CHAPTER 20
Taking Risks

It was the first time in what seemed like months that Jeff got some time around his primary guardians, Sideswipe and Arcee. Though they were always around, it seemed as though work had swamped them, and thus he'd spent much time with Prowl. To say the least, it felt good to be around them again, though he could admit only to himself that there wasn't quite the same feeling as there was when he was with Prowl anymore. "Primus, every circuit in my body is aching." Sideswipe grunted as he seated himself on the large Transformer-sized couch in their den "How's the training with the stiff going?" He questioned.

Jeff stared at Sideswipe, smiling a bit as he seated himself beside his guardian calmly. "Great, actually, Prowl's awesome." Jeff admitted "He started to teach me how to fight yesterday, it was pretty cool. Though he kinda kicked my butt." Sideswipe snorted "Don't laugh at me, who knows, maybe by the time I'm done training with him I can take you." He gently punched the mech's leg plate.

"Doubtful, considering I could crush you right under my foot."

Jeff stuck his tongue out a bit, almost surprising himself with his playfulness. That was one of the things that had changed the most, he realized. He was becoming more playful, more fun, more like a kid again. But at the same time, he had to bite it back a bit and he knew it, it wasn't right to get so close to his guardians or friend on the base, as they wouldn't be around for long. "Yeah, I guess not." He stood up slowly "Listen, I meant to ask you guys about something." He began.

Sideswipe nodded his head. "Yeah, what is it?" He questioned.

Jeff shifted a bit, uncertain how to approach this, especially when he knew it might have been asking quite a lot. However, sighing, and turning to look at Arcee, who was just coming in as well, he took a deep breath. "Prowl invited me to Diego Garcia next weekend. He's going down there on business, and he'd like some of his strategist buddies to meet me, I guess." Jeff shrugged "I was just wondering if you guys would be cool with that? He promised to have me back before school on monday, and..." He began.

"Prime approved of this?" Arcee questioned "It's not really in our hands as much as it is his, considering you're under general Autobot protection, technically."

Jeff nodded his head, looking between the two of them. "Yeah, Prowl already has permission. He'd just sort of be my "temporary guardian" for the visit, take the labor off of you guys for a weekend." Jeff shook his head "Prowl said it would be a good bonding experience for us. Whatever that means."

Sideswipe stared at Jeff thoughtfully, then to Arcee. No doubt she had the same idea of what Prowl had meant, and admittedly, Sideswipe wasn't as against the idea of eventually handing Jeff over to Prowl as he thought he would. Though they liked Jeff a lot, and enjoyed the time they spent with him, Prowl was admittedly more equipped. And if he wished to test it out, there was no logical reason to stop him. "Well, I don't see a problem with it." Sideswipe replied "So long as you're careful, some of the Autobots in Diego Garcia can be rough." He noted.

Jeff shrugged his shoulders. "I've lived in foster homes described the same way. I'm not worried at all." Jeff explained, then looked up at Arcee "Would you be okay with it?" He questioned.

Arcee's processor worked over the logistics of it all in her head. To be truthful, she had the same thing on her mind that Sideswipe did. But she was also in a mindset that it may not have been what was best for Jeff. Prowl was a busy mech, he always had been and always would be, and as the Autobot second-in-command it put Jeff in a certain line of danger. "I agree with Sideswipe, it's a dangerous idea." Arcee took a deep breath "But we can't stop you from going, just... Tread carefully, Jeff. Are you sure you're really prepared to spend a weekend with Prowl?" She questioned.

"I spent a night with him and it was cool." Jeff shrugged "How could a weekend be bad?"

It was at that point that both Autobots realized how oblivious Jeff was to the obvious truth. Prowl was trying to test how they would work in a living situation for more than simply a day. Then again, it was probably better to keep it that way, as Jeff might ultimately reject the idea before even giving it a chance if he did. "Well, I suppose it won't hurt you." Arcee spoke calmly "But I expect you to call in and check up on us, we'll be checking on you." She added.

"I will." Jeff perked up a bit "But don't worry guys, it's just a weekend, seriously." He leaned back a bit on the couch "What could happen?"

Sideswipe simply nodded his head, though he shot Arcee a look that said "we'll talk more later". Straightening himself, and grabbing the large remote, he turned on the television. "What do you say we just drop the subject and turn on a movie?" Sideswipe commented "We never did get through the whole thing of Live Free or Die Hard, I'm curious to see how it ends." He admitted.

As he took in their reactions, Jeff had to, for once, wonder what they seemingly knew that he didn't.

...

Arcee was the one to open the door the next friday when Prowl had come by to pick Jeff up. It was not her initial action to turn around and call out for Jeff, but rather to stand in the doorway, calculating what to say to him. Ultimately, her confrontational side was the first thing to come out. "So, taking Jeff with you for the weekend..." Arcee paused "Tell me, Prowl, what game are you playing with his emotions?" She questioned.

The white mech stood there, blinking and uncertain what she meant. "Forgive me, Arcee, but I believed you were the one who approved of our friendship most." Prowl shifted a bit "I simply wanted to bring my apprentice to meet my friends. And perhaps a few members of my family as well." He paused a bit "How am I playing with his emotions? I don't understand." He questioned.

"You're testing whether or not you could live together and get along." Arcee pointed out, Prowl's optics widened in surprise "Prowl, I think it's sweet that you want to give it a chance. But just don't get his hopes up too high, I know you, I've worked with you for vorns." Arcee explained, Prowl only frowned a little "You're not the parenting type." She noted.

Prowl vented out some hot air a bit, looking Arcee in the optic. "I understand your fears, and your assumption is the correct one." Prowl explained, putting his hands on his hips "I quite enjoy Jeffrey's presence in my life, this I cannot and will not deny." He shook his head "But I promise you, Arcee, I would never do anything to hurt him." He shook his head "If nothing good comes of this stay, I will leave our relationship as is, I assure you." He noted.

Arcee could see the sincerity in Prowl's optics almost immediately. It didn't take long to realize that Prowl was just as cautious about what he was doing as Arcee was to allow it. "So you're actually considering it?" Prowl raised an optic ridge "Taking him in? Giving him a family?" She questioned.

"Yes." Prowl nodded his head slowly "I suppose I am."

The whole thought still seemed foreign to Prowl, but he knew it was the truth. He'd been considering it for some time over the last month or so he had known him, yet it was too early to make a solid decision yet. All he could do for now was take small steps to furthering their relationship, both as mentor and apprentice, and the bond that they were slowly growing. "Well, that's... Unexpected." Arcee spoke quietly "Are you sure that's a smart thing, Prowl? What's brought this on?" She questioned.

"I'll inform you when I figure it out myself."

Arcee nodded her head, understanding his own confusion. To say the least, Prowl had never been the parenting type, and the mere fact he was considering becoming a parent to a troubled teen was enough to confuse everyone on base. "Well... Good luck then." Arcee spoke quietly "But I'm still warning you... Don't hurt him, not even on accident." Prowl was silent at that "He doesn't need to go through that again." She added.

"You have my word."

The sound of footsteps grabbed both of their attentions as Jeff stepped out. Prowl smiled at the young human, and crouched low with his hand outstretched. "Hey there, kid, you ready to get going?" He questioned as Jeff jogged over and allowed himself to be set on Prowl's shoulder "I'll drive him to school monday, so you don't have to worry." He noted "We'll comm you when we make it." He added.

"Bye Arcee!"

As the two of them left, Arcee could only silently wonder how well it would go. Prowl was taking a small, but very significant step in his relationship with Jeff and she couldn't help but be concerned for both of them. If this wasn't a good match, things could end very badly, for both them, and everyone around them. But at the same time, one couldn't always dwell on the negative, she had to hope, somewhere in her spark, that Prowl was doing the right thing.

...

A/N: Thought it was about time Prowl acknowledged his praternal feelings towards Jeff. :) Reviews make my day!