wildernesstales | TF: Christmas Challenge

Rating: PG
Series: G1
Pairings: Prowl/Jazz and the Ironhide/Ratchet/Wheeljack threesome makes another appearance
Summary: Jazz struggles to think of a suitable gift for Prowl and the Decepticons have a plan that actually works
Warnings: ‘Houston, we have angst…’ It was meant to be fluffy… all I can say is everyone survives?
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Note: Written for the

prowlxjazz Christmas challenge, which is based around the four candles of advent. This one is for Joy
This could kind of be seen in the same series as the Hope and Peace sets
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.

Part One

Jazz sat at the computer console, watching the monitor without really observing the activities it was focussing on. He didn’t see Bluestreak and Bumblebee and Spike making a snowman in the freshly fallen snow. He didn’t see Cliffjumper throwing snowballs at an invisible Mirage. He didn’t see anything, so focussed was he on his thoughts.

Ever since Sparkplug had asked about their Christmas traditions, Jazz couldn’t tear his thoughts away from what gifts he could get for Prowl. They held special meaning now that he was giving them to his partner. But he was at a loss on what to get. He still couldn’t believe that Prowl would remember that can of lubricant from all those years ago. But now he needed something with more meaning – something that would show how much he cared for the tactician.

“Anything interesting?” Trailbreaker asked, peering over Jazz to look at the monitor. “Heh, Cliffjumper should have learnt by now not to mess with Mirage.” He commented as he watched Cliffjumper swept off his feet by a large snowball. Jazz turned slowly to stare up at Trailbreaker.
“You really do have your head in the clouds.” The black mech laughed. Jazz grinned.
“Can ya blame me?”
“Not really. If it’s any consolation, Prowl has been just as bad, worse even.”
“He has?”
“I ain’t kidding you he has. That mech has almost been drifting instead of walking. I swear on my spark, in all the years I’ve known Prowl, I ain’t never seen him wear a smile this big.”
“You know me, I aim to please!”
“As long as the pair of you are happy Jazz.”
“I am. I hope Prowl is too.”
“Judging by the way he’s acting, I’d say he was. The pair of you ought to have done something about it sooner.”
“Wish I had now ‘Breaker, believe me. Didn’t know he felt the same. Just need to figure out what I can get him now.”
“Who says you need to get him anything?”
“It’s tradition.”
“If you ask me, I think you’ve given him plenty. You don’t just have to give a physical gift Jazz.” Jazz shrugged and refocused his attention on the monitor.
“What the…” He exclaimed, watching in mounting horror as the Autobots outside dove for cover amongst the snow drifts. In the instance it took his processor to register what his optics were seeing, the base alarms sounded, ringing harshly compared to the previous silence. Both Jazz and Trailbreaker were out of the command center in seconds, dashing outside to aid in the imminent battle.

**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**

Jazz found himself fending off both Rumble and Frenzy; distracting the two cassetticons from Trailbreaker, who had taken a shot to the knee early on in the battle and was now struggling to stay online. They might be small, but Soundwave’s cassettes certainly had stamina. Jazz found himself tiring and finding it more difficult to keep the Decepticon Twins from Trailbreaker, who had by now slipped into stasis. It wasn’t too much longer before Jazz realised he was going to be heading that way himself. Occupying Rumble and Frenzy took a lot of effort and Jazz was using up far more energy than they were. Around him, the battle raged on. Without having to look, he knew that Ironhide was fighting Soundwave; he could hear the red mech cursing loudly as he grappled with the Decepticon. Bumblebee had been pounced on by Ravage (what was it with that cat and Bumblebee?) and Cliffjumper and Bluestreak were firing at the two condors circling above their heads. The Decepticons had taken a gamble attacking this close to the base, hoping to catch the Autobots off guard. Surprisingly for a Decepticon plot, it had actually worked. He could hear Prowl directing the battle, pausing only to shoot at the Seekers who continued to rain down laser fire on them.
Then, with no warning, the Cliffside above Jazz exploded, debris and rock raining down on him and Trailbreaker, the Decepticon Twins managing to escape unharmed.

**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**

Jazz came back online to the sound of Ratchet pitching what sounded like the mother of all tantrums. Apparently, the gods of Earth, as well as several other planets, Cybertron included, and the Decepticons existed solely to make his life a walking nightmare.
“Doubt that Ratchet…” He managed to say, a little surprised at the scratchiness of his vocaliser.
“You! What on Cybertron were you thinking standing directly under a falling cliff face?”
“Weren’t exactly my choice to be there.” Jazz replied, gingerly sitting up and looking around him.
“You’re just lucky the explosion jolted Trailbreaker out of stasis with enough time to erect a force field around the pair of you. Not to mention everything else I have to deal with. Slagging Decepticons!”
“How bad was it?”
“Bad enough that me, Wheeljack, Perceptor and Hoist will be kept busy for a while.”
“Bet Ironhide won’t be pleased to hear that.” Jazz managed to quip before his vocaliser shorted out, leaving him clutching at his throat and Ratchet pulling out his laser scalpel again.
“Ironhide won’t be fit enough for anything for a while.” Ratchet muttered as he worked. Jazz tilted his head in apology, ignoring Ratchet’s grimace as he did so. He returned with a grimace of his own as Ratchet straightened his head for him and none too gently either. He jerked as a panicked thought ran through his processor and straight to his spark. Pulling away from Ratchet, he stared wildly around the repair bay.
“Jazz, listen to me, Prowl is okay.” Jazz sagged back on the berth, relief evident across his chassis. “He’s banged up, like the rest of you, but it’s nothing I can’t fix.” Jazz nodded slowly. “Your vocaliser is fixed, but I don’t want you to put any strain on it for the next day. It’s too sensitive to failure at the moment and I don’t have the equipment to replace it here.” Jazz nodded again and tilted his head away from the berth.
“Yes, you can go. Prowl is over there.” Ratchet pointed with his laser scalpel to the berth Prowl was lying on before turning his attention to Trailbreaker. Carefully Jazz made his way over to the berth, leaning heavily against the side of it, just staring at Prowl. Gently he traced the side of Prowl’s face, lacking the words to say anything, even if he were allowed to speak.
“Jazz.” In response, Jazz grabbed one of Prowl’s hands, squeezing gently.
“When I said you talked too much… I didn’t mean you to actually not talk.” If Jazz could have rolled his optics, he would have. “I’m glad you’re all right. When I heard that explosion…” Prowl’s vocaliser stuttered to a stop before the tactician managed to calm himself to continue. “I didn’t want anything to happen to you. Not after what we’ve finally admitted.” Jazz tilted his head and smiled down at Prowl, hoping to convey how he felt in that simple action. His smile widened as Prowl squeezed his hand in return before offlining his optics.