A/N: Depressing chapter is depressing T_T Sorry guys. I had a horrible day and it seems to have affected my writing, even though I was planning on something along these lines from the moment I started the story. Please don't hate me . . .

Blue light filtered down into blurred optics. The gentle vibration of tires over concrete was occasionally broken by a slightly harsher jolt. It was almost enough to lull the mech back into recharge. However his always overactive processor wouldn't slip back into that blackness quite so easily. Where was he? Why was there a sensation of movement? And why the scrap did it feel like someone had tried to cut him in half. The pain brought the mech fully online, his vents stuttering as he tried to move. Captured. That was the first explanation that flitted across his processor. Why else would he be restrained?

Though why his enemies would see fit to transport him like this didn't make sense. Of course it didn't. Megatron would not keep him prisoner. The vehicle jolted and he barely suppressed a yelp of pain. Enough pondering the how and why. The more pressing concern was the growing pain in his circuits and the horrible realization that all responses stopped just above his hip actuators. He'd been wounded in battle before, but a quick diagnostic had him wondering how he was even still online. Not even during the worst fighting on Cybertron had he sustained such catastrophic damage. Every system was red lighted with various warnings and damage reports. He by-passed several and then shut down the majority of his pain receptors. The relief was immediate, yet there was still a lingering unease. Refocusing his optics he realized he was covered with a plastic tarp. Had M.E.C.H. found him? No, they were disbanded. Then who? He'd sent the children away. The last time he'd heard from Agent Fowler he'd been heading into a firefight with the Eradicon armada. He growled in frustration, even his chronometer was malfunctioning.

The vehicle slowed. He turned his head, trying to get a view of where they were. There was nothing to see but more tarp. Patience. All would be revealed in due time. He did another quick diagnostic. The last thing he remembered was turning to destroy the ground bridge controls. After that . . . Nothing. What had happened since then? How long had it been? Had the others found safety? And why in Primus' name was he still functioning?

He clutched at the tie downs crisscrossing his chest as the truck suddenly lurched to a stop. Tensing his servos he waited. A door slammed, the vibration running through his frame. Voices, indistinct but somehow familiar. Was something wrong with his audial sensors? Another inspection of the list of damages showed 80% loss in receptive capabilities. That was alarming. At least his optics seemed fine. Only a 15% loss there due mostly to dust still caught in them.

The voices returned, coming from right next to him. He could make out words this time.

"I know we can't afford to lose any more time, but this snowstorm means that the mountain passes will be closed. We'll just have to wait it out."

"Yeah but where?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Another truck stop?"

"Great I get to freeze my aft off and get soaked. I'm not a truck in case you hadn't noticed."

"Wheeljack, I'm sorry. But I'm not risking it."

Wheeljack!

"Ah, excuse me . . ."

Both voices fell silent and the tarp was ripped back. He blinked several times turning to look at the bot next to him.

"Optimus! You're awake."

"It's good to see you Wheeljack." Optimus allowed the small ember of hope that had been dwindling to rekindle at the sight of the wrecker. "May I ask what is going on?"

"Help me up Wheeljack."

Optimus couldn't help the smile at the sight of June Darby sitting in Wheeljack's palm. "Ms. Darby, I was not expecting to see you considering-

"Honestly you are doing good to be seeing anyone. Optimus . . ." Words seemed to fail her and Optimus felt the smile fade.

"I know the damage, Nurse Darby. I have run my internal diagnostics multiple times. Though I cannot seem to get any response from my legs." He watched as June and Wheeljack exchanged a glance. "Is it that bad?"

June reached out and touched his shoulder. "I promise I will do everything I can to help. We are on our way to meet up with Ratchet, but it will be at least another two or three days."

"I understand."

"So you are probably wondering what happened . . ." June looked down, her tiny fingers fisting the front of her jacket.

"Yes, I was. The last thing I remember is using the Star Saber to destroy the ground bridge controls."

"Oh . . . That's why you were still there."

"Yes, I was not going to let that information fall into Decepticon hands."

"Well . . . It wouldn't have even if you hadn't destroyed it. They blew up the base with you it in."

Optimus was silent for a long moment. "That would explain the extent of my injuries. At least the others escaped."

He raised his optics to see June looking down at him with tears in her eyes. "Have I said something wrong Nurse Darby."

"Will you please just call me June already!" She snapped and then promptly hid her face in her hands. Turning away from him she ordered Wheeljack to put her down.

Optimus frowned as the cab door slammed. "I have upset her."

"No, well . . . yeah but not really. She's the one who found you . . ."

"I see."

"I'm not sure you do Optimus. She went to make sure Jack wasn't hurt and found you instead. She dug you out and then patched you up as best as she could. With my help of course."

"You were there?"

"Yes I was. Found her standing guard over you. She almost attacked me thinking I was a Decepticon come to finish you off."

"She is-formidable for one so small."

"You could say that again." Wheeljack muttered. "Anyway, we got you out and now we are about a day and a half out from Jasper. We are going to meet Ratchet near the middle of the continent. June thinks we might find some abandoned missile silos to hide out in. If that doesn't work, the state called Missouri is full of caves. Highest concentration on the planet if you'd believe it. Gotta be one we could use."

"Are you sure that transporting me that far is wise. You would make much better time with-"

"Don't you dare even finish that sentence Optimus Prime!"

Both bots jumped.

Optimus tilted his head, trying to see her. "All I was going to say was that you would make better time if I was in my altmode."

"Ah . . . I hate to break it to you Optimus but I don't think you can."

"Oh? I'm sure once I get my circuits fully back online-"

"You can't." June cut in. "Optimus, you might be huge and metal but the injuries you suffered were very nearly fatal. I was only able to stop your ble-leaking, I couldn't repair anything."

"She's right Op, you've got a huge hole right through your midsection."

"A hole?"

"Yeah."

"Through me?"

"Yes."

"A hole?"

"Are you glitching? Yes, you got impaled! And you're slagging fortunate it wasn't right through your spark chamber."

Optimus took a moment to consider the information. "Well I guess that would explain the level of pain."

"Oh my god! Optimus!" June wailed. "Why didn't you say something sooner? Wheeljack do we have anything we can give him?"

"No."

"I am fine Nurse Dar-"

"June."

"I am fine, June. I turned off my pain receptors."

"You did?"

Wheeljack raised his eyebrows as he looked down at where June stood, just out of Optimus' line of sight. "What? I don't like that look."

The only answer was the slam of the cab door. Again.

"Did I do something wrong?" Optimus kept his voice down as he looked to Wheeljack.

Wheeljack shook his head. "No. She's tired and worried about you. That's all."

"Have you had any contact with the others?"

"Besides Ratchet? No. Everyone is maintaining comm silence."

Optimus let his optics fall closed, they were starting to hurt. "You didn't happen to see the Star Saber when you were at the base did you?"

"No. The base was completely slagged. I don't know how you managed to make it out in one peice. More or less."

"All I'm concerned about is whether the others are safe or not."

"And all we are concerned about is getting you to safety."

Optimus let out a soft vent. "I'm not worth your lives."

"You aren't. But that's not going to stop me from protecting you. The Autobots need you. They need to know you are alive. Without you, Megatron has won. Maybe not in the fullest sense, but you are the one everyone looks to. If a Prime can't survive him, then who can?"

"So no martyring myself?" Optimus couldn't help the slight smirk as he cracked an optic to look at Wheeljack.

"Nope."

"So where are we?"

"Colorado, though it looks like we are going to have to hole up for a day or so till this storm passes. June doesn't like driving the truck and driving it in bad weather is just asking for a mishap."

"I understand. I don't suppose there is anyway I could sit up?"

"Not without her permission and I'm not askin'."

"Fair enough."

It was quiet, the temperature dropping as the humidity rose. Soon flakes began to fall and Wheeljack returned to his altform settling in next to the truck. June finally rolled down the window.

"Wheeljack, I found a place we can go that's got covered parking."

"What are we waiting for?"

June reappeared and Optimus opened his optics to watch her as she pulled the tarps back over him. Their gazes met and she forced a smile. Then he saw nothing but blue. Closing his optics again he wondered what the human was thinking. She was obviously upset to be so burdened by this situation. It had not been his intention to create such a problem. If he was honest with himself he'd never expected to live much beyond destroying the ground bridge. Even if Megatron had not destroyed the base he would have infiltrated it and Optimus had been prepared to fight till his very last to keep the others safe.

He was a failure as the leader of the Autobots and as a Prime. Many Cybertronians had believed he had no right to be named as Prime. Most times he agreed with them. He'd only fully accepted it once he'd been granted the Matrix, but that didn't mean that there weren't times when he felt like it was all one huge mistake. What had he really accomplished? Nothing. He'd accomplished nothing. He'd merely drug the war to another planet and ensured that his home would forever remain desolate. All in the name of Primus and the All Spark. Blunt servos tightened almost painfully on the straps over his chest plating.

It would have been best if they'd left him to his fate.