december challenge fic, part 5 of 6
Title: Where There is Darkness
Universe: G1
Rating: PG
Word count: 555
Summary: support is strongest when it is unexpected
Notes: part of me doesn't like this one as much as some of the others. i almost feel like it should be longer, but i can't find anything to do with it. of course, it could just be my migraine talking.
The extraction was almost flawless. They would have made it out of the Decepticon base completely without notice if Bluestreak hadn’t fallen and alerted a passing security patrol. No one faulted him; it was amazing that he had been able to make it that far under his own power. Unfortunately, the sniper had taken some additional damage in the ensuing firefight and was now in critical condition in medbay.
Prowl stood vigil over him. Ratchet hadn’t cleared him to return to active duty yet, so he filled his time by making sure nothing happened to his protégé. It was the least he could do, when he hadn’t been able to protect him from the Decepticon’s torture.
“How is he?” Jazz asked, stepping up beside him.
“The same,” Prowl replied wearily. “But not any worse, which Ratchet says is a good sign.”
“You should get some rest,” the saboteur said. “I know they didn’t do anything to you, but you were still under a lot of stress watching what was happening to Blue.”
“I am resting,” the tactician argued. “I am not doing any work for the unit, and I have no intention of trying until Bluestreak leaves critical care.”
“You’re offline on your feet. I’ll stay with him while you get some recharge.”
Prowl shook his head. He didn’t know if he could make Jazz understand why he had to stay with Bluestreak, but he had to see the younger mech through this crisis. “I can’t. Not yet.”
“Prowl, please. You don’t need to be so tough here.” The saboteur put a hand on his shoulder. “At least sit down? I’ll go find you a chair.”
“All right.” Jazz was at least right about that much. He didn’t need to stand to watch over Bluestreak. “I’ll sit, but I can’t-“
Prowl’s vocalizer stuttered and froze in sudden pain. His entire processor felt like it was ready to implode.
“Prowl? What’s wrong?” Jazz’s voice sounded hollow and distant to his audios.
“Get…Ratchet,” he managed to force out.
Faintly, Prowl could hear Jazz bellowing for the medic as strong arms kept him from falling to the ground.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
His circuits felt like they were burning. For all Prowl knew, they could have been; he couldn’t make out any of the error messages his processor was receiving. His optics also didn’t seem to be receiving input properly, though he knew they were online; his world consisted of several colored smears and some bright lights.
Prowl’s frantic thought processes slowed slightly when he felt a strong hand grip his. “It’s all right, Prowl. I’m here, and I ain’t going anywhere.”
The tactician couldn’t remember feeling so relieved. He wasn’t alone. He wouldn’t be left defenseless while he was vulnerable from massive system failure. His overtaxed systems calmed a bit and a few of the incomprehensible error messages went away.
“Ratchet says Shockwave gave you a little going away present,” the saboteur continued. “But he’s already got some anti-virus code running and you’ll be all right.”
He couldn’t process well enough to formulate a reply, but he understood. Giving Jazz’s hand a squeeze, he offlined his optics again; his processor was confused enough without their distorted input.
He drifted back into recharge with Jazz’s hand firmly holding his and the saboteur’s voice crooning a soothing melody into his audios.
please clicky!
