A/N: Thank you so much again to my amazing beta TFPKOFANGIRL, for her work on this chapter!

Now to address something for those who don't know: Grimlock's Trial is canceled. Long story short, I jumped in head-first and the idea just kinda fizzled. It was turning into a disaster. Sorry to those who were following. :(

...

CHAPTER 12
Introductions

Dylan felt like he had all eyes on him when they entered the room. Maybe it was because he was the newest person there, but he felt completely nervous. Ratchet had eventually let him down, but among the group of Autobots he felt out of place. Dylan already noticed some of the ones that were more well known in the world: Arcee, Smokescreen, Ultra Magnus, and Wheeljack. While others he didn't really recognize.

He did, however, quickly notice who exactly Scarlet's parents were, and almost tensed up. He'd seen Ironhide a few times before, everyone had. He was one of the commanders of the Autobot army in Jasper, and was often seen in town. He was a tough, but notoriously kind mech, who was tall, and broad shouldered, with red plating and deep blue eyes. The femme next to him was smaller, but a deep dark blue, blue optics, and a slender frame. He guessed it was Chromia.

Dylan also noticed First Aid as well, along with several Autobots he didn't know. Some of them, he noticed, had brought kids, both human and Cybertronian, of their own. But he was most nervous about meeting Ironhide and Chromia first hand, if Ironhide really was protective of Scarlet. "Ratchet!" Ironhide shouted as he crossed over, of course he would be the first person to step forward. "It's about time you got here. What held you up?"

Dylan's eyes darted away from Ironhide, and instead focused on Scarlet. Who approached them both with her usual wide smile. "Well that part's obvious dad," Scarlet teased slightly. "I don't think you've met his kid, Dylan yet. But he usually has trouble dragging himself to class so," She added.

"Wow, way to talk me up to your dad," Dylan rolled his eyes when he recognized through her face that she was joking.

Dylan watched out of the corner of his eye as Ratchet and Ironhide broke from their greeting. Ironhide's optics immediately shot towards Dylan. Instantaneously Dylan felt like he was very small, fear building up in his body as his heart beat rapidly. The mech approached slowly, and crouched; and for a moment, Dylan felt like this was the end. Until a finger carefully shot out towards him.

"So you're Dylan then," Ironhide told him in a far calmer manner than he'd expected. "It's good to finally meet you. Between Ratchet and Scarlet, I've heard a mouthful," He snorted. "But Ratchet wanted you comfortable before he threw his friends on ye."

Dylan stared for a moment, but took a deep breath, taking hold of the finger and shaking it. It felt odd, having one of the toughest mechs, and his crush's father, act so calm and friendly to him. But he doubted it would be his first guess, which was that Scarlet had told him his past. "It's nice to meet you, too," Dylan managed. "I've heard a lot from Scarlet and Ratchet, too."

As Ironhide straightened, Ratchet spoke up about not introducing them almost instantly. "To be fair, he'd just been taken from a real doozy of a home," He told his old friend. "I certainly wanted you to meet my son. Same as you wanted me to meet Scarlet," He then explained. "But we all know having younglings does change things a bit. Including how you handle situations," He finished.

Dylan blushed again as Ratchet, once again, mentioned him being his son, followed by his youngling. Mixed with the hug, he had to admit, it was really hard to keep a smile from his lips. "Indeed it does," Ironhide turned his head as Chromia approached, wrapping an arm around Ironhide's waist. "I'm glad you figured out that part of it so soon," She looked down at Dylan calmly. "I'm sure you've figured it out, but I'm Chromia. It's very nice to finally meet you as well."

"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," Dylan stated, feeling even more nervous now.

Ratchet looked down at Dylan, noticing the nerves. He looked between them, finally speaking up. "You'll have to forgive him, he has a little bit of social anxiety," Dylan looked at him with a glare. "Don't give me that look, Dylan. It's true, and I don't like seeing you so stressed," He added.

"Ah, I feel ye on that one. Scarlet here had a lot of that for a while too," Ironhide nodded, motioning to his daughter calmly. "It's alright youngin', we'll take it easy on ye. But I'm pretty certain a lot of others are gonna want to meet ye," He then explained. "And don't worry, here yer family. So be yerself and you'll fit right in."

Family, Dylan put his hands in his pockets, that would take even more getting used to. If the Autobots considered themselves one big family, then that was a bigger one than he'd ever experienced. Given he'd only ever known his dad, whose family was either dead, or wanted nothing to do with him. "Well come on then," He suddenly felt Scarlet tug on his arm. "If you're going to be this nervous, let me introduce you to some of the 'Bots and other kids. I think you'll really like Smokescreen especially, he's a hoot." She added.

"Scarlet, I think-."

"Aw, let 'em go, Ratchet," Ironhide encouraged. "As long as your boy has no ill intentions with my daughter. There won't be a problem, will there, son?" He asked.

At that point, Dylan did notice that Ironhide was giving him the look he expected. That one that said "Don't you dare try anything.", and frankly, Dylan was the last person that would. But he could understand why he was nervous, after all, for some boys, that was the only thing on their minds. "Dad," Scarlet groaned. "Trust me, Dylan's the last person to be like that," She stated in his defense.

"I promise sir," Dylan moved his hands out of his pockets. "She's right, I never would," He commented. "Because... Well, I was taken advantage of too."

It came out before he knew what he was doing, but he also knew it had to be said. In order to at least keep Ironhide calm, and make him believe him, it would at least help. And it did, as Ironhide's optics slowly softened, and he looked at Ratchet, who only nodded in confirmation. "Well, you to get on going," Ironhide nodded. "Have fun."

Dylan was dragged away by Scarlet before another word was exchanged. But Dylan felt very grateful for the fact Ironhide believed him, honestly. He knew that some people believed abusers would become ones themselves, or act out their abuse on others. Some even did fall under that category. But he knew that Ironhide could rest assured he was not one of them. After all, he was scared of it ever happening again to himself, let alone to others.

The very thought made him shudder.

He felt a hand squeeze his, and looked at Scarlet. She smiled a bit, knowing exactly what was in his had, and he could tell. "Dad doesn't judge or stereotype like that," Scarlet shook her head. "So you can relax, you were honest with him. He trusts you, even if it'll make him no less protective," She explained.

As he looked over to see that Ratchet and Ironhide were talking, even if he couldn't hear, he sighed. He knew Ratchet was probably filling him in, and so he hoped that Scarlet was right. He could take being looked at like any other boy who was crushing on his daughter, but he didn't want the latter. But as Ironhide caught his gaze, he simply nodded, both at him and Ratchet, as if to say he did trust him.

And so, Dylan couldn't help but relax, for now.

...

Dylan quickly learned, and was surprised to find, most of Team Prime had never really settled down after the war. All of them, including Ratchet, he learned were reserve soldiers, or in the case of a few, still soldiers. The former of which meant they would still battle Decepticons if they were needed. And the latter of which consisted of Arcee, Ultra Magnus, and Wheeljack, who all were still fighting the good fight even if times were slow. On the other hand, Smokescreen was an archivist, Bulkhead, of course, an architect, and Bumblebee an enforcer.

Of all of them, two of them had family. Optimus was bonded with his love of his life: Elita-1 (who was on business elsewhere), and on top of being Bumblebee's adoptive creator, they had a grown human son themselves. He, however, was long since grown, and working as a senator in Washington DC, with children of his own. While Ultra Magnus hadn't bonded, but had an adoptive daughter as well, whom was currently away at college overseas.

The others were either dating or single. Though Bumblebee felt unready to start a family at his young age anyway, and expressed no need to rush. While Smokescreen, who was a little older, hadn't found the right person to settle down with as of yet. Dylan however did feel nervous, he hadn't forgotten Ratchet's slip-up and he wondered if any Autobots were secretly scanning him right now. As if the feeling of being surrounded by strangers, all of whom were very excited to meet the boy that their old friend had taken as a son wasn't overwhelming enough.

About halfway through the meeting, Ratchet decided to cycle back around to them. Noting the anxiety in his eyes, he smiled, and stepped up beside him with his hands on his hips. "They aren't harassing you for details of your life with me, are they?" He joked, nodding to Smokescreen and Wheeljack, who he and Scarlet had been talking to currently. "You have to watch out for these two, y'know. They're troublemakers," He snorted.

Dylan gave a small smile, trying his best to hide how nervous he was. Ratchet knew better of course, he'd learned well enough to read Dylan's uncomfortable face. "Aw, we're not trying to do anything," Smokescreen told Ratchet honestly. "Sorry if we were overwhelming you. We were just trying to make you feel welcome," He added calmly.

Dylan crossed his arms a bit. "It's whatever," He muttered. "I'm just not used to so many people being this interested in me."

Ratchet stepped in for a moment, and shot Dylan a look. One that seemed to ask whether or not he could speak up. But when Dylan shied away, Ratchet knew not to at once. The last time he had done something against Dylan's wishes, he had been surprised how the boy had forgiven him. "He's had a hard life, without much of a "family" to speak of," He said, giving away nothing about his past despite that generic statement. "I think we need to give him time to adjust to having one as big as this. And do remember that, Dylan, we are one big family."

Dylan had never thought he'd hear that, at all. And it was true, he really hadn't had a family. And if one said he did, the only one they could actually say? Was essentially a physically, psychologically, and sexually abusive monster. "Well we all know that story," Dylan looked at Wheeljack as he spoke up. "Don't look so surprised, war doesn't leave a lot of room for family. And it does things to the family you do have sometimes," He then added. "You're in the right place for understanding."

"Frag, I was raised by my brothers," Smokescreen added in. "So you've got one parent over me," He joked gently, pointing at Ratchet. "Too bad for you, it had to be a crusty old medic like him," He teased.

Ratchet gave a grimace, though Dylan had to actually giggle. Even if it was definitely hard to think of Ratchet as his parent, he did suppose that was what he was trying to fill in the role of. But again, the ever present question was there, could Ratchet ever be that? The parent he had searched for his entire life. The one that would hold him in his arms, let him know everything would be alright? The one to actually teach him what this thing the world called "love" is?

For a moment there, when he'd hugged him, held him like that, he'd thought he might be. But other times, like when he'd lifted his shirt, he thought otherwise. What was the truth? Would he ever know? Would he ever be able to know, or would things, as always, fall apart on him? As he thought this over, he looked over to see that Ultra Magnus was watching them.

Dylan grimaced slightly, he'd been watching them a lot since they arrived. And he had one of those looks on his face that said he knew, somehow, about him. Dylan doubted Optimus had said anything, as he hadn't even told Ratchet, but it still made him uncomfortable. Something which wasn't helped as the mech started to make his way toward him. Dylan quickly looked at Ratchet, and then at Scarlet. "Hey Scar, show me where the bathroom is will you?"

"Uh, sure?" Scarlet asked, confused by the outburst.

Before she could ask, however, he was making his way through the crowd. Ratchet blinked, ready to call after him until a hand fell on his shoulder, this was of course Ultra Magnus. Who without warning moved him aside, where no one could see him. "I have to ask you something, soldier," Magnus commented. "Was your new youngling... Sexually abused?"

Ratchet looked at Magnus, shocked that the mech had been so direct. "I-I, Primus, how do you know?" Ratchet asked, looking the mech in the optics. "Don't tell me Dylan knows you too."

"He doesn't," Magnus answered bluntly. "But I noticed something... That gave it away," He commented. "You may not be aware, but Danielle was also... Sexually abused before she came to me. He acts in a similar manner she did around adult men in early years," He paused. "The reason I ask you this is because I wish to know if you've gotten Dylan counseling on the matter."

Ratchet felt confused, but none-the-less, was not surprised. Not unlike him, Magnus had been quiet on the type of abuse that Danielle, his daughter, had gone through was. But it made sense, he had remembered how timid, and tense she had once been, and wondered why he had not thought of it before. "No," Ratchet breathed. "Dylan... Well, I took him to a therapist. But they got off on the wrong foot. The man said that he wasn't the right fit. So I've been working on finding others."

Magnus nodded his head, looking off towards where Dylan had walked off. He then turned to Ratchet, who felt a ping in his database, pulling something up on his data banks. A name, and a number, he observed. "Dr. Brink is one of the best in her field for children like Dylan and Danielle," Ratchet looked at him blankly. "Without him, Primus knows Danielle would have gone through pit," He explained. "He, too was abused in such a way as a child. And has made it his mission to help other children like him."

Ratchet didn't know what to think, given it was a man. They had tried a man, and Dylan had not opened up to him at all. Dylan's fear of adult men was too strong, or so he guessed. "I don't know, sir," Ratchet replied honestly. "Dylan's distrust runs very deep," He added.

"Trust me, Ratchet," Magnus put his hands on his hips. "He worked miracles for her. And if he's still as good? He'll work miracles for Dylan as well," He explained. "I know what it's like to go through this. Shawn had his abuse Bulkhead needed help with. Same with Ironhide and Chromia with Scarlet. But our little soldiers, that kind of abuse... It's a whole different ball park. Especially when they need to be shown what love is, and how it works." With a nod, he added. "I understand where your processor is at better than anyone right now."

Ratchet blinked, knowing that that much was true. Magnus probably did understand better than anyone in that room what it was like. He had no doubt gone through the nightmares, dealt with trying to show love and affection in a way that didn't send his daughter into discomfort, and the like. And now, he was offering Ratchet help, help that he undoubtedly needed.

The medic nodded his head finally, letting Magnus put a hand on his shoulder. No doubt, he was feeling a bit better now, as he hoped that this Dr. Brink really was the miracle worker the commander spoke of. "The road you have ahead of you is going to be hard, Ratchet," Magnus spoke plainly. "Perhaps even harder if there were other types of abuse. As I find is usually the case," He explained. "But I hope the end result will be as rewarding for you as it was for me."

Ratchet was about to speak up when he noticed Dylan returning from the corner of his optic. At this point, he knew that if the boy heard about their chat, he'd jump to the wrong conclusions. "Ultra Magnus, I don't think you've properly met Dylan," He noted, as they'd only been in the same group chatter. "Dylan, this is Commander Ultra Magnus. I know you both met briefly, but..."

"I know, everybody knows him," Dylan joked, trying to mask how nervous he was. "It's kind of hard to not have heard about the Autobot that carries a hammer around like he's Thor or something," Scarlet jabbed her friend gently in the ribs, giving him the idea that was not the time for jokes. "I mean it's nice to meet you, sir."

Magnus regarded him, surprisingly, with a softness that Dylan hadn't expected. He didn't even look mad at his attitude, but rather seemed to be continuing to read him. What was this mech's deal? Wasn't he supposed to be stoic? Cold? He'd always read that he was so-called "worse than Prowl" in that respect after all. "A pleasure, soldier," Magnus nodded his head slightly. "And as for this "Thor". I am not a lightning wielding God of Thunder. I carry around this hammer as it was once a grand weapon. And remains a historical relic for our species."

Dylan looked a little amused at the fact that the mech was trying to give him a history lesson. Ratchet on the other hand merely shook his head slightly, an amused look on his features. He of course knew how Dylan was feeling about it, but none-the-less added his two cents. "Now that's one of those war stories I should tell you. How Wheeljack and I met on the relic hunt. The same hunt we found that hammer," He explained. "The Forge of Solus Prime to be exact."

From nearby, Wheeljack snorted, looking over at Ratchet. "Oh jeez, that story?" Wheeljack commented. "I didn't know you liked to think about that, doc. Especially since we failed that one."

Ratchet snorted in an "as if" manner, smirking at Wheeljack. But now, Dylan couldn't help but be a little curious about it now. What was it about then? Especially if Ratchet hadn't succeeded in some way. Dylan looked at Ratchet before leaning against the wall. "Really, what happened?" Dylan shrugged. "Why wait to tell it?"

Ratchet and Wheeljack shared glances before Ratchet took a deep breath. He looked at his foster son, and gave a small smile. "Alright," Ratchet replied. "I suppose one old war tale wouldn't hurt anything," He explained. "You see, it was near the tail-end of the relic hunt..." He began.

Dylan simply relaxed, standing there among the Autobots who seemed just as relaxed, calm, and at ease. Maybe he really needed to give them a chance, he decided. Even as he still kept his arms crossed, and shrank back a little. After all, trust only went so far. But maybe they wouldn't be so bad after all.

...

Eugene Logan was five months away from seeing the outside of his cell.

He sat there, waiting for his visitor with that though burning into his skull. Soon enough, he'd be free of the hell hole that he'd been put in nine years ago. And in another five months, he'd be able to see his kid again. His dirty, rotten, good for nothing "kid" that was the entire reason he'd been thrown in there. Stripped of the grand reputation he had as a beloved police chief, labeled a pedophile and a monster. And sure, he did like kids, really liked kids, but his reputation, that had been everything to him.

And sooner or later, he was going to get payback for it.

Sure, the state was trying to block out his files about his son from him. And from inside the prison, it was a pretty easy task for them to accomplish. But he had his ways, his contacts from the outside world that visited once a month with whatever they could gather. Which was nothing, absolutely jack squat, a fact which drove Gene up a wall. Where had they moved the punk where he couldn't find him? He had to wonder.

The gentle tapping of shoes grabbed his attention as a thin, lanky looking man approached. A sight that would have seemed strange to most, given Gene was a big, muscular man with stringy black hair, and pale blue eyes that pierced into the very souls of men. But not all of hsi men were meat heads, some of them were genuinely "good" looking guys that no one would suspect.

"Tell me you have something for me, Donnie," Gene grumbled. "I'm running low on time, and you buffoons are no closer to finding him."

The man, Donnie, seated himself in front of him. His eyes locking with the man's as he tapped the table nervously. He watched the guards quietly, and then leaned forward towards the man. "I've got a lead," He commented. "They say that your son got moved from Oregon... That's why we haven't found a trace of him here," He explained. "That was all I could gather though. No city name, no state, no current foster parent... Frankly, I think they're onto us and are deliberately leaving information out of the files we've been searching through."

Gene rested his fists under his chin, a smirk crossing his face. So Dylan had been moved away from Oregon? That was certainly a surprise for him, to say the least. But at this point, it didn't matter much, it would never matter where he hid. They could move him a thousand times, and Gene would find him, he swore to himself he'd find him and lock him up somewhere he'd never be found again. And this time, he would make sure of it.

"Good," Gene commented. "Find out where. And I'll increase the payment I promised you."

Even if the guards didn't know what it was about, they could only shudder at the cold, cruel smile that spread on his face.

...

A/N: At first I didn't intend to have Gene show up for a long time. But really, I felt the story needed a sense of danger. So from now on, he'll have his own segments every so often. ;)