And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains, within the sound of silence...

Jazz stumbled backwards into the hall way, somehow managing to stay on his feet. The energon cubes in his hands almost fell to the floor but he kept his servos on them.

Mirage and Hound happened to be walking past and saw what had just occurred and both snickered to each other.

"Prowl kick you out again," Mirage said with a smirk.

Jazz huffed, "Yeah, won't even let me bring him energon, even though he needs it," the last bit was spoken under his breath.

"I don't know why you try, Jazz," Hound said.

Jazz glanced back to the closed door and then beckoned for them to follow him down the hall. When he got far enough he spoke in a whisper, making sure no one was around to hear.

"Because he deserves to have someone look after him," Jazz said in a passionate whisper.

Hound and Mirage looked at each other, perplexed, "Why?"

Jazz sighed and shook his head, "Do you guys even have any idea what Prowl does for you, for all of us?"

"What are you talking about Jazz?"

"Haven't you ever noticed that neither of you are ever sent on separate missions?" Jazz began.

Mirage and Hound glanced at each other and shook their heads.

"It's because Prowl knows you guys are bonded," Jazz waved his hands as if it was obvious.

Realization dawned on Hound's face but Mirage remained skeptical.

"Nah, mech, that's a total coincidence. There's no way Prowl does that specifically 'cause we're bonded," he said with a shake of his head.

Hound turned to him, "No, think about it 'Raje, First Aid and Ratchet, Inferno and Red Alert, Ironhide and Tracks, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Hoist," Hound said to his mate, "On all of the missions they've been on, none of them have been separated or at least to far away. I just never realized it until now."

Jazz nodded, "Not only that, but he knows everyone's preferred schedules. Like when they work best or who they work best with. He knows who to put where and when and for how long," Jazz's optics dimmed a bit, almost like he had a faraway look in them, "He also makes sure that no mech is overly stressed. When he sees someone is stressed, he gives them less work and send them to Smokescreen."

Mirage whistled and Hound nodded his head in agreement.

"He makes sure everyone is happy and everything is running smoothly," Jazz said, his voice quiet in awe.

Mirage and Hound glanced to each other and snickered.

"Sounds like someone's got a crush," Mirage said playfully.

Jazz sighed and nodded, "Yeah but I've already been here for at least half a vorn and he's barely given me the time of day. Some times I imagine he starts to look interested but then he pulls himself away and locks himself in his office, and when I try to do something nice he just throws me out," he said holding up the cubs of energon.

Mirage shrugged and slapped his friend amicably on the back, "Keep trying mech, maybe you'll get through. I still think it's like tryin' to ask a drone out."

Jazz frowned at that and shook his head.

Mirage laughed and slung his arm around the Head of Special Ops, "C'mon, J, let's go play some poker with Wheeljack and Smokescreen," he said and started down the hall. He stopped and turned to his mate, who had not joined them, "You coming Hound?"

Hound nodded, "You go on, I have to check something out."

Mirage shrugged and continued down the hall with Jazz, talking about their previous mission.

Hound turned and started down the opposite way until he came to a familiar door. He paused before knocking, and held his breath as he waited for an answer.

He did not need to wait long, the door swung open almost immediately and he was surprised at the tone of voice of the mech who addressed him.

"Jazz, I swear if I have to tell you one more time...," That was about when Prowl realized that it was not Jazz standing in front of him, but Hound.

The one on the outside of the door, nearly took a step back in surprise. He had never heard Prowl's voice sound so expressive and... emotional before.

"Oh, Hound, come in," Prowl's voice lost all emotion and it quickly slipped back into the tight politeness.

Hound swallowed and smiled and walked in after the Second in Command.

Prowl went back behind his desk and sat down, he gestured to the seat across from him and Hound obliged.

"Is there something you needed?" Prowl asked, his voice still empty.

Hound frowned mentally but spoke anyway, "It's about Mirage, he seems really stressed lately."

Prowl nodded, "Would you like me to schedule some time off together, and perhaps a visit to my bro- Smokescreen?"

Hound did not miss the slight slip, but he cataloged that for later. He was only interested in how...robotically sincere the SIC sounded; if that made any sense.

"I would really appreciate time off, but I don't think the visit to the Psychiatrist is necessary, thank you, commander," The Special Ops mech said.

Prowl nodded and stood, "I will arrange it for two orn from now, is that acceptable?"

Hound nodded and stood as well.

"Good, now if that is all, I must go and see Optimus Prime," he said leading the other mech out of his office.

Hound blinked, "Really why?"

"I do not know," he said simply and began walking towards their leader's office.

Hound paused contemplating if he should say anything or not, finally, mind made up, he called out to the Praxian.

Prowl paused and turned to face the other mech.

"Prowl, I... I think you should give Jazz a chance."

The Second in commands optics widened in surprise, but they quickly darkened in anger, "That is none of your business, Hound," he said and continued out of sight.

Hound sighed and shook his head, "I'm an idiot."

/?/

"It has come to my attention, Prowl, that you are not consuming energon regularly," Optimus Prime said in his most authoritative voice.

Prowl frowned minutely.

Do you care?

"After all, I need my second in command in top shape," Optimus finished lightly.

Of course not.

"Understood sir, but if I may ask, who brought this to your attention?" Prowl asked, his voice stiff and emotionless.

"Oh, It was Ratchet," Prime said, thinking nothing of it.

"Thank you sir, is that all?" Prowl said preparing to leave.

"I also wished to tell you that you and Jazz will be going on a short reconnaissance mission. I've heard intel that the Decepticons are mobilizing in the west and I wanted you and Jazz to check it out and report back with anything you find," Prime said. "I've already informed Jazz."

Prowl nodded then excused himself.

He needed to speak with Ratchet and his broth- Smokescreen.

Though he would not admit it, Prowl was beyond annoyed that Prime was setting up this mission with Jazz. Ever since he had gotten there, the head of the Special Ops division had been trying to get Prowl to go out with him on a date.

Prowl refused him every time, not only because he did not trust Jazz with his feelings, but because he had sworn not to enter a relationship again.

Not after... Prowl shook his head to expel those thoughts as he entered the med bay.

Ratchet looked up and frowned as though he had been expecting Prowl's arrival.

"Prowl."

"Ratchet," Prowl stepped in and made sure they were alone. "For what reason did you inform Optimus Prime of my energon and recharging habits?"

Ratchet crossed his arms and scowled harder, "Because it is not healthy," he growled.

"My health is not-"

"Like frag it isn't! Your can't keep this up Prowl! Your going to shut yourself down," he scolded. Ratchet's anger only grew as he saw the emotionless expression on the other mechs face. "Don't you care about yourself?!"

"I ask that you keep my medical records confidential as they should be in the future, Chief Medical Officer," Prowl said, his voice void of emotion or expression.

Ratchet had had enough, "Get out!"

Prowl's optics narrowed, but he said nothing as he spun on his heels and walked out of the med bay.

Ratchet sat back and sighed, "He's going to kill himself one of these days."

/?/

Smokescreen knew exactly who had entered the rec-room, even if his back was to the door, and this was because it went nearly completely silent.

He turned and saw none other that Prowl standing before him.

"Commander," he said stiffly. He placed his poker cards down and was aware of the eyes of every mech in the room on them.

"Smokescreen, I would like to discuss something," Prowl said.

The older brother had no desire to go anywhere with the SIC, and he decided to act on that, never mind that he was acting like a petulant sparkling.

"We can discuss it here."

Prowl's optics narrowed and Smokescreen relished in the reaction, no matter how minute.

"As, you wish," Prowl began, "I am putting you on mandatory leave of absence, for the next five orn," he said.

Smokescreen shot up out of his seat, "What?!" He roared.

Prowl seemed unintimidated by the taller mech looming over him. "Did I not speak clearly?"

This only served to anger the older brother further, "Why the frag are you doing this?!"

Prowl folded his hands behind his back and stood at attention, "You're performances in battle are obviously lacking and I surmised it was because of-"

"Fuck you, Prowl," Smokescreen roared. "Fuck you! Do you even have a spark?! Are you just a drone?! What the FRAG is wrong with you?! Why couldn't you be more like Lyra?! Why couldn't-"

"ENOUGH!"

The whole room went silent and still. Not one mech breathed or moved an inch. They had all frozen.

Never had any of them heard Prowl raise his voice, Smokescreen included.

The brother was stunned into silence.

"You will be going on leave and you will never mention Lyra again to me," Prowl's voice was deadly and as cold as ice, "Am I understood?"

Smokescreen could only nod his head numbly and watch as Prowl exited the room without another word.

The older Praxion sat back in the chair, his mouth still open. He shook his head, to clear his thoughts and ran a servo over his face.

He should not have said those things. He only wished he had realized that before he said them.

/?/

Prowl quickly entered his room and an to his birth. He curled up on it and held his servos close to try to stop the shaking in them.

His brother had never spoken to him like that, and he had never yelled at his brother.

Prowl closed his optics.

He had thought, that what Smokescreen had said about them not being brothers anymore had been just a lie, a way to get an emotional response out of him.

Prowl's whole body trembled with pain.

Smokescreen was not lying, though. He had meant it when he had said that they were no longer brothers anymore. That hurt the SIC more than an energon blade to his spark.

He smiled darkly, but he did not have a spark did he.

Prowl could feel himself slipping into the darkness, the numbness.

He felt more of himself fall apart.