I only own my OC's!


Emergency

August 27

"Mariposa, it is time to wake up."

I open my eyes and smile up at Carrier, who has laughter dancing in his eyes. "Morning."

"Good morning. When did Fixit climb up with you?"

"Um…" I shrug. "Las' nigh', after Sire lefted. He was lonely, Mommy…"

"I understand. It is time to get up now, Sweetspark. I need to talk with Fixit for a minute, but your Sire has your breakfast waiting downstairs." I nod, and turn to run downstairs, only to see Fixit's nervous look. "Fixit, I am not going to reprimand you. Mariposa, go eat your breakfast."


third POV, with Prowl

Prowl lifts the minicon's chin slightly before sitting on the main berth beside him, nudging the new berth under the main one as he does. "Fixit, I am not mad at you, okay?"

"B-but…"

"You remember what happened with Mari yesterday?" Fixit nods. "She has been dealing with the same thing at school, if not worse than she gets on Sundays. I have been able to do very little for her while she is there, and it has been causing problems with her glitch as well. I am nervous about leaving her at the school's mercy because of this, and I have a plan, but I cannot implement this plan without your assistance."

"You-you want me t-to help? How?"

"Mari has special needs, but she is in a mainstream classroom on mine and Jazz's wishes. While she does not really need a student aid to help with assignments, she may need one for protection, and I would prefer it to be one of our people, however, those who are close to her at the base are too busy with their own duties. Optimus has to lead us, Ratchet is the medic on-base, and the Protectobots work with the rescue services… Jazz and I cannot do it because we both lead our own teams of both humanity and Cybertronians, and I am going to be working to get a job as a police officer within the next month. Bluestreak is nearby, but he is in his own classes, and Smokescreen has his psychology work at the base."

"Wh-what are you asking?"

"I know you have a glitch as well, but I am asking if you would be willing to go to the school with my daughter and protect her when Jazz and I cannot. I have to know your answer as soon as possible, because I have to get it set up with the school as soon as I can."

"I'm willing, but…what about my carriage? I'd have to have someone willing to fill in if I can't…"

"Jazz plans to talk with Blaster, to see if his minicons want to help once he gets to the base, so you will have at least three bots to back you up in the event that you cannot protect her at school."

"I…I guess I can at least try…"

"Thank you, Fixit. I will see what I can do about talking with the school, and get back to you."


I look up as Carrier steps into the kitchen with Fixit, and watch him boost Fixit into his seat before turning back to my half-eaten plate of food. "Wha' did 'e say?"

"He agreed to try, but we still have to talk with the school and General Morshower. It all depends on what they say."

"Do ya hafta be in early today, or—"

"You have to meet with Optimus and Lennox about the ops team. I will take Mariposa in today. I need to speak with her teacher anyway."

"Ah was hopin' ya'd say tha'. Ah know 'bou' the meetin', bu' ah didn' know if ya needed ta be there…"

"No. I will go in later than usual, actually."

"Ah'll see ya a' the base, then. Wha's Fix doin' today?"

"I am not sure. He will have to come with us, with his glitch, but I do not know how he will occupy himself while we are working."

"Ah'll see if Ratch woul' min' 'is help today…" Sire sighs before heading to the door. "Ah'd better go. Ah'll see ya a' the base, Prowler." Sire leans down and kisses my forehead. "An' ah'll see ya afte' school, Li'l One."

"Bye-bye, Papa. Loves you."

"Ah love ya too."

I watch Sire leave before turning to Carrier. "What Fixie do today?"

"For now, he will come to the base with us, but we are hoping to have the school allow him to follow you, and be your protector."

"Fixie's not a bodyguard, though…"

Carrier chuckles. "No, he is not. I did not mean a bodyguard, Sweetspark. I meant he would be a protector—someone to help you defend yourself without having to fight the bullies." He crouches in front of me with a soft sigh. "Mariposa, you need someone to back you up because of your glitch, okay?" I nod. "And it needs to be someone who knows about your conditions, and understands them enough to help you understand. With the rest of us having to work at the base or go to school, Fixit is our best choice at the moment. We are also going to ask Blaster if some of his minicons can help, on the off-chance they are allowed to go in their normal forms."

"Oh…because of sparklie?"

Carrier nods. "Because he is carrying, yes." He stands. "Now, we need to get you ready for school, okay?" I nod, and slide out of my chair, leaving Fixit to eat.


We step into my room, and Carrier helps me into my uniform and shoes before laying my scarf around my shoulders and putting my binky around my neck. He French braids my hair before slipping my school tiara in, then pats my back gently. "Now, get your backpack. It is time to go."

We stop in the kitchen for Carrier to get Fixit, then head outside. Carrier transforms, and helps me into the back seat in holoform before letting Fixit into the front.


Freedom Academy

"So this is where Mari goes to school…"

Carrier nods. "This is Freedom Academy. Mariposa is in the elementary building on the right, while Bluestreak goes to high school—it is on the left." He lets me out before activating his holoform and crouching to me. "With the chaos this weekend, I did not have the chance to ask if you wanted to be in your teacher's wedding."

I nod. "Yes! I do, I do!"

Carrier nods before leaning into the open door. "I will be back. I am taking Marianne in, and I must speak with her teacher."

"Okay."


"Ms. Weaver?"

The teacher looks up, and smiles when she sees Carrier and I. "Peter. Come on in." She leans down to me, since she's sitting at her desk. "The other kids are still outside, if you want to play."

"Sure!" I skip out back to the playground, leaving the two of them to talk.


Third POV

"I assume you are here to discuss her being in my wedding next month?"

"Yes, Ma'am." She waves him toward one of the tiny chairs. "As you know, Marianne has special needs, and is sometimes unable to control her temper, or emotions, and we have yet to place her into a formal setting."

"So she can't participate?"

Prowl shakes his head. "No, she can, but I have to request that someone from the family be in the wedding party, so she has someone present to comfort her if things get to be too much for her."

"I'm sure that can be arranged."

"Thank you." He shifts in the tiny chair. "I also need to know if you would mind if I sent someone in with her, to help with the social problems she has been having."

"You would have to run it by Mr. Savage, but I don't have a problem with it."

"I will do that before I leave. I want to get this settled as quickly as I can." He sighs. "Thank you for your time, and I apologize if I am intruding in any way."

She smiles. "You're fine, Peter. You're just being a parent. I've seen worse parents, but I can honestly say I haven't seen one so…involved, in their child's schooling before." She sighs. "We've already had one refusal when it comes to the wedding, and I was afraid I'd be losing another of the class "sweethearts"."

"Oh?"

"Destiny can't be in the wedding—she was supposed to be my second ring bearer—but with her condition, her mother won't let her participate. I think we'll be lucky to have her on field trips…"

"What are you planning to do?"

"I'll just do another drawing for the other girl before we start class today." She sighs. "Don't worry about anything with Mari, Peter. We'll take care of her."

"Thank you."


Prowl steps into the office and taps on the principal's door as the man in question steps up behind him. "Peter? Did you need something?"

He turns quickly, almost losing his balance without his wings, before smiling at the man. "I need to ask you about something."

"Of course." He leads Prowl into his office before shutting the door. Once he's settled at his desk, he turns to Prowl. "What did you need?"

"In light of the issues Marianne has been having with bullies, I have started looking for an aid to hire as an protector for her."

"A protector?"

Prowl nods. "Someone who would be able to defend her from the bullies, but would still be able to help with her meltdowns and shutdowns, since she seems to have more of them here than she does at home."

"I have no problem with an aid for our special needs students, but I have to insist you screen your choices well. We cannot have anyone here who will harm a child."

"I plan to, Sir. I have had a bad experience with people like that when I was even younger than Marianne. I would never put my daughter in that kind of position."

"Of course. I'm sure you already have someone in mind…"

"I do. I'll talk with them and get back to you as soon as I can." Prowl moves to leave before turning back. "Thank you for your time."

"You're welcome."


"What took so long?"

Prowl pulls out of the lot and switches off his holoform before answering the minicon. "I had to speak with her principal as well, but as soon as we're sure you're cleared for duty—in about a week because of the bond needing to solidify—you'll be able to stay with Mariposa during her school days."

"Thank you, Prowl. I won't let you down. I promise."


normal POV

We all run in when the bell rings, and take our seats. There's two new desks, and the pink bag is sitting on her desk again. I smile when I see and uncomfortable Blackfire, a nervous Serenity, and an excited Electro. "First of all, I would like to introduce Miko, Sakura, and Jaden. They're starting school with us today."

"Hi!"

"All right, you three take your seats." They wander off to their desks. "Now, since we had one girl who was not able to participate, we need to draw another name for the girl ring bearer in my wedding." She shakes the bag before letting Adelina choose a name. I watch as she hands it to Ms. Weaver, who reads it with a smile. "Miko Winters." She smiles back to her. "I'll give you the permission slip after school, and we'll have your Daddy sign it, okay?"

She nods, smiling. "Okay!"


Free time, afternoon

After our lessons end, a few of us pull out the rainy-day games that are stored in one of the back cabinets, while others decide to walk around or talk with friends. I'm one of the wanderers—walking around with a book in my hands, reading as I wander the room. Before I know what happened, I'm on the ground, on my hands and knees, and my book is a few feet away. Ms. Weaver runs over and crouches to me as I shift off my stinging hands and knees. "What happened, Sweetheart?"

Daniella scoffs. "She wasn't watching where she was going, and she tripped!"

Annabelle crosses her arms. "Of course she tripped! Anyone would trip if they had a leg stuck in front of them!"

"I wouldn't!"

"Girls. Stop arguing." She turns to Annabelle. "Now, what did you see?"

"Mari was walkin' along, readin' her book, not buggin' anyone, and Ella sticked her leg out, and Mari tripped."

"My leg was there long before she got to me! Look! She hurt me!"

The three of us look closely at the unmarred leg. "There's nothing there, Daniella." She turns to me before looking over my red hands and knees. "We need to get these cleaned up, and I think your knee needs a band-aid."

I look down to find my knee bleeding. "Ow…"

She picks me up and sets me on her desk before pulling out a first aid kit, which she uses to clean my scrapes, then she puts a little cream on the band-aid and sticks it to my knee. "Better?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay." She boosts me down. "Now, I'll need you to take something home to Daddy, okay?"

I nod slightly, my eyes widening in fear.


"Sheyenne, what happened?"

I look down at my battered arms and legs—it was hot, so I had worn a red cap sleeved T-shirt with a black daisy print bow in the back and an Elmo graphic, a black daisy print skort with a red waistband, red sandals with flowers on the toes, Elmo hair bows, and of course, the ever-present Elmo pull up. "Um…Daddy did it…"

"What?" She crouches to me, causing me to step back and whimper. "Sweetheart, are you sure?"

I nod. "He hitted me…lots…an'…" I pull up my shirt to show the pull-up. "I hadda accident in'a bed, an' he makey me wears to school… An…"

"This isn't right, Sweetheart. I'll see if there's anything I can do, okay?"


I silently watch as she fills out an "Owie Report", then hands it to me. "Make sure Daddy gets this, okay? I need him to sign it so I know he saw it, and you need to bring it back tomorrow, okay?" I nod as the bell rings. I walk over as if in a fog and get my homework together before tucking it into my backpack. I step outside and climb into Carrier's vehicle mode before buckling in without being reminded.

"How was school today?" I shrug. "Mariposa, what is wrong?" I shake my head. "Did you get into trouble?" I shake my head. "Mariposa?" This time, I don't move. "Mari, tell me what's wrong, Sweetspark."


When I walk in the door, "Daddy" steps over and flings me into the couch with one hand, squeezing as he does—I hear a crack. He grabs the first thing he can—today it's a fly swatter—and starts hitting me with it as hard as he can, occasionally switching hands so he can punch me as well. After about two minutes, he pulls off his belt. "Apparently you haven't learned anything yet, so we'll try something else. Clothes off, now, and lay face-down on the couch." I do what he'd said, and the hits start coming again, this time cutting into my skin. I scream at the pain, causing him to hurt me worse, as I cry the pain into the arm of the couch. The only thing that stops him from causing even more pain is a knock on the door.


third POV

"Marip—" Prowl looks back with the mirror, only to find his only child unconscious in the back seat. "MARI!" He switches his comm on. "RATCHET!"

"Prowl? Are you bringing Mari by for her first day of lessons?"

"Change of plans. Mari crashed in the back seat. I'm closer to the house, but I need someone to meet me there as quickly as possible."

"Prowl, calm down. She will be fine. I know how to handle a crash, or I would never have become CMO. Now, Aid and I will get to your house as quick as we can. I assume she is in holoform?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I can fix this, okay? Just calm down."

"Someone needs to tell Jazz. I… I need him."

"Jazz already knows, and he will be on his way with Smokescreen and Fixit as soon as he is able to leave."

"Ratchet—"

"He was in a meeting with Optimus—"

"The one I left to get her."

"Right. He will be on the road as soon as—slag!"

"Ratchet?"

"He was in here irritating me—I couldn't catch what he was saying because I was on the comm with you—and he just took off, and spilled the canister of bolts I just finished sorting!" Ratchet huffs. "I am on my way, just as soon as I get past this bolt mine-field."

"Thank you, Ratchet."

"First Aid and Hot Spot are right behind Jazz, Fixit, and Smokescreen, so he may get there before me, but I am on my way."

"Thank you." He switches off the comm before turning back to the unconscious child in the backseat. "Hang in there, Sweetspark. We're almost home." He pulls into the drive, wheels spinning as they fight for traction on the gravel. Jazz and Smokescreen run out to the car.

"Prowl!"

"Prowler!"

"Smokescreen. G-get her out."

He kneels and pulls out his niece gently, making sure to grab her backpack. "I got her."

The second he stands with her, Prowl transforms and reaches for her. "Prowler…"

"Jazz…"

Jazz turns and hugs him gently. "Just calm down. She'll be in good hands… Ratchet's comin'."

First Aid and Hot Spot speed up to the pair and transform. "Prowl, what happened?"

Prowl shakes his head, trying to fight off another emotion-triggered crash of his own. "I don't know… She didn't say anything when she got in the car… Primus…" His legs buckle under him, causing Hot Spot to run for him as Jazz struggles to hold him up.

"PROWL!" Hot Spot catches the mech before he hits the ground.

"It'll be okay. We're here now. Just try to calm down. Spot, have someone call the teacher, and see if they know what happened. We need the history." Aid rushes inside then, and kneels beside Smokescreen and Fixit in the living room. "How is she?"

"Seems like she's coming around."

"Hopefully she'll be awake before Ratchet gets here." Aid starts an exam, quickly checking vitals and running scans.

"First Aid?"

First Aid practically sags in relief. "Ratchet." He glances over his shoulder. "Thank Primus. We almost had Prowl down too."

"I heard." He smiles. "Spot is still outside with him and Jazz."

"No' anymore." Jazz steps over and holds out his blue Razr phone to First Aid, who shifts to holoform and takes it. "Aiden here…I'm a paramedic and I work on the base as a field medic…"

"Mari's hurt?"

"Something like that… She passed out on the way home… It had to have happened at school…"

"She fell over a girls' leg, but…I don't think she hit her head…"

Hot Spot holds up a half-sheet of paper from where he's going through her backpack for a clue. "I got a note."

Prowl snatches it up. "Owie report…just skinned hands and knees…shouldn't have caused her to crash…" He gasps. "Her trauma!"

"Prowl?"

"She was traumatized by the humans who took her in. We have yet to have her officially diagnosed, but—"

"Your worst crash was from trauma…"

"My worst crash was a systems crash from abuse. I am relieved we got Mariposa out of their hands before they caused her to have one as well." He snatches the phone from First Aid.

"Prowl."

"How did she look when you were filling out the note?"

"I don't…" She gasps. "Scared. She looked scared…but I don't know why…it was just a report about her falling… She wasn't in trouble for anything…"

"Thank you." He hands the phone back to First Aid. "It was her trauma. It had to be." Prowl steps over to the table and signs the paper before slipping it back into Mariposa's backpack.


normal POV

I can feel someone stroking my hair—where's my tiara?—and hear voices around me. "How is she, Ratchet?"

"Everything checks out. We're just waiting—"

I open my eyes to see Ratchet and First Aid leaning over me, and Fixit holding my head in his lap. "…Mommy?"

"For that. Prowl?"

"Sweetspark." Carrier runs to my side. "I'm right here, Baby."

"What happened?"

Sire steps over. "We were 'bou' ta ask ya the same thin'. What happened at school today?"

Carrier huffs and glares at Sire. "You crashed on the way home. Can you tell me what happened at school?"

I try to think back, which is hard when I'm so tired… "Ms. Weaver write note…and I seed human dad beaty me…for phone call froms school wast year."

Carrier relaxes. "It was her trauma…"

"Mommy?"

"Everything is okay now." He turns to Uncle Smokescreen. "We need to do a trauma screen on her tomorrow. I…I can't see this happen again…"

"Just bring her in whenever you can, Prowl. I should be free all day."

"Mommy?" Carrier looks down at me. "Where's my tiara?"

"I think it's still in my subspace, Sweetspark… I'll get it for you once you're settled in, okay?"

"Okay…" I sigh softly. "I'm tired, Mommy…"

"I know, Little One. Can you go into bot-form…or do you want to stay human for now?"

"'Tay h'man."

Carrier turns to Ratchet. "Is that okay with you, or do you need her in Cybertronian form so you can examine her?"

Ratchet shrugs. "I got what I needed from the scans Aid sent me. She's all right for now, but we are watching her for the same problem you had as a youngling."

"Thank you, Ratchet."

Ratchet nods, then turns to me with a soft sigh. "If nothing else happens, I will see you in the medbay after school on Wednesday, okay?"

"No' 'morrow?"

Ratchet shakes his head. "You'll need the day to recover, and Prowl wants you to see Smokescreen."

"No schools?" Carrier shakes his head. "Bu' the paper…"

"I will send it in with Bluestreak tomorrow, and he will bring your homework home with him, okay?" I nod. "Now, I will help you into your nightgown, then we will get you to bed, okay?" I nod again.

"Fixie?"

"I'm going to stay with you, just in case."

"Good… My mini…"


Carrier takes me upstairs and helps me into my pajamas before tucking me into bed with Fixit sitting beside me. "Now, try to get some rest. I will be right downstairs if you need anything."

"Aidie?"

Carrier sighs and glances at the door behind him, then turns to me with a sigh. "I think he is still downstairs, but he may have left already. They are very busy…"

"Otay… Sees 'morrow. Nigh'-nigh'."

"Good night, Little One… Fixit?"

"Yeah?"

"Let me know, if she needs anything?"

"Of course, Prowl."

"Thank you."


living Room, third POV

Jazz smiles up at Prowl as he steps into the living room, doorwings low on his back. "Ya survived."

Prowl sighs before collapsing into his chair. "Jazz, I am not in the mood to joke right now… This is all my fault…"

"Prowler…" Jazz steps over before laying a hand on the Praxian's shoulder. "I's not ya're fault…"

"It's my glitch."

"Bu' i's not your faul'." Jazz sighs. "Did ya abuse her?"

"I sent her to this planet, Jazz!"

"Did ya bea' her?"

"…No…"

"Did ya ever tell her ya would hurt her if she brough' a note home from school?"

"…No…"

"Did ya do anythin' ta cause 'er trauma?"

"No…"

"Have ya done anythin' to make anyone suspec' abuse?"

Prowl's doorwings twitch. "No, Jazz!"

"Then stop beatin' yaself up! Ya didn' do this ta her! Tha' monster who had her did i', no' ya!" Jazz sighs heavily. "Ya didn' hur' her, Prowler. She's fine."

"She is sleeping off a crash because she inherited my glitch, Jazz."

"Ya didn' think ya coul' handle this, bu' here ya are. We made i' through 'er firs' crash…"

"You were the one who did not believe you could handle it, Jazz."

"Ah know, Prowler, bu'…bu' ya panicke'. Ah use' ta thin' ya couldn'…"

"Jazz…"

"Couldn' do tha'…tha' ya logic woul'…"

"Jazz, it's all right…"

"I' still scares meh when ya crash, Prowler…bu' this was mah baby…"

"Our baby, Jazz, and I am aware of that." He pulls Jazz into his lap with a sigh. "It will never get easier for us, either…having to watch her go through this…but we must do it." Prowl sighs. "Jazz, we have to catch this guy… While I do not wish to have her go through a trial like I had to… We have to catch the abuser."

"Ah know, Prowler. Ah know… An' we will, bu' she's gotta have the time ta ge' better firs'. With 'er trauma…right now…"

"A trial is the last thing we need…we could trigger the very thing we wish to prevent." Prowl sighs before standing. "I have some work to do. I will be in my office if you need me."

"Don' stay up there too long, Prowler. I's no' good for ya."

Prowl turns from the stairs with a slight smile. "I do not plan to, Jazz."

"Wha' ya plannin' ta do?"

Prowl smirks. "I am going to apply for a job at the police department."

"Already?"

Prowl nods. "She has already had one crash because of the humans she was with. I cannot allow her to have another. She has to know she is safe."

"So ya're gonna be her "safe" place."

"She will know she can run to the officers, just like I learned as a youngling—though I learned it through fear…I want my Mariposa to learn it from safety."