A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who faved, followed, and reviewed so far! I'm glad that you all are enjoying it! Hope you enjoy this one just as much!

This one introduces Jazz! I was debating on his inclusion a lot but couldn't keep him out!

Thanks to my beta, TFPKOFANGIRL, for her work on this chapter!

...

CHAPTER 1
Volunteering

Jake was reminded at least twice a day that he was safe now.

But what was "safe"? Jake didn't really know, even if they were technically underground. The Decepticons had him for so long that he really couldn't be sure anywhere was safe for him. He turned over on the berth to the best of his ability, trying to relax. He'd felt a great deal of fear in the week that he'd be there. Safety was usually with the other kids that were a part of the program. They'd been each others shoulder to lean on through every beating, every scolding, and every harsh training session.

Now he had none of that. Instead, he was in an hidden underground base with multiple strangers.

That said, he'd stopped fighting them. If only because after hearing it enough, he knew they wouldn't hurt him. In fact, they wanted to protect him. Misguided a thought as he figured it was, he at least knew going by that that he was in the company of good people. Whether that would last... Well, Jake had a feeling it really wouldn't. And he sure as pit wasn't going to tell them anything until he knew for sure he could trust them.

Not that he could share much. They were all asleep or had bags over their heads when they were taken anywhere for this reason. He couldn't tell them where the other kids were. He'd told them that much, and much to the disappointment of the other Autobots. He only knew the inside of his cell, the room where they were taken to see Lord Megatron, and the like. Everything else? Well, they were "assets" as Prowl put it so they had no reason to be there.

The Autobots did nothing but assure him everything he could give them would help.

In the meantime, they stated, they'd keep him on base. Safe and sound until the "monsters" who'd done these things to him had been put behind bars. Again "safe"; was Jake really ever going to be that?

He nearly jumped as the door opened, causing himself pain. His eyes turned to look at the mech who had entered. Of course, it was Prowl again. The moment he'd stopped being completely hostile, the mech had been visiting often in an attempt to help. But frankly, Jake didn't know why he bothered. Though his eyes lit up at the sign of food in the middle of his large hand. If there was one thing he was enjoying, it was the taste of real food.

The mech slid the tray onto his lap and took a deep breath. "How are you feeling today, Jacob?"

"Same as I did yesterday." Jake replied. "Scared, and like a failure. How could I feel like anything else?"

Prowl's optic ridge furrowed, but Jake mostly focused on the ham sandwich he'd just begun to eat. Prowl was silent for a long moment, then spoke up. "Well at least here you have a bed to sleep on, and people that care about your well being." He explained.

"Who says the Decepticons didn't care? I had something to sleep on and people who cared!"

Prowl sighed, these mechs had done a number on these kids. Jake had explained their conditions and frankly, one would call them deplorable. Yet he'd had it drilled into his brain that it was all caring. That daily beatings were the way you show someone you care about him. He shuddered a little, optics flashing with anger, yet trying to keep himself calm. "I'd hardly call that caring about you. But that's something you'll learn the more you're away from them."

He noticed that Jake didn't seem to reply to that, not that he expected him to. The boy was going to need time to figure out what it was like to be cared for again. If he ever had, really. He remembered his story in Praxus, he'd been in foster care for a while before the streets. But there was little information on either of his parents, other than the fact that they'd both been dead for some time.

"Why do you care?" Jake asked bluntly, seemingly out of nowhere.

There was silence, and Prowl finally spoke up after a few good moments had passed. "I only joined the war two years into it. I was part of the enforcers that looked for you when you ran away." Jake looked baffled at that, unsure of how to respond. "Your case haunted me for a long time. And that was the entire reason I even knew who you were. How we had a good feeling that there was something wrong with the situation."

Jake opened his mouth, but closed it after a moment. Of course, that would be why it had happened. He should have figured that out when he'd seen the enforcer shields on his doorwings. "I don't know if you're looking for a "thanks" there... But I'm not sure I can give one yet." He explained. "They could still find me..."

"They're not going to find you."

"You're underestimating them..." Jake replied honestly.

Prowl seated himself next to the bed on the chair beside it. He looked closely at Jake who seemed to be growing nervous. "I'm not, far from it in fact. I know that they are powerful, and they pulled off the most disgusting thing I've seen thus far in this war." He paused a moment. "But I do know we will do everything in our power to protect you. And they will need to bash down the front door to get to you."

Jake was silent, but nodded his head silently. As if he was considering it, but frankly wasn't sure if he believed it in full. After a few moments, he looked at Prowl. "I want to believe you're serious. But they'll get me, they don't let anyone go." He replied, though he became quiet the longer he got into the sentence. "My handler won't like that I've been gone this long. He'll probably whack me good if he gets me back."

Prowl narrowed his optics, wondering just what this "handler" was like. "Well, you're supposed to be released into the guardianship of a caretaker tomorrow. Once that happens you'll have someone new in charge of your well being from now on." Jake looked a little more nervous at that. "Don't look so surprised, you're a child. Every child needs someone to look after them."

When Jake had finished the sandwhich, Prowl was careful to take the tray from him. The boy looked as though he wasn't sure what to make of that. And Prowl could understand why, given the brutality they were now sure his former caretaker had treated him with. "I don't need anyone taking care of me."

"You do, and you will be taken care of. Whether you want to be or not. You're now under strict Autobot protection. Our job is to take care of you and make sure the things you're afraid of don't happen." Prowl explained rather bluntly as he stood to his feet.

"And if I fight you?" Jake asked bluntly.

"We'll see just how well that works out for you." Prowl replied honestly.

And then he was gone out the door, hoping he hadn't upset him too much. But to be fair, it was the truth.

...

"So, who exactly wants to take the kid once he's out tomorrow?"

Prowl tapped the table as he looked around the room. It was a base-wide meeting lead by the Autobot commander, Ultra Magnus, who ran the base. The tall, blue and white mech, looked around, though most people seemed to avert optic contact. Of course, most of them weren't sure what to do. Could they trust a brainwashed kid who was raised by Decepticons? What if this as all part of their plan?

He sighed quietly, trying to keep his optics on his data pad. He felt bad for the child, but he knew this wasn't the job for him. Jacob needed a lot of emotional help, and Prowl had a hard time believing he'd be good at it. Sure, he had had a great childhood. He and his brother, Bluestreak, had been raised by loving, noble Praxians. But he hadn't had much experience with younglings other than when he was a youngling himself, honestly.

To his side, his friend Jazz leaned back, turning his head to him. Jazz was a bit smaller in stature than Prowl, and almost a decade younger. Having enlisted quickly at the age of eighteen. He had a black helm, and friendly blue optics sometimes covered by a visor, with white, red, and blue plating. "Who do ya think will volunteer?" Jazz asked skeptically. "I totally would if I was older. But frag, ah can barely take care of maself some days."

Prowl shook his head slightly, peering up from his data pad. "Someone with a great deal of patience. I've helped him in the med bay, and Jacob definitely... Has some issues to get through." Prowl explained. "Trust me when I tell you I don't think you'd handle it well. This doesn't seem like the child who would want to play games with you."

It wasn't a rude comment, honestly. Jazz was, frankly, an immature mech if there ever was one. He was known for playing pranks, a slightly short attention span, and his love of "kid stuff". But at the same time, he was also a hardened, focused soldier. And frankly, one of the most effective warriors on the battlefield. So it was only one, albeit large part of his personality. "Well, fair enough. But ah can't think of mechs' that would do it." Jazz commented. "Except maybe you. Ya seem to be around him a lot as is."

"Jazz, we share a four room apartment here. If I took him in, that would put you in a co-caretaker role." Prowl groaned.

"Exactly! We can help each other out! And lets be real, slag's been boring in the apartment lately." Prowl looked like he wanted to shut Jazz up, but wasn't entirely sure how to at this point. "I'm just saying. The kid needs someone, and I don't see anyone jumping at the chance."

"Drop it, Jazz." Prowl replied with a sigh.

Jazz didn't seem ready to let it go, though. Prowl had a sinking feeling about the look in his optics. It was the type of look Jazz only ever got when he had some mischief on his mind. "Mechs, this isn't a terrifying Decepticon fugitive. This is a thirteen year old boy who needs protection." Magnus spoke up in frustration. "Surely someone in this room can-."

"Prowler and ah'll do it!"

Prowl could have slapped Jazz at that moment. But unfortunately, Magnus, and everyone else for that matter, had heard him as he stood and shouted the statement. If Magnus found the outburst amusing, or a joke, he didn't show it. "You... And Prowl?" Magnus paused a long moment. "I didn't figure you two the type to be a temporary home to a youngling..."

"Ah think we can do it! And besides, Prowler apparently already likes 'im." Jazz stated proudly. "Plus, this is the first exciting thing to happen in months!"

"Jazz, mute it." Prowl stated as he yanked his friend back down in his seat.

Magnus regarded them for a long moment, his optics narrowing. No doubt, he was questioning how willing Prowl was to do this in his head. The mech sighed, looking around in hopes someone else would offer. But he knew no one was going to do it. Most of the mech's here were young, with the exception of Ratchet and Ultra Magnus. And while Ultra Magnus could have done it, this situation was going to need all of his attention. And well, Ratchet, he had a sparkmate with a sparkling on the way, on top of being top CMO. If the sparkling were born, he could probably do it. But right now...

When Magnus' optics looked to him for confirmation, Prowl sighed. He'd been backed into a corner here. He was fond of the boy, and cared about him a bit. Mostly because he was the one who spent the most time with him other than the medics. So at the very least he didn't not know what he was getting into... "If no one else is willing I will do it." Prowl replied honestly. "It might prove well for Jake to go into the care of someone who has spent time with him."

Magnus was silent, putting his hands on his hips. He seemed to scan the group for anyone else that could take in Jake. But no one raised their hand, just as Prowl had thought. "Alright then, Prowl and Jazz... You can take him tomorrow morning." Magnus paused a moment. "As for the rest of you, this had better not be an indication of how he'll be treated here."

"No sir!"

Prowl knew that was true, at least with a little bit of resistance. Clearly some people would feel uncomfortable, but most would see him as just a youngling. Regardless of if they had wanted that responsibility. "So, ah just realized, how are we gonna fit stuff for the youngling into ah office?" Jazz scratched his helm.

"We won't. Our office is now his bedroom. So we now have to start moving our stuff into our respective berth rooms." Jazz's mouth hung open, as he began to argue. "Ah, this was your idea Jazz, remember? Our job is to make Jacob feel safe and protected here. Which means a soft bed and his own space."

Jazz looked like he wanted to argue even more. But at the same time, Prowl knew he had him there. If they were going to house this boy, they were going to make sure he was comfortable. "Ah guess I can get used to that." Jazz said, though a little less enthused. "This'll be fun Prowler! Just think, maybe a younglin' will loosen you up a bit."

Prowl's doorwings twitched a bit as he turned to Jazz with a shrug. "Something tells me this boy will want nothing to do with us most of the time. I wouldn't get my hopes up too high, Jazz." Prowl explained. "If anything to him we'll be glorified younglingsitters."

Jazz shrugged a little in response himself. "We'll see about that."

That, Prowl could agree on.

...

Jake didn't feel like leaving his hospital room the next evening, but here he was.

His arm in a sling, and his body still aching quite a bit, he stared around his new quarters. Jazz and Prowl's quarters almost didn't know what to "be" in a way. There was the Jazz side, and the Prowl side, then the main room that met in the middle. Jazz's side was a little crazy looking, with bright paint over his Cybertronian sized door and a sign saying "THE JAZZSTER'S ROOM" on it. It was cracked open slightly, so he could see a borderline-messy room. Then there was Prowl's, which had monochromatic colors, no signs, and a closed door.

The main room was somewhere in the middle, as said. With a living room area that had regular chairs, Cybertronian and human sized, and bean bag chairs that were the same. It was headlined by a giant flat-screen television as well. While the other half was partly a kitchen, partly a dinning room. Again, as the base was built for both sizes, there were human appliances and the like. But there were also Cybertronian ones, and cabinets filled with Energon.

He made note of the fact there were human sized doors next to the Cybertronian ones. That allowed him to know that he could get into their rooms if need be without help. "Well, here it is. It isn't much, but we call it "home"." Prowl told him from beside his newfound charge. "Your room is going to be the one next to the living quarters." He pointed towards a door nearly identical to his near the TV. "As a rule, always knock on my door before you come into my room. We've moved our offices inside our rooms. And while Jazz won't mind, I often am very deep in work..."

"Wait? My room?" Jake asked. "I don't need a room."

"Well we aren't gonna make ya sleep on the floor!" Jazz announced from his other side, shaking his head a bit. "Besides, ya haven't seen the size of it yet! You're hardly gonna know what to do with yourself!"

Jake felt a little nervous, taking a step back. Clearly the overt friendliness of Jazz was a little scary to him. Given he'd spent nine years living with cold, unfeeling mechs. "Jazz is correct, you'll have a lot of space in your room. Unlike the cell you told me you used to sleep in." Prowl replied. "What is your usual "bedtime" or did the Decepticons permit such a thing?"

"We got to sleep at three in the morning."

Jazz shuddered at that. It was way too long for a growing child to be up, that was for sure. "Well that will not be happening here. You're thirteen, so we'll be putting you to bed at nine-thirty." Prowl replied honestly. "You can stay up and read if you wish..."

"I can't read."

Prowl frowned, Primus, he needed to watch what he was saying. Though he made a note to work on correcting that, as it wasn't right. "Well then, perhaps we can teach you during your time with us." Prowl crossed his arms. "For now though, I suppose it would be best to let you get accustomed to your room."

He crossed over and opened the door so Jake could get a good look. It didn't look like much, but was inviting. There was a big, soft looking bed against the back wall. A small desk in one corner, and a dresser. The lighting was good, and a ceiling fan provided him with a good amount of air as well. "This is all mine...? No bars? No metal bed?"

"Absolutely not!" Jazz replied. "What slaggers would-!?"

Prowl jabbed him silently, shaking his head. Now was not the time to question things. And Jazz was not doing a good job of keeping the prying to a minimum. "Indeed, it is all yours. Take a nap if you so choose, or change out of your clothes. We got you some more clothes." He then added. "We'll see about making you dinner. Jazz downloaded some information on human cooking."

"What? Oh yeah! On it!"

As Jazz was off, Prowl and Jake stared at each other in uncertain silence. "I'll get changed, thanks." Jake replied, closing the door slowly. "I'll uh... I'll be right out."

Prowl sighed with relief as the door closed. He had no idea what he was doing, but that seemed to have at least gone a little well. Maybe, he figured, this wouldn't be as bad as he was making it out to be in his processor. "Hey Prowler?" Jazz asked.

Prowl turned his head towards Jazz who had an "oops" expression on his face. "What food information was I supposed to download again?"

Prowl frowned, facepalming himself. On second thought, it was going to be a long night.