Delightful December Day 16: Someone's having/delivering a baby 4/8
Title: Miracles Do Happen 4/8
Day: 16
Prompt: Someone's delivering/having a baby
*Verse: G1-AU
Rating: PG-13
Other Characters: Jazz, Prowl, Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, Bumblebee, the twins
Warnings: mild fluff, mild language
Summary/Notes: Prowl and Jazz are having a sparkling. But of course nothing goes as planned. This fic was getting way too long! I had intended for it to be a simple oneshot. As usual my muse had other ideas. Please enjoy! :)
Optimus
To say I was shocked by Prowl’s reaction was an understatement. In all the time I’ve known the young Praxian he’s never allowed his emotions to get the better of him. He understood better than any bot how his role as my SIC needed to be steady and strong for everyone’s sake.
It saddened me how others did not understand why Prowl was the way he was. Instead they jump to conclusions, make hurtful comments. I know it bothers him despite what he tells me. I’ve seen the reaction in his doorwings no matter how minute. And in my opinion, it was about time Prowl reacted as he did so that others could see he wasn’t the sparkless drone they’ve dubbed him as.
Jazz told me his opinion of Prowl once that behind the tactician’s calm, neutral facade was a very passionate mech. I never doubt the opinion of my saboteur for he knew mechs better than they knew themselves. As one of my closest friends I had often relied on Jazz’s judgments of others to aid me in the infancy of my leadership.
“I said stand down!” I said with conviction, holding Ironhide back.
“He attacked me!”
“Only because you provoked him,” Ratchet snapped. “It’s about time he reacted like a normal…”
Prowl’s sudden howl of pain startled Ratchet and myself, getting our attention. Like Ratchet I was focused on stopping Ironhide before his anger really got the better of him, not thinking Prowl was that injured. Because honestly, I’d seen Prowl hit the side of a cliff harder and get up!
“RATCHET!” Sunstreaker shouted with a desperation I’d never heard unless his brother was badly injured.
Everyone in the room was immediately concerned as we gathered around where Prowl had fallen. Even Ironhide instantly calmed down, looking worried as he stood by my side. I watched with increasing concern as Ratchet scanned the Praxian who was mumbling some prayer to Primus.
“Fragging pit slaggers,” my CMO cursed to himself. “Why is it the young never listen to me?”
“I’m sorry,” Prowl grimaced, looking terrified.
“Don’t worry about that right now,” Ratchet calmly said to him.
“Ratchet?” I asked extremely worried for my friend. I’d never, ever seen Prowl so scared.
“Can you stop it?” Sunny asked worriedly, still at Prowl’s side.
“Stop wha?” Ironhide asked and I shrugged not knowing the answer.
“I’m working on it,” Ratchet answered, his attention still fully on Prowl.
“It’s too soon,” Prowl whimpered and then groaned loudly.
“Just relax and let me do my job.”
“Ratchet?” I asked again more firmly.
“Inferno, First Aid get over here now like your life depended on it!” Ratchet barked over is shoulder.
“Ratchet, what’s goin’ on?” Ironhide demanded.
“Looks like you win the bet Optimus,” Ratchet commented. “Prowl, I’m going to give you something…”
“No…”
“It will be ok. I promise. It will take the edge off the pain and help you relax. Right now I need you to relax for both your sakes. Ok?”
Prowl nodded, looking worried. He even shied away slightly when Ratchet pulled out the syringe. But after Ratchet injected him the tactician relaxed. Even his optics noticeably dimmed.
“Ratchet I’d like an explanation please,” I firmly demanded.
“Prowl and Jazz are definitely in a relationship. Even more so, they’re bonded. Inferno, First Aid, lift him carefully and get him into the intensive care room. Everyone out of the way!” Ratchet turned and with the most serious expression, “Prowl’s in labor. I need to stop it otherwise the sparkling will be born premature. I don‘t think I need to tell you the odds if I fail.”
“Sparkling!” I exclaimed as did many others in the room as Ratchet hurried after his patient.
Frag none of us expected to hear that. A sparkling? This…this was wonderful. I momentous day! It’d been far too long since a sparkling had been born. This gives me a hope I’d never dare dream of.
“What’d he mean by that Optimus?” Bumblebee asked, pulling me from my thoughts. “About the sparkling being born premature…”
“It means we could lose both Prowl and the sparkling,” I answered sadly as the others looked up to me.
“We’ve seen it happen far too often when Sides and I were gladiators,” Sunstreaker solemnly said. “Most cases, the stress of a missing creator is too much for a premature sparkling to handle.”
“The carrier often died shortly after the death of their sparkling,” Sides added.
“Optimus, I’m sorry. I swear I had no idea,” Ironhide said, kneeling before me.
“None of us did, my friend,” I frowned, lifting him up to his feet.
“I still broke my oath,” Ironhide grumble.
“It wasn‘t your fault,” I reassured him, resting my hand on his shoulder.
“I threw him against a wall how is that not my fault?!” my friend growled and then stormed off.
“No, leave him be,” I ordered when Bumblebee made a move to follow. “Everyone return to your stations. Pray Ratchet can perform another one of his miracles. Smokescreen, Mirage see what kind of plan you can come up with to get Jazz back. I want to hear all options including the risks involved.”
“Sir if Prowl can’t…” Smokescreen started but shut up when I gave him a hard look. “As you wish, Sir.”
“I’ll help as well, Sir,” Red Alert said.
“So will we,” Sunstreaker said, indicating his brother and himself.
“Very good. You have two hours. Dismissed,” I ordered and then headed for the medical bay.
A sparkling.
It’d been far too long since a young Cybertronian had been born or created. Primus willing, things were certainly going to be different on the base with the little one around. And I was very interested in seeing which creator this sparkling would take after more.
“Wondering when you’d get here,” Ratchet mused, his optics locked on a seemingly unconscious Prowl as I tread quietly into the private intensive care room.
I glanced up at the monitor reading the vital signs for both Prowl and the sparkling. Most of it was medical slag I didn’t know but their spark rates were recognizable.
“You managed to calm them both down? Did you stop the labor process?”
“Yes and no. I’ve delayed it by putting Prowl into a deep recharge that’s slowed his systems, kind of like stasis only not as deep. It’s risky. Any change in the sparkling’s life signs and I’ll be extracting the mechlet. It doesn’t matter much what I do at this point. This sparkling is going to be born premature. I’m just buying time right now so that Wheeljack, Grapple, and Hoist can make an incubator. Surprisingly our workaholic tactician has kept his health and energy levels in prime condition. The sparkling is extremely healthy with a strong bond to its carrier.”
I chuckled, “One thing I’ve never doubted about Prowl at all is his utter devotion. So it doesn’t surprise me in the least that he’d take care of himself for the sake of the sparkling.”
“You don’t seem so surprised that they’re bonded,” he commented pulling a thermal blanket over Prowl’s form.
“I’ve known Jazz a long time. Some of the comments he said about Prowl aroused my suspicions. Plus, there were the times Jazz returned from a long mission and I could see the relief in Prowl’s frame. It was very slight but if you knew what to look for you’d notice it. But I honestly didn’t know they’d bonded.”
“I don’t think they realized how many of us were hoping they’d get together,” Ratchet smiled. “They’d always been the best of friends even after their epic disagreements about missions.”
“Such a shame this war made them keep their relationship a secret,” I frowned. “Megatron would stoop to any level to take advantage of us. However, I am surprised that they kept the sparkling a secret for so long. Especially Jazz. News like that for a mech like him…how did he manage to contain it!”
“Prowl said they were going to tell everyone at the Christmas Party before he slipped under. He and Jazz wanted to enjoy their secret for as long as possible,” Ratchet said turning his attention to the medical console for the berth. “Now, let’s take a look at the little mech.”
“Mech?”
“Spark temperature and energy reading indicates it’s a male,” Ratchet smiled as his finger manipulated the control console on the berth. “Ah, here we go. I’m a little out of practice with that function. Been a long time since I last delivered a sparkling.”
My optics locked on the 3-D holographic projection of the sparkling. It was curled up in a small ball, fists tight against his chest under its chin, small peds tucked up against its aft with knees drawn up to its abdomen. And of course two winglets neatly fold on its back.
“Hmm…this is interesting,” Ratchet mused, his hands playing across the control panel while his optics were locked on the readings that scrolled across the screen. “According to these readings the sparkling is fully developed except his size and weight is well below normal.”
“I was wondering if he’d follow the standard gestation cycle or a Praxian gestation cycle.”
The familiar calm tenor of my SIC startled both Ratchet and myself. It quickly passed and I smiled when the Praxian reached up towards the hologram for a moment and then rested a hand over his chest, a small content smile formed on the mech’s faceplates.
“Your fragging battle computer always messes with my sedatives,” Ratchet grumbled. “And what did you mean Praxian gestation cycle?”
“Praxian sparklings are born four deca-cycles sooner than the average Cybertronian.”
“And their size and weight?”
“If this is a representation of his actual size, Tango appears larger than an average Praxian sparkling.”
I chuckled. Even Ratchet smiled, muffling his laughter.
“Is it not a fitting name for Jazz’s son?” Prowl seriously asked me.
“It’s perfect,” I smiled retracting my battlemask to he could see my sincerity. “And for the record I would not have been opposed to a bonding between you and Jazz. True we are at war but it is not for me to dictate the degree of happiness I allow the mechs under my command. In fact, I should have made it known long ago that I don’t mind the fraternization.”
“And the sparkling?”
“Will be properly blessed upon his birth and welcomed amongst us. I swear on my spark he will be protected,” I promised, bowing my head slightly.
“Thank you, Sir,” Prowl sighed, shuttering his optic covers and then he grimaced grabbing his chest plates.
“I couldn’t stop the labor process,” Ratchet quickly said. “According to these readings you are in the initial stage of phase one of the labor process. Normally mechs and femmes can move about but after you getting tossed across the room and impacting a wall, I want to keep you on a berth.”
Prowl nodded, rolling onto his side.
“This could take all day,” Ratchet said to me.
I nodded in understanding.
“We’ll get Jazz home, Prowl,” I said reassuringly, noticing how the mech’s wings trembled at the sound of Jazz’s name.
Determined, I left him in Ratchet’s care knowing my CMO would do all he must, even if that includes going one on one with Primus himself, to ensure the sparkling’s survival.
“Optimus! Optimus! He’s gone!!” Bumblebee exclaimed running towards me.
I didn’t ask who. I knew he was talking about Ironhide.
I quickly weighed my options before making my decision.