Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews! I always greatly appreciate it! :)

Edited once by Cave_cat
Re-edited by the wonderful Taralynden

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"Vorn" = about 1 year, "Stellarcycle" = about 6 months, "Decacycle" = about 1 week, "Cycle" = about 1 day, "Orn" = about an hour, "Breem" = about a minute

"click" = bout a mile

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Chapter 6

He walked into Prowl's office, like he had so many times before.

Prowl stood in front of his data pad case, hand out stretched with a data file in it, probably re-organizing them again. Prowl turned looking over his shoulder to see who had entered his office giving a small smile when he saw who it was,

"Hello, Ironhide."

He gave a smile of his own as he walked to where Prowl stood,

"Evenin' Prowl."

Prowl turned to him keeping the data file in hand, "I'm glad you stopped by. I need you to finalize this list of weapon parts and ammunition."

Prowl looked up at him, "I realize the run isn't for another few cycles yet but it would help get some of these data files off my desk."

He took the data file from Prowl, "Sure, Prowl. I'll have it done, signed, an' on yer desk first thing tomorrow."

A genuine smile lit up Prowl's face, "Thank you, Ironhide. I can always rely on you."

He wasn't sure what came over him, it had to be that smile on Prowl's face or maybe it was the tone of his voice that compelled him. Compelled him to reach a hand out, cup the back of Prowl's neck and draw Prowl to him. Compelled him to lean down and ever so gently kiss him.

Time stopped and for a moment he feared he had made a mistake…a huge mistake. But Prowl began to slowly, hesitantly kiss back. Pulling Prowl closer and moving slowly he coaxed Prowl into a deeper kiss. Almost blindly he set the data file in his hand on a nearby shelf. He wanted his hands free so he could finally touch Prowl, explore him.

Not breaking the kiss he maneuvered Prowl back. Prowl's hands clutched at his shoulders and Prowl gave a soft whine when his back pressed against the wall, doorwings splayed. Fingers stroked, danced, and glided along the seams and planes of Prowl's frame. Feeling heat build beneath his hands as he pinned Prowl against the wall. The smaller black and white body squirmed and shifted under his wandering touch.

He ran his hands over the white chest plate then around Prowl's sides, both hands coming to rest on those splayed sensory panels. Thrilled he could finally indulge in touching them without them flickering out of reach. A small moan escaping the throat of their owner at the contact.

Those doorwings gleamed beneath his hands. Catching his optics, enticing him, begging him to stroke the sweet warm metal there by evoking an erotic reaction, a tantalizing treat for his optics alone. He couldn't resist.

Grey hands moved over those sensitive panels in smooth firm strokes. Prowl broke the kiss as his head fell back against the wall and he arched his body, a long low throaty moan accompanying his movements. Beautiful.

White hands began to explore his body in return. It felt so good. He groaned and pressed into the caresses. With Prowl's head resting against the wall it left his neck perfectly exposed. He attacked, placing hungry open mouthed kisses all along Prowl's throat. His systems revved. Circuits tingled and sung in pleasure.

Prowl panted breathlessly, "Ironhide…ohhhh."

He pressed against Prowl harder, his hands touching and stroking any part of Prowl he could reach. White hands stroked up his back, over his shoulders, caressed his helm, the black and white body moved against his as Prowl gave a whine,

"Ironhide…please…please….."

Ironhide jerked out of recharge, sitting straight up in his berth. He panted, it felt like all his systems were running on high, his entire frame felt hot and sensitive. He took deep breaths of air to try and cool his revving systems and heated plating. He shuttered his optics willing the dream away so he could calm down and get a hold of himself again. He ran a hand over his face before turning around to lean against the wall.

It took a few breems but his systems finally calmed and his body cooled. With his arousal now starved off, he found himself once again starting at the ceiling of his quarters. The dream had been haunting him for a few decacycles now. He knew he should to do something about it. Make some move.

But words and actions often failed him when he was face to face with Prowl. Dreams were one thing, reality was another. And with Prowl having to deal with Jazz, or more to the point avoiding Jazz at every turn, he couldn't help but feel now wasn't the best time to approach Prowl. Thanks to Jazz's outlandish behavior Prowl was probably sour toward the idea of relationships in general.

Heaving a sigh he hauled himself off his berth and out of his quarters to the rec area. It was way too early for him to be up but he needed a drink bad. He didn't even bother to look around the rec room, it was far to early for a shift change and hardly anyone would be up at this orn. He poured himself a good amount of high grade taking a large swallow before he turned to the room.

A rather familiar frame lounged in a chair at a table. Doorwings swung low as the mech tilted his head back and breathed out grey wisps of smoke. Ironhide frowned and walked over to him. The blue and maroon mech had his feet crossed and propped up on another chair and a nearly empty cube of high grade sat on the table next to him.

As Ironhide stood on the other side of the table frowning down at the mech, Smokescreen simply tilted his head enough to look up at Ironhide's stern face. In a gesture of kindness and comradeship, Smokescreen reached out offering Ironhide the lit rolled substance.

Ironhide's frown deepened, "Yer not suppose ta have that stuff on the base, Smokescreen. It's against the rules."

Smokescreen smirked and dropped his arm to the table, "What're you going to do about it, Ironhide? Gonna go run tell Prowl?"

Ironhide gave a low grumble as he sat down watching as Smokescreen lifted the lit roll to his lips and inhaled deeply. Ironhide just shook his head,

"I don' see the point in it. All its gonna to do is clog yer filters. Then yer gonna have ta go ta Ratchet, he'll know what it's from and he'll report ya."

Smokescreen breathed out more of the wispy grey smoke, "Yeah but its soo relaxing. Besides Ratchet isn't going to report me. He'll probably just ask for some."

Ironhide sighed looking down at the cube of high grade in his hands. Smokescreen watched him for a moment, "So what's your problem?"

He looked up, "What makes ya think 'ah have a problem?"

"You're here, alone, gulping down high grade at this time of night….early morning, whatever. To me that points to a problem."

"Yer doin' the same slaggin' thing! What's YER problem?"

"I don't have a problem. You have a problem. I came here to relax and enjoy myself." Smokescreen lifted the roll to his mouth again, "Thanks for intruding on that by the way."

Smokescreen then lifted his cube of high grade and took a sip, giving Ironhide a long look, "So, go on, tell me what your problem is."

Ironhide shifted in his seat, "I…I don't know. It's not somethin' I need every mech knowin' about."

Smokescreen gave him a bland look, "Yes, Ironhide, I totally understand. I can't keep my mouth shut about anything. After all, that's how I got this job, by telling every bots secrets. That's what all Psychologists do. I just can't wait to drag this latest bit of personal information from you so I can go post it somewhere."

Ironhide sat back in his seat, "Alright, alright. No need to git all sarcastic."

They lapsed into silence for a breem as Ironhide stared at the table.

Smokescreen set down his cube of high grade, prompting Ironhide, "Well…"

Ironhide shifted in his seat again, "Its nothin'. Just…..dreams."

"Dreams?"

"…yeah."

Smokescreen sat for a moment watching as Ironhide stared into his cube of high grade, "Dreams about…?"

Ironhide shifted in his seat again continuing to stare down into his cube of high grade as he shook his head and gave a shrug.

Smokescreen raised the roll to his mouth again, "Dreams about Prowl?"

Ironhide's head snapped up to look at Smokescreen in surprise.

Smokescreen shook his head, "No, I can't read thoughts, Ironhide." He calmly blew out smoke as he turned to look Ironhide in the optics, "But I can read who hacks into my files."

Embarrassed, Ironhide looked away, "I…uhh, didn't know you could trace that."

"I can. I expected Red Alert to do it, Jazz was a given, but you..…you surprised me."

With a sigh, Ironhide took a long drink of his high grade as they once again lapsed into silence.

"He's going to end up with Jazz, you know that, right?"

Ironhide shook his head, "No, he's not. He doesn't like Jazz."

"Yes, he does."

Ironhide felt his temper flare, "No, he doesn't. He doesn't like Jazz, that's why he's avoidin' him."

Smokescreen took his legs down from the chair they were propped up on, sitting up in his seat he folded his arms on the table and leaned in to look Ironhide straight in the optics,

"Prowl is avoiding Jazz because he likes Jazz." Smokescreen put up a hand to halt Ironhide's protest, "Prowl has no problem dealing with mechs he dislikes. He's not all that fond of me but he's never avoided me, he may not seek me out but he does not avoid me. He's never told me to leave his office or shut a door in my face. Prowl has no problem dealing with dislike of a mech.

"However, Prowl has a very difficult time dealing with the complexity of emotions that comes with liking another on a more intimate level. Prowl's logic center naturally comes up with reasons for him not to get involved like his position here, rank, conflicts of job responsibilities, his glitch, his past relationship experiences. So Prowl has to fight an inner battle, logical reasons not to pursue a relationship verses his emotions encouraging him to pursue a relationship.

"So with Prowl avoiding Jazz, it isn't dislike. My guess is Prowl probably feels he needs time to sort it all out. And he will. And I'm telling you now he will end up with Jazz."

Ironhide was silent and Smokescreen could see the anger on his face, "Ironhide, you can't take any of this personally. After all, in the whole Jazz-Prowl problem, you're not even part of the equation. You're Prowl's friend and that's all you're ever going to be."

Ironhide abruptly stood, fists clenched, "Ya don' know what the frag yer talkin' 'bout, Smokescreen! Yer wrong!"

Ironhide turned and headed for the doorway, high grade forgotten.

Smokescreen called after him, "If you need to talk, you know where my office is."

He watched Ironhide storm out. Shaking his head he went back to lounging in his chair again, propping his feet back up before lighting another roll. He reached over and took Ironhide's forgotten cube of high grade for himself, no sense in letting it go to waste.

Over the next few cycles Ironhide was in one foul mood, snapping at just about anyone who crossed his path or irritated him. Smokescreen's words hung in his processor, refusing to leave. It was only when he was in Prowl's office one cycle watching as Jazz once again tried to slip in only have Prowl block him and tell Jazz if he didn't have something work related to discuss he needed to leave, did Ironhide's mood brighten. He wanted to smile, Smokescreen was wrong. Prowl didn't like Jazz. And if Smokescreen was wrong about that then he was wrong about Ironhide never being more than just a friend to Prowl.

---------------------- Authors Notes------------------

Just for the record, Ironhide is not a jerk. He's not sneaky or underhanded, everything he says (about Jazz or anyone else) he truly believes.

Reviews are always encouraging :)