Ensconce Transformers Prime AU (Book 2) (Wattys 2017)

Chapter Twelve

Jazz found it hard to actually teach Strongarm to relax. She was so tense and stiff, just like her teacher Magnus. Jazz sighed forcefully and looked at Bumblebee as they filled out a few things. His friend raised an eyebrow in confusion as to what was wrong. The other looked at her, she was working on some studying. Bumblebee watched her quietly and furrowed his brow. He stood up and closed her book then pulled it away.

"Alright out to the car." He muttered and gave her the book back.

"But sir.... Magnus said I wasn't ready for the field." She said as she stood up.

"Did you complete the academy?" Jazz asked as he stood as well.

"Yes sir." She said seriously and furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Did Chief Burns say you finished what you needed with the other two?" Bumblebee asked and folded his arms.

"Yes sir... he said to train with you two now." She said and watched them.

"Then you're ready." Bee said as he grinned happily and grabbed his things.

"Come on Rookie." Jazz teased as he pulled her cap down over her eyes. She frowned then smiled a little and followed them to the squad car.

They spent the rest of the day teaching her little secrets they learned while being in the field. Things to do or say, places to go and shortcuts. She smiled a little as she listened to them joke with each other. She felt a little more comfortable around them, as if they didn't expect as much from her. A few hours went by and she was getting the hang of things. They got a call for some gangs causing trouble at a shop. Jazz and Bumblebee looked at each other than at her.

"You ready for some action?" Jazz asked as he smiled slightly.

"Yes sir." She said as her eyes glowed with excitement. They grinned happily at each other then got out as they pulled up to the shop.

They walked in and spoke with the people for awhile. She frowned as she watched them work and took notes. She continued to simply observe them the whole day. As time passed she became more quiet and seemed more irritated with them. Bumblebee frowned deeply and finally found a place to pull over. He turned off the car and looked at her as he thought.

"Alright what's wrong?" Jazz asked as he frowned and folded his arms. Bumblebee gave him a look and watched her take out her notebook.

She glared at them and opened it as she searched for something. The car was silent for a while before she suddenly started to chew them out. She was angry that they didn't follow the book as instructed. She chewed them out for thirty minutes before finally stopping. She huffed angrily and flopped against the chair as she folded her arms. The two young cops stared at her blankly then looked at each other.

"Wow." Jazz said and blinked a couple times. "I mean.... wow." He scoffed and folded his arms. Bumblebee looked at her with a blank expression.

"Real situations are different than the book. No one out here follows our study books or knows them." He said seriously. She glared darkly out the window as she thought about her training.

"We can still follow them exactly. I can't believe you..." she trailed off and fought back tears. The car was silent for a while and Jazz furrowed his brow. He recognized that look, it was the same one he gave Barricade.

"Bumblebee... is your idol." He muttered and looked at his friend. "That's why you're so upset." He said quietly. They were silent again and Bumblebee stared at the steering wheel as he thought. He didn't know what to think.

"Strongarm.... it's important that-" He was cut off as the radio asked for them to answer a call.

"Are you in any condition to go?" Jazz asked her gently. She looked at him and nodded slowly but didn't say anything.

They weren't sure what else to do and went to the bank. Someone was robbing it and there were a few hostages. A few cops were already there trying to reason with the men. Strongarm watched all the cops and wrote a few things down.

"Hey you need to focus on the situation first." Bumblebee said seriously. "Remember that things don't follow the book." He muttered.

She glared at him and put it away then watched the other cops. Bumblebee, Jazz and Strongarm managed to find a back way and went inside. They quietly snuck to the main room and looked around for any other threats. Jazz got ahead and peered around the corner. He looked to another spot for cover and headed for it.

"Wait that's not what you're supposed to do." Strongarm hissed angrily as she glared at him.

A gunshot suddenly rang through the building and people screamed. Jazz grit his teeth as he fell to the floor. He gripped his leg and rolled under a desk as someone shot at him again.

"Officer down!" She yelled and grabbed her radio.

"Strongarm-" Bee hissed but was cut off as their position was already given away. Another shot ran and he grunted as he got hit in the arm. He shoved her further into safety as they were shot at again.

"Re-" He turned off her radio and glared at her. She could see his arm was bleeding badly and she stared at him.

"You need to listen to me." He hissed angrily as he kept himself in front of her.

"But sir page 144 paragraph-" He covered her mouth with his hand and glared more.

"Real life. Doesn't. Follow. Our book." He seethed angrily through gritted teeth. "If it did a lot of officers would still be alive." He muttered. She stared at him blankly and looked at his arm. She suddenly realized this was her fault.

"I'm sorry sir...." she muttered and hung her head. "What do you want me to do then?" She asked quietly.

"I need you to work with me and not against me." He said seriously.  She nodded slowly and stood up straighter as she saluted.

Bumblebee sighed forcefully and went back to stopping the man. After a while they had the man in handcuffs and the hostages were free. The two officers helped Jazz out to the paramedics and stayed by him. The bullet had gone in and out of his leg cleanly. The bullet that had hit Bumblebee simply grazed him. Strongarm walked over to them as they sat in the ambulance. She rubbed her arm and sighed forcefully before looking at them.

"I'm sorry... for what I did.... or didn't do." She muttered and looked at the ground. The two looked at each other then smiled a little.

"Eh you're a rookie. Mistakes happen." Jazz teased as he grinned. Bumblebee smiled and set a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. We'll help you understand what you need to do." He said seriously.

"But we're still reporting you for what happened today." Jazz mumbled as he folded his arms. She nodded slowly and smiled a little as she looked at them. She felt she could do this after all. As long as they were willing to teach her.