The Ties That Bind 5
"Holy slag!" Jazz exclaimed suddenly.
"Now, I've heard everything!" Ratchet muttered in a soft awe filled tone.
"Prowl is actually asking someone to break tha rules? I know that's a first! I'm spark bonded to 'im, and I've never heard 'im ask somethin like that before!" Jazz said in total disbelief as his faceplates dropped in shock.
"I believe there is a human expression which states that 'there is a first time for everything', and this is obviously the type of situation which was meant to be covered by that expression." Prowl stated flatly.
"You're right Prowl; I don't really have any good reasons to trust any of you, but I want to…" Stephanie said earnestly. "I really want to because… I'm… I'm sick of being alone all the time and I'm tired of being scared of everyone because of what they might do to me… I hate what I have to do just to stay alive, but I don't wanna die, and I don't wanna get hurt anymore than I already am! I don't wanna get raped, and I don't wanna be someone's sex toy, or slave or whatever it is they do to the people they steal off the street!" She added as tears filled her sightless grey eyes.
Sarah shot a glare at Ratchet and shook her head negatively when she caught the medic's gaze. Then, she laid a hand gently on the girl's shoulder, and leaned a little closer to her. "Look Stephanie, maybe you don't have any reason to trust us yet, but I think there might be few reasons for you to at least give us a chance. I mean just take a look at things for a minute. Jazz brought you here so you could get the help you needed when you were sick. He got you a temporary replacement for your cane that got broke. I also understand that he stopped someone from robbing you. When Jazz brought you here, Ratchet worked very hard to make sure that you'd get well. He got you clean clothes, and let you use his shower. Jazz even set up a place for you to stay in his home. Doesn't all of that tell you that we at least deserve a chance?"
Stephanie took a deep breath before she let it out in a ragged sigh. "Jazz didn't know me. He didn't even care that he didn't know me when he stopped that guy from robbing me. Maybe that's what made me trust him enough to get in the car the other night. I've never really thought about rules until Ratchet brought it up, but that's the way I have to live, and I only brought up those rules because Ratchet made me mad. I mean, they aren't really rules, but they might as well be."
"Whether you have actually stated or listed them in some fashion or not, means nothing. The rules you so quickly stated are obviously founded in and from necessary methods of survival. Given the stringent and completely uncompromising nature of those rules, I would surmise that you violated several of them by simply allowing Jazz to bring you here. Punishment is required for violating any rule, and the potential consequences that you've mentioned are not insignificant. In fact it becomes obvious that by violating those rules as you so obviously have, you might well have placed your life in serious jeopardy, had you encountered anyone but Jazz! I believe that there is a suitable human punishment is called getting 'grounded' for violating a rule. Therefore Stephanie, you are 'grounded' to this base for a minimum of one week, unless you are accompanied by an adult who has been authorized by either myself or Jazz to escort you elsewhere. Since I am also in charge of enforcing both the laws and the rules on this base, I am currently and officially suspending the rules you have been abiding by until further notice. Is that acceptable?" Prowl stated clearly.
Stephanie's eyes went wide in disbelief for a brief moment before she burst out laughing. "I'm getting grounded to stay on this base because I was brought to this base?" She asked before laughing even harder.
"Somehow, I don't think she'll consider that to be much of a punishment Prowl." Sarah said with a snicker.
"It is… and at the same time… it is not." Prowl replied with an enigmatic smirk.
Sarah looked up at the black and white mech skeptically, while Stephanie turned her attention in the direction of the voice. "Okay, you're going to have to explain that one." Sarah said while shaking her head in confusion.
"Yeah… I'm with her on that one Prowler!" Jazz added skeptically.
"It is obvious from the rules that Stephanie listed off, that had she in fact, accepted a ride from someone else, her life could have been placed in grave danger. She did not know that Jazz was an Autobot, and therefore, had no idea that Jazz is in fact an honorable individual. Her actions the other night could easily have resulted in her death, severe physical harm, or even kidnapping and enslavement. As a result, punishment is required. The issue on the other servo is that this base would be considered to be a vast improvement over her previous existence; therefore, some type of reward for making a correct decision is also in order. By being confined to this base, Stephanie is being punished by such confinement, and yet she is simultaneously being rewarded by being able to make use of the facilities that are readily available here." Prowl explained easily.
"That's… that's got to be the weirdest thing I ever heard!" Stephanie exclaimed in disbelief. "The weirdest part… is that… it makes sense… sort of…" She finished with no small amount of confusion.
"That's my Prowler for ya Steph! Sometimes ya can't ever figure 'im out, but ya can be sure that he always makes sense!" Jazz said with a laugh.
"I think I'm going to like it here. Clean clothes, food that doesn't get baked in a dumpster, and even a real bed… I just wish I could borrow that shower and scrub brush again." Stephanie proclaimed happily before leaning towards Sarah. "Do I still smell like poo-doo?" She asked in a soft whisper.
Sarah didn't even hesitate as she instantly gave her answer. "No… more like wet dog actually." She said with a loud and obvious sniff of the air.
"Wet dog?" Stephanie exclaimed loudly. "How can I smell like a wet dog, when I've never even been around a dog?"
Sarah burst out laughing at the girl's reaction. "I'm joking Stephanie. You smell just fine."
"I was gonna say …wet rat I could understand, because I've been around a few of those while going in and out of the sewers, but even they don't go as deep as I do, because no one can see down there." Stephanie clarified quickly.
"Well… I can't say that I know what wet rat smells like because I've never been close enough to smell one. I'm never getting that close either! But I'm pretty sure you don't smell like that Stephanie." Sarah replied with a little disgust in her tone.
"Good! Because if I did smell like that, I'd be asking Ratchet if I could borrow his shower and scrub brush again! I don't know if they smell like poo-doo or not, but I don't wanna smell like one." Stephanie answered seriously.
"You can be certain that if you did smell like a rat, wet or otherwise, I would have told you to get back in that shower immediately! Our sense of smell is much better than a human's, and foul odors are even more offensive to us than they are to you!" Ratchet chimed in with his typical grouchiness.
Stephanie glared in the Medic's direction for a moment before turning her head towards where she knew Prowl was sitting. "Prowl, can he really smell better than we can?" She asked since she was sure that he'd tell her the truth.
"Actually, all Cybertronian senses are much better than that of a human. Our sense of hearing is nearly equal to that of a terrestrial bat, or one of your sea going mammals. Our sense of smell is better than that of your canines, and our optics are able to function just as well as those of both an owl and a hawk combined. Ratchet has informed you correctly, Stephanie. As a general rule, an Autobot won't lie about such things, so your doubts are misplaced." Prowl answered easily.
"Then would you do me a favor, and let me know when I need to get back in the shower? I've been living in the sewers long enough that I don't really notice the smell anymore, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell when I stink or not." Stephanie told the black and white mech hesitantly.
"We got ya covered on that one, Steph! That ain't no big deal!" Jazz said quickly.
"I would have to agree with Jazz. The fact that you have made such an admission and request, in spite of the potential for severe personal embarrassment, clearly illustrates that you do not wish to offend others without cause. I find that commendable, Stephanie, and I will inform you, in private, I might add, if you do require a visit to a shower." Prowl added calmly.
"Showers and baths are one thing you won't have to skimp on around here since all the water is purified and recycled. So if you think you need one, or just feel like taking one to relax a little, then don't hesitate. Okay? You can take as many showers as you want." Sarah suggested amiably.
Ratchet looked over at the girl, and was about to insist that she take a least one shower or bath each day when a seemingly sly grin crept onto the girl's face. His optics narrowed in suspicion when he thought that Stephanie had thought of some way to avoid proper hygienic behavior.
"So nobody's gonna gripe at me if I take two or three showers everyday?" Stephanie asked eagerly with a sly grin still plastered on her face.
"Not at all, Stephanie." Sarah answered.
"Good! I'll take at least two, maybe three… because if I'm not going to live in the sewers anymore then I don't wanna smell I do." Stephanie smiled. "Hey, I still have that ten dollars… is there anyway I can buy a scrub brush with it? Rags and bath scrubbies just don't work on my scars, because I've tried those before. Everybody at the foster home kept telling me that I stink, and I don't wanna smell like poo-doo anymore." She added seriously.
Ratchet's optics widened in genuine surprise. He'd been almost positive that the girl sitting at the table would be like most human children and try to avoid a bath whenever possible. That was obviously not the case here though.
"If you have no objections, I can give you the brush you used earlier…" Ratchet began.
"That would be great! I don't know how much it costs, but I'll give you all ten dollars for it!" Stephanie offered quickly as she cut the Medic off.
"I said 'give', and I meant give!" Ratchet growled. "From what you've told us, I sincerely doubt that you have any reliable source of funds available. Therefore, you are to save what little currency you have, because I'm sure you can find other things to do with it."
"Well… I have clean clothes, I don't have to pay for food, and I don't have to scrounge for it either; I've got a cane that I can get around with, and I can get fresh hot coffee here for free. With all that, I don't really know what to do with the money, and I know it's not very much." Stephanie answered pensively.
"It may not be much, but that's better than having none at all; so just hang on to it like Ratchet said. I'm sure you'll find something to spend it on later." Sarah told her kindly.
Sarah shook her head in slight confusion. As little as this girl had by way of possessions, she spoke and acted as if she now had everything she could possibly need or want. It was actually more than a little disturbing to her, because she knew that if she were in that situation, she'd be close to tears from the loss of… well… everything!
'Stephanie doesn't even have a spare change of clothes to wear and she's acting as if we've given her the key to the city or something.' Sarah thought in surprise. That was when she realized, that the basic necessities she'd always taken for granted such as a hot shower, a decent meal to eat, a soft warm bed, and clean clothes, were actually considered to be exquisite luxuries by the girl sitting next to her. It was a realization that told her just how different priorities could become when mere survival was the top priority in daily life.
'Speaking of clothes…' Sarah thought suddenly. "Well Stephanie, since you're wearing all the clothes you've got, what do you say to a trip to the store later to get you a new wardrobe?"
Stephanie's mouth fell open in shock. "I… I don't think I've got that much money. I mean, ten dollars won't buy new clothes… will it?"
"Who said you'd be the one paying for it? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about spending a fortune, but I can at least get you a few pair of socks, underwear, pants, and a couple of tops to change into. What do you say to that?" Sarah clarified easily.
Stephanie opened her mouth to say something, but her mind refused to cooperate at that moment. She closed her mouth and swallowed so she could try again, and she still couldn't get any words to come out. She sat there a moment struggling to think of something to say.
"Saying 'thank you' for something like that doesn't seem like enough." Stephanie finally said quietly once she found her voice.
Sarah honestly didn't know what to say in response to that. She could easily see that Stephanie felt as if she'd just been handed a fortune by a complete stranger, and really didn't know how to express the amount of gratitude that she felt. Finally, Sarah decided on a way out.
"I'll tell you what. We won't go to a mall or some place like that. We'll go to Wal~Mart so everything will be more affordable. How does that sound?" Sarah asked in an effort to down play her offer.
"Are you sure? Even Wal~Mart's expensive." Stephanie protested softly.
"Well, yes, Wal~Mart can be expensive if you buy a lot of stuff, but you need some clothes, and you definitely need some essentials like underwear, and hygiene articles. When was the last time you brushed your hair?" Sarah replied easily.
Stephanie blanched stark white at that question. "Uhm… I… I don't know?" She answered hesitantly.
"Well then you probably need a hair brush, now don't you? No offense, but you've sort of got this whole mop thing going on up there that's even worse than a bird's nest." Sarah answered.
"That's what we're talking about Stephanie. I'm not your mother, and we aren't your parents, so none of us really have the right to tell you how to live, but we can at least try to see to it that you're properly taken care of while you're here." Sarah told her gently.
"I'm sure it will take some getting used to, after being on your own for so long, but you can at least give us a chance, right?" Sarah asked casually.
"So long as I can stay with Jazz and Prowl, and Jazz keeps his promise; then I'll stay for as long as I can." Stephanie answered seriously.
"What do you mean by 'as long as you can'?" Sarah asked quickly.
"I mean for as long as you guys are willing to let me stay here." Stephanie replied. "I know you're gonna get tired of me sooner or later, and start griping just like the people at the foster home did. So when that happens, I'll go back home." She added simply
"You actually like Prowl, don't you?" Ratchet demanded quickly as he changed the subject because he was not happy with the thought of the girl going back to the sewers, or with the idea that she actually considered those sewers to be her home.
"Of course I do! Even if he did just ground me, he's still not a grouch like some people!" Stephanie said with a very pointed glare in the general direction of the medic who had spoken to her.
Ratchet huffed silently as he regarded the girl sitting at the table. He maintained his watchful silence even when the soldier on KP duty arrived with the food and energon. He was slightly surprised that Stephanie had ordered chicken noodle soup, crackers, coffee, and a large glass of milk to go with her food.
'Perhaps she actually does care about her health.' The medic thought doubtfully before he realized something. 'Between her being blind and the nearly useless state of her left arm, she would be constantly aware of how precarious her health is. That's why she's been so angry at me, because like all humans she hates to be reminded of the obvious!'
The medic made a mental note to ease up a bit and simply observe Stephanie's behavior to see if she would actually tend to her own health needs, and if he saw that she wasn't, then he could step in with instructions. Ratchet wasn't at all pleased with Stephanie's physical condition. He could see that she not only needed a proper diet, but she needed exercise as well. Thinking back over what she'd said, he realized that she knew she needed such things, and wanted to stay on the base so that she could get them in an environment that she considered acceptable. In his professional opinion, it was a tremendous improvement over the child's previous environment, plus she could be properly supervised while she was on the base.
Stephanie crushed and mixed the crackers into her soup, and ate in contented silence while listening to Sarah talk to the three bots. She had no idea how she'd gotten lucky enough to meet Jazz the way she had, but she had to admit that even Ratchet, as grumpy, and grouchy as he was, seemed to want what was best for her. She still wasn't completely sure why Jazz had made her a place to stay in his own home with Prowl, but there was something about the calm voice and the way Prowl spoke that was very reassuring and even comforting. Then, she almost started laughing as she realized that she hadn't been with these mechs very long and she was already grounded for something she hadn't had any control over. The flipside to that, was that she had already gotten a hot shower where she'd taken a long time, and gotten as clean as she could manage, and had not only been provided with clean clothes, boots that actually fit, but she'd also been given fresh hot food that was delicious, and a bed that was more comfortable than anything she could remember.
Stephanie paused for a moment after swallowing a mouthful of her soup. Everything that was being so casually given to her added up to a lot more than she would previously have dreamed of getting. The icing on the cake was that she now had at least three people that she could call friends, and although she wasn't quite sure about Ratchet yet, she could still talk to him, and that made a total of four people that she could talk to.
Having others that she could talk with wasn't something she was accustomed to, but at the same time, it was something she had craved. Stephanie knew that she wasn't used to being around other people, and being in the company of the mechs… well that would really take some getting used to. Just being able to listen to their voices as they carried on a conversation, and knowing that she could join in without having to worry about a lot of consequences was a very unfamiliar feeling, but a very welcome one at the same time.
Stephanie's attention was pulled back to the conversation when she heard Sarah start to tell Jazz about all the different things she would need.
"It would be more effective if you were to inform me of any additional requirements that Stephanie might need. Whether he chooses to admit it or not, I believe that Jazz would be far too lenient, and would fail to enforce such things as curfews and bed times." Prowl said clearly.
Stephanie smiled as she thought about chiming in with a joke, but then she decided against interrupting the adults, even though they were discussing her, and her situation. Besides, while she might consider it a little funny, the others might not, and she really didn't want to leave just because of a stupid joke. She turned her attention back to her soup, and ate quietly.
Stephanie finished eating, and sipped at her coffee while wondering what she was going to do with her time. She knew that living in the sewers, meant that she had to constantly search for something to eat, because most of what she found usually smelled too rotten to be eaten. It was a hard existence in which every waking moment was a constant struggle to simply survive for one more day. Thinking about any kind of a future was out of the question, because the present always took priority. Food, shelter from the elements, water, and a dry, safe place to sleep… those were the things that she'd had to focus on.
Now, was a very different story; right now, she was clean, sitting with a full stomach, and able to think about some kind of a future. Stephanie wasn't sure what the future held for her, and she had no idea what possibilities were available. There was one thing she was sure of though, and that was that she wanted to stay with Jazz and Prowl because they both nice to talk to. As for Mrs. Lennox… Stephanie had to admit that the woman was really nice… after all… the woman had even held her and let her cry on her shoulder like she was a two year old or something.
"Mommy!"
Stephanie was jerked from her thoughts by the gleeful shout. Frozen in shock by the voice, she struggled not to start crying right then and there. That voice sounded so hauntingly familiar, that it brought hundreds of memories and a ton of heartache to her mind instantly. She knew that it wasn't possible, because Celeste was dead along with her mother and father. None the less, the voice she'd just heard had sounded almost exactly like her little sister.
"Annabelle! Come on up Sweetie. Did you have fun with Mikeala and Chromia?" Sarah answered happily.
"Uh-huh. We played hide and seek, and they almost didn't finded me!" Annabelle exclaimed in the same happy tone.
Stephanie fought with the heartache that threatened to overwhelm her at that moment. Such small things that probably wouldn't really matter to most people, but these were the kind of moments that Stephanie had begun to miss the most. Something simple, and not really worth mentioning, or even remembering later on in life, but what made it so important was that they were happy. She would gladly give anything asked of her to be able to experience just one more happy time with her family.
"So what else did you ladies do today?" Sarah asked.
"We wented to the park and played at the merry go round and bunches of stuffs." Annabelle replied as she got into her mother's lap.
"Apparently, she's had a pretty busy day so far. So she should be good to go when it's time for her nap." Said a male voice that Stephanie didn't recognize.
"Hey Mommy… who's her?" Annabelle asked upon spotting Stephanie sitting to her mother's right.
"Her name is Stephanie. Jazz brought her to the base a few nights ago, and it's a very good thing he did too, because she was so sick that she would have died if he hadn't brought her here." Sarah answered with a meaningful look at her husband.
"Her was sick?" Annabelle asked in wonder.
"Yes she was, so she won't really be up to playing with you for a couple of days." Sarah answered.
"If she was that bad off, why wasn't she taken to a regular hospital?" Will asked seriously.
"Because she would have had to wait while they tried to identify her so they could get treatment consent from her legal guardians, and she doesn't have any. The result is that she wouldn't have gotten any treatment, and she would have been… pronounced deceased within a few hours. Severe food poisoning isn't something to mess around with." Sarah said seriously.
"My apologies, Stephanie. The young girl you heard is my daughter Annabelle, and the man is my husband William, but everyone just calls him Will." Sarah said as she turned her attention to the girl on her right.
"My name's Stephanie… but you can call me Steph if you want." She answered hesitantly.
Stephanie knew from what had just been said that there might be a problem with her being here. It made her nervous, and she wondered if she would have a chance to get Jazz to take her back to the alley if she wasn't allowed to stay.
Col. Lennox frowned when he saw the strange girl staring at a point off to his left. He gave a casual wave of greeting, and saw that there was no reaction to it at all.
"You'll have to speak to her Will. She doesn't have a cane or shades to show it, but Stephanie's blind." Sarah informed her husband politely.
"Her can't see at all?" Annabelle asked in a tone of awe.
"No Sweetie, she can't. She got hurt really, really bad a long time ago, so she can't really move her left arm either. So don't pull on it or anything like that because that'll hurt even worse than getting a shot." Sarah told her daughter seriously.
Annabelle's eyes went wide at that comment, and she shook her head seriously. "I pwomise I won't do that Mommy." She said earnestly while crossing her heart.
"That's good Honey." Sarah smiled.
"So how'd it happen?" Will asked while eyeing the scar tissue that covered the girl's left arm.
"She was caught in an explosion. The blast not only left her blind and unable to use that left arm, but also… left her… bereft of relatives." Sarah answered quickly, but had to think carefully about those last few words, so the five year old in her lap wouldn't understand the phrase and be upset by it.
"When did that happen?" Will demanded in surprise.
"It happened about five years ago… in downtown Mission City." Sarah said with a pointed glance at the three mechs seated at the table.
William Lennox wasn't stupid, and he immediately understood why his wife was being somewhat evasive about what she was saying. Neither of them wanted Annabelle to know any real details about that battle, because they felt that she was still too young. He also understood that the girl sitting at the table had a very good reason to be there. That wasn't to say that he didn't have all kinds of additional questions that he wanted answered, but he figured that he could get those later.
"Nice to meet you Stephanie." Will said seriously as he introduced himself.
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Lennox." Stephanie answered nervously.
Ratchet had been observing Stephanie while she ate. He was making note of the girl's behavior and mannerisms to determine whether or not she would properly attend to her particular health needs. He noted that she drank the glass of milk with obvious relish, but would slowly sip at the coffee in order to savor it. The sudden and drastic increase in Stephanie's vital signs when Annabelle had called out to her mother was a cause for concern though. It wasn't until a forlorn expression crossed the girl's face, that he gained an idea as to a possible cause.
'She must have been reminded of one of her family members.' Ratchet thought sourly as he quietly observed the girl.
"My name is Annabelle… what's you's?" Annabelle piped up cheerfully.
"I'm Stephanie, and it's nice to meet you Annabelle." She answered after swallowing the lump in her throat.
"Hi Stephy! Can we be friends?" Annabelle asked excitedly.
Stephanie almost choked at just how eager the girl was. "Um… sure… uh… why not?"
"Yay!" Annabelle squealed in delight. "Mommy… I gots a new fwiend! Can her come over and play when her gets better?"
"I can't say that I'd mind, but I think you should ask her, and you should ask permission from Jazz and Prowl since she lives with them." Sarah told her daughter seriously.
"You live with Prowl?" Will blurted in astonished surprise.
Stephanie nodded her head. "That's not a problem is it?" She asked hesitantly.
'Holy crap! Prowl is the strictest mech alive! Living with him would be even worse than living with the Pope! At least the Pope's liable to forgive you! If she breaks any rules around him, he'll probably toss her in the brig for longer than a human's lifespan.' Will thought in amazement as he shook his head.
That was when Will recovered his senses from the shock of learning who the girl was living with, and remembered that she was blind. "No … no that's not a problem at all. A fair warning though, Prowl is well known to be a serious stickler for rules and regulations. That includes laws too… so don't try to get away with anything around him, because it won't happen."
Stephanie smiled and snorted a brief laugh. "Yeah… I've sort of figured that one out already, but he's still really nice and I like him."
William Lennox just shook his head on that one, because he really had no idea how to respond to it.
"I hate to do it, Hon, but I have to hightail it back to work. I've got a ton of paperwork I need to finish up, so I'll see you this evening." Will said to Sarah.
"Okay, I'll see you then." Sarah answered as she kissed her husband and watched him leave.
"So Stephanie… how do you feel about a trip to Wal~Mart in a little while? Think you'll be up to it?" Sarah asked as she turned her attention to the girl beside her.
Stephanie turned toward Sarah with a surprised expression on her face.
"You'll have to ask Prowl about that because he grounded me… remember?" Stephanie answered ruefully.
"That is correct, Stephanie. However; I distinctly recall stating the proviso that in order to leave this base you must be accompanied by myself, Jazz, or an adult authorized by one of us to escort you elsewhere. Since Sarah is not only a mother herself, but also a medical professional as well, it is immediately obvious that more acceptable human supervision would be difficult to obtain. Therefore, Sarah is authorized to take you anywhere she deems necessary, and at any time she feels is appropriate. Do you have any objections to that?" Prowl stated clearly.
"No… why would I not wanna go shopping, when I'll be getting some new clothes and stuff?" Stephanie asked curiously as she turned her head in Prowls direction.
"You present a very valid point Stephanie. However, I am aware that humans such as yourself require several changes of clothing. You have told me that Ratchet burned the clothing you were wearing. That combined with Sarah's statement earlier that you are wearing everything you currently have, means that you need additional clothing and undergarments. Since I have a supply of human funds available, but have seen no reason to use them as yet, I will contribute to the purchase of your necessities." Prowl stated clearly.
"Now look Prowler… don' think you're gonna be tha only one ta help her out; cuz ya ain't!" Jazz said firmly.
"That concept never entered my processors. However, you have already provided a considerable amount of assistance to Stephanie. It is due to your assistance that she was not robbed, that she was brought to this base to receive vital medical treatment which has saved her life, received a temporary replacement for a cane which is being specially built for her physical condition, and now she has living quarters which are situated in a clean and supervised environment. Since you have done all of this, I believe that it should now be my turn to provide some level of assistance, and one small part of that will consist of providing the funds for the purchase of necessities." Prowl countered easily.
"Okay now this is really getting weird!" Stephanie muttered.
"Wait… are you two seriously going to argue over who gets to take care of her?" Sarah asked in disbelief.
"No. We are not. Jazz and I made a commitment to each other when we became Spark-mates. Part of that commitment is that we do things together. By providing Stephanie with a place to live in the quarters that we share, Jazz has made it clear that he intends to become a part of her life by assuming the responsibility and role of caretaker. Our commitment to each other means that it is now my responsibility as well. I am simply asserting the fact that I will be assuming an equal share of the responsibilities in providing and caring for Stephanie. At this time, Jazz does not have sufficient funds to purchase those items which Stephanie will need; therefore, I will provide the funds for those necessities." Prowl stated clearly.
"I cain't argue with that, and I ain't sure that I want ta either." Jazz quipped with a grin.
"'Sides, if my Prowler wants ta spend some money on a girl… who am I ta say no?" Jazz continued with a wide smile.
Prowl's doorwings stiffened in indignation while he slowly turned his head to face Jazz. "I am not frivolously spending my money on a 'girl'! I am purchasing those things needed by Stephanie."
"Yer, still spending yer money, and in case ya hadn't noticed… Stephanie is a girl! So yer spending yer money on a girl, an it's about time too!" Jazz smirked.
"Okay… I'm not touching that one!" Stephanie muttered quickly.
"I don't blame you; I wouldn't want anything to do with that comment either." Sarah replied in disbelief.
"Huh? Why not?" Jazz asked in confusion.
"Because Jazz… you're making it sound like Prowl has some type of romantic interest in Stephanie. I know you're only trying to tease Prowl, but Stephanie might not like being the subject of that kind of thing." Sarah lectured.
"Well… to be honest… it's not that I even care, I just…" Stephanie said before trailing off with a shrug because she didn't know what to say.
"A valid point is being made Jazz. As of yet, we do not know very much about Stephanie. Her likes, dislikes, preferences, predilections, and even what types of humor she enjoys are unknown to us at this time. Therefore, it would be wise to avoid jokes or insinuations of an intimate nature until such time as we are more familiar with Stephanie's responses." Prowl instructed calmly.
"I think ya got a point on that one Prowler. Sorry bout that Steph, I was just tryin ta poke some fun; didn't mean ta insult ya though." Jazz explained.
"No problem, Jazz. Sorry about getting you in trouble." Stephanie answered while her mouth quirked ruefully.
"Nah! Ya didn't get me in any trouble. Prowler's always on me about somethin or other, so I'm used to it." Jazz replied.
"That is invariably true Stephanie. I am constantly forced to lecture, or otherwise correct Jazz on many issues. It is something that I have become accustomed to doing. Jazz tends to be rather chaotic in life, therefore I try to provide a stable influence for him. It is a method that has functioned quite well for us, for a very long time." Prowl explained easily.
"So that's why you two get along so well!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"That is indeed a large part of what originally drew us together, however, Jazz and I have found that we compliment each other in many ways, and each of us possesses traits and qualities that the other might lack. Our Spark Bond allows us to benefit from the other. Where Jazz is outgoing and exuberant, I am quiet and reserved. That is what Spark mates are supposed to be for each other." Prowl explained carefully.
"I'm surprised that you are revealing that much about the relationship between you two." Ratchet said in confusion.
"Under normal circumstances I would not reveal anything. However, Stephanie deserves some type of explanation for our behavior, and I have now provided that explanation. Therefore, any further explanations can be made in private." Prowl stated in reply.
"Yeah… I get the feeling that was a bunch of private stuff that you don't normally talk about. So if there's any more explanations like that, you can count on me to keep my mouth shut about it." Stephanie chimed in quickly.
Prowl's doorwings rose just a just a bit as he studied Stephanie. "I must express my appreciation for your silence in that regard in advance. It would seem that you are as intelligent as you are resourceful, and before anyone attempts to disagree… I must point out that Stephanie has managed to survive on her own for a number of years while surmounting numerous obstacles and persevering in the face of adversity. An individual who did not possess such qualities would have succumbed to defeat and placed themselves back in the care of the foster system. That Stephanie has not done so, indicates a fair level of intelligence for her age."
"I'd have to agree." Sarah said quickly. "So… do you feel like you're up to a trip to Wal-Mart?"
"Sure… if you feel like taking me." Stephanie answered eagerly.