Ratchet set to work building the arm, but he kept it a secret from Jack. He worried slightly that Jack would reject it, but he had to try. His eyes trailed over to Arcee. She had been a big help in assisting with Jack. For a femme that wasn't very emotional, she had somehow grown attached to Jack. His eyes drifted to her arm. With any luck he would have similar results this time around.

"Ratchet?"

Ratchet flinched; his mind had wandered. Jack was leaning over the railing.

"I don't think girls like it when you stare at them without asking them out."

Jack smiled faintly. Ratchet returned the smile. "You are smiling. I almost forgot what that looked like."

Jack smiled slightly bigger. He sighed. "So, did I. I forgot what it was like to be happy. To not be in pain. I am slowly remembering."

He rubbed his shoulder. "If these phantom pains would stop…"

Ratchet glanced down at the arm. It wasn't near ready. But maybe it would help Jack if he knew Ratchet was working on something.

"I have something to show you."

Ratchet reached up, allowing Jack to ease himself into his hand. Ratchet held him in front of the computer screen as the computer graphics of the arm played out and assembled.

"I am a few weeks from completion. But I thought it might ease you to see what I am working on."

Jack turned and looked up at Ratchet. He smiled again. "Looks cool. Raph will be jealous."

Jacks face fell. It had been weeks since he had been outside the base, let alone seen his human friends. "When can Miko and Raph come back?"

Ratchet thought for a moment. "Soon." He placed Jack back on the platform. Jack sighed. "I promise I don't feel… you know anymore. I am pretty ashamed with myself that I thought that was the best way out. I wasn't thinking of my mom, or Arcee, or any one really."

"Depression is a terrible thing Jack. It takes who we are and twists us. Throws us into a darkness that, if allowed, can consume us and destroy us."

Jack looked at Ratchet, "You really have a handle on it."

"I've dealt with it enough. I've seen both sides. Bots who were able to come through it and those… who weren't."

Jack frowned. "And you blame yourself, don't you?"

Ratchet sighed. "I suppose I feel I should have tried hard with those ones."

Jack reached out over the railing; Ratchets hand was still on the railing from placing Jack there.

"Base on experience of the therapy I received I can tell you that it wasn't you Ratchet. Without you I would be dead right now."

Ratchet smiled slightly. He was honored by the words, but the weight of death still weighed on his weary spark. Jack glanced over his shoulder at Optimus.

"How do I apologize for what I said? Mom always told me words were sharper then a two-edge sword. That once they are spoken, they cannot be taken back."

Ratchet looked past Jack. He was still smirking.

"Optimus has a harder shell then you might think. If words took him down, he wouldn't be the Prime he is today. You are not the first to yell at him."

Jack smiled faintly. "Yeah but it's what I said that I feel bad about. I told him I hate him. I don't hate him."

"He is the leader of a faction, at one time thousands of bots were under his command. In a way they still are, they are just scattered. He has had autobots chew him out before. While I do think you should apologize, I don't think you have to worry about how."

Jack sighed. "I suppose I should just start with I am sorry and go from there."

Ratchet nodded. "I believe that would be best."

…..

A few weeks later Ratchet had informed Optimus that Jacks attitude had improved enough that he believed it was safe for Miko and Raph to return to the base.

The three children were excited to see each other, hugging and celebrating. Miko pumped her fist in the air.

"We missed you jack rabbit!"

Raph nodded. "Yeah I had to put up with Miko by myself!

Jack smiled at the two. His face dropped into a more serious note.

"I need to apologize to you two. Ratchet should never have had to send you away. I wasn't myself. I was consumed by the pain and self-pity that I was only thinking of myself. Thank primus for Ratchet. Without him… well I might not be here today."

Miko wrapped him in a big hug. "We all have demons Jack. Some are self-made, some are forced on us. We have to fight them, but we fight better when we let others help us."

Jack blinked. "Wow Miko that was actually insightful."

Raph laughed, Miko just crossed her arms.

"I have my moments." She laughed.

Optimus smiled. Jack seemed to slowly coming around. Since the news of a new arm, he seemed more cheerful. It had been a long, hard few weeks. At times Optimus wasn't sure Jack was going to come back around. He was pleased to see that Ratchets, no nonsense, hard approach had worked for Jack.

Miko reached for her bag. "I brought over movies! And popcorn!"

She raced up the stairway. Raph walked beside Jack. "How are you feeling? Really?"

Jack smiled at Raph; he was innocently asking but Jack could see the hesitation. Why wouldn't he be. After all he had freaked out on his mom in front of the young teen.

"A lot better. Healing nicely. Things don't hurt as much anymore. At least most things."

He pointed to his arm with a smirk. "Sometimes I try to reach for something with my right arm and get annoyed when my hand won't move only to realize it's not there."

Raph smirked up at him. "Glad to see your sense of humor is coming back."

Jack smiled. "Slowly but yes."

"Check it out!

Miko held up a movie. Jack narrowed his eyes to read it. "King Kong: Skull Island!"

Jack shrugged. "Never saw it."

"I know that's why I brought it!"

Jack took a seat on the couch. Miko brought over the pop corn and soda from her bag setting them out on the table.

Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee gather behind them to watch too. Optimus watched the gathering taking place.

Miko reached for the soda cracking the lid. The soda whooshed. She twisted the top off, stopping when something felt off.

Jack watched Miko twisted the cap off, the whoosh of the carbonation being released sounded like Airachnids acid. He jumped. His heart racing. For a flashed moment he saw Airachnid coming toward him, acid dripping from her mouth.

"Jack?"

Jack shook his head. He blinked quickly. Everyone had frozen and was staring at him. Jack cleared his throat. "Sorry I…"

"You are really pale." Raphs voice was full of concern.

Jack tried to smile reassuringly. "It was the carbonation, it brought back a memory that's all." He clapped his hand on his leg. "Let's start the movie."

Jack struggled throughout the movie. Optimus could see it. Ratchet did too. Every time a jet engine sounded or the sound of metal clanging. Jack would flinch, his eyes would widen in fear. Optimus studied him, the movie was getting more and more intense. He was about to step in when what he feared was going to happen happened.

The screen show giant spiders, Miko was enthralled. Raph was hiding his eyes. It was like a slow-motion video. Optimus turned just in time to see Jack go completely pale. He jumped up from the couch screaming.

"No stay back!"