things are tense on the base between Ratchet and his little family and Ironhide. the weapons specialist is snippy again. he's angry storming around and absolutely refuses to even look at the sparkling. Wheeljack and Ratchet don't make him, but aren't keeping the sparkling confined to the medbay, not that they could if they wanted to. the sparkling was too fast to catch a lot of the time and had continued to use the vents to his advantage.

the sparkling was currently hauling ass across the base at top speed, with Wheeljack chasing him down.

"get back here! you're trailing paint everywhere!" Wheeljack shouts. that wasn't Wills fault, of course, Wheeljack shouldn't have left the paint bucket in such a way the him bumping into the berth spilt it all over the sparkling, but that didn't mean he was going to make it easy to catch him.

"Jack! what the hell? why is he green?" Ratchet frowns, looking at the paint trail.

"I dropped a bucket of paint on him!" Wheeljack snaps. "and I can't catch him! grab him!" Wheeljack shouts.

"you're never gonna catch him that way." Ratchet frowns.

"someone help I can't see everything is green!"

chirp chirp click chirp!

"Prime! grab the sparkling!" Ratchet calls. Optimus looks down and immediately grabs the sparkling quickly. the sparkling immediately screams, flailing and flinging paint everywhere.

"easy sparkling. its okay." Optimus assures gently.

"come here little one." Ratchet murmurs, taking him carefully and wiping the paint off his face gently so he could see. he blinks at Ratchet, looking relieved. "easy now sparkling. its alright. I've got you." Ratchet assures, before shooting a dirty look at Wheeljack. the little bot relaxes and cuddles into Ratchet, shooting a nasty look at Wheeljack. "you spilt paint on the sparkling, you clean him." Ratchet frowns, pushing Will into Wheeljacks arms. Will grunts and huffs.

"I will, I just had to catch him." Wheeljack says, heading for the washracks with a pout. Ratchet watches them go and sighs looking at the mess.

"I'm doubting taking on the sparkling." Ratchet mutters. Optimus raises an optic ridge.

"if you regret it so much, pass his guardianship off to another bot Ratchet. for a few days, as a... trial run. if everyone does well, then leave him in the guardianship of the other bot." Optimus suggests.

"its not like that, I don;t want to give him up and I refuse to do so. I just mean, keeping up with both him and Wheeljack is exhausting... I don't know if we're giving him the life he actually deserves." Ratchet murmurs.

"like I said, if you cannot handle the responsibility Ratchet, you need to find the sparkling a new guardian. this can't be a permanent thing if my chief medical officer is too tired to do his job. bots could suffer and you know that." Optimus frowns a little. Ratchet sighs a little.

"yeah, but me and Wheeljack are the best options." Ratchet frowns.

"I'm sure you can think of someone." Optimus assures gently, walking off. Ratchet watches him go before sighing and looking back down at the mess.

"might as well start cleaning." Ratchet murmurs.

by the time Ratchets finished, Wheeljacks gotten the sparkling clean and giving him a cube.

"oh... you finished? I was going to come help." Wheeljack frowns.

"Optimus thinks we should give up guardianship of the sparkling." Ratchet says. Wheeljack looks confused.

"wh... Ratch, are you serious?" Wheeljack ask. Ratchet nods looking at the sparkling. Wills staring at him, looking a little confused around his cube.

"I'll explain later." Ratchet says, walking off. Wheeljack look hurt, watching him go, before turning around quickly.

"you can't just walk away after saying something like that!!" Wheeljack hisses.

"I'm not discussing this in front of the sparkling." Ratchet responds, but doesn't stop walking. Will looks up at Wheeljack confused. the inventor holds him tighter, staring at Ratchets back.

Wheeljack leaves the sparkling with Sideswipe to talk to Ratchet, the bot is more than happy to hang out with the sparkling. its immediately noticeable to the twin that the sparkling is obviously not in his usual spirits.

Will can't help it, his thoughts have gone to his childhood and how shitty it was being passed around from family member to family member because no one had the time for him. how garbage and unstable his childhood had been. he can't help but feel he's done something wrong.

"hey little one, you okay?" Sideswipe asks, crouching in front of the motionless sparkling. he's sitting on the floor of the twins room and staring at the door. Sunstreaker looks over from his berth, having been reading a datapad.

"whats wrong with it?" Sunstreaker mutters.

"I dunno, maybe he's got a virus... could be a bit of bad energon?" Sideswipe frowns, thinking aloud. he waves a servo in front of the sparklings face, but he stares blankly at the door, not even making a sound.

"with Ratchet as his caregiver?" Sunstreaker scoffs. "doubt it... maybe he did get some bad energon or something." Sunstreaker shrugs. "I mean he didn't immediately bolt when you put him on the floor." he adds.

"fuck it, I know they were busy, but he needs Ratchet. somethings wrong with him." Sideswipe says, getting up. he scoops the sparkling up carefully and heads out for the medbay.

"its only been an hour, you'll never get to watch him again." Sunstreaker frowns. Sideswipe frowns a little.

"hmm, I've got an idea." Sideswipe frowns, heading quickly for Optimus' office.

when he gets there, Optimus and Jazz are in a small meeting. they both look over.

"Prime please, I need help. somethings wrong with him." Sideswipe says, putting the sparkling on his desk. he doesn't move, just sits silently on the desk. "he's been like this for an hour." Sideswipe murmurs softly. Optimus raises an optic ridge. he reaches out and runs a finger down the sparklings back gently.

"little one, are you alright?" Optimus asks. the sparkling remains unmoving.

"think its a trick? we all turn our backs and he's gone?" Jazz ask, curiously.

"no way. he just... I sat him on the floor and he just sat there... but he didn't even move. not even when I left the door open and turned around. I gave him an opporunity and... he just sit there." Sideswipe sighs. "the little one just... the first time I ever get to watch him and he gets sick." Sideswipe murmurs.

"don't get upset Sides." Jazz murmurs.

"do not worry Sideswipe. I'm sure he is alright. maybe he's just tired. have you tried to put him down for a stasis nap?" Optimus ask.

"he wouldn't fall into stasis." Sideswipe sighs. "I'm gonna have to take him to Ratchet aren't I?" Sideswipe ask. Optimus frowns.

"I'm sorry, but I believe you're correct. a sparkling this young and who had been in his previous position, doesn't need to get a virus or anything." Optimus frowns. Sideswipe nods, scooping him up gently.

"okay, come on the sparkling." he murmurs, carrying him off.

Sideswipe hates that he has to carry the sparkling into the medbay, especially when he can hear the two bots inside arguing. they immediately cut themselves off when he pushes the doors open.

"what are you doing?" Ratchet snaps. Sideswipe sighs.

"somethings wrong with the sparkling." he murmurs. Ratchet immediately turns and walks over.

"what do you mean?" Ratchet frowns.

"I mean... he's just acting weird." Sideswipe says, setting the sparkling down. he still has the same blank look on his face, even when Ratchet waves a servo in front of his face.

"hey little one." Ratchet frowns, crouching to get in front of his faceplates. "hey, kiddo, you alright?" Ratchet asks. the sparkling shutters his optics in a mimic blink before looking at Ratchet. "hey there, whats up sparkling?" Ratchet asks, picking him up.

"go on Sides, we'll keep him." Wheeljack assures gently. the red twin nods a little and leaves quietly. Ratchet shifts him into the crook of his arm gently.

"hey there, little one. are you alright?" Ratchet ask. the sparkling stays silent. "okay I'm going to run a couple tests on you sparkling, it'll be alright." Ratchet murmurs.

"Ratch, I really believe that we should give Optimus' idea a-" Wheeljack starts.

"no Jack." Ratchet snaps. "I won't discuss this in front of the sparkling, but if you really want a break from the sparkling, you're free to leave at anytime. I'm keeping him." Ratchet snaps. he walks off with the sparkling cradled in his arm gently.

"Ratch, I'm just saying it might do us some good for just a few days." Wheeljack argues.

"like I said, you're welcome to leave." Ratchet snaps.

"excuse me? we've been together for thousands of years and you're just-" Wheeljack starts.

"either shut up and help me or shut up and leave. either way shut the frag up, I'm busy." Ratchet snaps. Wheeljack stares at his back for a few minutes before huffing and storming out of the medbay. its quiet in the medbay for a few minutes. "sorry about that sparkling. I can't believe that... that.... that glitchhead! would actually suggest agreeing with the Prime like that." Ratchet sighs.

the sparkling stay silent, but does meet the medics optics. the stare at each other a moment before the medbay doors open. Ratchet looks over and Jazz is standing there, leaned against the doorway.

"hey Ratch, hows the sparklin'?" Jazz ask. Ratchet frowns, looking back down at the sparkling.

"perfectly fine. he's healthy. can't find a thing wrong with him." Ratchet frowns.

"maybe he can feel the tension between you an Jack? look Ratch, Optimus told me what he said t' ya an I think it might be a good idea. jus' for a few days. y'need a break. I'll take the sparklin' for a day or two. jus' so y'can get some rest, 'kay? m'sure with a little rest, you an Jack'll be fine, alright?" Jazz ask. Ratchet frowns immediately.

"do you really think that'd be good for the sparkling though? sure it might do me and Jack some good, but what about the sparkling?" Ratchet ask. Jazz shrugs.

"it'll be like... whats it called... like a sleepover! yeah. he'll stay with me a few days jus' so ya guys get a break, then, I'll bring him back." Jazz assures. Ratchet holds tighter to the sparkling before shaking his head.

"fine just a night or two so I can get a little rest." Ratchet murmurs. he sighs and hands over the sparkling carefully. its only once he hands the sparkling over to Jazz, that he shifts and looks at Ratchet. "just for a few days." Ratchet assures, patting the sparklings head gently. the little bot immediately leans into Ratchets servo, before leaning back against Jazz.

"a few days. right."

chirp.

he doubts its true but he supposes since Jazz offered to take him that it could be worse. at least they didn't have to try and find someone to take him.

"alright go before I chance my mind." Ratchet mutters, waving Jazz off. the second in command turns and leaves with him. the sparkling is immediately quiet and sags into Jazz' arms.

"s'okay lil man, Uncle Jazz to the rescue." Jazz grins. Will sighs quietly. "don't worry sparkling, Ratchet just needs some stasis, I doubt he'll leave you for more than a day or two." Jazz assures gently. the sparkling sighs again. "what if we go outside for a bit?" Jazz ask.

"I don't want to."

twitter.

"yeah lets go." Jazz smiles, heading outside. its bright and sunny outside and the Porsche carries the sparkling out to the firing range. Ironhides already out there so Jazz immediately frowns. he's no longer sure what he's going to do with the sparkling. he doesn't want to cause a fight with Ironhide, but he doesn't want ot just keep the sparkling inside thinking about Ratchet and Wheeljack. Jazz walks over, carefully setting the sparkling between his feet as he gets ready to start firing.

"what the frag are you doing with him?" Ironhide grumbles, staring down range. Jazz looks over hesitantly.

"uh, well, Ratchet and Wheeljack are fighting really bad.... Optimus told Ratchet to think about giving him up to someone else. Ratceht disagreed but apparently Jack agreed, so he's gonna stay with me for a few days..." Jazz explains. Ironhide turns to look at him.

"what?" he asks.

"yeah..." Jazz frowns, patting the sparklings head. Ironhide immediately turns and scoops up the sparkling, who cuddles into him.

"so what they left him with you?" Ironhide frowns.

"I volunteered to keep him, but I'm not sure what to do with him. he's... he understands whats going on here and he doesn't like it." Jazz frowns.

"clearly he doesn't like it." Ironhide huffs, cuddling the sparkling gently.

"obviously! he's a sparkling! not an idiot! he gets it his caregivers are fighting and one clearly doesn't want to keep him." Ironhide growls, gently rubbing the sparklings cheek. "you can come get him later. for now, he'll be with me." Ironhide says firmly. he turns and walks off with the sparkling. "come on little one. Jazz is too happy to be around." Ironhide mutters.

"I agree."

chirp.

Ironhide nods once.

"come on, we'll go to the rec room." Ironhide says, carrying the sparkling inside. "but no escape tricks, got it?" Ironhide ask. the sparkling drops his head against Ironhdies chestplate. "good." Ironhide nods once. he heads inside and heads to the Autobot rec room.

"hey Hide! wanna play poker with us?" Sunstreaker calls over to him. Ironhide looks over.

"yeah sure, but I've got the sparkling with me." Ironhide says.

"thats fine. come join us." Hound says, pulling a chair up for Ironhide.

"yeah. he's just a little sparkling. he won't really cause any trouble." Drift snorts. Hot Rod nods in agreement.

"alright." Ironhide murmurs, carrying the sparkling over. he sits down, settling the little bot on his lap. "don't be causing problems for me while I play now." Ironhide says, patting the bots head.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Sideswipe assures. they deal Ironhide in immediately and Will squirms to see the cards.

"stop it, you're gonna fall. if you want to see I'll bring the cards down here." Ironhide snorts, moving the cards so the sparkling could see. Will immediately settles into his lap, looking at the over sized cards. "now be good squirt." Ironhide says. Will cuddles back into him silently.

the sparkling is still unusually quiet and, despite the game, the other bots immediately notice. they attempt to get him laughing or at least babbling but the sparklings stubborn.

"oh come on little one, you have to smile eventually." Sunstreaker frowns, leaning over to rub the sparklings cheek. Will pulls away from him, shooting him a nasty look. "oooh, dirty little looks." Sunstreaker snorts.

"come here squirt." Sideswipe murmurs, taking him from Ironhides lap. the sparkling immediately screams.

"leave him alone! he was fine with me!" Ironhide shouts, snatching him back. Will gets quiet and cuddles to him, glaring at Sideswipe. he whines and cuddles into Ironhide. Ironhide gently rubs the sparklings cheek before gently holding him. "do not worry sparkling. I have you." Ironhide assures gently. the sparkling sniffles and cuddles into him whining.

"wow Sides, what the hell? he was over there all nice and quiet for once." Drift glares. Jazz appears beside the black mech.

"alright alright. you guys knock it off. come on sparkling. come here." Jazz murmurs, reaching for him. the sparkling shoots him a dirty look, but it changes the moment Jazz holds out a cube. "I have food for you." Jazz smiles. he shoots the second in command a dirty look but reaches for him. "I'll give you back. I just have to make sure I feed you." Jazz assures gently. the sparkling settles into his arm silently, drinking down the cube, he hadn't been fed in a few hours.

the sparklings attempts to stay awake, fail. they almost always fail once he's been fed. Jazz doesn't bother to wake him. he hands the sparkling back over to Ironhide, like promised, but the sparkling sleeps until the games over so Ironhide returns him to Jazz.

Jazz just hopes the sparkling will sleep through the night, he doesn't want to wake up to an upset sparkling. he decides, since its late, its best to go a head and join the sparkling, so he lays Will down gently beside him.

Will shifts a little, curled up beside Jazz, and yawns. he usually doesn't wake fron the middle of a stasis cycle, but something woke him. he looks around and nearly jumps seeing someone reaching for him. he shifts immediately, ready to scream, but he's stopped by a voice.

"don't panic sparkling." Ratchet mutters, scooping him up carefully. Jazz doesn't even shift, so Ratchet cradles the sparkling.

"Ratchet?"

chirp?

"I'm sorry I woke you, but this wasn't working." Ratchet murmurs, carrying him down the hallway. he blinks up at the mech, before cuddling to him silently. "I just couldn't leave you, I couldn't do you like that." Ratchet frowns. "you deserve so much better than that and I'm sorry I allowed them to talk me into this. I knew it was a bad idea, a terrible idea." he adds, walking into the medbay. he lays onto one of the berths, laying the sparkling on his chest plates. "rest sparkling." Ratchet murmurs. Will stays silent, curling up. Ratchet had literally come to get him, he couldn't forget that.

unfortunately for Ratchet, the sparkling had gone to bed way too early and woke just as early the next morning. he tries to stay as still and quiet as possible for as long as possible. he only makes it about three hours, almost 6 AM before he can't take it any longer. for some reason the silence is driving him crazy. he's about to wake up Ratchet when he hears someone enter the room.

"wha- sparkling?" Wheeljack asks, looking confused. he walks over and moves to scoop him up, but the sparkling shoots him the nastiest loo, before giving an angry squeal, clinging onto Ratchets chestplate. like hell he was going to let the bot who wanted to give him away hold him. "come here sparkling, you're going to wake him up." Wheeljack frowns. the sparkling snaps at his servo, ready to bite him, something he'd figured out could and would hurt the others if he wanted to. Wheeljack pulls back quickly. he'd been the first bot to find out Will would bite. "don't snap at me." Wheeljack frowns.

"then leave him the hell alone Jack." Ratchet snaps, shifting. he reaches up and holds the sparkling gently, as if to protect him. "frag off. he has every right to be pissed at both you and Prime." Ratchet snaps, sitting up slowly. the sparkling shifts and glares at Wheeljack. "come on sparkling, let get you a cube." Ratchet murmurs, getting up. he grabs the sparkling a cube and heads for the rec room. Wheeljack can feel he's annoyed and decides to stay in the medbay.

"shit thank Primus you have him." Jazz says, looking relieved as he runs over to Ratchet.

"I came and got him last night." Ratchet murmurs. the sparkling cuddles to Ratchet silently, sucking the cube down. the medic grabs himself a cube and sits down to sip it quietly. "don't suck that down too fast, do you want to choke again?" Ratchet frowns. the sparkling growls quietly, but cuddles him. he's greatful that Ratchet came back for him.

"is he okay? did he get hurt or anything?" Jazz asks, looking at the sparkling.

"no. Wheeljack and I continued to argue and he went into stasis. I went after the sparkling, you were in stasis, so I just took him with me, you didn't even notice. I didn't think to leave you a note or anything, sorry." Ratchet explains.

"no its okay. I'm glad he's okay. I really am. I was afraid he'd wondered off. I've been looking for him for almost two hours." Jazz says, patting the sparklings head gently. Wills not anrgy at Jazz, he can't be. the bot literally volunteered to keep him until Ratchet and Wheeljack took him back. "glad you're okay cutie. I wouldn't forgive myself if you got hurt." Jazz murmurs. Will leans his head into Jazz' servo gently

"he's alright Jazz. I promise. I'm sorry I didn't leave you a note." Ratchet frowns.

"no its okay. I'm glad you came back for him." Jazz smiles a little before walking off. the sparkling continues to suck his cube down until he hiccups, something he didn't even know Cybertronians could do.

"uh oh." Ratchet laughs at him. the sparkling hiccups again, before glaring at Ratchet for laughing at him. "okay take it easy sparkling." Ratchet soothes. he gently rubs the sparklings throat pipes. the sparkling continues to hiccup for another minute or so, but then they're gone. "see? its alright." Ratchet snorts. Will turns his head away from the cube when its offered back to him. "alright squirt, I'm putting you on the floor so I can drink the rest of my cube." Ratchet says, shifting the sparkling.

"sounds good to me."

chirp.

Ratchet puts him on the floor carefully, before leaning back to drink his cube. he keeps his optics on the sparkling though. the sparkling wastes no time pulling himself up with Ratchets leg armor. he's been working on walking for a while now, running would be so much easier than crawling, no matter how fast at crawling he was.

"don't you dare fall." Ratchet warns.

"I don't have any intentions of falling, but thanks."

chirp twitter.

Ratchet nods and smiles a little, sipping his cube.

"if you're gonna start working, don't you dare take off running, I won't be happy if I have to chase you." Ratchet frowns. the sparkling shakes his head laughing. Ratchet sits back a little.

"hey is he walking?" Sideswipe asks, walking over with a grin.

"not yet, but I think the squirts getting close. we're going to have name him soon. he should start showing abilities pretty shortly." Ratchet says, carefully watching his sparkling. the little bot doesn't attempt to take a step, he bounces happily, holding tightly to Ratchets leg armor. Ratchet just smiles at him.