No One Is To Blame - Chapter 2

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

Summary: (G1-verse) Prowl is taking Carly home one day but gets caught in a terrible accident, hurting them both.  Prowl blames himself for not protecting her.  Can Carly forgive him?  Will he be able to forgive himself?

No One Is To Blame

Chapter 2

Prowl's recharge wasn't as good as Jazz had thought.  Images from the accident ran through his processor which made Prowl moan in his sleep. It soon turned into something frightening when instead of Carly surviving, she died.  "...N-no...Carly...no..."  He started to toss and turn in his sleep.  "...C-Carly...!" he moaned louder.  He started to toss and turn more, awaking Carly.

"...Nnnn...Pr-owl...?" she yawned.

"...Carly...!  I'm sorry!  I tried to protect you!  ...Don't be dead...!"

"Prowl..." she said more awake now.  "Prowl wake up.  I'm right here."

"...Carly!"

"Prowl!  I'm here!" she said, sitting up on his chest.  She weakly crawled up to his face and started to pat his cheek.  "C'mon!  It's a bad dream!  I'm right here!"

"Carly...!"  Jazz came rushing towards Medical, feeling his distress through their bond.

"C'mon Prowl, wake up!"  Prowl started to sob in his sleep.

"...Carly...!"  His dream went on to his fellow Autobots and Spike hating him for what happened.  "...I'm sorry...!"

Jazz rushed into the ICU.  "Prowler!"

Carly looked up at him.  "I can't get him to wake up." She explained worriedly.

"It's okay Carly, let me try." Jazz said as he came over.  She got comfortable on his chest again as Jazz sat on the side of the bed.  "...Prowler...come on...it's me...wake up, baby..." he spoke gently as he caressed the red chevrons.  "It's okay..."

"...Jazz...don't hate me...please...I'm sorry...don't...hate me..."

"I don't hate ya.  I never will.  Please wake up...  Please, Prowler.  We're both right here..."  Blue optics blinked open and stared at the two faces staring back.

"...Prowl...?" Carly asked concerned.

"...Carly...?  You're...alive...?  But you..."

"It was just a nightmare, Prowl.  I've been here the whole time.  Remember?  We're keeping each other company while we heal up from the accident."  Prowl stared for a moment, letting his processor adjust and put together the memories again.

"It's alright, baby," smiled Jazz.  Prowl relaxed lying back down.

"Thank Primus..." he sighed heavily, calming down from the nightmare.

"Don't scare us like that again, Prowler." Jazz said.

"It just...felt so real..."

"Dreams are like that sometimes." Carly said "But they are still just dreams."

"Not to us," Prowl replied.  "Our cybernetic nature allows us to recall every memory as if it just happened.  It's like a computer hard drive, instant access."

"But she's alive, Prowler.  That was your processor mashing things up on ya.  I know ya won't be able to forget as easily as the human brain can, baby.  But I know you'll get through this."  He grabbed Prowl's hand and held it tightly in both of his.  "We're all here for ya, baby.  We'll never hate ya.  We love you."

"Yeah," smiled Carly as she pat his chest again.  "If anything I'm thankful.  You SAVED my life.  You're my friend."

"...Just one last minute calculation...one last battle scenario..."

"Prowler, don't," Jazz pleaded, locking optics with him.  "Ya can't change the past.  Ya haveta learn from it and move on.  We're all here to help."

"I'm going through the same pain, Prowl.  Trust me and lean on me too.  I know what you feel like.   I...  I'm STILL scared sometimes...but I know we're safe and it's over.  Prowl, you're my friend and I trust you with my life.  I always will."

"Everything alright?  I thought you two were supposed to be resting?" said a familiar red and white mech.

"Prowl just had a nightmare, that's all Ratch." Jazz said.

"Everything's alright now?"

"Yeah," said Carly.  "Can you help me down?  I need to use the bathroom," Carly blushed.  Ratchet obliged her and took her into his hands.

"Jazz, let me know if anything else develops."

"Will do, Docbot."  He watched them leave before carefully climbing up on the berth.  He cuddled next to Prowl and started caressing his chevrons again, nuzzling against his face.  "Why don't ya try goin back to sleep?  I'll be right here to keep the bad dream cycles away."

"...I...I don't know...if I can..."

"You still need some rest, baby.  C'mon.  I'll be right here, not leavin for anything."

"...All...alright..."  He slowly closed his optics as Jazz lulled him to sleep.

"Love ya, Prowler.  I'll ALWAYS be here, baby," he said as he kissed his forehead.  He stroked his hand over Prowl's helm until he fell asleep.  "I'll be right here, babe," he smiled as he got comfortable and watched him sleep.  Ratchet returned with Carly.

"So, you got him to go back to sleep?" he asked quietly.  Jazz only nodded so as not to wake Prowl.

"He should sleep better as he sorts through and comes to terms with things."

"I can let Jazz stay for now.  He might help Prowl better for the moment anyway," suggested Carly.

"Then let's get you set up on an extra berth here."  He walked over to an empty berth nearby.  He carefully laid Carly down on it.  He pulled the thermal covering up towards her.  "I'm sure it's not as comfortable as the soft blankets you're used to, but it'll do for now.  I'll have to get something better for you later."

"Thanks, Ratchet."

"You're welcome, Carly."  He left the room with one last glance at Prowl.  The SIC was recharging very peacefully this time.  He smiled a bit as he left deeper into the main Medical Bay.

88888

The next morning, Carly woke first.  She yawn the last bit of sleep off before looking around the room.  "Ratchet...!" she called having a certain personal urge for the restroom.  Ratchet ran into the room, thinking something was wrong with Carly or something wrong with Prowl to where Carly had to call for him.

"Everything alright?" he asked, clearly stressed as he scanned them.

"Sorry, Ratchet.  I just uhm...have to go to the bathroom..."

"Oh." Ratchet said as he came over to help her down.  He made sure she got to the specialized human sanitation facilities before letting her do her business.  Prowl was still deep in recharge.  Ratchet decided to come and check on his SIC.  He was surprised Prowl was still even asleep with all the noise.  Ratchet smiled as everything came back clear.  "I suppose now would be a good time to put his door wing back..."  He left the room and then returned with the wing and necessary tools.  He gently turned Prowl over so he could have better access to Prowl's back.  Prowl moaned a little but still slept on.  Ratchet then started his work on attaching the wing back.

"Nnn...  O-OW!  Ratchet...what are you doing?" Prowl asked sleepily as he woke up.

"Sorry.  I'm just putting your door wing back on." Ratchet said.

"...Oh..."  Ratchet quickly disabled his pain receptors to be cautious.  Prowl noticed Carly wasn't around.  "...Where's Carly...?  Did she...go home?"

"No...Private human matters in the sanitation room."

"Oh..."

"...There we go.  All done.  Quick and painless."  He reinitialized his pain receptors.  "Give it a little while to proper reconnect to your systems."

"Okay..."  Ratchet smiled.  Carly slowly entered the room from the bathroom.

"Good morning Prowl." she said with a smile "You got your other door back."

"Yes, it was a bit of a rude awakening."

"So dose this mean you can get out of this room?" she asked.  Prowl looked unsure, thinking another part of the room was interesting then the subject at hand.

"Yes," Ratchet said.  "He's free to go.  He's mostly healed up and can finish his recovery in his quarters."

"...I can't..." Prowl said softly.

'Yes you can,' Ratchet comm'ed him.

'...No...'

'You can't hide in my medical bay forever.'

"Prowl?"  Prowl slowly looked over at Carly.  "You can go now," she smiled.

"...I can't..."

"Yes you can." she said gently.

Ratchet sighed.  "Prowl...you're released from my Medical Bay.  When you leave is up to you."  Ratchet then left as Prowl cuddled into the berth again.

Carly growled.  "YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S FREAKING OUT OVER THIS?  DO YA?"  Prowl looked over at her.

"..."  Prowl gulps.

"DON'T YOU THINK I'M UPSET TOO?  HUH?  STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY!  GRRR...." she huffed in exasperation.

"...I'm sorry..." Prowl said quietly.  Prowl got worried that maybe Carly didn't like him anymore after what had happened.  He thought back to when he first meet the young girl.  She had for the most part when ever she was at the base she hangs with Spike, Bumblebee, or Ironhide.  "...We're...not the best of friends are we...?"  

Carly sighed heavily.  "No...It's not that Prowl."

"...Then what...?"

"You're being selfish."

"...Selfish...  I'm not...  That's illogical..."

"Why are you moping around in the ICU then?"

"...It's...hard to explain..."

"Try me..."

"...T-The others...they..."

"They what?" she scowled, weakly putting her hands on her hips.

Prowl sighed.  "...They are going to hate me if I show my faceplate around again..."

"Why?"

"...For nearly killing you..."

"That's not...wait what...?" she said, turning sympathetic.  Prowl's door wings lower sadly.  Carly came over to the berth.  "You...You think they'll hate you for almost killing me?  You...think they think you're not safe anymore?"  Prowl nodded.  "...Prowl...  THAT'S why you've been sulking in here?  Because you think the others think you're dangerous?"

"...."

"Forget everyone else."

"...But..."

"But nothing.  Prowl...please...  Let's go.  I don't want to stay here anymore...  Let's go talk to the others."

"..."

She touched the edge of the berth.  "...Prowl...  You HAVE to tell them different...SHOW them different.  You can't prove them wrong sitting in here."

"...But..."

"It will be fine.  I promise."

"..."  He just stared at her with a sigh.

"Fine then.  I DEMAND that YOU carry me into the Rec Room to see everyone."

"...But..."

"I'm sure Jazz will make sure no one will hurt your feelings."

"...Okay..." Prowl said with a sigh, but he was still unsure about it.  He got off the berth and knelt down so Carly could climb up.  Once she sat in his hand is when Prowl slowly got up and left the ICU.  Ratchet only smiled as he noticed out of the corner of his optics.  Prowl stopped short just in front of the doors.

"Its okay Prowl, go on." Carly said.  He took a deep breath and walked through the doors.  Ratchet couldn't help but smile again before going back to his work.

88888

The walk to the Rec Room felt long for Prowl.  He was still unsure on what the others would think of him.  A few Autobots passed them in the halls.  Prowl waited to hear sly or mean remarks about him.  Carly waved to them.  "Hey, glad to see you're doing better.  Finally come out of hiding Prowl?" one of them said.  Prowl tried not to gulp.  Carly nodded at him to answer.

"...I..."

"What's wrong Prowl, Ravage caught your tongue?"

"...N-No...I just...Yes...  I've been released from the Medical Bay."  The two Autobots smiled.  Prowl visibly relaxed as they walked through the Rec Room doors.  Jazz was talking to Blaster when he spies his mate and Carly.

"Hey guys!"  Prowl walked over to his mate.

"Hi Jazz," smiled Carly.

"Finally got Prowler out of the medical bay?" Jazz said with a smile.

"Yeah, took some convincing."  Prowl tensed as he could feel the other Autobots staring at him from around the room.

"Prowler?"  He could see a few of them talking about him.  "Prowler, is something wrong?"

"...I...I changed my...my mind..."

"So...you couldn't even get Carly home safely, could you?  You always have to do it the hard way," charused Gears.  Prowl slowly backed up, towards the entrance.

"Hey!" Carly sighed, wanting to stay.

"If you had checked in with me, I could have told you to avoid that area," added Red Alert.  "It would have saved you both."

"...I..." Prowl started.

"I thought you thought of everything," said Smokescreen.  "You're the last person I would have thought that would have gotten into such a mess.  When it comes to matters of safety, I would have thought you'd strategize better."  Prowl backed up more, he just couldn't handle it anymore.

"...I...I should...I should go..."  He handed Carly over to Jazz when she glared at him that she didn't want to leave.

"There's so many risks involved endangering a human life," added Red Alert.  "I'm surprised you didn't see it coming."

Prowl then bolted out of the Rec Room and ran to the only place he thought he would be safe from everyone hating him.  "PROWLER!" Jazz called after him.

"Now see what you've all done?" Blaster sighed.  "You've gone and upset the mech."

"Ooo!" Carly huffed.  "I was JUST breaking through to him!"

"I...I was just tossing around a few.  I really wasn't hurting his feelings on purpose..." Gears said apologetically.

"I...I was just surprised that Prowl of all mechs could have that happen to him.  I always bet on him being boring, routine, and most of all safe.  He never leaves anything to chance."

"I...I was only expressing my surprise too.  I...I wasn't trying to make him sound incompetent.  I know he puts security and safety first.  I wouldn't expect him to be caught in such a fragile thing as a human accident," frowned Red Alert.

"Hey Carly, good to see ya," smiled Bumblebee.  "Hey...if you're here, where's Prowl?"

"The others said some hurtful things to him and he ran off."

"Huh?  That true fellas?" he asked the group.  They all stared at the floor sadly, clearly sorry.

"They didn't mean to," Jazz sighed.  "They were trying to stir up conversation is all."  He sighed heavily as pain fluttered in his spark.  "I better go find 'im."

"I'll come too." Carly said.

"Nah..." Jazz said as he handed her off to Bumblebee.  "You deserve to stay here and let everyone know yer doing alright.  I'm his bondmate.  I've got this."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure.  I'll bring 'im back, self esteem back to normal."

"Good luck, Jazz." Bumblebee said.

"Don't need it, got my love and my spark."   With that, he left the Recreation Room to go find where Prowl had run off to.

88888

There was only two places Jazz knew where Prowl would hide on the Ark.  One was their quarters, and the other was his office.  Jazz decided to check Prowl's office first.  He looked inside and found the room empty.  He shrugged and then headed towards their quarters.  When he got there he notice the door was locked so he knew it was a good sign that his mate was inside.  He unlocked the door and went past the lounging area deeper into the quarters.  He knocked on the berthroom door before entering.  He found Prowl curled up on their berth shaking like a leaf.  "...Prowler..." he sighed sadly as he slowly approached.

"...D-Do you hate me too Jazz...?" Prowl whimper.

"What?  Why would I of all mechs hate ya?  Yer my mate.  I'm the last person in the universe that'd hate ya."

"...B-Because of me...C-Carly could have died..."

Jazz's visor dimmed to simulate him rolling his optics as he sighed.  "I thought we got past all that space junk?"

"...B-But what if it was Spike, Sparkplug...or even Chip next time..." Prowl curled into himself more "...I can't be around any of them anymore..."

"That's a load of slag and you know it!"

"...B-But the others..."

"Were only expressing their opinions and, in a weird way, concerns.  They were making conversation, Prowl."

"..."

"They're all really sorry.  They didn't mean to upset ya, or make you feel incapable."

"...Then they shouldn't have said anything..."

"Fine!  Be stubborn then!  Keep acting like a sparkling, Prowl."  With that, he turned to leave.  Prowl just stayed there until recharge claimed him.  Jazz sighed as he stared at the locked door.  "What's his problem...?" he growled mostly to himself.

"You know, Jazz, tough love is MY job," Ratchet said with a serious half smirk on his face.

"Primus Ratch, are ya part ninja?"

"No," his smirk progressing into full force.  "Just very vigilant when it comes to my patients...and my friends.  Prowl is suffering from Post Dramatic Stress Syndrome as the humans call it.  You should be supporting him, not chastising him.  You're his bond mate, you need to be the comfort and safety.  Let me and Carly do the tough love to force him out of it."

"Are ya sure it will work?"  Ratchet gave him this 'you're really going to ask ME that' look.  "Alright, alright...  I get it.  So...  I should go back in there and apologize to him then?"  Ratchet nods.  Jazz sighed.  "I just...I love 'im...  It hurts me to see him like this."

"I know Jazz but he just needs time."  The black and white nodded and went back inside.  Ratchet smiled and left, knowing things would be alright.  Jazz saw his mate asleep.

He couldn't help but smile.  He made sure their quarters were locked before walking back in.  He climbed up on the berth and snuggled next to him.  He was still shaking a little bit, so he cuddled very closely.  He rested his head against Prowl's.  "Love ya, Prowler...  I'll always be here..."  He kissed the red chevron before offlining his visor.  Prowl moaned in acknowledgment, comforted by his mate's presence.  The two fell asleep like that.