-or Primus sake Bee, put me down! My legs work just fine and I am more than capable to moving under my own power! And another thing-"

"IRONHIDE?"

As the yellow mech came into view, Will caught sight of his humanized guardian standing on Bumblebee's palm, eyeing the ground below has though he was tempted to jump. The scout's other hand was ready to catch him if he did, but at the sound of Will's voice he stopped his rant and looked over.

"Ah, finally backup has arrived!" Ironhide exclaimed as Bee came closer, causing Will and Epps both to laugh. "Little help here?"

"Alright Bee, hand him over!" Will laughed, then arched an eyebrow as Bumblebee made a sound that sounded suspiciously like blowing a rasberry. Ironhide rolled his eyes as Epps laughed even harder and kicked Bumblebees' finger.

"Put. Me. Down." He growled without any real heat behind it. With an exaggerated sigh, the scout gently lowered his hand so Ironhide could hop onto the platform. As soon as his feet touched down he was grabbed into a tight bear hug.

"Gah, not you too." He sighed dramatically, but returned the embrace.

"You fragging glitch," Will hissed pulling back and punching his shoulder, "you get to deal with Sarah this time, she's about ready to kick your aft." He laughed at the look on Ironhide's face.

"Glad to have you back, man," Epps said with a large smile as he grasped Ironhide's hand, "and nice makeover."

"Yeah well don't get to used to it," Ironhide huffed, slightly embaressed with all the attention he was getting, "Ratchet says I'll be back to normal once I get a new frame."

"So you're still technically all robo?" Will asked, noticing some of the bots in the corner starting to stir.

"Yep, just human sized, if you want the whole story talk to Rach-HEY!" He was cut of as a large silver hand suddenly grabbed him around the waist and hoisted him up.

"You know this is getting old." He grumped as Sideswipe pulled him up to optic level. He could feel the sensation of a numerous scans move over him as Mirage, Jolt and the Wreckers moved over.

"Yes, I'm still online. Yes, I'm fully functioning. No, I don't really know what happened. Now, put me down before I kick your afts!" He accompanied his statment by swinging his leg and kicking Sideswipe's wrist. The motion earned him an eyeroll and an amused snort, but the meelee warrior complied and put him down anyways.

"Yeah, he's fine," the silver bot muttered, "not that you could kick our afts like that anyway," he joked. This earned him a growl from his former mentor as the humanized bot raised an arm. Sideswipe yelped in the most amusing mannor as Ironhide's arm shifted in a similar way to Bumblebee's arm cannon to produce a familiar looking weapon and shot in his direction.

Actually, most of the occupants of the room jumped. Even Ironhide looked at his arm-turned-cannon with interest and surprise.

"Okay, now this I can work with." Ironhide smirked as Will face palmed.

"Yeah, he's just fine."

A/N: yey, chapter 1 done! I'm not sure how long this is going to end up, so if anyone has any ideas they would like to see I encourage you to send them :)