AN: (stares at WolvesFire77) That has to be the longest review I have ever gotten – not to mention one of the best. (smiles) Thanks for the wonderful, rambling support. I absolutely love it.

pt 2

Jazz found himself coming around in Ratchet's med bay. At least, he assumed it was Ratchet's med bay. He could hear Prowl's voice somewhere above him, as well as Prime's, which was a little strange. Without onlining his optics, he tuned in. This may be the opportunity he needed.

"Are you going to tell him?" Optimus was asking.

Jazz could almost sense Prowl's shrug. "I have to now." he murmured. "He's getting too close to the truth. Besides, I'd rather he hear it from me as opposed to piecing it together on his own. He deserves that much from me." Prowl uttered a hollow laugh. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this."

"I told you Jazz had his sights set on you." Ratchet said gruffly. Jazz almost flinched when he heard that. He had thought he was being a bit more discreet, but then again, Ratchet knew him a lot better than he liked. Figured the Hatchet would be the first to pick up on it, no matter how subtle he was being. "You were the one who did nothing to discourage him."

"Forgive me if I happen to like Jazz." There is was again, that slightly sarcastic tone that –

Wait. Did Prowl just say he liked Jazz?

He was so stuck on that point he almost missed what was said next.

"I don't think Jazz will have a problem with your past, Prowl." Optimus said gravely.

"Barricade was a killer." Prowl said bluntly.

"Not just a killer." Huh. That was Red Alert – what was the paranoid slagger doing in the med bay? His train of thought was derailed as Red Alert continued. "I don't remember much, but I remember enough. You were not just a killer, Prowl. You were my friend."

Ratchet grumbled under his breath. "He's the only reason you're alive and well and not some blabbering idiot in the 'Con's dungeon." he growled. "All right, Prowl – he should be waking up at any moment. We'll leave you two alone to discuss things. Just don't lock him up again."

"I never meant to lock him up the first time!" Prowl protested. "That fragging hurts! I would know!"

Optimus chuckled. "Red Alert – I have some finer points of your last report I would like to go over with you. Ratchet – go find Wheeljack. It's been silent in the labs for the past five hours. I'm worried."

"Slagger better not have blown something up without me." Ratchet growled. Jazz could hear footsteps as three of the four left. Only Prowl stayed behind. Jazz felt the berth shift as Prowl sat down beside him.

"I know you're awake. You can stop pretending now."

Reluctantly, Jazz turned on his optics and sat up, shifting to put a bit more distance between himself and Prowl. He didn't miss the small flash of hurt before Prowl's face completely shut down, leaving Jazz wondering just what was going through his friend's mind. "Hey." he said quietly, awkwardly. Things weren't supposed to be awkward between them.

Prowl, par usual, didn't beat around the bush. "How much did you overhear?"

"Enough." Jazz looked away from him. "Are ya really Barricade?"

"The one and only." Prowl offered a crooked grin that quickly faded. "This wasn't how I wanted you to find out." he muttered, more to himself than to Jazz. "I wasn't going to tell you at all, but I figured that wasn't fair to you. Besides, the way things are going, you were bound to find out anyway."

Jazz risked a glance at him. "Why're ya here, Barricade?" he snapped.

Prowl flinched back. "Don't say it like that. You make it sound like I have some nefarious purpose for my existence." He almost sounded like a normal 'bot, instead of the logic-run tactician he made everyone think he was, and Jazz had to wonder just how this much information had slipped past him. "I'm here, on this base, because I no longer want to be a Decepticon. I even changed my designation, since it would draw too much attention to my past."

A slight smirk twisted Jazz's faceplates. "Good thing, too. I woulda killed ya on sight, defect or not."

Prowl smirked in return. "I know that. You and about a thousand others who have friends I've killed." Prowl's smirk faded and he looked away, as if ashamed. "I might have killed a few of your friends. In all honesty, I lost track."

For a moment, there was silence. Jazz knew he had to say something; he could feel Prowl shifting away from him, as if bracing himself for Jazz's rage or pain. Jazz had every right to feel that way, he realized dimly. There were good reasons why Optimus had chosen him to hunt down Barricade – the destruction of Jazz's team being one of them. However, that had been Barricade, and Jazz was having a hard time equating the ruthless assassin with his friend-cum-love-interest.

"Ya taught Bluestreak to shoot?" he asked, buying some time to get his thoughts straight in his processor. Prowl nodded.

"It seemed a fitting use of my skills, and he's an exceptional study." A small smile formed on Prowl's faceplates, gone almost before Jazz had the chance to see it. "Ironhide told me he got a perfect score on his last test. I haven't had the chance yet to tell him how proud I am."

Jazz chuckled dryly. "Ta think – that's what started me figurin' this out."

"You would have figured it out eventually. You're smart, Jazz. I couldn't have hid this forever." Prowl shook his helm. "I'm not sure if I would have wanted to. There's only so long a person can harbor a secret like this."

Jazz nodded absently. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know, but he had to ask. "So – whaddya been doin' fer Prime?"

Prowl's answer was blunt. "Did you think the 'Cons were the only ones who need assassins?"

Jazz felt his processor sputter to a stop. The world was still spinning, and he was about to get thrown off. If something didn't change, he was going to have another processor lock, and Prowl was right – that fragging hurt. "Wha?"

Before Prowl could continue, Bluestreak popped in with a bright smile. "Hey Prowl did Ironhide tell you I got a perfect score on my test!" He was practically bouncing on his pedes again.

Prowl looked over his shoulder at Bluestreak, and suddenly the dark danger that had been lurking just underneath Prowl's optics was gone, replaced by the tolerant patience that seemed to characterize Prowl. "That's great, Bluestreak. I truly am proud of you." he said warmly.

That shift was all it took. Jazz jumped to his feet and took off down the halls, finding the fastest exit he knew of from the Ark. He needed to get out, to be alone, to wrap his processor around the spinning mess that had become his world.

Prowl was Barricade. Barricade, the assassin who had managed to kill everyone on his hunting team and yet leave him the only survivor. And now he was killing again, except this time he was killing 'Cons. Jazz's instincts hadn't been wrong, but Prowl had been right – he'd been in no danger.

It was too much. He could only run.

In the med bay, Prowl gave Jazz a few minutes head start before standing up. He gently touched Bluestreak's helm. "Will you please tell Optimus that Jazz and I have left the Ark for a chat?"

Bluestreak nodded. "I don't think that's a chat."

Prowl smiled slightly. "Okay, but I wouldn't recommend telling Prime I'm about to go beat some understanding into his saboteur's helm." With that, he walked out of the med bay.

Bluestreak shook his head. "I thought Jazz already knew about Prowl – I mean, if I can figure it out, I know Jazz can." he muttered.

/----/

AN: Dun dun dun! Be honest – how many of you actually foresaw Bluestreak being the one to simply figure it out and never say a word?