CHAPTER 19
Fears and Lessons

"You scared me, you know."

Bumblebee frowned at his son's words little more than an hour later. He and Trevor were now in the rec room, with the boy resting on his knee. Bumblebee yet again felt his optics sadden, after all he still felt bad. He could see where he'd have scared him, seeing as he'd been in the med bay so long. "I know," Bumblebee finally muttered. "Barricade got under my armor is all. When he threatened you, I couldn't control myself, the thought of him ever getting his hands on you..." He tensed. "It scares me."

Trevor ran a hand through his tuft of blond hair thoughtfully. "I'm a tough guy, Bee," Trevor told him. "Just because I'm a one-legged mess-."

"Don't call yourself that," Bumblebee told him bluntly. "I hate it when you put yourself down like that."

Trevor sighed, trying to find a different way to word what he had to say. "The point is, Bee, I'm tough," Trevor explained. "I might not be that strong or anything. But I do have one thing that physical strength doesn't give you. Guts." He added, patting his chest as if for emphasis. "I might be a little scared of Barricade, but I can fake it. I always did around Trent after all."

Bumblebee revved his engine at the mere mention of the bully. He still remembered that first night, in the garage when he had tried to hurt Trevor. And to say the least, it made him angry whenever he remembered it. "And that's why you're my little mech wrecher," He offered gently, rubbing the top of his head. "You don't have to worry about me, though, Trev," He noted, very firmly. "No matter what happens I promise I'll always be here for you."

"That's a pretty big promise," Trevor muttered.

"Maybe, but it's true," Bumblebee replied, looking down upon his son fondly. "Even if I ever did offline, they say love lasts beyond the measure of time. Or even the measure of our lives," He explained, his voice trailing off. "And in case you didn't notice, I tend to have a great deal of love for you," He poked his son gingerly in the stomach, causing Trevor to smile.

Trevor chewed his lip, unsure of how to return the comment. He did love Bumblebee like he dad, no, scratch that. He loved him because he was his dad as of a week ago, and had been showing him love and care long before that. But could he say that? He'd never said that to anyone other than his biological parents, and it was a little hard. And yet, a small part of him could hear his parents whispering into his ear, telling him to move on, to let the Autobot know that he did love him back. They wouldn't want him to live in fear of "hurting" them for the rest of his life, and he knew it. "I love you too, Bee," Trevor leaned his head against his armored leg. "So if the saying's true then that works out pretty great."

Bumblebee smiled, his spark skipping a beat as he realized it was the first time Trevor had said those words. The first time his son had said he loved him, and it felt oh so good. Carefully, he reached down, scooping him up and bringing him close to his spark chamber. "Yeah, sure does," Bumblebee chuckled a little. "But I promise to tone down the hard-headedness in the field a bit. Just so you don't have to worry like that again."

"I'll always worry," Trevor admitted calmly.

"Well then, I'll try and help give you LESS reason to worry," Bumblebee smiled.

Trevor nodded his head, sighing lightly as he let Bumblebee stroke his back. He supposed that made sense, and at least for now, Bumblebee was safe. And though he would still be scared that there might be a day where his adoptive father left the base and never returned... At the very least today, he could say that he was okay. "When were you going to tell me about those fears anyway?" Bumblebee asked, his optics filled with concern.

Trevor shrugged, his eyes scanning the rec room. "Sometimes I have nightmares about it. I just don't like bothering you about it," Trevor explained. "I guess it's been that way since forever though. Even before the adoption I always had this nagging part of me that said this can't last. I thought my life with mom and dad would last forever and it didn't."

"I get that," Bumblebee nodded. "Grief is a tough thing, kid." He then added. "But they're here, believe you me. At least in spirit," He explained, his optics softening.

Trevor smiled, he wanted to believe that, he really did. And some part of him, no matter how deep, did believe it was true. He sighed quietly, and grunted, leaning his head back as Bumblebee kept a smile on his face. He wanted to make sure that Trevor felt better, and in a way, talking it out finally did. Bumblebee's engine purred gently in that comforting way that Trevor had slowly come to enjoy. "Bee," Trevor muttered. "Do I have to go to bed tonight?"

Bumblebee frowned, knowing it was clear that Trevor was afraid of more nightmares. He knew that Trevor needed his sleep though, and that it wasn't an option. "You could sleep in my room," Bumblebee replied. "Maybe my presence would make you feel better for the night. We can move your bed in there, since I'm pretty sure sleeping in my berth would be awkward for you."

Trevor looked thoughtful, and then nodded slowly. "O-Okay," He muttered. "But yeah, in my bed. I'm too old to sleep beside you, no offense, Bee."

"Of course," Bumblebee chuckled as he stood. "Speaking of, we should head there now. I have reports to fill out still, for the human official, Galloway," He groaned quietly. "So yeah."

"Fun," Trevor replied. "I can't imagine he'll like this."

"You and me both," Bumblebee snorted.

Hopefully, with him by Trevor's side, the boy would rest much easier that night.

...

Trevor hated the fact that he was anywhere near the two of them when Galloway asked to see Bumblebee. The man was most concerned that he had not caught the Decepticon. Which would not have been too strange if he had not also insisted on the fact he probably deserved to "offline" for screwing up. It was only then that Trevor cleared his throat, grabbing his attention. "He didn't do anything wrong," Trevor told him from the large walkway in the control room, staring down at him. "Bee was just angry because of what Barricade did to my family."

"Which was what again?" Galloway grunted.

"Slaughtered them," Bumblebee grimaced. "It was the whole reason Trevor even needed to be adopted in the first place. And considering it was partially because I was with him that it happened, I feel guilt for what happened," Galloway rolled his eyes. "Primus, wouldn't you act that way if someone caused your child serious pain, Mr. Galloway?"

"I don't have kids," Galloway snorted. "They annoy me. And besides, I'm not settled down yet, haven't found the right woman."

"Yeah, that's totally the reason," Trevor snorted back.

Bumblebee had to hold back laughter, knowing that now was far from the best time to provoke Galloway further. The man took a step towards Trevor, his eyes flashing with an anger Bumblebee didn't like. Yet before he could say anything to either scold Trevor, or stop the man, he spoke up loudly. "Listen you little twit," He began. "Just because you got the sympathy of the government with your one leg. And that oh-so-tragic little "orphan" story doesn't mean you have the right to talk to me like that." Bumblebee almost wanted to punch the man for what he was saying.

"I didn't get here because of that," Trevor scoffed. "I got here because I helped the Autobots in Mission City. Optimus Prime himself made the decision to keep me here, not the government," He explained.

"Keep telling yourself that," Galloway sneered, playing with his glasses. "As far as I can see you're just one big goodwill stunt played by the "Autobots". "Oh look, we took in a special needs little boy! We have pity! We can give him a daddy"," He added rather coldly.

"If you don't stop talking to him that way. I've got news for you," Bumblebee stepped up, quite tired of hearing the man's voice by now. "His "daddy" is going to punt you through that wall," He pointed to the nearest wall. "You're mad at me, not Trevor," He looked up at Trevor. "Who, as I remember, has his first session with his private tutor to get to," The boy frowned. "Go." He said gently, clearly not wanting things to escalate or Trevor to get hurt further by the man's words.

If looks could kill, the glare that Trevor shot Galloway would have gutted him. He knew that the man wasn't right, he knew full well why the Autobots took him in. But the fact he had brought his leg and disabilities into this, well, he had to admit, that stung. Making his way down the catwalk, a voice grabbed his attention. "Ah, what does that jerk know anyway?" Trevor looked up to see Jazz following him. "Ah don't see a "special needs" kid, ah see mah little buddy."

"I know, he was just trying to hurt me," Trevor muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But some people do look down on people like me. I mean, decades ago, kids with special needs didn't have a lot of the stuff they have now." He explained. "Because of people like that guy who think we're not the same as everyone else. I mean I get along fine with one leg. Even when I don't have a prosthetic leg, I have wheelchairs, and I can do whatever anyone else can-."

"Don't need ta convince me, kid," Jazz held up his hands in response to that. "We all saw yah in Mission City. Ah couldn't do that with one leg, slag, ah'd probably be in big trouble." He crossed his arms. "Yah remind me of mah friend Prowler when we were younger," He added, shaking his head. "He's got a battle computer in his head," He then added. "Makes 'im glitch at the illogical, and have a hard time with 'is emotions. People made fun o' him all the time." He then added. "He showed 'em all. He got made second-in-command to Prime."

"Ironhide told me about his "glitch" too," Trevor nodded his head. "Do a lot of you guys, y'know?"

For emphasis, Jazz gently lifted his visor to reveal his glossy colored optics. Trevor immediately knew what that meant, Jazz was blind. "When I was created, a defect with mah processor took away mah opticsight. I had ta walk around with what ya humans call a "cane"," Jazz explained. "My adoptive creators got me a visor. Attaches to mah processor, and projects mah surroundings ta me on it," Trevor looked like he was in awe. "Call it mah "prosthetic"."

Trevor smirked, seeing the similarities. While Ironhide was inspirational, but Jazz really knew what it was like to be in his world. To be born without something the rest of the world had, and sometimes took for granted. And having to rely, and what's more, lean on, technology to give them a shot at what others had. "When I was born," Trevor tried to relate. "My parents couldn't afford a prosthetic," He explained. "I had to learn to walk when I was six and we saved enough money for one. Before that I had to learn to use a wheelchair."

"Ya know what that makes us?" Trevor shrugged at Jazz's question. "Two tough as slag cool dudes," Trevor laughed a little. "Galloway can say what he wants about "special needs". But I bet he neva had to be that tough in 'is life," He added. "Just rememba that, alright?"

Trevor grinned a bit as Jazz crouched and put some knuckles out to him. The boy carefully fist bumped the "hip" Autobot and kept his smile wide. "I'm starting to see why Bee likes you so much," Trevor admitted with a chuckle. "You are a cool dude," He added.

"And dotcha forget it," Jazz grinned. "Ah'll let you get to ya lessons now," He carefully pushed his visor back down into place. "Anyone picks on ya like that again? Just remember what the Jazz-man told ya."

As Jazz started off towards wherever he was headed, Trevor smirked a bit. He wanted to talk with Jazz a bit more about this. But he also knew he would get scolded if he missed his lesson. NEST was paying good money to give him an education as he grew up on the base. And the last thing he needed was to make the government think he was taking this like some all-expenses paid vacation. He carefully approached the room on the small map to his "tutoring room" he'd been provided with. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar sight: the med bay. They were doing this in the med bay? Wasn't that a strange place to do lessons?

As he stepped inside, he quickly found a round table had been set up in there. But the room was mostly empty, of all but a large white board, the berths, tools, and the table. Oh, and a familiar face, one that made Trevor realize what was going on. "Ratchet?" Trevor's voice was nearly a whisper as the mech turned around. "No way, you can't be my tutor! I thought that NEST was hiring a tutor for me?" He questioned.

Ratchet snorted a bit, looking down at the young human in amusement. And by the looks of it, Trevor was not going to like where this was going, not one bit. "They were," Ratchet corrected him. "But I told them that I did not trust human educators with the formal education of a member of the Prime family." Trevor opened his mouth. "This is not up for discussion, I have downloaded all your human curriculum from high school to college. It should not be hard to teach you as eleventh grade teachers would."

"This is a joke, right?" Trevor asked, Ratchet shook his head. "But you're the medic, won't this get in the way?"

"It's called multi-tasking," Ratchet snorted slightly. "If there is surgical procedures required, I will simply send you out," Trevor opened his mouth to speak again. "Trevor Nathanial Prime, lest you want a wrench thrown at you. I suggest that you sit your aft down in that seat," He pointed at the table in front of him.

This time, Trevor didn't argue, he knew that this was a really pointless argument. As the grandson of their leader, he should have seen this coming. The Autobots had wanted to raise him, and this included teaching him, he supposed. After a moment, Ratchet's holoform approached, dropping a stack of books onto the table. "Now that we have that settled," Ratchet snorted. "Open your math book to page 27 and tell me all you know about long division."

"Really? MATH first?" Trevor asked.

"It's what you struggle with most. Allow me to help with that," Ratchet noted.

Trevor groaned, it was going to be a very long day.

...

After a nearly excruciating five hours of studies with Ratchet, it was time for his training. He was surprised to find, as he entered the training area of his base, Ironhide was alone. It was clear that he would not be training like the other members of NEST, despite the fact Ironhide trained him too. But it made sense, after all, Ironhide seemed to have a fondness for him. And what was more they were all adults, whereas, as far as most were concerned, he was still a kid. "Alright," Ironhide spoke up. "I want to take this easy for the first few sessions. As I know you have not done much exercise, nor have you very likely lifted weights."

"I ran a mile every morning in PE," Trevor offered. "Does that count?"

"Try running sixteen times that if you ever get caught in a battle," Trevor cringed, that was not a pleasant thought. "I'm here to train you not only to defend yourself," Ironhide crossed his arms a bit. "But to also show you strategies for the battlefield," Trevor opened his mouth. "You were a brave as slag little pit spawn in Mission City," He explained. "But bravery only gets you so far, youngling. Especially with your standing now. That won't be the last time you're stuck in the middle of this. And next time may be even more dangerous."

Trevor tensed a bit, wondering what Ironhide would exactly be teaching him. He had expected to learn how to fight, and maybe how to fight against Decepticons. But more than that? He gulped slightly, it was a nerve-wracking thinking about going back into battle again. But he knew also that Ironhide was right, he would have to fight again at some point, or at least he figured. "So, what do you want me to do? Push-ups? Sit-ups?" Trevor questioned.

"Fifty laps around this room," Ironhide replied. "I want to see how fast you run while not under pressure." He chuckled at the look of terror that seemed to cross Trevor's face. "Fifty is nothing, kid. I saw how you ran in Mission City, you are a pretty strong runner," He then nodded his head. "Being this is only your first day, take a break when you deem necessary. I want to see exactly what I'm working with."

"Why do I get the feeling it won't be like that after today?"

"Because you're a smart kid," Ironhide snorted. "Now, begin."

Trevor began without much of an argument, figuring it would be easy with breaks at least. How wrong he was. He ran as quickly as he could, staring over at Ironhide quietly. His face was emotionless, and difficult to read as he watched Trevor. Around his tenth run around the massive room, he was breathing heavily, and practically collapsing in exhaustion. His legs were killing him, sweat dripping down his face, he stopped, heaving out quietly. But seeing that Ironhide's optics narrowed, he did not stop long.

He wasn't going to let himself seem weak.

He made it up to around eighteen laps before he looked ready to collapse. He caught himself before he dropped, getting onto one knee. He attempted to get up, but soon found a hand against his back. His eyes shot up to see Ironhide's holoform in front of him. For a moment, he didn't recognized the jet black haired, dark blue eyed human form, who had usually been in civilian clothing. Now, he had a NEST jacket, shirt, and sweats on, clearly giving off the feel of a soldier. "That's enough. You don't really have to run all forty laps, that was just to give you a goal," Ironhide helped Trevor to his feet. "I'm impressed, you made it further than I thought you would."

"I hate quitting," Trevor muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I don't think I'd make it any farther."

"Not yet," Ironhide offered. "But give it a while, you will," He looked at him. "Take a ten minute respite for water and relaxation. Then we'll continue with your training." He explained.

Trevor ended up needing twenty minutes, something which seemed to frustrate Ironhide. Lucky for him, the mech didn't show it through more than a grunt and an annoyed look on his face. Once he'd finally calmed his aching legs and body down, and drank two full bottles of water, he met Ironhide in the center of the room. The mech's holoform appeared once again, standing in front of him calmly. "Alright, tell me what you know about fighting, youngling," Ironhide commented.

"Nothing," Trevor shook his head. "Dad was a pacifist. He taught me fighting wasn't the answer. The most violent thing he had or did was keep a handgun in the garage in case of an extreme emergency."

Ironhide nodded his head, understanding. "While your father is correct in petty cases," Ironhide grunted. "Fighting in order to protect and defend yourself is another story. In war, you have no choice but to do one of two things: fight, or retreat. And the latter is typically the way to go," Trevor nodded his head slowly, understanding. "I ask you only use what you learn here on the battlefield. Rather than in petty rivalries or against bullies. Some of these will be military level eventually, and you could do serious damage to them."

"And here I thought you were the violent weapons specialist," Trevor laughed.

"I am," Ironhide waved a finger at him. "I'm trying to say that there are those in this world not worth it," He then added. "Feel free to use these on Galloway if he tries to hurt you though," He scowled, clearly, he didn't trust the man at all. "But for now, I'm going to show you some simple moves, and you're going to use them on this form," Trevor's eyes widened. "Don't worry, you won't hurt me. I'm built like a bulldozer."

"If you say so," Trevor swallowed.

They spent the next hour going over basic punching and jabbing techniques. To say the least, Trevor was not very good at it. If anything, he was probably embarrassing himself in front of the greatest fighter the Autobots had. But Ironhide inwardly reminded himself that Optimus and Bumblebee were not so different when they had begun their own training. Once he was satisfied he had gathered everything he needed to know, he spoke up. "Alright, stop," Trevor sighed with relief. "Well, you're not the worst newcomer I've had to train."

"So I'm good?" Trevor questioned.

"No," Ironhide's holoform clapped Trevor on the back gently. "But I'm going to make you great." He encouraged.

Trevor grinned, it was definitely encouraging to know Ironhide thought he could. "I don't know anything about shooting a gun. I only did it once and I got super lucky," Trevor told him as Ironhide went towards a weapons rack near the back. "So considering you're a weapons specialist you're probably going to laugh," He explained.

"Don't worry," Ironhide nodded. "I won't be the only one teaching you."

"Cybertronian tradition," Trevor turned as Bumblebee entered the room. "Says that its the sire who teaches their offspring how to fire their first weapon," Trevor raised his eyebrows in surprise. "With supervision, of course. Given that Ironhide is the master marksman," He added.

Ironhide grinned, heading back over and dropping a handgun into Trevor's hand. The boy had trouble holding it, given it was heavier than he expected, and definitely of a different type than the one his dad had kept. But was able to hold it at his side with some struggle. "And don't you forget it," He told the young scout, poking him slightly. "Alright you two, let's get to the firing range. Keep the safety on lest he shoot himself in the foot," He added.

As they began to follow Ironhide, Trevor looked up at Bumblebee. The mech chuckled at his son, noticing how exhausted the boy seemed to be. "You're exhausted already, huh?" Trevor nodded, wiping more sweat from his brow. "Don't worry, Trev. It'll get easier, it always does." He then added. "Take it from someone who went through everything you are now."

"I'm surprised you didn't drop dead," Trevor laughed.

"And you haven't even felt the kickback of a real, military grade gun yet. They're harsher than the regular grade ones from what I know," Bumblebee joked. "And if it's anywhere as bad as a military grade blaster can be, oh man." He chuckled.

Trevor could only hope it wasn't as bad as his mind was already imagining it to be.

...

A/N: Woo, finally finished this chapter! Don't worry, you'll get to see Bee teach Trevor how to shoot next chapter. :P