Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ It’s Now or Never ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: All Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Any made up characters were created by me. This has TF Slash.

 

Summery: (2007 Movie verse) After thousands or more Earth years, Jazz's bond mate had been missing, and many thought dead. It wasn't until after the battle of the All Spark, when Jazz's bond mate was found.

 

Parings: Prowl/BarricadeXJazz

 

“blah” - Normal human speak
“blah” - Cybertronian speak
blah - thinking

 

It's Now or Never
By Pharaoh-Yami

 

Chapter 2

 

Earth

 

There was chaos in Mission City. The humans where helping the Autobots fight off the Decepticons for control of the All Spark. Barricade sat in an ally getting ready to strike. He was still mad at what been happening since he arrived on Earth. His pride was still sore on how Bumblebee whipped his aft in their last fight. His on board sensor told him the scout was nearing with the All Spark. He started his engine to get himself ready. At that moment the yellow Camaro speed by and before Barricade could race off after him, the waves of the All Spark's power rush over him. His processor was hit with images and memories of another life.

Memories of a blue optic Autobot and the bond he had with Jazz. At that same time the virus that had been deeply suppressed somewhere in his systems got loose as he slowly transformed, gripping to the side of a near by wall when he became unbalanced.

Then, memories of being very ill with said virus and Jazz always there to take care of him. He closed his optics in pain as he started leaking small amounts of Energon.

Then the memories of being taken by the Decepticons, being forced formatted into what he had become.

Soon a familiar voice reached his audios. He looked up just in time to see Megatron fighting with Jazz. “Ya want a piece of me?!”

“No, I want two!”

“...N-No...! J-Jazz....!” He could fell the pain coming from his bonded as Megatron ripped the silver mech in half.

Megatron glanced down at him with a smirk as he tossed Jazz's body out of his hands before transforming and flying off to fight Optimus, who had just arrived into the city.

 

- - -

 

The battle was over after the destruction of both Megatron and the All Spark. The remaining Autobots gathered. “I'm sorry sir...” Ratchet started sadly as he slowly passed the two halves of Jazz to Prime “We lost Jazz...”

“...Y-You haven't...l-lost him...” The Autobots and the humans turned towards the voice and saw the black and white mech barely standing there. “...H-He's still here...I-I can feel it...b-but just barely...”

Bumblebee took out his gun. The humans that helped them did the same. “Barricade.” Bumblebee sneered.

The black and white mech backed off weakly. Ratchet held up his hand. “Bee put that away,” He said. “I don't think he's going to hurt us.” Ratchet then started to walk towards the mech. “I don't think Barricade is his true designation.” He said as he got near, starting to run scans on the mech before him.

“...N-No...I-it's Prowl...” The other Autobots looked a bit shocked at this information.

“Barricade is really Jazz's missing bond mate?” Ironhide said still a bit surprised. At that moment Barricade, now back to being called Prowl, nearly collapsed from standing too long if it wasn't for Ratchet being there to support him up.

“The Decepticons suppressed that virus when they formatted you,” Ratchet said gently has he steadied the mech. “Because now it's running through your systems again.”

“...J-Jazz...” Prowl spoke before going offline in weakness.

 

- - -

 

A couple days passed, Ratchet returned to headquarters that night from Look Out Point. The humans let them have an old run down army base outside of town to use to live as thanks for helping them with the Decepticons. Once back at headquarters he went to his make shift in Medical Bay. It wasn't much but it was enough for Ratchet until more survivors arrived. Ratchet hoped among them were some more of his medical staff and of course his beloved bond mate, the old engineer called Wheeljack, to help make the Medical Bay work much better then it was. It was enough to keep a life support machine running on the very weak spark of Jazz until Ratchet finished up repairing him. Once he entered his bay, he notice one of the medical berths in the room was empty. He sighed a bit when he walked over where Jazz's body was laid and to the ill mech that sat on the floor beside it. “Prowl, you can't be getting off your berth,” he said in a kind but stern tone. “You should be resting.”

“...I-I feel...b-better wh-when…I'm…near him...” the black and white mech spoke weakly from his position on the floor. He was still leaking Energon, and he was still having trouble with his intakes because of some of the said Energon clogging some of them. Ratchet couldn't help but smile solemnly at him.

The poor mech nearly lost everything to the Decepticons. Ratchet thought to himself First they gave him a very bad virus that could kill him if I or the others weren't around to care for him. Then they took him away from Jazz, changed him into a deeply hated Decepticon. If it wasn't for the All Spark to change him back, he would have no idea his bonded was still alive and we could have lost Jazz forever... Ratchet was taken out of his thoughts when he heard Prowl “coughing” as more Energon started to clog more of his intakes. Ratchet took a cleaning cloth near by and knelt down beside the mech and gently cleans the Energon off the intakes. Weak red optics looked thankfully up at him. With this virus still in his systems his optics won't change back to their normal color, or he can't scan another vehicle form. He thought some more as he worked, glancing down at the paint job that still screamed Barricade, right down to the Decepticon icon and the “to punish and enslave” quoting on the mech.

“...D-Did you...g-give the humans...a-and the youngling...m-my message...?”

“No, I thought you should.”

“...N-No...I-I can't...” Ratchet knew Prowl wanted to apologize for everything that happened while he was Barricade, but Prowl was too afraid to say it himself.

“You're not Barricade anymore.” Ratchet explained gently as he finished cleaning the clogged intakes “You don't have to be afraid of them not accepting your apology.”

“...T-They will...e-every time...t-they see...m-me...”

Ratchet sighed.  "If you explain it to them, they'll understand you are Prowl.  You didn't have a say in the matter.  They made you sick and then they forced you to become what you were.  You are no longer Barricade, thanks to the All Spark and Primus himself giving you back your old memories.  Your spark is Prowl's."

"...W-Will Jazz...f-forgive me...?"

"Why wouldn't he?  Especially after how you helped him escape death a few years ago."

"...B-But...I-I was...B-Barricade then..."

"...Maybe so...but one's actions speak louder than their words.  It is true for the humans as well..." he said with a small smile.

"..."

"...Prowl...the others will forgive you.  Some might take a little longer to forgive you than others, but they will.  However...the most important person to seek forgiveness from is yourself."

"...I-I guess....  ...W-Where is...e-everyone...?"

“In the Rec Room.  Optimus is in the command room.  I'm going to go work on Jazz.  Will you be alright?"

"...Y-Yeah..." Ratchet smiled and stood.  He went over to the other side of Jazz's berth and started work again.  He was making steady pace on Jazz. Prowl leaned against the berth again. He closed weak, red optics in sleep.  J-...Jazz...will you...ever love...ever love me...again?

 

- - -

 

Prowl woke up a few hours later to voices.  One was Optimus.  He listened groggily with closed optics. "How's everything going Ratchet?"

"Alright.  I keep trying to get Prowl to stay in bed.  He prefers to be near Jazz which is understandable."

"So much pain to have gone through...  How's is he?"

"Mostly stable.  I would prefer an anti-virus or he'll never get better.  Besides, the Decepticons could make it worse if they want.  I'm surprised they haven't tried to take him back.  Starscream must not think very highly of Barricade.  He needs an anti-virus to make it.  He can't change back into Prowl or scan something else."

"Alright Ratchet, I'll get a team together.  We'll do what we can for him."

"I do wish some of my other medical staff was here."

"There are some on their way here.  I've gotten recent transmissions."  Optimus smirked a bit.  "He's with them..."

Ratchet looked a bit surprised.  "Wheeljack?  Are you sure sir?"

"Yes.  It was him I spoke to last.  He's thrilled to be coming."

"Well maybe now we can get a proper working Medical Bay."

"Yes, I know he will make sure of it," he added with a smile.  He came over and looked at Prowl.  "Rest well, my friend...  Just hang in there..."

 

- - -

 

Days past, and more Autobots arrived, one was very happy to see Ratchet. Ratchet was busy working on Jazz as Prowl rested in his usual, out of bed spot.  Wheeljack snuck in and put his arms around Ratchet, practically glomping him from behind.  "Ratchet!" he smiled.

"Gah!" shouted Ratchet in surprise. Luckily he didn't do anything major to Jazz.

"I'm sorry, I'm just happy to see you," he said, letting go.

"Wheeljack, you know I hate it when you do that while I'm working," Ratchet said "And...I'm happy to see you too."

Wheeljack just smiled.  He noticed Prowl sleeping and gasped.  "Whoa!  Is that...Barricade?"

"Yes and no." said Ratchet "Remember Jazz's bond mate?"

"Prowl. Is that... How did...?"

"The Decepticons force formatted him. Thankfully Primus and the All Spark fixed the problem."

"Oh wow... He doesn't look well..."

"That virus he had gotten before is still there."

"...Poor mech..."

Ratchet nods. "I know." he said.

Wheeljack couldn't help but laugh. "Couldn't keep him in bed?" he asked.

"...No..." he sighed "He feels more at ease next to his bond mate. If it makes him rest, I don't mind."

"Yeah...I guess one of us would be too if we were in his position."

Ratchet just smiled and stopped working. He turned and hugged the older mech. "I missed you Jack."

He only smiled. "I missed you too." Prowl slowly awoke "coughing" a bit. Ratchet had to let go and go over to him.

"Easy, Prowl, you alright?" Very weak red optics looked up at him.

"...Y-yeah..." he managed to say, coughing still. Ratchet stood up, grabbed another cleaning cloth and knelt back down to him. Wheeljack watched worriedly at this.

"Easy Prowl, try to breath slow." Prowl nods weakly. Ratchet managed to get up most of the energon and he stopped coughing.

"...T-Thanks..." Prowl then noticed Wheeljack in the room. "Wh-when...did you...g-get...here...?"

"Arrived just a while ago." Wheeljack smiled.

"...O-oh... R-ratchet...will be...getting some...help then..." Wheeljack nods. "...R-Ratchet...?"

"What is it, Prowl?" Ratchet asked.

"H-How...much longer...until...J-Jazz... Until...Jazz..."

"Soon, I'm almost done." Prowl smiled weakly.

Wheeljack looked around. "Wow Ratchet, not much for you to work in huh?" he said.

"No... I was hoping you could help with that.”

Wheeljack smiled at him. “Then I'll get busy on the plans,” he genki smiled.

 

- - -

 

With his bonded's help, Ratchet soon got a working Medical Bay, and he finally got Jazz fixed. Ratchet watched as the silver mech's vitals slowly started to rise. Soon life came to the blue optics. “R-Ratch...?”

Ratchet smiled. “Welcome back Jazz,” He said.

“W-Where's Megatron?”

“He's gone Jazz. The boy destroyed him with the All Spark.” Ratchet explained “Oh and Jazz, we found him.”

Jazz looked confused as he sat up. “Found who?” Ratchet helped him up and around the berth. Jazz looked shocked when he saw Prowl. “T-That's Barricade.”

“No. It's Prowl.”

Jazz looked even more shocked. “Wha?”

“The All Spark changed him back.”

Jazz slowly knelt next to the black and white mech. “The virus...is still there.” He said sadly.

“We believe when they force formatted him they suppressed it.” Ratchet said “It got released when the All Spark changed him.” Ratchet watched Jazz slowly reach a hand towards Prowl. “He never wanted to stay in bed.” Ratchet said “He wanted to be near you so...”

Jazz smiled a bit. “I get it Ratch.” He said softly “I'll take care of things from here.”

“I figured you wanted too.”

“Prowler?” Jazz called out softly to the sleeping mech as he gently caresses the side of his faceplates “Prowler can ya hear me?”

Prowl slowly opened very weak red optics, hazily looking into a very familiar face. “...J-Jazz...?”

Jazz smiled softly. “Yeah. It's me Prowler.” He said.

A small smile appeared on Prowl's face, as he weakly tried to reach Jazz. “...J-Jazz...”

Jazz gently pulled him into a hug. “It's okay Prowl, I'm here. I'm never gonna leave ya ever again.” He spoke softly to his bonded. Prowl smiled weakly, a few tears falling. He had missed his bond mate so much. How could he forgive him so readily?

"Maybe now he will stay in bed." said Ratchet as he watched this with a small smile.

"Yeah..." Jazz smiled "I'll make sure of that." He gently picked Prowl up and walked over to his berth. Prowl was still crying weakly, burying his head in Jazz's chest plate. Jazz still just smiled. "It's alright... I promise...everything's going to be okay..." Ratchet decided to leave the two alone and went off to find his own mate.

"...Y-you...forgive...me...so...so read-ily..."

"Of course baby."

"...Th-the...the things...I...-cough- did..."

"Prowler, ya weren't yer self back then."

"...I...I was...logically...aware...of...what I -cough- was...doing...-cough-..." Jazz looked around when he notice Prowl's intakes were clogging for something to clean them off. He found a pile of cleaning clothes set aside special just for Prowl. They weren't fare from where Jazz was at so he reached for one. "...You...-cough- sh-should...-cough- hate...me..."

"Prowler..." Jazz said gently as he started to clear off Prowl's intakes "I would never hate ya. I love ya too much for that."

"...-cough-..." Tears fell more steadily. How could he still love him after everything? Jazz just smiled softly as he started to care for his bonded again like he did all those vorns ago. Weak red optics slowly closed as Prowl cried himself to sleep there in Jazz's arms. Jazz smiled still as he still gently cleans Prowl's intakes. His breathing steadied out as he slept. Jazz smiled at him and carefully laid him down.

"Sleep well Prowler, I'll be right here." he said gently. There was a clear intake as he weakly reached for Jazz's leaving hand. Jazz smiled as he intertwined his own fingers into the black ones. Prowl took another clear intake as his hand fell, his body going completely into recharge. Jazz smiled softly. At that moment the door to Medical Bay opens up and Optimus stood there.

"Jazz...." Jazz slowly turns and saw him.

"Oh hey Prime." he said with a smile "Don't be too loud, Prowler just got to sleep."

He smiled. "That's good. He wouldn't stay in bed. So I heard."

"He just missed me that's all." Jazz said.

Optimus laughed a bit. "That's good that he's finally getting some real rest." Jazz smiled a bit. Jazz then sighed sadly.

"Now Prowler just needs to get better..."

"I believe Ratchet is trying to come up with an anti-virus. I'm coming up with a plan to try and get it from the Decepticons."

"I'm just worried about Prowler..."

"We are too." Jazz smiled a bit. Optimus smiled too. "The sooner he gets better, the sooner he can change back."

"Yeah I know." said Jazz.

"I'll leave you two alone. Try not to stay up too late."

"I'll try not to." He smiled and left the room. Jazz watched for a bit before going back to his watch over Prowl. He carefully climbed up on the bed, settling Prowl next to him. He took a few intakes before falling back into recharge, nuzzling against his love.  Jazz smiled as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

- - -

 

It was a nice quiet night at headquarters, well quiet everywhere except the Medical Bay where a soft humming sound was heard. It was dark in the Medical Bay except for the soft glow of blue optics mixed with weak red ones. “Easy baby, just rest.” Jazz whispered softly as he sat on the berth, gently holding Prowl in his arms.

“...J-Jazz...I-I'm sorry...”

“Ya have nothing to be sorry about.” Jazz said gently resting his forehead against his “You had no control or memory as Barricade back then.”

“...B-But...”

“Shhhh. Rest Prowler.”

"...I...I'm sorry..."

"Prowler, I told ya, ya have nothing to be sorry about."

"...Y-Yes...I...do...!" he shouted, sitting up.

"Prowl..."

"...I-I KILLED...A-Autobots Jazz...!"

"Prowl...!"

"I...I was...coherent...of my actions! I...KNEW...what I was...doing...!" Prowl started to cry again. "...I-I had no...c-control...! ...B-But I...k-knew I was doing it...!" He started "coughing" badly and getting all worked up, making things worse.

"PROWL! STOP IT! JUST STOP! THAT'S ENOUGH!" Jazz screamed. Prowl looked up at Jazz, a bit shocked and a bit scared at the same time. Jazz calmed down a bit. "Prowl...I know you're being honorable, taking blame for your actions. It wasn't your fault. They MADE you sick and then they forced you into something you're not. You had no choice, no free will. Do you understand me? Stop blaming yourself or Primus help me...I'll beat it out of you..."

Prowl buried his head into Jazz again. "...-cough-..." Jazz sighed and hugged him against him.

"You gotta get better so you can change back into your old self. Quit beating yourself up over this. It's not your fault okay? I love you, Prowl."

"...I-I'm afraid..."

"Of what?" he asked gently.

"...-cough-..." Jazz reached over to the pile of cleaning cloths. He slowly and gently lifted Prowl's head to get to his intakes.

"Easy, baby..."

"...W-What if...-cough-...I-If they..."

"Afraid of what? What will they do?"

"..."

"...Prowl...it's okay... You can tell me..."

"...I-If they...c-came back for me..."

"If Starscream wanted you back, I would think we'd have known by now. He has VERY obvious attempts at everything and he always fails. Everything's going to be alright, baby. I'm here, Prowler... I'll protect you and so will the others..."

"...S-Some would...j-just gladly...h-hand me...b-back to them..."

"Then they would just get in trouble from Starscream...meaning bad news for you..." he added, realizing what that entailed. "...Prowl...  Don't worry about it. You know the guys won't let anything happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you..." he said, hugging Prowl close to him and resting on his head. "Everything's going to be alright..."

"..."

"...Prowl... What else is bothering you? Is there some other reason you're all wigged out?"

"...W-What if...I-I don't get better...? ...R-Ratchet..."

"You will. Even if I have to personally get a cure myself. You'll be fine. It's going to be alright Prowl. I promise. Everything is going to be alright." Prowl cuddled against him, getting sleepy. Jazz smiled and lied down with him. He smiled some more as he watched Prowl slowly fall asleep, and it wasn't long until sleep claims him as well.