Contents

Loving, Fighting, and Family.

Miami Connections: Vegas Outtake

Fighting For Family

Taking Control.

Loving, Fighting, and Family.

Notes: NC-17.  A buffy/CSI: Miami crossover with some add-ins from New York later on.

Xander stepped up to the front desk at the Miami Dade PD, smiling a bit at the woman behind the desk.  "I was told to come give something to a Lieutenant Caine?" he said quietly.  "He doesn't know I'm coming and it's going to be a bad thing, you can tell him that if you want."

"Is it going to upset him?"

He considered it, then nodded.  "I'd expect shouting from at least one source 'cause I'm not a happy camper about this assignment either."  She nodded and pushed a button on her phone, talking quietly.  Then she hung up and smiled at him so he went over to the windows to wait.  Soon he saw a man who was either very calm and had no nerves or very controlled in himself and he knew this was who Tim had told him to see.  He had described him perfectly.  "Lieutenant," he offered quietly, nodding him over.  "I was told to read the first paragraph of this letter then hand it to you.  So I should do that before I start yelling at someone, which may or may not be you."  That got an amused look so he pulled out the letter and opened it.

"H, it's Tim."  He slapped at the hand reaching for it.  "Don't.  He told me to read it."  He cleared his throat.  "No, you don't believe it, hell, I don't believe it," he read flatly.  "But yeah, this is important.  You weren't supposed to know about this but part of the deal of me being brought back was for someone to take my place.  This kid is a good kid and he's got it in him to be a better guy, but he's gonna need some mentoring and that's you.  So just read the rest, take him to your office because I know he's already read the rest of this at least once, and just fight it out.  It's going to be a long day, take some aspirin before reading the rest of this and let him tell you how I got here.  By the way, keep him away from Calliegh for now, she's probably got a clue since I keep finding evidence linking this town back to New Orleans."  He folded it up and handed it to him.  "Can we go somewhere so I can yell at you now?"

"Definitely. The aspirin is in my office if you need some too."  He walked the kid off, taking the visitor's badge on his way past.  Of course, they ran into the person he least wanted to see at the moment, Calleigh.  "Do you have a report for me?"

"Yes, but who's this?" she asked, smiling at Xander.  He didn't look like a threat to her.

"I got sent to yell at him by someone in my town," he admitted dryly, shrugging a bit.

"Oh, where you from?"

"Calleigh, he's got some information...."  She hit him on the arm, giving him a long stare then smiled at the boy again.  "Fine.  This is going to go badly."  He looked at the boy and shrugged.

"I'm from Sunnydale."  He watched as her face went rigid.  "I got handed to this one to mold me by the last person who tried, who I'm going to kick the ass of the next time I see his manipulative little tush."   He stepped closer. "It's all right," he said calmly.  "I'm one of the good guys.  I helped the bad evening problems go down.  A lot."  She nodded and walked off, her face still emotionless and cool.  He looked at the redhead next to him.  "You have aspirin to take?"

"I do."  He walked him into his office and closed most of the blinds, leaving one open so he could tell if anyone was lurking at the door.  He took two then sat down to read the rest of the letter, which gave him some of what he wanted to know and more of what he needed to know.  He finally put it down, then put his badge and gun on his desk, standing up again.  "Okay, I've read.  Now you tell me."

"Where do you want me to start?  With Aiden?  With him suddenly showing up to her one day while she found me in a Church praying for patience before I ripped into my friends?  With how I apparently don't have a say in my own goddamned life?" he asked bitterly.

"How long did it take you to read it?" he asked, watching his reactions.

"Three days.  See, I trusted Tim."

"It's not the mistake you think it was, Xander," he said calmly.  "Of course, I had no idea what my cousin, who can occasionally manifest some of the Sight, was talking about when she calls me in the middle of the night two days ago and said I'd be meeting with a hyena."

The boy let out a bitter sounding snort.  "Yeah, let's go back to that possession.  It's not like it's a big part of my life," he said firmly, staring him down.  "Except when I threatened to change and eat the principal."  He leaned against the windows, looking at him.  "Why you?"

"Tim looked up to me.   He knows where my priorities lay and what I'm like.  We worked together for a number of years."  The boy made 'go on' motions.  "The team is like a family," he offered, carefully moving closer.  He could see that hint of danger and wildness in him.  The boy had been rigid in anger before but now he was about to burst.  "I'm sure he had his reasons."

"That's not comforting."

"No, the truth often isn't," he agreed calmly.  "Now, what can you tell me?"

"Aiden prayed for help once she found out what was going on and why Sunnydale was so hot to hire a new detective to keep down our missing persons and homicide rate.  She was recommended by a friend of her former boss in New York when the friend called him to see if he knew of anyone who could help who had a good feel for the victims and for strange stuff.  He suggested Aiden, she got hired, she came out and learned what was really going on," he noted dryly, smirking cruelly at him.  "She helped my group for a while but then realized how very over her head she was.  She prayed for help.  The Powers That Be answered by sending him.  Until I got sent here I didn't know he was to look for his replacement in town at the same time.  By the way, look at the back of the bottom.  I'm supposed to smack you and get you to smack others upside the head for moping."  Horatio looked at it, then nodded, letting out a small smirk.  "Apparently they got him while he was watching you guys mope over him."  He moved closer.  "I don't know why in the hell he's doing this.  The guy seemed to give a damn so I shouldn't be surprised that he turned on me.  It's not like the others in town haven't.  I didn't even do anything this time and they turned on me."

"Maybe he's right and you're supposed to find a life outside of that town, Xander."

"No, I'm not!  I'm needed there!"

"I met Aiden during a case," he offered quietly.  "She was a strong woman.  Tim was always a strong man.  The letter said worse things were coming and that he wanted you protected."

"I read it three times. I know what it says and it said nothing about that," he said bitterly, sitting down to look at him.  "So why you again?"

"Because he knew he could trust me.  He probably thought I needed someone to give a damn about," he offered at the heated look.  "He used to push me to date."  It was odd talking to this kid, but something in him wanted and needed to hear the absolute truth.  Or else he'd never trust him.  He'd seen too many kids who looked like wild animals in the course of the job, usually on the wrong side of the table during an interrogation.  Someone knocked on the door.  "Busy."

The receptionist walked in and smiled at him.  "This came with an urgent cover sheet and said to hand it to you, Lieutenant."  She handed over the papers and left.  She had no idea why it was so urgent but it was probably the breaking evidence in a case.

He looked at it, it was definitely Tim Speedle's handwriting.  Then he handed both letters to the boy.  "Here, a bit more explanation."

Xander looked it over, then snorted.  "Not much of one."  He handed it back.  "Why you?"

"Because he thought I could help you and he trusts me," he told him.  "He wouldn't send someone who was like his little brother to anyone else."  Someone tapped on the door and walked in.  "I'm busy, Eric," he said dryly.

"That's fine.  What's wrong with Calliegh?  She's locked in the lab with her head in her hands and she looks like she's about to cry."

"That's probably my fault," Xander sighed, getting comfortable.  "She asked me where I was from and my town has ties to her town and it probably brought up bad memories.  Tell her I'm sorry."

"Where are you from?"

"Sunnydale."  Eric paused, looking like he was thinking about something.  "Boca del Inferno," he said dryly, catching on that someone else had a clue around here.  The man stiffened and looked at him so he nodded.  "I got sent to him," he said, pointing at the redhead.  "He's supposed to *mentor* me so I find a *life*."

Eric looked at the guy, then at his boss.  "By?"

"Not now, Eric."

"H, my mother used to tell me stories about that place and what was walking around there, including what shouldn't be walking around there," he said quietly.  "Who sent him?"

"Someone claiming to be Speed," he admitted.  A business card hit his desk and the kid went back to staring out the windows.  "What's this?"

"His work number.  On the back in his home number.  You might try it first, he's probably in another meeting with the bureaucrat they sent to fix the high crime rate when Aiden and Tim didn't get it down far enough in a year.  It goes to his cell."  He glanced back at them.  "All I know is that he sent my ass down here to you guys."  He went back to staring at his car.

Eric snatched it and dialed the number on the back, putting it on speaker.

"Horatio, I'm on lunch," a familiar growl noted patiently.  "I take it he's there?"

"I'm going to kill you, again," Xander growled.

"You can't do that," he said dryly.  "That would be doing a human and you vowed you'd never do that after Faith did hers and got so messed up."  You could hear him taking a bite.  "Who else is in there?"

"Me," Eric said.  "Speed?"

"Yeah."  Another bite.  "Yes, Eric, I got brought back to life to help Aiden, the one from New York's labs, work here.  She needed it and the kid was here.  Unfortunately things are getting a bit complicated and the people who brought me back wanted and needed him to have a full life."

"Excuse me, my life, my choice," Xander said firmly, walking back.  "I'm still going to kick your ass."

"I know how you fight, Xander. I can still get you while you're asleep."  Another bite, then a muted swear.  "Sorry, lost my candy bar."

"You should eat better," a female voice barely came across the line.

"I know how short life is, Aiden.  I'm going to enjoy more of it this time.  Fuck my weight at the moment.  It's not like I'm getting fat."  He sighed.  "Xander, the Powers told me that if you stayed you'd be dead by twenty-three after a few years of turning into your parents.  You'd have to watch Buffy die, Willow go bad and get lost in her magic, all while working the crappiest of crappy jobs, the sort that immigrants don't want to take, to survive until you got into construction.  A short while later you'd be so injured they'd be forced to put you on disability since you'd have lost an eye and couldn't do the construction stuff anymore.  You'd end up dying after a few months of trying to fight on and then you'd be permanently dead in a horrible manner at twenty-three.  This way, you've got a long life, you can help more than you did here, and you can help kids who have it just as bad as you did, if not worse.  Now, get this through your pointy head.   I like H.  I like him a lot.  I trust him, with my life if necessary, even now.  I trust him to help you and to mentor you and to be the uncle sort that you need while Eric plays big brother.  Eric, try to keep Alexx away from him for now.  He's not too used to mothering yet.  Also, Calleigh's probably not a good idea yet either."

"Ya think since she's crying in her lab?" he asked bitterly.  "How long have you been back?"

"A little over a year.  I'm not sure I can leave the town, man, that's why I haven't contacted anyone.  Though I do want Xander to smack you all for moping.  I saw, I wasn't happy."  Eric cracked a smile.  "Don't you even grin, idiot.  Now, get Xander from where he just left probably and bring him back.  H, I'm trusting you to watch the boy.  He doesn't need a new father, he needs someone else who gives a damn.  That's you.  Because if you screw Xander up, I'm going to break the rules and come kick your ass, even if I have to die again for it."

Horatio blinked.  "Why?  Since he doesn't want it."

"Because I was promised someone to take my spot in your lives.  Not on the team if he doesn't want it, but in your lives, someone to give enough of a damn about to bring you back together.  Now, make Alexx quit crying herself to sleep every night.  You quit moping on the beach, make Eric quit dating the stupid chicks that might have something or might be giving out little Cuban Russian babies for his mother, and make Calleigh quit crying too.  Got me here?"

"I'm trying to understand."

"It's not that hard, H.  How hard is it?" he asked dryly.  "Like I have to repeatedly tell Xander, you're smarter than that.  Call later, about nine, and we'll talk then.  How long did it take him to read it?"

"Three days."

"Then he's stronger than even I give him credit for.  For now, know that he doesn't trust anyone, not even himself sometimes.  He doesn't and won't trust you for quite a while.  I just handed you the biggest challenge of your life since graduate school.  Or possibly working up the courage to date your first girl.  By the way, I like Eric's sister and you.  She's good for you, man."  He hung up.

Horatio sat down and considered it, taking very deep, calming breaths.  There was something going on and he didn't understand.  He didn't deal well with the strange things that had no logical explanation.  To him, faith wasn't a logical explanation.  He looked over as Eric brought the kid back in.  "Sit, Xander.  Let's talk."

"Why? It's kinda clear neither of us want that.  It is still my life."

"And in his letter Speed said he was going to mail you back if you tried to go back there," he reminded him.  The boy glared at him.  "I know you don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on.  None of us do.  He's trying to act in the greater good for your benefit."

"I have a life."

"Do you have friends?" Eric asked.  Xander looked at him and nodded.  "Good ones?  One's who'd bail you out of jail for killing him?"

"Probably not.  They'd probably laugh and Aiden would stop me."

"Yeah, she probably would," he agreed dryly, shaking his head.  "Fine.  For the next few days can you stay anyway?  We miss Speed.  We miss him a lot.  You can tell us what he's been up to."

Xander nodded.  "For that reason I can."

"Since you're accepted to the college already you could also take the time to actually go there and look it over," Horatio said dryly.  "Instead of just dismissing them out of hand."

"They've got some really pretty coeds," Eric agreed happily.  "What're you planning on majoring in?"

"I wasn't planning on going to college.  I can't afford college."

"The letter said you were on scholarship," Horatio reminded him.

Xander reread that letter, then rolled his eyes.  "I'm going to kill him again."

"No you won't," Eric said.  "He'll give you this shit-eating grin of his and you'll cave."

"It hasn't worked on me yet," he said bitterly.  "And since it can't be done over the phone, I can go find something to send back there to eat him."  He looked at Horatio.  "You actually like this plan?"

"I don't mind this plan," he corrected.  "He's got a reason for what he's trying to do.  He should've told you." he allowed, "but I'm sure he felt he had his reasons.  He's not usually a manipulative person."  He took another one of those calming breaths.  "Where are you staying?"

"In a motel."

"Which one?" Eric asked.  "So we can come talk?"

Xander looked at him.  "You have his number."

"Good point."  He looked at Horatio, who nodded.  "Still, you've got memories of him that we don't."

"It doesn't mean I want to do this, okay!  This is not how I want my life to go. I don't want to be here.  I like Sunnydale.  Sometimes.  I like my friends, bitches though they are half the time to me.  I don't want to give that up just because one guy gets a wild vision that I may die.  'Cause you know what, I've already accepted that a long time ago.  You can't go out and do what I did nightly and not accept death as your buddy and back rubber most nights.  You can't go out and hunt some of the creepiest of the creepy things, things that survive by eating things like you, without knowing death like a lover.  And you sure as hell can't help a Slayer without it.  I'm fine in my present life.  If I'm supposed to die at twenty- three, then so be it.  If they're supposed to die first, then I'll be there beside them, holding their hands if possible, and backing them up.  That's what I do and who I am.  Now, I'm going to go kick his ass.  If you'll excuse me, I'll leave enough for you to talk to when you call."  He started toward the door but it banged open and a woman walked in.  She was just shorter than him, but her skin was flawless and her demeanor a bit colder.  He backed away, scared shitless of her.  He didn't usually count things racially, it was all the same to him, but this woman scared him for some reason.

"What's this I hear something about Speed?" she demanded.

Horatio nodded.  "There was a mention of him in another town out west."

"He would've called."

"Unless he thought it'd give you more pain," Xander said, then he covered his mouth.  "Forget I'm here, please."

"Who are you?" she asked, moving closer to him.  He backed away.  She looked at him and took a half step and he backed into the windows.  "I'm not that scary."  She moved a bit closer. "I'm really not."  She stared into his eyes, he was scared enough to do something stupid so she made herself look calmer than she was.  "I'm not scary."

"You are.  The last female who got that close to me tried to kill my ass and I'd like to stay alive today at least.  So can you please back off?" he asked politely.  She shook her head.  "Please?  I'm staying nice."

"Alexx, back away from him.  He's not the sort you want to pin in a corner," Calleigh said from the doorway.  She closed it and leaned against it.  "Please, just for now?"  The other woman nodded and took a step back but the boy didn't relax.  "We're not gonna hurt you."

"Bullshit.  You're female, you'll try to kill my ass, just like the last few."

"And I thought Speed got into trouble with women," Eric muttered.  He saw the letter and picked it up, but it was taken from him by Horatio. "Hey!"  He took it back, scowling at him.  "I deserve the right to know and so do they."  He looked at the kid once he was done. "I take it you're Xander?"  That got a nod and a grimace.  "We're not scary folk unless you're a criminal."

"Bull.  Really."  He stayed against the windows.  "This wasn't my idea.  He told me to come deliver the damn letter and I did."

"Quit swearing," Alexx ordered.

"Lady, I don't know you and I don't take orders from anyone."  She glared and he glared back. "I've faced down scarier things.  I've earned my right to swear.  If you don't like it, I'll gladly leave."

"Try coming away from the window first," Calleigh suggested, pushing some of her blonde hair back behind her shoulder.  "Horatio?  Explanations?"

"He said to call tonight around nine."

"Bet me!" Alexx said.  "What's the number?"  He hit redial and put it back on speaker.

"You still have bad timing.  Trying to use the john here, Horatio."

"Baby?" Alexx asked, reaching one hand toward the phone.  "Where in the hell are you and why didn't you call!

"Because I still don't know if I can leave the town I'm in and it'd only hurt you more."

"Which is what the kid said," Eric offered.  "We're all here.  Can you maybe calm him down, just a bit?  He's about to break the office windows and leap down."

"I thought they were blastproof after the lat hurricane."

"They are, that doesn't mean he won't try."

"I didn't come armed to a police station.  I'm not quite that stupid," Xander shot back.

"Xander, don't disrespect Eric in front of Alexx.  She's like my mother.  You can pick on Eric later.  Pick on Calleigh later.  Just don't do it in front of H or Alexx."

"Oh, bite me!" he ordered hotly.

"Xander," he said calmly.  "Calm down."

"Fuck you."

Alexx swatted him and she saw him reach behind him, moving well out of the way.

"He didn't come armed," Eric reminded her.  "He's got good instincts."

"He hunted with the slayer for the past three years, Eric, he should," Speed said dryly. "He's got common sense too when he uses his brain instead of his instincts.  Right now, I'm guessing he's still against the windows and he's probably starting to pant?  If so, let him out."  Calleigh got out of the way and the boy slid past her.  "Thank you.  Now have Frank follow him."

Horatio pulled his cellphone out and dialed the detective.  "You're at the station, right?" he asked calmly.  "Follow the boy that just slid out of my office.  He should about be at the parking lot.  No, not a criminal, it's personal.  Someone sent him with a letter for me and he's scared and wary at the moment since they wanted me to protect him.  Thanks, Frank."  He hung up.  "Done.  Anything else?"

"Yeah, expect this to be an uphill battle.  If you had done this calmly you two would've fought for a bit, Eric would've stepped in and been the big brother sort that he could really use, and the women around there would've fussed over him.  That way he knows not all of them want to kill him.  Now, well, you've got what basically amounts to a wild animal trapped in a one very hurting and wary little boy who never had any positive attention until Aiden and I got here.  His friends are crappy, if not worse, and I'm the reason he graduated high school with any sort of GPA.  Even if I did have to do some manipulating to get him down there.  Now that you've got the uphill battle, try to keep him from doing stupid stuff.  He'll latch onto something just as dangerous as hunting was, if he doesn't hunt what few vampires you've got down there, and he'll need someone to show him what *fun* is. He's starting to forget what happiness is with what he's done.  By the way, I'm proud of my boy, those were his plans in Sunnydale a few weeks back."

"Huh?" Eric asked.

"The high school blowing up during graduation didn't make it to the national press?" he asked, sounding amused.  "Interesting.  Call back tonight, when I'm not at work."  He hung up.

Calleigh looked at their boss, closing the door again.  "Okay, so I'm going to accept that somehow Speed is walking around.  On the Hellmouth.  That he knows the slayer and the people rumors state are helping her.  I can even accept that the boy's her helper because he said so.  Even though all I saw was a hurting and trapped little boy who's obviously been hurt by women a lot."   She blinked.  "I'm not going to accept that we got given a kid to mentor.  Not even by Speed.  Why him?  This isn't like Speed.  That was Eric's thing to take in people who needed the help."

Eric shot her a look.  "Thanks a lot."

"Hey, you've done it before," she reminded him. "That's not like Speed."

"It's not," Alexx agreed, taking the letter Eric handed her.  "What's this?"

"From him and why he did it.  He sent the kid with it?"  Horatio nodded.  "The kid read it?"  That got another nod.  "So he's really pissed on top of scared and feeling abandoned?"  That got a third nod.  "Then we should probably make sure he doesn't do something stupid tonight and die from it.  Miami has plenty of death when you go looking for a way to forget and move on."

"It does," Calleigh agreed, moving over to read it.  "That's his handwriting."

"You doubted after he yelled at us?" Alexx asked.

"Yes.  Until I can see him and then smack him one across the face, yes."

She smiled.  "Can we go to this town?"

"It's in California," she sighed.  "New Orleans is tied to Sunnydale by the underground communities.  Things that are whispered about happen there.  All the stories about vampires and things, they walk openly in both cities.  New Orleans has the draw of the openness and the ability to hide.  Sunnydale has power, a very dark and malevolent power from what's whispered by those in the know.  If Speed got ...sent there, for lack of a better word, then there's gotta be a reason.  Hell, I know for a fact there's a slayer in residence in Sunnydale and if that boy was helping her, he's a combat veteran.  He's a very spooked and hurting one though.  Three years?"  She shook her head.  "Some of the slayers don't last that long."

"Do you have a contact we can talk to about this boy?" Horatio asked.

"Not locally but I can call an old friend and ask.  Maybe they'll give us some idea.  Because what I saw earlier was an animal.  He's running on the hunting instincts and we cornered him.  That's probably not a good thing."  She walked out, going back to her lab to make that call.

Horatio looked at Eric.  "Let me talk to him first," he ordered.  "Don't go near the boy yet.  Let him get used to me, then we'll let you pop around and offer him a diversion to get away from me.  But first, I want to know how you knew about that name he said."

"My mother used to tell us stories when we were younger about that place.  How one of my uncles went there to die.  How he told her about the people who weren't supposed to be walking around who were.  How the monsters under the bed were real there.  She reminded me when I started looking at CSI spots not to go anywhere near there.  I almost took a spot in LA."  That got a slow nod.  "It's said that if you can imagine a bad thing, it's been there or it's still there.  That people don't often make it out of that town once they're there.  Either they forget about the greater world and live on in ignorance until they die.  Or they die from something unnatural coming after them.  She did say something about hunters and those who help the hunters.  Something about little girls with weapons and the men who guide them.   I thought it was a fairytale; I didn't take the spot in LA because I didn't want to upset her that much."

Horatio nodded. "I see.  Would she tell us more than that?"

"No.  She'd cross herself and go to Church, like she did the last time I got sick and asked for a story from there."

"Why?"

"One of my cousins went to LA and disappeared.  She's convinced it's the same and he should've listened to her."

"Wonderful," Alexx said dryly. "So why was he afraid of me?"

"I'm guessing here, but by the tone of the letter, Speed may've been the only real family the boy's ever had," Horatio noted quietly.  "He and the kid said they weren't always nice with what he called them."

"I heard him swear about them," she admitted.  "The boy's got a mouth on him."

"Wouldn't you?" Eric asked, smirking at her.  "You're sent away from your home by someone you trust and handed to someone you don't know.  Your life is manipulated for you by this same person you trusted.  You're told it's for your own good because otherwise you'll die, and you want him to be happy and accepting?  Even the nicer people wouldn't do that.  He should've told the kid first."

"He should've, but my baby was kinda dumb sometimes," she pointed out.

"And this was one of them," Eric agreed.  "Even if he had a reason, it was still dumb.  He could've worked in that the kid had an acceptance letter to a college.  He could've worked in that he had some friends near there and that he'd be protected and watched over.  That one of them was cool enough to take him clubbing maybe, if the boy could hack it and wanted it, but he didn't."  She nodded at that.  "I wanna know why he thought you were going to kill him. You're not the sort of woman to do that.  Not unless one of your kids is in trouble."

"I don't know, Eric.  That's another thing to find out.  We should ask Calleigh."

"We could ask the kid," Horatio noted.  "I'm not so sure he'd tell us for a very long time.  I think trust is already broken between us and it's going to take some cautious steps, but that we should try with the boy."

"He's not a boy, H," Eric reminded him.  "He's eighteen or nineteen if he's graduated.  He's a man and he's not exactly a happy one.  If he ever was a happy one."  Callieigh came back and closed the door again, leaning against it.  "Good news?"

"No, not good news."  She looked at Alexx.  "Anytime that boy tries to get close to a female, she tries to kill him.  He wasn't joking.  The only exception was something that made every woman in that town want to sleep with him.  That boy is known and the women are warned not to go near him because something in him makes them want to kill him once they meet him.  On a brighter note, he's supposed to be some goofy little tag along who follows after her."

"Her being?" Horatio prompted.

"The current slayer.  He's supposed to be her goofy little tag along male friend.  Until he's alone or unless he's in a fight.  There's rumors that he was possessed a few years back by something."

"My cousin said something about a hyena and I mentioned it.  He went off on a possession," Horatio admitted.  "I thought he meant a statue or something."

She shook her head.  "No.  I wish."  She cleared her throat.  "Just three weeks ago, their high school graduation was attacked by something.  A very large something.  According to the rumors, and this is unsubstantiated but it makes sense because no one else there has the skills to pull it off, the boy planned the defense assault, saved most of his graduating class's lives, and blew up the school with the something in it to kill it."  They all gaped and she nodded.  "The others in that group aren't known for planning anything and the current slayer is known to be lax and lazy on occasion.  Their witchly friend isn't that dark, she's supposed to be sweet, innocent, and nice.  A real babbler most of the time.  The Watchers don't have that sort of training.  Speed didn't, right?"  He shook his head.  "I heard Aiden mentioned?"

"From the New York labs," Horatio noted.  "I don't think she had military service either."

"Then it was the boy who planned the assault, generaled it from the front lines, survived, won, and then got sent away by his mentor out there.  Because everyone realized who Speed was when I mentioned the additions.  They mentioned them by description, as being detectives who knew and were trying to get the death rate down."  She swallowed. "They also said that there's rumors Speed went and threatened the kid's family and that Aiden may have sent them running for their lives to protect the kid," she finished quietly.  "He doesn't know what a mother is, Alexx, and he's scared to death of women."

"Damn it, it makes me wanna treat the boy right, but I can't."

"You can, you just be a bit more careful.  Anything you feed him, he'll expect it to be poisoned for a very long time. I think Speed's burnt his connection to the kid.  Most abused kids don't trust very easily and when they do trust and it's broken, it's never given back.  Maybe if we get Aiden to talk to him it might help, but I'm doubting it.  I really am, Horatio."

"I'm going to let him calm down and then talk to him tonight," he announced.  "Eric, you can offer to do stuff with him this weekend if we've got it off.  Don't push."

"It's said he's like a caged animal when he's hunting alone," Calleigh told him.  "He's got skills. He's got instincts to hunt down prey.  He's got absolutely no academic skills though.  He's horrible in school.  Aiden and Speed got him to graduation.  There was talk of him asking a witch not in the group to help him with his SAT scores since he got good marks by the rumors."

"How reliable is this information?" Eric asked.

"Oh, honey, the Watchers leak like a sieve," she assured him, smirking a bit.  "Plus, the underground in New Orleans watches what goes on in Sunnydale to make sure nothing *too* bad gets out and comes their way to hide.  There's people there who probably have the kid's picture and dossier on their walls at the moment, including grades, favorite colors, foods, and sodas."  That got a small smirk.  "To some he's a hero, to others he's a menace since he fights against them.  Lo and behold what you get when you let a broken little boy jump into a battle that's not his.  And then you make him stake  his best friend as his first kill."   Horatio flinched at that.  "That's how he got involved.  He was taken, Xander, the kid, had to stake him to save other kids.  By the way, he's not allowed to date yet, Eric.  Really.  I'm sure he'll draw every assassin in the world to him, but he's not allowed to date."

Eric nodded.  "What about going out to the clubs?"

"They said he can't dance.  He's still flailing around.  He needs a good teacher.  A very good teacher.  He could use one to help him with his fighting skills too.  He's a weapon guy."

"Interesting," Horatio agreed.  "Should we worry about his friends showing up?"

"No," she snorted.  "One of the girls kissed him and started an affair with him when they were both dating, and they all blamed him.  Not that they've been very consistent anyway.  I'm sure Speed'll tell you how rotten those ladies are to him.  It's just another reason for him to hate women enough to want to hide from us."

"That poor baby," Alexx sighed, shaking her head.  She sat on the couch.  "Can I at least try to apologize to him?"

"You can try but he'll back away from you.  The fact he reached for something he wasn't carrying when you cornered him meant he's scared to death of you, Alexx.  Me he pegged by accent apparently.  He knew I was from there."  She shrugged. "Which means he probably knows I've checked on him through the Old City."

"That's fine," Horatio agreed.  "He'll probably expect it anyway.  For right now, we'll all call Speed tonight around nine, his time.  I'll talk to the boy before then, try to get a feel for if he wants to stay.  I don't mind doing this favor for Speed...."

"But I'm still gonna kick his ass for not telling us he was alive," Alexx noted dryly.  "Can you get there by plane?"

Calleigh nodded.  "Yeah, sure.  Go during the daytime so we don't have to worry about you coming back after you're eaten.  Fly into LA and drive."  That got a grin from her and Eric, who wrote that down on the palm of his hand.  "I can probably even give you his address through my contacts.  They're overnighting information to me on the boy and Speed."  She smirked at Horatio.  "Have fun.  Tell me if I can help.  Tell him I respect him for what he's done.  He's saved a lot of lives by turning things into piles of dust and slime."  She walked out, going back to her lab.  She could figure out her own torture for their friend not admitting he was alive again.

***

Horatio stepped up to the cop's car, nodding at him.  "Thanks, Frank."

"Who is this kid, Horatio?  He looks like a kid but he moves like he's got something to hide and he's jumpy and edgy like he's on something."

Horatio shook his head.  "He's a combat veteran from the West Coast and he was sent to me without his knowledge so I could mentor him through college."  That got a long look.  "It's an odd story and one I don't truly believe myself yet.  Not that part, but who sent him."

"Who?" he asked, smirking.  "Did Speed come back to life?" he joked.

Horatio nodded at that.  "He did.  He's been mentoring the kid for the last year."  He walked off, leaving one stunned, balding cop behind him.  He walked up to the door and knocked, looking at the young man who had a piece of pizza in hand.  "Can I come in?" he asked quietly.  "I just want to talk, tell you what Speed said."  The kid let him inside, then closed the door behind him.  He looked around the room.  It wasn't a very good one but it was cheap and rented by the week.  "Are you all right?  You were upset earlier."

"I'm fine now that I'm not being backed into a corner and I have some options."  He sat down and finished that piece, then took a few drinks of soda, weathering the stare.  "So, what did the asshole say?"

"He apologized.  He couldn't think of a way to do it subtly without making you realize that you couldn't come back."  He sat down in the only chair, facing him.  "He said that he wants you to live, Xander.  He wants you to have grandkids to tell stories to.  He wants you to find some nice person and date."  That got a grimace of distaste.  "He didn't say female," he offered dryly.

"So I take it you heard about my fan club of past dates?" he asked dryly.

"Calleigh, the blond woman from earlier, called a few of her friends back home and they told her some things.  Including how Speed may have saved you from your parents."  The boy gave him a harsh look.  "She said that Aiden may've sent them running for their lives."

"Yeah, well, they deserved it," he noted bitterly.  "Anything else you want to share?"

"We never expected this, Xander. It's a big shock on our end just finding out he's alive.  He was like a brother to Calleigh and Eric, and Alexx mothered him horribly."

"So he said," he admitted calmly, looking at him again.  "I don't need a family."

"Then how about someone to lean on and mentor you?  That's what he wanted from me.  To help you into the difficult transition to college and make sure you had what you needed when you needed it."

"I can't afford...."

"There's a scholarship and you won it," he assured him.  "I asked."  Which wasn't totally the truth.  Speed had some hidden money from earlier in his life and had used that to send the boy to college and give him a chance.  Xander looked at him.  "You read minds too?"

"No," he said, smirking at him.  "What did he do?"

"He applied behind your back and wrote your essay for you," he admitted.  "He's a smart guy who knows what they wanted to hear."

"I realize he's a smart guy.  He's the reason I passed biology at all."  Horatio nodded, accepting that.  "I don't want to go to school anymore.  I hate school.  I don't learn like that."

"College isn't like high school, Xander.  Plenty of the classes are lab classes, where you're expected to do things, not just read."

"I didn't do well in those either," he said bitterly, looking at his crossed legs, then back at him.  "I suck at the learning thing."

"Have you ever been tested to see why?"

"Yes, and it nearly ended up with my death for being a slow learner and embarrassing my high school dropout father.  He didn't want a retarded son."

"You're not.  You speak very well," Horatio noted calmly, staying calm.  He had to stay calm.  "It's a gift that's been handed to you, no matter how he pulled it off.  You should at least try.  Some college, even with poorer scores, is better than no college and it'll help you get a better job than fast food.  Plus, that college has tutors available for students.  It's got computer based learning classes if you're okay at that.  It's got a wide range of majors so you can find something you like.  Take your first year and see if you can find something that interests you.  You'll be getting some mandatory stuff out of the way anyway."

"Then what'll I do?" he asked.

"Then you'll decide to stay in or not," he offered calmly.  "You might find something that clicks with you and how you think."

"I don't think they teach demonology."

"No, but there is a paranormal sciences track," he offered. "It's ghost hunting from what I've seen when we had to investigate someone in that department.  I took them all for people with high hopes and some delusions."

"Ghosts are real," he admitted quietly.

"I figured you'd know the difference."  He shifted some, leaning forward.  "For right now, I want you to think about this, Xander.  You're being offered a chance and I'm more than willing to help you when and where I can.  I do the mentoring for my nephew since his father died," he admitted.  "I've helped a few others in my time to find a real life and get out of their old ones.  Mostly abused spouses."  Xander's face tightened at that.  "You don't work in law enforcement for as long as I have and not notice the signs," he noted quietly.  "I'm not going to ask but if you feel like talking about it, I can listen.  Or I can give you the name of someone anonymous who can listen instead.  I know some people feel more comfortable that way."  Xander shook his head.  "That's fine, I said if."   He looked at the boy.  "How long were you planning on staying?"

"A week."

"Will you at least go look at the college?  Wander around, look at the campus, talk to some of the students?"  Xander shrugged.  "It could help you make a decision."

"Willow said the tours were all hyped to only show the best."

"So go into the library and sit down next to someone who's not buried in their textbook and ask questions.  Most of the students around here are friendly.  Some of them are dumb," he admitted with a small smirk.  "We get a lot of business out of the local colleges."

"I still don't know why he did this to me," he admitted.  "I have a life back there."

"Whatever source brought him back said that your life was going to be over too soon and he didn't want it to end that way, kid."  He stood up.  "He seems to care for you.  That carries some weight with my team.  Speed was like our brother."  The kid looked up at him, his face finally readable and it was the eyes who caught him.  "He wanted you to be safe, Xander.  Safe, protected, and have a good life.  Somewhere you'd live past twenty- three.  Somewhere happy that you didn't have to hunt, kill, stalk, or do damage.  Somewhere you didn't have to think about surviving and be best friends with death.  No one should have to do that.  He couldn't save one of them because it was her duty and the other was sucked into something she's still struggling against.  She's got a way out if she can figure it out and ask for help.  You had no ties and he could do this for you.  It was an act of sacrifice on his part.  Because he knows Alexx is going to kill him for not calling sooner.  By the way, she wants directions."

"If she goes, she probably won't be coming back.  He's not sure if he can leave the town at all.  The last time he tried for work reason he got sick."

"I'll tell her that," he agreed, smiling just a bit.  "Are we good?"  Xander nodded.  "Eric wanted to know if you wanted to go clubbing with him.  He and Speed used to do that a lot."

"I'm not like Tim."

"I know that.  He knows that, but that's how he relates best."

"Tim said he had more dick than brains and that he thought with it most of the time," he offered with a shy grin.

Horatio grinned back and nodded. "Quite often.  He's nearly as bad at dating as I've heard you are."  That got a wicked looking smirk and the eyes showing a bit more of the predator and less of the goofy kid again.  "Just give us a try.  We're more than happy to do this for Speed because we like him and could probably come to like you."

Xander nodded.  "Fine.  I'll call them tomorrow and see if I can go out."

"Good.  Thank you.  Let me know.  I'll be working late every day this week."

"Yeah, Tim said to smack you around for that.  He said to go watch the sunset now and then, said you were becoming someone named Stetler?"  Horatio shuddered.  "Sorry, he compared your attitude and moping to that guy's paranoia and stalking, similar motives and background attitudes."

"I'll keep that in mind, kid.  Thank you for telling us."  He let himself out, listening as the boy locked the door behind him.  He walked off, heading for his hummer.  Frank was now parked beside it.  "It's been a long day."

"He's alive?"

"As far as we can tell."

"But he died!  You sat there with his head in your lap when he died!"

"I know that.  I don't know what's going on, Frank. We're still gathering information. Everyone says he can't leave where he is.  We have called him and I've got his number if you want it.  Or you could fly out with Alexx when she goes to beat him."

Frank smirked.  "I'm not getting between those two.  I like living."

"Good idea, Frank.  Very good idea."  He climbed in.  "I'm heading home.  He's good now.  We've talked.  Have a nice night."

"Yeah, sure," he agreed, watching his friend drive off.  He started his car and drove off as well, noticing the kid looked out his window.  Somehow he knew the boy was connected to Speed announcing he was alive, but he wasn't sure how.  Yet. Horatio would be telling him once he processed the fact that he was alive.  If not, Calleigh and Eric both liked to gossip.

***

Xander smirked at the man walking up to him, shifting so he could have half the bench. "I went.  It sucks.  It's full of smart, pretty people who sneered at me."

"That was probably for the clothes.  Miami is a city obsessed with its image," Horatio noted. "That's why we have as many plastic surgeons as LA does."

"That's not exactly encouraging me to stay.  I'm not like that."

"Neither am I, and neither are some of the other students."

"No, they're the smart ones.  The whole campus was like Cordelia and Willow pod people.  It almost made me fear being taken and assimilated."

"There are others.  Eric went here and he found a party every weekend and about half the week nights."

"I'm not a big party person."

"Have you ever been to one?" he asked.

"Yeah, to save Buffy and Cordelia, who were about to be eaten by a giant snake demon in the basement of the frat house."

Horatio blinked at that.  "Okay, probably not the typical frat party," he offered.

"Drinking, drugs, sex, squealing pretty people and girls in short skirts?  Yeah, it was."

"Okay, then the majority was," he agreed, smiling a bit at that.  "That's only one aspect of the social life around here.  There's clubs, sports, games.  There's friends and study parties with them.  College is mostly about learning what you can, figuring out where you are in the social order, dating a lot, having some looser moments of fun while you find yourself, and meeting a lot of people."

"I thought it was about learning how to BS your way through papers."

"That too," he admitted dryly, shaking his head a bit.  "I don't encourage that tradition."

"I just don't think it's me.  I'm not a college guy."

"How would you know? You never tried it," Horatio noted dryly, standing up.  "I heard you broke down. Need a ride?"

"Are you still having the bald guy follow me?" he asked as he picked up his backpack and soda, following him.

"No.  He's another one of Speed's many friends in the department and word got back to him."

"Which one is he?"

"Detective Tripp."

"He said he was a good guy once, one to have at your back, but nothing else," he admitted with a small shrug.  "That I heard anyway.  Sometimes he'd go on these long rambles and lose me about halfway through."

"I guess it's been hard on him, being stuck far away from everything he knows," Horatio said quietly.

"The same as he wants me to be."

Horatio looked at him, pulling him out of the way of the foot traffic.  "Xander," he said calmly, "he's trying to give you a better shot at life.  You can be angry at him.  You should be angry at him for not telling you about it.  Taking it out on us doesn't help anything. We might be able to get to know you and like you, but all we've seen is the anger.  Now, I think it's reasonable, but I don't think you should continue it.  At least not at random sources."

"I'm sorry," he offered.  "I know this wasn't your idea and you're stuck with me out of a sense of honor to your friend."

"No, with what he has planned for you, I could have given you to Eric to mentor.  He'd have had you try out for the swim team or the diving team."  Xander frowned at that.  "Calleigh's friend had a fairly complex dossier on you and your friends."

"So I'm tracked too?"  Horatio nodded.  "What did they say about me?"

"The dual nature mostly.  The goofy kid with your buddies and then the intense predator the other times.  Though it was noted that you need to learn how to dance better."  Xander rolled his eyes but calmed down again, what he had wanted.  "Are you heading back to your hotel?"

"If I'm staying for a bit, I should probably get a job," he said bitterly.

"You could," he agreed.  "Are you staying?  I know Eric was going to pounce you this weekend."

"I called Willow this morning and she told me everything was great and they were heading to college.  I told her I got an offer from down here and she mock-pouted for all of ten minutes and then *encouraged* me to stay so I wouldn't get hurt again," he said with a touch of bitterness.  "Then Buffy came on and seconded that idea, that I'd get hurt."

"I heard you went hunting last night," Horatio said as he got to the hummer, unlocking the doors from his side.  He climbed up and watched the kid haul himself up and in as well.  "How did it go?"

"Not much of a nightlife like I'm used to down here.  Nor do I happen to like all the prostitutes."

Horatio smirked at that.  "Neither do we."  He started the engine.  "Back to the motel?"

"If it's not out of the way.  Or a bus stop."

"It's not.  I'm not on a call.  I'm on lunch."  He backed out and headed toward the old, ratty motel. "You know, living in the dorms can be fun. You'll never get quiet in them, but you get free cable and food.  Plus there's always something to see, do, or watch."

"I'm still not hyped on this whole college thing Tim wanted me to do," he reminded him. "I'm not good at learning. I suck majorly at it."

"Could that be because everyone told you that you were?" he offered.

"No, I genuinely suck at it.  I only got told I was stupid after they decided I was at school."

"You're not stupid.  Stupid people couldn't have planned that assault or survived the way you have," he noted as he changed lanes.  "Nor could they have laid all that explosive to blow up the school."

"Yes, you can.  That's all practical application."

"Maybe it's how you're looking at it.  Yes, some of the stuff you'll learn is fairly worthless to real life, but some of it does have practical applications later on, or even during classes.  Chemistry leads to both the lab work we do and building bombs.  I know, I used to be on the bomb squad," he admitted with a touch of humor. "I saw a lot of chemistry and physics at work."

"Really?"  Horatio nodded.  "But that's more like cooking. You measure, you wipe off, you close, you put on a timer and connect it."

"At the higher levels of bomb making it's not that easy," he assured him.  "Yes, simple C-4 and pipe bombs are, but the higher levels of bombs take a lot more skill to design."

"That would be military stuff though and I don't wanna go military."

"They would appreciate you."

"I don't appreciate the mindset of deconstructing who I am to make me someone better. I can almost like who I am at the moment.  I don't need someone else to tell me I don't know anything and that I can be better."

"That's what drives a lot of people to drop out of boot camp," Horatio agreed.  "They can't take the destroying and rebuilding into a better you that they do to make everyone alike."

"People aren't alike though."

"That's very true.  And that's the basis of most psychology classes."  He glanced at the boy, who looked really confused.  "They figure out what's wrong with someone and try to help them."

"I've met with a few through social services.  They were more interested in their fees and their drugs."

"The good ones aren't like that."

"If you say so."

"I do.  I've worked with a few who were there to tell me what was going on with a serial killer or a serial bomber. They figured out what they were trying to say or mean with what they were doing and helped us stop them."

"That's decent I guess."

"It is, and it's hard, but you've got to understand people.  For those who understand and watch people, it seems to come easier."

"I don't watch people, I stalk them to kill the former ones."

"It's about the same skill. You ready body language, they read body language and words.  After all, people lie."  He pulled up in front of the motel.  "There you go."

"I'll think about it."

"Please do.  Should I tell Eric to come over?"

"If he wants.  Don't force him or anything."  He slid out and smirked.  "After all, I got enough of that from Willow."  He shut the door and headed inside.

Horatio smirked and pulled out.  At least the boy was trying to work with him a little bit.  It was progress, but not very encouraging.

***

Horatio looked up as his phone rang, pulling it out to look at the number.  It came up unknown with a California prefix though so he assumed....  "Caine," he answered.  The female voice on the other end made him pause.  "Who is this?"  He leaned against the wall, listening to the cheerful sounding voice try to rip him a new one for keeping Xander there.  "Miss Summers, I do not make his decisions for him.  He's making a thoughtful choice based on what has been offered to him," he said quietly.  The voice got a bit meaner and he sneered.  "Miss Summers, if you knew the boy that well, you'd know that wasn't true.  After all, I've seen accounts and tapes of him doing your job.  I also believe he was responsible for a major victory for you recently," he said calmly.  "I don't think that points to him being useless or helpless.  If you do, then I can see why the person who helped him did."  He heard the implied threat.  "I wouldn't say things like that, Miss Summers, I really wouldn't."

He hung up and called the motel, getting Xander's sleepy voice.  "Xander, we've just run into a ...situation.  Your friend Buffy just called and threatened Speed's life," he said quietly.  "Yes, as in something or someone will have to go protect him. I'm more than willing to go with you, as will most of us."  He smirked at that.  "Not a problem.  Let me make a call about that.  Yes, get here within the hour."  He hung up and walked off, going to call a friend.  One no one around the office knew he had.  "Fredro, Horatio.  I need to borrow the plane.  Because we found an old friend alive and now he's in trouble."  He looked at his phone then put it back against his ear.  "You knew?  I mean about that stuff."  The man told him exactly what was going on.  "Does that mean it's a yes?"  He smirked.  "Thank you and I'll tell him you said hi."  He hung up and paged his team to meet him in his office, looking at the extra person. "Rick, this does not concern you."  He pushed him out and slammed the door.  "Miss Summers just called and threatened not only Xander but Speed," he said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Calleigh shouted, pushing Yelina out of the way to get closer.  "She did what?"

"She threatened him for sending Xander here.  She also threatened the boy.  Now, I have a friend who has graciously allowed us to use his private plane.  Xander is on his way in.  If you don't want to go, you don't have to....."

"Oh, shut up, Horatio," Alexx said firmly.  "Everyone call someone to water plants."  She called her husband.  "Honey, it's me.  No, I've got to go out of town.  Well, you know what I told you about Speed?  No, someone just threatened him.  No, we're going there."  She smiled.  "I love you too and I'll be careful."  She hung up and answered the door when it was knocked on, looking at the boy, who was clearly ready for battle.  "They let you in wearing that?"

"They don't see it," he noted, looking at Horatio.  "I got a call from Ethan fucking Rayne.  How do you know Mr. Chaos and is he trying to warp me again?"

"No.  Does he know Fredro Gonzalez?"

"It's possible he is Fredro Gonzalez," he noted dryly.  "Let's go.  I'm assuming we're going to try to free him?"  That got a nod and they headed out, piling into the hummer and Calleigh's car.  "What did she say?"

"She said that she was going to have him tortured for taking you away from her."

Xander pulled out his cellphone and called Aiden.  "Love you, dear, where's Tim?"  He listened to her light, funny voice.  "No, Buffy snapped and threatened him," he said coolly.  "Oh, no, I'm on my way.  But can you do Horatio and them a *huge* ass favor?  Pray that he can come home.  Yeah, well, I'm not happy with them and the Powers can have Buffy at the moment."  He smirked.  "Thanks, yeah, there's fine.  Hell, your apartment is probably fine if you want since it's going to be dark soon out there.  Love ya."  He hung up.  "She's listening for it, calling Tim to warn him, and then going to make a prayer to see if we can get him out of Sunnydale before he's eaten and turned."  He grabbed onto the door as they took a corner a bit sharply. "Not my fault, the Powers That Be put on that rule.  I can always ask too."  He leaned back and closed his eyes, sending his own prayer winging out into the ether.  He hoped it was strong enough to protect him until they could get there.

***

Xander led point into the warehouse.  The others behind him were being more cautious but he was sneaking.  Willie was *very* helpful and the others hadn't followed him in so they didn't know why he had been so helpful.  He snuck around the outer ring of lights, focusing on the two chairs.  He sneered and pulled something out of his back pocket, snapping it as quietly as he could, then shaking it and tossing it.  The light stick drew her attention and he threw the rock he had picked up, hitting her in the head.  "Bitch," he noted as he came out.  He concentrated, then smirked. "You might as well come out, Angel. I can smell you."  He looked at the handcuffs. "Guys, I need the handcuff keys!" he called.  The rest of the team moved in.  Angel came out into the open, already in full vamp. "You don't hurt Tim to get to me."

"The Powers want you here," he sneered.

"Then they can make me stay, can't they?  If they can keep Tim here, then they could've made it so I couldn't get out of town."  He moved away from the two in the chairs, waving him on.  "Come on."

"You can't fight," he sneered.

Xander snorted.  "You have no idea what I can do, Angel.  Now, you want me, you have to win really big this time."  The vampire lunged and Xander turned, sending a hard strike against his back, but ducking the quick turn and grab maneuver.  He ducked another grab and punched at him, then grabbed a stake out of his pocket, lunging and getting into it.  He let himself trance on the fight, not caring that the vampire was scoring a few hits on him.  He got him down and the stake poised, staring down at him. "I'd pray to the Powers that they want you saved."

"Xander!" Buffy yelled.  "Get off him!"

"Oh, bite me!"  He stared into the dark eyes.  "You've got a minute."  Angel snarled and tried to move so he hit him with the fist around the stake.  "Try again."  He put it where it should go and started to push, slowly.

"Get off him!" she shouted, kicking at Xander to make him get off her vampire.  Xander rolled to his feet and faced her.  "You're not Xander."

"Bullshit."  He waved her on. "Come on, Buffy.  You still think I can't fight?"  She shrieked and lunged, claws out.  He backhanded her and walked over her.  "Always going for the fancy moves."  He made to stake Angel and the vampire disappeared.  "Huh, pity."  He looked up.  "Does that mean they can have Tim back?" he called.  Tim was filled with a glow and groaned.  "Thank you."  He walked off shaking his head, leaving Buffy there. He didn't intend to walk to the bus station but he realized he was there when he heard the announcement for the boarding.  He checked his pockets and grabbed a ticket from the person at the desk, getting on and heading away from there.  Tim was safe now and his friends had him back, he wasn't their substitute Tim anymore.

***

Tim looked at Aiden, who had her things already packed. "You sure, Aiden?"

"Yeah, I've had enough of the strange.  Give me the real city any day.  Normal homicides and stuff.  And hey, Seattle is supposed to be an okay city if you like coffee."  She smiled and hugged him. "You be safe down there, Timmy. You need to stay safe and find that idiot boy of ours."  She let him go with a deep kiss and a wink.  "I needed that."  She got into her car and took off.

Tim smirked at Eric when he whistled.  "What?  She understands."  He looked at Horatio.  "I'm all packed too. Let's head."

"What about the kid?" Eric asked.

"I had someone go pick up his stuff from the motel," Calleigh offered.  "It's sitting in Horatio's office.  When we find the idiot, we'll give it back to him."

"If we find the idiot," Speed offered, taking her arm and walking off.  "So, you moped.  A lot."

She pinched him.  "You're a bastard, you didn't clean your gun, you'd better be doing it now."

"Yes, I finally learned," he sighed, letting her get into the cab first.  "Are we sure I can go?"

"We're sure you can go," Eric reminded him.  "That witch, Rosenburg, said so.  By the way, what's wrong with her?"

"Magic addiction."  He slid in beside Calleigh, looking at her.  "I hated that you guys moped that way.  I wanted him to come down and smack you all first."

"Well, he didn't because I saw him in the hallways," she said dryly.  "It complicated things greatly."

"I can tell.  That's okay, I can figure out where he went soon enough.  I'd send Aiden after him but I'm not that mean.  Most of the time."

"After breakfast?" Eric teased as he got in.  They had to flip a coin as to who got to sit next to him each part of the trip.

Horatio got into the front, breaking the rules they had agreed on.  There was no way he was letting Speed out of his sight this time.  "Any idea where he'd head?"

"Somewhere he could get lost and be ignored.  It's how he sees himself."

"I noticed he's got a good understanding of human nature," Horatio agreed.

"But no rhythm," Eric complained.  "That is one non-dancing white boy."

Tim looked at him.  "I don't know what you saw, but I've seen him find his stride on the floors, Eric."  Eric gave him a disbelieving look.  "Really.  I've seen him do it before."  He got comfortable for the short ride to the local airport.  Private planes could land there, but nothing bigger.  Thankfully Horatio knew someone who had some semi-legal assets.  "Who is this Fredro guy, H?"

"Someone I met years ago," he offered, looking back at him. "Are you bringing him back?"

"Yeah.  If I have my way, he'll be waking up on my couch."  He winced as they crossed the town's borders and his eyes crossed, giving him one of the more powerful visions from the Powers That Be.  "Sure," he muttered.  "Whatever you say, thanks for letting me go."  He looked up then at Horatio.  "I have to come back each and every year for at least three days on a full moon."

"That's fine," he agreed. "I'm sure you'll be accompanied back next year."  Calleigh and Eric both nodded at that and grabbed onto Speed's arms.

"Gee, thanks, guys," he said dryly.

She pinched him on the cheek. "I'm going to have someone resurrect you so I can kill you if you ever die again on me."

He kissed her on the head. "It's a hazard of the job.  You know that and you did then."

"Do you think I care?" she asked sweetly.  He shook his head.  "Then you'd better not do it again."

"So, the babe, Aiden, you and her?" Eric asked.  "She was hot and cute."

"She reminded me of you, Eric, she had a smart mouth," he shot back, getting a blush.  He smirked at him.  "We're just buddies.  Every now and then it was stress relief but nothing more.  We were surrounded by death all day every day.  Sometimes you needed to be reminded that there was someone real there with you."

"The boy said that death was like his boyfriend," Calleigh said quietly, hugging him around the arm.

"It doesn't surprise me.  Did he pull a weapon on Alexx the first time she tried to hug him?"

"No, but the first time she saw him she made him back into the windows in Horatio's office and he reached for one then," Eric told him.  "He asked her nicely to leave him alone, saying that she was going to kill him."

Speed groaned, looking up.  "Can the boy maybe get a better dating habit?" he called.  He closed his eyes as the strong ' no' hit him.  "Fine, thanks."  He rubbed his forehead.  "Maybe he'll go for boys instead."

"Harris?  That boy's already gay," the cabdriver noted.  "He's always around girls and letting them fuss over him.  Besides, both the girls are lesbians so you know they've got their little gay union going."  He pulled into the airport. "Ten bucks," he announced, shaving the ten cents off.  Eric handed him a twenty and they got out, heading to the plane.  "At least they're nice foreigners," he noted dryly.  "Too bad, a few of them were cute enough to stay."

***

Speed walked into the club, watching the kid on the stage.  He knew he could dance.  He was just self-conscious about being watched.  He sat down, looking at him, then whispered to the waiter when he came over.  The waiter looked at him and he pulled his badge.  "He's in my custody.  I'm his guardian.  I need to talk to him.  I'll pay for his time."  That got a nod and the waiter told the manager, who agreed to send the boy upstairs for a private when he came off the stage.  The waiter led Speed up there a few minutes later and Xander looked up, giving him a stricken look as he closed the door.  "You fucking moron," he said fondly.  He walked over and sat next to him.  "College, Xander.  It's September."

"Eww.  I'm not a college boy."

"Bet me."  He made the kid look at him.  "Pot or liquor?"

"Neither.  Caffeine and pure maple syrup.  Puts me into a fuzzy haze."  He got his chin free. "You know I'm not going to drink with *their* example."

"True, just checking."  He made him look at him again. "Go pack your shit and let's go."

"Tim...."

He used his free hand to smack him upside the head.  "Now."  Xander sighed and seemed to capitulate.  He followed the boy down but went out the main door, heading outside to wait by the car.

Xander packed his locker, getting some pitying looks.  "My former guardian showed up," he told the other dancers.  "He's being pushy and wants me to go to college and feel really stupid."  He closed his gym bag and headed out the back door, running into a familiar form in the alleyway.  "He brought you too?"

"Yes," Horatio agreed.  "He did."  He smirked at the boy.  "Nice job staying nearby, kid.  Let's go."

"Must I?"

He gave him a nudge in the proper direction.  "Yes, you must.  We're not letting Speed hunt you down again."   He watched the kid move down the alley, smirking a bit at his muttering, then he seemed to disappear.

"I felt that," Tim called.  "Horatio, he's still in front of you but he's about to duck to your left."

He grabbed the boy and walked him out more firmly this time.  "Thank you, Speed.  His apartment?"

"Already packed and in the truck.  You want that or the car?"

"Whichever you don't want."

"If you take the truck, that means you get Eric."

"You brought him too?"

"Hell yes," Tim joked, swatting him and breaking the spell.  "In the car, Xander."  Xander grumbled but got in the back.  "Thank you."  He moved around to drive, smirking at Horatio as he slid in.  "We can go back like this and let Eric drive the truck."

"It's a three day trip, Speed.  I think we can take turns so you can yell at him," Horatio noted as they drove off.  "Don't you need a work permit to work in Canada?" he asked the boy.

Xander shook his head.  "Not in the strip club business."

"It is fairly ignored," Speed agreed.  Horatio looked at him.  "I did a few amateur nights during college," he defended.  "Xander still moves better than I do."  He changed lanes and headed toward the interstate.  The kid lived the next exit up.  "Nice job covering too, Xander. I almost missed that subtle signal but someone found your name on a personals site.  Or so the tip said."

"I'm not listed on those.  Why do I wanna meet some scuzzy stalker dude?"

"Point," he admitted.  "Willow?"

"Quite possibly," he sighed, slumping down some.  "Why are you doing this, Tim?"

"Because I want to, Xander.  No one can make me do something I don't want to."  Horatio nodded at that, making an agreeing humming noise.  "You, no reminiscing."

"I'm not."  He looked back at him.  "Any time we stop, I'm going to handcuff you so you can't run away."

"I can't do college."

"Shut up, Xander."  Tim took the exit and headed back to the apartment to meet Eric and the truck.  "You good to go tonight?" he asked as he pulled up beside him.

"Yeah, just fine to.  The landlord likes him, baked him some extra cookies."  He handed them to Speed, who handed them back.  "His deposit's in there too."  He smirked at the kid.  "Why do you have glitter on?"

"Because he was stripping," Speed said dryly.  "Better than I could."  He looked in the mirror at the kid, who was staring at the package.  "Tonight, you get the truck, we'll get the kid," he ordered.  "We'll switch after we break for a nap."

"Sure," Eric agreed smugly.  "I wanna miss the yelling anyway."  He got into the rental truck and followed the car back onto the interstate and heading south.

***

Speed looked at Xander once they were in their motel room for a few hours' nap, locking the door.  "I'm not going to let you run away this time either.  The managers know to call and wake us all up if you try."  He moved closer, making the kid look at him.  "I'm so going to kick your ass for running that way," he noted, giving him a fond look. "Not that I didn't expect it, but Canada was a bit too far.  How was Aiden when you popped in on her?"

"I wanna know how she found me."

"Easy, Willow called her."  He pushed him onto one of the twin beds.  "We'll talk when we've got the car to ourselves."

"Tim...."

"Shut up, Xander.  You're not dumb.  You're going back to Miami with us.  College may take another few months since it's the middle of a semester, but you're going."

"I'm not...."

Tim swatted him, then leaned down to get into his face. "You can bullshit Horatio all you want, though I doubt it works.  You can bullshit Calleigh and Eric into thinking you're some nice guy who only occasionally hunts and things.  I know you, Xander.  I wrote the book on your behavior."  He swatted him again at the uncomfortable look on the boy's face. "It's not like this is turning me on or anything, but you're coming home with me.  We'll talk once we're back and I've let Alexx cook and fuss over you.  You will learn what normal people are like.  Then if you want to work for a few months, you can. I might mind the strip club route, but it's a job.  I understand that."  He made the boy look at him.  "You're not dumb.  It wasn't me or magic or any of those other rumors that got you the eleven-hundred on your SATs.  That was all you.  You're damn smart, you're just unsupported.  Now you've got that and I expect great damn things from you, kid.  Because if I have to check your homework, I will.  That's why I threatened your father for you, for being such a shitbag."  He let him go and walked over to his bed.  "Get some rest."

"I slept in the car," he said quietly.

"Then sit there quietly so I can.  Otherwise we're going to have to let Horatio drive and he's not used to driving anything smaller than the hummer anymore."  He fell down on his bed, just kicking off his shoes.  "Night."

"Night."  He sat there and thought.  No one had ever come after him before.  At least not like this.  They'd come after him to try to kill him.  They'd come after him to try to taunt him, but not coming after him because they wanted to help him.  He didn't deserve it.  He didn't need it, or even want it.  He was marginally okay at his job.  He had a string of luck with some of his routines.  He hadn't had to drink with anyone and he hadn't resorted to the back room prostitution some of the strippers did for extra cash.  Plus he was clean and didn't use drugs.  Maybe, just maybe he could escape in Miami?  It was a big city and it had strip clubs.  He'd seen one one night when he had been down there by himself.  He glanced at Tim, then at the door.  It was a very slim chance he'd make it out of here without waking him.  Tim didn't sleep too lightly but he wasn't someone who'd ignore someone moving around in the room.  As a test he went to the bathroom and found Tim watching him when he came out.  "Sorry."

"Lay down, Xander."

"Fine, mother."

"No, that's Calleigh and Alexx.  Unless Eric or H turn gay.  Then you can call them that."

"Hey!" Eric called through the walls.

Xander smirked at that, shaking his head.  Then he realized he was still an outsider in their little family.

Tim sighed and got up, coming over to sleep next to him, cuddling him really.  "You're like my kid, they accept you because you're my kid.   That's all they need to know about you.  They'll expect you to be the normal, smartass, nineteen-year-old you usually are.  I expect great things out of you, they'll be really shocked and happy if you live up to my expectations."

"You shouldn't think so highly....  OW!"

"Good.  Shut up.  No more low self esteem tonight, kid."  He closed his eyes. "Sleep or no more cookies."

"Am I getting my own place?"

"Hell.  No."

"Fine.  I'll be a burden."

Tim snorted.  "No you won't.  You may live like I abuse you horribly until I'm sure you won't run but you won't be a burden.  It'll give me someone to talk to at night."

"You could date," Xander reminded him.

Speed pinched him again.  "Not yet.  I'm still getting used to the hot weather again.  Women just make you sweat more."  Xander rolled his eyes.  "I heard that.  Sleep."

"Yes, father."

"Good boy.  You're finally learning."  He smirked until he fell asleep, still holding the kid in place next to him.

"Bastard," Xander muttered when he realized Tim wasn't going to be moving any time in the near future.  He was truly stuck here.

***

Xander was walked into Tim's apartment in handcuffs, it had been a bad idea to walk off while they were getting gas to look at something.  Horatio was a bit cranky tonight, Eric snored too loudly.  He was let go of and Horatio patted him on the head.  "Sit down and wait.  You can figure out what to do with the truck tomorrow."  He walked out, leaving the door open for Tim to go in.  He climbed into Eric's car and let him drop him off at home so he could have an uninterrupted night of sleep for a change.

Speed waved and closed the door, smirking at him. "That was really dumb.  Next time warn us you're going to look at something."  He sat next to him, then turned on the tv before looking at him.  "You want the couch, the spare bedroom, or would you like me to hold you down for another night?"

"I'm good without the restraints," he noted dryly, glaring at him.  "I didn't need...."

Tim pinched him again, getting a wince.  "Shut up, Xander.  We came after you because we like you. I'd do the same for Eric if his future kids ran away.  Feel damn lucky we didn't bring Alexx or Calleigh.  Or even worse, Yelina."

"Who?"

"Horatio's sister-in-law.  The pretty Latin beauty?"

Xander shrugged. "I didn't meet her that day I was there."

"You will soon I'm sure.  Too bad she couldn't come on the rescue.  She'd have handcuffed you then."

He slumped and looked at him. "Tim, try being a bit realistic about my skills, okay?  I'm not meant to do great things. I'm meant to flip burgers."

"Yeah, I said the same thing.  And gee, I graduated with honors," he noted dryly, staring him down.  "You're going to college for at least a year, get over it now."

"I can't afford... and you can't pay for it," he ordered at the opening mouth.  "It's not right.  I'm not really your kid."

"So?  It's not like I'm looking forward to procreation."  He swatted him this time.  "Shut up, Xander. You're going because I say you're going.  You can work until then but you're going."  Xander opened his mouth and he raised a finger.  "Don't," he warned.  "It's been a long three days."  Xander closed his mouth and settled on a scowl.  "Thank you.  Now, watch tv until someone leaks that we're home and Alexx runs over with food so I don't have to cook."  He got comfortable by putting his feet up.  "This is home, Xander.  Get comfy."

"I feel like you're keeping me hostage."

"Good.  Then you'll get Stockholm syndrome and it'll all be fine once you're like us."

Xander sighed and rolled his eyes.  "Why did I save you?"

"Because I'm so cute and a good influence.  Did you really want to be filling cones and flipping burgers at Dairy Queen?"

"No.  But I'm probably meant to."

He sighed and pulled the boy across his lap, making him look at him. "You're not, kid. You're worth much more than your father ever was.  I wouldn't do this for someone like him.  I wouldn't do this for a kid like Larry, who had some brains but hid it really well behind football and screwing every male he could.  You have talents, skills, and a good moral code of ethics. You'll get far in this life even if I have to push you there.  Got me here?"  Xander went limp and nodded.  "Now, I know how smart your ass really is.  I have since the first time you tried to snow me.  The louder you protest, the thicker the smokescreen gets for people who don't read people, but those of us who do it for a living realize that it's a smokescreen and start to dig.  It only took me a day to realize what your problems were, Xander.  It was those bitches you were friends with and that girlfriend of yours.  With positive influences, you could've beat Rosenburg in brains.  You haven't tried yet and I'm giving you the opportunity to try.  That's all I want.  Then if it doesn't work out, you can go flip burgers or strip or something.  Though if you start using drugs or drinking I'm going to kick your ass."  Xander swallowed and nodded. "Good boy.  Were you up there?"  Xander shook his head.  "Even better.  See, it showed how smart you are."  Someone pounded on the door.  "Who is it?"

"It's Alexx, baby."

"It's open."  He looked at Xander again.  "Right after you enroll in the spring semester tomorrow we're going to sit down and talk about your aversion to women and how mothering is *nice* and it makes you feel warm and fuzzy."

"I'm not a sweater kinda guy."

"That's good because Miami never gets that cold," Alexx said as she walked in with a picnic basket.  "Spanking him?"

"No, he had enough of that when he was younger and it made him think wrong.  I'm explaining a few facts of life to him."  He looked down in the dark brown eyes.  "Got me here?"  Xander sighed and nodded.  "I'm not asking you to change.  I'm asking you to try in school and to learn to be around normal people before you turn into some serial killer that I'll have to catch and put away."  He helped him sit up and sit on his own again.  "We got a deal?"

"Fine," he sighed.

"Good.  Hey, Alexx, anything really interesting show up while we were gone?" he called.

"No, baby."  She came out with two plates, looking at Xander.  "I won't back you into a corner this time, but if you hurt him like that again, I'm going to whip your tail.  You understand?"  He slunk down and nodded.  "Good.  Now eat.  You're too skinny."  She smiled at her baby.  "How was Canada?"

"Cold. I'd forgotten how cold it was.  Thanks for dinner."

"It's not a problem, sugar."  She kissed him on the cheek and looked at Xander.  "Eat.  It's not poisoned."

"It's probably one of the few home cooked meals he's ever had," he admitted, taking a bite.  "Hmm.  You were worried, salty."  She rolled her eyes and went to get him some bread to go with it.  "Eat, kid."

"Yes, mother."  He dug in, eating slowly and carefully.  Just in case they were trying more funny stuff on him.

She put two pieces of bread onto each plate and put down cans of soda as well.  "There."  She watched Xander.  "Did your mother never treat you well?"

"Why do you think Aiden and I sent his parents running for their lives one night?" he asked dryly, taking another bite. "Anywhere else I would've called someone but Sunnydale's social worker wasn't exactly brainy.  Rosenburg's parents were asking for trouble by letting their daughter roam around all hours of the night.  Buffy's mother tried and then found out what her daughter was.  She's the real mother of the group and I kinda feel sorry for her."

"Buffy wasn't always like that," Xander defended quietly.  "Besides, Joyce was good to us."

"I know she was.  I said she was the real mother of your group," Tim told him.  "I'm guessing Buffy's world view got skewed by sex again.  She seems to have that problem."  He looked at Alexx again, shaking his head.  "You'd have liked Willow's boyfriend.  He was smart and quiet.  A guitarist.  A hacker.  A very nice kid.  No trouble at all."

Xander snorted.  "Until those three days of the month," he said dryly.

"Hey, he took precautions."

"And still kept getting out to wander around in the woods."

"Point, but that I can blame on you guys and Rupert.  That cage door wasn't that strong and I wouldn't have made Willow watch him."

"She did it out of love for him."

"So?  It's still cruel to make her watch him go through that month after month."

"No, that showed she gave a damn about him," Xander defended.  "That proves love in my book, Tim.  Not meanness, not cruelty to her.  She was proving she loved him no matter what by being there with him and helping us hunt him down when he got out."  He put his plate aside and Alexx handed it back. "I'll eat in a minute," he said, looking at Tim again.  "You watched the group but there was a lot you didn't see.  Willow was always there for me.  Every minute, every day, even after we screwed up and kissed a few times."

Tim looked at him.  "Was she?  Afterwards?  Because Aiden and I both saw her blame you for it.  Aiden heard her blame you for it to Buffy when she admitted it at the hospital outside Cordelia's room."  He looked stunned at that.  Tim nodded. "Yeah, she blamed it on you.  Buffy wasn't too charitable toward you for doing the necessary stuff and filling in for her, so therefore you got given the short end of the stick, which made you go after Faith and got you attacked and nearly dead, Xander.  Angel saved you that time, where was Willow?"  Xander's face fell.  "I was in the library, he called them to tell them you were heading toward Faith's place.  Probably to discredit you since he was jealous of you. By the way, he knew about that 'out' clause on his soul.  He's more than grown enough to know what would've made him happy.  That wasn't her fault for being pushy.  Even teenagers have been able to say no before and he's far past one of those. He was over two hundred years old and I'm not so sure he didn't pull a sudden mental 'oops' and forget about the clause on purpose.  He was deluding himself into living the life he couldn't.  Most people give up after they're shot down but he came back for more.  How far in denial is this vampire?"

"I get what you're saying, but you're still wrong.  They're my *friends*."

"Buffy tried to kill me because she was mad that I got you out of the town."  He opened his mouth and Tim held up a finger.  "Hear me out.  You can call Aiden later and she'll agree with me.  Buffy didn't want you gone because you're her shadow.  Her ego needed the stroking that you helping her gave her.  You and Willow were the reflection of her greatness as the slayer because no other one had friends to help her.  She yanked both our chains while she had us because she was going to get you back and there was nothing we could do to stop her and then she'd have her faithful little puppy back, her words, not mine."  Xander looked devastated at that.

"Willow might've stopped her," he said more gently.  "But she was gone for a short vacation.  Rupert might've stopped her but he was out of town as well.  That left her to Angel, who was smoking vampire crack again and living in his deluded fantasy world.  She didn't appreciate you. She cut you down all the time, calling it playful teasing.  How many times did she copy off your homework but tell you you were dumb?" he demanded.  The boy slumped down and shrugged.  "Plenty of times. I saw her doing it.  Aiden saw her doing it and called her on it a few times.  She just got a scowl in return and Buffy said that since you hadn't been patrolling, you had the time to do your homework.  When Aiden pointed out you had been there, she just looked clueless.  The girl wasn't your friend.  Willow might have been.  Jesse definitely was.  Would he have put up with that?  Didn't Willow's behavior toward you, not the lust stuff but the friendship stuff, change when she came?"  Xander nodded at that, looking even more sullen.

"Think about what Jesse would've said about this last year, Xander," he said quietly, making the boy look at him.  "He would've ripped her a new one.  The same as Aiden did a few weeks before graduation. That's when Buffy suddenly decided you could help by helping her shift books.  Instead you saved her ass.  It was your plans that saved those people.  Your idea to go to the jocks.  Your bomb designs, even if Rupert did have to tell you how to make them.  You're tons better than Buffy gave you credit for and her views of social strata influenced Willow's views of you.  Even if she found love, you were supposed to be her best friend.  Women don't give up best friends like that.  They're like comfortable shoes.  Ask Alexx, she's probably got friends from elementary school."  They looked at Alexx and she nodded.  "See?"  He made the kid look at him again.  "It wasn't you, it was them.  They changed and it screwed you up even worse than your parents were. You had learned to ignore them but the insidious gnawing by your friends and Snyder drove you close to suicide.  Or else Jack wouldn't have taken you into the basement with him."

"You knew?" he asked quietly.

"Of course I did. Aiden and I both knew.  We'd seen you two the night before.  The same as we heard what the others did.  One of us was *always* watching the group, Xander.  It's not like we had a lot of *work* dealing with the newly dead.  We copied and pasted for ninety-percent of everything."  Xander slumped down further and nodded.  "The same as I knew that you might not have made it out of there.  That something you said or did caused Jack to turn off that bomb."

"Bomb?" Alexx asked finally.

"Yeah, a zombied asshole decided to blow up the school one night.  Since his friends so nicely sent him away, supposedly for his own good since, you know, he was a normal guy," he said bitterly, "Jack picked him up.  Took him around."

"Raised a few of his friends, broke into the hardware store saying he was going to make a cake," Xander added quietly and flatly.

Speed noticed Alexx shivered and he looked at the boy again.  "What did you tell him?"

"The truth," he said without looking at him in the same tone of voice. "That he'd be permanently dead, no coming back again this time. That I enjoyed the quiet and I could go too."

Tim made him look at him.  "And what drove you to that point, Xander?" he asked quietly.  "It wasn't school.  You were doing good that week since I was looking over your shoulder.  Was it Rupert?  Was it Buffy and Willow?  Was it all of them?"  Xander nodded at that.  "And I bet that the five second thing with Faith earlier didn't help either," he noted gently.  Xander shook his head.  He put down his plate and pulled him closer to hug him.  "They treated you wrong, Xander.  Faith attacked you that second time."  He stroked down the limp back.  "That's why Aiden and I were watching over you.  We both agreed you had a bright future if we could get you away from Buffy and Rupert.  They were there out of duty and family to each other.  It left you out in the cold.  We knew you could be so much more. No, you're not physics smart, but you're people smart."  Xander looked at him.  "Really.  I bet if I put you with ten personality profiles and some tapes you could pick out the hunters and the serial killers."  Xander nodded at that.  "Did it at the strip club?"  Xander nodded again, looking a bit less happy.  "Had to hurt him?"

"Pretty badly.  Sorry."

"I'm not. You saved your ass.  You do what you have to do when you've got to defend yourself."  He kissed him on the forehead.  "You're going to college for at least a year. You're going to start in the humanities since that's studying people. Not history since you suck so much at it," he teased, smiling at him.  Xander nodded, looking a bit sheepish.  "But psychology might work for you.  Or Anthropology maybe.  We'll see.  And then when you're done with all the college you think you can handle, we'll work on finding you a good  job.  That's all I expect outta you.  Understood?"  Xander nodded.  "Good boy.  Now, you can work until next semester but I'd rather you not strip.  Even if you were better than me at it."

"You did?" Alexx asked.

"Yeah, some amateur nights in college for extra money."  He grinned at Xander. "You've got moves I didn't have."  Xander blushed at that.  "We good?"  Xander nodded. "Then eat, kid.  No son of mine is starving in this house.  Especially not when Alexx cooks for us."  Xander picked up his plate and still ate carefully.  "I think we'll work on your fear of women next," he reminded him dryly.  "God, those girls screwed with your head."

"Can we beat them again?" Alexx asked.

"No.  Willow's learning better and she's actually sorry.  By the way, she wants an email this week, Xander."  That got a nod and the kid ate a larger bite.  "I told you she wouldn't poison you."  He looked at his 'mother'.   "Did you feed H and Eric too?"  She nodded.  "Thank you.  Smart boy here went to look at something away from us when we were getting gas just inside the city limits."  Xander shuddered and he noticed it.  "Don't like that name?"

"I've heard it a few times."

"Sorry."  He patted him on the head.  "We'll figure out a cute nickname for you, kiddo."

"I'll, um, find a job tomorrow so I can start paying rent," he said before taking a bite of food.

"Nope, not needed.  You're saving it.  Some day I'll trust you enough to let you go buy a car and not expect you to run away again.  By the way, the old one, what happened to it?"

"Not a clue.  The engine exploded."  He shrugged and ate another bite, then the bread.  "Thank you, Alexx.  This was better than my mother did."

"It's not a problem, Xander."  She smiled at him and he gave her a sheepish grin back.  "I'm not the scary woman in the department.  That's Yelina."

"No, she'll mother him too.  After she yells for a bit.  She's got a bit of a temper for yelling," he offered to Xander, who shrugged.  He was used to it.  "She'll calm down and hug you afterward.  She gives good hugs."

"I'm not ready for hugs," he admitted before stuffing his mouth again.

"Well, when you are, you tell me," Alexx told him, getting up. "Speedy, do you need anything else tonight?"

"No, we're good.  We're going to watch some tv, see what Eric packed, then go to bed.  Thanks, Alexx."

"Not a problem, baby."  She kissed him on the forehead and patted Xander on the head, seeing the wince.  "That hurt?"  He shook his head quickly.  "Uh-huh."  She tipped his face up, looking into his eyes.  "When did you get hit in the head?"

"Few weeks ago."

"Did you get seen by someone?"

"It's a minor concussion.  No fractures."

"That wasn't what I asked and how would you know without x-rays?"

"Experience.  I hit my head a lot over the last few years."

"I'll be seeing you bright and early tomorrow," she assured him.  She walked out shaking her head.

Speed looked at him.  "She's going to fuss over that injury.  That's all I can do to stop it, man.  What happened?"

"Fight with the serial killer guy."

"He hit you on the head?"

"Yeah, about five times."  He ate another bite, then handed it over.  "I'm full."

"Bullshit.  Eat.  I mean it."  Xander sighed and took the plate back, finishing off his dinner.

"Do we need to take a trip to the ER?"

"No.  The cops said I was fine."

"Last time I knew, most of them weren't paramedics."

"Yeah, well, the guy tried to charge me with assault.  I pointed out I was the victim and why and they took a longer look at him, then some guys from New York came up to get him.  Sounded just like Aiden."  He ate another bite, chewing slowly.

"Most of New York sounds like Aiden," he admitted.  "They could've known her though. I'll have to ask when I call to see if she's talked to her buddies there."  He looked at the top of his head. "You've got a dent, Xander."

"I'm fine."

"Yeah."  He picked up the phone and called his 'mother'.  "He's got a dent there.  Do I take him or wait for you?"  He smirked.  "Thanks, Alexx."  He hung up and got up, going to put his plate in the sink, then haul Xander up and out so he could take him to the hospital.  At least Eric had kept his bike.  Xander gave him and then it a long stare.  "Yes, now.  You can hang on."  Xander sighed and got on, taking the spare helmet.  He sped off, taking him to the ER Alexx had told him to go to.  Once there he parked and drug Xander inside.  "I just went after my runaway kid and found out he had a head injury a few weeks back but he's got a dent and it hurts when touched."  The nurse gave him an odd look so he pulled his badge.  "It's not his first head injury.  I'm his guardian."

"Oh, okay.  Let me get a senior nurse to evaluate him for triage."  She pushed a button on her phone and a nurse came up.  "Tell her, officer."

"This is my kid, kinda. I'm his guardian. I just got done retrieving him and about two or three weeks ago he was hit in the head repeatedly.  It's got a dent and it's still painful to the touch.  Our ME, Alexx Woods, told me to bring him in."

"Let me check him," she agreed, bringing him back to a room.  Officers always got special treatment.  "Where was he?"

"Stripping in Canada."

"I hear it's pretty up there," she said noncommittally.

"I didn't use drugs," Xander sighed.  "It was a serial killer.  I defended myself after he knocked my stupid ass out."

"If you say so."

Xander glared at her and she took a step back. "I know damn well I didn't drink or take drugs.  I don't need it, lady.  Nor do I need this."

"And that's another problem, he's been a bit crankier than before," Speed noted dryly, leaning against a wall.  "Even Lieutenant Caine's noticed recently."

"That's understandable, he notices everything."  She got to work checking his head, then frowned at him.  "He should probably have x-rays. I can have the doctor order it."

"Please. He's on my insurance since he's going to school this spring."

She nodded and went to do that.  She also ordered a blood test so the officer would know whether or not the boy was on drugs.  Because she didn't know a stripper who didn't use drugs or alcohol to get through their day.

***

Horatio looked up as Speed came in late.  "Problems?" he asked dryly.  "Need another set of handcuffs?"

"No, he's got a skull fracture."  Horatio looked stunned. "Apparently they had an imported serial killer from New York and the guy came after him since he was a good stripper.  The nurse got sneaky and did a drug test on him too.  Nothing came up."  He headed for his locker.  "I'll make up the hours tonight.  He knows I'm going to be late. I had to drop him off at the employment office."

"He's fit to work like that?" he called after him.

"No, but he's stubborn," Speed called back.

"No, ya think?" Eric asked with a shit eating grin.  "How many pairs of handcuffs did you use today?"

"None, skull fracture and he's down at unemployment finding a job. He insisted."  He found his jacket and put it on, going to the lab.  He would worry about Xander all day but his phone was on and Xander had unbent enough to admit he'd call if he felt faint or dizzy.

Calleigh leaned in.  "He's got a skull fracture?"

"Nice one too. Complete with dents."  He looked at her.  "Serial killer loved him enough to pick him up the hard way."

"Man.  Poor kid.  Where is he?"

"Unemployment.  He's insisting he's getting a job today even though I'm not making him pay rent.  I did ask him not to strip if possible."  He grimaced and got down to work.  "Any new cases yet?"

"Two already that you missed," she said cheerfully.  "Body dumps.  We've already been and come back.  That's what you're working on."  She went to talk to Horatio, who was listening to his phone.  She smirked at him.  "Friend down there?" He nodded.  "Is he there?"

He hung up and looked at her after a quiet 'thanks'.  "He asked for the names of places looking for a bouncer or a waiter.  He's already out of the office and heading to the Gilded Lilly since it's on the top of the list."

"Speed said he asked him not to strip."

"True, but he might not have to.  He might work in the other spots."  He shrugged.  "We'll deal with this too."  He walked off, going to check on his evidence for now.  He could hear where the kid had a job later.

***

Speed walked in and sat down, looking at the food that appeared in front of his nose.  "You can cook?"

"No, but I can microwave.  That's a microwave meal, Tim."  The plate was taken and dug into.  "I'm not stripping."

"That's good.  Bouncing or waiting at one?"

"Bartending."

Speed looked back at him. "You're not old enough for that."

"He never asked."  He shrugged.  "He did warn that I might have to fill in some nights but I said that my guardian hated that I was better than him."  He went back to the kitchen.  "Soda or water?"

"Beer?"

"Nope."

"As in I don't have any or you're unwilling to let me drink?" he called, eating another bite. This wasn't bad for microwave food.  "You know I'm not going to get drunk."

"Point," he admitted, bringing one out.  "That's your last one."  He went back to the kitchen to get his dinner and came out with it.  He sat down to eat out of the container.

Speed looked at it.  "You went grocery shopping?"  Xander nodded in between bites.  "Why?"

"Because I had the energy to go and I have to start work tomorrow.  You can't live by beer alone and I don't drink."

"Good point," he offered, finishing it off.  "Did you have the rest of Alexx's stuff for lunch?"  That got a nod.  "Anyone stop by?"

"UPS."  He pointed at the package on the table.  "From Aiden."

He got up to get it, putting his plate in the kitchen and coming back to open it.  He smiled at the nice card and present inside.  "She remembered my birthday."

"So did I, dumbass.  Your cake's in the fridge.  Your boss called and wondered why you were taking an hour off tonight."  Speed looked sheepish.  "So I told him."  He finished off his fettuccine alfredo and licked off his fork, putting the box down. "I like their sauce."

Speed leaned over to taste it and nodded. "That is good.  How expensive are those?"

"About a dollar each. Just over."

"Damn, that's good."  He leaned back, opening his present with a smile.  "She got a tape."  He showed it to him.  "Wanna watch her BASE jump from a building?"

"Not really.  People go splat doing that."  Someone knocked on the door so he got up, going to let Eric in as it turned out.  "He's on the couch with Aiden's present."  He noticed the pizza and shook his head.  "I only fed him minimally and his cake's still in the fridge," he called, noticing someone else was pulling in.  He held the door open when Calleigh got out with a smile for him.  He even endured the kiss to the cheek. "Thanks.  Everyone else?"

"Will be by in about twenty minutes."  He nodded and shut the door, going to make a discreet disappearance.  She kissed Speed on the cheek.  "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks," he offered with a grin.  "Kid."

"Play with your new toy!" Xander called.

Speed just rolled his eyes.  Sometimes he wondered how the kid got along while shunning human contact. His buddies sat beside him and Eric tossed out the empty food box, giving him a long look.  "It was his.  He was going to throw it out but you knocked."  He got up to put in the tape so he could watch it, grinning at her excited, happy chatter. Apparently it was meant to be copied since she talked to him and a few buddies of hers from New York.  Then she jumped and Eric giggled at that.  "She wanted to try that but no one in Sunnydale wanted to go with her, including me."

Calleigh leaned against his arm, snuggling in.  "That's okay.  We've all got some excitement in our lives just having you back."  He grinned at her.  "Hand me a slice of pizza?"  He handed her the box and she smiled, digging out her own.  "Thank you.  Does he want some?"

"He's hiding."

"He can't be scared of us," Eric complained.  He got up to go bother the kid, tapping on his door. "Hey, Xander."  Xander opened the door, shirtless and wearing tighter than tight jeans.  "Going out?"

"Well, yeah, I was going to go out so you guys could get loud and noisy.  I call it being thoughtful."  He let Eric in.  "You can help me pick a shirt if you want."

He looked at the wardrobe. "Pick the green one."

"I wore that on stage. It does make me look hot," he admitted, pulling out the tight t-shirt and pulling it on.  He tucked it in and looked at his shoe choices, going with boots this time.  He sat down to pull them on, then grabbed his jacket and swung it on.  "Because it can get chilly at night."

"Not that cold. You'll be sweaty all night anyway."  Xander grinned and hung it back up.  "Where you headed?"

Xander pulled out his list from earlier, then showed to him.  "The starred spots."  That got a smirk and a head shake. "I can get in."

"Most of these you have to be twenty-one."

"Only to drink. I don't drink.  I had bad examples of drinking."  He looked in the mirror and messed up his hair like he had before going on stage, then looked at him again.  "I'm off."  He grabbed his wallet and keys, heading out to the living room. "I'm giving you some time off by going out to dance and have fun."  He blew past the couch with that and headed right past Horatio outside. "Going clubbing with permission, mother."

Horatio looked at him, frowning a bit.  "Uh-huh."

Speed opened the door and watched the kid go.  "Eric showed me the list.  He's got high ambitions."  He let him inside. "He'll be fine.  He can take care of himself."  He smiled at Alexx, Frank, and Yelina as they pulled up, holding the door open for them too.  "Hey.  Xander decided to go out tonight so you can get noisy."

Frank laughed.  "Some of us aren't the noisy sort, Speed."  He patted him on the cheek.  "How was your son tonight?"

"Good.  He's still claiming his head doesn't hurt."

"I hope he's not going to drink?" Alexx asked.

"With two drunk parents?  I doubt it.  He didn't wanna give me a beer earlier."  He closed the door after them, letting Yelina hug him.  "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she said happily, smiling at him.  "Happy Birthday, Speed."

"Come on and sit. Eric brought pizza."

"Of course he did," Frank agreed.  "That boy's always eating."

***

Xander walked in late that night, noticing Speed was asleep on the couch.  He gently covered him and went to his room, but got pounced about halfway there.  He instincts kicked in but something told him not to struggle. "Damn it, Tim," he complained.

"I'm not Tim," Eric complained, letting him go.  "You don't fight back?"

"You smelled familiar."

"How can you tell?  You stink."  He made the boy look at him.  "What scent is on you?"

"Club whore.  I had to duck her twice tonight at two different places. I ended up in a gay bar to get away from her."  That got a smirk.  "They were nice about it and only a few guys hit on me.  It was a good show though."  He grinned at him.  "Don't wake him up."

"Too late," Speed called.  "It's what time?"

"Time for you, as a good boy, to be in bed."  He rolled his eyes.  "I was safe and had fun, mommy.  Really."  Speed sat up to look at him. "You didn't wake up until Eric pounced, blame him."

"It's three in the morning. I still work days."

"And I work six to one starting tomorrow.  Should I start crawling in the window?  I can do that."  Speed snorted and gave him a look.  "Sorry."  He went to his room and stripped down, then stretched and slid into the cool sheets.  He'd shower in the morning.

Speed looked at Eric.  "He went where?"  The list was handed over.  "Which one is the gay bar?"

"Probably not in there.  All the bouncers I know said he didn't drink," he offered.

"Good.  I'd have kicked his ass for that."  He laid back down.  "Go back to sleep, Eric."

"Sure."  He started to head for the bedroom but the phones started going off.  "Shit."

Speed groaned and opened his.  "Speed and Delko's tired asses," he answered.  He looked at the back bedroom.  "No, I'm good and he's home.  Why can't night shift?"  He groaned and held his head.  "Thanks, H."  He hung up.  "Alexander!"   He came out of the bedroom, looking confused.  "Club whore?"

"Blonde, fake boobs, perfect teeth, smelled like she'd already had five or six guys by her breath.  Club whore."

"Who we think just turned up dead."

"Hey, I ducked into Paintings to get away from the woman.  They can verify that for me.  Need me to follow you?  She said her name was Tiffani, with an I."  Eric sniggered at that. "Yeah, less brains than me."  He shook his head. "Less brains than Buffy.  Most of the club whores at least use breath mints after giving a blow in the bathroom."  He went back to bed.  "Call me if I need to show up."

"Sure."  They headed out since they were dressed, going to deal with the dead girl.  Speed looked at the dead body, then nodded. "That fits his description."  He looked at Horatio.  "He said he went into Paintings to get away from her.  Called her a club whore with a lot of men on her breath."

Alexx looked up and nodded.  "This one wasn't some innocent baby by any means."

"DNA will have fun then," Calleigh said as she joined them.  She looked at the body.  "Interesting posing.  I doubt she fell like that."  The guys looked and shook their heads. "You think someone followed him from Canada?"

"No," Speed said.  "I don't think even the most psycho would do that."  Everyone stared at him.  "What?"

"Baby, you do know that *three* psychos went after him up there, right?" Alexx asked.

Horatio coughed and nodded. "I called the Vice unit up there to make sure he wasn't wanted for anything or being looked at for anything when we got back.  Three different people tried to take him out of that club by force.  One of them holding the others hostage.  He walked out, kicked their ass, then came back and went back to his shift, a direct quote from the Inspector."

"So, letting him work as a bartender in a strip club is going to be a bad idea?" Speed asked dryly.

"Quite possibly letting him out of the house is a bad idea," Calleigh said, patting him on the back.  "Did he get any?"

"I didn't smell anyone on him when I nearly tackled him a few minutes ago," Eric admitted.  "Just sweaty stink, no sex smells."

"Maybe the boy'll turn gay and save us some trouble," Calleigh said happily, going to process the body.

"I convinced him to take psych classes so maybe he'll end up profiling," Speed offered as he went to help her.

"Get them before they get him?" Alexx teased.  "That boy of yours is bad," she assured him.

"And in the club, he's very bad," Eric said with a smirk.  "The bouncers all said he had a lot of fun without doing anything naughty."  He went to process the ground around them.  "H?  Matchbook," he announced, taking pictures of it. "How was he handling the striping, Speed?"

"Caffeine and maple syrup.  He said it made him fuzzy and high feeling.  He's a sugar ho."  He found a hair and put it into a small envelope, writing on it.  "Should I tell you if he ends up doing it one night so you can go watch?  Get some tips?" he taunted.

"Yeah, that'll be the day," Eric snorted.  "I move very well on the dance floor already."

"Good, then he can go clubbing with you and you can keep each other out of trouble and away from women who might hurt you," Calleigh said, smiling sweetly at him.  "Since you draw nearly as bad as he does, Eric."

"Children," Horatio warned tolerantly.  "The field lights will only last so long."  He took the other side of the perimeter to look over, finding a few shoe prints that way as well.  It was a park but these were fresh.

***

Xander woke up to a shove, looking up at his guardian.  "What time is it?"

"Noon."  He handed him something.  "That the girl who you had to duck?"  Xander looked at the picture and nodded.  "Thanks. You should probably get up soon."

"Good point," he yawned, getting up and heading for the shower.  He didn't even notice the blush.

"Put some clothes on if you're outside of your room," he called, going to call Horatio and tell him it was a positive ID on the body.  Xander came out a few minutes later in a pair of sweat pants and a towel around his neck.  "Thank you."

"Didn't realize, sorry."

"Not an issue this time.  You'll be happy to know you're not a suspect.  She had sixteen different DNA samples on her body."  Xander shuddered at that, you could see him in the kitchen making toast.  "Eat real food."

"I am."  He came out with his toast and honey, sitting down to look at him.  "Checking up on me?"

"No, I came home to eat."  He sat down with his sandwich, looking at him.  "What're you wearing tonight?"

"Uniform is dark blue or black t-shirt and black jeans.  Tight is fine. I was told it'd get me better tips."  He shrugged and ate another bite. "I need to find a new pair of jeans.  My black ones are nearly obscene and I don't want to look that desperate my first night."

"Define obscene."

"As in I have to baby powder myself to get into them, even a thong shows up, and you can see the circumcision scar."  He ate another bite.  "Obscene.  I got them for a photo shoot to promote the club."

"Uh-huh.  Yeah, you should probably find something a bit less tight.  I'll drop you off on the way in."

"I hear you guys have public transportation," he noted dryly.

"Don't be a smart ass, kid.  That's my job."

"Sorry.  I can handle a bus.  I was told which one to take and where to go."

"You told them where we live?"

"No, but I asked from the station.  I figured I could get one there and head out."

"Good point.  Good idea too.  By the way, three psychos?  Hostage situation?  Going to mention any of these?"

"Nope," Xander said with a smirk.  "I'm not quite that dumb.  Let me guess, Inspector Ferris?"  Speed nodded.  "You?"

"H."

"Ah.   He's a nice guy.  I liked him.  He believed me about defending myself."

"Good."  He looked him over. "How's your head?"

"Fine as long as I'm not pressing on it."  He finished his toast and got up.  "Let me change into real clothes."  He came out a few minutest later putting on a shirt over his usual jeans.  Speed stopped him and tapped the patch on his chest.  "Anti-nausea.  The docs prescribed it."

"I don't remember getting that filled."

"I did."

"I could have."

Xander grinned at him.  "Don't whine at me.  It won't do you any good to argue about this point.  Trust me on this.  You've just hit the Xander wall of stubbornness."   He sat down then got up and smoothed down his jeans and sat again.  "Sorry, been a while since I wore these.  They're stiff."

"I've had jeans come out like that," he agreed, shaking his head and finishing his lunch.  "Need money?"

"No, I have money."

"From...."

"My last paycheck, after translated into American, was nearly two grand, plus the deposit back on my apartment up there?  Plus I'm expecting the last formal paycheck to be in General Delivery today."

"Why did you have them send it General Delivery?"

"Because I didn't know your address.  I talked to the boss on the way out."

"I can drop you there.  It's the same bus line, just follow the numbers."

"Sure.  I can do that."  He stood up and made sure he had his keys.  "So, I'm coming in the window tonight, right?  That way you don't have to get up?"

"Use the door.  Those plants will stick you."

"I can handle plants, I tested it earlier when I woke up needing the bathroom."  He checked his pockets and headed out with him.  "He let you borrow the hummer?"

"We've got three at the office.  One's Horatio's the others are general use."  He watched as Xander climbed in, grinning at him. "It takes practice."

"Can I borrow it for a date?"

"Nope.  If we can't, you can't."  He started the engine and backed down the parking lot so he could turn around.  "Main post office, right?" Xander nodded so he headed that way.  He'd just barely make it to work on time with some luck.

***

Xander came in that night smirking at his guardian.  "You didn't have to wait up."  Speed looked up from his book, then frowned at the clock. "Ah, you got lost."

"Yeah, I got lost."  He marked his spot and got up, looking at the boy's outfit.  "That's nearly selling it tight," he noted calmly.

"Yeah, and it got me seven hundred in tips," he said dryly, smirking at him. "My former boss was very nice.  He had it changed into an American money order for me.  He also sent me an offer to work in a friend's club down here for major bucks.  You guys make better tips down here than we did in Montreal."

"Well, yeah, there's more rich people down here looking for an easy piece of ass."  He looked the kid over again.  "Which you look like."

"Sorry."  He walked past him.

"Thong?" he called.

"Yup.  Technically a stripper's pouch but it works."

"Did you end up on stage?"

"No, just doing drinks.  All the guys showed up tonight."  He came out in the same pair of sweats and shirtless, sitting on the couch to look at him.  "I should probably get a bank account instead of leaving stuff here, right?"  Speed nodded at that.  "Any particular branch?"

"I like mine.  I'll drop you off there at lunch tomorrow."

"Sure."  He grinned at him.  "My last two commissions came in on this paycheck that I got today."

"How much was it?"  Xander handed over his copy and he blinked.  "What sort of high roller...."  He looked at Xander, who was smirking.  "One of the psychos?"  He held up two fingers.  "Two of the psychos?  Privates?"

"One private, one hot tub.  The other just kept buying me drinks, which I was doing virgin.  I can act drunk very well.  Which was why I was able to get away from him the next night when he tried to take us hostage."  He smirked again.  "You worry way too much."

"Will you have to go back to testify?"

"No.  They cut deals.  By then, Inspector Ferris was watching the club to see who was drawn to me.  He guilt tripped the third into confessing when he mentioned how someone had soiled his little innocent, white dove after he had picked him up.  The man lost it and went off, throwing the table at him, but he confessed to what he had been doing."

"I'll warn H any night you end up on stage."  He handed back the copy of the money order.  "We should both be in bed by now."

"We should," Xander agreed.  "Do you think I'll like psychology?"

"I think you will. It's all about people and watching people to understand them. You'll get into some stuff on experiments and things but nothing too heavy probably."  Xander nodded, looking a bit happy at that.  "You can go up tomorrow after you set up a bank account to talk to them."

"Sure.  I went up there this afternoon to formally admit I was coming in January.  They seemed happy.  I also filed for financial aid since I'll be damned if you're paying my way."  He got up and headed to his bedroom, closing the door. "Night, Tim."

"Night, Xander."  He shook his head.  "Brat," he muttered.  Then again, with his paychecks and tips?  He could probably afford his own tuition and books.  Since he wouldn't be living in the dorms or rushing a frat.

***

Speed got the call he had been dreading six weeks later, grimacing at Xander's cheerful voice.  "Should I send someone down to watch you?"  He snorted and nodded.  "Sure, kid.  Thanks."  He hung up and went to find Horatio, who was with Frank.  "He's going to end up dancing tonight.   Should I send Calleigh or Eric?"

"The kid dances?" Frank Tripp asked.

"Yeah, better than I ever did," Speed admitted.  "Technically he's a bartender but he's subbing for a missing guy tonight."  He looked at Horatio, then shrugged.  "I'm guessing there's a reason why Inspector Ferris used to sit in the club to watch his clients."

"Send Eric," he said calmly. "He wanted to go out tonight anyway."  Speed nodded and he shook his head as the younger man walked off, smirking at the detective.  "The boy does draw them, Frank.  I don't know why.  Hopefully Eric can tell us."

"Hopefully.  We've got enough deranged people in this city already."  He walked off shaking his head.

Speed leaned into Eric's lab.  "You're on tonight to watch my son dance."  Eric gave him a stare.  "Seriously.  Since we know that psychos like him."  He grinned at him.  "You'll have fun and H said you were going out anyway when he told me to tell you."  He went back to work. "He's going on in an hour, swing shift," he called as he walked.

"Damn it," he muttered.  He called his date.  "Hi, it's Eric.  No, I've got to watch over some guy who's going to be doing his first night stripping tonight.  No, one of the other guy's kids, kinda.  He's guardian over the kid.  No, he draws a lot of the wrong attention. Sure, if you want I can take you," he promised, it was looking up on his getting laid that night.  "Sure.  He starts in an hour so...."  He nodded, smirking more wickedly now.  "Sure thing.  See you then."  He hung up and went to get the club's address from Speed, and then shower and change.

***

Eric trudged into the apartment after the kid that night, waking Speed up.  "I hate you," he told him.

"Sorry," Xander said wearily, heading for his room.  "I need a shower."

"Yeah, you do," Speed called as he watched his son walk.  "Bad night?"

"My date got into a catfight with a bachelorette party about who got to buy him drinks, Speed.  He went to them as a favor for the manager but winked at my date.  She went home to her vibrator and thoughts of your kid."  He flopped down, looking at him.  "I don't move that way.  I don't think I could."

Speed patted him on the back.  "Like I said, he does it better than I do. How did he do tonight in tips?"

"Oh, man," he moaned, shaking his head.  "Your son's a horrible flirt.  He dick teased two different pimps looking after their boys on the stage for the open pole competition.  One of them nearly offered him a job."

"I held off," Xander called as he came out, putting something in front of his guardian and Eric.  "My tips, I haven't counted 'em yet.  The other guys liked me.  I did long sets and gave them a break to rest and shower."  He curled up in a corner of the couch.  "I did slip once tonight and have a drink but that's because the replacement bartender didn't know that I only drank virgin drinks. He gave me a horrified look and I pointed out I didn't like drunks.  They were easily led, like some of the patrons.  Fortunately I did this in the manager's office when I complained.  The manager agreed, I'm not to drink since I ended up nearly choking on my drink.  But I like my virgin cranberry slushies."

"Supposedly with vodka," Eric told him, shaking his head. "My date bought him four after the bachelorette party got done with him."

"Sorry, man.  Didn't mean to ruin your chances tonight."  He opened up the pouch and poured out the fives and ones.  And a few bigger ones.  He settled in to couch, then smirked a bit.  "I didn't break off my greatest stuff but it was a good night," he decided.

"You're buying dinner tomorrow since you're off," Speed ordered, looking at him.  "You are off, right?"

"Yeah, and the manager said I can fill in any time I want."

"Fine.  Just warn me first.  Any new psychos?"

"The bride-to-be offered me the opportunity to run to the Carribean with her on her boat so she wouldn't marry the horrible man who wanted her to have babies.  I discouraged her by cooing over the thought of babies.  That's why they left early."  Eric snorted and giggled at that, shaking his head.  "Eric's date wasn't too solidly mentally able either."  Speed smirked at Eric for that. "She wanted to cast me in bronze but she said she'd have to make a bunch of molds before she poured the liquid metal over me to capture my perfection.  I corrected her by saying that it would burn me and therefore ruin the perfection.  She pouted.  She was already quite drunk by then. I think that was drink ten for her.

"We put her into a cab and sent her home a few minutes later while she babbled about her pretty purple vibrator and her pretty violet vibrator and how she'd use both so it was like Eric and I were both with her tonight."  Eric snickered at that, again shaking his head.  "Then there was the very nice, clean cut, decent, upstanding looking guy who was very clearly bad for me.  He wanted me to strip and call him daddy during the private I did with him.  It earned me a tip I'll see on my paycheck since his came out of his platinum card."  Eric looked at him. "Yeah, that nice, clean cut guy in the corner.  He wanted to spank me too and I had to remind him *constantly* about the no touching rule.  He didn't like that I was so firm on it, but yay.  He's the only one I'd watch out for. He was completely sober and looked sane and smart."

"I'll watch for clean cut guys coming up to the station or the house," Speed offered dryly, shaking his head.  "Did you have fun?"

"I did but I'm stiff and sore," he complained, working on his muscles in one calf.  "I forgot how tiring dancing was since I didn't do it for weeks."

"He did look good," Eric admitted.  "By the way, did you know they taped everyone tonight?"

"Yeah, why?" Xander asked carefully.

"I picked one up for Calleigh."   He grinned and got up, running out.

"Like I care.  She can drool and not touch too," Xander said with a shrug.

"You know her, that doesn't bother you?"

"I doubt she'd go for me anyway," he noted dryly.  "I'm not her sort of guy."

"Good point," he admitted.  He patted his lap.  "Put the leg up here, I remember that ache."

"It's not as bad as the drag one I did," he offered as he shifted around.  "That wasn't a very fun night.  A drag strip night is no one's friend and I salute the women in those thigh- high boots and heels."  Speed just stared at him.  "The boss's idea, not mine.  We had a transvestite and cross-dresser's convention in town and did it for them.  Some of them made much better women than I do."

"Hopefully so," he agreed, attacking the tense calf muscles.  "Thigh high boots?"  Xander got up and went to get the pictures, then handed them over and let him have his legs again. Speed looked at the pictures, then at him. "Was that before or after you started?"

"Before.  I could get out of one of those slowly.  I couldn't do it with a dress, not even one with velcro closures."  Tim shuddered and handed it back so he put it on the coffee table on top of his tips.  "Anything good happen in the world of crime while I was taking my clothes off and shaking it for dough?"

"Not really.  We found out who took down the girl you had to run from."  He went back to the tense calves, making the boy groan, moan, and eventually fall asleep.  He smirked at him and let him go, covering him up so he could rest.  Then he went to bed.

***

Speed looked up as Xander coughed, staring at him.  "I thought you were kidding about those being that tight.  Low tip night?"

"Check night.  Lots and lots of tips to be had tonight and the manager ordered us to work for them for the good of the club."  He shrugged.  He handed over something.  "From Aiden.  I'm not sure what.  She called to say it was coming and to bring it directly to you."

"Sure."  He opened the envelope, smirking at Frank and H as they walked past.  "From Aiden."  He looked at the note, then at the kid.  He turned the picture around. "Is that the clean-cut guy who keeps showing up to tip you and makes you call him daddy?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  H!"  He came back, blinking a few times at Xander's outfit.  "Here, from Aiden.  He's traveling and picking up stray young men to hurt."  He looked at his son.  "You're bartending tonight, right?"

Xander shrugged. "If you need me to, I can strip.  I'm good with that."  Frank just gaped at him.  "Oh, please, the guy's drawn to my ass and abs."  He took the note to look at since Horatio was just staring at it.  "Yeah, he's tried to get me to touch him a lot, even when I'm bartending.  The last time he caught me behind the bar he asked if I was sitting out because I was having my cycle."  He shrugged and handed it back, looking at him.  "Am I dancing tonight or not?"

"Dance tonight, I want this man," Horatio decided.  "Don't warn your manager we'll be there."

"That's cool.  I will be warning one dancer not to smoke his joint tonight."  That got a smirk.  "I get on a sugar high and he gets high.  It works for us."  He looked at Frank.  "Are you sure you'll be okay tonight?"

"I've seen strippers before."

"Okay, your deal," he agreed.  He shrugged and headed out to his new car, which Tim still hadn't figured out was his, and went to the club.  He pulled his manager aside once he had seen him and drooled. "I wanna dance tonight," he said with a small pout.  "My *favorite* person is coming in and so is one of my guardian's bosses and he wanted me to ham it up for him."

"Isn't your guardian a cop?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm going to tell Tommy not to blow it tonight."  He shrugged.  "He's here so my guardian can plan his surprise party.  Can I?"

"Can you wear those?"

"I can't get out of them gracefully.  If I could, I would."

"Fine.  Put them on between?"

"I have to baby powder to get into them."

"So?"

"Point.  Okay."  He shrugged and went to change, smiling at the dancers.  "Guys one of my guardian's bosses is coming in tonight so he has time to plan his surprise party.  Fair warning."  The drugs got put away.  He normally didn't care, but that was only fair and he had told Horatio he was going to warn.

"Just the one?" one guy asked.

"As far as I was told," he agreed, smiling at him.  "My guardian's friends are pretty straight, but kinda funny and nice."

"I remember that one who came the first time you danced.  Why do they come?" one guy asked.  "Are you dangerous?" he asked with a smirk.

"When I was dancing in Montreal, I had a problem with a psycho bastard who clubbed me in the head repeatedly one night.  It was me being worried."  He shimmied out of his pants and then sat down to lotion his legs to get rid of the baby powder traces.  Then he pulled out his favorite outfit and pulled out his CD case.  One got lifted out and handed to the DJ when he came in to collect it, getting a moan. He smirked and winked.  "I'm being a good boy.  It's a long set so they can rest and relax."

"Thank you," one of the guys said.  "It gives us time to sell more drinks."

"Welcome."  Xander slid on the black PVC pants and the tighter than tight t-shirt he'd be taking off later, then sat down at the light table to apply his eyeliner and lip gloss, plus just a hint of blush on his cheeks, just barely darker than his skin tone to highlight and make them stick out.  Then he put on his sandals since he wasn't about to walk around barefoot out there and closed his locker.  He headed for the kitchen area, finding his maple syrup already out with a coke.  He mixed them together and gagged down the strong liquid sugar,  moaning as it kicked in.  He headed back to the stage area.  He did this one barefooted.  He saw his client come in as he warmed up, then Horatio came in.  Eric was already in a dark corner with Calleigh, he always brought a date when he came in to watch over him so it looked better.  Horatio looked dangerous tonight, which was inspiring.  It seemed he did own more than a few suits for work.  Those leather pants were nearly as criminal as the jeans in his locker.

He looked at the board and got out of the way of the first few people.  He caught his client's eye and winked, getting a hidden smile and a blown kiss.  He mouthed 'daddy' and winked again, then went back to stretching against the wall.  Pretty soon it was his turn and he kicked off his sandals, strolling out there to his intro music, grabbing the pole to lean on and act like he was dancing with a partner. Then he spun away from it and started dancing for real, making eye contact with his client, then looking away at the guys near him.  He saw Frank Tripp's eyes widen and teased him mercilessly while he pulled his shirt off, leaving it for him.  He teased Speed, who was shaking his head, but holding up a five with a grin.  His client came closer and he danced over to him as his music changed to something more sultry and slower, something with a deep jazz undertone.  It made him sway more and dance less, but it gave him the opportunity to take off the pants and just focus on him.  He got a nice tip with a wink and he moved to let him see better, keeping eye contact.  He glanced toward the private rooms then danced off with a small smirk, brooding back at Frank Tripp, who just undid his top button and loosened his tie.

His third song came on and it was basically one long, breathy moan of music.  Again against the pole, leaning on it, grabbing and clutching it as he moved, using it as his imaginary partner.  He ended on his knees panting for real, he was tired, when the music ended.  He smiled at his customers, catching Horatio's eyes and then glancing toward the private rooms.  The pants were handed to him by one of the bouncers who'd collect the thrown tips.  They weren't allowed to let the customers put them in g-strings thanks to state law.   He wiped down quickly with baby wipes, getting his face too.  He made sure all his makeup was off then wiggled back into his jeans, moaning as he zipped them.  "Too much lunch," he complained.

One of the other guys pouted at him.  "Damn, baby, if I was doing tricks tonight, I'd make tons off you."

He just grinned sweetly.  "You can have all the ones who ask me for some."  That got a laugh and he put on his boots again, and that sinfully tight t-shirt.  He came out and the manager nodded toward the privates, handing him the door tag to show it was in use.  "Fank you.  Which one?"

"Your usual.  The others?" he asked quietly.

"He's been a bit naughty but he does want me to spank him."  He walked up there, swaying his hips in tune with the music presently on.   He walked behind Frank Tripp's seat, running his finger along his collar and earning a shiver in response.  He was the consummate tease to make such a straight guy ache.  He walked into his private room, seeing the scowl.  "I have to do laundry, daddy, I'm sorry if I don't please you," he said with a small pout.

"No, the outfit is fine, son, but you were teasing that redhead in the leather pants."

"Well, it is my job to make him thirsty from drooling."  He moved closer.  "What did you want tonight, daddy?" he asked, smiling at him.  "A dance?"  That got a moan. "I can't strip off in these but I'll gladly dance."  That got a nod and a swallow.  He turned on the speakers for the music downstairs and started to hum it along with how he was moving.  The man tried to grab him and he swatted him.  "Naughty, daddy, you know better."  He smiled and moved closer, going back to his teasing.

"I would give you much better tips if you would let me touch," he offered, pulling out a fifty.

Xander shook his head.  "I'm a good boy, daddy.  That's why I'm still," he gasped as he moved wrong, but made it look like pleasure, "pure."  The man moaned again and tried to touch again so he backed off. "You know better.  If they catch you, you're gonna be in trouble, daddy, and then I won't get to spank."

"Would you?" he pleaded, his voice harsh in his ears.  "Please?"

"I'd have to ask.  The manager would have to approve."  The man nodded so he pushed the button for the waiter.  "He wants to ask a technical question," he said, winking at Speed since it was him.  "About what I'm allowed to do to myself."  Speed nodded and seemed to disappear.  The manager and Horatio came up.  Horatio stayed in the stairwell, but the manager came in and he closed the door, turning the knob so it wasn't really closed, holding it that way.  "He wants me to spank him, boss, is that against the rules? It's not sex and it's not sexual as far as I know."

"I don't know."  He considered him.  "That would be costly.  I remember when we had a punishment room a few years back and it was like five hundred for that.  I tell you what, he can do a ten minute spanking for a hundred fifty."  The man peeled off three fifties and handed them over.  "Go for it, Darkness."  He left and the cops nodded at him to move.  "Oh, let him first," he whispered as he walked off, complaining the whole way down.

Xander smiled at him. "Daddy, you're very overdressed for a spanking," he said with a teasing smile.  "Come on.  Up and strip," he ordered.  He moved closer, leaving the door open a crack.  "Or no spanking."  The man started on his tie.  "Ah!" he said when it was thrown.  "Neatly!  You do not mess up my room!  You know better than that!"  The man whimpered and nodded, carefully folding each piece as it came off.  Xander sat down and patted his lap.  "Here, daddy, now.  You've been a very naughty daddy."  He moaned and laid across his lap, letting Xander have the perfect angle to beat the shit out of him for making him do this.  By the end he was bawling and Xander was patting the back of his head.  "Um, dears in the hallway," he called.  They came in, guns drawn.  "I don't think he's going to be a problem."  He forced the man to stand up and handed him over to Frank.  "There you go, and there's his stuff," he said, pointing at it.  "He folds very well."  He tipped his face up.  "Are you a bad man in multiple cities?  If you tell me I might volunteer to visit now and then."  He swallowed and nodded.  "You are?  Will you tell my big studmuffin actual daddy here what you did?" he asked, nodding at Speed.  That got a moan and a nod.  "Good boy, daddy."  He blew a kiss.  "You have a good night and let him warn the guys that you're a bit sore tonight for playtime."  He strolled out, taking his coke from the bartender.  "Thank you."  He looked at the manager, who was panting over his outfit again.  "Want me back on stage, boss?"

"Go stand outside and draw people in, Darkness."  Xander took his coke and straw out, going to sit outside and cool off, he was still sweaty.  Spanking was really heavy work.

Horatio stopped beside him. "I didn't think you'd let him get that far."

"You never told me anything to say to get you guys in there. I expected you guys to come in at the first spank."  He sipped his drink and put it down beside him, then stood up and stretched, then sat down again.  "So, how bad was I?" he asked as Frank Tripp came out, which got a spluttered choke.  "Sorry, Detective."

"My wife won't be," he assured him, walking off shaking his head.

Xander smirked at Horatio.  "So, I notice the clothes.  Used to?"

"During college now and then as a dare."  He looked him over.  "I thought that outfit was bad before.  Don't wear it to the office if you can help it."

"Yes, mom."

Horatio smirked at him.  "Thanks, son. You did good.  Now I see why Speed makes someone come to watch you."  He walked off, going to take his suspect in.

Xander yawned and got up, leaning against the building once they were gone, sipping his coke delicately through the straw.  More than one car pulled in and went inside based on his outfit.

***

Speed walked into the apartment, looking at him.  "Damn," he said, staring at Xander in awe.  "Much better than me."

Xander just smirked and held up his tip bag for the night.  "I think I'll have the car repainted."

"I noticed you had one."  He sat down to look inside, then at him.  "That's all you made?"

"No, that's all in bigger bills, I cashed out the smaller ones for change for the other guys."  He grinned and upended it, showing his stash of the night.  Speed blinked at the fifties and hundreds, then at him. "Check night. After you guys left, my usual two pimps came in to fight over me and buy me slushies, and then a few couples who needed...inspiration came in mentioning Frank Tripp's name. I'm happy to say that I might be the cause of conception."  Speed snickered at that.  "The boss didn't mind at all.  He's thinking about marketing it through one of the local sex therapists."  He stretched then winced.  "Ow.  I did my back harm during my first private. I needed to stretch better.  It's been months since I did that one."

"Flip over, Darkness."  Xander grinned at him.  "It suits you.  Flip."  Xander flipped over and let him get to his back.  "You did good, even if you did have to go sanitize your hands after you spanked his mangy ass.  By the way, he killed fifteen other 'sons'.  They're playing state roulette with him right now.  He wants to stay so you can visit him."

"I said maybe, not definitely," he reminded him, moaning a bit.  "There."

Speed worked on that area, earning a growl and a hiss for it.  "You need a professional or H.  He gives really good backrubs.  Calleigh's gotten about ten over the years.  I got one on my arm one year."

"He probably charges a fortune and I don't want to seem like him hinting.  Besides, I might have to call off tomorrow.  My boss sent me home after my third time on stage basically became a hands-and-knees show when it twinged wrong during a hip swing."  He rolled his shoulders.  "I'm getting too old for this."

Speed laughed and spanked him.  "College starts in a month.  Nothing says you have to keep working, Xander."

"I do.  Otherwise I'll be bored and feel like I'm being kept."  He looked at him.  "I'm good on financial aid this semester and this summer, but once the new year starts they'll have to count this income."

"Strip clubs don't really report to the IRS," he noted dryly.  "It's under the table money."

"Nope.  I was told to expect a W-2. So I'll have to do my taxes this year."  He sat up and then flopped back down. "I think I'll sleep here."

"Sure."  He got up and covered him, then put the tip money back, doing a quick count. "That's tuition, for the year."

Xander looked at him.  "Remind me I can't spend it all on dates then," he said dryly.  He closed his eyes and put his head down.  "Night, Speed.  Thanks."

"Welcome.  Next time we're giving you a code word.  Horatio said he forgot."  He went to his room, smiling at his son's snores a few minutes later.  His poor baby.  Now he knew how Alexx felt whenever he got hurt in a humorous way.

***

Xander limped into the station the next afternoon, handing his father a note from the ER.  "I'm going home," he said quietly.  "The car is out front.  I'm not supposed to drive and I let the nice cop there who was hurrying out to get back to shift drive me."  He nodded at Ryan Wolfe when he came up.  "Hey.  I'm going to go collapse with my pain killers now."  He wandered off, letting the receptionist call him a cab.  He made it inside and down onto the couch but no further.  That's why he didn't see what was waiting in his room.

***

Horatio walked into Speed's lab, closing the door. "Is the kid okay?"

"Threw his back," he admitted, handing him the note.  "I've got to give that to his boss on the way home. I already called him."

"I heard."  He handed it back after looking it over.  "The reason I ask is that the guy from New York got free."  Speed went still and stared at him.  "And Xander's not answering the phone."

"According to the discharge papers, they gave him flexaril and some pain killers."  He patted himself down. "I can go check."

"You do that," he agreed, looking worried.  "Maybe he's fine and just asleep but I'd rather know.  Taylor and his crew are coming."

"Good.  I'll call Aiden to tell her to call down here."  He headed out, going for his bike instead of Xander's car.  Though he would have to get someone to drive it home for the kid.  He broke about every speed law in the books on the way home, finding an unfamiliar car in his spot.  He drew his weapon and got off his bike, heading toward his front door.  He listened, hearing the snores, and tried the knob, finding it unlocked.  "Miami Dade PD!" he shouted as he entered.  Aiden gave him an amused look.  "You don't knock?"

"Not when our son here is in trouble."  She motioned him closer and he put up his gun, following her.  She pointed at the gayly wrapped presents and the note on the mirror.  "You tell me who that is."

"I don't have a clue."  He called the office.  "Hey, H.  There's presents on Xander's bed and writing on his mirror.  No, his window's closed, but Aiden's here.  I found her here.  Sure, drive his car over.  The keys are in my locker."  He hung up and looked at her.  "By the way, some of your buddies are coming down for his last psycho, the one you warned us about.  He liked the son."  Then he grinned.  "And our son is a merciless tease when he strips."

"He is?  Still?"

"Still, but he threw his back, hence the snoring."  He walked out with her, hearing a car pull in very fast.  "That's not us."  He looked out the door, seeing the man coming out.  "Ah, it's Mac, Danny, and Flack."

"Oooh."  She bounced out to hug her two friends.  "Hi, guys."

"Aiden!" Danny said happily, pounding her on the back.

"Hand her over, greedy!" Don Flack demanded, taking his share of the hugs.  "What're you doing down there?"

"I came to check on the near-son.  One of my psychos in Seattle wanted boys like him.  Since he's stripping until he starts college next month.... My near-son draws psychos."

"We heard they got cooperation from a stripper to catch him last night. That's why we're here," Mac Taylor said, looking at her.  "You look happier, Aiden."

"Hey, after Sunnydale, anything's good.  Flipping burgers would be good.  Seattle's wonderful and full of guys who think I'm cute."  She led them inside.  "Speed.  Where's the near-son?"

"Showering off the pain killers."  He came out of the kitchen.  "I put on coffee.  Flack, Danny, Taylor," he said with a nod.

"She said you were alive," Danny said, pulling him closer for a hug.  "I missed ya while you were gone."

"Long flight?" he teased, getting free and punching him on the arm.  "Horatio's on his way over.  Do the presents wrapped in bunny paper mean anything to you guys?"  Flack stiffened.  "The kid's bedroom."  He led the way there then went to let Horatio and the others in.  "They got here first.  Aiden was here when I got here.  They're looking at his room."  Someone squealed, Aiden.  "Sorry.  Put on some clothes, Xander."

"Damn it, never someone I want when I'm naked," Xander complained as he came out in his sweat pants, moving very slowly and carefully.  "What's with the presents?"

"One of your other fan club members," Eric teased.  He patted him on the arm. "Go sit.  We'll see if anything's missing."

"If he took my clothes, I'm making him buy me new ones," Xander called.  He sat down with a wince and a hiss.  Frank just grinned at him.  "Oh, quit, I threw it out last night during my private with spanky."

"My wife said thank you for that.  It was a nice night."

"Hey, I helped one couple to conceive," he offered dryly.  "Yo, Tim, did you drop my excuse off?"

"I'll do it on the way back," he called. "Not like you're going back anyway."

"I should.  I'll be bored and get into trouble."

"Yeah, like you haven't already," Aiden teased, coming out to kiss him on the head, earning a wince.  "What happened?"

"Psycho number one who hit me repeatedly on the head.  They said I have a few new cracks.  They're mostly healed but the dent still hurts.  You can kiss anywhere else though," he offered with a smirk.  "Ooooh."  He got up with a wide-eyed gasp of pain but made it to the DVD cabinet, finding the one he wanted.  "He wants this back but they taped one night."

"They taped last night too," Frank assured him.  "How much you make anyway?"

"Tuition," Speed said as he came out.  "Go ahead and use the one in my bedroom for that, Aiden. He's track six."  She nodded and went that way, squealing a few minutes later.  He nudged his son awake again.  "Food?"

"Not hungry.  I'd have to eliminate and that'd require getting up again."  He curled up in his corner, more comfortable sitting up.

"You could lay down."

"This is comfy enough. It doesn't hurt."

"What did you do?" Horatio asked as he came out.

"Swayed wrong during my private with the pervert."  He looked up at him.  "He didn't realize it and I need to stretch better.  I haven't done that one set in months.  It tends to make people get off spontaneously."

Flack came out blushing, shaking his head quickly.  "So, you're Speed and Aiden's love child?"

He waved a hand weakly.  "Xander, from Sunnydale.  Speed and Aiden decided I might as well be theirs after they drove off the biological hazards, I mean parents."  That got a smirk.  "Sorry, I threw my back last night.  I'm a bit stoned on the pain killers and flexaril."  He put his head back down.

"Xander, lean against the wall for me," Horatio ordered.  He helped the boy up and checked his back, then attacked just the right spot, making him go weak-kneed and moan.  The knot relaxed under him and the boy moaned, slumping against the wall.  "Now sleep."  The boy nodded, going back to his perch in the corner.  "No, stretch out."

"That leaves no room for others.  I'll nap on the bed when you're all done."  He closed his eyes.  "Thanks, mom."

"Welcome."  He went back to check on them, ignoring the amused looks Flack was giving him.

"Long running joke," Speed said dryly, shaking his head at the first snore.  "And he doesn't get any quieter either."  Aiden came out and hugged him, whispering that she wanted a copy.  "I should go hand in his excuse so he can have his copy from last night."

"Oooh, can I?"

"No, they don't know you there."

"Go ahead, Speed, since you can't process," Horatio called.

"Sure, be right back.  Coffee's on, guys."  He headed to the strip club on his bike, nodding at the bouncer and waving the excuse.  "Xander's."

"He okay?"

"Threw his back during that private with the spanking star."  The bouncer smirked and let him inside.  He headed for the office, handing it to the manager.  "Xander's."

"He okay?"

"Nope.  And he came home to mysterious presents."  The man looked stunned.  "In bunny paper."

"That's some sick bastard who was working up north!"

"Yeah, I know, he's the guy who tried to get him in Canada.  Well, one of the guys," he admitted dryly.  "Besides, he starts college next month.  I'm not sure if he'll be able to come back full time with his back.  Maybe some special nights?"

"That'll work for me.  Here," he said, getting up and going to his safe, pulling out three DVDs.  "His last three performances.  I've been meaning to give them to him."

"Including last night?"

"Oh, yes.  Who was that redhead who gave him that long stare?"

"My boss."  He grinned at him.  "Lieutenant Caine is very good at going undercover at times."

"I'll keep that in mind.  You want into his locker?"

"If you wouldn't mind. It could probably used washed."

"Of course. I'll have his check at the usual time and make sure he's got all his credit card tips on it."

"Thanks.  He made tuition last night," he said in awe.  "When I did some amateur nights, I never made over a few hundred, that was including the prize."

The manager smiled.  "This is whale central down here, Detective."  He led him back there, opening the locker for him.  "There you go.  And I know that isn't his," he said, taking the cocaine to put in his pocket.  "Philip is where?" he yelled.

"On stage," one of the bouncers called.  He came in.  "Problems?"  The cocaine was held up.  "Yeah, he said his boyfriend was coming in so he was stashing it in there for tonight.  He knew no one'd ever look in Xander's locker, boss."

"Yeah, tell him I did," Speed assured him dryly, holding out a hand. The cocaine was handed over.  "Thanks.  You can tell him to get his thrills some other way too."  The manager laughed and nodded, letting him pack everything into the bag, including the DVDs.  Then he checked one last time for any hidden areas, coming up with a false panel.  He looked in it, then at him, getting out of the way.  "Something he didn't tell me?"

"One of his clients his first month here.  He quit coming in though."  He shrugged and gathered up the jewelry.  "The guy wanted him to be pierced and be his bitch basically, Detective.  He told him no repeatedly. I don't think he wanted you to worry."  He handed over the jewelry with a smile. "Tell him I hope his back is better."

"Horatio got the knot out earlier, I'm hoping he can walk. He was sleeping sitting up."  He grinned and walked out the back door, walking around to get on his bike and head home.  He walked in and tossed Horatio the cocaine.  "One of the other dancer's boyfriends was coming in tonight so he hid his stash in Xander's locker.  Because the bouncer admitted no one there would ever think the kid would use it."

Xander gave him a bleary look.  "Philip did what?"  Horatio held up the bag.  He just nodded.  "Flush the shit. That's what I did the last time."  He looked at Speed.  Then at the bag, then back at him. "You packed my locker?"

"I figured it could use a wash, kid."  He handed it over but dug out the DVDs to show him. "Your last three times.  Your check'll be ready at the usual time and you can go back for special nights, okay?"

"Good with me," he admitted, closing his eyes again, then they snapped open.  "Oh, shit."

"The jewelry?  Yeah, kinda," he agreed, handing over that stash from his pocket too.  "A mysterious customer who didn't come in after we caught him piercing another kid before killing him."

"Oops," Xander said, snuggling down into Aiden's side.  "Mommy?"

"No, son, this is not going to go well," Horatio said dryly.

Aiden just looked at him for a moment. "Hey, I gave birth to him.  I'm mommy, you're mom, and apparently Calleigh is step-mom.  Get it right, Horatio."  He burst out laughing.  "My baby okay?"

"Fine," Xander sighed.  "I told him no repeatedly and kneed him in the balls when he tried for me.  The same as I reported him to the bouncers and had him banned.  That's why I told you guys to go down to that other club he was always talking about and ask down there."  He yawned and curled up against her again.  "Protect me from the mean stepmother?" he whispered.

She stroked his back.  "Of course, but I wanna see what you did last night.  That first one was damn hot."  That got a wicked smirk.

"I'd claim that skill but it was better than I ever did on open pole night," Speed noted, going into the bedroom.  "We almost done?"  They shook their heads.  "Damn.  Can I take the laundry?"  That got picked through then handed over by Calleigh.  "Thanks.  I'm off to toss his stuff from his locker in."

"Remember, PVC doesn't wash, it gets wiped down," Eric offered.

"I'd ask how you know but I'd be traumatized," Flack muttered.

Speed nodded.  "Yes, you would.  Calleigh, I picked up his dance tapes.  Aiden has them."  She smirked at him.  So he went to do some laundry.  He found another three hundred bucks in pockets and in one thong, making him shake his head at the roll of cash.  "I don't wanna know," he decided, turning on the washer.  Xander yelped so he went to check on him.  "He okay?"

"Just fine.  He moved wrong," Aiden admitted. "Guys, hurry up, he needs his bed.  He threw his back last night catching that stupid daddy and son perv."

Danny came out to look at her.  "How?"

She let him catch the kid so she could put on the tape with yesterday's date, fast forwarding to show him.  Then she sat back down and let the boy curl up next to her.

Frank groaned and walked off.  "I don't need to see that again, thank you."

Flack came out, looking at it.  "I can't move that well," he decided, pouting a bit.  Danny just gave him a look.  "I can't."

"I don't know anyone who can and I've dated strippers."

Speed shook his head and picked up a picture, handing it to Aiden. "When he ran away to Montreal, they had a drag and tranny convention so they did a strip night in drag," he told her when she burst out laughing.  "He said he couldn't pull off the dress and he saluted any woman who wore the thigh high boots and heels."

She giggled and passed the picture back to Flack and Danny, who both whimpered and handed it to Mac when he came out, but he handed it to Eric, who burst out laughing.  "When was this?"

"Montreal.  They had a drag and tranny convention going so they did a special night for them."

"He's cute like that.  I wonder if he still has the boots."  Speed nodded. "You sure?"

"Yeah, never go into his closet looking for dirty laundry or your missing shirt for work.  We needed a picture of him in those black jeans he showed up in last night."

Horatio looked at the drag picture, then put it down carefully.  He glanced at the tv.  "He's much more charismatic up close."  He went into the kitchen to get something to drink.  "Speed, can you order dinner?  Flack wants us to open the presents and if we bring this back to work, we'll get attention on the kid."

"Good point.  Pizza, chinese, what?"

"Pizza's good," Calleigh called.

"Fine with us," Flack called.

"I can eat pizza," Horatio agreed, coming out. "You're out of soda too."  He headed back to gather up the presents and bring them out.  By the time he got out there, she had switched DVDs and was watching a different routine.  He recognized the song, it was something twangy and country usually but this was without the vocal track.  He sat down and put them on the table in front of the duo.  "Can we wake him up?"  She turned off the player and the tv, then nudged Xander carefully.  He blinked at her.  "Xander."  Xander looked at him.  "I know you're still a bit worn out from the drugs they gave you at the Emergency Room but I need you to open the presents.  Can you do that?  Carefully?"

"I'm not that dumb," he noted with a yawn.  "Nor that stoned."  He shifted around and didn't wince.  "Damn, you're a god, mom. Thank you."  He pulled over the first present.  "Any particular order?" he asked.

"No, just carefully.  Here, let's get you some gloves so you don't mar any internal fingerprints."  He pulled some out and handed them over.  He watched the kid put them on and a sneaking suspicion started.  "You know some field treatment?"

"Of course.  With my past?"  He snorted.  "Kinda necessary, mom."  He undid the first one carefully at the tape, snapping it instead of ripping so they might be able to get a fingerprint off it if necessary.  He looked at it, then got up and headed into his room, nudging the detective in there out of his way.  "'Scuse me, hot ass.  Need my dagger."  He found it on his dresser and came back out to sit down and open the package, making Horatio smile at him. "I'm skilled with it," he defended.  He used it to flip open the top of the box, then looked inside.  "Who would give me a damn bunny jewelry box for girls?"

Flack came out and took it, looking it over.  "It's the same brand," he announced.  "Open the big one next, Xander?"  The kid nodded and carefully cut that one open. "You're good with that."

"I had to do some cutting in my life," he said absently, opening this one.  "And a stuffed bunny.  I'm not eight or a girl."  He handed that box over, pulling over the smallest.  This one turned out to be a charm bracelet in a velvet box.  He looked at it, then at Horatio.  "Horses?"

"I don't know.  It's their case."  He took it to look over, then handed it off to Flack.  The last one turned out to be something that made the kid blush so he looked.  It made him blush too.  He took a breath and touched it.  "It's real," he announced.

"Should I call Alexx?" Speed asked from the kitchen.  "Tell her to bring chairs?"

"You probably should," Flack agreed, looking at the parts.  "Can you identify what that is?"

Xander looked.  "Liver, heart, brain, one kidney, testes and penis."  He handed it off.  "That had better not have dripped on my bed."

"No, it's got a plastic liner," he admitted, taking it into the kitchen to put into the refrigerator to preserve it.  He came out shuddering. "Eeww!"

"Not my fault," Xander said dryly.  "I don't know why they like me."

Speed patted him on the back of the head.  "Neither do I, kid.  I'm not sure anyone would."  He went to answer the door, paying the pizza guy.  "Xander, I took a fifty out of the stash in your locker.  I'll get you tomorrow when I can hit the bank."

"That's fine, that was just misplaced cash, nothing special."  Speed handed over the rerolled bills and he frowned at them.  "Where was this?"

"Inside your stretch velvet thong.  You got an explanation?"

"Yeah."  He threw it at the kitchen.  "One of the bitches at the club was cutting me in.  He kept saying he was making money off me by giving blows.  Apparently he had a good night.  I don't want that.  You can donate it or something."  He looked at the pizza, taking some to eat.  "Thanks, dad."

"Welcome, kid."  He set the rest in the kitchen. "Food's in there," he called.  He sat down on Xander's other side.  "So, you remember this guy?"

"No, not at the moment," he said before taking a bite.  "Which guy was he?  By physical description?"

"Physical we can't give you. He changes every now and then," Don Flack noted as he sat across from the kid.  "I can tell you he probably called you a 'pretty little girl', asked if you were still pure, were you baptized or took your First Communion, all the other victims that made it through the surgery afterward said something about being asked if he could pop their cherry."

"I got asked that a lot," Xander admitted, taking another bite and thinking back.  He sat up and looked at him.  "He called me a pretty little pony girl.  He was this older guy, reminded me of a thin Santa on the beach.  Hawaiian shirt, jeans, trimmed white beard and longer hair.  I couldn't tell if it was real but I was doubting the hair was."

"That's a good start.  How tall, approximately?" Flack asked, taking that down.

Xander closed his eyes and leaned back, considering it.  "When sitting at the stage, he came up to about my knees when I was barefoot.  Horatio came up just a bit shorter last night.  So I'd say about his height?  The only ones I've danced on have been raised stages.  I never did a private with him, I wouldn't.  I only did one hot tub with him but it was with another couple too and he ducked out fairly quickly.  I remember he had a large scar across his stomach because I wondered if it was a sword or something surgical," he offered.

"That's good," Don admitted.  "What color were his eyes?"

Xander thought back.  "Green or maybe blue?  Lighter not darker colored.  Not blonde blue like Calleigh's are, but..."  He looked at the detective's.  "A bit lighter than yours," he offered, "but I couldn't tell blue or green in the club's red lights.  I remember he was kinda muscular, not workout buff but worked with his hands muscular, like construction worker maybe?"

"No definition?" Speed suggested.  "Like Eric and Horatio against yours?"  Xander nodded, smiling at him.  "Anything else you remember?"

"He always smelled like cloves and onions.  I don't know why."

"That doesn't match with anything but everyone describes a strong scent on his breath," Flack admitted, looking at him.  "Anything else, Xander?"  Xander shook his head.  "Okay, about what time did he show up?"

"Um, about two weeks after I got there, so May, near the twenties or in the twenties somewhere but the lower end of them.  Until early July I think.  I think the last time I made a joke about Christmas coming six months too early for the Macy's Day Parade."

Don smirked at that. "You've got some good instincts, kid. You following in your adoptive parents' footsteps?"

"I don't think I could handle that," Xander admitted.  "They might mind my mouth."

"Come to New York, we don't," he offered with a grin.  He finished making notes.  "Think about it."

"I'd rather you were a profiler," Speed told him quietly.  "It'll take care of those hunting instincts."  Xander nodded, looking at him.  "Eat. Before Alexx gets here and fusses."  He dug in, finishing his piece of pizza and getting up for another one.  "You really did fix his back, H.  Thanks."

"Not a problem, Speed.  He was in pain."

"He was in pain on pain killers," he agreed.  "This is the first time I've ever known him to succumb."

"Me too," Aiden agreed, looking back toward the kitchen, then at the tv, then at Speed.  "Is he okay?  He's quiet.  It's not right."

"It's the drugs," Xander said, coming out.  "I was trying to bounce earlier and the flexaril does that.  I've thrown my back before."  He snuggled back in between them until someone knocked.  "Alexx?"  She opened the door.  "Come on in.  It's in the fridge."

"Sure."  She walked in and headed into the kitchen to take a look, then came out shaking her head.  "Who leaves body parts?"

"Better question, who leaves body parts wrapped in bunny paper with a stuffed bunny and a bunny jewelry box, plus a charm bracelet," Xander said before taking a bite.  "And why did I just have the mental image that his little sister, who he probably adored, went tranny?"

"It could be," Speed admitted. "That's one possible explanation."  He gave him a squeeze.  "See, I told you those hunting instincts were good for profiling."  Xander grumbled but nodded. "You'll like it when you're in college and I'll let Eric show you the better frat houses to party at, but not join."

Xander looked at him. "You want me to go to frat parties and drink underage?"

"No," he told him.  "But you've got to do it once, and only once," he assured him.

"Because if ya do it more'n once I get to kick your ass," Aiden assured him.  "Even if I do have to give up my new coffee addiction."

"Yes, mommy."  He looked at Speed, who nodded.  "Fine.  But I've already done that.  I don't drink so I have a very low level of tolerance and the one night I did I found myself irritated at the stupid people in the world and wishing for a shotgun at a traffic stop."

"Never mind, you can't go to any frat parties," Aiden said quickly, kissing him on the cheek.  "Stick to the straight stuff, Xander."

"But girls hate me," he whined.  "They keep trying to kill me!"

"What do you call all your stalkers and things now?" Calleigh said as she came out to join them.  She held up something, making him flinch. "What's this?" she asked with a grin.

"Oooooh," he said, grabbing it from her.  "I'm not allowed to show you.  I plead the fifth on that particular instrument.  It wasn't mine and I snatched it from someone at the club when they were showing it around."

"Why?"

He shook his head.  "I'm not telling you.  I should've erased it but I didn't know how."

"Let me see," Horatio ordered calmly.

"No fucking way," he said with a grin.  "Only the person on it is going to see it anytime in the near future.  It's not you."

"It could have a picture of this guy," Flack said.

"It's from down here.  It'd only have pictures of my ones from down here."  He got up and headed back into his bedroom, giving Eric a long stare then at the digital camera.  "I took it off someone in the parking lot one night," he said quietly.  "You're on it, dear."

Eric took it and looked at the pictures, then blushed.  "You didn't erase it?"

"I don't know how.  The menu didn't work."  He watched him try, then remove the battery and replace it.  He sighed when the pictures didn't come back.  "Good."

"Did the guy mind?" Eric asked quietly.  "You can give it back now."

"No, I kissed him stupid and took it.  He asked a few days later and I told him I was protecting family. He pouted but I paid him for it."  He walked out, going back to his warm, snuggly spot.  "Sorry."

"He erased it?" Horatio asked.  Xander nodded.  "Good.  What was it?"

"If he were a state senator, it'd be blackmail worthy."  He stuffed his mouth again and chewed very hard.

"Sorry, H.  One of the guys at the club caught me making out with a date in the parking lot," Eric called.

Speed looked at Xander's face then got up and went to drag Eric into the bathroom. "It's not the kid, right?"

"Oh, hell no," he said, shaking his head quickly.  "I couldn't keep up with that."

"Actually, he's a cuddly person. He dated one of the patrol officers Wolfe knows."  He shrugged.  "She came in complaining that he liked to cuddle afterward."   He moved closer.  "One of the bouncers or one of the dancers?" he asked quietly.

"We're not having this conversation," he noted calmly.

"Sure, just don't get him in trouble.  Especially not with Horatio or Stetler."

"Not an issue.  It wasn't that sort of incriminating.  Just someone quick to take the edge off."

"That's fine.  Personally I don't care who you sleep with.  Maybe if you both had guys in your life, you'd quit picking up slutty women who try to hurt you."  He opened the bathroom door and walked back out.  "It's not something that Stetler can use against him, H, or against Xander."

"Good.  Why would he?"

"Because Stetler came in to nag at him about having a kid living in his house who was stripping," Calleigh told him.   "Pointed out that probably meant there were drugs and stuff in the house and he was drinking underage.  Speed pulled out the drug report from the hospital that night and shoved it in his face.  He's not impressed."

"I'm going to kick his ass if he keeps up.  He was giving me funny looks," Xander offered at Horatio's stare. "He was.  I'm sorry, he was giving me this calculating look like he was weighing asking me something.  I'm guessing blackmailing Tim."

"Oh, he'd pay," Horatio noted. "If he does, Xander, I want to know first, understand?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  That man has tried very hard to discredit myself, my team, and my brother.  I want him on something that'll stick."

"Then we should probably wait until I'm in school so he can't play the stripper and slut cards."

"You've only slept with one person," Speed reminded him. "Since you came back."

"Two, thanks a lot, and it's the public perception that we all charge for it."

"Good point," Danny said as he came out.  "We get that a lot too.  Plenty of cops won't take a complaint from a stripper or a pro."

"We had a porn star who was killed and one who had her house broken into," Eric told him.  "They were pretty nice ladies from what I understand.  The living one was panicked that someone would tell her boyfriend after she quit."

"Yeah, that can happen," Xander agreed dryly.  "The LAPD had a scandal about that a few months back and evidence mysteriously ending up online."  He looked back at him.  "She sued them.  Badly sued them."  That got a smirk.  "Needless to say some people retired quickly."  He looked at Horatio again.  "Should he approach me I'll be in your office waiting on you as fast as humanly possible since I can't use magic like that."

"Um, excuse me?  Like that?" Aiden asked, looking at him.  "Have we been practicing to become Willow?"

"Spot removal," he defended.  "Nothing more.  Just removing a spot and I was muttering and it happened.  Not an actual spell or anything.  It's like the book that burst into flames when I was reading from it in Latin."

"You read Latin?" Don Flack asked.  Xander looked back and nodded.  "Why?"

"Ask these two," he said, nodding at his 'parents'.  "They can tell you alllllll about it.  And Sunnydale."  He looked at her again, grinning.  "We all know I'm not Willow.  I'd look bad in her overalls and favorite shirt."

"True."  She kissed him on the forehead. "You go down that path, I come back to beat your ass, kid."

"Yes, mother."

"Thank you."  She got comfortable again.  "So, what'll you do for fun for the rest of this month?"

"Club maybe," he said with a small shrug. "I don't know.  Something to keep me from being bored."  He looked at Horatio.  "Was there any evidence linking me back to the club ho who died after I had to duck her?"

"No, it was the multiple sex partners she had later who got jealous over her time."  Xander sighed in relief and smiled.  "You were worried?"

"Hell yes!  Oh, shit, Anya," he said, looking at Speed.  He flinched at that name.  "Where is she?"

"Not a clue," he admitted, looking at Aiden, who shrugged.  "Is she back in service?"

"She can't be, we smashed her power center."  He nibbled on his bottom lip for a moment then shrugged.  "Okay, if she shows up, I'm hiding.  I'm finding the deepest hole I can and hiding."

"Good," Aiden agreed.  "I can't see what you saw in the scary bitch."

"How bad?" Don asked.  "I ask as a matter of professional curiosity," he said at Xander's odd look.

"Um, Flackie, Sunnydale had odd things, like that hidden street odd things," Aiden told him.  "That's what Sunnydale was about.  That and the vampires."

"Like goth kids?" Calleigh asked.

"No, like Angel when we went in to rescue these two," Xander told her. "Why I didn't let you out at night."  She nodded, remembering that.  He looked back at him, seeing the understanding look. "Anya used to be Anyanka, over Scorned Women.  Vengeance over Scorned Women.  She made me take her to the prom.  She showed every indication of wanting to stick around to tell me more about how she tortured people.  If she's got her powers back or if she knows where I am, she can hunt my ass down.  I'm hiding at that point.  She will kill me."

"I still like the call after the prom to save you from her," Aiden said dryly.

"Hey, that was after orgasm seven and it's not like I could drive," Xander complained.  "And she wouldn't quit.  She was going to kill me!"

"She was," Speed agreed. "She admitted she was getting all she could out of you before she tossed you aside and went to the football team."

"Nympho?" Danny asked.

"Hadn't had any in a while," Speed told him.  "Like centuries."  That got a confused look. "You know Penguin Street, Danny?"

"We all try to ignore it," Mac said as he came out, getting some pizza now that the work was done.  "Why?"

"That's what Sunnydale was."  They all moaned at that.  "We were there trying to cover up the vampire deaths."

"We copied and pasted most forms," Speed assured them.  "Xander worked with the slayer, the girl who hunts them all.  He's got very good instincts and that's why I think he'd be a good profiler."  Horatio nodded at that.  "You do?" he asked him.  Xander looked at him too.

"I think he's got a very good feel for the people around him who seems off or wrong," he admitted quietly.  "I think he could make it as a profiler if he wanted and was willing to study hard to get into the Academy to take the classes on profiling."

"You mean I have to go to the FBI academy?  Like on that show?" he asked.  Horatio nodded.  He looked at Speed, who shrugged.  "Can I do it without that?"

"They won't make you that stiff," he promised.

"They won't take me because I was stripping."

"No, plenty of them did that," he assured him.  He patted him on the back.   "Okay, let's talk and eat now that we're done, as long as Alexx takes those disgusting parts out of my fridge before she goes."

"I should take them back to the office," she admitted.  "I'll come back with a report."  They all nodded and she took the box with her, heading back to dissect and find out what she could.

Speed cleared his throat.  "Someone bring the pizzas and sodas out and get glasses since I got two liters."  Mac got the pizzas, Danny got the sodas and Eric got the glasses.  "Okay, what do we know for sure about this guy?"

"He won't show up in the same disguise," Flack offered.  "He meets in one and then changes if he goes to gifting.  That one's always pretty specific.  Dark hair, dark rimmed glasses, about Horatio's height, light eyes, strong frame.  The majority of the people were home when he gifted and they were attacked."

"I was in the ER this morning," Xander told him.  "About my back."

"Which probably saved your life, kid."

Xander smirked at him.  "I'm a much better fighter than people give me credit for, even injured."

"Yeah, Angel about killed his ribs and they fought on," Eric agreed.

"We had a black belt in Tai Kwon Do and they were killed," Flack said seriously.

Xander stood up and waved him with him, going to put a tape into the VCR in the bedroom.  The detective stared, then at him.  "Surveillance when we went to rescue Aiden and Tim," he said quietly.  "Calleigh took it just in case something happened."  The guy went back to watching him fight with the vampire.  "I had broken ribs by the end of that fight.  I can phase out of my pain and into this zone of combat.  I have in the past."  He turned it off and ejected the tape but left it there.  "I think I can defeat him if he comes, even injured."

"You may be able to, but it's dumb to try.  Call for help and then defend yourself," he ordered calmly.  Xander nodded.  "Good."  He led the way back in there.  "Mac, did you have guys who went into some trance-like state in the Marines?  You mentioned it during a case."

"Yeah, they fight that way, totally focused but still plugged into reality."

Don pointed at Xander.  "Him.  He's one."

"Good.  That can save his life."

"Has," Tim agreed.  "A few times."  Aiden nodded at that and hugged Xander tighter.  "The tape from the rescue?"  Don nodded.  "Good. It was a very hard fight."  He looked at Mac.  "Any problems associated?"

"Someone jumped in and he didn't quite take stock of whether he was another enemy or not."

"I'll watch out for that," Horatio agreed, looking at Flack.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah, watch the kid.  If he's in town he only usually tries two or three times.  He won't try while we're all here.  He will try when he's asleep, especially if he's alone."

"Guess you're going on my schedule then, huh?" Speed asked Xander.

"Yes, dad."

"Thanks, kiddo."  He gave him a hug.  "You'll be fine."

"I know I'll be fine.  You'll be picking up parts."  He looked at Don.  "No one had time to get to a weapon?"

"One slept with a gun, it didn't help."

"Guns are inefficient and deadly. You can't sleep with one under your pillow because you can accidentally unlock the safety and shoot yourself or your walls or your lovers."  That got a smile and a nod.  "I always sleep with a knife under pillow.  That doesn't take much energy to turn on someone and if he....."

"Whoa," Eric said.  "No knife in there, I checked.  I figured you slept with a stake or something."

Xander got up and went to look, shaking his head.  "It's not there.  Which means he's got an eleven inch survivalist's blade with a regular side and teeth to saw with on the other, plus one of those nice dents to cute wires.  Black and scarlet handle, about as wide as three fingers, maybe halfway to four?"  Don and Horatio both took that down.  "It's surgically sharp."

"I've seen you sharpening it," Speed noted, looking at him.  "How many knives do you have in the house?"

"That depends, how many did you find in my locker?"

"Two."

"Then ten?  No, eight.  Two went in for repairs.  My set of daggers, a throwing knife, very sharp, the other hunting knife, two pocket knives, one switch blade, and a small can opener sized one that's a Swiss Army knock off.  My good dagger and my hunting knife for patrols both went in to have the handles fixed and rewrapped because they worn spots in the binding."

Speed blinked at him.  "Is your other one like that one?"

"No, but the one in the shop is only it's blue and black.  Let me get the receipt and we can see if it's ready."  He went to find it in the dresser, calling from in there.  "Hi, this is Xander Harris.  Are my knives done?"  He smiled.  "Great.  No, I'm down on my back and I wanted to sharpen something tonight.  Can I send my friend to pick them up?  With a note and the receipt.  Do I owe you anything?"  He took that down.  "Thank you.  No, he'll be a cop.  Thanks."  He hung up and went to write the note on Don's notebook, then hand over the receipt and the fifty-five dollars.  "There.  You can pick it up."  It got handed to Danny, who went to do that.  He sat down again.  "At least I don't have any other weapons in the house.  No swords at the moment.  No axes, which is one of my favorite weapons.  Nothing like that."  His cell rang and he groaned, getting up to hunt it down.  "Yeah?" he answered, finding it in the gym bag in the laundry room.  "Hey, Giles.  No, I'm not, Giles."  He walked out and handed the phone to Aiden.  "Giles."  He sat down again, looking at Speed when she laughed, grinning at him.  "He wanted to know when I was coming back."

"Um, never," he said firmly.  "Is Buffy straight again?" he asked Aiden when she quit laughing.

"He thinks so."  She got up to talk to him outside, that way not everyone had to hear what had went on.

"Let's hope she doesn't show up down here," Eric said dryly.

"Either of them," Speed agreed.  Xander opened his mouth and he covered it, whispering in his ear why he didn't want Willow down there but that he was more than free to write to her and call her until he had to go back to Sunnydale for three days time and then Xander could come with him to protect him.  Xander nodded and sighed.  "Good enough?"

"Fine.  Yes, sir."

"Thanks."  He looked at Horatio.  "When I have to go back for those three days, he's coming too."

"That's fine, there'll be a few of us going just to make sure you come back."  Xander giggled at that.  "Seriously."

"That's why I'm going, that and to see Willow.  Mommy, tell him that Tim's got to come back next year for his annual trek and I'll be in there," he yelled.

"Sure."  She told him that then went back to chewing him a new one about his girl.

Don shook his head. "You live in insanity."

"I know but I enjoy it," Xander said with a grin.  "It's made me the scary person I am today."

"You mean one who draws people with mental problems?" Calleigh teased, taking Aiden's spot for a bit. "We've got to get you to date normal people, dear."

"I tried that, I dated Cordelia," he reminded her.

"Who?" she asked.

Speed shuddered.  "Think trendy pop princess cheerleader with an attitude worse than mine," he told her.  She and Horatio both shuddered at that image.  "That's Cordelia."  Xander snuggled into his arms.  "I'm going to have people introduce you to nice people," he assured him, patting him on the arm.  "Before you end up tainting someone like Horatio."

"He's cute but I'm way too dumb for him," he joked, smirking at Horatio.

"More like you're too young for me," he assured him smugly.  Xander squealed and got up, going to get something from his room.

"Yes, this is him normally around the house," Speed agreed dryly.  Xander came back with something and handed it to Horatio. "What's that?  It looks familiar."

"Pictures."  He flipped to the spot.  "That's Cordelia," he said, pointing at her. "The redhead is Willow, the brunette is Anya."

"And if any of them show up, please give us a warning so we can get him into hiding," Aiden said as she came back in.  "Giles is going to beat his princess to death now, and he said he'd love to see you when you came in next year, Xander."  She looked at the pictures.  "Who's the other boy?"

"Jesse," he said quietly, looking at her.  She kissed him on the forehead and made him sit down.  "I'm better now, Horatio fixed my back."

"Good," she agreed.  "You still need to sit before you scare Flackie.  He's not used to perpetual motion guys like you."

"Yeah, right," he joked, pointing at Danny when he came in.  "What do you call that?"

"Anti-cuddly," he warned, handing over the knives.  "These?"  He nodded so he handed the hunting knife to Flack.  "That's a nice knife."

"It's an expensive knife," Horatio noted, taking it to look at.  "A very expensive knife."  He looked at Xander, who smiled. "How?"

"I made a  four grand paycheck in Montreal," he noted dryly. "How do you think?"

"How were you making that much stripping?" Aiden demanded, looking at him.

"When the psychos came they focused on me.  Inspector Ferris up there suggested that I keep them occupied while they gathered information since he figured out I could handle myself after that first one.  So I did, without having to do anything illegal, sleep with them, or anything like that.  If they were focused on me once they locked on, and I do seem to draw them, then no one else was getting hurt and it meant they could watch them easier. That guy I got last night was dropping a grand a night on me each time he came in, Aiden, and he came in every couple of days.  He even asked the boss if I could do privates with him even though I wasn't dancing and I got forty percent of whatever he paid and all my tips.  I did a private party three days ago unexpectedly, hence me not calling, sorry, Tim, but the bouncers went with me, and I made four grand just for that bachelor party.  I made damn good money getting naked and drinking virgin cranberry slushies.  People like what I have because I'm not the usual stripper.  Yeah, some of them have dark hair, most of them have good definition but I seem to ooze something that draws people to my bellybutton."

"Yeah, we noticed that last night," Frank said.  He and Flack shared a look. "I don't know.  It's probably the same thing that draws the mentally deficient to him."

"It probably is," Speed agreed. "I never drew people like that."

"I've seen a few other dancers who have," Calleigh offered. "Usually females because I don't know many male strippers, but they say some of those girls that have 'it', whatever that is, draw in the big crowds and the big bucks, and it's not just big breasts either.  I noticed it last night.  The way he moves, he's telling the story with his body.  That pole might as well have been his lover last night."

"Could it be latent magic stuff?" Eric asked.  "Since he comes from an area like that?"

Xander shrugged.  "I never tried it and I don't intentionally try to focus on drawing people in, except for last night.  And no, last night wasn't my best ever.  I've had six or seven better than that.  Actually, I think I have it in the stuff in the closet," he admitted, frowning a bit.  "That one ended up in a catfight to see who got me for a private dance first.  I spent most of the night in the private suites because of those two ladies.  Well, one lady and one tranny halfway through," he admitted.  He looked at Horatio.  Then shrugged. "I know damn well I wasn't trying that night, I wanted everyone to go away and leave me alone because I had a headache and nothing was curing it."

"So maybe it's your pheromones," Danny offered.  "Some people just attract others more and you can't explain it by money, looks, or nothin'."

"True," Flack agreed.  "Even money can't make up for looking like Howard the Duck."  Mac groaned at that.  "Sorry, recent case.  He tried to kill his girlfriend for wanting him to cover his head during sex, but she had no idea why she stayed with him so long, she said repeatedly she didn't know why she stayed with him.  The sex wasn't good, he wasn't that rich, and he was ugly, but she was stuck on him."

"Like some curse," Speed agreed. "Yeah, but his seem to draw those who need mental help."

"They do," Horatio agreed dryly, looking at the kid.  "If we knew how he did it, we could use others as bait wearing the same scent."

"Hell, just use me as bait.  I'll miss hunting and dangerous stuff while I'm sitting in boring classes listening to idiots mumble out of the book."

"We'll see.  If we need you," Frank assured him.  "You sure your back is okay?"

"Horatio fixed it for me," he offered with a grin. "I just swayed wrong."

"It happens I guess.  I knew someone who threw their back out reaching for the remote and your dancing wasn't as easy as that."

"You should try it in five inch heels," he joked with a smirk.  Frank shuddered at that.  "Sorry, we had a tranny and cross-dressing convention up in Montreal and we did a night just for them.  I still can't handle a dress very well."

"That's a good thing," Aiden assured him, patting him on the knee.

"So, Aiden, were you drawn to him that way?" Flack teased.

She looked at him.  "No, I was drawn to the poor guy because he was surrounded by bitchy women who wanted him to turn into a puddle of goo on command and tore his self esteem to shreds.  That Buffy girl could use some good, old-fashioned, military style training."

Speed snickered.  "They'd make her give up her backless shirts and really short skirts, plus her go-go boots and her bralessness.  Then what would she do?"

"She went out in clubbing clothes to hunt?"

"No, she went out in clubbing clothes to school and to hunt," Aiden told him.  "Girl was a bit under dressed for some things."

"She only ended up topless once," Xander defended, but he was smirking.  "And that was due to the slime that ate through the shirt.  Some of us were sensible and went in jeans and old t-shirts because slime won't come out of anything."

"Is that what happened to that green t-shirt of yours?" Speed asked, suddenly realizing what that had been.  Xander slunk down.  "Where were you going in that?"

"Club."

"Uh-huh.  I know it wasn't work since you couldn't wear green.  Which club?"

"Tentacles," he said weakly.

"You went hunting alone!" Aiden shrieked.  She swatted him.  "You fucking idiot, you coulda died!"  He shrunk down more.  "You may be good but you cannot take on something with more arms than you!  You know that!"

He slunk down further.  "Sorry, there was a problem," he said weakly.  "I went to see if it could be solved before it ate more alligators and dogs.  Before it started on little kids."  She swatted him again. "Ow," he said, giving her a hurt look. "I was careful!"

"You went in without backup, you didn't even tell me where you were going, you're in deep shit, son," Speed assured him.  "Like grounded deep shit."  Xander slunk down further.  "How many times have you went hunting?"

"Um....."  He got up and ran for his bathroom, shutting the door before Speed could get to it and leaning against it.  "Not very many," he said at the pounding.  He looked around, the window was a bit small, but he might be able to make it.  If he could use Willow magic for real he might be able to teleport but he wasn't even going to try that.  He looked out the window but Mac was already down there. "Damn," he muttered.  "Why can't I have the cool powers and be able to go down the drain."

Horatio knocked.  "Xander, let me in.  It's just me."

"Nope.  Hell no," he said with a touch of hysterics.

"Xander," he ordered calmly.  "He's not mad.  Just worried."

"Bull."

"Xander, let me in before I take this door off the hinges."  He gave him enough time to notice the hinges were on his side, then used a card on the lock.  He walked in and closed the door again, looking at the boy he had stepped over.  "How many times have you went hunting alone without telling Speed?"

"Seven, maybe?"  He got the glare of death that usually went to suspects.  "Teen?"

"Seventeen?" he asked.  "Or was that seventy?"

"I've only been here two months," he defended.

Horatio squatted down to look at him.  "That's dangerous and he worries about you.  You may be good," he said at the opening mouth, "but even the slayers end up dying from this instead of old age."

"Death and I...."

He put a hand over his mouth.  "I don't care.  You do not go out alone.  That is stupid and Speed assured the rest of us you're not, you just lack common sense sometimes."  He removed the hand.  "Now, truth, how many times have you went out hunting by yourself?"  He stared into the dark eyes, knowing it was the only way to see if the boy lied to him.

"Thirty-two vampires, ten demons, and one thing that was probably a demon but wasn't human definitely," he said quietly.  "Over the course of ten nights."

"Thank you."  He stood up and helped the boy up, looking at him.  "From now on, you will not go out hunting alone, or unannounced.  If there's an emergency and you catch one hunting, you will call either myself or Speed.  Do you understand?"  Xander sighed and nodded, looking down.  "If it's not an emergency and you absolutely feel the need to hunt, then you tell him that and ask him to go with you so you have backup."

"He doesn't hunt."  He looked at him, swallowing.  "Neither of them did."

"That's fine, he can still watch your back.  That way you're safer and nothing and no one can jump in while you're distracted."  He saw the nod and tipped the face back up.  "If you die it will destroy him. We'd still probably be mad at him for not telling us he was alive for over a year if it weren't for you, or we wouldn't know at all.  We like you for your own person," he said at the hurt look in those big, brown eyes.  "We like you just for being Xander.  That's never been an issue, Xander.  Nor will it be.  We like you just for who you are, not for him and not to placate him or anything."  The boy opened his mouth. "I know it seems that way sometimes, but it's not true.  Those of us who know you like you even if Speed weren't around," he assured him.  Xander nodded.  "Now, you will tell Speed this.  You will go out with someone watching your back if you feel that absolutely must hunt.   Which we would all rather you not do.  You're still human, you're still fragile, and we don't want to lose you too soon.  Therefore straighten up, kid."  He got a nod and a hug. "Thank you.  Speed?"  Speed walked in and closed the bathroom door.  "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm really upset."  He tapped Xander on the back.  "How many times?"  Xander gave him that same look.  "I need to know, Xander.  This isn't healthy for you.  You've got to let go of the hunting and use those skills to other ends, like finding a girlfriend who won't kill you."  Xander mumbled something.  "What was that?"  Xander hugged him and mumbled it again.  "You got a translator for squeaky mumble?" he asked Horatio.

"He said: thirty-two vampires, ten demons, and one thing that was probably a demon but wasn't human definitely.  Over the course of ten nights."

"Where was I those ten nights?" he asked, pushing Xander back to look at him.  "Where?"

"Here mostly."

"Some of those nights you went clubbing?"

"A few and one of my nights off that I suddenly got called in," he said, sounding pitiful and miserable. "I had to, they had someone hostage and I heard," he defended at the pissed look.

"Then the proper thing is to TELL ME," he said firmly, making Xander nod and look down.  "And I'd have gone with you.  Even though I can't hunt, I can still watch your back."  That got another nod.  "This is something we will be discussing when we're alone."  Xander mumbled something.  "Excuse me?  Hell no.  And if you try, I'm going to kick your ass and then handcuff you to your bed until you've regained some fucking sense.  You're not moving out to spare me."  He shook him.  "Remember, you can talk to me, Xander."

"I don't know what to do, it's like the instincts are howling and mad at me for not letting them out!" he said, getting away from him and accidentally backing into Horatio.  "I'm sorry!  I really am, but this is who I am and you know that.  You have known that."

"And it's probably those same instincts that you use on stage," Speed told him, making him look confused.  "The lure of hunting is the bait, Xander.  You make a very good bait.  That's what you're doing on stage, you're playing bait."  Xander shrugged, still not getting it.  He banged his head against the door and looked up.  "Okay."  He pulled Xander closer again.  "Remember when Buffy had you walk through the cemetery alone?"

"I know what bait is."

"Then quit being so dumb.  Your instincts are telling you that's the best and easiest way to attract prey.  To become the bait and lure them in.  So of course all the darling little psychos like you because you're like a damn buffet to them."

"I don't do it intentionally!  I never use my hunting skills on stage."

"If they're that ingrained into you, then you wouldn't have to consciously use them," Horatio reminded him.  "You said yourself that you were possessed by a hyena.  The pack leader, which is always female, and therefore able to take command and make decisions for the pack, but also to play the bait to draw bigger predators so the pack can take care of them for safety reason," he pointed out.  Xander slowly nodded, getting that. "That's what you're doing.  She's screaming at you to clear your pack's lands and to make it safe for the pack."

"One problem, this isn't my pack's lands.  It's not even borrowed pack lands or stolen pack lands.  My pack lands are in Sunnydale and most of my pack is dead thanks to graduation."  Horatio looked stunned.  "I had to put the strongest people in the necessary positions to get the mothers and kids out of the way, Horatio.  They were some of the stronger fighters.  Them, some of the jocks, Larry, I take *full* responsibility for their deaths because that was my battle plan and it was a necessary evil.  It got the innocents out of the way so we could lure the creature and have it die."

"Bring him out here," Mac called.  "Now."

Speed looked at Horatio.  "He's military?"

"A former Marine," he agreed, opening the door and letting the boy walk out first. "His high school graduation was attacked."

"We heard."  He looked at the kid. "You planned that?" Xander nodded, sitting on his bed.  "It wasn't too bad.  Considering it was kids."  He looked at him.  "You take full responsibility?"

"Every day of my damn life," he agreed.  "Every single nightmare I have about it.  Every single time the shrapnel in my arm from the explosion twinges or shifts or tries to come out.  Every single time I think about them and their graves.  I went to every single funeral.  I was the only one who went to a few of the funerals.  I'm responsible for the plan that got twelve students and two teachers killed.  I'm fully responsible for that.  I made a command decision and put who I needed and who was strongest there so we could have enough time to get the civilians out of the way.  It's not like Buffy or Rupert could've and Willow was still sobbing because we couldn't stop it beforehand and Buffy got hurt a few hours before.  It was my plans.  My doing.  I fully take credit and responsibility for that.  I know damn well if I was in the actual military I'd be standing in front of a tribunal so fast I'd still be dizzy."

"Actually, you wouldn't.  That's what commanding a field or a battle is, Xander.  You made a command decision.  If you dwell on it, you won't be able to make another one in the same dispassionate way as the last time.  Yes, people died.  In any real battle, people die.  It's what happens in wars.  Any war.  Every war."  The boy nodded that he understood that.  "The fact that you took some kids who barely knew how to fight, won that battle, and that you only lost fourteen total?  That's something the people in charge promote you for.  Even when you end up screwing up and going out hunting an enemy combatant alone because you think it's the only acceptable method.  You get medals for that.  Now, this is not the military.  Unfortunately you're not going to find many people who understand the necessity of some battles and that sometimes you can't hold it off.  But that doesn't mean you should go out at each and every bugle call.  There's others to fight those battles.  There's others to fight with and behind you.  That's what Tim and Horatio are talking about.  You left your backup unit behind.  Hunting alone is one thing, and I know you've got conflicting instincts.  Aiden told us about the two possessions that she knew about."

"Hell, I'd forgotten about the other one," Speed muttered.

"She didn't.  He's got one bellowing at him to secure his habitat, even if it's only a temporary pack hunting ground.  We all do that.  You should see a pregnant woman nesting and cleaning her house to prepare and make the house safe for the offspring coming.  Personally I think that's what you doing anyway since Miami's a pretty safe city compared to some.  Especially to your old hunting grounds.  And I know the soldier is egging it on by yelling 'Semper Fi' and all that."

"Army," Xander admitted, giving him a slight grin.  "PFC, Army.  Infantry."

"Not much different.  Probably geared more towards Special Ops," he admitted dryly, looking at the kid.  "But he's telling you it's not safe either and you've got to protect the whole group, not just your pack.  And yet they're conflicting somehow.  It's probably the 'pack' versus the 'whole' issue, but only you could tell me."

"I can't consciously speak to them."

"How about unconsciously?" Speed asked. "Any odd dreams?"

"One.  Sitting in a field talking about backgammon with the hyena," he admitted. "You think she's looking to mate?  That she's getting ready to nest?"  The three adults nodded.  "Damn.  I haven't even found someone to like."

"Yes, but the lands you're in are more safe than your old ones.  That means it's safer for you to bear fruit and multiply, though I agree with Aiden, don't go with any more homicidal women, but it's the same thing, even if it were a male that you're after."  Horatio raised an eyebrow at that. "Hyenas are headed by females."

"I'm bi, I already knew that long before she came," Xander admitted dryly.  He looked at Speed. "I'm sorry."

"You're also grounded. Any and every time you leave this house, I want to know where, with who, and what's going on.  I don't care if I'm in the middle of a scene and up to my armpits in blood."

"No, in that case, I'll take the call," Horatio assured him, looking at Xander.  "Agreed?"  Xander nodded at that.  "No more going out alone to hunt.  Clubbing yes, that's a different sort of hunting and probably soothing to at least one of them, but the other one's probably the reason why you're bating and luring the bad guys."

Mac nodded.  "Probably.  The military mindset would lend itself to bait and lure tactics.  We have for years and it's the best way to lure the truly horrible toward something so the general public can be protected.  But hey, he's doing the world a service."

"Yeah, but how does he turn it off?" Speed asked.

"Hypnosis?" Mac suggested.  "Get in there and talk to them?"

"I've had breakfast with the hyena once and I didn't like her that much," Speed noted dryly.  "Besides, he's more animal when he dances."

"Maybe you could get onto the soldier and point out that he's got to retrain for new methods of combat, going back to a wider troupe," Mac suggested.  "It's not unheard of, but it's usually frustrating as hell when you do it."

Xander suddenly shook his head.  "Ow."  He held his forehead for a minute.  "I just got a flash."

"Like vision?" Speed asked.

"Yeah.  Like Buffy standing in front of the police station."  He looked at Horatio.  "Can you please make Ethan leave my ass alone?"

"I'll call him again," he promised.  He looked at him. "I'll send Frank to talk to her if you want."

"Please.  I don't wanna deal."

"I know."  He patted down his hair.  "Just relax.  We'll find some way to get through to them.  For now, know that you're not going anywhere for a while.  Not even out to dance and play and be a kid."  He walked out.  "Frank, we think Buffy just showed up."

"Oooh, me," Aiden called. "Please take me?"  She beamed.

"Sure," Frank agreed, taking her out to his car.  "Is the kid okay?"

"Fine.  He's got conflicting instincts.  Mac was explaining the military side and Horatio was probably explaining the animal for a bit."

Flack knocked.  "I heard the word hypnosis offered.  I've studied a little."

"That's right, the stage tricks," Mac agreed.  "It's worth a shot.  Xander, would you feel comfortable doing that?"

"Would that mean no more dancing when I needed spare cash?"

"Probably not.  Not until the hyena finds a mate.  Especially since they mate for life," Horatio offered.

"Okay."  He wiggled backward, laying down on his bed, closing his eyes.  "Is this like meditation?"

"I usually use a focus," Don admitted as he came in and looked around.  Mac pulled off his dog tags.  "You sure?"

"Symbolic of the one we've got to speak to."

"Good point."  He sat beside the kid, letting Speed lay down next to him.  "Okay, focus on the movement," he said quietly.  "Just watch it and listen to me."  He heard the nervous chuckle and smirked.  "You won't cluck, I promise."

"Make him do dishes," Speed teased.  Xander relaxed and focused, still smiling a bit.  "Just let it go, Xander.  Watch the tags swing and let the mind drift, follow the movement."

Don nodded.  "That's right, just follow along," he agreed quietly.  He saw the eyes droop and the smile fade until he looked like he was meditating.  "Xander, can I talk to the soldier for a minute?" he asked very quietly, getting down next to his ear.  "Please?"

The dark head nodded. "What?"

Mac stepped forward.  "PFC Harris, we need to reassign you for a bit," he offered quietly.  "Your bait and lure tactics have been marvelous and have easily gained us much favor and help, but for right now it's too dangerous for you to continue.  Too many know you and are hunting you."

"They can be captured," he said in a childish voice.

"They can't be. It's too overwhelming of a number.  Think about where you were luring them and how many of them should have been arrested and haven't yet.  You're too good and we need you to pull back some.  Okay?"  That got a pout and a nod.  "Good man.  Now, while you're on downtime, your guardian, Tim, is going to helping you retrain so you can train others and find them in other means.  We're going to teach you how to look at other methods and ways of finding these people."  Speed glared at him.  "You can pick whichever method suits you best and learn the hell out of it, and if we need you back in your bait and lure assignment, we'll tell you or you'll tell us if they come for you, okay?"  That got another nod, more firm.  "Good man.  Any questions?"

"Can they be made of jelly?  I don't like peanut butter without jelly."

Mac considered it.  "Sure, why not," Flack agreed.  "Now, remember, if you feel you must bait and lure someone, then you've got to start giving us clues.  That way we understand. Okay?"  That got a nod.  "Very good.  Now, can I talk to the other one?"  He got a growl and stayed calm.  "I meant the human."

Horatio moved him aside and whispered in the boy's ear, getting a nod and a purr.  "Good girl," he whispered.  "Very good girl.  You tell us when you've found the mate you want and we'll help any way we can."  She looked at him and nodded.  "Good.  Thank you.  Now can we have the human Xander back?"  She faded and he smiled into the dark brown eyes.  "Xander?"  That got a nod.  "Did you understand what we were saying?"  That got a nod.  "And your trick of baiting and luring are okay at times, but you can't just randomly put it out there anymore, right?"  Xander nodded again.  "Good man.  You can still do it but when you feel the need, you have to let us know."

"Okay.  But I can have jelly too, right?"

"Yes, of course you can," he said, glancing at Flack, who shrugged.

Speed nodded. "You can even pick which flavor of jelly you want."  The boy hugged him.  "Thanks.  Now, only baiting in the clubs and no more than just general baiting, understood?  You can bait for fun and pleasure, but not for real unless there's a danger and either we tell you or you tell us.  Any of us in this room are good at that or Eric."  Xander nodded, looking at him.  "Good boy.  Now rest, Xander, and when you wake up, you'll be just fine.  No nightmares tonight, Xander, you did what you had to do before and it's all right now.  We understand."  The boy curled up in a little ball and Speed stroked his arm until he relaxed and fell off.  When he was snoring he got out of the bed and looked at Flack.  "Jelly?" he asked.

"Maybe it's where the soldier isn't bi and the hyena is?" Mac suggested.  "Though, why peanut butter for females I'm not sure."

"Peanut butter is a staple in poor diets.  Like eggs, it's used to give protein in place of milk and meat," Calleigh said from the doorway, leaning against it.  "It's a nurturing food as well.  A comfort food.  Every kid got given peanut butter and jelly by their moms pretty much. It brings to mind being a little kid and being protected.  It's a rational thing to equate, whereas jelly squirts and is slippery and hard to spread.  Just like most men."  That got three smirks.  "We good now?"  That got a nod.  "Good.  Frank found her and she's not a happy young woman and Aiden's ready to blow because she wants her Xander toy back."

"She can't have him, he's ours now," Horatio reminded her.

"She tried that.  We might have to come up with a 'boyfriend'," she said, doing the finger quotes.  "To explain some of this."

"Doing it right now could be kinda iffy.  If the hyena's looking for a mate," Horatio nodded at that, "then she could think she's found it."

"She's not that touchy usually," Speed noted.  "He's dated before and he's being picky at the moment.  Hell, he dated Anya, that's not exactly a safe or productive date but I'm sure she could've produced offspring."

"That's a scary thought," Aiden called.  "We're back."  She walked in.  "How'd it go?"

"We got through," Don admitted.  "How many, Horatio?"

"Thirty-two vampires, ten demons, and one thing on ten different nights."

"That's impressive," Aiden agreed.  "He good?"  Don nodded.  "We're sure?  There's going to be no retaliation or anything?"  Speed shook his head.  "We talked to the girl in there?"

"I did," Horatio agreed.  "She's picking carefully, we agreed on that.  What's she's looking for isn't going to keep him from looking for what he wants and desires.  She'll probably be happy on whoever he chooses as long as they meet her needs and requirements."

"Which doesn't necessarily mean cubs, thankfully," Speed noted. "I can't see being Grandpa Speed this year."

"Me either," Aiden agreed.

"That's a scary thought," Flack admitted.  "You as a grandmother."  She punched him on the arm and he grinned.  "It is.  It's nearly as scary as me being one."

"Our kids will raise hell together and create new meanings of the word terror to the bad guys," she assured him.  "Our grandkids will be worse because we'll work on them with our kids."  He smiled and punched her on the arm.  "Come on, let's let my boy sleep."  They walked out together.  "All fixed."  That got some smiles from the remaining cops.  "Buffy, he's asleep."

"What needed to be fixed?" she demanded, arms crossed over her chest.  "Tim," she said coolly.

"This is my house and I will smack you senseless," he promised. She didn't back down, that was new.  "Xander's asleep. He threw his back last night helping us take down a serial killer."

"Were they attracted to him too?" she asked snidely.

Danny coughed.  "Can we play lay off the boyfriend?" he demanded.  Everyone looked at him so he smirked. Calleigh smirked back, looking almost evil.  "Thank you.  He's got a bad headache, he's had a bad week, and we want to leave him alone so he can sleep."

"He needs to come home," Buffy demanded.

"This is home for him," Danny assured her.  "At least until I bring him to New York with me."  She looked horrified so he smirked.  "Yeah, mine all mine, Buffy.  Do you think I want him to go somewhere his life is in danger?"  She stepped away from him so he stood up.  "I mean seriously, Buffy.  Yeah, I know the boy can hunt.  He does it pretty well.  He's done so now and then around here without telling Tim, which was why he had a headache from the fight, but he's damn good.  And trust me, there's nothing in this world that can be better than him under you. Or don't you remember wanting it?"  She shrieked and went for him so he pushed her away.  "I'm not like your usual target, Buffy."

"No, you're disgusting and warping Xander!" she complained.

"What?  By making sure he goes to college?" Tim asked, sitting down.  "Pumping back up the self esteem you and Cordy ate away?  Feeding him pizza and letting him pick his own job, even though someone bad wanted him because of it?"  She sneered at him.  "Yeah, he was having fun stripping, Buffy.  It was damn hot.  We got it on DVD if you wanna see."  He flipped it on and then the DVD player, letting it cue up to where it had been.  He waved a hand.  "See?"  She fled, crying.  "Thank you."  He turned it off and looked at Danny.  "Nice one," he mouthed.  "Cute image too."

"Can he wear those pants on a date in New York?" Don asked with a smirk for him.  "Just to shock the hell outta Stella?"

"They're tear aways," Horatio told them, sitting down next to Speed.  "Where did everyone else go?"

"Eric had a date, Frank went home to tease his wife some more, and Alexx hasn't come back yet," Danny noted, smirking at him.  "You mind much, mother-in-law?  You two are pretty close."

"I'm much too old for him," he assured him.  "Really."  That got some laughter from Don and Mac, who ended up leaning against each other.  "Speed, are you good with him starting to really date and search?"

"It's what you're supposed to do at his age," he pointed out. "You're supposed to fall in love and date, hopefully not like Eric does, but date."  That got a few more snickers from the trio from New York.  "Danny, I gotta say, if you're going to be the son-in-law, I'm going to have to have a talk with you about not letting Xander in the kitchen. He ruined one of my good pans making cookies."  Aiden giggled at that.  "Twice," he finished.

Danny nodded.  "I mostly live on take out anyway," he offered.  "It's safer than me cooking."

"You've also gotta do something about his hair," Don teased.  "Longer or shorter, Danny."

"Oh, no," Speed told him.  "Longer makes him look totally goth and shorter makes him look dangerous.  Shaggy, unkempt, and right about where it is is good for him."

"Remember, there are also very specific rules about care and feeding of Xanders," Calleigh reminded them.

"God, yes," Aiden sighed.  "No chocolate, not too much caffeine, or else you've got a bouncy, hyper, happy Xander on your lap, behind you, and dancing around you all at once. It goes up exponentially the more chocolate he eats on top of the caffeine and chocolate he's already had."

"Let's not remember the night he had the whole box of candy," Speed agreed.  "Please."

"I thought we were going to die of exhaustion by the time we got him calmed down," she agreed, flopping down beside him. "I missed having you around to talk to."

"Yeah, I miss you too," he promised, ruffling her hair.  "Maybe if you didn't have your coffee addiction you could come down here and visit more often.  Either that or maybe I'll give you visitation with the son."

"That might be nice but he'd hate Seattle, it's always rainy."

"So it's like London?" Mac asked.

She looked at him and shrugged. "Never been.  Come out and visit and compare."

"I'll remember you said that."

"This year's CSI convention is where?" Speed asked Horatio.

"Vegas.  We're all going but that means we won't have a housing allotment this year.  That way we can all check on Grissom's boys and girls."

"Mac, can most of us go?" Danny asked.  "Don too?  He'll miss out otherwise."

"There's a tongue-in-cheek seminar every year about dealing with the officers who just don't understand science nerd," Speed offered with a grin.  "He can be the demonstration model."

"I deal very well with our nerdly nerds," Don defended.  "They just have to use less technical words now and then or explain the big ones they use."

Mac smirked.  "I'll put up the sign-up sheet when I get back, Danny.  I'm not sure what sort of funding or how many cases will interfere."

"We've already told our DAs we'll be out of town that weekend," Horatio assured him.  "They understand it's us going to talk with people who understand us for a change."

"I talk to Xander all the time," Speed said smugly.

"So, science geek will be his second language?" Don asked.

"Fourth.  English, Latin, French when I helped him, and now geek.  Then again he's a comic and anime geek and a Star Trek geek so he understands some of the basics, he just doesn't get the science part at times.  Physics is not his field."

"Explain it in ballistics," Calleigh ordered dryly.  "He understands weapons."

"Yeah, I'm wondering where the sword and the battle axe are," Aiden admitted.  "By the way, Buffy's up the street at the nearest motel. I followed her stomping off."

"Good."

"That's the same place Xander stayed when you sent him, Speed," Horatio noted dryly.  "He thought it was cute he knew where you were when he got brought back."

"How'd you do it anyway?" Don asked.  "Sedatives, handcuffs, or cage?"

"We locked him in the car a lot, I slept next to him so he couldn't sneak out, and Horatio only used the handcuffs when we got back into the city and he walked off to look at something."

"The boy's got curiosity and a good eye," Aiden agreed with an eye roll.  "You gotta give him credit, the boy picks pretty deadly things."  Everyone nodded at that.  All the ones they knew about had been hot.  Even the bunny guy wasn't supposed to be too ugly, just really bad breath.

"I still like how he ducked away from that one db we had that he called the club whore," Calleigh said with a smirk for Speed.  "He had to go into a gay bar to get away," she told the New York guys.  "He said she smelled like at least six different oral samples when she came at him."

"He came home late and Eric pounced him, then woke me by going 'eww what's that smell," Speed agreed sarcastically.

"I'm sure he's had nights where he smells like more than four or five women," Calleigh agreed.  "The boy can be a slut."

"At least he's only had three IAB investigations because of it," Speed said dryly

"Tripp, Hagen, and I have all warded off a few in the past," Horatio offered.  "We had to remind them constantly that he's a bit free with his affections and attentions."  He noticed Calleigh's look and sighed.  "I'm sorry, I didn't think."

"No, it's been a while, I'm okay.  I just don't talk about it much," Calleigh said, looking at Don.  "One of the detective we used to work with a lot came in to see me and committed suicide in my lab behind me."

"Oooh, honey," Mac said, giving her a hug.  "I'm sorry.  Which one?"

"John Hagen."  She looked at him.  "Every now and then it just hits."

"I know," he agreed.  She gave him a weak smile and pulled him down next to her.  "Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm back in my lab and okay again."  Xander came wandering out and she smiled at the sleepy zombie looking Xander.  "In here, baby."

Xander mumbled something and sat down between Horatio and Speed, wiggling in between them.  "Night."  He curled up against Speed's shoulder and went back to snoring.

"Awww, how cute," Aiden cooed.  "So, who gets to do the background check of whoever he's dating?"

"We'll take turns," Calleigh assured her.  "I doubt he's going to settle on the first one."

"As long as he doesn't turn into the slut Eric can be," Speed noted patiently.  He felt a hand go around his waist and patted it.  "It's okay.  We'll talk about you dating soon enough."

"Jelly?"

"Sure, you can date some jelly."  That got a content mumble.  "Just don't make it Eric."  He felt the head shake against his shoulder.  Horatio chuckled at that. "Should I include you too?"

"I'm still much too old for him," he pointed out.

"Ya know, if Ray Jr. were a bit older, they could be together," Mac teased.

"Yelina likes him but she's looking forward to being the doting grandmother.  She's doing the countdown."

"Too late," Xander said quietly.

Everyone stared at him and Horatio nudged him.  "Did you say Ray Jr.'s gotten some girl in trouble, Xander?"  The boy nodded.  "How do you know?"

"She smelled pregnant and like him."

"Who?"

"Cute baby girl."  He grinned.  "Honey."

"Oh my god, I bet that's the girl he brought to the station that day Xander came to give Speed Aiden's next-to-last package," Calleigh said excitedly.  "She does remind you of honey.  All smooth and soft and sweet, and her skin's about that same color and her hair's about the color of wheat."

"I remember her," Horatio said dryly.  "I'll be back in a while, Speed.  I think I need to talk with my sister-in-law."  He got up and left, ignoring the teasing grins at his back.  On the way out he called Yelina.  "Dear, I think we need to talk.  Can you meet me tonight?  Yes, it's very important. You know Xander knows things sometimes, right?  Well, he was just mumbling about grandchildren."  He pulled the phone away as she screeched her son's name.  "I'm coming over, wait to kill him for me," he ordered, getting into the hummer and heading over there.

***

Horatio stopped Xander in the halls the next day, smiling at him.  "In for lunch?"  That got a nod.  "How's the grounding going?"

"Okay.  Tim said I said something about grandkids?"

"Ah, yes.  Ray Jr. was dating a girl who was pregnant but it's not his and he didn't know.  His mother's still fairly unhappy with him but he's still living, which is a nice thing."  That got a small grin. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine and the two of them apparently agreed over whatever you told them to do.  Not even bunny-related gifts this time.  Are the other guys still here?"

"Working but we're about to break for lunch."  He walked him back to reception.  "This is Xander, Speed's his guardian.  If Speed isn't here, call me when he shows up," he ordered.  "He's allowed to come check on us."  She nodded and gave him a visitor's pass.  He walked the boy off.  "How did you get past her without it?"

"She wasn't there."

"Ah.  I'll check on that later," he decided, walking him back to the break room.  "Speed."

Speed smirked at his son.  "You good?"

"Fine.  Why?"

"No more gifts?" Don asked.

"No, nothing bunny related expect that old line about pregnancy on a soap."  He sat down and looked at him. "I've got to hit the bank soon.  And why did I get that roll of money back?"

"Because I didn't want it laying in the kitchen with where I found it.  You can give it to whoever you want."

"You mean you guys don't have your own charities?" he asked.  Everyone in the room nodded.  He pulled it out and handed it to Horatio.  "Put it there then, man.  I microwaved it before anyone says anything about nastiness."  He felt himself be hugged and looked up.  "At least you're not the usual scary woman."

"Not today," Yelina agreed.  "Are you okay?  Horatio said you threw out your back helping us."

"I'm fine, he fixed it for me yesterday.  Two minutes did more than three hours in the ER and two different drugs."

"I get him to do that for me too."  She grabbed her lunch and scooted into the joined tables.  "What's going on?"

"That bunny killer guy is down here and hunting Xander," Flack told her.

"Oh, hell," she said, looking at Xander.  "No wonder you're in today."

"No, I'm in today because I'm not going to work today," he assured her.  "Plus I'm grounded."

"What did you do?  Steal another of Timothy's shirts?" she teased.

"No, I went dangerous places without telling anyone I was going alone."

"No, for that you should be spanked," she said firmly.  "Not grounded."

He looked at her. "Spanking taught me a lot about hitting back," he told her seriously.  "I'm already very good at that."  Everyone at the table nodded.

"Grounding works better because this way Eric can't take him clubbing this weekend," Speed told her.  "That way he'll only see reasonable people all weekend."

Xander looked at Horatio.  "So, does that mean you're taking my room and I'm taking the couch all weekend?"  Speed kicked him under the table.  "Or are we getting Alexx and Calleigh in to redecorate?"

"We can only redecorate if you clean your room, kid," Speed reminded him.  "Besides, you had some neat stuff in those boxes.  You need to unpack more than the basics."

"Are we buying me another dresser?"  Speed shook his head.   "Then I don't have room for the extra stripper clothes."  Someone at the doorway choked and he glanced back, then sneered.  "Private conversation, officer.  Not included in it."  He looked at Speed again.  "Besides, some of it's got to stay in the boxes.  That one special outfit you were showing everyone the picture of?  That's staying in there."

"You still have it?" Don asked, looking amused.

"Hell yeah.  I looked good in the boots and I know I can use 'em again somewhere else.  Even if I am going as Prince to a costume party.  Besides, I looked absolutely fabulous in the heels."  That got around round of laughs.  "I did."  He glared back at the man staring at him. "Is there a problem?"

"Who are you?"

"Timothy's my guardian.  I got invited up for lunch since I'm not down on my back today."

Don nudged him.  "You might want to qualify that."

"True.  I'm sorry for where your mind went but I was helping Horatio and his team catch a serial killer and I threw my back out. I spent most of yesterday sleeping on the couch and not enjoying the pleasant company of the people who came down to save me from the next one."

"This had better be the last one for a while," Speed noted dryly.  Yelina nodded to back him up. "Otherwise I am so siccing Alexx on you next time, Xander."

"Yes, daddy."

"Thanks.  No lunch?"

"Machines?" he asked.  They were pointed at.  "Do they take fives?"

"No ones in your stash?" Danny teased.

"Please, like I accept such pitiful things as singles."  He got up and went to the machines, and they did take fives so he came away with some cookies, a soda, and a handful of change that went in the middle of the table.  "For the general snack fund."  He sat back down.

"You need to eat better," Yelina ordered, pointing her carrot stick at him.

"I do at home but in public I'm allowed to be nineteen," he said, smirking at her. "Besides, I can live on snickers bars and cokes for quite a while.  As I proved in Montreal by living on those and pop tarts for a whole month."

"If you hadn't run away, you could've eaten real food that month," Tim reminded him dryly.  "That's another good reason why you should never run away."

Xander looked at Yelina.  "If it ever looks like your boy is going to take off, call me.  Let me talk to him about the evils of running away.  Tim finds fluffy reasons, I'll tell him about living day to day and stripping.  I'll even make it sound like the junkie and drunken haven it can be."

"If he ever runs, I'll hand him to you first and then beat his ass," she agreed, smiling at him.

Speed suddenly sat up.  "I just had an epiphany."

"Did it hurt?" Danny joked.

"Yeah, a lot."  He looked at Xander.  "Who was your boss?"

"The nice guy in the office?" he suggested.  "The same guy that let you into my locker so you could do my laundry, which I am capable of doing you know."

"I was being nice, get over it," he noted dryly.  "No, the physical description Don gave.  Not really cut but well-built.  Dark hair, light eyes behind dark rimmed glasses."

Xander frowned.  "I never see him in glasses, Tim."

"He was wearing some last night when I went in," he told him.  "Maybe it was just to read.  It's something to look at and consider."

"It is," Don agreed, "and we know this guy knows the stripper trade pretty well and he's very particular about his clients.  All of them have been good kids, no druggies, none of the ones who give the five dollar blows in the back rooms between sets.  None of the seriously drunk ones.  All the good kids."  He looked at Xander.  "Did he ask you if you were pure or innocent or anything?"

"He did," Xander admitted thoughtfully.  "Well, he didn't put it that way.  He asked if I had been known to be a whore up in Montreal and I said no, that I didn't play that way and I turned them in usually.  Then he joked and asked if I was a virgin and I said 'to some things' I think."  Don smirked at him.  "Does he fit the profile?"

"Yup, and he'd know where you lived and where the others lived or how to get the information," Danny agreed.

Mac nibbled on his salad.  "It'd also allow him to be more picky and see who drew the attention.  Remember, he was always going after the attention getters but the ones who weren't up to standards are the ones who don't get the gifts and he usually just kills."

"But how would he know I was coming to Miami if it was him?  I don't think I ever talked about you guys or anything down here.  Up there I was pretty much 'yeah, my life sucked the big one so I left and got stranded here' as my cover story."

"How did you find him?" Mac asked between bites.

"An anonymous tip relayed through to Horatio about him being on a certain dating site," Speed admitted. "You told them your life sucked so you left?"

"That's why I was taking my road trip," he pointed out dryly.  "Thanks to the bio- hazards."

"I didn't think about that.  By the way, cute name for them and they're in Colorado."

"Good, I hope they get eaten by an avalanche," he said, taking another bite of his cookies.  "I still don't think I mentioned Miami and it's not like I'm native."

"No, but if he knew your name," Don started and Xander shook his head. "No?"

"No.  No one knew my name.  Hell, even my boss paid me under an assumed name.  That was all part of not being traced back by the pseudo father there.  I chose stripping because it's pretty anonymous.  Most places don't ask for a social security number or anything like that and being in Canada was even more anonymous."  He ate another cookie.

"Okay, well, could it be he had targeted him, but he didn't get a chance to move closer?" Danny asked.  "I know you got told by your old boss you could work in a friend's club down here.  Where's that?"

"The Raven Cage."

Speed shuddered.  "No.  I would've whipped you skinless if you had started there.  That place is known for their whores."  He shuddered again.  "Eww.  The one case there was enough."

"But, the guy at the Raven's Cage could've known this guy," Don reminded him.  "These sort of places all know each other because they interchange staff so often."

"I worked with two people at the Raven's cage and he's got friends and associates in a lot of the US," Xander told him.  "They've got a fraternity or something like that of strip club owners and operators."

"That's got to be a fun convention," Don noted dryly.  "Showing pictures and saying 'look what my girl got enhanced' proudly like she's your baby."  Danny choked and wheezed, getting slapped on the back by Yelina.

"Some of us are still trying to eat, I don't need that image, Don," Mac complained.

"Besides it's probably more like 'look how of my girls got hit with something this year' if it's places like the Raven's Cage," Speed noted dryly.  Horatio nodded at that.

"That is one of the sleaziest clubs in the city," Yelina agreed. "But there's worse around."

"Maxian," Xander agreed dryly.  Everyone who was native just stared at him. "Accident," he assured them.  "Big accident.  One of the people I was dancing with suggested we go there.  I went with them and backed out in a hurry after the bouncer offered me coke or hash before I got in the sling for fun and games."  Speed shuddered again.  "Sorry, dad."

"Not a problem.  That showed brains, kid.  I like it when you show brains.  Brains are good."  He took a deep breath.  "So, have you been to Hyjinx yet?"

Xander nodded and grinned.  "Yes.  It was kinda interesting.  I sat and stared mostly.  Got propositioned and told them I liked to sit and stare."  Yelina poked him and he smirked at her.  "I was mostly a good boy."

"Mostly?" she asked.

"It'd been months!" he whined.  "I was careful and she only blew me.  No money exchanged hands and she had her happiness fix for a bit.  She said it made her happy to do that."

"TMI!" Danny noted quickly.  "Thank you, Xander."  He stole a cookie.

Don leaned over.  "Blonde, brunette, or redhead?" he whispered.

Xander grinned.  "Redhead of course," he whispered back.  Horatio choked and he looked at him.  "Damn you have good ears."  Speed nodded.  "Well I know not to try to sneak past you."

"You'd better not try," Speed agreed.  "Was she at least cute and legal?"

"Yes, and very yes.  She was closer to Yelina's age than mine. Just starting to show wrinkles."  That got another group stare.  "After dating Anya and finding out what an older, experienced, very experienced," he admitted, "woman can do I seem to like them more than fumbling virgins who giggle.  I don't like giggling.  Giggling annoys me.  I'm very anti-giggling, virgin, fumbling sorts.  Like most presidential candidates."

Yelina burst out laughing at that, punching him on the arm.  "You are so bad.  You almost had me going."  She got up and went to the bathroom.

"Truth?" Speed asked.

"Truth," Xander agreed, smirking back.  "We aren't going to say anything if I start being bi again, right?"  Everyone shook their heads.  "Anyone I should watch out for?"

"Stetler," Horatio told him.  "Who's still lurking up the hallway."  He looked at him again.  "I'll ask around, see if there's anyone around here you could date."

He leaned closer. "I tried that, she hated that I cuddled."  He patted him on the arm and sat up straighter again.  Then he took some of the change and got more cookies, handing Speed a pack and Danny a pack.  "There, share."  He sat down with his new pack and started to nibble more lunch.

Yelina came back and Horatio gave her two of his cookies from Speed's pack, earning a smile.  "You know, maybe you should ask Eric if he could set you up with one of his castoffs.  He must know some nice girls with how many he's dated."

"I wouldn't mind but I'd hate to force her to make a comparison between us," Xander said smugly.  "She might decide to never talk to him again."  She burst out giggling again and he looked at her.  "Ask Tim why I called him after the prom, Yelina.  Anya may've rode me into the ground that night but that was still five hours of sex later.  Or hey, ask the patrol officer Ryan set me up with.  She was pretty nice; she just hated that I cuddled."  He ate another cookie.  "I wouldn't mind more dates like her.  She liked how I moved on the dance floor, she liked my manners at dinner.  She wasn't really scary, mean, or homicidal.  It was a nice change."  Don stole one of his cookies with a smirk.  "Really, it was.  All my past girlfriends in Sunnydale tried to kill me.  Either that or they were demonic.  Sometimes both," he admitted.  "Well, twice."  He shook his head and ate another cookie.

Don looked at Mac, then at Danny.  "If I ever start dating that bad, tie my ass up and talk me out of it, okay?"

"The sad thing is that I got a forecast of the future there for a few days and he might've married Anya," Tim told him.

"Oh, god," Xander said, clutching his stomach.  "Eewww.  Tim!" he whined.  "No!"

"Yeah, really."

"No!" he said, shaking his head.  "Wrong!  I'd have died of sex!"

"Which isn't a bad way to go," Speed reminded him.

"Yes it is.  If I'm going to die, I'd rather go out in a fight with something.  Not die passively or of a heart attack due to sex."

"That suits your personality too," Mac assured him.  "So, this club owner?"

"I can lead you back there," Speed promised.  "I know the way pretty well now."

"After two times?" Xander asked.

"Oh, I went to watch you work the stage a few times, Xander.  Speaking of, you should check and make sure they only made those four tapes and that they're not really being sold, just used on the internet."

"If he's selling them, I'm going to kick his ass," he promised dryly.

"Sure, we'll watch and then arrest him," Don agreed.  Danny nodded at that.  "When's a good time to go there, Xander?"

"Club opens at two, he usually gets in between four and five.  He's there by the time I got in at six."  He shifted so he could slump down some. Yelina poked him so he blew a kiss. "Sorry, but slumping works better sometimes to help me think."  He considered it.  "If it's not him then he probably knows who it is.  And I'm guessing that he knows where his buddy is at most of the time.  Especially if they're pimping their rides to extra money.  Hell, he took sixty percent of whatever I brought in and if I was making two and three grand a week, then he's making tons off my naked butt."

"Two or three grand a week?" Danny asked, looking at Mac.  "Why do I work for the crime lab again?"

"Because it makes you happy and thrilled like nothing else," Don reminded him.  "Besides, then you'd have to drink and get in shape. "

"And stay in shape," Xander agreed.  "I spend about an hour a day doing situps and pushups."  Speed nodded.  "He's been irritated by my grunting at my situps."

"Many times.  So, you going to keep doing it?"

"I probably should so I don't get out of shape."  He finished his soda and got up to get another one. "Thankfully I'm still burning about three thousand calories a day."  He sat down again, looking at Horatio.  "Do you want me to go in?"

"Ooh, small problem," Speed realized.  "I mentioned the bunny paper and he heard that it was in the North East.  He looked kinda horrified."

"That's okay, I'm thinkin' we wire Xander and send him in to talk about the case," Don announced.  "He's good at talking to people."

Xander looked at Horatio.  "Will I have a neat code word this time?"

"You definitely will this time, that way I don't have to listen to you spank someone ever again."

Xander just grinned. "You guys could've broken in sooner," he reminded him. "Like when I was ordering him to strip.  Or when I started.  Instead you waited until he was crying."

"Which was kinda pretty," Speed admitted.  "I like it when they cry."

"You turned odd by staying in Sunnydale," Horatio taunted back.

"Wouldn't you?  I mean seriously, H.  Look at what I saw every day.  I'm lucky Xander's still slightly normal and I'm still mostly normal."

"I'm normal?" Xander asked.  "Are you sure?"

"Very," he agreed.  "Mostly.  You have your moments of oddness but it's no worse than I would expect."  He looked down the hallway and moaned.  "Again," he said bitterly.  "Incoming, Xan."

"Fuck," he said, not even having to look.  He knew who it was. "Did Aiden go back to Seattle?"

"No, she's working nights so she's probably just about to get up," Danny told him, nodding at Buffy.  "Come to see your buddy?"  He smiled at Xander.  "Pookie, you never told her about us?"

Xander wasn't that slow on the uptake.  "No, not since she kidnaped Tim and Aiden, I haven't wanted to share happy news with her."  He shifted to look at her. "Buffy," he said respectfully.  "Did you come to see my new boyfriend?"  He reached over to take Danny's hand.  "Thank you, dear."

"No PDA at the office," someone yelled.

"Who in the fuck," Xander growled, getting up.  Yelina pulled him back down.  "What?"

"That was Frank," she assured him.  "He's teasing you."  She looked at Buffy.  "Come in, dear.  Who are you?  I'm Yelina Salas, one of the local detectives, and I'm assuming you know everyone else."

"No, I don't.  All I know are Timmy and Xander."  She walked in and looked at Danny.  "You are?"

"Danny Messer, outta New York's CSI lab.  Good friend'a Speed's."  He smirked at Speed.

"Yeah, I introduced him to Xander and they hit it off.  Hell, Xander's even going to college for him."  Xander grinned at him.  "You know that help is there when you need it, right?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  I don't want you to end up with horrible loans."

"I'm not going to. I can work.  Probably."  He looked at Buffy again, swallowing at her heated look. "We're having lunch, did you want something out of the machine?"

"No, thank you," she said stiffly.  "Are you coming home or not?"

"Not."  She glared.  "Sorry, but not.  You didn't appreciate me, Buffy.  Besides the fact that you didn't realize I was doing your job for you some nights, I'll be damned if I'm going to be used that way ever again.  Danny and Tim would never do that to me.  None of the people at the table would do that.  That means that I'm wanted here.  Hell, Tim and the guys here hate the fact that I've been making damn good money stripping."  She looked stunned.  "They don't like that or that I'm being stalked by a serial killer.  They're trying very hard to take care of me.  Something you didn't do."

"You cheated with Willow!"

"Did it escape your attention that she cheated too?" he demanded, standing up and looking at her.  "She came after me.  Yes, we kissed once and then she came back for more, Buffy.  That wasn't my choice and it wasn't only me doing it.  I'm sorry as hell that you don't like it but it's not like I was attached at the hips to Cordelia since she was cheating on me.  Yeah, Oz wanted her, he still probably does.  I'm happy for him because she still kissed me and I'm sorry if you don't like that."

"No fighting," Yelina ordered calmly.  "Not in here."

"He's coming with me," Buffy stated.  "None of you can stop me."

"Yeah, all but the fact that, hey, he's technically legal," Tim reminded her sarcastically.  "I'm his guardian in name only.  He has the right to make the choice to go or stay."  He glared at Stetler when he came in sneering.  "Problems?"

"What's the matter?  His girlfriend want him back?"

"I have better taste than that," Xander told him.  He smirked. "I also don't like blondes."  She screeched and dove toward him and he captured her by the wrists and pushed her against the wall, following her to pin her there.  "You are so fucking stupid," he hissed. "You had me and you threw me away because you were a dumbass.  I had your back, I did your job for you when you were down and feeling lazy.  I could've given you everything, Buffy, anything you could've wanted to help you in your job and been your friend and your ego threw it away.  You threw away the one thing that would've kept you sane and happy and going for years to come."  He let her go.  "And now I'm going to find my own life and happiness and future.  I'm going to college in a few weeks.  I'm going to be studying things that they think will interest me and take advantage of my skills.  Like Timmy taught me.  Unlike you and Rupert.  Why in the hell are you in Miami, Buffy?  You knew I wasn't coming back before.  I'm not suddenly going to jump now that you're without a male sidekick because Angel finally made to LA to stay."  He backed away from her.  "Go home.  They need you there.  I have Miami's safety and security with the people at this table."

"Do you think they'll trust you with your past?" she sneered.

"What makes you think Tim hasn't told everyone everything he knows?  Or that they don't already know."

"You're a cheater.  You broke your promises to Cordelia and made Willow break hers."

"She wasn't forced to kiss me, Buffy.  She sought me out to kiss me, and Cordelia broke her supposed vows to me first.  She'll tell you that if she's being honest.  Or shouldn't I talk about her and a few of the basketball guys?"  She tried to slap him and he ducked and pushed her back against the wall. "How stupid are you attacking me in front of cops?" he demanded.  "Leave, Buffy.  Tim knows almost everything there is to know about me. He knows very well that I'm bi, he was there when Willow kept coming back for more.  He was there when I was figuring this stuff out, he knew first, dear.  The same as he knows that I haven't tried anything on that side of the fence yet nor am I going to.  The same as he knows that even though I was doing one of the dirtiest jobs known to mankind, I was still clean and not drinking.  Yeah, I can tease and I use the hyena well to do it," he hissed in her face.

"Now, you're upsetting what little time they have free during the day.  You and your petty shit need to head back where you're needed and wanted.  Don't worry about Miami, it's safe and taken care of."  He looked at Speed.  "I'm heading to the bank and then back to the house.  If you want to do this today, come get me."  That got a round of nods.  "Laters."  He walked past the IAB guy.  "Morning, officer.  Thank you for bringing  her to our attention again."  He made it out to his car before Buffy was able to grab him and he moved away.  "Thank you for not grabbing me again," he said dryly, staring her down, hands on his hips in an unconscious imitation of Horatio.  "What?  Didn't we settle this inside?"  She glared and took a swing at him so he ducked and let her continue on.  "Weak, Buffy.  Rupert taught you better than that," he snapped when she tried again.  He sidestepped another one.  "Buffy, anger is bad when you're fighting.  We both got that lesson many times."  She finally went back to her slayer senses and really attacked.  He looked at the cops running and held up a hand.  "Don't.  She's hysterical."  He dodged one kick, then grabbed her foot and tossed her into the bushes, squatting down to look at her.  "Are you done?  Because I am.  Even if I was inclined to come back, you're making sure I never do."

"Good, we don't need you!" she screamed.

"That's your decision, Buffy.  When I come back to see Willow, because Tim has to, we'll skip you and just see your mother."  He stood up and walked off to his car, shaking his head.  "She's hysterical and not a happy camper."  He got into his car and waved, starting it and backing out.  He headed right where he said, with a quick stop off for some sugar and chocolate as well.  By the time he got home, Horatio was there waiting on him.  He waved the bag.  "Sorry, needed sugar."

"That's fine.  I expected you were taking a drive around."  He waved at the doorway.  "Shall we?  That was a nice move with her."

"Thanks, I trained my whole life to defeat Buffy."  He walked in and Horatio followed, closing the door behind him. "I wasn't going to hurt her."

"Thank you for that.  The officers said you were very good to just wear her out."

"It's the best and it keeps her slayer instincts whole.  If a slayer kills a human, she goes bad, like Faith did."  He sat on the arm of the recliner.  "So, are we going in?"

"You are, with Don Flack.  Would that be okay?"

"He seems like he knows his shit and he's a nice guy," he offered.  "Aiden said great things about him and how good he was."

"Good.  Xander, would you like to join the department some day?"

Xander shrugged.  "I doubt they'd let me with my recent jobs."

"It was before college, it won't be looked at that much as long as you stay off the pole."

"Yeah, but I'm still bi and I know damn well half the department wouldn't like that," he said quietly. "Which means I'd either have to be one of your team, and I suck at science," that got a smirk.  "Or come in as a specialist, like a profiler.  If I go that way, I wouldn't mind," he admitted. "Tim and you guys do good work and I'd be proud to help."

"Good.  That's a good answer.  Would you mind if I still mentor you?"

"Not an issue.  The more the merrier, mom."

That got another smile.  "Thank you.  Now, we're going to go in just before your usual time. You are not to show up to dance, just show up like you're worried about this guy."

"I am.  He managed to break in and leave no clues.  That means he's either professional or very good."

"True," he admitted.  "We're still processing what we had.  Are there any items missing from your clothes?  Don wanted me to ask.  He said it's been spotty about that issue."

"I'd have to dig through the laundry and the boxes, Horatio. It'll take me most of the night.  I'll gladly call and give you a list when I'm done."  That got a nod.  "So, slutty clothes or not?"

"Whatever you feel comfortable in that will obscure the wire."  Xander nodded and led him into the bedroom, going to throw open the closet.  He watched the boy look and frown.  "Is something missing?"

"Yeah, my usual leather pants that I wear out hunting," he said, pointing at an open spot.  He picked up the phone to call Tim.  "Have you seen my black leathers?  Yeah, that set.  No, they're not in the closet that I can see and they'd stand out.  No, he's here.  Thanks."  He hung up and shook his head.  "He hasn't seen them since the last time I wore 'em and that was two weeks ago."  He called his dry cleaners from memory, then looked it up and did it again.  "This is Xander Harris, do I have anything in there?  I'm missing some clothes and I'm not sure if I dropped them off.  Well, notably a pair of black leather pants.  What's there?"  He nodded and nodded a few times.  "Thank you.  I'll pick 'em up tomorrow."  He hung up. "Not there either."

He looked at the boxes, frowning at a few of them.  "Oh, he's sweet," he said, getting up and pulled out the ones that had been moved.  "I turned all the labels toward the back since they're all liquor boxes and I had drunks for parents," he explained.  "That means at least these were moved."  He sat down to go through them, making messy piles around him.  He found something and snapped his fingers to get Horatio's attention since he was on the phone with someone.  "Gloves?" he requested.  "That's not mine."  A set of gloves was handed over and he pulled the diary out, flipping through it.  "Definitely not mine."  He put it carefully onto the plastic bag that Horatio came back with.  "Tim's kit stuff is in the closet in his room," he offered absently as he continued to look.  He folded up each box's content, but left a few things out and pushed aside next to the dresser.  Then he started on the other ones.

"Xander, which box had the diary?" Horatio asked.

"The Captain Morgan's with the dark blue Led Zeppelin t-shirt on top," he said absently.  That box was found and looked through again. "It's mostly thrift shop stuff, Horatio."  He found another touched box and grimaced. "Eww."  He pushed that one toward the bed.  "Anything in there can be cleaned, I hope."  He pulled out the next one. He heard the choking noise and looked over, seeing the porn.  "I'm not a big, blonde, and busty sort," he said blandly.  "If you see the Hustlers, those are probably mine and all mine went to a PO Box in Sunnydale.  Most of the labels are still on.  I haven't had a subscription in about ten months."  He went back to searching, pushing another box closer.  "I don't own sparkly clothing as far as I know.  Ah."  He found the box that he knew had his dirty stuff in it.  Eric had written in big, bold letters 'porn'.  "This is probably my collection."  He looked inside and nodded.  "Yeah, this is mine."  He checked, tossing over a few others.  "Those ain't mine.  Again, not into blondes or tits. Not really."  He heard others come in.  "Tim, someone added to my porn collection.  Does Eric have a thing for blondes?"

"God, I hope not," Calleigh said from the doorway.  Xander tossed one at her and she stared.  "No, that's not his taste either."

"Nor mine," he agreed dryly.  "I'll admit to Hustler and oral stuff, but not tits."  He looked through the last few boxes and pushed another over with the porn one, then stood up to get into his clothes, making a list of what was missing.  That went to Don and he shrugged.  "There ya go, some of the boxes were touched.  Anything in particular you want me to look like today?"

"Clothed," he noted dryly.  "I saw plenty of you on those DVD's."  He looked at the porn that was stacked up.  "He spent a lot adding to that."

"Yeah, he did.  'Cause I didn't.  You might wanna ask Eric if he found an extra stash somewhere and where the sparkly thing came from since that's the only thing that doesn't look like it's mine."

"Is that a Grateful Dead shirt?" Calleigh asked.

"Admittedly, thrift shop," Xander defended.  "I like their stuff but I get numb in the head after an hour.  Give me something harder our country any day."  He walked around the piles, putting the stuff he wanted in his drawers, looking at the things in there.  "That's just nasty," he said, handing back the pictures he found.  "Anything not Sunnydale isn't mine.  Ask Tim."  He went down, dropping a few pair of used undies on his floor.   He picked up one and swore.  "It's not all him.  Damn it.  Anyanka!" he bellowed, looking up.  She appeared, smirking at him. "What did you put in here?"  She shrugged.  He grabbed her and shook her a bit. "Anya, there's a serial killer tracking my ass.  He's been in here and snuck in stuff.  They need to know what was his."

"I can't do that.  Buffy made a wish."

"I was never with Buffy," he sneered.  "How could she through you?"  She looked horrified.  "That's right, and by the way, how did you get your powers back?"  He walked her outside and gave her a shove. "Undo it, Anya, or I swear to fucking god I'm sending a prayer to D'Hoffryn about you," he growled, moving closer. "Undo it now!  You violated your oath."

"Hey!" one of the neighbors yelled.  "Don't threaten her!"

"She put fucking kiddie porn in my dresser!" he yelled back.  "She fucking well deserves it!"  The door shut and he glared at her again.  "I swear, Anya, and we both know I can reach him.  We both know that the only reason I'm not doing magic is Willow's example."

"Fine," she said, getting to her knees.  "You tell him."  She looked to her side as her boss appeared.  "He accuses me of granting a wish out of malice instead of within my powers but I read her."

"How did she get her powers back anyway?" he demanded. "I know we broke her charm."

"Point," D'Hoffyn agreed gravely.  "What wish?"

"That of Buffy Summers," Anya told him.  "I will gladly undo it should his claim be true."  She sneered at the man coming up. "I would gladly curse you."  Xander moved Tim behind him and growled again, making her move away from him.  "D'Hoffryn," she pleaded. "Please, so I may go?"

He touched Xander's forehead, then hers, then nodded. "It is false. It was made in spite and you were lied to."  He looked at her. "Though I'm unsure if you knew it or not.  Undo the wish without repercussions."  He looked at Xander.  "You dare threaten us, hunter?"

"I dare a lot," he said, moving closer.  "She put kiddie porn in my things," he growled.  "She is obscuring what a serial killer who's tracking me to kill me is doing."  He nodded at that.  "Now, undo it now."  He looked at her and she concentrated, then nodded.  "Thank you."  He walked back inside and slammed the door.  "I wanna fucking move," he told Danny as he walked past him.  "And I wanna abolish wish demons."  He leaned in the bedroom, looking at the smaller piles. "Anya has now seen sense," he said cooly.  "Anything she put in here is now gone."

"Which cut it down a lot, thanks," Don admitted.

"Xander, tempers are bad," Tim called.  "One of the neighbors wanted me to calm you down before you killed Anya."  Xander glared at him.  "I pointed out she was wrong to do that and that's why there were more cops over today. That we were separating them out.  She was understanding but still."

"I'll help pay for someplace," he offered.  "Somewhere Anya and Buffy haven't been.  Somewhere with a library."

"You can't find places like that around here cheaply."

Xander looked at him and rolled his eyes, going to make a call from outside on his cellphone.  He came back a minute later with six addresses and a phone number.  "She's renting these, they're anything goes buildings, that means that there might be demonic neighbors, but not hunters.  She doesn't rent to hunters, which means I've got to stop, and it's rent controlled.  Starting at eight a month."  He walked back to the bedroom. "Did my leather pants reappear?"  Don shook his head.  "Damn.  Are we still going?"  Don looked up and nodded.  "Then let me get some stuff out of one of the drawers."  He came in and grabbed some clothes, going into Tim's room to change and then coming back out.  Tim gave him an odd look and he looked down, then back at him.  "What?  I know, you haven't seen these since Sunnydale before you made me leave.  They were packed."  Horatio came out and he raised his arms.  "Good?"

"Very good and it looks like you're scared of the attention," he agreed calmly.  "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm actually scared at what he left.  I can understand her and the porn stuff, but not that."  He shook his head. "That's just nasty."  That got a faint smile.  "How are we wiring me?"

"Around the chest or stomach. The usual way.  Unless he hugs?"

"No, occasionally he pats on the back, but I'm not known to hug and I tend to shy away from casual contact with strangers."

"Good.  I've got a wire in the car.  We can do that now and let Calleigh set up the transceiver with Mac."  That got another nod and he went out, nodding at the officer out there taking the complaint. "One of his exes put trashy shit in his things.  He found it," he said quietly.  The officer nodded, noting that down as well.  "She's taken it and left."

"They're always noisy," the neighbor complained.  "Coming in at all times of the night!"

"Well, Timothy is a police officer, ma'am.  We do work long hours and Mr. Harris did work in a bar."  She sneered.  "He's a very nice young man, expect when threatened by people like his ex.  Don't worry, they're talking about moving."  He watched as Xander came out and ran a hand across the back of her hair and she went slack jawed, then headed home.  "Xander," he said firmly.

"Necessary.  She doesn't need to know about some things." He looked at the officer and shrugged.  "My ex put kiddie porn in my sock drawer.  You'd scream too."

"I would," he agreed, closing the report and looking at Horatio.  "You've got the materials, sir?"

"I do, and if we can prove it, she's going to be in for a rude awakening."

"That's fine then.  Mr. Harris, please try to keep the noise down?"

"I do try.  We're not that loud."  He shrugged.  "She goes to bed at eight and I work in a bar.  Of course I get home at one."  That got an understanding nod.  "I'm sorry she bothered you, officer.  I've got a pot of coffee started, can I get you some?" he offered, pointing inside.

"No, that's okay," he said with a smile.  "Just try to sneak for a few days, sir."  He got into his car and left.

Xander looked at him.  "She really is fussy for no reason," he admitted.

Horatio moved closer.  "Magic?" he asked dryly.

"I asked permission first and I have three books in the house. Tim knows this. He sent me with them because he realized I *could* use it except for Willow's bad mistakes."

"Hmm."   He looked at the boy.  "Let me get that wire," he offered. "Where are these other buildings?"

"I don't know yet.  I know one's in a very good neighborhood."  He shrugged and headed back inside to make the coffee as promised. "Coffee," he called more quietly than usual.

"Thanks," Don called back.  "She complain?"

"Yup."  Tim walked in to get some.  "Did you call and see where they were?"

"Two are in really bad places and one's in a really nice place.  It's still about what I pay for here and it's a four bedroom, rent controlled, and in a nicer neighborhood nearer to the station and the college.  How did you know about that?"

"There's always safe spots in any major city," he offered with a grin.  "Like Penguin Street in New York."  He winked and headed out to the living room, taking off his shirt.  Horatio tore off the first piece of tape and started to lay the wire around him.  It kinda itched so he wiggled some, giggling at one point when a ticklish spot was hit.

"Thank you for the sound check," Calleigh said brightly.  "What're we asking?"

"I go in, I say I'm really worried about this sicko bastard who snuck into my house.  I'm really scared, he's creeped me out.  Does he know anything about this guy because I've never heard of him but Tim said he had.  What's he know?  Any other guys in the area who've been attacked. Anything I should be aware of, like walking down the street in really tight pants that nearly got me arrested a few days back."  She chuckled at that.  "The grey jeans.  I took the bus to work and had to walk about a block," he sighed.  "The cops weren't amused until I led them to work and the bouncers said I was just coming to work. I ask if he has any idea if it's connected to the club system since it's all been strippers, or if it's like the last guy and a patron.  General information, right?"

"Right," Don agreed, coming out to look at him.  "That's awfully big, Horatio.  Will his t- shirt cover it?"

"Yeah, and I can layer too," Xander admitted.

"How? It's like an oven out here."

"Sunnydale's next to the desert, Don.  It's not that hot, it's the humidity."  He turned, letting Horatio check all the tape again.  "We good?"  That got a nod.  "What time is it?"

"Four."

Xander nodded, putting back on his shirt.  "He could be in and me pacing would look normal."  He looked at himself.  "He's right, that's going to show at the top."  He went back to his room, putting on an overshirt and walking back out.  That worked better.  "Good.  Let's go."  He walked out, letting Don drive.  It was nice not to have to drive every once in a while.  "You guys know if you need me for demonic stuff, I'm here, right?"

"Of course.  Who else would we call?  Your blonde friend?" he snorted. "I don't think she's stable."

"She's a pouting princess.  She was ever a princess and slaying does not agree with her.  She wanted a social life. She actually told her watcher that she had to study for an exam and went to a frat party."

"Oooh," Don said, shaking his head.  "Who went?"

"Me.  She and Cordy went off together to the frat party.  The rest of us went in to kill the big snakey demon for them since they were due to be a sacrifice."  He shrugged. "That was the life back there.  That or the blissful supposed-fifties congeniality with everyone like you see on tv."   They parked and he got out, looking at the bouncer, eyes wide and swallowing. "Is Jack in?"  He nodded and let them inside, and he ran into the office, pulling Jack up.  "Jack, man, I've got a serial killer after me!" he said hotly. "I don't know what to do and Tim said you knew something about the guy.  Help?" he pleaded, giving him the puppy eyes.

"Sure, kid, sit down, let's talk," he said calmly, nodding at the other guy.  "Bodyguard?"

"Friend of Tim's in for a few days of R&R.  He's from New York.  Don, this is my boss, Jack."

"Hey," he said, shaking his hand.  "He's really worried about this. He's been bouncing around all day.  He almost attacked a woman in the parking lot at their place because she was near the house."

"Wow."

****

Xander walked in and looked at Calleigh, who smiled and nodded, taking the wire off him.  "Anything good and helpful come up?"

"Yup, he left a partial label on one of the skin mags."  She bundled up the wire.  "I erased the first part until I heard you ask the bouncer if the boss was in."  She patted him on the cheek. "Good job, Xander."

"Thank you."  He blew a kiss.  "Am I doing dinner?"

"Um, no.  Tim said if you ever tried to cook again he was going to handcuff you to the bed, remember?"  He nodded and grinned.  "He went out to get dinner and to look at a few of the apartments. He'll be back in an hour with Horatio."  That got a grin.  "You like him," she teased, swatting him gently.

"He's a nice guy and he wants to help me when I get stuck. It's not often I meet people who want to help me do things."  He sat down, getting comfy.  "Anything I can know?"

She nodded, smirking at Don. "His label came up with a New York zip code.  Mac's calling Stella with what we have to she can track it.  She said she misses you guys a lot and to give Speed hell for coming back."  Don smirked at that and headed into the kitchen.  She looked at Xander. "Do you have a crush on him?" she asked quietly.

"Don?"  He shook his head.  "No.  He's a nice guy."

"I mean Horatio," she muttered.  He slowly shook his head this time, giving her a look like she was insane.  "Are you sure?"

"He's hot but he's protesting a lot.  I could only be with someone who wanted me.  Sorry."

"No, that's okay.  I just needed stuff to sleep to tonight.   You make him smile you know."

"And growl.  He growled at me earlier."

"Well, yeah, since you magiced the neighbor," she teased.  Don came back and she grinned at him.  "Danny's back at the lab right now with Mac, Eric, and Speed.  It's just us."

"That's fine, I like you, Calleigh.  Even if he doesn't like me like that."

"Hey, I think you're hot and you'd be good, but I doubt you'd feed my chocolate habit or cuddle.  I like to cuddle."

Don laughed and nodded.  "It'd be like dating Aiden, kid, it'd never work," he promised.  He popped open his beer and took a sip.  "You had some crappy day dancers."

"He was new," he offered.  "Only been there a few days. I was that bad my first week too until I went to one of the best dancers and pleaded with him to teach me something.  He spent his day off working with me.  I'm damn happy he wanted to improve the quality in the club.  Most of the guys are really jealous."

"Some can be, yeah, and so are the women," Don admitted. "I've dated a few."  He took another drink and put the beer down at Xander's look.  "Sorry, forgot."

"Just don't get drunk around me please."  He nodded at that.  He looked at Calleigh.  "Which one did he go look at?"

"The really nice four bedroom for the cost of an efficiency around her," she promised, sitting next to him and letting him cuddle into her. "You don't like blondes?"

"No.  They tend to be scarier," he offered, pouting a bit at her. "I like you as a buddy. You're a nice lady."   She smiled and stroked his hair.  "Ooooh, right there."  He tipped his head and she scratched the spot for him.  "Thank you."  He let out a happy moan.  "Now all I have to do is go through my clothes to separate out the stripper stuff that I can't wear daily and the rest put away."  She giggled and he shrugged a bit.  "I have a lot of clothes since I haven't thrown anything out.  I got my stuff out of storage in Sunnydale and had it sent to me."

"You did?  We didn't even know."

"I had the vampire moving company do it," he admitted. "They work under cover of dark.  I paid the next month's rent on the space and then let it lapse."  He tipped his head a bit more and she smiled, working on that spot. "Thank you.  I could use a trim."

"You could," she agreed.  "Tim seems to think you look more dangerous with really short hair."

"He thinks I'm dangerous all the time," Xander quipped. "And he's not often wrong about that but I don't.  It depends on how short I go."  The door opened and he looked out, seeing the disgruntled look.  "That bad?"

"No, that good.  And it's in a good neighborhood.  You can't hunt unless there's an emergency and especially not in the building."  Xander shrugged. "You sure?"  Xander nodded.  "Okay."  He called the new landlady. "He said he'd only hunt in emergencies or warn me first."

"I'd hit Tentacles anyway," Xander offered.  "There's always someone down there who's hurting others."

Tim repeated that and smiled, nodding at him.  "We can move this weekend...."  He blinked and nodded.  "Sure.  I can do that," he agreed.  "Thank you, ma'am."  He hung up.  "She said there's a kraken down on the beach and if you can kill it, she'll give us two months free rent and no security deposit."  Don moaned at that and he nodded. "Yeah, big savings."

Xander got up and nodded, heading into his room. "I need the big thing of salt and my longer hunting blade," he called. He came out in stuff he could get wet in, taking the knife from Speed's hand carefully, tucking it into his waistband.  Then the sea salt was handed over. "Which beach?"  Tim wrote it out and he nodded, heading out to do that.  When he came back, Tim was bragging that they got free rent.  "I hate those things," he complained, heading right for the shower.  He had black ooze in his hair. It was as close to blood as those things got.  You had to keep cutting off tentacles until you got to the mouth and then pour salt in it and stab it a few times too.  His knife went on the sink and the shower was turned on full.  He wiggled out of his clothes and dropped them on the tile, then got in with a sigh of relief.  Ooze itched when it dried. He didn't care if he used all the hot water for the building.  He had his eyes closed and rinsing out the third dose of shampoo when he heard the movement in the bathroom.  He opened an eye partway and saw a shape outside the doors.  Not a silhouette he recognized.  It was bulkier and wider than the cops he knew.  Unless it was Frank Tripp, but he was taller than this guy.  The guy's hand reached for the door and he tensed himself to attack or defend, using a heel strike to pin the arm with the knife against the wall and knock it out of his hand.  "Out!" he shouted.  "Now!"  Horatio came running and grabbed the guy.  Small bathrooms were a blessing at times.  He bent down and picked up the knife, handing it over.  "I want that back."

"What's on it?" he complained.

"Kraken blood.  Ooze.  That'll stain."  It was carefully held away from his suit and the man was marched out to the living room.  Xander went back to his shower, not caring that the bathroom door was open.  He was good with some supervision at the moment.  He turned and found Anya behind him.  "I don't like females," he told her, opening the door and shoving her out.  "Laters."  He went back to cleaning up. He was content now.

Danny peeked in at the sound of crying, helping Anya up and out to the living room.  "You know her?"

"Anya," Tim said dryly.  "Morning.  Back again to do more harm?"

"You turned him gay!" she wailed, collapsing to cry some more. "How could you!  Xander gave very good oral sex!  It's not fair!"

Danny patted her on the back.  "Women's loss is men's gain," he told her.  "Go for a sex change."  She glared at him and he shrugged.  "It's an option, that's all I'm saying."  She burst out crying again, hugging Tim's legs.

"Get off!" he complained, shaking her free.  "Damn, woman.  Go let Eric do you or something.  He'd sleep with nearly anything."  She looked happier at that.  "Delko.  Cuban guy I work with?"  She perked up even more at that.  "Go jump him."   She disappeared and he sighed.

"That was mean," Calleigh said sweetly, grinning at him.  "If you help me check the calibration tomorrow I won't tell him."

"He'll enjoy it.  Xander did until she nearly killed him."  He went back into the kitchen then went to check on Xander.  "Xander, food?"

"Let me finish scraping off the ooze."

"Sure.  Ten minutes."

"There's not that much hot water left anyway.  Can you get me a pair of sweats or something?"

"Sure.  Are these black velvet pants yours?"

"Yeah, from my bedtime story set."  He turned off the water and got out, taking the towel to start on his hair.  The pants were handed to him. "Thanks."

"Welcome," Horatio offered.

Xander looked up at him. "Hi."  He went back to drying off.  Wet velvet was not fun for anyone.  He finally got done and wrapped his hair up and put on the lounge pants, heading out to look in the washer, then get his clothes and put them in there on soak.  They could soak all night for all he cared.

"You're soaking on cold?" Tim asked.

"Yeah and I need to add vinegar in an hour.  Remind me, okay?"  Tim nodded, smirking at him. "Food?"

"Kitchen."  Xander nodded and went that way.  He looked at the velvet pants.  "You wore those on stage?"

"Yup.  Started out in 'em for my bedtime story set.  Then I got down to the fuzzy velvet thong and danced to that and then, well, Montreal is a full monty city," he admitted dryly. He came out with a plate of food. "I took the last of the chicken."

"As I knew you would," Tim agreed patiently.  "Sit, eat."  He saw Xander look and wiggle between Horatio and Danny, it was the only place to sit. He got his own dinner and came out, sitting on the floor against the wall.  "Was that him?"

"That was the killer but not the present giver," Don sighed.  "He's giving him up.  We hope."

"He will," Horatio assured him.  "Yelina is cranky today at this man for trying to hurt Xander."  He looked at him.  "You're getting another mother."

"At least I'm a good example of what not to do," he said before taking a bite.  "You can use me as an example to keep your nephew off the stage and away from hunting."  He ate another bite. "Plus Tim said she cooks very well."

"Why do you call him Tim most of the time?" Danny asked.  "By the way, do you know the girl that popped around to hit on me today?"

"She's from Sunnydale, she followed Buffy.  She's mostly sane.  She's good in bed."  He grinned.  "She won't complain at anything you could want to do."  He stuffed his mouth before it could get him another dirty look from Tim.

"So why do you call him Tim?" Calleigh asked.

"That's his name."

"I was doing a bit of moping myself and didn't want to hear my nickname so I said to call me Tim," Speed offered. "He still does most of the time."  He smiled at her.  "I wasn't completely happy when Aiden prayed for some help after being in Sunnydale for two weeks and I got sent," he admitted. "She did hug nice when I landed in the church behind her."

"Gee, she had only barely met us then.  She was in for worse than just meeting Buffy," Xander said dryly, shaking his head and finishing his dinner.  He put the plate down and weathered the shocked looks. "I'm doing dishes later," he assured them. "I often do."

"He does, and then he complains when I do his laundry."  Tim smirked at him.  "The next place has a dishwasher."

"I love that invention nearly as much as I like the microwave," he said happily.  "I'll gladly take loading and unloading."

"That means you've got to do the pots and casserole dishes by hand," Tim pointed out.

"So?  They can soak overnight."

"Good point.  I do that too.  We'll see. You know how fussy I am about some things."

"Yes, and you're turning me into a fussy person too," he pointed out gently.

"All good CSI have a neat streak," Horatio assured him.  "Speed's comes out in different ways."

"Ryan Wolfe has OCD," Calleigh offered.  She smiled at Speed.  "Where's your gun?"

"I clean them for him," Xander told her.  "Military precision and all, dear.  While I watch cartoons every single Saturday morning.  I had to go back and find a spring because I was laughing so hard it rolled off the table but I realized it was gone and went looking right away."

"Can I see anyway?"  Xander shrugged and looked at Tim, who nodded so he got up to get them for her.  She smiled as she broke down the first one, blinking at it.  "These are cleaner than Ryan's.  I'm impressed, Xander.  Now teach him how to do it when you're too busy studying."

"It's calming for me. I sharpened all the knives and swords at the same time," Xander assured her.  He heard his phone go off and sighed, looking at Speed, who got up to answer it. Anyone who was calling him from Sunnydale he didn't want to talk to.  "I like cleaning and fussing over the weapons.  It's one of the best things I ever got out of that possession."

Speed came back. "Mac, did you give Stella Xander's cellphone number?"  He handed over the phone.

"I hadn't but if she's talked to Aiden maybe she did."  He heard the squeal and listened to her babble.  "No, she was here, she left really early this morning."  He saw the kid's pout and smirked at him.  "She said she's popping around during spring break, Xander."   He listened to his coworker happily chat.  "No, Xander is Tim Speedle's adopted kid.  He's nineteen and serial killers like him.  No, stripper."

"I'm the one you caught that guy in Montreal over," Xander offered.

"I knew I knew you from somewhere," Don said, frowning at him.  Xander just smirked back. "The last time I saw you, you had an ice bag on your head."

"I needed it, I had skull fractures."

"Have skull fractures," Tim noted dryly, sitting down again.  "X-Ray's next week, Xander."  He watched as Mac got up and headed into the kitchen, then looked over as the door slammed open and Eric walked in, slamming it closed. "Careful, the neighbors complained earlier.  Not that we're not moving but she seems like she's a nice old lady.  She knits cat sweaters."  He pointed at the kitchen. "There's a little bit of food left."

"No thanks.  Who sent me the nympho?"  He looked at Xander.  "She looked an awful lot like one of your friends."

"Well, she was from Sunnydale," Xander admitted with a shy grin.  "But I'll damned if I'm sleeping with her again."  Someone upstairs pounded on the floor.  "Am I being loud?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "She's being fussy.  We must be interrupting her knitting."  Some more thumping.  "We're not being noisy, Mrs. Palmer."  He went back to looking at Eric.  "What'd she do? Jump you in the station?"

"In front of Stetler!"  Some more thumping.  "Are you sure she's not having a seizure?"

"Fairly, it's not rhythmic," Speed noted.  "Like I said, she complained earlier.  I hope the next one likes heavy metal at dawn."  Xander snickered at that. "Or Yanni, nearly as annoying."  He looked at Eric again.  "It was a group consensus that you needed some fun and she was looking for fun.  But no one ever said she had tact or discretion.  Did you sic her on Stetler?"

"Well, yeah," he admitted, grinning at Horatio.  "Anything we can bug him over?"

"She's demonic," Xander said sweetly, smiling at him.  "A vengeance demon who does happen to be a nympho."  Eric gave him an odd look.  "She's the one I took to the prom, Eric.  She pressured me into it.  The one I had to call to be saved from."

"I remember Speed saying something about that."  He headed into the kitchen. "You sure no one wants seconds or anything?" he asked.

"No, go ahead," Speed promised.  "You can use Xander's plate, he didn't lick it this time."  Eric came out and got it to rinse off then use it.  "One less dish for you to do," he offered smugly.

"Love you too, dad."  He looked at Horatio.  "I've got to go through my clothes tomorrow.  Where's the nearest drop box for a thrift store?"

"There's a church downtown that takes clothing donations for a homeless shelter," he offered.  "They're not that far from the office."

"I try to donate there myself," Speed noted.  "I should go through some of mine too since so much of my stuff ended up in storage.  Thanks, guys."

"Not a problem, Speed.  We had problems believing you were dead," Calleigh offered sadly.  "We just couldn't go through it."

"Where were my parents?"

"I couldn't get hold of them," Horatio told him.

"I tried too when he called up and asked us to let them know ," Don admitted.  "They hung up on me."

"Oh, good to know," he agreed.  "Sure."

"You still had better parents than I did," Xander reminded him at the look on his buddy's face.  "No one had to run yours out of town for you."

"Good point," he agreed with a small grin.  "Yours were worse and Aiden and I did run them out of Sunnydale because of how bad they are.  I did tell you they're in Colorado, right?"  Xander nodded, grinning at him. "Good.  I didn't remember."

"Too much more of that and we'll have to take you back to Sunnydale for the three days," Xander said dryly.

"No thanks.  Not yet.  They said the anniversary of me coming back."

"Um, which would be....." Xander reminded him.

Speed checked the calendar.  "This weekend.  Good point.  The convention's when, Horatio?"

"Two weeks.  I can give you the weekend off, Speed."

"Please.  I'll be able to come back sometime on Monday.  So I'm having a migraine that day," he warned, grinning at him.  "That good?"

"That's fine," Horatio agreed.  He looked at Xander.  "Are you going back?"

"I promised them I'd be back sometime in about a year. If he wants, I'll go with him," he assured him, looking at Speed, who shook his head. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm going to lay low at the motel and do nothing for those three days.  I might call Joyce and tell her you're doing okay and how well you're doing. If I run into the others, I'll deny it.  Say you ran off with Danny already."

"Stella said she'd heard rumors," Mac admitted.  Danny blushed and groaned. "I straightened her out.  Told her it was to get an ex and a few former friends off the kid's back.  She said she wants pictures of you two together just in case it comes up again."

"You know, there is that digital camera lying around somewhere," Eric noted. "Even if you do have to remove the battery to erase images."

"I think you should bring that to Tyler in AV," Horatio offered.  "It might have a backup memory."  Eric looked stricken.

"It's on his dresser," Don offered.  Eric jogged that way then out.  "I haven't seen anyone move that fast in a while.  I wonder who he was making out with."  Everyone looked at Xander, who shrugged. "I'm sure you know, kid."

"Yes, but I'm not in the mood to blackmail the guy who sneaks me into the good clubs.  Tim, am I allowed to go to Masquerade?"

"No."

"It's supposed to be a nice place and no scary women would hit on him," Calleigh offered with a grin.  "Well, unless some lesbians wanted to put him between them, but it's a very nice anything goes gay club."

"No," Tim said more firmly. "If he wants to try gay sex, he can date, like the rest of us do."

"Not all of us tried it," Mac pointed out smugly.

"Not the point," Tim told him, shaking his head.  "That was an image I didn't need, Mac."

"Sorry," he said with an unrepentant grin.

"That's okay.  I get plenty of that from Xander.  If Xander wants to try gay sex, he can find a nice boy to date and do it that way, which is the only acceptable way I want to hear about sex.  No more sex in the clubs.  Don't take up Eric's bad habits."

"Yes, dad."

"Thank you."

"You know, if he ever gets a girlfriend again, you'll have to give up that bit of teasing," Calleigh said, smirking at Xander.

"I wouldn't date her if she didn't understand, Calleigh.  It's like him calling H mom."

"I still like how Aiden shot back in the mommy versus mom shootout," Danny joked.

"Hey, at least I ended up as stepmom," Calleigh complained.  Someone tapped on the door before coming in.  "Hey, Alexx.  Anything good?"

She shook her head, sitting down.  "They were human and we're running DNA samples to see if they match anyone in the system and each other."  She made Xander look at her.  "I want you to be very careful, baby.  That guy hasn't given up the present giving person yet."

"I'm usually careful," he reminded her.

"True, but I mean extra careful.  How did they catch him?"

"He tried to jump me in the shower.  Apparently the boyfriend rumor got back to him because he came at me with my own knife I had out to clean."  A thought hit him and he looked at Horatio.  "It could be symbiotic or whatever that word is.  Two of them sharing the pool.  He's handed all the non-innocent ones by the other guy."  Horatio blinked.

"It could be," Don admitted.  "If you're hunting in a shallow pool you either take out the other predators or you end up working with them so you all eat.  That's why packs form.  But you'd still have dominance battles, right, Xander?"  Xander nodded quickly.

Horatio got up.  "That's a very good point, Xander, and I know just how to break him.  I'll be back."  He left, going back to the station to taunt him about going for one of the innocent ones.  How the boyfriend was only days old and nothing had happened yet, not even cuddling.  Then he pressed for who the pack alpha was. It went much faster.

***

Xander came home from depositing his check, finding Horatio in the new apartment, looking at the view.  "If you tell me he got shot again, I'm going to have to spank you too," he said in greeting.

"No, nothing like that."  He looked at the boy, seeing the wariness.  "He's fine, Xander.  Cranky today but fine."

"He wouldn't let me move any of the books around to help him."

"He can be a bit particular about that," he agreed, smirking a bit.  "He's also worried that he's stifling you somehow.  Like you won't get to date by living with him and being around us.  Is that something you worry about?"

"No.  It's not like I've found anyone worthy to date.  A few to screw in the bathroom that I haven't but no one to date.  I'm not sure I even know how to approach someone to date."  He grimaced. "Besides, with school starting in two weeks, I'm not sure I've got the energy to date at the moment.  And I'm not about to bring a date back here either. I'm not a first date sex sort and that'll take us getting more serious."  That got a good smile and it made him happy.  "I can easily date and so can he. I can duck out and borrow a couch some nights if he really needs to bring someone back too."

"He's not the sort to do that usually," he admitted, moving closer.  "You're sure you're fine with it?  I know some people have been showing interest and he's...hesitant to take them up on it because he doesn't want to bother you."

Xander shrugged.  "The guy can date, Horatio.  It's not like I can't crash on a couch or find a motel for the night.  If it's the same girl more than three times I'll expect to be introduced," he offered dryly, earning another grin.  "Then he's hiding me and I get to pout."

"No, that's fine.  Eric brought it up earlier and it's been worrying him most of the day."

"Moron.  He could've come talked to me about it."

"He was going to tonight but I needed him to focus so I said I would."

Xander sat down and pulled out his phone, calling him.  "Father, if you bring home some piece of tail, go for it. I can borrow a couch somewhere or find a motel.  If it happens more than three times with the same girl, I will expect to be introduced or else I'll pick on you mercilessly until I am.  And yes, I'm more than capable of finding a motel and having cheap sex that way but I'm not in the mood to date at the moment.  I wouldn't even know how to approach someone down here for a date.  I'm waiting until I see how much of a drain classes are.  Got it?"  He smirked.  "Tough."  He hung up and shook his head.  "Now he's worried that I'm being run out by going to a motel for sex.  I personally think it's safer in most cases, that way they can't stalk you back to your house."

"That is a consideration with some of the women you've dated," Horatio agreed, sitting across from him.  "Have you registered for classes yet, Xander?"

"No.  I'm supposed to do that tomorrow.   He's supposed to help me and if not, I'll do it the next day, they said I could if something happened since I said I was in protective custody over a serial killer at the moment. I know cases come up."

"True," he agreed quietly.  "I could help.  I did go as well."

"It's nothing that serious, Horatio.  If he can't, I'll come to you."

"You know you can come to me at the same time you would normally go to Speed, right?  That I can be on the same level of mentoring?"  Xander nodded.  "As long as you know."

"He knows me a bit better.  That's why I'm going to him to help me.  They want me to take my gym elective now and some 'appreciation' classes, which means I'll hate it and quit.  I told her that and got the horrified preppie look.  She was not a happy failed cheerleader."  That got a small smirk.  "She was and she was going on about time management workshops and how we have an orientation class that's mandatory and all that stuff.  I have to buy a special planner that has school sports stuff, which I don't need because I'm not into football.  But if you guys want tickets I'll use my ID to get some for you. I'm already dreading this one."

"That's fine," Horatio agreed quietly. "It's usually the easiest class.  They do things like make you redo your notes a few ways to make sure you've got at least one good way."

"I take notes," he said with a shrug.  "I write things down in barely legible handwriting and then squint at them later."  Horatio shook his head but he was smiling.  "I'm still not sure this isn't a big waste of money.  I'm not the college sort. I don't do well in lectures."

"You'll be fine as long as the subject speaks to you," he reminded him. "We'll be checking on you and all that as well.  Did you get the health insurance letters yet?"

"Yes, and they want me to get another shot, which I'm not taking.  I had a bad reaction the last time."

"Did you tell them this?"

"Yes, and called my...the health department out there, who sent them my shot records and agreed that I shouldn't take the measles booster, but they weren't sure about the meningitis booster.  Which I don't think I need."

"You shouldn't.  That's mostly for those who live in the dorm."

"Oh, they don't like that either.  'Living in the dorms provides you with a better chance of graduating and moving onto an excellent career'," he mimicked, making Horatio crack again.  The door opened and he looked back at Speed.  "I met with the orientation ditz again."

Speed shuddered.  "Failed cheerleader, H.  Really horrifying mid-thirties failed cheerleader.  With way too much eyeshadow.  What was the DT this time?"

"I should be living in the dorms, the orientation teacher will demand I get a special day planner with the school's sport schedules, and ooooh, you really should join a fraternity.  For a guy like you, they have many rewards," he said in that same mimicking voice.  "Fraternities provide a lot of contacts and good memories.  I had to point out that most of them can't remember from the alcohol poisoning and she pouted and said that was a stereotype.  So I told her I'd seen plenty of frat brothers and sorority sisters in my former job who couldn't remember.  I'd worked with them and worked for them.  She didn't look impressed.  She wanted me to take my gym elective and all my 'appreciation' classes this semester.  I told her if I did I'd be quitting by halfway through the semester.  She pouted at me.  I walked out, dad.  I'm sorry but I was going to smack the bitch.  I'm not some cookie cutter little teenage boy who just wants to get drunk and party."

"You're not, which means that hopefully you'll get more out of college.  Remember, you've got to endure some of the classes to get to the stuff you like and graduate.  Orientation was one of mine."

"I'll use my ID If you guys want to go to any of the sport games."

"Sure.  Thanks."  He patted him on the head.  "Okay, I'm home for lunch.  What're we having?"

"Not a clue.  I just got home."  He got up to look in the kitchen and decide, and glanced out the window.  "Huh.  Horatio, your favorite person's outside," he called sweetly.  He turned away and went back to looking in the fridge.  "What'm I taking this semester?"

"Psych 101, Sociology 101 or Anthro 101.  An easy English class, and find something fun," Speed reminded him.

"I tried that, she refused to agree."

"I'm going with you when you go back," he said dryly.

"Go tomorrow," Horatio said as he joined them.  "Did he follow you?"

"Probably."  He shrugged and got out the stuff for sandwiches, including the brick so he could fry them.  Xander grinned at that and pulled down the pan and the oil, warming it up.  "Paninis, Horatio?"

"Sure, I could eat."  He watched the boys work, smiling at the easiness they had together. Speed may worry about the kid not liking him dating but Xander seemed okay enough with it.

***

Speed looked up as Stetler walked into his lab and closed the door.  "Something you needed?"

"Are you and Horatio sharing your whore?" he asked bluntly.

Speed put down what he was doing and looked at him.  "First, Xander is a nice kid.  He's always been a good kid.  I met him in Sunnydale and took him in after I ran his parents out of town for being shitbags.  Secondly, I consider him my son.  There's no way I'm sleeping with him.  His room's too messy."  That got a stunned look.  "Third, he looks at Horatio like a mentor.  He calls him mom.  I seriously doubt he's sleeping with him either.  Yes, Xander can strip, he does it very well and he made good money doing it, but he's quit now.  He was also clean and sober while he did it.  If you don't believe me, ask Frank Tripp."  The man took a step back. "Now, you've just insulted not only me and Horatio, but that boy.  I would fucking well run for your life before I tell Yelina."  He walked out, going to find Horatio.  He found him, Yelina, and Frank together bent over a file.  "Got a sec, H?"  He looked at him and stood up, walking him away.  "Stetler just asked if we're sharing Xander now.  I pointed out that I'm his dad, you're his mom, and we're not like that."

"Thank you, Speed.  I'll handle it from here," he said more calmly.  "Just relax.  Think about going to help Xander register for school tomorrow before you've got to head out in the afternoon."  That got another nod and he left, going back to his lab.  Horatio walked back to the group.  "Rick just asked Speed if we're sharing Xander," he said dryly.

"Can I watch the kid beat his ass?" Frank asked.

"As much as I'd like that, it's probably not acceptable," Horatio offered dryly.

"Don't worry, I'll be doing it for him," Yelina said, walking off.  "Rick, how dare you accuse that boy of sleeping with the man who took him in and protected him and Horatio!  How much of a mentor would he be if that was going on!" she yelled when she found him, making him back away from her.  "Xander is a perfectly nice young man with a bright future and Timothy and Horatio are his mentors!  Nothing more!"  He took another step back.  "Unlike you, I've been in their house and he's got his own, very messy, room.  He's a good boy!  If you make one more dispersion on the boy I'm going to report you!"  She stomped off, going to tell Calleigh and Alexx.  Rick sneered at her back, unaware of the danger he was now in.

***

Xander walked into Horatio's office the next afternoon.  "Dad's left for Sunnydale.  I dropped him at the airport," he said quietly, handing over a tape.  "I will hurt the mother fucker if he ever comes near me again."  Horatio looked alarmed.  "I went out with dad and Eric last night, right?"  Horatio nodded, Eric had told him.  "He came up to me in the club.  Fortunately Calleigh still had the wire we used for the serial killer at home in her kit.  I noticed him stalking us and called her to bring it."  He crossed his arms, glaring at him.  "I want that man's ass begging and pleading for mercy, Horatio.  I want him gone.  I doubt he's going to do anything on that tape without me killing him if he tries."

"Just calm down, Xander," he said quietly.  "Let me listen?"

"You won't want to have eaten yet.  I didn't."  He walked out and went to find Calleigh, giving her a hug.  "I gave him the tape."

"Good boy."  She patted him on the cheek.  "It's the unedited version, right?"

"I can't edit that stuff."

"Just checking, dear.  Now, go get me a soda?"  He nodded and did that, coming back with it for her. "Thank you, Xander," she said with a smile.  "How did registration go?"

"Dad ripped the cheerleader wannabe a new one for thinking I'm some dumb jock.  I ended up in Psych 101, Geology, which is a jock's class, my first English, and a Humanities orientation instead of the other one."  She smiled at him.  "I only have two days of classes because he got me afternoon ones."

"Good.  I always liked those."  She pinched him.  "You should go home."

"No, dad told me to come here and stay here until after Horatio has listened to the tape and probably confronted him.  He didn't want him able to pull in a favor from another cop to harass me in the open."

"Okay.  Go wait in the break room or out by reception then."  He nodded, going out there.  She called Horatio.  "I sent him to the break room since Speed said to stay close by until you've listened."  She hung up and went back to work comparing samples.

Horatio found him eating cookies in the break room.  "Are those all you eat when you're here?" he asked quietly.

"It's the only really good thing in the machine."  He held up the package so he could have one.  "Let me guess, you listened?"

Horatio made an assenting noise and patted him on the shoulder.  "Are you willing to press charges?"

"Yup."  He ate another cookie.  "Dad didn't know it happened, I let him listen this morning.  He puked breakfast, which put him in a bad mood for the cheerleader wannabe."

"That's fine, I feel a bit ill myself."  He pulled the boy up.  "Come on, I've got someone you need to talk to."  He went to get a cleaned up version of the tape and the other one.  The background noise in the club was fairly loud.  The AV guy gave Xander a pitying look. "That's why he turned it in."  He let Xander walk beside him, glancing at him.  "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine, Horatio.  I've heard more disgusting things from drunks before.  I had one guy who wanted to gut me and wrap himself in my intestines because I was so pretty and hot."  He shrugged.  "I shrug off most of this stuff.  I saw worse in Sunnydale."

"Sometimes humans can be worse than any demon," he reminded him, opening a door down a short hallway.  "Inside."  Xander walked in and he led him back to a back office, tapping once before walking in. The man looked stunned to see him.  "This is Alexander Harris, the one Tim Speedle adopted."

"I've heard rumors.  Including that he's helped us capture two serial killers who were after him for being such a good stripper."  Xander nodded, sitting down.  "What's going on?  Did something at the club impact your team's job, Caine?  You don't usually come to IAB."

Horatio handed over the cleaned up tape, then put the other one in the center of his desk.  "Rick Stetler came up to Tim yesterday to ask if we were sharing Xander between he and I," he noted calmly, getting a moan.  "Now, I won't complain about that accusation or the way he stalks me around the office and interferes in my cases. I will complain that he stalked the boy last night and he had to call Calleigh to get a wire to tap him."  He pointed at the one on the desk. "The unedited version and a cleaned copy, cleaned only of background noise by my AV tech."

"Eric and Speed never saw me talking with him," Xander admitted.  "We were out together but I made sure Speed didn't see him with the way Stetler pissed him off yesterday.  I haven't seen him that angry since he made my parents run away in fear for trying to give me away to someone."  Horatio looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "They did. You can ask him when he gets back."

The officer turned on the tape and listened to it through his headphones, then the original copy.  He slumped and looked at him.  "The boy will press charges?"

"I want him nowhere near myself or my guardian, or my mentor," Xander said, standing up.  "I consider Horatio one of my closest friends and go to him for advice and support.  Hell, I call the guy mom jokingly."  That got a weak smile.  "He's clearly got it in for him and I'm sorry, but if he comes near me again I'm going to deck the guy. Hell yes I'm pressing charges and I want a restraining order against him going near Horatio's team or me."

"I think I can do that," he agreed calmly.  "Will you press charges, Horatio?"  That got a nod.  "What about Speedle?"

"He's out of town on an unavoidable situation," Xander admitted.  "He's just about to leave the airport now.  You want me to call?"  That got a nod so he dialed his cell, getting him.  "Hey, me."  He handed over the phone.

"Detective Speedle, are you willing to press charges against Rick Stetler for what's on that tape Lieutenant Caine handed me?"  He smiled.  "That's fine, when you get back on Monday then."  He hung up.  "He growled and agreed.  Let me get the correct forms, Lieutenant.  Relax and sit for a moment please."  He went to get them, coming right back.  He wanted every inch of this documented, even if his in-office recorder had been started by the press of the button under his desk when he saw who had come in.

***

Xander leaned into the morgue.  "Fair warning, there's going to running, shouting, and screaming.  Horatio said to tell you you might be needed."

"Why, sugar?" Alexx asked, looking at him.

"Rick Stetler's about to be arrested for threatening to rape me to allow Horatio and Speed to keep their jobs in peace."  She glared and he nodded.  "On tape.  I saw him stalking and called Calleigh.  It made Speed puke this morning.  So  mom thinks you're going to be needed."  He withdrew and snuck back up to Horatio's office to watch from in there.  He found Stetler hiding and looked at him.  "Get out.  You know better!"

"What are *you* doing here?" he sneered.

"Easy, I was told to come.   Horatio!" he yelled.  "Stetler's in here!"  Someone came running, Eric.  "He's going through his desk," he said bitterly.

"I have the right to."

"No you don't."  He grabbed him and Xander pushed the guy against the wall, patting him down first.  "You do that very well, Xander."  The kid handed him a few things and he glared.  "Okay, into the hall."  He pulled his handcuffs.  "This is going to please me to no end.  Rick Stetler, you are under arrest for the distribution of illegal pornography," he said happily, cuffing him.  He walked him and the kid out, closing the door.  "Horatio!  We need you and a scene tech at your office!  Now!"  More people came running so he handed the top IAB guy the photos.  "Xander here found him going through H's desk.  He also frisked him when I grabbed him, taking him out of my hands to do so, and found that on him."

"I see."  He took the baggie Frank Tripp held out and put it in there.  "Thank you, young man.  Horatio told you to wait in his office?"  Xander nodded.  "That's fine.  Why don't you go wait in the break room with someone you trust."

"I trust most of you guys.  Whoever's not working on the scene is fine. Or I can wait alone.  I'm a big boy now."

"I'd rather not take a chance that someone might hurt you for that.  Did you Miranda him, Delko?"

"Not yet, sir.  I thought it more important to get to this scene faster and I know we can do it in interrogation just as easily."  He handed him over.  "Those are my cuffs."

"That's fine.  We'll be in Interrogation.  Detective Tripp, take charge of this scene please?  With one of the techs you trust.  You can have the boy tell you which drawers he was in."

"Second one down on the right side," Xander told him.  "Break room?"  Frank nodded.  "Sure."  He headed down there, sliding past Ryan with a grin. "Hi."

"Thank you for breaking the boredom," he said with a grin.  "Detective, I'll wait with him."  That got a nod so he followed the kid down there to take his statement.  "Did you like her?  Even a little?"

"I did. I'm not that picky," he admitted with a shy grin.

"Hey, doubles your chances," he agreed, understanding the covert answer of 'I'm bi'.  "I know a few others wanted introduced but they were thrown off by the 'I'm with Danny' thing you had going to throw Buffy."

"Danny's very cute and I wouldn't mind, but New York is too far away for cuddles."  Ryan chuckled at that and nodded.  "So, what'cha wanna know, bright boy?"  He sat down and leaned on his elbows on the table.

"Well, first, how did this get started?"

"Oh, he came up to Speed yesterday in the lab and asked if he and Horatio were sharing me."

Ryan blinked.  "Excuse me?"

Xander nodded.  "Yeah.  Speed's on a plane to Sunnydale at the moment for the three day thing he couldn't get out of.  He's supposed to spend three full days there so he'll be back sometime Monday."

"Okay."  He went to find a notebook and a pen, coming back to take notes.  He hadn't realized this was going to be so bad of an event to document. "How did you learn how to frisk someone?" he asked as he returned.

"Doing it to the vampires while hunting them," he admitted.  "Giles made me."

He blinked.  "Okay, so work related?"  Xander grinned and nodded.  "Gotcha."  He wrote that down.  "Why was he in there?"

"We pressed charges since he said I was going to let him rape me and do whatever he wanted to me, including carving his initials on my ass so no one would ever want it again.  If I let him, he'd leave them alone here at the station unless they did something really, obviously bad and wrong.  He came up to me in the club last night when I was out with Eric and Speed.  I saw him first so I called Calleigh.  She brought a wire.  The tape made dad puke for breakfast."  Ryan moaned.  "Horatio looked paler than normal due to it.  It's not a pretty thing."

"I'll make sure I don't have to listen to it without a trashcan nearby," he promised.

Eric walked in.  "When did we get a tape of him threatening you?"

"When you and dad were off with the blonde twins."

"Why?" he asked, glaring at him.  "We would've backed you up."

"I doubt he would've spoken his mind with you two hovering. That's why I called Calleigh for a wire."  Eric smirked at him.  "You notice she wasn't a happy camper?"

"It was a self-taping model?" Ryan asked.  Xander nodded.  "Okay.  How bad is it?"

"Horatio was snarling at him, like Speed growls sorta snarling," Eric told him.

"Like my girl snarling?" Xander suggested.  Eric nodded.  "Hmm.  Good.  He probably needed to let it out.  Anyway, Ryan, when I brought Horatio the tape, he listened to it, had a cleaned up copy made for background noise and we brought it down to a little office down a short hallway, where the guy took a statement about twenty minutes ago."

"Good, excellent even," Ryan agreed.  "So IAB knows and already suspected him.  That'll make this easier."

"Ooh, yeah," Eric agreed, smirking at him.  "Yelina's in there right now."

"Hey, at least I'm not a janitor here," Xander said sweetly, grinning at him.  "Speed's on a plane."

"I figured he was.  Did he have fun telling off the cheerleader?"  Xander nodded. "You in stupid classes like I was?"

"English, Geology, Psych 101, and a humanities orientation.  I already told dad I'd use my student ID for game tickets."  Eric beamed at that.  "He dead yet?"  Eric looked and shook his head.  "Pity.  Horatio had me warn Alexx she might be needed."

"Oh, she's going to be needed," Ryan assured him.  "Even if they just kick him off the force, he's going to need medical support."  He made another note. "So, you went from the morgue up there?"  Xander nodded, getting back into the swing of things.

Eric stood guard, nodding at Ray Jr when he showed up.  "You two can wait in here.  Your mother and uncle are yelling at Stetler for threatening Speed's adopted kid."  He let them inside.  "Xander, this is Ray Jr."

"Hey," he said, smiling and waving.  "Expect to hear my name used as a bad example of what not to do.  I've already given your uncle permission."

"Sure," he agreed, smirking at him.  "What did Rick do?"

"Threatened me and tried to plant disgusting shit in Horatio's office."

"Ah."  That got a nod.  "He hit my mom, once.  Uncle Horatio nearly took his head off."

"Your mom would've taken his head off but I'm guessing her temper got in the way," Eric suggested.

"Yeah, she was incoherent, I had to stop her from going for her gun," Ray Jr. admitted.  "Guys, this is Layla.  She's my lady."  Everyone smiled and waved at her.  "Layla, this is Eric Delko, Ryan Wolfe, two of Uncle Horatio's CSI guys, and Xander, who another one of them, Tim Speedle, adopted."  Xander beamed and shook her hand.  "No flirting, Xander."

"I'm not, kid.  She's too young for me anyway."  He went back to the statement, but handed the kids a five.  "Get soda and snacks.  I was always starved at your ages."

"You still get an allowance?  I hope my parents are that nice," Layla said.

"No, I was working until recently," he admitted.  "I'm starting college next week."

"And we will be expecting great things from you," Eric teased, smirking at him.  "Especially with your three parents."

"Don't expect too high, Tim's the one who got me through high school," Xander warned.  "Aiden made Buffy do homework and Tim dumbed down the stuff for me."

"You'll do fine," Eric assured him. "I passed and I was a jock, you can too."

"Sure."  He looked at Ryan again.  "Sorry.  I'm a bouncy ball of energy today."

"I noticed but that's fine.  You should try interviewing a tweaker."  That got a grin and he went back to it with the kid.

***

Xander looked up as Speed finally came home.  "Three full days?"

"Yeah," he said tiredly.  "Next time I'll arrive sooner."  He fell down on the other end of the couch, looking at him.  "How did it go today?"

"My psych teacher hates me.  Said that real world observation isn't realistic because you can only get a small sample of humanity."  He shrugged. "I told her that was good enough for me at the moment.  She kept going on about the majority of people so I smarted off and asked what the average person was because I'd never met an average person since we were so diverse."

"Don't alpha dog the teacher, Xander.  It leads to problems."  He smiled though.  "How was orientation?"

"She's a flake.  A crystal pyramid wearing flake.  But I understood her 'waves of concentration' speech and had to translate back into normal person for a really confused looking jock.  He wants to be a teacher so he's in there.  We'll see about tomorrow.  You missed Stetler trying to mine mom's office with disgusting snuff porn."  That got a growl.  He nodded and grinned. "I caught him in there with his hand in a drawer and found it on him.  Right after we went and filled out a complaint.  He made a deal to lose his badge and never try to work in law enforcement again, or else this report would surface at his new job within days, but he's not going to jail.  I'm guessing the IAB guys have their own conventions?"  Speed nodded.  "Cool.  I guess they need support and love too sometimes.  It's gotta be a hard job."

"It is but they're all suspicious people.  He was escorted out?"

"Oh, yeah, and Yelina and Alexx stood there and watched him pack everything, both of them with their arms crossed and scowling.  They were the only ones who wouldn't have killed him for it.  Frank Tripp heard the cleaned up tape and after a few minutes apparently he went for his throat."

"It was enough to make me do it," Speed agreed. "What're you studying?"  Xander held up the psych book.  "Mandatory reading?"

"Seeing if I can stand it."

"Good idea."  He grinned at him. "Okay, so I'm whole for another year.  I communed with the powers in the park one afternoon, with Willow showing up at the end.  She said she's straightened out Buffy, who had a small breakdown due to the changes and stresses in her life.  I'm guessing Giles said that.  I warned her of some of the things I saw, and she agreed with me about that.  She's on the watch."  He leaned over and stroked his cheek.  "She's happy, don't worry about her.  Next year she wants you in."  That got a grin.  "I told her you're studying now and she liked that idea, said maybe you'll go to the same graduate school."  He patted him. "You should be in bed."

"I don't have classes tomorrow and Horatio is off on mandatory leave. The IAB guy ordered it so he wouldn't go off on a suspect because he snarled at Stetler after he found him planting snuff porn in his desk. Said it was going to take that long to finish processing his office."

"Good, we can have lunch with him if he wants, just to keep him busy.  Or I can go to work and you can go annoy him."  He grinned at him.  "You're sure you're okay with me dating?"

"Go ahead.  I can bum a couch, idiot."  That got another smirk.  "As long as you've told her by the third time you make me sleep on someone's couch, I'm good."

"Oh, yeah, long before then," he agreed.  "We'll try not to keep you up."

"If you do, I'll go ask someone more witchly than I am to soundproof your room."

Speed laughed and pulled him closer for a hug.  "That'd be fine, do the same to yours so you can bring guys home."  He kissed him on the head.  "Any of your clients in your classes?"

"No, but one of the other psych professors was.  I waved at him and grinned.  He blushed and nodded back so we talked for a minute. He agreed, it was going to be fine and that teacher was a bitch."  Tim laughed at that.  "He said my other two seemed nice but he only knew my Geology teacher casually from faculty events.  They mostly hung in department clusters."

"That makes sense. We'll see on Wednesday.  Any word from New York if you'll have to testify?"

"Not yet.  I did email Don and pointed out I needed to know that to arrange for tests and stuff.  He said he'd write back if he heard and he said Danny was doing okay and Mac was still relaxed so it had been a good vacation."  He snuggled in against him.  "I still don't feel comfortable in the classroom. I felt like Snyder was going to walk in any minute or the floor was going to open up into a hellmouth."

"Snyder died and there's no hellmouth here.  It's in the Keys."

"Good to know."  He cuddled.  "So far it's not a lot of work."

"No, taking twelve hours isn't.  Technically you should expect about twelve hours of homework a week, that's what that means, but usually it's cut by a third except around tests and finals. Any papers?"

"Yes, and I need an MLA and a Chicago style guide book.  The flake said I'd need both as reference tools."  Tim nodded.  "I didn't know there were different ways to write papers."

"There are, it's mostly about how you quote and how you do the reference page, plus your headers."  He gave him a squeeze.  "I should go to bed."

"Okay."  He let him go and Tim kissed him on the head. "I won't stay up too much later."

"Good.  No sneaking off tonight.  What did you eat when I was gone?"

"Sandwiches.  We're out of the thick ham."

"That's fine, I can pick more up tomorrow on the way home."  He smiled as he went into his bedroom, finding a sandwich and a bottle of milk in there for him.  It was still cold even.  He smiled. "Thank you, Xander."  He sat down to eat his dinner, then set his alarm and crawled into bed.  It was going to be a long day tomorrow.

***

Xander flopped down next to Horatio on the beach, who gave him a sideways look.  "Your nephew said you were moping and dad said I was to come cheer you up, drag you all over creation to help me shop for something decent to wear, and make you buy me a tie for some reason.  I have no idea why."

"He wants you in a suit?" he asked with a touch of humor.  That was a new one from Speed; he barely owned a whole suit.

"He said I have everything but that in my closet and if I start dating I should have a decent one to wear on dates.  I told him I look horrible in them, I can't pull off a casual suit look like you can.  He just rolled his eyes and said to make you help me since you're so clearly bored today."

"I was?" he asked, sounding fully amused now, like he was trying not to smile.

"Yeah, he said you were bored without having anyone to hunt down and stare at.  Besides, he said you'd keep me from buying more trashy jeans."

"I think you have enough of those."

"All I used to have were baggy ones and then I tried to go tighter and ended up with the gray ones.  By the way, my psych teacher said that personal observation isn't good enough for her class and my orientation teacher is a flake on a wave high.  I met with my Geology teacher and he's making my skin crawl.  He reminds me a lot of a fishing worm I refused to touch."  Horatio did laugh at that.  "But my other teacher is calm.  He's used to dealing with freshmen and them not knowing a thing. He assured me he can help me with my first few papers when I think they sound really stupid.  I just have to bring in a style sheet for him."

"Good."  He stood up and helped Xander up, watching as the boy dusted himself off.  "What were you shopping for today?"

"New sneakers.  Maybe some jeans that were somewhere between porno tight and loose."  He shrugged.  "I got ordered to find a suit.  Not a clue otherwise."

"How is your bank account?"

"Better than most people's, and I have to stop to pick up my last paycheck later," he admitted, shaking his head.  "Was Jack involved?"

"As a spotter.  He only gave information.  I can drop you off for that and take you to the bank."

"We can take my car."

"I like the hummer.  No one cuts me off in traffic," Horatio said, smiling a bit.  Xander giggled at that.  "Do you think you're going to want to work while you study?"

"Probably not.  Maybe workstudy for pizza money but nothing else."  Horatio nodded, letting him into the hummer.  He took a deep breath and heaved himself up.  "It is getting easier."

"Just like riding the motorcycle is."

"He doesn't let me."

Horatio walked around and got in.  "He hasn't given you lessons?"

"Nope.  He told me I touch his bike in a covetous manner and I die.  I had to look up covetous, it made him smirk at me and spell it out."  Horatio shook his head and started the engine, backing out and heading toward Xander's old job.  "What do I do if I run into another one?"

"Tell us and give us reasons or proof so we can check him or her out," he said calmly.  "The geology teacher?"

"No, I think he's a worm.  I think my psych professor moonlights as a professional submissive too.  She's got that attitude that someone above her told her she could go so far and no further and she's following it to the letter. Well, that and she looked very wary when I asked if we could do our observation paper in a club environment since it was closed society."  That got a small smirk.  "Turn left."  Horatio nodded and did that.  "There was a wreck on Flagler again."

"That seems to be a place for it," he agreed.  He parked and Xander bounced inside, coming back with his check and a bright smile.  He caught sight of it and snatched it to look at it, then at the boy.  "How?"

"That last night I had three platinum card members and one guy who had a special diamond studded card.  Plus the usual drink sales of my favorite cranberry slushies.  I got about fifty of them that night.  I sold drinks for an extra hour after I got ordered to go home.  Jack didn't mind and it gave me time to be able to move properly again.   I still like my foreign guy with the diamond card.  It was very pretty."

"A European diplomat," he said, smirking a bit.  "Very nice."

"Very, and he paid me two grand just to redo that number in a private just for him.  Which was really painful because by then my back was killing me.  I went from that to my third set and ended up on my knees."  He took the very high check back and grinned.  "Since it went on a credit card, I didn't get it that night or my tip until now.  Jack told me I had some credit card charges on this one, he'd try to get the rest of them for me."  Horatio smiled and drove off.  "National."

"I know.  Do you have a deposit slip?"

"The nearest branch knows me pretty well," Xander admitted sheepishly.  "I never have one with me.  I never have my checkbook on me either.  I live on my debit card and cash."   They pulled into the drivethru and he signed the back, then dug out his wallet and ID, using the piece of paper in there to note his account number.  Horatio smiled at that.  "I don't remember things like that too well."  They pulled up to the window and he handed it over with his license.  "Just cash it and can I have a balance check?" he requested.  The girl behind the glass smiled and nodded.

"You should deposit part of that," Horatio told him.

"Horatio, I was making A-level stripper money in gay boy city.  I made more since I moved back to Miami than you do."  The slip came back with the cash and he showed him the balance, getting a stare.  He looked at it.  "Who else deposited?" he asked.

"Financial aid it looks like, Mr. Harris."

"Thank you.  Have a nice day."  He handed Horatio the lollipop with a grin.  "Okay, we're good."  Horatio nodded, driving on thinking about that. "The club wasn't the high roller place, but it was affiliated and a starting place for a lot of the anything goes clubs.  The higher end clubs don't let you get nearly as close to their products as Jack did and he often passed people onto the anything goes sex clubs.  Hell, I escorted a few very good customers to one and then dumped them later that night, getting yelled at the next day for leaving them there and not following along for more tips.  I pointed out I wasn't comfortable with them doing that and watching me dance, so I left."  He checked the money then put it in his wallet, balling up the envelope and putting it into the small plastic bag in there.  "You sure you won't get into trouble for going with me in the company car?"

"I take it everywhere else," he admitted.  "The purchasing manager handed me the keys with a smirk and told me it was mine until I retired or it blew up."  That got a giggle so he smiled.  "Anywhere you need to go for jeans?"

"The only place I know is the mall and I wouldn't torture you that way.  So pick some spot.  I'll even treat to a late lunch or dinner."

"Sure."

"Just not a sports bar.  I don't want to have another shudder in horror moment at watching more hockey with Eric."

Horatio smiled and shook his head.  "Me either.  He took you to one?"

"Oh yeah.  He was going to introduce me to one of his sister's friends and she liked sports. I swim but I'm not a big sports guy and she was gushing over the Rangers so I was mostly lost.  I saw some in Montreal but it was the off-season thankfully.  The other guys suggested that if I was there during the season I'd have to bone up a bit to seem knowledgeable while I talked and sold drinks. That alone nearly made me come down here again."

"You should've.  Speed got very upset that you walked off that way."

"Really, I wandered off after the fight and woke up in front of the bus station.  The urge hit me, Horatio.  I had no idea where the bus was going, I just paid for the full ticket and got on. Three and a half days later I'm in Toronto.  Which was nice, but fairly stuffy.  I spent a night there and complained a bit that I couldn't find the nightlife like I had in LA.  He suggested I go to Montreal.  It was my first train trip but it was kinda neat," he offered with a grin.  "Two days there and I found the ad for the club, going in to apply for the bouncer position.  I got hired as a dancer for some reason, even though I sucked.  I'm thinking the boss was desperate.  He set me up with the guy I rented off of and the rest is pretty much history."

"Do you want to go back some day?"

"Sometimes I feel the need to show off and make men pant," he admitted quietly, leaning back to look at him.  "It's not often and I'm sure I can find other, safer ways to do that.  I was always on guard for what my customers might do.  Drunks don't sit well with me and I knew what they were capable of so I was pretty wary and controlled around them.  It'd be nice to let loose and enjoy myself while I was showing off."

"It sounds like you could do it in a club."

"But that's even more dangerous," he pointed out. "Many more people, no rules against touching, more drunks, fewer bouncers that want to intervene or watch for stuff.  How many rape cases have you worked in the clubs versus the strip club average?  Even if we don't often report it because most of us know we won't be taken seriously due to the reputation of a few of us."

"Some officers would listen."

"They're in the minority, and they're not in Vice," Xander said dryly.  "One of the Vice officers who came in to do a supposedly subtle bust in there offered me fifty to blow him and I sneered and walked away, reporting him and getting him thrown out.  He wouldn't have listened if one of the guys got attacked.  Most of them wouldn't in that department.  The same as prostitutes don't get to report theirs.  That same perception that we're doing this, so therefore we must consent and we're out for the money."

"It is a problem but if you know someone who needs that, there are a few I could give you the name of."

"Dad walked up to one of the guys after my first night and handed him three names and said they'd listen if necessary and if I ever got hurt, he was going to come in and kill everyone involved.  I know one of the guys went to one of them about his domestic issues.  Of course, his girlfriend was the one I threw into the wall when I threw her out one night.  She wasn't a happy camper when she tried to hit him in the head with a metal chair."  Horatio looked at him.  "I pulled him out of the way, blocked her next hit, knocked her ass out and threw her out into the alleyway, slamming her into the other wall.  Then I left her there and went to tell the bouncers and get him an ice pack.  He went that night. Apparently the cop helped, we never saw him and we didn't see him in the papers as a mutilated corpse."

"Should I check?"

"No.  He should be fine.  I've seen her in there panting over another one of the guys and warned him and the bouncers that I'd seen her. The bouncer and the boss asked her before they blacklisted her in the city and the state.  She sneered and said he was hiding from her.  So I'm guessing he went home.  He was from Chicago I think."  He shrugged.  "He got the help he wanted and I'm sure the numbers are still floating around the back office and so's Speed's cellphone."  That got a nod and a satisfied looking smile. They pulled up in front of a suit shop and he looked at him.  "You're going to help me in here, right?"

"Definitely.  Besides, I could use a new shirt."  He got out and walked the boy inside, taking him to where he should be, just this side of trendy and cute suits for teenagers. It only took six for him to find one he liked on the kid, then his own shirt.  It was fitted and could be picked up in a few days once Xander paid for it, and they left again, heading to where Eric said he shopped, which was trendy and cute, but nothing was Xander-tight, which was now a word around the office.  Horatio looked at him when he parked.  "Some of the females have decided that your black and gray jeans are now the standard for too- tight," he offered with a smirk.  "Xander-tight is now a word."

"Eric teased me about that," he admitted with a shy grin.  "I have tighter pairs."

"Can you get into them?"

"Oh, yeah, easily, but I'll never wear them in public."

"Thank you."  He got out and walked the poor boy inside, letting him look.  He watched the boy shop, he was very picky.  "How did you find jeans tighter than those black ones?"

"They were fitted to me by someone.  She was up and coming and did the club's clothes in Montreal.  She's the one who made a lot of my stuff, including the black lounging jammies I wore that night after I got rid of the ooze."  He grinned at him.  "She fit them exactly to my body.  As long as I never gain weight, they'll do and I can still sit and breathe in them.  Which is better than my black ones if I ate too much lunch."  He blushed a bit.  "My rust colored ones are highly indecent."  He pulled out a shirt and held it up.  "Doesn't this look like Tim's?"

"It does.  And he spilled ink on his the other day."  Xander checked the size and got it in a bigger one, then put it in his stack, making Horatio smile.  "He had a bad week last week."

"It happens to the best of us. Even I had my bad weeks.  Head injuries are like that."   Horatio made a noncommital noise.  He looked at him.  "Really."  He grinned. "I still have to go through my stuff."

"You probably should."  He handed over something and Xander beamed, putting the dark purple t-shirt into his stack.  "You said there's a dichotomy in your clothes?"

"Um, definition of the big word?" he asked hesitantly.

"A split?" he tried again.

"Yeah, all my Sunnydale clothes are really baggy and loose. I was trying to hide in plain sight according to Tim.  That and thrift shopping."  The woman behind the counter gave him a long stare and he smiled back.  "What?  I had no idea what my body could do until last summer."

"You're from Sunnydale?"  He nodded, raising an eyebrow.  She smiled and walked him into the back area, saying something quietly and handing him something.  "There you go, Mr. Harris," she said as she came back.  "Feel free to try any of that on."

"Where did that come from?" Xander asked.

"Rupert sent it via Ethan Rayne."

"Should I trust it?" he asked.  She nodded.  "No slimy chaos intentions to get me possessed again or anything?"

"No," she assured him with a smile.  "Rupert made sure he didn't mess with it."

"Thank you."  He put it in the corner of his basket and went back to shopping.  He glanced at Horatio and shrugged. "What do I know?" he muttered.

"Fredro, er, Ethan, did say he was going to leave you alone for a very long time under penalty of a beating by his ex, again," Horatio offered.  He watched the boy go into the changing area, coming out in his t-shirt choice and a pair of jeans.  "Are they comfortable?"

"New jeans are never comfortable," Xander reminded him, turning to look at his ass. "Are you sure these aren't too baggy?  I'm not sure what normal people pants look like."  He looked at the saleswoman again.  "I either get too baggy or skin-tight.  Are these okay?"

"They don't do much for your butt," she offered.

"They're fine, Xander," Horatio promised.  "You said nothing that tight.  Eric's are usually just a bit too snug if that's an indication."  Xander shrugged and agreed, going to get the rest since they were in the same size.

The saleswoman looked at him. "It must be tough to be surrounded by the prettiness of that one, Tim Speedle, and Eric Delko all the time. I saw them in the club a few nights ago and they made everyone pant."  He blushed at that and she giggled. "Not that you're not pretty and I'm sure the women you work with are too, but those three are to drool on. That's why they were born.  To be sex toys of the Great Ones."  She winked at him.  "Don't you agree, Lieutenant?"

"Delko showed you my picture?"

"Group picture and he was in a chatty mood," she admitted, smiling as Xander came up and let her check him out.  She looked at the overshirt, then at him.  "Present?"

"For Tim since I heard you mention him.  You hit on him that night after the twins went to find someone to play with them."

"I did," she agreed happily. "He seemed very nice.  Tell him to call me, I was the one with the red wig."

"Sure," he agreed. "I love being his secretary."  She giggled and winked as she gave him a discount, then took the money and handed the change and the bag to him.  "Have a nice day."

"You too."

Xander waited until they got in the car.  "Like I'm going to let Tim date a chaos witch," he snorted.  "Yeah.  I'm sure."  Horatio laughed and he looked at him.  "Are you okay?  I heard her very subtle hint that you start dating at the office."

"I'm fine, Xander.  She didn't try anything.  What's in that ball of fabric?"

"Clothes.  The note said someone sent them to me there.  It was the clothing person who thought I went back to Sunnydale.  The rest'll be appearing tonight wherever those end up."

"Ah.  How many more stripper outfits are you getting?"

"None.  These were dual duty stuff.  That's mostly what I picked out, except some things, like the PVC pants.  She helped me design that routine."

"It was good," he admitted.  "Home?"

"If you're bored and wanna watch tv.  We have cable."  He grinned at him.  "You're driving and I can always buy lunch to go if you wanna dump me."

"No, that's fine, Xander.  I haven't been shopping in a while."

"You still haven't been shopping," Xander said, pinching him on the bicep.  "I took Danny shopping and he giggled and rolled around that night."

"I remember," he agreed fondly.

"Good, then turn, um, right at the light three from now.  I do have something on order that I have to pick up.  Even if I probably won't be using it."  He nodded and headed where he was told, ending up outside a store painted black.  He drug Horatio inside, past the doorman with a nod, and up to the counter.  The girl behind it looked at Horatio, then at him. "This is Mom."

"And I thought the other guy was bad."

"Which one?  I've brought in two others."

"The Latin honey you drug in the other day who just stared."

"Oh, Eric," he said, nodding.  "He works with mom here."  He grinned at her.  "Is it in yet?" he pleaded.

"Of course.  I heard you quit."

"Dad wanted me in college and I threw my back my last night.  I have the option of doing some special events."  He grinned as she went into the back, pulling Horatio over to look at the things he liked.  He handed him two button up shirts, since no one he knew had ever seen Horatio in a t-shirt, and looked him over, then picked out three pairs of pants, pushing him toward the changing rooms.  "Try those on, my treat."  He went back to the counter, stroking the package.  "Are we sure?"

"We're sure.  I unpacked them myself.  They're made to your measurements exactly, baby."  She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.  "My poor injured boy," she cooed.  "You need a nice ma....."  She trailed off, seeing Horatio coming out in the blue silk shirt and the black leather pants.  "Maybe he'll do," she said weakly.

Xander looked and grinned.  "I like you in that.  Now you can work."  He beamed.  "Try on the others.  Those were probably the tighter pair but just in case."  He turned back to her, then back to Horatio.  "Do you think he'd mind if I got a nipple ring?"

"I don't know," Horatio offered.  "Call and ask.  I'll find out how long he spluttered later."  These clothes made him feel very naughty.  It was something he missed in his life now and then.  He went back to try on the others, having a bit of fun.  He came out in the other outfit and Xander came over to take the shirt off him and hand him another one, making him chuckle at his antics.  He was definitely a ball of energy.  "What did he say?"

Xander reached over the counter to dial the phone, smiling at her.  "Hi, Eric, where's dad?"   He was put on. "Daddy, can I get a nipple ring?  No, I'm picking up a special order and making Horatio wear silk.  Payment for helping me buy a suit I don't look like a dork in.  Yeah, no, nipple ring."  He smirked and pulled the phone away from his ear when he started yelling 'no, hell no'.  He hung up.  "He yelled.  Eric was giggling."

"You know, there are less noticeable but more fun piercings," she offered.  "My boyfriend's got two and he loves his."  She wrote down a name and address. "If you decide you want one, go here and talk to him about an in-between stud.  He likes his a lot."

Horatio stalked over, it was more natural in the leather and silk.  "In-between stud? That's one I haven't heard of before."

She grinned. "It's between your cock and balls.  He loves his and it's very delicate and easy to tease. He's got a very delicate silver hoop there."

Horatio blushed and nodded.  "I've heard of those but I never heard them called that."

"Yeah, he called it his Hidden Treasure."  She looked him over and blatantly wiped her mouth off. "That's a good look for you," she assured him, nodding slowly.  He smiled and went back to change into his suit.  "It should be a crime that you hide that," she moaned. "Especially behind a suit."

"They wouldn't let him work in the police station with Dad if he wore leather to work," Xander said.  "Besides, he does cool menace so much better that way."

"Plus the dry cleaning bill is less," Horatio agreed.  "It was written into the dress code a few years back for everyone but Vice when they've been out on the job."  He looked at Xander.  "If you do that today, I'm going to wait in the hummer."

She moaned and rang him up, letting Xander pay, then she waved and walked into the back.  "I'm going to have a happy moment.  Xanny, please flip the sign?" she called as she shut the door.

Xander did flip the sign for her and grinned at the bright blush. "She's a very nice lady.  Tried to set Eric up with her sister.  I'm going to try that again for her."

"She looked familiar."

"Her sister works in the labs," he admitted, climbing back in more casually this time.  "Ha, got the knack of it now."

"You do," he agreed, checking the bags.  His was handed over and put into the back seat.  "Are you going to do that?"

"Not today," he decided.  "I wanna think about it a bit more and let dad yell at me for it.  Even though *he's* got one and I know Aiden has a new one."

"She does?"

"Yeah, she does."  He grinned at him.  "She didn't say where though.  Maybe a belly button one."  He shrugged and sprawled casually in the large, comfy seat.  "If you want, I can take you to my other favorite place.  I do have to warn you that they do sell some limited sex toys there as well so you might be really embarrassed."

"I'm having fun and we can go."  He let Xander navigate and pulled up in front of a store he had never imagined was in the city.  It was purple and pink outside, and it was very blatantly open, but no one seemed to notice it.  It wasn't in the 'gay' section of town.  It was in a fairly conservative neighborhood and no one seemed to notice it was odd.  "Magic?" he asked.  Xander nodded and let him inside.  "Are we covered?"

"Just as soon as you parked and the whole parking lot is covered," the man behind the counter said, looking him over, then at Xander, shaking his head.  "Dear."

Xander grinned and winked, leading Horatio off by the hand to the racks he wanted.  He handed him a few things and had a longer hunt for a pair of pants, then handed those over.  "There, go try it on."

"Are these worse than the leather ones you just got me?"

"Hey, she got happy afterwards and you looked good."  He gave him a gentle nudge and bounced back to the counter.  "Is the book in?"  It got pointed at so he went to get it down and flip through it.  The gasp and moan was enough to make him grin and look up.  "Those are my sort of tight," he admitted dryly.  "Maybe the next size up."

"Oh, no, he needs those," the guy behind the counter moaned. "Oh please get those."  He checked them out and took a few of the things off the shelves to tease himself with openly while they left.

"I'm not used to that reaction," Horatio admitted as he climbed back in.  He looked at Xander's book, which was on gay sex.  "Learner's manual?"  Xander nodded.  "You could date and have them teach you."

"That means I'd have to go expecting to find someone who had a clue.  Besides, I'd like to know where I'm going when I start a trip."  He flipped to a page, showing it to him.  "I can't do that, but that's good because I know I'm not going down that street."

Horatio swallowed.  "That is good to know.  Shut that please?"  It was closed and put into a bag.  "Thank you.  I wouldn't let Eric find that.  He'll tease you mercilessly."

"Calleigh said if I bought one, I had to share with her."

Horatio blushed again.  "I don't need to know why."  That got a giggle from the young man next to him. "You didn't have to buy me clothes."

"Yes I did.  You bought me clothes."  He grinned at him. "Lunch?  Or whatever the brunch equivalent of mid-afternoon snack is?"

"Sure," he agreed, heading for one of his favorite places.  "What are you doing tonight?"

"Eric demanded that we go out with him.  He's horny and lonely so we're his protection posse in case he ends up being hit on by someone gross. Again.  So I'm guessing something fitted and from the Montreal clothes.  Eric said I had to look hotter than him to lead off any dangerous or ugly women."

Horatio just snickered at that, that was so Eric to get the boy to play bait so he could be choosy.

"You should come with us."

"I never really clubbed like that."

"So?  I can teach you how to dance if you don't know how.  Hell, I had to teach Tim a few new moves the last time."  He grinned at him.  "Come on!  You can wear the new stuff, no one'll know you, and you'll get to relax and let loose.  It'll be fun.  It's not like I drink and it'll give me another voice in the sober person's club since they're both going to get mildly buzzed and I ended up tossing Eric into a cab the last time."

"All right, if they don't mind."

Xander pulled out his cellphone and called Calleigh, she could pass on a message until Tim calmed down about the piercing issue.  "Hi, sweetie.  I got the book and tell daddy that mom's coming with us tonight.  No, I've got clothes for him to wear.  Tell us where to meet them."  He grinned at her comment.  "Still?  No, he yelled when I asked if I could have a nipple ring.  Tell Frank I'm sorry he got worried.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He yelled so much Frank came to see what was wrong.  He's still throwing a fit."

"He'll probably think I'm a bad influence on you."

"I doubt it."  He grinned at him.  "If we can stop by the house so I can get my gel and deal with the clothes; we can meet them later so you don't have to hear Eric whine about being fat next to me.  After lunch."  Horatio nodded and pulled into the place they were going.

***

Xander paid their cover and led Horatio inside.  He was in full slut mode at the moment, but he was happy and having fun.  He hadn't done his hair this way in months and it felt good to get back to it.  He looked back at Horatio, who was in the jeans and the blue silk shirt.  Xander was in his rust colored jeans that had been molded and fitted to his body, and a t-shirt that showed very well his dedication to his morning PT.  He found the other two at the bar staring and grinned.  "Hi."  He hugged Tim.  "I was a good boy and didn't do it anyway."

"Good."  He looked him over, then back at his son's face. "Please tell me you didn't put those on wet?"

"No, the nice lady in Montreal fit them to me.  She did my gray ones too, but they were the first trial."  He pulled Horatio closer.  "See?  I dressed him."  He grinned and smiled at the bartender.  "Can I have a virgin cranberry ice?"  That got a nod and someone down the bar smirked and paid for it for him.  He winked and led Horatio out, going to teach him how to move once he had it.

Eric looked at Speed.  "Are we going to have a problem with a crush?" he asked.

"I don't know," he admitted, watching them move together.  They were basically the same height and Horatio seemed to be able to understand what he was being taught.  They moved well together and were getting a lot of looks.  "Do you feel odd thinking that H is hot?" he asked finally.

Eric swallowed a large gulp of his beer. "I am.  I'm almost freaking out.  Call Alexx and Calleigh?"  Speed nodded and did that, getting them some help.  Calleigh showed up alone.  She had threatened to bring Ryan Wolfe, but apparently hadn't been able to.  She sidled up to the bar and stared at the two on the floor.  "Yeah, that's why we called," Eric agreed. "Xander dressed him."

"Those pants give new meaning to the word 'Xander-tight'."

"He said some lady in Montreal fitted them to him."

"Very well I might add," she agreed weakly.  The boy in question saw her and beamed, bouncing over to drag her back to put between her and Horatio.  "Hi," she said, grinning at him.  "Speed and Eric invited me."

"That's fine," he agreed, looking a bit sheepish.  "He dressed me."

"Horatio, you look hot," she said honestly.  "I'm going to drool on you soon.  Just forget I did that tomorrow, okay?  Like Vegas, what happens in the club stays in the club."  She danced with him and someone got the kid from against her back, making him growl.  She giggled and poked him, making him look down at her. "That was a possessive sound," she teased.

"He's going to get into trouble."

She winked at him. "I won't tell if you won't that I drool over your butt in those jeans."

He leaned down next to her ear, feeling that streak of naughtiness again. "You should see the leathers he found me."  He went to steal Xander back, leaving her to dance with Eric and Speed. He watched as Speed took his spot and the boy came back to him at his stare, giving him a grin.  "Thank you.  We don't want you taken."

"You won't let me be taken."  He went back to dancing with him, making the other man shiver.  "Let it go, Horatio," he ordered as quietly as he could in his ear.  "Let the animal out.  That's what this is for."  He got a nod and let his own beast out.  "What got you?"

"A tiger at the Brooklyn Zoo," he admitted.

Xander grinned.  "That's okay.  They're very pretty creatures.  Very protective and very fierce."  He looked at the person who dared touch his backside and they backed off.  He went back to dancing with his buddy.  When he went into the bathroom an hour later, he was nearly jumped but the person decided to regret it fairly quickly.  He got done and washed his hands then came back out.  Horatio was at the bar, getting them both something to drink and he went back to playing with him.  He understood and it was nice to have that.

***

Speed flopped down on Xander's bed when they finally got home, pulling Xander closer to talk to him.  "We need ta talk, son."  Xander grinned at him.  "Eric thinks you've got a crush on H."

"He understands but crush?"  He wobbled on it. "He's hot and even you drooled tonight, but he protests that he's too old for me.  If he came to me, then that's up to him."

Speed considered it.  "That's reasonable," he decided, kissing him on the forehead.  "You were damn good tonight. By the way, nice save in the bathroom, son."  He got up with a moan.  "I don't see how you dance all night with H.  By the way, you two looked hot enough to send Calleigh running for cover at least twice."

"You should see him in the leather pants I bought him," he offered with a grin.  He got up and wiggled out of his pants and thong, then his shirt.  He climbed under the sheets with a sigh and was soon out.

Speed grinned and went to his own bed, finding Calleigh in there.  "Hi," he said casually.  "Snuck in?"

"Hell yes.  I need it, Speed," she whimpered.

"I know."  He closed his bedroom door to keep down the noise. It had always been a casual, friendly, easy thing now and then between them when the need got too great.  Hell, he was straight and he would've jumped Horatio himself.  Eric said the same thing but he went home with a set of triplets.

***

Frank Tripp looked at Horatio as he walked in the next morning, smirking at his tired looking face.  "Long night?"

Horatio looked at him, just staring for a moment.  "Where were you?"

"I was out getting some dinner when I saw you coming out of a club with the kiddies.  By the way, Delko called off.  Too much sex with the triplets from what Speed said."  He smirked at him.  "Did he paint those pants on you?" Horatio blushed and shook his head. "You sure?"

"I'm quite sure, Frank.  They're on the foot of my bed at the moment."  He took off his sunglasses and looked at him.  "It was fun.  I had a night off; even I need one now and then."

"I could tell, you're grinning.  Now, I want details so I can blackmail Delko.  Triplets?"

"Triplets, Frank," he agreed smugly.  "I was keeping Xander out of harm's way."

"Yeah, I saw him when I drove around the second time.  By the way, Alexx slapped a vice guy for asking if he was an escort a few days back.  Then she ripped her a new one, which Speed ended up breaking up to save the woman's life.  Everyone now knows that Speed's son used to be a stripper but he got him out of the business and into college.  He made *real* sure they knew he thought of the kid like a son too.  Then Wolfe popped up and suggested the kid could use a good, steadying influence to date.  Just ask the one he had set him up with."  He heard the low growl and looked at him.  A light dawned, you could almost see it.  "Horatio Caine, you have lust!" he accused, beaming at him. "It's about time!  And hell, the boy could use you.  Someone a bit possessive and he's not exactly the normal nineteen-year-old.  Oh, Alex wanted to know when his birthday was and Speed admitted he didn't know."

"Why do you think I would?" he asked quietly.

"Because I figure you had the boy researched and if you don't know, Calleigh probably has it in the stuff she got from her friend from when he first showed up."

"It wasn't in there."  He walked inside.  "You're wrong, Frank."

"I'm not wrong and think about it.  He won't come asking for what he needs."  He smirked at the look over the shoulder.  "Watch out, Wolfe's wandering this way.  He's having another tripping day."  He smirked as he went back to his desk.

Horatio went inside, going to talk to Ryan to see what was wrong.  Apparently his was cold medicine and the rest of the shift was just tired.  He looked at Calleigh when he ran into her.  "Frank said Alexx wanted to know when Xander's birthday was."

"No one's sure, we can't find out," she told him.  "He won't even tell Speed.  So why don't you ask, Horatio?  You're basically his best friend."  She walked off, happy and bouncy.

Horatio watched her go, then went to talk to Speed.  "The rumors...."

Speed shut the door and looked at him. "I talked to my son. He's not adverse to the idea, but he's mature enough to realize this isn't the normal thing for you, your job could be in jeopardy, and he said you'd have to come to him.  That's all I want to know if you two get together and if you hurt him, I'm siccing Willow on your ass.  By the way, why does he have more stuff he can't wear in public?"

"Leftover from Montreal that got sent to Sunnydale.  Rupert sent it to a local contact, who gave it to him while I was helping him shop.  He's very young."

Speed looked at him. "Horatio, his parents were shitbags.  Drunken, yelling, abusive shitbags.  He came running to me the day his father came up with an idea to sell him to get some extra cash.  He was going to sell him to a Master in LA who was known for training and then killing people.  That's the day Aiden and I made them leave the town fearing for their lives."  Horatio nodded at that, sitting down.  "Now, the boy was in combat from the time he was sixteen until we made him stop hunting.  He's not exactly the normal, average kid.  Let's face it, the kid gets on with Mac Taylor like they're former military buddies.  He's more mature than Eric is. Whatever age he is, depending on when his birthday is, he's more than capable of understanding you and me and your job and my job.  He may not have the science brains that I have, but he gets my job.  We've talked a lot.  That's how I know he's not dumb and he's very mature.  He and Buffy's mom used to have long talks.  Yeah, his body's overriding his mind sometimes in the sex stuff, but not that often.  Think  about any other nineteen-year-old with his skills, H.  Where would he be?"

"Bent over and taking it from a sugar daddy," Horatio admitted.

"Or out getting it every night, at least twice a night, in the clubs," he agreed. "You notice he's not?"  That got a small nod.  "He had *no* self-esteem when Aiden first met him.  I mean none.  We're talking lower than zero into the negative numbers on his meter for that.  She got him up and the girls would tear it down or Rupert would. I got called back and we both worked on him and it took him nearly committing suicide by bomb to see that we were right.  When he faced down the zombies and told Jack he liked the silence and could live with it.  Now, the boy's got some based on his physical attractions, and it took stripping to get that far. His self esteem for his intellect still need nurturing.  This semester ain't gonna help much since his Geology teacher is accused of sexual harassment of three girls and is under investigation and his psych professor is a fucking bitch.  Plainly."  That got a half- smirk.

"The boy needs someone who can appreciate all of him and for some reason you understand him.  That's one thing he did say, that you understood all of him, which can be a tricky thing. I don't understand some of his instincts and I don't want to know how you do since all the other times it's been some sort of psycho serial killer who understood his more wild instincts."  That got a nod.  "So I don't wanna know.  Really.  We'll never catch you if you are and I know you'll cherish my son or else."  That got another smirk.  "So, make your decision carefully based on the real Xander.  Not the happy Xander, not the bouncy Xander ball of sex and lust that, once he learns how to do it, will probably be the best lover in the city.  Anya moaned for months about her few hours with him and how good it was.  That's why she nearly killed him getting more.  I figure it'll transfer to going down on a guy and being under him or over him.  I don't see him on top very regularly but then again I don't see you much as a bottom slut anyway," he said bluntly.  "So you two would be fine with me, but when I *asked* him about it he said you're still protesting that you're too old for him and that you'd have to make the first move.  Though the spoiling he did yesterday was cute.  Can we see you in the leather pants?  That one pair at the strip club were pretty decent."

"The next time he drags me out with you guys," he promised, standing up.  "I don't know if it's a good idea, Speed."

"So?  Who cares?  Or when did you care what others thought?" he asked. He shrugged.  "Those who know the boy like him and like you.  They all know you won't hurt the kid.  And hell if it won't take some patience to calm him down and teach him to clean his room."  Horatio snickered at that, shaking his head.  "Just promise to be gentle the first few times.  Then you can probably be however nasty, kinky, and slutty you want with him.  He's kinda looking forward to having a lover he can trust, because he doesn't trust anyone to be close enough and not hurt him after a while. It took him *months* to trust that Aiden and I weren't going to end up trying to kill him like the others have. You don't have an uphill battle but there's a few anthills in your way."

"Thank you."

"Not an issue, but if you make him cry on my shoulder for being mean, I'm siccing the ladies on you.  By the way, Yelina told me this morning that if you take up with the boy, let her tell Ray Jr. first.  That he wasn't really aware of gay people before he met Xander."

"I will take it under advisement."

"Good.  Now, can we tease Eric about the triplets and calling off for too much sex?  Hell, I made it in."

"Sure," he agreed smugly.  "You and Calleigh can tease him all you want."

"Thanks, son-in-law."  He grinned and opened the door.  "Now let me get back to work, H."  He coughed. "Oh, watch out for Vice.  Since they learned he's a good guy and helpful they want his help to bust someone."

"No way in hell," he noted, going to his office to start his day and think. He needed to think.  Everyone was being so pushy and he wasn't sure if he wanted to dig his heels in or not.

***

Xander looked up as someone joined him at his table, pushing out a chair with a foot.  "Who're you?" he asked when he saw the badge.

"Detective Salazar."  She sat down, looking at him. "Vice."

"Okay.  And you want what?"

"Your help catching someone."

"Are they after me?"  She shook her head.  "Are you sure?"  She nodded.  "Then you've got to ask Speed."  He ate a bite of burger.  "He said so when he called earlier."

"He's going after young men who work the clubs, kid."

"Which I don't."  She looked stunned.  "I don't. I don't have easy or tawdry sex.  I go to the clubs to dance.  I'm not a club whore and I duck the club whores."

"You stripped."

"Yeah?  So?  That doesn't mean I'm one of the five percent that pro in there either. For that matter, I did it without liquor and without drugs and I still made more than most of the others in there."  She just gaped.  "I know public perception is strong on this point, but we really wish like hell the people in your position had a real fucking clue what went on in there.  So you wanna get a good point of view, go work in one.  Yeah, there's a few who turn tricks.  There's plenty who retreat to drugs and alcohol to get through the night.  Not all of us.  Plenty of us drink very minimally and drink virgin drinks on the floor.  The same as I don't care what perception is, I still haven't spread my thighs for anyone, nor will I put myself in danger by doing so for the PD.  How in the hell should I know if this is the guy if you don't even know what he looks like?"

"We do, sort of.  We have a description."

"That's not good enough.  What happens if it's not the right person?  I'm expected to go through with it and you just look the other way?"  He snorted.  "Fat chance.  Talk to one of the actual club whores and promise them some protection for doing it for you.  They'd love to.  Until then, please, take off the perception specs and find reality.  Now, anything else?"  She slowly shook her head.  "Good, then I've got orientation."  He got up and headed back toward his next classroom, nearly stomping back when he realized he had left his backpack.  He found her looking at his wallet and snatched it.  "Thank you.  I got paid yesterday.  My last paycheck.  And hey, the diplomatic guy was very nice and tipped me heavily."  He walked off, tucking it back into his pocket as he walked then he pulled out his phone and called Speed.  "I wanna slap the bitch who just showed up and asked me to whore for the PD so they could catch a person going after club whores.  They don't even have a full description, dad!"  He calmed down.  "No, I told her off and to find reality because the perception specs she had on were jaded.  No, I'm calm.  I refuse to let someone call me a whore.  I'll be damned if I spread it for anyone for less than a lot of dating."  He calmed himself again.  "I know.  I know and I should've expected it.  No, I told her first off to ask you.   She's not exactly happy with me.  Salazar, Vice.  Thanks."  He hung up and went to his classroom to wait, finding the teacher already in there.  "Hey."

The orientation teacher smiled at him.  "Peaceful days, Xander."

"I doubt it."

She frowned.  "What happened?"

"I just accused of spreading it around in the clubs."

"Aww.  You poor baby.  I heard you used to strip but I know not all of you get paid for that stuff."

"I didn't even drink and I'm tired of the perception that we're all whores, especially from the officials in the world."  She nodded. "So I'm sorry if I'm a bit angry today.  By the way, your note taking strategy is something the Geology teacher said sucks and that if I use in his class he'll flunk me for it.  My English teacher said I'm not going to be taking many notes in there."

She nodded.  "It could still help you in the other classes."

"I don't take notes like that.  I take it down as much verbatim as possible and then go back over them.  When I do it, it works for me."

"Of course.  It's good that you know what works best."  She smiled and closed the door.  "How was your day off?"

"Okay.  I got paid and did some shopping with a friend and then we all went clubbing last night.  Why?"

"Oh, nothing."  She smiled at him and moved closer.  "Did you have fun?  I know a lot of the nightlife around here is very good."

"Yeah, I went out with some good friends and we had fun.  One of them left with a set of triplets and I got to bed around two."  He shrugged.  "It's clubbing, I'm good with that.  It's not unheard of in my life."

"Sure."  She smiled more sweetly at him and noticed him take notice. "Something wrong?"

"No, not really," he said dryly.  "Who do I have to give my excuse to when I have to testify against two serial killers in New York?"

She blinked and backed off. "I knew you were involved with the police."

"My guardian is a CSI here in Miami and I had two tracking me."  She backed off further. "Does it go to each teacher, the Dean?  The Admin?"

"I'd say the Admin and each teacher just in case," she offered.  "When do you have to go?"

"They're figuring that out.  I thought I'd ask since we have the moment."  Someone opened the door and he nodded at his classmate.  "Hey.  How was your day yesterday?"

"Boring.  I had gym."  He came in and sat down, looking at him.  "Some of us heard your rant at the cop."

"Yay," he said dryly.  "Then some of you know the truth versus the perception.  It's like racial stereotyping; it's bad."  The guy nodded and grinned at that.  "But I feel better now that I'm not being asked to be a whore for the department to catch another killer."

"Hey, I'm with you, man.  Stripping's got to be hard work."  Xander nodded.  "How many hours did you work?"

"Eight hour shifts.  In the club I was in, depending on how many dancers showed up when I was dancing, I went four or five sets a night, plus selling drinks to the customers.  I don't drink so I had them buying me stuff I could hide that I wasn't having liquor in. Anyone who just wanted me to do shots I said I had a problem with them.  Those ones I volunteered to go dance sooner."  He grinned at him.  "You'd be surprised at how many times I heard the same stupid lines."  That got a laugh.  "But yeah, the dancing for three to four songs, fifteen to twenty minutes, four or five times a night is really hard, plus you've got to stay in shape anyway. Ask any dance major how they ache when they get home at night and multiply it by wiggling funny so it's your whole body instead of just your arms and legs."

"Wow," the guy agreed.  "How much does the average stripper make?"

"Down here's pretty high rent in the decent clubs, like the one where I worked was.  In Montreal I made the equivalent of six hundred a week.  Down here I was making a grand easy a week," he admitted.  The boy looked stunned.  "All for being in really good shape, talking to really lonely people who have the wrong idea about you, and then ripping your body apart for five sets a night."

"Wow.  I know a dance major and she said it can't be that hard."

"I'd like to see her do it," he retorted.  "I can show her some stuff if she's interested.  I can prove to her that it's not as easy as what she does.  We've had a few dancers who did ballet who complained this was harder than all day at a dance company.  You also have the same limited shelf life.  Injuries and staying pretty make you money.  Wrinkles and sags don't get it and you get fired."  The guy nodded at that.  "But yeah, I'll gladly have her do one of my sets and see if she thinks it's not that hard."

"I'll suggest it to her."  He grinned at him.  "She said guys just wiggle."

"Bullshit.  Only if they're the sort on the posters.  They get to wiggle.  They're specialists and they're there to be ogled by the masses.  Real strippers, the ones in the club, we still dance.  We don't use the pole as much as the female dancers do, but I used it as a prop.  No spins, but as a substitute lover and things.  And hey, I did a show in drag for a special convention and I salute the ladies who wear those heels.  They killed my feet."  The guy giggled at that.  "Seriously.  They killed my damn feet."

"I'll tell her you said that to warn her."

"Is it as stressful if you're in sneakers?" the teacher asked.  Xander nodded. "Really?"

"Yeah, guys don't wear heels most of the time."  She nodded, getting that.  "I came home with some ripping muscle cramps some nights."  He shrugged. "It happens."  He looked at his fellow student.  "If she wants, let me know.  What's she studying?"

"Jazz."

Xander snorted.  "Tell her it's more like ballet for the whole body.  That's how it's explained by dance people usually."

"I will. Thanks, man."

"Not an issue."  His phone rang and he sighed, looking at it.  "It's my dad."  He answered it, taking it out into the halls.  "Yup."  He listened to the calm voice. "No, I was just countering the stripping is easy dancing myth.  A few people heard my rant at her, including one of my classmates.  No, I'm fine.  Why?"  He listened and snorted. "Then I'm definitely not going out alone, even though I'm not like that.  And I'll be damned if I'm going to spread it like that for anyone.  You know I don't do casual sex."  He leaned against the wall.  "Dad, chill.  She isn't going to use me.  Even if you came up and begged me I wouldn't do it for her.  Even if you, Horatio, and Eric came up and begged I probably wouldn't help her now.  Yeah, and they still don't have a full description or picture of him.  It's not like I can go and just start something and then walk away when he doesn't try to kill me.  That'll get me killed anyway or worse, attacked.  There's no way in hell.

"I suggested she find one of the real kids who's in danger and ask them.  To give them some protection.  Maybe even a 'slip past the net once' card or something.  They're doing it anyway and putting their lives in jeopardy, it should be them who do it.  They know who's wrong in those scenes and I wouldn't.  No, I'm not.  Because she can't guarantee my safety or me remaining unraped.  So no, I'm sorry.  You can tell her I said that and suggest again that using one of the natives means that they'd have a better feel for it."  He hung up and went back inside, sighing a bit.  "I hate disappointing people."   A few more students came in and he sat down again, getting as comfortable as he could.  "What're we doing today?  And when do we get a list of teachers to watch out for because they're under investigation?"

"Usually that's word of mouth," the teacher told him simply.  "Do you have one?"

"I'm in Geology."

"Oh."  She winced and hissed.  "Well, at least he's only going for the females."  He shrugged.  "Just tell the Dean if he approaches you, or if any teacher approaches you.  Let's go over that today," she decided.  She counted heads.  "Someone see if the others are coming."  She perched on the front of her desk, looking at them.  "I know we went over the handbook, but we should go over what to do when you have a serious problem with a teacher.  Because I know some of the teachers can be biased and I know there are rumors about some teachers who have problems with certain types of students, and some who are just really bad and harass students."  She smiled at the remaining students came in.  She gave an extra ten points a day if they all showed up for class.  "Good job."  She marked her book with the extra points.  "Now, as I was saying, we're going over what to do when you've got a problem with a teacher."

One girl raised her hand. "Is that like the swim teacher making fun of my weight?" she asked.

"Yes, that's one problem," she agreed.  "Are you okay?"  She nodded.  "Did he call you fat?"

"And then some," she admitted bitterly.  "It's not like I'm on the team or anything, I'm in there for an easy gym grade."  She looked at Xander. "Why aren't you in gym this semester.  They made most of us take it."

"Because I'll use it as stress relief later and my guardian agreed that I could do that.  He wanted me to get a real feel for the college, not take stuff that'll bore me to tears.  I'll take one of those every few semesters for the misery quotient."

"Most orientation leaders do want you to have an easy first semester," the teacher agreed.  "That's to let you feel your way around campus, join the frat or sorority of your choice, and get the partying out of your system.  By the way, there's going to be a presentation by the various Greek organizations next week during our Wednesday class."

Xander raised a hand.  "Can I sleep through that?"

"Just don't snore," she agreed. "You don't want to join a fraternity?  You're the sort they like and we do have a very nice gay and bi frat here on campus."

"And while that's nice, I don't drink.  I don't like being around people who drink, and I hate the party atmosphere.  If I wanna party, it's not with stupid kids who pick on the other drunken idiots.  Nor do I want to talk about cheerleaders and their spankies or anything like that.  I grew out of high school."  She smiled at that.  "I'm sure you've had other, older students who said the same thing."  She nodded.  "Then I'll nap, just poke me if I snore since I know I do."

"That's fine, Xander.  Thank you for being honest.  That's important.  How did you do your last job?"

"With gritted teeth and a lot of nodding and pleasant smiles, plus escaping and not going near anyone *that* drunk.  I've seen plenty of the local fraternities at my former job."  That got a giggle from the guy beside him.  "Not just the bi frat either, man.  Trust me, they all came in."

"What did you used to do?" the first girl asked.

"Up until about a month ago, I stripped for nearly a year.  First in Montreal and then down here when my guardian found me and drug me back."

"You ran away?"

"I walked off after a fight to rescue him from someone and got a bit lost," he said dryly.  "I woke up in Toronto and I like to travel so I went to Montreal.  It's a pretty city, you should go."  She smiled at that. "Just know some French because everything is in French there."  She nodded at that and smiled.

The other female student looked at him.  "You're in my psych class. You and the teacher get into it all the time."

"She's got a pretty sheltered view of reality," he agreed. "I've never met a person like she describes."  That got a small smirk.  "I haven't and I've met some strange and odd people over the years.  Like the cop earlier, I invite her to go do research into reality versus her perception specs."  That got a full giggle for the whole class.  "It's not my fault.  Maybe she comes from somewhere that couples don't fight and don't divorce and things, but the rest of us?  We come from realityville."

"I've noticed her thing against anything not Nixon-era normative," she agreed, looking at the teacher again.  "So, if we have a beef with this teacher, we do what?"

"First, you take it up with the teacher," she instructed.  "Or if the teacher is making rude, sexual, or dangerous comments, then you take it up either one of their coworkers if you trust them or their Chair.  From there, they might send you to the Dean or they may just ignore you and you end up going to the Dean if it's that bad.  Now, going to the dean is for very *bad* things.  Things like sexual harassment.  Things like the teacher threatening you with violence."

"And to be totally realistic, half of them are going to want to protect the school first so you might need proof," Speed said from the doorway. "Xander, you got a letter bomb."  Xander raised an eyebrow and packed up his stuff, leaving with him. "Sorry.  Former friends."

"That's fine. I hope everyone's okay."

"Oh, yeah, the post office brought it to us.  Someone realized we knew him.  Thanks. I can fill in this talk."  He walked the kid off, taking him out to the hummer.  "It came from New York," he said quietly as they walked.  "I've already called Don Flack.  We sent him pictures of it and they managed to disarm it without letting it explode so we can get forensics off it."

"One of the psychos?" he asked as he got in.

"You're getting better at that."  He got in to drive, getting comfortable.  "Backpack?"  Xander kicked it.  "Good.  By the way, next time don't screech at her.  She's trying to do her job."

"You can't do the job if you think everyone around you is getting paid to do bad things.  I'm sorry but you can't.  She still should've went with one of the natives."  He buckled up.  "Do we have any clues?"

"It's in fingerprints and Frank wanted you closer, just in case.  We've already alerted our mail carrier, the landlord just in case one comes UPS, and the college PD."  He pulled out, heading back to the station.  "I'm not sure this is related to them and not the lie we told to get Buffy off your back," he admitted as he drove.  His phone rang and he handed it over.  "Get that for me."

"Speedle's phone," he answered.  "Nope, this is Xander, he's driving.  We're on the way back.  Why?"  He listened and pulled out some paper to take notes.  "Sure, I'll tell him, Yelina.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Yelina said, and I quote, Don called back, the fingerprint matches in their system, and it's a problem so they're sending Danny back down for his own safety.  We're heading to the airport to pick him up.  He just got dropped off and he'll be down here within an hour and a half.  They put him on as priority and a temping air marshal."

"Great. I wonder what's going on."  He changed lanes and headed that way, not using the lights since they had time.  "Did she say why?"

"No, and she said Don wouldn't say why.  That Danny could tell us."

"Uh-huh."  He considered it.  Then he nodded. "Okay.  Where's Horatio?"

"Pacing."  He looked at his notes. "She said Frank's worried sick, Horatio's growling again, and Eric's in and looking at the explosive to see if he can eliminate it out.  It was very tiny, just enough to cause some minor disfiguring damage according to Horatio.  We were lucky the scanners picked it up.  She also said to pick her up a sandwich at that place she likes on the way back since Danny should probably eat, and Ray Jr. thinks it's cool that I'm bi and he's good with that so I'm to come over for dinner Friday night and she's unsubtly inviting Horatio and making his favorite dishes."

"Good.  Everyone wants to know when your birthday was."

"May."

"May?  We didn't do anything for it."   He looked at him.  "For some reason that doesn't really surprise me.  License."

"Sorry, officer, I don't have the registration with me," he said dryly as he handed over his license.  Speed looked at it then at him, shaking his head and handing it back.  "What?"

"Now that I know, we're doing something this year."  He took the exit and headed for the airport.  "Alexx wanted to know and she's been bugging everyone.  I realized I didn't know it, Aiden didn't know it, and no one else knew it either.  I should've searched the DMV."

"They fingerprinted me too."

"I don't doubt it."  He pulled into the complex, going to the police parking spot.  The other guys there nodded at him.  "Hey.  Messer in yet?"

"Not yet, sir, but we were told to be here if you didn't get here in time."

"That's fine, I've got it," Speed promised.  He grinned at them.  "Guys, this is the adopted son, Xander.  Xander, two of the local assigned here."  Xander waved and grinned.  "He makes good backup and he got a letter bomb."

"We heard, sir.  Any idea why yet?"

"Messer's bringing that information."  He shrugged.  "That's why he's not in class."  That got some laughs and he walked the kid inside, using his badge to get them past security so they could wait at the gate.  "Did they get him on the flight just before it left?"  She nodded. "Okay.  I'm going to get some lunch and come back.  How long?"

"About another thirty minutes, sir."  She looked at Xander.  "Is he an officer too?"

"No, he's the other witness.  I'm not letting him out of my sight."  She nodded, accepting that.  He led Xander off, going to feed him since he knew the kid would be hungry.  Ranting took energy, or at least it did when he did it.

"We're getting a lecture from the Greek societies next week. I was told I could nap through it."

"I'll give you my I-Pod so you can have tunes to sleep to," he promised dryly. "You don't wanna do a frat, right?"

"No way in hell," he said, grimacing.  "Not my thing."

"Good."  He grinned at him. "See, I knew you had some common sense."  He gave him the bag and there was a branch of the sandwich shop here so he got Yelina's lunch too, then went back to the gate to wait.  Danny came off first, looking morose.  "Hey."  He got a hug and so did Xander.  "Come on, let's head.  You can explain in the hummer."

"Oooh, Horatio let you borrow his?" he teased, walking out with them.  The security guards nodded, smiling at the lunch the kid was eating.  He looked back at Xander.  "Hungry?"

"I left part of my lunch when I ranted at one of the Vice cops who wanted me to go help her catch the guy hurting the kids who hand it out cheaply at the clubs."

"You're not like that and they couldn't guarantee your safety," Danny said.

"That's what I pointed out, at the top of my lungs there for a moment, and told her to go with one of the natives.  She didn't like that."  He shrugged and ate another fry.  He saw someone stop and stare at them. "Um, dad?"  He nodded in that direction. "Problems?"

"Bad ones."  He steered them down another hall so they could get an escort out.  The person followed.  "Oh, shit."  He pulled his gun.  "Xander, nothing stupid," he warned quietly.

"Sure."  He hurried on ahead, going in the office of the transit cops.  "CSI Speedle and Detective Messer from New York need some help," he ordered.  "In the halls.  A guy's following Messer and he's a witness from New York."  They came out to help and he followed. Like the idiot he was since someone started to fire.  "Oh, fuck me," he muttered.  One of the cops looked at him.  "Calling home."  He called Horatio and held up the phone at the continued shots.  Then he put it up to his ear.  "We're by the transit cop office by the baggage claim," he said, then hung up.  One of the cops near him fell and he grabbed his gun, pointing it at the guy aiming at him. "I'm not the weakest one here, buddy.  I've killed, I'm a fucking combat veteran.  Put it the fuck down.  Now."  The man backed up and he saw more cops running.  "Officers down, and I already called the others," he called.  They got the first guy and he gave the officer he had poached from his gun back, going over to check on Speed.  "If you die again, I'm so going to bring you back to kill your ass."

Speed held onto his arm.  "If you get that deeply into magic, I'm going to let Horatio paddle you," he groaned.  "Check on Danny."  Xander moved to check on him.  "He good?"

"Knocked out.  Non-fatal.  Stomach shot."  He pressed on it, looking at the cops staring at him.  "I'm Speed's adopted kid, Xander.  Caine's on his way in.  Just get him here!  And get the fucking paramedics, don't just stand there!"

"Xander," Speed snapped.

"Tough shit, dad!"  He heard more running feet and looked at them.  "Stomach wound. I only checked him and my guardian."  They went to check the others first.  Horatio came running down the halls.  "Hi.  Please tell them I'm not the cause of his?  Or am I the cause of this?  Do we know why that guy stared at Speed and Danny?"

"Not yet I don't but I will soon.  Speed?"

"Grazed, I think," he complained.  "Danny's got a stomach wound."  He moved when the paramedics came back. "Check him."  He kicked Xander.  "No more standoffs, kid."

"Sorry, dad."

"He did what?" Alexx demanded as she came up.  The paramedics gave her a panicked look.  "Sugar, explanations?"

"The guy in front of me fell and I took his gun when the idiot aimed at me.  We had a pissing contest until someone else came."  He moved so the paramedics could get to him.  He was hauled up by Horatio and handed to Eric.  "Hi.  Can I clean up?"

"Sure.  H?"

"Go ahead.  Take a statement.  Meet us back at the station."

"Of course."  He walked the kid off.  "That was fucking dumb. Do you even know how to use a gun!"

"Yes, in many different forms and shapes," he said dryly.  "I'm very good at weapons, Eric.  It's what I do."  Eric stared at him so he stared back.  "What?  You think I haven't?  I trained my own ass and Aiden made sure of it one weekend on the Sunnydale range.  I would've wounded him."  He walked off, him behind him.  "Calleigh, I had one of the guns for a moment. The last officer in the hall fell and the guy came towards me so I grabbed his for a few."  She nodded, taking note of that.  He went into the bathroom to clean up, and to get sick, then came out and headed back, Eric giving him sideways looks.  "Really, I'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will.  You get to talk to Tripp."

"Sure.  I'm good with that."  He got comfortable for the ride back, calming himself.  Once there he got out and was walked inside, Eric right beside him.

"How fuckin' stupid are you!" Tripp yelled when he saw him.

"You'd rather I got shot?"  He shrugged. "I'm a weapon's person, Frank!  What the hell did you expect me to do?"  He looked stunned.  "Really!  I've always been a weapon's guy.  Search my background, Frank, and see what I have in storage."  He walked past him, heading for the interrogation area.  "Which room?"

"Three."  He followed, looking at Eric.  "Find that for me."  He walked in and slammed the door, turning the tape recorder as a formality.  "Okay, let's start this.  Where were you?"

"The gate. Danny came off.  We greeted, we walked him back toward the baggage claim. I noticed someone stopped to stare at us, I thought he was staring at Speedle.  Guy was taller than any us by about three or four inches, dark blond hair, kinda messy.  He had really strong lips, like they were dark but not lipstick kinda dark?  He was wearing a green cable knit sweater and khakis, plus dress shoes.  I'm not sure if there was a shirt on under the sweater.  I pointed him out to Speedle subtly.  Speedle changed directions, taking us down the halls toward where the transit cops' office is.  We realized he was still there and I went ahead since they're armed.  I told the guys in there that CSI Speedle and Detective Messer from New York were in the halls being followed, they needed help.  I followed.  Shooting started, the guy in front of me fell.  I saw the guy aiming his gun toward me and he took a step so I grabbed the weapon off the officer next to me and pointed it at him and told him he was going to get it, that I had some combat experience and I would fire if he tried anything.  Other cops came up and got him, I dropped the gun and went to check on Speedle and then Messer, holding his wound down since it was a more serious one."

Frank blinked at him.  "Okay, slower this time."  He paused the tape.  "You have combat experience?"

"Okay, hunting experience and memories from a soldier possession.  It was all macho bullshitting, Frank."

"Okay."  He turned it back on.  Eric came in and he paused it again, taking the notes he had made, then he looked at the kid.  "Where in the hell....."

"Giles," he moaned, putting his head down.  "I go to do a weekly inventory Tuesdays.  Like I said, I'm a weapons guy and no dad doesn't know, though I have the feeling Horatio might.  He gave me this knowing look when Calleigh was checking Tim's gun."

Frank turned off the tape completely.  "That'll do."  He shook his head.  "Range scores?"

"Ask Aiden."  Frank blinked at him. "I was going for proficiency, Frank, I didn't care about scores as long as I was good enough I my own mind.  I'm fairly a good shot.  It's been a while since I did any targets, but I'm a good shot."  Horatio walked in.  "Do not start yelling," he warned.

"That was still stupid.  Which you are not usually."

"I'd also rather not be dead today.  I have something to look forward to," he said, staring him down.  "Including sleeping through the frat lectures next week."  That got an eye roll from Eric.  "You knew I knew weapons."

"I did.  Aiden told me.  She also mentioned that Giles gave you some and that they're in my city."

"In a locked warehouse that I check weekly for inventory.  Because if I find something missing, the report and the picture would be on your desk within minutes of me finding out.  When it got moved down here, someone added to it," he offered. "That's also where the swords are."  Frank moaned and rubbed his head.  "I'm sorry, but you knew I was gonna protect myself, guys.  Hell, it's a good thing I wasn't in front!  Plus, hallway, no hiding spots."

"At least he did get help and he called," Eric pointed out.  "Directly."

"He did," Horatio agreed, staring the kid down.  "This doesn't make me happy."

Xander stood up.  "A moment of macho bullshitting with the officer's gun in hand kept me from being shot and kept him from finishing off anyone he hadn't killed the first time, Lieutenant.  Did you want me to just run away screaming?  You know damn well I'm not like that.  You know me better than that.  Anyone in this whole building knows me better than that except for a few Vice officers apparently."  That got a slow nod.  "I did what I was supposed to do.  I got them help, I was in the back, protected position.  When the officer in front of me fell I took steps to protect myself and awaited backup.  Isn't that textbook?"

"It is," he agreed calmly.  "How would you know?"

"I read it on your shelf while you were getting dressed," he said, staring him down.  "How do you think I knew it?"

"Aiden," he said dryly.  That got a nod.  "He's going to scream at you."

"And I'm going to tell him the same thing.  The same as you know that I'm not smuggling those weapons, selling those weapons, and it might as well be a collection and a hobby with those weapons.  Technically, I'm just guarding them and I do have my firearm's license. I did that without dad knowing.  I did say that I protected and guarded a collection while the owner was out of town and told them the location of it and gave them the inventory list, complete with the ballistics workup that Aiden did for me and packed."  That got an amused look.  "I also noted that I had a relative in the PD and they would be notified immediately if anything were touched.  I even gave them the list of the unusual weapons, like the sixteenth century katana."  That got another nod.  "Now, if you'd like to see it or talk to Aiden about my proficiencies, I'm good with that.  I'm okay if you want to test me.  But you can't yell at me for protecting my ass when a guy was shooting at us when I did it by the book."

"I can't," Frank agreed, looking at him.  "He's already given a statement."

"I want those weapons moved somewhere safer."

"You've got to have a passcode to get in, it changes monthly.  There's a fingerprint scanner to get into my portion of the storage area and it's got six locks, Horatio.  Where do you want me to store it?  I'll gladly move it."

Horatio nodded.  "Fine.  We will be looking at this tonight."

"Okay.  Is Danny okay?"

"He's fine," he said calmly.  "Speed's been treated and released, he's on his way back.  Danny will be out tomorrow or the next day and we've got officers on the door.  Once he's in a room you can go hang out there and make sure he's all right.  You did the right thing but you still shouldn't have grabbed the weapon."

"It's not like I'm carrying one," he pointed out. "I've only got my switchblade one me."  He shrugged.  "It wasn't going to help much."

"No, it wasn't," he agreed.  He relaxed some.  "No injuries?"  Xander took off his shirt to let him check.  "Fine.  Thank you."  He put the shirt back on and looked at him again.  "Go to my office and wait on your father."

"I just saw Calleigh stomp past with bags," Eric offered. "I'll go help her."  He escaped at the nod. He found Speedle coming in and got out of his way.  "Interrogation three."

"Thank you," he said dryly, heading that way.  He slammed the door open and looked at his son.  "I'm going to kill you, you know that right?"

"You wanted me to die?"

"No!"  He slammed the door closed.  "Macho bullshitting, Xander!  He can say you said you had combat experience."

"I do and I can still say it's macho bullshitting.  Eric saw me puking afterward.  I wasn't about to let him kill me or finish anyone off, Dad.  Get over it!" he snapped, making him step back.  "Aiden made sure I can use guns.  I'm very good with guns, the same as I am with knives and swords and stakes and battle axes and staffs.  Hell, Giles gave me some!"  Speed frowned at that and Horatio nudged him, handing over the list at the warehouse.  Frank took the opportunity to escape.  Xander looked at him. "I filed everything legally.  I have my permit to use and carry, but not concealed. I don't carry. I do a weekly inventory.  When I went in to file, I said I was watching over someone's collection and I gave them that list and the ballstics workup Aiden did on it and included.  Then Giles added some as I found out when it got moved down to a secure storage location here.  I'm sorry if you're upset, but I'm not fucking well letting you die!  I finally have something to look forward to and I'm not dying either.  If only so I can sleep through the annoying 'come join us, we're fun' frat and sorority chick lectures!"  Speed snorted and looked at him.  "Tough. Sorry, but tough.  I did what I had to do, and I did it textbook.  Even if I did pick up a weapon off someone who had been shot.  I protected myself, I held the suspect until backup arrived and then I rendered aid to those I could, focusing on those I knew.  I'm sorry if you're disappointed in me," he said more quietly, turning and starting to walk out.

"Catch him," he ordered.  Horatio caught him and walked him back inside.  "Anything else you want to tell me now?"

"I puked in the bathroom?"

"I heard that part."  He moved closer.  "It was still dangerous.  He still could've shot you.  I wasn't able to fire anymore but I wasn't unconscious.  He could've shot you."  Xander swallowed and nodded.  "I'm not disappointed in anything but you not telling me about the stash."  He patted him on the cheek.  "I'm proud you managed to protect us, but I'm going to be livid and I'd expect Don and Danny to both yell since Don's on his way down now."  Xander winced.  "So, calm down, get over it, get a soda, and we'll talk tonight."

"No."  Xander shook his head.  "I never planned on using the weapons, dad."

"So?  You still should've told me you had them."

"You don't like weapons.  I cleaned them all every week while I did the inventory."

Speed looked at him, then at the list, then back at him.  "You weren't planning on telling me, were you?"  Xander shook his head.  "Were they going to stay there?"  He nodded.  He groaned and sighed.  "You still should've told me."

"After how you flinched when I asked you to teach me how to shoot?" he asked quietly.

Speed sighed and leaned on the table.  "Okay.  I can agree to that.  I don't like guns.  I don't like to carry my gun, still.  I take better care of it thanks to you but I hate the thing.  I'm more a science guy than a field guy, I fully admit to that.  That's why I'm not allowed in the field alone, and I agree with that.  I can get people, including myself, killed."  Xander nodded.  So did Horatio.  He looked at him. "You knew?"

"That you still didn't like to carry your gun?  I had noticed, yes," he admitted.  "I also knew about his.  When he came back I updated the profile I had in my desk and that showed up.  We are all going to the range this weekend," he ordered calmly.  "I need to make sure Xander can protect you if something happens and I want to make sure you can still use yours, Speed."

"I agree," he promised, holding up a hand.  "It's not my thing and I know that and you should ride my ass about it."  He heard the muttered comment from his kid and gave him a head shove.  "Stop that."  He looked at Horatio again.  "Is he in trouble?"

"No.  Even though he touched an officer's weapon, it was in the best interests to protect the fallen officers."  He shifted closer, moving just slightly.  "He said Aiden taught him."

"I figured she would when I had a bad reaction and nightmares for three weeks."  Xander nodded.  "The Sunnydale PD range?"  That got another nod.  "Scores?"  Xander snorted and shrugged.  "Technically proficient?"

"Of course.  As well as I am with the battle axe.  I didn't even know you could score those things."

"Fine," Speed agreed.  "You get to explain this to Flack."

"Yes, sir."  He walked out, heading down to catch a cab to the hospital.  Yelina looked at him and gave him a dirty look.  "What?"

"You have weapons?"

"A few, yeah.  Giles gave them to me.  I'm a weapon's guy.  I always have been."

"You clean Speed's guns," she said quietly.  He nodded.  "All the time?"

"I make him watch most of the time since I do it during cartoons."  She smiled at that and gave him a hug.  "Any update on Danny?"

"He's out of surgery and he'll be fine.  Are you heading over?"  He nodded.  "Then I'll take you.  Did you give a statement?"  He nodded and followed her out.  "Good.  If Horatio says you're good enough, you can help him teach Ray Jr. how to use one.  I want him to have a repeat of the gun safety lectures, the full version this time."

"Tell him.  He's vowed to get me onto the range this weekend with the stash I've got."

"That's fine."  She patted him on the back of the head, letting him get in to drive, he was so macho sometimes.  "Are you all right?" she asked as they headed off.

"I try very hard to be.  I'll shake and finish puking after dinner."

"Good boy.  You'll make a fine officer."

"I can't follow rules that well," he noted dryly.  She laughed and swatted his knee.  "I can't.  Speed thinks I'd be a good profiler though."

"I can see you doing that. You do watch people."

He nodded, glancing at her. "Yelina, among your people, there's rumors of shaman, right? Those who take animal spirits to learn from them?"

She nodded.  "There are.  I've often thought Horatio was one in his youth somehow.  Then I figured it's where he watches people."

"I was accidentally possessed by a hyena back in tenth grade," he admitted quietly.  "The zookeeper was trying to do what the shaman did and a few kids drug another in that house to bully the one. I followed to help the kid since I don't like the bullies.  The bullies and I ended up being possessed. They ate the old principal."  She gasped and he nodded. "I helped 'em eat a pig, the school mascot.  So that's where mine come from."

"And Horatio understands," she said, finally understanding it.  "Do you like him?"

"I could but he's the real catch here.  I'm leaving that up to him.  I could easily like him, a lot.  Very much.  But he's hung up on his age and I'm not.  Besides, I hate that part of the hunt. I would rather be the courted than the one courting.  It's an odd quirk in me.  I don't mind being dominant in some areas but in love I'd rather be the one chased."  He pulled into the parking lot. "I'm assuming, but here?"

"Here," she agreed.  She unbuckled and looked at him.  "You hunt very well, Xander.  I've noticed it in the past.  You are a very strong protector, but that does explain some other things I've seen.  Does Timothy know?"

"Yeah.  Willow warned him when he caught me growling and eating rare chicken one night," he said dryly, smirking at her. "I was a bit frustrated.  The weapons were about the last secret I had from Tim."  She smiled and patted him on the hand again.  "So, you're okay with this?"

"No, but I realize you are and it's not my son or me."  He grinned at that.  "If something like that happens to him, I will expect you to handle it."

"Sure, but I'm not much one for magic. I've never studied.  I had a bad example in Willow."  He got out and tossed her the keys once she was out, letting her lock the doors so he could escort her inside.  "Messer," he told the receptionist.

"Are you family?"

"Coworkers," Yelina said.

"Upstairs, two west, officer."

"Thank you."  She took their visitor's passes and headed to the elevator, handing him his.  "You can use a sword?" she asked.  He nodded, grinning at her.  "Hmm, not easy to manage with paws."  He pinched her and she grinned.  "Just teasing, Xander."

"I know.  Aiden said the same thing when she caught me teaching myself."  He let her get onto the elevator first and put on his badge once he was inside.  He also let her walk into the room first since he was going to be scared now.  Danny's and Don's opinions meant a lot to him.  Danny stared him down. "Speed's already yelled about me grabbing that gun."

"I'm not," he assured him.  "The macho bullshitting, that I'll yell about."

"It killed enough time for backup to arrive."  He stroked the hair off his forehead.  "You okay?  They at least giving you good drugs?"

"I'm fine.  It didn't hit nothin' and I've already talked to Don.  He's still swearing but he's calmer."

"So, what was the bomb related to?" Yelina asked.

"One of the officers up there wanted to make him back off since I was having a hard enough time being seen as a good cop.  My family's got a...history and there was an incident when I had ta shoot at a dirty cop."  She nodded, understanding that.  "So they wanted Xander ta back off and let me be seen as straight.  Mac yelled up and down as Don got me outta there about it being a ruse but they thought more might try me.  So here I am."

"Did you recognize the man in the airport?" she asked.

"Nah, not a clue," he said tiredly.  "I thought he was starin' at Speed too when Xander nudged us to point him out."

"Then Frank will see if he knows him."  She stroked his cheek.  "When are they letting you out?"

"Tomorrow afternoon.  It wasn't very deep.  He was usin' a pop cap gun."  Xander nodded at that.  "You know guns?"

"Aiden taught me when I asked."

"Ah."  He nodded. "Yeah, she knew how ta use hers," he admitted.  Someone came to the door and he looked at Don.  "You made good time."

"I commandeered a seat," he said, walking in.  "You good?"

"Been better."  He shrugged and winced.  "Weak weapon."  Xander helped him shift up some.  "Thanks, brat."

"Welcome."  He looked at Don.  "I don't think dad would mind if you guys had the spare room."

"He said we could so I guess not."  He cuffed him upside the head.  "Protect what's mine more."

"Oh, really?" Yelina asked with a smile.

"Not like that," he said, shaking his head.  "You've infected her with your smut now, kid?"

"I'm trying hard not to," he admitted.  "I was in the rear, Don, after the transit cops.  I did pull one of their guns up and use it to hold him and keep him from shooting me or anyone a second time."  Don blinked at that and Yelina nodded.  "I've been yelled at for that already.  A lot."

"Good!"  He looked at him.  "You can use a gun?"  Xander nodded. "You never said that."

"You never asked and you saw the knife collection," he pointed out.  "I'm a weapons guys.  I like weapons.  Giles gave me a stash of them that the Council gave him."

"You don't carry?"

"No, I don't want to resort to shooting someone.  That's a method of last resort in my book," he noted dryly.  "I'm licensed to."

"How good are you?"

"Proficient as I want to be.  I can shoot to kill or wound.  Aiden taught me."  He looked happier at that.  "I clean my collection every week to make sure it's all there and okay.  She did the ballistics workup before I moved it down here and it was handed over when I told the state.  I also have my battle axe, two other axes, and about eight swords in the same spot."

"Wow," Yelina agreed. "If I ever have to protect myself because I'm falsely accused of something, I'm coming to you."

Xander burst out laughing.  "Like they could do that to you."  He hugged her.  "It's all right.  If you are, I'll protect you."  He let her go at the cough from the doorway.  "Hi, mom."

"Xander."  Horatio walked in.  "Danny, what was the bomb about?"

"One of our guys wanted Danny ta have a real shot at being seen as a good cop so he wanted ta scare Xander off," Don told him.   Horatio groaned at that.  "Mac about slapped the guy before he was arrested formally.  Stella did after he was arrested."  Danny grinned at that.  "We sent 'im because he said there were others with their own ideas. When's he getting out?"

"Tomorrow, it was a fairly small caliber weapon," Horatio told him.

"Popcap gun," Danny told him.

"It still coulda killed you, dumbass," Don retorted.  "Then who'd I talk to for fun?"  Danny smirked at that.  He looked at Horatio again.  "I take it we got him?"  Horatio nodded.  "Good.  The kid in any trouble?"

"No.  His actions were to protect the officers.  Xander, your father has already ordered the chief of police to leave you alone when he first called to check on the situation."

"So, no one died, he saved some lives, it's medal and commendation time?" Danny teased.

"Exactly," Horatio agreed, smirking at him.  "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, barely got past my shirt."  He lifted the sheet to show him the bandage.  "It only took a half hour to close.  Nothing too serious.  Was still in the fat."

Xander hugged him.  "If you ever get shot again, I'm going to yell and scream and spank you too," he whispered.  Danny grinned and hugged him.  "Good."  He stood back up, looking at Horatio.  "Let me guess, you're done checking on things," he said, noticing the look in his eyes.  "And you want to see my weapons."  Horatio nodded.  "Where's Dad?"

"At the house.  He said he didn't need to see them.  He'd seen most of them before.  He did want you to bring back the prettier sword for decoration."

"Sure, which one?"  He looked at Don.  "You can come if you want.  Or you, Yelina."

"No, I'll stay here and brighten up Danny's room while I take the statement."

Don shrugged.  "Since I don't get ta shoot anyone, hunt anyone down, or hold hands, I'm good with it."  He nodded at Danny.  "We'll be back with real food later."

"Thank you."  He grinned at Yelina.  "If they gave us nurses like you, we'd all wanna stay."

She blushed and swatted him.  "You're so bad."

***

Xander undid the last lock and opened the door, then turned on the overhead light, letting them inside. He closed the door behind them and walked over to open the various cabinets and the few sword cases.

"Jesus, kid, you weren't kidding, this is a collection," Don told him.

"The Watcher's Council sends over a standard set of weapons," he explained.  "Giles hates guns more than Speed does.  He only likes the archaic and the really useful, like crossbows.  Which I don't mind.  I love me a crossbow now and then.  But when Aiden bragged that I had shot a perfect card my second day he gave me the key to the storage spot with the weapons in it.  It became mine.  When I moved back here the second time, I had it moved down here with his help and he included a few more practical things, like the swords and my battle axe, which Buffy said was too masculine."  He shrugged and pulled out a sword to check it.  "Did he say anything besides pretty, Horatio?"

"No."  He moved forward to check one, noticing it was clean and well maintained.  "You really do clean them all every week."

"Yup.  I also check sharpness and things."  He put the sword back and looked at them.  "I can use everything in this room."

"What's behind the blockade of the cabinets?" Don asked.

"Um, stuff you probably shouldn't see," he realized.  "We had a few more...big things that couldn't be taken down that easily.  The rocket launcher got used in a mall on one.  Um, the LANS system was left back there.  So that means it's a flame thrower and probably the bomb making stuff.  I never looked.  Help me shift one," he offered.

"Bomb making?" Don asked.

"Don, high school, graduation," he noted dryly.  "The thing was a hundred foot long snake demon that was so thick it broke the doors when it dove inside the school.  How did you think we killed it?  And did you never wonder about that explosion?"  He closed one of the sword cases and climbed over it, shifting one of the cabinets out to look.  "Hmm, a claymore system.  I didn't even know Giles had one," he admitted.  "Interesting."  He looked out at the shocked silence.  "Yes, I'll hand it over," he said.  "I haven't trained on a claymore system.  I'd probably blow myself up."  He put it on top of the sword case and Don helped Horatio shift the cabinet fully out of the way so they could all get back there.

Horatio looked at the explosives, then at Xander.  "You know how to use these."

"Giles taught me," he agreed dryly.  "Then I found a few online manuals for SWAT teams.  So I can somewhat."  Horatio sighed and shook his head.  "Tim saw me building the one for the high school," he offered.  "Aiden helped me measure.  It was a no-other-way situation."  He shrugged.  "At least I know what I'm doing with it."  He looked in one small silver case.  "Garlic bombs.  Interesting."  He handed those over.  "Come on, I will gladly hand thee over, Horatio.  I didn't even realize he sent them."

"Thank you."  He went outside to call someone he knew to do this quietly since he couldn't get a signal inside.

"Any other skills you wanna mention?" Don teased.

"I got Horatio into leather."

Don grinned at him.  "You've got it so bad," he taunted.

"Yeah, pot, kettle," he said dryly.  Don looked horrified.  "I'm not saying anything.  Like it matters to me?  As long as you're both happy.  I like you two."  He grinned at him.  "We good?"  Don nodded, relaxing again before Horatio came back.  "We moving this to the hallway?"

"We have the rest listed, right?" Horatio prompted.

Xander looked around, then nodded slowly, then suddenly shook his head and pulled out three things and a rifle case.  "Not these.  Giles sent them the other day.  The Council sent an updated kit."

"Is that a sniper rifle?" Don asked, looking at it. "It is.  That's a nice one too."

"It is," Xander agreed, stroking over the handle. "I trained with the old one but it was a piece of crap.  The rifling was making go really wide."  He shrugged and closed that one, handing it to Horatio.  "I don't need it."  Horatio handed it back.  "Are you sure?"

"You will add those to the list," he ordered.

"Yes, sir."  He got the rest of the stuff out of the corner and helped haul it out, then checked the back of the cabinets and the hidden compartments, finding the fuse cord and the timers.  He found the old sniper rifle and handed it over.  "Please, get rid of that thing."  He checked the other's hidden compartments, staring at something.  "Really."   He pulled out something and bounced it in his hand.  "I wondered how Giles got through the bad days."  He walked out and put it on the top of the plastique, smiling at the officer standing there. "Did Horatio call you?"  That got a nod.  "Horatio?"  He came out.  "I guard and watch over this collection for a friend in California.  I took the list he gave me, and what I knew we had, with me when I went to register my license and stuff.  Horatio wanted to look and I found out he had sent some other stuff in that I hadn't noticed because it was behind the cabinets."  He let him see in there, and Don was messing with a sword.  "That is sharp enough to cut you in half.  Please be careful.  Mac would kill me if I let you kill yourself."  He looked at the guy.  "Both cabinets were facing this way originally.  Don Flack, that guy, noticed the space I hadn't."

"Okay, so this is what was back there?"  Xander nodded.  "Anything else not on that list?"

"I found a sniper rifle and I just found the drugs while searching the cabinets."

"Sure."  He came in to look around, finding another small baggie of something.  He sniffed it.  "Not pot."

Xander sniffed it.  "Tea.  He's a Brit.  Hence me looking after it for him," he said at the sideways look.  He shrugged.  "It got sent from the mother country by some of his friends. He's not a terrorist or anything but he's into paranormal research and so are they and they're all flakes, that's why *I'm* watching the weapons.  He kept the crossbows and the other swords."

"Okay then," he agreed, happy enough with that explanation.  "It's probably safer this way.  Who taught you how to use them?"

"One of my former coworkers," Don said, pulling out his badge "She's in Seattle now."

"She came to work in our town and we became buddies and I asked her to teach me because I like weapons," Xander told him.

The officer nodded, grinning at him. "You're Speed's kid, right?"  Xander nodded, grinning his most goofy grin at him.  "I heard you had a few knives."

Xander nodded and took the katana, giving it a few practice swings.  "Very well.  The same guy taught me this."

"Ooohkay," he decided.  "So he's a royal flake?  Thinks he's a knight?"

"VanHelsing, vampires," Don told him.

"Ah!  That sort of flake," he said, getting it.  "And the explosives?"

"Big snakes.  We're near the desert out there," Xander offered. "He used to mine their tunnels and things."

"Understood.  Then it's definitely safer.  You didn't realize the space?"

"The other's still where they both were," Xander told him, pointing at it.  "From the front, I couldn't.  They're taller than I am."

He stepped back to look.  "Yeah, I can't either.  Well, you won't be in trouble."  He looked at the case and he knew what it was. "May I?"

"You may, I just found that today and I was hoping to put it on the list. It's a beauty.  The other one has crappy rifling," he offered, opening it.  "She taught me on it and it always went wide and to the right."  The guy looked at the pieces, then nodded. "Can I add it to the list?"

"Sure.  I'm sure Horatio can have the ballistics reports done up by his people.  Anything else not on there?"  Xander waved the sword.  "No, those wouldn't be, but they're not illegal to have."  He looked at Horatio, who shrugged to say it was his call, he wasn't going to interfere.  "Okay, kid.  Truth.  What is he?"

Xander closed the door most of the way.  "You remember the blonde I got into it with?"  He nodded.  "He's her trainer.  She's the one who takes down the vampires.  His organization, who trains girls like her, sent this out in his supply kits.  The new stuff that just came this week, like that sniper rifle, was his updated kit."

"So, he's a Watcher?"  Xander nodded.  "You're from Sunnydale?"

Xander grinned. "I'm Harris.  The supposed tagalong?"

"Ah.  I'm married to a Watcher's sister," he complained.  "I've heard about Buffy."

"I'm sorry.  You should try being her friend."  That got a laugh.  "I seriously didn't know about the explosives or the drugs.  Rupert's just odd sometimes.  He did teach me how to use it but I don't wanna run that risk and I respect Horatio and his team.  I'd never do anything to upset him and that would."

"Sure.  We can do that.  So, you're pretty good."  Xander nodded.  "Who trained you with guns?"

"Aiden, Don's former coworker.  She came out to help the death rate be handled as a detective."

"Oh.  That's cool.  I can take that stuff.  We need to finish the hidden areas search.  Get that sniper rifle registered just in case it's taken out of here.  This is safe and good but even here things can happen and it's stolen and used, you'll be looked at first."

"I know, that's why I registered the ballistics stuff that Aiden did of the original set."  Something else thumped and Don jumped, making a squeaky nose.  He looked at it and snorted, opening the case.  "Uh-huh."  He handed it to Horatio.  "Magic stuff.  Willow's altar."  He looked at the amused looking cop.  "Willow's in deep shit magically," he admitted quietly.  "She's been using the darker arts and it's getting in over her head."

"Understood.  Okay let's lock this baby up and move this to my truck.  Horatio, go ahead and confiscate that sniper rifle to test it.  Just in case.  We had something stolen from an antique dealer last week from up the hall.  He had a mini-cannon stolen."

"Sure," Xander agreed, handing that to Horatio as well.

"Xander, you will carry one gun with bullets back to the house," Horatio ordered.

Xander nodded and loaded one, grabbing everything he'd need and putting them in his pockets.  Then they left, Xander coming back to get a few of the swords, which amused Don to no end.  "He said to bring the pretty one."

"He did," Don agreed, taking one to carry.  "Damn that's heavy."

"Yeah, but you get to used to the baby," he said with a grin. "I did."  They put those in the back of the hummer and he hopped in the back seat, waving at the bomb squad guy before they left.  "Thank you, Horatio."

"You're welcome, Xander.  You generally do the responsible thing.  Let me drop this off at the station and tell Calleigh where it came from."  They nodded. "Don, headed back to the hospital?"

"Sure.  I need the address of the new place."  Xander handed it over.  "Thanks, kid.  Order a good dinner tonight and I'll pick Danny up something on the way in."  That got a smile and they dropped Don and the rifle at the station, he could go in with someone.  Then they took the other stuff home while Horatio talked to Xander about what he wanted him to do to hide the gun and how they were going to start going to the range to work on Speed together.

Don walked the gun into Calleigh's lab, smiling at her.  "Giles sent another one to Xander and the bomb squad guy who came to get the explosives we found today suggested we get this tested and registered since another of the storage spaces there were broken into."

She blinked at him.  "He's got weapons?"  Don grinned and nodded.  "Na-uh!  Eric!"  He came jogging in.  "Xander has weapons?"  He held up a finger and went to get the list, bringing it back to her.  He grinned as he handed it over.  She looked and just stared for a moment.  "He has weapons," she said.  "Some not very good ones."

"Giles' bosses sent it in the survival supplies," Don said dryly.  "That came in the updated supply cabinet."

"Ah."  She nodded, opening the case and stroking it. "Oooh, this is pretty."

"It is," Don agreed, grinning at her.  "It's going on the list of stuff he's got."

"Sure."  She put it together, smiling at the easy movements as it clicked into place.  "This is new."  She took it to fire it, then brought it back and took it apart.  "I'll trust him to clean it."

"I'm sure he can," Don agreed.  "He also did what Speed ordered and brought back a few of the swords."

"Speed said the pretty one."

"They're all pretty," Don assured him. "He brought home six and an axe.  That way he has a choice."

Eric chuckled and shook his head.  "If we say so."

She looked at the bullet under the scope.  "Do they buy used?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "Why?"

"Because this is coming up with a match," she said, opening that case.  "Random bullet found in an exploded building in England.  That could be their testing grounds.  Speed," she called.  He came walked in.  "What's Giles' number?"  He wrote it down.  "Thanks.  That new sniper rifle has an odd match."

"Used?" he asked.  Then he shook his head.  "Sniper rifle?"  She pointed and he rolled his eyes.  "Only Giles and the Watchers," he muttered.

"Hi, Mr. Giles, you don't know me, but I'm Calleigh Dusquene in Miami, and Xander just had to register one of his weapons that you recently sent.  No, a sniper rifle in a case.  It came up with a match to a bullet found in an abandoned building in England.  No, Priory Road.  Yeah, there."  She listened.  "Really?  Then how did he get it?"  She nodded at that, making notes.  "Thank you.  No, I will but he won't mind, much.  Thanks."  She listened, then looked at Don.  "Did he get magic stuff?"  Don nodded.  "Yeah, he did."

"Horatio has it."

"It's in safe custody."  She smiled. "You're welcome."  She hung up and looked up another number.  "Hi, Scotland Yard, no, this is CSI Dusquene in Miami, Florida, in the US, and we just had a guy who watches over a gun collection that turned in one for ballistics testing to be listed on his list and it matched with a case of yours."  She smiled.  "That'd be great, thank you."  She was on hold for a second.  "Hi, yes, this is she.  No, it came up with a match to a bullet found eight years ago on Priory Road.  It says case 5165-247B.  Yeah, yeah, that's the name.  No, a sniper rifle in a case.  He watches over the collection of a person who's not all there and some of his friends aren't all there either, so we have him watching over it for the friend, and the owner of the collection somehow sent this one to him so he was turning it in for testing so he could add it onto the list he filed with us.  No, but he did it just in case because it's in storage at the moment.  Not a huge one but the person he lives with doesn't like guns.  So anyway he turned it in," she said, ignoring Speed's hurt look, "and I matched it, but I'm not sure if you guys want the gun or not.  If not, I'll go ahead and fill it out on this end and let you guys handle the paperwork."  Horatio came in, looking amused.  He still had some paperwork to do so he had dropped Xander and come back after their discussion.

"Hold on."  She put him on hold.  "It matched a case at Scotland Yard but it's from a stray bullet found in an abandoned building so I'm seeing what they want to do."  She clicked back to him.  "Sorry about that."  She hit the button again and smiled. "Sorry about that, my boss just came in.  No, the collection's owner is Rupert Giles.  He's an ex-patriot who's in California at the moment."  She raised an eyebrow and nodded.  "Yeah, he's one'a them too.  No, one of his helpers handles the guns since he doesn't like 'em so he's registered them with us.  Yeah, so I need to know if you want it or not."  She smiled.  "Thank you."  She hung up.  "They've dealt with the Council before," she noted dryly. "That's a quote.  He understood, it's Xander's.  It was probably used as a firing range but I can't be sure.  He can't be sure because they're, as he put it, secretive bastards that're worse than the IRA at having secret cells that can pop up to bollix things up."  She smiled sweetly.  "He said to keep any and all weapons away from them and if the boy got away from the Watchers, more power to him and to let him keep whatever he took with him when he left."

Horatio snickered at that.  "It confirms what we already knew. Go ahead and file it.  We'll put it back this weekend."  He looked at Speed.  "He's at home hanging swords."

"I said the pretty *one*," he complained.

"He said they're all pretty so you can make a choice," Don offered with a smile.  "You sure you want us there?"

"Yeah, I'm sure.  The kid needs someone to pick on."  He walked out shaking his head.  He'd go home and undecorate later if it was too much.

***

Horatio looked up as Xander walked into his office, taking the bag he handed him.  "Bad day at classes?"  It had been a few weeks since everything had been cleared up and went back to normal.

"Yeah, I suck at geology under the new teacher."  He shook his head.  "The psych teacher isn't a happy camper with me either since I don't believe in a superior race of beings among the human."  He sat down, looking at him.  "Are you sure I can't quit?"

"I'm sure," he agreed patiently. "They're not all like that."

"Promise?"

"I do."

"Then I won't have another teacher who hits on me?"

"No," he said, sipping his water. "Who hit on you?"

"The orientation teacher."  He grimaced.  "I told her I was leaning more toward men at the moment but that she was very nice."  He shrugged.  "She waited until the class was mostly done to ask me out but I wasn't going to date her."  He shuddered.  "Eww."

"I understand."  He smiled at him.  "Eric is trying to get all of us to go out together again tomorrow night.  Would you like to go?"

"I could stand that," Xander agreed happily.  "I could use a stress break.  Before I scream at the nazi."  That got a smile.  "Should I worry about your clothes for you?"

He shook his head.  "I'll wear something that you got me."

"Sure."  He grinned.  "Where are we going so I know how to dress?"

"Not a clue and he's on a scene."

"Damn."  He shrugged. "Okay.  Have him give me an idea if it's a jeans and t-shirt night or a leather and t-shirt night, or something else."  That got a smile.  "I need someone to sign off on my midterms since I'm a freshman and you've been keeping dad busy."

"Good point."  He held out a hand and they were taken, letting him look at the comments.  He looked at Xander.  "Impossible to teach?"

"He's a fucking moron.  I correct him about earthquakes.  I lived with them.  You can so feel a three-point-oh tremor, it's just really weak.  You don't notice them after a while, but you can feel them."

Horatio nodded and went down the list.  "I see your psychology teacher really doesn't like you."

"She's a nazi.  I'm not a blond."  That got another half-smirk.  "Please."

"Should I forge his?"

"If you want.  Or just yours.  I don't care and I doubt the orientation teacher will but I get out of that class after another week."  Horatio picked up his pen and signed his own name.  "Thank you."  He took it back and tucked it back into his backpack.  "What's been keeping him here all hours?"

"Calleigh," he said dryly, opening the bag to find lunch, but handing over the chewed-on apple.  "Finish that."  Xander blushed and finished his own lunch.  He looked over the boy.  "You quit working out?"

"No, I changed it to add more swimming and my waist is compensating by retaining water for the last week."  He ate another bite, looking back at the coo.  "Midterms."

"Speed's just come in," Calleigh assured him. "Speed, Xander's here with his midterms."

"How bad are they?"

"Guess," she said, noticing the look on their faces.

He came in and Xander handed them over, then snorted and patted him on the back.  "Decent grades, crappy remarks. I can accept that."  He handed it back.  "I don't like your psych teacher anyway.  She's a nazi.  Anything else happen today?"

"The orientation teacher asked me out.  I turned her down."  He ate another bite.

"Good idea," Speed agreed, smiling at him. "Were you polite?"

"I pointed out I was leaning more toward men.  I told her I wouldn't mind otherwise because she was nice and all but that I was really looking for a boyfriend."

"Hopefully she won't tank your grades," Speed said happily enough.  "What's with the new geology teacher?"

"I corrected him on how you can feel a level three earthquake."  He ate another bite and grimaced, tossing the rest of it in the trash can. "Sorry, bruised."

"That's fine. You need to drink more water and figure out why you're retaining again."

"Swimming. They've got some odd chemical mix in the pool."

"Are we talking fish people odd chemicals?"

"No.  Other odd ones.  This started after I swam the other night."  He looked at his stomach, then up at him.  "You'd better hope it's not a chemistry experiment gone wrong and I'm pregnant."

"If it is, I'll only laugh until you go into labor," he assured him.  "Then I'll yell afterwards."  Horatio choked and he looked at him.  "I'd have the right to yell if he were pregnant."  Yelina stopped and backed up to look at him.  "He went swimming the other night and now he's retaining water around his stomach and thighs."

"Xander, take a day's worth of midol, it should cure that."  She walked off shaking her head, thinking about the thought of Xander's future kids.  It would be enough to scare her son off ever having any.

"Not a bad idea.  I'll stop and get some on the way home," he decided, getting up.  "Well, that's the happy news of the day.  I'm nearly out of orientation.  Midterms have come and went, I still suck at writing papers and the nazi hates me."  He shrugged.  "Horatio promised it'd be better."  He looked at Speed, then glanced at Calleigh, then back at his guardian.  "Should I bother with dinner tonight?"

Speed blushed.  "Um, yeah, we're dating, and no, I'll be home tonight but so will she.  We were going to tell you tonight anyway."

"Sure, like I mind.  Do I need to move?"

"You move out and I'm going to hunt you down and spank you myself.  Unless you move in with Horatio," she offered, smirking at them.  "Where are we going tomorrow night?"

"Eric hasn't said," Speed said grimly. "I'm not sure how slutty I should let Xander dress."  Xander whispered in his ear and he looked at him. "You do that, you stay with one of us all night, kid.  I mean it.  There will be no way you're getting out of our sight if you wear that outfit."  He cuffed him on the head.  "Plus Horatio may have to go armed.  Or Calleigh."

She shrugged. "I usually am."

"No, not the bra derringer armed, really armed.  Like Xander armed."  She beamed at that.  "I'll have him show you later."  He looked at Xander, who had danced off.  He looked at his boss once Calleigh had gone.  "If you're going to make your move and he wears that outfit, we won't wait up."  He walked out shaking his head.  His son was such a slut some days.  Especially in that outfit.

***

Horatio showed up at Speed's since they were taking a cab tonight.  He smiled at Calleigh's little dress.  "You look cute.  Am I underdressed?" he asked as he walked in wearing decently tight pants, but not the leathers he had been planning on since Eric said they were going more upscale than that.

"No, you look good," she assured him, looking over his outfit.  "You look very good.  Xander?"  He poked his head out of his room.  "Tell Speed to hurry up and dress you."

"We're trying."  He disappeared, then came back.  "Hi, Horatio."  He grinned then ducked back in.  "Why is Eric taking us upscale?"

"So he gets the less scummy pretty women."  He looked at all the clothes, then sighed and shook his head.  "Nothing here's really upscale. You don't usually do upscale."  Someone knocked.  "It's open and he's at least partially covered."  Horatio walked in and looked at Xander, coughing a bit.  Xander grinned at him and Speed pointed at the closet.  "He doesn't really do upscale."

"I've noticed. Are you wearing that?"

"No, but I've got to go change.  Here, you help him."  He escaped, he could feel the tension in the room coming off the older man.

Horatio closed the door and came over to look, glancing at Xander, who was fairly unconcerned in his briefs.  "No thong tonight?"

"Eric said upscale and he told me to wear real underwear," he said dryly.  "Of course I had to go buy some.  Or steal some but Speed wouldn't let me."  Someone rang the doorbell.  "That's probably Eric and he's going to complain too."  Horatio smiled at that.  Someone knocked.  "I'm getting there."

Eric stuck his head in, showing his black eye.  "Didn't you buy real clothes?"

"Where would I wear dress pants?" he countered.  "I bought real Xander clothes."  Horatio laughed at that and pulled out the suit, handing him the pants.  "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure.  Put on that and the button up purple shirt."  Xander nodded and did that, then slid on a pair of black socks and shoes.  He watched him fuss with his hair and smiled, he liked it spiked up like that. Then he followed him out.  The pants hinted instead of being so blatant as to show what was going on under them.  It was a nice show from where he was walking.  Speed came out and Calleigh whistled, fussing with his collar for him.  "Are we ready?"  Everyone nodded.  "Then someone call a cab."  Eric called and they went down to wait. When they finally got to the party, because it was a party, the couples split up.  Horatio noticed Xander's unease and leaned closer.  "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

"Clients, lots and lots of clients."  He looked at him.  "Can we go now?"

"He'll be upset."

"He'll be even more upset.  Shit."  He smiled at the woman walking up to them.  "Good evening. My name is Xander, yours?" he asked in his best polite manner.

"I know, dear.  Why are you here?"

"A friend drug me," he admitted with a shy grin.  "Since I'm going for my degree, he thought I should mix and mingle a bit to be around people who talk to me."

"Ah."  She nodded. "I understand."  She stroked his cheek.  "You always were so polite."  She smiled at Horatio, then back at Xander.  "Through the kitchen and down the stairs, that leads to the beach," she said quietly.  "Because Emery and Taylor are both here, dear."  He winced.  "Through the kitchen and down the back stairs."  He nodded and kissed her hand, then slid off using every skill he had.  She smiled at Horatio.  "You're the friend?"

"No, ma'am, one of my officers is.  He brought both of us."

"Ah.  Eric.  He should've known better.  I'll have a discreet word with him.  Go down the balcony stairs, dear.  You'll meet at about the same place but you can walk past the fighting women who wanted to keep him as their toy."  He nodded and smiled, heading that way while she went to find her own toy.  "Eric, lovely to see you again," she cooed, kissing him on the cheek.  "You brought Darkness to where two women want to keep him as their sex toy, my little toy.  I helped him escape your blunder."

"Shit, I forgot," he murmured.  "H?"

"Oh, was that him?  He seemed so charming.  I think he went down to the beach for a bit."  He smiled and kissed her on the forehead.  "You be a good boy. Did you bring anyone else?"

"I did.  I brought two of my coworkers," he said, nodding at his conversation partner and walking her that way.  "Timothy Speedle and Calleigh Dusquene, this is Erma Wormth.  The hostess this evening."

"This is a beautiful home," Calleigh said with a smile, "and I love the beach view you've got."  She smiled.  "Thank you," she mouthed.

Tim shook her hand.  "Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"Such polite young people. That's always so pleasant.  You have a good evening, dears.  Eric, may I have a dance later?"

"Of course," he agreed, smiling at her.

Tim waited until she was gone to nudge him and look at him.  "She's not your usual type of friend, she seems nice."

"I've known Erma for a few years now.  She is very nice."  He moved closer.  "I didn't realize a few of his clients would be here, especially not the ones who got into open society cat fights over keeping him," he whispered.

Tim laughed and punched him on the arm.  "It's okay.  We've run into a few of those.  I'm sure they'll be fine."

Calleigh sipped her wine.  "They should be."

***

Xander found Horatio waiting on him and nodded at the front of the house, slipping that way past most of the people and out to the main street, walking with him. "That was close.  Emery and Taylor got into it at a gallery opening about a month after I started dancing down here about who would get to offer me boytoy status and what I could expect from their generous attentions."

Horatio smiled and shook his head.  "Did either one?"

"Not after I heard they were both married and I made it very well known that I don't date married women with my next two days of sets.  I don't think Emery saw me dance until then and I think Taylor may've seen me in Montreal.  I've turned down a few of those offers politely."  He looked at his buddy.  "So, where should we go now?"

"Wherever you want."

"I'm open. You got a good place?"

"Walk on the beach?"

"I like the beach, I always have," Xander admitted, smiling at him.  They headed for a nearby beach to walk and listen and experience the nighttime ocean. It was quiet for a while and then Xander sighed.  "I like this.  Why would I want to leave this?"

"Why would you?" Horatio asked.

"College stuff.  I talked to someone about the profiling thing and they said they couldn't teach me more than experimental design and counseling anywhere in the state."

"So take the counseling and then take the special courses the FBI offers one summer," he suggested calmly.  "I know Speed doesn't want you to leave."

"Yeah, but he won't go insane this time. He's got Calleigh, and I'm not sure there's a Masters program in the city for that.  If I can even get that far."

"Xander, what is the one thing you learned from your former life in Sunnydale?" he asked quietly.

"Don't make long term plans, you won't be around to see them," he said automatically.  He heard the footsteps beside him stop and turned to look at him.  "It's true and I know I shouldn't worry about the future, but since I now have one...."  Horatio pulled him closer and kissed him.  He pulled back to smile at him.  "Thank you.  Couldn't wait?"

"Not now."  He kissed him again, then let him go. He walked beside him for a bit longer, feeling the hand take his and smiling.  "You know I'm nearly twice your age."

"I did, not that I care.  With the way I attract trouble, I'll probably die first anyway."

"Don't...say that," he sighed.  "Please."

"Sorry."  He gave the hand he was holding a squeeze. "So now what?  Dating?"

"Dating is nice," he agreed.  "I haven't been on one in a while."

"Me either.  My last one was the prom I think."  That got a smile.  "I'm not real sure how to act on one."  Horatio gave him one of those smiles again and he grinned back. "I'm guessing you can teach me that too."

"That and how to clean your room.  Did you throw all those clothes around tonight?"  Xander nodded.  "Want to go change?"

"And do what?"

"I don't know, go to somewhere else?"

"Sure. I have an outfit you haven't seen yet."

"Really?" he asked, shifting closer.  "Are we talking...stage clothes?"

"Something I never got to use on stage.  Way too hard to get off gracefully."  That got another grin.  "Easy enough to get off, just not gracefully."  He led the way back to the street, letting the hand go when he flagged down a cab. Horatio took it back. "Are you sure?"

"I'm too old to hide."

"Okay.  But I get to beat up any of the assholes that you work with who try something."

"If the scary women I work with don't get there first," he agreed, letting him get in first, then climbing in.  He looked at Xander's back pocket.  "Where's your wallet?"

"Crap," he said, patting himself down.  "Hopefully either in my room or in the other cab.  Can you get this one and I'll pay you back at home?"

"Sure."  He gave the cabby the address and got a nod, and they went.  He followed Xander up the stairs and into his apartment, finding the wallet on the floor.  "We need to make sure this won't fall out again," he said, looking inside.  "You've been taking money out?"

"No, that's still from my last paycheck," he admitted.  He leaned out and grinned.  "Stay there, baby.  I'll be right out."  Horatio sat down in the recliner and the wallet went on the table in front of him.  Xander came out three minutes later in some pants that were just...velvet stretch straps. They wrapped around his groin solidly, but then wove their way down his legs in some semi-braided pattern.  He moaned at the sight of them and the black tanktop over it, shifting his hips out some.  "How do you get out of those?"  Xander undid the opening and then wiggled.  "Belly dancing," he said fondly.  He pulled him closer to kiss him again. "Are those the ones she'd have to go armed if you wore?"  He grinned and shook his head.  "They should be."

"I never wore these outside.  He doesn't know I have'em."  He sat in the lap and stole a kiss, smiling at him.  "You wanna see that one?"

"I wouldn't mind."

"You don't have a weak heart, right?"  He shook his head. "Okay."  He slid off the lap, the velvet trying to grab onto the fabric of his pants and he winked back.  "We'll see which ones you like better.  Thankfully I didn't put on the arm bands or the wrist bands."  He disappeared into his room, coming back about five minutes later wearing a pair of stretchy denim pants in black, and a button down shirt, also in the same black denim. You could see that it clung to his muscles on his arms and pecs and the way the pants clung made Horatio drool.  He turned and moved a bit and the clinging got worse.  It made him look less dangerous somehow, not quite fragile or delicate, but as near as you could come with a guy of Xander's build.

"She can go armed for this one, I'll go armed for the other one," he offered, pulling him closer. This time Xander straddled his hips and sat down, earning a smile and a longer kiss. You could tell he had no practical experience with a man but it was still good.  Tim's words to him about Xander's abilities came back and he smiled.  It was a good forecast.  "Did you want to go further tonight?"

"I'm ready whenever you are," he replied softly.  He stole another kiss and nodded him at the bedroom.  "I cleaned up."

That got a smile and Horatio followed him, leaning against the door as the boy stretched out on the bed.  He moved closer, watching the buttons be slipped open, noticing the shy look.  "You can do it," he promised.  "Or I can for you."  Xander raised his arms above his head, letting him have the full field to do whatever he wanted.  He laid down beside him, starting gently, teasing kisses and slow nibbles of his lips and chin, then down his throat. That got him a shiver so he nipped that spot harder, getting a true moan.  The phone rang. "If that's Speed, he'll get worried if you don't answer."

Xander answered it with an, "It had better be an emergency."  He squeezed his eyes shut.  "Willow, not a good time," he groaned, arching up at one hard nip.  "No, like really not a good time.  Willow, boyfriend, kissing, not a good time."  He frowned.  "Eww.  I don't want the image of a Buffybot in my head.  Tomorrow.  I promise, tomorrow.  Unless it's attacking, tomorrow."  He hung up, then pulled him up to kiss him.  "Bad, scary mental places," he offered with a grin.

"Yes, that was," he agreed, taking another kiss.  Xander was still pliant beneath him so he got back to his teasing and playing, making him wiggle in ways he hadn't seen since he'd last seen him dance.  "You only dance for me, understood?" he whispered.  "No more working special nights at the club or special events.  Only me."

"Only you can be teased," he agreed, smiling and stealing a kiss.  "I don't mind possessive.  I consider it protective most of the time."

"That's good."  He stole another kiss, then got down to make the boy really moan and give in, to let himself be taken and loved properly.  "Take them off."  Xander wiggled out of the clothes and tossed them aside then got to work on his clothes for him. "Good boy."

"Should I bark?"

"Only if I spank you."  He moved down to tease the chest, making him yelp.  "Close enough for me."  He did it again and moved to tease a nipple. Xander tried to press his head down but he got free and put them down beside him.  "Don't do that or I'm going to introduce handcuffs much too early."  That got a loud, deep moan and the cock twitched where it was laying.  "You like being tied down?"

"I had this great fantasy the other night where you took the stretchy bands from that outfit and used them to tie my hands so I couldn't stop you from teasing me."  He closed his eyes and bit his lip.  "Horatio, please," he moaned.  "I don't have your control yet."

"If you have to come, go ahead.  You'll have another one later."  He stroked the smooth cheek. "I like normal sex."

"So do I but it came to me after reading that section of the book."

"Ah.  How far have you gotten?"

"Halfway."  He looked at him.  "I have to keep stopping."  That got a smile.  "Sometimes it takes me days to get through a single page of reading, sometimes it takes most of a chapter to make me blow.  I'm impressed it's not a sticky book since they've got a redheaded model."  That another smile and a kiss.  Then suddenly a finger was teasing him and it had been too long so he came.  Horatio chuckled in his ear and moved down to go back to what he had been doing, driving him insane. He was lost in this haze of touch and teasing tastes and the scent of his lover, which was almost enough for him to flip him over to get to work on him.  "I'm doing this to you in the morning," he moaned. "All day if I have to."

"That's fine.  Tonight let me do this, Xander.  Just enjoy it."  He went back to his playing, liking the reaction he was getting.  It wasn't often he had a lover who'd just lay there and take it so he could make them fly into orgasms, but Xander would and then he'd probably die tomorrow when the boy returned the favor.  When he came to it, he licked up the spilled fluids, tasting him.  It was dark, musty, but it had higher tones as well.  Like the lust he was putting out.  It was like he could smell it and sense it at the same time.  So when he made it to the hard cock, he got his first real taste and the boy nearly went nuts at that gentle, cleaning lick he had taken across the head.  He shifted backward, getting into a better position to tease and play in that area, and that's when he saw the small silver ring.  He looked at him.  "Buried treasure?" he asked softly.

"It hurt like hell but it's worth it," he assured him.  He bucked and squealed when ring was touched, trying to clamp his tights shut but the body in the way wouldn't let him.  He let out a pained moan as a gentle, sucking kiss was used on it.  "New.  Very new."

"How new, Xander?" he asked, teasing the area around it.

"Four days."

"Then I'll be very gentle."  He got back to work teasing it, watching as the cock started to leak, then he switched back to teasing it.  He came up for a kiss.  "Supplies?" he whispered.  Xander pointed a shaky hand and he smiled, moving to look.  There was more than enough in there, and a few types too.  He found what he wanted and went back to playing the taut body like a baby grand piano.  The high and the low moans just rang out and echoed around the room.  He went back to teasing the ring, using a slicked up finger to enter the panting, wiggling body.  Xander shouted and came at that.  "Sensitive there?"

"Yes!  More, please!" he pleaded, pushing back. "Now!"

"Gently, Xander.  Slowly and gently this time.  Faster is a later skill."  He teased the ring while he stretched him, and the boy's body was vibrating and wiggling above him.  He was like a bowl of jello in an earthquake.  He finally got him where he wanted him and prepared himself, then moved up.  "Deep breath," he ordered quietly.  Xander tried and he smiled, pushing in at the gasp.  He inched in, slowly, carefully, and Xander just bucked up and tried for more.  Yes, Speed had been right about this one being a good bottom slut.  He finally hit the full depth and rested but Xander forced him over onto his back so he could take over, taking control, taking what he needed and using everything he could to get there.  All Horatio could do was hold on for dear life.  All that bouncy energy had come back and now he realized where it was all going to be focused for the rest of his life.  He waited until Xander was close, then pulled him off and put him back onto his back, kissing him gently, stroking his stomach, but not going back in, making him calm down.  Xander pressed up into his hand, arching and pleading, making begging noises and whimpering for more.  "Trust me," he reminded him. "I'm not going to leave you."

"Please," he begged.

Horatio let himself be swayed this time and went back to what he had been doing, he was still too close and the boy was going to have a stroke if he didn't finish him soon.  It didn't take very long, just a few gently moving thrusts and Xander came, the squeezing making him shoot off as well.  He leaned down, resting his forehead against the sweaty shoulder.  Xander lifted his chin and stole a kiss, staring into his eyes.  "You're going to kill me in bed one of these days," he offered with a tired smile.

"Nope.  You'll die of old age on the beach.  Unless the paperwork monster gets you at your desk one day," he offered tiredly.  He pulled his lover down, cuddling him, just soaking up his presence.

"We should shower."

"We should, but I don't mind sleeping sweaty.  Not the first time."  Horatio laughed at that and he snuggled in under his chin, allowing himself to be held and pampered this time.  "After breakfast, you're mine."

"If that's what you want," he agreed, stroking the loose muscles in the back. He got a hum and then a soft snore.  "That's a good idea," he admitted, falling asleep surrounded by octopus Xander. He really did like to cuddle.

***

Horatio woke up to a tongue going across his knee and realized where he was when he smelled smoke.  "You cooked?" he asked.

"Yeah, and dad's not happy with me.  Oh well. You slept through fire alarm.  He finished breakfast for you."  He gave him a sheepish grin and pointed.  "You can eat while I play."

"I'll eat after you play.  That way I don't choke."  Xander nodded and went back to his teasing, making him grip the sheets when the boy found the one sensitive and ticklish spot on the inside of his thigh.  Then he tortured it with teasing licks and nips before finally giving it up and moving on.  He found another high spot on his hip and used it for a while then kept going.  His stomach, his chest, his ear, the spot behind his ear.  Finally a kiss and that he could let go of the bed for.  Xander pulled back finally and he felt like he was drugged, his head was swimming.  He got another one and it cleared up some but not enough.  Then the mouth moved back down his other side and more spots were found.  Another brain altering kiss and his nipples were found and teased, the hair around them gently yanked and combed through, almost like he was being kneaded.  Then Xander went down to try something he had only read about, sucking him off.  Oh, that mouth had such promise.  Slow, long licks up and down, covering every inch of him, tasting everything, then little kitten licks across the head and around the base.  A sucking kiss in the same spot as that new earring and he understood how good it felt now. Then the mouth slowly, ever so slowly, sank down over him.  A hand came up to tease what wasn't engulfed in that warm, soft spot.  Slowly going down, further and further, until the hand got in the way.  Then a swallow, and he was sucked down all the way.

Horatio arched up, trying not to hurt him but he felt the chuckle and had to watch.  Xander pulled back and went down ever so slowly again, one fingernail gently scratching that sensitive spot on his inner thigh.  The other hand now free to tease the spots on his hips or his nipples, whichever it could reach.  He guided that hand to one nipple and arched his back at the playing going on.  Then Xander came up again.  He silently thanked God for swimmer's breath control.  He had to be lightheaded with how he was doing that.  "Swallow," he moaned when the head went back down.  "Play with it."  He got the point and with that bit of instruction his eyes rolled back in his head and Xander's attentions were now firmly on his body.  He felt the wiggle going on in the legs and tried to move.  "Let me touch you?"

"No," he said when he pulled back off.  "This is my turn."

He blew across the wet head, making him ache with need.  Then he went down to play with the balls, making them come back down to be played with and suckled.  It was so good.  "Xander," Horatio ordered.  "Please."

"Soon."  He got back to work teasing him, finding every single spot he could on Horatio's front that got any sort of a response, mapping it all.  Then he flipped him over and went to work on the nape of his neck, making him moan and rub against the sheets.  "If you get off anywhere it has to be in me," he whispered.  He found a few more spots, kissing and licking the scratches he had inflicted last night, finding a good spot to suck a possessive mark on the flat buttcheek.  He sucked the identical one on the other side and then looked at the hole in between.  "Am I ready for this?"

"No," he whimpered.  "Can't, not much more," he complained.

Xander slid up the warm back and bit him on the nape of the neck.  "It's a good thing I put a condom on you and I'm ready then, huh?" he whispered, teasing the ear he was talking into.  Horatio moved and pinned him under him, taking him in that position, riding him hard, fast, burying his need in his ass until all that happened was an explosion and Xander followed for him, crying out his name loudly.  He didn't care who knew, he was his.  He leaned down and bit the trembling shoulder.  "Yours," Xander agreed weakly.

"Mine," Horatio agreed.  "You only wear the slutty clothes for me."  He flopped back down once Xander's body had pushed him out, pulling him down to let him rest on his chest.  "How much did I sleep through?"

"I found a great spot on your ankle that made your cock twitch and dance," he said with a tired smile.  He yawned.  "I'll show you when we get up again."  He closed his eyes.  "Told you I'd get you back."

"You did, Xander.  Very well."  That earned him a sleepy smile and the boy fell asleep on top of him.  Horatio thought about the food next to him, but he was too tired to eat.  It wasn't a good thing to only be up for forty-eight minutes and need a nap but with Xander in his bed, it was worth it.  He let himself drift off as well, clutching his new boy to him.

***

Horatio woke up and there were now two plates next to his head, the second one had quesadillas and french fries.  On the other nightstand he could see two glasses of soda and the bottle of pain reliever, plus a muscle rub.  Someone was being thoughtful and making a point. He nudged Xander, who blinked up at him then smiled brightly.  "I think it's time we ate."

"Eating good."  He sat up with a moan and looked at the plates, pulling them both over.  He stole half of everything and loaded the other plate full, giving it to his lover.  "Eat, you'll need your strength to show me what some things I couldn't imagine were."  Horatio blushed at that.  "Not the super kinky stuff.  I'll probably stop at blindfolds and being tied down most of the time."  He winked.  "Some day."  He dug in, eating quickly, and leaning over every now and then to lick his lips for him.

Horatio had never had a more clingy lover but it was fun.  He finally got done with his brunch and took two of the pain killers for his poor back.  Xander saw the wince and flipped him over, carefully giving him a backrub, inch by inch releasing the tension and the stiffness from earlier. "If you keep that up, I'm going to need a third nap."

"If that's what you need," Xander promised, grinning brightly. He heard the moan and got back to it, but Horatio turned over underneath him and started to tease him, making him shiver and grip his shoulders like they were the only solid thing in the world.  "I promise not to be this bad in a few days," he panted.  "I won't."

"That's fine.  You can be clingy the first few days.  I am."  He got him off and Xander smiled sleepily at him, leaning down to kiss him and clean up the mess he had made.  Then he got another deep, tongue sucking kiss that made his week.  "Is it still Saturday?"  Xander nodded, stealing another kiss before snuggling in beside him.  "We should shower and change the bed."

"We probably should," he agreed.  "Share or separate?"

"Share," he allowed, getting up with a moan from his poor, abused body.  Not that he wasn't hard and ready to pounce Xander in the shower.  His poor baby had other ideas though, giving him a fast, exquisite blow job while the water warmed up.  Just enough to take the edge off but not to leave him limp and needing a fourth nap.  They got cleaned up, helping each other with that so they could touch and stroke all they wanted to.  Horatio finally made them quit playing in the water before he turned Xander around and had him against the wall for his teasing.  He made him get out and dry off, then allowed him to help him dry off, and then back into the bedroom.  "Put on the velvet stretchcord pants," he ordered in a purr.  He got the bed stripped while Xander put them and a t-shirt on, then Xander found clean sheets and put them on while he found something to wear.  Xander's looser clothes fit him well enough and a pair of jeans were found for him and a t-shirt was good enough for today.  He also stole a pair of socks because the wood floors were cold somehow.  It was Miami, nothing was cold but these floors.  He walked out, Xander holding his hand.

Calleigh looked over.  "You're louder than everyone we know, Xander.  Especially when you wake us up by cooking."  She got a good look at his outfit and her eyes bulged, making her grip Speed's thigh with her nails.  He yelped and pried them off, then caught sight of it himself when his son curled up against Horatio's side. "You don't plan on going out today, right?"

"I didn't make any plans for today," Horatio noted.  "I'm sorry he woke you."  He stroked through the damp hair, getting a tired sounding purr.

"She drowned out the noise the old-fashioned way," Speed assured him.  "Music and sex."  She swatted him and he grinned.  "You did, thank you for letting me wake up for lunch."  Xander giggled at that. "You will keep my boy happy, Horatio, or I'm siccing Alexx and Yelina on you.  You know that, right?  And then I'll give him to Don Flack?"  Horatio let out a small growl at that so he smirked.  "Then you're going to keep my boy happy, right?"

"Very.  He'll be very happy,"

"Then I got no problem unless I walk in and see it on the couch."  Calleigh swatted at him again.  "I don't.  They can be as noisy as they want.  He can come over whenever he wants,  or Xander can go over there, and they can do whatever they want as long as it isn't a snuff act and my boy stays happy."  He pulled her down to kiss her.  "The same as your father would tell me when you tell him."  She nodded and curled up against his side.  The two older men shared a content smirk with each other.  "You look good in my t-shirt, H."

"I stole it legitimately," Xander reminded him, stroking Horatio's stomach.  "Thanks, dad."

"Not an issue.  Do I have the same blessing?"

"Sure, but if there's babies I get to help pick the name and babysit occasionally."

"There had better not be for quite a while," Calleigh assured him. "Or else he'll be one fixed puppy dog."

"And then you'll send him to Don Flack?" Horatio teased.  She blushed and nodded.  "I wonder if he knows we're thinking this way about him."

"Probably not," Xander assured him.  "If you tell him, he'll splutter all over Danny and Stella."

"So you tell Aiden so she'll tell him," Speed agreed, and those two shared a smirk.  "Anything good happen besides sex?"

"I heard from Willow.  Someone made a Buffy sex robot."

Speed paused then kissed Calleigh to get that image out of his head.

"That's about what he did," Horatio agreed.  "He said unless it was attacking she could call back today."  He looked at the pants, then at the other couple.  "He showed them off last night."

"I'm not sure how he gets into them," she complained.  "But they make him look nice."  Horatio undid the first snap and she blushed.  "Okay then.  I don't wanna watch you two either and I'm guessing the same applies for us?"  Horatio nodded.  "Good deal.  Anywhere off limits at work, boss, besides the labs?"

"Back archival room, they just put cameras in there thanks to Eric and his DNA lady," Speed said dryly.  "Some day he's only going to have one woman and then he'll have to keep her very happy."

"I'll give him tips," Xander said smugly.

"He's a horrible tease," Horatio sighed, shaking his head and looking down at him.

"Yeah, but you enjoyed it, the same as I did when you did it to me."

"Yes I did," he agreed happily, stealing a kiss.  Xander moaned and arched up for a second one so he let him, then stroked through his hair.  "I still need some recovery time, Xander.  Even you do."

"I'm ignoring it.  It'll be there when I'm ready."

"Old guys take longer, Xander.  It gives you more time for foreplay," Calleigh assured him with a bright grin.  "Right, Speed?"

"I'm going to get you for that later.  Remember, I still carry handcuffs too."  He watched as Xander got up and went into his room, coming out with something and handing them over.  He held up the cuff with the stretchcord attached.  "What's this?  Or shouldn't I ask?"

"The arm and wrists cuffs from this outfit.  Since I realized I don't have a headboard to use them with."

Horatio considered it then nodded.  "Neither do I.  I have a solid one."  He looked down at him.  "We'll figure that out when you're ready to try that."  That got a bright grin and a sucking kiss, plus a tongue moving down his throat.  "Not in public, Xander."

"Sorry."  He went back to being curled against his side.  "I haven't felt like this before."

"Sore?" Speed suggested. "Open?  Like a tunnel?"

"Sore yes, open a bit, but tunnel?  Not at the moment.  That's later."  He grinned at him. "He was very gentle, Speed."

"Good.  I don't wanna know if he isn't unless he hurts you. Got it?"  Xander nodded and beamed.  "Good.  No sharing stuff over breakfast either.  Not like you did after the night I had to rescue you from Anya."  He looked at Horatio.  "You know that mischievous look he gets sometimes?  If you see that over a meal, put down the utensil and swallow before you choke.  It's the best piece of advice I can give you.  That and he likes to spring out and pounce you when he's in a playful mood."  He looked at his kid, then at Horatio. "Did you give him caffeine?"  That got a wide-eyed look and he went to check the lube.

"Xander!"

"It does?" he called.  "Is that normal? I asked the lady at the store and took her suggestion on what I should get."

"We're buying normal stuff," he said as he came out.  "I take it his playful nature calms down without the stimulant?"

"Most of the time. By the way, he's got a geology test Tuesday."  Horatio nodded.  "I have no idea where his backpack is."

"Under the bed. I kicked it earlier while we changed the sheets."

"Good.  I'll give you a list of his test schedules."  That got a smirk and a nod.

"You know that broom closet on the third floor, do you think it's still empty?" Calleigh asked.

Tim looked at her.  "No sex at work.  I'd never hear the end of it when you squeal like that and Eric hears, or worse yet, Alexx hears."  The phone rang and he groaned as he reached over to get it.  "What?" he asked, sounding cranky.  "Hey, Willow.  No, he's presently teasing his boyfriend's bellybutton and driving him insane."  Xander grinned and did that but Horatio spanked him and shook his head.  He got the naughty smirk of doom and pounced.  "No, that thump was him driving his boy to the ground.  No, we're doing the Olympics of watching here.  No, I don't think he needs one. Thanks anyway."  He hung up and got up, going to remove the Xander from his lover's chest and throat.  "Sorry, now you know why giving caffeine to the horny Xander is bad."  He helped him up and watched him sit, then looked at Xander.  "She wanted to know if you wanted a Xander sex bot made."

"I don't think I need to have sex with myself but I guess we could use it to bait the psychos that want me."

"A stunt double?" Calleigh teased.

"I'll tell her that.  Go take a nap, alone, and sleep off the caffeine."  He nodded and stole a kiss then went back to bed.  He looked at the lube, then smirked and tossed at Calleigh.  "Once he's asleep, get the rest and I'll hide it for you."  He went back to cuddling, seeing the slight frown.  "He's gotta sleep it off.  With how much natural stimulant product you used...."

"No wonder I needed three naps."  He sat down, getting comfortable.  "He asked the other day why you hadn't been home."

"Did you tell him me?" Calleigh asked.  He nodded.  "That's fine.  We were going to tell him that night anyway."  She smiled up at Speed, then at him.  "It was kinda an on-again, off-again thing for a few years now."

"I figured it was.  So, when are you telling Alexx?"

"About the same time you do," Speed offered.  The phone rang and he groaned, answering it.  "Hi."  He listened then shook his head.  "No, Willow.  He said he doesn't need one and neither does his boyfriend.  No, not Danny.  New York's a long way for cuddles."  He tossed the phone to Horatio.  "Here, you tell her you don't need the Xander sex robot."

"Willow," he said dryly.  "No, one Xander is more than enough.  He can't.  Because he accidentally ingested one of those herbal stimulants.  No, not caffeine, herbal.  No, but it does come in various products," he noted dryly.  "I thank you anyway, but he really doesn't need it."  He smirked at Speed.  "No, he doesn't need the housekeeping Xander robot either, Willow.  I promise, we're fine with just one.  Why don't you call Aiden and ask her?"  He hung up on her happy babble, shaking his head.

"That's mean," Calleigh told him.  "You need a nap, Horatio."

Speed poked her gently on the side.  "Knowing Aiden, she'll suggest she send it to Danny so he doesn't miss the Xander."

She looked up at him.  "If so, we *really* need to warn Don."

He nodded.  "We should.  Maybe send him an email saying 'beware of fake Xanders'."  She giggled at that and he looked over, noticing Horatio was asleep sitting up.  She got up to help him get comfortable and Speed went to confiscate all that lube, and find a new use for it.  He knew Calleigh was sensitive to that stuff and if something could make Xander make Horatio make the noises he had, he wanted to try it out.  He'd have to send that email later.

***

Eric answered Horatio's phone, listening to the tired voice.  "H, are you sick?" he asked bluntly.  "Headache.  Un-huh.  Should I send Alexx over, H?"  He heard a moan and smirked.  "So, how is she?"  The phone got hung up and he wrote out the second set of 'not coming in, I'm sick' notes for the day. Then he called Alexx.  "Either Xander cooked or there's an epidemic at their house," he said when she answered.  "N o, H just called in complaining of headaches.  Speed said he was dizzy and couldn't ride.  Calleigh's already bounced up the halls like a Xander on way too much caffeine. I don't know, I didn't want to call him, Alexx.  Yeah, even H called off."  He leaned back and smirked at Frank as he leaned in.  "Hold on, Alexx.  Hey, Frank, H and Speed both called off.  H has a really bad headache he can't shake and Speed said he's too dizzy to ride."

"Is anyone else affected?"

"Calleigh's bouncing like she's on a pogo stick.  Should I send Alexx over?"

"Go ahead if she's not busy."  He walked off to check on Calleigh.  Everyone knew she was dating Speed, but you couldn't say it in the office.  He found her bopping around the office like a blonde Xander and the comparison made him stop for a minute.  "Calleigh, did something happen this weekend?" he asked, walking in and closing the door.  "You know H and Speed called off, right?" he asked when she gave him the too-bright smile.  "Are you on something?"

"No, just a natural high.  I don't know why Speed's so tired. I mean, I scrubbed his house last night.  Xander and I both."

"Oh, shit, you're on something," he muttered.  "Come on, honey, let's let Alexx take a blood sample."  He called down there.  "Before you leave, come draw blood from Calleigh," he ordered. "No, she cleaned Speed's apartment all last night with Xander.  Please."  He hung up and got her sitting down but she was wiggling and bouncing and dancing and smiled and waved when Alexx came in, starting to hum.

"Um, Frank, give us a minute, would you?"  He nodded and ducked out, closing the door and standing in front of it.  "Calleigh?" she asked, moving closer.  "Herbal stimulant lubricant?"

"Yeah, someone suggested Xander buy it and Speed confiscated it after Horatio's fourth nap.  I don't know why I'm so happy today, I'm damn sore."

"Oh, I do," she promised.  "How much did you use and how many times?"

"Just a bit twice."  She beamed and nodded. "Then Speed got really dizzy because the condom broke."

"I understand.  Frank?"  He came in.  "Take her to her house.  There's been a small warning issued about a certain brand of lubricant that has a natural stimulant in it.  Calleigh is sensitive to that stuff. She'll come down tomorrow sometime."  He nodded and helped her up and out to his car.  She called the Chief.  "Sir, this is Alexx Woods.  Yes, this is," she said with a smile.  "You know that new herbal stimulant stuff that's been going around?  No, somehow, and I'm thinking it was at a club since they all went clubbing together, Speedle, Caine, Dusquene, and Speedle's charge all got affected by some.  The two men have called off and I had to send Calleigh home on medical leave.  Can I go ahead and just write their orders?

"No, if I had to be honest, there's a new lubricant going around with it in it, and, well, Calleigh's sensitive and I'm sure the boys got hit on by some woman at the clubs who spread it on theirs hands or necks or something.  No, Delko's fine so far but he's not sensitive to this stuff either.  Sure.  Thank you, sir.  I'm sure they won't appreciate it but that's not something they can really pick on someone about."  Or else she'd kick their asses.  "No, I'm taking about an hour to go check on them.  Thank you, sir.  You have a better day.  Probably sometime tomorrow.  So that leaves you with Delko and Wolfe here and working.  We can run on skeleton crew today.  Thank you, sir."  She hung up.  "Boys!" she called.  They came running.  "We know that new herbal stimulant is bad, right?"  They both nodded, looking scared.  "Somehow the others got exposed."  Ryan burst out laughing.  "What?"

"Xander was buying lube the other day and he probably picked up a bottle."

Eric groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.  "Speed would've noticed the effect and confiscated it and probably used it on Calleigh," he said quietly.

"But then why would Horatio have it?"

"Accidental?  Maybe he got called for dinner or something," Eric offered.  Ryan gave him an odd look.  "What?" he snapped.

"You haven't seen it.  Xander's in serious lust mode over Horatio," he noted dryly.  Eric gaped and he nodded.  "Like, buying books to tell him what to do, dressing him in leather, being possessive of him, serious lust mode.  I know Speed had a talk with both of them in the last few months about it."

"No way.  Not Horatio.   He's protective of the boy and Xander taught him how to dance at the club that time, but not together."  He shook his head. "The kid's got a crush, he'll get over it."  He looked at Alexx.  "Need help looking in on them?"

"No, that's okay.  The Chief is calling in a few of the night crew who had it easy last night.  Do what you can today.  I'll be back in an hour.  Frank took Calleigh home."  She went to get her bag and go to Speed's, where she got the shock of her life.  She let herself in, smiling at the neat and clean living room.  "She does good work on that stuff," she noted, going back to check on her baby first.  He was clutching his head so she moved a hand, looking down at him.  "It was the lube, baby," she told him.

"Condom broke," he agreed. "How long?"

"A few more hours probably, maybe into tomorrow for her.  You just nap, sugar."  He nodded, closing his eyes and letting her tuck him in.  Then she went to check on Xander and found Horatio enjoying the blowjob of his life by the look on his face.  She backed out of there and walked off shaking her head.  They were wearing it out of their system, they'd be fine. With any luck, she'd never see that again and he hadn't seen her. By the time she got back to the station, she had finally quit blushing but she had mental images she did not want.  Eric came jogging out to stop her.  "Horatio will be fine.  He's wearing it out of his system."

"So he left that party to protect Xander and found a girl?"

"No, honey, he found Xander.  The boy was about throat deep on him.  They'll be fine soon enough."  She walked off, wishing she drank so she could drink away that mental image.

Eric rubbed his eyes, trying to make anything take the place of that image she had forced on him.  "Oh, God," he moaned.

"Is Horatio all right?" Ryan asked, coming out.

Eric looked at him.  "You were right," he said, looking confused and really tired.  "She caught 'em going at it."  He walked off to bang his head against a wall a few times.

Frank came out to stop him. "What's wrong with you?" he demanded.

"Horatio and Xander."

"Yeah, they're cute.  So?"  He shrugged.  "The boy's got a crush on him.  It's adorable."  Eric gave him this look and he knew.  He just knew.  "Oh, no."  Eric nodded.  "We sure?"

"Alexx," he told him, then hit his head a few more times. "I can't get that picture out of my head!"

Yelina came up behind him and stroked the back of his neck, making him tense up then relax.  "Better?"  He nodded, looking at her.  "Some of us knew a while ago.  Go back to work, Eric."  He nodded and trudged off.

Frank looked at her. "How long?  I knew about the crush Horatio has."

"I can't be fully sure but I know he realized it the day they went out together with everyone."  She shrugged.  "He'll treat him well and spoil him rotten."

"Which one?"

"Both.  Especially Xander.  He seems like a spoiler."

"I'm too old for this."

"Well consider this.  If the other two get together, some day Alexx will be a grandmother to baby Speedles."

Frank grinned. "They'll be so cute little scruffy blonde things with a bad mouth."  She nodded and grinned.  "Okay, I can accept that, but really."  He stepped closer. "You know that herbal stuff going around?" he asked quietly.

She smirked and nodded. "He bought five different types with it.  I didn't even realize when he asked my advice when I went with him."

"You went with him?"

"Yes, we were taking Ray Jr to discuss that stuff and this way he doesn't have to surf for porn and things.  Let me guess, the stimulant got them?"  He nodded, grimacing.  "Those poor boys.  I'm hoping Xander's enjoying himself and Horatio eventually gets a nap."

"Calleigh was bouncing and singing."

"So Speed probably confiscated it," she agreed. She smiled at him. "They'll be fine and my son now has no questions about sex."  She went back to her desk, finding an email from New York.  She opened it and read it, then smirked.  "Frank?"  He came over and read over her shoulder, looking confused.  "I don't know, I was hoping you understood why he wanted us to come and get the robotic Xander out of his city."

"Who would make a robotic Xander and send it to Mac Taylor?"

"Poor Don, he's got to have the hiccups and be in pain from the laughing he's doing."

"If they're not defending Danny from it."  He walked off shaking his head to tell Eric that one.  That got the Horatio sex scene outta his head.

***

Speed woke up to someone pounding on his door and got up, going to let whoever it is in so they'd quit.  "Don?" he asked, watching as he drug something in. "Um.....  We told her no."

"Who in the hell sent us a robot version of Xander so I can shoot them!" he demanded, letting the robot go.  It slinked over to the couch and laid down, purring at him.  "I mean it!"

"Willow," he said, writing down her phone number and giving it to him.  "Here.  Was it okay or did it rip down things? Someone made a Buffy one but we all tried to discourage her from making a robot Xander."

Xander came out, naked, and looked at Don, then giggled.  "Hi, let me put on clothes."  He turned around and headed back to the bedroom.

Don frowned and shook his head. "He's built better than the robot."  He looked at Speed again.  "She sent it to Danny to take the place of him missing his Xander.  Instead, it decided Mac was Danny and attached itself to him, all day!  Even when the Chief came down to see what was going on.  He got growled at and we had to pull it off Mac again.  He's traumatized and the Chief *personally* paid the airfare to get the thing down here. You, sit!" he ordered the robot.  It sat and pouted, just like the real thing.  He looked at Speed again.  "I don't care what you do with it.  Send it to Aiden, send it back to her so it can fuck Buffy up the ass and straighten her out.  I don't care!  Just keep it outta my city!"

Speed nodded and held up a finger, going to get the rest of that lube.  He handed over the four bottles and swallowed.  "It's got a very strong stimulant in it.  Calleigh and Xander both got high from it.  Horatio hasn't been able to sleep in a day and a half."  Xander came back out and he looked at him.  "You cleaned up, I'm impressed.  Do NOT go in the kitchen again.  Not after you woke me up with the smoke detector yesterday!"  He looked at Don again.  "We'll handle the Xander bot, you take and hide those.  Deal?"

"Sure, I'm getting the better end of it.  If he's that pouty in real life, someone's gonna die from it."

"Horatio hasn't yet," he admitted.  "Or has he?  Is he still breathing, Xander?"

"And napping," he said tiredly, sitting on the couch next to himself. "Hi, me.  What did Willow tell you to do?"

"Go take care of the Danny Messer because he lost his Xander," it said.

"Cool."  He yawned and stretched, then curled up.  "Be a pillow for now, me."

"Of course."  He looked at Speed. "I can cook.  Should I?"

"Hell no.  No Xanders in the kitchen."   He looked at Don.  "Did you hurt yourself laughing?"

"For about thirty minutes because we thought it was a prank.  And then Mac tried to slug it and said 'damn' because his hand was now broken, that's when we realized there was a problem.  Stella liked him.  She said she'd like the real Xander if he was like this one, but hopefully less pouty."  He put the lube in his coat pocket and looked at the robot.  "I don't know what to do with him.  He seems too alive to me to turn off."

"We'll figure it out or give him to Alexx to take care of.  Maybe Ryan.  Or maybe Ray Jr. since I caught him watching Xander's ass the other day."  He shrugged.  "He come with a manual?"

"No.  And tell Aiden that it was mean to suggest she send it!  I like you guys."

"I know.  We agreed to send you the real thing if Xander does something like jump him at work so you can straighten him out."

"Gee, thanks.  Mac's still probably babbling his name.  It's gonna be a while before any of us want to deal with Xander."  He walked out, going back home, via the airport bar.

Speed called Eric.  "When you're off, stop by and see if Calleigh's normal and bring Ryan, Alexx, and food with you."  He hung up.  Then he went to check on his kitchen. There had to be something to eat.  He had worn himself out on Calleigh.

***

Ryan Wolfe looked at the robot boy and grinned at the real one.  "Can we keep him?"

"They don't care as long as he doesn't go back to New York and traumatize Mac again," Speed offered.  Horatio snorted and shook his head. "You called him, is he okay?"

"Mostly," he admitted. "Now.  A broken hand, a few nightmares, he'll be fine."  He looked at the real Xander, who was being good and playing solitaire, checking for a pulse yet again just to make sure.  He got bitten for it this time and winced.  "Don't bite."

"I like to bite," he said, smirking at him.  "Biting is good otherwise you can't eat and I'm starved.  Can I at least make myself a sandwich, Tim."

"No!  No Xanders in the kitchen!  Ever!"  He looked at Eric.  "That one woke me up with the smoke detector by trying to make breakfast."

"That's a skill," Eric agreed, smirking at Xander.  Then at Horatio, who only raised an eyebrow.  "Did Alexx get to see you earlier?"

"Oh, shit," Xander sighed.

"Uh-huh.  And I had that damn image in my head all day until this."  Ryan laughed so he slapped him across the back of the head.  "And he didn't help, H.  He kept coming up and reminding me of it.  Make him behave!"

"Why?  Delko baiting is a fun and rewarding pasttime," Speed said with a shit-eating grin.  "Be thankful Aiden isn't here."  Eric moaned.

"Who else knows?" Horatio asked calmly.

"Yelina, Frank, us two, and Alexx," Ryan assured him. "She pulled me aside before we came out to get me to tell you she's sorry she suggested Xander buy those lubes."

"You went lube shopping with Yelina?" Speed asked, looking horrified.  "Why?  I would've went with you!  Hell, you could've drug Eric with you!"

"No he couldn't've," Eric said firmly.  "I don't wanna understand gay boy stuff and I don't care to see it.  I like women. I like women a lot.  Thank you."

"Yelina wanted to bring Ray Jr. to answer a bunch of his sex related questions and asked me to come along," Xander told everyone.  "He had some questions about the gay stuff, and some that I couldn't answer except out of the book I have, which I let him borrow for a few days."  He looked at Horatio.  "He's decided he likes girls."

"I almost suggested that we give the metal Xander to Ray Jr to give him someone to play catch with," Ryan offered.

"Mr. Wolfe, I'm not mean to your family," Horatio reminded him, staring him down.

"I wasn't being mean. It'd give him a big brother."  He shrugged.  "Every kid could use a big brother."

"Not necessary."

"Sorry, Horatio."  Calleigh and Alexx came in and she stopped, looking horrified at the two Xanders on the couch.  "Because of your hyperactivity earlier, they made you one."  He grinned at her.

She looked at Speed.  "Tell me she didn't send you a Xander robot.  Please?" she pleaded.

"No, she sent it to Danny to give him something to take the place of missing Xander.  Of course it decided Mac was Danny."

She burst out crying and hugged him. "I'm so sorry you had to put up with that girl!" she sobbed.

"It's okay. Maybe the Xander and the Buffy robot would like to be together."

"I have taste," the Xander and the robot said together.  Man looked at machine and raised an eyebrow.  "Danny's a blond with glasses.  He's smart."

"I'd rather have tits," it told him.  "Small tits, but still tits."

"I'd smack you but I'd hurt myself," Alexx said firmly.

"I was programmed by a teenage boy," it defended.  "It's not my fault."

"Do you have a power down button?" Eric asked.  It nodded. "Would you please use it and take a nap?"  It nodded and then went limp.  "Thank you!"  He looked up then sighed and looked at Alexx.

"That's what he would've turned out like without me and Aiden," Tim told her.  "Only dating Anya."

"Again, I have better taste than that," Xander said dryly.  "She may have forced me to take her to the prom but after needing rescued...."  He looked at Tim.  "That's a good idea and he could keep up with her."  Speed smirked evilly at that.  "Anya?" he called plaintively.  She appeared, looking pissed.  He pointed at the robot. "Someone made a Xander sex toy robot.  Yo, metal me, wake up."  It woke up and smiled at Anya, getting up to kiss her by bending her backwards.  She ended up wrapped around him.  "He's yours but you have to keep him out of New York forever and ever," he ordered.  "And out of Miami."

"I can do that," she agreed.  "I don't have to come here or New York.  You get plenty of vengeance without me, like Chicago does."  She smiled. "Thank you.  I love my birthday present."

"I'll buy you anything you want," the robot Xander assured her.  "I just have to have a job first."  She squealed and hugged him, taking him home with her.

"Hopefully she won't wear *him* out too," Speed said dryly, hugging her.  "I gave Don the rest of that lube when he showed up with the Xander bot."

"Sure.  Better safe than here."  She looked around, then at him. "By the way, I used your toothbrush to do the floors."

"Thankfully I noticed before I tried to use it," he assured her, sitting down with her in his lap.  "Get over it, now," he ordered at the amused looks.

"Does that mean squealing will happen in the broom closet on third?" Eric teased.

"Better than the twins in the archival room," Xander said dryly. "By the way," he said, looking at him, smirking evilly.  "There are ways around that impasse you had.  That's why tongues and fingers can move independently of each other and wouldn't have brought other cops running, or me with popcorn."  He grinned and went back to his card game, letting Ryan Wolfe snicker and have to lean against the couch.

"I wonder who had been in there and got it closed down for everyone," Alexx said as she came out of the kitchen.  "Is the demon ho gone?"  Xander nodded, moving a card.  "Grandson."  He looked at her.  "You are going to be good to Horatio, right?"

"I'm always good to him," he said with a slight pout.  "Aren't I good?" he asked.

"He is, he even tried to cook," he assured her.  "Now that we're back to normal, he's going to treat me very well, the same as I will him," he promised.

"Good.  Now, when you adopt my great-grandbabies, I wanna know right after the granddaddy Speedy there."

"Don't, just don't," Speed told them.

"Hey, I promised to babysit yours," Xander reminded him with a smirk. "If and when the birth control fails."

"Far, far in the future," Calleigh agreed.

"That's fine, honey.  I can be an old and gray grandmother, but I'd better see at least one grandbaby before I go and my kids are much too young."  She went back to dish up more food.  "Here, you all need to eat," she ordered, handing out food.  She made Horatio scoot closer to Xander and the boy snuggled up next to him, giving him this gentle, sated smile and getting a content one in return.  "Peter gives me that same look," she whispered at Horatio.  "You be good to him or else."

"I will be, Alexx. You know I will be."  He took a bite and smiled at the couple feeding each other.  "No more cuteness today."

"If you conceive while we're here, we get to be godparents," Eric reminded them.

"And if we're in the same room, we get to pick out part of the name," Ryan finished.

Calleigh looked at him.  "I never knew you were a pervert, Ryan, but I don't like this side of you very much," she said with a smirk.  "Besides, I'm a good girl.  The bad boy is the baby of the family and my stepson."

Xander looked at her and grinned wickedly.  "I could go put on those pants again."

"Do it and be spanked," Horatio said simply, eating another bite.  "Either of them."

"Oh, I don't know, that stretchy cord pair was kinda cute on him."  She looked at Speed.  "Can you borrow those?"

"My ass is too big, I won't fit into them."

"They stretch," Xander promised.  "As long as you have them washed, you can borrow them."

Speed blushed.  "I don't think she needs to see me in those."

"How bad are they?" Eric asked, looking at Horatio.  "Worse than those rust colored jeans?"

"Much," he sighed, nodding, then looking at his boyfriend, who just smirked at him.  "No one sees you in those but me.  You can hold them up."  Xander went to get them, handing them to Eric and then cuddling up again to finish his dinner.

Eric looked at them, then shook his head. "I can't even imagine them on someone."

Alexx looked at them.  "I can."  She looked down at Xander. "They've got an open spot when you bend over."

"They stretch," he said with a small smirk.  "Besides, Montreal was a full monty city, Alexx.  That was for a special act where I was pretending to be a puppet but I couldn't get out of them gracefully enough."

"He almost has to bellydance out of them," Horatio admitted, shaking his head.

Ryan looked at them, then at the kid.  "If I ever get a really hot date, I'm coming over to borrow them.  I'll dry clean them."

"Sure."  He shrugged.  "I've got plenty of clothes. But the arm and wristbands are Speed's."  He ate another bite and then dug in, eating quickly until he sighed in pleasure and put the plate aside.  Horatio finished up so he stacked theirs, then held his hand and just watched the sun go down out of the window.

Ryan looked at Eric.  "We're the last two single guys left, we need to stick up for each other."

"You want some of my castoffs?" he asked.

"I wouldn't mind a few since you've pretty muchly slept with half the city that aren't of college age.  Just a few?"

"Not everyone," he defended.

"Yes you have.  Your little black book is like a phone book," Calleigh reminded him. "You were weeding names out of your blackberry the other day, Eric."  She ate another bite then fed him one, getting a grin.

"I saw the delete file, man, there must've been at least twelve hundred names in there," Speed taunted.

"There was not!" he said, looking upset. "I haven't slept with over two hundred women, much less twelve hundred!"

"You sure about that?" Calleigh asked. "I mean without checking your bedpost?"

"Yes, I remember each and every single one of them, all one-hundred and eighty...."  He shut up.  "Not one word," he warned Speed.

"Sure, if you leave me alone about her at work."

"And don't remark on any hickies where others can hear," Calleigh finished.

"I don't give you hickies," Speed said.  "If you find a hickie on her, I wanna know."

"You may not, but Xander does," she said, smirking at Horatio.

"He tastes good," Xander said with a strong blush, ducking his head down.  "I was hungry.  I'm not allowed in the kitchen anymore so I had to snack on something."

"The day he disappears, we'll know who to ask," Ryan said, patting him on the shoulder from behind.  He walked around and sat in the other chair, grinning at Eric.  "So, can I have some of your castoffs?  I'm looking for brains and sweetness mostly, but cute is good."

"I'll start compiling names," he snorted, sitting on the floor next to Alexx.  "Kick him, Xander."

"He might pick on Horatio."  He yawned and snuggled in.  "Sorry, still need a nap."

"You could go to bed," Speed promised.

"That'd be rude; I can stay awake."

"Sure.  If not, we'll put you to bed."  Eric shook his head.  "Did you guys get any sleep today?"

"No, I took out and regrouted my bathroom," Calleigh admitted.  "Horatio?"

"Short naps.  Speed."

"Long, bad headache," he admitted.  "Then a short nap.  I'm surprised you two are still awake with how much more you got than we did."

"He'll have the bed spins tomorrow," Calleigh assured him.

"Can I have a hickey before I go to my last orientation class," Xander asked Horatio.  "Just so she can't try again?"

"If you want," he agreed smugly.

"She hit on you?" Eric asked.

"Asked me out," Xander admitted.  "I don't want to give her another chance."

"I remember her, she was a flake," Ryan admitted.  Everyone stared at him.  "I did my masters there."  He shrugged.  "I still had to take it."  He looked at Xander.  "Can you understand her synchronistic waves and things?"

"I'm from near LA.  I've seen plenty of that.  I understood it and can easily translate it."  He looked at Horatio.  "The fellow classmate's friend wants me to prove stripping is harder so I'm going to prove it to her by teaching her one routine Wednesday."

"I'll make sure you get a backrub when I see you."

"Teach her the kissy face one you did in Montreal," Speed said.  "And I don't remember you getting down that far that time."

"I worked at two places up there.  The first one got burnt."

"Ah.  Okay."

"Another psycho?" Calleigh asked.

"No, insurance."  He grinned at her.  "You look comfy."

"So do you."

"Does he let you cuddle?" Ryan teased.  Horatio gave him an odd look.  "The one date I set him up on, she complained that he liked to cuddle."

"I was only holding her hand while we walked on the beach," he complained.  Ryan gave him a look.  "The first time she complained."

"You're getting a blood test this week," Speed ordered.

"I had one last month.  Would you like to see it?  I have one every other month because you don't know the sorta shit you're gonna find on a stripclub floor and what might accidentally come in contact with your body when you're out front."

"True," Calleigh agreed.  "Even the one here in town was nasty."

Speed nodded.  "It was.  It was not the best."

"No, nasty was the Raven's Cage.  Nasty was also the Pier."

"How in the hell do you get into all the anything goes clubs?" Eric asked dryly.

"The club I worked in was a starting point and a feeder spot.  So I could use my work pass.  It was good advertising for the club when we went to the others and hung out or dance or stuff.  I never did stuff there, the only thing I ever did was stare in fascinated horror a few times."  He shrugged slowly and grinned. "Perk of the business, man.  We got into most any club by flashing our work pass. I should probably give that back to him too."

"Why? He didn't ask for it," Speed noted dryly.  "You pretty much get in anyplace anyway."

"Yeah, except for the one Eric took me too with the women who were fighting over me.  That's two now, Eric.  You're never picking the clubs again."

"Amen," Speed agreed.

"Good with me," Calleigh agreed.

Horatio nodded.  "It's probably safer if he doesn't."

"It was a nice party," Eric defended.

"It was, but there were still two women who got into a fight at an art gallery a few months earlier over trying to have me," Xander reminded him.  "No more picking the clubs until everyone else forgets I exist."

"Then I take it you're not going back for any more special nights?" Eric asked with a smirk.

"Nope.  Horatio doesn't like it and I'm really tired of dancing most of the time."  Speed opened his mouth.  "I told Eric, he brought a date to make sure I was okay.  Sixteen special performance calls and the two he couldn't get to, Ryan did."

Ryan nodded. "I brought a date to the second one and she tried to leave with him too."  Eric moaned and nodded.  "Did you get a lot of that?"

"Every damn time, but I always got called back and asked if we could go again."

"Aww," Alexx said with a smirk.  "Did they use you to get close to the Xander?"  He nodded, pouting at her so she patted him on the head, ending in a smack.  "Good.  Next time don't bring a woman to a place like that."  She looked at Xander.  "And I'm glad you're out of the business too, honey. That's dangerous."

"I know," he agreed.  "But I got to tease and tempt and then walk off leaving them aching  and doing things I didn't wanna see under the table.  And hey, a few couples used me to conceive.  I'm the proud conception agent of seven kids, one's a set of triplets."  They all laughed at that.  "I'm helping repopulate the world here.  Give me some credit."

"You did tease very well," Horatio agreed quietly, stroking through the dark hair.  "You may have one final performance, and I will be there."  Xander nodded.

"Can we invite Frank back?  His wife called Yelina to ask what case had gotten him so worked up.  She told him they had a bust at a male strip club and he had been teased," Calleigh offered.  "She wants him to go back."

"I don't care.  But he didn't tip," Xander said with a wicked smirk.  "And I have just the number too."  That got a low growl from the man beside him.  "I promise, you'll like it."

"I probably will but that doesn't mean it'll make me happy."

"Even if you get to walk me out at the end of it?"

"That would make me more pleased, yes," he admitted.  "Will I get to see it first?"

"Nope.  No one in the city has and I only need to work on the ending a bit.  I can call Jack for the next night we all have off."  He looked at Alexx.  "You can come if you want.  Eric can guard you or Frank could."

She smiled and shook her head. "I don't wanna see you take off your clothes, dear. I might look at you funny afterward.  You know what they say about morning afters."

He nodded.  "I've only had three of those but I understand."  He got comfortable again. "You'll like it, Horatio, don't worry about that."  He entwined their fingers again and smiled at him.  "I can even work on it with my little pupil."

"That's good."  He stroked his hair.  "Do you need anything special?"

"No.  I only needed a prop for the 'cop to motorcycle beefcake' act."  Ryan choked and he grinned at him.  "Long gone and I don't even remember half of it. You'd have to ask Audry in Montreal if there are any tapes of it."

"I have her phone number," Speed announced.  "I'll start cleaning up those loose ends, Horatio."

"Thank you.  It's appreciated.  You might ask Inspector Ferris as well.  I know Danny said they talked to him recently."

"Sure," Calleigh agreed.  "We don't want anything like that online or something.  Someone might come after him again."  Xander blushed at that.  "Let's try to have a normal year, okay?"

"I do try."

"Try harder," Eric and Alexx ordered. They looked at each other and he stuck his tongue out then grinned.

***

Xander swayed to the music, tantalizing everyone, giving teasing looks to a few but he always came back to Horatio's eyes.  He winked at one point and turned, going back to his pole/lover, moaning against it as he shifted and rubbed.  Then he came back and looked at his lover, who smiled and stood up, holding out a hand, leading him out so the last three bars of music followed him out.  Behind him the club went nuts!  Applause, tips, people swearing and throwing glasses down, a few crying, like the owner.  He knew the kid had been serious now.  He had proclaimed his spot in front of everyone.  No matter how much he teased and taunted in the past, no matter who else he bedded, he came back to his lover and his lover ended up with him.

Speed walked up to him and smirked at the bartender, getting another beer.  "I told you he was taken."  The owner glared at him and he smirked back.  "He takes very good care of him, he loves him completely, and he lets Xander spoil him," he said quietly.  "No matter what, he goes to him."

"I'll have the tips, the checks, and the credit cards done by tomorrow," he sighed, shaking his head.  "He made me money out the ass.  I like the kid and I wish him well, but I wish he hadn't found love."  Speed just grinned at that.  "It's going to get rowdy in here, you might wanna take your friends and go.  I'll send his check to you at the station, Speedle."

"Thanks, Jack, but I can pick it up tomorrow on my way home.  Have a better night, man.  He worked for days getting that ending timed right."  He walked back to his spot, pulling on his jacket and nodding at the others to follow him out.  All of Xander's posse, but Alexx, had been there.  They had even invited the New York guys down since it was so special and a weekend.

"Maybe we should've kept the Xander robot," Danny said as they walked out.

"No," Mac ordered.  "I don't want that thing anywhere near me."

"It went to his almost ex, Anya," Speed called, making Aiden cackle.  "She's probably still worn out since it's got a nuclear battery."  He stared his bike.  "Guys, I'm betting they went to his house so mine's probably open and getting food."  That got a cheer and they all went to celebrate that.  Xander was out of the business, he was safer, less chance of psychotic people wanting him, and he was loved by a very good man. They all headed back together, making for one loud, cheerful party.

The Chief of Police came out pouting a few minutes later. "I'll miss him," he told his wife.

"I will too, dear, but you know Horatio deserves it.  Think of giving Darkness to him as a reward for all the good he's done in the city," she prompted, patting him on the back.  "Maybe he'll use some of those stored up leave days you complained about last month for a honeymoon or something nice like that," she offered.  He smiled at that thought and she earned a kiss.  "Darkness is a good reward for all the help he's given the city.  Even if that boy will kill him in bed when he's older."  He nodded and walked off with her.

Inside, Jack turned off the camera and ejected the tape, putting in a new one.  That one would only go to Xander and he'd have the only copy.  He had promised him, even if it had been so good they'd be scraping the floor clean for days.  He hesitated but he knew the Wrath of Caine would come down on him and he'd heard enough about that from the underworld connections he had to know he didn't want it focused on him.  He called the two people he knew were interested in the boy and warned them that he had a cop for a boyfriend, to leave him alone because he'd given up the business.  Then he called the guys in Montreal and their connection, giving them the same information so they could clear out any of their connections who might want the boy.  He knew at least one Middle Eastern gentleman wanted the boy for his own personal harem slave.  They would get word back to him that it was now impossible.

Outside the club, the wire tapping Vice officers high fived for all the information they were getting and all the dots they were able to connect, plus the foiled kidnaping plan that would get them back in the good graces of the CSI team.  Now they understood why Caine had backed Speedle on not using the kid to catch the club killer.  There was no way someone like Caine would let anyone touch his boy.  The man defined possessive - just look at how he treated his Hummer.  Hopefully the boy at least got to sleep inside in the bed instead of the car was the general consensus, but if not they were sure Caine made it a comfortable bed for his toy.

***

Speed pulled up and nodded at the bouncer as he stopped his bike, parking it.  The guy held up a hand and went inside, coming back with an envelope.  "We've been banned?" he asked with a grin.

"Yeah, Jack's depressed.  The Middle Eastern guy committed suicide and left Darkness something.  It's being routed to the station so expect it in a few days."

"What Middle Eastern guy?" he asked.

"He didn't tell you?  Jack was approached about the kid going to work for this guy in his native country, at his personal palace, and Darkness said no and walked off insulted. He was really huffy that day.  He even played the angry, gonna whip your skin off you set that got the masochists happy. By the way, we're keeping the picture of him with the bullwhip on the wall."

"What picture?  I at least want copies of all the pictures and at least the majority of the copies of his tapes.  Jack made a deal."

"Sure, we can make you copies of the pictures," he promised with a grin.  "The tapes will be delivered to Caine personally in three days.  The last one will have no copies made, as promised.  He said to reassure you if you asked."

"Good, now what Middle Eastern prince was this again?"

"Darkness caught the eye of this guy while he was in Montreal.  He wanted the first club he worked at in Montreal to ...procure him for them.  Darkness left up there before it could go off and they approached Jack through their local club, the Raven's Cage."  He scratched the back of his neck.  "Anyway, Jack called around last night to make sure everyone knew that Darkness was off the market and he was now protected by Caine, because we've all heard of the Wrath of Caine, especially if you touch his hummer and we figure his boy's at least equal with the car, if not slightly better.  Oh, we're taking bets.  Does he have to sleep in the hummer or does he get to go inside?"

"Horatio has a palatial bed and Xander's presently snuggled under a huge quilt after a great massage and more sex than even he could handle," he said smugly.

"Damn, I lost the bet.  Oh, well. Philip's going to be happy. Does he have to wear a collar too?  We know he got a piercing for his boy."

"Um, no he doesn't."

"Yeah he does.  One of the guys saw it when he was stretching in his thong the other day because he slipped out."  He grinned at him.  "Anyway, when Jack called around, the guy heard, he committed suicide because now others would know and he couldn't have his toy stripper but he left Darkness something. It was being routed to Montreal and they're sending it to us so we're sending it directly to Caine.  Anything to do with Darkness or someone who wants Darkness we're sending to Caine.  Is he going to become a cop now?"

"He's studying to be a profiler."

"That'll be good.  He understands people.  Especially who he picks to stalk for his hyena set."  He grinned at him.  "Thank you for letting us keep at least a few pictures of him.  Think he'd autograph one for me if I can get a copy made?"

"Send it to me at the station and I'll ask.  You can send anything like that to me or Caine since he's basically my son."

"Sure, thank you."  He grinned at him. "You're really nice for a cop."

"Not a problem."  He looked at the check and his eyes bulged. "What the fuck?" he asked. Then looked at him.  "Did he...mistype or something?"

"No, that's the other reason why he's so depressed, but the credit cards came through already so he's fine.  That's his forty percent plus the tips we collected for him, plus we'll be sending back the clothes he left on the stage too."  He moved closer.  "After you guys left, the Police Chief came out pouting.  Darkness was his little blue pill if you know what I mean."  He nudged him with a grin, getting a nod of understanding and a small smirk from Speed.  "Anyway, he was pouting that he was off the market and his wife pointed out that your son was good compensation for Caine for all the good work he's done in the city.  She was hoping he'd do the romantic thing and take some of his extra leave time that he's got sitting around for a honeymoon. You might wanna suggest it since I know how big that check is."

Speed nodded, smirking at him. "Sure, I'll suggest that to him when I drop this off," he promised.  "Thank you.  Any other good gossip?"

"Yeah, man, Vice guys raided the Raven's Cage last night.  Totally blasted it open and arrested everyone but a few dancers.  They were *pissed* apparently.  I don't know why but oh well.  Glad we're classier than that place.  Be careful on your ride, Detective."

"You be careful too," he said with a smile.  He tucked the check inside his shirt and waistband, then took off again, heading for Horatio's beachhouse.  The door was opened when he pulled up and Horatio nodded him inside so he parked and put his helmet down.  "Did you know that the Wrath of Caine is feared down there, and I had the feeling there were capitol letters in that phrase."  Horatio gave him an unimpressed look.  "Really.  They figured he was at least as dear to you as the hummer.  They had a bet going at the club about whether he had to sleep in it or not. Most bet in it."  He walked in and the door was shut so he handed over the envelope.  "In the next few days, you're getting copies of all his tapes, his pictures, and some stuff some Middle Eastern guy who wanted to kidnap the son left him after he committed suicide.  Apparently Jack was lamenting that he retired and the guy realized now others would know of his obsession so he ended it all.  Oh, and Vice raided the Raven's Cage.  The bouncer, Steve, said that they got everyone but a few dancers."

"Good, why?"

"I don't know.  But did you see the Police Chief last night?"  He slowly shook his head.  "Me either.  Apparently Darkness was his viagra and he's now your reward for all you've done for the city.  And Steve said that if anyone ever came near Darkness again, they were sure the Wrath of Caine would come down because you at least loved him as much as you do the car."

Xander came out with a yawn, naked.  "Of course he does.  Were they still on that stupid bet?"  Speed nodded so he shrugged.  "I haven't even gotten to have sex in it.  Who died?"

"The Middle Eastern guy who offered you a spot over in his palace."

"Oh, yeah, him.  He had some emerald handcuffs or something he wanted me to wear too. He was into oil and I didn't care.  He was slimly and I didn't want to leave there to be with him.  Especially after he said he'd have to castrate me so I couldn't touch his wives."  He shrugged and hugged him.  "So, anything else of good gossip?"

"Steve wants you to autograph a picture for him."

"Sure."  He yawned again.  "Not a problem.  Anything else?"

"I don't see an earring."

"Hidden treasure," Xander said simply.

"Ow," Speed said, wincing and crossing his legs.  "Very ow.  Thank you for not making me come."

"It came as a shock to me too," Horatio noted calmly.  "How did they know?"

"The night I got it I was stretching and fell outta the thong," he admitted with a small sheepish look.  "Then I had to swat two of them away."  He stole a kiss and his envelope, then smirked.  "Wow.  He really did get all the credit cards and didn't stiff me."  He looked at him.  "Why did you talk to Steve?"

"Jack was moping and we're banned."

"If we need to go back in there for a case I'll get us back in."  He handed it to Horatio.  "I'll let you march me into the bank tomorrow."  He grinned and bounced off.

"Xander, that can't be right," Horatio called, holding it up.  "Can it?"  Speed nodded. "You made sure?"

"Yeah, I about had a heart attack when I saw it."

"I had one higher but I gave it back because he wanted to use me as a body model to cut his boyfriend up," he called from the kitchen.  "Need a soda, dad?"

"No thanks."  He looked at Horatio.  "Everything has been sent to you at the station over the next few days.  That way no one had to ask where you lived.  I told Steve he could use me as well.  And the Chief's wife thought you should use some of those extra leave days for a honeymoon since he's the reward for all your hard work for the city.  That's one hell of a gold watch, Horatio.  Remember what I said about proper maintenance.  Or else."  He saluted him.  "Take tomorrow off to walk him into the bank and spoil him.  I have no idea why Vice was pissed but Steve said they were highly pissed.  Have fun hiding the check tonight too."  He grinned and left, going to tell Aiden, Danny, and Flack.  Calleigh, Eric, and Alexx would sigh at the thought of him being the reward and Flack would laugh. Aiden would cackle.  Danny would probably sigh and look at Flack for that.

"Xander," Horatio called, heading for his office to hide the check.  "What Middle Eastern gentleman was this?" he called, coming out to chase down his reward.  It was a good reward, but a very naughty one.  Not that he didn't enjoy the challenge, but apparently his reward needed to be worn out again.

***

Epilogue:

Ryan Wolfe watched all the videos in order, seeing the progression from normal guy to super hot/wanted man of the world.  He was trying to figure out why.  He had no idea why but there was something mesmerizing about the way the boy danced.  If he could figure it out, he could probably win a Nobel Prize or something.   Someone knocked on his door and he turned off the DVD player and hid the tapes under the towel he'd been using to clean something, going to answer it.  "Eric?" he asked, letting him in.  "What's wrong?"

"I can't get a date," he complained, walking in.  He looked at the tapes. "You had copies made?"

"I'm trying to figure out what's so hypnotic about him so maybe we can replicate it, man."  He sat down and nodded.  "You can help.  You saw more of him than I did."

"I think it's his scent or the animal instincts or something.  It can't be anything else.  He's a normal, goofy guy."

"Yeah, but see this," Ryan said, switching back to the first tape.  "That's the first club in Montreal."  Eric frowned, watching it, shaking his head.  "Yeah, that's him."  He let that one finish and changed it to the last one in Montreal, letting him see that.  "See, better, but still not as hypnotic."

"So the change came down here?" he asked.  Ryan nodded and put in the first one down there.  "Whoa.  Big difference."  He frowned and leaned forward. "What was the difference?"

"The only difference was city, Speed being there, and Horatio.  Do you think it has something to do with him, even though he didn't even have a crush on him yet?"

"I don't know.  Go forward about a month and a half.  That's when they hypnotized the kid."  That one was found and put in and he pointed.  "Yeah, see, back to the original but not quite the same.  What about the next one."

"That one it's fully back," he admitted, putting that one in.  "Could it be the hunting instincts?  He gave up hunting, right?"

"Yeah, fully.  Speed even followed him a few night to make sure. See, I was there that night," he said as he watched.  "He was good but not sparkling.  I thought it was the hypnosis.  But what if...."

"What if the hyena spirit that he's infected with realized Horatio's its mate," Ryan agreed. "Which means he's not baiting bad guys, he's baiting his mate and whatever quality that it is in Horatio that drew the hyena to him also drew those other guys to Xander."

"Which means that it's somewhere between subconscious personality and chemical?" Eric suggested.

"It could be.  They all have that air of danger. Horatio has it but it's buried.  You can see it when he puts on the stuff that Xander bought him and in a few of his suits, but not the more mild mannered ones.  Speed was laughing about the rumors of the Wrath of Caine coming down on them for even breathing on the hummer or one of us, and they were taking bets to see if Xander had to sleep in the hummer."

"I heard about that," he admitted with a small grin.  "So, there's some underlying thing that draws all these guys to Xander and somehow his hyena or whatever picked Horatio as the best mate? If so...."

"If so, then we can predict the next psycho and keep them from hurting others getting to him.  Which is why I've been watching these back to back and figuring out how in the hell you'd prove it."

Eric relaxed, watching the boy move.  "Does it change with his moods?"

"Some. There's one that they called his 'angry' set and that one definitely seemed defiant and challenging in basic body language but also threatening and dangerous.  You gotta remember, Xander's not exactly the nicest of nice guys when threatened."

"True," Eric agreed, still watching.  "You know, this doesn't come through half as strongly on tape."

"It doesn't," Ryan agreed. "I still think if we can figure out the root cause of the obsession then we can figure out the lesser attraction model and make it more generalized so others can use it."

"Which would be nice," he agreed, looking at him.  "I still have no idea how in the hell you'd prove it."

"Me either.  I'm wondering if another stripper doing the exact same thing would trip things in a different way maybe?  Maybe call to different instincts?"

"It could be," he agreed, shaking himself clear again. "That's definitely him challenging his mate to step up.  Even I feel it."

"Yeah," Ryan agreed, falling back into the spell, Eric right beside him.  They didn't even realize they were helping each other out until they came, then they gave each other guilty looks and went back to trying to solve this mystery.  "Maybe he makes a man want to be gay," Ryan suggested.  "After all, I thought Horatio was totally straight."

"Me too," Eric agreed. "I know I'm not gay but you're not too bad."

"You either."  They went back to watching to figure this out.

***

Horatio looked up as Ryan walked in and closed the door.  "Mr. Wolfe, are you having a problem?" he asked.

"No, I'm having a quandary," he admitted.  He sat down in front of him. "Eric and I have been trying to figure out *why* the guys who wanted to maim, kidnap, and kill Xander wanted him.  We think we've found an underlying reason and why, but we're not sure.  Now, if we're right, then it's applicable to figuring out the next person who might come after him fairly certainly if we can find a math geek to do the odds."  Horatio leaned back, staring him down.  "Even without one, we can go on the underlying assumptions and see a lot more about attraction than we knew before. The problem is, there's three tapes missing and two incidences that skew the graph.  One was the October 16th sets.  One was the Christmas Eve sets.  The three tapes are his third one here, his one from right after the bust of the guy he spanked, and then his final one."

"So you want to view those?" he suggested.

"And we need to know if anything important, emotionally or physically, may have happened on those dates.  If so, we can predict, we think, what's going to happen with the next guy.  We do think the attraction he had, that thing that drew others to him, was the hyena looking for certain...qualities.  One of them being someone who would be strong and skilled enough to protect him."  Horatio nodded slowly at that.  "Even the psychos had that same underlying hint of predator, danger, and charisma that you do.  I'm not even going to guess why you do, it's not really important and Xander already told me point blank not to worry about it."  He grinned at him.

"What I'm trying to do is figure out whether the signals he's sending are subliminal, chemical, or a combination of both.  We have repeated episodes of the same set but only some of them are the type that're hypnotic and drawing.  Xander's tried to help.  He can pretty well gauge what sort of mood he was in by how he was moving that night.  We've already figured out that he was, for lack of a better word, horny those nights that it got more hypnotic.  But even then, the ones from Montreal were *nothing* compared to the weakest from down here, and only *after* he figured out he had a crush on you.  They got noticeably more drawing and hypnotic after that time he spoiled you rotten, dressed you up as his toy, and you guys went dancing with everyone.  Not to be insulting or anything but that could be pack behavior of some sort.  Gifting of necessities, bringing food and arranging the den aren't unheard of for the attraction of a mate in nature.  There was also a shift the night that Speed showed up to retrieve him.  As soon as he saw Speed, and you could see it in his eyes, the dance shifted.  It went from his slightly captivating at the time to almost whipped puppy levels of 'feel sorry for me' pouring off the tape."

"Which would be consistent with your theory," he agreed dryly, enjoying the hell out of this.  He already knew what his team member was trying to figure out.  "I can tell you that on the Christmas Eve one, which was a special night, we had dinner with Speed and it was a nice night.  There were some emotional moments that night, like Willow sent him a card and an ornament.  He was also feeling emotionally needy that night."  Ryan beamed at that.  "October 16th I don't know.  I don't remember anything happening. What case was that around?"

"The bunny paper.  About a week after he wore the wire in."

"He was still insecure and wondering if the person was in the audience. I suggested he go in and draw them out, because if anyone approached him it'd be then.  It's also when the thoughts changed because of the boyfriend rumors nearly getting him killed by the second killer.  We didn't catch the second killer until about a week after that if I remember right."

"Which would explain those.  The other thing Eric noticed, having been there a lot more than I was, was that the final show, you felt like you could get close, like you could almost connect to the haze he was creating, but you couldn't quite do it and it was clearly a claiming dance; you could tell that he was drawing someone out sexually but it didn't quite connect to anyone.  Which is because, we believe, you were there."

"You're right, Mr. Wolfe, it was."

He sat up.  "You already know," he realized.  Horatio smirked and nodded. "Can you tell me?  Am I on the right track?"

"You are.  The hyena was summoning anyone who *could* be her mate. He was possessed by the pack leader and pack leaders are always females among hyenas."  Ryan hit himself on the head.  "So, while in Montreal, she was drawing anyone who could do it but she wasn't very hopeful to put it nicely.  She was alone in foreign lands hunting for pack members and it wasn't working out too well for her.  Coming back here brought her back to pack lands with more of the pack around, but there was still danger.  The hypnosis freed the hunting urges and assured her she could hunt, and therefore the attraction, for lack of a better word, did pick up.  You are also correct that what she was searching for is partially chemical and partially a personality or a subliminal condition.  She had to have someone who would fit in with the hyena."

"Someone who could hunt, protect the pack, and stand up to her if necessary, but not overrule her," Ryan agreed.  "And most of the psychos fit the first three but not the last one."  He nodded at that and smirked again.  "But you fit all of them?"

"I do."

"Can I ask why?"

"No you may not."

"Sure.  I get that, it's private and none of my business anyway.  Now the big question is, can it be extrapolated out to normal people, those who have to look up what a hyena is and who don't understand pack behavior?"

"I think it can," he admitted.  "I'm not sure how you would prove it however."

"Which is where Eric's stuck," he admitted dryly. "Do we have your permission to study this as well?  Xander's already given his."

"You do, Mr. Wolfe, but you will keep it out of the office," he ordered.

Ryan agreed.  "Agreed, sir.  Not a problem with that."  He stood up and smiled. "You know, when I first came, you reminded me of the cat from the Jungle Book for some reason."  He grinned and left him alone.

"Not quite, Mr. Wolfe, but relatively nearby," he said quietly, smirking a bit.  He smiled when Xander came in.  "I take it you've been pounced by Mr. Wolfe?"

"Twice and Eric once."  He closed the door and leaned against it.  "Can you open my grades?"

"If you wish."  Xander nodded and handed them over.  He opened them and smiled, handing them to him.  "Congratulations, Xander."

"Thank you."  He looked and blinked.  "How in the hell!"  He sat down and pulled out his phone, calling the college.  "This is Xander Harris.  I just got my grades and they're all F's and I know damn well I got a B in psych 101.  She has it on her door!"  He listened to the report of computer problems and grades were being reprinted the next day.  "Thank you.  Sorry to bother you."  He hung up, "Hacker, they had to reload everything."

Horatio motioned him closer and canceled his screen saver, letting him see the college's online transcript file for Xander.  "I always go online whenever I have to take classes now.  Less worry and anxiety."  He stroked his back.  "You did good."

Xander beamed at him.  "I did.  Thank you."  He looked around then stole a kiss.  "Should I buy dinner tonight?"

"I think you'll be dinner tonight," he said smoothly, "but we're going out to eat first."  That got a shy grin.  "Go find something to wear, we're going somewhere nice.  I want to peel the dress shirt and tie off your body."  Someone knocked and Frank leaned in.  "We're looking at his grades."

"I heard about the hacker, they announced it on the radio.  What'd he get?"  He came over to look then smiled at him. "Congratulations, Xander."

"Thank you," he said proudly.  "I have to find a suit.  I'm told I'm going out to celebrate tonight."  He beamed at Horatio and winked then at Frank, who blushed. "You know, Ryan and Eric are trying to figure out why I draw psychos so they've got copies of all the tapes but three."

"I'll tell my wife, thanks."  He patted him as he walked past, waiting until he was gone.  Then he smirked at Horatio.  "You old dog."

"Frank, I don't know what you mean.  He did good, he deserves a reward."

"Horatio, you're dating a man half your age.  You can't tell me it's not a reward for both of you.  But a suit and tie?"

"Sometimes I like to see him dressed up.  It's more tempting to sit there and know what's hidden.  No one else can see what I know is there.  Speed!" he called.  He backtracked and came in.  "The grade printing got hacked but I've got the online one up."  Speed came over to look, then grinned.  "As far as I know, unless they upload them wrong, those were final as of last night."

"He deserves a good reward for that. What're you getting him?"

"Dinner out tonight and then dessert."

"Yeah, which means he's getting a ride in the hummer?" Frank teased.

"Frank, I don't know what you mean," he taunted back with a smirk.  "I'll have him back to you tomorrow night once they reload them," he said, giving them one last fond look before hitting the reload button.  What came up was nicer in one spot. "Even better."  Speed grinned. "They said by tonight at midnight."

"I'll expect a call."  He clapped him on the arm. "Make sure he can walk tomorrow when I get him back."  He handed over the report and headed back to work.

Horatio smirked at Frank, who walked off smiling.

***

Horatio sat down across from his mate, handing over the piece of paper he had carried in.  "Reloaded and verified.  I made sure when that one changed."

Xander looked and squealed, hugging him.  "Thank you, Horatio!"  He sat back up and smiled at the people looking at them.  "My grades."  They turned away with indulgent looks. "Thank you," he said more quietly, eyes shining.  "You helped me study, they're just as much yours as mine."

Horatio smiled.  "I didn't take the tests or notes, Xander. They're all yours."  He covered his lap with the napkin. "What did you want for a treat tonight?"

He blushed and glanced around then leaned closer.  "I heard what Frank said," he whispered.  Horatio smirked at that. "At the beach?"

"If you want," he agreed, smiling at him. "Did you order?"

"No.  I didn't know what you were in the mood for so I only got salads so far."

"That's fine."  He caught the waiter's eye and he came over.  Horatio said something quietly and the waiter walked off.  " I hope you're hungry tonight."

"Oh, I am," he agreed, smirking at him.  "Very hungry."  That got a subtle wink and a nod.  "I haven't decided if I'm working this summer or taking classes."

"Take the first session off."  Xander nodded.  "Then make that decision. We'll see what you end up doing."  Xander nodded, swallowing.  "What did you want to do if you do work?"  Xander shrugged one shoulder. "Bouncer, bartender?"

"I wouldn't mind either," he agreed quietly.  "But I'm not sure."

"We'll see what's available at that time," Horatio assured him.  The waiter came back with their salads and he nodded his thanks. The waiter also poured glasses of wine.  "You earned it."  Xander looked at him but he nodded. "You've got to get past that."

"I know."  He took a sip and forced himself not to grimace. "I'm not used to drinking."

"You shouldn't be," he reminded him.  "Take another one.  That's all I'm allowing."  Xander smiled at that assurance and took another drink and this time it was better.  "Good.  Now, tell me about that frat party Eric drug you to."

"He said I had to get used to it, that people around me drink but don't get violent and drunk."

"They do. I have a beer now and then, so do Speed and Eric."  Xander nodded.  "Are you okay with that?"

"Most of the time, just now and then it bothers me, especially when I have to pour someone in a cab."  He took another sip and dug into his salad, looking at him.  "Let's talk about happier things?"  Horatio nodded.  "Can I get a new bathing suit this weekend?"

"Tempting," Horatio agreed. "Only if I go with you.  Why don't you take up jogging with me, Xander?"  He ate his first bite, liking this place's food.  "We can add it to your usual regimen."

"Sure.  I've been cutting down on my situps since I nearly got stabbed."

"I noticed.  Is it healed?"  Xander nodded. "Then I want you to start working out again.  I don't want you vulnerable."  Xander looked at him.  "I know you realized that a normal person might get you after that, but still. You're safer if you keep up with your training.  You could take some time this summer to add to it."

"I can," Xander agreed, relaxing again.  "Can I still have a new bathing suit?"

Horatio nodded.  "Of course. We'll go Sunday since I'm off this weekend.  Speed wants you tomorrow."

"Cool."  He gave him another shy grin and dug back in.  He was hungry and he'd be needing the energy later.  This had been a fantasy of his for a while now.  Mussing up Horatio by giving him a blow in the front seat and then being taken hard by a partially dressed lover.  Horatio had liked that one too.  This was a reward system he could appreciate.  Horatio looked at him and he blushed at the heat in his eyes.  It was good having a mate to understand you.

Miami Connections: Vegas Outtake

Note: The convention took place between when Speed got back (page 133 with normal margins) and the time when Xander took Horatio shopping.

Xander stepped off the plane.  He wasn't sure why he was in Vegas for the convention but he had been sent a ticket late last night.  And hey, he could have fun.  Vegas was the city for fun, that's why they had conventions here, so people like Horatio and Mac Taylor could finally relax for a weekend and remember that not everything was a crime, yet.  He pulled out the directions as he walked, heading for the exit marked 'to parking garage' figuring there'd be cabs near there or they could point him in the right direction.  He found the cabs easily enough and headed over to one.  "Do you know where this is?" he asked, showing him the directions.

The cabbie smirked and nodded.  "Sure do, there's a convention this weekend. You part of that, sir?"

"No, but my kinda parent is.  I'm guessing he got bored and sent me tickets out."  He smiled as he got into the back seat, pulling out his wallet to get some money.  "So, how many other CSI guys did you haul?" he asked as they took off.

"'Bout fifteen or twenty," he admitted.  "They're not usually a chatty bunch on the way in, they're more fun on the way out.  I guess they all come in tired and stuff."

"Yeah, my dad worked like a mad bitch all week to get the time off for this."  The cabbie laughed.  "Seriously, twelve and thirteen hour days, man.  We're in Miami and we've got two crews of techs.  They work really hard.  As the joking-mother says, Miami never closes."

The cabbie grinned back at him.  "Still, they gotta have stories to tell."

"Them and me both.  I'm a stripper."  The cabbie gaped so he smirked.  "I go by Darkness down there."

"Wow.  I heard a few guys talking about you."  He turned back around and went since the car in front of him waiting to merge into traffic had went.  They were soon at the hotel and Xander paid him, giving him a nice tip.  "Thanks, man.  Go right through the doors."

"Thank you.  It's nice to find honest cabbies."  He grinned at that and Xander walked inside, going to the check-in desk.  "Hi, I got sent tickets and a reservation."

"Name?"

"Xander Harris."  She checked and frowned.  "Try Darkness."

"First or last?"

"Possibly only but it could be in any combination with that or the last name Speedle."

A familiar hand came down on his back, making him jump.  "What are you doing here?" Eric asked smugly.  Xander handed him the email directions and his tickets.  "Who...?"

"Not a clue, man."  He looked at the receptionist, who was filling out the card.  "Which was it under?"

"Darkness Speedle."  She handed it and the card key over.  "Already paid for and the computer says you have a message."  She walked off to do that, coming back with it.  "There you go, sir.  Enjoy your stay."  She smiled at Eric.  "He yours?"

"One of my buddy's sons."  He handed the tickets and stuff back, following Xander to his room.  Then he took the message from him.  "One of your usual clients," he said, waving it, giving him a look.

"Not my fault," he complained.  "It was signed Tim."  He took it and read over the instructions.  "Good thing I brought my own clothes.  Out, Eric.  I've got to rest."  Eric snorted but left to find the others and tell them.  Xander looked up.  "Okay.  Whatever you want."  He shrugged and unpacked the interior bag.  He had thought about doing an open pole night out here just to see what playing in the highest of high leagues was like.  Apparently someone else was looking forward to it too.  He got himself stretched out and ready, leaving the majority of his gear on the bed so he could take his bag in.  He grabbed his card key, put the wallet in the safe after taking out a hundred bucks, and headed for the club in the new message.  He got there and walked in after showing it to the door guard.  "Hi.  I was told to appear here tonight?" he told the bartender, handing it over to him as well.

"Boss!" he called after glancing it over.  He handed it to him.  "Where do you usually work?"

"Gay boy city.  South Beach," he offered with a grin.  He looked at the manager.  "I thought my pseudo-dad wanted me in town."  He shrugged. "But I was thinking about finding an open pole night in one of the top clubs."

"You any good?"

"I work for Jack at Bravado.  I'm Darkness."  The man moaned at that so he grinned.  "I get that a lot.  I only brought the one outfit with me since I wasn't really planning on working out here this weekend.  Are there any restrictions on music or anything?"

"Our DJ can play whatever he can find in the system," he offered, leading him that way.  He had heard Jack brag about his boy.  "You have any strange pre-dance rituals?"

"Maple syrup and a twenty-ounce of coke classic."  The guy looked at him.  "I don't drink, sorry.  My clients usually get me this cranberry slushie icy thing.  Tastes really good and even if it had the vodka it's supposed to he couldn't smell it."

"Okay.  I'll tell the bartender you do virgin."  He smiled at the DJ as he stood up.  "This is Jacks' boy Darkness.  He got sent out here to help us tonight."

"Cool.  What's your tunes of choice?"

Xander looked at the machine, then pointed.  "May I browse? I only brought stuff to listen to on the plane and I tend to dance to goth or jazz."

"Sure."  He got out of the way, letting him pick out four songs.  "Ooh, you do long sets?"

"I do very long sets," he offered with a grin.  "I'm in a mellow mood."  He looked at the boss.  "Any rules about shoes on stage?"

"We'd prefer if you wear 'em," he offered.  "Otherwise no.  You go barefoot on stage?"

"Three of my acts I do," he admitted with a shy grin.  He felt a shiver go up his spine and recognized that feeling.  "Wow.  I didn't realize I was that close to my former home."  He looked at him. "How far are we from LA?"

"Few hours, an hour by plane.  You from there?"

"Just outside.  A few hours towards the desert."  He shrugged. "I haven't done this set often but with what I brought with me, it'll go best.  When do I go on?"

"Two hours good?"

"Fine with me.  Do I hang here?"

"If you want.  You and the boys can trade stupid client stories and you can raid the lost and found too."  Xander grinned at that.  "I hope you perform like you do out there, Darkness."

"Xander."  He shook his hand.  "Dressing area?  And lost and found.  I'm always looking for new stuff."  The manager smiled and walked him that way, letting the DJ arrange his system for the guy.

***

Eric found Speed later that day, finally.  "Someone sent your son airfare and instructions to go to a higher end club on the strip."  Speed choked on his drink, looking at him.  "Didn't mean to time it, sorry, Speed."

"Yes, you did," he warned.  "Where is my errant offspring?"

"He's not answering his room phone so I guess he already left.  I know which club so we can go lurk if you want."

"We probably should," he agreed, looking around.  "There's Aiden and Danny.  Tell them.  I'll find Horatio."  They split up and he found his boss chatting with Gil Grissom and Mac Taylor.  "Bad news," he sighed, looking at Horatio.

"Someone sent your son airfare so he could dance out here?" he guessed.

"At what rank do you get given the ESP so I can stop before I get there?  Eric saw him.  He's already left.  I'm hoping for lack of a rescue mission tonight."

"Your son hasn't found a situation he couldn't get out of yet," Mac said patiently.  "Is he still normal after the hypnosis?"

Speed moaned.  "Worse.  My boy is worse now."  He shook his head and smiled at Gil.  "Would you like to come watch my kinda-son strip and see if you can figure out how he draws serial killers?"

"I'm not much for strippers, but I'm wondering if Lady Heather will be there," he mused.  "She often goes to see new talent."

Eric came jogging up with Aiden strolling and chatting behind him. "It's halfway across the city, Speed.  We gotta go.  H?  Coming?"

"I'm not sure I can handle another show of his."  He finished his drink.  "Mac, I'll be back later.  Gil, breakfast?"

"Of course."  He smiled.  "Don't worry, if something happens it'll be my shift that'll be called in."

"Good to know.  Tell Catherine I said hello and that I'll be back soon."  He walked off with his guys.  "Who sent him the airfare?" he asked quietly.

"He said the first email was signed Tim," Eric told him. "He didn't print that page.  I only got page one of two handed to me.  The note that was left at reception wasn't signed."  He grabbed Aiden's arm and she smiled at her conversation partner before walking out with them.  "He's in under Darkness Speedle if it matters," he offered when they got into the cab."

"I carried him in earlier, nice guy," the cabbie offered.  He grinned at them. "Which club is he at?  He didn't think he'd be stripping this weekend."

Everyone looked at Eric, who pulled out the piece of paper he had made notes on and handed it over.  "That's what I remember from the second note."

"That's fine. It's a decent club.  Fairly high end."  He got them started and looked back. "Usually they require a suit and tie, but, Miss, you could probably get in anyway."  He merged with traffic and took off.  "When is he going on?  Their shows usually start around eight."

"Not a clue," Eric admitted.  "It wasn't in the note as I remember it."  He looked at Horatio.  "His boss?"

"Or one of his clients who thought he needed to be here," Aiden suggested.

"Possibly it's one trying to figure out why he draws who he does," Tim complained.  "This many CSIs in the city?  Someone's bound to have an idea."  That got some laughs.  "Have we had others of us heading that way?"

"A few.  One of the local guys that didn't want to go to the convention.  He said he was having a bad week and having to make nice would only make it worse."  He shrugged.  "So, he any good?"

"One night he made tuition for the whole year," Speed said dryly.  The cabbie whistled.  "That's why I'm sending him to college."

"Yeah, but a young guy's gotta play while he's young," the cabbie offered, puling up in front of the club.  "Here ya go."  They got out and paid him, then headed inside.  They each picked their preferred watching spot.  Horatio got a dark corner table by himself so he could watch the crowd as much as he did the boy, hoping he could figure out which of his regulars had sent him the ticket and instructions.  Speed and Danny got closer to the stage.  Eric and Aiden sat together against the wall, able to watch Xander and the door.  They were fully covered in case something happened.  "Poor guys.  If he's makin' that much money, let him until he's too sore ta work and then make him go ta school," he said quietly.  "Makes more sense to me."  He called his dispatcher, telling her he was clear and where.  Then he went back to the hotel.

***

Mac Taylor walked back over to join Gil Grissom at his table, smiling at him.  "Hey."

"Welcome.  What's the problem with this son?"

"Oh, Xander," he sighed.  He looked around and waved at Don, making him come over.  "He wants to know why a posse went after Xander."

Don snorted and sat down, turning the chair around to sit backwards in it.  "Xander.  How do you describe a Xander?"  He and Mac shared a look, then looked at the local CSI boss.  "Xander is... from Sunnydale first of all."

"California?"

"Yeah, a few hours from here," Mac agreed, sipping his coffee.  "Xander's town has a small survival problem and he's had to fight a bit often to make sure he and others survived."

"Why?" Gil asked.

"Vampires," Don told him.  Gil giggled.  "Seriously.  Not the goth kids."  He pointed at someone at the bar.  "Things like her."

Gil looked, then got up and went to talk to her.  "Hello."  She smiled at him.  "Are you a criminalist too?" he asked politely, leading her back to the table.  "This is Don and Mac from New York's crime lab."

She smiled at them and sat down.  "Hello."

Don smirked at her.  "I know Harris, from Sunnydale."  She hissed. "Just prove it to him and don't eat anyone here this weekend, 'kay?"  She nodded and glanced around before vamping out.  Gil blinked and reached over to test the new ridges. "Like we said, Xander's fought a few different wars with her kind."

She nodded.  "He's infamous among our lines."  She changed back and swatted at Gil's hand.  "Why is he here?"

"His dad and mom are here."

"The Harris'?" she asked, snorted dryly.  "Why would we care?"

"Speed and Aiden," Mac told her.  She moaned and shook her head.   "Disappear. He's off stripping."  She nodded and hurried off.  Mac looked at Gil.  "Sorry, proof is always easiest."  He took another drink of his coffee and waved a waitress over for a refill.  She brought them more coffee and accepted a tip from Don with a wink, heading back to her rounds.  "So, anyway, Xander's fought for at least four years against things like that."

"But Xander's got this little problem," Don continued.  "He seems to draw some very bad people to him.  For some reason, people want to kill Xander, even if they've only seen him strip."

Mac nodded.  "You'd think they'd want to sleep with him instead but no, serial killers seem to like Xander a lot.  He's caught a few for us."

Gil Grissom shook his head.  "Do we know why?"

"No one knows why, it just happens a lot," Don offered. "We hate that it does, but it happens a lot.  He makes a hell of a lot of money drawing the deranged, but it happens a lot."

Mac nodded.  "We've bagged three major serial killers thanks to him.  One who was caught in Montreal, and two that went to Miami to be with him."  He fixed his coffee the way he wanted and took a drink.  "We should probably talk to Horatio," Mac noted.

"Why?" Don asked.  "You think he's got another already?"

"I think it's probably past the due date on one, but no.  I noticed a few things.  Did you see that Xander had a crush on Horatio?"

"Yeah," Don admitted dryly, smirking at him.  "Doesn't mean he reciprocates."

"No, but I don't think Horatio is going to notice this and I'd rather him be aware and able to let Xander down gently instead of upsetting him.  Who knows what'll take the kid if he upsets him and makes him cry.  Or if they'd go after Horatio for hurting him."

"Point," Don admitted. "I guess you could. I doubt he'd want that talk coming from me."

"True."  He looked at Gil.  "Are you all right?"

"Fine," he admitted, shaking his thoughts off.  "How many of them are there?"

"Hundreds, but they're not spreading as fast as they could.  They've got their own handlers of their evil badness," Don assured him, taking a drink.  "She was probably here to have a vacation too."

Gil looked at him.  "I'm going to go lay down."

"Sorry, Gil."

"Not a problem, Mac.  I live to learn, I just have to consider the implications of this being real.  I wonder if Greg knows," he mused as he walked off.  "Greg knows many strange things so maybe he does."

Don and Mac shared a look.  "Danny went with the group," he offered.

"Maybe Danny will take over if Horatio doesn't take Xander.  They seem like they could make a cute couple."

"Mac, then we'd have to have Xander in New York with us."  Mac let out a small moan at that.  "Not that I'm complaining about the work, it'd be easier to catch the sickos with him around, but still."

"Point," he agreed, finishing his coffee and heading for the bar.  He needed to get the mental image of Xander in New York out of his mind before it stuck and he found a reason to invite him up to draw more of their population of evil so they could catch them.

Don shook his head and finished his drink.  He'd check on the kid later.  After all, he was like his kid brother.

***

Xander strutted out to his opening number, slowly sauntering, head down to the jazz music.  He looked up, catching someone's eye, then moved closer, squatting down in front of her to tease her lips with his fingertip.  She smiled and stole a kiss but he backed off with a wicked smirk, moving on to a few others until the music changed.  Then he started to get into it.  A bit more funky and sensual, slowly undoing the button-up shirt.  Ever so slowly peeling it off and then tossing it back toward the stage entrance.  He had the crowd in his hand, either that or they were bored, and he felt the same shiver of magic from earlier.  His hellmouth was calling to him.  He moaned and tipped his head back, leaning on the pole as he sank down, letting it all go.  The magic cried out to his body and it filled him, then he started back into his dancing, acting like he was stepping over a former lover and going to entice a new one.  The women in front of him moaned and he swayed slowly, his arms over his head, as he drew her in.  Another one held up a larger bill and he winked at her, but went to the next one, letting her stick it in his g-string while he undid his pants button.  She shivered and he licked his lips and quirked one eyebrow up.  She moaned and bounced so he moved on, teasing the next one.  She shivered and paid him, so he let her undo his zipper for him.

The song changed and he danced back to the nearest pole, dancing with it, making love to it like he was on top.  A long lick up it and then a heated look at his bitches.  The magic was making him feel excellent and giddy, it was like the best orgasm ever and it was long lasting.  He got his pants off and the women all moaned so he 'toweled off' with them, tossing them over his shoulder.  He went back to his bitches and they were more than happy to help him.  He glanced at the manager, who nodded for him to go all the way.  He snapped the side of his g-string and they all gasped and grabbed so he danced back, smirking at them and wiggling a finger.  He danced through his last song with the g-string snapped but not off, making them howl because they only got glimpses of his cock as the fabric rubbed across his hardness.  His tips were gathered for him and he bowed, then blew a kiss to one particularly pretty girl in the audience.  He winked at the one who had done his zipper as he strolled past her and off the stage.

The manager came back and smirked at him.  "Nice job.  Can you do another?"

"I'm used to being one of the usual dancers at mine," he admitted with a shy grin.  "I haven't danced in front of women in a while though."

He laughed.  "I'm not surprised dancing in South Beach.  Got any picks?"

"Oohh, if I had stuff to go goth I have a killer one.  My dad hasn't even seen this one," he admitted, shivering and bitting his lip.  "But damn it, I need my leathers and stuff.  Let me step outside to get some air for a minute?"  His clothes were handed off and he walked outside, going to take in big gulps of air from the dingy alleyway.  He concentrated on what little magic he had, pleading with the hellmouth to bring this one outfit and two other things in.  They landed on his head and he grinned. "Thank you, Sunnydale.  Love ya, babe, but I still live in Miami.  You can beg and plead though," he whispered, going inside to change.  He handed the DJ that CD and winked at him.  "Whenever I'm up next."

"Sure.  You going to do drinks?"

"I probably should," he agreed happily, glancing at the manager, who nodded for him to get out there.  He walked out, getting his coke and strolled over to where his bitches were.  They crowded around him and bought him whatever he wanted.  One was kinda quiet so he gave her his best shy boy grin.  "Are you nervous?"

"You're just so...animalistic," she said, tipping her head to the side.  Her pigtails swayed a bit. "How do you do that?"

"I don't know. All I know is that it brings in psychos like you wouldn't believe. I'm up to ten stalkers now."  He saluted them with his glass.  "So, are any of you guys in for the CSI convention?  My pseudo-parents are both CSIs.  Someone paid my airfare so I could do this show and hang out with them."  He took a sip.

"Which one's your dad?" one asked.

"Tim Speedle from Miami, and Aiden Burns is my pseudo mom, she's in Seattle now but she was in New York."  He grinned at the guy on stage. "He's good."  He tossed a few fives at him and the women crowding the stage tossed more.  He winked at the guy, getting one back, then grinned at his women.  "I work in South Beach. I haven't danced for women in quite a while."

"Do you prefer women?" the ponytailed one asked.

He nodded.  "As far as I know.  I haven't given it much thought.  So far I've had the self- esteem destroying cheerleader, the go-all-night slut who tried to kill me.  I had to call someone to come get me before she actually did kill me on my prom night, and a few who were lesser threats but not by much."  They all stared so he grinned.  "We don't know how I do it but I draw them.  None of you are dangerous, right?" he asked with a small pout.

"No," most of them assured him.

The ponytailed one grinned and winked. "That depends on what you consider dangerous, Darkness."

He kissed her on the cheek.  "Watch my other set and see, baby girl."  She shivered and he got up, strolling back there.  The manager had given him the look so he knew it was soon.  He got back there and changed shirts.  He barely made it out to his intro music, walking out there, his eyes steamy as some of his bitches squealed.  They recognized the music.  He blew a kiss to their table then rolled his head around and focused his gaze on someone closer, someone he knew.  Danny.  He blew a kiss at him too, then got back into the music, the magic still pumping through him, making him almost glow to those watching.  He danced and showed it, flashing little bits of skin while being the dangerous guy he was.  His earrings were dangling, swaying counterpoint to his rhythm.  He was sex personified.  He was power and lust, drawing them closer.

The stage got crowded and he glanced at the DJ, telling him silently to go ahead and play an extra song.  He got a nod and went back to it, his eyes boring into the eyes of his admirers, daring them to step up and be the one he would seduce and take home.  He got down to his g-string, a leather one with a single diamond stud, just like his earring was at the top, holding down the dangling chain.  He moved closer to the ponytailed one and stared her down, making her squeal and bounce, and him grin and smirk, then sway closer.  She moaned and stuffed his g-string with a paper-wrapped bill then winked and ran off.  He finished his set just as clothed and the guards had to gather a lot more this time.  He strolled into the back and grinned at the manager, who hugged him.  "Anything else?"

"No, go enjoy that girl.  She looked like she understood."

Xander grinned and put back on his other clothes, heading out the back door once he had his CD.  Out there he got yelled at.

"I swear to Fucking God!"

"Hi, mom."

"Xander, baby," she said, smacking him on the cheek.  "Are you trying to get kidnaped?"

"I love you, but I've got a date."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "Come get me for breakfast."  He jogged off, catching a cab before she could quit being stunned.  He got back to the hotel and found her waiting on him, picking up her hand and kissing the back of it.  "You mentioned music I should hear, beautiful darkness of purity?"

She shivered and nodded.  "I have *just* the best thing for you to dance too.  Come on."  She drug him toward the elevator, babbling happily about her music collection.  He bounced along with her, nodding along, chatting with her.  At least until the hand hit the back of his neck and pinched. "Ow!"  He ducked, grabbed the wrist and swung the guy into the wall.  "Oh, hey, Don."  He grinned at him.  "We're talking music."  He blew a kiss.  "Have mom help me get up for breakfast."  He followed her into the elevator, grinning at her.  "I don't usually pick up the customers," he admitted.

"That's okay, you're the first stripper who danced to music I knew the name and words to," she said happily.  "It's something I can understand."  She drug him into her room, kicking the door shut.  "So, where you from?"

"Sunnydale," he said happily.  "By the way, my name's Xander."

"Mine's Abby."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "I know this isn't your thing."

He pulled her closer and kissed her deeply.  "Yeah, but you understand and you're not going to be a psycho stalker.  I can tell."  She giggled and kissed him back.  He moved them closer and put his best efforts into it for her, making her moan and clutch his arms because he was swaying some to the music he could hear in his head.  She gulped air when he let her come up and smiled.  "Sorry swimmer's breath control."  He dove back in, his hands kneading her back and butt, blatantly going for a grope.  It was so nice, she was just the right sort of soft and squishy in the perfect spots.  It gave him great handholds he'd be using again later.  He pulled back and tipped her chin up.  "I'll leave it up to you, Abby.  How far do you want me to go tonight? Do you want me to make you howl and scream like a she-wolf in heat or not?" he whispered in her ear.

"I'm not usually a screamer," she said, nipping his neck.  "Biter I'll admit to."

He moaned and tipped his head off to the side. "Baby vamp, you can bite all you like.  Biting's fine and I take tests every other month. My last one was clean just a week ago."  She moaned at that and nipped him harder this time.  "Whatever you want, baby."

She sat on the bed and pulled off her t-shirt, showing her braless state.  "What's your kink, Darkness?"

He smirked.  "Oral sex."  He pulled off his shirt, giving her the extra special private show he usually only gave in privates with people who paid him a hell of a lot to drool on him.  She moaned and pulled him down to straddle her lap, kissing him.   "Are you clean?"

"Very," she moaned and he nipped her neck, making her shiver. "You do that very well."

"I had a vampire teacher," he promised with a smile.  She smirked.  "I'm from near LA."

"No way."

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm from Sunnydale."  He kissed her again, taking control of her mouth, mind, and body.  He got her onto her back and pulled off her skirt and boots, leaving her panties for now.  He got down to his own g-string and left it there while he touched and explored.  She wiggled and kicked and squealed as he teased and tasted her, hands clutching the bedspread, eyes squeezed tightly shut.  He smiled at her, moving lower to taste her over her panties.  She squealed and arched up, bucking under his teeth and tongue. "Want more?"

"Just don't rip those, they were a present," she panted.

"If that's what you want."  He sat up and slid them off her, tossing them onto the dresser.  He looked at her then took off his g-string, watching her swallow.  "Later for that, baby.  Should I even try to find a dental dam?"

"No, hell no!  It's not as good with latex."  He smiled and laid back down, kissing her while one finger teased and found the bigger hot spots for her.  Then he slowly made his way back down, stopping to play with the tempting nipples and the little bump of a belly.  He finally made it down to where she wanted and she screamed, just let out a wail of pleasure, which made him one happy boy.  "More!" she demanded.

"Your wish and all that, m'lady."  He went back to it, making her shiver, shake, and moan, bucking up and forward whenever his tongue moved outside of a hotspot to get it back there.  He chuckled into her, making her howl when his tongue followed.  Back and forth, teasing all the minor spots and the bigger ones randomly, making her come.  She panted, relaxing, at least until he cleaned her up and kept going.  He chuckled again and dove back in, getting his tongue deeper this time.  When it wasn't his tongue, it was two fingers teasing her little hot spot up by her cervix.  He heard her start to chant and plead for more so he went back to the simple pleasures, nibbling and sucking on her clit, making her go off again until she calmed down.  He could keep going all night like this.

After her third one, Abby pulled him up to kiss him.  "In me, Xander. Now, I need it. I need that final one."  He slid into her, making her wrap herself around him.  He was going slowly, just rocking her gently for now, when the door burst inward. He pulled her gun from under her pillow and pointed it at the older man and the younger one standing there.  "Unless you're her daddy, she's busy."

"They're my coworkers," she said, taking the gun.  "You shouldn't do that, they might've shot you."

"Yeah, and you," he said, leaning down to kiss her and get back to what he had been doing, which made her moan.  "I don't care if you two watch.  I work in South Beach and I've seen plenty of gay boy sex."  He leaned down to nip her neck, making her arch up and shiver.  "Easy, beauteous one, I've got you," he whispered in her ear.  "If they wanna watch they think you're beautiful.  Either that or me."  She pinched him and he grinned, moving down to get her back into the mood.  Not that he minded, this was his favorite part of being with a woman, oral sex.  As soon as his tongue hit her clit, she was screaming happily and thrashing and he just let her have whatever she wanted.  This was the part that he enjoyed most about sex with women, making them scream and writhe. He didn't care if someone watched her get off or not.  She came against his tongue and he kept going, making her reach whole new octaves.  Then he surged up and replanted himself, making her squeal and claw his back, but it was good.  He finally let himself come after she had one last one.  He panted in her ear, hugging her.  "I hope I brought you joy."

"Oh, you did," she said hoarsely.  "I can't believe they watched. Hi, Gibbs.  Hi, Tony."  She waved weakly, making him laugh.

He kissed her neck again, making her shiver.  "I should go," he whispered in her ear.  She nodded.  He slid out of the bed and found his clothes, looking at the men still standing there.  "Where I come from, you either knock or you get hurt.  I'm sorry as hell I pulled her gun, let's be thankful I have *really* good reflexes. Okay?"  He walked out, heading down to his room with the list of new music he should check out.  He had to go back for his bag and the younger guy tossed it at him.  "Thank you."

"How much do you make?"

"I don't have sex for money, dear.  I have sex for fun.  I take off my clothes for money."  He strolled off, whistling.  He made it back to his room and found Speed laying in there.  "Shouldn't you be with some cute, yet geeky girl who understands you when you babble?"  Speed snored so he stripped off and showered before climbing in next to him.  He could hear the yelling from down the hall moving closer and got up, opening the door to smile at her.  He nodded and she walked in, letting him slam the door in the old guy's face.  "He's never had someone he picked up in a bar?"

"No," she said.  "He's too uptight!" she yelled.  The other guy on the bed snored and turned over.  "Oh, um, boyfriend?"

"No, pseudo father.  Timmy!"  Speed woke up.  "Dear, I love you but this fair damsel needs a room for tonight.  Can you maybe go home?"  Speed glared at him.  "She appreciated my music.  You can easily got commiserate with the old guy out there who's yelling."  Tim got up and glared at him.  "Yes, I know, breakfast and us are going to be a fight."  Tim walked out and slammed the door.  He grinned at her and waved at the bed. "Do you want left, right, or center?  I promise I will keep something on."

"Center's fine.  I like to cuddle.  Gibbs will be fine by the morning."

Tim looked at the guys out there.  "Don't ask.  Xander draws the naughty and bad to him.  If she's like that, she's a new fan.  It's willing and free in his case.  He hasn't had any in months.  Forgive my boy Xander, he's horny and she's cute," he finished in his most sarcastic and dry voice.

"He pulled a gun on us," the younger guy complained.

"Yeah, Xander's real protective.  It's the sorta guy he is.  He damn near knifed me one time when I got close enough to shake him."  He nodded at Mac as he came up the hall.  "He pulled a gun on them when they broke in on him having sex."

"He's got some combat trauma from his past life," Mac agreed.  "He almost got Don by the elevators earlier for grabbing him."

"He got me by the back of the neck, he's lucky I didn't have a stake," Xander called.  "Now, I've worn this lovely one into needing a nap and you're loud!"  Something thumped against the door.  "Go away!"

"Fine, sorry, Xander," Mac called, walking the agents off.  "Come on, let's talk about Xander."

"Is he a paid escort?"

"No, he gets his teasing fix in by stripping," Mac assured them.  "As far as I've heard he hasn't had anyone in months, if not nearly a year."  Tim nodded and grunted behind him. "You can go to bed, Tim."

"Xander might as well be my kid."  He looked at the agents, who didn't look impressed.  "My room, Mac.  I pulled his records with me in case something happened and it came back to haunt us."  Mac nodded and headed for the block of rooms the Miami crew had.  "How was the show?"

"I didn't go.  Didn't you?"

"Yeah, but they didn't want to let me in.  Hey, Don," he called when he saw him come off the elevator.  "He's sorry."

"Yeah, fine," he said, smirking at him. "Your boy needs a leash holder."

"My boy is a bad tease," he agreed.  "He pulled a gun on them when they came in to save their friend from Xander's lust."

"I still want to know what he did with his tongue," the younger guy, Tony, complained.

"Don't ask," Don and Speed told him together.

Don looked at them.  "Xander's a unique case.  Really, really unique."

"An understatement?" Mac teased, letting Tim open his door.  They walked inside and Speed found the folder, handing it to the agents.  "The edited version."

"What's the unedited version?" the older guy asked.

"I can't get it and he won't tell me.  That's what I know," Tim told him.  "From his last two years in Sunnydale and then his sudden trip to Montreal."

Tony sat down to read it, snatching it from the senior agent's hand.  "What the hell?" he asked, looking at the cops.  "That's...."

Gibbs took it back with a growl, then looked at the first picture, then at Tim.  "He was where?"

"Sunnydale."

"How do you know about that stuff, boss?"

"Classified," he said flatly.  "Don't ask."

Mac smirked.  "It's kinda humorous.  He was possessed at one point in time by a PFC, Infantry, Army version."

Gibbs handed it back.  "Is he straight?"

"Most of the time," Mac agreed.  "Some combat trauma.  Startling him is always a very bad idea, especially since he draws trouble."

"Serial killers, stalkers, psychos who're just lonely," Don added dryly.  He looked at Tim, who was asleep again.  "Why is he here?" he asked Mac.

"Someone sent him tickets and an invitation to dance locally," Mac said with a smirk.  "Eric spotted him and they went."

"I hope they taped this one," Don joked.  "Frank's wife would like that."  Mac chuckled and nodded.

"So he's clean, he's not using drugs, nothing like that?" Tony demanded.  Mac looked at him.  "We worry about Abby.  She can draw some trouble herself."

"Xander's never used drugs that we know of, especially since he started stripping.  He doesn't drink, they buy him these cranberry slushy things," Don assured him.  "He told me before he goes on he drinks a coke with maple syrup."  Mac and Tony both grimaced at that.  "It works for him.  Xander's fairly unique.  Thankfully.  If there were more, we'd be driven nuts tryin' ta save 'em all."

"I'm just glad Horatio has to deal with his issues instead of us," Mac noted dryly.  Speed snorted so he looked at him.  They were waking the poor guy up.  "We have more people with severe mental issues than you guys do."

"I doubt it.  Yours come down to play with us."  He flipped into his side.  "Put the folder away before you leave.  Let me sleep. I've got a son to chew out in the morning."

"Sure," Mac agreed.  "Gentlemen?"

"Fine," Gibbs agreed.  He handed the folder back and nodded Tony to follow him.  "He's not a danger to Abby.  He'll protect her all weekend if I'm reading him right."

"If you're sure, boss.  He still looks like a player to me."

"He doesn't get enough for that," Don noted, walking out.  He groaned and patted himself but Mac had already closed the door.  "No key."

Mac grinned.  "I'll offer you the other half of my bed, but I cuddle."

"No thanks.  You're not built right for my tastes."  He headed to Xander's room, tapping gently.  "Xander?"  He got up and answered it, giving him a dirty look.  "Can you break into hotel rooms?"

"Yes," Abby called, getting up.  She came out to follow him to his room.  Then she patted him on the cheek.  "You're cute.  Are the other two fussy people okay?"

"They wandered off pouting since you're not with them."

"You're sweet but they work with me.  Gibbs is a terror and Tony's a playboy.  Xander's sweet."

"He is," Don agreed with a grin. "But if you hurt him, we get ta hurt you."  She giggled and hugged him.  "You sure you can stay with him?"

"Yeah, I'm hoping for that tongue thing again.  I almost *died* from his tongue thing."  She skipped off, going back to her snuggling.  It was one of her favorite things.

Don watched her go.  "I need ta find me one of those.  Sweet and decent."  He got into his room and found his wallet and card key, then closed the door.  "We need more of those in New York."

***

Speed tapped on the door for the second time, giving his son a look when he opened the door with a yawn.  "You wanted to eat breakfast?"

"Please."  He closed the door and came back a minute later, dressed and face damp from some water.  "Abby, love, I'm going to breakfast.  Join us when you get out," he called into the bathroom.  He grabbed his keys and wallet, making sure he had his card key.  Then he followed them down to the breakfast buffet.  He handed Tim the messages with a nudge.  "I'm going back tonight to get my fees."

"I heard it was good," Don said as he joined them.  "Danny's still drooling."  He sat down, looking at him.  "You pulled a gun on a federal agent?" he mouthed.

"He broke into the room while I was having sex!"

Don sighed and shook his head.  "They're being protective of their girl."

"That works for me, but they could've knocked," he noted dryly.  He stood up and smiled as Abby skipped over, kissing her gently on the forehead.  "Abby, this is my pseudo-father Tim Speedle, his coworkers Eric Delko and Horatio Caine.  All from Miami.  The others are Mac Taylor and Don Flack from New York."

"Hi."  She smiled and waved.  "I'm forensics for NCIS, DC."  They grinned and waved so she pulled over a chair, grinning at Xander.  "Would you move home with me?"  He shook his head. "Are you sure?  I'd let you continue to strip if you wanted."

"No, sorry.  Tim wants me in college.  I wish I could."  He kissed the back of her hand with a grin for the guys coming up.  "Look it's the overprotective people who can't knock," he said sarcastically and loudly.

"Knocking is for cops, we're Feds," Tony said dryly, glaring at him.  "Abby, would you like to have breakfast with us?"

She looked at them, then at the others.

"You'll have us in a few seminars," Mac assured her.  She nodded and gave hugs all around, kissing Xander hard enough to make him moan, then skipped off with her coworkers. "She's some lady, Xander."

"She's sweet," Don told him, punching him on the arm.

"She is," Xander agreed, grinning at him. "See, I can meet normal, nice people."

"Yeah, it's a fluke since she's the first," Don taunted back. "Your track record speaks for itself."  Abby giggled and hugged him around the neck.  "He does a lot of drawing strange and mentally challenged people.  It's nice that he got you."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "I'm not that nice.  But it's nice of you to say that.  Can I have my purse, Xander?"  He handed it over and she winked.  "Going back tonight?"

"Only to pick up stuff."

"Shoot.  I was going to blow my last paycheck on you."

"Don't worry about it, Abby.  You don't have to pay."  She blushed and danced back to her buddies.  He grinned at Don.  "She is very nice and sweet and she gave me great ideas for some new music."

Danny stumbled over, glaring at him.  "You made me have funny dreams all night."  He sat down and glared at everyone else.  "Did anyone else get those?"

"I had a few informative ones," Eric said dryly.

"I'm fairly happy they kept me out," Speed noted, sipping his coffee.  "We should get food."  They all headed up to get breakfast, coming back to eat.  He looked at his son.  "Got any idea who sent you?"

Xander shook his head. "Nope."  He dug into his eggs, eating heartily. "I haven't done that one in a long time.  Since the first club."  He ate another bite. "I've gotta do that in my home club soon."

Don shook his head.  "Remember to send people with handcuffs," Danny complained, frowning at Xander. "I saw you naked and wiggling all night."

"Sorry," Xander said, shrugging a bit.  "Kinda.  It's my job, Danny."

"Yeah," he snorted.  "Horatio, were you there?"

"I was," he admitted, looking at Xander.  "It was a nice job, Xander."

"The hyena was screaming 'make more pack members'," he admitted.  "It was kinda fun to do that."  He grinned at them.  "Does this mean someone who's bored is going with me to pick up my check and tips?"  He smiled at the woman walking past the table who winked at him but went back to eating.

Everyone at the table nodded.  There was no way Xander was going to be allowed out alone.

"I'm here for that weapons workshop," Don admitted.  "But I'm free this afternoon."

"As am I," Horatio admitted.  "Unless I really want to go to the AV lecture."  He looked at Don, then at Xander.  "Both of us?"

"It might take that much force," he agreed.  "How honest is that owner?"

"He knows Jack," Xander admitted.  "If I have a problem, I can call Jack and have him blacklisted."  They looked at him.  "You don't do that to your talent, even the visiting ones.  It earns you a bad name and no one wants to work for you."  That got some nods.  Xander grinned at them all.  "I don't need two bodyguards.  Really."

"Shut up, Xander," Don said dryly, shaking his head as he cut into his steak.  "You need more than us usually."  He ate a bite.

"Before you get another one," Danny agreed.  "With last night, *I* nearly became one of your stalkers."

"Should you, I'd have to fire you," Mac reminded him.  "Unless you married him and kept him out of trouble, Danny."

Don choked, looking at him.  "That's a bad thought," he wheezed.

Xander reached over and clapped him on the back a few times.  "At least he didn't suggest you could protect me from Danny."

"With the way those two Feds were complaining about how you had fun, it might take both of them to keep you amused," Mac offered.  Horatio and Speed choked at that while Danny and Don just shook their heads and Eric giggled.  "What did you do to her?"

"All she said was a tongue thing," Don told him.

"Sue me, I'm an oral guy," Xander defended with a small blush.  "I don't get complaints."  He stuffed his mouth and kept stuffing it until his plate was empty and then he got up to get more food.

"Horatio, you and me?" Don asked.  Horatio nodded as he sipped his coffee.  "Good idea.  You realize he's doin' it to drive us nuts, right?"

"He's not," Horatio said, looking around.  Xander was chatting with someone at the breakfast bar, smiling happily at them.  "Xander?" he called quietly.  Xander looked over and beamed then held up a finger and finished his discussion before coming back with a full plate.  "Someone from last night?"

"Yeah, the head of LA's labs.  Tim, did you know Angel is not only in LA now, but he's working with Cordy?"  Tim moaned and held his stomach.  "They've been causing some problems by helping solve things."  He dug in, eating happily and beaming at them every once in a while.

"Eat more, Xander, that way you get fat and quit drawing so many people to your ass," Don ordered.

"I'd only get more muscles.  I get plenty of exercise, Don," he quipped back, grinning at him.  He ate another bite.

"Yeah, running from your fan club," Eric joked, nudging him.  "She's cute."

"She is, and she's nice.  She's so far out of my usual class that I about worshiped at her feet before I began."  He paused before taking his next bite, his fork halfway in the air.  "I should probably call Audry and see if Mrs. Townsend is still okay."  He ate that bite.

"What did you do to her?" Don asked.  His stories were usually amusing and cute.  Usually.  A few had sent him for some private time with himself.

"Gave her repeated orgasms until she had a seizure," he admitted, eating another bite.

Everyone stared at him, mouths at varying stages of openness. Finally Horatio laughed.  "You are joking, right?"

"No.  I was a good boy, I called EMS for her. The last I knew she didn't have any lasting effects from it, but it's nice to check."  Everyone got up and went to get more food and coffee, sharing meaningful looks.  "Sorry.  Didn't mean to share that way."

"Bragging is bad, kid," Danny called back, sharing a look with Don.  "I didn't think that was possible."

"I thought it was one of those urban legends," Eric pouted.  "He is not getting near any of my women."

"Afraid you'll never get any again?" Speed taunted.

"No, some women don't need that much stimulation. Some of them like the gentler things. Things like dinners out and dancing."

"I've never met a woman who didn't want it to be good when it happened," Danny teased

Don paused, then smirked at him. "We get to tell Aiden."

Mac moaned and shook his head.  "Leave me out of that one please."  They nodded and planned how to get the best reaction from her on the way back to the table.  Then Aiden and Danny took Xander to his spa appointment so they could all be spoiled rotten by the man who gave them good tips on how to do what he did to others.

***

Horatio walked into the club first, taking off his sunglasses and looking at the bouncer at the bar.  "Xander?"  He came in with Don.

"Darkness!' the bartender said happily, coming over to hug him.  "Ooh, you gave us a *great* night last night.  The boss wanted to ask you to do a single show tonight."

"I don't wanna repeat so soon," he offered.  "Plus I'm not sure my dad would like it.  Mom?"  Horatio gave him an unamused look.  He grinned then at the bartender.  "In-joke at home."

"Hey, if my mom looked like him, I'd have stayed."  He went back to the office, getting the manager.  "Here he is, Darkness."

"Oh, my new favorite dancer," he said, hugging him.  "I have your check from last night," he promised.  "I did want to see if you could do a single show tonight."

"I'd have to ask my pseudo-dad.   He's here for the CSI convention."

"That's fine.  Can you call?"

Horatio stepped away to make the call.

"You have very attentive bodyguards," the manager said happily.  Don pulled his badge.  "Boyfriend?"

"I'd never keep up with him."

"He's like my big brother," Xander said happily, beaming at him. Horatio hung up so he looked at him.

"He's not happy with it since we have a dinner tonight," he offered quietly.  "That means we couldn't be here to watch over you in case something happened."

"Some of the local guys aren't going," Don admitted.  "We could bribe one of them."

Horatio nodded, calling Grissom.  "Gil, Horatio," he said quietly, walking away again.  "No, we need someone to watch over Xander tonight for a single act.  Maybe thirty minutes and make sure he leaves in one piece and without someone following him."

"Tell him we're at the club that had the spontaneous orgy last night," the manager called.

"The manager said there was a spontaneous orgy," he said quietly.  "No, Xander is Tim's adopted son and he somehow manages to draw some of the worst elements to him.  We're up to about ten serious stalkers."

Don was watching Xander's face.  "How lowball was that?" he asked.

"That depends. Are we counting the guys who come back night after night for months on end and only talked to me and only bought me drinks?"  Don considered then nodded.  "About fifty counting them.  Ten serious."

Don sighed and shook his head.  "We need to fix your stuff before you die, Xander."

"I'd love for someone to figure this out and tell me, Don. I'd love nothing better than to not draw those people who're mentally unstable.  Hell, I'd dance a polka in joy!"  Don smirked a bit at that.  "I would!"

"I'm sure you would," he agreed, giving him a clap on the arm.  "We'll get you fixed yet.  Maybe you'll date that nice Abby girl and she'll make you quit dancing."

"She said I could continue if I move with her."

"Yeah, but dating a stripper is hard.  People get jealous when they see their girl or boy friends dancing and getting others hot."

"You dated a few, Detective?"

"Two," he admitted.  "Both girls," he said at the speculative look.

"I tell you what, it was strange dancing for women last night," Xander told him.  He looked at his temporary boss.  "I'll need to shop."  His check was gotten and handed over.  "Thank you."  He looked then nodded, looking pleased before he tucked it into his wallet.  "Where's a good place to get it cashed?"

"There's a good place up the street," the bouncer offered. "Some of our guys go there."  Xander grinned at him.   "It's a cheaper fee and they won't care that you're not local.  Just tell 'em you're in town for a convention."

Xander grinned again.  "Thank you."  He looked at Horatio as he came back.  "Am I on?"

"You are.  Two of Grissom's guys will be here for the time that you dance.  Then they're off for the rest of the night.  Agreed, Xander?"

"Agreed.  I'll get done and go back to the hotel after dinner."

"Good.  We'd appreciate that."

Xander hugged him.  "I'm sorry. If I had known it'd be such a problem, I wouldn't have come."

"I know," he soothed, patting him on the back.  "What are we doing?"

"Shopping," Xander said dryly.  He looked at the boss.  "Where am I going shopping?"

"Depends on what you want."

"Something I haven't done before," Xander admitted. "I've had this great idea but I haven't had the time to finish working it out and find the new music."  Horatio looked at him so he shrugged. "I haven't.  You know I don't mean to be a problem."

"I know," he soothed, letting him go.  "When we get back, we'll see if we can handle your security a bit better."  He smiled at him.  "All right?"  Xander nodded. "Don, did you want to go shopping with him?"

"Like Danny, I might turn into one of his stalkers," he teased.

Xander pinched him.  "If you are, you'd better be excellent at oral sex and teach me how to do it just as well as I do women."  Don blushed at that and nodded, backing up.  He grinned.  "I'd hate to not be as good as I am now.  After all, Tim wouldn't have a way to pick on me without more rescue stories."

Horatio looked at him.  "Should we see that ex again, we will have to complain."  Xander nodded, eyes wide.  "Good.  Are you done?"

Xander looked at the manager.  "Any restrictions?"

"Full monty or not.  Whatever music you want, however long you want.  Longer is good instead of shorter if possible.  Do whatever you want, babe.  We had some whales asking about you and clubs like mine live on their whales."

Xander nodded.  "I'll do my best to impress, sir."  He walked out with Don and Horatio around him.

"So, let's see the check," Don demanded once they were in the rental car.

"I doubt you want to," he said weakly.

"How much did you make, Xander?" Horatio asked.

"Um, nearly your salary?" he suggested hesitantly. Don gave him a long stare so he pulled it out and handed it over.  "Sorry."

"Ya know, with checks like these, you should be paying protection."  He handed it back and Xander gave him a hug over the seat.  "I'm only a little bit jealous.  Think you could teach me?" he teased.

"Sure.  You can help me practice."  He pointed at the spot.  "There please?"

"Xander, do you not have your debit card?" he asked dryly.

"Well, yeah," he said cautiously.

"Then use it, Xander, that way we can guard the check.  You can show it to Speed later."

"Okay," Xander agreed.  "I'm doubting it's going to take that much money to find what I want."

"Good."  Don gave him an odd look. "You want me to hold that for you?"

"With the way you locked your keys and wallet in your room?  I've got a room safe."

"Fine," Don agreed dryly.  "You owe us dinner."

"Sure," he agreed happily. "After the formal dinner or before?"

"After," the cops said together.

"The food is usually horrible.  If not, we can have dinner before we fly home tomorrow." Horatio nodded at that and they pulled into the store Horatio had in mind.

"Am I doing a jazz set?" Xander asked, giving him a hug.  "I can, I did my first one with a button-up shirt and jeans."

"I saw," Horatio assured him.  "It was very...arousing, but a bit odd to see you in a button- up shirt."  He looked at him.  "Shall we start here?"

"Okay.  How about at the goth shop two up?"

Horatio looked at him.  "It might scare me," he said dryly.

"You'll have fun, I promise," Xander assured him, getting out and dragging them with him.  In there he found himself two new shirts but nothing for his act.  Though he did find something for Abby and had it sent back to her room.  Then they went on.

***

Xander met his guards at the doorway and grinned, shaking their hands.  "Thank you for doing this for Horatio.  All the guys in Miami worry about me."

"Why?" the younger, blond guy asked.

"Um, ten stalkers, half serial killers," he said with a small shrug.  "It's kinda a bad habit that they like to follow me. And last night I kinda helped cause a spontaneous orgy."  The other guy, tall, dark haired, dark eyes, blinked at him.  "Sorry."  He grinned at them.  "I've got two choices of music, I still haven't decided.  Do I do something comfortable or something new that I've barely gotten to practice?"

"Do whatever will get you the most tips," the bartender called.  "You've only got twenty, Darkness.  Quit being a twittering virgin."

"Righto," he said, imitating a British accent.  He stepped up, getting his favorite drink of maple syrup and coke to take with him.  "Guys, find a seat in a corner.  Just in case it becomes desperate."  He headed back there and weighed the two CDs he had made.  Then he handed over the more comfortable one.  "We'll go with slightly slutty and 'fuck me now' music," he told the DJ, who just grinned.  "I'm not so sure the new one will work and the music's the same except for the last number.  I don't wanna disappoint."

"What's the last number look like?" the manager asked as he walked up to him.  Xander finished getting ready and pulled him into one of the private rooms to show him.  The guy nearly crawled out.  "Do that one, Darkness.  Please."  He switched the CD for the one Xander had been listening to through his headphones, then went to his private bathroom for a few moments alone with a waitress.  He wasn't sure of her name, but she was cute and still tight.

Xander's music came on and he skateboarded out, spinning around the pole, then he stopped, kicked it up, and gave the crowd a wicked smirk.  He could feel the magic coming for him again and welcomed it, letting it purr through his body.  He got into the music, getting down and funky with his board and the pole now and then.  He loved the hair sweep - where he grabbed the bar with one hand and leaned back, letting his hair drag on the floor.   It was more impressive with women but his hips were rocking against the pole.  He could hear the moans and stood up, shoving his skateboard backward and surging forward as his music changed.  His shirt came off and he danced some, enticing those nearest him.  He saw some drool and smiled at them, getting onto his knees to crawl over.  She smiled and patted him on the cheek but no tip.  He got up and went back to his dancing.  Maybe it wasn't working tonight?  He glanced at the DJ, who shrugged and changed the CD's back to the original, letting him finish off on the old one.  He came out pouting.  "It was better before."

The manager looked at him.  "It was all on credit cards, Darkness."  He led him to his office once he was redressed. "Would you like to do a different one?  Maybe that act from last night?"

"I try not to repeat immediately."  He considered it, still pouting.  "If you want, but my guards are gonna leave soon."  That got a nod and he sent a bouncer out to tell them it was okay and they could go.  Then he came back with the pitifully small stack of credit card receipts.  "I sucked tonight."

"You didn't suck and we all have bad nights," he offered.  "This is your first one?"

"Third since I started."  He pouted some more, then at the bouncer, who shivered.  "I don't know if I should even try."

"Do you have a pouty act?"  Xander nodded.  "We go more for techno and hard rock locally," he offered.  "The jazz stuff last night was nice but that was crowd specific."

"I can try my dom act, but if I'm upset and not angry I come off as 'angry kitten' instead of 'I'm going to flay you alive'.  It doesn't work as well and I get blown kisses instead of money.  The last bad night I had one of those."  He stood up.  "Let me meditate for a few minutes and see if I can cure the pouting problem."  That got a nod and he was shown to a back area where he could be alone.  He sat against the wall, closing his eyes and concentrating, arguing with the magic.  He was not some easy goofball and the hellmouth couldn't turn him into one. They argued back and forth but the hellmouth finally gave up and said 'fine, if you want to just be sex, you'll emit nothing other than sex', then blinded his mind.  Xander got up and the first thing he realized he had handed his DJ the music and had picked up his bullwhip and riding crop.  Not that he had carried them out....  But then again, they were only hours from Sunnydale.  He blacked out again, waking up on stage just as he used the bullwhip to 'capture' his lover, the pole, and pulled himself closer to it.  He felt the microphone on and smiled, he was going all out.  The magic agreed with him.  It rushed up and filled him with that familiar tingle of slightly oily darkness and lust. This time it wanted him and it was showing him how much by letting the others see its desperation and desire.

He caught one woman's eye as he left his bullwhip there and pulled his riding crop out, going over to stroke it down her cheek and tip up her chin.  She blushed at the look in his eyes.  He danced on to the next one, smirking at her easy submission.  He winked and moved back to another one, making her shiver and the very dominant person beside her give him a long look for his poaching.  He smirked and got the one on her other side, then her, marking her as his later 'bitch' and going back to the one who blushed.  "Undress me," he ordered coolly.  She stood up and undid his shirt, so he left it there with her.  He danced and swayed for her while she gripped it then he saw Abby pop up next to the stage, going over to tempt this pretty one.  She moaned so pretty for him, and for the guys behind her.  He smirked at her, using his crop to lift her chin up so he met her eyes.  "Undo me," he ordered in time with the music.  She reached up and undid his belt and button, then daringly did his zipper.  He smirked and danced off as his first song changed, then the second one came on and he pulsed with it, demanding submission.  Even the domme in the front row was reaching for her panties by the time he was done.  He didn't even have to take off his pants.

His last one came on and he kissed Abby during it, pulling her up to give her a spanking, his fingers hitting between her legs and his palm the flat of her ass.  Four spanks in all, making her moan very loudly; then he gave her a forehead shove backwards, watching as her men caught her.  And they were her men now, he had given her to them.  He moved back to the domme, making her shiver and shake as she played with herself.  "Mine," he demanded.  She whimpered at the look in his eyes and he quirked up an eyebrow.  She nodded and came.  He danced back and with a hiss of sound the whip came free, letting him turn and grab the next dancer coming out and pull him out, kissing him harshly, making him moan into the microphone.  Then he smirked at him and strolled off whistling in time with the music.  He came down off the magic high and went limp against the wall, panting harshly once the microphone was taken from him by the DJ.  "It hasn't been that good in a while," he moaned, curling up in his little corner for a bit to calm down.  The manager came back and handed him a soda.  "Clean?"

"Very."  He looked him over.  "You need that shirt back?"

"It's just a silk shirt, she can have it."  He gulped the cold soda, giving himself a stomachache but it was good, so good, after being out there.  He looked up at him.  "Better?" he asked with that same goofy grin.

"Much, but all the tips were on credit cards."  He helped him up and to the front, letting one of the bouncers get his bag.  "You do that one down there?" he asked, helping him into a seat.  All the credit card tip receipts were brought in so they could look them over, that way the guy would know he wasn't cheating him.  He could see how dangerous he was now; Jack's warning now made sense.

Xander shook his head.  "Only in Montreal.  I usually bartend in Miami anymore and only dance on special occasions and at special requests.  Or fill in.  I've only done that one once before."  He shrugged then winced.  "Ow.  Now I remember why."  The manager smiled.  "Can you make sure I go back to my hotel?"

"The little goth chick produced her ID and badge and said she's making sure of it."

"I'm going to get teased forever for that."

The manager smirked and nodded.  "Only if your bodyguards from earlier hear."  Xander nodded that they would.  "Are you thinking about moving out of Miami?  You could have a really bright future here, Darkness."

"Nope.  Dad wants me in school this spring.  January is counted as spring semester, right?"  That got a nod.  "I'm starting down there.  I'm not even sure if I'm dancing while I'm going to school.  I might cut it back to only special requests at that time."  He shrugged and winced again.  "I need a hot shower."

"I'd say.  I'll run these card receipts tonight to get you your check before you leave, and like the others that haven't come across yet, I'll send them down to Jack for you."

"Thank you."  He took his bag from the bouncer and bowed.  "It's been fun.  This is a lot different than Montreal and Miami.  If only because there's women."  That got a laugh and the bouncer escorted him out to where Abby was bouncing around outside.  "Why are you taking me back?"

"Because you'd be stolen otherwise," she pointed out. "I've never seen anything so hot!" she moaned.  He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss, then winked at her.  "Wanna go dancing tonight?"

"I need to shower and change."

"You can go sweaty, I don't mind," she assured him. "You might need a shirt."  He grinned and pulled his one from earlier out of the bag and put it on, making her drool.  "You look slightly less deadly.  Please, Xander?"

"Sure, Abby.  Let's go dancing.  Are daddy and big brother coming?"

"Yup.  Probably.  Gibbs is really paranoid that I'm going to move to the Miami PD now."  She linked his arm through hers and walked him off to their car.  "Gibbs, we're going dancing.  Can you let us off at a nice club?"

"I'm not letting you two out of my sight," he said firmly.

"Hey, none of my usual psychos have followed me from Miami," Xander complained.  "Besides, it's not like I can't handle myself, thank you."  He looked at Abby.  "Where are we heading?"

"Microcosm."

"Which is where?" Gibbs demanded since he was driving.

"South of Paris."  He nodded and headed that way, so she turned to look at Xander.  "That was SO damn hot, Xander."

He grinned.  "Thank you.  I've only done that one once before then I got to play with the fire hose my next set since there had been a, um, spontaneous orgy."

"We had table-switching orgies," she assured him with a grin.  "Your escorts were both drooling."

"They didn't go home?"

"No, they decided since they were in and still had a drink left they were good to stay for a warmup to their night off."

"I heard the younger one whine about bottling it," Tony offered, looking back at them.  "Don't make out in front of us, okay?  Abby is our buddy and we don't wanna see her that way at the moment.  We saw more than enough of her last night."

"Next time, knock," she retorted, grinning at him.  "Gibbs, left," she called.  He changed lanes and pulled up in front of the club.  "You can leave you stuff in here, Xander."  She pulled him out and inside, paying the cover. She squealed at the music and drug him out to the floor, letting him swish and sway against her, staring down into her eyes with humor and a slight smirk.

He could feel her friends staring at him and the younger one move into the crowd to be closer in case something happened.  He and Abby had a silent conversation and she looked worried but he could see that she wanted them.  She was shifting due to her wet panties.  He moved them closer to Tony and she grabbed him, pulling him between them.  Xander got his back.  "Relax," he ordered in his ear.  "She wanted you here."  That got a nod and he grinned at her over his shoulder, glancing around and giving Gibbs a silent nod closer.  That got him moving and Xander pushed him into place, dancing with him now.  "He needs someone more stable," he mouthed, then he vanished into the crowd.  He easily got his stuff out of the car and headed back to the hotel, leaving the new trio to work things out.

He knew later the two non-virgins to kinky sex would have to break in the shy Tony to male/male sex, but it would be a lot of fun for him to imagine later.  It would make his night and he knew how well Abby tasted and could only imagine what the musk flowing off the two men would taste like, since he hadn't tasted them.  He made it back to his hotel, winking at the woman behind the counter.  "Anything for me?"  She handed over a message, earning a smile.  "Thank you."  He went up to shower and change clothes.  When he came out he looked at the message and shook his head, then decided to get dressed.  He pulled out his cell and typed in a text message to Tim, grabbed his keys and wallet, then headed out.

***

Tony looked back at Gibbs, then at Abby. "Why am I in the middle?" he asked as quietly as he could.

"Because you're toy material," she assured him, leaning against his chest to tease the buttons on his shirt, making him shiver.  "Just let it go, Tony.  I know what you want."  He shook his head so she let a hand slip lower to tease his stomach, then his sides.  She found one of Gibbs' hands and drew it back with hers. "I know what you want," she assured him.  He tensed up when she pushed him back into Gibb's harder body.  "Let it go. Experience, Tony."

"I...."

"We know, DiNozzo," Gibbs assured him. "We can handle that too.  He gave her back to us."  Tony nodded so he looked at Abby, who was smirking a bit wickedly.  She let go of his hand and stepped back, starting to get sucked into the rest of the crowd.

"Oh, no," Tony said, pulling her closer and turning her so she was between them now.  "No escaping if he gave you to us.  You're ours, the same as you were before we came."  He stroked her neck, teasing a fading bite mark from last night.  "You like that?" he asked.  She nodded, leaning back into Gibbs' body for now while he moved closer.  "I think there's better things than having some stranger's tongue in you, Abby."

"I don't know.  His tongue was pretty good, Tony.  We'll have to see how good it is."  She smirked and turned around, pulling him against her back while she danced with Gibbs.  "You know I'm going to be possessive, right?"  He nodded.  "You're sure this won't violate your rules?"

"It does, but I think it's worth it."  He kissed her, hard, deep, tongues dueling, then he pulled back to smirk at her.  "Depends on how you want it, Abs."

"Oh, I want it a lot, Gibbs."  She pulled Tony closer again, letting them kiss over her shoulder.  Tony moaned and made a grab for Gibbs' head to hold him in place.  "Just let it go, Tony. It'll happen," she soothed, dancing against his front now.  "We should go back to the hotel."

"We should," Gibbs agreed as he pulled back. "That what you want, DiNozzo?  Back to the hotel to prove how much better you can be?"

"Please."  Tony let himself be led off by the hand.  When they got to the car they found the kid's things already gone.  Abby got him into the back and straddled his lap, kissing him until all he could do was moan and hold on.  He heard a door open and felt another warm body, glancing over in time to feel different lips take control of his.  He felt the front seats move up and it allowed him more room to move.  Abby came back to open his shirt and tease his chest while he and Jethro kissed.  It was different but it still felt really good. He reached over to touch, stroking up under the t-shirt to the warm, lightly furred skin.  His hand met Abby's and she guided his to the better spots, making the man kissing him moan and arch against his fingers.  He smiled and concentrated on that, watching his hand move under the t-shirt, at least until he felt a hand touch his cock and rub their palm down him.  That's when he realized they were in a car in a public parking lot.  "We're going to get busted," he said, puling back.

"Easy, DiNozzo.  The cops around here expect it outside a club."  He pulled him in for another kiss but let him go fairly quickly.  "We can go back to the hotel and sneak past the desk. Then we'll see what happens."  He stroked the hard cock again and Tony shivered, arching up into his hand with a moan.  "Give me ten minutes to get us there.  Abby, fix my seat."  She did that while he got out and walked around to get in and drive, watching Abby and Tony kiss and grope in the backseat.  When they got to the hotel, he let Tony lead the way in, taking whatever needy kisses he could have, sharing them with Abby when she got insistent.  He got them up to his room, since his was larger, and everyone gathered in, putting down weapons and keys.

Abby grabbed onto Tony's shirt, taking it off him as quickly as she could.  Then she attacked his belt.  He grabbed her hands.  "Slow down.  I'm not leaving."

"I want to see what you've been bragging about all this time and getting naked now saves ripping things later."

Gibbs reached around and undid Tony's belt and pants for him, letting them fall.  "She's right, unless you don't want to ever wear these again," he said quietly in his ear. He stepped back and undid his own shirt's buttons but Abby came over to strip him as well.  "Do yourself."

"I don't want to."  She wiggled when she felt fingers attacking the hooks on her back.  "Thank you."

"Welcome," Tony said in her ear.  He finally got all the hooks undone and then the two buttons.  Her bodice got tossed on top of their guns. He stroked up her side.  "Are you sure we shouldn't call him back for you, Abby?" he asked in her ear.

"I'm sure.  I'm yours.  He gave you to me. Back at the club it was symbolic."  She wiggled until her skirt's closure was in front but Gibbs got that for her.  "Thank you."  She pounced him to kiss him, taking control of his mouth.  She heard the quiet moan from behind her and blindly reached back until she found something to grab onto and hauled Tony closer to hold against her back.  She got done with Gibbs' mouth and turned just enough to take Tony's.  Hands went around her waist and she leaned back, trusting Tony to hold her up.  He pulled back to breathe, and the hands stroked over her waist and stomach.  "Bed.  Standing means I'll fall."

"We won't let you fall," Gibbs assured her.  He went back to his kissing, choosing a target just behind her ear.  She wiggled and tensed as he played, then Tony took her mouth back.  They did move it to the bed for her, laying her down so they could each take a side and lave and tease all of her body.  By the time she was huffing and clutching, Gibbs and she had shared a long look.  She flipped over suddenly, pinning Tony to the bed, getting to work on his body.

"This is about you, Abby," he protested.

"Hush, Tony.  This is about us, not just me."

"She's right, this is about us," Gibbs agreed.  He paid the same attention to Tony's body.  Tony was holding onto Abby for dear life when they got done with him.  Abby glanced at Gibbs before she slid down Tony's body. "Let him have you however you want, I'll take him," he whispered in her ear.  She nodded and kissed him, making him clutch at her arms.

"Tony, tongue," she ordered, sliding off his body and back onto the bed, moving his hand down to touch her again.  "Now."  He flipped over, going back to teasing her, going where she wanted. "Tongue," she ordered, arching up to get it where she needed it.  Tony smiled and went down on her, doing as best as he could.  She moved his head and pressed back into it.  "Tony, I'm not like the sluts you've dated.  I'm harder and I'm different."  He shifted some, making her scream and let go of his head, her head arching back.  "There!" she shouted. "Deeper!"  He followed along, letting her dictate.

Gibbs kissed her, keeping her from ordering and letting Tony see if he could please her without the intense lessons on how to do an Abby.  She came and he had to help free Tony from the thighs.  "Calm down," he ordered.

"I can't!"  She pulled him back down.  "More, Tony, more!"

"More coming up, Abby."  He got back to what he liked to do.  He may not be as good as some stripper with an oral fixation but he had never had any complaints before.  He stiffened as he felt a finger touch his ass, glancing back at Gibbs.  "Don't."

"Hush," Abby ordered, pulling him up to kiss him.  She took his mouth and his brain over, letting Gibbs do whatever he wanted.  "In me," she ordered quietly.  He nodded and slid into her, moaning a bit at how tight she was.  She went with him, letting him touch and taste whatever he wanted while he pleased her.  She was already more than content.  She saw Gibbs lean down to lick the sweat of Tony's back, making him moan.  "Please," she begged in his ear.  "Let him."  Tony stiffened but the tongue came back to lick up the trails of sweat.  It was erotic and he was getting lost in the sensations.  It kept up while she kissed him, making him go back to what he had been doing.  He tensed up slightly when a finger breached him but it touched something that made him gasp and shiver as it was manipulated.  "Let him," she ordered, taking his attention again.  "I need you, Tony."

He nodded and got back to her pleasure, making it as good as he could for her.  She wasn't like any other woman he'd slept with before, she was special and she deserved his full attention. "You deserve more," he panted as he worked.

"You're doing great," Gibbs assured him, reaching around with his free hand to tease her clit, making her get panty and huffy again, making her clench around Tony's cock and claw up his back and shoulders.  "She likes it a bit dirty," he whispered in his ear.  "Do you have a kink, Tony?"  He shook his head frantically.

"We all have one," Abby panted.  "Tony!  Let us have you!"  She flipped him over, taking what she needed, staring into his eyes.  "Please, Tony.  Do you like to be talked to?"  He nodded, grabbing onto her hips and arching up to get her better.  She squealed and came, bearing down on him, collapsing against his chest.  He kissed and stroked her, helping her calm back down.  She pushed her hair back, staring at him.  "Tony, can we make you this happy?"

"I'm happy."

She reached back to touch his cock.  "You're still hard.  Let us fix that for you?"  He nodded, still stroking her back.  She wiggled off his body, sharing a kiss with their boss.  "He needs you."

Gibbs moved until he was laying beside Tony, taking his mouth for his own pleasure.  One hand was stroking his chest and stomach, keeping him calm and accepting.  "You never answered, Tony.  Do you like anything specific in bed?" he asked in his ear, watching him s shiver. "Talking dirty or just talking?" he asked.

"Both."

Abby laid on his other shoulder. "You're going to look so hot with him buried in you, Tony," she said quietly, taking over the soothing duties.  Gibbs moved down to tease and tempt him, making Tony hiss and arch up as he was nipped.  "Relax, let him play.  It's not often he gets to play."  She kissed him gently. "Next time will seem more natural," she assured him. "It's just this time that's awkward. You'll love it.  I love it when I'm touched there and you guys have special g-spots."  Gibbs laughed at that.  "You do."

"I guess you could call the prostate that."  He licked across Tony's stomach, cleaning up the wetness trail Abby had left on him.  Then he kissed her, making Tony moan.  "You're mine next time."

"Of course I am."  She smiled and kissed Tony.  "We'll let you have him," she said with a wink.  He blushed.  "Just relax."  She rolled him onto his side, letting Gibbs have full access to his lower body because she pulled his upper leg over hers.

"I was playing with that," Gibbs complained.  He flipped Tony back and under him, going back to driving him insane.  By the time he got ready to touch Tony's cock, he was pleading and making begging noises every other breath.  He licked over it and Tony arched up, nearly shoving himself in his mouth.  "Easy," he soothed, stroking him gently.  "You'll get it."  He licked across him, giving him a gentle suck, slipping in a finger to get it wet.  He used it to go back to teasing Tony to open for him, making him arch up and yell.  "Easy," he soothed.  Abby kissed him and he smiled. "You two look good together."  He rewet his finger and went back to it.  "Abby, lube?" he asked quietly. She slid off the bed and got him something, making him smile at the all-natural lotion she handed him.  He slicked up two fingers and inserted them, making Tony hiss and wiggle.  "Calm down. It's just me.  It'll be okay."  Abby's mouth came down to tease his cock, taking his full attention while Gibbs got him ready for him.  He switched up to three, smiling because he was so limp.  Abby's lips were magical.  He slicked himself up and moved forward, pulling her off and making her turn around and remount him.  Tony whimpered when she squeezed around him.  Gibbs smiled, resting his chin on Abby's shoulder.  "Tony?"  Tony looked at him.  "Ready?"  Tony shook his head.  "You are."  Tony shook his head again.  "You don't want to?"  Abby squeezed and moved, making Tony arch up and clutch the sheets.  Gibbs slid forward, pushing gently against the tight hole.  "Relax," he ordered, pushing in.

"Gibbs!"

"Calm down, we have you," Abby soothed, kissing him, taking his attention again.  "Relax, he's got you.  It's good."

"Hurts," he panted.

"Shhh, give it a minute.  It'll be better."  She felt Gibbs press against her back and smiled at him.  "See, he's in now."  Gibbs nodded when she glanced back.  "Whenever you're ready for him to move, squeeze."  Tony finally flexed with a small whimper.  "Good boy."  She pulled off and licked him clean, giving him her best blow job while Gibbs got to work pleasing him.  Tony finally got into it, arching and shifting.  Gibbs ended up lifting his legs off the bed and putting them over his shoulder.  He surged forward, getting harder and faster, then suddenly slowed back down when he noticed Tony tensing up. He shifted position, letting Abby kiss him and push his sweaty hair off his forehead for him.  "There," she praised.  "See, better."

Tony lifted his hips up, pulling Gibbs down to kiss him. "More," he growled.  "Now."

"Anything you want," he promised, going faster, shifting his angle to pound his prostate with each stroke.  Tony let out a shriek and came.  Gibbs smirked at him, winking.  "Still think you won't like it, Tony?" he asked in his ear, speeding up again.  He finally came and collapsed for a minute, panting hard.  He lifted his head and kissed Tony again.  "Next time, you ride me.  My knees ache."

Tony smirked at him.  "Sure, boss."

"That was so hot," Abby said, smoothing down both of their hairs.  "We should rest and shower. Then we'll move to Tony's room so no one has to sleep in the wet spot."  She kissed them both.  "You were so hot," she told Tony.  She grinned at him.  "You're not a virgin anymore."

Gibbs gave her a light head nudge.  "I need a nap."

Abby beamed.  "You do.  You did a lot of work, Gibbs."

Gibbs pulled her over, putting her on top of Tony and moving to silence her the easy way.  He made her squeal and scream as he attacked her clit with his tongue. She wiggled and clutched Tony's chest, letting him kiss her into silence.  She came and went limp. "Better.  Now I can nap."  He laid down again, pulling Tony against his chest.  "Now we can nap."

"That was mean," Tony chastised gently.  "I like her mouth."

"Keep it up, watch me surge back into your ass and ride you into a coma," he growled.

"I like talking and cuddling after sex, Gibbs."

"Me too," Abby agreed.  She hauled Tony against her chest and whispered in his ear, making him giggle and hug her.  "We should pounce him."

"When I can get it up again, Abby."  His head came up and he wiggled.  "Condoms?"

"Oops," Abby said sheepishly.  "I'm on the shot."

"Not like I can get you pregnant and I'm pretty sure you're clean," Gibbs assured him, moving to cuddle him from behind.  "I haven't had any since long before my last test."

Tony looked back at him.  "They can't test for everything, boss."

"Confessing?" he asked dryly.

"No!"

"Then I'm not worried."  He put an arm around Tony's chest, stroking his stomach.  "Rest.  Then we'll go again and make Abby babble and squeal in a few different octaves."

"Can't wait," Abby said cheerfully.

"Can I be on top this time?  I'm kinda sore."

"I can help you cure that," Abby assured him, wiggling out of his grasp and heading into the bathroom.  She came back out.  "We need to go to my room. I've got the better tub."

"I've got a spa attachment hooked up to mine," Tony offered quietly.

"Put on enough clothes to head there," Gibbs said in his ear.  "She's right, a warm bath will ease the ache and a wet, naked Abby is fun."

"How do you know?"

"It's been an occasional thing, after the hard cases," Abby told him, kissing him.  "Put on just enough to make it down there, Tony."  He sighed and got up, wincing a bit.  "It'll be okay."  She kissed him on the butt cheek and helped him into his pants and shoes, then grabbed their guns and ID's, plus the room keys.  "Come on."  She walked him down to his room, wrapping the towel more tightly around her body as they headed down there.

Gibbs gave himself ten more minutes to recover then headed down to join them.  A wet, happy Abby was probably as much fun as a wet, cuddly Tony was going to be.

***

Tim felt his pocket vibrate and pulled out his phone, looking at the message with a sigh.  "Xander got bored and went out clubbing."  Eric moaned.

"We need to get in touch with his guards, see how it went," Don offered from the next table over.  They were seated with smaller departments in their own states.  The smaller Pensacola department people looked at him, then at Horatio.

"Speed's son," he explained.  "He has bad habits."

"Like teasing," Eric complained.  "When does school start?"

"The fifth of January," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I'd rather be out having fun than at some stuffy dinner anyway," he noted dryly.  "Not to say anything against your departments, but...."

"You don't do award dinners," the Pensacola department head agreed with a smile.  "Neither do I usually but I heard we're up for an award in our state."  She looked at Horatio, who blushed a bit.  "I guess you guys could leave after that and bring him back here for our dance tonight."

"Then we'd never cut loose of the kid," Don complained, leaning back to get closer to them.  "Trust me, Xander steals all attention from everyone."

"He's been cited in two different divorces," Eric agreed dryly.  Everyone stared at him.  "You didn't see that in the paper?"  They all shook their heads so he pulled out his wallet and handed it over. "I meant to taunt Xander with it on the way back."

Speed looked and moaned, handing it to Horatio.  Who only smirked and shook his head, handing it to the New York table.

"Hold on, I read that one.  Something about a stripper named Darkness?" the Pensacola tech noted.

Speed nodded.  "That's my boy."

"Really?  He's that old?"

Horatio shrugged one-sidedly.  "Adopted."

"By necessity, he had bad parents," Speed assured her.  "He's starting college this spring semester."

"Congratulations.  You got him off the bad part of the city."

Speed shrugged. "He doesn't drink, doesn't use drugs, and doesn't sleep around or sell it.  I was already impressed with my boy.  But he is a bad tease."

Aiden got the message when Danny snuck over to her table and handed it to her, then snuck back.  There were speeches going on and she got up, heading back to the Miami table, waving it.  "My son did what?" she demanded quietly.

Eric grinned at her.  "I only saw it today, Aiden."

"Uh-huh.  Where is our son now?" she asked Tim.  He showed her the last text message.  She took the phone and typed in 'let us know where you are every hour and when you change clubs, just in case', then handed it back and went back to her table, scowling.  Her coworkers wisely moved away from her.  "My boy's being slutty," she complained, handing over the news article.  "He didn't even sleep with 'em."

They read it, then gaped at her.  She nodded.  "Yeah, that guy from last night, my adopted son Xander."

That got a swallow.  "Wow.  Did you teach him that?"

Aiden shook her head.  "I wish but no.  My boy's a mantwat at times.  Even if he doesn't sleep around."  That got a few sighs.  "You know the goth chick from DC?  Abby or whatever?  I heard her buddies kicked in her door last night to try to save her from Xander and his tongue, and they got into it in the hallways."  She looked at the Vegas table, seeing the amused looks.  "So, any reports from the guys who went with my boy?"  She handed over the news article and one, the cop, coughed and spluttered.  "Oh, you know Xander," she said dryly, smirking at him.  "How?"

"Vacation," he wheezed.  He sipped some of his water and looked at her.  "I know Inspector Ferris and he wanted my opinion on a case since I was on vacation up there."  He gave her a helpless look.  "Xander's your son?"  She nodded.  "Then you're Aiden, right?"  She nodded.  "Oh, shit, he's the one they went with earlier?"  She nodded again, smirking now.  "Crap.  Gil, call Greg and Nick, make sure they're still all right.  The good inspector wanted me to see if I could find out how the kid drew serial killers and rapists."

He called his guys, getting up to take it out of the dining hall.

"Maybe someone brought him out here so we could figure it out together," Aiden joked.  Jim Brass, the cop, just stared at her.  "Someone sent him a late plane ticket and then the invitation to dance out here at that club.  And hey, it might take all of us CSI guys to figure out how he does it and stop it.  Before we get a repeat of the bunny paper guy."

"Oh, no," Jim moaned.  "Him?"  She nodded.  "Any others?"

"The daddy guy a few weeks back. My boy got to spank him because Horatio didn't give him a code word to get them in there sooner."  He choked again and she grinned. "What routine did you see?"

"The one with the bullwhip.  He said it was his first one.  I had to leave before someone grabbed me and forced me to take part in the orgy it started. The poor waitresses hid in the kitchen away from everyone.  His next act I heard he got to use the firehose on everyone."  She giggled at that. "Seriously," he offered, smiling just a bit. "I've never seen a spontaneous orgy, but one couple started and a few more added in and then it went from there."

"My boy is so bad about inspiring lust," she sighed, shaking her head. "I'm wondering if the source is the bad parents or us now."

"He's not yours naturally?" one of her coworkers asked hesitantly.

"No, we ran his parents out of town for being shitbags and tryin' ta sell him for some extra cash to a Master in LA who trained and then killed his pets.  I literally made them run for their lives when I heard from the sobbing Xander on Speed's chest.  No one touches my baby that way and gets away with it."

"He needs his own personal cop," Don said as he came over, squatting between them.  "We've decided we're blowing this place after the awards and going to dance with him.  That way Eric can be a slut and pick up someone and so can you.  You up?"

She pinched him on the cheek.  "I don't need ta pick up someone, Flacky, but sure."  She smiled at Jim Brass.  "He saw Xander in Montreal."

"His bullwhip routine," he sighed, nodding, looking amused at least.  "Spontaneous orgy."

"Yeah, his text message about earlier said the same thing happened tonight when he did it again."  He stood up and grinned at him.  "Any news from his guardians tonight?"

"Grissom is in the halls."  He considered it.  "Probably trying to talk Greg into not trying to keep him."

Don snuck that way, interrupting the complaining.  "Tell them that Xander's starting college in a few months."  Grissom jumped and looked at him.  He grinned at him.  "We heard about the orgy."  The phone was handed over and Grissom went back inside.  "Hey, it's Don Flack, from New York.  No, Xander's kinda like my kid brother.  He's the adopted son of one of our former techs and Speed from Miami.  Yeah him.  So, what happened? He mentioned the sex going on."  He leaned against the wall, one foot coming up to brace him, while he laughed. "I didn't know he had bad acts."  The other one made him moan and shift some.  "Yeah, we all wanna know how he does it.  I can get you sweat samples if you want.  He hates that psychos taunt him because of this."  He smirked and nodded. "Sure!"  He hung up and walked inside, handing Grissom his phone back, then winked at Brass.  "No hose this time and they want sweat samples."  He went back to his table, leaning back to get closer to the New York guys.  "They want sweat samples locally."

Ryan looked at him.  "So do I, man.  I want to market it.  We could make billions making people smell like Xander in heat."  Horatio scowled at him.  "We could," he defended.

"No more alcohol for you, Mr. Wolfe," Horatio said dryly, looking at Don.  "How much longer?"

"The awards," he joked.  "Next up probably."  He sat his chair back down and went back to eating.  He'd need his strength.  Danny and Mac both looked at him so he smirked.  "We should'a made Stella come."

"She didn't have the leave time," Mac noted dryly.  "The next time we have to see Xander dancing she can come."

"Probably with a scream, like the others," Speed joked, glancing over at him with a wicked grin.  "He's at some club called Egypt."

"It's near the pyramid," one of the people from the table on their other side noted. "It's pretty trendy."

"My boy needs spanked," Speed complained, finishing his beer.

"Why?  He's good enough at making others spa...."

Eric covered Ryan's mouth.  "If you finish that sentence, I will lose all respect for you," he warned.  He sniffed his drink. "He's drinking juice, H."

"He had a few earlier," he was assured. "That's why Mr. Wolfe is going to be sleeping it off very soon."

"And hey, he's doing all the dumpsters for the next month," Calleigh said happily.  They all agreed with that, making Ryan pout.  She looked out the doors to the entry, blinking a few times.  "Wow, that's hot."  Speed and Eric both looked.  "The trio from DC," she said quietly.  She watched as the mouths attacked each other and the girl only got in the middle a few times.  "Maybe they'll make her forget Xander."

"I doubt it," Jim Brass said from behind her.  "We ready?"

"Horatio's up for an award," she pouted.

"I haven't been clubbing in years, I'll get his," Mac offered.  The rest of them nodded and got up, following Aiden and Jim Brass out and to the cars.

"What about the awards?" the presenter complained.

"I'll pick up Horatio's if he wins one," Mac called, grinning at her.  "Speedle's son was doing naughty things again.  They went to make sure it wasn't dangerous this time."  That got some laughs from the other tables.  "You guys remember the Daddy killer?  The kid helped capture him for Miami and New York."  That got some moans.  "He's still in Florida if you guys need to put in requests to move the body."  A few people pulled out their phones to call their home areas.

"Is he a profiler?" the girl from Albany's lab asked perkily.

He shook his head.  "Stripper.  They just like him for some reason."  She blushed at that and hurriedly sipped her wine. "We caught the two bunny paper killers thanks to him too."  She took another drink.  "Do we have anyone from Montreal here?"  She nodded and pointed at the 'other countries' table.  "Excuse me for a minute."  He got up and walked over there, smiling at the RCMP officer. "Hi, Mac Taylor, New York CSI," he offered, shaking his hand.  "Do you know an Inspector Ferris in Montreal?"

"I've heard of him.  He had a spate of luck with serial killers."  The officer smiled.  "Do you know him?"

"No, but the reason for his luck is safely in Miami and being overprotected.  Can you tell him that somehow?  I'm sure he's worried about Vex."

"Vex?" another one said, blinking at him. "The stripper that drew all those psychotic men?" she demanded.  Mac nodded.  "You know of him?"

"He's Tim Speedle's adopted son.  Tim's in Miami's CSI unit.  So he helped us with the Daddy Killer and the bunny paper guy."

"Oh, my," she said, smiling brightly.  "I'm so glad that he's moved onto a higher calling.  Is he still stripping?"

"His dad's making him start college, but for now he is.  He just got done doing a set earlier tonight here in town.  One of his clients sent him airfare and an invitation so he could spend some downtime with the Miami crew."

She smiled at that and nodded. "I know Inspector Ferris personally and I'll pass on that message.  He's doing well?"

"Quite well.  Everyone loves to have him back."

"Oh, good.  I'll be sure to tell him, Mr. Taylor."

"Call me Mac."

"Then I'm Diamonda."  She smiled at him.  "Are you attending the dance later?"

"I hadn't been planning on it, but I can if you'd like to escort me."  She blushed and nodded.  "Then come find me after dinner."  He smiled at the other office.  "Have a good meal."  He went back to his seat and made sure his tie was straight.

***

Eric finally found Xander and pulled him closer to him so he could hiss in his ear.  "So much for a quiet night in," he complained.

"I'm being good," he complained, turning to dance with him.  He waved and smiled at the others.  "Hi.  Abby demanded we go dancing."

"Where is she?" Speed asked as he drug Xander over to their table.

"She and her two boys went back to their hotel room to have some fun.  Tony was going to prove he had just as good of a tongue and they were going to prove to him that he wanted boy sex just as much as girl sex."  He flopped down and accepted the drink.  "Thanks, Aiden.  I'm being very good."

"I doubt it," Calleigh and Speed complained, then stuck their tongues out at each other.  Don pushed her head into his so they ended up kissing.

"They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," Aiden joked when they came up for air.  She looked at her son.  "Tapes?"

"Ask the guy," he noted dryly, shrugging a bit.  "As far as I know there's not."   He grabbed a pretzel out of the bowl a waitress put down with a wink for her, getting a blush and her moving on.  "Whatever I don't pick up tomorrow he'll send to Jack in a few days, when the credit card companies pay up."  He ate another bite. "Aren't you guys supposed to do an award thing tonight?"  He noticed the stranger coming up and nodded politely at him.

"Relax, he's part of the Vegas team," Speed assured him, looking at him.  "What did you do?" he demanded, almost whining.

"I did my dom act," he said with a small shrug.  "I had fun."  He smiled at the new guy. "Hi.  Oooh, hey, I know you."

"Jim Brass.  We met in Montreal," he said, shaking his hand. "I see you still have bad luck."

"Or really naughty pheromones," he agreed bitterly.  "Why?  Did another one follow me here?"

Jim looked around, then nodded. "There's two who're suspects but never proven on rape charges.  Another one I recognize from an assault a few years back."  He looked at him again.  "Why don't you just hire a bodyguard?"

"Because with my luck, he'll end up wanting me too and I don't want to become some cheesy romance story plot about the kidnaped love of your life."

"Ah."  He nodded and sipped his drink.  "I understand fully."

"Too late," Speed said, staring his son down.  "Didn't you say you were coming back to read and wait on us to get free so we could go have fun together?"

"Yeah, but Abby showed up with her overprotective guys and she demanded we go clubbing.  Since she *clearly* wanted them both, I gave them a nudge in the right direction.  I can almost imagine Abby cooing at Tony for being such a big boy and taking his first man."  He shrugged and finished his drink, then got up. "I'm going to go back and have fun."  He noticed Horatio coming over and grinned at him.  "Hi."

"Evening, Xander."  He stared at him.  "Are you behaving?"

"More or less. Abby wanted to go play tonight."  He shrugged.  "I gave her a nudge.  Her boss and her buddy are going to be very attentive and I hope one of them likes oral sex like she does."  He grinned and hauled Horatio out but he got free. "Oh, come on!  I need someone to dance with!"

"I'll go," Calleigh offered, letting him drag her off.  "Did it feel weird dancing for women?" she teased.

"Hell yes!  My first act tonight always got me good tips from men," he complained as he moved with her.  He finally grabbed her hips and showed her how to move on the same beat he was, making her blush but follow along.  The others slowly trickled out, all but Jim and Horatio who were playing daddy at the moment and watching over them all.  Speed and Eric finally saved her so he grabbed Aiden and pulled her closer, hugging her while they danced.  She appreciated him and his dancing.  He grinned at her.  "Hi, mommy."

"Hi, baby."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "Naughty boy."  She spanked him and he howled, making her grin.  He snuggled in closer, hugging her.  "It's all right."

"I don't mean to tease that badly," he complained.

"We know," she assured him, pushing him back some.  "How's your back?"

"Okay.  A bit tense but good."  He winked and moved differently as the song changed, daring her to keep up.  Which she did beautifully.  Don and Danny came over so he pulled the guys around her, dancing against Don's back until he moaned, then going off in a new direction.  A familiar hand caught his and he found Horatio there, giving him the thousand yard stare.  "What?" he mouthed.

"Rest break," he ordered.

Xander nodded and followed him back, going to get him a new drink and himself a new coke, then he came back to sit at the table, grinning at the father figures.  "Hi again."  He handed Horatio his beer, getting a smile for it.  "See, I try very hard to be a good boy."

"You do try," Horatio agreed dryly, sipping his new beer.

"You don't always succeed," Brass joked, "but you probably do try."

"He tries very hard," Horatio assured him.  "If only to keep Speed from worrying."  He looked at Xander, who only grinned.  "Smooth, Xander."

"Mom deserves a great guy or two.  They'd probably share her.  Don's sure he's straight and Danny.... I'm not taking bets on that one or asking."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Wanna dance with me, mom?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "This is not my sort of music, Xander."

"We can change clubs.  They're all busy."  He grinned at him.  "If you want.  Or there was that dance tonight."

"Which won't be as loud as this," Jim Brass assured him.  "We could go somewhere more adult.  Xander would need to change his shirt, but we could go."

"I can buy a new shirt," he teased.  He grinned at Horatio, who shrugged so he went out to bounce over Speed and Calleigh.  "We're going somewhere more grown up," he called, then he bounced off.

"Too much caffeine," Eric taunted.

"Yeah, ya think?" Speed shot back, grinning at him. "Think they have any good latin clubs around here?"

Eric shook his head. "I checked, they're not like Miami's.  Nothing that authentic."  He shrugged and went back to his current dance partner so they could continue their silent 'I want you' talk.

***

Xander skipped into breakfast the next morning, smiling as he sat down.  "Hi, all."

"Did you get any sleep?" Calleigh asked tiredly.  He shook his head with a bright grin.

Ryan reached over and nerve pinched him, making him pass out.  "Thank you. Some of us aren't in the mood for chipper this morning."  Horatio raised an eyebrow as he came over. "Happy people suck."

"With what you said last night," Eric started.

Ryan leaned closer to him.  "If you finish that, I will beat your ass.  Not only was I not drunk, I know what you did last night."  Eric flinched.  "Got me here?" he asked quietly.  "I keep yours, you drop last night."

"Fine," he agreed.  He sat up and smiled.  "He's still growling from his hangover."

"I can see that," Horatio agreed, checking Xander's pulse.  "He should be up soon."  The waitress looked. "All nighter," he offered.  She nodded and put some extra coffee cups at their table then walked off.  He took his own seat and poured some coffee, looking at the others.  "We leave when?"

"Six," Speed told him.  "We'll get back in time to go to bed tonight."   He sipped his own coffee, flinching when Don sat down. "Coffee?" he offered.  Don grunted and poured some, glaring at Xander.  "It's not his fault."

"He got her hyped up and that way," he growled.  He kicked Xander under the table, waking him up.  "You're loud and you wound her up, Harris."

Xander looked at him, leaning on the table.  "If you answered that need, I'm not to blame for that," he shot back, staring into his eyes.  Don's eyes showed his amusement.  "No one *made* you have fun last night, Don.  Or should I call you Flackie, like she does?"

"Speaking of fun last night," Speed said, slapping him across the back of the head. "I saw that."

"Ooops."  He shrugged and poured some coffee, then looked around.  "Did we get the buffet?"  Everyone nodded so he went to get himself some breakfast.  Up there, he ran into someone who smiled in that 'I want you to make me money' way.  "Hi."

"Darkness."

"Some days, but only on shift.  Why?" he asked politely.

"I'd like to offer you a chance to come out to work in Vegas."

Xander shook his head.  "Sorry, can't.  Dad wants me in college in January."  He filled his plate.  "I hope you can find someone good though."

"Would your father listen to reason? You could be making a lot of money."

One of the guys from the strip club walked up to him, coughing a bit.  "Mr. Braun, how nice to see you again.  Did you know Mr. Harris was the son of a CSI out of Miami?"   The casino owner glared at him so he shrugged.  "Xander's going to school for profiling."

"Which he could easily do when he's tired of dancing."

"Which would've been about ten months ago," Xander admitted patiently, looking at him.  "Wish I could help you, Mr. Braun, but dancing isn't my future.  I promised Tim I'd spend a year at college and give it a real try.  That's what I'm going to do because I keep my promises.  Tim's too important to me to fuck this up," he said quietly.

"You could get home easier," he offered. "I hear you're from LA."

"Few hours outside, heading this way actually," he offered dryly.  "I'm from Sunnydale."  The man's eyes went wide.  "Yeah, I felt it," he noted dryly.  "Therefore I'm going to have to turn down your generous offer and go back home to Miami, where I have a family."  He walked off, taking the kid with him. "So, why did you stay?"

"Because we had a free drink and the others were fun to watch."  He pulled a chair over.  "Hi, I'm Greg from the local labs, formerly DNA now CSI level one."  Everyone waved.  "Do we know how he does that?"

"We're still working on it," Ryan admitted.

"Can I have a sweat sample?" Greg asked Xander.  "I think it's got to be pheromones."

"It probably is," Ryan agreed.  "We've got all that in the stuff from him, plus some dance tapes." Speed looked at him.  "I wondered after I had to watch him that first time.  It's not like I like guys."

"He doesn't, he likes smart women," Xander offered dryly, looking at Greg. "You can have whatever you want.  Do you need something I sweated in on stage or just any sweat?"

"Any sweat as long as you were acting the same way," he offered.

"Let me change shirts and you can have the t-shirt I've got on underneath," he promised.  Greg beamed at that.  "Hey, I want to stop it.  I'm tired of the stalkers and serial killers."  He shrugged and dug into his breakfast, eating a bite before going to change out of his t- shirt, leaving him in his purple button-up instead.  He handed the t-shirt to Greg, who bagged it and put it on his lap.  "Let me know what you find."

"I will.  Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome."  He grinned at him.  "So, any idea why I flubbed so bad on the first one?"

"It looked like your mind wasn't synching with your body."  He shrugged. "It was hot but just as hot as the others," he offered.  "The second one it looked like you were in full persona, unless you're usually a dominant?"  Xander grinned and shrugged.  "Practicing?"

"No.  Just an alpha dog," he assured him dryly, still smirking.  "Ask Abby if she can talk."

"They ordered in," Greg admitted.  "She's hoarse when I called.  She said to tell you the tongue thing was great but Tony's was trainable and she was having fun training him for her pleasure."

"One should always have fun training their lover in how to please them," Xander agreed.  "That's why I pushed them together."  Greg blushed at that.  "What?"

"You spanked her."

"I did," he agreed happily. "And she liked it."

Speed looked at him.  "Did you tape this one?"  He nodded, handing over the DVD.  "Thank you."  He looked at the rest of them. "My room?"

"My room's bigger," Xander offered.  "Plus I've got to pick up that second check."  He ate a bite of eggs.  "If he quit with the waitress who was under the desk before I left."  He ate another bite and hummed, digging in again.  "My tickets are at four."  He finished his plate and got up, heading up to get more food.  He came back and sat down again. "I'll go home and sleep then."  He went back to eating.  He had burned off a lot of energy last night.

"Hungry after the two trips to the bathroom?" Speed asked dryly.

"First, I didn't do anything more than touch, thank you.  And get really nice blow jobs.  Secondly, I'm a big boy.  I do know what safe sex is.  I've practiced it each and every time I've had sex since the time Faith jumped me.  Thirdly, dad, pot, kettle," he said firmly, staring at him.  Calleigh and Horatio both blushed at that.  "Got me here?  I'm a big boy.  If I wanna let some girl blow me in the bathroom for her pleasure and then tease her mercilessly with my fingers, I can do that."  He finished his plate and got up.  He saw Horatio's unhappy look in his direction and decided he'd had enough for the day, even if it did make him sound like a drama queen. "If you've got any complaints, find me a permanent girl or boyfriend."   He headed back to his room to clean up and then change clothes.  His new ones were put into the duffle bag he had gotten earlier, and the safe was emptied and put back into his pockets.  He headed out, running into Don in the hallway.  "What?"

"Not yet, kid."  He pushed him back inside, closing the door behind him. "He worries, it's what parents do.  So do big brothers.  'Cause even though you're smart about that stuff, things can still happen.  We both know that."  Xander sighed and sat down, staring at him.  "We both know condoms break."

"I didn't have them that way.  I let them give me covered blow jobs.  Almost no risk to me.  Then I teased their little clits and made them squeal in pleasure as they bent over the sink.  My mouth did not go anywhere other than their lips, the upper ones.  My fingers were then washed once they had walked out.  I didn't lick them clean like I would've with Abby.  I didn't sniff them first.  I washed them like the good little boy I was being.  The second time...."

"Hold on.  The first had *two* girls?"

"Yeah.  They wanted to do it together.  So yes, I was being very good and turned down the threesome, Don."  He stood up, looking at him.  "I'm a good boy.  The second time was a lady about Mac's age who was kind enough to ask first.  All she wanted was some naughty fun in the bathroom and I gave it to her.  Again, only groping and I only got a handjob.  I'm a good boy most of the time.  Even I'm allowed to slip if Speed and Calleigh had it in the bathroom.  If Horatio got picked up by not one, but three women who thought redheads were the sexiest thing on the earth, I can get picked up by nice people too."

"You can, but he's still worried.  That's what dads do."

"I know, and that's why I was so blunt.  I'm a careful person when I screw around.  It's not like I'm a club whore."

"You're not," he agreed, nodding to show he agreed.  "Hell, for all I knew you were a virgin."

Xander shook his head.  "Nope, not hardly.  Not with Faith the psycho slayer jumping me and on top.  Not with Cordy, I blow the team, as my girlfriend.  Not with the few I've had sense then.  I'm very careful and very safe when I play.  The closest I got to naughty was spanking Abby and the way my fingers fell they hit her clit and her ass."  He shivered at that and Xander shrugged.  "She got what she wanted and needed and I'm happy for her.  Therefore I got to find some of my own happiness.  I can't *stand* being alone all the time. Too much time without a girlfriend makes me go odd and wrong.  I already knew this."

"That's fine, as long as you're careful."  Xander nodded.  "Are you seeing anyone?"

"I was but she wanted me to pierce my cock for her and I wasn't prepared to take that step."

"Fine," he agreed, pulling him closer for a manly hug.  "Where were you headed?"

"Airport."  He pulled back and grabbed his bags.  "I leave earlier and I've still got to pick up that check."  He walked out.

Don saw the wallet and hurried after him, catching him in the elevator. "You dropped this, kid."  He teased the top of the check.  "You need to put that in there better."

"I know, it's too big."

Don undid it and folded it into quarters, then put it back, bending the end around the fold.  "The bank'll still take it," he assured him.  He punched him on the arm as they ended up in the lobby.  "Write me if you get a boyfriend, Xander. Or a girlfriend."

Xander blushed.  "I've never had a boyfriend."

"Have you thought about it?" he asked quietly as they walked up to the check-in desk.  He checked his watch.  "Shit, I've got to head out too.  Come help me pack."  Xander nodded, going with him.  "Have you?"

"A few random dreams and some wondering.  I'm not even sure how I'd figure out if it was a good thing for me."

"Try it," he suggested.  "Just be very particular in who you choose.  Remember, there's some bad people out there who'd love nothing more than to tie you down and fuck you eight ways until you die."  Xander nodded, understanding that.  "Am I forgetting anything?"

"Suitbag," he said, pointing at it. Don gathered that and checked the bathroom then under the beds.  A few more things got shoved in there and they checked out together, Don even going with him to pick up his check.  They got there too late for Don's flight so Xander winked and paid for his with his debit card, upgrading him to first class.

Don hugged him.  "I love you, kid.  You're a neat little brother."  He went to their gate and parted ways.  He was going to gate 18 and Xander was going to 24.  Xander grinned and winked, then strolled off into the small bookstore to get something to read.  Don called Speed.  "Your boy's already picked up his check and I got him to the airport.  No, he changed it to an earlier flight.  We had a talk.  He was careful and good, Speed.  He knew what he was doing.  Safer than you probably were," he assured him.  "So don't worry about Xander.  He just needed it really bad.  Because the boy wants someone to treat him like how he treated that Abby girl.  Since he don't have it...."  He let that trail off at the understanding sigh.  "So find him someone.  He said he's miserable without someone serious in his life, and yeah, he admitted he'd thought about guys but never seriously.  So start setting him up with everyone you can."  He hung up and got up when his boarding was called, heading over to check in and get on, smiling at the 'air hostesses'.  It'd be good to get back to New York and he was definitely energized and ready to face work again.

And wasn't that really the reason you went to these conventions?

***

Mac walked up to Horatio in the lobby, shaking his hand.  "Another fun weekend of Xander madness comes to an end," he said dryly.

"I'm wondering where he is.  Have you seen him?"

"I know Don went after him so they're probably together."  He moved Horatio out of the line of traffic.  "We weren't sure whether or not to mention this to you, Horatio, but it's been noticed by Don and I at least.  Did you realize he has a crush on you?"  Horatio shook his head.  "He does.  A pretty strong one.  It wasn't Speed that sent him off to his room this morning, it was the look you were giving him."  Horatio fidgeted and he sighed.  "We don't want you to hurt the kid.  Don might come down and smack if you hurt him too much, especially since that means you'd probably get attacked and he'd definitely be taken by someone so they could treat him better.  So if you don't want the boy, be very gentle with him."

"He's half my age."

Mac looked at him then shook his head. "Horatio, that kid is no more his actual age than Eric is.  Think about it, when was the last time Xander was nineteen."  Horatio nodded at that, looking down.  "The kid can keep up with veterans my age.  He always seems to be around older guys. Plus, I hear there's advantages of having younger lovers, namely stamina."  Horatio gave him an odd look. "It's not like I know but Don says so and he's just recently quit dating someone who was twenty-two.  Said she was the real source of viagra."  Horatio snickered a bit at that.  "If it comes down to it, think about it.  Think really hard and consider the actual boy, not his chronological age.  Use his mental age. Which is older than Eric," he said, watching him flirt with someone in the lobby.  "Isn't she one of the local CSI?"

"Yes, she is.  She was oversight there for a while," Horatio admitted.  "I'm not sure that he's even thinking that way about me, Mac.  He could just see me as a parental figure."

"Horatio, if you gave the boy a chance and an option, he'd be on you faster than horny teenage girls on a cute patrol officer in uniform."  Horatio laughed at that.  "Watch the boy, get to know him.  Let him see the real you, not the scowling guy you become at work when Eric goofs off and gets some in the closets."  He saw Danny coming.  "We're due to fly out soon.  Call and write, Horatio.  Your team is definitely livening mine up again."  He shook his hand and walked off with Danny next to him.  "Well, did you learn anything?"

"A lot.  Including why spa stuff is so expensive."

"I meant for the job, Danny."

"I took notes at everything I went to."

"Which was how many seminars?"

"Most of the ones I wanted ta go to.  I fell asleep during the spa thing."  He grinned.  "It was better for me than someone boring talking about skeletons."

"Get the notes from someone," he said patiently.

"Yeah, you need a copy of mine, Mac?  Since I know you played golf all day yesterday?"

Mac smirked at him.  "Blackmail will get you dumpster jobs, Danny."

"Yeah, yeah, blow some more air up my skirt, Mac.  I already get the shit jobs on the shift."  He walked ahead to get the cab, putting his stuff in the back and climbing in.  "We're hitting the airport."

Mac took his time putting his luggage in the back then got in, looking at him.  "Next dumpster job is Lindsey's."

"Thank you. It's about time the new girl got some."

Mac nodded.  "But you get to work with her."

"If I must," he sighed.

"You must."

"Fine."

"Thank you."  He nudged him once they were under way. "At least you didn't hit on every woman in there like Eric did."

"No, I only got a little bit from one nice girl on Aiden's crew.  Eric bagged ten or twelve I think.  Boy's a slut."  Mac nodded.  "You and Horatio talking about Xander?"

"Yup.  He didn't know Xander had a small crush on him."

"Ah.  Well, they'd be hot together and Horatio would definitely make him quit stripping.  I see him as a bit possessive."

"Caine, possessive?" Mac snorted.

"You mean you didn't hear the rumors about what happened to the poor schmucks who touched his hummer or his team?"

Mac looked at him.  "Who told you about that?"

"Wolfe.  Said it's well known but Horatio protests it was started by Frank.  Wolfe said it's been going on since Horatio was on bomb squad and he joined the PD down there as a rookie.  So yeah, definitely won't have a problem with Xander stripping anymore if they get together."

"I'll have to add my encouragement before Xander runs away to join us in New York."

Danny looked at him.  "Don't wish that on our city.  I know we've got some shitbags, but really, Mac.  That's just plain old mean."

Mac nodded.  "I know.  I told Don not to think that either."  He slumped down some, glancing at his coworker. "Think we should call down there later to see if we can get tapes for Stella?  Just in case he does quit stripping?"

"Could work.  It'd make her happy too.  That's a souvenir she'd enjoy a lot more than the t-shirt you got her or the spa stuff I got her."

Mac smiled at that.  "I'll call around later to see who has them."

"Wolfe."

Mac looked at him. "I thought Ryan was straight."

"He's trying to figure out why the boy draw's 'em, Mac. Besides, I take him as bi."

Mac nodded. "I'll leave that to your more knowledgeable senses.  It's not like I've judged people for sleeping with in years."

Danny nodded. "You should start practicing, Mac.  Some day you'll want those skills and they're already pretty rusty."  Mac nodded at that.  "I'll take you clubbing with me if you want."

"I don't think I'd fit in.  But thanks anyway."

"Not an issue.  Let me know if you want to come with me some night."  They pulled up in front of the airport and he paid the driver.  Mac handed him half of it and they got a receipt, then headed inside.  They knew that if Flack missed the flight, Xander would get him so they weren't too worried when he wasn't there by the time the flight was called.

***

Tim walked into his apartment, seeing Xander asleep on the couch.  He dropped his bag and closed the door, walking over there, waking him with a gentle shake on the shoulder. "Hey, you're gonna hurt your back, Xander."

"So?"

"Go to bed, son.  I'm not upset with you finding you needed it."  He stroked over his hair, easing the pout.  "You need to date, not have club whores. We'll work on that this week. I know some nice women and men."  Xander looked hesitant.  "You can talk to me about that stuff.  I don't care who you date as long as they're good to you."

"Really?"

"Really."  He let his hair go.  "Now, bed.  The couch is not a bed and Jack left a message on my phone saying your check would be ready Tuesday."  He got a small grin.  "How much did you make?"  Xander handed them over and he gaped, then looked at him.  "Damn."

Xander nodded.  "Don thought I should hire my own protection unit."

"You could with this sort of money."  He hopped over the back of the couch, making Xander move his feet quickly, then accepted them back into his lap.  "Who was the guy at the buffet?"

"Greg said his name was Braun?"

"Sam Braun.  He owns a few casinos.  We were told if we ran into him to be very polite and then leave.  He's apparently old style.  Like Capone."  Xander let out a small smile at that.  "You good?"

"I turned him down and cited you."

"Good.  I'm glad you came back."  Xander frowned at him so he shifted, letting Xander cuddle him.  "We don't do much talking anymore, Xander."

"That's because you work hellish hours and I'm on the club's schedule."

"Still, we get the same days off and we never hang out."

Xander poked him on the arm.  "That's because you don't take your days off.  The last time you got a day off, it was to go to Sunnydale."  Speed shuddered at that.  "Exactly. Oh, he knew where I was from.  He shuddered at the name of Sunnydale."  He licked his lips and looked at his dad.  "Dad?"  Speed looked at him, then sat up, tipping his face up to look at it in the light.  "What?"

"Something's different."

"I ended up communing with the hellmouth and told it to fuck off.  I think that's why I had that bad set."

"Fuck."  He sat up fully and pulled Xander into his lap, looking into his eyes.  "Are you feeling magic withdrawal?"

"No, it wanted me to go home.  It missed me," he said with a small pout. "It tried everything to get me back, and ended up leaving me blacking out at the start of my set and I guess the hyena may've come forward a bit stronger."

"From what I saw on the DVD?  Yeah, just a bit," he noted dryly. "Then again, Jim Brass said it was about the same as last time."  He stroked his back.  "Are you sure you're not feeling withdrawal?  I know you did when you came to Miami the first time."

"I did, but I'm not."

"Can you still feel it?"  Xander slowly shook his head.  "Okay, do this for me.  Concentrate on the magic you have, Xan."  Xander closed his eyes and concentrated, making him smile as he started to glow.  "Do you feel any hellmouth contamination that wasn't there before or are any of those parts stronger?"

"A little bit in one area," he admitted, looking at him.  He frowned at his glow and it disappeared.  "I'm finding it easier to access the local magic. Like it unplugged that hole for me."  Speed nodded, that wasn't so bad.  "For some reason I have the feeling that I told it to make another me if it wanted me back."

"I'd hope not a literal one or else we'd have to steal it."  He cuddled his son.  "When's your next day off?"

"Two weeks.  Jack considered this time off."

"Jack and I are about to have a talk where I run him over with the bike," he noted dryly. "I've got Wednesday off if you wanted to call in sick.  We can watch movies and have popcorn?"  Xander grinned at him for that.  He gave him a squeeze.  "Don suggested we start setting you up with people.  Think you could handle that?"

"I only want someone who'll cuddle."

"I agree, Xanders need cuddles to stay sane," he offered, cuddling him closer.  "Male or female?" he asked quietly.

Xander shifted, sitting next to him.  "I don't know, dad.  I've had...thoughts I guess you'd call 'em."

"Everyone has those.  Do you think you could handle dating a guy if he was the one?"  Xander shrugged.  "Okay, should we start finding you reference sources?"

"I used my pass to get into one of the gay sex clubs.  It didn't look that different."

"First, sex clubs are dangerous," he noted patiently.  "Secondly, a real relationship is nothing like that, Xander.  Real relationships are things like *dating*."

"Which I never got to do a lot of.  I'm good with the after but not the foreplay in that case.  Even though I'm very good with foreplay."  Tim poked him, shaking his head.  "Sorry, had to be said."

"I heard, trust me.  Abby bragged more than enough for you and then she compared."  Xander blushed at that and hid his face against Tim's chest.  He stroked over his arm, smiling down at him.  "If you want to think about it more closely, find some sites online or a book to show you what gay sex is like, kid.  I can even handle you listening to gay porn now and then as long as it's not the fetish shit.  Because if you get into the fetish shit, I'm having you put on drugs."  Xander blushed hotter, looking up at him.  "You are?"

"A bit into being tied up.  Maybe some mild toys.  I'm not sure."

"Well, find a good gay sex manual and let's see what turns you on," he offered.  Xander nodded and hugged him around the waist, cuddling in.  "If you do, I'm sure we can find you a nice man to date.  I'd have to approve of him of course, but a nice guy to date."  Xander nodded, relaxing against him.  "So, what are you looking for?"

"Someone who treats me well and doesn't want to kill me.  Someone who cuddles."

"Any other requirements?" he teased, tickling him a bit.  Xander shook his head.  "Smart guy, pretty guy, jock?  Eric?  Ryan?"  Xander looked up at him.  "What sort of guy."

"Someone like Horatio's darker twin; a guy who can have some fun and let loose, but has control now and then when the situation warrants it.  I would never put up with someone who called me their bitch or their pussy."

Speed smiled at that.  He doubted anyone would be calling Xander their pussy.  "Okay, well there's supposedly a nice gay guy on SWAT."  He shrugged.  "I'll see if he's dating and if he'd be willing to go out with you."  He dropped a kiss onto his head.  "You should be in bed."

"I don't have to get up until noon tomorrow and I've already had a nap."

"Point."  He yawned and pulled him tighter, getting comfortable.  "Maybe I'll wake up sick tomorrow."

"Horatio left a message as he was driving home that said 'should Speed call off tomorrow, I will be skinning him' and then hung up."  He wrapped an arm around Tim's waist and got comfortable, ending up using his thigh as a pillow.  "I need to buy a computer of my own so I don't traumatize you with my porn."

"Yeah, that might be nice," he agreed dryly.  "We can look on Wednesday, plus find you some less lusty clothes for dates. You looked good in the shirt earlier today."

"I was having a jazz mood and Jim didn't complain so we went to a jazz club and I got hit on by the pretty woman with way too much jewelry and perfume. Then I had to pretend to be with Horatio to get her to leave me alone and not take me home with her.  She was kinda insistent," he complained, frowning at the blank tv.  He switched it on, getting a mild chuckle.  "Too quiet.  Quiet is bad."

"Most people like some quiet now and then."  He stroked through the dark hair.

"Quiet leads to an attack," he reminded him.

"You had way too many years hunting," Tim complained, watching the mindless comedy.  "Who was watching PBS?"

"You were.  Nova."

"Oh, sorry."  He shrugged and got into the Dr. Who episode.  It wasn't something he watched very often but he knew Xander liked it.

"I like the next-to-last Doctor better," Xander said quietly.

"I'm calling someone to detox your magic just in case," Speed assured him. Xander called over the phone, too comfortable to get up.  "Way too much magic in this house," he noted as Xander dialed.

"Yup.  Yo, plague of my life.  Why did the hellmouth reach out and try to entice me back?  Well, it left me feeling slutty," he noted dryly.  "And I ended up causing an orgy.  And now Tim thinks that something's wrong.  Well, I could call Giles and tell him to come to Miami, but...."  He smirked. "I didn't think you wanted him anywhere near your hidey-hole, Ethan."  He laughed at something he said.  "Think about it this way, Ethan.  My adopted father is Speedle, who works with Caine.  Who thinks you're some guy named Fredro?"  He smirked.  "I thought so.  Now, I've had Willow hack into the Watcher's database, including your Juvie files."  That got a shocked silence.  "I have the only copy of that CD, Ethan, and I do know where certain people now are.  I can gladly bribe you with that to make sure I'm still okay.  No, I got sent to Miami by Tim when the Powers brought him back.  They wanted to fix something by sending me off the hellmouth permanently.  Well, you are a plague, Ethan.  Consider it a compliment with what you do for a hobby."  He smirked.  "Really?  Do you make money being a chaos sorcerer like I do being a stripper and drawing psychotic assholes who want to kill me and keep my parts?"  He smirked.  "Darkness.  Yup, that's me."  He smirked.  "Thanks.  No, we're on eighth, in the demon apartment building.  Sure.  Now's good.  Thank you, Ethan."  He hung up and sent the phone back, then got comfortable again. "He'll be here within the hour."

"Good.  Way too much magic in this house."  He went back to petting his kid.  He purred, it was nicer than a cat.   "We should take a normal vacation some day," he said thoughtfully.

"That would be nice, but what is a normal vacation?"

"One where you go somewhere just to have fun. No work or anything."  He shrugged.  "Spring break?"

"I hear it's a lot of bikinis.  We could just take the week off and sit on the beach to watch the young girls with perky, firm breasts bounce."

"No, Eric does that every year.  Cruise?"

"Stilted actor."

Tim poked him, then grinned down at him.  "I agree, but not the type I was talking about.  I was talking about a big boat that goes places and has clubs on board."

"You want me to do that?  Considering how much of a problem there could be?  They'd stalk me around the ship."

"Good point.  Hmm.  Lots of kids go to Cancun for spring break.  That way we wouldn't look like a pack of dirty old men sitting up here on our beaches."

"A beach is a beach.  Spa?  Spoil ourselves senseless?"

"I can see that," he admitted.  "Or maybe somewhere like a theme park that had one attached?"  Xander beamed up at him.  "Good.  Compile a list and we'll decide on a target in January."  He went back to his petting, letting Xander answer the door with magic this one time.

"I hadn't thought it was that bad," Ethan complained as he walked in and shut the door behind him.  Xander yawned again.  "I will need to look him over by himself, without other influences."

"Why?  Gonna repossess me this year?" Xander asked with another yawn. "Sorry, up all night in the clubs in Vegas."

Ethan walked over and pulled the boy up, looking him over.  "It's going to be another long night.  We've got to make you drain all that chaos energy, Xander."  Xander nodded, letting him lead him back to his bedroom.

***

Speed walked into the station the next morning, making Eric smirk at him.  "What?"

"Ten guys got into a brawl over Xander last night."

"The hellmouth reached out to ask him to come home before his botched set," he admitted. "Ethan helped him wear that negative energy out last night.  He's fully crashed on the couch."  He yawned a bit, stretching up and back.  "You missed the sorority house that tried to get him to move in with them."  He headed to his locker to grab what he'd need, and then to his lab.  "I'm in," he called as he walked past Horatio's office.

"Speed, what happened to your boy?" he called, making Speed turn around and come back.  "I got reports for you saying that he was in the clubs last night?"

"The hellmouth reached out to him, wanting him to come back.  He said that's why he thinks he botched that one set.  The chaos guy you both know made him go out to wear it out in the clubs, watching over the draining so he could suck up some of it and use it later to make Rupert pout. I've already heard about the sorority house and Eric told me that there were some guys who got into a brawl."  He heard the very deep snarl and looked at his boss. "He was okay."

Horatio handed over a report.  "More than a few.  They ended up busting one of the anything-goes clubs because Xander was making the women do illegal things."  Speed read it over, then looked at him.  "In public outside the club."

"That happens anyway and he wasn't there, Horatio.  I got a full list of where he went when I made him breakfast. He was their excuse."  He shrugged and finished his trudge to the lab.  He would let Xander know he was blamed for that later.  Just in case it came back to haunt him.

Fighting For Family

Xander pulled up outside the school Ray Jr. went to, waiting patiently.  He looked at the other waiting parents, one of them catching his eye.  He pulled out his camera and took a few pictures, then put it back in his backpack.  He saw Ray Jr. come out and honked, nodding at him.  He hurried over.  "Hey.  Have a bad day?"

"The usual."  He grimaced and slid in, shutting the door and buckling up.  He looked at the same guy.

"Who is he?"

"I don't know but he's creepy and he's always here," Ray admitted quietly.  He got out and went to find a guard, pointing at the guy.  The guard came to expel him and he got back in the car, waiting while Xander took pictures of the guy's license plate and car.  "He's been hanging around for the last few days," he admitted, buckling up again.  "The guards can only expel him but he hasn't done anything suspicious.  They claim they notified the cops."

"Yeah, well, so am I," Xander admitted.  "You up for a visit?"

"Sure.  I wish like hell everyone was here and not in Federal Protection at the moment."

"You and me both, nephew, you and me both."  Ray laughed at that so he drove off, heading for the station.  He walked the kid inside with his camera, nodding at the door guard.  "Is Frank Tripp in?"

"He's on a scene."

"Who's that way?"

"The new guy," the guard admitted.  "Why?"

"There's a guy who keeps hanging at Ray Jr.'s school," he said grimly.  "He's sparking my serial killer senses."  He walked the kid inside, heading back to the detective's squad.  "Detective?"  He looked over, frowning a bit.  "Yes, I know, you don't expect to see us since his mother's not here and neither is my family, but we've got a suspicious person hanging at his school."

"Define suspicious."

"Even the guards are worried but he hasn't done anything yet," Ray said patiently, sitting down.  "He's been kicked off six days of the last ten school days."  The detective nodded for him to go on.  "He's been staring at me and two girls.  The guards are kicking him off as soon as they see him and even Xander's noticed him."

"How would you know anything about bad guys, Xander?"

"Because I've had to save my ass from about six serial killers," Xander said dryly.  "Two of them here."  He laughed.  "Ask Frank if you don't believe me."  He dialed the desk phone, swatting the guy's hand when he tried to stop him, putting it on speaker.

"Tripp," he said, sounding upset.

"Frank, there's a stalker guy at Ray's school."

"Hell.  Is he doing anything?"

"Watching Ray and two girls," Xander offered.  "And he creeped me out when I went to pick him up today.  I got pictures."

"I think they're worrying for nothing," the detective offered.

"Kid, Xander knows serial killers.  He's been hunted by at least six of them.  Including two down here that New York wanted.  Trust Xander's instincts."

"Seriously, Frank, this guy creeped me the hell out," Xander offered.  "Like my instincts are screaming to take him and run.  Like I said, I got pictures."

Frank was quiet for a minute.  "Okay," he said finally.  "You know the routine, Xander."

"That's why I took the pictures and his licence plate and stuff."  He shifted slightly.  "Frank, I'm seriously wanting to run."

"Go," he decided.  "You know where."

"Yeah, I know where.  Get word back to his mom and don't warn him I'm coming with Ray.  I've got the tickets.  Call my teachers for me?"

"Sure."  He hung up.

Xander looked at Ray.  "Okay, let's go."  He looked at the detective, pulling over his laptop to download a copy of the pictures.  "That's the guy, his car, and the license plate."  He unhooked his camera, then took Ray with him.  "We're heading out.  Thank you."  He walked Ray back to the car, nodding at the guard.  He got Ray into the car.  "Okay, the plan is, we're going to New York."  That got a nod.  "I need to stop at the bank and then one other spot."  He started the car and backed out, heading to his bank and the safety deposit box that held some stuff his former psychos had sent him after he had retired.  "You are not to tell your uncle I know these people, Ray.  I learned about them while I was stripping.  He would be most upset if he learned I knew where this place was."  He glanced at him when he had to stop at a sign.  "Are you stripping?"

"I tried it once," he admitted with a blush.  "The girls are."

Xander nodded.  "Liked it?" he asked dryly as he turned the corner and drove on at the honk.

"Nope.  I was really sore."

"Yeah, me too.  I won't tell your mother, kid.  But I wouldn't go back to it again because Horatio is watching for that stuff.  Besides, when your mom finds out, she's gonna scream and your uncle and I are going to be hiding with Speed."  Ray laughed at that.  "You think I'm kidding?"

"No," he admitted.  He turned on the radio, content that Xander had his back for now.

***

Xander walked the kid off the plane and turned on his cellphone, calling Don's.  "Hey, it's me.  Where am I heading to come visit?" he asked patiently.  "No, it's important.  Where?  Precinct, Don?"  He sighed and hung up, leading Ray to the cabs.  He called Aiden on the walk.  "Which precinct am I heading to to see Don and them?" he asked.  The cab pulled up in front of them and he checked around before letting Ray in and following him.  "Aiden?" he asked.  He smiled.  "All I know is that they're in Manhattan somewhere."  The cabbie nodded and took off that way.  "Aiden?" he called sweetly.  "Yes, it's important.   I wouldn't be anywhere near my former stalkers and their state of incarceration without a very good reason."  He smiled. "Thank you."  He hung up.  "115 please."

"Sure.  Any particular entrance?"

"CSI if it's got a different one."

"You guys cops?" the cabbie asked as he pulled onto the highway.

"I'm a profiling student and his mom and uncle are a cop," Xander admitted.  "We're paying a professional courtesy visit and bringing information."

"Ah.  Where you two from?"

"Miami."

He laughed.  "Not nearly as much sun up here at the moment.  No bags?"

"I'll buy new," Xander said dryly.  "I'm good with shopping most of the time."  The cabbie laughed.  "I am.  Speaking of, got a decent hotel recommendation?  Somewhere south of the Waldorf and north of the local rent-a-ho spots?"

"Raddison's near there," he offered.  "It's decent and clean, plus a bit cheaper."

"Thank you."  He smiled at him and got comfortable.  "Don't worry, Ray, you remember the guys.  Don's like my big brother."

Ray nodded.  "Good.  Do you have any idea?"

"Yeah," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I have a very bad idea, hence our running.  I figured out who he was on the plane."  He shifted to look at him.  "He looks just like the guy who delivered the bunny paper presents to me."  Ray moaned, holding his head. "So we're going to have a very *full* discussion when we get there."

Ray nodded.  "Yes, Xander.  I agree."  They continued on, letting the kid see the sights as the cabbie drove.  When they got there, Xander let Ray pay the cabbie since he had the wallet.  Xander walked them inside, checking around, much to the amusement of the cops they walked past.  Ray stopped at the desk.  "Hi.  Is Detective Flack or CSI Taylor or Messer around?  It's kinda important but not critical," he offered quietly.

"You a relative, kid?"

Xander looked at him.  "It's about a case they worked in Miami.  The guy's after him now.  This is Caine's nephew Ray."

"Oh.  I remember Lieutenant Caine when he came up the last time."  He picked up his phone and talked quietly to someone.  He hung up and grimaced. "They're on a case but CSI Bonasera's in.  Can she help?"

"I don't know, I never met her," Xander admitted.  "It might, yeah."  He smiled and paged her.  "Thank you."  He led Ray out of the way and waited.  Aiden had shown him pictures of all her friends and this one hadn't changed much.  "Stella," he called when he saw her.  She looked really confused so he motioned her closer.  "I'm Xander."

"Xander...."

He grinned, shaking her hand.  "Xander Harris.  I'm the guy they caught the bunny paper psycho with."

"Oh, yeah, Horatio's Xander."  She smiled at him then at Ray.  "Okay, what's wrong?"

"Is he out?  He's stalking Ray, Horatio's nephew Ray," he said, nodding at the kid.  She blinked a few times.  "Looks just like him, the guy's stalking his school.  Horatio and them are in protective custody since someone tried to blow up the building to kill them.  It's an FBI case so they're hiding until the trial.  They had to drag most of them away in handcuffs to take them, but they're safely hidden and Frank agreed I should come see Don since it was you guys' case originally."

"Sure," she agreed, smiling at him. "I swear I've seen you."

"Well, either you saw a picture Aiden had of me since I'm the kid she sorta adopted in Sunnydale."  That got a laugh.  "Or you saw the robot me a friend sent up to soothe Danny."

"Ah!  You're the guy the stupid robot was based on!"  He beamed and nodded and Ray groaned.  "Sorry, kid."  She looked at them.  "What sort of proof do you have?"

Xander pulled out the camera and let her see the pictures he took.  "That's from his school.  It's him and two girls.  Ray here decided to try my former job one night for a kick.  He thinks the girls are doing the same job."

"Okay.  Let's go to our breakroom."  She led them off, getting them visitor badges.  She also called Don.  "Where's the bunny paper killer files?"  She smirked at Xander.  "Because a kid's here saying that he's out of prison, he's got pictures, and he's dragging Horatio's nephew Ray, who the guy is stalking."  She nodded. "Sure, we'll be in the breakroom."  She hung up.  "He's fuming," she shared, smiling at him.

"Yeah, well, the last time I saw him he was bringing the robotic me back down so we could ship him off," Xander said dryly, shrugging and handing her the camera.  "That way I can't bang it against anything."

"Sure.  You're learning from Horatio?"

"No, Tim wants me to be a profiler."  He grinned at her.  "I've got very good hunting and stalking instincts and various psychos like me."

"Wonderful.  Why?"

"Do you remember a case where he had to retrieve one from Montreal?"  She nodded quickly.  "That was me too."

"Wow.  So they really know you?"

"You have no idea, ma'am," Ray said dryly, shaking his head and patting Xander on the back. "Two within six months.  One committed suicide when he quit stripping because he couldn't kidnap him."

"And left me stuff," Xander admitted dryly, smirking at her.  "But since his mom and Horatio are out of town, along with Tim and the others, I'm kinda his step-guardian at the moment."  The elevator quit moving and he let her go first, following her with Ray beside him.  He nodded at Mac when he hurried in.  "She's got the pictures.  Him, his car, his license plate.  Everyone but Frank's in protective custody about that FBI thing."  He glanced at Ray, who blushed.  "Little man here tried it one night for shits and giggles."

"Well, you would know about these people," Mac Taylor admitted, looking at the pictures.  "That does look just like him," he admitted. "The bunny paper part, the one who went after the innocents.  I know his counterpart is still in a Florida prison, I can check on this one, Xander."  He looked at Ray.  "Are you okay?"

"Yeah.  The guards at the school can't keep him from coming on the grounds and they can't do more than kick him off. They say he hasn't done anything yet.  He's been watching me and two other girls. We tried to tell the detective still on duty down there but he's new and he laughed.  We called Frank Tripp and he agreed with Xander's instincts to evacuate the cub."

Mac nodded.  "It's usually a good thing to listen to his instincts, Ray.  Come on, we can use my office.  Don's on his way back.  Danny's still on a scene, Xander."

"I'm really sorry Willow sent you the robo-Xander.  She thought it'd make Danny feel better.  It went to my ex-girlfriend Anya."  Mac shuddered.  "She's very happy and promised to keep him out of both cities."

"Good!  I don't ever want to see that thing again."  Stella peeled off to do something and came back with the file for him.  "Thank you, Stella."

"So, Aiden adopted you in Sunnydale?" she asked, closing the door.

Xander grinned and nodded.  "She and Tim also drove my parents out of town before he killed them.  She's in Seattle."

"Do you have her number?  I'd like to chew her a new one for not writing."  He handed over his phone and she paged down through it.  "Speed?"  She looked at him and he nodded.  "How?"

"Ask Aiden.  Sunnydale is like someplace Danny called Penguin Street locally?"  She shuddered and nodded.  "Well, she needed help and they sent Tim back.  He's about my dad.  She's my mom."

"Except when you used to call Uncle Horatio mom," Ray reminded him.

"Yeah, but that's just creepy now," Xander said dryly, nudging him.  "You're going to get me yelled at for you picking up my smutty pervert vibes."

"Sorry," he said with an unrepentant grin.  "I'm sixteen.  I'm like that."

Mac snorted, shaking his head.  "Don't let your uncle hear you say that.  He will yell at Xander."

"He's more likely to spank me," Xander noted dryly, giving him a look when Mac stared at him.  He grinned at the opening mouth.  "Unless you want details?"  Mac shook his head and got back to it, comparing the photo to the camera's image.  He looked back at the amused-looking Stella.  "I consider Don to be like a big brother.  Him and Eric.  And hey, I've got a step-mom in Calleigh since she and Speed are dating."

She burst out laughing.  "Oh, that's gotta be a fun marriage.  Is he letting her in his kitchen?"

"I wouldn't know.  I got banished from even making cold sandwiches the day I woke them up with the smoke alarm while making scrambled eggs and toast."  She laughed some more, getting out of the way when Don stormed in.

"Kid," he stared.  Mac handed him the camera and he looked, then groaned.  "He's supposedly still in custody," he admitted, looking at them.

"He's got a stalker twin?" Xander asked dryly, smirking at him. "Frank agreed with my instincts to beat a hasty, strategic retreat to safer ground since everyone's in protective custody before testifying in a federal thing against an assassin.  The school's guards couldn't do anything.  The other detective down there wouldn't and Frank's about the only one working it seems like."

"Okay, good instincts," he decided. "Let me make someone do a physical check on the guy.  Where are you two staying?"

"Hotel," Xander told him, smirking a bit.  "I'll be extra specially safe."

"Good!"  He looked him over, then shook his head. "What're you carrying?  I can't see it."

Xander coughed and took something off his neck, then handed over his weapon, his license, and his few knives. Mac looked amused so he shrugged. "I thought it necessary.  It's also plastic.  The knives are specially Willow charmed.  I'll mail them back."

"Good," Mac agreed, staring him down.  "Magic covered it that well?"

"Yeah, anything under a pound.  That's why the gun is one of those nice plastic ones."  Don rolled his eyes and walked out so Xander put everything back, putting back on the necklace.  "The cabbie said the Raddison.  You got any complaints about that?"

"No, we like them.  We've put witnesses in there before," Mac admitted. "No bags?"

"I can easily find a place to buy jeans and t-shirts, Mac," Xander said dryly.  "My debit card is good even up here.  I warned my bank."

"Good.  Just be very careful.  You can still be pickpocketed."

"Only if they want to go missing a hand," Xander noted as he stood up. "Let me get him there and we'll head shopping-ward after dinner, and I figure by then someone will know something?"  Mac nodded. "Good.  Then we're going to do that.  I've got my cell on me."  He walked Ray out, an arm around his shoulders.  "Let them work, and we'll be fine.  I've got your back," he reminded him quietly.  The kid was tense.  "Your uncle trusts Mac and his team with his life."  Ray nodded at that.  "Plus you know I'll protect you."  His phone rang so he pulled it out, looking at the number.  "Hi, Tim.  We're in New York.  Bunny paper guy came after Ray Jr.  No, we told the detective, he laughed.  We told Frank, he agreed with me.  We've just gotten done telling Don, Stella, and Mac.  Yup, Raddison.  Thanks."  He hung up and winked.  "It'll be okay pretty soon.  Just relax and let me deal."  Ray nodded again, letting him get the elevator for them.  Xander stopped them at the desk.  "It looks like we're going to be here for a few days.  Which way is the Raddison?" he asked politely.

"Up the block to the left," he said, pointing.  "About four blocks, kids."

"Thank you."  He walked Ray off, making sure they weren't being followed or guarded.  Or even watched except by those cops who were giving him an amused look.  He got them there and inside, checking them into a double room with a work area.  Once up there he called Willow.  "It's me. You know that bag I sent you? I need it magic-grammed to where I am.  Yeah, like now, Willow.  No, like one of my psychos is hunting Horatio's nephew.  Yeah.  Please.  I'm here, he's here, and I've got the necklace you sent me on."  He hung up with a grin.  "Give her ten minutes to pull it out from under her bed."  He sat down and surfed the tv channels, watching the kid settle in.  "Calm down, Ray.  I've lived through ones that took me hostage, that tried to kill me, and this one's partner tried to get me in the shower while I was cleaning off ooze from a kraken.  This is nothing to worry about."  Ray gave him a cold look. "I'm serious.  It's not.  You haven't gotten presents, he's still in the investigation phase.  Frank knows so he can ask the guards about the two girls.  Don and them will protect you along with me.  You're as safe as if your mom were home.  Once the bag gets here, you can write her an email, okay?"

"It's not the same."

"I know."  He got up to give him a hug, catching the bag as it fell.  "Thank you, Willow," he called quietly.  "Anything else?"  Two plain brown packages and something else fell onto his bed and he grinned.  "Cookies."  He gave the kid a hug and let him unwrap them for him.

"Um, not cookies," he said, holding up something. "Gay boy porn.  Do you need that with the way Uncle Horatio jumps you?"

Xander looked at it, then snorted.  "Someone cut one of my dance scenes into it," he said dryly.  "I'm going to fry my old boss Audry."  He opened the other one, finding a new kit.  He grinned and tucked the money into his pocket, then handed Ray the bag.  "Go ahead and hook in the computer, Ray.  It's got wi-fi."  Ray nodded, digging out the computer and other stuff, plugging in the antennas and logging onto his mother's email account to write her a message at her personal one.  He didn't tell her more than the hotel chain he was in, getting a nod from Xander for that caution.  "Good job."  He sat down to nibble on a cookie, looking at the rest of the bag.  "This was stuff I set up when I ran away.  After the second psycho, the old Sunnydale instincts kicked in and I started to prepare stuff.  Some days I miss my old paychecks."

Ray gave him a long stare, then went back to typing.  "How much were you making?"

"My last one was nearly a quarter of a mil," he said dryly.  Ray quit to stare at him in awe.  He nodded.  "That final performance?  Yeah.  Including tips and stuff.  When I was in Montreal, the first club was a full monty club.  Plus, my psychos focused on me so they couldn't go after anyone else.  They paid heavily to hunt me.  I was making base six hundred a week in Montreal plus tips and special modeling commissions.  My buddy that made all my clothes was an up and coming designer so I got to be her model a lot."

"The lady who made those stretch cord pants?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "Wow.  Is she still designing?"

Xander grinned and nodded.  "Very muchly so.  I checked while we were waiting on the flight and she's in town.  I trust her so we can pop in on her and get a good spot to shop at."  Ray smiled at that.  "What can I say?  She liked my tongue and my ass."  He shrugged.  "It was stress relief and hugging after nightmares. Her girlfriend was being a twat at the time."  Ray gaped so he smirked.  "You meet a lot of interesting people stripping and it's a good way to learn about people, but it's one of the most wearing jobs on the planet.  You're always tired, sore, and cranky.  You have to make nice with drunks and people who believe you sell it as well.  There's a reason why a lot of us end up alcoholics and drug abusers, Ray.  Now, why did you really try it that night?"

"My girlfriend has a friend who's mother was moping over your picture and she recognized you.  She thought it was hot so she made me one night.  It was stupid and I was bad at it."

"So was I my first few weeks, then I had someone teach me better.  There were days I wish I had been a sewer worker instead of a stripper.  Even with the looks that Tim gave me."

"I understand why.  Just that short spin on the stage that one time and I felt dirty and nasty.  I had to shower for hours because of it.  Mom thought someone had attacked me so I told her I had a fight with my girlfriend."

"Fat chance she won't hear now," he noted dryly.

"I put that in my message to Uncle Horatio," he admitted.  "I figure he can hold her down and tell her. Then you and I can hide when they finally let her go."

"Yeah, I'm thinking a sudden trip to see Aiden would be in order," he agreed dryly.  Someone knocked so he got up and looked out the spyhole, letting Danny in. "Hi."

"Hi."  He looked at him, then at the kid, then back at him.  "Is anyone going to complain about kidnaping?"

"We told Frank, he's written his mother.  His father's dead," he said quietly.

"Okay.  So I'm guessing no.  She did call and screamed at Mac.  He gave her the specifics you gave him and that the pictures were identical.  Then he told her where you two were."

"I wrote her a discreet email," Ray admitted.  "Then one to Uncle Horatio that was a bit more graphic.  I can't discuss this stuff with my mom."

"I can understand that," Danny said as he walked in further, letting Xander close the door.  "So, we're checking.  It's gonna take us a few more hours."  Ray nodded at that.  "You two be okay tonight?"

"My designer buddy is in town so I was going to take Ray there to see where we can go to get something for him to wear tomorrow," Xander admitted.  "I got my former psycho escape kit back from Willow.  We'll be fine, Danny.  Just find this guy and see if it's the same guy."

"Okay."  He looked at Xander.  "You good watching him?"  Xander nodded.  "New York's a big city.  Things happen here."

"Things happen in Miami too," he noted dryly. "The same as they did in Montreal and LA.  I'm good with hanging with him and protecting him, Danny.  We're good on most things.  I'll get dinner when we go to see her and pick up a few things. Then we'll come right back here.  That way we know if anyone tracked us here due to the email."

"Okay," he agreed, nodding.  "Give us a few hours, kids.  Go do that now, Xander.  You need a ride?"

"We can take cabs," he admitted.  Danny snorted and gave him a long look.  He pulled out his necklace and waved it a bit.  "Willow created it, Danny.  It works here too."

"If you say so.  Be very careful."

"I am."  He grinned at him.  "I can easily go back into stripper persona."

"Good point."  He hugged him.  "Be back here in two hours.  I can drop you off."

"I'm not taking you away from catching the bad guys.  The victims here need you more."  Danny smiled at that and nodded, leaving.  "Go ahead and lock down the computer so we can head."  Ray nodded and did that, following him out. The doorman got them a cab and he gave them the address he had found earlier.  It was even in the same borough.  He paid the cabbie and got out, leading Ray inside while checking around.  The secretary frowned at him, then stared a picture on the wall.  Xander looked then grinned.  "Yeah, it's me.  Diana in?  I need a recommendation since we're in town for a few days."

"I'll call her, Xander."  She called her boss.  "Boss, it's Xander!"  She hung up on the squeal, rubbing her ear. "She'll be running right down."

Xander smiled, turning to catch the woman running up behind them, spinning her around. "Hi, Diana."  He smirked at her.  "You missed it.  I've got my own stud now.  And this is his nephew.  We're in town on a situation for a few days."

"Not another one," she complained, swatting him.  "Come to my office, sweetie."  She led them off by taking their arms and making them walk with her.  "Which psycho?"

"Bunny paper guy," he said grimly.

"He's in jail."

"Then he's got a twin," Ray noted bitterly.  "Now he likes me."

She cooed and gave him a hug, saying something quietly in french in his ear.  "It's all right, sweetness.  Xander can defeat any deranged person."  She let them into the office, closing and locking the doors.  "So, what's going on that you need something from me?"

Xander grinned.  "We left in a hurry.  Need somewhere to get him clothes."

"Ah."  She nodded and wrote down a few addresses, handing it to Ray.  She looked at Xander.  "You're still in excellent shape."

"I'm dating a Lieutenant," he said dryly.  "Horatio says so.  That way I can pounce him."  He heard a baby cry and stiffened, looking at her.  "Please tell me that's not mine."

"Nope.  That's my present girlfriend's baby.  Relax.  I was on the pill, dear."  She patted him on the cheek.  "I wish I could use you in my show next week."

He grinned. "I can't promise we'll be here.  Oh, hey, remember the Middle Eastern guy who wanted to castrate me?"  She shuddered but nodded.  "When I retired from the business, he committed suicide and left me those cuffs he wanted to put on me.  Plus the clippers he was going to use since they're solid gold."  She made a face and shuddered.  "Yeah.  My final act, I walked out with Horatio.  I took his hand and walked off stage, letting the music fade behind us.  Very artistic.  I made my former boss cry."

"Is that the same boss who let someone cut your dancing into their porn tape?" Ray asked.

"No, she was my second boss in Montreal."

"Audry?" she asked.  He nodded.  "Damn.  Which tapes?"  He handed her one he had snuck out of the stack.  "Huh."  She put it on her desk.  "I'll call her and warn her you're upset.  So, how many psychos was it in the end?"

"Eight, six, something like that," he said with a small shrug, glancing at Ray.

She either missed it or wanted the kid to relax.  "Not just the serious ones, Xander.  I meant all of them."

He rolled his eyes.  "Including minor stalkers who wanted me way too much?  Maybe fifty."  He shrugged.  "Most of them were over with after a few days of me not playing along.  I worked in a feeder club to the anything-goes circuit in Miami."

"Oooh," she moaned, shivering and clamping her thighs together.  "Were you a *good* boy?"

"I only watched," he said dryly, smirking at Ray.  "Yes, he knows."

"I figured he or Speed had you followed," Ray agreed with a smirk for him.  "But I'm so gonna tell him."

"You want leather pants?  You don't nark about the guys who still wanna sink into my body one way or another, kid."  He looked at her again.  "Gee, thanks."

"I heard a detective at a party mention you the other day, Xander.  If you'll model for me and let me pay you again, I won't tell him."  He moaned.  "Come on! I could use you," she whined, stomping a foot delicately. "Please?"

"Don's like my big brother, Diana.  I don't want him to be disappointed in me.  That's really dirty of you."  She pouted. "If we're here.  I can't guarantee it and we're both in school."

"Fine," she said with only a mild pout, which turned into a grin.  "Can I fit you tonight?"

"Can I keep 'em?" he countered.  She beamed and nodded.  "Fine, as long as we make it fast.  The kid still needs clothes."

She snorted and waved a hand.  "I can take care of that, Xander."  She led them through another door and into her workroom, pointing at a pedestal.  "Stand there, Ray, we'll do you first, dear."  He climbed on it and she measured every inch of his body.  "You're not too badly built," she offered.  "I could probably use you too.  I pay six grand for the show."

"I'm only sixteen," he told her.

"So?"

"My mother's a detective.  I'm Horatio Caine's nephew."  She shivered at that and moaned again. "Xander's his toy."  She let out a deeper moan and looked at Xander, who smirked and winked at her.  "Would they be upset with it?"

"Oh, yeah," she moaned, looking pitifully at him. "If I can get his big brother to agree?"

"Hey, call Don Flack or Mac Taylor," Xander said dryly.  "If they're here and they agree once they talk to Frank Tripp, then I'll let us do it."  She hurried to make the call.  He rolled his eyes.  "I'm hoping it's solved sooner.  Horatio is going to paddle my ass in unfun ways."  Ray beamed and nodded.  "Get me in more trouble, Ray," he taunted.  "Watch me turn it around.  Remember, I know where you were while your mother was on a call the other night."

"You think she didn't?"

"I doubt she knew about the four other girls there."  Ray blushed at that and ducked his head just like his uncle did.  "Got me here?"  Ray nodded quickly, glancing at him.  "Good. You look just like your uncle when you do that."  He hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.  "If you were older and better built, I'd be tempted but you're not."  Ray burst out in giggles.  Xander's phone beeped so he looked at it, handing it to Ray.  "Ask permission from him too.  Star-69."

Ray hit the buttons and grinned.  "Hi, Uncle Horatio."  He winced and pulled the phone away.  "No, I'm safe.  No, he's here talking with his friend who used to make his clothes.  Well, she's doing a show next week and she wants us to model," he offered with a grin.  "No, we went there first and they're looking into it.  No, they agreed with Xander.  He looks just like the guy.  Don Flack's having them do a physical check on the guy.  Sure."  He handed over the phone. "He's so pissed."

Xander sighed and took it, listening to the quiet yelling.  "It was not my idea. No, I didn't give him an opportunity to pack and I wanted to make sure no one could track us back to our room so I came to ask Diana, the lady who made my clothes in Montreal, where we could go to get some for him.  I'm being a responsible semi-uncle, Horatio."  He rolled his eyes.  "No, she's trying to bribe us to do her show next week. Paid and the clothes.  I told her Don and Frank had to agree," he said patiently.  "Honey, Ray's girlfriend thought it was hot that I used to dance and talked him into doing a turn on the stage.  That's why the guy likes him.  We've already talked about it and he felt slimy that night so it's all good on that end.  Six grand."  He smirked at the kid. "I know that's a lot, but imagine how much the real models get an hour.  That's for the whole day of the show.  I already told her we might not be here," he sighed.  "Plus she had to ask Don and Frank for permission."  His phone beeped and he looked at it.  "Hold on, that's Don."  He clicked over.  "What?  I'm trying to calm down Horatio."  He clicked back.  "Sorry.  He's laughing his ass off at the moment.  That's why I made her ask.  No, Ray's presently blushing, dear.  Oh, I don't know.  She heard your name and got off."  He smirked at the kid, who was now bright red.

"You know, he's got that blush and head duck down just like you do.  Nope.  We're good and safe and I'm carrying.  We're going to be fine.  You guys stay safe and let the big brother handle this stuff.  Okay?  Yeah, well, I had Willow send the emergency escape from the psychos kit I made in Montreal."  He looked up and sighed.  "I'll show you all my paystubs when you get back. Just don't get blown up or anything or else I'm going to have to end the FBI and their little world and friends for letting you guys get hurt.  You can tell dad I said that.  Love you."  He hung up on the protests, clicking back to Don.  "Sorry, he's now spluttering. I told her we may not be here and she had to get yours and Frank Tripp's approval.  Yeah, well, she heard one of you guys talking about me too, big brother Don.  Did you know that Tim decided he's going to send me to you if I become a discipline problem?"  He grinned and hung up on that spluttering.  "Okay, he's going to call Miami to complain to Frank.  Then we'll see if we can do this for her.  She makes my Xander-tight clothes."  Ray shivered and let out a small moan. "If you started to work out, you too can wear pants that are tight enough to show if you're cut or not, dear.  Until then?  Nope.  You're still sixteen and I'm not going to encourage anything that'll cause an orgy I'd have to rescue you from.  By the way, I didn't do a condom check but if you didn't use one, I'm so going to paddle your ass."

"I did," he promised, holding up a hand.  "I may not have changed between women but I changed it whenever I got off and I used one even during oral sex."

"Good.  At least you're smart about it.  I don't wanna tell your mom you caught something while being a club whore."  Ray shook his head fiercely at that.  "Good.  Do I need to give you the special Xander sex talk for new strippers?"  Ray moaned and shook his head.  "I'd better not and no funny shit while we're here, Ray."

"Yes, Xander.  I promise I'll behave."  He came off the stool and walked into the office, smiling at the baby.  "Hi, are you wandering?" he cooed, making Diana give him a panicked look.  He looked at the baby, then at her.  "You're so fucked," he mouthed.  "Xander likes kids and he'd die for his."  She nodded, picking up the baby and going back to her conversation with Frank.   She said his name.  He went to distract Xander.  He'd tell his uncle the next time he got him alone but not Xander, not yet.  Not while his life was in danger.  He jumped when a door slammed and Xander gave him a calm look. "How do you stand that?"

"All New Yorkers are loud and noisy.  It's a trait that marks you as native."  He looked out as Don came strolling in.  "See?"

"I do."  He waved at him.  "Hi."  He saw the look from the baby to Xander's back and back.  He shook his head quickly.

"I heard that," Xander said dryly, looking at the baby.  "Tell Frank I'm going to commit homicide if that's my son."

"Sorry," she called.  "I can't let you do that."

He walked out there, leaning on the desk.  "Diana."  She winced.  "Is he?"  She shrugged. "I'm going to insist on at least visitation.  My life's finally getting on track."

"Xander, please," she moaned.

"If he's my son I'm seeing him.  I refuse to be a father like mine!"

She swallowed and nodded.  "If he's yours, we'll figure that out when you're not in danger and when you quit drawing psychos."  His face went stony and she sighed.  "Hold on."  She put the detective on hold.  "Xander, what if they come for him?" she said quietly.  "What if one of them catches you while you're playing with him on the beach?"

"I haven't had one in months! I gave up stripping for Horatio."

"I know that, babe, but still."  She cuddled the baby.  "I'm not sure he's yours.  To be honest there was another guy who I picked up a lot because he reminded me of you but he did kinkier stuff. I think the baby's his," she told him.  "If not, then I'll arrange with your boyfriend about visitation and that stuff, once your life calms down and there's no more psychotic people after your tush."  He sighed and walked back into the other room, slamming the door.  She kissed the baby's head, then went back to her conversation.  "Sorry you had to hear that."  Frank gave her some very good advice.  "There's another candidate," she admitted.  "He has the same eyes too.  That's why I picked him up."  She patted her son on the back.  "No he stalked into the other room.  Thank you."  She hung up and went in there, making Don look at the baby again.  "I don't know. I'm willing to have him tested, but Xander still draws bad people to him like honey draws ants.  If he's his, I have nothing against him coming up here to visit him.  I won't even demand sex."  Xander gave her a cold stare.  "I'm sorry!  The other guy looked almost exactly like you only he liked it kinkier, like I do.  I'm almost certain Eric's his."

"If not, I am staying in contact," Xander said firmly, stalking back over there.  He took the baby to look at, smiling at him.  "Hi, Eric. I'm your uncle Xander."  The baby cooed and kicked at him, making him a happy guy.  "Test tonight?"

"Test tonight," she sighed. "I'll have my doc run it."  She went to make that call, praying the whole way that the baby wasn't his.  Her former whore boyfriend wouldn't care if she kept the kid.  Xander would fight her.

"If he is, I'll keep an ear out for him, Xander," Don assured him, coming over to look at the baby. "Hi, Eric."  The baby smiled at him and sucked on his first finger.  "I did that same thing.  I'm betting you taste just as good as I used ta."  He smoothed down some of the short, dark hair.  "We saw some Feeb go into your room and stopped him.  He was mad that you broke contact rules for them.  We *explained* why and he's horrified but we told him we'd keep them informed through email and stuff."

"My laptop has a video system on it," Xander admitted quietly.  "We can set that up."  Don and Ray both nodded.  "Any news?"

"He's not here.  He was sent to Canada for a trial up there and he disappeared on his way back."

"The FBI was keeping it from me why?" Xander demanded.

"No one knew you were involved.  They thought it was only the team they had ta worry about and they're in protective custody.  They didn't think about family and those things.  Though one guy is disgusted that Horatio and you are together.  He's now sporting a black eye thanks ta Danny.  He grinned.  "They jokingly suggested witness protection and Mac screamed."  He patted Xander on the back, giving him a gentle hug.  "Relax. It'll all work out.  Even if he's not, you can try some day."

"Not unless I get Willow involved," he noted dryly, looking at the baby, who was staring at him.  "I know, I'm odd.  If you're mine maybe you'll be a normal boy."  He looked back at Ray, who was giggling against the wall.  "It's possible.  His mother's normal."  He looked at Don again, grinning slightly.  "So, are we showing what we have on the catwalk?"

"Up ta you two, kid. You'll still be here. Frank wants you out of the city until they capture this guy.  If he comes up here, you're still staying since most of the department down there is understaffed."

"We both still have school stuff," Ray complained.

"You can do yours by mail and he's probably going to end up dropping out this semester, kid.  We'll work on the apartment stuff if it's going to run that long."  He looked at Xander again.  "You ready to let him wander?  He's got that wandering look."  Xander kissed the baby and let him down, watching as he cooed and headed back to mom.  "You okay?"

"Scared shitless I'll turn into my old man," he admitted quietly, looking at him.  "Equally scared that I've got this sudden *ache* for a kid, Don."

"I understand.  I had this scare once."  He gave him a clap on the back.  "So, how tight this time?"

"Not a clue.  But I'm sure Horatio will still be pissed."

"Hey, blame the chief down there," he noted dryly. "How's the finances looking?"

"That depends on me liquidating some things that I've got in my safety deposit box or having Frank do it," he admitted dryly. "If so, I'll be fine for a few months and won't have to touch anything I've got invested."

"Good.  We'll work on getting you a place in Danny, Stella's, or my building.  That way we can keep an eye on you guys."  Ray nodded at that.  "How long is that trial expected to last?"

"Another month," Ray said bitterly.  "Xander has custody of me."

"Well, if we have to do the apartment thing, at least I'll have to learn how to cook," Xander said dryly.

"You're not allowed near the kitchen," Ray said firmly.  "I cook better than you and I failed Home Ec, Xander.  No way I'm being poisoned by your cooking."

Xander stuck his tongue out, then looked at Diana as she came in.  "Test when?"

"A few hours.  She'll stop by on the way home."  She smiled at them.  "They said it'd be fine since this looked like it was going to run long. So, can you?"

"It'll save money for an apartment," Xander decided.  "As long as Ray wants it."

"Sure, I could use some clothes that make me look hot," Ray agreed dryly.  "I need to call my girlfriend."

"You can write her an email," Xander said firmly.  "If you're lucky, I'll let you call."

"Yes, Xander.  Can I have any fun?"

"As long as it's chaperoned fun," Don told him.  "New York is full of fun but it's all dangerous fun and you're a tasty target, kid. I wouldn't even trust Xander out alone.  Understood?"  Ray sighed and nodded.  "Good.  Consider me your extra uncle."

"Does that mean you're sharing Xander with Horatio?"

Diana let out a deep moan and went back to her office for a few minute. When she came back she was flushed but smiling.  "Okay, let's get to fitting.  Detective, would you like to model for me as well?  You do have a very nice body and you would look wonderful in my clothes.  I'd give them to you afterward."

"I'm not sure I'm allowed or I could stand being stared at that way."

Xander looked at him.  "If I can get naked on a stage and watch guys jack off while watching me wiggle and shake it, you can walk down a walkway clothed.  Because otherwise I'll be the prettiest there and someone will want to rip the clothes off me."

Don snorted and shook his head.  "I'd have to ask my bosses."  He walked into the other room, going to call Mac and get his opinion.  He came back a minute later, grimacing.  "Mac said it'd draw the asshole to us and I'd have to be there to protect them.  Possibly Danny too.  He's on his way over."  She beamed at him and kissed him on the cheek, putting Ray back onto the stool to measure him some more.  "Ya know, kid, every time we hang out with you, I end up doing stuff I never have before.  First it was male strippers, and then serial killers and watching you declare your lust for your man while stripping, and now modeling."  He leaned against the wall, listening for the telltale slam of a door.

"Hey, we could ask Aiden," Xander teased with a smirk.  "Diana, are you putting him in leather?"

"Of course, baby.  He'll look so hot in my pants."  She pinched Ray's cheek.  "Not even your mother will be able to complain.  She'll cry at how hot you are."

"You've never met my mother," he said dryly.  "She'll yell.   She likes to yell."  She giggled and went back to measuring him.  "Hey!" he said, moving away from her.

"I've got to take in room for you getting hard," she reminded him.  "Just think smutty thoughts for me so I can measure it.  I promise it I won't play with it and embarrass you."  She smiled at the man coming in and the other two.  "You three think thoughts to get ready for me too."  She winked at Danny.  "Hi, Danny."  He grinned.  "Do you know Xander?"

"Yeah, he's like a kid brother to us."  He looked at Xander.  "You know her?"

"She made my costumes and all those clothes that Horatio doesn't want me to wear in public.  Oh, Di, he loved the stretch cord outfit.  Calleigh's still talking about it and a few people have borrowed them on me."

"I have a pair of those," Danny said happily.

"I designed them for a routine of his, but he couldn't get out of them sexily," she said lightly, grinning at him.  She got back to work on Ray's measurements.  Then she hauled Xander over, making sure his were still the same.  He had more muscles so it made her purr.  She liked his body a lot.  Don blushed but let her measure him.  "You really should have these suits fitted better to show you off, Detective."

"Then I can't bend or run in 'em," he complained. "I don't know how Xander breaths in some of his pants."

"Don't worry, I'll show you later," she promised lightly.  She got done with him and did a cursory one on Danny, finding the same measurements.  "Good.  Now, shoo.  Come back in two days.  Xander, take the blue bag on the couch."  He nodded, going to do that and leading everyone off.  She went to get herself off so she could have good ideas for those pretty men. Maybe she could even get them to model for her kink show.

***

Xander hung up his cellphone and walked back into the room, locking the door behind him.  "Okay, we're gonna be set up and it's a done deal so far.  The small liquidation went through and no one's the wiser that we're up here in those circles.  Did you email your girl?"

Ray grimaced and nodded.  "Yeah, and got one back.  She called me a coward for running from the stalking bastard.  I so very thoughtfully pointed out that he was responsible for about fifteen deaths of innocent young men who'd never had another guy but were hot and cute.  I'm bordering on hoping she's crying right now."

"Breaking up is never fun but let's hope she doesn't call my ex to punish you. Was the orgy your idea or hers?"

"To be honest, I don't remember much of that night," he sighed, pulling a pillow around to hug.  "It's like it's a big blur.  I took her out for a decent dinner at that place Uncle Horatio told me to take her.  We went to one of the teen clubs.  We left there because it was fairly lame that night.  We ended up in a rave and that's about the last thing I remember until you slapped my face to wake me up."  He looked at him.  "I'm honestly not so sure she didn't slip me something or that I didn't have an accidental exposure."

"Did you drink anything there?"

"A bottle of juice, which made her laugh at how 'kiddie' I was. I pointed out my mother was a cop and she'd kill my ass if I drank.  She just snorted and did a shot. They were playing something ancient by Megadeath that got remixed by a local DJ, then I kinda fuzzed out.  I remember the condom stuff and bits and pieces.  I know I used one because not using one leaves me itchy in the morning."  Xander glared at him.  "She was a virgin!"

"And?  It doesn't mean they didn't transfer it with their fingers, their mouth, or that she hadn't taken it up the ass and they slipped."  He shuddered at that.  "We apparently need to have the long new stripper sex talk, Ray.  Things like 'you don't drink in the club if it looks like it's been opened or you don't see them open it and test the cap before they do' are included."  Ray looked horrified.  Xander nodded.  "Common rave trick, baby boy, and it's usually E or Rophy."  He sat down in front of him, looking at his kinda-nephew.  "Who else gave you the 'be careful' lectures?"

"Mom."

"Your mom hasn't been in a club since before she was married.  Anyone else?"

"Eric kinda hinted and suggested I never have a drink at a club unless I watch it be opened.  I didn't understand why."

Xander sighed, the kid looked so young.  "Okay, there's some hard and fast rules about clubbing and I'm going to share them with you honestly and fully because otherwise you're going to do something else that's stupid.  Also, you're going to the local free clinic tomorrow and getting your very first AIDS test, young man."  He swallowed and nodded at that so Xander gave him a hug, pulling him closer to sit with an arm around his shoulder while he played mentor and guide. By the end, the kid had no questions and he was bright red, but he would never have another problem like that again and the kid's girlfriend was considered dumped.  Xander gave him a long look and Ray swallowed, nodding a bit.

"Thank you.  Should I ask you if I have any more questions?"

"Yeah, might be a good idea and I'll have a talk with Eric about subtle being too broad and vague.  If your mom yells, I'll mention the fact that your girl got you exposed to drugs in the club and I gave you the extended, nothing held back, talk for the club whores I used to work with.  And what your test results are."  Ray swallowed and nodded.  "Now, it's up to you to tell her or your uncle the whole story.  I would suggest you tell one of them just in case something about this situation comes back to haunt you some day, like she suddenly ends up pregnant.  Your uncle's Catholic, consider it confession."

Ray nodded quickly at that.  "It sounds reasonable but he's going to yell."

"Yeah, well, you won't be seeing him for the next month, it'll give him time to calm down."  Ray snorted and shook his head.  "Yeah, it will.  Or, hey, write to my dad.  We might as well be related some days and Tim is nothing if not understanding of the club life, plus he can hit Eric for being so vague."  Ray brightened at that.  "And he can sit on Horatio while he tells him that I had to have this talk with you and save you that time."  Ray nodded at that, smiling a bit.  "Get to writing, little man, then let's nap.  I'll find out where the clinic is tomorrow and take you."  Ray nodded, pulling over the laptop to write Speed.  Xander typed in an email address for him with a wink.  "His online one for when he was surfing for porn.  I'm sure he's bored by now and Calleigh should be about in that bad part of her cycle."  Ray laughed and got to work writing while Xander got up to check the doors and the windows one last time, then he laid down.  "Tell him I said hi."

"Sure."  He typed that in as well, going back to reread it.  He did feel better letting someone know and Speed was nothing if not cool.  After all he had accepted Xander stripping like it was nothing unusual and he had a wild youth from some of the things he still did.

***

Calleigh came out of Speed's room, clearing her throat to get attention.  "Tim, you got an email message you should probably read," she said quietly.  "I was hunting for the new porn passwords."

He raised an eyebrow.  "Xander?"

"Ray," she mouthed.  "It's important.  Xander had to have a...discussion with him about club stuff."  He groaned and went to read it.  She hit Eric on the arm, making him yelp and drawing attention.  "Next time, be less subtle when warning newbies not to drink anything at clubs, Eric."

"I didn't wanna come out and *order* him not to drink water and stuff," he complained, getting away from her.  "I didn't know how much the kid knew."

"Yeah, well, his girlfriend exposed him to a rave and he had a really fuzzy night."

Yelina coughed.  "My son?' she asked sweetly.

Tim came to the door.  "Xander finished the club and sex talk, Yelina.  Um, Horatio?  Part of this was for you."  He got up and went in there to read it so Tim closed the door and stood in front of it.  "Apparently the night of the rave, Xander got warned that Ray was in a...compromising position with a few extra girls."  He cleared his throat at Eric's moan.  "She had gotten him a juice by the note.  Xander found him with a few extra girls around him."  Yelina scowled and he held up a hand.  "Xander yelled that night and got him home.  Xander just got done having the *long* clubbing and sex talk with the kid.  He also said he's dragging the kid to have a blood test tomorrow."

"He let him go out?" she demanded.

"Yelina, this was while you were there.  This was over a month ago, and yeah, it's the same girl who talked and pleaded to get him to do an open pole night and got him his first stalker."  She leaned forward, cradling her face in her hands.  "Remember that night when he had the really nice date and didn't come home until five or six and you yelled?"  She looked at him and nodded.  "That night.  Someone called Xander instead of you since they figured you'd arrest everyone there."

"The little whore is getting it when I get back," she said grimly.

"Xander said Ray's pretty sure he played safely, Yelina," he offered. "This is just in case and he's taken on a fierce big brother role."

"The message was all of Ray's confessions about the stupid stuff he's done," Calleigh admitted.  She got up and went in there to read it, slamming the door behind her. "At least Xander's helping him and got him to tell her."

"Yeah, and I'm impressed. I've heard him give that talk. There will be no more issues coming from Ray for a very long time."  He looked at Eric.  "At least you tried, man.  You did try and if he had any idea what you were talking about it probably would've made more sense."  Eric nodded, accepting that.  "Unfortunately the ho got there first."

"Where is your cellphone!" Yelina yelled.

"Mine's in the bedside table!" Speed called. "They're probably in bed!"  He winced and nodded at the hall.  "We should sneak out for a drink."

"We should," Calleigh agreed, pulling on Eric's arm until he followed, Ryan silently ghosting after them from his corner. No one wanted to get near the pissed off mother. Yelina could make a guy really sorry really quickly.

Horatio called Don at home, getting a tired detective, and warned him that Ray had done stupid stuff, but now he was being reasonable and Xander was taking him to get tested tomorrow now that he understood how bad his ex was for him.  He had to explain how bad the ex was for his nephew, but Don understood.  He'd dated women like that himself.

***

Xander walked into the design office, grinning at the receptionist, who nodded at him to go up.  He pulled Ray with him, skipping up the stairs.  "Hi."

Diana smiled at him and shook her head. "I was right, it was my kinky ho's."

"Damn."  He let the sadness wash over him for a few minutes but then let it go for now.  He'd talk to Horatio about it when he got back.  He sighed and nodded.   "I still wouldn't mind being an uncle."  She smiled and nodded.  "Good.  Now, what can we do for you, dear?"

"It depends, are you wearing *real* underwear?"  Ray blushed at that and nodded but Xander shook his head.  "Thong?" she offered, holding one up.  Ray blushed brighter.  "Dear, you have nothing to be ashamed off.  If you're built anything like your uncle, Xander must have problems sitting now and then."  Xander nodded at that and Ray burst out laughing.  "What?"

"My first time I let someone talk me into buying lube with a natural stimulant," he offered dryly, smirking at her.  "Horatio needed seven naps by the time I got it out of my system."  She moaned and stared, mouth slightly open.  "My first time, my second time, all the way through my sixth time.  So no, Xander didn't sit the next few days.  I had literal bruises on the inside of my asscheeks."  Ray was now bright red.  "And then Tim, my dad, gave it to his girlfriend when they figured it out.  She cleaned the house with his toothbrush.  Don got those when he brought back the robo-Xander sex robot."  Ray gaped at him so he grinned.  "Honey, if it was on the open market, I could make a hell of a lot in royalties."

"Some of the super-stalkers would pay *billions*," she moaned.  "Especially if you could make some of other people too.  People pay thousands for dolls like their favorite porn stars."

"This one had realistic skin and took vocal commands, plus interacted in real time," Ray told her.  "Uncle Speed stills groans about him."

"Ask Don and Danny, they saw him, he horribly traumatized their boss," Xander said with a smug look.  "See, to get away from my former friend Buffy again, Danny played the boyfriend."  She whimpered, licking her lips.  "So my buddy Willow had one made when they made the Buffy robot to soothe his anguish when I supposedly wouldn't come to New York to be with him."

"Can she have one made for me?" she pleaded, giving him the best begging look she could.  "I love you, Xander.  I'll *pay* for it, a lot."  He walked over and put down Willow's phone number.  She dialed it immediately.  "Dear, this is Diana.  You don't know me but I did a lot of Xander's stripper clothes and was his confidant when he was in Montreal."

"Hi, Wills," he called.  "She wants a Xander bot of her own!"

She suddenly giggled at something Willow said.  "Dear, think about how much his stalkers would pay for a willing, breathing, sex starved Xander," she offered.  "Hell, I'd pay a few thousand for one, especially if you could program in the bondage stuff."

"But you cannot let Mac Taylor or Danny or Don see it," Xander ordered.  "Like I said, Mac got traumatized."

"He won't be leaving my bedroom anyway," she pointed out dryly, waving him toward the fitting room.  "Go try stuff on and let me see while I negotiate."  Xander drug Ray that way.  "Seriously, dear, I've got ten grand sitting in my bank account and I can get another ten if necessary," she said quietly.  "I know people and sex clubs where you'd get triple that since you can do anything to them and they won't break or complain. Just consider the offer.  Do you have caller id to get my number?"  She smiled and rattled it off.  "That's me, ask for Diana. Hell, I'll send it via cashier's check and overnight it," she promised.  "Thank you!"  She hung up and went to relieve an ache, then went to help the boys into her clothes and check the fit.

***

Don tapped on Xander's apartment door, giving him a long look but not coming in when the guy opened the door.  "Where were you last night?"

"Here.  Why?"  He waved him inside.  "So you're not in the hall down from Stella's apartment?" he offered when he didn't move.  "Ray can tell you I was here all night."

He walked in and looked at Ray.  "Was he here all last night?  Not even went out for a burger?"

"No, he was here all night.  He was helping me in my science homework."  He looked at him.  "Why?  Did something happen?"

"Yeah, he was rumored to be at a S&M club last night."  Xander winced and he saw it.  "What?  You know, so give.  You got a twin or something?"

"No, but Diana and Willow have been talking."

"It's that robot!" he demanded.

"No, I doubt Anya would give him up," Ray said dryly.  "She was kinda needy."

"There's two of them!" Don yelled.  "How could you do this to us!  We like you more'n this!"

"Diana wanted to help the maker market them and Buffy bots," he said weakly, sitting down to give him a pitiful look.  "We mentioned them to her and I gave her Willow's number but she said it'd never leave her apartment."

"Well, she took him out on the town and let a hell of a lot of guys have his ass," he said bitterly.  Ray moaned and hid his face in a pillow. "Sorry, kid."

"No, not you," he said weakly, looking at Xander.  "Results."

Xander checked the date on his watch and nodded.  "You're right."  He stood up. "Get dressed."  Don looked stunned.  "His girlfriend took him to a rave and drugged him, Don.  I got called to rescue him from the orgy and I needed my bi-monthly one too.  It's result day if you wanted to come."

He calmed himself.  "Sure.  The same Diana?"  He nodded.  "Then we're gonna talk with her."

"I told her she had to keep it away from you guys."

"Yeah, well, the Vice cop there recognized you."   He went into the kitchen to call Mac and the Vice cop together.  "It's me.  It wasn't the kid.  It's another of those stupid robots."  The Vice cop spluttered. "Ask Mac about 'em.  That same designer owns him.  She promised not ta let him out of her bedroom but apparently she wanted to show him off.  By the way, they might be making more Buffy ones too."

Xander came in and smiled at him.  "I talked to Willow. The others won't be Xander bots.  There's only one more out there and he's been special ordered by one of my stalkers."

Don snorted.  "Yeah, I guess it'll help keep 'em off someone else," he said dryly.  "They here?"  Xander whispered the name in his ear.  "You got a big guy in business like him on your ass?"

"Often," Xander said dryly, shrugging a bit. "He wanted to be my first blow and hated that I said no and I walked away from him."  He went to find his jacket and check on Ray, who was sitting on his bed.  "I'm going to be there holding your hand," he said quietly.  "No matter what."  Ray looked at him and nodded. "So come on."  Ray got up and followed him out. They gathered the groaning Don from the kitchen.  "You okay?"

"Mac had a flashback to being hit on by the last one."  He looked at the kid.  "You good?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I broke up with her.  She's the same one who talked me into doing the open pole thing."

Don nodded. "I've had a few of those and your uncle called me when he heard.  Your mother is still swearing at your ex.  She's not mad that Xander had ta talk to you, but she's mad you showed such poor judgement."  He ruffled the kid's hair.  "So therefore I got sicced on your ass too.  Consider yourself grounded."

"Better than screamed at and beaten," he said dryly.

"Expect that when they get here."   He waved at the door. "C'mon, I'll drive."  Xander gave him a small grin. "You're still doing one every other month?"

"Yeah, for the next three years, just in case," Xander agreed.  "I sure as hell don't want to give Horatio anything serious like a disease."  He grabbed his keys and wallet, locking the doors behind them.  Stella peeked out.  "Test result day, Stella."

"Sure.  Need another chaperone, Don?"

"Nah.  We gotta talk about the plans to draw the idiot during the show."  He grinned at her.  "Besides, I figure the kid'll need an adult to lean on for a bit."

"It's a good idea," she agreed.  "Who's got the pizza or ribs tonight, guys?"

"I do," Xander said with a grin for her.  "We've gotta head."  He put an arm around Ray's shoulders and walked him down to the car. "Are they paying you to babysit, Don?" he asked once they were inside and out into traffic.

"Yup, sure are. The school reported that he tried ta talk to one'a the girls and they were not happy.  Your mayor's cousin's kid goes there and news got back to him.  Tripp told 'im what went on and where you two were hiding so he called up here, mayor ta mayor."  He grinned at Ray, who chuckled.  "Mac told ours that we've got a plan ta draw the guy using the fashion stuff and me and Danny were going in with you and one of his other targets.  He seemed relieved and ordered the Chief to order my Lieutenant to put me on paid leave ta help any way I could.  Me and Danny both.  So, ribs tonight, guys?"

"Ribs are good," Ray agreed with a shy grin.  "Thank you, Detective Flack."

"Eh, it's Don, kid, unless you fuck up majorly."

"Yes, Don.  Thank you."  He hugged him around the arm.

"Are we sure he's in town, Don?" Xander asked calmly.

"Yeah, the Vice cop saw him at the show of the new sextoy last night," he said dryly.  "He left before she could arrest him.  Ya know they're gonna pick on Danny horribly for this, right?"  Xander moaned and nodded. "Good.  So, word on other tests?"

"Not mine," Xander sighed.  "I built up this whole fantasy," he admitted quietly.

"Yeah, that's normal," he admitted with a grin back at him at a light.  Someone behind him honked and he flipped him off through the back windshield, then timed it so he went through the last seconds of the yellow light, stranding him.  He grinned at the wicked chuckle from the boy beside him.  "I hate impatient asshole drivers.  I used ta pull 'em all over and give 'em tickets when I did traffic."  He looked back at Xander.  "Which clinic?"  The card was handed over.  "Not too far out of the way. There's one closer."

"I called the health department, they said that one," Xander said with a small shrug.  Don turned the car around and headed back a few blocks to take a right turn and go that way for a bit.  "You sure you wanna come in?"

"Yeah, hand holding is pretty good in these things," Don pointed out dryly. "I'm sure Horatio does yours."

"No.  Not really.  My first one I went alone and I usually sneak off for mine now.  I give him the results when I get 'em back, but I usually go alone."  Ray gave him an odd look. "He's a busy guy."

"So?  He'd still go with you," he complained.  "He whined at Mom about that too."  He got out once they parked and Don helped Xander out, locking the doors.  He looked up, then at Xander.  "Do I have to?"

"Why take the test if you don't wanna know?" Don asked dryly, coming over to escort the kid inside.  A few of the people in there averted their eyes.  "He's a friend's nephew, I'm only here as an escort," he announced.  "I don't care what you're doin' as long as I don't have ta see it."  The receptionist gave him a smile.  "These two need results."  Xander handed over their numbered slips and she took note, then handed them numbers for their spot in line.

"Together," Xander told her.  "I'm his uncle, kinda.  I'm going to be holding his hand."

"If you want, he can go in right after you and you can wait," she told him.

He nodded and they sat down together, Xander taking his hand to hold.  Ray gave him a weak smile.  "It's not that bad, Ray.  I promise.  I went through ten of them before anyone even knew I was taking them.  I only got driven once.  You're a strong guy and you can do this."

"What if one of the other ones comes up positive?" he said quietly.  "How do I tell my mother?"

"She already knows you fucked up with this girl," Don reminded him patiently, staring him down.  "She also knows you were probably drugged.  She won't be yellin' at you for this.  It might come back ta haunt you during a few arguments, but they can treat most everything these days.  You can write 'er tonight to tell her the good news that everything's fine and dandy.  So just calm down and think positive thoughts, okay?"  He nodded, still sitting stiffly between them.  He looked at Xander.  "Three years?"

"Two is usually suggested but I'm not taking that chance," he said quietly.  "Not with what could've hit me in the club."

"Point, but still."

"I'm being extra specially careful.  I give too much of a damn about my guy to even let the hint of this stuff touch him, Don."

"That's good ta know."  He patted him on the back of the head. "When I have kids, I'll let you and this guy here have the good talks with him so he don't end up with some bitchy girlfriend who does that to him."  Xander looked up as his number was called. "I'll be here."  Xander nodded and got up, going into the other room.  He made Ray look at him.  "I'm doubting you caught anything and even if you did, it can mostly be treated since it hasn't been that long.  Even the stuff without a cure's got a treatment these days, kiddo.  Got it?"  Ray nodded, swallowing.  "Good.  You want me in there too?"

"No, I'm good with just him.  He almost handcuffed me when he brought me in. The doctor thought it was funny until she was told what happened and why I was here. Then she told Xander to use padded ones."  He shrugged weakly.  "Will I need all this testing?"

"Ask them.  They'd know more'n me."

Ray nodded and looked over as the door opened, getting up when his number was called.  He handed over his slip and sat down, clutching Xander's hand with a death-grip.  He took a calming breath.  "Okay, I'm ready."

"Well, first, I wanted to see if you had any questions.  I find most patients aren't able to speak afterward."

"How long will I have to take tests?"

"I'd suggest at least a year, if not two for safety," she said gently.  "Every four months. Xander is incredibly cautious due to his past and his new love.  You don't have to be quite that diligent."  Ray nodded, getting paler.  "Do you know where the clinic in Miami is?"

"I can take him," Xander assured her quietly.  "They know me on sight now."  She nodded at that, giving him a gentle smile.  "I have authorization to treat from his mother if he needs anything.  If there is something, do we go through you for that or do I need to make an appointment for him somewhere?"

"For anything simple we can write out a prescription and you can have it filled wherever.  For something more complex, like HIV, we'd definitely make you go to a specialist for that.  We have a list of places you can go."  She flipped open the folder.  "Well, I see here the HIV screen was negative."  Ray sighed and slumped.  "But..."  She looked at him. "You did pick up something bacterial.  The swab came up positive."  He winced.  "Therefore you will have some antibiotics and another medicine."  She shut the folder.  "It's not uncommon and it's really the best thing that could've happened to you, Ray.  It's curable.  It's easily curable.  It's a lot like a really bad yeast infection.  Trichomonas isn't that bad and it's really easy to cure."  He shivered.  "I've got some pamphlets for you and I need you to take some precautions for a while.  I need you to take all of your antibiotics and the other stuff.  Got it?"  He nodded quickly.  She smiled.  "Good boy.  Now, are you allergic to any drugs?"

"Penicillin," he said quietly.

"That's fine," she agreed, writing out what she needed and handing them to Xander.  "That's a three-times-a-day with food.  Milk might make you queasy.  You can get it at any pharmacy, all right?"  He nodded.  "For privacy reasons, those only have my name and number on them.  Do we have a contact number for you locally?  I saw the Florida number in Xander's file."

"You can use my email," Xander assured her quietly, squeezing Ray's hand.  "We probably won't be up here for more than the rest of this month.  His mother's in protective custody since she's testifying in a federal case."

"That's fine," she agreed happily.  "Now, for at least the next year, Ray, you're to go to the local clinic down there.  I'll go ahead and send these to your regular doctor if you want."  Ray nodded and leaned forward, writing down the name for her.  "Any other questions?"

"No, ma'am, thank you," he said quietly, getting up and shaking her hand.  He looked at Xander.

"It could've been much worse with what she got you into, Ray, and it's still not your fault. You didn't have a clue that you shouldn't drink stuff at a rave."  He nodded politely at the doctor and tucked the prescriptions into his pocket, walking the kid out.  He nodded at Don, heading for the door with him following them.

Once they were in the car, he looked at Ray.  "You okay? You look shell shocked, kid."

"Trick," Xander said quietly.  "One of the girls."

Don nodded.  "That's not a bad one ta have considering.  Pharmacy?"  Ray swallowed and nodded.  "You puke, you do it out the window," he ordered.  Ray nodded and got out to get sick, Xander following him.  He let the kid handle his nephew, they were tight.  Xander seemed to know a lot about this stuff.  When they got back in, he looked at him.  "Been here before?"

"Prom," he said dryly.  "Anya was a slut.  She didn't charge, she enjoyed it for the sake of pleasure."  He leaned forward, putting a hand on Ray's shoulder.  "If you want, you can tell your mom and uncle it all went good and I'll back you up, Ray," he said gently.  Ray gave him a grateful look.  "I think Horatio would understand and your mom knows it wasn't your idea, but if you want to tell them it's all good, I'll back you up on it and won't tell Horatio anything."

"Thank you."  He looked at Don.  "I need to get those filled."

"I know a good pharmacy.  They don't say nothin' ta nobody there.  Really kinda unfriendly when you think about it."  He grinned at him and nudged him.  "The rest are probably just a formality, kid."

"I know, but it's still giving me a headache."

"We'll make sure you can take tylenol with them," Xander assured him, leaning back.  Ray gave him a weak smile.  "You get to pick dinner tonight, Ray.  I'll pay."  Ray nodded and bit his lip as they pulled into the pharmacy's parking lot.  Xander got out and walked inside, going to get them filled for him.  The pharmacist raised an eyebrow so Xander casually said the 'kid's underaged and his girl was a ho, first timer' and that was the end of the funny looks but it did get Ray a lollipop from the pharmacist's assistant.

***

Xander did the first trial walk down the runway, smiling at Diana since she was at the end.  "Slutty, come get me vibes or smiles and winks, Di?"  The baby squealed.

"Slutty vibes and winks, baby."  He turned and gave her a wicked smirk and a wink, making her nod.  "Just like that."  Ray came down, looking like a blushing virgin.  "Ray, dear, try for 'I want you' instead of 'I'm not sure if I can lick you or not'."  He changed his expression and she smiled. "Better, much better."  She looked at his outfit, then nodded.  "That needs to be fitted better.  Have them stick a red sticker on it."  He nodded and went back there to change and do that.  Don came out looking very shy.  "Don, I do slutty, fuck me now clothes.  Try to look like you want ta be fucked into an early grave?" she asked patiently.  He blushed at that and tried.  She rolled her eyes.  "Xander?"  He prowled out and kissed Don, making him splutter, but smile. "That look!  Yes!  The 'you know you want it' look, Don.  Keep that look."  She looked him over.  "I still say that's not fitted right but I don't know why."

"The butt hangs down too far," Xander called as he stalked backstage to finish changing.

"Turn around, Don."  He did so and she came over to pin them a bit tighter, looking at the front.  "Yeah, I like that a bit better."  He nodded and went to change, blushing heavily now.  He heard the baby giggle and gave it an odd look so she snickered.  "Danny?" she called dryly.  He peeked out.  "You can wear your glasses," she promised.  He came out in his outfit, looking very hot.  She wiped some drool off.  "You get to walk behind Ray, dear.  Turn, I want you slutty and wanton."  He gave her his most steamy look and made her blush, then Xander came out and leaned on his shoulder, making her drool and shift in her clothes.  The baby clapped and she looked at him.  "You, hush."  She smiled at them.  "I like that.  Prowling out in groups is good!  Don!  You and Ray come out together when you're both dressed!"  They came out, one from each side of the catwalk, leaning against each other's backs when Xander arranged them.  "Nice," she purred, smiling at them.  "Very nice.  Change!"

They all went back there and she redesigned the order of the clothes so they came out together that way.  She had them switch pairs now and then for different groups of outfits, noticing how hot some of the various combinations looked together.  Her show was going to produce drool by the quart and maybe she'd let a few of the more discreet working girls and boys she knew in the audience to make some money. As long as she didn't tell the officers that.  Then Danny would pout and Don would get stiff just as she was getting him to loosen up.  But it was going to be scorching in here by the time the show was done.  "All right, break for lunch," she called.  "You can't wear any of those outside yet.  Come back in an hour and we'll do the formal setup and rehearsal for the show.  That way everyone's got the right partner for each set."  She got up and took the baby to her rented office, handing him to his nanny and grabbing her girlfriend for a lunch of her own.

***

Xander walked into the bar Danny had said he was at, smiling at the bartender.  "Beer me?"

"Sure, kid.  You meeting someone here?" he asked.

"Danny Messer.  He's an old buddy of mine."  He paid for his beer and got Danny pointed out so he gave him a tip.  "Thank you."  He walked that way, noticing someone was in Danny's face.  He put his beer aside after a few sips and casually stepped between them.  "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he asked with a fond smile.  "Do you mind not trying to menace people in public?  It really does set such a bad example."

"Who're you?" he sneered, looking him over.  "You his bitch?"

"No, I'm his friend."  He grabbed the guy by the balls and twisted, making him let out a shrill scream and his knees collapse.  Xander didn't let him fall, instead getting closer into his face.  "Nobody, and I do mean nobody," he said quietly and calmly, "touches Danny without his consent.  No one bothers Danny, no one harasses Danny.  Otherwise I, as his friend, get angry.  And I'd so hate to take these," he said, giving them a squeeze, "and be forced to cut them off and use them as someone's lawn ornament, like they did in Ancient Greece. Not that I can't stuff your set so they look like they belong to a *real* man, like Danny, or Don Flack, or any of the people he works with, including Stella Bonasera, but that would take too much time out of my hectic schedule to fill what you haven't been able to."  He let him go.  "Now, I suggest you go home and sleep it off, sir.  Before some of us have to call the psychos I deal with daily and ask for a favor."  The man limped out, whimpering the whole way.  Xander picked up his beer and wiped his hand off on his pantsleg.  "Sorry about that.  Didn't mean to intrude if you wanted it but I needed to talk to someone and Don's a bit testy today since he's on a date."

"You...you...you just...." he started, pointing after the guy.

"Yeah?  And?"  He finished his beer and put the glass down, shaking his head at the curious look.  "My limit, I don't often drink," he offered with a shy grin. Then he looked at Danny again.  "I think Stella could better fill his set than he did and threatening you just made me crankier.  But anyway," he said, leading Danny away from the bar.  "There's a guy watching us.  He's not the normal psycho.  My 'dar isn't pinging on him wanting mine or Ray's ass.  My psycho radar and paranormal radar aren't pinging.  So I don't know who the hell this guy is but it's starting to make me nervous."

"You just grabbed the balls of a gangster in a cop bar, Xander."

"And?  Now maybe he'll take advantage of having them and *use* them *properly*," he said dryly, staring at him.  "Focus, Danny.  Trust me, could be worse."  Danny moaned and finished his drink.  "I didn't pull out a knife and skin it for him to show him it wasn't even good enough for a condom, let's feel lucky I'm not feeling homicidal since that guy's following me."

"Sure," he agreed, nodding, meaning he was going to be talking to Horatio as soon as he showed up and Speed if he could find him too.  And possibly Don and Mac too so maybe *someone* could control the kid and make him calm down.  Because he was just in awe.  There were local thugs who wouldn't pull that move.  "What guy?"

"I don't know.  He looks familiar, but not like someone I know.  I don't think he was a client but I know him from somewhere and he's just staring all the time."

"Okay.  Well, the next time point him out to us."

"I did and Don's cranky because he's got a date tonight."

"Yeah, it's been a while for him," he said dryly, going to get a new drink and coming back with it half drained.  "Okay.  What does the guy look like?"

Xander pointed outside.  "Him."  Danny looked and Xander headed that way, clearing his throat since the guy was starting to walk away.  "Listen, you want something with me or Ray, you come to me.  Do it now, do it openly.  I've got too much on my mind without you."  The guy turned and looked at him.  "Who the hell are you?  You look familiar but I know I don't know you."

Danny came out, looking at him, flashing his badge.  "The kid's in protective custody.  I'd like answers as well."  He moved them away from the doorway and to a nearby alley.  "Now, name?"

"I ...."

Xander casually pushed him against the wall and got into his face.  "You keep staring at my nephew, buddy.  You can stare at me all you fucking well want but you leave the kid the fuck alone."

"Hard to leave my son alone," he said bitterly.

Xander frowned.  "Unless someone pretended to be Yelina's husband, he's dead.  Wanna try again?"

He pulled out his old ID badge, showing to him.  "I'm Ray Senior."

Xander looked at it, then at him.  "What the fuck?"

"Undercover," he said quietly.

Xander patted himself down then took Danny's phone, dialing a number.  "I need to speak to room 2265 please.  I know the rules, lady, it's fucking well important or I wouldn't be doing this, okay?  I need one of the Caines."  He listened.  "Tim, Horatio, phone, now," he ordered.  "No!" he snarled.  "Gee, I don't know, someone else who fucking well came back to life?" he asked sarcastically.  "Horatio, now."  Horatio was handed the phone.  "Someone here needs to discuss something with you about his son.  Horatio, why would I do this without it being life or death?"  He handed the phone over and stepped back.  "Talk to the man.  Unless he or Yelina tell me you're legit and it's okay, you don't come near Ray."

"Horatio," Ray Sr. said quietly.  He listened to the silence.  "Bro?"  He relaxed and smiled.  "Would you mind telling me why this predatory young guy has my son?"  He listened to the quiet words as Horatio went into a bathroom and locked the door.  He glared at the kid, who glared back.  "So he's protecting my son?"  Xander nodded.  "What's his relation to...."  He looked stunned, then at the kid.  "You're sleeping with my brother? He's old enough to be your father!"

"And?  He understands me and he's very good and patient in bed. You have no right to dictate to him who he sleeps with."  Ray backed away another step and Xander snatched the phone.  "Do I let him see Ray?"  He held his head, relaxing and nodded. "I agree, not until you and her are back and away from the Feds."  Ray's face hardened so he glared at him.  "He doesn't need it right now.  He's being chased by some serial killer asshole and he's got other shit in his life that adding you would only create greater hell."  He looked at him, putting the phone against his chest.  "I agree.  When Horatio and Yelina get out, come back.  Until then, be a bit more discreet.  The kid nearly saw you."

"What serial killer?"

"Ask Danny."  He walked a few steps off.  "He's talking to Danny.  No, Don had a date and he was cranky.  No, Danny said it'd been a while."  He grinned at Danny, who was snickering.  "What?"  He considered his promise.  "Ray didn't want me in there with him, Horatio," he said quietly, lying totally and he knew his lover could tell he was lying.  "So you'll have to ask him."  He swallowed.  "Don't you think if the main test came out positive you'd have heard and had a crying boy there somehow?" he asked quietly.  "I'd have done it somehow, Horatio. You know that."  He smiled a sweet, gentle smile. "No, he's okay and he's enjoying the show a lot so far.  Diana's been pretty neat about this stuff."  He grinned brighter.  "Of course, if I can.  Plus we'll be getting the clothes as well. Love you too.  Tell her he's okay and would've told her if it was something like the main test being positive so she can quit worrying.  Love you too," he sighed.  "Hurry them up?"  He grinned.  "Thank you.  No, Danny's.  I broke mine. I knocked it off the night stand and stepped on it this morning.  Love you too."  He hung up and walked back, handing Danny back his phone.  "When they're done with this trial, you can come back.  You can talk to Yelina and Ray Jr. all you want.  Until then, I need you to back off.  Ray doesn't need it right now."

"What serial killer?"

"One after strippers.  Your son's girlfriend talked him into doing an open pole night and the guy fixated.  He showed up at his school and since it was originally a New York case and they're all in protective custody, we came up here to help the cops who were over this case catch him again.  They came down to Miami to catch him the first time when he was coming after me and I'm guarding your son's back until the others are free."

"What makes you think you're qualified!  He should be in police custody, not the custody of some little gay boy!"

Xander hit him a few times, leaning down once he was on the ground and groaning. "That's why I'm guarding him.  I consider Ray my family as well since I'm with your brother.  I have enough experience having to stay away from these guys and with protecting myself and others nightly that, yes, I feel more than qualified, especially with Danny watching our back.  If you don't, then take it up with Horatio when he gets back."  He saw Danny put the phone up to his ear and smirked.  "Didn't I hang it up?"  Danny shook his head.  "Sorry.  Tell him I'm sorry.  Almost."  He sneered down at Ray.  "I don't know why you give a damn.  You left your wife and son in a dangerous spot and they've grieved horribly for you.  I blame Ray Jr. taking up with a ho on you not being there and Horatio doing the best he could considering Ray doesn't live with him."

"You took my son to a meth clinic!" he accused, getting up and wiping off his mouth.

"No I didn't."

"That's what that clinic is for!"

"Really? I thought it was for things like HIV tests since his girlfriend was a ho and drugged him," he sneered.  "Thankfully, Horatio and the rest of the guys in his life have started to show him what *nice* girls are like. That way he finds someone like his mother."  Ray looked horrified and backed away.  "Now, get off your fucking high horse since you abandoned them.  No one said you *had* to go on that assignment and I'm sure there were others who could've went.  No one said you had to sleep around on your wife while on it.  No one said you had to fucking well destroy your brother and wife with your shit or make them believe you were a dirty, drug using cop, or have IAD and Stetler on their ass for the rest of their days."  He backed up another step.  "That's right, Stetler's been so far up Horatio's ass, we had to have him arrested for it."

"Calm down," Danny quietly.  He moved closer. "Horatio said to calm down."  He handed the phone back and looked at Ray.  "Your boy was helped a lot by Xander.  He's stopped all the stupid teenager stuff. Ray's a much better guy for having Xander and Horatio around him.  So lay the fuck off."

Xander hung up.  "Stetler's in town," he said quietly.  Danny looked at him, frowning a bit.  "The IA guy who threatened to rape and torture me so he wouldn't frame Horatio and Tim."

"Ah, him.  Horatio called to say he had been fired and arrested, but made a deal."

"Yeah, well, they had the Feebs check for him. He's working for someone in town as a ..." he coughed, "private investigator.  Not fully legal from what they can tell.  So there's now three of them after us."  He turned and hit the wall, calming himself down. Then he looked at Ray again.  "Go the fuck away until they come back from being hidden."

"I might not get the chance," he complained.

"And your son was fucking destroyed emotionally.  Yelina told me he couldn't cry for nearly three years. He was so emotionally stunted, Yelina was dating Stetler to try and feel something again and it wasn't good for either of them.  Your decisions destroyed the family you built and Horatio had to fill in for you.  Thankfully, he's a good father."

"I was!"

"Really?  You sure about that?  Did it change when you started using?" Xander asked bitterly.

"Hey!" Danny warned.  "None'a that."  He looked at Ray again.  "You, back off. This isn't the time for this shit.  So just back down."

"I'm not backing down from some little fruit who's turning my son gay!"

Xander punched him again.  "Actually, your son's very straight.  He's been flirting with two models recently."  He looked at Danny.  "With this happy fucking news, I'm going to go back to the hotel.  If I see him and Ray sees him and gets that upset, I'm shooting him."  He walked off, going home.  He noticed someone tracking him and looked at him, baring his teeth in a happy smirk.  "Missed me?" he mouthed.  "I hear Yelina found a happy boyfriend who likes oral sex."  The other man's face turned red and he blew a kiss.  "Rapist and molester," he mouthed, then walked off.  It was a hike but he needed the calm before he lost his temper.  Because he was going to do that very shortly.  He noticed a few people turning and staring but didn't really care at the moment.  He was back in alpha bitch mode and it wasn't going to bother him if he got into another fight tonight.

Back in the alley, Danny was shaking his head. "That kid is the reason yours wasn't hurt by this guy," he said calmly.  "I don't care if he's doin' Speed, Eric, and Horatio.  He loves his family, which includes yours.  I'd accept it.  Ray sees him like a big brother and Yelina encouraged it and helps him with little surprises."  He moved closer. "Horatio said that they're nearly done.  They'll be done by the end of the month.  By then we'll have the idiot.  Your boy'll be safe.  Xander can go back to being your brother's boy instead of the alpha he has ta pull out sometimes."

"Who is he?"

"Xander?  Kinda complicated really.  He's a profiling candidate.  He's in college.  He has a history of combat in a non-military environment.  He's a really good shot.  He's very protective of what's his and his family, and that does include your former wife and son.  Plus your brother.  Your brother went ta him, not the other way around.  Xander made sure of that.  Xander's stood up against at least eight sickos who wanted ta capture or kill him.  When he found out your son was dating a girl who made him do an open pole night and then took him to a rave a few weeks later, where he got drugged by her, he worked ta get him in for the blood tests and stuff he'd need.  He worked to get him ta see how bad she was.  It says something when your wife trusts Xander to watch your son while she's gone for over a month.  You used ta trust her judgement, do it now.  Just leave 'em alone until  Horatio gets back with her.  That way they can cushion your kid.  Because otherwise he could die from the strain at the moment."  He turned and walked off.  At the end of the alley, a guy in a trench coat was waiting.  "Oh, wonderful.  Fed?"  He got a look and a nod.  "Fine.  And?"

"You broke protocol?"

"The kid's father showed up."

"He's dead."

"Apparently not and he's been with you guys.  Xander did the right thing to let Horatio know.  He wasn't about to make the decision ta let the guy near the kid without confirmation of who he was and if it was okay.  That's smart and loving."

"It is," he agreed dryly, pushing off the wall.  "I hoped like hell this would've been over before now."

Danny looked over his shoulder. "You mean ya wish it?"

"Yeah, I do wish it," he admitted quietly, turning to look at her.

"Wish granted.  That man ruins lives worse than most.  He's touched too many that couldn't be helped faster. That makes him my domain.  Just copping a plea?"

He swallowed, these things had been rumored around the office.  He had prayed for this to go quicker and this was his answer.  "Would work fine.  We need him to give us further up the chain."

The blonde woman nodded.  "Wish granted and very well done.  Even almost unselfish."  She looked at Danny. "The boy will be fine.  He's got Horatio's strength.  Besides, we like Xander with Horatio."  She smirked.  "Tell him Anya loves her Xander bot.  That it had to be taken away as punishment a few times when she forgot to get up and do her job.  She nearly died getting him back."  She smirked and faded out. "Make it so Horatio can come back and guard his nephew.  The guy'll be there."

"Wow.  I heard about wish demons but that's amazing," Danny said, looking at the Fed.  "Go wait on him ta break."

"Yeah.  Okay."  He nodded and walked off looking very confused.  He came back and pointed.  "Who's that?"

Ray came out and looked. "Rick Stetler, former IAD in Miami who jumped on my brother because of my case."  He looked at him.  "You know something about this situation?"

"You're slipping your handlers?" he countered.

Ray nodded.  "My boy needs me."

"He's got all he needs," Danny told him.  "Remember, you're supposed ta be dead."  He went back into the bar, turning off his phone to make sure it hung up this time. He'd have to have someone look at it in the morning.

Ray walked across the street, catching Stetler before he could run very far.  "We're going to talk, Stetler."

"You're dead," he said, staring at him.  "You were buried and you're dead."

"No, the government did that."  He shoved him back over to the alley.  "Now, what do you know about this boy who's guarding my son and when did my brother take up with him?"

"You mean you didn't know?" he sneered.  "Hasn't Horatio always...."  Ray hit him, getting to release some of that anger now.  He wiped the blood off his lip and looked at the Fed watching them.  "You're going to let him do this?"

"As far as I know you're being beaten by a dead man.  How would I stop you being haunted?"  He shrugged but stayed to watch and listen. Everyone in the agency hated working with Horatio Caine and if he could blackmail his cooperation, it'd look very good on him for getting him to work with them.

"Now, give me what I want to know and you'll walk away.  Otherwise, my handlers are searching for me.  You'd be an annoyance and a fly in the ointment of my op."

Stetler swallowed and nodded.  "All I know is that Speedle claims the little bitch as his son. Apparently wherever he was and however he came back to life, the kid used to live there. Speedle and a cop from here who worked out there with him claimed him as their son after running his parents out of town.  It's said that it was a good decision and that they were hurting the kid.  Speedle sent the kid to Horatio without warning either of them.  That's how they found out he was alive."

"So, Horatio was supposed to mentor him?"

Stetler nodded.  "Yeah, but something happened back in that town and most of Caine's team took off to help Speedle.  The kid took off after the fight or whatever.  He ended up stripping in Montreal.  Apparently he made a lot of good money somehow, even though Speedle insists he wasn't selling it, using drugs, or drinking.  He had a clean drug test from him after they got back, I saw the form from the ER."   Ray nodded more slowly.  "Apparently the kid draws psychotic people."  He swallowed again. "Which was how the CSI from earlier got involved.  The same guy that's now after your son was their case and he was after Xander."

"Xander?"

"The kid's name.  Alexander Harris."

"Okay.  I can search that later."  He stared into his eyes.  "Anything else?"

"As Darkness, stripping in Miami before he went to college, he made tons of money.  He helped Caine catch a few more serial guys and some bastards out of the club.  He did it while making tremendous money.  His last night, when he came off the stage and walked out with your brother holding his hand, boldly proclaiming his intentions, made him about a quarter of a mil.  It's said he's got some stuff in hiding that Horatio doesn't know about.  I know that he's got a gun stash in Miami thanks to one of his former friends in California.  Your brother and one of the guys from up here went with him to look at it and found some stuff the kid said wasn't supposed to be there, including some explosives.  They handed it over to a bomb squad contact of Caine's.  I know the boy wears indecently tight things to the station now and then.  The women all titter over it," he sneered.  "Xander-tight is now a word around there."

"And why were you fired?" the agent asked, moving closer.  "He said something about raping and torturing?"

Stetler sneered at him.  "He's so obviously being shared between Speedle, who he calls 'daddy', and Caine.  I was attempting to get him to confess that it was illegal so I could clean the snake out of the department.  After all, blood tells."

"Actually, what you said was that you were going to rape him repeatedly, carve your initials into his ass cheek, and then show him off to all your buddies so they could have him too, that way you would supposedly protect us from you planting evidence in our lab," Horatio said calmly, coming out of the shadows.  Stetler looked horrified.  He smirked.  "Yes they had us in the city the whole time.  Xander thinks we're somewhere in Virginia."  He looked at Ray.  "Do you want him?"

"Not really, he's making me feel slimy."

"Hmm."  He pulled Stetler away and beat the shit out of him, leaving him there, then walking over him.  "If your handlers want him, they can have him."  He looked at the agent.  "This changes nothing.  Everyone knows about Xander. The Chief thought he was a fitting reward for all my service to the city since Xander was his favorite stripper as well."  The agent moaned and backed off.  "They're where?"  The address was written down and handed over.  "Thank you, now disappear.  I'll go back tonight."  He nodded and left.  He looked at his brother.  "For Xander to actually call me that way, you had to make him hurt pretty badly, Ray.  I know my boy, he's very strong."

"Since when are you gay?" he demanded.

"Unless you want more bruises to match the ones he gave you, I'd quit now," he warned coldly.  "I've found traces of this operation and your wife was told when it became unavoidable, but that doesn't mean she's happy about this.  She doesn't know I'm here now nor will she."  He stepped closer.  "Leave my boy alone.  Xander is every bit as protective as I am," he said quietly, staring into his eyes.  "It's also interesting to note that your son is a lot more like me, Ray.  Thankfully.  Also thankfully Xander has his back when he got into trouble with his girlfriend.  We didn't even know he had been drugged or found at an orgy.  He did talk to Xander and your son did get drug to get the necessary tests when he found out.  He sees your son as his little brother and he will protect him.  So for now you will back off.  At least until we're back at home."  Ray nodded, stepping away. Horatio stared him down.  "Are there any other comments you wish to make?"

"You never dated a guy before."

"Xander understands me in ways no one else has," he pointed out smoothly.  He smirked.  "He gave up his bad habits for me.  He's in college and trying because of Speed and I.  He loves me enough to spoil me and to tell me when people hit on him, plus to shelter in my arms when things go wrong.  If you watch us together for a few days, you'll see that.  It is love on both sides.

Danny coughed from the end of the alley.  "I heard someone made a bet about him having to sleep in the hummer or not."

"Apparently that community has decided he's at least as precious to me as my hummer," he agreed dryly, smirking at him.  "We'll be there as backup."

"Good.  We may have ta drug Don that day."  He looked at Ray.  "Go home for now."

"I want to see my son."

"We're wearing very tight stripper clothes ta draw the guy out.  You sure you wanna see your boy that way?" he countered.  Ray groaned and held his head.  "Yeah, exactly."  He looked at Horatio, shrugging a bit.  "He looks fantastic in most of it.  Two outfits I can't watch him in, I start to hyperventilate."  He nodded at the Fed.  "Nice night, huh?"

"Very.  Thank you, CSI Messer."

"Not an issue.  We consider Xander like a little brother around here.  Stella's gonna pout horribly when he goes back ta Miami.  Ray's as close as she's ever gotten ta havin' a kid of her own."  He looked at Horatio.  "Has he said anything about Diana's son?"

"Yes."  Ray gaped at him and he shrugged at him.  "Xander doesn't hide secrets from me. I even know about his stash, but he doesn't know I know.  He left stuff out and I found it."  He looked at Danny again.  "Did she lie to him?"

"Don thinks so.  The kid looks just like 'im, Horatio.  He had that ache goin' too."  Horatio nodded at that, smirking a bit.  "Alexx won't mind if you two adopt someday soon."

"True."  He smirked at him.  "We'll see."  Danny grinned and nodded. "I'm about to head in as well.  Ray?"  His brother shivered at how he said his name.  "Head back to Miami.  You can wait and watch the boys there.  Give us a few days to get him settled again.  That way he has time to process this being done with."  He walked over to Danny.  "You know what his tests came up?"

"Don said Xander promised Ray that he wouldn't tell you anything and if he told you everything was good, he'd back him up," he said quietly.

"He's taking what?"

"An antibiotic and somethin'.  Don wasn't pissed so it wasn't something *bad*," he offered.  Horatio nodded at that.  "You'd have ta ask your nephew, Xander promised, Horatio."

"I understand why.   I'll write him tonight about it."  He gave him a gentle smile. "Come down on vacation.  He's not using his room and Speed's got the same apartment."  That got a grin.  "Someone at the club thought I collared him."

"If he were mine, he'd spend ninety percent of the day tied ta the bed," Danny admitted with a grin.  "I'd never let anyone else see 'im so they couldn't want him. You're a stronger man than I am, Horatio.  Unless seeing others pant over what you've got turns you on?"

"Now and then," he admitted smugly.  "I'm heading back to our spot.  When's the show?"

"Two days."  He handed over the program he had gotten out of his car.  "There."  That got a nod and Horatio walked off, heading back to his hidden spot.  He looked at Ray.  "Take the advice.  The kid'll be protected with us and if he sees you, he's gonna freak and break."  He headed back to his car, going home.  It had been a long night and the message he left on Don's voicemail had been full of swearing, but he'd get the gist.

***

Xander prowled down the runway his second time and caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd.  He smirked directly at him, getting one back.  He glanced around and his dad nodded to his right, allowing him to find Horatio, who he winked at then turned and stroked Don's cheek as he walked past him.  It was all an act but Don needed help keeping in the right mindset. Diana had told him to tease him now and then, and Danny too in case he got shy.  He came off the stage and found Ray, whispering in his ear.  That got a nod and a blush.  "They approve.  They know."  Ray relaxed.  "They're here for this thing.  Go show that you're not a little boy anymore.  I didn't see your mom at least."  Ray nodded and walked out there, going to show off.  Xander changed quickly and got ready to go back out, grinning at Danny as he came off.  "Did you see 'em?"

"I did," he agreed with a grin.  "Horatio looked stunned."  He let himself be helped out of that outfit, watching as Xander went out, seeing him pausing at the end with Ray.  They made a cute couple, both dark and stormy.  Then they came back and he and Don went out together.  He spotted their target and winked at him, seeing him swallow, then glanced at the other side, catching Speed's eyes. He walked back to the back and changed again.

"I don't think I can ever do this again," Don complained.  "My feet already hurt."

"Be thankful it's not heels," Xander called before walking out.  He was going solo in this outfit and the crowd was whistling happily at it.  He turned and spanked himself, winking at someone, then back at Horatio.  He walked back there, shaking it like he used to on stage.  He loved being the center of attention at times.  Ray came out and he winked at him, getting a wicked smirk.  So the boy was still okay.  Xander got changed and went out with Danny this time, letting Don and Ray have the spot after them.  He licked him on the cheek and smirked at him, then strolled back, leaving him to follow like the bitch he was if someone was a smart man and put him on his back.  He gave Don a blown kiss on the way past and Don snorted, pulling Ray away from him like he was being possessive.  So they could play with this.  They got changed and he took another solo walk, getting a moan this time for the new version of the stretch cord outfit, snapping one on his thigh for show, then slowly turning so they could see how it molded exactly to his ass with the stretch.

He walked back, teasing Ray on his way past.  The boy shivered and snapped one of the cords on his waist, making him proud of him.  He had the time to change this time so he got a sip of soda after he was done.  This time he and Ray were going out.  Danny went out after Don, leaning on him at the end of the runway.  He and Ray prowled out there, this was the end of the set and they leaned against the other two, Ray leaning against Danny's chest like he was sheltering in it, looking a bit vulnerable as he looked out shyly from the chest.  Xander leaned fully against Don's body, making him give him this wicked, evil smirk of pleasure and spank him.  "We did say you're getting me if I need punishment," he teased.  The crowd went wild and the guy tried to make a grab for Ray but found himself surrounded by Mac, Speed, and Horatio.  Xander blew a kiss at him, stroking Ray's cheek.  "You don't get to touch my family either," he said sweetly.  "Pity but I'll make sure he finds someone good who'll treat him nice and gently, like I get."

"Not tonight you're not," Danny teased, pinching him on the arm.  The others in the crowd cheered and flocked to Diana and the food to congratulate her and nibble like the party it was.  The four of them went back there and changed into the outfit they felt most comfortable in, coming out to mingle.  One of them was always with Ray, at least until Stella forced her way over to him and hugged him.  She was going all 'mom' on him so they let her for now.

Xander felt a hand go around his waist and looked back, smiling at his father.  "Hi, dad."

"Son.  I'm still drooling."  He patted him on the back.  "Nice show and good job."  He gave him a hug. "Needed a teasing fix?"

"We went to see Diana about where I should take Ray and to make sure she had my back if I needed it, dad.  She bribed us."

"Uh-huh.  You needed your teasing fix."  He pinched him on the arm, then ran a hand over the shirt.  "That won't tear easily.  Pity.  Introduce me?"

"Sure."  He walked his father over there by the hand.  "Di, dear, this is my dad, Tim."

"He bragged about you a lot and moped even more," she said, smiling and shaking his hand.  "Xander is one of my best advertisements, he always has been."  She stroked Xander's cheek.  "I liked that you guys played and teased each other.  Thank you, Xander."

"He hasn't gotten to tease anyone since he quit stripping," he noted dryly, smiling at her.  He nodded someone over and Horatio came closer.  "Diana, this is Horatio Caine."

She moaned and shook his hand.  "I remember the picture someone sent of you."  Xander leaned against his side and they were as pretty as she had imagined.  She looked at him.  "Do take care of the Xander for me, Horatio," she said quietly.  "I'd hate to have to steal the real thing and treat him right for you.  Also, bring him back whenever he needs a special outfit. He gives great inspiration just by standing there looking hot."  She walked off, leaving them together.  She knew that possessive look in the cold blue eyes.  She wasn't getting near Xander ever again unless she was dressing him.

Xander looked up, grinning at him.  "Hi."

"Hi."  He stroked his cheek and stole a kiss.  "How long do you have to stay?"

"Let me go pack.  We can escape."

"Good."

"I'll tell Stella," Speed said, pinching Xander again on his way past.  "Don't be too noisy."

"Of course not."  He looked at Horatio again.  "I didn't think you'd mind since it was sure to draw the guy."

"I don't mind.  No one saw you naked, except in that one pair of nearly see-through pants."  He stroked his cheek again.  "Go pack, Xander."  He nodded and slipped away to do that.  Horatio stalked their hostess, whispering in her ear.  "If he's Xander's son, we will have visitation at least, Diana.  He will make a fantastic father."  She went limp and nodded.  "Good.  I'm glad we have this understanding."  He walked off to wait on Xander, making a quiet exit.  He had recognized a few of Xander's former clients in the room and it made him quite jealous and possessive.  The boy was his and only his.  No one else got the privilege of seeing him dressed like that anymore.  "Did you have fun?" he asked once they were in the cab.

"I did."  He smiled shyly at him.  "It was all teasing, Horatio.  I promise."

"I know, Xander."  He kissed him gently.  "You're still going to be spanked for those clear pants and the red condom."  Xander blushed at that.  The cab pulled up and Xander paid, then got out and held the door for him.  He followed him up to the apartment, noticing the bed was only a double.  He sat down, undoing his button-up shirt.  "Strip for me, Xander.  Get it out of your system."  Xander moaned and started to move, getting into the groove of the music he was humming.  His boy was a flirt and a bad tease, but he only did this for him now.  He even got to touch now and then.  A stroke up the flat stomach and Xander shivered, stopping his dancing to straddle his lap for kisses.  "Is it out of your system?"

"I'll strip for you later," he moaned, stealing another kiss.  "Please, Horatio?  It's been so long," he pleaded.

"Finish undressing," he ordered.  Xander stepped back and took off the clothes, leaving him naked and hard.  Horatio stood up and Xander undid his pants for him, going down to help him out of his shoes and socks, then his pants and boxers, taking the time to suckle gently on him.  He let him have it for a few minutes, then pulled him up.  "Next time you can do that."  He laid him down and looked over his property, then smirked at him.  "You lied to me?"

"I promised Ray I wouldn't tell you anything since it was his test results."

"I can agree with that one."  Xander opened his mouth.  "You sold something from that group of hidden things?"

He swallowed.  "I left out the invoice because I didn't know how to tell you."

"I realized that when I found it on my desk, Xander.  You still sold some of it?"

"The gold castrating clamper thingy."

"Which is probably better off melted anyway," he agreed, laying down next to him.  "Where did you sell it? You never told me you had connections into Little Havana."

Xander blushed.  "Jack, my former boss, told us to go there if we ever needed to pawn gold stuff."  He flipped onto his side, teasing the chest hair with a finger while he stared into his eyes.  "I didn't think you'd want to know my list for that stuff."

"As long as they're legal, I don't care.  Frank said one of them wasn't."

"He wasn't?"

Horatio kissed him.  "We'll go over that list when we get back, Xander.  I know you didn't do it on purpose and you were taking care of what's precious to me, you and Ray."  He stroked his cheek with the back of his hand.  "You will be spanked for teasing Don that way."

"Danny wants Don so badly he aches, Horatio, I gave him an opening plus it helped him for the show.  He was scared stiff earlier."

"Hmm."  He took a kiss, pushing Xander onto his back. "I still don't want you teasing other men, Xander."

"It's not like he'll turn stalker."

"No, I doubt Don would," he agreed dryly.  "But you never know."  Xander giggled at that image so Horatio started to tease his stomach.  "Did you forget some situps?"

"My stomach aches."

"Why?"

"I ate my own cooking."

"Always a bad idea," he agreed, kissing it then up to his lips again.  "Did you work yourself off while I was gone?"

"Only long after Ray went to bed and I was very quiet," he moaned, arching up into the teasing fingers.  "Horatio!"

"Shhh, they could be back any minute now."  He took another kiss and got down to the serious work of making sure Xander only teased him.  He noticed Xander didn't ask if he had done the same so he volunteered the information.  "Speed teased me horribly about being noisy," he whispered in his ear, earing a shiver and an arch up against his body.  "He's not expecting to see us for the first two days back."  Xander swallowed and panted, trying to rub against him.  He figured out it was his voice.  The last month and a week had made Xander want to hear it so he went back to whispering in his ear while he teased his body.  Xander got off without a single touch to his cock or his piercing.  Horatio smiled and went back to teasing him orally, cleaning him up and making him one happy boy.  "Lube, Xander?" he asked when he couldn't take it any more and his boy was sobbing in need.  Xander whimpered so he had to search himself.  Nothing.  He wasn't sure if it was a happy thought or not.  He found some oil in the bathroom for baths and brought it back.  It would work well enough this time and could be soaked out later.  He made sure his boy was fully open and ready for him before sliding in.

Xander clutched his arms, digging his nails in. "Horatio, condom," he pleaded.

"I know you don't have anything, Xander, and neither do I."  He kissed him gently.  "All your tests have been clean.  They're staying clean."  He kissed him again and moved deeper in, making him whimper and clutch at his shoulders.  "Let it go, Xander.  I've got you," he whispered.  "Just let it go for me, baby."  Xander nodded and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, letting him do whatever he wanted.  "Look at me."  Xander blinked up at him.  "It's me.  Only and always me."  Xander nodded, his breath catching as he touched him. "I'm here now.  You can fall."  Xander pulled him down to kiss him, letting him have whatever he wanted. He bared his neck so Horatio licked it, sucking gently on a spot he knew drove him insane, until Xander finally arched up and came.  Horatio smiled at him.  "Good boy."

"Are you home?"

Horatio nodded.  "We are.  You can relax again."  He went back to working himself in and out of the body, making his boy happy and sated.  Xander was wrung out already but he knew he needed this.  Needed to have his control shattered so he could finally relax his guard.  He heard someone come in and sped up a bit, making Xander let out a whimper and try to claw up his shoulders and arms looking for a handhold.  "I'm going to handcuff you if you keep that up," he growled, speed up some. He went back to his mark to make it darker, breaking through the skin to taste his mate's blood.  He and Xander were both alphas but in their bed, he was the alpha.  Xander submitted to him and with a whimper the last of his shields came down, opening to him totally when the bloody kiss came. Xander whimpered like the bitch he was for him, wiggling free until he got onto his hands and knees.

"Good boy."  He slid back in and rode him as hard and fast as he could. He needed this, this act of dominance.  He had wanted it to be comforting and in a way it was comforting his inner self, but the real comfort would be the cuddling afterward, when he could hold and cherish. For now, his tiger was screaming at him to take his mate and show him he was back.  Xander let out a small yelp when he nipped his back but that's all.  He was panting and holding onto the sheets, eyes closed and head down.  "Xander."  Xander looked back at him and grinned.  He came at that grin, grabbing Xander's cock to finish him off.  Xander came with a howl of his own, mostly a dry one but he still got off.  Horatio went limp across Xander's back, just stroking and touching.  "I missed you."

"I was so lonely," he admitted, laying down and letting Horatio cuddle him.  "It was horrible.  Frank kept checking on me to make sure I was okay and hadn't tied myself to the bed one night in a fantasy of you."  Horatio snorted at that.  "His wife sent him over with food to make sure we weren't living on pizza and burgers. The new guy's an asshole who wants my ass but he's so deeply in denial he was telling gay bashing jokes until I jumped on him about it in front of the new IA guy."  Horatio made an inquisitive noise, stroking his back and shoulders, placing little kisses on him. "Ray needed someone to sign his report card and they made him tell a better adult than me. They understood why I had him but they considered me too young to know what I was doing and being gay was just a damn bonus on top of that.  By the way, one of his teachers recognized me that day I went to pick him up while you and Yelina were on a scene. He spread it around."  He wiggled a bit and felt the smile pop into being.  "He got very good grades."

"I saw that email to Tim's porn account."  He licked up the back of Xander's neck.

"If you're done, can we eat?  I didn't realize being a tease would make me that hungry!" Ray yelled.

"Ten more minutes, kid," Xander yelled back.  "I'm getting cuddles."

Ray opened the door and leaned in.  "Where's mine?"

"You can have some when we're dressed, Ray," Horatio said, giving him a fond smile.

"Okay.  I didn't want to see Xander naked anyway.  I saw it close enough on a midnight raid for leftovers and he was in a pair of your boxers."  He closed the door, cutting off the laughter. His mother pulled him back down beside her for a hug.  "I missed you, mom, but if I ever turn into a moping person like Xander did, I want to be on drugs."   He snuggled into her side.  "Frank was doing daily checks to make sure he got out of bed for the first two weeks."  She nodded, stroking his hair.  "Someone at the school knew who he was so everyone at the school knows I know a stripper."  His watch alarm beeped and he sighed, getting up to head into the kitchen.  "I'm making a snack, anyone want anything?"

She got up and followed him, giving him a hug.  "What did she give you?"  He handed over one of the pamphlets he had stashed in there to read while he was making them dinner.  She sighed and put it back.  "It could have been much worse.  I'm going to beat the little bitch when I see her, son."

"You and me both," he said dryly, taking his medicine and then making a sandwich.  "I'm supposed to take it with food."

"That's fine, I have in the past," she agreed, giving him another hug.  "You could've told us."

"Xander promised he'd back me up on whatever I told you," he said, looking at her.  "He thought it was my right to have that little bit of privacy since it wasn't terrible or without a cure."  She nodded, stroking down his hair.  "Mom, I need a shower."

"If that's what you want.  Doing that on stage isn't for everyone, thankfully.  I'd hate to be as big of a tease as Xander is."  He nodded and went that way.  She went to break in on her brother-in-law and his mate.  "Xander," she said, closing the door.

"We went to Diana so I could figure out where I was taking him shopping and to make sure I could run to her if something went wrong while Don and them were on another call," he said quietly, looking back at her.

"I heard, that's fine.  I don't mind him being on the stage.  He's tried it and found he didn't like it."  She walked in and kissed him on the forehead.  "You make a wonderful stand-in parent.  You did a very good job helping him through a difficult situation."

"I'm sensing a but."

"No, no but.  I wish I had been told but I know why my son didn't.  At his age, a mother isn't a confidant like she used to be.  You and Horatio had his back, that's what's important to me."

"No but?"

"Only Horatio's."  He blushed at that.  "Whenever you're ready, Ray is taking a shower."

"Tell him to save me some hot water.  I can't go out to dinner smelling like sex this time.  Someone might try to take me from Horatio."

"Only if they're very stupid."  She smiled at them.  "You did look very hot against both Don and Danny, Xander, and my son looked cute trying to be seductive.  He needed a focus in the audience."

Xander blushed and pulled her down next to them.  "Yelina, I need some advice."  She nodded, kissing him on the top of the head.  "I think Diana lied to me. I think the baby's mine."

"If so, you can have another test done."  She smoothed down some of his hair.  "What did she say about shared visitation?"

"That she didn't want him accidentally taken by a psycho who was after me," he said grimly.

"It is a worry, but not that much of one.  Why do you think he's yours?"

"She said she found a boy-pro who looked like me, but the baby has my eyes.  The same shade, the same nose, everything.  He even giggles like I used to."  She smiled and nodded. "I'm not ready to be a daddy but I don't want to not be there.  I was going to bring that up with Horatio later."

"I told her if he was yours, we're at least getting visitation," he assured him gently, giving him a hug.  "No son of yours is ever going to be that far from you."  Xander relaxed.  "However, I am going to be far, far away when you tell Alexx and Speed."  He kissed the back of his neck and looked at Yelina.  "Tell us when Ray's out of the shower so we can clean up and head to dinner with everyone else."

"No romantic dinner tonight?" she teased.

"Tomorrow night, when we're back in Miami."  She smiled and nodded, kissing both of them on the cheek before leaving.  He nuzzled the back of Xander's neck, giving him a squeeze.  "Is that all right with you?"

"Do we have to go back tomorrow or can we just have fun and do tourist stuff tomorrow and go back the next day?"

"If you want," he agreed, smiling down at him.  "Flip over, Xander. I've gotten my alpha fix for now."  Xander wiggled around, careful not to knee him.  "Good boy."  He kissed him, earning a moan and a hand moving up his side, then a poke at a tender spot.  He flinched away, smirking down at him.  "You want to play do you?"  He got to work making Xander howl and shriek in pleasure this time.  Xander finally gave up and went limp, wrapping his legs around his waist.  Horatio took the invitation for what it was and slid back home.  Xander whimpered and went with whatever he wanted.  "You can play tonight."

"We'll keep Ray up."

"He can sleep tomorrow."  He kissed him, stopping all plans to be nice to the others.  Right now, his only focus was on his lover and his pleasure was most important.  He licked over his mark, getting a shiver, and Xander went off for him, drawing him over as well.  "You make me feel like a teenager," he whispered.

"Then we're switching places because my back's sore," he teased back.  Horatio laughed and pinched him but gave him a kiss.

"If you're done being noisy, come take a shower so we can eat!" Eric yelled.

"We need to find him someone to take the place of his stomach," Xander joked.

"I've tried that but he seems to keep collecting fast food instead of full meals."  Horatio got up with a groan.  "Never mind, I got the backache back."

"I'll work on it later for you."  Xander climbed out of the bed and got a robe, handing Horatio his from his bag.  "There, now no one will blush when we go out there."  He smiled as he walked out, sneaking into the bathroom and past Calleigh, who was washing her hands.

"He said he left you two some hot water, but not much."  She blushed when Horatio came in.  "Let me go."  She ran out and closed the door behind her, hearing the lock engage.  She looked at Speed, who chuckled. "At least at your place they have their own."

"Each bathroom raises the rent by six hundred a month," Ray said dryly.  He looked at Stella when she walked in.  "We're going out to dinner, would you like to come with us?"

"No, I got invited out by one of the people at the show.  Are you okay?  You looked kinda wobbly up there."

"I'm fine, Stella."  He hugged her.  "I'm not used to being a sex object yet.  When I get a decent woman I'm sure she'll treat me that way and I'll be more used to it."  She chuckled and gave him a squeeze.  "Did you ever meet my mother?  Mom, this is Stella Bonasera, she works with Mac and Danny and them."

"Nice to meet you.  I made sure the boys ate real food most of the time and Xander was fierce in Ray doing his homework and sleeping regular hours."

"Good.  Thank you for watching over the boys."  She shook her hand.  "How naughty was my son?"

"Besides the snuck in porn that once, they were good as gold."

"Not snuck in.  Someone named Audry gave some porn company some of Xander's dance tapes and they got cut into a few tapes so he was given copies by Willow when she found them.  He was watching to see how much he had to sue someone."

"I'm not telling the son-in-law about that," Speed decided.  "Xander can do that."

Stella smirked at him. "Not that brave?"

"Nope. I don't think Aiden is that brave either.  She'd blurt it out and run."  He looked at Eric, who was blushing.  "Some of the Montreal stuff, guys.  The harder-core Miami stuff wouldn't need the porn with it."

"You got that right," Eric mumbled.  He smiled at Stella.  "Would you like to come out with us after your date?"

Horatio came out of the bathroom, Xander's bathrobe on and drying his hair.  "We're leaving the day after tomorrow.  She can come out to dinner with us tomorrow night if she's busy."

"I'll call to make reservations," Yelina told them, smiling at Xander when he came out.  "You look good in his clothes, Xander."

He grinned at her.  "That's why he keeps putting me in a suit, so no one can stare at my butt."  He winked at Stella.  "We're doing touristy stuff tomorrow."

"Good, then Ray can use that for his paper."  She walked over to hug him.  "If I had a real boyfriend, I'd buy him some of the stuff you were showing off.  It was so cute how flustered Don got after you guys were done.  If Aiden were here, she'd be teasing him mercilessly."

"Don't do that," he complained.  "I had to get him into the right mindset by teasing him.  No one's ever treated him as a sex object before and it scared him."

She let out a wicked chuckle and winked.  "I'll be sure he knows what it feels like, Xander. Lindsay is still probably drooling on him."  He whispered in her ear.  "I know.  Most of us know."

"I figured you'd seen it since you're so smart and good at your job."  He kissed her on the cheek. "Have fun at dinner with Mac."  She blushed and fled the room.  He went in to change, looking at the clothes on the bed.  "You want me to wear something that tight?  Are you going armed?"

"Calleigh is."  He smirked at him. "It's a treat for me, Xander."  That got a nod and his boy slid into the pants he had laid out, then one of his button-down shirts that he liked the boy to borrow.  It looked better on him.  He slid into his own suit and checked his hair, letting Xander fuss with it a bit before doing his own.  Xander sat down to put on his shoes and he smirked at the ripping noise.  "Too tight?"

"Yeah, these aren't meant to sit in."  He got up and pulled something out of his bag, then wiggled out of the old pair, tossing them toward the trash. He put on the new pair.  "She didn't want it on the runway so we wouldn't have a riot."  He buckled the three buckles that took the place of the zipper. Then he smoothed his hands down the legs of his new pants.  "There."  He untucked the shirt, leaving it loose.  Horatio smirked at that. "That way they only get a hint.  These are stretchy too."  He walked over to kiss him, getting held and his back stroked.  "I love you."

"And I you," he promised quietly.  "Now, let's go eat so you can tell Speed about your son."  Xander nodded, taking his hand to lead him out.

"Aw, man, not those pants," Ray complained.

"You, hush," Horatio said with a smirk.  "He's dressed decently enough."

"Diana said we'd have problems if he wore those on stage."

"Not really," Xander said.  "Without the tight t-shirt with it, it's just a pair of black pants that conform very well and stretch a bit."  He grinned at him.  "Relax, Calleigh is armed."

"Yeah, I am," she agreed happily, grinning at him. "Alexx is checking us out of the old hotel and meeting us at the restaurant.  We're going to the place up the street so we're closer."

"Okay," Ray agreed, nodding.  "Mom?"

"You can move with me or not, son.  If you do, then Speed and Calleigh will be coming here so we don't have to hear them either."  Calleigh blushed and Speed shrugged.

"I tried to make her stay quiet, they were thin walls."  She smacked him on the arm and stomped off.  "Sorry," he called, smirking at her back.  He shrugged at Horatio's amused look.  "I tried!"

"Sometimes a woman's just gotta scream," Yelina agreed dryly, standing up.  "Are we ready?"  Everyone nodded. "Good.  Let's eat.  My boy is starved."  Ray smiled at her.  "You are.  You usually are."  She walked out with an arm around his shoulders, taking him down to get them a cab.

"I need a new phone when I get back to Miami," Xander complained.  "I stepped on mine," he said when Eric looked at him.  "I knocked it off the bedside table."  Horatio whispered in his ear and he looked at him.  "Sure, we can sneak away and do that."  He smiled at him.  "Both?"

"No more condoms," he said quietly.  "We don't need them."  Xander nodded and snuggled into his side.  "Should we invite Danny and Don?"

"Nah, let Danny soothe his straight boy panic," Calleigh said with a grin.  "If Lindsay didn't.  She was drooling heavily about that ending outfit."

"She's not the sort I'd pick," Xander told her.  "She's nice and sweet, but this is Don we're talking about.  She's too nice and sweet.  He needs someone who can hold their own on his worst days."

She nodded.  "True, she did seem very sweet and kinda gentle to have been doing this for very long.  I'm sure it's just a crush anyway. I wouldn't expect Don to date another cop."  Xander grinned at her.  "What?"

"I know who has a crush on him and they're another cop, but they can hold their own against him."  The cab pulled up and he opened the door.  "Mothers and girlfriends first."

"Go ahead, Horatio," Yelina teased.

"No, dear, that's me.  He goes very possessive on my wanton ass."  She blushed and got in there so he grinned at Horatio.  "Sorry," he said, not meaning it this time.

"She walked in on it, she should've realized," he admitted, getting in after Eric, letting Xander sit in his lap since they were so crowded.  Ray was sitting on his mother's lap.  "Where are we having dinner?"

"I made us reservations at a steak place," Calleigh promised.  The cab took off once the door was closed and Xander patted himself down then, muttered something, making his wallet fall into his hand.

Speed pinched him on the arm since he couldn't spank him.  "No Willow magic!"

"Sorry, it fell out.  The pockets are really shallow."  Horatio took the wallet and put it into his inner jacket pocket for him.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome."  He stroked his back.  "I agree, no magic," he said quietly.  "Before we have an accident."

Xander leaned closer to his ear.  "Willow wrote me that she found a spell to turn one of us just girl enough to carry a baby.  I sicced Buffy's mother on her for it."  Horatio smiled at that.  "I'd look horrible like that and she'd need something personal so it'd end up being me."

Horatio stroked his back.  "Thank you for the preemptive strike on that idea."  He looked at Speed.  "You two need to talk over dinner."

"Why?"

"Over dinner.  That way you can't yell and scream in public," Xander said bitterly.  Everyone stared at him so he sighed.  "When I went to Diana's shop to check on her and all that stuff to make sure she had my back, we ran into her son.  She claims the father is a pro who looked a lot like me."

"I saw that baby there at the show," Calleigh admitted.  "He was being held by another woman."

"That's her girlfriend."  He grimaced.  "I'm not so sure she didn't lie about the test's outcome."

"So I'm a grandfather?" Speed demanded.  Xander nodded slowly.  "Fuck, kid!"

"Not my idea and wasn't planned.  I don't remember having her that way to be honest, but the kid looks *just like* me, dad.  So unless the kinky boy-pro she found was a secret twin...."  He shrugged.  "I thought I only played and teased."

Speed sighed. "If it is, what're you gonna do?"

"At the very least have visitation," he admitted.  He gave him a hug.  "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault.  I take it she's insistent?"  He nodded.  "Then we'll talk to her tomorrow."

"Don said to tell you she got the second Xander bot and one of his other stalkers got the last one," Calleigh offered.

"Yeah, and the first night she had him, she took him to an S&M club to let a lot of people have him," Xander said dryly.  "Don heard and came over to ask.  I'm assured the rest won't look like me."

"Good!" Eric agreed. "Hopefully no one will be so disappointed that they come after the real thing when they find out he's metal."  He looked at him.  "How old is the baby?"

"Just barely in the right age range. He's barely walking and babbling.  He's so cute," he sighed, shaking his head.  "She said she didn't want me to know because of the psycho issue."

"I can see that," Speed admitted.  "It's still unfair to you.  If I had a kid, I'd wanna know.  I'm sure Eric was told if he has any."

"Funny.  Not," Eric shot back.  "I'm very careful."

"Hell, I didn't think I touched her that way," Xander said dryly.  "Unless some transferred off my tongue or my fingers."

"Good point," Speed admitted, giving him a hug.  "It'll be okay, Xander."  The cab stopped and they piled out, Yelina paying the cabbie with the money they all handed over.  "You're telling Alexx."

"You and Horatio can hide in the bathroom," he promised.  He walked in there, smiling at the hostess.  "Calleigh, which name?"

"Yours, dear, it's your celebration."  She looked around and grabbed Horatio's arm, pulling him down to hiss in his ear, nodding at a back table.

He looked and nodded, then pulled Yelina aside and spoke to her.  She looked and he saw her clamp down on her emotions. "I told him once we were at home," he murmured.  She nodded, he had warned her he had thought he had seen Ray.  She had dealt with the idea that he might be alive.  She looked up at him.  "Home, Yelina."

"Home," she agreed.  "I need to make flight reservations."  He smiled at that. "Are we going to see you two for the first two days?"  He shook his head.  "I thought not.  You were cute earlier.  Did you do that to his neck?"  He smirked and nodded.  "Good job."  When they were led to their table she made sure Ray was sitting with his back to the other table.  Her son didn't need this stress until she had screamed at her former husband.  She saw her son look around and nudged him.  "So, how did you manage to do that on stage?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Xander said to flirt with someone in the crowd so I picked one of the older ladies until I saw Speed."

"Yeah, I've never been flirted with by a guy your age before," Speed joked.

"It was you or the old guy next to you," Ray taunted, looking around again.  He saw the reason for the stress on his mother's face, then looked at her.  Then he looked at his uncle and Xander, seeing the guilty look on his buddy's face.  "You knew when?"

"Few days ago," Xander admitted quietly.  "We made him wait until we got over this and got you home.  That way your mother and uncle could hide the body easier."

Ray nodded, then got up and walked over there, looking at his father.  "Did they send you back like they did Speed?" he asked quietly.  He shook his head, finishing his beer.  "Where in the hell were you?"

"Undercover."

Ray hauled off and hit him.  "That's for making mom cry, bastard.  No one makes my mother cry and gets away with it.  Not you, not Stetler, no one.  So I'd run home and be prepared for the screaming we're going to do.  Because you're ruining a happy day at the moment."  He walked back to the table, letting his mother fuss over his knuckles. "I'm fine."

"Good.  That's why we wanted to make him wait until we were home.  That way Eric would have someone to dive after again."

"Huh?" Eric asked, looking at the table.  "Isn't that...."  Horatio nodded. "Wow.  How?"  He looked at Speed.  "Your friends?"

"Nope."  He took a sip of his water, looking at Horatio.  "I've got your back on this one if you need a shovel or one of Xander's knives."

"Why give the alligator's indigestion?" Ray quipped.  "They're endangered, that's mean."

His mother gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  "We'll get into this at home.  For now just think, son.  I taught you how to hit very well."  He smiled at her. "I'm proud you didn't go for the Xander option and take his knife."

"Over too quickly and then you couldn't yell at him and demand answers, mom."  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I'm good with waiting until we get home."  He stood up when Alexx walked in, prompting the other guys to as well.  She smiled and sat down after doling out hugs.  "Did you come?"

"I did, sugar, and you looked nearly as indecent as Xander does in some of his."  Xander giggled at that.  "Was that really necessary?"

"It drew the guy so we could catch him," Xander said with a small shrug. "She was the designer who did my former clothes too."  He gulped his water.  "By the way, grandma, there's a small matter of a boy-pro in Montreal who apparently looked just like me."  He stared her down.  "We're still debating on if she told the truth with that story or not."

"Excuse me?  I have great-grandbabies?" she demanded.  He held up a finger.  "One?"  He nodded.  "Are you sure?"  He shook his head and finished his water.  "We'll go see him tomorrow, baby.   You, me, your daddy, and Horatio."  He smiled at that. "We are taking responsibility?"

"I at least want visitation.  She's got a good job and a girlfriend who loves him."

"Him?"

"Him.  He looks just like me, Alexx."  He looked over as the others in their group came in.  "I thought they'd be doing beers and pizzas tonight," he joked, nodding at Don, who came over to hug him. "You can join in if you want, or go have dinner with Danny."

"No, we came to sit with you guys," he admitted, seeing the look on Danny's face.  He smirked at him. "That way we're all protected in case someone wants ta take Danny away from me."  He looked at Xander's outfit.  "Those pants weren't to be worn in public, kid."

"Horatio ordered," he offered.

"Uh-huh.  At least we're armed."  The hostess added another table into theirs and they joined in. He looked around.  "We order yet? I couldn't eat breakfast."

"No, not yet," Alexx admitted.  "They were waiting on me."  She smiled at Danny. "That one time you leaned on him got a lot of reaction from my part of the crowd."

"It got some where I was lookin' too," Don admitted dryly.  He caught Danny's eye again and smirked at him.  "What about you?"

"I was paying attention to my feet so I didn't trip."

"That's all right, the rest of us were looking for threats in case someone jumped up on the stage and tried to take you four," Yelina promised smiling down at him.  "If they knew what you did for a living, many more of the clients would support the department."

"The program had us as bodyguards," Don said dryly.  "The department would throw a fit if they saw what we were wearin'."

"Oh, I don't know, those black jeans are going into my locker as my backup clothes," Danny said, sipping his water.  The waitress came back and he grinned.  "I'm getting his," he told her, pointing at Don.  "And mine."

"Baby, I've got it," Xander told him, grinning at her.  "All one check, mine."  He looked at everyone then at her.  "Steak, medium, potatoes?"

"Which cut, sir?"  She opened his menu and the others did the same, making her smile.  He pointed at one and she nodded.  "Very good choice, sir."  She wrote that down and looked at the man next to him.  "For you, sir?"

"The same, well done," he offered, handing it back.  "Plus coffee, just bring the pot."  She nodded, taking that down.  The rest ordered and he leaned closer to Xander's ear.  "Quit showing off."

"Not like I need the fee I got today," he whispered back.

"How much did you make for that show?" Calleigh asked once the waitress was gone.

"Six grand each," Ray said proudly.  "Plus the clothes."

"Which probably won't be seen outside the house, son," his mother said firmly.  "Or else that bitch may come after you again."  He gave her a hug and she smiled.  "You did dump her?"

"Yeah, I wrote her an email and dumped her after she called me a coward for running up here.  That was before I went in for the tests."

"I realized right after that he hadn't," Xander told her.  "I drug him the next day."

"Good.  I appreciate that, Xander.  He needs someone he could look up to when he can't talk to me."

"I figured you would've thrown a fit, mom."

She smiled at him.  "If I had found out that night, you wouldn't have had the chance to explain," she assured him.  "You would've been in a military school in another state by the next morning. As far in the middle of nowhere as I could find."  He grinned at that.

"I hear Arkansas's nice," Calleigh offered with a sweet smile for him.  "What happened with your girlfriend?"

"She's the one who made him do the open pole night that got him his first stalker," Yelina said.

"She also took me to a rave a few weeks later when we were out on a nicer date," Ray admitted.  "And I ended up with very cloudy memories of that night after drinking a juice there.  She laughed because I wasn't doing shots with her.  Xander found me the next morning with four women."  She gaped and he nodded.  "Someone called him."

"I thought he'd have done the tests the next day but apparently not," Xander said grimly.  "So we did that recently. And I gave him the extended Xander sex talk for new strippers."  Speed smirked at that and Eric moaned. "You tried, man, just a bit too vague."

"I wasn't sure if he had a clue or not," Eric admitted.  "Sorry, kid.  Had I known, I'd have been much more explicit when I told you not to drink anything you don't personally open or see poured at the clubs."

"Oh, I've learned," he admitted.  "It was a fairly harmless lesson.  I didn't get anything too nasty from it. I'm okay now. And she called me a coward for running from the guy."

"I think it shows brains," Horatio assured him. "You retreated from a situation you couldn't handle on your own and went to someone who could.  That's the wise thing to do I'm glad Don and his team were there for you when we couldn't be.  And that you had Xander, who has very good instincts."

Ray looked at him.  "We gotta talk about that new detective.  If Frank hasn't ripped him a new one, he didn't want to listen."

"Oh, he'll be listening to me," Yelina assured her son.  "I'm sure Frank has had a few discussions with him but he'll be listening to me."  He smiled at her.  "You did the right thing, son, and Xander.  You told the proper people and when that didn't help, you moved to where you had a more stable position and help."  They both nodded at that.  "Xander, how much do I owe you for airfare?"

He snorted. "I don't charge family for favors, Yelina.  Deal with it and move on.  The fee for the show more than covered it."  He smiled as his food was brought. "Thank you."  She nodded and he dug in, smiling at the taste of the meat.  "Oh, this is great," he complimented, changing the subject.

Ray nodded.  "It is.  I wonder if we have a place like this in Miami.  Not to insult your cooking, Uncle Horatio, but you can't get steaks like these in the store."  He cut and ate another bite.

Horatio looked at Yelina and smiled, shrugging a bit.  "You are my family," he noted dryly.  "That makes you his."

She nodded.  "That's fine.  I'll teach him how to cook so he doesn't have to order special meals for you."  He smirked at that and dug into his own dinner. Xander grinned at her.  "Your anniversary is coming up shortly."

"It is.  I was going to take him to this nice spot on the beach and have dinner out with him."  He cut and ate another bite and winked at her, making her smile back.  "I'm sure we can have it for the lunch that day, even if I do have to put out the picnic in his office."

"Frank will pick on him forever if you do, Xander," Calleigh warned. But she was grinning.  Not many people got to tease Horatio. "If you do, we'll watch out for food poisoning too."

"Gee, thanks, just give the boy confidence in his abilities," Speed said dryly, poking her on the side.  Eric chuckled at that.  "No one's ever sat down and properly tried to teach him to cook.  I gave it one try and gave up when he dusted my whole kitchen with flour so the dough wouldn't stick to anything."

"Hey!" Xander whined. "That was an accident. You startled me."

"Uh-huh. Stick to that story too," he encouraged. He dug into his food, eating slowly, savoring this one.  He had learned to savor stuff when he came back to life.  Calleigh smiled at him so he stole a kiss, savoring that as well.  He looked at Ray.  "Are you going to the hotel with your mom or staying with the noisy duo there?"

"No, you two can have my room so mom and Eric can finally get some sleep," he offered with a bright grin.

"Baby, the smart ones of us packed earplugs," Alexx said with a grin for him.  Then at Danny and Don, who were teasing each other. "Do you two have to go back to work tomorrow?"

"We're not sure yet," Danny admitted.  "We were told to see when you guys were going home first.  Mac's taking tomorrow off."  He grinned down at Horatio.  "He said you owed him a game of pool after the last time."

"I do," he agreed. "He'll be trying to win his five dollars back."

Yelina excused herself and went into the bathroom to call the airline they used at the department.  She had looked up the number on the way to the boys' apartment.  When she came out, she smirked at them all.  "There's not enough room for all of us to go together for three days. Which means we'll have to go in Tuesday."  She sat down again, putting her napkin back in her lap and digging in again.

Horatio called Frank from right there.  "Frank, Horatio," he said in greeting, smirking a bit at the happy noises his friend was making.  "Yes, we're done and the idiot after Ray has been recaptured.  Oh, yes.  No, Yelina said we can't appear until Tuesday.  That there's not enough room for all of us at once."  He smirked. "Well, you do get to give him good news, that we're coming back."  He laughed.  "Good.  See you then."  He hung up and put his phone back.  "He swore about giving the bad news that it would be Tuesday."

"I didn't think it was fair to make some of us go back sooner," she complained. She frowned.  "Who's watering my plants?"

"Frank," the boys said in unison.

"Eric's mom has his and Speed's herb garden," Ray added with a grin for Eric.  "She was pouting so hard the last time I saw her."

"I mailed her a letter," he complained.

"If you were my son, I'd worry too," Alexx assured him dryly.  "If only to make sure you weren't bringing home some other woman to add to your population of them."

"I'm not that bad!"

"Yeah, you are," Calleigh assured him, patting him on the wrist.  "You really are, Eric."  He smirked at her.  She looked around, then at Horatio.  "When did we lose Ryan?"

"Two days ago when he got released after testifying," he reminded her.

"Oh, yeah.  He's been so quiet this trip.  It was almost like he was invisible."  She pouted at Speed.  "We've got to draw that boy out more."

"We need to get him to dump that reporter," Eric noted dryly, eating another bite.

Speed nodded.  "We do.  I'm sure he likes her but it's not good for him or his career and she's using him horribly.  H?"

"I can't dictate who he dates."

"No, but we can make her go away," Xander noted dryly, staring at his honey.  "Even I don't like the woman and it's not because she leers at me.  She made snide remarks about you and Speed sharing me too."

"The bitch," Calleigh muttered.

Xander nodded.  "Oh, Stetler's working in New York as a PI."

"Wonderful," she said happily. "Did you run into him?"

"And taunted him."

"That's okay because I hit him," Horatio noted dryly, sipping his coffee.  Everyone at the table looked at him. "He bothered what's mine."

"Was he living?" Speed asked. "If so, I want him next."

"He was when he tried to file assault charges," Don admitted.  "But some agent came down and took the charge sheet and him away.  Pity about that but apparently he heard why he lost his job in Miami."

"They've got to think something's going on in Miami with the way we don't cooperate very well," Calleigh noted, smirking at Horatio.  "You hit him?"

"A few times," he admitted.  "He's no longer an officer.  He proved he was no better than a rapist when he tried to go for Xander.  He proved he was a dirty cop himself by threatening to plant evidence.  Then he came after Xander again."  He looked over as Ray got up, watching as he came over.  He let out a small moan.  Xander looked then took his hand to kiss the back of it.  "Thank you, Xander. You do keep me calm."

"If he upsets Ray or Yelina, I get to hit him again," he said dryly.  Ray looked at him.  "I did."

"Good."  He glared at his father, who stopped a polite distance away.  "This isn't Miami."

"It's not.  I'm heading back tonight," he said quietly.  "I want to arrange a time to talk."

"We're flying in Sunday," Yelina told him "We'll be back at work Tuesday."  He nodded and walked off.  She sighed.  "We'll be doing this one in public," she decided.

"We'll be doing this in our backyard while we have a cookout for the team and Frank," Horatio corrected. She smiled and nodded and everyone else smiled.  "There will be no food so find something and bring it."  He ate another bite of his dinner, smiling at Xander when his hand was released so his boy could eat.  It was a very good idea for him to store up some energy for later.

***

Frank Tripp looked up as the group came off the plane. "The Chief said you could have tomorrow off to readjust but he didn't wanna see another day off from any of you for at least a month."  They all smiled and hugged him.  "I missed you guys.  They stuck me with the rookie detective.  The man almost let a murderer go for being *nice*."  He smiled at Xander.  "Did you pick up more naughty clothes?"  He nodded, beaming happily.  "Do we need to assign you an escort detail?"

"No.  He doesn't usually wear them in public anymore, Frank," Horatio said patiently.

"Or else you spank him?" he teased back with a smirk.

"Only if he's a good boy."

"Yeah, they decided if I need punishment they're sending me to Don," Xander said, grinning at him.  Frank spluttered and choked at that.  "Awww, poor baby.  We even got a tape of the show so you can see it."  He patted him on the back and walked out. "Come on, Ray, let's go get the baggage since Calleigh and your mom packed a lot."

"I did not!" Calleigh complained.  "I only had the one bag and the bag of weapons."  She put on her badge at one gate guard's odd look.  He just nodded and smiled at them.  "We're going."  She linked arms with Frank, smiling at him.  "So was it quiet while we were gone?"

"Hell no.  Not until word got around that you were coming back."

"So the Wrath of Caine rumors are still going?" Speed joked.

"Apparently. We got to play poker on shift yesterday.  It was the first easy day we've had since about two days after you guys left."  He looked at Xander when they found them hauling luggage off the conveyor.  "Why were they solid gold?"

"Even distribution of heat," he said blandly, checking another one and taking it off.

"That's not ours," Eric complained.

"The tag says it's Ray's," he noted dryly, handing it to him.

"That would be the smutty clothes I can't wear in public," Ray admitted, grinning at him.

"Maybe if she did some of your clothes, Eric, you could keep the same girl for over a week," Speed taunted, catching his bag and carrying it by hand.

"Funny, not," he complained.  "I don't need a stalker that her clothes inspire."

"Oh, I don't know," Frank said, smirking at him.  "Xander's last two were nice guys, just lonely."

"Xander?" Horatio drawled.  Xander gave him an 'oh shit' look.  "If you take off running I will let someone handcuff you."

"Does that mean he's going to be spanked?" Frank asked. "Your boy moped the whole damn time you were gone, Horatio.  He ended up bringing me lunch half the time because he got so bored and depressed.  Plus his grades were going south before he had to drop out for this last idiot."  He looked at Yelina.  "Next time, bring the kids with you.  Your boy made my wife feel pitiful and want one."  She smiled at that.  "Not yours, a new, young one."  He shook his head and helped by grabbing one of the baggage carts.  "Horatio, your hummer is outside.  I drove it over for you so you wouldn't have to be without your other baby any longer."

"Thank you, Frank," he said, looking at Xander.  "Stalkers?" he mouthed.

"Lonely guys on campus who decided I needed a friend," he offered.  "Two teachers."

"Hmm.  Will you be having them?"

"Only if I become an English major.  One of them wrote me poetry about flowers.  The other tried to get him expelled for hitting on a student. That's how I found out about them."

"His advisor called to talk to you, Horatio, but since you were gone I said he was in my control. It seems his abnormal psych professor wanted him to draw some more so she could study them.  The rookie was amused but I wasn't and I told her why.  She cried and said that was fine and told me about the two on campus, who I went to warn that you had the boy.  I suggested they try dating."  Speed laughed at that.  "Seriously, it was pretty poetry if he was a girl."  He shrugged.  "Flowers and teddy bears and candy sorta poetry."  He led them out to the hummer and let them pick who was going to have to take a cab, with him.  "My car's back at the station," he announced.  "I can give you guys a ride from there."

"I'm wondering why three cops are staring at us now," Xander said, nodding at them. "Hi, guys."  Horatio looked and nodded politely.

One of them came over.  "Are you guys back?  We've seen Wolfe and he's pouting.  The night shift team is really not working out well on days either."

"We are.  We'll be back Tuesday to readjust our own schedules," Horatio admitted.

"Thank you."  He hugged him.  "Sir, can we give any of you a ride anywhere?  Just to make CSI Wolfe quit pouting?"

"Why was Ryan pouting?" Calleigh asked, looking at the other two.  "You guys can come over too."

"We don't wanna get too close to Lieutenant Caine's favorite things, ma'am, there's rumors that he destroys people who touch them.  Like he did that club for touching his boyfriend."

"I didn't touch the Raven's Cage," Horatio assured him.  "That was Vice, not even a favor."

"Oh, no, sir, the one your boy there used to dance at got raided two days after you left."  Xander looked confused.  "They never told you?" he asked, moving closer.  Xander shook his head.  "Yeah.  Two women walked in there and demanded your release to their custody and it ended up in a hostage situation.  When they went in they found some drugs and some porn.  One of the dancers complained to one of the SWAT guys that they and you hadn't agreed to have your dancing featured so Vice shut 'em down totally and arrested nearly everyone.  They said it was the Wrath of Caine for doing that to his boy."

"See, I told you they called it that," Speed joked. He smirked at the patrol guys.  "He doesn't believe in those rumors."

"We heard about it," the third guy complained.  "Anytime he's on vacation crime picks up.  The Chief sent around a memo telling us to endure while you guys were taken hostage by the Feds.  We were ordered to escort the hummer back to the office, sir.  The Chief is there and wanted to see you to get a report on what happened with the serial killer and the case.  So can we give some of you a ride back?"  Everyone nodded and split up among the three patrol cars and the hummer, Xander getting shotgun of course.

Speed looked at the officer driving him and Eric.  "When I went to pick up Xander's final check, they had a bet going on whether or not he had to sleep in the hummer."

The officer laughed.  "So did we.  We decided he'd have his hummer inside his house if he could but he'd never let his boy that far out of his sight.  We figure that's why some of you had to be taken away in handcuffs."

"He wasn't one," Eric said dryly. "Alexx was one.  They took her away from her kids."  The patrol guy hissed. "Yeah. Not a happy mother at all."  He smirked at Speed. "Didn't they cuff you too?"

"Hell yes!   I'm not leaving my son alone in the city.  He'd get into trouble."

"Oh, no, Speedle, he just moped a lot and Detective Tripp had him under suicide watch for a bit.  Or at least that's why we thought he had him coming in every other day to bring him lunch and talk with the boy."  He changed lanes. "By the way, there's been a few deliveries for you and Lieutenant Caine at the office and we figured it was more of his stuff related to the serial killers he got in the club. They were stored by the cold case DNA tech in one of the back evidence locker rooms."

"Thank you."  He pulled out his phone and called Horatio.  "Boavista stored some stuff that got sent to you in a back evidence locker. No, they said he just moped and they thought Frank had him on suicide watch there for a bit.  Sure."  He hung up.  "They're going to talk later."

"Good."  Eric called his girlfriend.  "Hey, it's me.  We're back and headed in.  You stored stuff for H?"  He grinned.  "Yeah, we're heading there, then home.  Why?"  He listened and frowned.  "Seriously?  He okay?"  He nodded.  "Sure.  Call him and have him meet us if possible."  He hung up.  "The reporter chick got him shot at."

"Wolfe?  Yeah," the patrol guy admitted.  "Last weekend, when he got back.  He was here for about a day when he got shot at by someone.  We had an experienced guy at the scene because you guys draw trouble, so they got the guy.  Wolfe wasn't hurt but he has been really quiet and mopey recently."

"I told her to call him and have him meet us there," Eric offered.

"He should be on shift today.  He hasn't taken any time off.  He walked off the plane, caught a cab back, and jumped back into the work," the officer offered, taking the offramp.  "I figured we'd take the back way in.  A line of patrols and a hummer from the airport would draw attention."

"Yeah, we don't need more media attention," Speed agreed. "Thank you."

"Welcome.  Should I check with Dispatch to see if Wolfe's on a scene?"

"Nah.  We'll summon him back to the lab if he's out on one," he assured him.  He and Eric shared a look.  Wolfe wasn't the most verbose guy most of the time but he wasn't the quiet, moping sort. "Maybe someone destroyed you guys' research?"

"No.  That was locked in my safety deposit box," Eric assured him.  "I didn't want anyone else getting their hands on the tapes."  He shrugged.  "Not a clue.  We'll find out."  Speed nodded at that, relaxing again.  "We putting the tape of the fashion show the boys did on at the station to show how we captured the killer?"

"I think that's a bit dangerous," Speed noted, smirking at him.  "Who knows who else might get fixated.  Including the new rookie detective."

"Too late," the officer admitted as he pulled in.  "He likes Ray Jr.  He said he'd make a play if Xander wouldn't slap him senseless."

"He's not the only one," Eric assured him.  "The kid's sixteen."

"So?  Some people like 'em barely legal," the officer said with a shrug. "From the rumors, he's not picky about boys or girls but he likes 'em barely legal."  He parked and grinned at them.  "Here you are, guys.  Let me let you out."  He got out and opened the doors for them, letting them get their bags from the trunk.  "What sort of fashion show?"

"The designer who did all of Xander's Xander-tight clothes was one of the people he went to see to make sure she could help protect the boys," Eric said dryly.  "She talked them into doing her runway show and they trapped the killer in the audience.  It was them and two of the cops from New York guarding them with us in the crowd."

"So there's new Xander-tight clothes?"  Speed moaned and nodded.  "Wow.  Does she do women's stuff?  My wife wanted to know."  Speed took the guy's pen and notepad, writing down the phone number he had memorized so he could talk to her about visitation times.  "Thank you, CSI Speedle."

"Not an issue. Tell her Xander shows off her stuff down here.  She didn't believe us."  He walked inside with a small grin.

"Maybe she'll open an office down here and we'll get to see the baby more often," Eric offered as he followed.

"Baby?" the officer called.

"Yeah, we're not sure who the daddy is but Xander loves the little guy," Eric said, grinning back at him and shrugging, then turning back around to jog inside.  His girlfriend was having Ryan help her with the boxes from the evidence locker so he grinned at her and stole a quick kiss before grabbing a few. "What are these?"

"Not a clue," she admitted.  "We scanned them for explosives, but the messenger said it had to do with 'Caine's boyfriend Darkness' so we put 'em back here for you guys to come back."  She smiled at him.  "How was New York?"

"Loud."  He followed her to their usual meeting area, letting Horatio take the boxes he had.  He put his bag down and looked at Wolfe, then drug him aside. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

"Nothing."

"Bullshit.  You look like someone ate your puppy in front of you."  He stared at him.  "Now, what's wrong?"  Ryan drug him out and to the bathroom, then took off his shirt, making him gape in horror.  "How long have you had that!"

"Six damn days, Eric, and he's been watching me.  I can't get anyone near enough but I figured you're safer because somehow he knew about the research.  He wants an answer and the hormone compound so he can use it."

"Uh-huh."  He looked at the small explosive device. "Is it implanted?"  Ryan nodded. "How?"

"I woke up like this my first morning back and a tape beside me on the bed."  He put back down his shirt when the door started to move, looking at Calleigh. "This isn't your side."

"Shut up, Ryan."  She looked under his shirt and winced.  "The rookie thought you were being blackmailed about your research."

"Well, partially right," Ryan said bitterly.  "I've got three days to come up with a hormone compound he can use."

She held up a finger and went to tell Horatio, who made a few quiet calls and got them some help.  Xander came back with her and held out a small vial of blood.  "Will that help?"

"Yeah, it'll help. It's my blood.  If he wants hormones, he can dilute it and find 'em."  Ryan relaxed and nodded.  "Call him or whatever.  Tell him you can't use the lab's processors for it any more, not with Caine back, and that you've got blood and sweat samples he can use.  That's the best you can do with Horatio here."  Ryan nodded and walked away from them to do that, smiling and nodding.  Xander came over to listen, then smirked and walked off, going to smirk at his lover.  "Can we say emerald handcuff's first husband?"  Horatio looked at him, that piercing stare.  He smirked and nodded.  "He's got sweat and blood he can hand over."

"Good."  He told that to the guy on the other end of his phone.  Then he hung up and walked in there to look at it. "I've never seen one of these," he said when Ryan hung up.  "Where and when?"

"Tonight, park, he'll give me the way to disarm it so I can have it removed."  He hugged him. "He wouldn't let me talk to anyone.  He was watching me.  He's somewhere in the building but not today.  Today he was on the water.  He said he didn't want to be here when you got back."

"So, he knew we were coming back today?" Eric offered.  Ryan nodded. "When did he find out?"

"Two days ago."

"The same day Frank told the Chief," Horatio noted.  "Keep the meeting, Mr. Wolfe.  You'll be backed up.  Next time, send an email."

"He locked me out of my email, Horatio.  Computer services doesn't know how and I can't figure out who the guy is."

"So we ask the Chief if he's had any recent hires," Xander offered with an evil smirk.  "After all, the Chief likes me."  He strolled out, going to find the Chief, who smiled at him.  "Got a minute?"

"Of course. Are you finally taking him on a honeymoon?"

"Not until after I graduate.  He said so."  He led him into an office and closed the door, looking at him.  "Ryan Wolfe presently has an explosive embedded in his chest.  The guy wanted my hormones to spread on himself."  He held up a hand. "He's been watching him.  Had him locked out of the computer system.  He was the first husband of the guy who killed himself because he couldn't steal me.  He heard we were coming back today two days ago."

"Which was when I got told," he noted.  He nodded.  "There's only been three new hires in my staff but I think I know who.  Did you ever see him?"

"Once and only briefly but I heard his voice."

"Can we disarm it?"

"We don't think so. It's embedded and he said he'd give him the procedure tonight."

The Chief considered it then nodded.  "All right.  We'll go with that plan.  He couldn't let us know?"

"The guy was watching him, like he was in the office."

"Ah.  That narrows it down to two.  Anything else?"

"Ryan said he's on the water today.  He didn't wanna get anywhere near Horatio today."

"I know exactly who it is," he said smugly.  "We'll go talk to him."  He patted him on the arm.  "Did you want to join?"

"I'm not one for rules, but Tim thinks I'm going to make a good profiler some day soon."

"I'd say you would, Darkness."

"Xander."

"Xander then," he agreed with a smile.  "Tell me when you're ready for that honeymoon.  He's got about a year of leave saved up and he's got to use some of it or else he'll lose it next month.  Order him to talk to HR and then convince him if he won't go."  He walked out, going to catch Horatio and tell him who it probably was. Because someone was going to be sorry for touching Caine's team.  It was the third thing he cherished, his team and family.  It might actually be above the hummer in his eyes, no one was sure because no one was going to ask the guy.

***

Xander looked up from his reading, smiling at Horatio as he came in.  "Ryan okay?"

"Just fine.  They removed it and he'll be under observation for two days."  He laid down on top of him, taking a kiss. The book was put onto the floor.  "Very nicely planned, Xander."

"Thank you."  He grinned and stole a second kiss, wrapping his arms around the tense neck.  "Someone needs to relax.  I got ordered to order and *convince* you to go to HR to talk about your accumulated leave."  Horatio laughed at that.  "I told him you said we can't go on a honeymoon until I've graduated."

"I did say that," he agreed, smiling at him.  "May I have a backrub?"

"Of course."  Horatio got up and helped him up, taking him back to their bedroom.  He got into the supply drawer, finding the oil and no condoms.  "Horatio...."

"Xander, you're overly cautious.  Nothing's wrong with you and nothing will show up.  Now, I could use your hands."  Xander nodded, helping him out of his clothes and onto the bed, then straddled his hips and got to work on his neck.  He purred, his boy was very good at this stuff.  Up and down.  Small circles.  Pressure but not too much.  Slowly moving down his back to the base of his spine.  All the tension from that case and the separation slowly melted under the fingers searching it out.  Once he was relaxed, the fingers came back to inflame him, making him hard and needy.  He moaned for whole different reasons now, letting his body go and experience.  It wasn't often he could get Xander to do these things for him.  He would ask more often but that would make them less special and Xander liked to spoil him with special things.  He felt the fingers move backward and didn't tense up.  He felt the oily fingers explore him back there, smiling at the delicate, hesitant touches.  "Do what you want, Xander," he said quietly.

Xander leaned down to get closer, teasing him with a small puff of air across his hole.  It tickled so he flexed it and a small finger was added, more oily than necessary but that was fine.  The other oily hand stroked down, playing with the balls in his way for a bit before finding what it wanted.  The finger found his prostate and it was good.  He was growling now.  He went up onto his knees, letting him have more access.  The finger wasn't quite hitting it so two came in now, giving it more pressure.  He closed his eyes and held on, expecting the good orgasm coming.  He felt a tentative lick across his head and smiled.  "Whatever you want," he repeated. The fingers went back to their dance and he was flying now.  Then suddenly they popped out and he growled deeply, shifting back to get them back.  He wanted them!  Instead he got something harder and bigger.  It made him stiffen up but the delicate stroking came back.

He hadn't considered doing it this way but Xander was waiting for permission.  He nodded and the head moved closer again, slowly pushing in.  He hadn't done this very often but he was willing to this time.  Xander popped in with a groan from both of them.  Then he slowly slid in.  There was nothing animal or claiming about this.  This was careful exploration into this new territory.  Xander was giving him every chance to protest or complain, and he wasn't going to.  He pushed back and it was finally all the way, then Xander paused and slowly withdrew, just as slowly and teasingly.  He was going to go insane from this.  He growled a bit and Xander kissed his back, speeding up slightly but making him enjoy and be tortured by this slow, easy, gentle claiming.  Because he realized that Xander was claiming him in his own way, making his body remember this sensation by not being hard and fast, over with in a few minutes.  This was going to last for quite a while.  He shifted position and Xander got him onto his side, taking him that way instead.

He stroked his stomach and chest now, teasing and playing with everything he could reach.  He was going insane.  This was better than the time Xander had learned his body.  He was almost whimpering, almost pleading, and Xander soothed him with gentle touches to his cock, giving him hope that it wasn't going to end but be changed to the ultimate pleasure.  Xander shifted his hips, finding a different angle, hitting his prostate fully now.  He moaned and arched back, demanding, but the gentle, soft lovemaking was still going on.  That's when he realized this wasn't sex to Xander. It wasn't usually to him either but it wasn't usually this tender and loving.  Yes, this was claiming his heart and making his body remember.  The hand came back to tease his cock but he clamped a hand around it.  "Please," he whispered.  He felt Xander nod and the strokes got a bit harder.  Not hard like they usually went but hard for virgin lovemaking.  He felt like he was one again with how much care Xander was taking with him.  The hand stroking him slowly squeezed and stroked harder, slowly building into something more like their usual.  He came and he felt Xander come, feeling it flood into him.  He went limp, stroking the arm around him.  It moved up and he found himself cuddled but not released. "I love you too," he whispered.

Xander bit him on the shoulder.  "My mate."

"Yours.  Fully yours."  Xander nodded and licked the bite mark.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem," he promised, stroking his stomach.  "The first time I make honor roll I'm doing it again and then on our wedding night. Only the really special times."

Horatio nodded, relaxing and accepting that Xander felt more comfortable on the bottom, like he did on the top.  "Anytime you make honor roll and on our wedding night, Xander."  He felt the smile.  "Hug?"  He got squeeze and smiled.  Xander wasn't moving for a bit.  He heard the bedroom door open and reached for his gun, but it was Speed.  "Don't you knock?"

"I did and I didn't hear any outrageous sex noises so I got worried."  He looked at where Xander was and grinned.  "Good.  About time.  The guy killed himself in custody, Xander, and we've finished with the boxes whenever you're ready. It's just Calleigh and I."  He grinned at them.  "It's good that you let him hold you sometimes, Horatio.  Even you can't be strong all the time and it's about time you two completed the circle so there's less unevenness in your 'ship."  He closed the door and went back to the living room.  "I caught 'em mid cuddle."  She smiled at that so he pulled her into his lap to cuddle.

"I didn't feel any unevenness," Xander whispered.  "I love being the cherished and protected one."  Horatio got free and flipped over to hold him.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It was an important first step.  You did wonderfully, Xander.  It was good."  Xander beamed and hid his face in the crook of Horatio's neck.  He stroked his back.  "We should go out there."

"Can you sit?"

"Of course I can.  You weren't rough by any means," he assured him. Xander gave him a kiss before getting up to get their pajama bottoms.  His were slid up him.  "That wasn't my first time."

"It was mine that way.  Therefore accept the spoilage."  He dressed himself and helped Horatio up and out to the living room, then went to get him something to drink.  He was thirsty so he knew Horatio was. He brought them back and snuggled into his side, looking at the boxes.  "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not," Calleigh admitted.  "We feel you should though."  Horatio quirked up an eyebrow, putting down his water.  "Um, first, super psycho stalker from the Middle East heard about Speed and Aiden running your parents out of town through the Sunnydale grapevine when he checked up on your history."

Speed tossed over an envelope.  "Their wills.  Not much left after debts."

Xander shrugged and looked at it, then at him.  "When?"

"Last year, while you were in Montreal.  He sent it to Jack and Jack kept it from you so you wouldn't get upset and ruin your performance.  He claims he forgot he had it when Vice asked him why they found it in there.  They found most of the rest of this in a storage place but went through it and decided it wasn't evidence.  They decided to keep with the same system so no one would know where and when it came from.  They thought he was still getting some stuff so they decided it'd be okay.  Salazar wondered how you did it but when she went to Wolfe, he showed her a tape and she just gaped and went home crying that you're gay."

Calleigh nodded.  "Yeah, she had no idea."  She pointed at two boxes. "The rest of the porn and the name of the distributor, who is now shut down, and the production company, who is being sued by you and a few other guys.  The lawyer included you to make his case stronger since you had more tapes."

"Frank heard about that and called him earlier to let him know what a delicate situation it was.  He's having the court sealed during it.  He's in Boca and we've got his address for you," Speed assured him.  "The real problem is the other envelope and the last three boxes.  The envelope is from the guy who died in custody tonight.  It's the will he left in the cell.  If his family contests you might end up in a screaming match about how sick he was and how you didn't want it.  The boxes are from local admirers.  I don't know who bought two of them.  The company wouldn't tell Eric."  Xander looked at them, then sighed and handed them to Horatio, getting up and going into the office, but coming out with a binder.  "What's that?"

"The special collection safety deposit box," he said dryly, handing it to Horatio.  "Pictures and who sent stuff.  That one's already in there.  I've got a matched set."  He looked at the other couple.  "Any other bad news?"

"Yeah, there was a missing check in the stuff.  I'm not sure from where," he admitted, handing it over. "Did Diana pay you?"  Xander nodded, looking at the name on the check.  "What?"

"My leftover tips from Audry."  He waved it.  "The credit cards and stuff she didn't put on that final check because they hadn't come in. I'm thinking she's tapdancing for safety and security at the moment."

"Possibly," Horatio admitted, looking at it.  "That will add nicely to your college fund."  Xander nodded and put it down.  "You're giving the new ones back?"

"Yup.  By courier so I don't have to look at them and sneer.  That way they have fond memories."

"How are you going to find out who bought them?" Calleigh asked.

"Charm and skill.  Like I did the last time."  He looked at the book, pointing at one. "Isn't that identical?"  Horatio nodded, moving on.  The other unidentified piece was looked at it and he tapped another one.  "Same style."

"You kept those?" Calleigh asked.  "Why?"

"Because I sent them back with a note saying I was retired and in love with someone, someone who wasn't comfortable with things like this.  They sent them back again with a 'congratulations, consider it a wedding gift' message.  Therefore I wrote thank you notes and left it there.  I figured I'd wait three years and auction them off, probably to the same people who bought them."

"Which will pay for your Masters and Ph. D."  Calleigh smiled at him.  "That's very smart.  Horatio obviously picked you for brains and beauty," she teased.

"That too," he noted dryly.  He looked at his mate.  "You're going to talk to someone first thing tomorrow so you can send them back."

"Of course I am."  He frowned at him.  "Not like I want 'em."

"I wasn't saying you did," he noted calmly, staring him down.  Xander looked back and they came to a silent agreement, earning him a kiss for being so understanding.  "Thank you. Anything else we should be briefed on before tomorrow's cookout?"

"The Chief thought it was hilarious," Speed said with a smirk.  "What time is the cookout?"

"Mid-afternoon.  I'm not expecting anyone until at least one."

"Sure," she agreed, smiling at him.  "We'll bring some chicken."  She got up and hauled Speed up.  "Did we forget anything?"

"Yeah, but it's a car and it's outside.  It got delivered here earlier by the bow on it.  I'm not sure who sent it, it doesn't have a card."  He walked off, taking her back home on his bike.

Xander padded out there to look and gasped, running back and pulling Horatio with him to point at the sports car.  "Someone decided you needed a fast thing."

"I have all the fast things I need," he said, shutting the door and locking it again, taking Xander back to bed.  Their pajamas were stripped off and he laid down on his back, pulling Xander on top of him.  "I'm feeling possessive," he noted.  Xander purred for him and got the oil to prepare himself, then slid down him without needing to be asked.  "That's good, Xander, just like that," he moaned, holding onto the evil hips for dear life as his mate rode him back into sleep.  He should be listed as a dangerous substance.

***

Xander came out onto the back porch, looking at his mate.  "The jewelry shop only knows who bought one.  The other was cash, it was done by a courier and sent to the station. He had no idea who the courier was.  The other one I sent back with the nice note you helped me write.  With who sent it, I'm expecting it back.  The other one, since this is his third gift, I went to visit at his office.  He drooled and said it was only an infatuation but he didn't have anyone else to spend it on and he hadn't found a more worthy guy.  So I gave him the name of the most upscale escort service who used to want me and suggested he take one of them out of the business and spoil them rotten or find a college student and spoil them.  He's finding both since he's got so much money and energy."  Horatio smirked at that.  "But he refused to take it back and I got a fourth one that he shoved in my pocket and told the guard he was not to accept them back and to shoot me if I didn't leave with them.  Considering he's a former contract assassin, I didn't think he was joking and neither did the guard, who pulled his gun to force me to leave."  The others on the porch gaped.

"The car is back at the dealership, and they don't know who bought it either.  It was the same courier by description but he didn't identify which company he worked for and didn't have a company car.  They take orders for mistresses all the time so they're used to those things."  He looked at him.  "So, we're getting me a new car apparently, just not that one.  The difference will be put toward the insurance."  Horatio opened his mouth.  "He said he couldn't do anything else by state law.  I figured you could argue that with him on Saturday and warned him we'd be back then to deal with this situation after I consulted someone to see if there was anything I could to make them send it to someone else because I was taken and uninterested in their advances.  He asked why a Maserati was an advance and I told him they liked my stripping.  He suggested that I get a hummer, just like that guy Darkness's boyfriend had because apparently it said power and skill more.  He decided it probably suited me.  I told him my boyfriend already drove one and yes it did say skill, power, and lust, but that at least I got to sleep inside instead of in it.  He got the point and told me he had gotten another offer but he hadn't been able to find me so he had to send that one back."  He smiled at him.  "So, what sort of car am I getting?"

"We'll figure that out Saturday after I find out if there's anything I can do about them," he said dryly, hugging him and kissing him gently.  "Any other bad news?"

"Yeah, someone's ready to worship at your feet for taking me off the market because you must be The Man to have me and keep me satisfied.  He thought I'd be fussy, whiny, and needy, so therefore you're either the best lover in the city, if not the state, or you've secretly been training me as your submissive and I'm a good bitch for you.  His words.  He sent you cufflinks and refused to take them back.  I told the jewelry store to not accept anything for either of us unless we came in specifically for each other.  They said they can't do that, it's bad for business.  The guy there the second time suggested a very loud, noisy, open wedding to stop it.  Then he suggested they could do some fantastic rings."  He stole a kiss then went to get a soda, coming back out to sit down.

"You look really odd in a suit," Eric told him, looking amused.  Xander shrugged and sipped his soda. "Is that one yours or his?"

"Mine, I got it for my first grades dinner."  He smirked at him.  "He liked me in it."

"So do I, but you still look funny in a suit," Speed told him. "If you aren't careful he'll quit making you wear slutty clothes around the house and you'll be in a suit all the time."

"I don't usually wear clothes around the house," he noted dryly, making Eric and Calleigh both blush and Alexx splutter on her iced tea.  He smirked at his dad.  "As I think you were made aware a few times."

"Yeah, you flashing Don that one time was amusing as hell, Xander, and made him blush too."

"At least he didn't catch me in the middle of sex, or just after sex," Xander shot back.  Speed blushed at that.  "Do I win?"

"Yes," Horatio said.  "You win.  What dealership?"  Xander tossed over the cards he had in his pocket.  "Thank you.  Go change before you get it dirty."  Xander nodded and went inside, coming out in his new stretch cord pants, which made even Alexx moan.  "Xander," he warned.

"They're more decent than the other pair."

"Not by much," he complained.  "Please."  Xander sighed and went to put on something slightly less slutty than that.  "Thank you," he said, approving of that outfit.  Even if you could see a clear outline and veining pattern on his cock in it.

"Baby, can you please put on a longer shirt?" Alexx asked.  "Pretty please?" she asked at the amused looks Calleigh was giving her.  "I'm easily embarrassed, baby."

"Fine." He came out in lounging jammies, which made everyone else happy.  "Better?"  They all nodded. "Good.  When are we going to pounce Ryan and bring him real food?"

"Tonight," Calleigh said with a grin. "Which means no slutty clothes in the hospital either."

"Yay me," Xander said dryly.  "It'll make him get better faster and I was going to make him a copy of the fashion show for his entertainment."

"I'm still wondering how she got Don into those velvet pants," Eric admitted, sipping his tea.

"They laced up the back," Xander said happily.

"Not what I meant," he assured him.

"Danny probably liked the furry pants," Calliegh said, smiling at him.  "Those two are so cute."

"They are and they're so very protective of each other," Xander assured her.  "Don got mad that I took on someone who was threatening Danny in a bar."

"You did?" Horatio asked, coming over to take a kiss.  "What did you do?"

"I grabbed him by the balls, twisted 'em, growled at him how Stella was more of a real man than he was, then told him to get lost."

"Considering Danny told me what you said," Speed offered, "you growled more than that at him."

"Yeah, well, no one fucks with my friends and family like that.  He was trying to be all drunk and menacing.  Isn't that as illegal as drunk and disorderly?"

"Not quite," Calleigh assured him. "Close though.  I heard you threatened to cut it off and use it like a lawn ornament."

"Yeah, in Ancient Greece they had lawn ornaments like that to one of the Gods of fertility.  Every good home had a set on the lawn in stone."  He got up to get the book and brought it back to show her.  "See?"

She blushed at that and handed it to Eric, who giggled and passed it on.  "I've seen one of these on a recent crime scene," Alexx noted, closing the book and handing it back.  "I'm guessing they were into the old ways.  Either that or advertising that the viagra worked."

Xander giggled at that.  "The sad thing was if you were pissed at them, you went and pranked their house by chipping off parts and stuff. They've found some with ancient graffiti."

"I can't even imagine the psychological pain of that," Calleigh offered. "You guys wince when you see another guy kicked.  Carving initials into a stone one should creep you guys out."

"Back in Montreal I worked with a guy who had tattoos on his."

She blinked and all the guys winced and hissed at that.

Alexx nodded. "I've seen a few in autopsy.  How many did he have?  The most I've seen is three small ones."

"He had wandering vines up and around then around his hips and into his bellybutton.  Like it was growing from there.   He was planning on adding another line of vines from there around his chest and back and down one arm."

"Ow," Calleigh whispered, getting a hug from her boyfriend.  "Very ow."

"Honey, I had one guy who had embedded studs in his," Alexx assured her, patting her hand.  "It made a pretty picture."

"Please change the subject?" Eric pleaded, holding his.  "That's torture where I come from.  Piercing them is bad enough."

"Xander's got a buried treasure piercing," Calleigh said.

"How would you know?" Xander asked, looking amused.

"One of those times *I* walked in on you two.  Try locking the door next time?"

"Try knocking next time," Horatio countered.

"You two were on the couch at Speed's."

Horatio thought back then nodded. "That was his fault.  He pounced."

"Hey, I aced my math test," he complained.  "I deserved a good pounce."

"Which one are those?" Alexx asked.

"The one in that little space between the cock and balls," Calleigh assured her.

She nodded. "I've only seen a few of those," she admitted.  "I've never seen one ripped out like I have the others."

"No, it's hard to grab the little rings with anything but teeth," Xander assured her.  He leaned closer to her. "You think I can get him to do his nipple for me?" he hissed.

"Make honor roll," Eric said, giving him an odd look.  "Did you end up dropping out this semester?"  Xander nodded.  "Guess you've got to wait then, huh?"

"I've already got a treat for honor roll," Xander assured him with a grin.  "So, this place down on the beach that does high end, special order cars, wants to know what I want and need."

Horatio kissed him on the head, taking his soda away from him.  "No more caffeine, Xander."

"What're you driving now?" Eric asked.

"A Lexus.  Two years old.  Ryan said he wants to buy it off me if I sell it."

"Did you stop in to see him?"

"He was on the way to the dealership," Xander admitted.  "I still can't believe someone bought me a Maserati."

"You can get H another hummer," Speed offered. "One for off duty."

"I have one, that's all anyone needs," Horatio noted, turning the steaks he had put on.  "Rare or medium, Xander?"

"Rare today please."  His was handed over and he snuck a kiss and his soda back.  Then he grinned and settled in to eat.  "Are we bringing Ryan one of these later?"

"I was going to make him one and then cut it into strips for him," Horatio admitted. He brought over the rest a few minutes later, then sat down with his once the grill was made safe.  Ryan's was under cover of tinfoil so it could cool off naturally.

***

"No getting him excited," the nurse yelled after Xander.

He walked in and grinned at him, handing over the tupperwear container.  "You missed the cookout."  He sat on the foot of his bed, shifting to look at it.  "It's cold with potatoes.  Gravy may be coming if Horatio can get the hummer parked."

Ryan smiled and opened his food, grinning at the steak.  "Thank you.  I had mush for lunch."

"I know you did.  They seem to enjoy torturing people by making them eat baby food made to look like playdough food."  Ryan laughed and ate the first bite.  The nurse came in and looked at him so Xander stared back.  "He deserves it.  He lived with a bomb on his chest for six days!"

"He doesn't need steak."

"Then how are his ribs and chest cavity supposed to heal?  You need protein to heal and that's protein."  She backed down and sighed, checking him over and getting him a plastic fork, then leaving rolling her eyes at Horatio.

Horatio walked in and handed over the other container. "A side of gravy, Alexx's pasta salad, and Speed's macaroni salad."

"I love you guys," he said happily, digging in.  The door opened and his favorite reporter walked in.  "Out.  Now."  He ate another bite when she didn't move.  "I mean it."

She pouted.  "But you're a story."

Xander walked over to her and whispered in her ear, making her whimper and cry, then flee.  "Thank you."  He shut the door and went back to his perch on the bed.  Ryan gave him a 'go on, tell us' look while he chewed.  "Her station is owned by the PAX network system.  Which means it's related to the Christian Right, which would not be happy that half of her income goes to support her cocaine or stripper habit.  She called Philip over for private parties all the time and I got called once."

"Oh, okay," he agreed, smiling at Horatio.  "I love your boy, boss. If you ever slip up and lose him, expect me there to try to take him from you."  Horatio gave him a look so he grinned. "Joking."

"He'd have to stand in line behind the stalkers and psychos who want me more," Xander reminded him, patting him on the side.  "Plus he'd have to win Speed's approval."  Horatio nodded at that, it wasn't likely to happen.   Xander knew that his father had already told Horatio that, if they broke up, he'd be tying Xander in his old room until Horatio came to his senses and begged for forgiveness.  Xander thought that was kinda sweet of him, thinking he wouldn't leave Horatio.  He grinned at Ryan.  "So, how long are you on bed and tape duty?"

"Until they pull my stitches," he sighed, eating another piece of steak.  Then he dug into the other stuff, eating like he was starved. Xander produced a jewel case and he snatched it, looking at the title.  "Fashion show?"

"That's how we lured him. The maker of the Xander wardrobe of sluts everywhere is a buddy of mine from my time in Montreal.  She set up shop in New York and I went to get clothing store recommendations since I didn't give Ray Jr. time to pack anything.  She bribed us into doing her fashion show together with Danny and Don to protect us and lure the psycho of the moment. These guys got out in time to be in the crowd. So that's me, Ray, Danny, and Don on stage."

Ryan moaned.  "You give some of the best presents, Xander."

"I know," he offered sweetly, grinning back.  "I figure it can compare and contrast for your research."  Ryan nodded and went back to eating, dumping the gravy over the rest of the steak and potatoes.  He was still starved.  "Should I bring you real food again tomorrow?"

"I get out tomorrow and I'm stopping at a deli on the way home," he assured him before eating another bite.  He looked at Horatio.  "Sorry."

"I've been in that same state after a week in the hospital," he assured him.  Xander looked at him. "Gunshot wound. That scar you wondered about."  Xander grabbed him and pulled him down to kiss him, making Ryan moan and forget eating for another moment. Horatio looked at him so he blushed and went back to eating.  "How much was the gift certificate that got you the car?"

"Way too much.  It also paid for my insurance for most of my life if I wanted it.  Why?"

"You could donate the rest."

"I could," Xander agreed happily.

"I want to buy the Lexus," Ryan noted, putting the empty and wiped clean containers aside.  Xander nodded, grinning at him.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  He looked at Horatio again.  "Did you find anything when you talked to your lawyer buddy?"

"No, unfortunately he couldn't find a way either.  He suggested you donate some of it so you don't have to pay taxes on it."  Xander winced.  "Exactly."

"I talked to the IRS about this directly, figuring this way they'd know all the pertinent details.  I brought down the catalog and a list of the other stuff.  She said the gift tax would've been paid at the time of sale and it raised my assets, but not this year since they're gifts.  So next year they'll be tax liabilities.  She suggested I sell them this year or move them to somewhere tax deferred, like a trust situation.  She gave me the name of someone she's seen in the office about this stuff before and who's honest.  That way I don't have to worry about nasty surprises later."

"How much stuff did you get this time?" Ryan asked. "I know you got sent a car and a few bracelets."

"Diamond bracelets and a Maserati," Xander told him.  "With enough extra to pay the insurance for my entire life and then some."  Ryan blinked at that and Xander grinned.  "He doesn't know who.  Someone's using a courier service."

"Well, I can tell you it's someone with way too much money and time on their hands," he noted dryly, shaking his head. "So, can I have easy payment options on the Lexus?"

"Sure, Ryan.  Let me decide what to do with the gift certificate thing.  They only do higher end cars and he wanted me to get another hummer, like that nice dancer Darkness' boyfriend drives."  Ryan burst out in giggles, bringing the nurse back.  He swatted at her, continuing to laugh.

"What did you say!" she demanded.

"Someone suggested I should get a car like my boyfriend's without him knowing I was myself," he admitted dryly.  He grinned at her.  "I used to strip before college and someone sent me a gift certificate for a car."

"Why?"

"Because he desperately wanted my ass and can't have it.  This way he's trying to cover it in leather."

She rolled her eyes.  "I heard that one stripper, Darkness, got things like that.  I didn't know it was all of them."  Ryan burst out laughing again and tugged on her hand, pointing at Xander.  "What does he mean?"

"I'm Darkness."

"Oh.  No wonder!"  She nodded and sighed, walking away shaking her head.  She came back.  "What sort of car this time?"

"Maserati plus insurance."

She sighed again and trudged out. Maybe she should get back into shape.

***

Xander walked into the station with a smile for the guards, letting them check him and the envelope he carried.  The guard's eyes went wide and he looked at him in awe.  "I got sent a Maserati, what do I need one for?" he complained.  "I got a nice car with the best sound system and DVD system available.  The guy there didn't know me and thought I should get a hummer, like that nice dancer Darkness' boyfriend."  The guard burst out laughing and handed back the envelope.  "That was Wolfe's feeling too.  Cheered him up greatly."  He walked on, going to wait in Horatio's office.  He wasn't sure if he was in or not but they were used to seeing him in CSIville, as he called the canyon that made up the lab.  He found his boyfriend in there and gave him a quick kiss and the envelope. "It's an anonymous donation since no one knows who gave it to me.  I have something nice and modest, with a kicking sound and DVD system, plus GPS and all the bells and whistles I could ever want.  The seats recline fully in case I ever need to sleep in the car as well."  He grinned at him and stole a second kiss, then left him smiling at the empty spot he had left.

Horatio opened the envelope, looking at the invoice.  Six new police cruisers, with air conditioning.  Fully equipped police cruisers.  He blinked and pushed a button on his phone, getting Frank's desk.  "Come here please."  He hung up and put the form back in the envelope, smiling as he came in.  He handed it to him and stood up.  "Deliver that for the anonymous donor who had it sent to Xander."

"What is it?"  He opened it and blinked.  "Holy mother of god," he said with awe "With A/C even.  The guys are gonna go nuts over that."  He looked inside, then at Horatio, handing over the other notice.  "I think that's yours since it's got your name on it."  He watched his face when he saw the other invoice, taking it from the limp fingers. "Hey, maybe night shift can use one."  He went to deliver them.  It'd get him a longer lunch.  The Chief was just coming out of a press conference so he stopped him and gave him a small smirk.  "Someone gave a certain guy a car," he said quietly, facing away from the press and any mirrors.  "Since it was an expensive sports car he didn't feel he could take it.  It was done anonymously so he couldn't give it back.  Instead he's making a charitable donation to be delivered on the second of January so he can reduce his taxes next year."  He handed over the invoices, making the man smile at him.  "I thought you might like that.  He delivered them to his boyfriend at the station and said they're anonymous since he didn't know who gave it to him."

The Chief of Police turned around and smiled at the members of the press who were wondering what the detective needed.  "I've just been handed a donation invoice," he announced.  The press moved closer, turning back on the cameras.  "A local citizen has kindly donated, anonymously, six new fully equipped police cruisers and one new Hummer for the crime lab."  That got a polite clap.  "I'd like to thank our benefactor for this is greatly appreciated and allows us to replace some of the older cars in the system.  Thank you from both mine and the mayor's office."  He smiled and walked inside, dragging Frank with him.  "Horatio couldn't bring it?" he muttered.

"He didn't wanna be connected I guess.  I joked and said now maybe the night shift can have a hummer."

The Chief looked at him.  "They would appreciate that.  They do complain about them hogging them.  Especially that Horatio takes his home."  He walked into his office and shut the door, locking it.  "Even with air conditioning, I'm very impressed with him."

"Hey, he knows how hot it gets down here," he noted dryly.  "The boy's from near the desert in California."

"Good point."  He sat down to read them over, smiling at this.  "It is a great gift."  He looked at Frank.  "He doesn't know who sent him the original car?"

"No, and the dealership wouldn't let him cash it out either. Said it was against the law or something.  So Xander got a new, modest car, out of it and gave the rest of that to us. He said he didn't need a Maserati."

The Chief blinked and did the mental math.  "That's a high restocking fee," he noted dryly, "but I'm sure someone will buy the car just because he returned it."  He shook his head and looked at them again.  "Is he working with someone on his taxes?"

"Yeah, Horatio said he went to the IRS personally.  Took everything he had with him.  They talked and suggested he go to a lawyer they'd seen in the past who's honest.  The boy's good about keeping Horatio out of trouble when things like this happen."

"He is.  I'm so very glad of that as well."  He smiled at him.  "What else did he get?"

"Some jewelry.  The shop refuses to stop taking orders.  They suggested the only way to stop it was a loud and noisy wedding."

"That would be most charming," he agreed happily. "They both seem to appreciate the beach and that would be the best spot for it.  That way no one can be excluded."

"We'd still have to hold a line against the bigots."

"True, and isn't he Catholic?"  Frank thought then nodded.  "Hmm, that would be another problem.  Very well, I'll talk to him about it.  Internal Affairs wasn't really concerned when I mentioned he was still getting things about the boy, but they were amused and trying to figure out how to help him stop it since they know he's helpless in this situation."

"You'd think that everyone would've given up by now, but no, they had ta get worse."

"Oh, no, Detective Tripp, this isn't as bad as it was.  I know what he's got in storage."  Frank raised an eyebrow.  "Really.  Internal Affairs went to him so they could have notes, that way they could weed out what Xander gave him and what was given to Xander in case a question ever came up about Horatio taking bribes or something like that.  I'm not sure if Horatio knows that or not but he did work with them and his binder of things.  They made full photocopies and it's down in the main office.  Plus the full record of his sword and gun collection."

"Wow. Well, I guess the boy's good.  At least he's being honest and helping to make sure Horatio's protected."  He shrugged.  "I can't complain about that.  I'm going to lunch now."

"Of course you are," he agreed, smiling at him.  "Did Horatio volunteer you?"  He nodded.  "Tell him I said to thank his mate when you finally get back."

"Sure will, boss.  Have fun with that.  Go rub it in the mayor's face since he's trying to cut our budget again."   He left, going to find a good lunch and call Xander.  "What binder of stuff?  No, the Chief told me."  He listened to Xander read out of it, mentally trying to count the bucks.  "What're you doing with that?"  He snickered.  "Good idea.  I wouldn't do it here, but good idea.  Sure.  Thanks, kid.  No, he was so enthused he almost danced in front of everyone.  Thanks especially for the A/C."  He hung up and got back to eating, happy with the world for the moment.

***

Xander walked behind his lawyer back into his office, sprawling in a chair that was pointed at.  "So, what do I do?"

"Well, first, can't you stop them?"  Xander shook his head.  "Have you tried?"

"I tried to send back every single thing I got.  Half of them come anonymously so I can't figure out who.  Half of the stuff I send back comes back anyway."  He shrugged.  "All I know is that it upsets me and my boyfriend and he's about to slam somebody into a wall soon for the sports car stunt."

"At least we got that figured out for you," he decided, sitting to look at him.  "All that was gifted this year?"

"All but four or five pieces.  The binder has the dates."  It was pulled out of the briefcase and looked through, post-it notes being put on the older things.  "Even if I wanted to sell it, how would I do that without pissing people off and drawing more attention?"

"To be truthful, they probably expected you to sell it, Mr. Harris.  Most strippers don't have a yen for diamonds, they have a yen for money."  He looked at him. "The stuff you got from the gentleman who wanted to kidnap you?  I checked, the inheritance taxes were paid and no one there countered the will.  His former wives thought you'd be selling it as well.  They knew you had protested it greatly and felt great shame at what he had done to the others he had taken.  They thought it only fair that one of you won against him and they had their own assets stored away."  He nodded.  "The man's first husband or whatever they're called, didn't have any other family to contest except his father.  I contacted him and he said he had disowned his son years ago for being gay."  Xander nodded, understanding that.  "Other than that, I wouldn't do it here.  That would cause problems. I can start it around in the correct social circles that your boyfriend is very upset about this and is making you sell them.  That it's making him think one of them wants to try to take you again."  Xander nodded, reaching over to dial his phone for him. "Lieutenant Caine?"

"Yes."

"This is Mr. Horowitz, Xander's attorney for the tax matters he's got coming up?"

"Yes, what's going on?"

"We're formulating a strategy and he wanted you involved, Lieutenant.  Are you busy?"

"I'm on a crime scene but I can take a moment.  Unless you want to do this later?"

"That's fully up to you, Lieutenant.  I'm here at the convenience of my clients."

"Then how about I meet him at your office at five?"

He checked.  "Five thirty would be better. I have a client in at four and I'm not sure how long it'll take."

"That would be acceptable.  Thank you."  He hung up.

Xander shrugged. "I never know when he's busy and when he's not."

The lawyer smiled at him. "In his job it's a matter of a moment's notice I suppose."  He went back to it.  "What I'd like to suggest is this....."

***

Horatio sat down with a nod.  "I've heard you were involved in some trust defenses."

"I have been.  I do inheritance and tax law."  He smiled at him.  "What we've been discussing is this.  We put around in the proper social circles that these continued gifts are worrying you.  Basically, with Xander's past of attracting the wrong sort, you're worried that some of these gifts are from those sort of sources.  You put around that Xander has already bent over backwards to protect you with your bosses, but with the taxes and that threat, it's been talked about him liquidating the assets he's been sent. That you're not quite demanding but Xander himself is worried about it."

"Which we are," Horatio agreed.

"True, I would be as well.  Especially after how expensive some of these have been."  He clasped his hands on the desk over the folder.  "With that getting around, he goes to New York since you have ties in the area and it's a better auction area, plus saying that he doesn't want to feel like he's insulting any of the gift givers who weren't out to steal him.  We call up an auction house and eliminate as much of the hard assets as we can.  Since this is the year they were gifted, he can do that and pay capitol gains taxes at a decreased rate since it's a gift.  It's a fairly small loophole for mistresses to be truthful.  We can put the rest into something tax deferred that earns interest and pays him a small salary from it.  Just like a normal trust would.  That means it can be rolled over upon his death to whoever is the beneficiary and they can arrange it so they don't have to pay full taxes either.  This is how people like the governor do it."  Horatio nodded at that, slowly but he nodded. "Now, doing this will draw some attention to him.  I know he has cooperated with your office's Internal Affairs division when someone wondered about these matters and they have a list so they can determine what's his and what could be considered given in bad faith if something should be accused."

"I was told he did that after the fact."  He glanced at the silent young man, noticing he was asleep.  "How long has he been like that?"

"Ten minutes now.  He went and did some stress shopping during the break.  Someone heard I'm his attorney and had another something sent to me."  He handed over the folder.  "The will of that one man and his assets.  There's no one there to contest it and the courts over there have decided it's done in bad taste but there's no other option since he wrote it out."

"The man's family?"

"His father disowned him for being gay."

"Ah."  He looked over the considerable list.  "He's selling this."

"I figured he would be.  I talked with the legal representative over there who handled his affairs and he said he expected him to since it was done in such bad taste.  He said to let him know where the auction would be so he could pass that around since his house could be wanted."

"Very well.  New York?"

"Would be the better choice.  He said he'd feel safe there. It's away from Miami society so no one would feel awkward or obligated to buy back their own things. There's also a number of good auction houses in the city that can handle things like his jewelry collection.  Which did grow by a substantial bit today as well."  He handed over the invoice.  "I called, they said it was that same courier.  They did ask which company and he said he was privately hired.  He passed back yours and Mr. Harris' message to please leave him alone, in more polite terms, and citing that you were getting upset.  The courier made a call and said that his boss understood that but he was only tipping the charming man that made the last few months of his life worthwhile.  He said they'd stop upon his death.  I have no idea if this means another situation like that will.  I'm hoping not.  The IRS is rather amused by these situations but when it happens for years in a row they get suspicious."

"So would I."  He handed it back.  "Do you have a suggestion for which auction house?"

"Go with the standard names.  Christie's comes to mind first and they do have a jewelry department that does very well."  Horatio nodded at that, a bit more firmly.  "That would probably mean you having to take time to go with him since it'll look like he's doing it in shame and in fear of rejection, which could make someone try to step up and take him.  I realize that people are still watching you to make sure you treat him well.  Even my wife said so and she hates this situation. She's very clearly refused to help in it.  So I'm passing it back through my own mistress, who has very strong social connections in the right places."

"Thank you.  Would you be getting a commission on the auction as well?"

"No.  No, I work by the hour.  Mr. Harris has already paid me for my advice on this matter.  Once I set up the trust that the auction will feed, my part in this is done unless he needs another opinion should that will name him."

"I see.  Thank you for being honest."

"It's what I do.  He asked the IRS representative for an honest lawyer, citing your job and the expectations you had."

Horatio smiled.  "He does like to protect me."  He gently woke Xander, getting a sleepy smile.  "Do you like this plan?"  Xander nodded and yawned, stretching a bit before sitting up.  "What did you do to get so sleepy, Xander?"

"About fifty thousand laps in the college's pool," he admitted.  "I was burning off some energy before I went to talk to the jewelry store again.  He told you?"

"Yes, he did.  I like this plan if you do."  Xander nodded quickly.  "Do you like it because you like it?"

"Yeah, and it's safer and better too.  It's not like I wanna look at it and saying I don't wanna look at it seems ungracious and bitchy, saying you don't like it is true and it makes me sound less bitchy."  Horatio smirked at that.  "It does."

"It does," he agreed.  "Fine, then we'll do it this way, Xander."

"Thank you."  He hugged him.  Then he looked at the lawyer.  "How do I get it up there?  Do they have a local office?"

"I would say travel with a guard," he admitted dryly. "Hire a bodyguard for the day or hire one and have your boyfriend with you.  Set up your appointment beforehand also, that way you don't have to wait."  He handed over a card.  "I took the liberty of looking up Christie's number since they're about the only one I've dealt with for jewelry.  You call them, tell them the truth, and they'll set up an appointment."

"Do I tell them I was a stripper?"

"I would personally.  It could market it toward a different set of clients.  You'll also need this," he said, handing him the folder. "They can call the legal representative over there to tell them when the property auction is."  Xander nodded, accepting that.  "Now, for tax purposes, you need this auction before the end of the year, Xander."

"I understand," he agreed.  "So I call when I get home?"

"First thing tomorrow. It's probably too late tonight."  Xander nodded at that.  "Any other questions?"  Xander shook his head.  "Then, when it's set up, call me back and I'll set up that trust account and that paperwork so they can pay directly into that. That way you don't have to worry about changing money around."  Both of them nodded at that.  "Then go home and enjoy and see if there's anything anywhere in that stuff that you want.  By the way, nice job with the extra hummer, Xander."

Xander grinned.  "I've heard the night shift guys complain that they don't get to use them all."  He looked at Horatio, who was frowning.  "You didn't open the second invoice?"

"Frank showed it to me.  That wasn't part of...."  Xander shook his head. "Then what was it part of?"

"Mostly that insurance that he left. Since my new car is less expensive and less fast, it doesn't cost as much."

"Ah.  Good to know."  He stole a kiss.  "Home?  Or dinner?"

"Home and I'm dinner?"  Horatio blushed at that so he grinned. "I've been a good boy all day."

"You have."  He stood up and shook the lawyer's hand, followed by Xander.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome."  He watched as they left, smiling at their backs.  Then he called his mistress and gave her the proper story so she could tell her mother and the others.  They'd have to see how much more stuff showed up right before the auction.  It was always possible.

***

Xander sat down in the living room, putting Don on speaker.  "Surprise."

"What now?  Another one of ours come down after you?" he asked dryly.  "Shit.  Sorry, burned myself."

"Curling iron?" Horatio joked.

"No, cooking. My hair doesn't take anything that fancy.  What's going on, guys?"

"I'm auctioning off the eight miles of jewelry I've been given."

"Interesting.  And the call is for...."

"I'm doing it in New York.  Which means I'll be in the area, inviting you to dinner if you don't have a date...hopefully not causing any trouble."

"We'd like that last part.  When you coming in?"

"I managed to set up an appointment next week for them to look at it.  So I'm flying in with a boatload of jewelry in a secure box.  I checked with the airport and they have ways of sending special things like that in specially secure containers.  I come up for the appointment, they appraise and we work out what's going out to auction.  Oh, and the husband guy left me his *full* estate, including a house in Dubai."  Don groaned.  "Yeah.  Plus even more jewelry, but this time man's jewelry."  He sighed.  "Then I'd have to come back for the auction since they said it'd probably not be the same week."

"So, fly in for a few days with tons of shit that can get stolen, fly out without it, then come back to watch it make you cold, hard cash?"

"Yeah, basically," Xander agreed.  "And Horatio can't be there for the first part.  They just broke a major drug and gun dealing case with the Mala Noche again.  I'm really starting to hate those guys and they like to shoot at the hummer and his hair."  He sipped his soda.  "Which means I get to go shoot them if they hurt him this time."  He glared at his lover, who was shaking his head.  He smirked and nodded. "Oh, yes I will. Because someone like that shoots you, I'm going to so lose it and go off on the world.  The rumors of your wrath will have *nothing* on my vengeance.  So don't get dead."

"Yes, dear," he said, sighing a bit.  "So there's another good reason to send him to you, Don."

"Yeah, and the guns," he noted dryly.  "Okay, have we made travel arrangements for the first trip?"

"I have and I'll be there almost a full day before the appointment.  They've arranged a local bank to hold it for me for that day.  So that only leaves the small opening from JFK to downtown Manhattan."

"Decent enough to manage with an escort," he agreed.

"The lawyer I've been working with suggested I hire a bodyguard."

"Might not be a bad idea," he agreed. "But you can hire us to do the same thing, Xander.  What day?"

"Twenty-second."

"Which is a Thursday," he noted.  "Not too bad or heavy of a day usually."

"That's what the auction house thought too.  They said it'd be harder to do this on a Monday or a Friday.  So it's the escort there and then from the bank to Christie's.  They've got their own security set up once it's there."

"Okay.  When's the appointment?"

"Ten.  They don't open until ten.  And I told them *everything*, down to the stalkers, the stripping, everything."

"Good idea.  How much stuff is there?"  It sounded like he ate a bite of something.

"Estimated about 9 mil by appraisal earlier today."  Don choked.  "Sorry."

"How in the hell!"

"The stuff from the will.  The house in Dubai is probably worth about half that."

"Oh.  Wonderful."  Another bite and chewing.  "Okay," he said after the sound of swallowing.  "Sorry, at my desk."

"Not an issue. I've had many moments of calling Horatio during lunch.  It's the only time I'm sure to get him that he's not working on something."  Don chuckled at that.  "Most of it's small.  It fits in a large safety deposit box.  It's all in cases. Oh, you missed the car.  Someone sent me a Maserati and insurance."

"Damn," he said in awe.  "Did you get to at least drive it?"

"I did," he said proudly.  "That's how I got it back to the dealership."

"What'd you get instead?  Another hummer?"

"Something nice and decent for me, with a great sound and DVD system, and then six new cruisers and an extra hummer for the crimelab."

"Can you adopt me, Xander?"

"Sure, Don.  If Horatio lets me."

"Horatio, can he adopt me?"

"Tell him I said hi," a faint voice called.

"Mac says hi," Don told him.  Then the phone was moved away from his mouth.  "Xander's doing the tax auction of his jewelry and stuff up here at Christies."

"Wonderful," Mac's voice said.  "How much stuff?"

"Large safety deposit box, about nine mil including the new will he got named in."  Mac's groan came across very well.  "A house in Dubai."

"Just what he needs.  When is he coming?"

"Twenty-second.  I'm working on what to give the Chief to assign a guard he'll be hiring."

"Have fun with that.  It'd make me nervous.  Tell him to drop in for lunch one day when he's up here."

Don came back more clearly. "He said you're taking us all to lunch one day."

"Sure, not an issue," he agreed happily.  "So, can you arrange that for me?"

"I can and have the Chief call you.  He's working out ways of you not paying taxes, right?"

"Yup.  He's setting up a trust for me that'll be tax deferred until I die and then roll over into something that'll only have to have minimal taxes paid on.  Like the real money people do."

"Good.  So I'm guessing you got the will and everything worked out?"

"Yup.  Did that first."

"Good.  Extra good in your case.  Any new psychos?"  He ate another bite.

"Not yet, thankfully," Horatio admitted, smiling at the phone.  "We'll let you have dinner, Don.  Just let us know how much and any other details.  Do you have my fax number?"  He made an assenting noise.  "Then don't get indigestion over this."  He hung up and looked at his mate.  "This is very responsible of you, Xander.  I'm proud."  He took a kiss and Xander curled up against him, snuggling in.  "That'll give you time to get back into school as well."  Xander sighed and nodded.  "You're not liking school are you?"  Xander shook his head.  "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault.  I hate lectures.  I don't learn a damn thing from them."

"I know."  He stroked his back.  "We'll talk to Speed later this semester.  Depending on the auction's results, I might not make you go back for a while."

"Ever?"

"We'll see.  What would you do instead?  Since you'd be bored otherwise."

"The coach of the swim team wants me," he said quietly, taking his hand to hold.  "I like swimming."

"You want to train to compete?"

"I don't know."  He looked up at him.  "I really don't know."  Horatio nodded at that and went back to his petting.  "I'm confused."

"I can't make this decision for you, Xander."

"I know.  I wish you could."

"Yes, but that gives too much control over your life to me and I don't want a slave or a robot Xander.  I want an adult Xander who knows what he wants most of the time."  Xander nodded.  "Which you usually do."  That got a faint grin.  "This is one of those big decisions that you should think about, Xander.  If you stay in school, you can try out for the team and have the benefit of the training plus an honest evaluation of your skills."

"Maybe," he sighed.  "I talked with him about that stuff earlier and he understood why I was having so many problems in the classes.  He said about the same thing and said to give a semester of training a try, that way he could see how far I could go."

"That sounds reasonable."

"It's a lot of work.  It's an extra two or three hours a day of training on top of classes."

"If you don't you'd just be sitting around waiting on me to get home."

"Point, but then there's homework on top of it."

"So take your gym elective and three other easy classes without homework.  I'm sure the coach can guide you in that direction."  Xander nodded, relaxing against him. "If you do or don't, I'll still be proud and so will Tim."

"Thank you."

"Not an issue.  I'll probably always be proud of you unless you turn into some evil genius or you turn into my brother."  Xander hugged him around the middle. "He hasn't shown up yet."

"Yes he has, he was lurking at Ray's school when I went to pick him up.  Ray snubbed him and walked past him."

"Good to know.  Did he seem any way moved by you?"

"He gave me a disgusted look.  I'm kinda used to those though."

"That's fine then."  He held him, listening to his stomach complain for a few minutes before reaching for the phone.  "What did you want to order for dinner?"

"Fettuccine alfredo.  It's in the boxes in the freezer.  Even Tim likes it."

"That sounds good."  He got free and went to warm it up and bring it out, giving him a happy spouse.  "We may have to hold that wedding to throw people off," he said when he came back.

"We may.  Beach at night?"

"That would be fine," he agreed, smiling at him.  "Cruise for a honeymoon?"

"I could sand that."  He looked up at him.  "The Chief will be happy since you're about to lose a year of leave time."

"I've arranged to roll most of it into other areas so I keep it.  I only have to sign the paperwork, Xander."

"Good.  Do that tomorrow so he quits nagging me."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Did he do the happy dance of joy?"

"I sent it with Frank so he could have a long lunch.  He had a bad case this morning."  Someone pounded on the door so he got up to get it.  His gun was right there by the door so it was fine.  He looked out then opened it, letting in the rest of his family.  "Yelina, Ray, Ray.  Ray, we're having the fettuccine in the green box in the freezer. Go ahead and make some."  He nodded, heading that way.  "Living room."  He closed and locked the door, going back to his seat. Xander curled up against him again, comfortable if he was.  He ate another bite. "What's going on?"

"You beat him?" she asked Xander, who nodded, licking his fork.  She smiled.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  He ate another bite.  "We're auctioning off the ill-gotten gains.  Ray, bring me a soda?" he called.

"Sure, Xander."

"Thank you.  Remember to stir it or you get burned spots."  He looked at her again.  "We were just talking about my next semester.  The swim coach wants to see if I can make it on the team."  She beamed at him.  "The problem is that I suck at school."

"You got good grades last semester."

"Yeah, and I wore my ass out," Xander assured her. "Two tutors, Tim, and Horatio to get those grades. And I still don't understand most of it."  Ray Jr. came out with his dinner and a soda.  "Thanks, kiddo."  He moved his feet.  "I've got to go back to New York."

"Another fashion show?"

"No, auction off the pretty sparklies the fans gave me."  He ate another bite and looked at Ray Sr.  "Yes, I'm curled against your brother. You can quit staring.  After all, your wife walked in on us doing much more than this once or twice."

"I still don't like the fact that you're corrupting my brother.  What do the other cops say?"

"That it's cute he fell in love with me and I make him less grumpy.  Internal Affairs made sure they had a clear idea what was mine and what was his in case someone tried to accuse him of taking bribes or something.  I used to be the Chief's viagra so he thinks I'm adorable and sweet to the department since I do things like bring lunches and use some of the stuff I got to help them."  He scraped the cheese sauce off the inside of the box, then used his finger to get the corners.  "Even Tim likes this one's sauce," he told the amused mother watching him eat.  "They're the best but they're nearly the cheapest."  He opened his soda and took a drink, then put it on the coaster, looking at Jr.  "How was school?"

"Crappy.  Science test. I did okay but I stressed all night so now I'm sleepy."

"I did about three thousand laps in the pool between talking with the attorney and going back to the jewelry store about another delivery. Apparently the courier thing is some nice old guy that I cheered up who's dying. I don't mind him, he's not trying to steal me.  But his courier buddy did say that it'd slow down soon and that he'd buy me more reasonable stuff.  I ran into his courier on the way back to the lawyer and he agreed the Maserati was too much but he did appreciate what I had done with the extra.  He expected something like that anyway."

"What did you do?" Yelina asked.

"Six new cruisers and a new hummer for the lab," Horatio told her.

"Which means he can probably trade in his for the new one," Xander said with a grin.

"I've finally got the seat perfect.  They're prying my hummer from my cold, dead fingers," Horatio joked back, smirking at him.

"If you die, I get to go bitch on the world.  Remember that," he reminded him sweetly.  "The world will know the Vengeance of Xander if the Wrath of Caine is killed."

"Can you not swear in front of my son?" Ray Sr. demanded.

"Father, shut up," Jr. said dryly.  "I knew those words a long time ago, I can use them in a full and grammatically correct sentence, and I'm not as innocent as you think."  His father glared at him.  "Yes, it was my ex's fault that I ended up in an orgy, but yay.  It didn't mean I was a virgin when I got there.  No, I'll never do drugs thanks to you and I've only snuck two beers and a wine cooler in the past, but I'm not that innocent.  I'm sixteen.  I'm old enough to swear and get a tattoo."

"No tattoos," his mother ordered patiently.  "Nipple ring, belly button ring, dick piercing if you must, but no tattoos.  You can only get a piercing like Xander's if you end up gay," she added for good measure.

"Yes, mom."  He grinned at her.  "You sure?"

"Quite. No girl will ever blow you enough to let you enjoy the pain of getting one."  She looked at Horatio.  "How much did his hurt?"

"I don't know.  I found it four days after he got it."

"Think childbirth in a single moment of time," Xander said dryly. "All at once."  She nodded, understanding that.  "That's right over a very severe nerve bundle.  It hurt.  A lot.  He said it'd hurt way more than a PA and I was very brave."

"I can agree with that.  Especially since you went alone."  Xander nodded at that so she smiled. "You could've asked.  I would've held your hand."

"I love you like a sister, but you don't need to see that much of me."

"True."  She nodded.  She looked at Horatio. "You got with him the first time right after that?"

"That hyper day?  That was five days post-piercing."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "Understood.  I remember that day.  How many naps did you need?" she asked with a smile.

"Seven by the time it was out of his system.  Thank you for never suggesting that again."

"Can we please quit talking about gay sex in front of me?"

"No," Ray told him, smirking a bit.  "I happen to like Uncle Horatio's boyfriend.  He's a great guy who helps me when I need practical answers."  He finished off his dinner and looked at Horatio's, who handed his over with a smirk.  "Thanks, Uncle Horatio."

"You're welcome.  I was a bottomless pit myself at your age.  So was your father."  He looked at his sister-in-law.  "Why the conference?"

"He believes Xander's a whore."

"Really?" he asked dryly, glaring at Ray.  "I've never had anyone pay me for my ass, thank you.  Stripping yes, having girlfriends who were sluts, yeah, twice, selling my ass?  No.  The only thing I sold was the sight of my ass.  If you don't like it, get out."  Horatio went back to petting him.  "You knew I was going to react strongly," he pointed out.  "Let's face it, I told a Vice cop off for thinking all strippers are pros.  In public.  Being accused of it in my home was going to set me off."  Yelina gave him a 'sorry' look.  "Was he this judgmental before he became a junkie and started to sleep around for his fix?"

"No," she admitted, smiling back at him.

"I never slept...."

"Really?" Horatio asked dryly.  "Xander, go get my wallet?"  He nodded and got up to get it from the bedroom, bringing back just the picture he wanted.  He smiled and him and leaned over, letting Ray see it.  "She's not mine," he noted calmly.  Ray snatched it to look at it, then at him.  "We found her, Ray.  We found little Madison as well.  She was ill.  Your son ended up giving bone marrow to her."  He slumped and handed it back.  "How is Madison, Ray?" he asked his nephew.

"She's good.  Doing okay.  Her mom's still clean and she's really happy about that."  He smiled at his mom.  "She sent Madison a birthday card."

"She deserved it, it's not her fault my husband cheated on me. Or that my brother-in-law pretended to be her father for my mental stability."  She looked at her husband, arms crossed over her chest.  "You have a lot of explaining to do."

"I was ...."

"I don't care what your assignment was.  You never told me you were on assignment in the first place. The first I knew about it, I was being told my husband was a junkie cop who got shot getting high."  He sighed and nodded.  "By Internal Affairs and Stetler."

"Who you dated!" he complained.

"He was nice to me, you were supposedly dead.  Did you want me to not move on, ever?"

"Yes!"

"Life doesn't work that way.  The living have to go on living after the dead fade," Xander told him.

"Have you ever lost anyone?"

"Yes.  I have.  Including one by my own hand."  Ray looked horrified so he looked at the kid.  "Go to the study for a minute."

"I'm not that young."

"In my last few months in Sunnydale, I saw thirty kids die."  He nodded and went that way, locking himself in there. He looked at his future brother-in-law again.  "In my former town there were things that ate people.  Things like down at Tentacles and Chasm.  I'm sure you made the rounds down there while undercover."  Ray swallowed and nodded.  "I hunted them from the time I was sixteen until two months after I came back here.  That's about four years.  My first kill was my best friend, who'd been turned.  The kid who protected me when my father tried to kill me once.  The one who bandaged me, let me play with his toys, and was about the only one who actually loved me.  And he was my first kill.  So no, I'm not that young either and yes, the living go on after the dead fade.  That's the way life is or else it would've stopped long ago.  Your wife grieved for you and moved on with her life.  Why is it that almost every other cop can get some sort of word back and you couldn't, not even while you were alive.  You knew your wife could keep a secret.  She's part of the same police force."

"I was trying to spare her, kid."

"Yeah, well, ya didn't.  You made hers and your son's heart break, not to mention your brother's.  Not to mention what IAD kept doing to both of them thanks to that assignment.  If they had known, it wouldn't have been so bad.  But they didn't know.  All they heard was that you got high and got killed during it.  So get off your fucking high horse and rejoin reality before one of us bitch slaps you for stupidity and arrogance."

"Xander," Horatio said calmly.

"No!  He hurt you!  You were hurt by his stupidity!  He could've told you and he didn't.  You had to grieve and sit there and listen to Stetler go back over and over it and taunt you.  If he wants to come back now, he's got a lot of fucking shit to make up for."  He stood up and walked off, heading to the bedroom and slamming the door.

"I think it's cute your boy protects you like you're his son at times," Yelina told him, smiling at him.  "You should chase him."

He shook his head. "It won't help yet.  In ten minutes or so, when he's calmer."  He leaned forward.  "What do you want out of this, Ray?  Do you want to come back?  If so, you have a lot of apologizing to do to your family first and then me. And if you *ever* insult Xander again, I will kick your ass and have Speed help me bury your living body in the Everglades.  Are we clear?"

"You'd...."

"Yes, I will.  Xander is my choice, the same as Yelina was yours. I'm sorry if you don't like my choice, but he makes me happy and, as you saw, protects me.  Now, I would start with your wife.  I would also duck when she goes for your eyes this time."  He stood up and went to tell Ray he could come back, then went to talk to Xander.  Xander was curled up on the bed so he laid behind him, holding him against his chest.  "Are you all right?"

"No, I snapped."

"It happens.  He deserved it."  He kissed the back of his head.  "You should take a shower.  You smell like the pool."  Xander let out a small chuckle.  "I've got most of tomorrow off.  Would you swim and let me watch?"  Xander nodded. "Then go bathe for now and rejoin us.  I left them talking and she's going to beat him soon.  I should stop her before Ray Jr. helps or gets traumatized."  Xander snorted but got up and headed for the bathroom. He watched him go.  "I don't mind you protecting me when I need it, Xander," he said quietly.  His mate looked at him.  "I do the same for you.  You don't have to kill though, just yell."

"Unless someone seriously hurts you, then they deserve it."

Horatio smirked.  "I'll be sure to tell Speed to handcuff you in a comfortable position if I ever get that injured.  Or Calliegh if he does."  He got up and headed back into the living room.  "He's bathing off the pool from earlier." He sat down.  "He's leaving the twenty- second for New York to arrange things for the auction."

"I'll be sure to warn everyone you'll be cranky while he's gone," she assured him with a small smile.  "He wants to try out for a team?"

"Swimming.  He's supposed to be pretty good.  The coach wants him to give him a semester to see how good he can be."

"Good!  How is he going to get through the semester?"

"With a lot of work," Xander called before shutting the door.

Yelina snickered at that, shaking he head.  "I hope he can do it.  He's got natural grace."  She looked at her son.  "There are things about Xander's past you do not need to know and I do not want you to ask him."

"Is this the hunting stuff Speed let on about?"  She nodded and so did his uncle.  "Then I don't need to know unless something attacks me. At which time, I'll call really fast."

"Good."  Horatio looked at his brother.  "I would suggest you and your wife talk first.  Ray Jr. will need both of you when he's dealing with this."

"No I won't."

Horatio looked at him.  "There may be things he can explain."

"I don't care."

Horatio nodded.  "That's also an option, and a good reason for your mother and he to talk first.  Then, if you want to know, you can go to her first."

"I can agree with that," he agreed.  "There's stuff that doesn't totally involve me, like Madison.  It involves me somewhat but not fully.  It wasn't his vows to me he broke."  He stared at his father.  Then at his uncle.  "Can I play games on Xander's laptop?"

"Or you can use my computer."

"No offense, Uncle H, but he's got Halo."

"Go, call into the bathroom to make sure it's okay."  He nodded and headed that way.  He looked at his sister-in-law.  "Do you need my help?"  She shrugged. "Then I'm going to make some coffee."  He got up, heading into the kitchen.  He heard Ray muttering and went in there, giving him a hug.  "No matter what, I am your uncle.  Even if something world-ending were to happen, I'm still here for you and even if Xander leaves me some year, he's still probably going to be there for you too."

"I don't leave, I get left," Xander said from the doorway, working on his hair.  He and Horatio shared a look. "No matter where we are, we've got a couch for you, Ray," he said quietly.  Ray smirked at him.  "Don't use my saved game."

"Yes, Xander."  He grinned and pulled the laptop out, then blushed and looked at him.  "Nice wallpaper."

Xander smirked. "I took it while he slept."

"I can tell. He's relaxed."  He opened the game, starting his last game under his own name.

Horatio looked at Xander.  "What wallpaper?"

"I'll show you when he's done."  He grinned at him.  "Go nibble."  Horatio nodded and finished his trek to the kitchen.  Xander put on pajama bottoms and curled up beside Ray.  "I usually reload here, just in case."  Ray's character grabbed some stored bullets and reloaded, then went on.  "Good job.  Now hit it in the chest.  The weak spot is under the left nipple."

Ray grinned at him and went back to it, finally beating that level.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome.  When are we doing the range this time?"

"This weekend?"

"Okay."  He got up and went to bug Horatio.  "When are we taking Tim and Ray Jr. to the range? He suggested this weekend."

"I can do it Sunday afternoon," he offered, smiling at him.  "Calleigh too?"

"She'll pout if we don't."  He pulled the phone down off the wall and called.  "Cal, Xander.  Shooting range Sunday afternoon?  You two, us two, and Ray Jr.?"  He grinned.  "Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "They can't.  Her father's coming over."

"So they'll be late?"

"Probably."  He stole a kiss and smiled. "He's going to be bouncy and hyper that day."  He stole another kiss and went back to helping Ray win his new level. "Sunday afternoon."

"Sure.  I don't think the priest would approve, but oh well."  He paused the game, looking at his father.  "Yes?"

"You're doing what Sunday?"

"Shooting range with Uncle Horatio and Xander."

"I can take you."

"No thanks.  They do it very well."  He looked at Xander.  "Speed and Calleigh?"

"Meeting her dad."

"Oooh," Ray moaned, shuddering.  "I need a new girlfriend."

"Well, let me vet any first.  Any that like me too much, they'll go evil."  Ray laughed and hit him on the arm.  "They would be!  And hey, I can easily spot super psycho stalker girls and never date a snarky cheerleader.  Otherwise you too shall have Cordelia-like stories."

Horatio leaned in.  "He'd better not.  No cheerleaders, nephew."

"Yes, Uncle H."  He grinned at him.  "I love you."

"Love you too, Ray.  You two behave in here."  They nodded and got back to the game.  He looked at his brother. "Xander's very good at making sure he's aiming properly and doing the gun safety lectures."  He headed back to the living room, handing her a mug.  "He's staring at them playing Halo.  We're going to the range Sunday afternoon."

"My mother wanted us over for lunch."

"We can go afterward."

"That would be fine.  No one there will interest him."  She shrugged and sat down so she could see her husband.  "Do I trust him?" she asked quietly.

"Only you can say so, Yelina.  I can't make that decision for you.  Only you can say if you can forgive it."

"I know I won't forget it," she said dryly, watching her husband. "Let the boys play, Raymond."  He turned and looked at her so she sipped her coffee. "Let them play."

"You're not worried about...."  He stopped when something very hard hit his head.

"No, father, Xander's not going to force himself on me and make my ass gay!" Ray called.  "Now go the fuck away before I hit you with something harder than the lamp!"

Raymond retreated, rubbing the new sore spot on his head.  Xander came out to pick up the lamp and put it back.  "He's mean!"

"He's sixteen," Yelina agreed.  "Be thankful he didn't use his fists for that insult."  She took another sip of her coffee and looked at Horatio.  "My son is such a thug at times," she sighed, shaking her head. "I've got to keep him away from the bad girls."

"He's a good boy, Yelina, he's just pushed past his limit at the moment," Horatio reminded her.  "He protested when someone tried to make him hurt a homeless man.  He does a lot of good work in the church and he comes to gopher around the lab.  He's good in school and he's got a bright future.  If he wants to follow me instead of you, I'll gladly sponsor him into the program and let him do his internships in the lab."  She smiled at that.  "If he wants to follow you, I'll nag until he changes his mind."  She burst out laughing at that.

"If I become a cop, I'm going to be a CSI, but I'm not sure I wanna be a cop!" Ray Jr. called.  "You guys get shot at and I'd hate to be scarred while I'm still pretty."  Xander's cackle came out of the bedroom, then Ray's giggle.

Horatio smiled at Yelina.  "See?"  He sipped his own coffee.  "You know where the cups are, Ray."  He nodded, going to get some.  He picked up his cellphone and called Speed.  "Me.  Tomorrow we're going on a short trip."  He hung up and looked at her again.  "I wonder if he'd do long distance or short."

"Long.  He's got the breath control and the body for long distances, Horatio.  Plus the strength and stubbornness."

"You have no idea," he muttered.  She gave him an 'oh really' look.  "He practices now and then."  She giggled, having to put down her cup to roll around on the couch.

"What did I miss?"

"We were talking about Xander's future swimming if he wants to train."  Xander came to the door, smirking at him.  "She thinks you've got good breath control."

"Oh, I do."

"Please, no talking about sex in front of the guy who isn't getting any," Ray Jr. complained.  "At least not until I can find a good girl to date."

Xander looked back at him.  "A good girl won't give you any either."  Ray blushed and shrugged, getting back to the game.

Speed snuck into the pool area, sitting down beside Horatio while he watched his son do some warm-up laps.  "Speed or distance?" he asked quietly.

"Both."  He pointed at the coach.  "We hope.  He's got earplugs."   Speed nodded and leaned on his knees, watching him warm up.

The coach got up and turned down the lights in the stands, making Xander look at him.  "I don't want you distracted," he called.  "Crawl, ten laps, for time, kid."  Xander nodded and got out to climb onto the pad to launch himself from.  The coach pulled the trigger on the starting gun. Both cops flinched but Xander dove.  He watched, timing and noting each lap, then the final time.  "Get out, walk around twice, then backstroke!"  Xander nodded and did it, then jumped back in and got into position.  The starting gun went off again and the kid took off.  The coach noted the times and final time again, then he smiled.  At the end, Xander looked at him.  "Go until you get tired, crawl."  Xander nodded and got out, moving his shoulders around, then got onto the pad, launching himself at the gun's noise.   He kept count of laps and times, noticing when he slowed down.  He got very slow but the kid was out of it.  He looked back at Horatio.  "He's in his head."

"He does that."  He came down and stood at the edge of the pool.  Xander stopped and looked at him, panting.  "You all right?"

"I'm kinda tired," he said, but he looked happy.  He got helped out and handed a towel by Speed.  "When did you get here, dad?"

"At the beginning.  We watched it all."  He led the kid over, helping him sit down.  "We'll make sure you make it to the car."

"I'll be fine after a nap."

The coach looked at him.  "You're stubborn, kid, I'll give you that."  He looked at the sheet, then showed him another one.  "That's my team captain's."  Xander looked and nodded slowly.  Xander's was put next to it.  "You're not bad.  You need to train.  You've got good breath control.  You've got a shot, if you train."

"I'm already doing an hour of situps and pushups, plus a two mile jog a day," Xander admitted.

"Good!"  He smirked.  "Now you need time in the pool.  You're better than two of my three alternates right now.  Are you coming back?"

Xander sighed and looked at Speed, then at him.  "I promised him a year to prove I could hack college.  He's got one semester left."  He shrugged.  "But I have a lot of problems with homework.  Lectures aren't my thing.  I drove two tutors to drink, plus both of these two."

The coach nodded.  "A lot of jocks don't do well in lecture classes."

"He's got the brains," Speed offered.

"It's not always the brains, it's the learning style.  He's probably a guy who'd do better in Vo-Tech."  Xander nodded.  "That's what I figured.  So why are you a psych major?"

"He's got profiling skills," Speed said with a small shrug.  The coach smiled at him.  "I'm late into the father stuff.  I drove off his for being shitbags."

"It's not the first time I've heard that.  I wanna know how he got such good breath control?"  Xander blushed and glanced at Horatio, making him nod.  "Ah.  Understood.  There's plenty of gay athletes around here, kid.  If anyone gives you hell, you tell me immediately, at the first sign."  Xander nodded at that.  "I want you in this pool two hours a day, every day until the beginning of school.  I want you in lab classes.  Have you taken geology?"  Xander nodded.  "Did you pass?"

"B."

"Good."   He pulled out a course schedule and underlined some.  "Twelve hours, no more.  If you're going to train, you're going to train.  Training is your life.  Your sex life may die."

"Not a chance," Xander told him dryly.  "It makes me happy and calm."

"Okay.  Some guys find it wears them out."

"That's them.  Having Horatio with me makes me happier and calmer, it settles me."

"Good.  Any questions so far?"

"I've got upcoming trips to New York."

"You can't put them off?"

"No.  It's tax related stuff.  The first is for four days.  The second is for a week.  Are there local pools up there?"

"Can you stay somewhere with a pool?"

"I think I am.  If not, I can change that."  The coach nodded.  "Do I do any particular routine?"

"Both those strokes.  Short bursts every other day, length the others."  Xander nodded.  "You need to learn to pace yourself on the length ones. You kept going when you wore yourself out."  Xander shrugged.  "That's a bad thing."

"I kinda drop into a meditative state."

"I understand that a lot of us do that.  That's okay."

"Distance or speed?" Speed asked.

"I like him more for distance.  I like him a lot more for distance."  He looked at him. "I also want to see your other three strokes in short distances.  Can you do that?"

"Yeah."  He dropped the towel and went back, putting in his ear plugs.  He swung his arms a few times and winced, but shrugged it off and got into position.

The coach yelled this time.  "Breast stroke."  Xander dove and took off.

Speed gaped.  "That's faster, right?"

"It is."  The coach checked the time, then the kid's progress.  "Stop!" he called when he nearly turned.  Xander grabbed onto the side and looked at him.  "Why didn't you tell me you were better at that one!"

"I didn't swim this one."

"Your coach was an idiot!"  He rolled his eye.  "Do the other one!"  Xander went onto his next stroke, which was his weakest one.  He wrote down the results and watched him.  "Stop!" he yelled after a full lap.  "Out!"  Xander climbed back out with a groan and took his towel back, allowing Horatio to walk him back over to the stands.  "If you're coming in, you're doing breaststroke sprints and crawl for distance."  He showed him the times and Xander looked shocked.  "And you're dead tired.  Do you do better when you're fresh?"  Xander shrugged.  "Most people do."  He shrugged it off and shook his head.  "Okay, pick a gym elective, swimming, and three other easy classes.  If you need suggestions, ask your father there.  He looks like he was a jock."

"Speed junkie," he admitted. "But I work with Delko."

"Even better.  He can pick classes for him.  Have Delko see if he can dive too."

"Sure."  He grinned. "He's not much on twisting and turning off the dance floor."

"It transfers.  Trust me."  He looked at the kid.  "What was your last job?"

"Stripping."

"It'll transfer."  He got up.  "Come on."  He walked them over to the diving platform, pointing at the medium one.  "Up there.  Jump up, twist in the air, one arm over your head, the other on your stomach, jackknife into the proper head-down position and enter the water with as little of a splash as possible."

Xander frowned and tried it on the ground, getting a nod, and went to try it, ignoring the people around them.  He caught his breath and calmed himself, then did as he was told.  He felt the splash, he wasn't vertical, but not bad for his first try.  He resurfaced and looked at the coach, coming out.  "Bad for my first try?"

"Not bad for your first try," Speed assured him, then he shook his head and cuffed him upside the head.  "Would you mind telling me about any other skills you're hiding?"  Xander shrugged.  He looked at Horatio.  "Eric?"

"Eric," he agreed with a sigh.

"Yeah," the coach agreed.  "Every day, kid, an hour of swimming and an hour of diving practice with Eric Delko helping you as much as he can."

"Yes, sir."

"Twelve hours of easy classes, including swimming.  I'm assuming here but you can do lifegaurd?"  Xander shook his head.  "No CPR card?"  Xander shook his head. "Okay, you can help in basic swimming then."  He looked at Horatio, then at Speed.  "Get him food, get him to Delko.  He actually trained for a spot.  Trust him to give you the truth.  The day after the next semester begins, I want him in here trying out for a spot."  Horatio nodded. "Nothing that's going to give him homework.  I don't want him stressed."

"Of course."  He looked at Xander, giving him that small, gentle smile that he reserved for him.  "What did you want for dinner?"

"I don't care. What're you hungry for?  Or we can let Eric decide.  He's usually got something in mind."

"True, Delko thinks with his stomach," the coach agreed, sighing.  "Keep track of your times when he doesn't.  Got it?"  Xander nodded. "Good.  Go shower and change, then go eat and rest, talk to Delko tonight.  Start training tomorrow, kid."  He looked at the other coach, showing him the scores.  The guy smiled.  "When he was doing his year in high school, the guy never had him doing breaststroke."

"We had a guy who was college level doing it," Xander explained.  "They didn't have one to fill my spot and I was a fill in."

"We'll see where you place next semester."  The coaches got together to talk.  Speed got a copy of the scores for the kid and his fridge.

Horatio led Xander off to the locker room, giving him a hug and a kiss before he went to shower.

***

Xander tapped on the lab door and stuck his head in.  "Can I bug you?"

"Sure.  Just don't stand too close or sneeze or anything."

"Okay."  He stayed there.  "The swim coach wants you to ride my ass until next semester."  Eric frowned at him so he walked in and handed him the score sheet and the dive notes.  "My first dive ever."

Eric looked at it, then at him.  "Excuse me?"  Xander nodded.  "He wanted *me* to train you?"

"He decided that you had what it took then and you still do," Speed said from behind him. "We're heading to dinner once you're done.  You get to pick because we're just hungry."

"Fish."  He looked at what he was doing.  "Ten minutes."  He handed it back and got back to work, going a bit faster now.  Xander walked out with his dad and Eric considered it.  The kid's scores had been good.  Damn good.  The dive notes hadn't been that bad either.  He'd want to see that for himself.  He got done and started his last test, bagging back up his materials.  Horatio stepped into the room.  "His first dive?"

"Yes.  The coach yelled because he hadn't swam breaststroke."

"Yeah, he likes to yell.  Fish good?"

"Fish is fine."

"Good.  Then we're going back there so I can watch him."

"He did all that in basically one long show."

"So?"  Eric looked at him. "Stamina is good."

"Which he has.  He came out shaking after that."

Eric nodded.  "I did my first time too."  He got the last report and handed it over, then took off his gloves and his jacket, heading for the locker room.  "Give me five to change."

"Sure."  He looked at the report, nodding as he walked it up to his office.  Frank stopped him and just stared.  "He was good.  The coach wanted him to work with Eric."

"I heard Delko was on the team and thought about going all the way."

"He did.  Xander's scores were good.  The coach yelled at him about them."

"That may not be a good sign."

"Eric said it was."

"It was," Eric called.  "Who'm I riding with?"

"I'm riding with Xander.  His car's got great seats," Speed called.  He joined them and Eric took the scores back to look them over again. "He went in that order, one right after the other."

"I knew he had some stamina."  Xander joined him.  "We're going to go test you tonight."

"The pool's closed tonight at the school."

"I can get us in."

"They're draining it, Eric.  Big signs everywhere."

"Oh."  He grimaced.  "Where else has one?"

"University?" Frank suggested.

"You don't poach their pool. They'll think you want recruited."  He grimaced.  "The Y has one."  Xander nodded.  "You think you can?"

"Can I eat first?  I didn't even make it to breakfast this morning."

"Sure.  You didn't eat today?" he asked.  Xander shook his head.  "Nerves?"  Xander nodded.  "Fine."  He walked out with him.  "Coming or not?"

"Coming," Speed called, following.  "Horatio?"

"I'll meet you there."  He rolled his eyes and Frank laughed.  "He was good."

"So I take it.  Good luck with that.  Remember, athletes often have to give up sex."

"He's already told the coach he's not and I'm why he's got such good breath control," he noted smugly.

"Think he could teach my wife?" he muttered.

"No."  He closed his office door and locked it and headed after the trio.  He saw Calleigh looking confused and nodded so she followed him, climbing in beside him.  "He went for his trial in front of the swim coach today."

"How did it go?"

"He wants him to train with Eric and then formally try out the second day of classes."  He started the hummer and backed out, heading after the boys.  He knew where Eric went when he said 'fish' and he had a tracker on Xander's car anyway.  She stared at him.  "What?"

"How are you doing with the Ray thing?"

"Not good.  Xander yelled at him last night."  She giggled at that.  "He started on the gay thing and Xander screamed at him.  Then the boys went to play Halo in the bedroom while he and Yelina talked and I refereed."  He changed streets and parked when he saw the car.  "This isn't the normal spot."

"Eric must be getting pastries."  She rolled down the window, looking at them.  Speed nodded them inside.  "Nope, this is it."  She got out and he secured the car then followed.  She smiled at the hostess.  "We're with the boys."

"That's fine."  She let them both go that way, smiling at Horatio, handing him a menu.  He handed it to Calleigh and sat beside Xander.

"I thought you were craving fish," she said, bopping Eric on the arm.

"I am, but not until after I swim.  He wants my help, he can beat me."  Xander nodded that it was fair.  "If not, he can train until he beats me."

"The coach said two hours a day, every day.   One swimming, one diving.  Every other day distance."

Eric looked at the scores, then at him.  "Yeah, that'll help.  How did you go twelve laps after all that?"

"I drop into this quasi-meditative state."

He nodded.  "A lot of guys do that.  I used it as time to think and go over stuff before tests.  I was a sprint and a dive guy though."  The waitress brought them drinks and he looked at Xander's soda, giving him a smirk.

"Try it, watch me bite you," Xander warned.  "Let's see where good, old fashioned training get me, Eric.  I eat pretty decent most of the time."

"Fine. It still makes you bouncy."

"Yes, but I could use the extra energy now and then."

"You'll still have to go cold three days before the meets.  They drug test and that's picked up."

"I use it to control my attention issues."  Eric hissed so he shrugged.  "The coach knows.  He caught me slurping one earlier."  He sipped his soda and smiled at the waiting waitress. "What's the special?"

"We've got a wonderful batch of ham croissants just out and some with pizza stuff inside.  Or we've got a nice batch with fruits and jellies."

"Do the ham have cheese?  I haven't had my calcium today."  She nodded.  "Then can I have two?"  She nodded and smiled at him, taking his menu.

"I'll take two blueberry," Horatio said.  He watched Eric's face. "He needs the food."

"He probably does.  As long as he doesn't get sick."   He got up and went to call the coach to see when they were draining the pools to make sure they had time.  He came back and grinned. "They're not starting until nine.  Team practice ends in an hour.  By then, you'll be good to go?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  That'll also give me time to go find my suit."  He smiled at the waitress.  "Give me two with ham too please."  She smiled and nodded, going away since she had all the orders while he was gone.  "How long were you on your high school team?"

"I filled in when one became green and slimy.  Two meets really."

"So, end of the season, he had all the other spots filled?" he suggested.  Xander nodded.  "Okay.  Why weren't you doing breaststroke?"

"He had a guy who was being recruited by some colleges and who was a senior.  I was fill in so I got the empty spot.  Which was crawl for longer sprints."

"Okay.  Why didn't you go back?"

"No coach the next year," Speed told him quietly.  "He died at the hands of the team when they figured out it was him."  Eric frowned so he whispered it in his ear, getting a nod.  "Fishy stuff."

"Ah.  No wonder Xander only eats farm raised fish."  Xander nodded at that. "Did you get any?"

"Some but I never changed.  I'm slower now than I was then."

"Good.  Because they will be doing a full physical, including blood work."

"I know."

"And random drug tests."

"That's fine too."

"Good.  You still need to drink more water."  Xander grimaced.  "I know but you need it."

"Point.  I try now and then."

Eric gave him a long look.  "Serious training isn't now and then, Xander."

"I know.  Remember, I work out more than you do.  Horatio made me take up jogging too.  I'm doing two miles a day plus my other stuff."

"I'm impressed you make it to class."

"He gets up really early and I have afternoon classes."

"Ah."  He nodded and took the course catalog.  "You've already cleared it with the registrar?"

"Yeah, while we were in New York.  She got a note from Frank saying what was going on and that it wasn't the first time so she cleared me to come back already.  I'm on academic probation because of it but nothing else."

"That'll work."  Their food was put down in front of them and he looked at them while he ate.  "CPR card?"

"Nope."

"Basic swimming, geology?"

"Last semester, B," Speed admitted, digging in.  "He needs less lecture stuff, Eric.  He's really stressed by them."

Eric nodded, then looked at Xander.  "Think you can handle book reports and watching movies?"  Xander nodded.  "Film 101 and Science Fiction Lit.  One of the art appreciations."  He handed it back.

"Eww."

"You have to write a paragraph after looking at the pretty pictures in the book, Xander. Lots and lots of naked art too."  Xander shrugged and found those, writing them on the form in the back.  "Get the coach to approve those around practice times before you register.  The one semester I didn't, I ended up changing mine three times. I didn't know if I was coming or going."  He finished up and looked at Xander, who finished up and put the book back in the back of his waistband.  "We done?"  Everyone else nodded and Xander handed him the keys.  "Cool.  You've got a good car."

"Yeah, I got told many assassins drive that brand," he said dryly.  "I got popped for speeding earlier and they asked."

"I'm hoping they were kidding," Speed said as he followed.  "How fast were you going?"

"Seventy on the highway."

"Ten over, not too bad. I do it on the bike."  Horatio gave him a look and he smirked. "There's a reason I have the nickname."  He climbed back in and they all went to Eric's house, then back to the pool.  The coach gave them a long stare, then smirked and nodded at them to start in the other room.  Both of them changed and Xander found his earplugs, making Eric give him an odd look. "He used to have tubes."

"That happens."  He warmed up and looked at Xander.  "Okay, I'm going to do one and you're going to do the same thing.  Got it?"  Xander nodded eagerly so he got up there, looking at the team member who was lagging.  "He's trying out next semester."

"Were you on the team?"

Eric smirked.  "I'm Delko."

"Ah, coach's favorite."  He looked at Xander.  "I heard you did okay.  Try this one, kid."  He went and did his hardest one.

Xander watched then shook his head, looking at Eric.  "Can I do that?"

"I can do that."  He smirked and did it better than the other kid, then stared at him until he got out pouting.  "More tighter rotations," he called after him.  "Come on, Xander."  Xander stood there, then tried it.  "Not bad," he called.  "You need practice.  It's clear this isn't your field.  Yet."  They climbed out and he led him to the board again, talking him through the next one.  Xander mimicked it then nodded.  Eric did it to show how it was supposed to look.  Then he watched Xander.  He winced, the kid got no distance from the board.  "Jump out more, Xander, before you crack your skull open again."  He got out.  "Not bad otherwise.  Let's try the spring board."

"I don't do spring boards.  I fell on the last one."

"Okay," Eric agreed, leading him to the lower board, then tried something simple.  "Make sure you jump out," he called.  "Away from the board."  Xander did it and he nodded. "Good.  Not good enough but decent for your first day."  He noticed the dive coach watching and shrugged as he got out, turning to help Xander.  "His first day."

"I saw earlier.  He needs some tumbling practice.  Try that one again, kid."

"Harris," Delko offered.  Xander nodded, going back to try it again.  He watched with a more critical eye.  "Not too bad."

"No.  Not too bad.  They've started draining the other one.  Have him do water starts in here."  Xander came out of the pool.  "Or side starts.  Harris, the other pool's being drained right now.  Go ahead and practice in here on your sprints."

"Okay."  He nodded and moved so they were crossways to the pool, making Eric nod and move up beside him but far enough away in case the kid veered.  "Go!" he shouted.  They took off and the kid had speed.  He blinked and checked his stopwatch, then the kid, noticing Delko had turned faster and better but the kid wasn't bad. Trainable certainly.  "Keep going!  Two more!" he shouted when they nearly had the wall.  Both of them turned and continued on.  The kid was definitely holding the stamina to do the longer swims.  The other coach came in and he let him see the watch.  "He needs help turning and he needs tumbling," he said quietly. "How long did he fill in?"

"Two matches and six practices."

"Damn."  He nodded, smirking as Delko barely beat the boy.  "Good job, boys.  Now out!"  They climbed out and Xander bent over, catching his breath.  "You still tired?"

"He did a lot earlier," the other coach offered.  "I ran him ragged earlier."  The dive coach looked at him.  "For a first practice, that's good."

"Good enough for a first.  Next week I'll expect better."  He walked over, looking at Eric.  "You've started to slip, Delko."

"No time to practice," he complained. "You guys won't let me use the pool anymore."

"You're training the kid, you can use the pool."  He made Xander look at him.  "Don't puke in here."

"Not," he panted. He stood up and held his side.  "Stitch, sorry."

"They happen to the best of us.  When did you eat?"

"About forty minutes ago.  First time today."

"Ah.  You need to cut that out.  No more caffeine and no more sex."

Xander burst out laughing.  "Politely, fuck you.  Sex calms me down and makes me focus.  Horatio is my cheerleader and the only reason I'm still in school.  Even Speed probably wouldn't have kept me in during my first semester when I got so tired of shit.  Secondly, caffeine is my life.  I like my caffeine. It keeps me focused.  Let's see what training can do before we start making the more major changes to my metabolism."

"If you want.  You have four weeks to make it as an alternate, Harris.  You think you can?"  He looked at the other coach. "No, dive team is mine, Harris."

"I'll do my best.  I'm not one for lofty dreams and unrealistic expectations of myself."

"Okay, I can deal with that.  Around here, we want you to win, that's your lofty dream.  Think you can hold that one?"

Xander looked at Horatio. "Rewards?"  He got a slight nod.  So he looked at the coach and shrugged. "I'll do my best.  I'm not the robo-Xander."

The coach smirked. "You're a smart ass."

"Yeah, pretty much," Delko agreed.  The coach pushed him back in.  "Hey!"

"Shut up, Delko. You had your shot. Be a good coach now."  He looked at the kid again, staring him in the eyes.  "If you swim, your lover is at every match.  Delko as well until he gives up on coaching you. Understood?"  Xander nodded.  "You'll tell them that, here and now."

"Horatio, he wants you at all the matches, Eric too if he can manage it."

"If at all possible."  The coach looked at him so he held up his badge.  "Some of us are on duty now and then."

"I can accept that. You send an alternate."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Good."  He looked at Xander again.  "You will train."

"The other coach said an hour of diving, an hour of regular swimming, plus my usual two miles, my hour of situps and pushups is good.  You wanna add to that?"

The coach considered it then nodded. "You need practice tumbling to dive.  The twisting, turning, and jumping especially.  Take a short course in it until you get the hang."

"Okay.  Do I tape myself when I'm New York on tax business?"

The coach shook his head.  "Not needed. If they don't have a diving board, do yoga."

"Okay, that can help with the sex stuff too."  The coach laughed at that, then patted him on the cheek.  "I'll do?"

"For now.  My tryout is the third day of school, Harris. You will be here.  Or else."

"If he's not, he's in the hospital," Eric said as he climbed back out.  "Speaking of, new head xrays are when, Speed?"

"Um, right before Christmas."

"He's got a skull fracture?" the coach asked. Speed nodded. "Why?"

"Psycho stalker with a baseball bat," Xander said honestly.  "I've got a dent too.  Wanna see?"

"No, that's fine."  He walked off shaking his head.  This kid would have an uphill battle on his hands but he could do it.  "Practice, Harris."

Eric sat Xander down away from everyone else.  "You did good enough to make alternate today, Xander.  You need to be better to seriously be *on* the team.  Think you can do an endurance tonight?"  Xander shook his head. "What's still cramping?"

"My head.  Did I hit the water wrong?"

"Twice," he agreed dryly.  "You need more skull xrays.  You can't dive with a fractured skull.  The pressure can kill you."  Xander nodded, accepting that.  "Was it mostly healed?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  We can go over diving in detail when you get back the second time.  For now, concentrate on the swimming and the yoga stuff.  You'll need to be less stiff when you twist and turn."

"Should I start back on my stripper mix of a coke and some maple syrup?"

"If it helps.  I wouldn't.  You need to be in sharper focus than you were then."

"It relaxed me."

"So will yoga.  Trust me.  Plus, hey, lots and lots of benefits for sex with H.  Okay?"  Xander nodded at that, grinning a bit.  "Good.  Work your way up in yoga and take the class so you don't hurt yourself.  You don't have time for a real injury."  Xander nodded at that.  "So be really careful in New York.  Got it?"  Xander nodded again.  "Good."  He patted him on the back of the head and grinned.  "We need to get you consistently up to speed and work on your turns.  They sucked."

"I kinda cramped on my first one."

"I noticed. Legs?"  Xander nodded.  "Okay.  Focus on your two strongest strokes.  Breast and crawl.  Do your others for a third of your workout one day a week.  Just in case you have to sub.  We all specialize around here."  Xander nodded at that.  "Get that schedule approved."

"I did in the locker room."

"Good.  That okay?"  He nodded.  "Then register as soon as you can.  Get a spot at the Y if you have to so you have pool time.  Or somewhere else that has pool time."

"I'm a member at Aristotle."  Eric looked impressed.  "Perk of the former job.  I keep up with my membership even though I haven't been using it."

"See if they have yoga or not and a pool."

"I know they have a pool.  I spaced out in there a few times."

"Lanes?"

"Nope."

"Try it anyway."  He got a smile. "Good.  Now, let's go shower off the nasty chemicals and head for real food, okay?"  Xander moaned and held his stomach.  "Yay.  Get over it.  You burned more than enough today to need to eat."  Xander nodded and got up, heading for the changing rooms.  He walked over to look at the main people in Xander's life.  "He needs work but for a firsty, he's not bad.  Yoga and a lot of pool time for right now. He can't dive with a skull fracture.  I can teach him the basics of diving in a few weekends near the holidays.  He's already got a gym membership thanks to his old job.  They've got a pool there.  He can use theirs I'm sure."  Everyone nodded. "He was serious, H, he wants and needs you here.  If you're the kid's encouragement and reward...."

"I have the point, Eric."

"Good," he said with a grin.  "I needed one of you when I was on the team.  Get his skull checked sooner if you can, Speed.  He got dizzy.  It's probably as it should be."  Speed sighed and nodded.  "Big thing, let's work on his eating habits.  Vitamins good, H.  Calcium especially with that stuff."  That got a nod.  "You should probably take 'em too."

"You wanna end up back in the pool?" Calleigh asked archly, staring at him.  "What're his chances?"

"He's better than the alternates in my year.  If he hadn't cramped during his first turn, he might've beaten me."   She looked impressed at that.  "He's got a shot, it's the sticking to it that's hard.  One week's good, then you get a crappy week, and then you start to slack off.  Training is harder than sticking to a diet. And his still needs work. The kid doesn't know what a vegetable is."

"He does, he just doesn't appreciate them unless they're in Chinese food," Speed assured him.

Eric laughed at that.  "Sure.  That's probably not good for him."

"Point, but his life and his stomach.  So, full physical including really invasive blood work?"  Eric nodded.  "As soon as I can get him scheduled."  Xander came out wobbling. "Still dizzy?"

"Hungry.  Can we please eat now?  Not green and slimy things, but food?"

"Sure, kid.  Let me shower and change back," Eric offered, going to do that.  He had missed being in the pool all hours of the night and day but the kid was looking good as a substitute for that.

***

Xander finally made it to New York and met his escort at the gate.  "Gee, they're paying you to come follow me around again?" he teased.

"Definitely."  He pointed at his shoulder.  "I got whacked on it again.  The case?"

"Security."  He walked that way, his overnight bag over his shoulder.  He walked into the office, showing his ticket and his ID, then signing five forms.  The case was opened for him and he checked it, then nodded and it was resealed.  He took a copy of the key and smiled. "How do I get this back to you?"

"The auction house will, sir."

He nodded and walked off with it.  He glanced at Don, who was smirking at him. "What?"

"You look good."

"Thank you.  I'm trying to get on the school's swim team and Eric's been riding my ass now for weeks.  My arms are seriously bulking up again."  They got to the metal detectors and they saw the case, pointing at a special doorway once Don flashed his badge.  They walked that way and Don led him to his car.  The case went between his feet once he was in, his overnight bag on top of it.  "Which bank did we arrange with?"

"First National. It's right up the street from the auction house."  He checked his mirrors then put the car in reverse, backing out.  He noticed the other car pulling out and headed out anyway, being careful.  Xander paid the parking toll, earning him a grin, and they were off.  The other car was following him.  "I didn't know I had backup."

Xander glanced back there, then took a longer look.  "The last time I saw that one guy who wanted to steal me they were with him."  He turned back around and buckled up, then pulled out his phone and input Mac's number but didn't hit send.  "Just in case."

"Good idea."  He sped up and did something unexpected, pulling through a drivethru.  "Sorry, need lunch."

"Oh, please god, let me have a burger," he begged.  "And a coke."

Don smirked at him. "That's the hard part of sports."

"Not really.  Eric was having a tofu day yesterday and I nearly died."  They pulled up to the speaker.  "Bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a coke no ice?"

"Anything else?" a perky voice asked.  Xander nudged Don.

"Two double cheeseburgers, no pickles, no mayo."

"Make mine no mayo either," Xander ordered.

"And a black coffee."

"Ten-fifteen, please pull around."

Xander handed him a twenty.  "I'm nice today," he offered with a grin.  Don snickered and they got their food, eating on the way in.  He even kept the change.  "Where's the hotel?"

"About ten blocks past the bank.  Does it have a pool?"

"Yup and I've got two hours of swimming to do later because it doesn't have a board I can use.  I still slip and fall on springboards."  He finished his coke with a sigh of pleasure.  "Oh, good.  Breakfast was oatmeal because Horatio needed to shop."  Don chuckled at that.  "He'll be doing it while I'm gone or I'm living on takeout again.  So, how has my favorite big brother been?"

"Decent enough.  A few bad cases but nothing too horrible.  We haven't lost anyone.  Danny's going nuts again with a case.  Mac made me drag him home last night."  He yawned.  "Kiddie porn ring."  Xander hissed.  "You good?"

"No.  Cramps."  He rubbed his leg.  "I hate those."  Don nodded.  "Sorry.  Is Danny going to be okay?"

"Once we catch the assholes. Every cop takes kiddie cases hard but Danny takes it to a new extreme in kiddie porn cases."

"History?"

"He won't say."  He shrugged and turned on the radio, making Xander sing and bop along.  "At least someone appreciates my music."

"I say the same thing when Calleigh doesn't change the station for something quieter."  He grinned at him and caught sight of the other car. "Two lanes over, Don."

"I saw."  He sighed and looked the exit.  "I hate traffic."

"Take the safer route.  Fast is good, safer is better."

Don glanced at him. "Let me guess, you snuck it in again?"

Xander looked up.  "Willow, I'm in a moving car, does it matter?"  The soft-sided bag fell in his lap.  "Thanks, dear."  He unzipped it and put the gun on, then the dagger went on his wrist.  He looked at Don as he put the extra clips into his pockets.  "She's in Miami, Horatio doesn't realize that yet.  She's going to pop in and say hi to Speed tonight."  The other car tried to cut them off and he grabbed the bar.  "What is their damage?" he demanded.  "It's not like I got more than the solid gold castrating clipper thingies and the emerald handcuffs."

"Maybe they want 'em back."

"Yay!"  Don snickered at that.  "I hate psychos."  He slunk down in the seat some, getting comfortable. "Whatever you want, Don, you're the bodyguard today. I'll even buy you dinner before I swim."

"Sure."  He took the next exit, going down into traffic hell.  His lights came on and he got it easier but the other car was trying to follow.  He looked around and called the local station to get some backup, letting them know what was going on.  He checked Xander's phone, it hadn't erased the number but it hadn't dialed itself. "Hard send button?"

"Locked without the four digit code so it couldn't dial itself in my pocket on the phone."

"Smart guy."  Two patrol cars stopped the guy behind him and he turned off his lights with a sigh of relief.  "You sure they were with him?"

"Yeah, that was Dumb and Stoned Stupid, his bodyguards.  Stoned Stupid used to smell like pot. Dumb's favorite word was ahhhhhh."  He shrugged and sat back up again.  "So, where for dinner?"

"Steak place?"

"Great with me.  As long as it's not fish or tofu."

"Eric's diet?"

"Yeah, for training. Thing is, I was faster on my diet before this.  I'm going to start eating my own way again.  I'm also bulking up and I don't like it very much.  I look like a body builder in spots."  Don looked then nodded. "It's not right and it's not good.  Plus I haven't been doing weights."

"Maybe all the fish is making you build mass."

"Maybe.  Which means I need to go back to hamburgers, nachos, and pizza."

"And beer."

"I still don't drink, Don."

"Sorry, that's my diet, with bouts of deli food and chinese."

"Yeah, I do a lot of chinese."  He flinched as someone shot at them.  "The Xander or the Don appreciation society?"

"Eeeh, I think mine."  Another shot.  "Hit Mac for me."  Xander hit the send button and input the code, handing it to him.  "Mac, me.  What's Westerfall doing out?  I don't know, Mac," he said, dodging in and out of traffic so she couldn't hit him again.  Another shot and this one cracked his back window.  "Yes, that was.  Just passed the 112.  Thank you.  Heading to First National, of course.  Yeah, I've got the kid with me.  Mac says hi," he offered, nodding at the lights.  "Would you?"  Xander flipped them on. "Thank you.  Heading across the tracks, Mac.  Come find us please."  He hung up and handed the phone back.  "I knew it was a bad day when I couldn't find matching, clean socks."

"Horatio is anal about the laundry being done."

"I used ta be, then I realized how short life was to be spending Saturday night in the laudromat."  Xander nodded at that.  Another shot and the back windshield shattered.  "Gotta love good windows.  Duck down, kid, okay?"

"Sure.  At least it's your batty bitch instead of mine this time."

"True, and Di wanted ta know if you wanted ta see little Eric there."

"Sure, I wouldn't mind."  He slunk down a bit more at the next shot.  "I hate these people.  Can I shoot back?"

"No, Xander," he said patiently. "You could hit someone else.  Besides, only cops and thugs get ta shoot back."  Another car came up behind them with the lights on.  "Finally!  Ooh, and Stella.  She's still in protective mode."  He hissed when Stella rammed the other woman's car, making her crash.  He waved and turned off the lights, continuing on.

Xander sat back up, patting him on the arm. "Ice cream for dinner?"

"Sounds good," Don agreed happily.  "There's a nice gourmet sundae shop just up the street from where I live."  Xander grinned at that.  "How's things with you and the big guy?"

"Good.  The coach said he's coming to each and every match or else.  I'm more realistic, half of them are during the day and he's gotta work for a living."  Don grinned at that.  "Hey, I'm realistic about it," he said dryly.  "He can't just take off because I want him somewhere.  The world doesn't work that way.  I wish but it doesn't."  They turned another corner sharply and Don's phone rang.  He picked it up and answer it.  "Flack's phone, he's driving, can I pass on a message?  Hi, Mac."  He looked at the case.  "No, I've still got it.  Yeah, it's locked and I checked it at the airport.  Why?"  He bent down to unlock it and look, then locked it again. "No it looks like it's all there.  Why?"  He nodded.  "Cool.  I doubt it since that's on top.  Sure."  He held the phone to Don's ear until he could take it.

"What's wrong, Mac?" he asked, switching sides with it.  He blinked. "They looked real enough ta me."  He nodded.  "Sure.  I can have it checked at the bank.  Why would they?  Then ya know what, they can meet us at the bank, Mac.  Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "The guys in the first car say they're paying an honor debt by returning what was stolen to you.  They said those are fakes."

Xander unlocked the case again and pulled out the top case, holding it up to the light.  "No, this is the one I got.  It's still got the mark on the back."  He shifted to look at the stone in the sunlight.  "No, this is real."  He put it back and relocked the case, then looked again to make sure.  "Settling is bad or I've got a sucking portal in there."  He felt around, no suckage so it must be settling.  "I'll check it against the inventory once we get to the bank."  Don nodded. "We wait for Mac there?"

"Yeah, just in case.  That's all you got?"

"Don, there's like two mil in diamonds in there," he said dryly. "Diamonds are small but very expensive."  He looked at him.  "Speaking of, I wanted to look for a rock for Horatio sometime during the trip."

"You'll be near that area," he offered. "You proposing?"

"Yeah, in public so people get off my ass and quit sending me shit."  He shifted some. "You think he'd do an earring?"

"No."

"Damn.  Nipple ring?"

"Do others often see him shirtless?"

"No.  So classic ring?"  Don nodded, smirking now.  "Fine, spoil my creativity."

"Remember, he's gotta be able to work with it so it can't tear gloves and stuff."

"I know.  It'll be okay.  It's gotta be low profile anyway for work."  Don nodded, understanding that.  "Eternity band?"

"Maybe.  If I'm free I'll help ya look.  If not, maybe Danny or Mac, or maybe even Stella would."

"Or maybe Diana."

"True. You could take little Eric the viking with you."

"She named him Eric?  She was wobbling the last time I heard, thinking about changing it to something more esoteric."

"Yeah, after her grandfather.  She didn't think you'd mind so much since the baby's supposedly not yours."

"Do I look that dumb?"

"No."

"I didn't think so."  Don grinned at that and they finally made it to the bank, pulling into the parking lot.  He sighed and looked at him.  "At least it's only tomorrow for the other part."

"True, thankfully."  He saw Mac pulling in with the others and got out, letting Xander count the stuff in private.  "Do the inventory now, kid."  Xander nodded, getting down to work.  "Hey, Mac, what's that they think they got?"

"They think they've got six of the pieces."  Xander got out with the relocked case and shook his head.  "They're all there?"

"Yeah, and they look authentic."  He handed the case and the key to Don, then walked over there.  He leaned down once he had opened the door. "What pieces?"  The bag was nodded at so he opened it then he looked at them.  "These aren't mine."

"His father said they are."

"His father can leap.  I'm not taking new presents.  It upsets my spouse."

"It is dishonorable to not accept a present."

"Bullshit."  He handed it to Mac and went back, shaking his head.  "I hate cranks," he muttered. "Shall we?"

"Xander, there's a letter in here," Mac called.  He handed it over, carrying the bag and handing it to Don.  "It says they're yours, it was part of the set."

Xander read it, then glared at the other men, making them flinch.  "There had better not be anything else."

"His father said his son had dishonored his family and the only way to solve it was to pay you to forget him."

"I'd love to but you keep showing up!" he shouted.  They flinched again. "I'd love nothing better than to never see you two or any part of his family ever again!"

"We cannot until you promise in front of a Mullah that you are no longer mad and have forgiven him so he may move on."

Xander pinched the bridge of his nose, moaning a bit.

"Otherwise they will continue."

"Is there one in the city?" he asked quietly.

"Four or five," Don said.

"One up the street," Mac promised.  He looked at Don, who shrugged and headed inside.  He walked Xander over to his car, taking him up there.  He hauled the two men inside the mosque, taking off his shoes as was proper.  Xander toed out of his as well, padding after him.  The men bowed in the shrine and the priest came out.  "They seek the advice of the Mullah," he said respectfully.  "They claim this one must forgive their former master or else they're going to keep stalking him and giving him presents."

"I will get him," the priest agreed, heading off quickly.  Soon an older man came out and Mac nodded respectfully.  Xander bowed Japanese style and the man smiled at him.  "These two have need of your guidance, Mullah."

One of the men explained what was going on in Arabic, making the younger priest's eyes bug out.

"Think how I feel," Xander complained. "I just want them to go away.  I didn't want their master, I turned down his offer to kidnap me and torture me by castrating me. I don't care what's going on, I don't want to deal with this any more."  He looked at the older priest.  "What do I have to do to make them stop? Please!  This is upsetting my fiance horribly and stressing me out!"

The older priest nodded.  "I understand.  Come to my office, young man.  You as well, officer."  He saw Don enter and nodded at him.  "Are you with this one?"

"I'm Xander's guard."

"Very well."  He walked them back to his office, working on an agreement to be filed with the family.  The boy's demands were reasonable, all he wanted was to be left alone.  When the others offered more money he snapped at them in Arabic, making them both flinch.  He explained to him that they were causing more stress and more harm, and the boy would more than happily forgive him if they would leave him alone and quit giving him things.   One of them said something very telling and he sighed, looking at Xander to explain to him that the man's father was giving him the son's inheritance since the son had desired him as a true mate, enough to go against Allah's laws, and had removed himself from the family for it.  Xander slumped and shook his head.  It was finally worked out and the boy ended up having to take it when they called the father.  The agreement was signed and faxed over, then the police took the boy and his new things with them.  The other two were ordered to leave the city immediately and did so under the priest's watch.

***

Xander hung up on Horatio, then looked at the pool lifeguard, smiling at him.  "Hi.  I'm joining my school's swim team."  That got a smile.  "Changing area?"  It was pointed to so he went that way to change into his backup, more modest, suit, coming out to find Danny waiting on him.  "Hey, are you timing me?"

"No, I'm waiting because you're just so damn fascinating," he quipped.  "The high priest or whatever called the mayor to congratulate him on how well our officers had handled such a delicate situation.  He called Don ta see why.  Don started off 'remember that fashion show and the psycho? Same target, kinda, different reason' and went from there.  The mayor's scared shitless that you're going to be bothered by more present wielding mad men who're gonna shoot at you on the way in, and suggested mildly that your friends hang out with you more.  So, here I am," he said finally, grinning at him.  "Here ta watch ya swim."

"For the next two hours," Xander said dryly, shaking his head and diving in.  He came up for air and looked at him. "I'm so totally giving up on Eric's diet.  I'm faster eating crap food and having a lot of sex."  He started off, going the long way in the pool.  He put on a burst of speed for show with his breast stroke, making Danny clap a bit and the lifeguard look really impressed, then he went backstroke and worked on that for a bit, then switched again.  This was not a great pool by any means and it was more heavily chlorinated, but it'd do.  His gym pool was very nice.  He finally took a break and checked the watch Danny wore.  "Damn, longer than usual."

"I tried ta yell, you didn't hear," Danny offered, smirking at him.  "You done?"  Xander nodded.  "Good, go shower."

Xander heaved himself out and went to the locker room to shower, coming out redressed and damp.  "You're out of towels."

"I'm on the CUNY team, sir, and you're damn good.  Are you thinking about going all the way?"

Xander shrugged. "I don't know.  I'm just now getting onto my school's team and the coach said he'd let me know my chances at the end of the semester.  If I could, I probably would.  I seriously don't know."  He smiled at him.  "You?"

"I'm not that good.  I'm second best on my team but I can't even compete against some of the better women.  Are you hoping for distance or sprint?"

"The coach is going to try me distance, breaststroke sprint, and then some diving.  One of my boyfriend's coworkers used to be good enough but he concentrated on his studies instead and he's been coaching me.  He's made me eat all this health food and it's slowing me down.  Watch me in a few days when all the good stuff is out of my system," he offered with a grin.   It got an answering grin.  "Danny, pizza?"  He got an iffy look.  "Cookies?"

"Cookies are always nice," he agreed, following him with a wave for the kid.  "You were damn good."

"I'm better when I'm eating fritos and dip for lunch.  Plus I'm bulking up, I feel like I should have a bra or something."  He flexed his pecs.  "So, how was my mate?"

"Good.  He said if you buy him a ring while you're here, he's gonna spank you."  Xander sighed.  "You said fiance in there.  You serious?"

"I am and my attorney and others are thinking it's the only way to stop some of my present wielding fanclub."  He got into the elevator, taking Danny up to his room so he could drop off his stuff and let his suit dry. "You really think I was good?" he asked as he came out of the bathroom.  He saw the guy with the gun and coughed.  "Dude, the jewels are in the bank.  It won't do you any good to shoot Danny."

"You, shut up!" he ordered, pointing the gun at him.  He looked at Danny again.  Then he felt his wrist be grabbed and bitten, making him howl.  The gun went off, ricocheting into Xander's shoulder.  The guy was put down by Danny and Xander leaned against the wall, breathing deeply.

"Xander!" Danny called, pulling out his cellphone. "Mac, me.  Xander just got shot by my brother. No, his room. Now!"  He hung up and put his phone back, cuffing the idiot.  Well, the other idiot.  "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to get between some guy and a gun!"

"I didn't, it bounced off the fucking wall," he growled, teeth gritted together. "Get me into the bathroom, Danny."  He nodded, helping him in there since that's where the towels were.  Someone pounded and he nodded, taking off his shirt to look at it.  It was in the muscle, not the joint, just under the clavicle.  "Lucky shot," he said bitterly. Someone came in and he looked at the cop.  "Hey.  Paramedics would be good," he offered, leaning on the sink.

"Sir, do you have a name?"

"Don't we all?  Ya know what, go ask CSI Messer out there.  Okay?  Just let me pant in peace until the fucking paramedics get here."  They nodded and left him alone.  He seemed to be okay and they'd keep an eye on him since he was putting pressure on it.

"Xander!" Danny snapped.

"Bite me!"  He looked at his shoulder again, moving the towel he was using to hold it.  "It's slowing down."  The paramedic rushed in. "It's not bleeding as heavily."

"That's not a good sign!"

Xander looked at him. "I'm the one who was shot, can you please quit being hysterical?  Hell, I'm gay and you're more hysterical than I am!"  They switched out and the other one came in.  "It's not bleeding as much.  It only hit muscle it feels like.  My shoulder joint is fine."

"You have a good pain tolerance, sir."

"Yeah, well, comes with my former life.  I was a stripper until about a year ago."  The paramedic nodded. "No drugs or alcohol, thank you."

"Wasn't going to ask, sir."  He looked at the wound.  "That's not as bad as it could be.  Direct shot?"

"Bounced off the wall.  I bit his wrist."  He started some water and rinsed his mouth out.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem, sir. You didn't draw blood on his arm.  Now, why was he here?"

"I don't know, he was threatening CSI Messer while I was in here hanging up my bathing suit.  Can we go over this while I get stitches?"

"Sure."  He walked him out.  "CSI Messer?"  He looked over.  "We're taking him to pull the bullet."

"Good, save it for me."  He looked at Xander.  "That was fucking stupid, Xander!  I'm gonna have ta tell Horatio!"

"You do and watch him storm this city," he said dryly, moving the towel.  "See, not bad!"  He let the paramedic walked him out.  "Have them clean the blood when you're done!"  He walked back in there and got his wallet and keys, then headed back out with the paramedics.  The nurses looked at him when he was drug in and he grinned.  "I'm a good boy but I have a pretty good pain tolerance these days.  Can we just yank the thing and put in staples so I can still swim?"

"Um, no."  She went to find the doctor and tell him.  Along with take some blood to see what he was on. It came back negative and the doctor sighed, heading in there.  "This one, sir."

"Hey, doc," Xander said, smirking a bit.  "Some of us have high pain tolerances."

"Were you tortured?"

"I had drunk parents."

"Oh.  Near torture then?"

"Yeah.  It's fairly shallow.  I will warn you, I do swim and I'll need to get into the pool again tomorrow.  I'm working to join my school's team and tryouts are in a month."   The doctor gave him an odd look.  "I'm engaged to a cop.  I'm in college.  Please?"  He smiled. "Just yank the damn thing since it's shallow?  And can you tell me why I'm bulking up when I'm not lifting weights?"

"Any change in your diet?"

"My trainer made me eat healthy.  It sucks badly.  I hate veggies and tofu.  I was faster with my junk food and caffeine."

The doctor looked amused.  "Any other changes?"

"No.  Well, he made me take up yoga because I'm trying out for the diving team too."

"That shouldn't bulk you up."

"I know, but look at me, I look like I need a bra!" he said in disgust.

The doctor looked then shrugged. "They're not quite that bad.  Any elevated hormones in his blood?"

"No," the nurse said, shaking her head and handing back the blood report.  "Nothing."

"So I can go back and have a burger tonight?"

"If you walk out."

"No, honey, I'm walking out and if I have to pull this bullet and staple me too I'm going to be pissed," he offered with a grin.  The doctor smiled at him and got down to looking at his wound.  "So, no reasonable reason?"

"Not that I can see.  Any other medical problems you have?"

"Last year my head was caved in with a baseball bat."  The nurse snorted so he grabbed her hand and put it on his head.  "See, dent!"

"Do you still have a fracture?"

"Possibly, I'm still dizzy when I dive."

"We're going to do a CT as well.  What's your usual doctor's name?"  Xander wrote it down for him and he nodded, handing that off.  "Thank you.  Think he's got an on-call?"

"Probably."

"Good.  Then we'll hopefully be able to get a summary of your medical history."

"They don't know it all.  Ask."

"Okay.  Who hit you on the head?"

"Psycho stalker asshole.  Within my first month I had my first one.  I'm past ten now."

"Wonderful."  He smiled at him.  "How?"

"They liked my moves.  What can I say," he offered with a sweet grin.  "And I still never drank, never used, and never whored while I did it for nearly a year.  I just made a hell of a lot of money."

"Where was the head injury gotten?"

"Montreal.  Then my guardian, best friend, kinda dad who saved my ass from my real father and mother, drug me back to Miami since I was in Montreal after wandering off after a brutal rescue mission."

"Military service?" he asked hopefully.

"Homegrown.  Bad town I lived in."

"Ah.  Gangs?"

"Not quite, but nearly as bad."  The doctor nodded and got back to his shoulder.  "Can you do something so I can still swim?"

"Staples would help more than stitches, even with metal wire stitches.  It may not hold it as steady while you move."

"Then put in the metal stitches and I'll deal."  The doctor looked at him.  He pointed at his side. "I saw my guts.  I've had them before."

The doctor looked, then nodded, leaving it there and getting the bullet out.  He got the stitching supplies once he had rinsed it out then got to work.  At the end, Xander got up and signed paperwork, taking his antibiotics prescription and leaving.  The doctor looked at the nurse and shrugged.  "Some abuse survivors are that hard.  It shows how bad it was."  He finished the chart and handed it over.  Someone came in with a badge and he looked at the older man. "Yes?  Which one of our present problems are yours, Detective?"

"Harris?"  The nurse handed over the chart.  "Where is he?"

"Gone.  He had me put in metal stitches, took his antibiotic, and left," the doctor noted.  "I did set him an appointment for a CT to check on his skull fracture since he mentioned he's diving now."

"He's...."

"Diving and swimming.  He requested metal stitches so he wouldn't have a problem with that.  Was he a suspect?"

"Victim."  He looked at the folder, then at him.  "Can I get a copy of this?"  He held up the slip of paper that was inside it. "I don't think he'll mind."

"When did that get in there?" the nurse asked, looking at it.

"His CT is tomorrow at six," the doctor told him, handing over that slip.

"I'll tell him."  He took it and the photocopies and the slip, heading back to the hotel where Danny was still ranting.  He found Xander there and handed over the slip.  "Six. Tomorrow."

"Okay."

"I've already told Horatio."

"Okay."  He nodded, laying down on his bed.  He looked at Danny.  "I love you guys.  Next time, don't let psychos in my room please?"

"You bit him!" Danny said.

"He had a gun on you!  It's not like I had one."  He sat up and took off his jacket.  "Guys, if we're having a party, I've got to be up and coherent at eight to get there by ten."  Mac and Danny both glared at him. "Oh, bite me," he said dryly.  "How do you think I did this on my own?"  He set the alarm clock and laid back down. "I can sleep with the light on.  Was he one of my fanclub or Don's?"

"Mine actually," Danny admitted.  "My stupid brother."

"Glad I'm an only child," Xander joked, closing his eyes with a smirk.  "Can we kick his ass again for breaking into my room?"

"No, he's in police custody, Xander," Mac said quietly.

"Okay, just checking.  Night."  He flipped onto his uninjured side and got comfortable, falling asleep that way.

Danny and Mac shared a look, then Mac went into the hall to call Miami.  The only ones who handled Xander with any skill or efficiency were Horatio and Speed.  "Speed, Mac," he said pleasantly.  "Did you know your boy liked to bite?"  He smirked and leaned against the wall.  "No, a member of Danny's family was breaking into Xander's room to confront Danny and held a gun on Xander.  He bit him on the wrist.  No, not fully fine, metal stitches.  He got pushy with the doc.  I've got photocopies to add and he's got a CT tomorrow at six.  Sure.  I can make one of them go with him to strap him down for you.  Asleep."

Danny came out to take the phone.  "He's fine.  It ricocheted.  Fairly weak.  Oh, he said to tell Eric that his version of a diet sucked and he's faster without it.  He also impressed the lifeguard who's on his CUNY swim team.  The kid asked him if he was going olympic.  Yeah, the kid was in awe.   Yeah, well, he's complaining about the extra muscles he's got too, says he needs a bra."   He smirked at Mac, taking the file.  "No, blood's clean.  Totally clean.  Nope.  Not that I saw.  Sure.  Tomorrow when Don gets him again.  Have fun telling the big guy."  He hung up and handed it back.  "Ya think the kid's tired of being babied yet?"

"Probably.  I would be."  He walked in.  "Anything of interest?"

"Nah.  Some blood.  My brother was stupid.  Xander didn't draw blood off him.  It was kinda cute.  He was pointing the gun at Xander and lookin' at me so Xander bit the wrist with the gun."  Mac smirked at that.  "He's a great kid and he'd make one bad cop.  Impulsive and mouthy.  Just like Flack."  He went to call Flack to warn him.

***

Speed knocked on Horatio's door, then walked in since he was alone anyway. "Horatio?"  He came out of the kitchen.  "Come sit with me for a moment."

"What happened?" he sighed.  He was forcefully sat down and looked at.  "What?"

"Danny was waiting on Xander to put up his swimming stuff, and he said that Eric's diet was making him bulky and slow, and Danny's brother showed up to kill Danny.  Well, he pulled the gun on Xander, looked at Danny, and Xander bit him.  It was a ricochet," he offered.  "Danny said it's not deep.  Mac has a copy of the records and Xander pulled his usual shit, got pushy with the doctor, and had him put in metal stitches before walking out.  But he's good.  It was fairly shallow. He impressed the lifeguard at the hotel who's on his own swim team, he asked Xander if he was training for the olympics."  Horatio moaned and held his head. "He's fine, he's got a CT tomorrow to check on his skull fractures.  Danny and Mac both sounded tolerant and happy so it was Xander as ususal from Sunnydale as opposed to babied Xander that Eric does."

Horatio looked at him.  "Why does he do these things?"

"I haven't been able to figure that out in three years, Horatio.  When I do, I'll let you know.  They said that he's fine."

"Good.  That's good.  I'm not happy at the moment."

Speed nodded.  "Now you know how I felt in Sunnydale watching him go out and hunt.  Willow used to stitch him.  She's the one who did the one on his side.  She told me she could see his guts before she stitched him."

"Why?"

"I don't know.  He refused to tell me," he admitted. "That was right before I got there though and he still didn't trust me at that time.  But he's asleep and that thing with the guys who kept giving him presents was fixed."  Horatio looked at him, mouth opening.  "Ah, you didn't check your email."  He walked over to Horatio's computer and logged into his account, since the password was automatically uploaded.  Then he clicked on the message and walked out, closing the door behind him so he could go home.

Horatio hesitated but eventually got up to read how Xander had fixed this one.  He read it once, then went back and reread it again, slower this time so it'd make sense.  Then he printed it and walked back, going back to their laundry.  That way no one could overhear him cursing his mate.  Thankfully said mate wasn't going to be home for a few more days so he had time to quit swearing at him.  Providing he stayed out of trouble.

***

Xander sat down in Don's car and his head rocked with the smack to it.  "Love you too," he said, grinning at him. "I'm fine."

"I'm sure you are."  He smacked him again.  "Dumbass."

"I had left mine in the room.  He had a gun.  Did you want me to scream like a little girl?"

"Yes!  Please!  You man has got to be gray by now with the way you do shit!"

Xander looked at him.  "I'm not allowed out of anyone's sight down there."

"Yeah, well, you're not up here anymore either.  Even if I do have to cancel my date tonight."

"You cancel your date to watch me at swim practice and I will drown your ass and attempt CPR."

"If you even *think* about kissing me, I'm going to kick your ass."

"See, then you're going on your date so you can kiss normal people, and take Danny with you."  He spluttered and choked on his coffee.  "What?  Not with Danny?"  His head now ached from the newest hit.  "Hey!  I still have a CT tonight for the stupid fractures!"

"They let you swim with skull fractures?"

"They think they're healed.  Emphasis on think since I'm still dizzy when I dive."

"You're dizzy most of the time, Xander, that's why you bit some guy who had a gun!"

"On Danny, thank you!  And it was his brother."

"'Scuse me?" he asked, looking at him.  Xander nodded.  "Danny's brother?"  He nodded again.  "Why was he in your room?"

"Not a clue, I was hanging up my bathing suit to dry in the bathroom.  I came out and he was threatening Danny.  I drew his attention, he told me to shut up, pointed the gun at me and looked at Danny, so I bit him.  I didn't draw blood.  It was a really shallow wound and only ten stitches."  He moved his shirt out of the way to show him.  "See?"  He put it back in place.  "We're gonna be late."

"Fine.  We'll get into this later, when you take me to lunch for this."

"Won't your boss be upset?"

"No. Mac told him about the shooting and you checking out AMA."

"They never said they wanted to keep me," he defended.

"And that you've got a CT tonight at six."

"Yeah, and I can go alone."

"And my boss said you're not getting out of my sight because trouble seems to follow you so therefore you can do some of the work for me."

"I can type."

Don looked at him.  "I just had this horrible image of you in a secretarial outfit taking dictation and flirting with my boss.  Don't give me those."  He started the car and pulled out, heading for the bank.  He watched Xander check everything then loaded it into the car and took him to the auction house, where he got him to the door then went back to the car.  Where he called Mac to get the full story.  Because if that was true, he and Danny needed to have a short, loud discussion.

Xander came out about an hour later with only one box and he looked at him.  "They didn't like these.  I don't like these but they didn't like them."  He handed them over.  "Here, use them on a special girlfriend tonight."  He buckled up.  "I'm done so wherever you need to be, can you just drop me near Di's place?"

"What part of protected custody didn't you get?"

"The custody part?" he suggested.  Don's hand twitched so he grinned at him and got smacked again.  "I love you too, big brother.  Let's go see my son.  Unless you wanna go hide now."

"No, I don't need ta hide," he assured him, heading for the designer's place.  "You might need to before you go home."

"Why?"

"Mac called Speed."

"Fuck," he grumbled, glaring out the front window.  "That's okay.  Willow's down there for a visit.  She'll make Horatio forget.  Possibly literally, probably by accident, but he'll be much less worried about me when he meets her."

Don looked at him.  "I should warn him."

"She's already jumped Tim by now," he promised.  "Willow's a morning person."

"I feel so sorry for them at the moment.  We only have you and they've got her."  He considered it.  "Never mind, I'd almost rather have her at the moment.  She doesn't do stupid shit like you, right?"

"Willow?  No, why would she?" he asked cautiously.  "You know, I can walk to Di's."

"You try to get away and I'm handcuffing and keeping you out of the pool, kid.  Speaking of which, can you swim like that?"

"Yeah, I'll just be a bit sore.  Why?"

Don groaned and shook his head, speeding up to get to their next destination.  When they got there, Xander gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  "Thanks, kid.  Go play."

"I love you, big brother.  I'm sorry you get stuck with me."  He headed inside.  "I'm here!" he yelled.  "Who'm I playing with today!"

"The bratty thing up here," Diana called from her office. "Who's teething!"

He trotted up the stairs.  "You know, I offered to bring him home with me," he said brightly, smiling at her.  He smiled at the baby, earning a grin back.  "Hi, Eric.  Are your gums owwy?" he cooed, picking him up to cuddle him and let him suck on his finger.  "You just suck on the daddy person and it'll be all good."

"He's not...."

"And I'm the damn tooth fairy, Di."  He stared at her and she wilted.  "Visitation, honey.  At the least.  I know damn well he's my son.  I have pictures of me making that same face."  She nodded and sighed.  "Good!  So, come open a shop in Miami so I can visit him more often!"

"Have you been pimping me down there?"

"Yeah, all the time.  Plus I know a hell of a lot of strippers down there.  We make a lot of money with the gay boy draw."

She considered it. "I'll see."  He nodded and sat down to read to his son, making him smile and continue to chew on him. "You don't have anything, right?"

"No, dear.  I've taken bi-monthly tests to make sure of it so I can't give anything nasty to my man."

"Oh, good."  She nodded, going back to work.  Finally she had to look up.  "You can take him back to your hotel if you want.  He's distracting me horribly."

"Sure.  Diaper bag of stuff?"  She pushed a button and repeated that, and one was brought by her girlfriend.  He grinned at her.  "Hi, Beatrice."

"Hi, Xander."  She kissed him on the cheek, then the baby.  "Carseat?"  He nodded.  "I can do that and walk you out.  He should be good for you."  She watched him get up and carefully take the baby down the stairs, her following.  She looked at him.  "You know, huh?"  He nodded.  "Damn."

"Open a shop in Miami so I can see him more often," he ordered gently.  "There's plenty of business and we're one of the clubbing capitals of the world."  She nodded. "Besides, everyone at the PD down there has seen my clothes. They're using 'Xander-tight' as an adjective."  She smiled at that. "Think about it, okay?"

"Yes, dear."  She got the carseat from behind the reception desk and walked him out, smiling at the humming detective.  "Hi, Don."

"Hi, Bea."  He smiled at the baby.  "Hi, Eric."  The baby babbled at him and Xander got in the back with him.  "What, do I have cooties now?"

"He's teething."

"Ah."  He nodded and started the car once the door was closed.  "We got diapers and stuff, right?"  Xander nodded.  "Good."  He drove them off.  "Park or hotel?"

"Hotel.  He's teething.   I'm an Eric chew toy."  He grinned at the baby.  "Aren't I?  I'm an Eric chew toy."  He teased the little belly and the baby squealed and kicked, smiling at him. "You just wanted out of the office to play, young man.  That doesn't surprise me, you were bored because there were no toys and nothing to play with.  Well I can cure that."   The baby bopped along with the music.  "Yes, you're a good boy, Eric."  The baby grinned back at him and he stroked down his nose, then played with his fingers.  "You're a very good boy and never let anyone tell you otherwise, Eric," he said quietly. "That's an order from Daddy.  You're a very good boy and you'll always be a good boy, no matter what you do."  Eric pulled his finger back to chew on, smiling at him.  "I'm good with you chewing.  After all, I bit someone last night."

Don grinned back at the picture.  He was learning a lot more about the real Xander and not the Xander sex toy that Horatio had the last trip.  Xander did a lot of what was necessary instead of what was technically correct.  He pulled up and parked at the hotel, coming around to take the carseat out so the kid would have somewhere to sit and eat in later.  Xander got the diaper bag and the receptionist gave them a funny look.  "Visitation."  She nodded and smiled at them.  "Playpen?"

"He'll be fine, Don.  He's a good boy.  He can nap with me."  Don nodded and they headed up to play with the baby.

***

At that moment in Miami, Willow presented herself at the reception desk. "Hi, I'm here to visit Timothy Speedle.  Is he busy?"

"I can check," she offered with a smile.  She called.   "Speedle, you have a visitor.  Young woman.  I don't know."  She hung up and smiled at her, the bright smile infectious.  This one wasn't high on anything but life.  "Do you know his son?"

She nodded, bouncing a bit.  "I'm his bestest buddy Willow."  She beamed back at that.  Tim came into view and she ran over, launching herself at him. "Tim!"

"Willow," he said, prying her off his neck and putting her down.  "Why are you in Miami?"

"Because I wanted to come visit the beach for a few days until Xander got back and then I can visit him. Mom said it's okay because the school's shut down for the rest of the semester since half of it caved in when we blew up the demon hunting base," she said happily, beaming at him.  "Buffy's dating a Marine."  She smiled at the others.  "Hi."  She waved.  "I'm Willow."

Frank Tripp looked at her.  "I never would'a guessed," he offered, smiling at Horatio.  "So, are you an ex as well as a friend?"

"Well, at one time I wished I was but no.  Xander didn't like me because I was too nice and too clingy, but we did kiss those few times but we were kinda cheating, or well, I was because I was dating Oz, and he's in Tibet by now, but Xander was being cheated on anyway so it wasn't really *cheating* since his girlfriend Cordelia wasn't faithful."  She took a breath and Speed covered her mouth with his hand.

"Slow down.  You have time to explain the full story to everyone who wants to hear it."  He smiled and nodded so she nodded and bounced a bit, looking at Eric.

"Xander said he had a boyfriend.  Is it you?"

"No. I'm working on his training for the swim team at college."  He pointed at Horatio.  "That's his boyfriend."

She walked over and looked at him, tipping her head first one way then the other.  Then she hugged him.  "If you hurt him, I will beat you to death with a very heavy shovel and then pound you into a greasy spot magically.  Everyone will have to wonder where that spot came from by the time I'll be done with you."  She let him go and stepped back, still smiling.  "But of course you'd never hurt the Xander, right?"

"I try very hard not to.  He does mean a lot to me."

"Do you love him?"

"This isn't the place for this discussion."

"Mr. Cranky Pants, if you don't answer me, you're going to be in a rain of lizards," she said with a bright grin.  "Literally."

"Not frogs?" Calleigh asked.

"Frog phobia," Willow admitted, grinning at her. "You must be his stepmom.  He wrote me about you."  She hugged her too.  "The same goes for you if you hurt Tim.  Heavy shovel, greasy spot, all that."  She smiled at Horatio again.  "So, do you love him?"

"I do," he agreed quietly.

"Good.  Because Xander deserves someone who's willing to shout it from the rooftops as well as pound it into the thick Xander-skull of cluelessness and stupidity.  'Cause sometimes he needs it.  And if you do it for him, then I'm good with that. Oh, and if you die, I'd expect to be brought back one way or another.  I will not see Xander hurt.  Ever.  By anyone."   She stared him down and he nodded at that.  "Good!  Then we should chat!"  She took his arm and walked him off, letting him steer her toward the office, babbling the whole way.

"The scary thing is, that's a low-key Willow," Speed said, slumping some and shaking his head.  "I'd go save him but I'm not that brave."  He looked at Frank.  "No convenient bodies?"

"Nope."

"Damn.  Calleigh, she'll be done terrorizing him soon.  I'd run with me this time."

"All there of us can go. He's marrying Xander, he can put up with his friends."  She called dispatch herself.  "Hi, this is CSI Dusquene.  Is there any call for any of us?"  She snickered. "No, one of Xander's friends just showed up."  She nodded and wrote down the address. "I'll take that.  Have me, Speedle, and Delko reporting there within fifteen.  Thank you!"  She hung up.  "Robbery."

"Yes!" Speed said, going to grab his kit and head for the hummer.  The others joined him before anyone could realize they were escaping.

That's why they got to miss Ryan coming in to beg for something to do while he healed.  He walked up to the office and tapped on the door.  "Horatio?" he asked when it opened. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, one of Xander's friends is here, Ryan.  Come on in."  He let him inside.  "Willow Rosenburg, this is Ryan Wolfe, one of my CSIs and he's trying to figure out why Xander attracts the wrong sort of person."

"It's a Xander thing," she sighed.  "I have *so* many stories of bad Xander dates."  Ryan perked up at that.  "You wanna hear them?  Horatio said his past is his past, as long as it doesn't come back to try to kidnap him again, but I know someone down here needs to know.  Otherwise Xander will start doing stupid stuff, like biting the vampires who're trying to bite him back."

"No, he bit the gunman who was trying to hurt him last night," Horatio noted dryly.

She nodded.  "Yeah, that's a Xander thing to do."  She gave Ryan her most perky smile. "Are you okay?  You look really tired."

"I had a bomb embedded in my chest a few weeks back.  They won't let me come back to work for another three weeks."

She got up and pulled his shirt away, peeking down it with a small blush.  "Don't mean to intrude but I do a mean healing spell."  She sat him down on the couch and took his shirt off him, then the bandage, getting down on her knees in front of him, hand nearly touching the wound.  She closed her eyes and reached for the local power, feeling the calm, strong, watery, good power that was around her.  "Wow, you guys have nice feeling power around here."  She started to work the spell, weaving it around him and through him.  She concentrated on just healing him, not improving him or anything, just healing him, and when she finished she looked at his chest. It had an icky scar but it was closed.  She pressed gently around it.  "Any pain?"  He shook his head slowly. "Seriously.  Any at all?"

"No.  It's good."

She beamed.  "The power is so much easier to work with around here.  It's so much easier to not make mistakes.  Has Xander ever told you about the time I accidentally changed him into a girl while I had PMS and I was wanting someone to commiserate with and he was the only one around?"  He slowly shook his head.  "Then we should do that while you wait for your doctor to see you, just to make sure you can come back to work."   He smiled at her.  "Please?  Horatio thinks I'm a flake."

"No, I think you're hyper.  Don't put words in my mouth, Willow."  She looked at him and he nearly shivered at the touch of power in her eyes.  It was driving her slowly insane.  "Thank you for healing Ryan.  You do know that Xander won't be back for another four days?"

She beamed and nodded and the scary parts were gone again.  "I was planning on meeting you and talking with you, and the new stepmom to the group, the nice blonde woman who gives good hugs, and talking to her, and then I was going to get a tan because Sunnydale's been a lot of rain recently. Then I'll pounce the Xander. He's swimming again?"

"He is, he's trying out for the college team.  They think he's going be very good.  Eric Delko is working on his training for the moment until he can join the team."

"They were running to a scene when I came in," Ryan admitted.

"Poo.  I guess I'll have to corner them later."  She smiled at him.  "I can tell you all you want about Xander and his skills at picking the wrong guy until this one.  Of course, if he's scary then he's right up Xander's alley but I know he'd never hurt him because he knows I can make him suffer before I turn him into a greasy spot with a big, heavy shovel."  Then she smiled sweetly at him.  "Don't you?"

"I figure you could.  Ryan, why don't you show Miss Rosenburg around today, that way you have something to do until your doctor clears you."

"Sure, Horatio, thank you.  This'll help my research a lot."  He looked at her as he walked her out, putting back on his shirt.  "I've been analyzing Xander while he stripped to see if there's a pattern to why he pulled the mentally unstable people he did."

"Really?  Is he any good?"

"Yeah, he made half a million dollars his last night, when he walked out with Horatio to prove he was quitting."

She stopped him, looking at him. "I tell you what you want about Xander, you tell me what I want about Horatio and the pretty blonde woman who hugs."

"Okay," he agreed, smiling at her. She was really easy to like.  "So, how did you do that?"

"Magic."

"Huh.  Can you quantify that?"

She nodded and beamed. "Yes, actually I can."  She bounced a bit. "I've been doing that for a while now with my computer skills.  I'm kinda the techie witch."  He smiled and they continued out.

"I pity that man," Yelina said from her hiding spot.

"Better him than us," Frank told her.  "Xander grew up with her.  She babbles worse than him on Jolt."  She pinched so he looked at her. "He does."

"He does," she agreed.  They headed to make sure Horatio was still alive.

He was on the phone with someone named Fredro talking about Willow and her sanity.  He was taking notes about how to help her if she stayed, then he hung up and looked at them.  "Yes, that was Willow, as in part of the trio of Buffy, Willow, and Xander.  She's in town for at least another five days.  She'll be talking with Xander when he gets back.  She also just healed Mr. Wolfe's injuries totally.  I saw her do it.  My friend Fredro said she's only mildly dangerous to the world at the moment and it can be fixed as long as she never goes back there.  Apparently her college is having a small vacation since half of it caved in after they blew up a secret military project that was torturing demons and other things without caring if they hunted or not. If I should suddenly disappear, talk to her.  Please."  They both nodded at that and walked off, going to find somewhere far away from the girl to be.

"Can we get Xander to call her and tell her to leave him alone?" he asked her.

"No.  It won't work.  Your best friend will always hurt the person you love if they hurt you."

"So that's what happened to Stetler when he hit you?"

She smiled at him. "Ray Jr. stopped me from going for my gun.  He called him. I wouldn't have let his body be found."  Frank smiled at her then behind her.  She looked at her husband.  "Raymond."

"Yelina.  Would you like to go to lunch with me?"

"We'll see.  I still have an hour."

"Go, I can cover and take the later one today.  The rookie can do his share of the work for a change," he promised.  She nodded and went with him.  "Learn the lesson, Ray," he warned.  "If you hurt her, it may be Horatio, it may be Xander, or it may be your son, but one of them will get you for it."  He let him go, smiling at his back.  "Or maybe he'll just ask Willow to do it for him. Change him into something cute and furry and give his son a pet."  He smiled as he went back to his desk.  "Yelina just got taken to lunch, next case is yours, rookie."

"Yes, Detective Tripp," he said politely.  "When is the Harris boy coming back?"

"Few days.  Why? You wanna start stalking him now too?"

He looked at him. "No!  I'm not some vile pervert.  It just seems that Lieutenant Caine is happier with him around and things seem to go smoother when he's happier."

Frank looked at him. "Ever heard any of the rumors about the Wrath of Caine that started after Speedle died?"  He slowly shook his head.  "You should ask some of the patrol guys about that.  There's a reason for the phenomenon you've witnessed.  It's called fear of the Wrath of Caine."  He grinned.  "Don't worry, in a few years you'll be able to tell when there's a storm coming from him and take cover.  It only took me ten years and Yelina six.  Xander seemed to catch it within hours."  The rookie moaned. "Don't worry, you'll make it that long as long as you don't piss off Horatio, especially about his boy.  Or his hummer.  Or his team really.  Those're the only three things that the Wrath of Caine comes out about."

"Not funny, Frank," Horatio yelled as he headed for the break room.  He came back with a diet soda and a picture.  "From Xander.  The other Eric in his life."

"Oh my god!  That is his kid," he said, staring at it, then at Horatio.  "Are you okay with this?"

"Pissed.  She's keeping him from seeing him most of the time but he's teething and she's trying to work so he's got him the whole day."  He handed the rookie the soda.  "You'll need it.  The next case is in a butcher's shop, someone carved up a customer and tried to feed it to people.  Let's go.  Now."  He nodded, popping open the soda to take in on the way to hopefully keep things down.

"Apparently the boy doesn't do nauseous very often.  He'll learn with some of the scenes we get around here."  He smiled at the picture.  "He's a cute little guy.  He's a little mini- Xander."  He grinned at that and tucked it next to his computer for now.  Maybe he'd get to see what a normal Xander was like with the kid around now and then.  Either that or they'd see that hyper-protective Xander that Yelina nicknamed Xander Caine.  'Cause Horatio could be such a bad influence on the boy, making him all serious and wear suits now and then.  His email beeped and he opened it, finding a message that had been forwarded last night.  He read the declaration, chucking at it.  That was so cute!  Maybe it'd stop the next one before they had to go to Ryan to find an antidote for Xander Syndrome.  He still thought it was a genetic thing.  The same thing that made all those guys alpha dogs and pains in the ass to deal with made them vulnerable to Xander.  Which was why Horatio was snared and he wasn't.  He was an alpha dog, but not like that guy.  No one out-alpha'd Horatio Caine, even on his mildest and happiest days. As many federal agents had found out the hard way.

***

Xander looked up from his reading the next morning and got the phone, smiling at the tired voice on the other end.  "Did you want him back?  No, he's napping beside me.  He got worn out by the cartoons," he said quietly.  His son blinked up at him.  "Never mind, he's up.  Good morning, Eric," he cooed, smiling at him.  "Did you have a good nap?"  His son scooted over and laid on his stomach.  "Sure, you go back to it, little guy."  He went back to the phone.  "Sorry, he's going back to it.  Up to you, Beatrice.  You know I don't mind."  He grinned.  "Sure."  He hung up and stroked over the baby's head, making him a happy, sleepy baby, and went back to his reading.  He thought about calling Horatio but he was probably on a scene or Willow was bothering him. Since he was content to sit and read, they could work and he'd call later that night to talk to his mate.  The next time the phone rang, he got it faster. "Harris."  He smiled.  "Well, actually I'm visiting with my son, but I can do that.  Sure!"  He grinned.  "Yup, within an hour.  Was there a problem?"  He beamed.  "Good for me then."  He hung up and called his lawyer.

"I may get to come back earlier.  They had a private client who wanted some stuff like mine and he bid more than my asking price. We're going to do that right now.  Thank you."  He hung up and wiggled free, getting dressed and then pulling out an outfit for his son.  He got the sleepy boy dressed and ready to go, thanking his mothers for picking one of those car seats with a handle.  Everything got put back together and he strapped the baby in, carrying him down to the lobby.  He noticed someone looking at his back and adjusted the gun, shrugging a bit.  "I'm under security watch. I've got a license."  She nodded at that.  "Cab?"  The doorman got one for him and he got in, strapping the baby in the back.  "Christies, please."  It wasn't a long ride and the baby mostly slept through it so he was a happy daddy at the moment.  He paid and tipped, then got the baby out and inside, smiling at the waiting guard.  "I didn't feel like leaving the gun there," he said quietly, showing it to him.  "Not with the way I almost got broken into last night."

"I understand.  Our receptionist can watch the baby for you."

Xander shook his head.  "I've only got him for visitation.  Besides, he's asleep."  He smiled and walked back to the office with the guard, nodding at the woman helping him.  "Hi."

"I didn't know you had a son," she said, smiling and shaking his hand.

"Yup.  News ta me the last time I showed up.  This is Eric.  His mother is still trying to claim his father's some whore she picked up one night."  She blushed at that.  "Sorry, I'm a bit blunt most of the time.  I save socially polite for when my boyfriend has to smooze for his job."

She smiled and nodded.  "I can understand that.  Well, we need to know if you'll accept his bid, Xander."

"Was it over the price you were expecting?"

"Just at what we were expecting, but over the starting price."  Xander shrugged and nodded.  "Now the Dubai estate and all that will still have to go up.  I talked with the lawyer you've had working on this for you and the legal representative over there.  They have no problem with this.  They wanted to know if you still had those handcuffs because I mentioned you had them."

"I gave them to Detective Flack since you guys didn't want them and they only hold bad memories for me."

"That's understandable.  Do you think he'd mind?"  He shrugged.  "Do you have his number?"  He looked it up and showed it to her, letting her write it down.  "I'll offer him the chance to auction them off.  No fee if they don't get sold of course."  She looked at the papers in front of her, then at him again.  "That took care of the majority of the jewelry, all but the pieces in that estate.  Those will all be going together next month. You don't have to show up for that auction if you don't want but it could facilitate doing things easier without multiple phone calls."  Xander nodded. "You already planned on it?"  He grinned and nodded.  "Okay.  Is your boyfriend coming up at that time?"

"He's going to try.  Work allowing."

"What does he do?"

"He's a Lieutenant with the Miami-Dade PD."

"Oh.  So you really save socially polite chat for his bosses," she offered with a smile.

He gave her a sheepish grin.  "I want him to go as far up as he wants to go.  I know the present Chief likes him and he knows what I was so it's all good so far.  I figure I can only make people happy that I make him happy."  She nodded, pushing over some forms.  He looked and blinked.  "That's a ....really a whole lot."

"It is."  She smiled at him.  "Most people who see it for the first time have that sudden thought of the old Richie Rich cartoon and him swimming in it."

"You can't swim through money, it slows you down and it'd hurt a lot more than water to dive into."  He grinned at her. "I'm trying out for my school's swim team."

"Excellent. Do you hope to go into the more professional levels, like the olympics?"

"I don't know yet.  I'm going to let my coach tell me if I have it at the end of the semester, after he's had four months to watch me train and watch my progress."  He shifted and rubbed his shoulder.  "Small injury the other day."

"I understand professional sports can be quite painful on your joints."  He moved his shirt and she gaped.  "What happened?"

"One of my buddy's brothers broke into my room to *talk* with him," he said dryly.  "I bit the gunhand to make him drop the gun.  It ricocheted.  It's not a bad one.  Fairly shallow.  But it's definitely making my breaststroke feel really interesting."  She shivered at that.  "My friends all yelled that I bit him."

She nodded.  "I would too.  That's dangerous!"

"That's kinda like my former life though," he admitted dryly.  "Before I was a stripper and I found psychos liked me more than usual."  She nodded and got back to the paperwork.  "I called my attorney before I got into the cab, he's setting up the stuff for the trust.  Will I have a lag?"

"I don't know.  If you accept his offer, he's going to wire the money tonight, which means we can deposit it for you tomorrow."  She called his attorney for him.  "Hi, this is Cheline with Christie's again.  Is he in?"  She smiled.  "Thank you.  We're going over the offer right now."

Xander looked at it.  "I don't care if he breaks the pieces up.  As far as I know none of them were anything but new.  This one piece," he said, pointing at it.  "Why that one specifically?"

"He said he bought it for you and his wife liked it."  She shrugged.  "That happens sometimes with these sort of sales."  She listened to the set up plans for the proceeds.  "He's buying the greater majority tonight and wiring the money for them.  That means we could deposit it tomorrow for him.  Can you get it set up that fast?"  She bit her bottom lip while she thought. "That's really against protocol so we can't be held liable for it.  Our insurance company hates it."  She grimaced.  "Well, I can have a check cut for him and have him fly it back.  He could lock it in a safety deposit box up here while he's in town."  She nodded slowly.  "No, the greater majority of this one and then the estate and the few remaining pieces would be during the other auction.  They've been transferred into our custody but not examined yet."  She nodded.  "Well, those handcuffs went to a Detective Flack," she admitted. "I didn't think we could sell those."

"He's like my big brother," Xander offered.

"Xander said he's like his big brother.  Don?"  Xander nodded.  "Yes, Don."  She smiled at Xander and the baby.  "He's adorable," she told the lawyer.  "No, he's got visitation at the moment."  Xander's phone rang and he retreated into the hall with the baby.  "He's getting full expected price for it. No, one of the gifters.  He's the gentleman who sent the spiral pin.  His wife liked it and he's buying the rest for her collection."   She smiled. "It's been known to happen in our history.  Mistresses and the like do tend to bring that sort of attention.  No, I hadn't realized he hadn't slept with them.  They sent these level of gifts without ....."  She looked stunned.  "Well.  They certainly liked him.  No wonder it upset his fiance so much.  Of course.  Thank you, Neil.  Of course.  You have a good day and tell me if you get it set up by late tomorrow.  That way I can have the check cut the next day and sent to a local bank to hold for him.  Of course.  Thank you."  She hung up. "Xander?"  He came back and handed over the phone.  "Hello?  No, this is Cheline at Christies.  No, I was told that Mr. Harris gave you those handcuffs as a gift and it seems that someone may be interested in them so I was wondering if you wanted to auction them off with the rest of his things.  No, he's said that they're yours."  Xander nodded at that.  "So you could do that on your own.  No, if they didn't sell you wouldn't be liable for any fees.  If they did, they'd be your profits.  Xander has said he gifted them to you so they're yours."

"I told him to use them on his girlfriend actually," Xander admitted dryly.  Eric yawned and blinked at him, then squealed.  "Hi, Eric."  He got him free of the car seat and held him in his lap, rubbing noses with him.  "How is Eric?"  Eric hugged him.  "I love you too."  He patted him on the back and reached down into the diaper bag, pulling out a bottle.  "Want some liquid lunch before we get the real stuff?"  The baby grabbed the bottle and sucked happily, content to be held for now.  He grinned at her.  "I make a good daddy."

"You do, you make a very attentive father, Xander."  She smiled at the voice on the other end.  "If you want.  No, he's here at the moment, sitting across from me. He had a serious offer for the majority of what he brought me."  She smiled at that.  "Thank you, Detective Flack.  Yes, I can be here and keep him here safely.  We still have some paperwork to finish for the sale.  Thank you."  She hung up and tossed the phone back, watching him catch it.  "He seems very nice."

"He is but he has the worst luck dating.  Nearly as bad as mine."  She blushed at that so he grinned.  "I have ta try for my big brother.  He deserves a nice girl.  One who'll appreciate his sense of humor."

She blushed brighter.  "I'm taken but my assistant isn't and I'll introduce them for you, Xander."  She pulled out a few more forms and pushed them over.  "Would you like me to hold him while you look that over?"

"He's probably going to need changed after this," he offered.  She shrugged so he carefully stood up and transferred over the baby, then sat down to look at the forms.  Don came in a few minutes later and he showed him the summary page, getting a long stare.  He nodded and got back to work reading and signing, then letting her sign them.  She smiled and handed back the baby.  "Oooh, someone needs a diaper change," he said, poking him on the belly.  The baby cackled at that.  "Yeah, I'll change you on the way out, little guy.  Give Xander a few minutes, okay?"  The baby went back to sucking down his lunch.

"He doesn't eat solids yet?"

"He does, I just don't have any.  We had oatmeal for breakfast and half my scrambled eggs.  The baby eats like me too."  Don laughed at that.  "So, now what?"

"Well, your attorney said he'd be able to have it set up in two days.  If so, I can hold off cutting that check that long.  If not, I'll have to send you back down with a physical check and have him deposit it that way."  He nodded, accepting that. "If we have to do that last one, we can have it sitting in a bank, safely stored until right before you have to leave.  I'm sure the Police Department had plans to escort him?"

"Just his buddies but we've played bodyguard for him before.  I did on the way in."  She smiled at that.  "Any other orders?"

"No, not yet.  We'll know more when he finds out if he can set this up that quickly.  That'll be the deciding factor."  She smiled at him.  "Let me lead him to the bathroom so he can change the little guy and I get the forms notarized by my supervisor."  She got up and led them out there, the folder covering the new wet spot on her.  "Delilah, this is Detective Flack.  He'll be here helping Mr. Harris with his auction.  Can you keep him entertained while Mr. Harris changes his son and I have this notarized?"  She nodded and smiled at Don, who grinned back.  Xander snuck away to change his son and her boss only gave her an odd look for a moment.  "I was having baby envy," she admitted.  "He's an adorable little boy.  His father has visitation with him right now."

"That's fine."  He signed the last form and stamped it, then handed it back.  "There you go."

"Thank you, sir."  She went back, going back to her desk.  Xander came back a moment later and she winked.  "You're all done with me for the day.  I'll call you in two days to make sure we have everything."  He nodded and stood up, shaking her hand.  Then he got the baby strapped back in, his bottle still possessively held, and the diaper bag picked up.  "You have fun with him."

"I plan on buying a backpack system for him and we're going to go ring looking for my fiance."  He grinned and walked out, sliding behind Don.  He made it all the way to the door before his buddy caught up.  "I could've given you time to chat with her."

"I got her number."  He nudged him and grinned.  "Subtle, thank you."  He opened the door and let Xander in, smiling as he hitched in the baby.  "When does he go back?"  Xander shrugged.  "She hasn't demanded?"

"No, and Beatrice called to ask me to keep him for most of today too.  Apparently Di needed a break and they wanted uninterrupted sex.  He's going to be a voyeur."  Don chuckled at that and got in once the traffic let him.  Xander locked the back door and slid into the front.  "Okay, I'm going to refill his diaper bag, get him a stomach carrier.  Pop back to the hotel for lunch and to check in with my man and everyone, make sure Willow hasn't turned anyone to lizards or kitties, and then go ring looking this afternoon."

"Leave the gun if you're going ring looking, kid."  He started the car and checked the baby, turning on the radio.  That got a coo and he grinned, heading to take Xander to a place where he could get baby stuff.  "You tell them yet that you've got visitation this time?"

"Nope, not yet.  I was letting them get the Willow headaches out of the way because they're not used to babbling people.  She's excited so she's on level four of babble probably.  That means Tim's going to have a hard time understanding it."

"Wonderful.  We only get a few of those a year."  He parked the car and they got out, him getting the baby before Xander could.  "My turn, greedy."

"Fine, you carry his big, heavy butt this time.  That carrier weighs a ton."  Don nodded but carried the baby inside.  Xander grinned at the saleswoman.  "I've got a long visitation."

"He's adorable!  It's great to see male couples helping out when they donate to lesbian mothers."

"We're not together," Don assured her, showing his badge.

"He's like my big brother.  My man's at home."  She grinned at that and he went to look for diapers first.  "Okay," he said, pulling out one.  "What size is this?"

She looked and then at the packages, pointing at one.  "Probably that size."  He nodded and got that one and the next one up, just in case, making her smile.

"He's eating a lot," he offered with a shy grin.  He also got a few new outfits and the backpack system, which was going to bankrupt his shopping allowance this time.  He considered it and pulled out his main account debit card, handing it over.  "That way Horatio can't complain," he muttered, grinning a bit wickedly.  "He made me allot a shopping allowance."  She giggled at that and he signed the slip, then went to help the baby back into the car.  Don drove him back to the hotel so they could repack his diaper bag and drop off the extras, plus have lunch, then he let Don drive him downtown and drop him and the baby off so he could get back to work.  On the way, he called Calleigh.  "Is she still there bugging my man?"  He grinned.  "Thanks."

He hung up and called Horatio, who was in his office.  "Hi.  Eric and I are wandering around looking in windows."  He grinned.  "Yeah, I knew.  Oh, I don't know, Calleigh said she's still with Ryan.  So either they got groiny or..."  The baby squealed.  "Eric said hi."  He grinned at that. "No, I blatantly went in and demanded to see him, so I got him overnight and into today.  No, we're window looking at the moment.  No, mostly done.  We're waiting for some final paperwork to come through so I'll be home on time."  He blew a kiss.  "Right now I'm considering sneaking him out with me.  No, his momma had to work and Beatrice wanted time off, so I've had him since yesterday."  His phone beeped.  "Give me a sec, that's them."  He clicked over.  "Hi."  He listened.  "No, we're downtown looking at rings at the moment."  He heard Horatio's groan.  "Sorry, didn't know I had three-way calling.  I'll have to figure out how I did that.  Dear, you know you're getting one some day."  His 'come home first, Xander' was growled.

"You mean you don't want a pretty thing so I can mark you as mine?"  He smirked a bit as he rested against the front of a building.  "Well, dear, I was thinking about a nipple ring but Don said you don't go shirtless enough for anyone to see it.  So I was thinking something simple and nice, something that wouldn't get in the way at work...."  He rolled his eyes.  "Fine, we'll do that together.  Beatrice, when did you want Eric back?"  He looked down.  "No, he's presently napping against my stomach.  No, I bought a stomach snuggly thingy for him.  It's safer and less heavy and bulky than the car seat.  No, that's back at the hotel.  Don drove us around earlier.  No, we had lunch and breakfast, and now we're looking so I have some idea of what I want to get him.  I'd only buy it down there once I got money from the auction.  Of course, Horatio."

He shook his head and held it for a moment.  His man was so fussy.  "Horatio, dear, they can't complain if your man buys you a ring.  If they try, I'm kicking their asses, all of them.  Remember that.  Love you.  Watch out for Willow proving she's the badder ass if Ryan isn't getting groiny with her at the moment.  Love you guys.  Bea?"  He grinned. "Sure, I can keep him again tonight.  Not an issue.  Love you too."  He hung up then turned off his phone.  "I really need to figure out how I did that," he told his son, heading into the jewelry store he had been leaning against, his phone going back in his pocket.  He smiled at the saleswoman.  "I'm looking for a ring for my very studly fiance, who is an officer in another city.  I'm in on vacation and I thought I'd get an idea of what would be suitable for him since he doesn't want anything *flashy* and what's available for styles."

***

Speed looked up as Ryan wandered back into the lab three days later, blinking at his happy, sated look.  "So that's where Willow went."

"I see where your son gets his bluntness from," he countered dryly, smirking at him.  "But yes.  Can you, um, fill in some gaps for me?"  Speed nodded.  "Soon?"

"Dinner?"

"Sure.  When is Xander coming back?"

"Tomorrow.  One of us has to go pick him up because he's carrying the check back since some of it was on special offer."  Ryan looked impressed at that.  "Plus he set Don up with a nice assistant at Christies.  He called to congratulate me on Xander finally finding taste."  That got another grin.  "Are you back?"

"Not for two more days," he sighed.  "Want me to go escort him?"

"You can, or Horatio could.  I think Frank and Yelina are fighting over it too."  He snorted suddenly and grinned.  "You missed it.  Xander bit someone when they held a gun on him."

Ryan moaned and shook his head.  "Poor Horatio must be gray by now."

"Nah, he's called four times.  He let the baby babble at him for a few minutes too.  He's had Eric most of the trip.  So he might be coming back with the baby.  We're not sure yet."  Ryan nodded at that and came in to help.  "What did you want to know?"

"How close are she and Xander?  She told me they cheated with each other once and it was panic on her part, so she regrets it."

"They've been friends since the first day of school.  He protected her from the bullies and she helped him with his homework."  He smiled a bit at that.  "She's got a brilliant mind, but it's being rotted by her magic addiction at the moment.  Getting her off the hellmouth would probably be for the best."  He nodded more slowly, looking less happy.  "See, magic makes you feel giddy and drunk, like any really good high.  Darker magic, well, that feeling is stronger and it burns, but it's like good scotch running through your veins.  The burn leads to something more pleasant."  He nodded once at that.  "Willow's started down that path.  She's still uptight enough to get out if she had a reason, a very good reason, like a really good boyfriend who would make her focus on other things.  If she ever has a baby, her magic's gone. I've already been told that by the same people who sent me back.  She's sweet, she's nice, she's protective and possessive, but she's got damn little self esteem.  Her parents had not a clue what to do with her.  They let her wander all around town all hours of the night and day.  If she hadn't liked learning, she never would've went to school.  Also, it's harder to get the dark magic down here than it is there.  There it's all over the town, it's what she learned on.  Here, you can touch a bit of blood magic down in Little Havana or near some of the more ancient religions around the area.  It's almost impossible to find it locally."

"She said the power around here was easier to work with when she worked on my chest."

Speed nodded.  "It is.  Even Xander's noticed and he doesn't use it."  That got another smile.  "Okay, the occasional 'I lost my wallet or keys' but mostly he doesn't use it.  Willow likes to use it.  She wrote me about this neat clothes changing spell she learned a few weeks back.  So someone else to focus on who's not in the life and can be a bit more cautious would be good for her.  So if you make her happy, be aware that that'll be you."

Ryan nodded.  "So if we're happy then it's all good and it's something I'd probably do anyway?"

"Oh yeah.  With a guy like you that loved her and made her do other stuff to amuse and be with him, like walk in the park and things, it'd come naturally."  He glanced up the hall and smiled at her.  "Yes, you."  She came in.  "I think it'll come naturally and even Giles is worried, Willow."

"I know, that's why he sent me," she admitted dryly, looking at Ryan.  "I'm not that bad."

"You're still early in the junkie phase.  If you find a life outside of Sunnydale, it'd help," Speed told her.  "Don't do it for that reason, Willow.  Do it because you found a life outside of Sunnydale.  Move to Miami if you want to stay with Ryan just because he's Ryan and he's a great guy, with some OCD issues.  Do it for the right reasons and the rest'll come.  I will warn him that you babble worse when you're happy and bouncy."  Ryan grinned at that and blushed a bit, nodding.  "Good, then you know."  He made Willow look at him.  "Do you want to be with Ryan enough to give up Sunnydale?  Seriously give up Sunnydale.  Not the magic, not the hunting stuff, but Sunnydale itself.  Do you want to be that much to Ryan that you want to run to Vegas with him?"

She swallowed and nodded.  "It clicked, Tim, like it did with Oz."

"Then tell him that and explain it to him.  That way I can get back to work since he can't come in for the next two days."  She nodded and led Ryan off to walk with him outside.  He looked up and shook his head. "Okay, anything else?  Like the baby?"  He grinned when no visions hit him.  "Good."  He got back to work, smiling at Horatio as he prowled past.  "Hey."  Horatio backtracked to look at him.  "Willow and Ryan are having a serious talk outside."

"What did she do?"

"She fell in love."  He smiled at that and relaxed.  "That doesn't let you off the hook if you hurt Xander, H.  She will kill your ass if you hurt her best friend ever.  She's known him since the first day of school."  That got another accepting smile.  "It might also do her good.  Ryan looked like he was ready to dance."

"Which means it's probably mutual," he agreed.  He came in and shut the door.  "He went looking at rings."

"Well, the only way to make sure everyone leaves him alone is to have that loud, open wedding."  He stared at him.  "Besides, you've marked Xander as yours.  He basically only brought suits with him to New York.  Your sister-in-law calls him a Caine whenever she sees him in a suit."  That got a smaller, wickeder smirk.  "He marked himself with that piercing for you. You don't wear any visible marks of his, even ones that others won't see.   So yeah, I'd expect a ring, even if it isn't an engagement ring, I'd expect a very nice ring.  After all, he's got money and you do love him that much."

"I'd rather wait on that until he graduates."  He moved closer. "There are days when I feel like you toward him, that parental nagging."

"I feel the same way about Calleigh sometimes too, Horatio.  That's who our lovers are.  Everyone needs a shove sometimes and you should be able to go to your mate for advice on the important stuff.  If you were going to change departments, wouldn't you ask his advice?"  Horatio nodded silently.  "Same thing with his college and swimming stuff, plus with the baby.  When you're that tight together, you don't make life-altering decisions without telling the other person."

"True. I still feel wrong about him giving me a ring."

"That's because he's always wanted to be the chased one," Speed reminded him with a smirk.  "Xander likes being beta to you and alpha to everyone else.  You're the only one he goes onto his back for.  The only one he'll ever willingly go on his back for.  So maybe you should let him buy you something modest, like a necklace, and you buy him a ring."  Horatio nodded, accepting that.  "Good.  Are you expecting him to come off the plane either pouting or with the baby?"

"I just got off the phone with Mac.  He went to talk to Diana and remind her that Xander still had the baby and unless she wanted to watch the baby leave for Miami permanently she should probably get him back today.  He just handed him back and called to pout.  I don't think she's ready to be a mother."

"No, maybe not. Beatrice seems to be okay but she's probably got mommy burn out at the moment since she's the main mommy.  I know he, Danny, and Don all got to play with the baby for hours on end, wearing all that 'daddy' urgings for the next little while, and that my son set Don up with his auctioneer's assistant."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Who's going to pick him up?"

"I am.  It'll be safer if I do."

"Horatio, he's going to have a damn big check in his bag," he reminded him.  "It'll be safer if we send SWAT to pick him up since this is Xander.  You're going to have sex in the hummer before you hit the bank."  Horatio blushed at that and shrugged.  "Let him deposit it first, then have sex in the hummer in the everglades so you don't get caught in town.  I don't need another call from Frank spluttering that a patrol caught you two on the beach again."  Horatio blushed bright red on that.  "Go talk to Yelina, Horatio.  Start looking at a ring for my baby boy if you're thinking that way. I know my boy is.  The same as I know Willow's pouring out all her darkest secrets somewhere on the lawn at the moment."  That got a nod and he left, going to find his sister-in-law to talk to her about this.  Speed looked up and shook his head.  "Okay.  Good.  Any other tasks today?"  He didn't get anything else so he got back to work.

***

Horatio stepped up to Yelina's desk, finding Ray there.  "Where's Yelina?  I needed to speak to her."

"Case," he said grimly.  "It'll be a few hours. She's at Delko's scene."  He looked at his brother.  "Love advice?"

Horatio nodded.  "I wanted her opinion on doing something earlier than I had planned."

"We can go talk."  Horatio gave him a long stare, which made him shiver.  "I am your brother, Horatio Caine.  Even if I don't like your little boy toy, I'm still your brother.  Now, let's go."  Horatio relented and led him out back to walk around in the small park they were next to.  "What's going on?  A fight?"

"No.  Serious thoughts," he said quietly, glancing at him.  "Xander's been thinking about proposing."  Ray stopped and stared, blinking hard.  He turned to look at him.  "With the way our relationship works, I'd rather do it first, but I'm not sure he's ready yet."  He watched his face. "I was planning on waiting until he graduated."

"Okay, first issue, the boy's not as young as his physical age.  I know threats and he meant what he said.  If you ever get severely injured, someone's going to pay.  He's going to ruin them, dance on the ashes of their former lives, and then hurt them a lot.  Secondly, what makes you think you have that much time, Horatio?"  Horatio moaned and rubbed his head.  He stepped closer.  "Ray Jr. told me about the baby.  Does she want him back?"

"No.  She and her girlfriend are very close and they've let Xander have Eric the whole time he was up there until an hour ago," he said quietly.  "I'm more than willing to accept Eric living with us, Ray.  He's very happy being a father."

"Good.  That's one problem out of the way.  What about the department?  For all that they like you being calmer and less snarly, there's still some guys who don't like him because he's gay.  Frank told me to watch out for you, that one or two were stopped before they could try anything.  To be honest, I don't like that you're involved with a guy, but I'm not going to try to kill you.  They would, or at least kill him.  Hell, he attracts trouble, Horatio.  It wouldn't be that hard to point some at him some day.  The more he spoils you and helps the department with stuff, the worse they hate him."  Horatio slumped and nodded.  "You lost Speed and you lost me, Horatio, didn't you learn that life's too short from that?"

Horatio looked at him.  "I did, that's why I had Xander when I did. I had been moving slower until he reminded me of that point."

"Good.  He knows it very well from what my sources have said about his past.  That doesn't mean he won't live until he's a hundred, but you won't be there to see it with him.  You're older, you have numerous death threats every year from your cases.  Does he know how dangerous your job is?"  He nodded slowly, staring at him.  "Then I'm surprised he hasn't drug you in front of one of the few priests who's willing to bond you guys since you'll never be able to marry."

Horatio sighed and nodded. "I had forgotten that.  Thank you, Ray."

"Not an issue.  As to why you're more alpha than him, you got any idea?  The kid's got fierce bitch syndrome about my son."

He smirked at him.  "Remember the tiger incident?"

"Unfortunately, yes.  You bit me.  Why?"

"His was a hyena."

"Oh."  He considered that then nodded and shrugged.  "Okay.  Makes more sense how he understands you.  Then again, he's just as stubborn as you are most of the time.  Does he ever get you?"

"Do you really want those details?"

"No," he said smugly, "but I can't imagine you bending over and taking it either."

"You'd be surprised, Ray.  It's very special between us.  He says he finds home in my body."

"I said the same thing to Yelina once," he admitted quietly.  "So, you need help looking for a ring?"

"That depends on whether or not he went ahead and bought one for me.  I'd rather mark him more possessively than he does me since he's mine."

"There's got to be some equality there, Horatio."

"There is in other areas, Ray.  He's not submissive to me by any means."  He heard a giggle and rolled his eyes.  "I can hear you, Willow," he called.

"Feeling's mutual, boss, and tell him to follow his instincts," Ryan called, leading her out.  "Um, boss, this is Willow, my fiance," he introduced.

"Miss Rosenburg, you will treat my officer well or you will understand why half of Miami fears me if they harm my team or Xander."

"Or your hummer," Ray said with a smirk.  "It's kinda cute how the Wrath of Caine works out sometimes."  He looked at Willow. "Congrats.  Treat him well.  He's always working.  Alexx is worried about the boy and his reporter buddy."

"Xander drove her off.  Apparently she had a few stripper parties with cocaine present and her station is owned by the PAX consortium, which has strong Right Wing Christian ties," Ryan said with a smirk.  "He drove her off in the hospital."  He walked Willow off, holding her hand and kissing the back of it now and then, making her blush.

"Those two are perpetually cute.  The same as you and your toy are, brother.  Need help picking out a ring?  I'd like to repropose to my wife."

"I'll be taking him this weekend.  You can come with us and Yelina.  And probably those two and the others if Speed gets his way.  Thank you."  He walked back inside.

Ray looked up and shook his head.  "He's so damn clueless at times.  How in the hell did he become the bane of crime in Miami?"

***

Xander walked into the CSI portion of the station and found Mac, giving him the puppy eyes.  "I *so* wanna buy Horatio a ring since I have the cash, but I feel wrong.  Why?"

Mac looked at him and sighed, leading him out of the way.  "First, because you're the beta in your relationship.  You've taken on the girl's role by letting him court you.  Most women don't propose, Xander."  He nodded.  "Secondly, this urge to mark him, would that have anything to do with the danger you're both in or your recent shoulder wound?"  He nodded, looking miserable now.  "Buy him something smaller.  Something that shows he's yours but that isn't the engagement ring you're yearning for.  If I know Horatio, he's already got that planned out somehow.  Buy him something he can openly wear at work.  A friendship ring, a necklace, a bracelet.  Just remember the dangers of jewelry in our job."  Xander nodded more firmly at that.  "Slip it on him some night if you want."  He smiled.  "That should calm down these urges until it's a better time to marry.  Because if you have that big, open wedding everyone wants you two to have to stop all the presents, the Mala Noche will be there.  The ones up here even know about the hit on your mate.  If they knew who you were, you'd never be allowed out of your hotel room."  Xander sighed and nodded, slumping again.  "Good boy.  Now, go find him something modest and very Horatio to wear at work."  Xander nodded and hugged him then took off again.  "That boy is full of energy today.  I almost feel sorry for Horatio when he gets back."  He got back to his trek to find Stella.  "Xander was here."

"Did he bring Eric?"

"No, he brought an issue.  He wants to buy Horatio a ring but his instincts are fighting with him.  I told him to follow his instincts and go for something more subtle that he could wear openly at work since Horatio's playing the traditional male role more often."

"True, but it'd make him so happy to spoil his mate."

"He sent him ten pounds of chocolate last night," Danny said from the doorway.  "He bring the baby?"

"No, he's back with his mother."

"Damn," Danny sighed.  "Oh well.  I was going to distract him on his last night of celibacy this month after he swims tonight."

"He's swimming with the shoulder wound?" she asked.  Both men nodded, looking at her.  "Men!" she said, pulling out her phone and dialing Eric.  "Delko, did you realize your protege is swimming with a gunshot wound to his shoulder?"

"He's got metal wire stitches," Mac offered.

"Mac said he's got metal wire stitches."  She rolled her eyes.  "Yes, that shows dedication and stupidity.  Also, Horatio is getting chocolates.  Danny said about ten pounds.  Thanks."  She hung up.  "He'll jump on him later."

"He's going to see Xander's times are better when he's on the junk food diet like usual," Danny noted dryly, handing over his report. "It's the sister."

"Good.  I liked her for it anyway," Mac said happily.  "Good work, Danny.  Stella?"

"Let's get her."  She handed over her own.  "My part is hair that matches hers."

"Even better.  Let's go."  They followed him out, Danny heading back to the lab and Stella to the car.

***

Don walked up behind Xander, looking at what he was looking at, then pointed at one.  "That one," he whispered.  Xander jumped and looked at him so he grinned.  "Seriously, that one.  If I was shopping with your budget for Horatio, that'd be the one I'd get."

Xander squatted down to look closer at it, then nodded.  "That does work for me."  He looked at her.  "Can I see that one?"  She nodded and took the small charm out, letting him see it.  He stroked the side and smiled.  "How much?"

"Three thousand."  He put down his main debit card and she stared at him.  He looked back.  "I have it and I'm not paying tuition this semester.  I'm on financial aid."  She nodded and took it to run it.  She came back grimacing so he mentally added, then sighed and called the bank, authorizing them to do it.  "Sorry, draw limit," he offered.  "They said to try it again in two minutes, let the system have enough time to update."  He stroked it again and she went back to run it again, coming back with a slip.  He signed it and looked around.  "Necklace.  Something manly."

"Something that won't burn him under his suit in Miami," Don noted.  The saleswoman pointed at a length of chain.  He considered it then shook his head.  "He's a cop, sometimes he's gotta run and wrestle too."  Xander looked at him.  "He does."

"Not that often.  Usually he intimidates and makes them beg."  He looked at one and pointed at the herringbone.  "That?  It won't catch on his chest hair or his clothes."

"I like that but it's too thick for the pendant," the saleswoman said, pointing at smaller grade. "Usually used for women but that would be the correct size for the pendant."

Xander looked at the chains, finding one that was a bit different.  "Will this style catch?"  She looked and shook her head.  "Can that be used?"

"It can be and it is very strong," she admitted, lifting out the Greek keyhole design chain.  "It would probably go very well."  She put it next to it.  Then smoothed the chain over.  "That would go.  It can easily be hidden but it's fancy enough to be worn more openly for special occasions."  She looked at him.  "Marking your boyfriend?"  Xander nodded.  "Then that would go very well and still be subtle."  Xander put down his other card and she went to run it.

"It's not included?" Don asked.  Xander shook his head.  "Damn."  He watched Xander sign the slip and put the pendant onto the chain.  "Is that gonna be long enough?"  Xander tried it on and he nodded, that worked. "Okay.  Can you make it pretty for him?"

"Of course.  We enjoy gift wrapping," she offered with a smile.  "Friend of his?"

"He's like my big brother," Xander admitted, watching as it was wrapped up.   "I don't want him to spend his life's saving buying me a ring, Don," he said quietly, moving him that way to point at the one he wanted.  "I want that for him."

Don patted him on the back.  "That would suit him.  What about yours?"  Xander found one he liked and tapped over the case.  "That's pretty and understated."

"Which I'm not totally but he makes me feel like I can be quit being so loud and noisy most of the time.  It's also subtle, which means that he won't get into trouble.  I still don't want him to have to dip into the retirement funds for it."  He looked at him.  "I'm so fucked in the head at the moment.  I had to go to Mac for advice."

Don smirked. "I heard.  If you could have *any* ring in here, anything at all.  Price not an issue, department not an issue.  Which is his and which is yours?"

"That one's still his but this one's mine," he said, walking him over to show off a very nice solitaire done in silver.  "Silver's always meant life to me.  That's why his ring's in silver."  He looked at him again.  "It's too flashy and too pretty and I'd damage it, plus it's about six grand."

"The usual rule for engagement rings is two month's salary," the saleswoman said as she walked the box over.  "How many is that for him?"

"About four," Xander said dryly.  "I'm the one with money.  That's the other reason why I feel I should buy the rings."

Don patted him on the back.  "It'll all work out.  He'd yell if you bought him a ring that expensive."

"His isn't that expensive but it's... it reminds me of him," Xander told him.  "That's the one I want him to have.  And it's exclusive to this store.  So I'll have to come back and get it for him."

Don looked at him.  Then at the saleswoman.  "How likely is that to be sold?"

"Not very.  We get a lot of bankers and people like that in here.  Nothing of the manly men like you and like I take his fiance to be."

"Good.  Hold it for a day, let him talk to his spouse."  She smiled and nodded.  Xander hugged him and headed out to the car with the box.  Don took pictures with his phone, going to get the other two too.  "Got sent ta be sneaky," he said with a wink.  "His husband is worried about being spoiled rotten."  He walked out, following Xander.  "Let me talk to Speed tonight, Xander."  He let him into the car and looked at him.  "Okay?"

"Okay."  He slid in, trusting him to help him with his plan to decorate his mate.  Horatio needed that ring.  It spoke to him and screamed Horatio's name like he did during sex.  He heard the 'eep' and realized he had said that out loud. "Sorry, Don."

"Not a problem.  I heard you scream his name before.  I took a picture of his and I'll send it to Speed tonight.  Okay?"

"Please."

"Good boy.  Now, back to the hotel so you're safe, and then tomorrow I'll come pick you up early so we can get the check, get it cashed if we have to, and then the rest put back into a cashier's check."  Xander smiled and nodded at that.  "Let's go back ta the hotel for the day.  That way you can do your laps early today."  He pulled out into traffic and took him back, then called Speed to interrupt his scene. "Hey, got a few?"  He sent the picture.  "Look at that then show it to Horatio.  That's what he wants ta get him.  He wants it bad enough to have nearly gotten off in the store when he saw it and he said it screams his boy's name like he does during sex.  Well, we pick up the check tomorrow.  Oh, yeah.  His low self esteem ring and the other one."  He sent those two as well.  "In that order, Speed.  Sure, I can wait."

***

"Horatio!" Speed called, waving him over.  He found the pictures and showed it to him.  "That's yours that Xander found."  Horatio smiled at that, touching the screen.  "I don't think he can find that down here."

"He can't.  I went looking last night and I didn't see anything like that."

Speed looked and downloaded the other two.  "The higher end one is the one he *really* wanted and the other is his low self esteem ring as Don put it.  Don's on the phone."

Horatio looked then nodded, walking off to talk with Don.  "Don't let him buy his own ring, Don.  I found him one.  No, more special than either of those."  He smiled at the announcement of the other gift.  "Mac?"  He smirked.  "He told me."  Frank gave him an odd look as he walked over, holding up a finger.  "Only mine.  How much was it?"  He considered it.  "His is more, my pride'll be fine.  Thank you.  Yeah, tell him to hide it for a bit from me too.  That's fine, he can do that.  Thank you for helping him with that before he went insane.  Yeah, that'll be fine.  Thank you."  He hung up and showed him the two rings.  "The second is the one he wanted."

"The first looks higher end. It's more subtle and that usually means more expensive."

"No, Don said he really wanted the solitaire if it wasn't a matter of money or anything like that."

"Well, you did find that really nice one last night."  Horatio nodded. "You're serious?" he asked with a small smirk.  Horatio nodded.  "What's he getting you?"  He found it and showed it to him.  "Wow.  I'm thinkin' there's gonna be more breath control practice on the way back from the airport tomorrow."  Horatio blushed at that.  "Just don't let the patrol guys catch you this time, Horatio.  Last time they called me during dinner to see what they should do.  I told him if he was brave enough to interrupt you, to apply for a position with the crime lab instead."  Horatio chuckled at that.  "Now, can we get back to work?  I'll help you go buy the other ring later tonight."  He nodded and they got back to work.  He and Speed shared a look and a grin behind Horatio's back. Both boys had it so bad it was cute.

***

Xander came off the plane and found his escort, smiling at him as he strolled over.  "Officer."

"Mr. Harris," he said patiently, looking him over.  "Bags?"

"One."  He hefted it.  "Shall we?"

"Of course."  He walked him off, taking him out to the hummer waiting on them.  "Your mate sends his apologies but he got stuck on a case, again."

"That happens.  I respect my mate for his work and his dedication."  He smiled at him once he was in and buckled in.  "We're heading to the bank, he did tell you that?"

"He told me you had a fairly high check on you that I had to escort you to your lawyer's for, and that he would make sure it got to the bank with both of you."

"Ah.  Thank you."  He watched as they backed out of the parking garage, giving the officer a sideways look.  "Officer, your tie is crooked."  He reached over to fix it, then went back to watching the scenery.

"Thank you, Mr. Harris.  I've noticed your husband does dress very well.  How was your shopping trip?"

"I didn't get much.  Only a few things.  I spent most of the time playing with my son in the park.  He likes the same cartoons I do," he said with a sappy grin.  "He's so cute, officer.  He's just such a little me.  He pouts the same when he doesn't get cookies.  He eats the same messy way I do.  He's just so me!" he sighed.  "I suggested his mother bring him down here and open up a new store but she's being fussy at the moment.  So I'm working on her wife.  And the cutest thing was, my big brother took me to a baby store so I could pick up one of those backpack thingies to carry him around in and some more diapers and stuff and they thought we were together."  The officer chuckled at that.  "He got the most horrified look on his face but she still thought it was cute. How was Miami while I was gone?  Did my husband work himself to sleep in his office every night?"

"No, he went home and did laundry and cleaned the house a few times.  Read over this declaration he was sent once or twice while mentally swearing at his mate for it, and then he moped around the house until his family came over to distract him by making him referee again."

"I'm sorry."  He reached over to stroke up the officer's arm.  "Was crime bad?  You look very well ironed.  Did Mr. Wolfe do this for you?"

The officer nodded.  "I would've asked him but he's been a bit...busy with his new girlfriend, Miss Rosenburg.  It seems they suit each other and it's so perpetually cute Speedle has gagged a few times with Delko over the look on his face.  Of course, they said your husband got the same look when he complained that they were goofing off."

"Willow deserves someone sweet but with that bite of stubbornness who can stop her 'wild hair up the ass syndrome' moments.  Those two will do pretty good together and she'll make him quit watching the tapes of me stripping."  The officer growled at that, a low, subvocal purr of noise.  "Watched me a few nights, officer?" he asked with a grin.  "I know a few officers had and they're carefully hiding it from my mate.  Thankfully my mate knows I'm faithful."  The hummer took an offramp, going deeper into the everglades.  "The new security route?" he asked, forcing himself to look clueless.  He got a nod as they drove into the areas where no one patrolled and no one would see.  The hummer was pulled off the road and the engine shut off, the officer looking at him.  Xander leaned against the door.  "Don't make me call my husband, officer."

He pulled him over to kiss him.  "Shut up, Xander."  He kissed him again, earning a moan.  "Making me jealous?"

"Hmm. Yup."

"I thought you were."  He undid their seatbelts and pulled Xander onto his lap, moving the steering wheel out of his way.  His mate wiggled deeper into his lap, searching for another kiss.  "Were you in trouble?" he asked between kisses.

"No."

Horatio touched his shoulder gently, and getting no response, looked, then at him.  "Really?"

"Really.  It was a ricochet.  Unpredictable."  He stole another kiss.  "Thankfully I couriered the check back to the attorney."  He got off him and undid his jacket and shirt, putting them over the back of the seat like he was hanging them up, then he got out of his pants and put them on top of the others.  That left him in his boxers and his socks.  He got into his bag and pulled out the boxes, then put one back.  The other was held out to him.

"Open it, Xander.  If you want to mark me, you have to offer it properly."

Xander slowly undid the bow, keeping eye contact with him.  He opened the paper with his teeth, slowly peeling it off, then flipped open the box with his thumb.  The necklace was pulled out and put around his neck, then hitched, then a kiss given and he moved down his mate's body to have what he had been missing the taste of by giving him a slow, torturous blow job as only someone who could hold their breath for long periods could.  Horatio moved the seat back a notch and got comfortable, stroking through the dark hair.  "I like this present better, Xander.  I didn't need marked."

"Shut up, Horatio."

He smiled at that, his lover was feisty and hot for him.  He was almost needy.  "Didn't you play with yourself and think of me while you were gone?"  Xander shook his head.  "Not at all?"

"One dirty dream I couldn't stop but if it wasn't your hand it wasn't going to be mine."  He licked up the crown and looked at his mate, then at his present.  "That suits you, my mate."  He went down him again, slowly, inch by inch, moving slowly downward, then sucking hard and just as slowly back up.  Horatio moaned and arched up, making him go back down, then come back up faster since he was getting lightheaded.  He teased him for a few more minutes before going back down, sliding his body around so he was facing his stomach and had the best angle.  It would also allow his mate to touch him if he wanted.  It was the best one he could give and his mate was moaning and trying hard not to thrash and choke him.  He pinched him on the side and that made him give up trying to stay gentle.  His head was grabbed and Horatio had his mouth at his speed, taking control of it.  He was pulled off after a few more minutes of his sucking and pushed back into his seat.  He turned and went to his knees, hanging his head. "Claim me," he whispered.

Horatio moved, fast, quickly, deadly, and ripped the boxers off him.  He had like that pair but he could buy him another one later.  He found his mate ready and plugged and growled, taking that out and throwing it out the window.  Nothing plastic and artificial went into his mate without his permission and his doing it.  He slammed in, taking him hard, fast, and deep.  Nothing teasing.  Nothing gentle.  His mate wanted claimed and he was getting claimed. His mate was being mated with like he was in heat and that's all he needed to feel at the moment.  Everything else was extra.  Even the sound of tires on the road.  Xander let out a low moan and he bit him on the uninjured side of the neck, making him growl and move faster and harder.  Xander came and Horatio followed, then turned his mate over, looking down at him.  "My mate."

"Your mate," he whispered back, staring into his eyes.  "Just yours."  He heard a car idling and groaned.  "Assholes."

Horatio smirked.  "Bad words, Xander."

"Yay.  I learned it off Tim."  He looked over and the cop went bright red and hurried off.  "Oops."  He pulled his mate's head down to kiss him.  "Please tell me you took off the afternoon."

"I did.  Technically I'm on call.  If I get called in, Frank had better be dead."  That got a smile and he took another kiss then sat up to look at his new present in the rearview mirror.  "I like this, Xander.  Thank you."

"Mac suggested that I get you something less than a ring since I'm the one who liked to be courted and that it was more appropriate since I'm beta to your alpha."  He shifted over and sat in his lap again, stealing another kiss.  "Can I buy you a ring, Horatio?"

"You know I want to wait, Xander," he said quietly, stroking his cheek.  "Then my idiot brother reminded me how short life can be, especially when people shoot at you."  He kissed over the stitches, then him.  "I'm going to yell about that later."

"It was a ricochet."

"Tough.  I'm going to yell about that later when I'm in my right mind and not in this haze of lust you keep sending me into."

"So, when I'm at swim practice tomorrow or when you're at work?"

Horatio smiled. "Eric said you don't get the night off."

"Fine."  He took the deeper kiss and made his mate moan, then moved down to lick his throat and place little nips around where the chain was laying. "Are you mad?" he asked, licking the outline of the pendant part of the necklace.

"No, Xander, I'm not mad.  I was only waiting for you to be ready and stable so you could see that you had options."  That got him growled at and his mate pushed him back into the back of the seat, ripping open his shirt to nip him harder.  "Xander!"  He got another growl and another bite, arching up and hissing some.  "I was going to give you a choice, not make you go."  The bite got licked.  "You're so young sometimes and I don't want you to feel trapped."  Xander planted himself back on his cock and squeezed on his way down, making him moan and tense up.  "Please, Xander."

"Apologize," he hissed in his mate's ear.

"Sorry.  I was stupid.  You only have me."  Xander licked the bite marks and eased up on him, making it good, better than the last time.  Xander proved he wasn't some beta to his alpha, he could and did take control of what he wanted - and he wanted Horatio.  Age and all.  He quit thinking about the same time that Xander leaned back and accidentally caught the horn, then sat up and forced him to let him lay on his back and have him again that way.  All his blood was now pounding through him, aching to get into Xander's body, even by proxy through his cock buried in his body.  Every stroke, every grunt, every growl and nip his mate gave him proved that Xander was more than strong enough for him to hold and have, and more than worthy of him.  He felt something move onto his hand but he didn't pay it any attention.  His own mate's ring was in his pocket.  He'd mark him when he was tired and panting from his mating.  Xander was nipped on the throat.  "Let it go," he growled.  "Mine, Xander.  Mine."  Xander whimpered and tightened up again. "Now.  Come now."  Xander let go and came, letting him follow him.  He panted and laid down to kiss him and hold him until he was calmer.  The ring box was found and his mate marked by him properly with a long, sucking kiss and then a sucked on mark on his throat where everyone could see it.  His phone rang.

Xander found it and looked at it, then answered it.  "You had better be dead, Frank."  He listened then snorted. "Tell the nosy fuck not to stand there and jack off next time, Frank."  He hung up and tossed the phone onto the dashboard.  "You embarrassed the rookie patrol.  He had to take a personal moment and admitted as much to Frank."

"How much did he see?"

"Me going down on you."  He stole another kiss, earning a moan.  "I love you, Horatio, even when you're feeling old and cranky some days."

Horatio smiled and sat up enough to stroke his cheek.  "And I love you even on the days when you're acting the same age as your son."  He kissed his hand.  "That looks perfect on you."

Xander looked, then blinked at him. "It's..."

"If you say one word about it being too much, I will paddle you.  It's what you deserve and what you should have.  You're much flashier and you need a ring that suits your personality, Xander.  Something understated and subtle but that makes people drool when they look at it.  Besides, I have the money."

"The retirement fund?"

"Wasn't touched.  It was in savings."  He took another kiss and sat up all the way, putting his seat back where it should be, then pulling Xander into his lap.  "You made me mess up the seat position."

"I'll make it up to you later."  He stole a quick kiss, looking at the ring on his mate's hand.  "Don took pictures of yours?"  Horatio nodded.  "Look at it?"  Horatio looked, then stared at him.  He grinned. "I knew Don was going to be sneaky."  He kissed the top of the ring.  "Silver has always meant life to me, Horatio."

"I noticed both of your choices were silver."  He took a real kiss.  "I'd try for another round but I'm tired."

Xander grinned and teased his pendant.  "Even if you have to take off your ring, this is still there as my marking, like my piercing is yours."

"I wasn't there when you did yours."

"No, but you can pick a new ring for it."

Horatio smirked at that.  "Good.  We'll go looking for one tonight."  He took a deeper kiss, catching his breath at the end.  "I missed you."

"I missed you too.  Even with Eric snoring next to me, it wasn't the same as when you do it."

"The baby Xander snores?"

"More than I do," he agreed with a smile.  He heard another engine and sighed.  "We should shoot the next one."

"That would be bad and then you'd have to buy a new patrol car."  He pulled him in for a series of deep, probing, stabbing kisses.  It was nearly enough to make his cock rise again but he was tired at the moment.  "After your practice, I'm going to bathe you and treat you like this was your first time on our wedding night," he murmured.  "On the bed, everyone in the family gone.  Or else I'm shooting them all."  Someone walked closer and he glared at them.  Ray only smirked so he rolled down the window. "Do you mind!"

"Of course he minds.  It's not like he's getting any," Xander whispered.  "He's wanting it, Horatio."

"He can be jealous of me having you all he wants.  Only I get you, Xander."  He stroked over his back and down to cup his cheeks.  "What did you want, Ray?"

"To tell you Yelina wants you both for dinner and you can have him after that.  That'll be before practice."

"Fine.  Thank you."

Xander looked around, then at him.  "Do we have a tracking device on the car?"  He nodded.  "Where?"

"Under the back floor mat."  Xander climbed over the seats, making him blush and look away.  He found it and it was thrown over, making him catch it. "Thank you.  I didn't need to see that much of you but I'm glad you take him instead of the other way around since Horatio has to be able to sit."  He hurried back to his car.

"Can I hit your brother?" he asked from the tailgate area, stretching out.  He had to move the case back there, but it easily went into his seat.  Then he stretched out on his stomach and spread his legs just slightly, giving Horatio a steamy look.  "This way I don't have to move your seat."

Horatio moaned and got up, moving back there.  Maybe number four would be after swim practice. At least he got to play more this time.  Xander wasn't nearly as needy.  Though his ring did look good against Xander's tanned skin when he stroked down his back.  Against the untanned skin of his butt and balls it nearly glowed.  He slid into the welcoming hole with a moan of delight.  This position made him tighten back up.  "Remind me that we have to have time to shower," he whispered before starting a slow, long, creeping pace to drive his mate insane like he had the first time he had bottomed for him.  He was holding Xander's hips still, doing whatever he wanted to him, and there was nothing he could do but beg, plead, moan, whimper, and growl at him, and it was perfect.

***

Eric looked up from his burger as Xander came in, nodding at him to go change.  Xander took off his clothes right there, leaving him in his swim suit.  "Did you shower afterward?"

"We had dinner with Yelina and Ray, what do you think?" Xander smarted back.  He moved his arms.  "Where am I starting tonight, coach?"

"Depends, how was your CT?"

"A small crack in the back still isn't healed.  The one up top is still soft."  He shrugged.  "I can try."

"No you can't.  The entry into the water that way can knock you unconscious and then you drown."  He ate a bite of his burger.  "Let's do sprints."  Xander nodded and moved into position.  He let Horatio hold the stop watch.  "Go!" he shouted, then took a bite, watching him move.

"Not too bad for someone who got shot the other day," Horatio said dryly.

Eric choked and looked at him, then at his time.  "Get your ass out of that pool!" he yelled.  Xander stopped in the middle and looked at him. "Come here, Xander."

"It was a ricochet, it's very shallow, coach.  It's fine, it's got metal stitches and they knew I'd be swimming on it.  It's not infected or anything."  He dove down then got back into it, then flipped onto his back for the next lap.  "Plus, I weigh less when I eat like myself and not like you.  So I'm going back to junk food because I was faster!  I'm also dropping yoga because that's the only reason I can see for the new muscles that make it look like I need a bra!"  He turned and went under for a few heartbeats, coming back to go back to his primary stroke.  He was actually trying this time.

Eric took the stop watch and clicked it at the end.  "Okay, he is faster on junk food.  Don't let him eat too many twinkies, Horatio.  He'll get sick."

"He eats moderately well," he reminded him patiently.  Xander got out and moved his arms.  "Start from the top, let's do a real one," he called.  Xander nodded and got back onto the platform.

"Go!" Eric called as he clicked the stopwatch to restart it.  Xander took off and his form was very good.  He made the turn very well. "Two more," he shouted.  Four hundred meters was a good test for him.  Xander made the second turn and it was slightly slower but not that much.  Then the third turn was the same.  "Come on, Xander!" he called.  His last lap he put on that extra burst of speed and hit the wall, letting him click the watch.  "Damn, you beat your trial time," he called.  "Good job!"  He got up to walk over there, looking at him. "How's your shoulder?"

"I swam on it in New York."

"Not what I asked."

"Numb."

"Can you feel your fingertips?"  He nodded and wiggled them.  The dive coach came over.  "He had a CT in New York.  They found his top of the skull ones were soft and the one on the back of his head still wasn't healed fully."

"That can happen.  Out of the pool, Harris."  He climbed out and let him look at his shoulder.  "You don't cover those?"

"The chlorine does it good and it's not infected.  It hasn't bled since they pulled the bullet in the ER.  No biological reason to and the chlorine is keeping it clean, coach.  They said I didn't have to."

"You still should.  Just so the other guys don't complain."

"We didn't cover every scrape and scratch," Eric reminded him.

"Yeah, but some guys are touchy about that."

"Then why are they in the pool?" Xander asked.

"They love it, the same as you do."  He pressed around the wound, not seeing a wince or a hiss.  "How deep?"

"Inch, two at most."

"You should still be feeling that."

"I have a really high pain tolerance."

"Why?" he asked, backing off.

"Drunken parents and hunting assholes who killed people.  Then stripping later on.  I did a show with a fist-sized knot in my back.  I ended up on my knees by the third set but I still did one."

The coach looked at Eric, who nodded, then at Horatio, who also nodded.  "That's not good for you, kid."

"Yeah, but now Horatio has my back and my heart and things are different and calmer."

"Good.  Any chance you might've picked up something there?"

"No.  I do tests every other month to make sure of it."  That got a smile and a nod.  "I quit stripping Christmas of last year."  He frowned and looked at Eric, doing some mental math.  "She would've gotten pregnant right before Speed came to get me."

"Yeah, probably within weeks.  You're just now thinking about that?"  Xander nodded.  "Okay.  We looked it up if you want to know when his birthday is."  Xander grinned at that so he clapped him on the good arm.  "We'll tell you later.  Coach, any other orders besides cover that?"

"Yeah, he can slack off on this.  I'm not sure he'll make it to trials for the dive team."

"I want an alternate position anyway since I've never done it before, that way I have the time to learn and earn my spot."

The coach nodded.  "We don't have an alternate at the moment.  He just got married.  Is this baby going to affect your swimming?"

"His mom won't let me have him.  I have to beg for visits."

"Fine.  Where is he?"

"New York."  That got a smirk.  "I did go up on auction business but I had him four days out of the five.  She forgot I had him there for two of them."  That got an even bigger smirk.  "If I end up with custody, he likes to watch me swim.  He came to the hotel's pool with me and sat in his car seat to cheer me on.  The lifeguard, who's on his CUNY team, thought it was cute and I was better than he was."

"You probably are.  It's a matter of desire, kid.  Do you wanna do what Delko did and learn or are you going to practice your ass off."

"Coach, I'm not good at learning anything.  My high school GPA was all because of two buddies of mine.  I'm not an education person.  I'm a physical guy.  I'm a bar brawler, a weapons guy, and I'm a swimmer.  Education makes me nauseous.  If I can train without the education part, I would."

That got a smirk. "You're not the first who's said that.  You know, you can actually train to train people."

"Like being a physical therapist," Eric said with a smirk.  "Totally hands on classes that you can practice on us all you want."

"No he can't," Horatio said dryly.  Eric looked at him and he shook his head. "His backrubs are mine unless I agree, Eric."

"I wasn't going to hit on him, H.  No one in their right mind would hit on him."

"The patrol guy stood and watched, then asked Frank for a personal hour," Xander quipped.  Eric blushed and started to cough, walking off coughing.  Xander grinned at the coach.  "He's easily embarrassed.  Don't worry, Willow will cure him of that."  Horatio snorted, then moaned when he realized that was probably true.  He looked at the coach. "I have good hunting skills.  That's why I'm on the profiler track."

"And I get that, but you'll be miserable and all the homework will take away from training time.  So, take the PT stuff.  It's things you can use and things you can do without homework.  Your main team's drills are in the afternoons.  That means you and your mate are on the same schedule."  That got a bright and happy grin.  "As for the diving stuff, we usually have an open spot.  If you can make it through tryouts, I can almost guarantee you a spot until your head heals.  I agree, you should be alternate until you learn what you're doing more fully."  He moved closer.  "What happened to your high school team?"

"Someone, namely the coach, was experimenting in fishy chemicals and genetic modification to make his team more fishy through the chemicals in the sauna.  A few of them got violently ill and turned slimy.  Most of them disappeared.  They managed to detox me because I only got hit a few times."

"Does it show up?"  Xander shook his head.  "Not in anything?"

"No.  Not that we've seen.  I've had others check.  You can run tissue and blood tests if it'll make you happy."  The coach nodded that he would be.  "That's fine.  Three things you gotta realize.  I'm faster when I eat junk food and Eric's diet with fish and good stuff for me made me bulk up this way.  The second is that I do have a caffeine habit and I'm not giving it up because it helps me focus now and then.  Third thing, when I was stripping, and even now, people send me expensive shit.  Lots and lots of expensive shit.  Hence me having to go to New York to have a tax auction so I could eliminate most of the tax debt from the gifts."

"Any college boosters?"  Xander shrugged.  "Can you make them stop?"

"Please do," Xander agreed happily, waving a hand.  "Horatio and I would appreciate the hell outta that.  I just sold about three mil in diamond jewelry over the last week and the estate of some Middle Eastern guy is going on auction next month since it was given to me as well.  Including his estate in Dubai."  The coach moaned.  "Yeah, that's something you might wanna make a note about somewhere.  I don't take presents or jobs from anyone. I can support myself while I'm training and in my summers off, I can bartend or something, but people send me shit and there's been issues with that in the past.  I truly don't know who they are most of the time and when I do, I send them back."  He showed him his ring.  "I'm a married guy to my guy.  They're shit out of luck in that area."

"I'll make sure the athletic director knows those.  Caffeine doesn't really show in the drug tests we use.  If junk food makes you faster, you can go back to your old diet as long as it doesn't affect your times negatively or make you cramp.  I'll talk to him about the present issue though.  Thank you for the warning."

"Not a problem," he said happily.  "So, pool times since break is coming up for the holiday?"

"When your stitches are pulled, go back to your usual schedule.  Try not to get hurt again, kid."  He walked over to Horatio, who had Eric beside him again.  "Have you gotten to kill anyone about those presents yet?"

"Not yet.  He's mostly handled it and dealt with it when it couldn't be sent back."

"Someone sent him a Maserati so he got a more modest car and the department got six new cruisers and another hummer," Eric told him as he walked back.  That got a smile.  "He's a good kid, coach, but he's got a mouth on him now and then."

"That's fine.  Go ahead and let him ease off until his stitches are gone.  Make sure he doesn't bulk up any more than he already is."  Eric nodded.  "He's got to make at least alternate on the diving team at the tryout, Delko.  Even if he passes out afterward. Understood?"

"Understood.  He was okay that first day.  We can work on it at his gym."

"Good.  Lieutenant Caine, do you have a pool at home?"

"Beach access," he offered.

The coach considered it.  "Fine.  He can swim in the ocean if his shoulder doesn't bother him.  Until his stitches are pulled I don't want him in a pool.  Chlorine can do funny things to metal wires."  He noticed Xander moving to one of the boards.  "You tell him to do that?"

"No.  Xander!"

"I wanna try the one I saw on tv," he called back, turning his back to them then bouncing a few times before doing two twists, then a flip into the proper position so he could hit the water.  He came up and looked at him.  "That didn't feel right."

"That's because your head still hurts!" Eric yelled.  "Dumbass," he muttered. "Horatio, you've got to make him take better care of himself."  He looked at the ring on his hand, picking it up to look at it.  "Nice taste, boss."  He put it back and looked at Xander's hand, smiling at it.  "Make sure your ring is fine, Xander."  Xander looked then nodded.

"I told the saleswoman that he'd be swimming with it on," Horatio said quietly.  "Plus diving.  It's got an invisible wire cage around the diamond."  Eric stared at him so he smirked.  "I bought his last night, Eric.  He bought mine this morning once he got his check."  He looked at the coach.  "Can he actually find work with the Physical Therapy degree?"

"A lot and especially in Florida if he's willing to work with the older folks.  You can go to the Department of Labor and see forecasts and things like that for each and every job description.  It should be easy enough to find online, Lieutenant.  You do good making him take care of himself and not rely on his body.  Can you stand to see him train and have others see him in tinier bathing suits?"

"I'll growl and claim him later that night," he offered.  "As long as no one touches him, they'll live."  That got a bright smirk.  "Seriously."

"He's only possessive about his team, his hummer, and his husband," Eric assured him.  "Just tell the other guys that he's very married and his spouse is jealous and is a cop.  They'll get the point.  My year did."

"You remember Sheppards?"  Eric nodded and grinned.  "This is her last year."

"Her husband's in patrol, she'll explain it to the guys and girls.  Make sure the cheerleaders don't come near him either.  For some reason they seem to gravitate toward him."

"He's not rushing a frat either," Horatio warned.

"Good.  Less chance of him drinking that way.  Nothing before meets, Caine.  Not even a glass of wine with a good dinner out. Two days on either side of each meet."

"He doesn't drink anyway," Eric assured him. "Even out at the clubs he sticks with these cranberry ice virgin things.  Cranberry juice slushies basically."  The coach smiled at that.  "He's hell on a floor though."

"I figured he must be if he's getting presents."  He smirked at them. "Make sure he makes it to both practices, Eric, even if you have to drag him in.  Figure out whether sex the night before helps or not."

"It didn't hurt his time today," Eric assured him smugly.  Xander came out of the changing room redressed and cleaned off.  "You done?"  Xander nodded.  "Cool.  Where you two headed tonight?"

"Home. I hate staying in hotels.  Ooooh!" he squealed, pulling out his wallet to show him the new pictures. "That's baby Eric.  Don and Danny helped take the sneaky ones and I got copies.  They're all over Stella's locker right now."

"He is adorable," Horatio noted, taking one to put into his wallet, which made his mate beam at him.  "He's my stepson, Xander.  Of course I get his picture."

"He's almost cute enough for me to listen to my mother and settle down," Eric teased, handing them back.  "When is he coming down?"

"I'm trying to get his mother to open up a shop down here.  Which means I might have to do more runway shows for her," he admitted, "but that's fun teasing."

"I saw the tape of the show," Eric said dryly.  "You looked good leaning on the other three guys. You and Ray Jr. both."

"Was his dad there?" Xander asked.  Horatio nodded.  "Did he scream and rant?"  Horatio nodded again.  "Hey, I told him to go back to Miami, that he wouldn't like it."  He shrugged.  "Besides, Danny and Don belong together and they're like my brothers, Eric.  Ray is now my nephew too. I could never hit on them, the same as I can't hit on you."  He pinched him on the cheek. "Any other orders, coach?"

"No, Harris, you're looking pretty good.  By the end of the semester you'll be able to see where you're likely to place if you kept going."  He clapped him on the back and walked off whistling.

"Hey, if you do make the team, the girls' team will have another protector," Eric said dryly.  "Since one of the girl's kicked the kicker's ass a few years back, the football team has a grudge against them."  He looked at Horatio, who only smirked. "Didn't you get that case?"

"I did," he agreed dryly.  "They were very indignant.  Home, Xander?  Dinner?"

"Please."

"I thought you guys had plans to eat with Yelina tonight," Eric teased.

"Um, yeah, but then the ho showed up for Ray Jr. and she went off on her.  It ended up nearly getting more cops involved," Xander noted dryly.  "The girl's mother showed up and started to call the cops until we pointed out that we could get her daughter for dealing and assault for exposing him to drugs on purpose.  Then on 'intent to harm' for pushing him into that orgy.  Her daughter's going to become a nun in Alaska tomorrow."  He grinned and took Horatio's hand, walking off with him. "I'll see you in a few days, Eric."

"Sure, Xander.  Take it easy and baby that shoulder."  He shook his head and skipped off.  This meant he could go out and find himself a nice woman for the night.  Or possibly for the week.

***

"Mr. Wolfe," Xander said as Ryan came in.  "My husband thought you were ready to come back yesterday, that you were begging for it."

"Yeah, well, the unavoidable happened, sir.  Sorry, won't happen again, boss," he said with a smirk.  "Where is the real boss?"

"Meeting with the Chief."  He moved closer.  "Do I need to remind you why I'm scarier than Buffy?" he hissed in his ear.  "And why you're going to treat Willow right?"

"No, no I remember," he assured him, grinning at him. "She said to slap you senseless if you threatened me on our honeymoon."

Xander squealed and hugged him, bouncing him around.  "I'm so happy!" he squealed.

"Shit, who fed him caffeine this time," Frank said dryly, pulling Xander off Wolfe.  "Explanations why he just went boy slut?"

Ryan held up his ring.  "Yesterday was an unavoidable delay, Detective.  I have an excuse, from the hospital, but I'm sorry about that."

Horatio pushed through the crowd, looking at him, then at his bouncing husband.  "Really?"  Ryan nodded and handed over the forms with a blush.  He looked it over, then at him. "I'm assuming you're able to work today, Mr. Wolfe?  At least until your coworkers take you out for dinner tonight?"  He blushed brighter and nodded.  "Good.  Then I'll accept this and it had better not happen again."  They shared a look and Ryan grinned, punching him on the arm as he walked past.  "Xander, no bouncing in the station."

"Yes, Horatio."  He hugged Yelina.  "My bestest buddy Willow just got married."  He stopped, then groaned. "Oh, shit, someone's got to tell Buffy.  Ryan, did she call anyone at home?"

"No, she said you had a big mouth and you could," he called back, waving his hand.  "Don't bring her here, Xander.  At least not for a week."

"Crap."  Xander looked at his mate. "I'm going to go call Sunnydale. Unless you can talk dad into it?"

"Nope, sorry. He's on a call already," Frank taunted.  He clapped him on the back.  "Have fun telling him all the news, including about the baby and stuff."

Xander walked off muttering 'fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck,' he under his breath the whole way out to his car.  He got in and called Aiden first.  Maybe she'd help him.  "Hi, mom.  Want some news?"  He grinned.  "Well, let's see.  I got more prezzies from the stripping stuff.  I got to go up and help Diana with a fashion show with Horatio's nephew Ray Jr.  No, the bunny paper guy was after him.  His girl was a ho and made him do an open pole and the guy fixated so we ran up to Mac and Don.  No, seriously.  I'm not allowed to give you the DVD of me, Ray Jr., Don, and Danny wearing the slutty Xander-tight clothing line of the mother of my son."  He pulled the phone away. "Hey, need that ear for when Horatio whispers in it.  Well, he likes that ear," he said dryly.  "No, there's more news.  She's got custody and I have to get pushy to visit.  Um, what other news.  Well, let's see.  Remember Ryan Wolfe?"

He smirked.  "He came back a day late from his medical leave because he was in Vegas marrying Willow and she hurt his back on their wedding night.  Um, Horatio and I have exchanged rings and vows in private.  Not sure if we're doing it in public, but he probably wouldn't let us having claiming sex in public.  Um, I'm trying for the college's swim team and the coaches of both teams think I may have a shot going toward the olympics. I'm going to give them a semester of working with me to see what they say. Um, no, diving and swimming.  Well, the head injuries are keeping me from diving at the moment, but yeah."  He grinned.  "No, I just squealed and pounced Ryan to hug him and threaten him.  You wanna tell Buffy and them for us so she doesn't come down here to kill us?"  He whimpered.  "Please, mommy?  Horatio hates it when I fight and I'd end up beating her senseless when she threatened my mate and Willow's mate.  Pwease, mommy?" he moaned.  "Pretty please?  Just tell Joyce and Rupert?" he offered.

"No, Don came to help me ring shop for Horatio.  I knew what I wanted but I also got him a necklace in case he needed something more subtle to remind himself of me."  He looked at his ring.  "Mom, I've got a huge, honkin' stone of a ring that suits me and I've got the man I love.  Do I really have to throw it away by protecting Ryan from Buffy?"  He grinned.  "Please, mommy?  Please!  And come to my first meet when I have one?"  He grinned.  "Sure, I could use a cheering section.  Why are you leaving Seattle?  I don't know, Horatio's still inside, his hummer's still parked.  You can ask.  Oh, come on.  Please?"  He sighed.  "Fine. Thank you, mom.  Yeah, you can tell Danny that it's a done deal and have him send you pictures of baby Eric.  Yes, she named the baby Eric and he's such a little me it's not funny. Yeah, that same designer.  Mom, he looks just like me and he acts just like me, and then she tried to tell me the test was negative and he wasn't mine."  He laughed.  "Yeah, we even have the same cartoon like and he snores like me."  He grinned.  "Yeah, they all have pictures.  Stella's got some in her locker even.  Sure.  Love you too.  Have fun."  He hung up.

He decided to take the easy way out, calling Buffy's mother, hoping she was still asleep.  "Hi, Joyce, it's Xander. Yes, that Xander.  Well, no, but sit.  Please.  No, it's good news, sit.  I know you're not a puppy, you're a very beautiful woman and even my husband would drool on you, but sit anyway.  No, I'm telling you so you can brag around town so I don't get beaten to death by your daughter right before I make the school's swim team. Yeah, I'm trying to.  Diving team too.  They think I'm really good and we're talking about training for future, harder events, but I'm going to give them a semester of working with me before I let them tell me how good I really am, that way they can see me on my crappy days too.  Yes, it's important.  Well, let's see.  I'm married and you'd like Horatio a lot.  He's a very nice man.  Redhead.  No, he was trying to help me stay unbeaten by your daughter.  No, that's Danny and he's in New York.  He's like my brother, Joyce.   Well, yes, there's other news.  Willow's new husband showed up today now that he can walk.  Apparently she sprained his back somehow on their wedding night in Vegas."  He pulled the phone away from his ear.  "Easy! I need that ear to be whispered in."  He grinned.

"Actually, Horatio is Tim's old boss.  Yeah, he's down here too.  Same cellphone but a Miami number."  He grinned and rattled it off.  "That's his cell.  He's not in, he's on a scene right now.   Yeah, he can tell you how honorable Horatio is and how he babies me like I'm special and stuff.  He even helps me with my psychos problem.  Yeah, well, they picked up when I was striping, Joyce.  They also work with Ryan, Willow's new husband.  Wolfe, with an e.  Nice guy, a bit of OCD about cleaning his gun, but that's a good thing.  No, he's a CSI like Tim and Aiden were.  Horatio's their boss.  No, it hasn't caused any problems and his sister-in-law and nephew like me a lot.  Yes, I'm sure, Joyce, he respects me a lot.

"Joyce, he feels....  You know that feeling that you get with the best cuddle you've ever had, parent or spouse?  That feeling that you can't quite describe but it says 'home' to you?  I find that with him every single cuddle, every single night, every single time we make love.  He encourages me and he's helping me with my school work and stuff too.  He's coming to help me practice my swimming and he fusses when I get hurt.  He ordered me to stop hunting because it was so dangerous and stuff, Joyce.  He gives a damn about me and it's very special.  I love my man.  Thank you.  Yeah, you can come down to visit, but if you bring Buffy keep her on a leash.  She tried to attack me in a police station the last time, twice."  He grinned. "Yes, Joyce, I'm sure I love him.  More than life itself.  If he's ever hurt, I'm pulling a Willow vengeance moment.  Like they're going to pay if they hurt him because I love him."

"Awww," a male voice said, and his window was broken.  The phone was snatched.  "The little fag won't be back."  He dropped it and stomped on it.

Xander pulled his dagger and stabbed at him, making him scream and fall down.  Then he got out.  "Really?  You sure about that?"  He dusted the glass off as other officers came running, putting the dagger back in its holder.  "Guys, this man was just very rude."  Ryan pushed someone out of the way and came over.  "Joyce is coming down but she'll have Buffy on a leash."

"Thank you.  Joyce?"

"Buffy's mom."

"Oh, yeah, she said she was the mother to the group."  He pulled on some gloves and found some gauze, holding it to Xander's cheek.  "Can someone get him Alexx?" he called. "He's bleeding."

"Yeah, and so's the other guy," Xander noted, leaning against his car, scowling, arms crossed.  The paramedics came and took away that cop and one of the Internal Affairs guys Xander knew moved closer.  "Come here," he called.  The man came closer.  "What?"

"Are you all right?"

"Fine.  Can you check my phone?  He stomped on it and I was talking with the woman who was basically like my mom back in Sunnydale.  I should call and tell her I'm fine."

"Calleigh was inside and she called Speed.  She saw him approach the car," Ryan assured him.  Alexx came running out.  "They couldn't find you!"

"I just got back with a body," she complained, moving the gauze.  "Baby, you need stitches."

Xander kissed her on the head.  "I'm fine, put a butterfly on it, Alexx. Stitches are for gunshot wounds."  She gave him a harsh look so he moved his shirt out of the way. "You wanna check?"

"I should since there's glass in there too!" she said, swatting him upside the head.  "Stupid!"

"I was in the car!  I was telling Joyce, Buffy's mom, about Horatio and Ryan and Willow."

She looked at Ryan.  "The hyper little redhead babbling at everyone?"  He beamed and nodded.  "Oh, really?" she asked.  He nodded and showed his ring.  "Congratulations, Ryan."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "Take this one into the dressing room since he won't go with the paramedics."  She looked at the officer since they were still working on him. "Xander, what did you use?"  His dagger was thrown back and landed beside her, sticking in the ground.  She looked at it, then at him.  "You'd better be a damn good shot," she noted dryly.  He nodded, smirking just a bit.  "Dressing room, Ryan, or interrogation if they need it."

"No, we saw," Internal Affairs noted, raising a finger.  "We'd like him to be healthy enough to talk to when we get to the hospital, boys. Please."  Then he smiled like the shark he was.

"Please do," Horatio ground out.  He followed Ryan, going to take care of his mate.  He found Speed in there.  "He was on the phone with someone named Joyce."

"Buffy's mom."  He pulled out his phone to call her.  "It's me, Joyce.  He's fine.  He stabbed the idiot trying him.  No, an officer.  Yeah, he's married to Horatio, who was the redhead in that picture you liked to stare at.   Yes, I know how old he is.  Joyce, do you really think Xander's that young?" he asked dryly. "Or that Willow is?  No, Ryan's not in that picture but he's about Eric's age.  I don't know, he seems happy and I haven't seen the babbling brook of Willow today."

"She was sleeping to get up enough energy to call her mother," Ryan admitted, letting Horatio move him out of the way.  "He should be fine, Horatio."

"Let me be the judge of that, Mr. Wolfe."

"I'm fine, Horatio, and I am a good judge of that."

"You walked out of the emergency room after being shot, Xander.  No you're not."  He stared into his eyes.  Xander relented and let him fuss.

"Joyce, Horatio can out-stubborn Xander enough to fuss over his injuries.  Yeah, that's love.  Ryan looks like he's happy and as far as I know he's a nice guy.  I've only known him for a little over a year or so.  Sure.  Put Buffy on a leash and come down for a visit.  Just tell Rupert so I don't have to yell at him this time.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "She said if he's allowed to fuss it must be love."

Ryan made Xander look at him.  "Does Willow have parents like yours?"

"Absentee," Xander assured him.  "Long trips, leaving Willow to her education."

"Ah, so if she had been anywhere else, she'd be a prep school kid with absentee and traveling parents?"  Xander nodded.  "They do what?"

"Psychologists."

"Even better."  He smiled.  "They're never getting near her again," he noted dryly, smirking at him.  "You good?"

"Enough.  A few butterflies and some aspirin and I'll be fine."  Speed went to get him some pain killers.  "It's not that bad, Horatio," he said quietly.  "Just some flying glass."

"It is that bad, you're bleeding."  He looked at him again.  "You said I could fuss.  He tried to gay bash you, Xander."

"Yeah, and he ended up with my dagger in his stomach for it.  I'm not helpless."  He stole a quick kiss and grinned.  "I love you."

"I love you too, but you do worry me some days," he noted patiently, looking over as Alexx came in finally.  "He thinks he only needs butterflies."

"We'll see.  Take off the shirt so I can look at your arm, chest, and back, Xander."  He sighed but did it.  "Thank you.  What happened to your shoulder?"

"Ricocheting bullet.  I had them put in metal stitches so the pool wouldn't bother it.  It's still not infected thanks to the daily chlorine.  I get them pulled in another few days."  She raised an eyebrow.  "Not my first, Alexx."

"So?"  She moved Horatio, handing him to Ryan. "Hold him.  Hovering spouses get in the way."  She sat beside him to look at his forehead first since it was still bleeding.  Speed came back and she watched Xander take the pain killers.  "In a lot today?"

"Headache.  I'm glad I was looking in the mirror at my throat when he broke the window."  She nodded, making an assenting noise.  "I'm fine, Alexx."  She swatted him again.  "Ow, broken spot there!"

"Sorry, baby.  Who did your CT up there?"

"I had them sent to Rettleman."

"So?"

"Um, Bellevue."

"Fine, I'll be checking with both sources to see how bad your head is."

"He's going in tomorrow anyway," Speed pointed out.  "He was to get this checked out for the swimming stuff."

"Good, you and Horatio can go with me."  She looked at Xander.  "You keep getting hurt.  You're going to make Horatio gray."

"I was in my car calling Joyce to tell her about him and Willow and stuff.  I was being a good boy.  He attacked my ass, not the other way around."

"He did," Speed admitted. "Calleigh saw him do it and yelled to get them stopped and get the guy help before Xander killed him."

"I stopped at stabbing and taunting," he defended.  "I was being a good boy and defending my ass.  Defense is always acceptable."

"It is," Horatio agreed. "I can almost guarantee you this won't be happening again."  He made Xander look at him and got a smile and a blown kiss. "Are you sure?"

"Dad can baby me if I need it.  You'll do it later if they end up pulling the stitches to check for glass."  He nodded and went off to make sure the crime scene was being done properly and every single point was hit.

"It's not often you see the Wrath of Caine around the office these days," Speed said dryly, shuddering.  "I'm staying in here unless I get a call.  Ryan, it's always a good idea to stay out of the way because he will snap at anyone who is not Xander, even if they weren't part of it."  Frank came in and locked the door.  "You can't do that."

"The hell you say.  Horatio just went after the IA guy!  They can find their own damn hiding spots."  He came over to look at Xander.  "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine.  A little owwie since Alexx hit me on a broken spot."  He shrugged and winced.  "Ow, and there's glass in there."

"Uh-huh," she said, nodding as she laid the last butterfly on his forehead.  "You sure you wanna go into the ER?  I don't even have a local on me, baby."

"So?  They didn't use any when they did it.  It had almost stopped bleeding by the time the paramedics got there.  Willow could've stitched it for me.  She did my side."

"She's going to med school then," Ryan noted dryly.  Frank looked at him.  "My wife, if I want her in med school and she can handle it, she's going!"

He smirked.  "You've got it nearly as bad as Caine does," he taunted.

"Yeah, but my girl doesn't dress me in leather and make my ass look hot. She feels proprietary about it."

"I have a 'you can look and drool, but if you touch I bite' motto about that stuff," Xander quipped.  "Drool on or about my baby all you want, but if you touch, I get mean, nasty, and attack.  Fair warning if someone *hurts* him."  He looked at Ryan.  "Your wife'll be helping me by the way."

He nodded.  "I figured she would."  He came over to hold Xander's shoulder steady so Alexx could continue working even though she was laughing.  "Hey, the Vegas people are going to figure out why she turned some guy into a bunnyrabbit for trying to pick pocket me.  Sunnydale people are very proprietary about what's theirs."  Speed moaned and nodded.  "He got enough of that from his small exposure too."

"No, he was always like that," Frank sighed.  "Someone once touched his bike.  Once."  Speed smirked at him for that.  "You CSI guys and your mates are insanely jealous at times."

"Yeah, but think about it, we'll never get cheated on," Ryan quipped.  "All our spouses know we'll figure it out with just a hair being out of place."

"It was a unique situation and it'd never happen again, especially not with me," Xander assured him patiently. "I have a mate, Xander's mate for life once they've found theirs."  Someone pounded on the door.  "Speaking of mates, it's one of ours."  Frank went to open it, letting Eric and Calleigh in. "I'm fine."  Alexx yanked on a wire and he hissed. "You did that on purpose."

"Um-huh."   She nodded, smiling at him.  "You're going to be spoiled tonight."

"Hell, I was hoping for tied down and licked," he muttered just loud enough for her and Ryan to hear.   She dropped the tools she was using and looked at him.  "Sorry, out loud again?"   He grinned sweetly.

"Behave," she ordered, going for clean tools to go back to his shoulder.  "It's healed pretty well so far, Xander."  He nodded.  "Have you been taking an antibiotic?"

"No.  I've been swimming with it and the chlorine has been keeping it clean."

"Okay."  She swatted him in a different spot. "You don't swim with stitches, even metal ones."

"He swam with them uncovered last night," Eric told her, smirking at Xander in that 'you're in trouble now' look.

"Yeah, and I did what with my old time?"

"Beat it," he admitted.  Alexx glared at him.  "I didn't know he had stitches!  Horatio told me after he beat his old time."

"Stella called but I answered it," Calleigh admitted.  Eric frowned at her.  "I thought I told you!"

"I'm going to find some way of removing half the testosterone from the CSI labs," Alexx said firmly, glaring at all the men.

"Don't look at me, I was in no way involved and if you do that, that means all the feds'll wanna try my butt instead of Horatio's."  The door opened and he backed up at that look on his face. "She said she's gonna take all the testosterone from the lab.  That'll make me top dog and I don't want it."

"Don't worry, Frank, Yelina still beats you," Eric quipped with a grin.

"I can get your ass suspended, Delko."

"Boys!" Xander snapped.

"Sorry," Frank admitted, glaring at Eric, who was still smirking.  Xander kicked him and Frank snickered at the pained look.  "See, next time follow the Xander Caine's orders."

Xander looked back at him.  "What?"

"It's what Yelina calls you when you're in a suit and acting like your man there."  He backed away from the look on Horatio's face. "Take it up with her."

"I would but she's off hunting one of the other ones, Frank."  Frank ran from the room.  "I'll deal with that later.  Is he all right, Alexx?"

"Except for a smutty mind, I should be able to get all the glass out of this with a few more rinses," she said patiently.  "Can I move him downstairs so I have suction?"

"Eww!  No!"  Xander told her.  She glared at him.  "No!  I'm not dead yet!  No!"

"There's no body out down there, Xander."

"So?  The dead like my ass for chats.  No.  We don't want whatever funky thing that causes me to get possessed every now and then to come out down there. No."

"Fine."  She looked at Horatio, who slightly shrugged.  "Then we're going to have to rinse it and leave it open."

"Okay," he agreed.  "I have taken care of wounds in the past, Alexx. Really."

"And you're going to take your antibiotic as well, right?"  He sighed and nodded. "Thank you."  She looked at Horatio. "Have you thought about corporeal punishment?"

"Yes, but we agreed if he got that bad, we'd send him back to Don Flack to be yelled at," he said dryly.

"Do you need reservations to New York?"

"We'll be back there next month," Horatio assured her.  She snorted and went back to it.

Speed's phone rang so he pulled it out.  "Speedle."  He listened.  "No, his phone was just broken when someone tried to bash him in the parking lot, Diana.  What's wrong?"  He frowned and handed the phone to his son.  "Eric won't quit screaming."

"Eric," he cooed.  The baby's screaming came through.  "Eric, sweetie, what's wrong?" he cooed.  "It's the daddy, yes, it is, now calm down and tell daddy what's wrong?"  The sniffling calmed down.  "What's wrong, Eric?  Are you okay? Is it an owwie?  Or are you just upset?"  The phone was taken away from the baby.  "Get his teddy bear that I bought him, it should smell like me since he used it to snuggle up to me for naps."  She got it and the baby's sniffled quit.  "There," he cooed.  The baby made baby babbling noises, making him grin.  "Yes, I miss you too, Eric, it's okay.  I promise it's okay."  He listened to her rant and sighed.  "Di.  Really?  Because the test I had done while I had him said that's a lie."  She paused and said something else.  "Really?  Like what, Diana?  No."  He hissed.  "No, I'm being fussed over because I got glass in the wound in my shoulder.  I had it before I picked him up.  No, the night I got there.  No, not mine, thank you.  My friend's brother broke into my hotel room to kill him.  Not my psycho at all.  It's his brother, I don't think you can classify family that way, can you?"  He smirked.

"No, dear, he didn't have access to any pharmaceutical products.  Why would he?  I wasn't taking any.  Yes, I do believe in medical care but I didn't need any.  Diana, it only went in an inch and a half.  I only had some stitches.  That means I didn't need pain killers.  I have a fairly high pain tolerance.  Gee, I don't know, hunting those things that go bump in the night down on Penguin Street?" he suggested dryly.  "Yeah, so, yeah.  You know what, Di.  You sound like you need a vacation.  So bring me my son, sit on a beach for ten days, look at the local club scene down here to see if my idea has merit, and then we'll discuss visitation and custody stuff.  Yes, I'll be more than able to take care of him and this'll make sure you realize there's no more psychotic people after me.  He wasn't after me, he was after Ray.  They captured him when he was after me and then he escaped and came after Ray.  Specifically after Ray.  See, not after me at all.  Plus, hey, I've got a nice household with my husband."  He rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry she left you, but it's an even better reason to come down to Miami and give me my son while you lounge for ten days, Diana.  Whine.  Really.  On what grounds, dear?  I'm an excellent father.  Don and Danny and Stella can all prove that to any judge up there.  I only have a temper for adults who do stupid shit to me and my family.  I'm more than able to provide him with a steady home.  Because if you don't, I will sue you for permanent and total custody, and you know what, dear, the gay card won't go as far as you think.  Now, you're stressed and you're taking it out on my son.  You have some designers who can handle the shop for ten days while you come down here and look at the local and South American fashions we get.  Hey, if you set up a shop down here, one of them can take it over and run it under you," he said dryly.  "Therefore, you're coming down.  Even if I have to come kidnap the both of you.  Understood?" he asked firmly.

"Yeah, well, maybe if you didn't yell at him, he wouldn't have been screaming, dear.  Yes, I'm sure you were.  Your voice is hoarse like you've been screaming.  I saw you do it when I was up there with Ray. Don saw you do it and came to calm you down.   I took the direct route and took the baby.  Now, this time, I'm going to take the baby while you relax, club, and look at the fashions down here.  Then we'll discuss the custody and visitation issues.  Then you can go back to New York once we come to an official, legal agreement.  Because I will be up there next month and if we don't have one, I'm filing for custody."  He listened to her sob.  "You can't work with him in the building anyway!  You said yourself, you can't think smutty thoughts in front of your son!  Therefore, those are the days I get visitation!" he snapped.  "Thank you.  When can we expect you?"  He took mental note and calmed himself down again.  "Good.  Thank you.  And if you need help, call Don.  At the worst, he can call me and I can fly back up and bring him down here so you get a vacation."  He hung up and tossed the phone back, leaning forward to rest his forehead on his fists.  "I'm going to kill the mother of my child," he announced.  "She was screaming at him for being a toddler."

"What was he doing?" Speed asked calmly.

"Wandering around and he drooled on a design."  He looked at him.  Then at his mate, who nodded.  "I don't want to make decisions for you so you need to be there when we discuss custody and visitation," he said quietly.  "She's coming down tonight and I'm meeting her at the airport if I can get the car window fixed."  He took a deep breath and looked at Alexx.  "Can you maybe hurry up just a bit more?  I've apparently got shit to do today, including going to buy a playpen."  She nodded, getting back to work.  He rested his head on his hands again, feeling the familiar hands stroke the back of his neck and his shoulders.  "I'll be fine," he said quietly.  "I won't really kill her.  Or if I do, I'll make sure you never find out or her body."  Ryan chuckled at that.  He looked at him.  "Who's joking?  Willow and I have connections within the demon community.  I know exactly where to go to find a demon to kill the mother of my son and eat her body.  I even know things that can do it while she's alive.  Willow knows how to summon them.  I'd never treat her wrong.  Got it?"  He nodded quickly but he was still grinning.  "Good."  Alexx checked his shoulder then started to bandage it.  "When can I swim with this?"

"When it's fully closed."

He looked at her.  "It's either wearing Horatio out as a means of stress relief or swimming, dear.  When?"

"Give it a few days.  He'll need you to make him quit being so cranky with the other cops anyway."  She taped down the last corner and stood up, gathering everything, including the tools that had fallen.  "Can you handle a baby?"

"I did for four days.  They forgot I had him for two of them."  He grinned at her.  "I'm actually a very good daddy.  I had crappy examples of what to be so I do the opposite."  He stood up.  "If I get too stressed, I'll pay Ray Jr. to babysit for an hour and go take a walk on the beach."  She smiled at that and nodded, heading back to the morgue.  He looked at Eric.  "He likes to watch me swim.  I'll have him in the water when he's three and it's safer."  That got a grin and he pulled Speed out, leaving him with Horatio once Ryan took the hint.  "I don't mean to force you into this."

Horatio gave him a kiss.  "He's my stepson.  Everyone will want to meet him tonight and those who met him in New York will want to play with him.  I have no problems with you going for custody if she's a bad mother, Xander.  If she's a good mother and it's vindictive I'll stop you.  If she's a bad mother, he's staying."  Xander relaxed and smiled, nodding at him.  "He can have the guest room."  He took a kiss and got a smile in return.  "All right?  We'll see how she is when she comes back from her days on the beach and her nights in the club.  Did you remember to register for classes?"

"I was doing that this afternoon.  I can do it tomorrow?"

"Do it today while you have the car fixed. That way I don't have to figure out how to put a babyseat in the Hummer yet."  Xander smirked at that and gave him a hug.  "Good boy.  Go register and I'll send your car to the dealership or whoever they suggest."  He nodded and walked out.  Horatio calmed himself again.  His family was fine.  His mate was fine.  The cub was fine and he would be closer soon.  Everything would be fine by tonight.  Because he had been able to hear that baby scream over the phone.  He went to find the others.  "She's bringing the baby down tonight," he announced. "Her girlfriend just left her and she's a bit stressed.  So Xander will have the baby starting tonight while she's on the beach and playing."  They all nodded.  "Let's try not to crowd in on the baby tonight, guys."  They all nodded.  "Thank you."  He went to find Yelina and warn her.  "Would Ray like to babysit sometime this week?" he asked quietly.

"The older one?  No.  The younger?  Probably.  Is the baby coming down?  I heard Frank say she called and the baby was screaming."

"Her girlfriend just left, she can't work with the baby in the building, and the baby was being a baby.  He ordered her to come down so she could play and relax while he watched him and then we'd talk about custody and visitation."

She nodded.  "That's wise.  Any night but Wednesday, Horatio."

"Thank you, Yelina.  Xander said he'd pay him for babysitting if he got too stressed."

"That's fine.  I don't want him out of my sight until that girl is sent off anyway," she noted dryly.  "I only got to see him for a minute.  Is he cute?"  He showed her the picture he had gotten off Xander. "He's adorable."  He smiled at that.  "He's sure he's his, right?"

"Xander said he had another blood test done with Don's help.  Eric is his."

She nodded. "Good. I'll expect him more often then."  She smiled at him.  "Go back to work, Horatio, before you scare more officers."

"They wouldn't be scared if they weren't doing something wrong," he noted dryly, going to call the dealership to get the car taken care of and then do some paperwork for his bosses.  One of which called a few minutes later.  "Yes?" he asked calmly.  He had Caller ID.  "Yes, sir, he's fine.  No, Alexx had to pull the stitches in his shoulder because some glass got in there.  He had a small cut on his forehead but she bandaged it.  No, he had a ricocheting bullet hit him in New York.  Yes, sir, when he bit someone."  He leaned back and held his forehead.  "Which one called, sir?  Oh, the mayor.  Why?"  He listened to how the chain happened and smirked. "You know, sir, New York might as well be our sister city.  Maybe we should offer them a switching program so some of ours can deal with the more international crimes we don't get and they get a vacation in the winters."  He sat up, looking stunned.

"Well, I had been being facetious but it's a good idea.  I know their CSI department under Taylor is as good, if not better, than ours.  Yes, sir.  No, sir.  Actually, sir, we've said them to each other and CSI Wolfe will be changing his as he just came back from his honeymoon while injured.  No, he's fine.  His window needs fixed. No, I'm sure he's fine.  How did you hear about his son, sir?"  He smirked.  He thought so.  "No, the child's mother is bringing him down for a vacation.  She's under a bit of stress right now so she's going to be down here for ten days. We'll have full custody during that time.  Yes, he's very good at it.  Thank you, sir, and suggest that idea to New York's chief, sir.  Well, they do get cases we don't and they do deal in different areas than we do, and it would be good to crosstrain.  You could probably put it under that and get grants as well.  Plus some of our officers might appreciate the time in the snow and I know some of theirs would appreciate the time without snow."  He smirked.  "Thank you, sir.  Feel free to blame me.  Of course sir.  You have a good day as well."

He hung up once the other man had and wanted so badly to bang his head on the desk.  Instead he called Mac.  "Mac, you're going to hate me.  Yes, I'm sure you're going to hate me.  No, I made an off-hand remark to my chief and it's going to come back to yours.  No, how would you like to oversee a switching program between the two cities to crosstrain?"  He listened to the silence.  "If you collapsed, I'm going to tell Xander."  He heard the spluttering.  "Think about the sun in the cold winters you guys get, Mac.  Plus some of our boys down here could easily use the cheering up that Miami isn't as harsh as New York. Both cities could probably even get travel grants."  He smirked at the swearing.  "Tell Don and Stella that Eric's coming down here for ten days.  She called up and swore at Xander and the baby because the baby wouldn't quit crying right after an officer tried to gaybash him.  No, the officer is very sorry, Xander stabbed him in the stomach, but he's sorry for other reasons as well.  Of course.  Think of it as a working vacation, Mac. You could get a tan, you or Don."  He hung up on the return of the swearing feeling much better now.  Every once in a while it was good to make his friends swear.

***

Don looked up as Mac stormed toward his desk. "Did we put the wrong guy away?" he guessed.

"Caine just made an off-handed remark to his boss that's going to come to ours."  Don nodded slowly, making go on motions.  "To switch some of the officers in the departments of our cities so they figure out Miami's not so bad and we get an escape during the winter."

"Okay," he said, liking that idea a lot.  "I could use a tan!"

"Do you realize what sort of problems this will cause!"

"Do you trust his guys?"  Mac nodded. "Then you won't have a problem, we'll have a problem with the other guys.  You'll get help on all the drug cases!"  He got up and went to get some coffee.  "Geez, Mac, I thought it was a serious issue!  Don't scare me like that!"

"Eric's going down there for ten days," he called.  Don came out of the break room.  "Diana was just screaming at the baby and Xander ordered her to bring him down for a vacation.  He said to let Stella and you know."

"Thank you.  Gives me a few nights off watching her."

"Is there something you should tell Xander?"

"She can't work with the baby in the building.  Beatrice left her too."  He finished getting coffee and came out, sitting down again.  "Stella and I have been dropping by at random intervals to play with the baby."

"Ah.  Well, ten days without having to would be nice."

"I don't mind, he's a nice kid.  Makes ya see what Xander could have been with parents like Speed and Aiden the whole time."  He grinned at him.  "How is the kid?"

"Horatio said some idiot tried to gaybash him outside the station and Xander stabbed him.  Then Horatio made him sorry."

"Yeah, he said there were rumors about the Wrath of Caine if you touched his boy or his hummer."  He smirked at him. "Think of the tans, Mac, and less snotty actors.  They get less homicides too.  You could use the vacation!"

"I doubt I'd be allowed to go unless I took over their night shift and we all moved down there at once."

"Eh, you never know.  Go, find me more work."  He made 'go away' motions.  "Now."

"Fine."  He stomped off, going to sit in his office and wait on the method of his doom to call and confirm itself.  Because he knew this was a bad idea.  A very bad idea.  An idea like letting Xander cook it was so bad and wrong.

***

Xander walked into the townhouse with his son, smiling at the people on the porch.  "Oooh, look, Eric," he cooed, pointing. "It's Grandpa Speed.  Can you say Grandpa?"

"Pa!" he said happily, beaming at his favorite person.  He wiggled until he got down and walked out there, going to the person his daddy was talking to.  "PA!" he shouted happily, hugging him around the leg.

"Not me," Eric said, reaching down to pat him.  "That one," he said pointing at him.  He had nieces and nephews, he knew this game.  "Speed!"  He looked. "Him, Eric, go to him."  He gave the baby a nudge and he toddled that way.

"Pa!" he said, beaming up at him and clutching him around the knee.

Speed just stared and nodded.  "I guess if Xander calls me dad, you can call me Grandpa."  He picked him up, looking at him. "Hi, Eric."  The baby leaned forward and sucked on the end of his nose. "No, that's Calleigh's.  Don't take her treat."  He kissed him on the cheek, making him a happy baby. "Where is your daddy?"

"Changing," Eric said, smirking at him. "So, Grandpa Speed."

"Wouldn't that make it Grandma Calleigh?" Frank joked.  "Give 'im here!"  The baby was handed over and he had to smile at that grin. "Hi, Eric, I'm your uncle Frank.  You'll figure us all out soon enough."  The baby tipped his head to look at him then let out a fart and giggled.  "Yeah, you and your daddy are a lot alike."  Alexx took the baby from him. "Hey!"

"Speedy's my son, so that makes me great-grandma Alexx."  She smiled at the baby, who babbled happily at her and patted her on the cheek.  "Thank you, baby boy.  How was your flight?"  He let out another fart and laughed.  "Ah, one of those."  Horatio took the baby and went to change him. "He probably doesn't need it yet."

"Just preparing for when he does."  Xander came out to take the baby and change him, making him stare at him.  "I can help."

"You're cooking."

"Hands wash, Xander."  Xander gave him a look. "Fine, you can change diapers for now."  He went to wash his hands and go back to cooking.  The baby wandered out a few minutes later and headed back for the other people.  "Like your daddy, you like to be the center of attention," he noted dryly.  Xander bounced past and stole a kiss, heading back out there once he got the door and let Ryan and Willow in.  "Porch, children."

Willow looked at the baby, then turned and hit Xander on the arm. "You didn't tell me you had a baby!  What witch cast the damn spell!  That way I can make sure she did it right!"

"His mother's an actual girl," Ryan assured her.  "It was the woman who designed all of Xander's stripper clothes."  He led her out with a sorry look for Xander.

Who shrugged and closed the door.  "She turned me into one once.  Accidentally on purpose."  He followed his son out, finding him giving Speed adoring looks. "What are you doing to my son?"

"Just holding him.  With all of us helping, he'll be everything you should've been, kid."  He pulled Xander down and kissed him on the forehead.  "Did you tell Willow about the swimming stuff yet?"

"No."  He looked at her.  "I'm trying out for my college's swim team."

"Cool.  Does that mean we can come and gape you at you in a small speedo again?"  Ryan gave her a look.  "He was a geeky guy, totally nearly a skeleton, and in a speedo that was two sizes too small.  All the girls in the school gaped at him. Buffy even drooled."

"Her and Cordy both," Xander said dryly, looking at the kitchen.  "Can I help?"

"He lets you in the kitchen?" Willow asked, looking appalled.  "No!  That's just...wrong!  No!"

Speed cackled and the baby followed along.  "See, I'm not the only one who banned Xander from the kitchen."

"No, you're the only one who won't even let me make jelly toast."  He went to help and Horatio gave him a soul-sucking kiss and sent him back out there with a stupid grin on his face.  "Never mind."  He sat down and stole his baby, but he climbed over him and went to sit on Calleigh now, snuggling into her chest with a sigh of pleasure and grinning this big shit-eating grin at her.

"I used to do that same thing," Eric said, starting to laugh.  "My mother used to swat the hell out of me for it."

"You probably deserved it," Willow shot back. "Xander used to do it to big, burly truck driver guys."  Xander blushed and the others giggled.  "So, is he any good?  We had him get onto the swim team to figure out the fishy monsters," she said as she sat down, pulling Ryan onto her lap.

"Isn't he supposed to be on the bottom?" Frank teased.

"Only if you believe sex is only to be done on Saturday nights with the lights off in the missionary position and you have to confess it the next morning," she shot back, smirking at him.  He did his fish impersonation while the others laughed.  "Some of us are from more liberal areas.  It didn't matter what you did in Sunnydale as long as it wasn't someone else's wife."

"Or a goat. You forgot about Mr. Henson," Xander reminded her, looking at his son, who was napping.  "He's very comfy, so just hand him back when your arms are tired."  Calleigh nodded and patted the baby on the back, getting a small belch.  "Say excuse me, son."  He babbled something in his sleep.  "Close enough."  He looked at Willow.  "So, how are you enjoying married life? I got to tell Joyce before the guy took my phone."

"She called me earlier," she admitted. "She'll be coming out in two days but she'll be leaving Buffy with Rupert.  Then he'll come out next month to threaten our spouses."  He nodded, accepting that.  "I still can't believe you married a guy.  You used to nearly run away from Larry."

"I didn't want Larry.  Besides, Larry was pushy.  Larry had half the guys in town, including some of the vampires.  Plus, Horatio suits me and understands me.  Even the naughty stripper parts."

"Do I want to know how he does that?" Frank asked.

"Too many undercovers I'd assume," Alexx offered.  Yelina looked at her.  "Or you could ask her."

"I've been sworn to secrecy."

"Under penalty of the Wrath of Caine?" Frank teased.

"Frank," Horatio called. "Drop that stupid rumor please."  He came to the door. "It's bad enough you made the rookies scared of me already.  Don't scare Willow."

"Oh, please.  I looked into the hellmouth, Horatio.  Nothing on this earth that looks human scares me," she assured him.  "Which is why I can and will kill your ass if you ever hurt my Xander buddy.  As long as you don't, we're on good terms for life."

He looked at her.  "I had a friend who told me how to block your magic," he warned her.  She looked horrified and he nodded.  "He said it might be necessary to help you adjust."

"How do you know chaos people?" she demanded.

"He knows the Ethan plague," Xander noted dryly.  "He's how we managed to get out there to save Tim so fast."

"Please tell me you don't hang out with Rupert's ex," she pleaded. "Please, Xander."

"No, I haven't seen him yet," Xander admitted.  "Horatio won't tell me how he knows him so as long as I don't catch him doing chaos magic on me in bed we're all good."

"I can't even imagine Horatio doing magic," Yelina offered.  She shuddered.

"Xander and magic usually gives me the same sort of shudder," Willow told her.  "It likes him.  I swear the hellmouth pouted for two weeks when he left."

"It might have.  The Powers told me he had to leave," Speed told her. "How is Buffy?"

"Rupert told us about him and Ethan to tweak her fear of gay things.  Apparently her boyfriend was doing some things with his unit to relieve stress and she found out.  She's not exactly homophobic, more like horrified by the very thought of two guys.  Two girls is fine but two guys is bad to her.  So Giles has been working on it by sharing *way* too much information about him Ethan and a few others."  She looked at Horatio, then at Xander.  "Does he have the mark thingy?"

"No.  Not unless he's concealing it, and if he is, he can tell me whenever he's ready."  Calleigh nudged him so he took his son back, getting sleepy, rumbly sounds.  "I've got you, Eric," he whispered.  The baby calmed down and snuggled in. "If he's using magic, I'll accept that as long as he's not using it on me or to harm others.  If it's to harm others, I'll try to talk him out of it and if it's on me, I'll walk away."  Willow smiled at that.  "I got enough of that from you."  She nodded, accepting that and hugging Ryan.  "And I will be watching for it, Willow."

"I know.  I'm cutting myself off for six months.  We already agreed."

"Good.  I approve.  You can talk to me about that stuff," he reminded her.  He looked at Ryan.  "Every now and then expect me to pop up with a candle and a few herbs on a dish."

"She won't."

"And I'll be making sure of it.  The last time she did it accidentally in her sleep, Buffy ended up being a bunnyrabbit."

"She did that to a pickpocket.  I've got it, Xander," he said, staring him down.

"Okay, then all you have to do is ask," he agreed.  Ryan nodded, accepting that he now had full and total control of Willow's magic problems.

"He has the same right, correct, Willow?" Horatio pressed.

"He doesn't use magic."

"Now and then he loses his keys," Speed admitted.  "Had he started down the path you took I would've stopped him by now."  She nodded, accepting that.  "Now, agree."

"Horatio has full control and authority over all Xander problems, including his psycho drawing abilities."

"Actually I may have found the hormone signal he uses," Ryan announced.  "The problem is that it's a pheromone and if it's altered any it can start to drive people away from him."

"So, can we put it into a spray bottle and use it on people playing bait?" Eric suggested.

"Yes, in both directions."  Everyone smiled at that.  "It's up to Xander if he wants to have the antidote."

"It could make Horatio leave?"

"It could make him want to, if he stays would be more higher brain than unconscious reaction," he offered.

"Then no," Horatio said, going back to the kitchen.

"So that leaves testing," Eric said, leaning forward.  "How?"

"Prisoner scent tests," Ryan told him.  "It's about the only way to really reliably say that someone's a rapist or a murderer.  We have someone sprayed with a sample, we have someone sprayed with the anti-sample, and then a control.  We note reactions both with brain waves and verbal cues."

"Sweetie, that'll introduce a margin of error," Willow told him, stroking his back.  "There's supposed to be about ten percent of the prison population who's in there for the wrong thing."  He looked at her and nodded.  "Plus, it works better if it's *Xander* doing it, not others.  I've noticed something like that after curling up next to Xander when we were younger.  Personally I think that's why the vampire took Jesse and I that first night.  We had curled up with Xander the night before and were around him all day."  Xander glared at her. "The time before that it was the guy in the pickup, Xander."

"You can't correlate that," Speed told her. "That's anecdotal.  Horatio doesn't have that problem and he probably carries more of Xander's sweat than not."

"Yes, but Xander's found his mate now," Ryan reminded him. "This was premate Xander's sweat.  And you're right, that would be anecdotal back that far.  So we can only work with manufactured ones and possibly test various control subjects to see if one can put out that same vibe that Xander did, the one of searching for his mate."

"That's like the idea of teaching another stripper Xander's routines and seeing if they draw the same way," Eric noted.  "How do you measure the rate of response?"

"Brain waves.  We know what happens when someone's attracted to someone else.  This is a different form of attraction. This is really the link between attraction and personality and behavior at this subconscious level.  So brain and heart waves, or other forms of biometrics are the only way we can."

"But how will we find someone else who was possessed by an predatory animal spirit?" Willow asked.

"Ah, that blows your theory," Ryan said, smirking at her.  "You said back when you still had Jesse, which was before he was possessed, right?"  She considered it then nodded.  "Then it's not the hyena, or not just her, it's him.  Which means we can find someone with the same mix of personality traits and see if they can do the same."

"You're thinking personality is hereditary," Alexx reminded them both.  "It's not totally."

"Yes, but we can tell that some of his personality traits were subverted in youth.  His SAT score proves he's not stupid, yet he did badly in his classes.  He told me he struggled in his college level stuff too.  That's partially learning style and partially personality that was either reimaged and reshaped by his home life.  Think about it.  If Speed and Aiden had gotten there sooner, would Xander be struggling in college or could he be halfway on his way to a Ph. D.?  I'm betting on the latter and I'm doing so based on the assumption that his parents didn't put much emphasis on learning, thereby pushing down and reimaging that personality trait, and the school was so crappy I'm not sure how the state didn't shut it down and blow it up themselves."

"I don't think the state noticed us until some wiccans got high enough up to break the charm that the hellmouth sent out around to make itself look attractive and unknown," Willow offered.  "We didn't get any notice until our eleventh grade year and that was the year the State Secretary was a Wiccan and started to look into these things."

"There was talk about consolidation but the mayor pushed it away heavily with bribes and none of the rest of the county wanted our kids anyway because of all the rumors of strange stuff that made it out of the town.  That's all you could find, was rumors unless it was somewhere that had a spot of the energy itself," Xander told him.  "Besides, the hellmouth was under the high school library.  It wasn't about to let all that free energy and free lunches go.  It would've blown up the other towns first."  He shifted and patted the baby on the back.  "Even Speed and Aiden couldn't get past the learning issues I had.  Unless I got a Ph. D. in gym teacher, there's no way."

"Doctor Laura has one and so does Doctor Phil," Alexx said dryly, staring at him.  "Look how they're messing up people.  You can only do better, sugar.  Now, hand little Eric over."  He grinned and handed him over.  The baby blinked at her and she smiled. "I'm more comfy than him, little guy.  You can nap on me."  He snuggled in with a sigh and a rub of his cheek against her breasts.  "Maybe he'll be straight too."

"Maybe he won't have my dating problem either," Xander said wryly, smirking at her.

"Please," Speed said, looking up.  "Let the baby Xander be a normal guy?"  He grabbed his head and held on before his forehead split open.  "Thank you!"  He looked at Xander.  "Not a problem.  He is never to go near Sunnydale though.  If he goes, he becomes vamp you and their upcoming daughter will be the vamp her."

"Excuse me?  Daughter?" Willow asked.  "Honey, get up."  He stood up and she walked off the porch, down to the beach to check herself over.  That way she could swear in private.  "When did I mess up that fertility spell!" she hissed at the Powers.  The image of her working a spell in her room made her moan and fall to her knees.  "As you will it, Goddess and Powers."  She got up and went back up there, looking at him. "I fucked up a fertility spell last year.  I'm never touching magic again."

"At least not while you're pregnant," Xander said dryly.  "We don't know what it can do to the baby," he told Ryan when he looked at him.  "Di's a wiccan too."  He nodded at the baby.  "He's sensitive."  Willow looked stunned.  "That's how I knew he was truly mine. He used to babble at Beatrice's familiar and the ghost they had in the fitting room."

"So it wasn't the looking like you?" Alexx asked.  "Because he does."

"You can look just like me, act just like me, walk and babble just like me, but if you're sensitive the same way I am, then you can't have come from any other line.  No other line would be sensitive in exactly the same way.  I'm sensitive to feeling magic and interacting with the dead.  Which is why the only time you'll fully see me in the morgue is when I'm dead.  Unless I have to run down there to save you from something.  By the way, Wills, she needs to have someone do a cleaning on the morgue sometime soon.  It's been building energy."

"Sure, I can do it tomorrow," she admitted. "That's not magic as much as creating a way to release it and let the spirits move on."  She looked at Alexx.  "You could have any Shaman of your choice do the same thing."

"I'll look into that," she admitted.  "Thank you, kids."  The baby looked up at her, smiling. "The bigger kids."

The baby looked at Speed.  "Pa!"

"Sure, come see me," he agreed, holding out his arms.  The baby climbed over and stroked over his semi-beard.  "Scratchy, I know. I need to shave."  The baby giggled and rubbed his cheek against it.

"At least I've got a good cream for beard burn," Calleigh said with a smile for the two.

"I want the name of that," Xander said, looking at her and grinning.  "I kinda need some on my shoulder."

"I still think you should be spanked for scaring the rookie patrol guy that way," Frank told him, smirking at him.  "Enjoy it much?"

"He stood there and watched.  We didn't scare him that much," he shot back with a smirk.  "But if you want me spanked, you've gotta talk ta Flack about that.  Horatio and Speed agreed on that."  Speed nodded and smoothed down some of the baby's hair.  "That needs trimmed."

"Not yet it doesn't," Alexx told him. "Give it time to fully come in, baby."  She looked inside. "Horatio, are you hiding?"

"Yes," he called back.  "I'm nearly done.  Ray Jr. just pulled up!"

"He's driving?" Xander asked Yelina.

"He'd better not be since he doesn't have a license."  Her son was let in and walked out.  "You were driving?"

"Father took me, he said it was time," he noted, pulling it out to show her. "I told him you said I had to wait until this summer. He said that's impractical with the people who chase Xander around."  He spotted the baby and beamed.  "Hi, Eric."  The baby beamed and bounced, making Speed groan and Xander grab him and hand him over.  "Ooh, sorry, Speed."  He took the spare chair and sat down with the baby.  "How are you today?" he cooed, rubbing noses with the baby.  "Father wanted to know if he could come. I told him no."  He looked over as Horatio came back with his father.  "He followed me?" Horatio nodded. "I told him no."

"Who's son is that?" Ray Sr. asked.

"Xander's.  The mother didn't tell him until he found out by accident," Alexx told him. "Speed, honey, do you need an ice pack?"  He winced and straightened up, shaking his head.

"Jr. there did that to me a few times," Ray offered.

"Yes, and we all laughed," Horatio reminded him.  Xander came in to help him carry stuff, and they ended bringing out another chair as well.  Xander ended up in his lap and Ryan and Willow changed places so she was on top for now.

Ray Sr. smirked.  "Ah, newlyweds."

"We're perpetually cute so that old guys like you have wives who remember romance fondly and still put up with you due to the old memories," Willow told him sweetly, making the other women at the table laugh, and Frank as well.  "Before you ask, yes, I do read minds, and yes, I'm pregnant.  Make me more cranky."  He shifted his chair away, then realized he was next to Xander so he shifted with his son, moving their plates as well.  Willow smirked at Ray Jr.  "Do you babysit?"  He nodded.  "Good.  We'll need one some year soon."  Ryan nibbled the back of her neck, making her giggle and swat him.  "Not in public.  That's smutty Xander thoughts."

"You made out with him in public?" Horatio asked.

"No, he's the one who has smutty thoughts about public places.  I can't even think about abandoned outdoor places yet."

"You don't know the half of it," Frank complained.  "They keep scaring officers.  Oh, Horatio, the Chief said if he's forced to hear about you and him in the hummer one more time, he's taking yours and giving it to Nights.  He'll make you drive a sedan."

"Should he do that, I'm going to go buy him the top of the line, all the bells and whistles, model and we'll park it outside his house the next time," Xander said with a sweet smile.  "No one said the patrol guys had to come up and *watch*."

"Or tell either of you," Yelina added, making Frank laugh at that.  "I'm sure it's happened more than twice."  Horatio shook his head, getting back to cutting up his dinner.  "Really?"

"Special treat," Speed shared.

"The Chief said it goes for the rest of you guys too," Frank told him. "The same as the patrol guys can't use the cruisers."

"Who'd want to, they're uncomfortable," Xander complained.

"Do I even want to ask?" Calleigh asked.  Xander shook his head.  "Good, okay, I'm good with not knowing that."

"One of the times he got escorted back to the station," Speed told her.  "He ended up napping in one.  Horatio would never lower himself to driving one of them."

"I guess we'll have to get a decal for the one Xander'll have to buy him," Eric noted dryly.

"It's not like we do it every day, thank you.  Twice and only twice now."

"Special treat," Willow said, nodding.  "As it should be.  The best smutty sex always is."  Xander and a few others nodded at that.  She looked at Speed, then at Xander.  Then back at Speed.  "I got a call from Aiden warning me about stimulant lubricant?  She said to ask you."

"My fault," Yelina offered.  "I suggested he buy it and Speed confiscated it when Xander couldn't calm down.  Calleigh cleaned the whole house in one night with his toothbrush."

"Horatio needed a major nap and so did Speed," Alexx said dryly.  Speed nodded at that and Horatio went back to eating, only getting a kiss from his mate for being so nice.

"Awww, did you walk in?" Willow teased.  She nodded.  "Yeah, I did that once on him and Cordy kissing.  Nearly scared me off sex for life.  Cordelia kissing was not the image I ever wanted to see."

"You and me both," Speed noted dryly, cutting into his meat.  "Nicely done, Horatio.  Next time, ask for help."  They shared a smirk.  "So, Alexx, how long before Xander can be in the pool?"

"Diving?  Until that last skull fracture clears up.  Totally closes, kids.  Swimming?  As long as he's not dizzy or anything, when his shoulder's healed.  Sometime next week."  The baby smiled at her so she took him back, letting him have some of her corn.  "You're old enough to eat real people food."  The baby gummed some and smiled at her.  "You're going to be a heartbreaker, sugar.  You really are."

"Xander broke many hearts," Eric reminded them all.  "They were tainted ones but he broke many hearts."

"Yeah, I broke one so much he committed suicide," Xander said proudly.  "Because he couldn't kidnap me."

Willow looked at him.  "You've gotten worse, haven't you?"  He beamed and nodded.  "At least it's not the dating curse."

"No, they send him presents now, like high end sports cars and diamonds," Eric said with a smirk.  "When's the auction, Xander?"

"Next month, the twelfth."   He ate a bite off his plate and fed Horatio a bite, smiling at him.  "Are you coming?"

"The Chief willing," he agreed.

"Cool."  He snuck a kiss and beamed.  "Think the buddies will come down if they do set up that switching program?"

Frank groaned and shook his head.  "Don't remind me, kid.  Please."

"It'll be good for them.  New York's a harder city, it'll give the guys a new outlook, especially on the drug cases and the club violence they've got.  Plus, hey, different sort of mafia violence too.  And it'll give some of our guys the appreciation for how easy they got it.  Though I was told that the Mala Noches were up there and that if they had any idea who I was, I'd be confined to my hotel room."  Everyone at the table nodded at that.  "Apparently they only have a few up there."

"Lucky them," Frank complained. "I might go up there just to deal with the saner street gangs at times."  Xander smiled at him.  "What?"

"Summer would be about the same for you but they could use the break during the winters."

"Yeah, true," he admitted.  "Snow up to your knees sucks."

"We wouldn't know, the only time we had snow in Sunnydale it was a hellmouthy thing."

"Not true, there was snow in Montreal when I got up there," Xander told her.  "A freak storm but still a bit.  And there was some snow right before I got rescued."

"Wow," she said, looking at him.  "Did you start to wonder if you were invisible?"

He nodded.  "Yeah, I did, but the clients that night decided desperate was a good look for me so I made about two grand that night in tips."  He sipped some of his soda.  "So, Eric, swimming tomorrow."

"Pinch him, Horatio."

Horatio pinched his mate.  "Not until it heals, Xander."

"Saturday," Eric agreed.  "Your gym?"

"I've still got to tell them that you're coming but yeah.  Sure."  He beamed at him.  "You'll like my gym.  It's very nice and very quiet most of the time.  The pool's nearly empty since most of the people who go there don't really swim."  He got up and went inside to call his gym.  "Hi, this is Xander Harris," he said cheerfully.  "Yup, Darkness.  No, I've been keeping up on my fees, right?  Good!  No, actually, I'm being encouraged to try out for my school's swim team and my coach thinks I might actually have some higher aspirations so I'm working on my training.  How much is my yearly dues again?"  He nodded, making notes of that.  "Now, if I refer someone, even though I'm no longer stripping...."  He looked surprised.  "Really?  Cool!  No, my trainer.  Actually, he's one of my man's CSI guys, Delko.  Yeah, the slutty one in the lab.  Him."  He grinned outside.  "So, if I refer him, he can get a membership?  And before then can I bring him in since he's my trainer?"  He beamed.  "That's so cool.  Can Horatio use mine?"  He nodded and wrote that down as well.

"Remind me of that when I come in next time.  Yeah, we've said our vows to each other, just not in public.  Well, I heard that one of them is just one guy that I helped cure the loneliness for.  Him I don't mind.  The super psycho pep squad that I had I mind.  Yeah, the guy who was using the courier who's just lonely?  Him I think he's a nice guy and I'm more than happy to have helped him. I have no problem with that and neither does my man.  Loneliness I can handle.  Desperation, kidnaping, those things, can't handle and don't want.  Sure, you can pass that around, he said so.  No, we had a few long talks when things started to escalate around when I got the car."  He grinned.  "So, just that extra fee and we're good?  And his.  Sure. No not even seriously dating.  Straight.  You'd have to ask him, Mike.  Not a clue.  Thank you.  Yup, probably tomorrow to look it over because of an injury.  No, I'm good there.  They had to pull the stitches I already had to get glass out of it.  New York.  Yeah, and my son's in."  He beamed.  "He's not quite one yet, Mike.  Sure.  I'll see if I can do that.  Thank you again."  He went back to his lap.

"How's your gym membership?" Eric asked, smirking at him.

"Horatio can go with the upgrade to the family membership, as can the little Eric, and Mike wanted to see the cuteness when I come in the next time. You can buy your own since I'm a member and I'm referring you."  He handed over the numbers.  "The lower one is for single guys like you and Mike wanted to know if you liked guys or girls and I said you're straight and to ask you personally.  To bring you in, you do have to have a membership."

"That's cheaper than the Y," Eric noted dryly, looking at him.  "Do I get the 'look around' day?"

"Yeah, I can do that tomorrow with you after shift if you want since he wanted to see the cuteness and so I won't forget to upgrade mine so Horatio can use it.  That way he can go and see and get in and all that stuff."

"Where are you a member at?" Frank asked.

"Aristotle."

"Like the place the anything-goes clubs send their people to?" Ray Sr. asked.

Xander nodded.  "The club I used to work for was a feeder for that circuit.  I was just told my membership is good for life because I brought so much life back into the circuit.  Bravado fed into the circuit so we had passes that got us memberships there and most of the clubs in the circuit.  I've still got my pass and I was just told it's still good.  So *technically* if it comes down to one of you guys going into that sort of club to go undercover, I *could* bring you but if they find out I'd be bitch slapped repeatedly."

"That means you get into Aphrodite," Ray Sr. noted.

Xander nodded. "Or I would if they hadn't been shut down by Vice.  They had a nice dance floor.  That's the only reason I went there.  We were considered advertising for Bravado and for the circuit so our passes got us into nearly anything but the A-level clubs.  Places like Ying and those."  Horatio nodded at that.  "The day I got my pass, I went out and I went all over the city.  From Tropical out by the 'glades to the Bayshore out on the beach and Bro in the big boat, I got in and still get in."   He grinned at him.  "I still only went to dance.  I don't drink, I don't use drugs, and I never was a club whore."

"Not in Sunnydale either," Willow agreed, smiling at him.  "Even back when you couldn't dance."  He nodded.  "How did you finally learn?"

"I asked one of the senior strippers to help me learn.  He showed me what I was doing wrong and then Diana helped me with some routines and some clothes and it went from there.  I had a very loyal clientele.  One that got quite pissed the night I walked off stage and took Horatio's hand to have him walk me out at the end of my very last set."

"It was artistically done," Calleigh agreed happily.  "Did they actually riot?"

"Nearly.  I trained the next guy in one of my acts and he did that one that night.  They booed him a bit but they calmed down when they saw someone was at least trying.  Now, all the club bought me a round or three," he offered with a grin.  "And my diplomatic buddy tipped me three grand on his special card.  A few of the others tipped me heavily too.  But with Vice closing the Raven's Cage and six others in the next week because they were tapping the lines that night at mine?  Bravado pretty well had it made anyway."

"You worked for Jack?" Ray Sr. asked.  Xander nodded.  "As?"

"I was Darkness down here.  Up in Montreal I was Night and Vex at the first one.  I thought it was dramatic."  Willow giggled. "Well, I did vex them all.  Hell, I never let anyone touch and I never let down my guard or got myself into a situation where I could be touched. I vexed a great many hopeful people."  Horatio nodded at that, smirking a bit.  He grinned back at him.  "Most of all you and I'm sorry about that."

"It was a job, Xander.  I knew you didn't enjoy all of it.  Just the teasing part."  He gave him a gentle kiss, that got turned deeper and Xander shifted to take control of it.

Frank coughed.  "We don't need to see that outside the hummer either," he noted loudly.  Xander flipped him off behind his back and got back into it.  Frank groaned and plucked out an ice cube, leaning over to put it down Horatio's collar, which broke them up.  "Thank you.  My wife might appreciate it but she's not here."

"Sorry," Horatio said, giving his mate a look telling him his earlier request to be tied down and fucked into oblivion was going to happen now.

"Who's got the baby tonight?" Yelina asked.

"I do," Xander assured her. "He's sleeping in the guest room and I've got the baby monitor already set up with all that stuff.  Is he asleep?"  Alexx nodded.  "Give him here."  He leaned over Frank to take his son, holding him for now.  "You've had a long day but you're going to be hungry in a few hours."

"Let him nap now," Alexx ordered patiently.  "If he's hungry, he'll let you know."  Xander nodded and took the baby upstairs to the guest room, then came back with the monitor. "He really does snore," she said, smiling a bit.  "He's safe, right?"

"Go check if you don't believe me but leave his teddy bear alone or else he screams.  It's at his feet."  The mothers and Ray Jr. got up to go check on the baby's room, then came back nodding that it was all right.  "See, Xander can read a website."

"Did Xander remember to schedule his classes?" Speed asked.  Xander sighed and nodded.  "Good Xander."

"Is that where he gets ear scratches?" Willow asked.

Horatio patted him on the back.  "He gets more than that later."

Ryan blushed.  "I'm going to stick up for Frank here, Horatio, seeing you in the middle of sex is odd because I see you as more menacing most of the time."

"Mix up the laundry, see menacing," Xander assured him.  He was pinched and grinned at his mate. "You did.  You did the looming thing and the staring thing while I was trying to nap on the couch."

"Pink?" Speed asked.  "I did that once."

"Blue," Xander told him, nodding and sighing a bit.  "Plus the silk boxer shorts."

"Thank you for replacing all that, Xander," he said, giving him a gentle kiss.  The baby sniffled and they all paused but he went back to snoring.  "I see tonight's going to be interesting."

"He sleeps like the vampires, Horatio.  He'll be fine tonight once he's eaten later and had a bath. The only thing that woke him in New York was my cellphone.  He looked up then huffed and went back to sleep on my stomach."

"Does he have a sleeping problem?" Calleigh asked.  "I've never seen a more sleepy baby."

"No he's like that," Xander offered.  "I did think about taking him to a pediatrician down here to make sure he's all right, just in case it became necessary to the custody thing if she gets mean but I haven't decided yet."

"I'll make you an appointment tomorrow," Alexx assured him.  "That is one sleepy baby."  The phone rang and Horatio got up to get it while Xander went to soothe the son and take the extension out of that room.  Horatio had to move the cordless phone away from the monitor's base so she got up to put it where hers was, on the ceiling.  It solved that problem.  He gave her a grateful look and went into the study with the phone to talk to someone.

***

Xander came off the plane and found someone waiting on him.  "Mac.  Are we bringing problems?"

"You are a problem," Mac said, hugging him.  He shook Horatio's hand, taking the letter to look at.  "Next time, let him kiss the stupid ideas away, Horatio."  He walked them out to his car.  "You're being escorted by either one of us or Horatio everywhere, Xander.  Two of the family members of the man who committed suicide are in town and wailing over their losses."

"They had the chance to protest it in court."

"They didn't want to appear like they were contesting his decision.  Now they can complain."  He shrugged and looked at the kid.  "Now they're looking seriously at taking you hostage since your gayboyness offends them.  To return their honor."

"I thought that declaration stopped that," Horatio noted.

"It did, all but a few rogue members of the family.  The declaration was given to them as well.  They've decided he can't do that, he's not the authority we said he was.....  And on and on," he sighed, letting them through the security section. "Bags?"   They nodded, leading him that way.  "At least you two don't expect me to navigate."

"Not with how often I've been here," Xander joked, grinning at him.  He heard a shout and looked around, finding the person running toward him with the gun.  He ducked the blow with it, then did a very nice elbow strike into his throat while pushing the gun arm to the ground.  Horatio moved forward to remove the gun from the gasping man's hand and he looked down at him.  "Are you an asshole with the family of that one guy or just a generic asshole?" he asked dryly.  The man gasped.

"Guys," Mac called, smirking and waving a hand.  "My city.  Thank you, Xander.  Where's the baby?"

"Mom.  We'll be there tonight."  He unbuttoned the man's shirt, pointing at the pitchfork design.  "Your old buddies, dear."  He got down in his face.  "Tell them the Wrath of Caine extends to wherever those things he holds dear are."  The man whimpered and moved back so he stomped on his chest, making him gasp and piss himself.  "Understood?  Because if someone hurts Caine, I get to go off and I'm the worse fate.  Like what he can do and keep him safe, little boy.  After all, I can end the world."  He stood up and walked over to the baggage carousel area, finding his bag coming around.  Horatio's came a minute later and he grabbed that too, then looked and found the third.  He got a baggage trolley and wheeled it over to lean on, smiling at his mate. "Hi."

"Xander, that's a stupid rumor started by Frank."

Xander kissed him.  "It started after Speed died, baby, and no it's not.  You do tend to go off when someone touches your team or me or the hummer.  And trust me, if they touch you, I'm going to make the world end.  Okay?" he asked with a sweet, goofy grin.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Only if they kill us together."

"Fine."  He walked over to help Mac and the cops coming running.  "So, Mac, how has your city been?"

"Decent until you two got here, Horatio."  The man in the handcuffs moaned again and glared so he glared back. "That's right, Miami and New York are working together now."

"Can't you stay out of trouble!" Don yelled as he came up behind the transit cops.

"No!  He tried to shoot me.  Horatio fusses when I get shot.  You know I hate being fussed over."  Horatio looked at him.  "Not that some fussing's bad, but you get territorial and you lock me in the house and don't let me go to the gym to swim and that stuff and that's bad."

"If you did the reasonable thing while you were injured, I wouldn't have to," he reminded him.

"I'm reasonable."  Horatio, Mac, Don, and one of the officers gave him a long stare. "I am, even if it's my special version of reason.  It suits me.  I think differently than every one of you."  He glared at the extra cop.  "They're family, you're not."  He hurried the other guy off.  "See?"  He smiled sweetly at his mate.  "Can we go pick up the baby now?"

"Sure," Don agreed, shaking his head.  Mac handed over the specially sealed letter. "Isn't he supposed to deliver that tomorrow?"

"I was hoping to be ill," Horatio noted.

"Fat chance," Mac said, slapping him on the back.  "I've got to be there, you've got to be there, and Xander can be off playing with the baby and being watched by Don."

Don looked at Xander.  "You haven't been good since the minute you came into this world, quit trying to look innocent," he ordered.  Xander just smirked at him.  "Uh-huh.  How old's the kid?"

"A year tomorrow and we're having a birthday party whether or not his mother does.   I've already arranged it."  Two women came up and started to yell about whores.  "Excuse me!  I never slept with anyone you might know!  The only man I've slept with is behind me. If you don't like that, fuck the hell off, bitches.  That's why the declaration was made!"  They backed off and he glared.  "Your husband, or whatever, wanted to kidnap my ass, torture me, castrate me, and you want me to not only forgive him but to keep handing me shit I don't want and don't need so I have to keep remembering and this is MY fault!"  They backed off and ran the other way.  "Yeah, you take that declaration and you get it approved by your guy.  Mine got it approved by the court!"

"Gee, you yell like a New Yorker already.  Horatio, are you coming up on the exchange?" Don asked dryly.

"I'd miss the hummer," he said, walking up behind Xander to take his hand.  "Calm down, Xander.  No beating them."  Xander nodded and looked at him, he could see the rage simmering.  "Let it go.  It's their problem, not yours."

"They're making it mine.  They could hurt the baby."

"They will not or we will destroy them," he reminded him quietly.

"Again, our city," Mac interrupted.  "If they come anywhere near you three, you tell us, we'll destroy them for you."  He looked at Don, who nodded quickly and took the baggage cart before Xander could use it as a blunt weapon.  They made it out to the car without any more problems and made it to Diana's shop.  There they found the door locked and the lights off.  "She knew you were coming?"

Xander nodded and dialed the phone, getting a groggy voice.  "It's us, we're in.  Can we stop by and pick up the baby like we agreed?"  He listened to the background noise and frowned.  "Why are you in a hospital and where's the baby?"  He nodded and looked up, counting to ten.  "Okay.  Where are you?"  He nodded.  "Sure.  I'm going to go get him out of the building.  Thank you."  He hung up and handed over his phone and jacket.  "Breaking and entering.  She left him at home and went to get drunk, she's at the hospital."  He got out with Don behind him.  "I can do this."

"Bet me, kid.  If he's in danger, we get to note it and you get custody."  He looked at the lock, then the alarm.  "We can do that, I can call."

"Good, you call, I'm doing Willow things."  He laid his hands on the window and chanted, breaking the power lines.  He heard the baby scream and broke the door with his foot, heading up the stairs.  "Eric," he called.  The baby let out another wail. "Keep going.  Help daddy find you."  The ghost caught his eye and he looked upstairs.  "His bedroom?"  The ghost nodded. "Thank you."  He jogged up the hidden stairs to the apartment, walking past the crashed over furniture and into his son's room.  He picked him up, holding him.  "Shh, it's daddy, I have you.  You're coming with daddy."  He put a hand on the wall and reset the power lines so he could look around.  "Check on her, Don.  She's not usually like this."  He sat down in the rocking chair in there, holding and checking his son over.  Horatio came in with a bottle. "Thank you.  Get me a diaper and stuff too please."  He handed the bottle over and his son gulped it like it was his last one ever.  "Gods, baby, how long were you here?"  A few more people he knew came in.  Horatio came out of the bathroom so he got up to change and give him a sponge bath, then reclothe and diaper him.  He sat back down again, just letting him cuddle in.  "When did she check in?"

"Two days ago," Stella said from the doorway.  "There's a social worker here, Xander.  We have to call."

"Let her in."  She nodded and left, coming back with an older man.  "Hey.  This is my son.  We have bloodwork to prove it and she had custody.  We have official visitation."

The social worker looked at him. "I need to check him over.  May I?"

"As long as one of us are there.  We gave him a washcloth bath and changed him."  He nodded at the stuff he had left on the table.

"You disturbed the crime scene?"

"My mate is the lead CSI in Miami, mister.  I think he knows how to handle that stuff."  He stood up and walked his son over.  "Within sight only.  I am going to go protective soon."

"Of course.  I would as well."  He walked the baby over to the crib but he started to scream so he walked him to the changing table to undo the clothes and look him over.  "He doesn't appear bruised or harmed."

"Fuck harmed!  She left him at least two days ago!  That's more than harm enough!" Xander yelled.

"Calm down," Horatio ordered.  "This is his job, Xander.  Let him do it."  Xander sat down and scowled and the social worker went on. "We had to break in to get in here."

"I understand, and I commend the father for not hitting me.  A few have in similar situations."  He finishing doing up the clothes.  "Do you have court notarized visitation?  A legal agreement?"  Horatio nodded.  "May I see it?"

"It's downstairs in my bag."

"I can follow and you can hold the baby, correct?"  Xander nodded.  "Thank you.  Detectives, how may we come out?"

"You usually go around the edge unless there's indication that the perimeter was compromised," Horatio told him, walking that way carefully.

"Ah, then you're his spouse?"  Horatio nodded. "Very well.  Officers are always given all due respect.  Is he?"

"He's in college," Horatio told him, ending that line of questioning.

Xander got up and slammed a fist into the wall, leaving an impressive dent.

"Hey," Don said quietly, coming in there.  "It'll be okay.  You can have him for this shit.  Hell, if I hadn't been busy, I'd been by here last night, Xander.  I got here at ten and everything was dark so I thought she was in bed."  Xander nodded and looked at him. "You okay now?"  He shook his head and hit the wall again then sat back down when the hole was fully there.  "You good?"

"Yeah, better."  His son came back and he took him back, calming himself down.  "As the agreement states, we're in town for an extended visit so we have official visitation now," he noted more calmly. "Is that a problem for you?"

"No, Mr. Harris."  He looked at the hole in the wall then the swollen fist.  "Thank you for not doing that around him."

"He didn't need to see that.  It's not his fault.  Any idea what's wrong with his mother?"

"She was admitted for flu-like symptoms and only started to wake up earlier today," Stella admitted.  "They said she was basically catatonic when she was brought in."

"When you called, what number did you call?" Don asked.

"The office.  It usually routes to wherever she is."

"It rang on her cell?" Don asked.

"It didn't sound like it.  Why?"

"That means someone came in and routed the phones.  They had to know about the baby if they had access."  The alarm started to go off.  "What's the code?"

"His birthday, tomorrow, but last year."  Don nodded, finding the panel and working to shut it off.  "Single, single, full year," he called.  Don nodded and hit that and it went off.  He kissed his son on the head.  "So she was ill?"

"Apparently," Stella told him. "We can check."

"Good."  He looked at the social worker, who nodded.  "He's ours."

"Of course.  How long are you in town for?"

"The week," Horatio told him.  "By then they should know what happened and be able to tell you."

"That would be fine.  At that time a preliminary decision can be reached.  You live in Miami?"  They both nodded.  "Can you stay longer?"

"Nope," Xander said.  "I start school on the sixth.  I have to be there.  I'm on AP due to a serial killer last semester.  Unfortunately the city needs Horatio.  He's a Lieutenant with the crime lab.  I can promise you we're not leaving Miami.  My swim team is there and I'm olympic hopeful at the moment, working on the serious training starting this semester."  That got a smile and a nod.  "Plus we've got friends and family out the ass down there."

"That's fine, Mr. Harris.  I'll try to get a rush on it once we know what happened to the mother.  If this wasn't her fault...."

"Then I might consider letting her have visitation," he noted dryly.  Horatio looked at him.  "We'll see what the cause was," he amended.  "When I'm more calm."

"Thank you."  He walked out to talk to Mac, who nodded at what he said.  Then he left.

Mac waited until he heard the outer door close. "He said you reminded him of a few Don's he's run into over the years, as in the Family ones, Xander.  Calm down."

"I am calm," he snarled. "If this were your son...."

"I'd have destroyed the wall," Don admitted, coming in to look at him. "We need ta get him checked over."

"I'm good with that plan.  Horatio, go ahead and check in?"  That got a nod.  "Or help here and then check in, either way," he offered with a small smile and a kiss.  He walked out.  "Anyone see the carseat?"

"It's usually behind the reception desk," Stella offered.  "Come on, I'll go with you two so I can check on what she went in for."  Don nodded and led them down to the car.  "Is he asleep?"

"Yeah, he's been doing a lot of this," Xander admitted.  "The flu?"

"It can get that bad," Don reminded him, waiting until the baby was secure to back out and head off. "This wasn't on purpose, not from Di, Xander.  She loves him more than her work.  She's been taking time off recently.  She's been planning the shop in Miami too.  She's been thinking about running it and letting her team up here run this one."  He turned a corner.  "St. Vincent's?"  Stella nodded.  "He good?  He's not snoring."

"He's fine, I just checked," Xander admitted, stroking down his hair.  "The pediatrician we took him too last month said he was a bit anemic but nothing critical.  He said she was doing okay with him, that everything seemed to be normal."  His son let out a loud snore and everyone smiled.  "That's my boy."  They pulled into the parking garage and he got out, taking him inside.  "Hi, I just came to pick up my son for my visitation and I found him in the house alone for two days," he told the nurse.  "We need him checked."  She looked stunned so he looked behind him at the guy with the gun.  "There's two cops coming, you mind?  I've got my son with me."  The man sneered.  "Don!  Can you please hurry the fuck up!" he yelled.  He jogged in and saw the problem.  "Yeah, exactly."  He looked at the nurse again, writing down something.  "That's the name of the pediatrician we took him to last month when I wanted to see how he really was. I've given him a bottle and changed him, gave him a washcloth bath."  The nurse nodded once Stella got the shotgun away from the guy and took the baby, letting Xander follow. "That doc said he was a bit anemic but his mom was doing okay."

"Do you know why she abandoned him?"

"She's upstairs.  That's why the cops are here."  She nodded and he sat down to look at the forms she handed him, filling out what he could.  "Sorry, I just found out about him a bit ago, this spring.  I've only gotten visitation a few times."  He did what he could and handed it over, getting up to soothe his son when he woke up. "Hi, Eric."  The baby cooed at him. "I know, it's the daddy and it'll be okay.  Daddy and Uncle Horatio have you now."

"Horatio?"

"My spouse."  She nodded, making note of that.  "Yes the social worker they called knows."

Don came in.  "Harding was the social worker who showed up," he offered, handing over the card he had been given.  "Hey, Eric."  Eric squealed and kicked at him.  "Yeah, that's a good football player.  Yup, you are."

The nurse smiled.  "Guys, I've got to get in there to draw blood and stuff," she noted.  They retreated to the head of the bed.  "What's the mother's name?"

"Diana Provistal."  She nodded and wrote that down, then got what she needed.  "Will this hurt him?"

"No, I'm very good at doing children."  They nodded and watched very carefully what she was doing.  "Do we know his pediatrician up here?"  Xander shook his head.  "You had suspicions?"

"No," Xander admitted. "I was making sure there wasn't any reason that she couldn't keep him.  She was a bit stressed at the time.  Her lover had just left and she was having problems at work so I ordered her to bring me the baby and take a vacation in Miami, where I live.  I took him to make sure her stress hadn't been bothering him and because he's always been a very sleepy baby."

"Who snores," Don offered.

"Some do."  She finished up and smiled at the snoring baby.  "He does seem to like to sleep.  Let me have this run and call down there for records.  Was he at a hospital or in private practice?"

Xander thought back then wrote down a number.  "That's Alexx Woods' number.  She's my husband's ME.  He's a CSI down there.  She referred us and would know."  She nodded and went to call that one then the doctor when she explained what had happened.  He looked at Don. "Was it?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "Stella's checking on it right now, Xander.  Then talking to her.  I wanna know who came in and switched the phones.  They're the ones I want.  'Cause even if she wrecked the place that way and walked out, the other one left the baby there and he had to of screamed."

"Probably."  He looked at his son, then at Don.  "I'd ask the ghost but I can't hear 'em unless they're in me."

"Not an issue, we have more proven methods that won't get you in trouble with Horatio."  Xander nodded and hugged him.  "Hey, it'll be okay," he soothed, patting him on the back.  "Get off."  Xander got off and looked at him.  "Good boy."  The nurse came back.  "We good?"

"We're running the tests. It's going to be about an hour."  Both men sighed. "I didn't figure you'd wait very well.  There's a coffeepot up the hallway, detective.  Feel free to get some for both of you.  Mr. Harris, go ahead and sit.  Are you sure he's yours?"  Xander nodded.  "Absolutely positive?"

"I had ClearMed run a second test," Xander assured her.  "His mother tried to lie, I had dual tests run that day."  She smiled at that.  "No one takes my son.  She didn't tell me about him and I found out by accident.  Since then I've been a bit possessive when someone tries something against my son."  Stella came in.  "And?"

"She's ill.  Very ill.  She's still out of it actually.  They said she came in with an extreme fever and babbling.  I checked, no bruises, no cuts or scratches, Don.  She came in in a cab."  He nodded once.  "So the trashing of the house might've been whoever reset the phones to her room.  The nurses up there said yesterday around dinner was the first call they noticed."

"Okay, so that gives us a probable time.  Did you tell Mac?"

"Going to do that.  I thought Xander would want it first."  Xander nodded and gave her a small grin.  "I doubt she was in enough of a right mind to realize she had the baby with what they said."

"Then if she gets better I'll think about leaving the baby with her," he noted dryly.

The other adults all noticed the 'think about' but in this situation they'd probably be less open to the possibility.

***

Xander walked into the hotel and smiled at the people behind the desk.  "Has Horatio Caine checked in?"  They nodded.  "I'm his spouse, can you call?"  They nodded and one did that.  Horatio came off the elevator a few minutes later, giving him a hug.  "He's fine.  A bit hungry.  We can let him pig out all he wants.  He's still anemic so we can have the baby eat hamburger and steak."  That got a smile.

"The trashing was done by whoever switched the phones about a day ago," Don told him.  "She was so out of it they weren't sure she was going to be lucid again.  She wasn't too lucid today either.  Stella said she probably didn't have a clue she had the baby when she left."

"That's good to know," Horatio agreed. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, it's gonna be a while.  She might not be out when you get ready to go home.  We'll have ta see the day before and get the social worker onto it.  For now, take the baby upstairs.  Make him eat, give him a bath.  We'll be back at nine."  He smirked and Horatio clapped him on the arm.  "Calm Xander down too.  Feed him.  He had two cups of coffee.  Straight."  Horatio smiled and they nodded.  "Go upstairs.  I can leave once you're on the elevator."  Xander gave him a hug then headed that way.  Horatio smirked and walked that way.  He sighed once the elevator door closed, walking over to the desk.  He wrote down his cell, Mac's cell, Stella's cell, and the main number at the CSI unit.  "In that order," he told them.  "They've just had a bad shock. The baby's mother is sick. The baby got left at home when she went to the hospital and she's so sick she still doesn't remember the baby. If anyone, and I do mean anyone, bothers them, and Xander has some people who try now and then, you call them in that order."

"Yes, sir."

"Detective.  Flack."

"Yes, Detective Flack.  Are they a security risk?"

"No, the older one's a cop, the younger's a jock.  He's the reason for them being here with the pool."  That got a smile and a nod.  "They'll be fine, just in case something happens.  He's up for an auction of some stuff he inherited."  She nodded and typed those numbers into the computer.  "Thank you."  He walked out, going to check on Mac and them, then go home.  Danny gave him a long look.  "I didn't hand over your number since your mother works there.  I gave 'em mine, Mac's, Stella's, and the main number.  The baby's fine.  Just hungry. A bit anemic but he said the doctor in Miami found that too.  He's back napping safely in dad's and stepdad's arms.  Did Stella call?"  Mac nodded, looking at him.  "Good.  I said nine so I'm going to bed.  Let me know if you find whoever came in yesterday."  He headed back, going home.  His phone rang and he answered it.  "Flack?"  He groaned.  "Be right there, Horatio.  Sorry."  He drove back to the hotel and let them have their stuff, then he went home to go to bed.

***

Horatio walked up to the Chief of police and coughed, making the press people look at him.  He was looking the best he ever had.  Xander had made him buy a new suit.  "From the Chief of Miami, sir."  He handed over the envelope.

The Chief smiled and nodded.  "Thank you, Lieutenant Caine."  He opened it and looked it over, then looked at the press.  "This is why you were called here today.  Lieutenant Caine is from Miami and they have come up with a suggestion help both of our cities.  He has suggested an officer exchange program between New York's finest and Miami's finest.  There have been some very strong ties over the last few years in both cities, joint projects and the like.  Both Chiefs think that this will reenergize those officers who need the extra push to be their best again and help cross-train both cities for anything that could happen.  Plus, Lieutenant Caine has to deal with quite a few of us who retire down to Miami."  That got some smiles and laughs.  "So, to begin this experiment, we've chosen seven officers from each borough and they'll be sending the same number.  The officers will be asked, of course, and if this first switch for six months works, then we'll take volunteers from both cities.  We hope that this project does work and it can help the cities get closer and work better together.  If this does work, I don't see why we can't talk to other cities across this fine country of ours about adding in.  Any questions?"

"Is Lieutenant Caine coming up?"

"I haven't decided yet.  I do have something that would tie me to Miami at the moment but if I do, it would probably be during the summer.  The local CSI departments that I've worked with in the past have been top notch and don't need my help, but I am thinking about it."  That got some smiles.

"Are you married?"  Horatio nodded.  "Can we talk to your spouse?"

He shook his head.  The Chief looked at him.  He leaned over to whisper in his ear, getting a nod.  "No, Lieutenant Caine's spouse is off limits.  I'm sorry about that."  He looked over as Mac joined them. "Better late than never."

"Sorry, sir, the scene had priority," he said simply.  The press snapped his picture.  "Horatio."

"Mac," he said, shaking his hand.  "The official announcement."

"Good. You can come sit on my team."

"Or you on mine," he agreed with a small smirk.  "We could change labs."

"We could," he agreed with a smirk.  "That would do our crews some good."  He looked at the Chief.  "Have all the details been set?"

"Completely.  Including housing allowances and the grants to cover the difference in salaries and travel expenses.  You'd be willing to switch your lab staff with Horatio's?"

"Horatio's team is one of the best in the country.  I liked working with them in the past, I wouldn't mind if his team came up and mine went down."  He smiled his best politician's smile.  "They have a vastly different case load and it would keep both our teams sharp."

"I'll add you to the list," the Chief agreed, smiling at them. "Would your detectives come?"

"I can't speak for mine," Horatio noted. He stepped away and called them.  "Frank, would you and Yelina like in on the switch?  Mac's suggesting we switch labs completely just leaving us in our spots."  He listened to the swearing.  "Six months, Frank.  Six months."  He smirked.  "Thank you."  He hung up and walked back.  "Detective Tripp said he'd have to talk to his wife and the others we work with routinely will have their answer by tonight."

Mac smirked and stepped back.  "Detective Flack and the other two agreed already."  He smiled at Horatio. "Remember to tell your team how to drive on snow."

"Remind yours about needing sunscreen, they're very pale, Mac," he taunted back.  Mac laughed and he smirked at him.  "They are."

"They are," he agreed.  He looked at the Chief.  "If all our staff agree, we do."

"Excellent!  I hope other officers take this spirit of cooperation to heart."  He smiled winningly at the press.  "Any other questions?"

"How many people are in each lab?"

"I've got five I'd be sending," Mac told him.

"I'd be sending an equal number," Horatio admitted.

"Can we have your spouse's name, Horatio?"

"No."  He looked at the Chief again. "With your leave, sir?  We've got to talk to our labs."

"Go ahead, Lieutenant.  And thank you for bringing this personally."

"Always happy to come to New York, sir."  He walked off with Mac, chatting quietly about the various people who were going to throw fits.  They stepped into the station behind them and both their phones rang.  He pulled his out, smirking at it.  "They're in my office."  He answered it. "Caine," he said smoothly.  He pulled it away from his ear.  "Yes, I know you're excited, Calleigh.  Try to control your enthusiasm."

Mac listened to Stella and Danny throw a fit, chuckling a bit.  "It is voluntary but you would have a slight vacation, guys.  Of course we want you back.  Listen, you'll get to go play with Xander for a while."

Horatio smirked at that idea.  "Guys, think about it.  We're bringing the baby back for a while since his mother is sick.  It'll be in a few months, not this week.  Calm down and think rationally about this."  He hung up.

Mac snickered and hung up on the screaming.  "Coffee?"

"Coffee," he agreed, following him somewhere other than where the screaming lab techs were.  "You know, Xander's probably giggling with the baby," he shared.

"Probably," Mac agreed readily.  "The baby and he seem to share the same sense of humor."  He glanced at him.  "He knows?"  Horatio nodded. "Good.  That'll make it easier to cover it up."  They headed out the back door and to the nearest deli and coffeeshop to hide from the other techs.

***

Xander smiled as he walked into the auction with his son in his arms.  He took his program and number, walking over to his agent. "Cheline," he said quietly, making her smile.  "We're back."

"I can see that.  Hi, little guy."  Eric smiled then hid his face.  "You're adorable."  She saw the redhead walking up behind him and smiled at him.  "I recognize you from your picture.  I'm Cheline."

"Horatio," he said, shaking her hand.

"Welcome to Christies.  Are you going to bid?"

"Only if I see something he must have," Horatio admitted, smiling at his spouse.  He looked at her again. "Has there been a problem with that one group?"

"No, not in the least.  They tried something and we pointed out he had the legal right to do that and their continued complaining only raided more honor from the family.  They gave up after that and tried you at the airport. I heard he yelled?"

"Indeed," Horatio agreed dryly, patting Xander on the back.  "But it's a nice thing, we haven't seen them since."  He smiled. "We'd better sit.  Before we draw press attention."

"I saw that nice dodge you did.  Very nicely done.  Sit on the left side in case the baby nudges the number."  He nodded and led Xander that way.  She went to make sure there were no problems.  This was the last auction of this year and they'd have to do this now or else Xander would have to pay taxes on these unreasonable gifts he had received. She ran into her boss and the head of the company.  "I'm checking for Mr. Harris.  Any remaining issues?"  They shook their heads.  "Thank you."

"Is that the Dubai estate?"  She nodded, looking seriously hopeful.  "It's fine.  The family has relented and said their claim is unreasonable and illegal.  He's here?"  She gave a discreet point. "He's a charming looking young man.  Who's that with him?  I recognize him from somewhere."

"That's Lieutenant Caine.  He brought news up about the switching program."

"Ah.  That was a novel idea."  She nodded, smiling at him.  "Go make contacts.  Does Mr. Harris or his mate have anything else coming up?"

"Not that he's said.  I haven't had any phone calls about last-minute entries."  She walked back there, sitting beside Xander and crossing her legs.  "My boss wanted to know if we should expect repeat business next year."

"As far as I know, no," he admitted with a small grin.  "It's stopped and I'm *so* happy about that."  She patted him on the knee and the baby grinned at her.  "No flirting, Eric," he said, smiling at his son. "He's just such a little me some days."  She giggled and kissed him on the cheek then left, shaking her head at some guy in a suit. He looked at Horatio.  "Have I missed another present wielding person?"

"Not that I've seen."  He stroked his hand.  "Give me the son."  Xander handed him over and Eric smiled, playing with his tie until he fell asleep.

Xander leaned closer. "I think you're snuggly and comfy to nap on too.  Maybe in about six hours?"  Horatio smiled at him and they turned their attention to the person walking up to the podium.  "You're sitting on it, right?"  Horatio nodded.  "Thank you."  Don sat down next to him and he looked at him. "You put 'em in?"

"Yup, way too fancy for my tastes."  He looked at the baby, then grinned.  "Ah, sleepy babies."  The baby let out a soft snore and Horatio stuck his thumb in his mouth, stopping that noise, much to the amusement of the person in front of them.  She smiled at Don then turned back around. "Dinner later, guys?"  Xander nodded after looking at Horatio, who nodded once.  The auctioneer announced the first lot and they quit moving totally.  Just in case they accidentally bid.  The one time Xander sneezed he was outbid, so that was good.  They didn't really need the gold and rose teapot set anyway.  Once they were freed, they stopped by Cheline's desk and she gave them numbers for the next day.  Don just wrote down his bank numbers and she tucked that away.  She looked at Xander, who grinned.  She nodded and Don walked them out, taking them out to his car.  "Well, that was boring."

"Some very ugly stuff went for a lot of money," Xander said quietly as he got the baby into the back seat.  "How's Di?"

"Still not lucid.  Her fever's coming down though."  He got in to drive, checking to make sure everyone was buckled in, including the baby.  "We good?"

"We're fine," Horatio agreed from the back seat. "Thankfully he slept through it."

"I nearly slept through it," Don admitted as he started the car and pulled into traffic.  "When's the house over there going up?"

"Tomorrow at a special real estate auction," Xander sighed.  "I so hope it goes.  I don't want to have an estate in the Middle East.  I don't mind the desert, but not that much."  Don laughed at that and punched him on the arm.  "So, are you coming down?  If you are you can come to my meets."

"I could use the tan and away from my father for a bit.  I nearly brought Eric to him and claimed him as his grandkid just to get him off my back, but he would've seen the eyes and realized it."

"Willow's question when she saw him was 'which witch did the spell so I could carry him'; she wanted to check and make sure it was right," Xander shared.

"You have some very strange and odd friends, Xander."

"And she married Ryan Wolfe."

"Oh, hey, so she can come bother Mac for a bit," he said happily.  "He's coming, right, Horatio?"

"He agreed already. Calleigh's the only hold out and Mac promised to call and say she didn't have to hide what she and Speed were doing unless they were actually *in* the lab."

"Where did Aiden end up?"

"New Orleans and she hates it.  She swears up and down she's going to go medical instead and work in one of the big drug companies."

"That is easier work," Horatio agreed dryly.

"Yeah, much if you can stand it."  He turned the corner. "I'm assuming, but the same steak place?"  Both of them nodded.  "Cool. Stella said she'd join us if we called her.  Danny's pouting.  Not that he doesn't want ta leave the city but he's pouting."

"Danny pouts very well," Xander agreed.  "Remind him he'd be up here all alone with Speed and Eric to pick on him, or he could come with you, get a tan, play in the warm ocean, and see me swim.  Plus he could see so many cute girls in bikinis he'd be happy going blind after six months of it."

Don laughed and pulled out his cellphone, calling Danny's.  "Hey, got an argument you can't refute.  Finally.  Yeah, well, if you stay, you'll be working with Speed, Eric, Calleigh, Ryan, and have Willow up here with ya, and she asked Xander which witch helped him conceive and carry Eric, or you can go down to Miami, get a tan, hang with me at the beach and watch the pretty chicks in bikinis or less, and watch Xander swim in his meets.  Your choice of course."  He laughed and hung up. "He said I was playing dirty."

"No, playing dirty would be sending me to pout at him," Xander teased, then smirked back at Horatio. "Or sending Aiden."

"That would work," he agreed.  "Do they have any idea what's wrong with her, Don?"

"No, not a clue that they've told us. All we know is high fever, hallucinations, and lack of insight into the real world.  Ya ask me, it sounds like meningitis but I'm not a doc."  He looked at Xander.  "What happened to your forehead?"

"An officer unwisely tried to gay bash him outside the station," Horatio said dryly.  "Broke his car window, took the cellphone from his hand and stomped on it, and then he got stabbed by Xander for it."

"Good job!  You can't stay out of trouble even with your mate there."

"No, uh-uh, I was being good. I was in my car talking to Buffy's mom Joyce about the mate and married thing, and he broke my window and tried me.  I was only defending myself."

"Uh-huh," Don said dryly, glancing at him.  "You get into trouble?"

"Calleigh saw him do it."

"So I only tied him down later and we had a talk," Horatio offered. "It was a later conversation that nearly got him sent to you for punishment."

"Mine or his?"

"Running joke between him and Speed.  If I get too out of hand you get me.  If Calleigh gets too out of hand, we'll send her to you."

"And I'm supposed ta do what?" he laughed.  "Keep you?  Not that I wouldn't mind Calleigh but Xander would have to clean his room and stay out of trouble.  That means we'd have to handcuff him in the lab for hours on end."

"No, then he makes pitiful faces and noises at Frank and Yelina," Horatio admitted.  "Speed tried that."

"Give me some credit, I lasted for an hour before boredom struck that final blow," Xander said with a grin for him.  The baby belched then sighed and smiled.  "Your next words are going to be 'excuse me' since you have tummy troubles."

"Babies get away with it because they're cute," Don reminded him.  His phone rang and he answered it.  "Flack."  He smirked.  "No, he's in the backkseat with Xander, Di.  Is your fever gone?  No he's fine.  We understood but someone went in there and switched your phones around.  Them we wanna talk with since your place was trashed and the baby was still there.  No, Xander agreed with me....."

The phone was taken from him and Xander cleared his throat.  "I'm told you were so delirious with your fever you didn't know your own name.  I can forgive that, but if he hadn't been found I'd have bitched the city apart."  He listened to her.  "Not an issue.  If you're that sick, I'm good.  I'm more than good enough to watch my son, Diana.  Anytime, anywhere, even on the days I've got meets.  Those days I might have to get a sitter if someone's not in the stands to cheer me on, but otherwise, yeah, I can.  Okay?  Now, who went in to forward your phones?"  He nodded.  "Okay.  No, we'll be up tomorrow during visiting hours, the later one.  You good until then?  No, he's not a problem. He slept through the auction."  He grinned.  "Rest, Diana, let me handle it."  He hung up.  "Her former neighbor, Mr. Portman, went in to do that for her.  Apparently his family was in and he saw her being brought in so he went to switch the phones for her.  She said he didn't know she had the baby, this was before she got pregnant."

"Okay.  First name?"

"Herbert."

"Even better," Don agreed happily, taking his phone back and calling Mac.  "Got a name on who switch Di's phones over.  Herbert Portman.  Former neighbor.  She's awake.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Herbert?"

"That what it sounded like she said."

"We'll find him and if not, I'll go visiting tomorrow and ask her more questions.  Neighbors like that don't usually throw furniture."  He noticed Horatio and Xander both staring at the baby.  "Even he opened up some teleawhatsis stuff, it could've been him."

"No, probably not," Xander admitted.  "Magically either."  He stroked over the baby's head. "He would've been screaming from the reaction headache if he had.  I'm guessing her ghost has been keeping him company and happy.  I'll have to make sure he can move out of there if something happens."  He looked at Horatio again.  "What else is on our agenda tomorrow?"

"That depends on if you want to see that estate be sold."

"Not really.  That stuff's too highbrow for me.  I'd be happier going to the park while you helped Mac with the arrangements for the switching thing."

"That's fine," Horatio agreed with a smile.  He looked at Don.  "Would that bother you?"

"No, not in the least.  We'll have someone keep an eye on them since the Noches were so stupid at the airport.  Someone in Gangs is trying to figure out why they want Xander, if it's the psycho issue or if they want him because of you."

"Most of the Mala Noche aren't the sort to watch strippers," Horatio said dryly.  "Nor are they the sort to tip strippers."

"That doesn't mean they didn't want to own him," Don reminded him.

"And again, I carry hidden weapons everywhere I go," Xander said dryly.  "How would we do apartments?"

"Sublet and let the other people use them," Don advised.  "That way they're taken care of and you don't have to worry about paying rent on two places."  That got a nod.  "If your guys agree anyway.  I don't mind if someone stays in my hole for a few months."

"That could be workable," Horatio agreed.  "I'll offer that suggestion."

"If you go, I'm moving back to dad's," Xander noted patiently.   "Though, it'd be better if someone who knew about the strange stuff lived there instead of just anyone if you don't go."

"Also a good point," Don agreed. "Considering one of Speed's neighbors is dayglo purple."  He parked in front of the place they were going and got out, letting Xander handle the baby.  "Grab the seat?"

"High chair," Xander reminded him.  "He can sit up in one.  If not, I can come back out to get it."  That got a smirk and they walked inside, smiling at the hostess. He looked at Don, who shrugged and gave his name, getting a wink and a seat for them, plus the high chair.  "Knew her?" he asked.

"Reservations are only suggested here," he noted dryly.  He looked at the baby, who was staring at him.  "Hi, Eric."  The baby smiled at him.  He touched his hand and the baby babbled at him, grabbing on and waving it.  "Yeah, you've had a long day," he agreed.  "Want some nummies?  You can have some of our veggies."  The baby beamed at him and looked around again.  "Hey, Xander?"

"I'm seeing.  Is he is what I'm wondering."  He moved over to see when Eric caught sight of his finger, watching him.  "He's got one side without?"

"We can have it checked tomorrow," Horatio said firmly.  "I'm sure he's fine."

"He'd better be," Don agreed.  "We can ask Di in the morning when we go in there."  Xander smiled at that.  "Like I said, we're all watching over you, just in case."

"Thank you."  He looked at his son, then at the menu, then handed it to Horatio.  "Find me something."  He made the baby look at him, smiling brightly.  "Hey, Eric?"  His son cooed.  "Good boy.  Very good boy."  He watched his eyes adjust when he covered them with his hand then removed it.  "His left eye didn't change," he said quietly.

"Maybe it's something easy to fix," Don offered.  He hoped.  "We'll ask Di tomorrow.  For right now, just calm down.  It probably wasn't where she was sick."

"No, that wouldn't be," Horatio agreed.  "At his age it's more likely it's a birth defect of some kind.  Therefore we can get it checked out tomorrow.  Even if I do have to call Alexx and have her fly up suddenly."  He caught his mate's eye and got a nod and a sigh.  "Good, now, did you want a real steak or not?"

Xander kissed him on the cheek.  "Steak.  Thinner cut instead of thicker, medium. Just barely pinkish."  He smiled.  "You calm me down so well.  Are you going to be there for tryouts?"

"They're closed.  Speed already asked."  He looked at Don.  "If he makes both teams, we'll set a list of meets in the break room."

"That way you guys can break them up and you don't get fired for having to take afternoons off that often," Xander agreed dryly. Don nodded, accepting that.  "They think I'm already good enough to be an alternate.  I just need my skull to finish completely healing so Eric can go over the diving stuff with me."

"Fortunately your skull will heal.  It could've been much worse, Xander.  You could be in a coma somewhere and no one'd know."

"No, we had him out as a missing person's case," Horatio told him.  "Even the Canadians would've seen it."  He stroked his mate's hand, getting a smile for that.  "Relax.  We would've come for you, Xander."  He saw someone moving their way from the corner of his eye and tensed.  Most people around them didn't wear Armani.  He glanced at Don then at the other person, getting a blink in response.  He had seen him.  "Now, what are we feeding the son?" he asked calmly.

The man in the suit coughed and looked at Xander.  "Sir, my employer would like to talk to you about one of his employees and the beating he received at your instigation," he said quietly.

"What employee was that?" Horatio asked. The man looked at him.  "I doubt Xander ever beat anyone that badly."

"Rick Stetler works for my employer."

"And I'm the one who hit him," Horatio assured him.  "I'm also the one who got him fired from Miami-Dade PD for trying to plant evidence and being a rapist."  The man grimaced.  "You will leave my mate alone.  You can tell your boss to check his background and why he got fired."

"Besides, he let Stetler walk off," Don noted, sipping his water and staring the guy down.  "You wanna name your employer?"

"No."  He looked at Xander.  "He would like to talk to you on other matters as well, Mr. Harris."

"He can blow me," Xander said.  "I'm having visitation with my son and having dinner with my family and near-family. Now is not the time for this."  That got a nod and the man left.  "So, park tomorrow after visiting hours?" he asked Don.  Who nodded and smirked at him.  "Good.  That way we can solve this without endangering my temper coming out to hurt people."  He looked at his mate.  "You can lurk."

"I will be," he assured him.  "Mac and I can work out the arrangements there or in the office."  He stroked his hand again.  Then he looked at the baby.  "We should order."

Don smiled at the nearest waitress, getting them some service.

***

Xander looked up as someone stepped in front of him, leaning back casually so he could stretch out on the bench.  "Yes?"

"Mr. Harris?"

"Every now and then," he noted dryly.  "Are you the mysterious employer of the man who came up to us at dinner last night?"  That got a nod so Xander shifted down, leaving the baby where he was.  "What sort of issues did you have with my spouse beating Stetler for threatening to rape and torture me, or else he'd plant evidence?"

"We made stronger inquiries into his past," the man said, looking him over.  "I don't disagree with your mate beating him.  I do disagree with the route you've chosen for the gifts you've received."

"I don't see how it's anyone's business.  Especially since I can't wear diamonds with the life I live and like to live, and how it upsets my spouse."

"I see.  Was he forcing this decision on you?"

"No, we had a talk about it.  To be truthful, there have been a few who've pissed me off beyond the point of crying about it.  He was bothered because of my past problems with serial killers and kidnapers.  I was bothered because they kept sending me stuff that I couldn't use and it was pissing him off because someone might want to step up the action.  I don't need or want gifts most of the time.  I retired to be with my spouse.  I made that very clear my last night.  And yet some of them are still getting pushy."  He swallowed.  "It's like being hunted and knowing that my mate is having to watch it is making me ill to my stomach."

"I understand.  You did make quite a few people happy."

"Which I'm glad I did," Xander said honestly.  "I'm glad I could bring some light into their lives and into their hearts.  I'm perfectly happy with teasing someone to make them forget that they're lonely for a night.  Unfortunately most of the people who sent me gifts seemed to want to take it farther than that and I'd never leave my husband."

"Which we do appreciate," he agreed with a small smirk.  "I'm here on the orders of one of them."

Xander frowned a bit.  "Which stuff did he send me?"

"He went overboard with the car."

"Ah.  I talked with his courier down there and thanked him graciously for it.  It was a great and shocking present, but I didn't need it.  That's why I got something more modest, which suited me more, then gave the rest of my spouse's boss to help with a need they had."

"He liked that idea.  He didn't think you'd want the high end sports car, but he did like your choice.  He wanted to know why it was in the shop."

"Another officer tried to gaybash me and broke the window.  It was in for replacement."

"Understandable."  He smiled at the boy, then at him. "You are a very lucky man."

"I know, and I'm holding onto him with everything I have.  That guy is the one guy I didn't mind.  Yeah, he went overboard, but the courier guy said that I made him happy and content, that he wasn't so lonely.  I didn't think that the man you're here for was going to cause me any harm so I didn't mind him.  I gave the courier a letter for him."

"He did get it," he assured him, smiling brightly now.  "He thought you most gracious and he likes your spouse's protective streak.  He said you remind him of his son when he was your age."  He heard the coo and smiled at the baby again.  "Hey, little fella."

"Eric," he said, smirking at him. "He is made to charm."

"He is."  He grinned at him again.  "Where is your husband?"

"Case."  He shrugged.  "Somewhere around here I've got a cop watching me for him since the Mala Noches have started on me as a way to get to Horatio."

"Actually, they want you for you, kid."  He pulled out something and handed the envelope over.  "My boss said he's going to continue and he understood what you were doing. He said it was very good PR work on the part of your attorney and that you're safe from him taking you, but that he does want to make sure you're taken care of properly."  Xander nodded once at that, putting the envelope into his pocket.  "There's a check in there.  It's making the old man happy to spoil you, so don't mess it up for him, kid.  By the way, there's a very good vision doctor down in Miami to take him to and his mother's going to be sick for weeks.  They found a mold in her lungs.  That's what caused the sickness.  He's already arranged for you to take the baby home."

"Is his help going to harm my spouse's career?"

The man smirked and shook his head.  "He's not in that business, Xander.  He never has been.  He saw you when you were Vex and realized you were the spitting image of his son."  He winked and walked off, whistling happily.

Xander opened the envelope and glanced at the check, moaning a bit, then at the other stuff.  He called Don's phone.  "I met with my mystery benefactor's other guy.  No, the Maserati guy.  Yeah, he sent someone to talk to me.  Looks like transcripts and stuff on the Noches," he said quietly.  "Well, yeah, and a check.  He said I remind him of the mystery guy's son."  He grinned.  "The park, the same place you dropped me off at."  He glanced around.  "Don, I'd be able to feel a sniper.  Don't worry about it.  I do have Horatio's backup."  He put everything inside his diaper bag and got up, walking off with the baby.  "Fine, we're heading for the duck pond.  Can you get us there?  Good deal.  No, it'll take me about fifteen or twenty to walk.  Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up and looked around, spotting the officer running his way.  "Did Flack send you?"   He nodded.  "He's picking us up at the duck pond."

"Yes, Mr. Harris, sir.  What's going on?"

"I just got handed information on the Mala Noches and why they want me."  He grimaced.  "It's very nice of them."  He looked at his son, who beamed at him.  "Hi."

"Dadadadadadadadada."

"Yup, that's me," he agreed, smiling at him.  He glanced at the cop.  "If they start shooting, you are to take my son and the diaper bag, understood?"

"Sir...."

"Argue with me and I'm kicking you in the shin.  I can defend myself.  I can't do it if my son's in danger."

"Agreed," he said finally.  Mostly because he knew it wouldn't happen.  "Why would that gang like you?"

"I'm married to a very effective officer that they hate," he said calmly, almost imitating his mate's speech pattern.

"Wow.  Are they coming up on the exchange?"

"I think he's going to be lording over some of the switchers. He's a supervisor."

"Oh.  Oh!"  He nodded, understanding more after the 'he' part.  "That's cool.  I heard a lot of you guys down there are excellent officers."

"We are," Xander agreed with a smile.  "You'll love the lab crew if you ever have to work with them.  Calleigh's sun and light, Speed's got a brooding problem but he's good and lightened by the others.  Eric teases and flirts with the others like they're family.  Ryan's kinda quiet but he does the job well."

The guy stared at him.  "You're Caine's mystery spouse."  Xander nodded once.  "Oh, shit.  We heard there was a hit on him."  He glanced around.

"He's with Flack and Mac Taylor on a scene," he said calmly.  "And I'm experienced in protecting myself.  My former town had a problem with that."  That got a quick nod and the officer led him to a sheltered spot by the duck pond.  "It's not a problem, officer.  Just calm down."

"You don't... well, maybe you do know these guys.  They could have a sniper."

"Noches like to walk up and shoot you, not snipe most of the time," Xander pointed out.  He patted him on the arm.  "Don't spread it around, okay?  Please?"

"Of course not!  There's rumors your husband castrates people for looking at you funny."  Xander shook his head but he was smirking. "You sure?"

"Quite.  Otherwise there would've been a rash of them when I quit stripping, before we got together."

"Wow.  Yeah, we heard about this dancer guy....  Oh, no."  Xander nodded.  "Crap!  But hey, at least you can keep him entertained."

"Quite," Xander said with a smug smirk.  He handed him the baby and dug into the diaper bag, making sure the envelope was still in there and glancing around.  He saw the guy watching them and glared back, making him back off.  "Know him?" he asked, nodding toward him and going back to his searching.  He secured the envelope better and stood up, putting the strap back over his shoulder so he could take the baby back.

"He's a local PI.  I wonder if my wife sicced him on me."

"Tell her the truth, you were vexed and bothered by my assignment."  He looked over as Don pulled in and parked. "That's my ride.  Thank you, officer.  Have a nicer day."  He walked that way, glancing around.  He got into the back, the diaper bag going onto the floor so he could hitch the baby in.  "Hi."  Don nodded so he handed over the envelope, making him whistle at the check before choking on the new information.  "So, why do they want me?"

"The usual.  You got the attention of one of their lieutenant's."  He backed the car out of the spot and headed back to the station.

"I don't remember any, but that doesn't mean anything," Xander offered, buckling the last strap and grinning at his son, who was cooing and bouncing.  "You're a happy baby.  Oh, the mystery guy arranged it so we can take Eric home until she's better.  It was some sort of mold found in her lungs according to him, and I asked, he's not mafia."

"Good!"  He shook his head, flipping on the radio.  That got a loud squeal and the baby babbled along with the music.  "You've got good taste in music, Eric.  Thank you."  He glanced back at Xander at a stoplight.  "You've got his backup piece?"

"Of course. Did you think I was going to go to this unarmed?"  Don shook his head and moved on at the honking.  "Damn they're impatient."

"Yeah, but that's just how they are," he said dryly.  "Something about the air up here.  Guess Calleigh won't bounce so much, huh?"

Xander snorted. "Just hand Speed the small bottle of that lubricant stuff and she'll bounce for days."

"Not an image I wanted to see, Xander," he noted dryly.

"She cleaned the apartment last time."

"Yeah, but I don't wanna know that much about their sex life."  He pulled in and parked, glancing around while Xander got the carrier out, taking the diaper bag inside.  He handed Horatio the envelope.  "From his car buddy."

"Who is not mafia related, but he does have some friends in good places," Xander quipped.  "He saw me at the first club, when I was Vex."  He grinned at him.  "He also said I remind him of his son when he was my age and that we did a very good job of the PR stuff but that he was going to continue this stuff because he wants me to be protected."   Horatio shook his head, walking off to read the paperwork once the check was in his wallet. Xander followed.  "He also said I was very lucky to have my husband and son.  Who I believe you know," he teased with a grin since they were going inside Mac's office.  "He told me to take Eric to a vision doctor down there, that there's a very good guy and since it's mold related, Di's not getting out for a while."

Don came back.  "Yeah, it was mold related.  I checked with the hospital.  So this guy has ties in a lot of places."

"I asked if he did something that would harm my husband's career and he said no," Xander assured him.  "And I could tell the guy knew the answer and wasn't lying."  He handed Don the baby and took off his shirt, removing the wire he had worn and handing it to Mac, who was looking amused.  "I'm not that dumb, Mac."  He put back on his shirt, but Don stopped him to look at his shoulder. "Fully healed."  He buttoned it and grinned at his mate, who raised an eyebrow.  "What?"

"Did he swim with it down there too?" Don asked, handing Xander back the baby.  "I think he needs changed."

"Quite possibly."  Grabbed the diaper bag and carried the baby to the bathroom, making Stella turn and follow him.  He grinned at her when she didn't even glance around because she was in the men's room.  "One of the mysterious, present-wielding fanclub wanted to talk."

"Ah.  Anything good come of it?"

"Some information on the Mala Noches.  He said he's not mafia but he has arranged for my son to come home with us until Di's better."  He shrugged and cleaned the small butt, quickly putting on a clean diaper.  Eric was in the mood to play and he'd pee on them on purpose.  He had in the past. He fastened it down then did back up the snaps on his pant.  "There we go, all changed," he said happily, tossing out the dirty stuff and moving to wash his hands.  Eric tried to move.  "Nope, not yet. Let daddy do his hands first."  He came back after wiping them off, then picked up the baby and the diaper bag.  "We're in Mac's office."

"Okay."  She followed, heading that way with him.  She smiled at Mac when she came in.  "Did it work?"

"It was blocked, he had something that caused interference.  So we've got some static."

"Can you weed out the static to get the underlying noise?" Xander asked.  "I know the tech in Miami had to do that once or twice.  He was bragging something about the blocker didn't get the bottom range?"  He shrugged.

"You can?" Mac asked Horatio, who nodded.  "Since when?"

"Since that version has two types of recording going on simultaneously.  That's why we use those."  He looked at his mate.  "Who checked that out for you?"

"Dad."

"Ah."  He nodded.  "Remind me to ask him why later."

"He said with my past history, I'd need it."  Horatio snickered but Don and Stella both nodded at that.  "That's what the black case at the bottom of the suitbag was."

"I see."  He looked at his mate.  "Did you ask or did he offer?"

"He ordered.  Call him if you don't believe me."

"He's not talking to me.  They're still mad about this exchange."

He rolled his eyes and took his mate's phone, dialing it.  "Daddy," he said dryly, sitting down while the baby went to hug Mac's arm.  "Dear," he said dryly when he got silence.  "If you persist in pouting, I'm painting your study pink.  Willow t-shirt pink."  That got a groan.  "So, Horatio wanted to know why you sent me with a wire."  He handed the phone back.  "It's his day off.  I heard Calleigh giggling."  He looked at Mac again, shrugging a bit.  "We talked about the PR I had done for the sale so I wasn't going to insult anyone, how I was very gracious to him when I sent back the letter with his courier."

"The guy who gave you the car?" Stella asked.

"His employee.  Apparently he saw me in Montreal when I was Vex and he said I'm the spitting image of his son at my age.  Therefore he's spoiling me.  He said he's going to continue because he's not like the other people and he doesn't want to keep me.  He said it was a good job with the PR my attorney did for me.  He's suggested I take Eric to a vision specialist down in Miami since it's going to be a while before Di gets out of the hospital and can take care of him.  I asked him if his job would harm Horatio's career and he said no.  I made a comment about the current vexing issue of the Mala Noches wanting me when he asked where my husband was; I said I had a guard because of them but he was on a case with you guys.  He said they wanted me for me, handed me the envelope, told me again he was going to keep spoiling me rotten, and then walked off.  I called Don, he told me that he was coming to pick me up, the officer joined me on my walk to the duck pond so he could do that and he figured out who I was by rumors," he said with a small grin for his husband.  "He did say he wouldn't say anything and I told him he'd enjoy working with the lab when they came up.  Then we saw some guy following us, he said he was a local PI.  Then Don came."

"Uh-huh.  Where was the officer during this meeting?" Don asked.

"Chatting up some hotdog selling woman."  He shrugged.  "Eric was sitting beside me on the bench."

"Fine," Don agreed.

"Don't you dare yell at him, Don.  He didn't know why I was supposed to be protected.  You didn't tell him it was a serious threat by the shock on his face."

Don snorted.  "It won't save him, kid."

Xander glared at him.  Don glared back.  He smirked. "If you yell at him, you can't train him to know better and mold him in your esteemed image so you have someone you know can kick ass like you do while you're in Miami."

"That's mean.  There's plenty of guys around here who can kick ass."

"Who're all heading to Miami to get a tan," Stella agreed.  "Therefore, train him better, Don."  She smirked at Xander.  "Nice play."

"Thank you.  Speed told Eric to do the same thing with Ryan once when he got annoying."

"Ryan's problem was that reporter following him around," Horatio noted dryly.  "This man's wasn't."

"He also wasn't told why," Don admitted.  "I told him he had to guard Xander, that he was an officer's spouse and that there were hints of trouble possibly coming for him.  So I had him track him from the hotel to the park. I should've been more specific."  He looked at Mac.  "Go ahead and take that to AV so we can figure out who this new employee is."  Mac handed it to Stella, who nodded and took it that way with Horatio.  "You're in so much trouble," he warned.

"Why?  Because I told him if something happened to take the baby instead of guarding me?"

"No, that I expected," he noted dryly.  "Does Horatio know you have his backup?"

"Well, no, but he said he wasn't going to use it today when I asked him."  He grinned at him. "I figured he would've gotten the point."  Don shook his head. "Oops."

"And if it's not in plain sight, it's carrying concealed.  Did you upgrade your license?"  Xander nodded.  "Is it valid in New York?"

"Unless and until we move up here. I checked and your officer in the Chief's office said that yes, they were good if you were only visiting for a few weeks.  She did say that she hoped I wouldn't have to use it to protect myself, because I did tell her I had a death threat against me, and suggested that the department handling the case notify you guys that I was coming up here.  I told her I had a friend up here in the PD who I had notified.  She asked who, I said Danny to keep you out of trouble."  He smirked at him. "That way you don't get another visit by the Chief."

"Thanks, he tends to call while I'm trying ta eat," Don said dryly.  "Let's see the permit, kid."

Xander sighed and pulled out his wallet, handing it over.  "See?"

"Yeah, I do," he admitted, handing it back.  "Whose idea was that?"

"Horatio's."  He put his wallet back and looked at his son.  "I think you're a teddy bear, Mac."

"I noticed."   He carefully got free and Don picked up the baby, letting him nap on his shoulder.  "Baby evny?"

"Now and then.  This way I don't have ta have any for a while longer."  Eric lifted his head to look at him so he turned the baby's face, getting a grin.  "Hi, Eric."  He got an open- mouthed baby kiss and then the head got put back on his shoulder. "Thank you.  Good boy."   Horatio came back and he looked at him. "You know he's got your other gun, right?"

"I thought he might with the way he phrased his question this morning."  He looked at his spouse, who handed it over for him to check.  "Fine."  He handed it back and Xander put it back on his back waistband.  "You did upgrade your license, correct?"

"Yup," Don assured him. "I already checked."  The baby patted him so he looked at him. "What?  Am I too loud?"  The baby cooed and put his head back down.  "Here, you nap on daddy."  He handed the baby back, wiping at the small spot of drool. "Teething still I guess."

"Apparently," Xander agreed, wiping his son's mouth on the tail of his shirt.  "So, when's visiting hours?"

"They start at one," Horatio assured him. "We can see her then.  Or you can and I'll visit later."  Mac gave him an amused look.  "For some reason," he said blandly, "I make her nervous."

Xander snickered.  "Gee, I wonder why, dear.  You didn't happen to *threaten* her or anything during the visitation negotiation or anything, right?"  Horatio gave him a smug look.  "That's what I thought.  I'll call the social worker later to make sure everything's in order for us to head home in a few days.  Was it a Miami case?"

"Miami citizen," he admitted. "I can take you to lunch."  Xander got up and grabbed the diaper bag, kissing him on the cheek.  "Are you sure?"

"I'm going back to the hotel for a quick nap with him, then we'll go visit.  That way you're not bored."  He smiled at the guys.  "I'll see you guys later.  Are we having dinner tonight?"  Mac nodded.  "Cool.  Tell me where if I'm out with him."  He walked out with the baby, Danny stopping him to tickle him.  "He's been a good boy."

"I'm sure he has.  He's saving up his energy to run Speed nuts when you bring him home."  He grinned at him. "Going where?"

"Hotel."

"Good.  Call and tell us where you're going when you leave."  Xander nodded and walked out catching a cab outside.  Danny walked into Mac's office and shut the door, leaning on it with a smirk.  "Horatio, your threatening nature is spreading."  Horatio moaned and shook his head.  "He's blocked out the static if we wanna hear.  No one's got a working pager."

"The blocker was in the bag," Horatio said, going to listen to this.  Stella was still in there so he got smirked at again.  "What?"

"Did you have to buy back the gold castration sheers Xander got sent?"

"No.  Not yet."  The others came in and the tech smirked before replaying what he had weeded out.  He had to turn the volume all the way up so they could hear the first part, and then Horatio moaned and shook his head at the later stuff.  "I'm going to kill Frank for starting that rumor," he complained.

"Xander said it started after Speed died," Stella assured him.  "It's from the way you avenged him and all that stuff."

Horatio looked at her.  "Yes, but then Frank starts spreading it to the rookies as they come in. I don't harm people for touching my hummer or Xander."

"You just give 'em dirty looks that make 'em wet their pants," Don agreed happily, smirking at him.  "I need a rep like yours, Caine."  He patted him on the back.  His phone rang so he stepped out of the lab to answer it.  "Flack."  He heard the panting and groaned.  "Xander?"  Horatio came out.  "Where are you?  Yeah, we'll be right there."  He hung up and looked at the worried spouse. "Someone came up to him and tried him because he's your spouse.  They're sorry, that's how he put it."  Horatio headed for the door with Don right behind him.  "I'm sure he and the baby are all right."

"Yes, but he said he's going to be worse than me if I ever get hurt.  If they threatened me, he probably went off on them."  He got into the passenger's seat, buckling up as Don started the car even before he had his door closed.  "Was he all right?"

"Panting in anger it sounded like," he admitted, flipping on the lights as he pulled out.  He made it to the hotel in record time, finding Xander calmly sipping a soda and smiling at his son, who was cooing at the guy in handcuffs on the floor at their feet.  "What did you do?" he asked.

Xander looked at him, then at his mate.  "He came up and said he was going to shoot me and my son for being, and I quote, Caine's pussy bitch, and then you.  I rather...went off."  He glared at the man on the floor, and he tried to inch backward.  "Try it some more," he encouraged.  The man whimpered when Horatio moved into his line of sight.  "Now, tell the nice Lieutenant Caine what he wants to know and I don't get you again for trying to harm my son."  The man looked at him, then at Caine, then at him again, before wiggling over to Caine and trying to hide behind him.  He stood up with Eric in his arms, his soda now gone.  Don took the bottle and tossed it, earning a smile. "I'm going to ice my knuckles upstairs.  Did you need a statement, detective?"  Then he smiled sweetly.  "That way I can rant and scream in the bathroom while my son claps."

"You beat him up," Don said dryly.

"Yes he threatened my son and mate.  That's what I do.  That's why whoever hurts my mate will die."  He stared into his eyes and Don took a step back.  "I'm going to calm down now and pray to the Powers That Be that my son learns calm anger from my mate."  He too his son upstairs, going up to rant and scream in the bathroom while he son watched some cartoons.

The hotel security officer coughed and handed over a tape.  "Complete with sound, gentlemen.  We thought it might be needed.  Whenever you rehandcuff him, just give us back ours please."

Don nodded.  "Sure thing."  He looked him over, then into his eyes.  "How long were you on the force?"

"Eight years and then I blew my knee.  This pays well, has less paperwork, and I still do the same stuff, only without the gun most days.  My wife likes it," he offered with a grin.  "You?"

"Nearly fourteen now," he offered, shrugging a bit.  "My dad made sure I went right in."   That got a small grin and a nod.  "Any witnesses?"

The guard pointed at an older lady sipping from a china tea cup. "She was stalking the boy to hit on him and the baby.   She took the baby when Xander put him down in the chair, sir.  He said to call him Xander," he noted at the other cop's look.  He knew they were together, it was a cute family.  "He put his son into the chair he was sitting in and shoved him away from your son, Mr. Caine, and then the other guy pulled the knife that's embedded in the reception desk's front panel.  Xander broke his wrist and threw it at that so he couldn't use it again from what I saw on the tape.  Then he beat the shit outta him."

"Yeah, the kid's a bit possessive about what's his," Don admitted dryly.  "Let me get a car ta come get him and get someone here to look for any evidence and clean it up for you."  That earned him a smile and a nod from the guard.  So he called Mac.  "It's me.  One of the idiots threatened Xander while he was holding Eric.  No, Xander told him he'd tell Horatio or he'd deal with him again so he's still trying to hide behind Caine.  Thanks.  No, but there's a knife and we've got a tape.  Thanks, send a car."  He hung up and looked at the suspect.  "Horatio, I'd let you have him but you know the rules."  He nodded and sat down, letting Don have their suspect.  He bent down to look at him, pointing at Horatio.  "Did you think New York wasn't just as scared of him as you guys are?" he hissed.

"Don," Horatio warned.

Don smirked back.  "It's nice ta have a rep like that, Horatio.  Calm down.  He won't tell anyone.  After all, who wants to be known as being beaten by Caine's boy in the circles he runs in?"

"It's still not funny."  He glared at him.  "What were you planning on doing to my husband?"  The man started to cry.  "That's what I thought you'd say."  Danny and Mac came in, with a uniform behind them.  "I'm going to check on Xander."

"Don't bitch yer boy out for this, Horatio," Danny warned.  "He was protecting his son."

"I know.  I wasn't going to yell, just help him calm down."  He headed up to their room, finding Eric staring at Nick Jr. and Xander still in the bathroom.  He tapped before walking in, looking his mate over. "Are you injured?" Xander shook his head.  "Are you sure?"  Xander nodded, giving him a 'hopeless' look.  "Come here, Xander."  He came over and hugged him, relaxing once he was in his arms.  "Good job.  You didn't get hurt and you protected yourself and the baby."  Xander looked up at him.  "Seriously, but you're not leaving my side ever again."  Xander gave him a weak smile and went back to cuddling.  He kissed him and Xander moaned, pressing against his body.  "Take off your shirt, let me check for injuries."  Xander nodded and took off his shirt, then his pants and boxers.

He turned around slowly, arms out, and Horatio grabbed him once his back was to him, undoing his pants and checking his boy's body to make sure he was still wet from earlier.  He found it barely slick and decided it was good enough, bending him over the sink and having him so they could both calm down.  Xander was biting his arm to stay quiet.  "Let it out, Xander," he said as he worked himself deeper into his mate's body.  Xander let out the noise, making him one happy alpha male.  It was short, sweet, and good, what they both needed so Horatio cuddled him afterward, kissing him gently and holding him.  "Shower, Xander," he said quietly.  "Then join me and the baby."  He looked himself over then decided he had to change too, grabbing his spare suit out of the closet.  He noticed Danny was in there and nodded at him, but went back into the bathroom.

Danny shook his head, smiling at the baby.  "Some day you'll find someone who makes you that insane too, little fella.  Then your daddies will have ta sniff tails or somethin' ta make sure he's good enough for you, and then you'll be fine."  The baby beamed at him so he ran a finger down his nose.  "I should probably change you since ya stink, but I'll let daddy do that.  Daddies, he needs changed," he called.

Horatio came out to grab their son, taking him back to Xander, who stripped him down to shower with him.  He came back out doing up his shirt.  "They're splashing in the water."  He looked him over, then into his eyes.  "Statement time?"

"No.  Don said he had enough from downstairs and the tape.  The guy was drug off pleading for mercy and Mac said he'd talk to him in a moment since we didn't have much ta do on this case."  He punched him on the arm.  "Some day, Eric will find himself a guy like you or his dad. Then you two can sit back and watch him being overprotective."

"I'd rather he had someone who spoiled him," Xander called from the bathroom.  "Diaper?"  Horatio got one and handed it over.  "Tank you."  He grinned at his mate.  "Pants?  Or should I go out in a towel."  Horatio kissed him, making him moan and Eric giggle.  "You'll get some of that some day, son."  He grinned at him.  "Pick out something for me to wear?"

Horatio nodded, going to pick out his mate's attire and dress him however he wanted.

Danny shook his head.  "You think you could make me one like you two?" Danny teased.

Xander stuck his head out of the bathroom. "According to half the station, you have your own guy who'd beat anyone senseless if they touched you."  Danny blushed and shook his head.  So Xander nodded.  "Yeah, they do say that."

"Fuck," he muttered, shaking his head.  "Not like that between us."

"I'd hope not," Don called.  "Let me in."  Horatio let him in and handed Xander his outfit.  "Thanks."  He looked at Horatio, then at Xander, then at the baby, who was wandering toward him in just a diaper.  "Were you messy and sweaty too?"

"No, just messy," Xander said, closing the bathroom door so he could change. "I'll be right out.  Am I under arrest?"

"No.  He's refusing to file charges against you.  Someone unwisely asked him and he pissed himself, literally."  He looked at Horatio, who shrugged.  "You good?"

"I'm fine.  Why wouldn't I be?"  Eric smiled at him so he picked him up.  "There, is that what you wanted?"

The baby patted his cheek and smiled.  "Pa?"

"No, he's not up here.  You'll see him in a few days, Eric."  That got a mischievous grin.  "I bet you learned that off your grandfather, didn't you?"  The baby cackled and hugged him around the neck.  "I love you too."  He patted him on the back.  "Let's figure out what you're wearing."  Xander came out and got him clothes, handing them over.  "We're dressing him like you today?"

"Of course," he agreed with a grin.  "Baby pack and all."  He looked at Don.  "I'm sorry I had to mess up the lobby."

"We're not and the hotel said it was a good thing you're such a good aim."  He patted him on the back.  "We going to see Di?"  Xander nodded and sat down to put on his sneakers, then get Eric some shoes as well.  Xander was in all blue, his shirt the color of Don's eyes and his pants the color of Horatio's.  He looked at Horatio, who smirked at him.  "I hope you're with him today?"  Especially since the clothes were some of the stuff from the design show.

"I probably should be."  He finished dressing the wiggling little boy, who squealed when he saw the backpack.  Xander stood up and shimmied into it, letting Horatio put the baby in and secure the last few straps.  Xander grabbed his wallet and gun.  Horatio grabbed his wallet and gun, and they both grabbed keys, following the cops out.

Danny just shook his head.  Some days, Xander was like a younger Horatio and some days he was worse.

***

Diana smiled at her son as he toddled in by himself.  "Baby," she cooed.  He beamed and tried to climb up so she reached down to grab him, pulling him into her lap.  "How have you been?  Have you enjoyed playing with the daddy?  Did he take you swimming again?" she cooed, poking him on the belly. He grinned and covered it, then beamed at the doorway.  She smirked at Xander.  "At least you dress in my clothes since my son's dressed like a Gap ad."  Horatio and Don walked in as well, making her smile.  "Wow, all for me?"  They nodded, coming closer.  "Thank you for finding him, Xander."

"Not an issue, Di. You know I'll always take my son if you need me to.  All you have to do is let me know."  He kissed her on the head, then patted his son when he reached up.  "Talk to the mommy.  Tell her about the dog you saw earlier in the park."  The baby babbled at his mother, waving his arms and bouncing.

She smiled. "I'm glad you saw the doggy, Eric.  Doggies are good for you to play with."  She smoothed down his hair.  "You're such a good boy."  She looked at Horatio.  "Has he been a bother?"

"No.  He's been charming and decent the whole time.  Did you have anyone look at his left eye?"

"His pediatrician was going to refer us but it never happened."  She looked at Xander.  "They're saying it's going to be a month."

He nodded.  "Okay.  I can arrange it."  She smiled at that.  "Hey, it's not like Willow's going to have anything to do for the next few weeks. Plus she needs the practice since she's stuffed up too."

"Excuse me?  The bouncy, squealy one?" Don asked.  Xander sighed and nodded.  "Wow.  By who?"

"She married Ryan."

"Oooooh," he said, smirking a bit.  "So Mac'll get her when they come up?"  Horatio nodded, smirking a bit.  "Good!"  Xander laughed at that.  "So, they're going back to Miami in a few days, Di.  Any idea who trashed your place since that guy says he didn't and he needs a cane ta walk?  I doubt he could've turned your coffee table.  Much less the sofa."

"Not a clue," she sighed, shifting some.  The baby curled up on her stomach, making her smile and pat his back.  "You nap if you need it. I'm sure you had a big morning."

Xander nodded. "There was some old lady in the hotel who wanted to adopt us."  She smiled at that.  "I need his medical stuff and official authorization to treat, Di."

"Of course.  Do you have the papers drawn up?"  Xander handed over the fax he had gotten that morning from his attorney.  "That was quick."

"The same guy who did the visitation agreement," he admitted, handing her a pen.  She smiled and read it, then signed it and filled in the information on the other sheet.  "Thank you."  He took it back and put the papers into Horatio's jacket pocket.  "You have better pockets than I do and I have no doubt the social worker will be tracking you down later."  He snuck a kiss with a grin, making Eric giggle again.  "He likes that."

"He does, but I still can't think smutty thoughts with him in my office."  She looked at Horatio.  "I wouldn't be nearly as understanding as you've been, Horatio."

He shrugged a bit.  "Xander is my family.  The rest of my family loves Xander as well.  Eric is his son, that makes him mine."  She relaxed and nodded, smiling at him.  "You don't have to worry that he's an imposition, Diana.  I have nothing against your son or you.  You two were over long ago."  She nodded, smirking just a bit.  "Now, are you coming to Miami?"

"I might.  I've been thinking about it.  My team up here can run this office and Miami is the place to go for clubbing clothes and clubbing.  Most of our clubs up here are a different sort, meant to show off the celebrities. Yours are more for having fun and dancing, even badly."  He smirked a bit and nodded.  "You sure you could stand me?"

"Diana, I'm the one with the low self esteem, learn your spot," Xander noted dryly. "If he had minded, he would've said something.  Horatio has no problem telling you when you're bugging him or upsetting him.  Even me when I'm being annoying.  Understood?"  She nodded, swallowing a bit at that.  "Good.  Now, get with the program."  She smiled and nodded, relaxing again.  "A month?"  She nodded.  "I can handle that. Stella took pictures of his birthday party and we'll do one of Christmas if you're not out yet.  Good enough?"  She smiled and nodded.  "Good."  He kissed her on the cheek. "Play with your son."  He took Horatio's arm.  "We're going to find you something cute to brighten up this gloom.  We'll be right back."

"Thank you, guys."  She smiled at Don, then down at her son.  "You're napping again?" she asked, patting him on the back.  "Poor baby. Did the doggie wear you out?  You never sleep like this at home."

"He sleeps like that all the time around Xander," Don offered, coming over to sit next to her.  "Maybe he's got that protective instinct down and he wants ta protect you but the daddies are stronger so he lets them or somethin'."  He shrugged and grinned at her.  "So, mold?"

"Yeah, serious mold.  I don't know from where yet, but someone's got to find out."  She stroked the baby's back.  "So, he hasn't been a problem at all?"

"No.  He giggles when those two kiss but otherwise he's been wonderful.  He slept through the first auction and today they went to the park.  One of the normal members of the Xander fanclub showed up but they weren't odd in the head at all.  Just the employee of some old guy who said Xander looks just like his son so he was pulling some strings for him.  He's the one who told us about the mold and got the social worker to agree that Xander could take him back to Miami, and all that."

She nodded.  "I had some guy in here earlier about that."  She looked at her son, then at him, letting her voice get quieter.  "Don, I'm scared he'll take Eric and not let me see him."

He kissed her on the cheek. "You're being dumb.   You're not that blonde."  She smacked him on the shoulder so he smirked a bit. "The only reason they'd take him from you was if you're a bad mother.  Horatio and Xander agreed on this during the last visitation."  She nodded, looking more happy now.  Still not greatly happy with it but happier.  "Besides, this'll give Horatio an excuse to get out of work early some days.  And hey, he can watch Xander swim."  She nodded, smirking a bit again.  The duo came back, showing off the balloons they had bought for her room.  "Those're bright and cheery."

"And hey, none say 'sorry you're dead' like the one Delko got Ryan when we had to pull the bomb out of his chest."

"Bomb in his chest?" she asked.

Horatio nodded.  "They wanted samples of Xander's sweat and to figure out how he drew people.  Ryan and Eric Delko are working on that as private research and they attached an explosive device to his ribcage while we were up here for the show.  We found it the day we got back and got him free of it by that night."

"Hence me skipping the auction today that's selling the house in Dubai."  He frowned and pulled out his phone, checking for messages.  "Damn."  He listened then smirked.  "House went, two things didn't," he reported.  "One's jewelry.  One's a horse."  Horatio blinked at that so he shrugged.  "I don't know."  He dialed his auctioneer back.  "Sorry I missed you earlier, Cheline.  What's this about a horse?"  He groaned and rubbed his forehead.  "Why would I care?" he moaned.  He nodded.  "Sure, sell them at whatever price you can.  What piece of jewelry?"  He blinked a few times.  "I didn't see that on the invoice.  Yeah, this is Xander.  What....  Huh?" he asked when she described it.  "That wasn't mine.  No, it wasn't mine.  I don't remember it being on there.  Please, check.  Yes."  He looked at Horatio.  "Sapphire pin?"  He shrugged, he hadn't been paying attention to that.  So he looked at Don, who shrugged too.   His auctioneer came back.  "Are you *sure*?  Was it in that estate?"  He turned and hit his forehead on the window.  "Who sent it?"   He moaned.  "Thank you.  Yes, please sell the horse and the track.  I don't need a horse track.  Thank you."  He hung up and hit his head again.  "They sent it directly to Christies.  The horse track was another late addition present.  Apparently they thought I needed a thoroughbred mare and a horse track."

Horatio came over and hugged him.  "It will stop," he reminded him quietly.  "I swear it will stop some day."

Xander looked back at him. "Promise?"  He nodded, letting him cuddle in.  "I don't mind horses but really!"

"She got a good record?" Don asked.  Xander shrugged.  "Maybe there's a horse sale."

"She said she's checking into that but the sapphire piece was too big and chunky so no one wanted it. So we still have a pin unless we give it to someone."

"And a horse," Don joked.

"And a horse and a horse track," Xander agreed, looking over at him.  "Not helping, big brother."  He went back to his cuddle, looking into his mate's eyes.  "Why me?"

"You're loved and desired by many," he said calmly, kissing him gently.  "That's all this is."

"It's ridiculous."

Horatio nodded.  "It is that as well."  He took another kiss and Xander moaned, wiggling closer.  They had to break for air but then started again, earning a giggle from the baby but they didn't really hear him.

"Jesus, guys, go back to the hotel and do that," Don complained.

"I think that's very hot," Diana said, smiling at him.  "I'd offer but I'd start coughing soon."  He laughed, shaking his head.  "Who's joking?  You obviously need better sex more often."

"I've got ways around that," he reminded her smugly.  "As do you."

"She left," she pouted.

"I heard, what did you do to Beatrice?"

She wobbled, then shrugged.  "Treated her like the mommy."  She shrugged again, grinning just the slightest bit.  Horatio moaned and she looked back.  Xander had both hands in Horatio's hair and Horatio was pulling his boy closer so they could rub together through their clothes.  "Guys, my blood pressure can't raise or else I'll cough," she complained.  "Come back and do that the day I get out."  She handed him the baby and threw her pillow at them, hitting Horatio on the back.  He looked back at her.  "Thank you for stopping that.  I personally think it's hot as hell to watch you two go at it, but I'm not supposed to have my blood pressure raised.  Can I have my pillow back?"  Xander picked it up and tossed it back, then stole a very quick kiss with a smirk and a grin for his mate.  Horatio smirked back.  "Thank you.  So, Xander, how does it feel to ride in the hummer on his lap?" she teased.

"He won't drive while I'm doing anything sexual.  He claims he'd crash."  He came over to kiss her on the forehead.  "Some day you'll have someone who makes you sweat too," he said with a bright grin.  "And they'll tie you down and fuck you until you either love them or beg for mercy and them to go away until you're not sore."  She blushed but giggled, bringing the nurse running.  "Sorry, dirty joke."

The nurse scowled.  "She doesn't need jokes!  She needs rest!"  She looked at the baby.  "He shouldn't be on the bed."  She started to go for the baby and Xander casually caught her by the throat.

"Xander," Horatio warned.  "She's not going to harm your son."  Xander let her go and stared at her until she left.  "Thank you."

"He's still on edge from where someone tried ta kill him and Eric earlier for Horatio being a good cop," Don told her.  He looked at the security guard, pulling out his badge.  "The nurse went for his son."

"Ah.  She said he tried to kill her."

"No, that was a warning," Xander assured him.  "Someone tried to come up and kill us earlier today for who I'm married to."

"I'm sorry about that, sir, was it reported?"  Don nodded.  "Good.  Now, the nurse said the baby can get sick from her?"

"I doubt it," Di told him dryly.  "Considering the doctor said I couldn't pass this on when he came in without a mask last night."

"That's fine then.  I'll tell her it was a big misunderstanding and you thought she was a threat to your son, sir."  He walked out, going to talk to the nurse, who huffed off.  He did his report for his boss and everything was good again in his world.

***

Xander walked into the tryouts a few weeks later with the baby in his carrier.  The coach gave him a dirty look.  "You're the one who said it's closed.  His mother's got moldy lungs."  He sat the carrier on the bleachers, handed his son a bottle, checked to make sure he couldn't wiggle free, then went to change.  He came out and coughed when he found people around his son.  "He's going to sleep."  That got some knowing grins.  "He sleeps everywhere.  Even in the mall.  He can sleep through this too."  He leaned against the wall to stretch, glancing over at his son, who beamed at him.  He strolled over, unconsciously strutting.  "You, my son, will nap for the daddy and in a few hours we'll let Horatio make us a nummy dinner.  Good for you?"  His son babbled and flailed a bit, then went back to his bottle when his daddy smiled at him.  "When you're two more years older, we'll teach you how to swim too."  He kissed him on the head and sat down, listening to the coach's orders.  "What position am I going in?"

"Second.  If he screams, he's going into the office."

Xander looked at his son, then at him.  "He didn't scream when we had to shoot someone who was trying to kill us a few nights back, coach.  The starting pistol isn't anything compared to that."

"Fine."  He looked the kid over.  "How's your head?"

"I'll make it through tryouts."

"Good."  He looked at the team again.  "That's Harris, he wants on so he can train and see if he's got what it takes.  He's good, but don't cut him any slack."  They all nodded and he nodded at the starting blocks.  "Let's go."  He sat down, looking at the happily napping baby, then at his swimmers.  "Go!" he shouted, using the starting pistol.  The baby let out a snore and tried to wiggle onto his side.  "Wow."

"Definitely," Xander agreed, watching the guys swim.  "Is the one in lane six your other distance guy?"  The coach nodded.  "Cool.  Which stroke am I starting on?"

"Breast."  Xander nodded and got up, swinging his arms.  He noticed the baby was more alert.  "You might wanna calm him down."

"Eric, daddy's gotta go swim.  You go back to sleep.  I'm just gonna be in the pool, baby."  He kissed him on the forehead and moved down to take his spot since they were doing this relay style.  The only spot was behind the distance guy, and the coach smirked at that.  He shrugged, he knew he was fast.  The first guy touched and his next point took off.  His guy touched nearly last and he took off, doing his best sprints to date.  Four laps.  That's all he had to do this time was four laps.  He made the first turn and sped up even more.  The second turn.   He heard the buzzer and glanced over between strokes.  The coach motioned him to go on so he did.  Third turn and then back for one last lap.  He hit the wall and climbed out once the guy had jumped over his head.  "Buzzer test?"

The coach nodded. "Yeah, sometimes you've got to."   He walked over to him.  "Is your shoulder bothering you?"

"No, my lower back.  Why?  Was I that slow?"

"No, just wondering.  No sex last night?"  Xander grimaced and shook his head.  "You weren't up to full potential.  Next laps, I want you to do breast stroke again, then we'll do distance swimming later, kid.  This time, really try."  Xander nodded and stretched some more, working out the pains in his back.  He let his mind drop into the right spot, forgetting the rest of them and the expectations, then dove in when his person touched the wall.  This time, it felt more natural.  He reminded himself, only four laps.  He only did four laps this time.  First turn and going strong.  Second and getting there, his body starting to burn in that comfortable way.  Third and it was good.  Turn and head back, putting on that extra burst of last minute speed that won races.  He touched the wall and looked up at the coach.  "Did I fuck up?"

"No, not in the least.  The baby threw up."

"Wonderful."  He got out and walked over there, taking out a diaper wipe to clean him up.  "What?  You didn't eat my cooking, you shouldn't have to throw up, son."  He kissed him on the forehead and checked his forehead, then the tips of his ears.  "You still okay?"  The baby scowled so he kissed him.  Then he shifted him in the car seat.  "I know you like to sleep on your side but you can't do that in the car seat.  You'll strangle yourself."  He smoothed down the hair.  "Okay?  We understood?"  The baby smiled and took his bottle back, going to sleep.  He sat down beside him, looking at the coach.  "He compressed while trying to roll over."

"I hear it happens.  You wanna go for distance?"

"Sure.  Crawl?"  He kissed the baby on the head and walked back over, swinging his arms to make sure he had good blood flow in them.  "Block or dead start?"

"Block.  Ten laps."  Xander nodded and took his position, giving the other guy a friendly grin.  He used the starting pistol, watching the kids who did distance going.  He didn't have anyone to do the longest race and this kid could....  He heard the baby sniffle and looked over there.  "It's gonna be a few minutes, kid."  The baby settled down, much to the amusement of the others.  "He's got a lot of uncles."  He saw one sneaking in and raised an eyebrow.  "Tryouts are closed, Mr. Wolfe."

"I came to get the baby."  He watched Xander outpace the other guy and nodded, grabbing the carrier and diaper bag, getting a coo.  "Hi, Eric.  It's Ryan.  Wanna go see the other daddy?"  The baby babbled and kicked.  "Good, tell Xander it was me before he can freak."  He left, going back to the station.  Everyone had forgotten today was tryouts until Frank had asked who was watching the baby during them.  He walked out to the hummer, seeing the amused look on the security guard's face.  "An officer's spouse is trying out so we're babysitting as a favor."  He got the baby strapped in and took off.

Xander touched the wall and looked up at the scowl.  "What? One too short?"

"One too many, Harris, and your time is still better."  He nodded so the kid got out, following him over.  "Good times, even when you're sore.  Before you ask, Wolfe came to get the baby."

"Oh, okay.  Why?"

"Not a clue.  Told him he was going to see his other father."

"That's cool."  Xander sat down with his towel, drying off his hair.  "So, am I making the cut?"

"Probably.  That'll be announced tomorrow after diving tryouts.  For now, get that knot worked out of your back."

"Horatio can do that later," he promised.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah, kid, improve your times just a bit more."  He showed them to him and Xander looked happy.  "You're happy with that?"

"It's faster than it was a month ago. I didn't expect to beat the school record today, coach.  I am realistic."

"Good point."  He smirked at him.  "Yes, I think you will make the team.  No more bringing the baby to practice.  The school has a daycare."

"Which is full, expensive, and full of people I'd have to do a background check on," he noted dryly.  "His mother's getting out of the hospital in two weeks. We think we'll be sending him back within the month.  She got some funky mold infection and it gave her a high fever and pneumonia."  He shrugged and winced.  "Ow.  Tension."

"Yeah, which your mate should've dealt with for you."

"Long case yesterday.  He came in and went to bed."

"Oh.  Sorry, kid."

"They happen.  I guess."  He looked at the others, motioning them over.

"Guys, for those who don't realize, this is Xander Harris."  Xander waved.  "The baby's not a regular fixture, he's in for visitation while his mother's ill."

"My son's adorable but he loves his mommy more than me."  That got some laughs.  "Unfortunately she's ill at the moment, and then I'll go back to visitation."  He yawned and looked at the coach.  "Any other instructions, coach?"

"Yeah, have Delko watch you tonight."

"Can't.  He's chasing down a guy who kidnaped his kids."

"Oh."  He blinked at that.  "That's gotta take priority," he agreed.  "Fine.  Did he go over it with you?"  Xander nodded. "Good.  Try your best.  That's all we can ask of you, kid."  He stood up.  "Good first day back today, guys.  Some of you didn't suck as badly as you could have.  It's clear some of you ate a lot over the holidays."  He looked at Xander.

"Don't look at me, Eric put me on a proper diet and I bulked up.  I've been going back down."

"Good."  He looked at them again.  "Results will be out tomorrow after dive team practice.  Go shower and change, then leave.  No personal practices tonight."  They nodded and even Xander headed that way.  He shook his head.  The kid was going to be looked at oddly.  He didn't have an open spot so someone was going to have to leave and the kid's scores put him in the middle of the pack this time.  Xander came out first, pulling on his shirt.  "You did good."

"Thank you.  I don't mind being the alternate, coach," he said quietly.  "Two of your guys are seriously depressed in there.  One's staring at his straight razor."  He grabbed his bookbag and walked out, leaving it in his hands.  His car was still there so apparently the CSI babysitting fairy had taken the company car.  He found his cell in there with two messages and listened to them first, smirking at one.  "Of course Horatio forgot you had the baby, Ryan."  He started the car and headed for the crime scene, giving Yelina a look when he got there. "The babysitting fairy stole my son?"

"Yes, he's sleeping in the hummer," she agreed, pointing at it.

"He was perfectly fine where he was," he noted dryly, going to get his son, who was napping.  "Hey, Eric."  His son blinked at him and smiled.  "Hi.  Wanna go home?"  The baby let out a tired coo.  "Yeah, you can nap there."  He got the carseat undone and into his car, coming back for the diaper bag and putting that next to his son.  Then he turned on the a/c so his son wouldn't roast.  It was hot out here today.  He beeped before taking off, making Ryan smirk at him.  He'd yell at him tomorrow.  He picked up stuff for dinner and got it and the baby inside, having to come back for the carseat.  He saw Ray Sr. lurking and nodded, making him nod and head inside once Xander got the car locked again.  He found his son on the couch, asleep, and went in to deal with dinner.

"Are you supposed to cook?"

"Horatio showed me how to make this one and he said I did it okay the last time."

"Oh, that's good."  He looked back at the baby.  "Is he all right?  He feels warm."

"Ryan had to leave him in the hummer for a few minutes.  Give him ten more to cool down from that and then I'll check."  That got a nod and Xander lifted out the pork chops.  "Are you staying for dinner?"

"Not that I know of.  I was bored.  They're still deciding if I'm coming back or not."

"I guess that happens."  Someone pounded on the door.  "Get that for me?"  He dropped the pork chops into the pan, letting them brown.  He heard the loud bang and turned off the heat, grabbing the only weapons in the kitchen, a very sharp knife. He found Ray on the floor bleeding.  Someone standing over him.  "Out of my fucking house, asshole," he ordered.

"I've got a gun," he sneered.

Xander threw the knife, making him duck, and came up with Ray's gun since he was smarter than the guy thought.  "And now so do I."  He pulled out his cell, calling his mate.  "Honey, there's a blond man, approximately six foot tall, with a luger pointed at me in our doorway and your brother's bleeding on the floor.  Might I get someone here?" he asked politely.  "No, he'll live.  He's not bleeding that hard, Horatio.  Thank you."  He hung up and looked at Ray, then at him.  "You've got two choices."

"I stay he still dies."

"And I know someone who can heal.  Think she won't bring him back?"  The man looked stunned and he heard sirens.  So Xander smirked.  "Up to you, dear."  The man took off and he got to work pressing on Ray's wounds.  "Hi."  Ray moaned at him.  "Of course you'll live.  Your son still has to kill you."  He looked over at the officers responding.  "Blond man took off to the right, around the house toward the beach.  The shot hit his lower shoulder area."  The paramedic pushed past the cops and one took off to see if they could find the suspect.  "Didn't get a chance to put direct pressure on for a few minutes."

"That's fine, sir.  Not dying is always the better option."  He took over for Xander and Xander backed up, going to clean his hands in the kitchen and check on his son, who was sleeping and cooled off.  He came back and found them moving Ray.  "Who should we call?"

"I've got it.  Where are you sending him?"

"General."

"Thank you.  I'll let his family know."  They nodded and Xander pulled out his phone, calling Ray Jr.'s.  "Don't freak, just stop whatever you're doing."  The kid said he turned off the microwave.  "Your father was just shot, it's not a fatal wound.  He's headed to General.  No, I'm calling you first.  I figure Horatio called your mother.  General.  Yeah.  Sure, come take my car."  He hung up, those two didn't live that far away.  He nodded at Eric as he came in.  "Hi.  Find the kid?" he asked hopefully.

"Earlier this morning," he said with a small grin.  "So, what happened?  And why was Ray here?"

"He said he was bored."  He shrugged.  "I was in the kitchen, the little guy was sleeping here.  Someone knocked on the door.  I was cooking so he went to answer that.  I heard the shot, turned off the stove, grabbed a knife.  Came out to check.  Ray was shot approximately here," he said, pointing at his own shoulder to show it.  "He was on the floor.  The guy still had his gun on him.  He laughed because I had a knife so I threw it at him, which gave me enough time to grab Ray's gun and we had a standoff until the sirens got loud."  The patrols brought someone back and he nodded.  "Him or someone just like him."  That got a nod and they drug him off.  He looked at Eric again.  "Cops got here, I gave them the bare description and which way he had run.  Paramedics came, I turned Ray over to them, then I went to wash my hands."

"Okay."  He came closer.  "How were tryouts?"

"One guy was staring at his straight razor.  The coach thinks I'm a bit slow today but I was still pretty good according to him."

"Then you made the team."  He grinned.

"I offered to take an alternate place so he wouldn't have to deal with a suicidal athlete."

"That's fine.  You're that sorta guy," he agreed. "He was where?"

"Doorway, barely inside."

"Good deal."  He went to search, bagging the knife.  "Speed's gonna yell that you used one of the knives he gave you as a weapon."

"Let him. It's not like I keep a gun in the kitchen."

"True, we'd worry if you did."  He heard a moan and looked over.  "What's up?"

"Baby."  He sat him up, looking at the blinking eyes.  "What's wrong?"  The baby threw up on him.  "Okay, that's two.  That means it's time to call someone once we get you cleaned up."  He walked him back to his bathroom, going to give him a quick sink bath and new clothes.  Then he came out and called the pediatrician.  "Hi, it's Xander Harris.  Yup.  Throwing up pale stuff that looks like gravy.  He had some milk while I was trying out.  No, he was in the stands taking a nap.  He threw up there, but he was trying to wiggle onto his side so I thought it was stomach compression.  Then he just now did it.  He did spend about ten minutes in a warm car at a crime scene since the babysitting fairy came and stole him out of the pool area.  No, he didn't drink the pool water."  He put his lips against the baby's forehead.  "No, he's cool to the touch.  Yeah.  Thank you."  He got up and grabbed clean clothes.  "Has Ray Jr. gotten here yet?" he called as he put them on.

"No.  Your car's still here."

Xander came out with the backpack system and the diaper bag.  "That's fine.  I'm taking him to the ER just in case."  He headed out, putting Eric in the back and watching Ray Jr. as his cab pulled up.  "Come on."

"You're going to see dad?"

"No, the baby's puking gravy looking stuff."  He shrugged and got in to drive.  "Tell Horatio it's nothing," he called.  "Food's still on the counter, including half-cooked pork chops."

"Sure," Eric called back, shaking his head and getting back to work.  Xander knew he couldn't do anything in the kitchen.  It was against protocol.

***

Horatio looked up as the boys were found, smirking at them.  "Is Eric all right?"

"Yeah, they said it was the milk.  His belly hated it.  How's Ray?"

"Good.  He'll be fine.  Waiting didn't harm it any, Xander.  Good job."  He kissed him on the forehead, then hugged Ray Jr. "Did you want to see him?"  He nodded so they walked that way, him taking the baby.  "Why didn't you like the milk?"

"We switched to a different milk on him.  The caf only had skim and that other stuff."

"Ah.  So we went with the soy milk?" Xander nodded.  "Good.  I'll remember that."

"The doc suggested we get him tested for a soy allergy.  He also said he might continue to puke for a few hours more," he offered, handing over a towel so he wouldn't have to explain why his suit had baby puke to the dry cleaner.  They got onto the elevator and he hugged Ray.  "It's all right."

"I know it is.  Mom would've screamed at someone if he wasn't."

"She did that earlier," Horatio noted.  "They didn't want to give her any information in the OR."  He looked at their son, smiling at him.  "Eric, did you have a good day?"  The baby cooed quietly and sucked on his finger.  "I know, it's been a long day."

"I was starting to make dinner when the guy so rudely interrupted."

"Eric called and said you had."  He looked at him.

"The dish you taught me," he defended.

"Fine.  Did you remember to turn off the stove?"

"Right before I grabbed a knife.  Eric was very amused that I didn't keep a gun in the kitchen."  They came off the elevator and into a shouting match.  "Hey!" he yelled.  "People are trying to rest and heal, they can't do that when you're screaming.  Take it into the stairwell!"  He walked past them, heading for where he could hear Yelina laughing.  He walked their son in and waved.  "Baby puked gravy looking stuff."

"Bad milk?"  Xander nodded.  "The poor thing."  She took Eric and the towel.  "There, you rest on me, Eric," she sighed.  He snuggled into her chest, like he liked to do, and fell asleep sucking on his finger.  "Do they know why?"

"The soy milk I gave him earlier didn't agree with his stomach.  They want to do a test."  He looked at Ray.  "So, who was that guy?"

"Peter Rodriguez.  An old friend."  He looked at his brother.  "I didn't mean to have your house shot."

"You didn't. The only bullet was in you."  Ray snorted, then groaned and held his shoulder.  "No pain killers?"

"No.  If the kid can do it, so can I."

Xander snorted.  "I was once staked with my own stake, Ray.  They give me funny looks because I don't take many pain killers."  He took his son back, earning a swat and Yelina stealing him.  "Hey, my son!  That's why he goes for the breast snuggling of the dangerous women!"  She laughed and had to hand the baby off, so he got his son back and an amused look from the Caine brothers. "You didn't tell him about some of my exes, dear?" he asked with a grin for his mate.

"No, I'm trying to forget them."

"I've heard some and I'm still wondering why the bad guys love you and the bad girls want to kill you," Ray Jr. noted dryly, patting his mother on the back.  "I would've been up earlier but I was sitting with Xander."

"That's fine, son.  I can agree with that," Ray Sr. said quietly.  "It probably kept him from pouncing someone."

"No, he was pretty calm today."

Xander looked at Horatio.  "Can I trade backrubs later?  I've got a knot in my lower back again and it slowed me down."

"How were tryouts?" Horatio asked.

"Good.  Not my best time ever but faster than I was the last time he watched me.  I won't know where I place until tomorrow after dive tryouts.  He did tell me I probably made it."  That got a smile.  "Since one guy was looking suicidal I offered to take an alternate spot for now."

"The coach hopefully saw through that," Ray Sr. complained

"Why?  I'm new to this.  Those guys are better than me if only because they've had longer training. I may not be able to get much faster and this way he can figure that out before the first match in a month and a half."  He looked at Yelina.  "I figure you guys could split up meets so Horatio didn't get into trouble taking off all that time."

"We'll figure that out among us," she agreed, patting him on the cheek.  "Now, hand back the baby."  He shook his head so she stole him again.  Eric grinned before snuggling back in.  "He doesn't do this to Alexx?"  Horatio shook his head, smirking at her.

"Only you and Calliegh so far, mom," Ray Jr. said with a smirk.

"There are days when you look just like your uncle," she complained, frowning at him.  He smirked more. "Or your uncle's husband."  Xander giggled at that.  She got a kiss on the cheek from the boys.  "We should go."

"You can stay," Ray Sr. promised.  "That way Horatio can eat dinner.  You can switch out later if you want to."

"We can do that too," Horatio agreed.  "Steal the baby back, Xander, and let's go."

Xander looked at him, then at Ray Jr, handing over his car keys.  "Make sure I get it back by in the morning."  That got a nod so he stole the baby back, replacing him with a kiss on her cheek and followed him out.  "Shit, car seat."  Horatio held up his set of keys.  "Oh, good.  Thank you."

"Welcome.  I figured you had forgotten about that."  He looked back at his spouse, he was tired.  "Same spot?" Xander nodded. "I'll work on it later, after I see how bad the kitchen is."  Xander frowned a bit.  "You had to leave food out."

"I did and it's pork chops.  I told Eric."

"He couldn't put them up, Xander.  Not while he's working on the crime scene."  He got the baby seat out of the car and relocked it, going to put it in the hummer and take his boys home.  He found Speed in the kitchen and looked at him.  "Party?" he asked dryly.

"No.  Checking on the baby."  He looked at his grandson, who gave him a sleepy smile.  "You need a bath, little guy."  He patted him on the head and got back to work.  "There's food cooking, it's gonna be about an hour.  Get him ready for bed and down."  He watched Xander head that way and looked at Horatio.  "How's your brother?"

"Good."  He watched his mate go, then nodded that way, getting a smirk.  "It's only fair."  He headed after them, taking over nighttime duties this time.  Xander did the majority of care for the baby and he didn't mind doing more.  He'd have to make him see that. He found Xander nearly asleep and took the baby from him, stopping the bath water from rising any higher.  "Go nap on the couch," he whispered in the pink ear.  Xander nodded and stumbled that way, leaving him and the baby.  He looked down at the shit-eating grin and smiled back. "Yes, it's me again."  He tested the water then put the baby into it, getting out of the way of the first splash.  So instead he took off his jacket and shirt, getting back down to help him play and get clean.  Eric liked the foaming soap a lot.  When the baby was done playing and had finally let him do his hair, he got him out and dried off, then dressed and into his crib, smoothing down the soft hair with a smile. "You nap, Eric.  I'm going to take care of the daddy."  Eric giggled. "I know, he needs it.  He needs a backrub."  He left him there, the door partially open, and headed back down to the living room.  "Calleigh working late?"

"Her mother wanted to see her."  He looked at his son.  "He does need a backrub."  Horatio nodded and said something in Xander's ear, getting a moan and him flipping onto his stomach.  "Want me to quit fixing dinner?"

"No, it's fine."  He worked on his mate's back for him, making him limp and sleepy long before he was done.  The knots were gone and Xander was one limp boy.  He left him there, just covering him for now.  Xander would come to bed when he woke up in the middle of the night.  He walked into the kitchen, taking the plate Speed held out to him.  He grabbed the baby monitor and a beer, taking them both out onto the porch, letting Speed get the door behind him. "You only came over to cook?" he asked.

"No.  I wanted to talk."  He sat down, watching the ocean, then looked at Horatio.  "Are we pushing Xander too hard?"

"No.  I barely push him except when he asks to be pushed.  You don't really push him except in school."  He ate another bite.  "Why?"

Speed dug into his dinner.  "I feel like I'm pushing him and that he's doing the college thing to humor me."

"He is," Horatio assured him. Speed grimaced at that. "But that is something that he understands why you get pushy.  He understands that he needs it for a better career later and that it's got benefits, but he still loathes school."  Speed nodded at that.  "He's able to strike a balance.  Personally, I think you were just pushy enough once we got him back.  The first time you sent him down here, that was pushy."  He ate another bite at the smirk.

"I couldn't figure out how to do that one more subtly.  Aiden and I talked about it and I started telling him more about my friends, but he was busy with the ascension stuff so he may not have listened."  He cleared his throat.  "I got a call earlier from Cordelia."

"Ah.  The reason for the feeling?"  He nodded.  "Why?"

"Because she called me pushy and said she should know.  She was of the bitch cheerleader patrol."  He ate another bite then leaned back again, getting comfortable.  "She's coming down over spring break to talk to him."

"Should we take a sudden vacation?"

"No, hopefully not.  She won't be scared of you.  She might even laugh at you for trying to be scary.  She's working with Angel."  Horatio growled at that name.  "Ah.  Did he tell you why he hates him that much?"

"Some.  Angel sounded jealous to me, but then he lost his soul and stalked him for a bit."

"Angelus took Giles once.   Xander rescued him.  Xander should've been in the hospital that night but Willow took care of him and neither one will say a word about that night.  They've got journals somewhere.  Giles made them start them as an addendum to Buffy's Chronicle.  He says he has no knowledge of them."

"Which means either Willow memory charmed them or they really don't want to let anyone know."

"I'm betting the second, but I don't know for sure," Speed agreed. "This is one of those 'take your pick' moments.  I want to see Xander's personally, and I know you would.  I also know if you ask, he'll tell you."

"Probably," Horatio agreed.

"No probably about it," Speed assured him.

"He has refused to talk about that time in the past," he said quietly.  "I agreed that he could.  I have things I don't talk about with him."

"Point."  He sighed and shook his head.  "I wanna know why he's so traumatized by school.  Was it his parents?  His school itself?  I'm not sure if this is something that Willow knows.   He said his first day he was worried that either his former principal was coming back to haunt him or the hellmouth was going to open under his classroom."

"That would be bad," Horatio agreed, finishing his dinner.  "Is there one nearby?"

"It's been inactive but we have a place that could open down on one of the smaller keys."  He smirked a bit.  "I asked Rupert that when I sent Xander down here."  That got a smile.  "Hey, I wanted to keep my boy safe."

"Yes, but sometimes we can't always do that, and sometimes we do have to back off," Horatio reminded him gently.  "I'm sure if it was trauma induced, we'd know."  That got a nod.  "He would tell us, Speed.  I know he would."

Speed looked inside, then back at him.  "He's just so fragile sometimes."

"And then he does something stupid, like throwing a knife at the gunman today so he could get Ray's gun."

"Why was Ray carrying a gun?"

"I do not know.  That is a question to ask him," he said blandly. Ray wasn't presently licensed so he shouldn't have had one on him.  "Xander said you'd forgive him for using one of the knives since he didn't keep a gun in the kitchen."

"Yet."

"Ever," Horatio assured him.

Speed grinned at him.  "If you say so."  He finished his dinner.  "Thanks, H."

"Not a problem, Speed.  It's part of a supervisor and a friend's job.  How are you things with Calleigh?"

"We're having a small argument but nothing that's affecting our work.  She's being odd thanks to her dad starting to drink again. I've told her she can come to me and she won't."

"I'll talk with her tomorrow."

"I was going to see if she'd like to talk to Xander.  He's been there too."

Horatio nodded.  "As have I."  Speed looked at him so he nodded.  "My father wasn't exactly the most sober always."

"Wow.  Another point of commonality.  Were you into sports too?"

"Only to watch. A jock was not my preference."  He smirked a bit.  "My father thought I was thug actually."  Speed laughed at that.  "Shows how bad his judgement was.  Xander will be fine and you could suggest it to her or I will."

"You do it.  She said I'm harping on it.  That's why I'm sleeping alone tonight."  He glanced at Xander then back at him.  "Like I think you will be, H."

"He'll come in later, when he's cold."  The baby sniffled so he turned up the volume, getting a full-blown wail a minute later.  He went in to check on him, finding the teddybear on the floor. He handed it back and the crying stopped, earning him a happy grin from the baby.  "Next time, don't toss it out."  He stroked the little back until the baby went back to sleep.  He heard someone knock on the door and frowned, glancing at his watch.  It was too late for the casual person to be here.  He started to move down the stairs when he heard the gunshot.  Instead he closed the door as quietly as he could, put the baby in the closet with his bear and covered him, then called for backup.  Because his gun was downstairs.  He heard a second one and moved to the doorway, trying to see.  He found Xander standing over someone, gun limp in his hand.  "Xander?"  He jogged down there.  "Speed?"

"Out."  He looked at the person standing there.  "Never wake up a cranky person."  The paramedics ran in, followed by officers.  "Hi again."  He looked at the paramedics.  "He hit his head when he got shot, trying to move out of the way.  Side of the head to the counter."  That got a nod and he handed over the gun to Horatio, who had gloves on and a bag out.  "I'm going to start mining the damn house with weapons if they're going to keep coming for Ray."

"How do you know it's related to him?" one of the patrols asked.

"He got shot here earlier and the dumbass there demanded to know where he was."  He sat down and held his head. "Is dad all right?" he called.

"He's fine."  The paramedic looked around, then at Horatio.  "Baby?"  He went to get the baby and hand him to Xander to keep him calm.

Frank rushed in.  "What is this?  Third time's the charm?" he demanded.

"It's only the second today, Frank," Xander said bitterly, hugging his son. "Is that one dead?"

"No, unfortunately not," one of the patrol guys noted. "Um, sir, I mean Lieutenant, maybe you should stay in a hotel tonight and your guests should go home?"

"He's my husband and yes, we're going to a hotel tonight.  Frank?"

"I'll handle it and night shift is already on their way," he noted dryly.  "Who got the earlier one?"

"Eric."

"I can wake Delko up too," he noted dryly.  "Hopefully there's a connection."  Xander got up and went to pack a few things for them, then came back to do it for the baby, not letting go of him.  "He good?" he asked.

"He's pissed," Horatio assured him.  "I'm not sure if he's pissed at himself or not."

"I'd be pissed at the idiots.  Did he really threaten the nurse trying to move his son?"

"No, Frank, he really grabbed her by the throat and squeezed," Xander said as he came back down, putting that bag on the couch as well.  "We need more diapers."  Horatio nodded at that.  "I still dive tomorrow."

"That's fine.  Willow can babysit," Frank reminded him.  Xander gave him a cautious look.  "What?"

"Willow's got cranky person syndrome.  And morning sickness and a sore back from Ryan celebrating.  I doubt she's going to want to babysit."

"Well, maybe not," he agreed dryly, smirking at the boy.  "We'll have to see."  He looked at Horatio, who shrugged.  "I'll give you guys a ride."

"What's wrong with my car?" Xander demanded.

"I can take the hummer, Frank," Horatio noted at the same time.

"Everyone in town knows both of your cars," he said dryly, smirking at them.  "It's safer this way.  Now, go get the babyseat out of wherever it is.  Xander, where is your car?"

"I let Ray Jr. have it for the night," he admitted.  "He was still at the hospital with his parents."

"What happened?"

"Guy apparently knocked.  I vaguely heard dad moving past me since I was napping on the couch after getting a cramp worked out of my back again, and then I heard a gunshot.  Which woke me enough and I stayed still while listening.  The guy sneered at Speed for knocking himself out so I reached for the one under the couch and came up, shooting him when he turned."  Frank nodded, writing that down.  "I heard him say something about Ray while he was taunting Speed's unconscious body.  I wasn't listening particularly closely at that point."

"That's fine.  I've got it and night shift is starting to pull up."  That got a nod.  "I'll have the hummer driven back, Horatio."

"Don't let anyone mess with his seat position," Xander joked lightly.  Frank smirked and shook his head.  "Okay, the babyseat's in there."  The baby belched and he looked down. "Is your stomach still upset?"  He cleaned off the mouth, then sniffed.  "Horatio, mothballs?"

"Some scent left in the clothes I hid him in, not actually present," he assured him.  He took the baby to look over.  "Come on.  Let's go."  Frank nodded and had a patrol officer take the bags and help them to a hotel.  "I'll want my hummer back in the morning, Frank," he called as he walked away.

"Yeah, yeah," he said quietly, getting out of the way of the paramedics.  "He be okay?"

"He'll be fine, Detective.  Knocked himself witless and a bad graze to the arm."  Frank nodded and took that down.  "We're going to General."

"I'll call and see if Salas is still there."  That got a nod so he did that while he watched the night shift CSIs do their jobs.  "Guys, Horatio and Xander took the baby to a hotel.  His Hummer is to get back to the station for him tomorrow, and I was warned not to adjust the seats any."  He listened to the laughter.  "Are you still there?  Someone tried for your husband again.  Got Speedle on the arm and he cracked his head moving out of the way.  No, they're at a hotel with the baby.  Hey, I figured you're already there," he offered with a smirk.  "No, but the bad guy's looking pretty grim at the moment.  Xander got him."  He moved out of the way of the suspect going to the ambulance.  "Sure, thanks.  No, he didn't say which."  He hung up and looked at the night shift supervisor, who had just come in.  "It pretty well happened here and next to the kitchen."

"Good.  Anything else we should know?"

"No, Horatio and Xander are both fine and the baby belched at them."

"Xander is....."

Frank looked at her.  "You haven't seen the ring?"

"I have seen the ring," she noted dryly, smirking at him.  "I heard he got a little stripper boyfriend."

"Xander.  Speedle's son Xander."

"As in Xander-tight?" she asked.  He beamed and nodded.  "Fuck.  Which one was it about?"

"He said the perp said something about Ray while he was taunting Speed's out-cold body.  Not a clue otherwise yet.  Like he said, it happened all around this room.  Xander was on the couch so he fired from there.  I'm not sure whose gun was under it."  He shrugged. "Horatio bagged it."

"Good!"  She went to check that, then the areas.  "Which blood is which?"

"The big puddle was the guy who shot Speed. The little puddle was Speed's."

"Decent."  She got to work with her team.  "Can we snoop?"

"Yeah, sure, I wanna be there when Caine finds out you went through his things," he noted dryly.  She blushed and got back to work.  "I'm still waiting to see how Xander talks him into leather pants again."

One of the male CSIs looked at him.  "Caine?  In leather?"

"We've seen it once," Frank told him. "Xander bought him a second pair. It could happen."

"Never happen where we'll see it," Eric said from behind him.  "You mind moving, Frank?"  He got out of the way and came in, nodding at the night shift people. "Hey, I was here earlier for another one."

"Wonderful.  Do we have that suspect in custody?"

"Oh, yeah," Frank agreed happily.  "Xander called Horatio with a description when he called for backup.  The patrol guys caught him trying to run up the beach with someone's dog after him too.  Good instincts on that dog."  Eric laughed at that.  "Was Speed upset about the knife?"

"No.  He said it was a very Xander thing to do."  He looked at the supervisor. "Need me to go over today's?"

"Give me ten more.  Sit and wait, Delko.  Or check the rest of the house to make sure it's sealed."  He nodded, going to do that.

***

Xander snuck out of the bed and put on his clothes, checking on the baby.  He snuck out of the room and downstairs to the payphones, dialing a long-remembered number.  "It's me.  Would you like to tell me why I've had two people busting into my place today?"  He listened.  "Yeah, so?  He's still my brother-in-law."  He smirked.  "Dear, think about it," he said condescendingly.  "Would *you* want to mess with my mate, his wife, AND me at this moment in time?  Considering both incidents today were near my son and in my house?"  He listened and smiled.  "Good!" he agreed happily.  "Well, I tell ya what.  You send the idiots to my boy tomorrow, make them confess to whatever bad things they did, and *I* won't be down there tomorrow afternoon.  Because you fucked with my family," he explained.  "I shouldn't have to point that out to you.  You're usually much smarter than this."  He sneered at the wall. "Good.  And they're going to do what?  Good!" he said, happier now.  "Then I won't be on your doorstep tomorrow.  As long as all this shit stops around my mate and my son, you'll continue to live peacefully.  We good now?"

He nodded once.  "I thought so.  Thank you for your cooperation."  He hung up and glanced at the curious desk person.  "Someone shot near my son.  I was giving them incentive to turn themselves in before I had to kill."  He looked around. "I'm going for a short walk.  I'll be right back if Horatio notices."  He headed outside.  He noticed the two officers across the street, one of which followed him. That's when he mentally beat himself for not grabbing a weapon.  He knew better than that.  He stopped at the newstand that was still open, getting a magazine and going back to the hotel.  The nightshift clerk looked at him so he shrugged.  "Light reading. I'm having nightmares."  That got a nod so he headed back up, letting himself back in.

"Where did you go?"

"To threaten an old friend so the people shooting near you and my cub won't ever think about it again unless they wanna die."  He stripped down then got back into the bed.  "He said they're going to come in and confess tomorrow so I don't have to be on his doorstep for lunch."  He flipped the page and continued reading.  "He also said that Ray's former drug contacts are very sorry now and that someone's going to die if they keep this up.  Apparently he realized I was telling the truth."

"Xander...."

Xander kissed him.  "Shut up, Horatio.  No one threatens what's mine that way.  It could've hurt you or the baby, and no one hurts you or the baby."  He grinned at him.  "I would've taken Willow with me."

"Hmm."  He pulled his mate closer, tossing the magazine onto the floor.  "I can handle this."

"So can I."

"It's my job, Xander."

Xander kissed him. "You're off duty and they're targeting you. That means it's my job, Horatio.  Not yours.  You can't work a case that involves you.  Those are the rules, remember?"  He glared at that so Xander smiled sweetly.  "Otherwise we'd still be at home while you finished collecting evidence."  He stroked his cheek.  "If you must know, I called Philip.  His dealer is Alejandro Run, that's the name he goes by on the street. Alejandro saw me hunting and he respects me.  Alejandro is kinda a little bit scared of me most of the time.  He's the one who saw me going bitch on the last person who threatened you."

"Who threatened me?" he asked quietly, stroking the tense cheek.  "You never said anything."

"That's because they weren't serious and it wasn't going to happen.  One of my former fanclub wanted to take you out so I'd go back to dancing.   I pointed out the fallacy of that argument with my fists.  They got the point."  Horatio grimaced so he kissed him again. "I only hit him three or four times. He couldn't fight worth a damn and no one's going to kill you to make me go back to dancing.  Consider it a bar brawl that got out of hand, okay?"  Horatio shook his head.  "Why not?"

"It's still wrong."

"Yay.  You're not dead.  I'm not dead.  He's not dead.  He's sorry and he knows better, but he's not dead."  Horatio let a small smile out at that.  "I only blacked his eye and got his nose and mouth a few times," he assured him.  "Nothing past the bar brawling stage, Horatio."  He snuggled in closer and his mate hugged him, letting him know it was okay overall, he was just a bit pissed at his actions.  "Alejandro was there when I beat him that way.  Philip told him who I was and after my last night, he came up to me and talked to me about you.  I pointed out that I protect my mate, whoever they are, as fully as I can.  That no one touches what's mine.  He understood.  He said the same thing about his mother and his mistress."  That got a small smirk and Xander kissed it away. "Therefore I called Alejandro and pointed out someone had touched what was mine and if they weren't at the station by noon I was going to be on his doorstep and then he'd have to help me find him because I saved his mother's life."

"When?"

"Few weeks back.  It wasn't really anything.  Someone driving erratically and I got her out of the way."  Horatio nodded so he stole another kiss.  "Therefore someone's going to be confessing tomorrow.  They may cite or you as the reason, but they're coming in so Alejandro doesn't have to deal with me hunting in his areas."

"Fine, but I still don't like it. You do not do things like that without telling me, Xander.  It's dangerous."

Xander snuggled in closer and gave him a squeeze.  "Two cops followed me down to the news stand," he said quietly. "I definitely felt menace from them."

"Did you get the car number?"

"868 but one looked almost exactly like Hernandez, the new patrol guy you chewed a new one the other day, but he had lighter hair.  He was driving.  I didn't see more of the passenger than the end of his cigarette."

"Were they still down there when you came in?"  He nodded. "I should go check."  Xander let him go and he smiled, taking a kiss before getting dressed and going to check on their 'escorts'.  He walked down to the desk and whispered in her ear, getting a nod and one of the security guys leading him to their surveillance room.  "Do we know who they are?"

"They said they were Majors and Rogers, your dutiful guards for the night.  Can't say as I've seen them before, Lieutenant."  He pulled up pictures from when they came inside.  "That them?"

"No, Xander said he saw someone different.  Same car though."  He looked at him.  "Thank you."  That got a nod and he went back upstairs to leave a message on Frank's voicemail at work.  That way he'd have it first thing in the morning since the car wasn't out there anymore.

***

Xander came off his final dive, knowing he had done it as well as he ever had for Eric, and hit the water with nearly no splash, which was better than he usually did.  He came back up, feeling a bit dizzy, and allowed the coach to help him out.  He sat down with his towel, working on his hair, then his arms and shoulder, looking at him.  "How long before scores?"

"Two hours, Harris."  He looked him over.  "You okay?"  Xander shook his head.  "Dizzy?"  That got a nod and Xander hung his head, groaning a bit. "You gonna pass out?"

"I hope not.  The Chief would yell if more of the team ended up in the ER," he said dryly.  "Frank said so."  He looked at him.  "Those were the three Eric made sure I could do."

"Good.  We can teach you the harder ones."  He clapped him on the back and watched as the boy laid down.  "Fine, you nap.  We'll wake you when we get scores."  He walked over to the other coaches.  "So?"

"Harris doesn't look bad.  Who's been working with him?"

"Delko."  That got some smiles.  The guy had vexed them but he had been a hard worker.  He had earned their respect.  He glanced over, then back at them.  "He has a healing head injury. He doesn't want beyond alternate since this is the first time he's ever dove."

"I saw him on his swim trials," one of the guys noted.  "He was middle of the pack for time."  That got a smirk from the diving coach.  "He made it here too."

"He did," the others agreed.

"The kid's got the drive. He was swimming with a shoulder wound," the swim coach admitted as he came over.  "Delko said to watch out for him, he's stubborn and has no pain limits most of the time."  He looked at the kid. "He pass out?"

"He's hopefully taking a nap.  He came out dizzy from his third dive," the diving coach admitted, looking at him.  "Where's he on your team?"

"Bottom of the pack since he's the newbie. I can't make him an alternate, he scored too high."  He looked at him.  "Yours?"

"Delko's work ethic shows," one admitted, handing him the forms.  "Is he going to be taking one of the scholarships?"

I can offer.  Is he on financial aid?"

"Barely," the diving coach said with a smirk.  "The kid's got money."  He saw Xander get up and wobble over.  "Go lay down again."

"Oh, quit.  I've fought with worse headaches."  He looked at him.  "Well?"

"You're on as the bottom newbie," he admitted.  "Do we have to talk about scholarships with you, Harris?"

"No.  I don't need one.  Give it to someone who does, coach.  I'll take the spot but not the money."  That got smiles and nods.  "When's the first practice?"

"Tomorrow you come in for the mandatory drug test," he told him, handing over that information sheet.  "You have the right to declare any drugs that might be legally in your system."

"Tylenol.  Some mylanta," he noted dryly.  "No cold medicine.  I haven't sniffled since I got here."  That got a smirk.  "Do I have to claim poppy seed muffins three weeks ago?"

"Probably not.  I would mention it just in case," the dive coach offered.  Xander nodded at that.  "Good boy, Harris.  Now, go home."

"I can't drive like this."  He wobbled back to his spot and laid back down. "Let me have a nap and I'll drive."

"Fine," they called, shaking their heads.  One went to call Delko, and suggested he bring in the proper chain of contact for Harris.  Because there was no way the kid was using drugs or steroids.

***

Eric hung up his phone and looked at Horatio. "He made both teams but he's dizzy.  They need someone to pick him up and bring in the appropriate chain of contact."

Horatio looked around the scene, then at him.  "Go get him for me, take him home."  Eric nodded, hurrying to do that.  He got back to work.  His poor boy was going to get yelled at later for still having a headache.

Ryan looked over.  "Good news?"

"He made both teams.  His head still hurts."

"Skull fractures can do that," Ryan reminded him.  "We lost that one patrol officer because she never quit being dizzy after her accident."  He held up a folded piece of paper.  "I can't tell if it's garbage or not, Horatio.  I'm not seeing a trace of ink."

"Bag it anyway, Mr. Wolfe.  We can weed it out later."  That got a nod, he knew Ryan had just been checking to make sure.  He moved over to start in his section again, getting back to the real work he did every day, instead of worrying about Xander.  He'd be fine.  Even if he had passed out at the pool.  He'd just have to make sure he was fine later.

"Hey, Horatio?" Calleigh called, carefully walking over.  "I don't know why but the dogs are going spastic.  They think someone sprayed dog scent on the area."

"It could be," he agreed, looking up at her.  He stood up to look around.  "Just that one area?"

She shook her head.  "All around the perimeter."

"All right, take them five hundred feet off and try it again."

"We did.  We tried it from the other side of the parking lot.  The scent's still there."

"Damn."  He nodded.  "All right, release them from duty."  He put a hand on her arm.  "You do know that you can come to Xander or myself about your father?" he asked quietly.  "We both have been there."

She nodded. "I know, it's not what's stressing me out.  That's my mother.  He's just worried about other stuff."  She shrugged and went to tell the officers.  It was a sweet offer.  That's why she wasn't upset with Speed for telling on her.  So she wouldn't smack him quite as hard when she saw him after work tonight.  "Guys, Horatio said if the dogs can't track over it, go ahead and take 'em home," she called.  That got a nod and they left.  She got the electronic nose from the truck and went to analyze the scent to see if it was natural or not.  This was just too weird.  "Horatio?" she called.  He came over to look at the reading.  "That's not dog scent."

"No, it's not."  He looked it over, taking it to analyze another section.  "That's not either. Mr. Wolfe, where is your wife?" he called.

"Home, should I call her?"

"Yes, now."  He handed it back to her.  "I suspect Willow could tell us what it was.  That way we can weed it out."

"Xander probably could."

"He's asleep after his diving practice.  He got dizzy."

"Ah.  Did he make it?"  He nodded and went back to his search.  A young woman's life was hanging in the balance and he wasn't going to cut any corners.

Ryan hung up and came over.  "Willow's on her way, Horatio.  I mentioned dog scent and she said she's bringing something that'll let us know what it was definitively.  She said they used it a few times and Xander could probably track the thing."

"He's getting a ride home because he wasn't fit to drive, Mr. Wolfe."

"Wonderful.  He okay?"  Horatio looked up and nodded.  "Good.  Maybe she'll know whether it wanted something pretty to look at or a snack."  He went back to his area, walking the perimeter of it.  By the time his wife got there, he was involved again and only nodded at her.

Willow was led over to Horatio by a patrol officer, who coughed to get his attention.  He looked up and led her over to the electronic nose.  She smiled sweetly at the patrol officer.  "Thank you.  Can you back off some?"  He nodded and left.  She looked around her feet.  "Can I set this down here?"  He nodded so she set it down and pulled out a small tea candle and a small packet, dusting it over the candle before she lit it and put it on the ground.  It burned bright blue so she raised it, watching as it changed to purple, then lurid green.  "It's about four foot high and looks like a Rosach ink blot test.  It can eat people but they're not known to.  They do live in wooded areas, they hide in the shadows and tend to live inside trees, but they can magically expand the space."  He nodded once. "They've been known to take in stray and wandering kids now and then.  We're like pets to them.  They're smart, their native language is scent-based but with some writing mixed in. For them, scent is like our body language."  She looked around, seeing the clumps of trees.  "He'd probably prefer to be in the darker areas.  So the bigger the clump the easier it'll be to find him."

"Why would the dogs go off like there was a bitch in heat here?" Calleigh asked as she came over.

Willow pulled out her reference guide and looked in it.  "That scent corresponds to delight and joy. So apparently he loves his new pet."  She snapped it shut and blew out the candle, waving it around to cool it off before putting it back.  "Step back, let me magic sense so we can get a direction."  She concentrated, feeling the magic around her. The little blot-like demon wouldn't interfere but he'd be a speed bump in the native magic.  She stopped, finding him and the humans with him. "There," she said, pointing.  "That way.  Not too far but he's got more than one human."  She walked that way, her bag going over one shoulder and around her neck to rest at her other side.  "Ryan, stay," she called when she saw him move. "I kinda like these guys, they're kinda nice," she told the two CSI with her.  "One of them knocked out Buffy one night on patrol by making her trip over him and invited me in for tea to remind me that not all demons are bad.  Some of them just are."  She felt the magic moving and smiled.  "I'm not here to harm you, just to talk about your pets," she called, finding him easily in the gloom.  "There you are."  She walked over, kneeling in front of him so she was on his level. "Hey."

"Rosenburg," he said grimly. "I will not let you destroy my pets."

"I'm not here for that.  I had a long talk with one of you in Sunnydale."

"You brought the mate of Nighthawk."

She nodded.  "He's a CSI.  He's been assigned to find your pets.  Their families and friends miss them."

"They have no family."

"They do, the last one did," Calleigh assured him, stepping closer.  The thing moved closer, looking at her hair.  "You like blondes?" she asked, grinning a bit. This was just too odd.  He nodded, touching some of her hair.  "Listen, we need to talk to them and your last pet can come back if she wants, but she's got to talk to the people in her life and tie up some loose ends first.  You scared the people in her life."  It stepped away and looked at her.  "Please?"

"For you but the dangerous one stays here."

Horatio took off his sunglasses.  "I'm not dangerous to you and neither is Xander.  I've made him quit hunting."

"Actually, Xander is kinda dangerous to them.  One of them wanted him as a pet and he's got a thing against them," Willow offered.  She looked at the demon.  "He made Xander quit hunting vampires.  He mated with him so his hyena would calm herself and be content with the cub someone had for them. He will not harm you.  I vow it to you he will not harm you unless he is attacked."

The demon looked at Horatio, then at Calleigh, who nodded.  "Very well.  He may come.  You have really stopped him from hunting?"

"I really have.  It's dangerous and he couldn't hunt in a pack down here," he noted patiently as he followed the demon to its lair.  "He has no permission to hunt unless he sees someone in danger or someone comes up to ask him to hunt something, like the kraken he did."

"Good!  It is good!  He is a fragile human."  He looked at Horatio.  "You knew that already, I can sense you know his fragileness."

"I have seen it, but he won't tell me why."

The demon snorted.  "You know why, as does the witchly one.  His weakness is the same as hers, just without being pregnant."  He opened his tree and let them in.

"Miami-Dade PD," Calleigh announced.  "We got called about a kidnaping," she said, looking at the woman they were there to find, then the others.  Then back at her.  "Someone in your family reported you missing."

She sighed.  "I hate my family."

"Then go home, wrap up your loose ends, and come back," Willow told her.  "That way you're not being hunted."  She looked at the demon, who nodded that he would accept that.  "He can even stalk you around your home for a few days until you can quit your job and tell everyone off, all that stuff."

"I wouldn't mind.  He actually cares what I think."  She looked at Calleigh, then at Horatio.  "Do I know you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Caine, of the crime lab."

She nodded. "I've seen you working a case at my bank before."  She smiled weakly at him.  "Would that be okay?"

"It would be fine," he agreed calmly.  "It would be your choice to come back or not."

She nodded.  "I understand.  Thank you."  She looked at the demon, reaching down to stroke his head. "You would watch over me?"  He nodded. "What of the other pets?"

"They can be here without me for two days. I have been assured the hunter will not bother me."  She smiled and nodded, going to grab her jacket and follow them out. He stopped Horatio. "There is a menace that needs taken care of.  I will tell the witchly one of it?"

"Or you could tell me.  Then we'll see what we can do," he offered.

He looked him over, then into his eyes.  "You are not the hunter Nighthawk is, mate to him.  It is his right to hunt and your right to protect the cub and lair this time."  He looked at Willow, bowing to her.  "With all due respect, there is a Higher Court member in town egging on some of the more violent people."

"So we've heard.  I haven't been able to track him.  Do you know where he is?  I'll point Xander at him and have his back."

"Not while you're pregnant you're not," Calleigh said firmly. "I will tell Ryan and he will handcuff you to the bed."

"I can break handcuff locks, dear, I did the other night when he fell asleep before he could let me out."  She looked at the demon again.  "Where and which one?"

"Tovasan, from Brazil. He is the Keeper for the rainforest."  She nodded. "He is upset at some for their treatment of his people and has taken it out on them."

"Very well," she agreed.  "Do you know of his location?"  She got a nod and the demon whispered it in her ear.  "Thank you.  Have a safe and good journey helping your pet."  It nodded and blended back into the shadows.  She looked at them.  "Which house are we gathering at?"

"Mine," Speed called, catching up to them. "What is going on?  Xander was throwing a fit."

"He doesn't like this type of demon, even though they're harmless.  It brought back some bad memories."  She looked at Horatio.  "If he's here and pushing some people to react, we can have him removed and see if you can stop the rest.  It won't take too long."  He nodded once.  "So, Tim's house? Your house?  Pick a house."

"My house," Speed told her.  That got a nod and she strolled off in the opposite direction.  "The parking lot's the other way."

"I'm going to the fountain, thank you."

"What fountain?" Calleigh asked.  They all followed her because there was no fountain in this park.  When they found her, she was beside a fountain with Xander and the baby, smiling and happy.  "Where did this come from?"

"The Ethan plague and a few others made this hidden area," Xander told her, handing over the baby to Speed since he wanted to get to him so badly and didn't have shoes on. "It's for meetings and important things. Only those attuned to the local magic can find these spots."  He looked at Willow.  "I won't go after the little psycho-blot test demon.  Good enough?"

"Much.  How's your head?"

"Sucks ass.  Why?"

"Tovasan's in town.  He's pushing some violent action."

"Yeah, I've seen him down by the college.  I'm guessing he's hanging out with the gang down there or with the scooter boys frat."  Speed looked amused at that.  "They all ride scooters.  It's one of the foreign frat houses."  He looked at Calleigh.  "Take five steps back and the headache will end."  She did that and was locked out of the glade.  "Sorry, magic and she don't get along.  Miami's magic and the Delta magics are diametrically opposed."  He looked at Willow.  "Should we hunt him?"

"Are you able to hunt?"

"Yeah, I have in the past.  Hell, Angel nearly caved in my ribs and I still made it after saving Giles."

"Kid, can we look at the journals?" Speed asked.

"What journals?" Willow and Xander asked together, sounding fairly creepy with the new, harsher inflection in their voice.

"You know what journal," Speed said dryly, moving closer. "The one Rupert made you do."  He looked at Willow.  "I figure yours would fill in some gaps but there's some things I want to know about and I think Horatio should see."

"Then my mate can ask me."

"All right, then why do you react so strongly to the phrase 'pet'?" Horatio asked, sitting beside him.  "Was it that demon?"

"No."  He looked at Willow and nodded her to take Speed and go.  She nodded, taking him out of the glade and locking them in.  "My father's plan to sell me to that guy in LA wasn't the first time.  The first time I became someone's dog.  Slept in the doghouse, ate alpo, had a collar and chain.  Jesse saved me."

"Are they still alive?"

"No.  Like I said, Jesse saved me."  He stood up and held out a hand.  "That's why no one owns me, not even you, Horatio.  I'm possessable but not ownable."

"I never thought you were more than mine to hold and protect."

That got a gentle smile.  "Thank you."  He gave him a hug.  "Can we drop the journal thing?"

"I wish you would tell me."

"I don't."  He looked at him.  "Really.  It's my distant past, Horatio.  Leave it there like I do."  He stole a kiss and grinned.  "Yo, Ethan Plague."  Ethan Rayne walked in, looking confused.  "Two things.  My mate," he said, pointing at Horatio.  "Secondly, I need someone to check the baby to see if he's been tossing stuff magically."

"You can't ask Rosenburg?"

"She's pregnant."

Ethan blinked. "Really?"  He sat on the edge of the fountain while Xander got Willow and Speed to drag back inside.  "Oh, my, you are.  I'm quite impressed, Miss Rosenburg."

"Thank you. Not my idea to screw up a fertility spell, but thank you."  She shrugged. "Is my magic supposed to get weaker?"

"No, it's transferring into him."

"Her.  The Powers said her," Speed noted.

"Not this time.  Not unless the magic changes that."  He pulled her closer, running a hand over her stomach.  "No, definite male leanings in magic and power."  He looked at her.  "So perhaps your lesbian tendencies are also transferring."  She glared and got free.  "If it is a girl, she will not be the delicate little flower you were."

"Delicate?  Her?" Xander snorted.  "She hides it well, Rayne, but she's not delicate.  She kept up with Jesse and me throughout everything.  Even the times they had to rescue me."  Ethan looked at him so he smirked back.  "Really.  She was even there when Jesse lost his blood innocence.  She didn't scream, didn't faint, just unhooked me and brought me to her place to clean up."

"Interesting."  He nodded.  "Then perhaps she'll have that touch of steel.  I would do an ultrasound just to make sure."  Willow nodded at that.  "Now, baby?"

"A friend had him and didn't tell me," Xander admitted, taking his son and sitting next to Ethan.  "This is Eric."

Ethan shifted to look at the young boy, smiling at him. "You are much like your father," he said quietly, stroking his cheek. "He's not magically active. But he does draw spirits.  That will fade as he becomes more aware of the adult world."

"He's just over a year," Willow told him.

"Infants under three live in their own worlds, adults only intrude on it to take care of them.  That's why they can still see unicorns and dragons," he said with a fond smile.  "After that age, adults have warped them away from that and adults have to train themselves to access those states."   He looked at Horatio.  "Which is why this town has a high number of children that have been sacrificed for power over the years."

"I've noticed but we've caught most of them."

"Good."  He looked at the boy again. "The trashing of his mother's apartment was done by a human hand, Harris."  He looked at him.  "The fountain lets us connect."  Xander nodded.  "You knew?"

"Of course I knew."  He grimaced.  "Did you think I wouldn't research when I stumbled onto the one in Sunnydale by the beach?"

"You did?"  He perked up at that.  "When?"

"Two years ago or so.  Right before Tim got sent back."

"Ah.  That explains so much."  He slapped him on the cheek.  "You need to heal."

"Yeah, well, I'm doing it the normal human way.  Slowly."  He shifted his son.  "No magic?"

"Not what I said," he cautioned.  "He is every bit your son.  Chaos will love him and order and neatness are not his life unless someone provokes severe mental problems in him."  That got a small smirk from Horatio.  "Not you, his future stepmother on his mother's side."  He looked at the baby again.  "Yes, you will be quite generous when you grow up. Your father's drive, your stepfather's coolness in the face of danger.  Your mother's artistic eyes and mindset.  Plus your father's brains."  He patted him on the head and the baby grabbed him to chew on.  "Do I taste good?"  The baby smirked at him.  He looked at Xander.  "It is as it should be.  His mother is good, if a bit ill at the moment.  Once she's better, you can go back to being a longer distance father.  It will help him more to not see your insecurities at work most of the time," he said quietly.  "Horatio cures yours but you can still project them."

"He's not going to hear a thing about my problems in school."

"Not that one."  He stood up and smirked at him.  "You have others that can be seen.  Or else you wouldn't feel the need to mark your mate so grandly.  Very nice choice by the way, Xander."  He nodded at Horatio.  "If you need me, call."

"I will."  Ethan nodded and walked out of the glade, disappearing.  He looked at Xander.  "Which ones?"

"Probably his fear of losing you, H," Speed said, coming over to take the baby again.  "You good?"  Xander nodded, standing up.  "Good.  Talk to your mate."  He pushed him over into Xander's body, then walked out with Willow, who sealed it temporarily so they could talk.

"I'm not really insecure."

"We all have insecurities," Horatio pointed out, sitting next to him, making Xander move closer.  "I have one about our age difference and how you'll handle it when I'm gone."  He gave him a gentle smile.  "I know you've thought about that."  Xander nodded.  "The same as I know that your instincts will shout at you to follow or to stay strong but alone.  I leave that fully up to you but I do not want you to be miserable."  He made Xander look at him.  "Do you understand me?"  Xander nodded. "Good."

"Then what're you going to do if I go first?"

"Avenge you and live as best I can until I follow," he said simply.  "The same as you will."  Xander nodded and hugged him.  "I understand, Xander.  I really do."  He patted him on the back.  "It's an insecurity we all have about whoever we chose to marry and mate with."  He stroked his back, giving him another hug.  "You should be aware that I will not leave you."

"I know."

"Good.  And that I'd only send you away in the most dire of circumstances."

"Which means I'll sneak back and help you from behind," he assured him patiently.

"I realize that as well.  That's why I'd send you to Don already sedated."  He patted him and grinned.  "Anything else we should clear up while we're here?"

"You're magically active.  Calleigh was in contact with you, not Willow, when you walked in."

"I dabbled when I was younger," he admitted quietly.  "It was the 'in' thing at the time."

"Is that how you know Ethan?"

"No, he found me just after I found the book on hiding in plain sight and tried to kill me.  I stopped him and he helped me where I hadn't quite covered myself."  He stole a quick kiss and stood up.  "I don't use it."

"I only use it to find my keys when the fairies take them," he noted dryly.  "We've got to do something about that sapphire broach."

"Did the horse sell?"

"It did.  The second they had a horse auction and it sold there.  Someone wanted that track a lot and I was more than happy to give it to them.  The stupid broach still won't sell.  I don't know why."

"Can we look at it?"  Xander nodded. "Tonight?"

"As long as you drive, I'm still dizzy."  He took his mate's hand and concentrated, landing them back in the parking lot as they walked out.  Then he let his hand go and grinned.  "That's a neat feature of those things."

"It is."  He walked over to his team, who were cleaning up.  Yelina gave him an odd look and an open mouth.

"We traveled to Willow land," Xander assured her with a pat on the arm.  "Where's my son?"

"Speed has him," she said, patting him on the cheek, noticing the wince. "Headache?"

"Yeah, I feel like I cracked my skull again."  He rubbed the top of it.  "I need protective head gear."

"It might help you," she agreed, kissing him on the cheek.  "Willow land?"

"Long story," Xander told him, smirking at Ryan.  "Has she told you about the meeting spots?"  He shook his head.  "You should ask, they're very comfy."  Ryan walked off grinning a bit, pulling out his phone to talk to his wife.  "Okay, I'm going to go collect the baby and cab home."

"Ray left your car at the house," she assured him.

"I shouldn't drive with how much my head hurts."  She nodded, accepting that.  He looked at Horatio.  "Who'm I riding with?"

"Me or them," he assured him, walking him off to his hummer.

"The Chief said he's not to ride with you, just in case," Yelina called.

"Dear, I have a headache," Xander called back.  "Even if I wanted to it won't be happenin' today."  He got in, smiling at Ryan since he was in the backseat.  "Chaperone?"  He nodded.  "Good enough."  He buckled up and slumped down, getting comfortable.  "I can hang in the break room until you're done."

"Thank you, Xander."  He drove that way, heading back to work for a few more hours.

"What was wrong with his eye anyway?" Ryan asked.

"The doctor said the optic nerve wasn't firing correctly.  That it's only firing about a third of the time.  He said it is something he could grow out of but at the moment there's no real treatment.  So we're on the wait and see schedule.  I told Di that and she was not a happy woman. I should go to the gym tonight."

"Not with a head injury, Xander," Horatio said patiently, pulling onto the street for the station.  He glanced at him.  "Maybe you should nap on my couch in the office."

"With your luck, the Chief would come in and nag.  Again."  He gave him a wry look.  "I'll be fine."

"You're admitting you're in pain and dizzy.  You've never admitted you were sick before," Ryan told him.  "Of course he's worried you have a new fracture."

"I'll ask Alexx to take a break and look him over," Horatio agreed. "Thank you, Mr. Wolfe."

"I know if it was Willow I'd be dragging her somewhere by now," he noted dryly.

Xander considered something up until they parked, letting Horatio go first.  "Ask her about Jesse."

"We talked about that some," he admitted.  "How you three were really tight and Jesse was your best friend ever.  She thought you two would've made it if he hadn't been turned."

Xander nodded.  "He was very, very straight so no.  Also not the part I was talking about.  Jesse and us, well, we ran the town together a lot.  We saw a lot of things we shouldn't."  He stared Ryan down.  "Do you still think she's that gentle, nice, bouncy Willow all the time?"

"All women can change."

Xander nodded.  "She hunted with us, Ryan.  She's just as deadly as I am."  He blinked at that and Xander nodded.  "She is.  She doesn't like to admit it, but she is.  She was there when Jesse stabbed someone to save my ass from someone keeping me as their dog until I grew a bit more."  Ryan shuddered at that.  "She didn't do much blinking or crying either. Also, Willow told you she can hack computers?"

"Yeah, she told me about that," he admitted, smiling a bit.  "You're sure she's still like that?"

"Are you sure she's not hunting?"

"No.  How would you tell?"

"Ashes.  Lots and lots of ashes."  He clapped him on the arm.  "The deeper you know Willow the more you know that the inner core of her is that bouncy, nice, sweet Willow and the rest is the scary part.  She's got her protective layers backwards."  He walked off, leaving him there to think.

"Huh.  Okay." He nodded, deciding to talk to his wife that night instead of tying her down to celebrate some more.

***

Xander carefully handed the baby back to his mother, waving at him.  "You be good for the mommy, Eric, and call the daddy a lot."  The baby smiled and waved, then beamed at his mother, hugging her. "That not-talking thing was me," he told her.  "I didn't really start to speak coherently until I was three, then I began to babble."  She smiled at that.  "So, shop down here?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course.  I got it set up while I was recovering."  She dug out a card and handed it over. "Here.  Spread it around so I make a ton of money."  She kissed him on the cheek and walked back to her car, taking her son with her.

Xander sighed and watched his baby boy go.  Horatio walked up behind him and gave him a pat on the back.  "At least he's local now."

"That is a good point," he agreed quietly.

Xander grinned at him.  "This means we can have loud, noisy sex.  Right?"

Horatio smiled and nodded.  "If you want, Xander. Did you want to go with us to pick up Don and the others?"

"Yup."  He let out an evil chuckle. "Let's go."  He snuck his mate's handcuffs with an innocent look for his husband when he got caught.  "What?"

"No, Xander."  He took them back and let Xander climb into the hummer first, getting in to drive.  Since the lab was going to be under his control....  "Mac is already begging to have Stella back but Calleigh apparently spanked him," he shared. "He said he knows why I'm insane."

"You're not insane, just slightly warped toward fun, which he doesn't seem to have anymore."

"He lost his mate a few years back, Xander."

"And he's still not over it," Xander said dryly.  "Don said they had that friendship sorta marriage.  Besides, he's fighting his mind.  I caught him looking a few times and he's in firm denial that he wants the new girl, Lindsey."

"That would be a poor match."

"He thinks she's cute."

"She is, in a Willowish way," he noted, pulling into the street.  He'd have to share that with his friend the next time they talked.  When they finally got there, he parked in the 'officers only' spots and walked Xander inside, past the security system with his badge.

"Again?" one guard noted.

"We're picking up the new lab staff," Xander said with a grin.  "The guys transferring down."

"Oh, joy," he said sarcastically.  He looked at the guard next to him. "Is he a cop?"

"Caine's spouse," he said quietly. "He's just as possessive of his husband as Caine is of him and his hummer."  That got a small smirk and they got back to work.

Xander smiled at the people coming out, having managed to steal the hancuffs this time without Horatio realizing it.  He saw Danny and hugged him, then hugged Don, then locked them together before hugging Stella.  "Welcome to Miami."

"Xander!" Don complained.

Danny laughed and pulled out his keys, handing them over.  They all used the same sort of handcuffs.  "He's in a playful mood."

"The baby just went back to Diana," Horatio noted as he moved closer.  "Stella, Danny, Don, Lindsay," he said with a nod of greeting. "Sheldon, I didn't think you'd be coming."

"I just got moved to field work," he admitted.

"Interesting.  Xander?"  He came bouncing back.  "What?"

"We were on with the employer of the guy from the steak house, the one he met in the park," Don said dryly, glancing at the happy, bouncing ball of manhood, then back at its mate.   "We had a long talk about Xander."

"Wonderful.  Do we have to stop at the bank?"

Xander came over and nodded, grinning a bit sheepishly.  "Yeah, I got a good reward for winning two of my first three races."  He showed it to his mate.  "And more information too."

"I got some too," Don agreed.  "So, work?  Or apartment and then work?"

"You're not expected to start work until tomorrow but we're doing an orientation and 'this is how you find the breakroom and bathrooms' lecture today," Xander told him.  "Then Eric and Dad are taking you guys out for the local speciality, fish tacos."  He walked between his two big brothers.  "Did you remember to ship your stuff with everyone else's?"  They all nodded. "Then it's down here.  We had a liaison officer and some cadets hauling and toting.  All you'll have to do is unpack."  He grinned at the other two.  "Sheldon, if you didn't have one, yours probably went with Don and Danny's to Speed's place.  We can call and ask if you want."

"No, I found a place among those offered," he assured him with a smile.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Then we're going to the station?" Stella asked.  Horatio nodded.  "That's fine.  I heard you guys got a remodel a few years back."

"Now it looks like a glass canyon," Xander shared with a grin for her.  "Don, you're in the same precinct, just up the hall from the labs.  I worked with the liaison officer so you guys have GPS in the hummers and Don's car out of the motor pool.  I also got you guys maps, real maps, of the city. Complete with dots for the good places that we like to eat and order from.  The good clubs are marked in a different color and most of the beaches are nice, but you might wanna watch out for some of the friendlier beaches in South Beach since you can usually find at least one couple having sex in the open."  Lindsay looked sick at that.  "It's okay.  They're usually couples on their honeymoon."

"Or local gay couples who couldn't wait," Horatio agreed.  "Does anyone need their bags?"

"I do," Don admitted.  "I did a bag for today."  That got a nod and they went that way so he could retrieve them.  He rejoined the group once his tag had been checked against his ticket and they walked on.  "Can we all fit in the hummer?"

"No, but there's cabs," Xander said with a grin.  "I'll go with whoever gets the cab.  The hummer can fit three, possibly four."

"Three, there's no middle seat belt back there, Xander," Horatio noted.

"Okay, three.  So whoever isn't in the hummer gets me."  He smiled at them.  "It's a pretty drive in."

"Are your cabbies insane?" Danny asked.

"Not all of them but I've learned a lot of Spanish talking to them over the last few months."  Horatio nodded at that, not all of it had been polite words either.  "Hey, she deserved it," he defended.

"It still wasn't nice, Xander," he said patiently, glancing back at his mate.  He saw a few cops come in and looked at them.  "Gentlemen."

"Lieutenant, there's a bomb threat in the parking garage.  We saw your hummer and were told to come find you."

"Thank you.  Do we know where or what type of device?" he asked, hands on his hips.

The lead officer swallowed and shook his head.  "No, Lieutenant, and I'm sure it's nowhere near your hummer."  He saw Xander quickly shake his head and turn to talk to Don.  "It shouldn't take too long to clear the parking garage, Lieutenant.  So if you wanted to, you could cab in with the new lab personnel."

"I'll do that," Xander offered, smiling at him.  "Thank you, officers.  Have fun keeping the press out."  That got a nod and they headed off.  "Dear, go glower and glare."  He patted him on the back.  "I'll get everyone back.  My wallet?"  It was handed over.  "Thank you."  He grinned then back at everyone.  "Come on, guys.  We're going to do the orientation."  They nodded and followed so he led them to the cabstand, counting heads.  He grimaced and looked at Don.  Then around.  "Fuck.  Well, we can share or not share, but if we share it's going to mean I'm sitting on someone's lap.  If we take two, people are going to call the press."

"If we get a bigger car, they'll still probably call," Don admitted.

"Point," Xander agreed.  He walked over to one guy who had a Caddy behind him.  "For hire?"  He nodded so Xander pointed at all of them.  "All of us."

"I can fit you."  They nodded and got into the small limo, letting him close the door and take off.  "Where to?"

"CSI Precinct," Xander ordered.

"The hummer one?"

"Yup, that's us.  These are some of our transfer officers."  That got a smile and the window went up so they could go.  "Okay."  He grinned at them and tossed Don his wallet.  "Pay the nice man when we get there since we're closer.  Today, we're going to basically introduce you to the techs, show you where everything is.  Let Speed threaten you guys so you know not to mess up his trace lab. Let Alexx fuss over you guys, and then show you where the pertinent places are.  Bathroom, break room, interrogation rooms, good place to sit and soak up the sun during lunches.  That stuff."  That got a grin from Danny.  "You guys brought sunscreen, right?"  They all nodded.  "Good.  Use it, daily.  You'll need it.  The sun is about a mile off Miami's Eastern shore most of the time.  Also, sunglasses good.  Horatio even wears his inside some days."  That got some laughs from Stella and Danny.  "Any questions so far?"  They all shook their heads.

"Okay.  The orientation and show and tell are first, then Speed and Eric are planning on taking the whole group out to dinner tonight to get us working well together, then they're leaving at ten tonight. Everyone else is already up there.  Horatio wanted you guys to know three things.  Yes, Diana did move down here so Eric's around now and then.  We do not mention the Wrath of Caine rumors because it upsets my husband.  Third, if you say anything at all about him being my husband, expect to get your ass kicked.  Not only by me, but by some others," he told Lindsay and Sheldon Hawks.  He hadn't worked with them.  "There's also some basic rules for Hummer use.  Night shift gets really jealous if we don't leave the two main ones there, but it's happened in the past that we kept them out on a scene after hours.  There is no sex in the hummers.  The chief has threatened to take them away from dayshift totally."  He grinned a bit.  "Before you say a word, Danny, it wasn't just our fault."  Danny and Stella both laughed at that.  "Third, in the back of the hummer is about everything you need to send information back to the lab.  Speed and Eric are going to show you where that is while they're doing the orientation lecture."

"So, you guys have scanners and stuff in the hummers?" Lindsay asked.  Xander nodded.  "That must've cost the department a hell of a lot."

"Which is why we do not even *think* about traffic accidents in the hummers.  Technically there are now four.  Horatio's and three others.  Remember that important distinction and never touch Horatio's hummer unless he tells you to. It took him a long time to get everything just perfect for him to drive.  The other ones, adjust mirrors, seats, have sodas that don't spill."

"Can you even drink a soda in Horatio's hummer?" Don asked with a smirk.

"Nope.  Not me.  Not him.  That is the one thing he is most fussy about.  The next is lab protocol.  I'm pretty sure you guys already have that down."  They all nodded.  "Good."  They pulled into the station and Don paid the driver, getting them all out and inside.  "Guys this is our door guard of the month, Peter.  Peter, these are the lab transfers from New York."

"Where's Horatio?"

"Bomb threat in the parking garage his hummer is in," he noted dryly.  Peter let out a low moan so Xander nodded.  "Yeah. If you need him, call and leave a message."

"The Chief was looking for him earlier."

"I'll call the office," he sighed.  He walked them down the halls toward the elevators.  "Okay, this is the main stopgap area.  To your right is holding.  To your left are the elevators that only the privileged few and you guys get to go up."  He ran his pass.  "This is the only spot you need this."  It opened and he got them on there.  "Okay, one is the morgue.  Toward the back and the rest of the holding cells.  Two is the detective's floor and three is the lab.  Got it?"  They all nodded and he hit two.  "We use an interrogation room whenever we need a meeting area.  The lab doesn't have one."  They got off the elevator and he waved around. "This is our bullpen.  Don, you'll be at Frank's desk since Yelina stayed.  This way."  He walked him over, smiling at the other detectives.  "Hi, guys.  This is Don Flack, the transfer guy from NYPD.  He's using Frank's desk."  He pointed at it.  "There, Flack."

"Thanks, Xander."  He checked it over, finding the password and user name already on a postit for him.  "He's good."

"I stuck that for you earlier," Yelina offered with a smile.  "Frank always forgot his."  Don grinned at that.  "Ready for orientation?"  Xander nodded so she got up.  "Rookie, your calls."  She led them to the interrogation room they used as a meeting area.  "This is our interrogation area," she announced.  "It is very pretty and the nest office is the one usually preferred by the CSI," She said, pointing at the corner, office-like interrogation room.  "We're using room four since it's the largest."  She opened the door and let them in, smiling at the men in there.  "Bomb threat at the airport."

"In the parking garage," Xander agreed dryly as he walked in.

"You guys really go for light and open.  Ours is in the semi-finished basement," Flack noted happily.  "This is nice."

"Thanks," Eric said with a grin.  "We've still got the less open rooms but this is the biggest one and the one you want when you've got someone who'll go nuts.  The table's bolted down and the windows are bullet and hurricane proof.  Plus about half of the officers on the floors can see in here."  He grinned at Xander.  "Staying?"

"That depends, why did the Chief want Horatio?"

"You were in the hummer," Yelina told him.

"We were going to airport to pick these guys up.  That man needs to get over it."  Everyone in the room nodded.  "Okay, for those of you who do not know the locals here.  This very pretty and nice female-type person who makes *good* cookies is Detective Yelina Salas.  She is Horatio's sister-in-law and her son is a lot like his daddy in looks.  He comes in now and then.  He's got dark hair."  He pointed at Speed. "This is Tim Speedle, the one Aiden's yammered on about a few times.  He does a lot of work in Trace and shall be threatening you not to mess up his lab.  The other is Eric Delko.  You...just get used to Eric."  Eric snorted and swatted him, earning a grin.  "You do!"  He grinned at them again.  "I'll be doing the walking tour with them so you don't just get the dry and boring stuff but if you'll excuse me I'm going to go bitch at someone for thinking I'm that big of a slut."  He escaped and found the Chief coming up the hallways.  "I was going with him to pick up the new guys.  Did we have a problem with that?"

"Your conduct in the hummer...."

"Has always been kept out of plain sight and has only happened twice.  Thank you," he snapped back.  "Always after hours as well I might add.  It's not our fault the officer followed us into the everglades. Especially not that deeply."  The Chief blushed at that. "The time on the beach, I'll give you.  It was poor judgement on my part.  But if you don't quit with it, I'm going to buy him his own for company use and stock it with better stuff than you've got."

The Chief smiled.  "If you would, that would help alleviate a lot of problems, Xander.  Including that one problem of the night shift supervisor accusing you of going for a ride today."

Xander snorted. "She still jealous?"

"Probably," he assured him with a smile.  "Are they here?  I heard there was a bomb threat to Horatio's beloved hummer."

He nodded and pointed at the room.  "In there with Eric, Speed, and Yelina."

"Ah, excellent."  He walked in there, smiling at everyone.  "Hello. I'm the Chief of Detectives, Martin Graves.  I'm the coordinator on this end of this exchange."  He looked at the three locals.  "Aren't you three supposed to be up there?"

"I'm not going," Yelina told him.  "These two are needed down here to finish a case."

"Oh.  Then you're going when?"

"Tonight," Eric told him, grinning a bit.  "Don't worry, we'll make you proud, sir."

"Thank you.  I know you will."  He smiled at the officers.  "Orientation?"  Everyone nodded.  "That's fine, do you need the standard Miami lectures as well?"

"Horatio flew up ta give 'em," Danny assured him.  "We've already gotten all the paperwork and that stuff outta the way."

"Good!  Excellent in fact.  Then I look forward to your tenure here."  He walked back out, finding Xander on a phone.  "Harris," he noted dryly.

"You told me to," he shot back with a smirk.

"Thank you.  It would make things easier.  I'll make sure it's got official plates and decals."  He hurried off to do that.  It was a simple bit of paperwork and the mayor wouldn't mind that much.

***

The Chief strolled in a week later, smiling happily.  "How is it going?"

"Very well, sir," he said, standing up to shake his hand.  "They're adjusting nicely and they're as professional as I could ever expect."

"Good!  Excellent in fact."  He smiled.  "May I have your hummer keys, Horatio?"

"Why?"

"Because you're upgrading, son.  Come outside with me."  He took the keys from his limp hand and walked him out, looking around at the new one sitting next to the old one.  "It's a bit larger," he admitted. "But it's also got all the of the equipment and a new processing system."  He handed over the new keys.  "We had your old one measured inside so we could approximate where the mirrors and seats were set already."  He gave him a little nudge.  "Go ahead and look, Caine."

Horatio walked over, opening the back to look at the gear.  It was all recessed and out of the way, leaving him a bed area for evidence.  The back seat could fold down as well.  He moved up to the front and climbed in, wiggling a bit.  He had to move his seat up a notch.  The mirror had to be tweaked just an inch or so.  He closed the door and rolled his shoulders, settling in.  This one had more comfortable seats as well.  Then he got out and closed everything, looking at his boss.  "Who donated it?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you but it was so the night shift supervisor would quit accusing you of having sex in it every day for the rest of her tenure."

"Ah.  Where is my mate?"

"It was done on his behalf, Horatio."

Horatio stared him down.  "I see.  Which one of his present fanclub was it?" he asked smoothly, moving a bit closer.

"I'm not allowed to tell you, Horatio," he said with a grin. He clapped him on the arms.  "Make sure it runs, that way I make sure I gave you the right keys."  Horatio went back to start the engine, making him smirk at the deeper sound.  "He thought you needed more power too."  He walked off, bouncing the other set of keys in his hand.  Since it was registered in Horatio's name, he could do whatever he wanted in it.

Horatio looked for the registration, finding it in the visor.  He noticed it had *his* name on it, not the department's and groaned.  He called into the lab.  "Stella, do we have anything?  No, I'm going to talk to someone.  Thank you."  He started the engine again and backed out, heading for the college.  He knew where his mate was hiding and it wasn't going to work today.  He parked outside the building and walked in, putting his sunglasses in his jacket pocket.  Xander was found in his Therapeutic Massage class and he glared at him, making his mate slip out into the hall.  "Is there something you wanted to confess?"

"No.  Why?" he asked, looking so cute and confused and innocent.

Too bad Horatio had seen that look before.  He walked Xander down the halls to the bathroom and inside, giving him a little nudge toward the windows.  "Xander."

"What?"

"You bought me a car."

"I did?"

"Don't even try to lie to me."

"It was suggested strongly since the night shift supe was riding your ass about me even being allowed to breathe on the hummer.  This way she can get your old one and huff the cologne all she wants."  He moved closer, fussing with his mate's lapels.  "It's fully yours, just for use of the lab.  That means you can camp in there if you want and she can't say a damn thing and the lab could use it anyway."

"I didn't need the present."

Xander kissed him and then hugged him, leaning fully into the solid body.  "You did.  She's trying to have you fired for sleeping with me and not her," he said quietly, giving him a squeeze. "The evil bitch can ride her spot of high morals and still not get what she really wants, which is what I have."  He shifted some to rub against his mate's hard body, making him moan.  "Plus you have equipment you didn't have before, Horatio," he said quietly.  "You have enough stuff in there to survive if you have to during a bad scene or a storm."  He rubbed again as he shifted some, looking up at his mate.  "Besides, you needed one of your own.  Stella was going to try to steal one to bring home with her."  He grinned, just the hint of one.  "Blame the chief, he all-but ordered me to, baby."

"You had me up until the pet name," he said, pinching him on the butt.  "Behave."

Xander stole a kiss and shook his head. "I can't.  You give me naughty, naughty thoughts."  Horatio shivered at that.  "Too bad I've got practice today, huh?"  Horatio growled and nodded, taking a firmer kiss.  "Horatio," he moaned.

"No more presents, Xander.  I don't need presents."

"It was on sale."  Horatio gave him a look.  "Seriously.  The FBI tried it out and didn't like it.  Said it was too bulky for their main headquarters in DC."  He shrugged. "It's got about five hundred miles on it so it's used. It came fully equipped and I had the computer tech division make sure it'd speak to your systems here."  He rubbed against him again.  "See, I'm a thoughtful spouse.  This gets everyone off your ass but me.  And tonight I'm going to lick and nibble it to prove that it's mine, and then you're going to pound me into the mattress."

"Not in the hummer?" he teased.

"No, not until after I win my next race."  Horatio shivered and nodded.  "We good?"

"We're fine but it was still too expensive."

"I got more than enough from the present guy that flew down with Don.  The note said I should probably be using it buy you one anyway."  He stole another kiss.  "I wanna suck you but I've only got five minutes left before class ends."  Horatio nodded and let him go, letting him calm himself down.  "Tonight?"

"Definitely tonight, Xander."

That got a smirk and Xander went back to his class, slipping back into his seat.  The teacher gave him a look so he shrugged. "Small issue with the car."

"Fine.  Wait next time."  She noticed Horatio walking past the doorway, then looked at him.  "Your father?"

He held up his ring, getting a shocked look.  "Mine, mine, mine, all mine.  Every day mine."  The other students laughed at that.

***

Xander walked into their house and found Horatio shirtless on the couch, in front of the fan.  "Did the a/c break again?" he asked, moving closer once he had dropped his bookbag.  He took off his own shirt and pants, then licked across a trail of sweat that had worked its way down his mate's chest.  That got a moan so he straddled him to clean him up, licking up each stream of sweat, noticing more was coming up.  He leaned up and licked across his mate's top lip, feeling the hair that he'd shave in the morning.  Horatio pulled him into a deep kiss, making him moan.  "Are you running a fever or is this an invitation?" he asked once he pulled back.

"An invitation."

Xander smiled and got back to work, teasing the spot on his neck until he groaned and arched up, his lips clamped together.  "Let it out," he soothed, moving down to tease a nipple.  "Let it go, baby."  He switched to the other one, dragging his tongue between them.  That one got bitten and then suckled on, the last one as he pulled away so it snapped back.  He continued on, making Horatio shake with need.  His stomach had delicious spots so he stayed to snack a while, feeling what this was doing to his husband.  He sat up and looked at the pants, sweats, not his usual choice.  He pulled them off and looked over his body, licking his lips.  He looked up, catching the ice blue eyes with his warmer, chocolate ones, then he went down to tease the hardness he could smell and wanted so bad.  Horatio moaned and arched up so Xander went with it.  Riding the waves as his tongue teased and tempted, not making Horatio calm down or stop moving. Just making him grip the back and side of the couch to hold on for dear life.  He kept it at licking for now, knowing that if he even thought about sucking his cock like usual he'd come and Xander would have to wait for what he wanted.

Horatio grabbed him and pulled him up, taking control of his mouth.  "Mine," he growled in his ear, going to tease his mate.

"Yours.  Very yours."  He wiggled free and went back to his teasing, making his husband hold onto the couch again and hiss air in through his nose at the sensations he was causing.  Someone knocked on the door.  "Give us an hour," he yelled.

"UPS."

"Fucking delivery guys," Xander muttered, getting up and yanking the door open, snatching the package and scribbling his name on it.  Then he slammed the door and put the package on the table before going back to his mate, who was laughing.  Since he landed on his legs and already had his mouth open, the laughter was cut off with a strangled sounding moan and Horatio was soon back in that same mindset.  Xander shifted back, going to tease him like he said would.  Horatio tried to clamp his thighs closed so he bit him on it. "I did promise."

"Not necessary."  He pulled his mate back up, grunting with the strain of the limp body in his hands.  He forced Xander to straddle his waist and pulled his head down to kiss him, taking what he wanted.  "Tease."

"I deliver for you, that means I'm not teasing."  He kissed him again and his mate's urgency was translated into the first time Horatio barely lubed him and just shoved it in, making him howl.  His back stiffened and Horatio took the opportunity to sit them up, then shift them around so he could have his husband this way.  "Babe," he whispered, taking it and loving it.  "Oh, more!" he shouted when Horatio slumped down to get deeper.  It still wasn't enough so he pulled off and went onto his hands and knees, earning a deep growl and his body being covered and the hard cock pushed back in.  This was what he wanted.  His mate was claiming his body as his and all he could do was hold on.  The couch didn't have any handrails but that didn't matter.  He clutched at whatever he could.  An arm was shifted up and he grabbed onto that as a lifeline, that and the back of the couch, and just played resistance to the hard thrusts.  He couldn't keep time with them and Horatio was going as hard as he ever had.  Xander had to come, and soon.

He tried to let his mate know, getting bitten on the shoulder for it, and he came from that.  Horatio growled in his ear again, speeding up, going harder and faster than he had been. He finally let himself come and nuzzled the bite mark, licking over it gently.  Xander collapsed under him and he followed, laying spread out across his back.  Horatio kissed the back of his neck, his free hand trapped under Xander's stomach, his other one moving to stroke the sweaty flesh.  He cleaned him up, pulling out gently to make sure his mate was all right.  No blood.  He sighed in relief and laid back down, making Xander lay on top of him.  "I didn't mean to be that rough," he said quietly, stroking his back.

"I'm good with some roughness now and then.  Like beard burn, it's worth it in the morning."   Horatio chuckled and took a real kiss.  "Why were you so sweaty?"

"I just got back from my run."  He stroked down the relaxed back, cupping the perky, hard cheeks in each hand.  "I was thinking about what to do to you tonight when I felt the first lick."

Xander moaned.  "You still taste good sweaty."  He licked up a small spot on his shoulder, then grinned at him.  "Sorry about the UPS guy if he gives you a funny look."

"I don't care."  He stole a long, deep kiss, using his tongue to continue what they had just done.  "You make me feel like a teenager."

"You recover like one," he teased, shifting so he was rubbing against the hardening cock.  "Faster than I do."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Let me guess, someone dosed all the water bottles with viagra today?"

"No.  Just desire."  He squeezed the cheeks, making Xander let out a small whimper.  "Sore?"

"Fuck sore," he complained.  He kissed him again, getting all he wanted and needed.  "Can we add just a bit more lube?" he pleaded when he felt the finger teasing his entrance.  Horatio smiled and grabbed it, spreading some directly into the open hole.  Xander smiled and gamely spread out for his pleasure, letting Horatio do whatever he wanted this time.  "Want me on top?" he asked after a few minutes of just teasing.

"If you want.  I might have to play rough again if you go back onto your hands and knees."

"Then how about I go onto my back or I stay on top?"

"You on top works for my back."  Xander grinned and climbed back on, showing his body was starting to get into it again.  Horatio stroked him, licking the taste of the spilled semen off his hands before going back to add some extra slippery stuff for now.  Xander moaned and threw his head back, just enjoying the sensation.  Horatio's other hand stroked up the flat stomach, tweaking and teasing the hard nipples, teasing his stomach muscles, then up to cup the back of his neck and pull him down for a kiss.  Xander's breath hitched and he shifted rhythms, going with one he knew drove him insane.  He was squeezing and riding him and it was good.  So very good.  Xander whimpered and shifted up, then suddenly he came again and it was all over with.  Horatio came pulling down's hips down to fill him as deeply as he could.  He panted a bit but Xander kissed him and now he couldn't breathe at all.  "Rest," he panted.  Xander nodded, laying on top of him, his head on his shoulder, one arm between his side and the back of the couch, the other flung over the rest of him and hanging over his chest and the side of the couch.  Horatio stroked the sweaty back.  "Now you're as sweaty as I am."

"I like you sweaty," Xander said tiredly.  He let out a small yawn.  "I still have practice tonight."

Don walked in and stopped.  "Whoa, sorry, I knocked, I thought it was okay."  He backed out.  "Ignore me I'm not here."  He closed the door.

Horatio snickered.  "At least he wasn't five minutes earlier."

"Possibly true."  The phone rang and Xander got it, listening.  "Hold on, Don."  He put the phone next to Horatio's ear, letting him listen to it.  Listening was a low calorie burning activity that one could do after great sex.  At least until Horatio moaned and hung up the phone, letting it drop onto the floor.  "Problems?" Xander asked quietly.

"No, not really.  Don said he finished the case we were working on yesterday and a new one popped up but it's a crossover case.  He'll be back in an hour."  He gave his boy a squeeze. "Which means we need to shower and flip the cushions."  Xander gave him an amused look.  "It would be mean to make Danny sit in the wet spot this time.  The same as it was to do that to Eric and Speed last time, Xander."

"I'm amused because you think I have energy to make it to the bathroom."

Horatio smiled at that and sighed.  "Me either."  He gave them another ten minutes, then they had to get up and head to their various duties.  Xander showered and ate something, then went to swim and diving practice.  Horatio barely managed to flip the cushions before Stella walked in, she caught him doing the last one.  "Give me a second."

"He should rub your back if you're that sore," she told him.

He looked at her. "He's the reason I'm sore."

"Awww, did your boytoy jump you?" she cooed, pinching him on the arm.  "Did you tempt him?"

"No, I was resting after my jog and he decided to lick the sweat off," he said dryly, heading back into the bedroom to finish getting dressed.  At least he had on a shirt, all he needed was his jacket this time.  He came out to find Don checking out the package on the table. "UPS got here before you did."

"If he saw what I did, I hope his girlfriend appreciates it later," he noted dryly.  "Or his boyfriend."  He moved closer, handing him the package.  "So, what'd he do to earn that ride?  The new hummer?" he teased.

Horatio shook his head.  "I was resting after my jog, he thought I needed a bath."

"Ah."  He nodded. "I've used that a time or two myself," he admitted, going into the living room.  "Is the couch safe?"

"I flipped the cushions," he promised. He looked at the box, then opened it.  "Hey, Don?"  He came back and looked inside.

"Whoa.  It's a head."  He jiggled the box some.  "The last present wielding guy's employee.  The guy from the park," he explained at the curious look.  He called Alexx.  "Beauteous One, I have a head in a box that got shipped to Xander and Horatio.  Nope, at his house.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Where's Xander?"

"Practice," Stella told him.  "It's his day for it."  She got up to look at the head in the box.  "Wasn't that the guy on the plane who gave you that information?"  He nodded and put the box down.  "I'll go outside and see if there's more."  She headed out to do that, calling Xander's cellphone on the way.  "Be careful.  That box had a head in it.  Thanks."  She hung up and found a small box, carrying it inside after taking a picture of where it had been laying.  "This was behind the hummer."

Don pulled his knife to open it, then groaned and put it down, walking outside so he wouldn't be sick.

"I'm guessing it's a statement on how bad he was for wanting Xander?" she offered.

Horatio shook his head.  "He didn't want Xander.  He never has.  He's in the employ of someone who wants Xander."  He heard a knock and headed for the door, letting Alexx in.  "There were two boxes, she found the other one behind the hummer."

She looked at the second box, then at Horatio.  "I don't wanna know, do I?"

"He was in the employ of the car guy," Don called from the porch.  "I'm gonna be sick if I have ta look at that, Alexx."

"I'm surprised Horatio can," she called back.  She picked them both up.  "Anything else?"

"Not so far," Stella told her.  "I'll be back in a few hours to see if DNA has anything."  She nodded, leaving them there.  She looked at Horatio.  "Should we call him back from practice?  All I told him was that the box had a head."

"No, they won't come for him," he said quietly.  "It was my name on the boxes."

Don came back in and shut the door.  "Maybe someone decided to spare you having ta kill the bastard by doin' it for ya," he offered dryly.  "Figuring the Wrath of Caine rumors and thought the guy liked your boy."

Horatio shook his head.  "Anyone who would've watched them would have noticed it was more of an information pipeline."  He went to get a bottle of water and think.  "Don, has anything we've gotten from this guy had any sort of contact information?"

"No, sorry, Horatio.  Nothing that I've seen."

"Could Xander?"

"No," Horatio said, shaking his head.  "He would've told me."  He went to find Xander's address book, finding the name Alejandro Run in it.  He remembered what Xander told him.  And he called.  "Alejandro?" he asked.  "No, this is not Xander, this is Xander's husband, Horatio.  I'm not sure, that's why I'm calling."  He listened to the man complain.  "No, he doesn't know.  You know about his last present giver?  The only one he accepts willingly?" he asked quietly, keeping his voice even.  "No, his head and personal objects were just delivered to me by UPS, Alejandro.  Since I know he was local part of the time, I thought you could tell me where to go to find who he was so we can warn someone else if necessary. Or so we can find out if it's against Xander or myself."  He listened to the man babble.  "No, the box was in my name, Alejandro."  He made mental notes, nodding a few times.  "Thank you.  No, I won't tell him we talked.  If you find anything out, I want this kept away from Xander.  He doesn't need to hear about this.  Come directly to myself or any of us on days in the lab.  Or him, yes.  Xander considers him like a big brother."  He smirked a bit.  "I thought you might be.  Thank you, Alejandro."  He hung up and resisted the urge to hit something, turning to look at Don.  "You knew him."

"I did?" he asked.  "The source or the guy?"

"The guy.  They said you're tied to him and it was done as a warning to those who spoiled *his* Xander."

"So, another psycho," Stella noted.  "Only this one's after his other stalkers."  Horatio nodded and came out.  "Will he be mad that you did that?"

"No, but Alejandro doesn't know that."

"How do we know this guy is straight with you?" Don asked.

"He owes Xander.  Xander saved his mother," Horatio said calmly, looking around.  "Somewhere there are remains of his body.  Did we take fingerprints off the papers you gave over?"

"I did, but they didn't match anywhere in AFIS," Stella offered.

"Run it through the PD databanks and the federal ones," Horatio noted.  She nodded, calling the lab to have them do that, then heading in to see what she could do to help.  He looked at Don. "If this goes bad, you are to take Xander and protect him.  Keep him from avenging me if possible.  He will implode."

"And if they're after him for tainting the others?" Don asked patiently.

"Then you're still to watch him, Don.  I need my boy watched if something happens and I'm not there to protect him."  He finished his water, found his shoes, badge, gun, and keys.  "Let's go."

"Can I ride in the hummer?" he called, following him.

"Yes, you may."  He got in, then went back to turn on his security system.  He checked the hummer over, noticing it didn't have a scratch on it, but that was good.  He got in to start it again, backing down the driveway.

***

Xander looked up from his coming out of the pool as the pool's doors banged open, blinking at the guy walking in with the shotgun.  "Hell."  He finished climbing out and grabbed his towel to dry off.  So far the guy hadn't used it in a threatening manner.  He noticed two of the local security guys at the door and glanced at the guy, seeing him watching him.  "What?  You want me to be itchy? I seriously doubt that'll happen."

"You fucking prissy bitch," he shouted, raising the gun.

Xander flicked the knife that had been on top of his bag at the guy, getting him in the stomach.  "Yay, I like being the bitch in my 'ship.  Get over it," he said dryly, waving the security guys in.  He walked over and took his knife back, wiping it off on his towel.  "Coach, I think my other job is calling," he called as he headed for the locker room.  One of the guards followed.  "Sparky, I'm going to shower and get dressed.  I'm married to a local cop.  I'm not running."

"I still need to keep you in sight, sir."

"Fine.  I'm still showering and changing if that bothers you."  He grabbed his stuff and went in to shower, holding down the nausea.  He came out and looked at the guard.  "That wasn't about me."

"No, sir, it was about having gay athletes," he said honestly.  "We've been tracking him. He went and threatened the gymnastics coach as well."

"Glad I could help stop him before he shot one of us."  He went back to his shower, coming out clean and refreshed, then went to put on clothes.  The swim coach came in and he waved.  "Hi, coach."

"What the hell are you doing carrying a knife into practice!" he yelled.

Xander looked up.  "Okay, first, I've had approximately sixty-three stalkers over the course of my life, varying in intensity from won't leave me alone and whining about it, to 'going to kill the Xander'.  The greater majority have been the latter.  That included about ten or twelve serial killers."  He stood up and stepped into his sneakers, then looked at his coach again. "These are the same people who send me shit.  Of course I go armed.  I go armed when I'm taking a shit!  I don't go to bed without a knife under my pillow and I'm still married to a cop.  I don't take stupid chances and knives aren't often fatal that way.  I'm a very good knife thrower and a very good shot. It's saving my ass, thank you."  The coach backed off and he calmed himself down again.

"I'm sorry if that bothers you but I did tell you about my fanclub."  He pulled on a shirt and checked his locker, pulling back out his knife and wrist harness to put on, then his weapon.  The guard made a noise.  "I have a permit.  It's in my wallet."  He grabbed his wallet and handed it over, then looked again.  "Where in the hell is my driver's license?"  He took his permit back, then searched around the wallet.  "It's not here."  He checked his locker.  Not there.  "Hopefully it's in the car after that time I got popped for speeding."  He grimaced and shrugged, then gathered up what needed to go home to be washed.  "I'll be back tomorrow, coach, unless you tell me not to."  The locker room doors burst open and he tensed, then calmed himself.  "Suzie."

"Xander.  Are you all right?"

"Knife to the stomach. It was a good throw.  He was still bringing up his shotgun."  He shrugged.  "It's a standard in my life."

"Okay.  Should I call Horatio?  Let him know you're in trouble?"

"I'm hopefully not in that much trouble," he said, glancing at the guard, who shrugged, then back at her.  "Besides, we had a head delivered to the house by UPS.  I don't think I'm more important than that."

"Okay," she said, nodding a bit.  "A head?  My husband said you got some crazy gifts."

"Yeah, Stella didn't say it was a gift," he noted dryly, making her shudder. "I think it was addressed to him instead of me, that's a nice change."  He closed his locker, then locked it.  "Keep an eye out for my driver's license, could you?"  She nodded.  "Thanks."  He headed back with the guard, his bag over one shoulder. "He hasn't gotten to the ambulance yet?"

"We called, they're backed up with a wreck," the other guard noted.

Xander looked at him.  "Get me some gauze and a towel," he ordered.  They went to do that and he got to work making a very handy pressure bandage.  "The skills you learn in Sunnydale," he said dryly, looking at the rifle.  He looked at the guard.  "The safety's not on."

"What?"  He grimaced and sighed.  "Thank you, Harris."

"Not a problem."  He looked over as a patrol officer came in, smirking and waving. "Do they automatically send you if it's me?"

"It seems like it, Harris.  What happened?"

"He's been threatening the coaches about the gay athletes," the first guard noted.  "We tracked him here.  Harris was getting out of the pool, if that's who this is, and the guy pointed the gun at him, smarting off.  Harris smarted back, then threw the knife at him."

"Effective and non-lethal in most cases," the patrol guy agreed.  "Ambulance is on the way," he admitted.  "How deep?"

"First joint of my finger," Xander said.  "I used a towel and gauze, it's pressure bandaged."

"Thank you.  At least you know those things."  He looked at the kid.  "How do you know those things?"

"Ever been to Tentacles?"  The patrol officer shuddered but nodded.  "I used ta hunt those things.  My town was full of them."

"Oh!"  He nodded quickly.  "Understood, sir.  Are you still...."  Xander shook his head.  "Your spouse?"  Xander nodded, looking like he was trying not to laugh.  "Even better.  It's probably protecting you, sir."  He looked at the paramedics as they came in.  "Harris put on a pressure bandage.  He said it's about first joint of your finger deep."

"Knife," Xander offered.  They nodded and got to work checking as best they could.  The bandage was holding down bleeding.  He looked at the security guy, then the patrol guy.  "Who gets me this time?"

"They do," the guards said together.

"PD always gets anything violence related."  The second guard shifted a bit.  "Thank you, sir."

"Not an issue.  I didn't want to be shot again today."  He waved a hand and the patrol guy smirked so he shrugged and walked out first.  "I was being nice."

"You try very well.  Any other weapons on you, Harris?"

"My gun, my knife. I think I've got a pocket knife in my bag."  He shrugged.  "The standard really.  Can we stop at my car for a minute?  I couldn't find my license in my wallet."  That got a nod and they stopped there, Xander not finding it in there either.  "Damn it."  He slammed the car door and locked it with the keychain remote, then followed him back to the patrol car.  They had just backed out of the spot when his car blew up.  "Uh-huh.  Someone's playing dirty."  He pulled out his phone, dialing his spouse.  "Dear, why did my car just blow up?" he asked dryly.  "No, I'm in a patrol car at the moment.  A guy came in complaining about gay athletes and decided I was one. I ended up proving I can throw my dagger.  First joint of your finger deep.  Lower stomach.  He'll survive and be sorry.  Sure."  He handed the phone to the officer.  "Horatio."

"Lieutenant," he started, then shut up and listened as ordered.  "Yes, sir!"  He hung up and tossed the phone back.  "You are to appear there immediately, sir.  Someone's after you again."  He watched fire trucks pull up and signaled to the other patrols coming to call him, getting a nod from one.  Then he took Xander back to the station, walking him right to the Lieutenant's office.  "Here you go, sir.  Your spouse, unharmed."

"Thank you."  He looked at Xander.  "You did what?"

"He had a shotgun.  He was pointing it at me."

"I see."  He looked at the patrol guy, who wrote out what he had been told, including the missing driver's license, and handed it over.  "Thank you, officer.  What about the explosion?"

"I let Mr. Harris search his car for his missing ID.  He locked it with the keychain remote when he didn't find it, then got into my car with me.  We were backing up when it exploded."

"Type out the formal reports for me, officer.  Just in case."  That got a nod and he hurried off to do that and check in with his supervisor about his orders to leave the scene with the witness.  "Xander."

"I didn't feel like being shot again today, Horatio."

"I'm happy to hear that," he noted calmly, pulling him closer.  He showed him the picture of the head.  "It was addressed to me."

"That's the guy from the park.  He works for the guy who sent me the car that I exchanged for this one."  Horatio nodded.  "Okay.  Um...."  He blinked a few times.  "I'm creeped out.  Can we find that present sending guy?  Just to warn him or talk to him?"

"We were hoping you'd know," Don said as he came in.  "It's starting to rain like we need an ark."

"We get those now and then," Xander noted dryly.  "Usually during hurricane season."  He looked at his mate again.  "What?"

"Do you have any idea who he is?"

"He saw me in Montreal at that first club.  I didn't do a whole lot of crowd prowling."

"Are you sure it was there?" Don asked.

"Yeah, that's the only place I used Vex as a name."  Xander sat down, looking at them.  "He said I reminded him of his son, or that's what that guy said," he noted, pointing at the picture of the head.  "From the tone it was told to me at, he added an 'at your age' but it could've been that he's dead."  He shrugged. "There was that courier guy down here as well.  Remember, I gave you his picture from the jewelry store," he reminded his mate.  "Or was that dad?"

"It must've been him, I haven't seen it, Xander," Horatio told him.

Xander pulled out his phone and called New York.  "Mac, is dad there?"  He waited while he was transferred over.  "Dad, where did you put that picture I got you of the courier guy?  Yeah that one.  Because the guy from the park had his head delivered to Horatio in his name.  Well, practice was cut short by the guy with the shotgun who was threatening coaches about gay athletes," he offered.  "No he pointed it at me, I tossed the dagger at him.  Not very deep.  First joint deep.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He said it's in his locker in the case file on this stuff.  He said he's been working on it for a while now and he was keeping it all in his locker.  He said you can pop the lock if you need to."

"I think I shall," Horatio said, grabbing Yelina to help him with that.

Xander looked at the label, frowning a bit. "The writing looks familiar, Don."  He took it to look at.  "I don't know from where."

"That's not conclusive," he noted but he did study it.  "That does look familiar."  He reached over to page Danny, bringing him running.  "Whose handwriting is this?"

"The rookie kid that works with you and Yelina," he said, looking at him.

"It's easy enough to get a sample from him," Don noted, going out to the desk to do that.  Half of the odd forms still got filled out in pens.  He found one on his desk, then a few more just in case, and headed to questionable documents.  Fortunately that tech was still in.  "I know it's late."  She sighed and sat down, holding out a hand.  "Did Horatio give you the label off the box with the head?"

"Alexx and Danny did.  Run these against it?"  He nodded and she looked, then at him.  "That's the...."  Don held up a hand and she nodded.  "Okay, give me ten, Detective Flack."

"Call me Don, most everyone does," he offered with a wry grin.

She smiled and uploaded the two samples, hitting the right keys to let the computer compare. "Not a match on the first one so let's go back."  She went to the next one and this one matched, and so did the third.  "Okay, these two are, this one isn't," she said, holding them out separately.  "It's not enough to do more than give him funny looks."

"Yeah, but it's a starting spot," he noted, smiling at her.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem, Don. We hate it when Xander's threatened.  It tends to make Horatio cranky."  She stood up and put back on her jacket, heading out with her purse.

Don went back to Horatio's office.  "These two," he said, putting down that stack, "are a match to the shipping label.  The other wasn't."  He put that down separately.  "I got them off the same desk."  He glanced at Xander.  "He noticed they were similar," he said, looking at Horatio again, "and Danny ID'd it.  The gremlin in QD, who is a very attractive and smart woman, said it matched those two."

"Interesting," Horatio noted, looking at that other form.  "That's in Frank's handwriting.  He just signed it."  He put it down and looked at the other one, then at him.  "Do you think it's him?"

"I think she's right and it's going to take more than this to give him funny looks."

"Well, Speed's folder on this issue was missing."  Xander groaned. "But he said he put a copy of nearly everything onto his personal computer at home.  Which you have the password to, Xander?"  Xander nodded.  "Then we should do that."

"Lead on, boss," Xander assured him, standing up.  "If it's him, I want him far away from everyone decent in the world."  Horatio nodded and stood up, leading the way out to the hummer.  Don got in his own car and followed. He had ridden over with Stella to Horatio's.  Xander nodded politely at the manager as he slid past her.  "Need something for Tim off his computer."

"That's fine, baby."  She smiled at Don.  "You were so thoughtful this morning, thank you, dear."

"Not an issue, ma'am.  It's the guy my mother raised me ta be."  He gave her his version of the goofy grin and got a poke from Horatio.  "It was turned off."   He got them into the apartment and tracked Xander back to the study, finding him staring at the screen. "What?"

"He used my middle name as a password and he spells it funny."  He typed again, this time getting in.  "Okay, you're in."  Horatio sat down and found the right folder, burning it down to a CD.  Then making another copy just in case.  That one got handed to Don and then Horatio started to browse the file.  "Go back," he said suddenly.  "That's the courier guy and he's meeting with someone?  I didn't take that photo."

"It's marked as one of our cameras," Don told him, pointing at the imprinted logo in the bottom right hand corner.  All their digital cameras did that now.  "When was it taken, Horatio?"

"According to the directory, about three weeks after the car showed up," he noted patiently.  "Take that file and Xander back, Don.  Let's see if we can figure out who the person in the car is.  It might give us another link."

Xander studied the guy.  "I still know him from somewhere else."

"You should, he was in the geology class with you," Horatio told him, glancing at him.  "His hair had been cut, but he sat in the back."  He printed that picture and got up, going off once Xander had been taken by Don.  Horatio was going to the school.

***

Horatio knocked on a door, getting an older woman.  "Ma'am, is your son here?" he asked, showing his badge.  "I need to ask him about one of his classmates."  She nodded, letting him in the door and going to get her boys.  He looked at the older one, who flinched.  "Outside. Please."  The guy nodded and followed him, so he closed the door behind him.  He held up the photo.  "Is this your employer?"

"I'm not allowed to say, Lieutenant."

He switched photos to the one he had Don send him over the computer in the hummer.  "His head got mailed to me earlier."  The boy got ill over the side of the porch.  "Now, we do need to warn you and warn your employer.  And any other employees he might have," he said quietly once the boy was done.  "To do that, we need his name."

The kid looked at him.  "I'll call around for you, but I'm not allowed to tell you, Lieutenant.  He's paying my way through school and I can't jeopardize that.  But I will call him.  I can get you his file probably.  Do you know where the rest of him is?"  Horatio shook his head.  "Damn.  He was a nice guy.  The boss, he saved him from going thug."  He frowned then looked at him.  "Let me call.  I'll see what I can do."  He walked back inside, leaving the door open, which meant he was coming back.  He dialed, ignoring his mother for now.  "Hey, boss, one of the guys is gone.  They mailed the Lieutenant his head.  Yeah, Roger."  He glanced outside.  "No.  Someone got a picture of me talking to Eggbert. Yeah, him.  I don't know how he tracked me at all, boss."

"You were in Geology with my spouse," Horatio said from the doorway.  "We're fairly sure they're targeting Xander's ...fans as they're usually called around the office."

The kid listened to his boss's orders.  Then he nodded.  He hung up after making an assenting noise and looked at the other man, seeing why Xander would want him, even at his age.  "I'm protected.  He's sending someone to protect me, Lieutenant.  He's also sending one of his security people down to talk to Detective Flack tonight.  Apparently he knew Detective Flack when he was younger.  Also, he told me to tell you that he wasn't the boss, I just called his third-in-command, who is the only contact I have outside of Roger, who you've met, and Gordon, who hands out paychecks."  Horatio nodded at that.  "He's sending a system-wide alert."

"Very well.  When can we expect this messenger?"

"Within two hours. He has to fly in from Sanibel Island."  Horatio raised an eyebrow.  "Our boss has friends all over. That's where Gordon lives and works from.  I'm told I'll have protection within the hour.  So I thank you for warning me, Lieutenant."

"How will I know him?"

"You'll know him. You used to work with Gordon.  A lot of his guys that I've met used to be in law enforcement."  He smiled.  "And that's the only hint I can give you about who the actual boss is, sorry."

Horatio nodded.  "Thank you and call us if you need help."

"Your husband's on my speed dial, Lieutenant.  By the way, my boss didn't like that his car blew up."

"He can afford another one."

"So?  He said that money's to go to spoil himself."  He bowed and smirked.  "Have a nice night, Lieutenant."

Horatio looked less than happy but he did leave.  Once he got back into the hummer and underway, he called his office, where Xander was sitting.  "Hand the phone to Don," he ordered.  "Xander," he warned.  He got a sigh and Don came on.  "Within the hour, we're getting someone in with information and they're coming to you," he noted as he drove.  "I'm on my way back.  No, he only knows a few people in the chain.  The head's name is Roger, the man coming is Gordon, and he lives on Sanibel Island.  Apparently I used to work with him.  You used to know the boss when you were younger and a lot of his people come from law enforcement were the only clues I was given."  He nodded as Don thought out loud.  Then Xander called out a comment and he smirked.  "That could very well be," he agreed.  "For now, keep him there.  I'm on my way back."  He hung up and drove faster once he hit the main thoroughfare.  This had been irking him for a while.

***

Horatio looked up as Don led a man he knew into his office.  "Gordon Prescott," he said, smirking a bit.  "You were the one I hadn't guessed."

"Yeah, well," he said, then he grinned and shrugged.  "Surprise."  He handed over three folders.  "Roger's.  Harold's, your local courier who you talked to earlier, and then Regina, who is Roger's second-in-command and will be down here soon."  He handed Don another folder.  "Proof.  Also proof that your boy is being baited by someone else.  When did his license get stolen?"  He sat down, watching Don frown at him.  "Yes, you knew the boss when you were younger."

"How young?"

"Fairly."

"Got a decade even?"  Gordon shook his head.  "This is gonna drive me nuts."

"He's an older man, Detective Flack, and he'll be dying soon.  You'll all find out then."

"Please tell me he's not leaving Xander his estate," Horatio said calmly.

"Part of it but no.  I'm getting the house on Sanibel.  By the way, he registered under dummy corporations and names.  That's a fruitless search, even for the Feds.  I helped him set it up right after I left the Prosecutor's office."

"I see."  Horatio calmed himself again, that gave them another timeline clue.  "What does he want with Xander and myself?"

"For you two to be happy.  Like his son should've been.  By the way, he adores Eric and Diana.  He has their picture next to yours and Xander's on his desk."

"Okay, so he's stalking the boy?" Don demanded.

"No, Detective, he's not.  Xander reminds him of his son, who he lost years ago.  I think sometimes his mind goes and he believes Xander is his son, but most of the time he knows his son died back in the fifties due to being gay."

"So he thinks what, that Xander's the reincarnation or something?" Don asked, sitting down now.

"No.  I asked him once and he said he had no way of proving it so he wouldn't even dwell on that thought."  He looked at Horatio again.  "My employer has severe cancer, Horatio.  It is his dying wish that Xander be well taken care of.  He said you do that but the time will come when more aggressive approaches may be needed.  He did say that Eric's optic nerve problem came from Diana's father.  Who she never knew.  It usually does heal itself as the body ages.  He also said that he'd adore it if you considered having another one with her.  Yours or his."  Horatio shook his head.  "I said he was too young to think on that yet.  That his future is still too unwritten."  He shifted and crossed his legs.

"Two other things he's mentioned recently.  Xander's a very good swimmer and he thinks he may be the bottom of olympic quality but he didn't think he had what it took to get the gold.  Make the team, but not get the gold.  He did say it would take about a year of training to see, which would put him up for the next summer games. He encourages him to try if that's what he wants, but you probably should talk about the press attention that could bring."  Horatio nodded slightly at that.

"They're sports casters but they're still reporters.  He was worried Xander wouldn't want his past shown to everyone.  The second thing he said was that Speed going back to Sunnydale was keeping him very alive for a very long time, long after you all ceased to exist.  So if he quit going, he'd be back to a normal life expectancy, which no one knows how long it is. That should be his choice to stop whenever he's ready to start aging again.  The same as it's your choice to go with Xander when he's given that option.  The hellmouth misses him greatly and the new Xander it had made wasn't quite the same."  He smiled a bit.  "Did you notice that every now and then chaos is drawn to him?"

"I hadn't," Horatio noted.

"I have," Don complained.  "Oh, that Ethan guy he told us to watch out for was hanging around the other day, Horatio.  I scared him off."

"That's always wise, but Ethan sometimes works for my employer as well."  He smiled at him.  "Don't worry, all will be made clearer when he dies.  Which won't be too long from now."  He looked at Horatio again.  "He wants you and Xander protected, no matter what, for a very long time.  From those cases that come back to try to kill you.  From the department because the next in line for Chief won't like you having Xander, and the one after him has Nazi-like tendencies about  how white the police force should be. He wants your boy to have every advantage possible to be the best man he can be.  And he wants him protected when you finally die, that way he doesn't go out and do something stupid.  That's why we came up to him in New York.  My boss knew that he and Don are close, like family, and that Don and Danny Messer would be helpful to hold him together when that day finally came, far in the future we hope."  Horatio nodded once at that, looking comfortable with that idea, but you could see in his eyes he was seething.  "It was not meant to usurp, Horatio, just take one worry from your shoulders so you and your boy could be happy and carefree.  Because the Chief's wife was right.  Xander is your reward for doing such a good job."  He stood up.  "Now, with that said, I'm going to go back into hiding."

"No you're not," Don said dryly.

"I've done nothing wrong and you can't charge me with anything."

"Yeah, we can."  Don stood up, looking at him.  "You're a lawyer, right?"

"Former prosecutor," Horatio said quietly.  "Let him go, Don."

"You sure?"  Horatio nodded.  "You're just going to accept this?"

"My issues aren't with him."  They shared a look.  "My issues are with his employer."

"Good point."  He glared at him.  "Xander doesn't need this stress."

"I'm not the one applying stress over this. Nor does my employer plan on adding stress.  The stress comes from what Horatio thinks about my boss's actions toward what he considers his.  Horatio has always been very territorial, as proven by most of Miami knowing you don't touch the hummers without retaliation."  He smirked at Horatio.  "Those rumors have been going on since you were in the bomb squad, Horatio, and you beat up on McMillian's girlfriend for trying to beat him.  It just changed when you got here."  He smiled at Don.  "By your leave, detective?"

"Fine, go.  Leave a phone number so we can contact you directly."

"The one Harold called is good enough.  It's a tossaway cellphone."  He nodded politely then left.

Horatio picked up the 'proof' folder and handed it to Don.  "Please fetch them for me."

"Sure.  Do I have ta call IAD in?"

"They'll hear on their own."  Don smiled, happier with that, as he walked out to get their guy.

Horatio compiled the list of clues and started an internet search through the program Willow had written for him.  She hated this person just as much as he did and worried just as much as he did about the man's intentions.  The son's murder came up and he looked at it, seeing the resemblance.  It wasn't exact but it was close.  He printed that off and got up to join Don since he heard someone complaining as they were drug up the halls.  They switched folders and he went in there, looking at the rookie detective.  "You were at the college earlier," he noted calmly, putting down that photo.  "You sent me a head in a box."  He put down that photo.  "Where's the rest of the body, Philip?"

"He's distorting the act of love!"  He stood up.  "You're letting him!  It's like you're pimping him for the presents!"

"He's sent back every single thing he could," Horatio said coldly.  "Where is the rest of the body, Philip?"  The man backed off, shaking his head. "You will tell us.  That man was a former officer in New York.  All he did was deliver information to Xander.  Information on people like the Mala Noches."

"He sent him money like he was a whore!"

"He was in the employ of someone who sent Xander gifts," he overrode.  The man looked scared at that.  "Yes, we talked to someone higher in the chain."  He moved closer, looking calm and collected, inside he was going to explode soon.  "Now, where is the rest of the body?" he asked quietly, staring into his eyes.  "Before I bring IAD in here."  The man started to stutter.  "Now, Philip," he ordered.

"His cabin," he sighed, sitting down.  "It's not right!  Love isn't about presents!  He was tainting you by tainting Xander and Xander was teaching Yelina's son bad habits too!"  He looked at Horatio.  "Why don't you understand!"

"I do understand.  I also understand that Xander sent back everything he could every time he got anything.  I also understand that Xander has been very diligent about doing so and telling me.  The same as I know exactly why that killer was going after Ray, his girlfriend. She's the one who got him onto the stage the first time."

"That show...."

"Was to draw the killer out.  The other two were officers in case you hadn't noticed."  Don came in and handed back the folder with more information.  "Thank you, Don."

"Welcome.  IAD is standing out there holding Xander back.   Xander's about three minutes away from going back to profiling so the department doesn't get more of these."  He stared the guy down.  "Do you really think Xander wanted this shit?  I've seen him in tears over it."  The man slumped, just looking at him. "I've talked Xander out of leaving Horatio so he wouldn't have to deal with the presents and the impact on his job and this department.  The kid hates these things."

"He still accepts...."

Horatio put down the picture of the murdered son.  "The man who's still sending him things is the father of this young man.  He said Xander reminds him of his son."  Philip burst out crying.  "Do you know more about him?"

"No, Horatio, I swear.  I was just trying to remove the taint.  The department can't afford to lose you if they decide you're dirty over this."

Xander walked in and made the guy look at him.  "Every single time something like this happens, I've went and handed over all the information I had to the Internal Affair's guy.  That way they can't blame Horatio.  Otherwise I would've left a long time ago.  That was Don's suggestion to keep him out of trouble.   Do you honestly think that they're still looking at him oddly for me?"  The man sniffled and nodded.  "Then you'd be really surprised.  Half of them down there knew who I was before.  The same as some of the higher ups in the mayor's office and other places do.  I sent a present back to the deputy mayor last month," he said quietly.  "Don and Internal Affairs both assured me that this was not going to impact Horatio any."  He let him go and stood up.  "Maybe I should go back into profiling," he complained, turning and walking out.

"Go," Horatio ordered to Don, who nodded and followed the kid.  The Internal Affairs agent Xander worked with walked in and shut the door.  Horatio picked up that boy's picture, but left the rest there.  "There's also proof that someone's taken Xander's license. I'm sure you saw Gordon Prescott in earlier.  He's working with this one."

"I heard.  By the way, can you move that statue Stetler bugged away from the air conditioner?  The noise is really annoying."

Horatio looked at him.  "I'll make sure it's gone later."

"We know it's not you.  Prescott was right though.  The next in line wants you gone.  So I wouldn't have sex in your office."

"I haven't yet."

"Good point."  He smirked. "Your conduct has been very good, Caine.  We appreciate that you mostly keep it out of the office.  Do encourage your boy to go back to profiling.  Even if it is harder, it'll soothe his nerves more.  Oh, second child?"

"Not on the planning table," he noted dryly.

"Sure.  But we think it'd be cute.  Xander makes an adorable father."  He grinned at him.  "Now go chase your boy and calm him down as only a husband can.  By the way, big wedding?  Might not be such a good idea.  Two other officers are suing the city over being fired for it."  Horatio nodded, leaving them alone, but still listening.  Just in case more was said.   Don handed him the earpiece when he found him and Xander outside.

"He's fine, just creeped out," Don assured him.  "Oh, I found out from the file.  The father had a paternity test done post-death, it's not his son."

"So we're dealing with the actual father?"

"Who probably knew," Don agreed.  "Possibly was the cause as well."

Xander looked up from looking over the information.  "Tell Willow to drop it.  This isn't my usual psycho posse."  He went back to looking, frowning at a news article that printed.  "Why was this in the file?"  He handed it back and got back to reading.  The son had been a musician.  A drummer.  He had been killed with another man in a hotel room.  It had been a huge scandal and it was proclaimed the first killing due to 'perverted' tendencies in the city of Miami.

"Somehow I doubt it was the first," Don said from over his shoulder.  He took that page to reread.

Xander's eye caught on something and he read it over more slowly, clearing his throat.  "Here."  He handed it to Horatio.  "His father."

"Did he kill 'im?" Don asked, looking over Horatio's arm to read.

"Nope.  He protected his remains and that of his lover."  He turned to face his husband.  "Which means he's either the spouse of my present giver or my present giver.  The only one who protected him had to be family.  Only family protects you like that."

"That is true," Horatio agreed, memorizing that name.  He could search on it later. He listened as Philip confessed to everything and told the agent where the bodies were, and then him ordering him to come along with the night shift crew.  He looked at Don.  "They're going for the other bodies.  They're taking night shift."

"Good.  Does that mean we can go mope on your couch?"

"Sure," Xander agreed, standing up, gathering everything together.  He noticed something fell and picked it up, holding the small charm bracelet up to look at.  "That's adorable, but it's a girly thing."

Don took it and then blinked.  "Oh my god," he breathed.  "My former science teacher had one'a these.  He wore it on his necklace.  When one of the girls asked if it was from his daughter he said no, his son had given it to him but he was dead!"  He looked at Horatio.  "I was really young, that was Junior High.  He was an old guy then!"

"He's probably ancient now," Horatio agreed.

"Or a vamp," Xander sighed, shrugging a bit. "Had to be said.  Sorry.  Past history and all," he noted at the funny looks he got.

"That is a possibility," Don admitted, handing it back so it could be included in the file.

"It's odd how lives sometimes tie together," Horatio said quietly, leading them back inside so they could solve this riddle.  He wanted to talk to the man face-to-face about this.  Horatio didn't like dealing with minions, it irked him.

***

Xander looked up as someone came into the drawing room he was sitting in, standing up.  "Father Benis," he said, smiling a bit, shaking his hand.  "Nice of you to see me."

"I knew Prescott had a big mouth," he admitted, sitting down and looking at the three men.  "A trio suddenly, Mr. Caine?" he asked dryly.

"Don's here to protect Xander in case I can't.  As Xander very well knows."

Xander looked at him, then at Don.  "I'm not sleeping with you."

"Good.  You're not my type.  Behave."

Father Benis laughed and shook his head.  "I doubt he ever could, Donald.   I see you did fulfill my expectations.  You've surpassed your father."   He smiled gently at him, then at Horatio, then back at Xander.  "You do strongly remind me of my son, Alexander."  That got a nod.  "I meant you no harm."

"Which was why I didn't throw a fit about yours," he offered.  "Are you really a priest?"

"I was in my youth.  Then the teachings of the Church started to counter what I saw in life.  My doubts and weaknesses came back to shine a spotlight on me.  So I left."  He smiled at Don.  "His was the last class I taught."  He looked at Xander again.  "Yes, that boy was my son.  You will make a very good profiler some day, young man."

"It's...."

"I know," he offered gently.  "The main problem is the quality and style of teaching."  He snapped his fingers and a butler came over with a silver tray.  "You shall go here.  They can teach you better."  He handed it to Xander.  "Still within the college but under a different track.  Understood?"  Xander nodded, glancing at it then putting it in his pocket.  "Thank you."  He gave him a gentle smile again.  "You will do many great things, Alexander.  I have mentored others who have.  Donald was the last one before I had to leave the city of my birth over my fights with the Church. I mentored a few others over the years as well.  You are my last mentoree.  You'll be my finest yet.  And possibly my happiest.  Horatio does soothe you like no other."  He gave Horatio that same gentle smile. "Please let me indulge my fantasies," he ordered quietly.  "I only have months left, Horatio.  And you'll need the support later in life.  After all, only one of my students remains alive," he said, pointing at Don.  "The others have all died due to their choices and the horrible choices of others."

"I've never found a thing wrong with someone mentoring or looking out for my husband, but I do think you've been overly generous."

The old man snorted.  "What do I need with the money?  I'm soon to die and there's no one to leave it to other than my employees.  By the way, Prescott changed my will."  He handed over the original copy off the tray to him.  "It's your choice which gets put into the official records."

"Which is your choice?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted, smiling a bit more happily.  "His idea was more generous and would protect Xander more.  But it would rob others of things that they probably don't want anyway. This one is less generous to your husband and more to them, but again, they probably don't want it anyway."

"We'd rather keep you," his butler said quietly.

He smiled up at him.  "As I would rather stay, Paul."  He stroked his hand.  "I would rather stay and be young like you, but I cannot.  That is not how human lives are supposed to go.  Not even Ethan can prolong me much longer."  That got a nod and a dripping tear.  "Shh, calm yourself."  He pulled him down to hold.  "You will move on and find many wonderful adventures," he whispered.  Then he said something more quietly and Paul nodded, leaving them.  "He's been here since I saved him at fifteen."

"You always did take in the kids who needed it," Don agreed, looking at him.  "I still don't understand why."

"Because you and Xander both needed the hand to get past your history.  Yes, Timothy could have helped him greatly and has.  But for him to do even bigger things and not have to indebt himself to do so is a greater gift.  The same as I got you thinking about what good you could do and how you could come out of your father's shadow, even in the same field.  I knew then that you'd never be happy doing anything but being an officer.  So I helped you see how you could carve out your own name.  You haven't been Don Flack's boy in years, have you?"  Don shook his head.  "Then I was correct?"

"You were," he admitted.

"Good.  Then when you retire, you'll come down and help Eric."  Don nodded at that.  "Because that poor little boy will need some if he's not going to turn into his mother.  Who I do like," he assured Xander with a smile.  "It's just that the boy could be much more."

Xander nodded. "I'm hoping he's better in school than I am."

"That can be handled easily," he pointed out with a smile.  "You can afford a good education for him and for Ray Jr.  Who you're already mentoring in my esteemed image," he noted dryly.

"I'm his big brother."

"Yes, and that's how I always saw myself as well.  Make sure Ray goes on to do whatever he wants that he's good at.  The same as you will.  The same as your son and the others around you have. Then, some day, you'll be in this chair facing down a nervous young man and his spouse of choice far, far in the future, Xander."  He smiled at him.  "Now.  I've sent something to your house because you and Horatio should celebrate your anniversary.  Wear it in health and love, and don't rip it later, young man.  Donald, you are their friend and guardian.  Even Timothy has not the ties you do," he said quietly, staring him down.  "They may have been joking when they ordered you to protect Xander.  I am not.  There are still those who want him very badly.  In the future, should he go into profiling, there will be those who want to stop him.  Eventually you'll be the glue holding him together when he loses Horatio.  I expect great things of you and I knew you'd be here today long before you met Xander."  He stood up.  "With that said, I have another episode of draining to go through.  Be well and be happy, Xander.  You are like my own son.  Horatio expects you to be happy and good, I expect great things."  He walked out, leaving them alone.

Xander looked at his mate.  "He's a seer."

"He always was," Don agreed bitterly.  He looked at the couple. "Let's go?"  They nodded and followed him out to the hummer, him getting into the back.  He leaned forward once they were heading out.  "Xander, you okay?"

"Yeah, it's things I don't want to think about," he admitted.  He looked at Horatio.  "Did she ever figure out I paid for his tuition?"

"Yes, and she thought it was sweet."  He glanced at him, then pulled over to park at a beach, turning off the engine and unbuckling to look at them.  "It changes nothing, Xander.  It's who you are naturally."

"Yeah, but he was saying it like I was going to be sitting *right there* in a few decades."

"You could be," Don admitted.  "Can I see the will?" Horatio shook his head.  "I just wanna scan for my name."

"It's mostly blank," he said.  "It'll have to be exposed under UV lights."  He looked at Xander again.  "Nothing and no one says you have to take it, or go to profiling school, or any of it, Xander.  This is still your decision."

"What do you...."

"No, it is your decision.  I can only advise," he said firmly, staring his mate down.  Xander nodded and looked at the papers he had been given.  "Would that help?"  Xander nodded and handed it over so he could see it.  "That's a different.... ah.  He works with another school as well and they have a better program," he noted dryly.  Xander nodded. "You talked to him?"

"Tim showed me to him.  He said he helped the department in the past."  He curled up on his side in the seat, looking at his mate, then back at Don.  "I don't care if he does die, I'm still not sleeping with you as more than nightmare deterrence."  Don grinned at that.  "Horatio?" he asked quietly.

His mate stroked his cheek.  "Whatever you decide is right for you, I will be behind you, Xander.  I can't make the decision but unless it's to jump off a very high building, I'll stand behind you."  Xander nodded, pressing back against his hand. "They already know about this so it won't impact my job.  If it does, then I'm going to sue the city."  That got a weak smile.  "It's not right that they hate me because I'm with you.  I work harder now that I'm with you."

"I noticed the long nights recently."  He leaned over and took a kiss, ignoring the moan from Don.  "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure.  He wasn't doing it to steal you, just to give you options and to guide you.  Later on I'm going to call Prescott and tell him I've got this will and tell him what the old man said."

"I...I'd rather he used this one, Horatio. I don't need anything else."

"I'll tell him you said that," he promised, stroking his cheek.  "That's not our decision to make either."  Xander nodded, giving him the same adoring look.  "Now, you should eat since you have dive practice later."

"The coach said I can't come back until I have another CT and an MRI since I got dizzy again last time."

Horatio sighed and nodded. "I can agree with that. When's your appointment?"

"Tonight.  I already told him that.  He gave me permission to skip. I didn't wanna go alone this time."

"Good.  Going alone is not to be done," he reminded him, getting a small grin.  "Good boy, Xander.  Now.  Lunch?  Or are you forbidden?"

"No, I'm good on lunch, I'm hungry," Xander admitted.  "Don, got a choice of places for food?"

"Somewhere not Mexican?  Or Cuban?  Nothing with fish?" he offered dryly. "A deli maybe?"

"Homesick?" Horatio teased as he turned back around to start the engine.

"Yeah, a bit.  Mostly for the variety of food we had."  He looked at Xander. "I'm nothing more than your big brother."

"Good, since Danny still pants after you."

"He does not!"

"He does, even Delko noticed," Horatio said dryly, backing out and heading for the deli he went to when he was homesick.  He parked and they got out, letting Don walk in first.

"Oh, hell yeah, this is perfect," he said happily.  The guy behind the counter smiled at him.  "I'm in on the transferring program."

"Eric says he can't get good Cuban food up there," Xander noted as he came in.  "Oh he said to tell you that your parents came looking for you and he reminded them that you were down here for six months, so they've adopted him to feed for a bit since your sister likes him."  He grinned at the deli guy.  "A real pastrami sandwich, no mustard?" he asked, grinning brighter.

"Sure, kid."  He looked at Horatio.  "Homesick too?"

"Bringing Don," he admitted with a smirk.  "Xander, this is Roy.  Roy, this is Xander."

"Your Xander?  Like the one that's up there with your hummer?" he teased as he made Xander's sandwich.  Xander handed him a fifty with a grin and a wink, heading over to a table.  "He's cute.  Young, but cute."

"Yeah, and gonna kill him in bed some day," Flack said dryly, smirking at him.  "Trust me."  That got a laugh.  "You know the Game Day Special?"   That got a smirk and a nod. "I thought so from the accent.  Give me one and a half?  The other half ta go."

"I called Danny, he's coming," Xander called over.

"He can eat it out of the bag," Don assured him, then grinned at the old guy.  "I'm guessing Xander's buying lunch."

"He's in a spoiling mood," Horatio agreed dryly.  "The usual."

"Of course."  He handed it over as well, then gave him the change.  "Your boy's cute, Horatio.  You surviving?"

"Most nights," he agreed, going over to sit down.  Danny strolled in a few minutes later and beamed.  "Don got you food."

"I love you guys!" he said, hugging Roy.  "You're gonna see me a lot.  Mexican and Cuban food gives me gas."  He went to sit down and eat with his buddies, stealing the other half of Don's sandwich as well.  "Thank you.  Stella found this diner like at home that she's at right now with Lindsay."

"Girl needs help anyway," Don agreed.  "She's still too quiet."

"So's Willow and look what she got," Xander said dryly.

"Nah, she's not that sorta quiet.  She doesn't babble."  Danny nodded at that.  "Horatio, we gotta fix Lindsay up with someone decent."

"Mac was checking her out," Danny offered.

"Eww, trying ta eat," Don complained, taking another bite.  He chewed and swallowed. "I can't imagine my mother taking Delko home and nagging him ta eat."

"I can.  Eric thinks with his stomach sometimes," Xander countered.  "I wonder how Calleigh and Speed are getting along."

"I checked last night, they're fine," Horatio assured him.  "She's still getting lost but they're fine. How is Sheldon doing?  I haven't seen him in a few hours."

"He's just finished up that case and headed back to the lab," Danny admitted, grinning at him.  "Alexx is treating him like a long-lost and slightly odd son. She's trying to talk him back into the morgue."  He ate another bite and moaned.  "Ooh, this is so right."

Don nodded.  "It is.  It's real food."

Xander grinned.  "Don't look at me.  We had Thai, West Coast Mexican, TexMex, and Japanese food in Sunnydale.  Sandwiches were something little kids ate at home."  He ate another bite.  Roy laughed and he shrugged.  "I'm from near LA.  Deli out there would be a bad word.  It's got *fat* in the meat."  That got a louder laugh so he grinned.  "Really."

"Yeah, I can't see most stars going to a deli either," he assured him.  "You been down to West Ridge St?"

"Yup, lots and lots.  It's like home down there," Xander agreed happily.

That got a smile from Roy.  "I thought you might've, Mr. Harris."  They shared a look and he smirked.  "Buffy is where?"

"Far, far, far away from my husband or else I'm going to kick her ass," he assured him. "But tell Travers that Willow's pregnant."  Roy grinned and nodded.  So Xander looked at his mate.  "Former Watcher, he used to be New York's.  We've talked a few times but I didn't know he ran a deli or else I'd have brought you home food."  He ate another bite.

Don and Danny both laughed at the look on Horatio's face.  It wasn't often his boy flustered him but when he did it was cute!

"You'll be making up for that later," Horatio assured him finally.  "For quite a while."

"Hey call in sick tomorrow," Xander quipped back with a grin.  "See if I complain when I can't sit."  He finished his sandwich and sipped the water he had gotten.  Horatio gave him a long stare, making him know he wasn't going to be sitting for a very long time, and it made him happy.

Taking Control.

Xander looked out as someone knocked on the condo's door, opening it to find his 'nephew' Ray Jr. standing there.  "It's hot, get in here before all the air conditioning escapes."  The kid walked in and he glanced behind them shut it again. "What's up?  Horatio's still working today."

"I'm having issues."

"We've all got issues, Ray, it depends on what yours are if I can help."  He led him back into the kitchen, taking out his slightly burnt popcorn from the microwave.  "Gotta remember the popcorn button is half a minute too much," he complained, opening it and pouring it into a bowl.  "What's wrong?"

"Well....."  He looked around then looked at him.  "You know how mom and I had all those talks, right?"  Xander nodded, he had helped with some of them while trying to figure out if he wanted to go after Horatio.  "Well..."  He shifted some.

"Spit it out.  We didn't cover something, we didn't cover enough of something?  You had further questions and she's freaking out about the subject?"

"I've got other questions, she's freaking out and doesn't understand why I want to know, she's refusing to talk to me at the moment."

"Ah.  Okay.  Well, if I can help, I will."

"I think maybe I might have to go to Uncle Horatio for this.  It's, um, about the odd stuff.  Not stuff like you and he do."

Xander grinned at the younger kid.  "You'd be surprised at what I know and have seen, Ray.  Come on, let's go onto the back porch to talk.  Maybe I can help."  Ray nodded and got them something to drink, following his uncle's mate out there.  They settled in at the table and got comfortable, feet up on the spare seats.  "Okay, what strange and unusual sex practice did you want to know about?"

"Um, well....  Someone, we're doing sex ed in school and the teacher's so conservative she's telling the kids that having sex before marriage is evil.  Big surprise, I'm in a catholic run school, but still.  One kid brought up the fact that some priests flagellate themselves for sins, like lust.  She got a shocked look and stomped out, then the kid got up and gave the *real* sex talk, like I know I would."  Xander grinned at that.  "Well, he's got detention for it, but his mother congratulated him and offered to talk to any of the kids who were still confused and who had parents who couldn't.  Anyway, one of the kids asked about...other stuff."

"Other stuff like liking dead people other stuff or other stuff like liking whips other stuff or like water play or what?  There's tons of stuff that fits under 'other stuff', Ray.  Some of it harder and more obscure than others."

"Well, I was wondering. I don't understand why someone would let someone else have control over them that way."

Xander considered it.  "Okay, most of the people I know who do this, and I know a very few, are people like your uncle. They've got a life that gives them stress.  Now this is only one sort of person that goes for this stuff, there's others who've wanted it from day one when they figured out which sex they liked.  There're ones who go to it for healing after bad things happened because that's all they can relate to.  All I personally know is the guys who go for stress relief.  Basically, they go so they don't have to be the one making a decision, making a single thing happen, they're not in command or in control, all they are is experiencing and floating.  They don't have the power to do anything but sit or lay there and take it."  Ray nodded quickly at that, blushing a bit.  "Now, again, that's not all there is to it but that's the only sort I know."  He sipped his milk and ate a piece of popcorn.  "Eat some of this for me."  He pushed the bowl closer.

"As far as anyone can figure out, according to my textbooks and Tim, attraction and what you find sexy is part biological and part psychological.  Some people into some of the worst things are pushed that way, but a few have been tested and found that nothing else cranks their engine.  There's a huge debate about whether or not you can do anything with them but lock them up if it's partially biological.  Then again you've got people reliving their abuse by hurting others and they can't refute that but you can't really stop it once it starts from what I've been able to see.  Which may be a narrow viewpoint.  Right now, I'm refining your questions for your uncle."  That got a nod and a giggle. "Let's face it, I don't know it all.  I never claimed to know it all.  Hell, I hadn't even thought about guys until I moved to Miami.  Then your uncle kinda took over my brain and my possessed sides and made it whimper in lust."

"Good to know," Eric said as he joined them.  "Horatio said to come check on you since the phone's off?"

"No, the phone is broken.  Little Eric used it as a drum earlier and ripped it apart.  I haven't had the opportunity to get a new one yet since, well, car's in the shop at the moment."

"Ah."  He nodded and looked at Ray.  "It's one of those complicated subjects, kid.  I'm headed back if you want to talk to him now.  He's being bored doing paperwork for annual reviews."

"I don't want to take him away from work."

"Please, take him away from work," Xander said dryly.  "He'll thank you for it."  Ray grinned at that.  "This is one of those cases where the whole is so vast and complex no one knows everything.  All you can do is gauge your own responses and see if it suits you.  If so, you and I and your uncle will find a way around your mother for you to try stuff out *safely*.  Because if you got hurt doing stupid shit like that, I'll be right behind your uncle to kick your ass and hide it from your mom.  Got me here, Ray?"

"Yes, Xander.  Thank you."  He gave him a hug and looked at Eric.  "Are you sure I can get a ride?"

"I'm sure.  Xander, want one to the station to take the hummer?"

"Horatio would paddle my ass until I couldn't sit down if I drove the hummer," he teased.  "You know that."

"Point.  What happened to your car?"

"The flat that I got the last time I popped in to bring him something was also sugar in the gas tank."  Eric hissed at that.  "So it's in the shop again."  He shrugged. "I could go buy a new car but Horatio would get mad at me for that."

"Then what's the sports car in the driveway?" Eric asked him, looking a bit confused.

"Sports car?" Xander asked, looking at Ray, who shrugged.  "Nothing there when you came in?"

"No, not that I saw."  He followed Eric outside, letting Xander grab his wallet and keys, plus pants and shoes, looking at the sports car sitting there.  "Man!" he said, whistling.  "Is that yours, Xander?  If so, can I borrow it before you send it back?"

"If you do he probably can't send it back," Eric said, smirking at the shocked look on Xander's face.  Xander walked over and found the letter under the windshield wiper blade.  "Again?"

"Yup, same guy."  He shook his head.  "And I can't take it back."  He handed it to Eric.  "Please give that to my spouse?"  He opened the door and got in, noticing the keys were in the ignition.  "Ray, want me or him?"

"Him, you might speed and get me in trouble."

"Maybe," Xander agreed.  "Later, Eric."  He backed out carefully, heading to the bank first, then to tap into an account he had hidden since that one was still locked thanks to Internal Affairs.  A new guy had been put in charge of the station and he hated Horatio for being married to him, so they were under investigation.  Fortunately he had planned for emergencies and had the lawyer dealing with the tax issues and the auction stuff make two separate, hidden accounts.  He withdrew it from there and headed back to the mall they liked to shop at, going to find a new phone at Radio Shack.  Horatio had specific needs and would fuss if it wasn't good enough.   He had the last time they had broken the phone during sex and he had replaced it.  Then he would calmly sit down and write a letter to his benefactor bitching him out for sending him a porsche.  That was WAY too much.

***

Eric walked Ray into the station and toward Horatio's office, smiling at Ray's mother when they passed her.  "He was hanging out with Xander but Xander had to do some shopping."

"Again?"

"The little rugrat broke the phone using it as a drumstick."  She grinned at that.  "So I'm taking him to Horatio to let him tell him about the new sports car that showed up while they were inside."  She whimpered.  "It's pretty.  Silvery blue.  Boxter.  Last year's model."  He shrugged and handed Ray the letter.  "I'm sure he's in his office."  Ray smiled at his mother and headed that way.  "So, what's going on?"

"I just finished booking the suspect on your last case."

"Good!  I like that!"  He beamed.  "More time for me to go out tonight."  She giggled and swatted him but went back to her desk.  He went to the labs to make sure everything was tied up on his end.

Ray Jr. knocked on his uncle's door, interrupting his father complaining about something. "Uncle Horatio, it's a very pretty car."  Horatio moaned, shaking his head.  "Here, the letter.  He said to give it to you."  He looked at his father, then back at his uncle.  "Can I have some of your time tonight?  When you're done or needing a break, whenever?"

"What's up?" Ray Sr. asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about.  Just some stuff I wanted to ask my uncle about."

"I can answer questions."

"Fine, then why is one of my classmates into seriously hardcore power transfer and why is it confusing me?"  Ray Sr. blushed and stomped out.  "Thank you.  I didn't figured you'd know about that anyway," he called after him.  "Manwhore."

"Ray," Horatio warned.

"He is."  He looked at his uncle. "Xander tried."

"We'll talk when I've got some time tonight."  He read over the letter, shaking his head.  "Get the receptionist to make a copy of that for me please?"  Ray nodded and went to do that, letting Horatio type in an email to someone about that.  He had the old man's email address and that was definitely too much.  He looked over as Ray Sr. came back.  "He wanted to ask about other stuff that wasn't covered by his and Yelina's talks."

"That's fine.  I'm sure you can answer those questions.  Yelina's pretty vanilla about that stuff.  I'm surprised she told him about gay guys."

"She had to, father.  Otherwise I would've asked Uncle Horatio some very awkward stuff."  He pushed his father out of the way and handed over the copy.  "There you, and she said she knew what was going on after a glance so she forwarded an extra copy to the maggot- sucking bastard down the hall."

"Ray," Horatio warned again. "Language."

"Truth, uncle, sorry, but it's the truth.  I'm not so sure he's not one of those who like dead people for some reason.  Not that I understand that either.  Who'd want a cold, clammy, decomposing body?"  His father clamped a hand over his mouth and ran off again, as was his intention.  Horatio gave him a look.  "I have yours and Mom's stomach, not his."  He sat down again.  "It's a very pretty Boxter.  Eric said it was last year's model."  The email beeped and he craned his neck to look.  "The old guy?"

"Yes."  He opened it, looking at it.  "Interesting.  It wasn't him."  He looked at the note.  "Which dealership?"

"Quinn's.  The license plate holder had it on it."

"Thank you."  He looked that number up to call them, writing it down for when he was on break or later that evening.  He got up and closed the door, looking at him.  "What did you want to ask about?"

"Well, the spanking and chains and stuff was part of it, but I don't understand why anyone would be attracted to something like a dead body or kids or anything like that."

"Are you feeling urgings in one of those directions?"

"No," he offered weakly.  "Though my current girlfriend scared me by wanting me to blindfold and handcuff her."

"For most, they don't want to be the one in control, Ray.  They don't have to make decisions, they don't have to do the thinking and planning, they want to be the passive one and let it happen.  That's why they're called submissives."  Someone pounded on the door.  "What?"  Yelina walked in.  "His current girlfriend went sub on him."

She looked at her son, then nodded.  "Dump her, son."  She looked at Horatio.  "He's coming this way."

"The manwhore or the maggot sucking, dead guy fucker?" Ray asked.

"Raymond!" his mother said sharply.

"Sorry, it's been a long, bad day."

"Why?" she asked patiently.

"Let's see.  Started out second period with the sex ed teacher trying to single me out and persecute me for liking girls.  He claimed there were only three non-virgins in the class, looked right at me, then at the girl who was raped and had a child, then at the girl who had a fiance.  One of the other kids in class ran him off asking about power transfer stuff.  He's got detention and his mother's offered to talk to any of us who need it.  Then came gym and two of the bullies tried me since my mother's a cop, so therefore must be a lesbian because you're so tough and your husband left you.  Plus, hey, I was a baby since Uncle Horatio protects me.  Then one started on how I knew male strippers so therefore *I* must be gay.  My girlfriend assured him, in front of everyone and the teacher, and the principal who had been called about the earlier taunting, that I was not only not gay but I was also fantastic in bed and every woman should be jealous of what she got.  We've slept together twice now, so I'm not sure how fantastic I was but it must be genetic since I thought I was fumbling around both times.  Oh, by the way, I'm now suspended for five days for having a girlfriend who claims we've had sex.  It violates some school rule or another for me to be sexually active with a girl my own age.  So I spent all the rest of the day in the office, where they refused to call you or anyone, and refused to let me eat lunch.  Then I went to ask Uncle Xander some sex questions I still had and he gave me what he could, but referred me back to Uncle Horatio."

"About gay sex?" someone asked from the doorway.

"No," Ray said impatiently, glaring at the IA officer.  "About other sorts of sex that he's probably run into on the job.  I don't understand what would make a person go for a dead guy.  Like you do."

The agent glared at him.  "I happen to be straight."

"That's your problem," Ray assured him. His mother clamped a hand over his mouth before he could ask if dead nipples tasted different.  She gave him a long stare.  "Sorry, low blood sugar is making me cranky."

"We'll go eat, son."  She hauled him up.  "For the record, I'd rather you asked your uncle about those sort of things.  I'm not comfortable with them and I'll be damned if I want to think about them."  She led him off, taking him down to the break room to get him something to eat.  "I'll also be calling the school."

"I've already called the school board," Ray sighed.  "They said it's a rule that they passed three years ago that any student being found to be sexually active was to be suspended, pending removal, because we set a bad example for the other students.  Apparently the one with the fiance, who also got called in after me, ended up getting an exam to prove she wasn't."

"I'll be talking to them in a few moments," she assured him, giving him a five.  "Eat something.  Drink a soda.  Don't irritate him, he'll cause Horatio more problems."

"I'm sure Uncle Horatio could find crap on him pretty easily, mom.  After all, he hangs out by the morgue and I doubt he suspects Alexx of anything."

"I thought he had a crush on her."

"I think he's going to play with the bodies."  He pushed a few buttons, getting a snack.  "What's for dinner?"

"Food.  We'll figure that out after I go shopping."  He nodded, taking the change to get a soda, then microwaved the sandwich and sat down to eat. "Sit in here until your uncle comes to get you.  I'm going to threaten the school."  She walked off, going to grab her car keys and jacket.  This was the sort of talk you had in person, where you could see who you were swearing at. She paused in Horatio's doorway.  "If I'm not back from threatening his principal, please make sure he gets home?"

"Of course," he agreed calmly.  "Watch out for Xander, Yelina.  Someone different sent him the car."

"Wonderful.  A new admirer?"

"I'm not sure yet.  I will be stopping this one sooner however.  He's eating?"  She nodded.  "Thank you."  She walked off.  He looked at the officer.  "You've went over everything he's ever given to Internal Affairs.  He's been very up-front about all of this," he said calmly.  "I do not like you persecuting my husband for being alive.  We are going to take legal action should it not quit within the next few days.  That should give you more than enough time to file the paperwork and have his accounts unfrozen."

"I don't think so. I think your spouse did something to get that money, Caine."

Speed popped in and grabbed him by the arm.  "Excuse me.  He's got a visitor."  He walked him off, shoving him at the former Prosecuting Attorney, who had come to see him.  "He thinks Xander did something to earn the presents.  By the way, Boxter came from....?"

"We're still trying to figure that out."  He shrugged and took the officer off to have a quiet word with him.  He knew who he had been and what he stood for.  "Thank you, Speedle."

"Welcome.  Watch out for my boy for me."  He walked off again, going to check on Horatio, who was in the breakroom with his nephew.  "He's not sure yet either."

"Wonderful."

"I watched that guy hang out in front of the morgue on at least four occasions," Ray offered.  "Can that help you get him fired?"

"Only if he touched the bodies."  Speed shrugged.  "I'm usually to each their own sort, but I'll let Alexx know you've seen him lurking, just in case she can find out he's been flirting with someone down there."  He grinned at him.  "Was it a nice car?"

"A very nice car.  Who put the sugar in the other car's tank?"

"We're still trying to figure that out," Horatio admitted.  "Who told you about that?"

"Xander, he told Eric, who didn't look very impressed with it."

"I wouldn't be either," Speed admitted.  "I'm off to talk to Alexx to get results."  He walked off, going down to the morgue.  "Alexx."  She smiled at him.  "The creepy IAB guy has been hanging out down here.  Is he dating one of you or one of your patients?"

"He'd better be dating one of the other ME's," she said firmly.  "Or else he's going to have my foot up his hind end."  He grinned at that.  "He still on against Xander?"

"Yup, but Gordon just showed up to talk about the new gift giver they're still trying to find.  He gave Xander a Boxter."  She gave him a look.  "Yeah, totally new guy who he can't find at all.  We're not sure who."

"Damn, baby.  Did he take it back?"

"According to Gordon, it was done in such a way that it couldn't be taken back.  So at least he's got a car until his other one is fixed."

"What happened?"

"We kept it quiet, but the day he had a flat, someone put sugar and nitroglycerin in his gas tank.  Fortunately it was in pill form and hadn't dissolved yet.  But it was in there when it was tested.  I found it later that afternoon after getting a sample."  She hissed.  "So someone's higher on mine and H's shit list at the moment."  He pointed at the body.  "What's she telling us?"

"She is telling us she had a very hard life," she admitted, showing him the calluses on her hands.

***

Horatio walked into the condo later that night, after having a long look at the porsche in his driveway, and found his mate stretching on the floor.  "Going for a run?"

"I was going to go swimming since it's off-season and I'm down to three practices a week," he admitted as he shifted in the other direction.  "I thought maybe you'd come watch me do laps while you did whatever paperwork you brought home then we could get dinner."  He looked at him.  "Why?  What's happened?  Did they suspend you too?"

"They tried.  The Chief disagreed and pointed out what had happened and why.  You have other accounts?"

"I had the lawyer set me up two for emergencies."  He stretched forward.  "They're under the legally gray second identity that I have.  Why?  Did he find them?"

"He had the one you withdrew from monitored."

"He can't do that.  Not without a warrant."

"He claims he has one but he's refusing to present it."  He sat down, making Xander stop and look at him.  "What did you buy?"

"Eric broke the phone. I took out enough to live off of and to get a new one.  I wasn't sure if you wanted a headset or not so I got one with both."  He shrugged.  "Plus we needed some more laundry detergent and some more milk so I got that too."

"Thank you."  He gave him a gentle kiss.  "I've threatened legal action."  Xander handed him a card.  "Who's this?"

"It was on the passenger seat of the car."  He gave him a long stare.  "Do we have any idea who sent this one?"

"No.  Gordon and Father Benis both said so."

"Damn it!  I hate this shit."  He got up to pace.  "I haven't stripped, Horatio, you know that.  How did I get a new one?"

"Maybe it has to do with the show in New York last year," he offered quietly.

"They waited all this time?"

"Perhaps.  They may have thought you wouldn't accept it but Benis's gifts encouraged them.  I'm not sure."  Someone pounded on the door.  He got up to answer it, looking at the officer and the smirking IAB officer on the other side.  "What did you want this time?"

"To arrest your spouse."

"For?"

"Prostitution."

"I doubt it.  It's not like I sleep around, I didn't even when I was stripping," Xander said, glaring at him.  The officer backed off. "I'm not going to hurt you but he's in for a world of hurt if he tries."

"Yes, well, we have a sworn statement that you did, in fact, sell your time at the last club you worked at," he said, waving a piece of paper.  "From a convicted serial killer."

"That was part of the sting to get him," Xander said dryly.  "There were cops standing outside."

"Yes, and it was also a miscommunication," Horatio agreed.  "I thought someone else had given him a codeword and no one had."  He held out a hand.  "I want to see the warrant."

"No."

"You have to present it, that is the law," Xander reminded him firmly.  "You don't marry a cop without learning that."  The IAB agent glared.  "Try it, necrophile."  That got a hotter glare.  "You got a warrant, you present it.  You don't, you go and let the nice officer go home to his family since I know he's a day shift guy."

"I'm doing overtime tonight," the patrol officer admitted quietly.  "But thank you noticing, Xander."  Xander grinned at him.  "What is going on?"

"I have no damn idea," Xander offered, leaning against the arm of the couch.  "In that instance, it was the daddy killer guy.  No one gave me a codeword, he'd been bugging me to spank him, and as part of the sting I did.  There were five or six cops standing outside the room, all of them thought that Horatio had given me a codeword and he thought someone else had."  The patrol guy moaned a bit. "So I paddled his ass good for killing other strippers."  He shrugged. "Not like I made anything off it.  The club's owner gave it all to the PD since it was part of the sting and Speed pointed that out."

The officer glared at him.  "He said he didn't."

"I can show you the report where he did," Horatio countered.  "I also know it's in my file."  The officer backed up and the patrol guy got out of the way.  "As I said earlier, if you have an actual warrant, present it.  Now.  Or get out of our house."

"Before I have to call in some really nasty assholes who're lawyers to help me," Xander agreed.  "I've got a few fans who'd probably do it for free."  The officer backed up and the patrol guy snickered.

"This isn't funny!" he shouted.

"Yes, it is.  By the way, nice car, Xander."

"Yeah, apparently I've got a new donor," Xander said with a shrug. "I can't find out who and I can't return it, and since someone put sugar in my gas tank at the station...."  He shrugged again.  "I gotta be able to drive something."

"Point.  You try it out for speed?"

"Yup, and got my very first speeding ticket ever," he sighed, shaking his head.  "Oh, Horatio, he asked if he should make it out to your pussy.  I told him no, I had an actual name."  He got the ticket and handed it over.  "There ya go, honey."  He looked at the patrol guy, who was now leaning on the wall laughing.  "I'm being good.  I let him do it, I've already paid it.  I wasn't even going that fast."

Horatio looked then looked at him.  "You were edging on reckless driving, Xander."

"It's a porsche, Horatio," he whined back.  "I need to take it out to a track to try it out for real, but I was being as good as I possibly could. It was just me in the car with the phone."

"We'll discuss this later."  He looked at the patrol officer. "You, quit," he ordered, but he was smirking.

"Sir, can I be standing nearby when you yell at him for asking your husband that?"

"They are not married," the internal affair's officer hissed.

"Bet me."  Xander held up his hand.  "Vows said, ring given, honeymoon taken.  I'd call that married. Don't you, dear?"

"I do," he agreed smoothly.  He glared at him.  "Unless you have a warrant, you're fouling my condo's air.  Please leave."  He stomped out.  "Officer Mitchels, I don't blame you.  Do report this however.  All of it."

"Yes, sir.  I don't want him coming after me next because I've watched you be frustrated with the present-sending fanclub he's got."  He walked out, going to drive back to the station.  On the way, he stuck in his cellphone earbud and called his boss.  He wanted his ass fully covered and he knew Caine would, but he still needed his boss to cover him too.  This was going to get messy.  He had seen the name on the card in Caine's hand.  He was known for making things messy and horrifying before they were settled.

***

Horatio walked into the Chief's office the next morning.  "May I have ten minutes?" he requested.  "Anytime today is fine."

"He's in right now, Lieutenant.  Let me see if he can see you."  She buzzed her boss.  "Sir, Lieutenant Caine is here to see you, he needs about ten minutes if you're not busy."  She smiled at him as she hung up.  "Go ahead in. He's in the meeting area and it's about you anyway."

"Thank you."  He walked that way, tapping before opening the door.  "I'm going to kill him," he offered as a greeting.  "He said he had a warrant for Xander's arrest and refused to present it."

"I heard," the Chief agreed, nodding at the mayor.  "Sit, let's see what's going on."

"Lieutenant...."  The mayor looked at him.  "I know this is difficult for you."

"My husband has done nothing wrong," he said firmly.  "Yes, some people gave him presents."

"I'm very aware why, the same as I know he's sent most of them back," the mayor assured him.  "When he could he did.  He couldn't send the car back?"

"We're not sure who gave it to him and the dealership drove it over, therefore making it used so he can't exchange or return it. When I called, they refused to acknowledge it came from them, even though the invoice was sent to me anonymously by fax."  He got comfortable, looking at his bosses.  "This isn't the first time.  Xander had a sudden attack on his old car at the station four days ago. Not only was his tire flattened thanks to a knife, but his gas was tampered with.  When it was tested by Speedle, it showed up as having sugar and stable nitroglycerine tablets slowly dissolving in it. Had he gotten the engine started, it would have blown up with him in it," he said quietly.  "We've kept that part from him since I don't want him to worry.  I did have a long look over this new car last night, just in case.  Also," he said, pulling out the ticket and handing it to his boss.  "The officer kindly asked if he should make it out to my, and I quote, pussy, when he ticketed him.  Xander did not protest the ticket, and assured the officer he had his own name.  He said he's already paid it."

"I don't blame the boy for taking it out to try it," the Chief admitted, making note of the name.  "Who came with the moron last night?"

"Officer Mitchels, who's seen Xander on numerous occasions and helped him a few times.  He was laughing at all that and I did suggest he tell his supervisor.  He had no desire to be there.  He and Xander are on very friendly terms since Xander helped his kid with his English paper last month."

"I see."  The chief looked at the mayor, who shrugged.  "I don't know what to do, Lieutenant."

"Sir, it's gotten to the point where my spouse is mad enough to suggest he use a contact who's a lawyer.  Also, this card was left in the car on the passenger's seat," he offered, sliding it down the table.  "I don't want to have to go there, but I doubt he has a warrant to freeze Xander's bank accounts or spy on the other two."

"He's spying?"

"He was told when Xander made a withdrawal yesterday.  Either he's got an inside source or whatever warrant he's supposedly using has a 'watching' clause.  Since he won't present it when asked, I can't be sure of which."  He forced himself to stay calm.  "He has upset my whole family, especially my husband.  Even my brother's mad about this, sir. Mad enough to suggest Xander probably had contacts downtown who could remove the man from his job.  Though, my nephew did report that he's seen him hanging around the morgue quite often.  I'm still waiting to hear if he's checking over Alexx's shoulder or if he's dating someone down there."

"You think he's touching the bodies or evidence?" the Chief asked.

"I don't know, sir.  I know my nephew was taunting him yesterday about sleeping with them, but he was a bit cranky thanks to an action at his school and them refusing him the luxury of eating lunch."

"Why?" the mayor asked.  "My cousin's child goes there.  I haven't heard there was a severe problem."

"Apparently three years ago they passed a rule stating they would be suspending and then removing any child found to be sexually active.  Ray has admitted that he's had a girlfriend in the past that did sleep with him and his current one got him into trouble with that rule when she refuted the taunt that he was gay as well."  The Mayor moaned.  "He was not the only one.  According to him, a young woman was taken for an examination to prove she wasn't sleeping with her fiance."

"I'll be checking into that.  I had wondered why I got a call from a board member about Detective Salas being a hothead who needed removed."  The mayor pursed his lips.  "Sounds like a reasonable mother going off on the idiots to me."

"I'll let her know you said that, sir."  That got a nod.  "To be perfectly truthful, my husband has a bit of a combat history. The town he grew up in wasn't that safe and he did have to protect himself and others for about four years. He still shows many of the reflexes and Mac Taylor, from New York's labs, who used to be a Marine, said he shows many of the same post-traumatic reflexes he's seen in other veterans.  Right now, my spouse is thinking about assaulting instead of defending.  I'd like to keep him from doing that, but I'm not sure I can."

"Did you order him not to go to the lawyer without you?" the Chief asked. "I've already gotten a call, Horatio.  Whoever sent the car hired him on Xander's behalf."

"Good, then let him deal with the warrant issue and get his bank accounts unfrozen," Horatio agreed.  "I don't want to sue the department, but if it comes down to my safety and his safety, I will.  We've already got proof that someone wants him dead with what they did to his car. I wouldn't be surprised if someone tried it again.  Since the first incident happened at the station I can only assume it was an officer."  That got a shudder and he shrugged a bit.  "I can't make any other assumption given the evidence in front of me.  Unless you have more?"

"No, I don't," the Chief admitted, looking at the mayor.  Then at his officer.  "I'm going to order him to do a case review with me, Horatio.  If he's got a warrant for anything, he'll have to present it to me.  Or else his career is ended."

"Thank you."

"Not so fast.  We need you to keep Xander calm.  I've seen Xander react when one of the guys at the club was threatened one night.  It's a good thing the patron didn't press charges for assault and battery."

"Xander told me about that," he admitted dryly, smirking a bit.  "Xander's very protective of what he considers his."

"Good.  Then you're his and I want you to stay his, Horatio."  His phone buzzed and he answered it, grunting a bit.  "Thank you."  He hung up.  "Where might your spouse be?"

"He was going out to the park to feed the ducks, talk to the college since his funds are presently locked up and he's supposed to be registering for classes this week, and then we were going to lunch."

"Well, he just had to stop the car the old fashioned way since his brakes went out while he was doing a modest sixty-five down Flagler.  He ended up on a beach to stop fully.  He has good instincts.  The officer who spotted him said he did it correctly, shifting down as quickly as he could and then spinning onto the beach to get caught in the sand."

"It was fine when he came home last night," Horatio said calmly.

"It's not now.  That was Delko, he's on that scene.  He said he took Speedle off it since he's more personally involved and your spouse is in your office waiting on you."  Horatio nodded at that.  "If you bring me someone, I will arrest them."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I almost miss Stetler.  At least he did his job, even if he was determined to pin my brother's bad habits on me," Horatio offered, standing up.  "By your leave?"  They nodded. "Thank you. I'll contact the attorney today with Xander to make sure that he knows we're not going after the department at this time."  He left with that minor warning, heading back to his office before he lost his temper.  On the way he called Eric.  "Fingerprints or other evidence?"  He smirked.  "Thank you."  He hung up and sped up a bit, no one would pull his hummer over, not with PD plates and signs on it.  It's not like he was going much over the speed limit anyway.  Only ten miles.

***

Xander looked over as someone opened Horatio's door, looking at the bane of his existence.  "Come to gloat about cutting my brake lines?"

"I did not."

"Just hypothesizing," he said dryly.  "The same as you do about me."

"No, I know you're a bad influence."

"Really?  For what?  Being a good dancer?"

"I'm sure you whored or did something."

"Nope."

"No drinking?"

"One accidental.  New bartender didn't know I didn't drink."  He shrugged.  "I find maple syrup works so much better to put me in that happy, mentally fuzzy place."  The man glared at him so he smirked.  "I'm odd, what do you expect.  Now, why are you bursting into my mate's office?  I was told to wait in here, what's your excuse."

"I'm allowed."

"No, you're not.  Not even if I'm in here.  This is Horatio's office.  I'm allowed because Horatio knows I'm not going to touch anything besides his email to see if we've got an answer on who sent me the porsche."  That got a furious look.  "Of course, if you know, I'd like to know so I can have a good, old fashioned, yelling match with them."

"No, I have no idea," he said coldly.  "Stand up."

"Present a warrant," Xander countered coldly, his voice dripping ice.  "Or else get out.  As I said, not your office and nothing in your job description says you can bust in here without a good reason."

"I have a warrant."

"Then present it."  He crossed his feet, looking calm, all but his eyes.  "If you don't present it, I will have my attorney jump all over your ass until you enjoy the feeling of being fucked up it."  He backed away from him and Xander linked his fingers together on top of his stomach.  "As I said, if you've got a warrant, which means you actually found real proof that I've done something bad, then present it.  If not, get the hell out of Horatio's office."

"Problems?" Ryan asked from the doorway.

"Yeah, he is one," Xander agreed.  "He claims he's got a warrant for my arrest and won't present it."

"Then he can't arrest you.  That's the law," Ryan assured him, looking at the internal affair's guy that had tried to get him to say something bad about Horatio.  He hadn't, and he had walked out after a few questions, saying he had better things to do than listen to him fish.  "You're not supposed to be in here.  That would be considered breaking and entering."

"Who are you to tell me...."

"Me?  I'm the CSI who's going to convict you of it," Ryan assured him.  "Now, get out.  Unless you've got a warrant, you have no probable cause to arrest him.  I've went with Xander when he disclosed some of the stuff that was given to him and by who.  He's always cooperated with your office so no one could say anything to Horatio."

"I know he's doing something wrong!  No one gives a *stripper* money like that without wanting more!"

"Actually, some did want more and I turned them down," Xander assured him.  "Including the serial killers I helped you catch."  He gave him a furious look.  "I didn't whore around.  Hell, I didn't sleep around for fun.  I had two sexual encounters from the time Tim picked me up in Montreal until I got with Horatio.  I'm a tease, I don't give out."  The man's face turned red.  "Also, there's a few different drug tests floating around that showed I never touched the stuff, unless we're talking about the one kidnaping where I was drugged. But I suppose I can be forgiven that one since I was unconscious when it was given to me.  He had only dented my skull."

The man's face turned redder.  "I can also tell you that some of the guys used my act to give the cheap blows in the back room, without my consent, permission to use my act as an aphrodisiac, and without me taking a cut.  The one time I was cut in, against my will, I donated it to a police charity through Horatio.  I found out about it when Timmy cleaned out my locker after I hurt my back with the daddy killer guy.  If you try to get me for the single underaged drink that I got given accidentally you'll have to arrest the bartender.  It's not like I ordered it. It was given to me.  I only got a few sips before I realized it had alcohol in it."

He stood up, pushing forward the hyena. "You want to know why they like me so much?" he asked, stalking closer.  The man swallowed and his face went suddenly pale. "That's right, that's why they like me.  That hint of danger that comes out my pores thanks to my old life," he hissed in his face.  "Anything else you want to know, I've got an attorney and you can go through him.  Now, as I said earlier," he growled.  "Present the warrant or back down, little bitch.  You're not the alpha you think you are and it's embarrassing for myself or Horatio to have to deal with your pitifulness.  If we were out on the streets, I'd have culled you from the herd already."  He moved just that inch closer, clearly in his personal space now.

"Did you think I was dangerous before?" he taunted with an evil smirk.  "Or are you not so brave facing me down without your bullshit warrants and bullshit evidence.  Stuff you're mass producing but can't prove is real?  Yes, I've seen what you've got. Anyone looking can see it's not real evidence, you pussy bitch.  Now, am I going to find your fingerprints on my brake line?"  He stared him down, getting a quick head shake.  "Are you sure?  Because if I do, I'm going to get...angry," he said quietly, nearly hissing it now.  "We don't want that.  Horatio's never seen me this upset before.  I'd hate to scare him off.  Especially over such elephant shit like you're making up."  He poked him on the chest.  "Now, present your warrant and your evidence, or go hide in the bush, little bitch.  Maybe someday you'll find an alpha dog to fuck you and make it all better before you get eaten."

"Xander, you're scaring me," Ryan said quietly, glancing around. "Please back down?"  Xander glared at him.  "Please?  Horatio just pulled in.  Calleigh was watching for him."  Xander strolled casually back to the chair and sat down, getting comfortable again. "Thank you."  He looked at the other guy, who was still pale.  "Um, crap."  He came in, waving a hand in front of his face.  Then he decided to call Alexx from the desk phone. "It's Ryan. I'm in Horatio's office.  That IAB guy is in here and standing, but unresponsive.  Would you come see if we need an ambulance?"  He smiled.  "Thanks."  He hung up and looked at Xander, who gave a one-sided, barely visible shrug.  "You're scary."

"Thank you."  He continued to stare the other guy down, making him stay still until Alexx got there.  "He's been making up evidence and I called him on it, Alexx."

"Sugar, are you all right? Your voice sounds funny," she said, giving him a look.  "Xander.  Please calm down, baby."

"Fuck calm, he's fucking with my pack and my mate.  Until he gets an alpha dog of his own to fuck him and make him part of a pack, he's a lone bitch pup asking for what he gets."  The man let out a small whimper so Xander blinked, releasing him.  He grabbed his chest and sank to the floor.  "Good."  He looked at the glaring Alexx.  "At least you can call someone to take care of him."

"What did you do?" she demanded as she dialed.  "This is Alexx Woods, I need an ambulance for a probable heart attack in Horatio Caine's office.  No, not him.  Thank you."  She hung up.  "Xander?"

"Take care of him, Alexx.  All I did was get into his face over his bullshit tactics."  He looked over as someone came running.  "Not me.  I got into his face about his shit.  He's presently trying to die to escape my wrath."  He looked at him again.  "You don't get to die in my mate's office.  You might haunt him and I'd hate to do something to your soul for it.  So you'll be living."  He gasped and nodded.  "Good."

Ryan walked over and blocked Xander's view, making him look at him. "Quit.  You're scaring me and Alexx."  Xander shrugged again. "Please."

"I'm fine. It's his problem."

"Still."  Speed came in, taking Xander up and out of the room.  "Thank you."  He waved the paramedics in, pointing at him.  "He got faced down over his persecution."

"What happened?"

"Probably pissed himself," Alexx said dryly.  "Xander's been tormented by him recently and Xander faced him down.  Called it bullshit and other things."

"He's claiming he's got a warrant but he won't present it," Ryan said as he helped her up.  "Also, his brake lines were cut this morning."  Alexx glared at him. "Eric's handling it."

"Horatio's coming," Calleigh said from the doorway.  "Who's got Xander?"

"Speed," Ryan said.  He pointed in the direction he had drug the boy.  "Xander went scary."

"Thanks."  She went to tell Horatio, who went to check on his boy first.

Horatio found them in the locker room, Xander resting his head on Speed's shoulder. "Is he all right?"

"He's fine.  Whose fingerprint was on the brake line?  Eric had it run from the back of the hummer."

"I haven't heard that information yet," he admitted, coming over.  Xander shifted over to hug him.  "What happened?"

"He went alpha bitch on him," Speed said quietly, glancing around. "Scared him nearly to death.  When I got there, he told him he couldn't die in your office. The guy nodded to show he agreed."

"Sorry, I lost my temper," Xander said quietly, looking at his mate.  "Ryan said I scared him."

"You may have," he agreed, stroking the back of his fingers over his cheek.  "Are you all right?"  Xander nodded, blinking at him. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah.  I'm still mad, and I'm mad that I let that much anger out, but I'm fine.  I hope he lives."

"I don't."  Speed looked at Horatio, then smirked. "I'm going to find out whose fingerprint it was."

"I checked the lines this morning," Xander offered. "I dropped a book off for Ray Jr. then I headed for the lawyer's to talk to him, see what he was planning to do."  He looked at Horatio.  "I don't think it was cut this morning, I didn't see a cut.  I don't know much about cars, but I didn't see an obvious cut."

"Don't worry about it.  We will find out who did it," Horatio promised, giving him a gentle kiss.  "Are you calm again?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  Then let's debrief Ryan and see whether or not we can find out whose fingerprint that was."  He led Xander out, taking him back to his office.

Speed came in with a report.  "Fingerprints, and it wasn't his, but another officer's," he reported, handing it over.  He looked up as Ryan came in.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine now.  Is that part of the same thing that drew the serial killers?"  Xander nodded, looking a bit bemused.  "Thank you for stopping then."

"You stepped between us," Xander reminded him.

"Yes, but you didn't try it with me."  He looked at Horatio again.  "Eric said it was a slit length-wise, up the side of the tube.  He said it's easily fixed but that someone should look over the car just in case. He wanted to know if it should go to the usual garage?"  Horatio nodded.  "Okay, I'll tell him that.  Also, he said he found some sand around the tires.  It looks like someone squirted some sand in a gel-like substance on the brake pads."

"Someone owes me some new brakes then," Xander assured him.  "Who do I get the pleasure of threatening this time?"

"Xander," Speed warned.  "Let us handle it."

"Dad, whoever gave me the porsche hired me an attorney."

"Yes, and we'll be waiting to sue the department as long as they stop this persecution," Horatio noted calmly.  Xander nodded that he agreed. "Thank you."

"I'm a happy boy," he said dryly.  "I remembered what do when the brakes went and no one was in my way."

"Thank you."  Ryan left, taking Speed with him. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly.

"I was a bit shaken up until he came in."  Someone pounded on the door and he sighed.  "What?"  The door opened and the head of Internal Affairs came in.  "So, does he have an actual warrant to get into my bank accounts or to arrest me for doing nothing?"

"What did you do to him?"

"Answer mine first," Xander ordered, looking and sounding amused.  The man glared at him so he glared back, earning a shiver.  "Well?"

"No.  He didn't.  I've already notified the banks that were listed and the other institutions he contacted."

"Such as?" Horatio asked calmly, seeming to not be pissed as hell.

"The college. He called to threaten the cops in New York."  He looked away from Xander's gaze, catching Horatio's.  Now he could see how well suited they were. "He thought he was saving you, Caine.  That your spouse was going to dirty you and we'd lose you."

"So, in other words he wants Horatio for himself, and he's trying to get me out of the way?" Xander suggested bitterly.  The IA officer nodded.  "Anything else you'd like to share?"

"Please call the lawyer off."

"I'll be speaking with him this afternoon.  I'm sure you can assure him what's being done before then."  He stood up, moving closer.  "I really don't want to hate you guys.  I've always cooperated in the past.  Hell, the former head guy, Phil, helped me find out who sent a few of the those annoying ass presents. He stuck up for me when Stetler threatened to rape me and mutilate me."  The guy shuddered.  "I have nothing against your office unless you guys make me have something against you.  I'm all for cooperating to make sure nothing about this annoying shit touches my husband deeper than his temper.  It's up to you whether or not I continue to have a harmonious relationship with your unit."

"He's asked to come back, I'll make sure of it," he agreed quietly, looking at him again.  "What did you do to him?"

"The same thing I did to you when I stared you down.  Wolfe was there, he made me back down."

"Thank you.   Any idea who gave you the porsche or cut your brake line?"

"Ask him, he's got the report."  He went back to his seat, pulling out his phone to call his friends in New York.  "You didn't tell me you got threatened over knowing me."  He smirked.  "I love you too, Don, but you still didn't tell me that.  If you had, I'd have went off on him sooner and maybe I wouldn't have a new porsche since someone thoughtfully sugared my old gas tank."

"That wasn't all they did," the head of IAB offered.  Horatio glared at him.

"Excuse me, they did what else to my car?" Xander asked.  "Don wants to know as well."

"Speed found traces of nitroglycerin in the tank, it was a dissolving pill, Xander," Horatio offered.

Xander listened to Don.  "Someone put nitro in my tank, Horatio said it was slowly melting.  So apparently someone wanted me to die really spectacularly."  He hung up and glared at his mate.  "You were hiding this?"

"I didn't want you to worry."

"If I knew about such things, I could take better precautions, Horatio.  Not knowing means I'm helpless if something else happens."  He stood up.  "Is there anything else I should know?" he asked coolly, staring his mate down.

"Not yet.  We'll have the current car analyzed."  Xander nodded and stomped out.  He kept in his groan since the other man was still there.  "I have no idea if it was him or not. We're still early in the investigation."

"Flowers, Caine.  Flowers and candy.  You just hurt his feelings."

"He'll see I'm right by later on."

"No he won't."  He looked at him.  "Protecting him that way is pretty dumb.  It'd be like protecting another veteran.  By the way, what sort of service was he in?  I couldn't find the records."

"Survival.  His former town was bad about that."

"Oh.  Okay."  He nodded a bit.  "Gang?"  Horatio shook his head.  "Thank you.  I'm hoping we have it solved later today.  I'll be faxing that whole file to the attorney's office.  Please don't sue us."

"That would only make my life more difficult," he noted quietly.  Then he stood up.  "If we're done?"

"We're done.  Thank you.  Good luck finding the person who sent him this car."  He walked out, going to hide in his office.  Now he knew why they were so well suited.  Harris was the only one who could stand up to Horatio when he was in over-protective and asshole mode.  No one else in the city was that brave.

Horatio answered the ringing phone.  "Caine."  He listened.  "No, Don, he's fine. He stomped off in a snit but he's fine.  No, I didn't tell him.  Looked like someone's heart medication but we can't be sure.  It was too degraded by that point.  Why?  Is he flying up there?"  He smiled.  "I'll find him later, but thank you.  No, he's mad I was trying to protect him."  He nodded at that wise advice. "I had planned on it anyway."  He hung up and called his mate's phone. "Come back," he ordered quietly.  "I'll tell you everything."  He hung up and got back to work.  He still had to do paperwork from last night. Then he got an idea and called Eric.  "He said he didn't see anything wrong when he checked it over this morning," he noted calmly.  "But he stopped at Yelina's to give Ray Jr. a book, then went to the attorney's to set up an appointment. Thank you."  He hung up on the assertion Eric would look in both spots for more evidence of who had done this.

***

Willow walked into the unit, smiling at Calleigh.  "Hi, is moping boy free for lunch?"

"Out on a scene," she admitted, kissing her on the cheek. "How are you?"

"Fat."  Calleigh chuckled.  "I am.  I can't fit into my skirts or pants unless they've got elastic now."  She grimaced.  "The price I paid for screwing up my birth control."  The receptionist hissed.  "Yeah, well."  She shrugged.  "It happens and Ryan's very happy."  She smiled at her, then at Calleigh.  "What happened to Xander this time?"

"Well, someone sent him a new car," she offered, walking her off to the side. "We're not sure who yet but it was someone.  The dealership is denying they sold it at all. Then he found out Horatio was keeping some information from him about his last car's tampering to try to protect him."  Willow snorted. "Xander yelled at him for that so he's been moping all day as well.  A moping Horatio is a pitiful sight, let me tell you."  She smirked at Eric as he came back with a new bag.  "Lunch or did you find something?"

"Oh, I found something and it was at Yelina's house."  He smirked at Willow.  "How're you feeling?"

"Fat."

"My sisters complained about that too.  They reminded each other it came off at the end.  Most of it was the baby and then some stretched skin.  Except for the sister who ate nothing but bonbons."

"I'll remember that.  Thank you.  Where is my Xander buddy?"

"He's not here?" Eric asked.

"No, he found out about his gas tank and stomped off in a snit," Calleigh assured him with a bright grin.  "Something about not needing protected?"

"Everyone, even Horatio, needs protected now and then," he said wisely.  "Even the strongest guys, like Mac, need it now and then.  Not that I think he or Mac would take it, but they do sometimes need it."  She nodded that was true.  "So where is he?"  The women shrugged. "Ah, that state.  Have we checked on the little biter?"

Willow giggled and nodded. "I had him most of the morning so his mom could work.  He might be complaining to Di though."  That got some smiles. "Has he called back yet?"  Calleigh shook her head.  "Then he also might be in New York by now."

"Maybe, but Don or Danny would call us to complain about the sobbing Xander," Eric assured her.  He walked off, going to get Horatio so he could see what he had found.  "H?" he called, making him look back at him from where he was talking to their junior ballistics tech and signing something for him. "It was at Yelina's house.  She found the tube of silica gel they used."  He held up the bag. "We've got to run fingerprints.  Want to help?"

"Please."  He walked that way.  He would be there to see it first this time.  He wanted to know who he got to yell at today.  "Was my husband there?"

"No.  Willow thought he might be with Diana ranting at her.  Or possibly on his way to New York to sob on Don's shoulder.  She wasn't sure."

"She's here?"

"She and Calleigh are talking.  Should I call and warn Ryan?"

"Please."  He did that while Horatio gloved up and found a jacket, then opened the bag.  He frowned at what he saw.  "That was all together, Eric?"

"Yup, which was why I wanted you to see it, H."  He moved closer once he had on his own gloves and jacket.  "I'm not sure who it was."

"I'm not going to jump to conclusions."

"I didn't figure you would, but that's something I'd rather see for myself than hear from me."  They shared a look and got to work finding fingerprints.  They would know why there had been a crackpipe with the materials.

***

Horatio walked toward where his brother was waiting on him, clearing his throat since Ray Jr. and Yelina were with him.  "Have you seen Xander since this morning?"

"He's still ranting at Di, who wanted me to do this year's runway show," Ray offered with a small grin.  "I'm debating it with Mom since my sperm donor is being such an asshole."

"Language," his mother said impatiently.  "I do wish you would quit swearing, son."

"Sorry, mom.  Not exactly in a happy mood today.  I'm getting moody teenager problems later than I did puberty."  They shared a look then he looked at his uncle.  "Did you find out who did it yet?"

"Yes, we did.  There were clear fingerprints, but I believe it may lead back to Ray's old undercover case.  May I borrow him?"  They both nodded.  Ray sighed as he stood up, following him off onto the walking path so they had privacy.  "Ray.  Why was there a pipe among the evidence Eric found?" he asked calmly.

"I don't know."

Horatio looked at him, stopping his brother.  "Raymond."  His brother flinched.  "We can pull DNA off those.  Since we don't have yours on file, they compared it to mine.  So either you or your son is smoking.  Would you like to tell me something about you entering rehab?"

"No."

"Is your son going to need to?" he asked calmly.

"He'd better not!"

"Then you had better, Ray.  Because if you go back to that life, I can guarantee you I will cover up for your son killing you.  No questions asked.  As would Xander."  Ray shivered.  "Now, I know you had nothing personally to do with his brakes being tampered with, but...."

"I didn't...."

Horatio held up a hand to stop him. "I know that.  The fingerprint came back as Melicisia Gork.  Do you remember her?"  Ray nodded, his whole face tightening up.  "Is there something you'd like to tell me about her, Ray?"

"No.  We weren't like that. I stuck with Suzie most of the time," he said quietly, glancing around. "Horatio, you know I didn't...."

"I know, Ray, but I also know it leads back to you and I need to know why and how.  If it's related to the incident at the station or not."

"I told you to quit being so open."

"Ray, I'm going to hit you soon," Horatio warned.  He backed off again.  "Thank you.  You're shaking.  Time for your fix?"

"No!"  He looked at his hands, then put them in his pocket.  He looked at his brother. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"I'm not the only one you need to apologize to, Raymond, nor is that good enough for me or your son.  Now then, how is this related back to the incident at the station?"

"I don't know, Horatio.  I haven't seen her.  I swear.  I'm using someone new and everything."

"Ray, rehab.  Tomorrow," he said quietly.  "Or else I will tell her about the pipe.  Do you understand me?"  Ray nodded quickly.  "Good.  Then go tell them you're having flashbacks and that you think it could help you since you're tempted.  That you're doing it to make sure you're not going to go back.  Then pray like hell he believes you."

"I don't want you telling my son about that stuff, Horatio."

"Raymond, I'm his uncle. It's only right he comes to me for information that his mother can't or won't give him.  That's what family is for.  Now, I believe you need to tell your wife something?"

"Fine."  He walked back that way, going to talk to his family.  "Guys?"

"You're shaking," Ray Jr. noted.  "Not the first time today either.  On it again?"

"No.  It's flashbacks and sometimes the desire creeps up.  Horatio's suggested I hit rehab to work out that need for now."  Yelina smiled at that.  "I'm going to find out where I'm going tonight and check myself in tomorrow.  I don't want to disappoint you guys."

"Then how was Xander's brakes leading back to you, father?" Ray asked shrewdly, staring him down just like his uncle.

"Sometimes I think you should've been a redhead," his mother teased.

He grinned at her.  "Hey, I take after the good genes on both sides."  He looked at his father again.  "Well?"

"We found evidence back to one of the people he was assigned to bust," Horatio said as he rejoined them.  "Someone named Melicisia Gork."

"I remember her.  She was a pretty little brunette," Yelina said, looking at her husband.  "Were you sleeping with her too?  Should I prepare myself for another stepchild?"

"No.  We were never like that," Ray assured her.  "Only Suzie."

"Thank you."  She stood up.  "While you're there, get your head on straight, Ray, or don't come back."

"I plan on it."

"Good."  She looked at her son, then at Horatio.  "Have you tried calling?"

"On my way over, he hasn't answered.  I know he went to the lawyer's because I got an update on the scene I was on.  Nothing further yet however."  He moved closer. "Ray, your father expressed some discomfort with the questions you've been asking me."

"He'd rather I go out to try it?" he countered, looking at his father, who glared at him.  "Your choice.  Trying or asking to see if I want to try.  I figured I'd do it the smart way instead of what you did.  By the way, can you taste the difference between women?"

"Yes.  Haven't you tried?"

"Both my girlfriends so far aren't into the long, slow thing yet.  Closets are more their thing."  He shrugged.  "Not like I remember the night she drugged me and stuck me in the orgy either.  So I can't really compare."

"Yelina, did we arrest this young woman?"

"She's in Kansas at a boarding school. I did threaten her mother with it."

"Oh, that one. You've only had two girlfriends?"

"I got for quality, not quantity, father.  Another area I take after Uncle Horatio in."  He looked at his uncle. "Can I be adopted?"

"If your mother agrees," he said with a small smirk.

"That's one way to pay for his college," Yelina noted dryly.  "If you and Xander did adopt him, he'd have to make sure not to teach my son how to attract the wrong sort."

"Definitely."  He patted Ray on the back.  "We'll figure it out as a family."

"Good.  Can I be mad at Suzie?"

"She was high, son.  She wasn't in control of her life," Ray said quietly.  "Neither was I."

"While that's wonderful and all, I don't begrudge Madison anything.  She's a sweet little princess.  I love my half-sister and I'm going to be the guy standing there to threaten her boyfriends for her.  I'm not sure I like her mother though."

"She's trying very hard to get her life back together," Horatio offered.  "She's doing it for Madison, to be a good mother."  Ray nodded at that.  "I'm not sure if she realized Ray was married when it happened, Ray."  His nephew nodded at that.  "Let the past go on that issue and love Madison because she deserves it."

"Oh, I do.  I love my little sister."  He looked at his mother. "If you marry someone, I want a sibling somehow."  He walked off with his uncle to talk to him about dinner. He was perpetually hungry these days.

"He's thinking far in the future.  I want to make sure I'm clean and staying clean before I go any further than dating."

"I'm not sure he was talking about you and I marrying again," she noted calmly.  "He's signed me up on some stupid dating site recently."  She looked at her husband. "You used?"

He looked at her.  He knew if he lied he lost all hope and chances.  "Once.  The need came back.  I'm sorry, Yelina."

"You will get clean and stay clean before you do more than talk with my son, Raymond.  Or else you will die.  He won't have to cover up our son killing you, he'll have to cover up me killing you."  She walked off, going to talk with her family.  On the way she called Madison to see how she was.  "Madison, it's Yelina. How are you doing, sweetheart?"  She smiled at that.  "Good.  That's very good.  Can you have visitors tonight?  I know Ray wanted to come see you.  Of course, if she's there.  Suzie, Yelina. Ray wanted to see her tonight.  Would it be a good time?"  She smiled.  "That would be fine. He's suspended at the moment.  No, his girlfriend admitted they had sex and the school apparently discriminates against teenagers being teenagers. He's fine.  Thank you, dear.  We'll see you tomorrow.  Yes, I figured you might have.  I'll explain that tomorrow but he won't be with us.  Because the need hit him again and he's making sure he's going to stay clean.  We haven't talked about it but Ray wishes to be her big brother for real.  Mentioned threatening boyfriends in the future for her and the like," she offered as she caught up to them.  Horatio smiled at her.  "Ray, we're going to see Madison tomorrow afternoon."

"Cool with me.  She need more books?"  Yelina listened then nodded.  "Then I'll go book shopping in the morning, mom.  I'll see you then, Maddy."  She smiled at that.  He grinned at his uncle.  "She is so precious and innocent."

"She is.  All children start out that way."

"Then why is Eric so evil?"

Horatio snorted, shaking his head. "He's not, Ray, he's a toddler.  They're like that."

"Can I be like the big Eric some day then?"

"If you date like he does, I will whip you," his mother assured him.

"Yes, mom."

Yelina listened.  "Tomorrow, Suzie.  That's fine.  I have tomorrow off anyway.  I took a few days of vacation leave to spend time with my son.  Of course.  We'll see you then.  Good bye."  She hung up and the phone went back into her pocket.  "Visiting hours start at one."

"Sure.  We can go book shopping then hit lunch, then go."  Ray took her arm, giving her a smile.  "So, is the guy who answered nice?"

"Horatio, he set me up with a personal site," she complained.

"A woman like you shouldn't be cooped up in the house," Horatio agreed. "I'm sure it was tasteful and decorous.  Plus you might meet someone nice."

"So far I've met two lesbians and a very blond German man who likes Brazilian women."  He smiled a bit at that.  "You knew?"  He nodded.  She hit him on the arm.  "You probably paid for it."

"Not like you're dating, mom," Ray complained.  "I mean, you went from Dad to Rick Stetler.  You have better taste than that."  He patted her on the arm.  "You really do.  I get my taste from you so I know you do."

She swatted him too, just because he deserved it.

***

Horatio walked into the house and listened.  No Xander noises.  "Xander?" he called.  He heard a shift in the bedroom and headed that way, putting his gun and badge up.  Xander was in bed, asleep.  He looked at the clock, it was only nine.  He frowned as he got undressed and laid next to him, waking him up.  "I do that because I don't want you to worry," he said quietly.  "Making you paranoid won't solve the problem."  Xander glared at him.  "It won't. All it would do is make you miserable and jumpy, Xander.  A mate protects what's theirs.  I did tell you part of it, just not about the nitroglycerin.  With the sugar in there, it wouldn't have started anyway."

"You're also hiding the fact that there were two different fingerprints and you couldn't be sure the nitro wasn't put in by itself."

"I am?" he asked calmly.  "How do you know about that?"

"Willow asked Ryan."

"You could have asked me."

"Would you have answered?"  Horatio nodded. "Honestly?"

"Yes."  Xander grimaced at that.  "I would have. I didn't want to make you worry about more than idiotic bigots, Xander.  This isn't right and it's not healthy for you.  There's been too much violence in your life already and I'm scared I'll lose you to it."

"With your job?" Xander prompted.

"Even with my job.  I'm usually safer than you are.  No one would dare touch me, only you."  He stroked over his cheek.  "Why are you trying to sleep at nine at night?"

"Nothing else to do."

"I could fix that," he offered, shifting closer.  Xander relaxed against his body, letting him stroke his back.  "What did you want to do for our anniversary?"

"That's in a few months, Horatio."

"The first time I met you is next week," he offered.  Xander gave him a look.  "It is."

"We're celebrating me coming to you being totally pissed off?"

"I knew you were special when I met you and read Tim's letter.  I didn't realize how special but I did realize you were special."  He stroked down his back again.  "Would you like to go out that night?"  Xander shrugged.  "We can."

"Should we with the current problems?"

"We should.  If we let them rule our lives, they win."  Xander nodded, pressing his face against Horatio's chest.  "You're warm.  Did you spend a lot of time outside?"

"No, Di's got a cold and I'm catching it from the baby," he said tiredly.  "Sorry if I transfer it."

"They make medicine for that, Xander.  You and I can both take some."

"I did, that's why I'm in bed."

"Ah."  He went back to stroking him.  "Ray Jr. mentioned you two being offered spots in her show this time."  Xander yawned and nodded against his chest.  "Did you want to?"

"Up to you.  Would you let me?"

"As long as I was there and nothing was that pornographic, Xander.  Is it in New York again?"  Xander yawned again and nodded.  "Is she going to try to talk Danny back into it?"

"She's already trying to talk them both into it but they're being fussy."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow, Xander.  Did you get one of the two cars back?"

"The porsche should be outside by the time we get up. They were bringing it over first thing in the morning after the new alarm came in.  The other car's going to need a whole new engine and stuff."  He closed his eyes and snuggled into the welcoming arms.  "I'm sorry I threw the fit."

"I was at fault, Xander.  Don't worry about it," he promised quietly.  Xander smiled, he could feel it.  "When do we get the baby again?"

"All weekend if we want him.  She's got to do a special order for some stripper down here."  He put a leg over Horatio's.  "Sorry if I get too cuddly. I do that when I get sick."

"It's all right.  I can be clung to.  I make a good security blanket."

Xander pinched him.  "If I was here for that, it'd be different.  Get it right, I'm here for the hot sex, Horatio."

Horatio smiled at that and nodded. "I know you are.  As soon as I need medicine to keep up with you I'll probably lose you."

Xander looked up at him, staring into his eyes with a frown.  "Should you need that or end up in a wheelchair because of work, I will be running an IV of the stuff through you so we won't have a problem."  Horatio gave him a slightly goofy smile at that thought.  "We understood?  You get me to leave you over someone else's dead and mutilated corpse, which your crew would never get to work."

"Yes, dear.  I know you won't ever leave me.  Even if I do end up injured or unable to perform."  He pulled him closer again, giving him a gentle kiss.

"Shouldn't, you'll get sick," Xander said weakly.  Horatio kissed him again. "Now you'll really get sick."

"I've got sick time if I need it," he promised.  He kissed him again.  "Are you about to go back to sleep?"  Xander shook his head and yawned, making him smile.  "Are you sure?"

"I've got time.  It's not strong enough, I'm still sniffling."  Horatio smirked and got out the lube.  "Horatio."

"Hush, Xander.  I know you went for your new test this morning.  We'll be celebrating another clean test in a few days with something wildly kinky and special."  He spread his mate open, feeling him wiggling and throb around him.  Xander flipped onto his other side, setting the position and pace tonight.  Horatio slid into his body, going gently and slowly, what Xander needed to go back to sleep and have good dreams all night.  Xander fell asleep right after getting off but Horatio had a few more minutes before he came, using the time to appreciate the body that had been given to him to hold and cherish.  He could have lost it earlier.  Xander could have walked off.  He knew he had driven to the airport and sat there staring at the building - one of the cops out there wanted to know if there was a problem or if he was there to pick up someone.  He cuddled up to his back, letting himself fall out whenever he was ready.  Xander wiggled back into his arms, flipping over to hold him.  It was definitely more than just sex between them.

***

Xander looked up as someone called his name, waving Speed over.  "Hey."  He frowned at the letter in his hand.  "My payment's due today and the bank's still locked," he complained, looking at his 'dad'.  "No, that's not a hint."

"I reinvested that when you said you would pay for it."  He sat beside him, looking at the letter.  "What's that?"

"From the coach."  He handed it over.  "He said I'm about as good as I'm probably going to get, even with more time in training.  I know I called Eric.  Where's he?"

"His sister needed him.  He said you'd be buying him dinner later."  He looked it over, then at him. "Up to you, kid.  You're good, he said you're good, better than at least half the others on the team.  Did you want to give it another shot?"

"I don't know."  He shrugged.  "I like swimming, but I'm not terribly happy with the push to win.  I'm the only one I want to prove it to, ya know?"  Speed nodded, handing it back.  "I don't know what I'm thinking."

"About?" Eric asked as he sat down.

"No sister?"

"She was called in for another look over," he said, frowning a bit.  "What's up?"  Xander handed him the letter and he looked at it.  "That's about where I was," he admitted, sitting beside him.  "So it's up to you."

"I'm the sort that I'd like to prove it to myself, but the competition and the pushing stuff sucks," Xander told him.

"I've seen that, but it's the competitions that proves how good you are to yourself," Eric reminded him.  They'd been over this before.  "What about school this semester?"

"I've told the Registrar about the bank stuff and they're seeing if they can give me a few extra days without kicking my classes.  I've got to check back later and talk to the bank."  He shrugged a bit.  "It's supposed to come out of my trust that got set up.  With it locked, it screwed up a lot of stuff."

"I bet," Eric agreed.  "It's still up to you, Xander.  This is your off semester so you'd only be doing training."  He shrugged. "You're getting really good at diving.  I can see you going father with that than swimming."

"Maybe."  He looked at Speed, then at him.  "Is it worth it?"

"To some.  To prove it to yourself?  That's something only you can say."  He looked outside.  "Ah, the local anti-gay frat is trying stuff."

Xander looked and moaned.  "Wonderful."  He looked at Speed, then at Eric.  "Would I still be allowed on the team if I can't get stuff together this semester?"  Eric nodded. "You're sure?"

"Plenty of us were.  It's probably an ethically gray area but you've got a good reason for missing this semester if you can't get into the funds."

"What about the emergency accounts?" Speed asked.

"That would drain one of them," Xander said quietly.  "I can't make payment arrangements since I'm on AP for my crappy Chem grade last semester.  I missed the jock standard by point-two last semester."  He heard shouting and looked out there.  "'Scuse me.  They're picking on one of the glam queens."  He got up and walked out there, glaring at the guy.  "Do we have problems?"  The frat brothers backed off.  "Rich, man, head off."

"Thank you, Xander."  He hurried off, going to alert the campus police.

Xander looked at them.  "You're entitled to your beliefs until it gets in the way of me thinking or someone else living, guys. This isn't quiet and calm protest, or even meaningful protests.  That's bullying.  Learn the difference."  He turned to walk off but one of them grabbed him.  Xander got free and pushed him off.  "Don't.  You don't want that."  He nodded at the security officer standing there.  "I made them leave Rich alone."

"I saw. Thanks, Harris."

"Not an issue.  This isn't a protest, this is bullying."  He walked off again but one of them screamed something rude and pounced him.  Xander got free and looked down at him. "How dumb are you?"  He looked at the officer, then pointed.  "You want him now or later?"

"Now."  He pulled the kid up.  "Will you press charges?"

"Not if he gets help.  He obviously needs help.  He can't understand the difference between his opinion and our lives."  He stared at the other kid, making him swallow.  "Learn the difference, kid, or else next time it might be someone you kill."   He walked off shaking his head, sitting down again.  "Sorry about that."

"It happens," Speed admitted.  He tapped the letter a few times.  "So, are you going to try?"  Xander nodded.  "Even though you'll have to compete?"  Xander nodded a second time.  "You're sure?  It's putting stress on you, Xander."

"I know. At least you guys won't have to babysit me this time."

"Fat chance," Eric snorted.  "I'm reliving my youth by working with you."  He smirked at the coach coming over. "We're talking about the letter."

"I figured you were."  He looked at Xander.  "Are you going this semester?"

"If we can work out the money stuff.  Someone in IAB wanted Horatio enough to try to get me arrested so he could get him.  He locked my accounts."  That got a whimper.  "So I'm working on it, coach."

"Good.  As long as you take at least nine hours, Harris.  You've got to be at least part time."

"I missed jock standard GPA by point-two. I've got to take at least twelve."

"Crap.  How?"

"Chem."

"Hell."  He nodded.  "You're not the only one.  Take whatever you can to bring it back up.  You're going back to profiling?"

"I'm doing it every other semester," Xander admitted.  "Doing the physical therapist stuff as my minor so I've got some classes I can understand now and then."

"That's good.  Okay.  Do what you can.  All the scholarships are taken."

"I'm good on money, it's just locked in the bank thanks to the moron who insinuated he had a warrant."  That got a small moan from Eric.  "Yeah, that's why he did it," he said dryly, looking at him.  "He claimed he had one to arrest me too but he would never produce it."

"Hell," Eric complained.  "No wonder he got arrested."  He looked at Speed, who smirked. "You didn't tell me the good gossip."

"Of course not.  I figured Marisol would've since she heard it from Calleigh."

"No."  He pouted a bit, looking at Xander.  "Please don't get mad at my sister for liking Horatio?"

"Everyone can like Horatio, it's when they touch him I get jealous," Xander said dryly.  Eric grinned at that. He looked at the coach again.  "It may be one of those semesters where I can't make it."

"You can't do that.  Rules, kid."  He shrugged. "I'll let the coaches know, maybe there's something we can work out."

"I'm on Academic Probation, no payment arrangements possible," he said bitterly.  "I really can't?"  The coach shook his head.  "Hell."

"I thought you could," Eric complained.

"They tightened that loophole unless he can prove it was for a good reason.  If it's something like money and he's as good as he is, we'd have to justify why we didn't give him a scholarship."

"Because I've got money, it's from that idiot's investigation to make people paranoid."  He looked at him.  "By the way, I got a porsche."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Who?"

"I don't know, yet.  Still working on that one, coach."  He shrugged.  "It showed up night before last."

"Wonderful."  He patted him on the back.  "Do whatever you can, kid.  Good luck."  He walked off, going to tell the other coaches what was going on.  It was clear Harris was really upset about the guy trying to take his mate that way.  He'd have sued by now but with who Horatio was, it was probably not possible.

Xander looked at Eric.  "Do I want to keep going?" he asked quietly.

"The only way you can prove to yourself how good you are is to keep going," he said pragmatically.

"Point."

"And we'll still be at as many matches as we can," Speed assured him.

"I won't need the babysitter."

"You will, kid, plus we're family," Speed reminded him, flipping him on the forehead. "Quit complaining."  He looked at him. "So, what did Diana say about this year's fashion show?"

"She wants Ray Jr. and I back."  He shrugged.  "I told her it was up to Horatio."

"Horatio's taking her out to lunch," Eric said with a grin. He looked at his phone as it went off.  "Marisol's done so I'm going to pick her up.  Need a ride?"

"Nope.  The car's fixed and in the bookstore parking lot.  Thanks anyway, Eric."

"You're welcome.  Think about it, Xander.  It's worth it to prove it to yourself.  I knew I had it but my studies had to come first."  He shrugged and headed off to pick up his sister.

Speed nodded. "It is, Xan.  That way you can't wonder in ten years or so."  Xander nodded at that.  He saw a few jocks coming their way.  "Any other good news?"  He folded up the letter and handed it back.  Xander put it in his pocket.  "What're you taking this semester?"

"Two PT classes and one of the English mandatories, plus something from my profiling mentor."  He shrugged.  "Easy stuff mostly."

"Good."  He looked at the jocks as they stopped beside the table.  "Hey, guys."

Xander looked at them and grinned.  "Hey, guys.  Rich got corned by Toddy, Barry."

"I heard.  You have him arrested?"

"I said I wouldn't press charges if he'd get help.  I leave it up to the officer and Rich, man.  He pounced me."  That got an amused snort.  "Exactly.  Are they still out there?"

"Yeah, and the gay union is out there kissing and cuddling in front of them," another of them said, his voice deeper.  "What's up for this semester?"

"Problems with Horatio's work.  Nothing major but a small issue at the moment.  I'm still arranging for classes."

"Even if they do dump it, you can always do a late register," Speed reminded him.

"Point."  He looked at the guys again.  "They decided I was a bad guy."  That got some snickers.  "So they're investigating me and locked my trust."  That got even more laughs.  "Exactly.  Hence us fighting with it.  How about you guys?"

"Scholarship," they mostly agreed.

"My trust's clean and blessed by the IRS," the other guy said with a wink.

"They like me, it's the stupid people who sugared my gas tank the other day."  That got some more snickers.  "Seriously."  He shrugged.  "Gotta figure they're out there.  After all, guys like Toddy graduate and do work."  That got some smiles and they walked off.  He looked at his 'dad'.  "Dad?"  Speed gave him an interested look. "Buy me lunch?"

"Sure, kid."  They got up and went to get some food, coming back to find their table taken but there was an open one outside.  It was a nice day and there was an umbrella.

***

Diana hugged Xander when he walked in.  "I love you."

"I love you too.  Why?"

"Horatio said you could do it but he wanted you to be dangerous and not slutty this time."  She pinched him on the cheek.  "So I'm doing a different line for you and Ray this time."  She winked and walked him into the back room.  "Ray came to me earlier and said he'd do it after a screaming match with his mother over it for some reason.  He suggested a second show locally."

"It's probably going to get him into more trouble with his school.  They've suspended him for having sex."

"Wonderful," she said bitterly.  "You got any good news?"

"I'll have to do a late register this year.  They had to drop my classes thanks to the bank."  He shrugged.  "We're working on it."

"Good!"  She let him into the work area, making Ray grin at him.  "Here he is.  Ray, not that one, dear, that one'll go to Xander."

"No, let him.  He can do some stalking menace.  I'll work on his state of mind with him."  He looked around and pulled down a pair of pants, holding them up to the light.  "Are these mine?"  She nodded so he went to try them on.  She had his exact measurements and had kept up with them when he gained some muscle.  He came out and she frowned, shaking her head.  "What?"

"You look like you're wearing bell-bottom chaps, Xander," Ray teased.

Xander looked in the mirror and shuddered, going to change out of them, leaving him in his boxer shorts.  She handed him more clothes so he went to try it on.  "Good thing I took a shower today, Di."

"It is.  Do you have Eric?"

"No.  Why?"

"Horatio took him with him."

"Then he's probably playing with him."  He came out and she frowned at him.  "What?" he whined.  He looked at himself in the mirror, then at her.  "I look cheap."  He went to change and came out to prowl around.  She always kept some stuff back for him. He found one outfit he had requested and pulled it out, sliding into it then straightening up and strolling back.

"That's what I need!" she said happily, grabbing a sketchpad to get to work.

Xander looked at Ray, handing him his former stack of clothes.  "Here.  You can be slutty."

"My mother complained about that tendency today."  He shrugged and went to change, coming out in one of those outfits.  She moaned and fit it to him with some pins, then drew some more for him and Xander both while they sat and inspired her.  "So, Xander, about the bondage stuff?"  Xander grinned.  "You ever try it?"

"I'm not really comfortable with being tied down.  I've been taken a few times and I start to panic when I can't move freely.  Every now and then I get *held* still but not tied down.  Besides, I'm not sure Horatio plays that way."  He shrugged and winced.  "Dear, too tight across the shoulders."  She got up to fix that for him, kissing him on the cheek.  He shifted his legs further apart, making her moan and get back to work.  He grinned at him. "These pants are not the type to get hard in."

"Those are in the blue cabinet, Xander baby.  Ray's are in the red cabinet," she said absently.  "Give me ten more and you two can change."  They both nodded.

Xander looked at him again.  "If I were to try it, I'd have to work my way up to it.  Horatio is probably the only one who could ever be trusted to tie me down.  I wouldn't let anyone else near me while I'm laying down and even if I wasn't faithful it'd never happen."  Ray nodded, accepting that.  "You?"

"I'm not sure.  I'm still thinking about it."

Xander shifted, standing up to push down the legs of the pants.  She came over to check on the fit, then frowned. He looked at her.  "You made 'em."

"I know.  Go change."  She went back to finishing up her sketches while they went to change from their special cabinets full of stuff.  Xander moaned.  "Too tight?" she asked.

"No.  Just tight."  He came out buttoning the shirt up and smoothed down the legs of the pants before sitting again.  He looked at Ray, who was blushing in his leather pants.  "Those are cute on you.  Sit."  Ray sat and wiggled, then got up to pull his underwear out of his crack before sitting down again.  "That's why I wear thongs," he said happily, grinning at him.  "Okay, truth, Ray. Do you see yourself as the guy in charge?  The one checking the cuffs, the one handling the headspace?  The one who led everything?  Or do you see yourself as the guy tied down and begging for more?"

Ray coughed and blushed, looking down, giving him a sideways look.  "I hadn't gotten that graphic yet, Xander."

Xander nodded.  "Sorry."

"No, that's okay."  He stood up.  "Di, these are looser than your usual set."

"Sometimes you need room to grow and not tell everyone what you're doing, Ray.  I'm still working on your pair of skin leathers."  She looked at him.  "You could be a switch.  Some people need both now and then."  She got back to her drawing.  "Xander, shirt open maybe?"  He opened the shirt and let it hang.  "Thank you."

"Think you could make Willow something for Ryan's pleasure?" Xander asked.  "She's feeling fat."

"I hadn't thought about maternity wear.  What's her sizes?"  Xander handed over a piece of paper from his outside pants.  She looked it over and nodded.  "I have something that'll highlight the baby and one that'll do great things for her breasts."  She got back to work, putting that aside.  "Xander, turn this way and think smutty Horatio thoughts?"  He closed his eyes and then shivered, shifting so she could see him better.  "Thank you."  She grinned at Ray.  "Think about being tied down, Ray.  Could you handle not being in charge, letting your girlfriend do anything she wanted to you?  No chance to complain?"

He shivered and whimpered, shifting when he got hard.  "God, Di!" he whined.

"Sorry, baby.  You look good like that."  She grinned at him.  "Do you think you'd like that more or just as much as being the one doing the teasing and being mean by not giving them what they think they want?"  Ray's stomach tensed and he got harder.  "Ah, a switch."  She nodded and started a new page of work.  "Xander, baby, Horatio would tie you down and feast on you all day."

"Di," he moaned.  He had to adjust himself in the tight pants.  "You didn't give me enough room to get this hard."

"Keep fussing, Xander.  Watch me put you in something that you need a PA to hold yourself down to not ruin the lines."

"Huh?" Ray asked.

"The Prince Albert piercing started way back when," she instructed.  "Back when male fashion had totally flat fronted pants.  Like you couldn't show you had a dick, much less get hard.  So the guys back then, the ones who catered to fashion, had something called a dressing ring put in.  It's the same as a PA today, but they used it to hitch their cocks to their leg with a garter, hence it being called 'dressing' as to which side you hang.  It's called a PA because it was thought Prince Albert had one."  She grinned at him.  "You'd do well with one."

"Mom said I couldn't get pierced," he complained.  "She eased off until the sperm donor came back."

"Hmm."  She looked at him, then at his cock, then back at him. "You're how old?"

"Seventeen."

"You can do any piercing you want, baby.  You have to be eighteen to get a tattoo but not a piercing.  I'm sure Xander's thought about it."

"Xander has one," Xander assured her dryly, smirking at her.

"You do?  I've never seen it."

"I've got a buried treasure piercing."

"Ow," she moaned.  "Why?"

"It was recommended and it's *incredible* during oral sex."  He looked at Ray.  "I was thinking about a nipple ring; they say it's a good thing for sex.  Unfortunately, Horatio thinks that'd be a bad thing."  He grinned at him.  "Eric and Speed were talking about me getting another one now that Speed's quit fussing about me getting any of them."

"Can I go?"

"Sure. We'll go together and I'll hold your hand."  They shared a smirk.  "You get to tell your mother."

"Can you adopt me?  Your family is less tense than mine."  He frowned at him.  "Nipple rings really do good?"

"*Really* do good," Di agreed happily.  "I loved mine before I had to take it out to nurse."  She looked at Xander.  "He can tell you about that."  Xander nodded about that.  "I was thinking about a new hoodie going in when I had my nipple redone.  I'm not sure though."

"Di, with the way you get off, you'd never wake up from the post-orgasm nap," Xander said dryly.

"Point. Which is what's stopping me."  She grinned and got back to work. "Ray, more smutty thoughts please?"

Xander leaned over to whisper in his ear, making Ray tense up, hiss air through his nose, and close his eyes in pleasure of the thought.  "I've got to do something with my old het leanings," he teased, nudging him.  His phone rang so he got up to get it, bending over.  Di moaned and drew something else.  "Harris," he answered, turning to tease her.  She swatted him, making him smirk and shift, showing her both sides in profile.  "Thank you.  Yes, it's good that it has.  When can I expect my tuition to be paid?  Thank you."  He hung up.  "Good news!  My accounts are all open!"  He came back and loomed over her, staring at the drawing. "My cock's bigger than that," he hissed in her ear.  "Or don't you remember?"  She shivered and adjusted the drawing, then got back to work.  He sat down, smirking since Ray was lost in his own smutty thoughts.  He loved giving Di ideas for her smutty clothing lines.  He'd get to pounce Horatio later.

***

Xander tapped on Yelina's door, smiling at her when she answered it.  "I bring home one tired son.  We've been giving DI smutty thoughts all afternoon and I gave him one by accident."  She smirked at that, giving him a look.  "Well, Di needs smutty thoughts to design my wardrobe of choice."  He held out his arms and turned around, making her make appreciative noises.  "They're literally sprayed and spread on," he said happily.  "It's something new that just came out."  He went to the car and woke Ray up, bringing him up to the doorway.  "One sleepy, content son."

"Thank you, Xander.  Horatio is at home waiting on you."

"He'll get to peel me out of these," he said happily, heading back to his car and going home.  He drove a bit fast, but it was a porsche so he excused it in himself.  He pulled into the driveway, smiling at his mate as he opened the door. "Something new she came up with."

"Eric's here," he offered, looking him over.  "Are those painted on?"

"Sprayed and spread."  He tossed him a can and strolled past him, making sure he got in a good rub against his thigh.  "It's very comfortable," he whispered in his ear.  He walked into the back and tossed Speed and Eric cans.  "She wanted you guys to tell her how it works in the clubs."

"What is it?" Eric asked, looking at the label, then the directions.  "It's...."

"The things he's wearing," Speed said, staring at Xander's crotch.  "At least it goes on over underwear."  Xander just smirked a bit and nodded.

Eric looked at him and whimpered.  "I'll try it out later tonight."

Horatio came out to get his mate and peel him out of his clothes. "He'll be back after he changes."  He walked his mate into the bedroom, closing the door so he could stare him down.  "Xander," he said, moving closer.

"She said it was a treat for you and I should go out with you tonight.  It starts to flake after ten hours."  He moved closer, kissing him and unbuttoning his shirt.

"It's going to be a long night," Horatio moaned, removing the hands from his shirt, staring into his eyes.  "I've got to finish the other paperwork or no one gets a raise. I'm only home for dinner."

Xander shrugged. "Can I take dad and Eric out then?"

"As long as no one tries to touch what's mine."  He looked him over, then got him a longer chocolate brown silk shirt to put on, helping him into it.  It just barely covered his crotch, so it'd hint when he moved.  "Boots."  Xander put on his boots and Horatio watched as the spray on clothes shifted with him.  "How intimate did she have to get, Xander?"

"She checked for missed spots.  I put it on myself, dear," he said to ease the growling he could feel behind him.  A hand came up to stroke over his ass, making him moan.  "Oh, very nice.  It makes you tactile-sensitive."  He turned and kissed him again. "Are you sure you need food, baby?" he asked, nipping him on the neck. Horatio moaned and tipped his head to the side.  Xander licked over the nipped spot and kissed him, smiling at him.  "Definitely need dinner?"

"I do.  If only so I don't pass out when I get home."  He let a finger tease the crack of Xander's ass, making him shiver.  "It stretches."

"Slightly.  Not enough for me to be taken while wearing it.  That much sweat might make it peel too."

"Interesting."  He kissed him again.  "You're never wearing this outside the house again, Xander.  Enjoy the teasing while you've got bodyguards."  Xander nodded.  "Ray?"

"Didn't.  He said he'd have to shave and it'd make him look funny."  He teased some of Horatio's chest hair.  "He thinks he's going to be furry. I told him you're not that furry, just pleasantly haired.  He gave me a funny look."

"As I should."  He stole one last kiss and let him go, looking over him.  The shirt didn't hide the hard-on his mate had.  "Disarm that before you go out.  Dinner should be ready soon."

"Okay.  Oh, I needed to ask you something.  I told Ray I'd go with him when he went to get his nipple ring soon.  That bother you?"

"No more holes, Xander, not unless they make you very hot."  He kissed him again. "I mean it."  He left, going to check on dinner.

"Ten more minutes," Speed called.  He looked at Xander as he came out.  "Damn it, I've got a date tonight."

"Calleigh and you can come with us," Eric assured him brightly.  "We'll need someone armed anyway."  He looked at the directions again.  "Did you use gloves to spread this on?"

"You can, I did.  Otherwise you could leave patterns. Di did one with her fingerprints all over it.  It was her top."  He shrugged and sat down, squeaking a bit.  "If you get totally sweaty it could start to peel but it's supposed to last up to ten hours, including four in the clubs."

"It's a variation of liquid latex," Speed said, handing Eric his can.  "If I let Calleigh see that, she'd want to check it out."

"She did say it is strong and safe enough to be used as an emergency condom but it doesn't have very much stretch so you'll have to put it on when you're hard and figure out how to leave yourself some room."  He grinned at Eric.  "It also makes you a bit more tactile.  It's really warm going on."

"I'll try it after dinner.  H?"  Horatio came out with the food.  "Is it okay if I go out with him?"

"He'd better have a guard," he ordered.

"Well, we can always ask Frank," Xander teased, making Eric giggle.  Speed groaned and shook his head.  "He'd make sure we weren't taken."

"I don't even want to imagine Frank Tripp in the clubs you two go to," Speed complained. "His wife might not survive the night."

Xander looked at Eric.  "I was going to Powerhouse."  Eric nodded, liking that idea.  "It's generally a safe club even though it is on the club whore circuit."

"As long as you can get us in," Eric agreed.  "How long does it take to firm up?"

"Twenty minutes.  Then you can go back and dab on any spots you missed. It took me two tries to cover my piercing."  Eric smirked at that.  "It did."

"What do you have?"

"Buried treasure."

"Ow," he moaned.

"About what I said," Speed assured him, looking at Horatio.  "You?"

"I found it, and yes, I thought it hurt as well."  He ate a bite.  "Eat, boys.  You'll need the energy to protect Xander or to make Calleigh behave."

Speed snorted.  "That's possible?"  He looked at his son.  "Can I borrow the car, son?"

Xander smirked.  "Then I can't drive us there."

"We can take a cab," Eric ordered.  "That way we don't have to worry about it."  Xander pulled the keys off his waist and handed them to Speed.  "Any luck with the bank?"

"Everything will be back to normal tomorrow.  My trust check was cut today.  I need to have the college send them a request for money to get that paid.  I have to reregister for classes since they ended up dumping them, and then I'm good."  He ate a bite, reaching over to stroke over Horatio's hand.  "I'm sorry I distracted you from doing this sooner."

"You didn't.  They added more today," he said, smiling at him.  "Behave tonight.  I don't want to have to follow SWAT to rescue you from someone."

"Yes, dear."

"We'll be good, H," Eric promised.  "Nothing to make you doubt he cheated, no rescues needed, and we'll call Frank if we need backup."  Horatio nodded, accepting that.  "Should we stop to get Ray?"

"Nope.  We gave Di a lot of smutty thoughts and I kinda gave him one so he's taking a nap.  I had to get him home," he said happily. He looked at his mate, then at Eric.  Then at Speed.  "When's your next day off?"

"Tomorrow, that's why we're going out tonight, so I have time to recover."  He smirked at him.  "Why?"

"I was wondering if you'd help me find a nice shirt tomorrow."

"Sure. We can do that."  He ate a bite.  "I did good."

"You did better than I could ever do," Eric assured him.  He glanced at Xander, then at Horatio.  "H?"  Horatio looked at him, eyes staring into him.  "We talked about Marisol earlier."

"I'm not jealous. Anyone with eyes should want what I've got," Xander assured him happily.  "As long as it never becomes a trio or her being the one you sneak off to go sleep with, I'm good."

"I'd never do that, Xander."

"I know, just setting a firm boundary line, Horatio.  She could use some more support in her fight."  He nodded, accepting that.  "I don't mind that you have female friends, babe.  I'm not that jealous.  At least not until they touch or kiss."   He shrugged. "We all know the only one I've got like that is Di."  He ate another bite, staring at his mate, who nodded at that agreement.  "Oh, dad, present in the trunk for Ryan.  One of us has to drop it to him tonight or tomorrow."

"He's got the day-after-tomorrow off," Eric offered.  "What's in it?"

"Di made Willow something."  He gave him a smug smirk.  "She thought her pregnant belly should be worshiped by her mate."

"I'll drop it off tonight," Speed assured him.  He checked his watch.  "I'm going to be late."

"No tickets in my car or else they might ask if you're sleeping with Horatio too," Xander joked.

"No tickets," he agreed.  He hugged his son and punched Eric on the arm.  "See you guys tomorrow.  Thanks, H."

"Thank you for cooking."  Speed headed off.  Horatio looked at Eric.  "Maybe I should call Frank to warn him."

"Nah, we'll stop by and pick him up," Eric assured him happily. "If I look half as hot at your boy there, it's going to need a protection detail."  Horatio gave him a look. "I'd never let Xander be taken, H.  You know that."

"I know, I'm counting on it, Eric."

"I can take care of myself," Xander noted dryly.  "Really, guys. I can even bring my wrist harness for my throwing dagger with me."  Eric gave him a look. "What?  I can."

"You'd get stopped at the door."

"Powerhouse doesn't have a metal detector, Eric.  They've got scary bouncers instead."  He finished up and kissed his mate deeply, taking a bite of his dinner too. "Finish up so you can come home sooner, or join us there if we're not back yet.  I'll bring my phone."  Horatio nodded, so Xander went to check his hair and fuss with it.

Eric got up to get seconds. He'd need it.  Xander hadn't teased in a while and he was bouncy tonight.  He and Horatio shared a look. "He'll be perfectly safe.  I promise."

"He'd better be.  Otherwise we'll have to call Don Flack down to guard him."

"He might like that," Xander called from the bathroom.  "Maybe next weekend since he's got it off?"

"We'll see," Horatio called back, shaking his head.

***

Speed pulled up in front of Ryan's building, getting out and getting into the trunk.  He found the present in the bag and checked it, whistling at the lump of fabric.  He'd seen that stuff before. It was see-through in the right light.  He walked over and knocked on Ryan's door, getting the guy himself.  He held out the bag.  "Diana made it for Willow at Xander's urging.  He said Di said she should be worshiped since she's pregnant."  He shrugged.  "Keep an ear out for Eric and Xander, please?  They're going out together, alone."  Ryan nodded at that.  "Thanks."  He went back to the car, making sure the trunk was closed.

Ryan looked inside the bag, pulling out the long dress. He looked at his wife, who was making dinner, then it.  He knew Di's clothes did fantastic things for the body.  He had a few outfits himself.  He found another one inside and decided that was more like it.  He walked in there, kissing her on the back of the neck.  "Diana sent you some stuff," he offered, handing over the first outfit.  "Wear this for me tonight?" he whispered in her ear, making her shiver and nod quickly. "I'll cook.  You change."  She went to change, coming back in it.  It made her chest look fantastic but it softly flowed around her stomach, making her look less pregnant than she was.  He put the food off to the side and turned off the stove.  He had a wife to worship since she deserved it in that outfit.  She giggled and swatted him but that was fine.  He liked a playful Willow. It was one of his favorite things about her.

***

Xander got out of the cab and Eric followed, walking up to the VIP entrance.  The bouncer looked at him.  Xander grinned.  He continued to stare.  "Let's not do this, guys?" he asked quietly.  "We're trying stuff out for Di.  You like it?"

"Darkness, you look dangerous and like you're going to be stolen," one of them told him. "You and your little friend." He looked Eric over, then at him.  "You and your boy over with?"

"Hell no," Eric snorted. "I'm his bodyguard tonight."  He smiled sweetly. "I'm Delko. I'm under Horatio at work."

The bouncer moaned.  "Lucky guy.  You get to stare at that ass every day."  Xander gave him a long look. "Just admiring from a distance."

"As long as it stays at admiration," Xander said sweetly.  "If you insist, we have an officer we can call but he's not exactly the normal sort."

"Please," the second bouncer ordered.  "Go up to the VIP room until he gets here.  What's he look like?"

"Detective Tripp," Eric offered. They shared a look and nodded at that.  He led Xander inside and up to the VIP section. The bouncer at that rope just moaned and waved them inside.  "Thanks."  He got them a drink and a woman in there drooled as she paid for it.  "Thank you.  We're trying stuff out for Diana tonight."  He moved closer and she felt his legs.  "It's spray on."

"It's softer than the latex."  She got in a good grope.  "You're very dangerous for me."

He grinned.  "I like dangerous at times."

Xander reclined and grinned at the music going on.  "I'm going onto the floor as soon as Frank gets here, Eric.  I'll be fine in here with bouncers around me."  Eric nodded and took her out into the crowd while Xander sipped his drink.  The bartender gave him a funny look for his maple syrup and coke request but it was honored beautifully.

Frank walked up to the front of the club, flashing his badge. "I'm on protection for Harris and Delko?"

"Harris is in the VIP room and Delko is out on the floor.  You've got a good view from in there and easy access," the bouncer said as he walked him inside.  He smiled at Xander, who just smirked and waved a hand.  He got up and headed out onto the floor.

"Tell me that's not paint."

"No, his designer buddy's supposedly created a nice, soft feeling, spray on outfit.  It lasts for about four hours of clubbing and ten overall."  He shrugged and pointed.  "There's Delko.  He's wearing the same stuff but he's put patterns into his."   He clapped him on the back.  "Harris isn't drinking, he doesn't.  Delko's had a beer.  He paying you?"

"Yup, first thing in the morning," he said, staring at Xander's moving body.  Then at Eric's.  He looked at the bouncer.  "If I've got to move them later and they're belligerent, where do I take them?"  An address was written out.  "That's a what sort of club?" he asked, looking at the grinning man.  "Sex club?"

"Hell no, Detective.  We don't want his mate's wrath down on us!"  That got a smirk from the detective.  "That's a private, exclusive club on the same circuit.  It's got a great floor but less than a hundred people a night.  All pretty and horny."  He grinned and walked off, sending him something to drink.

Frank settled in to watch.  It wasn't hard and the boys were moving very well.  His wife would be appreciative when he finally got home.  If he finally got home. He saw Xander brush off someone and go back to his current partner.  Someone else in the crowd moved the guy away from Xander.  That was a good thing in his book.  Eric was surrounded by women.  He'd get more blackmail out of tonight than he had the triplets that Eric took home that one time.

***

Horatio answered his phone, frowning at the frenzied voice on the other side.  "Frank, what happened?" he asked, signing one last form as he listened.  He moaned and held his head.  "Are they all right?"  He nodded.  "Thank you, Frank.  How much are we paying you in the morning?"  He looked over as Yelina walked in with a thermos.  "I can ask Yelina if she'd like to go play with the boys so you can get home," he offered.  She gave him a 'get real' look. "Eric and Xander are out in the clubs together and Frank needs to get home to his wife and sleep tonight."

She checked her watch, then looked at him.  "I can do that," she decided.  She took the phone.  "Frank, where are you?"  She blinked.  "I heard something about that being *the* club to be at tonight on the way over here.  What's going on?  Ah."  She nodded.  "Thank you.  Give me twenty."  She hung up and looked at him. "You let him out when he's in a slutty mood?"  He poured himself some coffee and nodded.  "Was he at least wearing something different?"

"I made him put on a better shirt," he admitted, looking at her. "He needed to wear it out, Yelina.  What's going on?"

"Oh, a small orgy."  She walked out, going to change quickly and head there.  By the time she got there, Frank was more than ready to pounce his wife.  She tagged out with him, him showing her where each boy was.  She even got his cold cup of coffee.  It was taken by a waiter with a nice smile and she smiled back. "I'm Darkness' husband's sister-in-law."

He swallowed. "You're the mother of that other guy, the model, right?"  She nodded, smirking a bit more.  "Wow."  He kissed her, making her moan. "You're a great woman."  He went to get her something nicer to drink, bringing it back.  "Here you go, Miss."

"Detective."

"Detective," he moaned.  "Do you have handcuffs?"

"Yes, but it's to make sure those two get home."  He whimpered and nodded, kissing her, again making her moan.  "Thank you."  He nodded and went back to his duties.  She sipped her soda, watching the boys dance.  Xander had girls around him, she was almost shocked.  Then again, Eric was surrounded by women who were groping him.  He looked like he was lost in his head, it was so cute.  She saw Speed come in and pointed at them for him.  He looked at them and sighed.  "Why are you here?"

"Calleigh's cranky because I didn't let her play with the spray-on-clothes."  He looked. "I should go rescue the son."

"They sent Frank home while he was desperate."  She patted him on the cheek. "Someone knew who Ray was."

"She's used him in a few ads and this is the environment where they'd have seen it, Yelina."  He looked out there and shook his head, heading out to rescue his son from the guy trying to move some of the women.  "Hands off my son," he mouthed as he got closer.  The guy backed off and moved in the opposite direction.  He grabbed Xander around the waist, holding down the wrist with the knife.  "It's me.  Break time."  Xander nodded, heading that way with a wink and a grin for the women.  Who basically fell on each other.  He moved over to get Eric free.  He watched him for a minute, then tapped one of the women, getting an evil glare.  "Time for him to take a break, ladies.  Get him off the floor and make him get a drink. Otherwise I'll have to tell his friend."  He pointed at Xander's girls.  That got some grins and they drug Eric off the floor and to one of the back rooms.  The waiter headed that way with nuts and beers all around so Eric would be fine.  He smiled at the girls trying to dance with him.  "I'm on bodyguard detail tonight," he told one, stroking her cheek.  "We'll see if Xander wants me out here."  He went back into the VIP lounge, looking at his son. "What did you do to them!"

"Danced," he said, sipping his usual cranberry icy drink.  "Am I flaking yet?" he asked, looking himself over.

"Not that I can see," Yelina admitted, looking him over.  "That was really sprayed on?"  He nodded, taking another drink.  "Slow down, you'll get a headache, Xander."  She sat down, watching the crowd go at it.  "Where's Eric?"

"The back room over there," he offered, pointing.  "I made his women take him off the floor to get a drink."  He looked at his son, shaking his head.  "You're horrible at times, kid."

"I am not."

"You are," Yelina assured him.  "I doubt many of those girls planned to go lesbian tonight, Xander."   He just smiled.  "It's getting late, dear."

Xander checked her watch.  "It's only midnight, Yelina, and it's not like I've got a ton to do tomorrow.  You might get Eric home soon. Or make sure he makes it home."  He finished his drink and put it aside.  Then he stood up and stretched.

"Nope, that's some flaking," Speed offered, pointing at a spot.  "No sitting on leather when sweaty, it traps the heat."  He smoothed it back out for him and it firmed under his fingers.  "Good."  He looked at Yelina.  "I can stay.  Make sure Eric gets home."  She nodded, heading that way.  Speed looked at his son, then around at the empty lounge, then back at him.  "Shirt shopping?"

"Ray was talking about bondage stuff and it got me thinking that Horatio would be the only one I'd ever try that with," he admitted, sitting beside him so he could curl against his side.  The waiter came in.  "Can I have another one?" he asked, handing over his credit chip.  That got a nod.  "Dad?"

"Water.  I'd better stay sober tonight with you dressed like that."  The waiter nodded and headed off, bringing back their drinks.  "Take the rest as a tip."

"Thank you, sir.  The luscious detective?"

"Helping get Delko home."  Speed sipped his water while the guy looked and headed that way to make sure she didn't need any...help.  He looked at his son.  "You're thinking about that stuff?"

"He's held me down a few times," he admitted quietly, sipping his drink.  "He thinks I'm too bouncy at times."  He blushed a bit and plucked at his shirt.  "Besides, it could go very well with a touch of that stimulant lube."

Speed gave him a hug.  "We'll talk about it, Xander.  I don't have a problem with that.  You should've sent Ray to me about this stuff."  Xander looked at him.  "I had a girlfriend who played that way."  He took another drink, looking at the floor.  "Are we taking Ray with us when we go shopping?"

"We should.  His girlfriend wants to finger him while blowing him and he's embarrassed."

"Sure."  He looked at him, grinning a bit.  "You still had it on the floor, kiddo."

"I know," he agreed smugly.  He grinned as Horatio came in.  "Hi.  Get done?"

"I did.  Yelina brought me some coffee."  He looked at them. "Are you two conspiring?"  They gave him innocent looks.  "As long as it doesn't explode at work.  Xander?"  Xander stood up, shooting Speed a grin as he took Horatio out onto the floor with him.  The suitcoat got left in the lounge with Speed but that was fine with him.

Speed watched his son, thinking about how hot those two were and what his son was thinking about.  It was enough to make any sane, sexual being want to watch.  He watched as Xander made his mate growl at the women trying to get him back, but that was how Horatio got to be a bit evil now and then, it got it out of his system.  Xander would be enjoying it later that night.  Possibly a few times.  Oh, well, looked like Horatio wasn't making it to work in the morning.  Speed finished his water and took Xander's drink since it was virgin.  He tasted it and grimaced.  Or not. He motioned the waiter closer.  "Darkness doesn't drink, ever.  Tell the bartender he mixed in vodka."  The waiter nodded and Xander was sent another drink with an apology.  Xander frowned a bit but nodded that it was okay so the waiter hurried off with his thanks.  Speed watched them share it, it was really hot watching Horatio get down with his boy.  You never thought about the stalking predatory man Horatio could be, just that he had that balls of iron reputation at work. If the people at work could see him now, they'd all drool instead of piss themselves.

Xander moved closer and went to tempt his mate, staring into his eyes to make sure he knew it was all for him.  Horatio pulled him against his chest and kissed him then let him go and let him go back to his teasing.  That small, wicked smirk came out and Horatio smirked back, letting Xander do whatever he wanted for now.

***

Frank walked into Horatio's office the next afternoon.  "Have a good late sleeping in?" he asked dryly.

"Yes, I did," he agreed patiently, looking at him.  "Why?"

"Well, let's just say that someone figured out how to capture the film feed from the club last night, Horatio.  Taped the whole thing."  Horatio moaned.  "Wolfe told someone who was drooling that he'd never cheat and he only teased for you now.  It nearly got him beaten by a few of the female officers drooling over you both."  Horatio shook his head.  "But you looked really good out there, Horatio.  I never thought your boy would make you go have fun with him."

"I've got to keep my boy happy, Frank," he offered smoothly, standing up.  "How wide- spread is this?"

"Epidemic.  Alexx has seen it and said her grandson was a slut only for you now, thankfully you tamed him."  He smirked evilly.  "I *could* tell computer services but that would mean interfering with the Xander underground."

"Frank, with those attacks a few weeks back," Horatio started.

"Please," Frank snorted.  "No one drooling over him would attack him, Horatio.  Besides, this'll make 'em more stupid and try something again, so we can catch them."  That got a heated look.  "It's the truth.  By the way, the Chief said he looks just as hot now as he did then."  He smirked and walked off whistling.

Horatio shook his head, calming himself down.  He went to get some coffee from the breakroom, watching how many people stared and how many avoided his eyes.

"Horatio Caine!" Calliegh yelled.  He turned to look at her so she walked up to him, poking him on the chest. "What happened to Eric?"

"He had left by the time I got there."

"I saw the tape, Horatio.  I saw Speed have his harem there drag him off the floor."  He gave her a look.  "He did!"

"I'm sure it was to give him time to calm down and get a drink, Calleigh," he said quietly.  "Did he not call off this morning?"

"No, he did.  I called him just now and heard two or three different giggling voices at his place."

"Did you want to check on him?"

"Yes."

"Go.  Tell Ryan you're going to check on him."  She nodded, going to do that.  He shook his head, finishing his trek for coffee.  He came back and found a small present on his desk.  He opened it and looked out the door. "Thank you, but I don't need that in the office," he called, putting the sample packs of lube and condoms into his desk drawer so he could bring them home later.  He would get Speed for that later.  Sending Eric home like that had been a bit too naughty for friends.

***

Speed honked his horn, getting Ray to the door.  He waved and the kid came out. "I'm taking him to the shop my girlfriend used to use for toys.  Coming?"  Ray nodded and headed inside, coming out with his jacket and keys.  He let the kid get into the back.  "For the record, Ray, I had a girlfriend who dabbled.  You and Xander can both ask me questions."   He glanced at Xander.  "Calleigh said the tape from the webfeed last night got shown at the station."

"Crap.  Horatio's going to have his suit in a twist," Xander complained.

"Use it for your anniversary, Xander."  Speed drove them off, heading for a quiet, private shop he knew about.  It was on the edge of the city so no one would hopefully recognize any of them.  Hopefully.

"Xander, do you think your fan will pop up again because of the tape?" Ray asked.  "The new one."

"Not a clue," he admitted.  "I wish I knew who had hired them."  He glanced back at him.  "When are you going to Di's again?"

"Monday after school.  If I don't get expelled during the meeting on Friday."

"If they do, you can sue them," Speed noted.  "It's wrong to discriminate that way."

"Yeah, but it's a religious school.  Some of them, even at the college level from what I hear, make you sign a chastity vow.  There's a few which don't allow dating at all."

Speed grimaced.  "That's very short sighted and means you've got a high dropout of that faith's church."  He changed lanes and got onto the highway.  "We're heading just outside the city."

"Sure," Ray agreed.  "Do you think you'll be able to find out who sent you the car?"

"The DMV wouldn't say who registered it.  They said it was done in Xander's name so they didn't check ID's."  Speed glanced at him in the mirror, then behind them.  "We've got a tail."

Xander looked back. "Pull over, dad."  He pulled over and the car went past them.  "Some of the guys from school," he said thoughtfully.  "Okay.  It's safe.  I don't see them pausing."  Speed pulled back out and they headed off again.  "Interesting."  He looked back at Ray, shifting some to look at him.  "We're mostly going to look and so he can explain some stuff to me."  Ray nodded.  "Which means you can look, touch, browse, try out some limited stuff if they allow it.  Tim is the perfect permissible parent in this situation."  Speed grinned at him for that.  "You are."  He looked back at him. "You've got an allowance of two hundred bucks.  Because I went online to look at prices and this stuff gets expensive.  I've got one just bigger.  That means you can get a manual or whatever you want."  Ray beamed at that.   "Just don't tell your mother."

"When I want to drink something other than beer, can I come to you guys?"

"Your uncle said he's buying you your first shot," Speed said firmly.

"Got it.  I have to wait?"

"No," Xander told him.  "If you really want to try it, I'd suggest asking Horatio in person and trying it for a day off.  I'll go hide in my old bedroom and you two can have a bonding night."  Ray grinned and nodded.  "You need a haircut."

"I know.  Even mom's nagging."

"We'll do that later, guys."  Speed looked at him.  Then glanced back at Ray.  "Nipple ring?"  He got blushed at.  "If you want, I know a very good place to go."

"I liked the guy who did mine," Xander offered. "Very gentle and professional."  He grinned at Ray.  "He explained everything to me since I told him this was my first one and I hadn't even heard about this one before."

"Sounds like he's good," Speed agreed. "I can't believe you went alone to do that."

"Not like I could bring you.  You were angsting over the nipple ring I was thinking about."

"Point. I did overreact.  Sorry about that."  He took an exit and pulled up to a shop, noticing the car in the parking lot. "They're here."

"Crap."  Xander bit his bottom lip.  "Oh, well.  They know I'm gay."  Speed nodded and parked, letting him and Ray get out.  "Come on, we'll browse."

"Say you're eighteen if anyone asks," Speed said in his ear.  Ray nodded at that, following Xander inside.

"He's how old?" the clerk asked.

"Eighteen, just barely," Ray said, smiling at him.  "Di suggested I come get stuff to give me better smutty thoughts for her upcoming show."

"Oh.  You're that guy in the ad."  He nodded, that was good enough for him.  He looked at Xander, then blinked.  "Really?"

"Thinking," he defended.  That got a smirk.  "Special anniversary is coming up," he said, giving him a small pout.  "I thought I'd try something a bit new."

"Back wall, boys."  They went that way.  He looked at Speed, giving him a long look. "I'm so not going to jail for this," he mouthed.  Speed smirked at him and tapped his badge.  "Never mind.  Thank you.  Your usual section got moved back there too."  He glanced at the college kids then back at him.  "Have fun with that."  Speed grinned, heading back that way.

Xander was stroking over a leather strap.  "That would hurt."

"It does," Speed assured him.  He gave him a nudge, planting him in front of the handcuffs.  "Those, son."

"Yes, dad."  He looked at Ray, who was just staring in opened-mouth awe.  "Ray?"  He snapped out of it, shaking himself awake.  "Thanks."  He waved a hand at the nearby books.  "Go look."  Ray headed that way while he looked at the cuffs.  He picked out a set with a long cord between them.  They had a small spot on the headboard the cord could be hitched to.  He looked at a set of soft cuffs, running his fingers around them.  "What do these feel like when you're sweaty?"

"A little bit scratchy."  He pointed at a set.  "My ex liked those a lot.  They've got lambswool inside.  Or that one's got fake velvet."  Xander looked at those, liking that set.  "What are you doing for that night anyway?"  Xander whispered in his ear, making him moan and shift.  "Okay.  You can get the other stuff in here as well."  He pointed at something. "Those, kid."  He went to help Ray, finding him a book on the various forms of BDSM, basically a magazine but that should be enough to let him have an idea about what he wanted.  Ray got a second, older issue, on the subject of handcuffs.  Speed made the kid look at him, then led him to a tape, handing it over.  He took the issue on handcuffs. "That's more care and feeding stuff."

"Okay."  He looked.  "It's even het."  He looked at him.  "All I ever see is Xander's gay porn collection."

"He's bad about leaving it lying around," he agreed dryly.  "Did it to my DVD player a few times too."  He found him a starter's set with a wink.  "That should hold you."  Ray whispered in his ear, getting a nod.  "If that's all she wants, spit should be enough but make sure she doesn't have claws.  You don't want to have to explain a scratch up there to anyone."

"Very true," Xander agreed patiently, coming over to look at the tapes.  Speed swatted his hand.  "What?"

"A bit more hardcore than you think, Xan."  He showed him the back, watching his very unprudish son blush for the first time since he'd known him.  "That's what I thought you'd say."

"You can do that?" Ray asked, looking at the pictures.  "How?"

"Lots of lube," Speed sighed, putting it back.  He patted him on the back.  "You wouldn't like that, kiddo."  He walked them back to the section of body paint, finding the sparkly, edible stuff Xander would need for his special night.  "Candles?"

"Already coming in through one of the wiccan shops," Xander admitted, grinning at him.  "Dinner?  Or should I order?"

"You should order," he agreed, clapping him on the back.  "That way I don't have to worry about running late or catching sight of stuff I don't need to see again.  You in those stretch cord pants was more than education enough, dear."

"I thought your mate was a redhead," one of the jocks said as he moved closer.  He grinned at Ray.  "Hi."

"His mate's my uncle and that's his dad," Ray told him.  "He's allowed to call him cute and cuddly names."  The jock laughed.  "Xander doesn't even allow the mother of his son to do more than call him dear and baby."

"So you gave her a lot of hot and heavy thoughts then, good job, Xan," Speed praised, smirking at him.  "I'm sure the upcoming show will be spectacular."

"I hope so."  He grinned.  "I'm doing the dangerous line and Ray's getting my former slut spot."

"Congrats, Ray.  Come on, let's go, boys.  Xander, lube?"

"We are out," he admitted, going to get some.  Two bottles of the regular stuff, and then he saw something special.  He hesitated, looking at it, bitting his bottom lip.

"No stimulant lube, son," Speed ordered.  "Last time you nearly killed him."

"I did not!" he complained, glaring at him.  "I was very nice and I even let him sleep!  You're the one who got the migraine and made Calleigh clean!"  He picked up that one, showing it to him.

"You'll be needy and whining long before he makes it home," Speed assured him, staring into his eyes.  "That would fit with your plan."  Xander beamed and put that with his other stuff on the counter.  He looked at the tapes, then at him.  "Bored?"

"Yup.  I got told I got too loud when I was thinking about him and me together, to use this instead so I wouldn't embarrass anyone."

"Not my fault you kept Stella up from down the hall," Ray complained. "You kept me up plenty when we were in New York.  I've never heard anyone get that loud before," he pouted at Speed.

"Some people are naturally loud," he assured him.  "When Horatio's there, he only whimpers, growls, and begs."

"Sometimes I scream," Xander said, looking a bit embarrassed.  The jocks laughed at that. "Hey, you'd scream too if Horatio did you like he does me," he said with a smirk.  He saw the total and looked at Ray.  "Go ahead."  Ray's stuff got put up there and so did Speed's.  "Thanks, dad."  He paid for it and it was bagged up separately.  "Thank you," he said with a grin. "It's going to be a great anniversary."  He followed Speed out to the car.  "Shirt?"

"You really need more clothes?" Speed demanded.

"No, but Horatio does."

"Fine.  I want to know where you got that blue shirt from."  He slid into to drive, checking that Ray had buckled up and had his bag.  Xander had to get something that fell out but he slid in and buckled up.  "What was that?"

"My phone."  He held it up.  "Ray, did you take the wallet?"  It was tossed to him. "Thanks.  The wallet comes out of these pants."

"Your tighter ones have better pockets."  Ray leaned forward.  "Are they following us?"

"Nope, and I doubt one of the guys wants me to tell anyone he was looking at full-length gloves either."  Speed glanced at him. "I did go to watch stuff, Dad. It was easier than looking at the pictures.  I even brought the book in with me once."  He grinned at him.  "Some of the doms there were more than happy to explain some stuff to me."

"Damn," Ray said in awe. "How....."

"I was one of the top strippers in the anything goes circuit, Ray.  Of course I got into the sex clubs.  I never did anything in them but I did occasionally end up there to watch and figure out where I stood on certain stuff."

"Horatio still growls whenever he mentions them," Speed assured him.  Xander looked at him.  "He does."

"He does?"  Speed nodded. "Oh.  Okay."  He shrugged and bounced a bit.  "But that's doable?"

"Very.  So you're lighting the candles then laying down, right?"  Xander nodded.  "Good boy."  He reached over to pat him on the knee.  "Tell me those are real pants."

"Of course. They couldn't be this loose if they weren't."

"Di had to send us home after he tried the spread-on clothes," Ray shared. "She got a bit too bothered.  The quickies she was taking by then weren't enough."

"I don't need to know that stuff," Speed said firmly.

"Sorry," Xander sighed, grinning at him. "I'm usually a good boy."

"Yeah, because I didn't send Eric home with eight women who were trying to peel his pants off last night," he said dryly.  "Because that outfit was *your* idea, Xander."  Xander grinned at that.  "Calleigh sent a text message.  She found him with three girls waiting hand and foot on him and he was hoarse and tired."

"Sorry."

"He's not.  She yelled but he kissed her on the forehead and sent her back to work after reminding her he was a big boy.  Apparently the girls with him agreed."  Ray snickered at that.  "Eric's always been a lover, Ray, but he's not one to do anything other than usual, straight guy sex. Xander made him blush more than once about his oral sex fixation."

"Xander's or Eric's?"

"Xander's," Xander told him, smirking at him.  "I'm an oral guy.  It happens and Eric's so very embarrassed when Calleigh and I share tips on how to give the better blow job."

Ray blushed. "I don't think I need to hear those. I like women.  Thank you though." He leaned back.  "What are we getting Uncle Horatio?"

"Clothes. Stuff for work," Xander assured him.  Speed gave him a look. "Yes, that shop, dear."

"Fine."  He got onto the right off-ramp and took them to Xander's chosen shop for anything non-slutty and good clothes.  He parked and looked at Xander.  "How much did you take out?"

"Enough."  He grinned and walked inside, heading to find the salesguy who usually helped them.  He got a squeal and a hug.  "Thank you, Paul.  I'm here shopping for a special present for my man.  Do we have anything he can do for work and after?"  That got a nod and they were led to the section Horatio usually shopped.  He fingered a few, shaking his head. "He'd get that messed up at a scene or in the lab."  He touched one and ran a hand over it.  "That's nice."

"It's expensive," Speed noted patiently.  Xander glared at him. "Sorry, never mind."

"Uncle Horatio doesn't usually wear that shade of blue.  If he goes that dark he usually just does black," Ray offered.  He came over to help, finding a few.  "These?" he suggested.  "Nice fabric, cool in the heat, but good for scenes, Speed?"  Speed came over to check, nodding at that.  "Xander?"

"I like those.  And the dark blue one for special stuff," he decided, looking at Ray.  He glanced at Speed, then back at Ray.  "You wanna freak out your dad?"  Ray smirked evilly and nodded.  "Fit him for something Horatio-like as well," he ordered.  The salesman smiled.  "This is Horatio's nephew."

"Ah."  He took him to the section of the store where he could find something more hip but still fairly good enough to fit into Horatio's strict standards.  He found two for him and Xander looked then waved a hand.  "Thank you."  He took the young man to fit him, then took down Xander's choices to get them fitted to Horatio's usual measurements.  He looked at him.  "Do you need anything special?"

"No, I'm tying myself down for him that night.  I'll need something special for our real second anniversary."  That got a nod and he went to fit Ray's second choice.  Xander headed to the register, nodding that he liked Ray in that one.  It didn't even need much fitting.  It was almost exactly like Horatio's tan suit and black jacket outfit.  "Let him wear that home, just in case," he ordered.  Ray tittered, his mother kept picking on him about being Horatio's son instead of his father's.  Ray turned to check his stance in the mirror, making Speed choke when he saw how exact he had Horatio's usual hands-on-hips stance down.  He grinned at him.  Xander smirked at him.  "Yelina said he should be a redhead," he teased.

"Yeah, I can see that."  He watched Xander pull out a card he didn't know about it, taking it to look at.  "What's this?"

"From my special draw account that I set up as soon as everything got fixed."  He handed it over and it was run, getting a smile.  He signed the slip and handed back their copy, letting the salesman box up Horatio's presents. Ray's other suit came back from the seamstress who had put in the few darts for him, and it was put on the proper hanger for him.  They went back to the car and Xander beamed at his dad.  "Thanks.  Am I getting dinner?"

"You might be buying smelling salts instead," he taunted. "They're at work."

"Can I hide that stuff with you?"

"Yup.  Probably a good idea since Horatio can get a bit nosy."  He looked at Ray.  "You want dropped at the station or at home?"

"Can I hide my stuff with Xander's for now?"

"Sure, Ray.  Come pick it up tonight or tomorrow after work."  They got in and headed back to the station.  Speed followed behind the two boys, shaking his head at the guard's amused look.  "Xander's idea," he mouthed.  He stopped to page Yelina to her brother-in- law's office, then headed that way with the boys.  His mother and father, plus his uncle, all looked up as Xander walked in, grinning at him.  Xander waved a hand and Ray came in, posing.  Horatio choked.  Ray spluttered.

Yelina just smirked and shook her head.  "Nicely done, son."  She got up to adjust his collar.  "There, perfect."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Grow up like your uncle, son."  She kissed him on the cheek, earning a very familiar smirk.  "Good boy."  She sat down again, looking at her former husband.  "Horatio has been a very good influence in his life.  He looks very smart in that suit."

"Son," Ray Sr. moaned.  His son shifted again and he was *exactly* like his older brother.  "Why?"

"Because Uncle Horatio is a very nice guy and I'll need one anyway for the school thing."  He shared a smile with his uncle. "Xander helped."

"I just stood and watched," Speed defended.  "You've corrupted my son fully, H.  He's got good taste in suits."   He grinned at Yelina.  "That's why I paged you."

"I figured as much when I saw where it had come from."

Horatio looked at his nephew.  "A bit more trendy than I'd usually wear, but you do look good, Ray.  I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Uncle Horatio.  I've got another one in the car.  Xander couldn't decide."

"He often seems to have that problem."  Xander just smiled sweetly at him.  "Are we celebrating our anniversary?"

"Yes, but you're coming home from work after calling me to say you're leaving," Xander ordered.  "We're doing a quiet dinner at home."  Horatio nodded at that. "I promise not to cook."

"Thank you.  I will call before I leave the station."  He smirked at his nephew, getting one back.  "Comfortable?"

"Surprisingly so. Definitely not something I want to wear a thong in, but comfy enough."  His father moaned, sounding almost like he was ready to cry.  He looked at him, then at his uncle.  "Are we talking about alternate school options?"  He sat down, getting comfortable.

"Sit up straight, son," Yelina ordered.  He sat up and had to get up to adjust his pants.  Then he sat down and smiled.  "Thank you.  Have you thought about where you'd like to go?"

"St. Eppie's."  She blinked.  "I've already passed their test last year."

"That's a very expensive school," Ray sighed.

"And?" Xander snorted.  "I can do for him what Timmy did for me.  If they accept him, he can go.  That way he goes to a good college and does something he wants to do."  He stared Ray down. "While I can shop away all that I got given, why would I want to?  It doesn't do anyone any good, even if all the clerks do work on commission."  Ray blinked at him.  "Ray, I got given an estate in Dubai by my present giving fanclub.  His school fees are *nothing* to me.  He's going if he's accepted.  End of discussion."

"Xander," Horatio warned.

"Ray Jr. is my family, Horatio.  He's going to best damn school we can afford.  It's not like my schooling will take all that."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Hell, I can afford his tuition with my interest, the same as I can mine.  By the way, I'm having to take a different english."  He looked at Ray.  "Call them, see if you can still get in.  Tell them what's going on."

"I already have.  They agreed I could.  They want to make sure Mom knows that tuition went up again."  He shrugged. "Thank you, Xander."

"As dad pointed out numerous times, education is important to do anything in life.  Even if you do end up living off your body as a model, you'll eventually age.  Therefore you will go to school."

"Yes, dear."  He grinned at him.  "Plus, I can use some of my fees from Di's last show to afford it."

"That's for college," his mother ordered.

"Yes, mom."

"She paid you for those ads, right?" Speed asked.

"Ads?" Horatio and Yelina asked together.

"The catalog, guys.  We told you about that," Xander said firmly.  They both nodded and relaxed at that.  "Thank you."  He looked at Ray again.  "We'll go see them together with the guy who's over my trust."

"Thank you."  He grinned at him.  "It's a much better school academically.  I wanted to go last year but it's like college tuition."

Xander nodded.  "I've seen worse.  Don was ranting about a preschool that had a twenty- seven grand a year tuition they had a case at."

"That's insane," Speed noted.

"Yeah, but it's for the kids who come from that money.  They've got their own set of schools."

"St. Eppie's isn't quite that bad, but academically they get a lot of kids into Yale and Harvard," Ray said with a small grin for his uncle.  "So, if I hit MIT and do my CSI college training up there, does that mean I can come in higher?"

"No.  College is college unless you come in with a speciality for lab work," he assured him.  That got a smirk.  "If you want to go to MIT, I will support you, Ray."

"Thanks, Uncle Horatio."  He looked at the clock, then at his mother.  "Were we doing dinner tonight?"

"Your father and I were going to talk to his counselor."

"Then I'm going to go home, change back into sweats, and have dinner."  His mother nodded.

"My counselor would like you to come, son," Ray offered.

Ray Jr. looked at him.  "Tough." He stood up.  "There is probably nothing you can say that will make me forgive you for fucking around on my mother, making us think you were dead, or putting my mother through that sort of hell.  Ever.  Consider it a finished topic of discussion before I start getting sulky and look more like Speed than Uncle Horatio."  He hauled Xander up.  "Come on.  Let's head home.  Speed?"

"Of course."  He winked at Horatio.  "Give him warning before you go home that night, H.  By the way, don't bother looking, I'm hiding it for him."

"Thank you for the warning."  He watched them go, then looked at Yelina, Xander's usual helper for trouble.  "Has he mentioned our anniversary?"

"No.  Apparently it's something special since he made Speed go shopping."  She stood up, smiling at him.  "I'll see you at the hearing?"

"If at all possible," he agreed.  She nodded and walked out.

"My kid is way too much like yours," Ray Sr. complained as he stood up.

"I was a good influence in his life," he assured him.  "That's what an uncle does, Ray.  I'm sure that was more of a tease than anything else."  Ray snorted and walked out looking unhappy.  The boys had pushed it but it had been cute.  His nephew had his mannerisms down to a t.

***

Horatio walked into his house that evening, sniffing the air.  Someone had cooked Indian food.  He walked into the kitchen, finding everything on the stove waiting for him.  Plus the packages from the 'quick fix meals' in the trash.  Xander could usually fix those.  He dished himself up something and walked out, finding his mate leaning on the back of the couch.  He gave him a kiss.  "Thank you for dinner."

"Least I could do since it looked like you were stressed," he offered quietly.  "Eat, Horatio, then I'm going to rock your world."

"Really?"  He ate a bite.  "How?"

"You'll see."  He grinned.  "You've got milk outside since it's a pretty night and that's spicy."

Horatio smiled and walked out onto the porch to eat.  It was his preferred dining room most nights.  Xander came out with his own plate, earning another smile.  "He did look good."

"I figured it would make his father moan.  It seems I was right."  He waved his fork around.  "Ray's got another thing coming if he thinks his son will forgive him easily.  Ray's mad enough to walk away from his mother if she takes him back."

"He is?"  Horatio ate another bite, hitting a packet of spices, which made him gulp his milk.

"Sorry, didn't mix it well enough?"

"Pepper," he offered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.  "Have you two been talking?"

"I've been playing wall.  When he asked for my opinion I pointed out my parents wouldn't have cared about my emotional well-being so I couldn't really say. He's been using me to vent his anger and frustration."  He ate a bite and sipped his milk.  "By the way, he mentioned the drinking thing today while we were out.  Speed and I both told him to come to you in person and talk to you about that, and I'd go back to my old bedroom for a night while you two bonded."

"Thank you."  He gave him a look. "You make a very good father and uncle, Xander."  Xander beamed at that.  "Ray is trying."

"Yeah, to make me kick his ass."

"He's trying to make things right," he said quietly.

"Horatio, he smelled like chemicals today.  Was he in a hospital setting?"  Horatio shook his head.  "Are you sure?"  That got a nod.  "Was he in rehab?"

"He is."

"Did they do a drug test?"

"When he came in.  It's too soon to do another one, Xander.  They do them weekly."

"I'm not saying he is, Horatio, but he did smell like chemicals to me."  He gave him a look.  "I'm not willing to let anyone go through that hell, not a second time.  The same as if Suzie suddenly started to use again, you'd start seeing a lot more of Madison around."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Plus, one of the ladies at the club last night asked if I knew him and if I was using too.  Apparently she had found a connection for his cocaine."

"Crap."

"She left before Frank traded out.  I gave her Yelina's phone number since she said she lost his."

"Thank you.  That's fairly mild meddling."  He leaned back, going back to eating.  "He could be working."

"He could be.  Then again, he's not back on the force yet, Horatio."

"Point.  I'll call him later to make sure of it. I heard Yelina give someone his phone number earlier.  Then she went to have a go at the heavy bags."

"I'm sorry if I caused her to ache, Horatio.  I figured the easiest thing would be for her to intercept it.  Even if she covered and claimed she was sleeping with him it'd still be better."

"It is.  I'll call him later."  He smiled at his mate.  It had been a quickly thought plan but it would have kept another contact from sucking Ray back down.  His cell rang and he answered it.  "Caine."  He listened, nodding.  "That's fine, Yelina.  Of course."  He smiled at Xander. "He said he did since she asked him about Ray wanting cocaine."  He nodded once.  "Thank you."  He hung up.  "She said the woman told her he had an order in. She said to thank you for sending her to her instead of directly to him."  Xander nodded, looking a bit down.  "It was a good idea.  She said he's not working at the moment."

"I'm sorry, Horatio."

"I know, Xander. It's not your fault.  You've got to lay blame where it belongs in this case.  With Ray.  I do.  It's his addiction that's sucking us down."  He ate another bite and had some more milk.  "We'll deal with this as a family and cushion Ray Jr. where we can."  He smiled at his mate, who nodded.  "Who was it?"

"Willow had a slight magic addiction starting," he admitted quietly.  "Also, Jessie had a small use habit.  Not an addiction but a like for it."

"I'm sorry."

"His wasn't out of control by any means, it was just a now and then thing when he needed a pick-me-up or something.  Maybe two or three times a year during really bad tests and the like."

"Cocaine?"

"Uppers."  He looked at him.  "The two dealers in Sunnydale weren't that well stocked.  Sometimes it was someone's ritalin, sometimes it was something else.  As long as it gave him a boost he was good with it now and then.  Like I said, a few times a year, nothing further."  He ate another bite and had some more milk.  "Can we switch topics before I get depressed and you end up just cuddling me tonight?"

"Of course."  He gave him a gentle smile.  "How much leeway do I have to give you the night of our anniversary?"

"Half an hour should be good.  Dinner will be something cold that'll be in the fridge."  He nodded, smiling at that.  "That way I can order it earlier that day."  Horatio really smiled at that.  "We all know my skills are not culinary."  Horatio nodded.  "I did okay tonight but this is my level of ability in the kitchen."

"Plenty of people can't cook, Xander," he assured him.  "It took me a while to learn as well."  He finished his plate then his milk, taking it into the kitchen.  He put up the leftovers and turned, finding Xander's plate had been snuck in there with him.  He put it into the dishwasher and turned it on, walking out to find Xander bent over the couch, naked.  He undid his belt, moving closer.  "So this is your devious plan tonight?" he asked in his ear.  He tested his body, finding it unstretched but lubed.  He moaned and slipped out of his clothes.

"I was thinking naked yoga to inflame you but some people prefer to watch my butt flex," he teased, wiggling it a bit.  "I bent over in front of Di and she came from watching that."  He steadied himself on the couch as Horatio thrust in, clamping down on him.  "You're huge," he moaned.  "Please, Horatio."  Horatio pulled back and pushed back in, making him squeeze to caress his cock as it slipped back inside him.  "Oh, this new lube is wonderful!"

"It is," he agreed, continuing on.  Xander bent over more, giving him a better angle.  He stroked his back.

"Please, Horatio, not needing the gentle stuff tonight," he begged.  "I promise, I'll let you make me go sub or whatever for you, please!"  Horatio moaned at that, speeding up some.  "Anything you want!  Just put me in the position and have me."  That got him harder thrusts so his mate liked that idea.  "Tie me under your desk here so I'm constantly sucking you, all day.  My tongue, my mouth, hard, soft, getting back there."  Horatio slammed into him, holding him down now.  "Please, babe.  Anything!  Ooooh, please!"  Horatio sped up, smoothing over the sweat that was dripping off him.  "Anything you want."

"Xander!" he growled, pulling him up just enough to reach his cock for him.  "I have what I want."  He slammed into him, coming hard.  Xander whimpered, arching into his hand.  He stopped stroking him, licking over the sweat on his mate's shoulder.  "If I put you under my desk it'd be in the office at work, that way I could get the stress relief I need when I need it.  Doing it all day would make me very sore," he whispered in his ear.  Xander shivered and shifted his stance.  "Maybe I'd have you against my blinds again?  If I remember right, you had to clean the windows and the blinds that time."  He gave him a flick of his thumb across the head.  Xander whimpered, pushing forward.  "Not until I say. You did offer me anything," he reminded him.  Xander nodded. "Anything I want?"  Xander nodded again, moaning again since he changed his grip's strength, making it just a bit looser.  "What should I do with that offer, Xander?"

"Naked yoga?" he panted.  "Anything you want, Horatio."

"Even straightening out the closet?"

"You'd have to put a cock ring on me.  It's not like it gets me hot."

Horatio licked his neck, making him shiver.  "It would get me hot.  That way I could find things in the morning."

"I splurged, you've got clothes for tomorrow," he moaned.

"I thought you might have.  I should protest the presents, Xander."  Xander let out a whining noise.  "But doing that would make you find some other way to spoil me."  He gave him a gentle stroke.  "Would you... let Ray Jr. have your pornography collection?"

"He's the reason I have it!" he complained. "He said I got too loud when I used us to masturbate to."

"Ah."  He hummed as he tasted the new sweat that had come up.  "Would you give it to him?"  Xander nodded. "All of it, even what you got today?"

"I need the stuff I got today for reference.  Anniversary," he moaned when Horatio tightened his grip again.  "Everything else."

"Good boy.  Plus you'll help me straighten the closet?"  Xander nodded quickly.  "Naked?"  Xander shivered and nodded.  "Good boy."  He pulled out and let him go, earning a weak sounding whimper.  "If you're a good boy I'll relieve that when I come back up.  Now, go clean yourself up so we can see my new outfit.  It had better not be leather either."  He spanked him when Xander stood up to kiss him.  "Be good, Xander.  I don't need this many presents."

"I was going to wait but I wanted to see how you looked in it," he said, grinning at him.  "It was going to be part of the anniversary present."

"That's fine then."  He stroked through his sweaty hair.  "If you're a good boy I might even take care of that sooner."

"I straightened out the closet earlier, there's towels and socks in the dryer, and your underwear in the washer," he offered, moving down to taste Horatio's throat, making him moan. "Sheets were changed.  I put the mail on your desk to take care of the water bill and the letter from my parent's attorney.  I will gladly clear off my laptop and give it all to Ray, or both of them, if you want."  He kissed him.  "I only use it when I need hot thoughts to get me ready for you and I can't get that loud, or for ideas."

"You get loud?" he teased.

"Only when I'm alone."

"I'll have to lurk and find out for myself."  He heard the beep from the kitchen, glancing that way.  "What?" he called.

"Just getting dinner," Ray Jr. called.  "Please finish him off sometime soon. I'm going to sit on the beach."  He walked past them with his dinner, taking it out and down to the beach that was off the back porch so he wouldn't have to watch.

"Ray?" Xander called.  He came back and opened the door.  "Not that I'm complaining but why are you here?"

"I'm not killing the crack ho who came to see my sperm donor.  I told her he's been kicked out and we don't care where he's living.  I suggested she try the Hyatt."  He closed the door and went back to his dinner.

Xander blinked at Horatio.  "They came to the house?"

"Apparently."  He stole a kiss.  "You still need it?"  Xander pushed against his hip so he stroked his gently.  "You do rock my world, Xander, every day, but I still don't need that many presents."

"Shut up, Horatio.  It's my prerogative to mark my mate and make him look very hot so everyone can drool but not touch."  He moved to rub against his mate's stomach, making him tense up and get hard again.  "I think you'll look so hot you'll have to leave before I get up so I don't rip it off you," he whispered in his ear, getting a shiver.  "I might even let you take the porsche in since my other one is due back tomorrow."  Horatio moaned at that.  "That way you can make sure Eric makes it in."  He laughed and kissed him, letting them rub off against each other.  "Did you like the new lube?  It has something to help you stay hard longer."

"You make me want to come just from giving me a smile," Horatio assured him, whispering it in his ear.  Xander whimpered and came.  He was nice enough to go down to clean him off then suck him off, making him wind his fingers into the dark hair for balance.  Otherwise he'd fall on top of him.  Someone opened the door but he didn't care.  He came with a growl and Xander cleaned him up.  He pulled him up to kiss him.  "We'll talk about your desk idea the next time I'm stuck doing paperwork on a Sunday."  He gave him another kiss to stop the silly grin he was getting.  He looked toward the door.  "Ray."

His brother unfroze, blinking at him.  "Um, sorry."

"Out, Raymond," Xander ordered coldly.  "I don't need an audience to make love to my husband."  Ray turned and fled.  "Good."  He looked at him.  "If he is, I don't want him near Eric, Horatio."

Horatio hummed and nuzzled his throat.  "Not an issue, Xander.  If he is using, he's not getting near our son.  Nor his son if possible."  He stole another kiss. "We should shower and see if we can calm Ray down."  That got a smile and they went to share a shower, putting on shorts when they were done to join Ray outside.  Horatio sat beside him, taking a piece of dropped broccoli off his pate to nibble on.  "Are up all right, Ray?"

"I'm fine.  My temper's calmer."  He glanced at Xander, then at him.  "Sorry to intrude, Uncle Horatio."

"Not a problem.  At least you didn't try to watch, like your old man," Xander offered, patting him on the back.  "Someone came to the house?"

"Yup, to deliver to him."  He looked at his uncle.  "He's not back on the case, right?"

"I'm going to find that out tonight."  He stroked over the back of his head.  "Our spare room can sleep you as well as Eric, Ray.  You know that.  As does the couch."

"Thank you, Uncle Horatio."  He leaned against his shoulder.  "If he is, I'm not sure I could stand it.  If he's not working, I'm not going home if he's going to be there."

"That's up to you," Horatio agreed quietly, comforting him.

Xander got up and headed into the office, dialing a number.  "Maeve, it's Xander, Horatio Caine's husband.  I have to ask your husband a question about Raymond.  May I please?" he asked quietly.  "Thank you."  He waited while she told him that, smiling when the Chief of Detectives got on the line.  "It's me.  We need a truthful answer, just among the family.  Is Raymond working again?  One of his old buddies came up to the house. His son's crying outside on Horatio's shoulder."  He nodded, making notes.  "Thank you, Chief.  No, we're good.  Why?"  He smirked.  "That was Speedle.  Tim's my might-as-well-be father.  You know that.  Yeah, clean shaven looks a bit different.  I'm guessing his date that night made him."  He smiled.  "Thank you.  No, we're not going to say anything except to Horatio, Yelina, and his son.  It's ripping his son up."  He smiled.  "No, that was my idea," he admitted.  "Thank you."  He hung up and took his notes out there, handing them to Horatio while he took Ray to hold.

Horatio read the note, looking at Xander. "The Chief?"  That got a nod.  "Thank you."  He looked at his nephew.  "We've got that unused storeroom, Ray.  If we have to, we'll let you move in there.  All right?"  Ray nodded, wiping off his face to look at him.  "He's not going to be going back to the force.  If the Feds want him is another matter but his cover was blown in New York."  Ray slumped.  "Call your mother, tell her you're here."

"Shit, I left the new porn stuff out," he muttered.  Xander handed him his keys.  "You're sure?"

"Very.  No tickets."  Ray nodded and headed home for a bit.  He looked at him. Then he hugged him.  "I'm sorry, Horatio."

"It's his fault, I've got to remind myself of that," he agreed, keeping himself calm.  "You straightened out the closet?"

"I got the pointed hint this morning."  He gave him a weak smile.  "I even hung things up like you do."

"This I should see."  They walked inside, leaving the note on the back of the couch.  He looked in the closet, finding the suit he knew he didn't have to pull out and look at.  He ran a hand over it.  "This is very nice."  He noticed the tag was gone, as usual.  "Expensive?"

"Not as much as my last one," Xander offered from the bed, grinning at him.  "It was going to be part of my anniversary present but, well, I wanted to see you in it sooner."  Horatio smiled at that, taking it to the mirror to test it against himself.  "The salesman, the usual guy, had it fitted to you."  He shifted, putting his arms behind his head, stretching out with his legs slightly spread.  "Did I do a good job, Horatio?"

"You did a very nice job, Xander."  He put it back carefully, running a hand over the suits.  His shirts were even hung facing the same direction and his ties had been hung properly, not that he wore them but it was a nice touch.  He closed his closet and looked in Xander's, finding it neat and tidy as well.  He looked at his mate, who smirked. "Got on a roll?"

"Yup.  Mine, the drawers, Eric's."  He shrugged. "I got in a cleaning mood today and I even did the laundry."

"We should fold it," he admitted, closing that closet and coming over to take his mate's mouth again.  "Very nicely done and you do have excellent taste, Xander."  He took another kiss, ignoring the knock on the door.

"Xander?" Calleigh called from the doorway.

"Busy!" he yelped as Horatio bit him on the throat.

"Is that stuff yours?"

"Yes!  It's for the anniversary celebration."

"Okay, just making sure.  Are we hiding it?"

"Yes," Horatio called.

"Sorry. At least I'm not giving it away.  Um, it'll be in your old closet, and by the way, someone sent you some mail there.  I put it on the couch."  She hurried out and the door closed behind her.

"Okay," Xander agreed, grinning at him. Horatio gave him a long stare.  "Candles and a special outfit for me."

He hummed, then took another kiss.  "The truth, Xander?"

"That was," he moaned, arching up against him.  "I promise it is a special outfit for me."

He looked into his eyes then nodded.  "Fine, I won't look or try to find out more," he promised.  Xander grinned and flipped him over to climb on top. "This time.  I get to plan our official second anniversary."

"Sure."  He removed his shirt for him and put it down, carefully folded. "No sense in marking it as dirty."  He moved down to tease the lightly furred chest, groaning when the door opened.  "Ray, go wait outside!" he called.

"Yes, dear."  Ray Sr. headed that way.

"Fuck," Xander moaned.  He looked at Horatio, who shrugged.  He nipped him, making him yelp.  "He can wait."

"He can."  He pulled Xander's head up to kiss him again.  "Your mouth, Xander. Please?  That way I get to be noisy this time."

"I'm going to work myself off for you later," he promised.

"I meant to suck me, Xander, not make me harder by whispering dirty things to me."  Xander just grinned and went down to relieve his ache.  Horatio let himself get loud this time, arching up into the talented mouth.  "Xander!" he shouted, holding him down as he worked himself harder up and down the throat.

Xander had to pull off.  "No breath play, Horatio.  Please."  He went back to it, making sure he couldn't be trapped this time.  Horatio came with a loud swear, his hips snapping upward hard enough to make them pop.  Xander cleaned him up and looked up at him.  "Are you all right?"

"Perfect."  He pulled him up to kiss him again.  "Breath play?"

"Faith tried to choke me that once," he admitted.  "Not my thing."

"Good.  I'd never do it on purpose."

"I know.  You were frantic."  He took another kiss.  "Think we should go out there?"

"No," he said honestly.  "That would be polite and Ray Jr. is probably on his way back by now."  Xander hummed at that, licking across his lips.  Horatio took another deep kiss. "Later I'm going to watch you get loud, Xander.  Count on it."  He got up and put back on his shirt, tucking it in as he put back on his shorts.  Xander adjusted himself.  "Can that wait or should we handle it now?" he teased.

"Let it wait a bit.  It'll make me noisier later."  Horatio smiled at that and took his hand to lead him out there.  "Raymond," he said firmly, sitting down in his usual spot at the table.  "What's wrong?"

"I saw some stuff on my son's bed."

"He asked," Xander agreed.  "That way he's got another viewpoint on what he was thinking about trying."

"My son...."

"Shut up," Horatio told him.  "Your son's sex life is not yours, Ray.  Besides, if I remember right, you went through some pretty hardcore things back in the day yourself," he said calmly, sitting down beside his spouse.  Ray gaped at him.  "I remember having to pull you out of an S&M club a few times, Ray.  That does prove he's your son."  He looked at Xander.  "Bondage?"

"He thinks he's a switch, we were giving him realistic scenarios so he could figure out which side he liked more.  He got a magazine, a few tapes.  Stuff to show him what he wants.  By the way, he is still firmly het and his current girlfriend still wants to go sub on him.  He did get a pair of squishy pink handcuffs for her."

"A trial set is a good idea if you're thinking about it and is fairly cheap," Horatio agreed. "The really good materials if you're serious about it are a lot more expensive from what I've seen."  Xander nodded.   "You looked?"

"Remember, I've got severe trust issues," Xander said quietly.

"I remember."  He kissed the back of his hand.  "If you want to try that, mildly, not as a lifestyle, you'll let me know."  Xander nodded that he agreed, grinning at him.  "Thank you."  He gave his hand a squeeze and they both looked at Ray, who was glaring.  "What?"

"You're mushy and cute with him, Horatio.  You're acting like it's more than sex."

Horatio held up his left hand to show his ring.  "What would make you think that, Ray?" he asked dryly, glaring back at him.  "Xander is my spouse.  That does imply deeper feelings than simply sexual desires and the need for stress relief."

"Whatever."  He glared at Xander, then at Horatio.  "He could go inside."

"This is my house as well," Xander noted dryly.  "I do live here.  I paid off the last of the mortgage for his birthday."  Horatio gave him a look.  "I did. Didn't I tell you?"

"No.  Where have the checks went?"

"Hopefully back into your account.  Should I check on that tomorrow?"

"No, I'll do it."  He looked at his brother again.  "Anything you care to say can be said in front of my mate, Raymond."

"Where's Suzie?"

"Protected," Xander assured him.  "Firmly protected.  Her daughter's getting very good treatment and she's very safe and well-cared for.  She's loved and Ray considers her his little sister.  You've got an amazing son, Raymond.  Too bad you didn't see that earlier."  He heard his car pull up.  "That's my delivery.  Storage area?"

"It should be fine and it's got a doorway," Horatio agreed quietly.  Xander nodded, going to head off Ray Jr and take him that way.  "I protected Yelina from the fact that Madison existed," he said quietly. "At least until she got sick.  Then it was necessary."  Ray swallowed.  "You will go nowhere near her, Raymond.  She doesn't need that in her life.  She's clean and straightening her life out.  She's doing everything she can to help her daughter have a good life.  That's why she cleaned up."  Ray looked at him.  He stood up.  "Now, I believe you should leave, Ray.  It's clear that you're not taking rehab seriously."

"I am...."

"Ray, I can see the shakes and I can smell it on you," he said quietly. "Get serious about it or don't come back.  I don't want that around our son or your son.  I will shield your son from you if I have to.  I've been doing it now for years."

"That was the Feds...."

"You could have let us know when you went on assignment, Ray.  You didn't.  You destroyed your son's life when you died.  Yelina and I kept him on suicide watch for nearly eight months."  His brother let out a small moan.  "You destroyed them both when the rumors started about you being dirty and using drugs.  Now, you're obviously not serious yet.  You will get serious about rehab or you will not come back, Ray."

Ray stood up.  "This is your little toy speaking," he spat.

"No, it's not.  It's me speaking."

"We're family!"

"Family doesn't destroy each other and I'm going to keep your family out of your harm's way. Far away from you being able to harm them."  He stared him down.  "Out, Raymond.  Until you're serious and clean."  He stomped off.  He took a deep breath and called Yelina.  "It's me.  Your son is here."  He listened to her rant.  "Yelina, one of his friends came up to the house. Your son came over to request sanctuary."  He sat down.  "The Chief said he's not going to be coming back.  The cover the Feds had him under was blown in New York when he went after Stetler the second time.  No, he's here.  Ray apparently picked up something to see if his interests were reality based or not earlier when Xander went shopping with him."  He smirked.

"Xander said he's mostly interested due to his girlfriend but we've got that spare room if he needs it, Yelina.  The Chief told Xander.  I was holding Ray while he cried.  No, I sent him away when I noticed he had the shakes.  Did you explain this to Suzie?"  He nodded, letting himself slump.  "He did ask about her.  Xander said she's safe and left it there.  I will.  Thank you."  He hung up and called her.  "Madison, it's Horatio.  Is your mother there?"  He smiled.  "Suzie, it's me."  He listened to her happy babble. "That's good news."  He smiled.  "No, I don't.  He asked about you and Xander said you were safe and to leave you alone.  I don't know, Suzie.  Is he right, are you safe?"  He smiled.  "Thank you.  Yes, that would be good.  Thank you."  He hung up and went to find his nephew and husband.  "She's locking him out of the hospital."

Xander looked at him. "I asked Gordon for advice.  He called her earlier to ask her about a restraining order.  Father Benis is looking after her as well.  He and I talked about her last time we had tea.  He agreed it's right of us to protect her, Horatio."

"I'm glad and I'm more than willing to help wherever I can," he promised. He gave him a gentle kiss. "Your mother said to stay over tonight. You forgot a DVD."  Ray moaned, holding his head. "I told her it was an interesting thought due to your girlfriend and you had picked it up earlier when Xander took you shopping."  That got a nod.  "If you do move in, I will not allow you to bring a girl home, Ray."

"Not an issue.  I'm not ready to do that yet, Uncle Horatio, and I doubt she wants to watch you two cuddle.  She's not sure she understands why people are gay and if she can watch people like that, as she put it, but she's glad they're around and happy to be together."  He shrugged.  "She's still thinking about that stuff."

"Plenty of people think and rethink things time and again over their lives," Xander agreed dryly.  Ray smiled at that.  "We'll figure it out if you move in, Ray.  It'll be awkward but we'll deal."

"Sure.  I'm far enough away that I shouldn't hear it, even if you do get noisy."  That got a smile from his uncle.  "Plus I can always go hide on the beach for an hour or so."   That got a grin from Xander.  "Are you sure?"

"You're my nephew, Ray. It's what an uncle does."  Horatio gave him a friendly grin.  "Now, let's sit down and watch tv while Xander cleans out his pornography stash."

"Can I have the video of you dancing?" Ray asked.

"You can have all of it.  He said I don't need it," Xander offered with a grin.  "Whatever you don't want, give it to Eric."

"The bigger one, right?"

"My son had better not turn out to be the love toy Delko is," Xander snorted.  "Monogamous relationships, not serial loving."  That got a smile. "Even if he ends up in a trio I'd be fine with it as long as he was firmly monogamous at that time."  That got a giggle. "I would be.  I keep wondering when Willow's going to pull in another woman to give her some lesbian lovin' and to give Ryan someone else to fuss over."  He shrugged and went to do that since his mate had commanded.  It wasn't like he needed it.  He did keep three things, he had warned Horatio that he was keeping some stuff for inspiration.

***

Horatio looked up as Speed stepped into his office, looking down the hall.  "Problems?"

"Willow."  He motioned him closer.   Horatio came over to look, blinking at the gauzy, clinging gown that made her look very sexy.  "My phone's dead.  Where's Ryan?"

"Fingerprints last I knew."  They went their separate ways, him going to lead Willow away from the windows.  "Willow."  She smiled at him and hugged him.  "How are you feeling?"

"Not so fat today.  This is a *great* dress that Diana made."  She beamed at him.  "Where's Ryan?  He said to come up for lunch."

"Speed went to get him."  He licked his lips and glanced around. "Did you realize that's fairly see-through in the sunlight?" he asked quietly.  She shook her head.  "It makes you look very nice, Willow.  Make sure Ryan's able to work this afternoon."  He heard the cough and got out of the way, watching Ryan's reaction.

Ryan looked at his wife, his eyes narrowed.  Then he walked forward and grabbed her pushing her against the wall kiss her stupid. "I wondered what that looked like on you."  He kissed her again, hitting the button for the elevator.  "If I'm late, I'll make it up, Horatio."  He got her into the elevator and down to her car.  "That would be so hot under strobe lights."  She blushed and he smirked at her as he backed out.  He shifted into drive and then his hand was otherwise occupied while he drove them home for lunch.  It wasn't going to be quick by any means.

Horatio walked back to his office, finding a lunch bag in there.  He looked inside, then smiled. His mate did take good care of him.  He sat down, sniffing the soup. It was from his favorite deli even.  Speed came back.  "Did he bring you lunch too?"

"Xander hasn't been here, Horatio.  So unless that came by magic."  Horatio put down his spoon and recapped it.  "I'll check with reception."  He went to do that, smiling at her. "Who brought Horatio lunch?"

"His brother."

"Thank you."  He went back there.  "Ray brought it."  Horatio sniffed it then took a cautious bite, then shrugged because it tasted right.  "Want me to test the other stuff?"

"The other's a sandwich," he offered, pointing in the bag.  "It's got Xander's name on it."  Speed came over to get a sample and test it.  They would not be taking any chances with Xander's well-being.  Horatio would be destroyed and the city would be going out in a big ball of flame if something happened to him again.  He smiled as Xander came in.  "Ray brought him soup."

"Hmm.  Good thing I brought him cobbler then, huh?"  He grinned and headed up there after handing Speed his lunch.  He leaned in.  "I brought you blueberry and raspberry cobbler."  Horatio moaned so he carried in the small container.  "Made locally but with fresh berries."  He stole a quick kiss and grinned. "I'm off to spend tons more on books that I'll never look at."  Horatio smirked at that.  "They are horribly expensive."  He shrugged. "Should I pick up the dry cleaning and are you still doing the monthly billing?"  That got a nod as Horatio popped the top.  Xander pulled out a tinfoil container from his jacket pocket and handed it over.  "It's not right without vanilla ice cream."  He smirked at him and walked off whistling.  "Eric, I'm going to the college bookstore, you need anything?"

"See what they're using for Chem 308," he called.  "I need the new edition if it's this year's and see if they've got anything on different religions!"

"Sure.  Anyone else?"

"See if they've got a new DNA text," someone called.

"See if they've got the newest edition of the Chicago handbook!" someone female yelled. "I'm working on a paper and I'm hopeless."

He took notes on that.  "Calleigh, the new ballistics manual and mags?" he called.

"Please!  I let my subscription lapse by accident.  Thank you, Xander!"  He grinned and made another note while she snuck up to see what Horatio got for lunch.  "No fair, he found somewhere that made cobbler.  Can I have a bite?"

"Tim has some."

"His won't have ice cream.  You're special."  She dug into the bag and found the extra spoon, then took a small bite.  "Thank you, Horatio."   She walked off savoring her treat.

He shook his head, sometimes she was really playful.

Eric leaned in.  "We're all giving Xander book orders.  Payday's this friday, right?"  Horatio nodded since his mouth was full.  "What's that?"

"Cobbler."

"Huh?"

"Fruits, topping, his probably has ice cream," Speed said from beside him, licking off his spoon.  "You need the new Chem 308 book why? I've got it at home."

"You've got two editions before.  This new one's got a section on microscopic organisms in the waters around here."

"Another good reason not to dive."  He walked off eating another bite.  His son spoiled their unit horribly.  He saw Calleigh coming and held his cobbler above her head, making her try to jump while he smirked and watched.

She kicked him in the shin and stole the rest.  "Thank you," she said sweetly, walking off to finish it.

"For that I'm getting a whole one with ice cream and handcuffing you while I eat it in front of you!" he called, rubbing the sore spot.  Frank laughed.  "Xander brought cobbler."

Frank handed over another tin.  "He handed me that first, he said she'd steal it on you and you were too big a softy to stop her."  He smirked.  "Where is the boy wonder?"

"Heading for the bookstore."

"Ah.  So he'll be bringing back new references for the library?"  Speed nodded and went to eat his cobbler away from the greedy one.

***

Ryan looked up as someone coughed from the doorway of the lab.  "What's up?" he asked the receptionist.

"There's a courier here for Horatio and one for you," she offered quietly. "You're the only one here though."

"Coming."  He walked out, going to find out what they wanted.  He recognized one.  "Horatio's on a scene."   That got a nod.  "If you'll give me ten I'll call him after I deal with the other one."  That got a smile.  He smiled at the other guy, getting a grunt and a large pair of boxes put in front of him.  A clipboard was put in front of him.  "What's this?"

"From the bookstore, sir.  We were asked to deliver by one of the football players."  He looked at it and Ryan pulled his badge so he wrote down his name and badge number.  "Thank you, sir."  He walked off.

Ryan held up a hand and got into the first box, frowning at that.  "What the hell?" he muttered.  He called Xander.  "Football player?"  He listened to the slightly amusing story.  "Why is the football team buying us soil samples..... oooh.  Thank you."  He hung up and looked at her.  "Get me a handtruck.  This is about that body found last month."  She nodded, going to get him one.  He looked at the other one.  "Let me call Horatio."  He called him, getting him immediately.  "We have soil samples from a football player in Delko's name, another box I haven't opened, and the usual courier from Father Benis here."  He handed over the phone and slid the boxes onto the handtruck that was waiting.  "Thank you.  Make sure I get my phone back."  It was handed back along with an envelope.  "What's this?"

"A letter, Detective."  He swallowed.  "Father Benis took a turn for the worse this morning.  Horatio was trying to protest but it's time."  He nodded and walked out.

Ryan called Horatio back.  "He's taking a severe turn for the worse, Horatio.  Yes, him.  No, it's a letter.  Want me to open it and read it to you?"  He looked at the phone then opened it, scanning it, leaving the check in there.  "I'm sorry I lasted longer than I thought I would.  I didn't mean to drag on the anxiety.  My security personnel have instructions to protect Madison and her mother as long as Madison is a minor.  They also have orders to protect your young man and young Eric."  He folded it back up.  "Sure.  I'll be looking over the soil samples in the lab. Right with me, Horatio."  He hung up and stuck it inside his shirt pocket, then hefted the cart back and down the hall.  He walked them into the trace lab, lifting off the first box to look through it.  There were a lot of soil samples, each packed in tupperware containers.  "Not bad for amateurs."   He filled out a sheet about what was in there, numbering and tagging each sample.  Everything but the first one went back into the box.  He started to process that one's composition by distilling some through a paper cone with some sterile water.

While that dripped, he pulled out his knife and looked at the second box.  Something was off about this one.  He frowned and put his knife back up.  Then he took pictures of both boxes for the records.  It wasn't so far off protocol.  He put the handtruck back in the hall and moved that one next to the windows, away from the table.  He wasn't sure what was in there.  Xander said his book delivery was still in the back of the porsche.  He tipped his head in the other direction.  He looked it over more carefully, finding a small wire on the edge of it.  "Shit."  He pulled out his phone and backed out.  "Suspicious box in the trace lab," he reported, bringing officers running.  "It came with the bookstore guy, from the college, it came in Delko's name.  It was on the bottom.  There was a box on top of it.  I found a wire."  Horatio came jogging down the hall.  "I'm not sure what it is, Horatio."  He got a nod and Horatio handed over the present solution and that box.  Then he and one of the other officers looked at that box.  "The wire was on the side nearest the computer."

"Move back, Mr. Wolfe.  Or else I'm firing you," he warned.

Ryan walked off, moving the samples out of the way. The distilling went into the DNA lab.  "Don't touch that yet. Something that came had a wire sticking out."  She nodded and carefully put it off to the side.   He headed back into the hall, then looked in there.  "Horatio, should I clear the lab?"

"Do that," he ordered. "That is a bomb trip wire."  He called the bomb squad in and then started lab evacuation procedures.  He turned it over personally, heading out after doing a quick check to make sure everyone was out and after getting something out of his desk since it was right upstairs.  He followed the last tech out, nodding at her in the entryway.  "To the further edge," he ordered everyone.  "We don't know how strong that is."  Everyone walked off.  "Mr. Wolfe."

"I swear, Horatio, he said it was from a football player at the bookstore."  He handed over his camera.  "It was in Delko's name.  The top one had grass samples when I looked.  I called Xander, he told me why.  I only checked the top box.  I got them into the lab on a handtruck, then I lifted off the top box and cataloged and counted the samples."  He handed over that sheet.  "I started the first one running and went to catalog the second box, but something felt wrong."

"It came with the same delivery man?"  Ryan nodded, staring at him. "Did he look like he was from the bookstore?"

"He was surly.  Kinda gruff.  The other courier was there with him. Oh, bad time for this."  He handed that letter over, it got put into his pocket without being looked at.  Xander pulled up.  "He's seriously worried."

"As he and your wife should be.  You looked it over?"

"I looked it over next to the table but something was still bugging me so I moved it next to the windows and looked it over again.  I saw a really thin wire and then I called it in, getting the other stuff out and across the hall when you handed it to me.  I thought it'd be the same stuff."

"It's not a problem, Ryan.  You did good.  Good instincts."

Xander came over, looking at him.  "Way to go Willow," he said quietly, making Ryan stiffen.  He touched something on his neck.  "A warning.  It's to make you feel odd if something could hurt you."  He stared into his eyes.  "I've got one on Horatio.  It has to be redone each month."

"That thing she drew on my neck?"  Xander nodded.  "It's what caused the funny feeling?"

"Made it stronger.  It acts with your natural instincts, Ryan."  That got a small smile.  He heard the explosion and ducked, then looked at the building.  "Let's hope someone's okay."

"Everyone should be fine," Horatio said, moving forward.  The officers on the doorway stopped him. "I need to get in there."

"They detonated it by remote, Lieutenant.  They couldn't do more than shield it.  That lab may be destroyed.  They said no one in yet."  Horatio glared at him.  "They overrule you, sir."

"I was one of them.  Let me in."  He noticed the guy looked at Xander.  "No, look at me," he ordered.

"Sir, the Chief is back there."  He got a nod and let him in.  Horatio glanced back and the Chief nodded for him to go.  He calmed himself, looking at Xander, who shrugged slightly.

Ryan looked at him.  "What was that?"

"Nothing."  He looked at the man next to him.  "Morning."

"Afternoon.  Where were you?"

"College bookstore."  He held out a name and address.  "That's the courier Ryan said was with the other one.  He's very good at giving ids."

"Thank you, Harris."  He walked off to get someone to find him and ask him, politely, to help them.

"Be nice to him," Xander yelled. "He's a college student who works for a former priest!"  That got a nod from Officer Mitchels, who headed off to find him.

"Father Benis sent a letter," Ryan told him quietly.  "He said he's going downhill."

"Fuck."  Xander went back to his car to call.  "Gordon, it's Xander.  I just heard we got a letter.  No, part of the lab just exploded.  Tell him we're going to need a good description of the guy he was waiting with.  One of the officers who's guarded me in the past has his name and home address. Thanks.  No, Horatio's inside.  No, he was outside when it exploded."  He held his head.  "When?"  He nodded, swallowing. "Of course.  I'll get Don.  Thank you."  He hung up and called.  "Flack please.  It's Xander, tell him it's damn important.  Tell him it's about Father Benis."  He waited all of two seconds.  "He's gone," he said quietly.  "Funeral's on Thursday at three."  He listened to him.

"Need tickets?  I'm there.  No, part of the lab just exploded.  Someone sent Eric an exploding box and thankfully Ryan realized something was wrong.  Thanks."  He hung up and called his money manager.  "Get tickets immediately to New York to come down for Father Benis' funeral," he ordered quietly. "It's Thursday.  I know it's Tuesday.  Do it anyway," he ordered.  "Or I will.  You mean like your job?" he noted dryly. "Thank you."  He hung up and called Gordon again.  "Not to bother you or anything but I'm going to fire that idiot you had me put over my trust.  No, I ordered him to get tickets to New York for the funeral.  He tried to refuse.  Thank you.  I'm sorry, Gordon.  What can I do to help?"  He nodded.  "Agreeable.  Be there tonight with Horatio.  Thank you."

He hung up and rested his forehead against his steering wheel.   He jumped when the alarm went off, turning it off on the keychain remote.  He got out and turned it off again, looking behind him.  "What the fuck?  How stupid are you!" he demanded, kicking the guy trying to bomb this car.  "Someone come get this fucking moron before I prove I can make sharpshooter!"  A few guys ran over to get him.  "Thank you."  He turned off the alarm again, letting the bomb squad guys who were coming running take care of it.  "Let's not blow my car up, please?  It's got my textbooks and my son's birthday present in there."  He looked at Ryan, then walked over since Horatio was out. "We're needed on the island tonight."

"I'm...."

Xander held up a hand. "He's dead, we're needed on the island tonight.  Don's coming down since the funeral's on Thursday."   Horatio nodded at that.  "I told Gordon I'd be there."

"If I can get free for a few hours," he agreed quietly, handing him the letter.  "That came earlier for me."

Xander read it, then smiled sadly and gave it back to him.  "That's for you.  Even the check."  He walked off, heading for the bus stop.  "Make sure I get my textbooks."  He tossed an officer he knew his keys.  "In case they need it."

"Yes, Xander."  He watched him go, then looked at Ryan.  "What happened?"

"The old guy who was spoiling him was dying of cancer," Ryan explained.  "Xander looked just like his son.  He died today."  That got a few 'awws'.  "So he's not having a good day."

"Putting it mildly," Willow offered as she walked up to him.  She looked him over, then hugged him. "You're okay."

"I'm fine."  He stroked her back.  "Thank you for the protection," he whispered.  She gave him a squeeze.  "Xander said it built on my natural skills."

"It does."  She pulled back to stroke his cheek. "Horatio, if I can help I will."  She looked at him.  "Not like I don't know my way around a lab and a computer."

"I know, Willow, thank you."  He looked over as the head of the bomb squad came out.  "Are we clear?"

"Everything but those two labs."  He looked at Ryan.  "Good catch, kid. We only had two minutes to disarm so we couldn't."

"I wish I had realized it sooner."

"What ifs are great but they eat you alive," he assured him.  "You did good and didn't get dead.  What's this about a second device?"

"Xander was calling his benefactor and someone else to announce his death," Ryan told him.  "He was in his car and his alarm went off.  He found the guy trying to put it on it."

"In the parking lot, in front of a group of officers.  I'm impressed at the stupidity of some people," he decided.   He walked that way. "Boys?"

"C-4, sir.  The idiot is in custody.  IAB is already down here."  He pointed at the unconscious guy on the ground a few feet away.  "Harris went home, sir."  He let him see the device. "He asked we not blow up his car since his textbooks and his son's birthday present are in there."

"Where is Harris?"

"Bus, sir. He's having a bad day."

"I heard."  He looked at the device, then yanked the connectors from the block of C-4 to the timer.  "Okay, dismantle and take it off."  They pulled it off the bumper, taking off the magnet first. He noticed Horatio coming over.  "It's clear but we'll check, just in case.  Shouldn't you be with your boy?"

"My husband will pick me up later."  He looked at the bus stop but the bus had already come.  He looked at his former coworker, helping him up.  "We need to go over the damage."

"It wasn't the new trial labs," he offered.

"Thankfully."  They walked back inside with the chief so they could examine the damage before everyone else came in.

"Horatio, I'm sorry about this."

"Me too," he said patiently, looking at the destroyed wall.  The front wall of the trace lab, part of the connecting wall between that and the next one, and then the nearest set of windows on that one.  "At least it wasn't high powered enough to take out the whole lab," he decided.  He looked at the damage.  "Speed will be pissed, that's his lab."

"We barely have the budget to fix the damage, Horatio," the chief said quietly.

"It looks like the equipment is all right and that's under maintenance contract.  We'd only have to pay for parts."  That got a sigh of relief.  "Do not even think about asking Xander for a donation."

"I won't, not today.  Is he all right?"

"He'll be fine.  He's a strong man."  He nodded.  "Okay.  Speed gets this one, Delko the other one.  They can sort and clean when they come in.  That way we can find any samples that may have been compromised."  That got nods.  "Go ahead and release the rest."  He looked around then headed up to his office.  His pictures had been knocked over but they were easily righted.  He called Xander.  "There's almost no damage and your car is fine," he offered quietly.  "Are you all right?"  He mentally sighed. "I'm sorry, Xander.  I will try.  If not, maybe I can get Speed to go with you.  No, he's not in trouble.  Thank you.  I'm sorry."  Xander hung up on him.  He hung up his phone and looked at the pictures, then went to make assignments.  "Ryan, are you fit to work?"

"Yeah, boss, but Willow's insisting she's hanging out in the break room."

"That's fine.  Speed gets the Trace lab to clean it.  Eric, take the other one."  That got a nod.  "Where is Speed?"

"He and Calleigh are still on their scene.  Alexx just brought the body back," Eric offered.  "I left the trainee doing mine."  Horatio gave him a look. "I was nearly done, H.  Just the last few nitpicking things like sifting the sand.  I told him he's to report each and every single step he was doing."  That got a nod.  "I figured you'd need me back here."

"I do.  Get to it.  Rebox any samples that were present so we can see if they were compromised."

"Same as we did in Calleigh's," he agreed, going to do it.

Horatio nodded, looking at Ryan.  "Your instincts fed into it, Ryan.  That's very good work.  Are you sure you can work?"

"I'll go insane or hurt her back again if I don't."

"Try not to do that," Horatio said dryly.  Ryan smirked at him.  "I know.  Take the samples to another lab and get back to processing them.  You can go through the computers in Chem for it."  Ryan nodded, going to gather those samples and the box, dragging them both down the hall with him.  He checked in DNA, hissing at a few tipped things.  Both DNA techs came in.  "Check it, see if anything was compromised.  I need a report immediately on what that may be, also on anything that's broken or damaged."  They nodded and headed in there.

"What the fuck, H!" Speed yelled as he walked in.  "A bomb!"

"In your lab," he agreed, pointing.  "Clean it, give me a report immediately on anything that was in there, anything that was compromised, and anything that needs fixed."

"You mean besides the walls!" he demanded.

"Speed, calm down."

"No!"

"Speed, one of us has to be calm for Xander.  Father Benis died today."  Speed glared at him.  "What?"

"That's a husband's job, Horatio.  I've held him when he cried before.  I gave him to you when you married him."

"I know that."

"Good, then you can take two hours off."  He walked into his lab and looked around, groaning a bit.   He pulled out the gloves, mask, and tweezers to start pluck bomb debris and components, then moved from there to the walls and sample containers.  Then the computers.  By then it was dinner time.

***

Xander pulled up in front of the old house, parking and getting out.  He nodded at the guard.  "There was a bomb."  He walked inside, finding Gordon waiting on him.  "Sorry.  We had a bomb at the station."

"Is Horatio hurt?"

"No, he's in charge.  Two labs were damaged and some samples tipped or spilled in DNA."

"This is a husband's job," Gordon said.

"Sometimes work has to come first.  He'll be there for me at the funeral."

"He has to be here tonight before we can start, Xander.  Also, Don's flying down now.  I'm having him picked up.  We have to have Horatio out here by the time he's here."  Xander gave him a look.  "Call him."

Xander sighed and sat on the staircase, calling his mate.  "Gordon says you have to be here or else something will happen. You have to get here by the time Don is."  He hung up and looked at him.  "How long before Don gets here?"

"An hour at the most."  He called that guard to tell him to stall.  Then he looked at Xander.  "Unfortunately if he's not here, the will will be declared invalid and it'll be split between all of us equally."

"The bad of that would be?" Xander asked.

"There's some special bequeaths."  Xander nodded, getting that.  "Come on, you can have some tea."  He led him back into the kitchen.  "You drove the porsche?"

"I had to pick it up since they got the bomb off it."  He looked back as the door opened then closed again.  "Eric."

"Horatio's on his way but he had me tail you to be here in case he couldn't get here in time."  He gave him a hug.  "Are you all right?"  Xander shook his head.  "Okay.  You want to talk, I'll be up most of the night."  Xander smiled and patted him on the hand.  He nodded at Gordon.  "He would've driven out with him but the Chief was trying to make his life difficult."

"He'll be here too."  He looked over as Horatio walked in and shut the door.  Then he looked at Eric. "He could probably use someone to drive him home.  Or his car if his mate doesn't go back to work."  Eric smiled and nodded, giving Xander another hug.

"I'll be okay.  It's not the first one, Eric," he said calmly, patting him on the arm.  "I promise, it'll be okay.  Can you take my car back to the station?"

"You sure?  It might not be safe there."

"If anyone's stupid enough to try it again after the guy earlier, then they deserve to have their heads kicked in."  He handed him his keys.  "You can even drive it around to impress some girls."   Eric gave him a weak grin.  "I'll be fine.  At the very least I can pick it up tonight."  Eric nodded at that, heading out.  He looked at Gordon. "I also drove it because the other one doesn't have a security system if I had to leave it somewhere tonight," he said quietly.  "Like the station."

"I understand."  He looked at Horatio as he finally came in.  "Thank you."

"Why did I have to be here?"

"Because if you're not with him by the time Don Flack gets here, then the will would be counted as invalid and then the specific bequeathals would be invalid, like the one to the children's hospital in Madison's name, Horatio."

Horatio nodded, accepting that.  "Thank you."  He looked at Xander, but Xander brushed his hand off his shoulder.  "Xander," he offered quietly.

"You'll be there Thursday, Horatio."

"I wanted to come.  I was going to come later."  He sat down next to him. "Gordon?"  He left them alone.  "You know sometimes work has to come first."

"I know."  He looked at him.  "Remember to have this talk with Willow when Ryan doesn't make it to her side while she's in labor."

"It won't happen. I won't let that happen.  I was going to head over within the next half an hour anyway."  He stroked over his cheek.  "I'll have to go back for an hour or so, you can stay with me."

"I'll take the car home. I had Eric take it back to the station."  He looked over as the door opened.  "See, the boss."  He looked at him again.  "I have no idea what I'm getting into here.  I would appreciate someone being there, but I didn't need it to be Eric.  Or Dad."

"I know.  I'm sorry, I was trying in case I couldn't be here in time."  He looked into the angry eyes. "I know, Xander, and I'm sorry."

"Thank you."  He took his tea to the other room, giving the Chief a look, getting a wince in return.  "Yeah, that's where the mazerati that got you guys the extra cars came from."

"Damn it."  He moved closer. "I'm sorry, Xander."

"So am I.  He was an incredible man who mentored a bunch of people and I can only hope he's proud of how I'm looking over Ray Jr. and Eric."  He sat down, looking at Gordon.  "Don and who else?"

"Just Don.  Unless he brought someone with him."  He gave him a gentle smile.  "He was very proud of you muscling Ray Jr.'s new school to accept him that Monday plus paying his tuition. It made him laugh.  As did the fact that Eric's birthday present is one of those bouncing ponies like his son used to have."

"I had one too and I loved it until the springs broke."  He took another sip of his tea.  "Should I want to run?"

"No.  Not in the least, Xander."  Xander nodded at that.  "It depends as much on what Don says as what you say," he offered.  That got another nod and another sip of tea.  "Chief, he's just landed so we've got to wait for Don to get here from the airport.  Would you like some tea or coffee?"

"No, that's fine," he said tiredly.  He looked at Horatio.  "Head home after this."  That got a nod.  He glanced at the boy, then at him.  "You should be over there."

"He's mad at me. I'll be next to him later."

"I'm not that pissed or that deaf," Xander said patiently.  "Nor am I that stupid."  He glared at the chief, who backed off.  "Thank you."  He looked at Gordon, who gave him a stare.  "What?"

"He said you'd get mad."  He pulled him up and into the office to talk to him.  "He knew someone was going to try this week, but he wasn't sure when.  That's why he put that clause into the will, to make sure that Horatio would be there for you, Xander."  Xander shrugged.  "He is, you know that."

"I'm just pissed at life at the moment."

"I realize that.  We all realize that."  He gave him a gentle smile.  "I knew Patrick for years, Xander.  He's the one who got me into law.  He was an amazing man."  He heard the door slam.  "That sounds like Don."  He gave him a long look.  "He loved you like his own son.  He thought Eric was a little hellion in the making and would someday have your smile and mischievous nature that you showed before you met Buffy."

"He knew me back then?"

"He did."  He patted him on the shoulder.  "Are you ready?"  Xander shook his head.  "Can you use some of that famed strength of will and hold up for the next three hours?"

"Yeah, I'll break down later.  I did after graduation."

"This isn't the same sort of battle, Xander, but nearly."  He walked him out and back into the other room.  "I thought that had been you, Don.  I'm sorry."  He shook his hand.  "Because of who and what he was, his will won't be probated.  No one's going to challenge it."  He led them all into the study, the only room that had a comfortable table to sit around.  Xander looked up and around, frowning a bit.  "It is modeled on your former hangout," he admitted dryly.  "He thought it charming you hated learning and hung out in a library."

"That's where the necessary things were."  He sat down, looking at Don, who was next to him.  Then he gave him a hug. "I'm sorry, Don."

"Me too, kid.  Now let go."  Xander let him go, keeping a hand on his arm.  He looked at Horatio, who simply nodded and took his husband's other hand to hold.  "Why are we doing this now?  Isn't it supposed to be done after the funeral?"

"He wanted it done before.  That way you and Xander could quit swearing before the graveside service."  He looked at them.  "You won't be happy."

"All I want is the picture he held in blackmail," Don told him.

"You're not getting it, Xander is. You're getting his."

"We'll trade back later," Xander assured him, giving his wrist a squeeze.  "Are we all here?"

"Yes."  He unrolled the top of the desk and pulled out the thick folder.  "The details of what everything is."  He sat down, puling out a single sheet.  "I, Patrick Reynold Harris- Benis, being of sound mind, do hereby make out this, my last will and testament," he read.  He took a deep breath.  "Before I go any further, let me say this was agonizing to watch.  I've helped many young men reach their full potential over the years and watched many of them be destroyed by the lives they chose to live.  First, to the local community, this house will be gifted upon the inheritor's death to be made into a safehouse for abused men and their families.  Until that time, I am bequeathing the city of Miami ten million dollars for that construction and only that construction.  The inheritor of my foundation shall look over your shoulder to make sure of it since it is needed."  He cleared his throat. "Also, to the MDPD, I bequeath the sum of eight million to do whatever Lieutenant Horatio Caine believes is necessary to bring all the labs in the city up to the standard of his."  Horatio nodded at that. "There was an emphasis on all, I'm not sure why."

"I do."  He looked at him.  "He knew?"

"He knew someone was planning something but he wasn't sure who or when, Horatio. That's what the check earlier was to be used for."  The Chief sighed in relief.  "To be decided by him and only him, Chief, including that other eight million."  He looked at the paper.  "Should I go over the smaller bequeaths, like my house?"  Everyone shook their heads.  "Then onto the difficult part.  To my nephew, Donald Flack Junior."  Don stiffened, glaring at him.  "I do leave him a choice.  He can either have this house and run my foundation or he can have an equitable sum that amounts to half of my monetary assets and leave the running to my grandson, Alexander Harris."  Xander glared at him.  "It is his choice and his choice alone.  I do charge whichever runs it that they will heed my wishes in relation to the promises I've made for the next few year's grants and scholarships, also that you keep the staff on for at least another year, until you're comfortable with it.  Should they come to an agreement to do it together that should be fine," he read. He put the paper down and patted the rest of his stack.  "The rest of his monetary assets were mostly in things, boys.  Patrick was a very old, old being."  Xander raised an eyebrow.  "He was turned."

"Then how did he die of cancer?"

"He had it when he died, it's been slowly growing somehow.  We think it was something in Ethan's sidelines."

"He's sane?" The Chief asked.  Xander lit the candle in front of him with a snap of his fingers, making him pass out.

Gordon smirked. "Show off."

"No shit.  Apparently that comes from my grandfather since my uncle has it too."

"Xander," Gordon warned.

"I don't need money or things!" he said hotly, standing up.  "It's not what I need, not why I liked talking to him!  It's not what I want!"  He stomped off.

Don stood up.  "Give us ten."  He followed him, finding him outside.  He turned him around, tipping his face up. "Not what I want either.  If not, it all gets sold and no one watches out for his people, Xander."  Xander sniffled and he let him cry on him.  "Shh, I know."  He gave him the cuddle he needed, noting when Horatio came out.  "Do you want to do it together, Xander, or do you want to do it?  I can't do that stuff very well."  Xander shook his head.  "No what?"

"I don't want it."

"Xander, I can't do it and it'll leave his people high and dry."  He made the kid look at him again.  "That'll let someone like the Chief take out all the scholarships and stuff."  Gordon came out.  "We're still talking."

"You've got a few hours to decide."  He handed them a small packet of tissues and an envelope.  "To be read during this.  That was his fear."  He looked at Xander.  "He left it in Don's hand because he's older and he's not sure you've got the energy to head his empire, Xander.  That's why it was made him or both of you if possible, or you and I'd be standing behind you until the day I died in another eighteen months."  Don gave him a harsh look. "Lung cancer."  He shrugged. "I had a passion for cigars."  He looked at him.  "He was very proud of you, Xander.  In everything you did.  The Flack's were his married family.  Don is his wife's nephew.  When his last wife died he joined the priesthood.  His son refused to talk to him because he had turned to God in his desire for relief from his grief.  His son moved to Sunnydale and had you.  Patrick was turned a long time ago but he only served in places without enough holiness in them to affect him.  He was already a priest."  Xander looked at him, making 'go on' motions.

"His sire left him most of this.  Including this house.  Upon the decision and the signing of the paperwork, all the crap he got left, his own words, would be sold off at the auction house you used, through the same person.  If neither of you agree, we can't do that and his foundation dies."  Xander slumped and nodded, looking at his feet. "The only decision is if you're both going to do it together or not. That would mean Don would have to be in contact a lot more often and even down here, plus you'd have to be back in New York a lot more often."  He patted him on the shoulder.  "Also, you've got a bit of an inheritance left.  His preferred house was downtown and that was left to you, while his condo in New York was left to Don.  Those aren't included in the foundation's things.  Just things that he inherited from his sire."  Xander nodded, looking at him again.  "So will it be both of you or just him?"

Don handed Xander the letter.  "He makes sense."  He looked at Horatio, which made him move closer.  "I always said you were like my little brother."

"Well, Uncle Don, that's not going to change," he sighed, handing Horatio the letter.  He looked at Gordon.  "I have to stay in school to swim."

"Xander, if you continue, they're going to start looking into your past.  They've already done that.  I had to blackmail one guy to make sure he didn't mention you were a former stripper."  Xander slumped.  "You can still compete but if you do, you have to be aware of that stuff."

"The athletic director wanted me to disavow my past," he admitted bitterly. He moved his hair back, then looked at his husband.  "Horatio?"

He looked at him, staring into his eyes.  "Whatever you want.  You know that.  If you want to continue swimming that's up to you, Xander.  If you want to do this, I'll do what I can to support you.  I agree, if you do it by yourself you'll have some problems."  He moved closer, holding him for a moment, then he kissed him on the temple.  "I'm just as much behind you as you are me," he said quietly.  Xander relaxed in his arms.  "You are my mate, Xander."  Xander nodded at that.  He pulled back to look at him.  "It is up to you."

"Don?  It's your choice."

"Together, Xander.  I can't do this on my own.  I'd fuck it up within weeks by pissing off the wrong person."

Gordon smiled at him.  "I doubt it.  He's never been one to put up with the rich boy lifestyle.  Thank you.  There's one last thing I have to read."  He led them back it the study, nudging the Chief awake.  "Are you feeling all right?"

"Fine," he said, looking at Xander.  "How?"

"Don't ask.  I can't explain it.  It's about where I'm from."  He looked at Gordon.  "Last thing?"

"Since you've decided to do it together."  He cleared his throat when Horatio came back in.  "Called the office?"

"Told them I'd be in tomorrow morning and for everyone to close up and go home to sleep."  He sat down and took Xander's hand again, getting a weak squeeze.  "What other clause?"

"Not so much a clause as an instruction."  He cleared his throat again.  "I'm glad you boys made the right choice.  You'll need a guiding board and you've got a few very good candidates near you.  Once the auction has happened, set it up so you're not the only one doing things. I know Gordon's reading this since he'll go later than I will so listen to him about his suggestions on how to do things. He's the one who set this foundation up for me.  Also, should something necessitate Xander's life being in peril, yet again, in a serious and severe manner, the whole of the estate can and should be liquidated.  The house can be given to the city.  The houses that the boys want can stay.   It is up to Xander and Horatio to say when and if that happens."  He looked at Horatio.  "He knew what was in his gas tank."

"His life was in danger but it's been fixed."

"That's fine."  He went back to reading.  "Should this emergency occur, the foundation will be broken apart, the rest of the assets split evenly between the boys, and their lives will be filled with doing good works, I hope.  Don, dress nicely and make that nice Danny boy happy.  Oh, and get Stella something spectacular that makes men drool.  She could use being drooled over.  A woman like her could use it."  He smirked at him.  "He had a small crush on her.  She was a lot like your aunt from what I understand."

"His son during the fifties?" Horatio asked.

"His first son with his very first wife.  The one that sent him to the arms of God was his third.  Xander's father was born when Patrick was nearly seventy-two."  Horatio nodded, getting it suddenly.  The whole vampire thing worked on that timeline.  "His second wife was barren.  His first one had two children.  The first died of a young child's disease, much like Madison from what I was told.  His other one you found.  It led you here.  His third wife only had that one son."

Xander nodded.  "He was always a bitter man."

"That's because he hated himself and his life.  He hated his father for not pampering him.  Patrick came from money.  Oh, Don, you're from his second wife's family."

"Dad said he was the baby of the family."  He frowned at Xander.  "Doesn't matter, you're still a relative."  Xander gave him a weak smile.  "Any other orders?"

"The auction has already been arranged.  They've had everything listed and he was going to do it before he died."  He looked at the notes, then at them, nodding. "Yes, there is.  He said to make sure that Xander's past is protected. There's more things there than you think, including the evil that's coming from that town for him.  Remember, Xander, it won't ever truly let you go since it loves you."  Xander shivered but nodded.  "In the private bequeaths was my house, a few other things like Madison's donation to the hospital and for her care, Horatio, and enough for each member of the staff to have approximately fifty thousand dollars each.  Those who served longer got more."

"The courier guy, he's on scholarship?"  Gordon nodded.  "That's in there?"

"It is.  He's been with us since we pulled him off the streets at sixteen.  That's not his natal family, they kicked him out for being gay."

"Pity.  I like him, he's a nice guy," Xander said quietly, looking at Don.  Then back at Gordon.  "He had really good gaydar?"

"He did. It wasn't acceptable in his lifetime but he did lust after a great many men.  Which was why he split with the church."  He shrugged and leaned forward.  "The last instruction was to not grieve for him, Xander.  He had a longer life than most and it was mostly happy.  Also to leave Ethan and his ways alone."

"If at all humanly possible," he agreed dryly.

"Thank you.  Ethan was a valuable ally in his last few years."  He smiled at them.  "The auction is next week, and I'm sorry, Xander, but you're going to have to pull out of school this semester.  You're going to be much too busy to attend even the easiest, non-homework bearing classes."  Xander grimaced.  "Even with everything set up, it might not be possible next year either.  Also, about the porsche.  He said it was cute.  It was another Middle Eastern gentleman."

"Oh please, no," Xander begged.

"One like him and his sire, Xander."

"Fuck me," he muttered, shaking his head.  "Would Angel know?"

"Do you want to hear the laughter?"

"No!  But it's better than putting up with it."

Don looked at him.  "We, Xander.  We."

"If any of us go, he's liable to try to keep us the hard way."  He slumped down, looking at his mate.  "Why do they like me?"

"I've often wondered that."  He gave his hand a squeeze. "Thank you, Gordon.  Did you need them to sign things tonight? I should take them home, let Don have our spare room."

"Speed's putting me up," Don assured him.

"I want this noted now.  If I get turned, you're all coming with me.  Speed, Eric, Danny, Stella, Mac, Horatio, all of you."  They both smiled at him.  "We clear?"  They nodded.  "Good.  Gordon, can we dissuade him?  Or should I send back a stake?"

"I've sent one of those in your name.  He laughed and said you'd make a good consort."

"I have one of those.  No one touches my consort or me."  He sat up straighter.  "I need a long, hot bath. What's up with the signing stuff?"  It was sent down to him.  "All this?"

"Every last one, Xander."  He sighed and caught the pen Horatio tossed at him.  "Thank you."

"I've had to carry one today with how many forms I've had to sign."  He looked at his boss.  "For obvious reasons, I do hope that whoever's behind these stupid attacks will be stopped sooner."

"Me as well."  He stood up.  "When can we expect that check?"

"After the funeral.  It will be done quietly. He wanted no press involvement.  Quietly given to City Council in his name."  That got a nod.  "The only one who was getting any press was the auction and Madison's donation."

"Who was Madison to him?" the Chief asked.

"The daughter Ray had with the young woman he cheated on Yelina with; she's ill," Horatio told him quietly.  The Chief gave him a horrified look.  "She's got cancer, Chief.  He's making sure she gets the best care while her mother is putting her life back together again."  That got a nod and he walked out.  "I don't like alienating him," he offered quietly.

"He's retiring next year anyway, Horatio.  Fortunately we've gotten one of the threats out of your way.  He retired under strong pressure that came from the fact he was dating outside his race and he doesn't believe in that."

"He wasn't *dating*," Xander said dryly, handing Don another form.  "He was molesting outside his race, Gordon."  He shot him a look and went back to signing.  "The other one's got a fondness for boys himself.  He used to come in and sneer a lot but the guys who gave the blows often got privates with him."

"Thank you, Xander.  I love you dearly.  I will be behind you as much as humanly possible.  I've refused my chance to be turned."  He gave him a gentle smile, then one to Horatio.  "He did wish you'd take him on a real honeymoon, Horatio.  Not just a weekend away somewhere quiet."  Horatio shrugged. "I know, you have to protect the city.  Some day you'll have to retire and then who gets the lab?"

"Speed or Eric.  Calleigh would be gone by then," Xander said, giving him another look.  "Calleigh was thinking about not moving further up the chain after watching Horatio have hair-messing days."

"I have those?" Horatio asked dryly.

"Yup, those are the days the paperwork gets so bad you end up running your hands through your hair.  They're the days I come in to smooth it out for you and bring you the extra special lunch."  He signed another one and handed it over.

"Xander, quit dating stuff.  You're putting the wrong year."

"Sorry."  He just signed his name and handed them over, making Gordon chuckle.  "Horatio keeps track of that stuff for me.  That's why he realized our second anniversary of having met is coming up."

"You stormed into my life, threw a fit, and changed it forever," Horatio agreed.  Gordon took the stack of signed things, handing a few to Horatio.  He gave them an odd look then looked at Gordon.  "Why my signature as well?"

"Those need a witness, Horatio."

"Oh."  He took Gordon's pen and went to work signing what he needed.  He gave Xander's hand a squeeze.  "No more fighting, Xander, I can only blame this on those head injuries."

"The last three weren't my fault," he defended, looking at his spouse.  "One was a serial killer.  One was that nice little car crash we had.  And the other one was something that chased my ass down to hunt me, honey.  Forgive me for forgetting the year."  He got back to work.

Horatio pulled Xander up and into the next room, looking at him.  "I was teasing."

"You're always going on about that stuff."

Horatio kissed him.  "If you die before me, the world will end," he said quietly.  "Then I'll follow you."  Xander opened his mouth.  "Everyone knows that.  The bomb squad guys were going over what to do when I bombed the city if an officer managed to injure you that badly."  Xander shook his head slowly.  Horatio nodded.  "Yes, Xander.  Besides, this is the first time I've mentioned your hunting in weeks."  Xander frowned at him.  "What day is this?"

"Tuesday."  He gave him a cautious look.  "I'm not that far gone."

"You're exhausted," he said gently.  He kissed him gently.  "I was only teasing."

"Maybe you're right and I'm tired."  He rested his head against Horatio's shoulder. "It's late.  We can go home after this, right?"

"Of course.  We'll go home and take a hot bath, then I'll carry you out to bed after you fall asleep."

"Fuck the bath, just put me to bed," he whispered.  "Please?"

"Anything you want and need," he promised.  He tipped his face back up.  "We need to get back there."  Xander nodded, leading the way back. "He's tired, Gordon."

"I realize that. There's not that much more to do, Horatio."  He pointed at the smaller stack.  "Some of those need initials.  Find the post-it arrows, Xander."  Xander nodded and got back to it, at least until Don took the pen from his hand.  "I'll bring them over in the morning," he said gently.

"The photos?"

"At the funeral, Don," he said patiently.  "You'll have everything then."  He stood up.  "Go ahead and take him home, Horatio.  I can stop by in the morning."  Horatio nodded and stood up, taking Xander out to the hummer to take him home.  "Ethan!" he snapped.  "Quit picking on Xander!"

Ethan walked in, looking at him. "I'm not.  I'm giving him the solace he needs tonight, Gordon.  He's had a very bad day and it's not going to get much better."  They shared a look.  "Don, please finish signing what you can and I'll have you driven home."

"Sure.  What's going on?"

"It's a complicated story," Ethan admitted.  "Please."  Don nodded and got back to work on the rest of his stack then what he needed to do of Xander's.  He finally slid them down and stood up, grabbing his jacket.  "I'll be the one you see at the funeral," he told him quietly.  "Gordon's getting more and more ill.  He was coughing blood earlier."  Don nodded at that, accepting it.  "Have a better night."

"I'll try.  So why knock Xander out?"

"For a very good reason.  Something was trying for him again."  Don nodded, taking that and going out to be driven off.  Ethan gathered up the rest of the papers, then looked at Gordon.  "Begone," he said softly.  Gordon and the other ghosts in the house faded out, leaving him alone but for a housekeeper, who was crying in the kitchen.  He took everything with him and headed out to bring her home.  Then he went to rest.  They'd had to do that while the spirits were still around.

***

Xander looked up as someone knocked on the door, getting up to answer it since Ray Jr. was reading.  He blinked at the man on the other side.  "Ethan."  He waved him inside without an invite.

Ethan stepped in and looked at him.  "There's a reason.  Raymond, may I have a few minutes without you?"  He nodded and headed out to sit at the table on the porch. His uncle had told him he had to stay there.   He looked at him.  "Patrick was the sort to inspire blind loyalty, Xander."

"A cult?"

"Not quite but his staff mostly committed suicide after him.  All but a few of us."  Xander's face hardened so he handed over the paperwork.  "I made sure it didn't go to the Miami- Dade PD.  That way your husband wouldn't hear and tell you."  He put the papers into his hands.  "You need to finish signing them."

"What the hell?" he demanded.

"You're still open to that," he said, poking him on the forehead.   "That's why you took the sudden nap.  You're welcome."  He waved a hand at the papers. "Gordon had my help appearing for that last night.  That's what he wanted and it was a kinder death than lung cancer."  He handed him a pen.  "Finish signing."

"How do I know you haven't screwed with them?"

"Xander, your grandfather was the one who introduced me to Ripper, a nice man of my own age instead of himself."  They shared a look. "You look every bit like Patrick when he was younger.  I owe the man my sanity from where Ripper sent me away. So please, sign?  Let's get this tragedy over with and move on.  I need it, you need it, and Don needs it.  The funeral will be agonizing."  Xander nodded and sat down at the indoor table to look over things and sign where he needed to.  "Thank you.  Raymond!"  He came in again. "You're over sixteen, correct?"  That got a nod.  "Thank you, sign.  That way I can and we can move on again."  Ray nodded, taking the pen and signing where necessary.  Ethan signed his name in the places that needed more than one witness, checking everything.  "I'll take this to his redundant backup lawyer and we'll make sure everything is in order.  He's the same one you went to for your trust," he offered more gently.   Xander nodded, looking at him.  "He was sorry to lay this on you, Xander.  It's not like his own family didn't die for what they wanted to do to him."

"What did they want to do to him?" Ray asked.

"He was gay in a time that was not only illegal and taboo, but also something that could get you confined to a mental hospital, Raymond.  At that time, it was more than acceptable to use some very questionable treatments, such as electroshock therapy, on gay men to cure them."

"Enough," Xander ordered, standing up and looking at him.  "His first lover killed them.  I know that.  He told me."

"No, he killed them."  Xander opened his mouth.  "His first lover was the one who taught him magic and he left it because his lover botched a spell that he was helping with.  His lover's aura didn't hold a tenth of the blood that his own did.  Even if he didn't do it personally he blamed himself for it," he said more gently, easing the boy's horrified look.  "He was that sort of man, Xander."

"He blamed himself for me meeting Buffy?"

"No, he blamed your father for that one.  That was his fault.  He ran away from everything and somehow ended up *there*."  He gave him a look.  "No one's sure why or how.  Your father has not an ounce of skills nor did he have any desire to learn."  He clutched the papers tighter to his chest.  "All we know is that somehow he ended up there and the hellmouth loves you. The next time it goes rogue it could very well reach out for you."

"It did in Vegas that time."

"I remember.  Also your new fan?"  Xander grimaced. "I've sent Angel word to have a talk with him of the knee-breaking variety."  Someone pounded them walk in.  "Don."

"Ethan."  He looked at Xander, then at him.  "Everything okay?"

"I brought over the rest of the paperwork."  He looked at him.  "There's things you don't know about yet, Don."

"I've handed him everything I ever found," Xander assured him dryly.  He looked at him.  "Almost everyone we saw last night was dead."

"Interesting.  I wondered why Ethan was sweating in a cold house."  He came in further.  "And now?"

"They went to be with him, Don."

"I have no problem with that.  The greater majority of his people were ill.  What about the rest?"

"It was set up long ago.  Gordon wanted to do the reading so he asked me to help him hang around.  Unfortunately Xander happens to draw the dead and I made him fall asleep."

"Now *that's* a comic book worthy power," Ray said, smirking at Xander.

"Your uncle knows.  So does your mother," he said patiently. "Including about my possession by the hyena."  He looked at Ethan again.  "Everything's set up?"

"Fully.  I made sure of it last week when I couldn't keep his energy up any longer."  He looked at them again.  "I gave you both as long as I could," he offered gently.

"You did just fine," Don assured him, moving closer.

"You did good, Ethan," he agreed.  He stood up and hugged him.  "You did good and did what you could."

"Thank you."  He patted him on the cheek.  "The rest of the wills will be read after the funerals, as will the ones that state the remaining assets are all yours."

"The courier guy?" Don asked.

"He's one of the ones who's staying.  He found a nice young man who he wanted to stay for.  I, of course, have the bane of my existence."

"If the hellmouth reaches out, Ethan, it could very well use him or Buffy.  Or even Willow's child."

"I've already shielded the child."

"She's still doing magic."

"I'll check on her later."

"Let me call first," Xander said dryly.  Ethan nodded, accepting that wisdom.  "So, what are we auctioning?"

"Anything you don't want.  He did say Don was to have the house out there if he wanted for whenever he came in."

"I can stay with family," Don assured him.  Ethan smirked at that.  "It gives me the creeps, okay?  They can have it sooner and I'll gladly let you guys clean out all the important stuff."

"I'll have that done this weekend and let the Chief know when I present the checks to the city council."  He looked at Xander.  "Horatio has to be at that one meeting.  It will be a few hours after the funeral.  It will be a very long day, Xander."

"Yes, Ethan."  He looked at him.  "Who else stayed?  You, him?"

"One of the guards, the housekeeper. By his will they'll all get their share of that fund he set up, which raises it up to about three hundred thousand each."  That got a small nod.  "They've agreed to split it equally since the difference would be a few bucks here and there."  He waved a hand around.  "Are you sure?"  Xander and Don both nodded.  "Then I'll get to work on that this afternoon.  You've got a hard few weeks.  Take all the comfort you can, Xander. You as well, Don.  Your aunt was always one of my favorites."  He walked out, leaving them alone.

Xander turned off the tape recorder and handed the wire to Ray with it. "To your uncle, Robin."

"Yes, sir."  He got up and took Xander's keys.  "Not the porsche?"

"After you got the last speeding ticket?  Your mother's going to try to castrate me with her teeth."

"Point."  He went out to use the other car, heading to the station.

Xander looked at Don.  "I'm not hungry."

"Me either but I got ordered by Stella to make you eat."  He headed into the kitchen, then came back out. "Hell, let's hit the deli.  Horatio can find you."

Xander nodded, grabbing his other keys and tossing them to Don, who just beamed.  "I like my other car but that one's a nice ride."  He followed him out.  "Hold on, turn on the blue alarm first, make sure it wasn't tampered with again."  Don did that and the alarm started to go off. "Shit.  Red button."  It went off and he got down to look under it, then around the gas tank.  His cellphone rang and he answered it.  "Harris.  Yup, we turned it on as a precaution first.  What was touched?"  He went to look at the driver's door.  "Fingerprints, nothing explosive.  You're sure?"  He nodded.  "Okay.  Thank you."  He hung up and popped the hood, then swore.  He called Horatio.  "Someone thoughtfully somehow got into my car, popped the hood, and put something underneath it that's blinking down to two minutes and counting.  No, we're at home.  Thank you, Horatio."  He got in and backed the car out into the middle of the street, then got out and hurried back with Don inside the house. They barely made it inside when it exploded.  "Should I get another of those?"

"It's a pretty car," he admitted.  Don walked out, putting an arm around Xander's shoulders while they waited for people to respond.  Speed got there first and stared at them.  He tossed him the keys.  "Special alarm?"

"Yeah, handy thing to have but it wears down the battery to keep it on all the time.  So I turn it on every time I start the car."  He called Ray Jr.  "You started the special alarm first, right?"  He smirked.  "Thank you, Ray.  No, exploded."  He sighed as he hung up, looking at his mate.  "Ray's on his way to see you," he greeted when he pulled up.

"Why?"

"Ethan brought the last of the paperwork.  What you got called about did happen."  Ray pulled up.  "He's got the tape and it explains so much more."  He sat down on the front step, looking at him.  "I didn't think to try to lift the fingerprint but if you find my driver's door handle it had one."

"I'll tell them that.  Where were you two headed?"

"Breakfast.  Stella ordered me to feed him," Don admitted.

Horatio pointed.  "Go inside, get into the freezer, Don.  Thaw some of the soup."  He nodded and brought Xander inside with him.  He went back to the car's remains.  "He said he saw a fingerprint on the driver's door handle."

"Found that already," Speed assured him.  He looked at Ray.  "Remember, kiddo, you use that alarm each and every time you start the car."

"I learned that one already."  He handed Horatio the wire.  "Ethan's making sure the paperwork is all in order with the guy who did his trust."

"I liked him, he was honest," Horatio admitted, going to listen to that in his office. At least then he'd have some warning of the horrors coming up in the next few days.

****

Xander took a deep breath of the air as he got off the plane, shaking his head.  "Yet again," he said, shaking Mac's hand.  "Why are we getting escorted?"

"I drove Don up.  It's cheaper than a cab if you guys pay me gas for all these trips."  He shook Horatio's hand when he joined them, then smiled at Don.  "You okay?"

"Fuck no."  He pointed at the walkway.  "We'll tell you everything in the car.  Needless to say, my father will not be pleased when I pop in on him tonight and pop him one upside the head for telling me I never had an uncle."  Mac stopped to stare at him. "On his second wife's side."

"He became a priest after the third," Xander said, taking Mac's arm to walk with him.  "So, has it been calm since the last time I was here?"

"Very."  He looked at him.  "Please don't do anything to change that, Xander."

"I try very hard not to.  Horatio might mind if I went that naughty or went clubbing."

"You can go clubbing as long as we have at least one other person with us as backup," Horatio reminded him.  He looked at Mac, then at Don.  "Did Di give you some of the spreadable clothes?"

"I got a can in my bag," Don said proudly.

"Spreadable like you can eat it afterward?" Mac asked hopefully.  Horatio pulled out a picture of Xander and Eric that Eric had taken before they went out.  He moaned and handed it to Don.

"I saw."  He handed it back. "Cute hair, nephew."

"Gee, thanks, Unc'a Don."

Mac shook his head.  "Let's play in the car, guys.  I'll even let Don drive so I don't crash us."

"I'll drive," Horatio offered. "I'm still missing his porsche."

"I thought you liked your modest car," Mac taunted, smirking at him.

"I still do but my fanclub grew by a slightly living member and he sent me a porsche."  Mac moaned.  "It appeared one night while we were on the porch."  He shrugged and headed into the baggage claim area.  "Don!"  He followed to help get their stuff, getting a cart.  "I only packed one," he protested.

Don snorted.  "Yeah, right, kid. I saw all three bags being loaded in."

"Two of those are Horatio's.  Blame him for his suit stuff."

"Our," Horatio said patiently.  He shook his head.  "They've been like this since the funeral to blow off the extra energy and stress."

"Stella told me about the foundation."  He looked at Don as he and Xander came back.  "So, can we apply to have the lab updated through the foundation?"

"Sure, if all you guys bend over and take it," Don said happily.  "Though my uncle did suggest I start dating Danny for some reason."

"He's hot and he'd look good with you, plus you can put up with his more bitter days," Xander said happily, beaming at him as he walked between Mac and Horatio again.  "It's to help young gay men realize their full potential, Mac.  Scholarships and the like.  So if you want to go back to school or have an all gay shift....."

"The sad thing is, Stella and Sheldon might go along with it," Mac sighed, shaking his head.  At least Danny would back him up on that issue.  Maybe.  He hoped.  If not, well, he could lie. The Marines had told him that a lie was appropriate if it got what was necessary in the field done.  He led them out to his car, letting Horatio drive so he wouldn't crash them on the way in when he got too shocked, but it was a long, strange tale as advertised.  They pulled up in front of Don's place to let him out, it was first on the trip in.

"We should probably keep Gordon's house," Don said before getting out.  "Sanibel's supposed to be pretty."

"It is," Xander agreed.  "I agreed with that one already.  I sent Cheline a list of what we wanted to keep and she said she'd talk it over with us in the next few days."  Don smiled and nodded, heading inside once he got his bags from the trunk.  Xander stretched out across the seat.  "This has totally messed up my entire life," he told Mac.  "Since I won't have the time or energy to attend school this year, I can't be on the team.  Eric's still pouting at me because of that, even though he realizes why and that it's a good thing. My degree is on permanent hold. Speed's giving me wary looks because Don and I were wearing out our stress by having a squirt gun fight the other day and got him."

"You were in the lab, Xander. Of course Speed gave you funny looks."  Horatio drove on, taking them to the hotel he had booked them in.  "Your trust fund manager quit?"

"More like got fired.  He refused to help me do stuff. He also didn't explain things to me.  I want someone ethical but not that uptight."  He looked at Mac.  "Someone like you, who can tell me pretty lies when I need it but yell at Horatio when he needs to spank me."

"If I knew a thing about it, I'd offer but I don't," Mac promised.  "Besides, that's more Stella."

"No, she'd try to spank me herself.  Horatio would get jealous."

"Good point."  He nodded, she would do that, in front of Horatio if he asked.  He looked at Horatio, smirking a bit.  "The Plaza?"

"You've got to live now and then, Mac."  He pulled into the parking garage and found a spot, then handed him back his keys.  "Come on, let's go find our suite since we'll be in for a few days and he'll have more paperwork than I will about the labs."  The wills had been specific that Mac's lab was getting just as upgraded at the other MDPD ones.  He'd have to tell him that later.  He walked them inside, weathering the sneers.

Xander walked up to the desk.  "Reservation under Harris and spouse?"  She nodded, looking that up. Then she smiled at him and Horatio.  "I'm assuming it's all been taken care of?"

"It has, sir."  She printed out their card keys and handed them over. "Here you go.  You've got a credit for the minibar or for room service for the next few days.  You also have three messages."  She got them for him and handed them over.  "Dial '0' if you need anything, sir, and welcome to the Plaza."

"Thank you."  He walked Horatio over to the elevator, Mac following behind them.  He glanced through the messages. "Cheline thinks I'm insane for not wanting to sell the Sanibel house.  Cheline wants to know if Eric is coming up.  Ooh, and her secretary wants to know if Don's coming in."  He handed that to Mac.  "Make sure he gets that please."  Mac gave him a smirk and tucked it into his jacket pocket. "You'll probably be seeing him tonight.  I won't be seeing him until tomorrow."  The elevator came and they rode up to the correct floor, then got off and walked down the short hall to their room.  He let them in and Mac moaned, looking around the suite.  "This way I don't miss playing in the warm surf."  He walked his bag inside and dropped it in the closet, letting Horatio get the others.  Then he sat down to set up his laptop and email his auctioneer.  She sent back one nearly immediately that they had a very high bid for it.  He told her why it was so special and she sent back a sigh and she'd tell the offerer, but that no one wanted some of the other stuff that had went at a more minor auction.  He wrote back that it should have been put in a 'strange oddities' one and she sent back they didn't do that.  So he called Giles.  "Christies has the estate of one Father Patrick Benis, vampire priest."  He pulled the phone away from his ear.  "Christie's, Giles.  New York.  Ask for Cheline."  He hung up and wiggled a finger in his ear.  "He's a bit upset with that."

"Gee, I wonder why," Horatio said smartly, staring at him.  He kissed him on the back of the neck.  "Why can't I get into your bag?"

"I locked it because it's got special stuff in there?"  He grinned at him. "You'll find out soon enough."  Horatio rolled his eyes.  "I'm celebrating our anniversary up here, honey."  Horatio stiffened at that, in more ways than one.  "By the way, I repacked your suit bag."  He typed in another message that he had told someone about the auction and the stuff that hadn't went up.  He got back a swearing one about British yelling guys. He laughed as he signed off and turned to find Horatio looking at him and Mac staring out the window.  "What?" he asked innocently.

"You get that same look when you and Speed do things that make me lose more hair."  Xander just grinned at him for that. "You do."

"I might, but I always make sure it comes back in."  He got up and stalked over, then pounced the last few feet, knocking Horatio back into a wall to kiss him stupid. Not senseless, he didn't want Horatio to know his own name by the time he let him go free.  Then he'd make him go play with Mac for a while. Mac coughed and Xander pulled back, smiling at him.  "What's your name?"

"Yours," he moaned.

"Good boy.  Now go play with Mac for two hours and then call before you head back."  He gave him a lighter kiss and a smile. "You deserve the treat, Horatio."  Horatio smiled at that and took Mac off to have a beer with him, and probably lunch too because he knew that look.  It said he was going to need food later.

Xander got to work around the room, including the candles from the bathroom.  He unlocked his bag and got everything ready, deciding to go all out. He went into the bathroom to clean up, including cleaning himself out.

***

Horatio knocked before walking into the suite, looking around.  The lights were off and he could see candles flickering in the other room.  He took off his jacket and left it over a chair, toeing off his shoes as well on the way in there.  He stopped to look at the view on the bed.  Xander, his Xander, was strapped to the bed.  His wrists were tied down by shorter cuffs, soft leather ones, and his legs were bound with longer corded cuffs that were hitched to the footboard.  He undid his shirt, moving closer.  He saw the drops on Xander's chest.  Silver body paint dropped on to look like he had already been splattered by him.  His shirt dropped behind him and then his pants dropped, leaving him naked beside his mate.  "Xander."  Xander moaned and arched up, stretching against the cuffs.  Horatio leaned down to kiss his poor mate, making him moan again.  "What's going on?"

"Happy anniversary. I turned up the egg too high," he moaned.

Horatio smirked and reached down to pluck out the little vibrating egg he loved to torment his mate with.  It got put on the sidetable.  He checked the candles, all in dishes.  All safe.  He kissed him again.  "Are you sure?"

"My safeword is wrath."

"I'll remember that."  He kissed down his throat, starting slowly.  His boy had tied himself down for him.  He was going to let him do anything he wanted.  Nothing held back.  It almost made him feel giddy.  He touched the body paint, finding it still liquid.  "Edible?"  Xander nodded.  "Taste good?"

"No.  I've got a washcloth in the warmer."  Horatio came back with it to clean up the evidence of the 'prior spills' and then tossed it aside.  He got back to work on him.  "Baby!" he moaned.

"Hush, Xander.  You being in those means I get to do whatever I want to you.  Including teasing you until you beg."  He got back to what he had been doing, taking the time to remap every spot on Xander's body.  He hadn't done this since the first time they'd gotten together. He didn't spend enough time properly worshiping Xander and he was going to make up for that now.

"C...couldn't figure out how t..to do this at home," Xander stuttered, biting on his top lip. "Onlyonehookbehindthebed," he let run together as Horatio nipped his new nipple ring.  He and Ray had made Speed go with them yesterday to do their nipples and Ray had wanted a PA.  Don and he had both held his hands for that one.

"You'd only need the one hook," he assured him, teasing the other side. "Didn't I say no more holes, Xander?"

"Went with Ray," he panted, arching up. "Please?"

"No, Xander.  I'm going to do to you what I should've done sooner, drive every shred of naughtiness out of you."  He went back to teasing him, making Xander hiss and arch up, or try to wiggle so he could get away.  He chuckled and found a spot he had missed last time.  Xander squealed as he sucked on it, scraping it lightly with his teeth.  "Do I need to find a gag?" he taunted.

"Told them having sex, not to come running," Xander panted. "Anniversary."  Horatio chuckled into Xander's nipple and that was all it took, he came and went limp.

"That was very pretty, Xander.  Maybe I'll let you go after a few more," Horatio assured him in his ear.  Xander let out a small whimper, looking at him.  He smirked and got down to really play, doing everything he had ever wanted.  Xander hadn't let him do more than gently tease his piercing.  Now he could. Both of them.  He knew the nipple ring had to be new so he was just gently playing with it, but the delicate silver ring with the small blue stone between Xander's cock and balls was his territory, his marking. That he laved and sucked on until Xander got harder than hard again and was making incoherent begging noises.  Which he liked, he wanted more of those.  He moved back further and Xander tensed up.  "Shh," he ordered, licking him there.  He slowly teased open the small pucker, tasting the edible lube, his mate knew he'd wanted to do this and would probably do it since he was so helpless now.  Which was a very wicked thing for him to be.

He stabbed his tongue inside the small hole, realizing Xander hadn't done more than spread lube up there for him.  Not even very far so he had just squirted it up there.  He used his finger to spread it further up, using his tongue to tease his perineum, making his boy shiver and clutch at the straps holding him down. When he saw the first involuntary hip thrust he moved down to see if he had any special, heat making spots on his lower body, starting with his ankles.  Xander hated to have his feet played with but his ankles were usually strokeable.  He found a spot that made Xander's moan stutter and paid some attention to it, then slowly moved up, finding the spot just above the back of his knee.  A tremor inducing spot on the inside of Xander's thigh.

"Please!" Xander whimpered.

"Soon," Horatio offered gently, then he went down to find those same spots on the other side since Xander couldn't stop him and make him take care of his need sooner.  He could get to like this now and then.  Xander whined and stretched but the spot on his right ankle got an even better response.   He cataloged that with the spot on Xander's shoulder that made him pounce.  He moved on and it was nice, Xander was incoherent, he was down to vocal pleas of whimpers and begging noises while he twisted in the cuffs.  He checked under them to make sure Xander wasn't abrading his skin but he was all right for now.  He finally reached his goal again but moved up to kiss him instead, looming over him.  "Xander," he ordered quietly.  Xander looked up at him.  "After your next one you can get free.  For now, I want you to come.  Can you do that?"  He shook his head frantically.  He leaned down next to his ear, knowing Xander could get off from being talked to.  "Come for me, Xander.  Paint me with it.  I want to see it, that way I can have you and you last as long as I will."  He nipped the earlobe and Xander arched up but he still wasn't coming. Horatio went down to look at it.  It even looked painful.  He found why a minute later, taking off the clear, thin cock ring that was now way too tight.  Xander let out a loud swear and shot off, hitting them both.

"Good boy."  He used the washcloth to clean himself up but got Xander's body with his tongue.  Xander whimpered again and he smiled at him.  "Shh, you're still mine."  He found the bottle of lube Xander had left in the bowl of warm water, looking at it.  "You wanted to try that again?"

"Just little bit," he whimpered.

"Hmm.  All right."  He only got a finger of the lube out and spread it inside his mate's body.  Xander pushed back as much as he could, rocking up and down so he was doing the majority of the work.  He had spoiled his boy horribly today so he slid in as soon as he felt comfortable, making him howl, a true animal howl.  Horatio smirked and let out a quiet purr, calming him down again.  He ever-so-slowly rocked in and out of his mate's body, using that inching, claiming pace that made sure this was the time that Xander would think about when he thought about them having sex.  Xander started to get louder and more vocal, letting it all go like he did when he was alone.  Horatio had watched him masturbate once and he was so loud it was scary, but good.  He wanted him that loud now.  "I want you loud, Xander," he encouraged.  Xander tightened around him, making him growl and push in harder.  "I'm in control, Xander."  Xander growled.  Horatio leaned up to look into his eyes.  "Give me the boy back."  The hyena faded and Xander blinked at him.

"You back?"  Xander nodded slowly.  "Then give me what I want.  Get loud, let it all go, Xander.  Let me handle it all."  Xander arched up against him.  Horatio moved a bit, watching him hiss and tense up.  "No, no retreating."  He slapped him gently on the cheek and the whimpering noises came back.  "Good boy.  Stay."  Xander shook his head.  "Yes, Xander.  Stay. Stay with me."  Xander swallowed and Horatio kissed him.  He nuzzled his throat, getting a small purring noise. He felt his own coming up, more of a 'chuff'ing noise than a purr but it was still calming.  He saw Xander wasn't going to be able to hold her back so he let him go, going back to what he had been doing.  His own animal side was trying to come up.   He wasn't fighting it very well so he let it go.  His tiger wouldn't hurt Xander.  He loved Xander just as much as Xander's hyena loved him.  Xander let out a small, tense giggle and he growled in her ear, slamming his hips in.  She arched her head up but he slowed down.  His human side was still telling him to keep it in control, that their mate wanted it this way, wanted to be driven to true submission by him.

Xander writhed and made begging noises underneath him but he was still there.  They noticed it when the hyena gave in to their dominance and retreated, leaving the boy alone, shivering, pleading and whimpering at their control.  Horatio made more soothing noises in his ear, but the boy still whimpered.  He lapped him gently and their boy made more pleading noises.  Horatio went back to his thrusting, making the mate happy again.  They watched as he begged and pleaded using sub-vocal moans and whimpers, arching and twisting to get what they needed.  The tiger was pleased with his mate's response and his human was claiming this one so he drew back to watch and aid his body-giver.  Horatio smirked at his mate's total submission and stroked his cock gently, timing it to counter his thrusts, just like how Xander liked.  He let him come and followed him this time, panting as the body underneath him twitched and finished off.  He felt Xander go limp and stole a gentle, slow, loving kiss.  Then he unhitched him, putting the cuffs on the floor.  He rolled Xander into his arms, just hold him.  "I've got you," he whispered hoarsely.

Xander nodded and nuzzled his chest, kissing over his heart. When both their heart rates were closer to normal he looked up at him, giving him a weak version of his normally cocky smile.  "Love you," he said tiredly.

"I love you," he assured him, kissing him again and giving him a squeeze, which got a moan out of both of them.  They were both sore and tired.  He nuzzled Xander's cheek.  "We're still equal in everything, Xander, but thank you."

"You're the only one I'd ever trust to do that."  He stole a real kiss, making Horatio moan.  "We need a shower."

"I can't move.  How are you able to move?"

"You did all the work?"  He smiled and kissed him again, taking control of the kiss.  Then he wrapped him in his arms.  "Rest, Horatio.  I've got you."  Horatio smiled and let himself drift off to take a much-needed nap while Xander managed to sleep wrapped around him.  He whispered something and the candles went out, making him happy that he hadn't knocked any of them over.  He groaned as he got up to check on the two next to the living room, but they were out too.  He hobbled back to bed and wrapped himself around Horatio again.   It was time for a nap and then dinner could be called for whenever they were done and had bathed.  He was sure Horatio would appreciate the beer and chicken wings he had been craving.  Especially since his team was playing an important match tonight.

***

Don looked up as Xander answered the door later that night, smiling at him.  "You called us to come watch the game?" he asked letting Danny go in first.  "You okay?"

"Just fine and we're celebrating our anniversary a bit late so I'm spoiling him rotten tonight."  He pulled him inside.  "No Stella?"

"As soon as she's done.  Mac's bringing her over."  He followed him to the living room, finding a very content looking Horatio chatting with Danny and the game on the type of big screen that usually only bars had.   He got his own beer and sat down, getting comfortable.  He smirked at Horatio, he knew some of what Xander had planned for his anniversary.  "He said that new ring was a temporary one."

"I got to pick out the permanent ring in the other one," he agreed smugly.  "My boy spoils me horribly."

"He does," Danny agreed, looking at the food.  "Wow, Xander.  Special occasion?"

"Late celebration of the anniversary of when we met."

"Oooh," Danny said with a smirk.  "So you went with a guy's anniversary present?  Wings, a good game.  Smart man."

"Holy trinity, hot sex earlier," Xander assured him with a grin.  He looked at Don, who waved a hand.  "You know his uncle wanted him to take you in, right?"

"He told me," Danny said with a smirk.  "Not gonna happen.  Flack likes being able to walk and I'd only top."

Horatio almost said something, Xander could see it.  He shrugged.  "Well, at least keep it as an option, Danny.  We want you guys to be happy people."

"It happens."   He grabbed a wing to eat, letting Xander get up to let the others in, and take the other food tray apparently.  "More?"

Xander let Horatio see that tray and got a smile. "I ordered extra since we're having fun."

"That's fine, Xander."  He took one.  "Did this one go on one of the credit cards or not?"

"Nope.  I put some extra down for room service."  He sat down and got comfortable.  At least until his phone rang.  Then he answered it.  "Hello?"  He smiled.  "Hi.  No, we're up for the auction and I'm spoiling Horatio for our anniversary."  He listened to him.  "I know that, but it got in the way of stuff, like life when that guy happened."  He sighed and got up, taking it into the bedroom for some privacy.  "How screwed up will it make it?"  He snorted.  "I thought you said it was a problem?  I paid that much last year.  Yeah I did.  They said so.  Sure, when I get back, just don't try what he did.  Of course I trust you but not about that.  Not after he tried to have me killed.  Yeah, well, I do know, and I know very well.  You mean like his suicide note?  Horatio got called about it.  They seem to do that for some reason," he admitted blandly.  He smirked.  "Thank you.  Anything need to be done on the other paperwork?  Don's here and I'm in the Plaza.  Yes, I figured you knew that.  No, you may not. No, you may not.  Nor did I sign papers saying you could.  That's why I fired him.  I'm being responsible enough.  I'm allowed to have a once-in-a- lifetime trip."

Horatio came in and took the phone.  "Is there a problem?" he asked calmly.  He listened to the complaints, looking at his mate, then shook his head.  "I don't see a problem with that.  He doesn't do it usually.   No, he didn't buy the porsche."  Xander gave him an odd look and shook his head.  Horatio rolled his eyes.  "No, another person out in LA who has been stopped."  He stiffened.  "Thank you for telling me that, but that's not the point.  He is usually very fiscally responsible.  Right now he's spoiling me with an anniversary present.  He got all that back since he had to withdraw.  I'm quite sure, I looked over his accounts yesterday before we came."

Xander took the phone back. "I love you and you helped me a lot, but I've got that.  That is my money and I'm still living off the interest.  Even with this trip.  So butt out of it.  Did he? I didn't hear that clause.  I'm not exactly the normal twenty-year-old now am I?"

Don came in licking his fingers and took the phone, then snorted.  "No, it's Don.  Stop it.  Now.  You're stressing Xander out.  Horatio doesn't need that and neither does Xander.  Yeah, well, you are.  So leave that stuff alone.  No, you're not.  I read over the paperwork, I do have a bit of knowledge about the law."  He listened.  Then he looked up.  "Ethan!" he hissed.  The tone on the phone changed and the man apologized. "Thank you.  Is Ethan there?"  He listened as he walked in and took the phone.  "Who?"  He shook his head.  "Can't you banish that one?  No, Xander's spoiling Horatio this weekend. He's still living off the interest. Yeah, that guy.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "Ethan's fixing all the paperwork, it was the former financial manager guy. He offed himself?"

"Yeah, said it was because he knew Horatio would always hate him for helping those that were trying to ruin me so they could get him back."

"Ah."   He handed the phone back.  "Wonderful.  He's sending him forcefully to his afterlife."

"Good."  They walked out again. "Paperwork snafu."  He sat down and Horatio cuddled him, making him relax and smile at him.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome."  He kissed him gently, earning a brilliant smile.  "You're doing good with that stuff, Xander. I have no complaints except that you spoil me too often."  That got a nod and Xander snuggled into his side until his phone rang, then he took it.  "Caine."  He listened.  "Why?"  He frowned.  "No it wasn't. I looked through all the papers the day after you presented them.  Is mine?  No, Ethan.  No, he has full control of his own funds."  He heard Xander mutter something longer and then Ethan seemed to relax.  "Are you all right?"  Ethan swore and said something so he looked at his mate, who gave him a very knowing look back.  "Thank you for fixing that for us, Ethan, but he is staying in control of his funds.  We can do that together."

Xander got up and went to get something, then came back and handed it to Horatio.  "Yours.  It was the other anniversary's present."  He sat down again, getting comfortable.  He looked at Don. "Have you talked to the wannabe board members?"

"Not yet."  He looked around.  "You guys, Eric, and Speed are the board when we get to pick one.  Sorry, Stella, no women.   It's for gay guys."  She nodded, shrugging at that. "You guys got issues?"

"Only if they say I am," Mac admitted.

"They shouldn't.  People can sit on boards of places they don't believe in.  Quarterly meetings in Miami," Xander offered.

"I'll put on a fake one," Stella offered with a bright grin.

"They can bring dates."

She smiled at Mac. "Can I be your date?"

"Sure."

"As long as you bring that little blue bikini you wore the last time, I'll let you come as mine if he can't," Danny promised. She beamed at that.  He smirked back.  "What can I say? You made some little stick figure girls whimper and complain."

"Plus you looked hot in it," Don offered.  She smiled at him.  He looked at the phone, then at Horatio, who was listening intently.  "He threatening?"  Horatio shook his head. "You sure?"

"Very," Xander said firmly, staring at him.  He patted him down, finding his phone, and called Willow.  "Me.  Ethan.  Possessed."  He hung up and handed it back.  "There, very cheap."  He grinned.

Ethan's yelp a minute later was loud enough that most of them heard it.

Horatio looked at him. "That was mean, even he said so.  He's pouting."

"Have Ethan bring the paperwork up here tomorrow.  We meet with Cheline in the afternoon.  By the way, Don, her assistant wanted to flirt with you again."  He beamed at that.  "Have him bring it up."

"It's due to be presented tomorrow."

"Then have them both come up, Horatio.  They can fly back.  We can get up early."  Horatio smiled at that.  "Once it's certified by the courts, it's all good, and if that stupid ass guy comes back again I'm so going to rip his soul apart.  I know things that can do that.  Ethan knows that I know things that can do it."  Horatio nodded, listening to Ethan's 'not a bad idea', then chuckling when he made another call.  "Oh, tell him Giles got to call Christies about the stuff that wasn't selling, mostly the paranormal stuff."

"He's letting out some very British language."  He sighed and shook his head. "That's fine, Ethan.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "There's another copy of the paperwork so we're going to dump the others and sign everything new."  Xander and Don both sighed and nodded. "That way we can make sure nothing and no one has control of Xander's assets but himself."

"Knew I was right to fire that idiot."  Xander snuggled in again.

"Possession?" Stella asked.

"Idiot dead guy who wanted Horatio is hanging around."

"Ah," she said, looking at Don, who had given the explanation.  "You believe in that stuff?"  Xander flicked a hand, muttered something and she was suddenly in a very fetching dress that nearly bared her breasts.  "Un-huh."  She looked down at herself, then at Xander. "I knew this was in my closet, but it's a bit small."  Xander took off his shirt and handed it over with a smile.  "Okay, I can believe that stuff exists then."  She got comfortable once she had pulled up the top a bit more. Mac gave her his shirt as well.  "Thanks, guys."

"Not often we get to see you in a dress," Danny offered sweetly, smiling at her.

"Not often we get to see you in one either, Messer.  Think you wanna?"

"I'd hate ta have ta shave," he teased.  She threw her last wing's bones at him, making him laugh.  "Sorry, Stella, but most of you looks good.  Just a bit lower cut than I expected."

"They grew since I bought it."

"Gravity does that whenever you don't wear a bra.  So says Willow," Xander said dryly, smirking at her.  "Di made her a long dress that made Ryan pounce her in the station."

"It highlighted her body perfectly and was just see-through enough that you could see the color of her bra," Horatio agreed.  "He pounced her next to the elevator and Yelina said one of his hands was not on the steering wheel when he drove her home for that two-hour lunch."

"Fortunately you're a nice boss and he made up the hours later," Xander teased, stroking his stomach.

"I am.  Now if only I could get Eric settled down with someone."  He looked at the New York guys, who were all laughing.  "Xander, show them the picture."  Xander bounced up to get the picture of them in the spray-on clothes. "They went clubbing in that.  Eric had his own harem.  I had to save Xander from the all-female orgy he ended up in the middle of."

"Body paint?" Stella asked, handing it to Danny since Mac shook his head.

"New type of spreadable clothes," Don said proudly.

"It's softer than latex to the touch and not shiny," Xander agreed.  "Plus it can go on over underwear.  I had the worst time with my piercing though."  Don let out a small whimper.  "Sorry.  He had to listen to the guy ask me about it."  He grinned at him.  "We haven't gotten any screaming calls from Yelina about Ray's yet."

"I'm impressed. The last new one I saw they played with it all the time."  He rubbed his nipple.  "Speed still fiddling with his?"

"Yup.  Calleigh caught him and screamed in the station," Horatio agreed.  "I wondered why."

Xander just smiled sweetly.  "No comment."

Horatio smirked at him. "I'll find out later."

"No you won't. Not unless you ask him to strip."

"I will be finding out later, Xander, all the naughtiness you've gotten my nephew and Speed into, but Don can hide his secrets for now."  He kissed him and Xander smiled a bit more sweetly.

"You're more than welcome to try."

"Oh, I will be."  He turned his attention back to the game and his dinner. It had been very sweet of his mate to have provided his favorite junk food for tonight. "He usually bats so much better," he complained.

"He does," Danny agreed bitterly.  "You suck!" he yelled at the tv. The next ball was a line drive, which made them slightly happier.

Xander smirked at Don, getting one back, then he snuggled back in to watch his mate relax and play.  "Danny, we're going clubbing some night while we're up here.  Horatio's and Speed's laws say we've got to have at least a third person there to watch over us in case something happens. You want in?"

"Sure," he agreed with a smirk for him. "You can send all the pretty girls my way."

"Yours and mine," Don said firmly.  "The day with that picture, they had to call Frank out to watch over them."

"Frank's wife was very happy when he got home," Horatio said blandly.  "Yelina and Speed sent Eric home with three of his harem, who stuck around for a few days to spoil him rotten."

"One's still hanging around and upsetting his girl at the station."

Horatio hummed noncommittally.  He knew how many women Eric had spread around the city.  He was sure there was more than one at the station.

***

Xander and Don shook hands with Cheline as she walked out to meet them.  "I'm sorry we're such a pain in the ass."

"I love you anyway, Xander.  No Eric?"

"No, the little Eric is with his mommy and occasionally Grandpa Speed.  The big Eric you were flirting with is at work today."  She giggled at that and let them into the office, pulling out their file.  "So, who's pouting over the house in Sanibel?"

"Someone local who wanted to move to somewhere bigger."

Don held up a hand and pulled out his ringing phone, checking the number first.  "Yeah, Ethan? You back to normal now?"  He smirked.  "Thanks.  Any problems with us keeping the house on Sanibel?"  He looked at her. "If it's someone named Marcia and her husband we'd feel comfortable selling it.  Ethan's found some of personal papers that said he loved them."

She checked the papers and shook her head.  "Harrison."

"Nope," Xander said dryly.  "Gordon had a restraining order against him.  I don't want to further that obsession."

"Okay."  She made a note of that on the forms.  "What's Marcia's last name?"

"Todd."  She nodded and made a note about that as well.  Don listened to Ethan then nodded, looking at Xander. "The judge thought we pulled a fast one since they were dated this morning.  Ethan had to tell him that one was a clause by someone who wanted to ruin you to get your husband.  Apparently he was the only judge in Miami that didn't know about you and Horatio, but he decided it was a good enough reason since no one was going to come forward and the taxes had been paid.  He's accepted them, accepted the Foundation's paperwork, and we're all set once we get the auction stuff done."  He listened again.  "And Ethan said you're mean for making him deal with the cranky, pregnant Willow."

"Have him complain to Ryan, he calms her down," Xander shot back.

Don smirked and repeated that then hung up on the stunned silence.  He grinned at Cheline again, who was snickering.  "His former financial manager and a few others were trying to separate him and Horatio by ruining Xander's finances. That idiot left it in his suicide note."

"His will left all his assets to his friends for their hunting needs," Xander added blandly, smirking at him.  "So now I've got a list."  Don snickered and patted him on the back, shaking his head.  "Think we can get Stella a new bikini for the next time she's in town?"

"Didn't Horatio nearly kill you in bed the night you got her the blue one?" he teased.

"Well yeah," he offered with a small grin, "but Horatio still has an eye for pretty women.  I doubt he'd ever cheat, but if he did it'd be with a girl."  He shrugged.  "At that time I'll be insanely jealous and Horatio will learn what I can do with a bullwhip to his tender, tied- down backside."

"I'll make sure to tell him that," Don agreed patiently.  "It'll never happen."

"I said if."

"Point.  Keep it there, Xander."  Xander nodded.  He smiled at their auctioneer.  "Sorry, he didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night.  They were belatedly celebrating their second anniversary of meeting each other."

"Awww.  I can understand some crankiness in that case."  She smiled at him.  "I'd never cheat on you."

"I doubt he would either, but he'd better not."  He smiled sweetly.  "How did Giles lighten the load?"

"Oh, immensely.  About the house in Miami?  The old one out on the island?"

"Shelter for abused men by the will," Don offered.

"Shoot, they were offering double fair market value for it."

"Tell them to talk to the Mayor," Xander said with a small shrug.  "But make sure they know the agreement says it MUST go for the same purpose as the house was going toward."  She nodded, making notes on that.  "The other stuff?"

"All gone."  She smiled and pushed over two checks.  "They gave their own estimate, it seems some of those books were priceless to certain types of people.  That was their bid and since it was reasonable and you said to accept anything reasonable I did that for you."  They smiled and tucked that away.  "Now, that's not part of the Foundation's sale, boys."  They both blinked.  "Ah, no one told you.  The Foundation's auction is the real estate."  Her phone rang.  "Excuse me."  She picked it up.  "Thank you for calling Christies, this is Cheline, how may I help you?" she asked smoothly.  She smiled.  "They are here at the moment, your information was correct.  Were you interested in part of the estate?"  She frowned and looked at the boys.  "Your name please?"  She blinked at them. "It's Marcia Todd."

Xander took the phone.  "Marcia, Xander Harris.  Yes, him."  He smiled.  "I'm sorry about that, dear.  No, Gordon said very many nice things about you and you're the only one I would trust to own his house.  By his papers the same.  If you don't want it, we'll be keeping it and you'll have enough time to get some mementoes if you want."  He smiled at Don.  "Fair market good?"  Don nodded and the couple on the other end talked about it.  "It's up to you, dear.  Like I said, it's either you or we're keeping it.  Who called?  Oh, Ethan.  Yeah, he's handling stuff since Gordon's death.  No, he was handling things for Patrick."  He smirked a bit.  "Exactly."  He pulled the phone away then put it back.  "I know, but he was already ill, dear. Cancer.  Lung cancer from what he told me.  Maybe a year, a year and a half, so he chose now."  He nodded. "Let me know.  Or my mate.  He's usually easier to get hold of.  He's Lieutenant Horatio Caine at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab.  Yup, that's him.  You can leave a voicemail if he's not in.  I've already told him about this stuff.  I'm sorry for your loss, Marcia.  He said a lot of very happy things about you.  He smiled whenever he mentioned yours or Kurt's name."  He smiled at that.  "I know.  Thank you."  He hung up and leaned back again.  "They're talking about it."

"Who was Kurt?"

"The guy who broke his heart and drove him into Patrick's arms.  He adored Marcia's husband but he would've married her, even though he was gay."

"Wow."  Don nodded at that.  "Okay.  I didn't deal much with Gordon so I couldn't make that decision but fair value's good.  It'll go into the Foundation."  Xander nodded at that.  They watched as Cheline's assistant brought in more papers with a quiet whisper. She nodded.  "More issues?"

"No, the contents of the other wills weren't slated one way or another."

"The Foundation.  They did it for Patrick, they can help his legacy," Xander told her.  She nodded, making a note on a post it and putting it on top of the folder.  Xander's phone rang and he sighed, pulling it out.  "Harris."  He listened.  "Why?  No, it's not part of that.  That's mine and has been mine. Try it, watch me sue you," he warned.  The voice on the other side got very quiet.  "You guys already complied with a very false warrant *rumor* to try to ruin me so someone could have my husband.  Do you want me to withdraw everything from your bank?"  He listened to the spluttering.  "Then it has nothing at all to do with that. It was given to me *before* he died.  Understood?  Then put him on, dear.  Judge, hello.  Yes, this is.  No, it was given to me long before Patrick died.  The last thing I received from him was about six months ago.  Why? Are you part of the group of people trying to ruin me to get my mate?"   He smirked, getting up to head for a more private spot, sneering at the man's voice on the other end.

"By what legal precedent?  Yes, I am. I'm married to a cop.  You think I didn't learn a bit?  I also worked on that trust with the original attorney.  No, we didn't.  That was slipped in on Gordon.  No, he was fired before then.  For doing what you're doing now actually."  He heard the amused chuckle.  "Judge Perts, think about this.  You once gave me a jade broach.  You're still married and you've got two very cute seventeen-year-olds on your dick now and then, plus a very pretty little boy by the name of Peter."  He smirked. "Why, yes, Your Honor, I am.  I'm also the husband of Horatio Caine, and I will protect him with every drop of my being. You're interrupting that," he said fondly.  "You think I can't?  Really?  You mean like the check in my pocket that's more than enough to put my husband in your job the next election?  Yes, I'm quite serious.  After all, the moron at the station who keeps trying to attack me to get Horatio is a slight blemish on the face of the PD and the Chief would *love* to have that erased, and he knows Horatio would make an *excellent* judge.  Very fair and all that.  After all, look at how he soothes the victims he works with every day."

He heard the spluttering.  "Now, by what legal precedent are you going to do that?  Yes, it's an agreement but it was signed under duress of me being nearly asleep.  No one realized it was in the stack.  The person who wrote it is dead, thereby nullifying any agreement, and the person he put in charge doesn't want it.  Was there anything else?"  He smirked at him.  "I'm sure you'll look but there's no cause, probable or otherwise, and I only get mean and evil when forced.  Remember that. Usually I'm a very content spouse who loves to spoil my husband rotten and help him in his work.  Those who force me to fight for him are usually very sorry.  Don't believe me, ask Delko about the last person who came after my mate."  He hung up and calmed himself down then went back. "The judge this morning is apparently infected by the desire to have Horatio as well," he said coolly.  "Horatio would make an excellent judge, don't you think?"

"I do," Don agreed, blinking at him.  He didn't often see Xander this way but it was scary.  "Calm down.  Please?  You're scarier than Danny on a rip."  Xander calmed himself down further and Don took his phone when it rang.  "Harris' phone."  He listened to the quiet voice.  "No, I won't be putting Xander on.  He's presently pissed enough to make it to Miami without a plane to kill someone, Chief.  Yeah, this is Flack.  Thank you, sir.  No, that judge.  Apparently he wants to freeze Xander's assets for some reason?"  Xander nodded.  "We think he's part of the group that wants Horatio at the moment."  Xander nodded at that, flicking a hand.  "He does.  He also threatened to have him removed and support Horatio for his spot."  He smirked at him.  "He said please help him be removed, his cousin's better."

"Done.  Mention his two seventeen-year-old mistresses and his nineteen-year-old boyfriend Peter, who is about my body double."

Don repeated that and smirked at the spluttering.  "Speaker phone, Chief?"  Cheline moaned and he shrugged.  "Sorry, Cheline."

"Not an issue. Better to get this all done now."

"Either he's part of it or he's possessed by the guy who was and killed himself," Xander offered, taking the phone back.  "Did anyone else on that will die, Chief?  No, I'm not calm.  They're forcing me to defend my mate.  You might ask Delko about the last guy I had to deal with that way.  I think he's still in the mental hospital begging for mercy actually."  He smiled sweetly.  "But why?  It's so much more fun that way," he said tightly, his jaw tense.  "Thank you.  I'll gladly back someone who's just as good as my spouse would be at the job if he doesn't want it.  As long as they'd at least be as good as Horatio.  That's my standard.  I will back a push to get him out without naming another candidate.  Thank you, sir.  About a week.  We've got the auction stuff to deal with.  Thank you."  He hung up and looked at her.  "Solved within an hour.  So if the bank calls it'll be fixed within an hour.  He's going to be retiring before the Chief gets onto him.  His phone rang and he checked it, handing it to Don.  "Mac and Horatio."

Don answered it.  "Hey, Horatio."  He smirked as he looked at Xander.  "Either another possession or the judge was one of those too.  Sure!"  He looked at Xander.  "He doesn't want to be a judge. The Chief was letting him listen in, that's why he had us on speaker phone."

"Yay.  Then have him give me an opinion and I'll back them instead."

"Heard that?  He said give him an opinion and he'll back them instead but you're his standard for excellence in the job."  He looked over.  "Mac joked about Ryan since he wants to go higher."

"You know, I can see Ryan doing that.  He'd be power hungry for the first few weeks but Willow would wear that out of him.  Plus, if he got onto the criminal side it'd be a lot easier to get warrants."  He considered it then nodded. "I'd back him."

Don listened to Horatio splutter.  "He said that'd be fine, just don't let him get too power hungry for the first few weeks."  Cheline snickered at that, shaking her head.  "He could."

"I talked with him once when I was trying to get Horatio.  He seemed very nice."

"He is, but he's got this steel underwear problem now and then," Xander said a grin.  Don spluttered at that.  "Sorry, Uncle Don."

"Quit, kid."  He gave him a smack on the head.  "I smacked him for you, Horatio.  Yeah.  Well, make sure it stays fixed or else he's going to go Willow on someone."  Xander nodded at that. "He's nodding and looking feral.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He said you may not go Willow on someone but he'll mention it to Ryan before he tells the Chief."

Xander called Ryan.  "There's a judge I want desperately off the bench for wanting to bend Horatio over and have him.  You want it?  Perts.  Yeah, him.  Or her, I don't really care.  Either's good but you've got to lose the steel underwear you get now and then.  I just want them off the bench, Ryan.  Yes, but think about warrants and things."  He smiled.  "Plus, perks.  Willow would love the perks."  He smirked at him. "Expect Horatio to call.  I doubt Eric would take it and there'd be a groundswell of women voting for him, but it might cause a scandal.  You can tell him if he wants considered to talk to Horatio.  Thanks, man."  He hung up and smiled sweetly, then cackled his most evilly.  "Let's see how far this one goes."

"Behave," Don moaned.

"Why?"

"I'm telling Horatio to spank you, Xander."

Xander leaned back.  "Delilah, Don's threatening to have me spanked, can you please bring him some coffee and something sweet?"  She walked in a cup of coffee and kissed him on the cheek, blushing a bit before leaving.  Xander just grinned at him, then at Cheline.  "So, what's left?"

"A few things," she admitted, getting back to work, blushing a bit herself.  Now she remembered why dealing with Xander was so fun.  He fussed over every little detail.

***

Ryan hung up and slowly put his phone up then looked at Eric and Calleigh, who he was working with.  "Xander."

"What happened now?" Calleigh asked, bagging a small thread.

"A judge just pissed him off for trying to block his funds again.  He said he wants Judge Perts off and somehow my name got suggested."  He looked at Eric, who was gaping.  "He said he'd suggest you but the unanimous female vote city-wide for you might draw a controversy."

Eric punched him on the arm.  "He did not!"

"Yeah, he did.  He said if you wanted it to talk to Horatio.  That Horatio would be advising him but he wanted Judge Perts and HER off the bench."

"Well, warrants would get easier, but you'd be hell for the first few months, Ryan," Calleigh said, smiling at him.

"He said I'd have to leave the steel underwear at home for the first few weeks."  She giggled at that, nodding.

Eric just moaned.  "If you do, I'll vote for you just to make sure we get easier warrants."

"Sure.  As long as it looks reasonable to me."  He smiled and got back to work.  Everyone knew he had a bit of ambition to go higher and you couldn't get much higher in the city than a judge.  Horatio called, so he answered it. "Hey, boss."

"I don't want it," Eric called.

"Me either!" Calleigh called.

Ryan grinned at them.  "Thanks, guys.  Frank?"

"Would be a rip on the bench," Calleigh agreed.

Ryan listened to Horatio's quiet words.  "No, your husband's already called.  Well, he's the only one I could suggest, Horatio.  Hey, if people think I could, I wouldn't mind.  Are you kidding?  Willow would flip."  He grinned.  "We'll see."  He hung up on him protesting and got back to work, considering the idea.  It'd mean a lot less privacy but oh well.  They'd have to talk about it later, when he let her free of his tongue.

Eric and Calleigh shared a look.  If he went for it, they could tease him forever about that.

***

Xander finally stepped off the plane in Miami, rolling his neck.  "Oh, good to be home."  He smiled at Horatio, who gave him a kiss.  "Think Ryan's still floating?"

"The Chief liked him as one.  He liked Frank as a replacement for the other one."  He stroked his back.  "Let's gather the bags."  Xander nodded and they headed that way.  "Everything for the foundation is set up, correct?"

"Yup, the lawyer up there that Ethan got to advise us when that question came up double checked.  All the paperwork's in order.  My check was set up in a different account under both our names.  My trust's issues were fixed with his help.  No one's going to try to run us over anytime soon."  He smiled at him and took his hand as they walked to the baggage claim area.  "Now all we have left is one cranky vampire who wants my ass."

"According to Speed, he sent another car."

"That was very nice of him but I like my car."

"Speed said that's been at his place, along with the Hummer, for safety reasons."

"That's fine. I can agree with that.  Was the alarm put on both of them?"  He nodded. "Good."  Their plane's stuff started to come down and he grabbed their five bags, they had done a bit of shopping with Don and Danny.  "Think the club's still going?"

"Probably," he agreed.  "It's not like it got destroyed in that fight."

"Good point. It was still neat how they decided to fight over who got to take Danny home."

"It was.  It was a nice change for it to not be over you."  He pinched him and got the last bag, the smaller one, putting it on the top of the cart.  Xander pushed it off.  "I can do that."

"Your wrists are sore," he reminded him with a wink.

"Point."  He had way too much fun teasing Xander and had stressed his wrists last night.  "How much more did we owe when we left?"

"Hundred and sixty."  He shrugged.  "Not a lot."  They made it outside, smiling at the transit cop.  "Hi."

"Lieutenant, sir!" he said, straightening up when he saw Horatio.  "Sir, someone brought your hummer for you and left again, they had another scene so he couldn't wait.  The Chief would like a call, that message was left on your front seat, and they said your office is clear for you."

"They left you with messages?" he asked, looking amused.

"Yes, sir, because your temporary replacement was hell in the lab, sir.  Speedle has been running them ragged on the last few cases since they've been asked to investigate a few recent suicides as well.  She left it with me."  He handed over the note he had memorized.  "She knew you were coming in sometime soon, sir."

Horatio nodded. "Thank you.  Have a good shift."  He followed Xander off, reading it.  It was clearly Yelina's handwriting. With a note on the back in Frank's.  "Frank said he didn't want a funny robe, Xander.  Said it'd cover up his best assets and he'd be bored all day."

"Pity, he'd be good at it."

"He would be."  He helped get their bags into the rear of the hummer, then got in, letting Xander put the cart aside and get himself in.  "Are you done being mean?"

"As long as no one else touches you," Xander assured him, buckling up.  Horatio gave him a look.  "They were threatening you!  Fuck 'em they can die!"

"Fine, Xander.  Thank you."  He started the engine and backed out, heading for the house.  "Want to come in with me?"

"No, I'll go shopping for a cookout tonight."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Steaks and pork chops or just steaks?"

"Get stuff for kebobs and pork chops," he ordered. "Potatoes too."  Xander nodded.  "Thank you."

"Welcome.  Someone apparently forgot I was the scary part of this relationship.  Now they remember and it'll be fine."  He smiled at him.  Horatio stopped at a light and kissed him. "Thank you."

"Welcome. It wasn't necessary."  He moved on when the light changed and someone beeped.  "I can take care of myself.  That was politics, Xander."

"No it wasn't. It was malicious intent. I do know the difference and I let you play politics while I deal with malicious intent.  The same as you do in my life."   Horatio smiled at that.  "Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed, stroking over his knee.  "It shouldn't take me too long at the office."

"That's fine.  More time for the meat to marinade and me to find the skewers."

"Buy the wooden ones.  I don't like using the metal ones.  I ended up ramming one into my finger last time."

"Yes, dear.  Teriyaki marinade like usual?"  He nodded at that.  Xander smiled at him.  "Should I get a cake too?"

"Please.  I could use some."  He gave him a slight smirk.  "Behave."

"I am.  I'll even be good and try to steal the son tonight."  He nodded, happy with that.  "What about Ray?"

"He can help you once he's out of school."  He took an off-ramp and headed for the house.  "What about the house locally?"

"Don can use it when he's in town."

"Thank you."

"I'm not leaving you, Horatio.  Learn that."  He gave him a brutal pinch to his inner thigh, making him tense.  "Never ever leaving you and if you keep trying to make me leave, I'm going to paddle your ass."  Horatio parked in their driveway so he got out to get their bags, then opened the door to get a kiss.  "Be a good boy at work and make dad sorry for terrorizing everyone, and I'll reward you later for only having the bad thought."  Horatio gave him a look.  Xander climbed back up, sitting in his lap.  "I'm not leaving.  Even if you send me away I'm going to handcuff you and take care of you until you're sane, dear.  I'm not leaving.  No matter what."  Horatio nodded, kissing him.  "Good boy."  He smiled and kissed him again.  "Now, go be a good boy and I'll kiss that new bruise I just put on you later, then I'll kiss other stuff to make it all better too."  Horatio moaned.  "Hand in your notes about the lab upgrades too."  He slid down and hefted their bags inside while Horatio calmed himself down then drove off, waving with a smile for his husband.

Horatio drove off shaking his head.  His husband was very special but he took those stubborn moments now and then....

***

Xander smiled as the receptionist came back to Horatio's office a few weeks later.  "He's faxing stuff.  Message?"  She handed over the small package.  "For him?"

"For him, sir, not you this time," she offered with a smile.  "We've already scanned it.  It's a DVD of some sort."  He nodded, signing for it and tossing it onto the desk.  "You might want to hide, Lieutenant Tripp is coming this way."

"Oooh, he got a promotion," he said happily.  "Not my doing."  She giggled and walked out.  He got comfortable, going back to his textbook until Frank walked in.  "Congrats."

"You...."

"Didn't do it, Frank."  He looked at him and grinned. "If you must know, Ray Jr. was with me at that event since you guys had Horatio here and I wasn't about to be bored to death alone.  He mentioned you hadn't had a raise or a promotion in quite a while and you were very good, the sort of cop he'd want to be if he didn't become a lab tech."  That got a smile.  "So he got you the promotion, Lieutenant.  Congratulations."

"Thanks, kid. Any word on the judge stuff?"

"The Chief is weighing about three people to stand behind. One's his cousin, one's Ryan, and I'm not sure who the other one is."  He shrugged.  "We're all waiting to see.  He filed his paperwork but hasn't done anything with it yet as far as I know."  He grinned. "I'll support him."

"Good."  He walked off, smiling and happy again.

"Frank," Horatio said with a smirk.  "You carry the new weight well," he teased.

"Your nephew needs spanked."

"My nephew?"

"Your husband said it was his fault."

"Ah.  I wondered why Ray had been hiding at our place recently.  Xander?"

"Reading in your office.  You had a new package on your desk."

"Thank you, Frank, and congratulations."

"Just don't make me watch your boy in a naughty mood again.  Especially not with his trouble twin or Flack."  He nodded at Eric as he joined them.  "I'm not going out to watch you two club again."

"Sure, Frank," he agreed, grinning at him.  "Have you told your wife yet?"

"Nah, I planned to walk in like it was a totally shitty day and complain until she saw it."  He shrugged and walked off grinning.

Horatio looked at Eric, who handed over his test results.  "Thank you."

"Welcome.  Can I take Xander out after the show?"

"No, Eric. Both boys are staying in safely for the next few nights so they're not snatched."  Eric pouted. "No.  The New York show was bad enough.  We had to hide with Don all night to protect Xander.  We'll let them stay inside safely down here."

"Yes, H.  At least I'm helping so I get some pretty new clothes."  He beamed and walked off.

Horatio shook his head.  It was good Di had picked someone other than Don this time.  Even though his nephew could make Eric blush like an innocent little good boy at times during practices.  He headed back to his office, finding the package still sealed.  "You didn't open it?"

"Not my job to open it, dear."  He smirked at him. "It's for you.  It's probably evidence or that stupid award you didn't want."

"Possibly."  He opened it and read the enclosed letter.  "From Marcia."  He handed it to Xander.  Then he looked at the pictures, smiling and putting it on his desk.  He had spent some time talking with them while they made the decision to buy Gordon's house.  Xander handed it back, letting him tuck it into the frame so he'd remember to answer it later that week.

Xander smiled at him. "Danny's jealous of the New York condo but took Flack's old place over because it was bigger and he was offering a cheaper rent."

"That was nice of him.  It's probably also closer to the station."  Xander nodded at that.  "Any other good news?"

"Don's got a new car.  Mac and Stella are getting closer and tighter.  Danny's pouting a lot.  Don was teasing him about making it a trio and Danny got hellishly upset and stomped off in a jealous snit.  He and Delilah are still dating."  He looked at his phone. Then shook his head.  "No new developments since this morning."  That got a smile.  "They're all coming down next week for the meeting.  I promised to find Stella a bikini that would make her man drool and pounce in public."  Horatio laughed at that.  "I sent Di her measurements and pictures of her in her blue one.  It inspired a few new pieces on the female's side.  What're we doing for dinner after the show tonight?"

"Eating in, Xander.  Ray's going home to be protected by his mother.  I'm going to protect you and if someone's smart they'll take Eric home and keep him safe."  That got a smile.  "Danny's coming in when?"

"An hour."  He stood up and stretched.  "Which means I should leave."  He stole a quick kiss.  "You get to tell Mac that his lab's being renovated while they're down here since we told everyone else up there they couldn't tell him when it started."  He strolled out, heading off to his car.  He had decided on the sportscar today, and he'd even let Danny drive it on the way down.  Neither alarm went off when he tried them so he got in and headed for the airport.

***

Danny walked into Di's changing area, beaming at everyone. "I'm here!" he yelled.   Eric, Xander's son, not the larger one, squealed and ran over to hug him.  "Hi, pumpkin!" he said, picking him up to cuddle him.  "Have you been being good?"  He shook his head and beamed.  "Didn't think so.  Too much naughtiness from your daddy."  He smirked at Xander, who kissed his son on the head then went to find his mother.  "So, what're you doing back here?"

"Cwothes!" he said proudly, holding up his fabric scraps.  Danny beamed at him.  "Go MaMa!"  Danny nodded, carrying him that way so Di could take him back and kiss him on the cheek.  "Cwothes!" he said proudly.

"Yes, you've been very helpful with the clothes today," she praised, smiling at him.  "Even when you put jelly on a few pieces and the dry cleaner had to do a very rush job."  Xander chuckled and took him to hold.  "He needs to go see someone safer."

"Nanny?" Eric asked, pouting.  "No cwothes?"

"You can help us play with the clothes later, but now it's time for lunch, Eric," Xander ordered, whispering in his ear.  Eric giggled and nodded, beaming at him.  "Then you can help Mommy count clothes and money tonight."  He nodded, letting Xander carry him off to his nanny.  Xander bounced back and beamed at her.  "We're here."

"I heard."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Remember, you're supposed to be scary tonight, not slutty, dear."  He nodded, giving her a look.  "Did Horatio fuck all the nastiness out of you again?"  He beamed and nodded.  "Crap!"  She called Horatio. "You were supposed to make sure he could be mean and nasty tonight, Horatio!  I need him to be mean and nasty!"  She handed the phone to Xander, who walked off at the quiet growling going on, which was going to be very mean since it was going to leave him hard and begging, but without any relief.  She smiled at Danny, then found a small squishy package, which she handed over.  "A whole week's worth of clothes for Stella, Danny."

He looked at the package that fit very comfortable in his two hands.  Then at her and beamed.  "Thanks.  Why?"

"Xander said you needed her in a bathing suit that would make both her guys pounce.  Since you and Mac are with her," she offered, smirking at him. He gaped.  She strolled off to make sure Xander was in the proper mindset.  He was still in goofy, happy, slutty mode.  She sighed.  "Xander."  He looked at her.  "Imagine someone had taken Eric and Horatio hostage, okay?  Please get into the right mindset?"  He growled at that and nodded.  "Thank you."  She took the phone back and sighed, going to check on his clothes with him. Danny got tested as well and everything still fit perfectly.  She went back to check on Xander, finding him in brooding, evil thought mode.  That was a bit further past evil that she wanted.  "Xander, baby, evil thoughts, not brooding, evil thoughts.  Just evil thoughts."  He glared at her.  "Please?"  He nodded, calming himself down off the scenario she had made him imagine.  She thought about the bullwhip for his last outfit but it would be fine.  She hoped.  She changed clothes and went to greet her guests who were important.

The music started and Ray Jr. came out first, strutting it hard.  She beamed at him and he gave her that heated look that made a few people in the crowd smile.  He turned and found Danny there behind him, slapping him on the ass as he walked past him.  Danny glared back at him but smirked at the crowd, making them get into the playful nature.  Xander prowled out and Di nearly moaned.  He was fully into evil mode now.  He had never looked so hot.  Xander scanned the crowd for a minute then walked back there.  Too long but it gave the others a chance to get into place.  She had led with her three most experienced models.  Next came a trio of the women.  Very touchy, smirkingly cute girls.  Then the other males came out, Eric, Ray Jr., and Xander.  Eric was playing shy boy between the other two and the crowd was eating it up.  Xander yanked on his ear, making Eric moan but let him go and walked back there, pulling Danny out to make him walk down the catwalk.  Then he disappeared.  She moaned.

Xander was improvising but it was hotter than hell.  He was in full dominant mode.  The five women came out and did their cute little smirky looks and teasing arm touches on each other.  Then the guys came back out together, as a posse, as she planned.  Eric in the lead.  Eric turned and left.  Ray and Danny looked at the guys, then left.  Leaving Xander.  He stared around again, ordering their submission silently, then he stalked off, nearly strutting in the leather flat-soled boots she had put him in.  The girls came out and were in a beach- wear set and they were much more touchy.  One was nearly groping a breast and she glared at her, so she eased off.  They went back and the next set came out, her 'male classics'.  Leather, silk, tight, hot, drool making.  And some were.  Especially over Ray, who was in the tightest pair of leathers anyone had ever seen.  He even ran a hand down it. Xander spanked him during a lull in the song, making some people flinch at the honesty of that sound, but Ray only sneered and shook his head, taking Eric's arm and walking him back.

Danny pulled Xander closer, looking into his eyes, then gave him a nudge toward the back, following like the pissed lover he probably could be.  The next female set came out and they were back in good contact so she was happy.  They disappeared and the last male set came out.  Xander with a bullwhip.  He was the last down the catwalk.  He uncoiled it, stroking down the thicker part of it, then snapped it out to catch her and pull her closer, making her give him a scared look.  Danny and Ray helped her up onto the stage and she bowed, letting him unwind her.  She patted Xander on the cheek and smiled.  Then she smiled and waved the women out for their last set.  The photos got taken of the last set and they all disappeared to a lot of applause and some whistles and howls of pleasure.  She came back out and bowed.  "The servants at the dinner are showing off my newest version in the liquid latex wars," she announced. "They did ask that you not grope too much."  That got some laughs and they broke up to have snacks.

She got back there to Xander, kissing him on the cheek.  "I love you in evil mode but you know they're fine, right?"  He turned to show his son clinging to his back. "Did you sneak out?"  Danny nodded and Eric beamed.  "Fine, you can come with us as long as you're a good boy."  Xander walked over to his special cabinet and changed into something else, then put on his most geeky shirt in there.  He came out looking like a hot college geek, making Danny giggle and put on his more normal attire.  Ray kept on the leather since he couldn't peel them off.  Eric came out in a pair of very fitted jeans and a long shirt.  "We good?  Ladies?"  They joined them and walked out to more applause from the gathered crowd.

Someone sidled up to Xander and smiled.  "Darkness."

"Of course.  This is how I get my teasing fix now," he said with a wink.  He turned.  "This is my son, Eric.  Di had him for me."

"Ooooh, aren't you adorable?" she cooed.  Eric shook his head.  "No? You're not?"

"Tell her what you are, Eric?" he prompted with a bright grin.

"Evil."

She laughed and kissed him on the head. "I'm sure you come by it naturally, Eric. Very nicely done, Darkness.  Any chance of a private showing?"

He stroked her chin with his thumb. "My husband would throw fits," he reminded her gently.  She moaned.  "Gotta talk to Horatio, dear.  But you could ask his nephew, Ray.  He's *barely* legal this week."  She moaned and went to talk to him and Eric, who was hovering protectively on Yelina's orders.  He looked back at his son.  "You want held instead of clinging?"  He felt him shake his head. "Okay."  He walked over to get a drink.  "Coke, no ice, no additives, no liquor."  The bartender gave him an odd look. "I don't drink."  That got a nod and a bottle was handed over. "Thank you," he said, looking him over.  "You've got some flaking.  Push it over and it'll be fine," he ordered, walking off with his son, who waved and giggled at everyone.  By silent cue, all the guys faded into the background, heading for the back area so Danny could get the tiny package of clothes and head out to the car they had rented to take them to the station, where they would check in and then head home safely.  That way no one could follow them.  Xander made sure he had the baby seat for the hired car, but that was the only hold up to their escape.  "Nice job," he praised.

Eric smirked.  "Being that naughty is fun.  Now I understand what you got out of stripping."

"Besides a really good workout?" Danny teased.  "When they came up for the auction, Don managed to slip Xander some scotch and got him into a go-go cage to dance.  Horatio was not a happy camper."  Eric and Ray both laughed at that, so did little Eric, who beamed at them all.  "Hey, sugar.  We going home?"  Eric beamed and nodded.  "That's good with me.  I'll hang with you and your daddy until I head to the condo tonight," he said with a wink.  They pulled up outside the station and Ray tipped the driver, then they walked inside, Xander riding herd on the group with Eric in his seat.

The receptionist saw Eric and Ray Jr. and burst out crying, running off complaining Xander had corrupted them.

Calleigh stopped them in the hallway, walking around them. "Talk about Xander-tight, Ray and Eric.  Are you trying to get stolen!"  She hit Eric on the arm.  "Ray, your mother said you four and the baby were to wait in your uncle's office since he's off on a scene right now with her."  She looked at Ray's pants, then Eric's.  "I'll escort you."

"We need sodas and cookies," Xander said with a grin.

"You can get them once we safely get these two into the office and have the blinds closed."  Of course they had to walk past most of the lab to do that.  Someone came to the door of DNA and stared, unblinking, at Eric and Ray.  "It was the day of the fashion show," she announced. "That's why he looks like a slut!"  She giggled at that and winked at him, getting a smirk back.  "Eric, who's staying with you tonight to make sure you don't get stolen?"

"I will," the woman from DNA offered.  That got a few moans.  "Who's staying with Ray?"

"My mother.  She doesn't want me to go out and pick up a new girlfriend."  He shrugged and gave her his own version of the wicked smirk he had learned off Xander.  She shivered.  "Don't you think I should be allowed out tonight?"

"Hell no!" Frank yelled from the office. "Get in here!"  They walked up the stairs and into the office.  He took the baby to hold.  "You should come sit with me, that way you're not warped by those four and their clothes."

"Cwothes," Eric agreed happily, playing with his tie.  He pouted at him.  "No cwothes?"

"No, you can help your daddy clean out Uncle Horatio's closet later."  He walked him off to protect him from the teasing, playing guys.

Danny flopped down behind the desk and called home.  "Hey, Stella, it's me.  We're done and safely back at the station, being guarded since Horatio and Yelina are out with a body.  No, we're good.  Just fine, I promise.  No, Eric's with Frank at the moment.  Oh, Di made you something so don't pack as much as you would've."  He hung up and looked at Xander.  "Why are she, Mac, and I a trio?"

"You might wanna make sure that hung up sine it beeped," Eric offered.  Danny checked, then hung it up further. "You're not?"  He looked at Xander.  "Didn't Horatio say it looked that way?"

"Yeah, did to us, Danny.  You mean you're not?"  He glared and shook his head.  "Damn.  You seemed so jealous when I danced with Stella.  And then when Horatio made Mac go onto the floor with him to guard us."  He scratched the back of his arm.  "Sorry."

"No problem. Mac would never go for something that odd."  He grimaced.  "So what's in the package?"

"I asked Di to make her a bikini that would make you guys pounce in public."  He gave him a sheepish grin.  "Sorry."

"S'not a problem, Xander.  I'll still get ta enjoy it."  Ray giggled and nodded.  "You, behave.  You're too young for such smutty thoughts."

"No I'm not.  I'm legal, as Xander told some woman."  He pinched him. "Mom would kill you if she had heard her."

"I know, but oh well."  He shrugged and got comfortable.  "I should go steal the son back."  Someone tapped on the door.  "It's hopefully not locked."  Ryan walked in.  "Hey, Ryan.  You remember Danny right?"

"Hey," he said, grinning at him, then at Eric and Ray.  "Alexx said she wanted you two to change before she got up here."

"I haven't figured out how to get out of these yet," Ray admitted pitifully.

"Easy, you peel them down," Eric advised. "Slowly, once you're not sweaty."  Ray nodded, getting that part. "No wonder she left that for last."

"I thought it was because of the baby powder mess I usually make."

"Probably was," Xander admitted.  "She said she'd prove to you leather was as comfortable as going naked."

"Not quite."  He shifted some.  "Getting too hard in these will be painful soon."  He smiled as Alexx came in, waving a hand.  "Sorry, I'm too sweaty to peel them off yet.  Eric said it's easier when I'm not."

She stared at them.  "Stand up, baby."  They all stood up.  She looked at Xander. "Nice try at changing the image, Xander.  Didn't work, but nice try."  She looked at Danny, shaking her head.  "You either."  She moved closer to Eric, then sighed and looked at Ray.  "We should take you home so you can soak those off."

"Leather in the shower?" Eric asked her. "It won't work."

She patted him on the cheek. "Can you breathe in those?"

"Yeah, she fitted them to each muscle group," he said proudly.  He smiled at her.  "I'll be well guarded tonight."

"Uh-huh.  All four of you need to eat more so you can't wear the slutty clothes ever again."  She shook her head, walking out, closing the door behind her.

Ryan beamed at them.  "Is the tape for sale yet?  Willow wanted to see what she came up with for the ladies."

Xander nodded. "It will be tomorrow.  Clips will be online at her site tomorrow."  Ryan beamed and headed out, but he had to unlock the door first.  Xander snickered, looking at Eric.  "Now you know why I like my jeans she fit to me.  Aren't they *comfortable*?"

"Very!  I can even bend in them."

"Yeah, she uses a stretch denim," Ray agreed.  "I have a few pairs of those but mom made sure they wouldn't be that tight until I moved out and got married."  Someone tapped on the door so he turned that way. "What?"  It opened and the Chief came in, blinking at them.  "The fashion show was today so they made sure Xander and I made it to our respective guardians tonight."

"I can see why," he admitted, staring at Ray's ass.  He blinked and looked at Xander, who just smiled and waved.  "You look less ...intense than usual."

"I went for geeky and hot today," he agreed happily.  "I'd have put on a suit but that seems to scare people for some reason."  The Chief smirked back so he shrugged. They both knew the Xander Caine rumors Yelina had started about that being his Wrath of Caine side.  "What can I do for you today, Chief?"

"The renovations?"

"Starting next week, all at the same time," he promised. "Half of each lab then switching over.  Mostly it's just tech updates so it shouldn't interfere too much with the running of the labs.  The one in New York is getting a lot more work so they're being done while their top three CSI are down here since they had to switch off some cases to another borough anyway."

"Thank you.  The shelter?"

"Tomorrow?"  He nodded.  "I'll be there.  If I'm not there a half-hour early, have someone make sure I'm on my way."  That got another nod.  "Horatio and Yelina are out on a scene so we're guarding Ray for her."

"I can see why," he agreed, licking his lips, then smiling and nodding at Danny.  "I'll see you soon I'm sure."  He left, heading back to tell them the board meeting would be soon and the upgrades were going next week.

"He has something in front of us?" Xander asked.

"He sent Don a proposal for the gay officer's union about convention attendance," Danny offered.

"Okay.  We'll look it over and talk to them about it."  Danny smirked and nodded at that.  "You've got to have fellowship or the job gets wearing and tiring.  Speaking of, next convention?"

"We're hosting," Danny said dryly, shaking his head.  "Please don't strip this time."

"I won't," he promised.   They all looked over as the door opened again.  "Hi," Xander said cautiously.

"You *ruined* them!" she shouted.  "You made the nice, sweet boys into sluts!"  She pulled up the gun.

"Whoa!  It was the fashion show!  The same person who does his wardrobe hired us to model!" Eric complained, moving closer.  "Ray couldn't get out of his and these were made for me," he said more calmly, trying to get her calmed down.  "I promise I'm not going to go after Horatio or start to strip.  They're just naughty teasing."  He gave her his best attempt at a goofy grin.  "I promise.  It didn't corrupt me any."  She burst out crying and stomped off.  He looked out the door.  "Calleigh!"  He pointed at her.  She looked then went running after her to pounce her and get the gun.  He closed the door and locked it this time.  "Wow.  I didn't even know she liked me."

"Us," Ray reminded him dryly. He looked down at himself.  "You really can see the piercing in this, can't you?"  Everyone in the room nodded.  "She's going to scream."

"She still hasn't realized you've got two earrings?" Xander asked, sounding amused.  "Man, your mom's usually so much more on the ball."

"She's dating," Ray said smugly, grinning at him.  "She met a very nice guy on the dating site and he's local so they've been going out.  They went dancing last night and she came home flushed and giggling."  Xander beamed at him, clapping him on the back.  "Someone should go steal the baby before Frank gets into trouble for having him."

Danny got up and headed out, checking the halls as he snuck that way.  He smiled at Eric when he ran into him, picking him up.  "Frank, I've got him," he called.

"Oh no you don't!  I heard about the receptionist!"  Danny took him back anyway, letting Frank chase them. Frank looked at them, shaking his head. "Give the baby back so he'll be sane and safely out of harm's way in case Eric gets another fan."

"She liked me too," Ray said with a pout.  "She said he ruined both of us."

Frank looked him over, pausing at the bulge that could only be a piercing, then shook his head. "I think you've been corrupted a bit longer, Ray.  You may be Horatio during the day but you're all slutboy there at night."

"He gives me the nicest compliments," Xander teased, smirking at him and taking his son.  "Hi, Eric."  His son giggled and kissed him. "I love you too, baby boy.  Would you like to sit with us in here or with Uncle Frank?"  Eric pointed at the window. "Sure, you can watch outside."  He put Eric down and smiled at Frank.  "You can stay if you promise not to hit on Eric or Ray."

"My wife would get very upset if I brought someone home for her to play with."  He closed the door and locked it, walking over to see what Eric was staring at.  "Wonderful.  Guys, gunmen."  He reached for the phone but Danny had it.  Xander stood up and grabbed something from under the couch, heading out behind Eric and Danny, locking them in there.  "Hey!"

"That was a subtle 'protect what's mine, Frank' from Xander," Ray offered.  He called his mother.  "Frank just spotted guys in masks with shotguns coming into the station.  Frank, the baby, and I are in Uncle Horatio's office.  Danny called."  He hung up. "Move him away from the window?"  Frank handed him the baby and rushed out, closing the door behind him.  Ray smiled at Eric. "We're going to play a hiding game, Eric.  Okay?"  He took him over to the desk, putting him under it while he found the spare gun his uncle kept hidden.  "You stay down there.  Bad guys are coming to take the pretty clothes."  Eric stayed hidden, his mommy had told him about bad guys.  He heard a few shots fired but nowhere near them.  He heard feet go running and someone knocked.  "I'm in here," Ray called.  The knocking stopped and whoever it was left.  He stayed behind the desk until someone tapped and announced that it was Calleigh. "You alone?"

"No!  Open the door!"  Ray got up and opened the door, looking at her. "The baby?"

"Under the desk."

"Good.  Good instincts, Ray."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "Stay in here, I'm sending Xander back up.  Horatio pulled up and someone tried to fire at him.  Xander shot their feet out from under them.  He's not a happy person."  They shared a look and Ray put the gun back, then got Eric out and she smiled.  "You're a good boy, Eric.  Make the bigger Eric a good boy too."  She hurried off to get Xander. "Eric's still in the office with Ray," she told him.  Xander hurried that way.  He was nothing if not protective of his family.  She looked at Horatio.  "They're fine."

"Good," he said, looking at the stupid people.  "Who are they, Frank?"

"So far they're moaning and claiming the don't know English in a British accent."  He looked at Horatio.  "Do you know anyone British?  I don't.  I don't remember a case either."

"Not for over a year," Calleigh offered.  She called the office.  "Xander, do you remember any British cases?"  He came out a minute later, stomping.  He glared at one and hissed something to him, making him cry.  "Okay, apparently you know him?"

"No, but Rupert and Willow would."  He looked at his mate. "They think they're taking me home to protect me," he said sarcastically, giving him a look, then he kicked one.  "Spill, now!" he ordered in his most scary voice.  "I am the protector of Miami.  The Watchers sending you violates my city's sanctity and I can easily call insult on them."  They all backed away.  "Now!" he yelled.

"You're needed by the Council to help Miss Summers fight something. You and Miss Rosenburg," one said weakly.

"That's gonna be kinda hard since she's pregnant."  He saw Horatio calling her house.  He moved closer, staring at there. "Where's that strike team?  You guys would only go for a single target."  They all flinched. "Where?" he asked, his voice deathly calm.  "I will know, even if I have to turn into the very evil I've fought in the past," he warned quietly.  "You can tell me or you can tell the hormonal pregnant woman."  One tried to move a hand and he stepped on it, breaking the vial he had been holding.  "Poison?"  He whimpered and nodded.  "Frank, he had poison in that vial."

"I've already got EMS rolling.  What is going on?"

"They're Watchers, Frank.  They watch over girls like Buffy.  This is my old life trying to kidnap me."  He stared one down.  "And you're a team leader," he said, hauling him up to look at him.  "You can tell me or my husband, or her husband.  Your choice," he said coldly.  "Remember, she can do that neat 'out of time' thing now."  He swallowed. "Don't try for the cyanide tooth either.  I know better."  He opened his mouth.  "I mean it.  I will keep you alive."  He moved him closer, staring into his eyes, letting every instinct screaming at him out.  "Now,  you'll tell me or you'll tell my mate," he hissed in his face.

"Sh...she...she needs you," he stuttered.  "The other team is at the deli.  He's not cooperating but her spouse is there.  We're only here to gather you."  Xander let him go.  "They need you, you're special."

"No, she needs backup, not necessarily me," Xander assured him.  He kicked him under the jaw, breaking it.  "I told you not to go for that tooth."

"Xander!" Frank warned.

"Usually it's the first tooth after the fang tooth on the bottom right, Frank.  You might warn someone that it's cyanide."  He blinked at him.  "This is an extraction team from the Watchers.  They're just as trained as any paramilitary group can be.  Some were military as well."  He continued to stare at the one guy.  Then he suddenly looked at another, hissing something at him. He froze. "Don't try that, stupid.  There's not a Sunnydale resident who's not filled with enough magic to blast your whole organization open.  By the way, why not Chase?"

"She's helping the Champion."

"He's closer.  He can do that."

"He's a vampire!"

"No shit!  Really?  Couldn't have told you that when he attacked me or anything."  He pulled out his phone to call LA.  "Cordy, Xander.  Not now.  Willow and I are facing extraction teams from the Watchers.  Apparently they want us back in town.  Cordy, I'm in Miami. Willow's pregnant.  Get over it, it's your job!"  He hung up and glared at him.  "All you had to do was ask and I'd have called."  He glared at another guy.  "I can break yours too."  He stopped moving his jaw.  "Thank you."  The paramedics rushed up.  "That one," he said, pointing at one.  "Had a vial of poison in his hand when I broke it.  Probably homoeopathic if it matters.  They've all got cyanide teeth, traditionally the next one past the fang on the bottom right.  I broke one's jaw when he moved to snap it."  That got a nod and they got to work on them while Frank made sure they were handcuffed and officers went with them.  He walked over to Horatio.  "Ryan?"

"I can't get him to answer."

"Thank you.  Willow?"

"On her way here.  I sent an officer after her.  He's picked her up."

"Good.  To the deli, dear?"

"Xander."

"They're using magic, Horatio.  Not even SWAT can handle that."

"I can," Danny noted as he joined them.  "You and Don warded me or whatever."

"Go," Horatio agreed, looking at his mate.

"You had better come back in perfect condition, Horatio. One hair out of place and I'm killing the Council," he said quietly, crossing his arms over his chest.  "Understood?"  He nodded, heading off to help with the assault on the other area.  He glared at the last one being loaded in.  "We'll see who wins this time."  He called Rupert.  "Why was an extraction team sent after Willow and myself?" he asked coldly.  "Why yes, Rupert, this is.  No shit, really?  No, the one at the police station was defeated.  We're looking for the other one.  Gee, Giles, I don't know.  Willow's pregnant."  He let out a small hyena laugh and hung up, smirking at Frank.  "He's going to warn them that they should probably leave Ryan alone.  They still can't disappear that fast."  He walked past him, going to check on his son.  The gun he had pulled out from under the couch was in his back waistband.  One of the officers looked at him and tensed.  "I'm licensed," he said before he could do more than that.  He looked back at him. "I'm probably a better shot than you are."  The elevator came and he got on, heading upstairs.  His phone rang and he looked at it.

"What?" he demanded coldly.  "Yes, Angel, I recognized the office number. It's in my phone listed as 'bitch queen'."  He listened.  "I have no idea.  They said it was something we needed to handle.  Willow's pregnant.  Due in a few months."  He smirked at his groan of complaint.  "Well, we're in Miami and she can't help," he noted dryly.  The door opened and he got off, heading for the office.  "You're closer and the Champion.  They didn't come to you due to your little unliving problem.  They said so after I broke one's jaw, Angel.  Why do you think?"  He sneered at the amused laugh.  "Think I can't?  Check my rep, Angel.  Then we'll talk.  For now, you're closer and she's your ex.  You're the Champion of the Powers.  Have fun with Sunnydale syndrome this time."  He hung up and walked into the office, smiling at his son and nephew.

"They've got Ryan," he told Calleigh, who hissed.  "The Watchers."  She moaned and shook her head.  "Someone over there is going to die by Willow's hand."  He felt a touch to his waistband, grabbing the wrist and flipping them.  "Hi," he told the officer.  "I'm actually licensed to carry that. You could try asking."  He gaped.  "Yes, I'm Xander.  Welcome to my husband's office, idiot."  He got up and backed out the door with the others.  He turned and glared.  "Anyone else?"  They all shook their heads and Eric toddled over to hug his leg, getting a smile.  "Thank you, Eric."  He picked him up to kiss him on the forehead. "You're a very good boy."  Eric beamed so he grinned back.  "You make daddy calm down very well."  Eric hugged him and waved at the officers.  "Yes, they're police officers, just like Daddy Horatio.  Say Hi."

"Hi!"  He waved again, beaming at them. "Cwothes?"

"No, they wear uniforms, they can't wear mommy's clothes on duty.  They probably wish but they can't."  Eric pouted at him. "They can wear them after work."  Eric beamed at that again.  He looked at them.  "You needed something else?"

"Your license, sir?"  Xander found his copy for the office handing it over.  "Thank you."  It was looked over then handed back.  "We really don't encourage people to walk into the station armed."

"That strike team just came for me.  Fuck y'all, even if my son wasn't here."  That got some nods and they all backed off. "Sorry, people who kidnap me tend to get into serious trouble.  I do defend myself."  They backed off and left.  He glared at Calleigh, who shrugged. She had been making 'go away' motions behind his back and he knew it.  She smiled sweetly.  "Call Di?  Tell her the Watchers are in town?"  She nodded, going to do that.  Then she called Speed off his crime scene to make sure he knew everyone was fine.  He heard running and looked out there.  "Up here, Wills."  She came up the stairs, coming to hug him.  "They went to get Ryan.  Horatio and Danny went."  She nodded, taking Eric to hold for her comfort.  "Giles doesn't know why."

"I heard that from him and Angel when he called."  She looked at him.  "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Point."  She smiled at Ray, then handed him the baby.  "We'll be back."

"No we, Wills.  You're pregnant."

"I'm...."  He held up a finger.  "I'm fine to question the reason for them being in town."

"No you're not. Your husband would kill my ass if I took you into Tentacles like this."

"Yay!"  She stood up, facing him down.  "I can go, Xander.  I've got the better skills to protect both of us."

"You're staying with my son, Willow.  Guard him and Ray."  He turned and left, heading down to his car.  She landed beside it. "I'm telling him you're doing that."

"He'll understand."

"He'll expect you to be there when he's brought to the hospital for the SOP exam."

"I'll be there.  It won't take that long to make someone beg for mercy."  He shrugged and he got in to drive while she slid in, making sure her skirt was safely in.  "They're going to yell."

"Whine.  I'm not leaving us in the open this way."  He started the engine and backed off, then spun the car and headed off at a higher rate of speed.  She gave him a look.  "Driving lessons with Tim."  He shifted up as they hit the main street, heading for the bar where someone would know what was going on.

***

Ryan walked into the club with Horatio, looking at their lovers, who were quietly sipping a soda with some assorted bodies begging and moaning on the floor.  He cleared his throat.  "Willow?"  She smiled at him.  "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, trying to stay calm.  He had been warned she could be scary when the situation called for it, Xander had warned him.  Now he realized that truth.

"Figuring out why someone wanted to kidnap me, Xander, and possibly his son while hurting you and Horatio.  By the way, they're very sorry."  She slid off her stool and walked over, looking him over.  "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" he countered.

She snorted.  "Honey, I used to do this every night.  Just because I can't kick as high doesn't mean I can't kick ass."

"Not like I'd let her," Xander offered, waving at him.  "By the way, the Watchers believe there's a new major evil in Sunnydale and they needed us to take them down but Angel's going to fix it with her.  The details have already been sent to Cordy via fax, and the ones here are being disavowed.  That means no one will try to magic them out of the jail."  He walked over a few bodies, making one plead.  He glared at it.  "You brought violence near my son," he said in the most common demon language.  "I do not forgive such things.  Nor do I tolerate them."  The demon nodded and laid back down.  He nodded at the bartender.  "Sorry about the mess."

"Not a problem, Harris.  Or you, Miss Rosenburg.  Messes like this need to be cleaned up.  Thank you for keeping the Watchers out of here."

"Not fun enough if they're happy when you torture them," Xander pointed out dryly.  He looked his mate over, seeing the graze on his arm. "What the hell!"  He moved closer to open his sleeve, looking at it.  "Who in the hell hurt you!"  He stared at his mate then pushed him into a seat, going behind the bar to get a clean cloth and wet it down.  He stomped back and gently cleaned it off, glaring at him.  "Someone shot you?"

"Someone tried, I'm fine," he assured him.

"No you're not!  You're bleeding!" he said loudly and shrilly.

"Xander," he said, trying to calm him down.

"I find knocking him out works best," Willow offered as Ryan led her outside to the car.  "I'm fine, dear.  Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.  They tried to hit me a few times."  His wife got that scary look.  "I'm fine. I had worse in school."  The scary look got worse.  "Willow!" he snapped and she burst out crying.  "Shhh, I'm fine," he promised more quietly, stroking her back while he held her.  "I promise, I'm fine.  You don't have to fuss.  Some aspirin and an ice pack and I'm a good and happy boy."  She shook her head.  "No?"

"No."  She pulled back, staring at him.  "You're in for it.  You're going to make me fuss!"  She caught his wrist and drug him to the car.  "Station or can we go home?"

"We can go home."  She forced him into the back and climbed in after him. "Please calm down?"

"No!"  The officer chuckled.  "You, shut it unless you want to be a salamander."  He smiled and nodded, driving them home.  "How many times were you hit?"  She ran a hand over his cheek.  "It's not up yet so I can't do more than feed you and give you something for the pain."  He kissed her, stopping her babbling.  She scowled at him. "You're hurt!"

"I'm fine. It's just a bruise, but I'm seeing scary mothering for our future child."  She glared at that so he smiled sweetly.  "I'll be okay.  You can fuss when we get home and cuddle me all you want."  She nodded, going back to stroking his cheek gently.  "It'll come up soon enough, dear."  He caught her hand and kissed the back of it. "Did anyone touch you?"  She shook her head.  "Not at all?"

"No, Xander wouldn't let anyone near me. The one guy who tried to grab me was a pile of ash."  She shrugged. "He didn't want to tell Xander why someone wanted to kidnap us and hurt his son and mate.  Pity about them but oh well."

Ryan kissed her so she couldn't say any more in the back of the police car.  She gave him a look then wiped the driver's memory of the day when they got out.  He gave her a look. "Willow."

"Yay."  She opened the door and pointed.  "On the couch, Mister, before I show you truly scary fussing out here."  He walked in there like a whipped puppy, which was what she had intended.

Back at the bar, one of the demons stuck Xander with his talon, knocking him out. "You're welcome. It'll wear off in an hour.  I'd be cleaned up and showing no signs of that by the time he wakes up."  Horatio nodded his thanks and carried his mate out and to the hummer.  Danny shook his head.  The demon looked at the mess.  He looked at the bartender.  "Can we eat 'em?"  He shrugged so the rest of them got a good snack that night.

***

Xander woke up, finding Horatio reading beside him.  He suddenly flipped over, landing straddling his lap so he could look at his arm.  "Someone hurt you."

"They paid for it, Xander."  Xander looked at him. "They were injured much worse," he said quietly.  He stroked his cheek. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine and why are you talking to me like I'm stupid?"

"Because I'm controlling my temper.  You went to Tentacles with Willow."

"I couldn't get rid of her and she did the teleporty thing.  I made sure nothing and no one touched her.  She wouldn't let me go alone," he defended at Horatio's searching look.

"I didn't want you to go at all, Xander."

"So!  We needed the information!"

Horatio kissed him.  "You could have been seriously hurt."

"Pot, kettle," Xander said, pointing at the graze.  "All I've got are bruised knuckles."  He stared into his mate's eyes.  "You should've known I'd be there. That's how you tracked me there, right?"

"Actually, I called Dispatch and had them find the car."  He tipped Xander's chin up when it fell.  "I don't like you hunting or fighting."

"They were going to kill you and Eric!"

"Xander!"

"NO!"  He stood up beside the bed, staring at him.  "Their plan was to take me back there, then kill you and Eric.  To bring Willow back there after making her miscarry and kill Ryan.  Plus if they could to kill Tim.  No way in hell I'm apologizing for going to get that information and sending it to the people who'll deal with that situation out there so I don't have to!"  He stomped off, heading out to the beach to sulk.

Horatio calmed himself then went out there to sit with him.  "Xander, risk is part of my job."

"And it's part of my life, Horatio," he snapped without looking.  "Someone tried to kill you.  That makes them fair game for finding out why."

"Why were they going to do that?"

"They claimed they needed someone with battle planning experience.  But I also heard that the backup, the power behind the evil, would take a male sacrificial victim to solve, that would be the only way they could do it."  He glanced at him. "They wanted me for that."

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, but I do need to put Tim on a plane this weekend.  His time to hit Sunnydale is this weekend and he hasn't planned on going."  He glanced at him again then at the water.  "There is no way in hell they're doing this to my family," he said quietly.  "They knew better before they tried it but Travers thinks force solves everything. If I was less ethical I'd be borrowing some of Ethan's books with Willow's help."  He calmed himself down when Horatio shifted closer.  "I'm sorry, but they hurt you.  They were going to kill you and Eric.  I went into over-protective mode and I'm sorry if I scared you but nothing touches what's mine."  He stood up and headed around the house but Horatio stopped him and pulled him back inside, taking him to strip him down and get them both into a shower.  "I'm fine."

"You're not fine.  I'm still here."  He set the water temperature to what Xander liked and got them both inside.  "Feel me, Xander.  See that I'm still here and all right."

"Your arm...."

"Is nothing more than a scratch.  Not even any stitches."  Xander nodded, moving closer to run his hands over him.  He saw a bruise and kissed it.  "I got that from your chin last night," he soothed.  "Not a vest hit."  Xander nodded, moving to look over his back.  He moved back to his front, looking at him and letting Horatio look him over.  Horatio relaxed, not finding any evidence of the fight except for the bruised knuckles and the small talon puncture.  He pulled him closer to kiss and hold, letting Xander rub against him. "Is that making you feel better?"

"Yes," he said quietly.

"Then get us off, Xander.  I still love you, even when you did go pack alpha on me."  He kissed him again and reached down to stroke him off, letting Xander get him.  He came with a sigh of relief and Xander did the same, leaning forward with his head tipped to the side.  Horatio nipped him on the neck, sealing his stance as the protector of the family again.  Xander nodded, understanding that.  "Thank you for protecting us," he said quietly.  "You worried me sick though."  Xander wrapped his arms around him, just holding him.  "Shh, we're all right."

"Where's the baby?"

"With Speed and Calleigh.  They'll bring him over when I call.  Danny went to the condo.  Yelina took Ray home.  Was that a PA on him?"  Xander nodded, nipping him on the shoulder. "You're not distracting me, Xander."  The water started to get a bit chilly so he turned it off, then got them towels so he could dry them both off.  He walked Xander out and put him back on the bed, staring down at him.  "From now on, we do that stuff together.  Nothing said you had to do it then.  You could have waited for me.  Willow would have accepted that."  He shook his head.  "Yes she would have."

"No she wouldn't.  By now Ryan's locked down with his handcuffs and he won't be in for the next few days.  She fusses worse than me. Are you sure that bruise is a chin mark?"

"I'm sure, Xander.  My vest is in the front closet if you wanted to check."  Xander shook his head but lifted up a hand.  "You trust me?"

"Always."

"Then trust me on this.  Next time, we will go together.  I'll stop Willow.  You can have me as backup and I'll finally get to see how good you can be in that area."  Xander shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because I'll get nervous and do stupid stuff because you're there."

"You'd never show off."

"No, but my nerves would make me trip."  He sat up and pulled Horatio down next to him.  "I'm like that, Horatio.  Having you watch me hunt would make me nervous and trip again."

"I promise to be impressed, even if you do trip," he promised quietly, stroking his stomach.  "You're stronger than even I give you credit for."  He grabbed the phone and called Speed. "Bring Eric over.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Di tried to claim him but Calleigh said he'd be safer with us tonight since we weren't sure they weren't going to go after her as well."

"Not as far as I know.  Did the guy at the deli end up involved?"

"No. They had him tied up and he was protesting when they were hitting Ryan to get him to give up where Willow was."  Xander's face tightened.  "They'll get justice, Xander.  You know that."  Xander sighed and nodded, relaxing again.  "We should put on clothes."

"We should."   He snuggled against his chest. "Can I be cuddled tonight?"

"Every night, you know that."  He stole a kiss, then patted him on the butt.  "Put on shorts at least, something that the baby can't see up."  They got up to put on casual clothes and he tweaked Xander's nipple ring.  "I don't like that as much as I do the other one."

"It's still new, Horatio.  Give it time."  He stole a kiss and they headed out since someone was knocking.  He opened the door, finding Danny and Eric there.  "Hey.  Hi, baby."  He took his son, nuzzling him.  "Did you have fun with Grandpa and Grandma?"

"Cwothes!" he squealed happily.

"Calleigh got a lot of help with the laundry," Danny agreed as he came in and shut the door.  "You good?"  Xander nodded.  Danny waited until Horatio had the baby so he could push Xander against the wall to get into his face.  "What part of 'you are not a cop' did you not get the first couple of times you worried us, Xander?" he growled.  "It was not your job to make the stand at the station.  It was not your job to go beat people up for information.  That's our job.  We carry the badge.  Until you get one of your own, you are support staff and your only job is to patch us up and make sure no one had Ray Jr. or your son!"  Xander gave him a long stare.  "I don't care about your background. It's not your job," he said slowly and clearly.  "This comes from all of us in New York.  Mac, Stella, me, and Don all agree.  You're not a cop, not yet, and you're not to do that shit."

"Ease off, Danny," Horatio warned.

"As long as he's got that through his thick head."  He let Xander go, staring him down.  Xander nodded, relaxing some.  "Thank you!  You don't leave the kids alone!"

"Calleigh and the others...."

"Eric is your son. It's your job to make sure he's safe."

"Which I did when I went to the club and to make sure no one got past me!"

"You think that's the only entrance they could've gotten in?"  Xander stiffened again.  "Yeah, so, emotionally sound but not tactically.  You've got the brains for tactical thought, Xander. You've proved that time and again while hunting.  Today you let the hyena out.  You should've backed up to be an end-game fighter, against the door.  Not let Ray do it."

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you!"  He smacked him upside the head.  "That's from Mac for not thinking tactically."  He glared at him.  "Never again, right?"

"No.  I'll play backstop."

"Good boy.   After all, we're paid to get our asses shot, you're not.  We need you around to take care of us when we do.  Sorta like how Willow tried to call in and say Ryan was quitting while he was taking a nap.  Not that we believed he wanted it, but she tried really hard."  Xander swallowed and nodded.

"You left my nephew with the baby?" Horatio asked.

"Locked in your office.  With a lot of cops between him and danger."

"Then I agree with Danny, Xander.  Next time I want you with Ray and Eric.  Not out front.  I handle the front stuff and you're the wall I smash things against.  Got it?"  Xander nodded, looking at him.  He could see the trust in his eyes. "I've got more experience than you. You're going to be the wall I smash things against."  He pulled him closer to hold him, giving him a gentle kiss.  "From now on, that's how these things play out unless you absolutely have to hunt on your own," he ordered quietly.  "I'm not Buffy, I pull my weight, and we're not alone as hunters.  You've got others around to back you up.  Therefore I want you in a field command capable position."  He gave him another kiss.  "Even the SWAT commander looked over your battle plans for graduation and he said they were good."  Xander looked at him, frowning a bit.  "He wanted to know your qualifications.   I gave him that."  He smirked.  "If you ever get to finish your degree, you'll make one hell of an impression on the department."  He stole another kiss and handed him the baby.  "Put him down and let him play."  Xander went to do that, making his son a happy boy.  "You told Mac?"

"No, I called Don to assure him everyone was still all right and he told Mac, who yelled and ranted about it.  Said he'd be sending Don down early if it was going to be like that this week."

"It shouldn't be.  They were the Watchers."  Danny grimaced at that.  "They wanted him and Willow back in Sunnydale to handle something.  They were going to do it by killing Eric, Ryan, and myself to make sure they stayed."

"No wonder he went off in the club," he muttered, shaking his head as he went over to play with them.  "You did good even for being emotional, Xander.  I was passing on a message."

"I know, but it was still stupid of me.  I lost my head."  He looked at him.  "I realize that, you were right."  Danny smirked at him. "About that.  We'll see about other stuff."  He flinched as someone pounded on the door.

"It's normal," Danny said quietly.  "I did after the last time I had ta shoot someone."  He sat down to play with the baby since it was Yelina and she was dragging her son behind her.

"Why does my son have a nipple ring!" she shouted.

"He wanted one?" Xander called.  "He asked."  Eric giggled so he beamed at that. "That's right, Ray asked for one and we took him to someone nice and held his hand.  Just like we'll do for you when you want one."

She stomped over, glaring at him.  "I know you have one...." she started.  He looked up at her and she stopped, frowning at him.  "Fine.  He's old enough to make that decision on his own.  Why a nipple ring?"

"It's good for sex," Ray offered, shrugging a bit.  "My ex liked hers."  She glared at him and he backed down.  "Sorry, mom!"

She looked him over, stopping on one suspicious bulge.  She let out a shriek and he took off running.  "Get your ass back here!" she shouted, taking off after him.  "You did what!"

"Looks like she saw the outline of the PA," Danny said dryly.  "You and Don really held his hands?"

"Yup, he was nervous and sweaty.  He asked."  He shrugged. "I nearly had to be handcuffed for my buried treasure one."

Danny shook his head. "You're way braver than I am," he offered.  Xander grinned at that.  "At least about that sorta pain.  Other stuff....  Not even close."

Xander leaned over and gave him a hug.  "I try not to think about the other stuff and I push it out of my mind when it happens."  He looked at his son.  "Some day, when you're bigger, you can have the same sort of leather pants your cousin Ray can't get out of."

Horatio chuckled at that.  "I was beginning to wonder if we'd have to cut them off him."

"No, he's too sweaty and they're still sticking," Xander offered. "He'll peel them off later with some patience if his mother doesn't rip them to beat his ass.  Not that it's not strong leather.  I've got a pair of those in Di's workroom for our inspiration moments."  Eric beamed at that.  "Yes, you helped me into them the other day.  They are baby blue and they match Daddy Horatio's eyes wonderfully."  Eric beamed at Horatio then went back playing with the blocks that had been under the coffee table for him.

"There are days when I'd kill to be that age again," Danny sighed, shaking his head.

"Don't tell Willow that.  She'll do it," Xander advised, looking totally serious.  Danny gave him an odd look. "Really.  She will."  Danny shifted away from him.

"She'll try," Horatio agreed, heading for the kitchen.  "She might not succeed.  She seems to have a lot of accidents with her magic."

"Ya think?" Xander asked dryly.  "So, how long do we give her with Ryan before we go save him?"  He looked at Danny.  "She fusses worse."

"I bet.  Girls usually do."  He patted Xander on the back, looking over as Ray ran in, pointing at the back areas of the condo.  He ran into the office and shut the door, hiding somewhere in there.  He grinned as Yelina stomped back in. "He still can't get out of those pants?"

"Not yet."  She glared at Xander.  "Did you have to let him do that?"

"He wanted it, Yelina.  He paid for it even.  The nipple ring was my gift since he helped me buy Horatio's anniversary presents."

"What did you get him?"

"Four new suits, a big plate of wings in front of a game of his choice, which we helped him devour and watch, and apparently some very hot sex," Danny said with a bright grin.  He looked at Xander.  "We noticed you weren't sitting right." Xander shook his head.  "How good was it?"

"I decided to make it special and let him do something I'd been thinking about for a while now," he told him quietly.  He stacked a block for Eric, but got pouted at and that block got shoved off, replaced by his own. "Sorry, trying to help."

"Mine!" Eric said firmly, scowling at Yelina.  "Girl!"

"Yes, I am."  She came over to sit near him.  "That's very good, Eric."

"Cwothes?"

"No, I have plenty."  He scowled at her. "I'm sure your mother could make me something for a date though."  He beamed at that and went back to working on his tower.

"He's very good at drumming up business for his mother," Horatio noted as he came out with drinks.  "Raymond, you wanted that, you can face it like a man," he called.  "That is the Caine way."  His nephew came out of his office, looking sheepish.  "Go change.  You'll cut off all the circulation and your mother will never have grandchildren."

"That's one way to ensure I use enough birth control," he said as he went toward the bedroom.  "I'm borrowing sweats, Xander."

"Or shorts, either's fine," he agreed.

Yelina sipped her drink, smiling at her brother-in-law for the shot that was in her iced tea.  "Thank you."

"I figured you could use it," he offered.  He sat down with his regular tea, kissing Xander on the forehead, getting a smile.  "Speed said he didn't want to go back, Xander."

"Do I care?" he countered, looking at his mate.  "I'm not losing him until I'm at least a grandfather.  Then he can quit going."  He got up to make plans to have Speed drugged, kidnaped, and put onto the plane if he had to.

"Once you got it, you don't let it go," Danny agreed happily, saluting them with his drink.  Eric made a whimpering noise so he tested his then let him have a drink from his glass.  "Better?"  He got a baby beam and then he destroyed his hard work and started again.  "Good job!  Nice destruction.  You're definitely your daddy's boy, Eric."  That got another beaming smile and then an evil chuckle.

"I wonder where he learned that from," Yelina said dryly.  Horatio smirked at her.  "You don't let out evil little chuckles."

"That you've heard," he offered smartly, smirking at her.  Xander came out of the office.  "Come drink with us."  He came out and curled up next to his leg, letting Eric have some of his tea when he made begging noises.  "Ask, Eric."

"Dwink?  Pwease, Daddy 'Oro?"

"Of course, Eric.  Let me get you your cup."  He got up with a pat to Xander's head and got the childproof cup for him.  Less spills that way.   Ray finally came out of the bedroom in a pair of cutoff shorts that left nothing to the imagination.  "Where were those?"

"Your drawer, Uncle Horatio."  He sat down and grinned at him. "Xander's got a smaller waist in his shorts."  He smiled at the baby, who beamed at him and let out another evil chuckle.  "Oh, my!  Are you going to take over the world?"  Eric just smiled and got back to work on his tower.  "I'll take that as a yes."

"What did you do, son?" his mother asked patiently.

"I got a nipple ring and a PA, mother.  I'm a big boy and they feel incredible when I'm masturbating."  She held up a hand. "Sorry, only a stopgap until I find a new girlfriend."

"Thank you."  She finished her drink and looked at him.  "Ring, bar, or u-bar?"

"Right now, a u-bar.  I'm wearing something very thin in it."  She nodded, accepting that. "I've taken very good care of it.  We got it before they went up for the auction."

"As I thought when I saw the nipple ring that night," Horatio noted, looking at his mate.

"Him too?" she asked.

"Him, Speed, and Ray," Horatio agreed.

"The reason Calleigh was screaming at him?"

Xander grinned and nodded.  "Yup, plus Don.  It was a bonding thing."

"Hurt like hell," Ray agreed, rubbing over it.  "I'm sorry if I disappointed you, mother."

"I expected you to talk to me about these things, son.  Not to find them out afterward."

"Okay.  Well, um, Uncle Horatio, if I asked, would you show me why alcohol was evil this weekend?"

"I can," he agreed. "Xander can hang out at the condo or at Speed's for the night it'll take."  That got a smile.  "Then we'll talk the next morning, after you quit throwing up."

"I find that more than acceptable," his mother agreed. "It shows maturity that you're asking instead of going out to try it in a club some night."  She looked at Xander.

"Don't give me that look. I had drunken parents.  I don't drink because of them.  That's why I'll be far away when he does that."  Horatio and Ray both nodded that they accepted that.

"If you do it Saturday night, Don and them'll be in so we can take him in for the night."  Ray and Horatio both nodded at that.  "You two are really alike sometimes."

Yelina smiled at him.  "Xander bought him a suit to shock his father's little mind.  He came in wearing it and posed *exactly* like Horatio does.  Ray accused me later that I had slept with his brother to become pregnant because they were so alike."

"Can I slap him?" Xander asked hopefully.

"No, Xander.  He's getting clean again."

"Once he is, we'll think about letting him come back here when Eric's around," he said, looking at her.  "The first time he slips he's missing out on every little bit of Eric's life."

"I agree.  Eric should be a reward to the rest of the family and a deep obligation you do out of love.  He shouldn't be around your son while he's still using."  Horatio nodded that he agreed.

"If he tries to move back, I'm moving here," Ray reminded her.

"I know, son."  She smiled at him.  "I'm not planning on that at this time."  Ray smiled at that.  Someone else knocked on the door.  "Who could that be?"  She got up, letting the bigger Eric in.  "Aren't you supposed to be home?"

"I was but she got called out to help someone.  I decided to come here to be guarded."  He smiled at the baby.  "Hi, Eric."  He beamed and got up, coming over to stroke a hand down his jeans.  "Yes, your mommy made these for me."  Eric beamed at him and pinched him then went back to his building.  "Some day he'll take over his mother's business."

"We can only hope he doesn't follow me into my screwed up college career," Xander noted, giving him a fond smirk. "You know, there's city competitions."

"I had noticed that."  He sat across from him, smirking a bit.  "Are you going?"

"I'm thinking."

"Good! You should stay in training.  Just like you still do your workouts from when you were a stripper."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Awww, does he do them for you?" he teased. "Poor H, all alone with a sex maniac."

"Not hardly and who says I mind, Eric," he taunted back, smirking at him.

"Some of us have seen more than enough gay sex even before Xander handed over his porn collection," Ray complained.  His mother choked, looking at him.  "I walked in one night and headed immediately for the kitchen since they were in the middle of something."  He got up to get a drink.  "Eric, tea?"

"Pwease!"

Horatio handed him his cup with a smile. "You've still got some left."  Eric beamed and finished the cup then handed it back. "Good boy."  Ray brought out the refilled pitcher and glasses, letting him refill his cup and hand it back. "When are we going to start working on potty training?"

"Di said she'd do it when things slowed down again. She said he goes a lot right now."

"He's been tested for blood sugar stuff, right?" bigger Eric asked.  Xander nodded.  "Then it's normal?"

"Small bladder.  He'll be fine."  He sipped his drink, making his son smile. "Yes, you're a good boy.  Build another empire for us to destroy, baby."  He got to work building again.

Danny shook his head with a smirk.  "At least he'll be a kind and just evil overlord."  Xander smiled and nodded.  "You think he'll like boys?"

"Not with the way he likes Calleigh's breasts," Yelina noted.  Everyone laughed at that, they were little Eric's favorite pillows.

***

Stella walked into the condo and Danny tossed her the squishy package.  "What's this?"

"Xander had Di make you a new swimsuit," he offered with a grin.  She smiled.  "There might be other stuff in there too."

"It's too small for very much."

"This is Di we're talking about," Don reminded her as he walked in and shut the door behind Mac's packmule body.  "Thanks, Mac."

"How long before your wrist is better?"

"Doc said three days," he defended, smiling at him. "Go try it on, Stella."  She went into the bedroom to try on the new bathing suit while Don went the fridge to check things out.  "The Heineken beer fairy apparently dropped by," he announced.  "Danny, better beer?"

"Under the sink.  I didn't put any in to chill today."  He gaped as Stella came out, his glasses being taken off and cleaned because they were steaming up.  "Wow," he breathed finally.

"Are we sure this wasn't from a leftover scrap?" she asked, adjusting the tiny breast cups.  They clearly weren't meant to hide anything.  Then she adjusted the thong again.  "I don't think I'm meant to wear this outdoors on the beach."

"Nearly no tan lines," Don said, blinking at her.

Mac sat down, staring at her.  "Stella...."  He licked his lips, his mouth was suddenly dry.  "What else was in there?" he asked weakly.  She went back into the bedroom, coming out with a wrap that matched the bikini's dark green color.  "That's nice.  Anything else?"

"Yeah a few really thin dresses."  She went to change back into her own underwear, blushing at their very admiring looks, but she came back out in the most conspicuous dress of the group.  Don dropped his beer.  Danny drooled.  Mac whimpered. "I look like a slut, don't I?"  She went to look in the bathroom mirror.  It was a thin, but soft and non-see- through material, so it clung to every curve of her breasts, then draped softly down to catch the bottom curve of her waist and hips, flowing around her thighs.  She decided she looked nice.  It wasn't too low cut, but it clearly wasn't hiding anything either.  "Maybe I can put a jacket over it for court dates," she decided.   She walked out and Danny pulled her in, kissing her hard.  She pulled back.  "Danny!"

"You should be worshiped in that," he assured her, heading out.

"Danny!"  She ran after him, catching him at the elevator and making him go back inside.  "Stay."  She locked the door, including the chain.  None of the guys had higher brain functions so they wouldn't be able to deal with it quickly.  "What was that?"

Danny shrugged and backed up.

Mac stood up and pulled Danny closer, making him look at him.  "Xander was right," he told him.  Danny frowned.  "What he said over the phone when you told her Diana made her stuff, he was right."  He walked over and kissed Stella himself, making her bend backwards

"Damn, I need my girlfriend," Don complained, going to his room to call her while those three worked it out among themselves.

Mac let her go, watching her chest heave as she panted, then he carefully sat her down and pulled Danny closer.  "We should talk."

"Talk?" Danny squeaked.

Stella got up to change back.  "I think I need to be in more substantial clothes for this."

Mac looked at Danny, then kissed him.  "He was right, Danny.  All of us."

"All...  Huh?" he asked, looking confused.

Mac made it simpler. "You.  Me.  Her."  Danny's eyes went wide.  "Yes?"  Danny slowly shook his head.  "Why not?"

Danny pinched him. "You're not Mac."

Don came to the doorway.  "Danny, that is Mac.  He nagged me the whole way down here about hurting my wrists playing with Delilah.  That's truly Mac and he's got a hard-on for both you.  Threesome.  Like in that movie she made us watch."  Danny looked at him and swallowed, then tried to run again.  Mac caught him this time.  "Have fun with that."  He closed his bedroom door and went to amuse himself until his girlfriend got off work.

Stella came out of her bedroom, finding Mac had Danny pinned against the wall to kiss him stupid.  She came over and got one of her own, then smiled at them.  "We'll have a lot of talking to do before I say yes, boys.  I will not have this interfering at work.  Understood?"  Both men nodded, staring at her. "What?"

"Put back on the bikini?" Danny asked.  She pinched him, making him yelp. "Sorry!"

"I'll put on one of the other dresses if you hand over the DVD of the show and put on the skimpiest outfit she gave you," she countered.  Danny blushed and went to his room to do that, coming out in his own version of the stretchcord pants and the DVD.  "Those are cute."  She ran a hand over them, realizing that they stretched.  "Oooh."  She snapped one, making him flinch.  "Nice.  Not showy but it can be."  She put on the DVD.  "We're watching the show, Don!"

"I saw the one in New York."

"Okay."  She pulled Danny down next to her so she could play with the cords on his thigh while Mac got her other side to watch.  She drooled at some of the outfits, pausing it to point at one.  "I want one of those."  Danny smiled at her.  "I'll look fantastic in it. It's meant for bigger breasts."

"I'll see how much she wants to make you one," he promised.

She smiled and restarted it, letting Mac play with her leg.  She paused on Ray's last shot.  "How long did it take him to get out of those?"

"Most of the night. He got sweaty later on."

"That can be a problem when your pants are that tight."  He smiled at that. "You do, don't you?"  He nodded. "Leather?"

"Plus two cans of the spread-on clothes."  She smiled at that.  "It's fun to put on."

"Need help?" Mac offered.  Danny blushed and shrugged.  "Then we'll have to see."  He smirked at him, then at Stella, kissing her again.  "We will definitely have to see."

"I'm not sure I could pull it off, Mac."

"You can," Danny assured her. He pulled one of Eric's, little Eric's, favorite tricks and nestled down on her chest, getting comfortable.  "No wonder Eric likes these."

"I'm hoping you're talking about the baby."  He nodded, grinning at her. "Good."  Mac mirrored his position and let out a content groan.  "Fine, I'll be a pillow for now."

"Good pillows get rewarded," Danny promised, yawning a bit.

She watched as they fell asleep, for now.  Later on, she'd make sure they were serious and not playing around, plus that they understood exactly what she meant with 'it wasn't going to interfere with work'.

***

Xander looked up as someone tapped on the door.  "Open!"  Don stuck his head in.  "They don't know where I live, Don."

"Yeah, still unsafe."  He walked in, letting the others in.  "Okay, what's up?"

"Going over all the facts and figures.  That way we know where we stand.  Also, the Chief wanted to appropriate that grant.  They said it'd be nice but not necessary at the moment."  He waved them outside to the table out there.  "Eric and Speed already went over this last night since they're both on today.  So hope you don't mind, but boring shit."  That got a small smirk from Mac, that's what he had called it.  "It got you a few days in the sun, guys."  He sat down and looked at the forms, then at Don.  "You want?"

"No thanks.  I'd rather be an in-name-only sorta leader of this stuff."

"Gee, thanks."  He opened the folder and looked at it.  Then at the rest of their board members, plus Stella.  "All right, the way the Foundation was set up was to help gay men become all that they could be.  Basically.  Scholarships, grants for research, that stuff."  That got a mass nod. "To do this, most of Patrick Benis' assets were auctioned off.  The greater majority have gone but for a few things.  The condo in New York, which was deeded to Don.  The one down here that was deeded to me that you guys are free to use.  The house out on the island was given to the city for a man's abuse shelter.  That one was sold by the city by special arrangement and the money given over to that purpose.  If they don't use it for that purpose, and only that purpose, we get to sue the hell out of the city.  The City Council knows this and I made it quite clear that the abuse shelter was for straight and gay abuse sufferers, no questions asked.  They agreed and said it was only going to that, they did agree it was needed when the facts and figures that had been drawn up earlier were handed over.  Beyond that and some private bequeathals, like to the Children's hospital in Madison's name and a large fund set aside for his former workers, who are now working in other areas since we agreed to keep them for a year, the foundation was started with approximately six hundred million dollars.  Patrick and his sire had *really* good taste in real estate that would grow in value."  That got some smiles.

"Also, since it went into the foundation, we didn't have ta pay taxes on it," Don said fondly.  Xander grinned and nodded at that. "Yours all worked out?"

"Perfectly so.  The IRS said there wasn't a reason I couldn't do what I wanted and keep my old tax bracket.  I got it in writing as well."  He patted the folder. "There's another six properties that are still to be auctioned off.  Two Cheline, our auctioneer at Christies, said are doubtful, so if you know someone who wants a ranch in Montana or a small, way far out of the way estate in the middle of the Arizona desert, we've got 'em.  Also, we've got sixteen requests so far.  The scholarships are going to be looked over by us all.  At least three of us will have to agree, unless we get under the amount of ten a year.  They're for ten grand each.  Also, we've gotten two research grants, one that I'm going to send back a 'no thank you, we don't like your ways' note with it and one serious one. The other was from a group 'curing' gay men."  That got a moan from Stella.  "I don't mind if you sit in on meetings and help with the scholarship stuff, but you don't get a vote."

"I don't mind being the token female.  Does it extend to lesbians?"

"They've got their own according to Patrick.  I have no idea who, but he said they've got their own."  He shrugged.  "That question hasn't been asked of us yet, as of this point I'm going to say no since he only worked with young gay men."  That got a mass nod.  "Also, we've taken the liberty of hiring a *good* financial manager to oversee our fund.   Don found him for me through a lot of interviewing and asking.  He knows he's not to do anything risky, only to basically get us modest interest so we don't run out of money.  We're earing about three percent a year, which covers the cost of the scholarships."  That got another nod.  "We need to set up a meeting for March, for right now, we've got sixteen scholarship applications that *need* to be looked over."

"Why only ten?" Danny asked.

"That's what he set it up as, unless one of them really spoke to us later in the year.  I'm not ruling out that some years we may go over.  But he thought ten would be a reasonable number to start with."  That got a nod from him and a small smirk.

"What about that gay high school in New York?" Stella asked.

"I like the idea of having somewhere safe, but I'm not sure if I like their curriculum.  Yeah, it's great to have a safe spot, but they have things like interior design.  I'd rather not hype the stereotype.  I want guys who follow you guys into the field, and those who go into the military, not just those who go into the so-called traditional artistic fields.  Not that I'm going to discriminate against them, but that's not what I want out of this."  She smiled at that. "I would love to support somewhere that gave the kids a safe place to run to when their families kick them out.  Patrick saw a lot of runaways in his life.  You guys see the end

result of that all too often, and we know gay kids have a higher rate of suicide thanks to not having a safe spot to talk to anyone.  I have no idea how we'd do one, if one of our two cities would go in with us, anything like that."

"I can ask quiet questions," Mac offered.

"Please.  I can see us doing that easily."  He nodded at that. "I don't want to bankrupt us and I know that could so doing it in participation with someone wouldn't bother me, or if there is one and you hear about it, I wouldn't mind as long as they're not taking them in to fix them."

"Not an issue.  I don't like that mentality either."  Mac shifted.  "So, that's what we have to know?"

"That and we've got a week to do the scholarships because some of the kids have to make decisions and they can't get the money to go without us.  So, do we want to go need-based first and then essay, or equal the playing field?  Eric and Speed were divided."

"Need based kids should be able to get financial aid," Danny pointed out.

"Some can't at the schools they've chosen.  Or they can't get enough."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Sometimes it's the decision between a good school or a so-so state school and the good schools always help you get the better jobs by name recognition.  Sad but true fact."  That got a lot of nods from Mac.  "So, this weekend, we've got to look these over.  We'll probably get a few more in the later months, and if they seriously speak to us we can bend the 'ten' rule."  Danny nodded at that.  He put them in the middle of the table, then weighted them down with a rock since there was a breeze.  "I don't want to have to call Eric and have him dive for someone's essay."  That got a small chuckle from Don.  "He's bored.  He hasn't got to go diving recently."  Horatio joined them.  "Going over the board stuff."

"That's fine.  Did we decide to elevate the need-based students higher or equalize it?"  He sat down on Xander's other side, kissing him on the temple.  "Ray's over."

"Which one?"

"The older one."  Xander looked at him.  "He wanted to talk to us."

"After this.  This has got to come first.  Gordon was right, I couldn't do this and school."  Horatio nodded.  "But next semester I'm going to take a class or two and I'm going to start training at the gym with Eric."  That got a smile.  "There's city competitions. I have no problem with that, Horatio."

"Me either. I told you that was your choice to make.  I would take some financial classes however."

"Oh, yeah, that's my new minor. Accounting, some business classes.  My PT stuff because I like it.  Some of the profiling stuff because I'm good at it."  He shrugged.  "By the time I'm done I'll probably have more than one degree."  Stella smiled at that.  "Sometimes you gotta and I do have the money in my personal funds."  He looked at his husband.  "Why do you have that 'someone gave your spouse diamonds' look in your eyes?"

"We'll go over that after the board meeting and before we talk to Ray."

"Okay."  He shook his head and got back to it.  "Basically, this weekend I need you guys to look over the essays.  Are we leveling it?"

"I think we should," Stella offered.  "Yeah, it'd be nice and I know Danny and I would both be canted more toward the kids who needed it, but in truth any of these kids could get kicked out of the house and end up needing it for being gay."

"Point," Don agreed.  "Let's level the playing field."  He looked at his nephew.  "Which one was which?"

"Eric said to level it and Speed wanted us to assign points and need based would give them a five-point head start on a scale of a hundred."  He shrugged. "I said that was complicated.  I say we pick the ones we like best and argue about it."  That got smiles from them, they were good at arguing.  "Anyone in favor of the points system?"

"It'd be hard to judge how sincere someone is," Danny pointed out.  "Besides, way too much work to grade essays."  Stella pinched him. "It would be!  Remember, some of us work very long hours most of the time."

"Now you have reasons to go home at night, you and Mac both," she reminded him patiently.  He grinned, ducking his head some.  "Good boy."  She looked at Xander.  "Want me to read them over too?"

"Please.  If you want you can help."  Someone pounded on the door.  "Dear?"  Horatio got up to get that.  "He's the other non-voting member of the board since it looks funny if we appointed our spouses."  Don chuckled at that.  "When you marry, yours can become an advisor as well."

"Thanks.  If that day comes, it'll be okay."  He looked at the folder.  "That's still pretty thick."

"Well, we've been asked if we're taking donations."  He handed over the letter.  "I'm going to say no, that we don't really need them at this point since we're just getting started, but to thank them greatly, all but the one to the Focus on the Family idiot.  Him I'm going to write a very nice letter about how we *help* gay men become good members of society, not fix them and make them hate themselves.  I'll even try for subtle."  That got some snickers from Mac.  "I will!  Speed said he'd look over my draft for me."  He shrugged. "There was also the point of where we're having the essays sent.  Here or up with you guys and make Don collect 'em?"

"I can do that since you're doing the daily running stuff," Don offered.  "Not that hard.  Rent a PO box and clean it every afternoon."

"Thank you."  Xander hugged him.  "Okay, that leaves one thing."  He looked at Don.  "We've got an effin damn black tie event next month."  Don laughed at that.  "Both of us, we were invited personally."  He handed over Don's invitation.  "With Senators."

"Oh, fuck me," he sighed, reading it over.  "Must we?"

"Yes," he said patiently.  "I checked with someone locally, it's a high honor," he said in a whiny voice, imitating them.  "You have to go to these things or else you don't get support when you need it to do something greater."  He cleared his throat.  "Sorry, the financial manager if you ever run into him."  Stella cracked a smile at that.  "He's tops in the field.  I called the guys down here who did the same thing, saying I was taking applications and wanted recommendations of the top five in the field, his name came up tops in all but two conversations.  He said he was flattered."

"He was," Don agreed dryly.  "I got a call from him too, wanting to know if I wanted him to handle my personal funds as well as the foundation things, but that if I did, it'd be a small yearly fee that I couldn't charge back to us."

"Yeah, he made that very clear.  We're getting a salary from it, but nothing else."

"Are we getting a salary?" Danny asked hopefully.

"Very tiny but yes.  It's basically a scholarship for each of you a year."  That got mass smiles.  "Sorry, Stella."

"Not a problem.  They can take me out to dinner with it."  She smirked at her men, who nodded quickly.  Don burst out laughing.  "See, he agrees too."  Horatio came back out with the baby.  "What happened?"

"Mommy worked herself to sleeping on the sewing machine again."  He sat down and handed over the baby, catching the paper that nearly flew off.  He looked at the invitation and moaned.  "I have to go to that too, don't I?"

"I'm not sure," Xander admitted.  "Is it politically correct to bring my husband to a gay pride dinner and ball when there's senators and do you want that much attention?"  Horatio gave him a look.  "Up to you, dear.  You know how the press can be.  You'd be getting some."

"Erica Sykes was at the station earlier about this anyway.  Do you want me to go?"

"Hell yes."  Horatio smiled at him.  "You've never taught me how to do the formal dancing stuff but I'm willing to learn and of course I want to show your hot ass off, Horatio, but I'm worried that it'll get you in trouble with the department."

"Fat chance of that. The Chief took me out to lunch today to talk about the Foundation and what it could do for the city."

"Is the whole department gay?"  Horatio smirked at him.  "Did you ask that?"

"In more polite terms."  He stroked their son's hair back down. "That was Jane.  She wanted him out of the way for a few more hours."  Xander gave him a look.  "I know, that's not the proper attitude but still."  He shrugged. "We'll talk to Di about it, Xander."

"Okay."  He looked at Don.  "Feel free to bring any sort of date you want.  Stella, Mac, Danny, Delilah.  Hubert the financial guy.  Just be in a tux and if you conveniently forget and make me go answer inane questions by myself I will come to New York and torture your cute ass.  Got it?"  Don nodded, smirking a bit at that. "Like bringing every single male stripper I know to come party at your place."  Don shuddered at that image.  "Good.  Then don't leave me hanging with those things.  Bad enough I end up taking Ray Jr. to those things down here sometimes."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Okay."  He checked the folder.  "Ah, one last thing. Hubert says he needs you guys to fill these out," he said, handing over information packets.  "That gives him information when someone asks and also gives us something to put on the scholarship's website.  I have no idea when we're doing that, but he said it'd be easier than Don picking up the mail."  Everyone looked it over.

"It asks if we're gay," Danny noted.

"He explained that as some kids may not be as comfortable with people who aren't deciding their fate.  I pointed out I am, clearly, and Patrick was, and you guys are some of the most tolerant people in the world with good educations and high expectations of everyone.  Plus Mac can look over anything where people brag about military stuff they want to do or have done for college scholarships or research grants."  Mac nodded he could do that.  "You don't have to fill in every single line but he might nag.  He did me when I didn't want to list the son for his own security.  You can refuse to answer that on the grounds that your department would try to kick your ass."  That got some smiles from everyone.  "Stella, you got one because we'll note you as a non-voting member, along with Horatio and whoever Don ends up with."  She smiled at that.  "So fill out what you can, write out a quick bio for the stuff, leave it there."  He put the stuff that needed to go in there back into the folder and shut it, leaning on it. "How did we want to do the essays?"

"I'd say we look them over tonight and tomorrow, we list our favorites, hand Speed and Eric the file, they list theirs, and if we have to we can conference call the vote," Mac offered.  "In the future, we can courier them from one department to the other."  Horatio nodded that he liked that idea.  "We have a standard meeting in March, any other time?"

"That depends on if we're doing spring semester grants, which I'm not sure about," Xander admitted.

"No," Don said.  "Once a year was how I took the paperwork."

"Okay.  Can you point that out to me later?"  Don nodded.  "Thank you.  I'm still wading through the auction stuff."

Eric tugged on his collar so he looked down, smiling at him.  "Shit!"

"Bad word," Xander said firmly. "You can't say that until you're Daddy Horatio's age."  He pouted.  "I know I say it and mommy says it, but you're old enough to say it yet."  He kissed him.  "I love you."  Eric beamed again and snuggled in.  "Good boy.  Just don't say that word, okay?"  Eric played with his hair for him.  "Thank you, little guy."  He looked at them.  "Anything else you guys can think of?"  They all shook their heads.  "Stella, how was the bikini?"

"I've seen scraps of cloth bigger than that," she admitted.  "But I apparently looked very hot in it."  All three men nodded.  "Don had to have phone sex with his girlfriend but that's okay, he was only a little bit noisy.  The other two got worn out by their fantasies and needed naps."  Eric got up and wiggled across the table then down into her lap, giving her the biggest shit-eating grin before he snuggled into her chest with a sigh of delight.  "Oh, no.  You're not doing that too, Eric."

"Eric, Calleigh will get jealous."  Eric pouted at him.  "You know she will."  His son pouted worse.  "Please?"

"Hey, Eric, I need a cuddle, little guy.  C'mere," Don ordered, holding up a hand.

"Boobies!" he said, patting the one he wasn't laying on.  Stella handed him over so he pouted.  "Love you."

"I love you too, Eric, but no.  Those aren't for you."

"Pretty."

"I know I am."  He pouted worse.  "Don't do that."

"Mine, pumpkin," Danny told him.  "Only I get to lay on those." Mac gave him a look.  "It'd confuse him."

"Then I'll cede that point."  He picked up the essays and put them into his bag.  "We're going to wander around and hit the beach before dinner."  Eric held up an arm so he gave him a hug.  "Don, coming?"

"Yeah, I could use some good bikini watching."  He kissed the baby's head, gave him a hug, then handed him back to Xander, earning his own pout.  "I'm gonna go watch pretty girls in skimpy clothes.  You can help me next time."  Eric beamed at that.  "If I didn't know the big one was still alive, I'd think you were him."  He walked out shaking his head, heading back to the hotel to make Stella put back on the new bikini.

"Ray?" Horatio called, getting up and putting the folder back into the office where it belonged.  "Raymond?"  His brother came in from out front.  "We're done. You can come back.  The baby's sleepy anyway."  He got them bottles of water, handing Xander an opened one.  "You needed to talk?"

Xander put his feet up on Don's former chair, letting his son get comfortable.  "What's up, Ray?"

"He's adorable."

"He just pouted at Stella for not getting to hug her chest."  He looked at his mate.  "We'll have to tell Calleigh about that."

"Don't remind me."

"Think we could just let him do it?"

"No, Xander.  That's mean.  Especially at the station."  He patted Eric's hair down again.  "What's going on, Ray?"

"My counselor wanted me to talk to you two."  He cleared his throat and shifted.  "He thinks you're not being very supportive."  Xander gave him a cold look.  "I know I'm not the most friendly of people to you, kid, but he's still my brother."

"Are you high?" Xander asked.  Ray glared back.  "I ask because you're not shaking but you look incredibly sweaty."

"I haven't had a hit since that day."

"Good.  Congratulations.  I'm proud of you," he said honestly.  "It's a hard thing to beat an addiction."

"You've had one?"

"No, but Willow had a minor one to her abilities.  I've seen others struggle with theirs as well."  He nodded at that. "Let's face it, I was in the top job for addictions."  He shrugged and Eric patted him.  "Sorry, baby."  He stroked his back.  "How are we not being supportive?  By shielding your son from you and sticking up for him?"  Ray nodded. "Your son is seventeen.  He's more than old enough to make that decision for himself, Ray.  Yes, some day he might want to mend that fence, right now however, you've pissed him off to the point where he's come to me crying a few times.  I'm going to shield the kids from you.  Madison, Ray, and Eric."  He nodded at that.  "Now, if you want Horatio to go with you, that's up to him.  I won't stop him. Again, I've seen how hard this is to beat."

"Thank you, kid."

"You could try using my name," Xander noted dryly.

"Sorry, Xander."

"Thank you.  I'll let you two talk since this doesn't really involve me."  He got up and took Eric upstairs, going to call Di's nanny.  "Hey, what happened to her?" he asked, listening to her spout her shit about how Eric was an imposition.  "Jane, my son is not an imposition.  He is very well loved by both his parents.  He may not have been planned but he is very well loved."  She hung up and he growled, doing what he didn't want to do.  He called Di's special line that only she answered.  He got a very tired sounding mother of his son.  "We need ta talk when you're awake.  Call me.  I've got Eric."  She made an inquisitive noise.  "Jane's calling him an imposition and in the way.  When you wake up, Di.  I've got him. He's fine."  She made an assenting noise and hung up.  He went to check on his son, picking up the monitor to bring back to the office with him.  He had to balance his checkbook anyway.  He found that stack and noticed he was further down than he thought, and then went for his wallet to make sure he hadn't stuffed one in there for some reason.  No check, no cash, no cards.  "Horatio, was I mugged?" he called.

Horatio came in. "Not that I'm aware of.  Why?"  Xander tossed him his wallet, making him sigh.  "I don't know, Xander."

"Neither do I, Horatio.  I'm also missing a check at the moment. Where's yours?"  Horatio pulled out his wallet and looked at it, shaking his head.  "Do you have money in your wallet?"

"No and all my cards are gone as well.  Call the bank?"

"On it."   He went to do that, especially the ones with their credit cards and the joint account, which was what the check was for.  He came out a few minutes later, leaning down to say something in his mate's ear, getting a nod.  "I have no idea how."

"Maybe the same person who took your license?" Ray offered dryly.  Xander shrugged.  "I know I didn't."

"I didn't think you did.  I'm not so sure about your son's girlfriend, but I know you didn't.  Horatio would've already kicked your ass and you know more than enough not to try to cash a twelve hundred dollar check at the bank it's drawn on or use the credit cards at an ATM."  Horatio moaned.  "My last call was to Yelina so she could have them pull the tapes for you, dear."  He stole a kiss.  "The bank said female.  Brunette.  Slim.  Young.  Shoulder-length hair."

"Which is Ray Jr's. girlfriend except the hair, hers was longer," Horatio agreed.  "Thank you, Xander.  You investigate very well."  He gave him a pat and a smile.  "Everything's been called?"

"All but your Discover and Am Ex, I'm not on those accounts."  He nodded, he'd handle that himself in a few minutes.  Xander went back into the kitchen.  "I'm making sandwiches.  Anyone want some?"

"Please," Horatio called.  "Bring Ray food as well."  Xander came out a few minutes later with sandwiches, but the mustard bottle with it. "Thank you."

"Welcome."  He blew a kiss and headed onto the beach with the baby monitor. His whole day was now done.

Horatio added mustard to his, handing Ray the squeeze bottle after he was done.  "From the good deli."  He ate a bite.

Ray fixed his, getting up to get some pickles, then sitting back down to nibble.  "Horatio, I need support."

"I'm there for you as long as you're getting clean, Ray.  If not, I'm going to kick your ass if your son doesn't."

"Can you talk to my son?"

"I've tried.  He's still very angry and upset over this.  He's feeling abandoned and tossed aside.  He's got issues with Suzie he's just now starting to work out.  He adores Madison and would never do anything to harm her, that's why he's working them out."  Xander walked past them, a thoughtful look on his face.  "What?"

"Going to check out whatever is in the driveway."

"It's still at the station, Xander."  Xander gave him a look.  "Sit down with your Chem book and go back over it again.  I'd like you to get a higher grade in there.  Please?"  Xander grumbled but went to the office to find his textbook and sit down with it again.  "Thank you," he called.  He looked at Ray again.  "He got a D, it would've put him on academic probation if he could've attended this semester."  Ray smirked a bit at that.  "This is really taking energy in bursts.  Today was a calm day.  Next week can be hellish, and then he's got the Mayor's reception on Friday.  Which your son will be attending in my place since I'll be at work."  He ate another bite.  "Ray hates those by the way."

"I figured he did."  He ate another bite himself.  "Has anyone insinuated...."

"Yes, once.  Xander laughed and told them why his nephew was escorting him and made the Chief blush hotly when he looked at him because I had been called in on my day off.  Xander assured the old bat it was a perk of the job and that Ray was a nice young man and they could talk about his upcoming classes and how he could help him now and then with the foundation details.  She cooed over your son being so grown up."

"He is.  He's got a nipple ring."

"That as well," Horatio agreed dryly.

"Did you get the textbooks?" Xander called.

"Yes, dear.  Take a nap!"

"Thank you!"  He went to lay down with the baby monitor.  Just in case Eric woke up.

Horatio shook his head.  "He'll be at the gym later tonight."

"It's good he's keeping busy and not being one of the whiny rich kids that we saw so much of."  Horatio nodded at that.  "You and he are okay?"

"We've never been better, Ray.  He's a bit stressed but nothing critical."  Someone slammed the door.  "Out here," he called.  Ray Jr walked out and he gave him a look.  "We have to talk about someone, Ray."

"Why is he here?"

"He came over to talk about what his counselor considers good for him."

"He'd like for you to come to a few of the family sessions with your mom and me," he said quietly.  "He said it could help you wear out the anger."

"Not happening."

"Son....."

"You lost that right," Ray said firmly. "You supposedly died and you lost that right. The man who was my father died.  He became a tweeker and as far as I'm concerned, even if you get clean, you're still not going to be him.  So deal with it and move on."  He looked at his uncle.  "What's up?"

"Some of the cash around the house and a few of the credit cards, plus one of the checks from the office is missing. When Xander called to notify everyone, it was said a young brunette female had cashed the check."

"Which means you're suspecting Tiffy. That's reasonable."  He leaned against the wall.  "I have no idea if she was or not.  She was only over here the once, Uncle Horatio.  If it was, we're through and you can gladly arrest her ass."

"Thank you, Ray.  You'll help us identify the pictures?  Your mother's supposed to be getting them."   Ray nodded, moving further out of the house.  "Thank you."

"Not an issue. How much so far?"

"At least twelve hundred, that's what the check was written for."  Ray hissed.  "What?"  He finished off his sandwich, watching him think.  "Ray?" he asked calmly once he had swallowed.

"When was it taken?"

"I'm not sure.  Xander noticed it today."

"Tiffy got a new leather coat last weekend, she said it was from her grandmother, an early birthday present."  Horatio nodded at that.  "So depending on when it was done...."  He gave him a grimace.  "Do you want me to get her for you?"

"Let's look at the pictures first, Ray. Proof before interrogation.  That way you have a leg to stand on when you arrest them," he offered with a small smile.

"Sure."  He heard someone moving upstairs.  "Eric's here?"  Horatio nodded.  "When are we getting him a bigger bed?"

"Probably the next day I have off.  Which could be tomorrow depending on how this turns out."  Ray beamed at that.  "You can come as long as it doesn't look like the Death Metal Reborn outfit you were wearing last night."  Ray snickered at the look on his son's face.  "Leather and studs.  Very goth," Horatio said dryly.

"I was going to a rave, it was a costume one," he defended.  "Besides, Xander said I looked okay."

"You did, but it was very goth," Horatio assured him with a small smirk. "I'm almost surprised you didn't have on anything from the show."

"Mom said if I wore any of that out of the house she was yanking the PA out with pliers.  Rusty, nasty pliers that had been pulled out of the harbor."  His father just stared. "What!"

"You have a what?"

"Yes, father, it magically appeared the same night the nipple ring fairly came to visit me while I slumbered."  He looked at his uncle.  "Can we do that this weekend?"  Horatio shook his head.  "Damn."

"Next weekend if we don't have Eric, Ray."  He considered it. "Why?"

"Stupid morons at school are claiming I'm a baby again."  He gave him a bored look.  "I pointed out I'm not, you don't really shield me, my mother's the sort to come down harder on me, and hey, I'm more worldly than they are because all they've had is the good champagne at family events."  Horatio gave him a look.  "What?  Di served terrible crap at the first show we did in New York."   He shifted some.  "They said I can't possibly know what liquor tastes like so I promised to bring them in the next bottle I drained.  With proof showing I had drained it."

"So you need pictures of you gulping one down and an empty bottle.  We can arrange that," Ray offered.

"No, Uncle Horatio said when I was ready to think about drinking, I would be mature enough to come to him and we'd talk, he'd let me try some stuff, then we'd talk about it the next morning.  Which is what I'm doing.  Otherwise I would've lied and said I really wanted to drink."

"The kid can't do it with you?" Ray asked his son.

"Xander had very badly drunken parents," Ray Jr. said quietly.  "He doesn't drink.  Ever.  Not even in the clubs, not a beer with wings, nothing.  Ever."  His father nodded at that.  He looked at Horatio.  "I'm sorry if I'm being a pain."

"You're not," he assured him. Someone knocked. "Go get that, Ray."  He went to do that.  He looked at his brother.  "Xander also asks that no one drink around him," he offered quietly.  The gunshot split the house and he came up, his already being drawn, his brother's the same.  "Ray!"  He headed for the front door, finding him slumped against the wall, just a small graze.  He also found Xander already chasing the person down.  "Xander!" Xander pounced and knocked her down, slamming her head into the ground a few times "Xander!"

"Call it in, I've got her gun," Ray Sr. said quietly, kicking it out of the way.  Xander brought the woman back.  "Nice tackle. You sure you don't want to play football?"

"It's the refuge of stupid people with anger and control issues."  He sat her down on her knees on the stoop.  "Ambulance or Yelina?"

"I'll call dispatch, then call Yelina," Horatio promised, looking at her.  "Jessica."  He went for the phone.  He came back to find Xander looking at the graze.  "Serious?"

"No but his arm will ache tonight."  He got a hand towel from the laundry room and came out with it dampened so he could put pressure on the wound.  "Ray, come on, wake up."

"Xander?" he moaned, looking at him. Then at the woman his father had handcuffed to the doorknob. "You fucking bitch."

"Ray," Horatio said calmly.  "The sentiment is worthy but not the output.  Please."  He looked at her. "Jessica, would you like to explain this problem of yours?"

"He has everything and he dumped me!  For nothing!"

"You exposed him to drugs, made him get high without his consent, and put him in the middle of an orgy. You could've gotten him killed," Xander said hotly, glaring at her.  She backed away, or tried to.  Sirens came up the road.  "You better pray like hell that's a patrol officer because if you're still here when he's in the ambulance, one of the members of this family is going to kill your stupid ass."  The ambulance pulled up.  "Not me, guys!"

"Thankfully," the paramedic joked. He brought his case in. "What's up?  Graze?"  Xander nodded.  "Why?"

"The cunt there that drugged him and sent him into an orgy.  He dumped her and now she's jealous."

"Ah.  I heard his mother ranting about that."  He moved the towel.  "Nice technique, Xander.  Good job yet again."  He got to work bandaging it. "He could use some stitches, Lieutenant."

"Ray?"

"Please, please God, let them have painkillers?" he begged.  Xander grinned at him. "How did you not need them!"

"Slaying, hunting, and stripping, Ray.  How do you think?"  They shared a look.  "That's his father, he can go if he wants, or Horatio can go," he offered, getting fully out of the way.  He walked out since Frank and Yelina were pulling in.  "Nice job, Frank.  You driving was a good idea."  He stopped Yelina.  "She's also, we're pretty sure, the one who stole a check that was made out for twelve hundred, some cash, and the credit cards."

"I'm going to murder the bitch," she growled, stomping that way.  Jessica screamed and tried to get away.

"Yelina!" Horatio ordered.  She glared at him. "Ray is fine, he needs stitches.  Go with him so we can arrest her properly."

"Fat chance, Horatio. You can go."

Xander looked at Frank.  "I almost want popcorn to watch this asskicking.  You?"  Frank nodded so Xander led him in through the side door and into the kitchen, coming out with a bag for each of them, letting Frank pick his spot to watch from.

"Not funny," Horatio said, staring Frank down.  Frank pointed at Xander with a bright smile.  "Xander.  Bad influence.  Stop it."

"Awww, but I wanna watch Yelina kick her ass for me too, dear!" he whined.  "Please, baby?  I'll be a good boy and do laundry tonight since I know you're so uptight about it."

"You have no idea," Ray said, shaking his head.  "He used to iron his socks."  He took some of Xander's popcorn.  "I can go with him if you want her, Yelina."  He smiled. "You were always better at controlled violence than I was."

"Guys, torture is wrong, the Geneva Convention people said so," Ray Jr. said firmly, letting the paramedic help him up. "Mom, I want fucking drugs. I just got shot.  Get in the damn ambulance and cuddle my pitiful ass."  She glared at him. "I just got shot! I'm allowed to swear!"

"You are," she agreed, walking him that way, holding him as tightly as she could.  "We'll get her later.  I'm sure I know a few people in the prison she's going to. I'm sure I can write the ones I arrested, son."  The paramedic gave her a long look.  "She gave my son drugs and stuck him in an orgy.  Xander had to rescue him.  I want the cunt dead," she growled.

"Sure.  Should I make sure patrol is on the way?" he called.

"I've got it," Frank assured him with a smile and a wave.  He looked at her. "I'm your best hope of making it out of here alive, little lady, and you're inches away from Xander killing you."   Horatio grabbed Xander, realizing he was tensing to pounce and hurt her some more.  "Keys?"

"Those are mine, Frank," Horatio noted.  Frank nodded and got out his universal key, letting her go from the door but getting her other wrist instead.  He walked her out to the car, reciting the oh-so important Miranda warnings as he drug her.

Horatio looked at Xander.  "Are you calm?"  He shook his head.  "Go outside.  I'll check on the baby."  Xander shook his head, going to do that.

"He's one hell of a spouse, Horatio."  Ray handed over the bag of popcorn he had taken off Xander.  Then handed Frank his when he came back for it.  "Need help?"

"Nah, Yelina let me handle the bank stuff since she's backed up at the moment.  Chief won't be happy but oh well."  He smirked at Horatio.  "Your boy?"

"We've got Eric at the moment."

"Awww."  He went to check on him, finding Xander cuddling him tightly.  "He's all right, right?  No ricochet or anything?"  Xander shook his head quickly.  "Then let the poor little guy sleep, Xander.   Go hug Horatio until he's got dents."  He took the baby back and put him into his crib, getting sleepy complaint noises.  But as soon as he had his teddybear it was all good again.  By the time he got back downstairs Xander was indeed squeezing a dent into Horatio's chest.  "Baby's back down."  He went out to drive her back to the station and eat his popcorn while he drove. When she started to complain, he decided to take the long way back, which routed him along the highway and the other side of the city, plus turn on some ungodly howling country music he listened to now and then, making her try to complain over it.  But that's why windows rolled down and the music could always get louder.

***

Calleigh looked up as Horatio, Xander, and Eric came off the elevator. "It's Sunday, why are you guys here?" she asked, smiling at the baby.  Xander handed him over.

"Boobies!" Eric said happily, snuggling into his favorite napping spot.

"Excuse me?" she asked, glaring at Xander.

"Not a clue, he did it to Stella yesterday. I can't get him to stop," Xander admitted, looking pitiful.

"That is not what you call those, Eric."

"Pretty?"

"Yes, they are, but if you talk about them, you lose them," bigger Eric said as he came over.  "She'll make you quit snuggling if you talk about them.  So don't say that word."  She hit him on the arm. "Ow!"

"Torry, Auntie.  You pretty.  Love you."  He closed his eyes and let out a sigh of contentment.

She shook her head.  "Why me?"

"Because you're very pretty," Xander said, kissing her on the cheek.  "Horatio had to check on the slutty ho for Ray."

"Junior or senior?" Eric asked dryly.

"Junior.  It's keeping his mother from killing her for shooting her son."  Horatio walked off to check on her status.  Xander shook his head. "Xander, grab the baby, go to the office."

"I'm being good!  We were going to hang with Stella on the beach anyway!"  He held out his arms and the baby was handed back. "Eric, practice for the next city meet, the gym?  Pick a day, any day?"

"I've got Tuesday off this week."

"Fine with me.  Call me whenever you're ready to go."  He walked off with the baby, going to sit on the beach and let his son build in the sand.  The guard gave him an odd look. "This is the mini-Xander."

"I can see that.  You get that same look when you're trying to look innocent and cute."  He smirked at him.  "Here to pick up the newest round of presents?"

"No," he said weakly.  "Horatio said it wasn't anything to worry about."  The guard laughed.  "Where is it this time?"  He was led over to a car, looking in the darkened window.  "Why does it look like there's a package in there in pink?"

"Because there is," he admitted.

"Not that one," Horatio yelled from the doorway.  "The green one, Paul!"  That got a nod and he led him that way instead. He joined them. "Xander, please don't throw a fit."  Eric was handed to him and Xander walked over to the small park next to the station, going to do it in private. He winced at the screamed curses coming out of his husband's mouth.  "Who owns the other one?" he asked quietly.

"I thought it was for your spouse, Lieutenant.  Are you sure it's not?" Horatio nodded.  "Huh.  I'll check the logs."  He went to do that, coming back with it.  "Nope, the silvery blue one is his and the green one is one of the ADA's."  He looked at him. "I can page him if you want."

"Please.  I thought for sure they said it was green."

"No, but it's listing another one," he admitted, glancing back a page.  "Lime green Hummer, H3, the more compact one.  Um, said it was taken downtown by the IAB guy here, sorry, Lieutenant."

"I can easily call him.  When did this one show up?"

"Oh, about an hour ago."  He smiled at him.  "Let me call the ADA to make sure, sir."  He went to find him and make sure of which one was his, citing a confused person looking for their car.  He came out.  "I was right.  The blue one is your spouse's.  The green one is the ADA's.  He's quit yelling, is he all right?"

"Let me check."  He walked that way with the officer, finding Xander on the ground.  "Damn it."  He handed off the baby and moved to check him.  "Xander?  Xander!  Wake up!"

The officer hit his radio's button.  "We need an ambulance at the small park beside the CSI station.  Collapsed young male, twenty-one, non-responsive. Thank you."  He hung up.  "One just dropped a body off for the ME, Lieutenant, they're sending them."  That got a silent nod while Horatio continued to try to wake him.  He looked at the boy, then at him.  "I'll make sure someone in your unit gets your son, sir."  The paramedics rushed over.  "He was ranting and screaming and we noticed it got quiet."

"He won't wake up," Horatio said, getting moved out of the way.

"Let us check, Lieutenant. What brought this on?"

"Someone sent him a new car," the patrol officer offered.  He looked at the boss.  "Sir, let me get your son inside.  He doesn't need to see this."  Horatio looked at him and nodded.  "Should I call your family, sir?"

"They can."  He got up, following when they loaded Xander onto a gurney and wheeled him out.  He climbed in and sat there stroking through his hair.

"He'll be fine it was just stress," the paramedic soothed.  "His heart rhythm is normal."

"Then why won't he wake up?"

"We'll figure that out as soon as we get there."  He called in vitals once the ambulance got under way, starting the IV drip.  That's when he noticed the hint of blood on the white sheet.

The officer walked inside, nodding the other guard to cover his spot while he went to the CSI floor.  He ran into the ME, who gave him a very odd look.  "His father just collapsed outside.  I said I'd bring him up here and that someone up here could call his family."

"What happened to Horatio?" she demanded, bringing Eric out.

"Wrong father, ma'am."

"Xander?" she asked.  He nodded.  "What happened to my boy?"  She started to tap a foot.

"He was screaming and ranting over the new car and I noticed it got quiet so we went to check on him. He was on the ground and wouldn't wake up.  They just took him."

"Give me the baby," Eric ordered.  "Alexx, call Yelina.  Then call Horatio to see which hospital he's at."  She nodded, going to do that.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem, Detective.  Should I tell the IAB guy about the new car?"

"I thought he already had it," he said, looking confused.

"No, we've got another one down there that's noted as being for him."

Eric groaned and shook his head.  "No, it'll be fine.  I'm sure he'll hear very soon."  That got a nod and he went off. "Thank you!"  He went to ballistics, interrupting her and Ryan.  "Guys, Xander just collapsed."  They both glared at him. "Outside in the park."

"I've got Don's cellphone number, I'll call him," Calleigh offered.  "Is he all right?"  Eric shrugged.  "Which hospital?"

"Alexx is finding that out right now.  We'll know right after she does.  She's telling Yelina."

"Good!"  She patted the baby on the head.  "He'll be fine, little guy.  Oh, hell, Speed is out of town."  Eric winced.  "Xander had him stolen and taken back to Sunnydale for his mandatory three days back there.  Oh, hell."  She bit her lip, looking at him.  "My apartment can't handle him. Di?"

"Exhausted, she babbled at me earlier," Eric offered.

"I'd offer but Willow's in the scary, crying phase.  I don't want to traumatize him any more than I have to."

"I can bring him home with me if someone will go get the diapers and stuff," Eric promised.  "I've taken care of the nieces and nephews before."  That got some smiles.  "He had him kidnaped?"

"Carried out of the house while under chloroform, put onto a jet, and sent out there.  With a note saying he was going because he was not allowed to die until Xander was at least a grandfather."  That got some smirks.  "The guy's deathly afraid of losing anyone else.  I don't blame him.  Not with what he used to do in that town.  Ryan, can you go pack some clothes?"  He nodded, going to do that.  "Thank you, Eric."

"Not a problem.  I'm sure Horatio will pick him up tonight."  He took the baby upstairs to the office.  He was doing paperwork, that could be done at Horatio's desk.

***

Xander woke up, one hand drifting up to hold his head.  "Ow.  What hit me?"

"The very small caliber bullet we found in the back of your thigh," Horatio said quietly from beside him.  "Small enough you weren't bleeding until we moved you."  He removed the hand.  "Look at me?"

"Too bright."  He squinted at him.  "Hi."

"Good afternoon."  He stroked over his forehead. "Headache?"  Xander nodded.  "Let me get the nurse."  He pushed the button because there was no way anyone was moving him.

"Baby?" Xander asked, blinking hard.  "Too many lights."  The nurse came in.  "Darker?"  She closed the curtains, giving him a look.  "More darker?"  She smiled and turned off half the lights.  "Thank you.  Horatio, baby?" he asked, letting her come over to check him.

"Eric called and said he had him, Xander."  He stroked over his forehead again.  "He said he's got a headache as well."

"The medicine we've given him can do that.  The best thing for him is rest."

"Hate hospitals," he said with a pout.

"Everyone does, even those of us who work here, Mr. Harris.  Now, let your husband help you nap again and the next time you wake up, it'll be nicer.  All right?"  Xander nodded.  "You can have some water if you want."

"Pwease?"  Horatio smiled and took the filled cup, letting him sip from it.  "Thank you."  He put his head back down. "I got shot?"

"It was a very tiny bullet," the nurse said, smiling at him. "You weren't even bleeding until you got into the ambulance.  What were you doing before then?"

"Throwing a fit. Someone sent me a car."

"You can always sell it and put it into the foundation as well," Horatio soothed.  Xander nodded, closing his eyes.  "You rest.  I'll check on the baby later."  That got another slight nod and Xander soon started to snore.  "He's fine?"

"He'll be perfectly fine, sir.  I promise he will.  Did your team find anything?"

"The gun.  It's being analyzed right now."  She smiled at that.  "Someone will be finding them so I don't have to."  The door opened to admit Frank.  "Any new news?"

"A bit but it's not totally pertinent.  Eric's nanny is a bitch.  She's going off on how the baby should've never been born.  Calleigh's lucky she's not pressing charges against her."  Horatio nodded at that.  "Di's still three-sheets to the wind with exhaustion, and Delko said to tell you he brought the baby home with him, but Ryan ransacked his wardrobe at your house for stuff.  His mother was making him come over for dinner so the baby'll be fine.  Though he did end up curled up against Valera's chest and sighing in comfort and pleasure. Alexx got onto him about it again."

"He called Stella's boobies," he said with a faint smile.

"He's got good taste in women then.  They're all very pretty and comfortable."  He looked at Xander. "He good?"

"So far.  Just sleepy."  Frank nodded.  "Any word on the shooter, Frank?"  The nurse left.

"Not yet. Fingerprints is searching.  Mac's in the lab to help them search, as is Danny.  He found one inside the barrel.  Apparently they've customed it a bit to accept such a small bullet.  You sure he's all right?"

"He's fine, Frank.  What about the car?"

"Same as last time.  Hybrid engine added after it was bought.  Custom paint job since it doesn't come in that color.  Why he needed a lime green mini-hummer I'm not real sure.  Why it needed a sapphire studded rearview mirror I'm not sure about either.  At least it doesn't clash on the car."  Horatio moaned.  "Tiny ones.  We think lab created.  Only a few carats total in them.  Looks like Dame Edna's glasses ta me."  He shrugged and Don walked in.  "Horatio said he's fine."

"Yay.  Need to see that for myself, thanks anyway, Frank."  He leaned down to look at Xander's face, then at Horatio.  "He woken up yet?"

"Asked what happened and about the baby."

"Good.  Eric's mother loves the baby.  He called to warn me she might not let you have him back."

"Fat chance," Xander said tiredly, patting Don's face.  "I know New Yorkers are loud, but why is Frank just as loud as you?"

Frank smiled.  "Good detectives are always loud, Xander.  You good?"

"Head hurts."  He pouted at them.  "Have Willow call Angel, see if it's the same as the porsche guy.  That way Horatio can't break bad over the phone on him."  He blinked hard, looking at Don.  "Sorry about this."

"Not your fault.  Besides, Mac was getting lab withdrawal anyway."  He smoothed down his hair.  "You sleep.  They'll give you nice drugs later."  The door opened and he and Frank tensed, reaching for their guns.

"I'm the doctor.  Really.  Don't shoot, I'd hate to have to operate on myself."  He looked at them and they slowly relaxed.  He looked at Horatio and decided he would have been doing the same if his husband hadn't been holding his gun hand.  "Good.  Now, Mr. Harris, how are you feeling?"

"Crappy.  My head hurts.  How soon can I swim and jog again?"

"In a few months."

"Months?" he snorted.  "I got shot in the shoulder and I was back in the pool the next night with metal stitches.  Unless you hurt my thigh a lot while pulling it out?"

"No, but it was in the center of that muscle group.  I did a few stitches to help keep the hole closed."  He moved closer.  "It's going to be at least a month before it heals and you're going to have to work your way back up to your training schedule, young man."  He stared him down.  "You can't just hope to pop back from this sort of injury."

Xander moved the sheet, pulled up his hospital gown and showed the marks on his side, especially the deep one.  "I saw my intestines.  I was out hunting three days later once it was closing.  Fat chance.  Now, on my time table, how long will it be before I can get back in the pool?"

"A week after we've pulled them.  I put in traditional stitches.  Sorry."  Xander shrugged a bit at that.  "So maybe three weeks?"  Xander nodded.  "Also, you're going to have to be fairly gentle until then about sexual conduct.  That's going to pull for a while."  Xander nodded at that.  "How's your pain levels?"

Don snorted.  "When the ricochet hit him in New York, went in two, three inches, he didn't take anything for it."

"I'm in a bit of pinching sort of pain but nothing too great," Xander agreed.

The doctor looked at him, then at Horatio.  "Is he a torture survivor?"

"He's had a life that makes most people beg for mercy, but not officially."

"Only once or twice," Xander told him.  The doctor blinked at him.  "Have you ever been down to West Ridge St.?"   The doctor moaned and nodded.  "I used ta hunt those things.  Four years worth of hunting those things.  Just give me something mild that won't fully cloud my judgement in case someone comes to visit so I don't make an ass outta myself from the giggling."

"All right, I can do that."  He made a note on the chart.  Then he looked at Horatio.

"I made him stop," he promised.

"Good.  I knew you were the reasonable sort, Lieutenant Caine.  Now, anything else we should be worrying about?"

"Fussing people," Frank told him.  "Calleigh, Alexx, Speed when he gets home."

"Can I be home by then?"

"Tomorrow, Mr. Harris," the doctor said patiently. "That way we make sure you don't infect."  Xander nodded at that. "Have you in the past?"

"The one on my side turned a bit green and ooey there for a few days but some leftover antibiotics helped."

"A physician didn't do that?" he asked calmly.

Xander shook his head.  "No, but my best friend played nurse out of the textbooks."  The doctor scowled and he grinned.  "Not like I could go to the local hospital.  My parents wouldn't have appreciated it at all."

"I'm surprised Willow didn't take you away permanently back then," Don said, glaring at him. "How deep was that?"

"I saw my intestines."

"Eww."  He shuddered and stepped away.  "That's bad."

"What caused that?" the doctor asked.

Xander thought back.  "I always thought it was the curved knife but it could've been a claw of some sort," he offered, shrugging a bit.  "Not a clue, I was kinda out of it. I remember giggling at the sight of the tissue if that helps."

"No, it doesn't.  That person was arrested?"

"No but they were taken care of.  I wasn't the first."

"Ah.  You were how old?"

Xander counted back.  "Eleven?  Twelve?  Somewhere around there.  The secondary scar in the center was done when I was seventeen."  He looked at Horatio.  "Do not bug her about that.  She'll rant and scream and she's supposed to be resting."

"I'll ask her after she delivers."

"Have Ryan ask her," Frank noted patiently.  "That way he can calm her back down again."

"Your friend is where?"

"Pregnant and at home," Xander admitted.  "We're good, we no longer live there."

"That was well-closed.  Is she thinking about medical school?"

"She thinks about a lot of things so I'm not sure.  Her husband said he'd support her going, and he's thinking about running for a judge's spot since two of them pissed me off and I want them gone, but you'd have to ask Willow."  He yawned.  "S'nice, Horatio.  Thank you."  He flipped onto his side.  "Can I get the IV taken out?"

"As long as you don't infect, we'll let it come out tonight."  He watched him fall asleep clutching his husband's hand.  He looked at Horatio.  "You have that stuff well in hand?"  He nodded.  "Good.  I'll prescribe a mild painkiller that shouldn't knock him out.  Good luck with him."  He made notes as he walked out, including one that said to knock before entering.

Don looked at Frank, who didn't look happy.  "Think about what would've happened if she hadn't been herself."

"Point.  I probably owe that girl a hug because he brings some fun insanity into my life now and then."  He looked at Horatio.  "Want me to check on the baby later?"

"I'll call if I'm forced to go home, Frank, but thank you."

"Welcome."  He smirked at him.  "You sure you don't want a guard outside the room?  You can't pull cross-handed."

"I can if I move the gun."  He undid his belt and pulled it off, threading the gun through on the other side.  Don came over to get the one he missed, earning a nod. "Thank you."

"Welcome.  I'll go check on our friends.  See if they've got anything new, that way Danny can come fuss while Stella brings dinner. For both of you."  He walked out, taking Frank with him.  "He'll tense up and go silent if you ask and she's done the same thing to Horatio once or twice," he said quietly.  "I saw it after the club thing and heard Horatio complain about it."

"Oh, I've seen it now and then. Can I kick his parent's asses?"

"They're already dead, Frank," he said as he hit the button for the elevator.  "And yeah, they sold him to the guy who did that."  They shared a look.  "Willow said they made her  give him back."

"Pity.  Too bad they're dead too."

"One of his fanclub."

"Good to know."  He shook his head.  "Better them than me.  They get caught?"

"Not a clue.  I didn't even want to check on it," Don admitted as he hit the button for the lobby.  "Need a ride back?"

"Nah, I drove. What're you using?"

"Rental car.  If that blue one's Xander's I might beg him to put it at the condo for our use but otherwise I'm not sure it'd go for much at auction with the hybrid engine.  Or the H3 since it's lime green."

"It's a very Miami color," Frank offered, smiling a bit as they came out and headed outside.

"Yeah, but it's an ugly one."

"True.  It was hideous.  Maybe he'll have it repainted and give it to the crime lab.  We could use a smaller one now and then."

"Frank," Don sighed, smirking at him.  "Greedy."

"Yeah, well, you know me.  Or hey, maybe it'll be a baby warming present for Wolfe and his new kid.  That way they can feel as alpha as Horatio now and then."

"It's not the car that does that, Frank," he taunted, hitting him on the arm. "That's the base animal calling out inside you.  Just look at Mac.  He doesn't have to drive a hummer."

"No, but Mac's not the scary sort Horatio can be."

Don snickered, looking at him. "Let Mac do the suspect when we find them.  Then tell me that."  Frank looked amused. "Oh, come on, if we're here, we wanna let them do that.  Danny's all smooth menace and some taunting.  I'm more the yelling sort, but Mac, well.... he's just in a different category of menace at times."

"Sure.  If we find a suspect while you guys are still here, I can do that."   He headed for his own car, letting Don get theirs.  "That's a nice rental."

"Only the best for Mac and Stella," he taunted.  "Oh, Danny's got a picture of her in the new bikini.  There was a second one underneath the dresses, skin tone.  Very, very hot."   Frank moaned.  "Di's good at that."

"Yeah, and my wife loves it when we have ta deal with that stuff."  He got into his car and started the engine, backing out and heading back to the station.  Not like he cared it was his day off.

Don slid into his car and headed back as well, with a stop to pick up lunch because he was starved and if he was hungry, Danny was certainly ready to raid the snack machine.

***

Horatio walked into the station later that night, looking at the person in the interrogation room, then at Mac, who had met him.  "Who is it?"

"The stupid person of the hour.  They said they had a migraine and shot him to shut him up."  Horatio growled.  "We're waiting to take her downstairs at the moment."

"What's her name, Mac?"  The folder was handed over and Horatio sneered.  "That's the mother of the person who shot Ray Jr."  They shared a look.

"She wouldn't admit to it."

"She will."  He walked in there, taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.  Usually he kept it on but this time was special.  He wanted to be ready to stop her if she leapt since he was going to ruin every single fantasy she'd ever held.  "Bethany."  She looked at him and flinched.  He stared her down.  "I'm Lieutenant Caine, head of this crime lab."  She tried to scoot away from him.  "I do believe that the story you told us earlier when you confessed was a lie."

"It was not!" she said, sounding huffy, but the undertones of panic were there.

"Really?  Because I seem to remember your daughter shooting my nephew at my home yesterday."  She swallowed and shook her head quickly.  "Oh, yes, she did.  I was there when she did it, Bethany.  Jessica did shoot him for her exposing him to drugs, among other things."

"He's a teenager, he probably wanted it," she sneered.

"See, Bethany, my nephew is a good boy.  He has been a good boy.  He will be a good boy.  He's a lot like my husband in that regard."  She went tense and he looked into her eyes.  "Your daughter could've gotten him exposed to any number of diseases, him being molested, or being killed.  Your daughter was also the impetus behind my nephew doing an open pole night, which got him his first serial killer stalking him."  She swallowed.  "Your daughter then compounded the issue at school with her helpful rumors of why Ray had to leave suddenly.  Yes, we did hear those."  She flinched again, trying to back away.  He moved a step closer.  "Yet you say this had nothing to do with your daughter shooting my nephew yesterday?  I'd be highly surprised if that wasn't a lie," he said calmly.

She flinched and stood up, her handcuff pulling at her wrist but she didn't seem to care.  "Your nephew could've given my daughter everything in the world and he dumped her because she got him high!"

"Against his will," he said with that deadly, icy voice. "Very muchly against his will.  Besides, everything Ray has, is my spouse's."  She flopped down, staring at him.  "That porsche he had been driving was given to Xander by someone.  Xander's been paying him an allowance for helping him out.  Everything you and your daughter coveted is actually Xander's."

"He's probably molesting him and paying him off," she sneered.

"No, he's not, Bethany."  He moved an inch closer, in her personal space now.  She started to fidget again.  "Ray is my nephew.  To Xander that means he's family.  Besides, Xander has me, he doesn't need to go after anyone else."  She whimpered.  "Why did you really shoot him?"

"He's the reason my Jessica got dumped by your lying nephew!"

"Ray never said that was his.  He said he was borrowing it."

"He took her out to dinner at a fancy place!"

"Yes, and he worked to earn that money."  It was the only time he'd ever seen a babysitter earn three hundred bucks for four hours worth of work, but he had earned it, and he had helped Xander with some filing and his homework as well.  She glared at him.  "Even if they had stayed together, if his mother and I had let him be that shallow, she still wouldn't have gotten anything.  Xander has a trust.  Plus a foundation."  She whimpered.  "Everything you thought your daughter had so she could support both your bad habits is locked away in the hands of another."  She shrieked again and went for him, the free hand clawed up to hit him.  He caught it and squeezed, gently, sneering at her.  "Your daughter is in jail because she's just...like...you."  He let her go and picked up his jacket, sliding back into it with a sneer for her.  "Do have fun.  Maybe they'll let you on the same cellblock, Bethany."  He walked out, looking at Mac.  "Don't tell his mother."

"Oh, she saw.  Danny drug her off to scream and rant in the breakroom.  Again."  That got a small smile.  "That makes three times today, Horatio.  Are you all right?"

"He'll be fine. If not, I'd be in there next to her steaming body."

"Good."  He waved at a couple of officers.  "You can have her now.  Keep her away from Yelina and away from her daughter."  One looked confused.  "That's the mother of the person who shot Yelina's son yesterday."

"Why?" the officer demanded.

"She thought Ray had what is actually Xander's," Horatio offered calmly.

"Stupid bitch," the other one muttered.  "No offense, sir, your nephew's cute and all, but he doesn't have the dangerous, stalking thing that your mate does, and I'm guessing that's why people like him with the way he scares so many others into begging for him to spank them."  He walked in there and got the cuffs around her wrists, freeing her from the chair so they could drag her away.

"Xander has people begging to spank them?" Mac asked, looking confused.

"Only that one pervert that I know of," he admitted, looking at the officer's back.  "Who asked, officer?"

"Um, you hadn't heard about the, um, underground?" he asked.  Horatio shook his head. "Then forget I said anything, Lieutenant, before I get beaten, please."  He hurried her off.

"Frank!" Horatio growled, making him suddenly appear, looking scared as his head came up over a cubicle separator.  "Underground?"

"Um, yeah, that's who bought him the last blue car, so don't sell it."  He disappeared again then went to hide at home.  Horatio would never hurt him in front of his wife.  He hoped.

"Frank, that won't save you!" Horatio yelled after him.  Yelina came up and gave him a hug.  "I'm calm."

"I'm not."  He looked at her.  "What happened now?"

"An underground?"

She nodded.  "There's a rabid underground for those who want Xander to be theirs.  They bought him the blue car.  No idea on who sent the hummer."  He growled at that.  "I called Ryan to ask his wife to call that Angel person.  She made that same sound."  She patted him on the stomach.  "We should rescue little Eric from big Eric's house."

"His mother has them both."  She smiled at that.  "His mother demanded he bring the baby over for dinner."  He walked out with her, going to drop her off at home and then find Eric's mother's house.  He'd only been there a few times.  He did finally find it and they were still up with the way the music was going.  He parked and got out, heading to the door, where Eric's sister Marisol answered.  "I heard my son is here?" he asked stepping inside.

"He's been spoiled all night by momma."  She led him back to the kitchen. "He wants his son back."

"He should be at home and safely tucked in by now," he agreed.  "We don't want him to party that young."  Eric's mother laughed at that and kissed him on the cheek, making him sit down.  "Thank you for watching him."

"It's not a problem.  How is your Xander?"  She got him some tea and handed it over. "Is he all right?"

"Small gunshot wound to his thigh, a small blood pressure spike.  They've already pulled the IV."  She smiled at that and hugged him.  "The person confessed and then confessed her real reason to me since she tried to lie to Mac."

Eric came in, smiling at him.  "Xander let you go?"

"No, he made me go.  He pointed out I have to work tomorrow and I couldn't take it off or else he'd pout."  Eric beamed at that.  "The doctor said it's going to be a week after they pull the stitches before he's back in the pool.  He used normal ones."

Eric snorted. "So, we'll figure a week and then he'll be running on them, two weeks and he'll be back in the pool the day after they yank them," he agreed, sitting down across from him.  His mother put a biscuit and tea in front of him. "I'm still stuffed from dinner."

"Eat!  Now!"

"Yes, mom."  He nibbled on the biscuit.  "Eric was very good all night.  He charmed all the women and my father got him to quit remarking on their chests and swearing."

"Thank you.  How?"

"Bribery.  Your boy likes grapes."

"I'll have to remember that."  He sipped his tea. "Thank you."

"Not a problem.  Ryan said Willow's being scary and Calleigh pointed out her apartment had stairs and things that could hurt him.  With Speed out of town for the next four days....."

"He is?"

"Yeah, he is," he agreed then took another bite.  "Your son had him kidnaped back to Sunnydale."  Horatio groaned. "She said chloroform and put him on a jet."  He grinned at that.  "Something about he wasn't allowed to die until he was a grandfather?"

"Speed or Xander?"

"Xander.  We figured he'd seen enough of that with his past life."  Horatio nodded.  "Frank said he scared the doctor."

"Pissed him off.  He told him how he got the mark on his side."

"Ah.  That one I don't wonder about. I wonder about the really faint ones on his back that come out when he blushes."  He finished off his biscuit.  "How's Ray?"

"Junior's fine.  His mother spoiled him all day.  His father's doing okay.  He took the opportunity to handcuff his son to the couch and talk to him.  Didn't help very much but at least Ray got all the swearing out of his system for the week.  How are you doing?"

"I'm fine.  It's not my family that got shot twice."  They shared a look.  "I'm fine, H.  Really."  He nodded, smiling a bit at that.  "What happened to Jane?"

"She started going off about how Eric was an imposition and shouldn't have been born.  We're going to talk to Di when she's finally awake."

"She woke up earlier and called to see if she had dreamed Xander calling her. I said no and told her you guys had the baby, but I was babysitting for a few hours.  She said that was fine and drifted off again."  Horatio nodded once at that, slowly. "I'd tape that stuff."

"Already done.  I know she likes Jane."

"A lot," Eric agreed dryly.  "I thought Di had better taste than that, but apparently not."  He shrugged.  "It happens to the best of us."

"Lieutenant...."

"Call me Horatio, Mrs. Delko, please."

She smiled and patted him on the cheek. "Horatio then.  Did you know where my son got those outfits that made him look like a slut?"

"The mother of our son designs them.  He was in her runway show."

She moaned and swatted her son, going off in Spanish about how bad he was and how he needed to date, not dabble, as she put it.

"I'm trying, Ma!" he complained.  "You have to date to find someone you like."

"And the time I ran the three women out of your place?" she demanded.  Marisol giggled.  "I did!"

"Diana had made some clothes that were very...enticing and Eric went with my husband to make sure he got home all right," Horatio offered.  "They drug him home from there."  She crossed herself when she started to swear again.  "I try to keep Xander's teasing down but every now and then he's got to let it out.  Or else bad things happen."

"Like the lime green mini-hummer," Eric agreed.  "Which is really ugly.  I gotta agree with Don on that, Horatio."

"As do I, Eric.  As do I."  He finished his tea. "Let's get the son so I can put him to bed."

"Will you need someone to watch him tomorrow?" Eric's mother asked, sounding hopeful.  "He's a delightful boy."

"His mother should be fine tomorrow.  She's got full custody, we only get visitation with him, but if you wanted, Xander's coming home tomorrow and will probably want to steal him again.  You could come over and help him."  She smiled at that.  "Just don't let Xander cook anything.  Ever."

"We'll do a cookout," Eric promised, smirking at him.  "Do you let him cook for you?"

"Eric, I like not having food poisoning.  Really, I do."  The others laughed.  "Xander has many skills, cooking is not one of them."  He stood up.  "Have Eric bring you over tomorrow, Mrs. Delko.  That's never a problem."  She patted his cheek and walked him back to pick up his son.  Somehow Eric had managed to get out of his shirt and had his pants on only one leg, but that was what babies did and it was quickly fixed.  "Thank you," he said quietly, walking out to the hummer with him and his bag.  He got put into the backseat and the baby stretched but stayed asleep.

***

Mac walked into the lab his first day back, sniffing the air.  "Why does it smell like sawdust?" he asked the receptionist.  Who only pointed at the plastic sheeting.  "Did we have a problem while I was gone?  Sheldon!" he bellowed, knowing he'd be lurking in wait for him if it had been a problem.  Sheldon came out of the sheeting.  "What happened?"

"The lab revamp, Mac.  Didn't anyone tell you?" he asked, grinning a bit.  "You don't look very tanned."

"I tan hard."  He walked through the sheeting, looking around.  "Who paid for this?" he called.

"That trust," he offered, backing away.  Mac turned to glare at him.  "The same one that updated Miami's?"

Mac squealed and hugged him. "Xander does grant wishes!"  He headed up to his office to complain to Horatio that he hadn't known, putting him on speaker since the plans were sitting on his desk.

"Caine."

"You made me squeal like a girl."

"It was part of the will, Mac."

"Uh-huh.  How long before it's done?"

"Two weeks.  It was started about ten minutes after you left and you've got three untouched labs.  Sorry."

"Not an issue.  I love you guys.  Thank Xander for granting wishes.  How high tech are we going?"

"I was ordered by Patrick's will to update yours and the other Miami labs to the same standard as mine."  Mac let out another squeal.  "Since you had to hand off jurisdiction over the weekend anyway, we thought it'd be the better time to start."

"I had wondered why the mayor smirked at me when I talked about some of our older equipment."

"Some of your equipment belonged in a museum, which you'll be able to use the display cases in the lobby for.  Calm down, it's still going to be two weeks and then a few days of training."

"I still love you guys.  Even if you were ordered to do it."  Danny came strolling in.  "Danny!"  He came over.  "It'll be about two weeks, we've got three open labs."

"I saw.  This'll be very nice, without the full walls of glass stuff.  Frosted?"

"Yes," Horatio agreed. "Lightly frosted. Not totally clear but can still be seen through."

"Decent.  Thanks, man.   By the way, I dropped the essays off with the receptionist on the way to the airport."

"I have them.  Thank you."

"No, thank you.  This'll make Stella squeal worse'n Mac did," Danny said happily, smirking at him.  "You pounced Sheldon."

"You guys never told me about this."

"I only told those people who were staying, Mac, that way they couldn't ruin the surprise."  Horatio hung up.  Mac switched off the phone.

"We're going to have happy people later."

"We are," he agreed. "Don didn't tell us either."

"Even Flack's gotta be sneaky now and then, Mac."  He smirked and went to look around again.  His usual lab was one of the ones being updated but he loved the ones in Miami.  He'd have camped out in them if they had let him.   He looked out the door when Stella squealed like a cheerleader that had just been goosed. "Two weeks!"

"For this I'd give Eric a little brother!" she called, hugging him, then Sheldon since he was nearby.  Then Mac.  "You didn't know?"

"No, Horatio kept it from us."

"We knew," Sheldon offered.  "Horatio briefed us a few weeks back."  She hit him on the arm.  "Ow! I need that!"

"Tough, suck it up.  You could've hinted."  She walked off to look around.  "We're getting Miami's stuff?"

"Same standard," Mac agreed.  She smiled and went to peek into the labs.  He looked at Sheldon.  "Was that the dinner you took Lindsey out on?"  He nodded.  "I thought that hadn't been romantically motivated.  Good to know I was right."

"She's cute but my mother would pout."  He shrugged, smiling at Danny.  "How was Miami? You look well rested."

"Good until Xander got shot."

"Why?" Sheldon asked.  "He's the nicest guy most of the time."  The rest of the time Xander scared him.  He had never been attracted to a guy until he had caught him doing something teasing to Danny and Horatio one day, which had made Horatio growl and pounce him.  Then there were the times when Xander was just *scary*, like when you threatened his family.  He'd never seen a Mala Noche gang member run like that before. He almost wondered if anyone had told Horatio but Frank had been there so they probably had.

"Ray Junior, Horatio's nephew, got shot by an ex girlfriend who wanted what Xander had.   His mother shot Xander for having her daughter arrested and helping Ray break up with her daughter.  Back of the thigh."

"A very small custom bullet," Mac agreed.  "They're sharing a cell block since they took pleas."

"Good!  Another win for the good guys."  Sheldon smiled. "We're on limited casework since we've got this going on.  There were three that got sent to another team.  Night shift is still complaining about this.  And the Mayor said you're welcome, he paid for half of the construction costs."  He smiled again, making Mac laugh.

"I'll thank him in person later.  Maybe bring him lunch or something."  He clapped them on the back.  "Are they doing everything at once?"

"A few of the labs only needed new computers.  They'll be done first.  The worst ones we had to put up special taping, it had some asbestos.  So they're cleaning that out as well.  Those'll be done last and may be the reason we go over budget."

"I think we've got room if that happens," Mac agreed.  "We had budgeted for a computer upgrade this year anyway."

"That's what the Mayor said when he heard about it.  Since this was all a grant, it'll go for that."  He smirked a bit evilly.  "Do we get the hummers too?"

"We've got some SUV's," Mac reminded him.

"Awwwww."

"We'll see about next year."  That got a grin and Sheldon strolled off.  "I need a case update today."

"Of course you do."  He smiled back at him. "It's under the plans on your desk and you need to tell the workmen if you want your windows changed out too."  He kept going.  "I'm free for the next one."

"Sure," he agreed, smiling at Danny.  "Yours?"

"I closed my last one before we left, that's why I slept on the plane. I gave Vicaro everything so they could be picked up."

"Check on that and make sure.  Make sure I've got the paperwork somewhere."  Danny nodded, heading to do that.  Mac went back to his office, still smiling and happy.  Not even a new child molesting case would remove that smile from him for a few hours.  Of course, when they got one, he did switch into evil Mac mode, but the smile came back later as he watched the people work.

***

Xander walked into the house, seeing the people he vaguely knew wandering around.  "Ooh, a welcome home party?  For me?" he teased, taking his son from the older woman. "Did the other Eric's mommy cuddle you?"  His son gave him his most evil smirk.  "You've been tormenting others again, haven't you?"  He kissed him on the forehead and looked at her.  "Hi.  Thank you."

"It was nothing. You should be sitting down."

"I can't, the stitches pull and it's not comfortable. I will lay down because they gave me a dose of pain killers and I'm fairly high at the moment."  He wandered out to the couch and laid on his side, his son sitting on his top edge.  "Hi."  Eric beamed at him.  "Were you a good boy?"  He shook his head.  "Why not?"  He felt a wet nose and looked over. "Horatio is going to shit," he said fondly, patting the dog, making his son squeal and help.  "Yes, Eric, that's a doggy.  Can you say doggy?"

"Doggy!"  He hugged him but the dog got free.  Xander pulled out his cellphone and dialed Horatio's, getting him. He handed it over and pointed at the dog.  "Doggy!" he repeated happily.  "Pretty doggy!  Love you!"  He handed it back.

"I have no idea."  He hung up and giggled.  "Daddy Horatio will come home on time tonight, huh?"  Eric smirked at him. "Good boy.  Why don't you play with the doggy for now."  Eric slid down and sat on the floor to pet and play with the dog.  "Gently," he ordered, showing him how to do it.  Eric beamed at him and did what his father had made his hand do, making the dog groan and flop over to get more ear scratches.  "You're a good boy," he promised.

"It's my brother's dog, don't get too attached," Eric called.  He came in off the porch.  "He's too spoiled to leave at home."

"That's fine."  He grinned at him.  "They shot me full of pain killers."

"I'll save you lunch. You nap.  We've got the baby.  My mother wants to adopt him."  Xander yawned and nodded, slowly drifting off.  He shook his head and smiled at the dog.  "Bring the boy outside."  The dog got up and Eric got up to follow him.  He went back to the grill and lunch.  He looked out when the door opened and then closed. "Out here, Horatio." He looked at Eric, who was inching toward the stairs. "I said no."  He sat down and pouted but went back to playing with the dog. "Thank you."

Horatio looked at the dog, then at him. "Eric?" he asked.

"My brother's dog.  It's too spoiled to stay home alone. It eats things."  He handed him a plate. "Food?"

"Thank you."  He grabbed the baby and made him wash his hands, then sat down to eat with him.  "Xander asleep?"

"Yup, said he was high from the pain killers."

"I'm not surprised considering he left without calling me."  Eric and his mother both laughed at that. "It's a very Xander thing to do."  He fed him a bite of steak, watching him chew it and smile.  "Mouth closed, Eric."  He closed his mouth most of the time.  "Thank you, good boy."  He kissed him on the temple. "You can play with the dog after lunch."  Eric took the food out of his mouth and tossed it to the dog, who was more than happy to clean it up.  "The dog has his own food."

"Go use the bushes," Eric's mother ordered, pointing.  The dog ran for the bushes to use them, getting claps from the baby for his performance.  "You should be doing the same thing."

"You yelled at me when I did that," bigger Eric pouted.  She swatted him so he grinned and handed her a plate.  "Here.  Eat."

"Thank you, Eric."  She patted him on the face and sat down.  "When is his mother planning on potty training?"

"In a few weeks, when the orders from the last show calm down."  He fed Eric a piece of vegetable, getting a scowl.  "You'll eat it," he said firmly.  Eric pouted but he did nibble on it. "Thank you.  You like those."  Eric held it up with a hopeful look.  "You eat that one.  I've got the rest of them."  He ate the rest of it and Horatio shook his head.  "Eric, Don said if he wasn't sure you were still alive he'd think the baby was you."

"No, I'm not a fussy eater.  Never was.  Food!"  He brought his own plate over, letting his sisters come to get their own plates and then go back to cooing and helping in the nursery.  "Xander had a bed delivered for him, they're working on that."  Horatio nodded once.  "It said he ordered it online."

"That's fine.  He said he was thinking about it."  He let Eric steal off his plate, making him a happy baby.  "Good boy."  He ate another bite himself. "Nicely done, Eric."

"Thanks, H.  I try every now and then."  He grinned as he ate a bite of dinner.  He peeked inside when the dog went in there, but it was going to nap with Xander so that was fine.  "He's going to nap on the couch with your boy."

"Xander likes dogs."

"Doggy!" Eric said happily beaming at him.

"Yes, it is.  You can visit the doggy now and then, Eric."  He smiled at that and stole another bite, smirking at him.  "Good boy."  He finished up what he wanted and let the baby have the rest.

"You should eat more," Eric's mother ordered.

"I'll have a larger dinner with Xander.  Usually I end up skipping lunch."

"That's not good for you."

"Ma, sometimes cases get in the way of regularly scheduled meals," Eric reminded her.  Ryan walked in and came out.  "There's food."

"Willow made me eat bread pudding with chocolate sauce for lunch."  He looked at Horatio.  "Angel called her back, which got an extra long squeeze of the chocolate bottle onto her pudding.  The problem out there did send the lime green hummer and he's very sorry, that's all Angel said beyond he sent Spike to deal with it."  He shrugged.  "She said to tell you that."

"Thank you, Mr. Wolfe."  The baby held his arms up so he got held for a minute before going to play with the dog.  "Play nicely."  He looked at Ryan again. "I take it this will be stopped?"

"As far as Angel said he's sorry.  I have no idea if that means that or not."  He swallowed at the long stare.  "Willow said she thinks she remembers the guy and that he liked Xander.  A lot.  Even for being a smartass like he was back then.  Like he'd end up like Angel and Spike are if he had his way.  I'm not sure who Spike is exactly but she smirked when she said Angel had sent him after the guy to talk to him."

"Thank you, Mr. Wolfe.  Can you stop the baby from trying to stab the dog?"  Ryan went in there to do that, having a quiet word about 'no knives' then brought him back out. "Thank you.  Are you ready for yours?"

"Hell no," he said, looking pained.  "What do I need to stock up on?  The book said diapers and changing supplies, plus clothes since Willow's breast feeding."

The entire clan of Delkos laughed at that.  Eric patted him on the back.  "As an uncle who babysits, I can tell you small babies, like newborns, go through at least ten diapers a day.  They'll sleep a lot for the first few months, but never when you want, and they'll need clothing changes with about half the diaper changes.  Also, stock up on foods you can eat one-handed.  You won't have two for a while.  That's when the baby will cry."   His mother nodded at that.  He smiled at his mother.  "Willow is Xander's best friend from school and she's about eight months?"  Ryan nodded.  "Yeah, about ready to pop.  They're just now picking out furniture."

"We had to move somewhere bigger," he defended.  He smiled at Horatio.  "By the way, your husband's plan has worked.  I'm one of the two he chose."  He beamed.  "So I'm up for election as a judge.  If I win, I'll give my two weeks notice the next day, with my hangover."

"That's fine, Mr. Wolfe.  We'd be sorry to see you go, but I do understand."  Ryan smiled and nodded, going to talk to the sisters upstairs and beg for a list.   He shook his head.  "Remind me to call Ethan later, Eric."

"Of course.  You think she'd magic the baby to sleep?"

"New mothers can be very stressed out. I doubt it'd be intentional but it could happen."  He ate a bite of vegetable the baby had left him.  "Besides, it can't be good for the baby."

"I've already talked to Ethan, he's sending over something to block it until the baby's a year old, she's putting it on before she gives birth so I don't have to be that scared of her," Ryan called from inside the house.

"Who is this girl?" Eric's mother asked.

"Rosenburg, Ma."

She moaned and held her head.  "Poor thing.  She'll be fine. Xander will help her."

"Yeah, Harris is a pretty good daddy," Eric agreed.  His mother looked at him.  "That's *that* Xander, Ma."

"That explains so much," she sighed, shaking her head.  "At least he's calmed down for you, Horatio."

"You've heard of him?"

"Yes.  Some people have spread around his rumors.  They say you made him quit hunting."

"It wasn't safe for him to go alone," he agreed.

"Good man, Horatio."  She smiled at him.  "Now, about that potty training.  With children that young, bribery works wonderfully.  Candy or cookies, fruit doesn't usually cut it with that one."  He nodded.  "Then wean them back to praise for it."  He nodded again.  "Expect it to take longer at night."

"He's got a small bladder according to his doctor."

"At least his eye is getting better."

"It is," Horatio agreed happily, smiling at that.  "They said it could clear up."  He looked inside at the boy, who was laying down on top of the dog.  "He'll throw a fit when the beast leaves."  Eric and his mother both nodded at that.  Horatio just sighed and called Diana.  "We're home, Xander's out of the hospital, and we should talk.  No, Eric Delko's family and their dog is here."  He smiled.  "Exactly, he won't throw as big of a fit if you're taking him home as he would if the dog left."  He smirked.  "Because Jane started to call him an imposition and neither of us feel that way, Diana."  He nodded.  "Agreeable.  No, she handed him off to Xander on Saturday.  Thank you."  He hung up.  "Di'll be over to pick him up soon.  Then we can discuss the potty training stuff."  Eric grinned at that.  "He'll throw less of a fit.  He likes to help her make clothes."

"The day of the show, he scowled at anyone who wasn't wearing his mother's clothes and didn't want to buy any.  He was very good at guilting the other people into it."  His mother sighed and shook her head. "You know those jeans you swatted me over?  She made those. She makes a lot of Xander's wardrobe too."

"Yes, she does," Horatio agreed dryly.  "Thankfully he can't wear most of them with the bandage around his thigh."

"If I know your husband that'll be gone soon."

"A few days after the stitches come out," Horatio agreed.  "Sweats and shorts until then."  Eric chuckled and Ryan came back out.  "Get a long list?"

"Oh, yeah.  Including what bottles to get for when she's too tired or sore to nurse. Thank you, guys."  He smiled.  "I'm off to get back to work.  Hopefully I won't have a sudden nap later on from the chocolate sauce, Horatio."

"If you do, warn me first, Ryan."  He nodded and headed out, walking over the baby and dog pile.  He shook his head.  "Hopefully this is the only one."

"They said if it was a girl, they'd be taking her magic," Eric reminded him quietly.  "Pray for it being a girl."

"Oh, I am," he agreed, getting comfortable.  "I definitely am."  He looked out at the beach, then at the house. "Eric?" he called.  The baby peeked out from behind the bigger Eric's chair.  "No going onto the beach without a big person with you," he said firmly.  "You know that."  He pouted.  "Your mother's on her way over."  He squealed and hugged Eric's mother. "No, your mother."  He went inside to tell the doggy that, babbling the whole way.

"He's going to have the Xander-babble down fluently by the time he's a teenager," Eric said happily.

"Indeed he will, Eric."  He sighed and shook his head. "I still have to make him repeat himself sometimes."  The mother with them laughed.  "Xanders are very complex beings and it takes a great deal of strength to deal with them some days, but I wouldn't change it for the world."  He ate another bite of meat, he'd be needing the energy later to make sure his spouse was all right.

Table of Contents

Loving, Fighting, and Family. 2

Miami Connections: Vegas Outtake. 154

Fighting For Family. 193

Taking Control. 404