Ratchet looked up at him and frowned deeply. "This is a dream." He muttered, looking around then at him. "Isn't it? If I fall asleep here then I'll wake up at the hospital again."

The Prime helped him up then glanced around the room for a moment. "Why do you think that?" he asked and looked at him with concern.

"Because I'm actually in a hospital with Jack and Skye." Ratchet frowned. "I don't understand this, Optimus. One moment I'm here, the next I'm there. Making holoforms shouldn't cause this and it isn't coincidental that I can remember everything each time. Something is going on. Something is wrong with reality... at least with me."

The Prime watched him then gently gripped his shoulder plate again. "Perhaps... one of theses reality's aren't real." he said gently. "Perhaps it's a memory that your mind is manipulating." he said.

The medics optics dimmed a bit and he looked down, knowing exactly what was wrong. "This isn't real... here... right now with you..." he whispered and shook his helm.

Optimus stared at him then glanced to the computer. He watched it for a moment then looked back at him. "Why do you think that, Old friend?" He asked gently. 

"Because I cannot have memories of something that has not happened yet." Ratchet frowned. "My... subconsciousness is putting these memories through me... as if it's trying to help me remember. I'm missing you... but I'm slowly remembering." He shook his helm a bit and glanced at the computer. "Something wrong happens when creating holoforms... I believe we get... stuck.."

Optimus watched him intently then nodded slowly as if confirming this. His subconscious was trying to find answers. "Correct. We get stuck like this and can't communicate through our coms." He said gently. "Do you remember how we stay in contact?" He asked. "Do you remember what happened and why we were separated?" He asked. 

The doctors expression filled with puzzlement. "No... I don't remember it at all." He muttered, frowning deeply. "Optimus... tell me. Tell me what I need to do." He looked up at him. 

His leader looked back to the screen and typed a little then furrowed his optic ridges. "Our base was destroyed by the Decepticons and we were forced to leave." He explained carefully. "I stayed behind to close the bridge..." he mumbled.

The images and memories of that day suddenly rushed into the medics helm. Everyone left with the children and they were spread across the country. He remembered he was angry with his friend for destroying the omega lock, and their only chance to get home. How Optimus watched him leave and they said goodbye just before the cons leveled the base.

Ratchet frowned deeply, looking away as he remembered. He recalled letting himself follow his orders. He remembered never finding Smokescreen, never finding Bumblebee and Raf until ten years later almost, only running into Arcee and Bulkhead once more.

"You... your offline." He whispered, his voice shaking in realization. His optics watered a bit and he looked at him, not meeting his gaze. "We... we left you."

The Prime stared at him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yes... I stayed to ensure my team... my family escaped. And... yes... I'm offline..." he whispered. 

Ratchets expression fell and he slowly sat down, putting his helm in his servos. "Primus... this is..." he shook his head. "I won't be able to find you. I have to find Bumblebee... Smokescreen... the others." He frowned. 

Optimus slowly walked over and sat by his side. "You can find them... do you remember how to locate them?" He asked quietly. 

The medic took in a shaky vent. "No... I don't remember anything before I was separated from June at the slave mines." He muttered. He looked up at him, frowning deeply. How many times had he said that?

The Prime watched him then gently set a servo on his shoulder plate again. "Ratchet... you have to remember..." he whispered and glanced to the computer. "We have to stop the cons... even though I'm gone... you can still do this." He said seriously. 

Ratchet shook his helm, feeling like a youngling from the way he was feeling emotional. He was so overwhelmed. "I can't do that! Optimus, I'm a medic. Not a leader." Ratchet said seriously, looking at him with a lost look. "We need you."

Optimus smiled a little even though it was sad. "I am no longer here... old friend..." he whispered quietly and he started to fade as he kept his servo on his shoulder plate.

Ratchet got up quickly, his optics widening. "Optimus! No, please, don't leave me." He pleaded, trying to grab onto his shoulders and arms as he tried to stop him from fading. Panic began filling his chassis and optics. "Optimus!"

The Prime stared at him then gently set his free servo on his other shoulder plate. "Ratchet... you don't have to lead..." he said as he faded. "Just find them and bring them together... the new leader will be..." his voice faded as he completely disappeared. The world started to fade away from him as he slowly woke.

Ratchet jolted up, his eyes wide. "Oh no." He muttered and began getting up again, hurrying to the phone book.

~

A few minutes earlier, Percy was walking the halls quietly, looking into rooms of the hospital with a deep frown as he searched for someone.

Skye was walking down the hallway from just leaving her grandfather, and bumped into the other man as she turned a corner. "Sorry..." she muttered and looked at him then continued walking as she hugged herself.

Percy blinked and looked back at her, confused by her expression. He continued walking and soon found Ratchet sleeping. He went to the old man and began digging through his coat pocket on his chair, looking for something. He had to find it before he woke. He heard someone and quickly left the room.

Skye wiped her tears away and went to her father's side then sat by him and gently gripped his hand. She stared blankly then quietly started talking to him. Jack was still and unresponsive. His heart monitor beeped slowly, his heart rate slow as he slept. His ring was still on his hand, a bit old in color. 

She stared at his hand as she spoke to him then gently gripped it and ran her finger over the ring. She sighed heavily as she closed her eyes and let a few tears fall down her face. A nurse came inside but stopped seeing the two together, seeing she need a moment. Jack's hand twitched but he didn't wake up. He simply stayed still. 

Skye glanced to his face and stared blankly then gently kissed his knuckles. Seeming if she could get a reaction from him. "I know you can hear me..." she whispered. Jack's fingers moved ever so slightly, as if it took a lot of energy to open or close his hand. His expression never changes, lying quietly and relaxed.

His daughter smiled a little as tears fell down her face and she kept his knuckles against her lips. "Don't leave me... please..." she whispered. 

His hand went still as if he had no more energy, the heart monitor never beeping faster or slower. The nurse walked over quietly. "You should let him build up his strength." He whispered. "You look like you need the same." 

She looked up at him then nodded slowly as she looked at her father again. "I know... it's been... I'm not sure how long now... he should be waking up..." she whispered as her tears fell. 

He nodded a little. "I know. Give him a while longer. He is really close." He smiled a bit, reassuring her. "Talking to him is truly helping him." He nodded. 

"Really?" She asked hopefully and looked at him as she smiled slightly. "You think it's really working?" She whispered. 

"I do." He smiled a little, looking at her father. "He's definitely made more progress ever since you got here." He told her honestly as he looked back at her. 

She smiled slightly and looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you... Mr... um..." she whispered quietly and looked at her father again. 

"Oh no, I'm too young to have the title Mister." He chuckled and smiled a little. "My name is Ethan. Riley may have mentioned me a few times to you. Your Skye right? Skye Darby?"

"Ethan.... no... I'm confused... and yes I am... why?" She asked quietly and looked at him. 

The doctor hummed a little. "Well, Riley and I are good friends. I just figured she might... she talks about you a lot." He said as he began leaving the room. "Want some coffee?" He asked gently. 

"No thanks... well... hot chocolate if you have it..." she whispered quietly and looked at him then smiled a little. "Oh... I need... I need to go check on my grandad... so I'll be there..." she whispered and kissed her father's hand. She got up and walked to the door.

Ethan smiled a bit and nodded. "Hot Chocolate coming up." He said kindly and began leaving to get her the warm drink. She thanked him and hugged herself as she made her way to the other room. She didn't know if her grandfather would want her there though. He seemed so sad and confused with her around.

When she went into the room he was gone again, the sheets and blankets thrown off. She could see him just down the hall though. She furrowed her brow as she watched him and glanced to the room again. What was going on with him?

A few nurses watched him and seemed confused by his behavior. Something wasn't right about the man and he seemed crazy. A nurse walked over as he went through the phone book. "Um... sir? What are you doing?" She asked. 

"I'm looking for a name, what does it look like I'm doing?" Ratchet asked with an annoyed tone as he flipped through the pages, looking for B names. He looked for a last name that would stand out, silent. He began bringing the phonebook with him back to his room slowly as he walked.

"Sir you can't take that with you. You'll have to leave it here at the desk." She said seriously and furrowed her brow. He didn't see anything helpful and ignored her. "Perhaps we can help you find a name." She tried. 

"It will only be for a few minutes...no one uses the phone much." Ethan said gently to the her, holding a cup of hot chocolate. "Let him use it for a little while." 

Ratchet frowned and sat down on his bed once he entered the room. "Skye, can you come help me?" He asked, ignoring the nurse again. He looked up at his granddaughter, his eyes filled with hope. "I think I can find your mom." He said as other doctors came up to the nurse, watching the scene. 

Skye stared at him for a moment then walked over and nodded silently. The nurse let them have the phone book then left again as she huffed angrily. She went to go talk to someone about this and vent. Skye sat by his side and studied him intently. She then glanced at the book in his hands.

Ethan watched the nurse go before going to Skye and handing her her drink. Ratchet looked at her and smiled a bit. "I don't think calling Miko will work but I think if we call... do you remember Bulkhead? Does the name ring a bell?" He asked gently, looking at her, searching her face. He knew she thought he was crazy, he knew everyone was starting to think so but he trusted her. 

She stared at the cup in her hands and furrowed her brow a little. She thought for a few minutes then finally looked at him. "Yes... it does..." she whispered and glanced to the window. "Mom talked about him and... um... Wheelwright?" She said trying to remember. "No... it was close to Dad's name... Wheeljack." She muttered and frowned deeply before looking at her cup again. Feeling more lost and unsure about everything.

"That might be right... I don't know." The doctor muttered to himself as he looked at the book. He started to get frustrated with the situation.

He paced as he looked through the book and Ethan got him some coffee. He drank it when it came and didn't notice his granddaughters silence. He continued to pace and got a headache, then felt dizzy. Skye watched him intently as she bit her lip, she gripped the cup more and sighed shakily. A nurse came over and looked at the small group.

"Skye? The doctors wish to speak to you about... your father and..." she trailed off as the young woman looked up. She nodded slowly and got up then headed to the doorway.

Ratchet blinked, frowning deeply. "Skye... wait..." he muttered, his expression filled with concern. "Be careful please." He said quietly as Ethan began helping him into the bed. Ratchet frowned as she left and his eyelids grew heavy, slowly shutting.

When he woke up again, he was still in the hospital but in a different room that wasn't familiar to him. It looked more like a bedroom and his clothes were different. He wasn't hooked up to any machines but he knew he was in a hospital. Ratchet groaned softly and began sitting up, rubbing his head in confusion. He frowned deeply and took the blanket off and began leaving the room, furrowing his brow as he looked around.

He saw nurses and people being wheeled around in chairs. They were talking to each other and he realized they were patients as well. "Oh hello Henry." A nurse said as she smiled brightly.

Ratchet blinked, frowning. "Where am I?" He asked as he looked around then back to the nurse. "What happened?" He asked as he studied her with confusion written across his face.

"Oh... I'm sorry Henry... did you have another one of your dreams?" She asked and sighed as she motioned for him to follow. "You're in the mental hospital... you've been here for a year now." She said gently then started walking off.

Ratchet frowned and followed her. "I'm in a what? I'm not crazy." His eyes widened. "Where's my family?" He asked seriously as panic began to fill him.

She looked at him then shook her head sadly. "Henry... your family died a few years ago... you held it together with your granddaughter... but she died after going to the surface and... you lost it." She whispered. Ratchet stopped suddenly and stared at her as he felt his world spinning. That couldn't be true. This wasn't happening.

He wasn't crazy, was he?