ch 11

Prowl woke abruptly to a sudden presence in his quarters that wasn't Barricade. He pulled Barricade closer to his chassis, trying not to wake his sleeping bondmate, and withdrew an energon dagger with his free hand. With his scanners set to high alert, he would know the instant the intruder came into his recharge room from the main area.

::Prowler, Ahm comin' in, so don' kill meh or somethin'.::

With a muted curse, the energon dagger vanished back into subspace. ::Jazz, you seriously need to find a better time to have your spark-to-spark conversations.:: he shot back, only mildly irritated. ::Such as during a time when we are not supposed to be recharging.::

::Ha! Like ya recharge at all.:: Jazz shot back. The special ops mech walked into the recharge room. His visor was withdrawn, letting Prowl actually look at his optics for a change. He generally only revealed his optics when he wanted to discuss something serious, despite the disadvantage it put him. Jazz took in the odd sight before him, Prowl wrapped protectively around Barricade's back, and arched an optic ridge. ::This some sort of Praxian bonding ritual Ah don' know about?::

::No.:: Prowl said softly.

Jazz sighed and crouched down next to the berth. ::Ah had a feelin' this had happened.:: he muttered. ::Prowler, ya know it's dangerous, right?::

::He could have killed me.:: Prowl reminded him. ::Instead, he saved my life.::

::Like that's a logical reason ta go fallin' in love wit' someone?:: Jazz retorted. ::Do ya really think he loves ya back, Prowler? If'n he does, then congrats, but if'n he's usin' ya, then – ::

::Then you want me to be prepared.:: Prowl finished for him. ::Yes, I know. But I am not helpless, Jazz. Believe me when I say that.::

Jazz vented in vague irritation. ::Ah know ya ain', Prowl. But can't ya see where this is goin'?:: He spread his hands out. ::Ah don' want ya ta have yer spark broken.::

Prowl smiled faintly. ::Don't worry about me, Jazz.:: he said softly. ::I appreciate the offer, but this time, I don't need your help.::

Jazz offered a small grin in return. ::Well, if ya ever need it, ya know where it is.:: With that he stood and left the room.

Prowl's smile faded as soon as he was gone. Optics flickered down to Barricade, still asleep despite everything. He traced his fingers across the assassin's faceplates, feeling oddly pleased when Cade unconsciously tilted his helm into the touch.

Love? Prowl hadn't a clue what love was. He knew the difference between lust and something deeper, though, and this was far beyond lust. Far beyond sparkbonds, even.

Perhaps as far as love.

He shuttered his optics and resumed recharging.

/-/

"Until we know for certain what's going on with Galvatron, we're doing patrols in groups of three." Barricade announced as he walked into the rec room. Ironhide merely grunted as he followed him in. Barricade ignored the sound and continued. "Prowl wants you to take Bluestreak with you."

"Why me?" Ironhide grumbled. "Not that I don' like the kid or somethin', but wouldn't the Twins be better with him?"

"Prowl's putting the Twins with Jazz." came the immediate response. "Besides, do you really want to put the Twins alone with little Blue?"

"Good point."

"We thought so."

Ironhide laughed and pushed past Barricade to get his energon. "So, Prowl's lettin' you in on his plans, eh? That's a first. Thought he only let Jazz in on his planning sessions."

"Jazz was there too." Barricade protested, pushing Ironhide away from the energon dispenser so he could get his ration. "Although I don't think he appreciated me being there. He was glaring at me."

"How could you tell with the visor?"

"Soundwave has a visor. Trust me, I know when a mech is glaring at me." They went to the couch and settled down. Barricade took a drink of his energon. "I'm sticking with Prowl when he goes out."

Ironhide nodded. "Probably for the best. He's gonna want to protect you, and vice versa."

"How do you figure?" Barricade retorted. "Maybe he just wants to keep an optic on me."

"After you just admitted to helping him plan the patrols?" Ironhide laughed. "Look mech, I'm old but I'm not blind. I can see what's goin' on between the two of you, even if you can't." Ironhide grinned at him. "I'm not gonna say a word against it, either."

Barricade blinked. "Seriously? You don't mind us – well, us? I'm the Decepticon assassin, after all."

"Yeah, you are. And for whatever reason, Prowl cares for you. You care for him." Ironhide shrugged. "As hard as it is to believe, I kinda like you, punk. You keep the Twins outta my wires and keep Prowl level. That makes ya a good mech in my optics."

"Huh." Barricade offered a small grin. "Thanks, I think."

"You're welcome, I think."

Jazz made his appearance then, shadowed by Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Barricade could still see the cuts he'd left in Sunny from the night before. The Autobot was vicious in a fight. Sunstreaker nodded amiably to him, and he returned the gesture. Jazz grinned. "Ya two make a sight fer sore optics." he teased. "Just sittin' here actin' all chummy."

"Do you have any idea what chummy means?" Ironhide retorted.

"Yeah – I coined the word." Jazz laughed. "Hey, Barricade – wanna go on patrol with us? I'd feel a bit better with a fourth mech, an' ya gotta be goin' stir crazy in here."

True enough. "I'm supposed to patrol with Prowl." Barricade replied.

"Prowl ain' goin' on patrol today." Jazz assured him. "He got caught up in SIC stuff." He waved his hand expressively, and Barricade chuckled. "So, whaddya say?"

Barricade shrugged. "Count me in."

"All right. I'll inform Blaster – he's runnin' comms today – an' we'll be on our merry way." Jazz waltzed off, whistling a little tune as he left. Sideswipe groaned.

"He's determined to get that song stuck in my processors."

"If it drove you crazy, how would we be able to tell?" Sunstreaker retorted dryly.

"Patrol with those three." Ironhide offered Barricade a small salute. "I wish you the best of luck."

Barricade chuckled. "I'll be fine."

/-/

An: Sorry for the long update time. I hate tests. (headdesk) So – I guess everyone can see where this is going, right? Review, and hopefully I'll get the next chapter out that much faster.