A/N This is a story I started writing a long time ago with the intent for it to be much longer than it actually is (like ten chapters). That didn't work out. I've decided to write it much shorter because I found that the original idea didn't flow well after my second chapter.

This story is dedicated to my awesome friend: Purplehood, because it happens to be her birthday next week.

Happy Birthday! :D

Disclaimer I don't own Transformers, nor do I ever expect to. The writing of this is simply for enjoyment.

Chapter One

Bumblebee lay back against the berth, allowing Ratchet to scan him for any damage sustained during his time spent under Megatron's control. Not that there would be any physical damage. Megatron hadn't done much that would hurt physically him during the time spent inside his head. He'd been too focused on getting what he needed to return to his own body.

He couldn't say the same mentally. Having Megatron inside his head had been a form of torture in and of itself and his mind under the control of the one who had sadistically torn his voice modulator out at Tyger Pax, leaving him forever mute.

He let out a small, involuntary whimper and brought a hand to his throat, remembering all too clearly the agonizing pain that he'd thought would kill him.

The screams, the sparks, Megatron's cold grip around his throat right before he dug his fingers in-it had all been present in his nightmares... made all the more real by Megatron's presence inside his head.

He tried to ignore the sound of Megatron's voice, taunting him with the fact that he was in control of his body, forcing him remember every single moment of his torture at the hands of the Decepticons, taunting him with the fact that he was in control of his body. That he could use him to hurt his friends and there wouldn't be a single thing that Bumblebee would have been able to do to stop him. He would have had to watch as… no. Bumblebee tried to get the thoughts out of his head, but everything continued to play over and over again in his mind. He thought of Optimus, Arcee, Raph… and a slight whimper escaped his damaged modulator.

Megatron hadn't done that. He didn't need to spend his time agonizing over pointless what-ifs.

Ratchet's voice cut into his morbid musing and he shifted uncomfortably on the berth, realizing that he had missed the entirety of what the medic was saying.

/What?/ he hummed apologetically, turning his head to see the medic.

The medic's shoulders slumped as he turned to face the scout. "Bumblebee!" he said, exasperated. "Could you at least try to listen when I'm speaking to you!" Bumblebee shook his helm slightly, buzzing out an apology and Ratchet's demeanor softened immediately. "It's okay, Bumblebee," he placed a servo on the mech's shoulder, "you've had it rough these past few cycles. I… shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

Bumblebee let himself ease back with a slightly quivering sigh as he stared mournfully at the Autobot's medic.

"Well, physically, you're undamaged. As for mentally…" he stopped, giving Bumblebee a scrutinizing look and evidently rethinking what he was about to say. When he next spoke, it was with the brusque, bedside manner he always had. "As far as I can see, there is no trace of Megatron left in your psyche." The look he gave Bumblebee, though, showed that he suspected that perhaps it wasn't quite so simple.

Not wanting to talk about his feelings, Bumblebee changed the subject before Ratchet could begin any questioning. /Where are Optimus and Arcee?/ He already knew that Bulkhead had gone to get Miko, Jack and Raf from their school, but had missed hearing about whatever mission Optimus had left for with Arcee.

"They're on a mission," Ratchet began vaguely, before providing the scout with more information. "We detected a trace of energon while you were still unconscious. Optimus and Arcee went to investigate. Bulkhead is getting all three children from school." The medic turned his back on Bumblebee and began to go over whatever reading he had up on the screen.

Bumblebee pushed himself into a sitting position. Shifting his position on the berth, he placed his pedes on the medbay floor and stared at Ratchet. The medic seemed to sense the scout's optics on him. Without waiting for Bumblebee to ask, he gave him an approval. "You may go."

Bumblebee slowly raised himself from the berth, still trying to rid himself of the feeling of being violated he'd had since Megatron had entered his mind. He felt Ratchet's optics bore into him with suspicion once more and he got the feeling that the medic had somehow gleaned that there was something wrong, which Bumblebee wasn't telling him.

The medic didn't question him, however, and simply looked at him doubtfully through slightly narrowed optics, before turning back to the monitor.

Bumblebee left the medbay and, at the same time, Bulkhead rocketed into the base, spinning slightly as he screeched to a halt, his extreme speed likely because of a request of Miko's.

Bulkhead's doors opened and the first person to stumble out was Jack, looking more than a little queasy as he brought a hand up to cover his mouth and swayed a little as he took a step forward. Next came Miko, who bounced out practically overflowing with excitement and energy. "Woo-hoo! That was epic, Bulk! Can we go again?" she shouted. Jack's eyes widened in very obvious dismay at her suggestion, but Bumblebee didn't hear either his or Bulkhead's response.

He didn't need to. Both would be in the negative.

"Hey, Bee." Bumblebee turned his attention to the smallest human, how own charge, Rafael, who trotted forward until he was a few feet away from his pedes, a small smile lighting up his features at the sight of his guardian. Aside from his glasses being slightly crooked, Raf seemed largely unaffected by Bulkhead's high speed. "Ratchet, check you out?"

/Yeah./ He knew the next question before it even came. /I'm fine./

Raf smiled even wider, straightening his glasses. "That's good."

Bumblebee dropped down to one knee, holding out a servo for the small human to climb onto. /Video games?/ he asked.

"Sure, Bee." Raf took another step closer and, suddenly, Bumblebee felt his frame freeze up, his processor flickering back to the memory of Megatron. His own servo closing around Raf's small body, tightening.

The sound of Bulkhead's transformation sequence cut into his thoughts, driving them from his processor, as he raised himself and turned to face his larger teammate. "Bee, you okay?" Bulkhead took a step forward, concern showing in his voice.

Bumblebee noticed Jack and Miko watching him, Jack with forehead creased and Miko with wide-eyed uncertainty. Both looked more than a little… nervous?

Raf was staring up at him, puzzlement showing clearly on his face, but he hadn't moved from where he stood.

He knew they were all remembering.

"Bumblebee?"

Bumblebee refocused his attention towards the smaller human and shook himself mentally. /It's okay. I'm fine./ he reassured him. Raf's face certainly showed that he was reassured, any doubt he may have had fading away and replaced with a half-smile.

"Video games sound good."

Miko was instantly herself again. "I play winner!"

A/N There's going to be one more chapter added to this. In fact, the next chapter is very nearly done. Hopefully, it will be complete and posted within a few days. (Maybe more. I tend to flit from writing to writing, which is why nothing is ever completed.)

Thanks for reading! If you have time, I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)