Hours drifted into days, and days drifted into weeks. Jack was slowly stabilizing but he had a long road ahead of him.
At the base, everyone was silent. Arcee and Optimus avoided each other since that day. Ratchet noticed but didn't bother to say anything. Bulkhead and Bumblebee stuck close to Miko and Raph. The tension was thick, a knife could have sliced through it.
At the hospital, June never left Jacks side. She had been at the hospital for a solid three weeks. Agent William Fowler had tried to get her to leave but nothing he said convinced her. June had blocked the Autobots out completely. Not answering their calls to her. The only way they got information was from the updates Agent Fowler gave them.
Jack would survive but he would never be the same. His body had gone through a traumatic experience. The biggest fear the doctors were facing was some form of brain damage.
At the base, Ratchet was twiddling with his tools. His fingers tapped his equipment in thought. The recent weeks had been hard for him to focus, for anyone to focus. Motivation was at a low, as was the Decepticon activity unfortunately. At least had they been active it would have given them something to focus on other then Jack but as it was no one could think of anything else.
He had observed that Arcee and Optimus had an awkward air between them. Arcee no longer seemed angry with the Prime, but she did seem to be avoiding him. Optimus wasn't helping the situation either. He was avoiding Arcee. Ratchet looked between the two of them. What had happened that caused this? Was it Jack? Arcee and Optimus were the only two who had seen Jack in his dismembered state. Perhaps that was the reason?
"Ratchet?"
Ratchet shook his head; he hadn't realized he was lost in thought and staring. Raph was looking up at him.
"You okay?"
Ratchet sighed. He really wasn't sure anyone was okay right now.
"I am not certain any of us are okay right now to be honest Raph."
Raph sighed sadly. "Yeah I guess that's true."
He glanced over at Optimus and Arcee. "Especially those two. Its freaking me out."
Ratchet looked up. He was concerned as well.
"We have had tension before. It will cease. It just takes time."
Ratchet tried to smile reassuringly. He liked Raph, he truly did. The one human out of the three he could converse with about science and Raph understood.
"I guess. I tried to call June, but she wouldn't answer my call. And she's blocked me and Miko from seeing Jack."
"I think not seeing him is a good thing right now. From what Optimus and Arcee described. June is hurting right now. She also needs time."
Raph huffed slightly. "Seems like time is the answer right now."
Ratchet nodded. "It would seem so."
He looked back up at Optimus who this time caught the glance. He shot his eyes back to Arcee then back to the computer. Ratchet shook his head. He hoped this would dissipate by itself but right now it didn't appear that was the case.
…
At the hospital, June sat next to Jack. The heart monitor beeped slowly; the ventilator whooshed. Jack was on partial life support, it disturbed her to see him like this. She was exhausted and hurt. She looked at her phone, it blinked with missed calls. From Optimus down to Raph. She felt bad ignoring them but then again this was their fault.
She sighed, the cup of coffee in her hands had gone cold. She looked up at Jack. His face was pale. A large scar ran across his face. It was healing nicely. His other acid burns had left scars. The main concern was that the trauma his body had taken from the burns, and the severing of his limb would cause some mental, if not brain injury.
She walked over to the window. None of the Autobots where present. They had made it a point to sit outside of Jacks window when they could. She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"June?"
June turned; Agent Fowler was in the door way. They had become quite close over the past few weeks.
"Bill."
She sighed. Looking at Jack. Fowler closed the room door.
"How are you today?"
June laughed mockingly. "Fine Bill. Same as every other day."
"Sorry I know I ask every day. I am just not sure what else to say. The Autobots were asking about you."
June sighed. "Oh Bill. I… I just… I want to hate them, but I can't a part of me knows this wasn't their fault directly, but another part of me feels that if they had never met…"
She plopped down into a chair. Fowler nodded.
"I feel responsible. Had I not let that two-ton Bulkhead intimidate me. I would have taken the children out of there when I first saw them at that base."
June smiled sadly. "I think we are all to blame. As the weeks ago I get a clearer and clearer mind. Even though I am exhausted. If anything, I am worried for Jack. What is this going to do to him?"
Agent Fowler walked over to her. "Pardon me if I am overstepping June but I feel we have become close enough for me to say this. I think you need to go home for a day or two, get some rest. Maybe even see the Autobots. I can stay here with Jack."
June looked up at him. She blinked. Hesitating her answer, she knew he was right.
"What do I say to them?"
"You'll find the words. You always do."
…..
Optimus was out of sorts. Since Arcee had seen his emotional temper tantrum. There was no other way to say it. He was embarrassed, and ashamed at himself. She couldn't bring himself to look at her. Despite the fact he was Prime. He often shot glances her way. He could feel she was in an awkward situation too.
The Matrix had gone quiet since his outburst. And why wouldn't it? After all he had thrown it across the room and cursed it. He looked down at his chest. The Matrix in all essence was alive. He had, had arguments with it before and whenever he had the Matrix would go quiet for awhile almost as if it was teaching him something in serenity but was, he learning?
The monitors beeped with a proximity alert. He tapped the keys to switch the screens. June? His spark fell to the floor. He was in no mood for an argument, let alone to be berated. He was at a low point at it was.
"June is approaching."
He spoke. He tried to portray his normal tone. He looked behind him. Everyone was shocked as the white car pulled into the base and a tired, wavering June stepped out. She didn't look up as she climbed the steps to the human area. She walked straight over to Optimus. Everyone was silent.
Optimus braced himself. He wasn't sure his spark could take much more, but he had to take it. If anything, being a leader meant he had to be a punching bag at times.
"Optimus Prime."
June looked up at him. She had clearly been crying on her way here.
"June Darby."
He nodded his head. His voice trying to convey his empathy and regret. June smiled slightly shocking Optimus. She took in a deep breath.
"I am sorry." Optimus's wide went slightly wider. He was stunned. She turned to the others.
"I am so so sorry for everything."
She started crying again, she tried to contain her sobs.
"I was so scared for Jack. I still am. But I was hurting so badly. I couldn't save him, I couldn't protect him, so I lashed out. I lashed out at you."
She turned back to Optimus.
"I blamed you. And I am sorry."
She clasped her hands to her chest. The tears rolling down her face.
"I hurt so I wanted to make someone else hurt, and for some reason I targeted you. I can't apologize enough to you."
She fell to her knees. Optimus felt his spark breaking. A surge ran through him. The Matrix was waking back up. He reached down, scooping June up into his hands.
"June. I am sorry. I am sorry we could not stop Airachnid in time. I feel personally responsible and do not blame you for blaming me."
June looked up at him. "It was wrong of me to do so. Jack wouldn't have wanted me to do that. He wouldn't blame any of you."
June stood up reaching forward and hugging the Prime the best she could. Optimus smiled. He felt a warmth run through him. It was almost overwhelming like some of the tension in the base had finally been released. He felt a renewed strength. He had to speak with Arcee now.
June pulled back. She sighed heavily wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Jack is stable. The doctors are hoping he wakes up soon. He will have a long road to recovery, and I know that I can count on all of you."
She looked around the room. Everyone smiled with a nod. Arcee stepped forward.
"We will be there for him. I will be there."
She took to her bike form. "Need a ride?"
June smiled. "Yes please. Take me home. I need to sleep in my own bed after three weeks of hospital beds. Bill … Fowler will let me know if there is any change in Jack."
Optimus lowered June to the floor. "Arcee when you return, I need to speak with you."
Arcees tire twitch. " I was going to say the same thing."