Chapter 22 – A Moment of Clarity

I looked back as we exited the door to see Prime attacking his team with a renewed aggression and anger and this time he did not seem to be holding back. I tore my eyes away from the horrible sight and looked up at Rachet. ''Is… is… Prime ok Rachet? He seems - angry,'' I asked tentatively, not sure I wanted to know the answer.

Rachet spared a glance backwards. ''It would seem that way wouldn't it. Do not worry OC. He is likely angry at himself. It will pass soon enough. He just has to – vent.''

''I hope the others don't pay too badly, on my account,'' I hang my head down.

''Oh, they will be fine. They are all tougher than they look and Prime, he will likely allow them to hurt him rather than the other way around,'' Rachet's voice trailed off.

I whipped my head up, concern written all over my face, ''He'll what? Why?''

Rachet ex-vented himself, ''Who knows for sure what goes through his helm sometimes,'' Rachet's voice sounded slightly exasperated.

/I thought I did/, came the mocking statement. An uneasy feeling began to settle in the pit of my stomach.

''Maybe on some level he feels he is atoning for mistakes, maybe by allowing himself to be physically hurt he is allowing his emotional pain a release, like a catharsis,'' Rachet mused out loud as we closed the distance to the Med Bay, ''then again maybe he is just plain nuts,'' he risked a glance in my direction.

I looked at him askance for a moment before a small smile broke out on my face. That smile quickly turned into a huge grin and a small chuckle. ''You know what, maybe you are right Rachet – on all counts!'' Rachet allowed a small chuckle to escape his dermas then too. Even though I had started to feel a bit better, I still had an uneasy feeling. /Had I found Chase only to lose Optimus?/.

''Well, here we are my lady – the Med Bay awaits you,'' Rachet held the door open for me and gestured towards one of the large benches.

I physically shook my head to rid myself of such negative thoughts, ''Why thank you Dr Rachet,'' I said as I walked up to the bench and awaited my lift. ''Now, if there is anything you can do to make me look a bit younger and a bit more attractive while you are poking and prodding around, please do it.''

Rachet raised an optic ridge as he lifted me up onto the bench, ''And why on earth would you say something like that OC? Maybe you are the nutty one!''

''Possibly, but there is method to my madness,'' I paused a moment and exhaled my nerves, might as well tell Doc Rachet. ''You see, I have a date tonight with a younger gentleman,'' I felt myself blush slightly.

Rachet paused a moment in his ministrations. Comprehension dawning on his face plates he whispered to himself, ''Ahh…. So that would explain it.''

I tilted my head, ''Explain what Rachet?''

''Ah.. Umm….'' Rachet seemed to be searching for the correct response, ''why your pheromone level changed during debriefing when you were… daydreaming?''

I blushed anew. ''That is so cheating that you can do that and, might I add, somewhat invasive!''

Rachet chuckled, ''Sorry, part of the job.'' He finished checking me out. ''You're fine OC, not a thing wrong with you. Just go home and rest up for your big night.'' He lowered me down to the ground.

''Thanks, Rachet! Don't wait up for me tonight,'' I yelled as I headed out the door back towards my makeshift quarters with the Autobots. /Hmmm… now Chase has come along I wonder if it might be time for me to find my own space?/.

I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts I didn't see the look of concern on Rachet's face as I left.

Rachet's P.O.V

OC had shown remarkable strength and ability today. I had the feeling she was just scrapping the surface of what she was able to do. These humans were so frail and ''squishable'' yet they continued to surprise me in what they were able to do. OC's ability indicated they were, at least some of them, not so primitive after all but perhaps had the potential to be highly gifted.

After the fight OC had seemed wound up over having to face Optimus. /I don't blame her – he is a menacing sight to behold when he is in battle mode/. But there was more to it than that. She was on edge when she arrived, I could sense the pair of them had just had some sort of unsettling conversation before arriving. I had not taken too much notice of it as they had both managed to school their features and focus their attention on the task at hand.

I allowed a small snort to escape my nostrils. Now, it made sense. OC's overly emotional reaction to having to ''hurt'' Prime and engage him in battle, Prime's intensified emotions and reactions to OC believing, if only for a moment, that he would have hurt her, and then OC's concern about Prime's anger on her account.

I shook my helm. /Blind. I had been blind/. They were blind or at the very least in denial. I had watched Prime and OC grow closer over the years and I had been glad of the mutual support and friendship they offered the other – Primus knows they both needed it! No one could doubt that both OC and Optimus had a special connection, a deep and respectful friendship that transcended the fact they were of different species. It made no difference that she was a human and he was a sentient autonomous life form from Cybertron. Their sparks, their hearts - their souls – recognised the other and reached out to connect.

But now. Now things had changed.

My spark skipped a pulse when OC told me of her date tonight. She seemed so happy and excited and I was happy for her, I guess, but, after what happened today between Optimus and her, I just don't know what the ramifications will be.

I packed away my medical kit for examining humans and cleared the bench. I could hear the sound of the training hanger doors being thrown open and the sound of heavy footsteps approaching, limping. I closed my optics. /What state have you gotten yourself into this time my old friend?/. A rueful smile graced my dermas as I thought to myself, /the wounds I am about to treat are not the result of a Prime protecting a planet, or his people. It is the result of a Prime protecting his spark. Even if he doesn't know it/.

Prime was jealous. /I just wonder if HE is aware of it?/. The doors to my medical bay swung open roughly and the large, battered, bleeding and injured frame of Optimus Prime came limping into view. Though his frame looked tired and worn out from an intense training battle, his optics. They were still burning, seething away with barely restrained anger. /Is he even aware of what he is angry about?/ I thought silently to myself as I grabbed my medical bag and gestured for Optimus to take a medical berth.

''Rachet,'' his voice was hoarse with exertion and some emotion. ''I am afraid I need your assistance old friend.''

I simply chuckled derisively as I made the loaded comment, ''Of that, I am now painfully aware Optimus,'' and I made my way over to tend to my leader and my friend.

In all the millennia I had known Prime I knew enough about him to not bring up my observations at this point in time. Prime was many things but someone who bared his soul willingly, he was not. In time, he would ask for help in his own way and I would be there for him.

I just hoped he wouldn't choose to drown before asking for a lifeline.