Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Beyond Your Grasp

A/N: This collection of oneshots was written for various prowlxjazz community challenges on LJ over the last couple years. Just never got around to posting them here. The first few I'll be posting were written in December 2010 for the Delightful December challenge.

Original publish date: 12/1/10

Prompt: Frost on the windshield
Verse: G1
Rating: K+
Warnings: Just a few TF swears
Summary: Prowl knows what he's talking about. Jazz decides not to listen anyway.

Frost Vision

The snowstorm hit without warning. (Okay, the news stations and weather services had predicted snow flurries, but this was practically a blizzard!) The cold white stuff turned into quite the blustery affair and shut down the city. People locked their homes up tight. Businesses and schools closed early. The snowflakes fell frantically at a rapid pace, blanketing the ground faster than the salt trucks could combat it through the night.

As a gesture of goodwill, Optimus Prime sent out what mechs he could spare to offer aid to city officials. Some citizens without transportation needed rides to reach home. Law enforcement and electrical crews responded to local emergencies attributed to the harsh winter environment. Others were stuck in snowdrifts up to their chests and needed rescuing.

Each distress call was answered until none remained. Leading the small team, Prowl commed his fellow soldiers to reconvene on the main road so they could make an attempt to return to the Ark, or if necessary, find an acceptable shelter. 'Autobots, report to my coordinates. We are heading back.'

The black and white Datsun waited for each 'bot to respond affirmative. Mentally tallying the list in his processor, he reversed then tread forward again on his tires back and forth in attempt to keep his core temperature running level while in his alt mode. His windshield wipers were furiously battling the flakes sticking incessantly to the glass. Prowl's headlights cast luminescent shadows on the swirling drifts of snow, several other beacons of light appearing in the distance. Within a few breems, his team had reassembled.

"Let's take a quick moment to verify we have everyone..." Prowl began succinctly.

Sideswipe flashed his headlights in annoyance. "Oh, c'mon Prowl! We're all here."

His twin brother concurred. "Yeah, we're freezing our afts off out here. Let's get going."

"I didn't ask for your opinion on the weather, Sunstreaker. And Sideswipe, you are once again, incorrect," Prowl intoned. "We are missing someone."

Bluestreak rolled forward as if glancing around. "Really? Who? Do we need to go looking for them? Do you think they're okay? What if they got attacked by Decepticons? What if-"

The red twin nudged the other Datsun gently. "Blue, I don't think we have to worry about Decepticons attacking during this storm. Even they're smart enough to stay inside..."

"Jazz is missing," Hound pointed out helpfully.

"Yes, Hound. And Bluestreak, I'm sure Jazz is fine. All of you head back and report to Ratchet for a quick scan. These freezing temperatures are new to us, and I want to be sure you are all operating normally after our foray into the snow."

"Yes, sir!" Sunny and Sides called in unison as they revved their engines and raced on toward the Ark. They certainly didn't need to be told twice. Bluestreak followed at a more sedate pace behind them.

Hound lingered a moment longer. "Would you like me to wait with you, Prowl?"

"No, thank you, Hound. I appreciate the offer, but please return with the others," the enforcer murmured.

Flashing his headlights in friendly acknowledgement, Hound drove away into the dark night and walloping, biting winds. Prowl settled more fully onto his wheels, waiting for Jazz to respond or arrive. After another joor passed slowly by, Prowl commed the saboteur once more. 'Jazz- do you copy? Jazz, where are you? Please respond.'

After a long moment, a static reply emerged. 'I hear ya, Prowler. Sorry, I was helpin' a human return home when I got caught for a bit in a drift. Reception out here is awful, especially with the storm.'

'I am relieved to hear you are alright, Jazz,' Prowl answered with a sigh, releasing the tension that had built itself up in his struts. 'Will you be able to make it to my coordinates? Local authorities have indicated the weather is worsening still by the minute.'

'I dunno. My systems are runnin' a bit low, and I hate ta admit it, but my alt form jus' ain't built fer this kinda weather. I think I'm gonna hunker down some place for the night and return in the mornin', ' Jazz said.

'Do you require assistance?' Prowl offered worriedly.

Jazz warmed at the concern he could hear in his lover's voice. 'Nah, I'll be fine. You go on back. I've found a sheltered nook at the end of this street that will be nice an' cozy fer a recharge.'

'If you're certain...'

'I am. Go on, I'll comm ya in the mornin'.'

'Alright. Good night, Jazz, and please, stay warm and be careful. …I love you.'

'Always am! 'Night and love ya, too. Jazz out.'

Still feeling a bit unsettled and anxious, Prowl looked out on the empty white road once more before returning, following the already disappearing tire tracks of the others.

Systems humming online, Prowl sat upright. Something wasn't right. He looked around his empty quarters, and the night before came rushing back to him. The tactician gently rubbed his chevron in an attempt to shake off the last pleasant tingles of recharge. Standing, he left his quarters, which felt quite lonely without Jazz, and walked briskly to the entrance of the Ark. Prowl rebooted his optics in a double take.

Did someone paint the entrance of the Ark white? Well, it would be an improvement over the orange…

Oh wait. That was snow.

A wall of it covering almost the entire entryway. Sighing heavily, Prowl tried to push his servos through it with no luck. Irrationally irritated at the white block effectively cutting him off from the outside, he withdrew his blaster from subspace and shot at the snow. A wet, sloshy puddle quickly formed at his feet as the snow melted in gobs from the heat. Flicking his doorwings free of the wet droplets, Prowl ventured outside and shuddered. The heat from his core clashed with the frigid air as steam gently rose from his armor.

Opening his comm line, the SIC got down to business. 'Prowl to Jazz. Are you awake? Please respond.'

Groggily, Jazz became aware of an incessant ping going through his systems. Someone was trying to get through to him on the comms. He felt frozen inside and out. Slowly rocking his alt mode a bit in attempt to shake the snow that had accumulated over the last hours of the night, Jazz realized with alarm that his vision was fuzzy. Huh?

'Jazz, are you there? Because if you are, and you're just ignoring me for five more minutes of recharge, I'm going to kick your aft.'

The saboteur would have chuckled at his lover's affectionate distress if he wasn't so confused about his own predicament. 'I'm here. I'm jus' tryin' to figure out why I can't see.'

'Primus, Jazz-when I call, I expect you to acknowledge at the very least. And I believe the humans have an ailment called snow blindness, but I hardly think that would apply to a mech. What can you see?'

Trying to focus, the normally-visored mech amped up his sensors. 'Uh, it's kinda blurry. Whitish, maybe...I dunno.'

Shaking his helm back at the Ark, Prowl tried to suppress a smile. 'Jazz, I believe there's frost on your windshield.'

'Oh. Well, in that case, I'm fine!' he said cheekily.

'Wait for it to defrost while your systems warm up, and then head back. The roads shouldn't be too bad at this point.'

'Nah, I can see fine now. It's a little splotchy, but not bad.'

Prowl warned, 'Don't you dare drive while visually impaired.'

'Sssssst, kkkkkch, what? Prowl, you're breakin' up. Repeat that last bit? Fffffst.' Jazz kicked his engine into gear and pulled onto the road home.

'Jazz, stop it! I know you're making those sounds. Wait until the frost melts-'

'Losin' -kch- the -fffch- connection, -whrrr- Prowler!'

The line cut out as Jazz ended the call. Prowl growled in frustration. "I'm going to fragging kill him." He stomped back inside the Ark muttering about ungrateful, reckless mechs.

Situated comfortably, and most importantly warmly, in his office, Prowl went through the datapads littering his desktop. It had been 20 minutes since Jazz had childishly cut him off. A ping to his comm line interrupted his train of thought. 'Prowl here,' he answered absently.

'Uh, hey Prowl!'

'Jazz? Where are you? I expected you to have returned by now.'

'Yeah, about that...there were only a few teeny, tiny frost patches left on my windshield. And what do ya know, a tree snuck up right in front of me behind one of those splotches...'

'So you hit a tree and now you're stuck in a snowy ditch on the side of the road.'

'Er, yeah. How'd ya know?'

'Just a hunch. Help should be arriving any moment.'

'But how would they get here so fast if I jus'-' Jazz felt himself go mute as he saw Hound and Trailbreaker approaching flashing their headlights in amusement. 'Slag. Yer good.'

'Yes, I know,' Prowl answered smugly.