Five Bots 1/?
Chapter: 1
Title: 5 Bots & A Toddler
Disclaimer: Don't own, Am Broke.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/Characters: Annabelle Lennox, Ironhide, SamxBee (one-sided), Sam/Mikaela, Judy Witwicky, Ratchet, Jazz, Optimus. Flashback: Will Lennox, Ocs-Captain Simmons, and Mrs. Grand.
Summary: A young traumatized boy will not speak. Sam gets a letter, Bee feels left out.
Notes: Flashbacks are in italics. The flashbacks are significant to the story and will be an important plot point in the future. When I wrote this story almost three years ago I was under the impression that Sam was a Sophomore in High School not a senior. Sam took some time off in between High School and College to help the Autobots.
Flashback
"He hasn't spoken since the trial?"
"No and he is going into school this fall, he will be older then his peers. There is nothing we can do about that, his parents didn't seem to care." A short stocky lady who looked to be in her mid-fifties said the last words with a sneer. There was a large scar across the right side of her lip, which made her face turn up slightly; the children learned quickly that she wasn't really smiling at them. She would tell anyone who would ask that the scar was from the guards who had kept her in a military camp in Germany. She never let her German accent slip unless she was really truly angry. Her hair always was tied up into a high bun and had turned silver-grey many years ago. None of the teenagers would tease or harass her, she was known for punishing them herself and not going to their parents; they were afraid of her. She was the best foster care mother in the southern suburbs of San Francisco.
"That's harsh Mrs. Grand, you must not speak too unkindly about the dead. I hope you will be able to find a family that will love him." This voice was low and soft, one had to lean close to the man to hear him speak. Though at the moment he didn't smile his voice had a tone as if he understood an inside joke with the German foster care mother.
"Captain Simmons I wish you the best in your election for mayor." The women understood his discreetness; her sharp eyes had noticed the hidden cameras from across the street. News hounds were following the would be mayor-elect and his family 24/7.
"Thank you." The captain said nodding towards the shorter women. He then turned to the young boy who had been standing by him the entire conversation; he did not understand the significance of what was going on. "Now Will I hope you are polite and good to your foster parents and Mrs. Grand. I will make sure to check up on you." The man was in his early thirties and had a lifetime to live with his young wife and son. He would forget about the young orphan boy before he gets into his limousine. His career would sky rocket and he would go as far as to head a secret US agency, before the memory of the young boy comes back to haunt him.
The boy six years of age with large saucer brown eyes looked up at the man with love and loyalty. The boy would learn quickly to hide his emotions from his eyes and face as adults passed through his life as quickly as chocolate on Halloween. The hardships he would go through would shape his character into the perfect Army Ranger and Captain.
"Boy..." The ladies hand came down on the face of the young boy. His face showed a red mark and his lips curled down as tears began to form on at the edge of his eyes. "Lennox pay attention to the rules around here I wont have you getting hurt I don't have the money to take you to the hospital."
The boy would not talk until his first grade teacher took him aside and told him her story about being an orphan and how she was able to find a good home. It was her friendship that got him through the first few years of foster care.
Break
"You can't treat her like a dog." Ironhide argued the abandoned building shaking with his voice.
"Keep your voice down Ironhide." Prime reprimanded, as he and Ratchet looked over something in the far corner.
"Ratchet has done research on young children, she should be able to talk before she is able to walk." Jazz explained trying to not yell at Ironhide.
"She did talk before..." Ironhide stopped suddenly, his shoulders sagged and he turned away from Jazz and Bumblebee. "Do what you think will work but giving her treats and commanding her to do things will not help her." He walked away broodingly.
The young bots knew when not to disturb the older one, especially when he couldn't even speak about Will's death. They turned back to the holographic screen they had been looking at and slowly scrolled through the different options of child development games and activities. Annabelle was at the Witwicky's for the weekend as the Autobot's determined how they would take care of the small child while they were still fighting the Decepticons.
Annabelle had not said a word to the Autobots or her human companions since the incident and they were worried about the effects it had had on her mind. Ratchet had suggested she go to a child psychologist. Ironhide had disagreed; he had been out voted. The appointment was in a few hours and one of the bots had to take her to the appointment; they had not decided who would go because all of them were apprehensive about the meeting.
"We have to decide who is going to take her to the doctors." Ratchet pointed out a few minutes later.
"She is not sick." Ironhide said gruffly.
"She needs to be evaluated by a human who has knowledge about victims of trauma." Ratchet repeated.
"I promised to pick up Epps at the airport, so I can't go." Jazz said a little too happy that he was able to opt out of the responsibility. Robert Epps was coming back from his tour of duty. He had agreed to take over the responsibilities Will Lennox had to the government as liaison between the autobots and the American military.
"I'm taking Mikaela to a college a few miles away for an interview so I can't go either." Bumblebee said quickly giving his excuse. He had become much closer to Mikaela and Sam since the incident he cared for both of them very much.
"Keller has asked me to talk with him this afternoon about how he could help us in our war." Optimus said his voice calm and commanding yet Ironhide could still sense that he was relieved he wouldn't have to go.
"I have an appointment to look at some houses in the community around the school we have chosen for Annabelle." Ratchet explained, the excuse worked.
All the Autobots looked at Ironhide expectantly and he grudgingly realized that they had planned things that day so that he would be the one to take Annabelle. His usual excuses wouldn't work because they had all involved Will and Sarah. Ironhide pushed the feeling of regret away and stared back at his comrades. "I will take her but don't think I will enjoy it."
"Perish the thought." Ratchet whispered softly which sent Bee and Jazz into a fit of laughter.
Break
"SaAam!" The voice yelled loudly as the door opened and slammed shut.
"Mom I'm in the living room." Sam yelled back.
"Your not out of chores yet, you don't leave until the fall why don't you..." The mother paused and stared at the occupants of the living room.
She recognized three of the four people in the room. One was her son, the other her son's girl friend. The third Sam had called Bee when he had introduced him a few years back, four to be precise. He was wearing a black and gold striped shirt and dark jean shorts. His dirty blond hair was messy and uncombed. The fourth person an older man, serious and dark looking was someone she would have fallen for if she were forty years younger.
When she was younger she had fallen for the tall, dark and bad boys. This man looked like he would fit perfectly in to that category. He had long dark straight hair that he had pulled back into a pony tail, showing off his high cheek bones, pointed chin, tanned skin and dark blue brooding eyes. His clothing was nondescript dark blue and black in color with some silver showing as lining and highlights. He was built and had a tattoo that just peaked over the neckline of his shirt and could be seen continuing down to his right wrist. She found herself staring and then blushing as she looked at her son trying to interpret what he had been telling her as she had stared.
"Mom, this is Bee and umm..." Sam tried to think of something to call Ironhide that wouldn't sound suspicious.
"Kent Ironhide Ma'm. I have heard a lot about you." Ironhide said stepping forward surprising everyone in the room and shaking the blushing mother's hand.
Sam looked from Ironhide to his mom and saw the twinkle in her eye that always meant trouble. He immediately stepped in between them. Turning towards his mom, "Mom, Did you get the mail?"
"Oh, Ah yes umm..." She sad coming out of her surprise with a blush on her cheeks. "I did, you have a letter from UCLA." She handed the envelope to Sam. "You also have some groceries to bring in."
Sam was too distracted by the letter and excitement to hear his mother. Mikaela was too distracted to offer help. Bee watched with just hidden excitement and sadness at his humans response to words printed on a piece of paper. So Ironhide was the one who responded. "I'll help you Mrs. Witwicky."
"What a nice offer." She said smiling sweetly at him. "How do you know my son?"
"I'm actually here to see Annabelle. Will was my..." Ironhide froze as he tried to control his emotions. "Brother."
"I'm sorry for your loss." She said sympathetically.
Ironhide didn't have to fake his emotions as he tried to respond accordingly. "I am following my brother's wishes to take care of her."
Groceries were all but forgotten as Sam began to cheer as he read the acceptance letter and distracted his mother with his enthusiasm. Ironhide stepped out of the jumping fray and watched the humans celebrate. He heard soft footsteps behind him and turned to see a just awakened Annabelle watching the scene before her with curiosity.
Ironhide bent down to one knee to look at Annabelle directly. She slowly moved her eyes from the humans to his hologram waiting for him to speak. At that moment Ironhide saw the resemblance between her and Will and with no explanation he pulled her tightly to him. He felt his truck form shiver with the emotions running through him. He sensed more then felt, Annabelle's tears as she silently wept. Ironhide realized she had not cried since her parents death almost a week before and pulled her even closer. He then picked her up as she leaned into his body and cried.
Bee was the first to notice what had occurred between Ironhide and Annabelle because he tried to ignore his human and Mikaela celebrating with a very passionate kiss. When Sam had started jumping around for joy Bumblebee had joined in until Sam had turned towards Mikaela and hugged her tightly and kissed her happily. He tried to keep the twisted feelings of jealousy down and turned away from the scene to watch Ironhide hug Annabelle and for a moment forgot about his own difficult feelings.
He walked up to Ironhide forgetting to hide his emotions from his hologram; Ironhide could always read Bumblebee like an open book. Ironhide frowned at him. "I told you not to get too attached."
Bee frowned back. "You should practice what you preach." He said anger boiling up inside his frame. The hologram fisted his hands tightly.
"What's with all the long faces?" Sam asked excitedly laying his arm over Bee's shoulder not noticing the shiver that went through the hologram's body. "Bee and I will be going up to LA. It will be great we'll have such fun!" Sam said excitedly. "Don't worry he will come and visit you guys at the base often."
"We plan to make our base in the north-east. They have a better school system for Annabelle." Ironhide stated not realizing that Bee had not told Sam yet about the Autobot's plan.
Sam instantly frowned and looked at Bee confused. "What? I thought you said the base was going to be over here in the desert."
Bee winced slightly at the anger in Sam's voice. Before Bee could explain or Sam could get too angry Mrs. Witwicky interrupted. "Does anyone want any cookies or lemonade?" She asked somehow knowing that tension was forming between her son and Bee.
"Sorry but I have to take Annabelle to a doctor's check-up." Ironhide explained politely.
Sam frowned not happy but knew yelling at Bee in front of his mother would get too many questions. "Its okay mom. We have to go take Mikaela to the interview." He explained.
"All right have fun and drive safe." She said as her guest left with out bringing in one bag of groceries.