t takes a week for the base to feel better, especially Reflect. he's still sluggish and tired, but he's getting around the base again and his antivirus has finally been uploaded. its only almost 4AM and he's already up running around.

he walks into the rec room looking around.

"hey Reflect! you feeling better?" Bumblebee smiles. Reflect nods at him, stretching.

"what'cha doing?" Sam smiles.

"looking." he mumbles.

"for?" Sam ask. Reflect turns to face him.

"marker." Reflect frowns.

"oh those are on a shelf over there. I'll get them down." Bumblebee smiles. Reflect nods at him, walking after him.

"okay." Reflect says.

"what are you going to draw?" Sam ask.

"a picture." he says. takes the markers and paper when Bumblebee sets them down and starts drawing. Sam watches him. he only draws for a few minutes before getting up with his drawing and running off.

he's not paying any attention and slams straight into Ironhides leg as he rounds a corner. it startles them both, knocking the sparkling over. he whines, rubbing his face with a pout, before looking up.

"Reflect? you alright?" Ironhide ask. Reflect looks up at him and grins.

"hi Ironhide! I'm okay!" he grins, getting up. he runs around Ironhide and back towards the medbay.

"alright, bye." Ironhide snorts. he shakes his head amused and keeps on his way.

he runs full speed into the medbay.

"Jack!" Reflect shouts, looking around. Ratchets sitting on his work bench, a data pad in his servo.

"Wheeljacks in the lab kiddo, whats up?" Ratchet ask, looking over at him. he runs over to Ratchets work bench, climbing up and holding out his drawing.

"see Bari!" Reflect shouts. Ratchet raises an optic ridge.

"Barricade? no. sorry kiddo. he's a bad guy we don't visit him." Ratchet frowns. "and don't even think about teleporting to him." Ratchet frowns in warning. Reflect waves the drawing in Ratchets face. "thats very nice but the answer is no." Ratchet says firmly.

"see Bari!" Reflect repeats.

"no little one." Ratchet frowns. Reflect huffs, jumping off the bench and storming off. he wants to see Barricade, he'll find someone to take him.

the entire rec room watches him run full speed past the rec room and towards the range.

"Ironhide!!" Reflect shouts. he skids to a stop and turns back to the rec room, walking in. he grins immediately. "Bumblebee." Reflect grins, bouncing over.

"I don't like that." Sam frowns. Bumblebee snorts, crouching down. Reflect grins up at him happily.

"yes little one?" Bumblebee ask.

"need see Bari. Bumblebee take?" Reflect ask. Bumblebee looks confused.

"Bari?" Bumblebee ask. he nods once, waving his drawing at Bumblebee. the scout immediately recognizes Frenzy and Barricade on the drawing. "oh... you, you mean Barricade? you want to go see Barricade? I think not. Ratchet would have my head." Bumblebee says. Reflect frowns at him and huffs, waving the drawing angrily.

"need see Bari!" Reflect grumbles, turning to run.

"wait, wait." Bumblebee says quickly. "I can't take you to see Barricade, but would you like to ride with me when I take Sam to school? you'll have to use your holoform, but you can ride with us." Bumblebee assures.

"no, need see Bari." Reflect huffs.

"well, I can't take you to see him, but if we happen to see him on the way there or back, you can give him your drawing, okay?" Bumblebee ask. the sparkling seems to think it over.

"I go." Reflect agrees. Bumblebee smiles and nods.

"come on, we were just about to leave anyway." he chuckles. Reflect nods and follows the two outside. Bumblebee scoops the sparkling up and transforms around him, before opening the door and letting Sam in the passenger seat. "okay little one, you can lay in the floorboards and activate your holoform alright?" Bumblebee ask.

"okay! see Bari right?" Reflect asks.

"we're going to try, but first we're taking Sam to school. okay?" Bumblebee ask.

"okay." Reflect agrees, holoform appearing in the back seat. he looks out the window happily.

"you're such a happy little guy." Sam smiles, settling into the front seat. Bumblebees holoform smiles.

"he always is. little ray of sunshine in a war." Bumblebee murmurs. he smiles back at the sparkling. Reflect is giggling and looking out the window.

"Bumblebee. do you have my sparkling?"

Ratchets voice growls over the Scouts speakers. Reflect immediately looks at the radioo sheepishly.

"uh.. yeah. he ask if I could take him with me and Sam. I'm taking Sam to school. we''ve already left, I just assumed you'd be okay with it..."

"in trouble?" Reflect asks, hesitantly.

"maybe a little, but it's alright." Bumblebee assures.

"are you fragging kidding me? he convinced you to take him to see Barricade didn't he? I told him no!"

Reflect whines quietly, curling up.

"Barricade? what the heck are you talking about? he was running around and I ask if he wanted to come with me to take Sam to school. I figured he could use the trip. he's up awful early, maybe he'll sleep on the way back!"

"don't worry Reflect I've got us covered." Bumblebee assures.

"you're terrible at lying scout."

Bumblebee frowns.

"am I really?" Bumblebee asks, looking over at Sam.

"kinda..." Sam admits, looking away.

"damn it." Bumblebee grumbles.

"okay yes, he ask me to take him to see Barricade, but I told him no. you can ask Hound, he was in the rec room. he heard me tell him no. I'm taking Sam to school and-"

"Bumblebee watch out!" Sam shouts clinging to the door. the Camaro immediately slams on his breaks. the sparkling in the back screams, face slamming into the back of Sams seat.

"shit! you two okay?" Bumblebee ask. Reflect whines and looks up front.

"I'm okay." Sam mutters, rubbing his head. "hit my head on your window though, Reflect you alright?" Sam ask.

"Reflect okay." he assures, but he looks scared.

"Bumblebee? what happened?"

"we're okay, sorry. a couple of humans got into a wreck and we managed to miss joining the accident, but just barely."

the scout backs up enough to get away from the accident.

"I think you're going to be late for school..." Bumblebee frowns.

"is that Barricade?" Sam asks, pointing. Bumblebee and Reflect immediately look to where he's pointing.

"Bari? Bari where!?" Reflect ask, jumping up in the seat. "Bari! that Bari! need see Bari! let out!" Reflect shouts, bouncing. Bumblebee and Sam ignores him.

"yeah that is him, what the heck is he doing here?" Bumblebee mutters.

"probably patrolling." Sam mumbles.

"everyone alright?"

"yeah, we're fine. just a little stuck in traffic."

"go see Bari!" Reflect shouts, moving to get out.

"hold on Reflect. let me see if I can get closer to him." Bumblebee says, carefully driving around the wreckage.

"Barricade?"

"Bumblebee? what the hell do you want? I'm not doing shit. over here minding my own business. get the frag away from me Autobot scum. I had nothing to do with this stupid accident."

Bumblebee huffs annoyed, holoform flipping the cop off.

"I have Reflect. he wants to see you. is he good to approach with his holoform?"

"the sparkling? yes. of course. always."

"okay come on sparkling." Bumblebee smiles. his holoform gets out and reaches for Reflect, but the sparkling crawls out of the car and runs past him to Barricade. he slams into the driver side door, before beating on it with his hand. Bumblebee's holoform quickly follows.

"Bari! open door! open door!!" Reflect shouts. the door opens, pushing the sparkling away carefully. Sam huffs in the Camaro, remembering how hard Barricade had hit him with the door when they first met. the seatbelt around him tightens gently, Bumblebee is slightly amused.

"hang on." Barricade grumbles, his holoform getting out of the drivers side. he scoops Reflects holoform up gently and holds him. "what the hell are you doing out here with him?" Barricade frowns.

"Bari!" Reflect grins, hugging him happily. Barricade smiles at him a little.

"well, I was gonna take Sam to school, then we were going to find you, he wanted to see you." Bumblebee shrugs.

"Bari! where Fren?" Reflect asks, looking around in his front seat. Barricade looks confused, carefully holding up the sparkling.

"Fren?" Barricade ask.

"Frenzy." Bumblebee mumbles. Barricade looks shocked.

"oh, uh, he's in the glove box. he doesn't have a holoform and he's too annoying to let out." Barricade shrugs at him. Reflect squirms trying to get down. Barricade puts him down and watches him climb into his drivers seat. "hey don't get in there. come on Reflect get out of there." Barricade frowns.

"give Fren." Reflect says, climbing over Barricades console. the sparkling nearly falls face first into the floor board, but he catches him self, then reaches for the glovebox.

"don't open the glove box, Frenzy will come shooting out and hurt you." Barricade warns. Reflect looks a little hesitant, before laying the drawing in Barricades seat, along with another folded up drawing Bumblebee hadn't seen before. he turns and climbs back over the console, before reaching for Barricade. the holoform frowns, but scoops him up and holds him.

"come on little one, we have to get Sam to school. I've found a way around this mess." Bumblebee assures. Reflect shoots him a nasty glare, hugging Barricades neck.

"no!" Reflect glares.

"oh come on, I'll bring you back, I promise, I just need to get Sam to school." Bumblebee says.

"no! stay with Bari!" Reflect growls. Bumblebee sighs, his holoform looking a little defeated.

"Ratchets gonna kill me." Bumblebee mutters. "come on Reflect." Bumblebee murmurs.

"you should go little one. I have to go as well." Barricade assures.

"stay with Bari." Reflect mumbles, dropping his head on the holoforms shoulder. Barricade shifts him gently.

"Barricade will you be in town today?" Bumblebee asks. Barricade frowns.

"I'm meant to head back to the base actually." Barricade grumbles.

"hey look, Barricades tired. he needs to go home and get some stasis. I'll bring you to see him another time okay?" Bumblebee ask, holding his arms out for the boy. Reflect looks annoyed at the scout, before looking at Barricade.

"I'll meet up with you again, after some stasis." Barricade assures.

"fine." Reflect mumbles, reaching for Bumblebee.

"see, you'll see him again. now we have to go." Bumblebee murmurs, carrying him back over to his alt. he puts the boy in the back seat before climbing in. "I'll make plans to meet up with you again with Reflect." Bumblebee assures, before backing away from the scene.

he drives away from the accident carefully.

"did the accident clear up yet?"

"no, but I manage to find a way around it, hopefully."

"be careful then."

"we will."

Bumblebee speeds around as fast as he can. he's got 20 minutes to get Sam to school, 45 minutes away. Sam doesn't seem worried, he's not. the Military always steps in to get his late or absentee days at school excused.

"so you're going to meet up with Barricade later to let him see Reflect." Sam ask.

"yeah." Bumblebee shrugs.

"you're going to meet up with a Decepticon?" Sam ask.

"just for Reflect. besides Barricade and I have a sort of understanding." Bumblebee shrugs.

"any understanding?" Sam ask. Bumblebee frowns a little, his holoform looking away from Sam to stare at the road for a few minutes.

"Barricade and I used to be friends. even during the war, once we got older he changed. I didn't, besides I can beat his ass, no problem." Bumblebee shrugs. "besides... Barricade saved my life when I was a sparkling." Bumblebee adds. Sam nods a little.

"okay." Sam shrugs a little.

"I know Barricade anyway." Bumblebee says. "he might hurt me and he might try to hurt you, but I know he'd never hurt Reflect." Bumblebee murmurs.

"how can you be sure of that?" Sam ask.

"because I just know Sam. he'd never hurt a sparkling. I know he wouldn't. I can trust him on one thing and one thing only, that he'd never harm Reflect. ever." Bumblebee assures. he looks back at the sparkling, who shoots him a dirty look. "your cranky, you need a nap." Bumblebee chuckles.

"stupid." Reflect glares.

"thats not nice Reflect." Sam frowns.

"leave him alone Sam. he's still not feeling good and he's tired a lot. he's still a little sick, plus he's Ratchets sparkling. he's gonna get grumpy and snippy." Bumblebee chuckles softly.

"slagger!" Reflect snaps.

"shhh little one. maybe its time for a nap." Bumblebee murmurs.

"no!" Reflect glares, kicking the seat in front of him.

"stop it." Bumblebee frowns. he pulls up to the school and stops, opening the door for Sam to get out. "bye Sam, see you after school." Bumblebee smiles.

"bye Bee, bye-bye Reflect." Sam smiles waving.Reflect glares at him.

"stupid slagger." Reflect glares. Sam frowns and nods a little.

"alright, then, thanks." Sam mutters. he walks away, letting Bumblebee close the door and drive off.

"Reflect, little one, pelase. just stop." Bumblebee murmurs.

"no! want Ironhide!" Reflect glares.

"Ironhide is at the base, we're going back now." Bumblebee assures.

"no! Bari!" Reflect frowns.

"Barricade went back to his home for a nap Reflect. we'll see him when he wakes up alright?" Bumblebee ask. Reflect huffs.

"Ironhide can you meet me on the way back to the base? Reflects throwing a tantrum and I'm not sure I can drive back with him safely."

"what? Bumblebee he's not supposed to be off base yet. where are you?"

"I took him with me to take Sam to school and we bumped into Barricade at a wreck and he's been throwing a tantum ever since because I wouldn't let him stay with Barricade. can you please meet me to get him?"

"yeah, I'm on my way. send me your coordinates."

Bumblebee does so immediately, before parking to wait for the mech.

it only takes Ironhide 30 minutes to get to them. Reflect immediately shuts his holoform off, getting up to see Ironhide. Bumblebee transforms carefully, holding the sparkling to his chest plates.

"Ironhide! thank Primus. he's driving me crazy." Bumblebee mutters. Ironhide transforms and takes the sparkling.

"is that true Reflect?" Ironhide ask. the sparkling shoots him the nastiest look. "well, it is almost 10AM. how long were you stuck at that accident?" Ironhide ask. Bumblebee looks confused. "Ratchet told me." Ironhide shrugs.

"well, about an hour, but the detour was almost an hour too, and I had to take it on the way back out of the town too." Bumblebee says.

"he's been up since 3AM. he's probably tired." Ironhide says, shifting the sparkling. "right Reflect? you need a nap." Ironhide murmurs softly. he transforms around him carefully. "go on scout, I've got him." he assures. Bumblebee nods and transforms, speeding off.

"want Bari." Reflect mumbles.

"I will find out where he is later alright? but for now, how about we go back to the base and get you a cube?" Ironhide asks.

"no! stupid! no want cube! want Bari!" Reflect glares. Ironhide huffs.

"you always were stubborn." Ironhide mutters under his breath. Will is more stubborn now then ever before, but he knows the sparkling needs a nap. it feels weird to know the sparkling is his bonded. he can feel it, the sparklings just tired. "its alright Reflect come on. y'know, Will used to get super cranky like a sparkling when he got tired too, well sometimes. he was a soldier and would only try to get cranky with me instead of everyone else. he knew I loved him and could handle it. I can handle you too." Ironhide assures, turning on the radio.he searches through the stations.

"no want nap. no want cube. want Bari!" Reflect shouts.

"mmhmm. and you know what I want?" Ironhide ask.

"what Ironhide want?" Reflect huffs.

"you to take a nap, guess whose going to win sparkling." Ironhide snorts.

"ME!" Reflect screams. "stupid! want Bari!" Reflect shouts.

"yeah but you need a nap." Ironhide chuckles.

"Ironhide slagger! don't want nap!" Reflect glares.

"you keep talking to me like that and I'm going to make you walk back to the base." Ironhide warns. Reflect makes a dirty face at the dash.

"Reflect walk to Bari! no walk to base! stupid base! stupid cube! stupid Bumblebee! stupid Ironhide!" Reflect snaps.

"alright I warned you." Ironhide shrugs. he transforms and carefully drops the sparkling into the sand. "alright squirt, this is called tough love, bye." Ironhide snorts, transforming and driving off. Reflect watches him go, blowing a raspberry and kicking sand after him. Ironhides almost amused, the sparklings actions remind him a lot of when Will was in a bad mood, but it doesn't stop him from driving a little ways away. just far enough to get out of the sparklings line of sight, but now far enough for him to get hurt or anything.

"stupid Ironhide! no need Ironhide!" Reflect screams. he stomps his way through the sand, towards the direction Ironhide had driven off too. thankfully its cooler today, winter would be coming soon, so he's not in danger of over heating too quickly.

it only takes five minutes or so for the sparkling to look up and look around. no Ironhide in sight, the mech had actually left him. that gave him a sick and unfamiliar feeling, that quickly turned to fear. he stops walking and stares into the distance, shoulders falling. the little sparkling almost looks ready to sob. had Ironhide actually left him?

Ironhide can feel it all. the over bearing rage slowly getting drown out with anxiety and then an overwhelming wave of fear, then the other side of his bond goes blank. a quick scan shows the sparkling hasn't moved. still standing and facing his direction. he has no real intention of making the sparkling walk the 5 miles back to base, but the sparkling didn't need to know that. he'll go back once the sparkling has cooled off and is ready to nap.

Reflect stares out into the sand, looking lost. he stays that way for nearly 15 minutes, actually scaring Ironhide into thinking the sparkling had been injured, before he starts walking again. he's too tired to drive and hasn't had a cube in almost eight hours, so he couldn't transform if he wanted too. he walks, the air changing around him a little. Ironhide had never been like this to him before, even when he got snippy and angry. even when he'd kicked or cursed him or even bit him. the mech had never just, abandoned him somewhere.

Ironhides beginning to worry after a bit, but scans show the sparkling is making his way towards him, the bond is unblocked, filled with unbridled rage thats masking an ever growing wave of fear again. with the rage filling the sparklings systems once more, it only takes another five minutes until Ironhide can see him. he's relieved, but the sparkling doesn't mirror his emotions.

Reflect doesn't look happy or relieved to see Ironhide. he doesn't even look angry. its almost as if he doesn't even notice the mech. Ironhdie had expected him to look scared or angry, maybe even a little happy to see him, but the sparklings face is blank. he doesn't walk up to Ironhide like he'd expected, but straight past the mech. so the sparkling could take this punishment. Ironhide was impressed. Reflect seemed determined to walk. he carefully pulls up beside the sparkling.

"done with your tantrum?" Ironhide ask. the sparkling doesn't answer, he just keeps walking. "Reflect?" Ironhide ask.

"go away. don't need Ironhide." Reflect mutters. the lack of emotion behind the sparklings answer startles the bigger mech.

"what?" Ironhide ask.

"Reflect walk to base, don't need Ironhide. Ironhide go away." Reflect mumbles. now Ironhides worried, watching the mechling. its not until the sparkling walks past him that he remembers something. Will said he got to keep some memories as a sparkling. surely the Primes wouldn't let him keep memories of his awful human childhood. surely not. Ironhide can't take the chance.

he didn't mean to hurt the sparkling. he just thought if he cooled off he'd take a nap.

Ironhide transforms immediately, scooping the sparkling up.

"put down, Reflect walk." the sparkling mutters.

"no, you're not walking. you're listening to me, got it?" Ironhide ask. Reflect looks up at him. "I'm going to drive us back to the base. okay? this wasn't meant to be a long term punishment. I don't want you hating me. I just wanted you to walk off your anger okay? I wouldn't leave you out here alone. I'd never do that. I was just out of sight. okay?" Ironhide ask.

"Reflect walk." he mutters again. Ironhide shakes his hed, transforming around the sparkling carefully. how could he have been so stupid? he hadn't wanted to hurt the sparkling at all. he'd just wanted him to calm down. he'd done the same thing with Will a few times and it had always helped him. maybe him knowing the sparkling was Will, was a bad thing after all. "Reflect not want Ironhide. Ironhide not want Reflect. Ironhide abandon Reflect." Reflect mumbles.

"I didn't abandon you. I drove out of your sight and didn't move until I saw you again alright? I wasn't going to leave you out there and make you walk all the way back to the base." Ironhide assures.

"want Ratchet." Reflect mumbles, curling up.

"okay, I'll take you back to Ratchet." Ironhide assures.

"no! Reflect want Ratchet! want Ratchet now! don't want Ironhide! Reflect wants Ratchet!" Reflect shouts. Ironhide frowns a little. this isn't what he wanted to happen. this isn't how he thought everything would go.

"Ratchet. I need you to come get the sparkling. we're five miles from the base."

"what? but Bumblebee said you went after him."

"long story. he threw a tantrum so I told him he was going to walk to the base. I let him out. I was only out of his sight for a few minutes. I messed up, alright? now can you come get him before he starts crying in my backseat?"

its quiet a moment.

"don't move. I'm on my way you fragging idiot."

Ironhide sighs, but agrees with the medic, he is an idiot.

"Ratchets on his way." Ironhide assures.

"want out." Reflect mumbles.

"I think its best you stayed with me, until Ratchet gets here." Ironhide says.

"Ironhide not stay with me!" Reflect snaps. "Reflect want out." he repeats. Ironhide frowns a little and transforms, holding the sparkling in his servo.

"okay, see? Reflect is out." Ironhide murmurs.

"want down." Reflect says. Ironhide sighs and crouches, putting him down. Reflect immediately sits in the sand, hugging his knees and watching the distance for Ratchet. the moment the ambulance appears, Reflect jumps up and runs towards it.

"Reflect no!" Ironhide shouts, grabbing him quickly to keep Ratchet from accidentally hitting him. Ratchet transforms, walking closer, and Reflect squirms free.

"let go! Ratchet!" Reflect shouts. Ironhide lets him go, watching him run over to Ratchet, sobbing. the medic immediately kneels down, wrapping his arms around him tightly. the medic holds him carefully a minute before standing up with the sparkling.

"hey its alright. its okay Reflect. come on." Ratchet murmurs, transforming around him. Reflect curls up in his seat, sniffling. "tell me what happened Reflect, what happened with Ironhide?" Ratchet ask.

"Ironhide leave! Ironhide not stay with Reflect!" Reflect shouts.

"yeah? thats okay. its okay. I'm not going to leave you." Ratchet assures gently. Reflect sniffles and cuddles into his seat. "hold on sparkling." Ratchet murmurs, activating his holoform. "come here, sit with me." Ratchet murmurs. Refelct activates his holoform quickly and climbs into Ratchets lap, cuddling to him. "its okay Reflect its alright. don't hate Ironhide. he's having a hard time, sometimes he just misses Will really bad and gets upset. he didn't mean to be so harsh with you." Ratchet assures gently. Reflect whines quietly, cuddling up to him.