Ratchet's POV

I activate my holoform while I wait for Matias to come out of his house. He has been confident that Tracy has kept his nephews safe wherever the ground bridge sent them. I still feel guilty for not being able to stop the boys before they were able to get to the controls. I move my right hand to the glove compartment so I can take the scanner out. I turn it on and set it to go off when it detects a signal from either Tracy's, Bobby's or Ashley's energems or another ground bridge opening. Then place it on the dashboard, and see Matias walking out of the front door.

He gets in and buckles up. I pick up the scanner and give it to him.

"It hard to believe its only been two days since the boys snuck into the ground bridge," I say, "I'm still shocked you weren't too concerned about Lach and Jordan's well being,"

"I am concerned about that Ratchet, but my heart is telling me that they were safe," Matias says, "I'm positive that they ended up wherever the portal sent Patricia and Bobby,"

"I'm not sure if this is the best time to ask this, but how did your wife die?" I ask quickly changing the subject as I back out of the driveway.

Matias's POV

I let out a long sigh and look down at the scanner.

"I should be mad by how quickly you change the conversation," I say, "But, I'm not sure where to start."

I slowly look up and turn my head towards the window to see us pass a house where a family is playing in the front yard.

"I'll start with the happy part from the day our family wishes that we could go back and forget that a part of it, especially Patricia,"

"When did it happen?" Ratchet asks.

"It was the night Patricia and her friends graduated from high school."

"I thought all school-age humans happily anticipate that day, why would Tracy want to forget about the ceremony?" Ratchet asks.

"That isn't the part Patricia wants to forget," I answer, "After the ceremony ended we were in the cafeteria taking a few more pictures of Patricia and her friends."

"I'm sorry to keep interrupting but when does the bad thing happen?" Ratchet says.

"I'm just getting to it," I reply, "After we take five pictures Patricia changed into her riding clothes. Then her father began to get upset since he believed it wasn't a good idea for her to ride with my wife on her motorcycle."

I chuckle as I start to remember my wife's argument. "Mary told Tracy's father that Patricia would be perfectly safe since she won't be driving," I smile before continuing, "Then Patricia asked if we could go for ice cream to celebrate. The boys were on board with their sister's idea since they were cheering and jumping up and down. Tracy's father said yes, and we walk out to the parking lot. As we are waiting to turn out onto the street, my wife and Patricia are in front of me."

I look down at my hands and notice they are shaking then a lump starts to form in my throat since this story is about to get to the sad part. I take a deep breath and swallow the lump in my throat.

"After my wife checked to see it was safe to make the turn," My voice begins to crack as I begin to get emotional, "She starts to pull out when I hear the roar of an engine and the next thing I see is a car driving the wrong way right towards them."

I know I was crying since I feel the tears landing on my hands, I do my best to keep going. Then I tell Ratchet about hearing the tires squeal as the driver tries to stop the car. But it was like putting salt in an open wound. The car smashes into the motorcycle. Patricia and my wife fly up into the air. My wife lands in front of the guardrail and slams her head against it. Somehow Patricia goes over it and lands in the field.

"By the Allspark." Ratchet gasps.

Anger starts to fill my veins, "The worst part it the driver of the car, never full stop the vehicle he/she just drove away," I through my tears.

"That human was worse than a decpticon," Ratchet says.

"I agree with you there partner," I say, "Then I get out of my car. Then Tracy's parents and I ran out to check on them. My heart broke when Tracy's father and I checked on Patricia. Before I lifted the visor on her helmet, Tracy father held her head since we were worried about a possible neck injury. The only thing Patricia said before she lost consciousness was to tell her that she was sorry,"

"I'm sorry for asking to tell me this," Ratchet says.

"It's alright Ratchet," I say using the sleeve of my shirt to dry my tears.

"So, did you wife die at the scene?" Ratchet asks.

"Yes,"

"So, I take it Tracy is suffering from survivor's guilt?" Ratchet says.

"Yes, and she also has PTSD. I noticed when Patricia was displaying the symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder, but her doctors just ignored me." I say, "If they listened to me she could have gotten help before it progressed to PTSD,"

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Ratchet asks.

"I'd like to take Patricia to see a therapist, but I have a feeling she is going to be stubborn and refuse to go," I sigh.

Normal POV

A few seconds later the scanner goes off. Ratchet pulls off to the side of the road. Matias hands it to Ratchet. He looks at it and did something most members of Team Prime hasn't seen him do - smile.

"Optimus, I've picked up a signal of a ground bridge portal opening and the scanner also is reading a trace of Tracy's and her friends' energems," Ratchet says.