Arcee had managed to get the chip out of his spark after an hour or so of planning and procrastinating. All of them had been wary to make any attempts of removing it, it being so close to his very life source... There was a collective sigh of relief once Arcee dropped it onto the table with a victorious look.

The collar was a bit easier to remove.

Now, it was keeping him alive.

Ratchet hadn't stirred since the electrocution, but he hadn't perished, either. He was weak, hooked up to keep him stable, barely hanging on. None of the Autobots had any estimation of how long he'd be unconscious... Or if he'd even wake up.

What if he didn't?

A day passed slowly, dreadfully, and nothing changed. That was to be expected. He wouldn't get better overnight.

Jennie had spent the entire night awake, by his side, knees tight to her chest. She intended to be there when he woke... If he woke.

Now, she sat, cross legged by his helm, watching his closed optics hopefully. If they opened, she'd be there to see it.

Optimus wasn't happy with her unhealthy lack of sleep. She hadn't gotten any food, either... She had received a gentle lecture, but paid no mind to it.

Now, the Prime approached her slowly, venting softly. "Jennie?"

"Hi, Optimus."

"I want you to come with me to Jasper, to get food and to get out of the confinement of the base for some time." He said gently, but with firm intent. It wasn't a request.

Jennie shook her head a little, sending him a tired look. "No thank you... I want to stay here."

"You need to take a break." His voice became a little firmer. "I'll take you anywhere you want for breakfast." He bribed a little.

"Optimus... I really don't want to... I want to be with him..." She pleaded.

Optimus vented. "Jennie, come with me to Jasper, allow me to take care of you." He pushed in a soft voice. He received one last begging look before Jennie finally relented. She said nothing, only stood and let him take her into his hand.

The young girl said nothing as they drove, staring out the window with a dull, faded expression. Optimus didn't know what to say to her... She seemed so burnt out. He understood, feeling rather upset about it himself. Usually, that empathy made it easier to converse with her, but now, it felt significantly harder. Perhaps it was her exhaustion.

The Prime had let himself slip into thought as he drove, and his focus left Jennie, and thus he noticed the tears a little late. "Jennie...?"

She furiously wiped them away and shook her head.

"Jennie..."

There was a moment of silence before she spoke in a shaky, weak voice. "It's like he's still gone..." Jennie hid her face and covered her mouth to stifle the sob that came out. "I wanted him back, but not like this..."

Optimus listened to her cry, spark sinking. "Ratchet will be alright, Jennie. We just have to wait." He assured softly. "I understand, however... Don't stop believing in him. He will push through this." His wheels squeaked a little as he turned in to a parking lot of a restaurant that he knew she enjoyed. He had previously asked her on another day he was driving her around. The moment his vehicular mode was parked, his holoform sparked to life.

Jennie didn't acknowledge him, still hiding. Optimus reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "Jennie?"

She sniffled and whimpered. "Jennie's not here right now."

A smile crossed his lips. "Well, I suppose I'll have to talk to this Jennie shaped figure, in that case." He nudged her gently. "Ratchet will be disappointed when he wakes up."

Jennie scoffed.

"He'll probably yell at me for losing Jennie. I don't know what I'll tell him when he asks about her."

A small laugh escaped her, and she finally lifted her head and looked at him.

Optimus smiled at her. "Let's get you food, and then we can go back, and we can wait for him. Are you going to be alright?"

Jennie sighed and wiped her tears away. "Yeah, I will. That sounds good. Thanks, Optimus." She opened the door and hopped out, and they walked towards the door. Optimus pushed against it to open it for her, not looking forward in advance, and jumped a little when the door smacked right into a man trying to exit.

"Oh! I apologize, I didn't see you." Optimus apologized quickly, withdrawing the door immediately and giving the man room to step out. He was met with a furious glare.

"Would you look where you're going,  you moron!" The man snapped angrily, looking from Optimus to Jennie.

Jennie froze as their gazes met.

They both stood, stiff, staring one another down. Optimus watched, confused.

"Jennie..." Jason murmured slowly, voice rising with anger.

Jennie's legs trembled a little as her hand darted for Optimus' arm, and she cringed behind him, heart dropping and racing off without her.

"Well, look who it is, the runaway." Her father snarled furiously, taking a threatening step towards them, hands turning to fists.

Optimus tensed and let Jennie slip behind him. "Who are you?" He asked slowly.

"I'm her father, you idiot! Who do you think you are!?" He shoved at Optimus' chest; the Prime didn't budge. "And I demand you let her come home with me! This is kidnapping, you ought to be in jail!"

Understanding flicked in Optimus' eyes, and he backed up a little. "Jennie, get in the truck." He ordered quietly. She obeyed without hesitation, retreating to the passenger seat.

"No! You aren't going to keep her anymore!" Jason shouted, swinging for Optimus' jaw, but the Prime was ready. Easily, he caught Jason's fist, holding it tight.

"We are going to leave." Optimus said firmly.

Jason tore at his grip desperately, before he starting shouting, "Help! He's trying to kidnap my daughter!"

A waitress and a few customers immediately approached, slowly, and Optimus froze. Jennie whimpered and shrank down in the seat.

Optimus released his holoform and started the engine with a roar, and tore out as fast as he could, and as safely as he could. It wasn't long before there were police cars on his tail, the waitress had called upon seeing Jason and Optimus interact.

He'd have to get away from them lomg enough to escape through a groundbridge.

"Hold on." Optimus growled as he turned a tight corner, disappearing into an alley. "Arcee, I need a bridge, now!" Another fast corner jostled Jennie a bit, and she yelped.  The police cars were behind them a turn, but it would be soon before he was cornered. Now was the best opportunity. The bridge opened right in front of them, and he skidded to a stop once he was inside the safety of the base. Jennie hopped out immediately, walking towards the platform. "Jennie?" Optimus asked, out of breath.

"I'm fine, Optimus, thank you..." She sent him a smile, but continued on her path. She stopped in front of Miko. "Do you have your hair dying stuff?"

Miko stared at her, confused. "Uh, I have a small kit, I had to touch up on my pink this morning... Why?"

"You had to bleach yours, right? Your hair is too dark to dye without bleaching it."

"Yeah... Do you need the bleach? Are you dying your hair?" Miko rummaged through her bag as she spoke. "I really like your red..."

"My dad just made a public scene about me being kidnapped. I... I want to be able to go into town without having people looking for me. I don't want to be 'found.'" Jennie gratefully took the kit from Miko, and quickly made her way to the makeshift bathroom for the humans.

Optimus watched her go, puzzled.

It was about an hour later that she emerged.

Optimus and the children watched with shocked expressions as she entered the room once again.

Her hair had been bleached to a faded white, and had been cut to hang just above her shoulders. One streak was dyed a bright orange.

"Oh... Oh wow..." Miko murmured. "You and Ratch are twinsies. It looks good, but wow. You really went to an extreme level."

Optimus didn't say anything, only watched as she returned to her guardian's side.

"I hope you'll like it, Ratch."