Author's note: apparently some people are going around an putting unfinished works into ai in order to finish them, without asking permission of the author. As always, I will finish a fic, it just takes me time. Don't use this for AI, don't plagiarize my works.

The Start of Healing

Unit E

There were some things one could not prepare for despite being briefed beforehand.

Giant Robots were one of those things, Dr. Melody Keen decided. She had been fully briefed, but that didn't fully prepare her to actually look up at giant robots from outer space.

"Dr. Keen is fully briefed on everything here, on paper she's here for Raf and Miko, but she's also available for everyone. She is also aware of Roadhauler's situation and will be helping him." Agent Fowler explained. Corporal Figeroua wasn't there, as he still had some duties around the base.

"Is that wise?"

"I realize the situation is unusual for all of us, but I promise, no one will ever hear anything from me unless you ask me to do so for accommodations. Given how delicate the situation is, I understand the importance of secrecy." She spoke up. "I swear, I take patient confidentiality seriously, and I am cleared to deal with top secret trauma."

"Very well. I will inform Roadhauler. Welcome to Team Prime, Doctor Keen."

Her first appointment is with Raf, who is very obviously not comfortable going into an office with her.

"We need the office or an enclosed space for privacy reasons, but is there anyone you want with you for our first meeting?" She half expected him to say his parents.

"Bumblebee." Raf immediately answered. "Ratchet's busy."

"Alright." She agreed. "Perhaps we could have the first session inside Bumblebee, then."

This was a first, but conducting a session inside a car that was an alien who was officially the legal (albeit on another planet) guardian of a patient was probably not the weirdest thing she had ever done.

Bumblebee could only speak in Cybertronian, but Raf was willing to translate.

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Dr. Keen asked.

"What? I thought you were here about my kidnapping?"

"While I am here because of concerns about that incident, we don't have to talk about it right away. We can work up to it. You're the one setting the pace for our sessions."

"Oh. Okay."

"So, what would you and Bumblebee like to talk to me about?"

"… Um, how about racing?"

"Alright. What do you like about racing?" Dr. Keen listened as Raf explained everything he knew about racing, and how he would occasionally race remote cars and how while on the run Bumblebee had sneaked him into watching a few real life races, which is where he was able to change his paint job.

"Sounds like you have a lot in common. May I ask how you met?"

"Oh, I was racing my remote car by myself and Jack came by on Arcee. Jack had accidentally gotten caught up in a decepticon attack and Arcee saved him, though the Vehicons followed them. Bumblebee and Bulkhead showed up to help Arcee and Bee stepped on my car by accident."

There was a couple beeps from Bumblebee.

"Yeah, you apologized, and Jack pulled me into a storm drain to get out of the way of the fight and took me home. The next day, Bee and Arcee were outside our school and took us to meet everyone else." Raf explained. "Bee's been watching over me since."

"He's done a good job."

Raf nodded, fidgeting a bit. Bumblebee made a strange chirping sound.

"… You're going to help Ja- uh, Roadhauler?"

"I'm going to do my best. And I am aware that Jackson Darby and Roadhauler are the same person."

"I know, I just … it's safer for him to not mix it up." Raf kicked his feet slightly. "I don't want anyone to hurt him anymore, he's always looked out for me, I want to be able to help."

Bumblebee chirped again.

"You do a lot with computers, don't you? Especially bridging the gap between cybertronian and human tech. I imagine that helps a great deal."

"I know that … I just … we got him back but I can't hang out with him unless an Autobot is there or I'm on a platform."

"You and Jack hung out at school?"

"Prior to meeting the Autobots, Jack was nice, he'd distract the bullies when they tried to mess with me, but we weren't friends. After … he was my friend and like a big brother, but one who didn't ignore me for being on my computer all the time." Raf wiped his eyes and she pulled out a pack of Kleenex for him.

"And now there's a forced separation between you and you can't get back to your usual routine."

"Logically I know why. Roadhauler's scared of hurting us, and I saw the damage done to Bee's arm, but I can't imagine him hurting me. And Miko got to work with him!"

Bee gave a whir and several longer beeps.

"I know she had the apex armor, Bee, but it's Miko, you know she didn't stay in it!"

A couple gentle beeps and chirps and Raf wiped his eyes again.

"I almost want to pull a Miko and just go visit him in the den." Raf admitted when he was a little calmer. "I want Ratchet and Wheeljack to find a cure so I can visit him, but it's taking so long …"

A couple more beeps and chirps at that.

"So, as I understand it, you want some return to normalcy with Roadhauler, but due to restrictions because of his health, you can't behave normally with him?"

"I can't even interact with him like I do Bee." Raf admitted.

"I see …" all three were startled by an explosion in the hangar.

"Not the centrifuge again, I'm gonna have to reprogram that." Raf noted.

"I think this is a good place to end our first session."

"Aren't you supposed to tell me what to think?"

"In the future, I'll have something to suggest, but these first few sessions are just me learning about you. And I won't be telling you how to think, but suggesting ways to help you deal with your problems." She assured him. "Now, do you know where Miko went?"

Raf didn't, and Bumblebee transformed to pick him up.

Miko apparently had decided to try and hide to get out of the session, so Melody focused on Nurse Darby next.

"Another day, another centrifuge. Apparently there's a limit on speed human tech can go." Wheeljack noted.

"Ah, I can't help overhearing," Skyfire spoke up on comms, "but you do remember that I am a research shuttle? Before going solo I carried scientists and I still have their Research equipment installed. Also, extra databanks for computing."

"… Skyfire, some of your systems were damaged."

"Yes, but I'm pretty sure my centrifuge still works."

"I'll check." Ratchet was relieved that Skyfire's internal equipment still worked, though only one of the spare databanks was operational, the other two were corrupted by extremely crude hacking.

"They were talking about hacking him to control him, but they must've gotten these databanks instead!" Rafael realized. "I might be able to help with that."

"I'll be counting on your help, they made a mess." Skyfire sighed. "That said, it's not a priority. Let's see what I can do to help with the Synth En!"

It didn't take long to transfer all Synth-En related data to Skyfire, and the mech revealed he had been scanning all those who visited him.

"Sorry, probably should have asked permission, but it's a habit from when I transported science teams."

"Don't worry about it." Wheeljack finished his set up. "Doc bot can always use the extra information."

"You know what, some of this formula looks familiar. Give me a minute… scrap. Raf, I do need you to help me decrypt my databanks after all. I may have transported one the guys who worked on this. I kept pretty much everything I could." Skyfire created a set of steps for Raf to climb to be near the access point for the databanks.

"Skyfire, you're a marvel." Ratchet visibly brightened.

"Don't thank me yet, we might have lost chunks thanks to the hacking."

"Doesn't matter, even a small clue is invaluable!" Ratchet noted.

The team began to work.

Miko was in Ultra Magnus's ship in the Predacon den. She was not talking to a shrink, she didn't need to talk to anyone!

"Miko."

She jumped slightly. Optimus was partially crouched to fit into the ship. It was almost comical.

"Hey Big Guy, need something?"

"Doctor Keen is looking for you, she has finished her first conversations with the other humans, and is now speaking with Roadhauler."

"I'm fine. I don't need or want to talk to a shrink."

"I am sorry." Optimus apologized as he sat down.

"What for? You didn't hire the shrink."

"When I decided we should protect Jack and Rafael, you were still safe. I should have had just Bumblebee retrieve both of the boys. And I made that decision to bring you in without fully understanding human needs."

"Optimus, I may have been safe then, but I was bored. I did the perfect daughter perfect grades thing for most of my life. Coming here, I would have done anything for a thrill. Probably even stolen a car for dune bashing or joined those street races. I wanted an adventure, I would have done anything for it." Miko sighed. "It's been scary at times, and it took me a little while to fully realize you guys could seriously get hurt, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. And you don't treat me like a delinquent who won't amount to anything." She looked up at him. "I don't need another adult telling me that I'm wasting my life doing things I enjoy."

"What do you mean?"

"I like music, I like fighting, I like monster truck rallies. Yet I say anything about working for one of those options, I get a lecture about not being a delinquent and how there's no stable money in any of those." Miko flopped back on the seat. "I just know that as soon as my parents get past all the legal hurdles, they're gonna do the 'we love you but we're disappointed that you wasted your time' talk."

"I will admit that there is much about humanity I do not understand, but I do know that you have not wasted any time, Miko. And I am proud at how you have grown." Optimus noted. "You stepped up to take care of Rafael and Nurse Darby while Jack was gone. The role may have been difficult, but I saw how you did your best to keep Rafael from losing hope."

Miko looked up wide eyed. She had thought no one had noticed, or had thought she was just goofing off.

Optimus just gave her a small smile.

"Thanks big guy. I'm not that great at the caring role."

"But you are good at protecting others. You just require more time and training." Optimus assured her. "Doctor Keen is here to help, and if you want, you can have your sessions with her with Bulkhead. Rafael has requested his sessions be with Bumblebee for the time being."

"I would prefer that." Miko admitted. She gasped in realization. "Wait a second, did you just talk me into agreeing- how can you be so honest and so sneaky at the same time?!" She hopped to her feet to point accusingly at him.

"I have had many of your centuries of training in diplomacy. You are not the first I have had to talk into seeing someone." Optimus replied evenly.

There had long been an unspoken rule that Optimus was off limits for climbing, despite the fact that even Ratchet allowed them (well, mostly Raf) to perch on his shoulders.

Miko decided to ignore that rule, and quickly scrambled up to Optimus's shoulder.

"Neck's starting to hurt looking up at you, big guy." Miko informed him, ignoring his look of surprise. "And I didn't bring the apex armor, so it's safer if I ride."

"How did you get in?" Optimus asked, one hand coming up slightly as of to brace her as he stood to exit the ship.

"Sky-Byte. They have these stairs on wheels and he moved it so I could reach the door panel to open. Howler was watching, but he didn't get up … I'm kinda worried about that."

"Howler?"

"I'm trying to come up with names for him. I think that's part of the reason Sky-Byte tries to ignore him, because he hasn't really embraced the whole giant wolf thing."

"A name is usually decided by one's self."

"But names can be given as gifts. Especially nicknames, which is what Howler is." Miko noted. "That and I might've misheard Agent Fowler calling him 'Hauler'."

"I see." Optimus glanced over to the Predacons who were watching yet another documentary on earth culture. This time about movie making.

"You've got nicknames too, Big Guy, Boss Bot, and something Bee said to Ratchet that had him saying that he should not be exposing Raf to jazz, which confuses me, jazz is good music, just not much guitar." Miko blinked at him.

"Jazz is the designation of my second in command. He tends to also give nicknames."

"Sounds like fun!" Miko paused. "Wait, I thought Ultra Magnus was your second in command? Or is this one of those translation things?"

Optimus considered the question for a moment, transforming so he could drive her to the other hangar.

"I believe there may be a difficulty with translation. Ultra Magnus is my second in command for military command, while Jazz is my second in command for intelligence gathering. How would you translate that?"

"Roughly the same," Miko admitted, "but I think it's supposed to be that they're the head of their departments and report directly to you? We might have to look that up, English is my second language and it's… difficult sometimes."

"Is that why you try to avoid writing your reports? The difficulty?" Optimus asked.

"… Sometimes." Miko resisted the urge to kick her feet up on the dash. "Thanks for the ride, and the talk."

"I am glad to have been of assistance." He waited until she was out of his cab and a short distance away before transforming.

Miko grinned up at him before heading over to Bulkhead and the waiting Dr. Keen.

"Corporal Figueroa, we need you to remove the boy from the base without raising alarm and bring him to these coordinates-"

"No." Fig didn't have to think about it. "I'm not taking a kid anywhere without his parents or Agent Fowler's approval."

"The boy is the key to better national security."

"The boy is also a minor, sir, and even heartless aliens acknowledge that. I am not taking the kid anywhere without parental or guardian consent." Fig would have to report this to Fowler and General Bryce. "I will monitor him closely, sir, and earn his trust, but I will not remove him from the base without some sort of consent from the parents. I refuse to be arrested for kidnapping."

"Attinger will hear of this!" The line went dead and Fig let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

He hadn't expected a call from Dr. Arkeville, he was relatively low ranked in MECH, even if he had been moved to watch the kids.

Miles away, Dr. Arkeville had pulled up the personnel file for Corporal Figeroua.

"Ah, low level ESP abilities were flagged, he'll be an excellent candidate for some old projects of mine."

End Notes: Sorry for the gap (again) took a while for inspiration to strike. Went and saw Rise of the Beasts and my only criticism is there weren't enough beasts. Other than that it was an enjoyable movie that got my inspiration for this fic sparked again.

Miko and Optimus don't have much screen time together, but I do think he's an authority figure that she does respect. And I picked up on something when rewatching Prime. When she says "Don't worry about my host parents. I think I scare them." She sounds a little bit sad or disappointed about that, and it kinda sounds like they've given up connecting with her.

What happened with Miko was one of the things that were kind of glossed over earlier, but now I kinda have some inspiration for where to go with her now