CHAPTER 4
Progress

"So what do you think of him?"

Jeff turned to Ratchet quietly as he sat on his perch in the med bay the next day. It was far from abnormal for the medic to ask things about his personal life, after all, he was his godfather on top of being his mentor. Yet still, it caught him off guard that the mech would ask about how things were going with his newly acquired grandfather so soon. "He's great." Jeff explained "So far, anyway. He's pretty cool for an old dude, and he's so warm and..." He paused "Just cool." He added.

Ratchet stared at his godson with an expression of mock hurt on his face. "Are you insinuating most older mechs are not "cool"?" Ratchet questioned, staring Jeff down.

Jeff chuckled in response, shaking his head slightly. Despite popular believe, Ratchet was, in his opinion, one of the coolest mech's on base, if you got on and stayed on his good side at least. Jeff had been on both his bad and good sides, but as his godson now, he sort of was permanently on his good side. Not that it meant he had any better bedside manner, but he did get to see the less "grumpy" side of the old medic. "You know you're awesome, Ratchet. I don't need to tell you that every day." Jeff rolled his eyes "I think my insecurity issues are rubbing off on you." He teased.

Ratchet might have flicked him off his perch for that one if he didn't like the boy enough. Grunting a bit and tossing him a small wrench to continue his repairs on the drone the two were working on he rolled his optics slightly. "Just fix that inner mainframe for me, will ye? Be sure to be careful of the Energon leak." He noted, Jeff nodded getting to his work "You know, one of these days, I'll have to take you to meet my family as well." He noted.

"Why?" Jeff questioned "I'm just your godson."

Carefully watching the boy's work as he put the finishing touches on the patch work, Ratchet shrugged. Though Jeff was not his family through adoption or Energon, as his godson, he did consider him family anyway. He was no different than the son's he had raised, considering it was his job, along with Prowl's to raise him into manhood. "You're still my family, you being my godson is legal." Ratchet explained "Got a problem with me considering ye me family?" He asked.

Jeff shook his head. In truth, he considered Ratchet his family as well. He'd even spent a couple of weeks under his supervision and care in July when Prowl had been sent on a covert ops mission. "Nah, I feel the same way, Ratch." Jeff explained "I just didn't realize it went both ways is all." He shrugged "I think I've got the touch up's done. You can fire him up now." He added.

Ratchet carefully pulled the drone out of stasis, taking a deep breath. Sure enough, the drone sprang to life good as new as Jeff sighed with relief himself, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "You're coming along well, Jeff." Ratchet nodded with approval "I may start having you help me with field repairs we bring in soon if you keep this up." He noticed Jeff's eyes light up in that "Notice I said "may", I'll need to see more progress first." He explained.

Jeff gave a mock pout at the medic, though he didn't really mean it. Jeff knew he was far from ready for the big work yet, there was still a lot of time to learn how to do it though. He sighed quietly, leaping off his perch, and staring up at Ratchet. "I think we're good for today then, doc. I have homework I gotta get to." Jeff stretched quietly "But first can I ask you a question?" He asked.

"Make it quick." Ratchet replied.

"You don't think since he found Cable and he's not alone around here anymore..." Jeff chewed his lip "Dad wouldn't... He wouldn't...?"

Ratchet could quickly tell what the human was trying to convey, his optics widening in surprise. The fact that Jeff would even suggest anyone on their base would simply kick him to the curb for any reason was hard to believe. "Prowl would never forget about you or his duties as your father." Ratchet replied "I do not want to hear you speaking of such a thing again." He added "It's utter nonsense." He noted.

"Sorry." Jeff hung his head a bit.

Ratchet nodded his head a little, his optics flashing a bit in anger at the thought of it. But he knew it was nothing more than Jeff's obvious insecurities that they still hoped to work through in time. "Think nothing of it, youngling." Ratchet grunted "Now go, get your homework done." He added "We can resume your training tomorrow morning before school." He noted.

Jeff could only groan at the thought of an early morning.

...

Jeff sighed quietly as he reclined on the couch later that night. It was another late night of Prowl working, though he knew it was all in good cause. Whatever had the Autobot's spooked must have been a big deal, as Prowl was tenser than usual that day. For the most part, he didn't mind though, Prowl had promised he would have saturday off and they would have some quality time. Not to mention for once, he was not alone, as Cable was still rooming with them for now. Though they still hadn't bonded much, things had at least started out well the last two nights.

Jeff had set himself up with a bowl of popcorn, and a movie while Cable tried to take it all in. It was clear enough that the human ways were strange to him, being a newcomer, but Jeff made an effort to help the process. "Look, Cable, it's kinda simple." Jeff stated between shoving a mouthful of popcorn into his mouth "This chick's mother was murdered a year ago. And the two crazy bastards attacking her did it." He explained.

"This is one of the movies Prowl forbids being shown in his home." Cable lifted an optic ridge "Isn't it?"

Jeff shrugged a bit, knowing that Prowl didn't mind the Scream movies as much. If only because there was at least a humorous side to things and not all blood and gore. "Dad doesn't mind it, he just sort of... Permits it." Jeff shook his head a little bit "Come on, aren't grandparents supposed to allow this stuff anyway? I hardly get to watch horror movies at all." He added.

Cable stared at the screen for a moment, and sighed. He supposed he would allow it, seeing as he was curious to see how it ended. But on the other hand, he could see why his son disliked allowing Jeff to view these movies. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the couch himself, pausing a moment. "Tell me something, Jeff." Cable spoke up, Jeff turned his head slowly "What's the appeal of these movies?" He questioned "Horror movies, that is." He noted.

"Eh, I like to get scared once in a while." Jeff slowly turned off the TV as the film ended.

Cable nodded his head a little bit, standing to his feet and stretching himself. He watched Jeff quietly, taking in his movements and actions, and wondering what to say. That had been his one problem around his newfound grandson, he did not quite connect with Jeff yet, but he was trying. "So, how do you like living with a bunch of giant robots?" He questioned "It must be a little weird, being the only human on this base."

Jeff shrugged his shoulders a bit, seating himself on the couch again. "Yeah, well, the humans I've lived with haven't all exactly been great people." Jeff shook his head "Just ask dad to tell you about my uncle sometime. He's the reason two of my teeth are fake." He grimaced a bit "Frankly, I'm lucky they got me when I did because they saved my life." He shrugged his shoulders "Literally and figuratively." He explained.

That was hard for Cable to process, the fact that Jeff liked living with Autobots more than he did his own species. The older mech took some time to process it before nodding his head casually. "Yes, well... I can understand your reasoning then." Cable replied crossing his arms, and scanning the room "My son has certainly given you a very nice home, and I'm glad to see you appreciate that." He noted "What of your other family though, surely-?" He began.

"Dead or don't care." Jeff shrugged "They only ever found my uncle after my mom abandoned me."

Cable frowned at the word "abandoned", his optics softening a bit at the notion. He had been "abandoned" himself at the age of six vorns, and as a result, it no doubt struck a chord with the mech. Not to mention the memory of, when falling on hard times, his spark mate and himself had to give up a still in sparkling hood Bluestreak. "So we're all you have at all?" Jeff nodded in response "My sympathies on that end of the spectrum, I know very much how it feels." He explained "You're doing very good for someone in your situation." He noted.

Jeff could only blink at that, and think quietly about what it might mean. But he chose not to pry, not knowing if he might open a wound or two, and knowing more than enough about Bluestreak's story. Standing, he yawned quietly, rubbing his stomach slightly. "I should get to bed, if dad gets back and I'm not in bed at twelve, he'll flip." He explained "Thanks for watching with me." He added.

Jeff pulled himself into the bedroom in a daze, exhaustion coming over him as he collapsed into the mattress. A moment passed before he noticed the sheets and blankets being pulled over him. He peered over his shoulder at Cable as he lingered over him, smiling a bit. "It was my pleasure, youngling." He spoke up "Get a good night's recharge." He added.

"You too." Jeff replied awkwardly.

As the lights flicked off, leaving him in the dark, Jeff wondered quietly what had brought on his first show of real affection. Slowly writing it off, Jeff turned over, but hoped it was only the first of many.