Jack glared at June when she told him of her plan. She made sure to make Jack think it was her idea despite the, you-don't-have-to-do-that, looks from Ratchet.
"I get it. I'm to much of a burden now that I am disabled."
Jack spat at her. June shook her head in exasperation. "Jack please try to understand."
"Oh, I understand mom. You want me out from underfoot. So, you're dumping me off here."
June closed her eyes. There was no reasoning with him right now. Optimus felt the need to step in. June would spend all day trying to convince Jack this was the right thing to do.
"June. You best be getting home and resting if you must work tomorrow."
June looked up at Optimus, a grateful look on her face.
"Probably a good idea." She leaned over and kissed Jack on the cheek. "I love you honey. I'll come back soon."
Jack just scoffed as June left in her car. He stared straight ahead. So now he was a burden to his mother, enough for her to leave him with robots. Aliens no less. He shook his head. He just needed a few minutes alone. Then she would never have to worry about him again.
Optimus looked to Miko and Raph. He then shifted his gaze to Bumblebee and Bulkhead. He tilted his head for them to follow him.
"Bumblebee. Bulkhead. I believe that for the time being it would be best if Miko and Raph were kept at a distance from Jackson."
Both glanced between each other as Optimus continued.
"Jackson is not in his right frame of mind. I do not wish for his… demeanor to affect Miko and Raph."
Bulkhead twisted his face. "You want us to take them home?"
Optimus nodded. "And remain with them for the time being, until I summon you back here."
Bulkhead nodded. "Okay boss."
Bumblebee chirped sadly. The two walked back into the main area and called their charges to them. Raph and Miko were confused but complied as they drove away and out of the base with their partners.
Jack didn't bother to pay attention. Arcee was standing in a corner. Leaning hard against the wall. She furrowed her eyebrows at what was going on. Optimus nodded toward Jack. He walked up to stand behind the couch. He knew Jack would ignore him, so he gently grabbed the couch and turned it around.
Jack protested "Hey I was watching that." He wasn't really but if everyone was gonna make life hard on him then he was going to do the same in turn.
"Jackson. You have made your choice. Your mother has chosen to allow us to see to your recovery. More specifically Ratchet."
Jack glanced over at the medic who lifted his head and walked over at the mention of his name. Ratchet approached him. He looked up at Optimus who nodded, seemingly handing off the conversation to him. Ratchet lifted his hand. Jack spotted a piece of paper, it looked tiny in his palm.
"What's that?"
Ratchet lifted it up and dropped it into Jacks lap. Jack's heart stopped.
"Where did you get this?"
"From your mother. Another reason you are here with us."
Jack growled. "You know nothing about how I feel right now!
Ratchet stepped forward. "I don't care."
Arcee straighten up. She looked at Optimus as if to say, stop him. Optimus shook his head. He backed toward Arcee slowly.
"Allow Ratchet to work. He has dealt with this before."
He whispered to her. Arcee grimaced. Ratchet didn't exactly have the best bedside manner.
Jack shot Ratchet a look. "Of course, you don't. You realize I could have had you all killed. The cons could know the location of your base right now!"
Ratchet was cold, his stare was hard. "You want a medal or what?"
Jack was flabbergasted. Ratchet was treating what Jack had gone through like it was nothing.
"You need to stop pitying yourself, get off your ass, and live life again. You've been changed. Yes, you've been through something traumatic that I wouldn't wish on anyone. But that doesn't make you special. So, you lost an arm. Millions of beings have lost arms and lived normal lives. Pain. Everyone experiences pain Jack. Are you man enough to handle it or are you going to fold and kill yourself over it? Think about someone else besides yourself. Think about your mother. What would your death do to her? When you went missing, when we found you broken, your mother was a wreck. Do you honestly think life would be easier for her if you were dead?"
Ratchet pointed to the paper. Jack looked down at it. "I am obviously a burden, or she wouldn't have left me here."
"She left you here because she is scared you are going to hurt yourself or worse Jack. She has to work for the two of you to live. She was afraid to hire someone you didn't know; someone she didn't trust."
Jack scoffed. "So, she chose you?"
Ratchet nodded. "Yes. I've dealt with issues like this before. And your mother has given her blessing for me to use my methods. I will not be easy on you."
Jack just rolled his eyes. What did Ratchet know of what he was feeling. How could any of them know what he had gone through? He didn't see any of them missing limbs. Or have scars…okay they had scars but not facial ones. Besides he was missing an arm there were certain things he couldn't do.
Optimus cringed slightly. Ratchet was using a voice he had only heard a few times. A harsh, firm and heartless one. It was stern and a matter-of-fact toned. Arcee was shifting her weight. Optimus could tell she was struggling to not intervene.
Ratchet turned toward Optimus and Arcee. "Arcee. If I am unable to keep an eye on him. You are to accompany him at all time. Not at anytime are you to be alone Jack."
Jack snarled at him; a smug look came over his face. "You can't follow me into the bathroom. Its too small for you."
Ratchet crossed his arms. "until further notice the human bathrooms are locked and secured. You'll have to use ours."
Jack was breathing heavily now. He was getting angrier. What right did Ratchet have?
"You have no right to intrude on my privacy!"
Jack stood up, shouting at him. Ratchet didn't move. He didn't bat an eye or hesitate when he leaned in and spoke low and deadpanned. "You gave up that right when you threaten to kill yourself."
He straightened back up and walked over to his area. Jack shook his head. His eyes darting up to Arcee.
"You're gonna stand there and let him treat me like that?"
Arcee looked over to Ratchet. Who nodded to her in reassurance. She sighed sadly. "I'm sorry Jack but I believe it's for the best right now."
Jack shot his looked over to Optimus. "I hate you Prime. If it wasn't for you and all your stupid damn morals about not killing defenseless life forms, StarScream would be dead by now. And probably Airachnid! You should have staid in space or better yet died eons ago! I don't care about your stupid war. Give it up already! You lost!"
Jack yelled. His eyes were flaring, his cheeks flushed with anger. He grabbed the sofa with his hand and struggled to pulled it back around, but managed. He threw himself down on the couch and turned up the tv.
Optimus felt his spark shatter. Part of him knew this wasn't Jack, it was the hurt and broken Jack but still it hurt. His eyes blinked quickly. His chest heaved slightly. It felt like Megatron had just rammed his sword right through Optimus's spark. His hands shook slightly.
Arcee looked over to Optimus. She wanted to smack Jack for that statement but the fact that Jack wasn't himself and what he had gone through held her back. Ratchet looked stunned and shocked. She looked over to Optimus. His eyes were dimming. His shoulders moved up and down heavily with his chest. His looked was distant and his hands shook.
She reached over and grabbed his hand with both of hers. Though there was never and would never be any romantic feelings between them, he was still not just a commander to her, not just a Prime, he was a dear friend and her family. She had seen his vulnerable side, his for lack of a better term, his weaker side.
Optimus felt Arcee's hands slip into his. Her small hands, both, fit into his one. His hands slowly steadied themselves. He took a deep, unstable breath. He looked over to Arcee. It was no use trying to hide from her now. She had seen him breakdown. He looked over to Ratchet who smiled faintly, attempting to reassure the Prime.
Jack was seething in anger. What right did they have to interfere with his life? Wasn't it his to do with whatever he wanted?