Contents

Way Back Then:

Closer To Now By About A Year:

Closer To Now By Another Six Years:

Five Years Ago:

Now:

Epilogue:

Notes:  this kind of touches on a few challenges I've been given recently but not fully and doesn't really come from them.  The idea hit when I was trying hard to procrastinate hurting my back more by doing laundry.

Way Back Then:

The commanding officer stepped out in front of his men.  "Today, we are being asked to line up for blood work.  Someone is doing a study that the Pentagon likes.  Something about tracking our future children to see how many become problem brats and how many follow our footsteps.  And the occasional one that goes to another branch for *whatever* reason you screwed them up," he announced.  "This is Marine-wide.  We do not care if you do not like it.  It is not opt-in.  So when the nurses come I will expect you louts to have some manners and show them," he finished.  "Even I have to have it done.  I don't like it."

"Sir, what if we don't have children?" one young Marine asked.

He shrugged.  "They feel most of us will.  I have no idea if they're going to mind that or not.  I personally do not care.  The head Marine said we're doing it so we are."  They all stayed silent at that.  They knew not agreeing would only get them punished.  "They should be here at ten.  Until then, do PT.  It's a change in the routine but oh well."  He stepped back and they warmed up under his careful watch.  He had no idea what the bloodwork would be telling them.  It wasn't his job to care or ask those questions.

Closer To Now By About A Year:

The six researchers looked at all the results.  They had to weed this pot down to something manageable.  "I say we pick ten," one said.  "The mainframe can pick based on service record, type of service they did, and their conduct record.  At a later date we can add more if we want."

The others considered it.  "Three," the head researcher decided.  "We'll have enough variables over time.  Plus the failure rate is fairly high.  Let's make sure the failures are due to routine things, not screw ups with the cells."  They nodded and got to work putting in the parameters.  The old mainframe accepted the punch cards and ran a selection, printing out a strip of paper to show them the ones it had selected.  None fit.  They widened the parameters so it could find someone.  They got too many.  They choose those and weeded it down from there by hand.  It was only six hundred names.

Closer To Now By Another Six Years:

The mainframe had been upgraded so this time the new batch came out with a few names.  They stared.  "Three names," the head researcher said.  They all nodded.  Their failures had nearly gotten them shut down.  They needed proof that their methods worked and quick or else they'd be out of a job.  They pulled those three files and sent word to get them tissue samples from these three Marines.  It would have to work this time.

Five Years Ago:

The archivist came across a sealed file.  "Project: Future Perfect?" he read, frowning at it.  "Let me guess, it's another failed weapons design program."  He glanced at the front sheet and frowned.  "Not a weapon," he muttered.  He ran to tell his boss.  This clearly was not supposed to be in the unclassified archive he worked in.  "Sir, I found a misclassification."

"Of?"  He handed over the folder, letting him read the index page.  "Why is this here?"  He read the conclusion section so he couldn't be fired for reading classified materials.  "They were all let into the world," he said, looking at his underling.  "I'll call around about this.  See where it should be."  His underling nodded and went back to his library job.  He looked over the reports again, frowning.  "Fucking morons with a microscope," he said.  He considered it and did what he had never considered before - he photocopied it.  Then he took the original to his boss once the copies were safely stored in his bag.  "Sir."

His boss waved off his salute.  "Are we out of space in the archive again?"

"Sir, one of my people found something that should be in a more classified environment."

"Really?"  He took the folder, grimacing.  "I remember when they came to draw blood for it.  It never worked."

"Sir, I glanced at the conclusion.  The project was disbanded and all of their subjects were given back."

He gaped then turned back there.  "Oh, shit."

"Basically.  I think that should be more classified than my archive can hold, sir.  Unless I want to have high morals and tell the children?"

The officer looked at him.  "That's not allowed and you know it."

"It's not right, sir.  If they were mine I'd want to know."

"Tough."  He put it into his drawer.  "I'll take that point up with the higher ups.  Forget you saw that."

"Yes, sir."  He saluted then left.

The officer sighed and called his boss.  "Sir, Henderson in the archives.  We just found a classified project's records in the wrong archive.  No, my archivist only read the conclusion, sir.  It's bad enough that he expressed moral doubts.  Not a weapon, sir.  A breeding program.  Yes, sir, that one.  I have no idea why it came here but he did see that they disbanded and sent them to the maternal donors."  He nodded.  "It's in my drawer, sir.  No, I told him I'd talk to you about it, sir.  I told him to forget he saw the conclusion page.  Sir, I personally agree.  If mine's part of that I'd want to know."  He shrugged at the guy's complaint.  "Sir, I'm a realistic Marine, not an idealist.  Yes, sir, and what if those Marines have families, sir?  Exactly.  No, I'm stating my case."  He smirked.  "Exactly, sir.  Thank you, sir.  In my desk drawer.  Thank you, sir."  He hung up and called his subordinate.  "I was told to politely forget it.  You do the same."  He hung up and went back to his monthly paperwork.  When his boss came in he handed over the folder.

"You do realize this would make us look very bad?" his boss demanded.

"Sir, it was done ages ago.  It's not going to look bad on *us*.  It's going to look bad on the desperate people that thought we'd be in another world war when Vietnam started."  That got a grimace.  "If they were mine, I'd want to know, sir."

"There's other ways to find them.  Birth records."

"Sir, the conclusion said that the birth records were purged and fabricated.  They were worried about lawsuits from the families.  If that's the reason then so be it, but I'd think they're going to be more pissed.  Especially since some of those kids may presently be some of us or the last batch is about old enough to recruit."

"Doesn't matter.  The Joint Chiefs said to bury it."

He nodded once.  "I cannot argue with my superiors, sir.  I know that.  I'm not going to participate in a coverup.  If they find out and ask me, I'm going to answer."

He nodded.  "I understand.  They'll make sure no one ever gets to ask you."  He left, taking it to burn.  That program had been a very bad idea.  A horrible idea.  He paused to look at the names.  Shit, he knew one of them.  That was very bad news.  NCIS was going to fry them.  He tossed it into the incinerator.  If they were meant to know, they'd have a way to find them.

Now:

Jethro Gibbs found an envelope on his desk when he got in from the most current scene.  "Any idea what this is?" he asked his team.

Tony took it to look inside.  "Looks like a note and records, boss."  He handed it back.

He stared at him.  "You still open strange mail after getting the plague, DiNozzo?"

"Too big to hold that, boss," he said with a chipper look.  "No kiss either.  Looks important."

Gibbs sat down to read the note.  He reread it.  Then he stared at DiNozzo.  Then at McGee.  "I'm going to the lab.  Answer my phone, DiNozzo."

"Sure, boss."  He moved to forward it when Gibbs left.  He stared after him.  "A classified project," he said at the curious looks.  "Notes from it."  He sat down and got back to his background on the current case.

Gibbs walked into the lab, turning down Abby's music, making her jump.  "Look up a project for me, Abs.  Project: Future Perfect."

She turned to type that into her system.  "I can find a mention of it on an archive list but it's pre-computers."  She turned to look at him.  "It's in the Pentagon archive."

"The one that got set on fire during 9/11?"  She nodded after a check.  "So the records I have are the only copy?"

She turned around to search.  "A few conspiracy sites mention it as an early breeding program but not anything else."  She looked back at him.  "Why?"

"Because I got sent records on it."  He sat down at her desk to read it over.  Then he growled.  She backed away slowly.  "Thanks, Abby."  He headed up to his boss, slapping them down in front of him.  "Want to help me or should I handcuff you to your desk, Tom?"

He read over the first page then blinked at him.  "When did this happen?"

"They were listed as late sixties to early eighties."

"Oh, dear."  He looked at him.  "Any other evidence?"  He put down the note.  The director read it then winced.  "Do you want a leave of absence, Jethro?"

"I want permission for Abby to run a DNA comparison on those three names randomly through the system."

"Can it do that?"

"Probably."  He watched the director page through the report then hold up a sheet.  "What's that?"

"The accounting of the children that came of it."

Jethro read it over, then winced.  "That's going to be a problem."  He walked out to the walkway.  "DiNozzo, Director's office for a conference."  Tony hopped up and jogged up the stairs.  "It's bad news," he said as he walked him into the office and shut the door.

Tony accepted the papers, reading it over.  "Does this say that my mother ...  My mother had me with who?" he demanded, looking at Gibbs.

Gibbs shrugged.  "No idea, DiNozzo.  I remember him, kind of.  I have no idea about any of this.   No one ever asked me for a sample as far as I know."

Tony sat down to read it, frowning at it.  "They said the failure rate was nearly perfect for the first ten years, Gibbs.  I'm one of the first live born ones."  He kept reading, taking the rest from the director.  "We have mother's names, we can search."  He looked at his boss.  "This does explain a lot."

Gibbs nodded. "It does."

"I meant about my family's attitude issue about me," he said, handing it back.  "I'll call and bitch them out later, boss.  Want help searching them out?"

"Yes.  You and Abby only, DiNozzo.  I can trust you two to keep quiet."

"Of course.  Let's hope some of us are still alive.  I think I'd like to go bite a former Marine."  He walked out shaking his head.  He came back to get the lists and went back to his desk.  "Probie, do the background for me.  I'm being moved to a special search project."

"Sure, Tony.  Is it bad?"

"Classified."

McGee nodded at that.  That happened now and then.  Those sort of things always went to team leaders and senior agents.  Gibbs was one of the most senior in the agency so of course it had hit their team.  "Are you all right?" he asked quietly.  "You look pissed."

"Not at you," he said, smirking at him.  "But I know someone who's going to get chewed a new one later."  He got back to work, making a list of the parents first.  Some of them might still be alive.  They'd have to notify them.

***

Gibbs looked at the two Marines who met him at the coffee shop.  One of them was making him stare at him in a strange way.   He looked at the other one.  "Taylor."

"Gibbs.  What happened?"  He looked at the other guy.  "I never served with you.  Mac Taylor."

"John Winchester."  He looked at Gibbs.   "I remember NCIS questioning a friend about a case once.  Is it to do with our old units?"

"Not quite."  He put the folder down on the table.  "This is presently being listed as need to know."  They both nodded at that.  "Do you remember a research study that said they were tracking our children?  They came to take blood?"

"Slightly," Mac agreed.  "I was told there was no opting out."

John nodded.  "I do remember that.  They got us just out of Basic.  Then again when we got back.  Something about a failure in the original."

Gibbs snorted, getting comfortable.  "They were working on future soldiers, gentlemen."  Winchester stiffened.  "We're the last of the paternal donors.  Winchester, your son Tony is my senior agent."

"Oh, damn," he muttered.

"Exactly," Gibbs agreed, staring at the very shocked Taylor.  "It ran from the late sixties to the early eighties.  I got the report off an archivist who died of lung cancer.  It had ended up in the Pentagon archive and got found a few years back.  They decided to hide it."

"Probably afraid of lawsuits," Mac said, taking it to read.  He handed each page to John, who scanned it before putting it back.  "They had a lot of failures.  I'm surprised they didn't get shut down."

"That's when they picked the three of us," Gibbs told him.  "I was barely in the service two years.  It was your rookie year, and Winchester was getting ready to leave in a few years."  He looked at John.  "By the way, Tony looked you up."

"Sorry to give him that trauma," he said dryly.

"One of your other ones does the same thing.  Recently helped take down a military unit in his own."  Mac gave him a heated look.  "Another experimental group that got busted and eliminated for torture."

"Charming," Mac mouthed.  He went back to reading.  He finally sighed, coming to the list at the end.  "I know two of these people.  The third I have no idea."

Gibbs nodded.  He slid over the envelope in his pocket.  "That's where she's studying."  He smirked.  "Tony agreed with me that we'd save you the work looking her up.  Just in case you wanted to talk to her."

"I do.  Can we copy this for the children?"

"You can."  He looked at John.  "There is something extremely strange about the one, Winchester.  I know he's in the same business."  He tossed over the thicker folder.  "When they did the background it raised that flag.  He's 'do not touch' in the system for whatever reason."

John winced.  "Psycho?"

"Not from what they said.  They said pathetic tagalong with no self esteem.  Since he, three girls, and a librarian helped take down a unit, I'm going to doubt they had sense."

"It's people like that who give the rest of us who go into scientific fields a bad name," Mac complained.  He sipped his coffee.  "All right, now what?"

Gibbs shrugged.  "As far as I'm concerned, find them, talk to them.  That's your call, Taylor."

He nodded.  "Yours?"

"Mine's a strange thing.  I have no idea what I'm going to do at the moment.  Two are in law enforcement.  One's currently a Marine.  One's in jail."  He grimaced.  "That'll be fixed eventually since it's a minor offense.  He mouthed off to a judge," he said at John's amused look.  "Much nicer than your younger ones."

"We do what we have to do, Gibbs."  He finished his coffee.  "The people in charge?"

"Mostly dead.  One of the researchers is left.  She's in a secure facility for the psychologically snapped with classified knowledge."  That got a joint nod.  "The ones who did the coverup are still there.  We had a talk.  They're not happy that got found out about."

"Yay them," Mac said.  "I'm going to kick his ass."  He stood up.  "Thanks, Gibbs.  Be safe and call in a few months to see if we want to hold a reunion?"  That got a nod so he left.  He'd wonder about the other guy later.  He and Gibbs were hostile for some reason that didn't concern him.  He had three children to find and talk to.

Gibbs looked at him.  "That one..."

"I saw.  Alexander?"  Gibbs nodded.  "You want to tell him?"

"No.  I doubt he'd be able to get along with the sort of cases I deal with daily.  I do not want him continuing this career.  It looks dangerous."

"It's as important as being a Marine was," he said quietly.  "We save as many lives, one at a time.  Even if they don't know it or like it."

Gibbs nodded.  "I can see that, but I still don't like your calling or his."

"I'll let him know that."

"Good."  He stood up.  "They did say his training was odd and possibly incomplete."  He walked off, going to talk to a few people.  He nodded at Tony when he walked past him.

Tony strolled in and sat down, staring at him.  "That's why I have green eyes."  John moaned, looking up from his reading.  "Tony DiNozzo."

"As in DiNozzo Banking and DiNozzo Electronics?" he asked.  Tony nodded.  "You should stick with them."

"They decided I was an unworthy specimen a long time ago, Mr. Winchester.  I'm not asking for favors or to join you.  I saw what you do daily and I can't do that."  That got a nod.  "I'm honest with myself.  On the job is one thing.  Living on the job all the time is another."

"It's not for everyone," he agreed calmly.

"That doesn't mean I shouldn't give you the chance to get to know me."

"Agreed."

"I'm Gibbs' senior agent."

"Isn't that awkward?"

"Only if he were my father."

That got a smirk and a nod.  "I can see that."  He pulled out a picture.  "These are the two I knew of.  This is Dean and that's Sammy.  Sammy's at Stanford at the moment."  He looked at him.  "He wanted a normal life too."

Tony relaxed.  "Thank you for understanding."

"I rode Sammy about it for years but I know it's a hard life, Tony.  I'll leave it as getting to know you and making sure you've got proper protections."  That got a nod.  "It's not that hard or that intrusive.  I'll write them down for you.  The others will need them too."  Tony gave him a grin.  "Let me digest this then we'll meet after your shift?"

"That'll be tomorrow but it'll work.  We've got a stakeout tonight."

"That's fine."  He wrote down his number.  "Call me when you're awake.  I'll be in town for a few days.  I want to talk to someone."  That got a nod and Tony took the number with him.  John sat back to go over the reports again.  Yeah, he'd have stopped that unit too.  He hated demons as much as the next hunter but torture was still wrong.

***

John called his son once he had gotten done talking with Tony.  "Dean, it's me."

//Dad.  What's up?  You don't sound too happy.//

"Where are you?"

//Las Vegas but I'm leaving tomorrow.//

"No, stay there."

//I need to leave tomorrow.//

John sighed.  "Meet me ten miles to the east of the Tropicana in six days.  It'll take me that long to get there from the east coast.  I have a stop to make first."

//What happened?  New hunt?//

"No.  Not a new hunt."  He hung up and leaned back, figuring out how he'd talk to the one on the way.  Then he decided to just head out to Nevada.  He could stop and talk to a hacker he knew on the way.  They might need her services.  He left Tony a text message to call him whenever he wanted to talk, that he was going to find the others, and to be safe.  Then he left DC for a while.

***

John stared at his son as he got out of his truck.  "Sleep with the wrong woman?" he teased.

"Got into a fight with a guy about whether or not I was cheating at the poker game we were playing."

"Were you?"

"Not exactly.  Counting cards, but not cheating."  He pushed his sunglasses back up his nose.  "So, what's wrong?  You look like hell, Dad."

"We need to talk about some relations, son."

Dean gave him an odd look.  "Relations?  What?  Did I really sleep with the wrong woman?  If I slept with a cousin or something...."

"Not that sort."

Dean sat up straighter.  "Mom have more family that we just found?"  John handed over something and sat on the seat part of the picnic table Dean was sitting on top of.  Dean looked at it.  "Just tell me, Dad.  This isn't first grade and I sucked at show and tell."

John snorted.  "You didn't do too badly until you brought in the shotgun and then your brother."  He played with the report then looked at him.  "While I was in the service...."

"Did you cheat on Mom?" he taunted with a smirk.

"Before we got together, son."  He rolled his eyes.  "Someone was doing a research study.  They told us it was to track how many of our kids entered the service or became jailbait."  Dean nodded slowly, losing his grin.  "So they came and they took everyone's blood."

"Uh-huh."

"And later on a few of us they took tissue samples, told us the original sample had gotten wet or something, screwed it up."

"And....  We have relations from this?"

"I have an additional three sons.  I've talked to one.  He does not want to hunt.  Which isn't such a bad idea since he's a Fed."

"I have a big brother who's a Fed?" he demanded.

"NCIS."

Dean shook his head quickly.  "Okay, that's strange."

"The other two, one's in jail.  He's a decent enough kid but he's in a sucky position and his woman came at him with a knife so he put her down.  She pressed charges.  He pressed charges.  He'll be out in six weeks.  She gets out in ten months."

Dean nodded.  "Okay.  And we do what?"

"The other one's a bit stranger.  Actually, we share him with one of the NCIS guys.  The one who told me was also used.  Your bigger brother is his senior agent."  He pulled out the picture he had taken.  "That's Gibbs.  That's Tony.  Tony's your older half brother."

"He looks like a yuppie."

"It's all attitude, son.  He grew up rich but his family decided he wasn't worthy."  Dean grimaced at that.  "So he's a cop and they hate that.  He moved to NCIS after Baltimore.  Gibbs and I share the other one I haven't mentioned yet."

Dean hummed.  "What's special about that one?"

"That one is in the same business we are."

Dean straightened up.  "Really?  The family demon?"

"No."  He handed over the information.  "He and his friends took down a group torturing others out there.  I have no idea what got him started."  Dean read it over.  "Gibbs said that they have distinct lack of sense and ability to see correctly.  He's flagged in the system as do not touch, do not recruit, and do not engage."  Dean stared at him over the top of his sunglasses.  "A few years back he broke onto a base to get something necessary to stop one in a mall."

"I'll buy him a beer for that."

John shook his head.  "First I want you to go tail him.  Get to know him if you can.  Watch him and give me a report.  I'm going to meet the other one since he's closer to being local."

"I can do that.  Where is he?"

"California.  Sunnydale."

"You hear some strange things about that town."

"Yup.  And he's involved."

"Proves he's a Winchester," Dean said dryly.

"It does."  He stood up and put the paperwork back.  "I'll join you in about a week."

"Any nieces and nephews?"

"Not that I'm aware of.  Tony doesn't.  He has had the plague though."

"Eww."

"Very.  It got sent to his desk."

Dean shuddered.  "Proves why I never wanted to be a Fed."  He stood up, dusting himself off.  "Okay, how do I recognize him?"  John handed over the picture.  "How did he get brown eyes?"

"My mother had brown eyes."  He walked off, back to his truck.  "Call me when you find him."

"Of course."  He got into his car and headed out of town.  It was only about a day's drive to LA and then a few hours up to Sunnydale.  "Wonder what he's handled," he said as he drove.  A new little brother was going to be pretty cool.  The guy was halfway his and Sammy's age.  That was kind of cool in a few ways.  He blocked out thoughts of Sammy and got happier with the knowledge that his new little brother would at least be cooler than his other one was.  If only because he liked to hunt demons.

***

John sat down across from the young man at the visiting station.  He picked up the phone.  "Thomas."

"Who're you?" he asked.

He slid over some papers.  They had been checked and the guards knew this was going to be a long talk.  "Those are from my military days.  There was a classified project back then that they never told us was going to give us children."

The guy stared then burst out laughing.  "You're joking.  Who put you up to this?  Man, thanks, I needed the laugh."  John stared at him and he quit.  "You're serious?" he demanded.  John nodded.  He read them over then picked up the phone again once he had calmed himself down.  "Now what?"

"Now, I get to know you and the other two.  I tell you about them, the ones I knew about before, and me.  If you want.  I'm not going to make any decisions for you."

"That's nice.  How long are you in town for?"

"A week, then I'm talking to the last one.  I'll be back after I've talked to him.  I know it's a lot to swallow.  I wanted to destroy whoever did this."

"You're not the only one," he said, slumping down to look at him.  "So, who are you?"

"John Winchester."

"What do you do for a job?"

"I travel a lot."  The guy gave him an odd look.  "The last page, Thomas."  He looked then moaned, rubbing his forehead.  "I'm not going to be pushy.  I'll leave it as a briefing and teaching you how to protect yourself.  I got involved when one took out my wife and tried with the rest of us."

The kid stared at him.  "Seriously?"  John nodded. "That would explain the thing in the caf here."

John smirked.  "Places like this gather them."

"Figures."  He leaned on the counter, rubbing his forehead again.  "Okay."  He looked at him.  "This is a lot to take in."  John wrote down his cellphone number and slid it through the slot too.  The papers were slid back.  John pushed them back.  "My copy?"

"Your copy," he agreed.  The guard came over.  "Ten more?"  The guard nodded.  He looked at his boy again.  "Can you visit next weekend?"

"Yeah, I can do that.  That'll give me plenty of time to talk and think."  That got a nod.  "Thank you for telling me."

"The family is everything to a Winchester," John told him.  That got a slight smile and a nod.  "I'll be back about ten next Saturday."

"Thanks."  He gathered them and walked off.  "Can I talk to the shrink?" he asked the guard.

"Sure, kid.  The guard who patted him down read them."  The kid looked at him.  "Standard procedure."

"I guess that makes sense.  Can I go today?"

"She's talking to one of the guys in the yard."  He walked him back to his cell then went to get her.  "Hey, Doc?"  She turned to look at him.  "When you're done, one of the young kids in here for defending himself just got told he had a real father."

"That does suck," she decided.  "Sure."  She went back to the one she was helping with his anger issues.  When she was done she was led back and walked into his cell, sitting down in the single chair bolted to the floor.  "Real father?"  He handed over the forms.  She looked it over.  "Do you know what this means?"

"He told me it was some sort of experiment.  I don't understand it all."

She frowned, rereading it.  Then she leaned forward to translate it for him.  He listened then got up to pace.  She'd let him talk at her until he felt more comfortable.  That last sheet of information bothered her a lot.  It may explain where this one's problems came from.  No one was sure if mental illness was genetic or not in all forms.

***

Mac looked at the two men he had meet him at a neutral location, though he was in his hometown.  "Gentlemen, I'm Mac Taylor.  I know you probably don't know me but I'm here to change that."

"If you're recruiting, I'm happy where I am," the darker blond man said.

"I'm not, Ryan.  You and Greg are here because I got handed news about a former classified project the Marines were doing that impacted you both."  They nodded at that.  "There's another of you but she couldn't get here.  She's in Texas and had court this week."  He handed over the copies of the information with a slight sigh.  "I don't know any way to tell you except doing it this way.  You both have more than enough training to interpret that folder."

Greg flipped it open with a snap of his wrist, frowning as he read.  He grinned.  "No way."

"Very," Mac shot back with a grin.

"But my grandfather...."

"Greg, if he knew, it didn't matter to him.  There's every chance he knew."

Greg went back to reading.

Ryan gave him an uneasy look but started to read.  He frowned at Mac.  "Excuse me?"

Mac nodded.  "There's three men who got used in the later portion.  From seventy-five to eighty-three.  Myself, Jethro Gibbs who is now at NCIS as one of their top senior agents, and a former Marine named John Winchester.  He's a bit... odd.  He's the only one of us that didn't go into law enforcement but he's privately employed saving people."

"Commando rescue team?"

"Not quite," Mac said.

"So..." Greg said, staring at him.  "My grandfather had to know."

Mac nodded.  "Probably.  Not like they were subtle."

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"I have no clue, Greg.  You'd have to ask him."

"I'd have to do a seance and you know how hard it is to find someone who has a clue and isn't doing it to scam."

Ryan gave him an odd look.  "You believe in that stuff?"

"My grandmother had a touch of the sight about the family," he said quietly.

"Wow."

"Winchester works with a lot of that sort," Mac told him.  "If you wanted to, I'd ask his opinion.  He might know one."

"Nah.  Papa Olaf would tan my ass if I broke up his snuggling Nana and watching bikinis in heaven."  Ryan gave him another odd look so he grinned.  "What else do you expect to be up there?  Fluffy clouds and music?  I'd be bored."

"Never really thought about it," Ryan admitted.  He went back to reading.  "They had a high failure rate."

"Then test tube babies and in vitro fertilization became a better science," Mac told him.  "Apparently the three of us were chosen when the first group finally couldn't produce more than a few live births.  They were about to be shut down."

"But, bam, a test tube baby makes it easier," Greg quipped.  Mac nodded.  "The other?"

"Cop in Houston.  She's got court on a Vice and drug case this week.  I have her contact information so you three can talk if you want."

Ryan looked at him.  He shut the folder.  "Okay, beyond this being majorly freaky, what do you want out of this?"

"I think we should at least get to know each other," Mac said.  "I didn't think I was going to have children.  My wife was barren when she died in the Towers."  They both nodded slightly at that.  "I think it's odd that both of you became CSI."

Greg grinned.  "It comes from the genes.  That's why I'm a DNA god, Mac."  Mac grinned.

Ryan smirked.  "Aren't you overstating that?"

"Not in my lab.  I work nightshift in Las Vegas' lab."  Ryan gaped.  "You?"

"I just got hired into Miami-Dade's."

"Wow."  He patted him.  "We worked with Horatio once."  He looked at Mac.  "Okay, so you're a dad.  I'm not against starting up a friendship but I'm not going to call you daddy and pounce unless I'm joking around."

Mac grinned. "That's fine with me, Greg.  I don't expect more than a friendship if we can."  They both grinned and relaxed.   "Ryan, tell Horatio he still owes me ten bucks?"

"I can do that," he agreed. "Can I tell him?"

Mac grimaced.  "It's supposed to be need to know."

"So if he needs to know I'll let him," Ryan decided.

"Grissom won't even ask," Greg said, frowning some.  "Catherine might.  I don't think it'd impact anything in the lab unless you're wanted in my part of the country?"

"Not as far as I know," Mac admitted.  "My lab here would be really upset with me.  I'd have to sic Stella on Grissom and he'd hide again, like the last time she went off on him."

Greg smirked evilly.  "Ooh, that's good to know."

Mac smirked back.  "Stella's a very strong woman.  She has the classic Greek temper too."  They both laughed.  He nodded.  "I've got to call in but I was going to take us to lunch to get to know each other if you wanted."

"Let us check in too.  Where should we meet you?" Ryan asked.

"There's a good deli the next street up on the corner," he said with a point.  "In about a half hour?"  They nodded and headed off to take their folders back to their rooms and check in.  Mac checked in on the way there.  "Stella, Mac.  Yes, I'm in town but I can't come in.  Because it's personal and something that happened in the Marines, Stella.  I'm talking to some people who should get to know me."  He grimaced.  "It's need to know, Stella.  At this point in time you don't need to know but tell Danny to be *really* calm when he gets a visitor, okay?"  He hung up and saw the deli was open, it was clean today, and it smelled good.  Ryan joined him first.  "Anything going on in Miami?"

"I told Horatio that and he laughed.  He said to say hello and he paid you already by buying you that expensive ale."

Mac grinned.  "I don't remember him buying that round."

"You can get it from him at the next convention," Greg said as he joined them.  "Catherine complained because it's early.  She said to bring her back a t-shirt."

Mac nodded.  "I got that from my trip to DC."  They went in and Mac bought lunch, sitting down to talk to the boys to get to know them.  They were all still creeped out but they'd get over it.

***

Gibbs looked at the young man who got the message and closed the door frowning.  "Warning you I'd be up?"

"To be calm when I got a visitor."  He stared at him.  "What's with the visit?  Recruiting?"

"No.  A classified project ended up kicking out your name."

"I'm not..."

Gibbs shook his head.  "Not a job, Messer."  He handed over the folder.  "This is need to know."

Danny nodded slowly, sitting down to read it.  He frowned at it, then glared at him.  "Excuse me?" he demanded.

"Came as a shock to me too."  He watched the guy pace while he read.  He must get that from his mother.  "All I knew was that they took blood and then a later tissue sample because their original one got corrupted somehow.  I got that folder of information from an archivist who had just died.  The original was destroyed to cover it up."

Danny stopped pacing to stare at him.  "No way."  He grinned.  "Did Flack put you up to this?"

"Flack Senior?  No.  I've worked with him.  I didn't realize he had a sense of humor.  He seemed pretty straightlaced when we worked on that case."

"We work with Junior a lot."

"Is he any good?  We're always looking for good agents."

"Yeah but I'd rather keep him here.  He's one of the few I can trust and will always trust."

Gibbs nodded.  "That's important in the field."  He watched Danny for a minute.  "I don't expect us to be one of those hugging, happy, crying families, but I wouldn't mind getting to know you."

Danny nodded.  "Can't hurt.  This does explain why my father liked my older brother more."

"Could," he agreed.

Danny stared at him.  "How deep was the background you did?"

"Fairly.  Did you join?"

"No."

"That's good.  Showed brains."

"Louie kept me from it," he admitted quietly.

"It's a big brother's job to watch out for the younger one, Danny."

He nodded.  "Good point."  He sat down, staring at him.  "Any others?"

"There's five of you total.  One's in jail after mouthing off to a judge.  You and another are in law enforcement.  One's a Marine serving in South America.  The other I share with one of the other donors.  He's young but he's working construction and he deals in...strange stuff."

"Strange?  Like crystal pyramid wearing strange?"

"I don't know.   I know he deals with things I wouldn't accept seeing in a case file."

"Ah, one of those.  Okay.  Where's he?"

"California.  Which I figure is a good place for that."

"Could be, yeah," he agreed with a small smirk.  "You talking to him?"

"I'm letting his other father tell him since they're in similar fields."

"Now I know who ta call when I get something like that."  He patted the folder.  "So."

Gibbs smirked.  "I'm not all that bad unless I'm without caffeine for a long time or you piss me off doing something stupid, Danny.   I'm here to get to know you as the man you are."

Danny nodded.  "I can like that," he decided.  Someone knocked.  "What?" he yelled.

Stella leaned in.  "Don't yell at me.  I'll lose your pay records for the day."  She stared at him.  "We need you on a field call."

Danny gathered things up.  He wrote down an address and phone number.  "Call me for dinner, Gibbs."

"Jethro."

Danny smiled.  "I can do that too."  He walked out, going to put the folder in a safe place. He handed it to Flack.  "I need that back later, it's need to know, and you can't.  Yet."

Don Flack stared at him then put it into his car's glove box.  "Okay.   Am I going to be bothered by a Fed?"

"We'll see.  Am I catching a ride?"

"You are," he said dryly.  "You're my bitch today, Messer."

"I only top, Flack," he said dryly.  "Get over this fantasy of yours where I'm beggin' you for it.  Not my style."  He finished grabbing what he'd need and got into the car.

Don was grinning.  "You sure?  I can see you begging on the basketball court."

"Not hardly," he shot back with a smirk.

"Uh-huh.  I have seen you do it.  Begging for mercy.  Begging for air."

Danny swatted him hard on the arm.  "I do not beg.  It's not the man I am."

"I'll have someone take film next time," he shot back.  Danny snorted.  They went silent for a few minutes.  "You wanna talk?"

"I'm not sure if I can tell you."

"Job offer?"

"Family thing."

"Not again," he moaned.

"Not that sort."  Danny shifted to look at him.  "My mother participated in an experiment some Marine researchers were running."

"Like sea life?"

"Like saluting and wearing the same  uniform Mac does."  Don pulled over to stare at him.  "We're on our way to a scene."

"Tell me you didn't just say Messer Senior isn't your dad?" he begged.  Danny shook his head.  "Holy shit."

"Basically, yeah.  My real father is apparently NCIS.  Now, case?  Scene, that thing?"  Don pulled back into traffic and drove there thinking.  "You can't tell."

"I won't.  He nice?"

"We were talking before Stella barged in.  We're having dinner."

"I can wait until next week."

"I'm sorry, Don.  I forgot."

"Not an issue.  Family has to come first."  He grinned at him.  "You gonna tell him everything?"

"Don't know."  He shifted around to look out the side window again.  "He did a pretty good background on me.  Knew about Sonny and Louie."

"Feds have the better resources.  Is he at least not one of the scum sucking, credit taking Feds we get now and then?"

"Nah.  I don't think he is.  He seemed like a bit of a hard ass.  But apparently I've got three other siblings.  One who does, quote, strange stuff."

"Like taking video of cold spots in supposedly haunted houses?"

"He didn't go into details."

"Uh-huh.  Now we know who ta call when we need a reference."

"Could be.  I'll have ta meet him and the others.  One's in jail for mouthing off to a judge."  He cleared his throat.  "Mac got the same visit."

"Wondered where he was."

"Talking to two CSI out of other cities."

Don snickered.  "Figures."

"Yeah, it does."  They pulled up onto the scene and got out to get to work.  They'd talk about this later.  Don would help him keep calm.  Now he knew what Mac meant.

***

Willow Rosenburg stiffened, seeing someone watching them.  "There's that guy again, Xander," she said quietly.

He glanced at him.  "He's not stalking.  He's watching but not stalking."  He got up and walked over there, seeing the amused look.  "Are you going to hit on Willow or me or not, buddy?  We've seen you in seven of the last nine places we've been."

"I'm watching you for my father, Xander."

"Why?  Am I going to inherit something?" he asked sarcastically.

"No.  The family's not wealthy."  He kicked a chair out.  "I can give you the bare bones but Dad's got the file."

"What file?"

"A file got sent to a few Marines about an older research study."  Xander stiffened.  "My dad's name and your name both came up in it."

"No way."

Dean nodded.  "Nothing too horrible, but it's nice you're in the family business."

Xander gaped.  "So my mom did cheat?"

"They did it in a dish I think.  I only glanced at the files.  Dad'll be here in a few days.  He had to find one of the others.  He sent me to watch you and see how you'll take the news."

Xander considered it.  "I knew Tony wasn't my father.  He said so often enough."

Dean nodded.  "Dad's...a bit of a hardass really.  He trained me and my little brother Sammy to be hunters too."

"Wow."  He leaned on the table.  "When is he going to appear?"

"He's leaving Nevada early Sunday.  As long as the one out there didn't turn him in as a mental patient."

"Damn."  He sighed.  "Okay, so the stalking is because of that?"  Dean nodded.  "That's all it is?"  Dean nodded again.  "Go relax."

"I can help you guys hunt.  Not like we don't hunt demons too," he said quietly.

Xander grimaced.  "We're kinda slow right now and I have to sneak up on this subject.  Got anything a hacker could find?"

"Not really but Dad did have the file the idiots you guys took down did on you.  Your name has a flag."

"Charming," he said sarcastically.

"No idea what but I did see the do not touch flag."

"Not so bad," he said with a grin.

"You're taking this really well."

"I've known for years, Dean.  I knew someone would find me sometime."

"You know who I am?" he asked with a grin.

"Willow hacks."

"Ah.  So you've been planning this talk?"

"No.  Just trying to see if you were stalking me due to a prior possession or something.  I thought that might be the reason."

"Nope.  I'm playing big brother."

"That's cool I guess."  He stood up.  "Find me when he gets in, Dean.  By the way, don't hit the Bronze without a stake again.  It's a buffet."  He walked off, going to talk to Willow.  "He's a big brother."

"To...." she asked.

"Me."

She blinked at him.  "Really?"

"Yup.  He's been watching me for his dad.  Who should be here Sunday or Monday, depending on if the other one threw him in jail for being loony."

"Wonderful.  I wondered how long it would take before someone figured it out."  She put money down and walked over to his table.  "Willow Rosenburg."

"I know."  He shook her hand.  "Dean Winchester."

"I know."  She smirked evilly.  "Are you going to be bothering the Xander?"

"That's up to him.  I don't make that decision."

"Good."  She modified the smirk back to a grin.  "Anything I can search?"

"Probably not.  Dad said there was a coverup.  He has the full file."

"That works.  When he gets in, bring him to the Magic Box."

"It's supposed to be need to know."

She leaned down. "We're friends, Dean.  We need to know we can trust you with our friend."

He nodded.  "I can see that, but I'd rather they talked and then he brought it to you guys.  That way he can get emo or whatever in peace."

"Good point."  She stood up again.  "I like that point."  She ruffled his hair, weathering his protesting noises.  "Come to the Magic Box when you're done and ignore Anya."  She walked off.

Xander shrugged.  "She's back in protective mode.  Feel luck you're not a rat too," he said as he walked past him.  "Call me."

"We'll find you when he gets in."

"Stay at the motor lodge.  It's safer," he called back.

Dean smirked.  The guy wasn't too bad.  Less emo than Sammy but a bit stranger.  He could get used to this one more than he could having a big brother that was a Fed.

***

John walked onto the construction site, seeing his younger one at the table.  He walked over.  "Alexander?"

"Just Xander's fine."  He looked at him.  "Your pictures look more tired."

"The last one I had taken I was off a two week hunt for a possessed lizard that was going around killing people."  He sat across from him.  "Dean said you two talked?"

"Some.  He said you had information."

"I do."  He pulled out the folder, sliding it over to him.  "I know you've still got to work today."

"Actually, I'm off for the rest of the day.  I've known for years someone would show up sometime.  Might as well be now."

John smiled.  "You're not going to throw a fit?"

"Why?  Mom probably did it for the money."  He shrugged.  "I've known for years my father wasn't my actual father.  At least you're not an uptight banker or someone."

"No, that's the guy who raised Tony.  Your older half-brother who works in the government."

Xander gave him an odd look.  "As?"

"Investigative agent with NCIS."

Xander shuddered. "Poor guy.  First snobby bastards and now Feds."  He opened the folder.  "Can we summarize this since it's in Science and my own sciency language is Star Trek?"

John laughed.  "Sure.  Basically they took a skin cell scraping from me way back when I was a Marine.  They said it was so they could track our kids."  Xander grimaced.  "They didn't give us a choice.  We'd end up in the brig if we disagreed or tried to get out of it."  That got a slow nod.  "They never told us they'd be making the babies they'd be tracking."

"Why create us?"

"They wanted to breed a line of soldiers who they knew would have the training from the start.  Basically, they'd train you guys so you'd be loyal and gung-ho to the Corps no matter what.  Then they got shut down shortly after you were born.  They sent the kids they had to their parents.  The earlier ones they had been using some early childhood training but sent them to their parents earlier.  You're the last one born and they were trying something even more special with you."  Xander snorted.  "There's three donors that make up the last batch of ten.  You come from two of us.  Your older brother's boss is actually your other father."

Xander shook his head quickly.  "How did that work?"

"I have no clue.  Science isn't a language I feel comfortable with either."

Xander grinned.  "It's good I don't have to work to impress you with my tiny brain."

"I want you to be yourself and let me get to know you, kid.  That's all I'm asking for."

Xander nodded.  "I can see that happening.  Though, Dean's a bit creepy and obvious when he's stalking you."

"That's because he wanted you to come to him so he could talk to you."

"He could've just sat down any of the times we caught him and we would've.  We wouldn't have panicked about him being Initiative and coming back for us."

"If he had been messed up with that, I'd have shot him up the ass," John assured him. "That was good work."

Xander nodded his thanks.  "They had a few friends.  It wasn't right."

"No, it wasn't."  He smiled.  "Let's go talk somewhere your boss isn't watching?"

"Sure, I can do that.  Willow wanted to interrogate you too."

"I figured she would with what we've heard."  He stood up and the kid followed.  "I drove if you need a ride."

"So did I.  You passed by the big park without the cemetery?"  John thought back and nodded.  "Meet me by the ball field?  It's usually empty this time of day."

"I can do that."  Xander headed for his car.  John headed for his.  Xander was clearly going to let his friends copy the file so they could decode it for him.  Then they'd talk.  They could work it out.  He called Dean on the way.  "The large park without the cemetery, by the ballfield."  He hung up and drove on, finding the right park and the parking lot.  He saw the car Xander got into and followed the signs to the ballfield.  Dean was already there.  "At least you two can probably get along."  He sat down on Xander's other side.  "That redhead of yours decrypting the science for us?"

Xander nodded.  "Yeah.  She demanded.  She stole it from me too."  He shrugged.  "She's like that now and then."

"She seemed kinda protective," Dean told him.

Xander smirked.  "Only some of the time.  We're kinda... at a strange place in the group right now.  The Initiative tried to fracture us and it nearly succeeded.  That plus they're in college and I'm not.  It's gotten strange," he finished quietly, glancing around.  He looked at one of the demons watching them.  "Yes, they're my real family," he said in that one's language.  "Yes, Buffy knows too.  Willow told her."  The demon growled but stomped off.  "Sorry, that one would love to get something on us that would make us help him try to take over the town."  He grimaced.  "We've got to deal with him when he starts his next evil plan."

"Usually we'd just take them out," Dean said.

Xander gave him a dirty look.  "There's plenty of ones around here that're harmless and only interested in surviving.  The local rule is we hunt those doing bad things or actively hunting, Dean.  Not doing it because they might be able to pull off an evil plan some day.  That one's been trying to find something now for three years and hasn't managed it."

"There's harmless ones?"

"Yeah, lots of them.  Some of them hide every place but Sunnydale, but yeah."

"There's some plant demons and things, Dean.  We never run into them and I taught you not to shoot at something just because it's funny looking."

"You did.  I didn't realize they were classified the same."

Xander nodded.  "It's a matter of being born on a demon plane or being born in a hell dimension.  Even some of the ones born in a hell dimension aren't so bad.  You can be of any class and be a bad guy, and you can have one bad guy in a peaceful group of demons, but we only take out the bad guys."

Dean nodded.  "That sounds like it's a good idea.  No karma backlash."

"No worrying about them declaring war," Xander agreed.  He saw a young woman and frowned, checking his watch.  "Dawn Summers, why the hell are you out of school!" he yelled.   She jumped and gave him a guilty look.  "Come here now."  She trudged over.  He stared at her.  "Kicked out or skipped?"

"Skipped.  I'm bored stupid and the ho patrol is on my case again."

He grimaced.  "I can't say as I didn't do a lot of skipping myself but you should have told us, that way we could have covered and came for you if you got into trouble."

"I left during lunch."

He sighed.  "Tell your mother?"

"Do I look suicidal?" she demanded.  "After all the trouble Buffy got into skipping?"

"That's usually because of patrol, Dawn."  He pulled her closer to hug.  "What did the ho patrol do this time?"

"Stupid bitches decided I'm a lesbian.  Which I have no problem with but it's *so* not who I am.  Then one of them tried to attack me in school.  The teacher got her and gave me a dirty look.  So I told her why and that the ho patrol had been seen selling it at the Bronze, which made that one shriek and the teacher too since one of them is kinda her niece.  She's dragging her off to the doctor today."

"That's a good idea since you're all only fourteen," Xander said dryly.  "The fight?"

"She started it, I ducked the punch.  Weak ass punch but I did duck it and let her hit the locker instead.  I'm not in trouble.  The principal wanted to know the whole story so I told him *everything* and he's not impressed.  I told him I was going to mope.  He warned me not to be caught sneaking off grounds so it was practically an invitation if I could pull it off."

He smirked at that.  "Not quite."  He pushed her hair back behind her ears.  "These are Dean and John.  Back in his Marine days, the government took some of John's blood and stuff to make me without telling him."

"We all knew your mom cheated, Xander.  Hell, my mom caught your mom cheating the other day."

"I heard.  That was her new special friend that has a painkiller habit he's willing to share."  He looked at her.  "If they call Joyce first you're in trouble."

"Can you?"

Xander grimaced.  "Fine."  He called her.  "Joyce, Xander.  I'm within touching range of your daughter so she's not in trouble.  If someone calls, let her explain?"  He grinned at her.  "Ho patrol.  One tried to attack her and she let the kid hit the locker, like we taught her.  She said she told the principal everything.  In the park.  Thanks, Joyce."  He hung up.  "She said you're grounded all weekend and you're cleaning the attic and basement all by yourself."  She pouted.  "Yay.  Like Buffy won't make you cookies."

"I know."  She settled in by his feet on the risers.  "So, what do you guys do?"

"We're roving demon hunters," Dean told her.

She gaped then burst out giggling.  "That's kinda strange, Xander."

"Yeah, and to think I got into it because of the vampires."  She gave his leg a hug.  "Thanks, Dawnster."  He patted her on the head.  Then he looked at John.  "She's Buffy's little sister."

"Are you going to hunt too?"

"My mother would tan my ass," Dawn said, looking serious.  "She said I can become a Watcher if I want but I will not go out hunting like they do or she will kill me.  Since my mother's scary, she'll do it."

Xander nodded.  "She will.  Then she'll burst out crying and have Willow reanimate you or something."  He looked behind them, then grinned.  "Hey, Clem."  He came over.  "Dawn, you've met Clem, right?"

"I have."  She grinned and waved.  "Hi, Clem."

"Hi, Dawn."  He nodded at the other two.  "There's a problem on the West Side tonight."

"We can hit the Magic Box so Willow can interrogate these two."  Clem glared at them. "Ease off, Clem.  Turns out I have a real family."  That got a nod and he went back to being shy and nice.  "What's the issue?"

"Two vampires are going to use their minions to play war games around the college."

Xander blinked.  "How many?"

"No idea.  They've been building a good force. I know one's going to try to grab one of the dorms as a fort.  They were talking at Willie's last night in the poker room."

Xander nodded.  "Which masters?"

He shrugged.  "I didn't get their name.  I only overheard them when they got really loud.  One was talking that his master would be taking over Stevenson Hall as their fort."

"Which is Buffy and Willow's dorm.  That's incredibly dumb of them."  Clem nodded, his wrinkles shaking.  "Thanks, Clem.  I'll tell the group."  He shook his hand.  "No good games today?"

"No," he said, looking miserable.

"See if Spike's up.  He's had insomnia recently."  Clem beamed and went to check on Spike for him.  He looked at them.  "Clem and Spike play kitten poker together.  Spike was one of the ones the Initiative got so we're protecting him and he helps us when he's not chained in Giles' tub."  He stood up and Dawn did too.  "Let's hit the Magic Box."  He pointed.  "There, guys.  Watch out for Willow babble.  She will and be bouncy and happy possibly.  If she's scowling, stay behind Dawn.  She won't hex her."  He walked that way.  "Vamps playing war games," he said as he walked in.

"Oh, dear lord," Giles moaned.  "When?"

"Clem overheard a plan for tonight.  Two masters using their minions to play capture the flag around the campus.  One's going to try to take Stevenson as their fort.  He didn't get a lot of details; he was across the poker room at Willie's."

"I'll have Buffy go question him later then," he decided.  "Willow's in the back muttering."

"Good or bad muttering?" Dawn asked.

"Bad," he said.

"C'mon, guys, let me introduce you to my mom."  She dragged them out by their hands.  "She's powerful enough to get you out here but if she doesn't have something of yours it's probably safer."  She walked them over to the gallery, finding her mother alone.  "Mom, these are Dean and John, Xander's real family.  Willow's in a bad muttering mood."

"It's good of you to save them but you're still cleaning the attic, young lady.  Your principal said that was not an invitation to try to sneak off campus without getting caught.  Though he did want to know your route."

"The same one Xander said he used to take," she said dryly.

"I'll let him know."  She shook their hands.  "Go calm Willow down, dear."  She nodded, scurrying off before her mother punished her more.  "Sit, gentlemen.  Let's talk about Xander."  She smirked. "I am the only decent mother in the group.  Xander is like the son I never had."  They sat down to talk to her for now.  They could go back after the witch vented her temper.  She had information from an outside view on the newest Winchester.  It'd give them a more rounded view.

***

Xander looked over as Dean joined him that night.  "Joyce feed you guys dinner?"

"She insisted," John said as he joined them.  Xander looked at the gun.  "Dead man's blood."

"Stakes," he said, handing one over.  "Crossbows are good too.  That must be for a different version of vampire.  I know stakes didn't really work on Drac when he was here."  He looked at Buffy, who was staring.  "Buffy, these are Dean, my big brother, and John, my father."

"Hi."  She waved.  "You guys use guns?"

Dean nodded.  "All the time.  It lets us stay out of hitting range most of the time."

"Oh.  That might be nice sometimes, yeah.  It might even keep Xander from slamming his head into something again.  We hate when he has a concussion."  She looked at the campus again.  "No sign of them yet."

John looked then pointed.  "Unless some of the commandos stayed you have people in bad camo paint there."  She looked then groaned, going over to check.  She staked one.  The other shouted in fear and tried to run.  Xander got him with a crossbow.  John shook his head and the hunt was on.  They watched the girls and how they interacted.  Buffy was... an airhead.  She might have some depth but she was busy being an airhead tonight.  Willow was still muttering.  Not a happy witch.  The blond vampire they had heard to expect was ripping things apart.  It was gory and no one on campus seemed to care.  A few walked past Spike feeding on a demon arm and kept talking on their cellphone.  John gave them an odd look.  "Huh."

"It's like that around here," Willow said, looking at him.  "She's not really an airhead.  The vamps expect it."

"Sometimes you've got to have a good cover," Dean said.  He shot the vampire running toward him.  It went poof.  "Much easier than hand-to-hand."

John shook his head.  "If Xander jumps in, you follow.  You're his backup."

"Yes, sir."  He looked at him.  "Should I see if some training time would help?"

Xander looked back at them.  "Being possessed by a hyena means I do have some decent hearing."  They both smiled at him.  "And yes, I probably could use some training time but I have to pay the rent or Anya bitches."  He got the next group rushing his way.  "Looks like they did try the ambush ploy, Buff."

"Idiots."  She took out a few more.  Xander got some.  Xander went down but Dean got that one and helped him up.  The others helped John up when he got knocked down.  They worked well as a larger team.  The vamps were soon gone and they were panting, tired, and ash covered.  "I hate it when they have a plan."

Xander nodded, bending down to catch his breath.  "Yeah, plans suck when they're not ours."  He coughed.  "I think I inhaled some ash."  He coughed harder and spit.  "Better."  He stood up, looking at her.  "Your hair is going to take forever to wash."

She looked at it then nodded.  "Yeah, it is."  She sighed.  "Damn it.  I needed to study tonight."

"Take a shower then study," Dean told her.  She nodded, trudging to do that with Willow.  Dean looked at Xander.  "Speaking of showers."

"Want to borrow mine?" Xander asked.

"No, the one at the motel isn't too bad," John admitted.  "When's your next bigger free time?"

"Saturday but I promised I'd drive Dawn to the mall sometime that day."

"We can go with you two.  She seemed pretty decent," Dean decided.  Xander grinned and bopped him on the arm.  "We'll catch you at night, after work."

"Watch out for Anya."  He waved.  "Be safe, guys."  He went home to shower.  Anya gave him an odd look.  "The vamps playing war games was a multi-master ambush plan."

"Eww."

"Very."

"Don't forget to brush your teeth."

"I'm not."  He went in to shower.  By the time he came out Anya had opened a soda for him.  "Thanks, Ahn."

"Xander, are you cheating on me?"

He shook his head as he took a drink.  "No, you know that.  Why would I be?"

"You and two men were hanging out.  One's been with you a lot recently.  I don't mind if you're gay but there will be a threesome, not you sneaking off to get butt sex without me.  I do like to watch that sort of thing you know," she said warmly.

"I'm not having sex with them, Anya.  You remember meeting my mother?"

"A few times.  She asked me to curse one of the guys she was cheating with once.  Why?"

"Way back when she was part of a study that resulted in me being born."

She frowned.  "You can do that?"

"We're not having kids, Anya.  They're very expensive and you'd hate to give up all shopping.  Forever."

"Yes, Xander," she said meekly.  "But that's how you came to be?"  He nodded.  "So they're relatives?"

"The older one is my father and the younger is my older brother.  He's been stalking me to find out what I'm like.  We talked today."

"Oh.  I guess that's okay, even if there won't be butt sex with them.  It's a pity, I would've liked to watch that.  They both looked very strong and manly."

"If you can talk Dean into it," Xander said dryly.  She beamed, gave him a hug, and groped.  "Anya, two vampire armies," he complained.

"Want dinner first?"

He nodded.  "Could help because I'm too tired to get it up right now."  She bounced off to get him dinner, helping him eat so she could have her nightly 'sleeping pill' of Xander.

***

Dean walked up to where Xander was getting off work.  "Dude, your girlfriend wants me and Dad to sex you up.  What is wrong with her?  Even after we pointed out we're related she went off on this long fantasy of her watching it."

Xander grinned.  "That's just Anya.  She's not used to being human.  She's a bit warped by the time she spent as Vengeance for Women Scorned."

Dean stared then licked his lips.  "Want to repeat that?"

"Later."

"Sure," he agreed, grinning at that. "Let me take a picture of Dad's face, okay?"

Xander looked at him.  "She's the nicer one of my girlfriends, Dean."

"Do you draw other bad things too?" he joked.  "Sammy's a demon magnet too."

Xander nodded.  "Well, yeah."  He grinned.  "Now I know where it comes from.  Thanks, man."  He bopped him on the arm.  "I'm headed to shower, the Magic Box to see if we need patrol, then probably out on patrol."  He slid into his car.  "See you later."

Dean gave him a confused look.  "How did it come from us?"

"If two half brothers share a trait like that, it probably has to come from the parent they share."  He waved as he started the car.  He was starving.  He drove through the burger place and headed home.

Dean went to tell his father they may be able to patrol with Xander tonight.  "Xander's strange."

"How strange?" he asked, not looking up from sharpening his hunting knife.

"He decided if he and Sammy are both demon magnets, it had to come from you."

John looked up at him.  "Not that I'm aware of.  He is?"

"Yeah.  Oh, you might want to avoid his girlfriend.  She's decided we should sex Xander up, even though we are related, so she can watch."

John shook his head.  "Not my thing."

"She's kinda insistent, Dad."

John snorted.  "Some girls are like that."

"Especially since Xander said she's his nicest girlfriend yet and she used to be a vengeance demon."  John dropped the knife, staring at him in horror.  "Over women scorned."

"That's Anyanka?  We all wondered where she went!"

"Here, to date my little brother.  Maybe he's right, it does come from us.  Sammy's just as bad."

John picked up the knife to go back to sharpening it.  "It's not my fault," he said.  "Maybe my parents or grandparents but it managed to skip me."

"We should check," Dean said.  "Just in case there's other gifts.  Like how Willow said he screws up magic."

John snorted.  "She sure it's him doing the screwing up?"

"She said so."

"Uh-huh."  He shook his head, still working on the blade's edge.  "We'll see.  Is he patrolling tonight?"

"He said he'd check after he shower and ate.  He pulled through a burger place on the way home and ate  it as soon as it was in his hand.  The window girl complained about her fingers being in the way."

"Construction's a hard job."  He smirked.  "I did some one summer.  It's not an easy job."

"I figure it's not.  I also figure that's probably why he was in a hurry.  Either that or Anya's getting sexed up in that shower."

"That's also possible," John said, trying not to blush.  His sons were all so open about those things. "We'll call and check later."  Dean nodded, handing over the food he had brought in.  "Thanks."  He got his out and dug in.  It wasn't too bad; they'd eaten worse places on the road.

***

Xander found the apartment and knocked, smiling at the tall younger guy in there.  "Hi, Sam right?"

"Do I know you?"

"Our family sent me to meet you."

"Our family?" he asked, looking amused.  "Why would *our* family send you to talk to me?"

"Because the Marines decided our father needed an extra son."  He stared him down.  "I just found out when they told John."

"How in the hell!" he demanded.  His roommate looked over.  "Family issue, guys."  He walked out into the hall, closing the door behind him.  "Prove it."

"Dean's got a birthmark on his lower back that my girlfriend wanted to tease to see if it was a hot spot," he said dryly.  "She's still trying to get us all into bed too so I'll warn you she's a bit warped."  He held up the folder.  "The report from the people who did it."  Sam snatched it and sat down on the floor to read it.  Xander sat across from him.  "We have one older one who's a federal agent.  He's at NCIS.  There's another in Nevada who's getting out soon after protecting himself from the girlfriend trying to stab him."

"Dad must *love* that.  That shines a brighter light on the hunt."

"No but they seem to get along pretty well.  He said Tony wanted to stay in his regular life.  The one in Nevada was creeped out until the ghost in the prison he's in tried to snuggle one night in the caf."  Sam moaned.  "He did what John said and now he believes.  Me, I'm working in Sunnydale."

Sam looked at him.  "You hear some really strange stuff out of there.  What is your name?"

"Xander.  Xander Harris."

He blinked.  "I...  You work with Buffy."

"I do work with Buffy and her watcher."  Sam went pale.  "They figured you'd smite them if they showed up.  Besides, I should get to meet my little brother."  He grinned.  "I won't even be annoying like Dean can be."

"Thanks for that."  He closed it, looking at him.  "I left because I wanted a normal life."

"So?"  He shrugged.  "Does a normal life mean you can't write letters?  Or, I totally understand if this creeps you out and you don't want to, man."  He stood up.  Sam pulled him back down.  "You sure?"

"I don't mind starting a brotherly relationship, Xander.  Just don't expect me to come help on hunts."

"We get plenty on patrol, Sam."

"Oh, god, that's even worse," he sighed, looking at him.  "Ever think about leaving the life?"

"Yeah but then I figure I'd have to give up the two friends I have and what little made family I have."

Sam nodded. "It's a hard decision.  It just wasn't the life for me."

"That's fine," Xander promised.  "I'm not looking to get us backup.  John wanted to leave Dean there but he and Buffy don't get along very well.  He's a bit pushy and she kicked his ass.  He pouted for a day and a half about it."

Sam smirked.  "I'd love to have film of that."  Xander handed over his cellphone, letting him find the video to watch.  He cackled.  "Ooh, that's so classic!"  Xander smirked and nodded.  He grinned at him.  "You seem pretty nice."

"I try now and then as long as I don't have to take you down because you're evil."

"That works."  He stood up.   "Wanna come in and meet my girlfriend?"

"If you want.  I know you probably need time to process."

"Weirder things happen to Winchesters, Xander.  Or else I'd have never dated a ghost."

"I wondered why Dean didn't really do more than moan when I told him that Anya used to be Anyanka."

Sam gave him an odd look.  "You're dating a vengeance demon?" he hissed.

"Former.  We broke her power center."

Sam gave him the oddest look, then he smirked and nodded.  "Yeah, you're a Winchester."

"And a Gibbs as I found out.  I was the last one born so they made me extra special by giving me two Marine parents.  Gibbs is our big brother's boss.  Tony's senior agent on his team.  That's how we all found out."

"Dude, that's so strange," he said.  He led him inside.  "Guys, this is Xander.  We just found out that someone decided to play God and make me another little brother."

"I'm older than you by eight months," Xander pouted.

"Okay, slightly older brother."  They all waved.  "Xander, this is my roommie Doug.  This is Jess, my girlfriend."  They shook hands.  "We're going to chat in the bedroom for a bit.  More comfy than the hall."  That got a nod and they went in there to talk and get to know each other.  Jess brought in snacks later and Xander grinned, making her grin back.  Sam was thankful he wasn't flirting.  "Dean would've flirted."

"Anya would get her old job back."

Sam spluttered his milk.  "That's a good reason not to flirt, yeah."

Xander grinned.  "She thought I was cheating on her with Dean and John was his sugar daddy.  She wanted to watch *so* bad.  She totally traumatized John.  Dean had nightmares about her ideas.  John got embarrassed because she got to tell stories about her former life and job."

"Poor dad."

"Well, yeah, but I warned him she was a bit warped."

Sam cackled.  "That's so bad.  So, tell me about you."  Xander pulled out his wallet to explain things from the start.  Sam listened.  It was good to be appreciated.

***

Mac looked up as two people walked into his office.  "Ryan, and Horatio?  What's up?  I was planning on coming down next weekend, Ryan."

"I know but we got a crossover case.  The boss is being nice by not making either of us pay airfare."

Mac smiled.  "I'll cancel my ticket tonight."  He took the folder Horatio was holding.  "Hmm, I do remember that case.  Danny's working on it but I can co-opt it if you want."

"Up to you, Mac," Horatio said with a small smile.  "How are things going?"

"We're okay," he admitted, smiling at Ryan, who grinned back.  "We've worked out a good communication pathway between the four of us.  Gibbs and Danny have done the same."  He stood up.  "Let's see if Danny's in.  Last time I knew he was in one of the labs that has a cellphone dampener."  He nodded at Ryan.  "How's it been since we talked?"

"Pretty decent.  That date sucked.  By the end I wanted to shoot one of us.  She hit on me to get Eric to notice her."

"With the way she hung out of her dress I'm sure he did notice her," Horatio said dryly.  "He tends to not date that low class."

Ryan shrugged.  "It was a decent date except for her talking about Eric's butt."  Mac shook his head.  "Other than that, work has been work.  Stetler's trying to crawl up my butt right now but I don't know why."

"He hates the lab," Horatio told him.  "I once got promoted over him."  They shared a look.  "He will find even the merest speck of dirt and use it, Mr. Wolfe."

"As far as I know he doesn't have anything he can use except now and then I play some poker.  It's to up our pitiful paychecks, H."

"I can understand that.  It is a habit I do not encourage because he will have you suspended if he catches you playing for money, and if you play while suspended he'll have you fired for having a gambling problem."

"Maybe we can ask Xander to have him eaten?" Ryan asked Mac quietly.  Mac burst out laughing, shaking his head.  "Oh, come on.  I think he would.  We've chatted a few times on that bulletin board Abby set up for us.  He offered it to Tony for his new director."

Horatio looked at him.  "Don't let me hear those sort of things, Mr. Wolfe."

"Sorry."

"What does your ...friend do?"

"Construction," he said with an innocent grin.

"He also hunts demons," Mac said quietly.  "In a town that has a very high death for some strange reason.  Anywhere else would have a problem with a twenty or thirty percent death rate.  Their town doesn't even have a night shift detective."

Horatio gave him an odd look.  "That's bad."

"It is.  Xander said they ignore everything out there.  One of the girls in his friends' dorm apparently got eaten by a barbeque fork the other day while grilling on a non-existent grill at the dorm."

"Uh-huh," Horatio said, thinking that one through.  "If we think about it, we could probably ask the state police out there to step in."

Ryan shook his head.  "They can't and won't work in the town.  The mayor's people said so.  The old mayor's and the new mayor's, who was his lackey before."

Mac stared at him.  "Corrupt?"

"The old mayor was something his group had to deal with.  That's all he'd say about it.  As for corrupt?  Yes.  Drugs, weapons, human trafficking, parts trafficking for those sort that need it.  His former administration hasn't changed more than the head and he said nothing much has changed.  Somehow they're keeping the state police out.  I offered to find someone in LA and tell them.  He said it'd make things worse because they'd have to hide their patrol."

"Patrol?" Horatio demanded.

"Just about nightly," Ryan agreed.

"You are not going out there, Mr. Wolfe.  He can come visit you."

Ryan smirked.  "We have a picnic planned late next month, Horatio."

"Good!"  He looked at Mac.  "Did you know about that one?"

Mac nodded.  "His biological father's in the same business.  The other is Jethro Gibbs."

Horatio moaned, rubbing his forehead.  "I've met Gibbs."

"The same project made Tony, he's Xander's older half brother," Ryan told him.

Horatio looked at him.  "We'll make sure you're escorted to the picnic so you're not caused harm, Mr. Wolfe."

"We'll be there," Mac reminded him.

"Uh-huh."  They found the lab Danny was working in and walked in.  "CSI Messer," Horatio said in greeting.

Danny looked back under the arm bracing him against the table.  "Lieutenant Caine.  How's Miami?"

"The same as usual," Ryan said with a grin.  "I was wondering what you looked like.  Ryan Wolfe.  One of our bastards came up here to bother your people."

"Charming."  He finished up with that slide and put it away correctly then turned to look at them.  "Which case?"  Mac handed over the file.  "Stella and I were working on this.  Let me pull up the boxes of stuff?"  They nodded.  "Want to work in here, your office, Mac, where?"

"Wherever's good for you," Mac told him.  Danny nodded and he took Ryan to chat with him on the way down to the storage area.  "Xander's not a bad kid, Horatio.  Quit stressing about him."

"Can he suck others in?"

"Probably not."

"Good.  I don't want my lab to be infected by that sort of thing."

Mac nodded.  "Mine either but now and then it comes up on a case."

Horatio nodded, sighing a bit.  "I know."  They watched the boys carry in the boxes, getting down to work. "Mac and I will be in the office, Ryan.  Call when you've correlated."  Ryan nodded, reading over the index list.  They walked back to talk about happier things.  There had to be happier things in New York.

***

Xander stopped his car out on the bluffs, turning it off and resting for a minute before pulling out his cellphone.  He had thought about sending a magical present earlier but his father would've freaked when he got the 'congratulations, you're a grandfather, call after nine when my nighttime minutes start - no more daytime minutes this month' note with the present.  Plus someone might see the explanation.  He checked the time on his phone.  Two minutes 'til nine.  He turned on the radio, getting comfortable as he stretched across his front seat.  He waited until it was five after nine to call the number he had been given.  "Congratulations, you're a grandfather."  He heard the spluttering and nearly felt it on his ear so he put it on speaker, hanging his phone off the steering wheel.  "So, how are you doing?"

"You and Anya are expecting?  I thought you said you wanted to wait," John said, sounding a bit hoarse as he finished choking.  In the background you could hear someone else coughing.

"No, she tried for a few months but I told her if she succeeded I was never letting her shop again, she'd have to change all the diapers, and she'd have to breastfeed, which meant I couldn't.  She didn't like that.  Or the idea that she'd have to give up sex for the last half of the pregnancy.  No, it's a bit of a longer story than that."

"Okay, what's going on, Xander?"

"First, tell Dean to calm down."

"Dean, he said calm down.  It's not Anya.  It's a longer story."  A pause.  "He said it'd better be or else we'd have to kidnap the child so it had more manners than Anya did."

"Yes, I would," Xander agreed dryly.  "You guys remember Dawn?"

"I do," John said.  "You did get the note after Buffy's mother and she died?"

"I did.  Thank you.  Well, we got done with the probate today.  Joyce's will left Dawn to Buffy, then to me if Giles wasn't here.  He fled to England when it got too hard so she's mine.  But there's a bit of a longer story there.  We never told you how Dawn came to be, did we?"

"No," he said calmly.

Xander smirked at the phone.  "Yes, it's strange."

"Proves you're a Winchester by the look on his face, Xan," Dean said into the other end.

"Oh, you have no idea.  Do you guys know why Buffy died?"

"Something about a woman named Glory who wanted to kidnap Dawn and bleed her," John said.

"The hell goddess Glorificus, better known as Glory, was searching for her key.  The monks who had the key created a child and put the key inside it to hide it before she killed them all."  They groaned.  "They made her of the slayer so Buffy could protect her."

"I'm sensing a problem?" John asked.

"As part of the probate, Social Services had to do a lot of bloodwork to see if she had biological parents.  That's mandatory.  Well, it turns out she's not Buffy's full sister.  They don't share the same father.  Somehow I came up as the father."  John moaned, a deep, pained sound.  "The first social worker did not like that and pointed out I'd have to have been about five when it happened.  She knew Joyce wasn't like that and it wasn't possible.  I quipped and said my parents probably sold some for beer money.  She flagged the entry in the system.  Now, in the local CPS is a witch."  John let out a longer moan.  "She saw it and knew something was up.  So she asked and unflagged us after hearing the whole story.  Since Buffy didn't have a will and Joyce's left her to me, I'm now a proud father of a teenage girl.  Who shoplifts now and then."

John whimpered.  "Are you okay with this?"

"Me or Willow-Makes-Magical-Mistakes, John."

"Good point.  How is she handling it?"

"She and I talked before the probate stuff started.  Willow and Tara are staying in the house with her.  I'm moving there this week. The social workers didn't like them because they're in college and have no visible means of support.  The one didn't care that they were together but she said Willow creeped her out in a lot of ways."

"She does," John agreed.  "That...problem woman?"

"Gone.  We got her when Buffy died."

"Good.  Do you need us to come visit?"

"I think we're going to see Sam this weekend.  The picnic is in a week or so.  Can you both make that?"

"That we can definitely do," John assured him.

"Cool.  That'll be my first airplane ride," he said happily.  "Hers too."

"Xander, we told you about the family issue, right?  The one that got Mary?"  Xander hummed an assenting noise.  "How old is Dawn really?  Is she near six months?"

"Um...."  He counted back.  "Just before it actually.  Why?"

"If he's going to attack, it'll be then," John warned.

"We'll be at the picnic by then.  I'm taking off all next week to get there early for some sightseeing."

"Good.  We'll meet you there.  Where are you two staying?"

"The Holiday Inn."

"We can be near there," he agreed.

"Call Willow, Dad.  She got us a great rate and it's cheaper than the scungy place here in town."

"I can see if she can do that for me," he agreed.  "Are you okay with this?"

"I'm a bit creeped out by them making me her dad.  Other than that, I'm good with it.  So, how does it feel to be a grandfather?"

"Not as bad as I thought.  I'd be in a lot worse shape if she was an infant."

Xander smirked at the phone.  "You'd be cooing at the cuteness.  I was so fucking adorable as a baby I melted a camera."

John smiled, you could hear it.  "I'd like to see that picture."

"Have to break in and steal it from the maternal unit if she hasn't burned it yet."

"I'll see what I can do about that, son.  Tell Sammy we said hi."

"I can do that.  I'll drag him with me too."  He hung up before anyone could protest.  Then he called the shop.  "Dawn, me.  Choked and spluttered," he said proudly.  "But okay with it.  They'll meet us at the hotel.  Have Willow get them a deal too?"  He smiled.  "That'll work.  We'll road trip this weekend.  Palo Alto.  Sure.  Be back soon."  He hung up and headed back to the shop.  He had patrol tonight while Tara watched Dawn with Anya.

***

Xander tapped on Sam's door, smiling at Jess.  "Congratulate me, I'm a daddy to this one," he said with a nod at Dawn.

"I was hoping you weren't dating some girl that young, Xander."  She let them inside.  "Sam's at class but he'll be back in an hour."

"They have Saturday classes in college?  I'm going to hate that," Dawn said.

She laughed.  "It's a set of seminars about how to be more professional during interviews and things."

"Oh, that's okay then."  She grinned.  "Hi, I'm Dawn."

She shook her hand.  "Jess, Sam's girlfriend.  C'mon, let's make snacks.  He and Sam will talk forever about stuff."  Dawn nodded, heading with her.

Xander settled himself in.  Sam finally came home looking depressed.  "Congrats, you're an uncle."

Sam jumped then stared at him.  "Dean finally screwed up and did the wrong woman?"

"No.  Dawn's mine."

"I forgot about that situation totally, Xander."  He gave him a hug.  "Is she here?"

"Kitchen having girl talk with Jess.  I told her about the rules," he said quietly.  Sam grinned and nodded.  "He's back and I'm stealing him tomorrow, Jess."

"Why?"

"The whole program's having a picnic so we can meet each other."

Sam groaned.  "Dad going to be there?"  Xander nodded.  "I doubt he wants to see me."

"He said you're coming too."  Sam gaped. "Dean too.  I called them first."  He grinned.  "We'll be at the Holiday Inn.  We're going two days early so we can do some sightseeing.  It'll be my first trip outside of California and my first plane trip.  Hers too.  That way if you haven't been to see all the sights, we can do that together."

Sam smiled, collapsing onto the couch.  "I'd love to, Xander."  Dawn came out with mugs. "Hi, you must be Dawn.  I'm Sam."

She smiled.  "You'd better be.  Jess said that you're the only one with the keys."

He laughed.  "I am, yeah."  He took his mug, letting Xander have his.  He sipped and stared at it.  "What's this?"

"Apple cider and ginger ale."  She bounced off again. "Tell him all of it, Xander."

Xander leaned closer to tell Sam the whole story in his ear, getting a nod.  "Dad does know.  I don't know if he told Dean or not."  He leaned back, looking at him.  "So she's really your niece."

"Adoption or natural doesn't matter to me, Xander.  Family is everything."  Xander relaxed and grinned.  "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow.  That way you can be with us in LA and forget the week of break you have."

"We don't.  We have finals the week after next.  Dead week still has classes."

Xander snorted.  "Our finals barely get given at UC Sunnydale.  Maybe you should switch."

"I like it here and your town's been on the news recently for violence issues."

"They were throwing a very loud wake," Dawn said as she came back.  "For my sister.  Xander, Spike, and Willow told them to knock it off."  She sat down.  "So, law school?"

"Law school hopefully," he agreed.

She smiled.  "Mom's will said she wanted me to have a normal life, one where I had a good chance of dying a great grandmother."

"There's a lot of choices out there but I'll give you a tour around campus later if you want."  She smiled and nodded.  "That's cool.  How do you get along with Dean?"

"Last time I nearly spanked him for putting the food coloring in the shampoo I nearly used."  Xander snorted, shaking his head.  "Exactly!  And Buffy did beat him."

"He deserved it for that," Jess said as she came out to join them.  "There, dinner's in the oven too, boys."  They smiled. "I feel so .... old time tv-ish."  She sat down, cuddling next to Sam.  "Are we going to go out tonight?  Show them our sights?"

"We can but we can't hit the club with Dawn," he said.  "She's only fourteen."

"Oh.  Pity."  She shrugged. "Maybe next visit, Dawn."

"We have an all-age club in Sunnydale.  It's the only place to hang out."  Xander nodded at that.  Sam gave him an odd look.  She nodded.  "Yeah, the whole group hung there many nights.  I'm only allowed with a chaperone.  Mom said so."

"I agree with Joyce.  You're too young to be going out on dates with just you and the boy," Xander said.  "Because if I'm a grandfather before you graduate college I'm going to beat your ass to death, Dawn Summers."

"Yes, Xander."  She rolled her eyes.  "He's panicking because one of my classmates is having one in about two months."

"It's better to wait until you've finished growing," Sam told her.  "When you've got a job to support it and all that."

"I'm never going to be as tall as you," she said dryly.  "I don't know what sort of miracle grow you and Dean drank at my age, but hand some over?  Then I can at least make super model height."

"Super models are super because they can survive on no food," Xander said dryly.  "Besides, you're prettier than any anorexic woman who needs people to do her hair for her."

"If you say so."

Xander stared at her.  "You do know Buffy had to warn Spike off you in the future to replace Dru?"  She gaped.  He nodded.  "She did.  She told me once that if you turned out prettier than her I'd have to either marry you to keep you out of trouble or go get Dean's shotgun and trail behind you to blow people off you."

"Wow."  She blushed.  "That's, um, very strange."

He smirked.  "Well, it was your sister.  And don't even ask what Anya wailed when she heard her say it."

Dawn blushed brighter.  "I can imagine."

Xander nodded. "Basically.  She's still on the wrong track, trying to get me and Dean into bed."

Sam burst out cackling.  "Oh, that's a bad image," he said, shaking his head quickly.

"Isn't he your brother?" Jess asked.

"My girlfriend Anya is very warped," Xander told her.  "Which is why I don't bring her up to visit.  She might contaminate you.  Sam would hate to lose you for that reason."

"I would," Sam agreed.  She kissed him and he grinned.  "You'd be scary and have to correct her sometimes because she has some funny ideas.  She thought our dad and Dean were together and Dean was getting Xander to share with Dad."  Dawn burst out giggling, shaking her head.  "Just because she decided they were all handsome and well-built so she wanted to watch them."

"She has a thing for incest?"

"Anya doesn't really see bonds like family bonds," Xander told her.  "She sees cute, hot, and sex."

"Then maybe we shouldn't meet," Jess agreed.  She looked at Dawn.  "What grade are you in?"

"Eighth for another two months.  Then I hit the high school once they finish rebuilding it."

"Don't remind me; it's my crew building it," Xander told her.  She gave him a look.  "It is."

"I knew that.  Can I have plans so I can find all the nookie spots for the older kids?"

"We'll see."  She shrugged and sipped her drink.  Sam and Xander did the same.  Jess wisely had decided to abstain.

Sam looked at his mug.  "That's not too bad.  A bit fizzy but not bad."  He took another drink, making her a happy girl.  "How are you holding up, Dawn?"

"So far it's okay enough."  She looked at Xander.  "Willow was talking about doing Wiccan things with Tara while we were gone."

Xander nodded.  "I figured they wanted some alone time."

"Not that sort."

Xander stared then nodded slowly.  "Let me call her, make sure she doesn't burn down the house."  Sam pointed at the balcony so he went out there to call.  "Willow, what are you doing?"  He listened to her babble about cooking.  "Dawn said you've been doing some witchly research?  Because I should know if it impacts the group, Willow."  He listened to her give her idea.  "Did we not stop Dawn from doing that?" he demanded.  She said something mean.  "Willow, point of order, she's higher on that scale than you are.  As much as I'd like her back, no, you may not do that.  Because it'll hurt everyone," he said coolly, moving farther away from the door.  "And think about Dawn's reaction, Willow.  And what Buffy herself will feel like."  He listened.

"No.  If you do, you're going to be in deep shit.  Even if I have to call Giles myself, Willow."  She hung up so he called Angel first.  "Wesley, Xander.  Good, you're one of the ones I wanted to talk to."  He leaned in.  "Give me a few more, guys."  He closed the door again and walked down the stairs so no one could overheard.  "Wes, Willow's planning on calling a certain blonde back from her rest," he said quietly.  "Yes, that one.  No, I'm with my little brother Sam and ...  Long story, Wes.  Ask  Cordy, she heard.  Yeah, he's a normal," he said very quietly.  "Yeah, that's what she's doing.  While we're gone.   She's trying to defend it.  I do not want to deal with that.  Dawn doesn't need it.  Buffy wouldn't like it.  We stopped Dawn from trying it and Willow thinks she's more powerful.  Thank you!  Please?  Giles too?  He's at home.  I can do that.  Thanks."

He hung up and called Giles' house number.  "G-man, long time no hear.  Yes, it's me and Dawn's inside."  He listened to him complain.  "Because your student is going bad," he said when he asked why he called now.  "Beyond the fact that you abandoned us to deal with our own grief and me to raise Dawn, Willow's decided to call Buffy back."  He smirked at the yelling.  "Exactly.  While we're gone this week.  I'd at least call.  I told her if she tried I was talking to you.  You're her teacher.  Giles, think about this.  Is Buffy going to want this?"  He listened to him sigh and say a sullen 'no'.  "Exactly.  Dawn doesn't need this either, Giles.  Oh, by the way, they did DNA testing on Dawn.  She's *my* daughter."  He hung up and turned to find Jess.  "Hey."

"What's going on?"

"Not a lot.  I'm rounding up some support to make a friend at home quit doing something stupid."  He grinned.

"You were talking about resurrection spells."

Sam leaned out, looking at Xander.  "She's doing what?"

"Willow."

"Is doing...."

"Buffy."

"Shit," he said bluntly.

"I called her teacher and another friend who practices the same way to stop that thought."  He looked at Jess.  "Yes, our friends Willow and Tara are Wiccan.  Willow's a bit distraught about Buffy and is going to try to ask the Goddess to bring her back."

"That's not real," she said patiently.

"But Dawn doesn't need that, and it's not helping Willow's grief anyway," he pointed out gently.  "Willow may be my best friend ever, but if she tries this it's my duty to stop her."

She nodded.  "I can see that.  Her girlfriend?"

Xander shook his head.  "No.  She won't help her do it.  She's been trying to help me keep her in control of herself."

"Maybe she should try and see that it doesn't work."

Dawn leaned under the arm Sam was bracing against the doorway.  "Willow's managed to be strong enough in the faith to prove it to herself," she told her.  "Even trying something like that is against the Wiccan Rede."  She looked up at Sam.  "If she does try, can I hide with you?"

"We'll be at the picnic," Xander said.  "Wesley is going to get Cordy and him up there.  Giles is going to call."

She snorted.  "That's nice of him.   I know he considered my sister like a daughter and all that.  I understand he's grieving, and I know he didn't really stop to think we're doing the same thing, but I'm not sure if I could stand to listen to him right now, Xander."

"Which is why you have me," he pointed out.

"Good point.  You're more than enough family for everyone."  She gave him a hug and looked at them.  "We should probably go sit down."  She walked Xander off.  "You actually talked to Giles?  I tried to call and it went to his machine, which had a very slurred sounding message."

"I did.  He was clearly drinking, but not totally drunk yet.  Her death is hitting him hard and your mom's hit him too since he liked her so much."  He gave her a squeeze.  "He'll come back eventually.  If not, maybe we can send Spike to watch over him and annoy him so he has a reason to live again."

She stared at him.  "That's evil."

He grinned.  "Thank you."

Sam coughed, shaking his head.  "I remember you telling me about Spike.  That would be too mean, Xander."

Xander shrugged.  "It'd give him a reason to feel more than grief and misery."

"Maybe," he agreed.  "But to make him house him?"

"He stayed with me and Giles both a few times," Xander told him.  "Giles used to chain him in his bathtub for drinking out of his favorite mug."

Sam shuddered.  "Eww."

"Xander tied him in his recliner when he tried to be bad," Dawn told him.

Xander nodded.  "Back when I was in the 'rents' basement."

"Still disgusting."

"Well, yeah, but he's Spike.  They're like that."

"I take it Spike is a bit off mentally?" Jess suggested.

"Just a bit," Dawn agreed.  "But he did teach me how to hotwire a car, shoplift, and smoke."  Xander smacked her on the back of the head. "Hey!  Watch the hair!"

"Unless it is for your survival, thou shalt not hotwire cars or shoplift," Xander said, giving her a look.  "And your mother would kill you if you started to smoke."

"Fine."

"He sounds like a bad influence," Sam said.

Xander nodded.  "Well, yeah, but he's part of the group and he loved Buffy.  He's giving her thug lessons as a way to not only protect Dawn but to show his respect for Buffy's memory."

Jess shook her head. "I don't understand people like that."

"Spike's pretty unique.  You'd have to meet Spike to understand him," Xander told her.  Sam nodded quickly at that.  "So, picnic, Sam?"

"I still have classes, Xander."

Xander leaned closer.  "It's four days," he said bluntly.  "Are you really going to be missing anything?  Because I'm about to smack Dad on the head.  You can get your own turn."

Sam grimaced.  "I've hit him back a few times.  Let me think tonight?"

"If you think you'll talk yourself out of it," Dawn said with a small pout.  He groaned, sulking back.  She turned up the power of her puppy eyes.

"That's *so* not fair to do to me," Sam complained.

She grinned.  "I'm a teenage girl, Sam.  I'm allowed to beg cutely."

He snorted.  "Fine.  But if we have another fight..."

"We'll let Dawn step in," Xander agreed.  "Then make popcorn."  Dawn swatted him.  "You can babble at him to make him forget what they were fighting about."

She rolled her eyes, looking at Sam.  "You can explain some of the sights to me.  That way we don't have to do a mass tour with a guide."

"Where is the picnic?" Sam asked.

"DC," Xander said with an evil smirk.

"I've only been through there a few times, Dawn, but we can do the Smithsonian and all the big attractions."  She beamed and bounced a bit.  He grinned back.  "We can drop Dean at the aerospace museum or a car museum."  She squealed and lunged over to hug him.  "Didn't like Dean?"

"I like Dean just fine but he won't let me have any of his candy."  She beamed.  "Uncles should share."

"They should," he agreed.  She beamed at Xander.

"I've never been either.  We'll go together, Dawn patrol."  She hugged him too.  "And you can talk to all of them about their nice, normal jobs that will make your mother proud."  She pinched him on the arm and sat on her own again.  "Right, Sam?"

"Right.  From what I understand there's a lot of CSI, a few other sorts of cops, and Gibbs, who's a Fed.  Or you could join the service."

"No.  I don't think I'd like that.  I can't take orders very well and I'd hate being a grunt.  If I did, I'd have to go into Intelligence or something in the Air Force because they want really big brains there and their test is harder.  So is their academy."

"I didn't know the Air Force did intelligence.  I thought that was the Army," Sam told her.

She grimaced.  "No thanks.  I have a bad idea of the army after Riley and his band of merry torturing bastards who got Spike twice."

Xander nodded.  "He didn't set a good example but he's not the most normal soldier either, Dawn.  I know John, Gibbs, and Mac Taylor were all Marines.  You can ask them those sort of questions."

"Sure."  She leaned against his side, beaming at him.  "Would Mom be happy with me being a cop?  I know she wanted me to die as a great-grandmother if possible."

"You'd better be out of college by the time the first baby comes," he said dryly.  "I am not ready to be Grandpa Xander."

Sam choked.  "No, that's a bad picture, Xander."

Xander nodded.  "So was Anya and I having one together.  That's why I said no."

Dawn nodded.  "No's a good word to teach her now and then, Xander.  Thank you for working on that.  Not that I wouldn't babysit all the time for that heathen but it'd be *so* horrible!"

"Yeah, it would be," Xander agreed.  "Another good reason I said no kids.  Think she'd mind if I get snipped?"

"Yeah," she snorted.  "Because that fit would know no end.  She'd probably attack the doctor for touching what's hers."

"Or demand pictures," Sam quipped.

"Good point.  I'll have to think about that."  He shrugged and cuddled Dawn.

"Are you two spending the night on my floor?" Sam asked with a grin.

"No, I got paid and kept it from Anya, didn't put it in the bank at all, so we can get a room until we leave for the airport tomorrow at nine."

Sam nodded.  "Are you sure you want me there?"

"Yes," they said together.

"Someone has to help me get back at Dean for the food coloring in the shampoo," she reminded him.

"Okay, I'll go."  They beamed and offered to get dinner but Jess reminded them she was making dinner.  She went to check on it.  "Nice cover," Sam mouthed.  Xander nodded at that.  "She'll be stopped?"  Xander nodded more quickly.  "Good.  Hate to beat her."

"We'd let Dad talk to her," Xander said with an evil grin.

"He might take her out," Sam said quietly, glancing into the kitchen then back at him.

Xander considered it.  "Giles knows a coven that'll help her."  Jess came back.  "Should we clean up and help set the table?"

"No, we're going to eat out here."  Xander's phone rang.  He went outside after glancing at the name on it.  "Again?" she asked.

"It was Tara.  Willow's girlfriend," Dawn said.  "It's too early for more than intervention phone calls in her case."  Xander kicked the building.  "Problems?" she called.

"Not really.  Tara's no longer in town."  He said something before hanging up and came back.  "Tara's went to spend the night with Cordy at Wesley's insistence.  Which isn't such a bad thing.  Spike driving her down may be, but...."  He shrugged.  "We'll have to see."

She pulled him back down to cuddle him.  "It'll go, Xander.  Someone will stop her."

"Let's hope Wesley can get through her head.  It's a bit thick sometimes from all the books she used to read."  He looked at Sam.  "At least you're smart in the normal and not annoying ways.  Thank you for that."

He grinned.  "Not according to Dean."

Xander snorted.  "Dean's smart but he's hiding it.  Willow was always The school genius.  Everyone knew that."  Sam shuddered.  "Exactly.  It was nice when she helped by doing my homework or tutoring one of us.  It's just..."  He looked at his phone, then grimaced.  "I don't have one for Oz.  She'd listen to him."  He shrugged it off.  "I don't know what to do about her.  I have to concentrate on Dawn."

Dawn looked up at him.  "I'll never be the sort of problem Willow is growing into," she said quietly.

"Good!"  He gave her a squeeze.  "We like that."  He grinned at the couple.  "You should tell Sam about the garden plans you want me to build for the house."  She sat up and moved to sit next to him, drawing the figures in the air while she babbled about the garden stuff she wanted behind the house.  Both of them looked a bit dazed at the babbling but Sam got into it with her about some of it, suggesting a few alternate ways based on the same books they'd both read.  Though he was against putting in an Alice in Wonderland statue in a corner.  She explained about Anya's bunny phobia, which made Sam cackle.  So they talked about a different statue from a different book.

Xander looked at them.  "Hoggle from _Labyrinth_?" he suggested.

Sam and Dawn both gaped at him.  "No way," Sam said.

Xander shrugged.  "I didn't mind the movie.  Just the fact that the girls cooed over David Bowie."

Jess giggled, nodding.  "I remember being that age."

Dawn shook her head.  "No, if we're going to do something like that I'd have to go for _Dark Crystal_.  Sorry."  Sam moaned at that.  "What?  It's a cult classic and a muppet movie!  That about makes it perfect.  And hey, no chick flick movies like my sister used to make Xander watch with her and Willow."

"Not that you wouldn't look good in a Victorian gown," Xander offered.

"Eww!"

"You would."

"Then boys would have to guess at what I look like, Xander."

"Exactly."  Jess cackled, shaking her head.  Dawn huffed.

Sam gave her a gentle hug around the shoulders.  "He'll grow out of it but he'll still stalk  you on your first date.  Dean did it to me.  Traumatized Dad horribly by suggesting he get a chastity belt to put me in."

"No, those are bad girl things and I'm not ready for bad girl things yet.  When I am, Anya said I can have hers."  Xander shook his head.  "She did."

"Hell no.  You cannot."

She pouted.  "She said I could have some of them to try things out."

"Hell no!"

"Fine.  We'll talk about it later."

"I'll disappoint Anya horribly by tossing all hers out.  Your mother would shit kittens for Clem."  Dawn gave him a horrified look for that saying.  "And Spike."

"Eww!"

"Yeah, that's how I feel.  Beyond that, I'm locking her out of her own stuff."

"Xander," Jess sighed.

"My girlfriend has a steamer trunk full of porn and sex toys.  She does not need to let Dawn into it."  Jess gaped.  He nodded.  "Dawn is much too young and that's not something that should be *shared*.  You should only share that stuff if you're in a relationship with them."

"Why?" she squeaked.

"Because she's a bit needy," Dawn told her.  "Anytime Xander doesn't give her enough she complains loudly in public and criticizes his technique.  I have no idea why she wasn't satisfied with six orgasms in one night."  Sam went bright red at that. "She calls it that instead of sex.  She doesn't want sex, snuggles, cuddles, or anything but orgasms."  Xander nodded, yawning a bit.  "I mean, I figure six is a pretty good number, especially since he had the flu.  I don't want to turn that needy.  I won't right?"

"No," Jess said weakly.  "No, most women would be more than pleased to have more than one."

"Anya's a bit warped thanks to her upbringing," Xander said dryly.  "No, if you start on a rant like Anya does, I'm so spanking you.  Even if you are over twenty-one, young lady."

"Yes, Xander.  Does that mean I can't have her tapes?  She said she's buying all new ones."

Xander called the bank balance line first then called her.  "Anya, there will be no buying more porn while I'm with Dawn in DC.  Because I didn't put my paycheck in there.  I needed it for the trip.  Unless it comes out of *your* paycheck, you may not.  Because we have to pay the rent next week?" he suggested dryly.  She made pouty noises at him. "Sorry.  And no giving Dawn any of yours or I'm taking stuff to make myself impotent for a month and locking your trunk magically.  By myself."  She made horrified noises because they all knew magic went funny around him.  "Good.  I'm glad we agree you won't taint Dawn or use the rent money.  By the way, buy me some more soda before we get back please?  We're out.  Love you."  He hung up.  "She's reconsidered and she's not going to taint you, Dawn."

Dawn smirked.  "That's means.  I didn't know there were drugs for that."

"Yeah, Dean found some."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"Accidentally on purpose when some skank was hitting on him in Wisconsin.  He called to brag about how little it worked on him.  I put him on with Anya to talk about ways to get around that for the next time he's afflicted or if he ever ends up needing viagra."

"You guys are so mean to Dean," Jess complained.

"It's a little brother's right," Sam said with a grin.

Dawn nodded.  "Since he's my uncle I get to help."

"Find a really nasty hooker, pay her twenty bucks to go hit on Dean in public and be insistent.  Tell her it's a prank so she won't get upset," Xander told her.  Sam gave him a horrified look.  He grinned back.  "What?"

"Dad would spank, Xander."

"Not if he doesn't see it."

"Dad would still spank."  He gave Dawn a cuddle.  "You'll grow up into a good woman that your mother will be proud of.  I know you will."  She smiled at him.  "But if you need girl questions answered, ask Jess instead of Anya?"

"I might be able to do that," Jess agreed.  Dawn beamed at her.  They went to check on dinner and talk while they made up plates.  That Anya woman was seriously cranked and Xander was a sweet boy, he needed someone like her instead.  She'd have to introduce him to a few of her sorority sisters.  They'd make good mothers for Dawn.

***

Ryan looked at the Holiday Inn, then at Horatio.  "Why did you come up?"

"Because you needed backup," he reminded him.

"I'm trying to be good."

"Uh-huh.  It was me or Eric, Ryan."

Ryan blushed.  "Eric was going to pick on me all weekend."

"I'm escaping Miami and hiding somewhere to relax.  If you need me, you'll call."  Ryan nodded.  They checked in and went to their rooms.  Horatio, to his word, settled in to watch some tv and relax for a weekend.  This reunion had set off some warning alarms in his head.  He should be here to guard his coworker.  He could hide the rest of the weekend.

Ryan finished settling himself in and went to see if anyone else had checked in.  One of Gibbs' boys had so they sat in the coffee shop to get to know each other.  Ryan frowned when he saw someone walk in.  "Who's that?"

The cop looked then growled.  "Bad news."  He got up and walked out there.  "Fancy meeting you here."

John looked at him. "I'm one of the donors they used, Officer."  The guy gaped.  "My boys will be here this weekend as well."

He pulled him off to the side.  "I know what you did, Winchester."

"I saved your partner's life," he agreed.  "Even if you don't like it.  I'm sorry you had to be exposed that way but that's what I do for a living."

"And the bogus card?" he hissed.

"No one pays us to do it, junior."

He slumped at that.  "Are we *working* this weekend?"

"No.  My kids will be here this weekend as well."  That got a worse slump.  "If something like that should happen, me, my boy Dean, and my boy Xander will handle it."

"Oh, God, there's another of you?" he demanded.

"One of the ones that was born like you were.  I share him with Gibbs actually."  The guy gaped.  "He's bringing his daughter.  The state just gave him custody."  He smirked.  "We'll keep it down.  The others mostly know about it due to background checks."

"Jethro knows and didn't throw a fit?"

"Subtle fit but he knows that what I do is just as important as what you do."

"Fine."  He let him go.  "I don't want to hear that you did your little trick this week."

"We're not.  Xander's friend Willow got us a very good deal."

"Uh-huh."  He stomped off, going back to talk to Ryan.  "Did you know about him?"

Ryan shrugged.  "I heard something about the job that Xander does.  Is that Winchester?"  He grimaced but nodded.  "Huh.  How do you get into that field?"

"No clue.  It was bad enough they came in to stop something in my town that was going to eat my partner."

Ryan grinned.  "At least they stopped it."

"True."  He sipped his coffee.  "So, CSI?"

"CSI.  Me, Greg, and Danny.  Greg and I are Mac Taylor's.  Danny's Mac's CSI but Jethro's kid.  Greg works out of the Vegas lab and I work in Miami."

"Wow."

"Very.  It's a lot of long hours sometimes but satisfying when things all fall into place and we catch someone."

"You guys get to arrest?  Our lab geeks are lab geeks."

"Yeah, we're fully regular cops.  We arrest, we carry, we question.  Plus we do lab work.  Sometimes Miami thinks we're beyond human with some of the rules they have."

"I think all departments have those sort of rules," he said dryly.  "Our city's morality clause is so bad it was used to get one guy when he got divorced for the second time.  They wanted him off really badly though."

Ryan nodded.  "They got me playing poker a few times."

Stu shook his head.  "That does suck."

"Yeah.  And my people are paranoid and don't like me because I came in after an officer got shot."

"That really does suck."  He bopped him on the arm.  "You'll work it out."

"We hope so.  My boss decided I needed an honor guard on the way up."  Stu laughed.  "He did.  He's hiding upstairs."  He saw another one walk in.  "That's gotta be another Winchester."

He looked then nodded.  "Dean.  In the family business."

"Hmm."  He sipped his coffee.  "Have you met any of the others?"

"I met the one of Jethro's that just got out of jail for mouthing off to the judge while being questioned.  That happened down in our part of the world.  He looked me up."  They both looked back at a squeal, smiling at the girl pouncing Dean Winchester.  "She's adorable.  I didn't think any of us were that young."

"Maybe she's his?" Ryan asked.  The two guys walking in behind her got a groan.  "Or not."

"The tall one's the only one who escaped the family business.  The other must be the new son Winchester said followed him and his daughter.  Apparently I share Jethro's parentage with him."

"We can talk to him later, after the young one quits babbling."

Stu grinned.  "I like how you think, Wolfe."  Ryan grinned back.

***

Dawn followed Xander into the hotel, looking around.  "This is nicer than the one at home."  She squealed and ran over to pounce Dean.  "Hi, Uncle Dean!"

"Dawn," he said, patting her while trying to get free.  "How're you doing, kiddo?"

"I'm not that young!"  She stamped a foot.  "Even if I do feel like I'm a midget next to you guys.  I want some of the Winchester miracle grow potion too."

He grinned.  "Our mom was a bit taller than you are now," he said.  "Talk to Dad about that."

"It's no fair.  Each of you gets taller and taller."

"You're taller than Buffy," Xander reminded her.  "And you still have another growth spurt to come."

She pouted.  "Can you do a height enhancement like you can boobs?"

"No."  He went to check them in, seeing the amused looks.  "My daughter."  He handed over the traveler's checks.  She gave him an odd look.  "If I use the credit card, my girlfriend will try to claim it gives her rights to go porn shopping.  It's stopping her."  She nodded once and took the checks to put into the system for him.  "Thank you."  He took their keys and walked back to the group.  "Let's settle in, Dawn."  He tossed one at Sam, drawing Dean's attention.

"No wonder you feel short," he said dryly.

"One crack about me being Godzilla and I'm feeding Xander chocolate while you're locked in the same room," Sam shot back.

"When did you turn evil?" Dean demanded.

"It's the training to be a lawyer stuff," Dawn quipped.  "After all, they all have their evil moments."

Dean gaped. "Lawyer?"

Sam smirked and nodded.  "Lawyer."  He put an arm around Dawn's shoulders.  "Thanks for covering up with Jess, Dawn."

"Welcome.  I don't want to infect the normals with our wacked out life."  She beamed at Dean.  "He's going to help me talk to the normal jobbed people we'll be seeing this weekend so I can find what I want to do."

"You're not going to hunt?"

"Mommy's will said she wants me to die being a great-grandmother.  I might think about being a watcher...."

"You're not going hunting," Xander said firmly.  "Even if you did, you'd end up being a research watcher and you'd have to get Giles or Wes to sponsor you."  He stared at her.  "Your mother was firm on that point and I agree.  We don't want to bury you like we did your sister.  Someone's got to carry on the Summers name so there's women with sense in the future."

"Fine.  Some day I'll be a baby's momma," she shot back.

"As long as you're over age because I will magically implant a chastity belt into your butt's skin," he vowed, staring her down.

A female coughed.  "You shouldn't threaten her, sir."

Xander looked at her.  "She's my daughter.  I'm allowed to say stuff like that about her getting pregnant since she's fourteen."

She blushed.  "Still, some people could consider that a real threat and call social services."

"He'd never hurt me," Dawn promised with a grin.  "Now, he might find something huge and icky and give me to them as a bride if I screw up too much...."  The woman snorted, walking off.

Xander smirked.  "Thanks for the idea, Dawn."

"Welcome."  She squealed and hugged John.  "Ohmygod, can you get more scruffy, Grandpa?"

He smiled at her.  "Yes.  I have been in the past.  We didn't stop anywhere last night."  He let her go.  "Grandpa?"

"Why not?  It's the truth."  She beamed at him.  "Want to get in on Xander threatening me to never bear children before I'm Sam's age?"

"Finished college," Xander said firmly.

"Or later," she added with a grin.

"I think that's a good idea.  Along with starting some training."

"Her mom wanted her to have a job that would let her die as a great-grandmother, but yes, she's being taught enough to protect herself in case something happens," Xander told him.

"Hunting's a hard life and Joyce knew that," he agreed.  "If she wants a normal life, she can follow Sammy."

"Sam," he corrected.  "I haven't been Sammy since I hit puberty."  His father stared at him.  "Xander said you wanted me brought?"

"I did.  I didn't think he'd be able to convince you, son."  He moved closer, looking him over.  "You look good."

"Thank you.  I agree with Dawn, you need a shave."  John smirked at that.  Dawn gave him a shove and John hugged his boy.  "Thanks, Dawn."

"Welcome.  And hey, no handcuffs needed this morning," she quipped.  She hugged Xander's arm.  "When do we get to meet the other parent?"

"Later tonight."  He grinned.  "Let's get settled in."  They nodded, going up with the family to settle into their rooms.

John and Dean warded all of their rooms.  John also pulled out a book to mark a protection around Dawn's bed, getting a curious look.  "The family has a demon that's after some of us," he said quietly, looking up at her.

"Dean told me what happened to his mom."

"When Sammy was six months old," he agreed.  She blanched.  "Which you'll be when?"

"Three days," she said quietly.

He nodded.  "So we'll do a warding circle around your bed for now," he promised.  "That way it won't happen."  She gave him a hug.  "It's all right, Dawn. You're family."

She pulled back.  "Did Xander tell you about what Willow wanted to do?"  He shook his head slowly.  "We asked Giles and Wesley to intervene.  I guess he didn't want you to go hunt her or something."

He sat on the bed beside her, making her look at him.  "What has she been doing?  It's clearly worrying both of you since Xander's been thinking too hard today."

She sighed.  "Willow's been having problems with her magic.  You heard that right?"

"I saw one of her accidents when we were out there," he admitted.

Dawn looked at him.  "She wants more power; she's been doing power expanding exercises."

He grimaced.  "There's no real way to stretch that unless you're gathering more to you.  In your town that's really dangerous because of the hellmouth."

She nodded.  "She's doing that and going to that guy Rack now and then because she said it gives her a good rush and clears her head."

He stood up.  "She's going to a magic dealer?" he demanded.  She shrugged.  "Describe him?"  Xander walked in and handed him a picture.  "Shit."

"Basically," Xander agreed.  "Yes, he is feeding her little shots of black magic.  She claims it's clearing off the taint the hellmouth gave her the last time she closed it."  John gaped.  "This week she wanted to try to raise Buffy," he said very quietly.  "Which is why I called Giles and Wesley.  Giles was supposedly teaching her.  Wesley is closer since Giles was being an alchie in England again."

"He misses her like she was his child," John offered.

Xander nodded.  "I miss her like she was my sister, but he still has things he needed to handle in town and so did I.  I think it's really unfair he left everything in his grief."

"I did a good bit of drinking when Mary died," he said.

Xander nodded.  "But you still managed to handle things with the boys."

"With some help," he agreed.  "But you're right.  Who's running his shop?"

"Anya, Tara, and Willow," Dawn said.  "We're pretty sure we stopped her this time."

"We hope," Xander said.  "Tara said she got her resolve face and got stubborn when Wesley and Cordelia showed up."  He looked at his father again.  "So if you hear anything, we really need to know."

"I'll tell the people I know out there to call me," he promised.  "What're we going to do about her?"

"Giles muttered about a coven he knows who could help her."

He nodded once.  "That's risky.  Like rehab, she can backslide."

Xander nodded.  "I know."

"Hell, you don't have the easy problems."

"No but we have been having a surge since the funeral.  Faith's the one that passes on the gift and she's in prison."

"Even worse," he decided.  "You told Sammy?"

"Yeah.  I went up to introduce myself.  We've been talking a lot."

"That's good.  He can be a good role model for Dawn.  He can guide her in how to put the instincts on standby and let them not take over."  She nodded at that.  "How bad?"

Xander snorted.  "Don't ask, Dad.  Spike got hurt the last time we patrolled.  This was also a strategic withdrawal to get Dawn out of town."

"If you need me to, I can watch her for a few weeks," he offered, looking at her.

"I have the feeling it'll be stopped," she said.  "Willow said she was stopping it when I called late last night."  Xander looked at her.  "She was determined to make it calm down again."

"Is she breaking Faith out of prison?"

"No.  She was mumbling into her herb box looking for something."

John pulled out his phone, paging through the phonebook to find a number.  "It's John Winchester.  We have a feeling Sunnydale is going to have a massive change sometime this week.  I need to know when and what happened if you hear.  Please.  Actually, did you hear the Marines decided to make me another son?"  He grinned.  "Xander, on Buffy's team, is mine."  He laughed at the 'it figures with what he gets into' response.  "Yeah, he does have Winchester luck.  Please.  We're in DC for a meeting with him and a few others.  Thanks.  No, Dawn's with him, why?"  He listened then nodded once.  "Is Tara in town?" he asked Xander.

"She went to have a sleepover with Cordy," Dawn told him.

"She's in LA," John told him.  "Why?"  He listened and winced.  "You're sure?"  He nodded.  "Thanks.  Let me know if you hear more."  He hung up.  "Some serious magic went off last night but we're not sure what."  They both nodded.  "Let me finish this protection circle around her bed.  You two go brief Dean and cuddle Sammy so he's not intimidated by all the cops."

"He'll be working with them some year," Dawn said, going to bother Sam to pick out their tourist spots on the hotel's brochures.

"He's becoming a cop?" John asked Xander.

"Lawyer," he said with a grin.  "You should ask him."

"There's a lot of deep water there, Xander."

Xander nodded.  "So?  Someone's got to start the wading to build a bridge support.  Otherwise it sags in the center."

"Good point."  Xander left, going to find Dean and let him know what was going on at home.  He needed to talk to someone who understood and get some of the stress out.  "Hey," he said, sliding onto the barstool next to him.  "What's up on your world?"

"Nothing much this week.  We've been driving this way."  He looked at him.  "I've heard some strange rumors out of yours though."

Xander snorted.  "You have *no* idea what's been going on since the funeral."

"Need to talk?"

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, I could use it without stressing Dawn out.  She's hiding it pretty well but Sam's been helping her calm down for the last day."

Dean nodded at a table so Xander got a soda and came over to join him.  Dean stared at him.  "Which one started it off?"

"Things went to hell after the funeral," he admitted.  "All sorts of hell.  Willow's getting lost.  Tara's trying to stop her and she can't get through to her.  Willow actually said going to a magic dealer was helping her get rid of some of the taint she picked up the last time she closed the stupid thing."

Dean arched an eyebrow up.  "Uh-huh," he said slowly, considering it.  "Did you tell Dad?"

"Yeah.  He called someone to see if they could call us if she did something.  Like raising Buffy.   I had to call in Wesley and Giles, our former Watchers, to help stop her since I took Dawn and evacuated."

"That's probably wiser of you," he agreed.  Xander nodded, taking a sip.  He leaned forward.  "She's trying to do what?"

"She thinks it'd stop if we had Buffy back.  Which it might.  It passes on through Faith's line, not Buffy's.  Faith's in jail for manslaughter."

"Oh, hell."  He winced, then let out the rest of his current breath - guys like him did not sigh.  "Magic dealer?"

"Black magic is burning off the taint I picked up the last time I had to do the spell to close the hellmouth," he mimicked quietly, glancing around.  Dean stared.  Xander nodded, taking another sip.

"Want something stronger?"

"I hardly ever drink.  I did the night I called Giles.  The night we went to pick up Sam."

Dean relaxed.  "So someone's on her case at least," he said.  Xander nodded.  "Will they stop her?"

"We don't know.  Dawn called her late last night and she said she was going to stop it one way or another."

Dean groaned.  "Okay, and that leaves what?"

"Tara's hiding with my ex Cordy."

"That's a good decision," Dean said.  "I'll get with Dad later.  Did Dad tell you why he was doing the protection around her?"  Xander nodded.  "How did you get Sammy here?"

"Told him the truth.  Dad and you would want to see him.  Dad asked if I could ask him.  He didn't think I could, but we talked him into taking a few days off classes."

"Wow.  Lawyer?"

Xander smiled.  "Yeah.  I think he'll make a good one.  He's got a good mind.  He knows how to question people.  He's devious when he needs to be to break a story on the stand if he goes into criminal law."  He took another drink and relaxed.  "He'll be good at it.  Jess is very supportive of him."

"Jess?"

"Girlfriend."

"She cute?"

"Very," Sam said, sitting next to Xander.  Xander scooted over.  "Who asked?"

"Dad," Xander told him.

"Good."  He looked at Dean.  "Yes, law school, Dean.  I can make a lot of difference."

Dean nodded.  "Good.  If you get good, we'll call."

Sam smiled.  "I figured you would."  He took Xander's soda to sip.  "What's up?"

"Willow.  Dad wanted me to let some of the stress go," Xander told him.

"Yeah, that might help."  He looked at him.  "At least you managed to keep it from Jess.  You can talk to me about that, Xander."

"I would have if she wasn't hovering like it was The Day on the baby thermometer."  Dean spluttered.

"No, we're not having kids," Sam said dryly.  "She thinks Xander's a bit strange and she doesn't want me to get hurt or sucked into whatever cult she thinks he's part of."

"I have mostly kept it away from you guys," Xander pointed out.

"She saw the bruises last time when I was looking at them.  She wasn't sure if it was S&M or some sort of ritual abuse due to a cult leader.  She decided you're too tough to be a submissive so it had to be something like a ritual because she's never seen a bar brawl that went past someone picking up a pool cue."

"Well, it was a ritual we were breaking up," Xander admitted.  "No evil cult leader though."

Sam nodded.  "So you told me."  He looked him over.  "You're limping?"

"I banged my knee on the rental car."

"Uh-huh."

"I did!" he defended.  "I healed the last bruise before we got up there.  Tara's bruise potion works well for that.  Even if it does stink."

"I could've used that last week," Dean admitted, rubbing his shoulder.  Sam looked at him.  "Wall."

Xander nodded. "My last one threw me through a staircase."  Dean handed over the beer but Xander shook his head.  "I shouldn't."

"Dawn won't mind," Dean pointed out.

"I don't drink, Dean. You saw my parents."  That got a nod. "I don't have a high tolerance either.  I don't want to make a bad impression on the other donor."

"Dad talked to him.  He said he let Dad tell you because he wasn't sure about the family business," Dean told him.

Xander nodded. "That's nice.  He can't email?"

"I asked around.  He's not exactly technophobic but he doesn't get along with it," Dean told him.

"Oh.  Then maybe I'll cut him some slack.  He must've had some crappy cases."

Sam patted him on the arm.  "It'll be fine, Xander.  He can't help but like you.  Even if he is a bastard, he's got to like you at least a little bit."

Xander smiled.  "Thanks, Sam."

"Welcome."  He grinned back then at Dean.  "We've got to introduce Dawn to others who have jobs she might like."

"I heard.  It's not a bad idea.  It's also a good trip for a girl her age.  I suppose you two are doing some of the sights?"

"All of us.  This is my first trip outside of Cali," Xander told him.

"That's cool."

"We're going to visit the museums tomorrow if we're not busy," Sam offered.  "You can come geek at the mechanical stuff, Dean."

"Dawn may puncture an eardrum squealing," Xander offered.  Dean grinned at that.  "Besides, tomorrow is Tuesday and she's been having some problems with that day recently.  It seems like everyone wants her on Tuesday.  We're not sure why."  He finished his soda.

Dean gave him an odd look.  "Like taken hostage?"

"That too," Xander admitted.  "Willow let her go over to a friend's house and the friend invited in some of the friendly neighborhood undead to party with them when they brought beer.  Dawn got one and escaped, getting help for them."

"Shit," Sam said, shaking his head.

"Did she drink?" Dean asked.

"No.  I'm proud.  She said she'd be killed and she's right.  I do know the formula that guy put into the beer to make Buffy go cavegirl."

Sam gaped.  "There is?"  Xander smirked and nodded.  "Oh, please tell me you're joking?"

"Nope.  Go to the October entry of last year on my online journal.  Not the halloween one."

Sam went to look that up.  Then he burst out giggling.  Dawn came over to look since they were in a suite.  "Cave slayer," he laughed.

"Hmm.  Very.  Brow ridge, 'boy smells good', 'fire pretty' but it nearly killed her.  All that."

Sam cackled, rolling around on the bed.  John came in to look so Dawn let him read it.  He groaned.  "How stupid could she be?"

"She was off hanging with the frat boys who wanted in her panties," Dawn said.  "She did get back at the guy who had her then dumped her.  Bopped him on the head.  Nearly got burned alive in a fire.  It was not her most shining moment.  She and Mom had the long talk about how beer was responsible for Buffy being born but it had better not result in her being a grandmother."

"I agree," John said.  "It can also lower your inhibitions and slow your reactions, plus make you less than cautious.  It's led to a lot of deaths."

Dawn nodded.  "I get that and Xander said he'd dose me with the same herbs if I started to drink too soon."

"If I had known about it, I would've dosed Dean when he started to drink and when he gave Sammy his first few."  He gave her a look.  "What was it?"

"A cranberry thing that made my head hurt.  Beer smells nasty."

"It tastes it too," John admitted.  "Did we like it?"

"Hell no.  Especially not the lecture from hell Tara gave me."

John smiled.  "I like that girl.  She's got a good head on her shoulders and a lot of practical sense."

She gave him a swat on the arm.  "She still likes girls, Granddad."

"I'll probably never go for another lady," he told her gently.

She gave him a hug.  "That sucks and I'm sure she'd complain about you being miserable."  She pulled back, looking at him.  "We can let Xander be possessed by her if you want to find out."

"No, that's all right.  I think he's got enough voices in his head."  Someone knocked.  "Hold on."  He nodded at the giggling one and headed out to answer it.  "Jethro."

"John.  Where's the kid?"

Dawn leaned out.  "Me kid or Xander kid?"

"Xander," John said.  "Jethro, this is Dawn.  Thanks to something in our business, she came up as Xander's daughter and he now has custody after her mother and sister died recently."

Jethro shook her hand.  "I'm sorry for your loss."

She stared at him.  "Thank you.  Now, can you try to remove the broomstick?  Because, way uptight and Xander doesn't need more stress.  The town gives him enough."

"It's nerves," he told her.

She smiled.  "That'll work.  He's down venting at Dean about the bad days we've been having since my sister died."  She looked at John, who nodded she could escort him down there.  "See you later, Grandpa."  She grinned at Jethro when he choked.  "We'll see if you get your own cute name."  She walked him off.

"Jethro or Gibbs is fine," he assured her.

She snorted.  "Would you expect your other grandchildren to call you that?"

"I don't have any kids outside of you guys and as far as I know you're the only grandchild," he admitted.

She beamed.  "Then would you like to come help us tour the museums when we get some free time?"

"I haven't been in years, but Xander's older half-brother can go.  He's my senior agent.  I'll give him time off."  He looked at her.  "Joining the family business?"

"My mother wanted me to have a job where I'd die a great-grandmother if at all possible.  She didn't want me to hunt."

"It seems like it's a hard job."

"It is, but necessary."  She smiled.  "Xander said I could ask all you normal people questions about other careers."

"That's fine with me," he assured her.  She grinned.  "You're how old?"

"Fourteen."  She could see him mentally counting.  She stopped the elevator to look at him.  "I was magically created to hide a very powerful artifact," she said quietly.  He just nodded.  "So yeah, they made me Xander's.  Technically I'm about six months."

"Okay," he decided, flipping it back on.  "I can see that easier."  He smirked at her.  "You can prank Tony and babble at him all you want.  I'll even let you babble at Kate or Abby if he brings you to the office to look around."

"That'll be cool.  The only women I have in my life now that everyone else died are Willow and Tara, and Willow has issues with her skill base."

Jethro looked at her.  "Lesbians don't bother me."

"Xander needing to be gay bother you?" she asked.  She heard a groan and looked at someone.  "I love Anya, Xander.  I really do. I don't think she makes you happy."

He shook his head.  "This is not dissect Xander's dating life, Dawn.  Please?"

She grinned.  "Why not?  Dean helping my case?"

"Yes he is," he sighed.  He looked at the other guy then nodded.  "You can't write?  Or did I forget to write back?"

"It's been a hellish few weeks of cases, kid.  I'm sorry about that."

Xander nodded.  "We'll talk.  That's why we're having this extended picnic."  Jethro smiled.  "So I see you've met Dawn."

"I did.  She seems very nice."  Dawn smirked at him.  "Like every other teenage girl in the world."

Xander snickered, nodding.  "Yeah.  Putting it mildly.  Little Miss Squeal Patrol there is a teenage girl.  The brothers are ugly, right?"

"I'm not the one to ask," he said dryly.  "You clearly got your smartass nature from DiNozzo though."

Xander gave him a happy grin.  "Of course I did."  Dawn squealed and ran over to pounce Dean again, making him groan.  "She's getting him back for the purple food coloring in her shampoo."

"That seems like a good thing to do," he agreed.  He stepped closer.  "I don't want to get into that other stuff you do," he said quietly.  "Keep me out of it?"

"We can do that."

"Say it's 'your sort of business' or something like that and the others should understand.  I know most of the others did a background on Winchester at least."  He nodded.  "Beer?"

"Alchie parents.  Don't hardly ever drink.  I'll have another soda though."  They walked back to the bar together.  Xander goosed Dawn, making her shriek and swat at him but he only grinned.

"Bastard."

"Language," Dean said.  "Good girls don't say words like that."

She looked at him.  "I can say it in other languages if you want," she said dryly.  She spit out something in one of the demon languages Spike and Clem had been teaching her, getting a shocked look from Dean.  "Someone has to watch me during patrols.  Spike's pretty cool, huh?"  She strolled off.  "Sam's still giggling over the caveman beer."

Dean shook his head, trailing after her.  Something would happen and she'd need saved soon.  He was sure of it.  It also kept her from pouncing him and being mean to him.  He was the cool uncle, she shouldn't be mean to him.

***

The next day, Dawn bounced down to wait on Xander, Sam, and Dean, spotting some of the others waiting.  "Hi, guys."  They all smiled at her.  She had babbled at them last night and found out what they did and who they were so she could learn a lot more about this strange, extended clan she now belonged to.  "Is it bad news?" she asked at one smile starting to fall.  "Because I know we're going sightseeing today and if it's bad, I should tell Xander so he can get ready and make plans.  Plans save lives and we want to save them today.  Because it'd totally suck if we all died and I didn't get to see the Smithsonians."

Ryan smirked at her.  "Nothing like that.  We're waiting on Tony and Gibbs.  They got called out early this morning to help on a manhunt."

"Oh, that's cool."  She nodded. "I guess that happens to you guys."  Xander came off the elevator with Sam.  "We might not have a native guide.  Tony and Jethro are off hunting someone."

Xander shrugged.  "We can wander.  They can find us later."  They all agreed with that and headed for the rental cars.  He grinned at Ryan then at Dawn.  "Dean said he'd catch up later.  He needed twenty more."

"That's fine," she chirped, then gave him an evil smirk.  "Have him try to ruin my hair again."  She ran for the car when Ryan groaned.

Xander looked at him.  "Dean put food coloring in the shampoo she and Buffy were sharing the last time they met."

"She's a teenage girl, I'm not surprised she's vindictive."

Xander smirked.  "That's why she keeps pouncing Dean too.  To embarrass him so he can't pick up cheap women."

"Not going to?" he teased.

"Anya would kill my ass.  Literally."  He pointed at the car.  "Riding with?"

"Please.  I didn't rent one.  I came in and met Greg."  That got a nod and they got in, Dawn in the back.  She was texting someone.  "Telling the people at home you're okay?"

"That we're going to the museums now."  She looked at Xander.  "Tara said to be safe.  It is Tuesday."

Xander glanced back at her.  "If your usual Tuesday luck hits, yell."  She nodded at that.  "Thank you."  He backed out of the parking spot and took off for the museum.  They had worked out a good parking area for them to hit last night.  They had all picked up some small anal retentive habits from their Marine parents and training.   They parked and found Tony waiting on them.  "You made it.  Did you pounce?" he teased with a grin.

"Not yet.  The FBI took it over."  He smirked.  "Let them chase down fruitless leads while we get the good ones related back to his military background."  He gave Dawn a hug since she pounced him.  "Hi, squirt."

"I am not."

He smirked.  "You're the first niece," he teased.

"She's the only niece.  Anya's not allowed to get pregnant.  We'd warp the kid."  Tony snickered.  "We would!  Or didn't Anya call you to introduce herself?"

"She did, while I was at work.  I even taped it for Gibbs," he said smugly.

"Gee, he was one of the few yesterday who didn't nag me about her or ask that I switch to guys."

Dawn gave him a look.  "I still don't think she's making you really happy, Xander.  Yeah, it's good in the bedroom stuff, but she can't cook and you're tired all the time.  If she was making you happy she wouldn't embarrass you in public."

He looked at her.  "She's still getting used to things."

She snorted and flicked some of her hair back.  "That wasn't mannerly back when she grew up either."

He rolled his eyes.  "I'm satisfied, Dawn.  Drop it."

"Fine."  They walked in together, letting Ryan and Tony compare stupid criminal stories while Tony played tour guide.  They'd had a case in this one recently plus he was native so he knew which museum was which.  They met with John and Dean at the aerospace museum.  Natural History made Dawn swoon at the gems on display.  Xander had to pull her away before her drool set off an alarm.

"Just think, you can take up with someone who might be hunted down later and get that," he taunted with an evil smirk.

She swatted him. "Spike would never let me go into such a bad relationship.  He said he'd rip them apart and drink their blood."

He laughed.  "We'll have to tell him that idea when we get home."

She smirked back.  "Ooooh, the look on his face. And Angel's since we should stop in LA to get Tara."

Xander giggled.  "Yeah, that'll be priceless."  He put his arm around her shoulder. "As long as you don't make me a grandfather."

"Not a problem I'm foreseeing," she quipped.  "Childbirth sounds nasty and painful, not on my lists of likes."

"Good!"

"You could let Anya do that."

He looked at her.  "She'd hate being a mother, Dawn.  Being practical, she'd hate having to quit buying nice things for herself, always being the slave of the child's needs, all that.  I'd end up with a third job."

"Good point."  She gave him a squeeze.  "We'll figure it out."

"Yes we will."  A cop gave them a dirty look.  "She's my daughter, dude; mind out of the gutter."  The cop gave him a horrified look and walked off in another direction.  He gave Tony a bored now look when he got glanced at.  "He apparently thought I was cradle robbing."

"You two do look good cuddled together," he offered.

"He's still my father," Dawn shot back with a look over her sunglasses.

"I know.  There's some people who can't read body language."

Dawn nodded.  "Many of them staring this way."  They kept going until around lunch time, which they decided to take at one of the monuments.  She sighed in pleasure, looking up at it.  "Why does it look like some guy decided to make a monument to a breast?"

"Classical architecture is often based on natural shapes," Xander told her while the others choked.  "It's also practical.  They didn't know how to support the roof without the columns.  So yeah, the roof does look like a breast and the whole thing kinda resembles it but no woman's built so symmetrically."

Ryan looked around Sam to stare at him.  "That's fairly poetic," he teased with a grin.

Xander grinned back.  "I'm a crew leader on my construction crew."

Greg looked at him.  "You're a stronger man than I am to be building houses all summer long, Xander."

Xander nodded.  "We're a few miles from the desert but we're pretty good as a crew.  We're working on a school right now."

"Yay me, the new high school," Dawn said dryly.  "On the foundations of the old one even."

Xander smirked at her.  "You know someone from the old mayor's team is still in power."

"Most of them," she agreed.  "That proves it."  She shrugged.  "Can't I home school?"

"We'll talk about it when we get home."

"Yes, Xander."  They got something off a nearby 'tourist munchie' cart and settled in to nibble on stuff while the others talked.  It was pretty good until she saw the creeping shadow.  "Hey, Xander, it's still Tuesday, right?" she asked, taking a bite of sandwich.

Xander checked his watch then looked at her.  "For another twelve hours.  Why?"  She pointed at the shadow.  He looked then up.  "Huh.  Tony, I didn't know you guys had Godzilla.  I thought that was New York."

Tony choked, glaring at the thing.  "What the hell is that?"

"Killable," Xander said.  "But I'd need blessed silver."  John nudged him and handed over a gun.  "Thanks, John."  He looked at Dawn.  "Stay with Dean."  She nodded, going back to eating.  He and John jogged off to handle it.  They got close enough and Xander got the shot he needed when the demon turned to the side to climb out of the hole in the ground.  It fell back into the hole when it died.  Xander handed back the gun and they went back to meet with the group, cleaning off the sweat in one of the fountains on the way.  Dawn smiled.  Dean gave them a questioning look.  "Easy squeazy, filled in its own hole," Xander told him.

"He's a good shot," John agreed.  "Dawn, why don't you stay with Dean?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, princess."  Tony gave him a horrified look.  "What?  Usually we'd call for artillery for something that big."

Xander shrugged.  "It'd have eaten more and laid some eggs soon.  Usually they stay on their own plane but this one apparently wanted the novel birthing experience.  It was heading for the Potomac for a water birth."

"Okay then," Tony decided, calling their favorite FBI contact.  "Fornell, DiNozzo.  Yes, I am downtown.  We did see that.  No, I'm told it filled in its own hole and it was heading for the Potomac to have a water birth."  He hung up on the screaming.  He also turned off his phone.  "That way they can't GPS track me."  He led them to the next museum.  Having a cellphone on inside was considered rude anyway so it'd be fine.  Gibbs could find him if he wanted to.  He had their itinerary and he had DiNozzo sensing radar at times.  If not, he'd unleash Abby, who'd search out the entire Winchester clan of hunters with her strange crap sensing radar.  He was so glad he was one of the two normal Winchesters.  Sam gave him a grin.  "How's Stanford?"

"Pretty decent.  I take my LSATs next year."

"Congrats.  Think you'll do okay?"

"I do.  I've got good grades, I've done good on the practice tests and they say those are harder than the originals, the chair of the pre-law department is giving me a personal recommendation.  So I think I've got an in.  Hopefully with a full ride."

Tony nodded.  "If not, there's a kids of GIs bill that could help."  Sam smiled at that.  "Staying there?"

"I'd like to.  I like Palo Alto.  It's comfortable to me at the moment.  Plus Dawn thinks she might join me some year.  That'd be about the same time I graduate law school so I can introduce her to the good places, nice people to know, and show her the bad parts of town to stay away from."

"What does Xander think?"

"Her mother didn't want her in the family business."

Xander looked back.  "She has a good college fund," he said quietly. "Held in trust for when she's eighteen."  He smirked.  "It'll be fine no matter where she wants to go."  They nodded and smiled. "I do think being a cop like most of you guys would be too dangerous for her most of the time."

"But there's many other fields, including a straight lab tech if she likes sciences," Greg offered.  "That's what I do, even though I want to move into the field."

Dawn smiled.  "I'm not sure if I like science or not. All we really have is earth science."

"Chemistry is hard," he offered.  "But it's based on a few things.  Think about it this way: biology is really chemistry, chemistry is really physics with chemicals,  physics is really hard math, and higher level maths could be magic for all I know and understood of them.  And yet I'm still a DNA God," he finished with a grin.

"I need to put that on my wall when I take biology," she teased, giving him a hug.  "Can I email when I get stuck?"

"Sure.  We can help if you want us to."  She nodded, walking with him to look at the more modern paintings in the surrealists room.  Ryan and Sam followed.

Dean shook his head.  "They're going to turn her into a geek."

Xander nodded.  "Her mom would like that."  That got a grin from Dean.  They went to play outside.  This high art stuff was not them.  They ran into Jethro.

"He's in the landscapes," they said together.

Jethro stared at them.  "Which one of you got the huge thing?"  Xander slowly raised a hand.  "How?"

"Blessed silver I borrowed off John."

Jethro groaned.  "Could there be any others?"

"They're not supposed to be around here.  They came to give birth in a new location so their tadpoles could grow up big and strong from eating the buildings.  They eat concrete."

"Good to know," he said calmly.  "Warn me next time?"

"Yes, Jethro."

"Thank you, Xander.  Why aren't you two inside?"

"Too highbrow for us," Dean said.

Gibbs nodded.  "It can be."  John came out shaking his head.  "The kids giggling?"

"They've decided we're some sort of extended clan with three patriarchs."

"Not a wolf clan," Xander said, thinking about it.  "They only have one alpha, but I can see the clan remark.  With us spread so far...."  He walked off considering it until his phone rang.  "Yuppers?"  He winced at the screaming.  "Hey, Buffy."  John and Dean stared.  "So I take it Giles didn't stop her in time?"  He listened.  "She's inside the Smithsonian Art Museum with a bunch of officers she's pumping for information on their jobs."  He listened to her rant.  "Buffy, the people did a genetic test.  She's my daughter, not yours.  Shut up," he said coolly.

She quit and made squeaky noises.  "We knew they had to have a paternal donor to make Dawn," he went on quietly.  "The nice people in Social Services who agreed I should have custody over two young women who don't make a paycheck to support her did the test that showed I was the father.  Now, you can keep complaining or not.  The state said she's in my custody.  We'll be back Friday.  We can talk then.  They are, I just moved into the attic to be with her.  Because they don't have a way to pay the bills on the house, Buffy.  Do you?" he asked bluntly.

He listened to her complain.  "Giles wasn't there.  Joyce's will left me Dawn if you were dead.  Not Giles, not Willow, me.  It also said she wanted Dawn to not hunt and to die a great-grandmother if at all possible.  Which I'm helping her with.  Yes, I'm with the family.  We're in DC this week with the whole clan.  She's in looking at expensive art with Sam and the others that were born.  It's good for her, her first real vacation trip out of the state, and she can use it in school I'm sure."  He listened to her complain.

"You know what?  We'll be back on Friday, Buffy.  We'll stop to pick up Tara if she's not back yet.  We'll be landing at seven at night.  That'll put us back there at about bedtime for her.  We can talk then, after you beat Willow for doing something you yelled at Dawn about trying."  She gasped.  "Yeah, you were gone.  She pulled you back."  She whispered something and he hissed.  "I'm damn sorry, Buffy.  I tried to have her stopped," he said quietly.  "You deserved to be at rest and peace."  She whimpered.  "I know it's gone downhill.  You know what, is Wes in town?  He was coming up to stop her."  He nodded once.  "Okay, go see Angel until we get back.  We can meet you there on Friday.  We do miss you, Buffy, but this was wrong of her to do.  Make Angel see if she botched it."  She said something then hung up.

John took his phone before he could throw it.  "Go around back, throw a fit," he said quietly, staring the boy down.

Xander looked at him.  "She earned her rest," he said quietly.  John shuddered.  "Wesley didn't get there in time to stop her."  John tensed.  "And I'm not so sure she didn't botch it since Buffy has memories of playing in the sunlight."

"Tell Dawn later."

"No, I have to tell her.  I had her go to Angel.  Giles and a full coven came to deal with Willow."  He looked around, spotting Dawn.  He stared until she looked over.  She put on her sunglasses, coming over to join them.  "We didn't stop Willow."

She tensed then made herself relax.  "And?"

"Talked to your sister.  She wasn't happy that I moved in to protect you."

"She never did see you as you were, Xander.  The state said so."

"I pointed that out.  I also told her about the DNA test."  He made her look at him.  "I'm not going to pressure you, Dawn."

She smiled slightly, nodding.  "I'm in more danger near her.  I'm starting to pick up your practical sense thing."

"You get it from your mom.  She had a lot of it.  Otherwise she would've left you to Giles."

"Good point," she agreed quietly.  "Now what?"

"Now?  Now we consider some options before we pick her up Friday at Angel's.  Because I want someone independent to rule on whether or not Willow botched it."

She swallowed.  "Is she better off here?"

"Dawn, she saved the world how many times?" he asked quietly.  She choked a sob and he grabbed her to hug, walking her off into the shadows so she could cry on him in private.

Dean came over, guarding them, glaring at anyone who dared look at them funny.  He looked at his father.  "Rosenburg?"

"A coven came to get her."  He looked at Xander's phone, finding the number for Wesley.  "This John Winchester.  I know this is Xander's phone.   He's comforting Dawn, who's crying.  We did need to know if you guys needed help with that situation.  Because some of us do hunt, young man."

Sam came over to take the phone.  "You're which one?"  He smiled.  "Hi, Gunn.  Sam.  Xander's little brother Sam, yeah.  Dawn and Xander just heard that Wesley didn't stop Willow.  My dad needs to know if you guys need hunters to cover that area for a bit while someone deals with the fallout."  He listened then nodded.  "Friday.  We get back at seven that night at LAX."

"We're going to pick up Tara first," Xander called.  "Buffy's heading to them to make sure Willow didn't botch it."

Sam nodded.  "Xander said he told Buffy to come see you guys to make sure Willow didn't screw up the spell.  Yeah, I heard him asking Wesley to stop her.  Because resurrection is wrong, Gunn.  It taints the one casting it.  The soul never comes back the same.  There's a lot of prophecies that deal with souls coming back wrong.  We need to make sure, before something worse happens.  Yeah, like that evil thing.  Thanks, man.  We were sightseeing."

Dawn straightened up and wiped off her cheeks.  "We're still sightseeing.  I need to make happy memories and how many times do I get to DC?"  She took the phone.  "Gunn, hug my sister for me if she's still human but please, however you can, punch the shit out of Willow so I don't have to when I get there?"  She smiled.  "Thanks, Gunn.  The Smithsonians.  We just did the art one.  Sure, thank you.  Hell, I want a drink," she said bluntly.  "I'm sure Angel does, Wesley does, and Buffy probably does.  Thanks.  Keep us in the loop?"  She smiled.  "Hug Tara for me too please."  She hung up and looked at them.  "Why would we need hunters?"

"Souls pulled back are notorious for being used as a conduit to open bigger things," John said quietly.  She shuddered.  "There's also the fact that if she got back too wrong, she's not your sister, she's a higher demon."

"Gotcha.  Not that Sunnydale was calm before we left."  He nodded, giving her a pat on the shoulder.  "I'll be okay.  We Summers women are tough and learn to roll with the punches."  Xander came over to tuck her next to his side again.  She looked at the curious cops.  "Where to next, guys?  Stuff at home just hit the crapper but we'll fix it when we get home on Friday.  After someone figures out what happened."

"Ice cream break?" Tony suggested.  She smiled at him for that.  "Guys?"  They nodded and went to find an ice cream place for a snack.  Xander bought Dawn a sundae to make her feel better, eating his own while sitting in a corner of the shop.  Tony leaned closer to their table.  "What happened?"

"More crap from Willow," she sighed, looking at him.  "She decided we needed my sister again."

Tony nodded slowly.  "You can do that?"

"No one should do that," Xander corrected.  "It's considered a very dark rite."  He ate a  bite of ice cream.  "It's also usually something that gets someone hunted down for."

Tony nodded.  "Where is she going?"

"A British coven by what Buffy said."  He put down his spoon, looking at him.  "They will hopefully straighten her out before I see her and spank."

"She could use it," Dawn agreed.  "I'm good on spanking the hell out of Willow for this."  She looked at him.  "Think Giles will?"

"If he has any sense, yes."  She grinned.  He grinned at Tony.  "It's a shock but we were calling around to have her stopped when she started talking about it."

"Sure.  Let us know how it happens?"

Xander nodded.  "I can do that."  He smiled at the blonde woman walking in.  "This doesn't look like Angel's place."

"He agreed with you."  She sat down, looking at her sister, then at Xander.  "You're her dad?"  Xander nodded.  "What's with the custody thing?"

"The state has to award custody," Dawn told her.  "They gave me to Xander."  She stared at her sister.  "Are you warm?"

"Yeah, I am," she agreed, reaching over to touch her hand.  Dawn flinched away.  "Hey, I'm still me."

"Are you sure?" Dean asked as he joined them.  He stared at her.

"Did she ever get you back for the food coloring in the shampoo?"

"Yeah, she's been squealing and pouncing me so no girls will hit on me this week."

She rolled her eyes. "That's weak, Dawn."

She smirked.  "I have plans, Buffy."  Jethro looked over.  She waved him off.  "That's Grandpa Jethro."

Buffy looked then smiled.  "You take after John more but I can see some of him in your face, Xander."  She looked at her buddy again.  "They took Mom's room?"

"They moved in first," Xander said.  "Right after your funeral to cushion her.  I had to get out of the lease and calm Anya down while we worked on the state.  Where is she?"

"With the coven in Devon."  Xander nodded once.  "Giles screamed, Xander."

"I'm going to spank," Xander told her.  "Because this is something people like John go after you for."  Buffy nodded quickly at that.  "Are you good otherwise?"

"No.  I have some memories I don't want," she said honestly.

Xander nodded.  "I can see that."  He patted her on the hand.  "We'll deal but you should be in LA so they can figure out what she screwed up this time."

She nodded.  "I'll go later.  I needed to see Dawnie."  She looked her little sister over.  "You've grown."

"It's been all summer," she said quietly.  Buffy reached over and she flinched again.  "I'm sorry."

"It's an instinctive reaction," Dean soothed.  He looked at Buffy then wrote down a name.  "Go see her.  She'll know if there's something coming because of this."  He pushed it over to her.  "She told Dad about what really happened to Mom."

She tucked it into her skirt pocket.  "Thanks, Dean."

He grinned.  "We're all happy to protect the niece.  She wants to follow Sammy to Stanford."

"Your mom wanted her to die a great-grandmother," Xander told her.  "She's been pumping all the officers in the group for career info.  Sam took her on the tour."

"That's good.  I could like that.  She should have a life outside the strange we deal with."  She looked at Xander.  "Why didn't you take Mom's room?"

"Because they were already settled and Willow's getting cranky," he said bluntly.  "She and Tara have been arguing about her magic again."

"Ah.  Yeah, I heard some of that.   We were in LA when I called.  Tara hauled off and slapped her then walked off crying.  Prophecy?"  Dean nodded.  "I'll have them look into it.  Thanks, guys."  She looked at Dawn.  "You can tell me about all the pretty stuff you see."

"I can do that."  Buffy nodded and got up, getting an ice cream cone before leaving.  She looked at Dean.  "Why am I flinching?"

"Because you're a white light witch," Xander said very quietly.  "She reads as unnatural."  Dawn slumped.  "She probably always will.  You can use it to track her now."

"That's real helpful," she said dryly.

"You can train yourself not to," Dean told her.

She nodded.  "I'll work on that later.  I didn't flinch at Spike."

"He's not unnatural, he's a vamp," Xander corrected.  "Only slightly bad."

"Oh.  Okay."  She finished her ice cream and looked around.  The others had gone on.  "Where are we headed?"

"We were going to hit the other two major statues then head to dinner together," Dean said.  "Dad said to catch up at dinner."  She nodded and they left to catch up to the group.  Jethro gave them a look so Dean shrugged a bit.  "It's all good now."

"Okay."

Dean walked up next to his father.  He was staring at some names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.  "I referred her to Missouri."

"That's not a bad idea," he agreed quietly.  He looked at the wall then touched a name.  "He trained me."

Dean patted him.  "We're all soldiers, Dad.  We all chose to die for what we believe in."  John looked at him.  "I could've hiked off like Sammy did.  He chose to not die yet but at a later date for something he believes in then."

John nodded.  "I can see that."

"They had ways of not going.  Plenty of guys got suddenly injured, maimed before they got to basic, all that."

"True."  He patted the wall then backed up.  "Thanks, Dean."

"Welcome."  He glanced around then at him.  "Dawn needs to be taught not to flinch."

"We can work on that later."

"She asked why Spike didn't make her do it."

"That means she botched it."

"Yup."

"Hell."

"A good reason for her to see Missouri."

"Yes, it is."

Dawn walked over.  "John, I have no idea what this war was over.  They've covered it and our teacher gave us a few different viewpoints but I don't understand why we went to butt into another country."

He smiled sadly.  "Neither did many of us, Dawn."  He walked her off to tell her about the war and the times going on around them.  He had only been there in the last year but it was enough.  He had grown up with it on tv nightly.

Dean looked at Xander, who was putting down something.  "Relative?"

"Uncle Rory's half-brother."  He stepped back, looking at it.  "He asked me to put it down."  He looked at Dean then at the retreating twosome.  "Dad okay?"

"Dawn asked him to explain it to her.  It'll help," Dean said.

Xander grinned.  "My girl does know when people are in pain."  Dean grinned.  They walked off together, going to find Sam, who was watching Dawn and John.  "You can go talk to them," he reminded him.

"We'll talk later.  Dad always gets emotional about the war."  He looked at them.  Then at the others.  Then back at them.  "We good?"

"We're fine," Xander promised.  That got a nod and they went back to where the others were waiting.  John would protect Dawn if something happened and he needed some time.  Jethro gave him an odd look.  So did Mac.  "His rookie service year," he said quietly.

Mac nodded.  "He's with Dawn?"

"Dawn said she didn't understand why it happened so he's telling her," Dean said.

"That's a good girl," Jethro said.  He smiled. "We're taking nominations for dinner."

"Any of those buffet places that have a lot of different foods?" Xander suggested.

"One just outside town if I remember right," Jethro said.  He looked at Tony.  "Multi- cuisine buffet?"  The others nodded at that.  "Where is it, DiNozzo?"

"Um...  Hmm.  Out by that one mall that we had the suicide at two years ago, boss.  The one that we had to figure out how he got up the flagpole.  It's up the road from there by about a mile if I remember right."

"We can hit that," Jethro agreed.  "Give them directions."  He looked at the two boys.  "Any more bad things?"

"She's seeing if she's a bad thing.  Right now she's just an emotional thing," Xander said.  "That was Buffy."

Jethro grimaced. "Wasn't she...."

"Yeah," Dean interrupted.  "She was.  That's why it's so bad.  Why Xander was trying to stop the one who did it."

"Stupid me, I left in other hands," Xander said.  "Those who could counter her if she was actively working."

Jethro nodded.  "Now we know."

"And it's still evil," Xander agreed.  "So I'm going to beat her ass when I get her."  He grinned.  "She's presently in Devon being beaten by some of her own kind."

"I have a contact over there.  We'll see if she can stay for a while."  He walked them back to their cars.  They got the directions off Tony, who had called the office to get them from McGee, who could look it up online.  On the drive over, he called a contact to see if they could keep Rosenburg over there indefinitely.  He didn't want her pulling that crap on US soil again.

***

Xander opened the door, smiling at the guys piling in.  "Aw, did you guys come to play Trivial Pursuit with us?" he taunted.

"Yes, and some of us are pretty good," Greg teased back.  "You might have to lose your crown."

Dawn snickered.  "I think he memorized all the cards a few years back."  They all grinned at her since she was happy again.  They settled around the seats with their drinks of choice, all non alcoholic since Dawn was in the room, and got down to playing.  It was a good way to get to know each other.  It devolved from Trivial Pursuit to other games they played at conventions to get to know each other.  Mostly from their dorm days.  Xander knew some of them from the few comic cons he had been to.  Dawn was giggling at some of the answers.

John, Sam, and Dean excused themselves, heading outside the hotel to talk.  John looked at Sam.  "I'm proud, son."

"Thank you."

"Are you... are you happy with it?"

Sam shrugged.  "Pretty much.  You'd love Jess.  She's a good girl.  She makes me happy.  College is pretty cool.  I like most of my classes.  Now and then some of the mandatory ones suck but otherwise it's pretty cool."  He grinned.  "The downtime life is pretty rowdy when we want to jump into the clubs or bars.  I'm doing pretty good overall."

"I had someone look at your grades for me your first year."

Sam grimaced.  "The PE teacher was a snob who said being trained unofficially wasn't worth it in any book until I put him onto his back and then walked out.  Since he couldn't flunk me, not with the chair of the PE department watching due to him harassing a few of the girls, he gave me a D.  It's my only failing grade so far.  I can retake it later on to replace that grade."

John nodded.  "That's good.  I thought you had maybe slept in a few too many times."

Sam gave him a look.  "No, I don't tend to get hangovers on class days, Dad.  I'm more responsible after my first one back in high school."

"If I'd had the formula for that caveman beer back then, you'd both have had a brow ridge after your first beer," he said.

Dean grinned. "I'd still be a hunk even with it, Dad."

John swatted him, shaking his head.  "Shut up, Dean."

Sam snickered.  "Is that why you had to promise my prom date sex to steal her?"

"She needed it.  You were too uptight to give it to her."

Sam gave him a look.  "Not hardly.  She came back and said I was better." Dean gaped.  He smirked.  "That's also why I dumped her.  I don't want a woman who compares us."

"Good to know."  He looked at his father again.  "Do you guys need me?  A hotty just went into the bar."  They waved him off so he went to hunt a different sort of supernatural creature.

John shook his head.  "Some year he'll catch something or I'll be a grandfather the traditional way."

Sam nodded.  "If so, I'll help the kid if they want to have a normal life," he said quietly.

John stared at him.  "Are you at least keeping protections?"  Sam nodded, staying silent.  "What happens if it comes for you when your first born is six months, Sam?"

Sam shrugged.  "I'll do my damndest to kill it.  Like you have.  I don't see why it should."

"It came after you, son.  Not your mother."

Sam slumped then sighed.  "I realized that.  Who said that whatever reason it likes me will be passed on?"

"Good point."

"I can also paint a damn good set of wards around the baby's crib when it's time.  Xander's tried really hard to keep it away from Jess with me but now and then he slips or she eavesdrops.  She heard him calling around about Willow.  She thinks he's part of some strange cult."

John snorted.  "It only seems that way sometimes."  He started to reach over then did it, clapping that son on the shoulder.  "She'd be proud."

Sam smiled.  "Thanks."

"Welcome."

"This does mean you can't tell Jess either."

"We won't.  We'll keep the normals in the dark until it's necessary.  But we can stop around?"

"Sure.  I'll email Dean my class schedule every semester."

"That'll work."  They looked at the bar when screaming started.  "Maybe Dawn was right.  Tuesday has some sort of power."  They went to save Dean, who was now surrounded by harpies.  They got them outside with a bit of baiting.  Xander got called and he came down to take Sam's place.  He jogged out and started the banishing chant with Sam.  John and Dean used their usual rock salt to annoy and keep them off the others coming to see what was going on.  Finally they were all dead in piles of smoking ash or banished.  John panted, looking at his boys.  "We good?"

"Not even a scratch," Sam called back.  "You two?"

"Good enough," Dean panted, straightening up.  He saw the cops staring at him.  "They attacked me, dude."

"What the fucking hell happened?" he yelled.

Sam walked over to calm him down and tell him the truth.  The cop gaped so Xander came over to help.  John and Dean faded back into the hotel to hide in their rooms.  It wasn't even noted to the others in the party so that was good.  It was good they could ignore it for a while longer.

***

Sam got home and smiled at Jess.  "Hey."  He gave her a hug.  "How bored were you? I smell cinnamon rolls."

She pulled back to look at him.  "Was your big brother Dean the other guy with the one in the picture on the dresser and Xander on tv?"  He went pale.  "We should talk."

"They attacked Dean.  He was probably hitting on a woman they wanted."

She snorted.  "Uh-huh."

"I left that life," he said bluntly.

She stared at him.  "Good!"  She walked him off to feed her man and straighten him back out.  "Xander?"

"Xander helps defend his town from things like that.  He's kept it from you at my request."

She stared.  "Not a cult?"

"No.  Vampires."

She snorted. "Please!"   He just stared until she whimpered.  "Please?"  He nodded, eating another bite.  "You left it, right?"

"I did.  Unless it attacks me directly or you directly I'm out of the family business.  The strange thing is that Xander was hunting before we found out about the program."

She sighed. "How long?"

"Since he was sixteen."

She grimaced. "That's gotta suck."

"Yup."  He ate another bite.  "So, are you majorly freaked?"

"A bit."

"Dean and Dad said they might show up for dinner some night."  She gave him an odd look.  "We worked things out.  Xander kinda made us and so did Dawn.  Dawn wants to have a normal life too.  They made Dad see he was being an asshole."  He kissed her.  "We'll probably come in and find them on the couch some night."

She rolled her eyes.  "Fine.  I should meet your father."  She got up to get him seconds.  Then she got pulled into his lap, making her squeak.  "Sam!"  She swatted him.  He kissed her, making her moan.  "Sam!"  He shifted her so she was straddling his lap.  He could have the second helping after he made her feel better.  Then he might talk to the local coven about a memory spell so she didn't have to know.

***

Xander walked Dawn into the Hyperion, nodding at Fred.  "Hey."

"Xander."  She smiled.  "You look just like the picture Tara has."

He grinned. "I should.  She took it."  Dawn squealed and raced over to hug Tara, getting one back.  He looked at her.  "Hey."

"Xander."  She gave him a hug too.  "How was DC?"

"It was so great," Dawn said, babbling as she walked her off.  She had even taken a lot of pictures to show off.  Including of the hotty other members of the clan.  She wasn't related to most of them.  It was okay for her to think dirty, nasty, bad girl thoughts about them.  Tara blushed but she did like the museum pictures.

Xander smiled as they walked off.  Then he looked at Fred.  "And?" he asked quietly.

"She's with Angel.  They're seeing someone about the possible prophecies."

"Dean gave her a name."

"She called, they already knew and told her what they knew.  She sounded a bit tired."

"So am I some days," he admitted.  "I'm guessing being slightly psychic is just as tiring."  She nodded at that.  "The town?"

"Standing," Gunn said as he came out of the kitchen.  "The spell went off and she beat some, then the rest fled."

"That's good to know."  He grinned.  "How many hunters are looking for them?"

"Six, seven," Gunn admitted. "You?"

"No.  Not John or Dean either.  I know there's one watching me for John."

"Who is he anyway?" Fred asked.

"One of my biological fathers.  The Marines were trying to make perfect little future soldiers.  They started it back in the late sixties.  I was the last one born.  The last section had three donors they used.  John, a guy at NCIS named Jethro, and a CSI named Mac out of New York.  I'm from John and Jethro."

She stared, mouth slightly open.  Then she shook her head slowly.  "That's so wrong!" she said firmly.

He nodded.  "Well, yeah.  But they thought more people would quit joining."  He shrugged.  "John's pretty cool.  Even if he does want to drill me in guns and more hand-to-hand."

Gunn shook his head.  "So he hunts?"

"He's the sort of hunter Wesley tried to be once."  Wesley nodded, coming out of the library reading.  "It good?"

"No."  He looked at him.  "I did try to model myself on your natal family.  They're quite impressive."

"Got anything on the demon that took out John's wife?"

"If I had a name or something perhaps."  Xander dug out what he had gotten off Dean to hand over.  He looked then smiled.  "Yes, I do think I do.  Ah, and an email address for him.  Thank you, Xander."

"Not a problem, Wes.  You guys are research gods, not us."

"That's a darling compliment."  He smirked.  "How was the reunion?"

"Okay until Tuesday.  Then a demon the size of Godzilla wanted to lay her eggs in the Potomac.  John and I handled that.  Buffy showed up and Dawn was crying on and off for a few hours.  Then the harpies tried to get Dean for hitting on one while in her human suit."

Wesley shuddered.  "That made tv."

"Shit.  Sam's gotta be pissed," he muttered, sending him a text message that he was sorry if she had heard.

Gunn smirked.  "Girlfriend?"

"My little brother Sam's girlfriend Jess is a normal and he's trying to stay normal so he's not telling her."  He looked up as he put his phone back.  "She thinks I'm in a cult."  They all snickered at that.  "So?  How bad am I coming back to?"

"Bad," Wesley admitted.  "Very bad."

Xander nodded.  "Just the town?"

"That's actually slightly calmer.  Spike's still up there."

"I'll call him in a few.  Someone did spank her?"

Wesley nodded.  "Indeed.  One of the senior witches turned her over her knee and went to town on her behind.  She was begging the Goddess for mercy, Xander."

"I need to get in on that," he said.  He saw Buffy and Angel walk in.  "Surprise."

"Earlier flight?"

"One of our connections got grounded so they switched us to kill most of our layover in Denver."

"That's cool," Buffy agreed.  "Dawnie?"

"Tara."  He pointed.  "Showing off pictures."  He stared at her.  She slumped.  "Are we doing paperwork?" he asked quietly.

"No.  I want her to stay in your custody.  I can't really do that since I'm known to be dead."

Xander nodded.  "That'll work.  Do you want me to move out of the attic?"

"We'll try it and see but I don't want to hear Anya getting loud."

"I go to her place.  Tara watches her then."

"I can agree with that."  She moved closer.  "I didn't want her to, Xander."

"We all missed you like hell, Buffy, but this is going to hurt her for a very long time."

She nodded.  "I get that.  Can I?"  He pointed.  She went to talk to Dawn with Tara refereeing.  "Hey."  Dawn looked up.  "Are you going to flinch again?"

"Yeah.  John think it's because I hold the Key, and it's such a white light artifact or something, that it'll make me.  Sorry.  I'm training myself not to."

"That's cool.  I understand that.  I flinch at mirrors."  She sat down.  "Pictures?"  Dawn handed the ones they had already went over to go over them with her.  She smiled.  "He's cute."

"Ryan is very cute, but he's also got OCD and he's a CSI in Miami.  The land of bikinis.  He said I can have his couch if I come down on spring break as long as I don't make a mess and I don't come in drunk."

"Better not," Buffy agreed.  "We want better things for you than I had."

She smiled.  "Drinking is part of the spring break tradition but I'll be good."  She showed off the others.  "That's Jethro and Mac, the other two daddy donors.  Jethro is Xander's other dad.  He's kinda uptight and wants Xander to leave Sunnydale, find a good girlfriend, and find a good job that'll make him happy.  Anya called Tony," she said, handing over that picture, "to introduce herself to Xander's older half brother.  He taped it for Jethro."

"I like them together most of the time.  I could do without the info she gives out all the time, but they're cute."

"But he's not fully happy," Dawn told her.  Tara nodded.  "See?"

"She makes him happy enough but not fully content," Tara agreed quietly.

"Cordelia did the same.  He has bad luck with women."

"We know the demon magnet side *has* to come from John.  Dean was hitting on girls in the hotel bar and pissed off a harpy pack."  Buffy whimpered.

"It was on tv," Tara said.  "Xander looked very nice that day helping Sam cast."

Dawn nodded.  "He did.  And none of the others realized it."

Buffy shook her head.  "Now we know."  Dawn nodded.  "Who else came?"  She got into the rest of the pictures to share with the both of them.  They'd work out the life stuff at home.  Once they got comfortable with each other again.

***

Mac looked at Danny later that night once they got back to the local airport.  "You okay?"

"I'm fine.  I can see how Xander came from both parents, but he's a bit strange."

"Yes," Mac agreed.  "But a stronger soul than I am.  I couldn't do what he does at home."

"Me either.  Now I know who to call if we get one."  Mac smiled and nodded.  "You and your brood good?"

"We're pretty happy to talk to each other.  Greg's been giving Ryan ideas to help him get back at Eric in his lab since he's being a pain in the ass."

Danny nodded. "Heard about that.  Ryan was talking about switching cities."

Mac nodded.  "He told me.  I said I'd look up here if he wanted but he decided he wanted the showgirls."  He smirked.  "That and Horatio might invade like he did the last night when those supposed girls came to try to keep him and Sam."

"That was a bit strange, yeah.  I always thought demons were evil, not pros."

"Apparently some needed the cash that badly," Mac said.  They shared a cab back to the city.

"Maybe you should move to Montana, be closer to your boys?" Danny teased after a few minutes.

Mac snorted.  "I'd be bored within days.  No theater, no opera, no pushy police commissioner but I might end up missing that.  I could go take over the day shift in Las Vegas if I wanted to.  The guy there is supposed to be political and an ass kisser."

"That's putting it mildly after he called Greg to rant about him taking time off right when they got a big case.  One of these days Greg is gonna show your temper and explode on 'em," he said, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

Mac nodded.  "And Catherine will probably clap," he agreed dryly. "He might even ask Xander how to blow them up.  You never know with Greg."

"Who says Greg don't know?" Danny teased.

"He could," he agreed.  "He is a chemist."  He shook his head quickly.  "I think Grissom can handle it."

"We hope," he said with an evil smirk.

"He's more likely to stomp off and go visit Ryan.  Those two seem pretty close."

"Then let's hope Xander and them keep the world going and all that."

"Yes, I can hope that."

"You guys know Xander Harris?" the cabbie asked.  They both stared at him.  "What?  Our clan has a branch out there.  We've heard of him and what he does with the slayer."

Mac nodded.  "We just had a family reunion.  Danny's his older half brother."

"Man!  They're gonna like you in town."  He let them off, waving off the tip.  "Not needed.  Not everyday you can carry the family of someone so famous."

"What's he famous for?" Danny asked.

"Mostly for going against orders or screwing up something so it worked perfectly and destroyed those who're evil or going insane from the power.  Hate to see what he'll do to Rosenburg.  It's been The talk of the community.  Have a nice night, guys."  He pulled away, calling his wife.  "I just carried two guys who're related to Harris.  Yes, that one!" he said excited.  "One wasn't sure why he was famous, clearly not in the family business, but he seemed pretty nice.  Both officers.  They pulled money out of their ID cases."  He smiled.  "It is a good blessing on the new one you're about to lay.  I'll be home in a few hours."  He hung up and went back to driving.

Danny and Mac shared a look then shook their heads.  "Next time I'll ask him about the in- laws," Danny said.  Mac hiked off laughing.  He lived about four blocks away.  Danny hiked the three to his place, finding Don waiting on him.  "Hey."

"Hey.  Saw the thing with the strange, shrieking women on tv."

"What strange, shrieking women?"

Don blinked.  "That's right, you were inside somewhere."  He replayed the tape he had made of the report. Danny sat down hard to stare at it.  "Are you related to any of them?"

"See the smaller young, dark haired guy?" he asked with a point.  Don nodded.  "I share a father with him but they made him of two of the donors in the group."  He looked at him.  "Yeah, he does that.  Just found out he's famous for it in that sort of circles."

"Huh."  He turned it off.  "Have fun?"

"A lotta fun."  He grinned.  "We went sightseeing, we talked, we ate, all that.  Ryan is the geek king of Trivial Pursuit."  Don rolled his eyes.  "Why're you in my place?"

"I came ta see you, dumbass."

Danny stared at him.  "You're not Don."

The thing grinned.  "Well, no.  Not technically.  He's in here screaming and whining though. Quite a vocabulary on him.  I didn't expect cops to know so many ways of saying fuck."

Danny found his cellphone and dialed one of the new numbers.  "John, Danny Messer.  I got a possessed guy on my couch."  He listened then nodded.  "How do I do that?"  He made notes while the demon laughed.  "Thanks, man."  He hung up and clubbed Don in the head.  "Always wanted ta do that.  That and take the ugly ties and burn 'em."  He went to bless some water as instructed and tie Don up so he could do the exorcism ritual John was sending to his email.  It got there before he could log on and it was all good for him a few hours later.  Don blinked his blue eyes up at him. "Hey."

"What the fuck?" he demanded.

Danny smirked.  "How did you get possessed?"

"He said he wanted Xander."

"I'll let him know.   So how was your week?"

"Better'n yours.  Harpies?"

Danny shrugged.  "I was inside trying to beat the geek king Ryan at Trivial Pursuit."

"I heard that."  He looked at the ropes then at him.  "Can I be undone?"

"Fine."  He let him go.  "I can't believe you got possessed."

"Hey, she was a pretty woman.  She came onto me at the bar.  All it took was a kiss."

Danny smirked.  "Uh-huh."

"Did."

"Stick to that story, Flack."  He bopped him on the side of the head.  "Nap if you wanna.  I'm exhausted and have call at eight."  He went to get ready for bed, collapsing across it while Don muttered in his living room.  He heard Don leave around seven for early mass but that was probably a good thing for him to do.  Danny got up to shower and get ready for work, heading in.  He saw Mac looking disgruntled.  "The higher ups or did someone come to talk to you about Xander too?"

"John, not Xander."

"Nah, I got Flack there to talk about Xander."

Mac stared at him.  "Is he okay?"

"Now.  Called John."

"So did I.  He was not amused and he'll be up here in about two days."

Danny nodded.  "That's cool.  We can have dinner with him and Dean."

"Dean's heading to Michigan."

"Ehh, I guess there's not enough of 'em ta go around."  He saw Lindsay walking their way.   "How was your week?"

"Happier than yours.  What was that strange attack?"

"Don't know.  We were inside."

"Oh."  She handed over the folder she was carrying to Mac.  "I cleared one.  That's the report and all that."  She walked off.  "I guess I'm open for the next one."

Danny nodded.  "Works for me," he said quietly, getting a dirty look from Mac.  "What?" he asked with a big grin.  "She offered."

"Uh-huh."  He walked off shaking his head but smiling.

Stella caught him by his office.  "Did you have a good reunion?"

"It wasn't too bad.  Not too strange.   The group did a lot of sightseeing and picking on a few of the others.  One of my sons will hit on anything in a skirt.  So will one of John's.  As he proved a few times."

"The attack?"

"One of John's sons."

"Oh."  She patted him on the arm.  "Demon hunters?"

"You know?"

"Did a background when I found the file on your desk, Mac."  He gave her a dirty look.  She only grinned back.  "I wanted to make sure we wouldn't have to yell at you like you yell at Danny for having bad friends in your past."

"I don't do that."  She stared at him.  "I apologized and haven't done it since," he amended.

"Good.  We like that."  She pinched him on the cheek.  "Be a good boy so they don't have to come up here."

"John'll be up in two days to deal with the two things that wanted him and Xander."

"He sounds like an interesting guy.  I'd like to meet him."  She walked off.

Danny stopped her and walked her back there, pulling out some of the holy water to splash her, getting complained at.

"I need to be dry to work!" she complained, wiping at the water.  Mac got her neck and she yelped as it burned.  "Hey!"

They handcuffed her to a chair in Mac's office while he called John back.  Since they had one trapped....

***

Ryan looked at Horatio as he came into the lab he was working in.  "It still isn't my fault the demonic prostitutes wanted me, H."

"Yes it was."

"No it wasn't!"  He looked at him.  "Keep it up, Greg's given me plenty of ideas."

"I have no doubt of that."  He stared at him. "Should we try to find Gregory a job?"

"Don't know.  He's not sure.  Then again, if things don't start going better here, I might go join him.  Then we'll both move to LA."

Horatio snorted.  "You'd hate it."

"Maybe, but maybe not.  Xander would only be a few hours away.  Sam too."

Horatio moaned.  "That whole family is insane."

"They're not.  They have a duty and a calling, Horatio," he explained.  "One of them took out John's wife over Sam's crib when he was six months old."  Horatio shuddered.  "If it was a normal human, we'd understand the vendetta."

"I would."

"So of course he's having a normal human reaction."

Horatio sighed.  "I do not want it to impact you down here."

"I have no intention of it.  Though I might find some of those girls down here and point Eric at them."  Horatio gave him a dirty look so he pulled out the tape recorder in his pocket and replayed the message he had gotten off his machine last night.  Horatio growled.  "Please?" he asked with a grin.

"That is definitely a bad Gregory habit."  He walked off with the tape recorder, going to find Eric.  "Eric, a word please?" he asked when he spotted him coming in.

"Can I have ten to hit the bathroom?"

"No."  He walked him off, taking him to a private corner to replay the tape.  Eric moaned.  "I have had enough.  Am I clear?" he asked quietly.  Eric looked down and nodded.  "Good.  Should it happen again, Ryan has been given some very bad ideas that would make you regret being born and I will let him start to pick back at you."  Eric looked at him.  "No more."

"Yes, Horatio.  I'm sorry.  I don't know why...."

"I don't care why, Eric.  It's stopped.  Yours.  Calleigh's.  All of it."

"Yes, Horatio."  His boss walked off and Eric went to talk to Calleigh.  "I just got chewed a new one because I made a drunken call to Wolfe."

She looked at him.  "You knew better when you did it, Eric."

"He knows about your snubbing too."

She grimaced.  "I do not.  I can work with Ryan."

Ryan leaned in.  "Good, because we have a floater that someone pulled out and tossed into a dumpster according to the call in.  The fisher called it in himself after dumping the body so he could go back to catching fish."

She grimaced. "Eww."

"Sorry, we're still up."  He grinned and walked off.  "Hey, Horatio, can Greg come down during spring break?" he asked when he walked past him.

"As long as you both have time off to stare at the semi-naked women," he sighed, shaking his head.  He was smiling a bit.  Greg was a breath of fresh air.  He went to send someone in Las Vegas a nice email about how Greg was welcome in their lab if he wanted to leave Las Vegas due to the politics and pressure.  That the half-brothers had gotten very close and they seemed to do each other good.

***

In Las Vegas, later that night, Greg walked in.  "I'm back, my people.  Please don't pounce for hugs."  He took his inter-office mail from the receptionist with a grin. "Thank you, my dear."

"Grissom and Ecklie are looking for you."

"Ecklie and I need to have a talk anyway."   He walked off reading the memos of the last week, laughing at one.  He walked into the office and glared at Ecklie.  "How dare you call me up while I'm on vacation with my family and complain about me taking vacation just because your dayshift DNA tech is a moron!"  He flinched back away from him.  "I don't care who you think you are.  I applied for it and had the time in.  I can take my vacation any time I want, thank you!  I don't care if you did just catch a huge case.  There are other DNA techs in this lab, one on each shift, and you could pay them to actually do their job instead of making me do mine and half of theirs because they're lazy."  He looked at Grissom.  Then he pulled out his phone and replayed the voicemail for him.  "He does it again and I'm moving."  He stared his boss down.

"I see the reunion went well?" Grissom asked, handing him an email that had been given to him by Catherine.

Greg smiled at it.  "Very well.  Ryan and I are still very close buddies; half of the rest of the family is nuts but we're good."  He put it into his back pocket.  "I'll keep that in mind if I get another call like that."

"The judge...."  Greg glared at him.  "Our dayshift tech is out sick."

"Not my fault," Greg told him.  He looked at Grissom.  "How backed up am I?"

"Quite.  The swingshift tech got put into jail for fudging some credentials."  Greg groaned.  "We've had quality control in."

"Wonderful!  And?"

"You were cleared.  All the things you did were cleared."  He smiled.  "If you go to Miami, I'm sending Nick and Warrick to bring you back.  We'll make room for Ryan."

Greg snorted but he was smirking evilly.  "They can come watch the bikini wearing rollerblade girls too."  He walked off, heading to his lab.  He tossed a few envelopes into a few of the labs, hitting the tech's desks.  He went into his and nearly moaned at the mess. "I don't give a damn who has been in my lab.  They will come and clean up the food wrappers!  Now!" he bellowed.  "I'm not touching a thing until they do!"  A few of the lesser techs scurried in to clean up their mess then left.  Ecklie came in while they were cleaning.  "Why is it you hired inferior ass kissers?" he asked.  Ecklie glared.  "Looks like it to me."

"Are you possessed?" Sarah asked as she came in.

"No," he snorted.

"You sure?  Because I can find some holy water, Greg."  She looked at the mess being cleaned up.  "Never mind, that needed bitched about.  QC is in layout three if you wanted to talk to them."

Greg nodded, heading that way.  "Am I good?" he asked as he walked in.

"You are.  Why were you yelling?"  He got into the local security cameras for her, making her gasp when he ran the picture back.  "That's a good reason."

"Ecklie hires ass kissers before those who can do the job.  They're lazy and I do a lot of their work for them."

"That's a good thing since two of them are going to jail," she said.  He whimpered.  She nodded.  "Sorry."

"I get more vacation time for overtime," he sighed, going back to his lab to watch them clean it.  "You will scrub it down."

"Taking lessons from your father?" Nick teased as he leaned in.  "Holy God, Greg."

Greg looked at him then grinned.  "Horatio offered me a spot in Miami."

"We'd have to come steal you back, man."  He took the cellphone when Greg fiddled with it.  "Please don't leave us without any DNA techs?" he begged.

"I'm not fully considering it.  Yet."  He took his phone back and put it up.  "I did say scrub it," he told one who was heading for the door.  He slunk back to do that.  He looked at Nick.  "Where's my backlog?"

"Quality Control."

"I'll get it in a few then.  Probably a good idea with this sort of mess."  He looked at Ecklie. "When are you hiring another inefficient, lazy ass kisser I'll have to do half the work of?"  The lab's director stomped off.  "Sure, I'll tell the other DNA techs who have a clue to send in letters of interest," he called after him.

"Way to channel your father," Nick teased.

Greg grinned since the lesser beings were leaving.  "It felt damn good too."

"It should.  I'd have yelled too, Greggo.  Let me get your backlog while you check your lab."  He went to do that.  She looked up at him when he walked in then pointed at a box. "Thanks."

"It's good he yelled.  The lab can't do without all three DNA techs."

"Greg just asked Ecklie when he was hiring the next lazy butt kisser."

"I'm sure there's plenty out there."  She handed over a second folder.  "Have him go over that one please?  The report has typos."

He looked then at her  "He was pulling the end of a triple shift.  He handed the prosecutor a corrected version when he mentioned it."

"Good."  She took it back and went to look that up in the case file.  He carried the boxes back to the DNA lab.  Greg sighed but took them to go through.  Oldest samples first.  As procedure.

***

Gibbs and DiNozzo came back for their first day on Monday, and found the Director waiting on them in their row.  "Director," Tony said, walking around her.  "New case, Probie?"

"Not at the moment."  He looked at him.  "Have a good time?"

"It was a good reunion.  Dawn's a pisser and it was cool to guide her toward a life she'll want someday."  He sat down and turned on his computer, shooting a look at Gibbs.  Then at him.  He glanced at the director's back but got a slight shrug.

"Is there a reason you're staring?" Gibbs finally asked.

"I'm trying to figure out how you knew about that purple Godzilla looking thing."

"My son Xander told me.  He helped handle it."  He looked at her.  "He does things like that for a living."

"I see."  She considered it.  "I did some checking into the ones you were meeting this weekend.  How are you related, Jethro?"

"The Marines had a plan to make future perfect Marines," Tony told her.  "They made all us kids."  She glared so he smirked back.  "Yes, I was one.  Xander's the youngest and I think I'm the oldest in this group.  Boss?"

He counted.  "No, John's son in Nevada is I think.  The one that just got out of jail for protecting himself.  You're third oldest I believe.  Mac's son in Houston is a few months older."

Tony nodded at that.  "That's cool.  I'm still the oldest Winchester, which made Dean pout."

Gibbs smirked. "You two trade pranks?"

"Yup," he said happily.

"I don't want to see them here."

"Of course not."  He looked at the director.  "So, why the worry because the Marines wanted him to have more kids?  Xander's a kick ass son."

"Literally by the news," McGee said dryly.  They glared at him.  "The, um, attack on the hotel was covered."

"We were watching the geeks play Trivial Pursuit, Probie."

"Oh, that's good I guess."  He nodded and ducked his head when the director glared.

She glared at Jethro.  "This new...family of yours is going to cause you problems, Jethro.  Your son has a sealed file."

He nodded. "He helped take down a unit that was using torture and experimentation on residents of his town."  She shuddered.  "He and his friends protested greatly and ended up having to break in to deal with it.  Though, one of the flags does come from before then.  Apparently they had something like that purple Godzilla thing and he needed artillery so he broke into a National Guard base to get it.  The local commander out there found out why and flagged him but reported it as reasonable and a good reason to break onto a base."

She growled.  "There are those who're looking into this program now."

Jethro shrugged.  "Means it can't happen again, Jen."  She stomped off.

"Remember, we're more like a clan than a family," Tony called after her.  "Three alpha dogs and then us kids."  He looked at Gibbs, who was giving him an evil look.  "We are.  You think the boys won't come after her if she tries to hurt you?  Or Mac?  Mac's lab will go after her if she bothers him plus his boys."

"They will.  I'd hate to see it if she went after the Winchester clan."  He shook his head.  "She'll learn."

"I'm sure she will sometime," Tony agreed dryly.  "Hopefully soon."

"It'll be soon enough. The Sec Nav had the same talk with me at six this morning when he interrupted my run.  He said he's locking it at a higher level of classified since we all know now."

Tony nodded.  "That's fine.  Though I did tell my mother I knew about the program. She went on a shrieking, wailing fit that brought my father out of his office for a change.  I told her I had met John and his boys and she got louder.  My father growled a bit but I laughed it off.  So we'll see if something comes from that direction."

Gibbs stared at him.  "Don't tempt your brothers to introduce themselves."

Tony smirked.  "I asked them to leave them alone."

"Uh-huh.  Dean and Xander like picking at painful spots."  They got into their last casefile to finish things up before a new case came in.

Abby came bouncing up and stared at them.  "Why didn't you tell me you knew a Xander, Gibbs?" she asked with a pout.

"Figured you heard of him," Tony told her with a small grin.  "I share one of his fathers with him and Gibbs is the other."

She gaped, then hugged them both.  "That is wickedly cool.  Are you going to learn how to hunt, Tony?"

"Nope.  John gave me a practical list of what to do if something happens in the field."  He grinned.  "It's a lot harder than this job is and doesn't come with health benefits.  Even though it seems like you need health benefits pretty often."

She nodded.  "That's true.  You do end up banged up all the time."  She looked at Gibbs.  "Do you think you can get Xander to autograph something?  Or get one of his friends to?"  He wrote down an address for her, making her squeal.  "Thank you!"  She ran off to write him a nice letter to introduce herself and the rest of the team to him.  Maybe she'd even get one from *Sam*.  He was so adorable!

Gibbs shook his head.  "I wonder if the kid knows he has a following."

"He thinks they watch him because they're paranoid, boss," Tony told him.  "Not any other reason.  Though, with his dating history...."  Gibbs groaned.  "Did you finally talk to Anya?" he taunted with an evil smirk.

"Twice.  She called back when I lost the signal."

"At least Xander said no grandbabies from them."

"Thank God," he muttered.  He even looked up.  "Can my son maybe have a good girl to date?"  He went back to work.  "DiNozzo, report?"

"Proofreading and I need a conclusion section, boss."

"Uh-huh.  McGee?"

"I sent it over before you got here, boss."

"Thank you."  He got into it then looked at the spare desk.  "Where is David?"

"Girl issues; she's having a girl exam today," McGee told him.  "I have no idea why and I wasn't about to ask."

Tony nodded.  "Me either."  He finished his rereading and put on the conclusion for the report, then ran the usual checks on it.

Epilogue:

Eight months later Dean and Sam both looked back at the magical tinkling going on in the backseat of the Impala.  "Just dropping in for a visit?" Dean joked.  They hadn't seen anyone out there in person since John's funeral two months ago.  Sammy's girlfriend had died weeks after the reunion and he had rejoined the hunting then.

"Oh, you know, it's the end of the world and they decided I should come visit you guys instead of being in the way of a houseful of slayers," she quipped.

"A houseful of slayers," Dean said, considering that idea.  He slowed the car's speed so he could think, talk, and drive without going off the road.  "Why?"

"The First Evil."

Sam frowned.  "As in the very first evil?  Or as in one that wants to be the first evil?"

She shrugged but she was grinning.  "Like they tell me shit!"

"Language," Dean ordered.

"You say it."

"I'm not a fifteen-year-old girl," Dean shot back.

"Now and then you do pout like one," Sam teased.

"I'll beat your ass later."  He glanced at Dawn in the mirror.  "I know you probably came with a verbal message?"

"Keep me until it's done and they're out of hell again."

Dean blinked a few times.  "In hell?" Sam asked.  She nodded, grimacing.  "Like opening a devil's gate into hell?"

"No.  Like the First Evil bitch has a spot open and they're going to go inside to fight her," Dawn said.

"Uh-huh," Dean said slowly.  "Do they need help?"

"It only takes seven slayers and they have fifteen at the moment.  Willow activated them late last night."

Dean moaned.  "That's gotta be a sorority porno in the making."

"Buffy's in charge," Dawn said.

"Never mind, she's too uptight to let the girls have fun," Dean sighed, shaking his head.  "Waste of a perfectly good setup for amateur porn."  Sam swatted him.  "Quit, Sammy!"

"Not everyone's a pervert like you," he shot back.  He turned to look at Dawn better.  "Anything else we should know?  Because it's been a suspiciously long time since we talked to Xander.  Usually we get emails or phone calls every few days.  It's been two weeks since we've heard."

"Dad's being a goober.  He probably can't see well enough at the moment to write since he's refusing pain killers."

"Why?" Dean asked calmly.

"Because one of the big dweeb's minions popped one of his eyes."  Dean pulled over so fast she had to grab the back of the front seat.  "Easy on me!  Xander would be *totally* pissed if I died from that move.  Plus, it's not really courteous to other drivers, Dean."

He turned to look at her.  "They'll get over it."  He stared into her eyes.  "Someone did what to my baby brother?"

She was starting to realize why demons found Dean scary.  "Took a dirty fingernail to it so he could see differently.  Spike stopped him from doing the other.  Some insane minister guy named Caleb."

Dean took a calming breath then let it out.  No wonder Xander hadn't written or called in a while.  "So, Xander's going into hell to fight with fifteen slayers and your witch, plus Spike probably, even though he's missing an eye and he's in shitloads of pain?"

"Not so much pain but now and then it aches.  Willow thinks he's got phantom limb syndrome."

"Is he missing something else?" Dean demanded.

"No, just that."  She grinned.  "He didn't tell you because he didn't want you two to worry."

"Yeah!" Dean snorted.  "That'll work!"  He looked at Sam.  "Want to watch the niece?"

"Think Bobby would?  We're within an hour of there."

"They're going in later today," Dawn said.  "I don't know if we can use portals.  I haven't studied what the shiny green stuff in my blood can do."

Dean stared at her, then pulled out his phone to call Xander.  "You had better come out alive, little brother.  Fully, one hundred percent alive.  Am I clear?"  Xander quipped.  He growled.  "You better not lose your other eye either!  Dumbass!  We wanted to know about that stuff!"  He listened to him tell him why.  "So you're gonna see like Sammy does?"  He groaned.  "Okay, listen.  If you're really in hell, some of the shades can help.  There's all sorts of hunters in hell, even Dad, Xander.  See if you can call them."

Xander called Willow's name to ask that.  She squealed and apparently hugged him because he grunted.  "Can the Wicked Witch of Sunnydale get us there to help you guys?  Because we will if you can get us there.  We're near Bobby's and he used to watch us so we trust him to watch Dawn."  He listened then sighed.

"We want a call as soon as you fucking get back to this plane, little brother.  Or else I'm calling Gibbs.  Am I clear?"  Xander quipped again.  "Yes, even from the ER.  As soon as you humanly can."  He hung up and looked at the phone.  Dawn held out hers.  He smirked.  "They could use the help."  He dialed the number in the phone book.  "Gibbs, Dean Winchester."  He smirked at the gruff response.

"Xander's team is getting ready to head into hell to fight the First Evil tonight.  Yes, that's what I said.  We have no idea but they think it'll close the hellmouth permanently.  Which could mean they'll need disaster workers, we're not sure.  I know they've got fifteen slayers now called who're going into hell to fight.  Yeah, I said that."  He smirked.  "That's why I'm calling.  I figure you can get it into the right ears out by them so they either have some backup in hell or there's people waiting to handle the fallout and injuries.  Thanks, man.  We have Dawn."  He hung up.  "He's swearing in Marine."

"That's what I'd be doing, only in a less known language," Sam admitted.  Dawn snickered.  "We would.  Bobby's?"

"Yeah, let's.  In case we need to see it."  He started the car and tossed the cellphone back.  "Bobby will have you drink holy water.  He will be on the porch with a shotgun when we pull up.  Don't mind his dog.  It helps him hunt."

"I love dogs.  Think I could play with it?"

"It's a huge, slobbery thing," Sam said with a small grin.  "Ask first."

"Sure."  She buckled up and got comfortable.  "Xander evacuated all our stuff to LA last week.  We've been at Angel's mansion."

"That makes sense.  It's easily defended, will fit all the girls, has room for stuff," Dean agreed.  He called Bobby.  "It's Dean, Sam, and our niece Dawn.  Longer than average story, Bobby.  Didn't Dad tell you the Marines made him a few new kids?"  He smirked.  "Turn on the tv, we're heading your way because one of them is going into hell to battle the First Evil with the slayers later.  Few hours.  Thanks, man."  He hung up.  "He'll do that."

Somewhere up the road, an older man swore and found the book he needed to look things up in.  He wanted to know what that meant.  That sounded really horrible and like they'd be overrun sometime soon.

***

Xander blinked at the man standing over his bed.  "It worked?  You're back?"

"I'm back," John agreed.  "Willow's spell to call us back helped a lot."  He smoothed down his hair.  "I'm going to paddle you black and blue for going into that two weeks after you lost an eye, son."

Xander grinned to try to stay out of trouble.  "It was necessary."

"I don't care.  Especially since you're grinning like Dean after his first hunt."  He patted him again.  "They said you're fine to go when you woke up.  You passed out on the bus from your injuries."

Xander made himself sit up with a groan.  "Let me hit the bathroom; can I have a soda on the way out?"

"Sure.  We're going to the Hyperion to regroup.  Dean wants a call."

"I'll do that on the way."

"Your cellphone is still in hell, son."

"Oops."

"Uh-huh."  He handed over his.  His sons had burned him with it so it went with him.  "Call in the bathroom."  Xander grinned, taking it that way to babble at his big brother while he relieved himself.  John got the nurse.  "He's awake and in the bathroom."  She got the papers to discharge him, letting him sign since Xander had been knocked out.  Xander came out and hung up.  "Want to hit the Hyperion, food?"

"ER?  That way I can check on the others?"

"Two are here.  The rest are at the Hyperion."  He took him to check.  Willow had extreme magical exhaustion.  She was limp in a bed getting IV fluid and being forced to take a nap.  He kissed her on the head, whispering something into her ear.  Then he headed to the other room.  The slayer in there sniffled so he let her cry on him.  John smiled.  His boy was good with the slayers.  She finally got discharged too and they headed back together.  John pulled through somewhere to get them burgers.  The others had probably eaten already.

Buffy looked up as Xander and Cho walked in.  "How's Willow?"

"Forced nap and liquids.  She's fine."

"Good."  She slumped again.  "Dawn?"

"Willow sent her to Dean.  She's playing with another hunter's dog."

"He has dogs?" she asked with a frown.  "We won't have room for her to adopt one for a long time, Xander."

"He hunts demons with his," John said.

She shrugged.  "She'll still try to adopt it.  She's like that."

John nodded.  "Bobby'll straighten her out.  Dean will never let it in the car because it slobbers."

"Eww.  That's nearly as bad as demon slime."  She shuddered.  So did a few of the other girls.  She looked at them.  "Giles tested and the new hellmouth is in Cleveland."

Xander stared at her.  "Dad's gonna hate that."

John nodded.  "Gibbs will throw a fit."  He clapped Xander on the back.  "I'll help get the girls there with you, Buffy."  She smiled.  "Any idea where the others she called are?"

"All over the world."

"That's going to be a problem but we'll help you figure it out."  She nodded, smiling.  "Go rest.  You need it after a battle."

"I'm bouncy and hyper.  Post patrol hyper."

"That's called battle nerves.  Go club and get laid," he said bluntly.  She blushed, shaking her head while staring at her feet.  "The girls will understand, Buffy.  They've got the same thing probably.  Take them all for a night off.  They earned it."

Faith walked out of the kitchen with a sandwich.  "We have but she's uptight.  Girls, we're going to the club to wear out the nerves and get some of us who're old enough laid.  Get dressed!" she bellowed.  She ate a bite.  "You too, B."  Buffy glared.  "Now.  You partied hard after patrol a few times I'm sure."

Xander gave her a nudge.  "I'll be up."  She nodded, going to get redressed.  He shook his head.  "Be safe, Faith."

She smirked.  "I always play safely."

He grinned.  "I should hook you and my big brother Dean up."  John swatted him.  "What?  They're a lot alike in some ways."  He patted himself down but John shook his head.  "I lost my wallet too?"

"It was on the bus, with your pack of things," Buffy called as she came back down the stairs.  "A few are napping."

"If they can manage it, more power to 'em," Xander said.  She smiled and the girls went with her and Faith to club.  They'd end up teaching most of them how to dance but the old watchers sucked that way.

John found Giles, leaning into the office.  "Xander and Cho are back.  Buffy and Faith took the girls to wear out the battle stress.  Any other immediate issues?"

"I think I might go insane with this situation," he admitted, looking at the other man.  "I'm going to be responsible for rebuilding the Council."

John mentally snorted.  This is the heavy thought that hits the man after surviving another apocalypse that destroyed a town?  "Giles, it'll never be the same.  Mourn, move on to create something that does work, and deal with the reality of the situation.  You need people to get the girls, people to train the girls, and somewhere for them to train and live.  That's got to come first."

Giles sighed, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes.  "I know.  How is Xander?"

"Bump on the head.  He's trying hard not to get paddled for being in the battle two weeks after losing an eye and trying to hide the fact his own battle nerves are ongoing and he's shaky."

Giles nodded.  "He always did, John.  We'll be leaving for Cleveland within two weeks.  Once I find somewhere for us to reside."

Xander leaned under the arm John was bracing against the doorway.  "Send Buffy and Faith or a few of the older girls ahead, Giles.  They can stay at a hotel.  It'll take you longer than two weeks to find and buy a big enough place."  That got a nod and a smile.  "Also, have someone look online.  Places that big are listed because they go for a lot of money.  I can call Sam if you want.  They've been to Cleveland I'm sure and might know somewhere."

"I'll call them myself.  That's not a bad idea, Xander."

"Giles, the girls aren't really ready to take on duties," John told him, smirking at his son.  "That was a good idea though."  Xander smirked back before walking off.  "Eat something more, son.  I doubt you did earlier."

"I'd puke it back up.  I'll eat later on."

"Hey, I cook very well!" Fred complained.

Xander looked at her.  "Fred, earlier today I was in hell dealing with Turok Han and a lot of new slayers.  I shouldn't eat even if the greatest cook in the world who only cooked with chocolatey goodness was doing the cooking."

"I know how that feels."  She gave him a hug and let him go when he shifted because he felt uncomfortable.  "Are you okay?"

"My head kinda hurts.  Any tylenol?"  She found it and handed it over with a smile.  "Thanks, Fred.  Who called the military to clean things up?"

"Gibbs."

"Ah.  John, did you call Gibbs?" he asked before dry swallowing three pills.

"No.  I was still dead then, son."  He shot him a dirty look.  "It was probably Sammy.  Dean maybe if he was in overprotective mode."

"Hmm.  Speaking of, we need to call Dawn."  He frowned, going to find his pack from the bus.  He found it and his calling card, going inside to call her.  "Hey, sprout.  Dog?"  He listened to her babble and fight off Dean by swatting him.  "Tell him thanks for calling Gibbs, whichever did it.  No, I'm good.  They're wearing out stress.  We're doing a slow move to Cleveland.  Have Sam look to see if he can find the new Council somewhere to squat?"  He grinned.  "No, I'm still fine.  Let them have the phone after I switch over."  He handed it to John and walked off.

"Hey, kitten," John said.  He had to wince at the loudness of the squeal.  "Before you put Dean on, can you put on Bobby?"  He smiled.  "Of course.  Here in LA.  I'll be helping herd the girls.  Thanks, kitten."  He laughed at what she said.  "Buffy was worried you'd try to dognap Rumsfeld.  I'll let her know you don't like being slobbered on."  The phone was handed over on that side.  "Morning."  He laughed, checking his watch. "On the west coast either but it is a good greeting."  He listened.  "They called all the hunters' spirits to help in the fight and Willow basically brought most of us back to life if we didn't fall during the battle, Bobby.  Yeah, I'm here.  I'm good.  Watching Xander pace around to try to control his battle nerves.  I'd do that but I saw her fall," he said quietly.

Xander stared at him.  "He asked about Anya."  Xander nodded and walked further away.  "Are they okay?"  He smiled.  "Sure, let the others hear.  I'm in LA and we'll be riding herd on the girls on the way to Cleveland soon enough.  The boys can help on that end or here.  We're not sure how bad Cleveland is yet.  Sure.  Thanks, Bobby."  He grinned as Dean stole the phone.  "Hello, son."  Dean gasped and said something.  "If you speak just a bit faster, that'll be your younger brother's babble.  I'm impressed you're picking up his habits too."  He laughed.  "Willow when she called us to help with the battle.  A few fell again but they got to move onto where they should've been.  I'm good.  Xander's got some nerves.  No, the left."  He nodded.

"Eyepatch too.  Sure, I'm here.  This is his calling card so I'll let you two go.  No, his phone fell out during the battle.  If you call you might get one of the evil super vampires."  He laughed.  "Tell Sammy I said hi."  He hung up and went to find Xander.  He could hover over this one.  He was injured, battle weary, and grieving.  He'd need some comfort sometime.  Even if his boy was trying to hide.  He heard where he was and situated himself nearby so his son could find him later when he needed to talk.  He hadn't loved Anya like John had loved his Mary, but it was close enough and his son's first true, long term, meaningful relationship.  Xander walked past him so he held up the calling card.  "They're seeing if they can help and checking with the hunter near Cleveland to see how bad it is right now."

"Thanks."

"Welcome."  He looked at him.  "Want a beer?"

"I hate drinking."

"I got to that point but sometimes you need one."

"If I rely on that to relax then I'll end up on the same road the 'rents were on."  He gave him a look.  "Thanks for trying."

John nodded.  "I'll be up and around."  Xander nodded, going back to his laps around the hotel while he thought and checked the security.  He got up to fix his son something to calm his nerves, handing it to him when he walked past on one of his laps.  Xander shook his head but sipped the coffee on the way.  The girls came back and he saw a few who were clearly drunk.  "Go to bed."

"Who're you?" one demanded.  "You're not a Watcher."

"I've been a demon hunter for over twenty years, young lady.  I raised two others.  I'm also Xander's father.  You're drunker'n shit.  Go to bed."  She huffed off.

Buffy walked in, smiling at him.  "Doing daddy duty?"

"Two drunk ones."

"Tonight's a good night for it," she said.  She bopped him on the arm.  "Are the boys coming out?"

"Calling around to the hunters near Cleveland to see how bad it is for the forward scouting team Xander suggested and watching Dawn go 'eww' at the dog drool."

She snickered.  "Good to know.  Means she won't want to adopt it."  Faith strolled in with a drunker-than-the-other-two girl.  "Put her to bed?"

"Can't I drop her off a balcony?" Faith asked.

John reached over and smacked the girl lightly across the face.  "Hit your bunk, slayer.  Now."  She grumbled something but went to bed.  He looked at her.  "Tomorrow, get them up early for PT.  That'll make sure they quit drinking that much unless it's a horrible situation."

Buffy nodded.  "Early for us is noon so that'd be good," she decided.  "Night, John.  Night, Faith."

"Night, B.  I'll herd X that way too."

"Leave him to me.  He's thinking," he said, watching his son walk back their way.  "The girls are mostly back. Two are still out."

"They're still making out in the back of Angel's car in the parking lot."  He looked at Faith.  "Go to bed.  I've got it.  Not like I'm not used to short hours with work."

She nodded.  "Okay.  If you're sure."  She patted him on the arm as she walked past him.   She melted into the shadows to see how John would deal with his son.

John stared at him.  "I can channel Sammy and offer a hug," he said.

Xander snorted.  "Sammy would be appalled and so would Dean."

"They're not here."  He moved closer, making his son look at him.  "Ready to talk about it?"  Xander shook his head, getting free.  "You sure?"  He got a nod.  "I'm going to make a sandwich if you want one."

"No, I'm good.  Thanks, John."  He walked off again, going to herd those two girls back inside since they were down to cuddling.  He tapped on the window.  "Slayer bedtime, ladies."  They groaned but went inside.  He looked at one's back and frowned.  "Willow's going to be *really* upset," he muttered, going back to his security rounds.  After another two John captured him to hold him, making him struggle for a few minutes but give up and go limp.  "I saw her fall."

"So did I.  If I had been closer I would've taken it for her.  The same as you would have," John said quietly.  Xander turned to look at him.  "She went into the battle knowing it was possible she'd die.  She wasn't the best fighter and she knew that.  The same as that young, geeky boy did."  Xander slumped, nodding.  He made his son look at him.  "It sucks but it's part of the life, Xander.  Would it have been any easier if they had been turned?"

"No."

"They decided to go into the battle.  You didn't make them.  They made you guys take them."

Xander nodded.  "They did."

"Then relax and let it happen, kiddo.  It's grief.  Grief, plus combat stress.  Guys snap from this in the field all the time."  Xander looked at him.  "I don't want you to snap."

Xander shook his head.  "I'm not near that point."

"If you're sure."  He got a slight nod.  "Good.  Then hit your room.  I'll be up for a few hours and Angel's prowling somewhere."

"Fine."  He smiled. "Is that where Dean gets his fussing and mother henning over Sammy from?"

"Had to be.  Mary fussed some but I was the hyper-protective one thanks to the demons."  Xander nodded, heading inside.  He smiled at his son's back. "I'm proud you made it out and your plan was so good, son."  Xander shot a grin back before heading inside.  He looked at the shadow.  "Go to bed, Faith."

"Fine.  Should I offer him a shoulder?"

"No.  He might think you're hitting on him."  She snorted, going to her own bed.  He looked up then shook his head.  "This is going to be a mess for months."

Angel coughed as he slid out of the shadows.  "We can work on someone getting you legal papers, Winchester."

"Thanks.  Can they fix where Dean died due to a shapeshifter?"

"I can ask."  He stared at him.  "Send Xander to find the other girls."

John looked at him.  "That might help him calm down but he'd be awfully lonely.  My boy needs to have people around him to feel comfortable.  Let him heal before he does that."  That got a nod.  "How's the local community handling it?"

"They're having a 'thank god it was Sunnydale and not us' moment," he said blandly.

John smiled.  "Having something like that happen here would be worse.  A lot more people to die from it."  Angel shuddered.  "We'll start making plans to get out of your hair tomorrow."

"Thanks.  I'm not used to such bouncy young girls anymore."  He went back inside  "We have a security system."

"And a law firm who can hire people to break it," he said.  Angel groaned.  "They're watching from across the street."

Angel went to run them off.  He didn't need Wolfram and Hart today too.  That was too much for his nerves; he'd lose his temper.  That was never good for the world.

***

Dean hung up and looked at Bobby.  "How many hunters?"

"No clue," he admitted.  "They should probably be heading to the Roadhouse."  He called over there.  "Jo, Bobby Singer.  Get your Ma for me now please?"  He grimaced.  "No, it's vital.  Turn on the news, girl.  It's about that."  She got her mother from outside.  "Ellen, Bobby."  He smiled.  "Sunnydale did fall in."  Dawn grimaced at that, going back to playing with his dog.  "Dawn, don't spoil his training," he ordered.  "No, Winchester's granddaughter Dawn.  Long story.  Later.  Right now, the team out there had to call some help from the former hunters since they went into hell to fight the First Evil earlier."  She gasped.  He laughed at the begging.  "I haven't been drinking, Ellen.  I talked to John a few minutes ago.  He's with his middle son in LA after the fallout.  Yeah, they brought 'em back to help with the battle.  None of us would've turned it down."

Dawn looked over.  "If they died, they probably got to go to wherever they belonged instead of wherever their demon-contract had them," she offered.

"That's a good point.  Dawn said if they fell during it, they'd get to move onto their rewards.  I'm sure.  He's with the team there and the one in LA probably.  Regrouping at the moment, calming down nerves.  Long story short, the Marines were running a study to make future soldiers.  John was an unknowing donor for it.  He has three extra sons.  One in Nevada, one at NCIS in DC, and one who is on the slayer's team out in Sunnydale.  Xander, yeah.  Dawn is his girl thanks to magic.  So he's back and you've probably got some who're heading your way at the moment.  Yeah, a head's up.  At home with the younger Winchesters.  And her," he agreed, but laughed when she stuck her tongue out.  "Thanks, Ellen.  Good luck."  He hung up.  "She's going to swear at her truck."

"That's enough to make me swear too," Dean agreed, looking at Sam.  "He didn't want to run up Xander's calling card bill.  It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to you, Sammy.  He's probably still trying to calm Xander down after the battle since he said Anya fell."  Dawn gasped and he moaned.  "I didn't tell you?"

"No!"  She got up and hit him on the arm.   "Who else!"

"Um, not real sure," he admitted.  She found her cellphone and called the hotel, walking outside with Sam and the dog following to talk to them.  Dean rubbed his arm.  Bobby snickered quietly.  "They're teaching her how to hit pretty well.  She's nearly as strong as Sammy is."

Bobby laughed louder.  "You're such a big brother to her."

"Uncle, please.  I get to nag her father for not telling me he lost an eye two weeks ago.  Otherwise we'd have been there too."  He stomped off to fume about Xander not wanting him there.  Didn't he think they could help?  They would've helped if they had known!  Sam came around the house.  "Why didn't he tell us?" he demanded.

"Because he didn't want to worry about losing us, Dean," he said quietly, glancing around.  "He wanted us to be safe and to take care of Dawn in case he died."  Dean slumped, still glaring at the ground.  "He would've kicked himself forever if he had caused one of the family to die.  He's still kicking himself about Anya and Andrew dying during it."  Dean looked at him.  "He fell while doing some sort of spell."

"Shit."

"Basically.  He didn't want to face that with us."  He gave him a punch on the arm.  "Dawn needs to hit the sack soon.  She's only fifteen."

"Good point.  At least we don't have to give her a bath."  He went to find her.  She was talking to John about the demon trying to menace her.  Dean did the practical thing and got a shotgun, shooting it.  "Bitch, leave the family alone!  How stupid are you!"

Bobby took his gun back.  "Apparently very stupid."

Dawn looked back at them.  "Grandpa said to work on your aim, Dean.  He said that was way too close to me."

"You were in front of it.  Be thankful I didn't have to wound you to get it."

"Then we might see what Glory did," she said dryly.

"You're so taking lessons about that stuff," Sam said as he came out.  "Hang up.  Bedtime."

She pouted.  "I don't need to go to bed!"

"Tough.  Bedtime.  Now."  He came out to take the phone.  "We're enforcing a bedtime.  She'll talk to you guys tomorrow, Dad."  He listened then smiled.  "Good to know.  Everyone okay?"  He nodded.  "That's reasonable.  Thanks."  He hung up and walked her inside.  Dean got her their sleeping bags, making Bobby give him a dirty look.

"The bed's not big enough for the three of us, Bobby.  Besides, she might cuddle Sammy and he'd go all gooey minded because she's a girl and he never touches them."  He tossed Dawn the bedroll.  "On the side away from the door and windows just in case something tries to get you."

She gave him an odd look.  "I am not sleeping in the bathroom, Dean.  Nothing's going to get me here.  I'm over that whole Tuesday thing, especially with it being Friday."

He shrugged.  "So?"  He smirked.  "Bed.  Now."  She huffed off.  "Don't steal the bed either or I'm paddling your ass like you were a kid!" he called after her.

"Yay you.  You'd probably enjoy it too because you're a huge ass perverted bastard who needs to know what good girls are like since all you get are skanky hos," she called back.  Bobby's mouth fell open.  She grinned.  "Not like he gets the good girls.  He's probably caught all sorts of nasty things off the skanks he gets in the bars."  She went up there and found a cot.  She put the bedroll on it and settled in to nap.  She'd get up later to think and stare outside.

"How did she know you caught the clap when you were fifteen?" Sam teased.

"I did not!" Dean shouted.

"Bullshit.  I remember Dad chewing you a new one on the way to the clinic."

"I don't need to hear this," Bobby said, heading back inside.  He whistled but his dog went to guard Dawn, earning a dirty look at its tail.  "You can't live with her, Rumsfeld."  His dog barked but went to curl up with the girl who petted him so nicely.  Bobby shook his head.  Girls were strange.  "I'm so glad you two weren't born girls," he complained when Dean came in.

"Are you sure Sammy's not?"

Bobby looked at him.  "No, they were certain about him.  You were the questionable one, Dean.  Probably the last time you were ever shy about anything but your dad said you hid your penis from every single ultrasound.  He ended up repainting your room when you were born a boy."

Sam cackled, heading up to bed.  "Night, Bobby.  Thanks."

"Welcome, Sam."  He smirked at the cocky young one with the horrified look on his face.  "Your Ma was so sure you were the girl she wanted."

"I was saving up macho points for now," he said firmly.  He headed up to get Sammy off the good side of the bed in the guest room.  The dog stared at him.  "What're you looking at, mutt?"

"Apparently he thinks you're a bitch in heat," Sam teased.

Dean slapped him.  "I am not."

"Guys, no more manMS," Dawn mumbled.  "It's annoying and I'll turn you both into girls.  Since I'd be dabbling, you'd be stuck that way until Willow regained strength."  She shifted and the dog moved, curling up behind her calves.  "Good puppy dog."  She reached down to pet it then went back to sleep.

Dean and Sam both shuddered but let her sleep.  He could get Sam back in the morning for saying that.  When Dawn was out doing something less useful than hexing them.

***

Gibbs calmed himself, walking outside to get some air.  Tony followed him silently.  "They're all fine."

"Who called?" Tony asked.

Gibbs looked at him.  "John."

"Didn't Dean say he died?" he asked quietly.  "I could've sworn we went to the Viking style funeral."

Gibbs nodded.  "He told me Willow called them back during the battle.  I asked, he said this won't be happening again.  They tied her down tightly and sealed the hellmouth so it cannot come open again.  But there's a new one opening in Cleveland."

"Wonderful," he sighed.  He glanced at the building then at his boss.  "Hey, boss, any word on Xander or Dawn?  Xander hasn't emailed or anything in a few weeks."

Gibbs snorted, finishing his current cup of coffee, wishing it was liquor instead.  "He lost an eye two weeks ago.  He was at the battle.  John's hovering over him since he lost Anya during the battle."

"Excuse me?  Xander lost an eye and he didn't tell us!" he demanded.

"John said the kid didn't want to worry either of us so we wouldn't be in danger."

"Not gonna happen," he said coolly.

"A forward scout team of the girls will be in Cleveland within days.  He'll probably be with the last group.  They're going to have to rebuild everything from the ground up."  Ducky came out.  "What's the probable consequences of having an eye popped, Ducky?"

"If they couldn't save it, it was most likely removed surgically.  The poor being would probably have pain killers for a bit but be able to go through rehabilitation so he or she could drive and all that again.  Why?"

"Xander got his popped two weeks ago by an insane minister who was a minion of the last bad thing they fought," Gibbs said.  Tony whimpered, tensing up all over.  He had to force himself to calm down.  "He's fine, DiNozzo.  He made it through the battle and is in LA trying to sleep."

"I'm going to kick his ass for not telling us," he growled.

Ducky smiled.  "I'm sure he's fine and he didn't want you to worry, Anthony."  He looked at Gibbs.  "Is this why the news out that way was reporting a large earthquake had taken out the town?  They said it had been pulled into a sinkhole of immense suction proportions.  Destroyed everything in it."

Tony stomped off.  "I'm calling someone."

"He's in bed, DiNozzo.  John doesn't have a phone.  He said the boys were guarding Dawn at a friend's place."  Tony went to the building's gym to beat the heavy bag until he was calm.  He looked at his old friend.  "No lasting physical complications?"

"Depth perception issues.  Most states do have a way for those who have depth perception problems to get around it if they're still fit to drive.  Some states won't let him.  I have no idea which one California is."

"He'll be moving to Cleveland."

"Or there.  I can have Abigail look it up tomorrow if you wanted."

"Please.  Headaches or migraines?"

"That may depend on him, Jethro.  Also what sort of additional damage he took."

"John said..."

"Winchester?"

"Willow," he explained.

"Didn't that start off this current mess?" he demanded.

"Different way this time.  It won't happen again."  Ducky sighed in relief.  "John said it was a dirty fingernail."

"Then he shouldn't have more than flashbacks to it," he told him.  "Unless the finger attached used extraordinary force."

Jethro nodded.  "Good.  We can handle those.  Maybe now he'll give up hunting."

"There are other hunters with injuries, Jethro.  Plus if there's more than one girl, he's got to handle them and Dawn."

"Good point.  Thanks, Ducky."

"It's not a problem but I would be wary of bringing him here."  He gave the office area a look then him.  "Things may not go very well for certain people."

"She pulls her usual bonehead stuff around Xander and he'll chew her out," he agreed.  "Maybe have her eaten too.  One never knows about Xander."

"He is an amazing young man.  Have you told the others?"

"I'll log onto the chat room to let everyone know.  Thanks."  He gave him a pat on the arm as he walked around him to get inside.  He sat down at his desk, staring at his computer before logging in and getting onto the 'clan's' bulletin board.  He typed a quick message saying everyone was all right in Sunnydale, Xander and John both.  Dawn had been with Dean and Sam.  He sent it and got back a message from Ryan asking how John was alive.  He put in the name 'Willow' and saw a few cyber shudders.  But it had to be known.  He logged out and got back to work on their current case.  Tony finally came back up.  "You good?"

"Hell no," he snorted.  "I'm too tired to beat anything else."

"Work then take a short nap later."

Tony wiped his face off with the towel in his desk, sitting down to do that.  "You tell anyone?"

"I put out a message on the board."

"I'm sure they're outraged."  He got back to his current search.  "Hey, boss, would her boyfriend's boyfriend be a possible reason why she was killed?"

"Yes," he decided.  Tony sent it to him.  "Where did you find this?"

"I googled her name for any articles containing it.  That's his personal journal."

"Why is it online?"

"Because some people like to put their thoughts out there, boss.  They share and stuff."

He shuddered.  "Let's start the warrant."

"On it, boss.  Probie!" he snapped, waking him up.  "Finish this search, trace this guy," he said, IM-ing it to him.  "His insanejournal entry said he killed her because she was stealing his boyfriend."

He grimaced.  "Insanejournal is like livejournal but I guess he went there for a totally different reason."  He found his site and captured what they'd need for the warrant.  "He's logging in remotely.  He's not at home.  He's at a hotel down by Richmond, boss."  He yawned, rubbing his eyes.  He got back to work on the search.  Tony faxed in the warrant request.  They waited and built a solid case against the guy.  He deserved it for what he had done.

***

Dean and Sam looked at the last of the girls their father was escorting with their brother.  Dawn scampered over to pounce Xander.  One of the girls sneered so she backhanded her.  "Shut up, slut.  This is my father and he wouldn't date you anyway.  You're not near evil enough for him."  She went back to cuddling Xander.  "You're okay?"

"Still tired but otherwise only a few bruises, some scratches, and a huge bump on the head.  Dad woke me up to get me free of the hospital."  Willow got out of the car she was traveling in.  "Look who pounced."

"Dawn."  She got her own hug.  "Sandy, shut up.  Dawn is Buffy's little sister."

"She just said Xander was her father!" she sneered.

"He is.  The magic that created her made her from Joyce and Xander."  She went back to hugging her.  Then she looked at her.  "What's this I hear you did an exorcism?"

"It was trying to eat Bobby's dog."

"That's fine then.  You didn't adopt, right?  Buffy would be *way* pissed at some huge, slobbery thing that would drool on her shoes."

"No.  He wouldn't let me.  He did say if he could find a puppy he'd train them to go hunting with the girls.  He trained his to hunt demons with him."

"That's a pretty cool offer," she said happily.  She let her go.  "Hey, guys."

"Willow," Dean said.  "Just to make sure, Dad and them being called back won't wake her back up?"

"No!  Totally different way," she promised with a grin.  "It was your idea."

"It was but I wasn't sure you'd rehuman them."

"Well, yeah," she said dryly.  She pinched John on the arm, getting a tolerant look back.  "Relax."

"Not yet.  Kennedy..."  Xander stopped him.  "She's got to be here."

"Let Willow pounce, Dad."  Willow beamed and headed inside.  He motioned the guys away from the door.  "I found Kennedy boinking Sandy in LA," he said very quietly.  "I want out of range."  They nodded, going to talk by the truck.  Willow's shriek nearly shook the house and brought the other girls running.  Faith carried Kennedy out and tossed her out of the house.  "Where's patrol schedules, Faith?"

She looked at him.  "Training, X.  Say it with me.  Training.  Ain't no way B'll let you go on patrol with that hole in your head until she's sure you're capable."

"Whatever.  Where?"

"Inside, upper floor.  Near your apartment with D there."  She grinned at the guys, pinching Dean's arm.  "He said you were cute and fun."  She sashayed inside.  "She's out of the house, Willow.  We'll deal with her later."

"How could that bitch do that to me!" Willow shouted.

Xander leaned in, then went to where she was fuming.  "You're levitating Dad's truck."  She concentrated and it went back down.  "Thanks."  He crossed his arms, looking at her. "You want to hear more?"

She glared.  "You knew?"

"I knew she was engaging in some stress relief back in LA later that night.  I wasn't about to tell you that.  I figured it might be an isolated incident and she does know I caught her.  I sent them in to bed."  She slumped, sitting down covering her face.  "I had no idea how to tell you and I didn't think she'd be stupid enough to do it in the house with all the girls around."  He gave her a hug.  "I'm sorry."

"No.  It's better I know instead of drawing it out."  She looked at him.  "Next time, tell me?"

"And have Dawn need to buy me a collar?" he snorted.  "Yeah, right."

"I have control."  He pointed at the still floating things outside.  She put them back down with a groan and went to work on her control exercises.  "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome."  He looked at Buffy, who swatted him.  "If I had told you, she would've leveled LA," he said quietly.  "Right out of the hospital.  She didn't need that and I truly thought she wouldn't be that fucking dumb."

"I don't know why she was," Buffy admitted.

Faith nodded.  "True.  We've all got great hearing from the slayer gig.  I don't know why we didn't catch them at it."

"She had a pillow over her head," Willow said from her corner.

"That makes more sense," Faith said.

"Who was she with in LA?" Buffy asked.  Xander pointed at the skank still glaring at Dawn.  "Hell," she muttered.

Xander grinned.  "She questioned how she can be my daughter and your sister."

"Monks.  They did it.  I know very well my mother wouldn't hit on you."  She punched him on the arm.  "Let your brothers fuss over your eye.  You can settle in later and Giles said your apartment had a guest room or three."  She walked over there to talk to Sandy and the other girls.  "Ladies, let's act like adults now and then please?  Poaching is a trifling thing to do to any of us."

"Especially since Willow can turn you into something gross and make you a pet," Dawn said smugly.  Sandy shrieked and went after her with her nails.  Dawn punched her but she got up and came back again.  Dawn fought and when she was nearly pinned she reached for her magic, making Sandy shriek as she shrank down to a four-inch-high doll.  "That was *so* fucking dumb," she said dryly, staring at her.  "Hello, I'm more powerful than Willow is, stupid bitch!"  She punted her and stomped outside sniffling.  "Sandy attacked me.  I made her tiny."  Sam pulled her closer to hug but Xander stole her to hug instead when he made it outside.

John stared at her.  "On purpose, Dawn?"

"She fought with her first but Sandy was using slayer strength," Xander said calmly.  "She got Dawn pinned.  Dawn instinctively reacted.  I don't know if making her mouse sized was intentional.  Dawnster?"

She sniffled, looking up at him.  "No.  I meant to float her."

"You're so getting magic lessons," he said bluntly.

She nodded, resting her head against his chest.  "Yes, dad."

Willow leaned out.  "I corrected it.  Don't feel bad, Dawn.  It's easy to confuse those two."

"I do not want her making the same sort of mistakes you used to make when you said 'what does this do'," Xander said, mimicking her.  She blushed.  "Am I clear?"

"Very.  We'll get one of the coven's members over to help her, Xander."

"Thank you."  He looked at her.  "Feel better?"  She nodded.  "Good.  Go check my suite so I know if I need to buy a pullout sofa or anything."  She went to do that with Buffy and a few of the other girls.  He grinned.  "I'm told I have a guest room at least."

"That's cool," Dean agreed.  "We can rest here and get Dad used to being alive again."

"I've already figured out my body's the same," John said dryly.

"So?" Sam said, grimacing.  "Do you want to see Buffy flounder being a mom to all the slayers?"

"No," he said.  They went inside to check out Xander's apartment.  It was nice, had two bedrooms.  An attached bathroom with an older cast iron tub.  It already had a hide-a-bed sofa and two beds in the spare room.  It connected to another combined bedroom/bathroom area that was clearly meant to be Dawn's by the boyband posters on the wall.

"You have better taste than that," Dean said dryly.

She looked at him.  "What do I care what they sound like?  I'm staring at their packages and faces, Dean."

He stared at her, mouth slightly open.  "You're too young for sex!" he said finally.

"There's girls my age with two kids," she shot back.

"You'd better never be one!" he countered.  "Not until you're older than I am!"

Dawn stared at him.  "Xander said I could start dating at sixteen and Buffy did too once she remembered she pinned Angel into bed at seventeen and was dating at my current age."  Dean growled.  She smirked evilly.  "That means I can wear my blue skirt," she pulled it out of the closet with a pair of heels.  "And go clubbing."

He snatched it and tossed it onto the bed.  "Like hell."

John leaned in.  "Dean, she'll have to date sometime so she knows what a dirtbag most men are," he said patiently.  "Even if you don't like it."

"See, Grandpa understands."

"I'm going to sew you shut if you have sex before sixteen," Xander called from the couch.  "And I get to meet each and every single boyfriend so I can threaten their asses until they're too scared of me to want to do more than kiss you."

"As long as you don't hit on them," she called back.

"I doubt we have the same tastes, Dawn.  But if you want to try girls, go for it."

She laughed, going to hug him.  "Thank you for the blessing.  When do I get to find the local teen club?"

He checked his watch.  "When you're sixteen."  He looked at her.  "Which is in how many weeks?"

"Six," she said, looking glum.

"Good!"  He smiled.  "We'll be busy setting things up anyway and you can talk Dean or someone into teaching you how to drive for when you finally get a job and can afford a car of your own."  She squealed, going to pounce John and beg cutely for driving lessons.  He laid down, getting comfortable while he listened to her begging and pleading.  He fell asleep there.

Dean came over, staring at him.  He pointed.  John nodded it was normal.  They left him there and went to talk to Buffy about her driving lessons.  She had to learn so someone had to teach her.  How John ended up agreeing to give the other girls lessons as well he wasn't sure... but he'd live through it.  He had lived through Dean stealing the car for sex.  He had lived through Sam's nerves at going too fast.  He'd survive driving slayers and witches.

***

Ten days later Giles found John with the girls working on their PT for being brats again.  "John, may I have a word?"  The other man nodded, walking off with him.  "I..."  He took off his glasses to look at him.  "I fear I have no idea what I'm doing."

"I can't help you with paperwork, Giles.  I haven't done paperwork since Sam was eight months old and it was for an insurance repair job.  You could ask Gibbs or Mac.  They might be able to help."

Giles smiled.  "I might think on that later.  Would they know anything about the life these girls must live?"

John shrugged.  "They've all asked careful questions and they have good imaginations.  They know we don't arrest or read the demons their rights."  That got a slow nod.  "They're all very glad they don't have to deal with it but one of them might be able to be an administrative consultant."

"That might be helpful."  He looked around then at him.  "Before I was chosen to aid Buffy I was a research Watcher.  My whole day was in the library or in the museum I worked in."

John nodded slowly.  He had a bad feeling about this talk.  "I can help with training for a while.  I'm not ready to hit the road again yet.  I have to get some documents before then."

Giles sighed.  "Would you consider staying on to handle this matter?"

"No.  Some day I'll want to be back out there taking out evil things threatening people."

"Would you consider training as a field watcher?"

"That I might do," he agreed.  "Sammy would be better."

"All of your sons are on my list but Xander has adamantly refused to be in a field position outside of going to look for some of the girls."

John nodded.  "I expected that.  It'll give him some peace and quiet while he finishes grieving for Anya."

"I understand that."  He looked at the girls.  "Them I have no idea about."

"Ladies, no slacking.  If you're going to act like spoiled brats, I'm going to treat you like I would a spoiled brat."  They groaned but went back to their working out.  He looked at Giles again.  "You did okay with Buffy."

"She had her mother."

"We can see if they still have families.  Mac or Horatio would probably let their techs help with that."

"I hadn't thought of that.  I'll call Mac and Jethro later to get their advice."  He relaxed some.  "You seem to see the problems I'm not."

"Oh, no," he said, backing away.  "I'm not going to run this insane asylum.  No way.  Ask Sammy!"

"I can do that.  The girls do look up to him."

"The girls stare at his ass, Giles.  Dean's too.  If Tony showed up they'd probably swoon."

Giles smiled slightly.  "That might raise some morale around here."

"I'll call them and say you need some help with organizing things."  He fled before Giles could outright ask him if he wanted to take over for him.  He was not taking control of the new Council.  He wasn't.  There was no way in hell.  He'd fade off and go die on a hunt first.

***

Tony answered his phone.  "DiNozzo," he said grimly.  He leaned back.  "Why would he need that sort of help, John?"  He shuddered.  "That's bad.  Sure, have him call us later tonight with Mac.  Or we'll call later with Mac.  That's a decent time for us.  Thanks for the head's up."  He hung up and looked at his curious looking coworkers.  "Giles is needing admin help setting up the new Council.  John, Dean, and Xander have some ideas.  We need to conference him in with Mac about eight tonight.  That's before their patrol and before we go out on our surveillance."

"What sort of admin help?" Gibbs demanded.

"John said Giles was a research watcher, Gibbs.  Nowhere near the admin levels.  Now he's got all those girls to train and get ready for life."

Gibbs shuddered.  "That sounds like a lot of paperwork."

"And then some.  Dawn's last email said most of them were spoiled.  They finally got free of their old bastards raising them and they want to be more normal based on what they think normal is from tv.  Dean's last email complained one of the underage ones tried to climb into bed with him."

"Who are we talking about?" Ziva asked.

"Family issues," Tony said firmly.  "Stay out of it."  He looked at Gibbs again.  "So we may need to give advice on how best to work it so they get a life but can still do their jobs."

"That's a hard calling."

"And they were raised to do it," Tony reminded him.  "Doing it like they do on base might work."

"Hmm.  Any families come forward?"

"Not yet.  That may be why he wants to talk to Mac."

"It could be.  We'll call later.  Make sure Mac can make the call."  Tony nodded, dialing his friend's cellphone to talk to him.  "Why are you talking to Danny?"

"Mac's off today for court."  He listened to him.  "You sure?"  He smiled.  "Thanks.  Yeah, let him know however.  Giles said he needed help.  I think the girls are driving him nuts and we should hold the next reunion in Cleveland or nearby since that part of the clan is mostly there."  Danny said something and snickered.  "Thanks, Danny."  He hung up.  "He'll tell Mac once he's done with blistering the defense attorney who said he was incompetent and tried to question his morals since he hadn't dated after his wife died."

"I'd do more than blister them," Gibbs said, getting back to work.  "McGee, anything on the site so we know what natural obstacles we're up against?"

"A few things, boss, including a canopy that covers part of the view from the best spots to sit in."  He showed him the map he had been working on using the local street cameras and other footage on file. Gibbs grunted in displeasure.  "We'll have to sit there but we'll be in plain sight of the room."

"I don't like that."

"It's either that or we rely on hearing only, boss."

Tony came over to look.  "What about from one of the other apartments?"

"All taken.  It's a building that's gone condo.  The guy sued the FBI last year for wanting to use an apartment for the same target."

"How did they manage it?"

"It's not in the notes; I can't find the agents who did it.  They've been released from duty and I can't track them through social security or any other database, boss," McGee said.  He shrank back at the look.  "I don't know why, boss.  I can't access their records.  They've been saved down to their backup personnel server and it's not connected to any outside machines."

"Can we call Fornell and ask?" Tony suggested.

"I tried, his secretary said he's out of town testifying in a case in Texas.  I asked her if she knew anything or could pull up anything, she said it's classified above her and her boss's level."

"We can ask the director," Gibbs said.  "But that could take weeks."

McGee nodded.  "I've even had Abby try, boss.  Her contacts over there couldn't get in and didn't remember them being in part of a scandal.  They would've remembered the gossip going around if they had been terminated for something serious."

"The same as it is here," Tony agreed.  He considered it.  "Rooftop?"

"It's supposed to rain," McGee said.  "The stuff is too delicate."

"We can set up a camera and cover it," Tony said.  He pointed at something.  "Put it against that stairwell and cover it with something waterproof.  That way we get live video feed and the audio we have set up.  That should protect it in case of gusting winds too."

"Same problem with the owner of the building," McGee said.

Tony stared at the building.  It looked familiar.  "Do we have an owner list?"  McGee got it for him.  He stared then smirked.  "I'm going to go get slapped, Boss."  He walked off with his cellphone and personal phone book.

"I hate his exes," Gibbs said once Tony was in the elevator.  "They always cause problems."

"If she'd let us use her place or help us, it would solve a lot of problems."  He went back to his seat.  "I'm surprised we don't run into more of them."

"Not in that side of town," Gibbs said dryly.  "He dates like he grew up."  He looked at Ziva.  "Do you have anything new on the target's activities?"

"No," she admitted.  "Nothing that hasn't come up a few times in other reports.  Scotch, cocaine, opera, and pretty little rent boys."

"The meterosexual's version of wine, women, and song," McGee quipped.  Tony came back looking smug.  "Does she have a direct line of sight?"

"Better."  He looked at the map and pointed.  "She is dating the guy who lives underneath him."  They all smirked.  "Who is Metro PD."

"Why hasn't anyone talked to him?" Gibbs demanded.

"He's a transit cop."

"Crap," Gibbs muttered, shaking his head. "They probably thought he wasn't going to be of any use."

"He said to come over about seven to set up.  He's leaving us some bottles of water and heading over for some fun time with my ex."  He handed it back and went back to his seat.  "Why was I looking up operas going on in the city?"

"He likes to take his cute little rent boys to the opera," McGee reminded him.

"Oh, yeah.  Boring crap," he muttered.  Gibbs gave him a smug look.  "I got it as music appreciation, boss.  It's still boring.  Even when you do understand the original language half of them butcher."  He got back to looking.  "Two of the ones he's seen in the last two years are passing through within six months."

"Any chance he's got tickets?" McGee asked.

"He's a member of an opera lovers society and they get group tickets to pass out to members," Tony said.  "The group has tickets for these four events," he said, putting them up on the larger screen.  "Two later ones, one of the ones we know he liked, aren't on sale yet."

"How do they do that?" Ziva asked.  She was confused.

"They use the membership dues to buy bulk tickets at the reduced rate," Tony told her.  "So many of them want to go that they can get something like fifteen percent off for so many tickets at once."

"Oh."  She shook her head.  "I'll never understand that."

"It's the joy of being around people who share your hobbies and likes," Tony told her.  He got back to searching.  "They do have bulk tickets for an out of town event," he said, adding that to the screen.  "And that town does have a major dropping point on the smuggler's line.  Plus a military base within twenty miles for easy traveling."

Gibbs stared at it.  "Can we get in?"

"They're a Russian company and they are very security conscious.  They've already told the FBI everyone who is in the group and asked for help if they have problems."

"Good. That can help us bust that spot."  He checked his watch when the phone rang.  "Gibbs."  He listened.  "Giles is having issues setting things up.  He needed admin advice from what he told Tony.  We were going to call later so we can conference everyone in before we go on surveillance.  Only if you have a light, little fairy rent boy we can borrow to stick better bugs," he said dryly.

"Xander might if we asked," Tony offered.

Gibbs glared.  "He's not trained."

"Fine.  He just sent me an email that he's bored and he might be going to Africa to hunt for some of the missing girls."

"Why is he emailing you that?"

"Because you never check yours," he said dryly.  "Even John uses computers more than you do, boss."

"I'll write him in a minute."  He listened to Mac laugh.  "When's a good time for you?  Before six-thirty."  He nodded, making note.  "Let me get somewhere more secure and I'll do that."  He hung up and grabbed his cellphone, heading outside to get coffee while he conferenced them in to talk to Giles about what he needed.

The guy had ideas but no way of doing them.

***

John evacuated his boys before anyone could get any funny ideas.  Giles was giving them speculative looks and he didn't like that one.  They'd end up doing something really troublesome if they stayed.  So they went to play pool.  His boys taught Xander how to play pool while he watched over them.  Xander relented enough to let himself have a beer.  John watched as the stress came out slowly.  Xander accepted a shot from a pretty girl Dean drove his way.  That's when John realized Xander had no tolerance for alcohol.  He was already gone on the single beer and shot combo.  He walked over there but Sam waved him off.  He settled in closer to watch what happened.

That's when he got his second revelation.  Xander *never* let down his guard with them.  Or with the girls.  Maybe with Dawn when they were alone but the tired, weary, sore young man in front of them that had been their family member was new to them.  Dean was good though, he was talking him down from the edge of the combat weariness again.  Sam was helping with the other problems.  The four of them ended up in a corner table.  One of the half-round ones with the wraparound booth since they couldn't all fit into a normal booth.  The third revelation was that those girls had nearly destroyed his son a few times.  He was still hurting from that because they decided to move on without healing.  Well, it was not going to be allowed this time.  When Sam finally quit making Xander talk, John coughed.  "Xander, you know there's a finding trip coming," he said quietly.

Xander stared at him.  "I can't go.  Giles will destroy the girls."

"You can.  He'll have to deal with them.  Maybe he'll find a good administrator."

Xander dug out his phone and held it up once he had found the last text message.  It was from Willow's phone asking how to deal with a spoiled brat, signed in Giles' name.  "I've got ten more like it in there," he said bluntly.  He took Dean's beer to sip.  "He can't deal with the girls.  At all.  He's going to end up going on another trip home like he did when Buffy died.  Hate to tell him that the Bringers got his house too but he'll try.  Maybe he'll go back to excavate the original building," he said dryly.  "Or to search for more former members but he's already retreated back into his bottle of scotch."

Dean took his beer back to sip then handed it back.  He wasn't going to take Xander's release away from him.  His father slid over his for him, getting a nod of thanks when John waved for another one.  "Xander, you can't take over where he's stumbling.  It's too much for one guy.  That's what he's figuring out," Sam said.

Xander snorted.  "He won't get anyone outside.  He never will.  We have to protect the secret and all that bullshit."  He took another drink then looked at the bottle.  "Why am I drinking beer?"

"You took it from me," Dean said, taking a sip of his own.  "Want something different?"

Xander stared at him.  "I've had one other binge in my life, Dean.  I was sixteen."  John shivered at the coldness.  "Beer is not my thing and I'll have nightmares about the 'rents all night."  He finished it anyway and went to get himself a drink.  The bartender gave him a long stare.  He spit out something complicated in Latin that took a lot of skill to pronounce.  "Shitty life," he told him when he got the drink he wanted.  He went back to the table and sat down in his spot again.  Sam had made sure of it by moving for him.  He looked at his little brother.  "I won't run."

"I'm trying to protect you," he said gently.  "Really."

Xander shrugged.  "I could use a good few fights.  Then maybe I'd quit being seen as helpless."  He saluted them with the glass and drank some.  "I hate this stuff but it tastes pretty good."  He drank some more and put the glass down, looking at them.  "I can go to Africa on the fact finding mission.  I probably should because the girls going will die in the heat and bad conditions.  Plus the fact none of them speak any language other than their native one."  He considered it.  "There's three small problems though.  One, the Initiative crap flagged me in the system.  Other countries won't let me in.  Canada didn't want to let me in when I went on that trip."

He took a smaller drink.  "Two, passport is not owned by me.  Another problem with the flag that not even Willow can remove.  Three, I can't go in the way that would make me comfortable to handle things in a strange environment. I can't go in with anything that might be considered a weapon and half the time they aren't going to want to believe me because I'm a white American."  He took another drink to drain the glass.  "Yuck."  He put it down.  "Hate liquor."  Dean offered his bottle, getting a head shake.

"There's a fourth problem beyond that.  Someone had a slayer dream about me going on that trip and my ...little sucking problem that happens sometimes like Halloween is going to come back out in a very bad way.  Especially since I still carry one and that means I'll end up doing this the harder way as I take us primal to teach her and then back to normal.  Which no slayer needs or wants."  He looked at John.  "Whereas you're better suited since you do have combat and travel with the military experience, including survival training since most of the girls are in that warzone area that they keep talking about on tv every night."

"Those are bad problems but they can be solved."

"Nope," Xander said with a grin.  "I asked Jethro to look into the flag situation. They said it was put on at the highest levels.  They don't want me to leave and they don't want me do what I'm already doing."

"Can he ask someone higher up to remove it?" Dean suggested.

"Nope.  He asked his director to ask someone in the right area and they said they want me here.  Firmly here.  Apparently they have decided that I need to be *here* for some reason."

John grimaced. "Why?"

"No idea.  Maybe it's because I pulled things out of the deep fryer before.  Maybe it's because they don't like me.  I don't know.  I know after the last reunion it got stronger.  I know they flagged my credit history too so I can't take off and go to college.  I can't get student loans or any other sort of loan.  He did point out to someone that I might need that flag removed to ensure housing and other things so they'll think about that if that Dad says I need it."

John stared at his son.  "Who put it on?"

"The people who were giving the Initiative orders in the NSA.  I have no idea why.  No one would tell him.  He even found the right person to ask and Jethro said they gave him the biggest dumbass look ever.  So I don't know.  I know right about now I'm really tired of that person.  But there's nothing I can do about that that's not an ethical problem for everyone who knows me."

The waitress came over.  "Don't threaten people, sir."

"I'm not.  I'm laying out facts.  My friends and I stopped a covert government group that was torturing some of the people in my former town.  Thanks to that, I'm now flagged in every way imaginable so I can't travel, go to school, get an apartment, rent a car, nothing."

She grimaced.  "That's pretty pathetic of the government but if we hear you threaten someone we'll have to turn you in."

He snickered.  "The guy on the end of the bar is the FBI agent who's been watching my friends and I for a week now."  She stared then at him.  "You can ask him if you want."

"No need, Harris."  He looked over.  "I'm only here watching to make sure you guys don't have to do anything major to save someone else's life."

Xander snorted.  "It's not spring yet.  Ask us again then."

"I can do that."  He came over, staring at him.  "No, you can't go to Africa on that finding trip.  We're paranoid now.  Your friends and you made us a bit paranoid about all the bad shit we haven't seen for decades.  Not since Kennedy actually.  Hoover saw some of it and tried to do something but others got in the way."

"Hmm, demon cock sucking whores even back then?" Xander suggested.

"Yes they were, if you're being blunt in front of ladies."

"Sammy already knows what those words mean and he's the only girl I worry about," Dean shot back.  "The waitress has probably heard worse."

She laughed but nodded.  "I have and said worse tonight."  She left them alone.

He leaned on the table, looking at him.  "You can't go because we can watch you.  We can't stand to watch the others.  They do things that make us cringe and worry more.  Let's face it, Buffy was shopping for bikinis the day before the battle."  Xander nodded at that, smirking some.  "You were doing practical things.  So we're watching you to see the next time you start to do more practical things so we know when to find a hole to hide in."

"The spring.  Every now and then you get a small one in the fall or Halloween turns worse than it should be but usually in the spring."

"I'll let them know that.  We want you here so we can gauge when we might need to step in and help.  We can't work with them.  We won't ever work with Summers or Rosenburg.  We might work with Dawn.  You've made her a sensible young woman."

"Her mother did that," he said quietly but firmly.

"Good!  Women with sense are hard to find these days.  We'd all like to have her back I'm sure because she'd kick some butt out at the center."  He looked at John.  "You're never going to get him to be more than a research nerd.  The books already sucked him in again tonight right after the conference call."  He looked at Xander again.  "We're going to keep watching you to make sure we know when we have to duck and do something.  The other flags we'll try to convince someone to remove as long as you don't go anywhere."

"You could ask," Sam said dryly.  "Or try to be sneaky and put an agent in.  Someone'll have to run the armory when we go back on the road."

The agent looked at him.  "Not for a long time?"

John shrugged.  "Within six months.  We're still tracking one that took on the family."

"Oh, yeah, had a vision about that.  Who's the blonde lady who owns the bar and looks kinda old?  She sneered at you about her husband."

"Ellen.  That's the Roadhouse."

"When it's blown up, Sammy's gonna be snatched by the demon wanting a special child to be his chosen champion.  If he has the colt, he can open a devil's gate in one of the Dakotas.  If he steals Sammy, he'll kill everyone where he is at the time."  He rubbed his head and looked at him.  "The devil's gate'll open and spill out hell."

"Sounds like a job for a slayer," the agent said dryly.

John shook his head.  "No, it's not like a hellmouth."  He stared at his son.  "When?"

"Spring, like always.  Instead of ours.  Ours are hiding in the aftershocks of the falling in."

"We can stop them."

"You'd have to stop him stealing others.  If he gets the colt, he can open the gateway.  It's the key."

John smirked. "What would destroy the gateway?"

"I'm partial to C-4," Xander said dryly, cracking Dean up.  "But hell doesn't like it.  Beyond that?  Well...."  He considered it.  "You'd have to look at the gateway.  It's got a huge devil's trap around it."

"I'll see if Jethro can use satellite imaging to pinpoint it," Sam said.

John looked at him.  "Where would he be stealing Sammy to, Xander?  Is it the same place?"

"No.  A haunted town with a bell.  Cold....  Cold some sort of tree.  I saw a frozen tree."

"Cold Oak," he said.  "The town so haunted it had to be evacuated."  He stared at his son.  "When is he trying?"

"He's been snatching special kids for months now to weed them down.  Sam's in the last batch to go because he's got more than one gift.  That makes him the heir he wants."

John nodded, taking some paper the agent had in his pocket to write that down.  "Thanks, son."  He went to call from his truck for privacy.

"That's damn helpful," Dean said.

Xander grinned.  "If he gets Sammy, you'll be in hell within a year."  He patted Dean on the back, marking a line.  "Something right there will get him and you'll snap."

Dean flinched.  "Gotcha.  Want another drink?"

"I hate drinking."

"It's helping you let go," Sam said.  Xander gave him a hug.  "Thanks, Xander.  I love you too, big brother."  He looked at the smirking agent.  "We can kick your ass, even drunk.  Which Dean and I aren't."  He backed up.  "Anything else you want to tell us about how you're watching Xander too closely to be able to do his job?  What's going to happen the next time he needs something like what he used in the mall?"  The agent gave him a confused look.  "Ask Jethro's Abby.  She knows.  She sent a fangirl letter to me.  If he has to do it again and you guys are watching, it won't happen and then you'll all die for watching him too hard."  The agent stomped off.

Xander grinned up at him.  "That's so cool.  Thank you."

"Welcome."  He helped him sit up.  "You sure you don't want another drink?"

"Make Dean drink the next one."  He went up there.  "Can my big brother have the same thing I had?" he asked with a goofy grin.

"Not if he's driving."

"We can let Dad drive."

"Fine."  He took the money and gave him the drink.  Xander walked over very carefully, handing it to Dean.

Dean took a drink and gagged.  "What is that?  It's sickeningly sweet, dude."

"Honey mead," Sam said after a sniff.  "Mixed with something because you can smell the extra liquor."

"Vodka," Xander said.  "They come from the same region and if I want to be plastered, that'll do it."

John came back, watching Dean swallow the thick, honey colored drink.  "What is that?"

"Honey mead and vodka," Sam said.  He took the last half of the drink when Dean gagged, making Xander cackle.

"Keys," John demanded.  Dean handed over his.  Xander handed over his.  "Thank you."  He put them into his pocket.  "Ellen said thank you too, Xander.  She upped her insurance."  He finished his lone beer for the night, watching his sons get closer to the relaxed son.  Xander was incredibly goofy and happy when he was off-guard.  When he was relaxed he seemed to go back to the boy he probably was at sixteen.  He told them about Jesse and how he grew up pranking and playing with him.  How Willow joined the duo to even out some of their worst traits and to mother them to death at times.  How she had managed to stitch him up a few times when things went wrong one way or another.

John listened and he wanted to find Xander's adoptive parents to kill them.  But he wouldn't.  They were lost in Sunnydale because they had refused to evacuate.  Xander had went to talk to them, he had said so.  They went back to drinking and snorted in disgust. So they had died.  Maybe they had his son's cellphone in hell.  Who knows.  Xander told them about dating Cordelia and all that went along with that.  Dean was gaping at some of his other dating stories.  It was good to watch Xander finally let all his guards down.  He had a few left up but John got him another drink while he was talking and they went down too.  He almost wished he could tape this but that would leave evidence for others to find.  Though he would be having a word with Jethro to help his boy.

The boys finally got tired of the bar, heading out together.  Dean and Xander were holding each other up.

"Fuck you," Dean joked at some comment Xander had just made.

"We're related, that's illegal," Sam quipped.  "Don't make Dad give you that talk too, Xander."

John snickered.  He remembered having to stumble his way through that talk when his boys were getting a bit too close for his comfort.

"There's no way he can have babies to taint, so it's not that evil," Dean told him.  "We've dealt with worse things than a little bit of brother fucking."

"You do and I'm tanning your ass," John promised.

"Besides, Willow can do that and said she wanted nieces and nephews some year from me.  She might make you pregnant, Dean," Xander shot back.  "You might look cute all fat and round but you'd be miserable in the summer heat."

"I'd top, Xander," Dean said, almost whining.

"Anya said the same thing," he said, beaming at him.  "But she decided she didn't like it because it meant I didn't give oral sex first and she only got as many orgasms as my dick could go through.  Usually not enough for her."  He sighed, giving him a pouty, puppy look.  "I miss my nympho."

A girl in the parking lot smirked at him.  "We could take their place, honey.  You three boys look like fun."

"We're brothers," Sam said with a grin.

"Oooh.  The girls will be jealous."  They mobbed them, getting them away before John could do more than protest.  "We'll have 'em back early, pappa.  We promise," she laughed, waving at John in a mocking manner as they got into their car and headed off.

John got into his truck to follow.  Those boys got into all sorts of trouble.  That's why he wasn't surprised when the girls led them to the park that held the hellmouth.  Or that there were strange beings in robes waiting.  He was a bit surprised that Xander whooped out a war cry and attacked.  He was even more surprised when his boys shrugged at each other and moved in to help without pulling a gun.  The guys were beaten and tied up with their robe's belt ties before John could get closer than the edges of the brawl.  The police got there pretty fast.  John made up a good cover story about the girls bringing his drunk sons here from the bar while he was looking for them.  Maybe some sort of strange cult.  They helped get the boys into the back of the truck - that way anyone who puked could clean it up easier in the morning and he wouldn't have to smell it for months on end - and he headed home.  Where Buffy tried to pounce.  He glared at her.  "Leave the boys be, Buffy."

"But... they ran out!"

"We went to have some fun," Dean said.  "You should try it.  It might help that pinched librarian face you're putting out right now."  He walked Xander off.  "You don't really think Willow would knock me up if I teased her, right?"

"Yes she will," Buffy called after him.  "I'll tell her you suggested it, Dean."  She waited until they were gone to round on John.  "You let him get drunk?  Knowing his past?" she demanded.

"Xander's old enough to make that decision for himself, Buffy.  He ordered the beer, not us.  It was nice of him to finally drop all his guards and *relax* for the first time in years."

"But..."

He held up a hand.  "You're not his mother.  You never were his mother.  You never were his girlfriend.  As long as it's not hurting anyone, he's not going to become an alcoholic from a few drinks every few years.  The last time he had one, he was sixteen and it was after the Harvest."  She whined at that.  "I don't care, Buffy.  If Xander needed it to calm himself down then that's his decision and he's a big boy.  He made sure he was in a safe enough environment and had someone there to watch his back, namely me.  It also didn't stop him fighting back when the cultists wanted to sacrifice all three boys.  Now, anything else?"

"That's a bad thing for Dawn to see."

He snickered.  "Buffy, the last time he got drunk he was sixteen.  He's how old now?  How often has she seen him drink?"  She huffed off.  He stared at her back then decided maybe it was time for some preemptive action.  He went upstairs and found Dawn halfway there, out of sight but in hearing.  "She always like that?"

"She's the slayer," she said flatly.  "Her word is law."

He nodded once.  "What do you think about a vacation to visit the other clan members?"  Her face lit up.  "New York is very educational.  School's done for the year.  You could learn from a few teachers in a few different styles, find one you like since the Devon Coven nearly made you have hives."

She hugged him.  "Thanks, John."

"Welcome."  He walked her back up there and locked the door after tossing out one of the slayers yelling at Sam.  "He's an adult and old enough to have a few to unwind, Mary.  Get over it."  He put on the chain and the deadbolt then looked at Sam and Dawn.  "We need a vacation," he said quietly.

Sam gave him an evil smirk.  "Dawn should start thinking about colleges.  She can start touring them now since she'll have to start applying in a year and a bit.  Plus learn what she needs to know to get in."

"That's a good point.  I was thinking she could find some local practioners and ask them too," he said.

"We can take her to meet Missouri," Dean agreed.  "Kansas State is a great school."

She sniffled.  "You guys would do that?"

"We've always been on the road, Dawn.  It's freeing in some ways but it's also tiring," John said.  "Since your mother didn't want you to hunt, you should probably be thinking about long term careers."

"I can already read some of the research languages around here.  I could work with magical artifacts and stuff.  Or in a mega research library."

"A language degree isn't a hard one to pursue," Sam said.  "Not a lot of heavy sciences to take unless you want to.  Most colleges make you take at least a year of one language anyway."

She blinked.  "Wow, you're really high on the whole college thing."

"I loved college.  The freedom to spend all night in the library researching whatever I wanted.  Getting to know people for a change, and them wanting to know me.  Having friends I kept for more than three months.  It was great."

"Pretty women in skimpy clothes, frat parties; I could stand that," Dean said with a leer.

"You're still my uncle, Dean, and I'm not that hard up," she quipped, making him cackle.

"Hey, that's my noise," Xander complained weakly from where he had fallen into bed.

Dawn looked in there.  "If you go hyena, they're going to make Sam exorcize you, Dad."  She heard the footsteps in the hall and sighed, going to answer the door.  "Are we being too loud?  We're talking about going to check out colleges I might like this summer."

Buffy stared, then blinked slowly.  "College?"

"Mom said she wanted me to have a career where I'd die being a great-grandmother.  I was thinking about using what I've learned here to do work with artifacts and things."  She grinned.  "Sam wants me to follow him to Stanford."

"Harvard's a beautiful school," Sam offered.  "But I couldn't get full ride there."  Dean gaped at him.  "I couldn't.  I had to decide between Yale and there but I didn't like Yale's campus as much.  Something felt off to me."

Buffy blinked.  "We can't afford that."

"Mom left me a college fund," Dawn said.  "There's a guy in LA that's managing it for me.  Also, did you want to cosign the insurance paperwork?  You're still legally dead and it was left to me anyway."

"What was?"

"The house, Buffy.  The place we lived?  The insurance company owes us majorly for it."

"Oh," she said weakly.  "They do?"  Dawn nodded.  "Huh.  Do I need to sign anything?"

"No, I do, but I can put your name on it even though you're still legally dead."

"They probably wouldn't like that," Willow said as she joined them.  "I've got the forms filled out for all of us."

Dawn gave her an odd look.  "I only have to sign them with Xander, Willow.  Our agent agreed that we were covered because Mom got the insurance that covers earthquakes and other disasters."  She looked at Buffy again.  "The house's stuff is going to your apartment? I know I have my old bed."

"Um, yeah.  Most of it is in my place if you wanted to come hang out?"

"Not while you have your head up your ass," she said bluntly, staring at her sister.  "First you put him down and then you decide he's helpless, but you need him here to do everything you can't?  No, not playing with me, Buffy.  I love you.  You're my sister, but your head's up your skirt again.  It needs to come out.  Soon."  Willow stared.  She stared back.  "Yes, I did notice that.  The same as I noticed Giles isn't sure what he's doing so he's trying to make John the head of the Council.  Oh, and they were babbling something about the FBI wanting to know about the next apocalypse but it won't be here?" she asked John.

"No, Xander saw it being in the Dakotas with a huge devil's gate and the family's problem being dealt with.  During that, we'll have you protected in case he comes after you too, Dawn."

"Sure.  Am I going to be with Mac or someone else?"

"Tony could.  I've told him how to ward things.  Maybe Bobby if we think it'll be safe."

"She can be here," Buffy told him.

"No she can't," John told her.  "Because the demon can steal people from where they are if there's not specific wards set up to prevent it.  If they do, everyone around whoever it is will die."  Both older young women went pale.  "So we're going to evacuate a possible target to somewhere safer for everyone involved.  That way we know she's protected by people who don't snap at her for noticing guys when she's at the proper age and also by people who have a clue."

"By the way, Willow.  I talked to your mentor over there.  She hates me.  I don't like her much better.  If you can do it that way, that's great and all, but it gave me hives."  Willow snorted.  She showed her the picture she pulled off the wall.  "Doing things their way."  Willow groaned.  "It looks like the Key's going to make me take up something other than a mixed earth magic you use and they use."

"What are you looking at?"

"I figured this summer I can find some other practioners to see if their ways resonate more," she said.  "It's a mature decision and it'll let me build up contacts within the community since I'm thinking about dealing with artifacts or research."

"What about working for the Council?" Willow asked.

"Mom wanted me to die a great-grandmother, Willow.  She put it into her will."

"Oh."  She nodded.  "I can see that.  She didn't want you both to die from hunting.  But you won't have to as a research watcher."

"No but I'd have to put up with Giles being the head research watcher and I can't do that.  Beyond that, if I go out and do what I'm thinking, it means I can come back some year as an expert in some fields and I'll still be lending help when you guys ask.  Even if I'm in another country."

"That's good," Buffy said, sounding very tired.  "Do we get to at least visit you at college?"

"All the time.  As long as you lay off Xander.  Remember, he lost Anya in the battle."  They both slumped and nodded.  "He doesn't need to do everything Giles can't either.  There's a reason there used to be an executive board and administration people.  Now he sees that.  I'll help where I can.  Xander will help where he can.  Neither of us want the top job and it's bad enough that the Initiative mess got him flagged so he can't travel."

"He can't?" Willow asked.

John shook his head.  "Nope.  He can't travel, apply for a passport, get a student loan, nothing like that."  They all groaned.  "The agent who was following us earlier said they did it because he was a normal guy who did normal preparation before things happen.  If they watch him they know the signs of something big coming.  Watching you two gave people headaches.  Agents think in a much more linear fashion than you two do."

"They're watching us?" Buffy asked.  John nodded.  "Why?"

"Because you guys do things that they think they should be handling," Sam said from his seat on the couch.  "They're very worried that you guys won't be able to handle something and then they'll have to without any warning.  They want to keep Xander around because he has ties back to the intelligence and the law enforcement community and he shows the same sort of preparation they use.  They know and understand what it means when Xander goes looking for weapons as opposed to herb shopping or being dragged by the girls to go clothes shopping."

"We do, don't we," Buffy admitted, frowning some.  "That should stop.  He's not their pet."

"No, he's not," Willow agreed.  "He's been doing a lot of work with the girls."

"The girls need a firmer hand anyway," John told them.  "They're trying to run wild.  Unless you both want to start visiting them in rehab or on a birthing unit?"  They shuddered at that, shaking their heads.  "Then talk to Jethro about how to train, girls.  They need some firmness even with this being their life.  Without training, they won't have time to enjoy the rest of it.  They'll be dead.  Plenty of slayers have been.  The same as plenty of hunters die of it."

"More die from sinking into a depression or retreating to drugs or alcohol to deal with the crap they see daily," Sam said quietly.  "Because it can happen.  We see the same things you do but remember we don't get there when things start.  With as few of us as there are, we miss a lot of problems until they make more than local news.  That, plus injuries, plus being on the road all the time wearing on your soul because you have nowhere you can retreat to where you can feel safe and relax all your guards again.  Not to mention that there's not many older hunters.  Most of them are too injured to go into the field or they retired to do research when the pain of doing the job got too much for them.  Even then, they still jump into the field, ready to die at the next time they're needed."

"Been there, felt that sucking me down," Buffy admitted.

"We get it too," John assured her.  "We've had nearly a quarter century on the road.  That's one of the reasons Sammy left to hit Stanford."  Sam nodded at that.  "He needed roots and he needed to be around people for a bit."

"Wow."  She looked at Dawn.  "So, college?  Magical artifacts?"

Dawn nodded.  "Or maybe research stuff."

"That's ... I guess mom would like that," she decided.  "Do you need help with the forms?"

"Nah, the guy filled out most of it with me on the phone the other day.  I haven't been able to get Xander to sign them because Giles keeps trying to get him to sign stuff he doesn't want to deal with."  They groaned.  "Now, anything else?  It's late and Xander had a long night of letting go of some of the old hurts.  I should be in bed too so we can plan where we're going tomorrow."

"You're leaving tomorrow?" Buffy whined.

"Two weeks," John told her.  She sighed but nodded.  "We'll be back in time for school."

"Fine.  I know Xander will overprotect you like I would."  She gave her a look.  "No drinking, young lady."

"You're still not the mom, Buffy, and I drank last year at that sleepover."  She closed the door in her sister's face.  Then she bounced back over.  John gave her a look.  "One!" she defended.

"You do it again before you're old enough and Xander said he's bringing out the caveslayer beer."

"I know.  That's why I haven't."  She sat down next to Sam, letting him lean on her.  "You should go to bed."

"I should but you're sitting on it."

"You have two beds in your room, Sam." She pushed him up and walked him in there, dropping him on the bed Dean wasn't on.  Then she closed the door behind her on her way to her own room.  "Happy sleeps, Grandpa."

"You too, Dawn."  He smiled when her door was shut, going to relock the room's doors and put down the salt lines someone had pulled up on them again.  He'd have to make a sign for the door apparently.  Someone didn't do their homework.

***

John walked into breakfast the next morning, looking at the girls.  "Whoever keeps removing the protection wards I put on Xander and Dawn's rooms, stop it."  They all flinched.  "I will paddle your ass if something gets to them.  Especially if it's another spirit and Xander ends up possessed again."

Xander bounced down the stairs.  "Is that what the salt does?  I can't remember which one does which."

"Hangover?" Buffy asked.

"No.  Not in the least."  He smirked.  Then he took the plate from his father and his coffee too, sitting down to eat it for him.  John rolled his eyes but got another plate, which Dawn came down and stole.  John finally got his own breakfast and sat down.  Xander looked at the girls after his first bite.  "I was watching the last few days.  Some of you are not fit for patrol.  Some of you are not even fit for shopping.  Since you're not fit for patrol, there will be no shopping until further notice.  If you don't have the energy to train to save your own lives, then you don't have the energy to go to the mall.  You definitely don't have the energy to date, because that comes with stress and fussing, which can wear you down further since I'm pretty sure none of you are using anything like condoms, and if you get sick from some form of VD you're in deep shit.

"Additionally, until you've found enough energy to train so you can save your own asses when you're attacked, there's not going to be any tv, any movie nights, or anything else.  It's not fair that Faith is the only slayer who is still keeping in shape.  By the way, Buffy, I killed the two vamps who tried to get you in the mall."  She gaped, making whimpering noises.  "Since there were four other slayers with you, that should include you."  He stared her down.  "Dean's running PT today.  John's running self-defense.  Sam's running knife fighting, Faith's running it at slayer speed after lunch, and then we'll go on patrol with whoever you want later."  He ate a bite of egg.  "Good, I'm glad there's no questions."  He stood up.  "Practice starts as soon as Dean finishes shoveling food in."  He walked off to finish his breakfast in private.

Dawn looked at them.  "Yes, he was serious.  Because I can beat some of you and John's barely started with me."  She finished and got seconds then followed Xander, going to find Faith and eat with her.  "Hey."

"Hey, D."  She smirked.  "Heard the butt munching.  It taste good?"

"A bit.  How many do you think have VD already?"

"Two.  We had the talk with the girls.  Buffy sure didn't."  She nibbled on her bagel.  "You joining classes?"

"All but the slayer one you're running," Xander agreed.  "She'll have to beat a boy off her some year soon and I want her protected in case some leech comes out to date her."

"Good idea," Faith agreed.

"If you want to go on the trip to find the girls in Africa, let John know," Xander told her.  "We need someone combat trained to go and I'm banned from even going to Canada after the Initiative mess."  He finished up and put his plate aside.  "By the way, saw your last practice.  You looked good, but tired.  There's a lot of other slayers in the building, even if they're only half trained.  You two can split patrol."  She gaped.  "Really.  That way you get a few nights off too."  Buffy stomped in.  "Don't you agree you and Faith should be splitting patrol nights for the routine patrols?  That way the girls have a senior, fully trained one there with them but she doesn't have to do it every night?  Like she has been for the past two weeks?"

Buffy blinked a few time.  "You have?"

"Yeah," she said dryly.  "Someone had to.  You didn't.  The minis didn't."

"No wonder we got nibbled on."

Dawn gave her a look.  "Ya think?"

"Need midol?" Xander asked her.

"No, I need tampons.  Get me some?"

He snorted.  "No way in hell, Dawn.  There's a store on the corner.  Go for a run."

"Yes, Xander," she complained.  "Insurance forms?"

"They're on the desk and signed the last time I knew."

She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.  "I'll fax them over on my way to the store.  Need anything, Faith?  Buffy?"

"No, I'm good," Buffy said.  "Get me a water for later?"  Dawn nodded, getting up and checking the mat where she had been sitting before heading off.  She stared at Faith.  "I didn't think it was that bad."

"It's not but it's harder to get rid of later on.  Getting them now means they can't make more baby vamps to start a nest."

"Good point.  We'll work one out later?"

"Sure, B, but you get tonight?"

"I can do that," she agreed, going back to the girls to agree with what Xander had said.  Dean came down and grabbed a plate, heading outside with it.  The girls all followed, including Buffy.  She hadn't been working out either.  Her skirt was tight this morning.  Dean gave her outfit an odd look.  She slunk off to change and came back in jeans and a t- shirt, getting a nod.  He pointed and she got into the training with the others.  They needed her experience to help them be better and she needed to spar.  It felt good to get into the rhythm again.  Dawn came back and put her water in the shade then joined in.  Dean nodded at her and Buffy was shocked.  Her baby sister could brawl!  She moved to test her, but Dawn gave her a look and a wink then attacked the one who had been bugging Xander.  Buffy smirked.  That bit of protectiveness was clearly from their mom.  She had protected Xander too.  Dean coughed and Dawn quit beating that one, moving to Buffy's side to fight with her.

Dean looked at the whining slayer.  "If Dawn could beat you, a vampire surely could," he told her.  "Work harder."  She growled and stomped off.  "That's your only one today."  He watched the others.  They were working okay today.  Still a bit slowly.  He set up the next exercise and got into it with them.  He upped the pace and they groaned but kept it up.  The minor scuffles would be gone over later with his dad.

***

Xander looked up as Giles walked into his suite, going back to cleaning the gun he was working on.  "New problems or did we solve some with the conference call?"

"We did solve some."  He cleared his throat as he sat down across from the young man he considered like a son.  "Xander, I've been meaning to take some time off.  Head home for a few days," he said.

Xander looked at him.  "That'd be a problem since the Bringers got your house too, Giles."  The older man gaped.  "You're a field watcher, of course they went after you."  He went back to swabbing the barrel of the gun.  "The guy handling the stuff in England is handling it for you too.  It was on the list that you apparently never fully read over.  Did anyone tell Wes his father died?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"Good."  He finished up and ran a dry cloth to pick up any extra cleaning fluid then got to work putting it back together again.  He frowned, looking around.  "See a spring?"  Giles pointed since it was on his blind side.  He found it and picked it up, putting it into place.  "You do know Dawn and I are going on a college looking roadtrip this summer?"

"Why?"

"Because she's got to pick one sometime soon.  Sam said she'll have to apply late this year for early admission.  By January of her junior year."  He put the gun down into the case and closed it, looking at him.  "It'll also get her away from the slayers who think she's a pet.  It'll get me away from the slayers before I spank a few who need the attitude adjustment.  It'll save a lot of sanity and I haven't had one since my failed road trip."  Giles slumped.  "Beyond that, even if you did take a break, I'm not going to take over as the had of the Council.  I don't want the job.  I'm not even sure I want to stay over training, Giles.  I'm a bit burnt out at this moment in my life.  It's been eight years.  Things keep getting worse. I'm tired of losing people I care for because of things getting worse.  For a while I'd like to see things get better.  Plus, hey, I can easily use it to scout out future problem areas.  Get to know the various places that have large concentrations of demons.  I heard Miami has a lot but Orlando only has a handful working there."

Giles stared.  "I hadn't heard that.  Who told you that?"

"Fred."

"She's a charming girl."  He stared at the boy.  "Could you fill in while I was gone?"

"As long as it doesn't take forever," Xander said.  "I'm not taking it permanently.  Ever."

"I dare say that's not a problem, Xander."  He stood up.  "I'll be leaving in three days."

"We planned on going in about two weeks," Xander told him.

"School's not out for the summer."

"I decided Dawn didn't have to go through the trauma of switching schools with only a month left; the local school board agreed when they heard ours had caved in.  It'll take them a good while to get any records on her.  She'll probably have to take some tests for placement."

"That may be the letter on the table for you."  Xander groaned, going down to look and coming back with it.  "Was it?"

"No.  Confirmation that they did get some of her records from the junior high.  Nothing from the high school."

"They hadn't sent them off to the state board yet I suppose."  He stood up.  "I'll try to be back by then.  If necessary can you push it back by a week?"

"Ask Dad."

"I can do that."  He went to talk to John, finding him browbeating a few of the younger slayers.  "Is that really necessary?" he asked calmly.

"If you want her to live past her first run-in with vampires?  Yes."

"I can see that point," he admitted.  He glanced at the girl and she scampered off, happy to be out of yelling range for a few minutes.  "I need to head home for a few days," he said quietly.

"Are you going to do what you did after Buffy died and climb into a bottle?" he asked, looking serious.

"I don't plan on it, no."

"Then we leave in two weeks and I'll help my son."

"Could you perhaps push it back by a week?  I leave in three days."

John considered it then nodded.  "We don't have any concrete plans until the group picnic.  It's in Miami this year.  In late July."

"That's wonderful."  He smiled.  "I shall try to be back within the two weeks.  Xander told me my house was gotten as well but I hadn't looked at the manifest list close enough."

"Sometimes it's painful to look at the lists of those who're passed on," John said.

"Indeed.  I spent much of my life with them."  He clapped him on the arm.  "Must we yell at the girls?"

"If they're not doing what they need to do to survive?  Yes.  Once they're well trained they can fall back and have more free time.  Until then, they need to know as much as they can so they can protect themselves and the other girls on patrol.  Or in case we're attacked here."

"That is a good point.  And Buffy?"

"Has been slacking.  Faith's done patrols for the last two weeks."

"Ah.  An excellent reason.  I'll tell the girls after dinner.  Thank you."

"Xander's not going to take the head of the council spot, Giles."

"Of course not.  He doesn't have the experience."  He walked off, heading to his office to straighten things up.  He found the file he needed and sure enough, his estate was on there.  "I'll miss my horses," he sighed.

***

Three days into Xander's tenure as acting council head, he was going to shoot himself.  He really was.  He knew where all the guns were in the building and the cars, and he could reach one before even Sammy foresaw it and tried to stop him.

"No you're not," Sam called as he walked past the door.

Xander groaned, putting his head down on the desk.  "Then can you shoot me?"

"Hell no.  Dean would have to start pranking me again."  He leaned in.  "What's wrong?"  Xander held up a folder for him to read over.  He stared.  "That's ass backwards of any decent system."  Xander stared up at him, giving him hopeful looks.  "We'll figure it out."  Xander whimpered.  "Together.  There's no way you could pay me to take this job."

"Please?" he begged.

"Try it on Dad.  He caves now and then."

"I can do that."  He walked off, going to give his father pitiful looks.  The girls all cooed at it.  John gave him a horrified look, backing away.  "They already messed stuff up, Dad."

John groaned.  "It figures."

"Please?" he begged.  "Before I let one of the cranky ones shoot me during crossbow practice they've been neglecting?"

John shook his head. "We'll make sure they can't, son."  He waved at the girls.  "Crossbows.  Now."  They ran for it because it was better than being thumped by John in self-defense practice.  They went into the office to look at what Sam had cobbled together already.  John stared.  "Rupert really is a failure at paperwork."  He got what he needed to see.  "What were you working on?"

"Invoices.  Now I can't find the checkbook."

John stared then groaned, calling someone.  "Hey, Jethro, John Winchester.  Do you know of anyone right off the top of your head who can come unscrew the system Giles created so they can actually pay the bills?  He left Xander in charge and even Sammy's giving it horrified looks."

"Not Sammy, Sam," he complained.

"I changed your diapers and wiped your butt, I can call you whatever I want, Sammy."  Jethro laughed and said something.  "An assistant won't do any good until we get a working system, Jethro.  Yes, I'm serious.  He has the invoices split into nineteen categories for seven bills."  Gibbs moaned like he was in pain.  "Even military paperwork isn't this bad.  Xander can't even find the checkbook.  Sure, we'd like that and we can let the girls hit on him too.  Thanks, Jethro."  He hung up.  "Tony will be up tonight."

"Should I go pick him up?" Xander asked, looking excited.

"You still have to retake your driving test," Sam reminded him.

"Crap."  He went to grab some keys and go do that.  He hated this problem of his.  He really needed a fake eye so no one could tell.  The eye patch was a clear sign he had vision problems.  Plus people stared.  He hated it when people stared.  Or when kids asked him where his rum, parrot, and musket were.  Maybe this year's Halloween costume was set....  No, he'd never get to go.  Something bad always happened.  He went to the DMV, giving the woman there an odd look when she stared.  "Yes, it got hurt."

"Um, you need to pass a depth perception test, sir."

"I had sucky depth perception before it happened, lady."  He gave her a look.  "Can we just try, please?"  She nodded, letting him do the small depth perception machine.  "You know, there is a compensation for that.  It's timing things to see how far apart you are."

"I didn't know about that."  She marked down he passed when he did.  "Why are you changing licenses?"

"I moved after my town got sucked into a hole."

"Oh, you're from that one on the news?"  He nodded, pulling out his old license.  "You had a small truck code?"

"I worked construction.  I had to be able to use the small machinery."

"Oh, dear.  That you may not be able to get."

"Not doing that now anyway.  We'll see if I can up to that soon."  She nodded, passing him onto the next tester, who'd do the driving test.  "Hi."

"Sir, are you legally blind in that eye?"

"It's missing," he said bluntly.  "I didn't have great depth perception before.  I do drive, and I work in an all girls' school so I have to be able to drive."  He hissed.  "Trust me, I can do it and there's people out there with worse eyesight than mine.  Now, can we try it?"  That got a sigh but a nod so they went to do the driving test.  He was a bit too far away in the parallel parking but looked over then adjusted the car more.  "Do I get counted off for wiggling so many times?"

"No.  Just for being too far from the curb.  You fixed it so you're fine."  He looked at his sheet. "By state law we should not license you if you cannot see."

"I can see.  I can see as well as anyone with an eye dominance problem and plenty of them drive.  Some of them even fly.  I'm not a danger on the roads; I learned how to compensate for having sucky depth perception before.  Unless someone's coming directly on my blind side to hit my door, I'm always checking around me and I should see it even then."

"Good point."  He signed off on it, handing over the slip.

"Thank you. You made my daughter very happy since we're going on vacation to see relatives this summer."  He drove him back to the building and went inside to get his new license.  "If I get a fake one, can I have my picture retaken so I don't look like a mug shot from a pirate movie?"

"You can but you'd have to pay the fee for a new license, sir."  The woman took his picture and handed him his warm ID a few minutes later.

He walked off, heading back to the school.  He was free!  He hoped.  If Giles didn't disappear.

***

Xander pounced the man coming out of the secure section, giving him a hug.  "Thank you!"

"Ease off, little brother."  He grinned at Xander.  "That bad?"

"I'm going to shoot myself.  Sam keeps stopping me."

"Uh-huh.  We'll see what I can do."  He walked them out with an arm around Xander's shoulders while they waited for his bag to appear.  "How's the daughter?"

"She's good.  Squealing happily because I let her buy a new outfit.  I told the others they can't shop until they're ready for patrol.  They're still pouting."

"Sometimes you gotta motivate," Tony said dryly.  He grabbed his bag and headed off with his baby brother.  "They're letting you drive with an eye injury?"

"Um, it's gone," he said.

Tony stared at him.  "You didn't tell me you got that injured in that battle!" he said hotly.  He had known, but to see it was different and Xander needed to hear this because he hadn't told anyone.

"It was done before then by an insane minion of hers," he quipped with a grin.  "I learned how to compensate before the battle even."

Tony stared then smacked him on the head as hard as he could, getting a yelp.  "Does Gibbs know?"

"Don't know.  Unless Dad or someone told him?"

"Yes, dad told him, but things like this we need to hear from you, not from John."  He stared him down.  "You can tell the rest of the group too."

Xander winced.  "Must I?"  Tony nodded.  "Why?  They'll see me at the picnic."

"You want to be yelled at more because you didn't tell us?" he asked.

"No."  He handed over the keys with a pout.  "I'm fine."

"I don't care!  We wanted to hear this from you, not from someone else!"

"I can get a glass one and no one will know."

Tony snorted.  "Yes we will.  We're trained to notice things like that, Xander."  The boy slumped but nodded.  "Now, anything else you want to mention in a physical way?"

"I miss Anya."

"I know."  He gave him a hug.  "Let's head back to look at the mess Giles made."  He got in to drive, letting Xander navigate while he asked about what had happened and the girls.  The girls were apparently driving his little brothers nuts.  Every last Winchester really.  So when they got there he smirked as he hugged Dawn.  "Niece."

"Uncle Tony!"  She pulled back to look at him.  "Did you bring me a hotty to look at?"

"Fat chance.  They don't pack well."  She cackled, leading him back to the office.

"Are there any ugly Winchesters?" one of the girls hissed to another.

"That's Dean," Dawn quipped.

Dean leaned out of the office.  "I am not the ugly Winchester.  Xander is."

Xander pouted at him. "I'm not that ugly."

Dean stared at him.  "I was picking, Xander.  You're not ugly."  Xander gave him a hopeful look.  "I'm *so* going to work on your self esteem this summer."  He pulled him into the office and shut the door after them.  "Welcome to the mess Giles left."

Tony looked at all the folders.  "This looks like it."

John held up a list.  "Sam worked out how he was filing and categorized everything."

Tony took it to look over.  "This makes *no* sense."

"It was a system started by rich guys in England way back when," Dawn quipped.  "Who had assistants, and departments, and all sorts of administration people."  She settled next to Xander.  "You're not the ugly Winchester, that's Sam's hair."  Xander relaxed and cuddled her.

Dean looked at him.  "There's no such thing as an ugly Winchester, Xander.  Even Dad had some looks in his youth.  That's how he trapped Mom."

"No comment," John said dryly, reaching over to swat his son.  He looked at his second youngest.  "There is no such thing as an ugly Winchester anyway.  We all look good with a shotgun; that's all that matters."  Xander grinned at that.  John wanted to go dig up the boy's original parents so bad, but he didn't want to go to hell to do it.  Maybe he could taunt one of the demons into doing it when they sent them back?  Sam gave him a look.  "I didn't know you were telepathic too, son."

"I'm not.  It's exposure."  He looked at Tony.  "I was thinking a simple 'in, out, research, problems' system.  Plus the scouting reports from the guys Dad found to go get the girls who want to come here and train the others."

"We have scouting reports?" Tony asked.

Xander pointed at a filing cabinet.  "They send a report each week.  Right now we've got three teams of hunters out there.  All the ones that came back during the battle who needed some time to relearn and get used to being human again.  Two are expected to end their part in another two months.  The last one is traveling to the last ones in Africa and none of them are coming here.  They all wanted to stay to help their people.  They're doing one that Willow found in a refugee camp last."

Tony nodded.  "Can we let someone look at those?"

"I figured it'd help sometime.  I was going to offer Gibbs a chance to look at them.  It's not like we have a good idea of what's happening on the ground over there.  I have it separated by team."

Tony beamed and used the desk phone to call his boss.  "Hey, boss, Tony.  Xander's had the teams of hunters gathering girls file scouting reports each week so they had an on-the- ground perspective in case someone needed it.  Some are in Africa..."  He looked at Xander.

"Six girls in Europe, four of who came over.  Nine in Asia, three of who had to be smuggled out and another four who're coming over.  One's a baby at six or seven and one's twenty and getting married.  She's in a farming village in upper China so she decided to stay but she might come over at a later date for more training if she can't stand being married.  The ones in South America all came up here because they were in pretty dangerous areas and one was in a serious slum area of a major city.  I don't remember which right off the top of my head.  They'll be up tomorrow.  We'll train them then let them decide to go home or work in another area of the world."

"Asia, South and Central America, Xander?"  He nodded.  "Yeah, both, boss.  A whole filing cabinet.  Sure, I'm here.  Send someone I know."  He hung up.  "He'll get someone up to look those over to see if there's anything we need to hear."

"Sure, I figured he'd want to.  I would've offered but I kept forgetting and Giles basically skims then files."

Tony nodded.  "He's been creating the system from hell for himself."  John gave him the desk seat and he sorted things into simpler categories.  "Um, scouting reports?"

John took them to look over, going to find Buffy.  "Scouting reports say that we had sixteen vamps come up last week?" he asked her and Faith since they were together.

"Um...  Sounds about right," Faith agreed. "I know I got ten."

Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, we got six the first two nights I went," Buffy agreed.

"I think we should start making a map of where the problem areas are in the city.  Cleveland's bigger than Sunnydale.  You can't run across it if there's an emergency across town."

They both nodded.  "We can do that.  Mark all the cemeteries, all the demon living areas," Buffy said, looking at Faith, who shrugged but nodded. "It can be our art project tomorrow."

"Good.  Also, let's keep a nightly tally for which cemetery they raised from? There could be a pattern or it could be that there's a surge in one area that we hadn't seen, an area that needs hunted."

"That'll work," Faith agreed.  "Simple list or write-erase board?"

"That'll work and we can compile."  They nodded, Buffy making notes.  "Do you girls need more support?  One of the hunters going with you?"

"The girls would get distracted at Sam and Dean carrying a gun," Buffy said dryly.  "They're still wondering why all your sons have the hottiness switch."

"It's where we all look so good with shotguns," he said dryly, making them both smirk at him.  "Let's work on that.  Faith, are you going tomorrow night?"

"I've got patrol," Buffy said.

"Excellent.  Faith can sneak around the worst parts of town since she's from somewhere like that?"  He looked at her.  "I noticed the wariness that showed you've been in the bad parts now and then."

"Born and bred in Boston," she said dryly.  "In the worst immigrant sections, yeah."

"Can you go down there, see the problem human areas?  They like to intertwine and it can spill over on us.  Maybe find a good spot for you to listen for gossip at now and then?"

"I can do that," she agreed.  "I didn't even think about that."

"Giles should have, Faith.  Cleveland is an actual city.  What happens in one block may not impact the next one over.  Sunnydale was a lot more compact and nosy than they are here."

"True.  I can do that."

"Be armed," he reminded her.

She snorted.  "Of course.  How're we swinging my parole stuff?"

"Wesley's handling that.  He said your probation officer knows what's going on.  He took him down to Lorne's club, whoever that is, personally to let him know."  She nodded once at that.  "So as long as you don't get arrested with a weapon, you're good.  Especially since the FBI knows about you girls.  They've probably told someone in the higher ups locally."

"Good enough," she agreed.  "Thanks, John."

"Welcome."  He patted her on the shoulder.  "If you need to talk about that stuff?  I can do that too," he said quietly.  She nodded once.  "Good girl."  He smiled at Buffy.  "You good?  See any immediate needs for the girls?"

"Can they have a minor shopping trip this weekend?"

"As long as combined you guys don't spend more than four hundred," Xander said from the doorway.

"The Council has money," Buffy complained.

"It's in probate, Buffy.  Like your mom's will was.  That means the judges in England have to go over the wills and that stuff to agree to what they left everyone."  She slumped.  "That can take up to a few years.  Our lawyer over there hasn't even gotten us onto the list with a date yet.  It'll be at least a year.  We need to conserve some of it.  Especially since we had to pay hunters to go get the other girls."

She nodded.  "I can see that.  How bad are we doing?"

He stared at her.  "If you want more than twenty a week in allowance, find a job."

She grimaced.  "I can't do that and patrol, Xander."  He stared at her.  "I know you did but I can't."

"Then live on the allowance," he told her.  "The allowance starts once John says you're ready for patrol on your own."  They nodded at that.  "I'm trying to free some of it up, but right now we've got a lot of start up expenses.  Including this building."

Faith nodded.  "It's fine, X.  You're doing a pretty good job.  Especially if you can untwist what Tweedy did."

Buffy nodded.  "Giles was not the paperwork sort."

"We're working on that.  That's why Tony came up from DC."  He grinned.  "Patrol tonight?"

"Kennedy," Faith said.  "She's fully trained.  She's got two of the minis with her."

"What are we doing with the snotty bitch society?" Xander asked them.  "They're not integrating well."

"We'll need people to go deal with problem areas," Faith said with a catty smirk.  "Kennedy's the sort whose daddy flew her off at the drop of a hat."

"Send her to Asia since so many of their girls left," Buffy agreed.  "Send Sandy too."

"They'd need someone to watch their back," John pointed out.

"Some of those hunters might not mind an easier job though, right?" Buffy asked.  John smiled and nodded at that.  "See, I have good ideas."

"You do, B."  Faith grinned at her then at John.  "We can ask.  It'll be cheaper to have them on the payroll anyway."

"True."  He patted them both on the shoulders.  "Good thinking.  We'll see where needs the most help and start parceling out girls once they're ready enough."

"Some are nearly there," Faith offered.  Buffy nodded.  "It'll be soon."  That got a nod and he went back to the office.  "You wanna hit some foreign city?"

"I might not mind part of the time.  Maybe for a long working vacation?"

"Could," Faith agreed.  "One of us has to be here but that'd be pretty cool.  I've never been outside the US, even to Canada."

"Do you have one you want to visit?"

"Don't know.  I'll have to think about that."  She smiled, going to her room for the night.  She walked past one of the girls who was blatantly listening in.  "You've got a long time before you go.  Don't worry about it."  She nodded, going upstairs to tell the others what she heard.  "And remind the bitch patrol that attitude and being able to get along is a necessary thing.  Because I will kick an ass myself if I have to deal with more 'tudes."

"Yes, Faith," she said quietly.  The other girls might not be totally happy but it gave them a goal to work toward.  Plus knowing that the Council would be fixed within a year or so.  Once all the probates got done.

***

Tony walked into breakfast the next morning.  He ignored the girls in favor of the coffeepot.

"Do all Winchesters need caffeine first thing?" one of the girls asked.

"Yup, all the ones I know do," he agreed dryly, taking a drink once he had it perfect.  He saw the list on the fridge and grimaced.  "Buffy, who does grocery shopping?"

"Giles."

"Let Xander and Dawn do it."  She nodded.  "From you girls, we're going to start a weekly need list.  Break it into want, need, and I'd squeal portions.  Needs are things like personal hygiene items with brand if it's important to you.  Wants are things like new shoes unless yours are broken."  They nodded.  "Submit them to Xander or whoever once a week."  They went to get notepaper to do that.  Tony looked at the list.  "Where's the warehouse club card?"

Buffy looked confused.  "Warehouse club?"

"So you can buy groceries in bulk and save money?"  He took another sip when her face lit up.  "We'll do that today."  Xander wandered in and got a soda.  "Can you do the grocery shopping today with Dawn?"

"Sure," he agreed.  "Where is Costco?"

"I don't know.  We can look it up on the computer," Tony promised with a grin.  Xander beamed at that.  "There's no card."

"We can get one," he promised.  "Fifty bucks to save hundreds is a good deal."  The girls cheered.  "I heard about the list.  Needs are: my clothes got torn on patrol or I can't get them clean so I need new ones, my shoes broke on me and I have none at all or less than two pairs or no sneakers, I'm out of tampons/shampoo/soap, the house needs advil or tylenol or any other first aid gear, we need special stuff for birthday dinners we'll start holding somehow.  Wants are: makeup, a third pair of shoes or something hipper to wear for dates if you're allowed and to the point where you're ready to patrol, new DVD's for the house.  I'd squeal if we got are things like: stuff for clubbing, presents that would normally make you squeal, another tv in the rec room.  Got it?"  They all nodded, beaming at him.  "Whole house needs are to go on the list I'll be putting on the door in the same categories.  Groceries are in here still as we use them up.  Personal lists get put onto the desk in the folder marked 'buy me'."  They all nodded and got back to their lists.  He took a drink of his soda and looked at Buffy, then at Faith.  "That brings up the point of club hunts?"

"There's a few we can do that in but I don't want to trust the minis until they're sure on their feet in that environment," Faith said.  "It's different than a cemetery patrol and you have a lot of different dangers.  Speaking of, for those of us who can date, condoms?"

"Health department?" he quipped.  "Or I'll get a box while I'm out shopping.  Go steal from my room if you're out, Faith."  She grinned.  "Anya sent her toybox and supply box with our stuff.  Not like I need it right now."  Dawn came in and gave him a hug.  "Thanks, Dawn."

"Welcome, Xander."  She smiled.  "What do you want to do about the roadtrip?"

"I want Giles to get back on time so we can go."  He took another drink.  "Practice is still on, girls.  I can hear Dean."  They finished up and handed him their lists on the way out to warm up.  Dean came in to get coffee and a large plate of food then went to oversee morning practice.  He looked through them, putting them on a master list with the grocery stuff.  "We're going grocery shopping.  Find the Sam's Club or Costco?"  She nodded, going to do that.  "Thank you, Tony."

"Not a problem.  When the budget gets a bit more room  you can hire a secretary to do most of it."

Buffy leaned in.  "Xander, don't get the cheapy tampons?  Get something a bit more upscale than that?  The lesser ones can be scratchy and the strings can break.  Kotex is good for most of us, some are playtex girls, and get all the sizes, just in case?"  She smiled.  "Only one uses pads and you can get her the heavy ones."  She went back to practice.

He made a note.  "So Dawn can do that."  Tony laughed, grabbing some food on his way to the office.  Xander got his own breakfast, settling in to eat with Dawn before they headed off to do their own duties.  Even if Xander did have to borrow the truck from John to haul it all back.

***

John let the girls doing their PT haul stuff in from the store.  "I see we raided the bulk canned food," he joked.

"There's a lot of them and a few more coming in a few weeks.  We had to get sheets too," Dawn said, putting down her last load.  She got a drink and sighed in pleasure.  "If I have to do that too many more times, I'm going to become shopping phobic."  Buffy gave her a horrified look.  "I will."  She took another drink.  "Tampons were next to the eggs.  I got them so Xander wouldn't be traumatized."  The girls got that bag in next and the rest of the stuff after that.  Xander came in with the last load, tossing John his keys once his hands were free.  "And hey, we spent a lot but we saved even more and this should last us for a good, long time."  They all nodded, loading things into the pantry and cabinets for them while they looked over the receipt with Tony.

Tony got one of the mini candy bars from the bag the girls had broken into, nodding at the total.  "Not bad.  Club cards?"  Xander handed it over.  "That'll work."  He put that into the paid invoice file.  It was probably a tax deduction.  Dawn gave him an odd look.  "You keep receipts like that for tax time.  So you get deductions and don't have to pay as much."

"Oh!"  She nodded.  "Will we have to?  Aren't we non-profit?"

Xander groaned, shrugging.  "No idea."

"I'll make sure you have what you need," Tony promised.  "I already started that paperwork with someone who'd know if we'd pay less that way or as a private corporation."  They beamed and went to help in the kitchen.  Xander could do lunch since he had gotten the big cans of spaghetti-ohs.  Tony smiled at their backs and got back to work.  He emailed that question to McGee too, who said to keep all receipts, no matter what, and his investment guy was figuring that out for them.  He'd let them know tomorrow.  He also got an update on the current case so Tony sent back ideas for him to give out.  Gibbs would be pleased he hadn't been abandoned.  Even if Tony was going to drown sorting everything out.  Someone knocked on the door so he went to get it, nodding at the agent there.  "Fornell.  Scouting reports?"

"Please.  This is Mr. Webb, State Department."

"I know.  Clayton."

"Tony."  He shook his hand.  "Scouting reports?"

"We have a few teams of hunters gathering the other slayers who're overseas or training them if they don't want to come here for a bit."

"Good to know.  Are they going home later on?"

Tony nodded.  "Some are being sent out soon from what John said."

"We'll need to liaison with someone about that.  What sort of reports?"  Tony led them back to the office and he grimaced at the piles of folders.  "Better you than me."

"Giles totally screwed the system up.  He had nineteen categories for seven invoices."

Webb shuddered.  "That's bad."

"We're simplifying it to something Gibbs could deal with.  Want some coffee, guys?"  They nodded so he pointed at the filing cabinets before going to get mugs of coffee for them, and a few of the cookies that were open on the counter.  The girls needed a treat he guessed.  He brought them back and went back to work sorting out things into the right categories.  He was down to the filing cabinets now.  "Xander, I need someone to go to the office place and get stuff," he called.  Xander leaned in.  Tony made a list.  "Please?"

"Sure."  He went to do that.  That was a calm store and the list wasn't that long.  It was clearly marked so he knew where he needed to go.  Plus he could eat lunch out since the girls were hoovering theirs.  He brought it back, handing over the receipt.

"Thank you.  Think they can put those teams on with Webb?  He's State Department."

Xander shrugged.  "Ask John.  He asked them."

"Cool.  Thanks."  He grinned.  "Nearly done."  Xander squealed, hugging him before going out to run crossbow lessons, again.  Tony smirked at his little brother's back.  "So happy."

"With that old system I'm not surprised," Fornell said dryly.  Tony finished filing things and made index cards for the filing cabinets.  "You might want to put in a list of what goes in each folder," he suggested when he saw him working on the tax receipts cabinet.  Tony nodded, doing that as well.  Things got filed again and Tony let out a sigh of pleasure.  "Done?"

"Very done and I even found the checkbook under the desk."  Willow walked past.  "Willow."  She backtracked.  "You know where all the Council's accounts are?"

"Yeah, I do.  I've been talking to the lawyer in England about that.  He has gotten a judge to order them handed over to handle the business expenses.  He's taking the probates next month as well.  The only problem is that the guy was supposed to meet with Giles today and Giles never showed up.  He's not at the phone Dean gave him either."

"Why not?"

"Don't know.  I'm going to do a scrying on him.  Are we set up?"

"The system's fixed, now someone has to follow it and teach someone how to use Quicken."

"I can do that," she promised with a grin.  "Any other big purchases?"

"Xander and Dawn did groceries."

"I hid from that carrying," she said dryly, going to get her own lunch then heading up to her rooms to do the scrying spell.

"She seems to have some sense," Webb joked.  He waved one report.  "They should pass these on.  This has information on a warlord working out of one area."

"Giles was a research watcher, Webb.  He read it over, then filed it.  He wasn't sure why John and Xander suggested they do it."

Webb looked at him.  "Wonderful."

"He wants John to take over as head of the council too," Dawn said, walking in with the coffee pot. "Refills, Uncle Tony?"

"Sure, Dawn."  He let her refill his and their cups.  "Willow thinks Giles might be in an odd place."

"Yeah, I'd say so since she just complained about Ethan Rayne."  She gave him a look.  "She yelled out the window to have a meeting in a few minutes.  You included."  She walked off again.

"Niece?" Fornell asked.

"Xander's daughter."  He grinned.  "She's a good girl, going to follow me into a normal life but a different career."  That got a nod from them.  "You guys do that; I'll be back."  He walked off with his coffee, going to see what happened.  He was the last one there.

Willow quit pacing to look at them.  "I replayed what happened last night to Giles while trying to find him.  He went to see Ethan and they both disappeared in a flash of bad looking light."  Xander groaned.  "I can't find either one on this plane."

"Rescue mission?" Xander asked.

She shrugged.  "I don't know how, Xander."

"You and Buffy?" he suggested.

She grimaced.  "I've talked to the witches I work with over there.  They're investigating.  They might be able to undo whatever Ethan did."

"Why do we think Giles went to see him?" John asked.  Everyone stared at him.  "That's what she said."

"He did.  He showed up on Ethan's doorstep," Willow agreed.  "He didn't look pissed or anything.  I don't know.  Maybe he needed to have a drink with an enemy or something."  She shrugged.  "It didn't come with sound."

"By body language, was either one threatening?" Dean asked.  "Or were either of them upset?  Hands waving, anything like that?"

"No, Giles looked...  Well he looked sad but he had been at his home, which the Bringers got.  So maybe that's what it was.  Paying him a visit to relive some of the good days?" she suggested.  "It could've been accidental magic."

Buffy snorted.  "From Ethan Rayne? Who hates Giles?"

"Who used to be Giles' best friend," Xander added patiently. "Who used to know Giles well enough that they could sleepwalk into each other's head.  If it was done on purpose it probably wasn't meant to hurt him.  If they meant to hurt each other, Ethan would've turned him into a demon again or Giles would've punched him again.  Beyond that, they probably had to deal with the Initiative mess where you guys handed him over to them."  John and Tony both gave him odd looks.  "He had been plaguing them."

"We heard he got free after a few days," Buffy defended.

Xander gave her a look.  "Knowing what you now know about their methods..."

She turned green, that's all they needed to see.

"So maybe Giles went to apologize for that," Willow agreed. "I have no idea about the magic.  The witches will call when they know what happened.  It should be by tomorrow and hopefully they can unravel it at the same time."

Xander nodded.  "Good to know."  He looked at Dawn.  "Looks like we're possibly pushing back our trip," he said quietly.

"If we have to, we have to," she agreed.  "There's still the picnic in Miami."

"Do you have a bathing suit?" Tony teased.

She beamed.  "Hell yes.  I look fantastic in it."

Buffy leaned around Sam to look at her.  "You are *not* wearing that yellow bikini around people, Dawn Summers."

"Only Dad can say that," she quipped with a huge grin.

"I'd have to see you in it," Xander told her.

"It's smaller than mine," Faith smirked.

Xander looked at her.  "Since when you do you tan in a bathing suit, Faith?"  She blushed.  "Yeah, caught you really well and if I was like Spike I would've taken pictures."  He looked at her.  "I'll be seeing it later, young lady.  You may have outgrown it," he said at her pout.

"Fine."  She looked at Buffy.  "I need to find some cool shorts too.  I did outgrow all of mine and Miami's a city of pretty people."

"We can replace things the girls outgrow," Xander agreed.

"That's for slayers," Faith said.

Xander stared at her.  "She's still helping.  If you had a daughter, I'd let yo do that too."

"No, if I had a daughter, I wouldn't let you guys pay for clothes.  Food you can't separate out, but clothes are different."

Xander considered it.  "I do have some.  I can give her an allowance.  That is a good point."  Dawn nodded. "Until you sign on."

"I can agree to that.  I should go to you for allowance anyway."

"Are we not worried Giles is missing?" Willow demanded.  "Ethan could be killing him!"

"If we have to wait on their report, do you want us to pace and make ourselves sick?" Sam asked.  "There's things that still have to be handled while we worry with the back of our heads."

She huffed.  "Fine.  Whatever."

"Willow, if you can do the teleporty thing, why don't yo go help them?" Dawn suggested.  Willow beamed and looked around before concentrating and sending herself there.  She looked at her sister.  "You don't seem too worried."

"From what she said, it wasn't anything bad.  I don't like Ethan and I don't trust Ethan, but Giles can kick his butt if he needs to.  I'm more worried that Giles went to him to have Ethan do something to him on purpose."

"He wouldn't do that," Buffy said firmly.

"Okay," Dawn said, dropping it.  Buffy got a relieved look and they went back to what they had been doing.

Tony stopped her, giving her a look.  "Why?"

"Because he's feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and needy," she said very quietly.

"Ever think about going into psychology?  Hunters need a shrink too after the bad hunts," John said as he walked past her.

She smiled.  "I'll consider it."  She looked at Tony again.  "Need more help?"

"Maybe later.  They're still going over those scouting reports."

"I guess that makes sense.  Who knows where they get their information otherwise.  Probably someone who sits in a cushy office all day."  She walked off, going back to practice.

"Only sometimes," Tony admitted, going back to the office.  "We finding anything interesting?"

"A lot of very interesting things and some disturbing trends for people in your little brother's job," Fornell said, handing over his copy of the notes.  "Including a mass move to migrate for some reason."

Tony paged Xander, getting him leaning in a minute later.  "Would the demons in Peru massing together to move be a bad thing?"

"Yeah, usually means there's either a strong leader who's pushing out all but his own kind or there's rumors of a higher one coming down to take over that area so they think they'll be killed for being a weaker species."

Tony let him have it.  Xander grimaced.  "Can anyone handle that?"

"I don't know, I'll ask John."  He went to ask him, waving the note a bit to get his attention.  "Mass migration out of Peru?"

"Interesting."  He took it to look over.  "That sounds like it could be a bad thing."

"You can send some of the girls down to deal with it," Buffy pointed out.

Xander looked at her.  "All the demons in an area of Peru are massing and moving."

She shuddered.  "A higher warlord?"

"No clue," Xander admitted.  Fornell came out with another report.  He took it to look over.  "Yup, another warlord to wipe the nasty humans off the world.  They have at least sixteen bigger demons in his troop and the slayer called down there only got four of them out of the way."  He handed it to John, who read it then handed it on to Buffy.  "Fornell, is there anything later?"

"They reported leaving the country in a hurry three days later.  That girl was injured and flown to the major city.  She'll be heading up when she gets out.  They left her a plane ticket."

Xander nodded.  "Okay."  He looked at Buffy.  Who nodded she'd go.  "You sure?"

"Why not.  It sounds like pretty country."

"You're in mountain jungles, Buffy.  Not a park," John said.  "It's deadly terrain if you're not used to it."

She looked at him.  "Can you teach me how to deal with it?"

He nodded. "I can."

"Then a few of us need those lessons before he gets too big and they end up killing a lot of people."

"All right.  We'll sit down and make plans tonight while I go over survival training with you girls for the next week.  Then you can go."  They nodded, Buffy going to pick her team.  "Any other bad problem areas?" he asked the agent.

"Two but they look like they got handled.  Are you guys paying the hunters getting the girls?"

"We gave them a flat fee and a corporate card," Xander told him.  "The card is for extra expenses.  The money is for their fees.  Two are nearly done thankfully.  It's hugely expensive."

"How are they using a corporate card in the middle of nowhere?" Fornell asked.

"Most of the time they get a cash advance of the local currency before leaving the town.  The ones in Africa are using it to have supplies shipped in while they work with the current girl and her village."

"Oh."  He nodded, going back to his looking.  "They're on an expense account."

Webb looked at him.  "That's not that impractical.  Did he pay for the strip club too?"  Tony moaned.  "Demonic."

"Of course it was," he said dryly.  "Why go to a normal one?"  He grimaced but shook his head.  "Was the slayer there?"

"Working.  The only human."  He put it aside.  Tony shook his head quickly.  "She'll be coming over in two weeks."

"Most of them are timed to come in that day," Tony agreed.  "We'll be like the UN and need translators."

Fornell snickered.  "I'm not sure anyone could do that even there, DiNozzo."

Tony looked at him.  "You know, they're hiring.  They could always offer you a job."

"Bite your tongue," he growled.

"We could steal his secretary," Xander said as he walked past the door.  "The hunters taught the girls the basics in English and how to get hold of us.  Need anything?  I'm heading for a soda since I didn't get myself any."

"Go for it," Tony said.  "Call Gibbs."

"Sure."  He grabbed his phone on the way out the door.  He could call him on the way to the pharmacy.  He had a headache anyway.  He dialed his other father's desk phone, getting a younger, female voice.  "Is Jethro there please?  Xander."  He listened to her say something to another female voice.  That one sneered something.  "Lady, I'm his son.  Don't make me come to DC to beat an ass.  Put me on with Abby, Ducky, or McGee.  Well, obviously he doesn't trust you with personal information since you didn't know about me."  She hung up so he called McGee's cellphone.  "Who were the two bitches at Dad's desk answering his phone?"  He laughed.

"Yeah, younger, one crankier.  I called the desk phone, McGee.  No, it sounded like they were in his shit and the crankier one was deeply offended that she didn't know I existed.  I told the younger one that's because he didn't trust her with personal information."  He grinned.  "Hey, Dad.  Tylenol and soda run.  My head aches."  He stopped to listen to him.  "I called your desk.  Well, next time tell the cranky bitch not to sneer at me, Dad.  Like I give a damn and if I was there in person I'd have hurt them after the last week of being in charge.  By the way, it looks like Giles may have disappeared."  He hung up and got his tylenol and soda, plus a box of sleeping pills.  He'd clearly need them sometime soon.  He went back to the school, giving the girl waiting to pounce him an odd look.  "What?"

"I'm growing," she said happily.

He looked at her current outfit.  "Prove it since that's still too loose and doesn't look like it's changed sizes?"  She gaped.  He stared back.  "Buffy's the one that likes to shop, Diedre.  I can't stand shopping.  Unless you're really outgrowing things, no."  She stomped off pouting.  "When you do, we'll go again."  He went back to the office to go over the system Tony had devised.  "The younger bitch and the smartass bitch didn't know about me and were deeply offended Jethro was hiding me," he said dryly.  "I told them it was a good thing I wasn't in their face.  Dad's on a case.  McGee's sounding scared of his temper so I don't know what's going on."

"Shit," Tony said, calling down there.  "Hey, boss, need me to consult from Cleveland?  No I will not smack your son for bitching the director out."

"I'm pretty sure they were in his desk," Xander said.  "The younger one answered it before it got through a full ring."  He swallowed his tylenol with another sip.  Webb looked at him.  "What?"

"One was probably his director, kid."

"She can blow me.  High class bitch isn't any better than low class bitch.  A bitch is still a bitch while she's barking."  They gaped.  He stared back.  "I do deal with bitches all the time," he said dryly, pointing outside.  "I'm also blunt about it.  I'm going to spike the nation's water supply with midol some year soon to spare everyone else pain and misery."  He took another drink.

Tony listened then looked at his brother.  "Gibbs said if you got plans to do that, let him know so they can close that security hole."  Xander pointed at the cabinet he was sitting in front of.  "You already made one?"

"Do you know how many demons and vamps use the sewer systems, Tony?  Not only do I have one already made up, I can do it.  We've had to go on patrol down there a few times. Faith doesn't like it when I go with her, but yay."

Tony said that to Gibbs, who growled.  He winced.  "He said to let Fornell have it, Xander.  Maybe they can stop the demons too."

"There's ones that eat electricity, brother dear.  They'll have them take out any security system and the people eating ones take out any guards."  He shifted to get into the filing cabinet, pulling out his plans.  "Cleveland's, DC's, Miami's, New York's, and Las Vegas's.  Which is the hardest of the three."  He tossed them onto the desk as he named them.  He got up and went to watch training with his soda.

"No fair," Buffy complained.

"I needed it to take the tylenol."

She pouted.  "Can I have a sip?"  He took a big gulp then handed it to her.  "Thanks, Xander."

"Welcome.  The FBI is going to try to close off some of the demon highway running under us."

"Yay them.  It's pretty futile but if they want to, go for it.  Less work for us," Buffy said dryly.  "Hand them your plans?"

"Yup."

"Xander, why do you have plans for a weapons storage facility?" Tony called from the doorway.

Xander looked back at him.  "Apocalypse vault in case we need it.  Why?"

"No."

"Tough shit.  You'd rather I had to buy that day and possibly miss with malfunctioning things?"

Tony grimaced.  "No," he admitted, going back to call him back.  "He makes a valid point.  They might need some to save us all some day.  If he has to buy right beforehand, he might get something unworking or make it worse."

"No," Fornell said clearly.  "No weapons storage."

Sam leaned in with a grin.  "Up to what class?  Because we use shotguns, regular guns, axes, machetes, and some fire implements."

Fornell moaned, giving him a horrified look.  "Guns?"

"Yeah, dude.  Rock salt and blessed silver," he said dryly.  "Xander's not the only hunter who's ever needed artillery.  He just got his in an interesting way."  He grinned.  "At least you know if we have it, some terrorist won't."

"They can steal it from you," Webb said calmly.

Sam snickered.  "Yeah, and get past the slayers?"  That got a grudging grunt of truth hitting.  "Anyway, not like Xander would tell you where it was or anyone really.  He'd just appear with something one day."

Xander put his chin on Sam's shoulder.  "That's what I used to do.  That and presents.  Gotta love presents.  Speaking of, I really should go back to Sunnydale and check things out.  I'm not so sure the underground lairs were collapsed and it might mean things that could open it underground there."  Sam turned his head partially so Xander nuzzled his cheek.  "You can come if you want."

"I'd have to stoop over all day at my height."

Xander kissed him on the cheek.  "If you want."  He walked off.

Sam shook his head.  "Have fun with that."

"I will.  Probably after the picnic."

"Sure, hopefully Giles is back by then," Sam agreed.  He looked at Tony.  "Will it run itself for a few weeks?"

"As long as someone's overseeing and doing the filing."

"So an assistant?"

"Could do it for that long, maybe.  As long as there's not an emergency."

"Cool."  He grinned.  "Know any we can poach?"

"I'll ask around DC."  Sam beamed and walked off, going back to the library.  Tony waited until he was gone to look at his fellow government workers.  "The hunting does it to them."

"Combat's done it to many people," Webb said dryly, giving him a look.  "That's just worse, nightly, more deadly combat."  He got back to work.  "Found the current dirtbag my boss is worried about."  He gathered those to look through, faxing back the reports to his own desk.  He came back to find anything else he might need.  A new report came off the fax machine.  They gathered it and it went to both sets of bosses then they filed it away.  It was more human problems than demon problems.  "The last girl in Africa is settled in and trained as much as they could.  Her village's elder is watching over her."  Tony nodded, making a note of that.  "There's a group of problems near there but they've got the village mobile in case it comes closer."  He went back to what he was doing. This was very helpful to them.  They'd have to switch some tactics to get some native information instead.

Tony texted that to Xander, who sent back a happy face.  His family was insane.  Really, truly insane.  He was so glad he had a normal life.  He would never be able to pick up women if he went as crazy as his family.  Though they wore it well and picked up women somehow.  Just not women like he liked.  He'd die without having women.

"Quit thinking about girls," Fornell growled.

Tony grinned.  "But why?  They're nice."

Fornell snorted.  "Jethro said you were a horndog with no attention span."

Tony just cackled because he knew his boss liked him even with that glaring lack of humor his boss had shown.

***

Xander looked at Buffy and the new assistant, both of whom were looking at the folders in the stand on his desk.  "Any questions about where things go?"

"Buy me?" Buffy asked as she read the folders labels.  "Pay me."  She gave him an odd look.  "Is that official speak?"

"It's simple enough one of the younger girls can handle it if we're all injured," he said dryly.

"Oh, okay.  I guess that's good.  What do I do after I pay or buy?"  He pointed at a folder that said 'to be filed'.  "I don't have to file?"

"No.  That system's a bit more difficult based on what area it is for tax time.  She can file."

Buffy beamed at the center's secretary.  "That's so cool."

"It is," she agreed dryly, looking at her boss.  "How long are you going to be gone for?"

"Month.  Two weeks in Miami, then back to Sunnydale to check on the old tunnels.  Buffy's just back from Peru.  She and Faith are co-in-charge while I'm gone with the whole Winchester clan."  She nodded.  "Any other questions?"

"Do we call if there's a problem?" Buffy asked.

"Unless it's something that I need to hear, you can handle it.  Keep to patrol stuff.  Faith worked really hard on the new schedule because she got whining about dates."

Buffy nodded once.  "I did that so I can understand that I guess.  Where is Faith?"

"Recovering after the whining.  She's in her tub."

"Oh."  She nodded and they broke apart.  "Call and give us happy news from Miami."

"Sure, Buff."  He looked at the assistant once Buffy was gone.  "I know," he said quietly.  "Got it?"  She nodded.  "You sure?"

"I have your new cell number?" she nearly whispered.  He smirked and nodded.  "Then I'm good.  Have fun at the reunion."

"Oh, I plan on it," he said with a wicked grin.  "There's a list if you get lost in the files for the receipts."

"It's pretty self explanatory," she promised.

"That's what Tony was going for."  He grinned as he left the office.  "Dawn, grab my shit," he called as he headed up the stairs.  She came out of the suite, tossing him his bag.  "Thanks, sprout.  Everyone else?"

"Headed last night.  That's why Faith's in the tub.  I think she finally managed to pounce Sam since he slept without nightmares."  They walked down together.  "We're going!" she shouted.  "Don't destroy the city without us!"  Xander cackled but they headed to the car.  They'd be flying down.  She could learn to like flying.  It was much easier on her.  It was a drive to the airport but that happened to everyone.  She settled in to read her fashion mags.  She was not going to look tragic when she started school again. She refused to be as tragic as Buffy was now and then.

***

Ryan Wolfe met the last planeload of people, staring at them.  "Why is it the others drove and you two flew?" he asked when they finally came out of the restricted section.

"Because they have stuff in their cars that they might need," Xander said with a smirk.  Dawn gave him a hug.  He shook his hand.  "How's the weather?"

"Hot and humid.  Greg's complaining about his hair."  He grinned, letting them get their bags and head out with him.  "Horatio said I could borrow the hummer since my personal car only seats two."

"That's cool.  We can ride in the environment destroying car now and then since we try to recycle," Dawn quipped.

Ryan laughed.  "Everyone else got in earlier."

"We had to wait on Buffy to get back to take things over," Xander told him.  Ryan shuddered.  He had talked to Buffy one night trying to get Xander.  "She's just back from taking out something huge in Peru so she's tired.  Faith nearly batted the minis for whining about patrol.  It's all good because now there's an assistant who can handle *everything*."

Ryan snickered.  "That's even better."

"And she's one of the few that has my new cellphone number," Xander said happily.

"That's so the whiny ones can't call to whine their way into more punishment for skipping patrol," Dawn said.

Ryan nodded. "You guys live an insane life."

"Well, yeah," he admitted but he was grinning.  "Oh well.  Someone's got to since Giles and his special friend Ethan fled the plane."

Ryan shot him a concerned look.  "He did?"

"He went to see Ethan and there was a magical flash that took them," Dawn said.  "They used to be friends then Giles backed out of the black magic biz so they're enemies.  The last time they saw each other, Giles handed him to the Initiative.  Then Giles goes to see him and they disappear together.  Willow can't even find them.  I'm going to give it a try sometime soon, once I learn how to harness my powers."

Xander nodded.  "Please do.  For all I care some days, Ethan can come help Giles run things."  She snickered.  "He'd soak up plenty of chaos from the girls."

"Yup," she agreed.  She leaned forward to rest against the back of the front seats.  "Is the hotel nice?"

"Very nice.  It's on the beach.  Dean's been out staring at bikinis all day.  They must've driven all night."

"Probably.  Less traffic on the interstate," Xander agreed.  He glanced back at her.  "Thou shalt not what?"

"Go out looking like a ho, hit on the Latin honeys who might want to break my underage butt in, or try women?" she guessed.

"Or..."

"Or any other man," she sighed.  He grinned.  "Yes, dad."

"Thanks, dear."  He looked at Ryan again.  "There is a decent teen club?"

"There's a few.  One that's mixed but lets in underage kids as long as they have a chaperone."

"I can do that.  Xander needs laid," Dawn said.  Ryan spluttered.  "If you crash us, they'll be really mad and make you do even more paperwork."

"They will," he moaned, shaking his head.  "Don't say that around my friends, Dawn?  Please?  They're kind of uptight."

"Fine, I won't blow their minds open."

"Xander?"

"Unless it attacks and her Tuesday problem hasn't happened in almost a year."

"Even better."  He took an exit off the highway, going down to the hotel by the beach. He pulled in and parked, letting them head inside to check in and drop things.  Dawn changed, coming down in a skimpier top and shorts, plus cool sandals.  Ryan gave her a look.  "It's family, Dawn."

"I'm not hitting on them.  You're all tragically old but I refuse to look frumpy in front of the hotty guys my age."  Ryan smiled, leading them to where the others were on the beach.  "Hello, my people."

John looked at her, raising an eyebrow.  "When did you outgrow that top?"

"Stop it, Grandpa.  It's perfectly decent."

"It shows your bellybutton."

"It's supposed to."  She settled on the foot of his lounger.  "You need more sunblock."  She looked at Gibbs, who was staring.  "I'm old enough to date, Grandpa Jethro."

"No you're not."

"Dad said sixteen.  I am over sixteen."

"No you're not," he repeated.

"I said she could hit a teen club with whoever would go with her," Xander said as he flopped down next to Jethro.  "So, how's your bitches?"

Gibbs smacked him on the head.  "They're not mine, son."

Xander grinned.  "What did they find in your desk?"

"Not what they were looking for with as bad of a mood as they were in that day."  He looked at him.  "How's your insanity?"

"We have a secretary now."

"Even better," he agreed dryly.

"Thank you, Tony."

"Welcome," he said with a grin.  "She good?"

"She's working wonderfully.  Buffy got back last night from Peru.  She and Faith are co-in- charge.  Only the secretary has my new number.  She told Buffy she'd handle the filing for her.  That made her a happier slayer."

"Still no word on Giles," John said grimly.

"Xander and I agree, he went to ask Ethan for a favor," Dawn told him.

"Could be," he agreed.  He reached up to brush her hair back.  "You're too young to date."

She sighed, looking up then at him.  "In my next year's class is a girl who's had three kids.  She's a year younger than I am."

"You do that and I'm sewing you shut," Dean vowed.

Dawn stuck her tongue out at him.  "Yes, Uncle Dean."  She got up.  "I'm going to scope hotties.  You guys behave and do grumpy older guy things."  She strolled off.

Xander shook his head.  "Two more years and she's in college.  Within a semester she'll have a live-in boyfriend."

"Not in the dorms," Sam said.  "They do not like you to have visitors.  Or at least in the dorm I lived in."

"I sneaked one in now and then," Tony said happily.

"At the frat house?" Gibbs said dryly.

"There I sneaked in more than a few."  The other guys laughed.  "It's because I'm so charming.  It's the same thing skill that lets Dean pick up the sleazy women; only I have taste and sanity to draw the better ones."

Dean looked at him.  "Mine are more fun."

"Yours are more likely to stab you," he countered.

"You've had two stalk you," Gibbs reminded.

"Dean had one of those in eighth grade," John sighed, shaking his head.  "The girl would not leave him alone."

Sam cackled. "I remember her!"  Dean glared at him.  "Didn't she send you a pornographic letter about how she wanted to be stranded on a desert island with you, then she'd have babies so you could be nourished by nursing from her?"

"Yup, her," John agreed.  "Thankfully her mother freaked out when I handed her that letter and got her daughter help."  He sipped his beer.  Dean groaned, covering his face with his hands.

Xander grinned.  "It could be worse, Dean."

Dean looked at him.  "Yeah, I could've dated an Incan Mummy who came back to life," Dean shot back.

"She liked me enough to not kill *me*."

Sam gaped at him.  "Xander!  That's so bad!"

"Yes I am," he quipped.  Two girls walking up the beach came strolling over.  "Ladies," he said, nodding politely.  He looked at Dean.  "Coming to look at my big brother since he's a large piece in the meat market scene?"

One giggled.  "We can to see why so many handsome men were gathered together," the other said.

"Clan reunion," Tony said with a grin.

"Awww.  That's so cool."  They settled in to flirt with Xander.  Who soaked it up.  He even walked off with them but a few minutes later he came back.

Gibbs gave him an odd look.  "You abandoned them?"

"Only when they pulled a gun on the transit cop trying to ticket their car.  Proved they were my type."  They all moaned at that.  He grinned sweetly.  "Dawn's off hitting on a football player."  Dean got up and went to find Dawn for her own safety.  "Who is very gay.  She's talking Dean up actually," he said once he was gone.  John and Sam both laughed.  He grinned.  "What?" he asked with a good boy grin.

"So bad," Sam wheezed.

"Well, yeah.  So, Dad, going back to Sunnydale to check out the tunnels with me?"

"We're going to check on that thing in the Dakotas, see Bobby," John told him.

"Sure.  We'll call if we need help."

That got a nod.  "Be safe."

"Of course," he said dryly.  "When am I not safe?"  Dean stomped back blushing.  "Aww, did he hit on you, Dean?"

Dawn strolled up after her uncle.  "Pulled him into his lap for an epic lip lock and snuggle.  Patted him down and vowed to get some of him before he left the reunion.  Then he went to shower off the sand so he'd be more perfect for his wooing campaign."  She settled at the foot of Sam's lounger, watching him cackle in glee.  "See, Dean, some good stress relief and he thought you were hot."

"Dawn," he moaned, looking pained.

"Shh, it's all right.  I'm told it's fun," Xander told him.

"Who told you that?" Dawn snickered.

"John when he suggested I should be gay."

Gibbs looked at John.  "Given up on the hope of other grandchildren from him?" he asked dryly.

John nodded.  "With his luck they'll be slayers with his mind."

"Hey!" Xander complained.  "Sammy said I'm not dumb."

"No, but you do have a unique way of thinking about things, son."

"That means she'd make a great slayer."

"Uh-huh," Gibbs said.  "Go gay, son."   Xander stuck his tongue out.

"Anya tried to make him promise to go gay if she died," Dawn told him.

"I never said I would.  Otherwise I'd get an oath breaking demon down to punish me."  Xander leaned back, soaking up the warmth.  "Much nicer than Cleveland right now."  Dawn nodded, snuggling in next to Sam.  He smiled, letting her cuddle.  Xander smirked at Sam but went back to enjoying the pretty day.  He hardly made it outside at the moment.  This was nice to be in the sun.

Gibbs looked over at the firs quiet snore.  "We'll wake them after a good nap."  The others agreed, soaking up the sun until Gibbs' phone rang.  "What?" he demanded shortly.  He listened.  "No, I can't.  Because I'm at a family reunion and nowhere near the city, Director."  He hung up.  His phone rang again.  "I'm going to let him have you eaten," he muttered before answering it. "What?"  He listened to her complain.  "I did file for leave time.  DiNozzo and I both did, Director.  It was clearly stated I was going to be out of contact and out of the region on it.  No, I'm in Miami and I'll be back in a week."  He listened to her huff.  "There's six other teams on the floor, Director.  Ask one of them to take the case.  It can only help them get better.  Because I'm not cutting back my time with my children for a case.  I have better priorities than that."  He hung up again and turned his phone off.

Tony's phone rang but he saw the number.  "It's Ziva."  He answered it.  "Better be good, Officer David."  He listened to her.  "No, that's not a good thing.  Then again, Gibbs and I are at a family reunion.  I'm not related to him.  You know what, ask Ducky.  Anything else?  Miami.  Cuddling my niece at the moment," he lied.  He gave his phone a disgusted look then snorted.  "No way in hell, Ziva."  He hung up and looked over.  "They wanted us to take on guarding duty for a special regional ruler who was coming in."

"The same drug lord who's starting a civil war?" Gibbs asked.

"Yup."  He looked at Sam.  "I can cuddle.  I'm not getting much play.  You should get more than me at your age, Sam."

"I'm not ready for play," he said with a small smile.  "Besides, she's asleep."  Tony nodded at that.  Sam shifted some to get comfortable.  Dawn shifted to cuddle better onto his chest.  He grinned at her, shaking his head.

John looked at him.  "Do we need to have that talk again?" he asked sarcastically.

Sam looked back at him.  "No.  You only had to have it last time because Dean was being touchy-feely over an injury.  It wasn't on my side."  He went back to watching the ocean while the other boys laughed.

Horatio, Ryan's boss, showed up a bit later, walking down to face them.  "Jethro Gibbs."

"Horatio Caine," he shot back with a smirk.  "Problem?"

"Your director called my boss to call me to find you."

"Can I have her eaten yet?" Xander mumbled.

"Ask me later this week," Gibbs told him.  He kept staring at Horatio.  "You're supposed to do what?"

"Take you into custody so you can be picked up by your own people for a special mission."

"Uh-huh," Tony said.  He called the local office.  "Hey, it's DiNozzo and Gibbs.  We are in Miami.  We're at a family reunion.  We're not cutting our family reunion short.  You can tell the director to look up file SDYCA10022471999 if she wants to know what's going to happen to us from a slightly insane little brother of mine if she keeps being pushy."  He grinned at the gasp that file got.  "If she needs things, there's six other teams on our floor that seem to do a lot less work than we do.  For that matter, we have a Mossad agent on our team who could do the same job.  Make her do it."  He smirked.  "Good!  Go ahead and email that to her secretary for us please.  We're being happy on the beach but we'll be going to dinner later on and maybe a club, that might be tomorrow night.  No, no worries.  One of the family is a local CSI.  Thanks, Herpava."  He hung up.

"Herpava?  The girl of Indian descent that dyes her hair blonde?" Gibbs asked.

"Yeah, she's in the local office now, Boss.  I had her send the incident file for the graduation battle to the director.  Sorry if she's scared of you, Xander."

Xander looked over at him.  "Don't tempt me.  There's demons in DC.  They like the politicians."  He grinned sweetly.

Horatio coughed.  "I'm hoping we won't have an incident like the last reunion?"

"Sure, Dean won't hit on any harpies," Xander said dryly.  "Beyond that," he said with a  point.  "It's only dangerous to ships.  It eats metal."  Horatio looked and went paler.  "It's pretty harmless and comes up a few times a year, usually at night.  It must be hungry or bored."  Horatio walked off calling someone in the Coast Guard, who apparently had a clue because the beach was declared closed and they had to leave.

Dawn looked out there.  "Fucking demon," she muttered, grumpy from being woken up.  The demon's head exploded. "Um.. Granddad?"  They both stared at her.  "I think I need control work."  She pointed.  "Oops?"

Xander looked then at her.  "No one's got a tail.  It's better than Willow's usual slip.  Go to the room and meditate, Dawn."  She hurried off to do that.  "Sorry."

"It happens," John said dryly.  "I had no idea how to kill it."  Another head came up out of the water.  "It has two heads?"

"I think it's got one on the tail," Xander admitted.  "No full clue though.  I only ran across an anecdotal mention when I looked up any problems in Miami.  Sam?"

"It does have two heads, one on each end.  It won't die from one exploding."  They headed back inside the hotel, going up to shower off the sweat and sand, then change for dinner and clubbing.  "Don't worry, Dawn, it had two heads."

"Thank you."

He smiled, going to change into hipper clothes.  Dawn and the girls had attacked their wardrobes.  Even Dad had jeans that fit and shirts that weren't baggy or flannel.  It was amazing.

***

Faith looked up from the boring crap Xander had said had to get done sometime when Buffy walked in with Willow.  "What's up?  Big nasty?" she asked hopefully.

"Wondering why I didn't get put in charge," Willow said with a pout.

"Because you're never here?" Faith suggested.  "Or maybe because this isn't your thing either?  Xander made the system Giles-proof so yeah, you'd probably complicate it a lot."

She pouted.  "I wouldn't.  I can handle invoices."   Faith handed over the one she was trying to interpret.  She looked at it, frowning.  "What is this for?"

Buffy looked over.  "The tickets to Peru.  That's the corporate card."  She pointed.  "That's the last team in Africa.  They're free in another two weeks when the last girl you found gives birth."

"Oh."  She frowned at it, handing it back.  "So we have to pay it off?  I can do that."

Faith pointed at the computer.  "All I have to do is input the date, the amount, and that stuff.  It'll send it automatically."  Willow slumped.  "Beyond that, aren't you in charge of the library?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then why worry about this shit?"

"Because I don't feel like I'm doing anything."

Buffy shrugged. "We train a lot but we don't do that much either.  This is how Xander feels useful I guess.  Not like he can be in a fight with that eye."

Faith gave her an odd look.  "And the fact that two of the slayers owe him their lives from the battle with the First?" she countered.  Buffy groaned. "Or that Xander still goes on patrol with me all the time?"  Buffy stared.  She nodded.  "Yeah.  Not like I can take the whiny ones into the sewers with me, B."  Buffy slumped and groaned this time.  "X is just as good as he was before.  It makes him pay more attention and we know to cover that weak side in a fight.  Though I know he knows why Giles walked off.  This is driving him insane too."

"He did not!" Buffy said, standing up.

"You can't tell me those two aren't powerful enough to get out of wherever, B.  It's been months.  Tweedy's own journal said that Ethan dreamwalked into his head a few months before he turned him into a demon.  Not to mention the fact that Ethan is the top chaos person on this planet.  Janus has got to be in touch with him.  He's not going to lose that sort of power."

Buffy slid back into her seat.  "You think he abandoned us?"

"I think he more walked off because he felt he couldn't help you guys," Willow said.  "He could've thought he'd only screw it up more.  Which  he wasn't."

"Only the old filing system," Faith said.  "Tony got that fixed."  She looked at Buffy.  "Can you find any other explanation?"  She shook her head, looking miserable.  "He was trying to get John and Xander both to take control from him before then.  It looks like he left it in good hands.  Even if the Winchesters are going to be off hunting for a while."

"They're not coming back from the reunion?" Willow asked.

"Someone had a vision of the next apocalypse being in the Dakotas but not being our sort," Faith said.  She'd leave out who because it would only freak Willow out or upset her again.  "Something to do with the demon who got John's wife and Sammy's girl."

She slumped, nodding a bit at that.  "Do they need me or the slayers?"

"Not that they've said but they said they'd call," Buffy told her.  "Xander's going to hit Sunnydale to make sure nothing's in the old tunnels because he doesn't think they collapsed when the town fell in.  That's why Faith and I are in charge for a month."

"Who's going to watch Dawn?" Willow said.

"Xander.  That's her dad," Faith pointed out.  "Not like it'll be dangerous and if it is, she'll go shack up with Fred for the night or something."

"We can do it.  Buffy should spend more time with Dawn."

"Honestly, it's good not to have to worry about her and everything else," Buffy said.  "It's nice when someone's there to give *good* orders when needed."  She grimaced.  "I guess that would've been Giles job originally but he never really gave me clear cut orders beyond 'bad demon'."

Faith nodded.  "Neither of the ones we saw in Sunnydale gave orders, B.  My original one gave me some now and then about training more often.  How to patrol, how to be careful on patrol.  She set some pretty firm boundaries too.  Which is what John did that the girls press back against."

"No, I agree.  Those rules make sense," Buffy said.  "It's sad but all the foreign born slayers don't have a problem with them.  Only the native ones."

"They say american teens are spoiled," Faith said dryly.

"Clearly."  She stood up.  "Patrol tonight?"

Faith looked at the schedule.  "Whiny brats minus the one in bed with the foot thing."

Buffy nodded, going to get them off for their patrol.  Someone had to keep some order with all the watchers gone.  And there was a horrible thought - Xander as a watcher.  She shook her head as she walked into the common room.  "Kennedy, your team has patrol tonight," she called over the current argument.  They didn't listen.  "Stop it!" she yelled.  Willow created a cold rain storm as she came up behind her on the stairs.  "Thanks, Wills."

"Not a problem.  I can see why the skanky vamp me liked whips."  She stared at the girls.  "Kennedy, your team's night for patrol."  She sipped her tea, looking at the other ones. "Don't make me call John.  Dean's probably got Dawn in a teen club teaching her how to play pool.  Again probably."

Buffy nodded.  "They already taught her how to hustle pool.  Apparently it's a necessary Winchester trait.  Even Tony had to learn."  She looked at the same girl.  "Well?"

"Tell her slayers don't stalk boys!" she complained.  "Especially mine!"

"No, that's trashy and we're not trashy, ladies.  Though, aren't you gay?" she asked Kennedy.  "I thought you were."  She huffed off.  "Okay then."  She looked at the other girl.  "Is he nice?"

She grinned. "He's very sweet.  He's taking me to the movies next weekend."

"So, he's good to you on dates?" Buffy asked.  The girl looked clueless.  "How long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Two months, since we started to talk."

Buffy sat down, pulling the younger girls over to talk with them about boyfriends and how to tell when you had one for real.  Willow settled in to give helpful hints and tips on how to attract someone.  She had done it once.  She could do it again.  The other girls came over to help.  Faith finally came up to flop down.  She listened then moaned, switching it to the sex talk the girls clearly needed.  Before they ended up with baby slayers running around the house tripping them during practice.  Buffy and Willow both went red at her blunt speech but oh well.  Willow even accidentally chimed in with an 'I remember liking that' but she ran off to her room she was so red in the face.  That's when Faith realized she was surrounded by virgins, prudes, and people who loved fluffy things and cats.  Maybe she could go overseas to one of the danger spots soon?  Or maybe she'd take a walk on the wilder side of Cleveland tonight to get back to people she was used to.  Work hard, play hard was her motto.  She'd have to drill that into the younger girls before they got uptight like Buffy was.

***

Xander got out of the car and stared at the sink hole, quietly staring at it for a few minutes.  Dawn slid out to cuddle up to his side, giving him a hug.  "Anya would want her going out to be memorable I guess," he said quietly.

"Yup."

"Think she's with my cellphone in hell?"

"Could be.  Probably trying to find that video with the porn if she is."  Xander grinned at her.  "What if they did collapse, Xander?"

He pointed.  "That's an newly dug hole, Dawn.  Something's down there."

"The mayor's stash was confiscated by the town's elders a few years back," a deeper male voice said.

Xander glanced back.  "I knew that.  I saw it the night they were smuggling it to the jail."  He looked back at the ground again.  "I'm not worried about that.  I'm worried about the demons who're going to snuggle up to the buried power source, or that they could be using the tunnels to dig things out again without us knowing.  How's LA, Wes?"

"Not bad."  He moved closer.  "They're at peace."

Xander nodded.  "Anya's probably screaming in pleasure somewhere, having fun."  That got a squeeze from Dawn.  "Anyway, can we do the mapping spell, Dawnie?"  She nodded, getting out the prepared paper they had bought in LA.  He glanced at Wes.  "Who told you guys?"

"The people you bought the paper from got worried when they heard her say you were coming back here."

"It figures.  Want to have Dawnie cuddles while I explore?"

"I can do that.  Fred and Gunn are back at the rooming house a few miles back."  Dawn chanted the small spell and it took form on the paper.  "Splendidly done, Dawn."

She smiled.  "Earth magic gives me hives."

"As it did me when I tried it."  He tossed her a book.  "That should help.  It's much more natural than what the others do.  It's based on balance, natural balance, and calls to all the forces not just that one."  She beamed.  He looked at the map, frowning.  "I know we have an enclave of underdwellers near this spot."  He pulled out pictures and put them on the hood.  "These four are always harmless.  This last one is usually harmless but if they're feeding their offspring something tainted it can cause problems next century."  Xander nodded.  "That's a metal eater."

"Okay."  He looked at the map.  "Can you go deeper, Dawn?  I know there's more than one level."  He tapped a spot.  "This is one I'm worried about.  That's the storage area below Willie's and he had gotten some weapons and things."

Wesley gave him an odd look.  "You can't be serious."

"I can be serious," he said, looking at him.  "Deadly serious if they fall into the wrong hands.  Some of the demon traders we had were into the heavier weapons.  I pulled away two from the local base and handed them back the same year the Initiative got there."

"Oh dear lord," he muttered.

"Exactly.  Anything else I can scavenge is fine but I need to make sure they're not down there waiting on some lucky bastard who falls into a hole."

"That is important."  Dawn dug the map deeper, showing a lot of tunnels, caves, and holes.  "Where does this lead?" he asked, tapping a spot where it faded off.

"The hellmouth ate the spell there," she said.  "It's still leaking some from the seal, even though it's shut."

"It should probably always leak some," Xander agreed.  "The same as this dirt is clearly infected with it since it's glowing blue in the sunset."  They looked.  It was pretty.  Xander went back to looking at the map.  "Okay, starting tomorrow, I'm going down the hole we have by the college," he decided.  "Those are probably more stable and there's places up there we have to look at."

"Why?" Wesley asked.

"Because the college had a major mojo library," Xander said, smirking at him.  "Which Willow discovered one night with Tara.  She's the one who reminded me because she was sitting in a rocking chair talking about finding it and the picnic they had in there.  It was the mayor's working library."  Wesley moaned.  "Which'll be moved to Cleveland."

"Of course.  Better there than here.  Will you need more help than someone to watch Dawn?"

"Probably not.  Maybe some muscles but I might be able to pay off a demon or two for the smaller stuff.  Or call Willow.  She'll move it for us."  That got a nod.  "I'm hoping it won't take more than a week.  Dad and them are handling something."

"Your...your father?" he squeaked.   "I thought he died."

"He did.  He's one of the spirits Willow called back during the last battle."

"Oh, I say.  I wasn't there for the aftermath so I didn't see him."

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, he's back and looking at this huge devil's gate that the demon who killed his wife wants to open."

"It never ends," he moaned.

Xander grinned.  "Nope, but it's not a slayer duty this time."

"Well thank god for that," he said dryly.  "How is their training going?"

"I can see why Giles walked away," he said, giving him a look.  "There's been many days I wanted to do that.  Think I can go deal weapons instead?"

"No.  It would be a bad thing."

"Pity."

"Quite, you'd probably give your brothers better deals."  He patted him on the back.  "Where is Rupert?"

"No clue.  Ethan and he blipped out together," Dawn said.

Wesley moaned.  "Was there a fight?"

"No.  Willow scried.  I scried with her," Dawn said.  "He went to see Ethan looking a bit upset or depressed.  Ethan sneered until Giles said something.  They were standing there looking at each other and then there was a magical flash that took them off the plane.  She can't find them."

"Oh, dear god," he muttered, shaking his head. "Who's in charge?"  Xander wiggled his fingers.  Dawn pointed at Xander.  He gave the boy an odd look.  "You?"

He nodded with a slight smirk, bending back over the map.  "Yup.  Dad's been doing training stuff with Dean and Sam.  Tony came up to unkink the paperwork system Giles started to build.  As long as we keep the devil's gate from opening, we can survive until tax time and through the probates of the old council's stuff."

Wesley shuddered.  "I'm sorry, Xander."

Xander grinned at him.  "I have an assistant now.  I can do more than paperwork and grocery shopping."

Wesley smiled.  "It's good it's not getting to your soul, only your mind."  He went back over the map.  "Are you sure about starting out there?"

"It'll be the heaviest to move if the books are intact.  Plus there's a smaller chance of any weapons out there being unstable."  Wesley hummed and pointed at a section that was cut off.  "If I have to, I'll dig."  Wesley nodded.  He rolled up the map, looking at Dawn.  "Let's hit the rooming house?"

"I already checked us in by phone.  Told her we'd be there in about an hour."  Xander nodded at that.  She looked at Wesley.  "Are you coming too?"

"I am.  That way we can help Xander.  Fred, Gunn, and myself will be there with you."

"That works.  No one can say he left me alone all day."  Xander grinned at that.  "What're we doing when we get to the Dakotas?"

"We'll pop in, see if they need any help.  If so, you can stay in the car."

"Fine."  She got in and they headed back together to the rooming house.  It was a nice enough place.  Very quaint and had a lot of lace and frills.  It made Gunn and Xander have mental fits over the perfume wafting around the house, but they could put up with it for a week.

Xander just hoped he was wrong about the contents of the tunnels.  Sunnydale's demons had been very paranoid and liked to stockpile in case the end of the world came sometime soon.

***

The last morning there, Xander pulled up and parked near the hellmouth.  He got out and stretched, then got his gear from the trunk.  Light sticks, map, tape for his hands, rope in case he needed it.  Always empty bag he got from Willow last night because she was tired of moving stuff for him.  Food and water.  Check.  He closed the car up and turned on the alarm then turned to look at his target of the day.

Something came flying out of the ground.  The center of the pucker didn't shift or anything but a small, black object came flying out.  He frowned until it rang with the theme from Casper the Friendly Ghost.  "Anya," he sighed, walking over to pick up his cellphone.  He slung off the slime and opened the leather case, taking out the phone.  It had a few dots of slime, a slightly melted spot along one edge, but it looked fine.  He turned it off and put it into his pocket, looking at the new thing that was wiggling his way out of the puckered, undisturbed ground.  "What're you?" he demanded.

"I am the Archangel Dorian.  I am here to herald the gateway opening and the worlds spilling out."

Xander yawned, shaking his head.  "We stopped that," he said bluntly.  "A few times."

The angel unfurled his black wings.  "Really?"  He looked.  "Well, it does look like someone did something here."

"Yeah, when we went in to battle the First Evil.  Closing this one for good meant that it sucked in the town."

The supposed angel scowled at him.  "When did this happen?"

"Um, few months back, early spring.  Why?  Which time were you heralding?  I mean, there was two when I was in high school, it could have opened it during the ascension at graduation, three others since then, and Glorificus tried really hard too.  So which one were you heralding?  Or did you mean the devil's gate my father's dealing with?"

The supposed angel slumped.  "I've been busy heralding other things.  Important births and the like.  They told me to come here to herald the worlds merging."

"That must've been Glory's stuff.  She was trying to pull her world onto ours.  Bit different than sucking the world into the hell dimensions."  The angel scowled at the pucker again. "But hey, since you're here, got any idea about watching this hellmouth, the devil's gate in South Dakota, or the one in Cleveland since it's the current active one?  I need to know if we need weapons in South Dakota."

The angel considered it.  "I suppose it's not against the rules.  People often reach for weapons when I appear," he decided, wrapping his wings around him to test the air.  "Hmm.  Cleveland's young but people are trying to get it to open wider again.  The girls there...  Why are there so many slayers?"

"A witch had to activate more to seal in the First Evil."

"Oh.  Yes, I heard that took seven of them."

"Now there's closer to a hundred," he admitted.

"Oh dear."

"And I'm kinda responsible for their upkeep and training."

"Are you rich, son?"

Xander grinned.  "No but I'm hoping some day some unkind vengeance demon gifts me with a few mil to get me out of hunting."

The angel smirked.  "It probably won't work that way."

"Hell.  Not like I didn't help one get her powers back when we accidentally turned her human."

He frowned.  "Who are you?" he asked quietly, staring.  There was no way this mortal was normal.  He wasn't scared or in awe of him.  He talked of the world ending being stopped.  He talked about redeeming a vengeance demon like he had personally done it.  Was he one of the higher minions maybe?

He grinned.  "Xander Harris, formerly of Sunnydale, where we are.  I help the slayer Buffy.  Helped Kendra a few times, helped Faith.  Help all the new ones because they need it."

The angel pulled out a book and looked him up, then stared at him.  "Bloody hell, man.  What are you doing here?"

"Checking the tunnels.  You'd be surprised how many vamps and weapons we found.  I don't want to have to come back here to stop them from doing something nuclear.  Which is on it's way to my other father."

"Why aren't you a Marine?  You were scheduled to be."

"They shut down the program after I was born."  It figured the Powers had something to do with the program that had made him.

"Oh.  You didn't join later?"  Xander lifted the eyepatch, making him shudder.  "No, I can see that would keep you out of it."  He switched from the 'fated' section to the 'reality' section to read up on this new human.  It was one of the longest entries he'd seen.  He finally looked at him.  "Well, that does explain a lot."  He put the book back in his pocket.  "How many bullets does the colt have left?"

"One."

"The colt is the key but not the only weapon that can kill demons."  He opened his jacket and pulled out a sword, tossing it over.  "That may be more handy since there's hundreds massing."

"That's cool."  He smiled, sticking it into the car then turning to look at him again.  "Thank you, Angel Dorian."

The angel smiled.  "It's not a problem, lad.  Many of us don't want the final battle right now anyway.  Be rather messy on the wings."  He fluffed his out.  "Since I don't have to herald an apocalypse, I get the day off."

"Cool," Xander said with a grin.  "I've got to go down to finish cleaning out the tunnels."  The demon pretending to be an angel waved a hand and put things into his car.  "Wow.  Way more powerful than Willow."  He walked closer.  "Have a good day off and watch out for the Power's Champion in LA.  He's a bit grumpy this week."

"I can do that.  Thank you, lad."  He patted him on the head.  "May the dark hide your sins from everyone but you.  You'll come to our side some year."

"Dad would be really pissed but he did make that demonic deal to save Dean," he said thoughtfully.  "Then again, we pulled him out of hell when Willow called the former hunters to help us...."  He considered it.  "Well, if I do, I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun."  The demon smirked and disappeared back into the ground.  "Have a good trip."  He waved, then walked back to the car so he could go back to the rooming house and pick up Dawn.  That and a quick stop with a contact on their way to Nevada and it was all good for the week.  Dawn kept looking at the sword then at him.  "An archangel demon here to herald the gateway opening for Glory.  He was a bit behind the times but very nice when I pointed out his error.  He told me someone wants me to turn sides, that someone wants to open Cleveland's hole a bit wider, and the colt isn't the only key to the lock but it's also a key element."

"Cool," she decided.  "Can we get a candy bar on the way to South Dakota?"

"Sure," he decided happily, turning on the radio.  "We have to get gas soon anyway."  She beamed and she turned up a song she liked, singing along while they traveled.  He decided they were like Sam and Dean, the happy edition with the modern car that had air conditioning.  John would be so proud of them for mimicking the family's way.

***

Xander pulled up to the cemetery where his family was, looking at Dawn.  "Stay."

"If you need magic, I'm coming in."

"That's fine.  If we need magic, come in."  He got out, getting something from the trunk and the sword.  Then he walked over to where the others were fighting with the demon.  He saw the colt in the lock and winced, turning it to close the opening gate.  Dawn came jogging.  "We don't need it yet!"

"Yes you do!  It's unstable."  She concentrated, going over the spell Wesley had gotten for her.  She spat it, raising her hands over her head.  The light formed, it hit the gate, the gate shimmied.  Souls screamed, making John grab his ears and scream back.  "Other way, Xander."  He shifted it and she shook so he finished closing it.  Then he took the colt.  He shot the demon with it.  Dawn concentrated, closing it for good.  She panted, looking at Xander.  "I don't like magic that much."

"I can understand that."  He tossed her the gun then his gun.  She nodded she'd guard it.  He walked over to help John up.  "You wouldn't believe what I found in town."

John gave him an odd look, looking back at Dawn.  "Shouldn't you be somewhere safe?"

"Probably.  It went unstable and was going to open anyway."

"Okay."  He nodded.  "That's a useful skill."

"Wes got me the spell."

"Oh."  He looked at his sons, smiling because Xander was helping them up.  "You boys okay?"

"We're good," Sam said, rubbing his shoulder.

"No we're not," Dawn said.  "There's hundreds of demons around the barrier."

Dean looked then groaned.  "It's a mile wide, Dawn."

Xander coughed, pulling up the case he had brought out.  He opened it and looked at it.  Then he tossed Sam the sword.  "I know you said you took a sword form of martial arts at Stanford.  That's specially blessed to kill demons preying on people."  Sam smirked.  Xander tossed Dean something, making Dawn gasp.  "Buffy said that's a loaner when I asked her for it last night."  Dean waved the scythe.  "That's *the* scythe, Dean."

He looked at it then at Xander.  "Thanks."

"Welcome.  Go for it."  They broke up and Xander looked at John, tossing him something.  "Present from Sunnydale, Dad.  Melt the sucker so it can't open again."

John looked at the acid shot shell, loading it into his rifle.  Dawn moved.  He fired at the stone holding the gateway, watching as it dissolved.  That broke the physical gate's steadiness, closing it for good.  "Thanks, son.  That's a handy bit of timing."

Xander looked at him.  "Figures it jumped.  I'm just kinda happy it's not in me."  He grinned.  Then he pulled something out and threw it on John while John tried to fire the shotgun at him.

"Hey!" Dawn shouted, freezing John.  "Not nice, Grandpa.  Even if you are possessed.  Dumbass medium skills, knew that came from that side too," she muttered.  Xander came over to do the exorcism chant they kept doing to him.  John fought against the demon.  Dawn leant her skills.  After all, that was magic and she was more skilled than Xander.  "Don't let it jump into you."

"I'm not, miss paranoid."  He splashed him again, running out of holy water.  "It never takes this much for me."

"John's more stubborn," a male voice said.

"Hi, Bobby.  We killed it, kinda, and it jumped into Grandpa."

Bobby snorted, coming over to do the exorcism ritual.  "Mediums should not do it, boy.  They end up getting possessed."

"What else did I have to do this week?" he asked dryly.  He looked at Dawn, who nodded.  He grabbed a small bag and went to help the guys.  They were probably overwhelmed.

"He's a hell of a son, John Winchester.  But you're still a stubborn bastard."

Dawn leaned down next to his ear.  "Get out of my grandfather or you can't try for Xander's kids," she whispered.  "Wouldn't a hellmouth bred baby having one be better than even Uncle Sammy is?  Xander was born, bred, and grew up there.  He's got his own skills and visions, plus some screwed up magic.  Plus a taste for bad and evil girls so you might manage to get him where you can't even tempt Uncle Sammy.  And hey, some weird scientist wanted to combine my powers with his."  The demon shuddered and John grunted.  "Get out of there before I have to get mean.  I'll miss Grandpa but I can bring him back since the First Evil is chained up thanks to my sister Buffy."  The demon turned to look at her.  "Hi.  Get out of my grandfather."  Part of it flew out with the magic she put behind the command.  Bobby went back to the exorcism.  She did the capturing spell, putting it into her water bottle.  They could deal with it later.  Bobby gave her an odd look.  "What?  It seals."

Bobby grunted in displeasure but got back to work.  The last of the demon floated out of John's mouth.  "You better?"

"The demon's scared of that child."

"I'm scared of your granddaughter," he said dryly, helping him sit up.  "Dawn, can I have that?"

She looked at it then at him.  "Nope.  Not until the boys get back here."  He glared.  John glared.  She glared back, tapping a foot.  "We don't want any accidents, boys.  Really."  She heard a yell of pain.  "DO NOT MAKE ME CHANNEL MY SISTER AND COME OUT THERE!" she bellowed.  "I WILL DESTROY THIS GODDESS FUCKED PLANE OF EXISTENCE IF YOU MAKE ME AND I'LL CACKLE THE WHOLE DAMN TIME; EVEN WORSE THAN ROSENBURG DID!"  Suddenly it got quieter.  She sighed in pleasure.  "Better," she said happily.

"Don't make me shoot you, Dawn."

She beamed at him.  "It's too much sugar."

She heard an explosion and demons screaming.  Then more screaming and running noises.  She handed John the bottle and pounced one, knocking it into a headstone.  "Mom didn't want me to hunt.  Why are you making me disappoint my mother?"  She stood up, dusting herself off.  "Eww, you got me all nasty."  She kicked it in the head, knocking it out.  "Stupid."  She took the bottle back and tightened the cap again.  "Just in case," she said sweetly.  Dean came jogging over to kill that demon.  "We good?"

"Nearly," he said.  Sam came from his quadrant.  Xander let off another explosion then came strolling back smoking around the arms and chest.  "What did you do, dude?"

"Blessed dry ice and liquid nitrogen grenades," he said with a bright, happy grin.  "Since hell's so hot, they can have some cooling off.  Maybe it'll make it snow."

Dawn cackled.  "That's so mean, Xander."

"Well, yeah," he said with a sheepish grin.  "Came to me after the fifth Milky Way."

"No more chocolate, son," John ordered.  Bobby helped him up.  "Dawn captured it."

Dean looked at the scythe then at the bottle.  "Huh."  Dawn held the bottle up for him.  He sliced into it, making the demon scream.  Sam sliced the pieces of clouds that came out.  Xander tossed up another of the cold grenades.  It went off with a muted flash and louder explosion.  The demon shrieked in misery and a small pair of ice skates fell to the ground.  Dean looked at them then at his little brother.  Sam did the same.  "Way too much chocolate, Xander."

"They need ice skates for when it freezes.  Faith insists it will each time I go on patrol with her."

"Son, you're a bit strange.  Don't make me knock you out," John said.

"Fine," he muttered, looking down.

Willow appeared.  "I felt major magic, Dawn.  What did you do?"

"I closed the devil's gate before it finished opening because even having the key in the lock made it unstable and then I let them melt it with an acid round.  Then Dean, Sam, and Xander went to take on the waiting and watching demons who wanted it to open."  She grinned.  "And I made them quit being so noisy by threatening to turn into you."

Willow glared.  "Not cute."

"So?  It worked."

Willow huffed.  "You shouldn't be here."

"No but we felt the stupid gateway opening on the way past," she said dryly.  Willow groaned, heading off again.  She waved at the empty spot.  "We'll be home in three days!" she called.  "We're using the corporate card for rooms since we just saved the world!"  She put her arm through Bobby's.  "Did you ever find a puppy?"

"Not yet," he admitted, walking her off, looking back at the overprotective Winchesters.  "You know she'll be safe."

"Uh-huh," Xander said.  "Who's that, Dad?"

"Bobby Singer.  A very old hunter and a good friend of the family, Xander."

"Oh, okay.  Nearest hotel is where?  I deserve a pool," he said at Dean's amused look.

"We usually stay at lesser places," Sam told him.

Xander leaned closer.  "I have the corporate card.  I deserve a pool tonight."

"You'll need it to wear out the rest of the sugar," John said.  "What else did you bring?"

"The stuff I didn't move to the new vault," he said with a beaming, happy grin.  "Don't worry about it, dad."  He headed off to the car.  "Am I giving anyone a ride?"

"Coming," Dean said, shaking his head as he followed.  "Sammy, if you're riding with me, c'mon!  I need a beer and hopefully the place has a bar I can pick up chicks in."

John watched his sons go, shaking his head.  His line had been so promising.  Why were his sons so insane?  His granddaughter had gotten it so it had to be genetic.  His grandfather had been sane, his father had been sane, John was sane, so where was it coming from?

***

The Winchester part of the clan walked into the school in time to hear screaming and running.  Xander sighed, shaking his head.  He stopped one of the girls, handing her the scythe.  "That goes to Buffy or Faith immediately.  Buffy if she's here."  She ran off.  He went to the office, nodding at his assistant.  "It fall in?"

"Not yet.  Nearly so."  She let him see what she had done.  "All that's left are invoice paying and this week's necessary shopping trip."

"On it," John sighed.  "Anything to get away from the screaming."

Dean walked up there.  "SHUT UP!" he bellowed.  They stopped.  He stared at the older girls.  "Ladies, headache inducing is putting it mildly.  We thought there was an attack."

"There was but it's dead and we're complaining about the goo," Buffy said with a grin, bouncing over to hug him.  "Are you back?  Is Xander back?"

"Xander's paying bills to avoid the shopping.  Dad's going shopping."  The girls went to beg him for some new clothes.  "Get the scythe?"  She held it up with a grin.  "Thanks.  Came in handy."

"How bad?"

"Three hundred fucking demons waiting to open that devil's gate and the one who wanted Sammy.  Dawn sealed it shut for us, thankfully.  We killed ours.  Xander, Sammy, and I killed a lot more of the ones who weren't smart enough to run."  She grinned.  "He had some sort of freezing bomb that he let off.  Came complete with tiny ice skates."

She groaned.  "That's an Andrew toy."  She went to yell at Xander for playing with those.  "Xander!"

He looked up.  "Hey.  The hellmouth spit out my old cellphone.  Apparently they didn't like Anya's choice for ringtone."  It went off on its own.

John looked back.  "Is that the theme to that Casper cartoon?"

Xander nodded.  "Anya was fiddling with it the night before and downloaded that one.  I guess the Turok Han and the First Evil didn't like Casper the Friendly Ghost's theme."  He looked at it then answered it.  "Yeah?"  He listened, making a note.  "Sure thing, Ethan."  He made another note.  "I'll get Willow on that.  You guys coming back?  Because I'm going to beat Giles' ass for leaving me in charge, Ethan.  Keep it up and I'm going to turn all the girls into arms dealers."  He hung up and held up the note.  "The cellphone can pick up interdimensional calls now."

"That's freaky," Buffy said, taking the note.  "Willow, Ethan needs a few things to end their vacation."  She snatched the note, glaring at Dawn.  Buffy shrugged at her back.  Then she looked at her sister.  "Don't even joke about becoming Willow during her bad girl phase."

"They were annoying!" she complained.

"They were," John agreed.  "A lot of screaming."

"They were dying, they're allowed to scream," Buffy assured him.  She grinned.  "Can I add a me too to getting new shirts?"

"Can't you wash them?"

"Demon goo never comes out unless Mom did it," she said with a pout.

"C'mon, I'll teach you that secret, girls."  He walked them off, showing them how to do laundry.  The girls were pitiful on real world skills.

Xander looked up.  "Buffy, we found Andrew.  He's coming to help!" he yelled, then slammed his office door and locked it.  He got back to paying bills and clearing his desk.  He, Dean, and John had plans tonight for some gun petting and cooing over the stuff he had found in Sunnydale.  Since no one else wanted it and Willow only wanted that magic library... it was all his.  He let out an evil cackle of pleasure.

"I heard that, mister.  No more candy bars!" Willow yelled from the other side of his door.

"Andrew's coming tonight."  She stomped off again and he cackled more quietly.  He finished up and went to find his gun vault.  He loved the new babies.

Dean and John found him there later.  They moaned at what was spread out before the boy sleeping on top of a heavy artillery case.  "I needed to pet this after that fight instead of the easy chick at the bar," Dean said in awe.  His father swatted him on general principles for that.  "Hey!"

"Shut up, Dean."  They walked over to look at what Xander had saved.  Some had some slime damage but most were in pristine condition.  They found a door and went through it, blinking at what they saw.  "Hey, Xander?" he called, waking his son up.  "Can we take some of this?"

Xander came in and looked then shrugged. "Why not.  I didn't think I rescued that."  He took a few of his own.  They took some too.  They bucket-lined another hundred gold bars before that door was slammed shut, forcing Dean out of it.  "Huh.  That's cool.  As long as it stays."  Dawn came bouncing in and did a freezing spell on the bars with a beaming, happy smile.  "Why so happy?"

"Because I'm getting a new pair of shoes.  Buffy said so."

"Buffy's buying?"

"Giles is.  He's back."

"Yay.  Still no money for shoes."  She pouted.  "We'll see."  They went upstairs and the first thing he did was hit Giles in the mouth, knocking him down.  "I said I didn't want to be in charge."

Giles gave him a pathetic look.  "It was an accident."

"Willow scried," he said quietly, staring at him.

"It was not meant to last that long.  Simply a night."

"Uh-huh.  The filing system now works, you have an assistant who can do most of the work, and hey, it's all good around here as soon as the probates are done next month.  Then the girls can have new shoes," he said more loudly.  They cheered.  He looked at Giles.  "Any other questions?"

"You fixed my system?"

"No.  I scrapped your system and let Tony build a new one that works."  He hauled him up and to the desk, handcuffing him to it.  "Pay me, buy me, research or other issues. Feed the last few scouting reports to the number taped to the fax.  The program to pay people works like a checkbook and does it automatically.  The shopping card is in the top drawer for groceries and other necessary things. Andrew's showing up tonight to cook since I found him under Sunnydale.  We stopped the issue in South Dakota.  I got my original cellphone back from hell.  Buffy has the scythe, and I'm going to go back to weapon petting time.  Need briefed about anything else?"

"How are the girls?"

"Waiting on Buffy and Willow to hit you next since I have sense and didn't let them run wild."  He opened the door and walked out.  "He's ready for you, Buffy.  I showed him where things were."  They went back down to the armory and he went back to petting his new babies.  And the gold of course.  Gold needed love too.  Dean and Sam were both petting it.  "I think leprechauns used to live here."

"That's why I froze the gold.  If it's here at sunrise it's staying," Dawn said.  That got a nod and a grin from the guys.  "This means we can host the next clan reunion."

"They want to be kept out of demon hunting," John reminded her.

"So maybe we'll go to some tropical place and spa?" she suggested with a grin.

John smirked back.  "Spoiled kitten," he teased.

"Well, yeah."  She froze a wiggling piece of gold and the door reopened, showing a small woman standing there.  "What?  You opened it into the new Council armory, woman.  This is all Xander's stuff.  He only shares with his family and sometimes with the girls."

The Leprechaun pouted.  "We need that back."

"You guys shit it out like bees do honey," Xander countered, staring at her.

"Do we know  ye, lad?"

"Xander Harris, White Knight of Sunnydale," he said with a grin, extending a hand.  "These are my babies and my family."

She gave him an uneasy look.  "Ye'll be bad for us."

"I'm only bad to the harmful demons," he assured her.

"Uh-huh.  We could be mean and threaten to call someone about all this stuff.  We have descendants in various governments."

"Go right ahead," Xander agreed.  "They know about slayers now."  She moaned.  "Besides, having it makes me happy.  Means I don't have to buy any when there's a new apocalypse."

The leprechaun sighed.  "Ye sure ye won't hand it back?  We'll have to be mean."

Xander tossed something at her, making her shriek.  "Try it and I get to be mean back, lady.  You guys opened the door into my play area.  Be glad you have any left."  Dawn floated out a few more and froze them too, earning a pout.  "Thanks, Dawnie."

"So I can go ivy league and keep some of my college fund for a car?"

"Ye'll not be married?" she said, looking horrified.

"In this day and age, women don't need to get married.  I can have kids without a father, or even having a man in the same room thanks to science.  Technically I can do it by magic too."  She beamed.  "Even without it, I can support myself once I'm of age and graduated my schooling, ma'am.  Women today are a lot more liberated and able to handle our own affairs."

"Pity.  We'll have to be mean."  Dawn lit up a magic ball on her hand, making her shriek. "Unholiness!" she shouted, pointing at it for her friends when they came running.

Dawn put out the light.  "I'm just a simple witch."  She batted her eyes at them.  "I'll be nice if you do."  They groaned and tried to take back the gold but it wasn't going to move.  They huffed off and the door disappeared again.  Dean had taped the doorknob so it'd be back later.

"Xander, your other father's on the phone," Buffy called, tossing down his cellphone.

"Thanks."  He put it against his ear.  "Hi, Dad."  He listened to him complain.  "You let Fornell bug the office?"  He laughed.  "Well, if he thinks I'm evil that's all right.  No, I'm working on the slayer weapons, Dad.  Swords, crossbows, that sort of thing."  He picked up something to pet.  "I deserve some weapon petting time, Dad.  Don't worry, even if they do try to raid, they won't find the basement.  It's hidden."  He laughed.  "Magically, Dad.  So, how's Tony?  We heard he got grazed."

"Do not get my son killed," John said next to the phone.  He switched weapons with his son.  Dean was petting a gold bar and a weapon.  Sam was petting a gold bar.  That was fine.  Sammy was the strange one in the family who didn't like weapons.  He listened to Xander and Jethro joust verbally then his son hung up.  "He'll be here when?"

"The FBI will be here later but it's still hidden."  They heard the Feds come in an hour later but they couldn't find them and no one seemed to be able to find the basement door, even Buffy who had used it before.  They left and Xander smiled, switching weapons to pet something else.  "This is only the small part I'm willing to let the girls borrow.  The rest is at home."  They stared at him.  "Like I'm going to keep living here?  They'll pounce me and redo my wardrobe like they did to you guys."  He beamed.  "I have a very nice little place set up for myself thanks to my own insurance and my parents' insurance."  He got back to his cleaning and petting.  Buffy finally came down.  "The last lurking one leave?"

"They did.  How did you do that?"

"I asked Willow.  It's too important to risk."  He grinned.  "Did they want to pet or confiscate?"

"Look for now, confiscate anything too big.  Giles had me tell them about the Judge and they're all very sorry.  They said we can keep some as long as the vault is better than this is.  Why do we have gold?"  Dean pointed at the visible doorknob.  She went to look and moaned in pleasure.  "Is that to a Swiss bank?  They say they have piles like that."  She spotted a leprechaun.  "Giles said you weren't real."

"How would he be knowing?" she demanded, sounding grumpy.

"He's a watcher."

"Humph."  She turned her back.  "Be gone with ye.  Ye've already bothered us enough tonight."

"I'm sorry they bothered you.  Sometimes men are just... men."  The little woman nodded.  "I can smack 'em around if you want."

Xander looked at her.  "I'm using it to buy a place off campus.  That way the girls get to leave me alone."

Buffy pouted.  "You're moving off campus?"

"Yeah.  To a nice, small house that reminded Dawn of home."

"Oh.  Is our insurance money going toward it?"

"No, mine."

"That's fine I guess but when would I get Dawnie time?"

"Anytime you wanted since I'm still going to be here all the time and Xander's still doing most of the admin stuff that'll drive Giles nuts," she said, giving her sister a look.  She looked at the leprechaun.  "They could be worse.  They're all demon hunters.  We just took out a lot of higher ones trying to open a devil's gate."

The woman took a book out of her pocket.  "What's his name?"

Xander smirked.  "The supposed angel Dorian who came out of the hellmouth pucker had one of those.  Xander Harris, Sunnydale.  Look in the second section, he did."

She flipped back there then gaped.  She glared at him.  "Ye'll go dark?"

"Over his dead body," John and Sam both said.

Dean looked over.  "We'll beat his ass if he tries."

"Why isn't he a Marine?"

"They shut down the program," Dawn said.  "Dorian?"

"The one I got the sword from.  He came out of the pucker to tell us the hellmouth was going to open.  It's his job to announce that."

"You said he came to announce Glory."

"He did."

"He was way behind then," Buffy said.  She looked at her.  "He won't go evil.  I'll sic all the slayers on him."

The woman looked at her.  "That's mean, lass."

She grinned.  "No chocolate today."

"Hmm.  Ye should fix that.  Who owns our building?"

"The Watchers Council."

She shuddered.  "Better a mortal than those who suck sores for the puss," she said, cracking Xander and Dawn up, nodding a bit.  "Fine, we won't fight ye as long as that one doesn't go dark."

Xander pulled out a bootknife and slit his thumb.  "I, Xander Harris, will not go to the dark side unless it is the only way to save the universe and all the slayers."  The cut flashed then sealed.

"Good enough if ye's that stupid," she said, closing the door.  It bounced open.  "What did ye do?"  Dean reached over to remove the tape.  She snorted in disgust and closed it again.

Xander reached over to remove the doorknob and put it into his pocket then went back to his petting.  "Tell Tony I said hi when he gets here, Buffy."

"Sure, Xander.  Are you sharing?"  Xander tossed her a bar.  She squealed all the way to the office.  That would provide slayer shopping trips for months.

Xander looked at them.  "Want to move to my house?"  They all nodded.  He looked at Dawn.  "Go hit the switches Willow put in for fast packing."  She let out a small squeal as she went to do that.  Them, all the gold, the guns, and all their stuff disappeared from the Council's headquarters and reappeared in Xander's new place.  It was a modestly sized place.  Not too huge.  Had some lawn.  The weapons relocated to the under-basement storage area.  The Winchesters followed.  Dawn went to hide the gold in Xander's room.  Then she put up all their clothes and things.  They had their own rooms, well Sam and Dean had to share since they seemed to like it so much but they wouldn't mind.  John got a cab back to the school to get their cars with Sam.  Dean trusted him with the Impala since he was too busy petting weapons again.

When Giles finally got free of the handcuffs thanks to Faith he stomped off to find the boy, finding the basement empty.  Completely clean.  It even looked swept.  He examined where Buffy said there had been a room of gold, going to debrief her about that.  It was a most unusual thing and the realtor hadn't mentioned that.  That should've been with the full disclosure that told them there had been two suicides in the old building.  He'd find Xander again later to make sure the boy did most of the paperwork he had set up.  Really, that clan was most unkind to his nerves.  The rest of them as well since Jethro and Tony barged in later on.  "They've left," he complained.

"They're probably at the house Xander bought up the street," Tony said.  Giles relaxed with a smile.  "Unless they're in Kansas.  We'll be back later.  Does the system work for you, Giles?"

"I'm not sure if I understand it or not yet."

Faith leaned down over the stairwell railing.  "That's why there's an assistant, Tweedy.  Like during the last reunion when B and I ran it."  He gave her a horrified look.  "If I can, you can."

"Exactly, which was what Xander wanted," Tony agreed.  Faith smirked at him.  "Go to bed.  Where's Xander?"

"Mini munchkin witch was wandering around patting packing mojo symbols."

"They're at home," Jethro said.  They stomped off to go invade over there.  Dawn let them in.  "Where is it?"

"Did you come to pet the other grandchildren or the leprechaun gold?" she asked.

He looked at her.  "The weapons, Dawn."

"The other grandchildren.  Xander said if you wanted more, pray for a miracle to any being you chose."  She led them to the door to the armory.  It was sealed and had a good passcode that needed to be pushed in.  On the third try she sighed and pounded on the door.  "Guys, it's Grandpa Jethro."  John opened the door.  "See, the other grandchildren."

"He'd better pray to some dark god if he wants more," Xander quipped.  "And not Willow either or I'll end up pregnant instead."

"We'd put you out of our misery, dude," Dean assured him.  He sounded like he was high from his position on top of a stack of artillery boxes.  "Hey, Gibbs, Tony."

"Dean.  Is the gun oil getting to your head?" Tony joked.

"No.  Firepower.  Damn, dude, this is good.  Better'n pot."

"Get off the artillery," Gibbs ordered.  He glared at his son.  "You can't keep this on US soil.  They'll decide you're a threat and arrest you or flag you worse."

"Technically, once you stepped into the basement you're not on US soil.  Only the family and slayers can find it.  I had Willow do the same spell she did on the other one."  Gibbs gaped.  He grinned back.  "Beyond that, I found them.  Not like I bought them.  I'd never buy something this expensive.  The house was bad enough."

Gibbs swatted him on the head, going to move them and check the artillery against the PDA in Tony's pocket.  Anything stolen was going no matter what.  The rest, he'd have to ask.  Because he knew what came out of the hellmouth now and he didn't want to take it on.  Better someone trained than the girls too.  They were a bit flaky and squealy for his tastes.  Well, and dangerous in Faith's case.

Mac stomped down the stairs.  "I had an FBI agent call me to tell me that the clan was hoarding weapons?" he demanded.

"I went to clean out the tunnels in Sunnydale," Xander said with a grin.  He held up something.  "Pet the grandchild?"

Gibbs looked at him. "Keep it up and I'm asking Rosenburg to help you get knocked up, Xander.  Hormones would be better than this."

Xander pouted.  "You just want a grandson."

"No, we can wait," John assured him.  "These are things the demons were hoarding in Sunnydale, Mac.  The boys have been petting it."

"The gold?" Mac asked.

Xander pulled out the doorknob and stuck it in the air, then opened it to show him.  "Theirs.  As long as it stays until the morning, it's ours."

Mac moaned.  "Why do you draw me into this stuff, Xander?"

"Because we love the family," Xander said with a grin.  "I'm sure the Marines would've wanted us to share."  All three marine fathers glared at him so he grinned back.  "Some things at least.  Teamwork and all that.  Hoo-yah!"

Dean cackled.  "You're so bad, Xander.  Now I see why the bad things thought you might turn evil."

"I'd spank first," all three fathers said together.  They groaned and got back to work sorting out the stuff that Xander wasn't going to be allowed to keep.  Once they were gone, Xander broke into the secondary access hatch for him and Dean to go play with more stuff he was hiding.  Tony had seen the plans so he joined them and confiscated more stuff for the fathers.  Oldest sons had to do those sort of things now and then.  Even if Dean did pout about him being mean.

The End.

Table of Contents

Way Back Then: 2

Closer To Now By About A Year: 2

Closer To Now By Another Six Years: 2

Five Years Ago: 3

Now: 4

Epilogue: 65