The car ride home was quite, Arcee had spent the car ride staring out the window and neither Jack or his mother were sure what to say. Eventough this this situation wasn't a disaster it was obvious that Arcee was taking it pretty hard and needed support, but how to support someone who has been literally changed into different species.
Taking a deep breath June decided to try and lighten the mood "So Arcee" she said getting her attention "how dose it feel to be riding inside of a car for change?" she asked.
The former two wheeler didn't answer right away, "It feels" she looked around the car before looking back at her "weird" her voice showing she was uncomfortable.
June looked back to her son silently asking for help. Jack thought for a moment trying to find the right words "Look Arcee" he leaned forward "I'm not gonna say I know how you feel because I have no idea how you feel. But I'll tell you what I do know, I know you Arcee". Hearing this Arcee turned her head fully to look at Jack as he continued to speak "I've seen you take down like half a dozen drones at once by yourself, save the world a couple of times and rescue me more time than I can count. If theres anyone who could handle something like this, its you" he said.
Arcee had a small smile on her face as she answered "That's sweet of you to say Jack, but..." she lifted her hand looking at new skin "I not that Arcee anymore" she said her smile gone.
"Your wrong" Jack said as reached forward taking Arcee's hand in his own "Autobot or human you're still Arcee and no relic or anything else will ever change that" he said looking her in the eyes.
Arcee was surprised when Jack grabbed her hand but hearing his words and knowing he meant every bit of it, she actually felt the sadness and the anger begin to fade away. A content smile formed on her face "Thanks Jack" she said.
Jack smiled back at her "Anytime partner" he said.
Acree was quite for a moment before saying "You can let go of my hand now".
Jack blinked and looked down to see his hand still holding Arcee's. He instantly let go and pulled his hand away "Sorry" he said trying to fight the blush that was forming on his cheeks.
Though June was focusing on the road she had heard everything and she was feely very proud of her son right now. She didn't know he was so good with words, looking back at him in the rear view mirror she couldn't help but find it cute to see him blushing. The atmosphere in the car was much better for the rest of the drive, when they finally reached the Darby house June remotely opened the garage door and parked the car inside using the remote again to close behind them. As they got out of the car June walked over to the door leading to the inside the house, she opened it "Arcee" she got her attention and stepped to the side gesturing to the doorway with her hand "Please come in" she said kindly.
Arcee smiled and gave a nod as she walked past her and entered the house for the first time. She had seen some of it through the door, but it was different to see it from the inside. It was simple but comfortable the living room connected to the kitchen and hall way led to the bathroom, June's bedroom and Jack's bedroom.
Arcee was brought out of her thoughts by strange feeling and a rumbling sound that coming from her. Startled she grasped her midsection "What was that? Whats going on?" she looked to June hopping this wasn't a medical issue.
As a nurse June would never laugh at someone's medical concerns but she had to admit seeing someone as tough as Arcee panic at a rumbling tummy was kind funny. "Calm down Arcee that's just the human bodies way of telling you to eat something" she said slowly.
"Eat human food" Arcee's voice showed uncertainty. She had seen Jack, Miko and Raf eating before and she had often wondered what it would be like. But right now the idea of eating made her feel uneasy.
"Don't worry Arcee we'll start with something simple" Jack walked over to the kitchen, grabbed two apples from a fruit bow and walked back handing one to Arcee. "Watch and do as I do" he took a bite out of the apple chewing it a few times before swallowing it "just remember to chew it slowly" he told her.
Arcee was still hesitant but when her stomach let out an even louder rumble she decided to go for it. She closed her eyes and took a small bite of her apple, her eyes popped open as she used her sense of taste for the first time. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. Without thinking she took another bite then another and another "Whoa, slow down Arcee" Jack's voice snapped her out of her flavour induced trance. As she chewed the apple pieces in her mouth, her face held a an expression of embarrassment at her momentary loss of control.
"Its fine Arcee" June said placing a hand on her shoulder "Its going to take a while for you to get a hang of things like this" she gently assured her.
Arcee gave a simple nod and continued to eat her apple at a slower pace. When she had eaten every bit except for the core which was as thin as toothpick, she looked at the June with one thing on her mind "Any more?"
June couldn't help but smile at Arcee's eagerness "I have some sandwiches in the fridge" she turned to her son "Jack could you get them please".
"No problem" having just finished his own apple he took what was left of Arcee's and threw them both in the small garbage bin in the kitchen. Jack grabbed the plate of four small sandwiches out of the fridge as well as a soda for himself and one for Arcee. When he returned to the living room he found Arcee scratching at the sweater again, they needed to find her something else to wear. The moment she saw Jack with the sandwiches she forgot about the itching, grabbed the plate and took one of the sandwiches and began devouring it.
Jack was going to have one himself but decided to let Arcee have her fill. As he opened his soda he remembered something "Oh yeah, Arcee" she looked up from the sandwiches "While your staying here your gonna need a place to sleep, you can just use my bed" he offered taking drink of his soda.
Arcee swallowed the sandwich was eating before responding "Really, will it be big enough for both of us?"
Jacks eyes popped open as he spit out his mouth full of soda barely missing both Arcee and his mother. "Cough, What no, cough" it took him a minute to steady himself "No I meant you can take the bed and I'll sleep on the couch" he explained.
"Okay then" Arcee said still wondering why Jack nearly soaked her with soda but decided not to ask. After finishing the plate of sandwiches she took opened her soda and seemed to drink the whole thing in one go to the surprise of both Jack and June "Thanks for the soda and sandwiches" she said sincerely before the itching sensation came back "but could I please get else to wear" she said starching at her arms.
June stepped forward "Okay Arcee, lets find you some new clothes" she started leading Arcee down the hall but before they left the kitchen Arcee suddenly stopped placing a hand on her stomach. "What is it Arcee? Your not still hungry are you?"
"No its something else" she said unsure herself "there's some kind of pressure down here" she gestured to just below her stomach.
"You need to use the bathroom and after you drank that soda in like ten seconds I'm not surprised" Jack said laughing slightly.
Arcee turned to Jack not seeing the joke "And how exactly do I use the bathroom?" she asked.
Arcee's question instantly wiped the smile off of Jack's face. He was just asked by a girl to explain to her how use the bathroom, his mouth opened but no words came out as his face turned a bright shade of red.
June decided to rescue her son before he got into an extremely awkward conversation "Come with me Arcee, I'll walk you through it" she told her. As Arcee nodded June could see Jack let out a large sigh of relief behind her. "You've got a lot to learn about being human" she said as they started for the bathroom "but you've also got to learn about..." she paused for a moment "being a woman".
This made Arcee stop in her tracks "Why does that worry me so much?" she asked the nurse her face holding a worried expression.
June placed a hand on Arcee's shoulder "Don't worry, I'll be here to explain it and answer any questions you might have" she said in a comforting tone. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it".
With that the two women continued towards the bathroom leaving Jack alone in the living room, planning to forget about what he just heard. After making himself a small snack, he started making up the couch to sleep on. He grabbed a spare blanket and pillow and placed them on the couch, it was nothing fancy but it would do. It was then he realised that if Arcee was going to sleep in his room he should probably clean it up a bit. He went to his room, picked up some stuff off the floor and put them away. No sooner than he had finished Arcee walked trough the door, she was still wearing the sweatpants but had traded the sweater for an over sized T-shirt Jack recognised as one of his own.
"Hey Arcee" Jack called.
"Hm" Arcee was snapped out of her thoughts, she looked over to him "Oh, hey Jack".
Jack could tell she was uncomfortable and even though he didn't want to know about her talk with his mother, if he could help Arcee by talking about it that's what he'd do "So how'd the talk go?"
"It was a lot of information to take in" she admitted.
"That bad huh?" he asked.
Arcee looked away for a moment "I wont lie to you. "I'm not going to be looking at humans the same way for a while" she said looking back him.
"Right well welcome to my room, I hope you enjoy your stay. If you need anything I'm here for you okay" he said.
Arcee smiled "Thanks Jack, actually there is one thing. How do you actually go to sleep?"
"Oh, well" he tried to think of the best to explain it "you just get comfortable, close your eyes and just drift off" he finished.
Arcee nodded "Seems simple enough".
Jack took that as his que to leave and headed to the door "By the way" he said suddenly "What did Bumble Bee say at the base that was so funny?" he asked.
Arcee placed a hand on her hip "He said I he didn't see the big deal, I was already the shortest on the team" she said clearly unamused.
Jack actually thought it was a little funny but chose not to say it. As he opened the door he turned back "Goodnight Arcee".
"Goodnight Jack" she replied as he left. Arcee took a quick look around the room, she could tell it had just been cleaned. It was very thoughtful of Jack she would have to thank him in the morning. She climbed into the bed, pulling the covers over herself and as Jack said 'got comfortable'. She looked up at the ceiling and slowly began closing her eyes as she fell asleep for the first time.