Who Guards the Guardians? (TFP/Bayverse crossover)

The End

[Optimus POV]

We were able to get Rachel back to base, but stabilizing her spark was another matter of its own. She had less than one percent energon left in systems, and it was still tainted with dark energon. We were slowly pumping more in, hoping it would flood the system and allow us to safely bring her back online. Her lights were still slightly on, but she wasn't awake. Her optics were still shut, but I could feel her sparkbeat...

Otherwise, I don't think I would still be online.

I am still.. confused about all of this. However, I know the time for the questions will come, but right now was not it. I wait as patiently as I can outside of her berthroom. Ratchet said it would be best for him to work where no one would be... leering. I tried to not feel as though he was speaking specifically to me, but knowing he was right.

I have had to come to the realization that my fondness of Rachel has grown into... something I thought I wouldn't feel again. I had become too involved in my role in the Autobots, and Elita-1 said it would be too much stress on us both if we stayed together. We are still comrades, but I haven't felt the same feeling around her again. She said the feeling was mutual, but she wished to remain friends...

And now, I was feeling that jitter in my spark all over again. 

Nerves were peaking...

My spark was skipping...

'I can't lose her, as well.'

"Optimus..." I turn to see... nothing? My gaze shifts down, and I spot Jack at my ped. I kneel down and offer a servo. He carefully steps on it, and grasps a digit in his hands to steady himself. I lift him up and he easily jumps onto my shoulder. I turn back to watching the doors, and Jack settles down. He says nothing at first, but I could feel he was wanting to speak.

"Jack... I am sorry..." Is all I start with, and I feel the boy let out a sigh. "For what, Optimus?" He replies, and I turn my helm towards him, confused. He looks over at me, and locks eye to optic. "None of this is your fault. And don't try to say otherwise." He says the last part louder as I had started to speak. He continues on, saying, "Look, all of this had started way before we ever actually met you. Our father-"

"Actually met us?"

My interjection catches him off guard, and I see his face pale. He looks away, and I remember a story Rachel had told me long ago. It was about Mission City and our first Earth battle. I remember her story of the building collapsing...

My optics widen, and when I turn to look back at Jack, he averts his gaze. I feel my spark drop as I speak. "The building she was near when the... accident happened... her father was crushed by the building as it was collapsing..." Jack slowly begins to nod his head, and I slightly step back. My backstrut rests against the wall and I feel guilt start to weigh heavily on me. 

'It... It was my fault... I am the reason this has all happened...'

I feel small hands suddenly touch the side of my helm, and I see Jack gazing at me. "Optimus, it isn't your fault!"

"No, Jack. It is my-"

"Did you start the invasion on this planet?"

His question leaves me speechless, and he quickly continues. "Did you start tearing apart cities and killing innocents to find the Allspark? Did you torture Rachel on the Nemesis to know what made her tick? Did you voluntarily get thrown into that building on your own?" He huffs for air, his hands curled into fists. I am unable to reply, and he seems to realize this. He calms down and sighs. "You did none of that. It was the Decepticons that started all of this. If they had never come here, if they had never found the Allspark before you guys, none of this would have ever happened." I can see the logic in his words, and the truth is there...