CHAPTER 29
Musings and Steps

"You're not excited?"

"What? It's nothing special." Tyler shrugged his shoulders "It's just a birthday. I mean, I've never made a big deal out of it at least."

Breakdown revved his engine, wondering why Tyler would feel that way. He, after all, most certainly was glad the day existed and therefore, that the young man had been born. "It's more than worth celebrating in my mind." Breakdown explained "You'll have been alive fourteen years and that's a pretty fragging big deal." He then added "I don't see why you don't."

Tyler shrugged, and got off of his friend's hood, crossing his arms a bit. "It's the same reason I don't find Christmas all that exciting. For like, ever it's really just been another day for me." He watched as Breakdown transformed, staring down at him as Tyler glanced back towards Fowler's home "Besides, I doubt Bill even knows it's my birthday on Friday."

Breakdown knew that much wasn't true. As Fowler had asked him about if Tyler had talked about anything he wanted. It had been that way for a while, they'd planned it silently. As he understood, Fowler's family was coming down for a surprise party on Friday. And clearly, Tyler's words confirmed that he was most definitely going to be surprised. "Kid, you really need to get out of that mindset." Breakdown commented "I'm pretty sure your soon-to-be dad knows when you were born."

Tyler shook his head a bit, knowing Breakdown was right. He stared up at the mech a bit, taking a deep breath and patting the side of his leg. As he placed his hands in his pockets, he finally shrugged again. "I know he'll remember at least. But what would he care?" Tyler asked, blowing a strand of his hair out of his eyes "But I can see you sure do."

Breakdown snorted, of course he cared. Tyler was practically like his own youngling in his mind, and he'd already made plans to find him an adequate gift before the week was up. "Nah, I just totally would blow off my favorite human's creation day." Breakdown teased "Primus kid, I'd have to be the worst best friend ever if I just up and forgot you." He added "Remember what your psychiatrist told you. No matter what Brody told you, you have people who love you now."

"Love you too, big guy." Tyler smiled sheepishly.

Breakdown smirked, even if it was weird, he did like hearing those words. Knowing that the fatherly love he had was reciprocated by whatever means Tyler reciprocated the feeling. "And you know who else loves you, right?" Tyler was silent "The man in there. So stop being such a little punk and try to remember that for me, okay?" Tyler nodded "Now, as for your birthday..." He stroked his chin "I guess you don't want me to spoil ye too bad?"

"Break, you don't have to buy me anything."

"I'm going to anyway." Breakdown snorted "So you might as well tell me something you'd want."

Tyler looked thoughtful, accepting what Breakdown said was true. "Well, I guess whatever you want to make or buy me is cool." Tyler managed "I just... I'm not really sure what you could get me." Tyler rubbed the back of his head slightly.

Breakdown sighed. "Guess I'll have to think of something then."

Tyler nodded his head a little, leaning against the side of the house. There had been a lot of fuss about him already, given the social worker's visit (even if it had gone well), as well as his sessions with the psychiatrist. He hated the thought of anyone going through more trouble just for him, especially when it was only him turning fourteen, not a big deal in his mind. "Hey Breakdown?" The mech turned to him "When's your bir-creation day." He corrected himself "If you're getting me something for mine, I'm definitely getting you something for yours."

"This ain't a competition, kid." Breakdown snorted.

"You're my best friend too." Tyler replied "I want to know and get you something."

Breakdown looked thoughtful for a moment, then smirked. "December 12th in your terms. It's passed by now." Breakdown smirked a bit "You'll have to wait a while if you're going to return the favor." Tyler stuck his tongue out lightly "Kid, give celebrating your birthday a chance. I bet it'll be fun." He added.

"Fine, fine." Tyler threw up his hands in defeat "As long as you and Bill really are going to do it." He shook his head "I've heard the promise before."

"Yeah, well, this promise is from us." Breakdown snorted "Not a slime ball who deserves a foot all the way up his aft."

Tyler paused a moment, and nodded his head. "Maybe we can visit my parents on my birthday too." Tyler commented "It's been a few weeks since we went there last... I mean, if you want to." He paused, shaking his head "I don't want to-."

"We can go." Breakdown nodded "Now moving onto other subjects." The mech crouched, and flicked him in the side gently "Fowler's on that conference call all morning." He explained, then added "And yours truly has the day off." He paused a minute, then let another grin cross his features "What do you say we take a drive down to Vegas or something?" He questioned "Ten bucks says I can get you back before he even notices."

"You don't have money."

"Pfffft, details." Breakdown waved him off for a bit "Do you wanna ride that New York, New York coaster you've been going on about or not?"

Tyler was silent, and chewed his lip, then slowly nodded his head. After all, it was the weekend, and it did sound fun. "All right, but if we get in trouble, this was all your idea." Tyler joked as Breakdown transformed down.

Breakdown rumbled his engines, letting Tyler climb inside him. He knew that Fowler would be frustrated, but he had told him to keep the kid busy while he wrapped gifts. Taking off down the road, he simply hummed at his own idea. And happy with the thought of finally getting out of small town hell for a change. He just hoped that he could sustain his holoform long enough to get in on the fun.

...

Clang! Clang!

"You seem annoyed."

Knock Out looked up from the Vehicon he was working the dents out of to eye Airachnid carefully. The femme had one of her casual smirks that all too often irked him. It usually meant she was looking for trouble, or to mock him if nothing else. "No, not at all." Knock Out stated sarcastically "I'm simply enjoying the increase in my work load. Oh and I'm really enjoying the fact that it's because my so-called "partner" ditched me for some fragging insect." He threw a bent wrench across the room "Of course I'm ANNOYED."

Airachnid tilted her head a bit, putting her hands on her hips and approaching him. "You know Breakdown will be back." Airachnid commented "It's only a matter of time before Megatron forces him to return." She explained "I hear he's already formulating plans to catch the insect."

Knock Out was silent at that, uncertain whether to believe it. And oddly, wondering whether or not he wanted that. The betrayal had stung him hard enough that even switching loyalties wouldn't help much. It didn't change the fact that his partner, his so-called best friend had changed sides for a boy he hardly knew. A boy that probably wouldn't last more than a few more Earth decades at that. "Who said I wanted him back?" Knock Out snapped "I'm his best friend, I really should be supporting his decision." He noted "I could care less what he ultimately decides."

"You're a bad liar." Airachnid sneered "I bet if you had the chance, you'd crush the insect and have him back in a second."

Knock Out was silent again, as if thinking it over. He shook his head, and stood to his feet, grabbing a few more tools off the nearby table. He didn't like the idea of hurting Breakdown that way either. Perhaps using him as bait was one thing, but hurting someone that was obviously precious to the mech was another. "I'd want Breakdown back, you're probably right about that." Knock Out snarked "But hurting someone close to my friend is not something I'd do either." He then added "Besides, Starscream said he was just a kid... That's just taking things to another level, hurting younglings."

"What about the ones you put down when Kaon fell?"

"That was different..." Knock Out muttered "They were offlining slowly. I put them out of their misery."

Airachnid nearly chuckled, unnerving the medic slightly. It was true, he had put them out of their misery to save them from a much slower and harsher death, even if some didn't believe it. "But if you take him out of the equation, Breakdown will surely come back." Airachnid added "Think about it, just tell Megatron you want to do it, it can be quick, painless."

"Are you in need of repairs?" Knock Out shot back "Because if you're not, you need to leave. You've distracted me enough!"

Knock Out carefully returned to his work, turning his back to the femme. Airachnid simply crossed her arms, unamused at the fact she clearly couldn't push past Knock Out's simple moral codes. The moral codes that most, if not all, mechs and femmes should carry. Kids had no sides, at least not ones as young as he understood "Tyler" was, and though he often hid that he felt this way, he felt it deep down. "Fine, be a spoil sport." Airachnid chided "You'd better clean up that act though. Because when we do handle the situation you'll have to leave your conscious at the door."

Knock Out watched as the femme quietly walked away. He growled softly, leaning back against the table. He knew that Airachnid was right, he couldn't and wouldn't go against Megatron if he ordered the death of the boy. He wouldn't be the one to do it, but he definitely would not stop it either. Frankly, he knew it was more than likely inevitable. As angry as he was with Breakdown, he also knew that the mech was probably not attached to anyone on the other side besides the boy.

He sighed, his thoughts continued to stray to the thought as he returned to his work. Quietly, he worked his way into pushing the thoughts aside. Breakdown had made his choice, he had betrayed him and that was the end of the story. He wouldn't bother the boy, or harm him. He wouldn't let Breakdown get under his plating over his betrayal either. He'd simply continue on with life as it was now, after all, what else could he do? Breakdown had proven to him that he was, and always would be a solo act.

But even so, even while putting these thoughts into his head, he knew that he would always miss the big lug. And deep down, he'd always want him back.

...

Tyler leaned back quietly against his pillow, rubbing his eyes. His day in Vegas had been fun, no doubt about that. And though Fowler had had a long lecture with them about not taking off like that again, he felt it had been worth it. The rides had been fun, and he'd even managed to get in an episode of a TV Show that had yet to air in one of the hotels. "Ty?" He heard a knock on his door, and turned his head "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Fowler carefully opened the door and stepped inside. The man looked exhausted, and had some tape still on his body. Tyler already had the feeling that Fowler had been doing something other than a conference call, but that had pretty much confirmed it. "Hope you didn't get me that much." Tyler noted, Fowler raised his eyebrows in surprise "I'm only turning fourteen."

Fowler chuckled, putting his fists on his hips with a grin. "I won't spoil you too bad, I promise." He stated calmly, downplaying it so that the surprise party wouldn't be spoiled "But I'm still going to give you a few little things if nothing else." He then added "Every kid should get a little something on their birthday." he concluded "But that's not why I'm up here."

"Okay, then what is it?"

Fowler stared down at the boy quietly, crossing his arms. "What do you think about pets?"

"Like dogs or cats?" Tyler asked "Never had one."

Fowler nodded his head a bit. "But do you like animals?"

Tyler stared up at Fowler, confusion in his eyes. "Well, I uh... I've played with dogs before, yeah, I guess I like them." Tyler shook his head a bit "Why? You don't have pets, do you?" He questioned.

Fowler smirked a bit, and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, sort of... You see, after the conference call. You guys were still gone so I decided to go into town for a bit." Fowler stepped towards the door "They say that animals are really good for healing... And I found..." He carefully returned with a small puppy, that looked like a golden retriever puppy in his hands "This little guy being given away with a whole litter."

"Whoa, really?" Tyler stated in shock.

"Yeah." Fowler stated, carefully bringing the puppy up to the bed and setting him down "At first I was just taking a look because they were cute. But I was thinking about the whole animal and healing thing... And I..." He paused a moment "Well, if you're willing to give it a shot. I thought you could keep him."

Tyler stared at the puppy, who looked up and kissed his chin gently. The dog was adorable, that much he was positive of. But he couldn't believe this was happening. He had never thought about that, but he knew Fowler was right, he had heard that too. "Is he really mine?"

"If you want him." Fowler shook his head "They say he's potty trained, has his shots and everything... So he's pretty dang self-sufficient. When he gets bigger and a bit better trained, I bet you can even bring him to base." Tyler grinned widely "What do you say, kid?"

Tyler nodded his head. "Thanks Bill." Tyler spoke up "I'm gonna call him Zak. I always said if I had a dog I'd name him that. Always liked the name." Tyler carefully held "Zak" on his lap, and began to pet him carefully "Bill?" The man stared down at him carefully "Thanks for being such a good dad..." He paused "I don't think I thank you enough."

Fowler chuckled. "You thank me plenty." He patted the boy's head "I'm just glad you like 'im." He stood to his feet again and sighed "Now, I'm gonna let you go to sleep. Just wanted to get this out of the way before bed." He yawned quietly "Don't worry about if he has to go out. I'll keep my ears open." Tyler nodded his head "Goodnight, kiddo."

"Goodnight..." Tyler paused a moment, as if thinking about it "Goodnight, pop." He paused a minute, Fowler frowned "I uh... Was thinking. I'm not ready to call you "dad" yet. But... "Pop" means the same thing. I've never had a "pop" before." He paused "Do you think until I'm ready I can call you that? That's what my friend Donnie calls his dad, and-."

"I like "pop"." Fowler nodded his head "We can go with "pop" until you're ready if you want."

Tyler smiled, nodding his head. "I love you, pop."

"Love you too, son."

As Fowler left the two of them to their sleep, he couldn't help but smile widely. He still wasn't "dad", but he could definitely be "pop". And to say the least, that was more than a great start.

...

A/N: Finally got in something from Knock Out's side! Hope you guys are satisfied with that. :) Anyways, reviews make my day as always! :)