CHAPTER 55
Reaching Out

"We're going to completely youngling proof the base now." Ratchet observed as Prowl returned back that evening "Before we only proofed what we might need to if he were staying for a few months. But with him here several years." He shook his head "He knows to little of our technology, and I won't have my godson be blown to smithereens." He muttered to himself.

Prowl only chuckled lightly at Ratchet's worry, which was to say the least, amusing. "Ratchet he's not six, he's sixteen." Prowl finally snorted "I think that a few adjustments must be made, yes. But we can simply be weary of letting him into the more dangerous rooms." The medic frowned a bit, muttering under his breath quietly "Primus, at this rate, Jeff might take to calling you "mom" before he's twenty." He teased.

The sound of one of his larger wrenches hitting the wall beside him got Prowl to shut up rather quickly. From the doorway, Jeff secretly watched as the two talked it over, chuckling and shaking his head. "I swear I'm being raised by two of the biggest children I've ever met sometimes." Jeff teased as they both turned to see him "Seriously, I'm smart enough to know my way around here by now guys. I can take care of myself." He noted.

Ratchet put his hands on his hips, and stared down at the boy scoldingly. Ratchet knew he didn't know every inch of the base, because they had not allowed him everywhere in the base. "Oh yes? Then tell me where we keep our explosive armories?" Jeff was dead silent, which gave Ratchet a smirk of satisfaction "Exactly why I will be installing door codes to anywhere dangerous." He then pointed at him "You won't be getting the codes except in the most dire of emergencies." He stated.

Jeff crossed his arms, tilting his head in frustration. To say the least, he wasn't amused at how overprotective Ratchet was being, not that he had not expected it. Taking a deep breath he seated himself on a berth, and blew a bang from his eyes carefully. "Lord help me when I ask a girl on a date for the first time." Jeff shook his head "Seriously, guys, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be a virgin until I'm forty." He teased.

"You'd better be." Both replied at once.

Jeff laughed at that, knowing that that would be their reaction. Jeff had never even asked a girl out, let alone thought about losing his virginity, which was the joke of the situation. Jeff stifled a yawn silently, leaning against the berth a little, he sighed. "Tired, sparkling?" Prowl questioned, Jeff nodded groggily "No wonder, we have had quite the long day, haven't we?" He questioned.

Jeff felt gentle, but large metal fingers caress his back gently as Prowl made his way over. Jeff smiled, leaning into the touch as he smiled wide, knowing now that this was a touch he would grow fond of for the rest of his time on-base. "I thought I was a youngling?" Jeff questioned, peering up at the mech "When did I become a sparkling again?" He questioned.

Prowl smirked a bit, his eyes softening. "You'll always be my sparkling." Prowl commented "I've seen you as nothing less than that from the moment I accepted you into my home." He noted as he carefully picked the boy up "Apologies for leaving you so soon, Ratchet. But I believe I need to get him to bed." He noted "He has had a long day and at this rate he may collapse from exhaustion." he noted.

"You should get some rest too, medics orders." Ratchet grunted "You fought hard for that court date." He then added "I don't want you coming to the med bay complaining of a virus because you've lost much recharge!" He noted, shaking a wrench at him carefully "Do not allow that to happen." He then barked as they headed for the door.

As Prowl exited the doorway, Ratchet leaned back and sighed with a gentle smile. For now, at least, he felt that the drama of the situation was finally over, and they could rest knowing that Jeff was two months away from being Prowl's family. Though they knew there would be further drama, most likely caused by Decepticons, or the child himself, they were more prepared for such matters.

Taking a deep breath, he quickly turned to a data pad to map out the thing they would need to modify while Jeff was to live on-base.

...

The next day at school was probably the first time that Jeff walked into school truly happy. He knew that his teachers probably were stunned, and a few even commented on his attitude, but he didn't mind. For the first time, he was going through life knowing that in little more than two months, he would have a family, a home, and a lot of love for the rest of his life. He'd ignored the sideways glances from his classmates, some of whom still teased him about his place in the Autobot base, for once he didn't care. After all, he had learned enough from his beatings not to confront them anymore.

The one thing that Jeff did lack, however, was friends. Though Jeff loved the company of the Autobots, he did have to admit that he did still long to be going out to the party's he often heard talk of. He longed to have kids at his lunch table, curious of how he was doing, and he longed to be able to kick back in the amazing base that he lived on. But that day, unknown to him, he would find his luck changed for the better. "Hey freak." Jeff cringed, he turned to see one of the many bullies in the school, Mark making his way over "What're you smiling about?" He questioned.

"None of your business." Jeff muttered.

The boy slammed Jeff against the lockers as he cringed quietly. Chewing his lip, and clenching his fist, Jeff considered putting his training to a test. But silently he reminded himself that though he could, Mark was much stronger than him, and it would end no differently. "Come on, freak, frown." Jeff fought back with the biggest smirk he could manage "What is your problem!? I spent so much time making your life miserable-!" He began.

"That's ENOUGH."

Jeff took a few minutes to register the boy in the letterman's jacket making his way over. Jeff recognized him as the quarterback of the football team, a tall, and intimidating student named Brent who he would never have thought to come to his aide. Yet Brent grabbed him by his collar, and shoved Mark away quickly. "Brent, what gives?" Mark grunted "This isn't your business."

Jeff wanted to ask why he was doing it too, but stuck to being quiet as a church mouse. "I don't know him that well..." Brent admitted "But a couple of days ago, his dad, Prowl, I think that's your foster dad, right?" Jeff only nodded as Brent looked his way "Saved mine when there was an attack a few towns away." He then added "So as far as I'm concerned, I'm gonna return the favor." He added.

"H-How are you gonna do that?" Mark questioned.

And then, Brent took a step towards Jeff that no one had tried to since he'd gotten there. He carefully placed an arm around Jeff's shoulders, and smirked, wide, and threateningly at Mark. "He's my boy from now on." Brent commented, in a move that surprised Jeff "If you pick on him, you'll deal with me. And trust me, he won't be the one walking away with bruises anymore." Mark gulped "Now get lost."

As Mark ran away and Brent retracted his arm, Jeff stared at the jock quietly. He didn't know whether to thank him or question his motives in their entirety. "T-Thanks." He paused "How did you know about Prowl? About me?" He questioned.

Brent turned his head a bit. "I went to visit my dad in the hospital. Prowl was actually there." Brent commented "He mentioned you went to school with me, and well. I remembered you from my english class so..." He paused a bit "Well, I was just returning the favor is all." He paused a moment "You don't have many friends around here do you?" He questioned.

"I don't have any, actually." Jeff admitted glumly.

Brent stared at Jeff for a long hard moment, then back at his group of football buddies. Jeff could tell that they were wondering if Brent had lost his mind, after all, Jeff was labeled a loner, and a troublemaker. Yet in that moment, for the first time in the town not by a robot, but by a human, he extended a hand towards the group and smiled. "Well, you do now." He put a hand on his shoulder calmly "Come on, we're gonna go grab lunch, you can sit with us."

Jeff blinked a moment as Brent led him towards the group of football players. They all seemed to look at him wearily, unsure of whether or not it was a good idea, but Brent didn't care. The boy was determined to be a friend to Jeff in return for what his dad had done for his, and for that, Jeff was grateful. "So, is one of the Autobot's really a corvette?" One of the jocks finally spoke up.

Jeff felt nervous to even talk to the popular crowd, but slowly gained his ability to speak again. He nodded his head a bit, looking up at him. "He even took care of me for a little while." He explained "And his brother's a Lamborghini too." He added.

"Sweet." The same jock replied.

And in that moment, for the first time, Jeff could honestly say he felt like a normal teenager.

...

A/N: I felt it was time that someone in school finally reached out to Jeff. Hope it turned out well. Reviews make my day!