"Ironhide mean." Reflect sniffles.

"I know buddy, I know, but don't worry about it alright? its alright. just stay away from him for a few days okay? give him a few days to calm down okay? Ironhide doesn'tmean to hurt you." Ratchet assures.

"okay...." Reflect mumbles. Ratchet rubs his cheek gently.

"its alright little one." Ratchet murmurs.

"see Bari?" Reflect asks, quietly. he looks up at Ratchet.

"absolutely. I'll message him in a little bit alright? lets get you home and get you a cube and a run through the wash racks, okay?" Ratchet ask. Reflect nods cuddling up to him.

"okay..." Reflect mumbles.

"he didn't mean to hurt you, sparkling. its okay Reflect. I've got you." Ratchet assures.

"no Wheeljack give shower." Reflect mumbles. Ratchet laughs.

"okay. okay, I'll give you a wash. I promise. I won't let Wheeljack give you one. he gets your head every time hmm?" Ratchet ask. Reflect nods, pouting. he rubs his head.

"always hurt." Reflect mumbles.

"he doesn't mean too. he's just careless." Ratchet assures. Reflect snuggles up to him, his holoform flickering. "shut your holoform off little one. how about we get you a cube and a nap, then we'll clean you up so you can see Barricade." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect nods, shutting the holoform off and curling up.

the medic carefully transforms around his sparkling and heads inside. Reflects snoring in his arm.

"thank Primus you got him to sleep. he was just yelling at me." Bumblebee murmurs, walking past him.

"he just needed a nap Bumblebee. he didn't mean to upset you. I promise." Ratchet assures gently.

he carries the sparkling into the medbay, a cube in his servo.

"hey he alright?" Wheeljack ask.

"he's... Reflect." Ratchet murmurs, waking the sparkling gently. Reflect looks up at him sleepily before growling. "I know, you're sleepy, but you need a cube before your systems shut down." Ratchet murmurs, offering Reflect the cube. Reflect grabs it and sucks it down happily. he's half asleep, but still starving. he downs the cube in record time, before curling back up.

"doesn't he need a wash? he's covered in dirt from the range. I still can't believe Prime had him out there and just let him play in the range." Wheeljack frowns.

"no one was on range except him and Reflect. its okay." Ratchet snorts. "he'll get one after his nap. he really needs one." Ratchet snorts. Wheeljack nods.

"alright." Wheeljack murmurs. Ratchet lays Reflect on a berth gently and lets him sleep.

Reflect sits up slowly around 4 hours later, yawning. he looks around sleepily, before a concerned look comes over his face plates. he whines.

"Ratchet?" Reflect whimpers. theres an immediate sound of someone getting up from a chair.

"in my office sparkling. don't panic." Ratchet assures, coming out of the office. Reflect turns around quickly to look at the medic. "hey its alright. I just had some paperwork. its okay." Ratchet assures, walking over to scoop him up. Reflect cuddles into him. "lets get you a cube alright? then I'll contact Barricade, okay?" Ratchet ask.

"okay Ratchet." Reflect mumbles, laying his head on Ratchets shoulder. he's still a little sleepy. Ratchet chuckles and shifts the sparkling, holding him up carefully. Reflect hugs his neck, looking over his shoulder.

"where Jack?" Reflect asks.

"he's in the lab." Ratchet says. "you know thats where he spends most of his time." Ratchet chuckles softly. he shakes his head. "we couldn't win the war without him though. we need Wheeljack in that lab." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect yawns and cuddles up to him, playing with the medics shoulder armor.

"Reflect all dirty." Reflect says.

"yeah, you need a run in the wash racks, but we'll get you a cube and get you a wash. alright?" Ratchet smiles. he keeps walking before turning his head to look at the sparkling. "what are you,- hey! stop that. don't chew on my armor. what are you doing?" Ratchet huffs. the sparkling sits up with a huff, making a dirty look.

"mouth feels weird." he mumbles.

"its part of the one year update. those sharp little sparkling denta, will be falling out soon, so you can't bite people, or wires any more." Ratchet frowns. the sticks his tongue out at him, then lays his head down. "don't chew on me." Ratchet says.

"slagger." Reflect mumbles. Ratchet snorts, carrying him into the wreck room. he puts the sparkling down gently and hands him a cube gently.

"here." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect looks at the cube then lifts his head to look up at Ratchet. he almost looks insulted. he stares at the medic blankly. "what?" Ratchet ask. the sparkling looks at the cube then at Ratchet. "I'm sorry am I supposed to hold you?" Ratchet snorts. Reflect huffs. "sorry I didn't realize." Ratchet mutters picking him back up. "you know we can't hold you forever right?" Ratchet chuckles. Reflect shoots him a nasty look and the medic starts laughing. he sits down and holds the sparkling gently while he drinks his cube.

once his cube is finished, Ratchet takes him and runs them both through the wash racks.

"alright squirt ready to go see Barricade?" Ratchet ask. Reflect nods. "alright." Ratchet murmurs. he heads outside where Bumblebee is already waiting.

"Bumblebee?" Reflect ask.

"he's coming along." Ratchet says. Bumblebee bounces on his tires.

"I was gonna go pick up Sam anyway!" Bumblebee assures. Reflect cuddles into Ratchet when the medic transforms.

"I see Bari?" Reflect asks.

"yes. we're going to go see Bari." Ratchet assures. he shifts a little on his wheels. "Bumblebee you contacted Barricade right?" Ratchet ask.

"sure did!" Bumblebee smiles. "follow me." Bumblebee adds, speeding off.

"this is against so many rules." Ratchet murmurs.

"oh stop it. you know Prime would be alright, as long as its just Barricade and just for Reflect." Bumblebee assures. Ratchet grunts.

the drive doesn't take long, only an hour or two, but Reflects bouncing in his seat the whole time. they'd agreed to meet out away from civilization, so they could transform and not have to use their holoforms, which would be more draining on the sparkling then them.

they park to wait for Barricade, but Reflects still bouncing around.

"hey knock it off." Ratchet mutters. its the fourth time he's said it in the past five minutes, but Reflect just laughs and keeps going.

"Barricade are you on your way? Reflects getting antsy."

"I had to stop to eject Frenzy. I'll be there shortly."

"I'm sorry what?"

"he was annoying so I threw him out. he'll be fine. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Bumblebee shakes his head and transforms.

"he'll be here in a few. he ran into some issues with Frenzy." Bumblebee assures. Ratchet transforms carefully, setting Reflect into the sand.

"issues with Frenzy?" he asks.

"something about ejecting him out of his alt because he was annoying." Bumblebee shrugs. Ratchet shakes his head. Reflect holds onto Ratchets leg, looking around happily. when Barricade pulls up, he quickly transforms and turns away from the three Autobots. he opens his glove compartment and shoots Frenzy straight into the sand.

"frag off!" Barricade growls, before turning around. Reflect laughs, bouncing excitedly in the sand before running over to Barricade.

"Bari!" he squeals. Barricade turns and smirks, scooping up the sparkling.

"hey Reflect." Barricade chuckles softly, hugging him.

"now that he's here, I've gotta go get Sam." Bumblebee says, turning to Ratchet. the medic nods.

"alright, be careful." Ratchet says. Reflect watches Bumblebee run off. Frenzy pushes himself up growling angrily.

"you stupid slagger! I swear I'll-" Frenzy starts, turning around. he freezes coming face to face with one of Ratchets guns.

"while he's holding my sparkling, that makes you my bitch. touch them and I'll kill you." Ratchet assures. Barricade snorts and smles at the sparkling.

"alright fragger, you got my attention, what is it you wanted?" Barricade asks.

"play with Bari!" Reflect squeals.

"play? I don't play, however, Frenzy does. he has energy to burn off apparently." Barricade glares at the little con, before putting Reflect down gently. "hurt him and the medic will have no chance to kill you before I do." Barricade warns Frenzy.

"no way! that little slagger is three times my size! I don't do play!" Frenzy snaps. Barricade snorts.

"I wasn't asking." Barricade snaps. Reflect looks at Frenzy a moment, before squealing and tackling the little mech, then running off. Frenzy growls, glaring daggers at Barricade.

"you fragging owe me." Frenzy mutters, getting up and storming after the sparkling. Ratchets on guard. he's got an optic on his sparkling and one on Barricade. he would never let his guard down, even if Barricade hadn't made moves to hurt the sparkling yet. he'd never trust a Decepticon. Ratchets servos are behind his back, standing at ease but on guard.

he immediately looks over when Barricade steps closer.

"thanks." the Con mutters. Ratchet looks confused.

"for?" the medic frowns. Barricade shrugs, scoffing and looking over at the sparkling. Ratchet doesn't let his guard down for a second, but he understands. "don't thank me. he threw a tantrum until I agreed to bring him." Ratchet mutters.

"I figured as much, which is why I agreed with Bumblebee to meet you so close to your base." Barricade mutters.

"Reflect! hey! no throwing sand! he has to get back in Barricade when we're done here! you don't want him dragging sand into Barricade do you?" Ratchet shouts. Reflect gives him a sheepish look. "you agreed to meet us this close?" Ratchet ask.

"I suggested it." Barricade says. "no one wants to meet with the enemy, even if its for a sparkling. figured I'd have better chances of seeing him if we could meet close enough you'd both feel better. I mean we're what, thirty or so minutes from your base? if back up is required, not that it will be, it'll be close enough for you to feel better about letting me see the sparkling." Barricade explains. Ratchet snorts, watching Reflect carefully.

"well I appreciate that. we can't all have the innocence of a sparkling. its a war." Ratchet frowns. "oh, we upgraded his sparkling plating and he's started headbutting when he doesn't get his way. be careful. don't let him get to you, he took Jazz out the other day." Ratchet says. Barricade looks confused at the medic.

"upgraded his plating? why would do that? war or not, the only idiot to hurt a sparkling is Starscream or Megatron." Barricade ask.

"because the little slagger runs head first into literally everything. he doesn't have any fear. he runs head first into everything." Ratchet mutters. "he's been headbutting everything since the moment he could crawl." Ratchet grumbles. Barricade smirks a little, watching Reflect.

"hmm, Bumblebee used to do the same." Barricade says. Ratchet looks at him curiously.

"huh?" he ask. Barricade shrugs.

"the Scout and I used to be in the same care facility. I was in the youngling room and he was in the sparkling room, but the moment he learned to move, he'd headbutt the gates or the doors down to get into the youngling room." Barricade mutters.

Barricade hates talking about those times. he remembers the day the walls of the building collapsed around them. the care center being attacked and sparklings or younglings being hurt or killed. he and Bumblebee took shelter under some kind of table, curled up together with the Con protecting the smaller bot the best that he could. they'd both ended up injured, he'd left the scout behind to find Frenzy. he'd been seriosuly injured and it had taken him weeks to fix the sparkling. Bumblebee had been gone when he came back for him, Barricade thinks it was Ironhide he saw carrying the little yellow sparkling out of the wreckage, but it was so long ago he can't remember. Ironhide hadn't been built the same way back then and he'd been a little younger. the Con couldn't remember.

Ratchet glances over at the Con, before waving a servo in front of his face.

"hey, you alright?" Ratchet ask. Barricade shakes his head, looking over at him.

"what?" he snaps.

"you were staring off. just making sure you were okay." Ratchet mutters. Barricade grumbles a little, looking back to Reflect.

"I'm fine." Barricade mutters.

"watch out. he's coming to headbutt you." Ratchet says.

"huh?" Barricade asks.

"Reflect no!" Ratchet warns. Barricade looks down and quickly grabs the sparkling by the ankle, lifting him into the air.

"don't you dare." Barricade warns. Reflect laughs happily at him.

"thats just how he shows his love." Ratchet mutters. Reflect squeals, trying to reach up and get himself free from Barricades grasp. the Con puts him back down.

"go headbutt Frenzy. might teach him a lesson." Barricade grumbles. Reflect laughs, running off. he runs full force and headbutts Frenzy as hard as he can. it sends the little con flying. "wow you weren't joking." Barricade says.

"nope. full force, all the time." Ratchet frowns. "he doesn't care. he knows I'll fix him up. he has no fear." Ratchet smiles a little.

"well then he's one of the lucky sparklings sparked into the war." Barricade says. Ratchet nods. Ratchet doesn't get the chance to warn Barricade this time. Reflect comes out of no where and slams headfirst, full force, into Barricades calf. it sends the Con to the ground. "hey! you little slagger!" Barricade growls, sitting up to look at him. Reflect laughs in his face and turns, running. "you're not getting away that easy." Barricade mutters, getting up quickly. Ratchet tenses watching the Con run after his sparkling. he's got a gun out and ready, but the Con is careful and actually playing with Reflect.

Reflect is squealing and giggling, running as fast as he can.

Ratchet relaxes a little, putting his weapon away. he smiles a little watching Reflect. Barricade reminded him a little of Bumblebee, only it takes a lot more to get the slightly older mech to act his age than it does Bumblebee. because the Autobots except Bumblebee and love him. Decepticons don't care about each other, they expect order and don't care how old anyone is. Decepticons were ruthless, Autobots were not unless on the battlefield.

his attention is drawn back to the sparkling when he goes flying through the air.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO JUMP!" Barricade shouts, running after him. he's able to catch the sparkling looking relieved.

"don't hurt him!" Ratchet warns.

"I didn't he jumped off my shoulder!" Barricade glares.

"Ratchet, where are you?"

"Prime? I took Reflect and went out with Bumblebee to go get Sam. Reflect wanted to see the wreck scene again from this morning. I think he's going to be like Wheeljack, smart little slagger."

"alright. well, we could use a medic on base please."

"someone injured?"

"your favorite patients are at it again."

"those stupid fragging twins. we'll be back shortly."

"Reflect! hey! c'mon kid we've gotta get back to the base!" Ratchet shouts. Reflect immediately comes to a stop, looking over sadly.

"Reflect no want to leave." he whines.

"I know kid but those stupid twins have gone and done it again. I've gotta get back to the base." Ratchet says. he whines again.

"stay with Bari?" Reflect asks, looking over at the Con.

"nah kid, you should probably go." Barricade frowns. Ratchet frowns, looking hesitant. Bumblebee said he could trust Barricade with Reflect. he put his life on it. the medic sighs.

"Barricade are you busy?" Ratchet ask.

"I'm not going to that base, Starscream would have my head." Barricade frowns.

"no I mean, if... if you could take him to Bumblebee or wait here with him for Bumblebee, you'd make him really happy." Ratchet says. Barricade looks shocked.

"you... you're going to leave me... with your sparkling?" Barricade ask.

"Bumblebee trusts you and you did save Reflects life once. you took care of him and he was scared at the time, but he clearly trusts you." Ratchet says.

"uh yeah. yeah sure. I can... I can take him to Bumblebee." Barricade says.

"yeah? it'd make Reflects day to ride with you. he loves lights and sirens." Ratchet says.

"yeah, I'll take him to Bumblebee." Barricade says. Ratchet nods, kneeling down.

"be good for Barricade alright? and you go with Bumblebee without a fight understood?" Ratchet ask.

"okay Ratchet! I got with Bari be good and go with Bumblebee be good." Reflect assures. Ratchet nods, still looking a little hesitant.

"alright." Ratchet says standing up. Reflect turns to Barricade.

"go go go! go ride! goo!" Reflect says.

"okay. okay. let me get Frenzy." Barricade snorts. Ratchet watches them a few moments before another com from Optimus has him on his way. he's hesitant. he feels like he's made the greatest mistake of his whole life, but at the same time, he's also irritated with himself. sparklings are amazing judges of characters and Bumblebee had always said he wondered what would've happened if the Autobots had found Barricade first. he was ruthless, but the medic wonders what he would be like as an Autobot.

Reflect giggles happily, his holoform sitting in Barricades front seat.

"now be good alright?" Barricade ask.

"sirens? flash lights!" Reflect squeals.

"fine. you can turn the lights and sirens on until we get to town okay?" Barricade ask. his holoform motions to the two buttons the sparkling needs to push.

"yay!" Reflect squeals. he pushes both buttons and squeals excitedly.

"are you serious? how come I'm never allowed to do that?" Frenzy glares. Reflect turns to grin at him.

"'cause Reflect cuter then Fren." Reflect giggles.

"I hate you." Frenzy mutters.

"then shut up and get in the glove box or just shut up." Barricade snaps.

"hey Bumbler. I have the sparkling. the medic ask me to bring him to you."

"Ratchet told me! where can I meet you?"

"I'm sending you some coordinates, I don't want the humans to see him."

"meet you there, thanks Barricade. Reflect really loves you."

Barricade scoffs quietly, before his holoform looks over at the sparklings holoform, before smiling a little.

"you're cute little one." Barricade murmurs. he could never bring himself to hurt this sparkling.

it doesn't take long for Bumblebee and Sam to meet up with them. the swap the sparkling over with no fight and each head on their way. Reflect is content to go with Bumblebee, but absolutely bored.

"Reflect bored." Reflect mumbles.

"we'll be home in an hour." Bumblebee assures.

"bored!" Reflect whines.

"please don't start yelling again." Bumblebee says.

"hold on Bumblebee, I've got an idea. I asked for some extra sheets from school when you texted me you were getting Reflect. figured he might get bored." Sam says. he pulls out some math sheets and turns handing them and pencil to the boy in the backseat.

"what?" he ask.

"here, its algebra." Sam shrugs. "you have to solve for X." Sam adds. the sparkling studies the paper a minute before going quiet.

"Sam is that your homework?" Bumblebee frowns.

"nah, they're just practice sheets. I told one of my old teachers I have a nephew who thought he was tough shit and I wanted to show him that math was more difficult than simple addition. she bought it right away." Sam shrugs. Reflect works on the paper for only five minutes, before handing it back to Sam.

"here. too easy." Reflect huffs.

"cool. I'm glad you finished it, turn it over and draw a picture on the other side." Sam says, handing it back. Reflect takes it back and starts drawing quietly.

"thanks Sam. I feel awful that I can't handle him when he starts getting upset..." Bumblebee frowns.

"don't worry Bee. I'm sure he only acted like that because he was tired. he might get a little upset, but I've never seen him act like that before." Sam says.

"well thats true." Bumblebee says. its nearly twenty minutes later when Reflect shoves the paper back up front.

"no color." he pouts.

"yeah I don't have any colors... wow this is great Reflect. look Bee its you." Sam smiles. the holoform looks over and smiles, before putting the drawing in his glove box.

"thank you Reflect." Bumblebee murmurs.

they pull up to the base and Bumblebee transforms. Sam ends up on his shoulder while he cradles Reflect gently.

"oh there you are Reflect." Jazz grins.

"see Bari!" Reflect grins.

"Bari?" Jazz asks confused.

"we saw Barricades alt driving around town on the way back." Sam says quickly.

"oh well, we don't like Cons squirt. c'mon wanna go play some games with me and Sides?" Jazz asks. Reflect gives him a nasty look.

"no." he huffs.

"what? whats go you angry all the sudden?" Jazz ask.

"you insulted him. he likes cop cars Jazz." Bumblebee mutters, walking past him with the sparkling. Sam settles happily on his guardians shoulder.

"where's Ironhide? I haven't seen him in a while." Sam says.

"he and Reflect kinda had it out and I take it Ironhide went a little too far. he hasn't come back to the base yet." Bumblebee says, carrying the sparkling into the rec room. he puts Reflect and Sam down, giving the sparkling some markers and paper. "here little one, you draw, I'm going to take Sam to my room to do his homework." Bumblebee murmurs. Reflect nods and starts drawing.

the humans are used to him being in the human area of the rec room. it happens. ever since he saved Sam, the humans hadn't minded him hanging out in the rec room with no other Autobots around. he was quiet and pretty well behaved as long as he was fed and had plenty of paper. the Autobots left him in there whenever he wanted, as a way to get him more used to the humans. soldiers, especially the ones with young kids at home, enjoyed his company.

so it was utterly shocking when he runs screaming from the rec room, towards the med bay. he almost knocks Ironhide over, but the mech manages not to fall on him, looking confused.

Ratchet and Wheeljack both jerk up from their work to look at the sparkling when he runs in. he's babbling in his sparkling chatter and waving his arms around, clearly upset, before rubbing the back of his head.

"what happened little one?" Wheeljack asks, scooping him up. he looks at the sparklings head, its not dented but the paint is scratched pretty good.

"whats up?" Ratchet ask.

"something hit him hard enough to scratch paint. it probably hurt." Wheeljack frowns.

"did you fall off the couch again squirt? the couch in the human rec room isn't made for you, we've been over this." Ratchet frowns walking over.

"no! hit!" Reflect sniffles.

"hit? what someone hit you?" Ratchet frowns, immediately annoyed.

"hit bottle." Reflect says nodding.

"oh you hit a bottle? I bet the soldiers are in there drinking again. they probably got a little careless and knocked him off the couch on accident. I'll have a chat with them to get everything cleared up." Wheeljack assures. Reflect whines at them, rubbing the back of his head.

"come on, we'll get that fixed up while Wheeljack talks to the soldiers." Ratchet assures. "its getting late anyway, we'll get you fixed up then put to bed." Ratchet assures.

"want Ironhide." Reflect mumbles. he can't speak for himself like this. he needs to talk to Ironhide.

"I don't think so little one. Ironhides in a bad mood." Ratchet says.

"want Ironhide!" Reflect repeats. Ratchet sighs.

"Ironhide, can Reflect spend the night with you? he's begging."

the black mech is honestly immediately relieved to hear that, he thought he'd fucked up with the sparkling.

"yeah absolutely. want me to come get him now?"

the response almost startles the medic but he shakes his head.

"yeah sure."

Ratchet sets the sparkling down and gets to work on fixing the scratch.

"hey what happened?" Ironhide asks. "he was screaming, almost took me out." Ironhide says.

"I think the humans soldiers got drunk and accidently knocked him off the couch. he hit his head on a bottle according to him." Ratchet says. "not hard enough to dent, but scratched a good bit of paint off. probably hurt him when he fell, but he's alright." Ratchet assures. Ironhide walks over to the sparkling.

"don't leave Reflect." Reflect mumbles.

"I won't." Ironhide assures, scooping him up gently.

"just take care of him." Ratchet says.

"I will." Ironhide assures, carrying the sparkling out.

"Reflect sorry." Reflect says softly.

"I'm sorry too kid. I would never hurt you on purpose. I promise." Ironhide assures gently.

Ironhide takes him immediately to his room and lays with him. the sparkling is out within a few minutes. Ironhide holds him for a while, before something pulls him into recharge. he realizes it must be Will and immediately gives in. he wouldn't ignore his bonded calling for him.

~~

Ironhide sits up slowly, he's laying on Wills old bed in the house. Wills sitting silently on the floor, going through the photo album Ironhide had brought home.

"Will." Ironhide murmurs. Will turns around and looks like he wants to say something dirty to Ironhide, he looks absolutely irate, but he keeps quiet. "hey whats wrong?" Ironhide ask.

"I saw the way you treated that sparkling today." Will frowns.

"yeah I know, I really fucked up and I'm going to work on fixing it. I was an idiot." Ironhide mutters. Will looks a little surprised at his words, but smiles a little. "c'mere. I'll look through that with you." Ironhide says, motioning the man over. Will gets up with the book and sits himself Ironhides lap, cuddling into him. Ironhide wonders if he's been forgiven. "hey, were you calling me in here? kinda felt like someone was tugging on my spark a little." Ironhide murmurs. Will smiles some.

"I wondered if you could feel that. yeah, I was." Will murmurs. Ironhide snorts, wrapping his arms around the mans waist.

"what was that about?" Ironhide ask. Will frowns, flipping through the picture book.

"thanks for looking through this again so I could see the pictures. I couldn't remember them." Will murmurs.

"Will, what did you call me in for, please tell me." Ironhide murmurs. Will sighs softly.

"the sparklings in danger." Will murmurs.

"who do I need to kill?" Ironhide growls. Will chuckles softly.

"calm down Hide... look I can't give you details... y'know the Allspark rules and all that..." Will murmurs.

"alright Will, what can you tell me?" Ironhide ask, nuzzling his neck gently.

"don't leave Reflect in the rec room alone." Will says firmly. Ironhide looks confused.

"is this about earlier? Ratchet said-" Ironhide ask.

"it wasn't an accident." Will says firmly. Ironhide looks even more confused.

"what?" he ask.

"Reflect didn't fall off of the couch and what happened was not an accident." Will says.

"Will, are you saying someone purposefully hurt the sparkling?" Ironhide ask. someone had purposefully hurt his bonded? oh they were absolutely dead. Will nods a little.

"yeah. can't tell you who, I'm breaking rules telling you this now, but Ratchet wasn't listening to Reflect and its going to be worse if no one listens." Will says.

"is it an Autobot?" Ironhide ask. Will frowns.

"its a... well, its a few soldiers." Will says. Ironhide narrows his eyes.

"humans? human soldiers are hurting the sparkling?" Ironhide ask. Will nods at him.

"yeah, I can't tell you which ones, I mean we can sit here until I get called out, letting you name names until you get the right ones, or.... you and I can relax a little together." Will murmurs.

"I have a plan Will, do not worry. I will figure it out. I would love to spend time with you. these pictures are great memories." Ironhide murmurs. "look that one is one I took." Ironhide murmurs. it wasn't really a picture, it was a memory file. a memory file picture of Annabells first steps. Will smiles at the picture.

"yeah, I remember that. it was right after the battle of Mission City. my first weekend with Annie after the divorce. Sarah was pissed she took her first steps to you." Will snorts. Ironhide chuckles. "and this is the one from the time in Egypt, look you still have a hole in your chest from where Starscream threw Bumblebee and he stabbed you in the chest." Will snorts. Ironhide laughs a little.

"yeah I remember that... thought the scout was gonna cry." Ironhide smiles a little. Will leans back against him. ready to enjoy the rest of the night with Ironhide.

~~

when the weapons specialist wakes, Reflects already sitting up and waiting on him.

"hey squirt. we're gonna get you a cube alright, but I have to ask you a question okay?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods, looking a little sleepy.

"okay Hide." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide nods a little.

"now be honestly with me buddy, okay? be honest." Ironhide says. Reflect nods a little. "Reflect, when you got hurt last night, was it an accident? did you fall like Ratchet thinks?" Ironhide asks, softly. Reflect pulls back a little whining. "please, be honest, you're not going to get in trouble." Ironhide assures.

"no accident. hit Reflect." Reflect says softly.

"who hit Reflect?" Ironhide ask. Reflect shakes his head.

"no know." Reflect whimpers. Ironhide nods.

"alright. thanks kiddo. c'mon. lets get you a cube." Ironhide murmurs, getting up.