Sorry if this chapter is a little boring. Its more about Optimus and Jack. Stick with it. I promise it picks back up :)

Jack sat cross legged on Ratchets work bench. He watched the medic test the arm. The firs opened and closed. Jack gulped slightly. He was scared.

It looked cool but would it work?

How painful would it be to connect it?

Ratchet had said that I would be connected to his mind, right into his brain so it would operate like a normal arm. He assured Jack that June would assist him. Jack bounced his legs. He was nervous, each day it got closer and closer to attaching his new arm, and each day he felt more and more weight adding to him for not apologizing to Optimus.

Arcee had commented the he and Optimus had never been so split before. Jack could feel it. A wide chasm between the two of them. He just wasn't so sure a simple apology could close that gap.

"Stop it."

Ratchet growled. Jack snapped out of his thoughts.

"Stop what?"

"Bouncing your legs, you're driving me nuts."

Jack smirked. He shifted so he was leaning more against the wall. "Sorry I am just nervous."

Ratchet looked over at him. "No need to be. This arm will be just like your old one. Only…. Upgraded."

Jack scratched his head. "That's what scares me."

Ratchet tried to smile reassuringly. "It will be fine. I have a few more adjustments to make but I don't see why we can't get this attached by this weekend."

Jack nodded silently. He was excited for sure but nervous. Afterall it would require attaching nodes to his brain. At least that is what Ratchet had said. Jack slowly turned to look at Optimus. The Prime was nearby. He must have felt Jack looking at him, his head turn, and his eyes locked in with Jacks.

Optimus turned to look at Jack, his eyes locked with the teen for a moment before he quickly turned his head away. Optimus sighed slightly. He couldn't put all the blame on Jack. He hadn't made an effort either. He was worried Jack wouldn't be receptive to his attempts. So far, he had avoided the Prime whenever possible.

"Optimus?"

Optimus blinked quickly; he head snapping to the side. Jack flinched slightly at Optimus's head snap. His face was serious, and his eyes were dim, they brightened when the Prime shook his head out of his mind.

"Jackson."

"Can..we..talk?" Jack stammered shyly. He had his shoulders hunched in tension. Arcee could feel the stress between the two even from her seat across the room. She was reading a data pad but had stopped when she saw Jack walking toward Optimus.

"Of course."

Jack glanced around him. "Can we talk in private? Maybe go outside somewhere? Its been a couple of months since I have been outside."

Optimus smiled, "Did you seek Ratchets permission? His order supersedes mine in medical procedures."

Jack glanced over his shoulder. "Uh no. I didn't know that."

Optimus held out his hand for Jack to climb on. Jack smiled faintly and climbed into the Primes hand. The stress between them, the chasm was making sure it made itself known.

"Ratchet?"

Ratchet slowly looked up from his work. His face jolt from confusion to a smirk.

"Yes?"

Optimus looked down at Jack. Jack bit his lip. "Can I go outside? With Optimus, not by myself?"

Jack spoke quickly. Hopefully ratchet would be too depth with his project to really care. No such luck. Ratchet thought for a minute.

"As long as Optimus stays with you at all times. Nothing crazy. A walk or something is fine."

Jack smiled broadly. "Thanks Ratchet!"

Ratchet waved his hand. "Just don't get hurt. And don't get worked up."

Jack nodded quickly. A little to quickly and lost his balance. Optimus reached his other hand up to steady him.

"Thanks." Jack smiled embarrassed.

Optimus activated the ground bridge. Jack leaned forward with excitement as they walked through. The fresh air hit him as they step out into a thick forest. The birds chirped as the sun streamed through the cracks in the trees. Jack sat back breathing in a deep breath of air.

"I forgot how wonderful being outside feels."

Jack murmured. Optimus smiled.

"Indeed. The sun is bright this afternoon."

Jack turned his head over his shoulder. "Small talk? Not like you."

Optimus looked down at him. "I am not certain as to how to begin this conversation."

Jack twisted his face. "That's my job. I'm the one who freaked out on you."

"You were hurting Jackson. I do not hold that against you."

"No? Then why are we giving each other the cold shoulder?"

Optimus thought for a moment. "I wanted to give you space and time."

"Well for that I thank you, but I need to say I am sorry. I feel like there is a chasm between us. I don't want that. I miss knowing I can talk to you about anything."

Optimus nodded. "I have felt that as well. And all if forgiven Jack. As I said. I understand why you spoke in such a manner."

"It was uncalled for. I don't hate you Optimus. If anything, I look at you as a father figure. I never had a strong male role model. You… You are my role model. I look up to you. If you died, I would be devastated. Lost."

Optimus felt his spark warming the tension between them was melting. Jack smiled up at Optimus. The words just flowed from him. All those days and hours of practicing this conversation seemed useless now.

"I am honored Jack. I know it is hard for you to understand why we give our enemies mercy. It is part of what separates us from the Decepticons. We don't murder and kill simply for the purpose of winning. We want to win but we want to win with as many lives living as possible."

Jack nodded. "Arcee explained it to me. I understand better. She told me you don't know how to hate."

Optimus smiled. He almost chuckled but caught himself.

"It's not that I do not know how Jack. It's that I refuse to allow hate to control me. It is difficult at times."

"If I were you, I would hate Megatron's guts. I mean Vince, the bully at school, I hate him. He such a douchebag. Just wait till I go back with a robotic arm. I'm sure he'll have something snarky to say about that."

Optimus's smile remained. His eyes twinkled with relief. The chasm between them was quickly sealing.

"Are you certain you hate him and not just dislike him?"

"Nope I hate him. Honestly if he disappeared and I never saw him again I would perfectly fine with that."

"But would you kill him? If you had the opportunity, no law, no repercussions, would you kill him to remove him from your life?"

Jack twisted his face in thought. "No, I guess not."

"Precisely the situation with Megatron. If I were to kill him now. No one would rebut it. It would be accepted, perhaps even celebrated. I do not want to kill him; despite everything he had done. I still hope to save him."

Jack lowered his head. "Even StarScream and Airachnid?"

Optimus nodded slowly. "Yes. As much as we may… despise them. They still have the potential for change."

Jack sighed heavily. "So, scenario. You guys win, take Cybertron back. All the Decepticons wouldn't be executed?"

Optimus shook his head. "No. That is what the decepticons would do to the Autobots should they win. They thrive on hatred, rage, and lust. Megatron is the very embodiment of those things. It is for that reason I refuse to fall to those emotions and actions. The Decepticons would be offered the chance at a new life, rehabilitation. And if they refused, they would be imprisoned yes. But not executed."

Jack smirked. "You and your damn morals." He chuckled.

Optimus smiled broader. Hearing Jack laugh had become like music. It had been a long journey of darkness, so some light in laughter from Jack was refreshing.

"Indeed. I have been mocked for them before. Not everyone shares my views. But that is what we are fighting for. For everyone to have their own thoughts, views, and opinions."

"You're stronger than a lot of people. Not many would let their enemy walk away if they had the chance to kill them."

"But you would?"

Jack shrugged. "Honestly. I say I wouldn't kill him but if it came down to Earth was at war, and it was me versus Vince, and he had destroyed so much of everything I loved. I don't know if I could just let him live."

Jack looked up at Optimus with fondness

"But who knows, maybe you've had a big enough influence on me that it would think of what you would do."

Optimus nodded with a smile. "I will consider that a victory then."

Jack laughed. "You could just say. That's a win. So much simpler and shorter."

Optimus smirked playfully. "My years as a data clerk shaped my speech patterns. Becoming a Prime only solidified the way I speak."

"So, you always talked like a king from the medieval era?"

Optimus raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?"

"Long. You pontificate a lot."

Optimus just smirked. "Are you looking forward to your new arm?"

Jack shrugged. "Im freaking out a little bit both out of excitement and nerves."

Optimus nodded. "that is to be expected."

Jack looked up at the Prime. "Thank you, Optimus. For being there. For being you. I wouldn't be who I am today if you had never come to earth. I am who I am because of you. And I wouldn't trade it for anything…not even my arm back."