CHAPTER 2
The Choice

Tom only got worse from there, and even at sixteen, Jake could recognize that. Every day, he woke up to find his breath shortened, his heart beat decreasing, and his ability to speak lessening. Wheeljack himself, had stated that once, as they both slept, he had scanned the sleeping man. The mech told him the same thing the doctors had, to cherish his moments with Tom as much as he could, because the man would not be living much longer. Somehow, he believed Wheelajack's observation more.

Having Wheeljack around felt a lot like having an older brother around. A watchful eye, a very watchful eye taking into account that Wheeljack could pretty much see everything. He often asked Jake about Earth, what it was actually like, how the humans really lived. A lot of times he mostly asked about the farm, and its purpose, he wasn't entirely sure the mech understood exactly what he said, but he had tried. In return, Wheeljack told him a little about his own culture, their families, how their society worked.

To say Jake was stunned that a seemingly young mech like Wheeljack had five sparklings, or children, was an understatement. "Five kids?" Jake asked as they sat in the barn, talking about it "Damn, my parents couldn't even handle one." Wheeljack seemed to frown at that "I can't even imagine what it's like to even have a family that big." He added.

"Do you have no family through Tom?"

Jake turned his head, and shook it in response. "Tom's family is all dead, or doesn't speak to him anymore." Jake explained, he then added "Which is why I go into Foster Care or back to the orphanage when he eventually does die." Wheeljack nodded a bit "Didn't they have this on Cybertron. I mean you said you were abandoned too." He added.

Wheeljack shook his head a bit, there had never been Foster Care on Cybertron. If you were orphaned or abandoned, you were either adopted, or taken to a Youngling Ranch, where you'd be raised among others. The latter was a lot like an orphanage, and had been where he and Bulkhead had been raised. "I was raised in what you might call an orphanage, along with my best friend, Bulkhead." Wheeljack explained "It was either that or you got adopted right away. But I was never lucky." He added.

"You grew up without parents?" Jake asked, surprised.

"Yeah, my sometimes less-than-stellar attitude made a lot of parents shy away from me." Wheeljack looked at Jake, and shrugged "You could say that I was a very wild and rebellious youngling. Unfortunately, that didn't bode well for me." He shrugged a bit "You don't know how well you've had it the last eight years, kid, believe me." He added.

Jake nodded his head a bit, leaning back agains the hay, he crossed his arms across his chest. "I know, I just wish I could find a stable home, y'know? This was my sixth foster home I stayed at long-term." He was quiet for a moment "I really thought it'd be the last too." He explained, sitting up a bit, he looked at Wheeljack "I guess at least you're getting better." He added.

"Yeah, I should be able to leave tomorrow." Wheeljack nodded in agreement.

Jake frowned slightly, the very next day? Already? He looked away a bit, just when he had found the mech he was leaving. "Well, that's great." Jake faked a smile as best as he could "That means you can go and find your friends, right?" He then paused a bit "Just... Promise me you'll look me up sometime, visit maybe?" He asked innocently.

Wheeljack looked at Jake, he smiled a bit, he had the feeling that he would probably leave planet. But if he ever returned, perhaps he might, he probably would. After all, he had become fond of the young human. "Well I can't promise it will be in less than a few years." Wheeljack decided to tell him "But I'll definitely look you up, kid. I'm not about to forget my little human buddy." He added, rubbing Jake's cheek with a forefinger.

"I bet you'll have awesome stories to tell." Jake grinned a bit, Wheeljack grinned right back "From what you said, I don't think the life of a Wrecker could be boring." He added.

"It isn't." Wheeljack replied, he smirked "I'll even bring you back a few souvenirs if I can." He added.

Jake grinned a little, in a way, he had a feeling Wheeljack would probably forget about him. But it was still fun to think about, even so. Smiling a bit, he walked towards Wheeljack, and patted his leg a bit. "Thanks for the company, 'Jack." Jake stated quietly "Remember, don't forget about me." He added quietly "I need to go back to the house now..." He added.

"I won't, promise." Wheeljack nodded a bit "Go on, kid. I'll say goodbye in the morning." He smiled.

Jake smiled, inclining his head, and heading out the barn door slowly. Little did either know that the next day would bring a massive change to both of their lives.

...

Dreadwing watched the farmhouse from afar with silent scrutiny. He'd overheard that today was the day that Wheeljack was leaving the farm, despite still being wounded. He'd been watching him closely, he'd watched the boy too. The latter had his attention more, the thought of using a human to get to a Wrecker was not only priceless, but with the right training, he might make a cute little pet too. He watched the human closely as he exited his home. He could see the dried, and still wet tears that covered his face.

The older one must have died. Dreadwing smirked slowly Perfect.

Moving soundlessly Dreadwing was upon his prey within moments. "Hello." Jake jumped, spinning around to find the gold and purple colored Decepticon slowly "You're Wheeljack's pal, arentcha?" Jake gulped, the red eyes already making him feel a great deal of fear "Jake, was it?" He asked.

Scrambling a bit, Jake turned to run, but was carefully picked up by the back of his shirt. Dreadwing dangled him by two talons, carefully, grinning a bit. "Now, now, no need to run. You wouldn't get far anyway." He stated as Jake began to kick and punch the air "Tell me what's your neck width? Or collar size?" Jake's eyes widened "I think you'd make a fine pet." He added mockingly "After all, once Wheeljack's out of the way, you're going to have no one left who'd-" He began.

"Let. Him. GO."

Dreadwing spun around, finding himself face-to-cannon with Wheeljack. The mech had his facemask on, but even so, the cross look in his optics said it all. "You really should be more careful, Jackie." Dreadwing mocked "First you fail to save Seaspray, and now you let your pet fall into Decepticon hands." He shook his head with a "Tsk Tsk" sound "How unprofessional." He added.

Bringing out one of his blades slowly, Wheeljack stared Dreadwing down, coldly. This mech had taken Seaspray, but he wasn't about to let him enslave his new friend on top of it. "First of all, Jake is NOT my pet, he's my friend." Wheeljack said, his voice void of emotion "And secondly, you have no right to even say Seaspray's name." He kept his cannon trained on Dreadwing "Now let Jake go, and I might just spare you despite how much I like to blow that smug grin of yours clean off." He added.

"Oh, and if I don't?" Dreadwing mocked.

He got his answer, a blast straight to his chestplate. Wheeljack rarely missed a target, this was no exception. He sliced his blade forward, and sliced the hand that held Jake, putting his sword back in his back compartment, he barrel rolled, catching Jake as he fell. Holding him close to his chest as Dreadwing fired at him Wheeljack placed Jake on the ground. "Jake, get cover!" He stated bluntly.

Jake didn't need to be told twice, getting to his feet, the boy ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Finding a tractor to hide behind he leaped over and behind it, it wasn't much, but it was a start. When the sounds of battle had finally cleared, and footsteps approached, Jake felt his muscles tighten, and fear settle in. "Jake, it's okay, it's me." Jake turned his head to Wheeljack "He hightailed it out after I clipped his wing." He added.

"I'm guessing that was the Decepticon you told me about?" Jake muttered.

"Yeah..." Wheeljack nodded "Are you hurt?" He asked, Jake shook his head in response "Did he hurt Tom?" He asked.

Jake shook his head a bit, standing up slightly, he moved around the tractor. "Tom's already dead." Jake's voice was low and quiet, pained, in fact, Wheeljack stared at him sympathetically "He must have died last night... In his sleep." He added, choked.

Wheeljack was quiet for a moment, he knew he had to leave, lest Dreadwing come back. Yet he couldn't leave Jake for that exact reason, Dreadwing knew he was there, he knew Wheeljack cared about him. He'd use him if he had the chance, and Wheeljack refused to let that happen. "I want to leave in thirty minutes, tops." Wheeljack told him "Is that enough time to pack and inform who you must of his passing?" He asked.

Jake fell silent for a moment, looking up at him. "What?" He asked.

"I'm leaving, and you're coming with me. Dreadwing will be back, and he will capture, and probably, hurt you." Wheeljack peered down at him "If I take you back to where I'm going with me. We can get you protection. But here, you're a sitting duck, as humans would say." He explained "So I want you to go, pack that which you cannot live without, call who you must. And meet me back here." He then added "I need to scour the internet for an alternate mode." He added.

"But..." Jake began.

"Jake, I know this is a lot to take in, I know this has been your home." Wheeljack noted "But believe me when i say, you'll be leaving here. And it won't be with this 'social services' of yours. It will be in Dreadwing's hands, or in mine." He looked at Jake, expectedly.

Though Jake was afraid, he trusted Wheeljack and that what he was saying was the truth. Jake nodded his head slowly, and turned towards the house. "I'll be ready in thirty minutes." Jake smiled a bit, actually finding himself to be happy "Somehow, I knew you wouldn't leave me alone." He added.

Somehow, as Jake, left, Wheeljack silently agreed, he wasn't sure he would have either.

...

A/N: I know I skipped ahead big time. Originally there was A LOT of time spent on the farm. But then it hit me... It would really JUST be a lot of chapters with the first half of this chapter happening. And I didn't want to bore readers to tears. LOL So, hopefully I established it well enough with this one. :)