A/N: So after much debate, I have decided to let a certain character appear in this story after all.

...

CHAPTER 28
Meeting The "Father"

Trevor was out with Bumblebee when he saw Michael Field for the first time in eleven years.

At first, when he'd seen a man that looked like what he remembered of him across the street, he thought he was losing his mind. Why would his "father" be in Tranquility? He no longer lived there, his mom and Joseph were gone, so why would he be there? And so he went about his life, and approached the nearby hot dog stand without giving it a second thought. He'd just gotten his hot dog when the hand grabbed his arm. "Hey there," He heard a voice whisper into his ear as Trevor immediately searched for Bumblebee. "Don't make a sound, Trevor. Your guardian is preoccupied on his phone," Trevor knew that meant Bumblebee was on his comm.

Trevor half expected Barricade as he turned around to face the person. But instead, he did indeed see his father, his eyes widened, and he tried his best to tug away. But the man kept his grip tight on his arm, tugging him along. "Let me go," Trevor hissed. "I have a restraining order against you."

"That's how I knew I had to get to you fast, and try to talk sense into you." Michael's green eyes stared around slowly as he led Trevor through the small park in Tranquility that he and Bumblebee had gone to. "Your mom and Joseph die, and I don't get any calls. No warning. The next thing I know is that I'm getting slapped in the face with a potential restraining order." He then added. "You should come live with me, period. And tell that... That imposter to get lost."

"You signed your rights away," Trevor spat.

"I didn't have a choice," Michael snapped. "He had no right taking you, and neither did that guy, whoever he is. You're my son, I had a right to you," He stated, pushing Trevor up against a tree. "But I didn't get any of that because I was an ex-felon. Instead, I just got told "oh, sorry, you're no longer a dad"," Trevor winced slightly. "Well that's changing, it's changing big time."

"My dad will not put up with that," Trevor muttered. "He knows what you did to mom and I."

"You told?"

"I'm not afraid of you," Trevor breathed out. "I'm never going to be anymore. And if you knew who my dad was? You'd know why."

Michael stared at his son, his eyes narrowed, and he tried to keep his cool. Trevor was relieved at the fact that he hadn't hit him yet. After a moment, however, he was surprised to find Michael's hand wrapped around his neck. "Stop calling him your dad!" Michael snapped, his voice changing to something as dark as he remembered. "Whoever the hell that man is, he is not your father! I AM! I was there at the hospital when you were born. I was the one that changed your diapers!"

Trevor tried to get a response out, but the grip on his throat only tightened. He tried to throw hard punches at him, but Trevor now remembered just how big and strong Michael was. He felt relief when he finally let go, heaving out his breath as best as he could. "Yeah, you're a father of the year," Trevor choked. "You're just going right back to hurting me."

Michael looked angry at that, really angry. A fact which made Trevor brace himself for whatever punch he was going to land. That was always his answer when he was angry, after all. Trevor may have been young, but even he knew that it was true. "You don't scold me, Trevor," Michael snapped. "You're my son, I'm not YOURS!"

But before the fist he threw could connect a hand had gripped his wrist hard. Michael yelped as Bumblebee's holoform met him with a cold glare, his electric blue eyes flashing. "Actually, he's my son," Bumblebee told him bluntly. "And I don't appreciate you putting your hands on him like that," He added rather bluntly.

Snap! Trevor was surprised by the fist that Bumblebee sent flying into Michael's nose. The man collapsed as he tried to feel his bloody nose, groaning in pain. "You freak!" Michael snapped, looking up at the mech. "You're gonna pay for that, you know that? You broke my nose!" Trevor backed up as Michael glared at Trevor. "You're just going to let him treat your father like that?"

Bumblebee was surprised by the fact there was no snark from Trevor. He simply backed up slowly, a lump forming in his throat. "If I pay for it, you'll pay for breaking the restraining order," He snapped. "Let's see who the court cares more about. The fact I found you with your hands around my son's throat. Or that I broke your nose?" He then added. "You're lucky I didn't break your neck."

"I just want to talk to him," Michael barked, making his way towards Trevor.

"You just want to kidnap him," Bumblebee snapped back. "If you take one step closer, I will fight you," He added. "And I'll have you know I'm in the military. So if you think just because you're built like a muscle car you can hurt me?" He moved up close to him, making himself as intimidating as possible. "I will put every ounce of the training my military family instilled in me. And I will make you wish you had never sparked my child."

Michael tensed, looking at Bumblebee, who cracked his knuckles for emphasis. He knew that he wasn't supposed to use violence against humans, but Optimus would definitely condone this. This, of course, wasn't vengeance, this was protecting his son, his family. And if he hadn't done that, he was certain that the man would hurt him further. "You've got real guts," Michael grunted. "Coming between me and my boy."

"He's not YOUR boy," Bumblebee assured him. "As far as I'm concerned the only father Trevor had before me? Was Joseph Ridley," He added rather bluntly. "You're nothing more than a name on his birth certificate," That one looked like it may have hurt Michael in the heart, if he had a heart. "Now I'll say it only once, get out of my face, and never let me see you near Trevor again."

For a moment, Michael stared at him, but then he started off to where he'd been dragging Trevor. Once he was sure he was gone, Bumblebee put his hands on Trevor's shoulders. "Are you okay, buddy?" He questioned, looking over the marks Michael had left on his throat. "Primus almighty, that slagger, if I could just get my hands on him," He muttered. "I'm sorry I didn't see you sooner. It just took me a minute, I swear."

"It's okay," Trevor muttered. "I can't believe he found me."

"News must have traveled," Bumblebee muttered. "Don't worry, kiddo. I'm calling your grandpa right now," He explained. "He'll send the twins, and they'll help make sure that he never does anything to you," Trevor nodded his head slowly. "Right now, let's just... Get you to the Witwicky home," He explained. "Are you going to be okay?"

Trevor nodded his head as Bumblebee began to lead him away. He knew he'd be okay, he had Bumblebee there, and he had scared the living hell out of Michael. But he couldn't help but feel that tinge of fear at the thought that he might hurt him again. That he had hurt him again. He felt his neck slightly, and frowned a little, and quietly hoped this would be the last time this happened.

...

"If he touches him again, I'll break his neck."

Bumblebee could not believe the venom that Ron Witwicky said that with that evening. But Bumblebee figured it was probably better if he did it at the same time. He sighed a bit, leaning back against the couch, and crossing his arms. "Trevor looks so much like him," Bumblebee explained. "His blond hair, the green eyes, even some of his facial structure," He then added. "I'm willing to bet that's the only way he even found Trevor. He saw his mini-me, and..."

"Yeah," Ron nodded. "She always was worried about that if he tried to hunt them down," He explained, his voice low. "But when he never came around, well," Bumblebee nodded back at him at that. "Listen, don't blame yourself, it was inevitable," He then added. "You called the cops though, right?"

Bumblebee nodded his head, taking a deep breath. Though he also knew he couldn't press charges, couldn't put Trevor through that. Trevor himself had said he didn't want to go through it. Plus, the man had been scared off easily, and besides, he could press charges as well for his own assault. "Trevor doesn't want to press charge though," Bumblebee explained. "Told me that it's not worth it. And besides, I kinda broke his nose," Ron gave a thumbs up at that last part.

"It's worth it if he goes to jail," Judy spoke up as she stepped into the room. "Can he go to jail for it?"

"He could," Ron nodded. "But that wouldn't stop him."

Bumblebee sighed a little bit, unsure of what he could do. He wanted to put him in jail, but he also knew that meant putting Trevor in court, and he had a feeling Trevor would never waver about this. He didn't want to go to court, he'd probably gone in front of a court when he was a child about it. "Dad's right," Trevor finally spoke up from a spot on the steps behind them. "I faced the court about it before. And I can't actually prove he was going to kidnap me so we can't get him for that," He shook his head. "I'm not putting everyone through that. Not for someone who can't get near me anymore."

"He can," Ron argued. "And if he does, and we didn't do anything about it."

Trevor pulled his arms around his legs, and tried his best to calm himself down. Even then, it didn't change his mind. He was not going to provoke Michael further, that was something he refused to do. "I know, Mr. Witwicky but see it from my point of view," Trevor explained. "He's a monster, but I have giant robots on my side. If a trial goes on over this it would be too much," He then added. "And besides, he didn't like force me in a car or anything. He just tried to intimidate me into going "home" with him."

"He never tried to force you to a car?" Bumblebee questioned.

"No, that's what made it weird," Trevor answered honestly. "I think he expected to scare me into coming. And while that's messed up, it's not exactly attempted kidnapping," Bumblebee cursed under his breath slightly. "Dad?" Bumblebee looked at him. "I don't have a reason to be scared of him, right? You, Sides, and Sunny will protect me."

Bumblebee could tell that Trevor was asking for confirmation. He stood to his feet, and stepped over to Trevor, his hands falling on his shoulder again. "If he so much as touches you again," He began. "I will break every bone in his body," Trevor smiled a bit. "Though I guess then I'd be the one getting called out on assault. But then again," He added, his eyes full of seriousness. "For you, I'd face whatever fragging court they put me in front of."

Judy and Ron smiled, getting the feeling that Bumblebee's words were beyond genuine. Trevor nodded, and stood to his feet, before wrapping his arms around Bumblebee. "That's all the confirmation I need," Trevor whispered, allowing Bumblebee to hold him before sighing. "I think Sam wants to talk about this. So I think I should head up there," He commented.

Once Trevor had headed upstairs, Bumblebee turned to Ron and Judy. Both of them were watching him, and Bumblebee knew that they wanted him to overrule him. He sighed a bit, and grumbled under his breath, a part of him wanted to. "The most he'd get for a minor assault is a year or two anyway," Ron finally spoke up. "So I guess you both make a good point."

Bumblebee frowned a bit, knowing that he made a really good point. A year or two at the most? It wouldn't keep him away from Trevor like he wanted, if anything, it'd probably anger him even more. "I'm going to go out for a drive," Bumblebee told them politely. "Sideswipe and Sunstreaker will be here to watch over the home. But if anything happens, they will call me."

"Where are you going?" Judy questioned. "We've hardly had a moment to talk to you."

"Judy," Ron warned, patting he shoulder. "The guy needs to cool off, it's been a long day."

Bumblebee nodded his head slowly, but looked between them. "I'm sorry about that," He explained, his optics traveling between the two of them. "I thought that this week I could spend some time getting to know you. But right now I need to take a drive before I shoot something," He explained, to which they both nodded. "I promise we'll sit down and have that talk before I leave. We still have five days to do that."

He didn't wait for a response, simply disappearing, and driving from the driveway. He needed to get out of the house, and drive, just drive anywhere. Maybe, if he were lucky, he'd run into Michael Field and be given the pleasure of running him down. Or maybe he'd just be able to clear his head from the mess that this day had turned out to be, and perhaps the mess this trip might end up being. But deep down, he could hope against al hope that that would be the first and last time he ever encountered the man.

...

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

He found Michael staggering down a sidewalk in town, a bottle of alcohol in one hand. He looked as though he was struggling just to keep steady, and it was clear he was. Bumblebee's holoform cringed as he vomited onto the sidewalk, and nearly collapsed. Primus, this was one pathetic man, was all he could think. Unfortunately, it was a pathetic scumbag that was on a sidewalk, so giving him a little tap was definitely out of the question. He was about to drive past when the man had slammed his fist onto his hood, sending Bumblebee to a screeching hault.

"You!" Michael snapped, his speech slurred. "I knew that was you. You and your stupid Camaro, and your fancy clothes," The man took a swig out of the bottle. "I have... So many things I want to say to you... You stupid... Stupid head." As Bumblebee's holoform carefuly got out of his alt mode, the man staggered forward. "Don't look at me like that! I can stop drinking this whenever I want!"

"You're even more pathetic than I imagined," Bumblebee scoffed. "Your son doesn't want to live with you for a reason. One that I can clearly see right now," Michael stared at him, taking another swig. "Primus, do you even really care? Or are you just so possessive that you feel compelled to take him back?" He questioned. "You know what, don't answer that, you make the answer pretty clear."

Bumblebee started for his door, but Michael stopped him before he could. The man looked at him with a glare and a smirk. "Why do you want him? He's got one leg, a million problems!" He snapped, rolling his eyes as Bumblebee opened his door and prepared to get back inside. "Oh come on, don't you want to know? Do you have his medical records?" He chided. "You do know you got a defective kid right?"

That word sent anger bristling through Bumblebee, his eyes flashing yet again. Had he just called his son, his own flesh and blood something as disgusting as "defective"? He stepped out after a moment, and before the man could bat an eyelash, had thrown him against his alt mode violently. "Listen, you low life scum of the Earth," Bumblebee spoke, his voice trying to keep as calm as possible. "You sired a compassionate, energetic, extremely intelligent, and well-adjusted boy," He shook him slightly. "You should feel honored your genes contributed to him at all."

"Doesn't change nothing," Michael chuckled. "He still is-."

Bumblebee threw him so hard against his side that Michael yelped out in pain. For a moment, Bumblebee wondered if he might have knocked him into a sober state by the wide eyed look of fear in the man's eyes. "If you say that word again, you'll see a side of me I almost NEVER show," Bumblebee snapped, his voice loud now. "I am a very calm and soft natured mech. But if you talk about my kid that way? That's all going to end," Michael swallowed slightly, looking petrified now. "And yes, Michael, that is my son. As in, my legal son. The son you beat before he was ever born, and after. And then fragging abandoned," His voice got low. "So you can take this "my son" slag and shove it all the way up your aft."

For a moment, Bumblebee wondered if maybe he was taking it to heart. But then he watched as Michael vomited again, making him jump back as the man laughed slightly. Wiping some vomit from the side of his mouth, Michael shook his head, his laughter increasing. "You're so serious," Michael commented, leaning back against his alt mode. "Why are you so serious?"

And for the first time, Bumblebee could see for sure that Trevor was right. This man wasn't worth the trouble of going through the courts for what would only be a light sentence, at this rate, he'd drink himself to death anyway. "Get off of my car, Field," Bumblebee warned. "Before you make me do something I'm going to regret for the rest of my life-cycle."

"You talk funny."

"Get away from my car!"

After a moment, Michael staggered away, staring back at Bumblebee as he slowly got inside. Michael took a step forward, holding the door as Bumblebee tried to close it. He wondered quietly what the man would do now, but after a moment, he simply spoke through rancid breath. "Hey man, do you know where I can get good drugs at least?" He questioned. "You live here, right?"

Bumblebee's response was another punch, this time to the stomach. It did its job, knocking the man to the ground so that he clearly got the message: get away from the car meant GET AWAY FROM THE CAR. "You're pathetic," Bumblebee finally managed. "And God have mercy on you if you ever show your face around me, or Trevor again." He then added. "Do you understand me now?"

He got his answer from the bewildered look on Michael's face as Bumblebee slammed the door in his face. He watched for a moment as the man stood up, and took another swig of his bottle before turning around. As the man staggered away down the sidewalk, Bumblebee wondered what would become of the man. Would they someday see him on the news? Dead from alcohol poisoning or an overdose? Would he be one of the few that somehow turned his life around, and figured out the disgusting person he was?

After today however, Bumblebee knew one thing was for sure. He and Trevor would have nothing to do with his future, no matter how things ended up. As he could genuinely hope this would be the last time he ever saw the pathetic excuse for a human again.

...

A/N: I figured we were overdue for an actually intense chapter. So I hope I delivered well enough!