A/N: Readers be warned, this chapter deals with some rather dark material. This was a recently planned plot twist that came to me while I started thinking over some of Trevor's history in the fic so far. So hopefully I integrate it well enough.

...

CHAPTER 21
Dark Revelations

"Hey, Galloway!"

The way Bumblebee said his name made Theodore Galloway nearly cower. And as far as Bumblebee was concerned, the jerk should have been scared. The man turned around as the towering, yellow scout trudged his way towards him in the main hangar. "I have a bone to pick with you, as you say," He stated, keeping as calm as he could. "What's this I hear about you bullying my son?"

Galloway gulped, for once, not sure how to respond. If there was one thing he knew, it was not a good idea to provoke an already angry mech. Bumblebee's doorwings were flaring, and his fists were clenched as he did everything to try and calm himself down. "He's not your son, you know, not really," Galloway commented rather cooly. "You're just his foster parent."

"Adoptive," Bumblebee tensed. "I have papers that legally list me as his father. He is my son, so you can shove that slag up your aft," Galloway gulped yet again at the way Bumblebee snapped that last statement. "You want to claim he's not? Go take it up with the government and the judge who signed over rights to him for me," He then added. "I'll have you know I know for a fact family is not a matter of energon alone - or I suppose, in your case, blood."

Galloway opened his mouth for a moment, but bit his lip tightly. He supposed he couldn't argue it realistically, as Bumblebee was right. As stupid as the whole thing was, the government had given him the boy to raise. "Alright, so how have I been "bullying" your son?"

"He told me you called him "stumpy"," Bumblebee told him cooly. "You find his disability to be funny, Galloway?" He then questioned. "Because he feels insecure enough about it without you talking like that," Galloway backed up a bit as Bumblebee approached him again, his optics baring down. "I'm here to ask you in nicest way possible to back off," He added.

Galloway shifted uncomfortably, looking down at his feet. How to respond to that in any other way but "I'll do what I want"? Oh yes, he did know exactly how to handle that. "At least I didn't comment about the scars," Bumblebee paused a moment at Galloway's words. "What? Why are you looking at me like that? Surely, being he's YOUR son, you must have noticed them," The mech looked at him, wondering what he was implying. "I've read his file, just like I have everyone on this base. Have you, Bumblebee?" The yellow scout grimaced slightly. "Did you know WHY he was born with disabilities? Or why his fetus was damaged, and therefore born without a leg?"

"Don't turn this on him, Galloway," Bumblebee stated. "That has nothing to do with this."

"Probably has you believing Joseph Ridley was his real father, doesn't he? Didn't tell you he never met that man until he was five years old," Bumblebee's optics slowly started to narrow. "But of course he has, because you know him. You adopted him, and that gives you the right to talk to me that way," He began.

"Shut up!" Bumblebee turned around as Trevor finally made his presence known. "He doesn't need to know about that, none of them do." He attempted, clearly having heard all of it. "The man he met was my dad." He reaffirmed.

"In everything but blood according to your file," Galloway sneered a bit.

"Trevor," Bumblebee stared at his son. "What is he talking about?"

Trevor shook his head, trying to keep himself as calm as he could be. He tried so hard to keep the time before he met his "dad" a secret, so hard. And now this man was about to tear all of that hard work down. "Bee, I would have told you," Trevor shook his head. "I would have told you eventually," He backed up slowly. "Please Galloway, don't."

"C'mon, Trevor," Galloway grinned. "Tell your "dad" about Michael Field."

But Trevor had already bolted and run at the very name of the man. Bumblebee could hear the quiet crying from Trevor, and felt his spark tightening. Galloway's look of satisfaction at taking the attention off of him only lasted five seconds. The shot rang out throughout the base, and hit just inches from Galloway's feet. "I have no idea WHAT this is about," Bumblebee told him without even a hint of emotion. "But if you ever make my son cry like that again, I'll shove my cannon so far up your-!"

"Bumblebee!" Bumblebee turned as Optimus and Ironhide, alerted by the shot rushed over. "What is wrong?" Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder, but the young scout only shrugged it off. "Son, what is it?"

"Ask that fragger!" Bumblebee pointed towards Galloway. "Trevor!" He shouted.

Before Optimus could learn any more, Bumblebee had rushed without hesitance towards where Trevor had run off to. And yet, the Autobot leaders optics only narrowed, knowing few things could make his adoptive creation get so angry. He was usually the kindest, and by far, most patient mech on his team. "What have you done Galloway?" The man shrunk back a little.

"I'd start talking," Ironhide growled. "We all saw the younglin' runnin' off in tears. And let me tell ye something, Mr. Galloway," The weapons specialist spoke with such anger that he could see the man's legs as they quivered. "I don't like to see my friends leakin'."

"I just told your scout something he should know," Galloway rebutted. "Something he was going to find out anyway."

This time, Optimus spoke with very little patience, or calmness in his voice. "What did you tell him Galloway?" He said in a tone that would have made Unicron rust himself.

The liason knew very well that he was in trouble.

...

Bumblebee found Trevor in his room, curled up in a mess of blankets. The boy was sobbing uncontrollably, his stomach seemingly tightening at each passing moment. In return, the scout took very slow steps into his son's room, his optics softening as he came closer and closer. He tried to speak, but felt his mechanical throat tighten in response. "Trevor," The boy stared up at him. "You want to tell me what that was about?"

"You weren't supposed to find out," Trevor breathed. "No one was supposed to."

"Who is Michael Field, Trevor?"

Trevor was silent, holding the blankets closer to his body and wrapping them around. To Bumblebee, he now reminded him of a sparkling afraid of the dark. "He's my dad... My biological dad," Trevor muttered. "Joseph adopted me before you did, but he wasn't... He wasn't my father." He paused a moment. "I don't even know where my real dad even is. Probably in prison again, maybe."

Bumblebee was silent, taking in this new information. After a moment, his holoform appeared beside Trevor on the bed, his eyes looking into his eyes. "So Joseph was your stepdad?" Trevor nodded his head. "I don't understand, you always talked about him like he was your bio dad," He paused a moment. "But come to think of it, you never mentioned... Anything before you were... Five," He paused a moment. "When you met him?" Trevor nodded his head slowly. "When you moved to Tranquility..."

"Because my dad started to come around after he adopted me," Trevor muttered, his voice strained. "He didn't want Michael around mom and I, not after he saw my scars. Or the cigarette burns, or," He buried his face in his hands slightly. "Bee, I never wanted to put you through this. You had enough to worry about without bringing Michael into it."

Bumblebee wrapped an arm around Trevor as best he could with the blanket cover. He rubbed his hand along his arm, and held him closely to his chest as the boy sobbed quietly, clearly terrified. "This man put cigarette burns on you?" Trevor nodded, and the mech tensed. "And scars, like from beatings?" Again the boy nodded. "... Your father was abusive."

"That's why I was born without a leg," Trevor muttered. "He used to beat mom when she was pregnant. He, he damaged me somehow, I don't know how but it effected me," He breathed quietly. "He used to hit mom all the time, and sometimes... Sometimes when I was bad he'd hit me too. Or," He shook his head. "Bee, I don't want to talk about it."

Bumblebee purred gently, his hands stroking his hair. "You don't have to," Bumblebee told him gently. "Galloway had no right to do that, and I had no idea he'd stoop that low either," Trevor trembled quietly. "But stop calling him your "real dad", from what you're saying he's more like a "glorified sperm donor". Or so the internet calls them," Trevor looked up at Bumblebee slowly. "So "getting better work" was a cover, then?"

"He was afraid what would happen if we told," Trevor muttered. "I was scared to tell you because I don't know where he is. I didn't, I didn't want you to worry about him coming back," He explained. "Not that he could, he got his rights taken away a long time ago," He whispered, voice getting lower by the moment. "I just... I don't know, I..."

Bumblebee put two-and-two together, this must have been another reason he'd been scared after his parents died. He was terrified of this man, and it sounded like he had good reason to me. And not for the first time, the scout thanked Primus that he had been put in this boy's path. "I could step on Galloway for pulling that slag," He commented, causing a small amused smile to cross Trevor's face. "Would that make you feel better?"

"Much, if you wouldn't get arrested," Trevor managed to chuckle slightly. "I'm sorry I lied to you, Bee. I just... I didn't know how to tell you, so I did whatever I could to hide the scars and," He shook his head, and leaned in closer. "It wasn't hard because they're so faded now you can barely even see them," He stated, his voice choked. "You're taking this better than I thought you would."

"Other than wanting to hunt Michael Field down, yeah," Bumblebee commented. "The very thought that he did things to you before you were even born," He shuddered a bit. "He'd better hope I never get the chance to meet him," Trevor smirked a bit, knowing that would mean he'd meet a very unpleasant end. "You say you don't know where he is?"

"No," Trevor replied. "And I hope I never find out."

"Has he tried to talk to you?" Bumblebee asked.

Trevor nodded, he remembered two incidents where he'd tried. Once through email, and once through phone call, both having been when he lived in Tranquility. "A few times before I knew you," He explained. "I know he'll probably find me some day but-." He began.

"If he does, he'll have to get through me," Bumblebee told him firmly. "And Prime, Jazz, Ironhide, and Ratchet," Trevor nodded his head, knowing that much was true. "Are you going to be alright? We can still keep it quiet y'know," Trevor sighed in utter relief at that. "No one has to know about it, I promise," He added firmly.

"Thanks Bee," Trevor told him quietly. "Thanks for understanding."

"Nothing to understand," Bumblebee assured him. "What that man did was not your fault, Trevor. And I hope wherever he is, he feels ashamed," Trevor yet again gave a small smile. "Think you've cried it all out?" He questioned, and the boy slowly nodded in response. "The others are going to be worried sick too. You mind if I tell them?" He questioned.

"I... I guess not," Trevor muttered. "They're gonna find out eventually too. They're around me too much."

Bumblebee nodded, but didn't leave Trevor, not yet. He wanted to be sure that the boy was okay after such a traumatic experience was re-iterated to him. The others could wait for their explanation. Right now, he had a very hurt teenager to worry about.

...

"If I ever get my hands on that fragger."

"Yeah, well, get in line 'Hide," Bumblebee snorted.

It was late that night when the Autobots gathered for a small meeting in their meeting room. Most of the Autobots were silent, though all shared the same anger towards this Michael Field. A human who they could now count among their many enemies, and for good reason. "This man, Michael Field, lives in Connecticut, a great distance away from us," Optimus spoke up, Bumblebee raised an optic ridge. "After Galloway relayed the gist of things, I did my research. It is my grandcreation he would serve as a danger to, after all."

"We should get one of those human retraining orders," Ironhide spoke up. "He may have no right to him, but that means slag. For all we know the first time Bee takes him back to the states for a visit he could show up in Tranquility," He explained, his voice rough and angry. "And I don't want any creep that will hurt a femme sparked, let alone with his own sparkling anywhere near our youngling."

"Our youngling?" Jazz teased the weapons specialist.

"Yeah, I said it, that's what the boy practically is, right?" Ironhide growled, and crossed his arms slightly. "Point is, with a restraining order he could get a lot of time in prison if he ever tried." He then shook his head. "I say we get one drawn right away and have a representative slap him in the face with it," He added, then looked at Optimus. "It can be done, right?"

Bumblebee thought over the ramifications of the action. But in the end, agreed inwardly with the idea. The less chance this man had of getting his hands on Trevor the better. "I can talk to Trevor," Bumblebee replied for Optimus. "He doesn't want many people knowing about it. So I won't do this without his permission," Ironhide looked ready to argue. "'Hide, he'll agree. But do you really want him to stop trusting us? He's going through enough as it is."

The weapons specialist couldn't argue there, knowing that the scout was right. Yet he still wanted to get the restraining order right now. Or better yet, he simply wanted to find out exactly where this man lived, and blast him to smithereens. "Whatever, I agree," Ironhide stated. "Are you sure we still can't hurt humans Prime? I could make it so quick the creep wouldn't feel a thing."

"As many of us say, offlining is too merciful," Optimus replied. "For people like this Michael Field, they are better off rotting in their prisons," He explained, honestly. "For there, they have to live with what they've done. Rather than getting off easily," He added rather bluntly. "And therefore I ask no one seeks vengeance upon this man."

"What if he does go after shorty?" Jazz asked, raising a hand. "I ain't gonna sit back and watch."

That part surprised Optimus, who had not thought about what to do then. The answer was clear though, if this man ever did pose a physical threat to Trevor, he would not tell the Autobots not to fight him off. Primus knew that he himself would do the very same thing, if and when that happened. "Then we will do what we must," Optimus explained. "But if there is a way to resolve the issue without violence, we will take the higher ground." That much the others could agree on. "But for now, we will be thankful that Trevor is far, far away from that man."

Bumblebee nodded in agreement, his doorwings twitching. "And that I'm the only one with any custody over him for that matter," Bumblebee replied. "Don't worry guys, he shows up on my doorstep. Well," He snorted a bit. "You thought Galloway looked scared today? That'll be nothing."

And that much, he knew was true. If this man ever did decide to come in and try and do anything, he would not be the nice little scout they knew and loved. He'd be a father seeing red, just like any parent would logically be. With a sigh, he stood to his feet, letting himself cool off for the first time since all this mess had started. "Well if this is all done, I have a boy who could probably use tucking in," Bumblebee told them calmly. "I barely calmed him down earlier, and I want to make sure he's okay."

"Would you like me to come along?" Optimus asked kindly.

Bumblebee shook his head, knowing Trevor would be too sensitive at the moment. He didn't want to be flaunted over about these things, not yet at least. Right now he needed his dad, he needed him. And with any luck, by tomorrow, this would have left his mind again. "It's fine Prime," Bumblebee shook his head. "I think we should handle more visitors coming to talk about this tomorrow."

By the time Bumblebee had left, and arrived in Trevor's room the boy was asleep. It was obviously a sight that made Bumblebee's spark fill with relief, given the long day that he had had. Taking a few steps forward towards his bed, he crouched and ran circles along his back with his index finger. "I love you, son," He whispered gently. "And I promise, no matter what, I won't let him touch you. Just like Joseph never did."

After a long moment, he stood to his feet and began to walk out. Unknowing as Trevor turned over, and looked at him for a long moment. He knew that Bumblebee's words were true, and he was more than thankful that he had two fathers who protected him. As deep inside, he could only wonder where he would be without either one.

...

A/N: And so ends the second hardest chapter I've had to write for this fic. Hope you guys found the addition to the backstory handled well.