Chapter 14 Continued

Barricade wants to leave the City and attempts to, but fails when Prowl beats him to the punch! This happens after Dani was served dinner. Holoforms and Mech Forms could be in two different places. So Dani didn't realize that the real form of Prowl had gone out to chase Barricade.

Prowl literally slaps some sense into Barricade. Literally.

Chapter Fourteen: Take Two

Destroyer left Prowl's apartment after Dani was served dinner. He drove back to Barricade's apartment. He found him outside of his apartment. "Barricade?"

"I'm heading out!" Barricade said.

"What? You heard Prowl!"

"He wouldn't dare lock me up when I'm taking care of Pierce."

"You're taking a risk!"

"Of course I'm taking a risk!" Barricade snarled. "I'm tired of being in that Slagging apartment with nothing to do! Pierce sleeps most of the time and I need to get out of here for just a few hours!"

Destroyer watched as he sped out of Autobot City. Pierce couldn't be left alone! Destroyer commed Overseer and told him about the situation with Barricade. Overseer rushed after Barricade.

-0-

Prowl quietly worked in his office in his apartment. Suddenly, an audible alarm rang through his comm unit. "Red Alert?"

"Barricade? He just went Awol as the humans say."

"On my way!" Prowl said and sped out of his apartment and out of the City.

-0-

"Barricade! Rethink this!" Overseer pleaded as he sped up the road alongside Barricade.

"I have!" Barricade spat. "I gave this a lot of processing. This is the only way for me to get Pierce anything and I need to stretch my tires! I'm tired of sitting in that apartment!"
"At least go back to Pierce! He needs you." Overseer told him.

They both heard the tell tale sounds of sirens and knew who that was. Barricade snarled and sped up. "I'm not going back now!"

-0-

Prowl saw two Mechs racing up the road. He put in another burst of speed and then found himself being flanked by Ironhide and Destroyer. The three of them raced ahead. "Ironhide, to the left of me, Destroyer, to the right of me." he ordered. Both Mechs obeyed his orders and Prowl sped up past Overseer. "Take him!" Prowl ordered to Ironhide. Ironhide took Overseer and immobilized him. Prowl raced forward to intercept Barricade. He transformed and jumped onto Barricade's Alt-Form. Barricade changed into his Mech form and tried to push Prowl off him. Prowl raised his hand and slapped him. "Enough!" Prowl warned. "I have warned you of your actions and you know very well what happens if you do not obey my orders." Barricade didn't have time to react before Prowl immobilized him and forced him into recharge.

They tugged Overseer and Barricade back into the City. Prowl led both Mechs into the brig and the Energon fields flared. "We will interrogate tomorrow. I have a charge to look after as do you, Destroyer."

"Yes sir." Destroyer looked at Overseer one last time before leaving the brig. He felt sorry for Barricade and to get slapped must have been a shock to him. Destroyer tried to shake the feeling that Barricade might not be able to see Pierce.

-0-

The Next Morning

Barricade on-lined his optics and found himself lying on a metal berth. He looked at the Energon bars and groaned. His cheek plates hurt as if slapped. He rubbed his cheek plates as he sat up. He saw Overseer in another cell. He heard someone walking toward his cell. Prowl stood there, arms crossed. "I warned you not to cross me, Mech!" His tone of voice was menacing.

"Well, maybe you should have extended my prison, I would not have attempted to leave!"

"What are you implying, Mech? That I give you leeway?"

"I have a charge!" Barricade said. "I should be allowed to get him things!"

Prowl shook his head. "No. When you gain our trust, then you are free to get him things! You have shown neither." Prowl said.

"Cut the slag!" Barricade spat. "You locked up two innocents here! Overseer was trying to stop me! I wanted to buy Pierce something and when he woke up, he would have it! Now it's too late!"

"Is that why you were waiting until he fell asleep?"

"Yes."

"Why did you not get approval from us?"

"I was restricted to my apartment and it was a spur of the moment." Barricade answered.

"I will give you a week and then let you out of this cell. If you can prove to us that you will behave, I will give you leeway and an escort while you are out in the open."

Barricade watched Prowl leave and Ironhide enter with two cubes of Energon. He handed Barricade the cube and he drained it.

Overseer was just waking as Ironhide lay the cube on a desk in his cell. Then he left. Barricade shook his helm as weird processing thoughts entered his mind. Prowl, of all the Mech's and Femmes was strict second in command. He would never slap any other Mech unless they really asked for it. Prowl was a stiff and serious Mech on Cybertron. But on Earth, he was a huge softie toward all the Mech's. He wondered if he was this caring to all Decepticon prisoners. Then he realized he wasn't exactly a prisoner. He was a guest and Prowl was treating him like he would if he were a Youngling in need of disciplining from an elder adult. Barricade was a young Mech, but nowhere close to the Youngling age. He processed that he should know better than to cross any Mech especially Prowl or even Ironhide. He cast a look to Overseer. He looked shocked to be behind Energon bars and was holding his helm in his hands. It looked like Overseer had a processor ache.

"Oh! What hit me?" Overseer murmured.

"Ironhide." Barricade answered.

"Ironhide? Why did Prowl order Ironhide to stop me when I was trying to stop you?"

"How should I know?" Barricade asked tartly.

Overseer looked at him then. "There's no need to be tart. The both of us are probably on a probationary period."

"You process so?"

"Yes." Overseer said. "I hope this is some premium high grade because I could use some to take away this awful processor ache."

Overseer should not have worried because Ratchet walked into the Brig along with Prowl. Prowl watched as Ratchet scanned Barricade and Overseer for other injuries. He gave Overseer some pain medicine for his processor ache. Then both of them left. Overseer's processor ache went away. "Thank Primus."

Barricade knew he'd be in for a long week and lay back against the cold wall. "Better get used to the arrangements, Overseer. Knowing Prowl, he isn't going to let us go any time soon."