#TFFic: Partner

[starsheild]

Partner: Part 9

It was an interesting thing, getting things arranged so that he could come visit the human in the hospital. While Prowl was looking at a considerable recovery time, it was nothing compared to what the human in the bed before him faced.

Jazz took a minute to study the human in front of him. Physically she looked…awful. The thick bandages running from her shoulders down the entire length of both arms only added to the impression of 'damaged'. But looking into her eyes Jazz could see what Prowl was saying when he spoke of her.

And spoke of her he had, often and at great length when he was conscious. He spoke of her courage and compassion, of her strength and her intelligence. He spoke too of her shortcomings, of how she was often easily frustrated, and her addiction to the human beverage known as coffee.

Jazz had actually become slightly jealous of the small organic. Three years of working side by side with Prowl, closer to him than Jazz had ever allowed himself to appear in the millions of years they had worked together. Three years where Jazz had been completely missing from the picture.

But it was that relationship that had driven her to save Prowl's life, and the price of Prowl's life was finally hitting home as ran a scan on her. He would have to be careful when he reported to Prowl of the human's condition and the doctor's predictions for her recovery.

She would never regain the full use of her hands, and there was extreme damage all the way up her arms. There was scarring in random places on her body where the energon had burned her, blemishes. And organics were subject to so many other damages as they healed, infections and re-injury.

Green eyes met blue visor, and the human spoke first. "So you are Jazz."

The mech moved closer and smiled as the human did not shrink away from his presence. "Yea, that'd be me. Which would make ya Sierra."

She smirked. "Sierra Hunter. And forgive me if I do not offer to shake your hand."

For a moment all Jazz could do was stare, mouth hanging open. Then he laughed. "Well, at least Prowl found himself someone with a sense o' humor."

"Quite possibly the only thing that saved us during our time working together." Sierra agreed, and Jazz found himself fighting down another laugh.

As they talked Jazz could see what Prowl saw in this human. He started looking closer. Could tell how the pain multiplied when she moved, and how a mere fifteen minutes later she was already fading. He signaled her caregivers, but before they arrived Jazz grew serious. "Thank you."

"For what? I should be thanking you for reminding me that there is life outside of this dungeon."

"For saving Prowl."

Sierra smiled at that. "Well I wasn't about to let my partner bleed to death."

"Not for that, though while we are on the subject, thank you for that as well."

Sierra settled back on the bed. "You're welcome, even though I am not sure if I save him, or if he rescued me. And Jazz-." She called after him, waiting until the mech turned to look at her again. "He never stopped missing you."

[starsheild]

Partner: Part 4

"I hate cars."

Prowl froze at that declaration, then slowly transformed. He had not assumed his root mood since the day he driven away from the Ark for the last time, and the few seconds it took for his systems to adjust was disturbing. Regaining his equilibrium, Prowl moved to take a surprisingly silent and graceful seat by the human.

Sierra didn't even look over. "My father was killed when his truck slid off an icy road one night. The only reason he was out was because he promised us he would be home for Christmas. Thomas was killed when a drunk street racer ran a red light. T-boned the old convertible he was restoring. 'Lindy was hit in a drive by shooting. She wasn't even on duty. I hate cars."

Her head fell forward to rest on her knees, and so quiet that Prowl suspected he was really meant to 'not hear' she murmured. "I hate cars, and it's days like today that make wish I drank."

Prowl checked the date, and understood. Apparently she had chosen the date of her brothers death to memorialize the loss of all those who meant something to her. "Melinda was your first partner."

Sierra nodded, rocking back and forth a bit. "Oh the irony. After one transfer, three partners, and two very confused shrinks, I end up working successfully with a car."

She shivered in the cool night air, and without really thinking about it Prowl reached out and picked her up, bringing her close to his still warm plating. After a moment Sierra gave in, and Prowl made a note to make sure that she ate something before he dropped her off at her place later.

"It's not easy, being the last."

Prowl looked down at her, thinking. "No." He rumbled in return. "It is not." He had lost many friends that day, leaving him essentially the last one standing.

He considered, and then simply began to speak, everything that he had kept bottled up inside spilling out to someone who might finally understand. Someone who might be able to look at the pain in his spark and not be turned away by it. "I had always considered the possibility that I might not survive the war. I believed I was fully prepared to meet that fate. I never considered that I might survive my Prime."

And Optimus would always be his Prime. It was true that he had been sparked when Sentinal was still Prime. It was true that Rodimus was now Prime. But Prowl had given his word and his service to Optimus, and it was Optimus who would always be his Prime.

But it was not even the loss of his Prime that cut him deepest. "My friends are gone. My leader is gone. And my... friend is gone. There was nothing left for me among the Autobots. Yes, it is hard to be the last."

Sierra relaxed, taking shameless advantage of the warmth Prowl was offering. "Your 'friend' have a name?"

"Jazz."

Sierra nodded and went silent, both sharing in the others pain under the clear night sky.