Warnings: Still nothing yet.

Disclaimer: Only the story still.

Jazz recharged better than he had in a while. Knowing he was able to talk to Soundwave helped. The next he woke refreshed and back to his old self, dancing and humming his way to the rec room for his morning energon.

Ironhide was already in the room, sipping his own energon, when Jazz entered. "Well, some bot woke up on the right side of the berth this morning. What's got you in such a good mood?"

"Just am." Jazz's smile widened, he truly was back to himself if he could hide things that easily again. "Guess I'm just finally feeling fully recovered."

That made Ironhide grin. "Then maybe you'll be able to keep up with me in the next raid. You've been falling behind, my mech!"

"I'll catch up soon enough. And then you'll be the one falling behind."

Prowl entered the room and looked up from his datapad at the sound of laughter. He spotted Jazz across the room, talking to Ironhide. He hadn't spent as much time with the bot as he would have liked recently. He moved across the room to stand beside them. "Jazz. Ironhide." he greeted.

"Hey Prowler." Jazz gave him a winning smile. "Out of your office for once, but still bringing your work with you." He said snatching the datapad away.

Prowl made a grab for the pad, missing wildly. "Jazz. Give that back. It has sensitive information it." Prowl refused to raise his voice. He refused.

"Oh don't worry Prowler, I won't look and it's not like anyone else could get it from me either. Now relax." He said as he subspaced it.

Prowl scowled. Jazz got under his armor like no one else; maybe that was why he found himself so attracted to the other mech. "Fine. But don't think I'm letting you out of my sight until I get it back."

Ironhide held up his hands and slid out of the booth. "Well this is one fight I do not want to get in the middle of."

"Fine, fine." Jazz said making as if he was going to give it back. "I'll just hold it hostage until you relax." He had an evil looking smirk on his face as he stretched out to relax.

Prowl scowled and took the seat next to him. Two could play that game. "I think you vastly underestimate my patience."

"I'm not testing your patience mech, I would lose that battle. I just want you to relax." Jazz gave and handed it back. "Just put it up for a little bit and enjoy the peace and quiet with no raids."

Prowl took a deep breath and settled in. His work WAS what made him relax, but if this was what Jazz wanted, then he would do it. "If we get attacked, I'm putting you on desk duty for the next 100 vorns."

"Nah, I'm sure they're too busy licking their wounds." Jazz responded lightly. "And would you really torture me like that?" He gave the other mech a pouty look, begging him to reconsider.

Prowl let the edges of his mouth quirk up a bit. He never could stay mad at Jazz. "No, I suppose not."

"Be right back. Got sidetracked, need to grab my energon." Jazz stood and danced over to the dispenser, and returned humming.

Prowl watched Jazz as he retrieved his energon. To be truthful, he watched Jazz a lot in general. As Jazz returned to the table, Prowl could tell that something good had happened. "So I take it that whatever had you so worried recently has been taken care of?"

Jazz managed to hide his shock, he sometimes forgot how observant the mech was. "Yeah. Guess everyone noticed how off I was feeling. Even 'Hide made a comment on my improved mood."

"Jazz, you weren't this happy when you got put back on active duty. What's been going on?" Prowl knew this was his chance, the perfect opportunity to get Jazz to open up to him.

Jazz figured an out and out lie would make him feel too guilty. He counted Prowl as a close friend. So he settled for a veiled truth. "I was stuck thinking about a mech. After everything that happened to me, I really had things to think about. I just finally came to a decision. I'm not really ready to talk about it much more than that."

Hope blossomed in Prowl's spark, coupled equally by trepidation. What were the odds that the mech Jazz was interested in was himself? He cleared his vocalizer before responding. "When you are ready to talk about it, I hope you will think of me." Prowl valued Jazz as a friend as well as anything else that might develop between the two.

Jazz smiled in true appreciation. "Thanks Prowler. You're a good friend."

Prowler tried not to wince at that, despite his earlier thoughts. Sometimes he was just sure Jazz would be the death of him.

Elsewhere, on the Nemesis, Soundwave drummed his servos against his work station. He was waiting for several files to download and found his thoughts drifting to a certain black and white mech. Deciding that work could wait for a bit, he sent out a silent comm. "Jazz: busy? Soundwave: Has inquiry."

Jazz just barely managed to keep himself from starting, "Not busy at the moment. Give me a bit to get away from the masses." Jazz, smiled at Prowl, "I know how much you like to work. I won't keep you any longer. I'm gonna go find other stuff to occupy my time."

Prowl wanted to offer to accompany him, but knew that would seem too suspicious. Jazz hadn't become a spy master by being unobservant. Instead, he extended one servo towards the mech. "My datapad, Jazz."

"Slag, I was hoping you forgot." Jazz said, not above playing a prank. He pull the datapad out and handed it to Prowler.

The Autobot second took the pad, his spark thumping heavily as his servo brushed against Jazz's. "Oh, and Jazz? The next time you wish to spend time with me, all you have to do is ask..."

"Not as fun to do that. See you around." Jazz retorted as he dashed out of the rec room and out of the ark. "Hey Soudners, what's up?" He finally responded to the other mech.

Soundwave paused at the nickname, it was something only his cassettes had ever called him. "Soundwave: Curious about something. Jazz: Willing to continue contact outside of battle situations?"

Jazz didn't have to think about it. "Of course. I'd rather there were no battle field encounters at all, but I don't think that's happening anytime soon. Why? Are you bored and want to meet up now?" Jazz couldn't keep the hint of hope out of his voice as he wandered around just outside the Autobot base.

"Soundwave: Working on new energon processing system. Objective: Producing energon while preserving optimal nutrient count." There was nothing Soundwave would like more than to drop the project and go see the Autobot, but he still had responsibilities to see to within the Decepticon ranks.

Jazz couldn't understand why it hurt him to think Soundwave wasn't getting everything he needed. And it was even more frustrating because he couldn't help a Decepticon. It would be treason. He was actually silent a while trying to reconcile the facts of their world, their war, and his feelings, but he couldn't. It was impossible. "Any idea when out next battle encounter would be?" There was a strain in his tone as he switched the subject to something less painful. "I'll be stuck on desk duty if it's anytime soon." He joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Soundwave's helm snapped up at Jazz's words. Panic flooded his systems. "Jazz: Injured again?"

"No. I was teasing Prowl earlier, telling him he needed to relax while there was no fighting. He said he'd stick me on desk duty for 100 vorns if we were attacked." Jazz couldn't help but laugh at Soundwave's misunderstanding. "I just wouldn't put it past him to stick me on desk duty anyway. He always complains I don't do enough of my paperwork."

Soundwave chuckled. "Jazz: Seems the type to ignore administrative tasks. Soundwave: Not surprised." The Decepticon continued with his work, glad to have the time to converse with his 'enemy'. He enjoyed interacting with Jazz far more than he knew he should.

"We really shouldn't be doing this. This is pushing the borders of treason, for both of us. So did anyone notice your absence those nights you came to see me?" Jazz was concerned someone would get suspicious.

"Advantage of being Decepticon watchdog: No one is watching you, just watching out for you. Due warning: Cassettes are aware of contact..." Soundwave hesitated to ask his next question. Part of him didn't want to know the answer. "Jazz: wishes to cease contact?" He would do it if Jazz asked him to, but it would be difficult. Much like removing one on his limbs. When had the Autobot managed to become so important to him?

"NO!" Jazz practically shouted it. "Unless you think it would put you or them into danger?" It was painful for him to even think about it.

Soundwave couldn't help the grin that split his faceplate at Jazz's response, and he wasn't the type of mech to smile. Funny, since he'd been doing it so much around Jazz lately. It wasn't just Jazz's desire for continued contact that warmed his spark, but the Autobot's concern for himself and his cassettes. " Soundwave and cassettes: Safe from discovery. Soundwave: Wishes to continue contact as well."

Jazz smiled to hear that. "We could get in so much trouble for carrying on like this. I guess that makes it all the more fun."

"Soundwave: Beginning to theorize Jazz is an adrenaline junkie."

"That may be true." Jazz was about to continue when he got an alert. "Hey Soundwave, why did you send out just the seekers for a raid? I'm getting called for battle."

Soundwave's grin instantly turned into a frown. "Seekers: Not sent on any raids." His servos flew across the keys and he was soon bringing up several encrypted comms originating from Starscream to the other seekers. Apparently the Decepticon second had decided, once again, that it was time to move up in rank. Soundwave needed to inform Lord Megatron. "Starscream and seekers: Acting without authorization. Recommendation: Proceed with caution." After the message to Jazz, the officer opened up another line to Megatron. "My Lord. Starscream: Currently leading seeker assault on Autobot forces. Intention: To terminate Optimus Prime and take over as Decepticon leader."

Jazz cursed as he cut off the comm and raced to help his friends, running headlong into the battle.

A/N: Please read and review.