Optimus slid to a stop at the hospital. June was already out there with a team of her colleagues. Optimus open his door. At this moment he wasn't concerned with keeping their secret. June raced forward. She opened the door and grabbed Jack. Seemingly unphased by his appearance and laid him on the gurney. She turned back to Optimus looking in his cab.

She looked back to the team who was running off with jack on the gurney. June spoke harshly. Optimus couldn't tell if it was fear or anger. Possibly both.

"You better hope he lives Prime."

She turned and ran after Jack. Optimus sagged on his tired. Ratchet waited for the humans to leave before rolling over to him.

"June told them you were a friend of hers that Jack managed to call before he was "taken", she convinced them that you had found him. And that you were a human."

"I suppose that is why she herself retrieved Jack from my cab."

Optimus's voice was heavy, low. It dripped with regret.

"Optimus. This isn't your fault. June is upset, scared. She needs something… someone to blame."

Optimus sighed. "No Ratchet. She is right."

Optimus felt Jacks blood drying. It was making him want to cringed. It was sticky and it unnerved him.

"Optimus Airachnid did this."

Optimus didn't respond he just sat in silence. Ratchet pulled forward. Backing in beside him. "You can't blame yourself no matter how much Arcee and June do."

Optimus didn't respond they were right to blame him. He activated his com link. "Bulkhead come in."

"Yeah Boss?"

"Is Arcee still…"

"Online yeah, anger and not reasonable right now. She is…"

Optimus listen he could hear Arcee screaming, yelling, and cursing, cursing him.

"Upset."

"I can hear. We are at the hospital. Should you three wish to join us. Jackson is inside."

"I will let her know, though right now I don't think she… I mean she is kind of…. I just think…"

"She is angry with me and me being present she will not come."

Bulkhead sighed, "In a manner of speaking sir."

Optimus held back his sigh. "Tell Arcee to come join Ratchet. I am back at base."

Optimus rumbled as his engine came to life. "optimus?"

Ratchet spoke quietly. He knew the Prime wouldn't answer as he slowly left the area. Optimus hadn't felt this low in years. Jack flashed in his mind. He was horrified. He called Raph for a bridge.

….

June sat in the waiting room, for the first time in over 40 hours she felt tired. She hadn't slept in 40 hours and all the stress and anxiety was now hitting her. She lowered her head into her hands and let the tears fall freely.

She should have put a stop to Jack hanging around with the autobots when she had the chance now… now she may never get to hug him again. To tell him she loved him. Children weren't supposed to die before their parents! She sobbed loudly. Here in the waiting room it wasn't judge.

She felt a hand touch her shoulder. "Raph?"

She sobbed. Raph smiled sadly. "Me and Miko came. Optimus sent us." June looked up at Miko. She grabbed the two of them into a hug. She needed them, she needed to hug them.

…..

Optimus stood alone in the base. As he should be right now. He looked up at the ceiling.

"How could you let this happen!?"

Right now, he didn't care about being a Prime. The Matrix seemed meaningless. He shook his fists. "Hes a human! A human! He didn't have anything to do with this war! It's not his fault!"

Optimus was unaware of someone entering. Arcee stood in the tunnel watching in the shadows. She had meant to come here to rip Optimus a new one. But now she just stood watching. Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee were at the hospital where she should be. Airachnid had gotten away, again. Bumblebee had distracted Arcee and it had allowed Airachnid to take flight. But not before spewing everything about Jack. Arcee could still hear her words. "You would be proud, he never begged for mercy. Although I did make him scream so small victories."

Arcee shook her head to clear the voice. Optimus was heaving now. Pacing back and forth. She had never seen the Prime so emotional so…angry he was normal so cool headed. He had an almost mystical way of remaining calm no matter what but now… now he was like any normal mech.

"Why did you grant me this? If it was truly what you said, then I would have been able to stop this! It would have given me the foresight to cut the humans out of our lives from the beginning!"

Optimus had opened his chest plates, furiously yanking the Matrix from his chest and throwing it across the room. Arcee jumped in startlement as the Matrix hit the wall. It fell to the floor. It light glowing. Optimus closed his chest plates.

"A Prime would have never allowed an innocent human to be harmed! Jackson is dying because of me! Take it back! I don't deserve it! Nor do I want it!"

The Matrix hummed lifting itself off the ground. Arcee watched it. Optimus must have heard a voice amidst the humming for he stared at it. His eyes narrowed.

"No. I never asked for it!"

He yelled at the Matrix. Arcee reeled back as the Matrix lit up the room. Optimus threw his hands over his face to block the overwhelming light.

Arcee blinked once it dissipated. Had the Matrix left? Optimus looked around the room. His chest plates glowed. He growled. His teeth showing as he tried to pull his chest plates apart.

"No!"

He hollered. Falling to his knees. He fell forward. Bowing to the floor. His shoulders heaving. Arcee felt awkward standing there. Her rage against him had gone. Seeing him this distressed, screaming at Primus made her realize the burden he was carrying. She took a breathe before quietly stepping out. It unnerved her to see Optimus like this. Broken. He had never showed this to anyone…maybe Ratchet and Elita but no one else.

Arcee quietly walked over to him. He was bowed on the floor. His arms folded so his forehead rested on them. She knelt beside him.

"Optimus?"

She spoke softly. Optimus jerked himself up to sit on his knees. His eyes wide.

"Arcee?"

He quickly wiped his face and stood up. Using the railings to steady his shaking knees. Arcee looked at him. Her voice warm, caring.

"I… I saw the whole thing."

She looked up at him. Optimus turned to her. His eyes were watered, his optics dim. He looked down at his chest plates.

"The Matrix?"

He questioned. Had she really seen him freak out? He felt a mix of embarrassment and failure. He was a Prime Afterall. He wasn't supposed to have a break down. It wasn't his first, but the only ones who had ever seen them were Ratchet and Elita. They had helped him before.

"Yea. I was coming to berate you but stopped when I saw that happen. It opened my eyes to the burden you carry. Optimus. I am sorry for blaming you. It wasn't your fault. Its Airachnids, whom of which I intend to kill. But seeing that made me realize that just because you are a Prime doesn't mean you're perfect."

Optimus sighed, closing his eyes. " I am sorry you saw that Arcee. I am not usually so... irrationally emotional."

Arcee grabbed his hand. "I saw him too. Jack. I lost it. I saw red. You have every right to have an emotional breakdown every now and again. You are a Prime after all. I can't imagine the stress."

Optimus smiled slightly.

"And don't worry I won't tell anyone. Though I think the Matrix is happy living in here."

She pointed at his chest, pushing through a tortured smile. Optimus nodded. He was tired. He had been angry at the Matrix before, he had been thrown a time or two, but it always came home.

"Thank you Arcee."

Arcee felt the tears welling. "I am so scared."

She admitted. Optimus looked at her. Arcee was a highly trained warrior. He was known to be not emotional, but he couldn't remember the last time he had seen Arcee cry. He reached down and wrapped her into a hug. The two stood embracing each other out of fear and sorrow. Arcee let the tears fall down her face. She had never been so scared in her life; Jack was like a little brother. She couldn't loose him. She just couldn't.