Halloween Fic Challenge No. 6

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Prompt: Graveyard
Characters: Ratchet, First Aid, Wheeljack
Requested by: overnotout

This one's a bit more serious. Maudlin even.

The drive back to the Ark for Ratchet, First Aid and Wheeljack had been quiet. All three were tired and little was said and First Aid said nothing

What had begun as a three-hour leave from the Ark had tripled when they’d witnessed an accident on the Interstate. In fact, they’d been right behind it.

They’d immediately stopped to help and ended up being the very first responders, freeing trapped motorists, giving medical treatment. Finally transporting the more seriously injured to the hospital. There they’d waited to hear the conditions of their passengers and had given their eyewitness accounts for the police reports.

It had been bad news for First Aid. He’d worked hard to stabilize and transport a seriously injured man only to learn that he’d died during surgery.

They were still several miles from the Ark, traveling along the two lane road that lead home when First Aid suddenly stopped. He sat quietly for a moment at the side of the road and then transformed. He stood staring into the woods without moving. Ratchet and Wheeljack stopped, transformed and walked back to join the young medic.

“You okay, Aid?” Ratchet asked.

First Aid didn’t answer for a minute. He finally looked at the two mechs, his expression unreadable behind the mask and visor. His body language, though, made his emotions very obvious.

“Ya did your best, Aid,” Wheeljack said touching First Aid’s shoulder, though he knew it wasn’t much comfort.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough,” First Aid said quietly. Before Ratchet or Wheeljack could say more, First Aid stepped off the road and made his way carefully through the woods.

His two companions followed, puzzled. After a few minutes, First Aid stopped, looking around.

“I’ve noticed this place before,” he said. “But I’ve never thought much about it.” He squatted down and touched a very worn, slightly askew piece of white stone. “It’s very old, isn’t it? By human standards, I mean.”

Ratchet halted next to the kneeling medic and looked around. It was an old cemetery, probably abandoned a hundred years ago. Who’d used it was unknown. “Yes, it’s old and long forgotten.”

“Humans are too fragile,” First Aid said to the trees, the gravestone, to nobody in particular.

Both mechs nodded in agreement and squatted down next to their young companion and silently mourned with him.