Disclaimer: I don't own Sh/#

AN: Optimus got Koji's medical records right after Dr. Onishi died.

Chapter 2

"So you want me to 'kidnap' the kid?"

"Yes" Optimus responded to his brother's question.

"Why?"

"We can't legally keep him here with out being labeled kidnappers. And we also can't let his step mother any where near him."

"What's so bad about his step-mother that you're willing to arrange the boy's kidnapping?" Magnus asked. He was still shocked that his brother was asking him to do something illegal.

Optimus hesitated a moment before answering. He didn't have anymore than circumstantial evidence to support his suspicions. But then again Magnus wouldn't help with out an explanation and he was somewhat protective of the humans…occasionally.

"We think Koji's step-mother has been abusing him."

"Scourge, Megatron wants to speak with you" Sky-byte said startling Scourge from his thoughts.

"Why?"

"It's not my place to question Megatron" Sky-byte said with narrowed eyes. He could have sworn he'd heard nervousness in Scourge's voice.

"I'll be there in a minute," Scourge said. Sky-byte was given no choice but to leave.

After he left Scourge's eyes narrowed. "Megatron can't possibly know. I've been to careful."

"WHAT?"

"We think Koji's step-mother has been abusing him," Optimus repeated.

"And those human idiots gave her custody of him what the hell were they thinking?" Magnus bellowed.

Optimus was grateful that Koji was asleep in the Autobot brother's room on the other side of the base because he doubted all the yelling would help the distraught boy.

"Koji won't admit it and we don't think Dr. Onishi ever knew. Koji's hospital visits only happened when his father was away."

"If the kid won't admit it then how do you know he really was abused?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"The abuse only happened when Dr. Onishi was away for extended periods of time. Like being kidnapped."

"Wait you mean she was doing it while we were here?"

"Yes. There were several times that he came in with bruises and cuts he wouldn't explain or gave paper thin excuses for" Optimus sighed still upset that he hadn't realized what the woman had been doing to his friend until he'd had T-Ai download his entire medical history. "We don't know exactly what she did or what she wants him for now but the way Koji is about her…he's scared of her. And I don't want to take the chance she'll hurt him again" he finished softly.

"So how are we going to do this?" Magnus might not like his brother or the kid that much but he couldn't leave an innocent in danger.

"Prowl filed a missing persons report right after the newscast. We told them that Koji left right after he saw it and that he had been very upset when he left. As a formality they're detectives are going to search the base for clues. That's why we need to get him out of here before they arrive. If we're lucky they'll think he ran away and you'll never be suspected of having anything to do with this."

"One question. Why are you having me be the one to do this? Wouldn't he be more comfortable with one of the three stooges?" Magnus asked.

"They would be missed. Everyone knows that they are loyal to me and would expected to be here occasionally. You're considered a rogue and your absence wouldn't be questioned. Koji won't be safe here until we manage to get custody" Optimus sighed.

"What happens if you don't get custody? Are you going to let him stay a 'runaway' until he's eighteen?" Magnus asked.

" I want custody so Koji can grow up around other humans. If I can't I'll have no other choice but to take him where this legal system has no jurisdiction" Optimus said determinedly.

"Okay you got everything?" Optimus asked. He'd had the Autobot brothers pack all of Koji's clothes and their entire supply of human foods and drinks into his younger brother's cab along with Koji.

Koji didn't seem too happy about being woken up from his sedative induced sleep but he was going along with it since they had told him he could sleep on the way to Magnus' hideout. Luckily the drug was keeping the boy from becoming lucid enough to question what was going on. Magnus would have to explain later what was going on but there would be time enough to deal with it then.

"Just remember that Koji needs to eat three times a day and sleep at least eight hours" Optimus said.

"Optimus he's thirteen. I think by human standards he can take care of himself," Magnus said.

"He hasn't been eating lately. He stopped taking care of himself properly when his father died" Optimus explained.

Magnus shook his head then checked on the boy in his cab. Koji was already asleep again.

"Take care of him brother" Optimus said.

Then Magnus drove away through the space bridge.