CHAPTER 47
Getting Away From It All

Even though the ride was unbearable, Jeff could easily understand the reason Prowl had shipped him to Diego Garcia. To say the least, a week long vacation from school, namely Spring Break, was the perfect excuse to get away from the stress of things back home. Prowl had told him some time alone with his soon-to-be (or at least hopefully so) uncles was exactly what he needed to drive away the amount of stress he felt. Getting off the ship groggily, he scanned the wide open hangar for any sign of either Bluestreak or Smokescreen around. Though he didn't exactly doubt the reason for their absence was due to a fair amount of mischievous-making, he couldn't help but worry they had forgotten.

Of course, the bounding form of Bluestreak making his way through the procession quickly stomped away his fears. "I'm not late! I'm not late! I just had target practice and had to run!" Bluesteak stated as he came to a stop in front of the young human "What's up little buddy, "show me some skin", that is how you humans say it right?" He held up a hand which Jeff slapped gently "How was the flight up?" He questioned.

"Miserable as ever." Jeff muttered, leaning against his suitcase "It's good to see you, Blue."

"Uncle Blue." Bluestreak corrected "You're gonna be family now, so if you're calling Prowl "dad", you're calling me uncle." He insisted.

Jeff smiled at that, not minding the thought at all, but not having wanted to jump the gun. Allowing the large mech to pick him up and place him on his shoulder and his things in his subspace, Jeff relaxed. He was going to enjoy himself despite the stress of everything, that much he promised himself, at the very least, would be true. "Alright, uncle Blue, you have me for a week, what's the plan?" Jeff questioned, crossing his arms "Last time I stayed with an uncle, he wasn't exactly the most upstanding guy." He added.

By the grimace on his face, it was clear that Prowl had already told Bluestreak what had happened. "Yeah, I heard about that creep. Told me what he did, hope he's rotting in a prison cell right now." Bluestreak grunted "Or the pits, just anywhere he'll rot." He explained flatly "But enough about that, it's great to have ye here. Smokey and I have lots of awesome stuff planned." He added.

"Sounds great." Jeff sighed quietly "I could use a bit of fun after all the crap I've been going through."

Bluestreak nodded, understanding what the boy meant. It was ninety percent of the reason why Prowl had sent him there for the week. Partly for a small break, but mostly because he figured Jeff could use a little bit more "fun" in his life. Of course, fun and blue went together quite well, and he was more than happy to take his nephew on for the week. "Well, we got plenty of that, a bunch of the NEST "brats" have spring break right now." He grinned "A couple of them are visiting the base so there's going to be plenty of kids your age to hang out with. If you get bored of us, that is." He added.

"Girls?" Jeff questioned.

Bluestreak chuckled at that. "You must have some guts if you're thinking that. Military brats, as in their dad's or mom's are in the military." Bluestreak explained, noting Jeff's wide eyes "Yeah, I thought that might make you rethink what you said." He poked the boy in the chest a bit "Don't worry though, there'll still be plenty of time to gawk. I just don't want to be explaining to your dad why you're black and blue when you get home." He added.

Jeff laughed at that, though he didn't doubt in any way that it was true. He'd probably come back black and blue if he even so much as stepped in the direction of any one of those girls on the base. Allowing Bluestreak to set him down in their room, he carefully set his things down, staring over at the large mech. "So, what exactly are the "fun" activities you have planned?" He questioned "Or am I not allowed to know?" He questioned.

"Sworn to secrecy on most of it." Bluestreak confirmed "But, I'll give you one hint."

At that point, Bluestreak gently moved a box out from under his berth. Jeff took a moment to take in the fact there was a box in front of him, but carefully opened it up. What he found stunned him to silence, he grinned widely, pulling the Wii U from the packaging box it was in. "Holy crap, Prowl said it wasn't in our budget to buy a gaming system right now." Jeff grinned widely "You know he's gonna kill you for spoiling me, right?" He added.

"Eh, for now you're the only nephew I've got. It's my job to spoil ye." Bluestreak pointed out calmly "What do you say we fire this baby up, I got four games to keep us busy. Figured it was a great stress-reliever." He explained "I've been wanting to learn human video games too. But I haven't quite made buddies with any of the teens here yet, so I figured you could teach me." He added.

"I haven't played since I was a little kid." Jeff admitted.

Bluestreak only smiled a bit, though feeling a tiny bit embarrassed to have forgotten the fact Jeff hadn't had a perfectly normal "childhood". That was, if what Jeff had gone through could even be called a childhood considering the homelessness and the juvenile hall. His optics lighting up, the young Autobot activated his holoform, and merely stared over at Jeff. "Well then, hand it over, I'll figure this out." Bluestreak noted "We'll get this all figured out together, it'll be fun." He added politely.

Jeff didn't argue, but simply let his uncle get to work, after all, he'd be happy to have at least a little fun right away.

...

"Still can't believe you sent shortstack to your brothers."

Prowl turned at the sound of Sideswipe's voice. Prowl only smirked a little bit, he had been surprised in himself as well. He knew that Bluestreak had already probably spoiled him by means he could scold the mech later on. But at the same time, he didn't openly regret sending Jeff to spend some time with the rest of his soon-to-be family. "Bluestreak and Smokescreen are quite fond of their nephew." Prowl noted "And besides, Jeff has so much on his plate, I felt perhaps he could use a little bit of "fun"."

Sideswipe gave him a look as if the second-in-command had grown a second head or something of the sort. Prowl chuckled quietly, shaking his head and knowing he was surprised to hear the words come out of his mouth. "He's going to be my son, Sideswipe, what did you expect?" Prowl questioned "I worry for his mental health, I cannot be strict with him at all times." He admitted.

Sideswipe nodded his head a bit, though he seemed to be speculating if he was serious. "Fair enough. I just still can't get used to that, you being Short Stack's caretaker." Sideswipe shook his head a bit "The fact you've made more progress with him than I have." He then added "It's like your channelling what's left of Ironhide into you and projecting it. Or some other mumbo jumbo." He added "Too bad the kid's not here, we had some pretty big news for him."

"Oh?" Prowl raised an optic ridge in curiosity.

"Arcee's sparked."

Prowl nearly dropped the data pad he'd been holding at that. It was the words most of the base had wanted to hear for a while, that they were continuing on their race. Of course, on other bases there were sparklings, but outside of Jeff, one had yet to grace the main base's presence. "That's wonderful." Prowl nodded firmly "Jeff will be elated to hear this news, and I will relay it to him once we speak." He paused "I suppose it is for the best you didn't take him then. No way would you be able to handle two kids." He noted.

Sideswipe laughed at that, but calmly nodded his head in complete agreement. One sparkling? He was more than elated to have and prepare for, but two would have been too much. To say the least, Sideswipe had learned a lot from taking care of Jeff for the short time he had, but not that much. "Yeah, I think I'm going to enjoy being a big brother to him more." Sideswipe nodded his head a little "You're doing a great job anyway. Not that I like admitting that." He explained.

Prowl smirked at that, nodding his head a bit. He hated to say it, but the more they talked over the subject of Jeff, the more he felt less tension between them. Resting his head against his hand a bit, Prowl nodded his head a little bit. "I'm beginning to believe that for the first time as well." Prowl shook his head "I have had a lot of learning while taking care of him. Enough that I'm afraid I may not get custody of him." His head dipped a little "I still fear it."

Sideswipe scoffed at that, rolling up beside the mech calmly, to say the least, he wasn't certain of what exactly to say. But at the same time, he was more than aware that this fear was very real, and possibly even warranted. "Any system that doesn't say you can't be Jeff's dad is nuts." He snorted a bit "I saw what you did to that freak who just threatened him. You love him." He peered into his optics "You shouldn't be freaked out at all." He noted.

"Thank you Sideswipe." Prowl smiled a bit "Perhaps I'm just becoming too afraid of my own shadow, as they say."

Sideswipe nodded his head, and patted the second-in-command on the shoulder. "C'mon." Sideswipe grunted "If Jeff's having fun and getting his mind off things, you should too." He added "I'm taking you out on the town. Soon-to-be-father's night out." He added, as Prowl opened his mouth to protest "Don't even, you'll thank me later." He added.

For a moment, Prowl thought to resist, but sighed a moment. A night out on the town was something he had not done since his youth, and did sound good given the circumstances. "I must have blown a circuit, but where's the harm?" Prowl snorted "Let's go."