CHAPTER 18
Uncertainty

Jeff felt a little odd around Prowl after that night, and thus spent much of his time around Sideswipe and Arcee. Prowl had been quiet himself, mostly passive, but overall, a bit more friendly than usual. It was as thought something about that night had caused a change in him that Jeff didn't totally understand, and doubted he ever would understand for that matter. He'd taken his frustration about his feelings out the only way he knew how: punching a boy who mocked him about his unusual circumstances.

All it had done was land him back in the med bay with several bruises, a black eye, and a fat lip. To say that Ratchet looked unamused to see Jeff in the med bay for anything but a minor check-up might have been an understatement. "You wanna tell me why you were stupid enough to pick a fight?" Jeff grunted "I though Prowl was teaching you that violence isn't always the answer to your problems." He noted.

"He was talking bad about you guys." Jeff kept the ice pack to his eye and stared up at the mech "Like I was supposed to sit there and take some jerk talking badly about you guys? Face it, this may not be my ideal situation, but you're good to me, you're the closest thing to family I've got." He paused a bit, and looked down "I don't like it when people talk that way." He added.

"There was more reason." Ratchet noted "I can tell, but I'd rather not take the next several hours to get it out of you." He took a deep breath "But I do not want this happening again. None of us much care what those brats think of us." He snorted "You have no need to defend our honor." He added.

Jeff shifted a bit on the berth, biting back a retort. Jeff had learned quickly upon his many visits that fighting with Ratchet was a dangerous game. The mech didn't have any personal attachment to him, but the medic was not totally a bad guy, and at the end of the day was just looking out for his health. "Yeah, Hatchet, I promise." Jeff rolled his eyes "And for your information, there was no other reason." He grunted.

Ratchet's optics looked Jeff dead on, the boy could literally feel the tension. "I haven't seen you around Prowl lately." Ratchet pointed out "You two were close for a long time, but it seems you leave after each training session." He paused "I don't know what he has done to upset you, but it is making you a bitter individual again." He added "You need to change that."

"I'm just... Confused." Jeff admitted "I'm not totally sure how I should act around Prowl until I figure it out."

"Are you...?"

"No! No!" Jeff quickly replied "I just... The other night when he watched me, Prowl kinda played this fatherly act on me. It wasn't something I'm used to..." He shook his head "I don't know, maybe it scared me a little."

Ratchet's optics widened at the mere notion of Prowl acting "fatherly" towards anyone. But by the look on Jeff's face, he was very serious. Frowning a bit, and setting a few of his tools down, the medic turned around slowly. "Well, you know, if you ask me someone to look up to may do you some good." Jeff was silent at that "Yes, Sideswipe and Arcee may be good guardians to you. But both are still young and have much to learn." He then added "Perhaps you may find more of a role model with Prowl." He added.

"I get that." Jeff shifted "I just don't get why he'd even bother to be a role model to me. I get being a mentor... But he's the Autobot second-in-command." He shook his head "That's only like, a step down from Optimus Prime doing that." He explained "Why me?" He questioned.

Ratchet shook his head, not understanding it fully himself. Taking a deep breath, he shrugged and looked towards him. "Prowl has never been an easy mech to read. His ways allude me." He replied "But I will admit, I have never seen him conduct such actions before." He looked down "Have you attempted to speak to him about it since this event took place?" He shook his head "Then there's your answer. You've held the ice pack there long enough, now go, talk to him, work this out." He then added "I don't want to see you in this condition again."

Setting the ice pack down onto the berth, Jeff let his lips curved into a grin. "Gee Ratchet, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were concerned." Jeff teased.

"Don't push your luck."

Jeff decided it best to not do just that, making his way out the door of the med bay slowly. He knew that he'd have to talk to Prowl at some point, it may has well have been now.

...

Prowl was silent as he looked over his data pads for the day. It had been a long week of thought for him as well, to say the least. Most of his thoughts were towards what his feelings for Jeff had been. Attachment, he had decided, he was becoming attached to the human youngling, something he had not foreseen or even thought of before. His mind had gone over the logistics of how to approach their relationship now, Jeff was still a fragile child, and he needed to approach it with care. After all, though he felt this way about him, there was no telling if Jeff cared much for him.

Even so, Prowl could not get his mind off the young human, and that was even nagging his processor. What was it about this boy? He had never been attached to a child before, so why would it happen now? His thoughts were interrupted by the pitter-patter of human feet, his optics trailing behind just enough to see a young, battered boy. "What happened to you?" Prowl questioned as he turned around "You sustained injuries." He added.

"Later." Jeff shook his head "We need to talk about the other night."

Prowl was silent at this, uncertain, for a moment, whether it would be right to speak first. The boy showed signs of nervousness, so he knew to approach it carefully, but stepped forward none the less. "It's bothering you." Jeff nodded his head "It was simply a reflex, Jeffrey. When I was a young officer in the Autobot army, I looked after a youngling or two... About the same time-span." He paused "I simply did what I was used to."

"No you didn't." Jeff shook his head.

Prowl silently cursed the fact that Jeff could read on nearly the same level he did. "Very well, I have no explanation for my actions other than this. I like you Jeff, you have become very special to me." Prowl took a deep exhale of his vents "Though it happens infrequently, when I care for someone. I become close, protective, it's in my nature." He shook his head "It was only a reflex, one which I admit I enjoyed."

You're not the only one. Jeff admitted to himself.

"Yeah, well..." Jeff paused a moment "I'm sorry I was kinda cold about it." He looked away "It was really kind of you and all, no one's ever cared about me like that. They're always putt-off by me just being me..." He allowed himself to smile a little "I should have thanked you that night, actually. You were there for me, and you... Helped me when I had the nightmare, and..."

"You're forgiven." Prowl replied "You were frightened, it's understandable."

"No it's not, I was an ass."

Jeff couldn't believe he was bringing himself to admit it. Crossing his arms, Prowl stared down at Jeff, moving into a slow crouch and setting his arms across his knees. "But I am not angry with you, so I would be an "ass" not to forgive you." Prowl explained "I was the one who did not take into account how you may feel about the close contact." He then stated quietly "But I do wish you to know... It's only because I do care Jeff, more than I thought I did."

Jeff stared at the ground. "And I appreciate that." He stared up at Prowl "So we're cool?"

"Indeed."

Jeff nodded, starting to head for the door. "Great, I'll uh... Be in early for training tomorrow."

Prowl nodded, and let Jeff leave quietly, feeling a bit better after speaking. Though it had surprised him that Jeff had approached him, his spark felt a great deal of happiness about it. Deep inside, Prowl knew one thing was for sure about this newfound understanding and friendship they were forming and one thing alone: Things around the base were about to become very, very interesting.

...

A/N: I know this chapter's a little short, but it took less than I expected to convey what I wanted to. Reviews make my day!