Fowler ran out and bust through the doors. He ran outside and sped past the parked cars, seeing them ahead. He panted heavier, his heart pounding in his chest as sweat poured down his forehead. "B-Bumbl-wait!" He gasped. 

Bumblebee looked up and jumped out of the car then stood in front of her as he narrowed his eyes. He blinked a couple times in surprise as he recognized the man then grinned excitedly. He ran over and hugged the man tightly as he smiled more. He was so happy to see the man and wondered why he was here. He frowned deeply and looked at him, then noticed he was struggling. He felt panicked and had him sit down in the car to rest.

Riley stepped back, letting the man handle it then frowned in confusion as they hugged. She walked over carefully as she began gripping the journal and bag tighter. She watched him sit and blink. "I... uh... who are you?" She asked, seeing he knew Bumblebee.

Fowler panted, taking out a napkin and patting his face with it, the old fat man trying to get his breath under control. He grinned though, smiling at Bumblebee. Once settled, he relaxed. "My name is William Agent Fowler. I'm glad to see you alive Bumblebee. I just ran into Raf, I hope I can keep running into you guys." He chuckled a bit. "Raf guessed right, it's good to see you again Bumblebee." He said, offering his hand to shake.

The scout smiled a little and shook the man's hand then hugged him again. Even though the agent yelled at them a lot, he was still a good person. He fought bravely and had a big heart. The scout moved back and crouched by him as he sat there. He smiled slightly and worried about the man that was a little pale now. He hoped Fowler would be okay. He blinked in surprise when the man said he ran into Rafael. "Is... he... okay?" He asked, weaker. His voice was disappearing again and would probably be permanently lost.

The agent smiled a bit and watched him, grabbing his left arm for a moment as he felt it ache. He figured he must have been sitting so much at his desk and got a cramp. "Raf... is fine. Mentally... he's scared out of his mind. I recommend you don't go in there with this mode." Fowler said, patting the car. He sighed softly and leaned back, his chest a bit heavy as he tried to relax. "Well... I hate to touch on the subject but that stinks how your holoform won't let your voice work either. Don't push yourself, Bumblebee. You could make it worse."

Riley watched the man with furrowed eyebrows, looking at his symptoms. "B-Bee... I think he needs to see a hospital." She whispered seriously.

The young man looked at her then at the older man as he nodded quickly. He gently set a hand on the man's heart then looked at her slightly confused. He needed to get his alternate mode working, but Agent Fowler needed a doctor. Bumblebee looked at Riley hoping she had an idea on what to do. He felt driving would be the best idea or call for help. He glanced around quickly as he worried about losing the man. He looked back at Fowler and gave him a questioning expression. Wondering what he meant by that.

She frowned deeply, hoping it wasn't a heart attack but had a feeling it was. She knew they had no time to bring him anywhere and shook her head. "Maybe he just has gas in his chest." She whispered, hoping. The man grunted and sat up again, not on the verge of passing out or anything. He looked to Bumblebee and smiled a bit as he heard her. 

"It's only heartburn. Don't worry." He said gently as he began getting up. He gripped the door to help get up. "Don't keep using your voice is what I meant. And Raf said something about you rushing to find your car could kill you or something like that."

Bumblebee furrowed his brow and shook his head. He didn't think that was the case and helped the man up. He steadied him and still felt something wasn't right. He glanced at Riley and pointed to the journal again. "Save... Raf..." he rasped quietly, his voice barely audible now.

Fowler frowned a bit and sighed softly. "Bumblebee, I'm fine." He spoke seriously and Riley blinked, nervous. 

"You want me to just go in the military building?" She asked quietly. "H-How am I supposed to do that?" She bit her lip but nodded, gripping the journal tightly. "Where will we meet up?"

The scout shook his head in frustration and walked over to her then gripped her shoulders. He put a hand on his chest then set it on the hood of the car. He felt the only way to save his friend was to transform. He didn't know what else to do and looked between the two. 

Riley was silent for a long moment, desperately trying to understand to not anger him more. She stared at him before it clicked and her eyes widened. "You can't just transform! Everyone here will react badly!" she cried. He shook his head quickly and looked over at Fowler. Hoping he'd understand and help her understand in turn. He needed to save Raf and he needed their help. He shook his head again and went to try and activate his alternate mode. He sat in the driver's seat as he glared at the wheel.

Fowler nodded a bit towards the scouts persistence, taking the girls arm. "It's alright," he muttered. Riley shook him off. 

"Bumblebee! This is ridiculous! We need to just have Fowler bring us inside!" She said seriously, glaring at the man. "They won't listen if you bring a robot into this. They will be more scared than before. They won't understand. Please." She pleaded to the man, trying to get him to see reason. "There's no need for this."

Bumblebee looked at her and for a moment he saw Raf when he was little. He felt tears fill his eyes as he watched the cons take him. He heard his pleading and he squeezed his eyes shut. His hands shook and he got out then closed the door. He hugged Riley tightly and nodded as he fought his episode. He nodded again and let go as he looked at Agent Fowler. He was ready to go see his friend. 

She blinked in surprise and hugged him back, frowning a bit as she relaxed when he came over. Fowler nodded a bit and began going to the building with hurried steps. His breathing was quick but he seemed fine as he moved quickly. Riley stuffed the journal back into the bag and zipped it shut, holding it close as they followed the man into the building. "Stay close to me."

The scout nodded quickly and stayed close as he stared at the floor. He was itching to get back in his alternate mode, but knew it had to wait. He continued to stare as he thought about what happened. He squeezed his eyes shut as his hands shook and he clenched them. He couldn't let anything happen to Riley or her family. 

She noticed his tenseness and gently took his hand, looking at him with concern. She gave a little smile of reassurance and looked ahead to make sure they were still behind Fowler. They went to the cells and Fowler looked to them. "Rafael is in the last one on the right." He said gently with a small smile.

Bumblebee looked up and furrowed his brow. He looked at the cells and his eyes widened in horror. He noticed how small and dark they were. He looked at the agent then at the young woman. He glanced to the cell as they got close. He rushed over quickly and gripped the bars as tears filled his eyes. He had promised his friend he'd never be trapped again. And here he was, trapped because of them. Again. Rafael looked up and blinked in surprise. He stood and quickly went to the door. "Bumblebee?" He asked quietly. Fowler stepped back and let the two talk, smiling a bit as they reunited. Riley didn't say anything but desperately wanted to hug her father, glad to know he was alright. 

The scout nodded a bit, smiling a little then frowned again. He looked around the cold cell. He could see tear stains on Rafs face and the untouched food. He knew he was scared and probably had at least one panic attack. "I'm okay... just... just trying to get through this." He rasped and wiped his tears stains away. "Listen to me, Bee... I'll be okay. You need to... you can't attempt to be in your alternate mode yet... it'll hurt you." He said seriously and fixed his glasses. He sighed shakily and rested his forehead against the door as his body shook. "Not right now...." he whispered to himself as his panic started. He glanced to his daughter and smiled sadly as he tried to reach for her.

Guilt was filling Bumblebees eyes then confusion spread across his face. "Why?" He asked with a strained voice but stopped seeing how scared he was. Riley came over and took his hands gently, her eyes watering a bit. 

"I'm so glad you're okay..." she whispered with a raspy voice. His hands were already cold. "We're going to get you out Dad, I promise." she said gently.

"Bumblebee... please... don't try it... I've been trying to figure that out but all I've been able to figure is.... you've been in your human form for so long, that it'll be too much of a strain if you try all at once." He said seriously then smiled sadly. He looked to his daughter and gently kissed her hand as he smiled slightly. "They just need to see Bee's alternate mode." He said seriously. "Then they'll know and hopefully I can leave..." he whispered and looked over to Fowler. Agent Fowler nodded and left them, going to take men to show them Bumblebees form. 

The scout frowned deeply. He wanted to say something but no sound came out, only pain filled his throat and he cleared his throat, resting his forehead against the bars he held. He wanted to tell him sorry. He blamed himself.  Riley frowned a bit and sighed softly, kissing her father's hand gently. "I wish things were easier." She muttered, looking down to their hands sadly. 

"I know..." he whispered and gripped her hand gently. He sighed shakily and squeezed his eyes shut again as he gripped the bars with his free hand. He noticed Bumblebee trying to talk and felt bad. He wanted his friend to be able to speak again. "Bee... will you be okay?" He asked with concern. Bumblebee gave a gentle nod, looking to Raf worriedly. He silently leaned against the bars, looking at him with a questioning gaze to see if he was alright. He was disappointed he couldn't go back to his form yet but he trusted Rafs' judgement. 

Rafael held his daughter's hand and glanced to his friend. He shook his head as his other hand started to shake more. He didn't want his daughter to see him having an attack and gripped the bar more. They seemed to hit him harder each time. "R-Riley... tell me... about how... things are. Um... w-why do..." he hesitated and squeezed his eyes shut. He let go of her hand and gripped the bars with both hands. The cold darkness gripping him as it slowly closed in, cold metal digits grabbing on to him. 

"H-how... h-how... n...." he exhaled as his knees started to buckle, sickness filled him as the walls started to come together. "W... what... makes them..." he couldn't think and slid to his knees as he continued to grip the bars. The air from the room was leaving and sucking what air he had in his lungs. The cons laughing as he struggled to survive and breath. "B... Bee... I can't m..." he panted as his attack took over. "Megatron..." he rasped as he shook more from the memories. The cons blood red optics matching his own blood as they cut into him. His cries for help going unheard and mocked by those who did hear him.

Bumblebees eyes widened with worry and concern. He knelt down to his friend's level and gently took his hand, shaking his head. Riley quickly sat on her legs, taking his other hand. "Dad... Dad... look at me..." she said soothingly, her eyebrows knitted together. She tried to keep calm to keep him calm even though on the inside she was freaking out seeing him this way. Her stomach tied up in knots as she gripped his hand tighter. "Look at me and take a few deep breaths. Talk to me... I'm here... tell me about something you and Bumblebee did... what did you two used to do together. You both are so close." She said quietly, rubbing the top of his hand with her thumb.

He sighed shakily as he squeezed his eyes shut more. He was shaking horribly as the memories plagued him. "I... um..." he rasped as he gripped their hands. "Racing..." he managed to say as the walls started to close in and the darkness grew. "D-d... driving... I d-d..." he gasped quietly as he struggled to breath. His eyes widened suddenly and filled with fear. "M-Megatron..." he gasped in surprise. "D-don't... hurt... hurt them..." he barely said. "Please... no...." he rasped and felt his chest tighten from the lack of air.

Riley stood up as Bumblebee comforted his friend best he could. She ran down the hall, demanding to get the keys to get into the cell, worried for her father. Bumblebee kept a grip on his friends hand. He gently shook his arm to try and snap him out of it, reaching forward through the cell and touching his shoulder. 

He gasped in surprise and squeezed his eyes shut again. He grabbed on to his friend's arm and panted heavily as his panic grew. "Gah... no... please..." he rasped and looked at his friend again. His eyes widened more as tears filled his eyes. "He... he's..." he stuttered and gasped in pain. "His optics... red... optics... s-s... Bee..." he choked as tears fell down his face. "H-help... h-help... m... me..." he begged. He could feel the surgical blade and see their face-plates.  

"Raf!" Bumblebee managed to speak, his voice giving out at the end of the name. He gripped his shoulder and gently shook him, his other hand wiping his tears away worriedly. Riley came rushing over with the keys, fumbling with them as she tried to get it into the lock. 

She opened the door and rushed inside, collapsing to her knees and hugging her father tightly. "Dad! We're safe, were safe... shh... " she whispered softly, rocking him back and forth gently as she buried her face into his sweater.

He was hyperventilating and struggled to breathe. Bumblebee rushed in and carefully dragged both of them out of the cell. He leaned his friends against the wall and sat on their other side. Raf continued to gasp for air and kept his eyes squeezed shut. He held on to his daughter and tried to calm himself. Bumblebee watched sadly and looked him over. He saw a mark at the base of the young father's neck. He stared at it and knew what it was from. He hesitated then carefully pulled his collar up to hide it from Riley. Thankfully she hadn't seen it.

Riley held onto him gently, not wanting to make him feel claustrophobic. She hid her face into his shoulder, trying not to cry. She held him close, shushing him gently. "It's okay.... it's okay..." she repeated over and over again, wanting him to calm down. She wished she knew what was going on to help him. "Dad... it's just me and Bee..." she whispered. He wheezed weakly as he kept his eyes closed and gripped her shoulder. Bumblebee knew what was wrong but didn't want to say anything to Riley. She didn't need to know what her father went through. Raf slowly calmed as soldiers ran down the hall to them. 

She didn't notice, her glasses held tightly in her hand as she hid her face in her Dads sweater. She stiffened as she heard the soldiers get close and she shakily put on her glasses. "P-Please... he's innocent." She whispered. 

Fowler who came up behind nodded. "They know. You can go." He muttered as the soldiers stared at the scene before them.

Bumblebee looked up in surprise and his eyes widened. He glanced between the soldiers and Fowler to make sure they were telling the truth. Raf slowly and tiredly opened his eyes and stared at them. He wheezed weakly and smiled just a little. "Thank you..." he rasped.

The old agent nodded with a small smile. "You can take your car too. If you need it towed then let me know, just tell me along the way as I escort you three out." The man said, ushering them down the hall. Riley looked at him gratefully as she hugged her father tighter, thankful.

"Wait, Fowler. We need to look at the car a little more." A soldier said seriously. "Our superiors needed to check things out." He mumbled and gave the old man a look. Raf glanced up at them and furrowed his brow as Bumblebee helped support his little brother. Rafael put his other arm around his daughter then glanced between the others. 

Fowler frowned and looked to the man. "What do you mean? It isn't our car and there ain't nothing to look at." He grunted as he crossed his arms, glaring a bit at the man. 

She helped her father stay up as she listened to them, frowning deeply. She looked at Bumblebee. "Can you see with your alt at all?" She whispered so he just heard.

"If it is an alien then we need to look into this." He said seriously. Raf furrowed his brow more and felt Bumblebee tense. The scout looked at her and paled a little then shook his head. He closed his eyes for a moment to try but felt a little lost on what to do. He glanced at his friend and knew they just had to get him out. 

The old agent frowned deeply and began ushering them out. "Don't you think this is confidential to civilians?" He spoke firmly to the man, seeing he needed to get them out of there. 

Riley frowned deeply and stopped. "I... can help you. I know a thing or two about biology. Plus I... I have been... trying to research how to stop the machines above ground. If it... is an alien then with my research I can help you." She said shakily, hoping they would buy it. She needed to protect Bumblebee.

Raf glanced at her not wanting her to get into trouble. Bee didn't say anything and looked at her as well. The soldiers thought for a few minutes then nodded slowly. "Get home and you can start tomorrow. We need to get a few things and get the vehicle moved." The man said seriously. The soldiers then led them out of the building. 

She nodded and was silent as they walked out. Fowler paused to look at them, smiling before he shut the door behind them. Riley rubbed her head and began thinking quickly before muttering. "Uh, here, you might want this back." She said quietly as she took the bag off and handed it to her father. "We should get you home. I'm sure Mom is worried."

He nodded slowly and looked at her tiredly. He was exhausted from his episode in the cell. "Thank you... all of you..." he rasped quietly and looked at each of them in turn. Bumblebee smiled sadly as he watched his friend and kept him up. The scout took the bag for his friend. Riley nodded a bit in welcome, helping him to their home. She went to the door and opened it, Sari on the couch sleeping as she held Quinn on her lap, softly snoring. 

Bumblebee glanced at them and helped his friend inside. Rafs' legs buckled and he grunted as he fell to his knees. He apologized to his friend and daughter, he was exhausted. Riley didn't say anything as she didn't mind. She gripped his arm and pulled it over her shoulder as she grabbed him around his torso, lifting him up. "Come on... we're here. Just a few more feet then you can relax." She said quietly as she helped her father to his room to lay down for a while.

The scout did the same on the man's other side and glanced to the other two. "I... need to... let Sari... know I'm okay..." Raf rasped quietly and winced as he straightened up a little. 

"Hey, shh, she's sleeping and you're tired. Let's just rest now, alright?" Riley tried to reason as she got him under the blankets. "If she wakes I'll tell her." She said calmly and kissed his head. She took his glasses and folded them, setting them on his bedside table. "Get some sleep Dad. If you need me I'll be in the kitchen working."

He nodded slowly and tugged at his collar as he tried to pull it off. "I'm... suffocating..." he rasped quietly and winced as he tugged. He could feel cold digits wrapped around his neck and torso as the cons squeezed him. Making his lungs feel as though they'd collapse. "He's... choking... me..." he whispered and gasped as he weakly gripped his collar. 

Riley frowned and began taking his sweater off him and unbuttoned his collar shirt. She helped it off him so he wore his white under shirt. She went and took his shoes off. "No one is choking you Dad. I promise." She said gently, worriedly looking at him. 

He grunted quietly and nodded as his eyes closed. He turned his back to her as he curled up and hugged himself. She noticed he had a small scar on the back of his neck near the base. She hadn't ever seen it before. Bumblebee stood at the window as he stared blankly and worried. Riley looked at the scar with a deep frown. She walked over and looked at it worriedly. She put the covers to his chin then began leaving, thinking about the scar. She cracked the door and went to go work in the kitchen.

Bumblebee stared blankly for a few minutes then glanced to the door. He sighed shakily and went to it then glanced at his troubled friend. He stared blankly and felt a little angry towards Ratchet. He left the room and went to check on Riley, Sari and Quinn.

Sari was still sleeping soundly on the couch, her grip on Quinn long gone. She now had a blanket over her though as she held her daughter close on her lap. Riley was dumping notes and things on the kitchen counter, taking things out of her father's bag as she tried to get to work. She frowned at the mess of it all. She needed some sort of research to bring in tomorrow because she had nothing. Riley picked up Raf's journal and began flipping through it for something useful. Bumblebee glanced over to Sari and made sure the two were tucked in. He smiled sadly and then went to the kitchen. He stared at Riley and the mess for a moment then furrowed his brow. He leaned against the door frame as he watched her and folded his arms. 

Riley frowned as she skimmed through it then set it down. She began sitting down and sighed softly. She felt his gaze and looked at him. "Want to help me?" She asked quietly. 

He nodded slowly as he thought then went over to help her. He wasn't exactly sure what to look for as he skimmed through the notes. He felt Ratchet should have helped and sighed forcefully as he hung his head and gripped the table. The doctor had a family he needed to take care of. He pushed his frustration aside and smiled a little as he worked on helping her. He was prepared to answer her questions. 

Riley noticed he seemed lost and felt embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm looking for anything on you guys. I think I can figure out how to help you while also barely helping them. I just... I have to give them something or they know I'm just faking it." She said quietly as she rubbed her forehead, thinking quietly.

He nodded slowly and smiled a little then gently rubbed her back. He then looked at the notes the soldiers made copies of and put them in piles. Mostly putting anything that mentioned them in one spot. Anything personal like memories went to another pile, while everything else was set aside. 

Riley quietly stacked up the piles, frowning deeply. She started taking the non personal notes and began going through them. She took at her phone quietly as she got a call. "Hello?... What? Ethan, slow down... they are going-what? Okay, okay, I'm coming." She said worriedly, ending the phone call and putting her phone down. "Jack is getting moved." She frowned. "The soldiers are there."

The scout blinked in surprise and looked at her. He shook his head and gripped his hair in worry. He shook his head again and ran to the door. "Bumblebee!" Riley ran after him, worried. She paused outside the door, knowing she couldn't just leave her family here. She hesitated before running after him anyway. "Wait! she cried. He stopped suddenly and looked at her then grabbed her hand and ran towards the hospital. 

He was afraid of what the soldiers would do to Jack.