CHAPTER 59
Test of Patience

Prowl was going to kill Jeff, just short of two weeks before his adoption, he was going to wring his little neck. He stared tentatively at his wall clock, the time reading loud and clear: 4: 20 AM. For once, the mech hoped he'd been kidnapped by Decepticons, because if he walked through that door having blown off his twelve o'clock curfew, he was going to kill him. Of course, the door opened about ten seconds after the thought to Jeff, fine, in-tact, and looking rather drowsy by now. Crinkling his nose, Prowl stared down at his foster son with a look of pure anger. "Where in the name of Primus have you BEEN?" Prowl stated loudly "Do you realize how worried sick I've been?" He questioned.

"What time is it?" Jeff questioned, as if it were nothing.

Prowl's mouth went agape at the monotone in his son's voice. Prowl had always held nothing but patience with Jeff, but this was one of only many stunts that week. First, it had been pulling a prank that nearly embarrassed him in front of an ambassador, then it was acting out in school, the list went on and now came to this. For the first time since he had invited the teenager into his home, Jeff was acting out, and needless to say, Prowl didn't like what he was seeing one bit. "Jeffrey Michael Devlin." Prowl tried to pull back his anger "Where have you been?" He questioned in a sharp tone that seemed tense for even him.

"Chill, dad, i was out with the guys." Jeff grinned "No alcohol, I promise." He then added "We just wanted to go and party at this one guy's house and-" He began.

Prowl was close to punching the wall and Jeff could tell. He swallowed hard, and cringed back at the look on Prowl's face, his grimace and glare piercing through into his soul. "I am so close to locking you in your room, and never letting you out." Prowl growled "I have explained to you time and time again, Jeff. You've earned my trust, and now you're slowly breaking it." He then added "You are two weeks from becoming my child, Jeff, why now? Why so close?" He questioned.

Jeff simply crossed his arms, baring down at Prowl much like he had with other caretakers. "Dad, it's not even that big a deal, I came home. No Decepticon showed up out of nowhere to attack me." Jeff shook his head a bit "You need to chill, okay? I'm not perfect, not even a little, so get used to it, get used to this, this is me." He added "Can't change who I am and don't want to."

Prowl knew that part to be a blatant lie, as it felt more like the "Jeff" that put up the wall when he first came to the base. "This isn't you!" Prowl snapped, watching as the boy jumped back "You're acting like a spoiled, conceited little brat and I will not have my child act that way!" He noted even more loudly, stepping forward "Either get a hold of yourself, or there will be VERY serious consequences!" He added.

"Like what? You gonna send me back to social services?" Jeff shouted "Tell them you don't want me anymore?"

Prowl felt confused at the comment that the boy shouted his way. It almost seemed random, though by the look in Jeff's eyes he knew that the boy had not made a mistake in what he had said. The fact of the matter was a less patient person would have lost it at Jeff by now, but right now, Prowl was trying to understand. He was trying everything he possibly could to understand why Jeff was acting out after trying so hard to turn himself around. He shook his head slowly, and caught his cool as quietly as he can.

"Go to your room." Prowl spoke, when Jeff didn't move, he leered down at him "Go to your room before I say something I am very liable to REGRET." He barked next "Your actions and attitude lately have been UNACCEPTABLE. And I could not be more disappointed in you than I am now." He added with a low growl "You're lucky I don't just..." He paused, knowing without rational thinking he shouldn't complete the sentence "Just go to your room, go to bed. I will lecture you in afternoon." He stated flatly.

From the look on his face, Prowl almost wondered if he had expected him to do just that. To call his social worker and tell them that he didn't want the boy after all. Jeff didn't say another word, only entered his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Prowl groaned quietly, if that were the case he didn't know how to further drill into his head that he was not like that. He would never return Jeff, not when they'd made so much progress. He had not fought long and hard to keep a boy he would throw away the second their perfect little world wasn't so peaceful anymore.

Taking a deep breath, Prowl could not feel more confused than he did at that moment.

...

"He's testing you."

Prowl had no idea what to make of the blunt response Optimus gave him after they had talked Jeff's behavior out. Of course he had gone to Prime, after all, the mech had adopted many sparklings and knew the most about the situation. Yet somehow, he didn't understand entirely what his leader meant by testing him. "Testing me?" Prowl questioned "In two weeks I plan to adopt him, give him a permanent home and family." He then added "Why would he "test" me?" He questioned.

Optimus was quiet for a moment, as if choosing his next words carefully as possible. "Prowl you say that since he was six years of age, he has been to fifteen foster homes." Prowl nodded in confirmation of what he had read in Jeff's file "Think deep on it Prowl. Some of these homes very likely offered the same thing you did. I doubt whole-heartedly that you were the first." Prowl was silent as he took that in "You've proven time and again your patience. But Jeff has never pulled any "stupid" moves on you." He added "It's very likely he wants to know how you'd react." He noted.

How he'd react? He was angry, fuming, upset, but that was a given. Jeff had done these things to purposely anger him if this were the case, and any parent would be angered and upset. "He asked if I wanted to send him back." Prowl muttered, rubbing the back of his helm "But Primus, I thought he knew better. I would never do such a thing. Nor would there be any logic in doing so, not when I've come to love him as much as I have." He noted.

Optimus nodded his head, understanding fully. After all, Prowl had gone as far as keeping a picture of Jeff proudly on the desk of his office, a human custom, but a show of great affection none-the-less. "This is true, but Jeff doesn't know that is the case, as you have never had a reason to show it." Optimus explained "It is to be expected, many of my own adopted sparklings did so to me if they came to me older." He shook his head "You need to continue responding with patience, that is all the advice I can offer." He noted.

"But there's so little logic in it!" Prowl replied, exhausted "I don't want to deal with him when he acts this way."

"You have to, as his father, you have to deal with it, and teach him the right thing."

Prowl sighed, Optimus of course had him there, it was definitely his job. He had to teach Jeff that acting this way was not the way to get his attention, seeing as he more than cared about him, and would never be cruel enough to send him back. "I lost my patience with him." Prowl admitted "But I'm just... I suppose I may be looking for too much logic from a sixteen year old." He paused a moment "It worries me that this close to court he still thinks I will send him back if he makes the smallest of mistakes." He added.

"Until the ink dries on the paper, he very well may harbor that fear."

Prowl nodded his head, taking his warning seriously. Though Jeff knew he loved him, in some ways, he could understand his reasoning. But needless to say, it was an unwarranted fear as he would never go there. He sighed quietly, putting his hands on his hips in the way he often did, and leaning back against the wall. "I suppose I need to have a serious talk so he does not believe I am angry at him." He added "Well I am, but he needs to understand I'd never get that angry." He shook his head "Telling him works, correct?" He questioned.

Optimus nodded affirmatively, remembering the many times, even under Cybertronian standards, he had had to explain it to his adoptive sparklings. "It is something that at the very least helps ease some of their fears." Optimus finally spoke "If you lost your temper, Jeff is likely scared. Approach him calmly and talk to him as you have in the past, and you should be fine." He added.

"Thanks Prime." Prowl noted "I'll have those data pads on your desk first, however. I am nearly finished."

"Of course." Optimus nodded "The best of luck to you as well."

Somehow, Prowl had the smallest hint of a notion that he would need all the luck he could get. He'd never lost his temper in such a manner with Jeff before, and he had the feeling that the boy was very unsettled by it. He only hoped quietly that he had not hurt Jeff enough that he wouldn't listen.

...

A/N: Figured it was time that Jeff tested Prowl a little bit, it just made sense to me. Hope it came out logically. :)