Chapter Text
Evening had fallen in Jasper, Nevada. Since it was a small city, most people were home or heading home at that time. Some shops would close or get ready to close. The problem with Jasper was that it was a small town, a small suburb far from the big cities of Nevada. With a population of barely 1,000 people, with one elementary school and one high school, surrounded by the desert and rocks, it lacked things big cities had. Like proper hotels.
Not that he had a problem with motels; the simplicity was cozy and felt homey. It also fit with the city's calm allure; how strange would it be if a big, 20 floors hotel was built tomorrow? Besides, motels in Jasper were clean.
His girlfriend did mind, however. She absolutely hated them. And, in her case, luckily, the only motel in Jasper didn't have cribs available and she didn't want her child to spend the night in their car seat. It meant that they would have to spend the night elsewhere.
Looking in the rear mirror, he noticed his young son asleep, as well as his newborn baby. His girlfriend was bored, she was tired and cranky. She wanted to find a place to sleep.
"John, just get us home!" She said, groaning in discomfort. Her breasts hurt, leaking milk on her special bras. She had given birth barely two months ago, and her body was just recovering. She was slowly gaining her body shape again, her metabolism working in overdrive.
"Our house is empty. Like literally. Where do you want to sleep, the floor?"
"There is a big city near with a nice hotel. Let's go there, we can afford it!"
John unhappily refused and kept driving. The more he did the more he realized the city hadn't changed at all. It was still the same. The houses looked the same. He could see the same church, the same hospital, the same burger restaurant. It felt great to be home.
And it was incredibly painful.
"I won't miss you…"
"Look, I know someone who could let us sleep with… I know a place."
"Do they have a crib?"
Now that he thought about, it was incredibly doubtful. Unless, of course, that person had started again like he had.
"Doubtful. Maybe we should leave and come back tomorrow…"
"I am so hungry. Let's go there. I doubt anything is open right now."
John hoped that person was home. He hoped that person hadn't left once he did, once he abandoned her. The house stood in the mediocre streetlight. It looked like it hadn't changed: same colours, from the walls to the doors. There was light inside but he wasn't sure if it meant there was someone there or if it was just on to be on. He waited, parked in front of the house as if he was spying. His girlfriend sighed in annoyance and impatience.
"What are you waiting for?" She asked him. She was usually a nice angel. Why was she showing her nasty claws suddenly?
"Just… I don't know."
"Go! Or I'm driving off to the next city!"
John got out, took off his sunglasses and walked to the porch of the house. Everything was familiar. Nothing had changed. But he had. He definitely had.
He rang the doorbell.
x.x.x
"You know, mom, it's not everyday you are home with me when I don't have work." Jack realized as he bit into his food. Ever since his mom had found out about Arcee and the Autobots, she had trusted him more to be alone. She called him less, worked more. It was perhaps because Arcee was a big sister, if not a second mother to him. She did fuss just as much.
"I want to be with my son when he's not busy saving the world." June answered with a bright smile, referring to his original yet comical voicemail.
She served herself another time, happily eating dinner with her son. She realized that her body got used to not eat full meals. It was when she was eating a wholesome dinner that she realized just how hungry she was, when she wasn't sleeping.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang and the duo looked up. Who could be ringing? It's not like Jack was waiting for company. And neither was she! And Arcee had no reason to get out of the garage. Or… ring the doorbell and blow her cover. Could it be the men who kidnapped her? Fowler had suggested she moved but since the Autobots knew about her son and herself, she had deemed it unnecessary. There was only herself and Jack, and they had the Autobots to protect them.
June stood up from where she was as Jack kept eating, unfazed. Nothing could shake him anymore. Everything was something he had either experienced or seen before. Working with giant robots really changed one's perception of life in general. He wasn't interested at anyone at the door either. Mostly because in Jasper, where nothing interesting happened, it was someone passing through looking for directions.
June opened the door, and froze.
She had returned back from work and Jack was watching television. She wondered why Jack wasn't in bed yet; the little guy had school tomorrow. On the kitchen table, she saw boxes of pizza and soda cans. Everything was so unreal. Usually, everyone was asleep by the time she was back. Food would be on the table for her to reheat and eat. Then she would be sleeping next to her boyfriend—why was he holding a suitcase and a sports bag?
"John? What are you doing?"
"I have been offered a post in New York." He answered, never looking up as he made one last trip all around the modest home. Everything seemed to be in his hands. "I took it."
June put her bag down on a chair and took off her jacket. Jack was watching television from the couch, playing with his spaceship and making very faint noises. He ignored the conversation.
"New York? What is wrong with you? Why didn't you tell me before?" Seeing as he was quiet, she lost patience. "John, answer me—"
"I'm leaving, June."
The woman froze. Jack froze. The house became silent. John was... leaving? For how long? Many questions pushed inside the nurse's head at the same time.
"I'm leaving now."
"When will you come back, then?" As she got no answer, June asked again. "When?"
"You don't get it? I'm leaving you, June. It's over."
The words hit her like a car hits a deer in the night. It hurt as they bounced inside her ears. Her boyfriend, father of their little Jackson, was leaving them? No... she was dreaming! It wasn't true, it wasn't possible!
He had planned everything. His boss had announced him that he had transfered him to a higher post in New York, the city that never sleeps. So, secretly, for the six months that followed, John made research, found an apartment and bought his ticket. He was ready. All he had left to do was break up with his ancient life and start a new one.
"Why?" It came out of June's mouth as a whisper.
"I... don't like this life. It's a routine! It's like a rerun of the same episode of the same damn show! Wake up, eat breakfast, bring the kid to school, go to work, take the kid back home after work... you always come back late. Even when you are home early you are too tired, too busy to do anything else! We used to have fun..."
John put his jacket on.
"I can't anymore…"
June sat on a chair in the kitchen, head low as she forgot that Jack was near. She watched as John opened the front door and left.
John looked at his old key ring. It was strangely empty now that he had left the car key and home keys to June. He saw his cab arrive, ready to take him to the airport. He got inside without a word.
June heard a car engine starting and then, nothing. John was gone. The... bastard!
A loud bang was heard from the wall next to her as Jack had thrown his spaceship on it, breaking the toy instantly. John had offered it to him for his sixth birthday. A week earlier.
June took Jack's hand in hers. She wiped with a tissue the small tears on his cheek.
"Let's go to bed, honey."
That night, while Jack slept in her bed, June stayed up all night, cutting any and every memories they had of him. She burned the pictures, erased the silly videos, just… forgot as much as she could. For the sake of her young boy, she was going to stay strong!
And she stayed strong. For years. Even when it hurt.
"Hey, June. 'Been a while."
Like right now.
"What are you doing here?"
He left ten years ago, without warning, and suddenly came back?! Who did he think he was? John was a monster, a sadistic son of a whore (quite literally). He never tried to keep communication with her nor his son. He had left, not sending even a letter.
"I got a promotion, and they transferred me here in Jasper. They are restarting the branch…" The man looked behind him, at the expensive black car waiting in the street. He couldn't face June with what he was bringing here. He had been very reluctant about this post. He didn't want to face her or his son.
Thinking about Jack, John made a quick count in his head. His son was 16 already! He had been absent in his son's life for ten years… how could he have done that? What happened?
Right. Everything.
June watched him with disgust. She was growing impatient.
"What do you want? Forgiveness? Me to take you back?" June asked, about to slam the door in his face.
"Oh God, no." Damn it, that came as a lot meaner than intended. John was trying very hard to explain the situation. He had a new life, a new family. How was he supposed to mix both ancient and new life together for a little while without creating a war just for one night?
"Goodbye, John."
"No, wait, June, please."
June was about to close the door but he put his foot in it. She knew how much pain it would bring to give just a bit more strength to close it. And, if his leather shoes weren't so thick, she could've broken it.
Suddenly the car door opened and from it a cry erupted. A model (it was what she looked like anyway) came out, holding a little boy who was crying, his face red, his nose leaking mucus. At the same time, the model grabbed a baby car seat and went up to the porch next to John.
"He peed himself waiting for you." She said as she glared John. "So, we're going to the next city?"
"No. It's a one hour drive and it's getting late. It's not worth it. There's the motel and oh my god, did he pee on the seat?"
"Yes. And I don't trust their outdated cribs to be safe for our daughter. So, what shall we do now?"
John frowned at his girlfriend's smug smile. She was really looking forward to the hotel, as if she knew they had no other choice.
John put his hands in his pockets, sighing. He looked at June, expecting her to laugh and close the door.
"The movers aren't coming before tomorrow afternoon so I was wondering if you could let us sleep here. I'm sorry for the short notice."
June thought about her options; slam the door and refuse, or be nice and use this opportunity to meet those who formed her ex-boyfriend's new life. She had always wondered what had become of him. Why not use this moment to her advantage? If his life was shit, she'd feel incredibly good.
She opened the door, silently accepting the proposition. Her heart ached. She was going to face this pain now that John was living here, in Jasper, Nevada. The city wasn't very big, but there was a lot of work and houses. She was pretty sure she wouldn't need to meet them often, with her shifts and everything. Plus Jack could always hide in the Autobot base to avoid them.
But human feelings were always so much stronger.
John was surprised. He was very surprised. He hadn't expected that. He knew June could hold grudges, and that she often did. Had she also changed?
"Jack?" June called.
"Yes, mom?"
She sighed, "Make the bed in the host bedroom."
Jack didn't want to know why. He had left to his room while his mom had opened the door, and hadn't heard her until he returned to finish his meal.
He never thought to see his father again. It was strange to be honest. Inside, he felt a mix of sadness, anger, rage and despair. He didn't understand why but he thought it was probably a misunderstanding of depression. His father was back. With what? Apologies, lies, secrets?
Jack finished placing the pillows that he promised he would burn once his father was gone on the bed. He set a few towels down and sighed, leaving the bedroom. He bumped into a young woman who had in her arms a boy that was whimpering. She shushed him as she put down a backpack on the bed.
Jack went back into the kitchen, looking for his mom. June was setting three plates and was placing the leftovers of their dinner. His mother's face was empty. No expressions at all. She never cried when his father had left. She had been so strong.
"Jack, go help our guests with their luggage." June ordered.
"What are they doing here?" Jack asked.
"I gave you an order."
"No need. We can leave everything in the car… really…" John weakly said, now holding his newborn daughter. June ignored him.
John sat down at the kitchen table and waited for the milk to warm up in the microwave while his daughter waited, growing impatient the more the seconds ticked to zero. She was threatening to cry, face twisting into an unhappy grimace.
"You didn't tell her about me, did you?" June asked John, who looked rather embarrassed.
"I am going to…" he trailed off, letting his newborn drink the warm milk.
"When? When she asks? When you expect me to blurt out that we used to be together, that Jack is your son?"
John glared June. If he wasn't holding a baby he would've lashed out verbally and gone crazy. He had enough troubles to deal with without June acting childishly out of revenge. What, did she think he wanted her to play the bad guy? He stayed quiet instead and June warmed the leftover food while Jack quietly washed the dishes.
John's girlfriend entered the kitchen with their son in his pyjamas. She helped him sit and let him eat the food June had generously warmed up for them. The little boy obediently ate everything on his plate, from peas to chicken.
"Honey, aren't you going to do presentations?" The girlfriend said, her voice sweet and soft.
"Right." John burped the baby. "Um, Lizzie, this is June and her son, Jack. June, this is Elizabeth, my girlfriend, Martin, my son and Annabelle, my daughter."
June simply waved, making tea. She wasn't a pro at that; she preferred dark coffee.
"So, June, how long have you known John?"
Elizabeth waited patiently for an answer, oblivious to the uncomfortable silence, or the fact that, from where he was, Jack was brutally putting away wet plates.
"We grew up together…" John stuttered. It wasn't a lie. They did grow up together, just never spoke until that one summer…
"Old childhood friends, how cute."
June nodded and served tea to the English woman sitting at the table. She was truly beautiful with her long blonde hair, angelic grey eyes, red painted lips and that nice innocent smile of hers. Her deep accent was giving her a charming personality, her model-like body made the nurse almost feel jealous.
"How did you two meet?" It was vicious. June's voice tone, smug smile, malicious little glare. John made a squeaky sound to protest and express his surprise.
"I was visiting his enterprise in New York on contract and he was one of the judges for a vote of what to expand or build."
June nodded, chuckling. "I guess you fell in love with him on the spot."
Elizabeth gave a small smile and she laughed a little.
"Not at all. I had found him arrogant and selfish, with all of his little comments on everything."
"What happened then?"
"Well, I got to know him. He's still arrogant and selfish but I do love him." She held John's hand and smiled. He did the same. Jack 'dropped' a mug in the sink, shattering it. Everyone looked at him, but he acted as though everything was fine. He had nothing to say. He tried picking the pieces up, but ended up cutting himself. He grabbed a rag to take care of his wounded hand.
"Darling, are you okay?" Elizabeth, alarmed, asked him.
"I'll be fine. I'll be fine."
That woman was practically his stepmother! How was he supposed to act in front of her? What could he say? And, unless she was stupid or didn't care, he was her stepson or something. Why did his mom let them in? Why didn't she laugh? And why was she so quiet?
"I have to wash the backseat of the car before the smell stays in." John couldn't take it anymore. It was a mistake! He never should've come here. He should've listened to his wife, tell her to wait a little while and go to the hotel. He handed Elizabeth the baby girl.
As he put on his jacket, he heard Jack make a comment that ticked him off.
"Go ahead, run again."
Tired, mentally exhausted, under too much pressure, John turned around and glared Jack.
"What did you say?"
"I said 'go ahead, run again'." Under John's confused look, Jack added more insults. "What? It's in your nature! I bet you only came here to drop off your second trophy and her puppies. I bet you're going to find someone else. That's just who you are."
John wasn't going to take such attitude anymore. He saw from the corner of his eyes Elizabeth confused (and insulted; her children were not puppies) while June hesitated to exercise her authority on Jack. He wondered if she had even raised him well or if Jack was being so bitter by reflex.
"Don't use this tone on me!" John yelled.
"Why? What are you to me?"
"I'm your fucking father, that's who I am!"
Elizabeth stood up, baby and child in hand, and locked herself inside the guest room. John forgot about Jack and ran after her, gently knocking on the door until she came out. She wasn't getting dressed to leave. She was definitely not going anywhere.
"Lizzie, I was going to tell you." John said, his voice low and weak.
"What is wrong with you? Coming here to spend the night? Never telling me once that Martin had an older brother? Lying to me?"
"I never lied. I just never brought up the subject..."
"Same thing! How do you think I feel? Can't you see how dangerous it is for us to be here?"
Ashamed, John looked down. He almost grinned in amusement though; June and Jack would never harm Elizabeth and the children. They weren't psychopaths!
… Suddenly he doubted it.
"Go away. I don't want to see you for the night. You're sleeping alone."
"But… Lizzie—"
"You heard me!"
"I can't sleep on her couch!"
"Not my problem."
And she went back inside the room, planning to spend the night with her children (not puppies) while John figured things out. He left June's house.
An hour later, a car was heard driving off.