A week went by and he always woke up to this reality, in the mental hospital, but it felt like an eternity to him. Sam was his only friend, though he never spoke and Pete always laughed at him with a few others. Ratchet couldn't feel anything anymore and he was just an empty shell. The doctor was silent most of the time now, staying close to Sam as they went to the garden a lot as they both enjoyed the area. It was a constant routine filled with no meaning. Ratchet stared at a flower quietly as he sat in the grass, barely speaking a word anymore.

Sam stared at the grass then at him for a moment as he thought about what the man went through. Ratchet had been watched closely for a while but now they left him alone, figuring he wasn't any harm to them. The younger silent man stared at his hands then looked at the old man again before gently gripping his arm with concern.

Ratchet didn't react right away, simply staring before looking to Sam. He studied him for a moment before looking to the hand on his arm quietly. "What?" He asked after a long moment, he then looked back up at him. Every movement slow.

The other man watched him with concern again then glanced over to the wall that kept them there. A lot of times the place kept them here for only a few months, but he had been here longer. Sam looked at him again then picked a flower and held it out to him. He carefully took his hand and faced his palm up to the sky. "Things... are not... as they seem..." he whispered and set it in his hand. Speaking for the first time to the old man.

Ratchet looked at him blankly, struggling to understand. He slowly looked down at the flower in his hand then looked up at the sky. "Fake." He muttered as he began trying to get up, having very little energy. He trembled a bit and looked to the wall. He then looked at Sam. "Why... why are you here?"

"Go inside." Sam said as he stood and helped him up. He held on to his arm firmly, yet gently and led him inside the building. "Wait here." he whispered and helped him sit in the main room. He glanced around then crouched by him and furrowed his brow. "Things aren't as they seem." he muttered again then carefully stood and walked out of the room. Leaving the man there for a moment.

Ratchet frowned deeper, not understanding as he sat down. He stayed sitting as he watched the man go before looking down at the flower in his hand. "What...?" He murmured in confusion. He stared at the flower, blinking as he didn't know what the man meant.

Sam had disappeared somewhere and didn't come back, leaving him there for a half hour. The other patients were playing games or just doing something. He was still staring at the flower when he heard someone enter. "Grandad?" he looked up to see Skye. She choked back a sob and covered her mouth as tears fell down her face.

Ratchet looked up and his eyes widened. "Skye?" He gasped, standing up quickly, gripping the flower. "W-what... how did you get in here?" He whispered as he hurried over to her, gently raising his hand to set on her cheek. He wasn't sure if she was real.

She rushed forward seeing as he was weak and struggling a little to walk. He seemed to be in a daze and he remembered she was dead. That's what they told him. She hugged him tightly and buried her face in him as she sobbed. "I lost you... I'm so sorry... I lost you..." She choked and he noticed she was smaller as if she had lost weight. He could feel her bones a little but not horribly.

The old man looked down at her, frowning deeply. "I... don't understand. You're dead... how are you here? What's with you?'' He muttered at her weight. He looked at her worriedly, stroking her hair. He didn't care much if it was a hallucination. He just wanted to see his family. At least for a little.

"What?" She asked as she looked at him and her eyes widened in surprise. "Grandad... I'm not dead... I'm right here. I'm real... I went to the surface and left you at the hospital to get some rest... when I came back you were gone... no one knew where you were... I've been looking for you for two weeks." She choked. He could tell she had hardly slept either. But he didn't care, his emotions and feelings were locked away because of the medication. She gripped his face between her hands to try and let him know she was real.

Ratchet stared at her, unsure what to say. "I... I can't believe you." He muttered. "I was told you died." He shook his head. "I've been here for a year..." he said quietly, looking at her face. He could tell she had been looking for a long time but wasn't sure what to say or how to react. "I can't believe anything I see. I'm insane, Skye. Your not real. No one here is probably real." He stated.

"No... Grandad please... it's only been two weeks." She sobbed as she gripped his face. "I don't know what lies they are feeding you... but I'm here... this is real." She choked as tears fell down her face, feeling her heart break for him. The nurses and guards stopped at the doorway and watched.

The old doctor looked at her blankly, awkwardly standing there as she cried. "How do I know this is real? That this is truly you? How do I know that it's been two weeks?" Ratchet asked as he watched her, his eyes looking into hers. "I don't trust myself anymore, Skye... it is best I'm here." He said quietly, blinking at her. "Besides, if you were real, how could I leave?"

She buried her face in her hands and sobbed silently. She didn't know what to do and was exhausted. He noticed the doctors and nurses seemed surprised by what was happening. A few left to go find someone as the young woman sobbed. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't believe you... I'm so sorry you felt you had to leave... I don't know how to prove myself to you..." she trailed off as she realized something. Ever since she saved him he didn't want to be around her. He wasn't happy with her and was constantly saying everything was fake. Why was she trying to make him go with her? He seemed happiest here.

Ratchet stared at her quietly, unable to react the same way she was. "I would... enjoy your company. I do not want for you to go." He said quietly. "I love you Skye but I've seen so much that I'm not sure what is real. But no matter which reality I am in, I do want you with me." He said honestly, staring at her with a frown. "I... don't feel it but I have been scared here since day one. I'm glad you're here, I was told I lost you and that my family died. I was told I was here for a year and that I took my medication all the time. I don't understand how I got here, last I was at the hospital and then suddenly I was here but I don't want you to go." He whispered. "I'm not happy here. I'm just in a state of mind where I don't know anymore. I think I'm insane. I think everyone does. I wake up in different realities with different scenarios. I just want stability, Skye. I don't want the universe or my mind to continue these tricks on me. Do you understand?" he rambled.

She nodded quickly and buried her face in her hands as she sobbed silently. She was too exhausted to try and argue or say anything. She didn't know how to help him understand what was happening. That this was real. This was his reality and he refused to accept it. The young woman felt she should leave him in peace.

"I-I'm sorry... I can't watch this anymore." A nurse said and the others shushed her. "Henry, you have only been here for two weeks. They told us to lie about it and keep you here they didn't want-"

"That's quite enough." A tall thin woman said as she walked in and glared darkly at her. "You don't need to say anything else." She said seriously. This woman was in charge of the whole operation.

"You." Skye seethed angrily and walked over to her. "You've kept him here! You've confused him, and made him question everything!" She screamed and smacked her hard across the face. The guards grabbed her and held on to her. The young woman struggled weakly but her energy was spent already.

"Perhaps she needs to be locked away as well." The woman said seriously as she glared at Skye then motioned for the guards to take her away.

Ratchet watched them, blinking a little as he looked between them. He couldn't get angry at them because of the medication, but did walk toward them. "Let her go, she isn't mentally ill, so there is no reason for you to handle my granddaughter this way." Ratchet spoke as he gently took Skye's hand then looked to the woman. "What kind of hospital are you running here? Keeping patients here when they have done nothing wrong to be here in the first place? You give false medication. You bring in false hopes. You lie. What is wrong with you?" He narrowed his eyes a bit, acting angry although couldn't bring himself to be anything. He then looked at his granddaughter. "Skye... try to calm down." He muttered then looked back to the woman. "Why are you doing this? Who else have you done this to?"

"She's doing this because she's a Decepticon." A voice said and the doctors and nurses turned around to see Sam. They gasped at his accusation and at the fact that he spoke after so long. "Isn't that right, Deanna?" He growled lowly and the woman narrowed her eyes.

"I see you've finally located me. Not sure why you took so long to confront me." She seethed angrily through gritted teeth. "I have a wonderful operation here, and you've ruined it." She spat as she clenched her fists.

"Let everyone go and we'll have our fight without hurting anyone." He said seriously and clenched his fists in turn. She scoffed and rolled her eyes then glanced at Skye and Henry. "Don't." He warned as he growled.

"Oh you'd love to keep people from getting hurt, wouldn't you? But I need leverage." She sneered. She jumped at them and picked up the young woman with ease before running off towards the exit.

Ratchet blinked with surprise before trying to run after her only to fall to his knees, his legs wobbly. His eyes were wide as he watched them go. "Stop her!" He shouted to the guards that stood there in shock, only letting her go before soon running after, realizing. Ratchets eyes were wide, his breathing quickening. "Sam... what just happened? How did you know she was a Decepticon? Where is she taking her? What's going on? Is this real?" Ratchet rambled in panic, his heart rate increasing as he looked up toward the man weakly. He shakily began to stand, worry slowly entering his eyes as he felt the medication wear off a bit. He needed stability before he became more insane. If he was in the first place. Was this real?

Sam watched her go and went to follow but stopped and looked back at him. He glanced around then quickly helped him up. "Get up." He whispered quietly and helped him walk. "I'll answer everything I can soon, but if I don't stop her... you'll never see Skye again and the cons will destroy this place. This. Is. Real Ratchet." He said seriously and gripped his shoulders as he stared into his old eyes intently.

Ratchet gripped onto his arm and his eyes widened. "You know my name... is Ratchet." He whispered, staring at him. "Who are you?" He asked quietly as he walked with him. "What do we do to get Skye back? What do we do to save the others if the cons are here? Where are the others?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing as hope and panic rose inside him.

"Only the one is here. I need you to gather all your strength and either come with me or go somewhere safe. But I have to stop her." He said seriously as he looked at him.

Ratchet frowned deeply. "I... I'll come with you. I want to help get my granddaughter back." He said firmly. "How can I help you?"

"First off I need to run. She's going to the train station to take Skye to the surface. Once on the surface, she'll be gone for good." He said seriously and looked at him. "I don't want to strain you though." He muttered.

Ratchet looked at him silently for a moment. "I'm not sure if I could keep up with you. Go ahead. Bring her to our apartment. She will tell you where it is... I'll figure out something." The old man told him quietly.

He watched him for a moment then glanced around before looking at him again. "Go home... I'll explain when I can, Ratchet." he whispered and hugged him tightly before running off. The doctor remembered that no one on his team would willingly hug him, except one. Bumblebee.

Ratchet blinked, staring after the man that ran off. His heart swelled with relief and uncertainty. This was real? That was truly Bumblebee? His family was... alive? 

"I'm...real? People see me and have an idea of who I really am? I'm... not crazy?" He whispered, blinking. He began leaving and going home, no one stopped him this time, his eyes suddenly swelling with tears as he went. The walk home had his emotions slowly pour out as they had been trapped for so long. He sobbed softly for joy as he began making food for the two, needing to do something as he waited for them to come home. The old man fell to his knees as his emotions overwhelmed him all at once. He pondered on Skye and Bumblebee, trying to make sense of it. He wasn't insane. Bumblebee was real...

Surely that meant the others were real and alive somewhere in this twisted world. For once in what felt like an eternity, he had hope.