Ratchet does reach out then, wrapping thin, steady fingers around Optimus' much larger ones, his grip tightening slightly.

"You became the person you thought you needed to be to protect as many people as possible and to best do the job you needed to do, because there was no one else to do it," Ratchet says slowly, watching Optimus' face. "You made the best decision you could make at the time, in good faith. You put others above yourself and that's--it's admirable, but you can do it in moderation." He pauses briefly, then continues as though unaware of what a raging hypocrite he's being. "You can take some time for yourself without the whole war effort falling to pieces. And there's things you don't have to do alone."