Xander/Alex's Pov
"Uh, sure, but I'm kinda one handed." He smiled and helped me lift my shirt up and off, as I heard the doors slide open
"Geese, your back looks like someone partyed on it." I heard Tony say, making Ducky and Jimmy walk around the table to look
"Alex what happened?" Jimmy asked, I shrugged
"Probably happened the same time I got all the other injuries."
"Does it hurt lad?" Ducky asked
"Not really."
"Alex, man, that should kill, how does it not?" Tony asked walking around to stand in front of me
"Sophmore year, ring a bell?"
"I get that man, but it should at least hurt a little bit."
"It just doesn't Tony, I have a high pain tolerance, but I'm not using that as an excuse it just doesn't hurt."
"Fair enough man." Tony said as Jimmy came back into view
"Alex, I'm going to feel your ribs now, see if theres any damage." Jimmy said and I nodded and sat up straighter to give him better access to my ribs. I shivered a little when his cold gloves touched my chest
"Anthony did you need something?" Ducky asked him,
"Um, I actually can't remember now, I guess seeing Alex's back made me forget." Tony explained in a sheepish voice, and I chuckled before crying out when Jimmy touched a tender spot "Alex?" Tony asked walk
"It hurts there Alex?" Jimmy asked
"Just a little bit."
"Right then, I suggest wrapping around his chest to keep his ribs secure Mister Palmer, they won't be broken as then he wouldn't be able to move without feeling pain." Ducky said, and Jimmy nodded and moved away to collect some bandages, while Ducky moved into the office, Tony came and stood infront of me
"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked and I nodded
"I've had worse Tony, I'll be fine."
"Alright, you let me know if you're in anymore pain, you hear me?" he demanded, I nodded
"I will."
"Good, I'll take you back upstairs when you're wrapped up." I nodded and he stood off to the side when Jimmy came back with the bandages, and began wrapping them around my chest. When he was finished he tied them off and I pulled my shirt back on.
"Try not to do too much damage to them over the next few weeks, it looks like your ribs are only bruised, but there's no need to make the worst alright?" Jimmy asked and I nodded
"Don't worry, I don't plan on making any injuries worse." He nodded and I left Autopsy with Tony after calling thanks over my shoulder. We made it to the elevator in silence, and Tony hid the button for the floor.
"So, you like drawing?" Tony asked suddenly, I looked at him and nodded
"Yeah, I havent' done any active drawing in a few years, so it's kinds nice to be able to do it again."
"Why haven't you done it for a while?" he asked
"My ex-friends caught me drawing one day, while I was waiting for them to turn up to school, they said it was what a gay person would do, and their Xander wasn't gay, so I stopped drawing in front of them, and started dating Cordelia, to try and prove to them that I wasn't gay, they didn't like that, Cordelia knew why, I told her all of it, she played the part really well, I came to love her, as a friend and as a sister." Suddenly the elevator lurched and shutdown, I looked at Tony to see that he had pulled the emergency stop button
"So let me get this straight, you're friends didn't approve of you drawing because they thought it was something gay people did?"
"Yeah."
"That's stupid, just as stupid as you hiding they you're gay, Alex, you shouldn't hide that, ignore what other people think they don't matter, as long as your family accepts you then that should be enough, and I'm tell you right now that Gibbs, Mcgee and I, will all support you, I know for a fact Gibbs and Mcgee would definetly support you, otherwise they'd be hippocrits."
"Wait, you know about them?"
"Of course, they might hide it well at work, but I've worked with them for years, I know them, I support them even if they don't know I do."
"Why don't you tell them you know?"
"Because I don't want to intrude, I'd like to wait until they're ready to tell me, the place is big on DADT, especially with the Director we have currently."
"That Strict?"
"She just doesn't like it I suppose, that's why Gibbs won't say anything, because they used to work together."
"Oh."
"But nevermind that, let's get you back to Gibbs." I nodded and he turned the elevator back on and it continued up to the floor they worked on. When the elevator stopped we stepped out and walked into the bullpen, uncle Jethro was absent from his desk, and Tim was typing rapidly on his computer "Mcgee… Mcgee…. Mcgee!"
"What Tony?!" Tim snapped, stopping his typing looking up at us
"Where's Gibbs?" Tony asked, and Tim shrugged
"I don't know, he was there when I started, the Director wants this done as soon as, so I need to keep working." Tim responded and went back to typing on his computer. Tony turned to me and shrugged
"Why don't you have a seat?" Tony suggested guesturing to uncle Jethro's desk, while he sat at his own desk. I sat at the seat at the edge of the desk and pulled the sketch book towards me and began drawing again.
I had been drawing for a while when uncle Jethro sat down with two takeaway cups, I looked up at him, he smiled at me and ruffled my hair.
"Everything okay Kiddo?" he asked me and I nodded "What did Palmer say?" I shrugged
"Just battered and bruised, I'll recover."
"He also wrapped your chest Alex don't forget." Tony spoke up from his desk
"Why?" Uncle Jethro asked picking up a file, and starting to look through it
"Because I have a tender spot on my ribs, there not broken or fractured, and I'm not to do anything that would make it worse." He nodded
"I'm sure, you'll be careful." I nodded
"I will."
"Good." He took a gulp of his drink and pointed to the cup in front of me "That's for you."
"Thanks." He nodded and turned to do his work, I took a sip of the drink and found out it was hot chocolate, I smiled, and turned back to drawing.
-Two hours later-
It was two hours later that something finally happened, and I had turned to do maths homework instead of drawing, I was part way through the homework when uncle Jethro's phone began to ring
"Gibbs…. I'll be right there." Then he hung up and stood from his seat, but paused and looked down at me and caught me looking at him "I'll be back, I've got to go see the Director." I nodded and he left the bullpen
"What are you working on Alex?" I heard Tim ask from his desk
"Math, aren't you supposed to be working on something?" I asked, turned in my seat to look at him
"Not now, just looking over Cold Cases, I finished the report, it's Tony's turn to do it now." Tim responded
"I'm doing it, I'm doing it." Tony spoke up, typing, when suddenly a door slammed above us, Tim, Tony and I all looked up to see uncle Jethro storming away from the directors office, the Director close on his heels
"Jethro-" the Director started
"This is not up for discussion Jen, he's family!" Uncle Jethro cut her off
"He's not even your blood!" she yelled, and I froze 'Are they talking about me?'
"You don't know anything Jen! Of course he's my blood!"
"Then have a DNA test to prove it."
"He's my nephew, not my son, and I don't need a DNA test to prove it because I was there."
"You were there when he was consieved Jethro really-"
"No, I was there when my sister gave birth to him, because that husband of hers wouldn't go with her!"
"She's not-"
"She is my sister! As much as I don't appriceiate her way of life, doesn't mean I love her any less, she is my sister and he is my nephew, end of discussion." Uncle Jethro said finally before jogging down the stairs, into the bullpen and straight over to me "Pack your stuff up." I frowned slightly and packed my things away, and rising to stand
"Boss?" Tim asked, making Uncle Jethro turn to him
"Carry on with Cold Cases, and reports, I'll be back when I can." Uncle Jethro responded and Tim nodded, gave me a nod and returned to his work. Uncle Jethro wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me to the elevator
"Jethro where are you going?!" the Director demanded
"I'm taking my nephew home and away from you Jen, he doesn't need to hear anymore of this." Uncle Jethro responded, gritting his teeth, and hitting the call button for the elevator.
"You can't just leave!" She yelled, uncle Jethro removed his arm from around me and spun around to face her
"Watch me." Then he pulled me into the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors before the Director to step in, he then hit the ground floor button, before hitting the emergency switch as we began moving, making the elevator shut down, before uncle Jethro punched the closed doors for the elevator.
"Uncle Jethro?" he took some deep breaths before turning to face me
"I'm sorry you had to hear that Alex, Jen has always had a problem when it came to my family."
"As long as none of what she said it true, then I don't really care what she has to say, you Tim and Tony have been a better family to me in one day than my mother or father has, and I'm really greatful for that." He smiled and pulled me into a hug
"Come on, let go get some lunch then I'll take you back home." I nodded as we pulled out of the hug and uncle Jethro set the elevator going again.
We stopped for burgers on the way back to the house, eating quickly we were soon on our way back to the house.
"You'll be alright looking after Jett, won't you?" Uncle Jethro asked, I nodded
"Of course, I don't want to keep you from your job, I'll look after Jett." He chuckled
"More like Jett'll look after you." I grinned
"We'll look after each other." He nodded as he pulled into the driveway of his house.
"Come on then." We climbed out of the car and walked up the porch, uncle Jethro unlocked the door and stepped in first "Jett Sit, in you come Alex." I stepped into the house and shut the door, only for Jett to jump up and knock me over licking my face. I laughed trying to push him off me
"Jett, stop, alright, I missed you too." At that he got off and sat next to me, gave out a little bark, started wagging his tail, with his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
"Jett, sure loves you Alex." Uncle Jethro said holding out a hand, I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet
"Yeah, sure looks like that huh?" he chuckled and pointed to the living room
"Remotes are all on the table, Jett isn't allowed on the furntiture, don't let the puppy eyes fool you." I grinned at the whine Jett gave "Foods in the kitchen if you get hungry, but it's Tim's turn to cook tonight, so I would't snack too much." I nodded
"Right." He nodded and patted my shoulder
"Oh and DVD's are in the cupboard to the side of the tv stand." I nod and he heads out of the house, suddenly Jett dashes into the kitchen and I heard a bell ringing soon after. I frowned and followed after Jett to see him at the back door, with a bit of rope in his mouth that held a bell, I chuckled as his tail began wagging
"You need to go out huh?" he dropped the rope and barked, I chuckled and opened the back door for him to run out. I then walked into the kitchen and sat on a stool pulling out my phone, I spotted a business card in an evidence bag on the table and walked over to pick it up "Angel investigations? Could it be Deadboy? I'll ring and see." Putting the number in my phone I dialed it rang until, it picked up on the other end
Angel investigations, we help the helpless
A male british voice answered, I recognized that voice
"Wesley?"
Xander? Why are you calling?
"It's Alex actually now, I was calling to see if this was a number I could use to et in touch with deadboy."
Why do you want to get in touch with Angel?
"I just need to talk to him Wesley, is he there?"
-Yeah Alex, I'm here, what do you need?- Angel answered, obviously taking the phone from Wesley
"It's, well it's about Cordelia."
-We've been trying to get in touch with her, is she with you?-
I sighed, tears gathering in my eyes, I pulled the phone away from my ear for a moment to collect myself again. I heard a whine and glanced down seeing that Jett was back inside looking up at me with sad eyes, I quickly closed the door and sat down on the kitchen floor, leaning against the cupboards with my phone in my hand and Jett laid down next to me, with his head in my lap. I put the phone back to my ear,
-Alex? Alex? Are you alright? Can you hear me? Alex?!-
"Yeah Angel I can hear you, sorry I had to let my uncle's dog back in."
-At least you're alright, now about Cordelia, is she with you? We really need her here-
"Angel, Cordy…She's dead." I felt the tears gathering again
-What?-
"She was turned, I had to stake her."
We could have put her soul back Xander! How could you do that?
The tears that had gathered fell down my face, at the guilt I already felt for killing her
-Shut up Wesley! Doyle get him out of here! … Sorry about that Alex-
"It's fine, I understand that the spell could have been done, but she was in a public place, she asked me to do it, I didn't want to-"
-Alex, calm down, you did good, Cordy would have never wanted to live if she had been turned, we both know that-
"Yeah, she didn't try to hurt anyone, she might have thrown some medical exminers across the room, but she never went to eat them, it was like she was still her, still our Cordy."
-Even if she did still have her soul, She wouldn't have wanted this life Alex, you did the right thing-
"Thanks."
-How are you doing?-
"I wish she had never come to D.C, wish she would have stayed with you, then I would have known she would have been alive."
-She went to find your uncle-
"What?"
-She knew you had an uncle in D.C, she didn't want you staying in SunnyDale anymore and was going to tell your uncle to go get you-
"I'm kinda glad then, I finally met my uncle, it was how I knew Cordy was dead."
-I'm gonna guess and say you're not in SunnyDale anymore then?-
"No, I'm in D.C, can't go back to Sunnydale."
-Why not?-
"Buffy found out that I lied to her, when Willow was doing the re-ensoulment spell, I wanted her to give it her all, and hurt you, like you hurt Giles, hurt all of us."
-I'm glad you did Alex, I knew that you had lied when I came back, but I never said anything-
"I'm kinda glad you didn't." I heard him chuckle on the other side on the line "Hey Angel?"
-Hmm?-
"How did you know to message me yesterday?"
-That's a long story-
"I've got time." He chuckled again
-You really want to sit and talk on the phone with me?-
"Like I said, I've got time."
-Alright, this is the work line, so let me call you back on my personal line-
"Okay." Then the line went dead, I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked down at Jett who whined, I smiled and petted his head "I'm alright Jett, I promise." He gave me a look as if to say 'I don't believe you' and I grinned and scratched behind his ears. Suddenly my phone rang, it was a number I didn't recognize, I answered it
"Hello?"
Alex, it's Tim, Jethro wanted me to call you and say we might be later than we thought tonight
"Why's that?"
A case has come in, we're on our way to the crime scene now, if we're not back by dinner time, Jett's food is on the side and just give him a cup full into his bowl, that'll do him, and you just make yourself something, or there is money at home if you want to order something
"Okay Tim, thanks, good luck on your case." I heard him chuckle
That depends on the type of case we've got, but I'll bank the luck Alex
"See you later Tim."
See you
Then the line went dead, I grinned nd got up from the kitchen floor, and headed into the living room, sitting on the sofa, whilst Jett went to curl up in his bed, I kicked my shoes off and curled up on the sofa and began to reach for the remote when my phone began to ring again. I looked and saw another number I didn't recognize and I answered
"Hello?"
-Alex, it's Angel-
"Oh, for a moment I thought you weren't going to call back."
-I couldn't get through, I think your phone was on another call-
"Yeah, sorry, I was talking to my uncle's partner."
-That's fine-
"So, how did you know to message me yesterday?"
-I have someone who works for me called Doyle, he has visions that help us find people who need help-
"I needed help then?"
-I suppose so, and it mustn't have been too bad as Doyle's headache wasn't as bad as when he gets ones about demons-
"He get's visons about demons?"
-Yeah, he said it was a gift from the Powers that Be, but we think it's more of a curse, especially with how bad the visons can get-
"Right….So you've got an investigation business?" I heard him chuckle
-Ran out of things to say?-
"Kinda." I heard him chuckle again
-Yes, I own an investigation business, it was Cordelia's idea actually-
"Really?"
That strung up a convisation about his business, and old stories from our times in Sunnydale, with Cordy. We spoke for a few hours, when I suddenly noticed the time
"Hey, I've just notice what time it is, I need to feed Jett and myself." I heard him chuckle
-Who's Jett?-
"My Uncle's and his Partners dog, they've got to work late tonight so asked me to feed him."
-Alright, I need to get back to work anyway, paperwork is not all it's chalked up to be- I grinned
"Well, It was nice talking to you Angel."
-Likewise Alex-
"I'll talk to you another time."
-Bye Alex-
"Bye." We hung up the line, and I stood from the sofa, Jett, who had been asleep, perked up "Come on Jett." He bounded over to me and we walked into the kitchen, I put down his food, that he immdietaly began eating, whilst I looked for something to eat myself.
I decided to make myself a sandwich as I wasn't feeling all that hungry, and ate it quickly, when I was finished I washed my plate up and Jett's bowl, who had finished his meal as well, before he dropped a ball at me feet. I grinned at him and leant down to pick it up
"Come on Jett, lets go play ball." I took him outside with the ball and we played fetch for a while. It was some time later when it had gotten darker and the porch lights had come on that I heard calls from inside the house.
"Alex?" I heard uncle Jethro call
"Jett?" I heard Tim call, making Jett perk up and start wagging his tail, I chuckled and turned to the door
"We're out here." A few seconds later they appeared at the door
"Hey Kiddo, didn't expect you to still be up." Uncle Jethro commented reaching down to pet Jett on the head, before moving over to me and pulling me into a hug.
A/N: Hey everyone, sorry about the huge delay on new chapter, but I've started a new job so I'm working a lot more now, and don't have as much time to write new chapters, so I thank everyone who had been extremely patient with me, I hopefully with be putting more chapters up for my on going stories in the near future, I'm hoping to get some more chapters up this week, and also another new chapter for this story too. So again thank you for being patient and i hope you continue to be patient while I write new chapters. Thank you again xx Dark xx