Miko didn't know much about anatomy. She personally never cared for the subject or school much. Miko was only motivated when she wanted something. That's how she learned English so fast, she wanted to escape the norm. Jasper gave her more than she expected.

She had friends, real ones that knew the real her. She didn't have to conform, America gave her the freedom to reimagine herself. It was the biggest thing to happen to her.

Also the scariest.

Looking at the teen-only a year older than her lying in the oversized medal berth, she was hit with the truth.

She was meant to be the one to be hit. The one belonging on that examining table. The one to be suffering.

The reality was cruel. Miko was now destined to watch her friend, annoying older brother, grit his teeth. Jack's eyes were the last thing he saw before they were shooed out of the room.

Those eyes frightened her. The normal expressive blue was hazed over in pain. A dull comparison to his normal hue.

She curled up in Bulks servo, shaking with silent imperceptible sobs.

'I hope Ratchet knows more about anatomy than me,' was her paying thought.


Rachet thought that after the incident with Rafael he would never need to call this line again. They had been so careful, some might say even paranoid with protecting the children. None of them wanted to experience that helplessness once more.

Even with these precautions, Miko always managed to slip thru. She is more resistant than most Mechs he meets. That was highly dangerous. Unlike those Mechs, she was too fragile. She may like to boast about her toughness but she was only human.

Rachet was thankful she was the only child like that. Raf was aware of the danger, often terrified. He hadn't put himself in much danger for some time. Jack was cautious by nature. He was one of the few that Rachet believed understood all the risks. Jack had lived those risks. Almost lost his mother in the process. Jack may understand where he stood the best, but he was also the one best equipped with dealing with in-person depiction activity out of the children.

Raf was better behind a screen than in the field and Miko... She never thinks. She just acts and often drags others into her problems. Sometimes she does incredible things, but he feared. One day they won't be able to bring her back. She would be gone like so many other Rachet once knew.

Seeing one of the outcomes of her recklessness was miserable for the old medic. It wasn't fully the female's fault, they should have watched her better, they should have stopped the shot, they should have stopped Jack, they should have...done so much different. His spark clenched as Jacks' groans filled his receptors. The boy was positioned on the metal berth, Rachet panicking as he attempted to diagnose what's occurring.

"Hey, you reached June Darby. I am unable to come to the phone at the time, please leave a message after the beep."

Rachet hadn't even waited for the beep before calling Arcee, who was driving to June's work at the moment.

"Where are you?" The medic wasted no time with pleasantries. He had a patient, there was no time.

"Bee and I are pulling up now. I will ask them to bring June out soon, be back at 15 minutes max."

The click of the comms ending was Rachets reply. Spinning around he looked Jack over once more.

Rachet had prepared for this, he had researched humans and their similar biology. He could deal with burns, stitches, and broken bones but this was an unknown.

Jack soaked clothes were covered in a mixture of sweat and Energon. The Energon had eaten its way thru his shirt. The blue substance was splashed from his abdomen to his shoulder on his left side.

The boy was barely lucid, eyes watching the medic scan and linking up the heart monitor. Not hesitating, Rachet work on removing the remainder of his shirt.

The process was tedious with a patient so small. Once the shirt was discarded, Rachet was shocked.

The pale skin was covered in scars. They varied. Some were thin and faded, others blotchy, contrasting with his normal hue. Interestingly a few were in the process of healing, the pink puckered flesh the most noticeable.

Taking a deep inhaul, he vented and steeled himself. He went to work.

The Energon was similar to having a severe burn and the longer it stayed in contact with Jacks' skin the higher chance something worse would happen. He gently sprayed a mist of water to clean the burn, Energon diluting and slipping from Jacks's body, his eyes watching, mouth clenched with each sweep of the hose.

Scanning once more Rachet found no trace of Energon. This was a good start, but he wasn't sure if some got into the bloodstream. That could be fatal.

He continued disinfecting the wound. The bases medical kit for humans got an upgrade by June shortly after her first visit. Rachet was never more grateful than now.

He had done all he could. The cooling compress was over his banged wrapped area, bring down the fever he had been running for some time.

The beep of an incoming transmission brought his processor back.

"Rachet, I need a ground bridge.."

Arcee hadn't even finished when Rachet activated the portal. The familiar hum of Acree pulled up with Bee on her bumper.

June was off Acree before she even stopped and Rachet helped the women up. Rachet turned his helm when her muffled sobs echoed. They thankfully hadn't lasted long as her instincts took over. June examined her son with a clinical air about her, not leaving a thing out. Next was the bombard of questions.

Rachet purposefully shooed out the two on-looking bots as he went down the list, answering all questions as thoroughly as possible.

Once satisfied the nurse turned back into a mother once more. Her distraught ragged over her face, tears shimmering in the eye similar to her injured sons. She held his hand, watching him doze peacefully thanks to the pain killers she administered.

Her eyes meet Rachets. The gratitude floored him. They were the reason Jack was hurt, if he hadn't been there and if Miko hadn't followed the team this wouldn't be happening.

"What does his blood test say?" The women's voice was weak but still heal the steely undertone she used to question Rachet. Turning around he went over the results of the computer.

The relief filling him, not showing outwardly, there was no Energon in the blood. He cleaned it out in time.

"He will be fine, nothing abnormal." He replied, taking his time to clean up the scattered tools from the berth both humans rested upon.

"What happened to the gurney? I know you had one?" June asked, more curious than anything while stuffing a hospital pillow behind Jacks's head. She pulled out a blanket from her bag, draping it over his mummified frame.

"Bulkhead stepped on it when he and Miko decided to play a ridiculous game with it. It happens far too often around here." Rachet informed her, putting the last of the supplies carefully away. June must have noticed his trouble with the human-sized tools, deciding to help. Once they were finished June went back to her son, hands slowly stroking his damp hair.

"June, did you know that Jacks's body is covered in scars?" Rachet already knew the answer but it needs to be asked.

The women's hand never stopping her careful caress, nodded. "Shortly after I found out about you I realized where he was getting all his scars. They were never from bullies or tripping." He heard the shaky inhale. "I tried so hard to stop him, but he refused." Her chuckle was almost a chock to Rachets receptors. "You should have seen him. I had never seen him look so serious. I realized that he was growing up. Growing up into a strong young man willing to protect those he cared for." June paused, catching her breath. Hand stilling over her son's cheek. "He wants to protect you all: the Autobots, Miko, and Raf." Her next words left him feeling mixed emotions. "You have his loyalty for life, that's just the person he is."

Rachet knew that far too well, it was how those scars came to be, how a new one would join the young boy's collection today.


When Rachet came back and said they were allowed to see Jack, Raf was ecstatic. He was so worried, having Bee not there for half of it only increased his stress.

The kids had experience in getting hurt by the cons, they often got bruises and scraps. Nothing major, at least that what he and Miko assumed. That assumption was shattered upon seeing Jack.

He was covered in white bandages, laying on the oversized metal berth, making him seem insignificant. The pillow behind his head provided some comfort, a blanket scattered along his legs. Where there wasn't wrapped in white, everyone in the room had a view.

The scars covered his little exposed skin, all sizes and some still fresh. Those scars brought back memories. All the time Raf was saved by the older boy, pushed out of the way, or picked up as they ran. Jack never let on that he was hurt. Raf knew they were probably not serious, just scaring type of injuries. None were like today, they would have noticed sooner if that was so. That only provided a little relief to his nerves.

Raf had no scars, Miko had so little she often lamented over it. Jack's body most likely resembled soldiers. Now he would have a permanent burn, one that covered half his front left side. A reminder of the fear of death, just like the other scars. Raf felt himself shiver in fear, he was glad he had no scars.

"Hey.." Was Jacks' lame greeting. His voice was surprisingly strong and his complexion looked much better than before. June was smiling at the new entries, hovering close to Jack just in case.

The room was silent as bots and humans took in his parlor, scars, and bandages. Jack's eyes smiling at his friend's worried looks.

Raf noticed dark circles. The teen's body was still sweating his face was flushed. Jack wasn't okay but he didn't want the others to worry. He was being strong for them when he needed to rest.

"Dude, where have you been hiding all those battle scars? You have more than me?" Mikos's characteristic questioned eased all their nerves. Bee and Bulk lowered both him and Miko to the berth. They both took off to Jacks's side.

"I am blaming you for half of these, you are constantly running off that I always end up getting hurt." Jack attempted to joke. His joke fell flat to Raf and the bots. Miko was the only one to take offense, Raf was positive the retort was instinctual.

"Hey, I never ask you to follow me. Half those scars should be mine to show off..." Mikos's confident posture slowly shrank in on herself. The bang of knees hitting metal made Raf wince. The girl in question was kneeling next to Jack, head hung low, arms limply at her side.

"Half those scars should be mine...not yours." The voice coming from the girl was so quiet and shuttering that Raf barely heard it. He watched Jacks's face contorted into concern, hand reaching for Miko but second-guessing.

"They should be mine! Not yours!" Her yell startled them all. Raf saw a tear drip from her downturned face, splashing on the hard metal they stood on. Biting his lip to keep it from trembling, Raf concentrated on keeping the burning in his eyes back.

"This is so unfair, I never asked you to protect me. I should be the one in that bed, not you." Miko stated between sobs, whole body stuttering, heaving for breath. It was too much, Rafs tears flowed. The large cavernous room echoed with sobs.

The bots bowing their helms filling the room with silent promises, but Raf knew life happened whether they prepared or didn't.