randomplaces | CW 'verse. Nellis Airforce base. Back from the Dead

"Hey." Sam offered a shaky grin as he walked into the bedroom.

Jazz went up on one elbow and looked down over the side of his bed, frowning as he struggled to fish a name to this face from the faded tangle that was his memories. "Hey, man... Sam."

"Yeah. Sam Walker." He looked back at his friend, still trying to believe what he was seeing. "How're you feeling?"

Jazz made a sound that expressed his feelings exactly, his expression lightening as he remembered more about this guy.

Sam couldn't hold back the laugh. "That good, huh?"

"You try being a nightlight for awhile 'n see how it makes you feel," said Jazz quietly.

Sam sobered. "Sorry."

"Nah, man, it's alright." Jazz sighed and rolled to his stomach so that he could better see his visitor. "Just feeling kinda slagged. It's been two years?"

"Yeah, a little over." Sam started to settle himself on the floor, then jumped as a hand came down and gently lifted him to the side of the bed. "What do you remember?"

Jazz shrugged as he settled onto his side. "My name. Know I'm married 'n got kids. Can't remember how many yet, or what they look like. Remember ol' Hatchet 'n Bumblebee 'n 'Hide. And you."

"Most of the important stuff," said Sam soberly.

"So how many I got?" The Autobot's voice was quiet and determined. "Forget this waiting for me to remember. I wanna know."

"Three," said Sam. "You've got three. Twin sons and their sister. Rom and Beat look a lot like you, only taller and with a different taste in wheels. Helweh... usually uses a picture of a spark to represent herself."

Jazz frowned. "Uses a picture...?"

Sam nodded. "She hasn't used her body as more than a place to keep her spark since right after she was born. She's part of the internet now, and probably watching us as we speak."

Jazz was silent as he gazed into space. Then he shuttered his optics and lay back with a sigh. "She's still alive."

"Yeah."

"Thank God."

"We do."

The silver bot stared at the ceiling for a moment. "There's another kid."

"Two, actually. Zoe's mine and Bumblebee's. Nova's Ironhide and Chromia's."

"Nova wasn't there while I was here last." Jazz frowned.

"No, she just got her body a few days ago." Sam grinned slightly despite himself. "Ironhide's over the moon."

"He was pretty put out when he 'n Chromia didn't spark anybody right away," remembered Jazz, also grinning.

"After you and Elita wound up with three on the first try, who can blame the guy?" Sam shook his head.

Jazz withheld comment, instead asking, "Is that everybody?"

Sam named the human members of the team. "And Ghost."

"Can't forget Ghost." Jazz smiled.

Sam looked at him, thinking that the reply sounded a little off, then nodded as he understood. "You should get more rest. I'll be around."

"Yeah." Jazz groaned slightly as he rearranged himself on the bed. "See ya, man. Thanks for coming over."

"No problem." Sam looked down, then jumped and landed with bent legs before standing to take a last glance at his friend as he left the room.

"Jazz?" Elita peeked inside.

"Yeah, baby?" he asked without unshuttering his optics.

"Do you need anything?" She hesitated in the door, wondering.

"How 'bout a snuggle with my lady?"

Her optics widened at the familiar gently teasing tone even as she smiled. "I think that might be arrangeable."

He chuckled and held out a hand, and she strode across the room and hopped up to lay beside him, sighing as he held her close and rested his cheek against her head. "I wasn't sure you'd remember."

"Can't forget the important stuff." He gently stroked her head and kissed her, then returned his cheek to her head with a sigh.

"Get some rest," she said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."

His arms tightened slightly. "I know."

Making a sound like a sigh, he powered down and slept.