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Small Problems

Epilogue: The Days After

Crystal stayed with Sparkplug as she regained her health and plotted out her next course of action. She liked him. He was gruff, but still had a caring, fatherly way about him. He reminded her of her own father who had also been rough around the edges but soft on the inside.

While staying with him, Crystal learned a bit more about Sparkplug and his family's history with the Autobots. He and his son had met them some twenty odd years ago. Now, his son was married and had a son of his own. To his family, the Autobots were a staple part of every day life, practically family themselves.

Crystal tried to put herself in their shoes, tried to imagine what it would be like to live the extraordinary every day. It felt exhausting and she discovered new admiration for the Witwicky family to adapt so well. Despite her initial feelings when the Autobots left her, she decided it was best that she move on and continue with her ordinary life. However, it seemed some of the Autobots themselves had other plans.


"Hey Crystal," Sparkplug called to her, "there's someone out front for you."

Crystal looked up from her employment ads, several items circled in the pages spread out before her knees. Her heart began to beat fast of its own accord. No, she wanted her life to be normal again, didn't she?

And yet, she was scrambling to the window to glance outside. A silver Porsche was parked outside, looking very out of place next to her own car. Despite appearing as an everyday machine at first glance, there was something different about it, something that made you take a second look and wonder if you could trust your senses.

Crystal dashed from the house, hopping on one foot as she slipped on her shoes. She threw herself on the white four decorating the hood of the car. The metal was warm from the summer sun, but also as if warmed by the body's heat within.

"My favorite number," she cooed. "Look how big and beautiful you are!"

Jazz chuckled. "Yup! Everyone's back to normal. Get in here so I can take a good look at you."

He opened his driver side door and Crystal happily sat inside.

"Ooh, very nice interior, Jazz," she praised as she rand her hand over the dash board.

"Thanks! You look like you're doing okay yourself."

Crystal touched the bandage decorating her forehead. "Yeah, I'm still picking glass out of it and I have to keep my hand bandaged for another couple of weeks. But I'm feeling better."

"I'm sorry you got hurt," Jazz said in a sober tone.

"It's okay. I'm just glad you're all safe." She hugged the steering wheel and then made a sad noise. "I can't fit my arms around you any more."

"Just more of me to love, babe. I do have some good news. Sunstreaker's all repaired and looking good as new."

Crystal looked a bit confused, searching her memory for that name. Nothing came up, but she smiled anyway. "I'm glad to hear it."

Jazz paused. "You wouldn't want to go for a ride with me, would you?"

Crystal's eyes widened. "Really? Do you want me to get in the passenger seat?"

"Nope. You're fine. Just buckle up and hold on."

Crystal poked her head out of the window. "Mr. Witwicky, Jazz is going to take me for a drive. I'll be back later."

"That's fine. Enjoy yourselves," Sparkplug nodded as he waved them off.

Crystal watched in fascination as the pedals and steering wheel moved all by themselves, as if a phantom were sharing her seat. "This is so weird." She put hands on the steering wheel but allowed it to turn by itself. It took a bit of willpower not to push the pedals. "It's hard to get used to. I feel like I want to take control."

"You did fine last time with Sunstreaker," Jazz chuckled. "But then again, you weren't in the driver's seat."

That name again...

"Actually, I don't remember any of it," Crystal admitted.

"Really? Still? Will you ever?

"Gone forever, says the doctor. Most of the day is just wiped out. I remember a bit of leaving the hotel and driving. But then it jumps to the hospital. Everything else is just... not there. Like I slept through it."

"That's a bummer, Crys. I'm sorry."

"I don't know." She looked out the window, watching the buildings pass by as Jazz turned onto the freeway. "I don't feel like they were memories I would want to keep anyway. I'm just glad the worst part is over."

Jazz suddenly swerved and Crystal grabbed for the wheel.

"Ha ha! Made you flinch!"

"Jazz!" Crystal barked, kicking at the car where ever she dared.

"Hey! Hey! I'm driving! Don't distract me!"

"Then don't scare me like that!" Crystal paused when she noticed they were heading out of the city. "Hey, where are we going?"

Ahead, there were miles of open space and Mount Saint Hilary in the distance.

"Going to my home base so you can see how the other half lives."

Crystal stiffened as she watching the volcano get closer. "Are we going inside?"

"Well, yeah. If you want to."

Crystal bit her lip. "I'm not very comfortable with going inside. Is that... okay?"

Jazz chuckled. "Lady, anything you want is okay by me."

Crystal gave him a thankful smile. Then frowned when she saw Jazz hadn't changed his course. Mount Saint Hilary was coming up fast.

"Umm..."

"Don't worry Crys, we're not going to get too close to it, I promise."

He stopped on a rise where the Ark's rear thrusters could be seen poking out of the side of the dormant volcano. From the entrance, a black and while police car drove out to meet them.

Crystal stepped out as it parked beside Jazz. She ran her hand over the top of the car and then bent to look in through the driver side window. "Hi, Prowl."

"Hello. How are you feeling?"

Crystal smiled. She couldn't count how often the police car had asked her that. "I'm doing very well. How about yourself?"

"Running at 98% efficiency. Thank you." He rolled down his window. "I brought someone with me."

Crystal peered inside and found a red and gray boombox. "Blaster!" She pulled him out through the window. "Are you all fixed now?"

"You bet, babe!" The radio crowed happily. "Check this out!"

Blaster jumped out of her hands. Crystal let out a squawk of surprise as the small device folded apart and grew in size before her eyes. His robot mode was far larger than she would have ever imagined from something that size. She stumbled back from the towering behemoth, tripping and landing none too gently against Jazz's side.

"Crys, you okay?" The Porsche transformed into his robot mode and Crystal scrambled away from Jazz as well.

"Careful you two," Prowl ordered. He had also transformed and stretched his arm to hold the others back.

Crystal sat on the ground, wide eyed and clutching at her chest.

"Give me a mini heart attack!" she accused. "I'm not used to this size. A little warning next time would be nice!"

"Sorry," Jazz said, though he was grinning. He carefully sat himself down cross-legged and stretched out his hand, waiting for the human to come to him.

Though hesitant, Crystal got to her feet and slowly made her way over. Jazz now understood why she didn't want to step foot inside the Ark. He would never have guessed it of her, but she seemed truly intimidated by their size. And why wouldn't she be? They had been around the Witwicky family so long, Jazz had forgotten how frightened the humans had been the first time they met. Not to mention Crystal's various run-ins with the full-sized Decepticons probably didn't help.

She stared as she put her hands on Jazz's finger. The size difference was staggering. She knew they were going to be big, but nothing could have prepared her for the real thing. They now felt like they truly were: a world far different from hers.

"You guys are huge," she said stupidly.

"But harmless," Jazz insisted. "Come on Crys, you know it's still us."

She leaned in closer and lowered her voice to more of a whisper. "Jazz, why is Blaster taller than you? He turns into a radio."

Jazz frowned. "Because life's not fair."

"Believe it babe," Blaster said. "All this awesome can fit in a convenient little package." He transformed back into radio mode and fell neatly into her arms. "You can still hug me."

To which she did and then pulled back sadly. "It's not the same. I wish you stayed the same size when you turned into a robot."

"So sorry," was Blaster's sarcastic response. "I'll speak to my creator about that right away."

"Prime apologizes for not being able to meet you," Prowl said, going down on one knee to be closer to her level. "He and the others had responsibilities to attend."

"That's fine. I'm sure you guys have more important things to do now. I wouldn't want to keep any of you."

"You are important," Prowl stated.

Crystal blinked at him in surprise.

"You were there when we needed you. You did something for us we could not do ourselves and you put your life on the line for us. That makes you very important, even now."

A modest blush spread along her cheeks at Prowl's words. "I just did what I could to help."

"And we are very grateful for that."

"You're embarrassing her Prowl," Blaster's radio form said with glee in his voice. "Look how red she is."

Crystal scowled at him and set him down. To Blaster's credit, he stayed in radio mode out of consideration for her.

"I'm sorry," Prowl said, "that wasn't my intention."

Jazz was grinning at her, which didn't help.

"It's fine." Crystal huffed out a deep breath to get herself in order. The flush began to subside from her face, but she still wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. "We all made it out alive, that's what matters."

"Yes," Prowl agreed. "And I'm afraid to cut this short, but I have other duties that need my attention."

Surprised he was leaving so soon, Crystal took a step or two after him as he transformed into his car mode. "Prowl."

"Yes?" he asked expectantly.

She paused, not knowing what to say. She wanted to be with him longer, but she knew he had responsibilities elsewhere. She had to let him go. "Uh, here, take Blaster with you." She picked up the radio and placed him in the front seat. From her glance at Prowl's interior, she thought about when she hugged Jazz's steering wheel earlier. It was the only way she could hug him now.

"It was good to see you guys again," she said softly.

"Ditto, babe!" Blaster responded.

"Take care of yourself," Prowl said before driving back toward the Ark.

Crystal watched him go all the way to the entrance. As he drove in, a large robotic T-rex stalked out. He seemed to sniff the air and turned his massive head in her direction. Crystal couldn't believe how big he was. She was instantly glad he was nowhere near her. Still, she could not forget the little lizard that would often cuddle next to her and she gave him a small wave. Grimlock just watched her, the tip of his tail swaying. Then he turned and lumbered off. Crystal lowered her hand in disappointment.

"Oh, don't worry about him, Crys," Jazz said. "That's just the way he is. Grimlock's never been too friendly when he's his own size. Don't take it personal."

"It's fine," she said. "I'd be too afraid he'd accidentally kill me. Someone that size is probably best left alone."

"What about me?" Jazz then asked. "Am I too big? Would you rather I leave you alone?"

Despite his intimidating size, she instantly moved to press her cheek against the warm metal of his shin. "Aw, Jazz. Never. I will always like you no matter what your size. I would be sad if I never saw you again."

"I'm glad to hear it." He touched her gently with one finger. "I'd be sad if I never saw you again either."

Crystal smiled in mutual affection, cheek still pressed against him.

"So what say I take you back now, Crys? Seems you've had enough excitement for today."

Crystal barked out a laugh, genuine and easy. "With you guys, every day is exciting."


Later that day, Prowl walked into Optimus Prime's office, data pad in hand.

"Here's the report of the damages the Dinobots inflicted in New York," Prowl said as he handed it to his leader. "Ratchet's repair crew reduced the costs considerably. Here is what's left."

Optimus glanced over the numbers. "Good, Prowl. This amount shouldn't be a problem. Thank you."

Prowl nodded and turned to leave.

The small room Optimus used as an office was hardly more than a utility closet. It had been refurnished after the Autobots decided their crashed spaceship was good enough to serve as a base of operations. The room was modest and hardly befitted one of Optimus' status, but he insisted it more than suited his needs.

The place had also stayed fairly plain over the years, so upon leaving, Prowl instantly noticed something different. Silver chimes hung on the wall. Prowl recognized them as the ones from Crystal's car, only so much larger.

Optimus must have had them on him when he was returned to his normal size. The chimes would never fit on a rear view mirror now. It was big enough to clearly read the inscription on the ornate piece of metal that served as the base.

Prowl turned to Optimus. "Why did you take that?"

Unphased by the blatant question, Optimus wandered over to look at it, hands clasped behind his back. "It means something to me," he said simply. "I didn't mean to keep it, but I'm afraid I can't give it back now."

Prowl looked at the inscription for a while.

"I'm sure she will forgive you," he said and then left the room.


A week and a half later, Crystal hefted two full bags up the stairs to her new apartment. She liked it. The neighborhood seemed nice and it was close to the firm where she had been hired as a secretary.

The apartment was bare and unfurnished, but Crystal didn't care. It was a place she could call home. She dropped to the ground and curled up on the carpet, sighing heavily as she stared at the plain white wall. The apartment was quite small, but at that moment it felt big and impossibly quiet.