I only own my OC's!


Labor Day Weekend: Saturday

7:00 AM

Fixit nudges me awake. I roll over, and smile at him. "Good morning. How you feelin'?"

"A lot better."

I grin as I sit up. "Aid thinks you hadda virus…I's glad you feels better."

"Mariposa?"

I turn. "Morning, Carrier!"

"Good Morning." He steps over to my closet and starts pulling some clothes out. "We are going to the base after your chores are finished, so you will need to get what you want to take with you out before you go down for breakfast."

"Annie be there?"

"Yes, with Sarah. So will the other younglings and Sergeant Epps' wife and kids, and some of the other soldiers will have their kids there as well."

"Why?"

"It is still a work day, but we are having a family day for the soldiers on base because of the holiday on Monday." He sighs softly. "We have placed Streetwise on Youngling duty during our shifts because of your new bonds."

I nod, and step over to join him at my closet. "What you doing?"

"I am getting some spare clothes for the base just in case, and getting your clothes for tonight." He tucks the clothes in his hands into my "going to base" butterfly backpack—it says Mariposa rather than Marianne—before moving to my drawers and pulling out some underwear and socks.

"What tonight?"

"We are going to a cookout at Captain Lennox's farm."

"Oh…" I smile up at him. "Sire downstairs?"

"Yes. He has your breakfast waiting, so you might want to hurry."

"Yay!" I scramble around and grab my skates, jump rope, and my coloring book before running downstairs with my yellow pacifier on my neck.


Third POV

Prowl looks over Mariposa's selection before grabbing her ambulance and fire truck blanket off the bed, her "Fleecy" and Flutter to calm her just in case of a crash, and her gamepad and Leapster 2 games in case she gets bored with what she'd chosen, and her Color Wonder folder and the large box of markers she has for them. He wants her prepared for if she panics.

After packing everything into her dark pink butterfly duffel that also says "Mariposa"—including both of her crash blankets and Fixit's red and gold one—he starts down the stairs with them.


I scramble into my chair as Sire steps over to me with a plate. "Good Mornin', Sweets."

"Mornin', Papa!" I look down at the plate in front of me. On top of the pink butterfly print plate are three star-shaped pancakes with holes in the centers, and strawberries and blueberries piled inside. "Yummy! Pancakes!"

Sire smiles and sets the blueberry AND strawberry syrups on the table beside me. "Which one ya wan'?"

"Um… Stwawbewwy!"

"All righ'." He pours some on my pancakes before leaning back. "Now, ea' up, Girly. We've go' a busy day."

"Mommy's gotta works still…"

"Yep, an' Ah've gotta meetin' with Prime an' Lennox, so we've go' a—"

"I have already told her about our sitter, Jazz." Carrier sets my pink and green bot-sized butterfly duffle on the table, followed by the human-sized backpack that I know has my clothes inside. "I made sure to grab both of your pacifiers—"

"Both?"

"Her human-sized one, and the blue one for her Cybertronian form. They are both in the bag. I also have her crash blankets and a spare outfit just in case."

"Ah ge' i'. Sorry, Prowler."

"Jazz…"

Sire simply huffs and turns to the empty cubes in the sink. "Am Ah gettin' her dressed, or are ya doin' i'?"

"I will. You need to get the dishes."

"Ah was 'fraid ya'd say tha'." Sire huffs. "All righ'."

Carrier sighs before turning to me, finding me with my hands over my ears. He gently pulls them off before crouching in front of me with them in his hand. "Mariposa, Sweetspark, what's wrong?"

"You no fights no more?" I whimper. "Human 'busers fighted all times, an' hurted me when I ask "what wrong?" 'cause they no wan' me talks…"

Carrier smiles. "Sweetspark, we are not fighting at all. It was just a little disagreement."

"Are ya sure ya wanna take 'er ta family day if she's already panickin'? Ah coul' stay here with 'er, or take 'er ta the park…"

"I do not want to have her away from me when she is like this, Jazz. Do you not remember what happened with Red Alert last month?"

"All righ'. Ya go' a poin'."

Carrier sighs and turns to me. "Are you okay?" I nod slightly. "Okay. Good. Finish eating, then I will take you upstairs and help you get ready."

"Otay…"


We pull into the base, and Carrier lets Fixit and I out before transforming. I'm wearing a white cap sleeved T-shirt with a red zigzag print on the chest and a navy blue and white star print bow creating an American flag, denim shorts with American flag pockets, and white flip flops. My hair is up in sideways buns, making it look like I have Minnie Mouse Ears, even though I have silky-smooth hair, rather than the fluffy hair that Epps' kids have. In the front are two red hair ties with blue circles on one end, and red and white stars, buttoned around them to where you can see the stars.

I smile, and shift up to bot form before taking Carrier's hand while he carries my things in his other hand. We stop outside the door to the rec-room. "Now, I want you to be good for Streetwise, okay?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good girl." He hugs me and hands my bags to Streetwise. "If she crashes, make sure you let me know, but get Ratchet or First Aid first. We do not want a systems crash."

"If she has a panic attack?"

"It shouldn't happen, with our usual precautions when Mariposa is on base, but let me know. Obviously report any security breaches to Red Alert."

"Yes, Sir." Streetwise turns to me. "Well…want to come play, Little Sister? I already have Blackfire and Annabelle."

"Yes!" I smile, and take his hand, letting my big brother lead me into the room and toward the kids. "Hi!"

They smile up at me. "Hi, Mari!"

"Wanna play? Annie's teaching me to play Crazy Eights!"

I glance over the large cards that are almost too big for Annabelle to hold. "Sure!" I settle beside them, and take the cards they give me before starting to play.


12:00 PM

"All right, Guys!" We all look up to Streetwise. "It's time for lunch!" I stand with the others as Streetwise sets little cubes around one of the tables for us and warms up a meal for Annabelle while the humans come in for their own food. I look up from my spot at the table, gasp, and fall out of my chair, when I see one of them—he looks just like my human abuser. I scramble back and hit my doorwings on the wall as several of the humans and the other younglings, as well as the few adults in the room, crowd around me, which doesn't help me any. I can barely breathe as it is. "Back up, give her some room! It's just a panic attack, she's got—dang it!" I barely notice Streetwise tap his comm. "Prowl! Red! We have a panic situation in the rec room!"

Someone runs over and scoops me up. I can tell it's not Carrier, Sire, Blue, or my bond-brothers, and that scares me even more. "Don't worry, I go' 'er, Street." The mech pushes past the bots that had gathered, and into the hall. "It's okay, Li'l One. I'm gettin' ya to Ratch."

He sounds like my human great-grandmother—an almost country accent—just…male—which does help. I look up to him with wide eyes. "Wh-who you? Wh-where you takey me?"

"Name's Inferno, an' I'm takin' ya to Ratch."

He stops, and I glance over when I hear a new voice. "Inferno, I thought you said you were getting some energon. What happened?"

"Street commed ya 'bout it, Red. Mari's freakin' out. I'm takin' her ta Ratch. He commed Prowl too."

"So did I. Hand her here."

"NOOOOO!" I cling to Inferno in fear. While I just met him, I know him better than the guy that's trying to take me now.

"Darn it, Red, I just got her breathin' right!"

I try to kick the new mech while still clinging to Inferno, which isn't easy. "NO HURTS ME!"

"Hey… Stop that, Mariposa…" Despite my fighting, he manages to get his arms around me. "Easy. Easy." The new guy eases me into his arms, and I turn to cling to him, just because I'm tired from fighting. I'm still scared that he might hurt me. He's Inferno's family, and my Mammy's family was mean… "There. That's it. Red's got you now, Little One." He looks up. "Go get Prowl. I'll keep her in here until you figure out who that human is and how he got in."

"Red Alert?"

Red Alert huffs. "All right, forget about getting Prowl, he's on my comm now. Focus on the breach." He sighs, and shifts me. "Mariposa's in the security room with me. She started fritzing in the rec-room, and Inferno saved her. We have a suspected breach. I have Inferno searching for the human, and I'll check the cameras once she's calm enough for me to put down without risking her running."

"Go ahead with the stated plan. Is she okay now?"

"I think she's starting to calm down now. I caught the incident on camera. Was this her first panic attack since you got her back?"

"No. Her first was combined with a meltdown within days of our reunion, and she has been having a difficult day with her panic, which was why I had her with one of her bond-brothers. I will be there as soon as I can, but I might be a while. I have a meeting with the humans and Optimus in five minutes, and I cannot miss it. I would recommend getting Smokescreen or getting one of the Protectobots if you need someone now." He sighs. "And we are taking her to Indiana tomorrow. Primus, have I lost my sensibility since we rescued her?"

"I think I've got this, Prowl, but thank you, and don't worry about her. We'll be fine. Red out." He sits in some chair nearby before glancing down to me with a small smile.

"Hi."

"Hi." He smiles slightly. "Feel better now?"

"Uh-huh." I cough slightly before looking around. "Where I at?"

"Security room."

"I safe now? He no gets me?"

"Yes, you're safe now. No one's going to get you." I watch him tap on a key, causing some of the cameras to change to black—the meeting room, for example, because of Carrier's private meeting, and the one in Smokescreen's office because he's got a patient—then scans over the others. One of the screens looks like my room, and another like our backyard.

I grin at what I see. "You watchy my house!"

He smiles down at me and points me to the wall on the left, which has several of the same images on screens. "Little One, I watch almost every room in your house, because of your anxiety. Your Carrier asked me to almost two weeks ago. We even have special security protocols for when you're on base."

"Sire telled me you was gon' do that!"

"We did the very next day, while you were with First Aid. You're safe here, Little One." He sighs and sits me up to where I'm facing him. "Now, can you tell me what happened?"

"You're not Unca Smokey."

He laughs softly. "No, I'm not, but I know what you're going through."

"Oh…" I blink before smiling up at him. "You gotta trauma glitch too."

"Paranoia glitch."

"Trauma." I glare at him. "Smokey 'splaine' i' ta me! You knows 'bout i', so i's trauma!"

He glances behind us when the door closes. "Inferno, do you hear this kid? She thinks she knows more about my glitch than I do!"

I giggle. "Hi, 'Fernos!"

"Hi." He taps my nose, causing me to giggle. "We've got the guy in custody. Apparently it was just someone's uncle, but they'll be sent off-base either way. I can promise you he won't have it easy after what he caused." He leans down to me. "Ready to go back, or do you want to stay with us?"

"I still haven't found out how he got in, Inferno. I don't want to risk her having another attack."

"I just said…" Inferno sighs. "I'll get her things from Streetwise."

"Inferno?"

"Yeah?"

"Get some energon, this time?"

"Ya got it!"

"Prowl, we're keeping Mari."

"I will let Streetwise know. Keep a close optic on her, though. She does have special needs, and she does not know her way around the base."

I slide off his lap carefully, doing my best not to hit my doorwings on his knees. "Be careful, now. I don't want you getting hurt on my watch."

"Kays!" I start around the room, looking under the console he's leaning on as he checks the cameras. "Wait…why you not in meeting?"

He sighs. "Usually I would be, since I'm Chief of Security, but this one's between Optimus, your Carrier and Sire, and the President, so I had specific instructions about it, but I didn't need to be there."

"Oh…" I start looking around again, my eyes falling on a red blanket similar to the one Carrier has—I'd seen it when Fixit crashed. "Red?"

"Yes?"

"You cwash sometimes?"

He turns the spinny chair to face me. "Only when my glitch gets really bad." I tilt my head to the side when his head sparks. "How did you know?"

"Uh-oh…" I stumble back nervously.

"Whats—oh!" He sighs heavily, and seems to take a couple deep breaths before leaning down to me. "It's fine, Little One. My helm does that when I'm anxious. Now, how did you know I crash?"

"You gotta cwash blankie like Mommy does."

"Oh… Yeah, I do." We look up when Inferno steps in with my bags. "Inferno's insisted I keep it on me for the last month… I think the atmosphere may have something to do with it, though…"

"Huh?"

"I have an early warning system on top of…a bad past…so I've struggled with it on occasion back on Cybertron, and on the Artemis, but… It's been a lot worse since we got here…"

"Bad past? Was you 'bused to? Mommy and I boff was."

The two share a look. "Yes, but I was also abandoned at a young age."

I tilt my head to the side, causing Inferno to explain. "There's a difference between not wanting your youngling as Red's parents did, and being forced to send them away for their safety. We never once thought Prowl didn't want you, and he's proven it since you were rescued."

"Oh…" I nod. "Okay. Mommy and Papa woves me, but his Mommy and Daddy said "bye-bye, I no wants you" an' kickey out." I look up to Red. "Is gonna be 'kays, Red. We's boff safes now."

"I know, Little One." I watch as Inferno sets my bags down beside me with the little cube I hadn't gotten to touch earlier, and start digging through the duffel for my coloring datapad. I slip my blue binky into my mouth when I find it, not bothering with the necklace, and go back to digging. He comments when I toss my crash blankies, and Fixit's, off to one side. "You have three crash blankets?"

I shake my head and hold up two fingers, since Binky's in my mouth. I sigh and take it out. "Fixie's got one too." I point to the red and gold one. "That's his. These are mine." I hold up the bigger white one first—it's got a butterfly print, and Sire said it'll be big enough until I'm at least ten. "Dis one for bot." I set it aside and hold up the little one—my Cinderella blanket from Grammy. "An' dis for human." I whimper and drop it as I flash back to my last day with them.


The second I'm inside he flings me toward the couch. I clamber onto it and stare up at his eyes. They're scary—almost black with rage. "WHY THE F*** DID I GET A CALL FROM THE SCHOOL TODAY?"

"I-I w-was h-humming?"

"WHAT THE F*** WERE YOU THINKING!? YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO MAKE ANY NOISE! DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY ANYTHING UNLESS YOU'RE TOLD?"

"I-I j-just h-hummed… I-I no speak…"

"SHUT YOUR F***IN' MOUTH BEFORE I SHUT IT FOR YOU!" He moves closer to me and grabs my arm before violently turning me over. I know what comes next, and cringe as I hear his belt come off. "YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT! GET YOUR F***IN' CLOTHES OFF, AND LAY FACE DOWN ON THE COUCH!" I stand up and quickly squirm out of my jeans and T-shirt before lying on my tummy on the couch. I wince at the first strike hits my legs, followed by two more before he moves to my back. Two more winces.

I can't hold back the cry as the buckle hits my sensitive back the first time. Tears fall unbidden into the couch as I choke back a sob. The strikes come harder and faster. "STOP F***IN' CRYING! YOU ASKED FOR THIS!" He stops after about five more, and jerks me toward my clothes. "GET DRESSED, GET TO YOUR ROOM, AND DON'T COME OUT TILL YOUR HOMEWORK IS DONE!"

I nod and scramble into my clothes before running into my bedroom with my worksheets. I know it's hopeless to ask for a snack. He doesn't care enough to feed me. They've got the kid they always wanted in their toddler son. I'm just some street kid they took in soon after her birth.

I reach down and rub my tummy when it growls at me. "I know you want nummies. I do too, but we won't get much tonight. He's mad now…" I'm not in my room for five minutes when I realize I need to potty. I stick my head out the door and turn to look at the man on the couch. "D-Daddy? Can I get up? I gotta—"

"Is your homework done?"

"N-no…"

"Then you get back in that chair."

"B-but…"

"I SAID DO YOUR HOMEWORK OR YOU CAN'T GET UP! NOW DO YOUR F***IN' HOMEWORK, BITCH!"

I slip back into my desk chair—the desk was a gift from Grammy, just like my bed and toy box—and the few toys inside from when I was a baby. I lean on my elbow and try to work through the growing need to use the potty.

Before I realize what's happening, I pee all over my chair. "Daddy!"

"DO YOUR F***IN' HOMEWORK, YOU LAZY F***!"

I sigh before turning to my worksheets—one for math, and another for reading, as well as my spelling words. I copy the words, then finish the worksheets, all while wearing wet, pee-soaked clothes.

I pick up the papers and carry them out to the living room to put them in my backpack.

"Now—" He looks up from the TV with a glare when he notices the pee-smell. "WHY DID YOU PEE YOUR PANTS!?"

"You say stay in room… I try to ask…"

He reaches into a package beside him before shoving a pull-up into my hands. "Put it on, then clean up your mess, and next time, learn to hold it in!"

I tremble at the dangerous tone in his voice, then run to my room. I put the offensive Elmo pull-up on, then pull on clean jeans and change into a red long sleeved T-shirt and a brown minidress jumper with an Elmo graphic above the waist and "Elmo", then change my socks—they got pee on them too—and put my white and pink Elmo Velcro tennis shoes back on. I quickly clean up the pee on my chair, then walk back and put my wet clothes in the washer before climbing onto the dryer. I put a little soap in and start it, then climb down and grab the computer Grammy got me. It's in an Elmo case, but Elmo has a halo. He's not an angel, though. He's a devil!


I sigh from where I'm sitting in the front yard on the Cinderella blankie Grammy got me, leaning back against an electric pole. I'm bored. There's not really anything I want to do out here, but if I go back inside, I have to face my Dad, and I really don't want to.


"Mari?" He waves a hand in front of my face, which doesn't help. "Frag! Red, call Prowl!"

"Don't be so impulsive, Inferno. It's probably just a flashback. They happen in trauma." Red crouches to me, and tilts my head up to reveal my wide, terrified eyes. "Mariposa? Sweetspark?"

"M-Mommy?"

He smiles. "No, Sweetie. It's Red Alert." He picks me up and sits back in his spinny chair. "What happened?"

"Um…" I whimper. "Aaron…he was human "daddy"…he beated me for hums in school…den I takey tha' b'ankie an' go 'side, fin' Papa."

"Okay, it was just a flashback, Sweetie. You're safe now—we're still in the security room."

Inferno sighs. "We may want ta tell Prowl she'll need a different crash blanket for her holo…"

"I'm on it." He reaches up to his comm. "Prowl?"

"I am in a meeting, Red Alert."

"I'm aware of that. Mari just had a flashback, and from what she said, it was caused by her pink crash blanket."

"Frag. I was afraid that would happen if I let her use it! Did she crash?"

"No. She's still alert."

"Thank Primus." He sighs. "I need to get back to the meeting. Keep me updated."

"I will. Red out." He sighs and turns to me. "Now, what were you looking for?"

"Wanna colors…"

He nods, and kneels beside me before rustling through the bag as I drink my energon. "This?"

"You foun' it!" I set my cube down, take it, and hug him before shifting down to human form and laying on my tummy to color, giggling over the picture I had chosen—two boys trying to pick up a pumpkin as big as they are. "She's such a good youngling. We almost don't even have to watch her, Red."

"I know. I've watched her before."

"Red…"

Red Alert waves over to the left wall, which I learned is all cameras set up at my house. "Prowl's come to me about her security before, so I know they've had some problems with her feeling safe. I set those up for him almost two weeks ago, and I monitor them just as closely as I do the others. She may not want to go home after the breach earlier…even after I showed her those."

"Prowl's a good Carrier, Red. He'll handle it." I hear someone shift and what sounds like the clatter of an empty trash can, but tune it out as much as I can. "Red? You okay?" I pop my head up when I hear someone purge. "Red!"

I stare at the two as Red Alert sighs. "I'm fine. It's just a little nausea."

I get up and walk over to the two. "Red okay?"

"I'm okay, Little One." He lays a hand on my back. "I'm sorry if I scared you. You can go back to playing now."

I give him a stern look for a moment before gasping, my eyes lighting up. "You has sparklie too!"

"What? Of course not!"

"Yes you is." I hug him before going back to my coloring, leaving the two staring after me.

"What the heck…" They turn to each other after a moment. "We should have Ratch check."

"Inferno, I'm not—"

"Just to be sure. You know how some younglings…can tell…"

"Her minicon's carrying, and her bond-brother is carrying. She's probably just got it on her processor." He huffs. "We don't even know how much she's really aware of! She has special needs!"

"Red…"

"I know, don't doubt her because of glitches. I hate it when the others do that to me anyway." Red Alert sighs, shaking his head. "But she says my paranoia is from trauma, she insists I'm carrying…"

"You did have a hard life before we met… You could have PTSD from it… I'm sure that's where she got "Trauma Glitch" from in the first place." Inferno sighs. "Besides, you've been doin' that for days now. Ya need ta see Ratch."

I glance back and forth between the two for a moment, then slip out into the hall. I look around for a moment before rushing to the medbay, grabbing a scanner, giving the "shhh" sign to Fixit and Aid, and rushing back before slipping back into the security room to find them still talking. I switch on the scanner and scramble onto Red Alert's lap with it. "Where'd you get that, Mari?"

"Medbay."

"When did you…" They turn to the door, then Red Alert turns to his camera screens and rewinds one of them. "Primus… We took our eyes off her for one second and she swiped one of Ratchet's scanners."

"Come on." Inferno moves to pick me up as I grab onto Red tightly yet carefully, making sure not to damage the scanner in the process.

"NO!"

"We need ta take that back ta Ratch."

"NO! Gotta scans Red!" I fiddle with it for a moment, setting what kind of scan I want like Ratchet had taught me yesterday, before scanning over the mech.

"She seems ta know what she's doing with it…"

"She's a youngling, Inferno. How could she—" He turns his attention to me as I run through the readings from the spark scan. "How did you know how to do that?"

"Ratch teached me yes'erday. I's a li'l medic." I giggle before handing the scanner to Red Alert with a smirk. "I telled you there was'a sparklie."

The scanner slips out of Red's hand and hits the floor with a clatter as he looks up to Inferno. "Oh, Primus… What are we going to do?"

Inferno puts an arm around Red Alert gently. "We'll get through this, Red."

"But my p—" I glare up at him. "My anxiety. What if something happens to—"

"Wed." I step over to him and pat his hand. "It be okay. You can do. Ifs Mommy can do, you cans do, an' Mommy does good wif me."

Red looks down at me with a small smile. "Thanks, Little One." He sighs heavily before picking me up. "But we'd better get that scanner back to Ratchet before he starts looking for it."

"M'kay."


"Watch?" He turns to find Red Alert and I in the doorway.

"Finally come out?" He glances to me. "How did you wind up with Mari?"

"She had a panic attack in the rec-room, and Inferno got her out. We're keeping her for Prowl until he's done with his meeting."

"Watch, Look!" I hold out the scanner.

"When did you take this?"

"Minutes 'go. Look!"

He looks down at the readout for a minute, glances to Red and I, then back down to the scanner. "Mari, who did you scan?" I smile and shake my head. I want Red to tell him. "Mariposa, whose spark scan is this?" I huff, and point to Red. "Mari…" He sighs, and steps over to me. "This is a scan from someone who is around a week into a carriage. I have not had anyone come to me with those symptoms besides Fixit, and he is on his second week." I point to Red Alert again, causing Ratchet to huff and scan Red himself, using his own attached scanner. His eyes widen within a moment. "Holy Primus, she's telling the truth. On the berth, Red."

"But—"

"No arguments. On the berth. I need to make sure you're both healthy." Ratchet grumbles as he moves to his comm. "Inferno, come to medbay."

"Ratch? Is something wrong?"

"Just get down here. I'm not doing this over comms." It's less than a minute before he joins us. "Did you know about this?" Ratchet turns the scanner to face him.

"Mari just did that a few minutes ago."

"Before that?"

"Nope."

Ratchet shakes his head before checking everything he'd taught me over the last week. "They are both fine, thank Primus, but…"

"But? Ratchet, is something wrong with it?"

"Not that I could see. Red Alert, with your glitch…" He sighs. "Your anxiety won't be good for the little one at all…"

"We won't hurt it, Ratch."

"I wasn't going to make you. I just wanted Red to know."

"Uh-oh." I dance around a little. I gotta potty, and I don't know where the bathroom is. "Um…Ferno…"

"Anything special I'll need to do to help him out?"

"Ferno!" I tap urgently on his leg.

"He'll be okay so long as he doesn't fritz as bad as he did right after you two got here."

"Oopsies…" The three look down to me finally, but it's too late now—I already pottied. "I sowwy!" I cringe in on myself as Ratchet steps over to me, while Inferno moves to crouch to me. "No hurts, I no means has accident! I no' know where baffroom at!"

"Stop. You're scaring her. Rushing at either of us is the worst thing you could do, remember? Don't crowd her, or she'll run like I did." Red Alert slides off the berth and steps over before crouching to me. "Easy, Little One…it's okay. It happens." He picks me up before holding me close. "Inferno, were there any clean clothes in the bags you got from Streetwise?"

"I think so…"

"Go get it, and we'll see." He turns to me. "Could you tell me why you panicked this time?" I shake my head and whimper. "Ratchet, could you comm Smokescreen for me?"

"Of course." He sighs. "I'll have to clean that up too…"

"I SAY I'S SOWWY!"

"Easy…It was an accident. We know you didn't mean to."

Inferno rushes over then with my bag. "I got it."

"Thank you." He takes it, and turns toward Ratchet's office before glancing back to the medic. "May I? I really don't want to change her out here."

"Go ahead." He sighs. "Oh, and Smokescreen is on his way."

"Thank you. Inferno?"

"Right behind you."

I watch the two as they help me out of my wet clothes and into a white cap sleeved T-shirt with two red and white polka-dot stars and a blue star print star and a blue star print skirt with a red and white polka-dot hem, then watch as I slip on my flip flops again. "Is that better now?" I nod. "All right, let's go see if Smokescreen's come yet."

"Unca Smokey…" I look up to Red Alert, who's once again holding me. "Unca Smokey no gets mad a' me, right?"

Red shakes his head. "He's my therapist, Mari. Of course he won't."

"Otay…" I whimper. "Wan' Binky…an' my amb'lance."

"Inferno?"

Inferno sighs. "They're in the other bag…"

"Get them, please? Mari's already upset enough, and I don't want her to crash on our watch."

"All right." He rushes out, and Red follows with me after a moment.

"Hey, Kiddo. You okay?"

I shake my head, causing Red to sigh. "She had an accident, and started panicking again."

Uncle Smokescreen sighs. "Well, at least you called me. Prowl won't even do that much." He shakes his head. "We still don't know much about what she went through with her abusers, but we get bits and pieces from her when she does this." He smiles. "Heard you got some exciting news, though."

"How'd you hear!?"

"I ran into Inferno on the way here."

"Calms down, Wed. I's jus' Unca Smokey. He no hurts."

The two of us share a look. "Right…" He sighs. "We did, thanks to Mari. I'm carrying."

"Great!" He sighs. "Where's Inferno?"

"Getting Mari's ambulance and pacifier from the security room."

"Wed otay?"

"I think…"

"Red Alert?" He glances back to Ratchet from the door. "Have her here by four. She's still got her medical training today."

"Of course." He starts back toward the security room with Uncle Smokescreen behind us. "Sorry you had to see that, Little One…"

"You jus' panics. I does too." I giggle. "I does two times 'day!"

"That you did." Uncle Smokescreen laughs. "At least she doesn't let it get to her."

"Yeah."

"Wed? What happen?"

"Excuse me?"

"What happen? You say "wike I did"."

"Oh…" He sighs. "Um…"

He turns to Uncle Smokescreen, who shrugs. "Just don't lie to her. She's been through too much, and it would set us back weeks if not more if you did."

Red sighs. "I had one of my "fits", as some of the bots call it, and took off when they tried to help me because I was panicking. Starscream found me and tricked me into going against my own team—and against Inferno. I wound up injured and trapped in a bunker, and Inferno came to my rescue, even though I had doubted his intentions toward me for the…duration…of the panic attack, which had lasted longer than usual because I had been hurt in the initial attack. Sometimes…I wonder why he did, after everything I did…"

"Oh…" I look up at him for a moment, then hug him. "Is otay. Happens."

"Yeah…it does… Sometimes, I wish it wouldn't…"

"You've come a long way since then, though." Uncle Smokescreen sighs. "Wasn't Mari staying here at that time?"

"When?"

"August 6th." He suddenly gets this horrified look on his face. "Slag! She was!"

I can feel him starting to breathe heavier, and hug him before patting the little horns that had sparked earlier. "Wed, calms down. I's otay. You no hurted me. I not even knows till now."

Red sighs and stops at the door to the security room. "I'll be okay, Smokescreen."

"I know you will. Mari?" He puts a hand on my shoulder. "Are you going to be all right, or do I need to take you until Prowl's free?"

"Tay Wed."

"Okay. Red, you got her?"

"We're good."

"All right. Comm me if you need me, Red. I'll be right here."

"We'll be fine, Smokescreen, but thank you." He carries me back into the security room and sets me on my feet. "All right, anything you want to do until Ratchet needs you? Your Carrier's still in his meeting."

"I colors more?"

"Of course." He lays his blanket out on the floor, still mostly folded, then sets me on top of it with my data-pad and the bag of styluses. "There you go."

"Thanks, Red." I smile up at him before starting to color.


4:00 PM

I walk into the room in holoform to find Ratchet, in holoform, talking to a woman, and one of the girls who had helped out with my class the day before I got to bot form. "She will be fine in a moment, Major Altheimer. It was a mild reaction, and you got her here quickly."

"Amy?" I run over and jump into her arms with a squeal. "AMY!"

She hugs me before putting me down. "What are you doing in here, Little One?"

"Ratch's gonna teaches me!"

"Ratchet…"

"Major Altheimer, Mariposa has medical savantism, so we have agreed to teach her early. I assure you, this is a rare and special case, and it keeps her somewhere nearby in case of a crash."

"She still does that?"

"Oh, Youngling, she is worse than when you saw her." He sighs. "Go on now, run along and play."

"I don't play anymore, I'm fifteen."

"Then go "hang out", or whatever it is you do."

She huffs. "I'll go find Bluestreak, then."

I watch her leave, then turn to Ratchet. "Why you do that?"

He sighs. "It bothers me when people feel the need to hang around after they are repaired, and some younglings just will not leave if you do not push them to."

"Oh… You no wan' me stays?"

"You have a reason to be in here, while she does not." He smiles down at me. "Now, we only have two hours, so we need to get started."


6:00 PM

"Mariposa?"

My head pops up from where I'm sitting in Aid's lap, going over the information about vital signs in a datapad. "Mommy?"

"It is time to go. We have to get you ready for the cookout at Captain Lennox's house."

"Coming!" I scramble out of Aid's lap and run over before tackling his leg. "Le's go!"

He leads me across the hall and into a bathroom before helping me change into a red and white striped sundress with a dark blue and white star print skirt and a pink bow at the hip, a cropped, short sleeved, denim shrug with a red bow on the right chest, white bobby socks, and denim Mary Jane shoes with red and white striped bows. He carefully takes out the hair ties on my Minnie Mouse ears, and pins on American flag bows instead. Once I'm dressed, he leads me into the hall, transforms, and lets me in before heading off for Lennox's farm.


Lennox Farm

We pull in, and Carrier lets me out. Most of the bots are already here—Sire's got Fixit by his leg, and all the Aerials and Protectobots are sitting around, talking and laughing while Lennox and Sarah stand by their propane grill, cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and steaks while potatoes and corn, wrapped in foil or their own leaves, cover another propane grill, and two large skillets—one on each grill—hold a mix of peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Annabelle, the Epps' kids, and the younglings from the base are running around playing tag as their parents watch with amusement. Annabelle is wearing a red tank top and blue and white striped shorts, and Epps' kids are wearing denim shorts with red t-shirts.

Carrier taps my shoulder before pointing to the group of kids. "Go on. You are allowed to play, Sweetspark."

"Otay…" I step over to the group, transforming as I do, and tap the first kid I find—it's Blackfire, who is a shiny purple seeker frame with lime green accents—on the shoulder. "Can I play?"

"HOLD UP!" Everyone turns to her. "Let's start over so Mari can play too."

"All right…" An orange and off-white mechling, named Electro, crosses his arms. "So, who'll be it?"

Blackfire huffs. "You will."

"Fine." He makes a beeline for me, but I take off at a speed faster than any of them can go. "What the heck!?"

"Mariposa, come here please."

I step over to Carrier. "Y-yes?"

He sighs softly. "You need to play fair, okay? The other younglings cannot go as fast as you can, and running so fast is not fair to them."

"Okay…"

"Now, you can go back to playing, just remember to be fair about it, okay?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Now go play."

"Okay." I run back to them—at a human pace this time—and we start the game back up again.


Third POV

"You handled that really well."

"Raising a youngling is not as hard as you would think, Red Alert. You just have to be firm, but gentle. They are only younglings, after all." Prowl sighs. "I need to ask you for a favor."

"Does it have to deal with Mariposa?"

"Yes." He sighs. "I need someone who knows security, just in case something similar to today happens while we are gone."

"But…the base—"

"Will be safe, Red Alert." Prowl lays a hand on his shoulder. "Blaster has already agreed to handle it for the next two days. Red…I would not be asking you if I had no other choice…"

"Prowl…"

"Do ya realize what you're askin' of him? We just foun' out he's carryin', Prowl."

"I am well aware of that, Inferno, but…Mariposa interacts well with him, and I am still unsure of our trip to Indiana in the light of the…extent…of Mariposa's trauma. She probably would have crashed, several times today, if she hadn't had you and Red Alert there to back her up…"

"But Prowl…"

"We'll do it."

"Red…"

"She needs to have someone who understands, and Bluestreak may be able to, but you have to remember that his trauma is…milder…than Mari's because of her situation."

"Situation?"

"Her abuse, Inferno. That's—"

"Several severe events when her life was in danger." He sighs. "I am simply grateful that she does not blame me for sending her to that hard life…"

"Prowl, you didn't know…" Inferno sighs at the look in Prowl's eyes. "Jazz!"

"Wha's wr—Oh." He sighs and puts an arm around Prowl. "Come on, le's go fin' Ratch 'fore ya actually crash."

"No."

"Prowler…"

"S-Smokescreen."

"All right. We'll go to him." He turns to Inferno. "Ah'm comin' back, and ya're gonna tell me wha' happene'."


Normal POV

I look down at my plate—it's got an ear of roasted corn, a baked potato, a little steak, and a scoop of the peppers, onions, and mushrooms on it—before looking up to Sire. "Where Carrier?"

"He's talkin' with ya Uncle, Girly."

"What's wrong? I be bad girl?"

"Nah, ya're mah good li'l femmelin'. He's jus' upse'."

"'Bou' me?"

"Ah thin' so…"

"Papa… Why? If I goo' girl, he shoul' no' be 'set."

"Calm down, Little One." Sire sighs. "Ya're a very goo' girl. Ya Carrier's jus' upse' because he sen' ya here, an' he feels bad 'cause ya go' bea'."

"He no does on purpose."

"Ah know, bu' he jus' don' wanna 'gree with us on tha' ye'."

"Jazz, we need to head home."

"Bu' Mari's not doin' her contest tomorrow. Ella's visitin' family this weeken'."

"I am aware of that. I need to leave, and I do not need to be alone."

"Ah go' ya." He glances down to me. "Mari, ya need ta finish up. Ya Carrier needs ta ge' home."


Home

I watch Sire get Carrier settled in from their doorway, then get led to my bathroom. After Sire washes my hair and helps me wash the rest of me, he helps me into a pull-up and my pajamas—a light blue long sleeved pajama top with a dark blue star on the left shoulder and dark blue star print pajama pants. "Mommy be's otay?"

"Yes, Li'l One. He'll be fine. He jus' needs ta res'."

"He cwash?"

"Almost, but he'll be okay. Fixit?"

"Right here, Jazz."

"Come on, le's ge' ya inta bed."