I am Broken (TFP) *Rewrite*

Chapter 18

After Agent Fowler had given the autobots locations of where the laboratory could be, the bots kept the promise of waiting a couple days before they would start bridging to the locations to explore. Dahlia was still uncertain about it, as she didn't want anything from her past to be dug up and brought back to her. But she also did want to find the man who is the leader and kill him. She didn't want Fowler to try and stop her, and she also didn't want the autobots to stop her if they were to successfully locate this person. Especially if they had other operations throughout the country and world.

So as the days go by, Dahlia stuck close to the autobots, especially Ratchet and Optimus. Both of them have taken the girl under their wing, and she has thoroughly enjoyed the comfort that they have given her. She saw both of them as father figures at this time, and her trust for the autobots was growing. Especially as the nightmares did start plaguing her mind in the night, and these were nightmares mixed with seeing Soundwave and the lab itself, which almost felt like a foreshadowing to the girl. Each time the nightmares have caused her to nearly scratch out an optic as she felt the need to defend herself when she wakes up.

Dahlia had thought that the autobots would get sick of dealing with her nightmares, but they did not seem to lose patience with her at all. Optimus and Ratchet both spent time with the girl when she wakes from her nightmare, as it took hours for her to even calm down enough to feel safe, and the girl was just grateful for their presence. It didn't help that Beast was also riled up whenever they awoke from the nightmare. It was a struggle to control her, but Dahlia has managed to control that side of her. Even if it was extremely hard to do.

As for Jack, Dahlia hasn't really acknowledged him when would come to the base with Arcee. She was still resentful of him leaving the base after promising to be her friend. He has given her the space though, which she has thoroughly appreciated. She did get angry at one point when Jack left a basic spelling and alphabet book for Dahlia by her cave, but she stopped feeling angry when she realized that it was part of Jack's original promise. Even though he was not sitting next to her and helping her learn to read right now, it was part of that promise he had made to her.

But it was taking a much longer time for her even gain and ounce of trust for Jack like she had before than Jack was expecting. He now understood just how hard it was for Dahlia to even give an inch of forgiveness, and he hoped that will change eventually. But she at least wasn't attacking him, which was something he had worried about. She simply kept her distance and did not speak to him very much. She only spoke when necessary.

Optimus had been seemingly sad for a couple days though, and Dahlia did not know what was on his mind that was causing him to feel this way. She assumed it was to do with her, but he has reassured her that it was nothing to do with her. She has not been so sure as Optimus seemed to have something on his mind. He has not told her exactly what it was yet, though she hasn't actually asked what was on his mind directly.

At this time, Dahlia was drawing another sketch in her sketchbook as she sat on Optimus's shoulder while he was looking at the monitor. She did not know what he was doing right now, but she was not really caring at this time. She was currently sketching an image of what she sees in her nightmares in the hopes it would help her to not have the nightmares as much. It probably won't, given it has only been a few days since the nightmares started, but it was something.

Ratchet, who had been in his lab, walked into the lobby and approached Optimus as he glanced at the screen curiously. "I see you are taking the time to take a study of the locations Fowler had given to us, Optimus." Dahlia flinched and looked up as she did not know that he was doing. "I don't suppose you want to start taking a closer look yet, do you? Especially since..."

"While I know we all do not want to see what might still be present within that lab, Ratchet...and if there are files that contain explicit information about the treatment that Dahlia and any other humans have gone through there. But we do need to make a start." Optimus turned his head to look at Dahlia who was staring at him with fearful eyes. "I know you are bothered by this, Dahlia. But I do believe we should make a start and travel to these locations to find the lab. You do not have to come with us."