[Ironhide watches him, quietly. It's almost too much -- to see Optimus, to hear him. If he were a 'bot who was more capable of showing his feelings, he'd have been some kind of mess. Instead, he can just look. And feel the odd, warm feeling Prime's presence brings.]

[He gave up everything to follow Optimus. He turned his back on friends, on soldiers he'd known his whole life. And every time he looks at Optimus, he knows it was the right thing to do.]

Good enough.

[He holds still, well aware he's under scrutiny. There's no denying he was badly injured. And he knows Optimus can tell.]

Yeah. So long as he can keep me strapped down here. I give it another day.