Author's note. With thanks to elita13 whose idea was the inspiration for this chapter. Suggestions are always very welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

Spike chirped happily as Thundercracker carried him to the Rec Room. He'd had a very good nap and now felt wide awake and ready for anything. When he'd woken, he was dry and snuggled in his makeshift cot. He couldn't believe he'd been so tired, he hadn't noticed being taken out of the warm bath and taken all the way back to Thundercracker's quarters. He'd been happy to snuggle underneath his blanket for a little while until a hand had lightly started to stroke his back.

That's when he'd chirped happily and wriggled out from the blanket. His guardian had laughed, scooped him up and nuzzled him. Spike had squealed with laughter as he'd flung his arms around the tall Seeker who also laughed and whispered.

"My sweet little Sparkling,"

Thundercracker was definitely growing fonder of him and Spike was starting to wonder what that could mean. What would the Seeker do when the Autobots rescued him? Hell, what would he do when Spike turned back into a human? Spike really didn't like to think what Thundercracker's reaction to that would be so he squashed the thought down. For now, he was just a little innocent Sparkling that the Seeker was taking care of; there was no point in worrying about the future.

"Where are we going?" he asked his guardian and only getting a chuckle in return.

"Oh Ricochet, it's a shame you can't talk yet," Thundercracker said, still chuckling. "What would you tell me, eh?"

"Um, I really don't think you want to know what I could tell you," Spike replied honestly but again, it came out as a series of chirps and beeps.

"Hmm, I think you're going to be a talker," Thundercracker continued almost dreamily. "You'll probably be able to outtalk Starscream, won't that be a sight?"

This made the little Sparkling squeal with laughter as he imagined arguing with Starscream. Actually, he could get pretty mouthy with the Cons; the only problem was if they were pushed too much and you didn't have an Autobot protecting you...the results could be unpleasant to say the least. But again, this wasn't something that was relevant now so he wasn't going to worry about it.

"Now Ricochet," Thundercracker said a little sternly as they finally entered the Rec Room. "I've got to attend my duties for a while so I asked Warp to set up a little play area for you. There should be at least one Mech in here so you won't be left alone. Do you think you can manage?"

Of course, Spike couldn't answer but Thundercracker wasn't looking for one. He walked straight for a corner of the Rec Room which was out of the way, where a playpen had been set up. It looked so much like a human one that Spike guessed it was just a transformer sized one. This made him wonder what a transformer would normally do with their Sparklings but he'd have to save that question for when he became human again.

To Spike's surprise, the little playpen was filled with various toys which looked like they'd been scrounged together but they were toys none the less. There were also some pillows and a comfy looking fluffy blanket in a little pile so that he could snuggle up if tired. And to his surprise and delight, there appeared to be some paints and sheets of paper for him to mess about with. He couldn't believe the effort Thundercracker and Skywarp had gone to in order to ensure that he was entertained.

He started squeaking and chirping with excitement making Thundercracker sigh in relief. The Seeker had been worried his little Sparkling wouldn't like it but it seemed that he did. He didn't like leaving Ricochet alone but he had duties to attend to and he just couldn't take the Sparkling with him. Here, he would be safe, and the Rec Room door would be kept locked so that Ricochet could not escape the room.

"Here you go," Thundercracker said lovingly as he placed Spike carefully into the playpen.

Spike smiled back up at him, he could tell he'd gone to a lot of trouble. He went to examine his toys and grabbed several before flopping down on the comfy pillows. It easily looked like he would be amused for the next couple of hours so he looked back up at Thundercracker and chirped.

"This is great, thanks."

"You like it then?" Thundercracker asked and smiled as his Sparkling beamed back at him. "Good, I need to go now, sweetling but I'll be back with a nice cube of Energon for you later."

"Okay," Spike chirped as he received one more pat and then his guardian left.

For the first half hour or so, he had a great time messing around with his selection of toys. After that, he had a quick rest; it was amazing how tired he could easily get. Once his nap was done, he started to mess around with his paints, happily splattering them onto the paper provided.

While this had been happening, several Mechs had come and gone from the room. None of them really paid him any mind, they would just glance over, maybe leer or joke a bit but none bothered him. He suspected that Thundercracker had made it very clear that his ward was not to be messed with. Spike was very grateful for this, it was bad enough dealing with Decepticons when he was a human, never mind when he was a helpless Sparkling.

As Spike looked up from his paints, he saw that Megatron and Starscream were currently in the room. They appeared to be talking about something but he couldn't make out what. From what Spike could see, they were acting civil towards each other but they did not look particularly happy to be in each other's company. Spike really had no idea why Megatron had made Starscream his Second when they tended to argue so much.

Spike continued painting for a little bit before looking up again. To his mild surprise, he saw that Megatron had taken off his arm canon and was gesturing at it with Starscream looking grumpy. Unless he was wrong, Spike guessed that Megatron wanted Starscream to fix or upgrade it. After a few more moments, Megatron finally growled something to Starscream before stamping away, not even sparing the playpen a single glance.

Spike was now curious as a muttering Starscream started examining the weapon before sneering and sub spacing a few tools and starting on it. It was interesting to watch for a little while but eventually, Spike got bored and went back to painting. He didn't know how much time had passed but when he next looked up, Starscream was just finishing whatever tinkering he'd been doing.

Sneering down at his work, the Seeker got up and strutted over to a work console and started typing away. This console was quite a bit away from the canon which lay innocently and unguarded on a work table. Spike glanced back and forth between Starscream and that canon as a very naughty thought started to form in the Sparkling's mind.

Very sneakily, he snuck over to the side of the playpen and started looking for ways out. He found that two parts of it weren't very well fixed together and started to pry them apart. It took him a few minutes and he had to keep checking that Starscream hadn't noticed him but eventually, he managed. Grabbing a few choice paints, he carefully padded over to where the canon was located.

Resisting the urge to giggle, Spike managed to clamber onto a box before hauling himself onto the work station. The Seeker's back was to him as he crawled over to the canon and pressing very sticky hands on it. He then grabbed the paints he had brought, plunged his hands into them and started swearing the canon with paint. The naughty little Sparkling also started drawing crude shapes and forms, including a pink and black figure that very slightly resembled Megatron.

Spike struggled to contain his giggles; this was so naughty and so brilliant. That would teach Megatron to be so mean to him, telling Thundercracker to discipline him. Besides, the canon looked so much nicer with stripes of pink, red, blue and other colours on it. Shame he didn't have any glittery to lash on or even though little bedazzle jewels that he sometimes saw little kids with. He knew deep down there was a chance he could get into serious trouble for this but with the confidence all Sparklings possessed, he felt he could get away with it.

He looked over at Starscream but the Seeker was utterly engrossed in his work. Spike knew that he couldn't stay here forever; he needed to finish up and then sneak back over to his playpen. It didn't really occur to him that Starscream could get in real trouble for this, he just figured Megatron would get angry and storm a bit. Everyone would find it funny and have a good laugh.

"There," Spike chirped quietly as he patted one last blob of pink paint onto the canon before carefully gathering his paints up and crawling away.

Amazingly, he got all the way back without Starscream noticing him. After getting back into the playpen, he fixed the opening so that it appeared that it had never been touched. Feeling very pleased with himself, he decided he needed another nap so after putting his paints down, he collapsed onto his fluffy pillows and snuggled down.

He was woken by some stomping footsteps some time later but only very blearily opened his optics. There was a pause as the footsteps came to a stop and then...

"STARSCREAM!"

Spike came awake with a squeak, before rushing over to the side of the playpen to peer through.

"Jeez, I forgot how loud he was," Spike muttered as Megatron angrily towered over the shocked and equally angry Seeker.

"What is wrong with you?" demanded Starscream as Megatron glared down at him. "What are you yelling that?"

"Care to explain that?" snarled Megatron as he grabbed Starscream by his wing and throwing him in the direction of the painted canon.

Starscream stared in shock at the formally fearsome weapon, just as Thundercracker and Soundwave entered. The two stopped as they took in the scene, although Thundercracker did glance over at the playpen to make sure his Sparkling was still there.

"What...what happened?" Starscream finally blurted out.

"That's what I want to know," Megatron growled dangerously.

Starscream frowned at him for a moment before realising what his leader was saying.

"You think I DID THIS?" he demanded furiously.

"Who is could it have been?" Megatron said coldly as Starscream burst out.

"It was obviously the Sparkling!"

"The Sparkling," Megatron repeated as Thundercracker went over to Spike and lifted him up.

"You're telling me that brat," Megatron continued, pointing at Spike who just chirped curiously. "Managed to sneak out of that pen, somehow get over to that table, paint my canon and then sneak back? All while you were in this room?"

"What are you suggesting?" Starscream angrily, wings flared in a defensive way. "That I framed that little brat?"

As Megatron stared at him stonily, Starscream's mouth fell open.

"WHAT! You cannot be serious!" the Seeker shrieked, his voice causing Spike to wince and hide his face against Thundercracker's shoulder. "That is the most utterly preposterous thing I have ever heard you come out with Megatron and believe me, that's saying something."

As Megatron continued to glower, Starscream said hysterically.

"Look, the brat has paint all over his hands, it's clearly him."

"He's been painting," Thundercracker said with a frown, reaching to grab a picture. "Star, do you really think he deliberately framed you? He's just a Sparkling..."

"Well, it must be him because it wasn't me," Starscream practically howled before looking at Soundwave and snarling. "Unless it was his brats, I wouldn't put it past them."

"Negative," Soundwave intoned, indicating his chest. "They have been recharging all day, it could not have been them."

"Well...it...it still wasn't me," Starscream howled with fury and frustration. "I am not so childish as to paint your damn canon and then frame a Sparkling for it. Punish that brat so he doesn't do it again."

"You've no proof it was him," Thundercracker said sternly as his Sparkling chirped plaintively.

"I refuse to be punished for something I didn't do," Starscream retorted hotly as Megatron snapped.

"Enough Starscream."

The Seeker fell silent as Megatron furiously surveyed them all.

"I don't know who messed with my canon but if I ever find out who did it, they will be very sorry."

His furious gaze took in both Starscream and Spike before adding.

"Since I entrusted you with it Starscream, it is you are responsible for cleaning it."

"You can't...," Starscream began but Megatron growled.

"Would you prefer a beating?"

The Seeker fell silent, causing his leader to grumble.

"That's what I thought."

He turned to leave but not before saying.

"Thundercracker, I would keep a very close optic on that brat of yours. If he causes any trouble, then there will be consequences."

"I understand sir," Thundercracker said softly as Megatron stalked out of the room.

Holding his little Ricochet up, Thundercracker said very seriously.

"Ricochet, I think we need to talk."

Author's note. What happens next with Spike and the Decepticons? What about the Autobotos? Until then.