When Jack, Miko and Raf had been dropped off by Ms. Darby in front of the bases entrance (All but Ratchet were out on recon and unable to pick up their human friends), Ratchet knew something was instantly wrong. Miko and Raf were talking quietly and hurridly to Jack, who tried to get them to stop, and Jack was wearing large sunglasses and winced slightly with every step he took.

"What happend?" Rachet asked as the three humans entered.

"Jack-" Miko was cut off by Jack cover her mouth with his hand.

"Nothings wrong Ratchet." He said innocently. Ratchet raised a metal brow, unconvinced.

"Oh, is that so? Then perhaps you wouldn't mind taking off those awful looking sunglasses.

"Uh, no. My eyes are a little sensitive today to light."

Everyone jumped when Optimus' voice came from the console.

"Ratchet, requesting a groundbridge, same quardinates as last time."

Ratchet huffed in irritation, turning and setting in quardinates before opening the green lit portal device.

Ratchet then turned to look at Jack.

"And can you explain why exactly you're limping?" Ratchet asked.

"I'm just a little stiff, slept wrong."

Miko gave a snort before heading up to watch TV with Raf, ignoring the strange looks she was given.

Sighing, Ratchet shook his head before turning his attention back to Jack.

"Pehaps I should scan you, see if you pulled a muscle or something-"

"Nah, don't need it."

"Oh really, I insist."

"Ratchet, really. I'm fine."

"Something wrong?"

Ratchet and Jack looked over to see all the other 'bots enter through the groundbridge.

While Ratchet said 'yes', Jack said 'no' at the same time. Both were given strange looks from everyone at this.

Ratchet moved forward.

"I believe Jack is injured, he is limping for Primus' sake!"

"I told you Ratchet, I. Am. Fine." Jack said to the med bot, ignoring the concerned look from the other 'bots.

"Jack...?" The teen looked up at Arcee, who was looking at him with worry. Jack gave a reasuring smile.

"Don't worry so much-"

'Bee, who'd snuck up unnoticed, suddenly removed his sunglasses.

'Bee chirped in alarm, Bulkhead stumbled over his own feet a little, Arcee gasped along with Ratchet, and Optimus' brow furrowed.

A nasty, purple, blue and black bruise covered his right eye. It was so large it touched half of the bridge of his nose, and a large cut arched just below his left eye, dried, crumbling blood beneath it.

"Jack?" Arcee asked, her famous temper slowly seeping into her voice.

Jack sighed, gently taking the sunglasses back and shoving them into his pocket.

"It's nothing, it doesn't even hurt that much any more."

"Jack, who did this?" Optimus asked, kneeling down.

"It doesn't-"

"It was Vince." Raf suddenly said, earning a sharp look from Jack.

Arcee growled.

"That son-of-a-"

"Arcee! Not around Raf!" Jack cut in, waving his arms franticly before flinching.

Ratchet sighed.

"Go clean up your cut, then I'll fix you back up." He said. Jack nodded, leaving the room.

Arcee turned to Raf and Miko, "What happend?"

Miko hopped off the couch, then went around to lean on a rail.

"Jack basicly saved me an' Raf from a beating."

"Explain from the begining." Ratchet said. Miko nodded as she went to lean on the rail.

Flashback

Raf and Miko waited on the steps of the school, the former reading while Miko was humming randomly.

"Seriously, where is Jack?" Miko suddenly snapped, making Raf jump. The twelve year old then smiled reassuringly, "He'll be here soon." He said as he looked back down...

The book was suddenly ripped away from his hands.

Vince. And his cronies too.

He stood above them, holding the book to high for either Raf or Miko to reach.

"Well look at this, never thought you could get a girlfriend pip-squeek." He jeered, smirking as Raf stood and went to grab the book, but failed. Vince and his friends laughed.

"C'mon Vince, it's friday! Can't you just leave us be?" Raf asked, only to be pushed back into Miko, who caught the smaller male.

Flashback end

'Bee buzzed angrily, cutting off Miko's explination. The yellow 'bot looked at Raf with concern, but Raf smiled.

"Don't worry 'Bee, Jack protected us. Though he might not have had to if Miko hadn't told Vince off." Raf said, giving the asian girl a pointed look. The femme just shrugged.

"Not my fault he's a jerk."

Ratchet sighed.

"Can you please just continue explaining what happend to Jack?" He snapped, Miko nodded, continuing.

Flashback

Vince snarled at Miko as the girl smirked at him. Raf uncovered his ears (Which he'd covered when Miko began to use some extremely colorful language).

"You little-!" Vince raised his hand, ready to smack the teen with a book. Miko gasped as he swung down...

Miko was shoved out of the way and a milli-second later, the sound of a book contacting skin echoed. Raf bent down to help Miko up from the ground while the girl looked up to see her savior.

It was Jack.

His head was to the side from the contact of the book, but his face was almost scarily calm. The book had cut him slightly under one eye, and it bled slowly.

Vince looked a little shocked as Jack recovered, slowly looking forward again. Vince then smirked.

"Well look at that, Darby's actually protecting his little friends. Hehe, guess having only two friends does that." Vince taunted. Jack stared at him calmly.

"It's called protecting my family Vince." Jack spat out, making Vince flinch slightly.

It was unnerving, not only for Vince, but Miko and Raf as well.

"Well then, you want to take the beating for 'em?"

Vince punched Jack, sending him back into the brick wall of the school.

"Jack!"

The raven haired teen sent a small smile to his two friends before Vince kicked his right leg and his cronies joined in.

Raf curled into Miko's side, hiding his face as Vince and his group continued his attack on Jack.

Until the most unexpected happend.

Jack suddenly reached forward, grabbed Vince's shirt collar and slammed the red head teen into the wall. He then grabbed the back of Vince's collar, and turned, shoving him into his friends, making them tumble down the steps of the school.

He moved forward with amazing speed as the group recovered and drove his fist up into one male's chin. Another kicked at him, but Jack jumped, grabbing the leg and kicking the teen in the chest before letting him go.

He ducked as Vince swung at him, and, using one hand on the ground to brace himself, slammed his foot up into Vince's chin.

The group decided they'd had enough 'fun' and ran for it.

Jack turned back to Miko and Raf, who watched him with awe and shock. Jack laughed slightly, before offering a hand to each of them.

"C'mon, we gotta stop by my house and my mom'll take us to base."

Both his friends accepted the offered hands and Jack pulled them up, but as Jack turned, Miko grabbed his arm. Jack turned back to her, "Yeah?"

"Where'd you learn to fight like that? That...That was awesome!"

Jack gave another laugh.

"I learned from my dad." Was all he said before pulling Miko and Raf towards his house.

Flashback end

"Wait, Jack seriously fought about six guys at the same time?" Arcee asked increduously. Miko nodded, and Raf did so as well.

"One of Vince's cronies got in a kick to his ribs, but Jack insists he's fine." Raf said.

A soft look suddenly fell across Miko's features.

"When docbot said Optimus use to be like Jack, I thought it was just a joke, but now? He called us his family...he took a hit for me, and even more for both Raf and I. Now I can see Jack as being like a Prime..." Her voice faded. She then turned around and crossed her arms, smiling.

Everyone turned as Jack walked back into the room, the blood cleaned away from his cut, he still walked a little oddly. He went over to Ratchet, who bent down and looked him over for any more injury.

"Miko and Raf explained what happend. What you did was extremely reckless Jack and-"

"I know Ratchet, but what would you have done in my position? Let Miko get hurt? Or Raf? I did what instinct told me to do, and it worked out fine."

"Instinct?" Ratchet echoed, brow furrowing. Jack nodded.

"Hey, dad always said I could never stand to see anyone get hurt." Jack said softly, smiling up at the 'bots.

"Your creator, he taught you how to fight?" Optimus asked, Jack shook his head.

"No, he taught me how to defend, to protect. Fighting and defending are two different things."

"Indeed." Optimus said, nodding in agreement.

"Though I'm surprised you know that."

Jack laughed while Ratchet carefully proded him with a finger, searchng for any other problems.

"Fighting is when you hurt others for the hell of it (Everyone else was surprised at him for saying it so boldly). Defending and protecting, that's fighting only when you have to. I didn't throw the first punch, Vince did. I was entitled to defend myself."

Miko and Raf suddenly came down to where Jack was, and hugged him.

"Thanks Jack." Miko and Raf said in unison. Jack flinched as his bruised rib was touched, but hid it well, only Optimus, Ratchet and Arcee noticed.

"Your welcome, and Miko? Please, never say those words to Vince, or anyone again. I don't think Raf could handle it."

Everyone laughed.

Hope you guys liked it! It's sorta releated to this story I'm gonna be working on. Another 'Jack isn't all he seems to be' story. Anywho, hope you liked it!