Disclaimer: Never have, never will, own TF. Only people with powerful and highly paid lawyers do. Sorry! Also, I don't own Skittles.

I sighed and looked away, finishing my meal – even though I was no longer hungry. Once I was done with that, Ratchet gave me another dose of painkillers and told me to come back in an hour, he should know something by them. So with a heavy mind and heart, I stuffed my hands into my pockets and headed out.

Someone landed on my shoulder and I reached up. A sharp pain filled my finger and I pulled it away lazily, seeing Starscream hanging by his mouth from my pinky. I must admit, I was rather surprised. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

Starscream flew into the air and I smiled softly, seeing his wing was healed. "Well, you're all bells and whistles about seeing me." He said sarcastically, landing on my head.

"Sorry." I mumbled, looking at the ground as I walked. Truthfully, I didn't want to talk to him, but I had to talk to someone. "You seen Jazz?"

He snorted, "Why would I know where that pathetic Autobot is?" The seeker asked me and I shook my head.

"Had to ask." I shrugged, "You sure?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"You're…you. A Decepticon."

"I was being sarcastic!"

"Suuuuuuuuuuuuure you were." I snorted, "Just like you were all those times you tried to take over the Decepticons. Right?" I glanced up at him and grinned, managing to catch a peek of those red optics glaring down at me.

Starscream didn't answer, so I just laughed. I knew I had got him. With a huff, Starscream flew off of my head and down the hall in front of me, mumbling curses under his breath.

Glaring after him, I shoved my hands into my pockets with more force than nessesary. Oh, who cared about the grumpy seeker? He was too much of a pain in the aft for my taste. …Oh, who am I kidding? The treacherous 'Con seems to have grown on me. I guess it's true what they say about people, unless you absolutely, positively hate them and have good reason to, they'll grow on you if you're forced to hang around them long enough.

(Okay, so that's what I say, not so much everyone else.)

"Hey, where ya headed?"

I glanced up and saw Sideswipe smiling down at me. I smiled back slightly, "Jus' lookin' for Jazz." I replied, taking on a deeper Southern accent than needed, "Ya seen 'im?"

"I think he and Prowl were walking around the Ark about five cycles ago." The red twin informed me, "Need a lift?"

"Nah, I can handle it, Sides. Thanks, though."

"Hey, no prob, chica." With that, he waved and walked away.

I stared after him and blinked, 'Chica?' I thought, Hmph. Must mean I'm part of the gang now. Whatever. Now…to find Jazzy!!

With that thought, and slight uncalled for fan girlish giggle, I made my way towards the outside of the Ark to find and apologize to Jazz before something bad happened, which – given my luck lately – was bound to happen sooner than needed, or wanted.

I found the two bond mates walking around the perimeter of the Ark, more on a walk that a patrol, which I had thought it was at first. From my perch on one of the ship's rockets, legs dangling and swinging idly, I listened in for a moment before jumping down in front of the two.

"Aullo!"

Both looked down at me, hesitant. "Hey, Al." Jazz finally spoke.

"…" I got the impression I had hurt him deeper than I thought I had. My bare toe disturbed the dirt on the ground before I mumbled, "Can we talk please?" I looked at Prowl, "Alone…?"

Prowl eyed his mate, who gave me a look before nodding. "Sure." He said, sliding off of Prowl's shoulder and down onto the ground. He looked up at me and scrambled up my clothes to sit on my shoulder.

"You're a regular monkey." I murmured, smiling.

He didn't appear to notice. "Meetcha back at our quarters, 'kay?" When Prowl nodded and we took off, he gave me a half glance out of the corner of his visor. "Whatcha need?"

Ouch. No 'sup, lil' lady?' like he had said plenty of times before? Oh, well, can't say I blame him for the cold shoulder. I deserved it. I poked my two forefingers together multiple times before muttering, "JustwantedtosayI'msorryIwassuchajerkafteryouriskedyourlovelynecktosavemefromthe'Cons."

Jazz's visor twinkled, "What was that, lil' lady?" He asked.

My ears grew red, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry I was such a jerk after you risked your neck to save me from the 'Cons."

Odds were he heard the comment about his neck in the first sentence, but didn't bring it up. Instead, he just gave me a grin, "Apology accepted, Al." He said, grabbing a small fistful of my hair and tugging.

"Ow! Hey!" I laughed.

"Hay's for horses, don'tcha humans know dat?"

"Oh, hardy-har-har." I rolled my eyes, "Sometimes I wonder why I don't bother ringin' that neck of yours."

"'Cuz I'm too cute to be killed." He grinned and I busted out laughing, shoulders shaking so hard he almost fell off. However, he held onto my hair and gave me another wide grin, "You know I'm cute."

"As a Porsche, possibly."

"As a Pontiac Solstice?" He wiggled his optic ridges.

"Don't push your luck."

"Dat's a good show."

"Push Your Luck? Yeah, it…okay, you're changing the subject."

"Ya mean ya wanna talk 'bout 'ow cute ah am?"

"…Changing the subject it is!"

Jazz laughed, visor twinkling. I could only image what color optics Michael Bay put under that sparkling ice blue visor, or if he put any optics under at all. That thought brought the picture of Jazz's nearly destroyed body back into my mind and I tensed.

"Ya okay, Al?" he asked, peering over at me.

I nodded slowly, "Yeah…just…thinking."

"'Bout wha'?"

"Persistent, aren'tcha?" I asked as I continued to walk.

Jazz flashed me a grin and a thumbs up. "Ya know it, girl! Now, 'sup?"

"…Nuffin'." I finally lied. I didn't want to tell him what was really bothering me. He would either A) take it personally or B) bother me about it. Either way, it would be uncomfortable for the both of us. And, as much as I loved the sexy Cajun, there was no way in the Pitt I was going to confide in him that much, especially when he was the one that was 'bothering' me.

Jazz nudged my head, "Al?"

I glanced up. "Yo."

"Ya sure yer okay?"

"As sure as I'm standing here."

"Yer a bad liar."

"Actually, I'm quite a good one. It's when I get caught I stumble."

The ex-Porsche chuckled and I grinned at him. I glanced up and let out a breath, "So…you ever worried about what'll happen to y'all after the war? Or if any of y'all will survive this…?"

"Morbid, huh?"

"I see the glass as half empty."

"Half empty…half full…if dere's somethin' in the dang glass, drink it!" He gave me a smirk.

"You're optimistic."

"Y'know it!" He said again.

I sighed, shaking my head. Something blocked the sun and I cursed. "What is it?"

"Take a guess." Jazz murmured.

"Decepticon."

"Close."

"…You're not serious."

"Ah am."

"Slag. Orcus?"

"…We 'ave a winnah."

"Oh slag."

I turned to run, but a furry hand wrapped around me and two fingers snatched Jazz. "I hate you." I murmured up at Orcus, who gave a look like he was hurt.

"My creator said the same thing…before I killed him."

"I created you."

"Exactly."

Dun dun dun!! Sorry..., no more.