Shelby holds her weapon close to her body, pointed down the ground, but finger on the trigger. Dreadwings voice rang in her mind. 'I can't lose you again.' She knows he isn't happy with her going, but she needs to do this. This has to end. She walks in between the Autobots. Optimus leading the way, his blaster pointed, ready for action. The woods are thick until they come to a clearing and there stands a building in the middle. It's quiet. There isn't a sound besides the footsteps of the giants stalking towards it. Not a person in sight. Apart of her wonders if they are in the right place.

Optimus makes a signal for them to spread out. Arcee, Smokescreen, and Bumblebee go towards the left to the back of the building and Optimus, Shelby and Bulkhead go towards the front. There is a large garage door and it's opened. The sight they come upon is unsettling. Bodies litter the floor. Blood seeping into the concrete. Shelby covers her nose, hoping to stop the scent. She tries hard not to gag. Wounds deep, body parts splayed around. No one could have survived this kind of attack.

"Optimus, they are all dead." She states the obvious, but the only one to say it out loud. 

She walks further in. Her weapon hanging loosely at her side. She kicks the arm of one of the M.E.C.H. members. Optimus and Bulkhead walk in carefully behind her. The silence of the damned looming over them.

"What happened here?" Bulkhead wondered out loud. 

They look up to see a large medical table standing upright with straps broken upon it. Other pieces lay scattered across the floor in front of it. Something large was being build. 

"It's happened." She says stopping in front of the table. 

"What happened?" Bulkhead asks still searching over the bodies. 

"Are you sure?" Optimus looks down at her. 

"He became breakdown. This has to be where they were building him." She says quietly, taking in the damage of the situation.

"Optimus, there are tons of parts back here. They were building something. There are a bunch of dead bodies back here as well. Whoa." Arcee comes from behind. She stops quickly, looking around.

"He is probably aboard the Nemisis by now." Shelby mumbles to herself, walking around, taking in all the bodies. 

Bumblebee comes in, arms waving, going on about something Shelby couldn't understand. He's pointing to the back. 

"Shelby stay here." Optimus orders and starts to follow Bumblebee into the back.

"What is he saying?" She yells after him. 

She follows anyway. There can't be anything worse than this. Optimus puts his blasters away as he walks. There is no one alive here. They would have shot at them already. The sound of shallow breathing hits their ears/ audio receptors. A hiss can be heard from the pain the person must be suffering. 

"Oh no." Optimus stops in his tracks.

"Who is it?" Shelby asks not stopping. 

"Shelby! Go back!" He orders, but it's to late. 

"BRANDON!" She screams.

She drops her weapon, rushing to his side. He sits leaned up against the wall. A large gaping hole leaks blood from his chest. Shelby rips off part of her shirt and slams it over the wound. His masks dangles from his face, hair a sweaty mess upon his head, blood covering his lower half. She moves his hands to his side. Ripping off another piece of her shirt, she leans him forward, looking for the exit wound. More blood begins pouring out the back. She places the other part of her shirt behind him and leans him back quickly, so not to lose anymore blood. 

"It's gonna be okay. I got you. Don't you die on me." She cries to him. "Get Ratchet!" 

Brandon takes all his strength and attempts to grip her wrist. "There...isn't...time." He voice raspy, trying hard to speak. 

"I...got here...to late. I didn't...know." He breaths out. "I...tried to...stop..."

"Stop talking. Save your energy." She pushes against his chest, blood already seeping through the shirt. 

"I'm...sorry." His voice turning into a whisper. 

"It's fine. Your fine. Do not die. Please." she says between the tears. "Where's Ratchet?!?!" 

"Shelby..." Optimus starts. 

"No! We have to save him!" She shrieks, trying to do anything possible to stop the bleeding. 

"Ratchet we need you here asap." Optimus says into the comm link. 

The other Autobots group around, watching the woman struggle to keep her brother alive. Even they know there is no use trying. They don't carry human medical kits and he has lost far to much blood. Brandon coughs up more blood, spilling over Shelby's hands and it drips down her arms. The small puddles build up, seeping into her knees. His hand looses it's grip and falls to the floor with a small thud. Foot steps rush in behind them and the others make room. Ratchet gets down on his knees and looks over the man. 

His breathing has stopped, his eyes stuck open, turning dark and cold. Shelby holds on to him, continuing to cry at him. Ratchet looks at Shelby, a frown on his face, but doesn't know the words to say. It's silent except for her. Her tears continuing to flow. 

After a few moments, Ratchet speaks, "Shelby, he's gone. Whether I got here in time or not, he already had lost to much blood. I wouldn't have been able to save him." 

"Why?" Her voice barely audible. Not a question anyone had the answer too. 

Bumblebee finds a sheet that had been lying across one of the tables. He takes careful steps closer. Arcee understands what he is trying to do and she moves down close to Shelby, carefully pulling her back. They all watch as Bumblebee gently lays the sheet over the deceased. 

"We must go. We will inform Agent Fowler. There isn't anymore we can do here." Optimus breaks the silence. 

The Autobots begin to walk out. Shelby slowly trailing behind. Her tears have stopped only tiny sniffles. Optimus comms to have the ground bridge open and soon a swirling vortex is opened. Shelby picks up her gun on the way out, almost forgetting about it, before trailing behind the others. They make it through and the children, plus Dreadwing and Hot Rod, gasp at the sight. With her ripped shirt and blood soaked clothes, she isn't a pretty one. 

"What happened? Are you hurt?" Dreadwing asks as she walks closer. Everyone else silent. No one knows what to say. 

"I'm not hurt. My brother is dead." She says solemnly, looking to the ground. 

"How...? Optimus?" Dreadwing looks to the leader. 

"It appears Silas has become Breakdown. He slaughtered everyone that was in the building. Shelby's brother was the only one we found still alive, even though he perished a few moments later." He explains. 

Without another word, Dreadwing scoops up Shelby and carries her away. He takes her to their room. Hoping to get her out of those clothes, showered and into cleaner ones. Then he remembers. Something he was hoping to show her on a good note. He sets her down on the floor before turning it on. Within seconds he standing only a foot taller than her. Wearing A gold V-neck t-shirt under a blue and golden leather jacket, blue jeans and black combat boots. His hair short black with blue and blond highlights. His ruby red eyes look down at Shelby. He takes a step closer and begins to help her undress. She goes into defense realizing there are hands on her. Until she looks up and her jaw falls. Her instinct is telling her to hug him, but the clothes filled with blood sticking to her, tell her otherwise. 

They stare at each other for a moment, not saying anything. The memories she had of them together come flooding back. Wishing he would remember them, but knowing he wasn't actually there for them. There is so much she wants to tell him. Dreadwing makes a move and starts removing the rest of her clothes. Eye staring carefully into hers. She helps peel them off, stripping down to her bra and underwear. He grabs her hand and walks her to the bathroom. 

"Do you want me to help you?" He asks gently as he turns the shower on. 

"No, but thank you for offering." She tries not to blush and waits for him to leave. 

He walks out, but takes one more look over his shoulder. Feelings he had suppressed since getting her back, have started to come up. Not knowing if she feels the same, he leaves it be. They both need to heal before anything else can start. 

Shelby showers, letting the hot water cascade down her body. The blood rinsing off her body, pooling at her feet before flowing down the drain. She watches every last drop turn clear. Pouring copious amount of shampoo in her hair, then more than enough body wash to cover her a few times over. The blood stained her knees. Leaving them looking bruised. Her hands also having a tint of red, like being outside in the cold for a while. 

She steps out of the shower, wrapping the towel around her. A fresh set of clothes sit on the toilet. She never heard Dreadwing bring them in. So focused on washing the blood off. She gives a small smile as she dries off. After getting dressed and brushing out her hair, she steps out. Dreadwing sits up from where he was laying on her bed, still in his holoform. He looks her up and down, checking to see if she is alright. He goes to get up and come to her, but she puts her hand up and stops him. 

"Will you hold me?" She asks, unsure if it's appropriate  to ask, but she needs it and after all that he has been through, he could use it as well. 

"As long as you wish."