Chapter 24

Optimus woke to the sound of almost silent beeping. His optics opened slowly, looking around at the blurred surroundings until they finally came into view. Medical bay. How long? He moved gently, sitting up slowly. No one was around. He sighed, feeling his body strain, each servo screaming in pain.

"Sir, you need to lay back."

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, pressing him back against the berth. He spotted the nurse as she was leaving behind the curtain. A moment or two later, Elita burst through the curtains, resting beside him.

"Optimus!" she gasped. Her voice was twice as loud as it should've. Optimus winced, narrowing his optics in pain.

"Elita? What happened?"

"The simulation…you got banged up pretty bad," she whispered. "You were…protecting me, I guess…"

"I feel like I've been run over," sighed Optimus. "Wait…no, this doesn't quite feel like that…"

"And you would know," chuckled Elita, holding onto Optimus' hand. "I'm sorry…This is my fault."

"No, I was the stupid one," grinned Optimus. "How long have I been out? Are you and Sentinel okay?"

Elita frowned, turning away. Optimus raised his head a little. She tightened her grip on his head. He sighed, setting his head back down.

"You two fought, huh?"

"He wouldn't come see you…"

"You know, he doesn't have to…"

"He's your friend!"

"I'm his friend but I'm not sure he's mine," whispered Optimus. "I don't think he cares enough about me to do any of the things I'd do for him."

"You've saved his life, got him his dream job…why can't he see that!" snapped Elita.

"He's Sentinel," shrugged Optimus. "I've pretty much given up on him…hey, what's this?"

Optimus reached over to his side dresser, finding a letter. Elita took in from him gently, opening it. Her optics widened.

"It's from Magnus," she gasped.

"Probably an expulsion," Optimus groaned. "I really screwed up this time…"

"No, it just says he heard about the accident and hopes you recover okay," she read. "Man, you get all the special treatment."

"Wonder why," hummed Optimus, sitting up. "Say, don't stay mad at Sentinel, okay? It really isn't worth your time to stay mad."

"Are you mad at him?" she questioned.

"My…problems with Sentinel are different and something that I need to deal with," sighed Optimus, nodding. "But I'd hate for the two of you to stay mad at each other because I did something stupid."

Elita grinned lightly, looking at Optimus as he offered her a smile. The sweet, gently bot. Elita sighed, nodding. She got up as the nurse entered, forcing Optimus back into a laying potion. The nurse motioned for Elita to leave. Optimus offered a wave. The curtains fluttered behind her as she left.

"Thank you, Elita," whispered Optimus, turning away, "for being there…"

He sighed, shutting his optics.

Sentinel groaned, stretching in his chair. Homework was becoming taxing, especially when his day job involved such stupid recruits like that bumbling fool and bulk brain. He snickered. Bumbling and bulk…what great names. He was a genius, he thought to himself. The door whistled as it opened, hissing as it shut. Jazz yawned, stepping up to the desk.

"You have my data pad from the other night," Jazz sighed.

"I'm using it," Sentinel snapped.

"Alright," mumbled Jazz, holding his hands up in defense. "Hey, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Elita's been cheering about it. Optimus is up it looks like it," grinned Jazz. "I was gonna visit him, what about you?"

Sentinel snarled, quickly turning back to his work. Jazz perked, stepping back.

"Something up?"

"Why should I bother visiting that clumsy idiot?" grumbled Sentinel.

"What is your problem with Optimus? I thought you two were close," shrugged Jazz.

"Optimus is my problem," hissed Sentinel.

"Boy, you crazy?" mumbled Jazz.

"Elita was my friend first! Suddenly, she's more worried about him than what's going on in my life! This was my dream…but he gets the free ride! I'm living in his shadow! That nobody's shadow!" shouted Sentinel, quickly standing up. "I'm done worrying about him! It's time I worry about me!"

Jazz shook his head, heading for the door. He stopped in the doorway, glancing back.

"You know, Optimus cares about you and Elita more than himself, right? Even in simulation, he'd die for you guys, for anybody. That's the kinda bot he is. Tell him how you feel and he'd do his best to fix it," shrugged Jazz. "But that's just my opinion."

With that, Jazz left.