Jazz's POV

Jazz knew he was in deep slag. He knew it from the moment he onlined. He could tell that the medic was just longing to offline him and he was lucky that he only got as many whacks as he did. When Prime came to take him to his office, he was expecting a pretty awful punishment and he guessed he deserved it really. Not for meeting Phoenix, but for endangering her and injuring her. He would probably get brig time, or no missions or washrack cleaning duty. The last thing he expected was for Prime to be sympathetic.

"So, what's mah punishment then?" Prime sighed deeply. He knew that Jazz was probably not sorry for having contact with the human youngling which meant that no matter what punishment he gave the saboteur, Jazz would not listen to him. He suspected he knew why Jazz had asked to leave base in the first place.

"Why did you ask the human to come with you Jazz? I understand why you talked to her in holoform as it was unavoidable, but by asking her to come with you, you endangered her life."

"Ah wanted to do somethin' nice for her. She's an orphan Prime, ah showed her the first kindness that she has seen in ah long time."

"Nevertheless, you broke protocol."

"So, punish meh." Jazz waited for the Prime to give him his punishment.

"Jazz, did you offer because of Prowl?" Jazz stiffened. No bot had mentioned his bond-brother since he had handed mudflap and skids their afts on a platter for annoying him about missing Prowl.

"No."

"Jazz, you should talk to Ratchet about it."

"No."

"Jazz, as my soldier, I would recommend you…"

"No Prime. No means no. Ah don't want to talk about it an' ah went because ah wanted a break. Ah did it because ah wanted to be kind" That was true. What Jazz wanted a break from was being around bots, they reminded him of Prowl and he did want to help her.

"Understood. Nevertheless, you understand you cannot have contact with the human again."

"Wha'?"

"Jazz, as much as I want the Autobots and humans to be allies, she is a youngling. The humans are very displeased with us for this and we have agreed to not contact her again for her own safety. It is understandable that they do not want a youngling to be in our war."

"But Prime…."

"No Jazz." Frag Prime and the humans! Frag them all. He didn't have to listen to their fragging protocol did he? He wasn't endangering her by visiting right? He had also made a promise and there was just something about the girl. She reminds you of Prowl. He pushed the thought aside with a vengeance. The human was nothing like Prowl. She acted the exact opposite to him. It's because she tried to help you without a second thought even though she could have died. She did that without a second thought so she is like Prowl, she is completely selfless which is….. Stop. He ended that trail of thoughts right there. She was nothing like Prowl, nothing at all.

"Okay Prime, but can ah say goodbye?"

"I will ask Captain Lennox but he should agree to it. As for punishment, I believe you have learned your lesson as she could have been offlined." Jazz nodded, but he was already thinking of how to keep contact with the human. An idea began to form in his head. Oh yes, he knew exactly what to do.

Phoenix's POV

Ratchet was carrying Phoenix to the "recreation room" where she would be meeting Captain Lennox who would escort her back to the children's home. She had been told that Jazz would be there, but then she would have no further contact with the Autobots for her own safety. Ratchet placed her down gently, and a tall soldier with hair and blue eyes came over. He smiled at her kindly.

"I guess it's time to get you home kiddo." Phoenix nodded, but the children's home had never been her home and never would be. "You know that you can't tell anyone about the Autobots okay?"

"Yeah."

"Just forget this ever happened I guess." As if. She thought to herself. As if that'll happen.

"I'll try."

"Jazz wants to say goodbye." She turned to the silver bot, knowing that she would never see him again.

"Hey again." He knelt down and offered her a hand to climb onto then lifted her up to his face. She noticed that he was a lot smaller than the other bots, but he was still pretty big.

"Hi. I'm sorry for getting you in trouble and thanks for the best birthday I've ever had."

"Ya welcome, it was mah pleasure." He said softly. She knew that she would never see him again and she felt like crying but that was stupid. Phoenix never cried. You lose people in life and she had learned to just move on. So why was Jazz different?

"I guess this is Goodbye."

"Ah guess. Can ah give ya a hug wit' my holoform? It'll be easier for meh."

"Okay." He placed her down again and activated his holoform. As he hugged her, he slipped a special phone he had modified into the pocket of her hoodie. She didn't notice, but hopefully she would later. He had written her a note telling her how to use it. "Goodbye Jazz, thanks for everything."

"Goodbye Phoenix." She pulled away before she did something really stupid, like cry. She turned to Ratchet.

"Thank you for helping me Ratchet."

"You are welcome young one." She turned to Captain Lennox who was watching her with a somewhat odd expression of curiosity and sympathy.

"I'm ready." He nodded and opened the door to his car. It was just a regular old car and Phoenix felt somewhat disappointed that she'd never be in a car that drove itself again. Lennox started the engine and they left. Jazz waited in the hangar until the car was long gone, taking Phoenix with it.

Lennox's POV

When they reached the home, Lennox looked at the place. It was an absolute dump and he found himself wishing that the higher-ups had allowed her to stay at base. He had brought the stuff Jazz had got her with them, but she shook her head when he offered it to her. The only thing she kept was the swimming costume and the clothes she had on.

"It'll just get stolen. Do you have a kid?"

"Yeah, a little girl called Annabelle."

"Give it to her then if she wants it." Lennox felt like shit. He didn't want to leave her here. It felt wrong to leave a child in this dump. They got out the car and he knocked on the door. It was opened by a man who introduced himself as Phil. Lennox told him that she had been attacked by a gang and that was why she had a broken arm. He nodded and it was obvious that he couldn't care less. Lennox looked at Phoenix. She seemed like a nice kid and this felt wrong.

"Goodbye Phoenix. I hope you recover soon." He said with sincerity.

"Goodbye Mr. Lennox. Thank you for driving me here."

"You're welcome." She nodded and went inside. Phil shut the door behind her and though every bone in his body was screaming at him to take her back to base, Lennox went back to his car and started the engine. He'd have to talk to Sarah later. His wife always knew what to say.

Phoenix's POV

Phoenix watched Captain Lennox drive off until she could no longer see him. Then she went upstairs into her room. Opening the door she looked around. A couple of other kids had trashed it again, but there wasn't much of value anyway. She still had her ipod and Jacket. The room looked small and boring. The kids were fighting again and she collapsed on the bed and sighed, thinking of Jazz. She'd almost been out of this place. Almost had a friend. Almost been able to live instead of just exist. But she would never see Jazz again, ever. A single tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away, horrified at herself for being weak. She was Phoenix and she did not cry. She took off the jacket and something fell out. Curiously, she picked it up. It was a phone, and on it was a note.

"Call me anytime, I'd like to see you again - Jazz" Phoenix laughed and hugged the note to her chest. Jazz was going against the rules to see her, and she would be going against the government to see him since she was supposed to never have contact with any Autobot again. She didn't care. Dialing the number, she gave it a ring and her heart leapt with joy as it was answered at the other end.

"Heya again Phoenix."

"Jazz, you sneaky bugger! Won't they find out?"

"Nah, ah'm a spy, hacker and saboteur amongst many things. No one will know."

"Why did you give this to me?"

"Ah always keep mah promises Phoenix, always."