Thank you to my beta reader: xXRetrobotXx who proofread this chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't own Transformers…is this part even necessary? Who'd even believe me if I said I owned transformers? Because I don't…Well, at least I own Jaime…

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Ironhide's POV

The Autobots were gathered in the main hangar. Apparently, Prowl had been investigating into the orphanage ever since he had met Jaime. He'd been trying to gather evidence to charge the headmistress with child abuse. But he was running into a problem. The best evidence to use against Miss Narcissa would be the children themselves. Unfortunately, none of the children were cooperating, saying that the headmistress was fine and did her best to take care of the kids. Ironhide growled. They were obviously scared the woman would punish them if they spoke out, which made the investigation even more difficult. Optimus placed a calming servo on the weapons specialist's shoulder. Prowl finished explaining that without the children's cooperation, the most he could do was charge the woman with neglect. But without any actual proof, it was doubtful that she'd be found guilty.

"So we need the kids' cooperation," Ironhide groused, summing up Prowl's problem in one sentence. The SIC nodded in agreement.

"Well yo'r not goin' t' get it," Jazz stated. The others looked at him. "'specially not from ya, Prowler." The SIC's door wings twitched.

"My name is Prowl," he corrected.

"Yea, yea," Jazz waved his servo.

"Then how do we receive their cooperation?" Optimus asked his first lieutenant.

"We don'," Jazz grinned. His comrades looked at him funny. "Jaime does." There was a pause.

"Jaime?" Ratchet asked. "Why Jaime?"

"The younglin's at the orphanage don' trust strangers, 'specially authority figures," Jazz explained. "But she's one of 'em. If they'll listen t' anyone, it's 'er." The hangar was filled with thoughtful silence before the door to the catwalk opened. Will walked in, carrying a sleeping Jaime in his arms. The major noticed the confused looks he was receiving.

"She didn't want to be left alone," he explained. Ironhide tilted his head thoughtfully. Did she feel unsafe sleeping by herself? She had slept in his cab after having a nightmare and now she was sleeping in the major's arms. Ratchet walked closer to the catwalk and scanned her. He turned to Optimus.

"The radiation is hardly detectable now," he said. "The energy levels must only spike when she's using it." He glanced back at Jaime. "It could have been dormant for years. I doubt human machines are able to detect the faint traces of Allspark energy."

"Ah think it's been dormant inside 'er since she visited 'oover Dam wit' 'er creators," Jazz reminded them.

"But she never touched the Allspark right?" Ironhide question. Jazz shook his head.

"The Allspark held a large amount of power. And we never fully understood how it worked," Optimus rejoined the discussion. "Therefore, it may be possible that Jaime was close enough for the Allspark to transfer some of its essence into her."

"Wasn't Sector Seven based here at the time?" Will asked. "How did she even get so close to the cube?"

"Said she trailed some guy in a suit," Jazz shrugged. Will snorted.

"What kind of idiot doesn't notice a child following him?" Jaime stirred in his arms.

"Mmm," she sighed. Will began to rub her back.

"So what's the next course of action?" he asked.

"We are returning to the orphanage," Optimus spoke. "We would like Jaime to accompany us." The girl's eyes snapped open and she stared at the Autobot leader.

"What ?" she demanded. Prowl stepped forward and explained the ongoing investigation and difficulties he was having. She blinked at him. "Y-You…you're trying to send Miss Narcissa to prison?" Prowl opened his mouth to correct her.

"Basically," Ratchet interpreted the SIC's long explanation.

"Well just tell the others that," she shrugged.

"The younglings are distrustful and won't listen," Ironhide grumbled.

"…You want me to talk to them." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Optimus leaned closer to Jaime.

"Only if you agree to," he spoke softly. She looked up into the leader's optics. She glanced at Will, before returning her gaze back to Optimus.

"Ok," she whispered.

Jazz's POV

"Ok," Jaime whispered. He waited for her to notice him standing next to Ironhide. He'd been going over what he'd say to her. He'd apologize first then explain. He frowned when Jaime turned away from them, back towards Will's chest. Ironhide gave a loud grunt. The girl gave the weapons specialist a confused look. Ironhide didn't say anything. He merely glanced at Jazz. Jaime followed his gaze, noticing the saboteur for the first time. She blinked.

"…Jazz?"

"Ey there sweetspark," he grinned at her. She blinked at him again.

"…" She stared at him, unable to voice her thoughts.

"We should start journeying to the orphanage," Prowl commented. Will climbed down the stairs of the catwalk. All the bots transformed into their alt modes. Will strode up to Ironhide and set Jaime on the ground. Not wanting to miss his chance, Jazz pulled up next to Jaime, revving his engine.

"Wanna lift?" he asked. Jaime regarded the Pontiac solstice for a few moments.

"Sure," she finally answered. Jazz popped the back seat door for her. She bent inside to enter the car when she froze. The interior looked very similar to her parents' car. The same car they were in during the accident. She was assaulted by the recent memories. Jaime inhaled sharply and stumbled back.

"I-I…I c-can't Jazz…I-I'm s-sorry," she bolted towards Ironhide and jumped into his cab. Jazz felt a pang in his chest. What happened? She was willing to get in. Why did she back out? Maybe she still didn't want to talk to him. He held back a disappointed sigh.

Jaime's POV

She knew she probably just hurt Jazz's feelings but she couldn't help it. She didn't think she'd be able to last the long car ride staring at the same interior her parents died in. Shut up! She commanded herself. Jaime hadn't ridden in a car since the accident except for Ironhide. But he wasn't technically a car. He was a truck and his interior looked very different. It also helped that she'd rode in him before so she was more at ease. After a few minutes in Ironhide's cab, the exhausted Jaime had fallen asleep. Too soon, Will shook her gently, saying they were at the orphanage. Jaime hopped out of the cab and gazed at the intimidating grey walls.

"It's ok Jaime," said a gruff voice. "We're right behind you." The girl turned, expecting the voice to originate from Ironhide's cab. Instead it came from a tall muscular man with short inky black hair and sharp blue eyes. He wore a black jacket with camouflage pants and black combat boots. His face was hardened by war, marked by a stubble beard and a white twisted star shaped scar marring the skin around his eye. The holoform grinned at her.

"Well?" Ironhide asked. The holoform was very accurate to the rough and tough character of the weapons specialist.

"Very nice," she commented drily before glancing at the others. She'd seen everyone's holoform now except for Jazz's. The door to the Pontiac solstice popped opened and the driver climbed out. The holoform was dark skinned with dark brown hair. His long hair was in well kept looking deadlocks. He wore a stylish silver jacket and light blue jeans with silver converse. Blue sunglasses adorned his head.

"Ready sweetspark?" he asked her. She nodded, shooting him an apologetic smile about earlier. She could do this. Jaime led them up the steps and rang the bell.

Will's POV

Will stood, waiting anxiously. He was not looking forward to seeing the cruel headmistress again. The door swung open. Will blinked in surprise as he stared at Miss Elizabeth.

"Mr. Lennox!" She seemed just as surprise. She glanced at the Autobot holoforms. "…Can I help you?" Jaime—who had been hiding behind Ironhide—revealed herself to the kinder woman. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Jaime! What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to talk to the others please."

"…You…want to speak with the other children?" the woman gave a confused frown. Jaime nodded. Miss Elizabeth scanned the Autobot holoforms suspiciously—especially rough looking Ironhide—before hesitantly letting them inside. She led them down the hallway. "They're at dinner right now," she explained. "If you'll just wait in the meeting room, I'll get the children for you."

"That won't be necessary," Jaime frowned, striding towards the cafeteria.

"Jaime—" Miss Elizabeth reached out to stop the girl. A larger hand snaked out and caught it. Miss Elizabeth gaped at the hand's owner.

"Don't even think about touching her," Ironhide growled sharply. The poor woman stumbled back in shock.

"That's not her," Jaime called back to Ironhide, never breaking her stride. Regardless, Ironhide gave the caretaker one last glare before releasing her. The small group quickly followed Jaime to the cafeteria before Miss Elizabeth could protest again. Jaime boldly strode into the cafeteria. Having a military officer and five Autobots backing you up did wonders to your confidence. The talking orphans quieted upon seeing the visitors. No one spoke for a few moments. Jamie tried to think of something intelligent to say. The silence was soon broken.

"JAIME!" a voice squealed. Experience taught the girl to brace herself upon hearing that voice. A brown blur raced towards her and would have knocked her down if she hadn't been prepared.

"Charlie!" she laughed, twirling the young boy in a circle. Will smiled softly at the exchange. The Autobots—except for Jazz—were slightly confused, since they had never been told about Charlie. The other orphans stood from the tables, curious as to why the girl had returned.

"What are you doing here?" a voice scoffed. Jaime turned to glare at Brian. She half expected him to continue with the usual insult, but he refrained. Apparently he wasn't stupid enough to verbally attack her in front of her new somewhat imposing friends.

"I came to talk to you guys," she explained, setting Charlie down. She glanced at Prowl and waved him forward, which he obliged. "This is…uh…Officer P. Rowl, and he's been investigating the orphanage."

"We know," said the oldest girl, a fifteen year old.

"He doesn't know how to take no as an answer," Brian grumbled.

"Tha' sounds like 'im," Jazz mumbled. Ironhide elbowed him.

"He's doing an investigation to charge Miss Narcissa with child abuse," Jaime continued.

"We know," said another girl.

"And he's trying to send her to prison," Jaime finished. None of the orphans answered her this time. Jaime decided to continue. "He needs us to tell him what she did so he can send her to jail. If enough of us speak out, we'll never have to see her again." The children looked at her. Most of them were still doubtful but some began to look hopeful. "I know it's hard but you can trust him…I know I do." This grabbed the orphans' attention.

"You do?" a shocked Brian asked.

"But Jaime," Charlie finally spoke up. "You hate cops." This time it was Will's and the Autobots' turn to stare at Jaime. None of them—not even Jazz—had known that.

"Yea, I know," she replied. She glanced at a surprised Prowl. "But…Officer Rowl is different. He's trying to help us. But he can't help us unless we help him." The children looked at each other.

"What does he want to know?" a little boy hesitantly asked. Jaime smiled at him encouragingly.

"Have any of you ever suffered from any form of physical abuse?" Prowl asked. The children hesitated.

"He means has she ever punished you," Jaime simplified.

"Yes." Everyone turned to Charlie. The boy looked at her. "Does…does he want me to show him?" he asked her hesitantly. Jaime glanced at Prowl who nodded.

"Yes Charlie," she knelt down next to him. She knew what he was referring to. "Show him what she did to you." Charlie took a shy step towards Prowl before taking off his shirt and showing his back. Jaime read her friend's reactions. Will was shocked, Ratchet was livid, Jazz was scowling, Ironhide had a murderous glint in his eye, and Optimus' expression was thunderous. Prowl's face was unreadable, except for the sharp crease in his forehead. On Charlie's back were three diagonal scars. He'd received them shortly after coming to the orphanage. Jaime didn't know why the headmistress had used the belt on him, one of the few secrets Charlie kept from her, but it was one of the harsher punishments. The belt was more of an old leather strap that was frayed at the end, used to give "misbehaved" children a lashing.

"What happened?" Prowl asked, his tone guarded.

"She used the belt on me," Charlie explained, putting his shirt back on. "I got it about a month after I came here."

"She doesn't use the belt anymore," Jaime muttered. "It leaves welts so she turned to other methods…like the box." The children all shivered in synch.

"What's the box," Will dared to ask. No one answered. Optimus looked at Jaime. The girl was hugging herself.

"…I'll show you," she finally muttered. She led Will, Optimus and Ironhide downstairs. While Prowl stayed with Jazz and Ratchet. The SIC gathered evidence through photos of old punishments and recordings of stories from the children.

Will's POV

They followed Jaime down the long dilapidated hallways to the box. Whatever it was, it didn't sound good. The major grimaced at the walls they passed. You'd never guess what terrible shape the building was in if you only saw the front, which was probably the point. Will glanced at Optimus and Ironhide. The Autobot leader was silently taking in their surroundings with a deep frown on his face. Ironhide had his hands clenched into fists, rage radiated off him. Jaime finally stopped in front of a steel door.

"It's usually locked," she murmured as she tried the door but it opened for her. Will stepped inside to see a tiny room. Ratchet would have a fit if he saw the conditions of the damp room. He shivered and stepped back, allowing the Autobots to peek inside. Will glanced at Jaime but the girl wouldn't look at him. Optimus and Ironhide stepped out.

"What is the purpose of the room?" the confused weapons expert asked. He'd been expecting some kind of torture equipment inside. Optimus was slightly puzzled as well.

"If you do something wrong you have to stay down here by yourself," she explained. "The door is locked and you're left in the dark for an indefinite amount of time." She shuffled her feet.

"So…you're placed in time out?" Ironhide asked. Jaime huffed and turned away. Will gave the holoform a sharp look.

"Kids hate the dark," he muttered, "and they're not war hardened soldiers." Optimus cleared his throat.

"Jaime." She glanced at him. "How long are you kept down here?" Jaime glanced at the door fearfully.

"That's the worst part…the waiting," she whispered. "You don't know. Sometimes Miss Narcissa forgets she put you down here." She took a step closer to Will. "Supposedly a kid drowned in there." The Autobots glanced back into the cramped room, gaining a sense of understanding. Optimus and Ironhide suddenly stiffened.

"What is it?" Will asked.

"A woman entered the orphanage," Optimus frowned.

"And she didn't seem friendly," Ironhide growled.

Jaime's POV

Jaime gulped. She knew that she would have to face the headmistress eventually but that didn't make it any easier. They quickly marched up the stairs and entered the cafeteria. It seemed that Prowl had finished gathering his evidence. Jaime frowned. Something was wrong.

"What's that smell?" she asked no one in particular. Some of the people who heard her began to sniff the air. Brian was the first to realize what it was.

"That's smoke," he frowned.

"Smoke?" Will repeated. Jazz rushed out of the cafeteria. Jaime felt a sense of foreboding wash over her. The saboteur quickly returned with a frown on his face.

"Tha's a fire! Ya'll need t' get outside," he commanded. The Autobots quickly herded the children out of the building. Jaime spun around, trying to find Charlie. But she was caught up in the mass. She couldn't fight the mass of bodies as she was pushed towards the front entrance. Jaime glanced up in time to see a small foot disappear up the stairs. Didn't she know that shoe? Soon she was outside and Miss Elizabeth was taking roll, assuring that everyone was out of the building. The Autobots stood close to Jaime.

"Jaime! There you are!" Will hugged her. She didn't return it. She was too distracted. Where was Charlie? She tried to peer over the heads of the other orphans. Miss Elizabeth finished with a frown on her face. She spotted Jaime and rushed over to her.

"Jaime! Have you seen Charlie?" she asked hurriedly.

"No! I lost sight of him. I've been trying to see him but everyone won't stop moving!" Jaime was getting frustrated now. The caretaker quickly returned to the other children.

"He is not here," Prowl muttered.

"I'm not picking up his signature on my scanners either," Ratchet added. Jaime whirled and stared at the front entrance. Wait a minute…the shoe on the stairs. She knew that foot! That was Charlie!

"He's still inside!" she gasped. "I saw his shoe! He went upstairs!" She rushed towards the entrance but she was quickly pulled back. "No! Let me go! I have to save him!" she howled, punching and kicking at her captor. The person merely grunted.

"Hold still would ya?" Ironhide's rough voice griped. Jaime glanced up, realizing the weapons expert's holoform was holding her. They must be stronger than a normal person, she thought darkly.

"But I have to save him!" she protested.

"Optimus went inside after him," Ironhide snapped. Jaime stopped struggling. If anyone could save Charlie, it was Optimus.

"Put me down," she demanded. Ironhide snorted. "…Please?" she added softly. She felt his hesitation. "I'm not going to run inside," she promised.

"If you even try I'm throwing you in my cab," he grumbled before setting her down. She glanced at the front entrance but turned away from it. Smoke was pouring out of the windows and door now. She began to nervously pace back and forth. Why would Charlie go back inside? Jaime knew that he understood how serious a fire was. He'd pass out from the smoke first and then he'd either get crushed or burned.

"Stop that," she quickly reprimanded herself. "Ironhide said Optimus went in to save him. Optimus can do anything." She spent the next few minutes repeating that mantra, trying to calm herself.

Ratchet's POV

They'd contacted the emergency authorities as soon as they were outside. As soon as Jaime had realized Charlie was inside, he focused his scanners on the building. There! On the second floor was Charlie's signature. He quickly turned to the Autobot leader.

"Optimus—" the medic began.

"—I see him," the leader responded. He didn't even hesitate, sending his holoform back into the building. Not that he was in danger of burning or anything. It was only holomatter. Ratchet turned in time to see Ironhide set Jaime down who immediately began to pace. Poor youngling, he thought. The distressed girl kept on muttering, "Optimus can do anything." Obviously she was trying to assure herself that the sparkling, Charlie, would be fine. Ratchet hoped so. The sparkling hadn't been moving when he scanned him. He still hadn't moved from his position.

"Who is this Charlie anyways?" Ironhide asked Jazz lowly. Ratchet turned to the saboteur, interested as well.

"She views 'erself as 'is guardian," Jazz explained.

"They're like brother and sister," Will added softly, overhearing their conversation. Ratchet frowned.

"They are not related," Ratchet frowned.

"So?" Jazz asked raising an eyebrow at the CMO. Ah, Ratchet thought, that type of bond. The medic nodded in understanding. Jaime had stopped repeating her mantra. She was muttering questions to herself now.

"God…stupid!...why would he even…it's not like he had anything valuable," she paced back and forth. "What could be so bloody important and irreplaceable that he'd…" Jaime stopped suddenly, gaining the Autobots' and Will's attention. She gasped.

"Oh my God…" she mumbled.

Jaime's POV

She eventually stopped chanting her mantra. Why would Charlie even stay inside? It didn't make sense. None of the orphans had anything valuable. Charlie had become an orphan through a fire. He was the only survivor. That's why Jaime didn't understand why he wouldn't be the first one out of the burning building. And he didn't have anything but the clothes on him that night, since the fire burned everything. So it wasn't like he had anything to grab. She paced back and forth in front of Will and the Autobots. She knew they were talking about Charlie but she ignored them. She didn't realize until now she'd never told them about him. But it won't matter now if he dies in the fire, thought Jamie. She flinched at the dark thought. No, it couldn't happen. She began muttering aloud. She was missing a clue to the puzzle.

"God…stupid...why would he even…it's not like he had anything valuable…" she forced her mind to work overtime. Charlie must have gone back to get something. But what could it be? "What could be so bloody important and irreplaceable that he'd…" Jaime froze. She remembered the day she left the orphanage.

She picked up her jacket and stood. She followed her new parents out the front door towards a big black pickup truck. She couldn't help but look back over her shoulder. Miss Elizabeth stood in the doorway with a miserable looking Charlie. What was she doing? She couldn't do this to him. She was his protector, his guardian. And here she was just leaving him. What if she never saw him again? She stopped in her tracks.

"Jaime?" Sarah called out. Will turned. Jaime turned on her heel and marched back towards the orphanage.

"Charlie," she called softly. Charlie rushed out of the doorway toward her. She knelt down in front of him and attempted to wrap her jacket around him.

"Jaime what are you doing?" Charlie objected trying to shrug it off. "That's your dad's jacket."

"Yes, it is. And you know how important it is to me. That's why I'm giving it to you," she smiled.

"I don't understand," Charlie frowned

"Keep it safe for me Charlie. I'm coming back for it someday." Realization dawned on the boy's face and he stopped protesting to her actions. Charlie slipped his small arms into the big sleeves. They hugged one more time.

"I'll keep it safe from harm, best friend's honor," he promised. Jaime chuckled as they parted. She mussed his hair

"I'm counting on it bud," she smiled before turning on her heel and marching back to Will and Sarah.

"Oh my God…" she muttered, realizing what Charlie had gone back to retrieve. He'd gone back to get her father's jacket. He'd promised—best friend's honor which was an unbreakable promise to him—that he'd keep it safe for her. And now he was going to honor that promise, even if it killed him. She sunk to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. She ignored the concerned looks she was getting.

"Jaime?" Will knelt down next to her. "What is it?" She stared at the burning building.

"My fault…" she whispered hoarsely. It was her fault that Charlie was in there, trying to fulfill a promise. She was going to lose her little brother over a stupid jacket.

Kurohane Ookami: I had fun writing Jaime meeting each of the Autobots! And yes, Prowl glitch. I mean, seriously, you can't have Prowl in a story without having him glitch :)
Yes, you got to see some of Jaime's past. I'm glad you like her dad. I'd like to include more flashbacks of him if I can—not sure yet.
You know what they say about say about size. Some of the best things come in small packages :D
Thank You!

Rayne: Yes well having a voice stuck in your head for two weeks…you're bound to find out little jabs to use against them ;) And yes, the scene where she seeks comfort from Will was very fluffy/sweet/sad and fun to write. She's learning to lean on him more as their relationship progresses.
And yes, Optimus is very much—at least to me—a sentimental leader who's more than willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his comrades. He always seems to blame himself for everything. I love him for that because he's so selfless. And it also frustrates me because he never relaxes or has fun. I guess Jaime will just have to do something about that…

Jazz's lil ninja: Ok, I'll admit…terror on base is fun to read about. It may not happen in the next few chapters. However, I never said it wouldn't happen. Prowl's glitch is just too tempting! :D And yes, the Hatchet has a soft side (for sparklings/younglings). He can't be all gruff (I mean he became a medic for a reason). But Jaime will soon be causing mayhem for Ratchet and make Jazz/the twins (if they were there) proud.

Autobot StarRacer: Hahahaha! Yes! That would make him cry. That mech loves his cannons…Thank you so much!

FreezingTime92: You can't keep the Jazzman down! :D And thank you so much! I'm glad you like Jaime. I didn't want people to think she was a Mary-Sue and I'm glad you think that (I even took some "Mary-Sue Tests" to be sure).

xXRetrobotXx: Thank You! And the Jazzman is back! Huzzah!

jgoss: Awww, thanks! I've been waiting to give Optimus and Jaime to meet one on one so I'm glad you liked it. And yea, Optimus can do almost anything! And yes, she has Allspark energy in her. I tried to hint at it without it being painfully obvious. Nice job picking that up :)

Devil-O-Angel: Yes, Jazz will most likely end up being Jaime's guardian. As for Charlie…well…you're close (really close)…but not quite :)

Author's note: Heh heh. There you have it! Another cliffhanger :) Leave comments below! Constructive criticism and feedback is welcomed!

Optimus: Yes, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to Hubero's readers who continually take the time to leave comments below.

Hubero: Aww, thanks Optimus! You did such a good job! Much better than Ironhide last chapter.

Ironhide: *Enters quietly behind Hubero* Oh really?

Hubero: *Jumps and whirls around* Hide! Dang, didn't see you there. You're pretty quiet for a giant alien robot.

Ironhide: *Grunts as cannons begin to hum*

Hubero: *Glances at the Autobot leader* A little help Optimus?

Optimus: Ironhide stand down.

Ironhide: But—

Optimus: We don't harm humans…what is with you?

Hubero: Hey Hide, did you happen to order a new shipment of weapons?

Ironhide: …maybe…why?

Hubero: Oh no reason…just thought you'd like to know that since they weren't claimed when they arrived early…Wheeljack took them to his lab.

Ironhide: *Nearly glitches* WHAT?! *Runs out to Wheeljack's lab*

Optimus: *Very worried* Who agreed to give highly explosive and dangerous weapons to Wheeljack?

Hubero: *Chuckles* No one.

Optimus: …Then…where are the weapons?

Hubero: *Smirks* I'm not telling. That's my life insurance we're talking about big guy. *Saunters out of the room*

~Hubero: