CHAPTER 34
Ever-Changing Feelings

Jeff felt as though a weight of twenty tons had been lifted off of his back. The fact that Prowl had agreed to adopt him had been the greatest moment of his life. He was going to have a family, a real family, and though it was a group of giant robots, he felt like he was the luckiest person alive. He sighed quietly, leaning back against the couch, he relaxed and waited as Prowl at last opened the door to the apartment. Prowl had told him about his uncle, as he now had a reason to know the situation, and as such, know that there was a possibility that this would not end easily.

Prowl looked towards his young charge, coming up behind him with a quiet sigh. "It's nearing eleven o'clock, nearly bedtime." Jeff nodded slowly, rubbing his eyes gently "Prime has agreed if everything can go right. You will be allowed to live on-base." He smiled at Jeff, who managed a smile back "Which by my calculations would mean you'll be "bragging" about your father in a good four to six months." He added.

"I still can't believe that's what you of all people want." Jeff stood "I figured-" He stopped "I guess I was just assuming a mech like you with your whole rules and logic take... Wouldn't want someone who's pretty much..." He shook his head "Hell, after tonight, I'm not totally sure what I am." He explained.

Prowl understood what he meant, as the breakdown had very likely been something that Jeff was not accustomed to. After all, it showed something that Jeff did often try to hide: his true emotions. "I know what you are." Prowl commented, crouching to his knee "My son. From this moment forward I shall consider you such." He explained, a gentle smile on his face.

Jeff smiled a bit as the mech stood from his crouched position, stretching his limbs. Prowl looked exhausted, and between his breakdown, and his own work-filled day, Jeff couldn't blame him at all. "Does that mean I can get a "get-away-with-rule-breaking free" card?" Jeff teased.

Prowl rolled his optics a bit, definitely doubtful that he would ever give away one of those cards. He may have been a little more linnet with Jeff, that was not doubtful in the least, but he was never the type of person to just say "no" to discipline. Especially not with Jeff, who was definitely in need of some in his life. "Cute, but you're getting the same treatment on that end as any other member of this base." He replied honestly "Just means I care about you." He explained.

"Prowl?" Jeff smiled a bit "I love you."

Prowl had to smile at that, as Jeff had never just gone out of his way to say it before. Picking Jeff up, and gently holding him close, he smiled a bit. "I love you too, youngling." He paused a moment "Son." He corrected himself gently "Primus, that is going to take some serious getting used to." He settled Jeff in the crook of his arm "You're going to make me a father."

"That a good thing?" Jeff questioned.

"A great thing." Prowl replied happily "Especially for one who never believed he'd have the chance to like myself." He paused a moment "I know that not every "single" person needs a family to make them happy. But one of many things I have wanted was the chance to be a father." He admitted "Thank you for giving me that chance, Jeffrey." He added.

At this point, he set Jeff back on the ground, the boy only smiled a bit. Though he knew things could change at the turn of the hat, he felt loved and warm, moreso than he had felt since his biological father had been alive. "Now come on, kid, it's time for you to go to bed and get some recharge." Prowl commented gently "I need my own recharge myself. After all I'm the one with work in the morning." He vented a bit.

Jeff nodded his head a bit, allowing the smile on his face to widen. He opened his bedroom door, making his way to the bed, and collapsing onto it. It took him a couple minutes to register the blankets being pulled gently over him. Prowl merely smiled a bit, rubbing the top of his head before making his way towards the doorway. For the first time, Jeff looked at him and saw someone he could without any doubt rely and count on, there was no fear, no contempt. For the first time, he felt like he belonged right there, in Prowl's safe and loving care...

Something he never thought he'd have again. Yet now, he found himself more than grateful that he had.

...

Jeff never thought he'd have an actual reason to visit Ratchet of all mechs on a personal level. At least, he could assume it was on a personal level, as he'd been called into the med bay without a check-up scheduled. The yellow mech peered over his shoulder as Jeff made his way into the med bay, hands in his jacket pockets. "Sit." Ratchet pointed toward a berth "You know doubt wonder why I've called you in here." Jeff nodded his head a bit as the medic stared at him "I may have a solution to your asthma issues." He added.

"I know you guys are advanced, but you're kidding right?"

Ratchet chuckled, picking up something off a counter with his two fingers. Jeff watched him as he slowly dropped a small, but alien looking inhaler into his palms. "It's extra strength, and contains a more proper and workable medication that doubles efficiency in keeping your airways open. Something I developed while studying your asthma symptoms." Ratchet explained "It's Cybertronium, it will not break under nearly all circumstances." He added "And using our technology, it is constantly creating more of this special brand of medication I've developed. Therefore defeating the purpose of refilling every month or so. You'll only need to refill roughly every year."

Jeff stared at the small device, then up at Ratchet, completely stunned. "You made this for me...?" Jeff questioned, the mech nodded "But, why?" He questioned.

Ratchet grunted, almost as though it pained him to admit he may have the smallest soft spot for Jeff. Turning around, and looking thoughtfully to the side, the CMO breathed in, and shrugged. "I figured should you run out... In the event you are taken by Decepticons... And had an attack." Ratchet was silent a moment after the broken sentence "Well, I was..." He continued.

"You were worried." Jeff completed for him.

Ratchet was dead silent, turning around to look at him once again. The medic nodded his head slowly, crossing his arms. "You've been here several months, you've become a normal part of our base life." He shook his head "I admittedly worry for my regular patients. And therefore, I worry for you, a great deal due to your status as the youngest among us."

"Thank you..." Jeff finally managed "This is really kind of you."

Straightening a bit, Ratchet took a deep breath, quietly trying to regain his usual hardness. For the first time, Jeff could see exactly what Prowl had meant, Ratchet was a good-sparked mech, he just had a strange way of showing it sometimes. "You're welcome." Ratchet managed "Now, I have much work to get done, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone." He added.

Jeff hopped down from the berth slowly, pocketing his new inhaler. He stood there for a long moment, contemplating saying more to Ratchet. He was silent, but he could tell that Ratchet knew he was there by the way he peered over his shoulder. "You know, Ratchet. Maybe you're not... Totally a stingy old stiff." Ratchet turned to him with a grimace "Still suck at the whole bedside manner thing but..." He shrugged "You're a good guy."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Make up your own mind on that."

Ratchet smirked a bit as Jeff was about to leave the med bay, but stopped short in his tracks. He turned around, looking up at Ratchet silently. "You know, Prowl's going to adopt me. So you're probably going to be dealing with me as your patient for a LONG time." Jeff crossed his arms, Ratchet turned with an optic ridged cocked "Just thought you should be given a beforehand warning." He added.

"Expect a concussion or two by the time you move out." Ratchet mocked "Now get, you're distracting me from my work."

As Jeff left, he could only allow himself to smile a little at the though of getting on a better field with Ratchet. It wasn't much yet, but it was definitely a start. He sighed quietly, thinking back on the relationships he had ended up making. It was starting to become hard to believe that only a little less than half a year ago now, Jeff had wanted nothing more than to get out of this base and away from all of them. These days, it felt more like home and family to him than he could have ever really imagined.

Then his thoughts trailed to the uncle that Prowl had told him about, and his body shuddered. All those months ago, he would have welcomed the idea with open arms, but now? Now, he couldn't imagine living a life without being surrounded by the colorful collection of giant robots he had come to call his friends. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, leaning against the wall and wondering if he could handle even leaving for a short time.

Somehow, in the back of his mind, he doubted that he could.