CHAPTER 19
Emotional Scars

After Tony had told him the truth about what his Father had done, Ironhide refused to come out of the barn. Tony already knew why Ironhide was hiding out there, of course. Simply because he felt like crap for how he'd treated Tony. Now that he knew how horribly his Father had treated him, he most likely saw how he had treated him in the beginning was no better. It was that reason that Tony quietly and timidly entered the barn, almost afraid of disturbing him at the wrong moment. Of course, the fact it was empty only served to confuse him.

Except it wasn't exactly empty, it just wasn't Ironhide who greeted him. He heard rustling, and a metal clicking, but only blinked. The red optics were the first tip-off that something was wrong, but as soon as the barrel of a cannon met his general direction he froze up. "Good choice." He heard a hiss "And who are you, my young friend?" He asked.

"Tony..." He noticed a grin from the darkness, it was sadistic, yet he still felt the need to ask "Are you a friend of Ironhide's?"

"Tony, eh?" The mech stepped forward, carefully "It's too bad I had to miss my old BUDDY Ironhide, but I'm glad I got to meet you." The sneer on his face told Tony otherwise "And last I checked, Ironhide's buddies included a young woman... Not a boy." His optics flashed a bit.

"I think I should go." Tony replied.

To his surprise the mech, whom he now noticed to be a while color, lowered his weapon slowly. "Oh you mean because of this? Sorry, you just startled me." Tony was surprised a bit "Jeez, you'd think that Ironhide would tell me there's a boy living here." He muttered, crouching down low "I'm Drift by the way, one of Ironhide's good friends. I just came by for a visit." He added.

"But your optics are-"

"Red? Regrettably, I was born a Decepticon, but I converted long ago." Drift noted, though he was not a very good people person, he was oddly enough good with kids, and it really showed "Anyway, I don't believe I got a name from you." He put on a somewhat-forced smile "Can't just call ye 'kid'." He added.

Getting a feeling that Drift wasn't a bad guy at all, Tony finally smiled back. "I'm Tony, Will and Sarah's Foster Son... I'm also Ironhide's Godson, or soon-to-be Godson, I guess." He replied a bit shyly.

Drift's optics lit up and it was quickly obvious he had simply forgotten about Tony. "Of course! Primus, I'd almost forgotten his last message mentioning becoming a Godfather." He chuckled a little, shaking his head slowly "You'll have to forgive me, I have much on my mind as of late. But it's an honor to meet you, young one. He told me much in that one message." He then added "Tells me you're the most lovable little pit spawn he's ever met." He added.

"I hope that's a compliment." Tony replied.

"I did say lovable, didn't I?" Ironhide asked as he scooped Tony up from behind, setting him on his shoulder "I see you already met the pit spawn." He said with a wink in Tony's direction "I hope my old war buddy didn't startle you too much, Tony. I offered him a place to stay while he's on Earth, which is where I've been the last couple of days." He noted.

Tony felt utterly stupid, here he was, worried about Ironhide when he'd only been out with his friend. Tony turned to Ironhide a bit, he thought of bringing it up, but then figured he shouldn't ruin his time with his friend. "Tony?" Tony practically jumped at Ironhide's voice, he turned his head "Are you alright? You've barely said a word." Tony frowned a bit "Do we need to talk, youngling?" He asked.

"No, I'm fine. I'm sorry I didn't mean to walk in on anything." Tony replied.

Ironhide looked for a moment at Tony before turning to Drift. "Do you mind giving us a minute?" Drift shook his head, noting the seriousness in Ironhide's voice as he set Tony down "Sorry, we won't be long." Drift left the barn slowly at this "Alright, Tony. Come on, m'boy, I know you far better than to buy that." He stared at Tony "You're my son." He added.

"Godson."

"That may be the legal term, Tony. But to me, that makes you a part of my family." Ironhide noted, he crouched low enough that the two of them could see eye-to-optic "I knew when something was wrong with Bumblebee. And, my young friend, you're JUST as easy to read as he was. Even moreso, really." Ironhide explained, then added "Talk to me, Tony, what's WRONG?" He asked.

Tony was slow to explain what had happened to Ironhide. He knew if he didn't approach this a certain way, Ironhide would likely arm up his cannons, get Drift, and head off to find his Father and blow him up. By the time he had finished, Ironhide's optics were not full of anger, but rather full of sadness. Nothing could prepare Tony for what he asked next. "I don't buy that the gun was the only incident." He tilted his head "How often did he hit you, Tony? And how often were you threatened?" He asked.

Tony paused, he seated himself on a crate. "I was two years old, Ironhide, I don't remember." Tony looked down a bit "I know my Dad beat the crap out of my Mom, and I think he struck me... Once, twice maybe that I remember?" Ironhide's sharp, unavoidable look brought the child to say the truth faster than he'd anticipated "A week..." He muttered.

"But you weren't two when you saw your Father last, were you?" Ironhide asked, reading right though Tony's face "Your fear of him is far too refined for a boy who only remembers this from when he was two years old." Tony was silent, and slowly, Ironhide understood "He knows your email because it was recent, wasn't it?" Tony's head shot up "You never go into water as it requires you to show your body." Tony shook his head "If I am not correct, prove it to me." He added.

Tony was quiet, he closed his eyes slowly. "When Dad got out of rehab a few years ago, he came looking for me. And he found me at my last Foster Home." Tony put his hands together in his lap, trying hard not to break down "He told me that he was better now. And that I could go live with him. But I knew something was wrong, Marie hadn't told me ANYTHING." The tears started to form in his eyes "I told him I was happy there, and I didn't want to leave. And he beat the crap out of me." He fell silent "Told me to say it was a bully." He added.

Tony was silent, but somehow, Ironhide was sure the boy wasn't done. "He came back a week later. He was drunk... High... I don't know it had to be one of the two. But either way. He abducted me. He threw me in the trunk of his car and drove off." Tony was silent for a moment, this was very difficult to re account, but Ironhide knew he needed to "When I came to, I was on a bed, tied up... I was SO scared." He trembled quietly "I had a pocket knife at the time, and managed to get myself unbound." He added.

"What were you doing there?" Ironhide asked.

"When I was escaping, I heard him trying to trade me for drugs." Tony felt tears pour down his eyes "He tried to SELL me Ironhide, to some frickin' pedophile who carded drugs. If I didn't wake up when I did, God... I don't know what he would have done." He stated, quietly, allowing Ironhide's holoform to appear and pull him into his arms "All I know is the second I could I ran, I ran and didn't look back." He said quietly "Then he started emailing me. Telling me if I ever, if I ever told anyone he'd kill me." He added.

"And you never told anyone? Never reported him?" Ironhide was mortified.

"I had no proof! Do you really think some drug dealer would admit he almost gave some drugs in exchange for their ELEVEN year old?" Tony bit his lip, quietly trembling "I was so scared, Ironhide. I just wanted him to leave me alone. And now he 'wants me back'." Ironhide was completely silent by this time "Ironhide if he takes me back I just... I don't know." He whispered.

Ironhide sighed a bit, he turned his head to the side, then stared down at Tony. "Ironhide to Prowl."

"Prowl here, read you loud and clear, what's wrong?"

"Do you still live with Officer Brown, his wife, and Child?" Ironhide asked, knowing Tony couldn't hear his comm link.

There was silence on Prowl's end, he'd never been called by Ironhide about the family. And Ironhide knew this probably caused him concern. "Yes, Ironhide, I live with them. What's wrong?" He asked.

"I'm bringing my youngest charge, Tony by. As it turns out... We may have a human trafficking incident on our hands." Ironhide was quiet "I fear that if it is not reported, Anthony may find himself in danger." He added.

"Victims of such crimes do not normally speak of it." Prowl replied.

"I need you and Officer Brown to try. Please Prowl, he told me, and Primus, I genuinely fear for his life if he does not report it." Ironhide raised his tone, making it clear this was nothing that could be put off "Or would you rather an innocent child be in danger of going back to a man who attempted to trade him to a drug dealer for his... As they say... 'Daily Fix'?" He added.

There was dead silence on the other end. "Michael and I will be awaiting your arrival." Prowl finally replied, his voice quiet.

"Alright bud, I need to tell Drift and your parents we're leaving." Ironhide noted as his holoform disappeared.

"What? Where are we going?"

"To meet a few friends of mine who can help you." Ironhide replied "Even if I have to haul you to see them myself." He added.