Brothers In Arms, Chapter Three revised as of October ninth, two-thousand thirteen

Well, here it is, a brand new version! I didn't like how it turned out the first time, so I completely redid it. I think it's much better. So read!

Jack sat on the berth, looking glum. Arcee had done nothing but stare at him after being told what happened. She hadn't spoken a word since, not having taken it well. Arcee spent most of her time away from anyone, preferring to train in the lone training room by herself. The one time she he had tried to strike up a conversation with her, she had snapped at him, saying he was breaking her concentration and not to bother her again. Her words had hurt, and he had not tried talking to her again. It stung at how she was treating him, and he hoped that she would realize that he was still Jack underneath all the armor. Now she treated him as though he were the enemy.

Which, given the circumstance, he technically was. Or at least, Skyquake had been.

He stared at the wall of the room that they had given him, bored. They didn't really trust him to leave by himself yet, so he hadn't been able to leave much. Though discovering how to tap into the internet with his processor had contented him for awhile, he was growing bored at beating nameless players at chess with ease.

Ratchet was supposed to take him for a checkup today, and privately, he couldn't wait, even if Ratchet was quirky and likely to throw a wrench at him. Besides wanting to leave the room that Autobots had shoved him in, he was glad that Ratchet had seemed to believe him more than anyone else. Even Optimus was hesitant around him where the medic was not.

Jack stared downward, examining the alien appendage that was his hand. He willed the digits to move, first curling into a fist, then relaxing again. One hand stroked the other, getting a feel of the strange, smooth metal that radiated warmth, unlike any metal on earth. Each piece was perfectly compatible with another, never clinking when he moved. There were small 'seams' for which he knew where used to easily shift the plating for when he switched into an alt mode. Not that he had tried yet, and didn't plan to anytime soon. He was far too uncomfortable in his new body to even consider it.

Footsteps outside the room signaled that Ratchet had finally came, or sent someone in his stead to retrieve him. As the mech walked through the door, Jack was nearly blinded by the bright splashes of white and orange. It took him a moment to compose himself before answering.

"Hey Ratchet. Been busy?"

Ratchet scowled. "The console has been infected with viruses again. Rafael is working on removing right now."

Jack smiled lightly. Ratchet was easily riled up. "Nothing broken yet?" He chuckled when the scowl intensified. "I'm guessing Bulkhead smashed another piece of equipment?"

"More than one." Jack heard the medic grumble under his breath and a wry grin worked it way to his facial plates. Ratchet coughed, breaking off the conversation. "Anyway, follow me to the medbay. I need to run a diagnostic and some tests."

"Yeah, okay." Jack said with a nod, standing from the berth, almost laughing when Ratchet seemed so much smaller than before. Ratchet rolled his optics, then motioned Jack to come along and Jack happily obliged. Walking by his side, Jack tried to make small talk. "So...where's everybody? Are you the only one here?"

"Well there's you." Ratchet replied. Jack deadpanned at him, fixing Ratchet with a look. "Optimus is in his office, dealing with paperwork from the government." He said this disdainfully, as though the words left a bad taste in his mouth. "The humans seem obsessed with paperwork. They need a file for everything it seems."

Ratchet stopped babbling when he saw Jack grinning, looking embarrassed. "Well, anyway, other than Optimus and myself, there's no one else here besides yourself. The others are on recon at the moment. They'll be back later." The docbot added, seeing as Jack was about to ask.

"Oh."

"Don't worry about them." Ratchet replied as they entered his medbay. "I need to make sure that you're alright first."

As he was almost forcibly pushed onto a medbay berth, Jack couldn't help but to smile. Ratchet huffed at him, but out of the corner of his optics, he saw the medics lips twitch and his face seemed to relax.

"Now, I need to scan you so you'll need to stay still." Jack nodded as Ratchet fiddled with the scanner on his arm. A green light washed over Jacks body from head to foot. Jack shivered involuntarily, unused to the sensation. His plating felt itchy on the underside of all things, making him want to scratch to rid himself of the irritation. But Ratchet gave him a look, and he stopped.

"Everything seems fine." He heard Ratchet say as he examined the data. "You're motor functions and relays seem fine, and I see no unusual activities in your processor." Ratchet mumbled to himself for a moment before looking back up at Jack. "I'll perform a few more scans to be sure, and then you can leave."

"Uh, y'know Ratchet, that's fine. I'll be okay-"

"Ah-buh-bup!" Ratchet cried out as jack tried to get up and leave, he was forcibly pushed back down. "You're fine when I say you're fine!" The medic huffed. Jack scowled, but there was no real anger behind it, and allowed Ratchet to do his job. Light flowed over him trice more, making him feel as if his insides were vibrating. Ratchet frowned, as he looked at the results, causing Jack to feel worried.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not exactly, but..." He murmured, checking the data once more. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong..."

"But?" Jack asked as Ratchets voice trailed off.

"Hmm...you're spark energy is rather high. But it doesn't seem to be causing any adverse effects, so it shouldn't be any cause for worry." Ratchet said, though his voice lost some of its confidence. Ratchet shook his head, now looking toward Jack. "Don't worry. You're fine. The extra energy should dissipate in its own time, so you get a clean bill of health."

Jack didn't look too sure, but nodded all the same. Ratchet had spent the last few eons being the Autobots medic, giving Jack no reasons to doubt his words. Still, Jack cast his optics down, wringing his hands together.

"Hey Ratchet?" He said quietly, garnering his attention.

"Yes Jack?"

"Do you...do you think I'll ever be normal again?"

Ratchet paused. There was sadness in his gaze, pity in his spark. He sighed, giving Jack the only answer he could, "I don't know Jack. This change from human to mech is all so complicated, I don't think we'll ever fully understand the process." Jacks head fell, downcast. "But we'll never stop trying." Ratchet hesitantly placed a hand onto Jacks back, rubbing small circles comfortingly. "Everything will work out for the best Jack. I know it will." Jack didn't reply, but Ratchet thought the tension lifted a little. Jack hoped that for his sake and theirs, he hoped it was true.