RAZOR157: Thanks! Hope this one delivers for you!

A/N: So, I thought I'd put this here. School starts again in two days for me! BOO! So this means that updates on this and my other story "A MATTER OF FATE" will become less frequent. The reason? I graduate this semester! YAY! So I will be working hard to make sure I pass all my classes and for sure graduate. Both will still be updated, and I will be finishing "A WHOLE NEW WORLD" soon as well. Just don't expect the same level of updates you've gotten over the summer or in the past, as this is such an important semester for me. Thanks for understanding in advance.

Be warned guys, this chapter will get a little gory.

...

CHAPTER 4
Tragic Consuquences

Bumblebee had never felt so conflicted in his life. On one hand, he still had a mission to do while he was here. And yet, on the other, he like Trevor, he really liked Trevor. It had only been a day, and yet, the kid seemed to already be worming his way into his spark. Between his tough nature, and his soft heart, it wasn't hard to see why. But at the same time, it was hard to feel like it was a friendship that would last, given he still had to find Sam Witwicky again, and restore his home planet. And yet, how could he not get attached to the boy? How could he look the other way and just see him as someone who was helping him hide out? The simple answer was: he couldn't.

And so he didn't take the two hours to leave, instead, he turned around and drove back to the garage. (With time to spare) With the only thing he didn't like so far being the fact that he had to continue to play the part of a car around Joseph. "You know, maybe we could make something out of it," When Joseph spoke, it took Bumblebee a moment to realize he meant him. "You say it's in pretty good condition right? I mean it'll still be old, but I could clean it up, and replace what I can. Definitely a touch up on the paint job too."

Trevor looked at his father in surprise. Where had the sudden change of heart come from? He frowned, and stood up, approaching the man as he stood in front of Bumblebee. "You really think so, dad?" Trevor asked, looking over Bumblebee. "I mean, I get how tight money is, I don't want to make you go bankrupt." He then motioned over at the car. "I can drive it as-is if that's any easier?"

Joseph looked at him with a look of utter surprise. "As-is? Are you sure?" He asked, his eyes locking with Trevor's. "I can't give you what the other kids out there have. Top-of-the-line cars, special perks, anything like that. But I can still help you fix it up. I can help you make it cool, because I mean come on, old sports cars are cooler fixed up."

Bumblebee was drawn from the conversation at the sound of police sirens. For a moment, he thought nothing of it, simply watching through his taillights. But after several moments, he noticed that something was off about this car. That the car was not human made, and nor was the driver a human. "Dad, I don't... I don't need the luxuries like that," Trevor told him. "I never had, I was acting spoiled yesterday, and I'm sorry." He began. "But-."

"Trevor, Trevor's sire, get down!"

Trevor had no time to ask what it meant before Bumblebee was tearing through the open garage doors. As he transformed up, Trevor saw what he meant almost at once, noticing the police cruiser. "Bee, what do you mean get down? It's just the cops, dad called them about Trent," Trevor called out, not waiting for the stunned reaction of his father. "What're you doing?"

"Your car just turned into a giant robot," Joseph muttered, looking towards Trevor. "And you're calling it by name? Trevor, what the hell is going on?" Trevor turned to look at him quietly, shaking his head. "Oh my God, there's TWO of them?"

Trevor turned his head at his dad's words, his eyes lifting up. The police cruiser was quickly shifting, its parts moving and shifting until another Cybertronian, only moderately taller than Bumblebee stood. "Bumblebee, please tell me that's one of your friends," Trevor breathed out, taking in the multiple red optics of the mech, as well as the overall threatening sight of him. "Please tell me it's friendly."

"Get your sire and yourself out of here," Bumblebee replied. "NOW!"

But Trevor had only just started to run towards his father when Barricade rushed forward, and blindsided Bumblebee. Trevor watched in horror as the Decepticon quickly grabbed the scout's shoulders, and slamming him against the ground. "Dad, dad! Calm down!" Trevor shouted as the man seemed to back up in utter horror. "We need to go, we need to run!"

"Not until you tell me what's going on!" Joseph shouted, his eyes locking with Trevor as the Decepticon lifted his head towards them. "How are you not completely stunned by this!? Your car just-."

"Dad, I know! I've known for a day now, but we got to-."

Trevor was cut off as he was thrown through the air, his screams sounding out. He landed, rather roughly on the ground, groaning in pain. He didn't have a chance to move before a claw had him pinned firmly. To his side, he could barely hear his dad's shouts of protest as he got a up-close and personal look at his first Decepticon, who leaned into him. "ARE YOU LADIESMAN217?"

"Huh? Wha?"

"WHERE ARE THE GLASSES BOY!?"

"What are you talking about!?"

All of Barricade's optics narrowed as he bared his teeth with a low and disturbing growl. Yet, as he prepared to torture the information out, he found his arms gripped, and his body thrown to the side. Taking the opportunity to scramble up, Trevor watched as Bumblebee brought up a large cannon pointing it for Barricade. "Leave them ALONE Barricade!" He shouted loudly. "This family is under MY protection, and you should know not to mess with anyone under that."

Barricade growled lowly, lifting himself carefully to his feet. Shaking off the pain, he watched as Joseph ran quickly, coming to his son's aid, and helping him up. "Then these must be the Witwicky's... After all that's what Prime sent you here to do." He chuckled wickedly, staring at his foe with a disturbing look of glee. "And how quaint two of them would be here for me."

Trevor shook his head, backing up as his dad tried to move. Yet to Trevor's surprise, his normally fearless dad was terrified. Barely moving from where he stood, he looked between the two robots with fear riddled in his eyes. "Check their bio signatures, they are not related to this. They have no place in this war!" Bumblebee shouted.

As Barricade scanned over the forms, his optics began to narrow. "You pathetic Autoscum, you would put the innocent in the line of danger? Perhaps you should be on my side," He growled quietly, his voice growing dangerously loud. "I don't like to be tricked. I had told Lord Starscream that I would return with the glasses, and your presence has tricked me into thinking they are here."

"Sorry to disappoint," Bumblebee snarked.

As Barricade leapt forward for the attack, Bumblebee threw a violent punch. Grabbing hold of him, an action which Barricade quickly returned as the two crashed to the ground, rolling along. Barricade dug deep into Bumblebee's chestplate, ripping it slightly as the mech screeched. The Decepticon flipped him over onto his back, digging him deeper and deeper into the Earth. "BEE!" Trevor shouted in horror, rushing forward.

"Trevor, stay back! Get away from those things!" Joseph grabbed his arm, yanking his son back. "We have to get out of here before the red eyed one comes back. If we go now, we can probably outdrive them."

Trevor shook his head, his eyes traveling back to Bumblebee. The mech had shed his secret in order to help him, and now this Decepticon had somehow gotten the upper hand on him. He couldn't let this happen, he couldn't watch his friend get hurt. "Screw that, you get out of here!" Trevor shouted, rushing back into the garage. "I'm not leaving Bee here with that thing!"

"What the heck are you talking about?" Joseph questioned as he rushed in after him. "Trev, they're having a death match out there! That thing told us to run for a reason!" He heard a click, and frowned, his eyes following Trevor as he pulled a handgun out. "Trevor! Put that down!" He rushed forward, but Trevor was already rushing outside. "Trev!"

But Trevor had already made up his mind as he made his way back outside. His eyes traveled back to the "death match" as Joseph had put it. Just as he'd left it, things weren't looking good for Bumblebee. Barricade was ripping at the Autobot's neck, attempting to snap it, or so Trevor thought. "Hey, big and ugly!" Barricade turned just in time to see the young human and his small handgun. "Leave him alone!"

"Or what?" Barricade snickered. "What could you possibly do with a gun, human?"

He got his answer when a searing pain shot through one of his right optics. Barricade growled quietly, deflecting several more bullets with his large talons. Bellow him, Bumblebee struggled, attempting to fight the mech off of his hold. "TREVOR! RUN!" Bumblebee shouted. "Get the frag out of here!"

But Barricade did not turn his attention to him, even for a moment. Instead, he made his talons go straight, and then grinned wickedly. "Cute, but I don't exactly have time for your little games," Barricade snarled.

"Trevor!"

One of the talons shot out of his hand as fast as a bullet. A fact which Trevor took a second to register, this sharp, long projectile was coming for HIM. He quickly stood, and backed up to try and run when the unthinkable happened. The large talon hit something alright, but it wasn't Trevor. Bumblebee's optics widened in horror as Joseph stood there, the talon sticking out of his gut, blood trickling down his mouth. "DAD!" Trevor screamed as he rushed forward, he dropped his gun, and Barricade called the talon back. "No! NO!"

Joseph crumpled to the ground, his breathing heavy, and blood spreading across his shirt. Barricade only sneered, but it was Bumblebee who acted at once. Placing his cannon against Barricade's own chest, his optics narrowed. "You fragging sparkles freak!" He shouted as he fired, the jolt of the blast shocking Barricade.

The Decepticon had only a second to register it as Bumblebee slammed him off of his body. The rage that built up in him growing with each passing second. He had not only failed his mission now, but he had failed to protect an innocent life. "Bee! Bee! You gotta take us to the hospital!" Trevor shouted, trying to put pressure on his father's wound.

Once Bumblebee was sure the blast had been deep enough, and close enough to the Decepticon's spark to put Barricade in stasis lock; Bumblebee moved. He moved faster than he had ever thought possible, his optics lowering to Trevor and his father. "T-Trevor... Don't bother. That thing got me... I can barely breathe," Joseph heaved slightly, his eyes traveling up to Bumblebee as he approached and crouched down. "Trevor... You need to be strong, you need to... To..." He groaned in pain.

"Save your energy, dad," Trevor said, tears flowing down his cheeks. "You're going to be okay, alright?"

Bumblebee didn't have the spark to tell him about the many arteries that Barricade had sliced through. He didn't have the spark to tell him that, at best, Joseph had a few precious minutes left on Earth. He simply dipped his head, and cursed Primus for letting Barricade get off the shot. "Always were an optimist... G-Get it from your mom," Joseph looked at Trevor quietly. "I love you so much Trevor-"

"Don't die on me," Trevor sobbed, choking up. "I need you!"

"You're gonna have to be strong now, Trev," Joseph breathed out. "Now that your momma and I aren't gonna be a... Around to watch you grow up..." He slowly took Trevor's hand, watching as his son trembled and wept. "Y-You..." He pointed at Bumblebee, who stared down at him with sorrow in his own optics. "You promise me he won't get him too..." He stated, coughing up a little bit of blood. "You promise me you'll take care of my boy... Just like you did back there."

Bumblebee looked into the dying man's eyes, then over at Trevor. "You'd trust me?" Bumblebee asked. "I'm not..."

"You protected us," Joseph muttered. "And my boy trusts you... I trust my boy," He rasped, his voice choking. "With his mom on her way out, I don't know who else to turn to. Not now that I've seen all of this," He breathed out, trying hard to contain his own tears. "I'm not asking ye to take him... I'm just asking you to protect him, keep him safe." Trevor felt his body trembling even harder now. "I'm begging you, protect him... Make sure the same thing doesn't happen to him. Make sure whatever happens, I don't meet him up above today..."

Bumblebee sat there a moment, and finally, he nodded. "I swear on my honor," He stated, quietly. "I'll keep your son safe."

With somewhat of a smile, Joseph turned his attention to Trevor. And for the last time, locked eyes with his son, his grip tightening on his hand. "You're gonna be okay, Trevor," Joseph muttered, his voice low and quiet. "You're a fighter, always have been, always will be," He added, and with his final breath said. "I... Love... You..."

And then he was gone, his eyes staring up emotionlessly, dead. Bumblebee brought himself to stand, keeping his hand over his spark as he said a silent prayer for his safe passage into the afterlife. It was only after a long, quiet moment that he noticed that Barricade's body was gone, and he panicked. If Barricade knew about the garage, who knew what else he knew about? Did he know about the home? Did he know about... Oh Primus. "Trevor, I'm sorry, but we gotta go," Bumblebee spoke carefully, crouching down, and carefully taking him into his hand. "We have to get back to your home, NOW."

"Why?"

"Barricade's gone... I'm worried if he knows about this place," Bumblebee began shakily. "I'm worried..."

"MOM!"

...

By the time they arrived back at Trevor's home, there was not much of a home to speak of. The house had been laid waste to, with wood, ash, and the like being all that was left. It was clear Barricade had not taken the whole situation lightly, and in retaliation for all of it, decided to hit Bumblebee where it hurt most. Not by striking upon him like he would have hoped, but by killing two innocent people who had done nothing wrong. Two people who had never even had the chance to find out about him or know him. And what's more, he had decided to make an orphan of a young boy whose only "crime" had ever been buying him from a scrapyard.

Trevor stared down at the ruins of his home quietly, dropping to his knees. Bumblebee could only imagine what was going through his head right now: anger, despair, uncertainty. Over the past twenty-four hours, he had gotten one car, and in the process lost everything. And what's more, this boy was now his responsibility. A responsibility he had taken from the moment he met him, and once more from the moment he granted his father a dying wish. He would protect Trevor, he wouldn't let him die like his parents had. That much, he swore. "Trevor, we can't stay here," Trevor turned, tears pouring down his face still as he looked up at Bumblebee. "I'm so sorry, but I don't know where he is, he could be anywhere."

"But my mom, my dad," Trevor sobbed. "I can't just leave them, they need to be buried. They need to be found."

Bumblebee stared at the boy with his optics filled with sympathy. "I'll call the police and tell them. But that's all we can do for them, Trev," Bumblebee explained. "I don't know how Barricade found you, they could be tapping my communications systems." Trevor hung his head quietly, letting the tears flow freely. "But I do know I made a promise to your sire to keep you safe. And I can't do that by leaving you out in the open."

"They were all I had, Bee," Trevor shook his head. "How can I just leave them?"

The Autobot shook his head, unsure of what to say. He didn't know the answer, and as much as he wanted to, he couldn't say anything that would make him feel better. "Because they wanted you to live, they wanted you safe," Bumblebee told him gently. "I know you're angry, and you probably blame me." Trevor hung his head. "Slag, I blame me too... But standing here is not going to help. Staying alive is."

Trevor stared at his home silently, and for a moment, Bumblebee thought he wouldn't respond. But slowly, he nodded, and stood to his feet, holding a small chip of wood from his home. A momento, a reminder, of what he was about to leave behind. "Then what do we do now? Where do we go?" Trevor asked, his voice shaky. "If we can't go home, or to the garage, where?"

"We wait until nightfall," Bumblebee replied. "When the others get here, and we figure out where my mission goes from there." He paused a moment, looking down at him. "But no matter what happens next? We make sure that fragger pays."

And that last part, Bumblebee meant with every ounce of his spark.

...

A/N: Yes, I know, I'm evil. And that was by far the hardest chapter I've ever had to write mind you. But unfortunately it was a necessary tragedy in order to move the story forward.