Crash and Burn
Chapter 5-Disinclination
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Sam watched his dad and Leo up on the roof, hanging the last of the Christmas lights. He was holding the ladder for his dad, who was feeding the string of lights up to Leo, who was stapling them in place. It was dark, but not too cold, not as cold as it would be back in Kansas this time of year.
"Son, watch what you're doing," Ron cautioned as Leo nearly stapled his own hand to a shingle.
"I'm trying," Leo muttered, sparing the two Autobots parked on the street a glance. He hoped they were amused by the human custom of lighting one's house for the holidays. It was Bumblebee's third Christmas on Earth, Arcee's second, but she hadn't the chance before to experience it like Bumblebee had. And before Leo could apply another staple, he heard the front door slam.
"It's almost nine o'clock. Get down off that ladder and in the house. Now."
Mrs. Witwicky. God bless her.
"Aww, Judy, c'mon. We're almost done," Ron said.
"My butt," Judy said. "Your son and Leo aren't slave labor. They can help you finish tomorrow."
"But. . ."
".Now."
Leo heard the audible sigh, leaned over to watch Mr. Witwicky climb down. Sam held the ladder for him, and he grinned at him once he was down.
"Not much changes. Ever. It's the same thing each year. Dad's always procrastinating with the lights," Sam said. "And Mom always yells at him about it."
"We just leave our lights up year round," Leo said. "Makes it easy."
"Yeah, well, welcome to the Witwicky Christmas," Sam said, throwing an arm across Leo's shoulders, dragging him inside.
-----
Gen. Morshower wasn't sure he heard the Autobot leader correctly. Optimus Prime was always honest, direct, to the point. He didn't beat around the bush. Except during this particular transmission, the Autobot was. The human had never heard the Autobot hem and haw like this before. Something to do with Ironhide, the future of their people. That's all he got so far. But enough was enough. Once this meeting was over, it was home for the holidays. But Morshower couldn't head that way until Prime was through saying what he had to say.
"Optimus, please clarify what you're trying to say," Morshower said.
If he didn't know better, he thought he just heard the Autobot leader sigh.
"Ironhide and Chromia are expectant," Optimus said, hoping to end the conversation quickly.
"Expectant? As in pregnant?" Morshower said. "This is good news." A grin suddenly split the general's face, Graham noted from where he was watching the feed of the conversation quietly. "How long will Chromia be out of commission?"
Another pause from Prime.
"Optimus? Did you hear the question? How long. . ."
"It's not Chromia," Optimus finally said.
"What? I didn't quite catch that," Morshower said. He turned to one of the soldiers nearby. "Has the connection gone bad?"
The soldier shook his head.
"Optimus, what did you say?"
"I said it's not Chromia," Prime said, louder.
On the other side of the planet, the assembled humans in the NEST operations center at the Pentagon pondered what they'd just heard. A few sniggered when they figured it out. Some greeted it with shocked looks. Morshower palmed his face when it finally dawned on him what the Autobot leader meant. Ironhide. Ironhide was pregnant. But he recovered quickly.
"How long will Ironhide be out of commission?" Morshower asked.
"Approximately two months, according to Ratchet," Optimus said. "If the gestation and birth proceed without any problems, Ironhide could be back on duty within a few days after delivering the protoform."
"That's good to hear," Morshower said. "But I don't expect anyone under my command, human or Cybertronian, to be back on duty so soon after the arrival of their offspring. We'll play it by ear. Just keep me posted."
The transmission ceased, Optimus glanced down at Graham, who beckoned him out of the hangar. The Autobot leader followed the human out, knelt down on one knee once they were outside.
"Two months? Is that all it will take?" Graham asked. He'd heard the lecture from Ratchet, but he still had unanswered questions.
"As I said, approximately that, if all goes well," Optimus said.
"Have you given any though to what we'll do while he's off duty?" Graham asked.
"Ironhide plans on making himself available if needed during the gestation," Optimus said.
"You mean he intends on fighting in his condition? And you said yes?"
"I haven't given Ironhide an answer one way or another," Optimus said. "Although I fully plan on backing Ratchet's decision when he finally chooses to inform Ironhide of it."
"And his decision is?" Graham said.
"Do you really think Ratchet or I would let someone who is carrying fight?" Optimus said.
"I take it the answer is no then," Graham said.
"That is correct," Optimus said. "I've discussed a few options with Hound and Sideswipe, and I'll make sure you receive a report of it by day's end."
"Thank you, Optimus," Graham said. "Just a couple more things--Galloway wanted me to let you know your request has finally been granted. The conversion of one of the auxiliary hangars for living quarters will begin after the beginning of the new year."
Optimus gave the human a small smile. "That's good to hear," he said.
Graham could guess what the Autobot was thinking, maybe. No more need for the two bonded pairs in the Autobots' midst to have to sneak around anymore and the rest of them wouldn't have to spend all their time in their vehicular modes.
"The signal you detected--you said more Autobots will be here within a few weeks. Any idea if that's one week, two, more? And do you know how many?"
"I only know it's Prowl, my second in command. He did not say who or how many accompany him, but I can tell you I will welcome his presence once he arrives. Prowl is logical, a tactician. His abilities will greatly improve how we deal with Decepticon incursions."
"That's good to know," Graham said. "And I've heard the others talking about him."
Optimus sighed. "What are they saying about Prowl?"
"That he's logical, good at his job. . ."
"A pain in the aft? A stickler for rules? Needs to loosen up?" Optimus said.
"That too," Graham said. "None of it's been very bad. . .although the exception has been Bluestreak. He's spoken of him with affection."
"Prowl adopted Blue after his family was lost in the war," Optimus said. "He raised him as his own. Well, Blue, like Bumblebee, was raised among the Autobots. Many had a hand in his upbringing, but none more so than Prowl and Jazz."
"Speaking of Bluestreak. . ." Graham said.
Prime shot the human a look.
"What about Blue?" Optimus asked.
"Settled things with him yet? I know he's not very happy with you right now," Graham said. "Well, it seems like. . ."
"He's not happy with me or much of anything," Optimus said. "To answer your question, no, I have not 'settled' anything with Blue yet."
"Would you like me to talk to him?" Graham offered. "I know he's still grieving. . ."
"If you like, but I don't know that it will do much good," Optimus said.
"I can try," Graham said. "I will later. I've got some work to catch up on now. See you later."
Optimus nodded at the human, drew himself up to his full height. Maybe Graham could do some good. The human got on well with most of the Autobots, and Blue was no exception. Except Graham had brought up a very valid point--Blue was still grieving for Jazz. He'd arrived in October, along with Hound and Mirage. Jazz had died more than two years before, but his death was new to Blue. Prime also wasn't relishing having to break that news again, this time to Prowl. But that was days away, and Blue had, for some reason, fixated his affections on his leader. Grief, anger, almost anything Optimus Prime could deal with, but not the other. He was the Autobot leader, didn't have time for such entanglements. Maybe if he wasn't the one in charge, or possibly if the war was over, he would consider the type of relationship Bluestreak kept hinting at.
Unfortunately, everyone else, his fellow Autobots and more than a couple of humans kept looking at Prime like he was crazy because he *wasn't* considering it. Ratchet had even asked him in casual conversation a few days before just how long he'd been celibate. The question had taken the Autobot leader aback, and he'd refused to answer. Luckily, Ratchet had dismissed it after teasing him good-naturedly about it. (That long, eh?) And over the past few weeks, Ratchet had been pointing out the obvious fact Blue wasn't a sparkling anymore. He and Bumblebee were the only two sparklings Optimus could recall surviving the war; Springer, Hot Rod and Blurr the only younglings. They'd been older than Blue and Bumblebee. But Bluestreak was an adult by Cybertronian standards, had been for a long time. No, Prime wouldn't consider it. Not because he didn't care about Bluestreak. Quite the opposite in fact. Blue deserved someone who could give him what he wanted. And that was not Optimus Prime.