RCV. Autobot HQ. Slow Recovery

[ssjmihoshi.livejournal.com]

Galloway: *on the line from Washington DC. Sounds, as usual, like he wiped his butt with sandpaper this morning* //From now on there is to be NO use of civilian buildings without direct military authorization! Do you know how bad that would've been, with the Jackson boy in on it?//

Jazz: *has hold of Recon's wrist* *over a private comm line* //Babe, no. You can't hack the phone line!//

Recon: *also on a private line. Is clawing grooves into the berth* //Give me vone good reason...//

Galloway: //We're just lucky his girlfriend was there with some illegal smuggling ring. Now we actually have something to tell the Jacksons about why their warehouse was hijacked.//

Jazz: *brow plates shoot upward* //Whoawaitwhat? What the @#$#$#@'re you talkin' about, Galloway?// *nope, not even for Galloway does Jazz keep a civil tongue*

Recon: *suddenly deathly quiet, seething underneath*

Galloway: *shuffling papers* //Televisions, stereos...// *chuckles* //There was even a blender in there. All stolen by her brother and his hoodlum Mexican friends. A smuggling bust is the perfect cover, one we'll never get again! So if you ever do something that stupid, I'll have you ejected to deep space myself!//

Jazz: *scowls* //You makin' racist remarks, man?//

Galloway: //Don't change the sub-//

Recon: *stands up so fast her stool falls over* //You'd turn a whole family's life upside-down just to cover your %*$?! I didn't sink you vere such a dirty $*%& &%)@!//

Jazz: Oh @#$@#! *opens another line and sends a frantic call to Optimus, then returns to the phone line* //Conny, honey. Lemme handle this okay? Please?// *voice shakes slightly as he speaks*

Galloway: *extremely self-satisfied* //They're criminals. I'm doing the nation a service.//

Recon: *too worked up right now* //Sey're still her family, and sis vill kill sem! It vill kill Hayden!//

Jazz: *frantically following leads via the 'net, then suddenly sits up* //Galloway... what's this I found about you back in 1986?//

Recon: *optic ridge perks, pokes Jazz to spill the goods over private comm*

Galloway: //You're still changing the subject. It was your actions that found those stolen goods. My hands are clean here.//

Jazz: *deep voice holding a hard edge of anger as he holds up a hand to ask Recon to wait* //I'm right on subject, man. And the subject's this: You ever do anythin' against Maria's family, or against my people, 'n all these documents about that time you were all hopped up 'n punched that shopkeeper 'n stole that tie are gonna be all over the web.//

Recon: *stops writing that email to Hayden and Maria*

Galloway: //.............. How did you find that?//

Jazz: //I'm a #$@#$#@ machine, as you get such a jolly outta remindin' me. Besides, this stuff ain't even locked.// *shaking is getting worse* //Judgin' from that speech yer dad gave at yer graduation I'm guessin' he was either as high as you were, or he don't know about all this.//

Galloway: *silence for a good while* //Our men are handing over their reports to the LAPD as we speak. But... I can have any evidence regarding the Perez children specifically redacted.//

Jazz: *lowers his head and holds it in his hand* //Talk ta Optimus.//

Galloway: *trying to retain some semblance of haughty dignity* //I will. I assume he's actually available now?//

Optimus: *now back in his quarters* //I am.//

Jazz: //He is.// *abruptly hangs up. And then bursts into tears*

Epps: *looks up at the sudden outbreak, his magazine falling from his hands as he lets out a drawn out curse of surprise*

Recon: * is feeling some grim satisfaction, until her friend starts crying that is. Shoots down to his side so fast she forgets her stool is gone, and stumbles over her own pedes*

Jazz: *falls back against his pillow weakly as he tries to contain his sobs... and then squeaks as a hiccup bursts from his intakes*

Recon: *stumbles back up as she tries to send comforting feelings over the bond* Shh, it's alright, he's just a stupid- *and then she blinks at the hiccup*

Jazz: *optics wide* *hiccup!*

Recon: O.o *glances to Epps for support*

Epps: *stands up and leans on the railing of the movable balcony* ...Jazz?

Jazz: *hiccup! Pulls a face. Hick!* o.0 *hick!*

Ratchet: *comes to the doorway grumbling, and then stops and watches* …

Recon: *trying so hard not to laugh, but the bond will make keeping her feelings hidden impossible*

Jazz: *continues to hiccup, his expressions becoming more and more hilarious and the little hitches louder as he himself is affected by Epp's cackling and Recon's glee and starts to chortle*

Recon: *can't help it, starts laughing too*

Jazz: *flail! Hiccup!* *laugh!*

Ratchet: *has turned away from the door and is fighting to contain his own chuckling*

Recon: *optics dimming, she leans on the berth laughing. But sees his flailing and gropes for his hand*

Jazz: *hand squeeze* *hick!*

Ratchet: *hand to his midsection* *back still turned* A slight shock should recalibrate the hitching component.

Recon: *squeezes his hand too. So much love and glee right now* You're still entertaining efen vhen you're slagged!

Jazz: *hick!* >_o //Shadd... *hick!* ...up 'n... *HICK!* kiss me!//

Recon: *frown* //Now it's not a surprise!// *pokes a claw into one of his seams instead*

Jazz: *wince and whimper, then hiccup more* //He... he said shock. Electri-!// *HICK*

Recon: *then kisses him before he can finish his sentence*

Jazz: *squeaks, and then sighs and purrs* //Thanks, babe.//

Recon: *lays down next to him, engine purring* //You're velcome.//

Jazz: *weary snuggle, but he's asleep before he's finished moving, only to wake repeatedly after nightmares about the fluffy grey kitten*

Recon: *unable to get to sleep with all his worrying. She strokes his helm gently*

Jazz: *finally calls Maria, and then settles into a deep sleep, his dreams full of affection and protectiveness toward the girl and his wordmate*

Recon: *finally falls asleep after searching every database she can find for more dirt on Galloway. Managed to turn up some interesting photos on Facebook of a certain Christmas sweater...* *chuckles in her sleep, cocooning her wordmate in her claws and dreaming of puppeteering a tiny besweatered nuisance*


Several hours later

Jazz: *pops out of one of those doofy microdreams that make you feel like you're falling* Ack!

Recon: *the jolt wakes her too* Mph?

Jazz: *slight grumble* Dream. *then perks as he tries to figure out where a wonderful smell is coming from* ...Babe, you smellin' what I'm smellin'?

Recon: *begins sorting out her muddled processor* I'm going to haf to get used to sat again... *notices the smell too* Hmm? *pushes herself up, but doesn't turn around, since she can see out her back optics just fine* Sere's a box on Ratchet's desk...

Jazz: *lifts his head and peeks through the open door, his weakened systems having a little trouble sorting data and seeing in the lowered light levels* *intakes deeply of the scent, and then his optics go wide* Pizza!

Recon: *smiles, swinging herself off the berth to get the box* It has se Black Dog logo on it, and your name. *points to Prime's handwriting as she sits back down*

Jazz: *tries to push himself up, only to groan and grope for the button that will raise the head of the berth instead* Man... feel like I ben 'Con stomped.

Recon: Still? *looks worried as her optics trail down to the scar on his chest. It isn't a bad description, and she feels a flash of anger remembering the 'Con that did it*

Jazz: *presses the button* *quietly* That @#$#@$@in' contest with Galloway didn' help much. *perks once he's sitting up somewhat* So... what's it look like? *eager grin*

Recon: *pushes that thought aside for now and opens the box* Oh, drinks too. I have not had sis flavor before. *takes one and pops the top off for Jazz*

Jazz: *sooo curious as he reaches for the bottle* Yellow? Is it oil 're energon?

Recon: *hands over the bottle and opens one for herself* Energon. Vith carbon and minerals.

Jazz: *long swig. Big burp!* o.0

Recon: *laughs and shakes her head* Sis drink was made for pranks...

Jazz: *happy grin, and then gets distracted by pizza smells* ...Hey, this pizza's ben folded in half 'n breaded like like those fish things Hayden had the other day.

Recon: Doesn't Figueroa complain about sose fish things?

Jazz: Ever'body complains about 'em. Includin' Ratch the other day when 'e stepped on Hayden's. *grins and takes a slice of the pizza, and then staaares at the strings of gummi cheese that result*

Recon: *snickers and yoinks some gummi strings to nom*

Jazz: That other pizza slice you guys gave me didn' do this. *bites and gasps* It's warm.

Recon: Mmmmm... *grabs her own slice*

Jazz: *quiet and happy inhalation of pizza. Then has more fizzy and hesitates, his hand half raised to take another slice of pizza* ...Guess we gotta make it last.

Recon: *looks up, halfway through savoring her first slice, having only base rations to eat for the last several months* Hmm? Vhy?

Jazz: *uncertain look* This stuff's expensive 'n hard ta get, right?

Recon: *will make him enjoy this, darn it* Sis vill help you recofer ten times faster san sat slop sey serve on base. I say enjoy it.

Jazz: *wants to... so bad. But so many vorns of war have given him rationing as a second nature* *and his current low state has his processor a bit derpy*

Recon: *used to stealing what she wants on missions. But his hesitation makes her feel bad and she sighs* Hey, it's from Prime. He can probably get more, no?

Jazz: Nrrrr. *hand hovering over the goodie and optics wistful*

Optimus: *sounds a bit groggy, but cordial as he opens a channel to the both of them* //Good evening, Jazz. How are you feeling?//

Jazz: *blinks* //Better. Don't tell me you're pullin' another slaggin' all nighter.// *fuss fuss fuss*

Optimus: *quick to stop that line of fussing!* //No, I merely woke in the middle of recharge and thought I would check on you.// *doesn't add the worry the Galloway call caused him and his checking of the security cams to see when they finally received his present*

Jazz: *gears can nearly be heard screeching as he checks time* *aloud and over comms* You're in bed?

Recon: *snerks as she wonders how screwed up their internal chronometers are*

Optimus: *chuckles* //Yes, Jazz.//

Jazz: *blink blink* ...Oh.

Optimus: //Did you find the gift I sent you?//

Recon: //Yes we did.// *noms the last of her slice happily*

Jazz: //What she said, Optimus.// *sheepishly* //I wanna eat the whole slaggin' thing.//

Optimus: *small chuckle* //Go ahead, Jazz. Elita and I will have trouble eating the three other boxes as it is.//

Recon: *hopeful optic ridge tweak*

Jazz: //...You went 'n bought three boxes 'a breaded pizza 'n drinks?//

Optimus: //No, the mechs at the Black Dog saw fit to send me home with them.//

Recon: *laughs* //So sey dumped sem on you?//

Jazz: *nomming now* //Which mechs're those?//

Optimus: //I was directed to a table full of Primes. And their families.//

Recon: *glad Jazz is eating, grabs herself a 2nd slice*

Jazz: ... //Any Optimuses?//

Optimus: //A few, yes.//

Jazz: *still munching. Hopefully* //So you brought back a lot more than four boxes 'a pizza.// *brat, yes*

Optimus: *rolls optics* //Yes, I will be offering some at the staff meeting in the next few solar cycles. And you are certainly welcome to more.//

Jazz: *chuckle* //I'm lookin' forward ta seein' what's there.// *muffled yawn* //Slag, dropped some on the floor.// *out of his mouth...*

Optimus: //I will look forward to seeing you, if Ratchet pronounces you fit for duty.//

Recon: *snickers as she goes to dispose of the floor food* //He is not fit for sparkling school right now.//

Jazz: //Thrrpt. 'Least I ain't showin' the twins scary movies on the IMAX screen 'n then stalkin' 'em.//

Recon: //Sey deserved sat and you know it. Honestly I sink sat vas se most creatif prank in years.// *sits back down and smirks* //Didn't know Prowl had it in him.//

Jazz: *snerk* //Baby, you don't know Prowl too well yet.// *yawn*

Optimus: //My sudden reappearance from the Nexus didn't help either. I found Sideswipe under my desk.... when he jumped out to throw a datapad at me...// *there is a note of amusement in his voice*

Jazz: *cackle* //'N Streaker blew hell outta the north wing when Prowl bounced a tire off his head. Y'know, the wing that needs construction work that Galloway wouldn' get paid for?//

Optimus: *musing* //Ah, that's why Huffer was complaining about dust...//

Recon: *giggling now*

Jazz: *soft snerk as he puts his hands behind his head* //We ain't gonna haveta worry 'bout no sandbags now.//

Prowl: *butts in mildly* //Jazz, you're the only person who talks about me behind my back at any length. Stop it. Sneezing makes it hard to focus on my paperwork.//

Jazz: *curls up on his side and cackles!* //It was Optimus!//

Recon: //You mentioned it first.// *gently punches Jazz in the side*

Jazz: *more cackling* //You said 'is name first!//

Optimus: *trying to stifle his chuckling so he doesn't wake Elita* //At any rate, I'm glad to hear you doing well, Jazz. Rest well.//

Jazz: *has glomped mate. The sound of purring and a soft murmur is his only reply*

Prowl: *sound of a facepalm* //At least it's not the public channel.//

Recon: *purring snerk* //He said rest, Lunkhead.// *cuts off her end of the call*

Jazz: *softly as he snuzzles* I am.

Recon: I vas still eating, you know. *pokes him in the side*

Jazz: *chuckles and squirms a bit* You don't want no sugar with it?

Recon: *sticking her tongue out playfully, but a bit distracted by trying not to knock the box off the berth* Vhy would I vant organic energy? I prefer se electric kind.

Jazz: *dark optics twinkling as he once more snuzzles close* Electric sugar!

Recon: *smiles as she recognizes a song title and wraps her arms around him* Boogie voogie voogie?

Jazz: *carefully moving the rest of the pizza and drinks to the tray table* Mmm hmmm. *grins that roguish grin*

Recon: *gives a deep rumbling laugh and extends a claw to pull him back onto the berth*

Jazz: *cuddles close, playing soft music as he rests his forehead against hers. Content to just be like that for a few moments, laying and listening to Recon's systems running*

Recon: *glad just to lay there. She was worried Jazz would exhaust his reserves again. So she shutters her optics, enjoying his music and stroking his back softly*

Jazz: *stirs after a few minutes, his purring interrupted by soft, thoughtful rumble* *quietly* Jes' ben imaginin' a youngster made from our codin'. *voice softens* Bet it'd have yer spunk.

Recon: *chuckles, onlining her optics again* From our coding? Vhat gave you sat strange idea?

Jazz: *holds her close* I had a bottle'a water that was supposedta give somebody a younglin' based on their specs 'n code. *more quietly* Yer part'a me, so if I'da done it the sparklet would'a ben parta you, too.

Recon: Oh Jazz... *mini lovebomb as she realizes he's a part of her too now* Vhy didn't you tell me?

Jazz: *sighs wistfully* Op didn' think it was a good idea.

Recon: *smiles supportively* Honestly... I don't either. Do you vant a sparkling so badly? *processor is now more crowded than usual. Oh Primus, they've been together what 3 days and he's talking about kids already? O.o*

Jazz: *sheepishly lets her feel the full extent of his wish for a youngster that Ironhide and Major Lennox couldn't take back*

Recon: *love and pity wash over her as she takes his face in her hand* *softly* Hey, you vill have one, in time. I'm still used to being a free bot you know... *still scared of being tied down, especially now*

Jazz: *softly over the bond comes the denial of ever holding her down*

Recon: Give me time? *from her end comes love and sadness that she can't change immediately* *smiles* I bet it'd have your stubbornness.

Jazz: *what stubbornness? Loves Conny's stubbornness* *slightly cheeky grin as he tries to hide sadness* All the time in the world, Babe.

Recon: *looks into his optics, hope and love in her own* You're not alone. You haf me now.

Jazz: *snuzzles and purrs* *softly* Yup. *ugh, and he just accidentally sleepy bombed her* *feelings of objection to being sleepy and sharing the feeling*

Recon: *snerks and snuggles some more* You need sleep. So sleep. *lovebombs*

Jazz: *cuddle snuggle sneakasnog...*

Recon: *giggle nuzzle kiss*

Jazz: *happy happy purring as he plays a tender love song*

Recon: *purrs too, wrapping her claws around them both*

Jazz: *and a little more snog...*

Ratchet: *appears suddenly in the open door* GO TO SLEEP!

Jazz: *hand over spark* AHHHHH!

Recon: *snog snog* DAHH! *and she's up!*

Jazz: *fingers splayed out with the force of his guilty conscience-fueled shock* Ratchet, you... *low, fervent, and very eloquent cursing*

Ratchet: *unrepentant as he turns away from the door* Go to sleep.

Recon: *ventilators working overtime as she slowly calms down. She eventually regains her matronly tone* You really should be sleeping.

Jazz: *still grumbling softly under his breath, but that surge of fight or flight has left him wiped out, and now all he wants to do is hug her close and sleep* *softly and appealingly* Love you, Babe.

Recon: *glad he's tuckered out and she doesn't have to leave him alone now* Love you too. *curls up in his arms and offlines her optics*

Jazz: *steady wash of love and contentment once the scare has faded. Holds his lady close and has no bad dreams*


((Written by ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))