Disclaimer: I don't own Transformer...blah , blah...

TRIGGER WARNING:Discussion of Rape

Crystal had been hanging out with Miko, Jack and Raf at their usual lunch table now. It felt good to have friends. People to depend on, a place to belong. Miko liked having another girl in the group too, especially someone who understood what she had been through. The guys seemed to like Crystaltoo. At least they didn't bother her, which she was thankful for.

Today was just like most days. Jack and Raf were discussing some new modifications Jack had been helping Arcee with, and the girls were trying to find a common ground musically. Both to their credit were really trying and had found some middle ground bands, like the Goo Goo Dolls, they both seemed to enjoy well enough. The group was thoroughly enjoying lunch and the idle chit-chat that was weaving through the group.

"Hey Miko, can you grab me a soda?" Jack asked from across the table. "No Prob." The slender Japanese girl slid out of the table and made her way across the cafeteria to the vending machines with a spring in her step. She hummed a favorite Slash Monkey tune under her breath as she made her selection and paid for the drink. Miko was so distracted that it caught her completely off guard when she turned and came up face to face with Vince. "Hey Pretty Girl. Long time, no see. Miss me? I missed you." He reached forward to touch her cheek, but before he could make contact Miko screamed dropping to the floor.

Jack and the others heard the scream and turned to see what the commotion was. He could pick out Vince and made he way over to the group to see what was going on. As the scene before him registered he shoved Vince out of the way "What did you do?" he asked through gritted teeth, scooping up Miko. "Nada, Bro. Girl's a freak!" Jack huffed and took Miko back to the safety of the group. "Shhhh...It's OK Miko" His finger caressed her cheek softly and she flinched violently against him. "We should probably get her out of here." Crystal surmised. "Good idea, call Bulkhead."Jack said. Crystal pulling out her phone and dialing as Jack carried Miko out of the building, doing his best to keep her calm until Bulk arrived.

Bulkhead pulled up to the school and the four friends piled in quickly. "What happened?" Bulk asked before Miko's demeanor registered with him. "It's OK" the Mech vented softly. "Easy, That's my girl." "Vince happened" Jack spit out bitterly. Crystal and Jack both put protective arms around the scared girl. Jack began recounting what had happened in the cafeteria for Bulkhead as they drove toward base.

Miko was largely stoic throughout the trip,content to let Crystal and Jack attempt to comfort her but locked in her own little world for the most part. She tried to breath, to hold in the pain. She tried desperately to hold herself together.

Finally they made it into the safety of the Autobot base, the teens climbed out of the large truck, mostly pulling Miko along with them. Bulkhead swiftly transforming back into his regular 'bot self. He took Miko into his servo and held her close to his spark. "Why does this keep happening?" Raf asked inquisitively. Optimus had come over when the children arrived unexpectedly. "Rafael, Miko suffered a traumatic experience at the hands of another. On Cyberton sometimes 'bots who experienced trauma would experience memory fluxes...flashbacks. I suspect this is something in common between humans and Cybertronians alike, and what Miko is experiencing from her trauma. Give her time." Raf nodded solemnly looking over at Miko as Optimus gently placed a digit comfortingly on the small boy's shoulder.

Bulkhead held Miko in his servo, consoling her as she trembled "Come on girl" He cooed softly, stroking her back with his thumb. "You're alright. Bulk's here." He kept her close to his spark, protecting her. Miko whimpered softly, slowly uncurling as she broke from the clutches of the flashback. Her eyes were drawn to Bulkhead's optics with great surprise "Wha? How?" She looked around trying to orient herself.

"You had a ….run in...with Vince at school." Jack supplied."Bulkhead seems to be the only thing that ever helps so we called him." Miko snuggled closer to Bulkhead and then smiled down weakly at her friends "Thanks, Jack." He shrugged softly "No prob, Miko. Glad to help." Bulkhead stroked her back softly "That's my girl! Feeling better?" Miko thought for a moment before nodding slowly. Gently Bulkhead bent down, setting Miko on the floor with the rest of the children.

"Looks like you guys got a ditch-day thanks to me." Miko laughed softly. "Hey I could use one anyway" Crystal quipped. "Don't worry about it, Miko" Jack assured her. "Yeah. It's fine." chipped in Raf, though out of all the group he was probably the most nervous of being caught. "Hey Raf, wanna play Street Racer IV?" Jack asked hoping Miko didn't catch onto his nervousness and blame herself. "Sure!" He said and the boys made a dash for the couch and the video game.

Miko joined Crystal, still staying close to her enormous guardian. "How do you stay so strong?" Miko asked, her head cocked to the side. " Just, don't let it in." Crystal shrugged softly. "To be honest I just try to pretend it never happened and go on with my life." Miko nodded slowly "Tried that, didn't work too well." Crystal nodded in agreement "Yeah doesn't always work out so well for me either." She shrugged. "Not like I have much choice now." Miko shook her head "You always have a choice. You have me, us." Miko wrapped one arm gently around the girl.

Crystal shrugged softly. "Not gonna be a burden." Miko pulled back slowly "Will you STOP that?! You are NOT a burden, Crystal." The strawberry-blonde nodded silently "Something bad, something VERY bad happened to us...not because of us... GOT IT?" Miko looked at her, loving and yet stern. Crystal only nodded again. She couldn't understand how Miko could be so strong one moment, and so... broken...the next.

"Crystal" Miko tilted her head slowly to the side."Tell me what happened...with you and Vince." Crystal looked wide-eyed at first, clearing her throat. "A...are you sure?" Miko nodded slowly. "O..Oh-kay. Vince and I had been going out for awhile... and well, we were meeting at his house for a date. His parents weren't home and mine were out of town as well... he asked me to come in and up to his bedroom for a minute... and I did. When I came up the stairs he locked the door behind me, and well, at first I was a bit confused until he pinned me to his bed... that's when I got the hint. I tried to stop him but he was too heavy... and that's when he... he..." She looked away. "Yeah..."Miko hugged her tightly, nodding against her in understanding.

"Tell me about..."Crystal whispered against Miko. It was just the girls for the moment, Bulkhead having been called away by Ratchet for some sort of maintenance check. "Really?" Miko said. "I...If you want to." Crystal stammered. Miko straightened up slowly. "We were supposed to be working on a class assignment together. I only agreed to go with him because I thought we'd be working at the library." Miko swallowed. "Somehow we ended up at his house, he got me up in his room." She started to fidget uncomfortably, sucking air. "Next thing I know...I was on his bed...and he...he..." She clutched her chest curling into herself as she emitted a blood-curling scream.

Crystal froze momentarily before calling out . "Jack!Bulkhead!"She tried to approach Miko timidly "Miko? It's OK Miko. It's Crystal, I'm here." Every time the girl would get close, Miko would scream and flinch away as though Crystal's hands were made of fire. Finally, Jack made his way over, followed by Bulkhead once Ratchet was finished with him. "Scrap!"Bulkhead cursed as he gently scooped Miko into his servo holding her against him. "Miko, come on" he rubbed her back softly with his thumb, trying to draw her out of the flashback. "Miko, That's my girl" he cooed softly as she moved, slowly responding to his voice and uncurling in his hand and coming back to them.

The girl's small frame still shook as she locked eye-to-optic with her guardian "I'm sorry" she mouthed pitifully. "Stop it, Miko!" he chided, Ex-venting slowly. "You have nothing to be sorry for! Nothing at all!" Miko flopped against him, curling in ball "Just wish this would stop!" Bulk rubbed the top of her head with his thumb. "I know girl, Me too."

Ratchet came up behind them. "I've been reading a lot on human psychology, this kind of trauma can wear a body down. Miko should rest." Miko really,really wanted to object, to push back, to tell Bulk ...and Doc Bot that she was fine, but she was so...tired...all she could do was yawn. "Go put her on the couch, Bulkhead" Ratchet instructed. He did what he was told his optics darting over his girl with a wise sadness. He set her down gently, watching for a moment, then storming into another room. Crystal decided to follow, this didn't feel good at all.

Bulkhead paced back and forth anxiously. Slamming his large servo into a wall "I hate this!"Crystal looked up at him, instantly recognizing the hurt in his eyes. "Bulkhead... It's not your fault. No one knew this was going to happen. When life throws a curve ball at you and you strike out, just keep on swinging the bat despite how many times you strike out. Something my foster dad always says."

The large green 'bot shook his helm sadly ex-venting. "I'm her GUARDIAN. I'm supposed to PROTECT her! When I got there...and I saw...and he..."another fist made contact with the wall." How am I supposed to forgive myself? How is SHE supposed to forgive me?"

Crystal stood up. "Hey, quit beating yourself up."She said, standing tall and looking up at him. "Miko forgives you. And I know you're supposed to protect her. And me now. But you gotta accept that things sometimes spiral out of your control. The only way is to get back up after the blow."

The large bot's helm nodded. "I've just always tried so hard to be there for her. I could protect her from 'Cons...but not this." He tapped his chest plates, momentarily shuttering his optics "It hurts my spark!"

"Spark?" She cocked her head. He nodded "What the humans would call a ...heart."

"Oh..." She smiled. "You really care for her. And well... it does really hurt when the ones you care for the most gets hurt, believe me on that one." She bit her lip a little, remembering her little brother and how her mother...her...real...mother had killed him in a druken rage, and still managed to get custody of Crystal back as soon as she was sober again...for a a while at least. It had driven a wedge in her that seemed to burn her for years.

He nodded. "I'm sorry for you too Crystal. I wish I had been there to save you. As her guardian,it's always been my job to see to watch out for her, and now for you too, in our time here. I'm not just her guardian...I care about her...about you both. I feel such a level of failure over this. I'd give anything to take her pain...and yours."

Crystal smiled. "I am glad that ya do...That's because you're one of the good guys Bulk. The good ones care when those they love are hurt, and want to do everything to make sure it never happens again." Bulkhead ex-vented slowly. "You couldn't stop what happened to her...but you can be here for her" She continued. "You can help her heal." Bulkhead smiled slowly. "Nara, you're pretty smart for a human." His servo came down ruffling at her hair.

"Thanks Bulkhead. Just, I'm trying to tell you that the best way to help me and Miko cope is to be there for us, y'know? No fancy words or deeds, just... Being there for us helps. Being our friend. Beating yourself up isn't helping at all."He laughs softly,just then they heard a scream. First, one of excitement...followed by one of terror "Uh Oh!" Crystal quickly figured it out "Miko!", as she followed the scream. Bulkhead nodded, hauling peds into the main room "What happened?"

Jack and Raf stood there motionless until Jack spoke "Raf and I were playing video games on the floor, we were trying to be quiet, but then Raf beat me...he jumped on the couch...excited...on Miko." Bulk rushed over and scooped up his girl holding her close "It's OK" Raf looked like he was about to die of shame. Crystal figured it out. "When someone, male... especially, touches or grabs or even jumps onto her, it'll trigger her memories. Some bad ones..." Bulkhead nodded "Seems to happen a lot" He vented frustratedly. Raf looked down. "I'm sorry Miko." Nara shook her head half hugging him. "No apologizing Raf, you didn't do it on purpose."

The young boy sighed. Bulkhead just held his girl murmuring sweet comforts to her. "Come on Sweetspark, that's my girl." He nudged her gently cupping her in his servos as she came to again. "Aw...Not again!" She pouted softly, sitting up slowly. "Miko, It's gonna take time." He lifted her up to his shoulder. "I'm here for ya though, and Crystal now" He smiled down at her briefly "You're strong, and when you're not...you have us." Miko nuzzled into his neck cables. "I love you, Bulky." He laid a hand on her softly. "Love you too, Miko girl...more then you'll ever know. We'll get through this...Together. Never forget that!"

Too Late Full Musical List ( No Particular Order)

Apocalyptica- I Don't Care

Linkin Park- My December

DC Talk- Between You and Me

Eminem- Like Toy Soldiers

Lifehouse- You & Me

The Fray- How To Save A Life

Disciple- Dear X,You Don't Own Me

Staind- It's Been A While

Eminem- Soldier

Eminem- Love The Way You Lie

Seether- Broken

Goo Goo Dolls- Iris

Chicago- Inspiration

Kutless- Even If

Kutless- What Faith can Do

Amy Grant- Ask Me

Laura Story- Blessings

Tori Amos- Silent All These Years

Metallica- Nothing Else Matters

Eminem- Lose Yourself