TF PJ Now or Never C3

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

Chapter 3

Prowl's peaceful slumber wouldn't last long.  As he recharged, his memory banks replayed everything he had done.  Memories of many other Autobots he killed, their energon dripping from his sharp black claws.  He moaned in his sleep as Barricade smirked and almost laughed.  He reveled in the death of the Autobots.  Many Autobots were even younglings just barely out of the Academy.  Their young cries echoed in his mind.  All those memories and his intakes starting to clog forced Prowl out of recharge.  He started to cough badly from the frightening memories and trying to catch his breath.  He soon felt someone gently cleaning his intakes.  "Easy Prowler..." the gentle voice of his bonded reached his audios.  Weak optics looked into smiling blue ones.  He stared for a moment before roughly pushing him away.  "Prowl!"

"S-stay...away...from me..."

"Baby, I can't do that."

"...Y-Yes you can...  ...J-Just walk away..."

"What's wrong with you...?"

"I...I KILLED YOUNGLINGS!  YOUNGLINGS JAZZ!"

"Baby, what have I told ya?  It wasn't your fault.  You had not control over what happened."

"...Y-YES IT WAS...!  ...I-I KILLED INNOCENCE YOUNGLINGS...!"

"Prowl...you're going to hurt yourself..." Jazz said worriedly as he tried to clean his intakes again and reach out a calming touch.  Prowl tried to swat Jazz's hands away.  "Prowl!  Quit it!"

"...Wh-what...kind of...A-Autobot...am I!" he yelled back.

"You weren’t at fault, baby.  You're a wonderful Autobot."

"...N-No!  C-Cause of me...S-Sentinel is dead...a-and..."

"Those Creeps took advantage of you, okay!  You had no choice!  Stop blaming yourself for something you couldn't control!"

"...B-But...  A-All those...y-younglings..."

"You couldn't stop yourself.  I'm sure you tried.  Prowl, baby, it's going to be okay."

"What the Slag is going on here?" Ratchet growled, the commotion having woken him out of his recharge berth in his office.

Jazz looked up and notice him.  "Sorry Ratch." he said "Didn't mean to wake ya."

"What's with all the yelling?"

"...-cough-</b>..."

Jazz sighed and went back to cleaning Prowl's intakes.  "Chill, okay?  Sorry, Ratchet.  He wasn't sleeping well, trying to talk some sense into him still."

"I see."  He sighed and looked at Prowl.  "How many times do we have to tell you before it downloads in that processor of yours?"

"...-cough-</b>..."

"Easy baby..." Jazz smiled, still cleaning his intakes.

"...I-I'm....-cough-</b> ...s-sorry..."

Ratchet just sighed and shook his head.  "Prowl...don't be.  Just stop the self pity nonsense or I will do something about it."

"...-cough-"

"Relax, Prowler..." Jazz smiled, using his other hand to cup his faceplate.

"...I-I'm...v-very sorry..."

"Prowl...stop it...its okay..." Jazz soothed.

"Okay, well I'm going back to bed.  You better as well."

Jazz nodded.  "I'll make sure he goes back to sleep.  'Night doc."  Ratchet nods as he turns to head back to his berth in his office.  Jazz finished and Prowl finally calmed down a bit.  Jazz smiled at this and gently caressing Prowl's faceplate, feeling a bit of heat that came off his bonded’s chassis.  He didn't really think much of it until he started to get hot, like a human fever.  This got Jazz worried.  He did a quick scan and didn't like the readings.  The virus was causing Prowl's temperature to rise above normal.  He was starting to overheat.

"...J-Jazz...?"

"Easy, Prowler..." he soothed, trying to figure out what he could do.  He looked around trying to find something of Ratchet's that could help.  He didn't really see anything, not to mention he didn't know what half of it did.  One thing crossed his processor, he needed to get Ratchet.

He grew worried as Prowl's temperature continued to rise.  "...It's...so hot..."

"Hang on baby, I'm going to get Ratch." Jazz said gently.  He quickly got off the bed and went into the medic’s office.  "Ratch?  Ya awake?" he called out.

"...Slag...  Jazz, I just got to sleep..."

"Sorry about that Ratch, but I need some help."

"What is it now," Ratchet sighed.

"It's Prowler...he's heating up worse than a car engine."

Ratchet became worried as well.  "Okay, I'll be right there." he said as he got up from his berth again.  He came back over to Prowl and saw weak red optics in pain, taking hard, shallow intakes.  Jazz watched worriedly as Ratchet went to get something.  He came back and readied an injection of cooling fluids.

"...J-Jazz...?"

"Hang on, baby.  Ratchet's working on it."  Ratchet then gently injected the cooling fluids.  Prowl winced a bit at the stick of the injection, but slowly started to calm down as the coolants went to work.

"There, that should be better." Ratchet said gently.

“What would be better is if we got rid of that slagging virus.” Jazz said.

“…Th-then…I could…ch-change out of this…retched…f-form…”

"Yes I know.  I'm working on trying to find an anti-virus." Ratchet said.

"...C-could you...h-hurry...?" Prowl half joked, half sighed sadly.

"I'm doing the best I can."  Prowl nodded a bit.  "Now, why don't the two of you get some sleep?"

"We can now.  Thanks doc, sorry for waking you again."

"It's okay." Ratchet said "Since this was important."

Jazz nodded.  "Night Ratchet."  Ratchet nods as well and headed back to his office.  Jazz lay back down next to Prowl.  "Get some real sleep now, baby."  Prowl weakly cuddled next to him.  Jazz smiled.  "Goodnight, Prowler."

"...N-Night...J-Jazz..."

He put his arm around him and smiled as Prowl fell into recharge again.  "...No more bad memories...  Everything is gonna be alright.  The sooner you get cured, the sooner you change back."

- - -

The next morning the base was alive with movement and activity.  Some Autobots gossiped about Barricade residing in Medical Bay while others had sympathy for Prowl's condition.  Most were either caught between and wary or on the side of the gossipers.  Some of the newer arrivals just didn't like the thought of a Decepticon that many had fought and lost friends to staying at the base.  Optimus didn't like it one bit.  He was glad Jazz couldn't hear them.  "Why are we giving shelter to that slagging ‘Con?" Sunstreaker spoke as he walked the halls with his twin brother Sideswipe.

"Yeah, I know.  He killed some old friends of ours.  He even killed YOUNGLINGS.  For Primus sakes!"

"Yeah...WE might be next!"

Bumblebee passed by them and growled.  "What's your problem?"

"Aren't you a bit pissed that we are sheltering a ‘Con, Bee?" Sideswipe asked.

"Yeah," smirked Sunstreaker.  "The very 'Con you had many fierce battles with?"

"So what!" Bumblebee growled back.  "He's sick!  Decepticons don't help their own kind so...  Besides...something felt different about him.  There's something familiar about him...  He hasn't attacked anyone yet anyway."  He huffed at them and was about to turn away, but...  "And another thing!  That 'Con as you put it, is Jazz's bond mate.  He was never one to begin with.  The Decepticons force formatted him into what he is.  He had no choice!"

The twins watch him leave.  "I don't care, that ‘Con still gives me the creeps." Sideswipe spoke once Bumblebee was out of audio range.  Bumblebee decided to investigate for himself to confirm things.  He wanted to put his internal conflict to rest...and maybe show those twins.

- - -

He got to the medical and slowly poked his head inside.  He watched curiously as Jazz lay sleeping next to the sick bot.  He looked around and noticed Ratchet wasn't in the room.  He must be in his office.  He decided to get a bit closer without waking anyone.  Just as Bee got close to the two; Prowl started to cough weakly, slowly coming out of recharge.  He backed up a bit, startled.  Weak red optics looked into his.  He froze, not knowing what to do.

"...Y-You..." Prowl started weakly, remembering Bumblebee as one of the younglings he attacked.  Luckily, Bumblebee had survived all those times.  Bumblebee backed up a bit more.  "...N-No...c-come...  Never mind...I...I know why...y-you're...scared...of me..."  Prowl tried to sit up, careful of not waking up Jazz.

"...I...I shouldn't be...should I?" he asked a bit nervously.

"...N-No...i-it's alright....y-you should be...a-after what I did..."

Bumblebee came back over.  "No...there's something different about you.  Decepticons definitely don't feel sorry for what they've done.  Your spark...feels familiar..."  Prowl looked at him a bit confused.  "...L-Like I...knew you...  A long time ago..."  Weak red optics stared at him.  "What happened before you got taken?"

Prowl looked down at the floor.  "...I-It's...a-a difficult subject..."

"I have questions and I'm confused.  I don't want to side with everyone else."

"...W-What everyone...b-been saying...?"  Prowl thought on how best to answer without scaring the youngling.  Luckily for him, Jazz woke up.

"Prowler, ya okay baby?" Jazz started too asked then he saw Bumblebee standing there "Oh hey Bee."

"Hi, Jazz.  Prowler....?"  Bumblebee thought for a while.

"...I-I'm alright...  I was...talking to...the youngling..."

"PROWL!  Is...Is it really you?"

Prowl blinked.  "...T-That is...m-my true designation...y-youngling..."

"It's me!  Bumblebee!  I was only a sparkling then, but...It's really you!"  He slowly made his way over to the bed.  Prowl stare at him for a bit, looking like he was trying to remember.

It took a minute for his memory banks to go back into his true past, beyond the Barricade memories.  "...Bee?  Little Bumblebee?  Is it you, youngling?"  Bumblebee smiled.  "...My...you've g-grown since I last saw you."  Prowl stopped for a sec, remembering when he was Barricade.  "...I-I'm sorry..  ...I-I'm sorry...f-for everything...t-that I've done...a-as Barricade..."

"...It's...It's okay...You had no choice...  Thanks for not killing me..."  Prowl smiled a bit but started "coughing" as his intakes start to clog again.  Bumblebee watched, but then grew worried as his coughing didn't lessen.

"Bee hand me one of those cleaning cloths would ya?" Jazz said.

He nodded and did so.  "He okay?"

"It's just the virus." said Jazz "Makes him leak energon, and it tend to clog up his intakes."

"Oh..."  Bumblebee watched worriedly as Jazz started to gently clean Prowl's intakes.  

"That's better," Jazz smiled.  "The sooner we get rid of the virus the sooner you can breathe easy."  Prowl nods weakly, resting his head against Jazz's chest.  He smiled.  "So... Bumblebee, you want the full story on Prowl?"  Bumblebee nods slowly.  Jazz took a deep intake.  "Alright Bee.  I want to warn you, you won't like it.  You're a youngling now, but still..."  Bumblebee waited.  "Alright.  It started with Sentinel."  Bumblebee listened.  "Prowl was one of the main guards protecting him.  The Decepticons knew this and implanted a virus into Prowl.  They knew that being ill would allow them access to Sentinel.  Unfortunately, he died.  Prowl was too sick with the virus to do anything."  Bumblebee looked over at Prowl sadly; he was still being gently cuddled by Jazz.  Jazz continued to tell Bumblebee the story.  Bumblebee was speechless.  He stood there taking it all in.  He couldn't believe the Decepticons could do such terrible things to Prowl.  He went over and hugged him.

Prowl looked a bit surprised and confused at this.  "...I...I'm glad you're back..."

"...T-Thank you...B-Bumblebee..."  He just smiled a bit.  Prowl weakly tried to smile back.

"Don't worry Prowl." Bumblebee spoke finally in a serious matter "We'll get those Decepticons to give us the anti-virus for you."

"I...r-respect...your...bravery..."

At that moment Ratchet had came out of his office.  "B-Bumblebee?  What you are you doing in here, Youngling?"

"I..."

"Were you worried about Prowl?  I wouldn't even think you would have remembered.  You were just a sparkling when he got sick."

"It took awhile."

Ratchet smiled.  "I'm glad he has someone besides Jazz to keep him company."  Bumblebee smiled back.  “Why don’t you go get Jazz and Prowl some energon?” Ratchet suggested.

“Prowl can have some?” Bumblebee asked, still concerned.  Ratchet nods.  “Okay.  I’ll be right back.”  With that Bumblebee left the room.  It wasn't long until he returned.  He was carrying a couple of Energon cubes.  He had a smile on his face.  Ratchet smiled before he decided to go have some himself, hoping to find his bond mate on the way.

"Thanks, Bee," Jazz smiled taking the cubes for him and Prowl.

"You're welcome."

"Like...old times..." Prowl smiled.  "H-How have...you been...Bumblebee?"

"I've been fine." Bumblebee said.

"G-good..."

"Here Prowler," Jazz said, holding up his cube for him.  He slowly drank some.  Jazz smiled gently.  Bumblebee watched with a mix of worry and happiness.  Prowl could only drink about half of the cube.

"...Sorry I...couldn't...finish..."

"Nah, it's alright.  You're still weak."  Jazz gently set what left of the cube aside.  "We'll just save it until later." he said with a smile.  Prowl smiled weakly.  Jazz smiled again as he started to drink from his cube.  Prowl weakly cuddled against Jazz.  Bumblebee and Jazz smiled.  It wasn't long until Prowl went into recharge.

Bumblebee smiled.  "Tell Prowl I said goodbye," he said, politely excusing himself.  Jazz smiled as he watched Bumblebee leave before going back to his cube and watching Prowl sleep.  After Jazz finished his cube, he placed it down and just continued to watch Prowl.

- - -

In the command center of the base, the Autobots that gather there was having a heated discussion.  “Optimus, sir,” started Ratchet “there is a slight problem.  The virus is too heavy encrypted with a code nether me or Wheeljack seen before.”

“Now if Preceptor was here we might be able to un-code it to make an anti-virus.” added Wheeljack.

“That is a problem.” said Optimus “Preceptor won’t be nearing Earth for a couple more beems.”

“What can we do?” Bumblebee asked “How are we going to help Prowl?”

"I don't know, Bumblebee," said Ratchet.  "We'll have to wait for Perceptor to come to earth."

"Don't worry, a few breems isn't long," Wheeljack smiled.  He tried to lighten the mood.  He was always a bit more positive than his mate when it came to serious matters.

"But if something worse happens?"

"We'll do whatever we can until Perceptor gets here, okay?" Wheeljack smiled again, putting a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder.

"...Okay...."  Ratchet smiled a bit.

"Prime," Ironhide started "I don't like what's been going around the base."

"Is it starting to get out of hand?" Optimus asked the old warrior.

Ironhide nodded.  "Yeah just today I heard the twins saying something bad about Prowl too." said Bumblebee.

Optimus sighed.  "This isn't good.  I'm going to go do what I can to set everyone straight."

"Yeah we don't want any of the more pissed off mechs going into my Medical Bay trying to attack Prowl or something more dangerous." Ratchet spoke.

Wheeljack nodded.  "Keep me informed when Perceptor gets here.  I'm going to put a stop to these rumors."

"Will do Prime." spoke Ironhide.  He left the room.  Bumblebee sighed in worry.

"Don't worry Bumblebee." said Wheeljack "Once Perceptor get's here we'll have Prowl good as new in no time."

"I hope so..." the youngling's optics still showing the worry.  Wheeljack just smiled again as he place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

- - -

Optimus roamed the halls, gathering every Autobot he could see into the entrance of the Ark to converse with them.  He didn't like what he heard.  Many showed their dislike of having Prowl in the base.  Some even had the bravery to smile and come right up to him with suggestions on getting rid of him.  Optimus just didn't like how things were going.  Two bots came up to him happily, thinking they were finally going to get this resolved.  "Just the bot we were looking for," one of them said.

"Yes?  Is something wrong?" Optimus asked.

"Yes, very wrong," answered the other.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, it's about the 'Con you've been keeping in the Medical Bay sir.  I hope I'm not over stepping my boundaries, sir but..."

"Something MUST be done.  We can't keep a Decepticon in the safety of our base.  It's very UNsafe..." sighed the other.

"We're sorry sir, but he must be thrown out.  He should suffer for the things he's done."

"He has suffered." Optimus said in a serious matter "For he was never a Decepticon to begin with."

The two gasped.  "NOT a Decepticon?"

"You can't be serious..."

"I'm very serious." Optimus said "He's an Autobot like us."  They both stood there in shock thinking it over.  Optimus waited.

"...Well...We'll need...proof..."

"Yes, just to be completely sure..." agreed the other.

"If you need some proof, check what Jazz has been doing in the Medical Bay."  Both looked at each other and nodded.  They bowed their heads respectively before going to said Medical Bay.  Optimus just sighed heavily in irritation.  How could bots be so judgmental?

- - -

The two bots soon arrive in front of the huge doors that lead to the Medical Bay.  They walked in and their optics widened as they gasped.  Jazz was helping Prowl recover from another nightmare brought on by his memories.  "Easy Prowler."

He weakly nuzzled against him, tears still falling from his optics.  "...Th-the...things...I-I've done..."

"It's okay Prowl, baby.  You're sorry for what you did and you had no control.  It's okay..."

"...B-But..."

"Shhhh...."  He just sighed and turned off his optics, wanting only to feel what he knew.  The two bots blinked at each other and left.  What they had seen was proof enough.  Jazz smiled as Prowl fell asleep again.

- - -

Meanwhile, Optimus had gathered every other bot in the base who didn't know of "Barricade's" true identity.  Many wonder what their Prime was going to tell them.  He sighed irritably again before taking a deep breath.  He turned to the crowd.  "Fellow Autobots...I've noticed all the rumors and complaints going around this base since "Barricade" arrived.  I have decided to do something about it.  This has gone on long enough."  There were cheers in the crowd, many shouted out "yeah, get rid of him!" and similar exclamations.  Optimus waited until all was quiet again.  "I will NOT be getting rid of him.  QUIET!" he added as everyone grew upset.

"But Optimus sir!" protested Sunstreaker "It's a ‘Con!"

"I said quiet, Sunstreaker."  Sunstreaker went quiet.  "Don't say a word, Red Alert."  he said as he saw him about to protest similarly.  Everyone quiet down, but still looked upset and confused.  "All of you don't know this but "Barricade" is really an Autobot called Prowl."  There was more conversation and outbursts.  Some were amazed it was the old tactician that protected Sentinel while others still weren't fully convinced.  "QUIET!" he commanded.  Everyone quieted down again.  "What I've said is the truth.  Prowl has been through enough suffering as it is.  He does not need a whole base of his own kind against him, nor will I allow it to continue.  The simple fact that he has not attacked the base and that the Decepticons haven't come looking for him is proof.  If you need more, go see him in the Medical Bay yourself."  Many looked at each other confused.

Most of them slowly put all the facts together and were satisfied with what Prime had said.  There were still a few unsure.  Red Alert still didn't believe it was the truth.  "I'm going to go see this for myself!  Who's with me?"  All the Autobots that were still unsure raised their hands and voices and followed him.  Optimus watched the group leave.  He sighed a big sigh in relief to have finally silenced everyone's rumors and ill opinions.  Now he hoped Perceptor arrived some time soon.

- - -

Ironhide was outside the base, watching the sky.  He sighed in relief when he saw two meteors falling.  Wait...TWO?  This got Ironhide very confused.  He was in deep thought as he drove towards the crash site.  He was almost there when it dawned on him.  Nah!  It couldn't be Lil' Red...could it?  He laughed at the thought of her at the base.  Well...someone has to keep that blabber mouth of his shut... he chuckled.  When he arrived and transformed, the two forms that emerge confirmed his thoughts.  One was a femme.

She ran towards him and practically knocked him over.  "Ohh!  Ironhide!  I missed you!  How have you been, you old rust bucket?"

Ironhide laughed.  "It's good to see you too, Gadget.  My Wheeljack will be surprised that you came too." he said then looked towards the mech "Good to see you finally made it here Perceptor."

"How is Grampa anyway?"

"Fine considering with everything he and Ratchet been trying to work on." said Ironhide "Surprisingly he hasn't blown anything up yet."

"That's good," she smiled.  She let go and took in the scenery.  "My...it's so...beautiful and organic..."

"Yes...quite fascinating really.  I'd love to start studying it once I get to the base.  So many new compounds and building structures to examine.  I'd love to-..."

"Percie dear..."

"Sorry...doing it again I suppose?"

Ironhide laughed.  "Sadly your examination might be put on hold Perceptor." he said.

"Oh?  Is there something that needs my urgent attention?"

"Is...Is Prowl here...?" Gadget asked.  She, like Bumblebee had known him before getting deathly ill and being taken away.  "It's faint...but...I think I can feel him..."

"Yeah." said Ironhide "He's not doing too well."

"That's a relief he's not held captive anymore.  How did he get away?"

"...He wasn't held captive." said Ironhide "Remember Barricade?"

"Not really.  I never really ran in to him.  I hear he came to Earth shortly after joining the Decepticon ranks.  Bee told me a bit about him in letters."  Perceptor nodded, just as curious.

"...Well...Barricade was Prowl..."

"WHAT?"

"That would explain the police car mode he took once here...but why?"

"The 'Cons...they force formatted him into Barricade."  Perceptor gasped in horror, having read all about it.  Gadget almost screamed and hid against Perceptor in terror and disbelief.  "The All Spark fixed that problem." said Ironhide "But..."

"...Th-they...they...did that to him...while he was...sick!"  Perceptor patted her on the back to calm her.

"Don't tell me...the virus is getting worse?  The All Spark only reformatted him back?" Perceptor asked.

"Yeah...  Ratchet and Wheeljack need yer help."

"Me?  They can't decipher the virus and reverse it?"

"...H-how...how could they...?" Gadget almost sobbed, still thinking about what the Decepticons did to Prowl.

"It was encrypted with a code they haven't seen before." said Ironhide.

"Very well.  Let's get going.  Come on Gadget, we need to hurry to the base," he spoke in a calming manner, hugging her against him.

"Yer gonna need Earth forms first."

"Right, that might help."  Ironhide drove off, leading them to a more traveled road.  They followed, running behind him.

- - -

Once at a more populated area, they hid, poking their heads out to get a look at the vehicles.  Gadget smiled as she saw a red Pontiac Grand Am SE.  Cute, sleek and fuel efficient.  Girly but not so much, she smiled, scanning it.  Perceptor looked for one was well.  He saw a few that were interesting, but none that called out to him.  Then a few big cars and suv's drove past.  One Jeep in particular caught his eye.  He eyed a Jeep Compass with a smile.  It was yellow but he scanned it in anyway and modified the paint job as he downloaded it.  He transformed and became a red Compass.  "Ooo, I love it, Percie," Gadget smiled.  She winked with a smile before transforming into the smaller, red Pontiac.

"Okay now let's get on back to base." said Ironhide.  Both nodded and followed Ironhide.  Gadget playfully bumped Perceptor's tailgate with her bumper in a nuzzling motion.  Ironhide sighed with a smile.