Notes: this is a trial fic, never done this fandom before.  Just read in it and started watching it so sorry if I mess up too bad!

Fixing It.

Xander looked up as his boss walked over to where he was doing estimates, standing up and looking at him curiously.  His boss, the guy who owned the company not his site manager, NEVER came to the site.  He only went where there were problems or when they first evaluated new jobs.  "Is there a problem, Boss?  I didn't know we had one that bad, but if so, tell me and it's handled."

"Not here, Harris, Santa Clara."  Xander looked confused. "One of the other sites is having bad difficulties and I need a problem solver since I've got a site in crisis up north.  You do good here."

"Me?" Xander asked, straightening up a bit more, looking surprised and happy.  "They need *my* help?"

"Truthfully, they need a foot up their asses," he noted dryly.  "You're a good manager and they're far behind and already over budget.  I have the feeling that they're going to end up bringing down the company.  I need you to go there, fix it, report to me daily.  You know my usual rules, you tell me if you have to break them.  I want this job done correctly, finished on time in two weeks, and I want to know the reason why it was happening.  Can you do that?"

"Sure.  Two full weeks?"  He nodded.  "Sure.  I can do that.  I'll travel up tonight.  Should I expect to pay for housing or am I staying with one of the guys?"

The boss handed him a fifty dollar bill, that's when Xander knew it was really out of control.  The boss was the original tightwad and required forms filled out in triplicate with receipts just for water bought for the sites with company money.  "You can work that out, I'll reimburse you for reasonable expenses, Xander.   Have fun and be safe."

Xander nodded, taking the money and heading to his car.  He caught his site manager's eyes and nodded behind him.  "I'm off to Santa Clara."

"Good luck and watch out for Eric."

"Sure."  Xander got into his car and headed for the house, packing a small bag.  He could always do laundry there, most towns had a laundromat.  Then he went to tell Giles, finding him and the ladies in the shop.  He walked in and they all looked at him, then the clock.  "I'm being sent out of town for two weeks. The boss needs me to fix another site that's gone bottoms up.  Sorry I can't help with patrol this weekend."

"Not a problem.  We can do it without you," Buffy assured him.  "Where are you being sent?"

"Santa Clara, the *other* vamp heavy town in the state," he noted dryly.  "I'll be safe and I'll have my cell.  Laters."  He waved and headed out, going to his car.  He hadn't had a long road trip in a while, not that this was one but it was nearly as good as a vacation.

***

Xander pulled into the site's parking area and parked, looking at the building.  Well, he already saw some problems.  He got out and locked the door, then pocketed his keys as he walked up to the site.  "Yo!" he called at the site manager.  He turned.  "You the head?"  He nodded, walking over.  "Xander.  The boss sent me down."

"We're at full crew," he noted, shaking his hand.  "I don't think we can handle more workers."

Xander snickered.  "You're Eric?  My boss warned me about you," he said with a smirk.  "Let's try again.  I'm Xander Harris, crew lead from Sunnydale.  The Boss sent me."  The guy looked horrified.  "He said I'm to find out why you're behind, fix it, and it's to be finished on time, no matter what."

"We're not that far...."

"He paid me gas money up front," Xander told him.  The guy whimpered.  "Run me through the problems and get the guy without safety equipment off the roof."

"This is my site...."

"The boss said it's not," he noted dryly, pulling out the handcuffs he had packed, just in case it was a people problem or a vamp problem.  He cuffed him to a nearby fence and walked into the building.  "Team meeting, three minutes!" he yelled.  "At the tables now!"  He strolled that way, watching the guy come off the roof and nearly fall.  Well, that would be stopping.  He noticed Eric struggling and went back to his car, getting his tool belt and his pointy stick of encouragement out.  He shut the trunk and came back, noticing everyone was taking the time to get a drink.  "Guys, I'm Xander, I'm from the Sunnydale crew.  The boss showed up at my site today and said you've got problems.  He's decided I'm fixing the problems."  Everyone looked at Eric, then back at him so he grinned and put the pointy stick of encouragement onto the table.  "As I said, I'm from Sunnydale."

"I heard about your crew, you do okay," one of the older guys said quietly.  "Why is the boss so worried?"

"Deadline's in two weeks. You guys are tons over budget."  He looked around at the winces.  "Let's put it this way.  The boss handed me fifty for gas up front, promised to reimburse me for my room and reasonable expenses, and said it's being finished on time."  Most of the crew winced.  "Now then, what is causing the delay?  Materials?  Issues with the owners?  The local nightlife population?"

"No, *they* pretty much leave us alone," the older guy said.  He scratched the back of the head.  "There's been a few real problems.  The owners won't pick the finalizing details.  We've had some staffing problems for a few days with some bad mexican food that got handed around.  There was a small material delay but that was at the front of the job.  I don't know why we're that far behind.  We've got about twenty-six days of labor left.  When's the deadline?"

"Two weeks."  The guys all hissed. "Okay, we can call in the owners, have them tell us the final decisions and get them special ordered.  We can solve the manpower problem.  The boss said to tell him if I had to break any rules.  I also saw a problem."  He looked at the guy who had been on the roof.  "You're not wearing safety gear."

"It gets in my way."

"I don't care.  You wear your safety gear or else you don't work.  I'm not losing people to preventable accidents.  The last time *my* crew had an injury it was when I was startled and my hammer hit my foot.  Before that, it was....the year the site crashed in and landed us in some Native American remains. You wear your safety gear or you don't work.  Period.  That is company policy and I do enforce it for *everyone*."   He looked around again.  "All right.  Does someone know the owner's number?"

"They're relatives of mine, I can have them come in and tell us the paint and knob choices," one guy offered quietly.

"Good.  Today if possible.  Even if I have to stay a few extra hours.  Speaking of, what are you guys working?"

"Nine-to-four-thirty with a half for lunch," the original spokesman noted.

"Okay.  My crew works nine-to-five but they get forty-five for lunch and a fifteen in the afternoon as well as the free morning break.  Can we agree to that?"  Everyone nodded.  "Good.  Now, if we have to, is anyone going to have problems with overtime?  The boss was *adamant* that we finish on time.  Not that the company can be held responsible for the lateness if it's the client's fault, but he wants us on time and said we could break the no overtime rules.  Anyone got a problem?"  One guy raised a hand.  "Family?"

"I'm a single father. The daycare closes at five."

"Then you leave at four-thirty and take fifteen less on your lunch," he offered.  He nodded, accepting that.  "Any other conditions or concerns before I start the tour and inspection?"

One guy raised a hand.  "I'm diabetic."

"If you have to stop and eat, let me know.  I'm the sort to work with you guys. You can make up the time during lunch or breaks."  He nodded, accepting that.  "Please don't make us take you to the hospital because you're being stubborn.  That'll just make us have a worse safety record, even though it wasn't really an accident or job related."  The guy smiled and nodded again.  "Good.  Anyone else?"  The roof guy nodded.  "If you'd rather I can put you inside, man.   I'm firm on the security and safety stuff."

"Why did you bring out a crossbow?"

"It's my pointy stick of encouragement.  I was going to use it on the idiot back there," he said, nodding back at Eric without taking his eyes off him.  "Now, let's head back to do a tour.  Anyone with any concerns about the site show me now. I need to know that stuff up front."  Everyone headed back to their work area but the old guy.  "You the senior?"  He nodded.  "Cool.  That works for me.  What's the real problem?"

"We've got wiring that's been installed upside down and there's been some ...accounting problems with a few of the checks," he said quietly.  "We could use more people if we're going to be hitting the deadline."

"Is the contract without that clause?"  He nodded.  "Who negotiated it?"

"Eric," he admitted.  "The same person who said we were having accounting problems."

"That's funny, my crew doesn't," he noted dryly.  "Okay."  He glanced around, then up at the roof.  "Get down and put on your safety harness!" he warned.  He handed the guy his keys.  "Go to my car, get my video camera out of the trunk.  I'm doing a filming for the company's records."  He looked at him, then up at the guy on the roof.  "Get down and put on the safety equipment or you're fired!" Xander warned.  The guy didn't listen.  He pulled up his pointy stick of encouragement and fired it next to the guy.  "Last chance, put on the safety gear or you're fired."  The guy gave him a dirty look but did put on the safety harness.  "And tie it off!  I'm not helping you with a workman's comp claim!"  He watched as the guy tied his line off, then hung his crossbow on his belt.  He took the camera and the keys.  "When's the next inspection?"

"After hours tonight but he was having problems so he might reschedule."

"Good, then if there's too much crap we may be able to fix it.  Was it on purpose, bad training?" he asked as they walked inside.

"Mostly Eric saying that the plans said to do it that way, even if it isn't right.  That we were required to do the plans even if they're out of code and in violation.  All the guys here are well trained."

"Good.  Then I hope like hell you guys get a really good supe when I'm gone," he offered with a grin.  The guy nodded and smiled back.  "I'm not mean, really."  He turned on the camera and focused on the walls around them, then looked at him.  "Someone painted the drywall and put them up?"

"Yeah.  That's what the owners wanted," he said with a shrug. "That's what Eric said."

"I'm sensing the hint of a pattern here," Xander noted dryly.  "Who does mudding?"

"The guy on the roof."

"Fuck me," he muttered. The guy laughed and nodded.  "Okay, lead me through this puppy. Then I'll call the boss. Starting tomorrow, I'll be working with you, just one of the guys."

"We could use more help."

"You guys got a vo-tech?"  He nodded, smirking a bit.  "Then I'm good with them.  I'll see what I can do."  He walked the guy on, filming everything.  There were code violations out the butt.  Someone was going to need an asshole transplant.  He walked out and checked the guy on the roof, then glared.  "Get out!  You're fired!  You knew better when you took it off!"  The guy gave him a dirty look.  "I'm going to call the cops if you don't get down, now!"  The guy came down and slipped on the ladder.  "Nice try," he sneered when the guy laid there.  He pulled out his phone and dialed the local emergency number.  "Hello, I'm Xander Harris, I'm the temp crew lead out on the Borgson Industries site. We just had a guy who refused to wear safety equipment fall intentionally off a ladder.  No, he's laying here moaning.  Come get him before I kick his ass please?"  He smiled.  "Thank you, ma'am.  Of course I am."  He hung up and found a phone book, sitting on the break table to make a call to the local school.

"Hey, I'm Xander, I'm the temp crew lead at the Borgeson site.  Yup, we need people.  Somehow, the former supe got them behind and screwing up.  They're a good crew, but we need some folks.  Especially ones who can mud and do drywall.  Yeah, no, he told them to paint it and put it up without being mudded.  Yup, oh, yeah," he sighed.  "One of our guys, who's responsible for mudding, just intentionally fell.  I'm already taping things.  Sure.  No, we start at nine an hour.  Three?"  He looked at the house. "Maybe four.  The former worker's salary will cover three, I think I can beg for a fourth if you've got another trained.  No, I can pair them with an experienced guy. Not an issue.  Just as skilled as possible and with drywall experience.  That's fine.  Tomorrow's good.  We start at nine.  If they wanted to start today, I can find the forms in my briefcase since it's only one.  Thanks, man.  No, really.  Thanks."  He hung up.  He looked at the site, then called his boss.

"Boss, Xander.  Oh, yeah.  Big issues, boss.  Like wiring installed backward, no mudding when they did the drywall.  Eric.  Yeah.  Guy on the roof who refused to wear safety gear.  I ordered him to and he put it on then took it off while I was inside doing the tour and taping.  Boss, I'm serious.  Me and the senior guy here are thinking insurance job, man.  Yeah, I'm taping everything.  Oh, yeah.  There's no way I'm letting this shit go on.  Oh, and I've already fired the guy who fell intentionally off the ladder when I made him come off the roof.  No, I fired him before he came down and he slipped on the way down.  Bad timing really, that's going to hurt his comp case a lot.  No, I used the pointy stick of encouragement, like I did with Bergess that time.  Oh, and I've taken the liberty of replacing him with four vo-tech kids.  Nine an hour, so his salary will cover three. I did say that at least one had to be able to mud.  Oh, yeah.  Boss, Eric told them to paint the unprepped drywall, then put it up without mudding the joints.  This has insurance screaming out of it.  Oh, I heard about that lacking clause.  That why?"  He smirked a bit. "Eric negotiated it.  It doesn't have the 'if the clients hold us up it's not our fault' clause.  Yeah.  No, they're holding us up too. One of the guys is calling them.  I don't know boss," he noted as the ambulance backed into the lot.  "Gotta go, cops are here.  Yup, I'll save all the tapes and tape the inspection.  Love you, man."

He hung up and waved the guys over.  He pointed at the idiot.  A cop car and an unmarked car pulled up behind them and he waved them over too.  "I'm the temp head of the site, the boss sent me for irregularities popping up."  He grinned a bit.  "He refused to wear his safety equipment.  I had to order him to put it on three times before he did so then had to remind him to tie off the leash."  Both guys winced.  "I went inside to tour and examine, I came out and he was out of it again.  I fired him and he slipped on his way down the ladder.  Make sure he remembers he's fired from this job and if he wants a job on the next site he's gonna have to beg really prettily.  Please," he offered with a grin.  The EMTs headed over to check on their patient.  "He was laying there moaning. I didn't touch 'im," he called.  "Otherwise I might have hurt him."  He looked at the cop, then at Eric, who he was staring at, then back at him.  "He deserved it.  The boss sent me to fix his issues."  The cop nodded, taking notes on what he had said.  He grinned at him.  "Where's the motel?"

"Downtown, near the pier.  You're here how long?"

"Two weeks is the deadline and the boss said we're finishing on time," he noted dryly.  "And I'm stopping any and all issues.  So if you've had to be called out before, I'd like to know.  That way I've got a good idea of any other problems coming."

"Where you from?" he asked.

Xander grinned and smirked a bit.  "Your sister city, Sunnydale."  The guy just nodded and Xander pointed at his crossbow.  "My pointy stick of encouragement. I shot an arrow next to his foot to make him put on the safety gear."  The cop snickered and nodded again, finishing the notes.  "By the way, I'm a crack shot with it.  I couldn't have hurt him even if he dove in the way."

"Fine, sir.  You're...."

"Harris.  I help the blonde one," he offered with a slightly evil smirk.  "Hopefully I won't have to here?"

"No, we're pretty calmed down at the moment.  We'll let you know though."  He went to get the guy's identity and all that stuff for his report.

Xander looked at the other two people standing there.  He looked them over, then at them again. "Well, you don't look like you're here to apply for a construction job.  What's up?  Inspectors?  Complainers?  Spouses?"

"No," the younger guy offered.  "We're NCIS.  We're tracking someone about some questionable expenses they've charged the government for over the years."

"I don't think I filled out any military requisitions," Xander quipped.  He pointed at Eric.  "Him?"  Both guys nodded.  "Sure," he offered dryly.  "You can have him, just give me my cuffs back please.  What was it?  Creative accounting?  I've heard we had a problem on this site as well."

"Yeah, for over ten years," the other guy noted.  "Since he was a supply guy in the Navy a Norfolk."

Xander snickered, shaking his head.  "Gotta love it when the idiots figure out how to turn the bureaucracy against itself.  I have to make an official disclaimer at this point.  The company is more than happy to cooperate but you've got to get a warrant.  Things like this can damage the company and the Boss said we can only hand over anything like that with a warrant."  The guys nodded.  "I don't want to, but...."  He looked at the guy.  "This site's stuff is in the office.  Give me a minute to do a general check."  He got up and headed to the trailer, opening his phone again and hitting the button for his boss.  "Boss, never guess who's here to arrest Eric.  No, not the Feebs.  NCIS.  He's been using creative accounting since his Navy days."  He walked into the office and everyone inside the house heard the scream he let out.  He came out with the phone closed and livid.  He pulled the older, pretty boy off to the side.  "The boss said you may photocopy anything you need since he's got this site's stuff here and others, but he wanted to know if you wanted the underaged-teenager porn and used condoms on the desk.  Any original documents, he still needs a warrant."

The guy smiled.  "Kiddie porn?"

"Barely legal at best.  Young teen going through puberty at worst.  Probably just underage in whatever state it is that has fifteen as the legal age.  Plus plenty of DNA evidence in plain sight.  Excuse me for a minute."  He walked into the house.  "If any of you left that gross and sickening shit on the office desk, you're fucking well fired and you'd better go clean it up and confess or else all HELL is going to come and nibble on your nads for it!  That's disgusting leaving it there and the source of the dirty condoms and spilled shit on the desk is even worse!  I want to know who did it and I want it NOW!  As do the Fed's."  One very scared looking guy came out and whispered in his ear.  "Can you press charges?" he asked quietly.   He nodded.  "Come with me.  I'll give you all the break you need for this.  Yo, Senior!"  He looked over.  "He's going on break, you're getting four kids tomorrow.  Set up whoever works with them today."  He walked the guy off, noticing the kids.  "Hey, sit.  I'll get you the forms in a minute."  They nodded and he walked the guy to the people in the office.  "His little brother has been visiting.  He's fourteen," he said quietly to the Pretty Boy. "He's got as long as you need to talk to him."

The guy nodded.  "Thank you for your help, Mr. Harris."

"Not an issue.  Take all the cleaning stuff you want.  Make him clean up the rest.  I can even lend you my pointy stick of encouragement if you need it."  They nodded.  "I mean it, whatever you don't take, he cleans up.  Tell me if you find the creative accounting on this site too please.  It'll make my hunt later more pleasurable."  He walked out to his car, grabbing his briefcase and bringing it back to the table.  He smiled. "Hey, guys.  I didn't expect you until tomorrow.  Sorry you had to witness this, he's having some creative accounting issues and I got sent to handle it."  He found the normal forms and went to copy them in the office, bringing them and some pens he had carefully checked to make sure they weren't covered in anything nasty. "Here, fill these out.  We'll be putting you with an experienced guy to mentor you. You guys start at nine an hour.  We start at nine in the morning.  You go until five.  You get a morning break, lunch, and an afternoon break.  We're pretty fair and I joke around but this site is getting done within two weeks time.  Who here does drywall?"  They all raised their hands. "I love you guys already.  Senior!"

"It's Steven, Harris," he called as he came out.  He nodded at the guys.  "If you've got time today I'll introduce you to your mentors.  For now, ignore the Feds.  They're not here for most of us, just the former boss."

"And he's only the site supe," Xander offered with a grin.  "He's of little importance in this company."  They smiled and got to work.  He picked up his crossbow and pointed it at Eric, who went pale.  "The boss suggested I use you as a target," he offered dryly.  "Not only have you disgraced this company, but yourself and your former commission.  He waned to know why.  I was thinking insurance.  Yo, Pretty Boy Fed.  If you need a copy of the initial taping of the site to help out, you need to let me know," he called.  He looked at the guy again.  "You can tell me or them."

"Blackmail," he whispered.  "They knew about me and Rieva and Antonio."

"Rieva?  A girl AND a boy? I'm not impressed," Xander noted dryly.  "So they're in it for the insurance, you're in it for the insurance and to keep your job.  Splitting it?"

He shook his head.  "I'd get money from the workman's comp settlements and some from the insurance, then I'd be allowed to go away."

Xander nodded once and shook his head.  "You're a fucking moron, Eric.  You really are."  He got up and went into the office, walking around the stain he didn't want to know about.  "Hey, who's Rieva?"

"She's my daughter," his worker said, looking at him.  "Why?"

"Eric mentioned her with Antonio.  You're taking her to be examined, man.  Go as soon as you can.  Or they can go with you."

"I'll go with him," the younger guy said, helping him up.  "I can finish the statement down there."

"Thank you.  If he harmed my daughter," he started.

Xander laid a hand on his arm.  "If he hurt your daughter and he gets out, get a cousin who's leaving the country to hurt him. Until then, write a prisoner in his jail.  He's going away for a long time and they're usually more than happy to help make him the bitch of the block for hurting kids."  The guy nodded, smiling ferally at Eric before leaving.  Xander looked at the other guy.  "You were military?  You don't seem like the sort.  Party boy, pretty boy in the college maybe, but not military."

"I wasn't, I'm a crime scene specialist."

"Good, then this doesn't sicken you like it does me.  Let me know what you need, Pretty Boy.  I'm off to work with my guys.  I'm here in town until this job is done."  He headed back out, going to grab his tool belt and walk inside.  He looked at Steven.  "Make sure I remember to note that I gave him permission to leave early," he said quietly.

"Rieva's his daughter."

"That's what he said.  Apparently his little brother was somehow involved and he was talking about his cousin too.  You knew?"

"I'd seen her once.  I warned her and her mother to watch out for him."

Xander nodded.  "Tell the Pretty Boy in the office anything you know.  The boss said he could even photocopy stuff if necessary.  I want this shit settled, man. I don't like it.  Anyone else helping him?"

"One of the former guys in town.  One other guy here. He's hiding from you," he offered with a small smirk.

"Which?"

"Friend of the family guy.  He likes them barely legal and he stopped when he saw Rieva coming in that one day.  Do you mind gay guys?"

Xander shook his head.  "Doesn't bother me a bit.  I even accept gentle flirting though I'm not personally gay.  I just know guys who are like to hit on me," he offered with a grin.  Steven laughed and nodded, going to get that guy and drag him out to the office, then check on the kids.  Xander got to work taking down some of the old wiring to put it in correctly.  During the inspection tomorrow he was going to be doing a second tape.  This did not happen on his watch.  Someone screamed outside and he walked out there, pulling up his crossbow and planting one at the screaming person's feet.  "Shut up!  There's anti-noise ordinances around here!"  She glared at him so he glared back. "You are?"

"His wife."

"I'm sorry.  I know the name of a good law firm.  Need it?"  She snorted and turned back, going back to hitting him.  "Remind the Fed in the office I want my cuffs back."  He went back to work, she could have him for now.

The Fed walked into the house, looking around.  "Man, he messed this up big time."

"Tell me about it," Xander noted as he worked. "I'm hoping we can cure it in time."  He looked at him.  "You arrest him formally?"

"Yeah.  I also took pictures of his wife's beating."  He looked around again.  "You've got some work cut out for you."

"It was all for insurance," he sighed. "That's why the wiring was put in backwards and other safety hazards. They'd get the insurance and sue the company.  He'd get a payoff from each settlement and the guy who fell was in on it with him."  He looked back at him, then turned around when he saw the guy staring at him.  "What?"

"I called my boss to see if the photocopies would be enough and told him about the warrant demand.  That's pretty reasonable considering construction places live on their reputations and he would have ruined this whole company for it."  Xander nodded.  "Who are you?"

"Xander Harris."

"Yeah, we got that.  We ran a background check on you.  Your file says to ask you what happened to the Initiative."

Xander snickered.  "Do you really want to know, Pretty Boy?"

"I'm more than a pretty face."

Xander snorted, shaking his head.  "You may be but it's not like I play that side of the fence.  The Initiative basically imploded under bad command decisions when their shit got in the way of our lives.  You can quote me on that if you want.  I'm not sure your boss has high enough clearance to find out what the Initiative was originally, but if he was, tell him to rest easy, it got fixed."  He grinned again.  "Anything else your leash holder wanted?  I heard you federal boys liked and needed a firm guiding hand on the riding crop now and then."

Tony looked confused.  "I'm not like that, kid.  I'm very straight."

Xander snickered, bending down to laugh.  "I'm sure you are, Pretty Boy.  Not like I care one way or another.  I'm very open minded.  It's all good to me if it is to you."  He got back to work.  "I'll be calling the boss tomorrow morning if there's anything I need to know about and you need passed on."

"Yeah, sure," he offered, leaving there still looking really confused.  He leaned against the car, calling the home office.  "Gibbs, DiNozzo.  The kid said, and I quote, the Initiative basically imploded under bad command decisions when their shit got in the way of our lives.  You can quote me on that.  He also said that he's not sure if you've got a high enough clearance to find out what the Initiative was.  He also has decided that I'm gay.  Do I come off as gay and a sub?"  He heard the shocked silence.  "Had me on speaker again, boss?"  He smirked a bit.  "Yeah, he keeps calling me Pretty Boy and he said that he'd heard many of us needed a firm hand on the riding crop and leash."  He snickered at the foul comment coming over the line.  "Sorry, boss.  Repeating as ordered.  Also, we've got some very good DNA samples here.  Apparently he was involved in some underage activity with both a male and a female teenager. Did you get the stuff I faxed from the office?  When Harris called about the office and what was going on, the boss said to photocopy everything.  If we want originals, we'll need a warrant.  Hold on, let me ask.  Harris?"  Steven looked over.  "Okay, or you.  Where does information from the last few jobs he's worked go to?"

"Usually into company storage but I know he's got a bunch in the office."

"Thank you."  He put the phone back to his ear.  "One of the workers said he's got a lot of the past information in his office. No, he told Harris he was being blackmailed due to his taste for underage flesh and that the couple who had hired the company were using it for insurance.  Apparently his boss is livid over this.  Even I heard the scream when Harris told him about us.  No, boss, Harris went and threatened the crew if they had been involved.  One guy, poor guy, here had both his daughter and his cousin hurt and his little brother forced to cooperate or join them.  He's off with them at the hospital.  Also, I took pictures of the guy's bruises.  He was handcuffed, apparently by Harris, when his wife got here.  I formally arrested him after that. By the way, is it illegal to carry a crossbow in California?  Because he's got this 'pointy stick of encouragement' that he's used a few times today.  Yeah, him.  Boss, I'd just like to know what the hell that boy is and get him to quit calling me Pretty Boy.  I feel like I'm in some bad C-grade prison film at the moment."  He smiled.  "Sure.  Thanks, boss.  Yeah, Probbie went with the father and family to finish the statement and get information from the exams.  You want me to fax more stuff back or start going through it here?"  He nodded once. "There's a small motel or something.  Harris is going to be staying there too.  Thanks, boss."  He hung up and looked behind him, then at Steven.  "Lock the trailer, I'll be back later for Harris to walk me through the usual sheets.  Tell him to wait on me here.  I've got to drop him off and hit the motel."

"Get a room for Harris too," Steven ordered. "She'll understand and hold him one."  He nodded, that was more than reasonable.  He watched as the agent got in and drove off, going to close the trailer door.  He did take a look at the desk, and Xander had been right, that was nasty and sickening.  He walked inside.  "Harris, Pretty Boy Fed said he's getting a room next to yours and he wants to go over the forms and sheets with you.  I told him to warn the motel you're coming.  They've only got six rooms."

"Thanks, Steven.  I can wait on him."  He looked at him.  "I'm so sorry those kids had to see that."

"They'll tell their younger siblings and it's possible more will come forward," he offered quietly.  "What about Mertz?"

"If he can come back tomorrow, I'm good with that. If not, I'm good with that also.  The boss said he can have the next few days in vacation and just start on the next site."  Steven nodded, going to call and tell him that.  Xander shook his head, sighing a bit as he got to work on a bit of pipe that wasn't fixed and attached yet.  He was going to be too tired to eat later.  This was not fun.  His phone vibrated and he pulled it out, putting in his earbud.  "Harris."  He listened and nodded. "Mertz, right?"  He grinned.  "No, I already checked.  The boss said if you can't come in tomorrow, you're on vacation until the next site starts, man.  He wouldn't do it to you.  He's not a mean guy, just stingy.  Sure."  He grinned a bit. "Your kids okay?   Yeah, the pretty boy fed'll be around for a few days if they know about more kids or a stash or anything.  You just take whatever time you need for your family.  If it were me, I'd be screaming and hitting things by this point.  They'd be treating me too."  He grinned a bit.  "Oh, you missed it, his wife heard.  They had to take pictures to show he was beaten before he was formally arrested.  Tell her I hope she's okay.  Make sure they do all the disease and blood tests.  Yeah, if you need me, man. I'm here.  Laters."  He hung up and went back to screwing in the clamp he was going to need.  "That just sucks," he muttered.  "I'd have killed the SOB by now.  Feds or no Feds."

***

Tony DiNozzo tapped on the motel room door, holding up the handcuffs.  "Sorry I'm so late.  We had to ship him and stuff back so I had to ride escort."

"Not an issue.  I ordered a pizza if you want a slice."  He let him into his room by getting out of the way.  "Friendly advice, Pretty Boy.  Don't walk around at night.  There's things in this town that hunt people.  You're much too cute to be dead already."  He closed the door and sat down, handing over some forms.  "Okay, these are the standard forms.  Did you take accounting in college?"

"Yeah, two semesters to get past the basics."  He sat down to look at them.  "Cost sheets, pay sheets, who's this?" he asked, pointing at one.  "You only had a thirty person crew?"

"I only have a twenty-four person crew including the new kids," Xander offered, counting names.  "Ooh.  He was paying a bunch of extra folk.  The boss might be pressing charges if you let him go."  He handed it back.  "I'll get a full crew list tomorrow so you can compare it."

"Thank you."  He found a paper plate and the pizza, taking a slice and sitting down again.  "So, you're a site supervisor?"

"No, I'm Crew Lead in Sunnydale," he offered with a grin.  "That means there's a supe above me.  We've been working on a school recently so we've got a bigger than average crew."

"Do you like the work?"

"A lot.  I get into some demolitions now and then," he offered with a slight grin.  "I also get into some nasty fights to break people up."  He shifted and lifted up his shirt, showing off the bruises.  "Two guys over the same girl a few days back."  He put his shirt down and got another piece of pizza.  "It's a good job.  I make about twenty-one an hour."  The guy looked impressed at that. "For getting really sweaty, a long workout every day, and getting to lord over some kids who don't have a clue and a lot of guys who only need prompted around break time and at the end of the day."  He took a bite.  "You?"

"Detective, then to NCIS.  I'm from the North East."

"Sorry, I'm a Sunnydale boy born and bred," he offered with a grin.  "Did your boss have a migraine or a stroke when he had someone hack to find out what the Initiative was?"

"Neither yet; you're right, he didn't have clearance."  He shrugged. "He'll be here to take over for McGee tomorrow."

"That's cool.  The other boy looked really confused."

"He's not used to thinking that guys who commit one crime often do more than that."  He shrugged.  "That comes with experience."

"True."  He ate another bite.  "Soda machine's beside the coin laundry."

"Good to know.  What's hunting?  I didn't take this town for a hotbed of homicide."

"Oh, you'd be surprised.  It's always the happy, pretty places where they hide," he said dryly.  "Just don't go out after dark unless you *really* want to go for a run to save your life."

"Okay.  Gibbs won't like it but he'll be in tomorrow."

"That happens."  Someone knocked on the door and he got up, smiling at the officer standing there.  "Hola.  Problems?"

"We've got a few feeding and we can't get close enough.  Can we borrow the crossbow?"

"Or I can use it.  I'm a damn good shot," he offered.  "Stay here, Pretty Boy, I'll be right back."  He grabbed his pointy stick of encouragement and headed out with the cop.  He knew he was a vamp, he was too pale to be alive.  "Trap or not a trap?" he asked once they were in the car.

"Not a trap.  I don't like to kill and they're causing me paperwork."

"Understood.   Pretty Boy wanted to know about the Initiative," he smirked.

The cop shook his head as he backed out.  "Oh, well.  I'm sure he'll force himself to forget sometime.  Or else he'll drink himself into a grave."  He headed the car toward the beach.  "They're doing it romantically."

"We don't get much of that.  We don't really have much beach area.  A few docks, but no real beaches.  We usually hunt in the cemeteries and clubs anyway though," he offered.  The cop groaned.  "Yeah, it's just easier when they're just coming up.  So, how many?"

"Four. How many arrows do you have?  By the way, he's following us."

"More power to him. Make sure he isn't eaten.  His boss is coming in tomorrow."  They pulled up beside the beach and he got out, sitting on the hood of the car to get a better height.  He took aim and hit the first one, making the girl he dropped scream in fear.  The others stared around and he got a second one.  The third tried run so he only got him in the thigh.  Then the fourth was stupid enough to turn and look at him so he grinned and waved before getting him.  He hopped off the car, leaving his crossbow there and heading down to stake the other one.  The girls backed away from him. "Do you know how stupid you are to be out here at night with the fucking vampires!" he shouted.  "Did you WANT to die!"  They screamed ran off.  He turned and found another one behind him.  "Hmm.  Not as bad as Spike, not as big as Angel.  Local Master?"  He nodded.  "Pity."  He attacked, and the guy fought back instead of running, which was nice for now.  Fortunately, Xander fought dirty and the vampire wasn't really going to be able to do more than hit him a few times.  He finally grabbed some sand and threw it in the vamp's face, then staked him.  He dusted himself off as he walked back to the car, checking on the girl he hadn't noticed in the sand.  "Shit.  Officer!"  He came trotting down and he pointed at the body.  "Check her mouth."

"I can smell it from here," he offered, looking at him.  "Nice work."

"Thanks.  I'll walk back so you can handle that."  He nodded at the few people staring at him.  "I'm from Sunnydale."  That got some amused looks and he shrugged.  "It happens. I only hunt the hunters."  He headed back to the car, taking his crossbow from the agent's hands.  "Do not touch the weapons you aren't qualified to use.  Didn't they teach you that in the Academy or something?" he asked, heading off.  Two guys came out of a comic shop and he smirked, hanging his crossbow off his belt again and shaking their hands.  "Five.  You're welcome."

"Who are you?" one demanded coldly.

"Xander Harris."

"The Harris?" the other asked.  He nodded, smirking a bit more.  "Welcome.  Moving here?"

"Visiting. I'm fixing the site."  He shrugged.  "I work for a living, sue me."  He grinned and walked off.  "Tell me if you need me while I'm here, guys.  Just no all night hunts.  I can do those before I go."  He whistled as he walked off, happy that he only had a few more bruises now.  And one swelling eye but he knew how to get that fixed quickly enough.

DiNozzo pulled out his phone.  "Boss?" he asked in a shaky voice.  "Since when did people turn into dust and blow away when a guy with a crossbow hit them?"  He watched the kid walk off.  "Harris!" he said, sounding a bit hysterical to his own ears so he calmed down.  "Then he went and fought with another guy and used a stick on him.  Boss, what's going on around here?"  He got back into his car and locked the doors.  "Gibbs, I need to know if he's dangerous!  He just walked off whistling after killing five people.  No bodies, boss, and the cop came to get him to do it.  I doubt they're going to charge him.  Yeah, I need to know and so do you since you're coming out here."  He hung up and went to drive around the small town.  Something was not right!  People didn't turn into dust, they bled and screamed when they were hurt!  This was not good!  His poor embezzlement case was now really wrong!

***

Xander opened his door at the quick knock the next morning, looking at the older guy standing there.  "Let me guess, you're Pretty Boy's boss and he gave you a panicked phone call after I had to stake something last night?" he offered dryly, leaning in the doorway. "I'm off to work if you wanted to tail me.  I'm pretty sure he sat up all night with his gun in his hands.  By the way, there's a peephole between the rooms. If he's that paranoid now, which is a possibility, then I'd have him use it."

"Mr. Harris?"  Xander nodded, grinning a bit.  "What is going on?"

"That depends.  Have you talked to the local cops?"  He nodded.  "What did they say?"

"Vampires."

"Oh, good!  The truth," he offered with a grin.  "Did you unseal the Initiative files yet?"

"Do you want to do this out here?"  Something was off about this kid.  Most people did more than smile when he glared at them. It was like this kid wasn't scared.  "I'm not sure the general public needs to hear about this."

"There's only two of us here, Agent...."

"Gibbs."

"Gibbs then," he offered with a small smile.  "And the villagers know the monster's around.  They've lived with this for years."  He turned and grabbed his jacket and bag to take with him, and the keys, then walked out and closed the door. "I'm off to the site.  Feel free to follow me around if you want."

"We can arrest you for that.  It was witnessed."

"You can't prove they were alive," he noted dryly.  "Empty threats make me want to giggle.  Anything else, Agent Gibbs?  If not, remember this.  I helped take down the Initiative, who were psychotic military people bent on torture and world domination.  You don't scare me.  I've seen worse things that are four feet high and purple.  No matter how scary you are to normal people."  He headed out to his car and got in, heading to the site.

Gibbs watched him drive off, then tapped on his guy's door, getting one paranoid agent yanking it open and hugging him.  "Get off, DiNozzo," he complained, pushing him inside and walking in to shut the door.  "Get hold of yourself."

"I can't!  He's not right!"

"Yeah, he said he's seen more scary things that are purple and four foot tall too."  He shrugged. "We can still break him."

"No we can't!"

"Yes, I can," he noted dryly.  "Did you get anything before he got called off to take care of that problem?"

"Yeah, a bit.  He's paying for people who weren't there.  It's showing the same pattern as he used when he was in the Navy."  He handed over the forms they had been looking over last night.  "He said that's the normal forms they use.  They're fairly uncomplicated, but they don't add up either.  His accounting sucks."  He took another calming breath at the stare he was getting.  "He said he'd get us an employee list today, Boss.  That way we could compare things.  We also know he's got information from the past few jobs in his trailer, which we have open access to, but to take out any original documents we need a warrant."  One was handed to him.  "I'm not sure if we should stay, Boss."

"We're staying.  This other strangeness made the FBI and Fornell moan and take cover. Besides, there's information floating around that hints that Harris has military training.  His file's incomplete and his background is just too clean for the skills you said he had.  They want to know why and figure out who he works for."  And truth be told, so did he.  Gibbs knew he had scared covert ops agents in the past.  So why wasn't that kid scared?

"So you're staying?"  He nodded.  "Thank you."  He hugged him again and got a slap across the back of the head for it.  "Sorry, Boss, but he scares me."

"Yeah, he's a bit creepy," he noted, getting free.  "Did you get any sleep?"

"No," he admitted.  "I was going to nap before he got back tonight."

"Do it now, I'll go there and check out the office."  Tony nodded, heading back to bed, his gun going under his pillow.  Gibbs went to get his own room and make some calls before he headed over.  There was no way a kid without training could do that sort of job on five people.  His eyes and body posture had shown that the kid had combat experience, so either he was lying or he was being protected by someone.

***

Gibbs walked onto the site after lunch, looking around.  It wasn't a big house, but it could probably be pretty once it was done.  It looked well crafted as well.  He nodded at Harris, who pointed at the trailer.  He walked the kid off.  "You busy?"

"No.  Getting the staff set up for the afternoon."  He got free and went back to his meeting.  He finished giving orders and walked back to the trailer, letting him inside.  Gibbs handed him the warrant.  "Then it's yours.  What do you need from me?"

"Well, the FBI needs a more comprehensive account of what happened to the Initiative."

"And they can blow me.  They know this.  I scared the last guy they sent to ask that question.  I'm wondering if he's still curled in a corner crying and sucking his thumb."

Gibbs looked him over, then nodded once.  "Which branch of the service?"

"None.  Though I was possessed by a PFC, Army," he offered with a goofy grin.  "That was just an odd Halloween though."  He shrugged and smiled a bit more brightly.  "Really.  I'm nothing more than my background says."

"You might be able to pull that off with some of the morons the FBI hires, but not with my guys.  Not after DiNozzo saw you hurt those guys last night."

Xander shrugged.   He knew Willow had already cleaned all their backgrounds years ago.  It had been very nice of her to erase their files when she had done hers. "It's still not military training, Agent Gibbs.  I can't tell you what you want to know."  He walked into the house.  "Happy hunting."

Gibbs stared after him, something was definitely not right about that boy.  He walked into the trailer, seeing the remaining mess on the desk and grimaced, pulling on some gloves.  There wasn't any way he was touching biological contributions.  He did call Abby and asked her to see if she could find anything about him in *her* area since what DiNozzo and the cops told him were 'vampires'.

***

"Yo, Pretty Boy, you hungry?" Xander called as he walked toward his motel room door.  "Or should I call you Agent Pretty Boy?"

"I'm still not like that," he called, opening his door.  He looked at the box in his hands, then up at him.  "Do you live on takeout?"

"It's not like I have an ex-girlfriend who cooks."  He shrugged.  "I'm surrounded by women who can only make cookies and mix cakes."  He opened his door and walked inside, noticing the careful rearrangement of his stuff.  "Did you have fun?"

"Gibbs had fun this morning actually," he noted from the doorway.  "Is that chicken?"

"Yup."

"Fried things are bad for you," he said as he took a piece.

"Yay," Xander said with a smirk.  "With my life I'll either live to be one of the world's oldest men or die while I'm still young, hot, tight, and needy."  He shrugged and sat down with a chicken leg, nodding at Gibbs as he came to the door.  "I can feed you too."

"Thank you, Mr. Harris."

"It's Xander, Agent Gibbs.   I have a first name, you may use it," he noted dryly.  "So, I got a call from someone today wondering if you were someone who should be told about me."  He ate another bite, looking at them.  "You could try asking more detailed and focused questions.  Shut the door, Pretty Boy."

"I have a name," he complained.

"Everything's got names.  Even snail mommas probably name their kids."  He shrugged.  "You look and act like one of those boys who lives to be put on his back and ridden hard and well, or to be put on your knees and the leash held by a gentle, yet firm hand."

Tony blushed at that and shook his head.  "None of my girls were ever like that."

Gibbs sat down, looking at the boy, taking a piece of chicken when the box was held out for him.  "Thank you.  So, vampires?"

"Yeah, they're real."  He finished off his leg and dug into the box, getting a thigh.  "Sorry, I like dark meat better, it's usually less dry."  He leaned back again, getting comfortable while he picked it apart.  "They do exist in horrifyingly large numbers and are not that easy to kill.  Why?  Do you have some wandering around DC?"

"No, not that I know of," Gibbs noted dryly.

"If so, Abby's probably met them," Tony offered.  He was once again slapped across the back of the head.  "Sorry, Boss."

"Abby would tell me if she had been in that much danger," he noted patiently.  He looked at Xander again.  "So, who taught you how to fight?"

"Experience.  Some trial and error, some necessity, some kids who decided to be bullies.  If you do something long enough you get good at it."  He picked off another piece and ate it, then dug into the skin.  "Sorta like pickup lines, Agent Gibbs.  After a while you finally score."  Tony chuckled at that, he understood that one.

"I don't use 'em.  I've had enough women in my life."

"Me too but they won't go away and leave me alone," Xander said dryly.  "I have to keep dealing with them."

"You could move down here," Tony offered.

"I don't want this crew full time.  I like my crew at home.  I just don't like how the girls in my life treat me."

"Women, they like to be called women," Tony told him.

Xander snorted.  "You've never met Willow, have you?"

"No, but Abby said she's very nice," Gibbs noted dryly, smirking a bit.  "Said she talked about you the last time they met at a hacking convention."

"Abby?  New Orleans girl?  Got a few tats?  Pretty cute in pigtails?" Xander asked.  They both just nodded, looking a bit scared.  Xander beamed.  "We chatted one night while Willow was in the bathroom and she showed me pictures.  Tell her I said hi."

"I will the next time I call in," Tony assured him.  He glanced at his boss.  "I'm sorry, but you're just...odd.  You're this goofy guy one minute and this hard-ass soldier the next, worse than some we've seen in the office.  Why?"

"Experience.  It happens to the best of us," Xander noted patiently, eating another piece of chicken.  "Oh, Agent Gibbs, did he remember to tell you not to walk around at night?"

"I've got a stake.  Abby tucked one into my jacket pocket when she heard where I was going."

"And you're very experienced at stabbing people in the heart?  Because unless you are, you're gonna be dead with a stake," he noted dryly.  He stood up and grabbed his bag.  "I got asked to do a quick patrol down on the boardwalk.  Take some more chicken.  My boss is paying half."  He went into the bathroom, going to get changed now that he had remembered he had been asked to go out.  He came out in dark gray pants and a black t- shirt, with a black overshirt over it.  Then he put on a hat and waved, grabbing his keys and wallet as he headed out.  His boots were still in the car.  So was his hunting kit - that was something you didn't leave in a hotel room.  The nice cops had even given him directions so he parked near the boardwalk and strolled toward the activity center.  It was nice: a ferris wheel, a few kiddie rides, a few places that had street musicians.  It looked like one club had an open-air stage in the back for concerts.  It was a pretty town.  That's why he knew it was just as bad, if not worse, than Sunnydale was. Too pretty was always a clue.

He called home.  "Giles, is there a Hellmouth in Santa Clara?  No, I had to dust five last night.  The cops around here recognized me when I called about an idiot on the job.  No, I'm wandering toward the music."  He pulled the phone away from his ear and put it back once the screaming had stopped.  "Buffy, need I remind you I've been doing this as long as you have," he snapped.  "I'm more than competent and careful enough, even if there are two NCIS agents wandering around somewhere behind me.  Oh, tell Willow Abby works with them and she said hi.  Ask Giles if there is or isn't.  It's a very pretty, safe looking, mild mannered town.  Yes, another one."  He listened to the answer.  "Thanks, man.  Any other intel?"  He listened to that, nodding a bit.  "Good.  I'm there.  Of course I'll be careful and tell the screaming one that too, maybe you could smack her on the head for me?"  He hung up and sighed a bit.  There was a major coven in the area.  Wonderful!  Really!  Along with a huge clan of vampires, but no known other demon activity.

He moved on, going to look around the various diversions they had created to ignore the danger.  It was nice, there was a calm feeling about the town.  He could almost see settling down here permanently. And hey, no more Anya!  He nodded at the guys inside the comic book shop, getting a nod and a grin in return.  He decided to go back and stop in there.  "There's two Feds following me, guys.  One Pretty Boy, one soldier.  They've got a bit of a clue because of last night, but not a great one.  So, where's the clan?"

"Out in the rocks. They've got about sixty members now," the younger, lighter haired one said quietly.  "You think it can be handled?"

"I know it can be handled," he noted dryly.  "The question is can it be handled subtly."  He grinned at them.  "I've been asked to go wandering about hither and thon.  Anywhere in particular I *shouldn't* go?"

"Yeah, the goth club.  That's their area and we're not that brave to back you up," the other said patiently.  "That's a no fire zone as far as we're concerned because it makes the more peaceful ones mad if we try."

"Okay.  It's where?"

"Can't miss it, it's a dark blue building with lights," the younger guy offered, smiling at the two older guys coming in.  He got them the *special* comic and handed one over.  "Here, sample issues," he offered with a smile.  "Welcome to town."  He grinned at Xander as he walked off, then at the two guys.  "Are you looking for something in particular?"

"No, we're following him," Gibbs said.  "You know him?"

"We're in the same line of work," the older one said. "It's only polite to check on the local experts."

Tony just nodded and got out of there.  He looked around the boardwalk but didn't see the kid anywhere.  "Boss," he called.

His boss came out, looking around.  "He's got to be headed for people."  They walked that way, finding him in the middle of a crowd listening to music.  He was kinda swaying with it but not quite dancing and it was pretty decent.  Then the guy winked at someone and moved on, letting her follow him.  Gibbs sneered.  "Uh-huh.  Oldest trick in the book," he muttered.

"Boss, she looked really healthy."  But he followed anyway.  They found them kissing and he shrugged.  "Sorry, kid.  He thought you might be in danger."

Xander snickered. "I'm sure he does."  He looked at the girl, smiling at her as he laid a finger on the side of her neck.  "Nope, she's got a pulse. Sorry, guys, just making out.  I *am* a young man after all."  The girl giggled and kissed him again.  They left him to it and he wasn't about to tell them that she was a succubus.  He tipped her head back, stealing one last kiss.  "Baby, why don't you fly home to your master," he whispered, staring in her eyes.  "You can't feed tonight."

"I'm grooving on the vibe," she cooed, stroking his cheek.  "I promise to be a good girl, Xander.  I'm not going to drain anyone."

"Fine," he agreed, kissing her again.  "Promise me on your powers?"

"Unless I'm attacked," she agreed, smirking and running her hand over his crotch.  "Hmm, no wonder Anyanka used to brag about you.  You're not a little boy at all, are you?" she purred.

He smirked a bit and shook his head.  "No, not really.  But then again, I've got to work hard all day long and all that," he said, sounding sad about the fact.  "Maybe before I go.  After all, when I go back to Sunnyhell, I'll need *good* memories to tide me over and I'm supposed to be patrolling tonight.  Know where I should go?"

"Mmmmm."  She moaned and licked up his throat.  "If I can nibble and blow you, I'll escort you there," she promised with a sultry grin.

He looked around, both ways, then shrugged and she unzipped his pants, getting to it.  She loved her job and he was horny.  It wouldn't affect his fighting any.  Besides, it'd been way too long since he and Anya had last gotten together.  Nearly a year. He came and she cleaned him up, putting him back into his pants.  He felt a bit drained, but nothing unusual.  "Good girl," he praised, teasing her clit with a finger.  "If you're really good, I'll reward you before I go."

"Ooh, please," she moaned, leaning into his touch.  She gasped and sank her mouth onto his shoulder to cover up the noise she was making since the band had gone quiet.  She came and smiled, then nodded, leading him off to somewhere he should be hunting.  She'd hold him to rewarding her later.

Tony checked his watch, then shook his head.  "Couldn't have been more than a quick blow," he noted dryly.  "Either that or he's got no stamina, which I doubt from his fighting."

His boss gave him a funny look.  "You timed it?"

"Yeah.  Most guys don't go for *that* before going out to do strenuous activity."  He followed the boy and girl, noticing she was changing her appearance.  "Boss, you catching this?" he asked quietly.

"I am.  I'm wondering how she's doing it."  They walked into a club and they both stopped to stare.  "That's not that goth club those boys in the comic shop said not to go into, right?"

"No, they said dark blue with lights.  That's black with lights.  Temptress does sound like one of the haunts Abby would hit though."  They walked up to the door, flashing their badges.  "We're following Harris."

"He said you were.  You still have to pay the cover," the bouncer noted. He smiled.  "We're not under investigation so that doesn't hold much weight here."

Gibbs handed it over and they walked inside, watching as the boy mixed through the crowd.  Every now and then he'd move but it wasn't really spectacular.

Tony caught one though.  "He just dusted someone," he hissed in his boss's ear.  "I saw her hair disappear."  Gibbs looked at him.  "He did, Boss."

"Let's go find the boy."  They found him back with the girl from earlier.  "New girlfriend?"

"No.  My last one would be *really* upset if I moved on.  She's just a good time girl."  He grinned at her and she got off his lap and headed to the bar.  "Needed something?"

"I saw one disappear," Tony hissed.

"Then you're the only one, Pretty Boy."  He looked over as a male walked up to them, making Xander smirk.  "Good evening."

"Evening.  Are you with my cousin Bethany?"

Xander grinned. "More she's with me. Don't tell me you're into her too?" he asked with a small wink.  He shivered and shook his head.  "I don't play that side of the fence.  Maybe you should ask Agent Pretty Boy here if he'd like a... dance.  He's awfully uptight."  Tony started to splutter but the incubus drug him onto the floor.  "He'll be fine.  She said he's not here to hunt.  Just nibble. He's getting more from soaking up the blown-off energy from the crowd."

"What is he?"

"An incubus."  He smiled at Bethany as she came back, taking his beer to sip.  "Your cousin was very pleasant."

"I'm sure he was.  That man is so *cute*," she offered happily. "Is he gay?  I can't tell."

"Personal opinion, yes, but hiding it very hard behind hitting on every woman in existence."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Only you'd know," he offered.  She giggled and leaned closer.

"He hits on a lot of women but I've never heard of him playing the field."

"Pity.  Bob would look so cute under him," she sighed, shaking her head.   Gibbs gave her an odd look.  "I take it studly here told you what I am?"  He nodded, sipping his coffee.  "I'm being a good girl tonight, Bossman, I promise I am," she offered with a little wink and a grin.

"You're still not my type."

"Pity abut that too," she offered, grinning at Xander.  "How about you, dear?"

"For some reason I keep ending up with the dangerous sort who want to kill me," he noted dryly.  "I don't know why."  She giggled at his frown.  "I really don't."  He shrugged.  "Then again, I also end up with demanding bitches as girlfriends, like Anya was.  That woman never met a home shopping channel she didn't like."

Bethany smiled.  "Maybe you should try for Bob.  He wouldn't want to kill you."

"I tried a guy like Bob once," he noted dryly, taking another drink of his beer.  "It was fun and all right, but didn't really catch much of my attention.  Neither did the orgy I ended up in that was full of horny guys while I stripped."  He stood up.  "Come on, Bethany, duty calls and all that."

"Can we walk outside when you're done in here?" she asked as she led him back onto the floor.  "I hear you've got a toothpick system."

"I do," he admitted happily.  "It's in the car, but I've got it with me.  I also have my battle axe with me."

"I thought you left Anya and Willow at home," she teased.

"Not those, the harder one.  This one's even harder to pick up than Buffy."  She giggled at that, leaning against his chest as he danced with her.  "How many more? I count ten."

"I count twelve but two aren't feeding presently.  Come on!  Let's go have fun!" she whined.

He grinned and finished his beer, tossing it in a nearby plant.  Then he moved closer, dancing his usual way with her.  She moaned and leaned against him, letting him ooze sexuality all over her so she could absorb it.  "Never mind," she said with a hazy, feel good voice.  "I like it here just fine."

Tony finally got away from Bob and came running back to the table, sitting next to the wall so he'd be harder to grab.  "I don't know what he was, but he wasn't normal," he said, sounding a bit panicked now.  "Do I come off as gay?"

Gibbs looked at him.  "How would I know, DiNozzo?"

"Point, Boss."  He watched the kid dance with the girl and nearly drooled.  He could almost see the haze coming off their bodies.  Then some guy stepped up to them and tried to take her.  Xander kindly looked at him for a moment, head tipped to the side, before he hit him in the throat, in the chest, and then stomped on his foot, giving him a shove away, then he smarted off and went back to dancing with her, going back to the oozing sexuality on the floor. "He's good.  I wonder if he could beat Ziva."

"She's well trained and he's supposedly got no training," Gibbs noted.  "I doubt he could take her."  He looked at his agent.  "Are you okay?"

"Just panicked, Boss.  I'm really not gay."

"I don't care, DiNozzo, pull yourself back together again.  He'll be leaving soon.  I heard her saying something about going out for a walk."

"Oh, good," he said, nodding a bit.  Bob came back and he shifted closer to the wall.  "Hey.  We're about to leave."

"Oooh, pity," he offered, heading off to dance with the little food source.  He was hot and good and filling.  He needed someone like this permanently but she apparently had her hooks into him.  Pity about that but maybe she'd share?  It'd make him last less time but he wouldn't be too greedy about taking his half of the boy's energy.

Xander gave him a knowing smirk and winked before walking off and taking his lady back to his car.  He opened the trunk and she oohed, running a hand over his battle axe.  "That has saved my life many times, dear," he offered, removing her hand.  "It was also recently blessed."  She pouted and he gave her a long look.  "Really."

"Fine."  She watched as he put a belt around his waist then slid something under his overshirt.  He strapped something to his wrist and started to close the trunk but Gibbs picked up his battle axe.  "That's blessed."

"I don't have a problem with holy objects," he said sarcastically.  He weighed it then handed it back to the boy, who swung it a bit with a grin before putting it back in place.  "Nice hardware."

"Thank you.  It's a fashion statement in my life," he offered with a grin.  "We're going for a walk."  He locked the trunk and pocketed the keys, walking off with her.  He could feel the vampires in the crowd and used the little switch in his hand to shoot high-powered toothpicks into their hearts.  Some people were still talking as the people beside them went poof but he was sure it was all right.

"You're very good," she whispered.

"I try," he offered smugly.  He looked at the person who was standing in his way, raising an eyebrow.  "Morning.  Did you realize you still have coffin hair?"  The guy ran his hands through his hair, sneering the whole time.  "Let me introduce myself. I'm Xander Harris," he offered with a grin, sticking out his hand.  The vampires all backed up, looking very scared.  "I've been asked to wander around tonight.  I wonder why," he noted facetiously.  "Shoo, boys."

"But we're hungry," one whined.

"Then do what Angel does and visit a slaughter house to get what you need," he whined back in a very good imitation.  Most of them ran and he looked at the leader, who was still fussing with his hair.  He stepped forward and put it into place, then grinned.  "It's so hard to do your hair when you can't use a mirror.  I know Spike's always had that problem."  Then he dusted him.  He walked on with a small shrug, taking Bethany further down the boardwalk.  "What time is it? You stole my watch when we went into the club."

She looked at it, then at him.  "Nearly ten."

"Hmm. I should get to bed soon.  I've got to work tomorrow."  He took his watch, his wallet, and his car keys back from her, then his stake as well.  "Thanks, babe.  Why don't you go feed off the darker vampire lovers?"  He winked and strolled off.  "Remember me."

"Oh, I will," she purred, watching him go.  He held up a hand and his car keys flew into them. Then he grinned back at her.

"Willow," he offered with a sweet smile.  He made it to his car and inside, then headed back to his hotel room so he could finish the chicken, take a shower, and go to bed.  Or actually, take a shower and finish the chicken while in bed.  Someone knocked on the door.  "I'm going to sleep soon, Pretty Boy.  You should do the same."

"I am not....."  He was drug off.

Xander just grinned.  He loved picking on the guy, he got so flustered!

***

Gibbs listened to the updated information, taking a few notes. "Thank you, Abby, that was very helpful."  He hung up and looked at his field agent.  "She found out more about his reputation."

"Does he realize those used to be human?"

"I don't know but I don't think it matters much to him or he's blocked it out."  He leaned on the table.  "Abby found out about their little group in Sunnydale.  They've got a small gang of people who go out hunting like that.  Vampires, bigger demons, things like what you and he were dancing with last night."

"That was a what?  No wonder I didn't feel like getting free of him, he must have done something to me."

"An incubus."  He shrugged. "Or so he said."  He leaned back, sipping his coffee.  "Do we have enough on this embezzlement case?"

"No!  There's still a lot of paperwork to go through.  He never got me that employee list either."  Gibbs handed it over. "Gee, thanks, Boss," he noted dryly.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah, he's rated as 'do not annoy' in the FBI's database.  He's got a 'watch' picture in Homeland Security because they've had to steal a few weapons, and he's got a major past outside the town he lives in.  Apparently something's blocking him there," he noted bitterly.  "They say he's a big goofball until he leaves town."

"So he's hiding from his friends?"

"His friends do the same thing he did last night, DiNozzo.  Why would he?"

"I heard him talking to someone, sounding really annoyed," he offered.  "Someone named Willow?  Something about being capable of being out on his own?"

"They don't appreciate him?" Gibbs asked.

"Maybe not, Boss.  How many kids have you seen with secret lives?  He does read like someone without a lot of self esteem to me.  He also reads as someone who would probably become normal once he's away from the lifestyle."

"With the killing he's done, I'm not sure that's possible."

"You did."

"I'm still a sniper, DiNozzo."  He looked outside as the maid trundled past, then looked at him again.  "You won't ever get an assassin out of the business for real.  Even if they retire, they still itch to do that one last job and usually keep themselves in shape and in the loop."

"Boss, I don't care about that.  Think about what the Marines could do with that boy.  Or the Navy.  I bet he could pass SEAL training easily."

"I know he could pass SEAL training easily," Gibbs pointed out.  "He'd also have to explain how he got so good."

"You think he can't lie?"

"I don't know," he admitted, taking another drink of his coffee.  Someone tapped on the door so he got up to get it, smiling at the maid.  "We're okay for right now."  She handed him something, her lips pressed together.  "Where did you find this?"

"In that boy's room," she said, walking off.

Gibbs opened the letter with his name on it, reading over the notes he had been made.  He kicked the door shut and sat down again, drinking as he read.  "Well."  He handed it over.  "He's blocked out that they're human."

"Used to be human, Boss.  Humans, even dead humans, don't turn to dust with the application of a pointy stick."  He read it over.  "Where is this?"

"Arlington."

"How.... Can we trust this?"

Gibbs shrugged.  "I don't know.  I know two of the people in it.  Jen definitely won't like it."

"Madam Director needs to remove her stake," Tony noted dryly.

"She's not as bad as she could be."

Tony looked at him.  "Boss, I don't care if you did bang her night and day for five years straight.  She's a bitch.  A very big bitch who needs a gallon sized dose of Midol."  Gibbs snorted at that.  "For that matter, she needs to quit pampering Ziva. She's got to learn some harder lessons.  She's still dangerous to the team."

"I know," he sighed. "She's trying very hard."

"Yeah, very hard to get on our nerves.  Can't we just put the kid and her in the same room for a few hours?  Please?  Let him make fun of her."

Gibbs looked at him.  "That's torture and the United States does not condone torture of its agents, DiNozzo."

"Then make him stop with me!"

"If you were secure in your sexuality, you'd be laughing like he is."

"No I wouldn't!  That sort of rep gets around and ruins your chances with the ladies."

"You don't date *ladies*, you date easy little girls playing dress-up."

"Whatever, Boss, he's still annoying me and having fun at my expense and it's cutting into my babe time."

"I'm sure if you wanted to you could pick up the girl he was with last night," he offered with a small smirk as he finished off that cup of coffee.  "He's apparently not serious about her."

"What was she?  There's no way she's human.  I'm wondering if he is!"

"He is.  I took a DNA sample from his room and sent it back to Abby.  She said he's completely human."

"Oh, good," he offered bitterly.  "Now what?"  He looked at the note again, then at his boss.  "Should we tell Abby that vampires are real?"

"I'm not going to do that," he offered.  "What was he using last night?"

"This little nozzle that shot toothpicks at high velocity.  Was that a battle axe in his trunk?"

"Along with an AK-47, a few grenades, and a few other things that we probably shouldn't have seen," he noted dryly.  "Including a silencer made for the machine gun.  I'm wondering who made that."

"They make those?"

"Not that I was aware of but apparently someone does."

"You think the kid does?"

"It's possible. I don't think his toothpick thing from last night is on the market either.  Think about an assassin using ones dipped in some sort of poison.  They'd only have to hit them somewhere on the body."  Tony shuddered. "I'm not sure what to do about him," he admitted. "He's working for the good of mankind, but he's dangerous."

"I'm all for running home and never seeing him again," he noted.  His boss smacked him again.  "Hey! That's a valid option!"

"Not in this case.  Go get more on the embezzlement and child porn angle.  I want this case so solid this guy goes away for embezzling from the Navy and from his current bosses.  Ziva broke him to find his contractor for the stolen weapons he used to sell. I'm going to go over the Navy side of the case, make sure it's airtight. You seal yours against it so we can get the Federal Prosecutors into it."  Tony nodded, standing up.  "Try to stay away from the kid."

"At least he feeds me," he offered with a small grin.  He grabbed his jacket and keys, heading back out to the office to see what else he could find.  He saw the boy talking with a cop and listened in as he struggled with the trailer's doorknob and the key.  Ah, the vampire cop had gotten dusted, but it was after they had left.

"Succubuses are real?" the cop asked a bit loudly.

"Vampires are so why wouldn't they be?" Xander noted calmly, staring him down.  "I'm sorry about your loss, officer, but I was already tucked in bed last night, just like the nice Federal Agent eavesdropping can tell you.  Pretty Boy?"

"I've still got a name!"

"Sorry.  Hot Ass?" he offered with a smirk.

"I'm still not gay, Harris," he said, glaring at him. "I like very beautiful and smart women."

"Ah, then the bitch inside must be yours.  She reminds me a lot of Buffy."  He shrugged and looked at the officer again.  "I went home about ten.  She probably went to go feed some more since I left.  Ask her."

"Fine," he complained.  "You think we'll be okay?  With that one last thing we wanted you to do and all?"

"I think you'll be fine but you should probably keep track of statistics and new people.  You don't want a sudden power vacuum to be filled."  The cop nodded and headed off.  "I really am sorry about his loss, officer.  He seemed very nice and polite."  The officer smiled and nodded, going back to his car.  He looked at Tony.  "Would you mind getting Hell's Minion off my site, Hot Ass?"

"The name is Special Agent Tony DiNozzo," he said firmly.

Xander grinned.  "Should I send you flowers for finally telling me that?" he offered with a wink.  "Or should I just call it out in the middle of the night?"  He walked off whistling, getting back to work.  He loved his new playmate.  He was so cute when he got flustered! "Yo, she bitch from Hell, or Satan's Mistress, whichever you are, if you're a Feeb, one of your guys is outside!"  He found his spot and grinned at the guys around him, making them laugh a bit.  It was kinda cute if he did say so himself.

She stomped out, looking at Tony.  "That is one irritating person," she said hotly.

"He thinks I'm gay, Ziva, feel lucky," he said bitterly.  "Why are you here?  Gibbs is back at the motel."

"I got the surveillance he wanted."

"Again, he's at the motel.  Unless you want to work on the embezzlement and weapons dealing with me?  It's a lot of paperwork."

"I'd rather not stay here."  She glared back at the house then stomped off.

Tony laughed.  "At least he's not just doing it to me."

***

Gibbs grabbed the boy before he could walk into his room, dragging him down to his.  He turned on the tape, watching the boy's face.

Xander watched Buffy fight, then groaned, rubbing his forehead.  "She staked a human.  She's going to go bad."  He dialed the Magic Box.  "Giles, is Buffy all right?  Because one of the feds here showed me a tape of her staking a human," he said coolly.  "I'm fine, how is she!"  He listened, sighing and nodding.  "Hopefully she'll get more help than Faith did.  Because we turned on her for it.  So help her."  He sighed and rubbed his forehead again.  "When I'm done here, I'm coming home.  Even if she doesn't like it."  He glared.  "What the fuck do I care if she doesn't like me in the town!  At least I didn't stake the human!  I'm still stable and doing her damn job!  Yay, Giles.  When I'm done here, I'm coming home.  If she doesn't like it, I don't need to see her, do I?"  He hung up and looked at him.

"Don't start looking smug, Gibbs.  She may have been my friend but she just burnt that bridge.  She knew not to do that."  He walked out, stomping off.  He went back to his room and called his boss, giving him the daily report.  When he was done, he got up and looked over himself, then he went out to get a beer.  He needed a beer. He wanted a beer.  There was unfortunately someone in his way.  He growled and the boy just raised an eyebrow.  He grabbed him by the wrist and spun him around, getting into his car.  He backed out, heading back to boardwalk.  He found a real bar and headed in, putting his keys on the bar.  The bartender looked at him.  "I have stupid female friends who hate me because they fuck up their own lives while I'm out of town."   The bartender took his keys with a nod.  "Beer me, please."

"Sure.  Cash?"  Xander took out a fifty and handed it over then stuffed his wallet down his pants.  The guy drew a beer.  "Tell me when you're empty, kid."

"Thanks."  He got down to serious drinking, liking the buzz he was building.  Someone behind him coughed and he glanced back but went back to his drinking and watching the tv in the corner.  He didn't get a lot of time to just sit and stare at the tube.  The guy sat beside him and he grunted, taking another drink.  "I'm not good company."

"I realize that.  What's going on?" Gibbs asked.  "Should you be doing that?"

"Believe it or not, I'm old enough to make that decision on my own," he noted dryly.  He waved a hand and drained that beer, handing over the glass as he got his next one.  "Thank you, man.  You're saving me from going home to scream at someone for being a dumb bitch."

"What did your friend do?"

"Attacked the wrong person."  He snorted.  "She wasn't paying attention and it's now come back to bite her on the ass so she's blaming me for being out of town."  He took a longer drink this time.  "I'm going home whether or not she likes the fact that I'm going home when I'm done here."  He drank another one and put down the glass.

"Slow down, kid.  At least enjoy it."

"Butt out, Agent Gibbs.  I don't need a father.  I had one of those and he's bastard enough for you, the Pretty Boy, the Mistress of Satan, the soft guy who first showed up and then some."  He finished that beer and put it down.  The bartender nodded and got him another one.  "Tell me when I'm out of cash.  I have a pretty good tolerance thanks to bad genes."

"You've got about ten more," the bartender offered.  "What's your usual one?"

"I'm not usually this much of a lush," he noted bitterly.  "I just happen to hate women at the moment."

"Well, there's always Bob," Gibbs said dryly.

Xander looked at him.  "I tried that once.  It didn't do that much for me.  It was nice but not that great.  I've also had better blows than I got from that one guy.  Therefore I don't think so."  He looked at the bartender, shrugging.  "Don't ask me, dude, he's just following me around."

"It happens," the bartender noted, looking at Gibbs.  "You a stalker?"

"Federal Agent, NCIS.  We're here for the guy we arrested off his site for arms dealing."

The bartender looked amused.  "Eric?  Yeah, I knew 'im.  He was a decent guy but in the last few years he sorta snapped and went odd.  Then again, that's also when he started looking at the younger set from what I heard."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Any idea why?"

The bartender leaned on the bar, shaking his head.  "Not really.  About that time his girl left him.  He'd met her while he was in the Navy.  She huffed off one day, I'm not sure why.  Name was Emily Sue.  She was a sweet girl in public but she was about to kill him at home from what I heard.  We all heard her screaming at him about someone named Pettery.  Something like that.  She'd start screaming at him night and day for months on end, then suddenly she'd stop for a few weeks.  Then she'd start again.  I don't know why."

"That's very helpful.  Do you remember Emily Sue's last name?" Xander offered. "I'm sure they could track her down."

"See, she's one of the *disappeared*," he said, staring him down.

"Has she survived so far?" Xander asked, finishing that beer.

"Yeah.  So far.  I saw her a few weeks ago.  She's a blonde girl, about five-five, maybe ten pounds on the positive side of perfect.  A bit curvy.  She's in with the local clan."

"Even better," Xander agreed.  He stood up and waved.  "I'll see if I can find her."  He strolled off, heading for the boardwalk.  He stopped into the comic shop, lounging in the doorway.  "Emily Sue?"

"Blonde girl, wearing blue velvet tonight.  Reminds me a bit of your Dru and Spike," one told him.

"Thanks."  He walked off, heading down toward the beach.  Most of the vampires were laying low at this time of night.  He found the one he wanted at a bonfire and walked up to her, waving a hand at the others.  "I just need her.  The Feebs need her about Eric."  He hauled her up, looking at her.  "Emily Sue?"  She pursed her lips and nodded.  "Cool.  They want to know about Eric and his nasty habits of selling arms, doing creative accounting on the jobs, and sleeping with underaged kids.  Let's go. You can leave later."

"You'll stake me," she complained, getting drug along.

"No I won't.  I'm in a bad mood thanks to Buffy and I'm not in the mood to stake anyone tonight.  Just don't make them call me out of my funk later."  He drug her back toward the motel, handing her to Tony.  "Eric's late girlfriend.  I promised you'd let her go if she didn't do anything and helped."  He walked off, going back to his room.  He found a cup of coffee and sniffed it, smirking a bit.  "Thank him for the Irish, Pretty Boy!" he yelled.  There was a hole between them and the walls were thin, the boy sneezed all last night. He finished the coffee and laid down, watching tv.  He even turned it down when someone pounded on the wall.

***

Xander made it to work the next morning, only ten minutes late since he had to get his car keys from Gibbs and he wasn't exactly a pleasant person in the morning.  He nodded at the guys.  "Sorry, I have bad female friends who suck and blow.  I got a bit lit and had my keys at the bar."  He got his tool belt from the office and headed inside.  "Are we running late?"

"Inspector's in there," someone yelled.

He was only a day late, but okay.  "Wonderful!"  He found the guy and shook his hand.  "Xander Harris, acting crew chief.  Sorry I'm a bit late.  I had to retrieve my keys."

"I heard.  It's not a problem," he offered.  "So far, it's much better.  Before I've had to get the crew to fix six or seven things.  The wiring one is perfect this time.  The framing took four to fix. Usually this crew is much better."

"It was Eric's fault.  An insurance job," he shared.  The guy looked at him.  "The couple were blackmailing Eric.  They were going to have the building burn, sue the company and claim the insurance.  He's already admitted it and they're pursuing a case against them," he said quietly.  "Just in case you get called out to investigate a sudden fire.  Our company has been doing taping each day.  I'm not letting my company go down for this."

"Good man," he agreed, shaking his hand again.  "The deadline is when?"

"Next Friday. I think we can get it done."

"I think you might actually come in under deadline," he promised.  He signed of the form and handed it to him to sign. Then he walked out.  He walked out and smiled at the crew.  "You're perfect, the first time this job!" he called as he walked past them. "Good job getting back on track!"  He got into his truck, nodding at the woman getting out of her car.  "New to the crew?"

"Federal Agent," she said in her accented voice.  "NCIS."

"I heard Eric had pissed off someone higher up.  Good luck with him. I hope he suffers for what he did to those kids."  He started his engine and pulled out.

She stomped up to the work site, finding that boy.  "You!" she said. "Get out here."

"I don't answer to 'hey you'. I have a name.  Either use it or blow me."  He got back to work, gently tapping in the nail for the trim he was working on.  She tried to grab him but he flipped her onto her back and stared down at her.  "Honey, I don't know how it works where you came from, but here you've got to have a warrant to grab someone like that.  Now, either get off your ass and get one or you can stay down there and we'll just walk over you for the next eight hours."  He got back to work.

"Why is it that women believe they're tougher?" one guy complained.  One of the teenagers from the vo-tech.

"Childbirth," Xander offered.  "They can withstand a lot of pain.  Trust me on this."  The guy sighed and nodded.  "That doesn't mean they can be rude and snotty, but they're stronger.  I couldn't live through childbirth.  Thirty-six hours of pain, pushing, and straining to get a ten or eleven pound ball of future misery?  I don't think so.  My future wives will not have kids either.  We'll adopt."  The guys around him laughed.

The woman stood up.  "Who do you think you are?" she sneered.

Xander handed off his hammer, took off his toolbelt, then drug her outside by her arm, tossing her further into the yard.  "Unless you have a warrant you have no reason to be on my job site.  Until you do have a warrant, go cry in your milk and leave me the hell alone, woman.  I don't know you, I could care less about you and what you want, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you harass me.  Now, get off my site, get out of my sight, and leave me the hell alone!"  He turned and went back inside, calling the motel.  "Dearie, are either of the agents there?"  He smiled. "Please put me through to Pretty Boy.  Thank you."  He waited while the phone was answered by a cheerful voice.  "Come get your hellbitch before I consider having her turned so I can stake her.  Or else I can get meaner."  He hung up and went back to reclaim his tools.  He heard the yelling start a few minutes later and went out there with his hammer but someone thoughtfully took it from him.  "Gee, thanks," he said bitterly, standing in the doorway glaring.  She turned and started in on him and he just crossed his arms over his chest and glared harder.

"Boss, I think his glare is nearly as bad as yours," DiNozzo offered.  He got smacked again.  "Sorry, Boss, but it's true."  He moved closer.  "Harris, please don't hurt her."

"I don't make a habit of harming humans.  Then again I'm not sure she is human," he noted dryly, staring her down.  She shivered and turned away again.  He glared at the boy.  "Pretty Boy, you, Gibbs, even the soft and squishy one from the first day have free access.  Get her the hell out of here before I beat her ass.  I know bigger and bagger sorority chicks and lesbians."

"I'll tell Gibbs you feel uncomfortable with her working this case," he promised, going back there.  "Boss, he's not going to bother us but he wants her gone.  He's more than helpful to us on this case."

"He attacked me!"

"You grabbed me.  What did you expect?" Xander shot back as he moved closer.  "What is *she* doing here anyway?  I thought you guys were nearly done."

"We are," Gibbs admitted.  "She's here to lend the last push to the effort. She's still new to the field and the Director thought it'd be good training."

"Can your director and my Buffy meet?" he offered dryly.

"No, I don't think that would be a good idea."  DiNozzo muttered something so he smacked him for good measure.  "That's not a good idea either."

"We could sell it online, Boss.  Chick fights are very good and they're both apparently very skilled fighters."

"I want him off this site," she demanded.  "He's obstructing justice."

"I *run* this site, little girl.  I'm the one who turned him in for the underaged kids.  I'm the one interpreting and helping your senior agents when you get stuck.  So *I* belong here, you're still learning and should *learn* from them.  Especially from your mistakes."  He looked at Gibbs.  "I don't want her here.  She's interrupting our work and we're on a strict deadline.  So either make her clean the desk or make her go back and do secretarial shit."

"Women can do more!" she sneered.

He glared at her.  "I know women who make you look like one of those nice and sweet little girls, lady.  I know women who're smaller and more deadly than you.  I have nothing against women, just you. Women like you are the reason why Pretty Boy there isn't liking women.   How does it feel to drive men away from heterosexual relations and breeding?"  She shrieked and went for him so he punched her, making her back up.  "I don't care if you're a girl or a man, but if you attack me you're just plain stupid, bitch. If you don't believe me, ask your boss and Pretty Boy there."  He rolled his eyes.  "Get her off my site before I smack some sense into the bitch.  I know women who're worth ten thousand times what she is."  He went back inside shaking his head.

Gibbs was screaming at his person.  Tony was hiding inside the trailer, looking at the paperwork while trying to avoid touching the desk.  He looked out.  "Boss, can she come clean the desk?" he called.

"Please Goddess yes!" Xander yelled.  "Before I burn the damn thing!  Break!"  Everyone headed outside to get a drink and relax.  He came out, looking at Tony.  "Pretty Boy, if she doesn't clean it, either take it or drag it out so I can burn the shit.  Check the drawers and things too."

"Already done, Harris."  He came out of the office.  "I need you to explain some papers to me."

"Coming, Pretty Boy."

"Can't you *please* use my name?" he complained.

"No," he offered with a grin.  He walked that way, taking the paper in question.  "You're much too fun to leave alone.  I haven't had a real playmate in years," he offered with a grin.  He leaned against the side of the trailer. "This isn't one of ours," he noted, handing it back.  "Hold on."  He called his boss.  "Boss, did you have Eric doing profit and loss statements?  No, they found a few on letterhead.  Um," he took it back.  "September last year, profit of ten thou, loss of two at the bottom.  Yeah.  September nineteenth.  Last year.  Yeah.  I thought it was odd too.  You in the office?  Sure."  He hung up and walked inside, sending it to his boss's office.  Then he handed it over.  "He wasn't sure but it didn't sound right."  A fax statement came back a few minutes later and he handed it over. "It's not ours.  It could be for his accounts I guess. I'm sure you guys already have those tagged."  He yawned a bit.  "Sorry.  Was Emily Sue helpful?"

"Very," he admitted, looking serious.  "We let her go afterward.  She's leaving town in a few days."  He grinned a bit.  "You're good at this."

"Sometimes we have to research and hunt," he noted dryly.  He shrugged and walked off, heading back to the building.  He coughed and looked at his watch.  Everyone grumbled but got back to work.  "Guys, I'm impressed.  The inspector thinks we'll make it on deadline!"  That got a weak cheer.  "If you do, I'll try to talk the boss into pizzas."  That got a few smiles.  "So let's try really hard.  We should have about three *real* days of work left if we all pull hard and strain."

"Yes, Xander," they agreed, grinning as they got back to work.

Gibbs came in, looking around.  "This is nice.  My boat's not this good yet."

"Thank you.  These guys have worked under bad odds and bad orders.  They deserve a good job.  I'll tell 'em you said so."  He got back to helping hold up the cabinet the guy next to him was screwing in.  "She gone?"

"Yeah, she's back at the motel.  I told her to leave you alone."

"Will that work?"

"Probably not.  Don't have her eaten or anything, okay?"

"I try very hard not to let anyone be eaten," he said dryly.  "Though, if she starts again, I'll drag her down there and hand her over.  With any luck they won't turn her."  He turned back to his task, shifting the cabinet back to level.  "Sorry, Paul."

"Not a problem, Xander."  He looked at Gibbs, then at him.  "Maybe you should take that before he spills the coffee, man."

"Yeah.  Someone come hold for him," Xander ordered.  One of the new guys came to help him, watching closely what he was doing.  "Good, you learn this too, kid. You'll be a great construction guy."  He followed Gibbs out.  "So what's up?"

"We're looking in those boxes.  We did drag the desk out."

"Thank you."  He walked into the office, looking at the names on the boxes. "Where are these?"

"We think around here and a few local towns," Tony told him.  "We were hoping you could tell us."

Xander took down the names and addresses they had pulled and sent it to the office for particulars.  A fax came back quickly.  "He said his secretary was going to be sitting next to the fax machine all day.  He figured you'd be in the last 'what are these' phases.  Three of these weren't company jobs," he noted, handing it over with a frown.  "One of them is in Sunnydale but I don't remember them or that job and I've been with the company for about a year and a half now, Gibbs."

"Interesting.  Is Sunnydale small?"  Tony found a few more listed as 'Sunnydale' and handed them over too.

"About a thousand people plus the two colleges."  He shrugged.  "I know most everyone in town.  Let me call Willow, if she's not being cranky herself today."  He called her, coughing when she giggled. "Not now, dear.  We've got Feds here wanting to know about a few jobs, supposedly in Sunnydale.  I don't remember the Ketondrat family or the...."  He looked at the form.  "Or the Averies?  It said it's on Seventh?  The other was the Smiths on Vurg?"  He listened.  "Hold on, let me hand over the phone.  No, they work with Abby.  They've been following me around for a few days."  He handed the phone to Gibbs.  "Willow."  He looked at Tony.  "You ever wanna just run away?" he asked dryly.

"Sometimes.  Then again, you've got some very scary friends," he said quietly.

Gibbs looked at him.  "She said that she's not scary and you're being an asshole, Harris.  She said that Buffy's not in her right mind."

"No shit," Xander said dryly.  "She still want me to go away and not come home?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Well, tough.  I'm coming home and if she doesn't like it, that's on her.  Sunnydale was my home first, even Willow moved there after I was born there."

Gibbs handed the phone back.  "She's yelling. Get her back on track?"

Xander listened and suddenly laughed.  "Willow, why would I care?"  He snickered at the silence.  "Yeah, it's not like you're *supportive* or anything," he offered sarcastically.  "It's not like you want to hang out with me. I can live in my own home without that oh so helpful attitude.  Now, give the nicer Federal guys what they need so I don't have to send Satan's Mistress there to question you."  He handed it back, then sighed and held his head.  "Why do I even bother?" he mouthed to Tony.  "So, you hitting on the hellhound, Pretty Boy?"

"I flirt now and then but I'd never sleep with her.  I like fun women."

"I'd like to meet a few fun women but all I ever meet are dangerous women who want to kill me."

"Well, Bob's still an option," he noted smugly.

"Been there, tried that.  Wasn't good enough," he noted with a smirk.  "It was okay but nothing great or to coo about, or even cuddle about afterwards."  Tony just blinked at him.  "Neither was the orgy I got trapped in later that night.  A lot of horny guys, but nothing to write home or cuddle about.  There was an excellent sucker there though.  I wouldn't mind that for stress relief."

Tony shuddered.  "I don't want to know," he said finally.  He looked at his boss when he hung up.  "Boss, anything good?"

"We've got to hit Sunnydale after this.  We think one's his contact with the weapons."

"Which one?"

"The one on Vurg," Gibbs admitted.  "Where is that?"

"Downtown. It's a small street, about four buildings.  Mostly shops with apartments upstairs."  He shrugged.  "The head shop, a music store."  He considered it.  "An empty one.  The last one is kinda run down and I think it's an occult store of some sort.  Bookstore I think."  He shook his head. "Nothing too bad from what I remember.  I'll show you when I get back there if you don't get cooperative cranky women in the Magic Box."

"The Magic Box?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, where we all hang out.  That's the best and easiest place to find Willow."

"Sure.  Can I send Ziva?" Gibbs asked.

Xander looked at him. "She might find love there with the cranky people but otherwise she'll be fine.  Then again, she might get eaten."

"Which might be an improvement," Tony noted.

"Think about her haunting him forever," Xander told him.  "Forever and ever, her always being there, always watching you, always outside your house every night?"

"Put that way, I'll hope she just dies and doesn't get turned," Tony said.  Gibbs swatted him again.  "Sorry, Boss."

"No, if she's going to get eaten, I'd rather see her dead than turned too," he noted.  "It's still not polite."

"Sorry, Boss.  You know my manners are lacking at times."

"Yeah, but usually it's around a pretty girl.  So either you want me or him."  Tony looked horrified and shuddered.  "That's what I thought."  He looked at Xander.  "Have fun with him."

Xander looked him over.  "I bet he's incredibly easy to spoil, but does he cook?"

"When I'm starved."

Xander shrugged.  "I order.  So you're better than I am.  You want top or bottom the first time?"

Tony whimpered and shook his head.  "No, not gonna happen.  Sorry."  Xander just grinned at him.  "Bastard."

"Some days," Xander agreed happily.  The fax machine spit out something and he looked at it.  Then he handed it over.  "From the Abby monster."

Gibbs looked at it and smirked.  "Good.  Very good.  You're done when?"

"Next Friday."  He wrote a note and sent it to his boss.  "There, I'm all yours unless something happens inside.  What can I explain to you?"

Tony handed over a few papers.  "These.  Cost estimates?"

Xander looked and nodded, then looked at the 'after' pictures.  "That's way over budget.  Way, way over cost.  This first one is probably over by ten grand."  He handed over the folder, open to a page he found.  "That's the actual costs.  The last column is the markup I'm guessing.  He wasn't counting contractor discounts.  So he was probably pocketing that too."  He leaned forward, showing it to them.  "Okay.  On anything this size, and my home crew is working on a school, you get a contractor discount.  You get, pretty standard at most home stores, ten percent.  With the bigger orders, you can ask for up to ten percent more, but that's up to the store."  Both agents nodded.  "These are *at* cost, not at *discount*."  They both looked like they understood.  "So he took that, then charged them more for the materials he bought on top of it.  He got greedy."

Tony leaned forward and tipped his head a bit to see better.  "Then what's this?"

Xander looked at that notation.  "Security.  Probably a site guard or someone like that.  Either that or he was paying security, like paying protection.  It's not unheard of in the field.  There's still some people who work for the older powers in the world."  Both of them nodded.  "I'm not sure which case it is in that point.  None of these jobs should have had major security issues.  Maybe some minor vandalism, like teenagers tagging it, but nothing that would need that sort of payment."

"Okay."  Gibbs considered it.  "On the employment papers were at least five names each and every job that weren't on the company rolls.  Could they be illegals or from a firm that he subcontracted from?"

"We don't really subcontract in this company.  We expect our guys to do anything we need unless it's something like a security system installation or something like that high; high end stereo systems recently or security systems.  That would be charged back to the client, not on that sheet.  The client would usually subcontract and we'd be walking them through the site and letting them see where we were at."  He leaned forward, resting on his knees.  "That shouldn't be on there, neither should any company expenses, things like food trucks."  He paused.  "Any site security would be on the company expenses too," he decided. "I think that's how my boss does it."  They both nodded.  "There's a separate form for job expenses, company expenses, and client incurred expenses so we can break it down for the accountant.  That way we know who's responsible if something goes over budget, like this site did, or in case something really horrible should happen and their new stereo system is mis-installed and the house burned. My crew had one of those and we had to prove that the family had hired someone to wire that while we were renovating their house.  That way our butts weren't in the court system.  That's why this insurance job is so very muchly being taped each night.  Just in case the couple has a sudden spike of fireplace madness some night."

Tony nodded slower.  "Okay.  Can we get copies of the normal forms for comparison?"

"Sure.  Let me call Henry."  He pulled out his phone and called his boss.  "Bossman, Xander.  No, the Feds here ... ooooh, you didn't hear about that," he said with a smirk.  "Not only was Eric doing creative accounting here, he was doing it back in the Navy and possibly selling arms.  No, they need comparison forms for the things they've found.  I don't know. His for site expenses has things like security, five grand for security in a month."  He raised an eyebrow.  "No, not this job.  No," he said with a small smirk.  "As it turns out, this was an insurance scam job.  They were blackmailing Eric due to his taste for early teens and making him fall behind so they could sue the company for breach of contract and shoddy workmanship, while then burning the place for insurance.  He had a guy here for a worker's comp award too.  Yeah, fell after I fired him.  Poor schmuck, he won't get it now. No, I told the cops on him when they came to pick him up off the ground.  He also refused to wear safety gear and I told them that too.  I already told the boss, Henry.

"Yeah, just as comparison.  No, the Talbridge would be good though.  This first example is about the same size and if I remember right, we went to the same suppliers and all that.  Sure.  No, we're on track again.  Fully.  We might actually come in under deadline.  Most of the stuff was easily fixed.  Thanks, man.  Sure, Monday after next.  Our deadline's Friday. Oh, watch my apartment for the blonde chick that had the job temporarily.  She doesn't want me to come back for some reason and I'm thinking she's a bit loose mentally at the moment.  Thanks, man. You got the fax number here?  Sure.  Love you too."  He hung up.  "He'll find 'em and fax 'em over.  Most of the time all those records are sent to the home office for review but that was our last job so he still has 'em.  It's about the same square footage but it's a higher end home.  This one was pure wood everywhere, soft, expensive woods, and a high end security and total-home system.  If I remember right, the thing cost less than this one in the suburbs and this area costs less to build in than Sunnydale does."  The fax machine behind him started to spit out things so he got up to check it, adding more paper since it was out.  They got the whole file and he smiled.  "Henry's a really thorough guy," he offered, taking the personal note at the end of the file.  "The boss is proud of me and coming tomorrow," he offered, handing that over too.

"I'm proud of you, kid," Gibbs promised, looking up at him.  "You handled a bad situation well."

"I try," he offered with a small grin.  He looked at the clock, then outside.  "Guys, did I forget lunch?" he called.

"Yes, bless you," someone yelled from inside.

"Thanks, I could use a lot of those recently."  He pulled back in, looking at them.  "You guys mind if I eat?"

"I was going to send DiNozzo out for coffee and food anyway," Gibbs offered, comparing the documents.  "These houses are pretty close in design."

"That's what I thought too.  That'll give you a better understanding of how the company costs things."

"It's a good comparison," he agreed.  "He overcharged the materials totally compared to this."  He let Xander see it.  "He's marking it up originally too."

"Damn," Xander said in awe.  "He's got to have made millions from this.  Did you find massive bank accounts?"

"Not yet."  He pulled out his phone and called the home base.  "Abby, find me his bank accounts.  Not only was he pocketing up to a twenty percent discount from the store, he was marking things up from there as a material's quote and then adding another ten percent markup."  He smirked.  "The kid here thinks it's more like fifty by this point.  We're looking at good money."

"Has anyone searched his house?" Tony asked as he stood up.  "Kid, you got food?"

"Yeah, I drove through and picked up extra breakfast," he offered with a small smirk.  "It's handy.  I can microwave."

"Sure.  Boss?  Pizza, chinese?"

"Chinese.  The usual and coffee."

"Make some, Gibbs," Xander snorted.  "I don't care if you suck down crew coffee."  Gibbs smirked at him. "You're keeping the she-bitch off my site, you're entitled to the coffee pot."

"Thanks, kid.  DiNozzo, put on some coffee before you go."

"Yes, Boss."  He went to do that and head out for lunch.  At least they were nearly done.  The Federal Prosecutors were going to charge Eric with them in a joint case.  He ran into one of the local cops at the restaurant, nodding politely at him.  "Did our coworker head back to the motel?"

"She did, she's got the last room," he offered with a small smirk.  "I heard she didn't like Harris?"

"No, she came on awfully strong and he put her down for it, including flipping her onto her back and sneering."  He smiled at the waitress, speaking in her native language to order their lunch.  "To go," he added.  She giggled and headed back to put that in.  "Sorry."

"No, it's good.  I'd never go Fed if you guys have to speak other languages."

"It was an easy elective," Tony offered lightly.  "How's the town?"

"Pretty decent.  Harris has handled the majority of our issues recently. We've got one left and he said he's handling that before he leaves.  I'm almost hoping he leaves Bethany here.  A lot of the guys like her."  He took his order with a smile and a nod.  "Thank you.  You have a nice day."

"You too," she offered, handing Tony his bag once he had paid.  "Have a nice day."

"You too," he said, heading off.  He did stop to get a soda for himself, but otherwise he was good.  It was hot today!  He had forgotten how hot the desert got in the summer.  He pulled back onto the site and found Ziva there staring at the silent guys.  "David!" he called.  "Leave the nice, hardworking men alone!"  He walked into the office, letting his boss past him.  "I got you your usual, Boss."  He sat down, digging out his food and soda, smirking at the breakfast sandwich the other guy was eating.  "You should eat better."

"Yay," Xander said before finishing it off.  "I really don't need parents," he promised once he had swallowed.  "I had some of those, unfortunately."  He stood up and dusted his hands off, heading out there to stop the screaming going on.  He took the direct route, knocking her down and dragging her off by her collar.  He stood on her throat while he picked her car door, then hauled her up and into it, slamming it before she could move.  "Go away.  Before I have you arrested for threatening my crew."  He dusted himself off as he walked back there, then shrugged at the amused look on his guys' faces.  "What? I hate rude people."  He belched.  "'Scuse me."  He got some water from the cooler and went back into the trailer.  "Any of you guys good at accounting?"

"No," they called, mostly in unison.

"Neither am I," Gibbs said as he came in.

"It's mostly simple math, Boss, but Probie's sounding bored. Abby said he was down there helping her."  He pushed the bag over to his elder.  "Here, eat.  Before Kate comes back to nag me for not making you."

"I know a few good banishing spells," Xander offered quietly. "She'll be able to come back if necessary."

"No, we don't mind her showing up now and then," Tony promised.

"You believe in ghosts?" Gibbs asked.

"With what you've seen here, you doubt?" Xander countered.

Gibbs nodded.  "Until I see real proof."

"Okay.  Well, if I see one, I'll show you."   He sipped his water as he mentally added the difference between the two sites up.  "He must have made nearly sixty thou on this job alone," he decided.  "Selling arms is a multi million dollar business too."

"We're already checking the usual spots."

"Yeah, but I doubt he's that stupid if he's been doing this that long.  Especially under the Navy's nose.  Have you checked under Emily Sue's name? Or if they have kids or pets?"

"She'll run that next," Gibbs assured him.  "DiNozzo was right, kid.  You've got a pretty good mind.  Why don't you go to the Academy?"

"And give up show business? I like building things.  I like the feel of completion when it's done.  I like the bossing the guys around.  This is my life and I like it, even if my friends are twats most of the time."  He looked outside, then at the clock.  "Ten minutes," he called.  They finished eating and cleaned up, refilling bottles and mugs before heading inside.  "I like this crew."

"You could stay," Tony reminded him.

"I want to go home.  I'd miss my hellmouth."  He shrugged and sipping his water, then suddenly sat up and grabbed one of the forms, looking at it, then at the ones they had gotten out of the office.  "Here," he said, pointing at someone.  "I know this name.  He was Army, I think.  One of the Infantry units at the local base near Sunnydale."  Gibbs took it and looked at it, then called to get information on him.  "I bet this is much easier at home."

"Oh, definitely," Tony agreed.  "We could get McGee to have it pulled up within an hour. Ziva could break him.  We'd have fun."

Gibbs hung up. "He's part of the investigation."  He stared Xander down.  "Grenade launcher?"

"What grenade launcher?" he asked, looking perfectly normal.

"One used in the mall there."

"You wanted the world to end?" Xander countered. They both shook their heads.  "Then oh well."

"How did you get the passwords?  Off the record.  It could lead to more leads."

"Easy.  Due to a Halloween mishap, I became PFC Harris, Army," he said smugly.  "I knew them.  I convinced the guy I was going in there to make out.  He gave me five minutes.  I got to make out and take what was necessary to save the world."

"Oh."  He frowned a bit.  "That thing you left me."

"It's called a prophecy and if you can find it and stop it you'll be fine.  If you haven't stopped it within two weeks of it happening, statically you won't.  Call.  Me.  We'll come help."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Please, no Feebs and weak idiots."

"Not an issue.  They don't like us," Tony told him.  "Gibbs scares them."

Xander looked at him.  "Why?  You don't look like some scary monster."

"I was a sniper."

"Yipee.  The CIA has at least fifty of those who're truly psychotic.  We ran into a pair of them in Sunnydale, there to take us down for stopping the Initiative," he said quietly.  "They lost too."  Gibbs moaned.  "It wasn't actually us.  We found out about them when we did a minor background to figure out who the newest annoyance creatures of the night were.  I'm thinking that's when my 'do not annoy' rating happened."

Gibbs nodded.  "Abby mentioned that.  What happened?"

"They got stupid and went out after dark and got eaten. Pretty standard really," Xander offered.  "One got staked, the other staked himself since his ...partner was gone."

"Ah.  How sweet," Tony said dryly.

"Yeah, but he told Buffy they weren't together, he just couldn't go on without his partner."  He snorted.  "So Buffy went 'ewww, gay vampires' all night and we laughed at her homophobia.  Why is it that she can accept lesbians but not gay men?"

"She doesn't want to think that anyone wouldn't want her," Gibbs told him.  "I'd say she's got a fairly shallow personality."

"Only at times.  Then the job calls," he noted bitterly.  He finished off his water and looked at the forms again.  "Okay, onto the company expenses form."

***

Xander nodded at his boss as he showed up and beamed at him.  "Guys, the head boss is here," he called.  He knew that suddenly, even their one remaining slacker, started to work.  "Come on in, Boss.  We're going pretty well.  I've got it taped daily for you," he offered as they walked.  "We passed the electrical inspection just the other day and we're doing the final one Thursday.  We think we may just come in under deadline," he offered with a small grin.

He looked around then at his worker.  "I like you, kid.  I really do.  Even if I did get a call from a federal agent about you throwing one of their people off the site."

"Her boss and coworker were here but I'll be *damned* if anyone's going to stand there and scream and yell at me or is going to grab and threaten me.  I ordered her to go, she came back even more huffy.  I drug her off then."

"Was that wise?"

"Do I care?" Xander countered.

"Good point. Okay, show me around."

He walked him through the house, pausing to let him touch and inspect trim work, the carpets, the windows, then got a smile.  "Boss, since they've turned this around so massively, can we do a company-sponsored pizza party?" he begged.  "They deserve it."

"If you guys get done before five on Friday, whatever time up until quitting is yours for it and I'll spring for the pizzas personally," he assured him, smiling a bit.  The guys around them cheered.  "This is damn good work, Harris."

"Thank you, sir."

He looked at him.  "You want this crew?"

"I love my hellmouth," he noted dryly.  "Besides, Zoras is next in line for a crew of his own.  Just warn him about Eric in case any of this comes back later to bite him."

"True.  I'll move you to second in Sunnydale then."  He clapped him on the back.  "Good work, Xander.  Now, let's go check on the Feds."

"Sure."  He grinned at the guys.  "No slacking while we're gone."

"Of course not," Steven agreed. He grinned at the guys.  "Remember, we've got to get done before noon to have the good party," he pointed out.  They got back to work harder than they had been.  They'd get paid for those hours too, that's how a company sponsored one went.

Xander tapped on the trailer door before opening it.  He'd nearly caused Tony to fall out of it yesterday afternoon.  "Boss, Special Agents DiNozzo and Gibbs.  Gibbs is in charge," he offered.  "Guys, my boss.  Shift over, Pretty Boy."  Tony glared at him but did move so he sat down.  "We've been going over the various papers we use and what's suppose to be on them."  He found one really heinous example and handed it over.  "It's really wrong," he offered as his boss took it.

He looked it over, then looked at Gibbs.  "If you guys don't get him for it, I want him for it."

"Sure.  We've got him on arms theft and selling, plus a federal case of embezzlement.  The state case comes after that."

"That's fine.  I'm good with that."  He handed the sheet back.  "Those kids?"

"Two more have come forward," Tony offered quietly.  "They're fine too, not too traumatized."

"Good.  At least it wasn't really little kids.  I can't forgive it but it could be worse."  Xander nodded at that.  "That one guy, you seen him yet?"

"Nope.  Haven't heard a thing about him but I did tell the cops exactly how it happened."

"Good.  What about the owners?"

"They're probably going to go to jail too," Xander offered.  "The local sheriff was looking into that problem with the Feds.  The Sheriff told me last night that they're considering that part of this case a local case so they'll be keeping them probably."

"Good."  He smirked at Xander.  "You sure you don't want to stay?  Henry said your house was trashed."

"I kinda expected that.  Which one?"

"The blonde."

"Again, expected.  Anya go clean it up for me?"

"Your ex is still a trip but Henry said she did," he offered with a grin.  "She still insane?"

"Oh, yeah," he moaned, sighing a bit.  He shook his head.  "I need to meet normal women, Boss."

"I know you do, Harris, but whoever you end up dating is usually at least good for stories or staring at."  He shrugged.  "You provide a lot of amusement to the rest of the crew."

"Anya's slept with half my crew and they all said they couldn't see how anyone could marry her or keep up with her demands," he noted dryly. The boss laughed and nodded.  "She got you too?"

"My secretary when she was in town.  She got her drunk and into bed.  Even my girl said she's a bit too much and too wild for normal tastes."  He shrugged.  "Still, we think it's really amusing."  Xander grinned at him.  "You're doing good.  You got any more problems?"

"Not yet," Xander promised.  He heard a crash and leaned out the doorway.  "What the fuck was that!" he yelled.  "Do I need to bring out my pointy stick of encouragement again!"

"The dumpster just got set down too heavily," one voice called.

"Please don't use the crossbow on us," another called.

"Fine.  Thank you."  He pulled his head back in and shrugged.  "The dumpster guys are really heavy handed around here."

"As long as it's not wrecking the house.  Is the roof done?"  Xander moaned and held his head.  "I thought you might not have gotten anyone up there again."

"I'll go up and check later, Boss," he promised.  "I didn't even think about the roof.  Good thing I was going to do a head-to-basement inspection Saturday for any final little things that needed corrected or done."  His boss smiled and nodded, clapping him on the back before leaving.  He looked at them.  "That's Taylor, he runs the company," he offered.  "He's a really nice guy.  He's even doing a company sponsored pizza party if the guys get done before five on Friday.  They've worked their asses off for this job."

"It shows," Gibbs offered.  "They've done really good work."

"Thanks."  He grinned a bit.  "Need me more?"

"No, we're just making sure we've got copies of everything.  We'll be heading out this Sunday."

Xander grinned. "I'll miss playing with your Pretty Boy here, but oh, well.  I guess he'll get to find a new playmate or help Abby be a happy girl."  He got up and headed inside.

Tony looked at him.  "Boss, can we leave early?"

"No, DiNozzo, get back to faxing stuff."

"Yes, sir."  He got back to work feeding things through the fax machine.  Gibb's phone rang and he snickered at the yelling about using the fax machine for that.

"Paper's cheaper than freight shipping," Gibbs pointed out.  "Yes, Jen, I'm serious.  Because it's still cheaper than freight shipping.  Yay.  This way they've got records too."  He hung up and handed over a few more.  Then he called his desk.  "McGee, make sure you're collating what's coming out of the fax. Yes, we've been sending stuff all morning.  I'm sure Abby is drowning in paper right now.  Either that or it's coming from the Director's office.  Sure."  He hung up.  "He wasn't aware we were sending more and he just asked permission to duck Jen for the day."

"Is the 156 extension in her office?" Tony asked guilelessly.

Gibbs just looked at him.  "I'd smack you but you're too far away, DiNozzo.  Consider yourself hit again."

"Love you too, Boss."

***

Tony walked into the office Monday morning and paused.  There was a box on his desk.  He looked around, then sighed and walked over to it.  "At least someone appreciates that I'm back," he muttered, opening the shipping box.  Inside was a letter with his name on it and a big box of chocolates.  He read the letter first and blushed.  "Man!"  He heard the elevator ding and stuffed it back into the box, taking out the chocolates and tossing the box toward his trash can.  "Chocolate, Boss?"

Gibbs looked at him, noticing the remains of the blush, then at the chocolates.  "One of your ladies missed you?"

"Harris," he grumbled.

Gibbs snickered.  "Did he send you a note too?"

"Yeah, thanking me for being such a good playmate for him and letting him have a very fun and relaxing vacation.  He said I took a lot of the stress out of his life."  He got the box opened and held it out.  "Eat some before I get too fat to fit into my clubbing jeans."

Gibbs took one and sat down, shaking his head.  "At least he likes you."

"Yeah, probably more than."  Someone from the secretarial pool showed up and put a bunch of poppies on his desk and he moaned.  "Boss, I think I have a stalker," he complained, finding the card.  "Oh, this one said that blowing it on me means that his ex can't demand he buy them for her.  The poppies are so I can make my own headache remedy.  Along with the instructions."

Gibbs snickered, shaking his head.  "I'll have him stop if you really want me to, but he said I'd sound like a father demanding he propose."

Tony looked at him.  "Not funny, Boss.  I happen to like my women, thank you!"

"Ooh, flowers," McGee said as he came off the elevator.  "Poppies?  An old friend?" he teased.

"No, a new one," Gibbs told him.

"Oh, really?  Was she pretty, Tony?"

"It's from the guy we were bothering on that case, McGee, get over it," he demanded.  "He sent them to me so I could make my own headache remedy."  Abby came up and squealed, pouncing him from behind.  "Hi, Abby," he moaned.  She slid off him and moved around to hug him again.  "Thank you."  He gave her a gentle squeeze.  "That's from the lunatic we had to deal with for a week."

"Oooh, you poor baby."  She stole a chocolate.  "Just remember, that thing you faxed over, we might have to call him."

Tony shuddered.  "Let's not go there, okay?  I like my sanity levels."  He moved the flowers out of his way and sat down, eating one of his chocolates.  He noticed the puppy eyed look and raised an eyebrow, eating another one.  "Problem, Probie?"

"No, Tony, not a one."  He sat down, looking at his morning email.  "Boss, the director called for a staff meeting in ten minutes," he noted.  "All of us.  She said I'm the only one who was checking my email."

"That's why I don't check my email, McGee."

"Sir, the follow up said if you're not up there at that meeting she's going to fire you and burn your house and the boat," he noted, looking at him.  "Maybe Tony should give her the flowers?"

"I don't think she needs a headache remedy," Gibbs noted dryly. Tony just smirked.  "Okay, let's go sleep through another meeting.  I'm sure she'll be trying to tell us allll about staffing and paper we use."  He stood up and Tony handed him another chocolate, then locked the box in his desk.  "Thanks, DiNozzo."

"Looked like you could use it, Boss."  He brought the flowers with him, handing them to her with a smile.  "From the nice crew chief we worked with during that case, ma'am.  He said to thank you for the nicer people staying and offered his further help if we need it."  He sat down and checked to make sure he still had the card in his pocket.

She smelled them and smiled.  "That was very nice of him.  Who were you working with, Agent DiNozzo?"

"Xander Harris," Gibbs noted from his seat.  "He's a bit odd, but...."  He looked at the paper set in front of him by Abby, then groaned.  "Well, those caves you were staring at caved in and now they're topless," he said, handing it down to Tony.

"Poor caves," Abby sighed, sitting down next to him.  "I hope no one was hurt."

"No, they probably got Harris to go in and check," Tony offered, looking down at her.  "He's very strong."

"He is," she agreed happily.  "I've been chatting with Willow about that event she thought might be coming up.  I've got all the information they have downstairs, including how to stop it if we can find out beforehand."

"Good work, Abby," Gibbs praised.  She beamed at him.  "Go steal some of DiNozzo's chocolates before he eats them all."

"A lady sent you gifts?" the director said, frowning a bit.  "Here?"

"No, Harris sent them because he made fun of me all week," he noted firmly, staring back.  "We told him he should meet you because you're just his type, Madam Director, and since he's thinking about moving here in the next year or so....  He's a very nice guy, if a bit of goofball, but very strong and very deadly.  He took out Ziva when she threatened him."  She shivered at that.  "We're just keeping him happy."

"Do you need his address to send a thank you letter for the flowers?" Abby chimed in.

"No, that's fine, I'm sure I can look it up," she noted.  She stared at McGee, who came in late.  "You're late."

"I was waiting for Ziva, Madam Director."  He sat down and pulled out a notepad and pen.  "Sorry."

"Fine."  She glared at them.  "Your team has used the most supplies of anyone in this building this year!  Could you not have brought them back with you!"

"There were fifteen cases of documents, plus the comparison samples we got off the company, plus the videos made of the site for the federal and state cases.  I consulted UPS, it would have cost more to ship it."  He sipped his coffee, staring back.  "Besides, we have a toll free faxline.  Next time, send us with a copy machine and we'll do it that way instead."

"You had a warrant."

"Yes and they're pursuing legal action against the man themselves, that means they need copies of those same documents and the attorney over the case said that photocopied samples were enough.  So next time either find us a copier and send it with us, then pay shipping back, or move the fax machine and have McGee parked beside it for longer.  Besides, we saved you about five dollars by faxing instead of shipping.  You can note that to the bean counters, Jen."

She glared hotter.  "They are not bean counters....."

"Yay," he noted.  "Same thing."  He shrugged.  "Abby, McGee, did we find the accounts?"

"Under Emily Sue's name, sir," McGee said respectfully.  "Two of them were released to the name holder but otherwise they are all frozen.  We offered to track her down for the Prosecutor working with us but he found a death certificate?"

Tony nodded.  "False alarm and she's probably in hiding.  She told me she was scared of some of his friends and we'd never find her again.  Did she draw it out Thursday?"  McGee nodded.  "We talked to her Wednesday night."

"Fine.  Should I continue to try to find her, Boss?" McGee asked.

"You can try but I doubt you will," he noted.  He finished that cup of coffee and got up to refill it from her pot since it was filled and waiting on him.  "Faxing satisfied the major needs of all the parties involved and it was more cost efficient, even if McGee did get a lot of paper cuts from the fax paper," he noted dryly, sitting down again.

"You didn't file for any food related expenses," she noted.

Tony handed over the receipts he had gathered.  "I was doing that today, Director.  That's also the receipt for the motel rooms, minus Ziva's. I'm hoping she got her own because I forgot to pick one up for her for those two days she threatened Harris and made him want to kill her."

"She did what?" she asked, staring Ziva down.  "You threatened a cooperative witness?"

"He was acting up and not letting me into the trailer."

"We had the only key, Ziva," Gibbs noted dryly. "He couldn't have let you in there."

"He picked the locks on my rental car!"

"So?  He still couldn't have let you into the scene of an active investigation.  That is against the law and he knew that.  He told me that's why he did it, and then you threatened him and forced him to escalate until he threw you off the site.  Then I had to throw you off the site twice more."  He stared her down.  "You were in the wrong to start with him."

"He's just a construction worker," she said bitterly.  "How could he put me on my back that way?"

"Practice.  Some people do get it," Tony noted for her benefit.

"I still say he's a covert agent, undercover or something."

"No, he's not," Abby told her.  "I checked everywhere.  Xander barely graduated high school.  His high school was attacked during their graduation celebration, which touched off a gas explosion that took out the school.  Mr. Harris was responsible for some people making it out of there alive and protecting some of the family members.  No one in covert ops would have worked ten fast food jobs in a year either. They would have killed the customers."  Ziva glared at her.  "He's just what he seemed, Ziva, a mildly trained construction guy with really good credit and an ex who hoovers money from him."

"I still say he's not.  No one's that clean."

"Oh, I didn't say he wasn't a bit off," Abby told her.  "One of his friends is a hacker and she about cleaned his background up of a few spots.  Things like a D&D last year for walking down the street singing off-color songs.  Nothing more major than that incident and his SAT scores being really high for nearly flunking out."

"He said something about that," Tony noted.  "He said it was because he wasn't being bothered by Willow and Buffy nattering at him or something to that effect."

She nodded.  "That can help," she agreed.

"What's a D&D?" McGee asked.

"Drunk and Disorderly, Probie.  That's where they picked him up and took him to dry out for the night for being an annoying prick."

"Did he tease you?" Abby cooed, grinning at him.

"He called me Pretty Boy all week," he noted dryly.  "Kept trying to hook me up with a guy named Bob.  I told him I wasn't but he's a bit stubborn."

"Awwww.  Well if you need that sort of help, I have a great friend who would love to date you, Tony."

"I'm still straight, Abby," he noted patiently.  "I'll always like my women."

"Fine.  Just make me tell my friend with the piercing and the ten-inch extension that he's not going to get fun things with you."

"Extension?" Ziva asked, looking really confused.

"His measurements, Ziva, guys measure those things over here too," Abby told her.

"This is not the place to discuss that!" the director shouted.

"Oh, I don't know, it's very enlightening," Tony offered.  "But I'm still not gay.  Sorry, Abs."

"Shoot."

"Enough!" she tried again. She was panting heavily now.  "I do not want to hear this topic of conversation again!  This is not fit conversation for the office!  We have a non-disclosure and a non-discrimination policy in this office! I will not let it be breached."

"Then we can't brag about who we're dating?" Abby asked her.  "That's really unfair.  You can't really get along with your coworkers unless you can share little details like that.  It makes for a tighter team when you know more about the people who will be at your back.  If I couldn't talk about when I go out clubbing or any dates, I wouldn't feel comfortable working with the people here."

Gibbs looked at her.  "You're dating again? I didn't hear about that."

"Kinda," she offered with a shy grin.  "It's only the second one tonight, Gibbs."  He patted her on the back with a smile.  "If I get serious, I'll run him by you so you can do a background check, threaten him with you and Tony kicking his ass, and then let him meet McGee so he can be really scared that I work with *nice* people."  She sipped from her soda.

"Sure.  Just tell me when I need to start making up good threats," he offered.

"Just glare at the guy, Boss. It's enough for everyone but Harris."  He winced as he got hit across the back of the head again.  "You didn't."

"He wasn't scared of Gibbs?" Abby asked, looking stunned.  Everyone was scared of Gibbs when he scowled or glared!

"Told him he'd seen scarier four-foot high purple things," he told her.  "I'm not sure I want to meet something like that."

"Barney," she said, nodding.  "He's much scarier and should only be that high."

The director huffed.  "This is also not workplace conversation!"

"We're talking about the people on our last case," Tony told her. "She knows a bit about him anyway."  He looked down at her.  "Just don't date him, Abby?  Please?  He only likes dangerous women for some reason.  I'd hate to see you become scary."

She smiled.  "That's the nicest thing you've said this month," she squealed, getting up to hug him.

The director stomped off, slamming her office door.

"Good job, kids," Gibbs noted once everyone was silent.  "Let's wrap up that case and hand it over for closure."  They got up and went back to their desks.  Their goofing off period was over with.

***

Epilogue:

It was almost a year later when Tony next ran into Xander, and that was at the Mall in Washington.  There had been reports of military officers firing into a cloud of gas so they had been sent to check it out.  He looked around, then looked at his boss.  "We didn't stop it after all," he complained.

"That's okay.  We can handle this."

Someone behind them coughed.  "Just give Willow two more minutes and it'll be closed, hopefully with any bodies spit back out," a familiar voice said from behind them.  Xander was grinning when they turned to look at him.  "Hey, Gibbs, Pretty Boy.  Welcome to the newest Hellmouth.  Ours snapped shut and the one here was forced open.  We were thinking someone wanted to eat Congress but they couldn't get the output any closer.  The actual opening is up the block a bit."  He grinned at them, then the cloud dissipated.  "Ah, there you go.  Any and all bodies are now yours."  He nodded and headed for the redhead you could now see.  "Way to go, Wills, but there's Feds here.  Behind me are Pretty Boy and Gibbs, from when I had to go to Santa Clara that time."

She squealed and bounced over.  "You work with my friend Abby.  Hi!  I'm Willow."

A blonde girl pulled Willow away.  "She's sorry.  She just sucked in a bit too much energy while closing it."  She walked her off, whispering in her ear.

"Have Abby call me, we're all moving here to take care of the problems," Willow called back.

Tony looked at his boss.  "I want a transfer," he said, staring at him.  "I really do."

"He won't be popping over for the games and a beer, DiNozzo, calm down.  We've got a scene to process."  He walked him on, going to figure out what had happened.  He got the Marines who had been shooting into the cloud pulled aside so they could be debriefed.  Everyone else went back to work on the scene, Ziva having to change film since she had been taking pictures of the cloud itself.

A higher pitched male voice came out of the ground as a ball of light appeared.  "Man, this ain't Woodstock either.  Dude, do you know where Woodstock, the Anniversary one, is being held?" it asked Ziva.

"Dude?" she asked.  She realized what she was talking to and moved closer. "What are you?"

"It was in New York," Xander called.  "Just up the road from the original spot."

"Thanks, man!  You so rock!" it called out and then faded out.

Gibbs looked at it, then at Xander.  Who only shrugged.  "Ghosts.  They're often lost."  He followed the girls, heading to find himself a place to live since they had to move here now and Giles had ordered him to come along.  "Hey, Pretty Boy, got any good club recs?" he called as he walked.  "I'm living out in the 'burbs."

"No," he called back, shaking his head.  "Because then I might run into you again," he muttered, trying to ignore the urge to panic.

"No, I'm not talking about S&M clubs, Buffy.  He swears up and down he's straight and not into kinky stuff.  That's *you* not everyone else in the world," his voice floated back toward them as they continued to hike off. "Besides, I doubt he's your type.  He seems to like them sweet and nice.  Abby said so, that's how I know."

"Boss, I really, seriously, want that transfer now," he noted calmly.

"Denied, DiNozzo.  I'll talk with her if she comes to bother you."

"Thanks, Boss.  What happens if she starts to stalk me or something?"

"Then you can have my couch for a few days.  Get back to work.  I'll tell Abby to tell them to leave you alone, again," he complained.  He heard a rumble and a new body appeared.  That was what made him reach for something for his headache.  "DiNozzo, the earth burped up another one."

"Sure thing, Boss."  He turned to take pictures of that one too.  It was partially eaten.  "Boss, isn't that Buffy?" he asked.  "Harris!" he bellowed.  He came jogging back so he pointed at the body.

"Hmm.  We were wondering when she got removed from us.  I thought it was when she got into bondage and stuff, so let me know?"  He walked off, going back to Willow.  "She's not the real one," he called as he walked.  Willow said something and the fake Buffy turned into a pile of goo.  "Good work!"  Willow burst out crying, clinging to him.  "We will go on," he soothed, patting her on the back.  "We have in the past and we will again. And hey, no more freaky bondage Buffy."  She swatted him and got into the car to head to their motel.

"Boss?" McGee asked, sounding confused.

"Denied, no one is transferring out," Gibbs ordered.  "If I can put up with Harris and Rosenburg living in my city, you can put up with Harris and Rosenburg."

"Yes, Boss," everyone sighed, hunching down a bit.  They all knew Gibbs didn't like the unexplained and strange stuff, so he was in a doubly foul mood now.  He'd have to go question Xander himself and when he was done, they'd all be gone for the rest of the day so he couldn't snap at them.  It really was self preservation.

Doing It.

Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs looked up at the man walking to his desk, giving him a small smirk.  "Another case?"

"A troubling incident more like."  He handed over the file.  "The local Naval base and Bethesda medical center have both been inundated with people missing blood and having hallucinations.  Now, those hallucinations look a lot like some classified files we got off the Pentagon, who aren't saying why they have them but I thought they felt like they were blushing a bit.  You'll notice in the Pentagon file that a few names are listed and I cross- checked our system to see if we've ever had to deal with them.  It seems your team has.  I'd like to know how to stop this.  Quietly."

Gibbs looked in the folder, then frowned.  "McGee!" he snapped.  He jumped up as if shocked on the ass with a taser.  "Harris, Alexander? Where do I remember him from?"

"Um, I think that's the case that we did in Santa Clara, Boss.  The embezzler, child molester, arms dealer?"  Gibbs frowned for a moment.  "The one that made Tony go out and declare his tastes quite loudly, Boss."

"Oh, that one.  Fine.  Thank you."  He looked at his former boss.  "What makes you think that kid know about this stuff?"

"He eliminated the project the Pentagon isn't admitting they ever ran," he said dryly.  Gibbs raised an eyebrow.  "Figure it out.  If he doesn't know, use him as a reference and source to get closer.  We need this stopped."

"Yes, sir."  He looked around.  "DiNozzo!" he bellowed.  He came out of the bathroom, wiping his hands off.  "Find them, bring them here.  Take McGee since I remember he and Ziva had words."

Tony looked at the folder, then at him.  "Gibbs," he moaned, "no!  Please no!  Pretty please no?" he offered at the harsh look. "I can't put up with Harris, Boss!"

"Tough, do it.  We've had some random attacks and someone higher up thinks he can solve them."

"I'm not sure giving sailors crossbows is a good idea.  Are you?"  Gibbs glared again.  "Yes, Boss."  He sat down at his desk, trying to find him.  "Hell.  He's bartending.  Boss, we can't pick him up until later.  He doesn't have any local records except a W-4 filed just the other day."  He looked at him.  "Do you want me to wait or go annoy the club's personnel to find him?"

"Go later.  That way we can keep this quieter.  Bring him back here once everyone's gone home for the day."

"Yes, Boss."

"For now, find the reports mentioned in the files and give me a rundown of what we're looking at so you can give it to him later."

"Yes, Boss," he said, a lot less cheerfully.  He didn't want to deal with strange stuff!  He was still jumping at Abby now and then when she acted like that kid did.  "Can I at least deck him if he calls me Pretty Boy again?" he asked as Gibbs walked past him.

"Not unless he's doing the attacks," Gibbs said firmly.

"Damn."  He got back to work, glaring at Ziva when she came in.  "Why couldn't you get along with Harris?"

"Who?"

"The construction guy that you nearly decked for not being able to help you do something," McGee offered.  "The boss wants him questioned on how to prevent some attacks going on."  He looked at him.  "I can go pick him up if you want, Tony.  You can wait in the car."

Tony looked at him and shook his head.  "He's working in a biker bar, Probie.  Get real."  McGee looked horrified.  "Yeah, so, we're both going in.  Just be polite.  They don't really want to hurt you, just scare you a bit."  He got back to work, finding all the reports mentioned.  Plus a few more when he cross-referenced.  They broke down into three claims: attacks and blood letting, attacks and cutting injuries or severe bruising, and hallucinations of strange creatures.  Some of the creatures were the same but most weren't.  He listed them by type and location, getting a small pattern on location.  That helped some. When his boss stopped in front of his desk again, he printed it off and handed it to him.  "There's a small, subtle pattern of location of attacks," he offered seriously.  "Especially those with the blood letting and cutting.  The hallucinations have a few outside the area but that could be a spreading influence.  You notice where and when it started?"

"That gas cloud on the Mall," he noted, looking at him. "You think it's related?"

"From what they were saying, yeah, I do, Boss.  They said someone opened something.  I'm guessing that something is pulling them maybe?  Do we have files on that project the Pentagon doesn't think exists?  All I found were some internet conspiracy sites."

Gibbs sighed and handed over something that he had been handed in the garage when he ran out for coffee. "It has some records.  He said look at the web address in there, it's the truth, one of the doctors involved put it up."  He walked back to his desk, sitting down again.  "McGee.  Reports from the last case?  Lacking spelling."  He threw it at him.  "Correct it and try again."

"Yes, Boss."  He pulled it up and did a spell check first, then settled in to proofread.

"David," Gibbs called, making her look up and he tossed over her report.  "I know English isn't your first language, have someone proofread it for you.  I marked six paragraphs that make *no* sense."  She nodded, opening it to fix hers.  "DiNozzo.  For once, you only needed grammatical help."

"Sorry, Boss.  Which would you rather I do?  Make mistakes or do this new case?"

"Do the new case.  At least yours was readable, even if it does read like Yoda now and then."  Tony winced.  Gibbs sipped his coffee, accepting the reports as they came in.  He glanced at Tony at the utter silence.  "Problems, DiNozzo?"

"Inhuman torture and murder," he said quietly.  "That we sponsored."  He looked at his boss, then got up and typed in the web address on his computer, letting him see it while he leaned over his shoulder and selected a link to show a video of what they were doing.  "That's not right, Boss.  They're partially Marines and partially Army from what the site says.  Do we go after them too?" he asked quietly. "This'll get messy in court but I want to hit someone for that stuff."

Gibbs watched the video, shuddering at some of what they were doing.  He finally had to turn it off when they began to test electrical stimulus on deskinned portions of the creature's anatomy.  "I'll check on that," he said seriously.  "From what I'm told, Harris and his friends there took them down already.  Some may have already paid."

"Not enough.  There's nothing in Hell that bad," he retorted.  "We *gave them orders* to do that!" he said, looking disturbed.  "They did that and enjoyed it!"

Gibbs nodded.  "I'm wondering why.  I'll try to get a more comprehensive file when I ask if we're going after them.  Ask Harris if he or his group have any."  He nodded.  "When are you going?"

"It's a biker bar, I figure just after dinner, Boss."  He sat down again, looking at him.  "I've already told McGee to be very polite and try to be calm and collected and not scared."

"Good.  I'll be on my way home for dinner with any luck at that time, which is nearby.  Call if you're in danger."

"Yes, Boss."

"Yes, Boss," McGee seconded.  "Is it that bad?  Should I change to fit in?"

"You ever ridden a motorcycle, McGee?"  He slowly shook his head.  "They'll know.  Don't change.  Just be very polite."

"Yes, Boss."

***

Tony looked at the bouncer, pulling out his ID to show him.  "I'm Special Agent DiNozzo, NCIS.  We need to speak to Harris?  I'm told he's bartending here.  Is he in yet?"

"He's behind the bar cleaning glasses.  Is there a problem? I didn't know he was a vet."

"We think he has information on a recent attack because it's something we've ran into before around him," McGee noted calmly.  He had taken a valium to be this calm, but he was okay now.  Even if the bouncer was twice his size in all directions.

"We're not that scary, kid," he said with a smirk.  He opened the door.  "Harris!  Visitors!"

"Send 'em in.  I can wash dishes and talk," he called back.  A few voices laughed.  "Yes, I am multi-talented, I don't just kick ass with a pool cue," he yelled.  Tony walked in and he smirked a bit.  "Agents Pretty Boy and Fluffy!  Wonderful!  Boss, I think my *other* job   just came calling!" he yelled.  He waved them over and they came over to stand in front of him.  "What happened now?  More Marines shooting at gas clouds?"

Tony took the towel and wiped off the bar, then laid out the graphs he had made.  He pointed at the purple dots.  "Attacks with blood letting."  The green dots.  "Attacks with severe beatings or cutting marks."  The red dots.  "Hallucinations of strange creatures."  Xander frowned, looking at it.  "We were told to come talk to you since the Pentagon released a small amount of information about a project you helped disband.  And I'd personally like to thank you for that after seeing a webpage online with some video," he finished quietly.

Xander looked at him, being very serious.  "You're welcome.  Let's go back to your base and we'll see what I can help you with.  I've got to stop in on Willow and get some information from there and the training manual."  Tony nodded. "Sorry, Boss, I was right.  Gotta go, I may be back tonight!" he yelled, handing him back the forms.  "Wait for me outside, you can follow me there since I don't have a trunk."  He walked into the back room, talking with a skinny, extremely dark skinned guy with blue hair, getting a nod.  Then he grabbed a jacket and followed them outside, going to get his bike.  He caught Tony's look and grinned a bit.  "What can I say, it's nice and makes me happy."  He got on and put on his helmet.  "Follow me.  It's not far."  He started his engine and sped off, taking the curves a bit sharply, but he was relaxing himself for a probable fight later.  This was not of the good.  He parked outside Willow's house, nodding at the kid on the stoop. "I'll be right back, smack whoever touches it for me, Rais."  He jogged up the stairs, pounding on the front door.  Willow came out of her apartment and let him in.  "The local naval base has been attacked by things that bite, chew, and scratch.  Someone found a hint of the Initiative and came asking."

"Sure. Can you carry them on the bike?" she asked, leading him back into the apartment.  She noticed he had a shadow and looked at him. "Who're you?"

"Special Agent Tony DiNozzo."  He smiled at her.  "I'm over this case at the moment."

"He's the one I kept calling Pretty Boy when I met him in Santa Clara," Xander told her.

"Oh!  Okay.  Then you probably need a hunting manual too."  She headed for a closet and pulled out a few boxes, and a CD carrier, flipping through it.  Two discs were removed and then it was tossed into the top of one of the boxes.  "There ya go.  Identification and hunting manuals are in the CD carrier.  The rest is the Initiative files we were able to liberate before and after the assaults."

Tony blinked.  "Before and *after*?"

"We wanted to make sure they were truly closed and we were safe," Willow told him quietly.  "I hack."  He just nodded once and grabbed the top box, letting Xander get the other one.  "We'd like those back."

"If at all humanly possible.  We like normal crimes," Tony assured her.  "Thank you, ma'am."  He smiled at her shudder.  "Just being polite."

"I'm still not that old," she pouted.

"Wills," Xander said, kissing her on the cheek.  He took the papers from Tony's back pocket and handed them over.  "Here, collate and confirm for me.  I've got my cell.  He can give you an email address later."  She nodded, going back to her computer to do that while he grabbed the other box.  "Where's the third one?"

"Storage.  I'll have Giles send it and check the books for anything related to his new hellmouth."

"Thanks, dear."  He walked out, letting her get the door behind him.  He walked past the kid. "Did you have to smack the other fed?" he teased.

"He's napping.  I'm thinking he's stoned."  He grinned at Xander.  "Can I still have that ride if my momma agrees?"

"Sure.  Next time you see me in the daylight."  He grinned.  "That'll probably be Sunday afternoon.  Wills promised to help me buy a new jacket for winter."  The kid just grinned and nodded at that.  "Say hi for me."  He handed over the other box.  "There's a third one but it's still back in Sunnydale," he said quietly.  "She'll have it shipped if we need it."

"Thank you.  Follow us, unless you know where the office is?"

"I think so.  If not, I'll call."  He headed for his bike, pausing to let a car go down the street.  "I don't like the Feebs," he said loudly. The kid on the stoop giggled and smiled. "I don't!  They're annoying!  Watch my place too."  The kid nodded so he got back onto his bike and put on his helmet, turning over his ignition so he could head back to their headquarters.  He had scoped it out to see if he could continue to tease his playmate.  He remembered playing with Pretty Boy very fondly.  He found the visitor parking again and parked carefully, then took off his helmet and checked around.  "They've got to have a parking garage or something," he muttered.   He armed his special security system then smiled at the guard.  "Agent DiNozzo asked me to stop by to help with a case?  Which door do I use?"

"The blue ones, sir.  Is that armed?"

"Only my taser security system.  I wouldn't touch my bike."  The guard looked unimpressed. "I can't have it on?"

"I'd prefer not, sir. Just in case someone says something.  Alarms are fine if you have one of those."

"Not on her."  He turned off the security system and ran a hand over some marks on the side, arming the Willow-given security system.  The imps would scare anyone off who tried to touch it.  He grinned and carried his helmet with him, going to the blue doors.  Another guard stopped him so he had to go through the metal detector five times, until he got wise and pulled off his shirt to show off the scar on his chest and the piercing.  "Shrapnel."

The guard nodded a few times.  "We've seen some before.  Come this way so we can use the hand wand and scan you."  Xander nodded, moving over so they could test him for chemical residue.  "Gunpowder?"

"Target practice.  I was asked to appear by Special Agent DiNozzo?"

"That's fine."  He finished it and put him through the x-ray, then handed him back his shirt and helmet, plus the basket of keys and things.  "Thank you, sir."  He handed him a visitor's pass.  "To the elevator and up to the fourth floor please."

"Thanks."  He put on his shirt as he walked, smoothing down his pockets as the door opened and showed a very goth girl standing there.  "Abby?  You still work for the suits?"

She looked confused.  "Do I know you?"

"Xander, Willow's friend."  She squealed and pulled him inside to hug him.  He grinned at her, smoothing down her pigtails.  "Willow's living here now too.  Didn't she tell you?"

"No!"  She stomped a foot and pouted.  "Since when?"

"Since the hellmouth opened by the capitol."  He pushed a button.  "Pretty Boy came to get me."

"Oooh, Tony?  He is kinda cute," she agreed, smiling as they got off the elevator.  "Look who I ran into!"

"Please don't gang up together," Tony said, staring at them.  "Your shirt's on inside out, Harris."

"I had to take it off so they could scan and x-ray the shrapnel, Pretty Boy.  Sorry!"  He took it off and put it back on the right way.  "Better?"

"Eww, you got shot! When?"

"About six months ago.  Hurt like hell!" he told her.  She nodded.  "Someone shot at you!" he demanded.  She nodded again.  "Are you okay or can I go hurt them now?  No one should shoot at you!  That's just wrong!  They should be a greasy spot by now!"

"They are," she promised with a grin.  "Trust me, they're very much a spot."

"Good!  Let me know if I can call them back and torture them some more!"

She hugged him.  "Call me Sunday so we can hang out!"  She grinned at Gibbs since she had seen him coming.  "I ran into him in the elevator."

"I heard your squeal.  Mr. Harris."  Xander nodded, grinning at him.  "Abby, don't you have work?"

"Abby, email Willow an email address so she can send on the other stuff if necessary," Xander told her. "She's on and talking to Giles."  She nodded, heading to do that.  He saluted Gibbs. "You requested my help, Special Agent Gibbs?"

"I did.  We got handed that case.  DiNozzo found the pattern."

"Willow's double checking what's been reported to add to it."  Gibbs looked amused. "I doubt they just went for the uniforms, which means the civy hospitals will have more casualties on record.  She'll be faxing over the complete list to see if the pattern still fits."

"Good.  What's with the boxes?"

"Two of the three boxes of stuff we got off the Initiative," he said.  "Plus I had her put in a training and ID manual as well.  They're on CD's in a holder."

"There's a manual?"

"We had to make our own," he admitted dryly.  "It came in handy for girlfriends, boyfriends, those who wanted to jump in.  The lone military idiot we took in thanks to Buffy and her ties to the Initiative when she dated one of them."  He shrugged. "She was my friend but she had bad taste in boyfriends."

"She dated someone who did those things to those creatures?" Tony demanded.  "How could you let her!"

Xander looked at him. "Pretty Boy, not all those creatures were innocent. Yeah, some were.  Some, however, killed to eat, some killed for pleasure, and some killed for fun.  For that matter, I hunted those same creatures in those classes that killed.  It was necessary.  I think about vampires like I do rapists: some may have their reasons from past traumas and stuff, but they should all be taken far away from polite society before they hurt people.  So either they need their own island so they can do it to each other, or they need to be put down," he finished coolly.  "I do what I do to protect people like you and those people who got attacked.  Apparently I'm not as on-the-ball as I thought.  I've been patrolling near the center of the hellmouth and working my way out slowly.  Sorry."  He looked at Gibbs again.  "Willow can get you a more accurate number within hours.  What did you need to know about the bastards in the Initiative?"

"You didn't side with them?" Gibbs asked.

Xander shook his head.  "I didn't side with any of the murdering, torturing bastards.  I never would.  I endured having to watching Buffy coo at her boyfriend, who was one of their top goon squad leaders.  When we had to break out a friend, they went down."  Gibbs shuddered at that.  "Sorry, but I'm real up front about that with those who know."

"How could you hurt things without knowing if they're going to hurt others?" Tony demanded.

Xander looked at him, looking a bit exasperated.  "Vampires kill people, Pretty Boy.  That's how they get what they need to live.  They eat people.  They suck all the blood out of you and either you die or become like them.  So until you've either faced down a few and had to defend yourself from being eaten, because they do like them younger than you usually, or you've had to watch your friend be taken by them, or God Forbid, you have to stake one of them who used to be a friend, shut the fuck up."  Tony looked pissed so he stepped closer.  "Vampires accounted for nearly six hundred deaths last year in the US.  They accounted for over ten thousand attacks in night clubs, in parks, on beaches, nice couples walking down the street, teenagers going to their first dance, people having sex in their cars, all sorts of folks got bitten by them.  They kill to survive.  They're not innocent.  They're not fluffy little puppies.  They're homicidal serial killers.  I go out for those who are actively hunting others.  I save lives.  So either get the fuck off my case or hand it over to Gibbs.  Sometimes you've got to do what's necessary, even if it's morally queasy-making for you."  Tony backed off.  "Got it?"  He nodded quickly.  "Good."  He looked at Gibbs again. "Sorry. I haven't had dinner yet, I'm a bit testy."  Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "What did you want to know, Gibbs?"

"First, let's start with the attacks.  How long should it take her?"

Xander pulled out his phone and called her.  "It's me. You nearly done?  I just had to abuse the theory of 'killing innocent creatures'."  He nodded, handing it to Gibbs.  "Make sure that's the address you want them at."  He looked at Tony.  "Sorry I snapped at you."

"You've been doing this how long?" McGee asked.

"Fifteen."  He looked at Tony again.  "No one says *you* have to go if some of us end up taking things down," he offered quietly.  "Sorta like the military, it's not meant for everyone."  Tony glared at him.  "Truth.  The only way to stop these things is to make a stand. It's not like you can arrest them for it.  They'll go 'poof' in the cell.  Sunnydale tried that once."  Gibbs nudged him and handed him back his phone. "Thank you, kind sir.  Where do we start?  Recon?  Pathways?  Habitats and basic lessons?"

"Let's start with the Initiative case.  Someone wanted us to arrest anyone still connected with it."

Xander snorted.  "There's some soldiers in some special ops groups going around the world hunting demons and there's a few of their supposed scientists.  Everyone else either got eaten by something when the demons got freed from captivity and went after their abusers, or they fled and went into deep hiding with governmental permission.  Good luck with that, but we have a full personnel list somewhere in the boxes."

"How?"

"Do you really want to know?" he asked dryly, staring him down.  "Let's just say it probably wasn't legally obtained."

"You're a hacker?" McGee asked.

Xander snorted.  "No, honey, I'm not a hacker.  Willow's a hacker.  She does techno and wicca support, I do research and hunting.  Since it's just the two of us here."  He shivered.  "That's also why I read Summerian, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Hieroglyphics, and about six demon languages well enough to make due with only looking up words every ten hours or so now.  She covers some of the more obscure and pictographic languages for me."  Tony's jaw dropped.  "It's how we know about things like prophecies.  That's why we moved here. Otherwise you'd still have an open hellmouth in the middle of the museums."  He shrugged.  "That's what I do for a hobby since no one'll pay me to do it."

"How did you get started?" Tony asked, looking a bit confused.  "Fifteen?  Did they come recruit at your high school?"

"No, we had the slayer, a girl who's genetically born and bred to do the job, move to our town and we made friends with her.  We overheard her and she saved our asses, so we helped."  He shrugged again and grabbed a desk chair to sit in backwards, looking at them. "Sorry, I'm a bit tired.  Long night last night with the bar brawls."

"Not a problem," Gibbs admitted.  He frowned a bit.  "You're how old?"

"Nearly twenty-three.  Just about a month from now."

"So, you've been doing this now for eight years?" he demanded.  Xander nodded.  "How often do you go out to hunt?"

"Nightly most of the time.  On the lazy or slow weeks, maybe three days at the least.  The rest is researching anything coming up and training for it.  That's why I also know explosives to a degree."

"Damn," McGee said, mouth open.  "How long are you going to have to do this?"

"Until someone else takes over.  We've trained a bunch of the next generation of slayers already.  There's one from here originally but she's not ready yet so we just have to hold on for the next year until she is.  The others are mostly off wandering the world."  He looked at Tony again.  "Spit it out, Pretty Boy.  What?"

"You seem so...hard about this."

"I'm as much a combat veteran as anyone in this building," he noted calmly and quietly.  "I just fought in a different and never-ending war."  Tony shivered and sat down behind his desk.  He looked at Gibbs.  "You've got two choices at this moment that I can see.  Tell me if you see others.  Either you train some of your soldiers in what to do and how to take these precautions.  Do it under inner-city survival skills and stuff, or you send us to hunt. Your choice."

"Doing both would probably be better," Gibbs admitted.  "I can't see our Navy allowing anyone to carry stakes or crossbows.  They'd flip their toupees."

Xander grinned.  "Vampires, for the most part, won't be that skilled.  Yes, their demons give them some skills and strength, but not that much.  They're always going to take the easier target, Gibbs.  That's why they feed in clubs and places like that.  It's easier to get a meal and no one will miss them for a while.  That's also why they pick isolated targets.  Late night joggers.  People necking in their cars to cheat on their spouses or significant others.  Couples wandering along beaches. The basic survival skills would help.  Don't go out alone.  Don't over-drink.  Keep an eye on your friends in clubs.  Fight back.  Things that you tell them about muggers, rapists, and other modern annoyances that keep you from having fun in the clubs.  I haven't met a vampire yet who uses Roofies, but I'm not ruling it out.  I know the groups in LA actually held raves so they could get enough food for everyone.  No one's going to miss them during the party or the rave or in the club unless they've got a buddy that's paying a lot of attention."

"Good point," Tony admitted, still frowning a bit.  "What about around here?  Where have you been hunting?"

"They've got their own clubs and bars.  I don't go into those.  Abby probably knows most of them because they're whispered about in her circles.  Some want and some warn."  He shrugged at that.  "Usually I go to dance clubs.  Packed places with music loud enough that you won't hear a scream.  They hunt where the club rapists go for the same reasons.  I usually do a turn through the Mall itself, just in case there's a gathering going on.  Those you'll get chaos people, humans and not, who want to call on the powers that the bellybutton to hell gives them.  Usually me showing up is enough for some of them to either laugh and break whatever they're doing or to make them jog off before they're caught.  I've been slowly learning my way around the area and I've been slowly working my way toward the 'burbs.  I'm still only one guy though.  Maybe you should put out a story about a new rapist or something.  It might make people more cautious."

Abby came bouncing back and handed over the forms she had.  "Here, Gibbs, from Willow.  She found about ten times what we had.  The pattern was confirmed however.  We broke it down by night as well."  Xander grinned at her so she smiled back.  "Did you scare McGee?"

"Hey!" he complained.

"Never mind, you took my valium."  She looked at Tony.  "You scared Tony?  That wasn't nice, Xander."

"Yeah, well, we had a few moments there where I abused the notion that real vampires are fluffy little kittens."  He grinned at her.  "You wanna go hunting with me?"

"Eww, no.  It'd be like killing family."  She pursed her lips together and shook her head. "I'm not really comfy with that but I can protect myself from those who try me."

"Good girl," he praised, smiling brightly and stroking up her arm.  "I need to date someone like you instead of the scary bitches I've had.  Fix me up?" he begged, giving her the puppy eyes.

She snickered.  "Most of the women I know are still scary, Xander.  Just not in the homicidal way yours usually are.  None of mine would want to eat you, just take care of you and make you goth too."

"I can do goth, but they've got to like my bike," he teased.  "I look hot and scary as hell in leather pants."

She hugged him. "I'll check with my girls, see who's single.  You could use a good girl or guy."

"Not much one for guys.  Been there, didn't do much for me," he admitted.

"You need a real stud then, Xander. It's all good in the community."  She kissed him on the cheek and grinned at Gibbs.  "She wants to know if you need that extra box of stuff."

"Please.  Just in case.  We'll give them back to her and Harris when we're done with them."  She nodded, bouncing off.  He looked down at Xander.  "You date scary women?"

"No, usually I end up dating women who want to kill me.  Let's see, there was the man- eating bug lady.  The mummy who wanted to suck my life force and kill me.  There was the cranky cheerleader who did suck the life outta me.  There was the former demon who had sexual issues, mainly she was a nympho and only loved me because I had a job so I was going to buy her things.  You saw Bethany, I still see her now and then.  There's been about six others who wanted to kill me as well.  A few turned out to be vamps, some not."

"That's worse than my dating record and your three exes together, Boss," Tony said dryly.

"Shut up, DiNozzo."  He looked at the kid again.  "How do you tell?"

"Me personally?"  Gibbs nodded, crossing his arms to stare at him.  "You ever go clubbing?"

"Not in many years."

"Okay.  Remember way back when," he said with a shit-eating grin. "You'd walk in and scan the crowd.  You, Pretty Boy, and Fluffy there would probably be looking for someone hot to blow you in the back or the bathrooms."  McGee made a protesting noise so he looked at him.  "Never mind, you don't club."

"I do so go to clubs!"

"Martini bars, bars in general, and piano and music clubs don't count, Fluffy.  I'm talking about *clubbing*.  The act where you go where they play loud music so you can dance like you're having sex standing up in hopes to show that you'll be getting some later with someone who likes your style."  McGee gave him a dirty look.  "That sort of clubbing.  Like the oh-so-phallic torpedo themed place downtown.  Clubbing."  He looked at Gibbs again.  "These people seem a bit off.  A bit too desperate.  They're the ones in the shortest skirts who flirt the most.  They're the ones in the tightest pants.  Not the 'I'm a nympho and I'll do anything as long as I get some' but the 'I'll do anything if you'll feed my addiction for fun' sort.  Just this side of nympho."  Gibbs smirked a bit at that.  "You only see them in goth gear, and that's only usually the older styles, if they're really old.  They like to cling to the styles they had when they were alive.  Anyone from before the twenties, you'll see them in something velvet, long dresses, jewelry, long hair.  Those are the only goth looking vampires unless they were like that when they died. Usually the personality is the same, just more dark, evil, and sadistic once they're turned.  That's the demon infecting them.  They're the sort that'll come up and drool you to death because you smell nice, not because you dance well, but because you look well."

Tony sat up.  "I've run into more of those recently."

"There were vamps here before the hellmouth in town opened, just not as many.  They're drawn to it, like most demons are.  The power calls to them from hell's bellybutton.  Generally the closer you are to it, the more you'll find them.  Now, your hellmouth is unique because that area is just where it's coming out, it's not the center.  The center is a bit away.  So if you find the epicenter of the attacks, you'll find the hellmouth itself. This is their hunting grounds.  Their lairs, homes and safe spaces like their personal clubs, are further out.  Hellmouths are unpredictable.  If they open, and they often do, and something comes out, then vampires are on the bottom of the food chain. They want a chance to run if that's the case."

Gibbs nodded slowly.  "That's sound strategically as well."  Xander nodded.  "Do they drive?"

"Yeah, they can do anything they did when they were alive. Drive, fight, have sex, drink.  They do occasionally eat but they don't have to.  I know a few who add things to their blood to make it have texture."  He smirked a bit evilly. "You've never had breakfast until you've had breakfast sitting across from a vampire who just put Lucky Charms into his mug of blood and is sitting there playing with the marshmallows." Tony gagged at that.  "Sorry.  One of the Initiative's pet projects was a behavior modification chip.  It shocks the hell out of your brain when you have bad thoughts about hurting others.  They used those on the vampires.  One of them escaped and came to our group for help.  He'd been a pain in our asses for a while but we needed the help so we took him in.  I spent many a day with Spike tied to the recliner in my former basement apartment. Of course, my formerly demonic ex fucked him night and day when I wasn't looking because he could go all night and I'm still human and was only nineteen at the time, but hey."  He grinned at Gibbs.  "Can you have it put around that there's some sort of weird cult in town going around killing to raise power and takes the blood for their rites?  Don't have it associated with the goth movement but it would make people more cautious and wary.  Thankfully this one'll only stay open for a few years, then we're moving to New York from what I've heard."

"I'll warn someone up there that you're coming when you're heading," Gibbs assured him.  He stared the boy down.  "That's not a bad idea but I don't know how to do that."

"You've got how many dead soldiers, Gibbs?  You'll never find their killers and in truth, it was a cult of beings who killed them and used their blood for their rites and rituals, like dinner.  Use one.  It'll give the family closure to know something because no one will ever believe that their loved ones were eaten by vampires. Just don't go with the old 'gangs of people on PCP' thing that Sunnydale did.  We all knew there wasn't enough PCP in the universe for the homicide rate we had."  He stood up and looked at the maps Abby had handed him, tracing it out with a finger.  "Okay, the hellmouth is here.  For some reason it's skewing toward the river?  What's that way?" he asked quietly.  "Holy ground of some sort, some holy relic?"

"Arlington," he said quietly.

"A big plot of hallowed ground.  That's enough reason to warp away from it," Xander agreed.  He looked around.  "Looks like we've got another spot of warping here but it looks localized.  I'm guessing probably one of the more holy churches, one with true faith."

"There's an African American church there," Gibbs offered.  "Somewhere on that block."

"They've usually got stronger faith than most of the other groups.  Baptist or Methodist?"

"Methodist I think."

"Yeah, they'll be fine.  They might get attacked but we'll put them on the watch list.  Sometimes one of them will be smart and try to take out the things that prevent them from hunting an area. It wouldn't be the first time a church was burned," he said, sounding a bit sad.  He pointed at another spot.  "What's here?  Catholic church isn't it?"  Gibbs nodded.  "They've probably got a holy relic or two inside, or they're very devout.  That's what causes the warping, the strength of the faith that's soaked in for so long.  It protects the building and the lands around it by radiating that faith back."  He traced the other disturbances.  "You've got a good church culture here.  Sunnydale had twelve churches and none of them caused any warping.  Ooh."  He pointed at a spot.  "What's here?  That's got to have a power point with the way they're grouped."

Tony came over to look.  "There's a Catholic school there and a few other businesses.  Nothing like a club or where I'd expect them to hang out."

"A lot of times they hang out in warehouses, abandoned buildings, things like that.  Since they don't need running water and electricity, it's easier and they can gather their minions with them."  He tapped the two spots of disturbance, pulling out his phone.  He hit the send key, dialing Willow again.  "It's me again.  Did you notice the two power points?  Find out where?  Thanks.  No, but we do have some interesting warping going on.  A few good churches, it looks like Arlington is as well.  Yeah, thanks.  Let me know."  He hung up.  "She'll look into it.  It's not a highly studied phenomenon."

"You mean people study this stuff?" McGee asked.  "Why?"

"There was a whole group of people in England who ran the slayers and this was their life's work, Fluffy. They did this stuff for centuries, since before writing started.  Before they got blown up by a major demon a few years back, the Watchers's Council had the biggest library of paranormal, magical, and sacred texts anywhere on this plane or any others that we know of.  And yes, before you say it, magic does exist."  He looked at Tony's desk, then around, lighting a candle on top of a filing cabinet.  Then he nodded at it for their benefit.  "Willow doesn't know I can do that so don't tell her, 'kay?" he offered with a grin.  He looked at Gibbs again.  "I'm figuring this is probably going to have to be a multi- phase attack plan.  We're going to have to get people paranoid to be safer and lower the death rates and we're going to have to hunt stronger now and then.  Or really I will.  The news of the cult will go faster and easier.  You can say that they moved on to New York if you want when we all go."

Gibbs considered it.  "I'd have to ask the higher ups about that.  They handle that stuff. I just solve crimes."

"That's cool with me," Xander agreed.  "You guys can get hold of us now.  What else can I help with?"

"The Initiative stuff."

"Hey, if you want the torturing freako bastards, go for it," he promised.  "We took out a good number of them and their little pet Frankenstein monster they were working on.  Doctor Walsh was not a happy woman when her baby ran her through."

"Doctor Walsh?" Tony asked.

Xander walked over and opened both boxes, digging into them.  "Personnel list," he said proudly, handing it to him.  He tossed McGee the CD carrier.  "ID and Hunting manuals.  Make sure Abby makes copies for anyone who needs 'em.  Willow encrypts them and the password is given to you by her.  It's already in there."  He nodded, going to hand those to her at Gibbs' nod, because he was really confused.  Xander waited until he was gone and looked at Gibbs.  "Will he be able to handle this?" he asked quietly.

"No.  He'll handle the other stuff if we end up slacking due to this."

"That's fine."  Xander dug through some other things, coming up with a set of DVD's.  "Here, security footage of them testing things and what things could do.  We used that in conjunction with the manuals to determine if there were inaccuracies in the manuals.  They make good demonstration models.  Whatever you do, if someone named Finn, Graham, or Dravin show up, arrest them.  They're doing the demon hunting now but they were part of that."  Tony shuddered.  "Graham's his first name I think."  He shrugged.  "He was part of Riley Finn's hit squad that gathered test subjects."  He got back to work.  "Ah-ha!  This you'll need," he said, handing it directly to Gibbs.  "That's proof that they took some innocent goth kids and hurt them a few years back.  That way you can get them on legitimate homicide without having to expose everyone to demons and make them all drunken slobs."

Gibbs put them on the desk behind him.  "Thanks for that, kid.   Now, let's get back to the other topic.  How are you hunting that much?"

"I get off work at three, head out then, go home and sleep at sunup."  He shrugged.  "It limits my time out but my nights off I get more done.  After I'm done here, I'll either go back to work or go hunting."

"How about if you trained some volunteers?" Gibbs asked.

"Staking isn't as easy as it looks, Gibbs.  Vamps are five to ten times stronger than a person, they're faster too.  It's like knife fighting with only one target that's viable to hurt them.  If you know someone who can knife fight and has good hand-to-hand, I'll gladly work with them.  In return, if I've got to go undercover, I'd expect them to give me some backup."

"You, undercover?" McGee snorted as he returned.

"Yeah, because I know the life.  I can walk the walk and talk the talk and beat the shit outta the minions easily.  There's always times when a good hunter ends up in their territory.  Not that they can't tell that I'm alive, but they know that I'm marked by at least three Masters."

"Um," Tony asked, raising a finger.

"Over a hundred years old and have sired a childe.  Angelus, Spike, and Dru all marked me as theirs to turn.  Spike and Angel are still alive.  Poor Dru got it in the end by her chaos demon and his slime dripping horns."  He looked at Gibbs.  "We got a deal?"

"We've got a deal," he agreed.  "You wanna show me some moves?"

"You got a vamp handy?  It's not like I wanna hurt Pretty Boy and Fluffy here."

"Let him have Ziva, Boss," Tony offered with an evil smirk.

"Oh, gee, you still have Satan's Mistress here?" he asked dryly.

"Yeah, she's around here somewhere.  Tony, call her back so we can see."

"Sure, Boss, gladly."  He paged her and then leaned against the front of his desk. "Do you think we can keep it down?"

"With some mild paranoia started and people patrolling, it has in the past," Xander offered.  "If I have to, I'll summon one of the younger brats myself.  It'll help.  She can't get in everywhere but just having one here will help some.  More than vamps I'm worried about the chaos sorcerers moving in and trying their hands at power politics."

"That's not real," McGee said.

"Now, look at the candle and say that," Xander retorted.  Ziva walked in.  "Morning."

Ziva glared at him.  "What is he doing here?"

"Dead soldiers with a lot of blood loss.  That's my thing," he said cheerfully.  "And you're my practice dummy, Mistress of Hell."

"I know three martial arts," she said bitterly.   Xander shrugged and attacked, making her defend herself.  "This isn't the area for that."  She blocked a hit but the boy backed her further against a desk, making her duck and move.  He grinned and followed, knocking her down and a stake appeared in his hand, resting against her chest.  "How did you do that?"

"I fight things that are stronger, faster, and stupider than you," he noted dryly, getting up.  He tossed it at Gibbs.  "I've got others at home.  So, who's your knife fighter?"  He ran a hand through his hair.  "I really prefer sneak attacking.  They don't fight back as often and don't scream and whine to bring others running."

"I can tell.  Nice job," he praised.

Tony raised a hand slightly.  "Is that a formal style?"

"No."  Xander glanced at him and she sprung up, going for him again.  He grabbed her and put her on her back, then muttered something with a hand on her face, making her go still.  "And that, Fluffy, is magic to bind and paralyze her."  He looked at Tony again and grinned his most goofy grin.  "I've picked it up here and there over the last eight years.  After tripping over my feet, falling into graves, and getting my ass kicked, I learned."  He turned and freed her.  "Now try it again and I'll put you back down and leave you frozen.  Let's see if Gibbs can track down someone else who can do magic."

Ziva groaned and stood up slowly, rubbing the back of her head.  "Are we done now?"

"Sure," Gibbs agreed.  "You and I are learning how to do that."

"Fine," she agreed.  "Why?"

"Lots of people with lack of blood when their bodies were found," Gibbs told her.  "Base personnel and not."

"What's the cause?"

Xander took one of the videos out of the CD carrier and handed it to Tony.  "Run that, I can do the usual lecture, Pretty Boy."

"You could use my name."

"Why?  You're so cute," he cooed, pinching him on the cheek.  "Some day, Fluffy there will grow into a man like you."

"Fluffy?" Ziva asked.  McGee raised a hand slightly.

"He's always like this, Ziva, feel free to join the club," Tony complained, handing it to McGee.  "Run that. It's on your computer."  He ran it and Xander came over to put in the password he had.  It opened up more files and McGee looked at him.

He opened one, pointing at it.  "This is Spike.  Spike was a vampire who was behavior chipped by a super covert government and military program called the Initiative."  He started to pace.  "We know this for a fact because we saw the chip when he died.  I also know Spike very well because I became his babysitter for a while. Before anyone says anything about vampires," he said, taking the remote McGee held out.  He flipped up five screens. "That's one in full vamp mode.  Notice the ridges on the brow and the differences in the eyes and face.  That is not makeup and contacts."  He flipped back two. "Neither is that."  He looked at Ziva.  "That is a person being killed.  We were taping the area and found it going on."  He clicked on a button.  "Watch."  The film ran and McGee ran to get sick.  Ziva turned pale.  Gibbs groaned and turned away.  Xander stopped it and looked at Tony.  "That makes you able to handle this.  Gibbs?"

"I'll take it with you and Ziva," he told Tony.  He looked at Xander.  "That fine with you?"

"Sure.  Easy enough to train three.  That gives me a demonstration model."  He grinned again.  "When and where?"

"How about your next night off?" Gibbs suggested.

"Sunday.  Bar's closed."

"You're bartending?" Ziva asked.

"Yeah, at a very nice biker bar.  I don't suggest you come in.  Some of the guys are a bit...sexist.  And some are fairly anti-foreigner after their last military service."

"It happens," Tony admitted.  "I'm guessing the greater majority are okay?"

"Yeah, and my boss knows what I do after I go home."  He leaned against a desk.  He flipped to the second picture and showed it to them.  "There are approximately six hundred vamps in the US that we know of," he told them.  "As far as I know, there's about fifty already in town making more of themselves.  Those dead soldiers, you have two choices.  Either prepare your ME for someone to raise, or have him start to insert small pieces of wood in the heart and then expect some to turn to dust.  Usually one out of every ten food sources are turned."  He flipped forward again.  "Okay, this is one who was turned and rose.  Notice the ME backing away slowly.  That guy has some sense. Watch."  The fledge rose up and looked around, then grabbed the ME.  Suddenly he burst out in screaming terror.  "Notice that he's presently burning.  The ME was smart and had a holy artifact on him and habitually drank holy water so the vampire's not having fun at the moment.  The fledge is about too...."  He paused.  The fledge burst into dust.  "And that's what happens when they go 'sploosh'.  Wood to the heart, and only the heart.  If you're off by even a centimeter, you're going to do it again and again until they either kill you or you get it right.  If you're off and keep going off, then you're likely dead.  As is that ME now.  He sorta died when the town fell in."

"Fell in?"

Xander walked over and typed in another address, bringing up an internet site.  "This is what happens when a hellmouth implodes," he said, enlarging the aerial view of the town.  "If it's not closed as soon as it opens, things come out.  Starting with a very mean fifty- someodd foot tentacle monster that really hates my ass.  If it stays open, it'll eventually have to close and this will create pressure.  Just like a bomb.  Outflow and then suck."  He enlarged the picture again.  "Notice the radius of the implosion.  This one was particularly bad.  Right before it sucked the town in, we were inside it fighting with some unstoppable vampires.  We won.  Barely."  He looked at Tony.  "Have you been to Sunnydale since the last time we talked?"

"No.  Is anyone still there?"

"Yeah.  Some people moved back and decided to rebuild.  Giles, the Watcher we worked with when Buffy was alive, is still there and training the remaining slayers there.  They're about here," he said, pointing at a small building.  "They're also mostly underground at the moment.  The town's rebuilding but it's slow."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Hell's really not as hot as they say but it's really overcrowded and I could've sworn I saw some politicians."  He tossed the remote to Tony.  "All yours, Pretty Boy.  Until you either turn off that computer or take out the disc, you've got access to the heavier background files.  After that, the password in the carrier will get you into the general files.  We do that so the nice little kids that end up as slayers have to actually call for help if they get into something too big.  Because they're all cocky teens with superhero complexes.  Learn from that mistake, Pretty Boy.  You had it the last time I saw you."  He saluted Gibbs and smirked.  "Need me for more, Gibbs?  Or should I take my bike back to work?"

"How about you show us how to hunt or we go look at the bodies?  Ducky's still here?"  McGee nodded.  "Then let's go.  Maybe you can tell."

"Sure."  He followed them onto the elevator.  "Usually they rise the same night.  So either you're missing bodies or they're really retarded vampires."  They got off the elevator and he grinned at the ME.  "Ducky."

"Xander!"  He walked over and hugged him.  "What are you doing here?"  He pushed him back to look over.  "Where is my stupid, young nephew?"

"Still back on the hellmouth, but we've got one here now so he sent Willow and me."  He grimaced a bit.  "Now I get to train these guys how to do it."  He grinned at him.  "We love you.  How many have you had rise? Since the hellmouth opened here?"

"Only three so far.  I suspect we've missed a great many."  He smiled at the boss. "Jethro, how on earth did you meet Xander?"

"Remember that case in Santa Clara?" Xander said dryly.  Ducky smiled and nodded.  "I met Pretty Boy, Fluffy, and Gibbs there.  Pretty Boy and Gibbs stayed but Fluffy and Satan's Mistress came back here to bother you guys."

"Satan's Mistress?" McGee asked.

"She came out and started to scream at him, he tossed her back a few times and kicked her off the construction site," Tony explained.  "Please use my name."

"Anthony," Ducky chided as only an older British man could.  "He's only teasing.  He's a very nice young man.  He was always so conscientious when I visited my nephew Rupert. Such a nice boy," he said, patting him on the cheek. "You must come see Mother again, Xander."

"Sure.  Invite me over.  I'm working at The Palm."

"Oooh, a motorcycle club.  Are you riding now?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "I'll ask you to take me for a ride later."

"I'm parked outside if you want."

"Not tonight.  There's a small issue of backflow of bodies."

"Yeah, the hellmouth here opened downtown and drew the creeps here."  He shrugged.  "Enter one researcher and one hunter.  Wills and I live over on J."

"Ah.  Give me your number so I can call."  Xander pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote it on his collar, making him smile.  "Thank you, that way I can't lose it."  He kissed him on the cheek.  "Be a good boy, Xander."

"Why don't you call him Alexander, Ducky?" Gibbs asked. "You use the rest of our proper names."

"Because I about slugged him for it," Xander said bitterly.  "It brings up some bad memories, okay?"  He looked at Ducky again.  "Call my pale, tired butt and I'll gladly give you a ride.  I do it for the neighborhood kids too."  He grinned.  "So, we need how many more bodies?"

"Going on the one-to-ten standard ratio?  Probably about eight more," he offered.

"Ooh, peachy," Xander said in direct imitation.  "If we're lucky or are you being overly optimistic?"

"That may be optimistic.  They may be building more people.  I do know that most of the ones I have are fairly ill.  Do we have anything from the old Council on beginning actions?"

"Barely.  Very barely.  A few journals.  That makes sense since minions equal power and the ability to rule an area, but if you make too many they get out of hand."  He frowned.  "We'll need a list of missing people then."

"We can do that tonight," Gibbs agreed.  "Can you meet us tomorrow?"

Xander looked at him.  "I go to work at six.  I get up at three.  Between those hours, stop over and we can do that.  I still need to eat and all that stuff."

Gibbs nodded.  "Good point. After all, you have to earn a living doing other stuff."

"If someone would pay me for it, I'd be happy but I doubt it's happening."  He shrugged and grinned again. "I'm headed back to work, Ducky.  You know the usual precautions.  Need my help at this moment?"

"Not unless one's going to rise.  I had hoped they'd send one of the girls and Rupert."

"No such luck.  He's underground back at hell's tongue and is training the remaining slayers.  I'll tell him you said hi and to come visit though.  He can shack up with Willow again."

"Really?" he asked, looking really impressed.  "They did?  Oh, I remember her, she was quite lively and pretty, yes, such a delicate young woman."

"They seriously did," he agreed dryly.  "They called it shock and recovering after the tragedy."  Ducky laughed.  "At least she wasn't as cranky for a few days and he quit cleaning his glasses unless she was there blushing at him."  He smirked a bit.  "I'll call and tell him you're here."

"Thank you.  I would appreciate at least a letter."  He patted the boy on the cheek again.  "Be safe and check in with me often.  Call me here if you get too hurt as well."  Xander nodded, giving him another hug, then he left.  "Jethro, you're relying on the most fragile of resources to solve this problem.  Be aware of that before you overuse him."

"That's why we're working out how to save the rest of us," he agreed.  "What do you know about the boy?"

"Not much.  What Rupert told me mostly.  He's had some things to say about the boy and what I saw when I was out there for my last visit, it totally countered his observations.  Perhaps Rupert wasn't studying the group, but I was very interested and I used the skills that Caitlyn and you had taught me over the years.  Study him, carefully.  He is still fairly fragile, Jethro, and he is still very human.  The boy will kill himself to save us all; he feels it's his duty, but it's not just his job."

"He said he could call another hunter out," Tony offered.

"That won't be enough.  This isn't the usual situation and he knows it.  Someone *opened* this Hellmouth.  Intentionally.  I can only guess why."

"I'll keep that in mind and talk to the boy again," Gibbs assured him.  "Is he that good?"

"Oh, my, yes, though Rupert never saw it.  None of them ever saw the real him.  That boy is much more complicated than everyone gives him credit for.  To them he's either a goofy young lad who likes to joke around, or he's some sort of foot soldier.  He's all that and more.  Take care of that young man.  He is the one who saves us all too often."

"Fine.  McGee, get me that list of missing personnel from all the area bases and stations.  DiNozzo, get some rest.  You'll need to do some training to train with him.  You and me both.  I only jog most of the time."

"Sure, Boss.  I can't believe they did some of those things."

"Which them?  Vampires are known to torture and pillage upon whim of their demons."

"The Initiative, Ducky," Tony said quietly.

Ducky turned and hit the wall, then looked at him.  "Should you find those bastards, I would like to sit in on the interrogation and torture."

"We have their files upstairs, Ducky," Gibbs said calmly.  "Two boxes and some DVD's they pulled with another box coming."

"Jethro, do not watch those alone," he ordered quietly, stepping closer. "The one I had the misfortune to see them editing for dark frames and power outages made me ill and I've seen about everything mankind has dreamt up to this date in history."

"I'll take that under advisement, Ducky," he agreed.  "We'd better go. Will you be okay?"

"I'm fine, Jethro. I can easily stake a fledgling vampire.  Go home and rest.  It will be a long week."  They nodded and left.  Ducky said a silent prayer and went back to his wood embedding program.

***

Xander walked into the bar, nodding at his boss.  "Sorry.  Had to hand over new information on that nasty crap I do after hours."

"You a Fed, boy?" one of the bikers called.

"No.  They needed my input on a case.  I used to do construction."  He looked at his boss, giving him a long stare.  "So, do you need me back tonight since Sue's here?"

"Go.  Sleep for once."

Xander grinned.  "Thanks, Boss.  Maybe I'll even guilt Willow into cooking."  He turned and found two of the bikers behind him.  "Yes, gentlemen?"

"You went with the Feds," one said, poking him.

Xander looked up at him.  "Of course I did.  They asked for my *help* with something.  That's a nice thing.  They had to come bust a guy for child molestation at a construction site I worked on in Cali.  They knew me and know I know my shit.  They didn't ask a thing about you guys, only the hours I'm here so they can get me without having to bother you guys.  They were even very polite and nice to the guys here at that time."

"They're still cops!" the second one sneered.

"Technically, they're Marine and Navy cops.  They handle dead Marines and dead Sailors.  Things like that.  That isn't anything at all to do with you unless you're in the Reserves?"  They both sneered. "Then they weren't here for you, just for some information I had.  Hence me being back already."

"What can *you* help them with?" the first sneered.  Xander glanced at his boss, who shook his head. "No, don't look at him, punk."  He took a swing and Xander blocked it.

"Boss?"

"Don't. You know better."

"What?  He can't fight us!" the second sneered.

Xander sighed.  "Boss?  One way or the other."

"Boys, stand down!" the owner ordered.  That brought some of the bouncers.  "Now, boys.  Let's not make Xander prove he can brawl with the best of them.  We don't want another pool stick incident, do we?"

"I'm not usually that mean, Boss," Xander complained.  He continued to stare at the guys.  "All they wanted to do was talk to me about some construction stuff.  I'm very good at that stuff."  He shrugged.  "They're nice guys finding the bad guys who kill soldiers."  He got shoved again and he looked at the bouncers.  "Last time.  Fair warning."  He saw the door open and saw who came in, Pretty Boy.  He looked at them again and shrugged.  "It was construction stuff.  Nothing massive or truly important."

"You told them what we do here," the first accused.  He shoved Xander and Xander sighed, slugging him in the gut and backhanding the second one.  He walked over them shaking his head.  "Boss, I'm going home now."

"Sure.  Thank you for not continuing."  He smirked at the Fed. "You wanna tell them what you needed them for?"

"Something relating back to the construction case we had to interrupt one of his jobs over.  It had arms dealing, child molesters, and embezzlement dating back ten years.  He took over for the guy we arrested.  He helped us with the forms we were confiscating."  He walked in and looked at them.  "We don't care what you do unless you're in the reserves or on active duty.  We only care about what happens in the Marines and the Navy."  He looked at him.  "Thank you for lending us the kid earlier."

"Not a problem.  He's a good kid.  Try to keep him calm."

"I'll try.  Does he tease you too?"

"Not if he wants paid."

Tony nodded.  "Wish I had that hold over him."  He looked at the kid again.  "I'm following you home."  He walked out, going with him.  "One of the DVD's wasn't readable."

"He's pirating them?"

"No, I have a hacker buddy who hacked a security system on a base and caught someone doing something really fucking stupid," Xander told him.  "They tracked her through me, yet again.  Whole different matter, Boss."

"Maybe you're gonna go take it up the ass from him," the guy on the floor sneered.  He stood up, glaring at the boy. "Is that it?"

"First, not my thing," Xander noted dryly, leaning on the wall.  "Even if I was gay, I wouldn't want you, or anyone in here.  I have definite requirements for my lovers, and one of them is at least a 36-C.  So, until he starts taking drugs and becomes at least a tranny, he's not for me.  Mind what goes on in your ass, not mine."  The guy roared and ran at him.  Xander moved and let him hit the wall.  The guy caught him around the waist and he flipped him off, then walked over him.  "I'm going home, Boss.  See you tomorrow night or not?"

"That's fine."  He waved and looked at the agent.  "Try to keep him out of trouble.  He's a good boy. Most of the time."

"So I got told by our ME."  He walked after the boy, looking at his bike. "That's a nice ride.  When did you start riding?"

"About a year ago.  When Sunnydale went ...."  He spit.  "It spoke to me."  He got on and put on his helmet.  "You don't remember where I live?"  Tony shook his head.  "Follow me, Pretty Boy Fed."  He sighed and took off.

"Why won't he use my name?" he complained as he got into his car. He might like the kid if he used his name.   He followed him back to his place and parked, then followed him inside.

Xander leaned in Willow's apartment.  "If you're on with Giles tell him his uncle Ducky said hi.  He's the ME for the NCIS guys I'm working with.  Also, Gibbs is getting a list of missing persons unaccounted for.   You might be getting those.  Also tell him his uncle wants to have an actual, face-to-face conversation with him if he wouldn't mind. Note that I've noticed a good bit of warping of the energy fields here due to positive energy and I'm looking into that if he's got sources still with him, and yes, we could use a girl here.  I'm off for the rest of the night but I've got Pretty Boy with me.  Have fun with the chatting stuff."  He closed her door and headed up the stairs, opening his.

"You don't lock your door?"

"I had it coded so only I can open my door," he offered, letting him in and shutting it behind him.  He ran his hand over a piece of it.  "Willow did the security for me."  He headed for the kitchen, taking off his jacket on the way.  "I've got decent beer, crummy beer, koolaid, and soda.  You want?"

"Soda's fine.  Thanks, Xander."  A can got tossed to him and he smiled at the beer.  "You thought I needed it?"

"Soda's still warm.  My fridge needs replaced," he admitted, coming out with a warm can of soda.  "See?"  He let him feel it.  "So, which one was unreadable?"

"Just an excuse.  I wanted to get some more information from you."  He followed Xander to the couches, sitting on the opposite end from him.  "How long do you think this'll last?"

"Probably a few months after it's closed for good," he admitted, opening his soda.  He got up and found a book he had, bringing it over.  "This is the one on the warping I noticed earlier."  He let him see the maps.  "It was done in London, but you can see the holy relics and the holiest of holy grounds and where they are."

"What language is this in?"

"Latin.  I had to learn, almost none of the research materials were in teenager or English."  Tony grinned at that.  "I passed English with a D but I read at least ten languages.  It's an odd thing to be me."  He sat down and curled up with a groan.  "Sorry, sore back.  We had some major brawls last night."

"I bet.  Some of them didn't look that friendly."  He looked the boy over.  "You're not the same guy, kid."

"I am, I'm just the guy who went on the hunt there that you followed around and watched tease the succubus."  He sipped his soda, grinning a bit.  "The other me shows up a lot and we're all good about that."  He smirked a bit.  "My boss at the bar, he's a Vet and had been captured by a hunting group of vamps in 'Nam, he told one guy I don't have a 'flee' response anymore, just a strategic retreat."  He stood up and stretched, then winced again.  "Let me get something for that, I'll be right back."  He headed into the bathroom then came back out with the bottle of pain killers.  Tony looked at it, then at him.  "Recent injuries were worse than usual."  He popped one and gulped some of his soda, making a gross face.  "They should at least cover them with something that isn't so nasty tasting."

Tony watched the boy.  "You don't plan to retire, do you?"

"I figured out a long time ago that I'm already dead," Xander said seriously.  "I'm just too stubborn to lay down and actually fade.  After eight years of constant combat, life threatening emergencies, watching my friends die and be turned, and then watching all of us go to hell, I'm fine with dying.  If I die during a hunt, I'm good with that as long as I take him or her out too.  If I die on the job I might be a bit pissed at dying due to a human being doing it, but hey.  You can't choose your method unless you're committing suicide, right?"  He saluted him with his soda. "We all go sometime."

"Point."  He leaned forward, resting on his knees.  "What have you guys handled out there?  I doubt a small town like Sunnydale could hold more vampires than DC could."

"Ah, but Sunnydale was a hellmouth that was active for over two hundred years.  Every inch of that town was oozing the energy from it.  Those of us born there were slightly warped by it.  Those who moved there got it within their first year.  Energy like that is radiation, Pretty Boy.  You endure it.  When you leave, you start to feel a bit sick because you're used to it and the lack of it outside, keeping the energy inside you high, isn't there.  When I left to go to Santa Clara, I was sick by the time I got home.  Willow and I both had to head to LA to detox before coming here so we'd be watched.  The radiation here, even standing directly over the hellmouth's opening, isn't anything compared to where we came from," he offered quietly.  "You've got power here, but even the unholy power that some use is cleaner here.  The vamps are weaker here.  The demons are weaker here.  The chaos and white lighter witches are weaker here.  Hell, I think I'm the only strong one magically and that's really odd considering Willow's thousands of times stronger than I am."

"Why?"

"Because she learned magic on the hellmouth and tied herself into it," he said quietly.  "She can touch ground and earth magic but the hellmouth calls for her.  I learned it off the hellmouth and I learned how to touch a lot of different magics, and I never touched the hellmouth's magic.  She's had a much worse time with this than I have.  I figure within the year she'll be back in Sunnydale and I'll be here by myself and doing long distance reporting."  Someone knocked.  "I knew you were listening," he called.  "It's open."  She walked in and handed him a plate, smiling at Tony.  "Ducky said you were cute."

"I remember Ducky and Giles is bringing Eliana out next week."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "You will be careful," she ordered, staring into his eyes.  "You're still not at full fighting level."

"I'm fine," he reminded her, eating a bite of dinner.  "I have been fine.  It hasn't stopped me from hunting yet, just caught me off guard the other day.  I've already begun compensating for it."

"Fine."  She smiled at Tony.  "I'm making pot roast, Agent DiNozzo, would you like some?"

"No, that's fine," he offered with a smile. "I've got cold pizza and chinese at home."

"That's his usual thing too," she admitted with a grin.  "That's why I have to cook things like pot roasts."  He smiled more brightly at that and she grinned a happier grin.  "So, is he training one of your agents?"

"Myself, my boss, and our lone female agent."

"Cool.  I'm guessing you guys already know some hand-to-hand so it should go okay.  After you get the basics, it's basically practicing and going hunting to watch him do it so you don't die within your first week."  She sighed and looked at Xander.  "I miss our treks through the cemeteries."

"Me too, Wills, but we can't help it."  She nodded, leaving them alone and closing the door after her.  "It's been a hard few years on her.  She lost her soul mate, Tara, she had grief issues, then the Hellmouth started to open to let out one of the top people in evil."  He ate another bite.  "Sorry, if I'm not finished by the time she comes back for the plate, she'll nag."

"You gotta eat when you get the chance," Tony agreed, relaxing again.  "You were badly injured in that last fight?"

"A bit.  Some before it too."  He shrugged.  "It happens to even the best of us.  Slayers usually survive about ten months, average.  Buffy lasted almost seven years. I've lasted eight and so has Willow but she doesn't do much with the hunting."

"How?"

"I'm a stubborn bastard.  Sometimes you've got to be.  I'm also very, very lucky," Xander assured him.  Tony nodded at that, smirking a bit.  Xander shrugged one shoulder.  "I'm fine with that knowledge and I know I'm not the best.  VanHelsing I'm not.  Though that was a cute movie.  She and I sat and giggled over it a few times."

"I'm guessing you guys watched _Interview_ and laughed too?" he teased.

"Quite a bit.  Yes, vampires can have sex."  He finished his dinner and put the plate down, then stretched out again, only wincing a bit this time.  "Sorry, sore back and my head's still aching."

"Concussion?"

"No.  Not recently anyway. A few in the past."  Tony raised an eyebrow.  "In my younger days I had this nasty habit of hitting walls.  I still do now and then but not as often."

"How did you learn hand-to-hand?"

"Hmm.  Truth?"  Tony nodded. "I had to, I was the biggest bully magnet in our school.  I had to learn some to protect myself and block shots.  Then I slowly built my way up.  There's stuff you could probably teach me and I could probably join a martial arts class or something, but I don't have the time for that or the energy.  Between work and hunting I'm not ever sure how I used to date."  He yawned.  "It happens I guess, but I'm not sure how I did it."

"Maybe it was because you weren't the only hunter."

"Point," Xander admitted.  He grinned.  "I used to go to clubs for fun."

Tony nodded.  "I do that now and then.  Where did you head for that?"

"In Sunnydale we only had one.  Here, I've been down at the torpedo place a lot.  It's open later since it's not really serving liquor.  By the time we go to New York I'm going to have to switch clubbing styles, I'll be too old to go to the good clubs and get in.  Maybe I'll take on a protege and train him to go.  One of the bikers at the club knows some and he's pretty decent."

"He might mind having to move and hunt all the time."

"We're hoping to get to New York and stop it before it opens.  We couldn't get here in time because Giles miscalculated the hour and time, plus our flight was late. Otherwise this wouldn't have been so much of an issue."

"We traced the prophecy you sent us.  We thought we had stopped it."

"Someone else probably took over after they noticed the first set was gaining power and status in their chosen fields.  People who play with those levels of power do it for what it brings them.  Power.  Magical, physical, monetary, status wise, all sorts of power.  Power to attract whatever pretty boy or girl they want.  Power to control things that they couldn't before.  All sorts of power out there and they want to gather as much as they can of it."

"I've met others like that," he admitted. "Our present director is like that."

"I'm so sorry.  Is she into the blacker arts?"

"No, just trying to reseduce the boss again."

Xander snorted.  "I think Gibbs is a man with taste.  If he's already left it once, he probably won't be going back to it.  He doesn't seem like someone to pick through the trash for the leftovers."

Tony giggled a bit at that imagery.  "No, he's not.  Anytime there's trash to go through, Probie and I get it."

"I'm sorry."  He grinned at him.  "You'll be fine.  You're already aware of your surroundings.  That's part of who you are and a major part of hunting.  The staking is actually secondary because you don't want to stake them unless you're sure they're a vampire.  Another very good reason to hunt in clubs, you can get close enough to feel lack of body temperature."

"Gibbs thought you were luring that succubus off to hunt her on the boardwalk."

"No, I wanted information but succubuses will do anything in the world to get laid.  They need sex to live, that's what they feed off of, the energy you give out during sex. That's why they go hunt in clubs as well.  They can soak it out of the air and don't have to kill, which is messy and brings attention to them."  Tony nodded at that.  "Vampires, as a rule, don't care about leaving bodies lying around unless they're being sneaky and building a family clan.  Those're usually the ones who're also planning on giving us the major problems or doing stupid stuff like putting nasty demons back together so the demon can destroy the world and give them somewhere dark and sluggish with blood to rule."

"Who did that?"

"Angelus.  Buffy's first love," he sighed, getting up to get another soda.  "You want another one?"

"No, I've still got half a can."

Xander nodded and headed into his bedroom, tossing over something when he came out.  "My journal from that year.  Angelus was a vampire who had been cursed with a soul.  It had a happiness clause.  He was in love with Buffy, our slayer friend, and granted her the lack of virginity for her seventeenth birthday.  Bye-bye soul."  He sat down again, hissing a bit.

"Are you still in pain?"

"More stretchy, muscle hurts really."  Tony looked at the bottle, then at him. "Yeah, I know.  It's what I have lying around."

"Ducky could get you something more suitable."

"I can't afford new drugs at the moment.  I have to pay mortgage costs."

"You own the building?"

"How else are we going to have somewhere to train, work, and live, plus store the weapons?"

"You sound like a terrorist cell now."

"Yeah, well, it's some of the same skills," he noted dryly. "We've seen some Feds before about that issue.  Especially after the school blew up."  He took another sip and looked out the window.  "Is that snow?"

"You've never seen snow?"

"Once and it caused hell on earth that day."  He got up to look, staring outside. "It's pretty."

"It is, but be careful driving on it.  You're liable to skid if you go too fast and you'll be braking slower too."

"Good to know.  They covered driving in snow theoretically in driver's ed, but I wasn't paying too much attention."  He sipped his soda. "I want that journal back within four days, Pretty Boy."

He stood up.  "I'll take this to Gibbs so he can read it first.   You should take a hot shower and go to bed."

"That's what I'm planning on."  He grinned at him.  "Have fun."

"You too.  Be safe."  He let himself out, heading down to his car.  Someone was drooling on it and he coughed.  "Federal Agent," he said dryly.

"Harris knows Feds?" he asked, smirking a bit. "Why?"

"I had to work on a case with him.  Does he call you cutesy names too?"  The guys laughed.  "Exactly."  He got into his car and drove off, heading for Gibbs' house.  It wasn't a long drive and he took the back roads so he wouldn't have to deal with traffic issues.  By the time he got there it was fully dark and Gibbs' lights were on but you couldn't see him inside.  He parked and got out, walking up to the door.  He didn't even have to knock, Gibbs was already opening it. "Heard me?"

"Saw you.  I was fixing more coffee."  Tony held up the journal.  "What's that?" he asked as he took it, letting him inside.

"His journal from when he was seventeen.  He said he wants it back in four days."  He followed him to the kitchen, sitting at the table to watch him move around for more coffee.  His boss leaned against the counter, starting to read.  "He's a bit injured, Boss.  Did Ziva tag him?"

"Not really.  She got a few blows in.  Why?"

"He was taking vicodin."

"For....."

"He said past injuries and he's got 'stretchy muscle hurts' at the moment.  Hissed a lot each time he moved."

"Hmm."  He went back to reading, turning the page after a moment.  "Who's Angel?"

"Buffy's first crush.  Apparently he was a vampire who had a curse and when he slept with her it uncursed his soul.  From what he said, he went back to being bad."

"Oh."  He went back to reading, then shook his head a few times.  "He should write fiction."  He handed it back after a few more pages.  "Tell me how it turns out."

"You want a book report?" he asked smartly.

"At least it should be better than your usual reports."  He smirked back.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah, there's something wrong with him.  I don't know what, Boss, but something's off.  He told me about the energy fluxes and those things and I'm wondering if he's still affected.  He's a lot quieter than he was before. He wasn't bouncing, chattering, or anything.  He got up to watch it snow."

"Everyone but you and Abby grow up and mature, DiNozzo."

"This wasn't mature, Boss. I'm not sure this isn't depression.  He said he's already dead, he's just too stubborn to fall down yet."

Gibbs sighed and nodded.  "Welcome to long term combat, DiNozzo.  After a while it sucks out your soul and you become a person who's not ready to die, but you've pretty much made friends with the idea."  He took a sip of coffee.  "Most people get breaks in combat, but you see it in field agents.  That's when you know to rotate them out of that area and give them a vacation and then different danger.  Or else they trip and fall."

Tony wrote down the address. "That's where he lives, Boss.  Just in case we need it.  They've apparently got the whole building.  He's got a training space in there somewhere. I made a joke about it sounding like a terrorist training cell and he said they'd been accused of that before, especially after the high school exploded."

"High school exploded?"  Tony nodded.  "When?"

"I'll find out tomorrow."

"Good.  Or ask Abby.  She's probably already got the fact file drawn up."  He finished that cup of coffee. "Anything else come of it?"

"We're getting a girl named Eliana in a week with Rupert Giles coming to visit his uncle."

"Good.  Ducky could use some fun.  Any other good news?"

"Yeah."  He stood up and walked over.  "Someone's got to watch the kid, Gibbs.  I'm serious, something's off about him even beyond the stress and tiredness.  You ever watch a marathon runner in that last few hundred feet, Boss?"  That got a slow head shake.  "They see the finish line coming and it's part anger that it's over with, but it's also joy and relief that it's over with.  That's what I saw in his eyes tonight.  Even at the office."

"That's still standard but you're right, he needs to be pulled from the field for a while."

"I doubt he'd let you, unless the whole town was covered.  I think we'll find that someone might have before and the kid went behind their backs to do it anyway, probably because whoever was taking his place wasn't doing a good enough job," he said quietly.   "He's not going to be here forever.  He said he wants to take whoever's killing him with him but he'll be mad if it's a human."

Gibbs nodded at that. "Next chance I get, I'll talk to the kid.  I'll also demand that Ducky look him over to make sure he's fit for combat."

"Do you think it'll matter?" a female voice said from beside them.  They both flinched, neither having heard her come in.  "Magic is very handy when you're strong enough to teleport," she offered with a grin.  "Agent DiNozzo."

"Miss Rosenburg.  Boss, this is Willow Rosenburg.  She's Xander's partner.  Willow, this is my boss, Agent Jethro Gibbs."

"Agent Gibbs," she said with a grin, shaking his hand.  "Xander's a funny subject to think about, but he'll do what's necessary. He always has.  Otherwise he wouldn't have been in the hellmouth with us while injured."  Gibbs looked a bit concerned at that.  She handed him some papers.  "All the missing persons cases reported and where they were last. You've got someone building an army at the moment.  I'm guessing they're going to have a turf war. The other stuff from Sunnydale will be in with Giles personally, who'll be in next Thursday.  As for having someone give Xander a physical?"  She snorted.  "Good luck with that.  Try sedation.  I hear it's a nicer option than chains and handcuffs.  Though, knowing Xander's past with Anya, he might not mind handcuffs. One never knows what Xander will pull outta his butt.  Not even me and I've known him since we were five.  There's still a lot *I* don't know about Xander and no profiler anywhere has ever managed to figure him out.  They wanted him to think about disability after he got so injured, before the last fight in Sunnydale, and he wouldn't.  He will go out fighting some day.  That day won't be this week however."

"Maybe he should step back," Gibbs told her.  "That way he can ease back into a more normal routine and let someone handle some of the fighting with him."

"We thought about that when we realized he was doing more hunting than Buffy was because she was having problems.  It didn't quite work that well.  He went out and did it anyway without telling us.  We only knew thanks to the rumors he nearly got shived one night on his own stake. Buffy went to yell at him and he slammed the door in her face and went back to bed.  Xander is a stubborn creature of habit, like most humans, but he's taking it to a whole new level.  We used to hunt as a group until we were stupid and tried to send him off for his own good.  We haven't been a groupy group since the year in that journal he gave you."  She grimaced a bit.  "Xander isn't a lone wolf, but he can be if you make him or let him.  Here, he's about the only hunter.  Therefore he has to be.  I'd rather he not go out alone but I can't hunt half as well as he can and I'll be damned if I'm dying this year when I'm finally starting to heal."  They both nodded.  "It's also safer to hunt in groups.  How you'll do that with where he goes, I'm not sure," she admitted, looking at Gibbs again.  "You're a military guy though, so you can hopefully plan about as good as Xander."  She pulled a CD out and held it up.  "What we know.  Which I admit is about half of what he's done."

"Your group started to fall apart and he did it anyway?" Tony suggested, sitting down again.  She nodded.  "Why?"

"Because we were so stupid," she sighed, shaking her head.  She sat down next to him.  "Imagine this.  You've only got four friends in the entire world.  You have one who used to be a friend and is still around annoying you and you feel lust for her. You're a geeky, jokey guy who likes to play pranks.  Now, you stake your only male friend, your only female friends end up being special beings with special powers and finding their own lives while you're dating the former friend that you have lust for and she's constantly belittling you along with your friends who don't want you to get hurt and feel a tad bit superior for having special skills.  What do you do?"

"You either leave the area totally or you find a way to become someone they like more," Tony said.

She nodded.  "Xander did the second.  If we had known, we would've stopped him.  Mostly because we thought he'd get hurt and we undervalued him all the time.  It wasn't until graduation that I saw Xander as useful again.  That was about a year and a half after I started my superiority complex with Buffy because I had magic, she was a slayer, and he was a normal human guy who liked to tell jokes and laugh."  She grimaced.  "And it was all our fault and Giles helped.  We still do at times.  Sometimes we just can't help it.  When Giles gets here, you're going to see a radical personality shift whenever he's in the room.  Xander's got a firm set of behaviors he practices in front of him.  He won't spar with him in the room.  He'll end up tripping if he's watching him fight.  He does that to me too."  She looked at Gibbs again, noticing he looked worried.

"That's why I'm here.  I can't help him.  I'm already way too far down that path and much too tired from energy draining stuff like magic to backtrack and rebuild ten years of friendship I've already lost.  Or even the last few years when I was treating him like a lesser being because he's normal."  She stood up.  "You guys don't have a past history with him.  You can both see useful people and see where they can fit into the group.  By using his talents that he won't tell me about, it'll make him a happier person again.  'Cause let's face it, he's not a happy guy anymore.  Not since he was eighteen and kept the school from exploding one night.  Just don't use him.  We did that a few times too and it only made it worse.  I'll let you get back to talking about him behind his back.  Ask him how much magic he knows please?  I don't want him following my path."

"He said he can't touch the energies you do," Tony told her.

"Good.  That's always safer. He's also got more focus so he won't be making mistakes like I did.  I'm hoping I've been a good learning experience for him."  She grinned and disappeared.

Gibbs took the journal back and sat down to read it.  "If and when we go hunting, we are hunting in teams.  She's right, that's only smart.  We'll figure out who goes with who once we're trained, make it the teams that work best together."

"Sure, Boss," he agreed.  "Can't the kid just have friends?  He's a nice guy."

"He may not have any, DiNozzo.  Not everyone makes friends like you do.  Some people don't like other people," he noted dryly, staring him down.  "I'm guessing the kid's like that too."  He went back to reading, his heart sinking every few pages.  This was when the former group had started to go so wrong.  He could trace the beginnings.  He looked up and Tony was gone so he got more coffee and went back to reading.  If he was working with the kid, he wanted some idea of what he could do.

***

Xander smirked as he answered the door, nodding everyone inside.  "All the way to the top, people."  He waited until Tony jogged inside.  "Upstairs to the top."  He closed and locked the door.  "Willow, I'm going to spar!" he called.

"Have fun with that.  Don't break anything, we can't afford to replace it."

"I know."  He walked up the stairs, stretching and rolling his shoulders as he went.  "Sorry, I was already working out today."  He cleaned up his towel and drink bottle, then put it aside and waved a hand at the practice dummy.  "Okay, this is set up at general heart height.  The red square is the only place you can hit.  It seems easy, but with a moving target it's much harder.  Since the heart is only as big as your fist, a slimmer stake is usually more handy, but more fragile. You've got to have a balance."  He pulled one out of a nearby bucket and tossed it to Ziva.  "Since I'm guessing you've got the most skills in fighting.  Go ahead."

"Throw or otherwise?"

"No, stab.  Throwing is nice but unfortunately whatever's lodged in the vampire's chest goes with him and therefore your weapon is now dust."  She nodded, moving closer to stake, wincing at the angle.  "Most of the slayers, all girls, prefer a backhand approach."  He took it from her and showed her.  "That gets them rushing and you present as a smaller target.  I like to get them after they've passed me by.  I prefer a rush and side attack, then stake from behind because it's safer for me."  She nodded again.  "Pretty Boy?"  He tossed him the stake.  "You've seen me in action before.  Go for it."  He walked up and did a nice overhand.  "Ah, the advantages of height. A good approach if you can mange it."  He looked at Ziva.  "On the ground is a good time to do that but if you can manage it standing up, go for it.  Whatever works for you."  She nodded.  "Gibbs, do you know how to knife fight?"

"I do actually," he admitted, moving closer.  He palmed the stake and stabbed backhand as well.  "It's a firmer grip."

"Good.  That's the main skills you'll be using.  Knife fighting is just like stake fighting only with a knife you have more area.  Now, some people can use both.  Little injuries can annoy, distract, and compromise your opponent.  Not always, but sometimes it works.  I usually use a bare hand and stake approach.  Punching with the stake adds a bit to the force of your punch."  He took the stake back and hit the dummy in rapid succession.  They all nodded.  "So we need to work on your hand-to-hand skills and move staking into it.  Whatever method you fight dirty with."

"Fight dirty?" Ziva asked.

"I'm not going to give them a *fair* fight," he said dryly, staring her down.  "When you're faced with an enemy and it's your life against theirs, you won't be giving them any advantages or else you'll die.  Right?"  She nodded, getting that part.  "Then you use whatever you have to.  Fighting dirty is like fighting fair, only you win."

"I fight like that most of the time."

"Good!  Excellent even.  You work with Gibbs, let's watch them for now?"

"Why don't you and she work together and we'll watch the master?" Tony suggested.

"Because, Pretty Boy, I now have bruised ribs and I don't want a trip to the ER tonight."  He looked at Gibbs.  "I'm waiting on the pain killers to kick in."

"You could just direct."

"I'm not like that.  I'm an in-your-face commander.  A field general."  He shrugged.  "I always have been."  Then he grinned.  "Go for it.  Take one of them, Ziva."  She nodded and attacked Tony, smirking at him.  He ducked her swing and got her from behind, making her crash into a wall.  She smirked back and took off after him again.  "Remember, Pretty Boy, you're trying to get her on her back or out of action or hit her just right with the stake."  Tony foot-swept her and knocked her down, following to hit her lightly on the chest. "Good job!"  He grinned at Gibbs.  "Can you fight without hurting her?"

"Probably.  I have some control, kid."

Xander just grinned and got some nerf stakes he had made, tossing him one.  "Then let's go.  I can move without too much pain now."  The senior agent just looked at him.  "I don't take days off unless I'm I traction, too drugged to move, or just out of surgery and need the stitches to close a bit more so I won't pop 'em.  Come on."

Gibbs took off his jacket, taking back up his nerf stake and lunging.  Xander ducked one swing, tagged him with his free hand, ducked another swing to the side, then got behind him and staked him.  Gibbs turned to look at him and Xander grinned.  "Nice work."

"Thanks.  Don't hold back next time.  I'm not that bad.  No matter what she told you when she 'ported over last night."  He smirked a bit and turned, attacking Ziva, who had to lunge to get her own stake.  He snickered when he saw the real one.  "That's fine.  I haven't been hit with my own stake in years."  She growled and attacked harder, going for real now.  He was holding his own until he seemed to stumble and grabbed his ribs.  She laughed and lunged, he came up and got her in the heart, then kissed her on the cheek.  "Fighting dirty, Ziva.  It's a good thing."  She looked stunned, then at Gibbs.  "Remember, these creatures are faster and stronger than you.  Five to ten times faster and stronger than you.  You can't match 'em move for move. You've got take it when you can get it. You've also got to use whatever advantage you have over them.  Height, weight, getting them from behind if you have to.  It's all the same if you're going to live and they aren't."  He got up and looked at Tony, who backed off shaking his head. "You think you can't?"

"I know I can but I need to brush up on my skills."

"That's fine.  Work with her, for real this time, and brush up that way."  He tossed Tony the nerf stake and got Ziva one as well.  "There."

"How much pressure does it take to shove a stake into a heart?" Ziva asked.

"Depends on how blunt it is.  Their skin is a bit more fragile than ours.  Not as elastic.  Most vampires rise post rigor so the elasticity's gone.  It's not as thin as tissue paper unless they haven't been feeding at all.  Fledges can be that way now and then.  If you've got a good stake with a good point it's like knifing someone. If you've got a weak stake or a blunter point it's like trying to shove a branch through the tree."  She nodded, understanding that.  "A note I'm going to put out now. If you're religious, you need to take communion each week.  Any time that you might be hunting. It'll give you some protection if they happen to get you and start to bite.  For those who aren't religious they lose that advantage and I've made a wonderful holy water cocktail for them each time we go out.  Sports drink or in the liquor of their choice.  Personally, I prefer orange vodka."  He shrugged.  "It helps to have a shot, otherwise you're way stiff at first.  Another good reason to go to the clubs, to loosen up first."  He looked at Ziva again.  "Can I come to you for translations on some of the texts in Hebrew that are above my level?"

"You speak Hebrew?"

"No, I read Hebrew, Summerian Geek, Latin, Hieroglyphics, and about six demon languages well enough to make due with only looking up words every now and then.  I've basically got the majority of the language down but sometimes tense shifts and the more scientific or obscure phrases get to me."

"They have languages?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah.  Not the vampires but some of the other demons do.  Some of them have been great scientists and builders.  Those are the sort that don't usually hunt to kill and they're safe from me.  One of my favorite stories is in one of the more common demon languages. I've got the book downstairs."  He grinned at Ziva again. "I found a really nice text hidden in the bottom of a trunk the other day that dealt with love magic. It's in Hebrew and I'm having tons of trouble with some of the flowery, poetic language.  Wanna help?"

"If you want.  How old is it?"

"About two thousand years old.  It's a copy."  He held out a hand and concentrated, bringing the book to him.  He grinned and handed it to her.  "See?"  He looked at Tony and Gibbs again.  "Okay, you two face off.  Everyone should be at her level or higher before I go to work tonight."

"Should I call you off?" Willow yelled.

"No!"

"Okay.  Ducky's here!"

"Send him up!"  He grinned at them. "Ambushing me with the doctor?"  Gibbs nodded, smirking a bit.  "Fine.  I understand the need for routine physicals."

"Good.  What happened to your ribs?"

"I slipped last night on my bike.  Ran into a mailbox."  He grinned at Ducky as he came in.  "Come on in."

"Thank you.  This is very nice."

"I try," he offered with a bright grin.  "So, are you just here for me?"  He nodded.  "Then we can do that in the empty apartment.  You guys work together on this stuff.  Ziva, please don't damage the book."  He walked Ducky across the hall, closing the door and doing a silencing charm on it. "Sorry, a bit paranoid."  He took off his shirt and saw the wince and heard the hiss.  "I took on something about ten-foot-tall last night," he said quietly.  "It had seven arms.  It also had four coeds in them."  Ducky just nodded.  "I told them I hit a mailbox."

"Ah.  Well, come sit.  I noticed there's furniture."  Xander pulled a chair over from the dining room table and sat down.  "Thank you."  He pulled open his bag and came over to start with the usual test, the cross to the forehead.  Xander did wince.  "Headache?"

"Yeah, throbbing pain," he admitted.  "You'll probably find out why soon enough."  Ducky nodded and got to work, only stepping back once.  "Not one word," he ordered quietly.

"You'll have to tell whoever you hunt with."

"Not necessarily. I'm doing okay with my compensation. It's been less than a year."

"No wonder you still get headaches."  He shook his head and got back to work, making sure the boy was fit for combat, which he wasn't.  "You're a bit thin and you're tired, Xander.  You shouldn't be going out."

"Tough, Ducky. You know me better than that."

"True.  Where are your medical records?"

"In my apartment in my safe.  Why?"

"I'll need them to keep track of you, my dear boy.  Just in case you know."  He stared him down.  "I should also protest you fighting in this condition.  You're not fit to fight."

"I"m fine to fight, Ducky."  He stood up.  "I'm handling it okay.  I did my own rehab and all that stuff.  Believe it or not, the bike helps more than driving does."  That got a small smile.  "I'm fine.  Really.  Just a bit sore.  Besides, I had a vacation when we came out here and while we were detoxing. Only three small battles during that two weeks."

Ducky rolled his eyes and looked up.  Then at the boy. "You're worse than Jethro."

"I may be, but I'm also more needed. They get time off when they're injured.  I don't."

"Good point.  A word of advice.  The director saw one of the files being looked over and wanted to know why.  McGee had to go with your explanation of the cult that's working in the city.  She wanted to know why we were doing it and he referred her to Jethro.  He's not going to be happy when he gets that call soon."

"Sure."  He grinned.  "So can I go?"

"Once you get me that file, young man."

Xander nodded, going to get it for him.  He came back and handed it over.  "Gibbs, he said that your boss is onto the plan."

"I heard.  She's not a happy woman at the best of times and isn't sure what's going on now."  He looked at Ducky.  "Is he fit?"

"He's a bit tired and in need of a good dinner or ten, but he'll be fine.  What are you taking for your headaches?"

"Vicodin.  It's the nectar of the Gods," he said dryly, smirking at him.

"There's better out there."

"Yes, but it leaves me fuzzy headed.  I can cope with a headache."

"Fine.  I'll see what I can recommend that's better for you.  Any other problems with that issue?"  Xander slowly shook his head. "Very well then.  I'll keep this in my case, like I do Anthony's and Jethro's since they seem to get hurt so much.  You and young Anthony should talk.  He got the plague."

"Really?  I got given temporary syphilis by one of the ghosts attacking us on thanksgiving one year.  Fortunately we got them to move on and they took it with them."

Tony just blinked at that.  "I got to sleep under blue lights in quarantine," he said finally.

Xander grinned.  "That's cool.  Quarantine's got to be more quiet."  Tony nodded.  "Then it's all good.  Gibbs, there, see, I'm fine."

"Headaches?"

"Yeah, don't you get those from Fluffy and Abby playing in the lab?" he asked with a grin.

"Yes, but not every day.  Ducky, is it a tumor?"

"No, Jethro, nothing that serious.  He's more healing from something in the recent past.  The headaches are to be expected and I'll be doing a more in-depth look at that problem in a few days, Xander."

"Of course, Ducky."  He blew a kiss.  "You wanna show 'em how to throw a stake?"

Ducky smiled and shook his head.  "I haven't practiced in years.  I'm afraid I've almost lost that skill."  He smiled at him.  "Do try to behave.  Be safe and all that."

"We try," Xander agreed.

"Fine, then I'm going home, Jethro.  The bodies have quit coming in since the local bases have canceled leave for the time being."  That got a nod so Ducky left, going down to chat with Willow for a few minutes.  She was always happy to talk to him.

"Injury?" Gibbs asked.

"Before the last fight in Sunnydale.  I'm fine. Just finishing the healing."

"That was how long ago?" Tony asked.

"Um, four months."  He grinned.  "I'm fine.  Really.  It's all good here."  He grabbed his real stake and backed up, then threw it sideways at the target, making the shot.  "That is how you throw a stake.  Doing it like a knife means it'll bounce off.  You need the added strength."  The stake fell.  "Now, it won't go very deeply inside, so you usually want to follow it up by kicking or shoving it in harder while they're staring at it.  Because they almost always do look down at it."  Everyone nodded and got back into the flow of things.

***

Gibbs walked into the office, finding his boss at his desk.  "You needed something?"

"Whose files are those?"

"Which ones?  The Initiative?  It's an open case.  We think.  It was a covert group and they're trying to dance around it right now.  The computer files on the demons?  That's a cult that's running around and killing people, including our rash of dead soldiers downstairs."

"And the profile on one Alexander Lavelle Harris?"

"He's an expert on them.  He was raised around them and he's been fighting with them in California.  We ran into him on another case and saw him dealing with them."

"Are these Goth kids playing games?" she demanded.

"No.  They like to eat Goth kids for lunch.  These are some psychotic bastards who're killing and injuring people.  We've already got at least ten dead and another twenty missing soldiers, plus the civilians they've gotten.  The local cops aren't quite ignoring it but they're backed up and since we're working on it anyway, we might as well do most of it.  Harris has been walking us through their methodology all day."

"They believe they're vampires?"

"They live totally on blood, Jen.  Well, he said a few like to mine their blood with things like cereal and crackers, but they live totally on blood.  They're a cult.  They think the Goth subculture is cute and fluffy.  These people believe in torture, rape, burning live bodies, and using animals as poker chips for fun."  She shuddered at that.  "They've already killed at least ten soldiers.  This is an open case that we're working on.  It's not going to be over quickly and we've figured out how to let some people know that they're out there without creating a mass panic and shutting down the entertainment industry in town."

"They go to movies?"

"Yeah, and they go to clubs to hunt too," he said dryly.  "Harris has managed to save some of their victims but he can't kill them all."

"We're killing them?" she asked, looking horrified.

"They've got a kill or be killed mentality, Jen.  If we don't protect ourselves, they'll just take us as dinner instead.  I don't feel like going to another funeral this year, do you?"  She shook her head quickly.  "Good.  Then we've got it under control at the moment.  Right now we're gathering facts about what they do and know.  It's like a whole subculture with splinter groups at the moment."  It was true, that was as close as he would ever come to anything she would understand.  "The first cult spread and some of the 'kids' broke off to go gather more members.  There's members all over the world but there's a large gathering here.  Before we only had a few so they slipped under the radar.  Now they're using our city as their home base and it's creating more havoc."

"How long before we can kick them out?"

"We're hoping to have this section of the group either eliminated or locked away within two years.  There's at least eighty members at the moment locally plus the national and international members of the group.  We're doing good just to stop them from hunting at the clubs they like to go to.  Speaking of, I've got to remind Abby to be more careful when she goes out to play."  He frowned for a moment and called her.  "Abby, Gibbs. Yes, I know you know my voice.  No, be more careful when you go out.  Yeah, that cult is gathering strength from what he's noticed.  Eighty members strong and you know how much they like to pick on your circle of friends.  Sure.  Keep your phone handy."  He hung up before she could get mushy.  "Anything else?"

"What group was the covert one?"

"The Initiative.  It was a Pentagon program to force behavior modification and experimentation on soldiers. Most of them are gone.  Some of their subjects lost it and killed most of them.  They were in Harris's old town so he handed those over willingly, including what a hacker friend of his found.  We're looking for any remaining members we can charge and into one incident in particular where we can prove they had human subjects and tortured them."

She shuddered. "Fine.  Can your team work regular cases as well?"

"Yeah.  This is mostly after hours and fact hunting at the moment.  McGee's not involved.  Harris didn't think he could take a kill or be killed situation very well and told him so to his face.  He's agreed to stick to the normal stuff he does.  If we get too involved or hurt, he can do a bit more on the team.  He's not that new."

"Fine.  Is there a high probability of getting killed?"

"Only if we're not fast enough."

"Are they funding terrorist cells?"

"We're not sure yet. He didn't rule it out.  See, these people want power and to rule the world.  Typical villain stuff.  It's part vampire mythology, part fantasy villain mythology, and part psychotic behavior and believing they're consorting with demons mythology.  At the very least it's a very interesting study.  They've even somehow managed to program themselves into being allergic to wood and holy items.  They don't like to attack around strong churches, things like that.  They've also included some of the Wiccan stuff you find floating around in the new age sections of the bookstores."

"That's ...very complicated."

"They've been doing this for centuries.  We just take more notice now."

"Could they be where the myths started?"

"He thinks so," he admitted.  "I don't deal in that.  I deal more in history when it relates directly to the current situation. "

"Was he a member?"

"No, he was raised in a town that had a thriving population and he's been avoiding them since the age of fifteen.  He's been hunting them down to save some of their victims as well.  Interestingly enough, Ducky's nephew used to work with the kid.  He'll be here in a few days to visit."

"That's nice," she decided.  "Fine.  Keep me informed somehow.  Are you working this like a cell?  I noticed you had Ziva helping."

"I do and she is.  We're not sure if it'll help.  Some of these people are so underground they've had fake death certificates made for them."  She looked impressed with that. "We'll tell you whatever we can but this is probably going to end up being a covert fight.  It's not like you can fight vampires in the open."

"Good point.  Just keep me informed and tell me if it's picking up so I give you easier cases."  She looked him over.  "Were you hit?"

"I was training with Harris earlier.  I had all of us up there.  He's actually had two or three that demanded to be staked.  He was showing us the various method's he's used.  Including a very nice pure silver battle axe."

"Okay."  She shrugged.  "Is he mental too?"

"He's an eight year combat veteran, Jen.  He goes out about every night to hunt these things and save some of the victims.  He's seen more combat than my whole team, combined, even if we add in Kate's years."  She shuddered again.  "I'll let him have his quirks."

"Very well.  I'm going to go home and forget about this conversation."  She left, passing by the young man in leather on the way in.  "Most of the agents are gone," she told the guard.

"He's here to see Special Agent Gibbs, Madam Director," he offered.

"Is that Mr. Harris?"  The boy looked up and nodded.  "I see.  That's not... the standard outfit we see around here."  The boy was wearing a button down shirt and leather pants and had a leather biker jacket over it.  "He's in the bullpen."  She walked in, shaking her head.  She did see the bike but she ignored it for now.  Vampire hunters riding motorcycles was just too much for her.  Even if he had been cute.

Xander took his visitor's pass and headed to the elevator, smiling a bit.  He got off and walked over there.  "Why did your boss just look at me like I was jelly toast?  Is she going to be the next dangerous woman who wants my butt?"

Gibbs looked at him, then looked him over.  "Going out?"

"With Abby.  She wanted me to meet someone.  I came to bring you this," he said, handing over the stake.  "It's got flakes of silver embedded. In case you run into something that's reactive that way instead.  Just don't lose it.  It's a pain in the ass to make those."

"Sure.  Thanks, kid."  He looked him over.  "What injury?"

Xander snorted.  "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing if you're still healing."

"I'm almost healed.  I just have a few headaches now and then.  Nothing that'll endanger your people."

"Prove it."

Xander rebooted the CD and typed in a special password that only he had, pulling up a video file he had made.  He used the remote to zoom in on him.  "You tell me, Gibbs. That was a week afterward."  He handed the remote back, watching himself fight.  "Not too bad to be without pain killers and only a shot of whiskey for it."

Gibbs looked at him, then stopped the video, canceling it off the screen.  "What was that?"

"The last battle in Sunnydale.  Right before the town went...."  He spit.  Then he grinned.  "That was a week after I got injured."

Gibbs nodded at that.  "Fine.  It won't put my team into harm but if you think it's necessary you will tell whoever you hunt with."

"Sure.  Did you want me with Ziva or Tony?"

"Tony.  You actually know his name?"

"I have known his name since the second day there.  He didn't introduce himself at first."  He grinned sweetly.  "He's so fun to play with and yank."  He straightened up as the elevator dinged and Abby came off with McGee.  "A double date, Abby?" he teased.

She looked him over, then grinned. "You'll definitely do."  She smiled at Gibbs.  "We're going out.  Wish him luck on his date."

"Better luck than you had before, kid."

"Thanks, I usually need it."  He followed her down, getting onto his bike. McGee looked longingly at it. "Not unless you know how to ride," he ordered calmly. "My baby!"

"I wasn't going to ask."  He got into his car, then got out to let Abby into his car and got back in to drive.  "Do you know where we're going?"

"No.  I can follow you though."  That got a nod and the guy pulled out so Xander put on his helmet and followed.  It was a nice goth club, very clean and respectable looking outside, and inside it was like a velvet parlour.  Not a *club* club but a place to meet and greet and chat about the day before you went clubbing.  The bouncer looked at him then shuddered.  He pulled out his silver cross.  "Abby's setting me up with a friend.  I'm Xander."  He grinned.  "Please?"

"There's two real ones inside," he noted quietly.

"I figured there might be.  If I catch them hunting, they go woosh."  That got a nod and the door opened, letting him inside.  He smiled at the bartender, walking over.  "What's good?"

"We've got a house special called Mary's Handbasket.  Brandy in a bloody mary."

Xander considered it and shook his head.  "I'm not a brandy guy.  How about a glass of red wine?"  She smiled and got him one, so he paid her and walked over to where Abby and McGee were sitting, curling up beside her with one foot on the seat.  "So, friend?" he asked, scanning the club.

She slapped him on the thigh.  "No hunting."

"I wasn't planning on it but there's two in here," he said, subtly pointing at them.  "Them.  Very old by the outfits."  He looked at her and grinned.  "Wanna dance?"

"Oooh, no.  I can't waltz."

He shrugged.  "That's fine.  Fluffy, you wanna dance?"

He bit his tongue so he wouldn't snap about the nickname he had.  "She'd get mad at me."

Xander grinned. "Abby?"

"Go ahead."  She smiled as Xander got up smoothly and took her man out to dance with him.  She noticed the two vampires stalking closer and groaned.  Xander blew a kiss at one and the other one oh so unsubtly ran for the door.  The other moved over to take McGee's place and Xander said something to her, making her kiss him then leave more leisurely.  She shook her head as her poor stunned man was pulled closer again and they went back to dancing.  Xander was just such an alpha male sometimes.  She sipped her wine, squealing when her friend came in.  She gave her a hug and noticed right away that she was colder than it was outside.  "Oh, no."  She nodded.  "Oh, shit, I set you up with Harris."

"I'm not hunting.  I'm leaving tomorrow," she promised.

"That's fine. Just don't eat me or Tim or Xander.  Xander!"  He walked McGee back to some applause, making the young agent blush and Xander just grin.  "Xander, this is Melodia.  Melodia, this is Xander."

He leaned down to take her hand and kiss the back of it.  "Charmed, my lovely one," he purred.  She moaned and wiggled.  "You have no fear of me if you're not hunting."

"Thank you.  You're adorable dressed as one of us."

He sat next to her, smiling coyly.  "I find that leather suits my darker and baser instincts.  Would you care to dance?"  She nodded and let him escort her out there, pleasingly fitting in his arms.  "Relax, like I said, you're safe with me," he whispered in her ear.  "The other two fled.  One danced with me and offered to leave the city for her safety and the other just ran."  She giggled at that.  "If you're serious about not hunting, there's a Master in LA who can instruct you in what you need to know."

"I heard.  Angel?"  He nodded.  "Do you know where?"  He whispered the address in her ear.  "Thank you."  She smiled and danced on with him.  "I'd usually be hinting by now about clubbing later," she offered.

"I've been known to do that," he agreed happily.  "And more.  Even on a first date. Life's too short not to take advantage of the happies."  She giggled and nodded, leading him back to the table to get her purse.  "We're going somewhere a bit less genial," he offered in another imitation of Ducky's voice.  "We shall see you later, my dear.  And you, Fluffy."  He walked her out. "Did you drive or would you like to ride behind me?"

She giggled and got on behind him, squeezing him tightly as he took off.

***

Xander knocked on Tony's door later that night, holding up a small case.  "Your supplies."

"How did you know where I live?"

"You're in the phone book."

"I'm not."

"You are in the one Willow looked in, which would probably be at your work I admit."  He grinned and wiggled the case. "All the stuff you'll need."

"Fine. It's not like I have a date."  He got out of the way so he could come inside.

"I had one of those earlier.  She's on her way to LA, I dropped her off at the airport."  He followed him inside.  "Good technique.  Remember that on delivery drivers.  I don't know how many I staked who were doing that job."  He opened the bag on the table, pulling out some things.  "Okay, the blue vials are simple holy water.  You toss them on some things and they burn and scream, and usually try to run away.  The red topped vials are holy water that you drink.  Either in a sports drink or a bit of liquor," he said, looking at him.  "Before you go out. I make the stuff by the gallon so whenever you run out just tell me."  He pulled out a few stakes.  "Most of these are normal ones.  The one that looks like it's got glitter has embedded silver.  Lose this and I'm making you help me make your next one.  It's a pain in the ass to do but it's a handy thing to have because silver kills about forty percent of these sort of things and wood kills at least another twenty."  Tony nodded once at that so he moved on.  He pulled out a box and held it up.  "I'm assuming here but you use a nine?"

"Yeah, why?"  He took the bullets and looked at them.  "Silver?"

"The top tray.  The bottom is hardwood.  A lot easier from a distance."  He held up the squirt gun, getting a small grin for the toy.  "It's silly but having one on me has saved my ass a lot."  He looked in the bag and found the last thing.  "This number, in case Willow or I go, is to be called only as a last resort.  This will connect you with one of the senior slayers or her trainees.  I hope you never have to meet Faith, but if you do, we'd better already be dead.  Not turned, dead."  That got a nod and he looked it over.  "It's a sat. phone and it's got voicemail, or so she said.  Giles pays for it for her."  He handed over the bag.  "For the car. You can use the drinking holy water if you want, but it's not as strong.  Any questions?"

"Why for in the car?"

"Because sometimes you go out to dinner and you don't want to carry and leave that stuff up here.  Besides, you aren't always here."

"Good point.  My car's usually with me.  Are the others getting theirs?"

"I gave them to Abby not twenty minutes ago."  He stepped back.  "Now all you need to do is to learn how to hunt and practice a lot.  Gibbs seems to think I'm getting you as my partner."

"Ah, the other reason you came over. I still like women."

Xander snorted.  "Not that sort of partner, Pretty Boy.  Get over my ass.  It's cute but I'm straight too.  No matter how much you protest too much."  That got a small blush.  "Good.  Did you want to go tonight?"  He shook his head.  "That's fine. The bar was broken into so I've got tonight, tomorrow, and the next night off.  Whenever you're ready or else you're going to have to have a day off afterward because I don't get off work until three."

"Why do you work as a bartender?"

"Because fighting all night and then going to do construction all day is tiring."

"Yeah, I guess it would be."  He packed everything again.  "Is the water pistol armed?"

"No, but there's a larger jar of holy water in there for refills. If you know a priest who'll bless some for you, go for it."  He grinned.  "I'm off to go have fun at a club. You have my number?"  That got a nod.  "Cool."  He headed out, going back down to his bike.  Abby knew to tell Gibbs to arrange for hunting times with him and when he had free.  She had a copy of his schedule for the next few weeks even.  He heard his phone ring just as he started his bike and sighed, stopping it to answer it.  "Yeah?"  He listened.  "No, Abby, I'm not taking Fluffy out hunting.  Abby, sweetie, do we think he can stake someone for real?" he asked patiently.  "Yeah.  Seriously.  If he wants, he's gotta ask Gibbs and if he tries it himself, I want you to kick his ass.  Got me here?"  He grinned.  "Good."  He hung up and restarted his bike, heading for the clubs he liked.  Hard, heavy, pulsing through your body music.  And hey, a few vamps in the crowd but he didn't mind them at all.

***

Ducky looked up as Gibbs walked into his lab the next Tuesday.  "Jethro, I don't believe I have anything for you today.  What brings you down?"

"McGee didn't come in.  Have you heard from him?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you?  He decided to go out hunting on his own," he said dryly, staring at him.  "He got a bit nibbled on and Abigail managed to save him I believe.  I checked his neck wound but he was a touch dizzy today.  I thought for sure I had called you."

"You may have, my voicemail is on the blink again," he admitted.  "He okay?"

"Just fine.  He just needed to rest and eat.  I suppose he felt left out.  Either that or it's in reaction to what Xander calls him."

"Well, he is Fluffy," Gibbs complained.  "He's also a dumbass."  He walked off to call and yell at his agent.  He glanced in Abby's lab and saw she had a visitor so went in there.  "Harris."

"Gibbs.  We're uploading the new tracking system so we can plant a tracker on someone and have them lead us back to their home base."

"Before you ask, I haven't told him about McGee," Abby complained.

"Fluffy did what?"

"He went out hunting," she said, glaring at him.  "I don't know why, but apparently he wanted to prove he could do it."

"Is he dead or turned?"

"I managed to get to him before he was drained.  Then I yelled at him for the next three hours while Ducky worked on him. He knows what an idiot he is."

"Make him drink the holy water as well," Xander sighed.  "It'll make it so no one wants to finish him off.  They can smell a prior victim."

"They scent mark like cats?" she asked.  He nodded.  "I guess that's kind cool."

"More like bragging rights."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Did you get your kit?"  That got a nod.  "When am I taking you out?"

"Tonight good for you?  I'm avoiding an award banquet for our director."

"Sure, good for me.  Who's going in your place?"

"Ziva."  He smirked.  "Usually it'd be DiNozzo but I heard he had a date."  He shrugged.  "I wouldn't want to bring someone to one of those.  Is it working?"

"So far and if I could get Willow to let us officially test it, we could make her millions."  Abby pouted.  "Gibbs, make her give me a new toy!" she whined.

"That would be too much like work, which she doesn't," Xander said dryly.

"She's not working?" Gibbs asked.  Xander shook his head.  "So you're supporting the both of you and that building?"

"Yuppers.  Willow's still got magic fatigue and has problems staying awake most days so it's all on me."

"That sucks," Abby noted. "I wish Melodia hadn't moved to LA to learn how not to feed on people. You two were cute together."

"She's the sorta girl I want too," he agreed dryly.  The door opened and the redhead from the other day came in.  "Ma'am." He looked at the computer again.  "Okay, I've got the tracker on a remote control car that Rais is playing with, or should be.  Can you find it?"

She typed in the commands and a box appeared with an address, which moved a bit every few minutes.  "Is that right?"

Xander checked.  "No, she installed the map backwards."

Abby sighed and got to work switching the map around and replotting it.  This time when she ran it it came up correct.  She looked at the address, then at him. "You live there?"  He nodded.  "Why?  Not the safest of places, Xander!"  She swatted him on the arm. "You need to be more careful."

"I'm plenty careful but I had to be able to afford the building and it was for sale cheap."  He stood up.  "Okay.  I'll try to implant a few of those tonight, see where they lead us.  Gibbs, call me when you're ready and I'll tell you where I'm at."  That got a nod.  "You have the kit, right?"  He nodded again, looking amused.  "Good.  Remember to drink the water."  He kissed Abby on the head. "Behave and drink some caffeine for me too."  He nodded at the other woman.  "Ma'am."  He left, getting stopped by Ducky, who handed him something. "What's this for?"  He looked at the label.  "Will it help?"

"It has in other cases.  Try it when you get home, it can cause drowsiness."  Xander nodded and grinned then headed for the elevator.  "Such a whirlwind some days.  I wonder if he had chocolate for breakfast again."  He got back to work tidying up his morgue then sat down to note his activities for the day on his timesheet.

"Drink what water?" the director asked in Abby's lab.

"He found me a new mineral water to try.  It's supposed to help with stress.  I don't know why he thinks I'm stressed."  Abby giggled at that and he noted the address.  "The kid must be a few down the block," he noted quietly.  "He's in 116."   She nodded, writing that down as a note for herself.  "What did you need, director?"

"I was looking for you to make sure you were coming tonight."

"I don't usually go to award banquets. You know that."

"I want you there. It's important your whole team is there."

"McGee's out sick today," Abby told her, turning to look at her.  "He's really not feeling well. Spinning head and weak and mewling like a baby."

"Fine," she agreed, looking at the boss again. "I really would like to see you there, Jethro."

"If I can make it in time.  I have something I need to do tonight."

"The boat can't wait?"

"It's not the boat, and no, it can't wait."  He walked off, heading back to his desk.  He looked at Tony, who looked miserable.  "Your date cancel?"

"Yeah, Boss.  She's now paranoid that she'll be eaten by our local cult."  He looked at him. "How many more months?"

"Too many and there's plenty of other women out there."  He looked up as the director walked past his desk.  "New case?"

"Not yet.  You're next in line."  She looked at Tony.  "You're coming tonight?"

"I had a date but she canceled, I'm not sure if I want to go stag or not.  Why?  Did you know someone who needed an escort?" he asked lightly, smiling at her.

"No.  I was making sure the majority of the team was coming."

"I know Ziva said she'd be there," he offered.  She nodded and walked off.  "No way I'm going now," he muttered, getting back to work on a report.

Gibbs looked at him.  "Did you know what happened to McGee?"

"No, but I notice he's strangely being silent and invisible," he quipped, looking at his boss. "Tell me he didn't."  He nodded.  "Alone?"  Another nod. "Is he alive?"

"Abby took more of a chunk out of him than the person did."

"Good.  Can we sic Harris on him?"

"No.  That's mean and cruel.  I'm not that much of a bastard."

"Fine. Any idea what's wrong with him that Ducky's hiding?"

"I have a clue but I'm not sure yet," he admitted.  "I'm heading with him later, after the dinner.  You?"

"Sounds good to me, Boss.  That way he has to spend less time in there. You might want to bring ear plugs.  It'll be loud and trendy music."

Gibbs snorted.  "I do remember what clubs are like, DiNozzo.  It hasn't been that long."

"If you say so.  Where are we going?"

"He said to call and he'd tell us where he is."  He got back to work, ignoring the message from his supervisor who was whining about him going to see her get an award.  If he didn't show up for his, he wasn't about to show up for hers.

***

Xander looked over as the two men joined him, smiling brightly.  "Welcome.  You both drank the water, right?"  They nodded. "Good!"  He looked around again.  "Okay, let's start with the basics," he offered, leading them to a place where they could overlook the floor.  "Notice anyone odd?"

Gibbs looked and pointed.  "There's one."

Xander studied her. "She's a succubus, Gibbs.  Good choice though.  Pale, out of date fashions."  He nodded.  "Good possibility.  Pretty Boy?"

He looked and pointed at the guitarist.  "Him?"

"Is," he agreed, smiling at him.  "As are most of the band but the bassist."  He pointed at one group.  "There's a whole group together," he offered.  They studied them then nodded, understanding why he had chosen them.  "There's a few ways to do this.  Directly or lurking outside."

"Direct means you lead them off?" Tony asked.  Xander nodded.  "That's probably a better way and won't look odd."

"True."  He nodded and went down onto the floor, heading for the group of girls dancing together.  He smiled at the one facing his way, matching himself to her.  "Hi.  What's your name?"

"Precious.  You?"  She smiled and moved closer, snuggling into his chest.  "Do you have a name?"

"Al."  He stroked her cheek and winked.  "I was watching your little party pack.  You guys are hot together.  Are you just friends or more?"

"Friends.  I can ditch them if you want."

He moved closer, putting his hands on her hips.  She was warmer than he was but he could feel the demonic taint.  He raised an eyebrow and suddenly got the clue.  He let his darker side out and she moaned, making her friends look their way and attach themselves to him.  "Ladies," he chided, smirking at them. "Why are we all here tonight?"

"Looking for you," one cooed, stroking up his chest.  "We're initiating newbies.  You could help us with that.  After all, there's enough of you to go around."

He chuckled. "Anyanka used to say that too."  That got a flinch from one of them.  "I'm Xander."

"Alexander?" the girl he was dancing with said.  He nodded.  "Oooh. Pretty name.  He was such a stud."

He kissed her throat.  "But I'm on a hunt, baby, and only for the unliving kind.  Maybe later?"  She nodded and they peeled off.  He went back to his students. "False alarm. More like Bethany."  He turned and found one behind him so he kissed her, making her moan and then run off.  "They like me. I'm a good food source."   He looked around again, then found a target and went to dance with her. She was with a guy but split her attention between them.  One of her friends came over and took him, and he knew she was a vamp.  She was straight out of _Valley Girl_ and the eighties.  He sent a smirk over his shoulder at Pretty Boy and let her walk him off, noticing which direction the friend went and that Gibbs was tracking her.  He let her pull him into her arms and kissed her, making her moan and vamp out.  He chuckled. "You're how old?" he taunted.  "You never heard of the Sunnydale Crew?"  She moaned and tried to lunge so he glanced around before staking her.  "Thank you.  It was good. Next time try for an inner thigh shot."  He walked over her ashes and went to hunt the other one, finding Gibbs next to a bathroom.  "She gone?"

"Too late," he said quietly.

Xander went in there to rinse out his mouth and looked at the guy.  He checked his lips, blood.  "Fuck."  He glanced around then pulled out a small needle he had, plunging it into his chest.  The vampire dusted and he walked out shaking his head.  "They're fast.  Cameras?"

"Two, I disabled them," Gibbs admitted.  "Should we call someone?"

"For the pile of dust?"  He shook his head. "Nope."  He walked them off to get a drink and head to the quieter section to talk to them.  "You okay?" he asked him once they were seated.

"I'm fine.  I was hoping I'd be in time."

"They can do it in under two minutes, Gibbs.  They're incredibly fast eaters."  He sipped his shot, then finished it in one gulp.  He pulled out his phone and called Willow, waking her. "Hey, me. We're at The Swampland and we're hunting some.  You wanna join us in that special way?" he asked dryly.  He grinned.  "Thanks, dear.  Yeah, I'll be by the bathroom."  He hung up.  "In case there was a hidden one.  This place has been known to tape things for internet use. Mostly the rooms upstairs in the VIP lounge.  It's never been a live feed but I don't want to take that chance."  He looked at Tony, who looked a bit shaken.  "You okay?"

"How can you be so calm?" he asked, looking at him.

"Eight years of doing this at least three times a week, if not more often.  After a while you rationalize and you become numb."  He ordered another round and paid for it. "Tonight, you don't rationalize, you think, you worry, you debate morals and faith, you have a moment of suicidal thoughts, and then you decide whether or not you can go on.  That'll be the next few times and at one point you'll either realize it's not something you can do anymore and you snap, and possibly get eaten, or you snap in the other direction and realize what you're doing is good for everyone."  A larger man came over to them and he looked at him, smirking a bit.  "Sam.  I thought you left the country."

"I did, but I cam back," he said, pulling a chair over.  He looked at the boy. "I saw you."

"On tape?"

"Yeah."  He looked the boy over.  "You look well rested.  Better than the last time I saw you."

"The last time you saw me I still had a bandage on.  Sorry about the poaching but with the new hellmouth here, I got called to duty."

"With your injury?"

"Yeah, with my injury.  Did you see it making a difference?"  He gave him a pointed look. "Is this a buffet?"

"No, I'd never do that.  My brother runs the place and he's out sick.  He doesn't know anything."  He looked at the other two, then at the boy again.  "Nice company you keep."

"It happens.  Some idiot ate Naval personnel."  Sam moaned at that.  "Another reason I'm called upon to help.  I noticed your pack of succuba.  Nice touch."

"It's an easy first hunt for their pack."  He smirked a bit.  "You know I can't let you hunt here."

Xander patted him on the arm.  "You know it won't stop me as well.  The same as it didn't at the Bronze.  The same as it didn't in LA."

"Good point.  Fine.  Just keep it down in here."

"There's only one of me.  I've got to spread myself around some," he said dryly, smirking a bit more evilly.  "Give me the better shots and heads ups about other places and I'll gladly go there."

The vampire considered it then nodded.  "I've got a few enemies.  You can have them and any you find otherwise.  I know you're fair.  Unlike the blonde."

"Who died."

"I heard.  Sorry to hear about that.  I heard she was the longest in centuries."

"Ever actually," Xander said proudly.  "There's one coming in a few days."

"Crap.  Fine.  I'll send you heads ups when I hear about things and you only hunt here once every two weeks or so?"

"Done," he agreed, shaking his hand.  "As long as you institute a no kill policy, especially of military personnel."

Sam chuckled.  "I expected that clause.  It's already done, kid."  He stood up.  "This round's on me.  Your newbies look like they could use it.  You might wanna talk to Bart as well.  Black Bart's making quite a name for himself and nearly got an undercover cop."  He left, summoning the waitress to get them a round.

"Bart's the guy at the club I work at," he noted before he could be asked. "I'll talk with him the next time I see him."  He accepted his beer with a smile. "Thank you, dear."  She nodded and hurried off.  "He's even got minions working, I'm impressed."

"Is this one of their safe clubs?" Tony asked.

"No.  Sam used to run the Bronze in Sunnydale, it was the only club in town.  It's not quite a buffet, which is another word for their safe hunting clubs, but it's not quite not one either.  I didn't realize it was like that here.  This is only my third time in here. That does explain the band and the succuba though."  He took a sip and grimaced. "Eww.  Ale."  He drank it anyway, it was free beer.  He looked at Gibbs.  "You're awfully quiet.  I'm guessing that's a bad thing?"

"What injury?"

"You're really relentless.  Were you a terrier in your last life?" he teased, grinning at him.  Gibbs snorted and smacked him on the back of the head.  "Awww, I feel loved now," he cooed, making Gibbs crack and smirk back.  He looked at Tony.  "Doesn't he make you feel loved?"

"Many times a day usually.  What injury?  You were injured?"

"Yeah, very severely injured a while ago.  I'm better now. I promise."

"There's no obvious amputations or fake parts," Tony said, looking him over.  He stared into his eyes, then sat back.  "How did that happen?"

"Really dirty fingernail.  I'll tell you some night I'm feeling suicidal, okay?"  He took another sip of his beer.

"What injury?" Gibbs asked Tony.

"Um...."  Xander shrugged.  "One of his eyes isn't natural, Boss.  His left one."

Gibbs made the boy face him and looked.  "It's not.  That's a good job though.  Almost a perfect match. Nice catch, DiNozzo."

"Thanks, Boss.  Doesn't that hinder riding your bike?"

"Actually, it hindered driving but riding is a lot easier.  Even if I didn't like the bike I'd still ride the bike, she's my baby."  He finished his beer.  "You wanna head to another spot or go home for the night?"

Tony looked at his watch then shook his head.  "It's only ten.  We've got work tomorrow."

"Have fun with that, so do I," he noted dryly.  "Come on, I'll escort you out."

"You mean let one of us drive you home?" Gibbs demanded.

"I've had two shots and a beer, I'm not drunk. I can easily pass a breathalyzer."  He walked them out, shooing the vampires in the alley off.  They pounced and tried to drag them inside, and he let them so they weren't in the open, then he opened the can of whoop ass on 'em.  Six were gone by the time he realized Gibbs was pinned to a wall and Tony was being stalked.  He threw his stake at the one on Gibbs, then followed it with a kick.  The vampire dusted and Gibbs panted, leaning on the wall. "You okay?"  He pulled out another stake and jumped the one Tony was fighting, letting him get the one he could sense but not see.  She turned to dust and he looked up, letting Tony help him off the ground.  "You both okay?"

"I'm fine," Gibbs agreed.  "I didn't realize how much stronger five times was."  He rubbed his shoulder.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."  He looked at Tony, who shrugged at his stake.  "At least you didn't get pinned."

"No, I didn't. I staked two of them."

"Congratulations! Better than I did my first night."  He patted him on the back and grinned.  "You probably shouldn't drive either. You're going to start shaking soon in shock."

"I've had to shoot in the line of duty," he admitted, looking at the kid.

"Then you've been there before," he agreed. "If you think you can, go for it."

"Boss, need a ride?"

"No I can drive," he assured them, still working his shoulder.  Xander came over to check it.  "I'm fine, just nearly dislocated.  It'll be fine by the morning."

"Sure."  He followed them out, looking behind him at the people coming out of the back of the club.  Most of them ran back inside and he continued his escort duty.  He got them into their cars then got onto his bike and headed home.  It was a nice night for a drive, even though it was cold.  He took a turn past the Mall then home since nothing was going on there.  He found Tony on his doorstep and nodded him inside, taking him up to his apartment.  "You okay?"

"It hit me on the way home," he said quietly.

"I understand.  It does that to the best of us. You'll never forget your first time, no matter what it is."  Tony nodded, accepting that.  "Sit.  Want something to drink or eat?  Willow ran to the store for munchies."

"Sure.  Any chips?"

"That's about what I seem to live on," Xander admitted, bringing back a few bags.  He sat on the couch and turned on the tv, then handed Tony a soda.

Tony watched some of the drama, then looked at the guy beside him.  "Did you ever need to just sit with someone?"

"Yeah, and there was never anyone there," he sighed, turning to look at him.  "It's been a long time since I had someone to sit and be around. Since Jesse died."

"Your friend?" he asked quietly.  Xander nodded.  "I read the journal.  I would've lied too."  He ate a chip and handed back the bag.

Xander grinned.  "I knew she couldn't beat him and even if it caused pain it was better than the alternative.  I'm the sort of guy who does what I have to do and then I cry later."  Tony nodded, accepting that. "At least you're not trying the other method of reconnecting."

"Hot sex?  I'd prefer all night stands. It's better for me but it's too late to call anyone over."  He took the bag of chips back and the boy hugged him, making him relax.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It hits us all differently, Tony.  If you don't want to go out again, I understand.  Again, like military service, not everyone can handle it.  I just hope I don't end up with a politician that's turned.  I'd hate to have to run screaming from the secret service."

Tony laughed at that, snickering really.  He gave the guy's head a nudge.  "I doubt they'd let you run far and we'll handle that one ourselves."  He smiled at the tv, then groaned.  "I hate that reporter.  The director's always sucking up to her."

"When I saw her 'oh please fuck me now I'm so pitiful' look at Gibbs' earlier, I almost asked him if he wanted me to find someone to eat her.  He looked so pained."

"She's one of his exes. There was real pain there."

"I still don't take Gibbs for being a guy who digs through the trash for the leftovers."

Tony cackled, leaning on the guy's shoulders.  "Oh, if you'd just use my name, I'd could hang out with you."

"Only if you're riding me into a happy dream," he quipped back, smirking at him. Then he blew a kiss.  "Until then, you're still just Pretty Boy or Hot Ass.  Sorry."

Tony laughed some more.  "Fine. I can accept that I guess.  Just not in front of the director, please.  She'll make fun of me."

"She didn't say anything about me calling McGee Fluffy."

"No, but he's still mad about it."

"We all call people by different names.  Remind him that plenty of peoples around the world believe that your true name should always be hidden, or else the people who know have power over you.  I couldn't come up with one for Gibbs.  He'd knock me out if I teased him that way."

Tony nodded, smirking now.  "Oh, yeah!  And he'd probably enjoy it too.  Can I maybe get something non-sexual?"

"Well, you have stunning green eyes and a great smile, but if I mention those it'll really seem like we're dating to someone.  Probably Fluffy."

"Fluffy wouldn't know what hit him if he saw two men together," he joked.

"You never know.  I take him for someone who attempted it once but couldn't stand the entry pain the first time.  He doesn't seem like he's anything but soft and squishy, a nice guy but not really strong emotionally."

Tony nodded.  "He can be.  He's also a very good hacker."

"Hey, if he and Abby break up, I'll introduce him to Wonder Wicca downstairs.  They can talk computers."

"I'm sure they'll have fun."  Tony grinned at him.  "You're doing it to annoy him, aren't you?"

"Actually, I'm horrible with names. I learned to categorize them in my head by things like what I call you guys because I once called Cordelia by Buffy's name.  Was the 'she never came to town' spell in there?"

"No."

Xander got up and got the other journal, finding that entry so he could read it.  "After seeing the vampire me and Willow, I don't want to ever make that mistake again."

"You should try it in the middle of sex."

"Um, no thanks.  I'm more of a baby, honey, love, more, bastard, more sort."  He sat down again, taking the chips to get a few.  Tony choked a moment later and he grinned at him. "Moved onto the love spell, didn't you? I skipped some time in there."

Tony looked at him.  "I'd have loved each and every one I could."

"I thought about it, but even at seventeen I wasn't that good.  Besides, I like to spend some time, not dipping my wick into every candle mold out there."  He took the journal back and put it down.  "What did Gibbs say about it?"

"Someone should have mentored the group back then and if the person who was doing it had been paying attention to anything he'd have seen all the problems and stopped them sooner."

"Giles was more concerned about Buffy, we all knew that.  It's why Willow went towards magic and I got ignored."  He shrugged.  "It happens. It's not like I had someone to pay attention to me before."

"Good point."  He started to say something else but an explosion went off outside.  "That had better not have been my car."

"No," he said, getting up to look. "Not a car, the building across the street."  He picked up the phone, dialing 911.  "Hi, I'm at...."

***

Gibbs looked up as Tony walked into the office the next morning.  "I called you last night to make sure you were okay."

"I ended up talking with Xander for a while, before his neighbor's drug lab went up."  He sat down again.  "I also got to peek at his next journal.  He stopped doing it weekly and it skips almost six months.  That's the one that shows when he changed."  He tossed it over. "He wants the other one back with this one."

"Sure."  He settled in to read it, then looked at him.  "He did what?"

"Which what, Boss?"  He looked at McGee as he stumbled in.  "Fluffy, he said he's going to kick your butt for that."  That got a wince.  "How stupid are you!"

"That's my job," Gibbs noted.  "McGee."  That got another flinch.  "How stupid are you!  If they're strong enough to nearly take me and Tony together what the HELL makes you think you can take them on alone!" he shouted, standing up.  McGee seemed to shrink in on himself a bit.  "If an eight year combat veteran, a veteran of that war, can't fight them on his own, then you definitely can't!"

"Boss....."

"Shut up, McGee.  You're grounded to your desk until Ducky clears you for the field and you'd better pray that I never catch you doing such stupid crap again!"

"Yes, Boss.  Sorry, Boss."  He slunk downstairs to see Ducky.  "I need medical clearance to go back into the field," he said weakly.

"Timothy, should you try to leave your desk today or tomorrow, I have a very thick strap with your name on it," he said firmly, glaring at the young man.  "That was totally unnecessary and uncalled for!  Do you know what would have happened to the unit if you had died!  Or if I had to do your autopsy?  Or Heaven's forbid and you were turned!" he finished loudly.  "Go back to your desk before I paddle you like Jethro should!"  He headed back to his desk.  Ducky smiled and drank a bit of his water. He felt much better now.  Abigail had been right, yelling was cathartic.

Gibbs was reading the journal again when he came back.  "How many days?"

"At least today and tomorrow, Boss," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"Fine.  Sit!"  He went and sat.  "You have things due to me? I want them."

"Yes, Boss."  He got to work typing up his last few reports, making sure to grammar and spell check them so Gibbs wouldn't have an excuse to yell at him again.  He only got up to hand them over.  "Are you all right, Boss?"  Gibbs looked at him.  "You said you nearly got hurt last night."

"I'm fine, McGee.  One wrenched my shoulder, that's all.  Did you learn your lesson?"  He nodded quickly.  "And are you going to quit being so stupid?"  He nodded again.  "Good. Then I won't fire your ass for that."  McGee went back to his desk and he looked at Tony, who was trying hard not to giggle out loud.  "You, reports?"

"Many, many reports, Boss.  All on the CD at home.  Should I run home and get them?" he asked.  "Or should I do that at lunch?"

"Lunch is fine.  Did you finish analyzing those tapes, McGee?"

"I did, Boss, and that's in there too."  He ducked his head back down again.

Tony smirked at him. "I did a location and records search on the personnel files, Boss.  It showed that a third of the officers and scientists are still working within the Military somewhere.  Most of them are listed as 'classified' but they can be found. Most of the foot soldiers were either dead, on that special UN project that Harris mentioned, or were unaccounted for after the disaster hit that base."

"Wonderful. Is that what we're calling it?"

"I'd call it a massacre, but I think it was justified for them to get the bastards who tortured them."

"Point.  Is it still standing?"

"It was but it may not be after the, um, earthquake hit Sunnydale.  I can call Harris and check."

"Please."  He looked at him.  "If so, I want schematics and things so we can prove it in court."

Tony nodded and made that call, getting told that it was still open and that Willow had most of those.  He promised to have them sent to Abby.  "Boss, he said when Rosenburg wakes up she'll send what she has to Abby, that way we can see if we need more or not."

"Fine. How long?"

"I'm not sure.  She's still suffering detox fatigue, Boss."  Gibbs looked at him.  "You didn't hear about the energy stuff?"  He nodded.  "That."

"What fatigued her?"

"Oh, that's right, he only told me.  Elevator, Boss?"  Gibbs nodded, taking the journal with him.  The elevator was the usual meeting spot for the team; he stopped it between floors and made sure there were no new cameras.  Tony told him what the kid had said during their first talk together, including about Rosenburg.  "That's why she's so tired and why he's the one supporting them."

"How is he supporting them on a bartender's salary?"

"He's buying the building so the mortgage is probably cheaper than rent. It seems like Willow's got cash every now and then but he doesn't.  I don't know how he's doing it.  Maybe some sort of insurance payoff for whatever was totaled in the blast?  Maybe something from his eye?"  He shrugged.  "Not a clue, Boss."

"Find out.  I don't want anything for anyone to gnaw on about this."  He restarted the elevator and went down to bug Abby for a few minutes.  "Did she send the...."  She handed him a DVD.  "What's this?"

"Their schematics of the base, taken from the base's security systems, and the various drawings used to plan the assault by Harris.  She kept them all together."

"He planned it?"

"The basics.  Then they did the spell and it was Buffy's job."  She looked up at the camera she had found earlier then at him.  "Their friend was critically injured during the first attempt.  It's all in that file."

"Thanks.  I yelled at McGee again for you."

"Awww, thank you."  She gave him a hug. "Ducky promised to whip his ass with a strap."

Gibbs smirked at that and went back upstairs to run that information.  He noticed Ziva's seat was still empty.  "Where's David?" he asked.

"Called off," Tony admitted, holding up the slip. "While you were downstairs. She said she feels miserable and she'll see us later tonight."  He looked at him and Tony looked back. "You don't think...."  He glanced in McGee's direction and Gibbs scowled.  "Sorry, Boss, but it's a thought.  She's not that careful sometimes."

"Point."  He took the message and looked it over. "It says she wasn't."

"Why would she volunteer that information?"

"I'll call her during lunch."  He sat down and inserted the DVD.  "McGee, how do I run this thing?"  His assistant came over to start it for him, watching the slideshow with him.  "How do I pause?"

"Just like on the VCR, Boss."  He used the mouse to click on the pause button. "Click play or pause again to restart.  Is that a battle plan?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Is it a good one?"

"It got what they needed done and got them out safely.  That makes it a good plan."  He moved on to the next one, finding it nerve-racking.  The kid had taken some chances, but he probably couldn't help it.  Not six people against a special ops group. He went back to reading the journal, finding this one ended right before high school graduation.  He clicked off the slide show and went down to his car, heading over to see the kid.  It was unkind, he was probably asleep again, but oh well.  He had the other in his car so he handed it back at the amused look.  "I want to see the one from graduation."  Xander raised an eyebrow, leaning in the doorway.  "I'm serious, kid.  I already read the last page of that one."  Xander nodded him inside and over to his bookshelf, finding it and handing it over.  "Did you ever get to talk to someone?"

"Nope.  Then again it's not like I had someone to talk to.  The girls wouldn't have listened."

"What about that mentor, Giles?"

"He was there for Buffy.  Every now and then he came out of his own research but otherwise, not there really.  He was closer to me than my own father was and he tried now and then but I got through it."

"You need to talk to someone who's been there.  PTSD alone is enough to make you snap and do something rash."

"I did that one year.  I'm well past that stage."  He shrugged and sat down, smiling just a tiny bit.  "I'm fine, Gibbs.  Really I am."

"If you were, you wouldn't let her ride on your coattails.  She'd be working, you'd be dating, and Tony wouldn't be cringing each time a woman calls him cute."

"I can't find another name for him.  I tried, but everything else came about his smile and his eyes, and then he'd really look gay."

"Point.  He's a good agent."

"Gibbs, I call people pet names because I can't remember their real ones.  I couldn't figure out one for you at all that wouldn't get me smacked around.  Calling Cordelia Buffy just the once was more than enough for me to learn my lesson.  Oh, tell Stupidity Boy to eat steak for lunch, even if he doesn't eat meat.  He'll need the protein and iron."

"Sure.  Can I?"  Xander shrugged.  "You really okay?"

"I'm fine enough.  Really okay stopped when I was ten."

Gibbs sighed.  "If your father or mother had been military we would have charged them."

"Not during those years you wouldn't have.  My mom did ROTC but during those years charging someone for child abuse took a dead kid.  I only ended up near death."

"If you say so."

"I'm well aware of the failings of the system, Gibbs."

"Sure.  You wanna talk?"

"Not particularly.  The next time I have a suicidal moment I'll call and talk then," he offered, again smiling just a bit.  "That's usually when I feel like talking about that stuff."

"Please.  Call me or Tony.  Either of us will listen."  He left, going back to the office, with a quick stop for coffee.  On the way his phone rang and he sighed when he saw the number. "Gibbs," he answered.  He nodded and turned the car around.  "Right away, sir.  No, I was out for coffee.  Thank you, sir."  He hung up and muttered under his breath as he drove to the White House, showing his credentials at the gate.  "I got summoned," he noted dryly.

"They're waiting for you in the back hallway, Special Agent Gibbs.  Park in the staff parking area please."

He nodded, going to do that, putting the book in his glove box.  He got out and turned on the car alarm, looking at the guard watching him. "It's someone's journal.  Get over it."  The guard moved on and he went inside, then turned and redid the alarm since he had heard a beep.  He went back to the car and got the journal, putting it in his pocket.  He definitely didn't want the kid to be arrested for saving the world and blowing up his high school.  Then they'd have to tell everyone what was going on and that'd give him a headache.  He ran into one of the Marine guards.  "Which back hallway, Marine?"

"Gunny, sir, the Oval Office hallway, sir."

"Thank you, Marine."  He headed that way, mentally groaning.  He found the people waiting on him. "You summoned?"

"You busy today?" Fornell asked acidly.

"Why?  Have you decided if we're frying the Initiative or not yet?"

"You are, but only for what you can prove in court," a Marine said as he walked up to him.

Gibbs saluted.  "General, sir."

"At ease, as you were.  We had a strange occurrence and it's happened in a few other places as well.  One of the Marine guards here today came in complaining of a deadly migraine but didn't want to be relieved of duty for the day, citing it was his duty and he wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone, but he asked for an out-of-the-sunlight post.  Since I heard that ...cult case came through your office...."  He stared him down.

Gibbs followed him down to where the guy was, stepping forward to check for a pulse.  He looked at the soldier. "Who did it, kid?"

"Speak," the general ordered.  He checked his pulse.  "He's dead?"

Gibbs pinched the guy on the arm, making him yelp.  "Only slightly, sir."  He glared at him.  "Well?"

"Sirs, I'm sorry, I don't know who he was."  He stared over their shoulders.  "I was out at a friend's house, I came out of his house and was accosted by an unknown male.  I felt my neck burn, then I woke up this morning."  He looked at Gibbs.  "I know what I am."

"I know what you are too.  There's been a bunch of you in town recently."  The soldier flinched.  He looked at the General.  Then around.  "This goes no further, mostly because I don't want to be laughed at."  Everyone nodded.  "You've all seen something about the Initiative project, right?"

"They were crackpots in costumes," one of the other guards said.

"Fat chance."  He looked at the General.  "Did you ever wonder why Sunnydale, where they put that base, had a fifty percent homicide and missing persons rate, sir?"  He shook his head. "It's because of guys like this one now is.  And when they had that earthquake, it moved here."

"That cloud in the Mall," Fornell said blandly.  Gibbs nodded.  "You believe this?"

Gibbs pulled out his pocket knife and ran it across is thumb, waving it under the Marine's nose.  He vamped out and everyone yelled and backed away.  "Clean it off."  The vampire moaned and sucked it for him, then went back to attention.  "Let me call someone.  'Cause either I stake you or I'm sending you away, soldier."  He called Xander.  "Where do we send non-threatening ones?"  He nodded, taking down that address.  "Thank you, kid."  He hung up. "All right, there's two choices.  You can either transfer to Sunnydale's base.  They still have one there and it's a small one that has a few Marines."  The guard nodded.  "Or you can transfer over to LA, or as close as you can, and I can give you the address of someone who can teach you how not to hunt.  Your choice, Marine."

"I'd like to be taught, sir. If possible."  He read the address that was held up.  "Thank you, sir, as soon as I can transfer I'll find him, sir."

"Good."  He looked at the others.  "So, what would you like me to do with this cult of killing beings who're going around and eating soldiers and civilians?"

The general looked at him, then at the Marine, then back at him.  "You're dealing with it?"

"Unfortunately.  You really need to give the base personnel another talk about how to be safe in an inner city and threatening situation, sir.  While most won't take on someone willing to fight back, there's some who will."

"With all due respect, sir, I was nearly dead before I realized what was going on.  Fortunately I've seen a lot of horror movies, sir."

"At least you didn't turn into dust in front of one of the press."  He looked at them again.  "Your choice, gentlemen.  What would you have me do?  And please don't tell Director Shepard.  We're treating this as some covert cult/terrorist cell.  We have one of the survivors of Sunnydale in town who's been helping us.  He helped us on another case and we realized he knew about these things then."

"Continue as you've begun," the President said as he stepped forward.  "How many are in the city?"

"Estimates say just under a hundred by now.  Hence us putting out the warnings and things, sir."

"That's fine, Special Agent Gibbs.  You dropped this."  He handed it over.  "That person?"

"Is helping, sir.  Everything he's done is to keep this country going.  I'm not at liberty to discuss his past because it's not mine."

"I understand.  Son, you'll be transferred out as soon as we can.  For now, stay down here.  There's a few rats and things if you get hungry off duty."  He looked at the general.  "Make sure any that come back to base like this are either asked if they want to retire and are therefore turned to dust however or sent there."  He looked at Gibbs again.  "How is your team handling it?"

"I went on my first guided hunt last night and nearly got eaten.  They're much faster than I or DiNozzo are, sir.   McGee went out without permission and nearly died if not for our Goth lab tech.  Officer David called off today for some reason and I still have to talk to her."

"That's fine.  Keep me informed.  I'll tell Director Shepard that you're sending that directly to me instead of going through her, that way I can coordinate with the others working on the problem since it's so internationally known."

"Yes, sir.  Thank you for getting her off my back, sir.  We've already agreed that this is our secondary task, we're still working cases."

"That's fine, Gibbs.  You weren't there last night?"

"Sir, with all due respect, I hate my own award presentations.  Why would I go to another's?"

"She credited you for helping her be the agent she was."

"That's nice, sir, but still."  He shrugged.  "I'd rather be out hunting something in the clubs."  He saluted his boss.  "I'm going back to work, sir.  I need to find Officer David."

"Go, Gibbs.  Tell that young man good work.  I saw that disaster after it happened.  I'm sure he was there when the town went in?"

"He was.  He barely got out alive from what I understand.  By the way, he brought up a disaster scenario.  A politician or Senior Staff member being turned would be handled by?"

"Me personally," the President assured him.  "I'll brief someone in the Secret Service myself."  Gibbs nodded.  "Thank you for reminding me of that point."

"Not a problem, sir.  I just didn't want one of us to have to explain it."  He walked out, going back to his car and his coffee.  He wasn't allowed to bring his coffee inside near the precious artifacts.  Not since he had been hit by a running person and had spilled it on a chair.  He called Ziva on the way.  "Tell me you have a pulse," he demanded as he backed out.  He heard her groan.  "Officer David!" he snapped.  "Answer me."  She answered she still had one, just a small bite.  "Report to Ducky tonight, before sundown."  He hung up and went back to the office.  He walked in and sat down, looking at the case file on his desk.  "What's this?"

"I ran home for those reports, Boss," Tony said cheerfully.  "They're all there and signed.  McGee managed to not keep down his lunch that Abby made him so he's down with Ducky and getting beaten about the head by Abby, and Ziva said she'd report in another hour, long before sundown, she just needed a shower first.  Still no case yet, Boss."

"I just met a Marine vampire at the White House."

"Oh, charming.  Did we come clean?"  Gibbs nodded.  "That's fine, who's watching us for happy drugs being needed now?"

"The President himself."  He went back to reading.  Something was seriously wrong with the battle plan in front of him.  He pulled up the picture of the school and saw what it was, then shook his head.  Too much distance for the girl to cover before the thing ate her.  It'd be dangerous.  But then again he'd want her since she was the one he was against.  "Interesting.  DiNozzo, how many casualties at this event," he ordered, marking the page and tossing over the book.

Tony looked then typed it into the database that was now on his computer so McGee couldn't get into it again and do more stupid stuff.  "Fifteen dead at the scene, two non- combatants among those, and three later at the hospital.  Approximately sixty injured people beyond then."  He looked at the battle plans.  "That was far away from their target."

"He probably couldn't get them to change where they were holding the event," he noted dryly.  "Toss it back."  Tony closed the book and tossed it back.  "Thank you."

Tony answered his phone and listened to the dry, tired voice, snickering.  Then he hung up.  He stood up and walked over.  "Ziva just called Harris, Boss.  She complained and bitched him out because he didn't tell her that going out during certain times of the month were more dangerous than others."

Gibbs considered that statement then looked at him.  "If they want blood and can smell blood, isn't that common sense?"

"I thought so," he admitted.  He grinned.  "He told her the same thing.  Is he all right? He sounded really tired."

"We've all woken him today."  He went back to reading, blushing a bit and moving on.

"Let me guess, his road trip?" he asked smugly.  Gibbs glared at him so he went back to work, canceling out that file so no one would come read it over his shoulder.  "Boss, should I do a sweep for cameras and bugs?  We haven't done one in a while."  Gibbs looked at him. "I'm somewhere between paranoid and thinking I'm on a trip or something," he admitted quietly.  "This is not the sort of case I ever considered when I signed up for the academy and before I met Harris, I thought it was all a stupid myth."

"So do I, DiNozzo.  Go ahead and do a sweep for bugs, then let security follow up."  He skipped over more musings on the strip club and the clients.  He didn't want to know that about the boy.  He also didn't want to know why he couldn't strip, he had done just fine at the club the other night while dancing with the succubuses.

***

Xander walked back into the apartment building and slammed the door.  "Willow!"  She came out of her apartment, looking concerned.  "I just got fired.  That means either you've got to get a job or we're going to be kicked out within a month.  Your choice."  She looked hurt and he glared at her.  "Willow, why did you come?" he asked.  "Most of what you do could have been done from Sunnydale.  You're not hunting, you're not really helping.  Most of the time you sit and chat online.  As helpful as you are, I need the help."

"I can't work, Xander!"

"Then why don't you file for disability?" he suggested.  She gave him her 'pissed' look . "I don't care, Willow!  I'm going to be the one that loses things if I can't pay for this stuff and you're sitting on your ass.  What did you want me to do?"

She walked back into her apartment and slammed the door.

"Fine, then you get to start selling *your* stuff!"

"I don't have any stuff left!" she screamed.

He opened the door.  "Really?  I seem to remember you having about fifty programs that aren't on the market."

"I can't just go out and peddle programs on the street!  It doesn't work that way!" she yelled back.  "What about your stuff?"

"My stuff is the weapons, Willow," he said dryly.  "You know, that stuff *I* work with every night?"  She flinched.  "You took the mortgage money and now I can't pay it this month.  I'm having Anya flashbacks!"

"Then call Giles!"

"He told us *both* that Watcher money doesn't come to us and it's only going to get worse with Eliana moving in.  All he's going to be paying for her is her food and clothing.  Unless you're suddenly getting paid?"  She flinched. "You are!  I'll be damned!  He's been paying you?"  He walked into the apartment and made her look at him.  "How much is he paying you?"

"Only a few hundred a month.  Enough to pay for the food," she said quietly, glaring at him.  "Let go."

He turned and stomped upstairs, slamming his door.  Then he grabbed his hunting gear.  He went to shower and try to calm down.  When he came out he grabbed his phone and his sweat pants, heading up to the practice area to do a few workouts.  He needed to be calm.  He'd do something stupid otherwise.  When he got up there, he looked around, then shuddered.  The weapons collection was nice but they needed at least half of it.  He headed for the punching bag, warming up that way.

"Xander?" Willow called.

"Fuck off!"

"Hey!  You don't speak to me like that!"

He turned and glared at her, stopping the swinging bag without having to look.  "Fuck off.  Figure out what you're selling to make the mortgage this month, Willow.  Since you took the mortgage money."  She stomped off again.  He turned and went back to wearing out his temper before he did something stupid.

A male voice cleared itself from the doorway.  "Xander, was that really necessary?"

"Yes, Giles, it was.  Since she used the mortgage money for something else, we can't pay it this month.  Since I just got fired because I'm the only damn hunter in the city and I've been tired and out of sorts recently, we won't be able to pay it next month either.  And now I find out you're paying her to sit around and chat online all day."  He turned to glare at him, making him flinch.  "What do you want me to do, Giles?"

"Why did you buy the building?" he asked.  "You could have gone with a house instead."

"Houses here are more expensive than this building was and they're further out of the center of the city.  Since the hellmouth is in the center of the city, I thought it was the better choice."  He turned and went back to hitting the heavy bag again.  "So either she's selling something or I'm going to have to auction off some of the weapons.  Which would you like, Giles?"

"Xander, you don't have to be that way."

He turned to glare at him.  "Giles, read my lips.  I am the *only* one hunting in this town.  There's a few feds who're starting but they're not ready to go out even in teams yet.  So I'm once again working full time, until tonight, and hunting for at least four hours a night.  Gee, I wonder why I'm a bit pissed that she's doing things like taking the mortgage money."

"You can always pay it...."

Xander walked past him, heading back to his apartment.  "Eliana, I'm going hunting, did you want to come?" he called.

"She can't come until next month," Giles called, staring at the now-stiff back.  "She's got a broken leg."

Xander turned to look at him.  "And you want me to do what, Giles?  Die?"  He walked into his apartment and slammed the door, locking it for once. Then he put up the magical wards he had created, locking everyone out.  He went to change clothes, finding his old hunting clothes in the back of his closet in his trunk.  He came out and knelt in front of his altar, praying for some sort of help to come.  Of course he didn't feel answered so he finished his prayer and looked at the candle.  "You know I don't ask it for myself, Lady, but if you want me to continue, I need some help.  I can't do it on my own."  Still no feeling like she was answering him so he bowed and blew out the candle.  Then he got up and put on his boots, grabbing his wallet to head out.  He turned and locked his apartment and the practice area both before heading off.

His bike was still untouched so he undid the security system and got on, putting on his helmet.  He started his engine and headed off, going to find a drink and a fight.  He wasn't sure which would help more but he needed both.  He felt his phone vibrate and pulled out of traffic to put in his ear bud to answer it.  "Harris."  He sighed and tensed up.  "Not now, Tony.  Unless you're in mortal peril," he said firmly.  "Because I got fired, Willow's been being paid by Giles, she took the mortgage money for some reason, and lo and behold, the new slayer isn't coming in for another month, but Giles is here.  You can tell Ducky that if you want.  No, I'm not okay.  I'm going to go wear out this incredible anger before I hurt Willow.  We'll see."  He hung up and headed for a club he knew was a good fighting spot.

***

Tony hung up and looked at the phone, then at the people in his apartment.  "Call your friend and see what crawled up her ass."

"Why?  What happened?"

"Xander got fired, Willow took the mortgage money, Giles is here, Ducky, and the girl's not coming for a month.  He's off to get into a fight."  He sat down and looked at her.  "I'm serious.  If their mortgage is twelve hundred a month and she's getting two grand a month, she should be responsible for some of it."  She looked stunned.  "I don't know what's wrong with her but she needs fixed."

"She does. I'm headed over there.  Ducky, would you like to go?"

"I wouldn't mind," he agreed, smiling at Tony.  "Thank you for the respite from duty, Anthony.  I'll see you tomorrow.  Bring me some of the leftovers if you don't eat it all."  He followed her out, even driving since her car was in the shop.

Tony leaned back and thought.  Someone needed to step in and wasn't.  He called Gibbs.  "Xander's in a rage at the moment, Boss," he reported quietly.  "We've also had a small setback.  Our new girl won't be here for a month or so.  He didn't say.  I called him to see if he wanted to go out after work.  No, he got fired and Willow took the mortgage money.  He was in that calm rage moment.  I don't know, Boss.  I have no idea but I sent Abby over to talk to her and Ducky went to talk to his nephew since he's in.  Yeah, him."  He smirked a bit.  "That Ziva, Boss?  Have you ripped her a new one yet?  Because you know I wanted tape," he offered teasingly.  "No, our dinner broke up.  A movie probably.  You sure?  Fine, I'll go find him.  Any idea where I should look?"  The name of the bar made his eyebrow raise.  "Was that a guess?"  He nodded once. "I figured you probably had planted a tracker on him.  I'll be home later, after I get him calmed down."

He hung up and went to change.  There was no way he was going to one of the tougher bars in the city in a cashmere sweater and dockers.  He came out in an older pair of jeans and a tight t-shirt, grabbing his jacket from inside the closet.  Then his keys and shoes, heading out to find the boy before he died.  Or worse, ended up severely injured and nagged for it.  It only took him about ten minutes to get the bar at this time of night.  He knew where it was because he'd been there once or twice when his temper took off.  He parked and heard the fight already going in the alley, heading that way.  And there was Xander.  He watched him beat the human bullies, since they were bleeding they were probably alive, and watched him take a few blows without a comment or a noise.  He finished off the last one and turned, staring at him.  "Wanna talk?  This isn't the best way to wear that out."

"No, not really."  He smoothed down his hair.  "I really want to go kill my best friend and my former almost-mentor."  He walked around the bodies and joined him at the end of the alley.  "Who sent you after me?"

"Gibbs."  Xander made a 'go on' motion with one hand, the other coming up to wipe some blood off his mouth.  "I called you, reported to Ducky and Abby what was going on, they're heading to talk to those two and I called Gibbs to tell him the new girl wasn't going to be coming in for a bit.  He told me to come get you when he heard where you were."

"How did you know where I was?"

"He had you found, kid."  He nodded.  "Come on, I've got fresh pizza and beer at my place."

"I'm not good company."

"Eh, it happens.  Come on.  I've got ice packs too."

"Those are nice," he admitted, following him.  He got on his bike and Tony looked at him.  "I can head there."

"You'll wreck."

"I didn't on the way here."

"Yeah, and now you're in that bad part of the anger, the depressed part.  I'll drive and you can park her in a garage."  Xander nodded, going to take his precious baby to the nearest parking garage. There were plenty of them in the area.  Tony picked him up outside and drove him back to his place.  "Why isn't she paying part of it?"

"She said Giles is only paying her a few hundred," he sighed, resting his head on the back of the seat.  "I shouldn't be surprised. It's not enough to take care of it and this sort of thing keeps happening to me."

Tony pulled over and pulled something out of his glovebox. "Gibbs was wondering about things that could make you break and how you were managing on a bartender's salary," he noted, handing the papers over to him.  "He had me do a financial check to make sure you were okay and couldn't have that used to make you do stupid stuff."

Xander looked at the form, frowning, then at him.  "Since when?"

"As far as I could tell, about the same time you got here.  The month before you showed up to close the hellmouth," he said quietly.

"So why did she take the mortgage money?  If she's making more than that, why is she doing it?"

"I don't know," he admitted.

"I need to go home."

"Not yet."

"Yeah, yet."  He got out and looked around, then concentrated really hard, landing inside the apartment building.  Giles yelped and moved away from him so he glared at him.  He walked into Willow's apartment, pulling her up by the hair.  "You make how much a month from the Watcher's Council and you took the mortgage money?" he demanded coldly.

"Let me go!"

"Hell no!"  He shoved her down and held up the paperwork.  "Someone did a check to make sure no one could hold the financial stuff over my head, so that I couldn't be forced into a position that would compromise the newest hunters in the city, Willow.  Guess what he found!" he finished coldly.  She flinched and tried to move away.  "You're going back to Sunnydale.  I don't care.  I can easily get someplace smaller a few minutes further out and live off the interest of the sale of this place and some of the weapons.  You're going home since you're not productive and you're sabotaging me."  He turned and looked around, then back at her.  "I can find another hacker, leave the computers here."  He walked over and touched something on the wall, making the whole building glow for a moment.  Then he looked at her.  "Have a nice trip.  I'm sure Giles can stay long enough to talk with Ducky for a few days."  He walked out, finding Tony pulling up onto the street.  He got back in and took a few deep breaths when he got stared at.  "Sorry.  I had to send her home."

"I understand. You're going to sell that and get somewhere smaller and further out?"  Xander nodded.  "Good idea.  I hope it doesn't take too long."

"Me too.  I might have to sell a few of the weapons but I really don't care at the moment," he said a bit too calmly and quietly.  "Can we be anywhere but here?  She'll try to break the magic with Giles and I don't want to watch her fail again."

"Sure."  He took off, taking him back to his place.  Xander didn't exactly trudge inside but it was close.  "You can have the couch if you need it tonight, Xander."

"Thank you, Tony."  He sat down, hands on his head, just holding it so it wouldn't split.  "Why do they do this to me? I got sent here with her.  Giles ordered me here and then sabotages me.  Why?" he asked, looking at him.

"I don't know.  Personally I'd say fear.  Maybe that you'll be better at the job than he is."  He sat down, looking at him.  "Want an ice pack?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine.  Even Gibbs would be complaining that he was sore with the way your face and chest looks."  Xander looked at him.  "I watched you take down the last two, kid.  You need some medical attention."

"Ducky just stared in horror so I'm guessing he'll complain to me tomorrow, but I'm fine at the moment.  I can't feel it."

"That's a bad thing, Xander," he said quietly.  "It's bad to not feel."

"Yeah, but sometimes it's the only balm a soul has," he noted dryly, looking at him.  "I can head out so you can get some rest."

"If you move, I'm handcuffing you," he said firmly, standing up.  "And then I'm calling Gibbs to come lecture you."

"I don't need a dad, Tony.  You do a good impersonation of giving a damn though."  He stood up. "I'm fine. Really.  I was going to go sit and watch the river."

"No.  Maybe tomorrow.  Not at night, not alone, and not injured."  He got given a dirty look.  "I mean it."

Xander smiled but shook his head. "Thank you for the ride and the information but I can handle it and myself, Tony.  Really.  I'll even give you the new address."  He left, heading outside.

Tony followed, neck pinching him so he could catch him and carry him back inside.  One of his neighbor's caught him so he lowered him, letting her see his face. "He's refusing an ice pack.  I don't think that's a good idea."  He walked back inside, kicking the door shut.  He handcuffed Xander on the couch then went to get a few cold packs from the freezer for him. He could only guess where it hurt, but the boy had been hit at least twice in the ribs and stomach that he had seen and his whole face needed one so he dropped the larger one onto it.  Then he sat down to call Gibbs. "I've got him, Boss, he's handcuffed on the couch.  He's a bit banged up.  I gave him the financial information I had and he disappeared to talk to her for a few minutes.  He's feeling a bit betrayed but he'll be fine.  Boss, have you ever see someone that scared you because they were mad?  I did.  If you want. I still have some pizza and stuff left."  He hung up and turned on a movie, getting another slice of pizza to nibble on while he waited.

***

Xander woke up to someone touching the bruise on his chin. "I'm fine. Get off."

"You're not fine.  Shut up," Gibbs told him.  He helped him sit up, watching him wince.  "You don't feel it when you're fighting?"

"I trained myself to feel it later."  He looked at him, then at the clock, then back at him.  "Don't you have to be at work at eight?"

"So?  I'll actually make it up at five."  He looked at the boy's face again.  "Take off the shirt."

"No."  He stood up and got pushed back down so he stood up again.  "No.  I don't need it. I'm fine.  I won't even go kill her."

"That's fine, she's already flying back without most of the stuff since she was complaining about how much stuff she had to leave."  He touched the bruised cheek then looked in the tired eyes.  "Ducky's going to yell tomorrow."

"He probably will but I'm still fine.  I've had worse than this before, Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded and pushed him back down, watching him wince and hiss as he bounced a bit.  "That's the problem.  You've gotten to the point where we'd be discharging you from the service for emotional issues."  Xander frowned at him.  "You would be. You're always angry.  You're never calm.  You're fighting to take out your stress.  It's not healthy for you, kid."

"Yeah, well...."  Someone knocked on the door.  "You already called Ducky?"

"No.  I didn't.  He said he'd be seeing you tomorrow afternoon."  He went to look out the peephole then answered the door, looking at the officer.  "Yes?"

"Sir, we had a report that a young man had been assaulted?"

"Actually he got into a bar brawl.  His best friend just screwed him over so he went to get a bit drunk."

"Oh.  That's fine then.  Can I see him?"  Gibbs let him inside the apartment.  He looked at the young man.  "Do you want to press charges?  That must have been some brawl."

"The six of them were unconscious when I left," he admitted quietly, staring at him. "The club's bouncers handed me to them when I walked in.  Told me I was the new meat on the block and had to prove myself.  I'm sure the bouncers brought them back inside."

"We got a report about that fight as well but no one down there said anything.  You went to a prison bar?" he asked dryly.

Xander shrugged.  "My former best friend stole the mortgage money before I could pay it this month.  I just got fired tonight.  I found out that she was getting paid by someone else all along and, oh, she'd been sitting on her ass for it for the last few months. I was a bit pissed," he said facetiously.  Gibbs smacked him across the back of the head.  "Sorry, I don't mean to take it out on others."

"No, I'd be angry too.  Where is she?"

"Heading back to Cali," he noted bitterly.  "Where I told her to go."  The cop nodded.  "I'm fine, really.  Thank the neighbor who reported it, but I'm fine. They're trying to get me calmed down instead of letting me walk off to go for a cross-country run or something."

"That's fine.  It's good to have such good friends."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Is this your apartment, sir?"

"No, it's one of my agent's residence," he admitted. "He's reading in the bedroom with his discman on while we talked.  Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, NCIS," he said, shaking his hand.

The cop smiled.  "Then I figure you've seen plenty of fights after the fact.  Does he need medical attention?"

"No and our staff ME likes him like a nephew.  He'll be fine."

"Good.  Thank you, sir."  He looked at the younger man. "You as well, Mr. Harris."  Xander raised an eyebrow.  "Someone was looking for you earlier, said you had basically walked out after a very bad fight and they were worried about your mental state.  So she called us."

"Uh-huh.  Was that a Willow person?"

"No, someone named Abby Sciuto?  Something like that."

"Abby works with them," he admitted with a slight smile.  "She's a nice lady."

"Good.  It's always good to have supportive friends."  He nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

Gibbs went to lock it then came back to find Xander with one of the ice packs against his mouth.  "You want some tylenol?"

"No, I'll survive, it just cracked when I smiled."

"I've had those."  He sat on the coffee table, making the kid look at him.  "I have scars of my own," he said quietly.  "Take off the shirt so I can check your ribs."

Xander shifted some.  "Just sore."  He got that same glare so he sighed and did it.

Gibbs looked at the chest.  The scars were mostly faint.  There were a few that weren't and those bothered him.  He touched one and the boy flinched away.  "Sorry."  He carefully checked his ribs and sides, then his abdomen for additional squishy areas that shouldn't be.  He got up to look at the guy's back, finding a few bruises, one near a kidney, but nothing too tragic.  Just more scars back there.  Some less faint than others.  He frowned and looked at one set.  "Who whipped you?"

Xander got away from him and put his shirt back on.  "Don't ask."  He looked at the hallway, then at him.  "Since she's gone can I go home?"

"Giles is still there."

"I can duck him.  That's not a problem.  Got any idea where I should look for the new lair?  Probably a small house?"

"Yeah, I do actually.  There's a nice area that's still near the subway lines that's not too expensive.  You can read the paper when he takes you to pick up your bike."

"I can call a cab and get home tonight," he noted quietly.

"Not with those injuries you're not.  Were any of those consensual?" he asked, staring him down.

"No, but one was a choice of let him and let him pay me for it or he'd do it anyway and kill my stupid ass."  Gibbs just blinked a few times.  "Someone set me up.  Blind date from hell.  Kinda literally since it was my ex."

"Did you get her back?"

"She expected me to use the money to buy her things," he said bitterly.  "And I didn't.  That got her more than anything else.  I made about six hundred for three hours and I managed to save my life at the same time.  I'd call that a good night."

"Me too.  Did anyone punish her for doing that to you?"

"Who would have?  Willow?" he asked dryly.  "Not hardly."

Gibbs shook his head and sat down again.  "I couldn't stand to be around people like that, Xander."

"Yeah, well, I didn't have anyone else.  They were all the family I'd had."  He held in a sniffle. "I really should go."

"Sit."

Xander looked at him.  "I don't take orders, Gibbs.  Like I told Tony, you're really great guys and I like hunting with you, but I'm not your officer and I'm not your kid.  No matter how good you'd do at the job.  I'm damn sure you would have found out I was hunting within a week of my first one."  He shrugged then winced a bit. "I'm heading back."

"How did you disappear from the car?"

"Magic.  I can do a lot more than people think."  He smirked a bit and winked.  "Thank you for reminding me."

"Do it and I'll go there and handcuff you to the bed until you're no longer bruised."

"Torture is wrong," he noted dryly.  But inside he felt a bit happier at that.  "How is Ziva?"

"Pissed at herself for not thinking about that.  She's fine.  I spent most of the night going over hunting strategies with her.  Sit.  Now.  I doubt you have any ice packs."

"Actually, I have a good store of them.  I also have my vicodin at home if I should ache more."

Gibbs reached over and pulled the kid down, forcing him to sit.  "There, better," he said, staring him down.  "If we're going to be a team, you've got to get used to the idea of someone having your back.  That's what teams do.  They support each other. That's why all my people are so tight.  I know you have no experience in that area, but now you've got to learn a few new skills.  Like trust."

"I do trust you."

"No, you don't.  If you did, you wouldn't be hiding the fact that you're still in pain.  Or that you're so tired you're about to fall over.  Tony!"  He came out of the bedroom.  "I think for now he'll be staying on the couch.  He's likely to pass out in the cab if he left."  Xander opened his mouth and he glared at him.  Then he looked at Tony again.  "Explain how teams work to him.  He's never been part of one."

"I did very well as part of my construction team."

"It's not the same thing.  In this area, like being an agent, you're all doing the same thing.  You're not working together on separate tasks, like you used to do.  You're all going in on a bust together.  Good teams know what their team members are going to do.  We don't have time to train you as an agent," he noted. "The basics aren't too hard to master though.  The most basic level is trust."  Xander nodded at that, shrugging a bit.  "So trust us to help you now when you need it."

"I do, but I don't need the help."

"Kid, if I was that injured, I'd be whining."  He looked at Tony again.  "Watch out for his back.  He's got a bruise right next to one of his kidneys.  His ribs and stomach seemed okay.  His face will be one big bruise tomorrow but he should be fine."

"Thanks, Gibbs."  Tony smiled and let him out, then came back.  "He's right.  It's kinda obvious you've never been part of this sort of team.  Even a pair of people, like you and I hunting, should be able to work together as a team.  That means I have to be able to understand you and you've got to understand me a little more than you already do."  Xander nodded slowly.  "You're already way ahead of me on that level.  All I get from you is a lot of anger and pain.  You're still grieving and you're angry about your eye probably, and a lot of other hurts that keep building up.  Team members are someone you can talk to about those things."

"So, if you had a night like mine, you'd be talking to Ziva?"

"No.  Not her, not yet.  She's too new to the team, kid.  I don't trust her to lead the way into a firefight but I do trust her to lead an interrogation.  I know her strengths and we're all working on the many weaknesses she has.  Including her lack of trust."  He stared in the brown eyes, seeing the realization dawn.  "So now we're going to help you integrate better.  Even when you have to move on you hopefully won't go alone.  This way you'll be able to help your next team form easier and we'll make sure we all come out of this alive.  Okay?"  Xander nodded, getting that part.  "Good.  Now, what was he talking about on your back?"

"Two of the bastards got me in the bar before we brought it outside."

"Ah.  Want me to look at them?"

"They're just bruises."

"So?  I can handle scars, Xander.  We've all got scars and bruises."  Xander sighed and took his shirt off, turning to let him see.  He blinked at the scarring.  "What the hell?" he asked, reaching over to touch.  "Are those whip marks?"

"Yeah."  He put back on his shirt.  "My ex, Anya, set me up with someone who decided he was either going to pay me for it or he was going to kill me if he didn't pay me.  I lasted almost three hours before I broke.  I made about six hundred dollars.  I also didn't talk to her for quite a while."

"I'd have beaten her," he said, shaking his head.  "How could you trust her?"

"She was a demon, then became human again.  It's just how she was.  I expected her to do something like that when she wasn't allowed to punish me for leaving her at the altar. I expected him to try to kill me, but he at least gave me the choice of paying me and making me feel like a whore, and telling her about it, or dying."

"Did you at least yell at her?" he pleaded.

Xander smirked.  "No, but when she started to talk about it with the others I pointed out she wasn't going to be taking any of that money either.  No presents or anything, which was what she was starting to demand.  My former girl Anya was a money hoover.  Serious money hoover.  Even worse than Willow turned out to be."  He glanced around then at him.  "How long was I out?"

"You apparently needed a nap.  It was the better part of an hour."

"I wonder if Ducky yelled at Giles again.  I think he's the only person who saw the real me in Sunnydale."

Tony nodded.  "The last I knew he was.  He had a good long yell at him.  I heard him threaten to turn him over his knee and paddle him like he should have done the last time he saw him."  Xander giggled at that image.  "I know, but Ducky's such a knight some days," he offered with a grin.

"Yeah, he was like that during his last trip to Sunnydale.  His first one he kinda sat and smiled, told us stories about Giles as a young boy and teenager.  Drank some tea, reminisced about the old home place.  The second time we were having problems in the group.  Within a day of getting there he had already yanked Buffy's chain until she had a clue she was an asshole, yelled at Willow until she cried and ran off, where her girlfriend did the same thing more gently, and told me that I was a dumbass, his words, for going out hunting alone.  Giles just stared at me with horror and demanded that I stop, that I wasn't qualified, that I was going to get myself killed and think about how the group would feel then.  Ducky looked like he wanted to hit him and told Giles what he had seen since he had hidden for a day to watch the group.  Giles sat down heavily and had a lot of scotch that night. Buffy stomped off in a snit and Ducky and I talked about fencing and swords.  For a guy his age, he can really move."

"He can, but he's also a pretty gentle guy."

"I know.  He told me to dump Anya a few times.  Looks like he was right."  Tony smiled at that.  "How about you?  Any really rotten girlfriends in your closet?"

"Two.  One went stalker and the other I walked away from.  I ended up being disinherited because of it."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not.  I'm happier now than I would have been in the family's business or on Wall Street.  Or even as a lawyer, which my father tried to shove me towards since I wanted to be a cop.  He said at least that way I'd have part of what I wanted and be bringing the family honor and more money, plus a happy society wife who wouldn't complain about anything I did.  I ran away from her during the wedding preparations."

"I'm sorry.  Do you still talk to them?"

"Every now and then I get a letter reminding me I'm the last in the family and I've got to do my duty and produce an heir.  Nothing more than that and some gossip."  He shrugged. "Like I said, I'm happier here."

"It's always good to be happy."

"What would you do if you didn't have to hunt?"  Xander shrugged.  "You didn't have any ideal career?"

"No.  I liked working construction but I don't have the depth perception for it with the glass eye. Before my eye got popped, I was the lead for the town.  I had two crews under me and I was making really good money.  Then my eye popped and I suddenly missed the nail more often than I hit it.  I had problems driving my car until I switched to the bike during my detox from the town.  I got left him by a former friend who died."

"Then I hope the parking garage is a safe enough spot," Tony offered.

"I've got him magically warded," he admitted.  "I built on what the former owner did."

"How long have you been studying?"

"On and off now for five years.  A protection charm here, a banishing charm there.  An endurance spell now and then to keep up with Anya's demands.  The occasional prayer for extra resources to aid in the fighting.  I tried that last night.  I'm not sure if my not being answered means that the Lady doesn't want me fighting or if it means I should endure and try to make due.  Where would I go to talk to someone about auctioning off some of the weapons?"

"There's a few good auction houses in town," he offered. "Some of the museums might take them."

"They want donations, not to buy stuff.  I tried that in LA to get us here."  He forced himself to stay calm.  "Giles ordered us to come take care of this situation and then he claimed he doesn't have the resources to help us.  Yet he's paying her for sitting on her ass and chatting."

"Calm down," Tony said, shifting over to give him a friendly hug.  The boy stiffened and he pulled away.  "Friends can do that."

"Yeah, I know.  Sorry."

"Fighting your lust?" he teased.

"Of course, baby, you know that," he taunted back.  "Right now I'd love nothing more than to flip you onto your back and make you howl."

Tony blushed but he laughed.  "Sorry, I like to be on top and I think it'd probably do you better anyway, Xander.  You'd be able to ground yourself in the sensations."  He fluffed the boy's hair.  "Why don't I get you a blanket?"

"Sure.  Thanks for putting up with me."

"That's what team members and friends do."  He went to get him a spare blanket, bringing it out with a pillow.  "Here.  Get comfortable, just don't strip fully.  Night."

"Night, Pretty Boy."

Tony smiled.  The hated nickname coming back meant that the boy was getting back closer to normal.  It had almost freaked him out to hear his name from the kid's mouth.

***

Xander looked up from his packing when someone rang the bottom doorbell, going down to let Giles in.  "I forgot I installed that."  He turned and walked away from him.

"Xander, may we talk?"

"That depends, are you going to sabotage me further?" he called as he headed back to the training area.  He didn't want Giles in his apartment.  He unlocked the door and walked in, sitting on a stack of mats to look at him. "What?"

"This is nicer than the old one," he noted.  "Good work."

"Yeah, well...."  He shrugged.  "I needed it at least."

"I do agree, you did need the area to train and practice."  He looked at the boy.  "I meant for you two to come here and monitor the situation, not end up fighting."

"They ate military personnel, Giles.  We've already gone from fifty in town to just over a hundred.  Me taking last night off probably wasn't smart."  Giles looked stunned.  "The power here isn't like Sunnydale's.  It doesn't radiate from everywhere.  It's also less earth magic and more greedy magic.  So, yeah, had to hunt.  All by myself since you're still babying Willow."  He stared him down.  "Since they ate military personnel and some of their agents knew me they came for my help and I've got three in training on how to hunt.  That gives me backup some nights.  So, how long were you paying her and expecting me to work?"

"She couldn't work, Xander."

"She could have told me she was being paid and therefore chipped in on the mortgage and other bills," he said coldly.  "Instead she hid it as 'oh, mom sent me some money for food' and bought groceries and nagged me for money."  Giles winced.  "She was doing what with it?  Magic dealer?"  He shook his head.  "Then what?"

"The book collection I'm afraid."  He cleared his throat and looked around again.  "There's a book that we don't have that deals with this phenomenon.  She was paying installments on it.  I've taken care of the mortgage this month, and only three days late, and we'll see what we can do so you don't have to work full time."  Xander nodded once but didn't calm down.  "Were you going to move?"

"Probably.  Is Eliana getting her own place?"

"She'll be moving back in with her mother, who does know of her status.  She hasn't kept anything from her.  I talked with her earlier today and she said she wouldn't have a problem and I told her to see you a lot.  I'll expect you to be her Watcher, Xander.  That's why *you* were sent.  I knew I'd be sending a girl within a few months."  Xander nodded.  "I also got the notes you made on the power warping and things.  They're not heavily studied fields but if you'd like to I would gladly include it in the records."

"It'll give me something to think about when all my day is 'slay and repeat'."

"Fine.  I would appreciate that as well," he agreed gently.  He moved closer.  "Did you get into a fight with some vampires?"

"No, I went to a prison bar, where former prisoners hang out, and got into a fight with about six of them."  He winced at that.  "They're still living."

"I'd hope so."  He made the boy look at him.  "Next time go challenge some vampires.  It's not fair with your training to pick on humans."

"I'm at a disadvantage anyway since they're slower."

"True, but still.  You could unconsciously slay one and I'd hate to see you after that fact."

"You mean like the guy I nearly killed for breaking into my apartment in Sunnydale?" he noted dryly.  "Or one of the thugs who held me up when I was working fast food and at the mini mart?"  Giles winced at that.  "It's not the first time, Giles, and I'm not some beserking person.  So just drop it."  Giles nodded.  "If she's going home to her mother's then I definitely don't need somewhere this big.  So I'm selling this one and moving a bit further out.  What ring does she live in?"

"Arlington."

"Good.  Is she on the positive side of the warping?"  He nodded. "Even safer.  I'll try to find somewhere on the other side and about the same distance out.  I really hope I don't end up in some happy housing development."

"Me a well.   You'd have to hide a lot from the neighbors."  He patted him on the head.  "I didn't mean to sabotage you.  That money was for expenses.  That book shall be here today."

"Ducky kicked your ass?" he asked with a smirk.

"Quite.  My uncle sat me down and had a good, long chat about how stupid I was."  He grimaced.  "It seems he's quite able to see through my worst moments faster than I can."

"It's because he works with Gibbs, who can be the world's biggest surly bastard at times."

"Ah.  One of the people you're training?"  That got a nod.  "I haven't met them yet."

"I doubt you want to at the moment."

"Hmm.  True.  If they liked you they would stick up for you.  What do they do?"

"NCIS."  Giles stared down at him and he smirked and nodded.  "The vamps here started eating base personnel.  They remembered me from Santa Clara."

"Oh, dear.  At least they can cover some of the tracks officially.  Ducky works with them?"  Xander nodded.  "Interesting.  As?"

"ME."

"Oh, I see. I had forgotten he did that.  That's fine.  Would you like help looking at places?"

"No, I'm good on the looking part.  It's the selling this one and making enough difference on the selling price to cover the new one and the old mortgage.  That and finding a new job."

"Work in a bookstore, Xander.  Or ask that young woman Abby.  I'm sure she could find you a spot within the Goth community.  Though I would be most distressed should you suddenly start to dress like that all the time."

"I don't know, he looks decent enough in leather," Gibbs said from the doorway.  "We had a Jag officer eaten.  He's still living but asking questions."

"Tell him it was a wild animal."

"She was his girlfriend.  He already knew that."  Xander giggled at that, holding his side.  "Ducky wanted brought over.  He's down in your place."

"That's fine."  He stood up.  "Be nice," he whispered as he walked past him.  "Please."  He headed down to his place, hugging Ducky.  "Thank you.  He's seen some sense."

"It was the least I could do.  The poor lad keeps trying to imitate his father, who was a bastard.  Take off the shirt, Xander."  Xander sighed and took off the shirts he was wearing, letting him see all the bruises.  "Well, I suppose it could be worse.  You could be dead from a punctured lung."

"I'm immortal, Ducky, didn't you know that?" he joked.

"No man is immortal and since you are a man, you can't be."  He looked him over, then nodded and looked into his good eye.  "Your glass one seems a bit tight.  Have you taken it out to clean it a lot recently."

"No. I can't stand to take it out at all," he sighed.  "It's icky."

"That's fine.  Would you like me to?"

"No."  He shook his head.  "I can't stand the action of taking it out."

"You'll need to at least rinse around it more often then.  I'm worried about an infection setting in."  Xander nodded, letting him smile at him.  "You really are quite strong, Xander, but even you can be brought down by smallest things," he said quietly.  "I'd hate to lose you to an infection instead of a vampire some night."

"Yes, Ducky."

"Good boy."  He patted him gently on the cheek and the boy didn't wince.  "Had your pain killers?"  He shook his head. "Then you've built up an impressive pain tolerance and I should worry why."  Xander pointed at his back.  "Yes, I saw that.  Did you kill him?"

"He was mortal.  I did tell the cops and let them watch him.  The Sunnydale police weren't that good but he had a victim screaming and pleading for mercy when they showed up.  I have very good timing," he said with a smirk.  Ducky smiled and patted him again.  "I'm moving and you're going to be more than welcome to come over."

"Thank you, Xander.  I always did appreciate talking to you.  You listen to me."  He gathered everything back up.  "Nothing too tragic, just some bruising.  Now, why did you really lose your job?"

"Two of the guys came after me to jump me about an hour after I got to work.  The boss was there, he watched them jump me.  He watched me put them onto the floor then walk over them.  He told me I was fighting too much and I pointed out I had the right to defend myself since the bouncers weren't.  He decided I was gay and that's why he fired me."

"Ah."  He nodded.  "That name you call Tony?"  He nodded.  "I see.  Are you suing him? You can you know."

"Why? It wouldn't make matters any better would it?"

"Well, no.   Where are you going to look?"

"Someone suggested that Abby help me find one," he offered with a grin. "Bartending at a goth club."

Ducky got a sudden picture of Xander in eyeliner and leather pants, but nothing else, his hair grown a bit longer, and shivered.  "Perhaps but that might also make you more scary as well, Xander."  He looked over his chest.  "When are you putting back in the piercing?"

"I only took it out last night, Ducky."  He went into the bathroom for his nipple ring collection, letting him see.  "Which one do you think?"

"The Egyptian one," he offered, pointing at the small decorated hoop.  Xander grinned and put his nipple ring back in.  "Is it actual hieroglyphs?"

"Yeah, but it's also a garbled sentence."  He stood up and put that one in, then looked at the rest.  "I should go get my ears done. I've been meaning to."

"Take Rupert, he used to have an earring and he could use the fun.  Especially since he's in a spoiling mood."  He smiled at the boy.  "Just don't ask me, Xander.  Now, let's go bother Jethro again."  He walked him up the stairs, noticing the two were sparring.  "Hmm, Jethro has certainly kept up with his practice."   Gibbs smirked at him then ducked a swing and knocked him down, pulling out the stake.  "Bravo, gentlemen.  Very nicely done, Jethro.  It appears Xander has gotten you into the right mindset to hunt."  They shared a look and he knew he had been threatening Giles at that point.  "Xander is just fine, I'm happy to report, and I believe he was going to have fun for a bit today and get something he's been meaning to do before he goes looking for a new job."  He clapped his hands once.  "Now then, shall we talk about what the rest of us are doing today?"

"Xander and I were going hunting tonight," Jethro admitted.  "Ziva's still down with her last bite and the problem that caused it."  Xander snickered at that.  "I agree, kid, it's common sense.  So, you, me, and Tony?"  Xander nodded. "When?"

"It's not like I have a lot to do tonight, Gibbs.  I'm good with whenever you're ready."

"That's fine."  He looked down and helped Giles up, looking at him.  "Did you want to come with us?"

"No. I'm a Watcher, I only hunt to save my own life.  I'm not that skilled in that area."

"Research is more his thing," Xander offered, coming in.  "Ducky thinks I should find work at a goth club, Gibbs.  What do you think?"

Gibbs looked at him and you could just tell he was imagining Xander in one of Abby's outfits by the look on his face.  Then he shuddered.  "If you can find it there and fit in.  I'll call tonight.  You behave and relax today.  Talk to the realtors and things over the phone so they don't worry about the bruises."  He nodded at Giles.  "I'll pick him up tonight."  He walked out with Ducky.

Ducky looked at him.  "What did you see him in?  I saw him in those nearly obscene leather pants, eyeliner, longer hair and nothing else."

"You know that short school girl skirt Abby has?  That," he offered, sipping his coffee.  Then he shook his head to clear that image again.  "I think I'll have nightmares now."

Ducky smiled.  "You probably will," he agreed.  "Shall I tell Abigail that he's looking?"

"Sure.  She can only help."  He got in to drive, heading back to the office, praying for something to take that image out of his head.  Tony just looked up and smirked at him so he had to pass it on.  "Harris is going looking for a new job at one of Abby's places."

Tony just blinked a few times then shuddered.  "Eewwww!  Bad mental image!  Bad mental image!"  He rubbed his eyes.  "Eewwwww!  Boss!"

"Sorry, kid, had to get mine out of my head."

"What did you see?"

"Him in her school girl outfit.  You?"

"Yours is worse," he said, getting up to go to the bathroom and bang his head against the wall a few times.

McGee looked at their boss.  "Boss, do I want to know why you're picturing Harris in that outfit?"

"He's going to try to work at a goth club."

"Ah.  Well, I'm sure he'll fit in.  The night he met Melodia he seemed to do it very well."  He got back to work, shuddering at that mental image.  He'd never be able to escape him now.  He'd be called Fluffy by everyone Abby knew.

***

Tony looked up as Xander came out of the building and locked the door, frowning a bit. His hair had been cut so it was shorter and spikier.  His black silk shirt and black leather pants were topped off by his bike jacket, and his new earrings shone quite prettily in the streetlights.  He got in and smiled at him.  "New look for you."

"I've been meaning to but I couldn't in Cali.  Sunnydale was a bit backward."  He buckled up.  "Where are we headed tonight?"

"A mixed club, both military and not.  Two of the people who ended up dead were partying there and the boss wanted to see."  He put the car in gear, glancing over at him.  He was hot.  "I hope they let you in."

"They should.  Silk and leather get me nearly everywhere.  Oooh, I found a new job," he said, turning to look at him.  "Ever hear of a club called Pyro?"  Tony nodded slowly.  "I'm bartending there."

"That explains the new earrings."

"I like 'em.  I always have.  I also got a new tat to cover the shrapnel injury in my shoulder.  It makes the scar less noticeable."

"How did that happen?"

"When we took down the Initiative there was a lot of exploding stuff and flying material.  I got hit with some of it on the way out.  I pulled it out at home but I didn't get it all.  It sets off your office metal detector very well.  The guards now just pick up the hand wand on sight of my bike."  Tony grinned at that.  "Is he already there?"

"He left home about ten minutes before I did.  I had to change.  He caught me in the shower."  He shifted up as they hit the interstate, going to the other side of the city.  "Any luck on the house stuff?"

"Giles found one for me.  I'm closer to the center of the disturbance but it's also safer for me.  It's up the street from that Catholic church that was warping the darkness."

"That's a pricey area; it's all condos and stuff."

"I've got a townhouse now.  He arranged it all today and got me all moved with magic stuff.  The building was snatched by the PD because they needed a new safe house.  I'm sensing the unsubtle hand of someone in your agency."  He looked at him and Tony shrugged.  "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, Detective DiNozzo, would you?"

"Nope," he said innocently, grinning at him.  He took an off ramp and headed for the street they needed.  Parking wasn't a problem, they had a dedicated lot.  The bouncer gave Xander an amused look.  "He's visiting a buddy here," he explained.  "We all have strange friends."  The bouncer smiled but let them inside once they had paid the cover, and he found Gibbs drinking a beer.  "Hey, Boss."  He slid in and let Gibbs see Xander.

Gibbs almost choked, keeping it down to the spluttering level, and stared.  "That's a new look."

"I'm working at Pyro," he offered with a grin, sitting down.  "I always wanted to and my new tat makes my shrapnel scar nearly disappear."

"Where did you get that?"

"The base we raided."

"Oh.  Sorry.  You okay?  Still sore from it?"

"I'm fine.  I've had another one done.  It's not yanking at the moment.  Even if I'm punched on it I took a pain killer before coming."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Tony was amused by the sapphire stud I think."

"I'm amused by it too."  He shook his head and looked around.  "I think there's three?"

Xander glanced around, like he was checking out the dancers, and nodded.  "Five possible, two are just really pale instead of vamp pale."  He looked at him, then smiled at the bouncer coming their way.  "Hi."

"You, um, aren't our usual sort, sir."

"I'm here at his request," he said, pointing at Gibbs.  "Gunny?"

Gibbs smirked, he had heard Xander was doing a check on him.  "Yeah, I invited the kid.  He's a good kid."  He looked at him.  "Earrings beside the point."

"Ah.  That's fine."  He clearly looked him over.  "Army?"

"Marines.  Active and reserve."

"Then I commend you, sir."  He walked off, keeping an eye on the kid.

Xander looked at him.  "The only problem I'm seeing is that they're all male.  This isn't exactly the place for sex baiting."

"Point.  I don't know how to deal with that."

"Alley?" Tony asked quietly.  Someone walking past gave him an odd look.  "Having a private conversation, sweetie.  Shoo."  She huffed off.  He shook his head and looked at Gibbs.  "At least I don't date women like that."

"This week," he quipped back.  Tony blushed a bit at that.  He looked at Xander again.  "I don't know how you want to play this either."

Xander smirked a bit.  "Well, we could go try to make friends.  They've got a lot of pretty ladies around them."  Gibbs looked and nodded, that was true.  The bouncer came back by and said something in Gibb's ear, so Gibbs pulled his badge.  "You maybe wanna help us?" he offered quietly.  "Throw 'em out for the night?"

"You're targeting who?"

"Some guys we think are part of that cult," Tony told him.  "They're the pale ones with the ladies around them.  They were here a few nights back when some other military personnel disappeared and were later found dead."

The bouncer looked at Xander.  "You're an agent?"

"No, I'm a specialist."  He grinned. "I'm the person who keeps dealing with this cult wherever they show up."

"Ah."  He went to tell his fellow bouncers and they agreed to toss the guys out.  Having them busted inside would look bad on the club.  The first hint of trouble and they were all tossed out, and Xander pointed at one of the ladies, who came with them.

"Dear," he said, holding a napkin to her neck.  "Go home."

"If you're military, report back to base to get treatment," Gibbs ordered calmly.  She nodded, heading back to do that.  "Nice catch."

"Thanks, he was marking her for later."  They got up and followed the guys outside, heading out to find them in the parking lot with a few others.  He coughed and they turned to look at him, making him grin.  "Boys."

"Federal Agents, we need to have a talk about some disappearing people," Gibbs ordered.  They all looked amused.  "You can come quietly or we can do this here, in front of everyone."  One lunged and Gibbs hit him, noticing he was cold to the touch.  His instincts had been right.  "Subdue only.  We need information."  Xander nodded, moving in to get the others down.  One turned out to be living but one of the vampires fought to get back to him.

Xander moved closer, tipping his face up.  "Turning your boyfriend?" he asked quietly.  The guy nodded.  "Fine. *IF* you cooperate and tell us what we need to know, I'll give you an hour to hike out of town.  Because then I start hunting and if I catch you, you're gonna die painfully.  Got it?"  They all looked scared and he smirked a bit.  "Let me remind you of Sunnydale, gentlemen.  I'm sure you've all heard the rumors by now."  They all moaned and he got them into the cars, taking them to a more discreet area.  Xander faced the vampire boyfriend again, staring him down.  "If you tell the boss there everything you know, it's your option.  You have the most to lose."

He swallowed and looked at his boyfriend, who was cuffed but sitting down next to him.  He looked at Gibbs.  "What did you want to know and can I have an extension if no busses are running at that point in time?"

Gibbs nodded.  "Sure.  If you're here by the next sundown you're history."  That got a quick nod.  "Let's go talk.  You two talk to these ones."  He led him off, finding out everything he knew.  He wasn't very high up but he had heard some things.  He also found out who he was so he could note that he was still living in the private files Abby was keeping.  He came back and found Xander whining about playing 'the stake game' and Tony telling him torture was wrong.  "Kids!"  They both looked at him.  "Did you find out anything?"

Xander looked at the guy he had been working on.  "Looks like your time just ran out, Pretty Boy here won't be able to save you now.  Tell him what you know now or I do get to play the stake game."  He pulled out a slim, very sharp stake and positioned it after tapping a few times.  "Right there should be good."  He started to give it a little shove, just an inch, and the vampire wailed, telling him everything he wanted to know.  The others chimed in when Xander looked at them.  When they were done and dusted, he pouted.  "That's no fun."

"You're an odd kid," Tony said, giving him a nudge to the head.  "What were you going to do, slowly push it in?"

"An inch or three off to the side of the heart.  Then you pull it out and start again a few inches away, like up the curve a bit.  I've had one who made me go all the way around his heart and start again before he spilled."  Gibbs stared at him in open-mouthed shock.  "He had Willow stashed somewhere and we didn't know where and couldn't find her any other way.  So I captured him and found out where she was before she was sold into slavery as the concubine of some really large, disgusting thing with slime."

"Makes sense to me," Tony noted, walking back to the car.  He looked at the boyfriend, unlocking him too.  "Chase him, kid."

"I'd rather not be that dead," he said quietly.

"That's a decision for you to make," Xander told him seriously.  "If you decide not to, then go to church tomorrow.  Take communion.  It'll counter anything he's tainted you with until now.  Of course, if you've drank any of his blood, expect to be righteously ill and in pain for a few days afterward, but that'll end when the taint's burned off."  The kid nodded and headed home.  "He's got a hard choice to make," he sighed.  "I know people who would have went with their lover."

Gibbs patted him on the back.  "We all do. If my first wife had asked, I might have."  He walked him back to the cars.  "What's the new tattoo of?"

Xander undid the first few buttons, showing it to him.  Gibbs laughed and walked off.  Tony looked then grinned.  "Taz, I should've known."

"You thought I'd get a hyena or something?  Taz is animal enough for me.  Besides, I've got Animal on my thigh."  He walked off with him.  "We did okay tonight."

"We did.  Where's the townhouse?"  Xander whispered it in his ear, getting a smirk.  "That's in the middle of the club district."

"Hence me not having to pay parking fees for the bike most of the time and it'll be easier on the bad nights to make it home drunk."

"You do that?"

"Now and then.  Sometimes it's easier than remembering sober."

"What happened to that last ex anyway?"

"She died in the assault in the Hellmouth.   Her, Spike, a few others."  He shrugged.  "She'd be laughing her ass off at the moment.  Giles thinks that Willow's using magic again so he's getting her straightened out and she may be back sometime in the future when she's clean."  Tony looked confused.  "For a magic user, you can become addicted to the feeling of the power running through you."

"I don't understand," he admitted.

"Take me home and I'll show you.  To the new place.  Giles said he expected me to go there since he's packing the rest of everything and sending it over.  I'll only have to go back tomorrow for the hidden stashes of stuff."

"What hidden stashes?"

"Oh, a few weapons he doesn't know I have and you'll never see unless it's a world-ending emergency."

"As in...."

"As in don't ask and it won't get you in trouble with whatever form of Internal Affairs you guys use."

"Ah.  That's good to know.  Where was it hidden before?"

"My floor, under the couch."  He smirked at him, making it to the car first.  "It comes in handy sometimes. That's also why none of you guys are ever going to see them unless it's critically necessary and there's no other way."

"Fine.  Thank you for that consideration."  He unlocked the car and they got in.  "That is a nicer neighborhood."

"It is and it's a fairly spacious townhouse with very thick walls."  Tony smiled at that, starting the car and heading back to Xander's new place.  They walked in and Xander turned on the lights, showing the navy blue pinstriped wallpaper in the foyer.  "Yeah, the last person was a bit heavy handed.  I'm not sure if I'm changing it or not yet."  He walked him back to the dining room area, then sat down on a comfy pillow in front of his altar.  He lit the candles and said a quick prayer, then motioned Tony closer.  "Sit, get comfy."  Tony took off his shoes and sat and Xander put a hand over his, holding it steady while he chanted.  Tony flinched once but didn't move his hand as something warm touched it. Slowly it invaded his hand, making it tingle and the warmth rush up his arm, making him feel happy, stronger, and calmer.  "That's what they get addicted to.  That feeling. Only they use darker magic," he near-whispered, changing the magic to a darker feeling power, watching him shiver and moan a bit.  He canceled it and looked at him.  "That's why people become addicted."

"I can see why."  He looked at his hand, then wiped it on his thigh and looked at him. "Do you get that?"

"When I'm actively working on something.  I've got to do the wards here tonight. It's an earth magic that I use for those, which was what I showed you first.  The second was something that blood-tainted people can do.  Those who've spilled blood."

"You have?"

"Did you think that taking down the Initiative didn't include hurting some of the soldiers, Tony?" he asked quietly.  "They were shooting at us, we were saving a friend.  Yeah, I shot a few and I aimed to wound, but I did spill blood and ash that day."  Tony nodded at that.  "I'm assuming it resonated because you've had to fire in the line of duty."  Tony nodded.  "I'm sorry.  I know that's hard."

"It's been a while but it is," he agreed.  "Thank you for showing me."

"Just remember those feelings.  Anything that feels like the last one is usually bad.  Not always, but usually.  There's some helping and prayer sacrificial rites that include animal sacrifices that would feel nearly the same to you.  I know that some of the Voodun rites feel that same way to me, even their healing ones."

"Wow."  He shifted a bit, getting more comfortable. "I never even thought we'd have to deal with that.  By the way, the candle's still going."

"I figured it might. Every now and then I seem to make an everlasting flame, especially if I haven't used it in a while.  I'll gather it sometime later.  Or put it in a small glass container and feed it wood every now and then.  Like a memorial flame."

"I can do that," he offered with a grin.  "Show me around?"  Xander nodded, taking him to the kitchen, then the living room, then upstairs to the practice area and the bedroom.  Tony noticed the layout and the acoustics of the room. "A former musician?"

"A tuba player.  A goth tuba player."  Tony laughed at that. "Giles said the realtor said he was a really nice guy but apparently he knew it was coming and left town before the hellmouth opened."  He grinned at him as a few more boxes appeared, then Giles, who sighed in relief.  "Did you remember the chips or should I run out?"  Giles glared at him so he beamed.  "Thank you, Giles."

"I didn't forget them, they're in the kitchen and hopefully put up.  By the way, your friend Bethany stopped by and I told her you were moving this way but not the address.  A succubus, Xander?  Really!"

"Sorry, but it's good stress relief and hey, I can't call some day and say 'guess what, I'm gonna be a daddy'."  Giles shuddered at that.  "Exactly.  Therefore safe, kinky fun."  He grinned at Tony.  "I'm just showing him around.  Did you touch my stash under the couch?"  Giles nodded.  "Where is it?"

"The attic.  I wouldn't take him up there and I want to know where you got those."

"Mostly Wes left them to me. Along with all the rest of his stuff, which I'm calling for tomorrow.  I'm thinking about putting his Necronomicon next to my Stephen King collection, Giles, what do you think? I'm grouping by subject."

Giles moaned and made a 'shooing' motion. "Go away, Xander.  I taught you better shelving skills than that."  He looked at Tony.  "We worked in the library for three years and he never learned the Dewey Decimal or the Library of Congress system."

Tony led Xander out.  "Come on, let's get you fed."

"I cleaned out all the bad leftovers," Giles called.

"Thanks, I was going to do that tomorrow before I called for more."  Xander grinned at him.  "I still don't cook that often."

"Me either."  He led the way back into the kitchen, looking around.  "It doesn't have a toaster?"

"There's a broiler on the stove."  Xander moved to check the cabinets.  "Hey, he gave me Willow's food as well."

"Yes, and the basement has her computer equipment set up already," Giles called as he joined them.  "The books are all in with your altar, which I see you've already used?"

"I had to explain why people use magic to him."

"Ah.  That's fine then.  Are you going to have enough room here for Wesley's collection?  I know he had nearly as many books as I have."

"He has about a storage space full of books," Xander admitted.  "I'm buying bookshelves with the leftover funds.  I'm also going to ask someone like Peabody to work an extra space charm in that unusable room next to the downstairs bathroom."  Giles frowned at him.  "I'm not good at them.  I'm better at protection and those things.  I figure we can trade off since I heard him swearing about his artifacts going wonky."  He grinned at him and grabbed a soda out of the fridge.  "Hey, it works!  Everything's the right temperature!"  Tony snickered at that.  "My old one never was. I've never had a fridge that worked right!"  He checked everything.  "I see she went shopping again yesterday."

"Yes. She thought it for the best so you wouldn't starve.  She ordered it and it showed up while she was leaving.  Were you thinking about learning the computer things she knew?"

"No, but Abby is a hacker," he offered with a grin.

"McGee's better," Tony admitted, getting his own soda and holding it up to Giles, who shook his head, so he tossed him some water.  "He's like super hacker."

"Yeah, Willow said he was the next class down from her," he admitted dryly, smirking a bit at him. "Is he really sorry yet?"

"Quite.  Ducky threatened to take a strap to him for it."

"That's nicer than what I would've done, especially if he got turned."  Xander hopped up to sit on the counter, looking at them.  "Okay, so welcome to the new lair.  Of course you guys get fridge rights, Tony.  Giles, Eliana is coming when?"

"The week after next.  I left her mother's address on your altar.  I also blew out the candle just now."  Xander nodded at that.  "Did you find out anything tonight?"

"Gibbs did.  He's treating this like finding the root cause of a terrorist cell," Tony told him.  "We had one kid who was still human and his boyfriend was a vamp."

"We gave him until tomorrow night to get out of town, with or without his boyfriend.  Then I talked to his boyfriend for a few and told him what to do if he didn't go."  He sipped his soda. "I got to play the stake game with another one and they told Gibbs everything he needed to know."

"Good.  You always did have a way with interrogation of the worst things."  Giles frowned a bit.  "I'm not sure if I should be upset that you can do that or not."

Xander shrugged. "Like Popeye, I am what I am."

"Good point."  He sipped his water, looking around.  "Are you going to redecorate?"

"I'm not sure. I'll live with it for a few days before I decide.  I was about to paint over the sunny yellow in the other place."  Giles smiled at that.  "Sue me, I'm happier in the darker atmospheres.  I was never a 'white' person for decorating.  Tans, blues, greens, but not white or off white.  Too glaring."  He looked at Tony.  "You have a nice place. Where did you get the couch?"

"A store that's closed now," he admitted.  "There's a few good spots in town.  Didn't you bring the furniture?"

"I did, but I'll probably need more."

"You'll need a new bed.  Neither one of your beds were any good," Giles told him.  "I put both living room groups in your living room."

"I can sleep on the couch tonight then.  Is the tv hooked up to the antenna yet?"  Giles nodded.  "Cool beans.  So I call the cable company tomorrow.  I call the utilities tomorrow and get the address changed."  Giles shook his head.  "Everything's on?"

"Everything but the cable.  They can't come out for another two days."

"That's fine. I can live on an antenna that long.  It's not like I need my HBO immediately."  He looked at Tony.  "You guys should come over this weekend."

"Sure.  We'll have a cookout.  Do you have a backyard?"  Xander looked, then nodded, grinning at him.  "Then you need a grill.  And a toaster."

Xander smiled. "And a coffee maker since I don't have one."

"Blasphemer," Tony teased.

Xander smirked. "I live on cold caffeine."

"Gibbs lives on coffee," he reminded him.  "He keeps Columbia in business some years."

Xander snickered at that.  "I won't tell him you said that."  He grinned at Giles. "Any other new news?"

"Angel wanted to know why you were sending him vampires."

"I was using him to teach the ones who didn't want to be a threat to the world.  I figure he could mentor and it'd give new meaning to his life."

"Good point.  You've found some?"

"Gibbs found one at the White House," Tony told him.  "One of the guards."  Giles shuddered.  "That's why we did it that way."

"That is an excellent idea," he agreed.  He shuddered again.  "Someone there with some sense knows?"

"About this really ancient cult who lives the vampire ideal and kills?  Yeah," Xander agreed, smirking a bit.  "I'm generally admitted to being an expert on this cult."

"Even better.  I'm sure some of our former residents are already here and have spread the word about you and our own group.  Do you have anything coming up?"

"I don't know yet.  I haven't checked the prophecy book in a week and Willow never said anything."  He shrugged.  "So, am I paying you rent?"  Giles nodded.  "I thought so.  How much a month?"

"Half your monthly salary, Xander.  That should leave you enough for your bike and insurance."  Xander nodded.  "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Go visit Ducky's mother.  She's getting closer and closer to fading," he said quietly.

"I had plans on doing that tomorrow anyway.  Ducky's got tomorrow off so we were going to spend all day with his mother and each other."

"Good.  I like Ducky and you're back to yourself again.  I'm guessing the taint's still strong?"

"Unfortunately so.  Eliana hasn't been there that long so she'll be fine.  I'd like notes on that as well if you decide to study it."  Xander nodded.  "Thank you.  Remember to keep a Chronicle and all that stuff."

"Of course.  We're probably the most trained group ever seen."  Giles smiled at that.  "I'll be fine."

"Good.  Then I'll go back to the other place and do one final check in the morning."  He saluted them and headed out to catch a cab.

Tony looked at Xander.  "He seems decent enough."

"At times.  At others it's a tug of war about his favorite."  He grinned and took another sip.  "Which I'm not."

"I saw.  He's helpful though and he seems to care, he's just got some odd ideas about it."

"It's a hierarchy really.  On the top was Buffy, his slayer.  Below her was Willow, his witchly student, and Tara, her former lover.  When it's just me and him and he's acting normally, I get defacto head kid status.  Besides, I personally think sending me here meant that I would leave his precious slayers alone and quit countermanding his orders in their training.  Sending me here means that he can concentrate on the research and the training, which was his job.  He's not ready to be the hunter I've had to become and he doesn't want to be. He's more than happy with an advisory role and that's what he wanted.  With me in Sunnydale he had to take a more active part and I took the younger slayers out hunting with me for training, which took his authority now and then.  He preferred a gentle initiation, starting with the theoretical.  I took the new kids out and showed them what was going on.  They came back shaken and crying but they got with the program and quit whining, planning on doing stupid stuff like sneaking out to go party, and the few who used drugs and alcohol quit really damn fast. It also stopped the sleeping around problem when one of the older girls ended up pregnant and I bitched her a new one.  The ones I trained are now keeping the others in line."

"I can see how that'd be helpful.  It's closer to the military mindset without taking away the individuality."

"You can't take away that, you lose creativity and those two traits are what make you last longer.  That and being able to ask for help when you need it."  He finished his soda and tossed it into the empty trash can.  "Woohoo!  My first piece of trash!"  Tony laughed at that.  "Okay, I should go arrange books if you wanted to help."

"A librarian I am not."  He grinned.  "What about this new collection?"

Xander just smirked.  "I wrote Angel last night about it and he said I could call and he'd have a magic user out there forward it to me the same way Giles moved everything, demonic magic.  I have no idea where I'm going to put it all, but it'll all be here as soon as I call later."

"Sure.  I'll stay out of the attic until you hide them."

"I'd never put books up there.  It's too easy to get a leak that you don't notice for a few days."  Tony nodded at that and grinned again. "Come on, you can come see her setup."

"I should call McGee."

"If you want.  Have him bring over Chinese."  He opened the basement door and headed down, going to look around.  He hadn't seen this area before.  Giles had only let him see the living areas since they were on a deadline.  He saw the computer setup, smirking a bit.  She had come back to set it up herself.  He logged in, hooking into the Watcher's satellite and finding his email.  It had a few messages, including one from Angel.  He sent one back and called.  "I'm here, send 'em to the living room.  I'm in the basement.  There's another human somewhere in the house and another one coming soon."  He hung up and went back to finishing his email for the week, sending one to Gibbs with his new address and that he was shelving books for the next day.

He heard a thump and a scream, getting up to find Tony backed into a corner by a large stack of boxes.  "They're mostly books, crawl over them," he called.  Tony gave him a dirty look and managed to get out.  He went to the hall while Xander moved a coffee table out of the way.  "Okay if there's more there's room right there!" he yelled.  A few more things appeared, including his duffle bag and a note on top of it. "Thanks!"  He felt the magic dissipate and opened the letter, smiling at the nice notice in side.  "Hey, I can really afford bookshelves.  I didn't know that Wesley's father had already died."  Tony peeked in.  "Since Wes was the only remaining kid, he inherited from his father and Wes left me everything because he said we were a lot alike.  Angel had been storing it for me so they could use the books, but since he nearly died...."  He shrugged.  "It happens. But this means I have control of the Wyndham-Price estates as well."  He called the old building, getting Giles after a moment.  "I didn't realize Wes's father had already died."  He listened then grinned. "Yeah, Angel sent a letter.  So I have an estate in England.  Cool.  This means I can really afford dinner and bookshelves."  He hung up.  "He's not sure he wants me in England."  He got up to answer the door, letting McGee and Abby in.  "Come on in. I'm going to be shelving books." He took the chinese food.  "How much?"

"Twenty."  Xander handed him his wallet so he dug it out.  "Computers?  I've heard of Willow and I wanted to see her setup."

"Downstairs.  I'll get you your own logon to the satellite in a few days."  He closed the door after checking outside.  "No Gibbs.  Cool."  He closed the door and looked at Tony, grinning as he headed back to the kitchen.  He pointed at the door for Abby's benefit and got a hug.  "I got a job at Pyro."

"I heard and I like the hair."  She kissed him on the cheek before going down there and squealing in delight. "You have more computer stuff than I do at work!"

Xander pulled out the food to check, handing Tony a carton.  "I figured you for a wonton guy."

"I like 'em," he admitted, following the duo down there while Xander went to heft and tote his things to his bedroom and the rest to the rooms they'd go in.  He heard the doorbell and the basement door be closed, but figured it was Xander protecting them.  A few minutes later he felt some magic and shivered, wiggling his shoulders a bit.  It felt tingly like the earth magic but it felt...slimy and wrong somehow too.  He looked at Abby, who was giving him an odd look. "Magic."

"Oh.  Okay."  She got back to work looking at the system.  "I can't believe she hooks into an external DVD burner and copier.  That's so much easier than burning one and then copying repeatedly."  McGee nodded, going to look at the next piece of hardware.  "Ooh, what's that?"

Xander came down the stairs.  "We have enough room for the bookshelves."   He looked at the pointed at spot.  "That's a small herb and substance identifier.  All I know is that she puts stuff in and it tells her what it is."

"You have lab equipment?" McGee asked.

"No, she had lab equipment. I just stand there and look awed as she used it."  Abby hugged him.  "Feel free to borrow."

"Thank you."  She got back to poking around, finding the rest of the lab equipment still in the boxes.  "She was setting up a major lab."

"She was a wiccan, I'm guessing she was going to use it to make potions.  Not that she didn't need to study that area more.  She was always messing up something magically."

"That last journal we borrowed had something about the 'will' spell," Tony admitted, shaking his head.  He looked at him. "So, where do we have more room?"

"I had him expand one wall behind the tv.  We should be able to put all the books up on it."  Tony grinned at that.  "I still only have half of them."

"The rest were upstairs in the training area," Tony offered.  "I looked in there again and I saw more than Giles had dropped."

"Cool.  I guess I can put some up there."  The doorbell rang and he went up to answer it, letting Gibbs in.  "Hey, we're in the basement."  He checked outside before closing the door.  "I'm wondering who's watching the house.  Did you send anyone?"

"My boss.  She thinks you're part of that cult and sucking us in."

"Not hardly.  Though if I'm turned, I'd take you, Tony, and Abby with me."  He walked him back downstairs.  "I'm going to work on the wards."  Abby nodded and Tony just shrugged.  So he went back to work on warding the house and keeping it eavesdropping, spy gear, and scry proof. He loved the paranoid Russian warlock who had taught him the anti spy gear spells.

Gibbs came back.  "Where did the rest of this stuff come from?"

"An inheritance.  A former friend and coworker who thought I'd turn into him.  He's right, I am a lot like him, but he left me all his stuff.  Which means I have an estate in England now," he said proudly.  Gibbs smiled at that.  "It's pretty.  He showed me pictures. I have no idea where it is yet, but it's pretty."  He got to work shelving books. "The training room's upstairs and on this side of the house.  Do not go into the attic, I have the weapons up there."

"That's fine.  I've seen your collection before."

Xander looked at him.  "No, I meant I have the rocket launcher, the six hand grenades, the C-4, and that stuff in the attic. I have to hide it again."   Gibbs stared, blinking a few times.  "Now and then it takes an anti-tank grenade.  Some things are just that big."

"Sure.  That's good to know.  Can she hear with a parabolic microphone?"  Xander just smirked and shook his head, handing over the book.  "What's this?  Magic?"  He handed it back like it was coated in something.  "Not my thing."

"Made by a paranoid Russian warlock.  He taught me a bit."  He shelved that book.  "Then again, you're mostly immune to magic so anything you say may still be picked up.  I'll fix that before you come over next time."  He found Wesley's fun reading collection and blushed.  "I don't want to know that much about his smutty side."  He put those against the wall and went back to the technical books.  Angel had sorted it by section.

Gibbs looked around the house, learning the layout.  He did peek in the attic and saw some familiar looking boxes, but he didn't want to know.  So he pulled down the shades up there and went back to the training room.  There was a large mirror on one wall.  The weren't any mats on the floor but there was a stack underneath some boxes.  He peeked inside one and grimaced, closing the box again.  He didn't need to know about magic stuff.  He felt something wash over the house and it felt very peaceful.  Then he shook his head.

"Don't fight it," Xander called.  "It's to protect what we say in here."

He quit fighting it and the peaceful feeling came back, slowly fading to leave him a bit happier.  He continued to pry and poke around, finding the battle axe again.  That thing fascinated him. It was too heavy for him but it was fascinating.  It was pure silver and had been etched by someone without a lot of art skills.  It was still a beautiful weapon and very sharp he realized when he cut the finger that he had run across the blade.  He sucked on that and went back downstairs, finding him still cataloging.  "Need help?  I can get Abby and McGee to help you."

"They're playing in the computer and lab area.  Abby found the machine that tells you what something is."  He got back to work, smiling at him. "How many boxes upstairs?"

"About fifty.  Some were books.  I peeked in on one.  It had that magic stuff on top."

"Yeah, Wes practiced too."  He smiled and started to heft books up.  "I'll reorganize once I see if I need more shelves.  That way I know where everything is.  Besides, Angel packed by section. Porn before Programming Beasts and all that.  He even numbered boxes.  Mine'll fit in later."

Gibbs sat down and looked at the wall of books.  "Something seems off."

"That's because the wall is magically stretched, you should see a small distortion just past the tv."

"Yeah, I guess that's it. It's like looking at it through a heat shimmer off the highway."

"That's about how it should look."

"How did you do that?"

"I asked for a favor and agreed he could copy any of the books I had on certain types of magic. Plus he could come to me for warding help if his stuff started to be set off by the hellmouth again."  He shelved another box and checked it before putting it aside and sitting down with the letter that had been inside with his name on it.  He sniffled and nodded. "Of course I will, Wes.  This new Hellmouth won't be like our old one and I'm never going to throw away my own people."  He folded it up and put it aside then got back to work.

"Who was he?"

"He was the guy who came out to replace Giles when the Council fired him as Buffy's Watcher.  He was a stuffy guy, barely out of his education," he admitted with a sad grin.  "I could see that spark of wildness in him but he kept pushing the stuffy guy image.  We mostly ignored him because he was giving us orders that were counterproductive.  He wised up after graduation and Angel eventually ended up working with him a few years later.  In those years he had been injured, grown up, and become a guy that I could admire.  So when I ran into him again, we became buddies and penpals.  He kept me sane through a lot of that stuff.  Including when Willow went bad. He always said I could turn out like him but he didn't want me to make the same mistakes he did.  So we talked a lot and he left me all his stuff, including the estate in England.  When I get a chance to go on vacation or retire I'll head over.  Angel's letter said he had someone watching it for me.  Especially their library since his daddy was a Watcher and they've been Watchers for generations."

"They made him go into the family business?"  Xander nodded. "How did he die?"

"Saving the world from another bad guy.  Self sacrifice from what I heard from Angel.  I wasn't in LA that day, we were fighting with the First Evil.  That was just before I lost my eye," he said quietly.  "The one thing he taught me was to always judge someone on their full personality and all their actions, not just their present ones.  We had this problem of bad people being forced to go good and then turning back to bad once they were free, then being forced to go good again.  We also had some people who were good who went bad and then came back.   He taught me how people can break and what that means about their actions and how to think about certain matters, like magic.  He's the one who encouraged me to learn when I went to him about a protection charm for my pitiful ass during my road trip.  He also taught me about succuba and those class of demons," he offered with a grin.  "The man was like a big brother in a lot of ways."

"Then you lost him."

"I did, but so did everyone else.  He was a part of Angel's team for a lot of years.  They still miss him too."  He got back to work shelving.

McGee came in, looking at the wall of books. "How many of those have you read?"

"Bits and pieces of most of them," he admitted.  "Research in these fields means more bits and pieces than full books most of the time.  He didn't have much computer stuff but he did have some stuff if you wanted to look."  He pointed back down the row.  "Past the smut.  That's all the stuff I won't be using that often."

"You don't use computers?"

"I once tried to do research online for a paper on cat breeds for an english assignment and came up with kitty and people porn, Fluffy.  The internet is not my friend.  I know my areas and I can do my email, find the smut I want, and find places and things casually.  Willow was internet girl."

"Sure."  He went to go look.  "He was learning Fortran?"

"Possibly.  Either that or they had a demon who was using it in his attacks," he said absently.  "Wes had eclectic tastes."  He looked over, noticing the blush.  "Yeah, that's his smut collection.  You can borrow one if you want but I want it back in the same condition."

The boy shook his head and walked off again, going to hide with Abby.

"Tell Pretty Boy the same thing!" he called after him, making Gibbs laugh.  "Or you, Gibbs."

"That's okay, I don't need that sort of stimulation."

"Hey, old guys in nursing homes get some, you can too," Xander said dryly.  "It's all good to me."  Gibbs laughed some more.  "Tony ordered me to get a coffee pot and toaster, but for right now there's water, soda, and beer in the fridge."

"Thanks."  He went to get himself something, coming back to hand Xander his food.  "Eat."

"Sure."  He inhaled the rest of his food then got back to work.

Tony stuck his head into the room. "Just don't tell us if you read any of those tonight since you said you're sleeping on the couch."  He went upstairs.  "Should I bring down more of them?"

"That'd be nice, thank you."  He continued to empty boxes and put things up where he wanted them.  He'd hide the weapons later.  That's why he put a book down about concealment spells.

***

Gibbs looked up about a month later, looking at his team and Xander.  They were back at Xander's house for this meeting.  "We've got a problem coming. There's someone looking to take control of the town and we can't get near him."

Xander leaned back, frowning a bit.  "Who?"

"Myst is what he's called."

"I've heard about him," he admitted.  "He's one of the top Masters in the city."  He grimaced and considered it. "How would we get close?"

"He's running a goth club downtown," Abby offered.  "He's there about every night.  I don't go in there most of the time but I have in the past.  It's a lot more heavy metal goth than I am.  I think he also thinks he's a dom because he's got handcuffs and stuff hanging off the walls.  A real torture chamber atmosphere."

Xander nodded. "I've been in there. Which one was he?"

"The redhead who's not much older looking than you."  She looked at him.  "I don't think I could handle going in there knowing what I know."

Xander nodded. "I can agree to that."  He looked at Gibbs.  "What about you, Boss?"

"I agree we need to go in.  You're probably out best bet, Xander. He can tell you're alive but you're also one who acts like a master vampire should most of the time.  I've seen you doing it at work." Xander nodded.  "So that leaves me, who's way too old, Ziva, who's still got a sprained ankle, or McGee if Abby won't go."

"Or me," Tony noted.

"Your arm is still sore."

"So?"  He stood up.  "I can go undercover, Boss.  I'm good at it."

"You can be," he admitted.  "That would mean you playing minion to Xander though."  Tony shrugged.  "How's your arm?"

"Sore, but I'll live.  It was only a graze and only two stitches."

Xander looked at him.  "You're thinking about sending us in to gather information?"

"Or to take him out if necessary," Gibbs noted.  Xander nodded at that.  "That would be your decision at that time.  We'd also like to have his files and things."

"Ah.  A real _True Lies_ job then," he said, getting it.  "Sure.  I'm up for it.  We can go my next night off if we need to."  He looked at Tony.  "Which would be Friday.  That good for you?"  Tony nodded.  "I thought you were summoned home for a wedding?"

"I fly out Saturday morning and I can sleep on the plane."  He looked at Gibbs, sitting down again. "Just surveillance for now, Boss?"  That got a nod.  "We can do that and then make up a plan after a few nights."

"Sure, but I get to dress you," Xander told him.  "Otherwise you'll stand out a lot."

"Fine.  You and Abby can dress me."  Abby grinned at him. "You two can try to hack him from here?"

"I've been trying, he's got a firewall that's nearly impenetrable," McGee complained.  "I need a way past it and the encryption stuff I've got with Willow's computers isn't enough."

"I called Willow and she's coming back to help," Abby told him.  "She's got a new one to try out."

"That'll be nice.  We're still five steps beyond what the FBI Computer Task Force has."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Where is Ziva?"

"Meeting with the vampire she's dating," Xander told them. "I caught her last night, Gibbs.  I'm not sure if it's bad taste or not.  She didn't see me and I don't think he's pumping her for information, but I'm not taking that chance."

"That's what you wanted to meet about?"  He nodded.  "Good.  She's usually too smart and savy to let someone pump her for information but I'll keep that in mind.  Do you know who he is?"

"Not a clue.  I gave Abby a composite and she was searching earlier."

"Captain Jonathan Pryce," she announced.  "Navy."  Gibbs moaned. "He's not in any trouble, he's been reporting to duty recently, but he's on night shift and on an inside job.  He's in Supply and Requisition at Bethesda."

"Which means he hears about the amount of attacks, if not each attack, when they happen," Xander told her.  "No one minds those guys counting in cabinets."

"True," Gibbs agreed.  "I'll talk to her tomorrow," he noted.  "Tony, you're going to have to do this for a few weeks probably.  Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Boss.  I can handle it."

"Good.  This sort of person usually seems to know a lot about their enemies and cohorts so I'll expect to get information on them as well."

"If at all possible," Xander noted quietly.  "I'll need the dohickey to plug into his system, Fluffy."

"Sure. I can get one of those easily enough.  How would you get it in there?"

"Magic if I had to."

"Decent.  Watch out for him having a mainframe as well.  What I've seen hints of shows he might have mainframe hidden, not just a desktop," Abby told him.

"If it gets that complicated, we'll take Fluffy with us one night and say it's your birthday.  Since most everyone knows you're dating Abby that should cover," Xander told him.  McGee nodded at that.  "That good with you, Boss?"

"You plan well enough in the field, I'll let you get away with it as long as I get told."  Xander nodded, accepting that.  "Any other problems we've got?"

Abby raised a hand.  "I heard Tony muttering about magic at work the other day," she offered.

Tony nodded.  "We have a Wiccan on staff in the secretarial pool and they were down there working something, it made me shoulders ache.  Did anyone else hear me?"  She shook her head.  "I'll keep that in mind.  By the way, Boss, your elevator is presently having sex with a security camera. I saw them putting up one the other day.  I'm worried about baby cameras coming to be in and around the office."

"I saw.  The one in the corner?"

"No, I saw him working on the panel," Tony told him seriously.  "The Director is starting to freak."

"Can we tail her?" Xander asked.  "She's either onto the case or she's trying to snoop and if she's that blatant then someone's following her."

"I can start doing that," Gibbs agreed.

"Maybe she's found a guy, like Ziva did," Abby offered with a grin for him.

"Bad thought, Abs.  I'm not sure that woman doesn't fake it anymore," Xander told her.  "It's all politics and that's taking her heat now."

"She didn't used to," Gibbs admitted, sipping his coffee.  He'd gotten used to a blunt Xander over the last few weeks.  "Any other problems?"

"Yeah, Ziva wasn't at work today, Boss," McGee reminded him.

"I called, she's alive," he told him. "She had a doctor's appointment.  She told me a week ago."  McGee nodded at that.  "Why are you worried about her still?"

"Because she's seen and doesn't believe," Xander pointed out.  "She's seen it and it's like we're still kids playing a game to her.  She's leaving herself open to too much."

Gibbs considered it.  "I don't think she's ever encountered any of this before, kid."

"She should have.  The Mossad uses witches.  There's a huge vampire population in Israel.  If she was in intelligence, she would have had to run into it.  Besides, she and the director get together a lot and it's sparking the danger sense in me."

"It's not like they're going to raid you."

"You don't know that.  You said yourself that the director has watched this place."  He stared Gibbs down.  "I'm definitely an outsider to the playpen."

"Good point.  I'll head her off with a higher up," he noted.  He went to make a few calls from the kitchen.  Her boss told him what Xander suspected was true and why.  He told him more about what was going on.  He had been briefed by the president and Gibbs laid it out for him.  He promised to distract the director and her investigation.  He went back into the living room with a sigh of complaint.  "She's investigating you.  She thinks you're part of the cult and dragging us in."

"Wonderful.  What did whoever have to say about that?"

"He thinks I should stake someone in front of her and then tell her."

"We can do that," Xander offered.  "I have in the past."

"No, I'd better do that."  He finished his coffee.  "You two get together about your undercover assignment.  Abby, McGee, get with Willow about the levels of encryption.  I'm going to deal with her and Ziva."  He left, going to find his former lover.  He found her right outside and used something he had found in Xander's kitchen cabinet to gas her.  Then he got in and slid her over, taking her to a cemetery.

***

Jen Shepard woke up on the ground, looking up at the night sky.  She heard a growl and looked around, sitting up and patting herself down.  She stood up carefully, making sure she was all right while she checked the surrounding areas and pulled her weapon, not seeing anyone.  She turned the other direction and she was pounced from behind.  She managed to get away, shooting him, but he just smirked and continued on.  "No, you...  That was a heart shot!"  She hit him again, this time in the forehead, and it didn't stop him.  "What are you!"  She dropped the gun and prepared to fight him off in hand-to-hand.  He was stronger, faster, and better than she was.  She screamed when he managed to pin her down.  Her hand patted the ground, looking for her gun as a blunt object but she couldn't find it.  She managed to get him off and someone put something into her hand.

"In the heart," was whispered in her ear.

She stabbed it, not caring what it was.  The creature turned to dust and she backed away, into a hard chest.  She screamed as she turned around, preparing to defend herself again. "Jethro!  What is going on!"

"Congratulations, you just staked your first vampire, Jen."  He leaned against the old headstone next to him.  "How did it feel?"

She gaped, just staring at him.  At least until she heard another growl.

He spun and threw the stake, then fired at the creature, one of them made him turn to dust.  He looked at her again, putting his gun back up. "Welcome to the conspiracy."

"You... Harris?"

"Lived in a town full of them.  They're vampires. They've so far eaten two senators, sixteen Marines, four Sailors, four green berets, ten other Army soldiers, two Air Force cadets, and about thirty civilians."  She shuddered, backing away.  "We knew Harris could do this when we ran into him on that last case.  DiNozzo found out because he had to save some locals there," he said quietly.  "When they moved here thanks to that thing in the Mall that keeps radiating, a few of us ended up volunteering to help thanks to the dead personnel.  Hence the cult, which it is.  It's about halfway between a cult and a terrorist cell.  We've been using our tracking skills to keep it down and keep people from dying."

"But... but.. They're not real!"

"You saw two of them turn to dust, Jen.  If you don't believe me, I can take you back to somewhere else so you can look one over in captivity and stake another one."

"This isn't real!  It's not! He's sucked you into that cult."

"You obviously don't know me that well, Jen.  I'd never be sucked into a cult."  He picked up her gun and handed it to her, then walked her off.

"You brought me here!"  She stomped after him.  "You risked my life by leaving me asleep out here!"

"Yeah.  I had to make you understand and I knew just telling you wouldn't work."  He drove her back to the office, letting her into the morgue.  "Ducky's got one he said was going to come up tonight and left him alone on my orders."  He opened the drawer and pulled out the body, flipping him on the side of the head and making him wake up.  "If you cooperate, I'll let you go."  The fledge slowly sat up.  "She needs proof."  He pulled her over by the arm. "Check him for life signs, Jen."

"Those can be faked," she said.  "The cooler would lower his body temperature and his heart rate."

"But not totally."  He got Ducky's spare stethoscope and handed it over.  "Here listen for a heartbeat.  It would be there, even chilled."  She carefully took it and listened to the vampire's chest, then her own.  She heard her heart beat.  She listened to Jethro's, then the vampire's again.  Still nothing.  She checked him for a pulse, nothing in any of the areas she checked.  She glared at him.  "How did this come to be?"

"I got fed blood.  Sir?"  He gave him a pitiful look.  He knew the rumors about his choices and who was hunting his present kind.

"You wanna hunt, kid, or do you want to live and not hunt?"

"I'd prefer to live but I don't want to hurt my family.  I heard a lot of us end up going after our families and I love my kid brother."

"Then go to LA.  Look up one of you named Angel.  You're already declared dead so it won't be a problem for you to go.  There's clothes at your feet."  The former Naval officer got the clothes and turned to put them on.  He looked at Jen.  "Welcome to my nighttime."

"How?"

"He got bitten and fed the virus.  Abby confirmed it is a virus. It mixes with the blood the first one drank from him and then got fed back to him.  It mixed with his blood once he died and changed him, letting in the symbiotic demon kernel.  I'll expect you to lay off us from now on, Jen," he said quietly.  "After all, we're saving lives.  They'll be mostly leaving in a few years, heading to New York."

"I can't understand how you got caught up in this, Jethro. Usually you're so sensible."

"I may be, but that doesn't mean I want my team or anyone else to die.  This is power politics on a whole new level.  We have an underground group of people who want to take over the world and make us all minions and cows for their dinner."  The vampire laughed.  "Head down through the elevator to the parking garage."  He got a nod and the vampire left.  "This is what Harris grew up doing.  He's been fighting this cell for almost nine years now, Jen."

"This can't be.  All that goth crap...."

"Isn't the same thing.  Real vampires and the goth stuff have very little in common.  Before you say it, Abby does know it's real and did before we ever met Harris. Goth circles contain people who feed those who don't hunt.  Some of them are like willing priests to the actual ones.  Others just enjoy the lifestyle.  Abby's one of those.  Harris grew up fighting these since high school.  Of course we turned to an expert.  He's as close as we can get to one and he's hooked into the network of the people who have been doing this for centuries.  This is also what the Initiative was doing.  They were trying to turn those creatures into our new military."  She shuddered at that. "Using torture, behavior modification chips, and other unsavory ways.  They tested them on humans first.  We've got them for that, we're just slowly tracking them down and quietly arresting and confining them for it."

"How long?" she asked, staring at him.

"How long have I known about this stuff?  Since the Santa Clara case.  DiNozzo and I both.  The kid hunted in front of us. That town and his town were both full of them."

"This can't go on. You're killing innocent beings."

"I don't consider something that eats others for fun and survival to be innocent, Jen.  If you do, I'm sorry.  To me, vampires are now creatures.  They quit being human once they took their first victim.  They're murderers.  I don't think about the human ones like that, but vampires aren't human.  Humans bleed and break.  Vampires turn to dust."  She shuddered at that and took a step back.  "In a few years, they'll mostly be gone again.  They'll be headed to New York and Xander's already working on the group to go up there and stop them.  That would be a blood bath and they're trying to turn it back to the California Hellmouth.  So far they think it's working.  That'll leave everyone else alone with only mild ones."

"We missed this?" she asked miserably.  She had worked in intelligence most of her adult life and she had missed this wide-spread group that was going around killing people.  She had failed at her job to notice these sort of things.

"There were only about twenty in town before.  Not all of them killed.  Maybe one out of every fifteen homicides was from them.  Another five percent of the missing persons cases annually.  Harris's former town of Sunnydale had a population of a thousand people, only six hundred alive."  She shivered again and he closed the drawer, looking at her again.  "It's up to you, Madam Director, but I need to do this.  One tried to attack the shipyards the other week and we had to stop them.  Would you rather we have more unexplained bodies and have to explain to their families why good soldiers got attacked on base at their posts?"

"No," she said quietly. "I don't want that."  She pulled herself back together again.  "Do I need to know?"

"I report directly to the president.  That day I got called up there, he had a guard that was turned."  She whimpered.  "At least he'd seen most of the movies so he was protecting the back access panel in the basement. Enough people know what's actually going on and some know some of it, just that cult.  Which it still is."

"I can agree to that. It all makes so much sense now. I could feel you holding things back before but I didn't know why."

"Because you would have had me taken away if I had told you," he said sarcastically.  "Speaking of, what's up with Ziva?"

"She's been gathering information for me."

"I thought so, so did Harris.  He also said she's dating one."

"We've got to save her," she said, putting a hand on his arm.

"Too late.  She's transferring back to Mossad since they use them over there."  She nodded, looking down.  He patted her on the back and walked her back to the garage. "Let me take you home.  You get drunk tonight, forget all about this as more than a nightmare.  Let the rest of us handle it since we do it so well.  I'm no slouch at hunting and DiNozzo and Harris are a great team.  I'm hoping we keep Harris really.  He'll be too old to follow wherever it goes and if it goes back to Sunnydale he doesn't want to go."  She looked at him.  "Yes, that new girl we've been talking about, Eliana, is involved.  That's her sworn duty.  She's somehow genetically chosen or something.  Abby's still working on that part."

"We can describe this with science?"

"The Initiative sure did."  She nodded, leaving it there.  He got her into the car and drove her home, smiling before she got out.  "By the way, your wire and all that other surveillance stuff was gone before I dropped you on top of that grave."  He shut the door and drove off, parking her car back at the office and heading back to pick up his car.   Xander answered at his knock, wearing velvet pajama bottoms. "Am I interrupting?"

"No, not tonight.  Tomorrow night," he offered with a grin.  "What's up?" he asked, heading back to the living room.

"I showed her, she's still disbelieving but not as badly.  You were right, Ziva was turned and I sent her home after calling someone over there that Willow found for me last week."  Xander nodded at that.  "I wanted to know what you're going to do if you make it through  this and we manage to end this situation?"

"Stay here."

"Thank you.  You ever think about the academy?"

"I can't with a missing eye.  You know that."

"If we can get you into the FBI Academy, would you go and join the team?"  Xander nodded.  "You're sure?"  Xander nodded again.  "Then I'll see what I can do if we survive this.  Have a good night, kid."  He headed home to work on his boat.

Xander sat there with a serious case of the warm fuzzies.  Someone liked him for the asshole he was.

***

Xander looked at Tony, shaking his head.  "Abby, he can't go in that," he moaned.  "I'd never have a pet that looked like that."  She sighed and looked at him.

"I look kinda silly," he agreed, looking at the scarlet velvet shirt and PVC pants with various, unnecessary, straps and buckles.

Xander looked him over.  "Do you have any jeans or pants that are nearly pornographic?"  Tony nodded slowly. "Go put them on.  Put on your favorite clubbing shirt and we'll start there.  Abby, mess with his hair."  He went to change in the bathroom, coming out with his favorite hunting leathers and a light blue tank top.  His black silk shirt went on as an overshirt and his boots were put on.  He looked Tony over when he came out, nodding a few times.  "You'll do in that."  He moved closer.  "Now, you're my pet.  Mine and only mine.  You can tease, you can taunt, but you may not touch," he said, staring into his eyes.  "You may not bribe, you may not leave with anyone else.  You stay by my side."

"So this is like a D/s relationship?" he asked.

"That and partially parent/child, and part teacher/student.  A sire is all those and more.  They have complete control over you.  We're going to go in like that's our relationship.  I am your teacher.  I'm teaching you how to be like me.  They know me there and about half of the community expects to see you with me anyway."  He looked in the nearest mirror to fuss with his hair.  "At least I'm not going to collar you."  Tony nodded at that.  "Good boy.  Just think of me as a mentor."  He went back to fussing at his hair.  "It won't spike," he complained.  Abby came over to help him.  "Should I change my earrings?"

"No, they're fine.  I like how the sapphire one is the main focus of the whole look. Did you get that choker?"  Xander nodded, getting into his bag to pull it out and hold it up.  She cooed over it.  "That's so pretty!  Can I borrow it sometime?"

"As long as it isn't broken during this."  He slipped it on and she helped him hitch it.  He breathed a few times.  "That's good.  Tony?"

"I don't get pretty jewelry?" he teased.

"I only reward good pets."  He looked at himself, then over Tony's outfit.  "Those jeans aren't tight enough."  Tony groaned.  "It'll do for tonight and then we're going shopping."  He grabbed him by the wrist.  "Grab keys, wallet, not the ID.  No gun.  No stake.  I've got one on me."  He pulled Tony out the door and out to his bike.  He got on and put on his helmet, then handed Tony his spare one.  "Get on."

"Can't I drive?"

"Nope. Get on.  Before I have to spank."  Tony groaned and got on, putting on the helmet and grabbing him for safety.  Xander pulled out, heading for the club, letting Tony get used to being behind him.  He pulled up outside the club and parked, getting off his bike.  His and Tony's helmets were put into the bags and he turned on the magical security system and the taser one both.  He took Tony's wrist again and walked him to the front door.  The bouncer gave him an amused look.  "Research, babe.  How else am I going to train Pretty Boy here?"  He smirked at him.  "We promise not to hunt in here, but I can't exactly teach him about succuba with my friend."  The bouncer muttered into his wrist mike and someone came out.  "Research, dear.  He needs to know what's okay to hunt and what to run screaming from.  This is my Pretty Boy."

The second guy looked Tony over.  "You don't dress him very well."

"Forgive us for having better things to do than shopping," he offered sarcastically.  "I have many more pleasurable things to do than *shop*.  Do I look like a girl to you?"

"If he's yours, prove it," the first guard noted.

Xander pulled Tony closer and kissed him deeply, then let him go, taking his wrist again.  "Better?  Get your voyeur kick in for the night?"

Someone else came out, a moderately tall redhead wearing a velour jogging suit.  "What's going on?"

"I'm showing my Pretty Boy here what he can and cannot hunt.  It's research.  We have no intention of hunting here but he's got to know with the Hellmouth gaining power.  Or else I'm going to be cranky and then he'll regret not knowing when he's got to cheer my ass up."

The redhead looked at them, then nodded.  "Check 'em for stakes."

"Just one," Xander offered, pulling it out.  "Just in case we're jumped in the parking lot."  The guards came over to pat them down then nodded.  "See?"  He looked at the boss again.  "That good with you?  After all, you know I used to train the slayers at the Bronze.  You were there."

"I was a few times," he agreed.  He looked at Tony.  "Your toy there is your hunting partner, right?"  Xander nodded.  "He's not bad for only training a few months."

"Which is why he's ready to move onto the higher levels of demons.  I'll probably be bringing our boss in too."

"You work for someone besides Tyr at Pyro?"

"He does and I like him.  He's a nice guy who gives a damn about me.  He's been doing the reasonable voice thing."  He moved closer.  "He actually made me sleep on Pretty Boy's couch when I got into that fight at the Bars and Slab."  The guy looked impressed at that.  "So I gave him that nickname.  So, can we move up the training?"

"Fine.  Just keep it peaceful, Harris."  He let them inside and walked in after them.  "They're here to teach what to hunt and what not to hunt," he announced.  "He's promised not to hunt in here unless he's forced to."  The vampires around turned away and left it there.  "Go find a seat in the back," he ordered.  "You pay for drinks up front."

"I know."  He headed for a back seat, grinning at the succubus sitting back there.  "Can we crowd you, baby?"

"Go ahead, Xander.  Bethany said you were yummy," she purred, latching onto his arm.  She smiled at Tony.  "Ooooh, he's adorable!"

"I know.  My Pretty Boy is very cute and a good match for me hunting.  He keeps up with me," he said proudly, grinning at Tony.  "What's your name?"

"Tiffany."  She nipped him on the lips then wiggled across his lap.  "Beers?"

"Wine," Xander told her.  "Red is fine."  She nodded, going to get their first round for them.  He grinned at Tony.  "We haven't gone over sexual demons, have we?"

"No, not yet," he said weakly.  He was still stunned from the kiss and the number of demons he'd never seen before in the club.  "I know you and Bethany have some sort of stress relief habit."

"Harris, did you get Angel's hunter's crap?" someone yelled.

"Yes!" he called without looking.  "Wes was a friend of mine.  Why?"

"We saw his bike and it freaked someone out."

Xander looked over. "It's mine now and I warded it heavier than he did.  Touch it and lose a hand, literally."  That got some nervous laughs.  "Remember, I'm training for New York."

"Hey, we'll leave your bike alone," someone else promised. "Not a problem!"

Xander grinned. "Relax.  We're here to up his training and knowledge.  Otherwise he might run from the wrong things, like you."  That got some laughs and Xander let the succubus wiggle back over his lap and hand over their drinks.  "Thanks, babe."  He gave her a kiss.  "If you're good and help me teach him about your kind, then I'll let you nibble me later.  Of course, if you're *really* naughty about what you tell him I might have to spank," he said in her ear, making her shiver.  "Are we on?"

"We're so on," she moaned.  She smiled at Tony.  "Okay, sugar.  What do you know about succubuses and incubuses?"

"Not much.  Beyond Xander having a fling with one now and then in public."  She giggled.  "Really.  I keep walking in on them having sex on the dance floor when we're hunting and I'm late."

She giggled and leaned over to kiss him.  "You're so cute!" she cooed.  "Okay, demons like me and Bethany, plus our male counterparts, feed on sex.  We can feed on energy during sex or we suck up the smut that human bodies naturally throw off.  If we're totally hungry we kill during sex.  It's like you come and then you go.  It's rare that we do that though.  That's either because we're desperate, hurt badly, or they've been with us for a while and our feeder is ready to go off because we can't feed off them any longer.  If we didn't, they'd be asexual and probably miserable so most of us see it as a blessing and the more kind of us usually eat at the clubs.  It leaves us a bit weaker but it's more humane unless we need the energy to heal."

"Would one like you only go for guys or are some of you bi?" Tony asked.

"Most of us are straight but now and then we play on the other side.  Of course, there's always a higher demon and he can *make* us focus on a target.  His ex used to be one of the Higher's beasts of burden."

"Anya," Xander explained.  "The guy over the vengeance demons is over these guys too.  Actually, Anya said that sometimes she used the sexual demons to help torture those who were that unfaithful by eating them until they were drained and then leaving them living.  Those who raped their spouses and things."  Tony looked impressed at that.

"Mostly, we decide it on our own.  Now and then I'll go for a female but they don't taste the same to me.  Male and female lust and sexual urges taste different to us.  The same as I can tell a difference between you two.  You taste cleaner, more spicy and high flavors.  That means you're a lot less kinky and a lot more pure than this one."  She nodded at Xander. "He's got a deep, musky flavor that oozes sex and lust.  You can tell he's done about everything at least once."

"That's what road trips to find yourself are for," he noted dryly.  "I had a lot of fun trying most everything out."

"I'm sure you did," Tony agreed dryly. "Fortunately I found out what I like pretty quickly."  She giggled and he felt a hand move into his lap, making him squeak.

"He's not the sort to play around on me, babe."  She looked from Tony to Xander and back at him.  He nodded.  "My Pretty Boy.  Ask him how many times he's heard me going on about his stunning green eyes."  She moaned and let Tony go, latching onto Xander's arm instead.  "Ask him how often I get to tell him how bright and happy-making his smiles are," he murmured in her ear.  She shivered and moved closer.  "Are you being naughty?" he teased.  She nodded and moaned.  He patted his lap.  "Over.  Now."  She laid down, her butt up in the air.  He spanked her hard and long, making her shiver and shake.  He judged it until she had just about come then stopped and made her stand up on the other side of the table.  "Now, go get someone to help you finish you off.  I'm not going to get you off tonight, you were a naughty girl playing with my Pretty One without my permission."

She pouted but Tony nodded.  "I'm not allowed to play without his permission.  He might spank me too."  She cooed and gave Xander a pleading look.

"Not yet.  He's being a good boy tonight.  Maybe next time I'll spank him for our pleasure."  She walked off, clearly wet and needy by the way she was moving.  One of the vampires pounced her and helped her along, making her squeal.  Xander looked at Tony. "That was the quick overview of this class of sex demons."

"Can you protect yourself from one who's trying to kill you?"

"Beheading.  Holy water annoys them to no end, as do holy objects.  The safest way is still beheading because if your faith is or can be made shaky, you're in deep shit when they latch onto you."  Tony nodded at that, sipping his wine.  He grimaced and Xander tasted his, looking over.  "What is this?" he called.  "I serve better crap at the Pyro!"  He got up to get them new drinks, bringing their old ones back.  "Real wine.  Please?  He's got a very educated palette and he's helping me learn."  The bartender snickered. "Hey, I keep my boy happy," he said dryly.  "It makes things easier."  He took their glasses after putting a ten down on the bar, heading back to the booth.  He handed his over.

Tony sipped and moaned.  "Ooh, that's expensive wine.  Like six hundred dollars a bottle wine."

Xander looked over.  "Did I underpay?"

"No, you earned it by spanking our slut.  Thank you!" he offered, grinning and waving.  "Good show!"

Xander flexed his hand.  "Not too bad of a trade off."  He grinned at Tony.  "Now, they're the higher, more independent of the sex demons.  There're others that are so dependent that they're basically pets and slaves.  There's ones who feed the same way but they also have to have daily contact or else they'll start to die a really painful death.  Some of them have no will other than their owner's wills.  There's some that are usually taken or sold as prostitutes and concubines.  Some of those don't feed on sex, but they need it in other ways."  He got up to grab a book off a nearby shelf he had spotted, bringing it back.  "This is how Wes taught me," he offered with a sad grin.  "It was a long night."  He handed the book over and sat next to him, showing him what everything was and how it was killed and what he'd spank him for if he ever hunted, and not in the fun way either.  Tony was blushing by the time they got halfway through.

Myst, the redhead owner of the club came over, dressed in a suit this time.  "You don't have a copy?"

"No, Angel burned his," he offered with a sad grin.  "He thought it was perverted to let a succubus feed off you now and then for stress relief.  For a vampire, he's really uptight."

Myst nodded. "He is.  Are you sending the non-hunters in the military to him?"  They both nodded. "Good.  They can torture his ass for a bit.  I heard Spike got resurrected to help him."  Xander burst out in cackles, making him smirk.  "Haven't been keeping up?"

"I talked with Giles recently but no," he laughed.  "I'm hoping the new girl has news like that.  Either that or we've got to bring Spike here to meet Abby."

"His coworker?  She's a nice girl."  He smirked at him.  "You're going over sex demons?"

"Hey, the easiest first.  Let's face it, if he can face down an incubus hitting on him, he can easily face down that one type that's purple, eight foot tall, looks like an armadillo with a four foot dick hanging in the open and hard."

"True.  Do we have those here?"

"I saw one the other night and he froze in horror and awe.  I'm sure you remember how human guys are hung up on sex."

"Oh, I do."   He smiled at him.  "Are you going to teach him to identify now?"

"You've only got three in here and he's already met Tiffany.  Hence me spanking her for touching my boy."

"I saw.  It was very pretty how you stopped just before she came.  Very nice work.  Oh, well, I'm off to torture a human."

"I'd hope consensually and that you're not pushing my vows back in my face?" Xander asked tolerantly.  "I don't wanna have to pull a rescue.  I'd almost rather plan a shopping trip for him."

The vampire smirked.  "I only torture those who ask me for my special talents, Harris.  I get plenty without it."  He walked off, going to find his leash behind the bar and gather his pet of the evening.  He walked his pet past a few minutes later, letting them see him crawling and panting behind him like a good dog.

"He was human, right?" Tony asked.

"Half," Xander offered.  "Looked like a water demon of some sort by the undertones of his skin."  He looked at him and grinned.  "Okay, let's work on some practical identification.  Pick out the two succubuses in here.  Yes, I know it's difficult, I can't always," he said quietly.  He moved back to his own seat and sipped his wine, looking around.

"Well, Tiffany is in the bathroom with someone," he offered.  He glanced around and pointed at a raven haired woman. "Her?"

"No, she's a different sort," he admitted.  She looked at him and he glared back, making her chuckle.  "Fuck you," he muttered.  He got up to get another book and put it down, open to the right spot, in front of his partner.  "That's what she is.  Read and learn.  She's dangerous and you're not ready to take her on yet," he said seriously, staring him down.  Tony nodded.

Tiffany came back.  "Would you dance with me, Xander?" she asked with a pretty little pout.  He nodded and walked out there with her, making her moan and have an easy feed from all the lust going on around them.  He came back and she wobbled off to get a drink and relax after that large meal.

Xander smirked and Tony shook his head.  "Show off."

Xander's smirk got a bit meaner.  "Hey, I can make you dance with me."  Tony blushed at that and went back to his reading.  "Now, where's the other succubus?"

Tony looked around, pointing at one.  "Her?"  Xander nodded.  "I only realized it because she looks jealous of what Tiffany got."

Xander grinned.  "They're all pale and easy to mix up with vampires.  Now, can you point out the living beings in here?"

"The bartender?"

"Isn't.  Well, he's demonic but not human so I'll give you that one.  I did say living."  Tony grinned and looked around, pointing out a few more.  "The next to last is a vamp.  He's just newly fed.  I'm guessing we've got another suspicious body coming in," he said quietly.  "I nearly got him the other day."  Tony nodded at that and looked around, pointing out two others. "Good job."  He put the books back and came back.  "Now, give me the major characteristics of when you're looking at a willing and needy sex demon versus an unwilling one."

"Usually the unwilling ones are drugged or drug addicts?" he offered.

"That's one way.  Any others?"

"There's the two types that are always willing and it's in their community and clans to be sold.  So if I see them, then they're always willing.  Do their minds process anything but commands and sex?"

"Nope.  Which is why they're like that.  It's thought that they were bred that way by one of the older clans of higher demons.  I've never found a legitimate source though."

Tony nodded. "Okay, so historical supposition."  He considered it.  "We also know that most succubuses could get away if they were in a concubine or prostitution situation, right?"  Xander nodded.  "But not always because there's things that can inhibit their powers and natures."

"There are.  One of them is heroin.  Generally, across the broad spectrum of the demonic, heroin affects them all to negate their powers.  There's a few exceptions.  In hellhounds it makes them bloodthirsty and go insane trying to get as many victims as they can.  The Initiative did that a few times to see what it would do.  There's a few that it's like us smoking pot, it gives them a mellow buzz.  Fyarl demons it turns into crying blobs of misery, I'm not sure if it's from pain or not."

"Okay.  Did they document that stuff?"

"Incredibly," Xander offered.  "That was in the stuff you got from us."

"Gibbs went over that, I couldn't stomach most of it."  Xander nodded, understanding that.  "What about werewolves?  I know you knew one who got captured."

"Oz was in a unique spot.  There's a way to control the wolf, but it takes meditation and special techniques that they teach in Tibet at a specific monastery.  With that control he didn't change on the three days of the full moon but he changed whenever he got too upset and lost his control.  Which was how the Initiative got him."

"Which was the primary reason you guys went in there to stop them," Tony noted.

"We has plans of doing it before but that just moved up my timetable and the necessity.  I don't let my friends suffer that way and Oz is still someone I consider a friend."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know.  I don't think anyone does," he admitted.  "He could be back in Tibet.  Willow royally hurt him.  He went to learn control for her and after he left her, she didn't wait.  She took up with Tara, who was the sweetest witch ever.  I loved Tara; if I had a true sister it's her," he explained.  "But Oz smelled Willow on her and realization dawned since she never told him she had moved on.  She basically led him to believe they could get back together."  Tony moaned at that.  "So Tara was the innocent and they made peace through a few letters a few years later.  I'm guessing she's the only one who knew where he was.  Then again, if Tara and Oz had gotten together it would have been a kick-ass couple.  They were so suited, Pretty Boy."

"I can tell.  What happened to her?"

"One of the human bad guys got mad that Buffy had stopped their plans and shot Buffy but somehow the bullet hit Tara and killed her.  Willow snapped when she couldn't bring her back and killed him by flaying him alive.  Hence me saving the world by stopping her."  He shrugged.  "She needed to let the grief out and I made her while she was trying to raise something to kill everyone."

"She didn't stop you?"

"She tried really hard.  She threw shit at me that still hurts to this day but I had to get to her.  We were best friends for a lot of years," he said quietly, looking in his eyes.  "I knew Willow and Jesse since we were kids.  I knew Jesse a few years longer, but since we were toddlers basically."

Tony reached over to squeeze his hand.  "It's all right, Xander.  She's still alive and she can heal."

"I'm sure she will but if we move the hellmouth back there, it won't help her any.  She'll end up staying that way."

"She might," he admitted.  "But she's got help now."

"Yeah, Giles.  Who ignored it the first time until she started doing things like messing with memories."  Tony winced at that.  "There was a spell you haven't seen in the journals because that one's not on the shelves.  She wanted to wipe Tara's memory of a fight they had about Willow's magic use.  She did the spell and it worked okay but then the stuff for the spell caught fire and it wiped all of ours.  Anya thought she was married to Giles and Giles thought Spike was his son."  Tony laughed at that.  He'd heard stories about them from him.  "Yeah, so he didn't really seem to notice too much until that point.  He protested but didn't really start to rant and rave until she raised Buffy a few months after she had died."

"You can do that?" he asked, sitting up.  "They're normal?"

"Buffy didn't come back normal," he said quietly.  "It let the First Evil into the world and that's why we went into the hellmouth to fight, T...Pretty Boy.  Besides, it's been too long for the one you're missing," he said quietly.  Tony nodded, swallowing and looking down.  "If I could, I would," he promised.  "I really would."

"I know."  He squeezed his hand again and looked around.  "He leaves his office door open?"

"He's in there with his pet for the night."  He glanced back there, then at him, winking.  "Do you think you're ready to go over sexual demons in the clubs?  Can you identify them on the fly?"

"I can but it's hard to tell succuba and vampires apart."

"I still have that problem now and then.  Usually the succuba drool on me and the vampires want a nibble, that's how I tell if I can't get close enough to feel a pulse."  Tony laughed at that.  "We've got to take you shopping."

"Yeah, but I don't know when we would."

"Tomorrow?  Never mind, you've got to fly home for the wedding.  What're you gonna do when your mother nags you about getting married?"

"Pull out a picture of the boss and say I'm deathly in love with him and that I'm working with a mad scientist to have the kids myself," he offered with a grin.

"Willow could probably do that," Xander said seriously.  Tony's mouth fell open and he beamed.  "I'm not mean enough to suggest it though.  Unless she does it to Spike...."

"No more being mean," Tony chided.  "Or else I'm going to use your picture."  His phone rang and he answered it.  "Yeah?"  He winced.  "Thanks, Boss."  He hung up.  "I just got a verbal head smack."

"He likes playing with your hair," Xander joked, smirking at him.

"No, he doesn't believe in leash training," Tony joked back.  "He said I should use you instead of him at the wedding."

"Sure, if you want," he agreed with a grin. "Then if she comes down, I'll be the most clingy and cuddly boyfriend ever."  Tony snickered at that, leaning sideways to let the wall support him while he laughed.  "Love you too, Pretty Boy."

"Thanks, Xander, really.  I need more love in my life."

"I could use love in my life but I'm satisfied enough with the succubus I play with now and then.  Less chance of bad things happening."

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah, I'm sure.  I can't imagine bouncing up to the boss one day and going 'guess what, I'm going to be a daddy' and watching him have sudden thoughts of that kid being worse than me and Abby combined.  Maybe even calling him Grandpa Boss."  Tony started to laugh again.  "Even worse if I stole Abby; consider those kids."  Tony's face was now red he was laughing so hard.  "Her fashion sense and both our skills?"  Tony got up and headed for the bathroom before he pissed himself.  Xander grinned at the vampires staring at them.  "It's why I play with girls like Tiffany and Bethany.  So there is no possibility of little Xander's ever coming to be."  They shuddered at that and went back to their own fun.  He pulled out his phone, calling home.  "Willow," he said when she answered. "Did you bring the mapping thing with you?  There's a hidden space in my basement and I want to know where."  He smirked.  "No, the wall under the stairs is in the wrong spot.  I want to know if we've got an extra room or something.  Thanks.  Sure, later.  Tell him no, not yet, and to tape the lectures so I can use them later with Eliana."

"Someone's bringing a girl here?" a vampire demanded, stomping over.  "How could you?"

"This is a hellmouth, of *course* a slayer is coming," he said dryly.  "Shit, man, I'm going to be her Watcher!"  That got a look of pure horror.  "You'll like Eliana, she's a nice girl.  Very bad sense of humor but a good girl.  She's one Willow called during the First Evil battle."  That got another shudder.  "Sorry.  You know we only hunt those who're out hunting.  Let's face it, some of you have been stupid enough to eat military personnel and one of the guards at the White House!  I'm wondering if he's got indigestion still from the senators, does he?"  The vampire stalked off.  "Wills, we'll talk when I get home.  Sure."  He hung up and went to find Tony, who was staring at a vampire trying to menace him.  "Leave my boy alone," he said coldly.

"Thinks he's a hunter," he sneered.

Xander knocked the guy down, staring down at him.  "You're in a bathroom that has two stakes available and enough metal that I could break something to saw your head off," he noted coldly, making him flinch and scoot away from him. "My boy is my boy and only I get to touch my boy or spank my boy, and especially bite him.  Now, get off your badly fitted ass and leave him alone."  The vampire got up and left.  He grinned at Tony.  "Hi."

"Sorry."

"Not an issue. I was thinking it'd happen when I was on the floor.  Most vampires seem to have forgotten what subtlety was when they died."  He left so he could finish up in private.  "Shot me," he ordered, putting a five on the bar.  "Tequila."

"You're going out later?" he asked quietly.

Xander nodded. "Yeah, field exercises."  He took the shot and gulped it, making a nasty face.  "Thanks."  He walked back to the table, rinsing it with the rest of his wine.  Tony came out and sat down again.  "You ready to leave here and head out somewhere else?"

"Can you drive with whatever you just drank?"

"It was only a shot and of course I can."  He got up, leading him out.  "My first few years I took a shot before I went hunting every night so I was loose enough.  Then I realized I was slowly turning into my parents so I quit.  Now I'm down to an occasional drink."  He took his stake back at the door.  "Thanks.  We'll be back the next time we both have the night off to do more educational lectures.  It was good for him."  He grinned at the bouncer.  "See, I told you I could be nice."

"You were, thank you.  Even to the one who tried your boy in the bathroom."

"I would have staked him but we did promise," Tony offered dryly.

"Thanks for that too.  The boss might not like his baby brother being staked."

Xander grinned and nodded, heading off to his bike.  He unwarded it and got their helmets, handing Tony his.  He started the bike.  "I'm in the mood for Cuban food. You?"

"Sounds good to me."  He hung on and Xander roared off, taking him to a salsa club, a gay salsa club.  Xander parked and buttoned up his overshirt, then they went inside.  Xander even showed him how to dance properly.  It was very hot and he was more than hard by the time they were done with the second dance.  "Hunting," he moaned in his ear.  "There's three in here."

"I saw."  He let him back off and smiled at the nearest.  "My boy thinks you'll look better against him than I do.  Let's see."  The vampire smirked and moved to take Tony into his arms while Xander got his former partner, making her whimper in pleasure.  They ended up back in a shadowy booth and both of them were staked.

"I didn't know you were supposed to get off while dancing that way," Tony admitted as they walked back to the bar.

"It all depends on how you dance," Xander teased.  "If the hips are right then it's more than possible with a willing and wanting partner."  He paid for the beers and they sipped, watching the last guy.  He was sticking with girls.  Xander saw him lead someone off and finished his beer quickly.  "I'm heading to the bathroom," he noted, going back there.  He waited until the vampire was done loving her then looked at him.  "Not hungry?" he asked dryly.

"I work here, I don't feed where I work, but thank you for taking out the competition."

"Don't thank me yet, two more just came in."  He peed then cleaned himself up and went back there.  "He's not hunting," he said quietly.  "Want to go again?"

Tony moaned.  "Sure.  I'll be sore tomorrow on the flight."

"You'll get used to it," Xander promised, taking him back onto the floor.  "I was taught by a very hot Cuban dancer at the strip club.  He thought my hips were very good for this."  He grinned and Tony smirked back.  The other vampires had apparently left.  "They saw you and ran?"

"They saw you and ran," Tony snorted.  He let Xander lead again, then took control of the next dance since he had the steps down.  Xander grinned at him and followed along, making him smirk a bit.  "How'm I doin', teach?" he joked.

"Good, very good, Pretty Boy."  He took control back and dipped him, then slowly pulled him back up, staring into his eyes.  "Remember, this type of dancing is all about heat, passion, lust."  He ground their hips together, getting a small blush and let Tony lead again.  Tony moaned but started to dance with him again, getting more into it now.  Xander grinned when Tony had to excuse himself to the bathroom to take care of something.  He shook his head at the offer to dance with the vampire, smirking a bit.  "He'd get mad."  Tony came back and he nodded. "Ready to head home so you can fly out tomorrow?"

"Sure.  Make me deal with my parents," he said bitterly, letting Xander lead the way out.  "Can I drive the bike?"

"If you want.  Just be very careful."  He got onto the back and put on his helmet, letting Tony have his.  Tony started the back and carefully walked it backward, turning so he could pull out of the parking lot and head back to Xander's.  Where everyone else was.  He looked at Gibbs, who was giving him a long stare.  "Tell me you turned it off, Boss," he pleaded.

"Of course I did.  The mapping thing is working very well. Good idea, kid."  He patted Xander on the back.  "Nice save as well, DiNozzo.  There's pizza in the kitchen."  He stopped Xander from heading that way, looking at him.  "If you two start to do more than hunt," he said very quietly, "I don't want to know, I don't want details, and you had better not make him late for work, unable to work, or hurt him.  Do you understand?"

"Clear as crystal just outta the dishwasher, gunny," he agreed seriously.  "I'm not sure if it's an option but I like to tease."  He shrugged.  "I leave that up to him."

"Fine.  Have him use your picture with his parents."

Xander grinned and walked back there.  "Pretty Boy, Bossman said you had to use my picture instead of his.  He doesn't think you have a picture that won't make your mother drool over him."  Behind him Gibbs choked.  In front of him Tony and McGee both choked.  He grinned at Abby.  "I'm good.  There's a vamp teaching salsa and Cuban dancing at that club we were at.  He's not hunting there though."  He got his own piece of pizza to nibble on.

"That's fine.  Did you get a good look at the brother of the head vamp?" she asked.

"I did, and I have it on my new video camera," he offered, pulling off his cuff to hand to her.  "Download it.  The memory stick is on the inner right side."  She nodded, going down to do that.

Willow cleared her throat.  "Yes, I could let him have your babies, but they'd be a horrible torture on this world so I'm going to sterilize you instead, that way I never have to babysit a baby Xander," she said dryly.  She walked off smirking evilly.

Xander looked at McGee.  "I'd never steal Abby.  She'd never let me tie her down.  It shows that she likes nice guys, like you, instead of kinky guys, like me."  McGee spluttered a few times but ran back downstairs blushing bright red.

"Xander, maybe you should take some of Wes's smut and go have fun for a few minutes," Tony offered, sitting down at the table and kicking back.  "Before you regret what you just said.  I'm pretty sure Abby doesn't mind cuffs and I'm equally sure she's talked him into them since he came in chaffed one day."

Xander snorted. "Please.  Handcuffs are very minor, yet fun, ways of tying someone down.  I like mine helpless to swat me for liking oral sex too much.  Anya used to complain a lot about being tied down."

"I heard enough about that subject from her!" Willow yelled.  She came up and got the wire, taking it off Tony and back downstairs.  She found Gibbs down there.  "He's such a pervert after a night like tonight.  We should call Bethany and have her show up."

"At least he's not jumping my boy," Abby told her.  McGee gave her a horrified look.  "Oh, please, you'd look very sweet under him," she offered, kissing him. "Just like you do me.  That's why I won't let him have you."  He relaxed and nodded, settling back into the bright red blush instead.

Willow shook her head.  "I don't know what he did on that road trip but I'm not sure I want to.  He came home so perverted at times."  She looked at Gibbs.  "What did he have at the club?"

"A shot of tequila and some red wine.  Why?"

"It's the stupid tequila.  Never, ever let him drink it again!"  She went up to yell at him, which made Tony send her back downstairs, reminding her he was a big boy and old enough to make that decision, even if he did embarrass himself by getting a vampire off in the club.

Gibbs came up for more coffee about an hour later and found Tony working his way through one of the demon manuals alone.  "Where did the kid go?"

"He dialed an incubus up and went to play at a nearby motel," he said, looking at him.  "Tequila is bad. I knew this before but now I'm sure."

Gibbs nodded.  "Most people think so.  Are you all right with what went on?"

"Yeah, I play bait very well, Boss."  He looked at him.  "The only thing I felt odd about was the lessons in how to make love while dancing I got."

"That's what I was talking about, DiNozzo."

He shrugged.  "I can handle it.  He's not pushy, he's just teasing, and he is cute."

"If you hurt him...."

"You know me better than that, Boss."

"I do, but I warned him too.  He said right now he's only teasing and he left it up to you."

"As he should.  I'm good with the level we've got right now.  It's close but not that close.  We work well together.  The same as we do as a trio.  We'll have to work hard to integrate Eliana when she finally gets here."

"She's with her mother," Willow called.  "I brought her over before I came."

"Cool.  When are we going together?"

"Next weekend.  He's got every Friday off."  He sipped his new cup of coffee.  "Are you...interested in the kid?"

Tony shrugged.  "I don't know.  I haven't decided yet.  He's very hot and very smart, and a bit of a smart ass, but he's also kinda hurt and scary at times.  He needs someone to help him heal first and then love him.  Not the other way around."

"Fine.  If you do, I don't want details but make sure you don't hurt him."  Tony nodded at that.  "Thank you."  He went back downstairs.  "Can we integrate video into that, Abby?" he asked.

She nodded, synching the two.  "That's our new brother.  He's a hothead from what Willow's found out about him."

"A very bad hothead," she agreed.  "Now, the mapping thing is interesting. It lists a shielded basement.  It can't get an estimate of depth."

"A bunker?" McGee asked.  "Could he sleep down there?"

"Probably a safe and liquor storage," Tony offered as he came down.  "Plus probably anything he wants hidden, like the blood they served.  They've got to have regular inspections by the liquor board after all.  Wouldn't want them finding that stuff."  McGee nodded at that.  "Fluffy, can you search from the back side?"

"Only if you can get the mapping device into the kitchen," he said dryly.

"Okay, so can we bribe someone on the liquor board to do an inspection and bring it in?" he asked Gibbs.

"I know someone to ask.  Where should it go?"

"How about right inside the back door?" Willow suggested.  "Like the health inspector or someone?"  She looked at him.  "They'd have to inspect anything like liquor and food storage."

"Good point."  He continued to sip his coffee.  "Why would he shield it all?"

"It's possible it was there before," Abby offered.

Willow did a record's check. "It used to house a minor political lobbying group," she offered.  "The building was built in the early eighties, Regan years, and the shielding is listed on the county's record of it."  She pulled up the schematics of the building.  "It's not the same exactly," she told them.  "But as a general idea."

Abby looked and took that picture into the mapping feature, overlaying the new map on top of it to fill in any spots they didn't have.  "That's a bit more complete.  It looks like one big room."

Tony pointed at something.  "Except that.  It's listed as a vault area. If he had a mainframe at the club, wouldn't it be in there so no one would question it?"

"Maybe, or he could have explained it as he was letting someone rent a corner for it," Abby told him.  "It's not unheard of for secure backups."

"Or he could have it somewhere else," Gibbs noted.  "I'm glad you put on that distance mic as well.  We got a lot of stuff we hadn't known about before, DiNozzo."

"Where was it?" Willow asked.

"Inside the stake," Abby told her.  "It's a tiny microphone."  She looked back at them, spinning her chair with a grin.  "We have someone on tape planning on attacking a senator.  Not that I know why they want to take out the bigoted homophobe, but they do.  Do we report this, Gibbs?"

"I do," he agreed.  "Get me transcripts so I can turn them over, Abby.  Good work, team."  He went back upstairs, hearing someone knock.  He opened the door, looking at the man there.  "Yes?"

"Jethro Gibbs?"  He got a nod.  "From the President, sir," he offered, holding out an envelope.

He put down his coffee mug to open it, reading the note inside.  Then he looked at him. "Is he sure?"

"He said to tell you it's not a hoax and they're sure something is going on.  We're not sure how he got the information.  That's all he said to tell you and to appear tomorrow at nine for the morning briefing."  He nodded.  "Thank you, sir.  Any message to go back?"

"No.  I'll see him in the morning."  The agent nodded and left.  Gibbs locked the door once it was shut and took his coffee back downstairs.  "Abby, find out why there's an attack planned in France," he ordered.

She searched the taped conversations and came up with a blurb.

"The attack will get us the house," a female voice said.

"Yes, it'll be good to go home," Tiffany noted.

"Run that back by about ten extra seconds," Tony ordered, scanning through the pictures Xander's wire had picked up.

"Rum and blood," the unknown female voice ordered.

Tony cued in on a drink, pointing at it.  "That's her I think.  Keep going."

"Rashell, darling, you haven't been in for a while," Tiffany praised.  "What brings you?"

"Just a night to relax from the wickedness that is my life," she joked, sounding happy.

"I can't read her lips," Gibbs complained.  "Go back, that doesn't look like a happy couple of women."  Tony cued it back further and found an ambiguous figure looking very pleased with Tiffany and them hugging even.  "Maybe. Is that a female, Tony?"

He stared, then nodded. "Yeah.  Notice the shape of the chin, Boss?  No adam's apple.  Faint hint of breasts under the shirt."  He cued it back to when they met, and Abby reran the tape.  The words matched to their actions and expressions.  "Nothing else about the house though."

"Well, we know that Tiffany and this Rashell know what it is," McGee offered.  "Can we figure out who they are?"

"We can do facial recognition but only so many have their faces online," Abby told her.

"If it helps, Tiffany's a succubus.  She doesn't have to go through Customs.  She can teleport and smoke up to get into places.  They've probably been all over the world.  Most vampires avoid customs as well," Willow told them.  "Too many biometric scanners these days."  McGee nodded at that.  "This is where I wish we still had Anya.  She used to hang out with them.  Oooh, Bethany!" she offered.

"You can't expect her to turn on her own kind," Gibbs told her.

"Have Xander promise her an extra special night," she complained. "They like him for some reason."

"That could get him killed," Gibbs said firmly.  "We can't lose any of the team.  That's not a productive way of running this operation."  He looked at the picture again.  "I've seen her before."

Tony stared, pulling a chair over.  "Can you get me a full frontal face shot, Abby?"  She nodded, searching back and forth until she got her coming into the bar.  "Stop it there."  He stared, just watching her. "She's a security guard at the Rotunda, Boss."  He looked at him.  "I saw her working in the Rotunda during that jumper incident."

Gibbs nodded.  "That's why I keep you around, DiNozzo, you never met a woman you didn't lust over."  He went to make notes about that.  "Abby, I need full transcripts by nine in the morning.  Speed the computer up."

"It's not like it's got a 'hurry' switch, Boss," she complained, but she got back to work on that.  "We need more printer paper."

"In the filing cabinet," Willow told her.  "Bottom two drawers."  McGee went to get it.  She leaned closer to Abby.  "He likes Xander?"   She nodded.  "Why?"  Abby just stared at her.  "I don't understand how people who don't know him like him."

Tony glared at her. "It's because he's a nice guy and he's easy to like, even when he's teasing you."  He got up and stretched.  "I've got to head home.  I've got that flight out tomorrow."  He headed up the stairs, tossing his paper plate away. "Boss, heading home," he called as he headed for the door.

"Be safe!" he called back.

Abby, being a lot more blunt, just patted her on the hand.  "Whatever crack you're smoking, it's bad for you.  It's rotting your mind and making you mean."  She got back to work on the transcripts.  "Oh, man.  Gibbs, some of this is in Greek!" she yelled.

"I've got a good online translator program," Willow offered, pulling it up in another window.  "There."  Abby copied and pasted, and it came up sounding like real words.  "It doesn't make it sound grammatically correct," she noted.  "I haven't found one that does."

"Copy it for me and I'll see if someone can translate it for you," Gibbs said from the top of the stairs.  "I'm heading home.  I'll pop around your place at eight, Abby, sharp."

"Sure thing, Gibbs.  I'll have coffee made so you don't have to drink the White House sludge again."  He smiled and left.  She got back to work.  "McGee, can you please get me another piece of pizza?"

"Sure."  He went up to get it, coming back with some for all of them since Willow had been picking the cheese off her paper plate.  "Here you go."  He sat down and looked at her.  "I don't know why I like Xander, since he picks on me and calls me Fluffy, but he's an easy guy to like.  Why do you like him?"

"I've always liked him and protected him.  I don't know why either.  He just seems to need it."

Abby nodded.  "That's because all the women in his life have been mean and warped him by ignoring him and shoving him away. Underneath the scary hunter guy is still a nice, goofy kid who just needs love and inspires people to mother him.  It seems like you would know that best."  She stared her down and Willow slumped.  "I don't know why you're being mean to him suddenly but you're hurting my Xander buddy.  You need to fix it or forget you ever knew him before you hurt him so bad no one can fix him.  It says something that Gibbs likes him; Gibbs doesn't like anyone, not even us."  Willow hung her head, nodding again.  "Now, once you're better and off whatever crack you're using, hopefully you can beg long enough so he'll forgive you."  She got back to work.  "I wonder how long it'll be before he gets home."

"I'm not sure.  Where did he go?" McGee asked.

"Tony said he called up an incubus and went to have nasty and dirty sex at a motel," she said with a grin.  "We should do that for our anniversary this year."  Tim blushed and nodded.  "Do you wonder who they're going to get to replace Ziva?"

"I'm trying hard not to.  I want Kate back," he complained, watching her work.  "Can I help?"

"Most of this is the computer's stuff.  I'm just correcting grammar most of the time."  He nodded, staring at her working.  She blushed and looked at him.  "I'm going to the Goth Ball this year, Tim.  Are you going with me or not?"

"You'd have to help me find something to wear," he offered quietly.  She beamed and kissed him then got back to work collating and fixing grammar mistakes based on the original conversations.

***

Xander looked up as someone knocked on his door, getting up to answer it.  "Yes?" he asked the petite brunette standing there.  She looked familiar but he couldn't place her.

"Are you Xander?" she asked.  He nodded.  "I'm Tony's cousin, Meredith."  He let her inside and closed the door behind her.  "This is a nice place.  How are you affording it?"

"An inheritance from a man who was like a brother to me," he admitted quietly.  "I'm not after Tony for his money, Meredith.  I enjoy hanging out with Tony for a lot of reasons.  One of the major ones is that he gets my jokes."

"Are you serious about him?" she asked primly.

"That's up to him.  I know my feelings but I'd never rush him that way."  He realized it was right, he did have feelings for his hunting partner and he wasn't going to rush him.  He cleared his mind and focused on her.  "Any threatening on my intentions and all that should wait until he's ready to decide if he wants me that way, dear.  I'd never hurt Tony and it's up to him about whether we start going for the long-term thing."

"I see.  Why didn't you escort him this weekend?"

"He never asked.  Last night I took him dancing at a Cuban club and made sure he got home at a reasonable hour.  I've known about the wedding since the day he called up to complain about having to listen to his mother bitch about grandchildren again."  She smirked a bit at that.  "Any other questions about our relationship, ask your cousin."  He smiled sweetly.  "I've got some coke and a beer in the fridge if you want something."

"No, thank you.  I don't drink either of those."

"Tony drinks a lot of coffee and a lot of water, but I have to restock both those supplies," he offered with a shrug.  "We had him and Gibbs over last night plus a few other friends from his job."

"You don't work with him?"

"No, I'm enjoying living a life with little stress by being a bartender at a goth club," he admitted with a smirk.  She looked disgusted.  "It's fun.  I get to watch happy people play all night and I don't have that much stress in my life.  Unlike him.  I've seen him have some days that nearly killed him with the stress."

"You're how old?"

"Twenty-three nearly.  Why? He's only twenty-nine according to him."  He grinned at her.  "Of course I think he's shaving two years off but he won't admit it."  She raised an eyebrow.  "Your cousin is very happy with his life.  I'm happy if he's happy and I use all my skills as a great masseuse to help him those days when he's not that happy with life."

"Did you know he lost a very close friend recently?"

"Actually it was a little over a year ago and yes, I did."  She looked stunned.  "I met him when he was working on a case and I was heading a construction site that had been headed by his target.  I got to know him then and I heard then that Ziva was a new member on the team due to Kate's death.  I learned a lot about Kate since then.  We've talked a few times about losing someone that close to you."

"How would you know?" she sneered.

"Because I came from a town that fell in, sweetheart."  She looked stunned.  "I came from California and my town was basically eaten by an earthquake.  I know lots about losing people around me," he said firmly, staring her down.  "Now, any other questions?  I do believe you're supposed to be getting married today, aren't you?"

"Tonight actually," she said stiffly.  "I doubt you're the sort the family would approve of."

"Again, that's up to Tony.  The last I heard the family didn't approve of him."

"Some of us...."

"Who the hell cares?" he snorted.  "His parents and you and all the others who hated him because he had a need to go out and help others nearly drove him to tears more than once.  For all *I* care you can all go to hell.  Literally, with an elaborate brass band playing in the background as the portal sucks you in," he snapped.  She backed away from him.  "Anyone who hurts Tony deserves that same treatment. So before you get snide with me about being with him, maybe you should apologize to him for how you treated him."

"He never mentioned me?" she asked quietly.

"No.  He doesn't like to talk about his family.  Gee, I wonder why?" he asked, continuing to stare her down.  "Until you've made amends with your cousin, you have no right to come here and sneer at me.  You have no right to say anything about his life until you've made amends with him."

"And if I do?"

"Then that's back to being in his court," he noted dryly, smirking a bit.  "I leave all decisions about how and who Tony loves up to Tony.  I can't make him want me deeper and more fully if he doesn't want it.  Nor can I make him love me and want to stay with me forever if he doesn't want it."  He heard the back door shut.  "That's up to Tony and I'd like it more if you asked him those questions."

"He doesn't tell you?" she demanded.

"He does.  But anyone can say the 'L' word, honey.  I could say it to you and it'd be a lie, but I could say it."  She shuddered delicately.  "That's why I leave that decision up to Tony.  I don't read minds or emotions.  I also don't discuss private feelings with strangers, which you are. Therefore, shouldn't you be getting your hair done about now?"  She left, going back to her limo.  He sneered, watching her disappear. Then he slammed the door, leaning his head on it.

"It's always a wise thing to leave those emotions alone until you know for sure they're reciprocated," Gibbs said from the hallway.  Xander looked back at him, and he looked so miserable.  "You've got it bad, kid."

"I know," he said quietly, heading back to the living room.  "That's still up to him, Gibbs."  He sat down and curled up again.  "I hold no illusions that Tony wants me or that he's bi."

"He is."

"Really?" Xander asked, feeling at least a bit hopeful.  "That's good at least."  He settled down again.  "How did the meeting go?"

"Well enough.  Someone warned the Senator's secret service agents that a plan to attack him was overheard and that they were planning to attack him during the nighttime."  Xander nodded.  "Are you okay?  I ask because I've been there before a time or two."

Xander snorted.  "I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've felt this way."  Gibbs nodded.  "How's your ex?"

"Freaked.  She won't come out of the house.  She won't answer the phone.  I'm thinking she's sitting in her house with her gun in her hands, back against a wall, staring at the door to make sure nothing and no one is going to come in."  Xander nodded, smiling a bit.  "I hated to do it but she had to understand this wasn't just a game."  He came in and sat down.  "Do you have a plan to woo him?"

"I was thinking dates after hunting?" he offered hesitantly.  "Like last night?"

"That was pretty good. He was cursing your name for making him that hard by dancing with him," he offered with a small grin.  "I need to see Eliana to get her oriented."  Xander got up and padded into his prayer area, getting the name and number off the altar.  He brought it back and handed it over.  "Thanks.  Do you know her very well?"

"She showed up just before the Hellmouth assault.  She made it through that assault and the chaos afterward. She's a spunky little girl.  Last time I saw her she had dyed her hair brick red but she's naturally a strawberry blonde.  She's about five-seven in sneakers, about one-fifty with just a touch of baby fat left.  She's seventeen."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "She's got a very bad sense of humor.  She still likes dirty limericks and knock-knock jokes. She thought Andrew Dice Clay was all that the last time I saw her, but she can't tell a joke to save her life.  She likes anything that makes others laugh.  She's a good kid."

"You're not that much older."

"Gibbs, I quit being a kid a long time ago," he said quietly.  "I may be nearly twenty-three but I haven't been a kid since I was twelve.  Maybe even since I was ten."

"Didn't anyone ever figure out what was going on in your life?"

"You've met Willow.  Jesse paid more attention but his life was nearly as bad.  His mom was a bit warped now and then.  Severely depressed a few times and she was basically bipolar.  We supported each other and Willow hung out with us as the person to explain girls to us."  Gibbs smiled at that.  "That's the reason I didn't want Eliana back here.  I don't want her to look at someone and recognize them as they turn to dust," he said quietly.

"I understand and I don't want that for anyone either, Xander.  If so, we'll be there for her like someone should have been for you."  He stood up.  "Didn't Willow grieve with you?"

"No, we grieved privately and she has a few pictures of him.  She put some flowers on his grave now and then.  We never talked about it."

"Maybe you should."

"Maybe but what good would it do now?" he asked calmly.  "The misunderstandings didn't start then, it was when she picked up magic and suddenly became 'special girl' with special girl powers.  At times it was like fighting for the favorite sibling role and I knew I was going to lose since I was the normal kid among special ones.  It's like being the only non-talented one in a family of musicians or something."  Gibbs nodded.  "That's when it started and it basically came to a head when she panicked about having a real boyfriend and we made a bad mistake, getting together and kissing a few times.  It nearly got my girlfriend killed and she pulled away because she was horrified at what she had done.  That and because she and Buffy blamed me."  He stood up.  "Am I going out with you tonight or with you and Eliana?"

"No, tonight we're all off.  No going out alone either," he ordered, staring him down.  Xander shrugged.  "I mean it.  No going out hunting alone.  You're in the mood to do dangerous and stupid things and I don't want to lose you too, kid."

"Yes, Boss."

"Good boy.  Now, what're you doing today?"

"Studying energy flow magic.  The warpings we've got going on around here and the energy pollution everything in Sunnydale had has always fascinated me."

"Good.  Stay in tonight if you can."

"I'm not suicidal."

"No, but I expect Tony to call for sanity by later tonight."  He smirked a bit.  "If you need me, call."

"I will," he assured him.  He went to get him something and handed over the large box.  "For Abby.  I saw it and thought of her."

Gibbs looked at it.  "Do I want to know?"

"She'll look so hot," he offered with a goofy grin.  "Fluffy won't know what hit him."

Gibbs nodded and headed out to his car.  "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Yeah, have fun."  He went back to his book, then got up to get some pizza.  Eventually he got up to go shopping.  He needed something to do and he had a headache.  He made notes of what he thought Tony would look good in.  They really had to help him with a look for hunting.  He picked up a new shirt for himself and looked at the tattoos available at a shop, ignoring the tolerant looks.  He looked at the girl and took off his shirt, turning around.  "Do you think anything can cover those?" he asked.  "The whip marks."

She ran a gentle finger over them.  "They're still raised.  We could do something on and around them but it might not minimize them.  Depending on what you chose, it could actually make them stand out more."

"I was thinking something subtle, like vines or something harmless.  I don't like snakes," he told her, turning back around and putting his shirt back on.  "Maybe something tribal at the outer edge of reason."

"You'll want something like vines.  Either that or an all encompassing picture across your full back to cover all of it."

He nodded.  "I'm not sure I want to go with something that extensive.  My Taz is covering another scar."  She nodded, smiling at him.  "Just for my information, how much pain and money are we talking?"

"Just doing something like vines up and down the scars, probably about two hundred and maybe three sessions depending on how well you take pain."

"I lasted through three hours of torture before breaking to get those," he admitted quietly.  She looked horrified.  "My ex girlfriend set me up with him.  He said he was doing it whether or not I liked it and either he paid me for it or he killed me. I'm still here."

"I'm so sorry.  Did you have him arrested?"

Xander smirked a bit.  "No, but the next time he took someone home, the cops found out he had killed people and buried them at his house."  She smirked at that.  "I'm not that sneaky but it felt really good.  Do you think vines?"

"I'd almost suggest a full back picture instead.  That'll hide all the scars and with all of them hid none of them will stick out that much.  If you just cover them, then the eye'll be drawn to them.  Not necessarily that they're raised scars but that they're there."

He nodded.  "That's what I thought.  Thank you."  She nodded.  He left, having to come back to get his bag with a sheepish grin. "I'm an idiot," he offered, heading out again at her giggle.  He ran home to put the shirt up, then went to dinner.  The house was really quiet.  On the way his phone rang.  "Yeah?"  He parked his bike and stopped to smile.  "Hi, Abby.  Yes, I did.  I saw it last night and thought of Fluffy blushing bright red and stammering."  He chuckled.  "No, I went to talk to someone about covering the scars on my back with vines or something.  No, she wasn't sure it wouldn't make 'em stand out more.  Did he enjoy it?"  He beamed.  "You're welcome.  Don't worry about it.  No, don't worry about it.  Because I said so.  So hush!  No, I'm good.  Going out for dinner.  I don't know.  I've got tonight off too.  Sure.  Love you, Abby.  Have fun playing with the dress."  He hung up and looked behind him before starting his bike and pulling back into traffic.

Once at dinner he called Angel.  "Old buddy, old pal.  No, I need a favor for a very goth friend who's got a ball coming up.  I figure you've got tons of crap from Dru and Darla...."  He smirked.  "Yeah, that's a good thing.  Please.  Magic or not.  She's got about a month.  Danka.  Love you, man.  No, no more recently.  Oh, wait, the boss here sent one to you.  Another Marine.  He said he didn't want to kill his family, that he loved his little brother a lot.  I don't know, I wasn't there.  No, Eliana's here and I'm her Watcher.  Why?  Anything on France or in Greek?"  He grabbed a pen off a waitress and made notes on a napkin, then grinned.  "Thanks, man.  Love you.  I mean it."  He hung up and handed the pen back with a wink and a grin. "Thank you.  A sudden idea that required notes."  He tucked it into his pocket and went back to his dinner.  He heard a cleared throat and looked over at Director Shepard. "What brings you to my table?  Sit, order something and eat with me."

She sat across from him, staring at him.  "You're not the usual sort I work with," she said quietly.  "I don't understand this.  I don't want to take part in this.  And I definitely don't want Jethro to take part in this."

"First, no one asked you to take part.  We've been keeping you out of the loop for a reason; because we knew you couldn't handle it," he assured her, grinning a bit.  "I'm realistic, this life isn't for everyone.  It's not even for the greater minority of people.  This job is for a very select few who've seen what can happen and know what'll happen if they're not thinned and stopped if possible, which it isn't always.  Secondly, Jethro makes his own decisions, as does Tony.  I don't make decisions for anyone but myself.  They came to me when the situation cropped up.  They volunteered and I accepted.  I trained them to the best of my abilities," he assured her quietly.  "The same as they know they can back out whenever they want to or it gets to be too much for them."  She glared at him.  "That doesn't work on me, Director.  I laugh at the boss's glare.  Yours isn't nearly as bad or as scary."

"What about what happened to Ziva?" she hissed. "You're responsible for that!"

"I'm not.  She chose to date that man.  She knew what he was and chose to date that man.  She probably knew long before she ever met me since her old boss used to run some of them as agents."  She looked startled at that. "I feel really sorry for her, and she was turning out okay in the field, but she was taking stupid risks.  She dated him knowing what he was and what he could and probably would do to her.  She took that risk and it bit her."  She nodded, looking down.  He reached over and tipped her chin back up.  "Nothing says you can't ignore this until the end of your natural life.  The boss can tell you how to defend yourself should it become necessary.  I've dated people that didn't get involved and I've dated ones who only helped in the most major crises. It's up to you what part you play but I would talk with the boss first.

"I can't see you breaking a nail in the field to be perfectly truthful.  I can't see you coming home covered in icky stuff like slime and guts.  I can't see you forgoing a party for it."  She grimaced.  "It's all up to you.  The only person I make choices for is myself.  As I told a few people earlier today."  She straightened up and nodded.  "So I'm sorry if you had the rude awakening, but they were here long before us.  I saw up close and personal what happens when no one stops them.   So, talk to someone who knows you and can tell you what you need to know to base your decision on.  Until then, don't try anything stupid to see if you can do the job," he sighed.  "Others have done that and ended up being bitten.  Like Ziva and McGee their first week knowing."

She nodded.  "I'll talk to Jethro tonight."  She stood up and smoothed down her dress.  "Thank you for clearing that up for me."  She walked off, going to call her former helper and teacher.

Xander took the direct route, calling him now.  "Boss, incoming call and possibly a visitor tonight," he warned.  "I just had a redhead showing up to help me eat."  He hung up and went back to his dinner.  When he was done he paid his tab and got up, heading back to the townhouse to see what he wanted to do that night.  The president was speaking so he sat down to listen to him yammer on about the economy and the war, but fortunately he didn't say anything about the present crisis or the cult.  Then he tried to go back to his studies but it wasn't working.  It wasn't holding his interest.  He tried to meditate in front of his altar but it wasn't working either.  He wasn't used to being alone anymore.  He was used to noise.  He turned on the local NPR station to hear someone babbling about anything and tried again but it wasn't working. He went to check his email and nothing was going on there either.  Then he called work.  "Boss, could you use me tonight? I'm going insane in a quiet house."  He listened and sighed.  "Are you sure?"  He sighed again.  "Thanks, Boss.  Sure."  He hung up and went back to trying to study but it still wasn't coming for him.

He heard the phone ring and smiled, answering it before the first ring stopped.  "Hey."  His smile picked up.  "Tony!  Meredith was here earlier asking me about you.  I told her off, told her she had to make amends with you first, and to ask you anything about how you felt about me.  That I couldn't speak for anyone else.  Yeah, early this morning.  Gibbs was here, he walked in on the end of it.  How's the wedding?"  He winced.  "Do you need rescued?"  He laughed.  "No, I'm going insane in a quiet house.  Yeah, I'm not used to lack of noise really.  Nothing on tv, nothing on the radio.  Sure.  Thanks, man.  Yeah, when you get back.  No, Gibbs didn't want me to go out alone tonight so I'm honoring my promise to try not to.  Well, if the walls don't quit shrinking in on me soon I might but I'm trying.  Sure, have fun and avoid the women.  Flash my picture all you need to and tell them about the plan to have babies and all that."  He smirked at the laugh.  "Be safe and call if you need saved.  No, I found Abby a dress last night guaranteed to make Fluffy blush all over for the next month.  PVC and red with a few extra buckles and a zip-up back slit.  No, definitely not office clothes.  Sure.  Love you, man."  He hung up and sighed, looking at the phone.  He had told him and Tony had laughed. Maybe that was a good sign.  He ended up going upstairs to polish and sharpen all the weapons, making sure they were ready for use.

***

Gibbs walked into Xander's kitchen the next morning, smirking at the sleepy man who came out of the bathroom.  "That was mean sending her to me to train.  I'm nicer to you than that, kid."

Xander raised an eyebrow and stared at him.  "It's not like I could train her.  She didn't want to know and I told her you'd give her the usual precautions.  Then I reminded her that Ziva made her own choices when she tried to push that in my face.  By the way, Tony's not having a ball at the wedding.  His cousin and mother conspired to invite every single woman over the age of consent they knew so one of them could trap him and bring him back to the fold.  He said he was catching an earlier flight back."

"I heard.  He called me this morning when he went to the airport."  He looked the boy over.  "Are you all right?"

"Just tired.  Nightmares.  They happen."  He went to pull out a soda.  "If you want coffee, you can make it and drink it.  Just don't leave it in the pot to turn into sludge again."  He went back to the living room to watch the cartoon channel with his soda.  He heard a thump and looked out at the hallway as three trunks appeared.  "Thanks!" he called.  He felt the magic recede and got up to look them over.  There was a letter on top and he smiled at the fact that Spike was enjoying the hell out of the soldiers they had sent and Angel was still pissed at him and hated him.  This was all of Dru and Darla's stuff that they didn't want to keep.  He grinned and called Abby, getting a sleepy McGee.  "Tell your baby girl that Angel relented and sent over Dru and Darla's crap for her to find something for the ball."  He hung up and went to make breakfast.  Gibbs was working on coffee.  "Older vampire gear," he said wisely.  "For Abby."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that.  Who answered the phone?"

"If I say anything it might be taken as a breach of the fraternization rules," he said smartly, smirking at him.  "By the way, Angel hates us for sending him the military vamps."

"Yay," he noted dryly. "I'm not thrilled with what I heard about him from your journal either."

"Which would be a biased view," Xander reminded him.  "There's no love lost between the two of us.  Remember that."  He finished warming up some cold pizza and went back to his cartoons.  "I need to find a better type of noise when I'm here alone," he called.  "NPR isn't enough."

Gibbs came out with his coffee, walking around the trunks.  "Did it get too quiet?"  Xander nodded, chewing on a bite of pizza.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem," he offered once he swallowed. "I'm not used to living without noise and people anymore."  He shrugged and got back into his breakfast.  He heard brakes squeal and looked out.  "Abby's here."  Gibbs got up to let them in, and she fell down on top of the trunks, hugging them.  "Now, remember.  Dru was a Victorian era vampire and Darla was only about two hundred herself."  She nodded and opened the top one, glancing at the letter then putting it aside so she could dig through the things.  "They were also both British vampires and Dru had a thing for velvet."  He ate another bite.  "Morning, Fluffy."

"This isn't the wakeup I wanted," he complained, sitting down in the chair across from him, making Gibbs sit near Xander.  "Hopefully I can find something to match her."

"Go corporate goth," Xander offered.  "Vest, pants, loose shirt.  Attitude."  McGee snorted at that and shook his head.  "No?"

"No thanks.  That's her world, I just escort her so she can be the belle of the ball."  He looked over as she squealed and pulled out a short skirt.  "Don't you already have one of those?"

"Yes, but not in this pattern," she pouted.  "Ooh, and a girlschool jumper!" she cooed, pulling it out.

Gibbs looked then shook his head.  "At least it'll look good on you."

"Are you sure they won't want them back?" she asked.

"Darla is twice over dust and Dru got set on fire," he offered. "If she's still alive and talking to the stars somewhere I'm sure Spike's about to stake her again."  She nodded and dug back in.  "I was hoping for something for the ball."

She smiled and blew a kiss.  "You're so sweet."

"Abby, are you all right? You sound hoarse," Gibbs noted dryly, taking a sip of his coffee as he stared her down.

"We were singing karoke last night," she said before Xander could ask if it was from too much screaming during sex.  "That's the only reason I'm hoarse.  I'm too good a girl to do the other stuff to make my throat hurt."

Xander looked at McGee.  "Sorry about that, man," he offered quietly, making him blush.  "How did you like the dress?"  The blush got brighter.

"I was the queen of the club last night," Abby assured him happily.  She came over to hug him then got to work digging in the second trunk.  She pulled out a long scarlet velvet gown and held it up against her.  "Wow."

"I know she had a blue one but I don't think it's in there," Xander told her.  "That was her favorite and Spike probably kept it."  She nodded and went back to digging, coming up with a very Mediaeval gown that made her coo.  "That'll look stunning on you."

"You don't think I'll show too much cleavage?" she asked, holding it against herself.

"Only one way to know.  Get it fitted to you," he retorted. "If you have to, add some lace up top.  Besides, no one would do more than glare at your beauty because you had McGee on your arm."

"They'd better not," McGee ordered, looking at his girlfriend.  "Try it on?"

"It's about a size too small," she complained.  "Dru or Darla must have been pretty tiny."  Xander nodded.  "I can try but I don't want to rip it."

"Go try it on in the bathroom," Xander ordered.  She nodded and headed that way, coming out to let him tie it up for her.  He hitched her into the dress, looking her over.  "A bit too tight," he offered, getting up to move her further away so he could look.  "Turn around."  She turned slowly.  "Yeah, it could use a few inserts in the seams."  She nodded and sighed.  "Fluffy?"

McGee wet his lips.  "If you wear that, we'll never make it out of the house.  You're showing way too much chest and I'd end up playing with them."  He almost slapped himself for saying that, especially in front of their boss, but it was the truth.  She blushed and went to change, coming out in the other dress.  He purred at that one.  It was a high- necked velvet gown with gothic batwing sleeves, but it fit her figure fully to the floor, where it pooled gently.  "I like that one.  It shows you off beautifully."

"You'll need jewelry if nothing's in there," Xander ordered.  "Plus something to put your hair up in a classic bun or something."

She looked at Gibbs.  "What do you think?"  She turned around.

"I think you look stunning in that dark shade of green, Abby," he admitted.  "It does highlight your figure wonderfully."  She smiled at him.  "Can you dance in it?"

"I'll need some heels and possible a bit of a hem lift, but I should be able to."  She pulled Tim up and moved into his arms, then looked down.  "Two inch you think?" she asked him.

"Wear those boots that you wore last night," he offered with a smile.  "They're black, they'll go."  She smiled back, blushing just a bit.  "They're two and a half or three inch I think."  She nodded.  "Can you dance in them all night?"

"I did last night."  She lifted the skirt and danced with him, making him a happy boyfriend. "Ooh, I like this one."  She went to change back and folded it back into the trunk, then went back to searching that one and the bottom one.  She found a few hair sticks and a bun crown, plus a simple jet necklace and a cross.  "I think this shouldn't have come," she said, holding it up.

"They wouldn't have put it in there if it wasn't meant to show up," Xander assured her.

"It was tucked into the lining."

"Pick up the phone and hit the speed dial marked Angel."

She sat down to do that, smiling at the cheerful voice who answered.  "Hi.  I'm Abby, Xander's friend, the one he asked for the loan of a dress for."  She glared at Xander and swatted him.  "I didn't know you asked for that."  She grinned again.  "Thank you very much.  No, I like the scarlet tie up one but it's just a bit too small.  I could lose the five pounds to make it spectacular easily.  No, I was going to go with the green, high necked one, but when I was looking I came upon an jet cross.  Yeah, that one," she said happily.  "I didn't think you meant to include something that special and spectacular."  She listened.  "Are you sure you don't want it back?  I mean it's got to be special if she was buried in it."  She nodded.  "Sure.  Thank you *so* much.  You guys are so great!  I knew knowing Xander would mean I'd get to meet some very nice people."

"Tell Spike to start writing you," Xander suggested.  "That way we can keep up on the gossip."

She giggled. "He said to have Spike write me so we could keep up on the gossip and the news from out there.  Sure!  AbbyS at NCIS dot gov.  Sure.  Anytime.  Thank you again.  Some of that stuff is so great!  I love you guys already."  She squealed and hung up.  "Willow's cleansing herself of magic there and she said she's going to get back to normal."  She hugged Xander across Gibbs' lap, making him lean into their boss' body.  "Thank you.  McGee, help me get this to the car."  He nodded, going to help her heft and tote.

Xander rested against the older man's side. "I like making her happy and Angel was always complaining about it taking up space in his attic and always having to move it whenever he moved."

"That was very nice of you, kid."  He gave him a pat on the back.  "What did you do last night?"

"I ended up polishing the sword collection and making sure everything was sharp.  It got really quiet in here last night."  He looked up.  "I've got to take Tony shopping for special hunting clothes."  Gibbs gave him a smirk.  "I know, I'm pathetic," he said quietly.  "It happens to the best of us."  He sat up when the duo came back from kissing next to their car.  "Abby, I saw in the news that a minister in Cambridge is doing a church service for goths."

"Really?  I'll have to check that out."  She hugged him again, then kissed Gibbs on the cheek.  "You keep him out of trouble."  She took McGee off, going to make him watch her try on her new clothes.

Gibbs looked at his buddy, which Xander was now.  "You need a hobby for those long nights."

"I thought polishing the swords was one of those."

"No, you need something a bit more involving.  Like my boat."

Xander grinned.  "I like wood but I don't think I could build a boat.  Toys I can do.  Some mild furniture stuff. But not a boat. We'd have to move the computer stuff."  Gibbs laughed at that.  "We would."

"We would," he agreed.  "You still need a hobby."

"Well, I was thinking about doing a tatoo on my back to cover up the whip marks," he offered.  "They thought just covering the marks themselves would make them be more noticeable so it was suggested I get a whole back picture, which would take me a long time."

"You don't need them, Xander."

"I don't like looking at them."

"I don't like looking at mine either but it's like ignoring everything that happened if you try to get rid of them," he said wisely. "How else can you prove you've lived and learned?"  Xander looked confused.  "Your scars, the same as mine, prove that you've done a lot of things.  They're badges of experience and knowledge.  You learned from each and every one.  You can hopefully tell how you got each one."

"Most of them.  A few I can't."  He slumped.  "I don't like going without a shirt with those there."

"I understand. Tony doesn't wear shorts thanks to a few on his calves."  Xander nodded at that.  "Trust me, Xander.  They're not scaring anyone away.  All they are is raised pieces of flesh that represent a memory, and probably not a good one.  But if you get rid of them, then you still won't forget.  You just won't have anything to touch or look at when the memories get overwhelming again."

Xander swallowed and nodded.  "I try very hard not to acknowledge them.  It makes the nightmares worse," he said quietly.  "That's why I didn't sleep all last night.  After dinner I kept thinking about Jesse."

Gibbs gave him a shoulder squeeze.  "We all mourn someone, some more than others," he said wisely.  "Jesse would want you to have a life."

"Actually he probably wouldn't.  He'd pout and complain that I was forgetting about him.  He was always scared that he'd be forgotten when he died."

"That's a common fear," Gibbs agreed.  "You know you can never forget him.  Hopefully Willow can't either."  Xander shrugged at that.  "You could try talking to her about that."

"I could try but it won't help anything," he offered quietly.  "She hasn't given a damn about me since she quit using me as her security blankie and found a boyfriend.  I'm the teddy bear she put down when she put on big girl clothes and became a young woman."

"I had one of those. I lost contact with him a few years after I graduated high school," Gibbs admitted.  "Sometimes it's for the best and others not.  Remember, anything you regret can make you haunt me, kid."  Xander grinned a bit at that, which was what he was intending.  "Why don't you let Tony sleep and then you go shopping with him?  That'll give you something to do today and maybe he can take you to a hobby shop to see if anything there sparks your interests."

"I'm not good at crafts and stuff.  I pretty much suck at 'em," Xander said bitterly, curling up against him again.  "I'm not the most well-rounded person, Gibbs."

"None of us are.  You acknowledge your strong points and work on the weak ones.  It's all you can do."  He looked at the clock.  "Aren't you heading to church today?"

"I don't do church."

"Sorry."  He patted him on the back. "Get off.  I'm not dating you and those are the only people I cuddle."  Xander sat up with a groan, looking at him.  "You'll figure it out.  Remember, this phase of your life will be mostly slowing down from here on out.  You need to find out what you want to do with your life and then figure out something to do with your new spare time."

"Maybe I'll take a fighting class or something," he offered.

"That could help but then you'd be calm," he taunted with a smirk.  Xander snorted and shook his head.  "Yes you will."

"No I won't. I'll never be totally calm."  He grinned outside as someone pulled up outside the house.  "Tony's here."  He got up to let him in.  "You missed Abby and Fluffy."

"I heard.  She called to make sure I was back."  He patted Xander on the head. "What did you do last night?"

"Polished and sharpened the swords."  He closed the door.  "Gibbs is in."  He walked back into the living room and looked around.  "Gibbs!"

"He went out the back," he offered, looking at Xander.  "Did you know she taped it?"  Xander grimaced and shook his head, but sat down.  "She did."  He sat down across from him.  "I'm not the profiler Kate was, but I'm sensing the heavy emotional turmoil going on.  Want to share?"

Xander shook his head.  "No.  You don't need my nightmares."

"Uh-huh.  You need to talk to someone so you can heal, Xander.  Especially before you even think about jumping into a new relationship."  Xander glared at him.  "Seriously!"  He held up a hand. "Otherwise whoever you're with would end up being sucked into your nightmares.  It's hard and I realize it's hard, but you've got to start to heal before you can start anything new.  It's holding you down."

"It's making me stay real."

"It might be, but it's only causing you more pain," he said gently.

"Tony, my life is pain.  Every day I wake up to pain and I let it soothe me to sleep every night where it haunts my mind and memories until I kiss it good morning the next day.  There isn't a minute of my life that isn't pain anymore. Even the happy moments have some."

"If you start to heal..."

"Then who am I?" he demanded, getting up.  "I know you can't understand, but for some of us, the pain defines us."  He walked away, going to change into something else.  He came back down and found him on the couch.  "We should find you something to hunt in.  That way you don't have to worry about ruining your other clothes from slime and things.  Plus it'll help you fit in better at some of the clubs."

"We need to finish talking."

"We are."  Tony opened his mouth and he held up a finger.  "You have no idea what you just stepped into, DiNozzo.  Not even my greatest love can dictate something like that to me.  Since I don't think that's you, you don't get to either."  Tony grimaced a bit.  "Now, we need to get you something to wear clubbing.  Shall we?"

"I'd rather talk."

"Yeah, well, I'd rather not. You've read my journals."

"Which is why I'm so damn worried about you," he said, standing up to face him down.  "Think about it, Xander.  When was the last time you were happy?"

"Earlier today when I got the stuff from Angel and Spike for Abby and I watched her try on the perfect dress for the Goth Ball," he said honestly.  "After everything I've done, I learned to take my happy moments and cherish them.  Just because I have pain doesn't mean I don't have happy moments.  I have plenty of them. They'll never overtake the horror of having to stake my best friend.  Or of losing people during graduation that I'd known since I was five or six.  Or of losing others due to their own stupidity.  Nothing can.  No amount of talking or therapy or anything else will ever change those or make them leave me alone.  I made my decisions and I've lived with them.  I'll continue to live with them until either some vamp gets really lucky or I end up breaking up the wrong fight at work some night.  This is who I am.  So either accept me or have Gibbs be your hunting partner.  There's no middle ground."

"I just think you'd be happier if you worked some of that anger out."

Xander sighed and looked at him. "Tony, I'm not that angry.  Really, I'm not.  I'm a bit hard, but I'd expect anyone who had lived through what I had to be that way.  What did you expect me to be after Graduation?  The fucking tooth fairy?"  Tony shivered and stepped back.  "Be a bit more realistic, DiNozzo.  Think about my life and tell me why I'm not normal."  He opened the door again.  "Are you coming?"

"Sure.  Where are we headed?"

"That depends.  Are we going to hunt in the goth clubs?"  Tony nodded.  "Then you'll have to fit in a bit better.  You can do it in jeans but you'll need some accessories.  Are you driving or me?"

"I'll drive, you navigate.  Got the keys?"  Xander ducked back inside and grabbed his keys and wallet, and the rest of his breakfast to eat.  "That's not good for you."

"It's food and I get enough calories and nutrients for continued life.  That's my definition of good for me."

"I was only trying to help, Xander," he said quietly.

"I realize that and I appreciate that, but you have the totally wrong idea about me, Tony.  I'm not like you think I am.  You're not looking past the facade.  Not a lot of people do."  He got into Tony's car and finished off his breakfast, waiting on him.

Tony finally got in and looked at him.  "I don't think you're shallow."

"I know that.  That's not what I said.  I said you're letting the facade fool you.  Big difference."

"Then let me see the real you," he offered.  "That way I quit worrying and quit losing sleep because I'm seeing you going out on your own and dying during a fight."

Xander shifted to look at him.  "Tony, were I to die that way, that would mean I was making a difference up until that moment.  No one can ask for more than that."  Tony nodded.  "You don't have to have nightmares about me.  Well, not unless you're desperately in love with me and then I'm sure we could work out a way to fight each other's nightmares."

Tony shook his head but he was smiling, which had been the goal.  "You're not ready for that yet," he taunted.  He put the car in gear and pulled out.  "You've got to become the nicer, goofy guy again before you can do more than watch my six."

"Yeah, well, I still am.   It's just that having an eye pop and traveling into hell to fight insurmountable odds does change one."

"Point, but I see hints of him.  You let him out to play now and then but not often enough."

"I can't always let him out to play, Tony.  Sometimes I've got to be serious.  If you watch me at work, I'm more like that."  Tony nodded, pulling out into the gap in traffic to head them off.  "Go somewhere we can look at really good clothes."  He looked him over. "I can't see you in the baggy clothes or the bondage gear, or really even the leather I wear.  You can do loose shirts and tight pants though.  We should focus on that.  The only problem I'm seeing is decoration."

"Decoration?"

"Yeah.  Goths wear jewelry that have a few different themes.  Religious artifacts, satanic ones, things that relate back to magic, dragons, fire, or some limited bondage collars and spikes, things like that."  Tony nodded once.  "I know you need a new crucifix and I know you need it blessed.  You should consider that today as well.  I was thinking that dressing you in dragons and magic would be good. Maybe elemental symbols, not the darker magic like pentagrams and those things."

"I can see me wearing stuff that showed fire," he offered. "Or water."  He changed lanes to get into the turning lane.  "I've never been one for dragons."

"Dragons are a symbol of strength or of force.  Some say purity because that's what they hunt for, but they always say power."

"Gibbs after his sixth cup of coffee?"

"Is a good example," Xander agreed with a smile.  "He definitely reminds me of a dragon now and then.  I've seen that same back-to-the-wall strength in you as well," he said gently.  "I'd probably never put you in a collar unless we were going to that sort of club, but I don't see that happening anytime soon."  Tony smirked a bit at that.  "So let's look at dragons and elemental symbols.  You can still feel magic, right?"  Tony grimaced and nodded.  "You could probably learn if you wanted."

"I don't need any more strangeness in my life."

"Fine.  I don't push in that area."  He shifted some, looking out the window.  "Should we look at leather pants?"

"I had a pair but they chafed whenever I wore 'em," he said, turning another corner.  "Do they have to be tight pants?"

"If we're hunting in clubs, you should look like you're there to at least try to pick up someone."

"So clubbing pants, a loose shirt.  Silk?"

"Only if you want to pay the dry cleaning bill," Xander noted dryly, smirking at him.  "Personally, I like me some cotton."  Tony snickered at that.  "That looks like a promising spot."  Tony pulled over and they got out, heading into the store.  The teenager working the register looked at them and he smirked.  "He needs clubbing stuff."  He walked him back to the racks, looking him over before pulling down some shirts to hand to him.  He pulled down a few for himself, then went to the pants, again glancing at him before handing a few pairs over.  "Try those on."  He smiled at the helper, getting his own ticket to try on the shirts he had found.   He came out in the first one to look at himself in the mirror.  "I don't like the pirate look.  Maybe something more simple," he said, going to try on the next one.  "Pretty Boy!"

"Coming."  He came out and Xander came out of his, making him shake his head.  "You need something a bit looser than that."

"The other one made me look like a pirate."  He walked around Tony.  "I like the shirt.  Do the pants feel comfortable?  Can you defend yourself in them?"

"I'd like them a little looser," he said, looking at himself in the mirror.  "I can see me wearing the shirt. Tucked in?"

"Not unless we're going somewhere preppie."  He pushed him back into his changing room.  "Try again."  He went back to change shirts, coming out in his usual style.  He liked this style, it was uncomplicated.  The salesgirl walked past him and handed him one, making him look at her. "I looked like a pirate."

"Try it on," she encouraged.  He nodded and did so, coming out to find her helping Tony find another pair of pants.  She looked at him and nudged Tony.  "I like that look.  He looks more romantic and sensual that way."

Tony studied the boy and nodded.  "I do like it, Xan."

"I still say it's too loose and flowy."

"But that can be an advantage.  You look more delicate," he offered. Xander considered it then nodded, going back to get the other one and hand the rest over once he had changed back.  "Get some in another color than black, red, and blue.  You look good in green and buy something lighter now and then."

"Then I'll stick out at work."

"Where do you work?" the salesgirl asked.

He grinned.  "Pyro."  She walked over and handed him something, letting Tony back into his changing room and taking the things he didn't want.  "Are you sure about this?" he asked, holding up the leather vest. She nodded.  "Buttons instead of zipper?"

"I like the zippered look on women, it accents their chests better.  You don't need the help, you need something comfortable that'll move with you."  She got him another style and changed it out, smiling at him.  "Try that."  She went back to finding Tony shirts.  "Do you think he'd like something in silk or velvet?"

"No, but I wouldn't mind velvet now and then," he offered, taking a few to add to his stack.  He went to try on his vest, coming out in it.  He looked and shook his head.  "Not really me."  The first was handed over so he tried it on.  He still didn't like the way it looked on him.  He handed it back and went to get a coat, coming back in it.  She purred and smiled, leaning over to lick him on the cheek.  He grinned and looked at himself.  "I do look hot in this.  Pretty Boy, come see."  He came out and looked at Xander and Xander stared back.  The black pants fit him perfectly.  Tight enough to highlight his good parts but not get in his way.  They were stretch denim it looked like and they ghosted so prettily over his cock.  The shirt he was buttoning up was plain cotton, just a green shirt that matched his eyes when he was feeling lusty.  It set off everything very well and Xander wanted to purr.  "I like that.  Now all you need are shoes."

"I have a pair at home.  I like that jacket."  He came out to look it over, running a hand over the back of it. "That's good quality leather, it'll last you for a long time."  He looked him over.  Xander was already dressed like he belonged here.  Tony looked at himself next to Xander, seeing the heat coming from the brown eye.  The glass one just glittered a bit, but everything on him said heat and passion.  He swallowed and looked at the girl.  "I like this one.  How much are these pants?"

"Forty.  Though if you sign up for our special discount card, you'll get ten percent off today."  She smiled.  "With that body, I'd take every pair that fit me."  She walked off to get him some other colors, bringing them back with the proper shirts.  "These, and you can always tuck them in for more mundane matters," she said with a wink.  He nodded, going to change back into his regular clothes.

Xander put everything he had into her arms.  "Lead me to the register, my dear.  I'll take one of those discount cards.  Oh, he needs some prettiness.  I was thinking dragons and elemental symbols."

She nodded, going to find him something.  She drug Tony to the belt buckles, letting him pick two he liked, and then to the other jewelry.  He picked out a pendant and a bracelet, plus one pendant to change out on his new one.  He held it up to show Xander.  "Um, that can mean you practice," she said gently. She glanced around.  "I've heard it said that people are using those to show which side of the magical divide they're on."

"He can feel magic but he doesn't do magic," Xander said dryly.  Tony held it up and he smiled.  "That would so suit you."

"I thought so."  The little claw holding the black crystal did suit him.

"Go ahead.  You can always refute."  He winked.  "Or send them my way."  She looked at him, raising an eyebrow.  He glanced around then opened his hand and produced a small glowing spot in the palm.  He closed his hand and it disappeared.  She walked over something and put it in front of him.  "Thank you.  What's this?"

"A locket.  The old type where you put a picture and hair."

"Oh, a portable resurrection kit minus the blood.  Cool."  He added it to his pile and filled out the form for the discount card, then paid for it, wincing at the total.  That jacket was just too good to pass up.  He passed his card to Tony, who patted him on the back.  "We should show everyone your new look."

"They can see it the next time we have to go out," Tony said patiently.  "For right now, we're going to pick up lunch and head back to your place so we can talk and all that good stuff."

"Must we?"

"Yeah, we must."  He smiled at her, taking his bag and his credit card back.  "Thanks."  He walked Xander out, taking him back to the car.  Once they were settled inside and moving again, he glanced at his buddy.  "I still say you need to heal a bit before you could start another relationship, Xander.  You're still being haunted by demons and no one can banish them but you," he said gently.  "No matter who you take up with, they'll have to live with the taint of Anya's past greediness and bad deeds if you don't and that's not fair to them."

"I don't intentionally make comparisons."

"No, you don't.  But you're still grieving for her and all that you lost during the final battle.  Besides, you've got to *trust* someone to truly love them.  You don't trust me enough to tell me stuff, just show me.  Which is good," he said at the non-hidden grunt of displeasure. "But showing is something you can do with anyone in some ways.  They'll know *something* but not the real you.  The real you comes out in the telling."

"What did you want to know?" Xander asked quietly, staring out the front window.

"It's not like that, Xander," he promised, reaching over to touch him. "You've opened up a lot more than I thought possible, but...."

"All you have to do is ask, Tony.  I don't just blurt out shit like that."

"True," he agreed calmly.  "I don't take you as someone that uncareful with your past."  He turned the corner.  "Where are we driving through for lunch?"

"There's still some pizza left."

"I'm tired of pizza.  Sandwiches?"

"That's fine.  Pick somewhere.  Maybe Subway or that nice deli near the old club?"

"Sure, I liked that place," he admitted, heading that way.  It wasn't that far out of their way really.  They were silent until they pulled in and gave their orders, Xander pulling out his pickle to eat immediately while he drove.  "Tell me about your last birthday party."

"I was six.  There was a clown who jumped out and scared the hell out of me.  I was afraid of clowns until the 'nightmares became real' episode back in high school."  He looked at him.  "Jesse got me something I had wanted.  Willow's mom took some pictures, which I do have a copy of, and later that night I ended up breaking my newest toy because I tripped and fell."

Tony winced.  "I didn't want to bring up another bad memory," he sighed, parking and looking at him once the engine was off.  "Do you have *any* happy memories?"

"Now and then.  Jesse and me playing pranks on Willow.  Or Cordy.  Some afternoons in the park.  The Christmas Jesse and his mom demanded I come over to their house instead of sleeping out in the back yard."  He shrugged.  "I don't know what you want me to say, Tony.  My childhood wasn't exactly ideal."

"Neither was mine but it was only emotional neglect at the worst of times."  He kissed Xander on the forehead.  "It'll be Christmas in a few weeks.  What do you want to do for it?"

"Have a quiet night where nothing attacks and I'm surrounded by people who actually like me."

"What did you do last Christmas?"

Xander snorted, shaking his head but grinning a bit.  "I ducked Dawn most of the day so she couldn't nag me to find out what her present was.  I watched her sister and Spike dance around each other.  Giles was royally drunk that night with some bad memories.  Willow was still grieving and just watching things.  We watched a few movies.  Claymation Rudolph and Santa stuff.  Dawn curled up against my right side, stealing my popcorn while she watched, slowly falling asleep in my arms."  He blinked a few times.  "I think she's the only one I miss from that whole damn town."

"Where is she?"

"Staying with Angel.  I talked with her the other day.  Her sister basically committed suicide by demon a few weeks after we closed the hellmouth because it was her being brought back that let the First Evil out and she felt guilty.  She and Willow fought the night before while I was working on the housing situation then Buffy stomped off.  She walked into a nest and cleared most of it out.  Two out of the thirty-eight survived and a few that took her down went with her."

Tony patted him on the cheek.  "Grieving is natural."

"I know that!  I'm just tired of it!"  He shook his head.  "Can you even imagine losing everyone?"

"Only in my worst nightmares," he admitted quietly.  Xander nodded, looking down at his food.  "I'm sorry, I only wanted to hear about the happy stuff.  I wanted to make you laugh and smile."

"Yeah, well, happies are always linked with stuff that isn't," he admitted, looking at him.  "The only one I miss out of all of that is Dawn and she's still alive.  I'm going to try to make her come to wherever I am for college."

"Gibbs said you might stay once the hellmouth goes."

"It's not like I wanna head back there," he noted dryly.  "What do I have there?  A slow supply of girls who go out and die on my orders?  Threatening various boyfriends?  Looking forward to a few of them having babies?"

Tony gave him another kiss on the temple.  "When you've finished grieving, we'll go back to this point," he said quietly. "Until then, you need a security blanket, someone to hold you and tell you it's all right.  Which I suck at."  Xander snorted at that, shaking his head.  "Yeah, I kinda do."

"I don't need one."

"You do, Xander.  Until the grief has lessened, there's no room for any more happy memories.  It's filling all the empty spots so you've got to ease up on some of it so the happy memories can take root and grow in the waters they left."

"Some griefs never end," Xander said firmly.

"True, but those are the sort that don't keep you from finding a new future.  You never have to let them go totally, but they can't be why you're doing this.  If they are, you'll join them a lot sooner than you should."  Xander shook his head quickly.  "You will. Grief is like anger, it makes you do stupid shit.  When we lost Kate...."  He paused.  "When we lost her, Gibbs went totally on automatic with rage and grief.  He didn't sleep, hardly ever ate.  All he did was hunt down the bastard who shot her, night and day, until we got him.  Ziva got handed to us during that," he offered quietly.  "That's part of the reason why she didn't fit in very well."  He gave him another cheek pat.  "You've got to move on from the active grief and settle some of that in your heart to make room for the newer, happier memories.  Life's gotta have both, otherwise you end up some bitter person who can't stand to be around people and who hates yourself.  I don't want that for you."

Xander nodded, looking down at his food.  "I need to take a walk."

"No.  We're going to go back to your house and if you want, we'll talk," Tony told him.  "Me, Gibbs, Abby.  We'll all listen.  Ducky probably would if you wanted.  I do know that Gibbs is worried and that Ducky thinks you're still so deep in anger and grief that you're a loose cannon and you're likely to do something stupidly heroic and get killed."

"I've done those before," Xander admitted, glancing at him.  "A few times.  Starting with the zombies."

"I read that."  He stroked the dark hair. "Had we been around then, Gibbs would have made you break, one way or another, and let the anger out," he offered.  "All we can do is work on it now so you can heal and move on.  Hopefully to find someone who'll love you in spite of your bad sense of humor."

Xander snorted.  "I have nothing on Eliana."

"I heard.  Now, let's go eat lunch and we'll talk if you want."

"Yes, Tony."

"Good, boy."  He drove them back to Xander's and sat down with him, letting him curl up next to him.  "Why did you give me that journal?"

"That's the only way I knew of to make anyone understand me.  I'd seen the looks Gibbs gave me," he admitted quietly, not touching his food.  "I'm not good at explaining these things."

"Damn I wish...."

Xander reached up and covered his mouth.  "Don't you dare."

"Sorry."  He patted the hand and put it back next to the warm chest.  "Just think if one of us was your dad."

"I don't think Gibbs would have missed the fact I was out hunting.  I think the amount of ash and slime I came home wearing regularly would have tipped him off within a week.  My mother told me it was a good thing I was finally quiet."

Tony gave him a squeeze.  "Gibbs would have ...."  He shook his head.  "I can't even imagine that yelling match.  He probably would have taken you and Willow in and trained Buffy military style to be more effective and efficient."  Xander snickered at that.  "You can't see it?"

"I can't see Buffy doing military anything.  She was a pampered princess before she was called.  We're talking had everything before her parents divorced."

Tony nodded.  "From what I've heard, it doesn't surprise me."  He gave him another squeeze.  "What do you really want to do for Christmas?"

"Have a quiet party without mention of anything unhappy, like hunting.  We can talk about work but not that.  Then maybe a nice night with whoever I end up with afterward," he said quietly.  "Which means that it's far into the realm of not happening."

"Well, we can't do quiet, but I can see the party at least," Tony offered.  "We usually have some sort of dinner together.  Give minor gifts to each other since we're about our only family."

"Fluffy and Abby are going down to visit her family," Xander noted dryly.  "She swears up and down they're cool, but normal, but he's freaking out.  He wanted to know how you met someone's parents and Gibbs just looked at him and said 'endure it', then got back to work."

Tony laughed.  "I guess he wasn't too fond of any of his ex-wives' families. I can't imagine doing that myself."  He looked down at him.  "Eat."  Xander took a half-hearted bite.  "What do you want for the holidays?"

Xander shrugged.  "Peace on earth that doesn't require everyone to die to have it?"  He ate another bite.  He put his sandwich aside.  "I'm not that picky.  Get me a gift certificate to somewhere."

"That's too impersonal."  He frowned down at him.  "What're you getting for Gibbs?"

"A new pocket knife. Abby and Fluffy are getting a joint gift of stuff for their house since he's talking about moving in with her, or so she can add some of herself to his place.  Ducky's getting a gift certificate to a bookstore.  A nice bookstore not one of the chain places."

"What about me?"

Xander looked up at him.  "I was thinking about doing a certificate to the clothes places you like."

"I'm good on clothes, but I'm techie at heart.  Gadgets especially."

"Does that mean you want the MP3 player I won in that raffle?"  Tony laughed and shook his head.  "Are you sure?"

"I have one at home."

"Oh."  He nodded and went back to resting against him.  "How about you, what was your last Christmas like?"

"Pretty tiring, we were on a missing person's case and then we had dinner at the office over takeout and talked.  The one before that we all had dinner somewhere decent that required ties and got loud and slightly tipsy."  Xander grinned a bit at that.  "You would have loved Kate, Xander," he said quietly.  "We could've driven her nuts together, but you'd have loved her."  Xander nodded, letting him cuddle him now.  "She had this streak of naughtiness in her but she was always right beside me whenever we were in the field.  I counted on her to save my ass many times and she was always there."  Xander nodded, taking his hand to hold.  "She'd have been driven nuts by you and your past, but she'd have been asking questions every few minutes to find out something new about demons and vampires and things."  He looked down at him.  "Last Christmas we were trying hard not to look at her desk.  McGee and I went and got drunk together afterward.  She'd have adopted you like a sibling."

Xander looked up at him.  "I'm sorry I couldn't meet her.  She sounds like a special lady, like Buffy's mom.  Joyce was a lot like the mother to the group.  Once she found out, she was there for us.  Late night snacks while researching.  Help getting slime out of clothes.  Babying injuries if we wanted to whine about them.  She fed the vampires cocoa to talk about their live life.  We lost her to a brain tumor."  He sighed and shook his head.  "Somewhere they're probably staring at us wanting to smack us both."

"Probably," he agreed dryly, smiling at him.  "She'd be bitching about me, just ranting that we were still grieving and not going on with our lives.  There's days when I still feel her there."

"Sometimes spirits do hang around," Xander reminded him.  "Just to watch over those they knew and loved.  So she's probably watching Gibbs sand his boat and ranting about a seventeen-year-old redhead that just came into his life."

Tony laughed at that.  "Yeah, she might be.  Either that or she's watching us and just rolling her eyes and going 'not a girl, Tony'.  She always picked on me about chasing women."  Xander looked up at him.  "I do a lot of chasing of women."

"A lot of them chase me but that's usually because they want to kill me."

Tony gave him another squeeze.  "Some day we'll find normal people to be around. Now eat, I caught you not eating and planning on moping.  You can't do that."

"Fine."  He picked up his sandwich and dug in again, eating quickly.  It was a good sandwich, something he could enjoy.  Just like the cuddling was.

***

Xander looked up as Abby bounced up to where he was working, giving her a grin.  "What can I get you tonight, my dark beauty?"

"You to get your lunch break."   He shook his head.  "I'm sure you get one."

"Not until midnight, then I get a half hour."  He shrugged.  "Sorry, Abby.  Not yet."

She pouted and stomped a foot.  "But it's your birthday!"

"Yeah, and?"   He shrugged. "It's not like I usually celebrate it."

"I've got Gibbs coming in and you can't disappoint him."  She saw the manager and bounced over to him.

"Abby, don't, you'll get me in trouble," he called after her.

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday!" he boss yelled from his spot. "What are you doing working today!"

"I don't usually celebrate it," he defended, pouring another bloody mary martini and taking the money, then grinning at the woman who purred 'happy birthday' before strolling off.  He looked at the duo as they came over.  "I haven't celebrated in years, guys.  Really.  I'm fine with working on my birthday."

"Tough!" Abby said firmly.  "You can't!  I have Gibbs and everyone coming in.  Therefore you must at least take your lunch to be with us."

The boss checked his watch.  "It's only nine.  Hell."  He looked at him.

"Sue's out of town," Xander reminded him dryly.

"Pior," the boss called, bringing one of the bouncers over.  "Xander forgot to mention his birthday."  The bouncer hissed and shook his head.  "You can sling drinks, right?"  He gave him a grin and a nod. "Good.  Take over for Xander so this dark little Princess can drag him across the club."  She squealed and hugged him, then ran around the bar to get him and drag him off and over to the table.  He grinned at the bouncer, she had set this up earlier with him.  She told him Xander wouldn't ever take his birthday off because he didn't consider anyone family enough to celebrate with him. "Tell me if you need help."

"Sure thing, Boss.  Thank you."  He smiled at the vixen walking over to him.  "What can I get you, m'lady?"

She smiled. "No Xander?"

"It's his birthday and the boss caught him working on it," he noted, smiling brighter at her.  "One of his friends narked so they're across the floor in the corner."  She looked then growled, but smiled at him. "What can I get you?" he asked, lapsing back into his native Southern Texas accent.

"Get me some blood wine," she ordered, putting down a twenty.  He took it and gave her a glass, and she walked away.  It only made him a dollar tip but that was fine with him.

Xander was pushed into the seat and Abby sat next to him, giving him a hug.  "I like that shirt on you.  Where did you get it?"  She looked at the tag, then smiled. "I like that store too.  Is that where you got Tony those pants?"  She wiped off her mouth.  "He looked *so* hot today at work.  Claims he was laundryless."

Xander chuckled and nodded.  "That is where I got them. You really didn't have to do this, Abby."

"Of course I did."  She smacked him on the arm.  "Complain again and I'm letting Gibbs give you your birthday spankings."

He blushed and shook his head.  "No thanks.  I don't think he'd enjoy it half as much as you would."

She giggled and nodded. "I would.  I just wanna see the look on his face."  She saw Tony come in and squealed, getting up to drag him over.  They found Xander shifting over and she sat Tony next to him.  "Keep him in there.  He can't leave."

"I was going to put my jewelry back on," he defended.  "It's in my locker."

"Nope."  She got up and took the key off his neck then went to talk to the boss so she could get it for him.  She came back a few minutes later with his jacket and rings, plus another necklace.  She put them on him, but put his jacket on the hook beside him.  "There."  She smiled and waved.  "Tim!  Gibbs!"  They came over.  "Where's Ducky?"

"Late," Gibbs said.  He pulled a chair over and sat in it backward, looking at the kid.  "You never told us when your birthday was."

"I don't usually celebrate it."

"Gibbs, you need to give him his birthday spankings," Abby told him, sounding quite firm.  "That way he knows not to hide these things.  He came to *work* on his birthday," she said, leveling a look in his direction.

Gibbs shook his head.  "I don't like to spank people, even naughty ones like you, Abby."  She giggled and bounced a bit.  "How many Caf Pows have you had since you got off work?"

"Only one," she said happily.  "Xander, I'm getting first round.  What do you want?"

"Sanity?"

She pouted. "The reverse is the gift that keeps on giving, not that side.  To drink, dear.  What do you want to drink?"

He shrugged. "I'm good with a glass of red wine or something.  Just not a martini."

"Okay. Gibbs?  Tony?  Beers?"  They nodded and she looked at Tim.  "You're having what I am."  She got up and went to get them something, letting the bartender help her carry them back.  She wiggled back against McGee's side and got comfortable.  Ducky finally came while they were watching the club start up for the night and got his own drink.  It was finally time for her surprise.  She pulled out a blood red envelope and handed it to him.  "From a very close friend."

Xander frowned and opened it, looking at the name on the last page.  He looked at her.  "Dawn?  Dawnie wrote you?"

"Well, I called over there to see if they had any more Initiative files and she answered and we chatted.  I gave her my address and your address so she wrote me that for your birthday, which was how I found out tonight is your birthday, and told me to give it to you during the night."  She grinned.  "She sounds very nice."

"She is.  She's about the only family I have left."  He read it slowly, savoring the 'miss you's spread throughout the pages of the letter, and laughing at what Spike had done to some of the new military vampires.  "Spike's torturing the military vamps," he said proudly.  "He had one dress like Snape and help him hunt down a demon like that, pointy stick for a stake and all."  He folded it back up and put it into his inner jacket pocket.  "Thank you, Abby.  That meant the world to me."

"You're welcome," she said happily.  She looked at Ducky.  "Don't you think Gibbs should give him his birthday spankings for coming to work tonight, Ducky?"

Ducky spluttered and wiped his mouth, looking at her. "Abigail, you just sent my mind places it would really rather not go," he said patiently.

"Probie, I think she needs diverted," Tony said with a smirk, saluting him with his beer.  "Maybe you should before she forces us all to watch that."  Not that he would watch.  He wouldn't, he definitely wouldn't.  He wouldn't be jealous either.

"No, Anthony, I think that should be a treat reserved for you since you're his partner," Ducky said, making Tony and Xander both splutter.  "Or did we change the hunting groups yet again?"

"No, they're together and Eliana and I talk about boats and helicopters whenever I go with her," Gibbs admitted dryly.  "She'd be here but she's too young to get in."

"I wondered why she called me earlier to wish me a happy birthday," Xander said, looking at Abby.  "Should I beware of succuba jumping out of a cake?"

"No," she snorted.  "I didn't call Bethany at all.  I don't even know if she's in town."  Xander shook his head.  "Ooh, I'm sorry."

"I haven't seen her in nearly a month, Abby."  He took another sip of his wine.  "Breathe, McGee," he ordered tolerantly.

"You're just so different when you're happy."

"McGee," Tony complained.

"Sorry, but he is.  I usually don't see him this way.  I usually see him when we're all there at the house working on something."

"Good point," Xander admitted.  "That's just a side of me, Fluffy.  Like Tony, you haven't bothered to look any deeper."  He took another sip of his wine.  He looked at Gibbs. "You know she's determined, right?"

"You haven't done anything yet to warrant being spanked by me, kid," he shot back with a smirk.  "I'm seeing if you do."

"No, I'm going to be a good boy before Abby pulls out a whip or something."

"Last I knew she only had a riding crop," Tony said, looking at Abby.  "Or did you buy something new to use on McGee?"

Gibbs smacked him across the back of the head.  "I don't want to know those sort of details, DiNozzo."

"Sorry, Boss," he said happily.  Xander snickered into his wine glass and shook his head.  "What else did Dawn's letter say?"

"She's teaming up with Spike to annoy Angel into letting her go to college out here and him paying for it so she'll go away," he offered with a small smile.  "Technically Willow has custody of her with Giles, but since she's still in LA Dawn's been staying there.  Dawn doesn't always get along well with the other girls and no one has time to take her to school and stuff so she's been staying there."  He took another sip.  "Is this next round my round?"

"Since we didn't know in enough time to get you a present, I'll get the next one," Tony offered.  He stared him down. "You didn't even mention it, not even give me a hint."

"Gibbs knew I was turning twenty-three within a month and a half of getting here. Ducky was around for one of my other birthdays, so I'm assuming he remembers some of that night."

"Bits and pieces," he admitted dryly, smiling at him.  "I had no idea taking a young man to the bar for the first official time could be so much fun."

"You did the background on him and didn't look at his birthday?" Abby asked Tony.

"I didn't realize it was that soon.  Gibbs had me searching for financial stuff and other stuff that could be used to make Xander do something.  I didn't look at his social security number either."

"Point.  Sorry, Tony," she sighed, shaking her head.  She smiled at Xander.  "You should have fun tonight."

"I should," he agreed, smiling back.  "Would you dance with me?"

She giggled and nodded so he wiggled his way to standing and climbed over the back of the seat to take her out.  Everyone else watched them for a moment then Gibbs looked at Tony.  "What does he want for Christmas?"

"Peace on earth that doesn't require everyone to be dead."

"Big order, anything smaller?" Gibbs asked patiently.

"He mentioned a quiet party with all of us there, but Abby and Probie are going to be down with her family."

McGee paled at that.  "How do I deal with that?"

"Be yourself," Ducky said patiently.  "Meeting the parents of your spouse is a time honored tradition, dating back to when arranged marriages were the norm everywhere...."

Tony tuned him out, watching the pair dance.  She looked good in his arms.  He was smiling at her but Tony knew something was off about that smile.  It was happy and bright, not really a Xander smile.  Gibbs kicked him under the table so he looked at him.  "What?"  He finished his beer.  "Are we ready for round two?"

"Sure, I could use a beer," McGee said.

"She'll yell at me.  I'm not being yelled at for you," Tony told him, going to get another round and bring it back.  He came back in time to meet the duo coming back, letting Abby take her drink from his hands and Xander sit down again.  "Boss, since Abby and McGee won't be here, what're we doing for Christmas?  Another dinner?"

"We can't go back to the last place we went.  You and Kate got us tossed out, DiNozzo," he said, staring him down. Tony just gave him a shit-eating grin.  "I guess we could sit around and have a real dinner.  Do the present exchange and all that.  Xander, can we borrow the grill?"

"Sure," he said, looking a bit stunned.  "You want to come over?  I mean, spend it with me instead of other, more family-like people?"

"This team is most of our family," Tony reminded him.  He looked at Gibbs and saw his eyes widen at the look in his.  "Boss, I just had the strangest thought the other day.  If Kate were here, she'd have tried to date Xander because she was so mean and dangerous."

Gibbs spluttered on his sip of beer.  Ducky patted him on the back.  He looked at Tony.  "That's not funny."

"No, but it's probably true," Abby admitted, grinning at Xander.  "She wouldn't have tried to kill you, like the normal women you date, but she was more than dangerous enough for you.  Plus very protective of what was hers.  I couldn't even sneak and borrow a cute t- shirt she had."  She took a drink of her drink, leaning against her boy's side.

Gibbs looked at him.  "Were she here and had she started to date you, I'd have to have the long, involved talk with you about not hurting her or tying her down too hard so she wasn't able to work the next day."

Xander blushed at that.  "I only tie people down so I can indulge in my oral kinks," he complained. "I'm a good lover most of the time.  I don't need to tie someone down.  Unless they want it that way."

"That's good to know, Xander," Ducky said happily.  "When you finally start dating we'll have to listen to make sure whoever it is doesn't complain overly much about such things."

Gibbs looked at him.  "You're not helping my mental image problem, Ducky.  Please quit."

"Sorry, Jethro, but some day he'll want to date someone.  I assume they'll be introduced to the group at large since he spends so much time with us and may even end up helping us in our appointed rounds."  He looked over as most of the club went silent.  "I do believe that's for you, Jethro.  No one else among us ever seems to be followed by the Secret Service."

Gibbs got up and went to talk to him, accepting the note. The agent left quickly and he read it then groaned and went back to the table.  "I've got to deal with Jen.  Our Director just flipped out on someone.  They think she's going to have a breakdown.  Happy birthday, kid, and if you don't behave I will give you those birthday spankings later."  He walked off, going to find her and beat the snot out of her.

Xander shrugged. "I always *try*," he defended.  McGee snorted and shook his head.  "I do."

"You need to work on that innocent act," he assured him with a smirk.  "Especially since most of us saw you working out with your battle axe the other day."  Xander giggled at that and nodded.  "How heavy is that thing?"

"About twenty pounds.  It's pure silver."

Tony shifted to look at him.  "Why did you pick that thing up?"

"It was the last weapon in the usual box of weapons. Only Buffy could lift it and she said it was too manly for her so she always handed it to me.  Eventually I decided it was mine.  I trained myself in how to use it."

"I saw that and you do it very well," Tony assured him with a grin. "What else did you want to do tonight?"

"I'm pretty satisfied right now," Xander promised.  "Really."  A song he liked started and he moaned.  "I love this one."  He looked at Abby, who shook her head and nodded at McGee, who shuddered and shook his head.  "Tony?"

"Sure.  Why not?  After the Cuban club and all."  He took him out, letting himself be led.  Xander had good rhythm here too.  The boy fit against him.  They were nearly the same height, Xander's body fit well against his in all the right spots, and Xander was a very good dancer.  He saw someone rushing them and turned them, letting them speed past, making his partner laugh.  "Sorry."

"Not a problem."  He dipped him then hummed the last few bars of the song, walking him back to the table. "Thank you."

"Not an issue.  You dance very well."

"It took me a very long time to learn how," he noted with a smirk.  "It also took about six strippers to finally teach me what rhythm *was*," he admitted with a sheepish grin, "but it was a night well spent, even though I did have to pay for all the liquor and the jukebox."

"I don't think I've ever heard that song," Abby said, looking at the DJ.  She got up and went to see what it was, then came back with the name and title of that particular song so she could look it up.  She smiled at her boy.  "Would you dance with me?"

"I can't dance that well," he complained.

"It's all about having fun and moving you hips," Xander counseled like the wise man he was.  "Show her what you're going to be doing to her later, Fluffy.  That's what it's about."  He raised an eyebrow but his girl did pull him out onto the floor.  He grinned at Tony.  "They're so cute when she's corrupting him."

"You never know, he might be corrupting her."

Xander snickered.  "Not unless he's got some wickedly kinky hidden past.  Which I kinda doubt."  Tony nodded, smirking a bit at this.  "You guys really didn't have to do this."

Tony reached over and smacked him across the back of the head.  "Enjoy it.  It's not often someone other than Fluffy riles her protective and mothering instincts."

"I was saying thank you."

"Then I'll accept that," Tony offered with a smile.  "We could go again."

"No, I'm a bit sore," he admitted.  Tony turned to fully stare at him.  "I'm fine, just my ankle acting up."

"Why is your ankle sore in the first place?"  Xander wouldn't look at him.  He made him look at him.  "Where did you go alone?" he asked patiently.  "For that matter, why?"

"Because I usually do a turn after work.  I just kicked someone wrong last night.  I'm fine.  I treated it well all day. It's only a little stiff."

"Dancing didn't aggravate it?"  Xander shook his head.  "Then I'll let it go this time but you know we're under orders to go out in teams."

"No, you're under orders to go out in teams," Xander reminded him.  "I'm the experienced one here."

Tony pulled him up and took him out onto the floor so they could talk without being eavesdropped on.  That way Abby and McGee wouldn't know he was chewing him a new one for being so stubborn, stupid, and going out to possibly get killed.  He made all his points and finished up by making Xander feel guilty, which got some protest.  "I don't want to lose you too," he said between songs.  "No more.  Promise me."

Xander looked at him, seeing the fear in his eyes.  "I'm more than capable...."

Tony pulled him closer.  "I don't care.  It's dangerous and I don't want you going out alone, Xander," he said in his ear.  The music restarted and they moved again, him leading this time.  "I can't take losing another person this decade.  Okay?"  Xander looked into his eyes and nodded.  "So just quit and if we have to we'll go out more often.  I'll get up early or something."

"No, I'm fine.  Eli's not fully ready yet so I'm still doing some filling in."

Tony stroked over Xander's lower back.  "I understand the urge, but you can't, Xander.  Promise me," he ordered.  "Or I tell Gibbs."

"Fine, I won't go out alone unless there's a good reason or I see an attack," he said as quietly as he could.

"Thank you," Tony said, starting to relax again.  He kept him out there for another song then went back to the table, where Abby claimed him and Tony finished off his beer.

"What'd he do?" McGee asked, smirking at him.

"Nothing."

"Bet me," he snorted.  "Ducky?"

"Well, I had noticed him limping a bit tonight," he offered.  "He kicked someone wrong?"  Tony nodded.  "Is he all right?"

"Fine.  He babied it all day."

"That's good at least."  Ducky smiled as Xander came back and hauled him up.  "I don't do that sort of dancing, Xander."

"Oh, suck it up, Ducky, it's my birthday," he said with a wicked smirk.  "Before you say anything, I'm fine," he said once they were alone.

"How often do you go out on your own?"

"Every night after work."

"Ah.  Jethro will not be pleased."

"I'm not his underling and I'm capable of taking care of myself."

"Yes, but think about his pain if you die."

"Which was Tony's argument," he admitted.  Ducky smiled at him.  "Fine. Just don't tell Gibbs."

"I shan't.  However I will want to look at your eye again.  It's looking a bit inflamed."

"Tomorrow, Ducky, or sometime other than tonight. I can't stand to have that thing pulled and cleaned."

"Very well.  The next time I come over.  Shall I bring anything?"

"Tequila and red wine."

"You chase tequila with red wine?" he asked, looking a bit disgusted.

"Hey, I got taught how to drink it by a guy who chased his with milk," he noted with a smirk.  "I like that combo. It soothes the ache afterward."

"I guess I can't say very much about that.  We all have our poison of choice."  The waltz ended and he was escorted back, this time Tony got pushed over and Xander took the end of the bench.  Ducky cleverly took Gibbs' former chair so he could watch both couples.  The children were trading unheated barbs with each other and laughing, so he was happy.  He just hoped he didn't have to explain gay sex to Anthony.  That thought alone was enough to make him pay for the third round of drinks.

***

Xander woke up to someone poking him with a blunt object, throwing the stake under his pillow at them.  Gibbs ducked and he glared when he realized it was him. "What?"  He looked at the clock.  It was seven in the morning. "I've only been asleep for two hours."

"Was that because you went out alone?" he asked, sitting on the end of the bed.

"No, that's because Tony and I talked for a few hours," he admitted.  "He said he wouldn't tell you."

"He didn't.  Abby did."  He stared the kid down.  "Do you know how damn stupid that is?"

"I'm capable...."

Gibbs swatted him, hard.  "I don't care!"  Xander slumped and laid back down, pulling the covers up to his chin.  "It was still stupid.  You're still human and mortal.  You could have been ambushed.  You could have been hit with a lucky shot.  Another one could have entered the fight while you were working against one vampire and gotten you down or turned you!  I don't even want to think about you being turned!"

Xander swallowed.  "I'm sorry, Gibbs," he said quietly.  "I was just trying to help."

"No, you weren't trying to help. This was to prove how macho you still are and to take some of the pain away."  He saw the brown eyes blink and sighed mentally.  He really should at least stay upset about this.  "I want your promise.  You may have told Tony...."

"I promised him I wouldn't unless I had to or I saw an attack happening."

"Fine. Doing it to him would make you keep it longer," he said, standing up and staring at him.  "You could have died, Xander.  You know that.  That would have destroyed Tony.  Part of being a team is thinking about the other person and how they'll react to some things, like you dying.  It's almost as important as trust, it's the bond between you guys."

"I'm sorry!"  He sat up. "I'm not used to this stuff, okay?  I've been alone way too long without anyone who gave a damn!  You can't expect me to suddenly change overnight!"

"I don't.  I expect some common sense.  That's why we go out in teams."

"I thought that was because you guys needed the help and because you don't know what most of the other demons out there are," he said dryly, staring back.  "I can handle myself, Gibbs."

"I don't care if you think you can or not. You're still mortal and I'm not going to allow this, Xander."

"I'm not...."

Gibbs held up a finger.  "One more word, Xander, and I will start yelling.  The next time you want to do something so damn stupid think about Tony and how he'll feel.  Especially if it means you could die."

"I could die leaving the house!  Hell, I could die in the house!"

"Not the point."  He forced himself to relax.  He knew the kid wasn't doing it on purpose and he just didn't understand but this was getting to him.  He had never had this problem.  "The point is that your actions affect everyone else on the team.  Especially if you die or you get turned.  If you get turned, one of us will have to stake you."

"If I get turned, I'm leaving before any of you find out."

"I doubt it. You'd have to move the books."  Xander sighed and slumped, shaking his head.  "I'm serious, Xander.  Think about Tony the next time you want to do something so stupid.  Because it was and you knew it was."

"I've been doing this now for eight years, Gibbs."

He sat down again, making the boy look at him.  "I understand that.  I understand that you're probably one of the most skilled hunters in the world today.  I get that.  That doesn't mean you can't die.  That doesn't mean you won't destroy Tony if you die.  That doesn't mean it won't hurt Abby, Ducky, and me either.  This is what having a family or a team is, Xander.  You're going to have to start adjusting to this stuff.  We're not leaving you, no matter how dumb some of the things you do are.  Teammates and families don't do that."

"How would I know?" the boy asked angrily, getting out of the bed in his flannel pajama pants.  "I've never had one.  How in the hell should I know this shit, Gibbs?  Do you suddenly come with a fucking manual?"

"Don't swear at me and quit yelling," he ordered calmly.

"No, I won't!  You guys expect me to know all this shit! It's like being dropped in a country where you don't speak the language and you don't look like anyone else around you.  I'm still muddling back at the introduction level and how to ask for food and water."

Gibbs nodded. "I understand that.  You can ask us questions.  We can guide you if you want and you let us.  The main two points is that there's got to be trust and that you've got to consider more than yourself.  Seriously.  Come sit."  Xander shook his head.  "I'm not going to hit you or yell," he assured him.

"Yes you will!"  He backed up another step.  "You will and I still don't understand this shit!  It's not me!"  He turned and stomped off, going to the practice room to lock himself in there.

"Hell, I fucked this up," he muttered, calling Tony.  "Abby told me," he said in greeting.  "I came to talk to him and I think he's upset.  Well he's locked in the practice room, DiNozzo.  That and the yelling back were my first two clues.  You wanna come help me here?"  He snorted.  "Don't say things like that. I know exactly why I'm calling you and why I'd call him if it was you, DiNozzo.  I mean it."  He hung up and went to try to talk him out of the room with the weapons.  "Xander?"  He tapped gently.  "I won't yell or anything.  Come on, we'll talk and I'll explain it to you."

"Go away!  You hate me!"

"I don't hate you.  Come on out."  He checked the knob, the kid had installed a new one the other day and this one was lockpick proof and it had a guard so he couldn't use a card on it either.  "Xander, come on.  I didn't mean to upset you that way.  That's as good of an apology as I can do.  I don't normally give them."  Tony or someone opened the bottom door and he looked down the stairs, finding a Tony with bed hair and still sleepy eyes.  "No tickets?"

"No cops out yet."  He came up the stairs and knocked.  "Let me in, Xander."

"Why?  So you can gang up on me?"

"Have I done that yet?"  He looked at Gibbs.  "What did you say to him!"

"I was explaining how he's supposed to think about how others will react when he does stupid shit, like going out alone."

"Who told you about that?"

"Abby.  Who else knows?"

"Pretty much all of us found out after you left," he admitted.  He looked at the door, then suddenly kicked it in, walking inside but shutting it in his boss's face.  "I've got it.  Head to work, I'm going to be late."

"Fine.  Thank you."  He headed back to his car.  This was just odd.  He hadn't meant to do it but maybe it'd help those two a bit more.

Tony sat down next to where Xander was hugging his battle axe, making the kid look at him.  "He didn't mean to yell.  That's just how he is."

"He did."

"He really didn't.  He was probably thinking he was explaining stuff.  He's done it to me before too."

"I don't understand this stuff, Tony.  It's like a foreign language I've never even heard of."

"I know."  He pulled him closer, letting him cuddle.  "Do you trust us?"  Xander looked up and nodded.  "Even to take care of you if you're hurt and those things?  To have your back?"

"Isn't that like marriage?" Xander asked hesitantly.

"I wouldn't know, never been married," he admitted.  He considered it for a moment. "Yeah, those could be marriage vows," he decided.  "Well, a team or a family is like that too.  We're that sorta close without all the sex."  Xander leaned against him again, carefully, slowly.  "I won't hurt you."

"I know," he admitted quietly.  "I still don't understand."

"That's because you had parents that should've been killed, Xander.  You should've been taken and given to someone who actually wanted you."  He stroked the tense back.  An idea came to him.  "Do you remember the good days, back before Buffy came and it was you and Jesse taking care of each other and Willow playing nurse?"

"How did you know about that and the medical texts she used?"

"All little girls play nurse.  Big girls do it too but they wear costumes."  Xander snorted at that, relaxing a bit more.  "You used to take care of Jesse right?"  He felt the nod.  "Didn't Jesse take care of you?"

"Every now and then he gave me a place to hide or stay."

"When you got bruises who gave you the ice packs?"

"Me."

"Who babied the bigger injuries?"  Xander looked up at him.  "Did you have chicken pox?" Xander nodded.  "Who took care of you?"

"The hospital.  I had them in my ears and I made one bleed.  My mother freaked since she was drunk and called the paramedics."

"They kept you?"

"They found a few in my throat if I remember right.  Something like that."  He looked down again.  "I've been taking care of myself for a really long time, Tony.  I took care of Jesse and Willow too.  I've always been the strong one."

"Well, now you have others who are just as strong who want to take care of you and help you.  They're strong enough to help you when you need it, just like they expect you to help them when they need it.  Sometimes there's some yelling and complaining but mostly they do it because they care about you.  Like Abby and I do."

"Abby said she wouldn't bandage a skinned knee."

"I remember that argument against her ever having kids," he admitted with a small grin.  "Still, I think she'd help you with a scrape."  He shook his head.  "What's the worst injury you had, before your eye?"

"A few concussions, a few bruised ribs, a broken arm."

"You were damn lucky."

"I know."  He let himself rest against him more.  Tony shifted and he tensed up, pulling away but Tony pulled him back against him.  "Sorry."

"I just had to move.  My feet are asleep."  He stroked his back again.  "You understand what trusting someone is, right?"

"Yup, I think so."

"You can talk to people you trust, you can let them know when you need some backup, or even just a hug.  That's what the trust is and it builds on you being honest when you need help.  Because if you don't trust someone enough to admit that you need a bit of help when you're hurt, then you don't trust them.  There's no real middle road of trust.  Do you trust me and Gibbs to help you if you got injured?"  Xander hesitated but nodded.  "He really wasn't yelling."

"He was."

"He wasn't.  That's just how he is, Xander."  He went back to petting the tense back.  "If you got hurt, he'd yell.  He has at me whenever I get hurt, but I realize he's doing it because he cares.  You should've seen it when I got the plague.  He ordered me to not die.  Didn't ask, didn't beg, ordered.  It worked because he knew what I needed."  Xander looked up at him and he grinned at him.  "I promise, he wasn't mad, Xander.  He really wasn't. He's in awe of the stupidity you showed in doing that, and the bad judgement in risking yourself.  You know that you're one of the generals in this war, risking yourself was extremely dumb.  Think about what would've happened if you were killed.  Who would help the rest of us when we got stuck?"

"Giles."

"Fat chance.  Gibbs would have ripped him a new one," he said with a smirk.  "In case you hadn't noticed, he doesn't like Giles very much."  Xander nodded, he had noticed that.  "Eliana doesn't have the knowledge to help us if we got stuck. If you died, it probably would have meant at least one other of us would have died from an attack by something we didn't know about."

"I don't know them all."

"No, but you know where to look to figure out what something was."

"The big blue and brown book."

"Good to remember."  He gave him a gentle squeeze.  "I know it's hard, Xander.  I understand that.  I know it's very hard to understand at times.  As long as you trust us, you'll understand that we're there to help you as much as you're there to help us.  If not more at times since I got woken up this early."

"You have to be at work at eight."

"Fuck work," he muttered.  "He said I could take a few personal hours," he said more clearly.  He looked down at him.  The boy was such a contradiction.  He was hugging his battle axe like it was a teddy bear.  He was all but huddled against him seeking comfort and he bet the boy didn't understand why he wanted the comfort.  He so wished that someone, one of them preferably, had been there for the kid instead of his parents.  He was smart enough not to say it out loud, but he did wish it.  He looked down again.  "Do you want something softer to cuddle?"

"No, he's comforting.  He's seen me through a lot of things."  He glanced up at him.  "Who takes care of you when you're hurt?"

"That depends on how hurt I am.  If it's something minor, like your ankle yesterday, I'd do it.  If it was something major, I know I can ask Gibbs and he'll complain about it but help me.  He'll complain even more if I was doing something completely stupid and got hurt, but I know he'd help me if I needed it.  McGee would.  Abby and Ducky definitely would."  Xander nodded.  "Now, what happened to your ankle?"

"A chest like a brick wall."  He snorted and pulled up his pants leg, letting him see the bruise.  "I bounced off."

"That looks like more than a turned ankle."

"I'm fine.  It's nothing."

Tony leaned down to check it, finding that it was just swollen now.  He stood up and pulled the boy with him, taking him back to his bed.  Then he went to get him an ice pack.  He heard the door open and looked out.  "What's up, Ducky?"

"I came to look at his ankle and his eye.  Since I have no bodies waiting on me or anything."  He took the ice pack and went up to put it properly in place after checking it.  "Did you dislocate it, Xander?"

Xander shook his head.  "No, just turned it funny.  My foot went sideways a bit too far."  He sat up.  "I didn't need medial attention."

"You did say I could look at your eye and I don't have any bodies waiting on me."

Xander stared at him, then at Tony.  "Can, I, um...."  He shook his head and laid back down, pulling the covers up to his chin.  "Never mind."

Tony laid down next to him, on top of the covers.  He took both of Xander's wrists in his hands, holding them in place.  "Close your eyes.  Don't watch him," he whispered.  Ducky smiled at him and bent down to lift the lid, a glass dish ready for the fake eye.  He winced at the sucking noise but it did come free with a pop.  He wanted to be sick and his thumbs were tracing circles on the tense wrists.  "It's all right," he soothed.  "Let him work on it. I'm right here."  The phone rang and he stretched over to get it.  "DiNozzo."  He listened to his boss rant.  "Boss, Ducky just removed his eye.  I'm not going to be in for a few hours."  He listened for a moment longer.  "Boss, he needs me for the moment.  Because he's back under the covers again."  He hung up and pulled the covers back down, taking Xander's hands to hold.  "I'm still here. Shepard jumped on his ass about me being late.  He had to call for show."  He watched Ducky clean the glass.  "That's really nasty looking," he admitted.  Xander peeked and grimaced, turning a bit green.  Tony let him go, watching as he ran to be sick.  "Is that normal?"

"It can be.  This is probably the first time it's been removed," he admitted, finishing the wiping off.  "I'm afraid I'll have to do an eye wash as well.  That'll probably be just as bad for him.  It tends to make people queasy I'm afraid."  Tony nodded and went to help Xander, wetting down a washcloth to clean his face off.  Xander was rinsing and spitting by the time Ducky made it in there.  "All right.  I still need to examine the hole.  From the soot on it, I'll also need to do a rinse, Xander.  Are you up to it?"  Xander shook his head quickly.  "If I had the materials, I could sedate you."  Xander pulled open the bathroom cabinet and pulled out something that looked like a makeup kit, putting it on the sink so he could open it.  "Oh, my," he noted, coming over to look.  "That's got more than I do."

"That's our field kit from back home," Xander offered quietly.  He lifted off the top tray of vials, showing the stitching kits, the gauze and tape, the vials of holy water with the red top.  "This used to be in my car."

Ducky looked, finding two sedative choices.  "You're allergic to one," he admitted, putting that one back.  "The other is expired."  He looked at him.  "We'll have to fix that, won't we?"  He bundled it back together again.  "What do you usually drink when you want to forget everything?"

"Tequila and red wine."

"That's an...interesting choice," Tony noted, making a grossed out face.  "Eww."

"Yes, well, I doubt I'll be able to manage the rinse without him in a much more pliable mood," he noted.  "Slouch in front of me, Xander.  Let me look in the orifice."  He gently pried open the eyelid and grimaced.  "Yes, that'll take some cleaning."  He looked at Tony.  "Go scour the kitchen."  He nodded, going to do that.  "You really should be doing this once a month."

"I can barely stand to look at it in the mirror, Ducky," Xander said quietly.  "I can't touch it, I can't rub that eye, even when I get the phantom pains and it burns.   I just can't handle this."

"I understand."  Tony came back with two bottles.  "Hmm, both very good years," he noted.  "All right, drink it however.  Stop when you're mildly buzzed.  I can't move you around if you're totally drunk."

"I'm usually pretty good about following orders."

"Yes, but the tequila will have memory properties that won't let you remember what I had to do."  His pager went off.  "That had better not be Jethro."  He looked and sure enough it was.  He went to call in.  "Jethro, I need to do an eye wash on him," he said in greeting.  "I've just gotten his eye out and he's barely quit throwing up. He's presently getting drunk so I can do what I need to.  He's got soot in there."  He listened.  "I noticed Anthony's pager didn't go off.  Oh, I see.  Can she do that?"  He smirked.  "Thank you for that tidbit.  Fine."  He hung up.  "Xander, quit drinking for a bit."

"I can't sleep like this."  He came out of the bathroom.  "I can't.  I couldn't do it with the eye patch, that's why they put in the fake one so quickly."

"I understand, and it shan't take me long.  We just got a body that we got called out.  We're not sure if it's one of ours yet or not.  Anthony, you're to stay here.  The director approved of you taking a day.  She insisted even.  I'll write you a legitimate medical excuse."  He looked at Xander.  "Let him finish that and by the time I get back, we'll see what I can rig up."  Tony nodded so Ducky gathered everything and headed off again.

Tony looked at Xander.  "I'm staying right beside you all day," he promised.  "At least until Ducky's done and you're calm again.  Go ahead and drink.  It'll make it easier later on.  You'll probably still be drunk when he gets back and wakes you up."  Xander shuddered but continued to drink from one bottle then the other.  Tony came over to move the eye off the bed and put it in the bathroom, then he helped get Xander into bed, laying on top of the covers next to him.  It was all he could do.  He didn't want to look at the deflated eyelid or anything else, but the boy needed comfort.  Even if that was an injury he hoped he never received.

***

Ducky came back from his treatment with Xander, looking at Jethro.  "He is to have that area cleaned once every two months.  Even if we do have to sedate him," he ordered quietly. "I've called in an antibiotic for him and Anthony's already picked it and lunch up.  The thing took me six washes to get the orifice clean, Jethro.  It's a wonder he didn't die of a brain mold disease."  Gibbs shuddered at that.  "Also, Anthony is quite unhappy at the moment with certain people.  He was upset enough to nearly break the no wish command."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Somehow you would've ended up there as the boy's father."

"I'd have damn sure stopped half the problems he had with those girls," he said acidly, glancing around.  "How is he?"

"Fine now.  I did see his boss and give him a medical excuse.  A simple showing of a gauze pad with some of the crud I removed from his eye socket was enough to convince him.  I'm going to have Abby run it to make sure there's nothing especially worrying if that's all right?"

"Sure.  She can do that while she's waiting for your samples."  Ducky nodded.  "Watch out, she's still on a rip," he muttered when the director came down the stairs from the command center.  "We have an ID on our dead midshipman.  His name was Harold Renais.  His records do report some medical problems.  Apparently he had a bad heart in his earlier years but it was thought to be corrected."  He handed over the file.  "By the close of the day if you can so we know if we need to investigate."

"Of course."  He walked off, going down to his lab.  Abby came in for the samples.  "Run those please, Abigail.  I need to make sure it's nothing too out of the ordinary.  I only gave him a broad-spectrum antibiotic.  I'll have more samples for you soon."  She nodded, skipping off while he got to work on his post mortem exam.  Someone came in and he glanced at them. "Madam Director."  He checked the body.  Someone had already looked it over for samples that needed to be taken and his assistant had apparently washed the body.

"Where were you?" she asked, watching him pick up a scalpel. "You're very late and you were late to a scene.  Not to mention you left the scene and didn't come back with the body."

"Yes, well, one of my private patients needed a bit of care for an older injury.  If you must know, I was doing an eye wash and rinse.  A fairly nasty case.  I had to rinse it six times to get all the debris out."  He made the first cut and she stared at it.

"Is it bleeding?"

"No, but there is blood in the skin walls.  That's all that's leaking out."  He made the other side of the 'y' cut, meeting it and drawing down the torso.  He made the lateral cuts so he could open up the flaps he had just created, looking inside.  "Well, that's rather nasty of them.  He had a blow out."  He went to get the medical records Jethro had handed him, looking them over. "Yes, that explains everything so very neatly."  He called up there, smiling at the gruff answer.  "I'm afraid his heart blew a hole in itself.  It was fairly nasty and it looks like it disrupted the chamber so only a third of the blood is inside the body cavity.  Of course I shall."  He hung up and went back to finish a cursory exam to make sure nothing else popped up as well.  He looked at the director.  "I think my job is fascinating but I never knew you had a like of watching autopsies.  Or is it just watching me work today?" he asked with a gentle smile.

"Which personal patient?"

"Without their authorization I can't even divulge that.  I shouldn't have told you what I was doing for him."

She moved closer.  "I think you were working on the Harris boy," she noted coolly.  "Which is not military personnel."

"Actually, he's listed as being a specialist I do believe," he noted dryly.  "After all, he helped take down a special operations project that was torturing others.  As he's one of the last two survivors of that action....."  He let it trail off.  "You'd have to ask Jethro about that.  I'm sure he had it found by Anthony when he did the background search. As for who I was working on, I'm neither confirming nor denying your suspicions, simply stating the facts of the boy's case," he said at her triumphant look.  "And should you try for him, I would hate to see him react to taking away the only people he still trusts within the military.  It would be a *horrible* thing should he decide that we're trying something similar again.  Especially if one of his other friends were involved."

"He's sucking you all into some deluded fantasy...." she started when the doors opened.  "Jethro."

"That's Agent Gibbs at work, Director."  He looked at Ducky, who pointed at the hole.  "That is huge."

"Yes, it apparently stopped the heart fast enough to not bloat his body but you can see how much blood is flooding him already. I suppose it could have been worse.  Do we know what he was doing?"

"He was apparently out with a few friends getting a drink," Gibbs noted.  "He said he felt ill, headed back to his house.  The cab driver we found said he dropped him off there, but he wandered off.  He was found about three blocks from the house in an alley, which you saw.  We think he was moved out of someone's way."

"Yes, well, they probably thought he was drunk or some such," he said bitterly.  "I haven't found anything else but I'll finish the examination anyway, just in case something else should pop up."  He smiled at him.  "Have you heard from Anthony?"

"Yes, I did.  He emailed his reports that I wanted done today.  Thank you for helping him earlier."

"Not an issue, he needed it," he admitted, glancing at the director.  "Do you need a report today?"

"By tomorrow morning's fine since it's not a homicide," he offered, heading back upstairs.  She caught him in the elevator and turned off the motor, stranding them.  A trick he had taught her.  He  looked at her.  "You needed something further?"

"I'm ordering you to stay away from Mr. Harris, Jethro."

"I don't think you can tell me what to do in my off hours as long as it's not illegal.  Forgive me if I'm wrong on my recollection of the code."  She glared at him.  "That won't work on me.  You know that.  What's crawled up you this time?"

"This is all some elaborate fantasy being played out!"

"It's not.  If it was, McGee and Abby wouldn't have bite marks.  Ziva would still be here.  How is she doing?"

"She said she's perfectly normal."

"Did you ask if she had a pulse?"  She glared again.  "She didn't have one when I found her.  I'm sorry if this upsets you but she dated that man knowing what he was.  She took that option knowing the risks.  She was as fully trained as I am and I'm not that dumb.  Now, is there anything else?"

"You went over my head!"

"You became irrational. Of course I did."  He turned to fully face her.  "Jen, I don't know what's wrong with you. You saw it with your own eyes."

"That was some sort of hallucinogen that he slipped me."

"You didn't meet the boy until the next day. How would he have done that?  Telekinesis?"  She was going to blow, he could see it coming.  "I don't care if you can ignore what's in front of you, Jen.  I've already had one agent eaten.  I had one who nearly did due to his own stupidity.  For that matter, Ziva got bitten before she got turned and it still didn't stop her.  They made their choices and the rest of us have to live with them."  He realized that was the argument he should have used that morning.

"What?" she asked cautiously.

"I was trying to explain team behavior to someone before I came in this morning and I should have used Ziva as an example."  He looked at her again, smirking a bit.  "Whatever you think it is, Jen, you're wrong.   Still wrong.  You saw it, you examined one, and you still can't believe?  That's fine.  That's why we kept you out of the loop in the first place."

"Don't you dare go over my head again or I'll see your retirement party within the day," she threatened.

"You can try, but I have a whole drawer full of medals in Tony's desk.  Including a Bronze Star.  Who do you think they're going to listen to?  Someone ranting about vampires or me?"

"How dare you!" she screeched.

"You're the one who dares, Jen.  Not me."

"I'll have you up for sleeping with DiNozzo," she sneered.  "That'll ruin both your careers."

"That'll also enable us to sue the department and the Navy for slander.  After all, you have to have proof that we're consorting sexually for those charges to stick and we're not.  He's my second-in-command on the team. Off duty he's a friend.  Nothing more, nothing less.  You and some other women may fantasize about the two of us in bed, but it's not happening.  I have it on good authority that he's slowly making his way closer to someone who deserves the sort of love Tony can give them and they'll love Tony in return with everything in them.  I'm hoping like hell they make it."

She glared.  "I can still accuse and it will come back to haunt you."

He pointed at the camera above them.  "You just threatened blackmail in front of a secure system, one with people who watch it and it's automatically downloaded and saved for a year on a computer somewhere in Arlington.  The guards won't erase it on your say-so either.  Now, the choice is yours," he said quietly.  "You can either back down and accept it.  Or you can try something and be ruined.  I'm not the nice one in this elevator."  He restarted it and they reached his floor.  "You have a nice day, Madam Director."  He got off and called security from Tony's desk since it was closest.  "This is Gibbs.  The Director will be calling to have some tapes wiped.  Don't let her.  She just tried to blackmail me.  Use special copies and save them in the safe.  Please.  Thank you."  He hung up and McGee was staring in horror.  "What?"

"You said please."

"I did, it's polite in certain circumstances when you don't want to threaten. My mother did teach me that word and I use it where appropriate, McGee.  Do you have anything on who moved the body?"

"A bit, Boss.  One of the local store owners admitted one of his neighbors probably did it since he sort of saw the body, but he wasn't sure if it was a drunk or homeless person sleeping in the doorway.  I have his name but he's out to lunch."

"We'll interview him in about an hour."  He sat down behind his desk, staring at him when he continued to stare.  "Do I have something on my face?"

"No, Boss.  Where's Tony?"

"The director thoughtfully gave him the day off so he could help Xander with the eye cleaning he needed.  Apparently he had some sort of soot."

"And then some," McGee said, bringing over a copy of the lab report Abby had made.  "That's what they found.  I was wondering if this was germane to the after-hours case?" he asked quietly.

"It may be," he admitted, looking it over.  "Sulphur?"

"I figure it came from when they had to go *there* and fight.  Abby thinks so too, Boss."

"Fine.  Does Ducky know?"  He nodded.  "Good.  Keep this until later.  I'm heading over then.  DiNozzo should be about ready to jump through the walls without his XBox."

McGee smiled.  "I didn't know you knew what an XBox was, Boss."

"It's hard to miss with how many ads they have for it and the games, McGee," he said dryly.  "Get back to work."

"Yes, Boss."  He sat down and went back to cleaning off his desk.   He had let it get messy while they had been so busy.  He had a thought and pulled out a CD Willow had sent, checking on anything coming up.  He frowned at something.  "Boss?"  Gibbs looked up.  "Come look at this."  He came over to look, then frowned.  "Has that already happened?"

"Not in that exact manner," he admitted.  "Send that to me.  I'll get it to Harris later."  McGee nodded, copying and sending it to his PDA over the wireless stream they had.  It was more untraceable that way.  He logged into his private email account, a web-based service, and sent it to Willow as well. "Boss," he asked finally, "are we being paranoid?"

"You can't be paranoid if they're really out to get you."  He looked over. "In this case, I believe it's a good idea."  He checked the time.  "Lunch, McGee?"

"Sure, Boss.  Where did you want me to pick you up something from and what did you want?"

"A sandwich is fine.  Rye, roast beef.  No pickle or cole slaw."

"Sure, Boss."  He grabbed his jacket and headed off to find the nearest sandwich shop.

Gibbs sat back and pulled out his cellphone, calling his ultimate boss.  "Sir, it's Gibbs.  May I talk to you sometime today?  There's a few things we think you should know."  He smiled.  "Thank you, sir.  Of course I'll even be on time."  He hung up and went to make sure he was presentable enough for the White House.

***

Gibbs walked into Xander's house, hearing the moan.  "Should I leave?" he called.

"I'm giving him a backrub for holding my hand earlier," Xander called.

Tony came down the stairs, smiling and happy.  "How was your day, Boss?  That battle axe means he's got really strong hands."

"I'd suppose it did."  He handed over the file.  "Our new team member.  She's coming next week."

He opened it.  "Do I know her?"

"You met her at a conference last year," he assured him.  He headed back to the kitchen to get some coffee, finding Xander in there.  "How's your head?"

"Better.  Thank you."  He gave him a shy smile.  "I'm sorry I didn't understand."

"Not a problem.  It came to me earlier that I should have used Ziva's actions as a demonstration model."  He clapped him on the back.  "There's a small prophecy coming.  Someone raising power for, and I quote, 'unholy power and wealth raising' rituals."

Xander nodded his head a few times.  "I saw that email. I'm guessing someone wants a senator of their own.  Isn't that every rich boy's dream?"

"Probably," he admitted.  "You'd have to ask DiNozzo about that."  He looked at Tony as he came in.  "Do you think she'll fit?"

"If I remember her right, maybe.  She was giggly at the convention but I heard people say she was a hard-ass on the job.  Her records and reviews all say she's a hard-ass and overly determined.  That'll be good.  Does Probie know she's coming?"

"I was going to announce her tonight at our meeting.  Along with the good news that Director Shepard is being moved to the CIA over Acquisitions."

"Is that she buys the toilet paper or like she goes out to make double agents?" Xander asked.

"She'll go get agents and recruit," he admitted.  "Buying toilet paper is purchasing over there.  They're not happy people."

"True.  They did ours for a few months after I joined.  My first day I got a memo from them, in the stack of other stuff, that said I could only use three sheets of tp a day."

"Dumbass there sent in an anonymous suggestion in retaliation saying that since toilet paper was such a short supply and in danger of becoming extinct the department should put in bidets."

"They had to look it up and it shocked their narrow little minds," Tony said with a fond smirk.  Xander snickered at that.  "If I remember right, Kate laughed her ass off and suggested that they pay for drugs that removed women's cycles as well since that was something that had the need for more tp and to also hand out constipatives."  Xander ended up leaning on Gibbs' arm while he laughed.  "That's about when they gave up and handed our purchasing to the navy, right, Boss?"

"I think it was the bidet that started it, but it got implemented then," he agreed.

"I can just see explaining their use to a roomful of new recruits," Xander giggled.  "The clueless looks, the one guy who knows the other uses for it, and..."  A new peal of giggles.  "And the one homophobic guy who complains that anything going near that hole was unholy and wrong and he'd rather wear shit."

Gibbs did snicker a bit at that. "I can see doing it during boot camp," he admitted.

"Recruits," Tony mimicked Gibbs.  "There's many things they don't teach you in this man's Marine Corps.  One thing we will be teaching you is hygiene.  In case you hadn't noticed, we have showers, soap, shampoo, and towels.   We expect you to use them daily, if not more often when needed.  We also have new devices that the Corps just put in."  He stopped to snicker. "These are *only* for cleaning up after you've made a disgusting mess in the bathroom.  They are not a drinking fountain.  They are not to play in. They are not for sexual gratification.  They are not something to send pictures home about.  Due to the shortage of toilet paper, you now use something called a bidet whenever you visit the latrines."  Xander was clutching Gibbs' arm by now to hold himself up.  "I will not be leading a practical demonstration of this as I don't think you need to see my naked ass.  Basically, you turn on the water, squat, count to five hundred, get up, turn off the water, and pretend you didn't enjoy it.  We do not want to hear about it if you do.  Remember, don't ask/don't tell is still enforced on this base and all others, especially about such matters.  I suggest you practice this action repeatedly to save those on report from doing your nasty drawers."  He couldn't finish, he was laughing too hard.

"I'd have made the most timid and shy person there get up to give the demonstration.  It'd do 'em good," Gibbs smirked.  "It'd give them self confidence."  Xander fell over and rolled around laughing.

"All those guys ready to jump on the first moan," Xander howled, holding his stomach.  "No, that wasn't a moan," he said, trying to make his voice lower.  "That was a grunt, yeah a grunt.  Of misery.  Really horrible torture they're making us go through."

"Especially with dinner in the mess," Tony finished.

"Portable ones for exercises.  Assigned bidet carriers and people to move between units taking it with them."  Xander burst out in more giggles.  "The MRE version is a bottle of water."

Gibbs laughed at that.  "At least it'd make some of those more edible."  He shook his head.  "When is everyone else coming?"

"Within the hour, Boss," Tony said with a grin.  "He needed that.  Thank you."

"You started it," he reminded him. He shook his head.  "What's for dinner?"

"I don't cook," Xander offered weakly from the floor.  The front door opened and closed. "We're back here."  Ducky walked in and gave him an odd look.  "Bidets," he said, cracking again.

Ducky gave Tony a fond look.  "You told him that story?"

"Gibbs did.  We just embellished," he said with a grin.  "Personal bidet carriers between units."  Ducky did laugh at that mental image.  "How did things go without me today?"

"Quietly," Gibbs told him.  "It was nearly silent all day."

"Ah, then I was missed."

"No, we got a lot of work done.  McGee even got to clean his desk."

Tony frowned at him.  "Make me feel more unloved, watch me shack up with Xander for good."

"As long as I don't have to hear details," Gibbs noted dryly.  "Anything new on that body, Ducky?"

"Not a bit I'm afraid.  It was what it looked like."  He helped Xander off the floor.  "Did you take your antibiotic?"

"Yes, Uncle Ducky, your Xander was a good Xander," he offered in a childish voice but grinning brightly.  "I was a good boy *all* day. I slept off the tequila and I did my battle axe practice, then I took a shower.  Uncle Tony made sure I was a good boy and made sure I took my pills on time so no more nasty crap can eat my brain *ever* again."

Ducky smiled and patted him on the cheek.  "Were you my nephew, you'd never belch at the table and you'd be related to Rupert, so therefore wearing tweed.  Remember that, my dear boy."  Xander shuddered.  "Exactly."

"Okay, you can be an honorary uncle.  The sort who comes over to visit mommy when the daddy's gone," Xander offered in his normal voice but with a wicked smirk.

Ducky chuckled and shook his head.  "I'm afraid I'd never do that very well.  I tend to get a bit clingy.  She'd have to give him up to even taste my lips."

"Then do you come to visit daddy when mommy's away?" Tony joked.

Ducky looked at him.  "Had I visited your father, you'd have better manners as well," he noted dryly.  Tony smirked at him.  "Did you drink with him?"

"Just a bit but we're both sober now," he admitted.  "We can be happy.  Happy is normal."

"Happiness is a medicine that has been lauded for centuries," he agreed.  "Even by the Greeks and Romans."

"During the Dark Ages, it was considered a sign of possession if you laughed out of turn or at odd things, or if you couldn't laugh," Xander told him, smirking at him. "Then they drilled a hole in your skull to let it out."

"Are you reliving that?" Ducky teased.

Xander snickered.  "No.  I was a good boy if I was alive back then.  They probably got me for sleeping with the wrong sheephand."

"Or sheep," Tony offered with an evil smirk.  "You know how people are out in those lonely fields."

"I have better taste than that, even if I did date Cordelia and Anya."

"They were both very pretty girls," Ducky agreed.  "Even if their personalities lacked a bit."  He looked at Tony.  "I heard we're having a meeting tonight?"

"As soon as the wonder couple show up," Tony agreed.  "Boss, make some coffee?"

"That's what I was trying to do," he said, moving around Xander to start the coffee maker.  Ducky dove into the refrigerator.  "He says he doesn't cook, Ducky."

"Yes, well, it's good that I do."  He came out with some meat, going to defrost it in the microwave then cook it.  "Even non-growing boys need a real dinner and I did promise Mother that Xander and I would both eat well tonight since I told her I'd be dining with him."

"I'm coming over Sunday for tea, remind me," Xander told him.

"Oh, she'd adore that," he agreed happily.  "If you aren't there by two, I'll call."  He got back to work gathering the other ingredients.  "Xander, spices?"

"You ask like I know more than they come in little plastic bottles and metal cans."

"Good point.  Where would they be?"

"Um, cabinet next to the glasses?  I'm never in there and I haven't seen any in the other cabinets."

Ducky got in there and found the rest of what he needed, adding them to the pan.  Then the meat came out, still a little bit frozen, and got put in as well.  It wouldn't harm anything.  He browned it and then transferred everything into a baking dish and put it into the oven.  He pulled down some rice, noticing the other men were staring at him.  "What?  I do cook for mother and myself."

"He does and he's a very good baker," Xander said, grinning at Tony.  "He makes very good cookies."

"I've noticed that."  He came over to help since he *could* cook, he just didn't do it often.  Gibbs came over to pitch in and Xander set the table.

"I was going to call and ask if we should bring pizza, but I figured it was a given," Abby called as she walked in.

"Ducky's cooking," Gibbs called back.  "We'll eat the pizza later, Abby. For a snack."

"Good.  We'll just take the leftovers home."  She grinned and kissed Xander on the cheek.  "How was the rest of your night?"

"Pretty good.  Tony and I talked for a while, then I went to sleep.  Only to be poked away by Gibbs really early.  Then Ducky came to work on my eye, which does feel better."  She smiled at that.  "What?"

"I ran a sample.  You had crud from that battle in there."  She handed it over after putting the pizzas down on the counter.  She counted place settings and went to get another one.  "McGee is coming, he's just running late.  The director pounced on him.  She's ranting and mad, Gibbs."

"She's getting moved to the CIA, for Acquisitions."

"Which is a prestigious job, but fairly dead end," she agreed happily.  "I heard.  So, any news on the new person on the team?"  Tony handed over the folder.  She looked at it, then snickered.  "I've met her.  She's a nice lady. Not the least bit techie at all, can't actually do a thing with computers.  She's very determined.  I've heard her compared to one of those little terrier dogs before."

"So, if McGee and Gibbs had a kid it'd be her?" Xander asked.

There was a moment of silence.  "Sorry, Boss, it was the tequila he drank this morning so Ducky could treat him," Tony offered.  That was a scarier mental image than Xander wearing Abby's schoolgirl skirt.

"That would be one f-ed up relationship," Abby said, shaking her head.  "My McGee, he has to get his own," she reminded Xander.  Who was giggling against the counter again.  "Are we including her?"  Gibbs shrugged.  "That's fine.  When is she coming?"

"She's doing the intro lectures starting tomorrow.  That means she'll appear Monday," he announced.  "We've got to give her a chance, and the new director, whenever they get here."

"Ooh, I know something about that," she said happily.  "They asked Morrow to come back and he's unhappy with the paranoid people over in Homeland."  She bounced a bit, beaming at him.  "So we've got him back, Gibbs."

"Good.  I could use someone above me with a clue," he admitted, pouring himself some coffee.  Xander had even gotten him his own coffee mug.  "Any idea on that prophecy, kid?"

"Just a few," Xander admitted with a smirk.  "It is human, I'm guessing they're going to try to influence someone in Congress.  I had a sudden talk with a Secret Service agent the other day while I was buying new candles and he said that they had the White House covered magically against influence.  It has been now for years.  That doesn't keep it from being influenced in other ways, like money, but it can't be done magically, not since Jefferson's time."  Gibbs nodded once at that.  "So I'm guessing someone higher in the Admin that doesn't work there or Congress, which would get them the most bang for the buck.  Now all we have to do is decide if they're going for subtle, meaning they pick someone they can use for years and who can subtly get others behind their ideas, or if we're going to be looking at one of the major power players being used."

"Personally I'd go for subtle," Abby offered.  "That's a lot of work for a one-shot thing."

"But it depends on what they want," Tony reminded her.  "They may only think they need the single shot to get whatever they want.  Besides, once influenced, won't they be open again?"  Xander nodded at that.  "How would we tell?"

"Again, depends on subtlety.  Someone non-subtle would announce they've got a great new idea and that it had to be done for the good of America.  Someone subtle would start to poke and prod those around them to go their way when they brought it up.  So we've really got to warn someone about sudden changes in agenda.  I don't think this is something we can hear or deal with ourselves.  It's going to have to come from an insider."

"So the Secret Service working with us are going to have to deal with this?" Gibbs guessed.  Xander nodded.  "That's fine.  Any idea what they wanted?"

"Money and power.  That's not in short supply around here but it could be something as simple as getting a spot in the Administration.  Something like an ambassadorship?  Something like a court position maybe?  I'm guessing they're feeling a block above their head and they're going to get past it this way."

Gibbs nodded at that.  "It makes sense to me.  Political power and the politics of getting it aren't what we deal with.  You think they have some and they want more?"

"Yeah, I would say with the way it's worded that it could be.  But by them doing this, it'll expose all this to the outer world.  Unless we get them for being a mistress or lover and claim their influence is from that instead of magical.  By the way, I took out the three bugs I found earlier."  He got them out of the freezer and handed them to Abby.  "I just remembered those."

She looked at them.  "They're not ours or the ones the FBI uses.  CIA?" she asked, passing them to Gibbs.

He looked at them.  "NSA actually."  He put them into his pocket.  "Freezing them was a good idea."  He patted Xander on the back and smiled.  "Ducky, when's dinner?"

"A few more minutes.  The pork roast has nearly cooked enough.  We do eat it in a civilized fashion and not overly done, correct?"

"That's how I get my pork chops out of the microwave," Xander agreed.  Ducky gave him a long stare.  "I can't cook!  Don't give me that look, I'm a guy!  I focus on my fighting skills, not cooking and cleaning.  Tara was the neat freak of the group and Joyce and Tara cooked."

"I wish I had been able to make it back for their funerals," Ducky sighed.  "I do miss those young women.  Joyce was the sort I'd have dated, Buffy beside the point."  He checked the meat again with a thermometer.  "It's done.  Oven mitts, Xander?"  He handed over two towels.  "Another thing we'll have to work on."  He pulled it out to let it rest on top of the stove and turned off the oven, checking the other dishes.  "Nearly done.  Everyone clean up and get drinks."  Xander and Abby got their sodas out and then went to wash their hands and call McGee.

He came rushing in and leaned against the door. "Boss, she's ready to rip you a new one," he announced.  "She knows you got her transferred and told the old boss that when he showed up.  She went off on you and I was trapped."  He came back to the kitchen, loosening his tie and taking off his jacket.  He sat beside Abby.  "She went off on the vampires too.  He just looked at her and said 'I knew that already'.  She gaped and threw a massive fit in MTAC."  He nodded at that.  "He had her sedated and sent home, and then I was still trapped while he called over there to warn them she knew."  He looked at Xander.  "She wants to have you arrested."

"We found bugs earlier," Xander admitted. "I'm wondering if they know already or not."

"They do."  Gibbs passed down the rice, watching as Xander dished himself out a little bit.  He glared and the boy added more to his plate.  "Thank you."  He passed it to Tony.  "You need to eat better."

"I'm fine."  He took some meat with a smile for Ducky, who smiled back.  "Thank you."  He dug in, eating heartily.  He was hungry, this was breakfast for him.  "Am I off work or should I hurry up and change?"

"No I called you off tonight, Xander.  Your boss said that your eye must have been throbbing for months and that's how you understood that suicidal girl's pain."

"Yeah, been there, done that a few times," he agreed, eating another bite.  Gibbs smacked him on the back of the head.  "Sorry, Gibbs."

"Not a problem, Xander.  What're you going to do if you get that bad again?"

"Call you and make you sit up and talk with me?"

"Or me," Tony reminded him.

"You can call me too but McGee might get cranky with you the next day," Abby assured him with a smile.  Gibbs looked at her, one eyebrow raised.  "What?" she defended.

"Are you saying he's moved in, Abby?"

"No," she snorted.  "He won't.  However he does sleep in my coffin now and then."  She beamed at her boyfriend, who blushed.  "What else did she say?"

"That you're a freak and that you and Xander were teaming up to pollute the rest of us normal people," he shared.  "That you're probably the reason that Xander came, since we all accepted you it'd be easier for him to get his hooks into us.  She wasn't sure if you were a willing conspirator or not.  The old boss laughed at that."

"He's the new boss now," Gibbs told him.

"Good!  I remember before he left and things were normal.  No suddenly appearing people being forced on us or anything."

"Ziva's replacement starts on Monday," Tony told him.

"From what they say it's a love child between you and Gibbs," Xander told him.

McGee got up and went to get an antacid, then came back to get back to eating.  "Thank you for that mental image, Xander.  Boss, Abby and I are going to be tired tomorrow."

"Why am I going to be tired?" she asked.

"Because if I can't sleep, I'll need someone to keep me company," he assured her with a smile.  "You'd keep me company, wouldn't you?"

"Hey, I'd even try to help you get to sleep.  I make a good cup of warm milk," she said proudly.  "With just enough bourbon to make happy dreams."  McGee smiled at her.  "Sorry if we're cranky tomorrow, Boss."

"Fine, Abby.  McGee, I'll expect you to be nice to the new agent.  I've never met her before.  Tony's only seen her at a conference."

"She's non-technical but very serious about the job," Abby told him.  "Plus she's got a sense of humor."

"Sounds like she'll fit in well then," he agreed.  "I'm always nice to the new people, Boss. You know that.  It's Tony you usually have to warn."

"I won't crack dirty jokes the first day," Tony promised.  "Unlike yours, when you walked into my teasing contest with Kate."

Xander subtly leaned closer to him.  "It'll be fine.  You guys can tell me if she needs the lessons too.  Boss, how's Eliana doing?  She was asleep when I called her earlier and her mother wanted her to have a few more days back before starting again."

"She's okay.  She's supposed to get the cast off the day after tomorrow.  With her healing how long will the therapy take?"

"No therapy and I'm sure her bones have already healed," he told him.  "They're all like that."  Gibbs nodded.  "So we can take her out this weekend?  If I'm not working on my day off?"

"Sure," Gibbs agreed.  "How trained is she?"

"She probably got the last lessons from Faith before she came," he offered.  "She was working on her basics during the Hellmouth battles.  Since then she's been training hard.  She didn't want to stay in the group, she always stated she wanted to come home and hunt locally if there were any here.  Giles said he was pushing her to get her ready to come home when this one opened and we got sent.  I'm guessing she'll be fine with some mentoring and monitoring.  She was a pretty steady personality.  A bit whiny as only a seventeen-year-old girl can be.  She got snatched the night after her prom and had rescued herself from the Bringeres before any of the other slayers or Watchers found her.  She graduated high school while she was in Sunnydale and I know she was thinking about college.  That might be on hold for another semester but I'm not sure."  He ate another bite of dinner and realized he had eaten it all when he looked down to stab more food.  "Wow, Ducky, that was so good I scarfed it."  That got a smile and more food put onto his plate.  "Thanks.  Are you sure your mother's okay with just the corgis?"

"She's fine, Xander.  She's undoubtedly heated up some soup for them and her."  He smiled at him.  "Bring some flowers if you could.  Mother's been missing her garden."

"Of course.  Daisies?"

"Would be lovely," he assured him.  "Her childhood garden had a good bunch of those right where she used to sit.  It'll thrill her to no end."  Xander grinned at that.  "Did anyone else want to come over this Sunday for tea?  Mother's always looking forward to company since she can't get out much these days."

"Sure, Ducky, call and remind me too," Gibbs assured him.  "I can even put up with her dogs."

"Thank you, Jethro.  I'll try to keep Contessa off you this time."  He smiled at Abby.  "Would you like to come as well?"

"Maybe next weekend, Ducky.  This weekend I've got to call my mother and remind her I'm bringing Tim home and not to show my baby pictures.  I expect it'll take most of the day with how she likes to chat and give gossip."  Tim got up to take another antacid.  "It won't be that bad!" she assured him.

He smiled at her.  "If you say so.  Remember, if we're still together next year, you're going to get to meet mine."

"Will they like me?"

"Probably not.  My father thought I should be on Wall Street or doing corporate crimes."  He ate a bite of dinner.  "Nice job, Ducky.  Thank you."

"You're welcome, Timothy.  It's so easy to please this group."

Xander grinned at him. "Usually I toss some garlic salt on top of a pork chop and put it in the microwave when I want pork," he told him.

"You eat many strange things," McGee assured him happily. He was finally starting to understand Xander and relax around him since his birthday had shown him a deeper Xander.

"Yes, but this morning was probably the strangest yet," Ducky told him. "His field box of medical supplies didn't have an anesthetic so I could clean his eye so he ended up getting drunk on red wine and tequila."

"I don't like the taste of the tequila and I'm not much one for beer, which enhances the aftertaste of the tequila.  The red wine washes it down nicely," Xander defended. "Plus I like the taste."

"You always drink red wine at the bars too," Tony agreed.  "Does it actually take out the aftertaste?"  Xander nodded.  "Is that why you like the red wine?"

"White wines are too dry, the flavors aren't as deep and mouth-affecting for me.  I like red wines for the taste anyway so I tried it one night before going hunting with my formerly usual shot and it worked well.  I eat hot peppers on my turkey sandwiches too."

"That I will admit goes well together," Abby agreed.  "Banana peppers especially."  Xander nodded.

"Children, some of us eat normal food," Gibbs noted.  "I don't need to think about that or what I ate in the field when I was younger."  Xander giggled, he had been planning on mentioning that.

***

Tony looked up as the new girl walked in that Friday, earlier than she should have.  "Welcome.  We heard you weren't supposed to be here until Monday."  He pointed at Ziva's desk.  "There."

"Thank you."  She put down her box and came back to shake his hand.  "Adrian Marquez."

"Tony DiNozzo.  Gibbs and McGee are down in autopsy at the moment.  They'll be right back."  He smiled at her.  "So, where are you from?"

"Here and there.  I was raised by a big brother who was in the Army."  She smiled at him.  "You?"

"North East, but I used to be a cop in Baltimore."

"I did Special Victims in LA and San Francisco before transferring to the FBI."

"Then you're fairly knowledgeable about the crimes you'll be seeing here.  Do you profile?"

"Some.  It's not my favorite skill but I'm pretty decent."  She gave him an impish grin.  "Or so my reviews state."

He smiled back, and felt that he could get to like her.  "We all have reviews we wonder about.  I often wonder why someone said I was a serious, calm person."  She giggled at that. "You should get settled in.  A word of advice.  The boss is 'boss', not sir.  Never sir.  He barks, a lot.  Ignore it and concentrate on what he's saying.  Do what you can and be honest if you can't."

She nodded.  "Of course.  I was already warned about the barking thing.  They said he's the doberman on the block."  She went back to her desk, starting to unpack.  The elevator dinged and she looked up, standing straighter.  "Special Agent Gibbs, I'm Adrian Marquez," she said, shaking his hand.  "Agent DiNozzo said I could have that desk, is that all right?"

"Sure," he agreed.  "The last person went back to Israel."  He looked her over.  "You got done early?"

"No, frankly I walked out on the lecture about misuse of company resources because my being stuck in there doesn't help you any.  I figure if I mess up, you can tell me."  He nodded at that, smirking a bit.  "If you'll give me ten minutes to set things up on the computer I can help you with whatever you want or need.  I'm not good on the computer, but I can help," she offered with a small grin.

"What're your past postings, Marquez?" he asked.

"Rookie in LA, moved to Special Victims when I made detective.  Moved to San Fran a few years later to be with the guy I thought I loved.  Did Special Victims there, ran into the FBI there as well.  Transferred into them, learned a bit of profiling along the way, and then here.  I'm also the little sister of my big, Infantry brother who was Army and drug me everywhere but Desert Storm."

"You know we deal with Marines and the Navy?"

"That's fine with me, sir.  My first boyfriend was a Ranger candidate and I kicked his ass.  If some jarhead gives me lip, I can do the same.  Unless it's a victim of course," she offered sweetly, making Tony snigger a bit.  "Only when the situation calls for it though," she amended at his long stare.

"Good.  Get settled in.  We're nearly done with this case anyway.  DiNozzo?" he snapped.

"Boss, nothing on his background check.  No reason for him to be in that bar.  No prior hints of being tied to criminal activities.  Not even a hint that he had misspelled his name on a form.  So either it was an accident he was there at the mafia bar and got shot during one of their things or they were trying to get him to work for them.  Not a clue why," he admitted, looking at him.  "This guy starched his boxers every day, heavy starch according to his dry cleaner.  The stuff you have to mix and spray on, not the canned stuff."

Gibbs looked a bit amused at that but let it drop.  "Fine.  Who was he there with?"

"A former high school friend.  His friends on base said that he was heading back to a reunion in a few days and he was catching up with someone he had been friends with during that time.  Possibly hoping to hook up by the way they said he looked when he talked about her.  It's possible she was the crush he had back then."

"Good.  Any other good news?"

"No, Boss. From this end it's wrong place, wrong time."

"What about the friend?  Is she tied?" Adrian asked. "Not to intrude."

"No, I already checked her," Tony admitted, liking her more now.  "She had no known ties.  She married an Ahmed Azik last year.  He's a computer tech at the Pentagon, a data pool guy.  She's a homemaker with a part-time baby sitting job through some of the mothers her kids play with.  They have a babysitting circle going.  Nothing in hers except that sometimes she doesn't remember her coupons."

"Wrong place, wrong time works for me," Gibbs noted.  "Unless you found anything on his computer, McGee?"

"Not a thing, Boss.  Not even porn.  I didn't think that was possible but there wasn't even a hint of anything on there.  There was an email from someone teasing him about being a virgin but he replied that he was waiting and didn't need the stimulation."

"A bit repressed?" Adrian suggested.  McGee nodded.  "It seems to fit that same personality.  He probably didn't even realize it when women looked at him on the street."

Tony nodded.  "His friends mentioned that."

Gibbs nodded.  "That's fine.  Close the case.  Hand me the reports."  He looked at the new girl.  "Welcome to the team, Marquez."

"Thank you, Boss."  She smiled and got back to work straightening out her desk.  Next to her lamp she put a small crucifix and a miniature stake glued together, then a voodoo doll.  McGee looked at her. "The voodoo doll is of my brother's oldest kid, who's a brat.  He made it for me so I could poke him for dating stupid cheerleaders and only going for football.  It's a running joke in the family.  The other is from my grandmother.  I had to stay with her in Santa Clara during Desert Storm."

"Really?" McGee asked.  "We had a case there."

"Grams said so.  She told me all about the nice guy who came to take over for the slimy mother fucker who was hurting teenagers.  She's a great gossip."

"You know, he's in town," Tony noted.  "We know him."

"Really?  That's kinda cool.  I wonder how he and Frick and Frack at the comic store got along."

"Pretty well from what we saw," Gibbs noted, looking over at her.  "You know?"  She nodded.  "Since when?"

"Since Director Morrow suggested me personally to apply," she said with a smirk. "I didn't do much when I was with Grams, but I learned a lot."

"Good.  Xander's upstairs."

"Why?" Tony asked.

"Morrow wanted to talk to him, couldn't take the time for lunch," Gibbs noted dryly.  "Or so he told me when he called in a blind panic."  He shook his head and got down to his own reports, making notes of what he had been told.  Everyone else's reports would back him up.  A half-hour later Xander came down the main stairs and over to his desk, standing in front of it. "You're blocking the light."

"I know."  He grinned at him.  "I just got ordered to make you take the weekend off, even if I had to handcuff you and keep you hostage."

"Why?" he asked, looking up at the kid.  He saw the devilish smirk. "The director?"

"Said this weekend, we're all to stay in.  We're to invite Eliana over and work with her and the new girl."  He looked at her.  "Miss Marquez?"  She nodded, smirking at him.  "I got told all about you, my dear.  Have Gibbs show you where I live."  She nodded.  "I also got warned not to let you near the computers."  She giggled at that and he looked at Gibbs again.  "I don't know why we're all supposed to stay in this weekend but he said to tell you the bugs were related to that prophecy, they already knew about it, and it was being fixed this weekend by the makers of the bugs.  Therefore we all stay in and sleep.  Especially you."

"Fine.  I'll be over tonight."

"Cool.  What'm I ordering for dinner?"

"We can pick up Mexican on the way home," Tony assured him.  Xander grinned at him.  "Since Miss Marquez is from LA I'm sure she's eaten some."

"Excellent.  Get it from the good place?"  Tony nodded.  "Tell me how much my share is later."  He saluted Gibbs.  "I'm not fired but there was a suspicious fire at the club. The boss wanted to know why.  Would you happen to know anything about that?"

"What did the director say when you asked him?"

"He said it was the Initiative people trying to shut me up."  Gibbs stared at him, standing up.  Xander nodded.  "That's what he said.  No idea why.  Who are you hunting on that?"

"Piers.  He was one of the scientists."

"Ah.  Is he involved in the UN project?"

"No, but we did send them an inquiry about that stuff and noted there was an active investigation about those kids you found," he offered quietly.  "Most of them were gotten after that and they've agreed to turn over anyone who was involved."  Xander nodded at that.  "Stay safe."

"My bike has wards," he noted dryly.  "If someone touches it while I'm not on it, it'll fry 'em and turn 'em crispy with the magic Wes and I laid over that bike through the years.  Not to mention the taser system on it."  Gibbs nodded. "You guys stay safe.  If they know about me, they know about you."

"Of course.  Go right home."

"Sure."  He headed for the house, sure he wasn't the real one in danger.  He found someone outside his house trying to light it on fire and called up an imp to scare the bastard, making him shriek and cry.  He didn't dismount, just called it in from there.  "This is Xander Harris, at 10025 K Street.  I found someone trying to set my house on fire.  He's presently restrained.  I need someone to come get him before I kill him."  He hung up and found the cuffs inside the house, bringing them out with him to handcuff the guy to the bars on his window.  Two cop cars sped up and stopped on either side of his bike, hurrying over. "I haven't bruised him yet.  Can't I hit him a few times?"

"No, sir.  What was he doing?"  Xander pointed at the materials.  "Where were you?" he asked, leading Xander back.  "And why do you have regulation handcuffs?"

Xander looked at him.  "Because I like them.  I rode up and found him trying to light the wick.  I scared him and he burst out screaming and crying.  He's a damn woose."

"Thank you, sir."  He looked him over, noticing the look he was wearing.  "Sir, do you know of a club called Pyro?"

"I work there.  I was told it had a fire. You think it's related?"

"I don't know, sir.  Do you?"

Xander shrugged. "I only heard about the fire today.  If I hear anything I'll gladly call, officer."  That got a smile and he handed over a card.  "Thank you.   Please take that trash away before I kill him."

"Of course, Mr. Harris."  He looked at the bike, then at him. "That's a very pretty bike."

"Thank you.  I inherited it from a man who was like my brother."  That got a nod and the officer went over to unhandcuff the guy, then recuff him with his cuffs.  Xander took his handcuffs back and the officers called someone to get the materials littering the little bit of lawn he had.  Xander sat on the stoop to watch.  He never got to see what Tony did and he had wondered.  That's why he noticed the car coming up the street.  "Um, guys!" he called.  Pointing.  Then he ducked when the first shot was fired.  "Fuck me," he growled.  He started to reach for a weapon, but instead he went to go check on the officers and noted the license plate as it sped off.  "They're so going to pay for going against me," he assured the officer on the ground.  He looked at the guy who had just tried to burn his house, who was also moaning.  He grabbed the officer's radio, noting the name on the tag on the shirt.  "Officer Delgado needs assistance at prior call.  Drive by shooting.  Officers down, one perp down, need medical backup, now!" he ordered letting it go.  Hey, he watched cop shows for fun.  Then he went to grab his med kit and came out to help.  Ambulances always took too long.  He was on the second officer when the ambulance and a few more cop cars pulled up.  He looked at the cops running toward him. "Write this down," he ordered, staring at one.  "License plate, Maryland, ACJ 991."  He looked stunned.  "Write it down!"  He nodded and wrote it down.  "That's who shot at them.  I was on the stoop watching when he came up."  He went back to what he was doing.  "I know what I'm doing, get the others," he told the paramedic.

"Are you licensed?"

"I'm a fucking combat veteran from near LA.  I've field bandaged before!"  The paramedic just left it there, they had too many to get at the moment.  He finished tying that one off and let himself be led off once his kit was closed.  He took a few deep breaths and sat down again.  "I was here.  Well, first I pulled up and found the idiot in cuffs trying to light my house on fire," he admitted.  "Those two answered.  We talked for a moment, they cuffed him in their cuffs.  They called for someone to pick up the materials off my lawn.  They showed up.  I sat here to watch because I have a friend in the Feds and I always wondered what he did.  That's why I saw the car. I yelled, I pointed.  We all ducked at the first shot.  They got hit, I was behind the planter," he said, nodding at the one behind him that was now full of holes.  "And I work at Pyro," he told them.  The officer taking this down looked at him.  "We had a suspicious fire.  I found out about it earlier today."

"That's fine, sir.  You live here alone?"

"Yes, but I'm expecting friends later."  He took his medical kit back from one of the officers.  "That's mine, I ran in to get it after calling for help.  You guys always take time since you're never right around the corner."  He looked at the cop again, hugging the box.  "I'm fine."

"I can tell.  You hid behind the planter?"

"I know I'm not bulletproof," he noted dryly.  The officer smirked a bit at that.  "I'm just glad nothing's fatal," he said as he watched them being carted off.  He saw the car again and pointed.  "It was one of those.  Is that the same license plate?"  The officers looked and the car did a sudden u-turn before speeding off in the other direction.  A few cars chased him.  He relaxed and sighed.  "Okay, I'm calm again," he noted tiredly.  The officer looked at him.  "I grew up just outside of LA, officer.  Gunshots weren't so usual but I saw plenty of injuries.  Hence me knowing how to field dress and stitch when my friends needed it."

"Were you part of a gang, sir?"

"Hell no," he snorted.  "No time for it.  I'm just calm in the face of danger most of the time.  I laugh in the face of danger then run away like a little girl."  That got a small smirk and a nod as he made more notes.  "I should head inside.  I need to get things ready for later.  I have a few friends coming over."

"Are you sure you want to stay?  They could be targeting you."

"If so, they're in for a rude shock," he offered, pulling his gun and his permit to carry.  "I damn near did shoot back but I thought they needed help more."  The officer looked stunned, looking at the permit.  "I'm also a crack shot.  They needed help more than I needed to endanger more lives by blowing their tire."

"Good thinking, sir.  Very good thinking.  You'll be safe?"

"Just fine."  He put the gun back and the box inside.  Then he came back out.  "Don't forget the arson stuff," he ordered.  "I don't want that here."  He sat down with a phone, calling Eliana's house.  "It's me.  Be careful when you come over tonight and this weekend, dear.  Because someone just tried to burn my house and then shot at some cops.  No, I'm fine.  They'll live. I saw the car coming."  He moved the phone away. "It was going really slowly," he told the cop nearest him.  He got a funny look.  "Drivebys are usually faster.  They don't slow down to gawking speed.  This one was.  I had time to read the license plate."  The cop noted that and he went back to his conversation.  "Just be careful tonight, dear.  Yeah, we'll be safe here.  Of course. Thanks."  He hung up and tossed the phone back inside, hearing an 'ouch'.  He looked.  "Wills.  Someone just tried to shoot us."  She handed over a paper then went back inside shaking her head and disappearing. "What?  I check my email once a day," he muttered, reading the note.  He snorted and put it inside to show Gibbs later.  He'd need that more than he would.  The cops were gone by the time everyone got there, leaving some tape around his lawn.  He answered the door at the pounding, giving Tony a calm look since he looked so panicked.  "Someone was trying to commit arson then someone tried to do a driveby on the answering officers."  He let him inside.  "I've already warned Eliana and Willow popped around to give me a note for you and Gibbs."  He went back to his playing solitaire in the living room.  He needed to stay calm or else his anger would make him do something stupid.

Tony dropped the food and came back, pulling Xander up to look him over.  "Are you all right?"

"The planter got mine.  I'm fine," he assured him quietly.  "I also got the license number.  They were going really slow."  Tony hugged him, crushing him to his chest.  "I'm fine," he soothed, patting him on the back.  The door slammed open. "I'm fine."  Gibbs stomped in.  "Letter on the chair, Boss. From Wills."  He hugged Tony back, patting him a bit.  "I'm fine.  I ducked.  I didn't even shoot at them."  Tony pulled back to glare at him.  "It's not like I'm not armed.  We all know I carry concealed.  Magically concealed at that."  Gibbs looked at him so he shrugged.  "I'm a good boy most of the time.  I helped instead of shooting back.  Speaking of which, I need to refill my med kit tonight and redo my CPR card."  He shook his head and went to check on the food. "Hey, where's the nachos?" he called.

"In the car," Tony said, calming himself down.  He looked at Gibbs.  "Is this what the director was talking about?" he asked quietly.  He nodded. "You're sure?"

"It's probable.  They think it'll be solved by the end of the weekend.  Xander, did you call Eliana?"

"Yeah.  I warned her to be careful and told her what happened. That's when I realized that the car was going too slowly."  He came out with a drink for both of them.  Then he went back for another soda, sitting back down to his card game.  "I'm fine, Gibbs. I ducked behind the planter.  The cops are all probably fine.  They were wearing vests and only one got a lucky shoulder shot in."  He noticed them relaxing.  "I'm okay.  Go look if you want to."  He got stymied and gathered up the cards, shuffling and redealing.

Tony sat down beside him.  "Why were you outside?"

"I had no idea what you did for a living so I was watching them work on the stuff the arsonist brought with him," he admitted, looking at him. "I'm a curious little kitty."  He grinned and got back to work, listening to Abby's car squeal in and park, hoping that the slight metal-on-metal noise wasn't his bike.  "That had better not have been my bike!" he yelled.  She came rushing in and hugged him.  "What did you hit?"

"McGee's car."  She pushed him back to look him over.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.  I was behind the planter.  I do need to refill my medical kit though."  She nodded, hugging him again.  He sat down again, putting her next to him.  "Here, you can both help me play this hand."

Tony pointed at one.  "Four onto the five."

"Thanks."

Gibbs went to go look, finding McGee standing there as well.  "He's fine."

"Let me guess, he was behind the planter?" he asked, pointing at the concrete thing that now had holes in it.  Gibbs nodded.  "Any scratches?"

"Not that we found.  He said someone was trying to set the house on fire then there was a driveby."

"I've got my overnight bag in the car, Boss.  If we have to, we can camp."  He headed inside, going to check on Abby.  Tony came out a moment later and headed for his car, then back inside.  Gibbs gave it one last look then went inside, shutting the door.  McGee looked at them.  "Should we eat out here?  You can see outside."

"I'd rather see than have it sneak up on me," Xander offered.  "But sure, go get food and we can eat in here.  We can watch tv until we're all calm again."

"No news crews?" Tony joked.

"Not that I've seen.  I guess they're at the hospital."

"Or headed off.  They'd still have someone here to film the scene," Gibbs noted.  He went to get his flashlight and head back to the scene to look it over.  The cop cruising the street parked and walked over and he pulled his credentials.  "He's a friend," he said quietly.

"Tell him all the officers are all right.  Is he one of you?"

"No.  Just a friend.  Why?"

"He mentioned his job had a fire," he admitted.  "We were told to watch the area."

"There's three other federal agents inside with him.  If they come here, you're going to be picking up swiss cheese," he noted dryly.

The cop smiled.  "That's fine.  What're you looking for, Special Agent Gibbs?"

"No news crews showed up."

"Only one at the hospital and they were turned away.  We weren't told why but we were warned to watch the house.  The cops were impressed that he helped instead of shooting at the cars when he noted he was carrying and produced his gun and permit."

"Usually he would have."  He looked around and found something, picking it up with the plastic bag he had picked up with the flashlight.  He held it up.  "What's this?"  The officer looked and shrugged.  "I'll give it over tomorrow, officer.  I want to make sure that it doesn't relate back to us somehow."

"Of course, sir.  He has a card from at least one of the officers earlier if anything else comes to him."  He ducked back under the tape, holding it up for him to come out too.  "You have a safe night, Special Agent Gibbs.  Keep him safe too."  He walked back to his car and got in, heading back onto his route.

Gibbs walked inside and shut the door, locking it.  He headed down to look up the symbol on it.  He knew that symbol from somewhere.  Fortunately this system was set up about how MTAC was and he knew how to work theirs.  What he came up with made him frown and scared him a bit, but nothing that would make him panic.  He walked upstairs, showing the now bagged card to Xander.  Who only shrugged.  "The order of Taraka?"

"Oh, hey, the assassins.  They came after Buffy once," he said thoughtfully.  "We got three of them and they suddenly disappeared.  They work on my side of the fence."

"They work on both sides, Xander," he noted.  He went to call it in, see if the director had any idea about why the boy was targeted.  That had been an elaborate show earlier and he wasn't sure the card was authentic.  He came back and found everyone eating in the living room, the curtains still open.  He looked at the boy.  "That's dangerous."

"I'd rather see it coming than suddenly smell smoke."  He ate another bite, staring at him.

"Good point.  That was theater."  Xander nodded, chewing.  "You knew that?"

"I realized it right after I realized the car had been going at gawking speed.  Drivebys slow down, but not that much.  I got the license plate clearly."  He ate another bite.  "I'm guessing someone's trying scare tactics since I *caught* him *trying* to light the fuse on the molotov."

Gibbs nodded and Tony looked at him. "You're too damn calm."

Xander looked at him.  "I don't scare that easily, Tony.  I might be scared, and I am, but I'm not going to stop doing what I'm doing.  I don't give in to fear tactics.  I didn't when I turned invisible.  I didn't during the Hanzel and Gretel demon.  I don't give into it.  If I did, I'd have died long ago cowering in my closet as my parents argued outside my door about selling me to someone to cover their debts."  Tony looked stunned.  "It only happened the once but they didn't quite manage it."  He ate another bite.  "I'm not giving in to them.  I'm not the sort to do that.  If I cowered each time someone wanted to kill me, I'd never have made it out of tenth grade. Shit, every vampire who's ever met me wanted to kill me, along with most of the women in the world.  I'm not letting myself be paralyzed, even though I'm shaking inside."  Tony gave him a hug.  "Thank you," he said quietly.  He patted him on the arm.  "It's all right.  This is drama.  That's all this is.  A scare tactic."  Tony nodded and let him go. They both looked at Gibbs.  "What do we do now, Boss?  Huddle in?"

"I think that's a good idea.  McGee, didn't you dish me up any?"

"I left yours in the microwave, Boss, that way it would be warm."

He nodded and went to get it and another beer.  This was a moment to celebrate and think.  He could tell the kid was scared but he approved of his stoicism.  It's the sort of thing he'd do.  He sat down, looking outside to watch the cop car cruise by again.  "Don't you have neighbors?"

"Yes, and two came out to watch the cops being bundled up," he admitted, scraping his plate and putting it down, then relaxing again.  He turned on the tv, flipping channels.  "Sports, non sports?  Anyone got any options or am I putting it on animal planet again for Funniest Animals?"

"I could use the laugh," Abby said, sniffling a few times. "Can I be scared?"

"Of course," Xander assured her.  "I'm surprised Fluffy hasn't dragged you home to make sure you're not in danger, or downstairs to make sure you're not in danger."

"She'd hit me," McGee assured him.  "You didn't even get a scratch?"

"No. I can curl into a really little ball when I need to."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Are you thinking that they would have been shocked if I had shot back?"

"Possibly.  Especially if they're going on your reputation."

Xander sighed and nodded.  "Quite true.  I'm not known to be one who attacks usually.  Not unless I catch you hunting.  I so wanted to fire back," he admitted.  "I just wanted to pull and raise up and blow all their tires out then the gas tank."

"You did the right thing helping and calling for help," Tony said firmly.  "Anything else could have gotten you hurt or involved a civilian.  The police probably would've been looking at you like you were a drug dealer or something."

"There was only one news crew at the hospital," Gibbs noted.  "Probably called by a neighbor so they didn't know about the ban that got around to the rest of them."  He looked at Tony.  "The cop told me they were told to not pay attention to that stuff, but to patrol this area heavily.  He also said they were all okay, Xander."

"I figured they would be," he admitted.  "What about pyro guy?"

"No clue.  He wasn't mentioned."

Xander looked at him.  "So, which way is this going?  Taraka go supernatural a lot of the time.  One of the ones after Buffy was this big pile of maggots that worked together to have a human form."

"Eww, trying to eat," Abby said, putting down her mostly full plate. "I'll come back to that later."  She snuggled into Xander's side, letting her feet curl up between her and Gibbs.  "Could this be related to the vampires?  Trying to scare you off?"

"Then why torch Pyro?" Xander asked her.  She looked up at him and he nodded.  "Someone broke in and torched the dance floor."

"So, she only saw you on your birthday or it's not directly related to you?" Abby suggested.

"Why she?" Gibbs asked.

"Because he draws scary women, Boss.  He doesn't usually bring scary men home, just scary women."  A hint of a smirk started.  "I'm generalizing, okay?"  She looked at Xander again.  "Was anywhere else lit?"

"Not that I saw when I went in to check on working tonight or not," he admitted.  "I saw the taped off area around the dance floor and the cops and firemen standing around.  I walked over to the boss, who was behind the bar gulping a scotch.  He gave me this look and said he had no idea what was going on but it'd take a few days to figure out. He did warn me to stay calm and suggested it had something to do with the Initiative, which Morrow hinted at as well."

"Marquez has the address," Gibbs noted.  "She was getting dinner then coming over.  Eliana?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"That's fine," Gibbs agreed. "We're staying over."

"Sure.  We've got the two couches, I've got a sleeping bag and those mats upstairs.  You can borrow the stuff in the shower if you want."

"We all have overnight bags packed in the trunk," Tony told him.  "We have to because we can be called out of the city on a moment's notice."

"I can borrow a t-shirt or something," Abby promised.  Xander nodded, grinning at her.  "Shouldn't we tell Marquez?"

Gibbs pulled out his cellphone and found her number, dialing it.  "Marquez, Gibbs.  We're all spending the night at Xander's.  His house was attacked earlier.  You might want to bring clothes, yes."  She made that jump immediately, it showed a lot of promise.

"And pillows, I only have the ones on the bed and down here."

"And he said to bring a pillow if you want one.  Fine."  He hung up.  "It'll take her about an hour.  She's out near where you live, DiNozzo."

"That's fine, Boss.  We can handle it if something happens for a while longer."  Xander smirked at that.  "Was she transferred in just because of this?"

"No, she was the one Morrow wanted to replace Kate," he admitted.  "Jen wouldn't listen to reason and got us Ziva instead."

"Yeah, but then you would've went to her instead of me," Xander pouted, smirking a bit finally.

"She probably would have come to you, kid.  Either that or you'd have run into us in the clubs while hunting."

"Actually, I was thinking about sending Tony more candy at work to annoy him the day before you showed up at work," he admitted with a grin.  "I need a playmate."

"You do," McGee agreed, smirking at him.  "Thank you for picking him."

"Welcome, Fluffy."

They all heard him groan and a car door slam, then someone stomping up the stairs before a knock on the door.  Gibbs got up to get it, looking at the redhead standing there.  "Eliana?"  He let her inside.  "Why are you here already?"

"Auntie Jen called Mom and told her to send me here.  I cracked my cast open earlier and Mom said it'd be fine when she demanded."  She put her hands on her hips once she had dropped her bag, staring at him.  "What the hell is she going on about?  Auntie Jen used to be normal and now she's some psychotic bitch who's ranting about vampires and wiping them all off the map along with those who hunt them and all the goth clubs too.  Did you have something to do with that?"

"We broke her," Xander called.  "She was snooping on us and we told her, and she broke."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "I knew you were capable of it, Xander."  She looked at Gibbs again.  "What happened?"

"Someone tried to set the house on fire and then shot at the officers responding."

"Wonderful!" she said sarcastically.  She went into the living room and sat on Xander's lap, straddling it so she could look down at him.  "Can't you stay *out* of trouble?  Just for a whole week?"

"I was good.  I had nothing to do with this.  From what I heard it had to do with the Initiative shit."  He patted her on the back.  "Get off, you're heavy.  You've had way too much chocolate today."  She snickered and got off his lap, sitting across Tony's lap instead.  He looked at her.  "Ask, Eliana."

She smiled at Tony. "Can I use you as a couch?"

"As long as you don't get any funny ideas.  You're much too young for me."

She smirked.  "You never know."

"Oh, I do.  I definitely do."

She giggled and hugged him.  "Relax, studly.  I've got a boyfriend.  He's a very jealous gang member.  Which I kicked his ass over."  She let him go.  "What're we doing now?"

"Well, I'm going to go check the house for explosive devices," Xander offered.  He stood up. "I have this nasty suspicion that she's teamed up with the remains of the Initiative with what she's said and done."  He went to find his tool kit and took Gibbs' flashlight out with him, going to look for the thing he was pretty sure had been hidden during the day.  One of the cops had spent a lot of time looking around the end of the house, but Gibbs had still found that card. He did a thorough search, finding it hidden against one of the recessed, basement windows, the type that were near the ceiling and were partially covered by a bush and a drain funnel.  He squatted down to look at it.  "Hmm."  He heard the cleared throat and glanced back. "Officer, could you please tell Agent Gibbs inside that I need my electronics wire cutters.  These are too big."

"Um, sir...."

"I'm more than qualified.  Just do it," he ordered calmly.  The officer rushed off and he got to work unscrewing the plastiglass box around the explosive, making sure nothing was hitched to it.  They hadn't put any of the wires around the screws so he was safe so far.  He did find one under the box's side and used the end of the screwdriver to lay across it.  He knew it wasn't part of the electrical circuit, it didn't connect to anything, which meant it was a trip switch.  He tossed the box behind him and held a hand up when he heard footsteps.  "I need the thinner ones," he ordered.  A pair were handed over.  "Thanks."  He used the tip to carefully shift two wires out of his way then snipped the one he needed, handing it over once it was safe, taking back his screwdriver as well.  "More drama," he told Tony quietly.  "They knew I could do that.  I blew their doors with one."  He walked back inside, slamming the door.  "I hate them!"  He went into his dining room, going to kneel in front of the altar and pray for patience.  Or else he'd do something stupid.

"Harris!" Gibbs yelled.

"I used one just like that on the doors, Gibbs," he called back.  "They knew I knew it."

He came into the room, closing the door. "Thankfully the cop was outside and didn't hear."

"I figured he was pissing in the other bushes," he admitted, looking back at him.  "That's an exact copy of the one I used on the Initiative's doors," he noted calmly.  He turned back around.  "I'm praying for patience before I do something stupid."

"You mean like disarming a bomb!  Especially without telling us?"

"Yeah, probably," he admitted tiredly.  "At least I knew what I was doing."  He went back to praying for patience.  Otherwise he'd scream and then do something stupid.

Gibbs stomped out, going to help Tony search.  Either he had missed it or someone had snuck up and planted it anyway.  "Find any more?"

"Two boss.  He's already called bomb squad," Tony reported.  "The cop's fine.  A bit shaken but fine.  He wants to know what's going on."

"So do I," he said coolly, staring him down.  "He's praying for patience before he does something stupid," he said acidly.

"You mean like disarming a bomb and not telling us there was one?" Tony asked.

"Yeah.  That."

"I'll go talk to him."  He went inside, going to talk to the boy.  He walked in and shut the door.  He looked at him for a moment, trying to control his temper and his fear.  He wasn't sure which was stronger, the anger, fear, or his desire to make sure he was still okay. "Anything else you want to mention that they know you can do?"

"I fried their computers," he admitted quietly, not looking at him.  "I basically stuck a screwdriver in their mainframe at the wrong spot."  He took a deep breath.  "I disabled the security cameras in the elevator shaft by rerouting them.  I got us onto the base and back out.  I got the cells open with a key card I stole off someone's jacket once they had fallen.  I knocked out some of the scientists working on Oz.  I lost my temper during both assaults. The second time I was the power they were sucking on for the spell to call the First Slayer. We all cast it but I was the power behind Willow doing it.  I fought with a few of the hyped soldiers.  I got injured," he said quietly.  "I didn't think I was going to make it out of the second one.  I wasn't sure any of us would, and when the spell started to reflect back to us, she ripped out my heart in my dreams, a few times.  It was a warning and a sign. I'm not sure which of us fucked up the spell, I think it was me since I didn't know what the hell I was doing when the others did."  He looked back at him now.  "It showed us all a lot of what could be coming.  And none of us listened," he finished.

"Even if you did mess it up, it wasn't something you could help."

"Neither were the nightmares we got trapped in," he agreed. "It doesn't make it any easier."  He stood up and faced him.  "I did things that were necessary and not always nice, Tony.  You read the journal with the soul sticking.  I told Buffy Willow wasn't going to try because I knew she couldn't fight him and win.  She was ignoring that fact.  I got hell over that but it was necessary."

"Now, it's not.  We can help with this stuff.  Not that any of us can disarm bombs," he admitted.  "At least that I know of."  Xander nodded and slumped some. "Are you okay?"

"Fine.  Did they find more?"

"Three.  Two out front and one out back."

"So they knew we were all in the living room and wanted the building to fall that way?"

"They probably figured it'd cover the books and artifacts," he noted quietly.  "Plus the weapons.  Where are the real weapons?"

"You should be able to feel the magic covering them."

Tony concentrated and nodded finally.  "Still in the attic?"  Xander nodded.  "Just hidden?"

"Concealed.  Magically concealed, like my gun."  Tony nodded and he moved closer.  "They're attacking me and I want to fight back.  It's not in me to stand there and take it, Tony," he said quietly.  "That's not me."

"Just be a bit patient, Xander," he said.  "The director only said this weekend."

"That doesn't mean it'll be safe Monday for you guys."

"It will be.  Gibbs is mad as hell.  He gets that way when someone attacks his team."  He opened his arms and Xander moved closer, letting him hug him.  "It'll be okay.  I promise it'll be okay."  Xander nodded, relaxing against him. "No more hero stuff, okay?  Let us help."

"I knew what I was doing."

"They're still dangerous.  Anything could have happened, Xander, and we don't want to lose you."

"You or everyone?" he asked quietly, pulling back to look at him.

"Both," he admitted quietly.  "Okay?"  Xander nodded, hugging him again. Tony sighed and hugged back.  "Thank you."  He just held him for now.  He could feel the shaking.  Not crying just shaking.  "You'll be fine."

"They wanted to blow you guys up," he said quietly.  He pulled back and looked at him.  "I find that unacceptable."

"Don't, Xander," he warned.  "They want you more than us."

"Someone wanted us all here.  Is the director in on it?"

"No.  I knew the man for two years, at work at least.  He's not in on this."  He stared him down.  "You can't move us for our own safety and be the bait," he said quietly. "Gibbs won't let you."

"No, he won't," Xander agreed.  He forced himself to calm down again.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!  You were the one playing with the damn bomb!" he said hotly. "You could have been blown up!"

"That was more drama, like the driveby," he noted, but he was still feeling pretty shaky.  He moved closer and Tony looked at him.  "Can I...."  He shook his head and backed off again.  Tony pulled him closer, giving him another hug.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome.  I'd need one too."

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped.

"In here, Boss."  He unlocked the door and opened it enough to let him inside. "He's fine," he said at the stare.  "Just a bit shaky.  He said that's the same bomb he used on them and it was more drama."

"It was.  They were also all duds."  Xander pulled back to look at him. "If you EVER do something that stupid again I will kick your ass, Harris, do you understand!"

"Yes, Boss," he said weakly.  "I knew I could do it."

"I don't care!" he shouted.  "Do not touch bombs!"

"Yes, sir," he said, looking down.  "I'm sorry."

"You should be. You worried him sick."  He looked at Tony.  "We're setting up patrols and Harris is not going alone.  You're taking every other hour.  We've also got a cop sitting on the house.  Morrow is livid that they're doing this here.  We're under orders to protect the civilians here.  The FBI was told that this was an action against Goths and since he works in the club, he was a target.  Since we're friends, we're being used to protect him and this house so that they can concentrate on the people doing these things.  And they do know.  Morrow's contacts in the Secret Service have briefed the contacts over there who know what's going on and they're hunting for them right now."  Xander opened his mouth.  "Not one word, Harris."  Xander shut his mouth and looked down again.  "We are therefore guarding this house until it is done with, even if that takes all next week.  I'll be releasing you in pairs to gather clothes.  For obvious reasons, McGee and Abby can go together.  I've already told Marquez so she knows to bring more. She's on her way here now.  I caught her finishing dinner and getting ready to leave."

"I've got clothes here, Boss.  You can leave Marquez and I here and go with the duo," Tony assured him. "Plus he's got a washer."

"Why do you have clothes here, or don't I want to know?"

"I've collapsed here after hunting before and I left some work clothes here.  Plus some spare hunting clothes since we ran into that chaos demon."

"Fine.  We'll work out rotation.  Do you think you can be reasonable and follow directions, Harris?"

"Yes, Gibbs."

"Good.  Then you'll be patrolling with one of the two of us.  I don't know how good Marquez is so I'll be practicing with her later."

"I can test her," Xander offered.  "I've got to work with Eliana anyway."

"Fine.  You do that. If she's any good, pair her with McGee.  If not, I'll take McGee and her while you two pair up since you're so used to each other.  As long as you think you can continue to follow orders and quit being so damn stupid."

"Yes, Boss.  Sorry, but I knew I could do it."

"I don't care!  I know how to lay dynamite but I don't."  Xander nodded and looked down again.  "Good."  He stomped out.

"You got off pretty light," Tony said quietly.  "He must still be scared you're going to be hurt."  He made Xander look at him.  "We're talking after all this is done with."

"About what?"

"About what you told my cousin, the brat."  He walked out, leaving a smiling Xander behind him.  At least it would give his mind something to work on while he worked and waited.  He hated stakeouts and these sort of things because you had to *wait* to do anything.  Xander came out and curled up next to Abby and Eliana, who were looking at clothes for clubbing and hunting.   He saw Marquez pull up and went to let her in, nodding her inside.  "You brought your spare and bullets?" he asked, closing the door.

"Of course.  Half my bag is weapons."  She walked into the living room, making Xander look at her.  "My grams was most impressed with you," she said dryly.  "You've survived this long and she's proud of you for it."  He grinned at that.  "Frick and Frack are living in her garage apartment and they said hi too since she was feeding them."  He chuckled a bit.  "Let us handle it?"

"Hell no," he snorted.  "I'm still helping, just in a more limited capacity."

"Fine."  She put her bag down.  "Don't touch that, it's got my weapon in it."

Xander stood up and pulled Eliana up.  "We've got to see how good you are anyway, dear.  Up the stairs to the training room."

"I wanted to see your bedroom," Eliana teased.

He spanked her. "No girls in my bedroom, you'll turn evil.  Then I'd have to stake you once you got turned."  He followed them up the stairs, watching them look around.  "Come on, let's go so we can set patrol and watch schedules."  Eliana laughed and pounced at him, but he ducked and knocked her down.  "I know you can do better than that, Eli.  I trained your ass.  Up and try it again."

"Crap, this is one of those," she complained, taking off her sweater and lunging for real.  He ducked and she fought on, using her sweater as a weapon.  He managed to get it from her and toss it away.  She did a backflip to get away from him and he followed, pinning her against the wall.  "Shit!"

He sighed and backed off, shaking his head. "You can do better.  I know you can.  I trained you better than this.  Now, let's go!" he ordered.  She nodded and got back into it.  "Thank you!" he said when she finally tried to kick his ass. "Do you do that in the clubs?"

"No, I act cute and helpless and then attack when they think they have me," she reminded him.  "It works with my looks.  Like your sex baiting does."  She got in a good kick and he used her foot to throw her.  She giggled and got up again, trying him again.

Gibbs came up to watch, finally seeing how good the kid was.  Tony snuck up behind him to watch too.  He knew he was amazed so he thought for sure his coworker was but he saw the smirk on his face.  "Seen it before?" he hissed.

"A few times, Boss," he hissed back.  She finally managed to get him down and pulled a stake off her back to get him.  He clapped.  "Nice job.  You too, Eli."  He grinned at Xander.  "You know, for a non-slayer, you're very good."  He smirked at Marquez.  "How good are you?"

"Basics.  I never got to hunt when I lived with my Grams, just stake a few that came to the door."  Xander got up and waved her on once he had wiped his sweat out of his eyes.  She attacked and she realized she was faster.  "What is this?"

"You were called when Willow did the spell," he said grimly.  "I'm guessing you had some major stomach cramps since then, especially that night."  She nodded.  "We'll work on you two together then.  You two can pair with Gibbs."

"Agreed," Gibbs noted.  It'd only protect him more and help the girls.  He watched Xander put her down a few times, then came in to work with her.  "This is what he's doing."  He showed her in slow motion.  "The counter would be...."  He tried it again and this time she countered him, smiling.  "Good.  You'll learn it.  I did."  Xander backed off and waved a hand for him to continue.  "Tired?"

"A bit," he admitted, leaning down to pant.

Tony came in to lead him to his bedroom, checking him over for injuries.  Like McGee, now that he was thinking about it, there was no way Xander could have hidden behind that planter.  He found a few scratches from debris but nothing else.  "How did you hide?"

"Instinctive magic," he admitted.  "It's what saved me from Willow when she went bad."  Tony nodded so he smiled.  "Let me catch a shower and change."

"Go for it."  He looked around the bedroom once Xander was in the bathroom.  He hadn't taken the time to do that the day they spent alone.  He was already starting to notice a few things.  There were only three pictures in the whole house, all of them downstairs, all of them group shots.  There were two mirrors in the house outside of the expected ones in the bathrooms.  The glued-on one in the dining room that he was pretty sure came with the house and the one over the dresser.  He looked in the closet.  It wasn't organized but the colors were blended together.  All the brights on one side and the darks on the other.  With a few notable things out of place.  He closed that door when he heard the shower go off and walked back into the hallway so he could come out and find clothes without being stared at.  He still had a good view, but nothing that would embarrass the kid.  He looked at his boss when he came out.  "How're we doing patrols and watch, Boss?" he asked quietly.

"I'll take first one with Marquez.  We'll let Abby, Eliana, and McGee get midnight to four.  You two will take four to eight.  Then we'll start over at four hour increments."  Tony nodded, accepting that. "Is he really okay?"

"No injuries I saw," he admitted, looking in there.  Xander's back was to him and he was naked, bending over slightly to pull on some pants.  He coughed and Xander turned to look at him, showing him a lot more than he had known.  "We're taking four-to-eight am watch and patrol."

"That's fine.  I need to run a load of wash."  He finished pulling up the sweats and gathered up his laundry basket, heading down to his washer, which was next to the kitchen.  "Marquez, come eat.  You need to."

"In a minute, Great One."

Xander snorted.  "No I'm not."  He dumped everything in, only checking pockets, and turned it on cold. Then he added detergent and closed the lid, leaving the basket there.  He headed back up the stairs to get a t-shirt and socks.  "Sorry, out of underwear," he explained as he walked past Gibbs again.

"It happens to the best of us.  Do you have enough food?"

"Not sure.  Go check.  If not, we can always order or something," he offered.

Tony walked in to sit next to him.  "How big was the trust Wes left you?"

Xander grimaced and looked at him.  "About six mil," he admitted quietly.  "Plus the estate in England, which is worth probably nearly as much with all the antiques."  Tony nodded at that.  "I don't need to work, I work so I don't get bored and do stupid shit, like learn another language."  That got a grin.  "Were you watching me?" he whispered.  Tony nodded.  "Liked what you saw?" he asked, sounding a bit hopeful.

"All but the scars.  They made me want to hurt someone for hurting you."  He glanced out in the hall since he had the better view, then stole a quick kiss.  They smiled at each other.  "We're talking after we get done with this.  Nothing until then."

"Deal," he agreed.  "I don't want Gibbs to look at us funny anyway."

"Good."  He glanced out then stole another kiss, realizing this was going to be habit forming.  "Come on, let's go."

"Yes, sir."  He finished pulling on his socks and followed him.  He found Abby looking through one of his kink catalogs and McGee blushing bright red since she was chuckling at something she was looking at that.  "I got that at work the other night."  He sat down next to her to look over her arm, grinning.  "Those are too easy to get out of."

"He wiggles," she said happily.  She flipped back a few pages.  "What did you think about this?" she asked, showing him a dildo gag.

"I think I have one of those upstairs and Anya used to like it a hell of a lot," he admitted dryly.  "I really do have to go clean out those things."  Tony gave him a look and nodded.  "Wanna help?"

"Not really.  I might get scared and run away."  Gibbs walked past him and smacked him.  "What was that for?"

"For passing up an opportunity to snoop.  Are you feeling sick?"  He sat down and looked at the front of the catalog.  "Interesting reading materials."

"Someone was handing them out at work.  I need a new pair of handcuffs," he admitted.

"The ones on the table seem to be okay," McGee noted.

"I don't want to keep anything I used with Anya," he told him. "If you need a spare set, I can get you the keys."  He stood up and went to get both sets of handcuffs and keys, handing them to him. "There, spares for the office."  He went back upstairs to his bedroom, going to work through the toybox under his bed.  Abby came in a few minutes later. "Gibbs send you?"

"No.  He suggested I could come bum some of these off you so I didn't have to spend forty bucks on a new toy."

Xander looked at her.  "Don't you have a big toy sitting down there?"

"Yeah, but sometimes...."  She blushed a bit.  "Sometimes you've got to play."

"True.  No one knows your body better than you do."  He pulled out both flat containers and opened them both up.  "The blue box is mine and only mine.  They're my personal collection.  The red box was hers."  He looked through his first, finding three he definitely didn't want.  He didn't like them that much.  He closed that and put them aside.  Then he dug into the other one, making her blush and giggle loudly about what he pulled out.  "Anya was very particular."

"I know.  I saw that one in the catalog and it was like two hundred bucks because it came in fifteen speeds," she said, picking one up.  "Are you sure, Xander?"

He pulled out one and put it on the bed.  "I'll keep that one to remind me of her."

"Is that gold?" she asked, picking it up to look at it.  "It is!  It's solid gold!"

"Yes, it is," he agreed, pulling out another one.  "That one's silver.  I had to talk her out of the platinum one because she'd have to steal it."  She gaped and he nodded. "Really."  He dumped the rest of the box out, letting her see them.  "I really wasn't surprised she cheated on me.  Not with how much she liked me to play with toys."  He got up and went to get her things, finding them in the attic.  He brought them back down to the bedroom and put them beside her.  "Her crap. Definitely not goth."  He sat down to go through it, finally, finding a few pictures and letters that he wanted to keep.  Tony came in and looked at the mess.  "Anya's stuff."

"You brought it with you?"

"Angel clearly didn't want to store it for me," he said with a half-shrug.  "The gold one and the silver one are staying," he said when Tony looked at the toys.  "To remind me of her."  He found a sweater he had bought her and put it on top of them.  "I'll make a box for them later," he said quietly.  She pulled out something and held it up.  He looked at it.  "Wedding lingerie.  Never worn that I know of."  She tucked it in beside her with the stash of toys she had chosen.  He got through that box and found the next one, which had a letter to him.  He opened it and read it, then snorted.  "She said I'm not to give this stuff to some floosy that I date after her unless it was real love and then she could have it all if she wanted, but that I should sell her sex toy collection to get back the money we spent on them."  Abby giggled at that.  "So anything of hers you want, you can have, Abby. Give the rest to Eliana and Marquez.  Whatever they don't want can go to a charity.  Which she would've hated but oh, well."  He dug through that box, finding her hidden stash of toys.  He looked inside and pulled out the platinum one, putting it aside.   He nudged through the rest.  "Here, pick out the handcuffs."  He handed them to Abby.

"You can buy new cuffs," Tony reminded him, lounging on the bed to watch.  He didn't want to touch anything of Anya's.  He was still really mad at how she had used Xander so badly.  "Is that silver too?"

"Pure platinum.  Solid, pure platinum.  There's a small core drilled into it for the vibrating motor, but otherwise it's solid."  He handed it over.

Tony weighed it, then looked at him. "How much did this cost you?"

"Not me," Xander said dryly.  "I didn't have the six grand to buy that for her.  I'm assuming she either took it from someone who bought it after sleeping with them for it, or she called in a few favors to earn some major dough."  He went back to looking, finding another letter to him.  "Gods, Ahn," he complained, reading that one.  "Abby, you can't date me if you're wearing her stuff."

"Oh, I don't think it'll be a problem," she promised with a grin. She looked up.  "We're only really close friends, Anya.  He's like my dorky little brother. I'm going to use them to good purposes on my man.   You mind much?"  She smiled at him.  "I think she'll be fine with it.  She might show up to watch, but she'll be fine with it."

"Watch what?" McGee said from the doorway, looking scared. "What're you doing?  Do you crossdress too?"

"No, this was Anya's stuff, Fluffy, calm down," Xander ordered, smirking at Tony.  "I'd look horrible in a dress. You?"

"I couldn't stand the shaving."  He looked at his stunned coworker.  "Xander's finally going through his former fiance's stuff and giving Abby whatever she wanted, including her toys."

"Toys?" he asked, swallowing.  "What toys?"  Abby held one up and turned it on, making him flee.  "Boss, Xander's making Abby perverted," he complained. Gibbs looked up at him.  He noticed the amused look.  "He's going through Anya's stuff and giving Abby all her sex toys."

"I suggest you take those back to her place when you take her home to get clothes, McGee," he said dryly, going back to his watching the yard.  "Watch out for her decorating with them."

"Boss, if one of those becomes a lamp, I'm never going to her place again," he said dryly.  He went back to watch her, taking Eliana with him.  Abby handed over the two boxes of stuff with a smile and picked up her box, taking it downstairs to her car.  He groaned and followed her to make sure no one hurt her while they were outside.  "Did you have to take all that?"

She smiled at him. "Yes, McGee, I did, and I heard the lamp comment.  There's a wonderful twelve-inch purple jelly one that would work wonderfully for that.  Thank you for the idea."  He groaned and let out a small whimper.  "Don't worry, you'll like it.  It'll go next to the coffin."  She closed her trunk and took his arm, walking him back inside.  "Besides, I got all the handcuffs and straps I could ever want," she said happily.  "I won't need anything in that catalog."

"Good," he assured her.  "I could never buy anything in there."  Gibbs spluttered.  "Sorry, Boss."

"I don't need details, children," he said firmly.  "Of anyone's sex life."

Tony came down to get a plastic bag, pausing in the living room.  "How would you make a shadow box to put some memories of Anya in it?" he asked quietly.  Gibbs looked at him. "You had wives, one must've had one."

"For her wedding dress.  She bought it."

"Oh, good idea.  I didn't know you could.  At least that'll mean I don't have to look at the solid gold, silver or platinum dildos."  He went back up the stairs.  Eliana was dragging her stuff into the training room so Marquez could help her go through it.  Xander presented him with another box.  "What's that?"

"The stuff I only used on me," he said, smiling at him.  "I never used them on her and I never used them on anyone else."

Tony looked at him.  "Really?"  Xander nodded.  "Why?"

"Because she was greedy and those were for my personal times, things she didn't want to see. That's why we got separate ones when she found mine.  Though she did ask what I had cut it off of since it was dark blue with sparklies."   He shrugged.  "She was kinda odd that way."

Tony looked in the box, seeing the simple things.  "You don't go for kinky stuff?"

"Like I said, I only tie someone down so they can enjoy me giving them oral sex without fussing about it.  She was that kinky, not me."

"Xander, did you realize you left the bullwhip in here," Eliana called, then giggled.  "Or that riding crop?"

"Give 'em to Abby if you don't want them, girls.  I don't need 'em."  He looked at Tony again, shrugging.  "That was her thing, not mine."

Tony smiled at that.  It did ease a worry.  He hadn't wanted to go *that* kinky with anyone.  So far. He handed over the bag. "Here, for the stuff we're going to keep of hers.  Gibbs said you can buy boxes for that stuff."

"Cool."  He settled in to pack the few things neatly away. "I should probably sell the platinum one."

"I don't know anyone who'd want it," Tony said.  "Unless someone wants to melt it down."  He shrugged.  Who'd want a solid platinum vibrator - especially a used one?  Xander looked up and grinned at him.  "I have no idea why anyone would want one.  They'd be cold."

"They all warm up pretty well and stay warm once they start.  Plus, the cold sensation isn't so bad at first."  Tony shivered at that. "You never played with ice cubes?"

"After this is done, Xander, not now," he ordered calmly.  "I need to stay focused now."  Xander nodded, leaving it alone for now.  Tony went into the bathroom to calm himself down before they needed to hide from everyone else for a few minutes.

"I'm going to email Angel," Xander called through the door.  "The bag's back under the bed with my personal box."  He headed down the stairs, checking his laundry.  He switched it into the dryer, then headed down the stairs.  No one was down there so he got to work, emailing Dawn that he had finally gone through Anya's stuff and had parceled it out to two slayers and a very good friend, who had appreciated her taste in toys.  To tell Angel thank you for passing it on, since he knew Angel hated computers, and to tell her he was safe and what was going on.  He hit send and relaxed, going through his building email.  He found a few things he printed off, mostly jokes from Dawn.  Marquez would appreciate them with him he was sure.  He closed down his email and carried them upstairs, going to hand them to her.  "From Dawn," he said happily.  Eliana looked and giggled.  "Yeah, more jokes.  She finds some really cute things."  He sat down, looking at the boss.  "Anything?"

"Not yet."  He sipped his coffee, glancing at him. "You okay with that step you just took?"

"I'm fine with it.  I mourned her long ago, Gibbs.  Besides, I'd look really bad in her flirty little skirts and tops.  Or her heels."  Gibbs inhaled his coffee wrong and started to choke.  He grabbed the coffee cup while Eliana helped by sitting him down.  "Sorry, Boss."

Tony yelped then came down the stairs rubbing his arm.  "Another magic gram from Angel."  He glared at him.  "You didn't say she was *that* bad."

"What?  She had more stuff?  Abby?" he called.

"She went home," Gibbs gasped.  He finally got his breathing under control.  "Go check it, kid."  He nodded, taking the girls and Tony with him while Gibbs got himself back under control.  That was just too much.  He called Abby.  "More of her stuff appeared," he offered, then hung up.  He went back to watching the yard.  It was safer that way.

"You didn't say she was some nympho," Tony complained loudly.  "How would you even *use* something like that?"

Gibbs groaned and shook his head.  He really didn't want to know.

"Boss," Tony complained, coming down the stairs.

He held up a hand and shook his head.  "I don't want details, DiNozzo.  I really don't need them."

"Sorry."  He went back up to look at the casket of toys.  Literally.  A coffin full of toys.  A child's coffin at least, but still a coffin of toys. Including some really odd things.  He picked up something, a hard rubber snake and realized it had stuff on it.  "Eww!"  He dropped it and went to clean his hands.

"I agree," Xander called after him.  "I never saw most of these.  It's all new to me."

"New to you!" Eliana complained.  "Shit, I only have plain, vanilla sex.  My boyfriend doesn't even believe in spanking or doggy style."

Marquez looked at him. "I'm so sorry for you."

"Thanks.  I have the only man in existence who doesn't want to see two lesbians go at it."

"Is he gay?"

"No, he gets it up just fine for me," she quipped.

Xander looked at them.  "I got enough of that type of discussion from Anya.  Take it back to the training room."  They grabbed the casket and drug it off with them.  Marquez came back for the snake, holding it by the very tip of the tail, squealing when it came to life.  "I don't want to know what she did with that," he decided, laying down and pulling the pillow over his head so he could imagine Tony tying him down.  Which he didn't let anyone do, but it was a nice thought.  Someone came and took the pillow from him, making him smile at Tony.  "I just realized you'd be the only person I ever let tie me down," he noted quietly.

Tony looked at him. Then he gave him a kiss.  "Slowly, Xander.  Slowly.  I'm not that used to this side of things. Only a few encounters in bars."  Xander nodded.  "Thank you."  He gave him his pillow back.  "You might want to disarm that before Gibbs sees," he said, nodding at the hard cock.

"Why is there a snake in the house!" Gibbs yelled.

"Anya's toys," Xander called back.  "I think the switch is under the chin."

"Wear gloves, Boss! It's slimy!"

"My neighbors have got to be complaining by now," Xander quipped, but he got to his knees and pulled him closer for a real kiss.  "I'll disarm this but your first night back, I get to disarm yours for you.  Deal?"  Tony swallowed and nodded.  "Thank you."  He went into the bathroom.  He found one of his personal toys in there and smiled at Tony before closing the door.

Tony reopened it and closed the bedroom door.  "We're keeping the snake out," he noted.  He sat on the bed, nodding at him. "Please?"  Xander stripped down and got onto his knees, first sucking on it, then using it to slowly open his body.  Tony moaned and Xander shifted sideways so he could see.  He put one fist in his mouth to keep himself quiet, riding it for all he was worth.  He wasn't quite enough and he didn't have a spare hand.  Tony got up to lock the door then came in to help him, kissing him to keep him quiet.  Xander got off with a moan into his mouth and he pulled back to smile at him.  "I definitely should not be doing this," he noted quietly.  Xander nodded and leaned forward, kissing him again, then making him stand so he could take care of him.  Tony clutched the sink, biting his lip to make sure he'd stay quiet, but Xander's mouth was so good!  It was just what he needed.  The person knocking on the door wasn't.  "Boss, just checking something on Xander's back for him," he called.  "One of the scars was itchy and I'm checking for fluid swelling."  He bit his lip again as Xander swallowed hard and he came, clutching onto the sink.  Xander stood up and he heard the toy drop before the warm lips were back on his.  "We can't."

"I know.  This isn't the time," he promised.  "Later it will be and then you're mine.  No toys for at least a month, unless you want me to prepare you that way," he whispered.  Tony smiled and nodded, kissing him again.  "We need to clean up."

"I'll be fine."  He turned and turned on the tap, using it to rinse his mouth out.  Xander handed him the listerine and he grinned, gargling with it before heading out so he could clean up.  Gibbs gave him a long stare.  "He thought he had water retention and it was making a scar swell."

"Uh-huh.  Do you need to run home for anything?"

"No, I'm good with what's here, Boss.  I can always do laundry.  I do need to run out to get my bag."

"McGee can get it when he comes in and takes that other box of perverted crap back to her place."  He went back to looking outside.  "Maybe you should take a quick nap, DiNozzo."  He heard the shocked silence and looked back at him.  "I've been there before. I was married three times."

"Good point.  Once he's back down here.  That way we can't go too far during this."

"Fine.  Thank you for that consideration.  Take the chair instead."  Tony sank down and put the footrest up, getting comfortable.  Xander came down to cover him and he looked at the boy.  "Remember what I said?"

Xander nodded.  "I'd never make it so he can't be ready for work and I won't hurt him."

"Good.  You'd better not.  Don't use those perverted things on him either."

"Not a problem, Boss," he promised.  "I'm not that kinky.  That was all Anya's stuff."  He gave him a hug for a moment then let him go and stepped away.  "Where's the cop?"

"Up the street.  In a normal car. I'll show you when you come on shift in a few hours.  Go get a drink."

"Yes, Boss."  He went to do that.  He did need a drink. Though, Tony was stronger than tequila for his senses.  He might not have to drink ever again. Well, he might have a glass of wine now and then but Tony was definitely stronger and better for him than any liquor he had ever had.

***

Gibbs came into work Wednesday, after having finally gotten the person trying to blow them up or fry them at Xander's house. They were in custody and screaming and pleading for mercy.  Not that he was offering any, but they were begging nicely for it.  Including the new head of the Initiative, one Jen Shepard.  She had reorganized those who were left into taking up where they had left off.  Nearly as soon as she heard about the cult from what had been told to him. He nodded at the director when he ran into him in the elevator.  "Morning, sir."

"Good morning, Jethro.  Is your team coming in today?"

"Yes, sir.  We're all well rested after last night.  Why?"

"I just wondered.  Someone had noticed how close DiNozzo and Harris were when they hunted."

Gibbs stopped the elevator and looked at him.  "Sir, there are cameras in here now?"

"I had them taken out, Jethro.  You know I could care less.  Are they?"

"Yes, sir, but it's only from this last weekend."

"I owe someone ten dollars."  He restarted the elevator with a smile at the shocked look.  "I was a young man once myself, Jethro, and my sister used to be one of the girls.  I knew about this long before now.  When the threat is gone, Mr. Harris will be going to the Academy.  I've already arranged it for him.  You'll just have to make due with an extra field agent on your team since they seem able to work well together and the boy trusts you."  He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it over.  "Here.  For you.  On him."  He got off on his floor and Jethro punched his button, heading back down to his floor.  He sat down behind his desk to read the enclosed notes.  It was on Xander's family.  So now he knew.  He looked over as Tony came in, considering handing it to him.

Tony looked at him. "If it's about Xander, he'll tell me himself, Boss.  I pointed out that proved trust more than letting me tie him down did," he offered quietly.  Gibbs nodded and put the letter into his desk, locking the drawer.  "Are you okay?"

"Fine.  Get the kid to study an area that'll help him in the field.  Morrow has arranged for him to go to the Academy in a few years time.  Without me asking," he said at the opening mouth.  "I'm told he's joining us here so see if he can fill in any remaining gaps."

"Yes, Boss.  Thank you."

"I didn't do it and he said he didn't care what you did after hours," he noted.

Tony smiled at that.  "Thank you."  He went back to his desk, doing some paperwork.  "Do we need to do statements from this weekend?"

"No.  They've all confessed and I've handed over the information we had.  They decided they're part of the cult going around killing people.  They also took over the investigation of what happened to those other goth kids.  It's done and over with, DiNozzo.  Relax about it."

Tony smiled.  "Giles called when I was leaving.  They did figure out how to close this one and move it back.  Possibly even sooner than expected."

"Good.  I'm tired of this strangeness in my city.  The sooner it's all gone, the better I'll like it and the faster we can get back to a normal life."  Tony nodded, going back to his paperwork.  "Anything else you want to tell me?"

"No, Boss.  Though, he did want to know if I wanted to go to England with him once it was done to look at the Estate he inherited.  Or possibly around Easter, whichever comes first."

"I'll let you out of touch at that time," he agreed.  "You'll have to file for vacation days for any weekdays but I won't yell about you being gone over the weekend or being out of touch."

"Thanks, Boss.  It means a lot to him."

"I realize that."  He got down to his own work.  "Where is McGee?" he asked finally.

"Abby, um, may have kept him up last night, Boss.  She was saying something about survival being an aphrodisiac?"

"I ignored that conversation."  He called McGee's phone.  "McGee, you're late.  Do you have a good reason?"  He pulled the phone away from his ear to look at it, then put it back.  "Excuse me?"  He listened to his quiet complaint again.  "Fine.  Come in once you're released and you can sit on desk duty."  He hung up and shook his head. "I don't want to know how she made his ears bleed and his rear sore."

"Maybe he sat on something, Boss," Tony joked.  "She did bring home a lot of stuff."

"Point.  Not one I wanted to consider, but it is a point.  Hopefully an accident."  Tony snickered.  "You, no details."

"Of course not, Boss, and I promise I'll be able to walk when I come in.  Unlike McGee," he giggled.  Marquez came off the elevator.  "Oooh, new girl's late."

"I had to tell off the cop who stopped me for coming out of my apartment building."  She handed her excuse to Gibbs.  "I'm sorry, Boss.  He decided that since one of my neighbors had died in her sleep none of us could go to work.  I had to call his supervisor and listen to them yell at each other before I could get that and get away."

"That's fine.  Those things happen rarely, hopefully never again."

"I hope not too.  She was a very nice old lady."  She sat down behind her desk, then looked at McGee's.  "I didn't know he lived in my building."

"He doesn't. He's at the hospital," Gibbs said dryly.  "Somehow he managed to fall and hurt his ears and hind end."  He stood up and went to file something and get more coffee.  He missed the good stuff at Xander's.

Tony grinned at her.  "Well, you survived your first weekend on the job and managed to survive the first stakeout as well.  What do you think of the job?"

"I like it.  It's much nicer than dealing with rapists and much easier than dealing with my desire to kill those who hurt children.  Besides, I like Xander."  She smiled and got back to work.  "How soon before we get another case?"

"Depends on when the next soldier dies an odd death."

"Ah.  Sometime today?"

"Probably."  He held up something as Gibbs walked past.  "That report I had due last week."

"Thank you, DiNozzo.  About time."  He sat down to look it over, then threw it back at him.  "Yoda you are not. Fix the grammar."

"Yes, Boss, sorry."  He reopened it and grammar checked it.  "Boss, it says it's perfect."

"Don't rely on the checker, it's almost always wrong," he replied.  "Do it yourself.  You went to college, you should write better than that."

"Boss, I was a jock," he reminded him.  "I didn't write many papers."  He got back to work anyway.  The grammar checker had made him sound like a moron in places.

She came over and typed an address into his explorer window.  "I use that," she whispered.  "Copy and paste then click check."  She went back to her desk.

He smiled and did that, reading the results.  He copied it back into his document and reprinted it, handing it back in.  "There you go, Boss.  How long before we get another one?"

"No leave last weekend," he noted.  "It could be this weekend."

"Wonderful."  He went back to his desk, cleaning up all the files that he had pending.  As each one was done, he put it on the floor, stacking them up.  Then he lifted the stack and brought them over.  "Since I have energy this morning," he said happily, going back to dust and reorganize his drawers.

"Boss, can I go kill someone so he doesn't start to vacuum?" Marquez asked a few minutes later.

"Maybe after lunch."  He looked them over, then at her.  "What site did you show him?"  She came over to type it in for him, making him smile.  "You put classified materials online?"

"It's a government site and they don't store anything.  I made sure before I used it at the FBI.  We were encouraged to use it."  She went back to her desk.

He let it go.  If they used it, it was probably secure.  He did write a memo to make sure it was all right to use, and got a reply of 'please.  Your reports read like you type with your toes'.  He bookmarked it for future reference.  Then he went to deliver the stack to his boss, who just gave him a dirty look.  "No dead Marines or Sailors today," he said smugly.  He went back to his desk.  He hated not having anything to do.  That would be solved very shortly.   DiNozzo's phone rang on his way down the stairs and he heard him giggle.  "No private calls at work, DiNozzo," he ordered.

"It's not, Boss, it's Abby.  The doc at the ER said to take McGee home.  She's bringing in his excuse and cookies to make up for it."  He hung up on her laugh.  He had added the cookies but she'd do it anyway.  Along with telling him what Fluffy had done this time.

Shopping It

Xander walked in and stomped his feet off on the mat, shivering a bit before he could close the door.  "I never knew snow meant being so ball-numbingly cold."  He heard a few quiet chuckles and headed back to the kitchen.  "Coffee, Gibbs must be here somewhere," he said, pouring himself some and sipping as fast as he could, both hands around the mug.  "Ah," he sighed, starting to feel warm.  Then a moment later, "Shit, pins and needles."  He stripped off his mittens and coat, going back to his inhaling warmth.   Tony came up the stairs, giving him a long look.  "No one ever said snow was more than pretty.  It's also damn cold!"

"Yeah," he said patiently.

"He's from the desert, DiNozzo," Gibbs yelled from downstairs.  "I doubt he's ever seen snow."

"Once and it was a freaky thing that made me invisible," he called back, getting more coffee and heading down the stairs.  "What's going on?"

"Reports from one of the battleships that they've got a vamp on board," Abby said, smiling at him.  "No wonder you're cold!  You're wearing a t-shirt!  Don't you know how to layer?"

"Not really."

She sighed and looked at Gibbs, who shrugged.  "He comes from the desert, it only gets cold there at night."  He looked him over.  "Just off work?"

"Yet again, and *why* am I working in a Country bar?"

"It's a job?" Tony suggested, bringing down a sweater.  "Here, one of mine."

"Thank you."  He put it on and it was a bit big but nice.  It smelled nice too.  He smiled at him.  "I love you."

"I know."  He patted him on the back, looking at the reports.  "Any word on what we're doing?"

"There was a severe bout of flu on board?" Xander suggested.  "It got the eaten people and the vampire?"  He drank more of his coffee, looking at the numbers.  "No dead?"

"No, but the infirmary wanted to know who the goth person was," Gibbs said grimly.  "I've referred it up and they said that whatever we came up with was fine."

"Flu works for me, Boss."

"Good.  Abby, send that message to the hunter on board."

"We have a hunter on board?"

"I know one of the medics," Gibbs admitted.  "He heard about the cult, called about the attacks on the ship."  He sipped his own coffee, then looked at Xander.  "You can quit."

"I know," he muttered.  "I miss Pyro."  He finished his coffee and went to get more, taking Gibbs' cup too.  He brought it back and sat down to look at the numbers more closely.  "We've got a secondary problem, Gibbs.  This exhaustion."

"They all got laid on leave," Abby told him.

"Yeah, but not by succuba," he said, tracking it back.  "You have someone with sirenic gifts near there.  That could be a problem."

"Huh?" Tony asked.  "I don't remember that in the book on sex demons."

"Don't talk while I'm typing," Abby complained.  "I nearly put that in there."  She backspaced and fixed it.  "There."  She looked at Xander, then pulled up a special file, letting them all see it.  "That's what he's talking about."

"Yeah, that stuff," Xander agreed.  "See, sirens are real and they do feed, but they can feed on the body as well.  Succuba feed on the energy, the emotional output.  Sirens feed on the energy too, but on the core energy.  And a few have been known to drain until death.  They use sex to do it, but they're not technically sex demons."

"Which is why they weren't in that book," Tony finished.  Xander smiled and nodded.  "So, how do we fix this?"

"Run them off.  There's no proven way of killing them.  You can trap them somewhere airtight but they will eventually get out.  They're basically immortal as far as anyone knows.  They've tried everything.  They're not allergic to holy objects, they don't mind swords made of any metal, they could care less if you're married, they could care less if you want it.  They can summon prey like a succuba but they can also take it without doing more than shaking your hand."  He looked at the readout.  "Where were they?"

"Could she be on the ship?" Abby asked.  "One was reported as feeling really tired two days out."

"They can do it long distance as long as they've keyed a line into their victims.  Where was their last port?"

"Athens."

"Figures.  There's an enclave over there," Xander admitted, pulling up his email and writing Giles.  He got a response from Willow saying they were myths so he pulled up the pertinent file and sent it back, making her send back a groan and an 'I'll tell him, we've got former Watchers in the area'.  "Thank you, Willow," he muttered as he typed.  He shook his head and drank his third cup of coffee straight.

Gibbs looked at the cup, then at Tony.  "That's cup number how many?"

"Three, Boss.  Xander, no more, or you'll bounce."

"Sure."  He got back to work figuring out who was where.  "Oh, shit, they've got to go to Africa again next month."

"Again?"

"We had a slayer come from one of the tribal areas, one of the heavy-conflict tribal areas," he admitted.  "I went to get her actually.  It looks like she's being summoned home so she'll need someone to go with her.  Looks like they're briefing a former Watcher who wants to go somewhere warm.  Ooh."  He got a bright idea and logged onto the new Watcher's chat room.  "Ah, here we are.  Willow said she set this up last night."  He typed in his information and already had a screen name for himself.  "And of course, she's on the ball."  His name appeared and so did Willow, Giles, and a guy in England.  He typed slowly, watching what he was doing.  The conference on the siren issue got finished and Xander asked about Africa, noting he couldn't go.  Giles told him he was staying there.  So Xander told him he had found a second girl here, one who had just transferred in, and he was working on her as well.  She came in knowing, so she wasn't really behind any.  He noted her age and name.  Willow asked if it was the same Marquez and he sent back a 'yup'.  She promised to add her to the secret, passworded database.  Xander noted that Eliana was doing all right and that her college courses were starting in a week.  Giles congratulated him on holding down the city so well.  Then told him to quit his day job because he shouldn't work around Country music, it depressed him.

Tony snickered at that.  "I guess he heard your sad music a few times?" he joked.

"More than once," he sighed, typing in that he shouldn't.  Giles sent back a strongly worded order to quit his day job.  He noted that he didn't want to use what Wes left him for daily expenses, that it was for emergencies.  Giles put in a 'brb' and called.  He answered the phone he had installed down there.  "Yeah, Giles?"  He listened to the reasonable ass chewing.  "But...."  He looked up and sighed.  "Fine.  You're right, but still.  Then what'm I supposed to do all day, Giles?"  He grimaced.  "I know that but I can't live like that.  Fine.  Yes, sir."  He hung up and looked at Gibbs.  "I'm to quit my job tonight.  I'm also to get more in depth with my study on energy warping and things."  He got back into the chat and told Willow he was now jobless anyway, that his boss had just called and told him he wasn't working out.  He didn't want to make her feel too bad for being such a flake now.  She pouted and reminded him that he was going to be earning a salary once they finally got the Watcher's funds released from the banks in England.  "Oooh.  Nice."  He put in a cute remark that snow was both pretty and cold, and that he had almost wrecked earlier.  Giles 'THAT'S WHY NORMAL PEOPLE USE CARS INSTEAD OF MOTORCYCLES IN WINTER' was in all caps and quite funny if you knew the man.

Gibbs nodded.  "It is," he agreed, finishing that cup of coffee.  Xander looked back and stuck his tongue out at him.  "Keep it up.  You wanna go to Athens?"

"Hell.  No.  They'll like me nearly as much as the succuba do in the clubs."  He got back to work, noting what he had on the energy warping and it made everyone there wonder if he had switched out, but he pointed out his was a situation where you could study these things.  Then he signed off and leaned back, shaking his head.  "Bastards.  Even if I do write it officially in the Chronicles, you're not going to believe me."  He called the bar.  "Boss, no, unfortunately I can't.  Why?  Because I'm being sent to Africa with one of the teenagers my former mentor lives with.  No, she's going to visit and learn.  I'm going to watch her ass unless I can get out of it, but that'll still be at least a month from now.  Yeah, I'm sorry too.  I wish I could've given you more notice.  No, seriously.  You want his number?"  He recited it.  "Yeah, Cali.  Well, you knew I'm from there," he noted dryly.  "Sorry, Boss.  I'll come get the final check in three days or so."  He hung up and looked at the phone.  "I hope Giles will play along."  He shook his head and got up, stretching a bit.  "Okay, now what'm I doing today?"

"Working on the Chronicle," Abby reminded him.

"Oh, yeah.  I forgot I'm supposed to suddenly take up diary writing for mass consumption."  He grimaced and headed up the stairs to moan and complain over the old fashioned diary-like book that he had to hand write in.  Giles had said he couldn't print it off the computer, it had to be handwritten and then printed.  So he gathered his first few months' reports back to him and settled in to work at the kitchen table.

"Can't you type those?" Gibbs asked.

"For my own use.  Not for the official Chronicles.  Those are handwritten, translated into multiple languages, and printed."  He looked at him.  "Tradition."  He looked at the first report and got to work on the opening of this hellmouth and how they hadn't gotten here in time to stop it, going back to Santa Clara.  Then he looked at it and went to get his journals, ripping out the first page and going back further.  "Fuck it, I'm doing my own Chronicle," he muttered, sitting down with everything in front of him.  "He can bite me.  I'll do Eliana's with mine.  Since Giles conveniently *forgot* to do his."

"Each Watcher has to have one too?" Gibbs asked.  Xander moaned and nodded.  "Why?"

"So you can have two viewpoints.  There's stuff that can't go in the girls' Chronicles.  Things like hunting reports, training reports, and new creatures go into hers.  Things about her personal life if they intersect.  The Watcher's Chronicles are more in-depth and more detailed.  Slayers' Chronicles read like a report, Watchers' read like a journal."

"Wonderful.  They've done this for each and every girl?"

"Yeah, and a few were only days' worth," he noted dryly.  "There's a few where they put them into the same book.  Fortunately I'm going all the way back so I can fill in some of Giles' and Buffy's Chronicles too.  I know Giles hasn't done his duty yet."

"Should I tell them?"

"Nope.  If you do, he'll try to stop me from outing Willow's and Buffy's problems.  I have to formally present them and that's when he's getting them."  He got back to work, translating his handwriting to make the narrative easier and less personal.  "I'll be on volume two by the time I become a Watcher," he complained.

"Maybe," Gibbs agreed, going to stare outside for a few minutes while he thought.  "Do we have to keep one?" he asked finally.

"You're not obligated.  I started keeping them to work through things and to show my kids if I should ever have any so they know what they're doing," he said, looking at him.  "At least I don't have to use a fountain pen."  He grinned and got back to work.

"Or a quill," Abby offered as she came up, handing him a soda. Gibbs put that one back and handed him a non-caffeinated one.  "Sorry, Gibbs.  How would you study the energy warping?"

"Keeping track of the assaults for one," he said as he wrote.  "We could do energy and air quality studies there.  There's magical means of doing it too.  I'll end up doing the first and third probably.  Unless you wanna help, Abby?"

"No, not really.  I don't understand it."

"Neither does anyone else, sweetie.  It's okay."  He turned the page and kept going, talking about how he had met Buffy.

Gibbs drug Abby off.  The boy had a lot of work to do and he probably needed more quiet than a babbling Abby.  He did turn on the stereo since Xander liked noise. Tony gave his selection an odd look but he shrugged.  "It's what it was on."

"Yeah, I remember.  He was trying to teach me a new dance step."  He went to change the station.

***

Xander finished his first Chronicle and closed it, chanting the spell to make it unchangeable, before he changed his mind, then got out the special inks Giles had made for him to write on the front.  He had considered most of last night what to title it.  He knew the official formula, and it wasn't going to quite work this time.  He dipped the special quill into the ink and put it onto the front of the book.  "The Journal of the Hunter Alexander Harris of Sunnydale."  Underneath he wrote in smaller type, "His tenure with the Vampire Slayers Buffy, Kendra, and Faith and the Watcher Rupert Giles during their time in Sunnydale until the death of that Hellmouth."  He put down the quill and blew across it, saying the last few words of setting in.

He stroked over the now-embossed cover, getting up to put it in the middle of the table.  He called Giles.  "Giles, I need a second Chronicle book.  No, I have Eliana and Adrian's together, Giles.  You're the one who said I was a Watcher," he noted dryly.  "Please.  No, I didn't mess up my spare one," he noted dryly.  "Huh.  Gee, I don't know," he said, looking at the book.  "Fine, I'll be right there."  He hung up and wrote out a quick note, then chanted the teleporting spell he had learned off Wesley and Willow, landing back in Giles' office.  He walked forward.  "I formally present this Chronicle to the Watcher's Council in the name of Alexander Harris, hunter.  His Watcher's Chronicle will be presented when his slayers are dead and his duty is done," he intoned dryly, handing over the book.  That was the formal ceremony, passed down for ages.

"You did what?" he asked, taking it to look through.  "Oh, my."  He looked at him.  "Xander...."

"I kept a journal to help me work it out now and then and I *know* you're way behind.  That's a supplemental Chronicle.  Get over it.  That's why I need another Chronicle book."

"Yes, of course," he agreed, going to get him one from the supply room.  He came back and sat down to look at the title.  "You reported faithfully?" he asked formally.

"To the best of my memories and according to my hunting journals," he replied.  "Up to and including the end of Buffy Summers, to the point where I was named Watcher over the current Hellmouth."

"Very well," he agreed, settling in to flip through it.  He looked up and the boy was gone.  He sighed sadly, looking through the book.  It had so many memories, and the boy was a very good writer.  It held his personality and his pain.  Even Giles' own pains were in here.  He put it on the desk and stroked the cover.  "So shall the Council agree to house this important book," he said quietly.  The old Council might have hidden it or refused it, but he knew they needed to rebuild the knowledge.  He got up and called his printer, smiling at him.  "Yes, Philip, I do.  We have a Hunter's Journal from Sunnydale.  No, a complete Chronicle.  Supplemental.  Xander's.  No, Willow hasn't done one yet."  He stroked the cover again. "Yes, to be copied, printed, and distributed to the appropriate places.  Thank you."  He stroked over it again, he could feel the spell in the ink.  Xander had made sure no one could change it, not even himself.

He called Willow.  "Dear, did you ever think of doing a Hunter's journal?"  He sighed and nodded.  "Even a small one on your magic addiction would be fine," he agreed.  "No, Xander formally presented his today," he said quietly.  "Bluntly.  Full of his personality, as any good Chronicle is, but very real and very blunt," he assured her.  "Up to and including when the DC hellmouth opened and you transferred out there."  He smiled.  "That would be fine.  Could I at least get you to work on the one for your magic addiction?  In case it should happen again?  I understand.  No, he couldn't include your thoughts and feelings, Willow.  I know it's hard, but it could help you finish your grieving as well.  Of course.  Let me know, all right?"  He smiled and hung up then went back to stroking the book.

***

Xander reappeared and found Tony in the kitchen.  "Morning."

"Where did you have to go?"

"To present my formal first Chronicle," he admitted bitterly.  "From Sunnydale."  Tony gave him a hug.  "I'm fine now.  It just brought up a lot of bad memories at times," he sighed.  He sat down, looking at his boyfriend.  "Why aren't you at work?"

"I got today off since I worked Saturday and the Navy hates overtime.  They've threatened to put us back on salary and give us a twenty percent pay cut if we have any more overtime."

"Wonderful.  Did you want to help me work out?"

"No, I was going to take you to find a car."

"I need a car?" Xander asked, looking a little bit confused.  "Why do I need a car?"

"Because, Xander, you're going to wreck the bike soon."  He sat down across from him.  "You said you nearly wrecked the other day.  This way you can get something that shouts who and what you are.  You don't have to, but you don't like to ride in the rain either."

"Good point."  He considered it.  He had the money.  He had more than enough money.  He liked cars.  They were nice things. "I still have problems driving."

"Ducky said that it's a matter of practice, which you've gotten on the bike, and lack of fear, Xan.  He said the last time you tried you probably were either high on pain killers or scared."  Xander nodded, that had been true.  "Whereas you're driving on the bike all the time."

"Point.  We can try but that means I've got to redo my license.  I only got the motorcycle one when I came out."

"We can do that," he reminded him, standing up.  "Ducky's even got a letter for you so you won't have to parallel park."

"That would be good, yeah," Xander admitted with a grin.  "Can you help me buy a sweater too?"

Oh, yeah!  It was payback time for the time Xander had taken him to find hunting clothes and put him in nearly pornographic pants!  Yes!   "Sure.  You need winter clothes."  He pulled him closer to give him a gentle kiss.  "Come on.  Car first.  That way you can put stuff in the trunk."

"I need to call someone and pull the special stuff out of the study," he said, going into the former dining room where his altar was.  He called from in there, getting the bank in England.  They authorized the card for him and he pulled it out of the envelope, putting it into his wallet.  Then he took Tony's hand and let him take him out and call a cab.  "We're going to get it today?"

"Yes.  No ordering.  Anything that needs changed you can work on."

Xander frowned at him.  "You can do that?"

Tony nodded.  "I worked on my old Z for nearly three years before I had it the way I wanted it.  Then it got stolen and wrecked."  He let Xander get into the back, climbing in after him.  "We need to go to that car lot on Q."

"Sure," the cabby agreed, driving off.

Xander looked back at the door.  "Did you lock it?"  Tony nodded.  "The keys are inside."

"I can get into the house, Xander."

"Okay."  He relaxed and watched the city go past.  He still wasn't used to DC.  "Is this a big car lot?"

"No but I didn't think you'd want just any car.  I can see you in something classic, something that screams power and sex."  He stroked his cheek.  "Which you do ooze."

Xander blushed and nodded.  "Thanks, Pretty Boy."

"It's the truth."  They pulled up and he paid for the fare, taking Xander out.  He watched him head for a low-slung sports car. "No, not the fiberglass, middle-age, age-reduction machines."  He took him by the wrist and drug him back toward the classics. "One of these."

Xander looked at them, moving closer.  He grinned at the salesman.  "He thinks they'll suit me."

"They could."  He looked him over.  "They usually go toward those who have a need for speed or for those who like danger."

"Which he likes both.  He rides a motorcycle most of the time," Tony told him.  He came over to look, leading Xander back to one of the older Mustangs, letting him look.  It was black.  It had blue leather interior.  It was probably perfect.  He popped the hood and whistled.  "That's nice."

"Is it?"  He looked.  "I don't know much about cars.  I leave that to the professionals.  I can change my own oil and stuff, but I never got past that stuff before I switched to the bike."  He went to open the door and settle in, pushing the seat back.  He wiggled and closed the door, then got out and shook his head.  "It's not comfy."  He walked over to another one.  He knew you could paint a car.  He heard the hood go down and Tony followed him.  At least until his phone rang.

"DiNozzo."  He listened.  "Boss, you said I was switching Saturday for today since I worked Saturday," he said patiently.  "Yeah, you did.  Remember that memo, Boss, the one on *overtime* that threatened a pay cut?" he asked dryly.  He smirked.  "I thought so.  No, taking Xander to find a car for the winters and rainy days."  He snapped his fingers and shook his head, getting Xander away from the car he was looking at.  "No."  He listened to his boss.  "That's where we're at, Boss.  Is there a case?"  He smirked as Xander came back.  "You did say to, Boss. Boss, did you want the twenty percent pay cut?"   He smiled.  "Me either.  Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He forgot," he said, sliding the phone back into his pocket.  He walked him toward a middle aged Mustang, not the first few models and not the newer ones, which he considered blasphemy.  "How about this?" he offered, pointing at it.

Xander looked it over, then nodded.  "Maybe."

"That's one of the other salesman's cars," the guy following them around noted.

Xander looked at him.  "Would he mind if I looked?"  He shrugged and went to get the guy's keys.  "Thank you."  He walked around and turned off the alarm, then got into it, wiggling a bit.  "This is more comfy," he announced.  He got out and relocked the door.   "Okay, do you have any more of these?" he asked, tossing back the keys.

"Not at the moment.  Let me see what we can find."  He went into the office, pulling out a book.  "Ah, there is one for sale locally.  Let me call the owner."  He did that, watching them.  "Hi, this is Peter at .... Yes, there.  Ah, caller ID.  No, I have someone here interested in a model of Mustang near yours and I was wondering if you were still selling it."  He listened.  "No, I know they're rare.  Thank you anyway."  He hung up.  "Unfortunately he's not selling his any longer," he noted as he walked back over to them.  "We have a few other models of the same car."

"Yeah, but the first one felt cramped," Xander told him, looking totally serious.  "I'm tall and so's Pretty Boy here."  He nodded his head toward Tony.  "That one seemed like it had less leg room."

"It did.  They didn't plan for bigger men in those days.  Just younger boys."  He looked around the lot.  "We have a beautiful Italian model," he offered, pointing at it.

"No, that's a receding hairline alarm," Xander told him.  "I still have all mine."  He ran his hands through his messy hair.  "Which I should get trimmed and wash it today too," he noted for his own benefit.  He looked around again then looked at Tony.  "Do you see anything else?"

"No."  He walked him off, playing with his hair. "You could use a haircut and less gel."

"I like the gelled look."

"So do I, sometimes, but not today, Xander."  He led him off to do that first while he looked up other muscle car lots.  Xander needed something he could lavish with his excess attention - it'd give him something new to learn and a new hobby.  When they were done with Xander's hair, he led him to the other one he found in the phone book, watching as Xander headed right for the Mustangs he liked.  He smiled when the boy walked around a black one.  He walked back to pop the hood, looking.  "Underpowered."

"Can it be fixed?"

"With some effort and money," he admitted, putting down the hood.  He looked around, going over to one that looked more promising. The hood had been modified for some reason.  He popped it and looked, then whistled.  "That's a street racing engine."

"No."  Xander came over to look.  "I don't need that much power."

"True, but it's pretty."

Xander stroked his back.  "I know, you need a new toy," he said with a wicked smirk.  "You can help me with mine."

"I am going to be helping you with yours," he assured him, carefully putting down the hood and walking him back to the other black Mustang on the lot, putting up the hood.  "This one went for the options package," he said happily.

"It's also nearly show quality," the salesman said with a smile.

"He's looking for an everyday car, not a showpiece," Tony told him.  "What's the radio, Xan?"

Xander looked.  "Radio only."

"Ooh."  He came back to look.  "Pretty and it is probably for showing."  He stood up.  "Do you have one with that engine or slightly better?  He doesn't need to street race and he isn't showing off his prowess with the engine."

"I do actually," he admitted, leading them to a second remake of the Mustang, which Tony was iffy on.  He patted one.  "V-8, upgraded to ten cylinders.  Custom engine.  It's a very baritone car."  He got in and turned it over, watching the couple shiver.  "Come, try it out."

Xander slid into the seat and wiggled, then smiled.  "I like this.  Even if it is in baby blue."  He stopped the motor and looked at Tony, then at the salesman.  "How long would a repaint take?"

"Depends on where you go.  We don't offer that here, but there's places you can get it done the by the next day."

Xander stroked the roof, looking at Tony.  "You wanna try it?"

Tony smiled.  "The look on your face is enough, Xander.  If you want it, it's your car.  What sort of stereo we looking at?"

Xander looked, then at him.  "Tape deck."

"We can upgrade to a multi-cd system and satellite," he promised.

"With GPS please, 'cause I still get lost now and then.  I ended up outside the CIA the other day."  He closed the door and looked at the salesman.  "Let's go sign paperwork."  He got a smile and the man walked him into the office, taking the debit card to run when Xander insisted.  He looked a bit impressed but Xander ignored it.  He walked out with the keys and Tony chatting about what he could do it upgrade it.  Paint, new stereo.  Recover the seats since they were fabric.  Xander just smirked and went to get his license upgraded, which didn't take too long.  He had to retake the driving test, which wasn't that hard once he had presented Ducky's letter.  Then Tony took him clothes shopping.

Tony parked in the parking garage next to the better mall, taking Xander inside.  The mall at the Pentagon was really nice and upscale, but it had good places to shop.  He walked Xander into one of the stores and handed him to a salesman.  "Watch him.  He's from near LA and they didn't have winter."

"Ah.  Well, we do have a sale on sweaters," he noted, leading the boy that way.  His friend came with him but peeled off to look at other shirts.  He looked at him. "Yours?" he asked with a grin.

"A very good friend," Xander offered shyly.  "I need something to go with my leathers.  Usually I ride a bike."

"Ooooh, I see."  He watched what the guy was picking out.  "You have a workplace dresscode?"

"I do?  Pretty Boy, what're you doing?"

"Finding you clothes.  Sometimes you do have to look more classy than your clubbing leathers, Xander."

"Yes, dear."  He shrugged a bit.  "I like comfy stuff.  I've been wearing one of his soft sweaters and I think he wants it back," he shared.  The salesman laughed and started letting him feel them.  "I like that one," he said.

"Cashmere is very soft."

Tony walked over and handed him another one.  "Chenille.  Cheaper and nearly as soft.  Also washable instead of dry clean only like cashmere."  He went back to his looking, coming back with two turtlenecks and a few pairs of pants.  "Yes, I'm dressing you like me," he offered with a smile at the look the pants got.  Ha!  Payback was his!  A preppie Xander!  Maybe even a geeky Xander if he had his way for long enough!  "That way the director doesn't have to swoon at the sight of your leathers again the next time he catches you in the office."  He handed them to the salesman.  "Those are the right sizes."

The man smiled and gathered some of each type of sweater the boy had lingered over, taking him to the dressing room.  Then he looked at Tony.  "Should I warn the clothier upstairs, sir?  The suit maker?"

"No," Xander called.  "No suits."  He came out and turned around.  "I knew today was the wrong day for the thong."  Tony burst out in giggles.  "It is."

"Probably, but I don't think there's ever a really *good* time for one, Xander."

Xander stuck his tongue out.  "I'll remember you said that, Pretty Boy."  He looked at himself again.  "This?"

"You look good in it," Tony said patiently.  "Try on the red one."  Xander went to try on that one, coming out in the same pants.  He looked at it, then at the salesman.  "Too bright a red?"

"Much.  He looks good in goth red."  He went to get one and bring it back.  Xander went to change and he nearly drooled.  "Ooh, I like that one," he admitted.  It was just tight enough to show the muscles Xander had.  "I like that one a lot.  Hell, I almost wish I were gay," he muttered.

Tony smirked.  "I think that's a good one."

"I look cheap."

"You don't look cheap or like you're easy.  You're getting it.  Or else I'm telling Abby."  He went back to change and came out in another outfit, this one a nice button down shirt.  "I like that one," he decided.

Xander looked at himself, then at Tony.  "I look like I belong in a higher social class."

"Which can be a good thing," Tony reminded him.  "Remember, estate trip coming up?"

"It's England and it's around Easter."

"It'll still be cold in England at Easter, Xander."

"No wonder Giles wears tweed all the time," he muttered, going back to try on the others.  He came out in a big, fluffy chenille sweater and smiled. "I like this one."

"You look like a girl," the salesman noted.

"So?"

"Do you have one just like it that buttons?" Tony asked.  He nodded and went to get it.  He agreed, the deeper turtleneck did look like a girl's sweater.  The salesman brought back three - green, deep blue, and black.  Xander beamed and changed into the green one, making Tony smile.  Xander had shown a definite affinity for green since they had started to date.  When asked he said it made Tony look just as good as him.  It was sweet of him.  He nodded, those looked less like a girls' sweater.  Not much, but he doubted the boy would be wearing them clubbing.  Once Xander had paid he walked him off, taking him to the next place.  The salesman let them put their bags behind the counter and Tony once again dragged him where he wanted him to go.  Xander wasn't really used to the upper scale preppie shopping but sometimes.....  He looked at him.  "You really do need a single jacket, Xander."  That got a shudder.  "Just for nice dinners and things."

"We're going to dinner?"

Tony smiled.  "If you want," he promised.  "That would mean you'd have to wear a suit coat."  Xander shuddered again. "They're not that bad."

"Yes they are and ties are worse."  Tony smiled at that but let him at least have some say.  He picked out a few of the knit sweaters in a cream and a light tan color.  Jeans in the right size and just tight enough to club in.  Socks since the last place didn't have any.  Tony handed him a pair and he looked at him oddly. "Argyle?"

"Soft.  Warm.  I have some pairs."

Xander relented at that and put them into his basket.  He went to look at the t-shirts, he needed some of those.  Tony walked over and pulled down a few, handing them over.  "Your usual."  He let Xander check out then grabbed their bags.  "Back to the car to drop these off."

"Yes, Pretty Boy."  He followed him back to the car since he was now lost.  This is why he hated malls, he always got lost.  The designers did it on purpose to make you stay for longer.  He did stop to get a pretzel on the way back inside.  "Where to now?" he asked between nibbles.

Tony took some for himself and smiled.  "Suit coat."  Xander grumbled something so he nudged him. "I'll make sure you look hot. You know that.  You've seen me wear one with a turtleneck and things."

"Yeah," he complained, following him to the escalators.  "Shoes?"

"You could use a pair of shoes and some new sneakers," he agreed.  "Did you make the arrangements for the trip to the estate?"

"Yup.  Plane tickets all filed, first night's hotel in London done.  Passport filed for since I had to change information."

"Good."  He led him into the suit shop he used and the salesman smiled at him.  He pulled Xander forward, taking the remains of the pretzel but letting him have the napkins.  "His first real one.  He only needs the coat for now."  He handed him over.  "He's escorting me to a nice restaurant sometime soon and we're going to England around Easter."  He finished off the pretzel while the man showed Xander some styles.  "Not that one.  I want him to match me for hotness."  He pulled out his phone when it started to ring. "DiNozzo."  He listened.  "Now, Boss?  No, I'm in the mall with Xander."  He rolled his eyes.  "Pentagon Mall actually.  Why?"  He smirked.  "Sure, Boss.  Grab my backpack and I'll meet you there."  He hung up.  "Xander, it's a case."

"Can't they not die today?"

"Kidnaping.  At least it's nearby.  You behave, call later to see if I'm back.  You can even bring lunch."  Xander smiled at that.  "Be good and let the salesman actually *help* you."  He hurried off, going to catch a cab and head over there.

Xander patted himself down and called Tony.  "You have my wallet," he announced.  Tony came jogging back and handed it over then left again.  He looked at the salesman, slipping them both into his pocket. "Okay.  Apparently I'm taking him to dinner soon.  He got me some dress shirts and sweaters and stuff."

"What colors?"

"Greens, some blacks, some lighter tans and off whites, blues, dark reds.  Most of the dress shirts were either black, shades of blue, or off-whites."

He looked him over and led him to one he had been thinking about showing him.  "Do you have a budget in mind?"

"Under a grand?"

"I can do that," he decided, taking him to his second choice.  He pulled that one out and looked from it to Xander and back.  "Do you have on a t-shirt under that?"  Xander nodded and took off his...Tony's sweater, letting him hold it while he tried on the coat.  He put the sweater down, smoothing over the shoulders and down the arms.  "It's very warm."

"Will that matter?"

"Possibly not."  He took that one back and went to get him something from the spring and fall collections, bringing three back. "Here, try this.  It's lighter weight so you'll have to wear a jacket over it in the winter, but it's very durable and very soft."  He had noticed the good quality cashmere of the sweater.  Apparently the boy had good taste, even if he did wear his sweaters a bit bulky. He looked at the boy then went to get the next size up.  With his arm muscles, it would be kinder.  He switched them out and Xander looked again.

"I look like a I cap people," he noted dryly.  "All I need is bling and I'm a rapper."  The salesman laughed.  "Really."  He looked at him.  "This?"

"That is very hip," he noted dryly.

"I'm not the hippest.  I'm a homebody sort.  I club now and then...." he offered.  "I ride a motorcycle.  Tony just made me buy a Mustang today."  The man raised an eyebrow and went to get another jacket, handing it over.  Xander stroked it.  "That's expensive."

"A bit," he agreed. "It'll go with nearly anything though."  He let him try it on, leaving that last jacket nearby.  Just in case.  This one was more classic and the boy looked dashing in it.  He could see the indecision.  "Get this one and the other one," he suggested quietly.  Xander looked at him.  "The two alone will break your budget, sir, but it does suit you.  Especially if you add in the other two with it.  Twice your budget, but very good for your wardrobe."

Xander considered it.  Did he really need a blood red jacket?  Or one in midnight blue?  Or even two black blazers?

"No matter which you choose for that upcoming date, you will look stunning," he promised gently, seeing the indecision.  "You're sure to woo him and have him smile at you."  That broke the indecision and Xander nodded, letting him bag them for him.  He noticed the debit card and looked at the boy before running it.  He had the money, but he was clearly a made man since he still worried about the cost of things.  He handed over the slip and the card, watching him sign them.  Then the bag of coats.  Xander smiled and walked out, answering his phone.

"Harris."  He listened.  "Yup, that's me.  No, Tony decided I need to do a bit of shopping.  Because it's cold in the winter time in DC," he complained.  "Yeah, but LA wasn't," he said, hearing the laugh.  "Did you know snow was *cold*?  Very cold.  Yeah.  Thank you."  He smiled and hung up.  The bank had been checking on him to make sure his card hadn't been stolen.  He found the sneaker shop and walked in, shaking his head. "Cross trainers, or mild jogging.  Black and white please."  He sat down, letting the guy fit his feet.

"Is there any brand you like?"

Xander shrugged.  "Good quality.  I won't be getting another pair for a year, no matter how many times I end up washing them."

"All right."  He went to get him some that he liked.

***

Xander ran home and changed to show Tony how good he was being, even putting on a jacket, then drove through to get lunch for him and everyone else.  Real food even.  He walked into the building a few minutes later and the guard smile.  "Tony suggested I do a car when it's snowing so I don't wreck the bike," he noted dryly.  "Bringing lunch."

"They just came back," he promised. "Gibbs is probably still yelling at someone."  He checked him for metal, finding the usual spots.  He put the pass on his lapel for him and called the elevator. "Have a nice delivery, Mr. Harris."

"Thanks, Frank."  He got into the elevator, stopping in Ducky's lab first.  He put his lunch on the table.  Ducky looked over and smiled.  "Lunch.  I put Abby's in with yours."  He winked and headed up the stairs, waking out of the elevator.  "Adrian," he said, handing her hers.  "Fluffy.  Gibbs."  Theirs got handed to stunned men.  "DiNozzo," he said, handing him his.  "I left Ducky's and Abby's with them."  He smiled at Gibbs.  "That way you don't get coffee poisoning like you say I had."

"I like that," he noted.  "Good job, DiNozzo."  Even if it did look like the kid had raided some uber-geek's closet, or possibly some odd combinations of McGee's and DiNozzo's closets.

"Thanks, Boss."  He looked Xander over, noticing the sneakers.  "That works.  It's going to be a late night."

"Sure.  I've got to start on the second Chronicle anyway."  He shrugged and waved, heading out.  His pass went back into the box.  "You should just have a frequent visitor's one," he joked.

"We should," he agreed.  "At least for some people.  Did you give Doctor Mallard anything?"

"Yeah, I dropped his and Abby's off first.  I figured they could use some Greek food and the rest I went to the deli for."  He looked down at himself.  "Do I look okay?"

"More than, Mr. Harris.  I like the sneakers.  It makes it more casual."

Xander smiled.  "Thanks, Frank."  He headed out, going to find someone to paint his new baby.  It was going to take a few days so he decided to wait until the spring, when he could ride his bike all the time.  Instead he went to get the stereo changed out and buy some new music.

***

Tony trudged in around ten that night.  "Feed me?" he pleaded.  Xander got up and went to get him his dinner, handing it over with a smile.  "Thank you. You're very sweet, Xander."  He got a kiss and earned a smile.  "Long, bad case."

"They happen to the worst of us," he soothed, turning Tony around so he could work on his shoulders, once he got him out of his shirt.  "You liked that outfit?"

"Yeah, I did.  It went together very well.  Oh, Ducky said thank you and Abby squealed."

"I thought they could use something more substantial," he said lightly.  In truth, he decided Ducky needed spoiling and it made McGee jealous so he'd have to do sweet things for the next few days.  He dug into the tense muscles, making Tony moan as he ate.  "Are you staying over tonight?"

"I should," he agreed. "Just to get more of that."  He tipped his head forward, scarfing his dinner quickly.  He put the plate and pickle aside, smiling when it was snatched and slightly damp fingers got back to work on his shoulders and upper back.  He moaned, nearly growling in pleasure.  Xander leaned forward to plant a kiss there and got back to work.  "No sex tonight.  I'm too tired."

"I figured you were," he agreed. "I'm good with lack of sex tonight."  He moved lower, letting Tony relax fully.  It must have been a really bad case. "Kids?" he guessed.  Tony nodded.  "I'm sorry."

"It happens.  Custody dispute.  Hostage situation.  He kidnaped her from her post and them from school, then held them hostage in the house. We got the kids out and then she turned on him to beat the shit outta him."

"Good for her," Xander said. "It's good that she's protecting herself."

"It is, but they both nearly died.  I'm predicting the boat will have a few new planks by tomorrow morning."

"If he needs one, I'll do his shoulders too," Xander promised.

"I doubt he'll ask."

"That's okay, I'll get Ducky onto his case," he assured him.  He patted his back, then kissed it again, giving him a hug.  "Go shower.  Ease the rest of that."

"Yes, Xander."  He got up and smiled at him.  "Thank you."

"Any time. You know that."  He watched him go, smiling at his good work.  Tony was walking right again, not hunched over.  He went to make him a cup of tea and took it up there, then went back to his fussing over his new dagger.

***

It only took three days for things to snap.  Instead of Ducky calling, it was Abby who called him.  He once again headed to the office, smiling at the new guard.  "Hi.  I have shrapnel in my right shoulder and a nipple ring on the same side," he said quietly.  The guy nodded and used the hand wand.  He smiled at the other guy coming out.  "Ducky called," he told him.  "Gibbs."  The supervisor nodded quickly.  By the look on his face it hadn't just been Abby that had gotten yelled at.  "That's why I'm here."  He took his visitor's badge.  "Frank's day off?"

"Yeah.  What happened to your shoulder?"

"An assault gone wrong.  Debris from the building instead of from a bullet.  Thankfully the guys weren't trying to hit us that much."  He shrugged and headed upstairs, walking up to Gibbs' desk.  He pulled him up and forced him to turn around, then forced him to sit down.  Gibbs tried to move so he slapped him across the back of the head.  "Shut up and behave for five minutes.  It's bad enough I had to do this on those damn teenagers who thought they were immortal and could kick *through* the brick wall.  You're too damn stubborn for your own good."  He got to work on his shoulders and neck, making him wince and groan, but relax.  "Next time, ask," he said more quietly.  "Don't make Abby call because you're growling at her."  He got back to work and within five minutes the major knot was gone.  He worked on a few minor ones, then patted him.  "Good.  Much better.  I'll note it to Ducky that the massage therapy he ordered is good for you."

"Now you know why I moan when he does mine, Boss," Tony smarted off.

"Xander...."

Xander smacked him just like Gibbs smacked Tony.  "Shut up. You're on lunch.  You're not working on anything at the moment.  You're off the clock since it's lunch.  Don't argue with me.  I know every damn thing.  Didn't you know that?"   He stared him down.  "Next time, ask!"  He walked off, finding the director in the elevator.  "Director."

"He better now?"

"Yeah.  He had one large knot that was impeding his movement.  Ducky called," he lied.

"Ah.  You know we track calls, right?"

"Really?  You can do that from a cell?  I know he was in Abby's lab when he called.  You might check there."

"You're a qualified massage therapist?"

"Halfway to fully qualified.  I also have a large background in training. Especially with stupid teenagers who believe they're all-powerful and immortal. Gibbs was just too stubborn to ask.  I do Abby's wrists all the time."

"Wonderful."  He smiled at him.  "At least you made it fast."

"I'm very good at that," he noted.  "When you've got thirty girls whining about sore shoulders, you tend to be."  He got off the elevator and handed over the pass with a grin.  "Laters."  He headed out to his car, then to pick up some ice cream for lunch.

***

Tony walked in that night, smiling at him.  "Good job.  He doesn't want to kick your ass anymore, but he said you're never to do that again.  If he came tonight he'd yell."

"Why?  He can move, which was an improvement.  Before if he had to pull his gun, he'd have frozen in a back spasm."  He licked his spoon and used it to point.  "He can't let himself get that bad.  He doesn't take the time to go have a real pro do it.  Therefore I had to step in."

"Who called?"

"Abby's lab."

"Ah."  He sat down, turning on the tv.  "Is that dinner?"  Xander handed over the ice cream.  "I wasn't begging, I was going to complain."

"I had dinner.  That's dessert."  He took it back and ate a bite, then Tony stole it back and got his own.  "Is that *your* dinner?"  Tony smiled and nodded.  "Naughty."

"Very," he agreed.  "I got to annoy him all day about being relaxed."  He ate another bite, glancing outside when someone knocked.  "Speak of the bastard."  He got up to let him in.  "No keys, Boss?"

"You locked it again," he complained.  He walked in and glared at Xander.  "Not at the office, kid."

"Then next time, come to me," he said simply, staring him down.  Tony closed and locked the doors.  "Don't make Abby's lab call me again."

"Fine.  Can you do lower backs?"

"Very well.  Come hog the couch."  He got up and went to get some oil, coming back to find him laying down.  "Shirt off, Gibbs.  Otherwise you'll have to explain friction burns from the cotton."  He sat up with a groan, taking off his shirt.  "Good boy."  He pulled the coffeetable closer and got to work on his back, starting at the top and working his way down.  "Long week?" he asked quietly.

"Very.  Thank you."

"Not an issue.  I used to have to do the slayers' training injuries and I did take the first few classes."  He dug in harder, earning another hiss but a few minutes later it was a deeper growl of a groan.  He got him to the point where he was ready to sleep.  "Go take a shower and you can borrow the couch," he said quietly, getting a head shake.  "You'll fall asleep behind the wheel, Jethro.  Take a shower and crash on the couch.  It'll finish setting in the lack of knots."  He got up and walked off, smiling at Tony.  "Can I have you do my right shoulder?"

"Sure."  He listened to Gibbs heading for the shower as he took Xander upstairs to work on his arms.  "Were you lifting today?" he asked.

"No, awkward angles while I was working on something for Eliana."  That got a nod and he took off his t-shirt, letting Tony get whatever he wanted.  They heard the door shut and they both shook their heads at the stubborn nature of some people. At least until they heard a few quiet words floating up the stairs in Eliana's voice.  Then the door closed again and they heard someone moving around in the living room.  So he could take advice.  Tony gave him a gentle kiss for being so good, smiling at him when Xander leaned back to get another one.  They'd be cuddling tonight too.

***

Gibbs looked up as Xander came back, smirking at him.  "Do you know what you started yesterday?"

"A bout of mental health reviews since you were so tense you couldn't pull your gun?" Xander suggested, handing over the coffee and food he had been ordered to bring in.  Gibbs paid him and he grinned.  "Did you tense up again?"

"No, but two of the other teams tried to say something," Adrian noted as she came to get her lunch.  "Thank you, Xander."  She handed him a five and took her lunch back to her desk.

"Welcome, Adrian."  He looked at McGee, who was typing.  "Willow?"  He nodded.  "Wonderful.  Tell her I said hi."  He looked at the guy walking toward him, mentally sizing him up.  "Yes?  Did you place an order too?"

The man looked him over.  "You're a delivery guy?"

"Only sometimes.  Usually when asked politely.  Why?"  Then he smirked at him.  "Let me guess, you're one of the imbeciles who decided that being so tense you couldn't move, much less pull your gun if you had to, was good for the job?"  He smirked back and nodded.  "Uh-huh.  You do realize that being that sore and tense is not only detrimental to your life expectancy but also to that of your teammates, which I'm told is one of those important things around here."  He saw Tony kicking back with a smirk.  "I can also tell you, as someone who has had to do some sports training in the past, that being that tense leads to auto accidents, higher blood pressure, the occasional stroke, and debilitating injuries that can permanently disable you if not treated promptly."  He stepped closer.  "When you save the world like Gibbs does nearly every day, then you too can earn special privileges.  I'm sure the director would allow you to run out on your lunch break, like I was here yesterday, to get your tension knots worked out.  Since they had solved a case that saved lives, including the lives of some children, I think he deserved it since he couldn't move properly.  After all, we want Gibbs and his team to continue at peak performance so they can do your job too."  The man glared at that and he smiled sweetly.  "If I were you, I'd go try to save the world some more.  After all, there's a whole big world out there that needs protected from *some* of the people in uniform and the rest of the Marines and Navy need protected from them too."  He looked the guy over.  Then back in his eyes. "Not that I think you'd know that from personal experience."

"You think you're so hot?" he sneered.

"No, honey, I know I'm hot.  That's why you're drooling."  The man swiped his mouth and he grinned meanly, as evilly as he could.  "Now then, have you saved the world and some kids this week?  If so, I might, if asked *politely* do some limited work on your shoulders.  If not, then I'm sorry, I have more important things to do, like trying to figure out what shoes to wear to dinner tomorrow night."  The man backed off.  "Did you actually solve a case this week?"

"Not all cases are that easy," he said firmly.

Xander walked him off.  "Then take me there, let's see if I can help you too!  It's not like I don't help those guys now and then!"  He looked at the file of the man hunched over his desk.  "Ooh, curve?"  The man nodded.  "I'm sorry."  He got to work on his shoulders, unable and unwilling to see anyone in that sort of pain.  "You've had this lump checked, right?"

"Twice now."

"Good.  It's got a squishy center."  He worked around it, staring at the file.  "Which is your suspect?"  The man tapped a photo.  Xander shook his head and pointed at another one.  "Is he dead?"  The man shook his head.  "The look he's giving the camera and the notes stapled to his picture say he knew something more than that.  Sometimes people can lie poorly but it's all in the body posture.  Even with the best liars."  He heard the moan and went back to work.  He felt the back loosen and tapped the spot. "May I?  I'm used to be surrounded by teenage girls."

"Go ahead.  They said it's one of those cysts with the zit in the center."

Xander looked at it, then poked it a few times.  "It is.  Ducky could aspirate that for you ya know.  It shouldn't even hurt as much as popping it would."

"I don't like needles."

Xander snorted.  "Give me two minutes to get some gloves.  I can fix that, then you'll need to put heat on it later."  The guy looked at him. "I used to live with thirty-three teenage girls," he told him. "I got really good at back zits and things."  That got a smile. "That's also why I learned some massage therapy.  Think about that guy."  He went back to autopsy, going to find some pads and a set of gloves.  He found the tape too.  "Ducky, one of the guys has one of those neverending zits in the center of a cyst.  He hates needles so I'm going to pop it for him."  He found a dental pick and took it too. He did know how to remove those.  He grinned at the other guy.  "Hi, Mr. Palmer.  I'm Xander, the current bane of his existence."  He waved and went back, settling in to deal with that.  "Turn the chair around so you have something to support your chest."  The guy did so, giving him an odd look. "Yes, I'm more than qualified," he noted dryly.  He moved the shirt out of the way, then put on the gloves and unwrapped one of the sterile pads.  The zit was easily popped and absorbed, then the pad tossed and he went back to squeezing it dry.  When nothing else came out he picked up the small pick and put a hand on the back of his neck. "Do not move.  It's going to pinch."

"Needle?"

"Nope."  He stuck it in the right spot, twisted, then yanked, making him yelp.  He put it in front of him, then the pick next to it, grabbing the last pad and the tape to cover it.  "There you go.  Warm heating pad on it later, watch it for infection, have Ducky check it later today," he ordered.  "If you're in doubt, take that to your usual doc to have him test it for cancer."  He patted him on the back of the head and took off the first glove properly, using it to pick up the dirty pads, then putting the second glove over it, handing it to the guy.  "Biowaste please."  He went back to Gibbs' desk, looking at him.  "You were being bullied?" he asked with a smirk.  "You?  That's almost as bad as me getting it in high school."

"You were bullied?" McGee asked, looking confused.

"Total outcast, McGee," he admitted with a grin. "Uncoordinated, bad clothes, hung out with Buffy.  The only cool thing I did was date a cheerleader and she was constantly putting me down to her friends.  She didn't even want to be seen with me most of the time.  She was in it for the smoochies," he offered with a wicked grin.  "Okay, anything else I can help with?"  That guy came back.  "Yes?  Did you need something else?"

"You're DiNozzo's apprentice, the guy he's working on to help you start here?"

Xander looked at Tony.  "You told them?"

"Yeah, that and gopher and general helper," he admitted dryly, shrugging slightly. "Sorry."

"S'okay."  He looked at him.  "I make a better sounding board but I'm also a very good people hunter.  I watch people and I know people.  That's what my special talent is."  He grinned, a gentle, soft, friendly grin.  "If you need help with that, ask Gibbs where I am.  If he can't find me, maybe he can help.  He's taught me some stuff too."

"Sure, kid.  Thanks for his back and all.  I know it's been bothering him."

Xander waved it off.  "I removed a nearly fist sized one two years back from someone's thigh.  That wasn't that bad.  Just annoying and worrisome now and then.  He should probably have the tissue tested, just in case if he's worried."

"I'll make sure he does that during lunch.  Gibbs was on lunch?"

"Yeah.  I'd never come up during work unless he called me to.  I don't want to interrupt their saving the world and making it safe for the ninety-five percent in uniform who're decent folks."  He shrugged and grinned again.  "I'm a good boy."  He looked at Gibbs.  "How's your back?"

"Still good.  Thank you.  I can drive again."

"You're welcome.  Do you want pictures from England?"

"I wouldn't mind.  You're going when?"

Xander pulled out his calendar and showed it to him. "This weekend and into this week, which means I'll be back Monday and you're in charge of Eliana."

"Fine.  Thanks for lunch, kid."

"Not an issue."  He grinned at Ducky as he came in scowling.  "Hi, Ducky."

"Mr. Palmer said you removed a cyst?"

"I've removed bigger ones.  It was one of those with the zit."  He walked him over to let him see.  "See?"

"Dental pick?  An odd choice."

"Sunnydale," he noted dryly.  "I removed a fist sized one two years ago."  He hugged him. "There, for lunch since Gibbs didn't ask me to get you anything."  He wandered off again.

The guy looked at him.  "Can you test it or should I send it to my usual doc, Doctor Mallard?"

"I'll have it tested for you."  He took the sample and the tape, letting him dispose of the pick and glove package in the nearest biohazard container.   He walked off shaking his head.  He knew the boy knew field medicine.  He had seen him do too much of it already.  He'd check the agent's back later, once he had run the tests.  Right after he called to yell at the boy.  Even if he had been taking EMT classes most mornings.

***

Gibbs looked up as the meeting started, looking at his director.  "What's going on this time?" he asked.

"Where's the kid?  No deliveries today?"

"No.  He's got his own thing today.  We managed to make it out for lunch," he said smartly.  "At least he's not on the payroll."

"He'd better not be.  Was he qualified to do that cyst removal?"

Tony raised a hand.  "He's most of the way through his paramedic training and he's already very good in field medicine.  He had to be since he's from near LA, Director.  That's why he could do that.  The massage therapy classes he's taken on and off were to help with the girls he was training out there.  They apparently needed the help and he was the best at it so he took the training."

"Fine.  Don't let it continue, Agent Gibbs."

"No, sir.  I'll make him quit picking up our lunch orders for us."

"See that you do.  Was it cancerous?" he asked the head of that team, who nodded.  "He's where?"

"He took the results to his doctor, who's sending him to see someone tomorrow.  I've got his leave forms in your inbox, Director.  It's a good thing he removed it."

"Very well.  I won't complain about that.  Agent DiNozzo, are you *training* that young man?"

"Now and then, Director.  He's got good instincts and I know he said he wanted to go to the Academy."

"As?"

Gibbs coughed.  "He's already been approved, sir."

The director looked at him and Jethro nodded that he was still Xander.  "I see.  I hadn't realized.  How soon before he starts?"

"He starts part-time next month," Tony told him.  "He'll be breaking between sessions in England, then coming back for another one."

"On?"

"I think his first is the mandatory lessons.  I know I went with him when he qualified for his weapons rating.  So the first is probably R&R, rules and regs."  He looked at Gibbs.  "At least it was in the Academy I went to."

"It is there too," he agreed.  "He'll be doing the intense training this summer, director, then he'll be deciding if he comes here part time or not.  At which time he'll be a Probie on my team since he works so well with us."

"Fine.  I'm sure the boy's useful."

"Director, are you feeling all right?" Gibbs asked him.  "You knew all this last month."  He got a harsh look and shrugged.  "You did."

"I've got some tylenol if you need some, Director," the other head offered.

"I'm fine," he assured them.  "All right.  About the overtime."

"My team's had none," Gibbs reminded him.  "Not since that memo came out.  Even when we had a case over a weekend.  I made DiNozzo switch out a day."

"Can we have it back, director?  It felt really odd to be out on a Thursday and I got called back anyway."

"No.  We're going to reinstitute salaries.  There will be no salary decrease and the overtime compensation will cover it nicely.  That means I want each and every team to be at full staff and full morale."

"We're there," Gibbs said patiently.  "With Marquez...."

"She's being recruited by someone, Gibbs."

"She doesn't want to go, sir.  She likes where she is."

"Then Harris gives you an extra hand."

"Who'll be part time and we work more cases anyway," Gibbs reminded him.  "He can train on some of our cold ones."

"We'll see."  He stared at the other team leader.  "Your team, how are you going to deal with the missing member?"

"We're stuck in a long-term smuggling and drugs case," he admitted.  "We spend a lot of time talking with the other offices just trying to track people down and figure out if they're involved.  Gibbs, can I borrow McGee?"

"Sure.  Until I need him again.  Backgrounds and computer searches?"  That got a nod.  "Fine.  Before you ask, Harris isn't a computer person."

"Thanks for the warning.  Will you need to rebuild his like you did Marquez's last month?"

"Not quite that bad.  Anything the kid searches for comes up porn," he admitted dryly, smirking at him.  "Even if he types in something innocent like cat breeds.  I've seen him do it."

The other team leader laughed. "I'm sure our computer use people will love him then."  He looked at DiNozzo.  "What's his area?"

"Weapons, strategy now and then.  Xander's an instinctive person.  He's learning more modern weapons and I fully expect him to sign up for the bomb disposal classes as well."

"Good, we could use one now and then."  They all looked at the director.  "When he comes up, can we borrow him too?"

"If necessary.  He may be filling in your lack of personnel."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Where are your reports from your last case?"

"You handed them back two days ago," Gibbs noted.  "I handed them in that evening."

"I don't remember that."

Tony stretched and looked at his watch, then the director.  "I can run down to find the file, sir.  It'll take me about ten minutes."

"Good.  Do that."  He watched the boy leave.  "Do you really think it's in Harris' best interests to keep him here, Gibbs?"

Gibbs nodded.  "Yeah, I do.  He's made himself more useful than some full agents."  He looked at the other guy.  "You're still working on that guns and drugs case?"  That got a moan.  "I'll see if anyone has any clues for you.  How many in the chain?"

"Fifteen so far, with a spider web of contacts and information.  We're using the new DEA software too."

"Go back to the bulletin board and then type it in," Gibbs advised.  "You solved faster that way. They won't have jurisdiction."

"True.  I tried that and I'm already lost."

"I'll send McGee over after he fixes my PDA again."  That got a smirk.  Tony came back with the files and set off a small flash bomb, making them all blink.  "DiNozzo, what made you think I needed to see spots today?" he asked.  He stood up and looked at the director.  "Nice work.  Get Ducky to make sure it's not medical."  Tony went to call Ducky and he looked at the other guy.  "I don't care if you start hollering from the hallways."

"No, he was acting odd.  So, what is Harris?"

"Human," Tony said.  "Palmer, send Ducky to the MTAC meeting room.  No, the director's been acting odd and just collapsed.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Right up, Boss."  He came to check him over, noticing the marks on his neck.  "Gibbs?"  He moved the collar.

"Get the camera."

"McGee's outside."  He went to get his kit from him, nodding him inside.  "Only let Ducky in."

"Sure."  He guarded the door while Tony took pictures and put a bit of holy water on the odd spots.  They fizzed so he added more, moving really fast when something came out of one of the spots.

McGee looked back at the yelp.  "What is that?"

"Looks like a brain worm," the other lead noted.  "Eww."  He went to get a glass and Tony used some tweezers to pick them up, dropping it into there.  "That's really nasty."

"But a good reason for the personality change," Jethro noted, nodding Ducky closer. "That came out of his neck," he said, pointing at the glass.

"That's disgusting."  He got down to look him over, finding him sleeping.  "We should get a CT scan, Jethro.  Just in case there's more.  Identify that for me.  I'll have him taken to Bethesda."  He went to call for an ambulance.

"Probie, run the picture really quick," Tony said, handing over the camera after taking one last shot.  "Then email it too."  He nodded and took it. "Ducky, he has your cell, right?"  That got a nod.  "Good.  Holy water fizzed."

"Why did you use holy water?" the other lead asked.

"Holy water has salt, that makes it saline solution," Tony told him.

"Oh.  Okay.  Usually I use stuff for contacts."

"I do in the field," he admitted with a smile.  "It's all I had on me."  He got out of the way, watching as the paramedics looked at the worm.  "Just be careful, Ducky."

"Of course.  I'll call when I have something."

"Wonderful."  He looked at the other guy. "Go back to the board and strings."  That got a nod.  "Have someone type it in once you've got it set up.  I find one typer makes the most sense anyway."  The guy nodded and disappeared.  Gibbs looked at the worm.  "It's got teeth."

"I noticed.  I hope it's not trying to breed in there.  I'd hate to see who we got next."

McGee jogged back in.  "Boss, Xander has no idea what that is, but he's got the manual down and he'll call Tony's or your cell when he does.  He said if it reacted to holy water they should probably try a saline treatment and have the priest there bless it in the IV bag."  He got out of the way and watched as the creature was taken down to the lab.  The other leader grabbed him and he followed along.  "Computer problems again?"

"No, we need some help.  We've got a guy out with a new tumor.  You're our designated typer, McGee.  You know that new program since you made it work in our system.  I also need you to pull files on all these people and do quick backgrounds."

"Sure.  Let me get my soda."  He went back to his desk to get it then came back to help.  Since Tony had told him Gibbs said it was okay.

***

Xander was standing beside the director when he woke up.  "What day is it?" he asked quietly.

"Thursday."

"Good.  What year?"

"2006."  He blinked a few times.  "Why am I in the hospital, Mr.  Harris?"  He held up the now dead demon spawn.  "What's that?"

"An Ostris.  It was using you as a host.  It's a baby."  He put the air-tight bag down again and leaned on the railing.  "You're damn lucky.  It would've eaten you inside out.  By the way, it's been in you for nearly a week so you need to see what got screwed up.  Gibbs has already done some," he said quietly, "but he wasn't able to get into some of your files."  That got a slow nod.  "You're going to be here for a few more days.  They thought it was a leach who got through the cracks on the back of your neck, but that might've come from that too."  That got another slow nod. "You'll be fine now.  They did a full PET scan for others and didn't find any.  You're going for an MRI tomorrow just in case as well.  You've got a very pretty nurse and your secretary is outside pacing."  That got a small smirk.  "Try to take it easy for a few days.  You're going to have a headache."  He stood up.  "The building will be fumigated starting tomorrow.  Gibbs' team will be working from home and Abby can borrow my lab.  Ducky's morgue will be sealed as well.  The others know that there were bugs, not what kind.  Your wife's already agreed to have the house fumigated.  Fortunately it's just like doing smoke bombs for roaches.  They react to the same stuff."  That got another smile.  "She's down the hall waiting patiently.  Gibbs will be in tonight with a report.  I'll let your secretary in if you don't have any questions."

"What if it left eggs?"

"They leave slimy little live babies.  The MRI will pick them up and the staff here can go in and get them.  The saline solution will make them easier to stop and catch. They aren't very mobile.  The one in your head took about a day to crawl inside.  You might wanna figure out where it could've come from besides those two spots."  He got another nod.  "Yes, the water was blessed," he said quietly.

"Thank you, Mr. Harris. You'll be an asset to the department when you finally get around to joining."

"Not an issue, sir.  Have a good rest.  Gibbs has control of MTAC for you."  That got another nod and Xander let the secretary in.  "I told him the pertinent details I got from Gibbs, including the fumigation."  She nodded and he left, going to smile at Ducky.  "He's awake, I passed on Gibbs' messages about the fumigation and him having it."

"Thank you, Xander," he said, hugging him.  "Now go eat."

"Yes, Ducky.  Actually, I have a date," he said proudly.  He went to change and had to decide between two outfits, but he decided on the simpler one, then grabbed his fancier jacket and keys, heading out to pick up Tony, since he didn't know they were having a date.  He walked up to his door, tapping gently, smiling at him.  "Get dressed. You said I was making you eat real food at someplace that required a coat."

"You know I was joking, right?" he asked.

"So?  Change.  Now."  Tony shook his head but went to do that, coming out dressed better than he was.  "Should I put on a tie?"

"No, you're good."  He looked him over.  "Very good."  He made sure he had everything then followed Xander downstairs and to the car.  He'd only had the one ride in it so far and it was very comfortable.  He turned down the music, smiling at the new stereo, then at his date.  "Nice choice."

"Thank you.  I liked it," he said happily, buckling up and starting the engine, then backing out and heading downtown.  "I asked for a private spot because we had to discuss some business stuff.  I need to have stocks and bonds explained sometime soon and I figured it was a good enough cover."

"It's a good cover, Xander.  Very good."  He smiled at the restaurant as they pulled up a few minutes later, then at Xander.  "This is nice."

"Am I dressed okay? We've got a few minutes."

"You're fine."  He gout out and smiled as Xander got out and locked the car, arming the security system. "No wards?"

"I'd have to redo them when they paint it."  He walked him inside, nodding at the host.  "Harris."

He checked the book and smiled.  "This way, sir."  He led them to the back of the restaurant, handing them menus once they were seated.  "Your sommelier will be with you shortly."  He left them alone.

Tony smiled as he opened the menu.  "You have stocks and bonds?"

"Apparently Wes was investing some of his inheritance and I'm not sure what's going on.  I got a notice from the lawyer that I had to make a decision about that stuff."  He handed it over.  "That's what I've got.  I've got about four days left and I was hoping you could come over Saturday and help?  That way I could handle things first thing Monday morning?"

"I can do that," he agreed, looking at the list.  "He's well diversified," he admitted, looking at the boy, noticing the clueless look.  "That's a good thing."

"Oh, good.  Wes was way smarter than I am," he said, shaking his head. "Wine with dinner?"

"Sure.  Get a bottle.  I like the roasts here."

Xander looked at his menu and considered it.  "I like the beef dish in number eight but we all know I like red wine."

Tony smiled at that one.  It was a good choice.  He looked at the sommelier when he came over.  "We'll need something midpriced to go with number eight and the roast dish."

"There's three good choices.  What sides were you thinking about?"

"The usual," Tony admitted.  "Without gravy."

The waiter nodded and noted the choices.  Tony pointed at one and he nodded, going to get it so he could test it.  He noticed Xander's fascinated look and smiled at him. "It's not a hard art to learn."

"After I finish my paramedic and massage therapy classes," he said dryly.  "About the same time as cooking classes."  Tony smiled and nodded that the wine was fine, so he poured them some and left the bottle.  "You're really good at that stuff."

"It's all training, Xander.  I got trained to deal with this stuff from an early age.  Am I getting the wine and you get dinner?"

"I can get dinner."

"Xander."

"It's only fair."

"I'll get the wine and dessert."  Xander nodded but he was smirking a bit.  "Taste that.  It's a good wine."  Xander tasted it and moaned. "See?"

"It's got that aftertaste."  Tony sniffed his glass and frowned then sniffed his.  "I'm right, aren't I?"

"You are.  It does smell different."  He managed to catch the glass before Xander passed out, looking at the nearest waiter.  "I think he could use some help."  The man ran off to get the manager, who was someone he didn't recognize.  "Fuck me," he muttered, pulling out his phone to call Ducky and Gibbs, who were supposed to be together.  "We're at Perry's," he said in greeting.  "No, Xander tasted his wine, said it tasted funny, then passed out.  Bitter and peaches.  No, just smelled.  Thanks."  He checked Xander again, getting up to let the paramedics get in there.  He handed over that wine glass, then took a sample bottle from him to get some for their labs.  "I'm a Fed," he said quietly.  He paid for the wine and they left, him following right behind the ambulance.  Which was how he realized it wasn't going to the hospital.  "Fuck."  He pulled out his cell with a sigh.  "Gibbs, Tony.  No, follow my signal.  They're not taking him to the hospital.  I left a sample of the wine in the car.  No, sample collection bottle from the paramedic."  He put the phone down, hoping it'd get closed within the hour.  Too many minutes this month, really there was.  He could hear Gibbs yelling about the same time as a cop stopped him.  He pulled out his credentials.  "My friend's in the ambulance and they need his medical history."

"Sir, you can't go in there."

"I'm still a Federal Agent and yes I can."

The cop pulled his gun.  "No, you can't.  Get out of the car, sir.  Also, hang up."

Tony closed his phone, but he had to push the button to hang up.  He hoped it had been long enough for Abby and McGee.  The guy took the phone and made sure by taking out the battery and tossing both parts back into the car, then moving him away from it while another supposed cop searched it.  "What's going on here?" he asked.

"Shut up."

"That's almost impossible. You know that right?"

"I said shut up.  You're nothing to us, not even a useable hostage.  So I'd follow orders."

"Fine.  What was he dosed with?  He's got allergies."

"It won't matter."

"It will matter to some people," he retorted.

"They'll never find you in time, kid, so just quit trying so hard.  Use your last few to pray."  He glanced back and the guy shrugged.  "Where's the sample?"

Tony looked at him but kept silent.  The guy shot at him and he snickered.  "Xander's better than that."  This time the gun was pointed at him and cocked.  He crossed his arms over his chest and pulled his best Gibbs impersonation up.  "Go ahead.  My boss'll hunt you to the ends of the earth."

"He won't be able to."

"You take out a whole team and watch how long you last."

"We'll last long enough."  He glanced back when the music came on and Tony grabbed his gun, taking it from him and knocking him out.

Tony pointed it at the guy.  "Move away from the car.  Now!" he ordered.  He moved closer, pulling his own gun since it was more comfortable for him to use and he was sure it was all right.  He saw the smirk and kept them both anyway.  "Move, now."  He hit the button for the car alarm and let it run.  The company would call him, and if they couldn't find him, Gibbs.  He saw another person come out and mentally groaned.  "Ah, Ms. Shepard.  Charming to see you again."

"Stand down, DiNozzo."

"I don't take orders from you, Ms. Shepard."

"You do now.  I'm the only one who can save your little friend's life."

"Really?" Willow said as she appeared.  "Fat chance, bitch."  She raised a hand and something hit them both, knocking them out.  "You gave them my number third?"

"Gibbs' second.  You got called?"

"Yeah.  I did.  Get your phone."  He grabbed both pieces and put it back together, then called Gibbs himself while she looked around.  She glanced at him.  "No answer?"

"No.  Not him or Ducky.  I did get McGee and he's heading to check on Eliana and Marquez."

"Good.  They're Initiative right?"  He nodded.  "Let's go."

Tony took off his jacket and checked both weapons, then got Xander's out of the special compartment in the trunk.  He knew the kid had one put in.  Two guns with ammo and a throwing knife later, and he shut the doors, following her.  They snuck up to where the rest of them were, watching what they were doing.  "He's going to hate that, he liked that shirt," he muttered in her ear, making her snort.  He checked behind them, wishing for a bulletproof vest, but nothing was coming out of heaven.  They moved in closer, her taking out two of the soldiers.  He winced as the IV was stuck and walked in.  "Freeze," he ordered.  "Remove it.  Now!"  The IV was removed.  "Bandage it."  It was bandaged and he kicked the gurney, making Xander moan.  "Xan?"  He sat up and rubbed his head.  "Come on.  We've got to go."

"Not yet, Tony," he moaned, holding his head.

"Xander, soldiers."

"Fuck."  He came off the table and looked at the blurry people.  "Which way?"

"Behind me."  Xander moved behind him and he backed out.  One tried to rush for him and he shot him in the knee, backing out further.  Willow was behind him with Xander.  "Back to the car, kids," he noted quietly.  Willow took off with him and he followed, walking so he could keep track of them.  Every few seconds he'd glance around.

"Tony, stairs," she called.  "Two feet to your left."  He nodded and turned, jogging down them and then back around to get one of them in the shoulder.  He didn't want to kill them, not until Gibbs got to torture them for a bit first.  He made it to the car and got in to drive, letting Willow have him.  The keys were in his pocket so it took him a moment, then he backed up and headed for somewhere safer.  His phone in one hand, his eyes checking the mirrors.  "McGee, please tell me you've heard from Gibbs or Ducky?"  He listened.  "Shit.  No, the Initiative creeps.  Including Shepard.  Yeah.  Where?  What happened?"  He frowned.  "I didn't know you could do that.  Sure."  He hung up.  "You can fireproof spell the house?"

"Yeah, I have," she agreed.  "I did it last week.  That place won't fall no matter what happens."

"Good, I like that."  He changed lanes and sped up, heading off.  Halfway there he stopped and got out, trying Gibbs' again.  Then Marquez.  He got her.  "Where are you?  Meet us at Xander's.  Keep trying Gibbs and Ducky.  Yes, now.  Because the Initiative came back, Marquez.  They had Xander.  I don't know.  I stopped 'em from putting an IV in his arm."  He waved at a familiar car and it turned, stopping behind him and Gibbs getting out.  "He's here.  Yeah, meet us there."   He hung up.  "Boss."

"What the hell is going on!"

"Shepard's out.  She had Xander knocked out in the restaurant and then brought to a warehouse.  He's still out of it.  Do you have Ducky?"

"No, they have Ducky!"

"Okay."  He tossed Willow the keys.  "Get him back to the house, Willow.  I'm going for Ducky."

"You can't!"

"I can, don't argue with me," he said firmly.  He followed his boss back to his car and got in, nodding at the person in the back seat.  "McGee, didn't I order you to get Eliana?"

"She's already headed to Xander's house.  Marquez is picking her up.  You need more bodies here."

"I overruled you, DiNozzo," he said as he turned around.  "Where?"

"Straight back, Boss."  He nodded and headed that way.  He pointed and they pulled in, following him to the right warehouse.  He did take the vest with a grateful smile, slipping it on as he walked.  He kicked in the door, heading in first.  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

McGee came in and looked around.  "They had equipment here, Boss.  There's skid marks and things."  He checked something glittery he saw, picking it up with a pair of gloves.  "Dopamine?"

"Sedative," Tony told him.  "Xander's got some in his field kit."  They searched the rest of the area, finding the cages and a few people.  He shot two of them, his boss got one, and then they found Ducky, who was unconscious. He went in to check him.  "He's got a pulse, Boss."

"Ambulance is on its way," he replied.  He went to search the rest of the area with McGee.  Tony could guard Ducky and their prisoners.  He came back and shook his head.  "Nothing."

"We'll get 'em, Boss," Tony assured him coolly.  "Even if I have to do it myself."

"Calm down, DiNozzo.  This is why they don't let lovers work on the same team."

"Bite me."  He checked Ducky again.  "He's feeling stronger."  The paramedics from earlier came in.  "Not them."

"We were paid to bring him here."

"That makes you accomplices to kidnaping," Gibbs said.  The other main team rushed in and he waved.  "They were told to kidnap Xander Harris to here for someone and these people tried to stop us," he noted.  "Ducky needs medical."

"Where's the Harris kid?" the other team leader asked.

"His place.  He was unconscious but probably all right.  They had him sedated at a restaurant and then brought him here."

"I saw them stick him with some sort of IV and McGee found a bottle of dopamine," Tony reported.  Ducky moaned and he went back to patting his cheek.  "Come on, Ducky.  We need you back, man."  He looked at the back of his neck.  "None of the cracks like on the director, Boss."

"Good.  I'd hate to see Ducky with brain slugs."  A new set of paramedics rushed in.  "We're not sure what happened after he was kidnaped.  We know at least sedated."  They nodded and made Tony move.  "There's another case but we think he's only sedated."

Tony called the house, getting a very worried sounding Willow.  "It's Tony.  How is he?  The lab's downstairs.  Yeah, Abby uses it."  She dropped the phone and went running.  "Willow?" he called.  He rolled his eyes at the bang of the door, then he heard Eliana's voice.  Willow's babble came back and he heard Xander moan.  He hung up.  "They're pulling blood, Boss."

"Good."  He follow the gurney out.  "Once they're back at the office, call the director and speak to only him," he called as he walked.  "I do mean only him, Peter."

"Sure, Gibbs."  He watched the other two follow.  "What the hell is going on?" he asked his resident 'strange stuff' person.  She was into Voodoo or something as far as he knew.

"Something very bad," she noted quietly.  "Do as he ordered.  He apparently has it in hand, Boss."

"Fine."  They started the clean up and gathering, including confiscating the field kits in case they had something in them that might prove useful.

***

Xander woke up in the hospital and looked at the man leaning beside him.  "Did I have brain slugs?" he asked quietly.  Tony shook his head.  "Are you sure?  It feels like something's in there with my brain."  He reached back but Tony captured his hand.  "What?"

"The Initiative got you."

"So I was tortured?"

"Kicked in the head a few times."  He smoothed back some of the dark hair.  "How do you feel otherwise?"

"Crappy, but I don't ache."

"They sedated you and were about to put some chemical mix into you.  We think it's a control serum with the way Ducky acted when he woke up.  Willow said you knew something about that?"

"They used it on a few of the vamps.  It hooked into the chip," he said, giving the hand a squeeze.  "Ducky?"

"He's detoxing but it'll take a few days at least.  You'll be home before he will.  I stopped them from doing more than sticking you with an IV."

"Thank you."  He made himself sit up and let go of Tony's hand, but it was held again.  "More bad news?"

"No.  I thought it was sweet that you took me out on a date," he offered with a grin.

"What else could I do?  You're so sweet and gentle," he teased back.  "Anything for my fam...favorite Pretty Boy."

Tony gave his hand a squeeze.  "Let me let Abby and Gibbs in.  They should be pacing."  He let him go and walked over, opening the door and wisely getting out of the way since Abby rushed in and would've run him over. "Thank you for the patience."

"Share, you greedy bastard you," she complained, hugging Xander.  "I was so worried!"  She let him go since he was wincing.  "Are you feeling okay?"

"Well, I was fine but now I seem to be squished," he noted, shifting further up in the bed.  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I'm indestructible.  You know that."

"Bull."  She hugged him again then Gibbs pulled her off and turned her around so she was looking at Tony.  She shrugged and hugged him too.  "You did good."

"Thank you."

Gibbs looked at him.  "You're not indestructible or immortal.  Remember that, okay?" he noted.  "Before you finish off the ulcer Ducky started giving me many years ago."

"Sorry, Boss."

"I'm sure you are.  Do you want to know what they gave you?"

"Not really.  Not unless it's going to make me start to quack or shake or break out in pink- vomiting hives."

"That's a cool image," Abby noted, bouncing back over to sit on the foot of his bed and rub his ankles.  "Willow's still here and we're doing tag-team hacking to figure out what's going on."

"If I remember right, the control syrup was something that got hooked into the control chip and they used it in unison, but the syrup they tried to feed them wasn't calibrated properly and made them lethargic but nervous and twitchy.  They had some way to give commands over the chip."

"We saw the chip's schematics," she agreed, thinking about it.  "I don't know how they'd do that."

"Chemical or electrical impulses probably," Tony offered.  "We have no idea where they are," he admitted, making sure the door stayed closed for a bit.  "If we did, they'd be raided since they're officially federal escapees.  The director is not a happy person," he said dryly.

"I'm not a happy person," Gibbs assured him.  He looked at Xander again.  "How do you really feel?"

"I feel like I have brain slugs because it feels like there's something crawling around in my head."

"That could be some bleeding," Tony noted, going to tell the nurse that.  "He said he feels like there's something crawling around in his head?"

"I'll have him sent for a scan immediately," she noted.  "We were worried that he might start bleeding.  I take it he's awake?"

"And been hugged to death," he agreed, going back.  "You get to go back through the big, whirly machine again, Xander."

"What a prize I get," he noted dryly.  He noticed Abby looking at his shoulder and moved the gown to look.  "They took out the metal?"

"No, the people who had you were taking out the metal," Gibbs told him.  "For some reason Willow freaked."

"That's because they can use that in a sympathetic spell or to test things on me without me being there.  They probably took plenty of tissue with it."  Tony nodded.  "Did they take all the tatoo?"

"Nearly. It's not quite a big, gaping hole.  Hence the continued pain killers."  Tony got out of the way of the orderlies, looking at them.  "New?" he asked.

"They work for us," the nurse called.  "They've been here for years, Agent DiNozzo."

"Thanks."

Xander grinned at him.  "I'm good with paranoid right about now.  Thank you.  Abby, gotta move that foot, sweetie."

"Fine.  I'll be back as soon as you are.  I'm going to call home and tell them you're awake and fussing."

"Yeah, well, I'm expecting to have many cookies since that's how Willow fusses."

"We've already had about four dozen," Tony assured him, following him down.  The orderlies gave him a look.  "He was kidnaped, if you think you're getting that far out of my sight, you're sadly mistaken.  Don't make me pull my weapon on you."

"Yes, Agent DiNozzo," one said, hitting the button for the elevator.  The nurse and he shared a look but he let it go.  Lovers were always so fussy.

Gibbs just shook his head.  At least Xander wasn't going to be hurt anytime in the near future.  Not even allowed to stub his toe probably.

"Man, Xander will *never* be allowed to get into another bar brawl," Abby sighed, shaking her head.  "I wish Tim was that over-protective sometimes."

"Do stupid stuff, Abby, watch it happen," Gibbs assured her.  "Call home."  She went to do that.  He went to check the room again, just in case one of those brain slugs had gotten in.  Then he went to report to the director, who was just upstairs.

***

Tony helped Xander inside and to his couch a few days later, then took the blanket Willow was holding ready and tucked him in.  "There."  He backed off with a smile.  "How's that?"

"Good.  So, what's going on with the investigation?"

"Why?" Willow asked.  "You can't help."

"Yes, but I often get things the rest of you don't.  Remember, Xanders view things from a very different viewpoint now and then."

"Yeah, but your usual viewpoints are being covered by Abby and Gibbs," Willow assured him.  "We're working on it, Xander. Would you like a cookie?"  She held out a plate.

He looked at them, then at her before taking one and nibbling.  "So, what're you hiding?"

"They've got Ethan with them."

"Ethan....." Tony prompted.

"Rayne.  Will, he won't work against me."

"He will, he hates you."

"I doubt it since he taught me fire and chaos magic," he noted dryly, nibbling on his cookie.  He pointed at his phone.  "Hand it over."  Tony tossed it to him and he looked up a number, dialing it.  He listened to the gruff greeting.  "If I find out you had something to do with the people who kicked me in the head after kidnaping me, I'm sending something to rape you and then eat you," he said in greeting.  "Gee, yes, Ethan, this would be.  How nice of you to remember.  Ethan, here, now," he ordered, then hung up.  He looked at Tony.  "Look for a guy with dark hair that's about Giles' age."  He looked at Willow.  "And the rest of the guilt?  Since I've heard about twelve dozen cookies have been made."

"I was supposed to track him and I didn't," she admitted quietly, looking at her cookies.  "Giles thought he might show up here to take advantage of the situation."

"Uh-huh.  And the rest?" he prompted.  She glared at him so he stared back.  "Willow?"

"I saw Oz," she sighed, handing him the plate of cookies.  "I don't know why."

"Where?"

"Your former job."

"Abby, go to Pyro, looking for the little redheaded werewolf Oz.  The guy in the picture on the right."  She looked then nodded and bounced out.  "We can handle that too.  You can be downstairs."  She nodded and he rolled his eyes.  "Her ex.  The one that made her lose it."

He sat under Xander's feet.  "So I read.  Pass down the cookies."

"You were looking a bit thin," he agreed, handing them down after taking a few more.  "How many times did he have to pry you away?"

"Twice.  The second time Abby threatened to use her stun gun on him if he didn't quit."  He grinned.  "I liked the date until the drugging part.  Next time it's your treat since I got the wine."

"Sure.  Picnic in the park?"

"Very open."

"That depends on what part of the park you're in," McGee said as he joined them, taking the cookies.  "Why is Willow bouncing?  This time I meant."

"Oz is being fetched and he's her ex.  One of the ones who broke her," Xander told him, shrugging a bit.  "It's part of why she baked so many cookies.  Two or three dozen is a get well.  More than four and a half is guilt.  More than eight and make her confess because it was something other than she's trying to date again."

"I'll remember that."  He took the cookies with him, but stopped to let Abby back in with her guest.  "Hi.  Cookie?"

Oz looked before taking one.  "Willow?"

"Downstairs."  He headed that way with Abby.

"Come on in, Oz, just shut the door.  We're expecting others."

Oz shut the door and walked in, taking off his jacket and looking at him.  "You rang?" he asked, sitting across from him.

"Willow was feeling guilty since you're in town.  I was kinda wondering why you came here."

"I heard you were and wanted to stop in.  Then I heard you're still hunting."  He stared at Xander, who only grinned.  "You okay?"

"I'm the two present slayers' watcher," he said dryly.  "Giles is back in Sunnydale."

"Cool."  He got comfortable, looking at Tony, then at Xander.  "That's different."  Xander just nodded and smirked.  "Good.  You could use it."  He took another nibble, then looked at it.  "She was deep in guilt, there's bourbon."

"I noticed that," Xander agreed.  "Is there any good news in your life?"

Oz shrugged a half-shrug.  "I'm officially girlfriended."

"Congrats.  Who?"

"Aniko.  She's a female were."  Xander nodded.  "She's pretty cool.  Plays bass."

"So, new band?"  Oz nodded.  "Good band?"  Oz nodded again, taking another nibble.  "Can I meet her?"

"Only if you're going to be better by the full moon.  We don't have a cage and she's still shaky on the meditation."

Xander considered it.  "I think I could rig a set of ties in the woods if the boss wouldn't mind," he offered, looking at Tony, who only shrugged.  "Can you ask?"

"Sure.  I'll let you two chat."

"He's a quite guy," Xander said with a grin. "This is a long Oz conversation."  Oz snorted, then shook his head.  "Does she talk more?" he teased.  Oz shook his head.  "Less?"  Oz nodded.  "Wicked."

"Only sometimes," he said dryly.  "Others she's an angel.  Speaking off....."

"LA, still.  Cordy and Wes died, along with Fred, who I don't think you got to meet," he offered.  "I inherited from Wes."

"You and Wes were getting close the last time I knew," he reminded him.  "You did him good, Xan."

"Thanks.  It's just such a trip, I'm a *watcher* now."  Oz cracked a hint of a smile.  "To two slayers."

"That is a trip," he agreed.  Tony came back.  "We a go?"

"The boss said it'd be fine as long as neither of you got free."

"I can make sure of that.  I usually do."  He looked at Xander again.  "So, this is new?"

"This is very new," he agreed happily. "But Tony makes me happy and doesn't demand that I spoil him or that I buy him crap he doesn't need or anything like that."  Oz opened his mouth.  "You missed it, Oz.  I nearly married Anya."

Oz shuddered.  "I'm so sorry, man."  He stood up to give him a hug.  "That's just wrong."

"I left her at the altar after D'Hoffryn had me shown what it'd end up like.  It wasn't happy."

"She around torturing again?"

"Dead.  Hellmouth battle."

"Sorry to hear that.  Tara?"

"Shot.  Right in front of Willow minutes after they made up.  Hence her trying to end the world."  Oz groaned at that.  "You know, Giles could use you."

"Giles could use sanity," Tony complained as he sat down again.  "So, you went to school with Xander?"  Oz nodded.  "And you used to date Willow?  She talked about you a few times recently."

"I did."

"He was her first boyfriend," Xander told him.  "They were headed for long term things when the wolf got overpowering and he left for Tibet."

"It was nice," Oz agreed.

"Tibet or Willow?" Xander teased.

"Both.  Tibet was colder, but Willow was softer."  Tony cracked a smile at that.  "So....I've heard of other hunters?"

"The slayers are hunting with the boss," Tony told him. "One older, one younger." Oz nodded at that.  "Then us, plus McGee and Abby."

"Abby was the girl who fetched?"  Xander nodded.  "She seems cool."

"She is and she's a big, huge geek," Xander assured him happily.  "She hugged me until I squished at the hospital."

"You probably needed it," Oz agreed.  "What happened?"

"The Initiative has reformed.  We're presently fighting them," Tony told him.  He noticed the sudden stiffness.  "They're focused on getting the blocks out of their way," he said, nodding at Xander.  Xander nodded at that, rubbing the back of his head.  "No other things yet."

"Good.  If they catch sight of me, expect me to run very far and very fast."

"They're going through Intelligence circles," Tony told him.  "Run back to Giles or Angel, they've got hiding spots."

"Decent."  Oz looked at Xander.  "Sooooo.  A guy, Xander?" he asked, sounding almost smug.

"He makes me happy, playful, and he lets me tease him.  He lets me, but doesn't demand, I spoil him, and he's nice.  He even yelled at me for disarming a bomb."

"Huh," Oz said, nodding a few times.  "Good job, Tony.  He needs someone to stop him now and then."

"I've noticed that.  Do you have any good blackmail stories?"

"He cheated on Cordy with Willow once, nearly got Cordy killed by Spike."

"Really?" Tony asked, looking at Xander.

"Temporary insanity," Xander said slowly and clearly.  "She was panicking, I was eighteen.  It was only kissing.  Besides, it's not like Cordy was the most *faithful* person," he noted dryly.  "I'm still damn sorry she ended up shived on that rebar, but we didn't exactly plan any of that or to be captured by Spike."

"Uh-huh," Tony noted dryly.

"Hey, it only happened with her.  Not with anyone else.  I was more serious with Anya and I didn't cheat on her."

"You also aren't usually suicidal," Oz reminded him.

Xander looked at him. "If he dumps me because you brought that up, I'm going to kill myself so I can haunt you," he said, staring him down.

"Learn how to play something for real and join the band," Oz said with a shrug.  He looked at Tony.  "He's not usually like that.  Momentary aberration."

"I know he'd never cheat on me.  Though I have caught him eyeing Gibbs' backside a time or two."

Xander shuddered.  "Eeewwwwwwww!  No, bad.  Eww!  Nasty."  He kicked him.  "Don't say shit like that! You know how good I am at imagining mental pictures!  Eww!"

"You did," Tony reminded him.

"That was more checking to make sure his back was still in place."

"Uh-huh.  That was before his back went out."  Xander stared him down.  "All you have to do is tell me," he reminded him with a smirk.

"Keep it up.  Watch me cook and make you eat it," he retorted.  "I don't want him.  He's like a daddy person and a good leader.  I'm not one of those who gets hot for the power."

"Fine.  As long as you're sure."  Xander kicked him again, more gently this time.  "Hey, no abusing me."

"If I was abusing you, you'd still be tied to the bed," Xander noted, smirking back.  Tony only smirked at that.  "Besides, how many times have I caught you staring at his ass?" he reminded.

"Good point.  I can leave it there if you can."

"Consider it left," Xander agreed.  Then he grinned at Oz.  "Thank you."

"Welcome. Always happy to help others have good, claiming sex that night."

"Not with his head injury," Tony said bitterly, shifting further down the couch.  "Not for at least a week."

"Bet me," Xander snorted.  "Expect pouncing later!"  Tony blushed at that and he looked over since the door was opening.  "We're in here," he called.  Gibbs brought Ducky in.  "They sprung you early?"

"They couldn't find it in my system any longer so they thought it should be safe, but I'm off my duties for the rest of this month, just in case," he admitted as he came in to check Xander over.  "I hear you got kicked in the head?"  Xander nodded.  "I'm sure you'll be fine, Xander.  Anthony, any pains?"

"I didn't get hurt, Ducky.  Except when Xander just kicked me."

"Good.  Very good."  He smiled at them.  "Shall I start dinner?"

"That depends, should we go get your mom?" Xander asked him.  He blinked a few times.  "Ducky, who's with your mom?"

"I sent two of the Probies over," Gibbs assured him.  "She's fine, Ducky, I made sure of it."

He relaxed and smiled.  "I had hoped someone had.  With all the stresses I completely forgot.  I've tuned out the sound of the dogs for so long," he offered.

Gibbs nodded.  "If you want, I can take you home, Ducky."

"I'd rather make sure I'm normal first, Jethro.  I don't want to snap at the poor dear. I shall call her though."  He went to use the phone in the study, sitting behind the small desk to call home.  "Mother?  Yes, mother, it's Ducky.  Yes, me.  No, I'm just about to get out of the hospital and ....."  He smiled at her insistence he not leave too soon.  "No, I'll be back by tomorrow morning, all right?"  He nodded.  "Are you all right?  The dogs all right and all?"  He listened to her story about the dogs dancing around.  "Mother, the servant watching you, may I speak with him?  Of course, I love you too, mother.  Yes, mother, this is Ducky.  No, tomorrow morning, mother.  I've been in the hospital you know.  No, they'll be releasing me tomorrow, mother. No, not the sanitarium," he said, rolling his eyes and holding his head.  "I promise, mother, I'll be perfectly healthy when I come home tomorrow and I'll even bring someone over for tea, how about that?  No, mother, not a date or a girl to meet you.  No, mother, it's still Ducky.  Yes, mother.  Of course.  No, let me talk to one of the servants so I can make sure they're treating you all right."  She handed the phone off.  "What did you give her?" he demanded calmly.  "Because she was even less in her right mind than usual.  No, she's got dementia.  Thank you.  Tomorrow morning.  That's fine.  Of course."  He hung up and got up, going to talk to Jethro.  "They gave her some new medicines.  Was she at the doctor's?"

Jethro shrugged.  "Not that I'm aware of."  He went to check on that through the office.  He came out.  "She was.  Was it helping?"

"No, she's now forgotten who I am."

"Oh.  You wanna head home tonight?  I'll stay with you."

"Please.  Xander, would you like tea tomorrow?"

"Sure, Ducky, call."

"Of course, dear boy."  He smiled at him.  "You as well if you'd like, Anthony. You can bring Abby or Willow with you.  Mother always appreciates having women around to chat with."  He grabbed his jacket and let Jethro take him home so he could rip those irresponsible people to shreds.

Jethro nodded.  "I'll be with him tonight, boys.  Behave."  He walked out, slamming the door behind him.

"And that was our boss," Tony told Oz, who snickered.  "That was Gibbs."

"That's kinda cool.  He seems much more together than Giles."

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, we work on the Marine schedule at times," he admitted.  "But he accepts each of us however we are."

"Good.  You could use that."  He saw the shivering.  "Maybe you should put on a sweater, Xander."

"I should.  I'll be right back."  He got up and headed up the stairs, finding his comfy green chenille sweater and pulling it on over his t-shirt, then padding back down the stairs.  He curled up on the couch again.  "Ah, warmth. What'm I ordering for dinner!" he yelled. "Even I'm tired of pizza!"

"German food," Abby called back.  "Tim's going to get it."

"Thank you!"  He shrugged and looked at Tony.  "That's sausages as hotdogs, right?"

"Some, and beer, which you can't have," he reminded him.

"I hate head injuries.  You'd think I'd be used to them by now," he told Oz.  "But *no*, Xander had to get another one, and I wasn't even conscious or tripping this time!"

"It happens to the best of us," Oz reminded him.

McGee paused in the doorway.  "Eliana wanted bratwursts.  Did you guys want something else since he can't have beer?"

"Neither can Eliana," Xander reminded him smugly.  "She's still only eighteen, Fluffy.  I don't know, what did Abby want?"

"Food.  She's good with wherever as long as it's not a person and it can contain some veggies."

Tony shrugged, looking at Xander.  "Italian?"

"Sounds good.  I haven't had good lasagna in a while."  He considered it.  "Or Middle Eastern and I make a lasagna tomorrow?  It's the only thing I can cook."

"He does a mean one," Oz agreed.

McGee looked at him.  "Sorry, I didn't even see you there."

"McGee, this is Oz, a friend from high school and Willow's former boyfriend."

"Hi."  He walked in and shook his hand.  "Staying for dinner?"

"No, my lady might mind," he offered, standing up.  "I'll catch you Sunday, Xander.  That way Willow can calm down and quit humming."  Xander rolled his eyes.  "Be safer.  There's only one of you."  He stared Tony down, knowing he got the implied threat.  "You're good for him.  I like that."  He nodded at McGee.  "Nice to meet you too."  He grabbed his jacket and headed out to talk to his lady.

"I didn't mean to drive him off."

"Oz isn't comfortable in crowds sometimes," Xander told him.  "Besides, his girlfriend is probably still waiting."  That got a grin, McGee knew not to keep Abby waiting.  He probably still had the mark where she bit him the last time.  "Italian or Middle Eastern, Tony?"

"Italian.  You can make a lasagna tomorrow anyway."

"Cool.  Then you can pick whatever we're having.  I'll pay."

Tony looked at him.  "This isn't our date."

Xander grinned.  "I know that.  I'm in a good mood, quit complaining."

"Fine."  He got up to find the Italian place's menu, picking out what they'd have.  Since Xander had ordered and all.

***

Xander straightened out his jacket as he walked up to Ducky's front door, Tony right behind him.  He knocked and smiled at the older man answering it.  "Hi, Ducky.  Should I run out and get flowers?"

"No, that's fine, Xander.  She realizes it's winter.  She might think you're courting her."  He smiled at Tony.  "Anthony, thank you for coming as well."  He let them in and showed them to the study.  "Mother?" he called loudly.  She looked up from her book.  "We've got friends over for tea, mother."

She looked at them.  "Do I know you?" she asked grandly.

Tony smiled at her.  "I'm Tony, Mrs. Mallard, I work with Ducky.  Remember, you had me helping you brush the corgis last time I was here."

"Oh, yes, the gigolo."  She giggled and patted him on the arm.  "I'll still stab you if you look at my bosom, dear."  She looked at the other one.  "And you?"  She stared at him, frowning a bit.  "Are you a knight?"

"In many ways," he agreed, bending down to kiss her hand.  "It's good to see you again, Mrs. Mallard.  I'm Xander.  I brought you the flowers last time."

"Oh, yes, such pretty flowers."  She smiled at him and patted him on the cheek.  "Ducky, where is that dratted server?"

"I'll go get the tea set, mother.  You two settle in," he ordered.  At least they were willing to humor her.

Ducky's mother looked at Xander.  "Have we met many times?  I realize I've met you but I don't remember where or when."

"Well, I've been here for a few times for tea.  I help one of the teams Ducky works with, Mrs. Mallard.  Usually I help Tony's team at NCIS."

"Oh, yes, he told me about that."  She smiled at them and whistled, bringing her wandering dog to her.  "There you are, naughty girl.  Contessa, this is Xander and Tony."  She looked at them and growled.

Xander let her sniff his hand, then patted her on the head.  "Hi, Contessa.  You're a very good guard dog."  He got up to help Ducky when he came back.

"You sit," he ordered.  "You're just off a head injury.  I don't want you stressed."

"Me either but it's polite of me."

"When did Gibbs leave, Ducky?" Tony asked.

"Early this morning.  The police called and said someone tried to break into his house.  He's called a few times to say he's all right, just cleaning up some mess."

"I can help," Xander offered quietly.

"He's got most of it done.  They broke a window or two and he said spray painted some symbol on the house.  Stupid teenagers I'm afraid."  He sat down and poured his mother some tea, holding it out.  "Mother?" he called.  "Tea?"  She smiled and took it and he smiled back.  Then he poured another cup.  "Tony, you take sugar, correct?"

"Please."  He accepted his cup and took a polite sip.  Ducky made very good tea.

"I shouldn't have to ask you, you take sugar in everything," Ducky teased Xander.

"Not in tea."  He poured in a bit of cream.  "Giles taught me and thought it was blasphemy."   He took a real sip and smiled at Mrs.  Mallard.  "So, how has your week been, Mrs. Mallard?"

"Oh, quite splendid. The people helping around the house while Ducky was gone took me for a long walk in the woods with the dogs and we went out to plan next year's flower garden.  Do you garden?"

"I try very hard not to," he admitted with a shy grin.  "I kill plants a lot."  She giggled like a young girl at that.  "I'm more of a fixer.  I like to fix things."

"Oh, that's charming!  Maybe this summer you and my poor baby boy can build me a nice swing for the garden."  She smiled at her son.  "Are you ill, son? You look very old today."

"I am old, mother," he reminded her gently.  She sighed and looked up.  "Sorry, mother."   He fixed his own cup of tea and took a drink, then looked at Xander.  "We could work on a swing."

"Not an issue.  I'm good at that stuff," he reminded him with a grin.

"Oh, dear," Mrs. Mallard said.  "Are you one of those nasty little boys who likes to hit on poor, innocent young men like my son?"

"No, Mrs. Mallard.  I promise I'm not hitting on Ducky.  I like Ducky as a friend.  He's a very nice young man. He's very reasonable when he tries to keep me from doing naughty things."

"As he should be.  My son is very sweet and delicate," she agreed, sipping her tea. "He doesn't like to do naughty things, that would make him a naughty boy."  She blinked and looked at Xander.  "Do I know you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Mallard.  I'm Xander.  Your son is helping me learn how to act when I travel to England this summer to visit my new estate."

"Oh, are you royal?" she asked.

"Inherited from a very good friend, and I do believe there used to be a title but I'm not sure any more," he offered.  "I'm still fairly new to it and you raised Ducky so well that he's been helping me."

"I would like to see the old homeplace," she told Ducky.  "Just once more before I go."

"If I can arrange it, mother," he agreed. "Where is the estate, Xander?"  He pulled pictures out.  "Well, that could be about half the countryside."  Xander flipped one over, it had the address on the back.   "I was near there for a conference one year," he said happily.  "Very pretty country.  Hunt country really instead of farming mostly, but quite picturesque and darling."  He handed them to his mother.  "That's his new estate, mother," he told her.

She smiled at it.  "I know who used to live there.  I remember playing there.  The Wyndhams lived there."  She looked at Xander.  "You're one of them?"

"Wesley was the last son in the family and he left it to me," he told her.  "Wesley was like my brother."

"Yes, I remember Wesley.  He was such a scamp.  All bright green eyes and running around playing."  Xander smiled at that.  "You do look a bit like him.  Are you sure you're not related?"

Xander shook his head.  "No, ma'am, not fully related.  We were very close.  He's the reason I'm the man I am today."

"Ah.  No wonder he left it to you."  She handed them back to him.  "When are you going?"

"Easter."

"That's a wonderful time, but watch out for the rain," she warned regally.  She seemed to notice her tea and took a sip.  "Oh, son."  He smiled at her. "Are those servants coming back?  The dogs didn't like them at all."

"I don't know, mother. Did you want them to?"

She shook her head.  "They upset the dogs horribly."  She went back to playing with the dogs beside her.

Ducky gave the boys a sad smile.  "You're going to spend the whole week there, Xander?"

"The first night I'm going to recuperate from the flight in London.  Giles wanted me to look at the old Council building, see if there was anything left."  He finished his tea and put his cup down.  "He thinks I'm some sort of miracle worker and can find the hidden library."

"It's in the basement, under the back servant's stairs," Mrs. Mallard told him.  "Are you a member of the Council?"

"I'm the current Slayer's Watcher," he agreed.  "I trained under Rupert Giles."

"Ah, another young scamp who wasn't meant to be one of them."  She shook her head.  "Such a poor child, with his parents."

"He was Buffy's Watcher, two slayers ago," he told her. "He's still in Sunnydale."

"Ah, yes.  I remember hearing about that town while I dated one of them."  She smiled at her son, then at him.  "Quinton was such a darling boy."

"Until he got power," Xander agreed with a smile.  "Then he tried to make poor Rupert go insane, repeatedly."

"Yes, well, Rupert never was one for the rules," she said grandly.  "Always ignoring some byline or code.  It's a pity I fell in love with my baby boy's father all those years ago.  Quinton was a good man when he was younger."

Xander reached over to touch her hand.  "He died doing what he loved," he assured her.  "In the middle of the Council's chambers during a meeting."  She smiled sadly at that and nodded.  "He felt no pain and I'm told he's not haunting anyone."

"Good.  That's always good."  She patted his hand then looked at her son.  "You almost ended up being the son of Mr. Travers, Ducky dear."

"I'm sure I would've had a bright future, mother."  He sipped his tea and looked at Xander, who only grinned.  "Are you planning on moving to England full time some year, Xander?"

"Maybe.  I don't know.  Giles has made offers on the estate to house the new Council.  I'm not sure I want that to happen.  I don't mind sharing the information in there, but it's not what I think Wes would want.  His father definitely, but not Wes."

Ducky handed him a cookie, getting a smile for it.  "Do nibble, boys."  Tony took one of the little sandwiches.  "You don't think he'd want it?  He did give his life for the cause."

"Yes, but not for the ideals," Xander reminded him.  "Wes and Giles had both been forsaken by the Council for giving a damn.  Giles was being fatherly toward Buffy and Wes wasn't experienced enough when he came in.  So they fired them both.  They hunted Wes for a few years because he was working with Angel," he told him before taking a bite of his cookie. "I'm just not sure that's what Wes would want."

"I can understand that hesitation," Ducky promised with a smile.  He looked at his mother, noticing she was asleep. "That's been happening a lot."

"We can go into the kitchen," Tony said quietly.  Ducky nodded so they gathered up their things while he got the tray and followed them back there.  He looked at Xander, then at Ducky.  "You heard I'm going with him?"

"I had and I think the vacation will do you both good.  You never take one and I doubt Xander's ever had a real one."  He settled them at the kitchen table, pouring more tea.  "That was something I never knew about her," he admitted to Xander.

"Everyone wondered why Travers became an asshole according to Giles.  I'm guessing it was your mother getting taste and dumping him, Ducky," he said with a small smirk.

"Indeed.  My father was a brilliant man and quite kind to her.  It was undoubtedly the better choice. Especially since I can't see myself as a Watcher."

"It's all a matter of training," Xander noted dryly.  "You'd have been trained in the system and in their schools from day one.  Of course, then you'd be like Rupert."  Ducky shuddered at that but he was smiling some.  "But on to happier topics.  What do I pack for April in England?"

"Warm clothes," Ducky told him.  "It's not particularly hot there year round but I would bring a few nice shirts, a few sweaters, and a few pairs of pants. Maybe a suit if you plan on going out."

"See, I told you you needed the sports coats," Tony teased.

Xander nodded.  "I apparently did."  He looked down the hall as someone knocked on the door.  "I'll go let Gibbs in."  He walked out there, smiling at Mrs. Mallard since she was coming out of the study.  "It's all right, dear one.  That's just Ducky's boss."  He let him in and winked at him.  "Come on in, Gibbs.  We're back in the kitchen so Mrs. Mallard could go back to reading peacefully."

"Thank you, dear," she said, patting him on the cheek.  "Such a nice young knight."  She went back to her book, looking at her tea cup.  "I was using the good china?"

"Ducky thought you needed to see it and smile," he promised, taking it from her.  "Let me get you some more tea, Mrs. Mallard?"  She nodded so he went to do that, carrying it back.  "Here you go, Ducky fixed it special for you."

"Thank you, dear."  She took it and sipped.  "Are you going to go joust now?"

"No, you said you wanted a swing in the garden and we're deciding on a style."  She smiled and he left, going back to take the seat next to Tony since Gibbs had taken his.  "She's reading."

"Always a pleasant thing," Ducky agreed happily. "You're serious about the swing?"

"I can be.  I've built some furniture before for Joyce and Giles' backyards."

"It would be most appreciated, Xander.  We'll work on it this spring."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Was it stupid teenagers?"

"Yup."  He got himself some water and sat down again.  "Broke three windows, painted their damn symbol on the front of the house."  He handed over a picture.  "That doesn't mean anything, right?"

Xander looked at it.  "One of the local street gangs."  He handed it back with a grin.  "The cops should've recognized it."

"They probably did but no one said anything.  They wouldn't even look at me.  One of them did want to make sure I'd be safe out there all alone.  So I pulled my badge and they all agreed to come pick up the bodies if they come back."  He sipped his water, looking at Ducky.  "How is she?" he asked gently.

"Today's not been a bad day.  She told us about how she used to date a Watcher. Apparently she used to play with Xander's friend Wesley's family at his house so she recognized it."  He shrugged.  "It's not been bad, though I did hear how I nearly ended up being a Watcher's son."  He took another drink of his tea.  "Xander's been charming her since he got here."

"I heard her ask if he was a knight."

"According to many people," Xander said dryly.  He drank another sip and stole another cookie.  "You make good cookies, Ducky.  Nearly as good as the bourbon guilt cookies we've got at home."

Ducky smiled at that.  "She's still baking?"  Tony nodded.  "Wonderful.  Why now?"

"Ethan has the slayer's scythe," Xander said dryly.  He looked at Tony.  "Did you have fun chasing me this morning when I snuck out?"

"No, I lost you twice.  Where did you go?"

"To talk to Ethan.  He's being blackmailed.  Since the Initiative was handed him at one point in time by Giles, they've got a good file started and since Ethan's the sort to cause chaos for a profit....  Let's just say they have something on him."

"Transit strike in New York?" Gibbs asked.

"No, nothing quite that bad.  That much magic would probably kill him.  No, more like causing mass panic by popping something into a subway station or something, or so he thinks."

"Imagine if one of the more nasty demons suddenly appeared during rush hour in one of our subway stations," Ducky said, shaking his head.  "Mass pandemonium."

"Yup," Xander agreed, finishing his cookie.  "But without him I wouldn't be nearly as good with guns as I am.  After all, it was his thing on halloween that gave m the soldier's memories."

"Eat a sandwich, Xander.  You have a horrible diet," Ducky ordered.

"Yes, Ducky."  He looked and picked one up, nibbling on it daintily.

"You can eat like a normal person in here, kid."

"I always use company manners when I'm in public.  It's the only time I use them, feel thankful," Xander said sarcastically.  "You've seen me eating out of the chinese food container at home enough times."

Ducky got up and went into the library, coming back with a picture album.  He looked through it and then smiled, handing it to Xander.  "Is that Wesley's family?"

Xander looked, then tapped on one, letting him see it.  "That's Wes's father.  Wes was the second son of him and his wife."  He handed it back.  "Who're the others?"

"His older brothers."  He considered the pictures.  "And a sister I believe."

"Wes said he was the only descendent," Xander said with a shrug.  "Giles said no one contested the will."

"No, I doubt they would," he admitted.  "Isn't it interesting how lives connect?" Ducky asked Tony.

"It is," he agreed. "But I still can't see you being a stuffy, tweed wearing watcher."

Ducky snickered.  "Me either, Anthony.  Me either.  Jethro, would you like me to put on some coffee?"

"No, I'm good for now," he said, looking at him.  "How are you feeling?"

"Decent enough.  Still a bit fuzzy headed, but nothing too terrible.  Mostly like the morning after Caitlyn's thirtieth birthday, only without the headache."  Tony and Gibbs both grinned at that.

"I wish I had known her.  You guys always say such nice things," Xander told them.

"No saying the 'w' word," Tony reminded him.

"There's no good synonyms for that one," Ducky noted bitterly.

"According to Anya, I'm to be left alone by the wish demons," Xander noted.  "But they're usually pretty open about it.  It's more like never saying it in the open of a club, to a stranger, things like that," he offered.  "Besides, I know three-quarters of the old ones thanks to Anya.  I do miss Hallie though.  She was trouble incarnate but she did what she could for the kids she was Vengeance for."

"She was over what?" Gibbs asked.

"Lost innocence," Xander told him. "Children.  She was Anya's best friend and the only one who could tell her to shut up on occasion.  She was a decent person to me too."  He picked up another sandwich triangle and nibbled.

"Did she die during the assault?" Tony asked.

"No, there was a wish rescinded and when that happens, the demon dies.  It was actually Anya's client backing out but D'Hoffryn punished Hallie instead."  He ate another bite.  "She was the only one who seemed to think I had done the right thing for myself when I left Anya at the altar."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Being married is horrible, kid."

"I may find that out some day, but I leave that up to others to tell me if they want to be that serious.  I treat them all that seriously."  He shrugged.  "It's not for me to decide for others about their emotions."

"As you pounded into my cousin's head," Tony agreed.  "Thank you for that, she wrote me a letter saying she had no right to come face you down that morning and apologized for her rudeness."

"Not an issue.  I hear real families can be like that."  He looked at Tony.  "You do realize that if Abby and Fluffy break up and she starts to date someone else *we* get to threaten them?" he asked with a wicked grin.  "All of us here?"

"That reminds me, I've got to give that talk to McGee," Gibbs said happily.  Tony snickered, turning away so he could laugh.

Xander grinned.  "Need some handcuffs, Boss?"

"No, I'll borrow some of hers.  Besides, I thought you gave her all yours."

"I bought a new set just in case they were needed."

Tony looked at him. "When?"

"Last week when I got bored.  That's right, you haven't been in the study in a few days," he noted dryly.

"I didn't see anything last night," Ducky noted.

"You wouldn't have.  I'm hiding them so Abby can't make her Fluffy go hunt and steal for her."

"She'd beg," Gibbs assured him.

Xander snorted, shaking his head.  "Not for these.  She'd steal."  He finished his tea and stood up to stretch.  "So, Ducky, what's up for the rest of the afternoon?"

"Well, we could work on that swing design," he offered.

"Let me get some plan books first, that way you can see what elements you want and don't want. Then we can discuss woods and all that stuff."

"That would be nice, Xander."  He smiled at him and looked at Jethro.  "Are you feeling all right?"

"Just fine, Ducky.  Why don't you take a nap and I'll take the boys home?  That way we can keep Xander from corrupting you with his boredom."  Ducky smiled.  "Come on, boys."

Xander hugged Ducky.  "Feel better."  He went to say bye to Mrs. Mallard, finding her on the couch.  He walked in and smiled at the dog, petting her gently.  "We're going," he said quietly.  The dog whimpered and looked at his mistress.  Xander moved closer, looking at her. Then he went to get Ducky.  He didn't want to wake her up or startle her.  "Ducky, the dogs are worried and staring at your mom, man," he reported.

Ducky got up and hurried out to check her.  She yelped so he headed back that way, helping him off the floor.  "Thank you, Xander.  She's having some problems."

Xander smiled at her.  "Can I check your pulse, Mrs. Mallard?  I'm going to do both your neck and your wrist, okay?"  She nodded and he settled in to check them, glancing at the clock.  Then he looked at her.  "Are you feeling okay?  Your head hurting maybe?"

"Just a bit," she slurred.

"Okay, can you smile for me?"  She tried.  "Ducky.  Try it again, Mrs. Mallard."  She tried it again and he sighed, going for the phone.  "I think you're feeling a bit off so we're going to take you to the doctor's.  All right?"

"But my Ducky is one."

"Yes, ma'am, but we want the very *best* care and you're his mother so he'd worry instead.  This way he can fuss while your usual doctor handles it."  She nodded.  "Good woman.  Now, are you going in that?"  She nodded.  "Okay.  Let's get your jacket.  Would it be in the hall closet usually?"

"Usually," she agreed.  "Can I wear my cloak?"

"Sure, if I can find it."

"On it," Tony said from the doorway.

Ducky hung up.  "The ambulance will be here in about ten minutes," he told his mother, patting her on the hand.  "Don't worry, we think it's nothing, Mother, but we need to check on it.  All right?"

"Who'll watch the dogs?"

"Ducky can call me later and I'll come back to feed them," Xander assured her.

"Do I know you?" she asked, looking lost.

"Yes, Mrs. Mallard, you do know me.  I work with Ducky.  I work with your son at the office."

"Oh, all right."  She closed her eyes.  "I feel a bit faint."

"That's fine, Mrs. Mallard, you rest and we'll get you into the ambulance and to the doctor's."  He looked over as Tony came back in, handing over the cloak.  "Go herd the animals out of the way," he ordered quietly.  "That way the paramedics don't have to trip and we don't have to chase them."

"Go open the food, Jethro."  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at Xander.  "You're very good."

"And I passed my practicals with a 98," he said proudly. "I missed a childbirth check."

Ducky smiled.  "That's fine, Xander.  How about the written?"

"Perfect.  My certification test for my massage therapy license is next week.  I've already passed the others for the program."  He checked her pulse again, frowning a bit.  "She's fading, Ducky.  It's down to forty-seven."

"Hell," he complained, checking it himself.  "Anthony, watch for the paramedics."

"Tony, go get my field kit outta the car," Xander ordered.  Tony nodded, going to do that.  Gibbs came back with one of the dogs and Xander nodded so he took her back into the kitchen and shut the door.  Tony came back and let Ducky dig through his kit.

"We've got to get this refilled, Xander," he complained, finding something.  He found a needle and extracted some, then nudged the case away as he rolled his mother's sleeve up and injected her.  "I hope this isn't a stroke," he said quietly.

Xander made him look at him.  "If it is, you'll deal, Ducky.  The same as you have up until now," he said quietly.  "Not alone and we'll all help.  If she fades totally today or tomorrow, you know she's has a full, loved life and an active one."

"I know, but she is my mother."

"And for that reason we'll all help you," Xander reminded him.  "Got it?"  Ducky nodded.  "Good.  The paramedics are here."  Tony got the field kit and put it aside. Xander looked over.  "In here."  They headed that way.  "Hi," he said, smiling at the guy he had done his ride-along hours with.  "This is her son."

"Doctor Mallard," the other paramedic said, shaking his hand.  They moved Xander and he out of the way.  "What's her usual problem, Doctor Mallard?"

"Dementia I'm afraid," he said quietly, watching them work.  "She's been drifting off suddenly and without warning for the last few days I was told, I was in the hospital myself until last night.  Today she drifted off and Xander checked on her before they left.  When she tried to smile it wasn't unilateral and it wasn't very strong."

"She also seemed more confused today than the last time I saw her about two weeks ago," Xander told them, holding onto Ducky.  Ducky nodded, he had noticed that she seemed worse when she came home.  "What did you give her?"

"Oh, I gave her...."  He handed over the bottle.  "This, IV, ten miligrams," he said, handing over the needle as well.  "I knew it was possible, she had a stroke about ten years back."

"That's fine."  The paramedics got her onto the gurney.  "Did you want to ride with us, Doctor Mallard?"

"Go ahead, Ducky, we'll follow," Gibbs assured him.  He nodded and grabbed the cloak and his own jacket to hurry after them.  "You guys start and I'll let the dogs out of the kitchen."  They nodded and he went to do that once the doors were closed.  He did a quick turn to make sure the house was locked up then followed, heading out to catch up.  Ducky shouldn't be alone at this moment.  He called Abby and smiled at her cheerful tone.  "We're taking Ducky's mom to the ER," he reported.  "Meet us."  He looked at the way they were heading.  "No, General it looks like.  Ducky's with her.  Yeah, give me a few."  He hung up and called Ducky's phone.  "Which hospital so Abby and McGee can meet us?"  He listened and nodded.  "Sure, meet you there."  He hung up and called her back.  "George Washington."  He hung up and headed there, unhappy at the moment.  Very, very unhappy.  Ducky didn't need this.

***

Xander walked into is townhouse and flopped down, looking at the worried Willow standing there.  "Ducky's mom will be fine, we got her to the hospital in time.  The stroke was fairly mild."

"I wondered where you were."  She leaned down to kiss him on the top of the head.  "Want dinner?"

"Not really."  Eliana came in with a mug and he smiled.  "Cocoa or soup?"

"Soda.  The dishwasher needs to be run."  She sat next to him, snuggling into his side.  "She's all right?"

"About the same as she was.  They're putting her on a different medicine.  They just switched it while Ducky was in the hospital and they think it may have contributed."  He took a drink and put his soda down, hugging her.  "She's a very nice older lady and nearly married Travers, Will."

"Wow.  Small world.  Then again, Ducky is Giles' uncle."  She shrugged.  "I hope she gets better."

"She's ninety-six, Wills."

"Oh."  She nodded.  "Then I hope she's at least okay enough to not be suffering."  She went back to the kitchen, going to fuss.  She grabbed the phone when it rang, smiling at the voice.  "Hi, Dawnie."  She listened.  "I don't know, why?"  She raised an eyebrow.  "Are you *sure*?"  She nodded slowly.  "Okay. Thank you."  She hung up and went to talk to Xander again.  "We need the scythe in LA.  Angel swears he saw a Bringer."

"Fuck me.  Ethan said he's not handing it to anyone.  He's protecting it from both sides."  He stood up and went to call him again.  "Ethan, Xander.  No, we have Bringers.  Yeah, the vamps from the First Evil.  I don't know, man.  But you've got the only weapon.  Yeah, that thing.  Please.  Ethan, you know damn well I don't play that way, even if I am a Watcher in name.  Oh, yeah, Rayne, let's see how often I've followed the dictates of anyone but me before," he said dryly.  "Thank you."  He hung up and looked at her.  "If he can sneak it away from them, since they found it and confiscated it from his personal altar and shrine, he'll give it.  I need the maroon book Fred was staring at before the last battle."  She nodded and went to find it while he went to type in an email to Gibbs to watch out for them and to have the team briefed from the manual.  Then he went to gather the book and go into his study to read in private.

Eliana stuck her head in.  "You either need a wife or an answering machine, dear.  Tony just called.  Someone tried to break into his apartment.  He thinks it's still stupid kids."

"Gibbs had a bout of that and he knows he can stay over," he said as he read.  She left, going to talk to him some more.  Xander sat up, going over another passage.  "There's another weapon?" he asked, rereading it to make sure.  "Willow!"  She came in and looked over his shoulder so he pointed.  "There's another weapon?"

"There's no such thing as a male slayer."

"Yes there is," he said, looking at her.  "Robin Woods, myself, Gibbs, and Tony.  We do slay and we do have the speed to do so effectively."  She frowned and shook her head.  "Notice, Willow."  He turned back a page.  "Anytime they talk about the Slayer, it's in caps.  This passage isn't."  She shook her head again.  "It could be."

"It can't be.  Slayers are genetically chosen."

"You can't prove that," he reminded her.  "No one's sure how the Council took girls out of succession or how they managed to miss girls like they did Buffy.  They picked them *long* before DNA was even hypothesized."

"Still, it's got to be in their blood, or else every woman could be one."

"Willow, did you think maybe it's a specific gene that doesn't just come in women?"  She frowned.  "When you did the spell to activate all the slayers, I got faster and my eye healed faster, right?  You told me that.  Joked about me being in too much proximity?"

"I remember, but that doesn't mean...."

"Have Abby check it, Willow."

"Fine."  She knew enough not to argue with that man when he was in one of these moods.  She headed to call Abby and talk about the possibilities.  She just wished Fred were still alive, it'd be nice to have another expert in the field around.

Xander called LA.  "Angel.  Sorry, Gunn."  He checked the front of the book.  "Do you guys have a copy of Froust's _Slayers and Hunters_?  I know I have Wes's copy, I'm sitting here reading it.  No, it talks about a weapon that can be *gifted* to a male slayer.  That it will take down all the Bringers.  Man, I'm wondering why they're back.  That hellmouth is sealed, this one doesn't have anything like that and we don't have any resurrected people here."  He frowned.  "I can have her check," he agreed, writing down the name of the book.  "You think another one happened?  But it took months the last time."  He sighed and nodded.  "You're right.  Okay, thanks.  Oh, I'm so going to monitor that thing magically.  Because it's in the Mall, which is the space between the Smithsonians.  I can't get any sort of device there to read the energy output, even if I had one.  Thanks, call Giles, man."  He hung up and considered the implication.  This was definitely an all new ball game.  He got up to find that magic book, then brought it back to the study and closed the door, locking it too.  He found what he needed, all but one thing, and went into the supply closet to get that.  Tony walked in, looking exhausted.  "Give me twenty minutes and I'll give you a backrub," he offered with a smile.

"What're we doing?"

"Angel thought he saw a Bringer so I'm doing a check for resurrection being done around here.  It'd take something like that done wrong to let the First Evil out like last time."  He shrugged.  "If so, there's a hope of another weapon.  Just give me twenty to do the spell, okay?"  He stole a kiss and went back to the altar to get down to work.  He did get up to close and lock the door, just in case, but then got back to work.

Xander walked in and stomped his feet off on the mat, shivering a bit before he could close the door.  "I never knew snow meant being so ball-numbingly cold."  He heard a few quiet chuckles and headed back to the kitchen.  "Coffee, Gibbs must be here somewhere," he said, pouring himself some and sipping as fast as he could, both hands around the mug.  "Ah," he sighed, starting to feel warm.  Then a moment later, "Shit, pins and needles."  He stripped off his mittens and coat, going back to his inhaling warmth.   Tony came up the stairs, giving him a long look.  "No one ever said snow was more than pretty.  It's also damn cold!"

"Yeah," he said patiently.

"He's from the desert, DiNozzo," Gibbs yelled from downstairs.  "I doubt he's ever seen snow."

"Once and it was a freaky thing that made me invisible," he called back, getting more coffee and heading down the stairs.  "What's going on?"

"Reports from one of the battleships that they've got a vamp on board," Abby said, smiling at him.  "No wonder you're cold!  You're wearing a t-shirt!  Don't you know how to layer?"

"Not really."

She sighed and looked at Gibbs, who shrugged.  "He comes from the desert, it only gets cold there at night."  He looked him over.  "Just off work?"

"Yet again, and *why* am I working in a Country bar?"

"It's a job?" Tony suggested, bringing down a sweater.  "Here, one of mine."

"Thank you."  He put it on and it was a bit big but nice.  It smelled nice too.  He smiled at him.  "I love you."

"I know."  He patted him on the back, looking at the reports.  "Any word on what we're doing?"

"There was a severe bout of flu on board?" Xander suggested.  "It got the eaten people and the vampire?"  He drank more of his coffee, looking at the numbers.  "No dead?"

"No, but the infirmary wanted to know who the goth person was," Gibbs said grimly.  "I've referred it up and they said that whatever we came up with was fine."

"Flu works for me, Boss."

"Good.  Abby, send that message to the hunter on board."

"We have a hunter on board?"

"I know one of the medics," Gibbs admitted.  "He heard about the cult, called about the attacks on the ship."  He sipped his own coffee, then looked at Xander.  "You can quit."

"I know," he muttered.  "I miss Pyro."  He finished his coffee and went to get more, taking Gibbs' cup too.  He brought it back and sat down to look at the numbers more closely.  "We've got a secondary problem, Gibbs.  This exhaustion."

"They all got laid on leave," Abby told him.

"Yeah, but not by succuba," he said, tracking it back.  "You have someone with sirenic gifts near there.  That could be a problem."

"Huh?" Tony asked.  "I don't remember that in the book on sex demons."

"Don't talk while I'm typing," Abby complained.  "I nearly put that in there."  She backspaced and fixed it.  "There."  She looked at Xander, then pulled up a special file, letting them all see it.  "That's what he's talking about."

"Yeah, that stuff," Xander agreed.  "See, sirens are real and they do feed, but they can feed on the body as well.  Succuba feed on the energy, the emotional output.  Sirens feed on the energy too, but on the core energy.  And a few have been known to drain until death.  They use sex to do it, but they're not technically sex demons."

"Which is why they weren't in that book," Tony finished.  Xander smiled and nodded.  "So, how do we fix this?"

"Run them off.  There's no proven way of killing them.  You can trap them somewhere airtight but they will eventually get out.  They're basically immortal as far as anyone knows.  They've tried everything.  They're not allergic to holy objects, they don't mind swords made of any metal, they could care less if you're married, they could care less if you want it.  They can summon prey like a succuba but they can also take it without doing more than shaking your hand."  He looked at the readout.  "Where were they?"

"Could she be on the ship?" Abby asked.  "One was reported as feeling really tired two days out."

"They can do it long distance as long as they've keyed a line into their victims.  Where was their last port?"

"Athens."

"Figures.  There's an enclave over there," Xander admitted, pulling up his email and writing Giles.  He got a response from Willow saying they were myths so he pulled up the pertinent file and sent it back, making her send back a groan and an 'I'll tell him, we've got former Watchers in the area'.  "Thank you, Willow," he muttered as he typed.  He shook his head and drank his third cup of coffee straight.

Gibbs looked at the cup, then at Tony.  "That's cup number how many?"

"Three, Boss.  Xander, no more, or you'll bounce."

"Sure."  He got back to work figuring out who was where.  "Oh, shit, they've got to go to Africa again next month."

"Again?"

"We had a slayer come from one of the tribal areas, one of the heavy-conflict tribal areas," he admitted.  "I went to get her actually.  It looks like she's being summoned home so she'll need someone to go with her.  Looks like they're briefing a former Watcher who wants to go somewhere warm.  Ooh."  He got a bright idea and logged onto the new Watcher's chat room.  "Ah, here we are.  Willow said she set this up last night."  He typed in his information and already had a screen name for himself.  "And of course, she's on the ball."  His name appeared and so did Willow, Giles, and a guy in England.  He typed slowly, watching what he was doing.  The conference on the siren issue got finished and Xander asked about Africa, noting he couldn't go.  Giles told him he was staying there.  So Xander told him he had found a second girl here, one who had just transferred in, and he was working on her as well.  She came in knowing, so she wasn't really behind any.  He noted her age and name.  Willow asked if it was the same Marquez and he sent back a 'yup'.  She promised to add her to the secret, passworded database.  Xander noted that Eliana was doing all right and that her college courses were starting in a week.  Giles congratulated him on holding down the city so well.  Then told him to quit his day job because he shouldn't work around Country music, it depressed him.

Tony snickered at that.  "I guess he heard your sad music a few times?" he joked.

"More than once," he sighed, typing in that he shouldn't.  Giles sent back a strongly worded order to quit his day job.  He noted that he didn't want to use what Wes left him for daily expenses, that it was for emergencies.  Giles put in a 'brb' and called.  He answered the phone he had installed down there.  "Yeah, Giles?"  He listened to the reasonable ass chewing.  "But...."  He looked up and sighed.  "Fine.  You're right, but still.  Then what'm I supposed to do all day, Giles?"  He grimaced.  "I know that but I can't live like that.  Fine.  Yes, sir."  He hung up and looked at Gibbs.  "I'm to quit my job tonight.  I'm also to get more in depth with my study on energy warping and things."  He got back into the chat and told Willow he was now jobless anyway, that his boss had just called and told him he wasn't working out.  He didn't want to make her feel too bad for being such a flake now.  She pouted and reminded him that he was going to be earning a salary once they finally got the Watcher's funds released from the banks in England.  "Oooh.  Nice."  He put in a cute remark that snow was both pretty and cold, and that he had almost wrecked earlier.  Giles 'THAT'S WHY NORMAL PEOPLE USE CARS INSTEAD OF MOTORCYCLES IN WINTER' was in all caps and quite funny if you knew the man.

Gibbs nodded.  "It is," he agreed, finishing that cup of coffee.  Xander looked back and stuck his tongue out at him.  "Keep it up.  You wanna go to Athens?"

"Hell.  No.  They'll like me nearly as much as the succuba do in the clubs."  He got back to work, noting what he had on the energy warping and it made everyone there wonder if he had switched out, but he pointed out his was a situation where you could study these things.  Then he signed off and leaned back, shaking his head.  "Bastards.  Even if I do write it officially in the Chronicles, you're not going to believe me."  He called the bar.  "Boss, no, unfortunately I can't.  Why?  Because I'm being sent to Africa with one of the teenagers my former mentor lives with.  No, she's going to visit and learn.  I'm going to watch her ass unless I can get out of it, but that'll still be at least a month from now.  Yeah, I'm sorry too.  I wish I could've given you more notice.  No, seriously.  You want his number?"  He recited it.  "Yeah, Cali.  Well, you knew I'm from there," he noted dryly.  "Sorry, Boss.  I'll come get the final check in three days or so."  He hung up and looked at the phone.  "I hope Giles will play along."  He shook his head and got up, stretching a bit.  "Okay, now what'm I doing today?"

"Working on the Chronicle," Abby reminded him.

"Oh, yeah.  I forgot I'm supposed to suddenly take up diary writing for mass consumption."  He grimaced and headed up the stairs to moan and complain over the old fashioned diary-like book that he had to hand write in.  Giles had said he couldn't print it off the computer, it had to be handwritten and then printed.  So he gathered his first few months' reports back to him and settled in to work at the kitchen table.

"Can't you type those?" Gibbs asked.

"For my own use.  Not for the official Chronicles.  Those are handwritten, translated into multiple languages, and printed."  He looked at him.  "Tradition."  He looked at the first report and got to work on the opening of this hellmouth and how they hadn't gotten here in time to stop it, going back to Santa Clara.  Then he looked at it and went to get his journals, ripping out the first page and going back further.  "Fuck it, I'm doing my own Chronicle," he muttered, sitting down with everything in front of him.  "He can bite me.  I'll do Eliana's with mine.  Since Giles conveniently *forgot* to do his."

"Each Watcher has to have one too?" Gibbs asked.  Xander moaned and nodded.  "Why?"

"So you can have two viewpoints.  There's stuff that can't go in the girls' Chronicles.  Things like hunting reports, training reports, and new creatures go into hers.  Things about her personal life if they intersect.  The Watcher's Chronicles are more in-depth and more detailed.  Slayers' Chronicles read like a report, Watchers' read like a journal."

"Wonderful.  They've done this for each and every girl?"

"Yeah, and a few were only days' worth," he noted dryly.  "There's a few where they put them into the same book.  Fortunately I'm going all the way back so I can fill in some of Giles' and Buffy's Chronicles too.  I know Giles hasn't done his duty yet."

"Should I tell them?"

"Nope.  If you do, he'll try to stop me from outing Willow's and Buffy's problems.  I have to formally present them and that's when he's getting them."  He got back to work, translating his handwriting to make the narrative easier and less personal.  "I'll be on volume two by the time I become a Watcher," he complained.

"Maybe," Gibbs agreed, going to stare outside for a few minutes while he thought.  "Do we have to keep one?" he asked finally.

"You're not obligated.  I started keeping them to work through things and to show my kids if I should ever have any so they know what they're doing," he said, looking at him.  "At least I don't have to use a fountain pen."  He grinned and got back to work.

"Or a quill," Abby offered as she came up, handing him a soda. Gibbs put that one back and handed him a non-caffeinated one.  "Sorry, Gibbs.  How would you study the energy warping?"

"Keeping track of the assaults for one," he said as he wrote.  "We could do energy and air quality studies there.  There's magical means of doing it too.  I'll end up doing the first and third probably.  Unless you wanna help, Abby?"

"No, not really.  I don't understand it."

"Neither does anyone else, sweetie.  It's okay."  He turned the page and kept going, talking about how he had met Buffy.

Gibbs drug Abby off.  The boy had a lot of work to do and he probably needed more quiet than a babbling Abby.  He did turn on the stereo since Xander liked noise. Tony gave his selection an odd look but he shrugged.  "It's what it was on."

"Yeah, I remember.  He was trying to teach me a new dance step."  He went to change the station.

***

Xander finished his first Chronicle and closed it, chanting the spell to make it unchangeable, before he changed his mind, then got out the special inks Giles had made for him to write on the front.  He had considered most of last night what to title it.  He knew the official formula, and it wasn't going to quite work this time.  He dipped the special quill into the ink and put it onto the front of the book.  "The Journal of the Hunter Alexander Harris of Sunnydale."  Underneath he wrote in smaller type, "His tenure with the Vampire Slayers Buffy, Kendra, and Faith and the Watcher Rupert Giles during their time in Sunnydale until the death of that Hellmouth."  He put down the quill and blew across it, saying the last few words of setting in.

He stroked over the now-embossed cover, getting up to put it in the middle of the table.  He called Giles.  "Giles, I need a second Chronicle book.  No, I have Eliana and Adrian's together, Giles.  You're the one who said I was a Watcher," he noted dryly.  "Please.  No, I didn't mess up my spare one," he noted dryly.  "Huh.  Gee, I don't know," he said, looking at the book.  "Fine, I'll be right there."  He hung up and wrote out a quick note, then chanted the teleporting spell he had learned off Wesley and Willow, landing back in Giles' office.  He walked forward.  "I formally present this Chronicle to the Watcher's Council in the name of Alexander Harris, hunter.  His Watcher's Chronicle will be presented when his slayers are dead and his duty is done," he intoned dryly, handing over the book.  That was the formal ceremony, passed down for ages.

"You did what?" he asked, taking it to look through.  "Oh, my."  He looked at him.  "Xander...."

"I kept a journal to help me work it out now and then and I *know* you're way behind.  That's a supplemental Chronicle.  Get over it.  That's why I need another Chronicle book."

"Yes, of course," he agreed, going to get him one from the supply room.  He came back and sat down to look at the title.  "You reported faithfully?" he asked formally.

"To the best of my memories and according to my hunting journals," he replied.  "Up to and including the end of Buffy Summers, to the point where I was named Watcher over the current Hellmouth."

"Very well," he agreed, settling in to flip through it.  He looked up and the boy was gone.  He sighed sadly, looking through the book.  It had so many memories, and the boy was a very good writer.  It held his personality and his pain.  Even Giles' own pains were in here.  He put it on the desk and stroked the cover.  "So shall the Council agree to house this important book," he said quietly.  The old Council might have hidden it or refused it, but he knew they needed to rebuild the knowledge.  He got up and called his printer, smiling at him.  "Yes, Philip, I do.  We have a Hunter's Journal from Sunnydale.  No, a complete Chronicle.  Supplemental.  Xander's.  No, Willow hasn't done one yet."  He stroked the cover again. "Yes, to be copied, printed, and distributed to the appropriate places.  Thank you."  He stroked over it again, he could feel the spell in the ink.  Xander had made sure no one could change it, not even himself.

He called Willow.  "Dear, did you ever think of doing a Hunter's journal?"  He sighed and nodded.  "Even a small one on your magic addiction would be fine," he agreed.  "No, Xander formally presented his today," he said quietly.  "Bluntly.  Full of his personality, as any good Chronicle is, but very real and very blunt," he assured her.  "Up to and including when the DC hellmouth opened and you transferred out there."  He smiled.  "That would be fine.  Could I at least get you to work on the one for your magic addiction?  In case it should happen again?  I understand.  No, he couldn't include your thoughts and feelings, Willow.  I know it's hard, but it could help you finish your grieving as well.  Of course.  Let me know, all right?"  He smiled and hung up then went back to stroking the book.

***

Xander reappeared and found Tony in the kitchen.  "Morning."

"Where did you have to go?"

"To present my formal first Chronicle," he admitted bitterly.  "From Sunnydale."  Tony gave him a hug.  "I'm fine now.  It just brought up a lot of bad memories at times," he sighed.  He sat down, looking at his boyfriend.  "Why aren't you at work?"

"I got today off since I worked Saturday and the Navy hates overtime.  They've threatened to put us back on salary and give us a twenty percent pay cut if we have any more overtime."

"Wonderful.  Did you want to help me work out?"

"No, I was going to take you to find a car."

"I need a car?" Xander asked, looking a little bit confused.  "Why do I need a car?"

"Because, Xander, you're going to wreck the bike soon."  He sat down across from him.  "You said you nearly wrecked the other day.  This way you can get something that shouts who and what you are.  You don't have to, but you don't like to ride in the rain either."

"Good point."  He considered it.  He had the money.  He had more than enough money.  He liked cars.  They were nice things. "I still have problems driving."

"Ducky said that it's a matter of practice, which you've gotten on the bike, and lack of fear, Xan.  He said the last time you tried you probably were either high on pain killers or scared."  Xander nodded, that had been true.  "Whereas you're driving on the bike all the time."

"Point.  We can try but that means I've got to redo my license.  I only got the motorcycle one when I came out."

"We can do that," he reminded him, standing up.  "Ducky's even got a letter for you so you won't have to parallel park."

"That would be good, yeah," Xander admitted with a grin.  "Can you help me buy a sweater too?"

Oh, yeah!  It was payback time for the time Xander had taken him to find hunting clothes and put him in nearly pornographic pants!  Yes!   "Sure.  You need winter clothes."  He pulled him closer to give him a gentle kiss.  "Come on.  Car first.  That way you can put stuff in the trunk."

"I need to call someone and pull the special stuff out of the study," he said, going into the former dining room where his altar was.  He called from in there, getting the bank in England.  They authorized the card for him and he pulled it out of the envelope, putting it into his wallet.  Then he took Tony's hand and let him take him out and call a cab.  "We're going to get it today?"

"Yes.  No ordering.  Anything that needs changed you can work on."

Xander frowned at him.  "You can do that?"

Tony nodded.  "I worked on my old Z for nearly three years before I had it the way I wanted it.  Then it got stolen and wrecked."  He let Xander get into the back, climbing in after him.  "We need to go to that car lot on Q."

"Sure," the cabby agreed, driving off.

Xander looked back at the door.  "Did you lock it?"  Tony nodded.  "The keys are inside."

"I can get into the house, Xander."

"Okay."  He relaxed and watched the city go past.  He still wasn't used to DC.  "Is this a big car lot?"

"No but I didn't think you'd want just any car.  I can see you in something classic, something that screams power and sex."  He stroked his cheek.  "Which you do ooze."

Xander blushed and nodded.  "Thanks, Pretty Boy."

"It's the truth."  They pulled up and he paid for the fare, taking Xander out.  He watched him head for a low-slung sports car. "No, not the fiberglass, middle-age, age-reduction machines."  He took him by the wrist and drug him back toward the classics. "One of these."

Xander looked at them, moving closer.  He grinned at the salesman.  "He thinks they'll suit me."

"They could."  He looked him over.  "They usually go toward those who have a need for speed or for those who like danger."

"Which he likes both.  He rides a motorcycle most of the time," Tony told him.  He came over to look, leading Xander back to one of the older Mustangs, letting him look.  It was black.  It had blue leather interior.  It was probably perfect.  He popped the hood and whistled.  "That's nice."

"Is it?"  He looked.  "I don't know much about cars.  I leave that to the professionals.  I can change my own oil and stuff, but I never got past that stuff before I switched to the bike."  He went to open the door and settle in, pushing the seat back.  He wiggled and closed the door, then got out and shook his head.  "It's not comfy."  He walked over to another one.  He knew you could paint a car.  He heard the hood go down and Tony followed him.  At least until his phone rang.

"DiNozzo."  He listened.  "Boss, you said I was switching Saturday for today since I worked Saturday," he said patiently.  "Yeah, you did.  Remember that memo, Boss, the one on *overtime* that threatened a pay cut?" he asked dryly.  He smirked.  "I thought so.  No, taking Xander to find a car for the winters and rainy days."  He snapped his fingers and shook his head, getting Xander away from the car he was looking at.  "No."  He listened to his boss.  "That's where we're at, Boss.  Is there a case?"  He smirked as Xander came back.  "You did say to, Boss. Boss, did you want the twenty percent pay cut?"   He smiled.  "Me either.  Sure.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "He forgot," he said, sliding the phone back into his pocket.  He walked him toward a middle aged Mustang, not the first few models and not the newer ones, which he considered blasphemy.  "How about this?" he offered, pointing at it.

Xander looked it over, then nodded.  "Maybe."

"That's one of the other salesman's cars," the guy following them around noted.

Xander looked at him.  "Would he mind if I looked?"  He shrugged and went to get the guy's keys.  "Thank you."  He walked around and turned off the alarm, then got into it, wiggling a bit.  "This is more comfy," he announced.  He got out and relocked the door.   "Okay, do you have any more of these?" he asked, tossing back the keys.

"Not at the moment.  Let me see what we can find."  He went into the office, pulling out a book.  "Ah, there is one for sale locally.  Let me call the owner."  He did that, watching them.  "Hi, this is Peter at .... Yes, there.  Ah, caller ID.  No, I have someone here interested in a model of Mustang near yours and I was wondering if you were still selling it."  He listened.  "No, I know they're rare.  Thank you anyway."  He hung up.  "Unfortunately he's not selling his any longer," he noted as he walked back over to them.  "We have a few other models of the same car."

"Yeah, but the first one felt cramped," Xander told him, looking totally serious.  "I'm tall and so's Pretty Boy here."  He nodded his head toward Tony.  "That one seemed like it had less leg room."

"It did.  They didn't plan for bigger men in those days.  Just younger boys."  He looked around the lot.  "We have a beautiful Italian model," he offered, pointing at it.

"No, that's a receding hairline alarm," Xander told him.  "I still have all mine."  He ran his hands through his messy hair.  "Which I should get trimmed and wash it today too," he noted for his own benefit.  He looked around again then looked at Tony.  "Do you see anything else?"

"No."  He walked him off, playing with his hair. "You could use a haircut and less gel."

"I like the gelled look."

"So do I, sometimes, but not today, Xander."  He led him off to do that first while he looked up other muscle car lots.  Xander needed something he could lavish with his excess attention - it'd give him something new to learn and a new hobby.  When they were done with Xander's hair, he led him to the other one he found in the phone book, watching as Xander headed right for the Mustangs he liked.  He smiled when the boy walked around a black one.  He walked back to pop the hood, looking.  "Underpowered."

"Can it be fixed?"

"With some effort and money," he admitted, putting down the hood.  He looked around, going over to one that looked more promising. The hood had been modified for some reason.  He popped it and looked, then whistled.  "That's a street racing engine."

"No."  Xander came over to look.  "I don't need that much power."

"True, but it's pretty."

Xander stroked his back.  "I know, you need a new toy," he said with a wicked smirk.  "You can help me with mine."

"I am going to be helping you with yours," he assured him, carefully putting down the hood and walking him back to the other black Mustang on the lot, putting up the hood.  "This one went for the options package," he said happily.

"It's also nearly show quality," the salesman said with a smile.

"He's looking for an everyday car, not a showpiece," Tony told him.  "What's the radio, Xan?"

Xander looked.  "Radio only."

"Ooh."  He came back to look.  "Pretty and it is probably for showing."  He stood up.  "Do you have one with that engine or slightly better?  He doesn't need to street race and he isn't showing off his prowess with the engine."

"I do actually," he admitted, leading them to a second remake of the Mustang, which Tony was iffy on.  He patted one.  "V-8, upgraded to ten cylinders.  Custom engine.  It's a very baritone car."  He got in and turned it over, watching the couple shiver.  "Come, try it out."

Xander slid into the seat and wiggled, then smiled.  "I like this.  Even if it is in baby blue."  He stopped the motor and looked at Tony, then at the salesman.  "How long would a repaint take?"

"Depends on where you go.  We don't offer that here, but there's places you can get it done the by the next day."

Xander stroked the roof, looking at Tony.  "You wanna try it?"

Tony smiled.  "The look on your face is enough, Xander.  If you want it, it's your car.  What sort of stereo we looking at?"

Xander looked, then at him.  "Tape deck."

"We can upgrade to a multi-cd system and satellite," he promised.

"With GPS please, 'cause I still get lost now and then.  I ended up outside the CIA the other day."  He closed the door and looked at the salesman.  "Let's go sign paperwork."  He got a smile and the man walked him into the office, taking the debit card to run when Xander insisted.  He looked a bit impressed but Xander ignored it.  He walked out with the keys and Tony chatting about what he could do it upgrade it.  Paint, new stereo.  Recover the seats since they were fabric.  Xander just smirked and went to get his license upgraded, which didn't take too long.  He had to retake the driving test, which wasn't that hard once he had presented Ducky's letter.  Then Tony took him clothes shopping.

Tony parked in the parking garage next to the better mall, taking Xander inside.  The mall at the Pentagon was really nice and upscale, but it had good places to shop.  He walked Xander into one of the stores and handed him to a salesman.  "Watch him.  He's from near LA and they didn't have winter."

"Ah.  Well, we do have a sale on sweaters," he noted, leading the boy that way.  His friend came with him but peeled off to look at other shirts.  He looked at him. "Yours?" he asked with a grin.

"A very good friend," Xander offered shyly.  "I need something to go with my leathers.  Usually I ride a bike."

"Ooooh, I see."  He watched what the guy was picking out.  "You have a workplace dresscode?"

"I do?  Pretty Boy, what're you doing?"

"Finding you clothes.  Sometimes you do have to look more classy than your clubbing leathers, Xander."

"Yes, dear."  He shrugged a bit.  "I like comfy stuff.  I've been wearing one of his soft sweaters and I think he wants it back," he shared.  The salesman laughed and started letting him feel them.  "I like that one," he said.

"Cashmere is very soft."

Tony walked over and handed him another one.  "Chenille.  Cheaper and nearly as soft.  Also washable instead of dry clean only like cashmere."  He went back to his looking, coming back with two turtlenecks and a few pairs of pants.  "Yes, I'm dressing you like me," he offered with a smile at the look the pants got.  Ha!  Payback was his!  A preppie Xander!  Maybe even a geeky Xander if he had his way for long enough!  "That way the director doesn't have to swoon at the sight of your leathers again the next time he catches you in the office."  He handed them to the salesman.  "Those are the right sizes."

The man smiled and gathered some of each type of sweater the boy had lingered over, taking him to the dressing room.  Then he looked at Tony.  "Should I warn the clothier upstairs, sir?  The suit maker?"

"No," Xander called.  "No suits."  He came out and turned around.  "I knew today was the wrong day for the thong."  Tony burst out in giggles.  "It is."

"Probably, but I don't think there's ever a really *good* time for one, Xander."

Xander stuck his tongue out.  "I'll remember you said that, Pretty Boy."  He looked at himself again.  "This?"

"You look good in it," Tony said patiently.  "Try on the red one."  Xander went to try on that one, coming out in the same pants.  He looked at it, then at the salesman.  "Too bright a red?"

"Much.  He looks good in goth red."  He went to get one and bring it back.  Xander went to change and he nearly drooled.  "Ooh, I like that one," he admitted.  It was just tight enough to show the muscles Xander had.  "I like that one a lot.  Hell, I almost wish I were gay," he muttered.

Tony smirked.  "I think that's a good one."

"I look cheap."

"You don't look cheap or like you're easy.  You're getting it.  Or else I'm telling Abby."  He went back to change and came out in another outfit, this one a nice button down shirt.  "I like that one," he decided.

Xander looked at himself, then at Tony.  "I look like I belong in a higher social class."

"Which can be a good thing," Tony reminded him.  "Remember, estate trip coming up?"

"It's England and it's around Easter."

"It'll still be cold in England at Easter, Xander."

"No wonder Giles wears tweed all the time," he muttered, going back to try on the others.  He came out in a big, fluffy chenille sweater and smiled. "I like this one."

"You look like a girl," the salesman noted.

"So?"

"Do you have one just like it that buttons?" Tony asked.  He nodded and went to get it.  He agreed, the deeper turtleneck did look like a girl's sweater.  The salesman brought back three - green, deep blue, and black.  Xander beamed and changed into the green one, making Tony smile.  Xander had shown a definite affinity for green since they had started to date.  When asked he said it made Tony look just as good as him.  It was sweet of him.  He nodded, those looked less like a girls' sweater.  Not much, but he doubted the boy would be wearing them clubbing.  Once Xander had paid he walked him off, taking him to the next place.  The salesman let them put their bags behind the counter and Tony once again dragged him where he wanted him to go.  Xander wasn't really used to the upper scale preppie shopping but sometimes.....  He looked at him.  "You really do need a single jacket, Xander."  That got a shudder.  "Just for nice dinners and things."

"We're going to dinner?"

Tony smiled.  "If you want," he promised.  "That would mean you'd have to wear a suit coat."  Xander shuddered again. "They're not that bad."

"Yes they are and ties are worse."  Tony smiled at that but let him at least have some say.  He picked out a few of the knit sweaters in a cream and a light tan color.  Jeans in the right size and just tight enough to club in.  Socks since the last place didn't have any.  Tony handed him a pair and he looked at him oddly. "Argyle?"

"Soft.  Warm.  I have some pairs."

Xander relented at that and put them into his basket.  He went to look at the t-shirts, he needed some of those.  Tony walked over and pulled down a few, handing them over.  "Your usual."  He let Xander check out then grabbed their bags.  "Back to the car to drop these off."

"Yes, Pretty Boy."  He followed him back to the car since he was now lost.  This is why he hated malls, he always got lost.  The designers did it on purpose to make you stay for longer.  He did stop to get a pretzel on the way back inside.  "Where to now?" he asked between nibbles.

Tony took some for himself and smiled.  "Suit coat."  Xander grumbled something so he nudged him. "I'll make sure you look hot. You know that.  You've seen me wear one with a turtleneck and things."

"Yeah," he complained, following him to the escalators.  "Shoes?"

"You could use a pair of shoes and some new sneakers," he agreed.  "Did you make the arrangements for the trip to the estate?"

"Yup.  Plane tickets all filed, first night's hotel in London done.  Passport filed for since I had to change information."

"Good."  He led him into the suit shop he used and the salesman smiled at him.  He pulled Xander forward, taking the remains of the pretzel but letting him have the napkins.  "His first real one.  He only needs the coat for now."  He handed him over.  "He's escorting me to a nice restaurant sometime soon and we're going to England around Easter."  He finished off the pretzel while the man showed Xander some styles.  "Not that one.  I want him to match me for hotness."  He pulled out his phone when it started to ring. "DiNozzo."  He listened.  "Now, Boss?  No, I'm in the mall with Xander."  He rolled his eyes.  "Pentagon Mall actually.  Why?"  He smirked.  "Sure, Boss.  Grab my backpack and I'll meet you there."  He hung up.  "Xander, it's a case."

"Can't they not die today?"

"Kidnaping.  At least it's nearby.  You behave, call later to see if I'm back.  You can even bring lunch."  Xander smiled at that.  "Be good and let the salesman actually *help* you."  He hurried off, going to catch a cab and head over there.

Xander patted himself down and called Tony.  "You have my wallet," he announced.  Tony came jogging back and handed it over then left again.  He looked at the salesman, slipping them both into his pocket. "Okay.  Apparently I'm taking him to dinner soon.  He got me some dress shirts and sweaters and stuff."

"What colors?"

"Greens, some blacks, some lighter tans and off whites, blues, dark reds.  Most of the dress shirts were either black, shades of blue, or off-whites."

He looked him over and led him to one he had been thinking about showing him.  "Do you have a budget in mind?"

"Under a grand?"

"I can do that," he decided, taking him to his second choice.  He pulled that one out and looked from it to Xander and back.  "Do you have on a t-shirt under that?"  Xander nodded and took off his...Tony's sweater, letting him hold it while he tried on the coat.  He put the sweater down, smoothing over the shoulders and down the arms.  "It's very warm."

"Will that matter?"

"Possibly not."  He took that one back and went to get him something from the spring and fall collections, bringing three back. "Here, try this.  It's lighter weight so you'll have to wear a jacket over it in the winter, but it's very durable and very soft."  He had noticed the good quality cashmere of the sweater.  Apparently the boy had good taste, even if he did wear his sweaters a bit bulky. He looked at the boy then went to get the next size up.  With his arm muscles, it would be kinder.  He switched them out and Xander looked again.

"I look like a I cap people," he noted dryly.  "All I need is bling and I'm a rapper."  The salesman laughed.  "Really."  He looked at him.  "This?"

"That is very hip," he noted dryly.

"I'm not the hippest.  I'm a homebody sort.  I club now and then...." he offered.  "I ride a motorcycle.  Tony just made me buy a Mustang today."  The man raised an eyebrow and went to get another jacket, handing it over.  Xander stroked it.  "That's expensive."

"A bit," he agreed. "It'll go with nearly anything though."  He let him try it on, leaving that last jacket nearby.  Just in case.  This one was more classic and the boy looked dashing in it.  He could see the indecision.  "Get this one and the other one," he suggested quietly.  Xander looked at him.  "The two alone will break your budget, sir, but it does suit you.  Especially if you add in the other two with it.  Twice your budget, but very good for your wardrobe."

Xander considered it.  Did he really need a blood red jacket?  Or one in midnight blue?  Or even two black blazers?

"No matter which you choose for that upcoming date, you will look stunning," he promised gently, seeing the indecision.  "You're sure to woo him and have him smile at you."  That broke the indecision and Xander nodded, letting him bag them for him.  He noticed the debit card and looked at the boy before running it.  He had the money, but he was clearly a made man since he still worried about the cost of things.  He handed over the slip and the card, watching him sign them.  Then the bag of coats.  Xander smiled and walked out, answering his phone.

"Harris."  He listened.  "Yup, that's me.  No, Tony decided I need to do a bit of shopping.  Because it's cold in the winter time in DC," he complained.  "Yeah, but LA wasn't," he said, hearing the laugh.  "Did you know snow was *cold*?  Very cold.  Yeah.  Thank you."  He smiled and hung up.  The bank had been checking on him to make sure his card hadn't been stolen.  He found the sneaker shop and walked in, shaking his head. "Cross trainers, or mild jogging.  Black and white please."  He sat down, letting the guy fit his feet.

"Is there any brand you like?"

Xander shrugged.  "Good quality.  I won't be getting another pair for a year, no matter how many times I end up washing them."

"All right."  He went to get him some that he liked.

***

Xander ran home and changed to show Tony how good he was being, even putting on a jacket, then drove through to get lunch for him and everyone else.  Real food even.  He walked into the building a few minutes later and the guard smile.  "Tony suggested I do a car when it's snowing so I don't wreck the bike," he noted dryly.  "Bringing lunch."

"They just came back," he promised. "Gibbs is probably still yelling at someone."  He checked him for metal, finding the usual spots.  He put the pass on his lapel for him and called the elevator. "Have a nice delivery, Mr. Harris."

"Thanks, Frank."  He got into the elevator, stopping in Ducky's lab first.  He put his lunch on the table.  Ducky looked over and smiled.  "Lunch.  I put Abby's in with yours."  He winked and headed up the stairs, waking out of the elevator.  "Adrian," he said, handing her hers.  "Fluffy.  Gibbs."  Theirs got handed to stunned men.  "DiNozzo," he said, handing him his.  "I left Ducky's and Abby's with them."  He smiled at Gibbs.  "That way you don't get coffee poisoning like you say I had."

"I like that," he noted.  "Good job, DiNozzo."  Even if it did look like the kid had raided some uber-geek's closet, or possibly some odd combinations of McGee's and DiNozzo's closets.

"Thanks, Boss."  He looked Xander over, noticing the sneakers.  "That works.  It's going to be a late night."

"Sure.  I've got to start on the second Chronicle anyway."  He shrugged and waved, heading out.  His pass went back into the box.  "You should just have a frequent visitor's one," he joked.

"We should," he agreed.  "At least for some people.  Did you give Doctor Mallard anything?"

"Yeah, I dropped his and Abby's off first.  I figured they could use some Greek food and the rest I went to the deli for."  He looked down at himself.  "Do I look okay?"

"More than, Mr. Harris.  I like the sneakers.  It makes it more casual."

Xander smiled.  "Thanks, Frank."  He headed out, going to find someone to paint his new baby.  It was going to take a few days so he decided to wait until the spring, when he could ride his bike all the time.  Instead he went to get the stereo changed out and buy some new music.

***

Tony trudged in around ten that night.  "Feed me?" he pleaded.  Xander got up and went to get him his dinner, handing it over with a smile.  "Thank you. You're very sweet, Xander."  He got a kiss and earned a smile.  "Long, bad case."

"They happen to the worst of us," he soothed, turning Tony around so he could work on his shoulders, once he got him out of his shirt.  "You liked that outfit?"

"Yeah, I did.  It went together very well.  Oh, Ducky said thank you and Abby squealed."

"I thought they could use something more substantial," he said lightly.  In truth, he decided Ducky needed spoiling and it made McGee jealous so he'd have to do sweet things for the next few days.  He dug into the tense muscles, making Tony moan as he ate.  "Are you staying over tonight?"

"I should," he agreed. "Just to get more of that."  He tipped his head forward, scarfing his dinner quickly.  He put the plate and pickle aside, smiling when it was snatched and slightly damp fingers got back to work on his shoulders and upper back.  He moaned, nearly growling in pleasure.  Xander leaned forward to plant a kiss there and got back to work.  "No sex tonight.  I'm too tired."

"I figured you were," he agreed. "I'm good with lack of sex tonight."  He moved lower, letting Tony relax fully.  It must have been a really bad case. "Kids?" he guessed.  Tony nodded.  "I'm sorry."

"It happens.  Custody dispute.  Hostage situation.  He kidnaped her from her post and them from school, then held them hostage in the house. We got the kids out and then she turned on him to beat the shit outta him."

"Good for her," Xander said. "It's good that she's protecting herself."

"It is, but they both nearly died.  I'm predicting the boat will have a few new planks by tomorrow morning."

"If he needs one, I'll do his shoulders too," Xander promised.

"I doubt he'll ask."

"That's okay, I'll get Ducky onto his case," he assured him.  He patted his back, then kissed it again, giving him a hug.  "Go shower.  Ease the rest of that."

"Yes, Xander."  He got up and smiled at him.  "Thank you."

"Any time. You know that."  He watched him go, smiling at his good work.  Tony was walking right again, not hunched over.  He went to make him a cup of tea and took it up there, then went back to his fussing over his new dagger.

***

It only took three days for things to snap.  Instead of Ducky calling, it was Abby who called him.  He once again headed to the office, smiling at the new guard.  "Hi.  I have shrapnel in my right shoulder and a nipple ring on the same side," he said quietly.  The guy nodded and used the hand wand.  He smiled at the other guy coming out.  "Ducky called," he told him.  "Gibbs."  The supervisor nodded quickly.  By the look on his face it hadn't just been Abby that had gotten yelled at.  "That's why I'm here."  He took his visitor's badge.  "Frank's day off?"

"Yeah.  What happened to your shoulder?"

"An assault gone wrong.  Debris from the building instead of from a bullet.  Thankfully the guys weren't trying to hit us that much."  He shrugged and headed upstairs, walking up to Gibbs' desk.  He pulled him up and forced him to turn around, then forced him to sit down.  Gibbs tried to move so he slapped him across the back of the head.  "Shut up and behave for five minutes.  It's bad enough I had to do this on those damn teenagers who thought they were immortal and could kick *through* the brick wall.  You're too damn stubborn for your own good."  He got to work on his shoulders and neck, making him wince and groan, but relax.  "Next time, ask," he said more quietly.  "Don't make Abby call because you're growling at her."  He got back to work and within five minutes the major knot was gone.  He worked on a few minor ones, then patted him.  "Good.  Much better.  I'll note it to Ducky that the massage therapy he ordered is good for you."

"Now you know why I moan when he does mine, Boss," Tony smarted off.

"Xander...."

Xander smacked him just like Gibbs smacked Tony.  "Shut up. You're on lunch.  You're not working on anything at the moment.  You're off the clock since it's lunch.  Don't argue with me.  I know every damn thing.  Didn't you know that?"   He stared him down.  "Next time, ask!"  He walked off, finding the director in the elevator.  "Director."

"He better now?"

"Yeah.  He had one large knot that was impeding his movement.  Ducky called," he lied.

"Ah.  You know we track calls, right?"

"Really?  You can do that from a cell?  I know he was in Abby's lab when he called.  You might check there."

"You're a qualified massage therapist?"

"Halfway to fully qualified.  I also have a large background in training. Especially with stupid teenagers who believe they're all-powerful and immortal. Gibbs was just too stubborn to ask.  I do Abby's wrists all the time."

"Wonderful."  He smiled at him.  "At least you made it fast."

"I'm very good at that," he noted.  "When you've got thirty girls whining about sore shoulders, you tend to be."  He got off the elevator and handed over the pass with a grin.  "Laters."  He headed out to his car, then to pick up some ice cream for lunch.

***

Tony walked in that night, smiling at him.  "Good job.  He doesn't want to kick your ass anymore, but he said you're never to do that again.  If he came tonight he'd yell."

"Why?  He can move, which was an improvement.  Before if he had to pull his gun, he'd have frozen in a back spasm."  He licked his spoon and used it to point.  "He can't let himself get that bad.  He doesn't take the time to go have a real pro do it.  Therefore I had to step in."

"Who called?"

"Abby's lab."

"Ah."  He sat down, turning on the tv.  "Is that dinner?"  Xander handed over the ice cream.  "I wasn't begging, I was going to complain."

"I had dinner.  That's dessert."  He took it back and ate a bite, then Tony stole it back and got his own.  "Is that *your* dinner?"  Tony smiled and nodded.  "Naughty."

"Very," he agreed.  "I got to annoy him all day about being relaxed."  He ate another bite, glancing outside when someone knocked.  "Speak of the bastard."  He got up to let him in.  "No keys, Boss?"

"You locked it again," he complained.  He walked in and glared at Xander.  "Not at the office, kid."

"Then next time, come to me," he said simply, staring him down.  Tony closed and locked the doors.  "Don't make Abby's lab call me again."

"Fine.  Can you do lower backs?"

"Very well.  Come hog the couch."  He got up and went to get some oil, coming back to find him laying down.  "Shirt off, Gibbs.  Otherwise you'll have to explain friction burns from the cotton."  He sat up with a groan, taking off his shirt.  "Good boy."  He pulled the coffeetable closer and got to work on his back, starting at the top and working his way down.  "Long week?" he asked quietly.

"Very.  Thank you."

"Not an issue.  I used to have to do the slayers' training injuries and I did take the first few classes."  He dug in harder, earning another hiss but a few minutes later it was a deeper growl of a groan.  He got him to the point where he was ready to sleep.  "Go take a shower and you can borrow the couch," he said quietly, getting a head shake.  "You'll fall asleep behind the wheel, Jethro.  Take a shower and crash on the couch.  It'll finish setting in the lack of knots."  He got up and walked off, smiling at Tony.  "Can I have you do my right shoulder?"

"Sure."  He listened to Gibbs heading for the shower as he took Xander upstairs to work on his arms.  "Were you lifting today?" he asked.

"No, awkward angles while I was working on something for Eliana."  That got a nod and he took off his t-shirt, letting Tony get whatever he wanted.  They heard the door shut and they both shook their heads at the stubborn nature of some people. At least until they heard a few quiet words floating up the stairs in Eliana's voice.  Then the door closed again and they heard someone moving around in the living room.  So he could take advice.  Tony gave him a gentle kiss for being so good, smiling at him when Xander leaned back to get another one.  They'd be cuddling tonight too.

***

Gibbs looked up as Xander came back, smirking at him.  "Do you know what you started yesterday?"

"A bout of mental health reviews since you were so tense you couldn't pull your gun?" Xander suggested, handing over the coffee and food he had been ordered to bring in.  Gibbs paid him and he grinned.  "Did you tense up again?"

"No, but two of the other teams tried to say something," Adrian noted as she came to get her lunch.  "Thank you, Xander."  She handed him a five and took her lunch back to her desk.

"Welcome, Adrian."  He looked at McGee, who was typing.  "Willow?"  He nodded.  "Wonderful.  Tell her I said hi."  He looked at the guy walking toward him, mentally sizing him up.  "Yes?  Did you place an order too?"

The man looked him over.  "You're a delivery guy?"

"Only sometimes.  Usually when asked politely.  Why?"  Then he smirked at him.  "Let me guess, you're one of the imbeciles who decided that being so tense you couldn't move, much less pull your gun if you had to, was good for the job?"  He smirked back and nodded.  "Uh-huh.  You do realize that being that sore and tense is not only detrimental to your life expectancy but also to that of your teammates, which I'm told is one of those important things around here."  He saw Tony kicking back with a smirk.  "I can also tell you, as someone who has had to do some sports training in the past, that being that tense leads to auto accidents, higher blood pressure, the occasional stroke, and debilitating injuries that can permanently disable you if not treated promptly."  He stepped closer.  "When you save the world like Gibbs does nearly every day, then you too can earn special privileges.  I'm sure the director would allow you to run out on your lunch break, like I was here yesterday, to get your tension knots worked out.  Since they had solved a case that saved lives, including the lives of some children, I think he deserved it since he couldn't move properly.  After all, we want Gibbs and his team to continue at peak performance so they can do your job too."  The man glared at that and he smiled sweetly.  "If I were you, I'd go try to save the world some more.  After all, there's a whole big world out there that needs protected from *some* of the people in uniform and the rest of the Marines and Navy need protected from them too."  He looked the guy over.  Then back in his eyes. "Not that I think you'd know that from personal experience."

"You think you're so hot?" he sneered.

"No, honey, I know I'm hot.  That's why you're drooling."  The man swiped his mouth and he grinned meanly, as evilly as he could.  "Now then, have you saved the world and some kids this week?  If so, I might, if asked *politely* do some limited work on your shoulders.  If not, then I'm sorry, I have more important things to do, like trying to figure out what shoes to wear to dinner tomorrow night."  The man backed off.  "Did you actually solve a case this week?"

"Not all cases are that easy," he said firmly.

Xander walked him off.  "Then take me there, let's see if I can help you too!  It's not like I don't help those guys now and then!"  He looked at the file of the man hunched over his desk.  "Ooh, curve?"  The man nodded.  "I'm sorry."  He got to work on his shoulders, unable and unwilling to see anyone in that sort of pain.  "You've had this lump checked, right?"

"Twice now."

"Good.  It's got a squishy center."  He worked around it, staring at the file.  "Which is your suspect?"  The man tapped a photo.  Xander shook his head and pointed at another one.  "Is he dead?"  The man shook his head.  "The look he's giving the camera and the notes stapled to his picture say he knew something more than that.  Sometimes people can lie poorly but it's all in the body posture.  Even with the best liars."  He heard the moan and went back to work.  He felt the back loosen and tapped the spot. "May I?  I'm used to be surrounded by teenage girls."

"Go ahead.  They said it's one of those cysts with the zit in the center."

Xander looked at it, then poked it a few times.  "It is.  Ducky could aspirate that for you ya know.  It shouldn't even hurt as much as popping it would."

"I don't like needles."

Xander snorted.  "Give me two minutes to get some gloves.  I can fix that, then you'll need to put heat on it later."  The guy looked at him. "I used to live with thirty-three teenage girls," he told him. "I got really good at back zits and things."  That got a smile. "That's also why I learned some massage therapy.  Think about that guy."  He went back to autopsy, going to find some pads and a set of gloves.  He found the tape too.  "Ducky, one of the guys has one of those neverending zits in the center of a cyst.  He hates needles so I'm going to pop it for him."  He found a dental pick and took it too. He did know how to remove those.  He grinned at the other guy.  "Hi, Mr. Palmer.  I'm Xander, the current bane of his existence."  He waved and went back, settling in to deal with that.  "Turn the chair around so you have something to support your chest."  The guy did so, giving him an odd look. "Yes, I'm more than qualified," he noted dryly.  He moved the shirt out of the way, then put on the gloves and unwrapped one of the sterile pads.  The zit was easily popped and absorbed, then the pad tossed and he went back to squeezing it dry.  When nothing else came out he picked up the small pick and put a hand on the back of his neck. "Do not move.  It's going to pinch."

"Needle?"

"Nope."  He stuck it in the right spot, twisted, then yanked, making him yelp.  He put it in front of him, then the pick next to it, grabbing the last pad and the tape to cover it.  "There you go.  Warm heating pad on it later, watch it for infection, have Ducky check it later today," he ordered.  "If you're in doubt, take that to your usual doc to have him test it for cancer."  He patted him on the back of the head and took off the first glove properly, using it to pick up the dirty pads, then putting the second glove over it, handing it to the guy.  "Biowaste please."  He went back to Gibbs' desk, looking at him.  "You were being bullied?" he asked with a smirk.  "You?  That's almost as bad as me getting it in high school."

"You were bullied?" McGee asked, looking confused.

"Total outcast, McGee," he admitted with a grin. "Uncoordinated, bad clothes, hung out with Buffy.  The only cool thing I did was date a cheerleader and she was constantly putting me down to her friends.  She didn't even want to be seen with me most of the time.  She was in it for the smoochies," he offered with a wicked grin.  "Okay, anything else I can help with?"  That guy came back.  "Yes?  Did you need something else?"

"You're DiNozzo's apprentice, the guy he's working on to help you start here?"

Xander looked at Tony.  "You told them?"

"Yeah, that and gopher and general helper," he admitted dryly, shrugging slightly. "Sorry."

"S'okay."  He looked at him.  "I make a better sounding board but I'm also a very good people hunter.  I watch people and I know people.  That's what my special talent is."  He grinned, a gentle, soft, friendly grin.  "If you need help with that, ask Gibbs where I am.  If he can't find me, maybe he can help.  He's taught me some stuff too."

"Sure, kid.  Thanks for his back and all.  I know it's been bothering him."

Xander waved it off.  "I removed a nearly fist sized one two years back from someone's thigh.  That wasn't that bad.  Just annoying and worrisome now and then.  He should probably have the tissue tested, just in case if he's worried."

"I'll make sure he does that during lunch.  Gibbs was on lunch?"

"Yeah.  I'd never come up during work unless he called me to.  I don't want to interrupt their saving the world and making it safe for the ninety-five percent in uniform who're decent folks."  He shrugged and grinned again.  "I'm a good boy."  He looked at Gibbs.  "How's your back?"

"Still good.  Thank you.  I can drive again."

"You're welcome.  Do you want pictures from England?"

"I wouldn't mind.  You're going when?"

Xander pulled out his calendar and showed it to him. "This weekend and into this week, which means I'll be back Monday and you're in charge of Eliana."

"Fine.  Thanks for lunch, kid."

"Not an issue."  He grinned at Ducky as he came in scowling.  "Hi, Ducky."

"Mr. Palmer said you removed a cyst?"

"I've removed bigger ones.  It was one of those with the zit."  He walked him over to let him see.  "See?"

"Dental pick?  An odd choice."

"Sunnydale," he noted dryly.  "I removed a fist sized one two years ago."  He hugged him. "There, for lunch since Gibbs didn't ask me to get you anything."  He wandered off again.

The guy looked at him.  "Can you test it or should I send it to my usual doc, Doctor Mallard?"

"I'll have it tested for you."  He took the sample and the tape, letting him dispose of the pick and glove package in the nearest biohazard container.   He walked off shaking his head.  He knew the boy knew field medicine.  He had seen him do too much of it already.  He'd check the agent's back later, once he had run the tests.  Right after he called to yell at the boy.  Even if he had been taking EMT classes most mornings.

***

Gibbs looked up as the meeting started, looking at his director.  "What's going on this time?" he asked.

"Where's the kid?  No deliveries today?"

"No.  He's got his own thing today.  We managed to make it out for lunch," he said smartly.  "At least he's not on the payroll."

"He'd better not be.  Was he qualified to do that cyst removal?"

Tony raised a hand.  "He's most of the way through his paramedic training and he's already very good in field medicine.  He had to be since he's from near LA, Director.  That's why he could do that.  The massage therapy classes he's taken on and off were to help with the girls he was training out there.  They apparently needed the help and he was the best at it so he took the training."

"Fine.  Don't let it continue, Agent Gibbs."

"No, sir.  I'll make him quit picking up our lunch orders for us."

"See that you do.  Was it cancerous?" he asked the head of that team, who nodded.  "He's where?"

"He took the results to his doctor, who's sending him to see someone tomorrow.  I've got his leave forms in your inbox, Director.  It's a good thing he removed it."

"Very well.  I won't complain about that.  Agent DiNozzo, are you *training* that young man?"

"Now and then, Director.  He's got good instincts and I know he said he wanted to go to the Academy."

"As?"

Gibbs coughed.  "He's already been approved, sir."

The director looked at him and Jethro nodded that he was still Xander.  "I see.  I hadn't realized.  How soon before he starts?"

"He starts part-time next month," Tony told him.  "He'll be breaking between sessions in England, then coming back for another one."

"On?"

"I think his first is the mandatory lessons.  I know I went with him when he qualified for his weapons rating.  So the first is probably R&R, rules and regs."  He looked at Gibbs.  "At least it was in the Academy I went to."

"It is there too," he agreed.  "He'll be doing the intense training this summer, director, then he'll be deciding if he comes here part time or not.  At which time he'll be a Probie on my team since he works so well with us."

"Fine.  I'm sure the boy's useful."

"Director, are you feeling all right?" Gibbs asked him.  "You knew all this last month."  He got a harsh look and shrugged.  "You did."

"I've got some tylenol if you need some, Director," the other head offered.

"I'm fine," he assured them.  "All right.  About the overtime."

"My team's had none," Gibbs reminded him.  "Not since that memo came out.  Even when we had a case over a weekend.  I made DiNozzo switch out a day."

"Can we have it back, director?  It felt really odd to be out on a Thursday and I got called back anyway."

"No.  We're going to reinstitute salaries.  There will be no salary decrease and the overtime compensation will cover it nicely.  That means I want each and every team to be at full staff and full morale."

"We're there," Gibbs said patiently.  "With Marquez...."

"She's being recruited by someone, Gibbs."

"She doesn't want to go, sir.  She likes where she is."

"Then Harris gives you an extra hand."

"Who'll be part time and we work more cases anyway," Gibbs reminded him.  "He can train on some of our cold ones."

"We'll see."  He stared at the other team leader.  "Your team, how are you going to deal with the missing member?"

"We're stuck in a long-term smuggling and drugs case," he admitted.  "We spend a lot of time talking with the other offices just trying to track people down and figure out if they're involved.  Gibbs, can I borrow McGee?"

"Sure.  Until I need him again.  Backgrounds and computer searches?"  That got a nod.  "Fine.  Before you ask, Harris isn't a computer person."

"Thanks for the warning.  Will you need to rebuild his like you did Marquez's last month?"

"Not quite that bad.  Anything the kid searches for comes up porn," he admitted dryly, smirking at him.  "Even if he types in something innocent like cat breeds.  I've seen him do it."

The other team leader laughed. "I'm sure our computer use people will love him then."  He looked at DiNozzo.  "What's his area?"

"Weapons, strategy now and then.  Xander's an instinctive person.  He's learning more modern weapons and I fully expect him to sign up for the bomb disposal classes as well."

"Good, we could use one now and then."  They all looked at the director.  "When he comes up, can we borrow him too?"

"If necessary.  He may be filling in your lack of personnel."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Where are your reports from your last case?"

"You handed them back two days ago," Gibbs noted.  "I handed them in that evening."

"I don't remember that."

Tony stretched and looked at his watch, then the director.  "I can run down to find the file, sir.  It'll take me about ten minutes."

"Good.  Do that."  He watched the boy leave.  "Do you really think it's in Harris' best interests to keep him here, Gibbs?"

Gibbs nodded.  "Yeah, I do.  He's made himself more useful than some full agents."  He looked at the other guy.  "You're still working on that guns and drugs case?"  That got a moan.  "I'll see if anyone has any clues for you.  How many in the chain?"

"Fifteen so far, with a spider web of contacts and information.  We're using the new DEA software too."

"Go back to the bulletin board and then type it in," Gibbs advised.  "You solved faster that way. They won't have jurisdiction."

"True.  I tried that and I'm already lost."

"I'll send McGee over after he fixes my PDA again."  That got a smirk.  Tony came back with the files and set off a small flash bomb, making them all blink.  "DiNozzo, what made you think I needed to see spots today?" he asked.  He stood up and looked at the director.  "Nice work.  Get Ducky to make sure it's not medical."  Tony went to call Ducky and he looked at the other guy.  "I don't care if you start hollering from the hallways."

"No, he was acting odd.  So, what is Harris?"

"Human," Tony said.  "Palmer, send Ducky to the MTAC meeting room.  No, the director's been acting odd and just collapsed.  Thanks."  He hung up.  "Right up, Boss."  He came to check him over, noticing the marks on his neck.  "Gibbs?"  He moved the collar.

"Get the camera."

"McGee's outside."  He went to get his kit from him, nodding him inside.  "Only let Ducky in."

"Sure."  He guarded the door while Tony took pictures and put a bit of holy water on the odd spots.  They fizzed so he added more, moving really fast when something came out of one of the spots.

McGee looked back at the yelp.  "What is that?"

"Looks like a brain worm," the other lead noted.  "Eww."  He went to get a glass and Tony used some tweezers to pick them up, dropping it into there.  "That's really nasty."

"But a good reason for the personality change," Jethro noted, nodding Ducky closer. "That came out of his neck," he said, pointing at the glass.

"That's disgusting."  He got down to look him over, finding him sleeping.  "We should get a CT scan, Jethro.  Just in case there's more.  Identify that for me.  I'll have him taken to Bethesda."  He went to call for an ambulance.

"Probie, run the picture really quick," Tony said, handing over the camera after taking one last shot.  "Then email it too."  He nodded and took it. "Ducky, he has your cell, right?"  That got a nod.  "Good.  Holy water fizzed."

"Why did you use holy water?" the other lead asked.

"Holy water has salt, that makes it saline solution," Tony told him.

"Oh.  Okay.  Usually I use stuff for contacts."

"I do in the field," he admitted with a smile.  "It's all I had on me."  He got out of the way, watching as the paramedics looked at the worm.  "Just be careful, Ducky."

"Of course.  I'll call when I have something."

"Wonderful."  He looked at the other guy. "Go back to the board and strings."  That got a nod.  "Have someone type it in once you've got it set up.  I find one typer makes the most sense anyway."  The guy nodded and disappeared.  Gibbs looked at the worm.  "It's got teeth."

"I noticed.  I hope it's not trying to breed in there.  I'd hate to see who we got next."

McGee jogged back in.  "Boss, Xander has no idea what that is, but he's got the manual down and he'll call Tony's or your cell when he does.  He said if it reacted to holy water they should probably try a saline treatment and have the priest there bless it in the IV bag."  He got out of the way and watched as the creature was taken down to the lab.  The other leader grabbed him and he followed along.  "Computer problems again?"

"No, we need some help.  We've got a guy out with a new tumor.  You're our designated typer, McGee.  You know that new program since you made it work in our system.  I also need you to pull files on all these people and do quick backgrounds."

"Sure.  Let me get my soda."  He went back to his desk to get it then came back to help.  Since Tony had told him Gibbs said it was okay.

***

Xander was standing beside the director when he woke up.  "What day is it?" he asked quietly.

"Thursday."

"Good.  What year?"

"2006."  He blinked a few times.  "Why am I in the hospital, Mr.  Harris?"  He held up the now dead demon spawn.  "What's that?"

"An Ostris.  It was using you as a host.  It's a baby."  He put the air-tight bag down again and leaned on the railing.  "You're damn lucky.  It would've eaten you inside out.  By the way, it's been in you for nearly a week so you need to see what got screwed up.  Gibbs has already done some," he said quietly, "but he wasn't able to get into some of your files."  That got a slow nod.  "You're going to be here for a few more days.  They thought it was a leach who got through the cracks on the back of your neck, but that might've come from that too."  That got another slow nod. "You'll be fine now.  They did a full PET scan for others and didn't find any.  You're going for an MRI tomorrow just in case as well.  You've got a very pretty nurse and your secretary is outside pacing."  That got a small smirk.  "Try to take it easy for a few days.  You're going to have a headache."  He stood up.  "The building will be fumigated starting tomorrow.  Gibbs' team will be working from home and Abby can borrow my lab.  Ducky's morgue will be sealed as well.  The others know that there were bugs, not what kind.  Your wife's already agreed to have the house fumigated.  Fortunately it's just like doing smoke bombs for roaches.  They react to the same stuff."  That got another smile.  "She's down the hall waiting patiently.  Gibbs will be in tonight with a report.  I'll let your secretary in if you don't have any questions."

"What if it left eggs?"

"They leave slimy little live babies.  The MRI will pick them up and the staff here can go in and get them.  The saline solution will make them easier to stop and catch. They aren't very mobile.  The one in your head took about a day to crawl inside.  You might wanna figure out where it could've come from besides those two spots."  He got another nod.  "Yes, the water was blessed," he said quietly.

"Thank you, Mr. Harris. You'll be an asset to the department when you finally get around to joining."

"Not an issue, sir.  Have a good rest.  Gibbs has control of MTAC for you."  That got another nod and Xander let the secretary in.  "I told him the pertinent details I got from Gibbs, including the fumigation."  She nodded and he left, going to smile at Ducky.  "He's awake, I passed on Gibbs' messages about the fumigation and him having it."

"Thank you, Xander," he said, hugging him.  "Now go eat."

"Yes, Ducky.  Actually, I have a date," he said proudly.  He went to change and had to decide between two outfits, but he decided on the simpler one, then grabbed his fancier jacket and keys, heading out to pick up Tony, since he didn't know they were having a date.  He walked up to his door, tapping gently, smiling at him.  "Get dressed. You said I was making you eat real food at someplace that required a coat."

"You know I was joking, right?" he asked.

"So?  Change.  Now."  Tony shook his head but went to do that, coming out dressed better than he was.  "Should I put on a tie?"

"No, you're good."  He looked him over.  "Very good."  He made sure he had everything then followed Xander downstairs and to the car.  He'd only had the one ride in it so far and it was very comfortable.  He turned down the music, smiling at the new stereo, then at his date.  "Nice choice."

"Thank you.  I liked it," he said happily, buckling up and starting the engine, then backing out and heading downtown.  "I asked for a private spot because we had to discuss some business stuff.  I need to have stocks and bonds explained sometime soon and I figured it was a good enough cover."

"It's a good cover, Xander.  Very good."  He smiled at the restaurant as they pulled up a few minutes later, then at Xander.  "This is nice."

"Am I dressed okay? We've got a few minutes."

"You're fine."  He gout out and smiled as Xander got out and locked the car, arming the security system. "No wards?"

"I'd have to redo them when they paint it."  He walked him inside, nodding at the host.  "Harris."

He checked the book and smiled.  "This way, sir."  He led them to the back of the restaurant, handing them menus once they were seated.  "Your sommelier will be with you shortly."  He left them alone.

Tony smiled as he opened the menu.  "You have stocks and bonds?"

"Apparently Wes was investing some of his inheritance and I'm not sure what's going on.  I got a notice from the lawyer that I had to make a decision about that stuff."  He handed it over.  "That's what I've got.  I've got about four days left and I was hoping you could come over Saturday and help?  That way I could handle things first thing Monday morning?"

"I can do that," he agreed, looking at the list.  "He's well diversified," he admitted, looking at the boy, noticing the clueless look.  "That's a good thing."

"Oh, good.  Wes was way smarter than I am," he said, shaking his head. "Wine with dinner?"

"Sure.  Get a bottle.  I like the roasts here."

Xander looked at his menu and considered it.  "I like the beef dish in number eight but we all know I like red wine."

Tony smiled at that one.  It was a good choice.  He looked at the sommelier when he came over.  "We'll need something midpriced to go with number eight and the roast dish."

"There's three good choices.  What sides were you thinking about?"

"The usual," Tony admitted.  "Without gravy."

The waiter nodded and noted the choices.  Tony pointed at one and he nodded, going to get it so he could test it.  He noticed Xander's fascinated look and smiled at him. "It's not a hard art to learn."

"After I finish my paramedic and massage therapy classes," he said dryly.  "About the same time as cooking classes."  Tony smiled and nodded that the wine was fine, so he poured them some and left the bottle.  "You're really good at that stuff."

"It's all training, Xander.  I got trained to deal with this stuff from an early age.  Am I getting the wine and you get dinner?"

"I can get dinner."

"Xander."

"It's only fair."

"I'll get the wine and dessert."  Xander nodded but he was smirking a bit.  "Taste that.  It's a good wine."  Xander tasted it and moaned. "See?"

"It's got that aftertaste."  Tony sniffed his glass and frowned then sniffed his.  "I'm right, aren't I?"

"You are.  It does smell different."  He managed to catch the glass before Xander passed out, looking at the nearest waiter.  "I think he could use some help."  The man ran off to get the manager, who was someone he didn't recognize.  "Fuck me," he muttered, pulling out his phone to call Ducky and Gibbs, who were supposed to be together.  "We're at Perry's," he said in greeting.  "No, Xander tasted his wine, said it tasted funny, then passed out.  Bitter and peaches.  No, just smelled.  Thanks."  He checked Xander again, getting up to let the paramedics get in there.  He handed over that wine glass, then took a sample bottle from him to get some for their labs.  "I'm a Fed," he said quietly.  He paid for the wine and they left, him following right behind the ambulance.  Which was how he realized it wasn't going to the hospital.  "Fuck."  He pulled out his cell with a sigh.  "Gibbs, Tony.  No, follow my signal.  They're not taking him to the hospital.  I left a sample of the wine in the car.  No, sample collection bottle from the paramedic."  He put the phone down, hoping it'd get closed within the hour.  Too many minutes this month, really there was.  He could hear Gibbs yelling about the same time as a cop stopped him.  He pulled out his credentials.  "My friend's in the ambulance and they need his medical history."

"Sir, you can't go in there."

"I'm still a Federal Agent and yes I can."

The cop pulled his gun.  "No, you can't.  Get out of the car, sir.  Also, hang up."

Tony closed his phone, but he had to push the button to hang up.  He hoped it had been long enough for Abby and McGee.  The guy took the phone and made sure by taking out the battery and tossing both parts back into the car, then moving him away from it while another supposed cop searched it.  "What's going on here?" he asked.

"Shut up."

"That's almost impossible. You know that right?"

"I said shut up.  You're nothing to us, not even a useable hostage.  So I'd follow orders."

"Fine.  What was he dosed with?  He's got allergies."

"It won't matter."

"It will matter to some people," he retorted.

"They'll never find you in time, kid, so just quit trying so hard.  Use your last few to pray."  He glanced back and the guy shrugged.  "Where's the sample?"

Tony looked at him but kept silent.  The guy shot at him and he snickered.  "Xander's better than that."  This time the gun was pointed at him and cocked.  He crossed his arms over his chest and pulled his best Gibbs impersonation up.  "Go ahead.  My boss'll hunt you to the ends of the earth."

"He won't be able to."

"You take out a whole team and watch how long you last."

"We'll last long enough."  He glanced back when the music came on and Tony grabbed his gun, taking it from him and knocking him out.

Tony pointed it at the guy.  "Move away from the car.  Now!" he ordered.  He moved closer, pulling his own gun since it was more comfortable for him to use and he was sure it was all right.  He saw the smirk and kept them both anyway.  "Move, now."  He hit the button for the car alarm and let it run.  The company would call him, and if they couldn't find him, Gibbs.  He saw another person come out and mentally groaned.  "Ah, Ms. Shepard.  Charming to see you again."

"Stand down, DiNozzo."

"I don't take orders from you, Ms. Shepard."

"You do now.  I'm the only one who can save your little friend's life."

"Really?" Willow said as she appeared.  "Fat chance, bitch."  She raised a hand and something hit them both, knocking them out.  "You gave them my number third?"

"Gibbs' second.  You got called?"

"Yeah.  I did.  Get your phone."  He grabbed both pieces and put it back together, then called Gibbs himself while she looked around.  She glanced at him.  "No answer?"

"No.  Not him or Ducky.  I did get McGee and he's heading to check on Eliana and Marquez."

"Good.  They're Initiative right?"  He nodded.  "Let's go."

Tony took off his jacket and checked both weapons, then got Xander's out of the special compartment in the trunk.  He knew the kid had one put in.  Two guns with ammo and a throwing knife later, and he shut the doors, following her.  They snuck up to where the rest of them were, watching what they were doing.  "He's going to hate that, he liked that shirt," he muttered in her ear, making her snort.  He checked behind them, wishing for a bulletproof vest, but nothing was coming out of heaven.  They moved in closer, her taking out two of the soldiers.  He winced as the IV was stuck and walked in.  "Freeze," he ordered.  "Remove it.  Now!"  The IV was removed.  "Bandage it."  It was bandaged and he kicked the gurney, making Xander moan.  "Xan?"  He sat up and rubbed his head.  "Come on.  We've got to go."

"Not yet, Tony," he moaned, holding his head.

"Xander, soldiers."

"Fuck."  He came off the table and looked at the blurry people.  "Which way?"

"Behind me."  Xander moved behind him and he backed out.  One tried to rush for him and he shot him in the knee, backing out further.  Willow was behind him with Xander.  "Back to the car, kids," he noted quietly.  Willow took off with him and he followed, walking so he could keep track of them.  Every few seconds he'd glance around.

"Tony, stairs," she called.  "Two feet to your left."  He nodded and turned, jogging down them and then back around to get one of them in the shoulder.  He didn't want to kill them, not until Gibbs got to torture them for a bit first.  He made it to the car and got in to drive, letting Willow have him.  The keys were in his pocket so it took him a moment, then he backed up and headed for somewhere safer.  His phone in one hand, his eyes checking the mirrors.  "McGee, please tell me you've heard from Gibbs or Ducky?"  He listened.  "Shit.  No, the Initiative creeps.  Including Shepard.  Yeah.  Where?  What happened?"  He frowned.  "I didn't know you could do that.  Sure."  He hung up.  "You can fireproof spell the house?"

"Yeah, I have," she agreed.  "I did it last week.  That place won't fall no matter what happens."

"Good, I like that."  He changed lanes and sped up, heading off.  Halfway there he stopped and got out, trying Gibbs' again.  Then Marquez.  He got her.  "Where are you?  Meet us at Xander's.  Keep trying Gibbs and Ducky.  Yes, now.  Because the Initiative came back, Marquez.  They had Xander.  I don't know.  I stopped 'em from putting an IV in his arm."  He waved at a familiar car and it turned, stopping behind him and Gibbs getting out.  "He's here.  Yeah, meet us there."   He hung up.  "Boss."

"What the hell is going on!"

"Shepard's out.  She had Xander knocked out in the restaurant and then brought to a warehouse.  He's still out of it.  Do you have Ducky?"

"No, they have Ducky!"

"Okay."  He tossed Willow the keys.  "Get him back to the house, Willow.  I'm going for Ducky."

"You can't!"

"I can, don't argue with me," he said firmly.  He followed his boss back to his car and got in, nodding at the person in the back seat.  "McGee, didn't I order you to get Eliana?"

"She's already headed to Xander's house.  Marquez is picking her up.  You need more bodies here."

"I overruled you, DiNozzo," he said as he turned around.  "Where?"

"Straight back, Boss."  He nodded and headed that way.  He pointed and they pulled in, following him to the right warehouse.  He did take the vest with a grateful smile, slipping it on as he walked.  He kicked in the door, heading in first.  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.

McGee came in and looked around.  "They had equipment here, Boss.  There's skid marks and things."  He checked something glittery he saw, picking it up with a pair of gloves.  "Dopamine?"

"Sedative," Tony told him.  "Xander's got some in his field kit."  They searched the rest of the area, finding the cages and a few people.  He shot two of them, his boss got one, and then they found Ducky, who was unconscious. He went in to check him.  "He's got a pulse, Boss."

"Ambulance is on its way," he replied.  He went to search the rest of the area with McGee.  Tony could guard Ducky and their prisoners.  He came back and shook his head.  "Nothing."

"We'll get 'em, Boss," Tony assured him coolly.  "Even if I have to do it myself."

"Calm down, DiNozzo.  This is why they don't let lovers work on the same team."

"Bite me."  He checked Ducky again.  "He's feeling stronger."  The paramedics from earlier came in.  "Not them."

"We were paid to bring him here."

"That makes you accomplices to kidnaping," Gibbs said.  The other main team rushed in and he waved.  "They were told to kidnap Xander Harris to here for someone and these people tried to stop us," he noted.  "Ducky needs medical."

"Where's the Harris kid?" the other team leader asked.

"His place.  He was unconscious but probably all right.  They had him sedated at a restaurant and then brought him here."

"I saw them stick him with some sort of IV and McGee found a bottle of dopamine," Tony reported.  Ducky moaned and he went back to patting his cheek.  "Come on, Ducky.  We need you back, man."  He looked at the back of his neck.  "None of the cracks like on the director, Boss."

"Good.  I'd hate to see Ducky with brain slugs."  A new set of paramedics rushed in.  "We're not sure what happened after he was kidnaped.  We know at least sedated."  They nodded and made Tony move.  "There's another case but we think he's only sedated."

Tony called the house, getting a very worried sounding Willow.  "It's Tony.  How is he?  The lab's downstairs.  Yeah, Abby uses it."  She dropped the phone and went running.  "Willow?" he called.  He rolled his eyes at the bang of the door, then he heard Eliana's voice.  Willow's babble came back and he heard Xander moan.  He hung up.  "They're pulling blood, Boss."

"Good."  He follow the gurney out.  "Once they're back at the office, call the director and speak to only him," he called as he walked.  "I do mean only him, Peter."

"Sure, Gibbs."  He watched the other two follow.  "What the hell is going on?" he asked his resident 'strange stuff' person.  She was into Voodoo or something as far as he knew.

"Something very bad," she noted quietly.  "Do as he ordered.  He apparently has it in hand, Boss."

"Fine."  They started the clean up and gathering, including confiscating the field kits in case they had something in them that might prove useful.

***

Xander woke up in the hospital and looked at the man leaning beside him.  "Did I have brain slugs?" he asked quietly.  Tony shook his head.  "Are you sure?  It feels like something's in there with my brain."  He reached back but Tony captured his hand.  "What?"

"The Initiative got you."

"So I was tortured?"

"Kicked in the head a few times."  He smoothed back some of the dark hair.  "How do you feel otherwise?"

"Crappy, but I don't ache."

"They sedated you and were about to put some chemical mix into you.  We think it's a control serum with the way Ducky acted when he woke up.  Willow said you knew something about that?"

"They used it on a few of the vamps.  It hooked into the chip," he said, giving the hand a squeeze.  "Ducky?"

"He's detoxing but it'll take a few days at least.  You'll be home before he will.  I stopped them from doing more than sticking you with an IV."

"Thank you."  He made himself sit up and let go of Tony's hand, but it was held again.  "More bad news?"

"No.  I thought it was sweet that you took me out on a date," he offered with a grin.

"What else could I do?  You're so sweet and gentle," he teased back.  "Anything for my fam...favorite Pretty Boy."

Tony gave his hand a squeeze.  "Let me let Abby and Gibbs in.  They should be pacing."  He let him go and walked over, opening the door and wisely getting out of the way since Abby rushed in and would've run him over. "Thank you for the patience."

"Share, you greedy bastard you," she complained, hugging Xander.  "I was so worried!"  She let him go since he was wincing.  "Are you feeling okay?"

"Well, I was fine but now I seem to be squished," he noted, shifting further up in the bed.  He kissed her on the cheek.  "I'm indestructible.  You know that."

"Bull."  She hugged him again then Gibbs pulled her off and turned her around so she was looking at Tony.  She shrugged and hugged him too.  "You did good."

"Thank you."

Gibbs looked at him.  "You're not indestructible or immortal.  Remember that, okay?" he noted.  "Before you finish off the ulcer Ducky started giving me many years ago."

"Sorry, Boss."

"I'm sure you are.  Do you want to know what they gave you?"

"Not really.  Not unless it's going to make me start to quack or shake or break out in pink- vomiting hives."

"That's a cool image," Abby noted, bouncing back over to sit on the foot of his bed and rub his ankles.  "Willow's still here and we're doing tag-team hacking to figure out what's going on."

"If I remember right, the control syrup was something that got hooked into the control chip and they used it in unison, but the syrup they tried to feed them wasn't calibrated properly and made them lethargic but nervous and twitchy.  They had some way to give commands over the chip."

"We saw the chip's schematics," she agreed, thinking about it.  "I don't know how they'd do that."

"Chemical or electrical impulses probably," Tony offered.  "We have no idea where they are," he admitted, making sure the door stayed closed for a bit.  "If we did, they'd be raided since they're officially federal escapees.  The director is not a happy person," he said dryly.

"I'm not a happy person," Gibbs assured him.  He looked at Xander again.  "How do you really feel?"

"I feel like I have brain slugs because it feels like there's something crawling around in my head."

"That could be some bleeding," Tony noted, going to tell the nurse that.  "He said he feels like there's something crawling around in his head?"

"I'll have him sent for a scan immediately," she noted.  "We were worried that he might start bleeding.  I take it he's awake?"

"And been hugged to death," he agreed, going back.  "You get to go back through the big, whirly machine again, Xander."

"What a prize I get," he noted dryly.  He noticed Abby looking at his shoulder and moved the gown to look.  "They took out the metal?"

"No, the people who had you were taking out the metal," Gibbs told him.  "For some reason Willow freaked."

"That's because they can use that in a sympathetic spell or to test things on me without me being there.  They probably took plenty of tissue with it."  Tony nodded.  "Did they take all the tatoo?"

"Nearly. It's not quite a big, gaping hole.  Hence the continued pain killers."  Tony got out of the way of the orderlies, looking at them.  "New?" he asked.

"They work for us," the nurse called.  "They've been here for years, Agent DiNozzo."

"Thanks."

Xander grinned at him.  "I'm good with paranoid right about now.  Thank you.  Abby, gotta move that foot, sweetie."

"Fine.  I'll be back as soon as you are.  I'm going to call home and tell them you're awake and fussing."

"Yeah, well, I'm expecting to have many cookies since that's how Willow fusses."

"We've already had about four dozen," Tony assured him, following him down.  The orderlies gave him a look.  "He was kidnaped, if you think you're getting that far out of my sight, you're sadly mistaken.  Don't make me pull my weapon on you."

"Yes, Agent DiNozzo," one said, hitting the button for the elevator.  The nurse and he shared a look but he let it go.  Lovers were always so fussy.

Gibbs just shook his head.  At least Xander wasn't going to be hurt anytime in the near future.  Not even allowed to stub his toe probably.

"Man, Xander will *never* be allowed to get into another bar brawl," Abby sighed, shaking her head.  "I wish Tim was that over-protective sometimes."

"Do stupid stuff, Abby, watch it happen," Gibbs assured her.  "Call home."  She went to do that.  He went to check the room again, just in case one of those brain slugs had gotten in.  Then he went to report to the director, who was just upstairs.

***

Tony helped Xander inside and to his couch a few days later, then took the blanket Willow was holding ready and tucked him in.  "There."  He backed off with a smile.  "How's that?"

"Good.  So, what's going on with the investigation?"

"Why?" Willow asked.  "You can't help."

"Yes, but I often get things the rest of you don't.  Remember, Xanders view things from a very different viewpoint now and then."

"Yeah, but your usual viewpoints are being covered by Abby and Gibbs," Willow assured him.  "We're working on it, Xander. Would you like a cookie?"  She held out a plate.

He looked at them, then at her before taking one and nibbling.  "So, what're you hiding?"

"They've got Ethan with them."

"Ethan....." Tony prompted.

"Rayne.  Will, he won't work against me."

"He will, he hates you."

"I doubt it since he taught me fire and chaos magic," he noted dryly, nibbling on his cookie.  He pointed at his phone.  "Hand it over."  Tony tossed it to him and he looked up a number, dialing it.  He listened to the gruff greeting.  "If I find out you had something to do with the people who kicked me in the head after kidnaping me, I'm sending something to rape you and then eat you," he said in greeting.  "Gee, yes, Ethan, this would be.  How nice of you to remember.  Ethan, here, now," he ordered, then hung up.  He looked at Tony.  "Look for a guy with dark hair that's about Giles' age."  He looked at Willow.  "And the rest of the guilt?  Since I've heard about twelve dozen cookies have been made."

"I was supposed to track him and I didn't," she admitted quietly, looking at her cookies.  "Giles thought he might show up here to take advantage of the situation."

"Uh-huh.  And the rest?" he prompted.  She glared at him so he stared back.  "Willow?"

"I saw Oz," she sighed, handing him the plate of cookies.  "I don't know why."

"Where?"

"Your former job."

"Abby, go to Pyro, looking for the little redheaded werewolf Oz.  The guy in the picture on the right."  She looked then nodded and bounced out.  "We can handle that too.  You can be downstairs."  She nodded and he rolled his eyes.  "Her ex.  The one that made her lose it."

He sat under Xander's feet.  "So I read.  Pass down the cookies."

"You were looking a bit thin," he agreed, handing them down after taking a few more.  "How many times did he have to pry you away?"

"Twice.  The second time Abby threatened to use her stun gun on him if he didn't quit."  He grinned.  "I liked the date until the drugging part.  Next time it's your treat since I got the wine."

"Sure.  Picnic in the park?"

"Very open."

"That depends on what part of the park you're in," McGee said as he joined them, taking the cookies.  "Why is Willow bouncing?  This time I meant."

"Oz is being fetched and he's her ex.  One of the ones who broke her," Xander told him, shrugging a bit.  "It's part of why she baked so many cookies.  Two or three dozen is a get well.  More than four and a half is guilt.  More than eight and make her confess because it was something other than she's trying to date again."

"I'll remember that."  He took the cookies with him, but stopped to let Abby back in with her guest.  "Hi.  Cookie?"

Oz looked before taking one.  "Willow?"

"Downstairs."  He headed that way with Abby.

"Come on in, Oz, just shut the door.  We're expecting others."

Oz shut the door and walked in, taking off his jacket and looking at him.  "You rang?" he asked, sitting across from him.

"Willow was feeling guilty since you're in town.  I was kinda wondering why you came here."

"I heard you were and wanted to stop in.  Then I heard you're still hunting."  He stared at Xander, who only grinned.  "You okay?"

"I'm the two present slayers' watcher," he said dryly.  "Giles is back in Sunnydale."

"Cool."  He got comfortable, looking at Tony, then at Xander.  "That's different."  Xander just nodded and smirked.  "Good.  You could use it."  He took another nibble, then looked at it.  "She was deep in guilt, there's bourbon."

"I noticed that," Xander agreed.  "Is there any good news in your life?"

Oz shrugged a half-shrug.  "I'm officially girlfriended."

"Congrats.  Who?"

"Aniko.  She's a female were."  Xander nodded.  "She's pretty cool.  Plays bass."

"So, new band?"  Oz nodded.  "Good band?"  Oz nodded again, taking another nibble.  "Can I meet her?"

"Only if you're going to be better by the full moon.  We don't have a cage and she's still shaky on the meditation."

Xander considered it.  "I think I could rig a set of ties in the woods if the boss wouldn't mind," he offered, looking at Tony, who only shrugged.  "Can you ask?"

"Sure.  I'll let you two chat."

"He's a quite guy," Xander said with a grin. "This is a long Oz conversation."  Oz snorted, then shook his head.  "Does she talk more?" he teased.  Oz shook his head.  "Less?"  Oz nodded.  "Wicked."

"Only sometimes," he said dryly.  "Others she's an angel.  Speaking off....."

"LA, still.  Cordy and Wes died, along with Fred, who I don't think you got to meet," he offered.  "I inherited from Wes."

"You and Wes were getting close the last time I knew," he reminded him.  "You did him good, Xan."

"Thanks.  It's just such a trip, I'm a *watcher* now."  Oz cracked a hint of a smile.  "To two slayers."

"That is a trip," he agreed.  Tony came back.  "We a go?"

"The boss said it'd be fine as long as neither of you got free."

"I can make sure of that.  I usually do."  He looked at Xander again.  "So, this is new?"

"This is very new," he agreed happily. "But Tony makes me happy and doesn't demand that I spoil him or that I buy him crap he doesn't need or anything like that."  Oz opened his mouth.  "You missed it, Oz.  I nearly married Anya."

Oz shuddered.  "I'm so sorry, man."  He stood up to give him a hug.  "That's just wrong."

"I left her at the altar after D'Hoffryn had me shown what it'd end up like.  It wasn't happy."

"She around torturing again?"

"Dead.  Hellmouth battle."

"Sorry to hear that.  Tara?"

"Shot.  Right in front of Willow minutes after they made up.  Hence her trying to end the world."  Oz groaned at that.  "You know, Giles could use you."

"Giles could use sanity," Tony complained as he sat down again.  "So, you went to school with Xander?"  Oz nodded.  "And you used to date Willow?  She talked about you a few times recently."

"I did."

"He was her first boyfriend," Xander told him.  "They were headed for long term things when the wolf got overpowering and he left for Tibet."

"It was nice," Oz agreed.

"Tibet or Willow?" Xander teased.

"Both.  Tibet was colder, but Willow was softer."  Tony cracked a smile at that.  "So....I've heard of other hunters?"

"The slayers are hunting with the boss," Tony told him. "One older, one younger." Oz nodded at that.  "Then us, plus McGee and Abby."

"Abby was the girl who fetched?"  Xander nodded.  "She seems cool."

"She is and she's a big, huge geek," Xander assured him happily.  "She hugged me until I squished at the hospital."

"You probably needed it," Oz agreed.  "What happened?"

"The Initiative has reformed.  We're presently fighting them," Tony told him.  He noticed the sudden stiffness.  "They're focused on getting the blocks out of their way," he said, nodding at Xander.  Xander nodded at that, rubbing the back of his head.  "No other things yet."

"Good.  If they catch sight of me, expect me to run very far and very fast."

"They're going through Intelligence circles," Tony told him.  "Run back to Giles or Angel, they've got hiding spots."

"Decent."  Oz looked at Xander.  "Sooooo.  A guy, Xander?" he asked, sounding almost smug.

"He makes me happy, playful, and he lets me tease him.  He lets me, but doesn't demand, I spoil him, and he's nice.  He even yelled at me for disarming a bomb."

"Huh," Oz said, nodding a few times.  "Good job, Tony.  He needs someone to stop him now and then."

"I've noticed that.  Do you have any good blackmail stories?"

"He cheated on Cordy with Willow once, nearly got Cordy killed by Spike."

"Really?" Tony asked, looking at Xander.

"Temporary insanity," Xander said slowly and clearly.  "She was panicking, I was eighteen.  It was only kissing.  Besides, it's not like Cordy was the most *faithful* person," he noted dryly.  "I'm still damn sorry she ended up shived on that rebar, but we didn't exactly plan any of that or to be captured by Spike."

"Uh-huh," Tony noted dryly.

"Hey, it only happened with her.  Not with anyone else.  I was more serious with Anya and I didn't cheat on her."

"You also aren't usually suicidal," Oz reminded him.

Xander looked at him. "If he dumps me because you brought that up, I'm going to kill myself so I can haunt you," he said, staring him down.

"Learn how to play something for real and join the band," Oz said with a shrug.  He looked at Tony.  "He's not usually like that.  Momentary aberration."

"I know he'd never cheat on me.  Though I have caught him eyeing Gibbs' backside a time or two."

Xander shuddered.  "Eeewwwwwwww!  No, bad.  Eww!  Nasty."  He kicked him.  "Don't say shit like that! You know how good I am at imagining mental pictures!  Eww!"

"You did," Tony reminded him.

"That was more checking to make sure his back was still in place."

"Uh-huh.  That was before his back went out."  Xander stared him down.  "All you have to do is tell me," he reminded him with a smirk.

"Keep it up.  Watch me cook and make you eat it," he retorted.  "I don't want him.  He's like a daddy person and a good leader.  I'm not one of those who gets hot for the power."

"Fine.  As long as you're sure."  Xander kicked him again, more gently this time.  "Hey, no abusing me."

"If I was abusing you, you'd still be tied to the bed," Xander noted, smirking back.  Tony only smirked at that.  "Besides, how many times have I caught you staring at his ass?" he reminded.

"Good point.  I can leave it there if you can."

"Consider it left," Xander agreed.  Then he grinned at Oz.  "Thank you."

"Welcome. Always happy to help others have good, claiming sex that night."

"Not with his head injury," Tony said bitterly, shifting further down the couch.  "Not for at least a week."

"Bet me," Xander snorted.  "Expect pouncing later!"  Tony blushed at that and he looked over since the door was opening.  "We're in here," he called.  Gibbs brought Ducky in.  "They sprung you early?"

"They couldn't find it in my system any longer so they thought it should be safe, but I'm off my duties for the rest of this month, just in case," he admitted as he came in to check Xander over.  "I hear you got kicked in the head?"  Xander nodded.  "I'm sure you'll be fine, Xander.  Anthony, any pains?"

"I didn't get hurt, Ducky.  Except when Xander just kicked me."

"Good.  Very good."  He smiled at them.  "Shall I start dinner?"

"That depends, should we go get your mom?" Xander asked him.  He blinked a few times.  "Ducky, who's with your mom?"

"I sent two of the Probies over," Gibbs assured him.  "She's fine, Ducky, I made sure of it."

He relaxed and smiled.  "I had hoped someone had.  With all the stresses I completely forgot.  I've tuned out the sound of the dogs for so long," he offered.

Gibbs nodded.  "If you want, I can take you home, Ducky."

"I'd rather make sure I'm normal first, Jethro.  I don't want to snap at the poor dear. I shall call her though."  He went to use the phone in the study, sitting behind the small desk to call home.  "Mother?  Yes, mother, it's Ducky.  Yes, me.  No, I'm just about to get out of the hospital and ....."  He smiled at her insistence he not leave too soon.  "No, I'll be back by tomorrow morning, all right?"  He nodded.  "Are you all right?  The dogs all right and all?"  He listened to her story about the dogs dancing around.  "Mother, the servant watching you, may I speak with him?  Of course, I love you too, mother.  Yes, mother, this is Ducky.  No, tomorrow morning, mother.  I've been in the hospital you know.  No, they'll be releasing me tomorrow, mother. No, not the sanitarium," he said, rolling his eyes and holding his head.  "I promise, mother, I'll be perfectly healthy when I come home tomorrow and I'll even bring someone over for tea, how about that?  No, mother, not a date or a girl to meet you.  No, mother, it's still Ducky.  Yes, mother.  Of course.  No, let me talk to one of the servants so I can make sure they're treating you all right."  She handed the phone off.  "What did you give her?" he demanded calmly.  "Because she was even less in her right mind than usual.  No, she's got dementia.  Thank you.  Tomorrow morning.  That's fine.  Of course."  He hung up and got up, going to talk to Jethro.  "They gave her some new medicines.  Was she at the doctor's?"

Jethro shrugged.  "Not that I'm aware of."  He went to check on that through the office.  He came out.  "She was.  Was it helping?"

"No, she's now forgotten who I am."

"Oh.  You wanna head home tonight?  I'll stay with you."

"Please.  Xander, would you like tea tomorrow?"

"Sure, Ducky, call."

"Of course, dear boy."  He smiled at him.  "You as well if you'd like, Anthony. You can bring Abby or Willow with you.  Mother always appreciates having women around to chat with."  He grabbed his jacket and let Jethro take him home so he could rip those irresponsible people to shreds.

Jethro nodded.  "I'll be with him tonight, boys.  Behave."  He walked out, slamming the door behind him.

"And that was our boss," Tony told Oz, who snickered.  "That was Gibbs."

"That's kinda cool.  He seems much more together than Giles."

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, we work on the Marine schedule at times," he admitted.  "But he accepts each of us however we are."

"Good.  You could use that."  He saw the shivering.  "Maybe you should put on a sweater, Xander."

"I should.  I'll be right back."  He got up and headed up the stairs, finding his comfy green chenille sweater and pulling it on over his t-shirt, then padding back down the stairs.  He curled up on the couch again.  "Ah, warmth. What'm I ordering for dinner!" he yelled. "Even I'm tired of pizza!"

"German food," Abby called back.  "Tim's going to get it."

"Thank you!"  He shrugged and looked at Tony.  "That's sausages as hotdogs, right?"

"Some, and beer, which you can't have," he reminded him.

"I hate head injuries.  You'd think I'd be used to them by now," he told Oz.  "But *no*, Xander had to get another one, and I wasn't even conscious or tripping this time!"

"It happens to the best of us," Oz reminded him.

McGee paused in the doorway.  "Eliana wanted bratwursts.  Did you guys want something else since he can't have beer?"

"Neither can Eliana," Xander reminded him smugly.  "She's still only eighteen, Fluffy.  I don't know, what did Abby want?"

"Food.  She's good with wherever as long as it's not a person and it can contain some veggies."

Tony shrugged, looking at Xander.  "Italian?"

"Sounds good.  I haven't had good lasagna in a while."  He considered it.  "Or Middle Eastern and I make a lasagna tomorrow?  It's the only thing I can cook."

"He does a mean one," Oz agreed.

McGee looked at him.  "Sorry, I didn't even see you there."

"McGee, this is Oz, a friend from high school and Willow's former boyfriend."

"Hi."  He walked in and shook his hand.  "Staying for dinner?"

"No, my lady might mind," he offered, standing up.  "I'll catch you Sunday, Xander.  That way Willow can calm down and quit humming."  Xander rolled his eyes.  "Be safer.  There's only one of you."  He stared Tony down, knowing he got the implied threat.  "You're good for him.  I like that."  He nodded at McGee.  "Nice to meet you too."  He grabbed his jacket and headed out to talk to his lady.

"I didn't mean to drive him off."

"Oz isn't comfortable in crowds sometimes," Xander told him.  "Besides, his girlfriend is probably still waiting."  That got a grin, McGee knew not to keep Abby waiting.  He probably still had the mark where she bit him the last time.  "Italian or Middle Eastern, Tony?"

"Italian.  You can make a lasagna tomorrow anyway."

"Cool.  Then you can pick whatever we're having.  I'll pay."

Tony looked at him.  "This isn't our date."

Xander grinned.  "I know that.  I'm in a good mood, quit complaining."

"Fine."  He got up to find the Italian place's menu, picking out what they'd have.  Since Xander had ordered and all.

***

Xander straightened out his jacket as he walked up to Ducky's front door, Tony right behind him.  He knocked and smiled at the older man answering it.  "Hi, Ducky.  Should I run out and get flowers?"

"No, that's fine, Xander.  She realizes it's winter.  She might think you're courting her."  He smiled at Tony.  "Anthony, thank you for coming as well."  He let them in and showed them to the study.  "Mother?" he called loudly.  She looked up from her book.  "We've got friends over for tea, mother."

She looked at them.  "Do I know you?" she asked grandly.

Tony smiled at her.  "I'm Tony, Mrs. Mallard, I work with Ducky.  Remember, you had me helping you brush the corgis last time I was here."

"Oh, yes, the gigolo."  She giggled and patted him on the arm.  "I'll still stab you if you look at my bosom, dear."  She looked at the other one.  "And you?"  She stared at him, frowning a bit.  "Are you a knight?"

"In many ways," he agreed, bending down to kiss her hand.  "It's good to see you again, Mrs. Mallard.  I'm Xander.  I brought you the flowers last time."

"Oh, yes, such pretty flowers."  She smiled at him and patted him on the cheek.  "Ducky, where is that dratted server?"

"I'll go get the tea set, mother.  You two settle in," he ordered.  At least they were willing to humor her.

Ducky's mother looked at Xander.  "Have we met many times?  I realize I've met you but I don't remember where or when."

"Well, I've been here for a few times for tea.  I help one of the teams Ducky works with, Mrs. Mallard.  Usually I help Tony's team at NCIS."

"Oh, yes, he told me about that."  She smiled at them and whistled, bringing her wandering dog to her.  "There you are, naughty girl.  Contessa, this is Xander and Tony."  She looked at them and growled.

Xander let her sniff his hand, then patted her on the head.  "Hi, Contessa.  You're a very good guard dog."  He got up to help Ducky when he came back.

"You sit," he ordered.  "You're just off a head injury.  I don't want you stressed."

"Me either but it's polite of me."

"When did Gibbs leave, Ducky?" Tony asked.

"Early this morning.  The police called and said someone tried to break into his house.  He's called a few times to say he's all right, just cleaning up some mess."

"I can help," Xander offered quietly.

"He's got most of it done.  They broke a window or two and he said spray painted some symbol on the house.  Stupid teenagers I'm afraid."  He sat down and poured his mother some tea, holding it out.  "Mother?" he called.  "Tea?"  She smiled and took it and he smiled back.  Then he poured another cup.  "Tony, you take sugar, correct?"

"Please."  He accepted his cup and took a polite sip.  Ducky made very good tea.

"I shouldn't have to ask you, you take sugar in everything," Ducky teased Xander.

"Not in tea."  He poured in a bit of cream.  "Giles taught me and thought it was blasphemy."   He took a real sip and smiled at Mrs.  Mallard.  "So, how has your week been, Mrs. Mallard?"

"Oh, quite splendid. The people helping around the house while Ducky was gone took me for a long walk in the woods with the dogs and we went out to plan next year's flower garden.  Do you garden?"

"I try very hard not to," he admitted with a shy grin.  "I kill plants a lot."  She giggled like a young girl at that.  "I'm more of a fixer.  I like to fix things."

"Oh, that's charming!  Maybe this summer you and my poor baby boy can build me a nice swing for the garden."  She smiled at her son.  "Are you ill, son? You look very old today."

"I am old, mother," he reminded her gently.  She sighed and looked up.  "Sorry, mother."   He fixed his own cup of tea and took a drink, then looked at Xander.  "We could work on a swing."

"Not an issue.  I'm good at that stuff," he reminded him with a grin.

"Oh, dear," Mrs. Mallard said.  "Are you one of those nasty little boys who likes to hit on poor, innocent young men like my son?"

"No, Mrs. Mallard.  I promise I'm not hitting on Ducky.  I like Ducky as a friend.  He's a very nice young man. He's very reasonable when he tries to keep me from doing naughty things."

"As he should be.  My son is very sweet and delicate," she agreed, sipping her tea. "He doesn't like to do naughty things, that would make him a naughty boy."  She blinked and looked at Xander.  "Do I know you?"

"Yes, Mrs. Mallard.  I'm Xander.  Your son is helping me learn how to act when I travel to England this summer to visit my new estate."

"Oh, are you royal?" she asked.

"Inherited from a very good friend, and I do believe there used to be a title but I'm not sure any more," he offered.  "I'm still fairly new to it and you raised Ducky so well that he's been helping me."

"I would like to see the old homeplace," she told Ducky.  "Just once more before I go."

"If I can arrange it, mother," he agreed. "Where is the estate, Xander?"  He pulled pictures out.  "Well, that could be about half the countryside."  Xander flipped one over, it had the address on the back.   "I was near there for a conference one year," he said happily.  "Very pretty country.  Hunt country really instead of farming mostly, but quite picturesque and darling."  He handed them to his mother.  "That's his new estate, mother," he told her.

She smiled at it.  "I know who used to live there.  I remember playing there.  The Wyndhams lived there."  She looked at Xander.  "You're one of them?"

"Wesley was the last son in the family and he left it to me," he told her.  "Wesley was like my brother."

"Yes, I remember Wesley.  He was such a scamp.  All bright green eyes and running around playing."  Xander smiled at that.  "You do look a bit like him.  Are you sure you're not related?"

Xander shook his head.  "No, ma'am, not fully related.  We were very close.  He's the reason I'm the man I am today."

"Ah.  No wonder he left it to you."  She handed them back to him.  "When are you going?"

"Easter."

"That's a wonderful time, but watch out for the rain," she warned regally.  She seemed to notice her tea and took a sip.  "Oh, son."  He smiled at her. "Are those servants coming back?  The dogs didn't like them at all."

"I don't know, mother. Did you want them to?"

She shook her head.  "They upset the dogs horribly."  She went back to playing with the dogs beside her.

Ducky gave the boys a sad smile.  "You're going to spend the whole week there, Xander?"

"The first night I'm going to recuperate from the flight in London.  Giles wanted me to look at the old Council building, see if there was anything left."  He finished his tea and put his cup down.  "He thinks I'm some sort of miracle worker and can find the hidden library."

"It's in the basement, under the back servant's stairs," Mrs. Mallard told him.  "Are you a member of the Council?"

"I'm the current Slayer's Watcher," he agreed.  "I trained under Rupert Giles."

"Ah, another young scamp who wasn't meant to be one of them."  She shook her head.  "Such a poor child, with his parents."

"He was Buffy's Watcher, two slayers ago," he told her. "He's still in Sunnydale."

"Ah, yes.  I remember hearing about that town while I dated one of them."  She smiled at her son, then at him.  "Quinton was such a darling boy."

"Until he got power," Xander agreed with a smile.  "Then he tried to make poor Rupert go insane, repeatedly."

"Yes, well, Rupert never was one for the rules," she said grandly.  "Always ignoring some byline or code.  It's a pity I fell in love with my baby boy's father all those years ago.  Quinton was a good man when he was younger."

Xander reached over to touch her hand.  "He died doing what he loved," he assured her.  "In the middle of the Council's chambers during a meeting."  She smiled sadly at that and nodded.  "He felt no pain and I'm told he's not haunting anyone."

"Good.  That's always good."  She patted his hand then looked at her son.  "You almost ended up being the son of Mr. Travers, Ducky dear."

"I'm sure I would've had a bright future, mother."  He sipped his tea and looked at Xander, who only grinned.  "Are you planning on moving to England full time some year, Xander?"

"Maybe.  I don't know.  Giles has made offers on the estate to house the new Council.  I'm not sure I want that to happen.  I don't mind sharing the information in there, but it's not what I think Wes would want.  His father definitely, but not Wes."

Ducky handed him a cookie, getting a smile for it.  "Do nibble, boys."  Tony took one of the little sandwiches.  "You don't think he'd want it?  He did give his life for the cause."

"Yes, but not for the ideals," Xander reminded him.  "Wes and Giles had both been forsaken by the Council for giving a damn.  Giles was being fatherly toward Buffy and Wes wasn't experienced enough when he came in.  So they fired them both.  They hunted Wes for a few years because he was working with Angel," he told him before taking a bite of his cookie. "I'm just not sure that's what Wes would want."

"I can understand that hesitation," Ducky promised with a smile.  He looked at his mother, noticing she was asleep. "That's been happening a lot."

"We can go into the kitchen," Tony said quietly.  Ducky nodded so they gathered up their things while he got the tray and followed them back there.  He looked at Xander, then at Ducky.  "You heard I'm going with him?"

"I had and I think the vacation will do you both good.  You never take one and I doubt Xander's ever had a real one."  He settled them at the kitchen table, pouring more tea.  "That was something I never knew about her," he admitted to Xander.

"Everyone wondered why Travers became an asshole according to Giles.  I'm guessing it was your mother getting taste and dumping him, Ducky," he said with a small smirk.

"Indeed.  My father was a brilliant man and quite kind to her.  It was undoubtedly the better choice. Especially since I can't see myself as a Watcher."

"It's all a matter of training," Xander noted dryly.  "You'd have been trained in the system and in their schools from day one.  Of course, then you'd be like Rupert."  Ducky shuddered at that but he was smiling some.  "But on to happier topics.  What do I pack for April in England?"

"Warm clothes," Ducky told him.  "It's not particularly hot there year round but I would bring a few nice shirts, a few sweaters, and a few pairs of pants. Maybe a suit if you plan on going out."

"See, I told you you needed the sports coats," Tony teased.

Xander nodded.  "I apparently did."  He looked down the hall as someone knocked on the door.  "I'll go let Gibbs in."  He walked out there, smiling at Mrs. Mallard since she was coming out of the study.  "It's all right, dear one.  That's just Ducky's boss."  He let him in and winked at him.  "Come on in, Gibbs.  We're back in the kitchen so Mrs. Mallard could go back to reading peacefully."

"Thank you, dear," she said, patting him on the cheek.  "Such a nice young knight."  She went back to her book, looking at her tea cup.  "I was using the good china?"

"Ducky thought you needed to see it and smile," he promised, taking it from her.  "Let me get you some more tea, Mrs. Mallard?"  She nodded so he went to do that, carrying it back.  "Here you go, Ducky fixed it special for you."

"Thank you, dear."  She took it and sipped.  "Are you going to go joust now?"

"No, you said you wanted a swing in the garden and we're deciding on a style."  She smiled and he left, going back to take the seat next to Tony since Gibbs had taken his.  "She's reading."

"Always a pleasant thing," Ducky agreed happily. "You're serious about the swing?"

"I can be.  I've built some furniture before for Joyce and Giles' backyards."

"It would be most appreciated, Xander.  We'll work on it this spring."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Was it stupid teenagers?"

"Yup."  He got himself some water and sat down again.  "Broke three windows, painted their damn symbol on the front of the house."  He handed over a picture.  "That doesn't mean anything, right?"

Xander looked at it.  "One of the local street gangs."  He handed it back with a grin.  "The cops should've recognized it."

"They probably did but no one said anything.  They wouldn't even look at me.  One of them did want to make sure I'd be safe out there all alone.  So I pulled my badge and they all agreed to come pick up the bodies if they come back."  He sipped his water, looking at Ducky.  "How is she?" he asked gently.

"Today's not been a bad day.  She told us about how she used to date a Watcher. Apparently she used to play with Xander's friend Wesley's family at his house so she recognized it."  He shrugged.  "It's not been bad, though I did hear how I nearly ended up being a Watcher's son."  He took another drink of his tea.  "Xander's been charming her since he got here."

"I heard her ask if he was a knight."

"According to many people," Xander said dryly.  He drank another sip and stole another cookie.  "You make good cookies, Ducky.  Nearly as good as the bourbon guilt cookies we've got at home."

Ducky smiled at that.  "She's still baking?"  Tony nodded.  "Wonderful.  Why now?"

"Ethan has the slayer's scythe," Xander said dryly.  He looked at Tony.  "Did you have fun chasing me this morning when I snuck out?"

"No, I lost you twice.  Where did you go?"

"To talk to Ethan.  He's being blackmailed.  Since the Initiative was handed him at one point in time by Giles, they've got a good file started and since Ethan's the sort to cause chaos for a profit....  Let's just say they have something on him."

"Transit strike in New York?" Gibbs asked.

"No, nothing quite that bad.  That much magic would probably kill him.  No, more like causing mass panic by popping something into a subway station or something, or so he thinks."

"Imagine if one of the more nasty demons suddenly appeared during rush hour in one of our subway stations," Ducky said, shaking his head.  "Mass pandemonium."

"Yup," Xander agreed, finishing his cookie.  "But without him I wouldn't be nearly as good with guns as I am.  After all, it was his thing on halloween that gave m the soldier's memories."

"Eat a sandwich, Xander.  You have a horrible diet," Ducky ordered.

"Yes, Ducky."  He looked and picked one up, nibbling on it daintily.

"You can eat like a normal person in here, kid."

"I always use company manners when I'm in public.  It's the only time I use them, feel thankful," Xander said sarcastically.  "You've seen me eating out of the chinese food container at home enough times."

Ducky got up and went into the library, coming back with a picture album.  He looked through it and then smiled, handing it to Xander.  "Is that Wesley's family?"

Xander looked, then tapped on one, letting him see it.  "That's Wes's father.  Wes was the second son of him and his wife."  He handed it back.  "Who're the others?"

"His older brothers."  He considered the pictures.  "And a sister I believe."

"Wes said he was the only descendent," Xander said with a shrug.  "Giles said no one contested the will."

"No, I doubt they would," he admitted.  "Isn't it interesting how lives connect?" Ducky asked Tony.

"It is," he agreed. "But I still can't see you being a stuffy, tweed wearing watcher."

Ducky snickered.  "Me either, Anthony.  Me either.  Jethro, would you like me to put on some coffee?"

"No, I'm good for now," he said, looking at him.  "How are you feeling?"

"Decent enough.  Still a bit fuzzy headed, but nothing too terrible.  Mostly like the morning after Caitlyn's thirtieth birthday, only without the headache."  Tony and Gibbs both grinned at that.

"I wish I had known her.  You guys always say such nice things," Xander told them.

"No saying the 'w' word," Tony reminded him.

"There's no good synonyms for that one," Ducky noted bitterly.

"According to Anya, I'm to be left alone by the wish demons," Xander noted.  "But they're usually pretty open about it.  It's more like never saying it in the open of a club, to a stranger, things like that," he offered.  "Besides, I know three-quarters of the old ones thanks to Anya.  I do miss Hallie though.  She was trouble incarnate but she did what she could for the kids she was Vengeance for."

"She was over what?" Gibbs asked.

"Lost innocence," Xander told him. "Children.  She was Anya's best friend and the only one who could tell her to shut up on occasion.  She was a decent person to me too."  He picked up another sandwich triangle and nibbled.

"Did she die during the assault?" Tony asked.

"No, there was a wish rescinded and when that happens, the demon dies.  It was actually Anya's client backing out but D'Hoffryn punished Hallie instead."  He ate another bite.  "She was the only one who seemed to think I had done the right thing for myself when I left Anya at the altar."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Being married is horrible, kid."

"I may find that out some day, but I leave that up to others to tell me if they want to be that serious.  I treat them all that seriously."  He shrugged.  "It's not for me to decide for others about their emotions."

"As you pounded into my cousin's head," Tony agreed.  "Thank you for that, she wrote me a letter saying she had no right to come face you down that morning and apologized for her rudeness."

"Not an issue.  I hear real families can be like that."  He looked at Tony.  "You do realize that if Abby and Fluffy break up and she starts to date someone else *we* get to threaten them?" he asked with a wicked grin.  "All of us here?"

"That reminds me, I've got to give that talk to McGee," Gibbs said happily.  Tony snickered, turning away so he could laugh.

Xander grinned.  "Need some handcuffs, Boss?"

"No, I'll borrow some of hers.  Besides, I thought you gave her all yours."

"I bought a new set just in case they were needed."

Tony looked at him. "When?"

"Last week when I got bored.  That's right, you haven't been in the study in a few days," he noted dryly.

"I didn't see anything last night," Ducky noted.

"You wouldn't have.  I'm hiding them so Abby can't make her Fluffy go hunt and steal for her."

"She'd beg," Gibbs assured him.

Xander snorted, shaking his head.  "Not for these.  She'd steal."  He finished his tea and stood up to stretch.  "So, Ducky, what's up for the rest of the afternoon?"

"Well, we could work on that swing design," he offered.

"Let me get some plan books first, that way you can see what elements you want and don't want. Then we can discuss woods and all that stuff."

"That would be nice, Xander."  He smiled at him and looked at Jethro.  "Are you feeling all right?"

"Just fine, Ducky.  Why don't you take a nap and I'll take the boys home?  That way we can keep Xander from corrupting you with his boredom."  Ducky smiled.  "Come on, boys."

Xander hugged Ducky.  "Feel better."  He went to say bye to Mrs. Mallard, finding her on the couch.  He walked in and smiled at the dog, petting her gently.  "We're going," he said quietly.  The dog whimpered and looked at his mistress.  Xander moved closer, looking at her. Then he went to get Ducky.  He didn't want to wake her up or startle her.  "Ducky, the dogs are worried and staring at your mom, man," he reported.

Ducky got up and hurried out to check her.  She yelped so he headed back that way, helping him off the floor.  "Thank you, Xander.  She's having some problems."

Xander smiled at her.  "Can I check your pulse, Mrs. Mallard?  I'm going to do both your neck and your wrist, okay?"  She nodded and he settled in to check them, glancing at the clock.  Then he looked at her.  "Are you feeling okay?  Your head hurting maybe?"

"Just a bit," she slurred.

"Okay, can you smile for me?"  She tried.  "Ducky.  Try it again, Mrs. Mallard."  She tried it again and he sighed, going for the phone.  "I think you're feeling a bit off so we're going to take you to the doctor's.  All right?"

"But my Ducky is one."

"Yes, ma'am, but we want the very *best* care and you're his mother so he'd worry instead.  This way he can fuss while your usual doctor handles it."  She nodded.  "Good woman.  Now, are you going in that?"  She nodded.  "Okay.  Let's get your jacket.  Would it be in the hall closet usually?"

"Usually," she agreed.  "Can I wear my cloak?"

"Sure, if I can find it."

"On it," Tony said from the doorway.

Ducky hung up.  "The ambulance will be here in about ten minutes," he told his mother, patting her on the hand.  "Don't worry, we think it's nothing, Mother, but we need to check on it.  All right?"

"Who'll watch the dogs?"

"Ducky can call me later and I'll come back to feed them," Xander assured her.

"Do I know you?" she asked, looking lost.

"Yes, Mrs. Mallard, you do know me.  I work with Ducky.  I work with your son at the office."

"Oh, all right."  She closed her eyes.  "I feel a bit faint."

"That's fine, Mrs. Mallard, you rest and we'll get you into the ambulance and to the doctor's."  He looked over as Tony came back in, handing over the cloak.  "Go herd the animals out of the way," he ordered quietly.  "That way the paramedics don't have to trip and we don't have to chase them."

"Go open the food, Jethro."  He nodded, going to do that.  He looked at Xander.  "You're very good."

"And I passed my practicals with a 98," he said proudly. "I missed a childbirth check."

Ducky smiled.  "That's fine, Xander.  How about the written?"

"Perfect.  My certification test for my massage therapy license is next week.  I've already passed the others for the program."  He checked her pulse again, frowning a bit.  "She's fading, Ducky.  It's down to forty-seven."

"Hell," he complained, checking it himself.  "Anthony, watch for the paramedics."

"Tony, go get my field kit outta the car," Xander ordered.  Tony nodded, going to do that.  Gibbs came back with one of the dogs and Xander nodded so he took her back into the kitchen and shut the door.  Tony came back and let Ducky dig through his kit.

"We've got to get this refilled, Xander," he complained, finding something.  He found a needle and extracted some, then nudged the case away as he rolled his mother's sleeve up and injected her.  "I hope this isn't a stroke," he said quietly.

Xander made him look at him.  "If it is, you'll deal, Ducky.  The same as you have up until now," he said quietly.  "Not alone and we'll all help.  If she fades totally today or tomorrow, you know she's has a full, loved life and an active one."

"I know, but she is my mother."

"And for that reason we'll all help you," Xander reminded him.  "Got it?"  Ducky nodded.  "Good.  The paramedics are here."  Tony got the field kit and put it aside. Xander looked over.  "In here."  They headed that way.  "Hi," he said, smiling at the guy he had done his ride-along hours with.  "This is her son."

"Doctor Mallard," the other paramedic said, shaking his hand.  They moved Xander and he out of the way.  "What's her usual problem, Doctor Mallard?"

"Dementia I'm afraid," he said quietly, watching them work.  "She's been drifting off suddenly and without warning for the last few days I was told, I was in the hospital myself until last night.  Today she drifted off and Xander checked on her before they left.  When she tried to smile it wasn't unilateral and it wasn't very strong."

"She also seemed more confused today than the last time I saw her about two weeks ago," Xander told them, holding onto Ducky.  Ducky nodded, he had noticed that she seemed worse when she came home.  "What did you give her?"

"Oh, I gave her...."  He handed over the bottle.  "This, IV, ten miligrams," he said, handing over the needle as well.  "I knew it was possible, she had a stroke about ten years back."

"That's fine."  The paramedics got her onto the gurney.  "Did you want to ride with us, Doctor Mallard?"

"Go ahead, Ducky, we'll follow," Gibbs assured him.  He nodded and grabbed the cloak and his own jacket to hurry after them.  "You guys start and I'll let the dogs out of the kitchen."  They nodded and he went to do that once the doors were closed.  He did a quick turn to make sure the house was locked up then followed, heading out to catch up.  Ducky shouldn't be alone at this moment.  He called Abby and smiled at her cheerful tone.  "We're taking Ducky's mom to the ER," he reported.  "Meet us."  He looked at the way they were heading.  "No, General it looks like.  Ducky's with her.  Yeah, give me a few."  He hung up and called Ducky's phone.  "Which hospital so Abby and McGee can meet us?"  He listened and nodded.  "Sure, meet you there."  He hung up and called her back.  "George Washington."  He hung up and headed there, unhappy at the moment.  Very, very unhappy.  Ducky didn't need this.

***

Xander walked into is townhouse and flopped down, looking at the worried Willow standing there.  "Ducky's mom will be fine, we got her to the hospital in time.  The stroke was fairly mild."

"I wondered where you were."  She leaned down to kiss him on the top of the head.  "Want dinner?"

"Not really."  Eliana came in with a mug and he smiled.  "Cocoa or soup?"

"Soda.  The dishwasher needs to be run."  She sat next to him, snuggling into his side.  "She's all right?"

"About the same as she was.  They're putting her on a different medicine.  They just switched it while Ducky was in the hospital and they think it may have contributed."  He took a drink and put his soda down, hugging her.  "She's a very nice older lady and nearly married Travers, Will."

"Wow.  Small world.  Then again, Ducky is Giles' uncle."  She shrugged.  "I hope she gets better."

"She's ninety-six, Wills."

"Oh."  She nodded.  "Then I hope she's at least okay enough to not be suffering."  She went back to the kitchen, going to fuss.  She grabbed the phone when it rang, smiling at the voice.  "Hi, Dawnie."  She listened.  "I don't know, why?"  She raised an eyebrow.  "Are you *sure*?"  She nodded slowly.  "Okay. Thank you."  She hung up and went to talk to Xander again.  "We need the scythe in LA.  Angel swears he saw a Bringer."

"Fuck me.  Ethan said he's not handing it to anyone.  He's protecting it from both sides."  He stood up and went to call him again.  "Ethan, Xander.  No, we have Bringers.  Yeah, the vamps from the First Evil.  I don't know, man.  But you've got the only weapon.  Yeah, that thing.  Please.  Ethan, you know damn well I don't play that way, even if I am a Watcher in name.  Oh, yeah, Rayne, let's see how often I've followed the dictates of anyone but me before," he said dryly.  "Thank you."  He hung up and looked at her.  "If he can sneak it away from them, since they found it and confiscated it from his personal altar and shrine, he'll give it.  I need the maroon book Fred was staring at before the last battle."  She nodded and went to find it while he went to type in an email to Gibbs to watch out for them and to have the team briefed from the manual.  Then he went to gather the book and go into his study to read in private.

Eliana stuck her head in.  "You either need a wife or an answering machine, dear.  Tony just called.  Someone tried to break into his apartment.  He thinks it's still stupid kids."

"Gibbs had a bout of that and he knows he can stay over," he said as he read.  She left, going to talk to him some more.  Xander sat up, going over another passage.  "There's another weapon?" he asked, rereading it to make sure.  "Willow!"  She came in and looked over his shoulder so he pointed.  "There's another weapon?"

"There's no such thing as a male slayer."

"Yes there is," he said, looking at her.  "Robin Woods, myself, Gibbs, and Tony.  We do slay and we do have the speed to do so effectively."  She frowned and shook her head.  "Notice, Willow."  He turned back a page.  "Anytime they talk about the Slayer, it's in caps.  This passage isn't."  She shook her head again.  "It could be."

"It can't be.  Slayers are genetically chosen."

"You can't prove that," he reminded her.  "No one's sure how the Council took girls out of succession or how they managed to miss girls like they did Buffy.  They picked them *long* before DNA was even hypothesized."

"Still, it's got to be in their blood, or else every woman could be one."

"Willow, did you think maybe it's a specific gene that doesn't just come in women?"  She frowned.  "When you did the spell to activate all the slayers, I got faster and my eye healed faster, right?  You told me that.  Joked about me being in too much proximity?"

"I remember, but that doesn't mean...."

"Have Abby check it, Willow."

"Fine."  She knew enough not to argue with that man when he was in one of these moods.  She headed to call Abby and talk about the possibilities.  She just wished Fred were still alive, it'd be nice to have another expert in the field around.

Xander called LA.  "Angel.  Sorry, Gunn."  He checked the front of the book.  "Do you guys have a copy of Froust's _Slayers and Hunters_?  I know I have Wes's copy, I'm sitting here reading it.  No, it talks about a weapon that can be *gifted* to a male slayer.  That it will take down all the Bringers.  Man, I'm wondering why they're back.  That hellmouth is sealed, this one doesn't have anything like that and we don't have any resurrected people here."  He frowned.  "I can have her check," he agreed, writing down the name of the book.  "You think another one happened?  But it took months the last time."  He sighed and nodded.  "You're right.  Okay, thanks.  Oh, I'm so going to monitor that thing magically.  Because it's in the Mall, which is the space between the Smithsonians.  I can't get any sort of device there to read the energy output, even if I had one.  Thanks, call Giles, man."  He hung up and considered the implication.  This was definitely an all new ball game.  He got up to find that magic book, then brought it back to the study and closed the door, locking it too.  He found what he needed, all but one thing, and went into the supply closet to get that.  Tony walked in, looking exhausted.  "Give me twenty minutes and I'll give you a backrub," he offered with a smile.

"What're we doing?"

"Angel thought he saw a Bringer so I'm doing a check for resurrection being done around here.  It'd take something like that done wrong to let the First Evil out like last time."  He shrugged.  "If so, there's a hope of another weapon.  Just give me twenty to do the spell, okay?"  He stole a kiss and went back to the altar to get down to work.  He did get up to close and lock the door, just in case, but then got back to work.

***

Xander bounced into the headquarters building, smiling and giddy.  Frank did a quick hand wand, one hand holding him down, then handed over his usual pass.  Xander wasn't often in these moods but apparently it was good news, unlike last time when he was waiting on exam scores.  Xander bounced all the way up to the bullpen, making the security guards just shake their heads and smile.  Gibbs could use some lightening up today.  Their present case was making him bitchy.  Xander came off and strolled over there, standing in front of Gibbs since he was glaring at McGee from the edge of his desk.

"What?" he sighed.

"It's closed."

"Excuse me?"

"It's closed," he repeated quietly.  "Fully closed and switched back.  They managed it this weekend.  We're now in mop-up operations."  Gibbs smirked and nodded at that.  "Also, we've got one extra girl coming in to deal with that area for Eli since she's doing so much homework and you make Adrian work so hard.   So it's nearly over with."

Gibbs patted him on the cheek.  "Good work, Harris.  Any other good news?"

"I passed."  He beamed and hugged him.  "I passed so high it's not funny!"  He bounced off, grinning at Tony before disappearing.  He came back to the end of the aisle.  "Oh, Willow's staying out there to talk to Angel about the special weapons stuff they might be needing.  I'm not sure what's going on about that."  He ducked back out and headed home, still bouncy and happy.

"See, if you can make my day that way, I'll reward you later too," Gibbs ordered McGee.  He looked at DiNozzo.  "You get out early tonight if we're done early."  That got a shy grin and a nod.

"Thanks, Boss."  He finished what he was searching.  "Boss, he was listed on multiple personal sites as being a bad date," he offered, putting that up on the main screen, laying them so they could look at each one.  "Could be motive for kicking his ass and then chopping him into big chunks."

"I've seen people do it for less than that," Gibbs admitted.  He looked at McGee.  "Get back to work."

"Yes, Boss."  He got back to work cracking the guy's computer.

"DiNozzo, find out who his last few were from his very chatty coworker that was trying to hit on you earlier."

"On it, Boss."  He got up and went to do that, it always worked better in person.

***

Xander looked up as someone seemingly appeared next to him, raising an eyebrow.  He should be in the house alone.  Willow had been in LA for over two weeks now to check on the rumor of Bringers.  "Dawn," he said cautiously, backing away from the smiling girl.  He had seen that look on Buffy's face too many times to not be wary of it. "What're you doing in DC?"

"I'm here to help," she said cheerfully.  "Angel's paying my way fully so you only have to help me prom and clothing shop and then send him the bills, and I'm to take over for the girl that is coming to do mop up, which is pretty decent.  Since the Sunnydale hellmouth reopened, things have been going weird and Giles wanted me out of LA again."  She shrugged.  "Guess what you get to do," she said happily.

Xander walked off muttering uncomplimentary things about the vampires in his life, going to call everyone to come over to dinner, peeking his head out of the study.  "When is Taylor getting here?"

"An hour ago; she's with Eli pigging out on ice cream and crepes."

"Wonderful.  Thanks for the warning, Dawn."  He went back to his call, hearing a growl.  "Bad day?" he asked dryly.  "Yup, a reason.  New girl's here for mop up and Dawn's in if you guys wanted to meet the hyper one. Yes, worse than me, Gibbs.  Trust me on this.  No, I was thinking dinner actually.  You know that thing where you all come over and eat?  That thing?  As in I'll splurge and buy since I'm stealing Tony for six days?"  He grinned. "I thought you might remember that sensation, yes.  So, sometime tonight. Any idea what you want?"

"Roast," Dawn called.  "I can cook."

"Fat chance," he yelled back.  Then he giggled. "Sorry, she just threatened to cook.  No, a roast."

She came to the doorway of the study.  "I *can* cook, Xander.  Really."  He gave her a look.  "I promise.  If not, you can order tacos or something.  'Kay?"  she smiled sweetly.  "Are they rice, pasta, or potatoes people?"

"Gibbs said potatoes and it'd be about eight by the time they got back to the office," he offered as he hung up.  "Who taught you how to cook?"

"Gunn's last girlfriend."  She smirked and walked back into the kitchen, then came back.  "Money."

"For?" he asked, looking amused.

"Well, for starters, wine and herbs?"

He walked her back into the kitchen, opening the cabinet with the stash of wine and then the cabinet Ducky hid the herbs and things in.  He waved at them and smirked.  "No need."  He got into the freezer and pulled out something marked 'roast', handing it over.  She looked then shook her head, putting it back and picking out another one.  "There's six of them and they missed lunch, Dawnie."

She yawned and shrugged, then went to get a second one.  "That was a pork roast, not a pot roast.  Pig, not cow."  She finished fetching and hefting to her work area, then got to work defrosting and getting things ready for her to actually cook.

Xander sat down to watch, having a very bad feeling about this.  "Where are you living since I only have *a* bedroom here?" he asked.

"Your attic.  Angel said so," she said smartly.  "By the way, no Catholic school for the love of the Goddess," she moaned.  He rolled his eyes.  "Goth school, cool school, punk school, even a gang school, just not a damn Catholic school.  Angel tried that and I nearly punched the nun for being a stupid bitch about history.  She tried to tell me that Jesus was there during the Battle of Chancellorsville."

"So you got expelled?" he asked with a smirk.  She grimaced and nodded.  "Angel's reaction was....?"

"You're seeing it.  Since she also claimed Joan of Arc was reborn as Hillary Swank, let's not go there."  She looked down the hallway when the door opened.  "Hey, back here, cutie."  She got back to work, magically defrosting the meat when the microwave wasn't doing it fast enough.  Xander just snorted.  "Hey, I'm like you only I learned from someone other than Wes."  She turned the roast into the pan, letting it brown with the herbs and wine she had been heating up while she worked on the defrosting.   She stared at the guy in the doorway.  "I'd shake your hand but I'd have to wash them first," she quipped, smiling at him.

"Who are you?" McGee said slowly.

"Dawn," Xander said, shrugging a bit.  "Dawn, this is McGee.  He's Abby's before you even think about it."

"He's too old for me, Xander.  I love you but I don't need a daddy figure.  I need a boyfriend who'll take my bad ass dancing and be happy with me in the teen clubs since I'm not old enough to get into the real ones without my fake ID."

"Um, I'm a fed, you might not want to mention that around us," McGee said, looking confused.

"Buffy's little sister.  Willow had custody of her and she was staying with Angel.  He sent her out here after she got kicked out of Catholic school for nearly hitting the nun."

"Ah."  He nodded and moved closer.  "I'm Tim.  I work with Tony."

"I've talked with Tony and Gibbs," she said happily, grinning at him.  "I'm not here to replace Willow.  I'm here to study under Xander.  I'm going to be a watcher some day and I'll be damned if I'm going to clothe my fashionable ass in tweed."  He smiled at that.  "So, yeah, I'm here for my last year of high school and then...well, we'll see about college."

"Yes, there is one if your future or else I'm going to beat you," Xander said simply. "We're still going to have to do something about you having a room.  There's very little heat in the attic."

"I can have a minor room down here," she offered.

"Which would be my study," he noted dryly. "We'll figure it out later. You can sleep on the couch tonight.  Altar's in my study."  She nodded and finished browning the meat before putting it into a pan and pouring the juices with it. Then it went into the oven and she got to work on the vegetables.  "Who was Gunn dating?  A chef?" he asked as he watched her work.

"Yuppers.  She runs a small, down-home place near the shelter."  She shrugged and went back to cleaning the food.  "I thought you guys were going to be here late," she said, looking at McGee.

"They are, I took today off since I don't feel good."

"He and Wills were close, Dawnie.  We just heard about Willow's death last night."

She nodded.  "Understood.  I took a great many of those days after mom and sis died."  She hugged him, carefully keeping her hands away from him.  "It'll be okay.  Now she can be a guardian angel and really mess things up for you."  She grinned when he laughed and got back to work, looking down the hall as the door opened again.  "Wow, more real people.  Good.  Come on back."

"Who're you?" Abby asked.  "And why were you hugging my boyfriend."

"First, *way* too old for me, sweetie," she said with a smirk.  "Second, I'm Dawn.  I'm here for magic support and to learn to be a watcher under Xander so I don't have to wear tweed.  I'm also helping with tracking the girls who were released from the slayer line when Willow died and her spell went with her. Which means Eliana and I are working together a lot.  By the way, the new girl for mop-up is there with her."  She grinned.  "You are?"

"Abby."  She shook her hand.  "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too.  He was having a bad moment and needed a hug.  I'm like that.  So was my mom."

"So Ducky said."

"Ducky's here?" she asked, starting to bounce.  "Where?  I haven't seen him in *years*!  I missed his stories and he gives the *best* hugs!  Is he coming over, Xander?"

"I can call and ask," he noted dryly.  He called the phone over to his hand and dialed, smiling at the gruff voice.  "Dawn's cooking dinner and wanted you over sometime tonight so she could cuddle and hear more stories.  No, for good.  Apparently Angel didn't like that she got kicked out of Catholic school for disputing the nun and nearly hitting her for saying Hillary Swank was really Joan of Arc. Yeah, as in she's here for at least a year," he offered with a grin.  "No, right now she's bouncing around and putting out the 'I hugged your boyfriend' fires she started when McGee needed one and Abby walked in."  Both women looked at him so he grinned.  "Sure, whenever.  Drag Gibbs too.  He thought I was bad?" he offered with an evil smirk.  "Thanks, Ducky."  He hung up.  "The case included a dead body so he'll be in with the rest of the group."

"Cool."  She got back to work, bouncing around the kitchen like she was on springs.

"Do you eat pen springs for breakfast?" Abby asked.  "I've never met anyone more hyper than me."

"Get Xander up on about six candy bars," Dawn said with a grin.  "He's worse than me.  I calm down on chocolate."  McGee got up and found the stash, handing one of the bars to her, making both women giggle and share it.  "Thank you, teddy bear."

"Man!  Not another one," he complained.

"I call him Fluffy," Xander said with a grin.  Dawn and Abby both snickered at that. "It's not like I don't have a problem with names," he complained.

McGee looked at him.  "How hard is mine?"

"He once called Cordy Buffy," Dawn said.  "It comes for a very good reason, trust me.  The wicked bitches of Sunnydale hounded him for weeks about that and that was the start of the wishverse incident where we got to see the vampire Xander and Willow.  Trust me, not of the happy making for most of us, though it did make Willow see she could appreciate the girl lovin'.  She called herself scary and kinda gay."  McGee cracked a smile at that.  "You can remember her how she was, including fussy, cranky, and chronically starved for attention.  I do.  I have the same thoughts about Buffy and Mom.  Only my mom was nice and well, Buffy was Buffyish.  Oh, Xander, Faith said if she's going to be coming in you've got to take her out."

"I'm dating a guy." She dropped her knife and stared at him, so he shrugged and nodded.  "I am."

"Uh-huh.  This is news I should've heard long before now so I can threaten his ass.  Where is he?"  She tapped a foot, crossing her arms over her chest to get the maximum effect.

"He'll be here with the rest of them tonight," Abby offered with a smile.  "You never told her?"

"I never hid it.  I mentioned it a few times I know.  I guess Angel never told her."

She snorted.  "Please!  Angel thought I was a damn infant!  I wasn't even allowed to wear baby heels and we all know I can manage an all nighter at the club in three inch ho-heels.  I couldn't wear a belly shirt.  I couldn't wear a skirt shorter than my calves. Not my knees, my calves," she said bitterly.  "I was going to be as insane as Dru in a few more days and Spike was worse!  Hello, do I *look* like a dominatrix?  Because that's all he got me when I needed clothes and then I had to listen to Angel choke, splutter, rant at Spike, and tell me to change.  Though I did look good in those leather pants," she admitted after a second's thought.  "Them with my heels?  I looked damn hot."  She shrugged and picked up the knife to toss in the sink then got another one and got back to work.  She tested the meat, then closed the oven and pulled out a pot for the vegetables to start on.  The potatoes went into the roast with the carrots a few minutes later, but the rest was fixed on top of the stove.  "Do you not eat anything but takeout?"  she demanded when she saw the inside of the fridge.

"It's not like I cook," Xander reminded her.  "Besides, single guy.  I occasionally cook for Tony but otherwise, yes, I live on takeout."

She and Abby shared a look.  "Some days, you just wanna smack 'em for being so damn stupid," she muttered.  Abby grinned and nodded, getting up to help her.  "Find another bottle of that wine," she ordered Xander.  "We're having it with dinner."

"Yes, mother," he complained, going to do that for her. Hey, it got him out of the house!  By the time he got home, the rest of the crew was there.  "Got out early, Boss?" he asked as he moved past Tony with a wink.  "She just showed up, it wasn't my idea," he noted.  He walked into the kitchen and handed over the two bottles of wine.  "For you.  Anything else?"

"Set the table?" she suggested.  He rolled his eyes.  "Whichever of you is getting the Xander-lovin' had better appear in here now or else I hunt your ass down to give you the threatening speech and prove I can use the knives in here!" she called.  Tony stuck his head in and she smiled.  "Well, he has good taste.  Come on in, sweetie."  She looked him over, then at Xander.  "Very nice taste."

"He likes my bike too," he said smugly.  "Plus he cuddles."

She looked at him.  "Got a younger brother about my age?" she asked.  He shook his head quickly.  "Damn.  Okay."  She looked in the drawer next to her and pulled out a cleaver, then threw it at him, hitting just beside his head.  "Now imagine what I can do when I take that to your, notably, hot bod if you hurt him," she said with an evil smirk.  "I *am* his family and if you hurt him, you won't have to worry about the pink pony vampire Spike or any of the others who like Xander.  I'm first in line and I'll be last in line and it'll take *months*."  She moved closer, staring him down.  "Are we clear?"  He nodded quickly.  "Good."  She took the cleaver out of the wall.  "Help him set the table."  She looked at the other guy. "Hi.  Who're you?  Or is he hiding some really hot threesome?"

"Gibbs.  We've spoken a few times, Dawn."

She squealed and hugged him.  "Hi."  She bounced back to the stove, checking the meat. "Where's Ducky?" she asked with a pout.

"He had to check on his mother then he'll be over," Gibbs assured her. "He said he missed you too."  He walked into the kitchen now that it was safe.  "How was LA?"

"Cranky.  Lots and lots of cranky people.  Then again, I kinda got expelled for nearly punching the delusional nun, but that's okay in my life.  My sister once burned down her school's gym."  He blinked a few times.  "Remember, I'm Buffy's little sister."  Xander shuddered at that.  "I saw that!"

"Dawn, calm down.  Don't scare Gibbs.  We like Gibbs.  The same as we like Tony, we gang up on McGee all the time," Abby told her.

Dawn smiled at her.  "Can you help me find a *cool* school to go to?"

She nodded.  "There's a few good choices, including a Catholic school that's nearly full of Wiccans."

"Wow.  Much more liberal than LA."  She hugged her and then went to check the meat.  "Thermometer, Xander?"

"Upstairs in the field kit?" he offered.

"Meat thermometer?" she tried again.  Gibbs found it and handed it over.  "Thank you."  She stuck it brutally into the rear end of one of the roasts.  "Hmm.  Meat butt is done."  She pulled it out and put it on the counter to rest, then got to work finishing off everything else.

Gibbs walked over to stand next to Xander.  "Tell me you didn't adopt her," he muttered.  Xander shook his head. "She's studying to become you?"  Xander nodded.  "You sure you can handle a teenager?"

Xander looked at him.  "I can, the question is where is she going to sleep?  Unless she wants to sleep with the weapons...."  He shrugged.  "I have not a clue, Gibbs."  He pulled Tony over to kiss him.  "I missed you last night."

"I missed you too."  He grinned at him.  "How long?" he mouthed.  Xander shrugged.  He groaned.  "We're leaving for England when?"

"Two days," he said happily.  He grinned at Gibbs.  "You can borrow Dawn to crack jokes around the office and she's made more than one man give up and tell her all their secrets.  Of course, the last time I knew about that I had to save her skinny butt."

Gibbs shook his head. "I think I can manage to scare them."

"You're not scary to me," Dawn said with a grin.  "Scary is Spike at noon when he's got insomnia and he's arranging your clothes for you so he can play with them.  Or when Angel can't sleep and you find him wandering around like a zombie on crack.  Which aren't too unhappy of zombies to be around," she offered happily, finishing off the corn and putting it aside.  "Okay, who carves?"

"I do," Gibbs told her.  "Being the leader has privileges."  She handed him the knife she had been using and got out of the way while she found serving dishes and put things out on the table.

Tony looked at the food. "I'm glad I missed lunch today," he noted finally.

She snickered.  "Xander is known for being a bottomless pit," she told him, going to get the meat, ducking under Gibbs' arm since he was carrying something else.  She got the vegetables out and put into another serving dish then brought that over, sitting down in the empty spot.  "Do we need another spot for Ducky?"

"He might be a bit longer," Gibbs told her.  "If so, we can always get him a plate and a chair."  She nodded and said a quick grace, then dug into the food, handing it off as she took some.  "So, you're here for how long?"

She smiled. "Until Angel needs me or until Xander kills me.  I refuse to be a watcher like Giles and wear tweed. So I'm taking 'how to be Xander' lessons.  How'm I doing?" she asked with a grin.

"Pretty good actually," Tony admitted, handing Xander the food with a smile.  "She's a lot like you."

"Hey, I try," she said with a smirk for him.  "So, you're the boyfriend.  What do you do?" she asked before taking a bite of dinner.

"I work with Gibbs at NCIS.  Most of us are his team and then Ducky's the unit's ME."

"I guess that's cool.  So, you do what?" she asked again.

He smiled.  "We investigate crimes against and from marines and sailors, Dawn."

"Oh, cool."  She looked at Gibbs.  "I knew you were military but not what sort."

"Marine," he said smugly.  "You thinking about joining?"

"The day they get spiked heel boots and decent clothes," she shot back.  He laughed at that.  "Xander, would you mind really a whole  lot if I actually got a job?"

"No, you're going to get a job," he assured her.  "A nice part time, after school job.  I'll be damned if you're turning into your sister, the princess."  She squealed and got up to hug him.  "Thanks. Where's your stuff?  Since I haven't tripped over the numerous suitcases?"

"Eli's."  She sat down again. "Sorry, but Angel thought jobs went along with skirts shorter than thirty inches, no-nos for Dawns that would make me be a naughty girl."  She ate another bite and looked at him. "Do you know the good teen clubs?"  He nodded. "Will you show me?"

"After I get back from England."

"Oh.  Sure.  Want me to house and book sit?"

"Someone would have you check on you," he reminded her.  "I doubt Giles would allow it any other way."  She nodded at that.  "If someone will at least call to check on you, then yes, you may stay while we're in England."  She beamed at him.  "If not, we'll talk to Eliana's mom."

"Sure.  She already said I could squat in Eli's room since she's going to start living on campus next semester."

"Which is this fall, dawn," he reminded her.

"Oops.  So I should've waited to abuse the nun?"  He nodded.  "Damn."  She sighed.  "Sorry, Xander."

"Not an issue.  We deal.  Even if you do end up living in the basement.  Because I don't want you overtop of my bedroom at night.  There's no telling what I'll hear from you having fun."  She blushed and ate another bite of food. "Hey, I'm realistic, but the first time you bring someone home, expect me to at least beat their ass, if not kill them, if I find you having sex in the house.  And by the way, there had better at least be one type of birth control in your system.  I'm not raising Dawn babies."

She nodded.  "I'm using two and they're pretty foolproof but I haven't liked anyone that much yet."

"Waiting is good," McGee assured her.  "That means you know what you want."  He looked at Xander.

Who snickered.  "Man, Faith jumped my ass.  It was over so fast I didn't get to blink.  It was also fairly non-consensual.  She just grabbed me and went then kicked me out."

"TMI," Dawn told him.  "Really, really TMI."

Tony smiled at Xander.  "It's better now."

"It is, it's much better. I like the better that it is now," he agreed happily.  "You're helping me pack tonight."

"I was going to go back and paint."

Xander pulled him in for a deep, sucking kiss.  "You're helping me pack," he said slowly and clearly.  "Then if you can walk you can go paint."  He smiled and Tony chuckled, kissing him again.  "Thank you."  He looked at Gibbs, who had just groaned.  "Sorry, Boss."

"No, it's okay.  That wasn't really graphic.  Thank you for that, Xander." He looked at Tony.  "You really should stay over, that way you're happier tomorrow since we've got to do that shooting review."

"Crap," he muttered.  "I forgot.  I'll be in at eight, able to walk, Boss."

"Good.  Though if you aren't, can I stand in the corner to see the director's looks at you?" Abby asked.

He gave her head a shove.  "You'd enjoy it too much."

Dawn looked over as someone knocked on the door, pouncing up and running to hug him.  "Ducky!"  She launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging.

"Oh, dear, Dawn," he said, walking the girl inside and closing the door behind them.  He patted her on the back.  "I've missed you as well, Dawn. How have you been?"  He let her down but didn't let go.

"Angel was mean.  I couldn't wear heels, skirts at knee length, and I couldn't go clubbing."  She pulled back to smile at him.  "And I'm here for at least a year.  I'm taking 'how to be a Xander' lessons."

He smiled and hugged her again.  "Mother would be so happy to see you, Dawn.  You must come over."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "I made real food since Xander only cooks for Tony.  Did you know about Tony?  He never told me, the big meany."  She walked him back there, hand on his arm, and gave him her spot, but gave him a clean plate so she could sit next to him on the stool she pulled over.  "So, how's your mother?  I haven't heard any stories about her in so long that I nearly forgot them all."

He smiled at her.  "She's doing as well as could be expected, dear.  Though, whenever Xander comes over for tea it seems to excite her a great deal.  She always tries to be pretty for him."

Tony looked at Xander.  "Something you wanted to tell me?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "I could never go for Ducky's mom.  I like Ducky too much to ever be his stepdad.  So I guess you're stuck with me," he said, then ate a bite of his roast.

Ducky looked at Gibbs.  "Did you just have the horrible mental image of me with earrings and a nipple ring so that we could bond?"

"No, I was trying not to," he admitted, shaking his head quickly. "Tony, make your boy behave."

"I try, Boss, but you know how hard training a puppy is."  Xander kicked him.  "Ow!  You can be puppy-like. You lick in your sleep."

"Ooooh, it's better than it used to be," Dawn assured him.  "He had nightmares and slept on our couch for three days straight," she told Tony.  "Xander ended up outside my mom's room, laying across her door like he's guarding her virtue, but he's so dead to the world Buffy steps right over him.  The second time she tried it he bit her on the ankle.  I mean *seriously* bit her.  Like the ER doc wanted to know if she should have rabies shots, seriously biting her.  Buffy and Willow tried for years to house-train Xander and they were getting close but then Anya took over and made him a lap dog.  Then the slaying ruined his training totally."  She looked at Xander.  "We won't even mention the hyena's instincts."

"Good idea," he said smugly.  "Besides, she deserved it.  She stopped over me the second time so all I could see was up her skirt, which was pretty muchly skin."

"Yeah, Buffy had that bad habit."  She ate another bite.

Tony leaned closer to Xander's ear.  "I like the training now instead of your former training," he whispered.  Xander grinned at him and dug in.  "So, Boss, anything other than the shooting review tomorrow for me?"

"Paperwork, DiNozzo, since you're going to England for a week. Or was it six days?"

"We're leaving midday Saturday, coming back the next Friday night but I'm going to be suffering from jetlag most of that Saturday," he admitted.  "So I'll be back in contact by Sunday, Boss."

"Fine."  He looked at them, then stared at Xander, but spoke to Tony.  "I'll expect to have no emergency phone calls from the hospital, Scotland Yard, the local NCIS office, or any other authority figure.  Nor will I want to hear stories of drunken parties around the antiques."

"We're spending the first night in London since we get in so late, then driving out the next day.  We'll be goofing off around the house for the next four, then taking the reverse trip and heading back."

"Fine.  No getting into trouble, boys."

"I'm a good boy," Xander protested.  "I didn't even get drunk with glee when the hellmouth snapped back to Sunnydale."

"True, you didn't."  He smirked at Tony. "You think you can handle him in a foreign country?"

"Yeah, Boss.  Not a problem since he's been to them before."

"Yup, Xander and Faith were the slayer retrieval system," Dawn said cheerfully.  "Let's see.  He's went to Belgium, Russia twice, Germany, one of the African states that I can't remember off the top of my head."

"Kenya," he supplied.  "Then straight to Japan.  Talk about a long damn trip," he complained.  "Driving two days to get back to the airport with the nervous, superstitious slayer with multiple questions and basically a guide book of phrases between us.  Get on the plane, take her back to Sunnydale, which made her freak out and I had to sedate her when we took off.  She'd seen a helicopter but not an airplane.  Get to LA, Giles is there to pick her up, hands me my next set of tickets, which leave in thirty minutes for an eight hour flight to Japan. Two days there then back to LA via South Korea to pick up something from one of the retired Watchers in that area.  Which turned out to be a six- year-old that he called 'girl' or 'thing'.  She didn't have a name.  So now I had two language barriers.  Fortunately the stewardess spoke a bit of both and translated now and then.  We nearly got busted by Immigration over the little girl until I told them what was going on, that her natural mother was over here and her first husband had stolen her.  That they could call the stepfather and have him verify it because I knew Giles had a passport for the kid.  He had a stash of blank ones somehow."  Gibbs moaned.  "So they call Giles and he comes to pick her up.  Doesn't realize it's not just the Japanese slayer but he brought an extra one when, he claimed, he heard me talking to a child.  Just in case or so he said."

Dawn shook her head.  "He walked back into the compound, the girls pounced him and he ducked making most of them fall on the floor so he could trudge into his bedroom and fall face first on the bed.  The little girl comes in and curls up with him, fingers tangled in his hair and *screams*, absolutely hollers at the top of her lungs enough to bring cops running to check on her, whenever we try to move her.  Joy is presently still clinging to the bear Xander bought and put his t-shirt on."

"I wish I could've stayed but things were starting to get tense again," Xander reminded her.

"I know.  It's not your fault," she promised, smiling at him.  "Joy likes Faith too.  Considers her scary, but a good protector."

"She needs one?" Gibbs asked.

"Not that I know of, but some of the older girls are a bit rougher," Dawn admitted.  Someone rang the bell so she hopped up and went to answer it, smiling at Eliana.  "Hi.  Sorry, I meant to come get my stuff."

"That's okay.  Have you two worked it out yet?"

"Kinda almost.  I'm house sitting while they're in England if someone can call to check on me. We're nibbling if you want to come in."

"No, let's get your stuff out of the car.  Dad came back," she muttered.  Dawn nodded wisely and went to get her stuff.  "Pogo's at the nearest motel to here.  We dropped her off a few minutes ago," she said once the car's trunk was shut.  Dawn got the bag out of the back and they put them inside.  "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I think the better question is are you?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," she promised with a small smirk.  "If not, I'm calling Gibbs."

"He's in the kitchen if you wanted to warn him."

"Yeah, I probably should."  She walked in there, giving Xander a hug.  "My father showed up again."  Gibbs looked at her.  "Yeah, if it gets that way again, I'm calling you first.  You can be the scary guy."  She grinned.  "That way Xander doesn't have to commit homicide.  Because I know he would."  She hugged Xander again.  "Have fun in England and bring me back pictures."  She looked at Dawn.  "Be careful."  She headed back to the car.  "All set."

"She's staying there, right?" he demanded.

"Xander's her protector and guardian.  Her family's all dead, father."

"Don't take that tone with me, Eliana."

Xander tapped on the window, so he lowered it.  Xander grabbed him by the throat and squeezed.  "I would not harm Eliana again.  Ever again.  She may have been able to get out of her duty but that doesn't mean we don't watch over her."  He stared into his eyes.  "Eliana is now like my little sister and I will rip your ass to shreds if you *ever* hurt her again, even by yelling at her.  If you don't believe me, ask her mother what happened to her boyfriend."  She groaned.  "So, I'd be a bit nicer.  After all, she's got her many protectors."  He let him go and nodded at Eliana.  "I'll bring you pictures from the trip.  Call Dawnie daily so I make sure you're fine.  Or else I'm coming back and I'm going to storm your house like the fed I'm training to be."  He stared at the father, who shuddered.  "Got me here?"  He nodded and sped off.  "Good," he noted, heading back inside.  "I hate bullies."  He sat down and dug back in.  "I was wrong, Dawn, you can cook and you did a very good job."

"Thank you," she said proudly. "Did you threaten him?"

"Yup, sure did.  Gave him a reference too," he noted dryly before eating his last bite of roast.  "Do we have any more or are we digging into one of the batches of guilt cookies?"

McGee shook his head.  "Guilt cookies are fine for now.  Have leftovers after you make Tony help you pack."

"True, I can," he agreed happily, grinning at Tony.  Tony shifted away some, he knew that look.  "I promise you'll be able to walk tomorrow," he offered.

Which meant he was going to be topping, which was good for him, but that didn't mean Xander wasn't going to ride him into exhaustion and then some.  The others dug out the cookies and milk, going to move Dawn's things into the study for now.

***

Tony looked around the entry to Wes's former house, whistling at the immensity.  "This is nice," he said in awe.

"Isn't it?" Xander agreed, smiling at the family portrait hanging up.  "That was Wes right before he was sent over," he said, pointing at him.  Tony looked, moving closer. "He was Giles and Willow smart."  He took Tony's hand and walked him around the house, then out into the gardens.  "This is so nice," he said a while later.  "Peaceful.  Someone must've cleaned his father's aura out of here."  Tony looked down at him.  "His dad was harsher than a drill instructor during your first three days of Boot Camp."  Tony shuddered at that.  "Wes told me that he had gotten the highest grade in one class, but it wasn't a perfect grade so his father yelled for a few hours and locked him in his room.  For basically getting a 96 percent."

"That's just wrong," he agreed quietly, pulling Xander closer to kiss the side of his head.  "You like it here?"

"I do like it here," he admitted quietly. "Are you going with me tomorrow to see the lawyers to see what they wanted?"  He nodded and Xander snuggled into his arms.  "We should have horses here.  That way we can ride around."

"If you decide to come back, we can look into that," he promised, leading him back inside.  It was starting to drizzle and he didn't want to be wet and cold.  He got Xander into the kitchen, smiling at the housekeeper.  "Do you have any tea or cocoa?"

"I have both, Tony," she said happily.  "Were you two moving back?"

"I don't know yet," Xander admitted, sitting down to watch her move around the space.  "I'm just starting my training at the FBI academy and Tony's part of NCIS.  All our friends are over in DC."  She nodded.  "I don't want to sell the house," he admitted.

"I heard there's still some Watchers left," she offered.  He nodded.  "Do they want the library?"

"Giles wants the whole estate and he's the present head," he told her, leaning on his elbows.  "I don't know what I want.  I know Wes had his differences with the Council."

"He was a willful child."

"Yeah, but his ways saved lives," Xander reminded her.  "A lot of lives."

"He was working with the other side," she countered.

"Angel has a soul," he shot back.  "The Powers themselves chose him to atone and protect LA."  She looked startled at that.  "Wes gave up his life to save and protect Angel's team and some innocent lives.  He lost a lot of people that way," he pointed out.  "It took him years to be able to get close to someone because of the Watcher training methods and how his father treated him.  Wes is the reason I'm the man I am today."  She nodded at that.  "All I know is that Wes wouldn't have wanted the old guard to have it and I'm not sure where Giles is headed.  Some days it's almost as bad.  Some days it's not.  Hell, I was doing Watcher duty on the DC hellmouth while it was open and Tony was my hunting partner.  We had two of the slayers with us."

She put down the cups of cocoa, looking at them.  "There's many things that can be done, young man.  You don't have to sell the estate. You could rent it to them.  Or you could sell it to Mr. Giles to make the new Council here since a good portion of the library is copies of the other one.  To be truthful, Wesley hated this house.  Even when his parents weren't home he thought it was haunted, which it is, and he said it made him have nightmares, which it does to many.  There's been enough nastiness in this house to compromise souls, including that of Wesley's father."

"Is that why Wes told Xander he was such a bastard?" Tony asked.  She nodded.  "What about the Wes you used to know?"

"Wesley was an odd duck in this family.  He was a research person.  He never cared for the magic the family had but he practiced because he had to and he knew that some day he could be needed to do something magically to help the cause.  He believed in the cause but not the methods and not the recent directives of the Council.  He was against them taking the girls from their families by whatever means were necessary.  He was against some of the creatures that were routinely hunted since they weren't necessarily bad, just demonic.  He was also against the tampering with natural forces," she said, looking at Xander.  "Which you just did."

"Actually, Giles moved the hellmouth," he noted, sipping his cocoa.  "It's safer away from people.  Sunnydale's still radiating the dark and chaos magics and it won't ever stop.  Moving the hellmouth back made sure more people aren't radiated by it and that less innocent lives were lost.  After DC it was going to New York."  She shuddered at that.  "So, yeah, we decided as a group to tamper."

"What would the group want, Xander?" she asked patiently.

"Mine wants me to be happy," he said with a small smirk.  "Would you mind changing back?  Just so I can see which one you are?"

"Huh?" Tony asked.

Xander pointed at her.  "Wish demon."  He looked and she changed back, making him smile.  "Millicent.  A pleasant surprise."

"How did you know?"

"We never introduced ourselves," he noted dryly. "You weren't here when we got in."  She scowled but nodded.  "What's up?"

"The house needs to go to the Council.  Not only D'Hoffryn, but the others say so."

"Why?"

"The gifting room," she said honestly, leaning on the counter.  "It's ancient magic that Wesley's family protected.  He didn't know about it, his father knew he wasn't going to be able to hold it.  That's why he kept trying to make a grandson and failing."  Xander nodded, he had been told about that.  "All I know is that the Oracles agree in this case.  Giles already knows why."

"He didn't say anything."

"He wouldn't.  He's enjoying his power.  That's the way it usually happens," she reminded him.  "He'll calm down within a few months, once he realizes how massive this undertaking is."  She looked at Tony and smiled. "I can hear the wish your heart is making.  It's possible, but not from me."  She looked at Xander again.  "The same as yours still aches for someone else to take charge for you," she agreed.  "That's not up to us.  That's up to the Powers.  Only they can bring someone back and not have them wrong."  He nodded once.  "There's a way to them in London."

"There's a way to them through the old stables out back," he noted dryly.

"That's dangerous.  It could fall in."

"I worked construction. I think I can handle that."  She nodded, smiling at that.  "Anything else?"

"Yes, there's some things you don't know.  The lawyers are going to lie to you.  They're Wolfram and Hart.  Demand the actual paperwork."  She smirked.  "We don't like them at the moment.  They're a bit out of favor."  He smirked back.  "Secondly, Anya likes him.  Said he's better to you and now she understands what was wrong with your relationship together."

"She's back?" Tony asked.  He sipped his cocoa.

"No.  She's watching," she promised.  "She's moved on and now she's being a messenger for the Powers, which leaves her a lot of time hanging around LA for some reason.   You don't have to worry that someone will take him from you or that he'll lose interest.  There's nothing more stubborn than him.  Not even your boss."  She looked at Xander again. "She said to be happy and she understands love is worth more than money and sex now."  Xander nodded, finishing his cocoa and handing the cup back.  She smiled at him.  "Thirdly, the family's vault is still yours.  No matter that they'll be *buying* the house or not.  Even if they bring Wesley back, he won't be the same man.  He'll probably go by his middle name of Aaron."

"He used to go by Thrack," Xander joked.  Tony quirked an eyebrow up. "It's like a frat name, only from the Watcher's boarding school's dorms."  Tony nodded, understanding that.  He looked at the wish demon again.  "Any other messages?"

She nodded.  "A few.  Ask, ask soon, and if you have to, beg.  You can have what they need but only if you ask."  He nodded and stood up. "Good boy.  By the way, we're including your mate in your immunity to us."

He grinned.  "Thank you.  How did you know?"

"We watched you, Xander.  Remember, you attract demons like silver attracts the holy."  She patted him on the face.  "Go ask, dear.  You, mate, behave.  There's a good book in the library for you to read on prior possessions."

"It's got inaccuracies.  Wes gave me a copy," Xander said with a grin. "I may remember and she may be part of me, but that doesn't mean I have to live in the pack.  Even if I am the pack leader."  He held a hand out and Tony finished his cocoa before taking it and following him out.  "Tony, the Powers like to play some games.  So call Gibbs, just in case."

Tony pulled out his cell and called.  "Gibbs, DiNozzo.  No, we're here and everything's okay, but we just ran into one of Anya's coworkers who said that the guiding powers over Angel and their group wanted to talk to him.  I don't know.  They said that Giles needed a balancing influence."  He looked startled.  "You're kidding?"  He smirked and let out a small snort.  "Well, apparently she and Ducky get along very well then. I'll tell him.  No, they were talking like Wes might come back, Boss, but only they could bring him back so we didn't have Bringers.  We don't know, that's where we're headed."  He shrugged and followed Xander into the former stables, looking around. "No, we're about to be cut off so I'll let you go.  If anything strange shows up, let me know.  Immediately."  He hung up and took Xander's hand again, holding it as he walked back to where he could feel some sort of glowy magic feeling.  "How long will I feel magic?"

"Forever and ever."  He grinned at him.  "Some people have the gift and some don't."  He found the doorway and leaned against it for a moment, then forced it open.  They stepped into a place filled with mist and bright, blue lights.  "Hi," he called.  A person with blue skin and eyes walked out, looking at them.  Then his sister came to join him.  "Greetings," Xander repeated.  "I was told to come to you.  That you have some limited answers for questions I didn't know I had."

"You are Xander," the female said, moving forward.  "Your mate will not be harmed."

"He keeps me from doing stupid shit," Xander offered.  Tony swatted him.  "Sorry, didn't mean to swear."

She smirked at him, touching his cheek.  "Ah, you are he.  You have inherited the gifting room."  Xander nodded.  "It is not yours to lord over."

"I know that.  The Wish Demon Millicent said I should come talk to you about that and about the house surrounding it, plus the new Council's needs.  She thinks that there's a solution possible for both problems without being too complicated."

She nodded and moved back to her brother's side.  "We don't want them," the male said.  "They should be returned.  Their use to us then and now is done with and it is their choice to come back or not," he told him.

Tony clamped down on his feelings.  "Is it something that would hurt others unnecessarily? Or do the world great harm?"

"No," the female said, looking at him.  "You are wise where he is brash, yet you share the same underlying feelings."

"It is interesting how mates do that," the male said, sounding sarcastic as he looked at her.  "As was fated."

"Anything else I should know or do?" Xander asked.  "I don't want to take your valuable time when you could be tormenting Angel."

They both stared at him.  "The three it is up to may come back if they choose.  Their choices will be asked for tonight.  If so, they will appear in the present Hellmouth."  He looked at Tony. "This is not your decision to make."

"I know.  I don't make other's decisions for them," he agreed calmly.  "Is there anything else he must know?"

"The new Council must find balance.  Brashness must equal wisdom and caution.  Action and care must be meted out together.  The girls are not to be harmed but to be tracked.  You have a good start but there is a reason why it is a Council, not one man."

Xander nodded.  "Which was why Millicent suggested I ask for Wesley back."

"He is one who the choice is given to," she agreed. "He would have a new life, no longer his old one."  Xander nodded more deeply at that.  "Any others you question?"

"Doyle?" Xander asked.  The man nodded.  "He's one?"  That got another nod and a sneer. "Good.  The world could use some common sense."  He looked at Tony, then back at them.  "Was his sister-by-bond one?"

"Xander," Tony breathed.

"Just asking."

"To her family came great tragedy," the female said, looking at Tony.  "She would be a fourth."  She looked at Xander.  "The other was closer to you."

"Jesse or Tara?"

"Tara."  The male walked off.  "They will be asked."  She looked at Tony again.  "Should she agree, you must guard her better this time.  Humans are fragile beings, especially one who remembers."  She walked off and they found themselves back in the stables.

Tony looked at Xander.  "You asked for Kate?"

"I asked if she was one," he reminded him.  "I didn't specifically ask for her to be one of the ones chosen.  I knew damn well one of them wasn't related to me.  Tara's the fourth.  You can't have a Council of Watchers that only includes people from one town.  You get more stagnation and more desperation, especially when it's from Sunnydale."  Tony slumped.  "She makes the choice, Tony.  That gives them two Watchers, two involved in the demonic and magic elements, and a fifth voice of common sense.  Tara will provide the care and nurturing.  Wesley will provide new ways while Giles has flashbacks to the old ways now and then. Doyle used to teach before his heritage came out. He worked with Angel and Wes.  Tara worked with Giles.  There's got to be another dissenting voice for balance.   All of nature has to have a balance or else things get skewed."  He took his hand and led him outside, into a glorious night.  "Check your phone for messages."

Tony pulled out his phone, looking at it.  "One."  He dialed into his voicemail, listening to the message.  "It's Giles."  He hit the key to replay and handed it over. "He's not happy."

"Of course not.  Think about it though.  It was her or Dawn."  He smirked at the ass- chewing he was getting.  "Oh, really?"  He handed it back and called Giles from his phone.  "Millicent said Anya said hi, Giles."  He smirked at the stars.  "Yeah, well, you know the rule of balance the same as I do. You're the one who taught it to me."  He listened to him splutter.  "Because, Giles, you're turning into Travers.  No, I won't take that back.  Look what you did first thing.  You had us go round up the remaining girls instead of talking to them.  At least I let them have a choice.  Yes, I did," he noted dryly.  "Most of them came when they realized their families could be in danger from things drawn to them."

He walked off rolling his eyes.  "Because, Rupert, there's something special in this house that only a member of the family, a strong member, can hold. That's not me.  I'm not really related to Wes.  So tell him I said hi and if someone named Kate shows up, call me immediately and then Gibbs.  She was his second."  He hung up and looked at Tony.  "Wes and Doyle are already back.  We're not sure about Tara yet.  There's a patrol out."  His phone rang and he smiled at the much missed voice.  "Wes.  No, I'm at your house.  Well, he died, Wes, and since he left everything to his heirs, which was you, it came to me too.  Yeah, I'm out in the gardens with Tony.  Sure."  He hung up.  "Wicca transport."  They looked over as Wesley appeared, Xander grinning at him.  "Wesley, this is my mate, Tony.  Tony, this is Wes."

Tony walked over and shook his hand.  "Thank you for watching out for him."

"It was my pleasure.  Xander was always good."  He smiled at Xander, letting him have a hug.  "I've missed you.  Watching over you lot has been so painful," he said quietly, soothing him.  He pushed him back to look at him.  "Tara won't be coming back physically."

"I didn't figure they'd let a fourth come," he admitted quietly. "That means Dawn sits?"  He nodded.  "You know what they said?"

"Cordelia told them and us at the same time. There's something to be said for having such a big-mouth as The Messenger."  He looked at Tony again, smiling at him.  "You need have no worries.  Xander is like my brother and student.  Not someone I want *that* way."  Tony relaxed and nodded.  "I did see your friend.  I'm not sure what she wants to do.  If it wasn't her, it'd be someone else.  Someone with less of a clue.  She said Doyle reminded her of you so they were playing poker while we were together."  He looked at Xander, giving him a sad smile.  "Thank you for helping Willow as much as you could.  I'll take over Dawn's training."  He nodded.  "She's still staying there.  I want her off the hellmouth.  We can conference call with her and Caitlyn if she comes back."  He stroked his cheek then handed him to Tony.  "Well, since I'm dead," he noted dryly.  "The Council will be buying the house from you, Xander, but you're to keep the vault. It's not like I want the nancy stuff my mother collected."  He looked at Tony.  "We're all going to the lawyer's tomorrow.  I have a few words for Wolfram and Hart yet again."  He rubbed his throat.  "They took the scar?"  Xander nodded.  "Bugger."  He frowned then shrugged.  "Oh, well."

He walked the boys inside.  "Come along.  It's been a long day and it'll be tomorrow over here before a final decision was reached, and then we've got to face down Rupert."  He showed them to a room then went to find his old room, still the way he had left it. Spotless and without a hint of personality.  He looked out the window.  "As you called, so shall I answer, Anthony," he whispered.  "It's a selfless wish that brings a past lover to your present one's side to help them.  The same as his was to you."  He smiled and relaxed, feeling the world settle in around him again.  She had answered. He sat down on his bed and pulled the phone over.  He had to talk to some people before the lawyers.  He smiled at the old man answering.  "Ducky, what a charming surprise," he said happily.  "No, it's Wesley, sir.  Yes, him.  Yes, I know I'm dead.  No, the Powers.  Ask your mother, dear, but I'm going to be assigning you a fairly hard task.  Keep track of Dawn and keep her in DC as long as possible.  It's important she not go back to Sunnydale, even though she'll be on the new Council.  Yes, I'm quite sure.  No, the Powers That Be.  They're meddling to make sure the world balances out again."

He smiled.  "I knew I could count on you.  No, just be the father she never had.  Her own was the worst sort of trash.  Didn't come for his own wife's funeral, didn't write back when he heard the girls were orphans.  Nothing like that."  He smiled more gently.  "Good.  I knew I could count on you.  Yes, well, I'm here to provide a bit of that balance and some common sense.  So is she. No, she can call in.  We'll make sure she's got a cell for that.  Good man, Ducky.  Thank you.  No, they're fine.  Having sex up the hall but fine."  He smiled.  "That's fine, but they only allowed three.  One of yours is coming home as well.  Remember, she's newly back and easily scared for at least a few weeks.  So don't let the girl pounce her.  All right?"  He chuckled.  "I know you don't.  You will soon.  Yes, tell her I'll talk to her tomorrow during our first Council meeting.  Thank you."  He hung up and called Angel.  "I'd run, I've seen what you've been doing," he said dryly, then hung up.

***

Gibbs looked up as the couple walked into the bullpen early that Saturday morning, giving them the once over. "Jetlag?" he asked dryly.

"Yeah, but I had to come, Boss.  Is she here?"

"Who?"

Tony sighed and shook his head.  "Never mind."  Xander tugged on his arm and pointed at the woman up the row. "Kate!"  He ran over and pulled her up to hug her.  "I'm sorry."

"I'm not.  You're one strange guy, Tony."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "It's all right," she said, staring into his eyes.  "I promise.  I made the decision.  The same as you asked for Wesley back."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Let go before I get you for harassment."  He chuckled and gave her a squeeze before letting her go to look her over.  "Yeah, I'm the same.  You know, my parents weren't really happy with that. Fortunately for some reason they seemed to understand."  She looked at Xander.  "If I'm going to be your sister-in-law, you could greet me, kid."

Xander walked forward, holding out a hand. "Tony's said a lot about you."  She shook his hand, looking him over.  "Yes, I know you can kill me multiple ways.  I've already had this talk with Gibbs."

"Good."  She smiled.  "I'm worse."

"I doubt that, but okay."  He grinned back.  "Has Dawn pounced you?"

"Oh, yes.  The little leather wearing squeal factory did pounce me, and Abby and then Gibbs, who swatted her and told her to go away.  Do you have some sort of explanation?"

"Nature corrected an imbalance and created an oddity.  Like the platypus."  She laughed, shaking her head.  "We didn't have a choice," he reminded her.  "I asked if you were one."  She nodded, smiling at him.  "You don't mind?"

"No.  Tony needed me.  You make him horny and gropey instead of fun and joking.  That's not natural Tony behavior."  Xander nodded, looking calm.  "Therefore someone's got to be his balance."  Xander nodded again.  She patted him on the cheek.  "You two should be sleeping.  I remember the flight from England."

Tony nodded.  "I'm headed to do that now.  Then probably the painting I was putting off."

She nodded.  "I heard you got broken into and they took your tv."

"Insurance is good," he agreed.  He hugged her again.  "Come over for beers tonight?"  She nodded and smiled.  "Good."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Tomorrow?"

"I'll call if something comes up, DiNozzo.  Go sleep.  Take Xander with you.  At least his place is quiet."

"Did Wes steal the books?" Xander asked.

"Only his smut collection," McGee offered.  "We went to play on your computers and saw him."  He smiled.  "You two have fun?"

"Loads," Xander said dryly.  "Seven meetings with lawyers for Hell.  But the rest was fun," he offered with a happier grin.  "I'm going to nap.  Later, guys.  Kate, like everyone else you're welcome at my house anytime you want to drop by."  He walked out with Tony, noticing he wasn't touching him.  So either he was still mad or they were breaking up.  "Am I dropping you off at home?" he asked once he handed in his visitor's badge and they were outside again.

"No, I can cab.  I need to pick up some groceries anyway.  I haven't been home in a while."  Xander nodded and smiled.  Tony looked at him, sensing something was wrong but not what.  "Tomorrow, reshelving?  We still on?"  Xander nodded, looking happier. "Good.  Now go sleep."  He gave him a light head nudge with a smile.  Xander headed off and he summoned a cab, watching him go.  He looked at the person walking up to him.  "Couldn't stay away?" he joked.

"Not that.  He thinks you just broke up with him.  You really should read the book on mates and animal possessions."  She clapped him on the back.  "I'll come over to his place tomorrow night.  We can hang out then?"  He smiled and nodded.  "Good boy, Tony.  Sleep and then chase him.  He could use some of those wooing skills you used to show to the ladies.  After all, so far he's been doing all the chasing and courting."  She pinched him on the cheek and walked back inside.

Tony got into his cab when it finally pulled up, muttering his address to the cabby just loud enough to be heard.  The cab took off and he put his mind to work on how to woo a Xander.  If he was a woman he wouldn't be working this hard, but he knew she was right.  Kate was almost always right about these things.  Other things she was always wrong about but relationship stuff she was really good at.  Once he got home he went straight to bed, deciding he would think better once his head quit hurting and feeling like it was stuffed with a sweater.

***

Tony knocked on the door for the second time and decided he had enough so he let himself in.  He closed the door quietly and looked around.  No glow from downstairs.  No person in the living room.  He snuck back to the kitchen to put stuff out on the table for their dinner, then headed up to check the bedroom.  He found Xander curled up in a ball under the covers, smiling at him.  He always slept like that when he was alone.  If you slept with him, you had a Xander-blanket but alone he was a little ball of miserableness.  Xander wasn't meant to be alone for very long.  He sat down beside him, reaching down to tease the hair that barely came out of the blanket.  No response.  He carefully moved the blanket, seeing the slack-jawed, drooling look and smirked.  You knew you had it bad when they drooled cutely.  He stroked over the slack forehead and a hand came up to bat him away.  He captured it, teasing the fingers.  This was his favorite game, see how long it took for Xander to wake up for real.  If it had been anyone else he'd have snapped awake and tried to hurt them.  Gibbs had told him Xander threw a stake at him the day he woke him up.

Xander blinked up at him.  "Are you a dream?"  Tony shook his head.  "Must be."  He yawned and closed his eyes, smiling at the kiss he received.  "Still a dream," he mumbled.

He was going to have to wake him soon or else his surprise would be too warm.  He reached down to tickle him, making Xander yelp and jump up.  "No, I'm not a dream."

"But you...."

"Yeah, I heard what you thought.  You're wrong.  Hungry?"  Xander nodded slowly, staring at him.  "Come on, get cleaned up so we can eat."

"You brought me dinner?"

"No, I made you dinner."  He kissed him again.  "Up."  He stood up and hauled Xander's limp body with him.  "Did you take something to make you so sleepy?  Usually you wake up faster."

"No," he said, heading into the bathroom.  He came out a second later, staring at him.  Tony waved.  He went back in and quickly went to the bathroom, washed his hands and face, brushed his teeth, and fussed with his hair, then came back out.  He was still there.  He walked out and Tony pulled him closer to kiss him again.  "Keep that up and we won't make dinner."

"Good point."  He walked him down the stairs, taking him into the kitchen.  He flipped off the lights, letting the candles set the mood.  Xander looked at the table, just stared.  He gave him a nudge.  "I remember you liked it when we had it in London."

Xander swallowed and looked at him.  "Is this like a date thing?"

Tony nodded. "Yup, sure is."  He walked him to the table and sat him down, dishing him up the soft, silky dessert he had liked in the hotel, then sat down and dished up his own.  "You can eat.  I didn't poison it."

Xander looked at him and you could see his hand move under the table.  "Are you sure you're real and not a torment or some demon?" he asked finally.

"I'm sure, Xander.  Eat. Before it gets too warm."  Xander nodded and dug in, sneaking looks at him.  "Did no one ever take you on dates?"  Xander shook his head.  "Then they were really dumb.  You should be wooed."

"Wooed?"

"That thing where you date and spoil your partner horribly?  Like all the lunches and things I get given?" Tony shared with a grin.  Xander nodded once and ate a bigger bite.  "Good.  Now keep that up.  You'll need the energy for later."

"Later?" he squeaked.

Tony smiled. "Yes, later.  That time in the not-so-distant future where good things come to good boys who wait."  He could see Xander trying to pinch himself again and reached over to grab his hand.  "Only I get to pinch you."

"Okay," he said slowly.  "Now I know you're not Tony.  You told Dawn to pinch me before we left."

"It was still on my orders, that's the only time she's allowed."  He picked some of the food up with his spoon and fed it to him.  "Eat, Xander.  That's what you do when someone nice brings you dinner."  Xander nodded and started to eat again. "I knew you weren't used to dating but I really should yell at your former girlfriends for not treating you right," he said, squeezing his hand.

Xander pulled away from him.  "Are you like Anya?  Over men scorned or something?  Tony never says things like that to me."

"Then I've been stupid," he told him. "I promise, I'm still me."  He stroked his cheek.  "You have this cute little mole in between some of the scars on your back," he told him. "Whenever you blush or during sex it darkens."

"It does?"  Tony nodded, rolling his eyes.  "It's not like I can see my back."

"Didn't Wes ever mention it?"

"No.  We only did that a few times and it was always after a fight.  It wasn't like we were serious."

"Well, I am.  Get used to it."

"You read the book didn't you?  Because it had stuff that wasn't really good or right in it."

"No.  Not yet.  I will be by tomorrow, right after I force-feed you dinner."  Xander ate another bite and he smiled.  "Good boy."  He kissed him, then decided to pull Xander into his lap, merging the two plates so he could feed him.  "Open," he whispered in his ear, making him shiver and open his mouth.  "Good boy."  He scooped up a bite and ate some, then fed him the rest of the spoonful.  Xander moaned and shifted some, but got into it.  When he was finally done, he pulled him up and into the living room, laying him stomach- down on the couch and retrieving the oil he had found.  He warmed some in his hands and attacked the bare back, making him shift and arch up against his hands.  "Just relax.  I've got you."

"You do that so well."

"Thank you.  Sometimes I try."  He grinned as he worked, turning Xander from the attack dog he could be into a big lap cat.  He stood up and pulled off the pajama bottoms carefully, getting to work on his legs.  "Why are you so tense?"

"I don't know."

"Hmm.  Maybe you should relax," he suggested, getting back to work.  By the time he had him flip over, Xander was a puddle of purr, but he wasn't hard.  He looked at him, smiling at him.  "What's wrong?"  Not that he didn't know but sometimes you had to get these things out into the open.

"I'm...."

"Still think this is either a dream or a really nice goodbye?"  Xander swallowed and nodded.  "Not happening.  I don't leave, others leave me."  He stroked over his chest and stomach. "I don't get romantic too often, Xan.  When I figured out what you were thinking, it poked me enough that I did some actual cooking.  Which is very rare so you should enjoy it."  Xander let out a small smile at that. "Can you just enjoy it?"  Xander nodded, sitting up to steal a kiss.  Tony laid down on top of him, letting him have as many kisses as he wanted, but he kept it there.  Xander moaned and arched up to rub against him and he grinned, sitting up to straddle his lap and get more oil to warm in his hands.   He attacked the chest muscles next. Xander wiggled and arched up into his fingers, making him smile.  "Just relax and let me work, Xander. You'll get there soon enough.  Don't be so impatient."  He shifted back some, making him moan and suddenly push up again.  He grinned and got back to work, making his boy a purring puddle again.  He was hard too so he knew he was doing it right.

Xander reached up lazily and pulled him down to kiss him again. "Can we move this to another spot?"

"This isn't about sex, it's about pleasure," Tony reminded him, stroking his neck.  Xander shivered and tipped his head to the side.  Tony grinned.  "Like that?"  Xander nodded quickly.  "Relax," he said quietly.  He leaned down to kiss and nibble on him, making him pant.  He moved to the other side, finding a spot he hadn't found before.  Xander bit his lip and whimpered.  He licked that spot then nipped it.  Xander suddenly arched up and came and he chuckled into the neck.  "That was fun.  Let's do it again."  He went back to playing with that spot, slowly moving down.  He found another spot just above the edge of his collarbone, but Xander wiggled so he let it go.  He did leave a mark before moving down.  The sparse hair on his lover's chest got teased and played with but Xander shifted so he went to play with the nearer nipple instead.  That hand came up to hold his head still.  It gave him the chance to play and tease, which he knew Xander didn't like, but he liked to tease.  Xander started to play with his hair, but he ignored it and continued to play.  He switched over suddenly, getting a mild hair pull in the process but it was okay with him.

He teased that one until he could feel the tension coming back, slowly moving backward to find new spots on his stomach and lower chest.  He found one just under his right pectoral.  It made him shriek and giggle, but it was a happy sound.  He teased it until Xander tried to shift away then went to find another one.  He found a ticklish spot.  Xander did move away from that so he let it go and moved down.  He hit a few spots he knew were good for Xander, making him pant and wiggle again.  He could feel him getting close and smiled at him.  Now was the time to just cuddle him.  So he did.  Xander let out a whimper of complaint but he just squeezed him.  "I told you it wasn't about sex tonight, Xander."  He stole a kiss and gently stroked over the hard stomach.  "Relax and let me play with you, Xander. You're my toy tonight."

"I'm not used to being a toy."

"I noticed, but I'm enjoying it.  Plus I'll still be able to walk tomorrow if we get a case."  He glared at the phone as it rang. He grabbed it.  "It had better be *very* good," he snapped.  "No, Dawn, he's under me, panting, hard, and needy while I play with him.  So, you're interrupting. Is it a good emergency?"  He listened to her babbling.  "We know.  We know, Dawn.  Tomorrow, Dawn."  He hung up.  "They just told her she's on the Council and Wes and Doyle were back."  He stole another kiss.  "She needs better timing."  He went back to stroking and teasing his mate.  "I should find that book and read it to you."

"I got read to when I was sick," he offered.  "I'm not sick though."

"No, but you are needy."  He teased the hard cock, making him arch up and make a pleading noise.  "Not yet."  He kissed him gently, slowly, making him grab him for more.  He let him, knowing he had most of the night.  If they got a case on Sunday he was going to kill whoever it was.  Xander got off and he smiled down at him.  He stole a gentle, soft peck of a kiss.  "I want more. I like watching you go off," he said quietly.  He started over, making him whimper and arch up.  "We should go take a bath."  Xander gave him an incredulous look so he grinned and stood up, pulling Xander against his body to move with him.  "If it wasn't so late, I'd take you out tonight to that salsa club again."  He led him up to the bathroom, sitting him down so he could run it.  While they were waiting he cleaned him up the old fashioned way, by licking the drops of come off his stomach and chest.  Xander tried to hold his head down but he captured the hands and held them.  Xander let out a soft moan of complaint so he got up, checking the water before heading out to find the stuff he knew Xander had bought.  He brought back a set of cuffs that had a long, stretchy cord between them.  He stopped the water and tossed the cuffs over the towel rack behind the bathtub.  He stripped and stood Xander up again, climbing in first and letting Xander into his lap before handcuffing him.  He saw Xander test them and looked at him.  "That good?"

"I'm fine," he said quietly.  "I'll tell you if I'm not."

"I know it's a big step but you keep trying to ruin my fun.  I *want* to play, Xander.  This is more than enough stimulation for me."  He rubbed his cock between his cheeks, making him wiggle. "See?  I'm getting off and having fun enjoying your body.  So let me play."  He shifted so he was straddling him and got back to his playing.  Xander's body was a fine instrument and it showed that he took good care of it.  Of course, he wished there were less scars, but that was fine with him.  He loved Xander for the man he was, past horrors and all.  He got back to his teasing, making Xander take it this time.  He saw him start to try to move and realize how long the cuffs were, smiling at him.  "I'm not hurting you," he said quietly.

"I know.  Keep going, I'm okay."  Tony stared in his eyes and he nodded.  "Cuffs are there to wiggle against."

"They are," he agreed happily, going back to his fun.  He was so close, this teasing and watching Xander figure out what being a toy was for was making him get off.  "Where should I put this one?" he asked, stroking himself.

"In me?"

"More like on you."  He decided to do the simple thing and got off on his stomach, making him moan.  "That's good."   He rubbed some in then let the water wash the rest away.  He gave his lover a gentle kiss then moved down to start the massage on his feet instead.  Xander giggled and wiggled and tried to kick but oh well.  It was still making him happy.  He moved up, testing the calves.  They weren't tense but they did have very strong muscles.  "Are you jogging?"

"I have to do something when I'm not in class."

"Good point. I like the fact that you took some classes."  He got back to work, making him a happy Xander.  A very happy Xander since he could see him getting hard again.  Of course, someone knocked on the door.  "That's either Mormons or Abby."

"Probably Abby," Xander said with a small shrug.  "I'm not answering it.  I kinda can't."  Tony grinned and got back to work, making it back to his hips a few minutes later and he moaned, arching up against his teasing touches.  "If I beg harder, please!" he moaned when a finger brushed him.

"Sex is for breakfast.  Tonight is for touching and feeling."  He made Xander shift so he could get under him, settling him back in his lap so he could rub against him and could drive Xander insane by ghosting touches across his body.  He got off first, but Xander let go when he felt him go, letting him have the best moan that night and the shaking afterward.  "Shh, I'm here," Tony soothed quietly, stroking his stomach.  Xander calmed down and went limp against him, turning his head for a kiss.  Tony smiled.  "That's why I like to play and why you're my favorite human toy," he said quietly.  "Let's get up and clean you off, then we'll go back to bed to sleep."  Xander nodded again, using the edge of the bathtub to help him stand.  Tony stood up between the straps, undoing one and putting it over the shower rod then rehitching it.  He let the plug go with his toes while he fiddled with the water, smiling when he turned it on.  Xander moaned, arching back into it.  Tony found the sponge Xander hid so no one would know he had it and got to work cleaning his body for him.

"If you ever end up with a harem, I'm going to beg to join," Xander groaned, arching back into the touches around his crack.

"If I ever get a harem, I'm going to wonder why and yell at certain people for using magic."  He pinched him lightly then made him turn so he could get his stomach. Once Xander was done he cleaned himself up and stopped the water, then got them out and dried off, but leaving Xander cuffed to the shower rod for now.  He looked him over, smiling at his shivering.  He undid the cuffs and pulled him into a deep kiss.  "Go to the bed.  I'm going to make sure the house is locked up and then I'll be right up."  He nodded and padded out there, climbing under the blankets.  Tony found his bathrobe and headed down the stairs to see who had come over.  He found the kitchen cleaned and everything put up, which was nice since he had forgotten.  The couch's usual slip cover was missing.  The light downstairs was on though so he headed down there, surprising McGee.  "Bad night?"

He looked at him and nodded. "Yeah.  I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd work instead of making Abby cranky."  He smiled. "I promise I'm not listening."

"It's fine, McGee.  I know you're not listening.  That's Kate."  He grinned.  "We're headed to bed so make sure to lock the door behind you."  He headed back up, closing the bedroom door just in case.  Xander was already asleep but not in his usual little ball.  He took off his robe and slid in beside him, getting a cuddly Xander blanket, which was his favorite bedtime accessory.  He had missed it earlier.

***

Dawn snuck into Xander's room, putting the covered tray on the dresser, right where someone should see it.  She turned and found Tony awake so she nodded at it.  "Gibbs is downstairs," she whispered.  "We all are, and we're ignoring you guys."  She left, closing the door behind her as quietly as she could.

Tony smirked, having evil thoughts, and got to work waking up his boy.  He had promised him sex. He kissed him, nothing.  So he moved down and nipped one of his nipples.  Either he was acting or he was really deeply asleep this time. He moved further down to lick up the hardening cock, getting a moan and Xander shifting toward him.  But no telltale hand coming down to play with his hair like usual.  He decided to play with his treat; he didn't do it often because he wasn't that great at it yet, but he did enjoy it when he did it.  He was moving up and down when the hand came down to play with him, nearly ready to start preparing the sleeping body and wake him that way.  He pulled off and looked up.  "Do you think we can do this quietly?"  Xander nodded, staring at him.  "Good."  He got back to it, starting to prepare the way for himself.  He paused when he heard the phone ring but no one yelled.  A few minutes later it rang again but he didn't care, he was starting to sink into the relaxed, purring body under him. Xander gasped and grabbed at his arms, scratching him a bit.  "Let me."

"I'm a good toy," he agreed, wiggling his hips.  "I learned how."

"Good."  He got to work making it good.  Making Xander want to scream even though he couldn't.  Maybe he'd make him break this time, maybe not.  There was always sex in the supply closet at work to make him yell in the inappropriate place if he wanted to risk it.  He did make Xander moan.  Then he got down to the harder and faster working, making him let out one long scream of pleasure.  He grinned and came, kissing him gently. "Noisy," he teased.

"Couldn't help it," Xander panted, pulling him down to kiss him again.  "Can we take another nap and have more?"

"We'll see.  Dawn brought us breakfast before we woke up."

"Is it just her?"

"Probably not."  He grinned.  Xander stared at him.  "I woke up and she mentioned Gibbs."  The phone beside them rang and he sighed, picking it up since it was his cell.  "It had better be a case, Boss," he said in greeting.  He groaned and got up, heading into the bathroom.  "Give me ten to find clothes, Gibbs."  He hung up.  "Can't someone manage to not be kidnaped today?" he complained.

Xander giggled and got up to give him a hug and a proper good morning kiss.  "You go to work and I'll bring lunch whenever you call."  He cleaned himself up then found pajama bottoms and a t-shirt.  It's not like he was going to be wearing more today.  It was Sunday!  He opened the breakfast tray and handed Tony his, which fit nicely on the toast Dawn had made.  He walked out eating it, heading downstairs.  At least he could ride in with Gibbs this morning.  Xander brought his down, smiling at Dawn and Kate.  "You don't have to go?"

"I'm on probation until they figure out if I'm working or not."  She shrugged.  "Are you okay?"

"Just fine," he promised with a grin.

"First time?"

"No."  He ate a bite and grinned at the women around him.  "What?"

"That was loud, Xander," Abby reminded him.

"It was good!"  He ate another bite, grinning at Dawn.  "You have some of the worst timing."

"Sorry.  I'll try to learn better."  He nodded.  "Ducky wants me to stay with him.  Even before Wes ordered he wanted me to stay with him.  Would that be okay?"

"I'll expect you to treat Ducky well and properly and help out with his mother," he ordered.  "She's a very nice lady."

"She is," she agreed.  "She likes me too.  She was helping me put up my hair."  She turned to show the braid with ribbons, then back around.  "So you're okay with it?"

"As long as he is, Dawn.  Because if you hurt Ducky or his mom, your ass is so very dead and buried as fertilizer in her garden.  Got it?"  She nodded quickly.  "Good.  Then if he wants you to stay with him I accept.  It's not like Giles can say anything either."

"He told Ducky to take me shopping for *real* clothes and he'd pay so he didn't have to be embarrassed by what I already had."

"I can take you shopping," Kate told her.

"No, Ducky said my clothes were fine but nothing too clubby or risque in front of his mother, like all the leather stuff Spike bought me.  Though, she liked it when she helped me unpack.  She thought it was cute."  She grinned at her.  "Spike wanted me to look like a domme."

Kate giggled at that.  "I heard about Spike a few times."  She looked at Xander, who was scraping his plate.  "So, what're we doing today?"

"I've got to pick up the car from the painters.  Tony and I already went over all the inheritance stuff and what Wes wanted back.  Tony and I were going to reshelve and organize the library today too."  They laughed at that.  "I know, we have magic books all over the house."  He shrugged. "It happens."  He looked at them.  "I guess I can go shopping with you three if you wanted.  I used to get drug by Buffy and Willow often enough and I managed to find Tony really hot hunting clothes."

"I saw," Dawn said.  "Those jeans were nearly pornographic, Xander."  He just smirked.  "I can't believe you went hunting in the clubs.  Naughty, Xander.  Did you make him hot too?"

"Yeah.  We went salsa dancing and all that."  She giggled and Kate blushed.  "Sorry, don't mean to share too much."

"No, share away.  Tony's like my brother," she assured him happily, smirking just a bit evilly.

"She and Tony pick on each other," Abby agreed.  "This morning she picked on him about eating bratwurst for lunch."

"No, I said I'd bring lunch to him, not have sex in the office.  Gibbs might mind that."

The women all giggled, nodding at that.  Even Dawn knew he'd throw a fit over catching them having sex in the office.

"Go change into something respectable," Kate ordered.

"Yes, mom."  He got up to do that, coming down in a pair of jeans and a tight white t-shirt, but with the sweater being carried. "Just in case I get cold."

Dawn looked at the chenille sweater, then shook her head and took it from him, going to get him something better.  She came back down with one of his off-white knit ones, handing it over.  "There, that goes and won't make you look femme, because I SO don't want to get into a fight at the mall with some butch idiot who thinks you're a flaming queen."  She took his arm.  "Come on, ladies.  We're off to pick up the car."

Xander had to get free to grab his wallet, phone, and keys, but then let her call a cab so they could go.

***

Tony looked up, giving Xander a look like he was God when he got off the elevators with bags.  Since his desk was first in line he got given the first two bags, one of which was a clothier.  "The girls went shopping?"

"Yup, and they like the color of the mustang too. They thought the midnight blue with sparklies in it was very pretty."  He walked the next set to Gibbs, smirking at him.  "Your coffee wasn't featured today so I put in a new canister of the good stuff so you could make it here."  Then he handed some to Marquez and McGee, making them both smile.  "Just minor lunches."  He turned to look at Gibbs.  "I was told to tell you to tell Ducky, since he's not downstairs, that Dawn is back home with Kate and they're having tea with his mother today.  Dawn did get some *respectable* clothes at Kate's insistence but that she and Abby bonded over skirts.  Also, Kate made Abby get some new clothes too, and Abby dressed Kate.  Kate was going to come in but she needed to find a place to live first so she's doing that and she's got my cell if you need her."

"Thank you.  Good reporting.  Ducky's not downstairs?"

"He wasn't when I popped in."

"Hmm."  He picked up the phone and dialed Ducky's cell. No answer.  He looked at Tony, who hurriedly ate and got up, heading to check the morgue.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome, Boss.  I'm making lasagna tonight if you're making it back, which can be warmed up if it's a late night."

"Even better.  We'll see you later."

Tony came back.  "Boss, his desk is a mess."

"Ducky's a borderline neat freak," Xander told him.

"I know.  There's a mess of papers."

Xander picked up the phone and called Dawn's new cell.  "Is Ducky there?"  He listened.  "Thanks.  No, no worries, he stepped out for lunch and we're wondering."  He walked over to the free desk and pulled off his necklace.  "Get me a map and something of his.  Something he's worn or held a lot."  McGee got a street map, Tony got him something and he did the tracking spell.  "Here," he said, pointing at a spot.  "Somewhere in that block."

"Let's go," Gibbs said. There was no reason for Ducky to be there.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome, Boss."  He cleaned up his mess, tidied up the other desks, and smiled at the guys who came over to steal him to help them for a few minutes.  He didn't know how the other team had adopted him too but they were generally nice guys.  "How's his back?" he asked as he was drug.

"Just fine.  They're doing the final treatment this week then doing tests to make sure it's gone."  They put him in front of the computer.  "Can you type?"

"About thirty words a minute."

"Good enough.  You fill in the boxes.  It should be self explanatory."

"Okay.  I'll save them under a different name so you can check them before integrating them."  He looked over the blank form then started to type in stuff from the information sheets beside him.  He had done the same thing with their database and it wasn't much different.  He looked up a few sheets later, seeing the director staring at him. "I got asked to type for them."

"Ah.  I was wondering why you were here when Gibbs' whole team was gone."

"They drug me over.  I don't mind but I've got to head home in a bit to fix lasagna since I promised.  I'm waiting to make sure Ducky's fine."

"Good.  How's the first Academy class going?"

"The first one went okay.  I thought a few of them were stick-up-the-butt rules but they went okay."  That got a smirk.  "No way in hell I'm wearing a tie daily, director."

"We don't require it here.  Just there."  He nodded at the forms.  "You do that very well."

"We use a similar database."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "Any word on Ducky?"

"He's fine and they're bringing him back within a few minutes."  He stared at him.  "How's DiNozzo?"

"Recovered from the jet lag.  We had dinner last night and it was a happy time.  This morning we woke up to the full team in the house."  He looked at him again.  "Kate's got my cell if you wanted to talk to her."

"I'll remember that."  He left him alone, listening to Xander correct a few entries before he saved that one and moved on.  He was handy to have around.

***

Xander looked up as his house was invaded by his friends, smiling and pointing at the oven.  "Ten more minutes."

"You got back late," Gibbs said, yawning a bit.  "What happened?"

"The other team needed help inputting records. So I did that for two hours to clear their backlog."

"Good.  I'm sure they needed the help."  He watched as Tony kissed him on the head and checked on the food.  "He said ten minutes."

"Sorry, Boss, but lunch was a while ago."  He got himself and Xander a soda, then sat down.  "Ducky's fine but he's spending the night with his mother and Dawn."

"I figured he was or else I'd have gotten a call to join you guys at the hospital with Dawn and Kate."

"Good point."  Gibbs got himself a beer and McGee got a soda, handing half of it to Abby since she held out an empty glass.  He smiled at their antics.  "When do classes start again, Xander?"

"Next week, Boss."  He put down his book and stretched back. "Then I start the intense training times.  One guy did ask me about my eye but his boss called him off.  Who pulled what strings?"

"The director did," he admitted.  "Since it doesn't affect your daily routine."  He sipped his beer and got the lasagna out when the timer beeped, testing it with a knife from the drawer.  He put it back in for another five minutes.  Tony moaned. "Give it a few more, DiNozzo."

"Yes, Boss."  He looked at Xander.  "Is that all we're having?"

"There's a salad in the fridge," he offered with a smile.  The door was knocked on. "If you belong in here, get your ass in here!" he yelled.  Kate walked in with Marquez.  "Hey.  We're about to eat.  Clean up.  Abby, get the salad and stuff.  Tony, set the table.  Gibbs, clean up, you too, Fluffy."  They went to do their assigned tasks while he checked dessert.  Abby saw and hugged him.  "I figured we should celebrate," he told her.  "Anyone who wants wine, it's in the closet beside the cabinet," he said, pointing.  "We're having lasagna."

"Soda's good for me," Kate told him.  She got one and looked at the cake, then smiled at him.  "Thank you."

"Eeh, you're family."  He pulled the food out of the oven, letting it sit for two minutes so it'd be easier to cut and wouldn't burn him quite so badly, then he got to work dishing up portions.  "I need a bigger table," he joked, squeezing in between Abby and Tony.  Everyone nodded.

"Doesn't this one have an extender?" McGee asked.  Xander shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because I bought it way back when we moved here and it was only going to be me, Willow, and Eliana."  He ate a bite.  "More than big enough for that and the occasional guest slayers."

"Oh."

"Besides, he'd have to put it in the dining room and that means moving his desk and the altar," Tony joked.

"Well, we aren't using the training room as often," Marquez noted.  "Though I am still using it, Xander."

"You'd better be.  If the current ones die, it'll go back to one of you who got uncalled."

"Eliana's next according to Dawn.  I don't know how she knows, but she said so.  She also said that there'd be dual slayers for generations."

"That's fine with me," he agreed.  "Less work and stress for them both."  He ate another bite and smirked at her once he had swallowed.  "How's the mop-up going?"

"Good. We're back down to about twenty vamps in town that we know of.  There's only been two vampire deaths, one demonic related death, and one chaos sorcerer who committed suicide."

"Yes, it was Ethan," Gibbs said quietly.  "We think Jen and her happy group made him."

Xander nodded.  "Understood.  She'll get hers when Ripper finds out.  I thought they had been picked up or blew themselves up or something."

"No bodies found in the rubble and she's good enough to get around that," Kate told him. "So they're not sure, which is now my new job, Gibbs."  He smirked at her.  "Since you're involved and all."

"If I knew then what she'd turn into I wouldn't have done it," Gibbs noted dryly.

"Yes you would've," Tony told him.  "She was pretty, a redhead, and there all the time.  How could you have resisted?" he noted smugly.  Gibbs reached over to smack him across the back of the head again. "Thanks, Boss, I missed that while we were in England."

"I tried, but I just can't do it the same way you do," Xander told him with a grin.  Gibbs leaned over and got him too.  "Aww, now I feel loved."

"At least Dawn isn't here to ask if we're a threesome," Tony joked.

"Again," Xander finished.

"She's too young and she's a brunette, kids," he said, shaking his head.  "I missed the stress relief while you guys were gone.  McGee doesn't tell good jokes."

McGee looked at him.  "You never asked, Boss, but you're right.  A comedian I am not.  I'm much more focused on the drama than the humor."

Abby kissed him on the cheek.  "Which is why I love you, McGee.  You understand my darkness."

Xander looked at her.  "Would that be the coffin darkness or the other darkness?  Or the band Darkness with the guy who sounds like the love child of Tiny Tim?"

She burst out in giggles and so did Kate, who had to lean on Gibbs' shoulders to hold herself up.  "Now I see why you like him, Boss.  He's like a miniature Tony," Kate laughed.

He pushed her off, smirking at her.  "Plus he does paperwork and helps around the office.  He even tried to organize my desk for me."

"No, I did organize your desk for you.  Get it right, you're still using my filing system."

"Good point, I am."  He smiled at them.  "I don't know how we're going to handle it when you come in to work, Xander."

"Well, Gibbs, the director asked if I wanted to move to the other team," Marquez offered gently.  "I told him I'd talk to you about it because I wasn't sure."

He looked at her.  "Up to you.  You fit well and you and Kate seem to be able to get along well enough.  We've got room for you."

"They've been complaining about favoritism, Boss," McGee offered, then ate a bite of salad.  "You got her and Kate, plus Xander helping out whenever he's in.  They're jealous."

"They took me today to upload information sheets," Xander offered.  "I saved them in a separate file so he could look them over and then integrate them after he's checked through them."  He got a nudge so he started to eat again.  Abby could be so forceful sometimes.

"So, what were you guys doing last night when Dawn interrupted?" Abby hissed.  "She looked shocked then giggled really loudly."

"I know, that's when I hung up on her," Tony assured her.  Gibbs looked at them.  "She wanted to know what we were doing when Dawn called that made her giggle."

"No details," he reminded them.  "Either couple."  They all nodded.  "Thank you."  He looked at Kate.  "You missed it.  Harris would pop up with food randomly there for a few weeks.  The guards all know him by name now."  She grinned at that.  "Then about a month ago, he decides to pull a Ducky."

"Hey, it was a minor cyst with a zit.  I've taken them out before on the girls," Xander defended.  "Besides, Ducky was busy.  And it's a good thing I did."

"It was," he agreed. "You still removed a cyst with a dental pick in the office."

Kate looked at him.  "One of those cone cysts with the zit?"  He nodded.  "Dental pick?"

"Dig in and twirl, it comes out," he offered.  "Right in the middle of his back.  I came in to force Gibbs to relax first and I got asked to help the other team too."

Abby and Tony giggled.  "Seriously, Kate," McGee said at her shocked look.  "He walks in, hauls Gibbs out of his chair before he can complain, turns the chair around, makes him sit back down, forcing him to sit back down, then got to work on his back and shoulders since he was having trouble moving.  Someone called him from the lab when he couldn't pick up something.  Ten minutes later you hear this really deep growl of pleasure and Xander lets him go."  He looked at him.  "Can I have one for my birthday this year?  You can have Abby and Tony in the room," he offered at the hesitant look.  "I'd never cheat with you.  I couldn't play with your hair."  Abby blushed at that.

"Sure, Fluffy, I can do that," he agreed happily.  "I did pass my practicals and am fully licensed now to do massage therapy."

Kate smiled.  "We're going to love having you around the office on the bad weeks."

"And on the good weeks, he and Tony will pick on you for a change," McGee finished, making Tony and Xander chuckle.  "Please?"

"If we must," Xander sighed.

"Why do you call him Fluffy?" Kate asked.

"I'm horrible with names.  After calling my girlfriend by Dawn's older sister's name, everyone got a nickname.  Except Gibbs.  I couldn't come up with one that wasn't overtly sexual and he wouldn't kick my ass for."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Since the first time I met McGee he seemed really fluffy and light, plus a bit pudgy at that time, he got to be Fluffy while this one didn't introduce himself for two days so he became Pretty Boy.  The boss came out to handle the case when McGee brought the prisoner back from Santa Clara so they both watched me hunting and decided I was only partially insane."

"You seem mostly sane to me," she offered.  She looked at Gibbs.  "Who replaced me?"

"Ziva David, Mossad," he said, looking at her.

"Was that Shepard's idea?"  He nodded.  "Damn.  Who was it supposed to be?"  He pointed at Marquez.  "Hell, at least you finally got someone good."

"Ziva was good, but she was very lone wolf," Tony told her.  "Not used to working in a team at all.  Couldn't stand being teased."

"She had that problem with american slang too," McGee reminded him.

"Plus she thought she was immortal and bulletproof on occasion," Abby added.  "She was decent enough but she wasn't you and we didn't give her a real chance."

"That was mean," Kate told her.

"Yeah, well, she wasn't you and she was covering for Ari there for a bit," Gibbs told her.  "She ended up shooting him, but I don't think any of us forgave her for that."

"He's dead, right?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Good.  Very good."

"Next to the boat.  Ziva shot him," Tony told her.

"Even better!" she agreed happily.  She looked at Xander.  "So you met them just after Ziva showed up?"  He nodded.

"Within weeks," Tony told her.  "This old case of arms dealing got broken open.  It came from our office so we got to find the leads in the other territories.  This one guy was a total shitbag."  Xander nodded heavier at that as he ate another bite.  "We found him working construction. He had been doing really creative accounting, still dealing arms and some limited drugs, plus sleeping with young teenagers.  Plus helping in an insurance scam on this last job of his."

"The same day they got there," Xander said, licking his fork off, "my company sent me to fix the site.  So it was my first day.  After a few minutes I realized what the problem was and handcuffed him to a fence while we went figured out how to fix everything and how deep it went.  They spent a week haunting the site and finding all the civy and military connections since it was a joint case.  I fed you then too," he reminded Tony.

"And made me paranoid.  First night there, Kate, and this one has to go handle some vampires on the beach at the request of the cops.  Now, I'm there alone because McGee brought the prisoner back here.  Gibbs didn't get in until really early the next morning.  So I followed him in case it became pertinent to the case.  I saw him sitting on the hood of a police car shooting vampires with a crossbow.  Then I spent the rest of the night huddled in my motel room with my gun in hand."

"I wasn't about to come over and tuck you in," Xander told him.  "A bit of paranoia is good now and then.  Gets the blood flowing to handle quarterly apocalypses."

"Your blood flows just fine without going back to help," Tony assured him firmly.

"Unless they need me."

"Fine.  I'll agree with that.  If they need you, you can go."  He looked at Kate again.  "Gibbs comes in the next morning and I'm still awake.  So I hear him knock on Xander's door.  Because I told him I had seen him hunting and killing things.  My mind was just running around in circles at that and seeing the vampires turn to dust instead of bleed and scream.  Xander here isn't intimidated by Gibbs. Told him he'd seen more scary things that were pink and four feet high."  She giggled at that.  "Then he heads off to work and we've got to go back to the site to get more of the records and have him explain a few of the forms to us so we know where he's been hiding money."

"Then Ziva showed up," Xander said dryly.  "Hell's mistress."

"Yeah, he threw her off the site a few times," Tony said proudly.  "He couldn't let her into the trailer since we had the only key and it was being considered an active crime scene.  She tried to threaten and boss him around in front of his crew.  He kicked her ass and kicked her off the site.  The second time we were there, he knocked her down and drug her off, then picked the lock on her car and shoved her into it before going back to work. She had no idea how to deal with him."

"Which is why I sent her back," Gibbs agreed. "Xander was mostly respectful to me and DiNozzo, but he mouthed off to him every chance he got."

"I needed a playmate to take my mind off the magic radiation sickness I had," Xander defended.  "You two were the pervs who tracked me and the succubus around the boardwalk and watched her work."

"No, that was him," Gibbs assured him.

"You're the one who wanted to interrupt them, Boss.  I fled when I saw what she was doing.  Then he made me dance with Bob, her incubus cousin."

Xander just grinned at him.  "At least you weren't that wary of dancing with me when we went out hunting."

"Until the salsa club when you nearly had me there on the floor," he complained.  Xander just kissed him gently and grinned.  "Was that a date?"  Xander nodded.  "I thought so."

"Yes, that was his plan to woo you, Tony," Abby told him.  "Dates after hunting, or special moments during hunting, special lunches at work, special treats between the two."

"I nearly got tickets to Six Flags," Xander agreed. "I wasn't sure if that would count as being too far away or not."

Gibbs nodded. "It would.  You'd have to take a weekend and let me know first."

"Then again, with this team's luck, you'd find a body down there," Kate added with a grin.  "We did when I took the day to visit Williamsburg."

Gibbs nodded. "You did.  I was impressed with that."

"Me too."

"I was just happy that you didn't call five minutes earlier this morning, Boss," Tony said dryly.  "How many times did you try to get me in England?"

"I started to twice.  No going back?"

"Wes said to give the house to the Council.  But they paid me for it.  Wes took something from underneath it to live on and he had full access to the Council's funds in his name.  So he's straightened out their stuff.  I'm nearly done with my energy study, and then I get to present the official Chronicles of the DC Hellmouth."  He looked at Marquez.  "Which means, Adrian, I need some input sometime this week."

"Yes, Xander."

"Good.  How is Eliana's father doing in traction?"

"Not very happy but he knew better than to try to hit her.  The DA decided not to press charges since she was defending herself, even if she did carry on.  Especially with his past and the former restraining order.  She's moving onto campus this fall and she's working this summer."

"Good for her," Xander agreed. "Dawn's job?"

"Taking care of Ducky's mom when he's not there," Gibbs told him.  "He's paying her a bit but not a lot."

"It's a job and something she needs," Xander said with a shrug.  "I didn't expect her to make Enron money doing it at her age."

"What about you?" McGee asked.

"Starting next week I start the intense, sixteen week, hardcore lessons at the Academy," Xander told him.  "Fortunately it's not a live-in program and I've already passed my range and computer tests.  They're going to be letting me out of those for specialist classes.  We're still trying to figure out what I'm taking."

"Bombs are good," Gibbs offered.  "We could use someone with those skills.  Watch out for the instructor though.  The first day, listen.  You'll be disarming the one under your chair."

"Decent," Xander agreed.  "I may already be able to do that but good."  He grinned at him.  "What else do I need to take?"

"We've got computers and that stuff covered," Kate told him. "Adrian and I do profiling.  No one does cults but we don't really need them."

"I've studied a bit on that," Xander admitted. "You have a lot of them formed on this side of normalcy."  They all nodded, accepting that.  "I'll let them guide me then."  He shrugged.  "They don't like my earrings.  I already told someone to stuff it."

"You can't wear them at work," Gibbs reminded him.

Xander looked at him.  "The director said I didn't have to wear a tie.  He never said a thing about the earrings or the hair when I talked to him earlier and it's not like they're unnoticeable."

"Regs state you can't," Kate told him.  "I can't for that matter."  Xander nodded.  "So put them in after work as you walk out."

"Oh, I do now and then," he admitted.  "At least they quit teasing me about my nipple ring.  Frank, the guard Frank, got onto the new guy about that when he caught him."

Tony choked.  "For what reason?"

"Said it was unfair.  The regs say no earrings, said nothing about other ones.  Then he pointed out plenty of people had multiple piercings these days. The guy admitted he had one too but that he didn't expect agents to.  So Frank assured him he knew about at least seven genital piercings in the building at that moment and another dozen or so nipple rings, plus some discreet earrings and piercings in other places.  The guy looked stunned and he said they might need them to relax after a long day.  Then the new guy asked about Gibbs' team and I had to shrug and say I knew Abby had some but otherwise he'd have to ask."  Gibbs choked on that.

"I wondered why I got handwanded," McGee said dryly.

"If he touched you, I'm going to smack him," Abby assured him.

Gibbs went back to coughing and choking.  "You can tell him we don't, kid," he said, calming himself down.

"Speak for yourself," Adrian and Kate said in unison.  Xander just beamed at them.

"Hey!  You said I could go with you!" Abby complained to her buddies.  "Where was I?"

"Trying on that blue dress," Xander told her.

"Oh, well, that's good then," she admitted.  "But the next one I get to go."  Adrian looked at her.  "Trust me, they're like chips.  No one has just *one*."  She smiled at Kate.  "I went with her when she got the tattoo."

"I need to redo the Taz on my chest over the scar tissue," Xander said, pouting a bit.

"They said they wanted the scar tissue to smooth out some more,"  Kate reminded him.  He nodded at that. "What happened to your back?"

"Don't.  Ask."

"Okay."  She left it there.

"He's got exes that make a few of mine look sane," Gibbs told her. She moaned at that.

"Hell, I had a few casual ones that made Cordy look sane," Xander quipped.

"I met Cordelia," Kate assured him.  "I didn't think that was possible."

"Did you get to meet Anya on the astral plane?" he asked.  She nodded slowly. "I nearly married her."  She got up and hugged him.  "Thanks. I left her at the altar."

"It was the best decision of your life," she assured him.  Then she hugged Tony.  "You're much better for him."  She went back to her seat, but got up to get more lasagna.  "Xander, want some more?"

"Please."  He handed over his plate and she dished it up.  "Thank you."  He smiled at her.  "If you need my help, you know where I am."

"I'll call."  Gibbs' phone rang.  "Another one already?"  She sat down to dig in.

Tony finished his meal and stole a kiss when he got up, McGee doing the same with Abby and his plate.  Then they followed him out, Marquez right behind them.  "Why can't Kate start coming, Boss?" he complained.

"She's on probation until they do the paperwork," he said plainly.  "It'll be early next week."  He closed the door behind them.

Xander grinned at her. "Does that mean you get to make fun of the orientation lectures again?" he asked.  "They told me the bidet story."

She giggled and nodded. "Yup, all next week."  She ate another bite.  "You do this pretty well."

"Which is good considering I don't cook," he admitted.  "This is the only thing I can make."  He ate another bite.  "I did do good this time."  He grinned at Abby.  "When do you get called in?"

"It depends on what's going on." Her phone rang and she sighed. "I guess I am needed. I'll see you guys in a few days."  She hugged them both and bounced out.

Kate looked at him.  "Need help picking out stuff for classes?"  He nodded.  "Can we eat in the living room?"

"I do most of the time."  He got up and grabbed another soda for himself, heading out there.  He saw the person on his lawn and sighed, going to get something from his office, handing her his spare gun.  "Here.  See, Initiative," he said, pointing at her.  He lifted his gun and blatantly cocked it, staring down Jen Shepard. She backed up.

Kate did the sensible thing.  She called Gibbs.  "You'll never believe which of your exes is on the front lawn."  She winced at the squeal of brakes. "Don't crash.  I can't put up with you in the hospital this week, not that and orientation again, Gibbs."  She looked at Xander.  "Handcuffs?"

"Sure."  He walked her upstairs to get the toybox out, letting her pick what she wanted.  "I gave my old ones to Abby and McGee.  I didn't want to use what I used on Anya on Tony."

She smiled at that and found some things that would do for now, then took him outside to help her.  "Federal agents, freeze!" she ordered, pointing her gun at the group laying the bomb.

"Um, just for future reference, the house is warded so it won't explode," he noted happily, waving at them.  "I am that good most of the time."  He pounced one and got them down, then got the next one while Kate got a few.  He looked at the bomb and remembered what Tony had ordered him to not do.  He considered it for a second, then carefully lifted it up and took it into the middle of the street, leaving it out there.  Then he moved his bike and his car.  A few neighbors came out.  "Bomb," he called, pointing at it.  Most of them moved their cars too.  A few apparently wanted new cars, and one moved hers closer.  He smiled at that and grinned at Kate, shaking his head. They both ducked when it went off, dusting the little bits of road and car off themselves while they waited.  Gibbs pulled up and Xander pointed.  "Bomb," he called.  "I didn't do more than move it this time. You can't yell at me for disarming it."  He knocked one of the moving people down, then looked at Tony again, who was scowling.  "I was a good boy and I warned the neighbors."

"Uh-huh."  He came over to start rehandcuffing people, letting Xander have the sex toys. "Clean those before you put them back, Xander."

"Yes, Tony."

"Are you cops?" one of the neighbors asked Gibbs.

"Federal agent, ma'am.  NCIS."  He flashed his ID.

"Oh, we were wondering why such a nice boy had these sort of problems."  She moved closer.  "You might want to make him move the claymore launcher away from the window," she said delicately, pointing.  "My grandson saw it and asked."

"I'll have him do that immediately, ma'am.  Thank you."  He walked over there and glared at Xander.  "The window isn't covered."  He looked up and Xander 'eeped' and went to move the weapons away from the windows.

"Abby and I were looking at them, Gibbs," Kate told him. "Its our fault."

"He should've checked," he muttered as he came over to lend some cuffs.  He walked around Jen's limp body.  "She alive?"

"Unfortunately, Boss," Tony agreed dryly.  "I think someone punched her."

"Yeah, once or twice," Kate agreed happily. She smoothed some of her hair back behind her ears.  "Is someone coming to take them away?"

"Yeah, they're behind us.  McGee went to start the other case, with an excuse that we were in the middle of one ourselves so we'd be there as soon as possible."  He looked at her.  "He moved the bomb?"  She nodded.  "Why?"

"He said something about not getting yelled at for disarming it this time."

"Yeah, he disarmed one a few months back without telling us there was one," Tony admitted.  "The first thing we knew, there was a cop asking for his smaller wire clippers for him."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "Good.  We could use someone like that. He can train to be Gibbs, the next generation."  She smirked at their boss.  "But we love you anyway."

"I warn people when I run into explosives, Todd.  You know that."  He handcuffed the last one and looked at the SWAT truck as it pulled up.  "He put it in the middle of the street."

"And someone's car didn't get moved," Kate told them.  They nodded, going to look at the remains of the explosive.  She looked at Gibbs, smiling at him.  "She moved it closer," she told him.  He shrugged, they didn't deal in insurance fraud.  The companies had people for that.  Xander came back out and she smiled at him. "You move pretty well for just starting your training."

"Practice.  Lots and lots of practice."  He hugged her.  "Are you okay?"

"Just fine, Xander. I'm one tough girl."

"Yeah, but they have hard heads."  He let her go and looked at Tony.  "I didn't disarm it and she already knew it was here."

"You're still in trouble for moving it."

"Sorry."  He went to tell the guys that he had moved it, letting them fingerprint him just in case for a comparison sample.  When asked why the bomb had been planted he grinned and referred them to Gibbs, then escaped back inside to finish his dinner. It was going to be a good night.

***

Xander bounced into the headquarters building, smiling and giddy.  Frank did a quick hand wand, one hand holding him down, then handed over his usual pass.  Xander wasn't often in these moods but apparently it was good news, unlike last time when he was waiting on exam scores.  Xander bounced all the way up to the bullpen, making the security guards just shake their heads and smile.  Gibbs could use some lightening up today.  Their present case was making him bitchy.  Xander came off and strolled over there, standing in front of Gibbs since he was glaring at McGee from the edge of his desk.

"What?" he sighed.

"It's closed."

"Excuse me?"

"It's closed," he repeated quietly.  "Fully closed and switched back.  They managed it this weekend.  We're now in mop-up operations."  Gibbs smirked and nodded at that.  "Also, we've got one extra girl coming in to deal with that area for Eli since she's doing so much homework and you make Adrian work so hard.   So it's nearly over with."

Gibbs patted him on the cheek.  "Good work, Harris.  Any other good news?"

"I passed."  He beamed and hugged him.  "I passed so high it's not funny!"  He bounced off, grinning at Tony before disappearing.  He came back to the end of the aisle.  "Oh, Willow's staying out there to talk to Angel about the special weapons stuff they might be needing.  I'm not sure what's going on about that."  He ducked back out and headed home, still bouncy and happy.

"See, if you can make my day that way, I'll reward you later too," Gibbs ordered McGee.  He looked at DiNozzo.  "You get out early tonight if we're done early."  That got a shy grin and a nod.

"Thanks, Boss."  He finished what he was searching.  "Boss, he was listed on multiple personal sites as being a bad date," he offered, putting that up on the main screen, laying them so they could look at each one.  "Could be motive for kicking his ass and then chopping him into big chunks."

"I've seen people do it for less than that," Gibbs admitted.  He looked at McGee.  "Get back to work."

"Yes, Boss."  He got back to work cracking the guy's computer.

"DiNozzo, find out who his last few were from his very chatty coworker that was trying to hit on you earlier."

"On it, Boss."  He got up and went to do that, it always worked better in person.

***

Xander looked up as someone seemingly appeared next to him, raising an eyebrow.  He should be in the house alone.  Willow had been in LA for over two weeks now to check on the rumor of Bringers.  "Dawn," he said cautiously, backing away from the smiling girl.  He had seen that look on Buffy's face too many times to not be wary of it. "What're you doing in DC?"

"I'm here to help," she said cheerfully.  "Angel's paying my way fully so you only have to help me prom and clothing shop and then send him the bills, and I'm to take over for the girl that is coming to do mop up, which is pretty decent.  Since the Sunnydale hellmouth reopened, things have been going weird and Giles wanted me out of LA again."  She shrugged.  "Guess what you get to do," she said happily.

Xander walked off muttering uncomplimentary things about the vampires in his life, going to call everyone to come over to dinner, peeking his head out of the study.  "When is Taylor getting here?"

"An hour ago; she's with Eli pigging out on ice cream and crepes."

"Wonderful.  Thanks for the warning, Dawn."  He went back to his call, hearing a growl.  "Bad day?" he asked dryly.  "Yup, a reason.  New girl's here for mop up and Dawn's in if you guys wanted to meet the hyper one. Yes, worse than me, Gibbs.  Trust me on this.  No, I was thinking dinner actually.  You know that thing where you all come over and eat?  That thing?  As in I'll splurge and buy since I'm stealing Tony for six days?"  He grinned. "I thought you might remember that sensation, yes.  So, sometime tonight. Any idea what you want?"

"Roast," Dawn called.  "I can cook."

"Fat chance," he yelled back.  Then he giggled. "Sorry, she just threatened to cook.  No, a roast."

She came to the doorway of the study.  "I *can* cook, Xander.  Really."  He gave her a look.  "I promise.  If not, you can order tacos or something.  'Kay?"  she smiled sweetly.  "Are they rice, pasta, or potatoes people?"

"Gibbs said potatoes and it'd be about eight by the time they got back to the office," he offered as he hung up.  "Who taught you how to cook?"

"Gunn's last girlfriend."  She smirked and walked back into the kitchen, then came back.  "Money."

"For?" he asked, looking amused.

"Well, for starters, wine and herbs?"

He walked her back into the kitchen, opening the cabinet with the stash of wine and then the cabinet Ducky hid the herbs and things in.  He waved at them and smirked.  "No need."  He got into the freezer and pulled out something marked 'roast', handing it over.  She looked then shook her head, putting it back and picking out another one.  "There's six of them and they missed lunch, Dawnie."

She yawned and shrugged, then went to get a second one.  "That was a pork roast, not a pot roast.  Pig, not cow."  She finished fetching and hefting to her work area, then got to work defrosting and getting things ready for her to actually cook.

Xander sat down to watch, having a very bad feeling about this.  "Where are you living since I only have *a* bedroom here?" he asked.

"Your attic.  Angel said so," she said smartly.  "By the way, no Catholic school for the love of the Goddess," she moaned.  He rolled his eyes.  "Goth school, cool school, punk school, even a gang school, just not a damn Catholic school.  Angel tried that and I nearly punched the nun for being a stupid bitch about history.  She tried to tell me that Jesus was there during the Battle of Chancellorsville."

"So you got expelled?" he asked with a smirk.  She grimaced and nodded.  "Angel's reaction was....?"

"You're seeing it.  Since she also claimed Joan of Arc was reborn as Hillary Swank, let's not go there."  She looked down the hallway when the door opened.  "Hey, back here, cutie."  She got back to work, magically defrosting the meat when the microwave wasn't doing it fast enough.  Xander just snorted.  "Hey, I'm like you only I learned from someone other than Wes."  She turned the roast into the pan, letting it brown with the herbs and wine she had been heating up while she worked on the defrosting.   She stared at the guy in the doorway.  "I'd shake your hand but I'd have to wash them first," she quipped, smiling at him.

"Who are you?" McGee said slowly.

"Dawn," Xander said, shrugging a bit.  "Dawn, this is McGee.  He's Abby's before you even think about it."

"He's too old for me, Xander.  I love you but I don't need a daddy figure.  I need a boyfriend who'll take my bad ass dancing and be happy with me in the teen clubs since I'm not old enough to get into the real ones without my fake ID."

"Um, I'm a fed, you might not want to mention that around us," McGee said, looking confused.

"Buffy's little sister.  Willow had custody of her and she was staying with Angel.  He sent her out here after she got kicked out of Catholic school for nearly hitting the nun."

"Ah."  He nodded and moved closer.  "I'm Tim.  I work with Tony."

"I've talked with Tony and Gibbs," she said happily, grinning at him.  "I'm not here to replace Willow.  I'm here to study under Xander.  I'm going to be a watcher some day and I'll be damned if I'm going to clothe my fashionable ass in tweed."  He smiled at that.  "So, yeah, I'm here for my last year of high school and then...well, we'll see about college."

"Yes, there is one if your future or else I'm going to beat you," Xander said simply. "We're still going to have to do something about you having a room.  There's very little heat in the attic."

"I can have a minor room down here," she offered.

"Which would be my study," he noted dryly. "We'll figure it out later. You can sleep on the couch tonight.  Altar's in my study."  She nodded and finished browning the meat before putting it into a pan and pouring the juices with it. Then it went into the oven and she got to work on the vegetables.  "Who was Gunn dating?  A chef?" he asked as he watched her work.

"Yuppers.  She runs a small, down-home place near the shelter."  She shrugged and went back to cleaning the food.  "I thought you guys were going to be here late," she said, looking at McGee.

"They are, I took today off since I don't feel good."

"He and Wills were close, Dawnie.  We just heard about Willow's death last night."

She nodded.  "Understood.  I took a great many of those days after mom and sis died."  She hugged him, carefully keeping her hands away from him.  "It'll be okay.  Now she can be a guardian angel and really mess things up for you."  She grinned when he laughed and got back to work, looking down the hall as the door opened again.  "Wow, more real people.  Good.  Come on back."

"Who're you?" Abby asked.  "And why were you hugging my boyfriend."

"First, *way* too old for me, sweetie," she said with a smirk.  "Second, I'm Dawn.  I'm here for magic support and to learn to be a watcher under Xander so I don't have to wear tweed.  I'm also helping with tracking the girls who were released from the slayer line when Willow died and her spell went with her. Which means Eliana and I are working together a lot.  By the way, the new girl for mop-up is there with her."  She grinned.  "You are?"

"Abby."  She shook her hand.  "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too.  He was having a bad moment and needed a hug.  I'm like that.  So was my mom."

"So Ducky said."

"Ducky's here?" she asked, starting to bounce.  "Where?  I haven't seen him in *years*!  I missed his stories and he gives the *best* hugs!  Is he coming over, Xander?"

"I can call and ask," he noted dryly.  He called the phone over to his hand and dialed, smiling at the gruff voice.  "Dawn's cooking dinner and wanted you over sometime tonight so she could cuddle and hear more stories.  No, for good.  Apparently Angel didn't like that she got kicked out of Catholic school for disputing the nun and nearly hitting her for saying Hillary Swank was really Joan of Arc. Yeah, as in she's here for at least a year," he offered with a grin.  "No, right now she's bouncing around and putting out the 'I hugged your boyfriend' fires she started when McGee needed one and Abby walked in."  Both women looked at him so he grinned.  "Sure, whenever.  Drag Gibbs too.  He thought I was bad?" he offered with an evil smirk.  "Thanks, Ducky."  He hung up.  "The case included a dead body so he'll be in with the rest of the group."

"Cool."  She got back to work, bouncing around the kitchen like she was on springs.

"Do you eat pen springs for breakfast?" Abby asked.  "I've never met anyone more hyper than me."

"Get Xander up on about six candy bars," Dawn said with a grin.  "He's worse than me.  I calm down on chocolate."  McGee got up and found the stash, handing one of the bars to her, making both women giggle and share it.  "Thank you, teddy bear."

"Man!  Not another one," he complained.

"I call him Fluffy," Xander said with a grin.  Dawn and Abby both snickered at that. "It's not like I don't have a problem with names," he complained.

McGee looked at him.  "How hard is mine?"

"He once called Cordy Buffy," Dawn said.  "It comes for a very good reason, trust me.  The wicked bitches of Sunnydale hounded him for weeks about that and that was the start of the wishverse incident where we got to see the vampire Xander and Willow.  Trust me, not of the happy making for most of us, though it did make Willow see she could appreciate the girl lovin'.  She called herself scary and kinda gay."  McGee cracked a smile at that.  "You can remember her how she was, including fussy, cranky, and chronically starved for attention.  I do.  I have the same thoughts about Buffy and Mom.  Only my mom was nice and well, Buffy was Buffyish.  Oh, Xander, Faith said if she's going to be coming in you've got to take her out."

"I'm dating a guy." She dropped her knife and stared at him, so he shrugged and nodded.  "I am."

"Uh-huh.  This is news I should've heard long before now so I can threaten his ass.  Where is he?"  She tapped a foot, crossing her arms over her chest to get the maximum effect.

"He'll be here with the rest of them tonight," Abby offered with a smile.  "You never told her?"

"I never hid it.  I mentioned it a few times I know.  I guess Angel never told her."

She snorted.  "Please!  Angel thought I was a damn infant!  I wasn't even allowed to wear baby heels and we all know I can manage an all nighter at the club in three inch ho-heels.  I couldn't wear a belly shirt.  I couldn't wear a skirt shorter than my calves. Not my knees, my calves," she said bitterly.  "I was going to be as insane as Dru in a few more days and Spike was worse!  Hello, do I *look* like a dominatrix?  Because that's all he got me when I needed clothes and then I had to listen to Angel choke, splutter, rant at Spike, and tell me to change.  Though I did look good in those leather pants," she admitted after a second's thought.  "Them with my heels?  I looked damn hot."  She shrugged and picked up the knife to toss in the sink then got another one and got back to work.  She tested the meat, then closed the oven and pulled out a pot for the vegetables to start on.  The potatoes went into the roast with the carrots a few minutes later, but the rest was fixed on top of the stove.  "Do you not eat anything but takeout?"  she demanded when she saw the inside of the fridge.

"It's not like I cook," Xander reminded her.  "Besides, single guy.  I occasionally cook for Tony but otherwise, yes, I live on takeout."

She and Abby shared a look.  "Some days, you just wanna smack 'em for being so damn stupid," she muttered.  Abby grinned and nodded, getting up to help her.  "Find another bottle of that wine," she ordered Xander.  "We're having it with dinner."

"Yes, mother," he complained, going to do that for her. Hey, it got him out of the house!  By the time he got home, the rest of the crew was there.  "Got out early, Boss?" he asked as he moved past Tony with a wink.  "She just showed up, it wasn't my idea," he noted.  He walked into the kitchen and handed over the two bottles of wine.  "For you.  Anything else?"

"Set the table?" she suggested.  He rolled his eyes.  "Whichever of you is getting the Xander-lovin' had better appear in here now or else I hunt your ass down to give you the threatening speech and prove I can use the knives in here!" she called.  Tony stuck his head in and she smiled.  "Well, he has good taste.  Come on in, sweetie."  She looked him over, then at Xander.  "Very nice taste."

"He likes my bike too," he said smugly.  "Plus he cuddles."

She looked at him.  "Got a younger brother about my age?" she asked.  He shook his head quickly.  "Damn.  Okay."  She looked in the drawer next to her and pulled out a cleaver, then threw it at him, hitting just beside his head.  "Now imagine what I can do when I take that to your, notably, hot bod if you hurt him," she said with an evil smirk.  "I *am* his family and if you hurt him, you won't have to worry about the pink pony vampire Spike or any of the others who like Xander.  I'm first in line and I'll be last in line and it'll take *months*."  She moved closer, staring him down.  "Are we clear?"  He nodded quickly.  "Good."  She took the cleaver out of the wall.  "Help him set the table."  She looked at the other guy. "Hi.  Who're you?  Or is he hiding some really hot threesome?"

"Gibbs.  We've spoken a few times, Dawn."

She squealed and hugged him.  "Hi."  She bounced back to the stove, checking the meat. "Where's Ducky?" she asked with a pout.

"He had to check on his mother then he'll be over," Gibbs assured her. "He said he missed you too."  He walked into the kitchen now that it was safe.  "How was LA?"

"Cranky.  Lots and lots of cranky people.  Then again, I kinda got expelled for nearly punching the delusional nun, but that's okay in my life.  My sister once burned down her school's gym."  He blinked a few times.  "Remember, I'm Buffy's little sister."  Xander shuddered at that.  "I saw that!"

"Dawn, calm down.  Don't scare Gibbs.  We like Gibbs.  The same as we like Tony, we gang up on McGee all the time," Abby told her.

Dawn smiled at her.  "Can you help me find a *cool* school to go to?"

She nodded.  "There's a few good choices, including a Catholic school that's nearly full of Wiccans."

"Wow.  Much more liberal than LA."  She hugged her and then went to check the meat.  "Thermometer, Xander?"

"Upstairs in the field kit?" he offered.

"Meat thermometer?" she tried again.  Gibbs found it and handed it over.  "Thank you."  She stuck it brutally into the rear end of one of the roasts.  "Hmm.  Meat butt is done."  She pulled it out and put it on the counter to rest, then got to work finishing off everything else.

Gibbs walked over to stand next to Xander.  "Tell me you didn't adopt her," he muttered.  Xander shook his head. "She's studying to become you?"  Xander nodded.  "You sure you can handle a teenager?"

Xander looked at him.  "I can, the question is where is she going to sleep?  Unless she wants to sleep with the weapons...."  He shrugged.  "I have not a clue, Gibbs."  He pulled Tony over to kiss him.  "I missed you last night."

"I missed you too."  He grinned at him.  "How long?" he mouthed.  Xander shrugged.  He groaned.  "We're leaving for England when?"

"Two days," he said happily.  He grinned at Gibbs.  "You can borrow Dawn to crack jokes around the office and she's made more than one man give up and tell her all their secrets.  Of course, the last time I knew about that I had to save her skinny butt."

Gibbs shook his head. "I think I can manage to scare them."

"You're not scary to me," Dawn said with a grin.  "Scary is Spike at noon when he's got insomnia and he's arranging your clothes for you so he can play with them.  Or when Angel can't sleep and you find him wandering around like a zombie on crack.  Which aren't too unhappy of zombies to be around," she offered happily, finishing off the corn and putting it aside.  "Okay, who carves?"

"I do," Gibbs told her.  "Being the leader has privileges."  She handed him the knife she had been using and got out of the way while she found serving dishes and put things out on the table.

Tony looked at the food. "I'm glad I missed lunch today," he noted finally.

She snickered.  "Xander is known for being a bottomless pit," she told him, going to get the meat, ducking under Gibbs' arm since he was carrying something else.  She got the vegetables out and put into another serving dish then brought that over, sitting down in the empty spot.  "Do we need another spot for Ducky?"

"He might be a bit longer," Gibbs told her.  "If so, we can always get him a plate and a chair."  She nodded and said a quick grace, then dug into the food, handing it off as she took some.  "So, you're here for how long?"

She smiled. "Until Angel needs me or until Xander kills me.  I refuse to be a watcher like Giles and wear tweed. So I'm taking 'how to be Xander' lessons.  How'm I doing?" she asked with a grin.

"Pretty good actually," Tony admitted, handing Xander the food with a smile.  "She's a lot like you."

"Hey, I try," she said with a smirk for him.  "So, you're the boyfriend.  What do you do?" she asked before taking a bite of dinner.

"I work with Gibbs at NCIS.  Most of us are his team and then Ducky's the unit's ME."

"I guess that's cool.  So, you do what?" she asked again.

He smiled.  "We investigate crimes against and from marines and sailors, Dawn."

"Oh, cool."  She looked at Gibbs.  "I knew you were military but not what sort."

"Marine," he said smugly.  "You thinking about joining?"

"The day they get spiked heel boots and decent clothes," she shot back.  He laughed at that.  "Xander, would you mind really a whole  lot if I actually got a job?"

"No, you're going to get a job," he assured her.  "A nice part time, after school job.  I'll be damned if you're turning into your sister, the princess."  She squealed and got up to hug him.  "Thanks. Where's your stuff?  Since I haven't tripped over the numerous suitcases?"

"Eli's."  She sat down again. "Sorry, but Angel thought jobs went along with skirts shorter than thirty inches, no-nos for Dawns that would make me be a naughty girl."  She ate another bite and looked at him. "Do you know the good teen clubs?"  He nodded. "Will you show me?"

"After I get back from England."

"Oh.  Sure.  Want me to house and book sit?"

"Someone would have you check on you," he reminded her.  "I doubt Giles would allow it any other way."  She nodded at that.  "If someone will at least call to check on you, then yes, you may stay while we're in England."  She beamed at him.  "If not, we'll talk to Eliana's mom."

"Sure.  She already said I could squat in Eli's room since she's going to start living on campus next semester."

"Which is this fall, dawn," he reminded her.

"Oops.  So I should've waited to abuse the nun?"  He nodded.  "Damn."  She sighed.  "Sorry, Xander."

"Not an issue.  We deal.  Even if you do end up living in the basement.  Because I don't want you overtop of my bedroom at night.  There's no telling what I'll hear from you having fun."  She blushed and ate another bite of food. "Hey, I'm realistic, but the first time you bring someone home, expect me to at least beat their ass, if not kill them, if I find you having sex in the house.  And by the way, there had better at least be one type of birth control in your system.  I'm not raising Dawn babies."

She nodded.  "I'm using two and they're pretty foolproof but I haven't liked anyone that much yet."

"Waiting is good," McGee assured her.  "That means you know what you want."  He looked at Xander.

Who snickered.  "Man, Faith jumped my ass.  It was over so fast I didn't get to blink.  It was also fairly non-consensual.  She just grabbed me and went then kicked me out."

"TMI," Dawn told him.  "Really, really TMI."

Tony smiled at Xander.  "It's better now."

"It is, it's much better. I like the better that it is now," he agreed happily.  "You're helping me pack tonight."

"I was going to go back and paint."

Xander pulled him in for a deep, sucking kiss.  "You're helping me pack," he said slowly and clearly.  "Then if you can walk you can go paint."  He smiled and Tony chuckled, kissing him again.  "Thank you."  He looked at Gibbs, who had just groaned.  "Sorry, Boss."

"No, it's okay.  That wasn't really graphic.  Thank you for that, Xander." He looked at Tony.  "You really should stay over, that way you're happier tomorrow since we've got to do that shooting review."

"Crap," he muttered.  "I forgot.  I'll be in at eight, able to walk, Boss."

"Good.  Though if you aren't, can I stand in the corner to see the director's looks at you?" Abby asked.

He gave her head a shove.  "You'd enjoy it too much."

Dawn looked over as someone knocked on the door, pouncing up and running to hug him.  "Ducky!"  She launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging.

"Oh, dear, Dawn," he said, walking the girl inside and closing the door behind them.  He patted her on the back.  "I've missed you as well, Dawn. How have you been?"  He let her down but didn't let go.

"Angel was mean.  I couldn't wear heels, skirts at knee length, and I couldn't go clubbing."  She pulled back to smile at him.  "And I'm here for at least a year.  I'm taking 'how to be a Xander' lessons."

He smiled and hugged her again.  "Mother would be so happy to see you, Dawn.  You must come over."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "I made real food since Xander only cooks for Tony.  Did you know about Tony?  He never told me, the big meany."  She walked him back there, hand on his arm, and gave him her spot, but gave him a clean plate so she could sit next to him on the stool she pulled over.  "So, how's your mother?  I haven't heard any stories about her in so long that I nearly forgot them all."

He smiled at her.  "She's doing as well as could be expected, dear.  Though, whenever Xander comes over for tea it seems to excite her a great deal.  She always tries to be pretty for him."

Tony looked at Xander.  "Something you wanted to tell me?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.  "I could never go for Ducky's mom.  I like Ducky too much to ever be his stepdad.  So I guess you're stuck with me," he said, then ate a bite of his roast.

Ducky looked at Gibbs.  "Did you just have the horrible mental image of me with earrings and a nipple ring so that we could bond?"

"No, I was trying not to," he admitted, shaking his head quickly. "Tony, make your boy behave."

"I try, Boss, but you know how hard training a puppy is."  Xander kicked him.  "Ow!  You can be puppy-like. You lick in your sleep."

"Ooooh, it's better than it used to be," Dawn assured him.  "He had nightmares and slept on our couch for three days straight," she told Tony.  "Xander ended up outside my mom's room, laying across her door like he's guarding her virtue, but he's so dead to the world Buffy steps right over him.  The second time she tried it he bit her on the ankle.  I mean *seriously* bit her.  Like the ER doc wanted to know if she should have rabies shots, seriously biting her.  Buffy and Willow tried for years to house-train Xander and they were getting close but then Anya took over and made him a lap dog.  Then the slaying ruined his training totally."  She looked at Xander.  "We won't even mention the hyena's instincts."

"Good idea," he said smugly.  "Besides, she deserved it.  She stopped over me the second time so all I could see was up her skirt, which was pretty muchly skin."

"Yeah, Buffy had that bad habit."  She ate another bite.

Tony leaned closer to Xander's ear.  "I like the training now instead of your former training," he whispered.  Xander grinned at him and dug in.  "So, Boss, anything other than the shooting review tomorrow for me?"

"Paperwork, DiNozzo, since you're going to England for a week. Or was it six days?"

"We're leaving midday Saturday, coming back the next Friday night but I'm going to be suffering from jetlag most of that Saturday," he admitted.  "So I'll be back in contact by Sunday, Boss."

"Fine."  He looked at them, then stared at Xander, but spoke to Tony.  "I'll expect to have no emergency phone calls from the hospital, Scotland Yard, the local NCIS office, or any other authority figure.  Nor will I want to hear stories of drunken parties around the antiques."

"We're spending the first night in London since we get in so late, then driving out the next day.  We'll be goofing off around the house for the next four, then taking the reverse trip and heading back."

"Fine.  No getting into trouble, boys."

"I'm a good boy," Xander protested.  "I didn't even get drunk with glee when the hellmouth snapped back to Sunnydale."

"True, you didn't."  He smirked at Tony. "You think you can handle him in a foreign country?"

"Yeah, Boss.  Not a problem since he's been to them before."

"Yup, Xander and Faith were the slayer retrieval system," Dawn said cheerfully.  "Let's see.  He's went to Belgium, Russia twice, Germany, one of the African states that I can't remember off the top of my head."

"Kenya," he supplied.  "Then straight to Japan.  Talk about a long damn trip," he complained.  "Driving two days to get back to the airport with the nervous, superstitious slayer with multiple questions and basically a guide book of phrases between us.  Get on the plane, take her back to Sunnydale, which made her freak out and I had to sedate her when we took off.  She'd seen a helicopter but not an airplane.  Get to LA, Giles is there to pick her up, hands me my next set of tickets, which leave in thirty minutes for an eight hour flight to Japan. Two days there then back to LA via South Korea to pick up something from one of the retired Watchers in that area.  Which turned out to be a six- year-old that he called 'girl' or 'thing'.  She didn't have a name.  So now I had two language barriers.  Fortunately the stewardess spoke a bit of both and translated now and then.  We nearly got busted by Immigration over the little girl until I told them what was going on, that her natural mother was over here and her first husband had stolen her.  That they could call the stepfather and have him verify it because I knew Giles had a passport for the kid.  He had a stash of blank ones somehow."  Gibbs moaned.  "So they call Giles and he comes to pick her up.  Doesn't realize it's not just the Japanese slayer but he brought an extra one when, he claimed, he heard me talking to a child.  Just in case or so he said."

Dawn shook her head.  "He walked back into the compound, the girls pounced him and he ducked making most of them fall on the floor so he could trudge into his bedroom and fall face first on the bed.  The little girl comes in and curls up with him, fingers tangled in his hair and *screams*, absolutely hollers at the top of her lungs enough to bring cops running to check on her, whenever we try to move her.  Joy is presently still clinging to the bear Xander bought and put his t-shirt on."

"I wish I could've stayed but things were starting to get tense again," Xander reminded her.

"I know.  It's not your fault," she promised, smiling at him.  "Joy likes Faith too.  Considers her scary, but a good protector."

"She needs one?" Gibbs asked.

"Not that I know of, but some of the older girls are a bit rougher," Dawn admitted.  Someone rang the bell so she hopped up and went to answer it, smiling at Eliana.  "Hi.  Sorry, I meant to come get my stuff."

"That's okay.  Have you two worked it out yet?"

"Kinda almost.  I'm house sitting while they're in England if someone can call to check on me. We're nibbling if you want to come in."

"No, let's get your stuff out of the car.  Dad came back," she muttered.  Dawn nodded wisely and went to get her stuff.  "Pogo's at the nearest motel to here.  We dropped her off a few minutes ago," she said once the car's trunk was shut.  Dawn got the bag out of the back and they put them inside.  "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I think the better question is are you?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," she promised with a small smirk.  "If not, I'm calling Gibbs."

"He's in the kitchen if you wanted to warn him."

"Yeah, I probably should."  She walked in there, giving Xander a hug.  "My father showed up again."  Gibbs looked at her.  "Yeah, if it gets that way again, I'm calling you first.  You can be the scary guy."  She grinned.  "That way Xander doesn't have to commit homicide.  Because I know he would."  She hugged Xander again.  "Have fun in England and bring me back pictures."  She looked at Dawn.  "Be careful."  She headed back to the car.  "All set."

"She's staying there, right?" he demanded.

"Xander's her protector and guardian.  Her family's all dead, father."

"Don't take that tone with me, Eliana."

Xander tapped on the window, so he lowered it.  Xander grabbed him by the throat and squeezed.  "I would not harm Eliana again.  Ever again.  She may have been able to get out of her duty but that doesn't mean we don't watch over her."  He stared into his eyes.  "Eliana is now like my little sister and I will rip your ass to shreds if you *ever* hurt her again, even by yelling at her.  If you don't believe me, ask her mother what happened to her boyfriend."  She groaned.  "So, I'd be a bit nicer.  After all, she's got her many protectors."  He let him go and nodded at Eliana.  "I'll bring you pictures from the trip.  Call Dawnie daily so I make sure you're fine.  Or else I'm coming back and I'm going to storm your house like the fed I'm training to be."  He stared at the father, who shuddered.  "Got me here?"  He nodded and sped off.  "Good," he noted, heading back inside.  "I hate bullies."  He sat down and dug back in.  "I was wrong, Dawn, you can cook and you did a very good job."

"Thank you," she said proudly. "Did you threaten him?"

"Yup, sure did.  Gave him a reference too," he noted dryly before eating his last bite of roast.  "Do we have any more or are we digging into one of the batches of guilt cookies?"

McGee shook his head.  "Guilt cookies are fine for now.  Have leftovers after you make Tony help you pack."

"True, I can," he agreed happily, grinning at Tony.  Tony shifted away some, he knew that look.  "I promise you'll be able to walk tomorrow," he offered.

Which meant he was going to be topping, which was good for him, but that didn't mean Xander wasn't going to ride him into exhaustion and then some.  The others dug out the cookies and milk, going to move Dawn's things into the study for now.

***

Tony looked around the entry to Wes's former house, whistling at the immensity.  "This is nice," he said in awe.

"Isn't it?" Xander agreed, smiling at the family portrait hanging up.  "That was Wes right before he was sent over," he said, pointing at him.  Tony looked, moving closer. "He was Giles and Willow smart."  He took Tony's hand and walked him around the house, then out into the gardens.  "This is so nice," he said a while later.  "Peaceful.  Someone must've cleaned his father's aura out of here."  Tony looked down at him.  "His dad was harsher than a drill instructor during your first three days of Boot Camp."  Tony shuddered at that.  "Wes told me that he had gotten the highest grade in one class, but it wasn't a perfect grade so his father yelled for a few hours and locked him in his room.  For basically getting a 96 percent."

"That's just wrong," he agreed quietly, pulling Xander closer to kiss the side of his head.  "You like it here?"

"I do like it here," he admitted quietly. "Are you going with me tomorrow to see the lawyers to see what they wanted?"  He nodded and Xander snuggled into his arms.  "We should have horses here.  That way we can ride around."

"If you decide to come back, we can look into that," he promised, leading him back inside.  It was starting to drizzle and he didn't want to be wet and cold.  He got Xander into the kitchen, smiling at the housekeeper.  "Do you have any tea or cocoa?"

"I have both, Tony," she said happily.  "Were you two moving back?"

"I don't know yet," Xander admitted, sitting down to watch her move around the space.  "I'm just starting my training at the FBI academy and Tony's part of NCIS.  All our friends are over in DC."  She nodded.  "I don't want to sell the house," he admitted.

"I heard there's still some Watchers left," she offered.  He nodded.  "Do they want the library?"

"Giles wants the whole estate and he's the present head," he told her, leaning on his elbows.  "I don't know what I want.  I know Wes had his differences with the Council."

"He was a willful child."

"Yeah, but his ways saved lives," Xander reminded her.  "A lot of lives."

"He was working with the other side," she countered.

"Angel has a soul," he shot back.  "The Powers themselves chose him to atone and protect LA."  She looked startled at that.  "Wes gave up his life to save and protect Angel's team and some innocent lives.  He lost a lot of people that way," he pointed out.  "It took him years to be able to get close to someone because of the Watcher training methods and how his father treated him.  Wes is the reason I'm the man I am today."  She nodded at that.  "All I know is that Wes wouldn't have wanted the old guard to have it and I'm not sure where Giles is headed.  Some days it's almost as bad.  Some days it's not.  Hell, I was doing Watcher duty on the DC hellmouth while it was open and Tony was my hunting partner.  We had two of the slayers with us."

She put down the cups of cocoa, looking at them.  "There's many things that can be done, young man.  You don't have to sell the estate. You could rent it to them.  Or you could sell it to Mr. Giles to make the new Council here since a good portion of the library is copies of the other one.  To be truthful, Wesley hated this house.  Even when his parents weren't home he thought it was haunted, which it is, and he said it made him have nightmares, which it does to many.  There's been enough nastiness in this house to compromise souls, including that of Wesley's father."

"Is that why Wes told Xander he was such a bastard?" Tony asked.  She nodded.  "What about the Wes you used to know?"

"Wesley was an odd duck in this family.  He was a research person.  He never cared for the magic the family had but he practiced because he had to and he knew that some day he could be needed to do something magically to help the cause.  He believed in the cause but not the methods and not the recent directives of the Council.  He was against them taking the girls from their families by whatever means were necessary.  He was against some of the creatures that were routinely hunted since they weren't necessarily bad, just demonic.  He was also against the tampering with natural forces," she said, looking at Xander.  "Which you just did."

"Actually, Giles moved the hellmouth," he noted, sipping his cocoa.  "It's safer away from people.  Sunnydale's still radiating the dark and chaos magics and it won't ever stop.  Moving the hellmouth back made sure more people aren't radiated by it and that less innocent lives were lost.  After DC it was going to New York."  She shuddered at that.  "So, yeah, we decided as a group to tamper."

"What would the group want, Xander?" she asked patiently.

"Mine wants me to be happy," he said with a small smirk.  "Would you mind changing back?  Just so I can see which one you are?"

"Huh?" Tony asked.

Xander pointed at her.  "Wish demon."  He looked and she changed back, making him smile.  "Millicent.  A pleasant surprise."

"How did you know?"

"We never introduced ourselves," he noted dryly. "You weren't here when we got in."  She scowled but nodded.  "What's up?"

"The house needs to go to the Council.  Not only D'Hoffryn, but the others say so."

"Why?"

"The gifting room," she said honestly, leaning on the counter.  "It's ancient magic that Wesley's family protected.  He didn't know about it, his father knew he wasn't going to be able to hold it.  That's why he kept trying to make a grandson and failing."  Xander nodded, he had been told about that.  "All I know is that the Oracles agree in this case.  Giles already knows why."

"He didn't say anything."

"He wouldn't.  He's enjoying his power.  That's the way it usually happens," she reminded him.  "He'll calm down within a few months, once he realizes how massive this undertaking is."  She looked at Tony and smiled. "I can hear the wish your heart is making.  It's possible, but not from me."  She looked at Xander again.  "The same as yours still aches for someone else to take charge for you," she agreed.  "That's not up to us.  That's up to the Powers.  Only they can bring someone back and not have them wrong."  He nodded once.  "There's a way to them in London."

"There's a way to them through the old stables out back," he noted dryly.

"That's dangerous.  It could fall in."

"I worked construction. I think I can handle that."  She nodded, smiling at that.  "Anything else?"

"Yes, there's some things you don't know.  The lawyers are going to lie to you.  They're Wolfram and Hart.  Demand the actual paperwork."  She smirked.  "We don't like them at the moment.  They're a bit out of favor."  He smirked back.  "Secondly, Anya likes him.  Said he's better to you and now she understands what was wrong with your relationship together."

"She's back?" Tony asked.  He sipped his cocoa.

"No.  She's watching," she promised.  "She's moved on and now she's being a messenger for the Powers, which leaves her a lot of time hanging around LA for some reason.   You don't have to worry that someone will take him from you or that he'll lose interest.  There's nothing more stubborn than him.  Not even your boss."  She looked at Xander again. "She said to be happy and she understands love is worth more than money and sex now."  Xander nodded, finishing his cocoa and handing the cup back.  She smiled at him.  "Thirdly, the family's vault is still yours.  No matter that they'll be *buying* the house or not.  Even if they bring Wesley back, he won't be the same man.  He'll probably go by his middle name of Aaron."

"He used to go by Thrack," Xander joked.  Tony quirked an eyebrow up. "It's like a frat name, only from the Watcher's boarding school's dorms."  Tony nodded, understanding that.  He looked at the wish demon again.  "Any other messages?"

She nodded.  "A few.  Ask, ask soon, and if you have to, beg.  You can have what they need but only if you ask."  He nodded and stood up. "Good boy.  By the way, we're including your mate in your immunity to us."

He grinned.  "Thank you.  How did you know?"

"We watched you, Xander.  Remember, you attract demons like silver attracts the holy."  She patted him on the face.  "Go ask, dear.  You, mate, behave.  There's a good book in the library for you to read on prior possessions."

"It's got inaccuracies.  Wes gave me a copy," Xander said with a grin. "I may remember and she may be part of me, but that doesn't mean I have to live in the pack.  Even if I am the pack leader."  He held a hand out and Tony finished his cocoa before taking it and following him out.  "Tony, the Powers like to play some games.  So call Gibbs, just in case."

Tony pulled out his cell and called.  "Gibbs, DiNozzo.  No, we're here and everything's okay, but we just ran into one of Anya's coworkers who said that the guiding powers over Angel and their group wanted to talk to him.  I don't know.  They said that Giles needed a balancing influence."  He looked startled.  "You're kidding?"  He smirked and let out a small snort.  "Well, apparently she and Ducky get along very well then. I'll tell him.  No, they were talking like Wes might come back, Boss, but only they could bring him back so we didn't have Bringers.  We don't know, that's where we're headed."  He shrugged and followed Xander into the former stables, looking around. "No, we're about to be cut off so I'll let you go.  If anything strange shows up, let me know.  Immediately."  He hung up and took Xander's hand again, holding it as he walked back to where he could feel some sort of glowy magic feeling.  "How long will I feel magic?"

"Forever and ever."  He grinned at him.  "Some people have the gift and some don't."  He found the doorway and leaned against it for a moment, then forced it open.  They stepped into a place filled with mist and bright, blue lights.  "Hi," he called.  A person with blue skin and eyes walked out, looking at them.  Then his sister came to join him.  "Greetings," Xander repeated.  "I was told to come to you.  That you have some limited answers for questions I didn't know I had."

"You are Xander," the female said, moving forward.  "Your mate will not be harmed."

"He keeps me from doing stupid shit," Xander offered.  Tony swatted him.  "Sorry, didn't mean to swear."

She smirked at him, touching his cheek.  "Ah, you are he.  You have inherited the gifting room."  Xander nodded.  "It is not yours to lord over."

"I know that.  The Wish Demon Millicent said I should come talk to you about that and about the house surrounding it, plus the new Council's needs.  She thinks that there's a solution possible for both problems without being too complicated."

She nodded and moved back to her brother's side.  "We don't want them," the male said.  "They should be returned.  Their use to us then and now is done with and it is their choice to come back or not," he told him.

Tony clamped down on his feelings.  "Is it something that would hurt others unnecessarily? Or do the world great harm?"

"No," the female said, looking at him.  "You are wise where he is brash, yet you share the same underlying feelings."

"It is interesting how mates do that," the male said, sounding sarcastic as he looked at her.  "As was fated."

"Anything else I should know or do?" Xander asked.  "I don't want to take your valuable time when you could be tormenting Angel."

They both stared at him.  "The three it is up to may come back if they choose.  Their choices will be asked for tonight.  If so, they will appear in the present Hellmouth."  He looked at Tony. "This is not your decision to make."

"I know.  I don't make other's decisions for them," he agreed calmly.  "Is there anything else he must know?"

"The new Council must find balance.  Brashness must equal wisdom and caution.  Action and care must be meted out together.  The girls are not to be harmed but to be tracked.  You have a good start but there is a reason why it is a Council, not one man."

Xander nodded.  "Which was why Millicent suggested I ask for Wesley back."

"He is one who the choice is given to," she agreed. "He would have a new life, no longer his old one."  Xander nodded more deeply at that.  "Any others you question?"

"Doyle?" Xander asked.  The man nodded.  "He's one?"  That got another nod and a sneer. "Good.  The world could use some common sense."  He looked at Tony, then back at them.  "Was his sister-by-bond one?"

"Xander," Tony breathed.

"Just asking."

"To her family came great tragedy," the female said, looking at Tony.  "She would be a fourth."  She looked at Xander.  "The other was closer to you."

"Jesse or Tara?"

"Tara."  The male walked off.  "They will be asked."  She looked at Tony again.  "Should she agree, you must guard her better this time.  Humans are fragile beings, especially one who remembers."  She walked off and they found themselves back in the stables.

Tony looked at Xander.  "You asked for Kate?"

"I asked if she was one," he reminded him.  "I didn't specifically ask for her to be one of the ones chosen.  I knew damn well one of them wasn't related to me.  Tara's the fourth.  You can't have a Council of Watchers that only includes people from one town.  You get more stagnation and more desperation, especially when it's from Sunnydale."  Tony slumped.  "She makes the choice, Tony.  That gives them two Watchers, two involved in the demonic and magic elements, and a fifth voice of common sense.  Tara will provide the care and nurturing.  Wesley will provide new ways while Giles has flashbacks to the old ways now and then. Doyle used to teach before his heritage came out. He worked with Angel and Wes.  Tara worked with Giles.  There's got to be another dissenting voice for balance.   All of nature has to have a balance or else things get skewed."  He took his hand and led him outside, into a glorious night.  "Check your phone for messages."

Tony pulled out his phone, looking at it.  "One."  He dialed into his voicemail, listening to the message.  "It's Giles."  He hit the key to replay and handed it over. "He's not happy."

"Of course not.  Think about it though.  It was her or Dawn."  He smirked at the ass- chewing he was getting.  "Oh, really?"  He handed it back and called Giles from his phone.  "Millicent said Anya said hi, Giles."  He smirked at the stars.  "Yeah, well, you know the rule of balance the same as I do. You're the one who taught it to me."  He listened to him splutter.  "Because, Giles, you're turning into Travers.  No, I won't take that back.  Look what you did first thing.  You had us go round up the remaining girls instead of talking to them.  At least I let them have a choice.  Yes, I did," he noted dryly.  "Most of them came when they realized their families could be in danger from things drawn to them."

He walked off rolling his eyes.  "Because, Rupert, there's something special in this house that only a member of the family, a strong member, can hold. That's not me.  I'm not really related to Wes.  So tell him I said hi and if someone named Kate shows up, call me immediately and then Gibbs.  She was his second."  He hung up and looked at Tony.  "Wes and Doyle are already back.  We're not sure about Tara yet.  There's a patrol out."  His phone rang and he smiled at the much missed voice.  "Wes.  No, I'm at your house.  Well, he died, Wes, and since he left everything to his heirs, which was you, it came to me too.  Yeah, I'm out in the gardens with Tony.  Sure."  He hung up.  "Wicca transport."  They looked over as Wesley appeared, Xander grinning at him.  "Wesley, this is my mate, Tony.  Tony, this is Wes."

Tony walked over and shook his hand.  "Thank you for watching out for him."

"It was my pleasure.  Xander was always good."  He smiled at Xander, letting him have a hug.  "I've missed you.  Watching over you lot has been so painful," he said quietly, soothing him.  He pushed him back to look at him.  "Tara won't be coming back physically."

"I didn't figure they'd let a fourth come," he admitted quietly. "That means Dawn sits?"  He nodded.  "You know what they said?"

"Cordelia told them and us at the same time. There's something to be said for having such a big-mouth as The Messenger."  He looked at Tony again, smiling at him.  "You need have no worries.  Xander is like my brother and student.  Not someone I want *that* way."  Tony relaxed and nodded.  "I did see your friend.  I'm not sure what she wants to do.  If it wasn't her, it'd be someone else.  Someone with less of a clue.  She said Doyle reminded her of you so they were playing poker while we were together."  He looked at Xander, giving him a sad smile.  "Thank you for helping Willow as much as you could.  I'll take over Dawn's training."  He nodded.  "She's still staying there.  I want her off the hellmouth.  We can conference call with her and Caitlyn if she comes back."  He stroked his cheek then handed him to Tony.  "Well, since I'm dead," he noted dryly.  "The Council will be buying the house from you, Xander, but you're to keep the vault. It's not like I want the nancy stuff my mother collected."  He looked at Tony.  "We're all going to the lawyer's tomorrow.  I have a few words for Wolfram and Hart yet again."  He rubbed his throat.  "They took the scar?"  Xander nodded.  "Bugger."  He frowned then shrugged.  "Oh, well."

He walked the boys inside.  "Come along.  It's been a long day and it'll be tomorrow over here before a final decision was reached, and then we've got to face down Rupert."  He showed them to a room then went to find his old room, still the way he had left it. Spotless and without a hint of personality.  He looked out the window.  "As you called, so shall I answer, Anthony," he whispered.  "It's a selfless wish that brings a past lover to your present one's side to help them.  The same as his was to you."  He smiled and relaxed, feeling the world settle in around him again.  She had answered. He sat down on his bed and pulled the phone over.  He had to talk to some people before the lawyers.  He smiled at the old man answering.  "Ducky, what a charming surprise," he said happily.  "No, it's Wesley, sir.  Yes, him.  Yes, I know I'm dead.  No, the Powers.  Ask your mother, dear, but I'm going to be assigning you a fairly hard task.  Keep track of Dawn and keep her in DC as long as possible.  It's important she not go back to Sunnydale, even though she'll be on the new Council.  Yes, I'm quite sure.  No, the Powers That Be.  They're meddling to make sure the world balances out again."

He smiled.  "I knew I could count on you.  No, just be the father she never had.  Her own was the worst sort of trash.  Didn't come for his own wife's funeral, didn't write back when he heard the girls were orphans.  Nothing like that."  He smiled more gently.  "Good.  I knew I could count on you.  Yes, well, I'm here to provide a bit of that balance and some common sense.  So is she. No, she can call in.  We'll make sure she's got a cell for that.  Good man, Ducky.  Thank you.  No, they're fine.  Having sex up the hall but fine."  He smiled.  "That's fine, but they only allowed three.  One of yours is coming home as well.  Remember, she's newly back and easily scared for at least a few weeks.  So don't let the girl pounce her.  All right?"  He chuckled.  "I know you don't.  You will soon.  Yes, tell her I'll talk to her tomorrow during our first Council meeting.  Thank you."  He hung up and called Angel.  "I'd run, I've seen what you've been doing," he said dryly, then hung up.

***

Gibbs looked up as the couple walked into the bullpen early that Saturday morning, giving them the once over. "Jetlag?" he asked dryly.

"Yeah, but I had to come, Boss.  Is she here?"

"Who?"

Tony sighed and shook his head.  "Never mind."  Xander tugged on his arm and pointed at the woman up the row. "Kate!"  He ran over and pulled her up to hug her.  "I'm sorry."

"I'm not.  You're one strange guy, Tony."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "It's all right," she said, staring into his eyes.  "I promise.  I made the decision.  The same as you asked for Wesley back."  She patted him on the cheek.  "Let go before I get you for harassment."  He chuckled and gave her a squeeze before letting her go to look her over.  "Yeah, I'm the same.  You know, my parents weren't really happy with that. Fortunately for some reason they seemed to understand."  She looked at Xander.  "If I'm going to be your sister-in-law, you could greet me, kid."

Xander walked forward, holding out a hand. "Tony's said a lot about you."  She shook his hand, looking him over.  "Yes, I know you can kill me multiple ways.  I've already had this talk with Gibbs."

"Good."  She smiled.  "I'm worse."

"I doubt that, but okay."  He grinned back.  "Has Dawn pounced you?"

"Oh, yes.  The little leather wearing squeal factory did pounce me, and Abby and then Gibbs, who swatted her and told her to go away.  Do you have some sort of explanation?"

"Nature corrected an imbalance and created an oddity.  Like the platypus."  She laughed, shaking her head.  "We didn't have a choice," he reminded her.  "I asked if you were one."  She nodded, smiling at him.  "You don't mind?"

"No.  Tony needed me.  You make him horny and gropey instead of fun and joking.  That's not natural Tony behavior."  Xander nodded, looking calm.  "Therefore someone's got to be his balance."  Xander nodded again.  She patted him on the cheek.  "You two should be sleeping.  I remember the flight from England."

Tony nodded.  "I'm headed to do that now.  Then probably the painting I was putting off."

She nodded.  "I heard you got broken into and they took your tv."

"Insurance is good," he agreed.  He hugged her again.  "Come over for beers tonight?"  She nodded and smiled.  "Good."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Tomorrow?"

"I'll call if something comes up, DiNozzo.  Go sleep.  Take Xander with you.  At least his place is quiet."

"Did Wes steal the books?" Xander asked.

"Only his smut collection," McGee offered.  "We went to play on your computers and saw him."  He smiled.  "You two have fun?"

"Loads," Xander said dryly.  "Seven meetings with lawyers for Hell.  But the rest was fun," he offered with a happier grin.  "I'm going to nap.  Later, guys.  Kate, like everyone else you're welcome at my house anytime you want to drop by."  He walked out with Tony, noticing he wasn't touching him.  So either he was still mad or they were breaking up.  "Am I dropping you off at home?" he asked once he handed in his visitor's badge and they were outside again.

"No, I can cab.  I need to pick up some groceries anyway.  I haven't been home in a while."  Xander nodded and smiled.  Tony looked at him, sensing something was wrong but not what.  "Tomorrow, reshelving?  We still on?"  Xander nodded, looking happier. "Good.  Now go sleep."  He gave him a light head nudge with a smile.  Xander headed off and he summoned a cab, watching him go.  He looked at the person walking up to him.  "Couldn't stay away?" he joked.

"Not that.  He thinks you just broke up with him.  You really should read the book on mates and animal possessions."  She clapped him on the back.  "I'll come over to his place tomorrow night.  We can hang out then?"  He smiled and nodded.  "Good boy, Tony.  Sleep and then chase him.  He could use some of those wooing skills you used to show to the ladies.  After all, so far he's been doing all the chasing and courting."  She pinched him on the cheek and walked back inside.

Tony got into his cab when it finally pulled up, muttering his address to the cabby just loud enough to be heard.  The cab took off and he put his mind to work on how to woo a Xander.  If he was a woman he wouldn't be working this hard, but he knew she was right.  Kate was almost always right about these things.  Other things she was always wrong about but relationship stuff she was really good at.  Once he got home he went straight to bed, deciding he would think better once his head quit hurting and feeling like it was stuffed with a sweater.

***

Tony knocked on the door for the second time and decided he had enough so he let himself in.  He closed the door quietly and looked around.  No glow from downstairs.  No person in the living room.  He snuck back to the kitchen to put stuff out on the table for their dinner, then headed up to check the bedroom.  He found Xander curled up in a ball under the covers, smiling at him.  He always slept like that when he was alone.  If you slept with him, you had a Xander-blanket but alone he was a little ball of miserableness.  Xander wasn't meant to be alone for very long.  He sat down beside him, reaching down to tease the hair that barely came out of the blanket.  No response.  He carefully moved the blanket, seeing the slack-jawed, drooling look and smirked.  You knew you had it bad when they drooled cutely.  He stroked over the slack forehead and a hand came up to bat him away.  He captured it, teasing the fingers.  This was his favorite game, see how long it took for Xander to wake up for real.  If it had been anyone else he'd have snapped awake and tried to hurt them.  Gibbs had told him Xander threw a stake at him the day he woke him up.

Xander blinked up at him.  "Are you a dream?"  Tony shook his head.  "Must be."  He yawned and closed his eyes, smiling at the kiss he received.  "Still a dream," he mumbled.

He was going to have to wake him soon or else his surprise would be too warm.  He reached down to tickle him, making Xander yelp and jump up.  "No, I'm not a dream."

"But you...."

"Yeah, I heard what you thought.  You're wrong.  Hungry?"  Xander nodded slowly, staring at him.  "Come on, get cleaned up so we can eat."

"You brought me dinner?"

"No, I made you dinner."  He kissed him again.  "Up."  He stood up and hauled Xander's limp body with him.  "Did you take something to make you so sleepy?  Usually you wake up faster."

"No," he said, heading into the bathroom.  He came out a second later, staring at him.  Tony waved.  He went back in and quickly went to the bathroom, washed his hands and face, brushed his teeth, and fussed with his hair, then came back out.  He was still there.  He walked out and Tony pulled him closer to kiss him again.  "Keep that up and we won't make dinner."

"Good point."  He walked him down the stairs, taking him into the kitchen.  He flipped off the lights, letting the candles set the mood.  Xander looked at the table, just stared.  He gave him a nudge.  "I remember you liked it when we had it in London."

Xander swallowed and looked at him.  "Is this like a date thing?"

Tony nodded. "Yup, sure is."  He walked him to the table and sat him down, dishing him up the soft, silky dessert he had liked in the hotel, then sat down and dished up his own.  "You can eat.  I didn't poison it."

Xander looked at him and you could see his hand move under the table.  "Are you sure you're real and not a torment or some demon?" he asked finally.

"I'm sure, Xander.  Eat. Before it gets too warm."  Xander nodded and dug in, sneaking looks at him.  "Did no one ever take you on dates?"  Xander shook his head.  "Then they were really dumb.  You should be wooed."

"Wooed?"

"That thing where you date and spoil your partner horribly?  Like all the lunches and things I get given?" Tony shared with a grin.  Xander nodded once and ate a bigger bite.  "Good.  Now keep that up.  You'll need the energy for later."

"Later?" he squeaked.

Tony smiled. "Yes, later.  That time in the not-so-distant future where good things come to good boys who wait."  He could see Xander trying to pinch himself again and reached over to grab his hand.  "Only I get to pinch you."

"Okay," he said slowly.  "Now I know you're not Tony.  You told Dawn to pinch me before we left."

"It was still on my orders, that's the only time she's allowed."  He picked some of the food up with his spoon and fed it to him.  "Eat, Xander.  That's what you do when someone nice brings you dinner."  Xander nodded and started to eat again. "I knew you weren't used to dating but I really should yell at your former girlfriends for not treating you right," he said, squeezing his hand.

Xander pulled away from him.  "Are you like Anya?  Over men scorned or something?  Tony never says things like that to me."

"Then I've been stupid," he told him. "I promise, I'm still me."  He stroked his cheek.  "You have this cute little mole in between some of the scars on your back," he told him. "Whenever you blush or during sex it darkens."

"It does?"  Tony nodded, rolling his eyes.  "It's not like I can see my back."

"Didn't Wes ever mention it?"

"No.  We only did that a few times and it was always after a fight.  It wasn't like we were serious."

"Well, I am.  Get used to it."

"You read the book didn't you?  Because it had stuff that wasn't really good or right in it."

"No.  Not yet.  I will be by tomorrow, right after I force-feed you dinner."  Xander ate another bite and he smiled.  "Good boy."  He kissed him, then decided to pull Xander into his lap, merging the two plates so he could feed him.  "Open," he whispered in his ear, making him shiver and open his mouth.  "Good boy."  He scooped up a bite and ate some, then fed him the rest of the spoonful.  Xander moaned and shifted some, but got into it.  When he was finally done, he pulled him up and into the living room, laying him stomach- down on the couch and retrieving the oil he had found.  He warmed some in his hands and attacked the bare back, making him shift and arch up against his hands.  "Just relax.  I've got you."

"You do that so well."

"Thank you.  Sometimes I try."  He grinned as he worked, turning Xander from the attack dog he could be into a big lap cat.  He stood up and pulled off the pajama bottoms carefully, getting to work on his legs.  "Why are you so tense?"

"I don't know."

"Hmm.  Maybe you should relax," he suggested, getting back to work.  By the time he had him flip over, Xander was a puddle of purr, but he wasn't hard.  He looked at him, smiling at him.  "What's wrong?"  Not that he didn't know but sometimes you had to get these things out into the open.

"I'm...."

"Still think this is either a dream or a really nice goodbye?"  Xander swallowed and nodded.  "Not happening.  I don't leave, others leave me."  He stroked over his chest and stomach. "I don't get romantic too often, Xan.  When I figured out what you were thinking, it poked me enough that I did some actual cooking.  Which is very rare so you should enjoy it."  Xander let out a small smile at that. "Can you just enjoy it?"  Xander nodded, sitting up to steal a kiss.  Tony laid down on top of him, letting him have as many kisses as he wanted, but he kept it there.  Xander moaned and arched up to rub against him and he grinned, sitting up to straddle his lap and get more oil to warm in his hands.   He attacked the chest muscles next. Xander wiggled and arched up into his fingers, making him smile.  "Just relax and let me work, Xander. You'll get there soon enough.  Don't be so impatient."  He shifted back some, making him moan and suddenly push up again.  He grinned and got back to work, making his boy a purring puddle again.  He was hard too so he knew he was doing it right.

Xander reached up lazily and pulled him down to kiss him again. "Can we move this to another spot?"

"This isn't about sex, it's about pleasure," Tony reminded him, stroking his neck.  Xander shivered and tipped his head to the side.  Tony grinned.  "Like that?"  Xander nodded quickly.  "Relax," he said quietly.  He leaned down to kiss and nibble on him, making him pant.  He moved to the other side, finding a spot he hadn't found before.  Xander bit his lip and whimpered.  He licked that spot then nipped it.  Xander suddenly arched up and came and he chuckled into the neck.  "That was fun.  Let's do it again."  He went back to playing with that spot, slowly moving down.  He found another spot just above the edge of his collarbone, but Xander wiggled so he let it go.  He did leave a mark before moving down.  The sparse hair on his lover's chest got teased and played with but Xander shifted so he went to play with the nearer nipple instead.  That hand came up to hold his head still.  It gave him the chance to play and tease, which he knew Xander didn't like, but he liked to tease.  Xander started to play with his hair, but he ignored it and continued to play.  He switched over suddenly, getting a mild hair pull in the process but it was okay with him.

He teased that one until he could feel the tension coming back, slowly moving backward to find new spots on his stomach and lower chest.  He found one just under his right pectoral.  It made him shriek and giggle, but it was a happy sound.  He teased it until Xander tried to shift away then went to find another one.  He found a ticklish spot.  Xander did move away from that so he let it go and moved down.  He hit a few spots he knew were good for Xander, making him pant and wiggle again.  He could feel him getting close and smiled at him.  Now was the time to just cuddle him.  So he did.  Xander let out a whimper of complaint but he just squeezed him.  "I told you it wasn't about sex tonight, Xander."  He stole a kiss and gently stroked over the hard stomach.  "Relax and let me play with you, Xander. You're my toy tonight."

"I'm not used to being a toy."

"I noticed, but I'm enjoying it.  Plus I'll still be able to walk tomorrow if we get a case."  He glared at the phone as it rang. He grabbed it.  "It had better be *very* good," he snapped.  "No, Dawn, he's under me, panting, hard, and needy while I play with him.  So, you're interrupting. Is it a good emergency?"  He listened to her babbling.  "We know.  We know, Dawn.  Tomorrow, Dawn."  He hung up.  "They just told her she's on the Council and Wes and Doyle were back."  He stole another kiss.  "She needs better timing."  He went back to stroking and teasing his mate.  "I should find that book and read it to you."

"I got read to when I was sick," he offered.  "I'm not sick though."

"No, but you are needy."  He teased the hard cock, making him arch up and make a pleading noise.  "Not yet."  He kissed him gently, slowly, making him grab him for more.  He let him, knowing he had most of the night.  If they got a case on Sunday he was going to kill whoever it was.  Xander got off and he smiled down at him.  He stole a gentle, soft peck of a kiss.  "I want more. I like watching you go off," he said quietly.  He started over, making him whimper and arch up.  "We should go take a bath."  Xander gave him an incredulous look so he grinned and stood up, pulling Xander against his body to move with him.  "If it wasn't so late, I'd take you out tonight to that salsa club again."  He led him up to the bathroom, sitting him down so he could run it.  While they were waiting he cleaned him up the old fashioned way, by licking the drops of come off his stomach and chest.  Xander tried to hold his head down but he captured the hands and held them.  Xander let out a soft moan of complaint so he got up, checking the water before heading out to find the stuff he knew Xander had bought.  He brought back a set of cuffs that had a long, stretchy cord between them.  He stopped the water and tossed the cuffs over the towel rack behind the bathtub.  He stripped and stood Xander up again, climbing in first and letting Xander into his lap before handcuffing him.  He saw Xander test them and looked at him.  "That good?"

"I'm fine," he said quietly.  "I'll tell you if I'm not."

"I know it's a big step but you keep trying to ruin my fun.  I *want* to play, Xander.  This is more than enough stimulation for me."  He rubbed his cock between his cheeks, making him wiggle. "See?  I'm getting off and having fun enjoying your body.  So let me play."  He shifted so he was straddling him and got back to his playing.  Xander's body was a fine instrument and it showed that he took good care of it.  Of course, he wished there were less scars, but that was fine with him.  He loved Xander for the man he was, past horrors and all.  He got back to his teasing, making Xander take it this time.  He saw him start to try to move and realize how long the cuffs were, smiling at him.  "I'm not hurting you," he said quietly.

"I know.  Keep going, I'm okay."  Tony stared in his eyes and he nodded.  "Cuffs are there to wiggle against."

"They are," he agreed happily, going back to his fun.  He was so close, this teasing and watching Xander figure out what being a toy was for was making him get off.  "Where should I put this one?" he asked, stroking himself.

"In me?"

"More like on you."  He decided to do the simple thing and got off on his stomach, making him moan.  "That's good."   He rubbed some in then let the water wash the rest away.  He gave his lover a gentle kiss then moved down to start the massage on his feet instead.  Xander giggled and wiggled and tried to kick but oh well.  It was still making him happy.  He moved up, testing the calves.  They weren't tense but they did have very strong muscles.  "Are you jogging?"

"I have to do something when I'm not in class."

"Good point. I like the fact that you took some classes."  He got back to work, making him a happy Xander.  A very happy Xander since he could see him getting hard again.  Of course, someone knocked on the door.  "That's either Mormons or Abby."

"Probably Abby," Xander said with a small shrug.  "I'm not answering it.  I kinda can't."  Tony grinned and got back to work, making it back to his hips a few minutes later and he moaned, arching up against his teasing touches.  "If I beg harder, please!" he moaned when a finger brushed him.

"Sex is for breakfast.  Tonight is for touching and feeling."  He made Xander shift so he could get under him, settling him back in his lap so he could rub against him and could drive Xander insane by ghosting touches across his body.  He got off first, but Xander let go when he felt him go, letting him have the best moan that night and the shaking afterward.  "Shh, I'm here," Tony soothed quietly, stroking his stomach.  Xander calmed down and went limp against him, turning his head for a kiss.  Tony smiled.  "That's why I like to play and why you're my favorite human toy," he said quietly.  "Let's get up and clean you off, then we'll go back to bed to sleep."  Xander nodded again, using the edge of the bathtub to help him stand.  Tony stood up between the straps, undoing one and putting it over the shower rod then rehitching it.  He let the plug go with his toes while he fiddled with the water, smiling when he turned it on.  Xander moaned, arching back into it.  Tony found the sponge Xander hid so no one would know he had it and got to work cleaning his body for him.

"If you ever end up with a harem, I'm going to beg to join," Xander groaned, arching back into the touches around his crack.

"If I ever get a harem, I'm going to wonder why and yell at certain people for using magic."  He pinched him lightly then made him turn so he could get his stomach. Once Xander was done he cleaned himself up and stopped the water, then got them out and dried off, but leaving Xander cuffed to the shower rod for now.  He looked him over, smiling at his shivering.  He undid the cuffs and pulled him into a deep kiss.  "Go to the bed.  I'm going to make sure the house is locked up and then I'll be right up."  He nodded and padded out there, climbing under the blankets.  Tony found his bathrobe and headed down the stairs to see who had come over.  He found the kitchen cleaned and everything put up, which was nice since he had forgotten.  The couch's usual slip cover was missing.  The light downstairs was on though so he headed down there, surprising McGee.  "Bad night?"

He looked at him and nodded. "Yeah.  I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd work instead of making Abby cranky."  He smiled. "I promise I'm not listening."

"It's fine, McGee.  I know you're not listening.  That's Kate."  He grinned.  "We're headed to bed so make sure to lock the door behind you."  He headed back up, closing the bedroom door just in case.  Xander was already asleep but not in his usual little ball.  He took off his robe and slid in beside him, getting a cuddly Xander blanket, which was his favorite bedtime accessory.  He had missed it earlier.

***

Dawn snuck into Xander's room, putting the covered tray on the dresser, right where someone should see it.  She turned and found Tony awake so she nodded at it.  "Gibbs is downstairs," she whispered.  "We all are, and we're ignoring you guys."  She left, closing the door behind her as quietly as she could.

Tony smirked, having evil thoughts, and got to work waking up his boy.  He had promised him sex. He kissed him, nothing.  So he moved down and nipped one of his nipples.  Either he was acting or he was really deeply asleep this time. He moved further down to lick up the hardening cock, getting a moan and Xander shifting toward him.  But no telltale hand coming down to play with his hair like usual.  He decided to play with his treat; he didn't do it often because he wasn't that great at it yet, but he did enjoy it when he did it.  He was moving up and down when the hand came down to play with him, nearly ready to start preparing the sleeping body and wake him that way.  He pulled off and looked up.  "Do you think we can do this quietly?"  Xander nodded, staring at him.  "Good."  He got back to it, starting to prepare the way for himself.  He paused when he heard the phone ring but no one yelled.  A few minutes later it rang again but he didn't care, he was starting to sink into the relaxed, purring body under him. Xander gasped and grabbed at his arms, scratching him a bit.  "Let me."

"I'm a good toy," he agreed, wiggling his hips.  "I learned how."

"Good."  He got to work making it good.  Making Xander want to scream even though he couldn't.  Maybe he'd make him break this time, maybe not.  There was always sex in the supply closet at work to make him yell in the inappropriate place if he wanted to risk it.  He did make Xander moan.  Then he got down to the harder and faster working, making him let out one long scream of pleasure.  He grinned and came, kissing him gently. "Noisy," he teased.

"Couldn't help it," Xander panted, pulling him down to kiss him again.  "Can we take another nap and have more?"

"We'll see.  Dawn brought us breakfast before we woke up."

"Is it just her?"

"Probably not."  He grinned.  Xander stared at him.  "I woke up and she mentioned Gibbs."  The phone beside them rang and he sighed, picking it up since it was his cell.  "It had better be a case, Boss," he said in greeting.  He groaned and got up, heading into the bathroom.  "Give me ten to find clothes, Gibbs."  He hung up.  "Can't someone manage to not be kidnaped today?" he complained.

Xander giggled and got up to give him a hug and a proper good morning kiss.  "You go to work and I'll bring lunch whenever you call."  He cleaned himself up then found pajama bottoms and a t-shirt.  It's not like he was going to be wearing more today.  It was Sunday!  He opened the breakfast tray and handed Tony his, which fit nicely on the toast Dawn had made.  He walked out eating it, heading downstairs.  At least he could ride in with Gibbs this morning.  Xander brought his down, smiling at Dawn and Kate.  "You don't have to go?"

"I'm on probation until they figure out if I'm working or not."  She shrugged.  "Are you okay?"

"Just fine," he promised with a grin.

"First time?"

"No."  He ate a bite and grinned at the women around him.  "What?"

"That was loud, Xander," Abby reminded him.

"It was good!"  He ate another bite, grinning at Dawn.  "You have some of the worst timing."

"Sorry.  I'll try to learn better."  He nodded.  "Ducky wants me to stay with him.  Even before Wes ordered he wanted me to stay with him.  Would that be okay?"

"I'll expect you to treat Ducky well and properly and help out with his mother," he ordered.  "She's a very nice lady."

"She is," she agreed.  "She likes me too.  She was helping me put up my hair."  She turned to show the braid with ribbons, then back around.  "So you're okay with it?"

"As long as he is, Dawn.  Because if you hurt Ducky or his mom, your ass is so very dead and buried as fertilizer in her garden.  Got it?"  She nodded quickly.  "Good.  Then if he wants you to stay with him I accept.  It's not like Giles can say anything either."

"He told Ducky to take me shopping for *real* clothes and he'd pay so he didn't have to be embarrassed by what I already had."

"I can take you shopping," Kate told her.

"No, Ducky said my clothes were fine but nothing too clubby or risque in front of his mother, like all the leather stuff Spike bought me.  Though, she liked it when she helped me unpack.  She thought it was cute."  She grinned at her.  "Spike wanted me to look like a domme."

Kate giggled at that.  "I heard about Spike a few times."  She looked at Xander, who was scraping his plate.  "So, what're we doing today?"

"I've got to pick up the car from the painters.  Tony and I already went over all the inheritance stuff and what Wes wanted back.  Tony and I were going to reshelve and organize the library today too."  They laughed at that.  "I know, we have magic books all over the house."  He shrugged. "It happens."  He looked at them.  "I guess I can go shopping with you three if you wanted.  I used to get drug by Buffy and Willow often enough and I managed to find Tony really hot hunting clothes."

"I saw," Dawn said.  "Those jeans were nearly pornographic, Xander."  He just smirked.  "I can't believe you went hunting in the clubs.  Naughty, Xander.  Did you make him hot too?"

"Yeah.  We went salsa dancing and all that."  She giggled and Kate blushed.  "Sorry, don't mean to share too much."

"No, share away.  Tony's like my brother," she assured him happily, smirking just a bit evilly.

"She and Tony pick on each other," Abby agreed.  "This morning she picked on him about eating bratwurst for lunch."

"No, I said I'd bring lunch to him, not have sex in the office.  Gibbs might mind that."

The women all giggled, nodding at that.  Even Dawn knew he'd throw a fit over catching them having sex in the office.

"Go change into something respectable," Kate ordered.

"Yes, mom."  He got up to do that, coming down in a pair of jeans and a tight white t-shirt, but with the sweater being carried. "Just in case I get cold."

Dawn looked at the chenille sweater, then shook her head and took it from him, going to get him something better.  She came back down with one of his off-white knit ones, handing it over.  "There, that goes and won't make you look femme, because I SO don't want to get into a fight at the mall with some butch idiot who thinks you're a flaming queen."  She took his arm.  "Come on, ladies.  We're off to pick up the car."

Xander had to get free to grab his wallet, phone, and keys, but then let her call a cab so they could go.

***

Tony looked up, giving Xander a look like he was God when he got off the elevators with bags.  Since his desk was first in line he got given the first two bags, one of which was a clothier.  "The girls went shopping?"

"Yup, and they like the color of the mustang too. They thought the midnight blue with sparklies in it was very pretty."  He walked the next set to Gibbs, smirking at him.  "Your coffee wasn't featured today so I put in a new canister of the good stuff so you could make it here."  Then he handed some to Marquez and McGee, making them both smile.  "Just minor lunches."  He turned to look at Gibbs.  "I was told to tell you to tell Ducky, since he's not downstairs, that Dawn is back home with Kate and they're having tea with his mother today.  Dawn did get some *respectable* clothes at Kate's insistence but that she and Abby bonded over skirts.  Also, Kate made Abby get some new clothes too, and Abby dressed Kate.  Kate was going to come in but she needed to find a place to live first so she's doing that and she's got my cell if you need her."

"Thank you.  Good reporting.  Ducky's not downstairs?"

"He wasn't when I popped in."

"Hmm."  He picked up the phone and dialed Ducky's cell. No answer.  He looked at Tony, who hurriedly ate and got up, heading to check the morgue.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome, Boss.  I'm making lasagna tonight if you're making it back, which can be warmed up if it's a late night."

"Even better.  We'll see you later."

Tony came back.  "Boss, his desk is a mess."

"Ducky's a borderline neat freak," Xander told him.

"I know.  There's a mess of papers."

Xander picked up the phone and called Dawn's new cell.  "Is Ducky there?"  He listened.  "Thanks.  No, no worries, he stepped out for lunch and we're wondering."  He walked over to the free desk and pulled off his necklace.  "Get me a map and something of his.  Something he's worn or held a lot."  McGee got a street map, Tony got him something and he did the tracking spell.  "Here," he said, pointing at a spot.  "Somewhere in that block."

"Let's go," Gibbs said. There was no reason for Ducky to be there.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome, Boss."  He cleaned up his mess, tidied up the other desks, and smiled at the guys who came over to steal him to help them for a few minutes.  He didn't know how the other team had adopted him too but they were generally nice guys.  "How's his back?" he asked as he was drug.

"Just fine.  They're doing the final treatment this week then doing tests to make sure it's gone."  They put him in front of the computer.  "Can you type?"

"About thirty words a minute."

"Good enough.  You fill in the boxes.  It should be self explanatory."

"Okay.  I'll save them under a different name so you can check them before integrating them."  He looked over the blank form then started to type in stuff from the information sheets beside him.  He had done the same thing with their database and it wasn't much different.  He looked up a few sheets later, seeing the director staring at him. "I got asked to type for them."

"Ah.  I was wondering why you were here when Gibbs' whole team was gone."

"They drug me over.  I don't mind but I've got to head home in a bit to fix lasagna since I promised.  I'm waiting to make sure Ducky's fine."

"Good.  How's the first Academy class going?"

"The first one went okay.  I thought a few of them were stick-up-the-butt rules but they went okay."  That got a smirk.  "No way in hell I'm wearing a tie daily, director."

"We don't require it here.  Just there."  He nodded at the forms.  "You do that very well."

"We use a similar database."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "Any word on Ducky?"

"He's fine and they're bringing him back within a few minutes."  He stared at him.  "How's DiNozzo?"

"Recovered from the jet lag.  We had dinner last night and it was a happy time.  This morning we woke up to the full team in the house."  He looked at him again.  "Kate's got my cell if you wanted to talk to her."

"I'll remember that."  He left him alone, listening to Xander correct a few entries before he saved that one and moved on.  He was handy to have around.

***

Xander looked up as his house was invaded by his friends, smiling and pointing at the oven.  "Ten more minutes."

"You got back late," Gibbs said, yawning a bit.  "What happened?"

"The other team needed help inputting records. So I did that for two hours to clear their backlog."

"Good.  I'm sure they needed the help."  He watched as Tony kissed him on the head and checked on the food.  "He said ten minutes."

"Sorry, Boss, but lunch was a while ago."  He got himself and Xander a soda, then sat down.  "Ducky's fine but he's spending the night with his mother and Dawn."

"I figured he was or else I'd have gotten a call to join you guys at the hospital with Dawn and Kate."

"Good point."  Gibbs got himself a beer and McGee got a soda, handing half of it to Abby since she held out an empty glass.  He smiled at their antics.  "When do classes start again, Xander?"

"Next week, Boss."  He put down his book and stretched back. "Then I start the intense training times.  One guy did ask me about my eye but his boss called him off.  Who pulled what strings?"

"The director did," he admitted.  "Since it doesn't affect your daily routine."  He sipped his beer and got the lasagna out when the timer beeped, testing it with a knife from the drawer.  He put it back in for another five minutes.  Tony moaned. "Give it a few more, DiNozzo."

"Yes, Boss."  He looked at Xander.  "Is that all we're having?"

"There's a salad in the fridge," he offered with a smile.  The door was knocked on. "If you belong in here, get your ass in here!" he yelled.  Kate walked in with Marquez.  "Hey.  We're about to eat.  Clean up.  Abby, get the salad and stuff.  Tony, set the table.  Gibbs, clean up, you too, Fluffy."  They went to do their assigned tasks while he checked dessert.  Abby saw and hugged him.  "I figured we should celebrate," he told her.  "Anyone who wants wine, it's in the closet beside the cabinet," he said, pointing.  "We're having lasagna."

"Soda's good for me," Kate told him.  She got one and looked at the cake, then smiled at him.  "Thank you."

"Eeh, you're family."  He pulled the food out of the oven, letting it sit for two minutes so it'd be easier to cut and wouldn't burn him quite so badly, then he got to work dishing up portions.  "I need a bigger table," he joked, squeezing in between Abby and Tony.  Everyone nodded.

"Doesn't this one have an extender?" McGee asked.  Xander shook his head.  "Why not?"

"Because I bought it way back when we moved here and it was only going to be me, Willow, and Eliana."  He ate a bite.  "More than big enough for that and the occasional guest slayers."

"Oh."

"Besides, he'd have to put it in the dining room and that means moving his desk and the altar," Tony joked.

"Well, we aren't using the training room as often," Marquez noted.  "Though I am still using it, Xander."

"You'd better be.  If the current ones die, it'll go back to one of you who got uncalled."

"Eliana's next according to Dawn.  I don't know how she knows, but she said so.  She also said that there'd be dual slayers for generations."

"That's fine with me," he agreed.  "Less work and stress for them both."  He ate another bite and smirked at her once he had swallowed.  "How's the mop-up going?"

"Good. We're back down to about twenty vamps in town that we know of.  There's only been two vampire deaths, one demonic related death, and one chaos sorcerer who committed suicide."

"Yes, it was Ethan," Gibbs said quietly.  "We think Jen and her happy group made him."

Xander nodded.  "Understood.  She'll get hers when Ripper finds out.  I thought they had been picked up or blew themselves up or something."

"No bodies found in the rubble and she's good enough to get around that," Kate told him. "So they're not sure, which is now my new job, Gibbs."  He smirked at her.  "Since you're involved and all."

"If I knew then what she'd turn into I wouldn't have done it," Gibbs noted dryly.

"Yes you would've," Tony told him.  "She was pretty, a redhead, and there all the time.  How could you have resisted?" he noted smugly.  Gibbs reached over to smack him across the back of the head again. "Thanks, Boss, I missed that while we were in England."

"I tried, but I just can't do it the same way you do," Xander told him with a grin.  Gibbs leaned over and got him too.  "Aww, now I feel loved."

"At least Dawn isn't here to ask if we're a threesome," Tony joked.

"Again," Xander finished.

"She's too young and she's a brunette, kids," he said, shaking his head.  "I missed the stress relief while you guys were gone.  McGee doesn't tell good jokes."

McGee looked at him.  "You never asked, Boss, but you're right.  A comedian I am not.  I'm much more focused on the drama than the humor."

Abby kissed him on the cheek.  "Which is why I love you, McGee.  You understand my darkness."

Xander looked at her.  "Would that be the coffin darkness or the other darkness?  Or the band Darkness with the guy who sounds like the love child of Tiny Tim?"

She burst out in giggles and so did Kate, who had to lean on Gibbs' shoulders to hold herself up.  "Now I see why you like him, Boss.  He's like a miniature Tony," Kate laughed.

He pushed her off, smirking at her.  "Plus he does paperwork and helps around the office.  He even tried to organize my desk for me."

"No, I did organize your desk for you.  Get it right, you're still using my filing system."

"Good point, I am."  He smiled at them.  "I don't know how we're going to handle it when you come in to work, Xander."

"Well, Gibbs, the director asked if I wanted to move to the other team," Marquez offered gently.  "I told him I'd talk to you about it because I wasn't sure."

He looked at her.  "Up to you.  You fit well and you and Kate seem to be able to get along well enough.  We've got room for you."

"They've been complaining about favoritism, Boss," McGee offered, then ate a bite of salad.  "You got her and Kate, plus Xander helping out whenever he's in.  They're jealous."

"They took me today to upload information sheets," Xander offered.  "I saved them in a separate file so he could look them over and then integrate them after he's checked through them."  He got a nudge so he started to eat again.  Abby could be so forceful sometimes.

"So, what were you guys doing last night when Dawn interrupted?" Abby hissed.  "She looked shocked then giggled really loudly."

"I know, that's when I hung up on her," Tony assured her.  Gibbs looked at them.  "She wanted to know what we were doing when Dawn called that made her giggle."

"No details," he reminded them.  "Either couple."  They all nodded.  "Thank you."  He looked at Kate.  "You missed it.  Harris would pop up with food randomly there for a few weeks.  The guards all know him by name now."  She grinned at that.  "Then about a month ago, he decides to pull a Ducky."

"Hey, it was a minor cyst with a zit.  I've taken them out before on the girls," Xander defended.  "Besides, Ducky was busy.  And it's a good thing I did."

"It was," he agreed. "You still removed a cyst with a dental pick in the office."

Kate looked at him.  "One of those cone cysts with the zit?"  He nodded.  "Dental pick?"

"Dig in and twirl, it comes out," he offered.  "Right in the middle of his back.  I came in to force Gibbs to relax first and I got asked to help the other team too."

Abby and Tony giggled.  "Seriously, Kate," McGee said at her shocked look.  "He walks in, hauls Gibbs out of his chair before he can complain, turns the chair around, makes him sit back down, forcing him to sit back down, then got to work on his back and shoulders since he was having trouble moving.  Someone called him from the lab when he couldn't pick up something.  Ten minutes later you hear this really deep growl of pleasure and Xander lets him go."  He looked at him.  "Can I have one for my birthday this year?  You can have Abby and Tony in the room," he offered at the hesitant look.  "I'd never cheat with you.  I couldn't play with your hair."  Abby blushed at that.

"Sure, Fluffy, I can do that," he agreed happily.  "I did pass my practicals and am fully licensed now to do massage therapy."

Kate smiled.  "We're going to love having you around the office on the bad weeks."

"And on the good weeks, he and Tony will pick on you for a change," McGee finished, making Tony and Xander chuckle.  "Please?"

"If we must," Xander sighed.

"Why do you call him Fluffy?" Kate asked.

"I'm horrible with names.  After calling my girlfriend by Dawn's older sister's name, everyone got a nickname.  Except Gibbs.  I couldn't come up with one that wasn't overtly sexual and he wouldn't kick my ass for."  Gibbs nodded at that.  "Since the first time I met McGee he seemed really fluffy and light, plus a bit pudgy at that time, he got to be Fluffy while this one didn't introduce himself for two days so he became Pretty Boy.  The boss came out to handle the case when McGee brought the prisoner back from Santa Clara so they both watched me hunting and decided I was only partially insane."

"You seem mostly sane to me," she offered.  She looked at Gibbs.  "Who replaced me?"

"Ziva David, Mossad," he said, looking at her.

"Was that Shepard's idea?"  He nodded.  "Damn.  Who was it supposed to be?"  He pointed at Marquez.  "Hell, at least you finally got someone good."

"Ziva was good, but she was very lone wolf," Tony told her.  "Not used to working in a team at all.  Couldn't stand being teased."

"She had that problem with american slang too," McGee reminded him.

"Plus she thought she was immortal and bulletproof on occasion," Abby added.  "She was decent enough but she wasn't you and we didn't give her a real chance."

"That was mean," Kate told her.

"Yeah, well, she wasn't you and she was covering for Ari there for a bit," Gibbs told her.  "She ended up shooting him, but I don't think any of us forgave her for that."

"He's dead, right?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Good.  Very good."

"Next to the boat.  Ziva shot him," Tony told her.

"Even better!" she agreed happily.  She looked at Xander.  "So you met them just after Ziva showed up?"  He nodded.

"Within weeks," Tony told her.  "This old case of arms dealing got broken open.  It came from our office so we got to find the leads in the other territories.  This one guy was a total shitbag."  Xander nodded heavier at that as he ate another bite.  "We found him working construction. He had been doing really creative accounting, still dealing arms and some limited drugs, plus sleeping with young teenagers.  Plus helping in an insurance scam on this last job of his."

"The same day they got there," Xander said, licking his fork off, "my company sent me to fix the site.  So it was my first day.  After a few minutes I realized what the problem was and handcuffed him to a fence while we went figured out how to fix everything and how deep it went.  They spent a week haunting the site and finding all the civy and military connections since it was a joint case.  I fed you then too," he reminded Tony.

"And made me paranoid.  First night there, Kate, and this one has to go handle some vampires on the beach at the request of the cops.  Now, I'm there alone because McGee brought the prisoner back here.  Gibbs didn't get in until really early the next morning.  So I followed him in case it became pertinent to the case.  I saw him sitting on the hood of a police car shooting vampires with a crossbow.  Then I spent the rest of the night huddled in my motel room with my gun in hand."

"I wasn't about to come over and tuck you in," Xander told him.  "A bit of paranoia is good now and then.  Gets the blood flowing to handle quarterly apocalypses."

"Your blood flows just fine without going back to help," Tony assured him firmly.

"Unless they need me."

"Fine.  I'll agree with that.  If they need you, you can go."  He looked at Kate again.  "Gibbs comes in the next morning and I'm still awake.  So I hear him knock on Xander's door.  Because I told him I had seen him hunting and killing things.  My mind was just running around in circles at that and seeing the vampires turn to dust instead of bleed and scream.  Xander here isn't intimidated by Gibbs. Told him he'd seen more scary things that were pink and four feet high."  She giggled at that.  "Then he heads off to work and we've got to go back to the site to get more of the records and have him explain a few of the forms to us so we know where he's been hiding money."

"Then Ziva showed up," Xander said dryly.  "Hell's mistress."

"Yeah, he threw her off the site a few times," Tony said proudly.  "He couldn't let her into the trailer since we had the only key and it was being considered an active crime scene.  She tried to threaten and boss him around in front of his crew.  He kicked her ass and kicked her off the site.  The second time we were there, he knocked her down and drug her off, then picked the lock on her car and shoved her into it before going back to work. She had no idea how to deal with him."

"Which is why I sent her back," Gibbs agreed. "Xander was mostly respectful to me and DiNozzo, but he mouthed off to him every chance he got."

"I needed a playmate to take my mind off the magic radiation sickness I had," Xander defended.  "You two were the pervs who tracked me and the succubus around the boardwalk and watched her work."

"No, that was him," Gibbs assured him.

"You're the one who wanted to interrupt them, Boss.  I fled when I saw what she was doing.  Then he made me dance with Bob, her incubus cousin."

Xander just grinned at him.  "At least you weren't that wary of dancing with me when we went out hunting."

"Until the salsa club when you nearly had me there on the floor," he complained.  Xander just kissed him gently and grinned.  "Was that a date?"  Xander nodded.  "I thought so."

"Yes, that was his plan to woo you, Tony," Abby told him.  "Dates after hunting, or special moments during hunting, special lunches at work, special treats between the two."

"I nearly got tickets to Six Flags," Xander agreed. "I wasn't sure if that would count as being too far away or not."

Gibbs nodded. "It would.  You'd have to take a weekend and let me know first."

"Then again, with this team's luck, you'd find a body down there," Kate added with a grin.  "We did when I took the day to visit Williamsburg."

Gibbs nodded. "You did.  I was impressed with that."

"Me too."

"I was just happy that you didn't call five minutes earlier this morning, Boss," Tony said dryly.  "How many times did you try to get me in England?"

"I started to twice.  No going back?"

"Wes said to give the house to the Council.  But they paid me for it.  Wes took something from underneath it to live on and he had full access to the Council's funds in his name.  So he's straightened out their stuff.  I'm nearly done with my energy study, and then I get to present the official Chronicles of the DC Hellmouth."  He looked at Marquez.  "Which means, Adrian, I need some input sometime this week."

"Yes, Xander."

"Good.  How is Eliana's father doing in traction?"

"Not very happy but he knew better than to try to hit her.  The DA decided not to press charges since she was defending herself, even if she did carry on.  Especially with his past and the former restraining order.  She's moving onto campus this fall and she's working this summer."

"Good for her," Xander agreed. "Dawn's job?"

"Taking care of Ducky's mom when he's not there," Gibbs told him.  "He's paying her a bit but not a lot."

"It's a job and something she needs," Xander said with a shrug.  "I didn't expect her to make Enron money doing it at her age."

"What about you?" McGee asked.

"Starting next week I start the intense, sixteen week, hardcore lessons at the Academy," Xander told him.  "Fortunately it's not a live-in program and I've already passed my range and computer tests.  They're going to be letting me out of those for specialist classes.  We're still trying to figure out what I'm taking."

"Bombs are good," Gibbs offered.  "We could use someone with those skills.  Watch out for the instructor though.  The first day, listen.  You'll be disarming the one under your chair."

"Decent," Xander agreed.  "I may already be able to do that but good."  He grinned at him.  "What else do I need to take?"

"We've got computers and that stuff covered," Kate told him. "Adrian and I do profiling.  No one does cults but we don't really need them."

"I've studied a bit on that," Xander admitted. "You have a lot of them formed on this side of normalcy."  They all nodded, accepting that.  "I'll let them guide me then."  He shrugged.  "They don't like my earrings.  I already told someone to stuff it."

"You can't wear them at work," Gibbs reminded him.

Xander looked at him.  "The director said I didn't have to wear a tie.  He never said a thing about the earrings or the hair when I talked to him earlier and it's not like they're unnoticeable."

"Regs state you can't," Kate told him.  "I can't for that matter."  Xander nodded.  "So put them in after work as you walk out."

"Oh, I do now and then," he admitted.  "At least they quit teasing me about my nipple ring.  Frank, the guard Frank, got onto the new guy about that when he caught him."

Tony choked.  "For what reason?"

"Said it was unfair.  The regs say no earrings, said nothing about other ones.  Then he pointed out plenty of people had multiple piercings these days. The guy admitted he had one too but that he didn't expect agents to.  So Frank assured him he knew about at least seven genital piercings in the building at that moment and another dozen or so nipple rings, plus some discreet earrings and piercings in other places.  The guy looked stunned and he said they might need them to relax after a long day.  Then the new guy asked about Gibbs' team and I had to shrug and say I knew Abby had some but otherwise he'd have to ask."  Gibbs choked on that.

"I wondered why I got handwanded," McGee said dryly.

"If he touched you, I'm going to smack him," Abby assured him.

Gibbs went back to coughing and choking.  "You can tell him we don't, kid," he said, calming himself down.

"Speak for yourself," Adrian and Kate said in unison.  Xander just beamed at them.

"Hey!  You said I could go with you!" Abby complained to her buddies.  "Where was I?"

"Trying on that blue dress," Xander told her.

"Oh, well, that's good then," she admitted.  "But the next one I get to go."  Adrian looked at her.  "Trust me, they're like chips.  No one has just *one*."  She smiled at Kate.  "I went with her when she got the tattoo."

"I need to redo the Taz on my chest over the scar tissue," Xander said, pouting a bit.

"They said they wanted the scar tissue to smooth out some more,"  Kate reminded him.  He nodded at that. "What happened to your back?"

"Don't.  Ask."

"Okay."  She left it there.

"He's got exes that make a few of mine look sane," Gibbs told her. She moaned at that.

"Hell, I had a few casual ones that made Cordy look sane," Xander quipped.

"I met Cordelia," Kate assured him.  "I didn't think that was possible."

"Did you get to meet Anya on the astral plane?" he asked.  She nodded slowly. "I nearly married her."  She got up and hugged him.  "Thanks. I left her at the altar."

"It was the best decision of your life," she assured him.  Then she hugged Tony.  "You're much better for him."  She went back to her seat, but got up to get more lasagna.  "Xander, want some more?"

"Please."  He handed over his plate and she dished it up.  "Thank you."  He smiled at her.  "If you need my help, you know where I am."

"I'll call."  Gibbs' phone rang.  "Another one already?"  She sat down to dig in.

Tony finished his meal and stole a kiss when he got up, McGee doing the same with Abby and his plate.  Then they followed him out, Marquez right behind them.  "Why can't Kate start coming, Boss?" he complained.

"She's on probation until they do the paperwork," he said plainly.  "It'll be early next week."  He closed the door behind them.

Xander grinned at her. "Does that mean you get to make fun of the orientation lectures again?" he asked.  "They told me the bidet story."

She giggled and nodded. "Yup, all next week."  She ate another bite.  "You do this pretty well."

"Which is good considering I don't cook," he admitted.  "This is the only thing I can make."  He ate another bite.  "I did do good this time."  He grinned at Abby.  "When do you get called in?"

"It depends on what's going on." Her phone rang and she sighed. "I guess I am needed. I'll see you guys in a few days."  She hugged them both and bounced out.

Kate looked at him.  "Need help picking out stuff for classes?"  He nodded.  "Can we eat in the living room?"

"I do most of the time."  He got up and grabbed another soda for himself, heading out there.  He saw the person on his lawn and sighed, going to get something from his office, handing her his spare gun.  "Here.  See, Initiative," he said, pointing at her.  He lifted his gun and blatantly cocked it, staring down Jen Shepard. She backed up.

Kate did the sensible thing.  She called Gibbs.  "You'll never believe which of your exes is on the front lawn."  She winced at the squeal of brakes. "Don't crash.  I can't put up with you in the hospital this week, not that and orientation again, Gibbs."  She looked at Xander.  "Handcuffs?"

"Sure."  He walked her upstairs to get the toybox out, letting her pick what she wanted.  "I gave my old ones to Abby and McGee.  I didn't want to use what I used on Anya on Tony."

She smiled at that and found some things that would do for now, then took him outside to help her.  "Federal agents, freeze!" she ordered, pointing her gun at the group laying the bomb.

"Um, just for future reference, the house is warded so it won't explode," he noted happily, waving at them.  "I am that good most of the time."  He pounced one and got them down, then got the next one while Kate got a few.  He looked at the bomb and remembered what Tony had ordered him to not do.  He considered it for a second, then carefully lifted it up and took it into the middle of the street, leaving it out there.  Then he moved his bike and his car.  A few neighbors came out.  "Bomb," he called, pointing at it.  Most of them moved their cars too.  A few apparently wanted new cars, and one moved hers closer.  He smiled at that and grinned at Kate, shaking his head. They both ducked when it went off, dusting the little bits of road and car off themselves while they waited.  Gibbs pulled up and Xander pointed.  "Bomb," he called.  "I didn't do more than move it this time. You can't yell at me for disarming it."  He knocked one of the moving people down, then looked at Tony again, who was scowling.  "I was a good boy and I warned the neighbors."

"Uh-huh."  He came over to start rehandcuffing people, letting Xander have the sex toys. "Clean those before you put them back, Xander."

"Yes, Tony."

"Are you cops?" one of the neighbors asked Gibbs.

"Federal agent, ma'am.  NCIS."  He flashed his ID.

"Oh, we were wondering why such a nice boy had these sort of problems."  She moved closer.  "You might want to make him move the claymore launcher away from the window," she said delicately, pointing.  "My grandson saw it and asked."

"I'll have him do that immediately, ma'am.  Thank you."  He walked over there and glared at Xander.  "The window isn't covered."  He looked up and Xander 'eeped' and went to move the weapons away from the windows.

"Abby and I were looking at them, Gibbs," Kate told him. "Its our fault."

"He should've checked," he muttered as he came over to lend some cuffs.  He walked around Jen's limp body.  "She alive?"

"Unfortunately, Boss," Tony agreed dryly.  "I think someone punched her."

"Yeah, once or twice," Kate agreed happily. She smoothed some of her hair back behind her ears.  "Is someone coming to take them away?"

"Yeah, they're behind us.  McGee went to start the other case, with an excuse that we were in the middle of one ourselves so we'd be there as soon as possible."  He looked at her.  "He moved the bomb?"  She nodded.  "Why?"

"He said something about not getting yelled at for disarming it this time."

"Yeah, he disarmed one a few months back without telling us there was one," Tony admitted.  "The first thing we knew, there was a cop asking for his smaller wire clippers for him."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "Good.  We could use someone like that. He can train to be Gibbs, the next generation."  She smirked at their boss.  "But we love you anyway."

"I warn people when I run into explosives, Todd.  You know that."  He handcuffed the last one and looked at the SWAT truck as it pulled up.  "He put it in the middle of the street."

"And someone's car didn't get moved," Kate told them.  They nodded, going to look at the remains of the explosive.  She looked at Gibbs, smiling at him.  "She moved it closer," she told him.  He shrugged, they didn't deal in insurance fraud.  The companies had people for that.  Xander came back out and she smiled at him. "You move pretty well for just starting your training."

"Practice.  Lots and lots of practice."  He hugged her.  "Are you okay?"

"Just fine, Xander. I'm one tough girl."

"Yeah, but they have hard heads."  He let her go and looked at Tony.  "I didn't disarm it and she already knew it was here."

"You're still in trouble for moving it."

"Sorry."  He went to tell the guys that he had moved it, letting them fingerprint him just in case for a comparison sample.  When asked why the bomb had been planted he grinned and referred them to Gibbs, then escaped back inside to finish his dinner. It was going to be a good night.

Clothing And Other Issues.

Xander looked in his closet and groaned.  His teacher had said they were going out on a day-long ride along so he had to dress appropriately.  He still didn't know what to wear and his assignment had only come last night.  Now he had about half an hour to figure this out since they hadn't given it until after everything had closed.  And of course, Tony was at his place last night.  He called Kate.  "What does one wear when doing a day-long ride along with the CIA?"  He listened to her splutter.  "No, I have jackets, pants, dress shirts.  No ties.  I have no fucking clue.  Ten last night," he admitted dryly.  "Well after everything was closed.  The instructor doesn't like me very much, claims I'm too smart and heroish for my own good and I'll get a lot of good agents dead.  I pointed out I hadn't yet and he just glared."  He looked at his closet again.  "Can I get by without the noose?  I mean the tie?"  He sighed.  "Got an extra one I can borrow?  Tony's probably already on his way in."  He sighed again.  "Thank you, Kate."  He hung up and pulled out the outfit she suggested, heading in to deal with his hair and change his earrings.  He wasn't taking them out for today.

***

Xander parked his bike and got off, looking at the front of the Langley complex.  "Wonderful.  Why the fuck am I here?" he muttered, heading for the reception area.  He looked at the metal detector, then at the guards.  "I've got shrapnel in my left shoulder and some pieces of bomb in my back now.  Can we hand wand me?"

The guard nodded and pulled out the hand wand, letting him move that way.  He watched as the kid emptied his pockets.  "The earrings too, sir."

"Sure."  He got to work taking them out.  "Nipple ring too?" he asked dryly.

"You're not the usual sort of agent."

"Day long internship," he complained.  "I'm a cadet."

"The other one got here an hour ago."

"I was told to show up now. My trainer hates me."

"She was a bit over eager."

"Ah.  I know her. He hates her too."  He put his arms out, letting him do what he needed to do.  "Do I need a sticker for my bike?"

"No, we saw you pull up and I'll note you as a cadet."  He put it away.  "Thank you, sir."

"Welcome.  I do the same at NCIS."  He put back in his earrings then grabbed the rest of his stuff, heading for the desk that had 'reception' on the front.  "Hi, Xander Harris, reporting as ordered for the internship day."

"Hi," she said, smiling at him.  "You're not the usual sort."

"Yeah and my teacher hates me," he noted dryly.  "Do I look okay enough?  I got told at ten last night."

"You look fine. You should have a tie but we'll deal, and the earrings should go."

"I'm not changing myself for them, but I'll be polite enough to put on a tie if I had one," he said with a sweet grin.  "But I don't change who I am for my bosses."

She smiled and paged someone, then looked at a door.  She handed him a pass.  "Go through there, keep that badge on all day.  What're you driving?"

"The brown motorcycle with the taser system."

"I'll make note of that," she agreed happily.  "Go through that door, the badge lets you in.  Have fun today, we're still recruiting."

"I like Gibbs," he told her.  "He's a great guy and I learn stuff from him."  She looked stunned at that so he beamed.  "I'm their cult expert, Xander."

"Oh!"  She nodded. "Understood.  No wonder they don't like you."

He grinned and nodded, heading that way, using his badge on the sensor to get through the door.   He found two guys waiting.  "Which of you am I here to bug the shit out of by asking questions?" he asked blandly.  They both gave him an odd look.  "I'm a cadet, sent to do the day-long thing?"

"Me," a voice called, an older man coming out of the office.   "This way, Mr. Harris.  We wondered how late your teacher was going to tell you to be."  He looked him over.  Black dress pants, black dress shirt with two buttons undone, green jacket, earrings, spiky hair.  "I can see why they don't like you."

Xander smirked.  "Maybe it's because I was helping Gibbs," he noted dryly.

"I know Jethro.  You're that Xander?"  He nodded, still smirking.  "Ah.  I've heard much about you.  Would you think about coming to work for us?"

"I don't know yet.  I'm guessing this gives you guys the day to recruit and monitor us for stupidity."

"Basically that's how we use it," he agreed, leading him back into the office.  "Of course you know Fi-Fi."

"Hey," Xander said, nodding at her.  "When did he call you?"

"Around midnight.  He hates me more than you because I had cramps."

"Ah.  He hates me because I disarmed the bomb the teacher froze on when one was delivered."  He looked at the guy.  "Let's get past the bullshit, we know we're not the favored students, they went to the FBI to get coffee today."

"At least you're realistic," he offered.  "Sit, let's talk about our areas and programs.  Do either of you know anything substantial about terrorism?  I know Xander knows something about cults and those sort of things."

Fi-Fi smiled at him.  "I'm a profiler candidate, sir.  I'm also top of my academy class when I went through the New York one."

"Interesting. Did you do any specializing when you went?"

"I thought about Vice but it was wearing me down when I went so I went to robbery for a bit before heading for this academy.  I'd rather deal with the less common criminal."

"Well, we certainly deal with those here.  Mission Impossible isn't quite just a movie, but we do some of that as well."

Xander leaned back, looking at him.  "I've got an impressive history in self-defense, antique weapons, obscure knowledge, explosives, construction, and how to fuck up computer systems."

"So I've heard, at least about the computer systems," he noted dryly.

"Do you have a name or should I do what I did to DiNozzo and just make one up for you?" he asked with a smirk.

"Sorry, I'm Ron Fedders."

Xander shook his hand.  "I'll warn you right now, Agent Fedders, I'm horrible with names."

"He is," Fi-Fi agreed dryly.  "Can you introduce me to that guy McGee?"

"I would but he's dating someone," Xander offered.  "I can do it professionally though."

"I'd like professionally more," she agreed. "I'm not interested in the ass I can get in DC."

"Sure. I think mentoring another agent would be good for him.  Where did you pick for your other two spots?"

"NCIS and I left one blank, I figured we could go together."  Xander nodded.  "Yours?"

"NCIS for both.  Since I'm in and out of there so often," he said dryly.  "That's where I want to end up anyway."  He looked at Fedders.  "Not to insult you but I'd make a horrible covert guy.  I'd have to take notes."  That got a slight, tired chuckle.  "So, what can we do to annoy you today?"

"Well, today I was going to show you around, talk up our program, see if there's an area you might fit in anyway.  Because we can always call you back if so."  He smiled at him.  "We often do.  We have former agents and specialists in many agencies today."  He heard the alarm going off and groaned.  "No, not today."  He stood up.  "Come on, it's a fire drill."

"Sure," Fi-Fi agreed, picking up her briefcase.  She noticed Xander didn't have one.  "You didn't even bring paper?"

"No.  I'm going to forget they don't want me later."  He walked out behind them, that's why he wasn't shot.  That's also why he pulled his gun and fired back once the two bodies landed in front of him.  Two head shots and a leg shot later, and he yelled for some help for the two fallen people.  Paramedics came rushing and he walked out, well he was more pulled by one of the other agents.  "Hi," he said, smiling at the receptionist.  "Is my bike okay?"

"Just fine, it's still standing.  How did you get that in?"

He grinned.  "Magic."  He looked at the guy storming out, raising an eyebrow. "Hi."

"Mr...."

"Harris.  Cadet Harris," he said blandly.

"Gibbs's student?"  That got a nod.  "Ah, I see.  Thank you for your help.  How did you get that in here?"

"Magic," he said honestly.  The agent next to him glared.  He looked at the director, who gave him a thoughtful look.  "I'm not that strong."

"Fine.  Put it back."  Xander put it back and it disappeared from view.  The agent looked stunned.  "That's part of the Orion project, son.  Forget you saw it."  He hurried off in the other direction.  "Would you like to come work with us?"

"Hell no.  I'm looking forward to working for Gibbs."

"He knows?"

"Yeah, I kinda had to prove it repeatedly but yeah."   He shrugged.  "It's on my bike too."

"I had wondered."

"My bike is an heirloom.  If it's touched or harmed, I get to get..cranky.  Like Rosenburg cranky."  The man looked stunned.  "You didn't see who they sent from Sunnydale?" he asked dryly.

"I didn't realize you're the same guy, but that makes sense with the way Gibbs used you as a source on that cult," he offered, looking the boy over.  "We can keep you for a knowledge and help source?"

"Up to Gibbs.  Ask him.  I wanna work with him."

"Fine.  Good work."

"Not the first time.  I would like to wear out some energy.  Do we have a self-defense class going?"

"We do.  Your fellow cadet looks like she'll live," he noted as they were walked out.  "Very nice work, Harris."

"Eh, sometimes it's got to happen.  So, what's the CIA doing with magic these days?" he asked as the man walked him off.  "I ask to make sure nothing I'm doing is going to compromise your routine or get me in trouble."

"No, it shouldn't. We're doing covert surveillance at the moment to find people we should worry about."

"Interesting and fairly easy.  No long-distance magic assassinations?"

"No, for those we have a hunting team go in."  He opened a door and led him down to the basement level.  "In here, Mr. Harris."  He nodded at the teacher.  "We just had a shooting."

"I heard.  Another who needs stress relief?"  Xander nodded.  "Take off the jacket, little boy."  He looked him over and Xander took off his jacket and shirt, leaving him in an tank top.  "Cute."

"Thank you," he said with a smirk.  "I'm also mostly trained but in no official style."

"That's fine."  The director nodded so he bowed to the boy, who bowed back, then he attacked at his fastest.  The boy sneered and attacked back, going for real.  He was shocked, the kid knew what he was doing with speed.  He slowed him down and that's where he found the fault, that and his left side was marginally weaker.  "How did you get past with the eyesight problem?"

"Someone wanted me to go."  He spun and got him on the back, dodging an attack, then did a leg sweep, landing him on the ground.  He bowed and backed up, going back to a ready stance.  "Thank you, I needed that."  He put back on his shirt and jacket, buttoning the shirt up as he walked out with the director of the special project.  "So, you wanted me to see your big basin of water?"

"Quicksilver.  It works better."

"I never heard of that."  He walked with him, tucking in his shirt now.  His gun was exposed but he shifted it and it went back to hidden.  "Nice wards."

"Thank you.  We try."  He looked at his earring.  "The sapphire holds a shield?"

"You betcha.  It compensates."

"I noticed the left side weakness."

"It's gone.  Caleb."  He let him open the door and walked in, looking at the people gathered around, nodding at them.  "Hola."

The director walked in and smiled.  "This is Cadet Harris.  He's here for his day-long interview."  He walked him into the back area so he could watch what they were doing.  "We could use a man with your skills," he offered around lunch.  He had sandwiches brought in for the whole team, making him look like a good and generous boss.

"You could, but you've got others in my class and weight," he retorted, looking at him.  "If it's something that I'm skilled in and Gibbs agrees, you can have me back," he assured him.  "Nothing against someone.  I do protective and defensive magic mostly.  I'm a Watcher, not a villain."  He ate a bite of his sandwich.  "Any update on Fi-Fi?  Who is a kick-ass profiler who knows about the strange shit.  She did Albany, New York for about a year and saw some then.  She's good at profiling guys like Klerg, who's in Romania by the way."

"He is?"  He looked at the boy.  "How do you know?"

"He's a Watcher, a former one but we've called some out of retirement to watch over areas for us again.  Since the original group was blown to hell."  He ate another bite of his sandwich and chewed while the man considered this new information.  "I will say this now.  Should there be a new Initiative built, I'd have to stop them."

"I'm trying to make sure no one else gets one, Mr. Harris."

"Then talk to Rupert back in Sunnydale.  He's part of the Council.  Him, Wes.  A few others."

"Mr. Wyndham-Pryce died," he noted dryly.

"That doesn't mean he didn't come back.  Remember, the Powers That Be are still powerful for the Champions, the Slayers, and those who do the job."  He finished his sandwich, looking at him.  "Ask."

"I shall.  I had no idea that they were reforming.  They're in Sunnydale?"  Xander nodded.  "Then I'll ask politely."

"Thank you."  He smirked.  "I'd hate to be called back to work on the Council.  I don't want a seat.  I'm good being a field Watcher."

"As you seem very skilled to be," he agreed.  He looked at someone as they came running and whispered in his ear. "I know."  He looked at Xander.  "You have a taser system?"

"Of course.  I'm not going to rely on the magic one Wes and I put on."  He got up.  "Shall we?"  That got a nod and the new agent led him up there.  He walked over to it, turning it off with his remote, making the agents around it jump.  "You expected me to not guard an heirloom I inherited from a man who was like my brother?" he asked dryly.

"Who are you?" one guy said, looking him over.  "You're not the usual sort."

"Cadet Harris.  In for my day-long thing."

"He's been with us since the shooting, down in Sub-Four," the other agent assured him.

"You shot behind Fedders," one of the other guys noted.

"No, I shot once he fell.  That's the first I knew there was a problem.  He and my fellow cadet got shot in front of me and I took out that person and the other two coming."  He shrugged. "It's what I do."

"Can we see your gun, kid?" the first agent demanded.  Xander pulled it and handed it over.  "This is nice.  How did you get it in?"

"Magic," he said with an eyebrow quirk.  "I'm like that."  He held out a hand.  "Did you need it for ballistics?"

"You'll never work here."

"Who said I wanted to?  This is the one the teacher picked for us.  Which means we're hated for being good and not the standard Feeb sort."  He wiggled his fingers.  "May I have my weapon back?" he asked calmly.  The man handed it back.  "Thank you."  He put it back but didn't activate the spell.  "We were told we had the right to carry."

"You do."  He moved closer, staring at him.  "Who are you?"

"Cadet Alexander Harris.  Look it up," he snapped back, glaring at him.  "That's not going to work.  I know cheerleaders tougher than you."  He grinned.  "Now, I'm going to rearm my security system, and then I'm going to allow myself to be led back to where I was.  Was there a problem with my security system?"

"They blew most of the parking lot," one of the guys standing around noted, waving a hand.  "All but your bike."

Xander looked at him, then at the other agent, who shrugged.  Xander looked at him.  "That bike was given to me by a man who was as close to me as my brother.  He said it'd never fail, never get injured if someone shot at me, and he was dead when I got it.  Maybe his ghost is guarding it."  The man looked stunned so he looked behind him, raising an eyebrow at the creature coming out.  "Please tell me you work here," he said in one of the more common demon languages.

"I do.  That is a nice bike."

"The Hunter Wesley gave it to me.  As you very well know.  The same as you know who I am and that my bike will take your hand off if you touch it."

"I do.  Calm down."  He looked at the agents.  "His brother's kind were like me.  They warded it."

"Fine.  He could've said he was part of Orion," one guy complained.

"He's not.  We're looking at him as a specialist for some duties."  He looked at the hunter.  "You know his language?" he asked Xander.

"I read his language and I speak enough of the common tongues to not get killed for misspeaking in the bars."  He shrugged and grinned.  "It came in handy."

"I can see that.  Alexander, this is Homer, one of our hunting teams in Orion."

Xander bowed properly.  "Well met, Hunter Homer," he said in the demon tongue.

"Well met, Hunter Harris."

"Watcher," he corrected.

"Ah.  No wonder.  You're the local Watcher too?"  Xander nodded.  "Very well then.  You should be aware that not all of us have left.  There's a new enclave that just moved in to feed off the last dregs of the magic."

"I saw and felt.  I'm dealing with them soon.  Thank you for the warning though."  He smiled at him.  "Do your kind have anything in the massive species libraries that might account for the energy warping we had going on?  I was asked to study that."

"There is some.  I'll see if you're allowed to know and see."  He bowed again and backed off.  "Have a nice day, Harris."

"You as well," he agreed, smiling at him.  He looked at the other agents, then turned back on the security system.  "Anything else?"  They shook their heads.  "Then I thank you for warning me something tried to get my bike.  Both my bike and my car are like that."  He took the agent's arm and walked back inside with him, going back to work.

***

Gibbs looked up as someone stopped in front of his desk, taking the folder they held out.  "What's this?"  He looked inside and moaned.  "The kids okay?"

"LaRange had a shoulder injury, she'll be able to do her internship with you, as she requested.  Harris shot three of them," he said blandly, staring at him.  "Who the hell is Harris?"

"Ask the director," he noted, putting it aside for DiNozzo to look at later. He looked at him.  "I've only been working with the kid to get him ready for field work."

"He's more than ready and Orion wants him."

"He'd go specialist for them," McGee offered from his desk, looking over.  "Sorry but Orion can't use another hunter from what we were told by the people they've approached, and he's not good in their main areas.  They'll go to him for specialist purposes with permission."  He looked at him and smiled. "I remember you when I went to the academy, sir.  You sent me to the CIA too."  The man stomped off so he printed off the email and handed it over.  "Xander sent it about an hour ago.  He said not to worry about it if you got told."  He went back to his desk.

"Why didn't you tell me an hour ago, McGee?"

"Because you hadn't been told at that time, Boss."

"I want to know about these things before someone comes to try to intimidate me."

"Yes, Boss, from now on I'll do that right away."

"Good."  He looked over as Tony came off the elevator, handing him the email and the file.  "From the CIA this morning."

"What did he do?" Tony asked, taking it and going back to his seat.  He looked at the email and snorted, shaking his head.  "He warned, it's a bad thing."  He flipped open the report and groaned.  "Wonderful."  He looked at the email again then back at the report, nodding a few times.  "Extremely wonderful, Boss.  Is he in trouble?"

"No.  Both of them will be here for their internship on time."

"He wasn't hurt," McGee told him.

"He will be later," Tony muttered, handing it to Kate when she came in.

She looked at it, then nodded.  "He seemed like the sort to jump in to me too."  She smiled at Gibbs.  "If I have to do another orientation lecture, I'm going to have Xander come shoot them.  If I don't.  Can't I come back to work?"

"Go ask the director, he wanted you to go through them."

She went to bother the director, earning a long stare when she appeared.  "I can wait, sir."

"What's wrong, Agent Todd?"

"Orientation, again, sir.  I'm going to have to hurt them.  I nearly did the first time, this time I'm bringing Harris with me tomorrow so he can hurt them."

That got a faint smile.  "Fine.  Report for duty.  I'll allow you to be reprimanded by Gibbs if you get into trouble with the computer use policy, like McGee does constantly."

"Hey you wanted him for his computer skills," she noted dryly.

"Point.  How is Harris?  I didn't get the file."

"It said he's fine and Fi-Fi LeRange has a shoulder injury.  Is that her real name?"

"No, it's a cover.  She's the daughter of someone and everyone knows that but they don't know of who so they can't suck up to her for her father's sake."

"Oh, wonderful.  Thank you, sir."  She headed back down to her desk, glaring at Gibbs.  "You get to complain if I mess up too badly on anything they would've tortured me with for the next few days."

Gibbs called down there.  "Prestons, Gibbs.  I've stolen Todd back with the Director's knowledge.  Tough, it's not like she didn't do it before she got taken."  He hung up and went back to his reading.  "We should have a case soon."

"Good.  I'm sure I've still got some that were leftover when I...disappeared."  He looked at her.  "Unsolveds?"

"In your bottom desk drawer," he noted dryly, smirking at her.  "I expect you to spend the time wisely, Todd."

"Yes, sir."  She pulled them out and got to work, nibbling on a pretzel while she went back over them.

"No food at the desk," Tony called.  "Memo number 12548."

She looked at him.  "Then what's your soda, Tony?"

"Good for me and a drink, Kate."

"Children," Gibbs said impatiently.  "Remember, we're getting Harris and LeRange in for two weeks starting Monday.  Prepare for the worst now so we've got time to work on them and make them reasonable agents."

"I wondered why she had a stripper's name," Tony muttered but he got to work.

"Wasn't she a cop first, Boss?" McGee asked, smiling at Adrian Marquez as she came in.

"She was, in Albany."

Marquez walked up to Gibbs, glancing at Kate.  "Boss, I feel odd sitting in Agent Todd's former desk.  Would you like us to switch so I can have McGee closer when I make the computer explode again?  That way she can keep DiNozzo on the job?"

"That's up to you two, Marquez."

"Todd?"

"Kate."

"Sorry, Kate?"  She smiled.  "You look like a hanger-on over there.  This way I'll get LaRange and you get Harris."

"Sure," she decided, packing everything up so they could switch desks.  "Are the cadets sharing the spare desk, Gibbs?"

"Yup.  It's only for two weeks.  I'm sure they can tag-team write reports and things.  It's not like I want them doing more than taking statements and working beside one of the more experienced agents," he said without looking up.  He had no idea how Xander would handle his first crime scene, he wanted someone there to hold his hand and keep him from doing stupid shit.  "Not you, DiNozzo," he ordered, just thinking about that.

"No, Boss, I wasn't going to suggest it.  I was thinking Kate would be good for that.  She can frustrate him to no end.  I'll take LaRange if you want.  She's a former cop and so am I.  I'll understand where she's coming from."

"Good idea, DiNozzo, your first this month.  Now get back to work."  His phone rang and he answered it.  "Gibbs."  He listened to the report and smirked.  "That's not my fault, Director.  Yell at the boy himself."  He hung up and shook his head.  "They found out why Xander's bike was still standing in the parking lot as well," he noted dryly.  "They like him over there."

"He'll never go CIA," Tony said firmly, staring him down.  "You know the kid sees you like his alternate father," he said at the stare back.  "There's no way he'd go over there, Gibbs."

"Good point.  Make sure he understands why he's going to be handcuffed to Todd when he gets here when you go to chew him a new one later, DiNozzo."

"Yes, Boss.  I'm planning on that anyway."  He leaned back and put his feet up, going over the case file he had pulled out.  "Can we give them some of the cold cases and let them see if they come up with a new angle?"

"Sure," he agreed.  "That's good training for the first week."  That got smiles all around.  "McGee, how's the other team doing?  I don't want my agents poached at the wrong moment."

"Doing busts today, Boss.  They've found the main head of the connection and are taking him and his top people down as we speak."

"Good.  Excellent.  Will they need to borrow you again?"

"No, Boss.  Just some mop up and their agent is back and cleared for field duty."

"Even better.  Marquez, anything you want to report on the people who've been borrowing you?"

"They're back at full strength as well, Boss.  She just came back from maternity leave and is cleared for field duty as well."

"Good.  Take two of Todd's cold cases and get to work."

"Yes, Boss."  She went to get the two Kate wanted her to have, grinning at her.  She liked Kate, a lot, and they worked well together.  "Anything I should know?"

"Yeah, they're two I'm pretty sure who did it but I can't prove it.  One's a porn ring gone wrong and one's a stripper killer."

"Oooh, fun.  Just like my old job," she said with a smirk, heading back to her seat.  She got everything arranged and got comfortable to look it over.  Then she put back up her chair. It fell again.  "Boss, permission to poach furniture?"

"Go for it," he agreed dryly.  "Let them fill out requisitions for new chairs."  He watched as she rolled her chair to the next team's row and brought one back.  "That one works?"

"It's high enough for me," she assured him, "and firm enough."  She sat down and sighed in pleasure, getting back to work.

The phone on Gibbs' desk rung and they all stared at it, they were bored and on edge anyway.

"Gibbs."  He took down information and noticed the whole team gathering their bags and coats. "We'll be right there."  He hung up.  "Marquez, get the truck.  McGee, ride with her.  Todd, we're taking my car."

"Gee, Boss, am I staying?" Tony demanded as he followed.

"You can have the back seat," Kate said with a smug look back at him.  They piled in and Marquez snatched the paper to look at, making her braver than she was.  "What's the case, Boss?"

"Kidnaped wife.  The daughter called it in."

"I'm having a flashback to the mini-Gibbs," Tony joked.

"Not even close.  They were at her daughter's beauty pageant.  The daughter's eight."  Everyone winced, they all had problems with little kids dressed up like they were being sold.  "Let's go."  His people headed for their vehicle and they went.

***

Xander walked into the house and shut the door, locking it and leaning against it.  "Damn," he said, seeing Abby.  "Nothing to do tonight?"

"No.  Gibbs told me to come chew you a new one since Tony's busy on a kidnaping."  She moved closer, pulled him away from the door, and swatted him on the head.  "How stupid are you!"

"He wanted me to be shot?" he demanded, heading for the kitchen.

"No, but you used magic at Langley."

"They've got their own people doing it there," he called, grabbing a soda.  He handed it off and took a second one for himself.  Then he sat down at the table and looked at her.  "I did what I had to do to protect my life.  If I had been more on the ball I wouldn't have let the two in front of me get shot, Abby."

"They're fine."

"It doesn't matter."

"It was partially staged by one of their own."

"I figured that out earlier when they were wondering why my bike was still standing.  There were other cars still standing and my bike was away from the blast area.  Why come after it?"  He popped the top and took a drink.  "Besides, it got me into the Orion project most of the day."

She looked at him, then looked him over.  "You went in that?"

"I don't own a tie, Abby."

"Fine."  She sat down and looked at him.  "You need wardrobe help."

"Tony took me shopping."

"Apparently not enough.  Can you even move around in those pants?"  He nodded, looking at her.  "Are you sure?  They're nearly clubbing tight."

"I wear my pants this way for a reason.  I'm used to tighter things.  That way I don't get tangled up in them."

"Fine."  She pouted at him.  "Are you okay?"

"No caffeine all day," he complained, taking another drink.  She smiled at him. "I'm fine, I got the person shooting at me and the two others who came running. Then I got told alllll about the Orion project and what they were doing and agreed they could come to me if Gibbs didn't need me at that moment."  He took another drink.  "He even got us sandwiches for lunch."

"There's some leftover lasagna from when we had that dinner," she offered.  "You can microwave it."

"I'm going Middle Eastern tonight," he decided, getting up again.  "Are you supposed to go with me?"  She nodded.  "Sure.  Let's go."  He led her out to his bike, giving her his spare helmet, and taking off with her.  She whooped behind him and held on.  It was fun and relaxing, and they could take the back streets to avoid most of the traffic. By the time he got back, Tony was home and Abby was babbling happily.  "Go okay?" he asked, grinning at him.  "I got enough for you in case you got done too."  He headed back to the kitchen to get more caffeine.  He needed more caffeine. He was starting to live on the stuff now.

Abby patted him on the arm. "You need to give him more wardrobe help.  He wore that to Langley.  He looks very goth."

Tony sighed and nodded. "Right after I yell at him for using magic there."

"They already knew.  They've got a project that uses it and his bike wasn't near the explosion so he knew they were staging it somehow."

"What about the people he had to kill?" Tony asked.

"I'm not thinking about them or else I'm going to puke," Xander called.  "Come eat."

"How can you do that?" Tony asked, walking back there.  He got a hug and relaxed.  Xander was fine.  "You wore that?"

"Kate said so."

He groaned and shook his head.  "No more fashion advice from Kate unless it's clubbing stuff, Xander."  He looked him over, and the coat on the back of the chair, then him again.  "No.  We've got to fix that.  Even if I have to match outfits for you, we've got to fix that."

"I don't care what I wear as long as I'm covered," he noted patiently.  "If you care that much, have fun in my closet later," he said with a small shrug.  "Tomorrow's a 'jeans' day according to our syllabus."  He ate another bite.  "Sit and eat with me, Tony.  You too, Abby."

"Yes, dear."  She sat down primly and dug out her own dinner.  "Is McGee done yet, Tony?"

"Probably.  He said something about going home to write."

She nodded. "That's what he told me too.  I was kinda hoping for a naughty surprise.  Not like the one where he couldn't answer the phone because he had tied himself down and I panicked and called Gibbs, but a naughty surprise."

Tony cracked, having to lean down to laugh at that memory.  "Gibbs' face was priceless," he agreed.

"It was," she agreed happily. "We've got to tell Kate that story."

Xander shook his head.  "I wish someone had videotaped it for me."  He ate another bite and looked at Abby.  "What did you think I was going to wear today?"

"Something less goth than all black and your green jacket," she pointed out.  "Around our office it's cool with just that, but really, Xander."

"I'll work on his wardrobe later tonight," Tony promised her.  "After we finish eating."  She beamed and hurried up so they could go shopping.  "Then some clubbing afterward?" he suggested quietly.  "To help you forget?"  Xander nodded, taking a deep breath before taking another bite. "It's okay."

"It's not.  I'll break down tonight and have nightmares.  Fair warning about being kicked."

Tony shrugged.  "I'll manage it.  I have to pick up some new shirts anyway.  Kate ruined my one from this morning by spewing coffee on it after McGee made a dirty joke to Marquez and she overheard."

"Fluffy makes dirty jokes like that?" he asked.  Tony nodded.  "Interesting.  I never knew that.  Congrats, Abby."

"Thank you.  I'm very proud of my boy."  She wiped her mouth and stood up to toss out her trash. "I'll see you guys soon."  She headed out, closing the door behind her.

Tony smiled at him, taking the food from both their hands and putting it down.  "You know you can talk to me, right?"  Xander swallowed and nodded.  "So whenever you're ready, it's all good to me.  I'm here.  I've been there before."

"I know.  I'm still processing.  It's not like I had a choice, they were wearing vests.  I didn't have a choice with the way they were coming in except to go for a head shot.  Even if they could've been agents."

"From what we got in the report, I don't blame you.  You made a decision based on what you saw at the scene.  It's all any of us can be expected to do.  Of course, your first board and IAD time can be rather upsetting."

"I talked to them on the way back.  That's why I'm nauseous.  He stunk like death."  He shuddered.  "Shopping?  Where?  Same mall?"

"No, not this time.  I'm going to take you to a few places I go this time."  He stole a kiss.  "Feel free to wake me up to talk if you need to.  Gibbs realizes I might be late tomorrow to help you over this."  Xander gave him a grateful smile.  "By the way, your instructor came up and told him in person."

"I figured he would have.  He hates me."

"Yeah, he does," he agreed dryly.  "Finish up and let's go."

"Let's just go," Xander told him.  "I'm full."

"Sure."  He put their leftovers in the fridge for later and walked him out.  "Your car or mine?"

"Yours.  Just in case someone tries something."

"Okay."  He watched Xander get in then got in himself, wiggling a bit to get comfortable and finding his keys.

***

Tony walked Xander into the store he liked most, smiling at the saleswoman. "This is Xander.  He's going to be joining us in the office.  So he'll need something appropriate for NCIS and for the FBI since he's in the Academy and they're being picky."

"What's his budget?"

"What mine usually is.  It's gotta make him look good."  He gave Xander a gentle nudge.  "She takes care of me, Xander.  Go with her."  He nodded, letting the woman walk him off while Tony went to find himself some new shirts.  He made a mental note to hit the dry cleaner as well.  He knew he had forgotten something on the way to work this morning.  He saw an outfit he really liked and took it to try it on, coming out to look at himself.

"No, you look like a college professor," Xander teased, grinning at him.  He looked at himself.  "A turtleneck and a coat?"

"Yes, dear.  I can do that."

"Yes, but you're very much prettier than I am."  He looked at her.  "I'm a dangerous guy.  A weapons guy.  Make me look like a mob enforcer if you've got to but I'm not the pretty boy he is."

"Sure," she agreed, taking him back to get him a new outfit.  She smiled at Tony. "He is adorable."

"Yeah but he's only soft and fluffy when it's among friends.  Don't make him look like Family, okay?"

"I'm sure we can ride that line."

"The last time someone said that, I came out looking like a rapper," Xander called.

"You did kind of, yeah," Tony agreed.  He looked at himself again, considering it.

"Shirt needs to be tighter," she said as she walked past him again.

"Thanks."  He went to change back and find something else to wear.  He kept the pants in his 'maybe' pile and the new shirt was found.  It was silk so he hoped he wouldn't have to deal with a muddy, bloody, or oily case tomorrow, and especially not a dumpster case, but it made him look hot and wanted.  Xander drooled when he saw him. That alone made him pick up two of them and another pair of pants.  Xander got a look over and he sighed, shaking his head.  "No.  I don't like that."

She sighed and looked at Tony.  "You're being picky tonight."

"He's got to look professional but not squishy.  He's a good guy to comfort a witness but he's also the guy who'll pull first.  Besides, he'd trip if his pants were that loose."

She looked at him and sighed.  "So we want him to look hot, yet professional, and a bit dangerous but not too dangerous?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "You know that's impossible, right?"

"It is?" he asked, looking pitiful.

She sighed and went to find him something else to try on.  This one was better.  Much better.  It had been the shirt Tony had tried on first and a pair of good pants.  Still a bit loose because you didn't want to advertise what you were carrying at work, but not too baggy.  Xander came out and looked at himself, then seemed to wobble.  "Closer?"

"I like that shirt on him better than I did on me," Tony admitted. He put his things by the register and went to look for better shirts for Xander.  This needed his lover's touch, not a woman's touch.  "You still need at least two good suits, Xander.  Full suits."

"Yes, Tony," he sighed.  "I hate ties."

"Tough.  Court cases require ties so you look competent."

"Yes, sir."  He went back to change once Tony brought him clothes, coming out in it.  "This is more me," he said, looking in the mirror.

"It also makes you look very dangerous," she said.  "Plus it's not very professional looking."

"No, but that's his usual look," Tony told her.  "That's so you can build off it and he's getting that anyway.  His butt looks good in it."  Xander turned to look at his butt in the mirror, then smirked and nodded.

She looked at him, then went back to try again.  At least now she knew.  The outfit from earlier was obviously someone else's choice.  This time when the boy came out he looked much more professional and much hotter.  "How about that?"

"I look preppie," Xander told her.

"Which is a good thing," Tony assured him, patting him on the back.  He looked at it, then took the jacket off him, handing it off to her.  "Get him something in blue, green, or goth red.  Or black.  Those are the major colors in his wardrobe."  She nodded and went to do that, coming back with a black coat that made Xander look much better.  "There, that one," he agreed.  "That's one outfit down.  Pack each outfit together so I can hang them together," he told her, giving Xander a shove into the changing room.  She handed over some new outfits and he grinned.  "He wore the all black outfit today and a green jacket to Langley."

"I heard on the news they had a problem.  Was it solved?"  He nodded, pointing in the changing room.  "Ooh, he was there?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, and he helped solve it.  Hence him needing to look just a bit dangerous.  Either that or really innocent so he can hide it.  He's got a pretty good personality and is able to change now and then when necessary.  He's going to be good going undercover, like I am."

She nodded and went to get him more stuff, finding four more outfits for the kid.  Tony made sure he paid for this round, then drug him up the street.  She relaxed.  It had made him look wonderful but it was an exacting job living up to DiNozzo's standards for hotness in his boyfriend.  Even if they hadn't said anything, it was really obvious.

***

Tony parked his car and got out, walking around to let Xander out and taking his arm.  He looked good in his present outfit.  It suited his body and his main personality.  He walked him into the upscale gay club he had found online, paying the cover, and getting Xander onto the floor.  His boy moved very well and that outfit didn't hide his assets at all.  He saw him wince once but the button being undone cured that and he had an armful of warm, wiggling, happy, hot lover willing to do anything for him.  Of course, that's when his phone went off.  He groaned and pulled it out, then nodded for Xander's benefit, walking out with him.  "DiNozzo," he answered, sounding a bit upset to his own ear.  "No, Boss, we're downtown after I made Xander get some more professional looking clothes. Why?"  He listened and held his forehead.  "Why are we being called in on this?"  He nodded and looked at Xander.  "So I take it you need him too?  Sure thing, Boss.  Within a half hour."  He hung up and looked at Xander.  "Two of the guys you got earlier were Marine snipers.  It's now our case since you're one of ours according to our agency.  The director likes you," he said dryly.

"That's fine.  I can come in and go over it again and help wherever I have to," he agreed gently, taking his arm and going back to the car.  "Lead on, Tony."

"Thanks."  He got in once he had made sure Xander was in, heading back to the office.  They got back there in nearly record time and the night guards only gave Xander a cursory exam with the handwand before giving him his usual pass, as shown by the nibble marks the time he had been up here and pacing to let out the worry about some test scores.  They went up together and he dropped his coat on the desk, looking at his boss, who still had some sawdust on him.  "Boss, need a fabric brush?" he asked dryly, sitting down.  "What's up?"

Gibbs looked from him to Xander and then back at him.  "That's a bit too formal for the office, DiNozzo."

"I had him out to have fun, Boss.  Bite me."  That got an amused look.  "And tomorrow he might have to change or go to class like that anyway."  He gave him a long stare.  "What's going on?" he asked again.

"Two of the four men taken down were active reserve Marines.  The other two were former Marines.  They're tracking down which agent there got them involved but they need the investigation from this end.  Since Harris is officially acknowledged as our trainee," he said, looking at Xander.  "How did that happen?"

"Morrow," he said dryly.  "I mentioned to two people that I hoped to come back here since I had worked with you a bit and was learning good stuff from you."  He leaned against the front of Kate's desk, arms crossed as he looked at him.  "Sorry if it upsets you but most of them figured out who I was by that mention."

"No, it didn't upset me.  It's the way the field works."  He looked at Tony again.  "Go over their records.  Xander, you take the two you didn't have to shoot."

"What about the fifth?" Xander asked.  "I got two head shots and one leg."

"He's not ours.  He's a former Ranger, now on reserve for the Army.  JAG gets those."  He went back to his desk.  "You can borrow the spare desk, kid."

"Sure, Boss."  He sat down, putting his jacket carefully across the seat behind him.  Then he got down to work pulling up their profiles to see if there was any communication between them.  "I've got phone records," he announced.  "Going to and from Quantico, Langley, and the Academy," he reported nearly an hour later.  "I've also got some similar phone records between the shooters and one other number."  Gibbs came over to look over his shoulder, Tony right behind them.  He highlighted each set in a different color.  "That's the academy," he said, pointing at the blue one.

Gibbs moved the chair and Tony picked up the remote, putting it up onto the main screen so they could look at it easier and enlarged.  "What room is that to, kid?"

Xander got back to work looking it up with his Academy access.  "Weapons Training Master, Boss.  So that's Darvit."  He pulled up his fact sheet from the Academy and looked at it, then at the ones he had pulled up for the Marines.  "They served in the same unit but not at the same time."

Gibbs took the remote and put everything up on the screen so he could flip back and forth.  "I heard about them but they're a special skills task force.  Special Ops group," he admitted, considering it.

"Would this count as one of those?" Xander asked.  "Not to be rude or anything but I doubt there're normal people who do this."

"No, this would count," he agreed.  "What's that other number?"

"I can't find it in reverse look up," Xander told him.

Tony sat down to look it up in the special government ones that Xander wouldn't have access to.  "That would be the Under-Secretary's fax line," he said, looking at his boss.  "At the FBI."

"Wonderful.  Let me call Fornell since it's some of their people too."  He went to do that, bringing him at a run since it implicated so many agents.  He went back to flipping through them.  "Xander, pull up anything on that unit you can legitimately pull up."

"Sure."  He got down to it, glancing at Tony.  "If McGee were here, he could hack."

"You don't hack the Pentagon unless you want the SEALs on your door two hours later," Tony reminded him.

"Willow did and unless they're the ones who gave Joyce her brain tumor they never found her."  Gibbs looked at him. "Buffy's mom died of a sudden brain tumor.  No indication before she passed out that anything was wrong.  Not even a dizzy spell.  Then suddenly she collapsed.  She had surgery.  She died a few weeks later of a supposed complication.  Buffy found her on the couch."  He got back to work, biting the inside of his mouth to stop the bad thoughts he was having.  He found what he wanted and in an odd place.  "Boss, are we allowed to look online at some crackpot's site if it's looking more and more legitimate?" he asked.  Gibbs came over and he looked at him. "They got information on stuff I know is right," he said quietly, clicking on that link.  Then on the other one. "I don't know how much you can trust and they don't name sources."

"That's fine.  What else did you find?"

"Some personal webpages.  The Pentagon directory only lists that they're there and at Camp Pendleton as a home base, but it said that various members were assigned to the Internal Affair's department at this time."  Gibbs nodded and went back to his reading so Xander moved around him.  "Should I start a pot of coffee, Boss?"

"Yes.  Thank you."  He sat down, reading it carefully.  Some of this stuff he could verify was correct and some he couldn't.  He'd give it about a sixty percent rating based on what he knew, which could be helpful.  He printed the pages off, noticing they came up with a 'privacy is our strong suit' marking instead of the actual text.  He sent it to the main screen and got up to let Tony read it too.  "I'd give it sixty percent for accuracy for what I know."  The elevator opened and he looked at Fornell as he came off.  "Morning."

"Not really.  What's going on?"  Tony flipped back to the phone records, showing them in a split screen view.  He looked and sighed.  "The Weapons Master."  He noticed who was coming out and raised an eyebrow.  "He's yours?" he demanded.

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "I'm learning a lot off Gibbs.  I figure that's why the teacher hates my ass."  He handed Gibbs and Tony both cups then went to get a soda instead.  "There's coffee, Fornell."

"How do you know him?" Tony demanded.

"I came in to teach the 'Bureau Way' section since the teacher was out with a migraine."  Xander smiled sweetly at him.  "He asked questions about the other agencies and things I didn't know.  The usual teacher said he's been like that the whole time."

"Everyone there knows I'm not there to go to the FBI," Xander reminded him.  "How's Fi- Fi's shoulder?"

"Fine.  She'll be fine.  She'll be able to attend classes day after next, but she'll be excused form anything physical."  He looked at Gibbs. "I wish you luck."

"He works well with my team," he noted dryly.  He pointed at the phone records.  "The other one in common is your director's Under-Secretary's fax line."

"Wonderful."  He looked at them, then at the kid.  "Get me a cup too."

"Do I look small, fuzzy, and like I live on a golf course?" he taunted back, getting back to work.  "Shit," he said, backing away.  "Gibbs, virus.  Shut it and isolate me."  Tony came over to pull the proper cords.  "Double shit, I wasn't even on a high end site."

Gibbs went to check Tony's, finding it showing the skull and crossbones too.  He snapped his fingers and Tony came over to isolate his too.  "Check mine."  Tony went to check it, taking all the cords.  "Me too?"

"Not yet, Boss."

Xander picked up the phone, not getting a dial tone.  "We got no voice."  He pulled out his cell and used it.  "McGee, we just got a virus at the office while tracking down the new case.  Black background, green skull and crossbones.  Yeah, toxic green.  We've pulled the LAN cords but mine and Tony's have got it and we've got sensitive stuff up on the main screen.  Thanks."  He hung up. "He'll be here within ten minutes.  They're out to dinner, Boss."

"That's fine.  Hopefully he's careful," he agreed, moving between the systems.  This screen only fed from the computers, it wasn't hooked up to the network beyond as a screen, so they could keep whatever up here for however long it took.  He noticed Xander heading down to the elevator and raised an eyebrow.  "DiNozzo?   What is he doing?"

"Not a clue, Boss.  I don't read minds.  Presently.  Still working on that for you."  He looked at Fornell.  "You guys or the CIA?"

"Could be either," he admitted.  "Whichever way this goes, it's going to get messy."

"You think?" Gibbs asked dryly, glaring at him.  The kid came back looking calmer.  "Issues that made you run?"

"Had to puke," he said sarcastically.  "I also called the nice guy I had lunch with today and he said it's not them.  He said the Orion project got the same thing and they've traced it back to the same unit.  I just asked if they had been hacked because of earlier."  He handed over the note he had written down for him.  "Morgans said to tell you that," he said quietly, staring at him.  "And I went to get my spare damn gun since I wasn't wearing one at the club."

"Fine.  Good instincts," he agreed, reading the note.  He handed it to Fornell, who groaned.  "DiNozzo."  He took the note to read. "Get McGee onto that when he comes.  I wanna have a talk with someone and Fornell's coming with me."

"You sure, Boss?  I can back you up."

"Not yet.  They're coming here for now."  He went down to the lobby, going to wait blatantly outside the doors for his contact to show up and give him more information.  He saw McGee come in from the parking garage with Abby and smirked.  "Nearly on time too."

"There was a wreck on the beltway," Fornell told him.  "It's backing up traffic.  I was at the office."  He looked over as a car pulled in, tensing up.  "I don't know them," he said quietly.

"Me either."  A window opened and he was moving before he thought.  Which was a good thing with the bullets coming out.  He heard someone return fire and pulled out his weapon, firing from his spot.  He heard a higher caliber gun go off behind him and looked back.  "Cover is good," he called.

"I'm warded.  They can't hit me."  Xander took more careful aim and got the shooter through the window, then the driver's side window while the others got the car and the tires.  When it stopped he ran over to open the door, letting the body fall out.  "Boss, in uniform and not appropriately dressed," he reported when Gibbs came over.  "Unless they've changed since the last time I saw you in yours."

Gibbs looked then shook his head.  "No, that's not the right way to wear that," he admitted.  He got Xander out of the way.  "Inside and we're going to have a talk."

"I've got a way to protect myself from it," he defended.  Gibbs glared at him.  "Sorry, yes, Boss."  He headed to call Ducky from the front desk.  They'd need him too.  He got Dawn.  "Dawn, Xander.  We need Ducky at the office ASAP.  Someone just tried to driveby Fornell and Gibbs."  He hung up and went to help.  He cleared his throat when someone called for a medic.  "I'm technically a paramedic.  Will I do?  Tony, go get me Ducky's spare kit!" he yelled, heading back over.  There had been a passenger.  "No other casualties?" he demanded as he got down to evaluate him.

"No, sir.  Who are you?" the guard asked.

"Harris.  Intern on Gibbs' team," he muttered quietly.  Tony handed over the bag and he dug into it, finding gloves first, and then a set of bandages and clamps.  He clamped the bleeding spot since it was a major vein.  "Get the ambulance here now," he ordered.  "Tell them I had to clamp off a vein because it was gushing."  He put pressure on the rest of the wound, leaning on it.  "Gibbs, he's lucid enough to moan," he called when he got one.  Gibbs came over to try to get the guy to talk.  If not, he might be killed on the way to the hospital or there.  The regular paramedics came in.  "Guys, I'm licensed," he called.  "He had a gushing vein and I did an end clamp to save his life," he admitted, getting out of the way.  They looked and nodded, taking his vitals, moving quickly.

"He's a suspect," Gibbs told them.  "Someone goes with you.  DiNozzo."

"On it, Boss."  He followed once they got into the ambulance and headed off.  He could always get a ride back with someone or a cab.

Gibbs helped Xander up, watching as he packed the bag again. "You'll have to clean the stuff you got blood on."

"I know.  I'll tell Ducky what I had to do too."  He looked at him.  "He should be able to come back from that unless someone kills him for it."  He held up his wallet.  "But I did take this."

Gibbs smirked.  "Good boy.  Inside, Ducky just pulled in.  I saw his car."

Xander looked at him, then shook his head, pulling him away.  "You've got a small graze, Jethro."  He pulled on some new gloves and got to work on his cheek.  "Damn close call, Boss," he said quietly as he worked.

"I'll live."

"And I've still got shields to protect me from being shot.  Plus the guards were shooting from the same position.  I was covered."

"We're not supposed to let others know you can do that stuff."

"Bite me.  I got the driver and the shooter."

"Good point.  Nice reflexes too."  He looked over as Ducky came running out.  "We had one living, Ducky.  I let DiNozzo get your kit for him."

"He is fully licensed and his scores were nearly perfect," he admitted, coming down to look.  "Just a mild graze."

"I'm going to butterfly it," Xander told him.  "Go check on the bodies, doc, I've got him."  Ducky nodded and went after seeing Xander cleaning it out again.  "By the way, I got your kit a bit dirty.  There was a lag between the patient being found and Tony coming back.  I'll clean it later."

"Thank you, Xander."  He checked the other two bodies, doing preliminary examinations.

McGee and Abby came out together. "Boss, I've isolated our whole floor," he told him.  "I didn't think you'd want me here until this was over with since you had the guards."

"That's fine, McGee.  Having all our files wiped would be just as bad.  Work the scene."

"Yes, sir.  Do we know who the main shooter was?"

Xander looked up.  "Me.  I got the driver and the shooter. I'm not sure about the guy who got taken for the one in his shoulder who was a passenger, but I got his wallet."  Gibbs tossed that to Abby.  "I'll take photos in a second, McGee, let me finish with his cheek."  He carefully put the other butterfly bandage where it was needed, then unwrapped a bandage and put it over it.  "There you go, Boss.  Let me go clean my hands and I'll grab the camera."  He got up, closing the case and taking it back to the morgue so he could clean up with the special and better soap they used in there.  Then he went back upstairs to snitch Tony's camera and memory card.  He came back down, getting sucked in so he wouldn't have to think.

Gibbs swatted Abby when she tried to fuss over him.  "Get pictures of their faces, run them, now, Abby.  I want to know what the hell is going on."

"Yes, Boss."  She went to change out Xander's memory card and download the pictures he already had.   Someone was going to pay and she'd get to have popcorn.  She was even nice enough to call Kate and Marquez, both of who called Gibbs and got told to stay at home for now.  That way some members of the team were safe in case they came after them again.  Of course, neither listened and came in breaking most of the District's speed laws.  She found the profiles and printed them off, just in case, then went back over the other evidence.  If they had to, they could use Xander's computers and lab.  She knew that.  He'd let them.  She wasn't wanting that virus down here though.  At the first hint of a wobble she disconnected her system to isolate it.  The dreaded insignia came up and she took what she had up there.  "I'm infected now too," she announced, handing the files to Gibbs.  "This time's shooters."

"Is there a way to download from the main screen without hooking back into the system?" he asked her.

"I don't know. I'll ask McGee."  She went to do that, leaning out the remains of the lobby doors.  "McGee, Gibbs needs a technical hand.  They managed to save some of the information before the virus hit."

Xander looked at him.  "There's a bunch of stuff on the main screen," he admitted quietly.

"I'll see what I can do.  Can I borrow your system?"

"Of course.  Just don't get my house shot up."  He gave him a look and got back to work taking inch-by-inch pictures of the inside of the car.  "Abby, I need that other memory card back!" he yelled a few minutes later.  "I'm nearly full!"

"I've got the laptop to download," she called back, coming out to do that.  She looked as they downloaded, then at him. "Damn you're thorough."

"I'm supposed to be, I'm still in training."  He got back to work, letting Marquez take over the front seat since he was still in the back.  "I'm nearly done back here," he admitted a few shots later.  "What next?"

"Statements," Kate assured him.  She handed Abby the camera once he backed away from there, walking him back inside.  "I need one on what happened earlier too."  He nodded and she could tell he was going to be sick.  "Come on.  Do you have anything else to wear?"

"In the trunk of Tony's car.  He took me shopping."  They detoured that way and came back with stuff for him, and a small bag for Abby that the guys had found.  She let him change and clean up any remaining blood he might have on him, then took him to the conference room to do it in there.  It was kinder than the interrogation room and had a bathroom just ten feet away.  That was a good thing considering it hit him about thirty minutes into the questioning.

***

Tony came back, looking at the scene of the chaos.  It was almost all cleaned up.  They were hosing down the blood on the pavement.  So their teams had gotten what they needed already.  He hurried inside, nodding at the guards.  "Everyone still alive?"

"No new attacks, Agent DiNozzo," one reported.  He logged him in and then watched him run upstairs.  "This is bad," he told the guard next to him.  It was a new guy.  "We don't get attacked very often."

"That's fine.  I expected that this wasn't the usual by looking at Frank.  He's a bit older than the usual in active combat."

"True, but he's a good guy," he said, looking at the other guard. He stood up as Gibbs came down. "Agent Gibbs, we're doing as ordered and cleaning up the rest of the blood right now.  We've called the director to notify him, and the windows will be replaced within a day.  Do you have any other orders until the Director makes it back from Canaan Valley, Agent Gibbs?"

"Not yet," he said calmly.  He looked at the guy next to him, then at the guards he knew.  "How many of you guys are there?"

"Ten," Frank called. "Is Harris all right, Gibbs?  He looked a bit pale when Todd drug him in."

"He's fine.  It's his second official shooting, the first was at Langley today."  That got a wince.  "He'll be fine I'm sure.  I'll tell him you asked, Frank."  He looked at the new guy again.  "Who're you?  I don't remember you being here before."

"I started last night, Agent Gibbs, sir."

"Don't sir me," he ordered calmly.  "Name?"

"Peterson.  Scott Peterson."

"Like the guy they just got out in Cali for murder?" Xander asked as he came off the elevator.  He gave Frank a weak look.  "We've got you guys on cam upstairs just in case and thanks."  He patted him on the arm.  "You're going to see me every day for two weeks starting next week."

"I look forward to it.  At least they'll eat."  He looked at the new guy.  "I was off last night."

"I wasn't," the guy at the desk offered. "He started last night, Agent Gibbs.  The boss vouched for him.  I can get the boss on the phone if you want."

"Watch him for now.  No visitors in or out without my authorization," he ordered.  The guards all nodded at that.  "Harris is an exception since he's an intern.  Call me directly," he ordered, heading off again.  He could easily call the guards they used to check on the new guy.  He didn't believe in coincidences.  And he knew Xander was paranoid so it was started already on McGee's laptop.  Xander's paranoia had been the reason they came down to check on the new guy when he had noticed him.

"Classified, Boss," McGee said at the long stare.  "I'm trying to figure out agency right now."

"What classification, McGee?"

He hit three more key strokes then looked up.  "CIA," he said, showing it to him.  "I did manage to download copies from the screen, Boss. It's on here and I've burned DVD copies of it and the photos that were made of the scene."  He pointed at the one next to him.  "Along with a copy hidden in your desk in the spot you usually find the bourbon flask."

"Thank you, McGee.  Next time ask first."

"Yes, Boss."  He took his laptop back.  "Should I call someone over there?"

"No. I don't know who to trust."  Xander came back and held out a business card.  "Who's this?  Did you pull it out of midair?"

"Sorta.  It landed next to me.  That's what Orion does, Gibbs.  It monitors people without them knowing so they figure out who to spy on later."  Gibbs arched an eyebrow so Xander touched the pendant he wore all the time since the last run-in with the Initiative.  "This way, Boss."

"You or us?"

"You.  I saw your face earlier.  I don't know why.  Maybe they're scared you'll growl them to death too."

"Thank you."  He went to make the call from his cell, even though it wasn't secured on his end it'd tell him a hell of a lot and he wasn't going to count on the phones not being tapped in the office.  The voice on the other end told him some new facts, which were very nice, and then ordered him to meet him with Harris later.  That Harris could verify what he said with a simple truth spell.  That gave him some hope of solving this sooner and he went to check on Ducky.  "Any new information, Ducky?"

"Xander shot both of them according to Abigail's visual match under a microscope and the one in the hospital did die on the operating table when the wrong medicine was given to him.  They're most upset but going very quietly to the FBI with that information since Fornell sent someone he trusted over there."  He handed over the fingerprint cards he had made.  "All yours," he offered.

"Thank you. We have a possible profile on them already."

"We'll see.  Both of them have had extensive plastic surgery in the last year but DNA and fingerprints are harder to fake."

"Even better.  Do we have DNA samples?"

"We do.  Now if Abigail had a lab it would be nice."

"We have a lab available to us," he reminded him quietly, going to take everything to Abby for her use.  "McGee, take Abby and go to the hidden lab.  Make sure you're not followed and have Dawn make sure nothing and no one gets into the house."

"The blue dots on the kitchen wall," Xander said, taking the laptop to get back to the searching he was doing.  It was keeping him calm while Tony and Kate worked their contacts.  Gibbs coughed so he looked up at him.  "What?"

"That card was to someone who said you can come to a meet with me and verify something he's going to tell me."

"Of course.  Give me ten minutes to hit the bathroom and find my other necklace."  Gibbs nodded so he handed it to Tony and went to do that, going at a trot.  This was not a time to walk slowly or run, but some quickness was in order.  He came back and found his other necklace, putting it on with his coat and heading after Gibbs.  He made sure he had his weapon and it was reloaded, Tony had done that so he wouldn't have to.  He slid into the front seat and buckled up, knowing how Gibbs drove.

"You okay, kid?"

"I'll be fine.  I shook and puked after I staked Jesse," he noted calmly.  "I figure it doesn't happen often to you guys.  Most everyone's scared of you and Kate when she's on the rag."

Gibbs smirked at that, shaking his head. "She's going to hit you for saying that."

"She already has.  Don't worry about it."  They pulled out into traffic and he started mentally chanting the only truth spell he knew by heart under his breath.  So what if it was demonic, it worked!

***

Back at the office, Tony and Kate were sharing looks.  "He fine?" he asked quietly.

"Puked, pushed it out of his mind to dwell on later.  Expect some nightmares."  She gave him a gentle, kind smile.  "He'll be fine, Tony.  I promise he will.  He's not the sort to dwell too long or go suicidal over having to do something to save lives.  He'll react a bit stronger than you probably did your first time, but he's a bit more gentle than you ever seem to realize until you get to know him.  By the way, that outfit he was wearing when I got here?  Nice job.  He looked good."

"That's what I was going for.  I noticed he had to change."  She nodded.  "Ruined?"

"Lots of blood from the passenger. Possibly not ruined with a good dry cleaner."  He nodded and got back to doing what he could.  "Why was he at the CIA?"

"He's not the favored student of the bunch," he reminded her.  "Fornell about had kittens when he saw Xander.  He even told Fornell to get his own coffee."

"The boy's strong but inside he's this big ball of mush," she reminded him.  "Be there for him when he's ready to go over it again. "  Tony nodded.  "Do we have any good news?"

"McGee thinks he can save the computers but he's not sure yet.  He said he's seen this one write a new program on an infected machine that tells it to fry its wiring.  He thinks we shut off the feed in time since the screen is usually reversed when it gets to that stage.  He's got Willow's laptop there as well."  He looked at her.  "On the DVD's are copies of what we found before we were hit.  Including phone records indicating the perps called the Academy and things like that."  She glared at him and he nodded.  "The weapon master's office.  The director's under-secretary's fax line.  They're also all past or present members of one unit in the Marines, a Special Ops group according to Gibbs.  Xander was checking into that when we got hit."

"Can we find another member?"

"I don't know how without computers."

She smiled and pulled out her cellphone, calling someone she knew at JAG.  "Hey, it's Kate Todd.  Is she in?"  She smiled.  "Thank you. Yes, they found me after that bastard Ari had me knocked out and taken.  Sure.  Thanks."  He listened to the hold music for a minute then giggled at the swearing.  "Are you guys virused too?"  She got up and Tony flipped to the proper section.  "No, I need to know something about a Marine group and we were just hit with a virus.  Because the shooters at Langley had four of them and there's connections back into the CIA, the FBI, and us at the moment," she admitted. "Plus, we were hit with a really nasty virus when we started to check on this unit.   No, just general information and if possible someone we could talk to legitimately.  Or even a roster if you can find one.  Please."  She walked off, talking more quietly until she got to the bathroom.  It may echo in there but it was the most secure room in the whole building since it didn't have video cameras everywhere.  "Thank you," she said as she came back out.  "Of course.  Dinner whenever you want.  Just call to make sure I'm not on a case and give me ten minutes to change into something less decent."  That got another laugh and she smiled.  "Thanks, dear.  Love you too.  Laters."  She hung up and handed Tony the notes she had made.  "There's three of them in Leavenworth and a few people in the Secret Service who used to be, plus one current guard at the White House who's a member.  She's pulling a roster for us.  We can call Gibbs now and he can take Xander to talk to them.  Xander tends to make people want to talk."

"Xander probably shouldn't tonight."

"He'll be fine, Tony, and he's shoved it aside."

"And he'll still go for violence first tonight and probably tomorrow," he pointed out dryly.  "Call Gibbs."  He made copies of the notes for his own use, just in case something else disappeared, and handed them back to her.  "Thank you."

"Not a problem.  Where are you at in your contacts?"

"There's two cops in the local area that used to be members," he admitted.  "One's been missing for three days."

McGee came in, looking happy.  "We can fix the computers.  Willow had a virus that will counteract this one and then I can cure that one."

"Kate's calling Gibbs," he noted. "Marquez?"

"Staying with Abby.  She's working on the fingerprints and DNA samples.  She's having to do it the round-about way.  His lab doesn't include an actual DNA synthesizer."  He sat down at the spare desk and got to work, inserting the DVD first.  "This one can run a DVD, right?"

"It should be able to.  The rest of them can," Kate agreed. She called Gibbs, smiling at the surly answer. "Gibbs, I've got some news and so does McGee.  No, he thinks he can counter-virus the computers then cure the new one.  One of Willow's.  Of course.  Also, I called a friend in JAG.  She's given us some idea.  She's ran into the unit before over something and she said there's three in Leavenworth and one on White House duty, plus a few in the Secret Service.  Tony said he's found two in the local LEO but one's been missing for the last three days.  McGee said Abby's working on the stuff from the bodies.  Sure."  She made another note and handed it to Tony.  "Look at that.  You good, Boss, or do you need help?"  She nodded again.  "Okay.  We'll do what we can until we're up and running."  She hung up and looked at McGee.  "He said it had better work or else you're filling out the paperwork for the new computers."

Tony hung up from his quick call.  "No connection according to that person but that doesn't mean much at the moment."  He noted that down so he could give it to Gibbs a bit later.  "Where were they?"

"K Street.  Xander was chanting in the background quietly."

"The guy from Orion said he could use a truth charm," he said quietly, shrugging a bit.  "I don't even pretend to understand."

"Me either," she agreed.  "Xander and Marquez can handle that stuff. I have enough problems with normal people."  She got back to her searching since her computer was still uninfected.  She was working subtly, going in obscure ways while she searched.  The trial outcomes site that JAG kept on record.  The Secret Service registry.  She did update her profile at that time, just in case someone needed to know and so she wouldn't have to see another listing of herself as 'died in the line of duty'.  It was making her have shivers and shakes.  She looked at Tony, who was holding his head.  She dug into her purse and tossed something over, making him flinch.  "You okay?  Take some."  He opened the bottle of Advil and took some out, then closed it and tossed it back.

"I'm fine.  Thank you."  He swallowed them with his coffee and got up to get more, taking Kate's cup with him.  He heard McGee swearing and smiled.  "I guess it wasn't working according to plan," he muttered as he mixed creamer into his, then carried them back out.  "Problems, Fluffy?"

"No," he said darkly, glaring at the computer.  "Not now."  He fixed what he had been doing and it quit making the grinding noise it had been.  He ran her cure and it cured that one.  He checked and smiled, getting up to compare the screen in front of him to the main screen.  "It looks like it may have worked but it put a smiley face in place of every 'K' in the system."  He took the DVD and went to work on Tony's computer.  Then he came back to save everything Xander had been working on under a different folder, restarting the machine.  That was the real test.  If it didn't reboot properly, he wouldn't reboot Tony's system so they wouldn't lose that one totally.  By the time Gibbs came in with a silent Xander following him, the computers were all cleared.  "Boss, computers are mostly up and running," he announced.  "Only one remaining problem."

"Why are there smiley faces?" he demanded, pointing at his monitor.

"In place of all the 'K's, Boss.  I'm working on that problem now.  You can easily search but whatever you work on that's going to happen.  I'm working on how to replace that now."

"Reload the operating system overtop of the current one," Xander told him, looking at him.  "That'll overwrite any faulty files and it won't erase everything."

"Good idea," he agreed, smiling at him.  "Having a Willow moment?"

"Tara."  He walked off, going to slam his fist into the wall a few times before heading down to pace around the parking garage.

"Boss?" Tony asked.  "Permission to follow and question?"

"They called her back to talk to her," he said quietly, typing into his search engine.  He looked at Tony once he hit the 'send' button.  "She gave over some information and then hugged Xander, which made him break down.  He'll be fine.  He's started to heal from earlier."  Tony nodded.  "Any new progress?"

"I'm just now getting up.  Here's who we know was in there," he admitted, handing over his information.  "I'm going to check on him."  Gibbs nodded so he headed down the elevator, finding Xander looking out one of the windows.  "Hey," he said quietly, making him jump and turn around.  "You good?"

"Hell no."

Tony smiled and moved closer, tipping his chin up. "Did it hurt her?"  He shook his head.  "Does she blame you for Willow?"  He shook his head.  "Then why are you so upset?"

"She said Joyce isn't there and that she can't blame me for Willow," he admitted, looking at him.  "I blame me for Willow, for not stopping her and letting her talk me into helping her."

Tony nodded, patting him on the back.  "I understand.  Why isn't Joyce up there?"

"We don't know yet.  I've got to report that to Giles, who will certainly tell Dawnie."  He sighed and shook his head.  "I don't know what to do. It could be important or mean something.  The fact that she told me means it could be important."

"Or it could mean she's down here watching over her last daughter."

"It could be," he agreed quietly.  He shook his head.  "She can do that from up there though."

"Maybe she and Ducky's mom are talking," he offered, making Xander give him a sad smile.  "You should rest sometime soon, Xander. You still have class tomorrow."

"I can't.  They can come back."

"If they do, you'll wake up.  I promise you you will."  He looked over as the main door opened, frowning at the car coming up the ramp.  "Who in the hell is that?" he muttered, reaching for his gun.  The car parked in the director's spot and he started to pull it from his holster.  The director got out and he relaxed, looking at him.

"Problems?"

"Taking a stress break, Director.  Today was his first and second shooting of a human."

"Understood.  Gibbs in residence or is he stalking someone to kill them?"

"In residence.  McGee's working on getting the computers fully up.  We're mostly there."  That got a nod.  "Do you need an escort, Director?"

"No, I'll be fine that short distance, Agent DiNozzo.  Intern Harris, it happens to the best and the worst of us.  All you can do is move forward and deal with it," he said more gently.  "It doesn't make you a bad person, it makes *them* bad people for making you shoot them."  He headed for the elevator.

Xander nodded, then looked around for cameras before hugging Tony.  "I'm still mad at them and me."

"You did good and you protected yourself.  That's what's important, Xander."  He gave him a squeeze and let him go.  "Now, let's go back to work and I'll make sure Gibbs knows you've got to rest tonight so you can attend classes later today."

"It's after midnight?"  Tony nodded, leading him back inside.  "Hell. I'm supposed to dress down tomorrow."

"We didn't get you any jeans and I know you won't have any chance to get home before class."  He walked him off the elevator.  "Boss, did we remember Xander has class tomorrow?"

"I hadn't.  Go ahead and crash behind the spare desk, kid.  We'll wake you if something happens."

"I can do a few more hours," he offered quietly.

Gibbs looked at him.  "This is going to get into databases you don't have access to," he pointed out.  "Nor should I let you do what you have tonight.  So nap, before I have to snap and yell."

"Yes, Boss."  He went to make himself a bed and lay down, getting comfortable.  He could change and shower in the gym before class.  He set his watch alarm and closed his eyes, making himself relax and drift off.

Tony looked at him.  "He needs a note excusing his clothes.  He's supposed to be in jeans tomorrow."

"I can do that," he agreed.  "Is he going in that?"

"He can.  I took him shopping and there's a bunch of clothes in the car, Boss."

"Then pick out whatever and I'll excuse it."  Tony nodded and went down to do that, making him smirk.  "That won't get you out of searching," he called after him.

"A quick walk to energize my brain, Boss.  I made another pot of coffee too."  The elevator doors shut on his grin.  Gibbs could be predictable some days.

***

Xander walked into his class the next morning, handing over the note at the sneer on his teacher's face.  "Sorry, I was called in to help at NCIS last night after the assault.  I didn't have time to change."

"Yet you got a shower?"

"In their locker room.  I borrowed Agent Todd's shampoo since she let me and it smells nicer."  He sat down in his usual desk.  "Besides, I've got to find out if I can move in it in the field anyway."

"What happened last night?" another cadet asked, turning to look at him. "I heard there was a driveby."

"As far as we can tell, it's somehow related to the incident at the CIA yesterday but they're still tracing links.  No telling how long it'll take."  Gibbs had told him to use that story if anyone asked and to let him know who asked.  He noticed his teacher's speculative look.  "It's a joint operation and we also got a virus last night."

"Were you surfing porn?" she sneered.

"No.  Not me.  What I want they don't have online."  She looked stunned so he glared back.  "Can we break for a soda yet?"

"Go, Harris," she ordered coldly.  He went to the break room to get a drink and type in that text message to Tony, then came back and sat down again.  "As you can see, some of you didn't follow orders," she announced.

"I'm guessing he was busy all night," Fi-Fi said as she walked in, her arm in a sling.  "Sorry, so was I.  You get sweats."  She sat down, putting her feet up on the chair in front of her.  "I handed my doctor's excuse to the director over the Academy, ma'am.  He's accepted it and told all the teachers.  Should we head to the course and the range?"

"No, not yet.  The rest aren't here yet."

"There was a spill coming in from Maryland," Xander told her.  "I doubt they know how to get around it."  He looked at Fi-Fi.  "You good?"

"I'm good enough.  I've got a mild pain killer.  I'll let you check the bandages later."  He nodded.

"Why would you let *him* do that?" the teacher sneered.

"Because he's a licensed paramedic?" she retorted coldly.  "Along with a massage therapist for training purposes.  I liked how well he worked on my back after I sprained it a few weeks back, ma'am.  Maybe you should let him work on some of your stress too."  The door banged open and people walked in.  Xander shook his head so she stayed where she was.  "You sure?" she hissed.  He nodded.  "Okay."

"Agent Rhonda Darvit," the man in the lead, Fornell, said, pulling out a folded piece of paper.  "I have a warrant for yours and your husband's arrest for questioning regarding the shooting incident at the CIA and the one at NCIS last night.  Come with me please?"

"How dare you!" she shrieked, looking at Xander.  "I didn't do this!"

"Shut up," he sighed.  "If you didn't do it, Fornell can help you.  If you did, he'll keep Gibbs from killing you."  She backed away and he stood up, moving closer.  He pulled her guns and frisked her, handing over the one in her bra and the dagger from inside the top of her pantyhose.  "Here," he said, handing her over.  "Before we're more tainted.  Some of the kids in here will make good agents, Agent Fornell.  Will this impact their training?"

"That hasn't been decided yet but you'll all be tested.  For now, hang out in here.  The other students are being stopped at the gates and questioned.  The agents with me will be doing you lot in here."  He looked at Xander.  "Excluding you and Fi-Fi."

"No, no special treatment," she ordered, standing up.  "I may have been shot in one of those but that doesn't prove I wasn't involved.  She said so."

"Agreed," he decided.  "It'll be fair and impartial."  He looked at Xander.  "You agree?"

"I'm up to it. I puked over killing people last night, I can do it again today."  Fornell cracked a smile and led their teacher off.  "Fi-Fi, need a soda?"

"We can do the questioning in there," one of the agents ordered.  "We can take her first since she should probably be in bed."

"I'm good, I've got mild pain killers.  Take the others first.  I could use a soda though."  Xander handed over his and she smiled.  "Ever the gallant knight, Harris?"

"Now and then.  Sue me, I'm a nice guy sometimes."  The agents standing around snickered and so did their classmates.  "Hey, I didn't say always, just sometimes."  He looked at them. "I volunteer to go first, that way I can get back to my internship."

"I'm heading with you," she ordered.  He shrugged.  "I can't drive, Xander."

"Cool by me, Fi-Fi."  He looked at them again.  "That good with you?"

"Fine with us, Harris.  Come along please?"  He followed the agent out, going to get another soda first, much to the guy's amusement.  "Where's your internship?"

"NCIS.  I'm one of the people who shot yesterday at Langley and I got the shooter and driver last night during that assault," he reported formally.  "I've already talked to IAD for the Langley one but nothing yet from NCIS."

"You've been talked to?"  Xander nodded.  "By?"

"Special Agent Todd."

"She's dead."

"No, Ari kidnaped her.  He knocked her out with a very strong sedative and they found her.  She said so.  You can call there and check if you want."

"I'll drive you kids over," he ordered.  "That way you don't have to have her on the bike."

"Thank you, sir."  He sat down and popped open his soda, taking a drink.  "Sorry, damn long night."

"I understand.  Let's start back at when you got up yesterday, okay?"  Xander nodded, taking the pen to write it down for him.  The kid even put it in complete sentences and in report format.  "You're training under Todd?"

"DiNozzo and Gibbs," he admitted, handing it over with the pen.  "Until I woke up this morning at NCIS."

He read it over, nodding slowly.  "You weren't aware of the shooter?"

"No, sir.  I was behind the one guy and Fi-Fi.  I'm horrible with names."

"Fedders?"

"Yeah, him," he said, nodding.  "Like I said, I'm horrible with names."

"That's okay.  I'm sure you remember them by other means."

"Nicknames.  Based on traits."

That got a small smile.  "That can work too.  What project were you sitting with?"

"Something in the covert area.  It's not my secret to tell; they were pimping their program since it's in my areas of speciality."  He took another drink.  "When you start the academy are you exposed to something that makes you need more caffeine?"

"No, kid.  We can't explain it, it's part of the indoctrination process."  He went back to his reading.  "Where were you when the shooting happened?"

"Upstairs.  I ran down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator.  The guards were returning fire when I got out there.  I took up a position in front of the doors and just to the left and rear of Agent Gibbs' spot."  That got another nod.  "The guards were going for incapacitation shots on the car.  Tires, gas tank, things like that. I went for the driver's side window and the sniper."

"That's fine, son.  Good shooting."

"Lucky," he admitted.  "The passenger died in the OR.  That got passed back to Agent Fornell from what I was told."

That got another nod.  "It did.  I've already got a report and autopsy on him.  It wasn't the same bullet as taken out of the driver."  He looked at the boy.  "This could make a guy reconsider his choices."

"I know that but I respect Gibbs and what he does.  Besides, I know this isn't the normal day, sir.  If it was, you'd never have enough people and all you could get were the suicidal people and the psychos."

"True," he admitted with a smile.  "You're to do the range within a week, you know that correct?"  He nodded.  "And reload your gun?"

"Agent DiNozzo spared me that last night and I'll do the range today while you're talking to Cadet LaRange."

"That's fine, that's actually a very good idea, son.  You sure you want to stay here?"  Xander nodded.  "Good.  You'll make one hell of an agent."

"I can only hope I live up to Gibbs' very high standards, sir."

"Good man.  I'll release you to the range and send her down there."  He nodded, getting up and heading that way with his soda.  Yes, he wanted to see Kate Todd for himself and tell Gibbs what an asset he had in that boy.

***

Xander walked into the unit, looking calm, cool, and collected.  He stopped in front of his boss.  "Our teacher, Darvit, did break under interrogation, Special Agent Gibbs, and we were all questioned this morning.  Her husband, the Weaponsmaster, is still under interrogation.  The status of our Academy training has been put on hold but those of us with our internship planned for us are allowed to go on so that an evaluation can be made and handed back to see who has been tainted by her evil bitchiness.  As such, the agent in charge of evaluating myself and Cadet LaRange is here to talk to you about ours.  He's in the next elevator up.  I'm also to hand you this," he said, handing over the letter from the range instructor.  "I was ordered to go within the week and that's his evaluation of me."

"Sit, kid," he ordered.  Xander nodded and went to sit at the unused desk while he read it.  He relaxed.  It said the kid broke down during the reloading but he got through it and his scores were consistent.  He looked at him. "Good.  Next time, we're going together to make sure you're fine."  Xander nodded once at that.  The elevator opened and he stood up, looking at the agent coming off.  "Fornell?"

"More or less.  The other agent is in charge of these two fuck ups, Jethro."  He looked at Xander, then at him.  "He frisks very well."

"I taught him," he admitted.  "More problems?"

"No, I came over to give you this.  Miss LaRange had to stop in to see Ducky to get permission to report for desk duty and he accompanied her."  He looked at Xander, then back at him. "How was his range this morning?"

"Decent enough," he noted quietly.  "Good enough for me."

"Good.  His training file has the big stamp of 'reject for active FBI service' on it."  Xander snickered. "You know something about that?"  Xander nodded.

"Harris," Gibbs warned.

"The director, the appointed guy, came down to look us over one day on the course.  We only had the PT instructor in that day and it was my day to run the exercises.  I had them doing stuff I do instead of the running, jumping jacks, jogging, or aerobics the others did.  It looked silly but most of them couldn't walk by the end of the hour.  I got my point across and they stepped it up the next class.  He decided I was an idiot for doing things that way and I just smirked at him and asked him who he was, a trainer?  Then I pointed out I was actually trained to train others and he stomped off snarling."

"We're in better shape than most classes according to the Agent doing our PT, Agent Gibbs," Fi-Fi said as she came in.  "Sir, reporting for desk duty starting tomorrow until the end of our usual internship period, two and a half weeks from now."  She saluted him.

"At ease, Cadet, and don't sir me."

"Sorry, Agent Gibbs.  We were instructed to sir everyone at the Academy, even the women."

"That's fine.  What did Ducky say?"

"I could ride a desk starting tomorrow.  Nothing else for at least a week or until the stitches were mostly healed and then only very light duty, which is what he would expect from a trainee anyway."

"Good."  He looked at the other agent.  "Their evaluations?"  Two folders were handed over and he sat down to read them, nodding at hers.  He looked at Xander's, then at the kid. "You want to explain the computer failure?"

"No," he said firmly, smirking at him.  "You already heard about that one, mostly in the screaming and ranting phase, Gibbs."

"I remember that."  He got back to reading, then put them on his desk.  "So, when do they go back?"

"At the time you would normally have sent them back.  Two and a half weeks from now, Agent Gibbs.  I know this is an imposition and out of the ordinary but we do need an evaluation of their skills and if they were tainted by this plan."

"I can do that.  Anything else I should know?"

"Yeah, Harris doesn't jog."

"I know.  He does other things though. He'll learn."  The agent nodded.  "Standard evaluations or are there forms?"

"There are and I'll have some delivered the day before they come back.  We're still trying to decide if they have to take the classes over or not.  Your evaluations will count toward that decision as well.  That'll be based on the group average."  That got another nod.  "Thank you for your patience. I know rookie cadets can be trying."

"I've been sanding on Harris now for almost a year," he admitted dryly.  "Two and a half weeks aren't that bad."

"Good.  He shows good promise for your agency."  He smirked.  "May I borrow Agent Todd?"

"If she's not busy.  She can take a break for now."  That got another nod and a smile and the agent left, taking Kate to talk to her in the break room.  He had missed her!  Gibbs looked at Xander, scowl already in place.  "Didn't I tell you not to show off?"

"I didn't!  I did ask some questions about protocol and dress code over here.  That's what irritated Fornell so often."

"He did," he admitted.  "They decided this showed favoritism and that he's a smart ass."  He shrugged. "I knew that when I looked at him.  You put up with the earrings?"

"I put up with Abby.  Earrings are going to come out during shift."

"Fine.  Thank you."  He got up and walked off smiling happily.

"All but the sapphire one, Boss," Xander said quietly.  "I can't take that one out without having to reset what's on it."

"Fine.  Even though it's noticeable."

"Sorry, Boss.  I could put it on the nipple ring if you want," he said dryly.  "That'll take me a bit though.  Or I can get a new one put in."

"No," Tony ordered quietly. "No more holes, Xander."

"Yes, sir."  He looked at Gibbs, who just scowled some more.  So he smiled his most sweet and nice smile.  "You knew I was like this when you met me.  I'm like the puppy that won't leave you alone after you feed me."

"Fine.  Wear as few as possible and try to make that one less noticeable."

"Yes, Boss."  He worked the same concealment he had on his gun over those and they faded from view.  "Better?"

"Much."

"He does that on his gun too.  It's really wrong," Fi-Fi complained.  "I can't do that and I can't hide one in my bra well enough to go undercover with it on."  Gibbs looked at her. "Sorry, Gibbs, pain killers taking over my mouth.  What's the dress code?"

"Pants.  Decent but not too dressy. You never know when you'll be in mud, trash, oil, or blood."

"Yes, s...boss."  She saluted him again.  "Are we in the office?"  He nodded. "That's fine.  Cold case detail?"  That got another nod and another smirk.  "That's fine with me.  I expect to earn my way the same way Xander has, Agent Gibbs.  That's why I'm going in under an assumed name."

"I know your father.  It's fairly apparent who you really are."  She shrugged. "I don't play favorites, LaRange.  Just do what you're told, hop when I tell you to, and don't call me sir."

"Yes, Agent Gibbs."

"Just Gibbs is fine."

"Thank you, Gibbs.  I'm going to go home and sleep off the pain killer, then come back straight in the morning.  I'll see you then."  He nodded and she left, letting the guards call her a cab since she was near her apartment.

"I warned her not to call you sir," Xander offered.  "She forgot.  It really is a good pain killer."

"I've been there myself," he admitted.

"He smiled at us," Tony told him, smiling at him.  "They made you do the range today?"

"They said within a week and I'm not one to put it off.  Besides, I don't want to freeze if something else happens.  I want to be over this a bit more than I was when I went in."  Tony smiled at him for that.  "Did you go through that?"

"I put it off because I was still pretty deep in thought.   Gibbs?"

"My DI made me go that same day," he admitted.  "Made me shoot until I broke."

"I broke during the reloading," Xander admitted with a small sigh.  "What case work, Gibbs?"

"You could go home."

"No I can't.  These assholes who made me kill them are still out there.  So are their bosses and their pay men.  I want them off the street before I relax, that way they can't make someone else do it.  Therefore, I'm here until we all go home."   He stood up to look at him.  "What's my job right now, Boss?"

"Finish your nap from last night."

"Bite me," he mouthed, staring him down.  "Job?" he asked again.

"Finish pulling up backgrounds on everyone.  Even the ones you shot."

"Good by me.  Is the computer still working?"  That got a nod.  "Even better."  He sat down to start working on what McGee sent him, earning a smile for that.  He did a quick read over, then got back to work, typing fast and accurately for now.  When he had full backgrounds done he burned it down and handed that to Gibbs.  "Here, all their backgrounds including financial, medical, any online address that their names are mentioned in or on - sorted by relevance - and their military files, what wasn't listed as classified.  Also where they were in the timeline of that unit and who they served with based on the roster Kate sent me."  Gibbs gave him a long stare.  "I didn't want to chance it being erased again," he explained, waving the CD.  It was taken and run.  "What next?"

"Get some soda. You're jumpy."  Xander sighed and did that, bringing him back another cup of coffee.  "I thought you weren't a gopher."

"Not for Fornell I'm not," he snorted, sitting down again.  "The guy needs the stick shoved up the other hole.  He came in being a prancing bastard and didn't change much because some of us asked about other agencies.  A few of us wanted to go Secret Service and he yelled at them too."

Gibbs shook his head, paging through the information.  It was cross-referenced by tabs.  It was nicely done.  "What program did you do this in?"

"The one Fl...McGee taught me last week, Boss.  Why, was it the wrong one?"

"No, the right program, just wondering."  He looked at McGee, who only smiled happily at him. "Do we all have that?"

"No.  Tony doesn't, Boss.  It wouldn't run on his system, it needs a processor upgrade."

"Get to that, would you, McGee."

"I can't do that, Boss. I don't have the equipment or the clean and sterile area to do it in."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Can't?"

"I can take it to have it done, but to do major computer work like that and make sure the system isn't compromised by dust or anything, I've got to have a cleaner area than in here.  Somewhere sterile with the proper set up, plus the chips and boards handy.  Which we don't have.  Once we do, I can do that for him.  I'll put that program on first thing, Boss."

"Good.  Do it as soon as you can."  That got another nod and he went back to reading.  "They all have bank accounts in the same spot?" he asked, looking at the conclusion page once he found it.  It listed all the similarities and where they were in the unit and who else was there at that time.  "Harris, did you do a search on any of these other people?"

"Two of them, Boss, since they came up already listed.  I'm working on their backgrounds now.  Agent Todd had the rest I think."

"Thank you."  He got back to the links, smiling at the unobvious ones.  Things like they all used the same bank branch to deposit pay checks.  Even though it was away from where two of them lived.  "Todd!" he called.  She came jogging out and looked at what he was looking at.  "Is there one of those closer?"  She nodded, she used that bank.  "Then why use that one?"

"I'll cross-reference any of the others with bank accounts at that bank, Boss."  She got back to work, smiling at her friend when he left.  Xander came over to hand her a copy of both CD's and the other to Gibbs, who ran it and looked at those.  She looked over all the information, putting them onto the same screen so she could go side-by-side with it.  Then she pulled up her searches and got back to work with those links in mind.  It wasn't a lot.  Banks, favorite restaurants called all the time.  A few similar numbers on three of them and one that was different but nearly the same.  She came up with something and looked up.  "Boss, found a linking person."  She got out of the way, showing him the link to the woman three of them had called and taken out to dinner constantly, and the other had called her cell nearly as often.

Xander came over to look.  "I know her.  She's the receptionist at the CIA," he noted quietly.  "She's the one who checked me in yesterday."  Kate looked at him so he shrugged. "She was."

"That's our link back then," Gibbs decided.  "Good work so far."  He went to call Fornell and his partner at the CIA that they were working with, having him meet him there.  He took the CD's with him.  It had been the smallest things that linked them.  They were obviously trying to hide the connection.

***

Tony walked Xander back into the house, finally, and right up to the bedroom.  He was half asleep and looked so adorable, pouting about not being tired.  Fortunately even Gibbs was tired since it was nearly five in the morning and they all had the next day off since they had wrapped up the case.  Gibbs had made sure Xander wasn't going to get too cocky but it had been mostly his work with Kate.  Those two would do well together when she finally got him in another day and a half.  He pushed Xander into a sitting position on the bed, making him stay sitting up until he got the shirt off him and put on the dresser.  Then he got to work pulling off the pants, shoes, socks, and boxers, tossing them onto the dresser too.  He got his boyfriend under the covers and stripped himself down, then decided to close all the shades and blinds.  Even though no one *should* be peeking, he was sure someone was and he wasn't usually wrong in these feelings of his.  He climbed into the bed and snuggled in, turning off the lights.  Tomorrow he would get to rearrange Xander's closets, he had agreed.  Xander was getting a total makeover courtesy of his magic fingers.  Once they finally woke up.

***

Tony woke up and looked at the man leaning over him, smirking at Gibbs.  "Horny, Boss?"

"No, DiNozzo.  Where's Harris?"

"I don't know, Boss."  He sat up, making sure the sheets stayed on his hips.  "He was here when I went to sleep."

Gibbs looked around, then at him.  "Where are his clothes?"  Tony looked at the dresser and pointed.  "Okay.  Now see if anything is missing.  That way we can put out a notice."

"He could've just went for breakfast, Boss."  He found his robe and put it on before getting out and going to the closet.  He blinked, frowning at the closet.  "Did Abby arrange things?"

"No, and she called after she was woken up by someone breaking in about an hour ago."  Tony glared at him.  "You still tired, DiNozzo?"

"Boss, unless you want hit back," he warned.  "Who?"

"I don't know and neither did she.  She called Dawn, it wasn't her. It wasn't Eliana, Marquez, or Kate.  He didn't answer his cell."

Tony walked over to the pants on the dresser, finding the cellphone.  Instead he went downstairs, going to the altar.  He found the thing Xander had told him to light on fire if he was ever missing.  He did that and looked at the address that came up, taking it down on the paper on the desk.  He opened the door and handed it to Gibbs.  "He's there."

"What's that?"

"That's where he is.  He said if he ever went missing, to burn something and take down the address.  That's the address that showed up."  He showed him the glowing marks on the wall behind him. "See?"

"Fine."  He went to call his friends in the PD to meet him there.  The team was still off and until it was found out whether or not it was a kidnaping, he wasn't going to jump yet.  Breaking in on McGee that time had shown him some caution.  He went off, taking his coffee with him.  DiNozzo would be dressed, fed, and awake by the time he got back with his toy.

***

Gibbs walked the boy in question in, handing him over to Tony.  "He's still asleep.  The person who took him is very sorry for rearranging his closet too.  She saw the cops and me and broke down crying.  It was one of his classmates."  He went back to the kitchen.  "Any coffee made?"

"Yeah, Boss."  He walked Xander back up the stairs, stripping him back down and putting him back into the bed.  He got a light whimper so he kissed him.  "You rest," he said gently.  "We can play with your clothes later."  Xander nodded, blowing a few kisses and curling up on his side around Tony's pillow.  He smiled and stroked over his hair.  Then he went to ask his boss who this future corpse was.  "Boss?  Is she dead yet or can I do that?"

"No, DiNozzo.  She needs mental help. She understands that he's not hers.  She was promised protection from you too."  He handed him a cup of coffee.  "What's on today's agenda?"

"Rearranging his closet.  Possibly buying him more clothes.  Taking the stuff he needs to go to the dry cleaners.  The usual stuff."

"Shopping is usual?" he asked dryly.  He heard footsteps and leaned out of the kitchen.  Xander padded in and hugged Tony.  "That's so cute I'm going to be sick."

"He had a few nightmares last night."  He patted him on the back.  "Xander, you're going to make Gibbs puke."  He got a frown and a nearly-open eyed look.  "You're in the kitchen.  Gibbs is watching and planning on taking a picture of you like this. I'm sure Kate and Abby would think it's cute but I'd never hear the end of it.  Can you at least put on pants?"

Xander glared at Gibbs.  "Mine."

"Sure, but shouldn't you sleep first, then you can have him?"

"Mine," he growled again.

"Fine, yours."  He backed up another step.  "Just put on clothes."

Xander stomped off, coming back with clothes on and still growling.  "Better?"

"Much, thank you.  I didn't need to know that much about your boxer choices."

Xander stuck his tongue out.  "Just for that, I'm going to make you go shopping with the shopping god there."

"No thanks."

"Boss, you could use a few new shirts.   Your favorite one has a few holes," Tony told him.  "You were swearing at it when it got burned at the last explosion."

"I don't shop."

"Then I'd get married again," Xander quipped.  "Soon.  Because you dress worse than me sometimes."  Gibbs glared at him and he grinned back.  "Come on, we can go together."

"I don't need to shop."

"Keep it up and I'll knock you out and send one of my stalkers after you," he joked.

"Um, stalkers?" Tony asked.  "As in plural?"

Xander smiled and moved slowly away.  "Ever, yeah."  He took off running.

Tony took off after him, catching him on the stairs.  "What stalkers?" he demanded, making Xander look at him.  "Xander!  What stalkers?"

"Just some older ones," he promised weakly.  "Except for my classmate."

"Uh-huh.  Boss?"  Gibbs came out and he looked amused.  "There's been more than one?" he demanded.  "More than six?" he asked at the continuing amused look.  "More than ten?"

"Seven," he admitted, taking a sip of coffee.

"Gibbs!" Xander complained.  Well, whined but he would never admit he whined.  "None of them were seriously dangerous stalkers until my classmate this morning."

"How often has she been here?"

"I don't know!"

"How often was your closet arranged?" Gibbs asked.

"Four, five times?  I thought it was Kate or Tony or even Abby!"

"Uh-huh," Tony said, staring at him. "Boss, can you please interrogate my mate here?  I want to find out who I'm going to go hyper protective on."  He handed Xander over and went upstairs to rearrange the closet how it should be, including putting outfits together.  Whoever had done this had very bad taste.  The outfits she had put together were hideous and would make Xander look very bad.  "Where are his leathers?" he called.

"I don't know," Xander called back.

"They're missing, Xander."

"Shit."  He came jogging up the stairs and opened the free-standing closet door, looking inside.  "Okay, this was supposed to be locked," he noted.  "And there's things not in here either."  He got out of the way and looked in the other closet, pulling out the things that had been crossed over while Tony got the other stuff.  They rearranged things to Tony's liking, Xander not caring except for a few things.  Those had been put into the special closet and it was relocked.  "Sorry, special," he muttered.

Tony caught him by the arm and made him look at him.  "What would you be doing if I had another one?" he asked quietly.

"Considering death."

"I feel about the same."  Xander sighed and nodded.  "So tell me these things?" he suggested, moving closer.  "Next time it might be more than an annoying teenager who thinks you're hot."  Xander nodded again and hugged him.  "Thank you.  Now tell me," he ordered quietly.

"There's been seven of them," he sighed.  "Most of them were discouraged easily enough after a few days of me being a bastard to them.  This one I wasn't even aware of.  I thought it was Kate, Abby, or you in here."  He looked at him. "Did you buy me the odd underwear?"  Tony shook his head.  "Then we need to clean out that drawer.  I'm not touching any of those except the few heirloom pieces I'm keeping in that closet."

"Wanna explain that closet to me?"

"Stuff from Sunnydale.  Stuff I wanted to keep to remind me."  He sat on the bed, looking at him. "You're really pissed, huh?"

"Kinda, yeah," he admitted.  "Gibbs," he called.  Gibbs came up the stairs, looking in the room.  "Any details you want to fill in?"

"Many of them," he admitted.  "Do you want the case files?  One of them reported him for stalking her.  Xander had a long talk with them and the cops followed him for two days and found her stalking him, so the charges were dropped."  Xander pulled a pillow over to cover his face.  "It was done quietly when they found out he was a cadet.  Nothing came of it and the instructors over there never found out."  He leaned against the wall.  "Anything else he didn't say?"

"He just asked if I bought him the odd underwear."

"So, shopping?" Gibbs suggested.

Xander looked at him and nodded.  "With you, since you need it too.  Or else I'm calling Kate and Abby to drag you."

"I'm not that mean to you."

Xander shrugged.  "Yes you are."  He grinned and nodded.  "You really are, Boss.  By the way, I could use *more* self esteem, not less, okay?"  He stood up and looked around his room, then at his mate.  "What'm I wearing today?"

"You let him dress you?" Gibbs asked, looking amused.

"I don't care as long as I'm covered," he said smartly, looking at him.  "That's up to him.  It depends on how hot he wants me to look this time and this way you can decide what I start wearing to work."  He pulled out a pair of pants, which made Tony smirk.  "He wants me to wear this."

Gibbs looked, then at him.  "Can you run and jump in it?"  Xander nodded. "Can you crawl in it?"  Xander nodded again.  "Then I don't care, kid."  Xander went into the bathroom to change and came out and suddenly he understood.  "Oh, that reason."  He shook his head.  "Not the best idea.  He'd be a bit distracted."

"It's a nice look for him," Tony offered.

"Change, kid.  I'll let you two drag me to get a few new shirts."

"Thanks, Boss."  Tony picked out clothes for both of them.

"I'm not going anywhere with you two wearing that stuff.  Wear *normal* clothes, DiNozzo."  He went back downstairs, shaking his head the whole way.  Those two were going to drive him insane in the office with their playing.  Xander and Tony came down wearing their hunting clothes.  "Boys."

"This way they can figure out faster what he needs to wear," Tony explained.  "Besides, he was good, he told me about them when I asked. He deserves a treat."

"I still don't want to be seen with you two looking like you sell yourselves.  At least put on different shirts."  Xander trudged back up the stairs, getting them other shirts to put on, longer ones.  "Thank you."  He found the travel mug Xander had bought for him and poured more coffee into it, heading out to the car.  Xander's car.  He got into the back and buckled up.  He knew how the boy drove.  People might complain about his driving but Xander was ten times worse.

***

Abby looked up as Gibbs came in wearing new clothes.  It nearly made her gasp.  "Did you get married again?" she demanded, pulling him over to look at him in the better light coming in from the windows.  "Why didn't you tell me you got married again!"  She swatted at him.  "At least this one has some taste in clothes, not like the last two, but I still wanted to come, Gibbs!"

"DiNozzo and Harris made me buy it," he said grimly.

"You're in with them?"

"No!" he said, glaring at her.  "Don't even have that thought."

"Sure.  It's a hot one, Dawn was right."  She grinned at him.  "Can't I have it alone at night?"

"If you do, I don't want to hear about it, Abby."  He walked off shaking his head.  He turned and looked at her. "Why did you think I can't buy a new shirt?"

"Because you're Gibbs!" she snorted.  "You never shop!"  She rolled her eyes and walked off.  DiNozzo and Harris came in together and she whistled.  "That's a nice look, Xander. You look sweet and nice and gentle and innocent.  Boy, is that going to make questioning people go well."  She skipped off, winking at Tony.  "I thought he had gotten married again," she called.

"No, that was Xander's fault," he called after her, smiling at his boss as they walked in.  "As ordered, Boss, I stopped to make sure he got here on time."  He sat behind his desk and Xander went to his, then came back to frisk his desk for files. "Bored already?"

"The boss promised me cold cases to look over," he defended.  "I figured you had better ones."  He found the stack and brought it back to his desk to look through.  "Thanks, Boss."

"Whatever, Harris.  Give me suggestions by the end of the day on at least three of those."

"Yes, Boss."

Gibbs looked over as Fi-Fi came in, looking smart in a well-put-together pants outfit. "That'll do.  Can you get dirty in it?"

"Yes, Boss.  Not a problem.  Back in Albany I crawled through trash in it.  Even on a barge."  She stood in front of him.  "What am I doing, Boss?"

"Cold cases.  I want at least three suggestions by the end of the day."

"Yes, Boss."  She looked at the other desk. "Chair?"

"Harris, give her the chair."

"Yes, Boss."  He got up and sat in the corner with his report and the soda he had with him this time.  She smiled at him so he shrugged. "You're injured it works for me."   He went back to looking at it. "Can I have my notepad and pens?"  They were pushed over so he could use them.  "Thank you."  He started to take notes, getting into the case.  That's why he heard the gasp and looked up.  "Ducky?" he asked quietly.  She nodded.  He got up and looked at the man holding Ducky hostage.  "Let the old man go," he ordered coldly.  "Holding the doctor isn't going to do you any good.  After all, we can fix him up.  Everyone in the city likes Ducky."  The man tightened the leash he had around the older man's neck.  "Last chance, man."

"Stand down, Harris," Gibbs ordered.

"Sure."  He moved in front of Fi-Fi, leaning on the wall.  "Let him go.  It'll go better on you. You might live."

"Stand down," Kate ordered.

"Just warning him.  After all, I'm not armed."  The man stared at him so he stared back, making him take a step back.  He didn't pull Ducky back and Xander loosened the dagger on his wrist, then shook his head. "You need to let him go."  The man whimpered and took another step back.  He looked at Ducky, getting a nod.  He threw the knife and Ducky ducked on cue.  The guy gasped as the knife landed in his throat.  "I told you so."  He came over to pull Ducky out of the way, looking at his throat.  "Hey, Doc."  He called down to the lab.  "Abby, get me Ducky's bag and come kick the idiot who had him."  He hung up and got him sitting, looking at his throat.  "It'll be okay.  Just a small abrasion," he said calmly, quietly calming him down.  "You'll be fine, Ducky."

"I'm a bit tired."

"I know.  Let me put some creme on it and maybe a bit of gauze and then we can take you home to be pampered by your mom."  Ducky swallowed and nodded.  Abby brought the bag.  "I've got to get my kit up here," he said with a grin.  "I keep forgetting it."

"At least you let me know when you use mine," he offered.  He looked at Abby.  "I'm fine."

"Bullshit!  You've got ligature marks!  Where is that idiot!"  She turned and stomped back to Gibbs.  "Who the hell dared hurt Ducky!" she yelled in his face. "I want him and I want him now!"  She stomped a foot.  "Right now!"

"He's locked in the interrogation room," he said, just looking back at her.  "I'm sure Xander can go remove the knife he used on him in a minute."

Xander finished up on Ducky.  "Sorry, my moral code says victims first, not most injured first.  I'm evil that way."  He closed up the case and smiled at him.  "Better?"  That got a nod.  "You know what to take and how to rest.  Did he hit you on the head?"

"No, thankfully not.  He got me coming out of the car."

"That sucks.  I'll yell at the guards myself if Gibbs doesn't."  He headed to the interrogation rooms to follow Tony, who had drug the guy off.  He put the case on the table and put on a new pair of gloves, yanking out the knife and getting to work bandaging the wound.  "He'll need surgery."

"Paramedics are coming," he admitted quietly.  "Where's your gun?"

"I don't know, where did you put it when you took it off me?"

"Damn. I guess she took it if it wasn't on the dresser."  He watched Xander work, opening the door at the knock.  He looked at the guards.  "You guys let Ducky be taken hostage?" he demanded coolly.

"From the parking garage," Xander noted calmly.  He looked at his handiwork.  The guy wasn't gasping for breath, he wasn't bleeding through the bandages, he was awake and looking like he was pleading for his life.  He stared back, leaning down into his face.  "Like I said, everyone in this city likes Ducky.  Every EMT, every doctor, every nurse likes Ducky.  You're in for a very rough time in the prison infirmary."  He stepped back and looked at the guard.  "Paramedics?"

"At the gates, Harris."

"Good."  He moved closer, wiping off his dagger on a bit of gauze and putting it back.  "So, how was he taken in the parking garage?  Are the cameras out?  Can we help with that?"

"I don't know, sir.  Frank's finding that out with the boss."

"Good.  'Cause Gibbs is pissed."

The guard moaned.  "We know.  We're figuring it out."  He got out of the way as Gibbs poked him and walked past him.  "Agent Gibbs, we're figuring out why we didn't see it."

"You'd better," he agreed.  He looked at Xander.  "What part of stand down don't you understand?"

"The part where I was giving you a better shot of getting just him.  He focused on me, letting you and Kate move and shift some to get a better target lock."  Gibbs blinked and he shrugged. "That's what they told us to do at the Academy.  Yell at the stupid bitch who taught me!  Normally I would've rushed him and gotten him down onto the floor!  Ducky saw what I was going to do and ducked."  He looked at the paramedics coming in. "He had a dagger in the throat.  He'll need cleaned up and closed.  He's not gasping for breath or bleeding now.  I wrapped it very tightly.  He had Doctor Mallard hostage with a rope around the neck."

"He's fucked when the docs get him then," one of the paramedics offered.  He looked at the guy's neck.  "Better than you did on your exam, Harris."

"I've had some practice recently," he said dryly.  He looked at Gibbs, then went to work cleaning up his mess and closing back up the kit, noting what he had used in both on them.  Then he walked back to where Ducky was being pampered by Kate and Abby.  He handed over the kit and the note.  "We've got to refill mine so I can bring it," he noted dryly.

Ducky looked at him.  "We probably should," he agreed.  "We'll do that tonight, Xander."

"Okay," he agreed happily.  "Good following, Ducky, and I'd have killed him if he had hurt you."  He gave him a hug then went back to his corner and his case.

Ducky smiled at Gibbs as he came in.  "We do need to refill his kit, Jethro."

"How out of date is it?"

"Most of the meds," Xander offered.  "If I had it my way instead of just that kit, I'd have a better one in the car and on the bike somehow."  He made another note and glanced up as someone stood in front of him. "I didn't push you behind me because you're a girl, I did it because you're injured.  Get over it, LaRange."

"Fine.  Don't do it again."

He looked up.  "Bite me.  You know me better than that.  You're injured, I'm not.  Besides, I do casual violence better than you do. Until you become mean and evil too, blow off."  She smirked so he went back to work.  He sat up and looked at Tony.  "Tony, on the Teris case did you ever talk to the daughter?  I can't find it in here."

"I didn't. She was out of town."

"Yeah but the scout master said she wasn't."  He got up to show him that notation.  "She told Kate the kid got a call and came back suddenly.  That's how she found her parents."  Tony looked, frowning a bit as he read that over.

"I'm sure I told him that," Kate offered.

Tony looked at her.  "I was in the hospital by then," he reminded her.  He went back to it, then tapped something. "That's not a bad idea, Xander.  We should talk to her again.  Guilt could make her break now."

"That's the thing," he said, turning to a later report.  "When the inter-agency reports started to come in, this was stuck in there but it's not noted on the index. That would be a pretty good reason to kill them, right?" he asked quietly, tapping a few lines about how the family had been suspected of abusing the younger daughter, not the one who was a suspect but the younger one."

"It says they were cleared," he said, looking at his protege.

"So?  That doesn't mean the older daughter believed it or didn't know better."

"True, and we do routinely follow up cold cases.  Just check in to talk to the survivors and let them know we're still working on them.  I'll look and see where she is.  Nice suggestion, Xander."  He clapped him on the arm.  "I didn't see your med kit in the bathroom," he said quietly.

"It's under the altar.  I cut myself last week. I need to do a total refill.  Everything's expired but the neosporin."  He went back to his corner, going back to work on the next one.  Tony could handle that and his notes could be turned in as a suggestion.

Gibbs came back and looked at the spare desk, finding the female intern there.  "Harris."  Xander lifted up from the corner.  "Find a chair."

"No extra ones, Boss, and this is good for my back."  He got back to work.

"That was an order."

"Yes, Boss."  He got up and went to find a chair, smiling at the person giving him an odd look. "Gibbs said to quit sitting on the floor."

"He can write a requisition and tell Marquez I want my chair back."

"Yell at her, she's off today," he said, slinking back to their row.  "They won't let me poach, Boss.  Sorry."  He went back to his corner seat and got back to work, taking a drink of his soda.  On another sheet of paper he started a shopping list for his medical kit at home and where he'd find some of that.  Ducky would have to help with the meds unless he wanted to go to an illegal source, but that probably wasn't a good idea.  His pen was snatched from him and he looked up. "They wouldn't let me steal a chair.  They said for you to do a requisition and to tell Marquez to give back the one she stole."

"You can work at her desk."

"She told me not to and I'm scared of her, Boss.  She's a scary, scary woman."  Fi-Fi chuckled so he kicked her chair.  "Just you wait."  He looked at him.  "I'm fine and this way I can concentrate instead of stare out the windows."

"You can't use the computers."

"Boss, I'm not using the computers for this.  I'm going over the case file and reading and seeing if any holes were left. Then I'm making suggestions based on that.  I can look up addresses and things after lunch when it's my turn at the desk."

"Use.  Marquez's.  Desk," he ordered firmly.

"Yes, Boss."  He slunk over there, going to use her desk.  He turned on the computer and stared. "I'll trade back after lunch, LaRange."

"What's wrong with her computer this time?" McGee moaned.

"Nothing's coming on."  He pushed the button again then checked the cords.  Then he wiggled things and he got some noise of a fan, but the computer came up 'non system disk or no disk in a drive'.  "McGee?" he asked dryly.  "Did you take the hard drive?"

"No."  He came over to look and whimpered, getting his tools to break it open again.  He got the cover off and looked inside, then at Gibbs.  "Boss, someone stole the hard drive and most of the interior of this computer."

"Can't you fix it?"

"No, Boss.  This is just a case."  He walked off, going to ask Abby if she knew what had happened.  Maybe it was a joke about how bad she was with one. He hoped.  If not, they had people stealing computer parts in the office. He came back and looked at Gibbs.  "Boss, Abby says she doesn't know what happened and looking back at the security tapes, it was turned off last night on this whole floor."

"Excuse me?"

"The cameras were turned off for thirty minutes on this floor last night," he said again.  He swallowed.  "I don't know why yet, but she's trying to figure it out while she's muttering about stabbing the idiot who hurt Ducky again."

"Go find one of the guards, Harris.  Tell them I want to talk to them."

"Yes, Boss."  He went to do that, jogging down the stairs.  He grinned at the boss who was down there, tugging on his arms.  "Gibbs wants to talk about the security cameras going off last night and some missing stuff in our cubicles."

"I wasn't here last night," he defended.

"You're the boss," he said dryly.  "Frank, were you on last night?"  That got a nod.  "Good.  You and your boss are wanted by Gibbs.  He said the cameras went off last night and we're missing stuff?"  Frank glared and walked over, walking his boss to the elevator and up there.  Xander got on there with them.  "Thanks, Frank.  Marquez's computer is just a case now.  We're checking the others on the floor if I know McGee and Abby."

"That's good.  We like that.  Do they know what's going on?"

"Not yet.  Abby had it."  They got off and he followed them.  "Here, Boss.  Frank and his boss."  He went back to his work.  The seat was comfortable.  "I need one of these at home."

"You need another floor," McGee told him.  "That way you can have an office and a room for your altar."

"Marquez wanted me to move it to the training room."  Frank gave him an odd look so he looked back.  "Yes, I'm not Christian.  Sorry."

"That's your choice to go to hell."

Xander grinned.  "Been there, done that.  Wasn't that bad really."  That got an odd look from Kate.  "I was."  Frank opened his mouth.  He got up and whispered in his ear, getting a shudder.  "That's why I'm not Christian."

"I can accept your choice, Harris.  You're good enough in my book and I'll pray for you."  He patted him on the arm.  "Agent Gibbs, the security footage Abby pulled up?"

"Is in her lab.  Let's go."  They walked that way.  "I want answers."

"I want answers, Gibbs!" Frank assured him.  "Forget you, I wanna know who in the hell did this!"  Gibbs smirked at him.  "This is horrible and I'm tired of these things happening here."

"There've been others?"

Frank nodded.  "In HR last month. It's an open investigation on the Director's desk."

"It's going to be on mine in ten minutes," he promised.

Xander smirked at McGee.  "At least it wasn't my fault."

"And it's not something I can fix," he agreed happily. He sat down to get back to work.  "How was your last stalker?"

"Caught.  Gibbs scared at her for me and then told some others."

"Who told you, Probie?" Tony called, looking down at him.  "I didn't know until Gibbs told me."

"Oooh," he said, wincing.

"Did Gibbs spank Xander?" Kate asked.

"Not quite," Tony assured her, looking at McGee.  "Who told you?"

"Abby."  He grinned at him.  "She tells me all the good gossip."

"You missed it this morning," Kate told him.  "Abby accused Gibbs of getting married again since he had on a new shirt.  She was really upset that she hadn't been invited."

McGee started to laugh but then quit when Gibbs came back. "Any news on where the parts are, Boss?" he asked, trying to stop grinning.

"Something funny, McGee?"

"No, sir.  I asked Harris about his last stalker, sir."

"You think that's funny?"

"No, Boss, but I think the reaction Abby had when she told me was."

"It couldn't be any better than the one she had when I burst into your apartment last time," he noted dryly.  McGee blushed bright red and ducked his head.  "I'm sure you've got work to do, McGee?"  He nodded and got back to work.  "Harris?"

"Yes, Boss?  I'm working very hard on this case.  Not looking at the naked pictures that were found on the computer."  He looked up and pointed at the stack.  "They're even turned over so I can't look."

"How can you examine the pictures that way?"

"I glanced at them but otherwise I'd be staring at the naked people, Boss.  I haven't found that comfy mental line since they look younger than Dawn."  He went back to work.  Gibbs came over to snatch the pictures and then put them carefully back down after the first one.  "That's why I turned them over, Boss.  I couldn't stand to look at them either."

"Wise decision.  DiNozzo, any word on your new lead?"

"Not good ones, Boss.  She's dead.  She died about six months after her parents did of an overdose.  Her suicide note was listed in the case file but I can't access it and I've got a call in to see if it was related, just in case she confessed in it.  I'm waiting on word back."

"Good.  Let me know.  LaRange?"  She blinked up at him.  "Took the pain killers?"  She nodded slowly. "Maybe you should take today off?"

"Hell no," she slurred.

Xander's head popped up and he came over to look at her.  "What the hell are you taking?" he asked her.  She pointed at her purse so he carefully dug in there and looked at it.  "Gibbs, get Ducky up here."  He called down to the morgue, bringing the doctor.  He held up the pills.  "Isn't that too strong?  I thought that was covered under 'overdose' in class."

He looked and nodded. "It was.  Jethro, call the paramedics back.  That is much too strong for her system."  He let Xander help him lay her out on the floor.  "Amanda, dear, look at me?"  She smiled at him.  "I do know who you are, dear.  Let us get that nasty medicine out of your system and you can come back the day after next, all right?"  She nodded, thumping her head on the floor.  "That's a good girl."  The paramedics came.  "Someone botched her medicine refill," he noted.  He showed them the bottle and the directions.  They whimpered.  "She's slurring and fairly pliable."

"We'll take her right away, Doctor Mallard."  They loaded her up and started an IV in the elevator so they could get it out of her system, asking her when she took her last pills.

Xander tossed him the bottle.  "There ya go."

"Thank you.  I'll warn her father that she'll be fine."  He headed to the elevator and went up.

Gibbs looked at it and smirked. "I knew it."

Tony hung up the phone and looked at him.  "She confessed that she couldn't bear the thought of her sister committing homicide and not stopping her, Boss.  The sister's body was found just minutes later when we went for the initial call.  Remember, she was in the bedroom on her bed?"  Gibbs nodded.  "She OD'd in there."  He handed over the copy of what he had taken down.  "So we can close this one on our end too."

"They never told us?"

"No reason to, Boss.  They didn't know we were involved."

"Fine.  Make whatever notes you need and file it."  Tony nodded and went back to his desk.  "Nearly, Harris."

"It was only a suggestion, Boss."

"No, it was a good catch," he assured him.  "It probably would've led you to the truth anyway.  She would've broken under the guilt."  Xander smiled and went back to work.  "Don't get cocky though."

"I'm not, Boss.  Never been cocky a day in my life."  The director stopped at his desk and stared at him.  "I'm not," he offered with a grin.  "I'm not cocky, there's many other words that describe me so much better."

"What happened to my daughter?"

"Her meds were elephant strength.  They'll probably pump her stomach in case, do a lot of IV fluids, monitor the usual things that could go with that much pain killers, like they would any other OD.  In this case I'd ask her doctor why he wrote something that strong."  He shrugged and got back to work.  "I promise I'll put my bag in my car once I have it refilled, Director."

"We don't have a copy of your licenses on file, Harris."  He pulled out his wallet and laid them out in a neat row in front of the file.  He looked at them, then at him.  "How in the hell?"

"I got bored, Director.  A bored Xander is a dangerous Xander.  Just ask Gibbs."  He gave him a shy grin.  "Besides, I like to cook.  I'm not good at it, but I like to cook."

"You're taking cooking classes?" McGee asked.

"Hell yeah.  Did you see my oatmeal cookie disaster the other day?"

"No, but I smelled it."  He grimaced and shook his head.  "How far are you?"

"This is butter, butter is good."  He looked at the director again, seeing the humor in his eyes.  "Technically I took part of it earlier, in Sunnydale, and then I carried those records here.  It got me put into the higher level classes, Director."  Gibbs came over to look, then looked at him.  "What?" he defended.  "You've seen me studying for most of those, Gibbs."  He looked at the director again.  "I promise I'll do what I can to drive my car in since I can't hide my paramedic's kit on my bike."

"Buy a saddle bag and stuff it full," he suggested, walking off shaking his head.  He went to order Ducky to refill the bags and keep records on Harris' licenses.  That way they wouldn't run out anytime soon.   There was no way he wanted them to not be stocked in case of an emergency.

Gibbs handed over the cards after he got done flipping through them.  "Just cooking?"

"I've been too busy to double up like I had been," he offered quietly.  "Hell, Gibbs, you saw me during my practicals.  That's why my badge was chewed on that day."

"Fine.  You did your field hours?"  Xander nodded.  "All of them?" Xander nodded again.  "How long is this good for?"

"Two years.  Then I have to take a six-hour refresher, pass the test, and get it renewed."

"Keep up on that.  I don't want you to let any of them lapse."

"Yes, Boss.  Should I learn how to make Japanese food too?  It's offered."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I'm not fond of sushi or rice."  He went back to his desk, looking at Tony, who was smiling.  "You knew and didn't tell me?"

"About three of them and the cooking lessons I suggested he take."

"Harris, hand those to him."  Xander moaned.  "Now."  Xander trudged over to hand over his cards.  He smirked at the look Tony gave his lover.  "Maybe you should make him tell you those things as his best friend, DiNozzo."

"Maybe I should," he agreed, staring Xander down.  "All those days you weren't bored?"  Xander nodded, sighing a bit and looking down.  "Not that I mind, but you can brag, Xander."

"Bragging is wrong and Buffyish," he defended, going back to work.  "I'm not like that."

"Obviously.  Anything else I should know as your best friend?"

Xander blushed and mumbled something into the case folder.

"What was that?" McGee asked, looking at him.  "That sounded a lot like you're buying Abby some new lab equipment for your basement."

"She begs really well," he defended, nearly whining again.  "Besides, I'm trained to give in to begging women!"

"How expensive is this equipment?" Gibbs asked.

"Don't ask.  She said the Director wouldn't let her get a new one."  He got back to work until Tony walked over and lifted his chin.  "Not that expensive," he defended at the long stare.  "Under a million."

"How far under a million?" he asked patiently.

"Halfway?"

"What is this thing?"

He shrugged.  "Abby demanded, I'm trained to listen to demanding or whining women.  She's got the order form in her desk because she's debating between two models.  Ask her."  He gave him a sheepish look.  "Sorry," he said quietly, going back to work.

"I'm starting to see how your friends used to take advantage of you," Kate admitted.  Xander glared at her. "Didn't they?"

"No, they decided I was helpless, useless, and only there to ferry, haul, tote, and fix things unless I was being the bait," he said coolly.  She backed down at that.  "It was my two actual girlfriends who trained me to listen to whining women."  He got back to work, leaning back so he didn't have to look at her.

"Can't I bring them back?" Tony muttered as he walked down to Abby's lab.  She smiled at him.  "What piece of lab equipment?"  She blushed and looked down.  "Abby?" he said calmly.

"Sorry, Tony, but we need a new one...."

"Abby!" he snapped.  She slumped and nodded.  "What piece of lab equipment?"  She got the catalog and showed it to him.  "Don't we have one of these?"

"Ours is out of date," she complained.  "The Director won't even let me update it!  This way we get a backup if we need it and we get the upgrade too!"  She gave him a hopeful look. "I'm willing to go for the less expensive one."

He moaned and walked off with the catalog, handing it to Gibbs.  "She wants a redundant backup at the house and an upgrade for the office, Boss.  I'm going to the parking garage before I put her in the morgue freezer for a bit."  He headed for the elevator, going down to throw a fit.

Gibbs looked at Xander, then at the catalog.  "You are not to buy Abby anything that doesn't come in black velvet, black PVC, has spikes on it, or that costs more than fifty bucks, Harris.  Do you understand me?"  Xander gave him a long stare.  "I don't care how much she whines, begs, or anything else. Nothing unless it's in black, has spikes, is made of velvet or PVC, and it had better not cost more than fifty bucks."

"Lunch?" he asked.

"That either.  She and McGee can buy her own lunch."  He nodded, ducking his head.  He went to talk to Abby, who was pouting at the order form.  "You better not have ordered it."

"I haven't.  I was going to make my choice tomorrow, sleep on it over the weekend, and then order it on Monday," she said, still pouting.  "We need it, Gibbs.  What happens if we get another case and can't use this lab?"

"There's an FBI lab we can take over. There's six college labs in town we can commandeer.  There's a few good ones that belong to the City Police department.  You do not have Xander order you a new tech toy for his lab at the house.  I don't care why, that's using him."

"He said I could," she defended.  He glared and she backed down again.  "I guess it was a bad idea. It'd draw attention to his home lab," she sighed.

"Thank you," he said, handing her back the catalog.  "How much is the update?"

"Six hundred and the director already said no.  Said to get Harris or DiNozzo to pay for it."

"I'll be having a talk with him," he assured her calmly.  "Anything else he's ordered for you?"

"Just a pretty piece of jewelry," she offered sheepishly.  "It was online and I'm paying him back for the next year."

"What was it?" he demanded.  She pulled the box out of her worktable and showed him.  He blinked at the skull hanging off the black velvet.  "Is that silver?"

She nodded. "And real rubies for the eyes and blood," she said.  "I'm paying him back."

"You'd better.  He's not to buy you anything that's not velvet, PVC, black, has spikes, or over fifty bucks, Abby.  You don't use him that way even if he lets you."

"Yes, Gibbs.  Tell him I'm sorry?"

"No.  That's your job."  She nodded, walking in front of him.  He followed her, handing Kate the catalog.  She could withstand Abby the best.  "Abby?"

"Xander, I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have asked you for the really expensive toy for the lab.  It was mean and not what friends do."  She leaned over to hug him. "I'm sorry, I'll learn better."  He nodded, patting her on the back. "Thank you.  Forgive me?"  He nodded, giving her a look.  "Thank you.  Can I buy you lunch?"

"No, I brought lunch.  You can taste test some of my cooking class stuff."

She hesitated then nodded.  "Sure," she agreed, smiling at him. "Thank you, Xander." she bounced off, going back to her lab to put on her new choker. It was really pretty and it did set off her outfit very well. Plus she was paying him back.

Gibbs sat down and looked at Tony as he came back, looking just as unmussed and calm as ever.  "You good now?  Need another break?"

"No, Boss, I'm fine."  Xander looked at him.  "What?"

"He helped her buy a new necklace too but she's paying him back."

"It's very pretty," McGee told him.  "Plus she said she's paying him back."

He shook his head and sighed, sitting behind his desk.  He reminded himself that this was 'new rich boy' syndrome and it would get better.  Xander was reasonable, he just wanted someone to spoil.  "Xander, about that shadow box?" he asked.  "Why is it in the living room?"

"I didn't want it in the bedroom, the altar room, or the gym," he offered.  "That leaves the basement or the pantry."

"How about inside your special closet?" Tony suggested.  "With the other stuff you kept from Sunnydale?"  Xander leaned forward to look at him.  "Really.  That way it's special and not everyone can see it, and be scared by it, but you can still keep it with the other special stuff."  Xander shook his head.  "Can you at least move it so it's next to the windows?"  Xander nodded at that.  "Thank you.  It scared me when I came in this morning."

"Would that be the box with the pink sweater, the two silver things, and the gold thing?" Kate asked with a blush.  Tony nodded, then shook his head and shuddered.  "What does that represent?"

"His ex, Anya.  She died in Sunnydale.  One of those isn't silver, it's platinum.  She got it without his knowledge."

"Platinum?" she demanded, noticing Xander was back on the floor behind the desk.  "Platinum?"

"It's nearly solid too," McGee said dryly.  "Abby saw them up close and personal one day.  All three of them."

"Who makes those things?" she demanded.

"Tiffanys," Xander said dryly from his hidden spot.  "Two were presents, the platinum one was her idea and she got it somehow.  I don't know how but she was like that."

She got up and came over to look at him since he was nearly under the desk this time.  "You bought her the other two?"

He looked at her.  "Xander's are trained from a very young age to give into whining and begging women," he said dryly, staring at her. "Having dated Anya and Cordelia, it's how I was trained to be a man and a boyfriend.  Cordy wasn't so much a 'want' person but she did like to be spoiled and Anya demanded gifts.  Constantly.  That and sex.  It's how I remember her."  Kate gave him a long stare.  "Really.  Ask Abby, she found one of her journals in the child's casket of sex toys."

"Casket?" she asked.

"Don't ask," McGee told her.  "Really, just don't ask."

"Hey, if you ever have kids, just get it recovered inside for them," Tony joked.

"My mother has an heirloom cradle and crib.  They're going in those.  If the kid wants to turn goth at a later date, he or she can do that," he announced.  "Once they're teenagers.  Until then they can dress in black *and* another color."  He bent back over his case file.  "Ask Gibbs, he was there when the rest of Anya's stuff showed up, Kate."

Gibbs looked at him.  "Just for that, you're doing the next dumpster," he assured him.  He looked at Kate.  "It was a child's casket. It did have things I couldn't identify and don't want to be able to identify, including a snake thing.  It did go home with Abby.  You can ask her about it after work.  Now, let Harris work. He's here to learn and he can't do that when he's hiding from you."  She went back to her seat.  "Harris." Xander reappeared and started making notes again.  "Thank you.  Are there any other matters we need to discuss as a group?"

"No, no more group topics, Boss," Tony assured him.  "When's lunch again?"

"It's barely ten, DiNozzo.  You can wait."  He glanced at Xander, who was looking up and muttering.  "Praying?"

Xander nodded.  "For a long case," he mouthed.  "So I can escape.  One where no one's really hurt."  He looked at the case file again.  "McGee, if you had an IP address from five years ago, can you do anything with that?"

"Not unless they're still there, using the same ISP, and the same computer," he said, looking at him. "Why?"

"Child porn case," he admitted.  "No suspects linking the dead guy back to his dealer or anything like that.  Only emails with full headers."  McGee came over to look.  "I didn't think you could but I figured I'd ask."

"At least you ask questions," he said happily, smiling at him. "It was a good one."

"Thanks.  I don't get along well with delicate things.  Big, gross, heavy things and the less complicated the better.  The more delicate, fragile, or precise it is, the more it's going to break around me."

"Then we'll do something to make sure your camera doesn't break," he promised with a grin, looking at the emails.  "Hotmail.  Anonymous if you want it to be.  Probably a made- up name since it's Frank Smith."  Xander flipped a few more pages, coming up with something in that name. "Or maybe not. Maybe it's a second identity for him," he admitted, looking at that.  "Boss?"  Gibbs came over to look.  "This case was yours and DiNozzo's. Do you remember Mr. Smith?"

"Just as some bland, geriatric guy with a wheeze."  He looked at the case file, then at him.  "We can check it out.  It's not unheard of for kids to be a Smith."  He handed it to McGee.  "Run that name down, see where it ends you.  He might be dead.  That's almost three years old now."

"I had the really old files in that one, Boss," Tony admitted.  "That way the kids got them first and tomorrow they can work on the newer stuff once we figure out if they're any good at it."

"That's fine, DiNozzo.  It makes sense.  Your second time this month, I'm nearly impressed."

"Thanks, Boss, I knew you loved me."

"If I was closer, I'd hit you for that," he assured him.

"I'm sure you'll get me later."  Xander giggled at that so he looked at him, silently telling him he'd be getting some too.  He handed back the licenses he had been staring at, watching him put them into the billfold portion.  "You need to put them in a better location. They can fall out."

"I've almost lost my wallet twice in the last week anyway," he noted dryly.

"Did your teachers know about your 'victim first' methodology?" Tony asked him.

Xander looked up and nodded.  "We argued about it for about a week.  I can answer it correctly when asked but I blatantly stated I'd be heading for the victim first.  That they didn't deserve to suffer any longer for the crime of being a victim. She argued that ignoring the perp could cause them to not be able to pay their debt to society.  I pointed out it was still better than someone dying for being picked on.  We came to an impasse and she agreed it was probably better since I wasn't going to be a full-time paramedic, just on call for you guys and other agencies I was working with at that time.  She said she understood and on many levels she agreed with me, but that I had to answer it correctly in order to pass my licensing, which I did.  My morals and being able to spit out the right answer are two different parts of my brain."

"That's fine.  I agree with you on that," he admitted.  "The perp can die for his sins unless we need to question him if he hurt a victim that much and no victim deserves to further suffer while their tormentor gets treated."

"That's what she agreed with me about, but that it was still the law to do it worst case first as long as we were in a triage situation."  Tony nodded at that.  "As long as I keep answering it correctly on the tests I'm fine with it.  I made my peace with that moral bit of lapsing."

Tony smiled at that.  "Anything else you want to tell me before I give you truth serum tonight?"

"I'm highly resistant?" he offered with a smirk.

"No you're not."

"Fuck," Xander muttered, looking at the new file in front of him.  "Never mind."

Tony patted him on the head.  "Always stick with the lie if you're going to lie about those things, Xander."  He went back to his desk, planning how he could get hold of some truth serum.  Kate sent him an IM giving him an address.  Then she smirked at him.  He smirked back and wrote it down then erased it.  Another message popped up of 'tape it for me so I can do a profile on him' and he looked at her again.  She gave him a pleading look and he shrugged a maybe, then closed that one.  That would intrude on their privacy and he was sure there were some things that Xander didn't want her to know.  Besides, this way he would find out why Xander liked to cuddle so much. He was always trying to cuddle.  He saw Gibbs staring at him and looked back. "Problems, Boss?" he asked quietly.

"You're not looking at 'rate my tush' sites again, are you?"

"No, Boss.  Planning my night mentally."

"Not in the office, DiNozzo."

"Not that stuff, Boss.  I don't need help planning *that* stuff."  He smirked at him and got comfortable again so he could get back to work, or play.  Either was good for him since they didn't have a new case and all his reports were caught up.

***

Xander came out of the bathroom and found himself pounced and put onto the bed.  He looked at his pouncer, smiling at his mate.  "What did I do to deserve that?"

"Kate wanted me to tape you while under truth serum."

"If you put me under truth serum, I'm kicking you out."

"Then talk to me so I won't have to."  Xander sighed and looked at him.  "Seriously, Xander.  You never tell me anything unless I ask."

"I'm not going to start suddenly blurting out stuff, Tony.  You know that.  When you ask, I do answer."

"Good point. But you never ask."

"I figured you'd let me know when you were ready to talk.  Even Gibbs told me you don't talk about your past."

"I don't usually but you could ask," he offered.  "You want to know how I grew up?  About my parents?  Family pets?"

"You had a dog and a horse that you rented for rides," he told him.  "You told me that when we got into that discussion."  That got a grin and Tony kissed him.  "What did you want me to know?"

"You never talk about your parents."

"They're better off dead."

"I feel the same way but mine are unfortunately living."

"You need me to summon something to fix that for you?"

"No," he said patiently.  "That's not what I was talking about.  I'm still working myself up so I'm ready for the day they do die and I hear the nice words of 'of course they cut you out of the will, Anthony, that's what disinherited means' from one of their lawyers."

Xander pulled him down for another kiss.  "If they do, you can protest the will.  It's not legal to do that."  He stole another kiss.  "And I'll be there with you if we're together."  He stole a third kiss and smiled. "My parents weren't that great.  Drunks, yelling, fighting with each other all the time.  I got verbal abuse mostly, a few swats now and then when my father got really royally drunk and pissed at me for making a noise.  Once when he had a hangover from some moonshine someone gave him.  I mostly stayed out of the way and hung with Jesse and Willow until they passed out for the night."  He swallowed. "I used to sleep outside every Christmas.  His boss always gave him a liquor bonus since he knew he drank and it was worse that night."

Tony cuddled him.  "Are they living?"

"They decided not to relocate when Sunnydale started to go.  They refused to leave their house.  I'm guessing they got sucked into hell alive.  The house was gone when we went back two days later to look at the damage.  Giles hasn't said he's seen them or anything, not that he would or know what they looked like."  He looked at him, shrugging a little bit, as much as he could move.  "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Did your father ride you because he thought you were gay?"

"Now and then. Then he figured I was banging Willow, his words, so I was okay enough in his book at that point.  He tried to hit on her once and she told her mother, who came to scream at him.  From that point on, she wasn't allowed in our house but I was more than welcome to come visit her."

"How old was she?"

"I don't really remember. It's like I have bits and pieces of my life before Buffy came.  I maybe remember thirty minutes total.  The stuff that'd flash before your eyes sort of things.  Nothing really exciting ever happened.  Sunnydale wasn't for the excitement."

"Wow.  I remember birthdays and parties and all that stuff.  The scratchy uniforms and all that."  Xander shifted to give him a cuddle.  "Were you any good in school?"

"Nope.  Diagnosed as a slow learner and nearly put into the special kids class and on the short bus."  He stole another kiss.  "Willow basically kept me out of it."

"I saw your SAT score down in your office.  How did you get an 1100 with that bad of an education?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "Principal Snyder thought I cheated."  He grimaced.  "He was wrong, I didn't.  I guess it's because I do better with hands-on learning.  Like the paramedic and massage therapy stuff.  Almost none of it was book stuff, just hands-on training. I do good at that stuff.  That's how I learned explosives and construction and all the other stuff I'm good at."  That got him another squeeze.  "I thought I had prayed hard enough before the test.  Not that I was going to use it but I wanted to prove I could be smart. Buffy's scores were crap because she nearly fell asleep since she'd been out on patrol the night before."

"Weren't you?"

"Yeah, but I needed less beauty sleep.  That's why I'm so bulky and ugly now."  Tony popped him upside the head.  "I am."  He got another one.  "Tony!"

"You are not.  You may not look like Clark Gable, but you're not ugly.  You're not blocky or bulky or anything nearing it or fat.  You're well muscled, Xander.  Get it right.  Muscle weighs more than fat.  You're also not ugly.  Even if you had really bad scars around your eye you wouldn't be ugly."

"Tony, this is an old problem you're not going to solve, quit frustrating yourself," Xander told him quietly.

"No!  No real boyfriend would let you keep putting yourself down."

"If I don't then I get overconfident and I fail, Tony.  I like the low self esteem better.  It keeps me realistic about my skills and I can stretch beyond it, but if I try to raise myself up, I end up going too far and failing.  Then I'm laughed at and shunned and sometimes nearly killed.  I don't want that."

Tony pulled him closer, cuddling him tightly.  "We all fail at something, Xander.  I failed at being the son my parents wanted.  I failed at the future they wanted.  Hell, at one point in time my mother wanted me to be a doctor but I used to faint at the sight of blood."  He tipped his face up to make him look at him. "Just because you failed a few times doesn't mean you can't keep trying."

"I do now and then.  I can and do reach beyond it or I'd never have gotten any of those licenses.  Buffy thought they were stupid and unnecessary, taking time away from helping with the slayers.  That Giles and the other adults had it."

Tony sighed.  "I want to dig her up sometimes and chew her a new one about how much she screwed you up."  Xander started to move but he held him still. "I won't and I can't," he assured him, staring into his eyes.  "I know that I can't.  I also know that she's not the root cause of your self esteem issue.  That doesn't mean you needed friends who put you down."

"Tony, let go."

"Nope.  Sorry." He cuddled him tighter, putting a leg over his. "I like holding you."

"You undervalue me too.  Everyone does."

"That's because we don't know what you can really do."

"Which then leads to me failing when people expect too much from me," he pointed out.

"What did we expect you to do that you couldn't, Xander?"

"I'm still waiting for it."

"Yeah, well, Gibbs doesn't play that way.  He never has.  He never will.  He expects you to be honest about your skills and what you can and can't do, how much you can do, and how long you can stand things.  You discounting yourself this way hurts the team."

"What if I kinda know something but not enough."

"Then he'll suggest you finish learning it as soon as you can and ask you what parts you know.  He did that to me too.  It's not a bad thing."

"It is."

"It's not."  He kissed him on the forehead.  "Tell me something you can do that you don't think I can."

"I don't know what you can do."

"Everyone has things they can do."

"Okay, I can wash clothes without sorting them."

"Which probably isn't good for them, but you're right.  My upbringing would make me sort the laundry into color grouped loads and then do them appropriately when I had to.  My housekeeper taught me that."  Xander frowned at him.  "It's not like my mother did laundry and I asked before I went off to college against their will."

"Oh."  He relaxed and Tony pulled him closer again.  "I'm don't need to be kept from leaving."

"I'm comfortable. You make a good pillow."

"I'm not leaving."

"You tried to."

"I was going to go into the bathroom."

"Tough.  I can't talk to you in there or cuddle you this way."  He stole another kiss.  "Tell me something you can kinda do but not fully.  Something you found in a book or something you started to learn but didn't finish yet."

"Most of my high school classes were that way."

"Besides those, Xander.  Something else, a skill sorta thing."

"I kinda know a bit about some very kinky things?" he offered.  "When I was working at the club one of my regular drink buyers was part of that and he told me some stories about his club and the things that went on."

"Okay.  Not what I was expecting.  Did you ever go?"  Xander shook his head quickly.  "Were you scared?"

"Yup.  He was talking about nearly freezing bodies to lower the body's levels so the people who like dead people could have fun but they wouldn't be an actual dead person.  That and the talk about using people who looked like kids even if they weren't to satisfy those urges safely and legally."

"I've heard about places like that," he admitted after a moment's thought.  "Where was this place?"

"LA.  Where else?"

"Good point."  He kissed him on the forehead.  "Was it legal?"

"Borderline and he quit coming a few weeks before I left.  One of the workers there ran into a problem and it was getting them attention.  He wanted me to go work for him as a sub."

"I can't see you as a submissive," he admitted.  "Or as a dom really."

"Tell me something you can kinda do?" he asked quietly.

"I can almost knit.  My grandmother tried to teach me.  I can't tell the difference between knitting and purling but I know there is one.  I almost made a whole potholder by myself.  I can latch hook and I can crochet but I always end up with wobbly lines."

"I don't seem to have anything that innocent."

"That's why I want to go back and yell at your friends for you," he assured him, kissing him on the forehead again.  "What about the language skills.  Did they even know?"

"Now and then I was reading something I clearly shouldn't have been able to and Giles would take it away from me and tell me to quit pretending.  So I'd quote and he'd glare.  Tell me I was being childish. I went to him once and said I wanted to learn and he laughed and said first I should master my native language."  Tony groaned.  "So, no.  Tell me something else?"

"I made a few latex molds once as part of an extra credit project for my English teacher.  She was over the drama program too so they were for a play.  I really enjoyed playing with the mold but it never quite turned out exactly right because I'm not much of a sculptor."  Xander snuggled in closer, rubbing his nose on his chest.  "Is that nuzzling or is it drippy?"

"I should say drippy so I can go use the bathroom," he said in a teasing voice.  Tony smiled and let him go, watching as he went in there.  He came back a minute later and crawled in again.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome."  He kissed him again.  "You brushed your teeth?"

"I had onion breath."

"So do I.  Is it bothering you?"  Xander shook his head.  "Then it wasn't necessary."  He got up to do his anyway.  Just so Xander wouldn't feel bad for doing it.  He came out and found his boyfriend under the blankets, getting naked and climbing in with him.  "What else can you do?"

"I almost tamed a wild kitten, but my mother ran it off by shrieking about furry creatures and rats.  It was a bit scrawny but not that bad."  Tony smiled at that.  "What else can you do?"

"I'm very good at teaching what I know but I don't have the patience for it," he admitted.

"Can you teach me how to latch hook?  That's the stuff that looks like a carpet, right?"  Tony nodded.  "You can?"

"Sure, it's not that hard.  It was something I could do when I broke my arm or my leg when I was younger."

"You broke both?"

"I played many sports and yeah, I broke both over the years.  You?"

"One arm."

"See, better than me."  He stole a kiss and grinned.  "What're you wearing tomorrow?"

"I don't know.  I'm wondering what you're wearing tomorrow since you didn't bring over any more clothes."

"Shit."

Xander chuckled and kissed him. "Go get clothes and come back, Tony.  Even if we have to buy you a new closet or add on another level to the house for more closet space."  Tony grinned and climbed out of bed, putting on the basic clothes necessary for a quick trip back to his apartment.  Xander snuggled into the warm spot, content and happy.

***

Gibbs looked up at the end of the trainees' evaluation period, handing the newly-arrived supervising agent the forms he had been made to fill out.  "For both of them."

"Thank you, Agent Gibbs.  We're worried about Harris."

"He's never going to be anyplace but here," he reminded him.

"True, which is why we don't mind the obvious combat veteran who didn't tell us where or how, but we're sure you know?"  That got a nod.  "Covert Ops?" he guessed.

"Ask Fornell."

"I did, he said ask you or the kid himself."  Gibbs just smirked.  "Did he lie on his application?"

"No, he came from a town that was filled with that cult.  He ended up working against them.  It's all home-grown combat experience," he admitted.

"So, he knows about that stuff?"

"Some.  That's why we've been working with him."

"Oh.  Okay.  We got a briefing on the Initiative counter-movement against that group a few weeks back."

"Why?" he asked, staying calm.  "Did they escape again?"

"No, sir, but the trials are coming up and we'll be providing escort service since none of our agents were involved.  It'll be closed hearings as far as I was told.  So I'll probably see you there."

"Thank you.  By the way, Harris isn't dangerous to anyone physically unless he has to be.  Just mental agony."

The agent smirked.  "So Fornell said, sir.  Thank you for this.  Are they back there?"  That got a nod.  "Did they get into the field?"

"Two different cases."

"Wonderful.  Thank you."  He headed off, going back to the office to hand those forms in.  Fornell took them to look them over. "No one told them about the upcoming trials?"

"Not yet," he muttered. "Where's his combat experience?"

"Against that cult, sir.  Agent Gibbs said he grew up surrounded by them and he fought against them.  He called home-grown combat experience."  He smirked at him.  "I'm assuming we'll be seeing the kid there since Gibbs said he was working with that team on that cult thing."

"I'm assuming so too," he agreed, looking at him.  "Anything else he let slip?"

"He's only dangerous to mental states, not physical beings.  He said they went out on two cases as well."

"Thank you."  He got back to work looking them over, then smirked.  He didn't like Harris.  He didn't want him to graduate the same academy he had went to.....  His mental complaining was interrupted by the phone.  "Fornell," he said, then he stood up.  "Yes, sir, what can I do for you today, sir?" he asked respectfully.  He listened, his jaw dropping.  "You know about this boy?"  He listened, he really listened to what was being said and not said.  "And you're sure you want to saddle NCIS with that young man, sir?"  He nodded.  "No, sir, not questioning your decisions, sir."  He squeezed his eyes shut and kept in the growl.  "Yes, sir, that is an option at the moment.  Most of the cadets aren't ready to move into any specialist classes but a few with prior experience are.  Do you want me to add him to that group so he can go work part-time for Gibbs, sir?"  He rubbed his forehead and reminded himself it wasn't him that would have that headache every day.  "Yes, sir, of course, sir, and thank you, Director."  He hung up and sat back down again.  He filled out some paperwork to make Harris and a few others graduate sooner.  They had the skills, they were all going to other agencies and the one who was thinking about staying at the FBI wanted to take more specialist classes so they could work on him for longer.  These ones had passed the basic levels necessary to work for someone else and give them migraines and ulcers.

***

Xander bounded into the bullpen and ran over to hug Gibbs.  "I passed!" he said excitedly.  "I passed, I passed second highest after Fi-Fi because I fucked up an essay question, but I passed and graduation is next weekend.  You're coming, right?"

"Of course I am.  Can I be put down now?"  Xander let him go with a 'sorry' grin and backed up a step.  "Invitations?"  Xander handed him one.  "Thank you.  Did you reserve enough seats for all of us?"  Xander nodded.  "And you have your forms in here, right?"

"Yup, but the Director said I couldn't start until September thanks to the budget and the overtime stuff so I'm going to be listed as an intern and not paid but you can decide when you need me."

"Fair enough," he agreed.  He put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him from bouncing.  "You told them how many were coming, right?"

"Yup, and I listed you by name so they can print the invitations and send them.  I ran out of room for one of you but Fi-Fi invited Adrian for me."

"That's fine," Marquez agreed.  "She told me.  She got tops?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "Good job, both of you."

"Thank you.  I majorly messed up on an essay question."  He shrugged.  "Still only a point and a half off perfect."  Tony choked at that so he beamed at him. "I'm a good boy."

"You are.  That's about what I got on my final test too."  He smiled at him. "Good job, Xander."

"Thank you."  He beamed at Abby and Ducky as they came up.  He had called and said he had good news.  He bounced over to hug them.  "I got second highest in the ones being allowed to graduate and you're all invited."   He got a pat on the back from Ducky.  "I had to list Dawnie as your date, Ducky."

"That's fine, Xander.  She is a charming companion at times."  He patted him on the cheek. "I'm very proud and I know Rupert would be too."

"I tried to call him and I got Wes, who was really happy for me and yelled at me for using my headset while I was riding over, and he said he'd tell Giles.  I start officially in September."

"That's even better.  That way you have time to play around this summer."

"I'm going to be interning," he assured him, pouting a bit.  "You don't get the whole summer away from me."

"I never expected I would."  He stroked his hair back into place.  "Be a good boy and we'll all have dinner tonight."

"Then I need to buy a bigger table."  Tony laughed at that so he looked at him. "I was thinking about adding onto the house since we're always joking about needing at least one more room."

"We don't need it," Tony assured him.  "We'll move stuff around this weekend, Xander."   Xander nodded, accepting that.  "Go shopping and figure out what we're having."  Xander beamed and hugged him, then Gibbs, then Abby, then Ducky, then bounced out like he was on springs.  "What time is graduation, Boss?"

"Next weekend, Sunday afternoon at two."  He went to call upstairs, getting the director's secretary.  "I need my whole team off the on-call list next weekend.  Academy graduation.  No, Harris and LaRange have both graduated.  He can call and ask," he noted dryly, hanging up.  "She hasn't told him yet."

Kate snickered. "I'm sure we'd hear squealing if she had."

The director trotted down the stairs and came over.  "Scores are out?"  Gibbs smirked and nodded.  "How did Harris do?"

"One essay off perfect," Tony said proudly.  "A point and a half, second highest."

"Second?" he asked calmly.

Gibbs smirked at him.  "Our other intern scored highest, director.   We need graduation off."

"That's fine," he agreed happily.  "I'll have you taken off everything but the 'absolute emergency' on-call list."  He looked at the invitation, then at him.  "I hope I have one of those?"

"LaRange said you were on her list, they had to split up some of the personnel," Kate told him with a grin.  "She had to invite Marquez for Xander as well, sir."

"That's fine then.  Thank you for that good news, Jethro.  You'll be off at the normal time that Friday."  He walked away happy and smiling.  His daughter was top of her class!

"I was fifth in mine," Kate offered.

"I was tops in mine," Tony bragged.  "Same score though."

Gibbs smirked and shook his head, looking at Ducky.  "Suit and tie, right?"  That got a nod.  "Good.  Abby, try to look a bit normal.  Remember, this is the FBI we'll be surrounded by.  No dog collars."

"Yes, Gibbs.  Formal gown or not?"

"Nice dress."

"Sure.  Who's dressing Xander?"

"He has three suits, I'll make sure he's in one," Tony reminded her.  "Since I'm his wardrobe advisor at the moment."  That got a knowing smirk from everyone.  "He wanted to wear a Hawaiian print shirt and jeans yesterday," he defended.

"Yeah, I've seen those shirts," Gibbs agreed.  "Back to work, kids, we can celebrate later."  Everyone got back to work, or tried to.  Tony kept getting happy smirks from most everyone all day.  It's not like everyone didn't *know* after all.

***

Xander finished the letter and blatantly snooped in Tony's address book, finding the one for his cousin, the one who had come down to get him to leave Tony alone.  He carefully wrote it out and put on a stamp, then put his address book just where it had been.  The envelope went down to the nearest drop box and then he came back to make sure there was no evidence that he was writing to Tony's family.  Because really, they had no idea how influential and good their son was.  Or how many lives he saved.  Or even how good he was to him. If you had parents and they seemed to have a problem understanding you, they should at least be helped to understand what they were giving up.  And hey, maybe they'd decide to like Tony again so he'd be happier about that.  Maybe with their ages going up they had learned to accept others for being themselves.  And if not, it was only a wasted hour working on the letter and a stamp.  Plus the extra sheets of paper he had been writing  on top of so no one could do an impression tracing.  Just in case he got upset with him.

Because there was no way Tony was going to know that he did this for him.

***

Tony walked into the house first, smiling at the smell of cooking food.  "You cooked?"

"I carefully followed the recipes and called my cooking instructor for help when I got stuck on something.  She said I was dumb to even try with how I burned cookies."  He stole a kiss.  "See?" he offered, pointing in the dining room, which had an actual table in it now.  "I moved the desk upstairs and the altar now takes up that area.  So whoever gets on that end will have incense and herb smells on them.  It also collapses and rolls so I can move it out of the way when I need to."  He stole another kiss and went to check on dinner, finding Dawn back there.  "Am I doing okay?"

"You're doing fine," she assured him before giving him a hard hug.  "Congratulations."

He beamed.  "Thank you.  Did you hear from Giles?"

"Not yet.  I can call if you want."  He nodded and she knew it was important to him.  She walked into the back yard to make the call, leaving him to fuss over dinner. She smiled at the gruff voice answering.  "Giles, you haven't called to offer your congratulations to Xander for graduating yet."  She listened to him complain.  "Well, it is, since he's working with the others who handled the problem.  Yes, those people, including your uncle."  She smirked.  "Want him now?"  She nodded.  "That's fine."  She hung up and walked inside.  "They've got a problem with one of the girls going out unannounced and screwing around so he's writing you a letter," she said, kissing him on the cheek.  He looked at her.  "Really."  He gave her a longer look.  "Fine, Wes hadn't told him and he's stunned at the moment so he's writing you a long letter."

"Sure," he agreed, less happy now.

Tony came in and gave him a hug.  "I'm very proud of you," he whispered.  "Gibbs is very proud of you and I'm sure Giles is if he realized how hard this was to do."  He kissed him gently, getting that happier smile back.  "Table cloth?"

"Are nasty things that you have to wash," he reminded him.  "Only used for picnics."

"Sure."  He got out the plates, going to set the table for everyone.

Dawn, being sneaky, wrote a text message to Abby's phone since she was still at work and could tell Ducky to call his nephew and chew him a new one.  She looked in the training area, smiling at how the weapons were now arranged behind the desk.  The desk was behind the practice dummies and safely out of the way but it made a very good statement about who Xander was that he had swords and pikes and battle axes hanging behind his head.  She noticed one was missing and walked in, finding it against the wall, like he had been using it.  She carefully wiped the handle and put it back in the spot waiting for it, then nodded.  He had arranged them so the battle axe was the attention getter of the group.  It was a nice look.  She glanced in the bedroom, finding the bed made and a second wardrobe in there in the corner.  "Interesting," she said quietly, heading downstairs.  "Xander, I put your battle axe back on the wall."

"Thank you."

Tony snuck up to look, grinning at the office area. Sometimes his baby was so butch.  Then he went into the bedroom to use the bathroom and take off his tie, and maybe put on a more casual shirt.  He saw the second closet and opened it, blinking at the clothes in there.  He opened one of the drawers, finding his sort of underwear and socks in them.  He checked the shirt he knew wasn't his, and it was in the right size.  He smiled.  Xander was in a spoiling mood.   He had even picked up his dry cleaning apparently.  He changed into jeans and a t-shirt, then came down to steal another kiss.  "I like the new closet."  Xander gave him a sheepish look.  "Thank you for picking up my dry cleaning."

"Welcome.  I didn't know if you wanted it here or at home."

"Here's good for now."  He stole another kiss.  "You didn't have to."

"I did, my closet's so full the clothes are holding each other up without hangers."  That got another smile.  "It is."

"It is," he agreed.  "Maybe we should put some stuff down in the pantry."  Xander shook his head.  "No?"

"No.  It's full too."  He stole another kiss and grinned at him.  "You're not mad?"

"No, I'm not mad.  Do they all fit me?"  That got a nod.  "Took my dry cleaning in with you?" he joked.  That got a blush and a nod.  "Good thinking.  Very sneaky."  Xander just blushed again and gave him a shy grin.  "What's for dinner?"

"Food.  Where's everyone else?"

"Traffic.  Gibbs had to change his shirt.  He got all sweaty in the boxing ring earlier. Ducky and Abby were finishing up on some reports the Director handed them.  McGee stayed with her.  Kate and Marquez went home to change then show up.  So you've got about a half hour."

"Which is about what I planned," he admitted.  "The meat's still got to rest when it's done.  Dawn, can you come test the meat?"

"Sure, Xander."  She came out of the pantry, then pointed.  "Who took you shopping at the wine shop?"

"The guy who runs it."  He smiled.  "Get out something that'll go with dinner, Tony?"

"Sure."  He looked at the meat, then at him, raising an eyebrow.  Xander blushed and shrugged a bit, looking sheepish.  "This isn't a beginning lesson so I'm really impressed.  Even if you did overcook it."

"It is?"

"It's supposed to barely be pink inside," Dawn told him.  "Which means it's perfect and the crust is just a bit browned."  She found the new potholders, breaking the little plastic tie holding them together, and pulled out the meat to rest.  She watched as Xander adjusted the oven's temperature and put in a cake pan a few minutes later.  "Damn, full dinner?"  He beamed and nodded.  "Good work, Xander!"  She hugged him and looked at the other stuff, then went to help Tony with the wine selection.  She coughed and pointed at a bottle. "That one?"

"Is a dessert wine and needs chilled."

"We're having cake for dessert."

"Okay."  He went to put that one in the fridge and came back to find something to go with the rest of dinner.  "Veggies are bland or not?"

"Corn, potatoes.  Broccoli."

He pulled down one and handed it over.  "You are having soda."

"Yes, sir."  She went to put that in the fridge to chill as well, then got the wine glasses.  Everyone knew they could have soda or milk or water instead if they wanted.  They could still use the good glasses.  She checked the table and smiled, going back to finish helping.  Gibbs came in first, followed by Abby, Ducky, and McGee a few minutes later.  Then the ladies showed up.  "Xander *cooked*," she announced.  She checked on the cake, taking it out since it was clearly done too.  Probably a bit overdone but that was fine with her.  Icing and frosting cured all.  He smiled and winked, handing her the icing in the bottle from the fridge.  She drizzled it on and then let it cool.

Gibbs looked at the wines and Tony reached around him to get the one for dinner.  "Why two?"

"One for dessert, Boss."  He took it into the dining room.  "Who wants wine with dinner?" he called.

"I'm good with that," Kate agreed.

"I'd rather have soda, Tony," Marquez admitted, getting herself one and picking out a seat.

"I can have soda or milk," Dawn called, smiling at Ducky.

"You're more than old enough to have a glass of wine with dinner, Dawn."  He walked her in there, picking out their seats and making sure Tony filled her glass as well.  Gibbs helped by carrying in the meat, making him look quite surprised.  Stuffed lamb roll with a crust of cashews and walnuts was not something a beginner did.  The veggies came in with Kate and Marquez, then Xander came in and sat down, smiling happily.  "Shall I carve, Xander?"

"You probably should.  There's metal skewers in there to keep it together before it cooked so watch out."  He handed over the knives he had carried in and the other serving utensils.  Tony sat at the other end of the table, smiling at him.  "I feel like a real family."

"Me too," Ducky admitted.  "Like a Sunday dinner."  He pulled the first skewer and carefully started to carve.  "What's in the middle?"

"Stuffing.  I got the recipe from my book for cooking class.  I hope it goes."

"It should.  It's soaked up plenty of the flavor already."  He handed Jethro the first slice, then started to carve more off.  Once everyone was served, Xander dug in and he smiled at him, taking that giant leap of faith himself.  It was very good.  "Excellently done, Xander."

"Thank you, Ducky."  He beamed at them.  "I tried very hard.  That's why I bought the new table."  That got some laughs and they all dug in.  Xander excused himself when the phone rang, sliding past Gibbs, Abby, and McGee to answer the one in the kitchen.  "Hello?"  He smiled at the voice. "Hi, Giles."  He listened to the quiet words of congratulations, even though Giles admitted he didn't know why he had done it, and smiled.  "Thank you.  It means a lot to me.  Tony, Gibbs, and Ducky are here, plus Dawn. Did you want to talk to any of them?"  He smiled.  "Thanks, Giles.  You have a good night."  He hung up and went back into the dining room, sliding back into place.  "That was Giles congratulating me.  So whoever called to chew him a new one, thank you, it meant a lot to me."  Ducky shrugged a bit.  "I know he doesn't understand and he admitted as much to me, but he did have an honest congratulations for me."  He looked at Tony.  "Do you realize I hadn't paid off the mortgage yet?"  That got a head shake and another bite eaten.  "Neither had I until earlier when I did that.  Did you like the office?"

"I do.  It suits you to sit in front of all the weapons that way," he teased.  "It makes you look dangerous."  Xander blushed and grinned.  "Boss, are we on this weekend to change out for graduation weekend?"

"No.  I wasn't told we were.  So only if too many cases come in for the team on call.  Why?"  He finished his last bite of dinner and put his fork down.  "That was really good, Xander.  Good job."  Xander preened under that praise.  That's when Gibbs realized the kid saw him as a father figure and looked up to him.  It made him...proud in a lot of ways.  "What are you wearing to graduation?"

"I asked at the shop when I went to pick up something for Tony today and they suggested I get something new for it."

"Of course they did," Dawn agreed dryly.  "Is it hot looking?"

"I look very good, but kinda professional in it.  She suggested that since this was so special I should go kinda upscale and spoil myself rotten."

"Am I going to have to look in the closet?" Tony asked.  Xander nodded, smirking at him.  "Is it still in a bag?"  Xander nodded at that.  "Good.  Can we put your t-shirts into the drawers so you have more room in your closet?"

"We can but I need more drawers.  Mine are full."

"You need to clean some of those out, Xander."

"They only hold a few shirts."

"Why buy a dresser that small anyway?" Dawn asked.

"It's what they had at the thrift shop."

"Ah."  She nodded.  "You could get something bigger and better and give that one back to charity.  Along with that one couch no one likes to sit on."

"That's tomorrow," he offered, grinning at him. "I've already arranged it.  I know I'm blowing money today but I wanted this to feel like *my* home since now I own it."  Tony shrugged at that, he could understand it.  "And it's not been that much really.  I kept it under one of my old paychecks when I was working construction."  Tony raised an eyebrow at that.  "That's not that much," he said quietly.  "Paying off the mortgage took more."

"It probably did," he agreed, smiling at him.  "I don't mind you doing that, Xander.  I just wanted you to show some fiscal responsibility."

"I'm trying."

"I know you are. Once your nest is complete you can spoil me by buying me chocolate bars again.  Okay?"  Xander nodded and smiled back.  "What's your next class?"

"How to manage the money stuff and understand what I'm doing with it.  Because I probably should."  Everyone nodded at that.  "My brokerage has these little seminars and I've been invited to them.  That way I know what I'm doing a little bit more when they give me advice."

"That's not a bad idea," Gibbs agreed.  "If you have stuff like that you should understand what you're doing with it.  That way you don't go broke spoiling Abby."

"I'm not going to go broke unless I have *major* medical expenses that won't be covered by my insurance," he said happily.  "Tony helps me with that but it's tiring doing his stuff and my stuff and worrying about the retirement stuff he's got and all that.  Plus it's kinda depressing."  Tony nodded at that, he hated dealing with their finances.  "Since all I know how to do is balance my checkbook, I should probably learn much more about that."

"Good, then you can help me with mine.  Suddenly I'm getting a salary from the Council plus I find out that Buffy had insurance on her life?"  Xander nodded.  "Was that a group thing?"  He nodded again, looking grim.  "Then who got Willow's?"

"Me.  She figured I'd be taking care of you and use it on your education and upkeep."

"Oh, good.  Thank you.  By the way, did anyone ever tell California I moved out here so they could amend the custody agreement?"

"No, but I think Wesley had to go down and talk to them when they wondered where you were.  They were told you were out here with me but living with an older family friend, one where you got a very nice, comfortable, and nurturing spot for your last few months of being underaged, but where you had a small job helping out and that Ducky was a well respected ME out here in the government.  I know Wesley called the Director, who backed it up to the social workers who hated my ass."

"Why didn't they like you?" Kate asked.

"They thought a construction worker like me would harass her or try to take her to bed.  When I pointed out I was grieving for my lost fiance at that point in time, they said it was all the more reason.  That a female would be safer.  Willow tried to tell them I had a boyfriend and they said in that case I'd never have custody of her.  The social worker was a bit...prejudice.  She got taken off the case when Willow made a formal complaint against the woman for hating her girlfriend and the new one said that Willow was the better choice due to her starting a real education so she had a future, whereas I only had worked for so long."  He took another sip of his wine.  "Then they found my old social services record and that pretty much closed that debate."

Dawn patted him on the hand. "I wrote a nastygram about that myself.  They didn't listen to me, but I did write one."  He nodded, giving her a gentle smile.  "So, what's next with the house?"

"Fixing the closet issues.  Mine's way too narrow."  Tony nodded at that, it was barely big enough to stand in the doorway of.  "I don't know how yet but I need to do something about that."

"There's the spare closet in the training room now that the weapons aren't in it," Marquez offered.

"I'd have to refinish it. It's got splinters and cracks and things.  Tony would freak if I put the good clothes in there.  I was thinking about moving the memory closet in there though."  Tony raised an eyebrow and he shrugged.  "I don't need to look in it every day, and it's kinda blocking that view.  I figured if I had to I could get one matching the new one and put it there instead so the neighbors couldn't look in."

"If you want," Tony agreed.  "That would give you four more small drawers."

"And I could put the suit stuff in there."

"And you could put the suits in there," he agreed with a smile.  "Plus most of your other work clothes."  Xander grinned at the obvious statement Tony had caught him in. "If that's what you want, I'll help."  Xander beamed at him.  "Are we moving it tonight?"

"If we can.  If not, tomorrow's fine.  The dresser, those couches, and the old recliner are all being given away tomorrow.  They're coming to pick it up so I've got to check for any spare change and stuff."  That got an amused grin from Gibbs. "I know I lost a twenty in there a few weeks back and I think one of my licenses is in there."

"I told you you needed to protect those better," Tony teased.  "You need a new wallet anyway, Xander.  Put that in the closet too."

"Why?  I only got it because it was cheap."  He grinned. "I've got a new one upstairs I have to fill up.  It's got those nice plastic things to hold those things."

"We still need to refill both medical kits," Ducky reminded him. "I wish I had been able to get to yours sooner."

Xander shrugged and grinned at him.  "I kinda did mine already.  I sent Wes a list and he sent back everything and then some.  So I've got a saddlebag on the bike that has the standard holy water, bandages, neosporin, a few stitching kits, gloves, and blister packs of drugs in a field kit and my real field kit is fully stocked and refilled better than it had been.  I still have to look up what a few of them are, but it's fully filled like the one they stock at the training camp."

Ducky blinked.  "Where is it?"

"I was refilling it in the living room.  I was going to haul it into my trunk tonight."  Ducky got up and went to look, coming back with a small scowl.  "What?"

"He sent you controlled narcotics through the mail?"

"No, magic gram."

"Oh.  I see.  Still, you don't need the morphine or the dilatin or two or three of those. I'll keep those in my kit, Xander."

"Sure, if you want, Ducky.  You can poach the rest of the box too.  He said you could since I'm helping you now and then."

"Thank you, Xander.  Did you talk to your instructors about knowing more field medicine than you should given your license?"

"Yeah, I blurted out a question about doing stitching on site if needed and she gave me this look and asked if I was qualified.  I pointed out I had to do it in the past and had learned from a very good source, the same one most doctors learned from, and that it hadn't been so unusual in my former life.  She said I couldn't do that but she did pull me aside after class and quizzed me with her doctor husband on what I did know.  He said if I could get past the classes I should just head to med school instead.  He didn't want me in a situation where I had to do something and got into trouble for it."

"So you're as qualified as one of the underground doctors that the mob and those guys use?" McGee asked.  He learned something new about Xander each time he actually sat around with him.

"Most of them are doctors who've been discredited," Dawn told him.  "But yeah, he is.  He and Willow took classes under one one summer.  There was a vampire one who ended up in Sunnydale treating injuries and Buffy was off with dad then so they found him and he begged not to be staked because he wasn't hurting others, he was a doctor, and on and on and Willow broke down and started to ask about stuff she had read in the medical texts she used to play doctor with.  In exchange for his life, he taught them what he knew.  Xander could probably do limited field surgery if he had to."  Xander nodded at that.  "You did?"

"I ended up delivering that demon baby a few years back," he reminded her.  "That was a c-section since they didn't have another way out.  She's still living too the last time I checked on her."  Ducky gaped at him so he grinned.  "It was necessary.  Who do you think stitched us up when we got hurt?  Sunnydale's ER was a vamp hunting ground, Ducky."

"I remember, but still.  I had no idea you had this knowledge when I came out or else I would've made you two tell me what you knew when Rupert got hurt that time."

"We were kinda shy and neither of us brag," Xander reminded him.  "Bragging was Buffy, not us."  Dawn nodded at that, sipping the rest of her wine.  "Dessert anyone?"

"Nice change of topic," Kate said smugly.  "What else can you do, Xander?  Tony, go get dessert."

"No, I wanna hear.  How far up did he teach you?"

"How to stitch, bandage, set, the usual field medicine stuff to stabilize someone until you could get them into a field hospital.  So, up to and including how to clamp off arteries properly and put in a shunt around the damaged area using two needles and some tubing.  I'm basically medic trained according to my EMT teacher."  He got up and slid out again.  "Who wants milk or dessert wine?"

"I'll go for milk," Marquez offered, blinking at Gibbs.  "Did you know this?"  He shook his head.  "Damn.  I'm impressed at what you have to have to be a Watcher."

"Giles has up to the EMT stuff," Dawn told her.  "Some self-defense training but he's not good at it.  Wes is better.  Some magic, some other skills.  Xander's a bit better than most.  When he finds something he can do, he runs with it until he gets frustrated and upset.  He would probably be able to do real surgery at times if he hadn't nearly sliced his thumb off when Giles suddenly called to check on him that time.  They were teaching them on a vampire who was willing.  Said she liked it.  That's how he learned stitching and stuff too."  Ducky moaned and shook his head.  "You learned on cadavers and so did he and Willow."  He nodded at that, patting her on the hand.  "Just one who could go 'ouch' and 'that's a nerve' and 'oooh, tingles' when the guy tried to teach Willow brain surgery."

"Which I did not attempt," Xander said as he came back with the bottle of wine for Tony to open under one arm, the milk in one hand, and the cake pan in the other.  Tony grabbed the wine and the opener he had left on the table.  Xander handed Gibbs the cake, smiling at him. "You can cut."  He sat back down and poured himself some milk, then handed it to Dawn.  "You've had enough."

"I have," she agreed.  She passed it down to Marquez, who was on their side of the table.

Tony poured himself some wine and sniffed it before tasting it, then handed the bottle to Kate.  "It's very good wine.  The owner of the shop led him to the perfect one for the dark chocolate."  He accepted the cake when it came to him, smiling at it.  It was handed to Marquez, who was on his other side, then back up to Xander, who got the last piece.  "This was very nicely done, Xander.  Did you save any for your teacher?"

"There's some of the meat left and the cake was what we went over in class last week."  He dug in and moaned, taking a drink of milk.  "Perfectly done.  I'm proud of myself."

"I'm proud of you too, kid. I couldn't have done this."  Gibbs dug in, keeping himself from moaning at the flavor of the cake.  It had gooey chocolate in the center and it went well with the drier cake, plus the icing topped it off nicely.  The wine set off the flavors so he only tasted the chocolate as an aftertaste.  It was well put together.  "Bring in the whole menu and make another of these for her."

"She'd complain that the cake was too dry, like she did last time," he offered. "But I'm going to do that anyway when I go in tomorrow morning. Unless I'm supposed to be in tomorrow, Gibbs?"

"No, that's fine.  What days are your cooking classes?  Or did you just want to work afternoons?"

"Afternoons are fine.  My cooking classes end in three weeks and then I can go to a weekends only lesson schedule."  That got a nod. "Is that okay?"

"That's fine, Xander.  You're an intern.  You don't have to pull full time hours until we pay you for them."  He ate another bite and it was still just as good.  He wasn't one for chocolate usually but he could understand why some people pigged out on it like Xander and Tony did.

Dawn leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.  "I love you.  If I ever get married, I want this to be my wedding cake."  He blushed and nodded at that.  "Thank you."  She smiled at everyone else, who was grinning at her. "A girl's gotta think about these things now and then."  She smiled at Ducky.  "I'm sure you have too."

"I have."  He ate another bite and smiled at Abby, who was stealing off McGee's plate.  "Let him have his own treat, Abigail."

"He'll get his treat later," she assured him, taking his plate and giving him hers.

He stole it back, taking half of it.  Then he handed it back, smiling at her.

"You two are so cute," Dawn cooed.

"Too much sweetness," Gibbs complained.

"Sorry, Boss," she said with a wicked smirk.  He snorted and shook his head.  "If I major in something useful can I come help too?"

"We'll see. By then I may have retired and let Kate or Tony have the team."

"Awww, Boss," Kate said, smiling at him. "Thank you."

"Still too much sap," he ordered.  That got a laugh from Tony and Xander.  Which was a good thing.  "So, what else do you know how to do?"

Xander blushed and ducked his head.  "Mostly just odd stuff I kinda picked up here and there.  When I was stranded and working at the strip club in Oxnard, I learned a lot about an 'anything goes' club that was helping people stay just this side of legal with their desires.  Things like that."  He finished his last bite then his milk, glancing at Tony.  Who smiled at him.  "What did you tell him?"

"That I was going to teach you how to latch hook."

"Oh, that's fine then."  He looked at him.  "I did two weeks at a meat packing plant.  Which is why there's no mystery meat allowed in this house."  That got a nod and Gibbs leaned back to look at him.  "I, um, did some fast food work, that strip club, um, I was a personal assistant to someone for two weeks and he was running a house where people paid him to beat their asses.  Um," he thought back and hit on something more innocent, "I was a secretary for two weeks or so.  So I know how to make good coffee from that."

"You do make okay coffee," he agreed.

"House where they beat asses as in a dom's house?" Abby asked.  Xander nodded.  "Wow.  Like collared and chained guys crawling around?"

"And then some," he agreed dryly.  "Dawn's still too young for this conversation and so am I."

"Me too," Gibbs agreed.  "DiNozzo, do you think he can go undercover?"

"I think he could, Boss.  Why?"

"Because sometimes we need someone a bit younger than you and he could do that."

"He can, Boss.  He's got good instincts for it."

"That's what he does when he goes hunting anyway.  It's a different personality," Kate pointed out.

"Kinda but it's still all him," Dawn assured her.  "That's just a deeper, darker part of Xander's mind."  She finished her cake.  "Well trained and honed by many nights in Sunnydale and a few possessions."

"True," Xander agreed.  "I don't know which I use more.  The hyena or the soldier, or one of the later ones that didn't happen before the battle in Sunnydale."

"I still think it sucks that Angel used you that way to disperse the spirit," Dawn said firmly, staring at him.

"He was a nice guy but I didn't get any accountant memories.  Unfortunately.  I could use some now and then."  He nodded at the milk.  "Can I have that back?"   It was handed down to him.  "Thank you."  He poured some more and handed it back so it could go back in its former spot.  "By the way, Gibbs, who's the spirit in the parking garage?  I've seen him once or twice and he just stares mournfully at me."

"An agent who shot himself a few years back after a really bad case," he said quietly.  "Is he wanting to talk?"

"He said to tell someone he's sorry and then he faded out.  That's what he does each time but I can't figure out the name.  I'd need someone to act as a guide if I went closer to talk to him to get it."

"No," Tony said firmly.  "Suggest he go haunt them."

"He can't.  I have the feeling that they're dead too and he hasn't accepted it."

"I'll think about it, Xander," Gibbs said firmly.

"He's just in such pain, ya know?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Thank you."

"Welcome."  He looked down at Tony, who didn't look too happy.  Then back at Xander.  "Just cooking classes?"

"I haven't had time to double up thanks to the academy stuff," he defended.

"No online classes?" he asked.  Xander blushed at that.  "For?" he asked calmly.

"Learning how to use the programs on the computer better.  Some HTML stuff.  This way I don't end up blowing up the computer."

"That's a good thing," he agreed.  "No hacking stuff?"

"Nope.  I don't want to be tempted.  I might get into a fight with Fornell some day and then want to hack him and that would be a bad thing."  Everyone nodded at that, a few giving him smug looks.  "I know he hates me because I'm a smart ass and I know my shit.  I don't care that he hates me for being a smart ass and knowing my shit.  I don't work with him.  His isn't an opinion I care about unless and until we're going into the field and since we did the mock 'break in and take down' exercise with him on my team and me leading he knows he can trust me to know what I'm doing in the field."

"They did the hostile takedown lessons with agents?" Kate asked.  Xander nodded.  "Since when?"

"Since the teacher ordered them to come help.  We had six other former cops in the class, other than Fi-Fi and a few other veterans. They thought we could do it and defended it by pointing out it was in the service of getting terrorists out."  He shrugged. "I was a good boy, I led my team of the untrained people in.  He was there to grade us all during it and to watch us as the senior agent.  I wasn't named lead but the guy who was was making crappy plans so I stepped in and pointed out that it was leaving six team members open to being shot and two openings for our target to get away.  He said 'fine, then you do it' and I did.  I got us in, the suspect taken down, one minor graze to an arm, and then out and back to the vehicle in a faster, smoother time.  And yes, the paintball hurt like hell from what I'm told.  Fi-Fi has this need to jump in and prove herself and they decided that since she's a fuckup she was on my team for everything.  She was my buddy."

"What grade did you get?" Gibbs asked.  "I never got those reports."  Yet if he got his way. At least he knew who to ask.

"Ten points off for the graze to her arm.  Fornell took off another two for one of the guys flinching at the sight of the blood colored paintball.  It was fairly realistic.  He gave my plans an eighty percent because he didn't like me and still doesn't like me. We got in and got out in six-point-three-six minutes.  Cleared the whole scene.  The guy who did the grading from the helmet cam I and Fornell were wearing gave me a ninety-seven, taking off three points for that graze.  The other team got in and out in eleven and a half or so and had no injuries, but they didn't secure the scene, which was a hotel room.  No one checked in the shower."  That got a nod.  "They got a ninety-five for it.  That's when Fornell started onto me about combat training I hadn't put on my application."

"He asked me through the agent who came to get the evals," Gibbs admitted. "I told him you went against that cult for a few years, it was from that."  He gave him a knowing smirk.  "That was the first, what was the second?"  Only the second score went on your records.

"Fi-Fi had a tighter leash and I had her watching the rear this time. She's good and focused on it.  But she still likes to jump in now and then, the same as I do.  I took point, this time it was a house.  A full house.  We got in and out in thirty minutes, twenty seconds.  I got a ninety-eight because one of my guys forgot to Miranda him until we were outside.  The other team set off their alarms and had four people shot.  They were given a second chance two days later and passed with a ninety for a greater time and more troubles. I worked with my team during a dinner out to go over the strategies for what we were going to do.  I went over the same plan the second time as the first and pointed out the differences, pointing out we were told it was going to at least be an apartment that we were going into.  I designated people to do each and every task, making sure they knew it, and the alarm guy got taught how to cut and redirect them without setting them off.  I asked the teacher over that and he agreed that it was a good thing to learn so he taught both of us.  I'm still iffy on that skill, Gibbs.  Can I take more lessons in that?"

"Please.  It could come in very handy."  Xander beamed and nodded at that.  "I don't see Mirandaing until outside as a bad thing."

"Me either.  I did order him to give it all at once, once we had all the suspects captured and handcuffed or bagged.  That way I wouldn't lose him or have to shift him back in the line while he did it for each one.  I had them do it in the truck."   That got some laughs and a nod from Gibbs.  "Still in an acceptable place but later than I should have by the FBI's standards according to the grader of the tapes.  Fornell walked in with us that time too.  He grudgingly gave me a 'damn perfect' on it and Fi-Fi assured him that I had worked with the unskilled people myself, I hadn't delegated anything but that one task."

"I'm going to get a copy of your training evals, Xander."

"Sure.  I'd like to see some of them."

"I can agree to that."  He smirked at Tony and Kate.  "You two, where did your groups score?"

"Maryland didn't have us do that," Tony admitted. "We were expected to learn that in the field by being behind someone who knew it better."

Kate shrugged.  "I was on the untrained team and we barely passed both of them.  Our trained team got cited for being cocky and stupid though.  My class wasn't the same as Xander's.  We didn't have agents, only helmet cams."

"We had more experienced people in ours," Xander pointed out.  "They said so, that's why we got more senior agents in to help us.  That way they could start the protege system going sooner.  They wanted Fornell to leash me," he said with a grin.  "He hates me, still."

"He does," Gibbs agreed.  "He'll learn.  He feels the same way about me, kid."  He stood up and stretched.  Then he sat back down.  "What time is it?"

"Eight, Boss," McGee offered.

"We should be getting home," Ducky told Dawn, who smiled and nodded. "Did you drive over?"

"Bus from the library," she lied.  She had used magic but he hated it when she did that.  She kissed him on the cheek and stood up, then kissed Xander on the cheek.  "You did good.  Mommy would be so proud of you," she whispered.  She walked out on Ducky 's arm.

Tony smiled at him.  "Whatever she said, I probably agree."

"She said her mom would've been proud of me too."

"She probably would have been, I am," Kate assured him. She stood up.  "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, Xander."

"Me too," Marquez offered.

Abby got up to give him a hug and a kiss on the forehead.  "I am so proud, you beat Kate's score."  She gave him a hug around the neck, then hauled McGee up, letting him wave and mouth 'good job' before she drug him off.

Gibbs looked at the table.  "I'll help clean up."  They got up to put things away, the rest of the wine going into the fridge.  Xander wrapped up a plate of the leftovers for his teacher and put it away specially, then smiled at him.  "You two have fun playing in the closets.  Celebrate, guys, you did very good."  He walked out, still smiling.

Tony pulled Xander closer, kissing him slowly and deeply.  "I agree, you did so good, Xander.  You deserve a treat. What would you like?"

"A backrub?"

"I can do that.  Anything else?"

He smirked.  "Whatever your wickeder instincts can come up with?"

"I can do that too," he agreed, leading him upstairs.

Ends and Rewinds.

Tony answered his desk phone.  It was after normal quitting time and he had been finishing a report so he'd have less to do the next day in case they got a new case.  "DiNozzo."  He blinked and leaned back.  "Father."  He listened and checked the datebook on his computer, ignoring the look Kate was sending him.  "If I can.  I can't promise.  I'm on call this weekend.  That means I have to be able to get back here within regulation time of forty-five minutes."  He nodded and took that down.  "If I can, Father.  No, I hadn't known you heard about anything I did.  Sure.  I'll see you both then.  Have a nice night."  He hung up and his forehead hit the desk.  He dialed Gibbs by feel, getting his cell.  "Boss, my parents are coming to town Saturday evening.  No, to see me and have dinner," he said bitterly.  "He said seven, we'll be in town, but ...."  He smirked.  "Thanks, Boss.  No, if I need to escape, I'll text Abby and she'll call in an emergency.  I'll warn them again that I'm on call.  No, I don't have a clue why.  They said they heard about a few of my cases."  He sat up and looked down the aisle, then shook his head and grimaced.  "It's a possibility, Boss, but I don't know yet.  Thanks."  He hung up and put his head back down.  "Is Xander still here?"

"He went to pick up the dry cleaning," she reminded him. "You're supposed to get dinner."

"Uh-huh."  He saved his report and got up, grabbing everything he'd need to go home and pounce his mate.

"Tony, he was probably trying to help," she said quietly.  "You had semi-decent parents and he probably didn't understand."

"No, I get that."  He walked out, going down to his car and heading home.  He even got dinner.  He walked in and slammed the door, heading back to the kitchen.  "Xander?" he called.

"Bedroom.  Be right down."

Tony tossed the bag on the kitchen table and headed up there, pouncing his mate and holding him down so he could stare into his eyes.  "You wrote my parents?"

"I wrote that one cousin, Meredith," he admitted sheepishly, looking bashful.  "I just wanted them to realize what they were giving up.  Are they mad?"

"No, they're coming down for dinner this weekend."  Xander opened his mouth so he covered it, letting one wrist go.  "You shouldn't have."

"You're mad," he sighed behind the hand.  "I'm sorry."

"It was fairly intrusive, Xander."

"I was trying to help!  I didn't mean to make you angry."

"I'm not that angry, just upset."  He let him go, pulling him up to sit and face him.  "What did you tell him?"

"That you were a great guy and in your last two cases you saved five lives.  That you were mentoring two newbies on the team and were an agent the others looked up to.  That you were well-respected and liked, and that if she had any sense she'd try to be happy with the man you are."  He looked down at his lap but Tony made him look at him again.  "I really didn't mean to make you angry."

"I'm not angry," he promised calmly, kissing him on the forehead.  "I'm upset that you broke in the middle of that very ancient fight.  I'm disappointed that you broke into my stuff to get her address, because I know she didn't give it to you, and I'm upset that you decided I couldn't make this decision on my own."

"I didn't want...."

"Quit.  Now."  Xander slumped and nodded. "They made their choices and it was their job to cover for their mistakes, not mine to reach out.  For all I cared, they could stay away."

"But it hurts you each time you talk about them.  At least this way you get some closure."

"Have you been watching those talk shows again?"  Xander scowled.  "Sorry, it sounded like it.  I didn't need closure.  I had made peace with their problems with my life.  Now they know where I am and they're going to nag."  Xander slumped again, holding his head this time, nodding a little bit.  "Think about it, Xander, how would you feel if I wrote Giles to make him understand you."

"It might make him get the stick outta his ass," he mumbled.  He looked at him. "I'm sorry."

"We will never have to have this conversation again, right?"  Xander shook his head.  "And you're never going to do it again?"

"They got a new one sent out today."  Tony groaned. "This one was about graduation and what happened."

Tony patted him on the head.  "I understand why you did it.  It's still not making me happy.  Forget I have a family, Xander.  Just like you can forget yours most of the time.  The team is my family and they actually give a damn about me. Okay?"  He nodded and Tony gave him a hug.  "Now, go eat.  I got you tacos tonight.  I've got to go finish that report before we get a case and I can't."  He kissed him on the top of the head and got up, heading back to work.  About halfway there he stopped at a redlight and realized if he went there, he'd end up staring at the computer, so he cut someone off and headed in the other direction instead.  Gibbs was home tonight, he was usually home and working on the boat.  He found his house with the lights on and got out, heading up to knock on the door.  Gibbs opened it and looked at him.  "He wrote my cousin to tell him what a good person I am," he said, walking in.

Gibbs shut the door.  "Of course he did.  You had what he didn't, a decent family."  He headed back down to his boat, going back to his new plank.  "He wrote someone there so they could appreciate you the way he does.  He thinks it's a matter of perception on their part."

"Kate told you?"

"She figured it was something like that.  After all, the kid loves you, DiNozzo.  Of course he's going to do stuff to make you happy."

Tony sat on the stairs to watch him work.  "He said he wanted me to have closure."

"More talk shows?"

"No, not that he'd admit to.  Maybe it's a holdover from the last one."

Gibbs looked back at him, then got back to work.  "Have you noticed the kid has regrets and doesn't dwell on them like a normal person?"

"Yeah, and ....   You think he's thinking that my parents are one of mine and life's too short in his opinion to dwell?"  Gibbs nodded.  "Then why my *cousin*?  He wrote to her."

"She came down to threaten him away from you."

"Which showed she still cared and therefore would be able to handle it if it should be handled," he finished, shaking his head.  "I'm seriously pissed at this, Boss.  He apologized every other sentence."

"Of course he did. You're the one good, solid thing in his life, DiNozzo.  After all, he loves you."  He turned to look at him.  "The kid would rather die than see you hurt.  That's why he got in front of you during the last assault we had to go in on during an arrest."  Tony shuddered at that.  "He's so deep in it that he'd die for you to make sure you lived.  So why are you here?"

"Because if I don't talk this out, I'm going to end up snapping at him."

"True, and he'll be hurt.  The same way you are at the moment.  Even though he'll probably blame himself."  Tony looked confused.  "Kate pegged to it the other day.  His only regrets are personal.  Not professional, not slaying, personal.  He'll do what he has to do professionally, including dying, and he considers slaying like his second job.  But it's the personal things that'll end up haunting him. She's also noticed it's occasionally like a case of multiple personalities between his work and personal lives.  At home, he's the goofy kid and the concerned lover.  At work he's this guy who does what he has to do and he jokes some but nothing like off duty."

"That's common in rookies."

"Yeah, it is.  She realized that too.  She said she had an even worse case of it and her boss made her break it.  Now, realize that we're going to have the Initiative trials starting this week.  We're all off official duties until Friday and then we get all weekend on-call.  So, when you're there I'll try not to call unless I have to.  I'll let the kid fill in."

"He might jump in front of you too," Tony said bitterly.  He slumped some.  "I'm not wrong to be pissed at him, right?"

"I would be, but I wouldn't feel betrayed by it.  It's an act of love and compassion on his part.  Usually done by girls."  He got back to work.

"Which he was raised by," he agreed dryly.  "I asked him how he'd feel if I wrote Giles to explain Xander to him and he said it'd take the stick out of his ass."

"It might but I doubt it'd help.  Giles is a book person.  He's idea and thing smart, not people smart.  The kid is people smart and doing smart.  He's an action guy and the more philosophical an outlook you've got, the less you understand action oriented people."  He looked back at him.  "You're usually people smart."

"I know."  He rubbed his forehead. "I wanna be so pissed and if I am, it'll only hurt him.  But if I'm not pissed then I seriously don't care that he broke into my things to find her address."

"I doubt he had to do much breaking, DiNozzo."

"Point, but it's still an invasion of privacy."

"Put it in the larger picture, DiNozzo.  Is this worth losing him over?"  He set a nail in and then looked back at the quiet man.  "Having to think about it?"

"No," he admitted, shaking his head.  "It's not.  He was trying to help."

"Then what're you doing here?  He's got to be torn up and thinking that he made you leave."

"I told him I was going to finish my report."  He stood up and headed back up the stairs.  "Thanks, Boss."

"Welcome.  Next time call Kate directly," he called after him.  "Have her explain the kid to you," he muttered.  Not that he wouldn't be pissed if the kid had done it to him, but the bigger picture it was an act of love and trying to help.  Those usually got forgiven after a few fights.  It was the thoughtless actions you had to worry about.  Things like taking Tony's spot in the assault line so he couldn't get hurt.  Because he just knew some day it'd come down to a decision of which one would die and Xander would volunteer.  Even if they did break up.  He set the next nail and let it drift out of his mind.  He'd deal with it when it happened not before.

***

Tony walked back into the townhouse and headed up the stairs.  Everything downstairs was dark and quiet.  He found Xander curled up in his customary little ball but not snoring so he knew he was still awake.  He took off his clothes and put them where they needed to go, then climbed in behind him, forcing him to uncurl enough to get an arm around his stomach and pull him back.  "I understand why you did it and I'm still disappointed but I'm not angry, Xander. I didn't leave you."  Xander shrugged.  He moved closer.  "Gibbs put it into context for me. You were trying to help and I like that you thought I needed the closure, but I'm good with what happened."

"Then you'd have told him no," Xander said quietly.

Tony considered that, then nodded.  "True. I would have.  So I'll go to dinner, we'll argue and I'll come back to you that night and tell you how badly it went."  Xander shrugged again.  "You don't think so?"

"Your mother's how old?"

Tony considered it.  "Nearly sixty.  That's why she's begging for grandchildren so often.  Oh, you think she's starting to regret now."  Xander turned over and nodded, hugging him around the chest.  "She might.  She might not.  I didn't see any during the wedding but she wasn't exactly around me then.  She did watch me a lot," he admitted.  "I thought she was trying to see if I was interested in anyone there."  He shrugged and cuddled closer.  "I'm not mad that you did it, just that you went behind my back and you got into my things that way.  That you broke my privacy.  That's what I'm upset about."

"I'm sorry."

"I understand why you did it, but never again, right?"  Xander nodded, relaxing against him.  "Thank you.  And no more taking my spot behind Gibbs.  That's my spot.  Junior agents always take the rear."

"I'm a better shot than you."

"So?  It's still my spot to be behind Gibbs that way.  I promise, if I get hurt you can fuss."

"I don't want you to die," he said quietly.

Tony sighed.  "I could be electrocuted making toast, Xander.  Or on the roads.  Or even sitting in the office.  Hell, I could be poisoned by some of your cooking attempts."  Xander grimaced at that, he could feel it. "You can't be paranoid about that. That's why they don't let couples work on the same team."

"If I knew you were going and wasn't there to watch your back, I'd worry more."

"Which was probably what Gibbs saw and realized that you could keep yourself from super fussing at scenes over hangnails, that's why you're still on the team.  But you can't take my spot.  If something happens during an assault, you're going to be the first medical person on site.  Even if Ducky's right there, he's going to go to Gibbs first." Xander looked up at him.  "Take your rightful spot.  I earned mine.  You move up in the line by earning it."  Xander nodded.  "So no more jumping in front of me.  Or else the director might make you move."  Xander nodded again.  "You're doing good controlling those urges, but you've got to master that one last level.  You also have to do it without developing true MPD, like you're heading.  You can be yourself at work."

"I'm unfocused at home.  That doesn't belong on the job and the victims and cases don't deserve anything less than my best."

"You can do your best and still joke and play."

"I do."  He put his head back down.  "But I still have to be somewhat serious too.  Gibbs expects me to be serious and give each case my full attention and my full focus, which I should."

"You should, but you can still be yourself.  You noticed the rest of us are the same person on and off the jobs?  Even Abby?"

"I'm still new, Tony.  Give me a break."

"Fine.  Just relax at work. You're too tense.  Like you're about to snap."  He stroked down his back. "Next week are the hearings."

"I heard.  They're holding them inside the judicial rooms in the FBI building.  We'll have a meeting room in there to hang out in. They're going to be totally closed and we can be honest because the transcripts are going to be buried so deeply no one's going to hear about them existing."

"Who briefed you?"

"Fornell.  He called.  He wanted me to wear a vest in and out each day.  Plus warned me not to pull any stupid shit while I was in the building."

"That might be a good idea, yeah," he agreed, smiling a bit.  "Why does he hate you?  It's so much worse than what he hates Gibbs for, which is being good but a bastard and a hardass.  What did you do to him?"

"We were on the outdoor range and training fields.  One of the other guy's ex-wives came in waving a gun and I basically got her down and out because I had been running a few minutes late."

"So, you did your job?" he asked, looking confused.

"I usurped his authority to do that as the senior agent on the field that day."  He pulled back to look at him.  "He was in the group already so he was already being held hostage.  He hated that I took a piece of his power for that minute."

"Ah.  Then you kept proving you were just as good, if not better in some areas, than he was and he feels threatened."

"Tobias is nearing retirement age," he said dryly.  "They thought I could be his student, the one who he could look upon and smile in fatherly pride.  Then they figured out I'm not going to the same agency, I do better in heavy violence situations, and I really did need the mentor, but I got his enemy as one instead.  Plus I usurped."

"And five strikes later," Tony joked.  Xander nodded and put his head back down. "Hopefully he'll realize he's being an idiot before we have to work together again."

"I think he's looking for something to make the lasting impression for his name sometimes.  I told him I thought that over beers one night after a the second retrieval/assault sim.  He told me I had no idea what I was talking about and I was a bastard, just like Gibbs.  That I deserved Gibbs and he deserved to be tortured by having to retrain me and probably teach me manners and how to deal with people.  And I was nice about it, he asked me what I thought of his training.  I added that at the end after a 'but', after I said some really nice stuff too because he did try to keep calming me down a lot."

"If he actually sat there and watched you work, I think he'd understand," he offered. "Remember, only your sidearm at the FBI."

"I'm still using the concealment spell on that and my earrings."

"Okay, that's fine.  You'll have to unconceal your sidearm and don't let them find anything other than a pocket knife.  Remember, the metal detectors are used even on us."

"Point.  And hey, I've still got the nipple ring too."  Tony snickered at that.  "Would you help me get my vest tomorrow?"

"Yup.  You need that.  Whose did you use last time?"

"A spare Gibbs found.  He yelled for nearly an hour when he found out Morrow and I don't have one yet."  Tony poked him.  "No one told us to go get one or where.  Her father heard him yelling from MTAC and called down to ask what was wrong.  When he found out he took her that night."

"We'll go tomorrow before work."

"We're due in at eight."

"They open early.  I know the person.  I've had to replace two.  I had a broken strap and the other ended up getting hit with some liquid nitrogen by accident, fortunately I wasn't in it."  Xander gave him a squeeze.  "Remember, I get to do some of the dangerous stuff too and I've been doing this longer, Xander.  You're my trainee, you're not my bodyguard."

"Yes, Tony," he agreed, yawning a bit.  "Did you get the report done?"

"No, I changed directions halfway back and went to talk to Gibbs."  Xander nodded, snuggling in and closing his eyes.  Tony smirked at him as he fell asleep.  It had been sweet but the wrong idea.  As long as Xander didn't break his privacy again, he now was trained better.

***

Tony looked over at his boss that Saturday, then cleared his throat.  "Boss?"  Gibbs looked up and he gave a pointed look at the clock.  Gibbs winced. "I can cancel."

"I'll have Harris if anything happens.  Go.  Before they come here."  Tony nodded.  "Besides, we're waiting and I hate waiting."

"Call me if we get a break and I'll leave."

"I've got Harris and Morrow.  Go."  Tony nodded and left, going to his dinner date with his parents.  He looked at the two trainees.  "Xander."  Xander looked at him, looking upset.  "You two worked that out, right?"  He nodded silently.  "Good.  The other stuff?"  That got another nod.  "I thought you had, just making sure. Morrow, I think you need more training with Kate on the range anyway.  You keep trying to jump in the lead spot."  She blushed and nodded, looking down.  "We're doing that tomorrow if this is done."  They both nodded. McGee gave him a look. "Yes, you too."

"Of course, Boss.  As long as it's not boxing, my jaw's still sore from the last time."

"Fine."  He got back to work trying to find the kidnaped wife.  He still wasn't sure she was really kidnaped and not playing her husband, there were too many neat bows on the endings already.

***

Tony walked into the restaurant, letting the check girl take his jacket.  "Keep that handy," he said quietly. "I'm still on call."  She nodded and he turned his phone to vibrate, then up to ring at its most quiet ring.  He walked up to the host and nodded.  "DiNozzo?"

"This way, sir."  He led him back to the back table, handing him a menu. "Have a good evening."

Tony nodded at his parents.  "Hi."  He sat down and put his menu aside.  He knew what he liked to eat here.  He'd glance later to make sure it was still there.  "So, why the meeting?"

"Like I told you on the phone, son.  We got a letter from someone."

"I know who sent it to Meredith."  He looked stunned and Tony shrugged.  "I realized who sent it when you mentioned it, father," he said calmly.  "He wanted me to have some sense of peace.  It was a thoughtful motive on his part."

"The boy that she came down to threaten?" his mother asked quietly.  He nodded.  "You're involved with him."

"I'm very serious about him. I'm with him more often than I am at home and if he had bigger closets I'd probably move in with him."  She looked stunned at that.  "Xander loves me, mother. That's why he wrote.  He thinks this rift causes me pain and he wanted me to have some closure and healing.  So, how is the rest of the family?"  He glanced at the menu, then at his silent parents.  "They're all dead?"

"No," his father said.  "Are you all right?"

"Technically I'm on break from a case."  His father looked stunned.  "We're not so sure she didn't kidnap herself but Xander's taking my spot for a few hours so I can do this."

"Oh.  Um, he said you save a lot of people."  Tony nodded.  "He mentioned five in two cases."

"True.  Since then we've had three homicides, six thefts, and an armed robbery through the office.  I've worked on two of the homicides, the armed robbery, and one of the thefts with my team."  The waiter came over to fill his water glass.  "Thank you.  Are we ready to order?"  His mother nodded and opened his menu.  "I'll have the number six, rare."  He handed it back.

"That looks good, I'll have that with the rolls instead of the potatoes," his father said, handing his over.  "Get us a bottle of wine."

"None for me," Tony added.  His father gave him a long stare.  "I'm not allowed to drink during a case, father.  It could blur my judgement and lead to one of my team members being killed, or me being killed."  That got a silent nod and he smiled at the waiter.  "I'll stick with water."  That got a nod.  "Mother?"

"Oh, I'll have the steak salad, well done.  My husband wants his medium."  The waiter nodded and gathered their menu then left them alone.  "You do dangerous things?"

"Life is dangerous, mother.  I have more chances to be killed driving to and from work than I do at work, but yes, now and then I am forced to pull my weapon and go into dangerous situations.  Not everyone cries and falls to their knees when they see Gibbs, yet."  He smiled at her.  "You'd like my boss. He's a former Marine, keeps us all in line.  He's taught me a lot about being a better officer than I was before.  Not that I was bad before, but I've learned a lot from him."  He took another drink of his water.  "So, you never answered, how is the family?"

"Your cousin Ingrid is expecting her second child," she said with a smile.  "They're hoping for a girl.  Your other cousin Simmy is off playing golf in Florida at the moment with her spouse.  They're on a couple's retreat to sand down his bad habits again."  Tony nodded at that.  "Perhaps her mother should've had him checked out, even though she protested, but it's clear she loves him.  And he did sign the prenuptial agreement readily enough."

"I don't have to worry about that," Tony assured her.

"You could come home, son," his father reminded him.

"No, father, I meant I'd be signing one for Xander's benefit.  He's got money.  He inherited from a very close and dear friend when he died."  His father's face fell.  "He's not worth a lot but more than enough to be comfortable.  He's got a very nice townhouse close to the club district."

"I heard he was a bartender," his mother noted.

"He didn't want to do anything stressful at that time but he wanted to work.  It was fun.  He got to laugh and chat with people while serving drinks at a goth club.  It suited him, the same as being an agent does now."

"Then he does work with you?" she asked.

"He decided, after talking with Gibbs, to go to the Academy to be with me. He's Gibb's trainee, the same as I was, and he graduated second in his class at that time.  Since it was a split class, he graduated tied for second overall."  His father looked impressed with that.  "Not too bad for a guy used to working with his hands."

"What did he used to do?" she asked.

"Construction.  He was subsisting until he figured out what he wanted to really do.  He made good money at it, but he got injured and decided to go toward more formal training."

"That poor boy.  Was it debilitating?"

"Ocular."

"That had to of hurt," his father noted quietly.

"It did, but he's good with it now.  It doesn't bother him on the job."  He shrugged. "Xander's an asset to the team.  He's got a good feel for the cases and he's got good feel for the victims.  He's been working on some of our older, unsolved cases to train and to help close some of them.  He and our other trainee have been very helpful."  He took another drink of his water and the waiter came back to refill it, giving him a smile and a note.  He nodded his thanks and looked at it away from view, then grimaced. Kate was being helpful since Abby was asleep.  He put it in his pocket.  "Sorry, change of contact numbers for a few minutes."  He checked his phone, then put it back in his inner sport coat pocket with the note.  "How's the business, father?"

"Doing well.  We had nearly three dollars a share in dividends last year."

"Congratulations."

"How are your finances looking?"

"I make more than enough to live off of, save for my retirement, and do some very careful investing, plus I'm helping Xander learn," he admitted dryly, staring him down.  "I'm happy."

"I see.  You're happy that you nearly died three times in the last year?"

"Twice in the last year, father, whoever you got to do the background check miscounted months."  He looked stunned. "In one of those I was protecting a young girl that would have died if I hadn't been holding her to protect her with my vest.  Which was the only place I got hit.  The one to my upper arm was mostly a graze since the vest doesn't cover there for movement ability, and the fact that I nearly died of the flu three months back was something non-job related.  So, who did you have do it?  Someone in the FBI or a private detective?"  His father glared at him and he smiled. "I like what I do, father, and I do good work.  I'm happy with my job and how many people I help.  If you're not, then I'm sorry for your loss of a son.  I could care less."  He looked at his mother, who sighed. "I'm not changing, mother, and it's going to be a very long time before Xander or I even think about children.  He's just getting settled into his career and I'm not sure I want any."  She looked heartbroken.  "Even then, he'd probably have us adopting instead of using a surrogate.  That's the sort of guy Xander is.  He gives a damn about others."

"Don't swear," his father ordered calmly.

"Father, I'm thirty-two and I've earned the right to say the word damn whenever I want to."  He looked stunned at that so he looked at his mother again. "I'll talk about Xander all you want, mother, but I'm not going to lie about it. He's a bad cook, he's a very sweet and instinctive guy who loves me enough to take a bullet for me if the option comes up, which we're hoping it won't.  He loves me more than enough to work with me on my self-defense skills and to protect me when one of his stalkers came after me.  He's a weapons person and he's good at being an agent.  He's horrible at spoiling me sometimes. He surprised me with a closet of my own the other day so I wouldn't have to keep bringing over and hauling clothes back to my apartment until I felt ready to move in with him.  He's a bit geeky, but he's got a fun sense of humor.  He dances very well, and he's thrilling in bed.  He's a very sweet guy to me and he makes me happy.  I'm all about being happy these days.  Our only fight to date was him writing Meredith to tell her what a good guy I am."  He took another drink of his water, continuing to stare her down.  "You aren't going to get me to leave him for whatever women you want grandchildren with.  You won't get me to leave him for anyone else.  You won't get me to leave him to come back to the family business or to go into something like law school, which you tried to push once.  I love my life as it stands and I love Xander.  He's part of my life."

"What about your family?" she asked.

"My team is my family.  They've been there for me when I had the plague.  I survived because of Gibbs ordering me not to die.  Where were you?"

"We weren't told," his father said coolly.

"See, Gibbs said he tried to call."

"You're going to believe him over me?"

"Yeah.  Gibbs has never lied to me."  His father looked stunned.  "So I'd ask your secretary and the housekeeper who took the message."  He looked at his mother again.  "In Gibbs I found a mentor who gave a damn what I thought and encouraged me to be the best I can be at the job I love.  In Kate I found a sister, just like I did in Abby.  In Marquez, who hasn't been there that long, I've found a close friend and running buddy.  In McGee I've found a friend, and someone to pick on.  In Morrow, I've found a trainee I can help mold into a brilliant agent, someone I'd feel comfortable taking my place when Xander takes over Gibbs' spot as the hardass on the job.  And in Xander I found a mate that moves me, thrills me, and frustrates me now and then because he had a worse family than being ignored by mine."  He looked at his father again.  "Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Your mother's sick, son," his father said quietly.

"Then I'm sorry, mother.  Can I help?  Bone marrow?"

"Would you come home?"  He shook his head.  "To visit?"

"To visit when I could.  I'm on-call every third weekend and I can't leave the city.  I'll write more often.  If you need bone marrow or blood I'll gladly give it, but I'm not giving up my life to move back.  Not even for you, mother."  She nodded, looking down.  "I'm sorry.  I love my life."

"She is your mother."

Tony looked at him. "I know that.  I've heard about her labor with me many times, father.  Me moving back home won't make her any happier and it won't make her not sick.  It'll probably end up making her feel worse when I get depressed because I'm on sabbatical.  How would that help her?"  He looked at his mother.  "What is it?"

"Breast cancer."

"It's often treatable from what I've seen in Ducky's journals.  They're saying it's about ninety percent survivable. I can ask him for a recommendation of a good clinic if you need one."  She shook her head.  "Then I do hope you get better, mother, and if you want me up for a visit, just call."  He pulled out his wallet and handed her his card.  "That's my cell if you need it."  She smiled and tucked it into her purse.  "Are you in treatment?"  She nodded.  "Then I do hope you get better."

"Thank you.  I would like grandchildren someday."

"Maybe in a few years, if Xander and I are still together, we'll talk about adopting one."  She smiled at that.

"What about the family name?" his father asked.

"What do I care, father?"  He looked at him.  "My kid'll be just like me.  I doubt he'll go into the family business.  I have cousins and a niece who would love to if you asked them instead of demanding them.  At the wedding, one was planning on asking to see you about coming to work for the business when she graduated. You have heirs.  Besides, Xander's last name is easier to spell."  His father glared at that and he looked right back.  "I'm sure we'll come to a compromise on that.  Or you could ask Annabelle's son to take your last name."

"Anthony," his mother hissed.

"I'm too old to be socially polite about that, mother.  He's not the first guy who had a kid with his mistress," he shared.  "Really."  He looked at his father again.  "You know, Xander had a friend who said she could figure out how to let men have children, even down to the hormone cocktails they'd have to take to pull it off.  Before she died, she offered me that chance."  His father's face turned purple.  "Unless I take her successor up on it, we're probably going to adopt."  He looked at his mother again.  "If you're staying overnight and we're done with the case, I can bring Xander to meet you tomorrow for brunch.  I have the feeling we're going to break the case in the middle of the night tonight, sometime.  That way you can meet him and grill him."

"I wouldn't mind, son.  Where is he right now?"

"Probably at his desk, unless they found out where the victim is and went to free her.  At that point, he's right on Gibbs' six and guarding him, like the good backup he is."

"He sounds dangerous, son.  Are you sure he won't get violent with you?"

"Mother, he hates to hurt people.  He's had to in the past but he hates it.  I had to help him through his first shooting a few weeks back."  She nodded, swallowing at that.  "The lucky cops never have to draw their guns," he said quietly, "but the ones who do great things have to do it at least monthly," he offered. "Xander's got it in him to be a great agent.  He's got a spectacular mind for his areas.  He sees links that none of the rest of us catch first time through in the cold cases he's been training with.  He's an asset to my team and my life.  He apologized for making me wince while working out a cramp in my leg a few days back."

"Are you keeping him under your thumb?" his father asked.  "I know that most of the people like you two seem to play around."

"No more so than the average among heterosexual couples father."  He looked stunned at that.  "Actually, I used to be the playboy.  Xander draws more attention than I do, but I used to sleep around.  I had pretty good taste and an eye for beauty but it wasn't satisfying until I got with him.  And I took that very slowly and carefully."

"How old is this young man?" his mother asked.

"Twenty-three, almost twenty-four."  He smiled as the waiter came back with their food, shifting so his plate could be put down.  "Gracias," he said quietly.  "Another beautiful job."  The waiter smiled and nodded, then refilled his water again and left.  "He's from near LA.  He's not much one for school but he learns what interests him and he does it well.  Right now he's trying to take cooking classes and failing miserably most of the time."  She smiled a bit at that and ducked her head to get her food ready to eat.  He cut into his steak, making the first few cuts.  "He burns cookies but he made this really great nut crusted lamb roll with stuffing to celebrate getting second highest in his Academy class and this sinful dark chocolate cake with strudel icing.  It was fantastic."  He smiled at her before taking a bite, savoring it.

His phone went off and he pulled it out to look at it, swallowing quickly. "Yeah, Boss?"  He listened.  "I'm about halfway there, meet me with a vest. I'm fine with how I'm dressed.  Bring my vest."  He hung up and looked at the waiter.  "Box," he mouthed.  "Now."  He nodded and got one so he transferred his dinner into it. "Sorry, but the case just broke and I'm needed on the retrieval."  He kissed her cheek, then clapped his father on the shoulder. "I'll bring him by for brunch tomorrow, mother.  The usual hotel?"  She nodded.  "That's fine, call about a half-hour before you want us there."  He sealed the box and put down his usual money and tip then walked out, nodding back at the table. "I left it there," he told the waiter when he walked past him.  It felt really good to climb back into his car and head off.  He'd rather be shot than have to do that again.  And having brunch with her was a fitting punishment for Xander writing them.

***

Xander looked up from sliding on his socks, looking at him.  "Are you sure she wants to meet me?"

"Yeah, she looked happy when I offered her brunch."  He fixed his tie then looked at Xander, rolling his eyes at his slowness.  "Xander."  He sighed and got up, finding one of his suits to put on, letting Tony get his tie like usual.  "Your car or mine?"

"Mine, that way you can stab me and I can stitch myself up again," he said grimly, sliding into his shoes and bending down to tie them.  He was pinched and jumped, looking at his mate.  "Hey!  I have to sit on that!"  Tony grinned so he kissed him.  "You did good last night."

"Thank you.  So did you."  He straightened out his tie.  "Hair, dear, and concealment on the earrings."  His sighed and nodded, doing that and then fussing with his hair.  Then he put on his weapon and followed Tony out.  He even handed over the keys to him.  "Thank you.  I don't know if my father will be there or not.  Lock the door."  Xander went back and locked the house, then came back and got in, buckling up.  "Did you know Gibbs complains about how you drive?"  He backed out of the spot on the street and headed off to the hotel his mother had chosen.  It didn't take that long so they were actually a few minutes early.  He smiled at the hostess.  "My mother is here?  DiNozzo?"  She nodded and led them to the table she had reserved, leaving their menus.  He looked at Xander. "Coffee, Xander.  No soda."

"Of course not," he sighed, shaking his head. "They have iced coffee so I'll be fine."  He looked at him. "The buffet?"

"That's usually what I get."  He smiled and stood as his mother came in, poking Xander.  He stood up and smiled, shaking her hand.  "Mother, this is Xander."

"I had hopes since he was sitting so close to you."  She sat down and they sat.  "Very nice manners, young man."

"Tony beat them into me," he said with a grin.  She chuckled and smiled at him.  "We were going to have the buffet.  Should I get the waiter?"

"No, dear, not yet."  She put her purse under her chair and looked at him.  "So, my sister's daughter came to see you."  He nodded.  "She said you told her to ask Anthony about his feelings?"

"It's not my place to declare his feelings or make decisions about his feelings. I know how I feel about him but mind reading isn't among my many skills," he said with a small grin. "At that time, Tony was taking things very slowly and I leave it up to him to announce to his family and others how he feels about me."

"I can understand that but it sounds like you're insecure in his affections."

"To be totally truthful, he had to pound that into my head too," he admitted.  "Then again, I was raised by some fairly uncaring female friends who did quite a number on my self- esteem.  Tony was taking things very slowly until I was ready to be with him and had healed over most of it."

"I see.  Are your friends here or back in California?"

"They're buried there."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I.  Tony wanted to yell at one of them a few times recently when I put polkadots on over a striped shirt."  She chuckled at that as well, a socially polite one.  "He waited until I was ready and that meant a lot to me."

"I understand about that.  I nearly had to beat his father over the head for a proposal."

Xander shrugged.  "I'm not ready for that yet.  Living together whenever we get the closet situation straightened out, but nothing more legal yet."

"Closet situation?" she asked, sounding a bit timid.

"He took me shopping and filled mine so there's no room for his clothes."  She smiled at that, shaking her head. "I'm much too open most of the time to care what people think about me.  You either like me or you don't.  You'll find I'm a fairly blunt person.  Gibbs appreciates that about me."

"He does," Tony agreed dryly, smirking at him.  "It gives him someone else to growl at suspects with.  McGee and I play good cop for him most of the time.  Pretty soon you'll have his 'tell me now or else' stare down pat."  Xander gave it to him and he shivered.  "Never mind, you have it."  He patted him on the back and smiled at the renewed happy grin. "We need to finish buying the dresser, Xander."

"There won't be room for us to walk, Tony."

"There will be."

"You could find somewhere a bit bigger," Tony's mother offered gently.

"I like the present townhouse," Xander assured her.  "A friend found it for me and I paid him back for it.  It's got everything I need but the closets are small and my training room takes up the larger room on the second floor.  I thought about adding a third floor but that'd take time and a lot of mess and inconvenience."

"How many rooms does your house have?"

Xander mentally counted.  "Six.  One bedroom, the other's converted into an area where I can workout and train."

"Oh.  What regimen do you use?  You look very fit."

"Sword practice.  Battle axe practice.  Some self-defense style fighting.  Some weights now and then when I want to think really hard about something."

"Sword?  You fence?"

"Not formally.  I know a bit.  Right now my favorite is actually a long claymore sword."  He smiled at the waiter.  "Is the iced coffee regular flavored today or some other?"

"We have raspberry and orange, sir," he said quietly. "Or plain."

He considered it then shook his head.  "I'll stick with milk.  Tony?"

"I'll have coffee.  Just bring the pot and an extra cup for him.  He hasn't had his morning fix yet," he joked.  The waiter smiled and nodded, taking that down.  "Two buffets for us."

"I'll have some tea and the special," she said, handing over her menu.  The boys handed over theirs.  "Thank you."  He nodded and walked off.  "You like to eat off buffets?" she asked Xander.

"I like to eat a wider variety of foods and this gives me a better choice for whatever I feel like at the moment.  Or as your son puts it, no one quite cooks like I eat sometimes."

"We all eat strange things now and then," she admitted gracefully.  "When I was pregnant, I had this desire for eggs all the time, poached with just the touch of vinegar in the water."

He nodded.  "A few months back I had this thing for turkey with banana peppers for some reason."  She smiled at that and he shrugged.  "My stomach wanted a bit of prompting apparently."  He saw someone come in and looked at them, then nudged Tony.  "Tobias," he said, nodding that way.  He looked at her.  "One of my trainers at the Academy.  He thought I was a smartass."  She blushed and chuckled so he grinned.  "He's not often wrong when I'm in a playful mood."

"I can tell.  Anthony said some wonderful things about your potential as an agent."

"I hope I can live up to his expectations.  It means a lot to me," he said honestly.  "His and Gibbs' opinions are the only ones that really count on the job."  She nodded at that and he noticed Fornell was coming over, letting out a small groan.  "Agent Fornell.  Off today?"

"A bit.  We've got a bad week ahead of us, Harris.  DiNozzo."  They nodded at each other.  "Ma'am, may I borrow Agent Harris for a moment?"

"If you want."

Xander stood up and pushed his chair in, following him off.  "That's my future mother-in- law," he muttered.  "What's wrong?"

"We have an idiot hunting with a sword, Harris."

"It's not me.  Do you need help identifying it?"

"No, I need to look at your collection.  Today.  I can get a warrant if I have to."

"You can look but it's going to be a few hours.  Or I can call Gibbs or Abby to let you in and let you peer at them.  I will warn you right now that all of them will probably test for blood due to training accidents and their former uses."  That got a nod.  "You can't think it's me."

"No, but it's someone who knows what they're doing.  A few little cuts and then one stab."

"You want me to look at it?  Bring me a scale picture and if you've made a cast I can compare it."  That got a nod.  "I'm good with that."

"The museum thinks it may be something longer, like a broadsword."

"There's places you can buy cheap knockoffs of those as replicas off tv shows, Fornell.  Do you have a metal sample?  That'll tell you age and composition.  That and the cast of the wound is your best bet unless you can find an eyewitness about any markings or carvings on the blade or handle.  I tell you what, can you give me three hours?  We can head home directly from here and I've got catalogs from the replica places and others in my desk.  Plus some professional antiques catalogs with some listed.  It'll give you a decent idea and you can look at my collection then."

"I can do that but I've got to make sure you don't lose me."

"That's fine, eat."  He shrugged, grimacing.  "I need to."  That got a nod. "Anything else?"

"No.  Well, where were you last night?"

"We had a kidnaping case and got done with it about one. I got back about two."

"The attack last night happened at eleven."

"I was on Gibbs' six at that time during a car chase of our supposed victim."

"All right.  I'll check to make sure of that.  Don't take too terribly long.  A few hours at most.  I could use a leisurely meal this week."

"Done."  He went back.  "Sorry about that.  He needs to look at my sword collection to compare against a recent case."  Tony looked at him.  "So we have to go home after this and then go dresser shopping."  Tony nodded at that.   "We still need my vest, Tony.  For tomorrow."

"Sure," he agreed. "While we're dresser shopping."  That got a smile and a nod.

"Vest?"

"My personal bulletproof vest," Xander told her.  "I've been borrowing one but I need my own."

"Oh.  You have to buy those?"

"If you want something that fits you and only you, yes.  I could continue using one at the office but that means we don't have a spare in case someone needs one.  This way mine's always in my trunk."  She looked at him.  "Along with my EMT supplies."

"You're a doctor?"

"No, ma'am, I took the standard paramedic training a few months back before entering the Academy.  It's something that's often needed in the field to assess victims when we find one."

"Oh.  I hadn't realized."

"We have an ME who we work with but Xander's usually there before he is," Tony told her.  "He's rather impressive.  He had to bandage a knife wound to the throat a few months back on someone who tried to hold one of us hostage."

"Oh, dear.  Are they all right?"

"The hostage?  Of course."  Xander smiled.  "Just some bruising."  His phone rang and he got up and walked back to the window to answer it. "Harris."  He listened and smiled. "Hi, Ducky.  No, we're having brunch with Tony's mom, then I'm letting Fornell into my swords, and then we're picking up my personal vest, but we might be able to stop by afterward if you want."  He listened to the silence.  "Ducky?  Ducky," he called, checking his signal. "Ducky, answer me or I'm calling Gibbs."  He smiled at the genial old man answered him.  "Are you all right?"  He nodded.  "That's fine.  We can stop out for a late tea probably but I've got to pick up my vest with that trial this upcoming week.  Would that be okay?"  He smiled.  "Then we'll see you late afternoon.  Four, four-thirtyish."  He smiled. "You too, Ducky.  Kiss your mother for me."  He hung up and walked back.  "Ducky's mother wants us to come back.  She misses me," he said with a grin.  "I said I'd pop out for a late tea."  He'd keep Ducky's time lapse quiet for a moment until he could watch him and talk to him. "I said four or four-thirty."

"That's fine," Tony agreed, smiling at him. "It shouldn't take too long to find you a vest. You're a fairly standard size."

Xander nodded.  "I'm hoping they have the slimline ones like I saw at that weapons expo last month."

"Maybe but I'm not sure it'd work well enough," he said grimly.

"They shot a mini-cannon at it and it didn't dent; I checked the cannon over first for power and load.  I interrupted his spiel to check that."  Tony smiled at that. "It held."

"If they have one," he agreed.  He shook his head.  "Sorry, mother.  Xander, go get me something to nibble?"  He nodded and got up, going to get them breakfast.  "He doesn't mean to make you worry, mother."

"That's fine.  I realize your job is dangerous.  That's why I didn't want you to do it."

He nodded.  "I realize that too, but I make a big difference, mother.  I help people.  I wish you and father could accept me as I am.  I'm not going to change and I'm not going to follow him into the family business."

"I understand, son."  The waiter came back with her food, earning a smile.   Their drinks were put down as well.  She heard a crash and found Xander clutching his side.  "Oh, dear."

"Crap," Tony muttered, getting up. "Xander."  He looked him over, looking at the thing in his side.  "What is that?"

"It came out of the kitchen."  He pulled the fork out and handed it to him, shifting some.  Fornell and the manager came over.  "I'll be okay.  I just need to apply a bandage."

"I can call a paramedic," the manager offered.

"I am a paramedic," he offered dryly, wincing as he shrugged.  "Let me get a bandage out of the car.  Tony, get me something to eat with ham and I'll be right back.  Sorry to worry you.  He has good aim."

"He was throwing it at a busboy," he manager said, looking pained. "I'll make sure your food is paid for today, sir."

"Thank you.  That's very kind of you.  I'll be right back."  He went out to the car, having to come back for the keys, then went back out to get a bandage and head to the bathroom to apply it.  He found Fornell in there and nodded.  "See, and I didn't do it on purpose.  You can tell Gibbs I said that."  He took off his shirt and cleaned up the small wounds then applied the gauze and tape, putting the rest of the tape in his pocket.  Then he put back on his shirt and redid his tie, growling a bit when it looked dumb.

"Longer over twice then through the loop you just made, kid," Fornell sighed, rolling his eyes.  "Even Gibbs can tie a tie."

"I'm sure the Marines taught him, Tobias."  He did so and then straightened it out.  He cleaned up his small mess and rinsed the sink, then washed his hands and dried them before going back out.  "Sorry about that.  The chef had very good aim," he joked as he sat down again.

"That man is still following you," she said quietly.

"I'm one of the few people he knows with swords and one came up in a case," he said with a small grin.  "I'm both a resource and he's paranoid."  She nodded, leaving it there. He handed back the keys.  "There you go."  Tony gave him a questioning look and he shrugged.  "Two small holes.  They'll be closed by tomorrow.  He had really good aim."

"He did," Tony agreed, smiling at him.  "So, mother.  Did you banish father to the golf course?"  She nodded, smirking a bit. "Thank you."

"I figured you two weren't going to get along very well this morning either."  She looked at Xander. "Thank you for telling us how good he is, Xander."  He nodded his head at that and cut into his steak.  She smiled at him.  "Did he yell much?"

"Only that I got into his address book."  He ate a bite and chewed slowly, swallowing when she was still giving him an expectant look. "It was in my desk but it was his drawer.  It was a breach of privacy and he had a right to be upset about that."

"You don't know our addresses?"  He shook his head.  "Do you even know what state we live in?"  He shook his head.  "Then when he comes to visit next time you should come."

"If I can," he promised.  Meaning if Tony wanted him to.  "He's said you have a lovely garden."

"Yes, but I can't claim most of the work.  I simply enjoy it."  He nodded at that and ate another bite.  "Hungry, dear?"

"I missed dinner.  I was interviewing someone and on my way back to the office when the call came in to go back out.  I had a milkshake for energy."  She rolled her eyes at that.  "Usually he'd complain if I did that," he shared with a grin, making her smile at him.  "Speaking of food, Tony, you left a takehome box in the car."

"I'll get it when we go in," he promised. "It was cool enough last night to not worry about it."  He nodded and Xander ate another bite.  "Drink too, Xander."  He nodded and took a few good drinks before eating again.  Both their phones went off and he groaned. "Sorry, mother."  He answered since Xander was eating faster.  "DiNozzo and Harris.  No, we're having brunch, Boss.  Sure.  What about Fornell?  He needs in Xander's swords and stuff."  He nodded at that.  "Sure.  I'll let Abby do that too."  He hung up.  "We're needed.  Missing cargo coming off a ship.  Sensitive documents," he said quietly.  He smiled at his mother and patted her hand.  "Call whenever you want us to come up."  Xander finished his breakfast and his milk, then put down money for her food with a wink, wiping his mouth and grabbing his jacket.  He said something quietly to Fornell on the way out, getting a nod, and headed out at a jog to the car.  "Man, she's gonna be pissed," Tony said once they had driven away.  "That's twice now."

"It's not your fault."  He belched.  "I have a spare bag in the trunk of real clothes, including a pair of jeans."  He belched again and got out an antacid.  "Well, at least I'm not hungry."

"No, you can't be," Tony agreed, pulling through somewhere since he hadn't gotten to eat.  "You told Fornell Abby could let him look?"

"Yup." He pulled out his phone and called Abby.  "Baby vamp, you need to get with Fornell and let him into my place.  Let him look at the catalogs from the Highlander collection and all the others in the third drawer down on the left and watch him to see if he takes any.  No, some idiot going around with a broadsword stabbing people and I'm the only one he knows who has any.  Thanks, baby vamp."  He hung up.  "She'll do it once she gets his number."

"Good.  You can wear the spare tomorrow."

"It doesn't fit well. It digs into my armpits."

"We'll get you your own as soon as we can."  He changed lanes to take the onramp for the base, heading out there.  "Gibbs wasn't sounding like a happy camper.  How did you get your tie back on?"

"Fornell.  He told me how to do it."  He shrugged.  "I still say ties are evil."  He took it off and hung it over the headrest, then wiggled out of his jacket, putting that into the back seat folded in half.

"Good job."

"Thanks.  Do you think she actually liked me or was she pretending to like me?"

"She was warming to you.  Then you said how dangerous it was with the vest stuff and she's a bit chillier again but you wouldn't have gotten invited if she hated you."  He pulled up to the gates and pulled out his ID.  "Special Agents DiNozzo and Harris.  NCIS.  Gibbs ordered us to show up?"

"Does he have his ID, Agent DiNozzo?"

Xander looked.  "I'm the new recruit.  They're still working on mine."  The man smiled at that.  "Sorry.  Alexander Harris."  The man nodded and wrote that down before letting them on.  "I really do wish I had my ID and badge."

"I'll remind Gibbs that you and Morrow need them.  Fortunately Kate's riding with her at the moment.  She'll be able to get in."  He followed the flashing lights, ending up beside the loading docks.  He parked and got out, heading over to help.  "We're here, Boss, and he still doesn't have his ID or badge."

"And he won't until September," he noted dryly. "How was brunch?"

"Okay," Xander admitted.  "I flubbed and mentioned getting my own vest and the chef threw a fork at me."  He shrugged.  "Other than that okay."  Gibbs just stared at him.  "What?"

"He was throwing it at a busboy, Boss, and it hit Xander through the open door to the kitchen.  He's fine.  Just two little marks."

"Good.  We're waiting to be told what was *really* in that case."

Xander smirked at him. "You?  Wait?"

"Yes, me, wait.  The SecNav's in there.  Which means you may end up back at the office."

"Yay," he said flatly. "If I do, I'll almost start coffee so all you have to do it turn it on when you get there."  Gibbs smirked at that and he looked at the people coming out.  "That looks like voodoo stuff."  The man in the suit looked at him and he shrugged.  "Sue me, I know about that stuff."

"Intern Harris, this is the Secretary of the Navy."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir," he said, shaking his hand. He looked at the mask.  "Jamaican subset," he said, looking impressed.  The man stared at him, blinking a few times.  He grinned.  "It's a hobby."

"I see.  Come this way, Harris."  He led him back inside to the scene of where the documents had been stored.  "What do you make of this?"

Xander looked, walking carefully around the area of the stuff spread on the floor.  "Honor.  They're trying to return honor."  He glanced at him.  Then pointed at something.  "That's a Loa, a higher spirit they're communing with, and this mark is honor," he said, pointing at one.  "So I'm guessing the documents, if that's what the ash is, either insulted their honor or their release would dent their honor.  Or the Navy's honor, sir."

"How hard would it be to find someone who had done this?"

"Find someone that smells like cloves, cinnamon, and basil, sir, that's what's been burned in here.  They might smell a bit of sage as well."  That got a surprised look.  "Really.  Even showering won't take those smells fully off them."  He took another sniff and looked around.  "Blood."  He checked more carefully, including under the desk.  "Spots of blood.  I'd need a test to see if it's human or animal.  Usually the rites call for animal sacrifice."  He looked at him.  "I don't see a problem with processing the scene, sir, if you want Gibbs and the others."

"Is there any chance some of the documents might've survived."

He looked at the cone of ash that had been gathered.  "That depends on how much of that is paper residue and what and how many documents there were.  Pictures don't burn the same as paper and that's a large pile so that's a good bit of paper.  Probably a handful or more if it's just paper.  It could be imported ashes.  If it's to restore the honor of someone dead, it could be mixed in with their ashes. Or even the ashes of something that took away the honor, like a news story, and burning allowed the restoration of the honor."  He looked at him.  "You'd be able to figure out the shaman fairly easily by talking to some of the other guys.  On a ship you wouldn't be able to hide that you're praying to a Loa instead of God."

"Thank you, Intern Harris.  When do you officially start?"

"September, sir.  I just graduated."

"Congratulations then.  I'll get Gibbs."

That got a nod and Xander followed him out. Xander looked at Gibbs and the team.  "Blood just under the desk, the pile of ashes may not be *just* paper, the marks are to the Loa and about honor.  We're looking for a serious practitioner and they're gonna smell like sage, basil, cinnamon and cloves.  Gloves, Boss?"  A pair were handed over. "The blood could be human or animal, we'll need to test."

"Chicken?" McGee asked.  "Like in the movies and things?"

"Can be.  It depends.  If he was serious about the honor and it was his or her honor he was trying to regain, it could be the doer's blood.  It could be a higher animal's blood but that might lend significance to what they were nuded of honor about."  McGee nodded so he followed everyone inside.  "I think the cone was carefully gathered.  It might not be just paper, it could be some human remains if the one they're restoring it to is dead."  Gibbs looked at him.  "What?  You learn these things."

"I figured you did.  Where was the blood?"

"About three inches in front of McGee's right foot, under the desk."  McGee shifted back carefully and squatted down to take pictures with a flash and then get samples.  "Should I start questioning about the shaman?"

"Sure, take DiNozzo since it's so cramped in here," Gibbs ordered.

"Yes, Boss."  He walked out, smiling at the nearest sailor.  "Hi.  Would the ship's chaplain be around?"  He nodded and led him off.  Xander put the gloves into his back pocket for now and followed along.  He shook hands with the Chaplain.  "Father, it looks like a serious shaman of Voodun.  Particularly a Jamaican subsect.  Do you know anything about who might be a shaman on board?  They're probably the best person to find out who did the rite from."

"I don't keep track of the alternate faiths, Agent...."

"Harris," he said with a grin.  "I figured I'd start with you because you probably know at least one link in the chain and most of us hide fairly deeply."  The chaplain nodded.  "Any idea who we should ask?"

"Midshipman Pres."

Tony looked at their guide.  "Where would they be?"

"The bridge, sir.  She's on the comm most of the time."  He led them that way with a nod for the minister.  "He's a nice man."

"He seemed like it, he didn't sneer at the alternate faiths," Xander agreed, grinning at him. "Truth, kid, who's the shaman?"

"Pres is a Wiccan.  Voodoo?  None that I've heard but I'm new this tour, sir."  He was quiet for a minute until they got to the elevator.  "I'd say if Pres doesn't know you might want to talk to Kristen Toblin.  She's really heavy into Jamaican music and stuff.  She might know."

"That's a good lead, thank you, Midshipman," Tony said with a smile of his own.  He got a nod and a smile.  "Can you wait to lead us back?"

"Yes, Agent DiNozzo.  I was assigned to make sure you don't walk out a porthole."

"Always handy."  They came out onto the bridge and he headed for the comm area.  "Midshipman Pres?" he asked quietly. "The chaplain said we should talk to you because you might know who we should speak to."

"It wasn't one of us," she said, looking at the Commanding officer.  He nodded and she took them into the conference room.  "Why come to me?"

"It was a Jamacain shaman," Xander told her, looking at her.  "I figured the Chaplain might have an idea who was alternate and could give me a good link in the chain since we're usually so underground in closed environments."

"They Navy doesn't mind us....."  Xander gave her a long look and created a light, then banished it.  "Oooh, you know then."  He nodded.   "Voodoo?"

"Voodun.  Honor ritual.  Loa markings.  Looked like a Jamaican oriented rite."

"How do you know, sir?"

"I'm Nighthawk," he whispered in her ear.  She shivered and nodded quickly. "So, who?"

"Toblin.  She's a poser, but she's deeply into that area. Lives on the zombie movies when we're off the ship. I can't be sure if she practices it or not.  Did it look like a movie setup?"

Xander nodded.  "Pretty muchly precise. The circle was perfect, no wobbles or slightly off center. Candles set just so.  Looked like a set."  She nodded and rolled her eyes.  "Anyone else you can think of? Anyone smell like cloves and cinnamon today?  Or of cleansing rituals?"

"We have one Native American who did a cleansing ritual but that's definitely not him."  Xander nodded at that.  "I can only think of her.  She was cooking last night and we had this odd cinnamon torte."

"Thank you.  Would you know where we can find her?"

"I can have her brought to you, sirs."  Tony smiled at that.  "May I go?"

"Sure," Xander agreed, heading out with her.  He watched her talk to the commanding officer and him nod, then send someone off.  "We'll be back down there," he told the man.

"That's where I had her sent, Agent Harris.  Thank you for doing this so quickly."

"Not an issue.  I'd rather have it done quickly than have to chase someone all over the ship.  There's a lot of halls and portdoors for me to run into."  The man laughed and nodded so he walked off, heading back to the elevator.  "Back down there please."

"Of course, sir."  He got the elevator coming and waited until Tony got in.  "Do you think she's going to sacrifice people too?"

"No. Wrong tradition for that.  You're thinking Aztec."

"Oh.  Okay."  He nodded and shrugged.  "I don't know a lot about those sorta things.  I'm Baptist."

Xander grinned at him.  "I picked it up off my former librarian."  That got a shocked look.  "He was British."

"Yeah, I've met some strange British troops," he admitted.  The elevator opened and he walked them off.  "This way and watch the bulkheads, Agent Harris.  No sense denting yourself."

"Yeah, that'd be nice."  He walked back and looked at Gibbs, who stared hard at him. "Did she get here first?"

"No.  Where did you go?"

"To talk to someone who had a clue about who to talk to."

"The XO is sending her down, Boss," Tony told him.  "Midshipman Kristen Toblin."

"Good. We tested the blood spatter, it's animal."

"There's a rumor that the Captain's pet rabbit's missing," the guide said helpfully.

"We can see if it came from there," Gibbs agreed.  "Thank you, sailor."  He got saluted and the kid backed off.  He moved closer to Harris.  "Who did you talk to?"

"We went to the Chaplain, who gave me a link in the alternate paths group and she identified someone who knows this area and probably practices it.  We're all underground in these situations, Gibbs.  It's like dropping me in the middle of Oral Robert's home church and expecting me to endure on some ships.  On some it's not so bad, and I'm thinking this one's pretty good about lack of persecution, but the witch trials never really ended for some of us."

"Oh."

"He's right, sir," the sailor offered.  "My last command had two pagans run off the ship with bad evals for being funny and not Christian."

Xander nodded.  "Even with as advanced as we are, it's still around."  Someone coughed and he looked at the woman being led their way, walking over to sniff her. "She smells just like the altar."  The woman looked horrified.  "I'm Agent Harris, NCIS."

"Nighthawk," she whispered.  He nodded and smirked.  "I want a lawyer."

"Then I'd tell that to the boss," he said, nodding at Gibbs.  "He's the one who questions, he thinks I'm too nice."  She sniffled and nodded, allowing herself to be led over there.  He rolled his eyes and looked up.  "Thank you, Goddess," he whispered.

Tony smacked him on the head.  "Nighthawk?"

"Alternate name I go by now and then," he said tiredly.  "I'm surprised you haven't heard it before, DiNozzo."  She looked and then burst out crying.  "Ah, she's heard of us.  Good.  Remember, Gibbs can save you a lot of trouble."

She wiped her nose on the back of her hand and looked at him.  "What do you want to know, Agent Gibbs?  He said you're nicer than he is."

He frowned.  "Not always."  He walked her off with the MP to take a statement and then arrested her for destroying classified materials.  Some were still in her room so McGee went to gather that while Xander and Tony drove the prisoner back.  Since she was so scared of them, she wouldn't dare act up.  Gibbs looked up and said a silent prayer for patience for dealing with Harris.  Some days, he wasn't sure it was worth it, but at least he had the afternoon off now.

***

Xander stormed into the FBI labs the next morning.  "You took my shit without a warrant," he demanded.  Fornell backed away from him.  "How dare you!"

"I have one," he said, producing it.

"And you never presented it, asshole!  That means that search is illegal!"  Fornell took another step back.  "Now, go put my shit back."

"We're only comparing, Harris."  He raised a hand.  "I swear, we're only comparing.  It's a comparison sample.  Come look."  He got out of the way.  Not even Gibbs would brave a huffy Xander on a Monday morning.

Xander looked at the pictures, finding one to scale.  "That's not a claymore.  That's something else," he said, picking up one of his catalogs and finding it.  "It's one of those," he said, handing it to him. "I told you to fucking well bring me pictures and I'd identify it for you.  Instead you stole my shit! I do not need this this week!"  Fornell backed away again.  "Now, go put all but that one sword back there!  I want them hanging back up in their proper spots, without fingerprints, sweat, or other additives!"

"Calm down," Gibbs ordered as he walked in.  "What happened."

"He stole from my house and *now* he presents a warrant!" he said, hitting the table with a hand.

"That's illegal," he told Fornell.  "He hasn't had caffeine yet."  The agent swallowed and nodded.  "Take it home, put it back.  Now."

"It was for comparison, Jethro.  I know he didn't do it.  He had an alibi for two of the attacks."

"It still works better if you *ask*," Xander growled.  That got a nod and Fornell took another step back.  "Oh, yeah, back into the acid.  Watch me treat your back."  He moved more quickly.  He looked at the other agents standing around then carefully picked up his sword that was the proper model.  "You're looking for one of these," he announced.  "It weighs approximately twenty-to-twenty-five pounds, depending on age and material in the handle.  That means your person works with his hands.  He will have calluses like this," he said, holding up his palm.  "Even if he wears gloves he'll have them in the proper spots.  To properly wield this weapon, you've got to be able to swing and hold it steady.  So your boy is probably in construction, or something else where he has to lift a lot, every day.  We're not talking gym muscles, we're talking use muscles.  He's practiced a lot because there's no hesitation or nicks from the fighting.  You're looking at someone who knows their blade but has bad taste because your picture shows a fault up the front of the blade.  As does your mold."

He picked it up and pointed at it.  "That is an individual fault in the blade.  You can match that."  They all nodded.  He put the mold back down.  "Also, if he's working with one of these puppies, he didn't start here most likely.  Maybe he started with a rapier and fencing, maybe he started in SCA or something like that.  He's been taking routine practice.  Otherwise there'd be hesitation nicks on the arms.  The thrust would always be a two handed," he demonstrated at one, "which would create greater force.  Instead he's using it one handed to thrust."  He demonstrated.  "Got it?"  They all nodded. "Good.  Now go help Fornell put my shit back!"  They ran off.  He growled and walked off with his sword.  "I'm taking it with me," he told Fornell.

"We need to get it for measurements," he said.  "We'll come give it to you down in the court section."  Xander relented and handed it over.  "Thank you.  I'll have that lab tech person put them back."  Xander shook his head.  "Fine. I'll put them back."

"In order, wiped down for anything like sweat and fingerprints."

"I used gloves."

"Your cadets weren't."

"Point.  Thank you.  At least you learned that rule."

Xander smirked and walked off, letting the agent he had nearly walked over lead him back down there.  Tony gave him a look. "They took my shit!"

"Did he have a warrant?"

"Now.  He just tried to present it."

"Then that's illegal," Kate agreed.  She watched Gibbs come up the hall.  "Did you keep him from killing Fornell?"

"Barely.  And the cadets."  He popped Xander upside the head. "Next time, have a soda before you come in."  He handed one over.

"I couldn't.  My power line was cut this morning.  The only reason I'm awake is because Marquez called because I didn't pick her up yet."  He popped it open and gulped it straight down, calming himself until it worked.  "Does anyone else have a very bad feeling about this week?"  Everyone nodded.  "Good, its not just me being unhappy then."  He sucked out the last drops and found a trash can.  "Do we have to wait in the hall?"

"They're using the meeting room," Kate told him, looking him over. "Where's your weapon?"

"They wouldn't let me bring it inside since I don't have my ID yet."  Gibbs groaned.  "Yeah.  Fun, Boss, really."  He paced up and down the halls, trying to calm himself down.  He really didn't like this situation.  It was not one he wanted to be in.  He felt like he was in the enemy's fortress and trying to rescue himself.  He looked up when Kate was called in.  Then went back to pacing.

"Harris, sit," Gibbs ordered.

"Sorry, I'm a bit antsy."

Tony pulled him down and held him down. "Thank you."  He patted him on the back of the head.  Then he leaned closer.  "You're unarmed, aren't you?"  Xander nodded.  "No wonder you're nervous.  Gibbs, can't we get him and Morrow their ID's at all?"

"I'd call but they confiscated my phone," he said dryly.  "I'll talk to the director when we get back."  Xander nodded so he looked at him.  "They confiscated your gun?"  He nodded.  "Why?"

"No ID.  They have me listed as an intern and I had my permit, but they said I could only carry inside the building with my badge."

"I'll have that fixed by tomorrow.  I don't like this."

"I feel like I'm in an enemy stronghold," he complained, leaning against the wall and scowling.  Kate came out and sat back down.  "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine.  The same as usual."  She shrugged.  The bailiff came out and called for Tony, who went in.  "I thought he was going to call Gibbs next," she admitted.  "He linked me to Gibbs at the end to make a smoother transition."  She shrugged and looked at him.  "The defense is shrewd, Boss."

"Thanks for the warning.  Xander, just stay calm and answer in a way that they can't use against you.  Don't let them twist your words and don't stress or get angry.  Got me here?" Xander nodded at that, closing his eyes and forcing himself to relax.  "Hopefully this won't take all day."  He looked at the kid's outfit, then grimaced.  "Who dressed you?"

"Tony put this shirt with this suit," he said patiently.  "That's the way he moved my clothes around for me.  It's not like I would've worn this one.  I'd have worn my blue one."

"Blue?" she asked, looking at the olive green jacket and black pants.  "No."

"Navy," he assured her, looking at her.  "It goes."

"Not unless you're color blind, Xander."

"He said you made me goth when I went for my day at the CIA," he taunted.

"Yeah, so did Abby," she admitted dryly.  "I'm sure you looked cute."  He nodded.  "Did you ever fix the closet and dresser situation?"

"The one he likes would make it so we wouldn't be able to have the bed.  I'm still thinking about adding on another floor, even a half-floor.  Turn the bedroom bi-level and leave the bottom area a dressing room.  Either that or putting a salle in and turning the training area into a dressing room."  Tony came out and Gibbs was called.  He looked at him.  "Bi-level bedroom?" he offered.

"No."  He shook his head.  "I'm not one for lofts."  He sat down again. "I was told I'm on- call for them and to reappear here tomorrow."

"No wonder we're off the case list this week," Kate said dryly, rolling her eyes.  Gibbs came out fairly quickly and Xander was called. "Just relax," she reminded him.  "They're still human."

He grimaced and walked in there, heading to the stand.  The bailiff came forward with a bible and he hesitated but used it.  The judge cleared her throat. "Not Christian but it'll do."

"Thank you, Agent Harris.  Proceed."

"Do you swear to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I will tell the whole truth so help me Goddess," he agreed, then sat down.

"State your name for the record please," the judge ordered.

"Alexander Lavelle Harris.  Intern, NCIS."

"Intern?" the judge asked.

"I start formally this fall. I just graduated the academy."

"Oh, that's fine then.  Proceed."

The prosecutor stood up.  "Agent Harris."  Xander looked at him.  "Where are you from originally?"

"Sunnydale, California."

"The hellmouth."

"One of, yes.  Technically the longest lasting and continuously radiating hellmouth."  That got a nod.  He waited.

The prosecutor smiled at him for not adding anything else. "How did you come to know about this problem?"

"Buffy Summers, the called and current slayer at that time, moved into town and I became friends with her.  I overheard her talking with her Watcher, Rupert Giles, in the library at the school.  Then my two friends were taken.  When one wasn't saved I jumped in and told her I was going to save my friend."

"Jesse?"

"Yes."

"I see."  He moved closer.  "What was your relationship with him?"

"He was my best friend and helped me when my parents got unreasonably bad."

"Then you weren't romantically involved?"

"Not at that point.  Had he lived, it might have happened."  He crossed his legs and glared at the man, making him step back.  "Unfortunately he didn't live."

"Why not?"

"He was turned shortly after being captured by some of the vampire minions of an elder vampire only known as The Master.  By the time we found him, he was already changed and risen.  He was killed a few weeks later during an event known as The Harvest."

"I see. Who killed him."

"I did to save someone else's life," he said coolly, keeping a lid on his emotions.  "It wasn't *fun*," he said bitterly before the man could open his mouth.  "No one should have to do that."

"I see."  He stepped further away.  "Agent Harris, I know this is a difficult period of your life but we do need to know some facts."

"Go ahead and ask.  He wasn't there when the Initiative came to Sunnydale.  That happened shortly after graduation.  Probably because they heard about the Ascension at that event."

"Oh.  Your group wasn't aware of them before then?"

"Not that I was made aware of.  The first I heard about it was some commandos running around town helping us slow and defeat the demon population of hunters.  At that time it was also whispered that they weren't very discriminating and had taken some that didn't hunt or hurt others and even some very young demons, children."  He shifted slightly and looked at him.

"By graduation, what was your staking count of vampires?"

"I don't count that shit."  The prosecutor looked stunned.  "Serial killers count kills.  I'm not one.  I helped save lives from being ended by things that ate people.  I have never considered myself a serial killer."

"And yet, you ended their lives."

"Vampires aren't alive."

"They have souls."

"Only if you use magic to stick one back in," he said dryly.  The man looked horrified at that.  "There's one case, well, two now thanks to his own lust.  Two cases of vampires with souls, both are a curse to their owners.  One is the vampire known as Angelus.  He was cursed by a gypsy curse approximately a hundred and ten years ago if I remember correctly.  At one point in time he slipped it and it was restored by my former group.  The other, known as Spike, thought he felt love and for that love went to Africa and begged a higher primal demon to grant him one so she'd love him back.  As far as I know, when he was resurrected it came back with him."  He crossed his legs in the other direction.  "The vampire virus changes the cells and releases the soul, allowing in the demonic kernel of energy that reanimates and fills the body.  That's how they're technically considered alive since they've moving and talking.  That's also how they change from a human look to the vampire's demon facade."

"I see."  He blinked a few times.  "Agent Harris, you were how old when you staked your best friend?"

"Sixteen.  Before you ask, I'm almost twenty-four."

"Oh, I see.  So you're considered a long-term veteran."

"No, I'm considered a Watcher now since I was named over the local hellmouth when it was opened and I had the duty to help the girls here."

"Girls?"

He rolled his eyes.  "Did you do no homework?" he demanded.  The judge coughed and he looked at her.  "Your honor, this has been known about.  For quite a while."

"Explain it to those of us who got shocked by this case please, Mr. Harris."

"Sure.  First, yes, there's only supposed to be *a* girl. But I revived Buffy Summers when she was drowned, making it two slayers instead of one by accident.  Then later, when the hellmouth was coming open due to the First Evil, that reason that Sunnydale fell in, Willow Rosenburg did a spell to activate all the slayers worldwide.  At one point we had over thirty of them training with us.  I had the main girl when this hellmouth opened and then found another one here, and worked with her to train her so she wouldn't die.  Then they managed to switch the hellmouth back to the old one before this one went rogue and started to poison the people with the energy it was radiating."

"Oh, okay."  She nodded.  She looked at the prosecutor.  "Is this pertinent?"  The door opened and someone came in.  "This is a closed trial."

"He's bringing me my sword, your honor," Xander said, getting up to take it.  "Thank you. Was it cleaned?"  He got a head shake and a towel.  "Thank you."  The agent ran and he went back the sword comfortable in his hands. "Special Agent Fornell needed my sword to make a comparison to a recent sword attack."  He sat down and put it across his lap so he could wipe the blade and handle down.  "I can talk and do this."

"Is that sharp?" the defense attorney asked.

Xander looked at him.  "It doesn't do much good to defend yourself against something trying to rip your head off if it's not," he said blandly.  "How fucking dumb are you?"  He rolled his eyes and looked at the prosecutor.  "Go on. I can wipe sweat and fingerprints and think."

"Um, sure.  So you never kept count?"  Xander shook his head.  "Did anyone?"

"I don't know," he admitted.  "I'm sure there's an approximate number in my dossier in Wolfram and Hart's files.  It may not be correct but I don't know.  If I had to estimate, maybe four hundred by now?"  He shrugged.  "Sunnydale had more vampires than living people some weeks."  He flipped it over and wiped the other side, then stood it up and did the handle, wrapping the towel around it and putting it back across his lap, the edge resting on the edge of the witness stand's rail.  "I went out between two and five times a week for eight years."

"Oh."  The prosecutor looked at the judge, then coughed and moved on.  "All right, you knew about the first incarnation of the Initiative?"

"I did.  At first it was commandoes running around town, as I said earlier.  Then it came to Miss Summer's attention that she was dating one and our group came to their attention. It led to much hostility, especially since we had given refuge to Spike when he escaped."

"Who?" the defense attorney asked.

"They called him Hostile Seventeen.  His proper name was William the Bloody or Spike, he was a vampire master and child of Angelus. I mentioned him earlier."  He looked at the prosecutor again.  "Things came to a head when a friend of ours was captured. We went in to retrieve him."

"Why?  You broke into a government facility...."

"Yeah, to save a life," he said, staring him down.  "The government I vote for doesn't torture people just because they turn furry three days a month.  If yours does, I wanna move."  The man looked horrified.  "Considering when we got there, they were torturing him by electroshock treatments on pieces of skin that had the top ten or so layers removed, I'd call that torture.  If you don't, then I worry about your mental state.  Yes, I got them in.  I got them out.  I fired at a few of them for being that fucking arrogant as to torture children and people who were born different.  It's not like some of them asked to be born purple and pussey."  The judge flinched at that.  "They were harming innocent beings, not things that hunted.  They had some of those and they used them to test the limits of the harmless things.  And let's not mention the coeds who were used to test them too, which made some innocent *children* kill.  Let's not mention that Walsh, who was over it at first, was building her own monster out of parts of soldiers and demons.  Or that she was implanting chips in the soldiers and trying to enhance them as well. So yes, we broke in.  The second time we broke in it was to fight the monster Walsh had made.  Don't think we took this lightly, we didn't.  We all had nightmares about what we had to do each and every time we slept.  I still have nightmares of trying to get Oz out of there before they killed him for the crime of being bitten by his nephew, who was two."  The man shuddered. "So, yeah, we kicked their ass and should've held a bonfire."

"Okay," he said.  "Um, your honor, can we give him a chance to calm down?"

"I am calm," Xander snarled.  The man just backed up further.  "And we still have video proof."

"How was the proof obtained?" the judge asked.

"Hackers. It's not like the Pentagon's going to *hand* it to us."  She nodded at that. "We had multiple DVD's of proof of what the first group did.  Tests they ran, tortures they did, forcing creatures to hunt each other for fun and watching what they could do.  Drugging them into frenzies and letting them loose on people."  She shuddered at that.  "Agent Gibbs handed that over to him."

"It's in evidence.  It will be viewed so you can explain what some of those things are."

"Fine," he agreed.  "I can do that.  Can I have a soda?"  She nodded.  "Thank you."

"We're going to take a ten minute recess so he can get that and we can all have a bathroom break," she announced, banging her gavel.  "Can someone else hold the sword?  I don't want you to use it."

He looked at it, then at her.  "Sure. It won't save 'em but sure."  He shrugged and got up, going to hand Tony his sword and take the soda Gibbs had for him.  "Thanks, Boss.  We're doing the tapes," he complained, heading back inside.  Halfway through this version of torture, he came to a sudden realization and smiled. "Sorry, an epiphany about a problem I've recently encountered."  He shook himself free and went back to what he knew.  And then into the second version of the Initiative and how he knew they were reformed.

***

Xander snuck into the morgue, looking around before going into the office.  "Ducky."  He jumped and looked at him.  "We gotta talk."

"Are you injured again, Xander?"

"No, but you're having moments where you're losing time."   He sat on the edge of the desk to look at him.  "And I know you're worried that you're turning into your mother, but I don't think that's it.  This doesn't follow alzheimers or dementia, Ducky.  This is brain tumor."  He saw the swallow. "Joyce had one.  It came on suddenly. She died a few weeks after the surgery of a blood clot."  He nodded.  "And I'm not letting it happen this time.  We need to get you checked."

"I hadn't even realized...."

Xander popped him on the head like Gibbs did to him, grinning at him.  "You faded out on the phone with me. I had to threaten you with Gibbs to get you back."

"Yes, well, Jethro being used as a threat has been known to bring people out of comas as well," he said dryly.  "He scared poor Anthony enough when he had the plague that he couldn't die."

"Good.  And now I'm going to use him again.  We're going to the hospital of your choice.  We're going to get you checked out quietly. Because I'm not so sure this isn't whatever they gave us when they had us."  He looked stunned.  "I don't remember you having any of these before then.  Do you?"  He shook his head and slumped down.  "So let's go.  I'm driving so you don't fade while we're heading.  Bethesda had us during that. You wanna go there?"

"There's a few very good neurologists there," he agreed, getting up to get his coat and hat.  "We must do this quietly."

"Of course."  He grinned.  "I've finally got my ID.  Not my badge, but my ID."  He grinned and took the keys, walking him out to his car.  He liked Ducky's old car.  It was cute.  Underpowered of engine, but cute.  He drove them off.  "You know, Ducky, it's a young man's role in life to make his momma happy."

"I do try," he agreed dryly, smirking at him.  "What did she want to know when you came over?"

"When you and Dawn were becoming official."

"She's nearly eighteen!" he said, sounding scandalized.

Xander stopped at a red light and looked at him.  "Ducky, Dawn's no more eighteen than I am.  I think it's time she told you why.  It'll ease some of those fears you have."  He turned the corner.  "That place, right?" he asked, pointing at the hospital.

"Yes, that's Bethesda," he agreed sadly.  "Are you sure...."

"Ducky.  Talk with Dawn tonight when you get home.  If there's something wrong, I'll tell everyone after you two talk.  That'll give them time to get there.  Then we'll talk about whatever's going on.  First, let's just make sure I'm right."  He parked the sedan in the doctor's only parking lot, nodding at the guard then at Ducky, getting a nod in return.  He got out and walked around to let Ducky out.  "Two minutes.  Or else I'm coming back."  He walked inside, smiling at the nurse behind the reception desk and pulling his ID that he had finally gotten earlier that day.  "Hi," he said quietly.  "Special Agent Harris, NCIS," he said, leaning down.  "I have Doctor Mallard with me and I think he's having a complication to a drugging he took a few months back.  He wants this kept absolutely quiet though.  We're not sure they're not still around."  She nodded and went to get someone for him and he straightened up, nodding politely at the nurse she brought back.  "Harris, NCIS," he said quietly.  "Doctor Mallard is outside."  She nodded.  "You heard he was in here after being drugged, right?"  She nodded again.  "He's having a few...issues after that and I'm not so sure it's not related back.  Things like bad headaches.  But I can't be sure they're not still around."

"Bring him in, we'll take him right to a room," she agreed.

Xander nodded and smiled. "Thank you."  He jogged out, finding Ducky spaced again. "Ducky."  He patted him on the face, bringing him back.  "C'mon.  As far as anyone knows, you're visiting."  He nodded and got out, letting Xander lock the car up.  He walked inside like a proper bodyguard/escort.  The nurse smiled at him and he shrugged.  "He's my favorite uncle-sorta guy."

"The patient is this way, Doctor Mallard," she said, leading him that way.  She led them into a room and watched as Xander helped him sit, then took his hat and coat.  "What seems to be the problem, Doctor Mallard?  He said it may be related back to your drugging?"

"He's had time lapses," Xander said quietly. "He just had one out there."  She nodded, making notes on the new chart she had grabbed.  He looked at Ducky, then patted him on the face again.  "Hey, back again?" he asked.

"Oh, dear, not again," he sighed.  "How did I get in here?"

"You're visiting a patient," the nurse assured him. "As you have many times."  He gave her a gentle smile.  "I need to get our neuro person down to go any further than a vital's check.  I do hope that it's not what your mother has, Doctor Mallard.  You're one of the nicer guys and you keep Gibbs from growling at us too often when he's here.  Let me do your vitals and then I'll get him, all right?"

"Please.  Is Scott on?"

"I can have him paged specially for you.  Chris is on tonight," she admitted.

"No, he'll do splendidly, Melody, thank you," he said tiredly.  "I've had some tremendous headaches as well, near the back of my head."  She nodded and took that down.  "Xander forced me to come today or else I would've kept ignoring it."

"And spaced out behind the wheel on the way to a body and then I'd have to hold Gibbs sanity for a bit," Xander said quietly.  "Not happening, Ducky, absolutely not happening."  He sat beside him and worked on his shoulders to keep him calm.  The nurse smiled and he shrugged. "Like I said, he's my favorite uncle sorta guy."

"You are the most adoring child," Ducky agreed, patting his hands.  "That's enough."  He let him go.  "You can go wait outside."

"Fat chance.  You need a hand holder.  I would too."  Ducky gave him a reassuring smile so he pinched him. "Behave or I'm telling Dawn."

"If this is like what her mother had...."

"You're going to be so fussed over and I'm going to be over every day to check on you," he agreed dryly.  "Which I will be anyway."  The nurse finished checking his blood pressure with a laugh and walked out.  "If you really want me to, I will."

"No, I'd rather not be alone.  Just in case."

"Ducky, you're not your mom."

"There's every evidence it's genetic."

"And there's plenty it's not and they're probably going to be looking for that too."  He nodded, relaxing again.  "Want me to call Dawn and tell her you're working late?"

"Please."  Xander went to use the room's phone.  "Dial 8."

"I remember."  He dialed Ducky's home number "Dawn, me.  No, Ducky had to stop in and see a patient so he's gonna be a few hours late.  No, an old golfing buddy," he admitted.  "No, they're going to chat.  Nope, I'll drive him.  Because I'm stressed.  We had to go over the Initiative tapes today.  Thanks."  He hung up and looked at him. "Okay."  The door opened and the doctor walked in, earing a cautious nod from him.  "Ducky?"

"No, stay, Xander."  He waited until the door was fully closed.  "I've been lapsing time, Christopher," he said quietly. "Plus I've had some very severe headaches."

"Sure, let me check what I can and then I'll send you right upstairs. I had your chart pulled from the drugging so we can contrast and see what we know about that serum.  Do you know the other victim we had?"  Xander raised his hand.  "Any time lapses or anything?"

"No, not yet. We're not sure how far or how much I got given.  Someone rescued me but he was fully out of it when we found him.  They sedated me and had barely stuck an IV when I got rescued."

"All right.  Well, let's see what's going on with him first.  Then we'll see if we need to check on you."

"Oh, Xander, I hadn't even thought.  If this is related," he said, his voice slurring a bit.

"I've noticed that on and off too," Xander told him quietly.  "I had a friend's mother who had a small tumor and she went through this, that's why I made him come in."

"It's the right thing to do," he agreed.  He finished checking his eyes.  "You're not showing any signs this way but I want to do an MRI and a CT, Ducky.  Can we?  Do you have time?"

"I'm not on call tonight," he agreed. "You have all the time you need."  That got a nod and a smile.  "I do ask that you keep it quiet before word gets back to Jethro and he has to worry."

"Not a problem. It's a routine check after that drugging.  It's about time you had one anyway," he noted dryly. That got a smile.  He wrote the order and went to get a nurse to send them up.  "I won't put a wristband on you," he said, handing him one.  "Carry it instead.  You can walk this time as long as your puppy goes with you," he said, looking at Xander.

"I'm not moving that far away.  Even if I didn't like him, Gibbs would kill my ass."

"True," he agreed happily.  "Do you know where the scanners are, Ducky?"  That got a nod.  "Then head up there. Pretend he's the patient if you must."  Xander nodded.  "Come back to this room when you're done."  He left them alone.

Xander helped Ducky up, earning a smile.  "Less energy used today and I'm too damn full of it."  He walked him up there, letting the nurse come over to look at their ID band.  She had a word with someone and the rooms were cleared of everyone but a single technician and Xander.

***

Xander walked Ducky into his house and looked at Dawn.  "Okay, truth," he said, seeing her frown.  "Go get the book and explain that to him," he ordered. She looked confused and he stared her down.  "Dawn.  The Book.  Now's the time for *that* talk that you've been *wanting*."  She looked stunned and then blushed, heading up the stairs.  He walked Ducky into the living room and put him in the chair.  "Mrs. Mallard?"  She smiled at him. "Hi.  It's Xander.  Do you remember me?"  She nodded and closed her book.  "Mrs. Mallard, Ducky's a bit ill.  He's home tonight and then he's got to go for a bit of surgery tomorrow," he said, sitting beside her.  "So you're going to have Dawn with you and I'm going to make sure you're okay for Ducky while he's sick."

"It's his head, isn't it?  I've noticed he's becoming like me."

Xander nodded.  "It is, but it's a different reason.  You see, Ducky was attacked a few months back.  When he was in the hospital then?"  She nodded, patting his hand.  "Well, they gave him some drugs and it caused a bit of brain swelling.  They need to go in there and clip the part that swelled.  They said he'll be perfectly fine.  He'll be back in a few days even, but he's got to have the surgery tomorrow.  Because if he waits it can make his brain stay that way."

"Oh, dear.  So they're going to clip it tomorrow?"  He nodded.  "Dawn'll be here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Mallard.  Dawn's staying.  I'm going to check on you and I'll make sure Dawn's spelled by a nurse through the days."

"Not like I'm going to school," Dawn said as she came back in.  "What's wrong?"

"We think the serum they gave us gave him a small fluid tumor, Dawn.  Nothing at all like Joyce's."  She swallowed and nodded.  "He had a revelation earlier.  That's why I think you two should talk now."  He looked at Mrs. Mallard, smiling at her.  "You like Dawn, right?"

"She's a very pretty green ball."

"Mother," Ducky sighed.

"No, she's right, I am.  I forgot Mom could see me when she was sick," Dawn admitted.  She sat in front of Ducky, on the coffee table.  He scowled and she handed the book, opening it.  "That's me, Ducky."  He looked down and read, then looked at her, stunned.  "They changed me from energy so Buffy could protect me from Glory.  They made me her sister, but I'm not eighteen.  I'm millennia old and that explains why I'm so hyper sometimes."  She gave him a shy smile. "It also kinda explains why what I love isn't what most people would expect."

He let the book fall and looked at her.  "No wonder you seem so old sometimes."  She nodded.  He noticed Xander sneaking out and closing the doors then looked at her again, catching her eyes.  "Me?"

"Always. You listened to me and you talked to me and you taught me things. I always loved you, Ducky.  I told mom that once and she thought it was cute that you were my second crush."  He smiled at that.  "Xander was my first.  It was a bad habit to go for just prettiness.  Now I go for brains and handsomeness."  She leaned forward and kissed him.  "You're not leaving me.  I won't allow it.  Not now that you understand."  He smiled and pulled her closer to hug.

"Ooh, a wedding," Mrs. Mallard said happily, clapping her hands.

"Right before I'm allowed to go back to work, mother.  After I'm out of surgery."

"Of course!  She'll be beside you the whole time and my nurse will be here."  Dawn nodded, agreeing to that.  "You can come back to shower when they kick you out. They did it to me so very often when Ducky was a baby and so sick."

"Oh, they won't be kicking me out," Dawn assured her dryly.  "Xander taught me how to kick ass. The nurses won't be moving me."  Mrs. Mallard giggled at that and hugged them both.  "So I guess I should go make tea for everyone?"  He nodded, patting her on the back.  "In a few minutes.  Let me cuddle first."

"You two are so adorable and I'll have grandbabies some day," she said happily, going back to her book. "When he's home we'll work on the wedding, Dawn."

"Sure.  I'm sure Xander will pay as the father of the bride."  She smiled and kissed him again, earning a smile back.  "How long have you loved me?"

"About four months, since I ran into you in the halls in that fluffy, silly little bathrobe of yours and I noticed that you blushed because of your knees."  She blushed and nodded, snuggling back into his arms.

***

Xander took the dogs out to pee and called Gibbs.  "Get the team, meet me at Ducky's.  It's important but not a case.  And no, don't kill anyone who stops you."  He hung up and started the herding process, having to carry one dog back inside.  Then he went to get the x-rays to put up in Ducky's office, then he went to sit on the stairs and play ball with the dogs until everyone got there. Gibbs, of course, got there first and he slammed inside.  "Calm down," he ordered, throwing the ball again.  He looked at him. "Do you want the overview or would you like the extended version with everyone else?"

"What the hell is going on, Xander."  Xander nodded so he followed him into Ducky's office, watching him turn on a light board to light a scan.  He moved forward, looking at the circled part.  "That's a tumor," he realized, pulling it down to look at the name.  Xander had to catch him when he started to sit down in midair.  "When?"

"He's been having some time lapses," Xander said, putting it back onto the board and turning it off.  "I drug him to Bethesda today, quietly, and had them check.  I thought it might have something to do with the shit the bitch Sheppard gave us."  He looked at him. "They can't be sure yet," he admitted quietly.  "He goes in tomorrow."  He handed him a letter Ducky had written on the way home.  "He's off for the next month, period."  He smiled at the squeal Dawn let out.  "And they're finally together.  She came clean about her origins."  He heard someone pound on the door and walked out to let Tony in, holding up a hand.  "Office.  Exam room, actually."  Tony opened his mouth and Xander shook his head, going out to retrieve the two dogs, with Abby's help since she and McGee pulled up.  "Inside, the exam room."  She nodded and pulled him in there.  Kate pulled up before he could get the last dog inside, helping him.  Marquez followed and closed the door so he led them back there.

"Okay.  Get comfy, it's gonna hurt."  Everyone stared at him.  "Door."  Kate closed the door.  "Ducky's been having time lapses and memory problems," he announced. "I took him to Bethesda today, doing it quietly so no rumors could come out.  I thought it might be related to the drugging we took.  What it turned out to be was this," he said, flipping back on the light board.  He pointed at it.  "It's the size of a chickpea.  It's a fluid tumor, they're usually benign according to his doctor.  He's going in tomorrow at two-thirty to surgery.  Which means he's got to be there at noon to check in and wait.  He's taking a month off to recuperate."  He swallowed.  "The doctor, who seemed very nice, said that there's less than a five percent chance of complications.  That includes further memory impairment, more slurring of his speech, or an infection.  They're going to go through the back of his neck with the little laproscopic cameras and tools to get it. He'll probably be there for three to five days then he'll be back here.  I've already explained it to his mom while Dawn explained something to him.  And now they're happy."

"Um, happy?" McGee asked.

"Fluffy, remember reading about the Glory stuff and what Dawn *really* is?"  He nodded, smiling.  "She's millennia old and she loves him more than she ever has anything in her existence.  Even her sister.  They're happy."

"Oh.  Good.  Then I'll expect to have to move her out of the way to get hugs when he comes out of surgery," Abby agreed. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He should be fine.  The doctor said he's done these before.  He said it's really low risk.  He said he should be fine and he's going to be carefully monitored.  He said we can all go in with Ducky tomorrow and wait with him and be there when he comes out.  We can come bug him while he's healing.  I'm going to be by at least once a day to check on him and his mother, even if he complains."

"Come here instead of coming in," Gibbs ordered, standing up.  "Is it related?"

"They won't know until they do the second, more intense, higher resolution scan tomorrow right before they go in and definitively with the testing of the fluid.  If so, I may be next."  He stared at him.  "If so, they've got someone looking at the various crap that was in his body at that time to see if they can figure out what it was.  The fastest way would be to get their records.  Which are all sealed at the moment," he finished dryly.  "Their chemist died so we can't go torture him until he talks.  He was the redheaded little bastard who tried to run me off the road that day."  Gibbs nodded.  "So, if you can get it, they'd like it tonight."  Gibbs nodded.  "So, he's going in tomorrow. He said to tell Palmer then, have him come up when he's in his room."  Kate nodded that she could do that.  "Other than that, I don't know what to tell you.  That's what they told me."

"What's the chance you have one?" Kate asked quietly.

"Tony stopped them right after they put the IV in.  So it depends on if it's from what was in that or something else they gave us.  If it was some sort of preparatory solution, then it's possible.  I don't know and they won't until they get to look at the fluid in it."  Tony moved forward and held him, letting him relax.  "Like I said, I told Mrs. Mallard already, Gibbs.  She's agreed that we can get her a nurse while he's gone.  Um, also, they're getting married right before he comes back to work."  Dawn squealed upstairs and someone moaned so he chuckled.  "And she's not one to waste time since her mother died of a brain tumor."

"God, that poor girl," Abby sighed. "We can help with the wedding stuff once he's back home."  McGee and Kate nodded.  "What're we doing tonight?"

"Giving them the night alone," Gibbs said.  "She'll hold him and I'm sure he knows the usual pre-surgical instructions."  Xander nodded.  "Did you give them to her?"  He nodded.  "Put it in her pocket?"

"Yup.  I was going to stay to fuss over his mom for a while."

"She can have a nurse in tonight," Tony said quietly.  "We're going home."

"I need a ride.  I drove Ducky."

"Sure."  He kissed him on the forehead.  "Boss?"

"We're all going to your house because I don't wanna be alone," Abby told him.

Marquez hugged her.  "I'd come but my boyfriend is proposing tonight I think."  She got a round of smiles.  "I'll be there at noon tomorrow, Boss.  Should I tell Amanda?"

"I will tomorrow," Kate agreed.  "Gibbs?"

"I'm going to take that and the letter he wrote to the director.  You get Palmer tomorrow and drag him in."  She nodded and left, Abby dragging McGee out. He made Xander look at him.  "This changes nothing. You're still on the team."  He walked out with the scan.

Xander relax and looked up at his boyfriend. "Home?  Feed me?"

"Of course home and of course I'm feeding you."  He walked him out, smiling at the nurse that was in the living room. "Mrs. Mallard, will you be okay with your nurse?"

"Of course.  My Ducky is calming himself down.  It's about time he had a true lady in his life."  She smiled at Xander.  "Go home."

"I am.  I'll be beside him tomorrow and I'm going to be over checking on him once he's out."  She nodded and he looked at the nurse.  "Don't bother Ducky, he's going in for surgery tomorrow."

"Of course, Agent Harris.  Have a good night."  He nodded and let Tony lead him out.

***

Gibbs walked into the director's office, tapping gently when he didn't automatically look up.  "You got ten?"

"For you, usually."  He put down his pen and noticed Gibbs shut the door and locked it.  "Assassination attempt?" he joked.

Gibbs put the scan in front of his desk lamp, making him gasp and take it.  "That's Ducky's.  He's going in tomorrow to have it removed."

"I noticed he was slurring the other day but I thought it was dry mouth," he complained, holding it up to look at it.  "How big?"

"Chickpea according to Harris.  He drug him earlier.  He's going to Bethesda.  He goes under at two-thirty."  The director looked at him so he handed him the letter.  "From Ducky.  He needs a month off to fully recover and have his honeymoon apparently."

"Honeymoon?"

"He's been in love with Dawn and Harris apparently pointed out she felt the same."  He shrugged.  "He was engaging in stress relief earlier while Harris told us."

"I see."  He looked over the letter, then at him, handing it to him.  "You need to see that."  He got up and got a drink.  "What level of complication?"

"Harris said five percent risk.  Said they're going through his neck with a camera and stuff."  He put it down.  "Xander said they're not sure if it's related but we need to know what they did to them in detail, Tom.  We need to know anything that they have on those drugs.  We also know that their chemist died.  Harris said he's the one who was trying to ram him that one day."  That got another swallow of the scotch.   Gibbs walked over to look out the window.  "I'm worried, Tom."

"So am I.  Are you sure you want Harris to stay?  I mean, his eye was enough to keep him out.  If he's got these little things too, that's more than enough."  Gibbs glare at him.  "I don't want him to drop dead some day soon of stress when it could've been avoided," he told him.  "I like the little geek.  He reminds me of a more fun version of you if you must know."  He added more scotch and sat down again. "Who knows?"

"My team.  We're telling Palmer tomorrow so he can come visit him.  Ducky said so.  I couldn't reach your daughter Amanda.  I'll let you tell her."  He turned to look at him. "He said unless it was something that they gave him before the IV, it shouldn't affect him but if they're fairly certain it's related, they're going to scan him tomorrow. So we need off that stupid trial and I need that information sent to his doctor.  Tonight."

"Agreed.  I'll pull what strings I can.  Did you make him leave Fornell alone?"

"Fornell blundered badly.  He didn't present the warrant for his comparison samples before he took it.  You know those are as close as Harris gets to kids.  Hell, whenever he's upset he hugs his battle axe like a teddy bear."  He grimaced.  "DiNozzo has him well in hand tonight."

"That's the third reason to move him, Jethro."

"If you did, he'd follow us," he said dryly, staring at him.  "The kid will jump in front of a bullet for him but he's keeping it professional in the office, Tom.  If you separate them we'll have sex in the break room, the elevators, the parking garage....."  He trailed off at the laughter.  "Besides, you're right, the kid is like my own kid.  He looks up to me like a father.  He's a lot like me, we think alike.  He's staying mine because no one else would ever put up with him."  That got another tired chuckle. "He'll be fine and I've got a handle on it.  The good news is they didn't find any plaque like they do in his mother's scans.  So he's not heading toward alzheimers, no matter how often he rambles."  That got a nicer smile.  "Plus I think Dawn's going to be a beautiful bride so he's going to start coming in later and going home earlier. His mother wants grandchildren as well."

Tom snorted into his drink.  "Baby Duckys," he said fondly.  "When's the wedding?"

"Right before he comes back.  Ya know, I never expected him to marry.  Ever.  At least not until well after his mother died.  Proved I can be wrong."  He looked at his old friend.  "I'm headed home.  McGee drug Abby home so she could cry on him instead of hug Xander to death.  Xander's probably still trying to figure out how to add more closet space to a townhouse."

"That's easy, you move," he said dryly.  "Tell him Amanda loves his townhouse and would gladly buy it off him at market value.  She wants somewhere less glamorous and more homey."

"Sure.  That way DiNozzo can get the closet space he needs since he's such a shopper.  Oh, you missed it.  They made me buy a new shirt and Abby thought I got married again. She got mad I didn't invite her."

"Well, it is rare that you get new clothes, Jethro.  It almost always includes a wife."  Gibbs muttered something and walked out shaking his head, but he felt better.  The director picked up the phone to call his daughter first.  "I need to see you in the office.  No, personal."  He hung up and started making calls to the US Attorney's office and other people who were less subtle.  Including that nice Orion Project's manager, since he could possibly find out what they had been dosed with his way.

***

A nurse walked up to where Xander was waiting out on the smoking balcony, touching him on the arm to get his attention and whispering in his ear.  He nodded and walked inside to calm Dawn down again, then he followed her down to the radiology department.  "Where do you need me?" he asked quietly.

"This way, Agent Harris."  She walked him off to a room.  "We need you to remove anything metal on you down to your waist, then shirt and jacket."  He nodded and started on his earrings, putting them on the little tray she had.  She looked at him, seeing the tension.  "You can have someone with you."

"I'll be fine."

"Okay."  She put the tray aside once his shirt and nipple ring were off, then checked his vitals.  "Oooh, we'll have to remove your glass eye."

"I can't."

"Is it fused?"

"No, I *can't*," he repeated.

"I can do it for you."

"He usually has to be sedated or very drunk to let anyone treat it," Tony said from the doorway, coming in.  "Sorry, I'm his."

"That's fine, he can have someone in here.  We can sedate him but then we'd have to put him in a room to recover."

"If you have to have it out, you'll have to do that," Xander agreed. "I don't deal very well with that problem.  Sorry."

"No, you're not the only one.  Let me get you something."  She went to get orders signed for that.

Tony hugged Xander, letting him rest against his chest.  "It'll be fine and I'm volunteering if they need a comparison sample, just in case it wasn't them and it was the hellmouth," he said quietly. Xander looked up at him.  "It makes sense and who said it was due to that?  She was around all of us, she could've drugged us at the office and we wouldn't know."  The nurse came back in and started an IV, injecting the sedative into it.  "I'm right here," he said, catching his eyes as he laid him down.  "I'm right beside you. I'll hold your hand when I can.  I'll be there when you wake up."  Xander nodded, letting himself drift off.  "He comes out quickly."

"We'll be as fast as we can."

***

Abby looked around.  "Where are Xander and Tony?" she asked Gibbs.

"He's in a room to recover from the sedative," he said, staying quiet. "They had to remove his eye to do the scan."  She looked at him.  "The rest of us may need one too."  He finished his coffee and got up, going to check on Xander.  Tony looked up.  "He still out?"

"Just starting to come around to the moaning stage."  He poked Xander on the side, making him flinch and sit up panting.  "Hey, good nap?"

Xander rubbed his eyes.  "Any news on Ducky?"

"He's in recovery," Gibbs said.  "They think it's related to the pre-IV stuff, Xander."  He looked down and nodded.  "You don't have any growths but the nurse said that you have a few grains of hard spots.  She said they're not sure what they are.  They're going to scan the rest of us too, just in case."  Xander looked at him again.  "So far, those are just to be watched."  He moved closer.  "I didn't think you'd want the doctor to tell you."  He pulled out his pocket knife and sliced off the patient ID bracelet, then put the knife back up.  "Pull the IV and let's go wait with the others.  Abby realized you were gone."

Tony looked at his watch before handing Xander the bandage he had gotten him earlier.  "It's been two hours."

"I know.  She's been staring at McGee and thinking."  He made Xander look at him.  "It's just something to watch, Xander."  He nodded and yanked the IV, handing it to Tony and plugging the hole in his hand.  "Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."  He got up and Tony teased an earring so he checked and looked at him.  "You put 'em back in for me?"

"I had to do something."  He kissed him gently.  "Since I can't do that out there."  He smiled and stole a second one.  "When are the rest of us going in, Boss?"

"Tonight, after we check on Ducky.  You done?"  Tony stole a third one, making Xander smile and then nodded with a smirk.  "Good."  He opened the door and nodded at the nurse, who frowned. "He's a paramedic, he can pull it."

"Fine.  He left the IV in there?"  Tony nodded.  "Closed?"

"Yeah, of course."  He held up the hand.  "He's fine."  He walked him off to the waiting area.  Abby stared at them.  "He's fine."

"Are we sure?"

"I'm sure," Gibbs told her.  "But the rest of us will be scanned."  Kate looked at him.  "It may have been related to something else. Morrow found out she tried to drug us all earlier."  Kate nodded.  "You're excused, Kate."

"Thanks, but I can go," she assured him.  "Just in case.  Xander?"

"Little hard grains of sand looking things," he admitted.  "Something to watch for now."  He sat down and Tony sat beside him. "I'm fine.  Any word on Ducky?"

"He came out fine and we're waiting for him to wake up.  Dawn's in with him," Abby told him.  "When do we go, Gibbs?  In any order?"

"No.  They'll figure that out."  She nodded and clutched Tim's hand. The nurse came out to look at them.  "Can we see Ducky yet?"

"Of course.  His, um, fiance has quit crying on him and kissed him hard enough to raise his blood pressure."  She stepped closer to Gibbs.  "He's marrying her?  She seems...young."

"She is but she understands him and she loves his stories and his mother," Xander said as he stood up.  "Shall we?  Since I have no idea where I'm going."   She nodded and led him that way.  "How many did I have?"

"Twelve visible ones," she said quietly.  "The doctor will be in after he's scanned the rest to talk to you about the next step."  He nodded and she let them into Ducky's room.

"Ducky."  Xander leaned down to kiss him on the forehead.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine, Xander," he said quietly.  "A bit of a headache but I do have a wonderful painkiller in Dawn's kisses."  She kissed him again then went back to holding his hand.  "Any word yet?"

"They're scanning the rest of us shortly, Ducky," Gibbs told him.  "It wasn't the only drugging incident."  He looked upset at that.  "So we'll all be able to tell you that later."

"Good.  I'll wait to hear before going back to sleep."  He looked at Dawn, who was glaring at Xander.  "None of that, Dawn."

"Who went with him when they scanned Xander?"

"I did," Tony assured her.

"Good.  Usually he goes alone and gets upset."

"He needed someone with him because they were sedating him," Gibbs told her. He looked at Xander, then back at Ducky.  "Anything you need right now?"

"No.  Did Mr. Palmer not stay?"

"He ran out gagging on his vomit and went to get drunk," Abby told him.  Everyone stared at her.  "What?  He did!  Xander's not the only one that looks at Ducky like an uncle."  She gave him a careful hug.  "We'll see you after we're all done so Dawn can cuddle you and annoy the nurses by being on the bed.  So we'll be back during visiting hours tonight."  He nodded, smiling at her.  "Okay, someone lead me down there to have the pretty pictures taken of the inside of my head."  Tony and Xander walked her down, the rest following once they had said their goodbyes.  Then Tony led Xander back out to the smoking balcony to talk to him.

"You didn't have to go alone."

"I usually do."

"Yes, but before you didn't have me.  Therefore you will not go alone. I thought I made that clear last night."

"I lost brain mass last night," he said lightly.  Tony tipped his face up.  "I'm not used to having someone there with me."

"Well, now you do.  So get used to it."  He looked over as Gibbs came out first.  "Already done, Boss?"

"No, I'm last."  He looked at Xander, then at Tony.  "I noticed you had to sneak after him."

"I don't think someone like Anya could stand to sit there and wait that way," Tony pointed out.  "Now he knows what a jealous, possessive, clinging lover some of us are so he knows better."  Gibbs smirked at that.  "I am."

"No, that's him, DiNozzo.  You're just the careful, watching, stalking one."  He sipped from his new coffee.  "How many scans?"

"X-Ray, CT, then MRI," he offered.  "Right in a row."

"We can come hold hands if we need to," Xander offered.

"You can't if you don't allow someone to do it for you, kid.  Those are the rules."  He went back inside to see if they were ready for him yet. They had made Abby go right before him so she had time to take off all the jewelry.

***

The doctor looked at the three men in the room.  "All right.  You three, and Ducky, showed the same growths.  I don't know if it was related to being male or not, though I suspect not since Agent McGee's not in here."

"He didn't go out with us all the time," Xander told him. "How do we find out what this stuff is?"

"There's only one good way, to take one out and figure out what it is.  If so, we can figure out a counter or a cure for the four of you."  He looked at Tony.  "You have the only single one and it's the easiest gotten to," he admitted.  "It's in a bad spot if it starts to explode, and you're the candidate I would chose to remove it from."  Xander opened his mouth.  "Yours are in less accessible spots," he noted.  "As are Agent Gibbs' grains.  Ducky's, well, I nearly had one and it seemed to melt under my lights. We collected the fluid but it was in blood and we can't get a match off it.  So we need one that's not mixed and with the least damage possible.  If we go in for Agent DiNozzo's single one, it'll eliminate the problem completely and we can probably find out what it is."

"How hard would it be?" Tony asked.  Xander glared at him.  "Quit," he warned.

"I told you he was the possessive one," Gibbs joked. "Where are they relative to what skills?"

"Most of yours are in the sight and speech areas.  As are Mr. Harris'.  Most of Ducky's are in memory and sight, which are close to each other.  Mr. DiNozzo's is near the brain stem, which is in a dangerous area to tamper with, but it's near the surface.  I can easily go in through his neck and suck it out with a needle."  Xander opened his mouth again and Tony casually covered it with a hand. "He is right to be worried.  It is still brain surgery," he pointed out.  "I'd be worried if your husband wasn't worried."

"We're not that legal yet," Tony told him.  Xander looked at him.  "You told my mother yet."  He looked at him again, grinning.  "Can we do it tonight?  That way I'm not endangering anyone by having to be off the team longer?"

"I can. I had planned to do one extraction tonight anyway.  Mr. Harris, at your request I did also scan Miss Summers and she was negative, but the chart you had sent to me did show some of the same sort of activity as we saw during your MRI.  I'm not sure whose it was?"

"Miss Summer's mother.  She had a suddenly appearing brain tumor just after the people who drugged Ducky and I were defeated the first time."

"Ah, and you think it could've been related.  Is she all right?"

"No, she died three weeks later, we think of a clot.  Her older daughter found her dead on the couch."

"I see, I'm sorry for your loss."

"So am I, she's about the only mother I had."  He pulled himself back together again.  "Are you sure Tony's is the one to go for?"

"Yes, because if they form tumors, his is in a spot that paralyze his body and he'll die.  Yours and Mr. Gibbs' grains are in different spots and you'd probably live.  Mr. DiNozzo's would stop his breathing fairly quickly."

"Then I'm definitely going for it.  I nearly drowned once, that's enough," Tony told him.  "Will I need a wig?"

"No."  He smiled at him.  "Like earlier I'll be using the small cameras we have and then a needle to collect it. You'll be able to be fussed over all night and possibly check out tomorrow as long as you don't get an infection.  Especially since I'm told your...boyfriend is an EMT?"  Xander nodded. "I heard you pulled your own IV."

"I was taught by an underground doc," Xander admitted. "I can stitch too."  He looked amused at that.  "Organs."  The man blinked and Xander nodded.  "Sorry, but yeah, I can easily take care of him and I'm doing Ducky's checking and after-care."

"Good!" he decided.  "You'll know what to look for in case of an infection and things.  I have no problem with that.  I'll go over his care routine when he goes home."  He smiled at them.  "Are we agreed, gentlemen?  If it something we can cure, you'll be in single rooms during that treatment so we can monitor you.  Probably up in quarantine since it's mostly empty and has the best monitors.  Plus the best security and safety in case they come back.  By the way, our guards stopped a flower bomb to Doctor Mallard earlier. He didn't want you told, Gibbs."  He walked out. Then he came back.  "Mr. DiNozzo.  Get a last kiss and we'll do the blood and prep work now."  He kissed Xander then handed him to Gibbs before following him.  "You are very lucky."

"I am, but he tried to go down to be scanned without me earlier," he admitted dryly.  "He's a bit stubborn."

***

Xander hopped up when the doctor came out of the operating room area, moving forward.  He held up a hand.  "He's fine," he said firmly.  "He was joking with the nurse, we only used a local."

"So he was flirting with the nurse?" Xander suggested dryly.  The doctor nodded. "You're sure?"

"I'm certain, Mr. Harris."  He looked at the new person to the group.  "And you are?"

"Their director.  What's going on?"

"Your lab tech has taken the notes you had us sent and is... helping our lab personnel.  She's quite certain she thinks she knows what it is by description and made a very long international call from the lab to confer with some specialist over in Israel.  They're testing it against the theory now."  He looked at him.  "If she's right, there's a way to get rid of it."  He looked at his pager then smiled.  "Right on time."  He looked over as Abby led the charge waving a paper.  "I take it you found it?"  She nodded and stood in front of Gibbs, holding it up so he could read it, a determined look on her face.

"Truth serum, an experimental one," he said, taking it.  "Ziva?"  She nodded.  "You okay?"

"I'm going to yell and scream, Gibbs.  Ziva said this is why it's not used."  She handed a copy to the doctor, along with how you dissolve it.  "It's too strong for the human body so it deposits little bits of itself in a semi-solid form around the human body in various soft tissues.  You can have it continuously dilute itself until it's gone.  Using what's in his brain mass as a guide to the rest of the body's contamination, Tony's will take about four hours.  Xander's will take about fifteen.  Gibbs' somewhere around ten.  Ducky's going to be trickier probably with the other stuff but she said it was known to cause small fluid tumors.  It probably won't cause another one but it's not unheard of," she said.  "When they tested this during the late eighties and early nineties, they used about a thousand subjects.  This was Russian made, they had the people to spare.  They also tested it in China.  She said that Chinese subjects showed more tendency to regrow a growth like that and if left long enough a regular tumor formed around it. It was suggested it was related to the diet because they regulated everything else they did and some of the Russian subjects were partially Chinese because they're from that border area."

She looked at Gibbs again, her pigtails swinging hard enough to sting when they hit Xander.  "Since this was found out, it's not very well liked around the world. The only use anyone saw for it was someone that you had to continually interrogate every few months. You can do a slow leach, which is weekly treatments for a few hours, and make sure it's gone, or you can do one big treatment and then a few trial ones to make sure it's really gone.  I suggest the big one just because you'd hate having to come back once a week for the next six months but, in extreme cases, like Xander's, it's almost contraindicated.  No one's sure why," she finished. "I'm guessing they couldn't stand that long on the drugs and the combination of that with the crappy hospitals that can be found in some Soviet era testing facilities.  Plus, hey, they probably didn't pick people in their primes and it's said that the treatment may unbury memories that you wanted to forget in the first place.  So therefore, it's up to the doctor to decide which way to do it but we will be forcefully locking you in a room by yourself and making sure any form of communication and/or recording device is banned.  Just for security reasons," she finished with a grin.  "And I am brilliant."

"You are," Gibbs agreed.  "Thank you, Abby."  He looked at the doctor.  "Can we do it tonight?  I'm not letting this take any more time out of my life and we're supposed to be on- call for a trial."

"I told the judge what was going on," the director noted dryly.  "You have all next week off too since they're putting in a long recess for that and for her to find a way to keep the nausea down because there's ten more DVD's to go through on what they did."

"Don't eat, I find it's the best way yet," Xander offered grimly, looking at the doctor.  "Can we?  Tonight?"

"You can and we'll figure out how to guard you three.  We'll do Ducky's slowly starting in a few days.  That way we don't have to worry about it liquefying and causing an infection.  Let me talk to my supervisor and see what we can work out for security arrangements."

"I'm coming with you," the director said, following him.

Xander sat back down, slumping and holding his head.  "Why is it always me?"

"I don't know, kid," Gibbs admitted, patting him on the back and sitting beside him. "Think you should go cuddle DiNozzo?"

"He said I can't embarrass him in front of the nurses."  He looked at him.  "Recovery?"  Gibbs pointed so he headed that way to give him the bad news.

"Aw, come on, can't I have the IV removed now?  He said I get to go home."

Xander knocked and walked in.  "Belay that thought," he said dryly.  "It's truth serum."  Tony looked horrified so he looked behind him, then shrugged and walked in, closing the door behind him.  "They can slowly seep it out of our bodies but they're figuring out where we're doing it for security reasons and they said it could unbury memories if we have any."  Tony groaned and put his head down.  "So even if she removes it right now, you'll have another one soon.  He's already said we're having separate rooms somewhere together without anything to record or communicate whatever we say."

"Good!  Very good!"  He looked at the nurse and smiled.  "Can I have a few minutes."  She nodded and winked at Xander before leaving.  "I, um...."

"I know you flirted.  You do that."  He sat down and looked at him.  "You hate it when I do it and I feel the same way."

"It's a reflex in some situations."

"And you were stressed, it took your mind off it, I'm not going to care in this case.  It's not like you tried to take a nibble, right?"  Tony shook his head quickly.  Xander looked at him and got a scowl back.  "Good."  He smiled at him.  "We're figuring out where we're going next.  The trial is on recess until next week.  The director's working with the docs on the security arrangements.  Abby went and took over the lab to figure it out and Ziva told her what it was."

"I knew I liked Ziva for some reason," he admitted dryly.  "Where's everyone else?"

"With Ducky.  He's the only one that knows you went under.  Which I'm still not very happy with."  Tony started to moan his name.  "It was dangerous.  Even the doc said that was a dangerous part.  And you didn't let me protest."

"Of course not.  Mine was the easiest."

"Dear, if he had thought about it, two of mine are near some nice skull fractures I had in the past.   That's cartilage.  Much easier than slipping and possibly killing you."

"Xander, quit.  I'm allowed to do this stuff too.  He said mine was easiest."  The doctor came in and he looked at him. "Would you please remind him mine was the easiest?"

"It wasn't.  Had I looked at his x-ray first, I would've gone with him.  He's right, three are just next to former fractures and easy to get at."  Xander nodded.  "That's probably what he was going to tell me.  Then again, it's a boyfriend's job to worry. That's what mine does all the time.  That's also why Dawn refuses to get off Ducky's bed.  They're about ready to sedate her and put her in Ducky's car for the night so he can rest and not be held."

"Sedatives don't work on Dawn.  They make her giggly," Xander warned. "So, where?"

"We have a former outpatient center.  We had to close it due to the budget and we're going to reopen it.  The director is already picking staff for it thanks to the group that did this.  He thinks he's found a few who work here too."  Xander nodded. "Do you know who they are?"

"No but anytime they did a sample, it came through your labs," he offered. "I know their chemist used to."

"Wonderful.  Anyway, you won't have phone, cable, or anything like that.  You will each have you own room.  Agent Todd is going to be the one guarding you three with myself and one other doctor.  We think Mr. DiNozzo and Mr. Gibbs will be done by midmorning but you, Mr. Harris, may have to have a few extra hours."

"Like I said, always me," he noted bitterly. "How many doses did they give me?"

"From the information Miss Scuito gave us, about ten.  Probably over the course of a while."

"You're selling the damn townhouse," Tony decided.  "They couldn't have gotten you any other place."

"Unless they got me while hunting," Xander reminded him.  He looked at the doctor again, wincing at the head smack. "Before you made me stop going alone."  He looked at the doctor again, grimacing a bit.  "Any good news?"

"No caffeine for two days."

"Gibbs is going to kill you," Xander noted dryly.

"He'll be home by then.  It'll make him sick if he has any for those two days."

"Can we tell when it was given?" Tony asked.  He shook his head.  "At all?"

"Not that I'm aware of but if we can I will.  Hunting what?"

"Um, that cult," Xander told him, shrugging a bit.  "Tony, Gibbs, and I hunted them."

"Ah.  No wonder the Initiative came for you three," he noted dryly.  He looked at Xander.  "I suspecting you're their expert?"  That got a nod. "That's fine.  I wasn't there but I heard whispers in the break room.  I'll make sure none of those people get in."

"Works for me," Tony decided.  "When are we being moved?"

"Another hour to make sure you're fine, Mr. DiNozzo.  I can have Mr. Harris moved over there now and started off so he might get done sometime near yours.  And I will tell you right now, Agent Todd will not be allowed near you to talk to you and none of you will be allowed in each other's rooms.  I don't want this to cause a rift and neither does Agent Gibbs.  Xander?"  Xander nodded at Tony and got a smile, following him out. "We're going to lay the IV in the ambulance," he said as they walked. "You'll get the medicine when you get there and be locked in by Agent Todd.  She's wearing a communication device to the director and only the director and he's got it tuned so he can hear if she tries to talk to any of you.  I also have to tell you that you may hallucinate with how much you have. If so, I want you to notify us."

"I can take a car and do the IV."

"Fat chance," he told him, shaking his head.  "You can't do your own IV."

"I have in the past.  I can even put one in my ankle."  That got an odd look.  "Hey, I had to do a drain line once.  It happened and was needed."   The doctor handed him to the paramedics, who got him onto the bed and comfortable.  "Let me take off my shirt, guys.  I'm sure we've got blankets or heat there."  They nodded and the back doors were closed.  He sat up and took off the shirt he was wearing, putting it across his lap and putting out his better arm.  "The line's better on this side."

"A past history with drugs?"

"No, goth friends," he said dryly.  "I had to lay a feeding line once because he refused to eat."  They looked stunned. "It worked, it broke the hunger strike."  They shuddered and he shrugged.  "Go for it.  Unless you want a hand vein?"  They shook their heads and the ambulance pulled away, letting them do what they had to do.

***

Kate listened to Xander rant at 'Jen Sheppard' and sighed, tapping the mic.  "Director, I need to check his room. He's still on her and the others have switched off."  She listened.  "I know but I can't be sure.  Please? I won't speak to him but still.  Yeah and with what he's saying, I'm damn glad Tony's hallucinating about Fornell. Please."  She nodded and unlocked the door, walking in there and checking around.  Starting with the bathroom.  She even checked the vents because that woman had gotten out once before and they hadn't been notified.  "Director," she whispered.  He gave an order and she nodded.  "Xander, honey, where is Sheppard?" she asked quietly, moving closer.  He pointed and she looked. "There's no one there."  He started to chant something and grabbed his head, but finished it.  A bright light went off and his earrings were exposed, and so was the director. "Shit, it is her.  Freeze!"  That's when the bad pain happened to her head, making her take a nap.

Gibbs came out of his room with his gun.  No one had thought to search them so he had kept his.  He walked up the halls, seeing no one in Tony's room.  He walked in and did a quick search but nothing.  He was babbling about bass fishing with Fornell so he had to be hallucinating.  Gibbs had done a bit of that but he had been plagued by his ex-wives.  Tony was much stronger than he was.  He walked into Xander's room and found Kate unconscious.  Xander clutching his head.  And the window open.  He looked toward the bathroom and didn't see anyone but he knew how Xander concealed his earrings and gun.  He walked over and took off Xander's necklace, putting it on himself.  That's when he saw the guy in the bathroom.  "Freeze, Federal Agents."  The man looked stunned and started to turn away so he shot him in the leg.  He became visible really fast after that.  So did someone else.  He pointed his gun at her.  "Jen."

"Jethro.  You're hallucinating.  That's why you came in here to shoot Harris for me, right?"  She smiled at him.

"Wrong."  She shifted.  "Don't move.  What part of that don't you understand?"  She smirked at him and brushed some hair out of her face.  "Yeah, that'll work.  Kate!"  She moaned.  "Kate!  Up, now!"  She sat up, holding her head. "Backup."

"He said it's on the way," she complained, holding her head.  "What the hell?"

"Magic, Kate.  Like how he hides his earrings at work."  He heard footsteps coming up the hallway and nodded her to check. She didn't come back for a while.

"Jethro, Xander's taken control of your mind," Sheppard said quietly, shifting slightly closer.  "You don't believe in demons or vampires or any of that stuff.  Especially not things like magic.  He's controlling your mind through drugs and I'm here to free you."  She moved a step closer.  "He's the one who's controlling you, not me.  You need to eliminate that so you be rescued.  We can't get you out without him going.  Otherwise he could continue to hurt you and Tony DiNozzo.  Remember him? He's on your team."

"Of course I remember him," he sneered.  "It's not working, Jen.  I don't suggest that easily."  She frowned. "I don't."

"You can."  She lunged and he moved, kicking at the needle in her hand.  She managed to stick him with it, catching him when he wobbled.  "See, Jethro, now it's all better," she told him.  "Come on, get up.  We've got to eliminate the threat before he blows up DiNozzo then we can rescue you both."  She pointed him at the bed.  "See, that's the threat.  He's some sort of super-genius in chemistry.  He's given you drugs, Jethro."

"No he's not."

"Yes, he is.  That's the conditioning he's done.  He's had you for *months*," she told him.  "Come on, we've got to eliminate the target and then we can rescue you and DiNozzo."

Dawn walked in and glared at her.  "I doubt it, bitch.  No one touches my Xander or my Ducky."  Jen smirked at her so she threw something small, harmless, and painful at her, a nice hex she had gotten out of Willow's darker books.  It made her scream and flail.  "Back off.  Jethro, it's Dawnie."  He squeezed his eyes shut.  "If you're still in doubt, just sit in the corner and don't shoot anyone.  Remember, drugs wear off and you've got the gun."  He looked at her and pointed it at her. "You do that and Ducky's gonna be so pissed at you," she said with a smirk.  She moved herself, which disoriented him.  It also got her closer to Sheppard so she could grab her by the hair and knock her head into the wall.  Gibbs turned to face her.

"You can't do that, Gibbs," she said quietly.  "The same as you can't shoot Xander.  Remember him, the kid who's just like you.  Even Morrow says so."  She moved closer.  "Just sit down, Jethro.  I'm not going to take the gun from you.  You can keep it and everything."  She moved a chair over and put it in front of him.  "Sit and wait for your head to clear. That's all I ask.  Let the drugs get out of your system."  Kate finally got free and came in.  "Get her," she ordered, pointing at her.  Kate pointed the gun at her.  "Huh, they got you too.  Fuck."  She took a deep breath and thought for a second, then shook her head.  "I hate to do this.  Director, if you can hear me, it's Dawn. Tony's still locked in.  Gibbs and Kate are under mind control stuff.  They wanted them to shoot the Xander.  I'm doing something Xanderish."  She said a few quiet words and created a fog.

Xander beamed and chanted the counter, as Dawn knew he would.  "Pretty," he said happily, then let his head drop again.  "Pretty colors."

"They are," Dawn agreed, hurrying to his side.  Gibbs had on Xander's usual shield but he still had one.  She retuned the one on his earring and turned it back on, then built the shields around the bed.  Kate tried to shoot it anyway and she sighed because it held.  She summoned the necklace Gibbs wore and let it lay on Xander's bare chest.  "It'll be okay, Xander."  Gibbs got up to check on what was stopping them, laying a hand on it.  "He's slightly resistant."  She upped it in that area and restarted the fog, whispering in Xander's ear.  He hiccuped and chanted the next in the progression she had trained him with.  Sparkles, like the after-effect of fireworks filled the room.  She turned it back into fog quickly, almost strobing the colors, and he giggled, doing the last one, which turned it into something denser.  She relaxed and created barriers between the two people so they couldn't hurt each other.  She kissed Xander's forehead and sat next to him, nodding at the director when he came in. She looked and dissolved the fog but Xander pouted and put it back, more solid this time.  She pinched him and then had to stop him from creating a new one when she dissolved that one.  She gave the director a 'sorry' look and shrugged.  "That's how I trained him."  She snuggled down next to him, getting comfortable to hold the Xander.  Tony yelled her name.  "What?" she called back.

"What the fuck did you do!"

"Saved his life?"  She smiled at the director and pointed at the other bodies.  "Did they escape?"

"Not that we heard.  Men, take Agent Gibbs back to his bed and strap him down.  Take the gun too."  Gibbs tried to fight until he caught his chin and looked at him.  "Stop it, Jethro.  That is an order!"  Gibbs quit but he didn't go docilely.  He rolled his eyes.  "Boys, find Agent Todd a bed as well."  Tony walked in and he flinched at the slammed door.  "You should be in bed."

"Yay.  I can still feel magic."  He looked at Sheppard and went over to punch her, just once.  "That's for doing this to us."  He decided to hit her again.  "And that's for my mate!  Don't touch what's mine!"  She whimpered in her semi-conscious state.  He looked at Xander, then at Dawn.  "I'm telling him you're teleporting around."

"She was going to kill him, Tony.  Bite me."

"You'd enjoy it."

"No, not from you."  She got out of the bed and waved at her spot.  "Yours.  My man needs me.  You take care of yours.  That's why I gave you Xander."  She rolled her eyes and disappeared, going back to the other hospital.  A nurse looked at her as she appeared.  "Long damn day," she complained.

"Visiting hours...."

"I'm Ducky's fiance.  Bet me I know what a visiting hour is."  She walked inside and up to his room, smiling sweetly and climbing back into bed with him.  The nurse came in to scowl and she glared.  The nurse wisely retreated.  So she got her good cuddles for a bit longer.

***

Gibbs woke up tied to his bed and facing the director. "I thought we were in quarantine."

"You were until you broke it and went after Sheppard since she was torturing Harris," he said, standing up and coming over to release him. "By the way, Dawn won.  You'll get a nice day in the hospital on the same floor as Ducky."  He held him down when he tried to move.  "Before you say a word, she had you under some sort of control drug and she tried to get you to shoot Xander.  You'd better buy the future Mrs. Mallard a *very* nice present, Jethro.  She stopped you.  I couldn't.  Not before you hurt the boy."  Gibbs went limp so he let him go. "All three of you are going to share a room.  DiNozzo didn't fully get to detox because the magic woke him and made him yank his IV out.  Harris is still under. In three hours, I'm going to release you three to Bethesda.  Until then, I'm going to be debriefing Harris. Or trying to.  You can do whatever you want to DiNozzo. Just keep him out."  He walked off, going to interrupt Tony telling Xander how good he was.  "Is it helping?"  Tony nodded. "Good.  Go visit your boss."

"Nope.  And if you try to move me, I'm going to sic Dawn on you."

"I need to know what she told him."  Tony tossed him some paper.  "What's this?"

"I already asked.  They're going to find bits and pieces of her."  Xander giggled and he stroked his cheek.  "How about bits and pieces of ice cream for dinner?" he asked quietly.  Xander blinked and nodded, smiling at him.  "You better now?"

"I thought we were supposed to be kept separate," he said in a sleepy, confused sounding voice.

"We are, but I couldn't wait."  He stole a kiss.  "You know you're the most special guy, right?  No one else can do what you can."

"That's not fair to him, DiNozzo."

"I answered anything he asked, he did the same.  He agreed," he said firmly.  "Butt out.  Oh, and figure out where we're moving."  The director moved backward.  "Xander," he said, earning a smile and giving one back because you just had to smile when he gave you that look.  "You know Amanda wants our townhouse enough to buy it for a whole lot, right?"  Xander pouted. "This way we could get somewhere with a *big* bathtub.  One with the nice spots to hitch things to." Xander sighed and pouted worse.  "I know, but you've been broken into and this way, we could have a full lab just for Abby and Fluffy.  I know there's a really nice one up the street."

"Giles bought me that one."

"I know, but this way you can have a place to workout with window and no neighbors looking in.  The Piedmonts are moving."  Xander whimpered.  He whispered in his ear, getting a moan instead.  "You like that idea?"  Xander nodded.  "Then let's see what I can do, okay?  That way it'll be *our* house, not Giles' and Wes's house."  Xander kissed him, making him smile again.  "I love you too."

"Me too."  He pulled him closer to snuggle, then seemed to realize someone else was in there.  "Hi, Director."

"Xander.  I'll have Amanda over later to talk to you about the terms for buying your old townhouse."  That got a smile.  He considered it.  "There's a great place down on Rio, which is about two blocks from you."

"I like my neighbors."

"Okay, we'll see what I can find in that neighborhood then.  Big bathroom?" he asked Tony.

"Walk in closet.  Library/study area.  Training area, lab.  Good kitchen."  He grinned at him. "Thank you, director."  He was still glaring at him with his eyes.

"Anything for my best team and to keep my daughter happy."  He walked out and shut the door, going back to Gibbs' room to sit and read the statement Tony had taken.  "He's very possessive."

"I would be too if the kid was mine," he admitted dryly.  "Coffee?"

"In two days."

"Excuse me?"

"Two days.  Or else you'll be sick and have to go through this again.  They'll give you something to take the edge off when we transfer you back."  He went back to reading.  "Tony just convinced him that he's moving."

"Good.  Tell him to look at the one across the street, the one with the green shutters.  It has potential."  He yawned. "Is he down?"

"No, DiNozzo's doing some self-esteem building."  He handed the statement over, watching the expressive face.  Gibbs slumped again and handed it back.  "You owe her a very nice present for the wedding."

"A boat?"

"I don't think she needs a boat."  He stood up.  "Both the doctors were knocked out and I'm already working on who got them out.  Tobias Fornell is livid that this happened among his people. He hit someone."  He walked out smirking.

"Good.  I hope he saved some for me," he said bitterly.  He got up and went to talk to the kid, ignoring the person trying to get in his way.  He knocked then walked in.  "Hey."

"We're fine, Boss."

"You were under the big meany's spell," Xander said, holding out a hand. "You wouldn't have shot me."

"Yeah, I wouldn't have shot you, kid."  He walked over to check him over.  "You close to being done?  They've promised me something to take away the urge for coffee for the two days we can't have caffeine."

"Boss, have we forgotten what a Xander without caffeine is like?" Tony asked.

"It'll make him violently ill."

"Oh, man."  He sighed and looked at Xander.  "Hopefully everything'll be moved for us."

"Your stuff too?" Xander asked, beaming at him.

"My stuff too but I want a room I can retreat to."

"The one with the addition on the back," Gibbs told him.  "Isn't it up for sale?"  Xander beamed and nodded.  "Look at it."

"Thanks, Boss."  He grinned at him.  "Is the director okay?"

"Fine.  So far.  What do you get someone like Dawn and Ducky as a wedding present?"

"I'm working on a swing," Xander told him.  "You can help."

"I can do that," he agreed.  "He could use some for the garden."  He patted him on the head.  "Good idea, kid."  He headed back to his room, he could hear Kate's voice complaining he had snuck away already.

***

Xander looked at the building then at Tony, who shrugged.  "Are we sure this is the right spot?  It doesn't look like a townhouse."

"I guess it is."  He walked up to the front door to check, finding both their names on the box.   He punched in the code he had been given and the door opened, letting them into the foyer.  In front of them was a hallway with a few doors off it and a staircase to their left.  "Wow."  He walked them into the living room, which was *huge*.  Three times the size of the old one.  It had another door out of it even.  All his electronics and toys were there in front of his couch, and the other tv was on the other end of the room and had its own couch.  They walked down the hallway, finding the laundry room and the kitchen.  Xander looked in everything, finding it fully stocked.  "The pantry fairy arrived," Tony said happily.  They had a very tiny back yard but that was fine with them.  No mowing needed. They found the basement stairs and it was carpeted and finished.  All the computers and the lab stuff were down there. It was set up more like Abby's lab at work and there were a few suspicious boxes down there with Abby's name on it.

They went back and headed up the stairs, going to look at the second floor. Xander's training area, office, and altar were up here, along with the library and study across the hall from them. Xander squealed at the hardwood floors in his training area and the bookshelves already filled in the library, plus an empty set of shelves.  They went up to the bedroom area, finding one huge master bedroom.  Whoever had renovated this had more clothes than anyone they knew.  Each of them had their own dressing area, with mirrors and a vanity.  Their extra closets were all in Tony's section.  The bed was new and was the old metal type that were so good to tie handcuffs to.  They also had a two chair area to read at and a small loveseat to cuddle and watch tv on.  The bathroom had a shower and a nice, big tub with steps up to it.  It was deep enough to cover Tony fully when he sat down and you could see a few discreet rings in the walls.  The toilet had its own little alcove with an oriental screen between it and the shower.

"Wow," Xander said finally, going out to bounce on the bed.  "We need a new mattress, Tony."

"That's fine."  He walked out and went to kiss him.  "How did we get this place?"

"We traded evenly with Amanda.  She liked mine better and her daddy bought her this one when she moved back."  He stole another kiss with a smile.  "Can you see anything else we need?"

"A mini-fridge for snacks in the living room," he offered with a smile.  "Are you happy?"

"Are you?  You have your own closet," he said with a grin and a pinch to the nipple.  "If you need a night off, you can sleep in the study or the living room."

"I can," he agreed, taking a kiss, pushing Xander back onto the bed to enjoy him.  "You're right, we need a better mattress set."  He shrugged and stole another kiss.  "That means I can break this one tonight by making you bounce and squeal."  Xander giggled and flipped him over, making him grin at him.  "Or you can do it to me."

"DiNozzo, we need a map," Gibbs yelled up the stairs.

"Busy, Boss."  He went back to kissing his mate. "You know we're only two blocks from the old place."

"Yup and we've got to pick up the weapons too."

"They're under the stairs."  He stole another kiss, working on Xander's shirt buttons.  "Have I mentioned I hate this shirt."

"You love me in this shirt."  He took it off and flung it behind him then got back to teasing him. Tony shifted but let him do anything he wanted. That's why they were both surprised when Kate and Abby came in to surprise and hug them and then had to back out and run squealing in the other direction.

"Gay boy sex!" Abby complained, hiding her face in Gibb's chest.  "Xander's really big and hangy and he likes Tony all the way down.  I need a new mental image."

He pushed her off and went to get a beer.

"Tim," she pleaded.  He kissed her and led her down to the work area, making her find something new to show him how to do. It usually worked.

Kate pouted.  "I don't have one of those."  She went to find Gibbs in the kitchen.  "They're downstairs."

"Good, they can keep the noise down there."  He went back to the living room and turned on the bigger tv to find something to take his mind off that picture. She came in and sat beside him so he looked at her.  "You'll find your own Xander someday."

"God I hope not.  I couldn't keep up with him," she said dryly.

He laughed and nodded.  "When it's yours, you'll be able to.  The same as I will."  He took another drink.  "They need a mini-fridge in here for snacks for the good games."

"I'm sure Tony will talk him into it."  Someone upstairs yelped Xander's name and she giggled.  "Poor Tony.  But at least he's got his own personal Xander."

"Yeah, and the rest of us have to see it," Gibbs said dryly.  She smacked him on the arm and he smirked at her.  "Happy to be back?"

"Hell yes.  It's much more fun to annoy Tony than to watch him top Xander."  He almost blushed and she smirked at him.  "Hey, I got bored."

"Someday, you'll get your own Xander and I'll remind you of this moment."  He went back to watching the game.  The others could find them when they were done.

The End.