CHAPTER 13
Day Off

For the first time, Jeff had nothing to do, and for the first time, Jeff could honestly say that without a doubt he was bored. Perhaps it was because Sideswipe and Arcee had gone on patrol and were not scheduled to be back for a few hours, or perhaps it was because Prowl was taking a day off from his training. But either way, Jeff didn't have a thing to do for the entirety of the day. A part of Jeff wanted to go and torment Ratchet for a couple of hours, as that always proved amusing, but that also went against the training he was undergoing. Prowl didn't condone using his "abilities" to be rude, and whether he found it funny or not, Jeff was doing his best to abide by that code.

So he simply laid on his stomach on a surface in the hallway and watched. Drone after drone passed him by, and every so often, he may see one of the main Autobots who he'd simply say "hello" to. "You seem bored." Jeff nearly jumped out of his skin as Jeff approached "I'd think with me allowing you a day off after two weeks, you and your guardians might go out and do something fun." He noted.

"Eh, Sideswipe and Arcee are on "patrol" until like, five." Jeff replied with a small shrug of his shoulders "They said we might go to the drive-in theater down the street tonight though, so it's all good." He seated himself cross-legged and stared at Prowl "What have you been up to, today? Don't you have work to get done yourself?" He asked.

Prowl shrugged his own shoulders in response, taking a couple of steps towards his young apprentice. "I, too, have my day off today unless an emergency situation arises, which is why I gave today to you." He held out his palm out, and Jeff knowingly climbed on, allowing himself to be lifted onto the mech's shoulder "Perhaps we can find something to do together while you await the return of Sideswipe and Arcee." He shook his head "I've never been good with knowing what to do in my free time." He noted.

"You should try yoga." Jeff teased.

Again, Prowl looked up the meaning, and merely gave a sideways glance and chuckle right back. "That does not quite seem like my thing." Prowl commented, his golden optics scanning the hallway "Though I do suppose I could indulge you until your guardians return. So why don't you pick an activity?" He questioned with a grin "It wouldn't hurt to get another a little better beyond our training." He added.

Jeff stared at Prowl with curiosity in his eyes, surprised that the mech would do such a thing. But then again, he had noticed that outside his work, though still a very "logically" thinking mech, Prowl was much more calm and friendly. "Well... I don't really know what much there is to do around the city, I'm still kinda new around here." Jeff admitted "Maybe we can go exploring the town? Nothing cooler than getting a police escort." He nudged Prowl with a grin "Even if it is just a hologram technically." He added.

Setting Jeff on the ground, Prowl slowly transformed down into his slick, police cruiser form. The passenger's side door popped open politely for him, and Jeff climbed in calmly, allowing the door to slam shut. Jeff noticed the holoform in Prowl's driver's seat, that of a tall man in about his mid-40s, with a clean shave, and short blonde hair, his eyes, in holoform mode, were a piercing, but more human blue, rather than gold. "Whoa." Jeff commented "Don't you get in trouble for driving a police car without being a police officer?" He asked.

"It's just my choice of alt mode. With the Autobot shield on it, no one bothers me." Prowl shook his head in response "Don't get me wrong, you can't do anything stupid such as putting on the siren. But I am allowed to have my chosen alternate mode." He explained "Besides, being head of security, my alternate form makes a lot of sense." He explained.

"You have a lot of titles." Jeff tilted his head "Doesn't leave much open to a social life."

Prowl shook his head slowly as he drove out of the vehicular exit of the base, his eyes stared at Jeff. "Unfortunately, no. Though I'm fairly certain I'm not the type to settle down as is. I haven't "dated" in many vorns, and I have yet to find the desire to have sparklings." Prowl admitted, shrugging his shoulders "I believe that the solitary road may be the perfect path for a mech like me."

Jeff nodded, leaning back in the seat, and tilting his head at Prowl. "That's really too bad, because with your whole approach to life, you'd probably make a good dad." Jeff shook his head "But I can see where with your job and all, it'd probably be way too hard. Both you and Optimus would have to worry for whatever kids you'd have constantly." He shook his head, Prowl seemed quiet "That isn't the reason, is it?" He questioned.

Prowl shook his head a bit, and patted his chest a little. "When I was young, I sustained severe damage to my spark chamber from what you would call a drive-by. Among other things, it rendered me incapable of spark merging." Prowl explained "I never approached a serious relationship with a femme because of this. We need to repopulate our race, and by doing that I should not take any merge-capable femmes." He shook his head "Or I will only contribute to our slow extinction." He stated quietly.

"That makes sense." Jeff nodded slowly "But that's horrible too. I mean, I can't imagine that... Not being able to be with anyone because you're too scared of the consequences." He leaned against the side of the window "Though I guess sometimes that isn't so bad. You don't risk, you know... Having a kid you don't want, and have to drop them off on someone else the second you can..." He paused "I suppose that's even worse." He explained.

Prowl peered over at Jeff silently, noting the sadness within his features. He thought to ask whether or not he was abandoned as a child, but quietly reminded himself that this was far from his business. "I believe there are many reasons that a parent would do something like that, all of them logical..." Prowl paused "Most of them not malicious." He explained "For example... I never knew my brother, Bluestreak before I was a little older than you are now. As my family went into poverty when he was sparked." He added "Had to give him up." He added.

Jeff nodded absently, peering over at Prowl slowly. The Autobot pulled to a stop slowly, and opened up his door. "How'd Bluestreak turn out?" Jeff shifted a bit, curiosity filling his eyes.

"He grew up to be one of the greatest interrogators in the Autobot army."

Jeff couldn't help but grin at that, though he would never admit it, it did give him the slightest sense of hope. Stepping out of his vehicular mode, he peered around the area, they had stopped near a couple of large buildings. Behind him, Prowl transformed, causing Jeff to look up at him. "Where'd you take me, Prowl?" Jeff raised an eyebrow "This looks like some sort of office building." He added.

"Come along, you'll soon see."

As Prowl made his way inside, Jeff seemed skeptical. Normally, if a person he didn't know too well said that, he'd have red flags galore. But on the other hand, he was rather certain that Prowl was a thousand percent unlikely to harm an innocent. Slowly, he followed the mech inside, finding himself in what he almost thought might have been outer space itself. The room was completely dark, with lights running along the floor, and panels along the walls which glowed brilliantly. Around them, different Autobots and humans were doing various actions by tapping the walls. Some played games, including a holographic chess game in the corner. Some looked up information. And some simply looked on in awe.

"What is this place?" Jeff questioned.

"A little piece of Autobot technology we shared here with you humans." Prowl replied with a gentle smile "Your world can only sustain our holographic technology for so long. So we created this "hub" in New Chicago. It contains all information on your race, and ours. As well as detailed histories, games..." Prowl smirked "It's something I'm quite proud of." He added.

"You made this?" Jeff asked.

Prowl nodded his head slowly, nodding towards a femme at the counter, who let him through. Jeff was able to go through as well, and he only turned his head to see a couple of other humans having to pay. "But if this has all of that, why would you share it?" Jeff shook his head "Don't you worry that they'll learn how to, y'know, hurt you guys?" He asked.

"Why do you think we only share this information here?" Prowl shook his head "So that we can oversee how you use our technology." He put his hands behind his back "Go ahead, Jeff, give it a spin." He added "If you'd like to, you can even locate anyone you so chose in the world. That's the feature I find the most fun." He added.

Jeff took a step towards an open wall, and tapped it gently. It lit up, and showed him the various options like one massive supercomputer. Prowl watched as he brought up a holographic keyboard, and began his search. His smile faded a bit at the words "MAY DEVLIN". As Jeff typed enter, Prowl found it a little hard to believe when "NO SUCH PERSON LOCATED" also flashed on-screen. "Your mother, I take it?" Prowl questioned.

"How can't she be located?"

Prowl shook his head, he crouched down low beside Jeff, and gave a comforting smile. "They have to be registered as living within this city, Jeff. I meant... Well, I meant like Sideswipe, Arcee..." Prowl's face fell as Jeff's did "I'm certain, however, that Optimus will find your mother." He noted "You do not need to search on your own." He added.

Jeff stood there, looking at the wall for a silent moment. "Yeah..." Jeff huffed "So what else can it do?" He questioned.

Inwardly, Prowl would be lying to say that the disappointment in the boy's face didn't break his spark slightly.

...

A/N: Sorry for not featuring Sideswipe and Arcee much the last three chapters. I just felt I wanted to properly introduce Prowl into the story a bit. :) I hope you enjoyed his first three chapters all the same. :)