Jack scowled. Ratchet was forcing him to do physical therapy. Jack was struggled with learning to use his one limb to do certain task. Tying his shoes for one was extremely hard. Cutting food, just handling food in general. Even getting dressed had become a challenge.
Right now, Ratchet had Jack attempting to balance himself on a board placed over top of a barrel. Jack struggled to remain balanced, his right arm flaring. Luckily it had been his left arm and not his right or writing would have had to be learned all over again.
"Good Jack. Your balance improves daily." Ratchet had his hands on either side of Jack in case he fell.
June had come and gone a few times to visit Jack and get progress updates from Ratchet. Each time she came Jack pleaded with her less to take him home. If she didn't want him around, then he didn't want to be around her.
Arcee had been assisting Jack with his balance by having him sit on her and try to keep her straight, they had gotten to driving in small circles.
Optimus helped where he could. Jack seemed to want nothing to do with him and avoided the Prime, even going as far as to push the Primes hands away whenever he attempted to help him.
Ratchet however never stopped. He had made a small area for Jack in his chambers and watched Jack every minute he could. The medic was tired from lack of sleep, but he continued on. Jack was slowly showing signs of improvement. Ratchet kept him busy. His theory was to keep Jacks mind busy and hopefully it would bring him to his right mind and so far, it seemed to be working, slowly, but surely.
Ratchet helped Jack ease off the board. "You did well. You are making great strides Jack."
Jack huffed. "Whoppie do I can balance on a board."
He lifted his hand to his face; he could feel the scars. "I still look like a freak."
Ratchet hummed slightly. "The right girl will see past those. Scars show where we have been, what we have been through Jack. You can't let them define you."
"You can't let them define you." Those words rang in Jacks mind for the next couple of days. He found himself more often then not glancing at Optimus. The Prime had unreadable body language at times. Jack was beginning to feel remorse for what he had said to the Prime.
"Arcee."
He whispered during one of their sessions. Arcee twitched her mirrors up in response.
"Does he hate me?"
Arcee turned her tire toward Optimus. The Prime had his back to them and was working. Arcee hummed and whispered back.
"No Jack. He never did. I honestly am not sure if he is capable of it."
Jack sighed slightly. He wasn't ready to admit he was wrong yet. To be honestly he wasn't sure he was wrong. Was it the therapy making him feel bad? Ratchet was a hard nose and never gave Jack a minute to himself to think.
"What about Megatron?"
Jack pulled his leg up into Arcee and began to drive her slowly again. Arcee would have shrugged. "Honestly. I don't know. I do. Ratchet does. The whole autobot army does. But Optimus. I am not sure."
Optimus pretended her couldn't hear them. He kept typing. It sounded like Jack may be starting to come back around. According to Ratchet Jack was improving physically but mentally it was harder to measure. Somedays Jack was fine, others it was like they were back to square one. At least according to Ratchet.
Optimus had no idea how the young teen felt. Jack wouldn't speak to him, or even look at him. Bulkhead and Bumblebee hadn't been at the base for over two weeks now. They had checked in on occasion. Optimus felt bad for keeping them away. But if this worked to bring Jack to what would be a new normal, then perhaps it was worth it.
"Honestly. I don't know. I do. Ratchet does. The whole autobot army does. But Optimus. I am not sure."
Optimus tilted his head slightly. Megatron. Hate. The two were linked. To hate was to be what Megatron was. Megatron was the embodiment of hate, anger, lust. Optimus refused to be those things. Every time he killed; he felt a weight added to his spark. No, he didn't hate Megatron. He pitied him; he didn't like him. Megatron made him fume with anger at times but he didn't hate… had he ever hated?
Optimus hadn't realized he stopped typing till Ratchet tapped his forearm.
"You ok?"
Optimus glanced over his shoulder. "How is Jack?"
Optimus couldn't help but take noticed how tired the medic looked. His eyes were dim.
"Physically doing great. Hes gaining strength and learning to do for himself. Mentally and emotionally I am still concerned for him."
"Does he still show signs of suicidal thoughts?"
Ratchet shook his head. "No. Not that I see. But he is still depressed. I wanted to ask… before I ask June… I feel I need to ask your permission first."
Optimus eyed him. "Ask me what Ratchet?"
Ratchet looked over at Jack. "If you would approve of me building Jack an arm."
Optimus looked over his shoulder. Jack was speeding up slightly. His balance was forming nicely.
Ratchet added on to his argument. "I've done it before" he almost whispered.
Optimus turned to him. "Indeed, though a human is much different than an Autobot."
Ratchet scoffed, "Not that much."
Optimus hesitated. "You have my permission Ratchet, but you must acquire Junes permission in order to build an arm for Jackson."
Ratchet nodded. "Affirmative."
….
June hesitated to respond. "Like a robotic arm?"
Ratchet nodded. He had made a trip to see June at her house. He was sitting cross legged and hunched in her garage.
"I have built them before. Granted this will be the first one I have built for a human, but my idea would link the arm directly into Jacks brain and act like his original arm."
June was thinking. "Would it look robotic?"
Ratchet nodded. "Unfortunately, I don't have the materials necessary to make it look human. The function of this arm I believe would inhibit it. I have researched the typical human prosthetics. It will be far more advanced."
June took in a deep breathe. "I trust you. If you say you can build an arm. I believe you can do it."