Rhapsody in Blue

Chapter 6

It only took a few hours before Rhapsody opened his optics to see the world for the first time and since then he hasn't slowed down a bit. "Ook ook, me!" He shouted, bouncing up and down on the berth before stumbling and falling into Jazz's arms. " C'ash. Boom." Rhapsody giggled.

"Crash boom is right there, lil guy." The Porsche laughed, returning the small blue mechlet to his feet. Rhapsody just giggled and tried again, this time falling back on his aft. He made a face and rubbed his dented behind.

"C'ash boom. No fun." Rhapsody shook his head and decidedly crawled up into his father's lap, nuzzling his face against Jazz's midsection as it was the farthest he could reach. The Porsche smiled and held his son closer to him looking up as his mate walked into the room with Offbeat.

The smallest spark was still trying to catch up to his brother, barely able to stay online and open his optics. Ratchet made sure to stress just how much care the little one needed; making sure he was hand feed constantly and given the correct supplement as his systems couldn't handle a full dose of energon yet.

"How's lil guy?" Jazz asked as Jynx sat beside the two of them.

The black and white mechlet yawned and snuggled against his mother. Instinct had taught him to seek the warmth of her body and the connection he had to her. In fact, little Offbeat wouldn't let Jazz even hold him because he didn't recognize him like he did his mother.

"Better I think, he was awake for about ten minutes and I got a pint of supplement into him."

"Good. I's getting' worry 'bout him." Jazz reached out and touched his cheek, only to have Offbeat whimper and turn his back to him. The saboteur sighed and pulled his hand back. It was no secret that it deeply bothered him that his youngest son wouldn't let him near or cry anytime he saw him.

Jynx cradled Offbeat soothingly with a frown on her face as well. "Ratchet said he thought he'd grow out of that you know… it's just that you didn't…ya know, you aren't…"

"Yeah, I know." Jazz frowned just as Rhapsody shifted and looked around.

"Ma. 'Old me?" Rhapsody struggled to get out of Jazz's embrace and stagger his way over to Jynx, trying to push his way into his mother's arms. "Move, 'Ro. My turn." Getting what he wanted, with one arm around him and Offbeat in the other, Rhapsody sighed and snuggled.

"Great. Now I lost both of 'um." Jazz grunted.

"Oh Jazz, you know-"

"I know…."

Rhapsody looked back over to his father and reached out to him, opening and closing his black hands. "Daddy? Daddy, stay. Me want." The blue mechlet pouted and whimpered.

"You want me to sit with ya?" Jazz asked with a glimmer of hope and scooted closer to his mate until they touched. Rhapsody's head bobbled up and down and grabbed for Jazz's arm, throwing it around like a big security blanket. Gently tucked away with both his mother's arm and Jazz's the little blue mech fell into recharge.

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Two days later came quickly and the boys had to have their first check up. Rhapsody wasn't very eager to see Ratchet again, complaining that his hands were too cold but eventually Jazz was able to get him there kicking and screaming.

Ratchet did Rhapsody's check up first while his hands were still warm, or so the medic told him just to keep him still long enough to run the diagnostics. A few minutes later, the CMO walked back out to Rhapsody's waiting parents.

"No problems with this one," Ratchet plopped the youngster in Jazz's arms. "He's healthy as far as I can see. Spark's functioning at optimum levels and looks like it adjusted just fine with his body shell."

"Good," Jazz grunted as Rhapsody crawled up on his shoulder, accidentally kicking Jazz with a knee. "Good luck gettin' Beat ta letcha hold 'im."

"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine." Ratchet gently pulled Offbeat away from his mother.

"Just be careful…" Jynx muttered, not at all thrilled at giving Offbeat to Ratchet. Not that she didn't trust the medic but…that was her baby! He was so little…so defenseless. It was hard enough when he had to take Rhapsody but Offbeat?

"Don't worry, Mother Hen. I'm not going to hurt him." Ratchet grumped, being extremely careful with the fragile mech who was amazingly quiet. Probably just asleep, Jazz reasoned jealously.

An hour or so later Ratchet returned with a slight frown on his face. "Well… he's not as far along as I hoped." Jynx snatched Offbeat and held him close while the medic continued talking. "Are you sure you gave him only the supplement?"

"Of course. And made sure he slept for at least four hours at a time and everything else you said."

Ratchet rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his brows furrowed. "Bring him back in a day or so but it could be that he's just a bit slower."

"But he is normal, right?" Jazz spoke up.

"Normal I suppose for being so under developed. I just hoped that he'd be more aware than this."

Jynx nodded and continued to rock the small bundle back and forth, kissing the top of his head. "He is healthy then, right?"

"Yes, yes. I said he's just not as far along as I hoped." Ratchet sighed, "Come back in a day or so and we'll see if there's any changes." The repair bay slammed shut and that was that.

"He mad." Rhapsody blew a raspberry at Ratchet's closed door.

"Naw, he's just worried is all," Jazz grinned and kissed the little one's nose.

Rhapsody wrinkled his nose at him, wiping off the kiss. "Eeeew gross, Dad."

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Author's Notes: Glad ya all liked the last chapter! This was supposed to be a cute fluffy part but I ended up with a little more Drama. Kinda ironic aint it? Rhap was the one running all over the place as a kid when it later is Offbeat who's the troublemaker. snorts Ah well. Please R&R if ya have the chance! I usually try to incorporate comments into the fic like suggestions and the like. Thanks to everyone who left me a review last time as well, much appreciated :D