So this is a challenge from ToaXabineh! I really hope she likes it, because I tried really hard to get everything she wanted into the fic!

"Get down!" Jack shouted as Soundwaves mini-con, Laserbeak, flew over head. A few stray shots rained down on them, thankfully none of them hitting as Jack forced Miko to get behind a nearby boulder. "Stay here," Jack whispered quietly, edging out to look and see if it was safe when a blaster shot by his head, creating a smoking crater behind him. "Shit!" Jack hissed, quickly drawing his head back to avoid having it blown off while Miko shouted out "Jack!"

How could this have gone so wrong so quickly? Miko had insisted on going on recon with 'Bee and Bulkhead, and when she had been shot down she ran ahead anyway. Being the concerned friend that he was, Jack had quickly followed suit to drag her back to base. But it hadn't happened that way- almost as soon as they passed through they were caught in the middle of a war zone dozens of Vehicons shooting and blasting at the Autobots while Jack and Miko had been forced to take cover when the groundbridge portal closed, cutting off their only escape. They were forced to flee the battle, lest they be trampled on or blasted into atoms by a stray shot and would have had it not been for Laserbeaks appearance. And it dawned on him- it had been a trap.

Which is why they were now cowering behind some rocks to look for an opening to escape while Miko tried called Ratchet for a groundbridge. They had to get out of here, now!

"Move!" Jack shouted as Laserbeak flew overhead, shooting at them again while a groundbridge opened up behind them, yanking on Mikos arm and pulling her toward it, racing for the safety that it would provide. It proved easier said than done, as they had to weave and bob to avoid being grabbed or shot and they were almost there-!

"Argh!" Jack screamed as they were feet away from the portal, thrown off his feet and through it as a blaster collided with his backside. He groaned in agony, the scent of his own burnt flesh filling his nose as he reached out with a hand, collapsing soon after. The last thing he was aware of was the cold floor of the base and someone screaming his name.

June had been called in immediately as Ratchet, brilliant medic though he was, new little of human physiology or medicines, a fact he himself had stated needed to be rectified. As such he was unfit to examine the boy, and thus he once again had to depend on another to perform his job for him. Shame had filled him as he watched Jack be loaded up into his mothers car carefully with the help of Raf and Miko and taken away to the hospital where he could receive the care he needed.

Miko was in tears by the time the Autobots returned from the battle, a little battered and worn but otherwise fine when Ratchet strung up a groundbridge for the others while Raf had fallen into a devastated silence. It was more than she could say for Jack. Bulkhead picked up on her distress almost immediately and forgo the usual boasting of new battle scars.

"Miko, what's wrong? What happened?" He asked, worried for his charge as she choked on a sob.

"It would appear that Miko followed you through the groundbridge Bulkhead." Ratchet answered as the girl was too choked up to speak properly. He couldn't help the scowl that was directed at her, or the angry in his voice. "Jack had followed suit to bring Miko back to base and they ended up away from the fight. As I understood it Laserbeak had cornered them before Miko was able to contact and inform me of their location. They managed to get back through but...Jack was injured in the process."

. Bulkhead and Bumblebee shared an look of surprise and guilt while Optimus face darkened and his mouth pressed into a grim frown. Arcee was the most devastated, optics flaring with panic as she jerked forward to demand his location.

"Where is he? I have to go see him-"

"Miss Darby has already taken Jack to the hospital Arcee." Ratchet informed, had hanging low as he bent over a console. "There was nothing I could do...I..."

"You were supposed to be studying human sciences after what Megatron did to Raf!" Arcee accused aggressively, her whole form trembling now. Whether that was from fear or anger was up for debate.

"Arcee, that is enough." Optimus scolded from behind.

"But Optimus, I can't just sit here while Jack-" She went to protest, only to have Optimus cut her off.

"Now is not the time to be throwing around blame." He reprimanded sharply, his tone heavy and solemn. "We must remain focus and offer what support we can for our young friend. That is all we can do for now."

But Arcee was already moving, shooting a dirty look at Miko before announcing she was going for a drive and transformed, beating a hasty retreat from the base to collect her thoughts and emotions. Miko had run out of the room by now, guilt threatening to drown her at this point while Bulkhead chased after her.

Ratchet slumped his shoulders as he allowed a wave of depression to wash over him, a hand clasping onto his shoulder. He looked back to Optimus, who was doing his best to reassure the medic. "What are we going to do Optimus?" Ratchet muttered, shutting his optics briefly. "Is it really the best course of action to allow the children to stay with us? First it was Raf, and now Jack...whats going to happen to Miko? Is she going to be swatted like an insect by one of the Decepticons? Can you honestly say that keeping them here is for the sake of their safety?"

"I understand your concerns Ratchet. Yet they have helped us in ways we never could have expected. If not for them we might not be here today." Optimus stepped back, allowing the medic to mull over his thoughts.

"I just think...maybe we've grown too attached. I don't think that they're staying here is solely for their protection. We've grown to need them Optimus...and I am no longer certain it is in their best interest that they continue to remain with us."

"Your opinion is noted."

Arcee moved around the base, a nervous excitement filling her- Jack would be returning today for the first time since his attack. There had been surprisingly little contact between him and the Autobots as June, and even Fowler, had been blocking them at every turn. The two were tight lip about Jacks recovery, for reason they couldn't understand. It had only been last week that they received word from Jack that he would be able to make a visit which in turn had greatly relieved Arcee. She had been worried sick ever since the accident.

Now it was all she could do to keep from becoming a fidgeting mess, tapping on her arm as he she walked around the base impatiently as she waited for her partner to arrive. She couldn't wait- The first thing they were going to do was go out on a drive. Jack always loved feeling the wind ripping by them and the thrill of adrenaline that came with high speed.

It was all Arcee could do to keep from becoming a fidgeting wreck as she tapped the side of her arm while walking through the base in a fervor. Eventually she threw her arms down with a grumbling growl.

"What's taking them so long? They're an hour late!" Arcee said to no one in particular, a few heads turning to her irritated shout.

"Take it easy Arcee," Bulkhead put in, hoping to placate the emotional femme while Miko situated herself on his shoulder. "They probably got stuck in traffic, its no big deal."

"Yeah 'Cee! Besides, you know how Jacks mom can be." Said Miko, smiling from ear to ear. Though part of her was still feeling guilty- it had been partially her fault that Jack had been injured in the first place. Something Arcee had been kind enough to remind her almost daily. "She's a total soccer mom!"

"Finally, something we can both agree on." Arcee muttered under her breath, leaning on the walls with a scowl.

"Standing around sulking won't get Jack here any faster Arcee." Ratchet scolded lightly as he pulled away from his work for a moment while Optimus raised a brow at Arcee but otherwise didn't say anything. "Why don't you go for a drive, clear your head? I'll comm you as soon as I hear something."

"Thanks but no thanks. I'll just wait here."

Ratchet rolled his optics with a light groan, turning back to his computers as Arcee continued to sulk about.

"So what do you think we should do when Jack gets here 'Bee?" Raf asked, unable to keep the smile off his face as he anticipated the teens arrival. A few beeps and bleeps had Raf laughing. "Yeah! Racing would be awesome. And I can show Jack how good I've gotten!"

As they chatted another hour came and went, Bulkhead and Miko discussing favorite bands and wanting to find out when the next monster truck rally was while Ratchet struggled to ignore their constant chatter. Arcee grew increasingly agitated as the wait dragged on. When the proximity sensors finally went off her spark thrummed almost painfully in her chest as she saw the all too familiar car that belonged to June. A look to Ratchet and the medic nodded, opening the entrance to the base.

"Thank the Allspark." Ratchet sighed under his breath as the car pulled up, having heard enough of Arcee's griping for one day. Even he smiled a little as June exited the car. "It's good to see you again Mrs. Darby."

"You too Ratchet." June nodded, sounding as though she were a little strained before moving to the passenger side. June paused, looking back at the bots before gripping the handle. "Don't stare." She warned them as she opened the door, revealing Jack inside. The teen smiled lazily, waving at them from within. "Hang on, let me get your chair in the back..."

"Chair?" Bulkhead asked, but he needn't have said more as June went to the backseats and pulled out the pieces of a wheelchair and swiftly put them together. Eyes and optics like went wide as Jack was assisted into the wheelchair, mouths agape as Jack waved his mother away from the back of the chair, insisting on wheeling himself over without anymore help.

"Hey guys," Jack said sheepishly, beaming brightly at them and coming to a stop. "How have you been?" He asked and silence answered Jack as they stared at him and the chair he was bound to. Jack was growing increasingly nervous, thumbing the arm of his chair as he waited for one of them to answer. Ratchet was the first to recover.

"It's been too long Jackson." He said with a fond smile with a touch of pity in his optics that Jack didn't miss. "The base hasn't been the same without you."

"You have no idea how much I've missed you guys." He said, moving to Arcee, who had yet to speak. "Especially my partner!" Jack grinned widely, snapping Arcee out of her stupor.

"Me too partner." Arcee smiled fondly at the teen, bending down to be closer, a finger ruffling the teens him fondly. A twist of guilt coursed through her as she stared at his smile and glanced down at his legs. "Jack...I...I'm so sorry."

Jack shook his head, smiling still. "It's not your fault Arcee."

"If I had been there-"

"Things might be different, and maybe they wouldn't, but it doesn't matter now. I'm glad to be alive Arcee, here with you again." Jack said, gripping onto the tip of her finger, his own running across the smooth metal. "You have no idea what this means to me to see you guys again." He said quietly. Behind him June was scowling, refusing to even look at the bots. It was easy to tell what she was thinking- obviously she blamed them for her sons injury and had clearly been against coming here. Arcee closed her optics tightly- who could blame June for feeling that way? If Jack had never been involved with them this wouldn't have happened in the first place.

"So Miko, what have you been up to?" Jack asked the girl, now in Bulkheads hand that was gently being lowered so she could stand on the ground. Miko looked to the floor, holding the side of her right arm, her hair buns drooping mildly. "Hey hey, it's okay." Jack assured as he moved over. "It's no ones fault! So what do you guys say that we forgot about it?" He pleaded as the tension in the room could almost be touched.

"If that is what you wish Jackson." Optimus said and even he seemed more somber than usual.

"Yeah," Said teen nodded eagerly. "So tell me whats been going on! I must have missed out on a lot while I was gone right?"

"I've got some new battle scars!" Bulkhead replied enthusiastically, pointing to his chest. "You should of seen it Jack, the 'cons had me surrounded and..."

Jack listened happily to his stories, ecstatic to be with his friends again. There was the occasional pitying look or guilt ridden expression but they made nothing more of it. Not until his mother had snapped at Arcee. Panic welled up in his chest as the two started getting into it, wheeling himself over as quickly as he could.

"H-hey, please, don't do this right now okay?" Jack begged his fuming mother. Once look at him had the woman backing off from Arcee, appearing to be ashamed of her actions before she excused herself. Jack sighed heavily. "I'm sorry about that. She's just...having a hard time to adjust, y'know?" Jack offered up, hoping to ease the tension in the room.

"I shouldn't have gotten so worked up anyway." Arcee offered quickly, gesturing with her hands in a placating manner. Jack shook his head.

"Mind showing me the new additions to the base?" Jack asked, changing the subject to avoid the elephant in the room. "Raf was just telling me about how you guys got your hands on some new relics and I'd love to see them."

"Yeah, sure." Arcee lowered herself down, unsure of what do to when she did. "Do you want me to carry you with the chair or without...? Or do you want to move by yourself-"

"Picked up without the chair please." Jack said quickly and he was given a nod in return as he was carefully picked up and placed in such a way that could could lean against her fingers comfortably without the fear of falling off as she started to walk and soon they were out of the main room and into the hallways. He held onto a metal digit tightly, having missed Arcee greatly in his months of recovery. He leaned against it with a wistful sigh. "It's great to be back 'Cee..."

"And it's good to have you back." She answered in kind, smiling affectionately at the teen.

"Want to go for a drive Jack?" Bulkhead offered Jack , seeing as he was no longer able to drive around with Arcee. "Me and Miko are gonna go dune bashing!"

"Uh, thanks, but I'll be fine here." Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, flashing the pair a wry grin. "I think I'll be fine here. Besides, I need to finish up this race with Raf!" Jack explained and the two shrugged before turning away and going about their day. Said tween however was getting up as Ratchet called out to him, needing tech support as another virus had popped up onto the screen. Jack sighed heavily, his shoulder slumping down as he tossed the controller onto couch. "Uh, he Ratch, thinking you could give me a hand?" He asked, seeing as he had no way to get down from the platform without some extra help.

"One moment Jackson" Ratchet said and Jack chewed on his lip as he waited anxiously. When the time finally came his heart was pounding in his chest as he was helped into his wheelchair. "Do you need any other assistance?" When Jackson shook his head 'no', Ratchet turned back to his computer, determined to scrub them of any lingering viruses.

"I'm going to go for a..." His sentence was cut off as he couldn't exactly call it a walk could he? But Ratchet wasn't even looking at him when Jack wheeled out of the room, unaware of a pair of optics watching him.

Jack aimlessly wandered about the base, no real goal or objective in mind as he strolled around and wound up in a lonely storage room that looked like it hadn't seen use in a few years at least. It was very much unchanged, save for a relic or two lying behind sealed doors, only to be accessed for emergencies.

Dark blue eyes fell down into his lap, where his hands rested, legs that he could no longer feel or move. His throat dried when he felt tears pricking at his eyes, nose sniffling as it quickly became hot and red. He gripped at his pant legs, cursing himself for his inability to walk as the droplets on his lashes became full blown tears that he couldn't stop from falling. Sobs tore unbidden from his throat as he cried out against the unfairness of it all. Jack smashed a hand down onto his leg in a futile attempt to feel something, anything!

Why did this have to happen? To him? He had only been trying to help! He didn't deserve this!

So caught was he in his self-pitying that he didn't even notice when a giant figure followed him into the room, standing behind the teen quietly as he wept.

"Jackson..." Optimus made himself known, startling the teen out of his depression.

"O-Optimus..." Jack wiped his nose on his sleeves, heavily embarrassed that he had been caught like this. "W-why..." He tried to ask but was unable to finish as he sniveled again.

"I do not know," Came Optimus somber reply. "But know that we are for you Jackson." The Prime bent down onto one leg, offering a digit for the teen to grasp onto and the boy didn't even hesitate, grabbing onto it as he continued to cry.

So...yeah. I hope you guys found this enjoyable and I apologize for any inaccuracies concerning paralysis below the waist. One thing I wasn't able to include into the fic that Toa wanted was 'phantom pains', which I wasn't sure was something that could be felt! If anyone knows, please inform me!