Alex's (Xander) POV

The next day

I woke up the next morning to someone nudging me, I groaned and rolled onto my side only to get a wet, slobbery lick to the face, I opened my eyes, disgusted, and saw Jett laid there panting happily

"That's really disgusting, you know, that, right?" I asked him sitting up but I only got a bark in response, before he jumped off the bed and bounded up to the door, before spinning in circles in front of it "Do you need to go out?" I asked him and he barked, I got off the bed and wiped my face, as I walked over to the door, I opened it and he bolted out of the room and down the stairs.

I sighed, and looked at the clock, it read 7.15 am, and I groaned, must be a normal routine for Jett to be up at that time. I decided to get a shower since I was already awake, I collected some clothes and headed to the bathroom, I heard voices downstairs and assumed that Uncle Jethro and Tim were awake, well they both had work anyway.

I got a quick shower and dressed, before heading downstairs to the kitchen, I was right uncle Jethro and Tim were awake, they were sat at the kitchen table, both had a mug of coffee, and an open laptop in front of them

"Well Vance can't just dismiss the case because it wasn't a Marine that last died, the others that were killed were Marines, but he's pulling us off this case anyway?" I heard Tim ask, as I hovered in the doorway

"Yep, giving it to Balboa's Team, we're on cold cases for now." Uncle Jethro responded taking a drink of coffee

"So, you want me to transfer everything to Balboa when we get to the Bullpen this morning?" Tim asked again, closing the laptop and picking up his mug

"Probably better if you give it to me, so I can hand it over to Vance, you get your report written up?" Uncle Jethro asked, draining the last of his drink

"When don't I get, my work done on time Jethro?" Tim asked as Uncle Jethro stood from his seat

"Good point." Uncle Jethro responded before turning and spotting me in the doorway "Morning Kiddo, sleep well?" he greeted, making Tim stand from his seat and turn to face us

"Morning Alex." Tim greeted and I smiled

"Morning, and yeah I slept great, better than I have done in a long while, until the wakeup call I got this morning." They both chuckled, as Tim moved over to the stove

"Let me guess, Jett gave you a big slobbery kiss to wake you up this morning?" Tim asked

"Yeah, does he always do that?"

"Only if you don't respond to his nudging, if you respond you don't get slobbered on." Uncle Jethro said as he refilled his mug

"Right, I'll remember that." Uncle Jethro just grinned as he took a drink

"You hungry Alex?" Tim asked, I shrugged

"I could eat."

"Bacon and eggs?" Tim asked moving to the fridge

"Sounds great." He nodded with a smile

"Take a seat." I nodded and took a seat at the kitchen table, and spotted a newspaper, I had a quick look through

"Looking for something in particular?" Uncle Jethro asked as he sat next to me setting a glass on orange juice in front of me, I shook my head

"Nah, it's just become habit now after a couple of years looking for the supernatural in newspapers for any leads, I've just taken up to reading the newspaper in general." He nodded

"As long as you don't go out hunting those things on your own." I shook my head

"It's not my job to do so, I just know what I need to, to be able to defend myself if something like that should attack, there are other people in the world to do that." He nodded and took a drink of his coffee, as Tim walked over with two plates, setting them in front of us

"Enjoy." Tim said walking back to the counter, before walking back over with another plate and sitting down across from me. Our meal was eaten in silence, but once we had all finished uncle Jethro and Tim collected the plates, cups and glasses before heading to wash up before I had even had the chance to offer.

"Alex, I want you to come into work with us today, we won't be doing any major cases, so you'll be okay, and I'd also like for you to get checked over with Ducky as well." Uncle Jethro explained as he washed up the plates and cups, I shrugged

"Alright, who's Ducky?" Tim chuckled, drying a plate

"Ducky is N.C.I. S's medical examiner, he he's the one we go to if we're injured or for out physicals." Tim explained, before putting away the plate he had just dried

"Alright, sounds good, I don't want to be left on my own anyway." I glance at them and they both nodded and resumed what they were doing, as Jett came bounding back in, and immediately detoured to me, sitting, and resting his head on my lap

"Hey Tim, do you ever bring Jett to work?"

"I did one time, but he kept barking at Tony who kept trying to prank me, so the Director at the time decided it wasn't a good idea to bring him to work anymore." Time answered

"So, who looks after him during the day?"

"He looks after the house, and our neighbor comes to let him out every few hours, so he's not cooped up all day." Uncle Jethro responded, I nodded, and continued to pet Jett as the pair got ready for work. My bag was already packed from the day before, with everything in it minus my clothes so I decided to just take that. When the pair came back downstairs Tim moved over to the counter and took the left-over coffee and poured it into two take away mugs, while uncle Jethro locked the back door and turned to me

"Ready to go?" he asked and I nodded as he then collected a take away mug from Tim, I went to collect my bag from upstairs, and met the two at the door

"You two head off, I'll leave the keys with next door." Tim said locking the front door, and uncle Jethro nodded leading me over to one of the parked cars. I climbed into the passenger seat as Uncle Jethro climbed into the driver's seat, and started the car

"Why do you two go in different cars?" I asked as he pulled away from the curb and down the street

"No-one at work knows about Tim and I, we keep it a secret."

"Why?"

"DADT."

"What's DADT?"

"Don't ask, don't tell."

"Is that important?"

"Very, plus the current Director isn't very, what do you say, friendly towards same sex couples, she isn't very friendly to a lot of things at the moment to be honest." I frowned

"But there's nothing wrong with same sex couples, love is love, and it shouldn't matter." He smiled

"Glad you feel that way kiddo, but not everyone has the same mindset as you do."

"I know, but at least we can hope for the future."

"Yes, we can." The rest of the trip to the NCIS building was in a comfortable silence, until we pulled into the garage under the building. Uncle Jethro parked the car and shut it off as we climbed out, we walked through the main entrance and uncle Jethro quickly got me a visitor pass easily enough. We made our to the elevators and uncle Jethro hit the floor button "Once the team gets here, I'll give you a tour of the place."

"Sounds good." He nodded as the elevator doors opened and we stepped out onto the floor, then into the Bullpen, which was empty. Uncle Jethro pulled a chair from an empty desk and set it at the end of his desk

"Have a seat." Uncle Jethro said gesturing to the chair he had just moved over, while he sat in his chair and booted up his computer. I nodded and sat down, pulling out my sketch pad and began drawing.