TRIGGER WARNING: More Dylan past SA/abuse talk. A bit of the bigger picture this time - this gets really dark.

CHAPTER 10

A week before being in the principal's office was a bit of a shock to Prime.

He was well aware Dylan was a tough kid, but to already be there because he'd started, and lost a fight with another kid? A part of him was angry, but when he'd stepped in with his holoform made him calm. The boy looked defeated enough, and he immediately noticed the look of pure terror on his eyes.

"Ahem, Mr. Prime, please have a seat," the principal was a tall, older woman with horn rimmed glasses, and definitely intimidating. "I want to start by saying we take fighting very seriously here at Midview Academy. And we will need to punish your son for his infraction - we also take bullying very seriously."

Optimus' eyes darted to Dylan, bullying? Was that what caused this. The boy wouldn't meet his gaze, eyes filled with shame. "And I assure you, I do not promote fighting at home either. But I find it hard to believe," He affirmed. "That Dylan would bully another child. I've only known him a short time, but he isn't of that nature."

Dylan shifted uncomfortably, and Optimus suddenly understood he may have gotten the wrong impression in her words. The principal sighed, steepled her fingers, and turned to Optimus. "Dylan ran into someone this morning who knew him... A former foster brother I presume," Optimus leaned back. "... He's spread a rumor throughout the school that his father... Well, had inappropriate relations with Dylan."

Anger flared in Optimus' spark. Someone had the audacity to share such a private, humiliating story? While Optimus kept his composure, a part of him might have had words with the culprit himself. "I do hope that the boy in question is facing severe consequences," Optimus explained. "That is a private, and pressing matter."

The principal nodded. "He's facing probable expulsion considering other past infractions," Good. Optimus thought. "That said, Dylan will also be suspended for two days. After all, he caused a busted lip himself."

Optimus hated to say it, but he felt that was a little too much after all that. Dylan after all had to suffer the lasting effects of this. "Dylan, I am so sorry that you had a sensitive subject outed. I would like to offer you counseling on your return," She explained as Dylan stood up - his anger flared. "I-."

"Can we go home, now?"

Optimus muttered an apology as he followed Dylan, the boy guiding himself out the door. He didn't even offer any apology for his behavior as he plopped himself into his cab. "Dylan..."

"Save it. I know, I shouldn't have punched him," Dylan managed. "But that asshole deserved it. I can't believe he did that! I had one shot at a normal school year and now the whole damn school is gonna know..."

Optimus used his holoform to place a firm hand on Dylan's knee. Of course he was disappointed Dylan had been in a fight, but he was just as upset. If not more, thinking of how humiliated the boy must have felt. "It's alright, Dylan... I do not condone your violence but I am not angry with you," Optimus managed, voice tense. "We need to find an outlet for your temper... If that is how you handle emotional stress - it isn't healthy."

Dylan let Optimus drive and turned his head to look out the window. There was an emptiness in his silence before Optimus cleared his throat and spoke again. "Perhaps the counseling isn't a bad idea. But a proper therapist," Dylan seemed to tense. "You've been through a lot Dylan. Some of this anger may be due to having bottled your emotions up."

Dylan didn't look pleased at the idea, at all. Maybe because he'd only just opened up to Optimus recently - was it too much to ask? "You don't need to do it now. But I want you to think on it," Optimus explained. "Until then, I want this to be the last time I hear you fought another child... I do not promote violence."

"Unless it's Decepticons."

Optimus might have corrected him if he thought that would get them anywhere. But the next words surprised him further... "You're really not mad at me?" Dylan's voice was quiet and shaky. "This is the part where most parents would say get out..."

Optimus' holoform's eyes softened, and what anger he did feel dissipated only slightly. With one hand he rested it on Dylan's shoulder with a firm grip, but looked him right in the eye. "I am disappointed you chose violence, but I would not abandon you for that. Even if it were an option," Dylan was silent. "It's true I fight the Decepticons. But I also am a soldier, we are at war. Violence is something that comes with the territory."

Dylan didn't look like he knew what to say to that. And Optimus had to remind himself he was still young but eventually he replied. "I just wanted a fresh start. No one to know it," Dylan replied. "Now everyone will know by the end of the night... About my dad, about the abuse, all of it..."

Optimus was silent. "Is it public record?"

Dylan's next words ran through him: "You should go on Yahoo!"

By the time Optimus had given Dylan his space and used Yahoo!, well... He wanted to purge.

Dylan had one of the most heavily publicized court cases at the time... And in a word it was despicable. With the news story he read describing enough for him to need to take a full hour to process:

The victim, the five-year-old son of Police Chief Eugene Logan, was found to have been chained in the attic of his family home. It took life-saving measures to save the young child, who was said to weigh only twenty pounds when rescued.

It is believed that Logan kept his son in line through threats and, in many cases, paid off the silence of others who may have helped. The child was not brought into court - being deemed unfit to do so. With many believing the man has kept his child quiet yet again...

Optimus had enough, he'd finally gathered his bearings and didn't dare read more. Knowing full well that his temper would not be calmed if he did. What kind of monster was Dylan's father? How could he do such reprehensible things that even made his own creator look loving?

And now, all he wanted to do was not only protect Dylan from the Decepticons, but this monster as well. The kind of monster that deserved death rather than prison, but who was he to be the executioner, he supposed?

He was happy Bumblebee had offered to take him out for a bit. Because he hardly wanted Dylan to see him there, shaking with anger. Or the hole he'd just punched into the wall that made Mirage come running. "Whoa, what did I miss?" The young mech asked immediately. "You good, boss bot?"

Optimus knew it was a loaded question now - with so many thoughts going through his processor. The boy that had done this made him angry. Eugene Logan made him angry. And most of all, the fact no one had helped this little boy made him beyond angry - he was furious. "... I've discovered new information that has made my Energon boil..." He arrived at answering. "I think I need to make a call to General Hawk. For a protective order... Or a restraining one."

Mirage looked confused. "Wait, for Dylan's dad? I thought he was a human... t What kind of threat could he be?"

Optimus sighed, he wished he could agree. "I think we underestimated just how powerful... And violent a man we were dealing with."

Optimus was ready to fight the Decepticons to protect Dylan - he was used to that. But if this man ever came looking for him, Optimus wasn't sure how he'd handle it. They needed a defense up for it to at least attempt to never have to deal with this man. And whatever connections he may have had as a chief of police... Such a high standing meant big money and big friends. "Ho-ly slag," Mirage had clearly started to read up himself. "What kind of fragging... I know bots who were raised by Decepticons who treated them better!"

Optimus agreed, even if the Decepticons had bombed the Youth Sectors at Megatron's command. A vast majority of them still would have never, ever treated their own children this way. What the pit kind of sick man had Dylan lived with? He took a deep vent, then added very quickly. "We don't need to speak with Dylan about this yet," He explained honestly. "He will talk to me when he feels comfortable... I'm not even sure he wanted anyone else to know."

Mirage looked nervous, like he wanted to say something... But even he had to keep his mouth shut about this. The young mech crossed his arms and had only one response to him: "Look, all I'm gonna say is this. Let me go find this guy. I can make his death look like an accident," He explained. "Not that there would be much left of him to find."

The Prime wanted to say no, but a part of him had the same thought. Still, they weren't barbarians like this man was, doing so would be no different than stooping to his level. "We will not seek retaliation," Optimus replied. "Only to keep him safe. Or we will obviously begin a fight we don't want."

Mirage's optics narrowed. "Fine, but if that creep comes around? I'm making no promises," He finally managed. It was the truth after all. "I like that kid too much to let him live in fear of this piece of scrap."

As Mirage left, Optimus couldn't help but admit his feelings were the same.

That night, Optimus came into Dylan's room to talk further.

Dylan was silent, and despite Bumblebee's attempts, seemed to look still forlorn. Optimus vented, not sure how to approach this talk in the least. He decided this was a talk they had to have face-to-face and not as a holoform. So he sat himself down next to the bed, and decided to speak first, given Dylan wasn't talking. "I am so sorry, little one," Dylan's eyes shot up to Optimus, surprised. "I don't know what else to rightly say... Other than that, no one should be subjected to what you have."

The boy was silent, rubbing his knee in nervousness. "The worst part is I remember all of it. Or at least when I got old enough to be... To go through what he did," Dylan didn't cry, but his eyes betrayed the fact he wanted to. "The only thing I black out about is the whole court case... And the night they found me. That's such a blurr..."

Of course, it was, Optimus assumed. It would have been very traumatic, and the boy was only five, no doubt he didn't even know what had been happening was wrong. "I'm going to talk to General Hawk about getting a full restraining order against Eugene," Optimus explained. "Even if his rights are terminated, no doubt it would be much easier to get him back in jail should he come around..."

Dylan was silent, shaking a little. "He'll find a way, he always does."

Optimus again reached a hand forward, running a circle around his back using one gentle finger. He watched as the boy's blue eyes raised to look into his optics. "Dylan, I promise you with every fiber of my being. He will never hurt you again," Optimus told him, his voice as serious and firm as he could make it. "You are my son now. I don't care how hard I need to fight to protect you. I will stand between him and you... Always."

Dylan looked like he wasn't sure how to respond to that. Maybe because Optimus had actually made it clear what their relationship was in his eyes now. All the same, he felt Dylan start to relax. And to his surprise, he leaned into Optimus' plates, allowing himself to break for the first time since Optimus met him... He cried. Actually cried. And it was an action that broke Optimus inside too... What he wouldn't give to have found the boy - and his connection to them sooner.

"You'd really fight him for me?"

It was as if Dylan had forgotten he was talking to a giant robot. Instead, he was just talking to the first person who expressed real desire to stand up for him. "Always..."

When he'd settled somewhat, Optimus finally spoke up again. "But you're grounded again. For the weekend. No more fighting..."

Optimus was surprised by the small chuckle he got in response.

A/N: Shorter chapter, but this was a really tough one to get through. So expect a longer, less depressing one next time!