A/N: So as you may have noticed, I have moved this to the TF/BW section due to it focusing a lot on G1 characters but in a Bayverse setting. So I did think it was best to do so. Also thanks to everyone who has faved/reviewed/subscribed to this lately! You all rock!

CHAPTER WARNING: The end of this chapter's implications get dark. You have been warned.

CHAPTER 5
Night Terror

"So, you're fifteen huh? Gonna make Prowl teach you to drive so you can get a license at sixteen?"

Jeff nearly spat out his food as Bluestreak said that. Having never thought of driving, he couldn't imagine learning in a police car either. He shook his head a bit, looking down at his food as he shifted a little, and tried to focus on something else in the restaurant. Things had been going so well between the three of them that night, if he said no would he offend Prowl?

He looked between their two holoforms who were seated in front of him. He still wasn't used to them, but at least he could talk to them easier this way. Even if both looked even more alike in this form. Bluestreak, obviously was the younger of the two, but their matching wavy black hair, and starling blue eyes made it hard to tell them apart at first glance.

He tapped the side of the table a moment before deciding to answer. "I uh... I don't know. I've never really thought about driving," Jeff shrugged his shoulders a bit. "And isn't it kind of illegal for me to try driving a police car?"

"I could always teach you!"

"No you won't. He needs to learn how to drive properly if anything," Prowl commented, was that a joke? It was one of the first times Jeff had heard him make one. "You'd probably teach him how to easily get himself in a lot of trouble."

Jeff took the chance to murmur: "Not to mention after my last drive I don't exactly want to do it for a while."

The thought of that accident still haunted him just as much as the rest of the day. But having crashed into a wall like he had... Well, that would scare anyone from driving for a while. And so would going to juvie for five years for doing it. Bluestreak seemingly caught on that it was probably a good idea to move away from the talk, and thus spoke up. "Probably right, I've never been good at driving Earth cars," he then noted. "So, anything your itching to do now that you're a free kid? For the most part, I mean."

Prowl shifted a little, seemingly interested in that too. Jeff frowned, there were a lot of things he wanted to do. Finally see a movie in a theater again, play one of the new video game consoles... Find a way out of the system... Find somewhere he could feel safe. Well, he wouldn't share those last two, so he settled for... "Yeah, I have a few things I want to do. When I have free time."

It was actually his foster father who replied, which surprised him. "Oh? Anything I can help you with? We have free time in the evenings so I'll gladly take you out when you wish," the offer surprised Jeff, though he also recognized they both were being friendly. "There are quite a few things to do in Autobot City, after all."

Jeff looked timidly to the side. "I can do them myself..."

Bluestreak looked over at Prowl, so blatantly Jeff could even see his real form do so from the Autobot-sized table both of theirs were sitting at sipping Energon. But he tried his best to ignore the exaggerated action, especially considering he already was coming to like Bluestreak. "Kid, Prowl's trying to say he wants to spend time with you. Heck, I do too! So I can help," he explained holding up his hand. "You ever been to a car race? Arcade? Amusement park? Heck, I could really show you a good time!"

"Settle down, Bluestreak. Don't overwhelm him."

Jeff tried to hide the ghost of a smile that was starting to cross his face. All of those things sounded fun, even if Prowl probably was right about that. Not to mention the fact that he didn't know if his program would even allow him to travel to something as far away as an amusement park would probably be. "I uh... I really think I'd like to start by seeing a movie some time," Jeff explained as he continued to eat his food. "I haven't seen one of those in forever."

After a moment, Bluestreak's hand shot up. "Prowl, there's a movie theater down the street!"

Prowl's holoforms eyes looked over at Bluestreak, and looked like he might have noted the fact that they had work in the morning. Yet, Jeff made note of the fact that Bluestreak carefully nudged his brother in a "come on" way. After a moment, the mech seemed to sigh, and nod. "A short movie might be a good way to let you have some fun for once," Prowl explained. "Nothing related to Marvel, or we'll be stuck in there forever."

Jeff tried not to seem too excited. But still he couldn't help but get a big grin on his face at the thought of actually going out to go see a movie. That was something that rarely got afforded to him while in foster homes after all. "Oh come on! Don't be such a stiff, bro! Let's take him to see a Marvel movie. Kids love superheroes!" Bluestreak replied, excitedly. "They have Doctor Strange playing! Ohhhh! I hear that's so good!"

The SIC looked thoughtfully between the two of them. Of course, he wanted to say no - they had work in the morning as Jeff had pointed out in his head. And yet, he could see the excitement from Jeff that he was trying to hide - noticing it was the most lively he'd seen him yet. After a long moment, he simply smiled. "Very well, "Doctor Strange" it is," Prowl explained. "Finish your dinner, Jeffrey. We should catch the earliest showing we can. We have work tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

Jeff definitely loved movies, Prowl could grasp.

His actions reminded him of a kid in a candy store. Practically bounding into the theater at top speed. And that was only before the movie started. The boy was practically bouncing up in down in the seat, clearly exhibiting the signs of his ADHD that Prowl had been forewarned about. But really, he didn't mind, it made him happy to finally see the boy, who seemed so fragile and timid finally enjoying himself.

Prowl found the movie itself rather silly and contrived. The whole magic thing had never sat well with his more logical side, but at the very least Bluestreak and Jeff seemed deeply engrossed. And given he had enjoyed Benedict Cumberbautch greatly in movies like The Imitation Game, he did not mind seeing yet another of his performances. At the very least, he was the best part of the film.

When they exited the theater later that night, he noted that Jeff and Bluestreak were still rattling off about the movie. And Prowl already caught the fact that they were planning to "marathon" the other "MCU" movies that Jeff had apparently missed. The last of the movies he'd seen apparently being Iron Man 2.

Checking the time, Prowl almost felt bad having to break this off. After all, Jeff meeting his younger brother had gone so much better than he could imagine. But of course, work came first. "Alright, well, as fun a night as this has been. I do believe Jeffrey and I should be going," Jeff turned at his words, looking a bit disappointed. "Don't worry, Jeffrey, you'll have plenty of time to do more outings like this. I do enjoy some movies..."

Jeff crossed his arms, looking nervous. No doubt, Prowl guessed he wondered if Prowl would actually do that. And that was confirmed the moment he asked: "You mean that?" he asked timidly. "You'd take me to the movies and go to dinner and stuff...?"

Prowl looked at him with another soft smile. "I'd like to go out and do things with you. When our schedule allows it. Perhaps next time we can find a movie we both have interest in," Jeff nodded his head slowly. "Now, say goodnight to Bluestreak."

"Goodnight, Blue!" Jeff managed. "Thanks for the phone... And talking Prowl into this."

"Hey, don't mention it, little buddy. I had a great time with you tonight!" Bluestreak replied jovially towards his newfound foster nephew. "Hey, I put my com number in your new phone. So if you ever want to hang out, you just give your Uncle Blue a call! I'd love to spend more time with you."

Jeff looked a little unsure of how to respond. And Prowl knew that Bluestreak's insistence of the "Uncle Blue" may have been overwhelming. But at the same time, he felt a bit of relief as Jeff managed a smile and nodded. "Thanks Blue, I will."

"Alright then, goodnight Bluestreak," Prowl gave his younger brother a pat on the back.

But as he started to move towards the street, Bluestreak stopped him. Nodding forward for Jeff to give them some time alone. Jeff, who seemed to be quick to read people, was quick to nod and walk off enough distance to give him time to talk. "That kid was in JUVIE?" Bluestreak asked, shaking his head. "You gotta think something is off there, right? He's... He's so timid and small..."

Prowl nodded his head in agreement. "I've been thinking the same thing. He almost acts as though he's afraid of me sometimes..."

"Someone abused him."

Prowl nodded his head, very much convinced of that too. Whether it was the foster parent he shot, or simply someone along the line, there was something off about Jeffrey Devlin, and it was now very clear he wasn't the only one who thought so. "Unfortunately, I've drawn the same conclusion. And I fear that it may have contributed to his sentence," he explained his voice quiet. "I'm going to continue to try and get through to him. But we both know that will be very hard..."

"Might be a good idea to get him and Smokey together sometime."

Prowl vented at the thought, unsure if that was a good idea. Their older brother could relate if this was true, of course. He'd been adopted by their family from an abusive home in the lower rung castes of the Praxus. He'd also grown up with some troubles for this reason. But in the end, he had similar tells, having a hard time to get close to people being the most prominent of him.

It wasn't such a bad idea either. But he wasn't sure that Smokescreen would fully be able to handle it if this boy came from a similar background. Who knew what would go down... If he'd act aggressively and demand Jeff tell him who, or if he'd simply offer him advice... "I say we take a rain check as the humans call it on that," Prowl replied. "When Jeff has integrated well into our familial unit we can try. But until then it may not be wise."

"Fair enough," Bluestreak shrugged. "But if someone hurt him, and he was in juvie because of it. They should not get away with it."

"I concur, but we also are only speaking in hypothetical's," Prowl replied, his voice stern. "For now, we can only watch and hope he may come forward."

"Which sucks."

"Indeed," Prowl paused a moment. "Goodnight, Bluestreak."

"Night Prowler, see you later!"

As Prowl walked to go and catch up with Jeff he let his processor wander. Jeff had finally shown signs of coming out of his shell tonight, maybe that meant there was hope. Or maybe that only meant that he liked Bluestreak... But his desire to spend more time like this definitely gave him hope.

Prowl had not heard such a violent scream outside the battlefield.

He was up from his berth an instant and running into Jeff's bedroom. He first noted that the boy wasn't in his bed, but after a quick scan found him in a corner. Of course, he was thankful to find him unharmed. But he was also somewhat disturbed to find him there, his pajama fronts soaking wet. Had the boy wet the bed in his terror? What had scared him so bad?

Whatever it was, it certainly had to be something awful to make someone who was fifteen do that.

Jeff was trembling as Prowl stepped into the bedroom. Making note that indeed, his bed was soaked and it vaguely smelled of urine. There were two ways Prowl could look at this: simply that he had a bed wetting problem. Or, the other explanation was the one he again leaned on. Jeff had relived some past trauma that had caused his body so much stress that this was the result.

Of course, he may have considered it was a habit. But he also made note that Jeff didn't do it his first night there, and nor had he done so when he was in the bunk rooms. Someone would have told him that to prepare him if he had. No, this nightmare was something much worse, and for a machine that could look up the reasons for it, it was definitely a warning sign for him.

He made note that this was a common and troubling symptom of victims of sexual assault.

Prowl shook his head, not wishing to go there. And furthermore, not wanting to scare Jeff. He carefully released his holoform to gather the teen's sheets while he crouched down. "Why don't you get some fresh pajamas?" he asked, his voice quiet and gentle. "I will get these, and those into a washing machine."

The boy's blue eyes looked up at Prowl, tears pouring down. It was the first time Prowl had seen such an act from the child, and to tell the truth, it broke his spark. "I'm sorry," Jeff choked. "I don't do this a lot. I promise, I swear! I'll clean it up!"

Prowl shook his head, holding up a hand. "It's alright, Jeffrey. It's alright," he assured him, his voice firm. "Just bring me your pajamas and I'll get some of the spare sheets I bought."

Prowl exited the room to allow Jeff some time alone. To be honest, the SIC wasn't sure to react to this. If he overreacted, it may scare Jeff. Pit, he didn't even know if he was hurt at all. But whatever had happened there... He'd never had kids, how could he handle it if that was the truth? If Jeff had been harmed in more than just a beating?

He felt the urge to purge at the very thoughts, his tanks churning in disgust.

He waited for Jeff in the hallway, relived when he finally came out. Dressed in some sweat pants and a t-shirt now, and carrying his pajamas in a bundle. "I uh... I don't know what to say," Jeff muttered. "I'm sorry... I just... I used to do this sometimes in juvie. But I swear... It wasn't a lot."

"It's fine, though surprising. Most younglings have outgrown this," Prowl noted as he summoned his holoform again to take the wet clothes from Jeff. "... Jeffrey, I... I may be overstepping my boundaries, and forgive me if I am. But I inferred you had a night terror... Can you tell me what it was about?"

You could cut the tension in the hallway with a knife. Jeff looked scared, his eyes wide like a deer in the headlights as he tried his best to come up with an answer. "It was nothing," Jeff told him as quickly as he could. "Just stupid stuff... I promise."

Prowl finally worked up the courage to ask. "Was it about someone who hurt you?"

"What makes you think someone hurt me?" Jeff asked, his voice breaking.

The SIC was silent, but after a moment gave his honest answer. "I can think of few things that would scare someone into wetting the bed. At least at your age," he told him, his voice low. "I know you don't want to talk to me about it, this much is clear. But if it is true, you should tell someone."

Jeff was silent, his eyes darting around. It was clear he was worried by the comment, but any hopes that he may take it to heart seemed to end with a single sentence. "I don't... I don't want to talk about this," Jeff replied, backing up slowly, his voice raspy. "I want to go wash myself off and go to bed."

"... Jeffrey..."

"Can we just drop this?" Jeff asked. "Please, I don't want to talk about my nightmare."

Another long, deafening silence followed. "Very well, I'll set your bed back up."

Jeff was gone down the hall to his bathroom as quickly as he could be. Prowl frowned, convinced now that he didn't need Smokescreen to tell him. He didn't need any professional to tell him either...

Someone had hurt Jeff. And that person had him so scared, he wasn't ready to talk. But he silently swore that somehow, someway, he would help this boy. Because no one deserved to live in this kind of fear.