CHAPTER 2

"So he just left you here?"

Nick shifted uncomfortably as he sat on the steps of his home. Bumblebee had returned that morning with a couple of Autobots from this program he talked about - but hadn't stuck around more than to introduce them. One was a tall, red older mech with canons on his arms named Ironhide who ran the program. The other was a social worker for the program named Blitz.

Nick nodded, trying to keep his calm as Ironhide's expression stiffened. He clearly wasn't happy - at all. "Primus, the way your kind just discards their young is beyond me," He rumbled. "Don't worry, kid. You did the right thing callin' Bee. We're gonna take good care of you."

Nick wanted to believe that, he'd heard tales of Ironhide after all. Mostly that he was a tough cookie with a big spark. But the question remained... "So I don't have to go to human foster care?" Nick asked. "Sorry, I don't know much about it."

Ironhide crouched to one knee, as close to eye level with the child as he could get. "We're kind of a specialized foster care. We take you back with us to an Autobot-established city not far from here," He explained gently. "You'll stay with us in our facility with caretakers until we find a suitable match within the faction."

"Like a group home?"

Ironhide smiled. "A little. But we treat our young far better. We provide pretty individualized care. Get to know you," He explained. "And the Bots in our program are vetted. We lost a lot of younglings and family to our war - we find people that want and most of all deserve kids."

Nick nodded his head slowly. "And all I have to do is sign this paper?" He looked at the small form he'd been handed a while ago.

Ironhide again nodded. "Just know if you do, the government has minimal say with you. You're signing yourself over to our care," He explained. "Usually there would be hours of interviews, home studies... But you got Bumblebee to vouch for ye. And given the emergency in your situation we're skipping the long steps."

Nick stood to his feet, and looked back at his home. The only home he'd ever known, hand shaking. "... If my uncle comes back will he know how to find me?"

Ironhide turned to Blitz now, who looked sympathetically. "Of course, but he will be under high scrutiny. Given his total abandonment," He explained gently. "We don't actively keep parents or guardians away unless they're dangerous."

Nick stood there with his fate literally in his hands. Scared to death if he were being completely honest, but... After a moment he decided to sign the small form. Ironhide took it calmly before passing it onto Blitz. "I know that was hard, Nicholas. But I promise you, you're in good hands," Nick gave a small nod. "Now go in and get things you'll need. Lock up and give us the deed. We'll put it in your file and make sure it stays secure for you."

Nick was silent as he nodded and headed inside, to decide what possessions were most important. He did what he had been told foster kids did. Grabbed several trash bags and his school bag, snd started packing. Given he was leaving Witwicky, he didn't bother with his school things - no doubt where he was going had a school.

He did pack all of his Cybertronian books, and comic books. He grabbed a picture of himself and his uncle in much happier times. He used his trash bags to stuff whatever clothing he could inside. Lastly he pocketed his cell phone and packed a charger.

When he was done, he'd only filled up half of one trash bag, and his backpack. He checked every door and window and slowly slid out the front. Trying hard not to feel a bit emotional over leaving the only home he'd ever known...

"Don't worry, Autobot City isn't far from Witwicky, I'm sure you can visit sometimes," Nick turned to see Blitz coming over, voice gentle. "And you get the most awesome social worker of all time, if I do say so myself. I'm gonna find you a great family, I already have a few ideas."

He carefully took the deed from Nick, placing it in his subspace before transforming into some sort of minivan. His passenger door opened encouragingly. "Whenever you're ready, we can leave," He added. "But take your time, this can't be easy."

Harder than anything Nick had ever done? Oh yeah. He stood there for a long moment before placing his things on a seat and strapping in. Hoping beyond anything else that he'd be OK.

"So he's on his way?"

"Yeah, Blitz is gonna drive ahead and get him settled."

Bumblebee had met Ironhide a little later at the Malto's for a high grade and a talk. The scout had been surprisingly worried for his new friend, and unsure of whether he'd take the offer of help or not. But was relieved to find he'd signed up, and gone to Autobot City.

He took a sip of his Energon, and nodded. "That's good. I was really worried. The clothes he had on, that walk to school," He shuddered. "Sorry I pulled it on such short notice. But I couldn't just leave the kid."

Ironhide smirked, nudging his friend lightly. "Don't apologize, you did the right thing. A lot of sparkling's his age get lost in foster care," He admitted. "With us, at least he has a fighting chance to get adopted."

Bumblebee nodded in agreement. Everyone knew that the human foster care system was broken, even with the good people in it. That was why they'd stepped up, having lost so many kids of their own, and started this program to begin with. So he was glad there was at least that.

He did have one thing bothering him though...

"I don't understand why he's alone anyway though. I thought I recognized his last name and did some digging," Bumblebee noted. "His dad's that racecar driver Brad Weyland, isn't he? That guy has like six other kids..."

Ironhide's denta clenched. "Yeah, that part grinds my gears too. Wouldn't even pick up the phone for his own son," Bumblebee felt his doorwings flare a bit. "His records say he's somewhere on the Autism spectrum. And I hate to say it..."

"You're fragging joking, right?"

"Some humans abandon children with disabilities. They claim they can't handle it or are ashamed," Ironhide shook his head. "Nick isn't the first human I'd see that it happened to."

If it was true, and they had chucked Nick out because he was born with a disability? Bumblebee would have loved to punch them through a wall. Humans were cruel, he noted, sometimes even heartless like now... "Don't worry, like I said. Once we square away his uncle and find a family, he'll be OK," Ironhide explained. "It'll probably take him a while to recover from the betrayal. But we've placed thirty kids this year already. He's one of nine kids back in Transport City still looking."

OK. That definitely would help Bumblebee sleep a little better that night at least.

Still, why couldn't he get that kid out of his head? He had met so many humans, but this one just seemed to get under his plating. "Do you think when he's settled in I can visit him?" He decided to ask. "I mean, if it's detrimental to what you're doing I'll keep my distance. But..."

Ironhide chuckled. "Kid got to you, eh?" He asked. "No problem, but I would give him a week to settle in - change is difficult. He needs time to adjust."

Understandable, especially if the kid had lived his whole life out here. Ironhide finished his Energon and stretched a bit. "Well, I had better get running. I have so much slagging paperwork waiting for me," He rolled his optics. "Only annoying part of what I do. Twice as hard when they're taken in an emergency."

Bumblebee nodded. "Thanks again, Ironhide. Say hi to Chromia and the kids."

The older mech dipped his helm and drove off without another word. Leaving Bumblebee to really think on what had just transpired. He really hoped he'd done right sending Nick to Ironhide, he didn't know much about this program either. Only that when he'd come "back" so to speak two months ago, Ironhide had talked it up.

It took him a minute to realize he wasn't alone again. "I think you did a good thing, Bee," Bumblebee turned to acknowledge Dot Malto - who'd no doubt been eavesdropping. "Robby has been talking about that kid for a while. He was sharing some of his lunch with him..."

Bumblebee nodded a little. "I'm just wrapping my head around it all. I mean, on one hand you have human families like you. Who have big hearts and just welcome everyone," he explained. "And then you have one that straight up just... Leaves one kid in the dust. Like he's an object."

Dot looked like she didn't understand it herself, as she simply shook her head. "Some people just don't deserve to be parents, Bee," Dot explained. "And they procreate anyway. It happens way more than we'd like."

"Some people" that was for sure. Bumblebee huffed slightly. After he'd thought for a minute longer he turned heel, headed back for the barn. "Well, I did my part at least," He explained politely. "Now where are the others? Training should have started an hour ago."

Yeah, training was the best way to get his mind off of things. For sure.

Transport City was huge.

It looked like one of the cities described on Cybertron, big, with shiny skyscrapers and Autobots everywhere. There were humans too, of course, as they worked with the Autobots but for once Nick saw them as the minority.

They'd taken about twenty minutes in the city to come to "Future Heroes" a large, but not hulking building with many floors. Nick didn't think it looked very homey, but he also knew he had to give this a chance. After all the trouble the Bots had gone through for him.

Blitz didn't rush him to meet the others, and Nick was thankful for that. Meeting a gaggle of other foster kids would make this feel real in a way he genuinely wasn't ready for. So he'd lead him to his dorm room and left him to get comfortable.

He had his own room, with a simple bed, closet, and desk. But was also surprised to find fresh new clothes, and a bathroom. "They really do want us comfortable, don't they?" Nick asked as he set his family picture on the desk and sat on the edge of the bed. "It's gonna be OK, Nick. Ironhide seemed nice? Blitz is a lot... But you've dealt with "a lot" before." He reassured himself.

It didn't help that he felt so damn alone for the first time though. His uncle had always been there, and now he was gone. Just like his parents. Who was to say it wouldn't happen again here? These intrusive thoughts ran through his head as he laid down.

Maybe sleep could clear his head.