Smugglers 3: The Beginning Is The End

Chapter 5: Seeing Jazz

A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews; I really appreciate it. I'm sorry if I seemed a bit rude the other day; I didn't mean to be. Thanks to Butterflykaguya87 for pointing that out to me. So once again I apologize and please keep the reviews coming. Thank you very much.

After hearing Bulkhead's story Optimus merely nodded and forbade Prowl and Ratchet from asking any questions. The blue-and-red mech was burning with curiosity as well but at the moment they had much more important issues to deal with such as what to do with Bumblebee. Ever since their hasty departure from Ambrosia the little bot had completely reverted back to his normal self; which would have been okay except for the fact that he had actually become more like a sparkling than normal. He was so clingy that if he wasn't latched onto someone he immediately started shrieking at the top of his vocal processor. Needless to say Optimus and Ratchet both had slipped more than a few spinal discs from carrying the little bot while Prowl's audio receptors had blown completely after he refused to slow-dance with Bumblebee to some romantic sounding Earth music. Due to Bulkhead's massive size and re-enforced joints he not suffer as much harm as the others but instead had been used as Bumblebee's personal play toy and climbing gym as the little bot liked to climb all over him before falling into recharge. According to Bulkhead Bumblebee had acted like this right after he had been broken out of the asylum and the first time Bulkhead had been captured by the Elite Guard but he didn't know why his little buddy was acting this way now. Optimus didn't really care why he just wanted it to stop. Falling into recharge with Bumblebee on his chassis was one thing; waking up with Bumblebee's arms wrapped so tightly around his neck that Optimus had trouble with his intakes…he drew the line at that.

Fortunately salvation was close at servo; rumors of a blue-and-white mech stealing music a planet away had floated into Prowl's recently repaired audio sensors so they were now going that way in the hopes that it was Jazz. If nothing else he could give them a break from watching Bumblebee. It was with great relief that Optimus identified the ship ahead of them as belonging to Jazz. "It's Jazz," he called. The three sighs of relief were barely audible over Bumblebee's squeal of happiness.

"Thank goodness," Prowl muttered, his arms wrapped around Bumblebee's legs as he was currently serving as the little bot's mode of transportation.

"Jazz!" Bumblebee said happily, banging his legs against Prowl's sides.

"Don't do that,' Prowl said sharply. Bumblebee didn't stop. "Unless you want me to put you down you'll stop that this instant."

Prowl immediately regretted his words as the little gray faceplate screwed up and Bumblebee drew in a deep breath then released it as a loud piercing scream, the others quickly covering their sensitive audio sensors except for Prowl who was still holding onto Bumblebee.

This was the scene that greeted Jazz's optics when he opened a communications channel. "What the slag are you guys doin to him?" he demanded.

"Jazz! It's so good to see you," Bulkhead looked slightly overwhelmed.

"We can exchange pleasantries later," Ratchet growled. "Just tell that idiot to get over here."

Normally Jazz would have protested being called an idiot but something warned him not to mess with them. Considering that this was the same voice that told him when he was about to get in major trouble he decided to do the smart thing and listen to it for once. "Well if you guys open the door I'll be more than happy to come over there," he said.

A few minutes later Jazz found himself aboard The Smuggler gazing at the five very unique bots. There was no easy way to say it so Jazz decided to be blunt. "Y'all look awful," he said gesturing towards the four big bots. Well, he decided to be blunt but to also be diplomatic. The truth of the matter was they didn't look awful; they looked downright terrible. Poor Bulkhead was swaying so badly Jazz feared that he would fall over. Ratchet's optics kept shuttering but then he would shake his head, forcing them to stay open. Optimus kept trying rather unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn while Prowl swayed ever so slightly, the yellow minibot on his back seemingly the only thing keeping him on his pedes.

"You'd look awful too if you had to deal with him," Prowl muttered.

"What's he been doin?" Jazz asked, only slightly curious. Years of knowing Bumblebee had taught him the dangers of being too curious.

"Mostly he's just been cling to every one of us then throwing a temper tantrum if we try to set him down," Optimus explained, with a loud yawn.

"Come here, Bee," Jazz said, holding out his arms invitingly. Needing no encouragement the yellow mech early accepted as was soon resting comfortably on Jazz's hip. "Why don't you guys go get some recharge," he suggested.

"Are you sure?" Optimus asked hesitantly, trying not to look to eager to leave.

Jazz waved him off. "Oh I don't mind," Jazz re-assured the other mech who wasted no time in exiting the room along with his comrades.

"I missed you," bumblebee whispered as they left the room.

"I missed ya too," Jazz headed straight for the rec room where he intended to hopefully get the little bot to recharge. Once there Jazz opened up a cupboard and pulled out two cubes of energon; one regular cube for him and one specially processed cube for Bumblebee. He sat down at one of the tables and handed Bumblebee's energon to him then frowned. "What's wrong, Bee?" he asked gently.

"Nothing," Bee whispered, his words slightly muffled by Jazz's chassis.

"Don't give me that. Something's got ya worried, now what is it?"

Bumblebee was silent for so long that Jazz was about to give up on ever receiving an answer when Bumblebee said suddenly, "I'm scared, Jazz."

"Scared of what?"

"I don't know; everything I guess. I've got this terrible feeling that something bad's gonna happen real soon and when it does I won't ever see you or any of the others ever again. I don't want that to happen, Jazz, I don't!" the little bot was crying by this time, his entire frame literally shaking form the force of his sobs.

"It's gonna be okay," Jazz soothed, rubbing Bee's back. "Everything's gonna be all right, just you wait and see." Yet as he continued to soothe Bumblebee he couldn't help but doubt his own words.

Two days later they said their goodbyes to Jazz, Bumblebee giving the blue-and-white bot an extra tight hug then stepped back as Jazz board his ship. Jazz watched as The Smuggler left; not knowing that it would be the last time he would ever see the yellow minibot again, yet somehow feeling strangely saddened as he too took off.

A/N/N: 15 reviews again please but I'll be satisfied with 10.