Ensconce Transformers Prime AU (Book 2) (Wattys 2017)

Chapter Three

Bulkhead ran outside and stopped by Bumblebee. He looked around and furrowed his brow in confusion. The younger brother stared at a few people in the crowd. A few minutes passed as they stood there looking.

"Bumblebee... what are you doing?" He asked quietly. His brother shook his head slowly and rubbed his face.

"I... I don't know.... I thought I saw dad." He mumbled and sighed quietly. They stood there for a few more minutes, then his brother gently gripped his shoulder.

"Dad.... died." He said quietly and his brother looked at the ground.

"I know.... but sometimes I see him." He muttered and put his hands in his pockets.

"Come on." He said and led him back inside the restaurant. They sat down and ate quietly. After a while Bulkhead looked at him with concern.

"I thought... you said... it was getting better." He mumbled as he watched him quietly. His brother sighed forcefully and looked at his lap.

"It was.... but recently it's been getting worse." He said quietly. "I don't know why... but I figured it wasn't a big deal." He said as he smiled nervously. His brother watched him carefully then sat back in his chair.

"I think... you need to... get some help." He said hesitantly. The young man shook his head and rubbed his face.

"No. I don't... I'm not crazy." He said seriously and narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't say you were. I just want to help you so you'll stop having these dreams and nightmares. Don't you want them to stop?" He asked quietly. They fell silent for a few minutes, then the youngest looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"Yes... I want it to stop." He said quietly and almost pleading. "Just the nightmares though.... I don't mind the dreams." He muttered. Bulkhead nodded slowly and smiled a little.

"Alright then. Let me see what I can do to help you." He said seriously. His brother looked at his hands and wondered if this was a good idea.

~

The next morning Bulkhead and Smokescreen sat at the table as they spoke. They had found a place for their brother to go and get help. They weren't sure how to tell him, and didn't want to hurt him. A few minutes later Bumblebee came in with a blank expression. He looked at them then sat at the table. The room was silent for a while and the two older brothers looked at each other.

"You okay Bee?" Smokescreen asked as he watched him quietly. His brother nodded slowly as he stared at his hands. Bulkhead gently gripped his shoulder as they waited for him to speak. They didn't want to force him into anything. The room was silent for a long time as he thought about what he wanted to do.

"If I do this.... will the nightmares stop?" He asked quietly as he looked at them. They could tell he hadn't slept again.

"Thats the... idea." Bulkhead muttered as he smiled sadly. Smokescreen watched him carefully then smiled a little. Bee looked at his hands again then clenched them tightly.

"Alright.... what do you have in mind?" He asked quietly.

"We heard of a doctor who is really good at this kind of thing." Smokescreen said. "We looked into it and it's amazing what he's been able to do." He smiled and his brother nodded slowly.

"Okay.... I'll get this morning off so I can go check it out." Bumblebee said as he stood up.

"Do you.... want one of us... to go with you?" Bulkhead asked hesitantly.

"No. I've got this." He mumbled and smiled sadly before walking off. They watched him go and silently wondered if they did the right thing.

Later Bumblebee looked into the different doctors and found one that came highly recommended. He sighed shakily and got an appointment set up. He waited and rubbed his legs nervously as he started to fidget. He wasn't so sure about this and got up to leave when they called him.

"Bumblebee?" The nurse asked and smiled sweetly. He stopped and hesitated as he looked back at her. "Doctor Scalpel will see you now." She said. He looked around at the others waiting and nodded slowly before following her. He was led to a psychiatrist room and the nurse knocked on the door.

"Enter." A voice said and they went in. She smiled and motioned to the couch.

"Bumblebee to see you doctor." She said and the man nodded slowly before she left.

"Sit down please." He said seriously and typed on his computer. Bumblebee hesitated and sat down on the couch. He looked around then at his hands as he thought about what to do. The room was silent for a while as he pulled up some information.

"You gave me permission to speak with your family, and get an idea of what's going on. Considering you didn't know how to explain it." He muttered. Bumblebee nodded slowly as he stared at his hands.

"Tell me about what's happening. At least try." He muttered and leaned back in his chair as he got ready to write. Bumblebee sighed forcefully and flopped on the couch.

"I was there that day... when the explosion happened almost nine years ago. I watched it explode.... my dad..." he choked back a sob and shook his head.

"Your father... was Optimus." He muttered and looked at him. Bumblebee nodded as he covered his face and tried not to cry again.

"I have nightmares of that night... still... they're getting worse. I think I see my dad walking in the streets...." he mumbled and looked away as he felt embarrassed. Dr Scalpel nodded slowly and wrote a few things down. They spoke for a few minutes then he sighed forcefully and rubbed his face tiredly.

"I can give you a medication that will help stop the nightmares and hallucinations." He said seriously. Bumblebee furrowed his brow and sat up as he looked at him.

"Are you sure it'll work?" He asked quietly and watched him. The man raised an eyebrow and stopped writing.

"You question the method of recovery?" He mumbled as he furrowed his brow. Bumblebee hesitated and shook his head vigorously.

"No... I'm sorry I didn't mean...." he trailed off and stared at the floor. The doctor sighed quietly and finished writing then handed him the paper.

"Give this to the secretary and she'll get the prescription sent in. Then when it's ready we'll call you in to pick it up." He said seriously. Bumblebee nodded slowly and thanked him before going to do as he was instructioned.

As he walked out of the building he looked at the dark clouds and hoped this worked.