TheBlackRose: Since I can't reply through PM I just wanted to thank you for your kind words. :) Glad you're enjoying it.

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CHAPTER 12
Loyalty

Wheeljack had to sincerely admit, as soon as he'd entered the house, he was genuinely considering leaving Jake with the Hunter's. They'd already learned, in passing that the two of them couldn't have kids. And just looking at the home, even if it was a small town, Wheeljack could tell they had a lot of money. Not that he wanted to get rid of Jake, but that , well, he felt as though they could provide for him so much more easily. It would be easy enough, write a note explaining Jake wasn't really his adopted son yet, and that he felt like they could more properly take better care of him.

The fact that Jake had taken to the Hunter's right away hadn't helped much at all either. Currently he was with Donna in the kitchen, learning to make whatever she was making for dinner. But he'd spent most of the day with Mark, learning a bit of the old house's history. "That's some kid you got there." Mark commented as he entered the den that Wheeljack had seated in through a doorway "You're a very lucky man, Will." He added.

Wheeljack nodded his head a bit, that he was, he would't deny that. "Indeed, I am. I'm quite glad that Jake came into my life." Wheeljack agreed, he looked down a bit "Though there are times I truly worry if... I was the right person to take him." He was silent for a moment "I'm not exactly a loaded individual. Certainly don't have a lot to my name." He then added "You're luckier, I think." He added.

"Having money means very little when you don't have kids." Mark shook his head "I'd rather be poor and fertile then rich and infertile." He admitted.

"You could adopt as well?" Wheeljack suggested.

Mark nodded a bit, his eyes meeting Wheeljack's. "We're trying, but there isn't a lot of call for adoptive families up here. Not with this small a town." He explained, shaking his head "We really want to take one of the older cases like Jake too. We're not getting any younger after all." He then paused "But every kid in Foster Care around here is either unadoptable or an infant." He added.

"That must be very tough." Wheeljack replied sympathetically.

"Yeah, but, our time will come, just like yours did." Mark smiled a bit, he looked at Wheeljack calmly "That kid certainly idolizes you, you'd think you were some sort of superhero." He chuckled a little, Wheeljack smirked, finding it amusing how true that was "You really should cherish the time you have with him, Will. Four years can go by in the blink of an eye." He explained.

He knew that four years was definitely the most he'd have Jake at home for. He was going to High School for all four years, and he was sure that Jake would be living at home for at least that amount of time. But those four years could belong to this couple as well, someone who was better for him. "I just hope I prove to be good enough to be his Father." Wheeljack admitted "I haven't said it yet, as I'm... Still getting used to it. But I love that boy, and I want what's best for him." He couldn't believe he'd admitted that to a man he barely knew "But some days I wonder if the best isn't me." He added.

"You haven't told him you love him, yet?" Mark asked, confused.

"The adoption only became official a few days ago." Wheeljack lied "Jake hasn't even called me 'Dad' for the first time yet. I don't want to rush things." He explained.

Though the day before he had been unsure of whether or not he loved Jake. He couldn't write off the fact that he really cared about him on this sort of level, and if that was the case, he only had one answer as to why: He did love the boy. He'd always known that was the case, but had just been too stubborn to look at it in that way. "Even if that's true, kids like to know they're loved and wanted." Wheeljack stared at Mark in confusion "I was adopted, and I needed to know that four times a day at least." He then added "Otherwise, I worried I wasn't wanted." He added.

Wheeljack felt like he'd been hit in the gut, he'd never thought about it like that. But then again, Jake had never shown sadness that he'd not told him that. Or perhaps he had, he worried, perhaps he did and he was just not telling him. He took a deep breath, and stood up slowly. "I think I need a little time alone in my room, if you don't mind." He nodded his head "Please call me in when dinner is ready." He added.

Wheeljack headed out the doorway, trying to keep himself as calm as possible. Entering the room, and collapsing onto the bed, he rubbed his holoform's forehead slightly. Talking to Mark had already made him worried that he was screwing so many things up already. Jake could have a life here, with a family, and a man who clearly knew more about how to handle this than he did. Wheeljack wouldn't even need to leave a note, Jake would tell them the truth, minus his secret. He could just leave a note with Jake himself explaining why he'd left.

That night, after dinner, after the storm settled, and after Jake was asleep, he made his choice.

...

Wheeljack had gone outside to check up on his systems again first. In his alternate mode, it was easier to do the check-ups and so he used it to check. The quiet night didn't yield any dangers, yet Wheeljack remained on alert. "You're not leaving me here." Wheeljack jumped, and spun around as Jake stood there, backpack over his shoulder, note clenched in one hand.

"Jake, this home is better than any life I could hope to give you." Wheeljack told him, bluntly, his eyes meeting Jake's "They're rich, happy, childless. They want an older kid. EVERYTHING you've probably wanted." He attempted to convince his young friend "With me, the most you'll have to your name is my legacy. With Cybertron gone I can't give you anything else." He said quietly.

Jake looked at Wheeljack, he shook his head a bit, tears streaking down his face. "I don't want anything else!" Jake finally replied, his voice choking "I don't care about money, or any of that crap!" Wheeljack paused "I thought you loved me, and that's all I cared about." The mech's face fell "The Hunter's are great, they'd make great parents. But they aren't who I want to stay with." He added.

By the way Jake had started to break, he could deduce one thing. If he did this to Jake, he'd be no better than those who'd rejected the boy before. "Hey, come here." Wheeljack carefully pulled the boy into a hug "You don't have to leave Jake, I just... I thought you'd want to." He kissed the top of Jake's head, gently "Jake, I do love you, and I didn't want to do this..." He crouched down, a hand still on Jake's shoulder "But they... They know more about humans and I-" He began.

"That doesn't mean I want to stay! I want to go with YOU!"

Wheeljack stood up slowly, carefully tracing his holoform's fingers through the boys tangled mop of hair. "You really want to go with me, knowing you'll be in danger every step along the way?" He asked, trying to be honest about it "The Decepticons wouldn't follow us through the storm. They won't know I brought you here." He explained, Jake was silent "You could live a safe and happy life." He added.

"And how boring does that sound?" Jake replied evenly.

Wheeljack was silent, but he smiled a bit, stroking the side of the boy's face. He stared back at the massive house quietly, almost ready to tell him to just go. He almost wanted to take back what he said and tell him he didn't want him around. It would have been the right thing, it would have been protecting him. But it would have also been breaking the young boy's heart. "I guess it would be pretty anti-climactic after all the excitement we've already had." He smirked a bit, Jake smiled back, sighing in relief "We should at least stay the night though, you could use the soft bed." He added.

Wheeljack pulled an arm around Jake and led him back into the house, and into the bedroom he'd been lent. Jake yawned quietly, climbing back onto the bed, Wheeljack took a deep breath. Jake looked up at him slowly, smiling. "Promise not to leave me during the night?" He asked quietly.

"Promise." Wheeljack replied softly, he gently leaned down and tucked Jake in before kissing his forehead "I love you far too much to do that." He then paused slightly "And I am sorry I didn't realize that sooner." He added, he started to head for the door "Goodnight, youngling." He added quietly.

Wheeljack stepped into the hallway, and turned his head. Mark stood there, his arms crossed a bit, Wheeljack blinked a little. For a moment, he became alert, worried something about the man would end up being off. But to his surprise, the man only gave a small thumbs up at him, heading to bed. Wheeljack blinked, confused, but nodded, and headed off towards his own bedroom. Knowing he needed to get his own recharge, yet keep up his appearances, things had gone too smoothly for anything to go wrong now.

In Jake's bedroom, unseen and undetected even by the recharging form, a blue, bird-like drone remained stationary outside the window. Feeling as though he was being watched, Jake slowly sat up. Turning his head, tiredly, he made a step forward towards the window, staring out at the drone, rubbing one of his eyes slightly. "What an odd bird." Jake muttered under his breath.

Gently, he tapped open the window, reaching out carefully towards Laserbeak, slowly. The drone slowly moved out of the way, Jake blinked a bit, turning around slightly, he noticed the long, thick chord that had moved through the window. "What the?" He muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Jake moved towards the lamp nearby attempting to flick it on. Nothing, he realized, the light wouldn't turn on. Immediately, Jake thought of one of the warnings Wheeljack had given him, regarding something called an EMP, more specifically, its ability to shut down technology. "Wheel-" Jake didn't even have the chance to speak.

With a thwap the tentacle had shot forward, wrapped around his waist and dragged the screaming boy through the window. Before Jake could even blinked, he found himself in the outstretched hand of a thin, slender, and faceless mech. "WHEELJACK!" Jake shrieked, though it would do him no good, as he soon felt a heavy pain against the back of his head, then darkness.

Both Megatron and Dreadwing would be pleased with Soundwave, very pleased indeed. Before Wheeljack had even realized that he'd been hit with an EMP, Soundwave and Laserbeak were already making their way through a groundbridge, their young prisoner in toe.

...

"What in the world?"

Optimus Prime's head turned at the sound of a very surprised Ratchet. With the kids at school, it was an early day for them all. Though the only other on-base that morning was Bulkhead. With Arcee and Bumblebee both on patrol. "What's the problem Ratchet?" Bulkhead spoked up before Optimus himself could ask "Don't tell me we already have Decepticon activity..." He added.

"More than that." Ratchet turned his head to the two of them slowly "Bulkhead, correct me if I'm wrong. But is one of these two signatures not that of your friend, Wheeljack?" He asked.

"Jackie?" Bulkhead blinked, he stepped forward, and peered at the screen Ratchet was in front of "Yeah... That's him... What'd he be doing on Earth? Or with a Decepticon?" He asked.

"I think it's best we take a look at this." Optimus stated calmly "Ratchet, give us a ground bridge."

Even before the two had entered the ground bridge, Bulkhead already knew something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

...

A/N: Originally, this was going to take place a lot more on the road. But a lot of people have wanted to see Team Prime, and how Jake interacts with them, etc. And to be honest, there's only so much I can do without getting repetitive with them being on the road. So I've decided to shorten the "Road Trip" half of this story. :) Hope it doesn't make it feel rushed!