A/N: Oh my gosh, Im just soooo sorry I'm so late? Like please FORGIVE ME, I've been a mess for some time and I couldn't put a chapter together for some reason so if it's REALLY bad please excuse me? It might be one of the worst ones and I want to say I will try better, but I don't know if the next one won't be the same? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, OKAY, YOU GUYS RULE. YOU'RE THE BEST.

Oh, and if someone ever needs to talk, I'm here. I know. A stranger offering, huh? But I don't want any of you to ever feel alone, because you're not. There's always somebody out there that cares.

So keep that in mind, okay? I don't bite, promise!

So, now, on with the story, yesh?

PS. IM SORRY ITS SO SHORT TOO *sobs*

DISCLAIMER: Lmao, I'm gonna stop putting those. You all know I only own my OCs and the plot.

Chapter 10: Let me help you.

The first thing Bridgette registered in her mind was the feeling of safety and warmth, almost as if she was under a blanket. The next was a soft melody, a piano playing, she guessed. It was almost too hard for her to open her eyes, still trying to make sense of what happened.

"Human?"

She sighed, refusing to wake up. She just needed a couple more minutes. Just a little, enough to reboot properly and then try to face the day. She couldn't now, she was way too tired. She just didn't know why…

Panic.

The word filled her head at thought and she was snapped awake, sitting up straight as she looked around wildly. She had a panic attack and she passed out.

The car, however, stopped. They were parked outside a restaurant she recognized. It wasn't a famous and expensive place, though, rather a small place Sunny liked to hang out with her. To be honest, she preferred those more; big ones made her feel like she was on a business meeting.

Wait.

Wait a second, the restaurant wasn't important now.

Did…did a car radio just talk?

She stared wide-eyed at the steering wheel, at the shining purple symbol. The bad guys, she remembered, Decepticons. The insignia, or what was left of it, was scratched. Why was it? Did something…

Defected. Right. Barricade defected from the bad guys. He was a what? A Neutral, yes?

"Are you glitched?" She didn't jump, but gulped at the question. "I asked you something."

He had a rough voice. No, wait, not rough, just deep? She didn't know how to describe it, it sounded like Nathan Drake's polish version of voice from a game Sunny bought last year.

"I apologize." She cleared her throat. "I…"

"I asked if you're up for some fuel." He interrupted her, clearly not in a mood for her ramblings.

It was pretty simple to answer, yet Bridgette was torn between that and asking why in God's name he offered her food. Surely, he knew she had no money with her and he will have to pay for her meal – which, by the way, did made her uncomfortable – so why?

In the end, Bridgette knew that she could go on without any food for quite a while, so asking the man about his motives took priority.

"Why are you doing this?"

The car went silent, as if not expecting the question at all. Bridgette was about to repeat it, when she felt her phone vibrate. Thinking that perhaps Barricade charged it, the teen picked it up, immediately answering.

"Bridgette Evans speaking." Was an automatic greeting.

"We need to talk." The dark-haired girl actually widened her eyes at the voice, ready to protest. "Listen, I know. I know they told you to stop hanging out with me, but I need you to meet me. One last time. Please."

"Sunny…"

"Bridgie, I know they abuse you."

Silence. Bridgette's eyes darkened at the word, her fingers tightened on her phone and she mouthed a 'stop for a second' to a radio. She didn't think he'd actually listen, but when they pulled on the sidewalk, she quickly opened the door and stepped out.

"What are you talking about?"

Abuse, abuse, abuse, abuse…

"Do you honestly believe I wouldn't figure it out?" She asked sharply and Evans shut up at that. "No, wait, did they actually believe they could keep it a secret by forcing you to stop hanging out with me?"

Knowing the question was rhetorical, Bridgette only sighed to herself, before she understood the words. Was it possible it was the real reason behind all this? Her parents were afraid she would spill everything to someone?

"How do you know that?" She asked when the girl stopped for a moment to catch her breath and Sunny snorted.

"Remember Prowl? Uh, the white-haired guy? And Jazz?" Evans nodded, despite knowing the other girl wouldn't see it. "Yeah, well. I teamed up with them."

"Sunny…" She started lowly.

"I know." She interrupted. "I know you don't want anyone to know. For some reason. Whatever." There was a lot of mumbling between each sentences and Bridgette pinched a bridge of her nose. "The thing is that I lost someone close to me. Once." That made the grey-eyed teen blink. "And I couldn't do anything to stop it. So Bridgie, please."

"I would go, if I were you." Barricade said via radio.

You're not, she thought.

Chances were her parents already were searching for her and when they finally find her, that might be the last meeting she has with her best friend. So, it was either that or getting stuck in this mess even more.

Besides, since when did she back down from a challenge like that? She wasn't a coward, at least she wasn't raised as one.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.

"Where?"

She missed the winning grin Barricade gave her when his human form appeared in the driver's seat.

"Who's your buddy?" Sunny asked the minute they stopped outside an abandoned gas station.

Bridgette looked at the car when it roared its engine. "Who…?"

"I ran." She simply answered with a smirk. "I took it after my dad. I'm a fast runner." She looked around, spreading her hands a little. "I figured ya wouldn't want anyone else to hear that, so I picked that."

Bridgette nodded, placing a hand on the hood of the police car. "He found me on the street when it was raining." She explained shortly.

Sunny looked at her. "Yeah, the clothes are way too big for ya." She noticed and Bridgette struggled to keep her face straight at the comment. "Though, they actually suit you."

The dark-haired teen shifted on her spot, drawing lazy circles on the car, still not saying much when her friend finally sighed. It was rarely that Bridgette got to see her serious face, but when she did, it was scary. This time was no different.

"I lied. I didn't team up with them." She said at last and the other girl suppressed the urge to say 'I knew it'. "I sneaked into their office when they were on their break and took a closer look at what they have."

A panic must have showed on her face, because Sunny raised her hand. "I didn't see much, don't worry." And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, she thought, knowing how she would have reacted.

"Please, continue."

"Okay, so I was just like clicking on things that looked pretty." She gazed at the car when it shook, as if it was laughing at her. "And I stumbled upon this little thingy." She pulled out a piece of paper, giving it to her.

Hesitant, she took it, glancing at her friend. "Go ahead." Sunny encouraged.

Unfolding it, she only let out a soft and quiet gasp as she saw the picture printed out on the page. Her head shot up, her eyes blinking at her friend with shock. Mortification filled her mind as she thought about what else she could have seen. "Sunny…"

The smile she gave her was watery, but it was smile nonetheless and it reminded Bridgette that no matter what, Sunny wouldn't judge her by a picture alone. "I don't know what ya call an abuse, but this," She pointed at the paper. "This is definition of mine."

"Did…," There was a bump in her throat. "Did they…see it?" The question was out in a small voice, but Sunny shook her head.

"I downloaded all the pictures and deleted them from Prowl'a computer." She answered and when Bridgette regarded her with a look, she added: "I knew you wouldn't want them to look at that. But Bridgette we need to do something about it."

The other teen shook her head once again, giving the picture of her and her father back and cleared her throat. This, however didn't lessen the difficulty to speak and the girl only stared at her friend.

"Bridgette, I know you're not used to asking for help," Sunny started again, reaching out with her hand. "But you're not and I'm offering it, right now. Me. My dad. My mom. You're not alone." The grey-eyed teen didn't look up this time, still as rock. "I don't know what happened in the past that made you like that, but I'm your best friend now. And I ain't leaving you. Not when I know I can do something."

Silence.

"Bridgette, please."

More silence.

"Bridgie…"

Suddenly there were arms around her and Sunny gasped when another body hit her chest. There was a shaky sigh from Bridgette when the girl tightened her hold as Sunny wrapped her own arms around her.

Please, don't leave me. Forgive me. Don't let me go. Those were the things that went left unsaid, yet Donnelly could hear them loud and clear.

"Thank you." Evans said softly, gratitude in her voice.

"That's what friends are for, right?"

The teen closed her eyes.

"Yeah." She mumbled. "Right." She pulled away, running her palm through her face, as if wanting to dry some unshed tears.

Sunny looked over her shoulder, this time with full grin when she winked at Bridgette.

"So…Did you find your own robo-friend?" To say that Bridgette was surprised would be accurate when Donnelly looked at her smug. "Hey there, Mr. Robot! We're alone here, show your face, will ya?"

Tempted to ask, Evans explained the situation in her head with one word. Sunny. And everything was clear.