A/N: Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed or put this story on alert -I have been totally blown away by the response. I know some of you have been very keen to see the fight in this chapter.. once again, I have little to no real world experience in this so I hope it's okay!

Xander soon found himself wearing a set of sweats belonging to Gibbs, who had advised him to make sure he brought in a set of his own to keep at work, along with a complete set of spare work clothes. Gibbs had at first told them Ziva was going to fight Xander, until Tony commented that she 'would probably kill the probie'. So now he was going to face Tony first, and then -if he was any good -he would also fight Ziva.

Xander was not looking forward to this. He'd kept his fitness up whilst in college, but mostly through running and the odd game of basketball with some of his college friends. He hadn't fought Sunnydale-style since, well, Sunnydale. And actually, now he thought about it, Sunnydale-style probably wasn't going to help much here. There, you were usually only looking to survive long enough to get in one good blow to the chest. With a weapon. And when that blow hit home, you could be assured that the enemy would stop fighting back. So it didn't matter if that last blow left you open. How was he going to fight a human? He had only ever fought to kill -never to 'win' in any other way. He had a decent idea about blocking attacks, but figured his fighting style was probably more 'girl' and less 'street'. And there was no wooden stake here to deal an absolute victory. Oh god. This could not go well.

Tony was waiting on the mats, jumping around like a kid who had eaten too much cotton candy. Ziva was laughing at him and teasing him about something. Xander walked slowly towards them, feeling more and more uncomfortable with every step.

"Harris."

Xander looked over and saw Gibbs sitting on a bench against the wall. He motioned for Xander to join him.

"What's wrong?"

Xander wondered how much was showing on his face, and how much was Gibbs' apparently famous gut. He ran a hand through his hair.

"Nothing. Just haven't done this since... well, just after the accident, I suppose," he replied, gesturing vaguely to his eye.

Gibbs nodded. "Feeling out of practice."

"There's that." Xander watched Tony and Ziva. He knew they'd noticed him sitting next to the boss and wisely chosen to stay clear.

"Where did you learn to fight?" Gibbs was obviously trying to get him to open up, maybe to reassure him.

"No formal training," he replied.

"Alright. How did you learn to fight?"

"The hard way."

"You always this forthright about your past?"

Xander laughed. "Yes." He grinned a moment longer before sobering again.

"O-kay," Gibbs said slowly. "So what's got you bothered about this? You afraid you're going to hurt DiNozzo?"

"I'm more likely to get my ass kicked."

"Just from being out of practice?"

Xander hesitated. "What's the goal of this fight?"

Gibbs seemed surprised at the new direction. "The goal? Take DiNozzo down."

"To restrain him? Incapacitate?"

"Preferably without a loss of conciousness." Gibbs frowned. "Why?"

Xander shrugged. "That's never been the goal before."

"What was the goal before?"

To kill the big bad. "To not get killed."

Gibbs studied him with a frown. "You were fighting for your life?"

Xander didn't answer directly. He decided maybe telling a half-truth would help Gibbs' opinion of him. If Gibbs drew the wrong conclusions, that wouldn't be his fault.

"Have you wondered why there would be a top-secret military operation run on US soil?"

"I have," Gibbs responded grimly.

"Suffice to say, Sunnydale was not a nice town. For the sake of future generations who will never grow up there, I'm glad that it's gone."

Gibbs was quiet a moment before understanding dawned in his eyes. "Sunnydale was that town in California that collapsed into a crater a few years back."

Xander nodded in confirmation.

Gibbs sat back and took a breath. "Okay, so previously you have always fought all-out, because you had to. But your discomfort with this fight is not that you think you'll hurt someone?"

"Generally had some sort of weapon in hand. If I was taken by surprise, whatever was nearby would do."

Gibbs nodded. "But it was always hand-to-hand combat? No firearms?"

"Guns were uncommon. It was a bad town, but it was an old-fashioned bad town." Xander grinned and Gibbs rolled his eyes.

"Then come on. Let's see what you've got. You try not to pull any deadly moves, and I'll tell DiNozzo to play nice."

Xander was relieved. Gibbs could have chosen to push further (Have you ever killed anyone in a fight? God, wouldn't that be a difficult question to answer) but he hadn't.

"DiNozzo."

Tony obediently jogged over. "Boss?"

"Harris is out of practice, and he's never had any training. Start out easy."

"Sure thing Boss." He grinned at Xander as they headed for the mats.

They started with a few punches, before Tony attempted a basic tackle. Xander twisted and pulled free before kicking out and taking Tony's legs from under him. Tony went down, but was back up again in no time. They started at it again, this time Xander finding himself laid out after a few choice moves from his opponent. He quickly rolled to one side and was back on his feet. This pattern continued as Tony slowly upped the attack. Eventually though, Xander had laid him out three times in a row, and he stayed on the floor.

"I'm done, boss. Ziva can have a go if she wants," he panted.

"How you feeling, Harris?" Gibbs asked.

Xander nodded, breathing pretty heavily himself. "Not bad."

Gibbs looked over at Ziva. Who was smiling like she couldn't wait to have a turn. "He is good on the defensive, and skilled at using his opponent's strength against him. His style is that of a street fighter, not a professional, but an experienced street fighter. His offense needs work. He overcompensates for his blind side too much -I would suggest trusting yourself a little more," she said directly to Xander. "You favour the left side so much you're leaving your right open."

Xander thought she had him pinned. Obviously his offensive would be reduced by the lack of weapon in his hand. And while he had fought since losing his eye, it wasn't a regular occurance, so he'd never quite found the right balance there.

Gibbs motioned with his head. "Go on, David."

Ziva stepped forward as Tony left the mats, and picked up where her partner had left off. She was clearly the better fighter, and had Xander down twice before he got one over her. Then she grabbed him from behind, bodies tight up against each other, his arms pinned against his stomach by hers. He could feel her breath on his neck. Suddenly an old fear rose up in him. He panicked. He threw an elbow back -hard- into her stomach. Her weight behind him vanished. He stepped away and spun to meet the next attack.

Which was never going to come, since Ziva was lying on the floor struggling to breathe. Gibbs was over her in an instant, calming her down, telling her to relax.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," he panted, hovering over them anxiously.

"It's alright, she's only winded, she's fine," Gibbs said, reassuring them both. True to his word, Ziva sucked in a giant breath a moment later, and started panting heavily.

"Just breathe Ziva, don't try to talk yet," said Gibbs, a hand on her shoulder to keep her from getting up. Ziva relaxed onto the floor and Gibbs looked up at him. "Xander, sit down before you faint."

Xander sat down right there on the floor beside Ziva and Gibbs, not even noticing that Gibbs had used his nickname for the first time.

Tony appeared from somewhere. "I knew it. Two minutes in the head and you miss all the fun. So what happened? Ziva's down but it's Probie who looks like he's going to chuck?"

"Ziva's just winded. Harris got a good elbow into her stomach." Gibbs looked over at Xander again. "That hold she had you in triggered a bad memory?"

It wasn't exactly the hold that had done it so much as the feeling of her breath on the back of his neck, but it was close enough so Xander nodded.

"Thought as much. Sit tight for a few minutes, then you can go take a shower. DiNozzo, make sure he doesn't fall over in there."

Xander watched as Gibbs helped Ziva up. She'd recovered quickly once she'd started breathing again. Gibbs walked her to the door of the ladies showers but she insisted she was fine and didn't need any further help.

"How you feeling Probie?" Tony asked. "Looks like you're getting some colour back."

Xander nodded and started to get up. Tony offered him a hand and steadied him as they entered the men's showers. Xander started to strip off the loaned sweats.

"Holy crap!"

Xander turned to realise Tony was staring at him -or more specifically, the various scars crossing his otherwise lean body. A moment later Gibbs was there too, drawn by the outburst. His eyes narrowed when he saw the scars, and he gave Xander a nod.

"You weren't kidding." He turned back to Tony and slapped him lightly across the back of the head. "Stop staring and get washed up."

They both continued to clean up. Xander knew he'd have to say something to Tony. He decided on a shortened version of what he'd told Gibbs.

"Tony. The scars and fighting and stuff..." Tony looked over curiously. "I just grew up in a bad town. I fought because I had to."

"You don't have to explain, Probie. Although, by the looks of it, the fact that you're standing here is evidence that you could fight pretty good."

Or that I was always rescued in time, Xander thought.

"Do you never take that eye patch off?" Tony had noticed that Xander was still wearing it, even whilst showering.

"Not often, even at home. It's pretty gruesome under there. Even I would rather not see it."

"Can I see it? Just once?"

Xander sighed. Tony was like a whining child, and Xander was pretty sure he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted.

"Fine, just this once. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Xander slid the elastic off from the back of his head before pulling the eye patch away. Tony's face immediately screwed up in disgust.

"Ugh, god Probie, that's horrible!"

Xander turned away and quickly replaced the eye patch, remembering all over again why he didn't show that to anyone. It wasn't good for the self-esteem when people looked at your face with that level of revulsion. He hurriedly finished getting dressed.

Tony caught up to him as he waited for the elevator back to the bullpen.

"Xander, look, I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine Tony," Xander cut him off. "Just, next time someone badgers me about wanting to see what's under there, make sure you back me up when I say no."

"Sure, of course." Tony nodded eagerly, pleased to have something good come of it.

Xander collapsed onto the sofa, another work day over. Despite not being allowed out in the field yet, Gibbs expected him to help with the office-based case work and to stay at the office as long as the rest of the team. Today he'd finally let them go around 8pm. Xander didn't really mind the hours, since he didn't have any thing to hurry home for, and focussing on a case helped take his mind off all the memories that had been stirred up since starting at NCIS. Not that he'd ever forgotten, but that being reminded of so many all at once had hurt more than he expected.

There was an odd sound at the door. Xander sat up, suddenly wary. He could hear hushed voices and a quiet metallic scraping. Someone, or technically, more than one 'someone', was trying to break in. He checked his weapons. He always carried a small dagger and a sharp 'fake pencil' -all wood, no lead. It might have been a while since he'd needed to use them, but old habits were hard to break.

He approached the door. It was clear that whoever it was, they were trying to pick the lock. There was still muffled whispering going on. He peered through the peephole, sighed and put the dagger and fake pencil away. Then yanked the door open.

Tony and McGee both straightened and McGee turned bright red. He shoved the lockpicking kit in his pocket.

"Uh, hi, um, it's not -I was... sorry." McGee gave up trying to defend their actions. Tony strode shamelessly past Xander into the room.

"So, a suite, Harris? Sounds good in theory, but this hotel? Not very upmarket. Many more out there with... well, everything this place hasn't got. You know: style, quality, pizazz! Not to mention, taste. And furniture younger than we are." He punctuated his descriptions with wild gestures as he looked around.

Xander rolled his eyes and motioned for McGee, still standing awkwardly in the doorway, to come in.

"If could afford to pay for an 'upmarket' hotel suite for several weeks while I look for an apartment, I would. But I haven't even received my first paycheck yet," Xander replied.

Tony considered this. "True. Okay. New solution. You can crash with McGee for a few weeks."

McGee's mouth dropped open. "Tony! I only have a one-bedroom and it's small enough with just me there!"

Tony shrugged and made himself comfortable on the sofa. "I'm sure you two will work it out. Now, Probies! I've gone to the effort of ordering dinner for us, so I hope you've got the money to pay for it when it arrives."

"Uh..." Xander glanced at McGee, who seemed as surprised by this bit of news as he was. "What are we having?"

"Pizza, I assume," answered McGee.

"Pepperoni, sausage and extra cheese." Tony grinned. The senior agent leaned forward to grab the remote, turned on the TV and settled in as though he'd been there a hundred times. Xander shrugged, and he and McGee made their way over to join him.

"So, not meaning to be rude or anything, but why the surprise visit?"

"You're part of the team now, Harris. Got to find out who it is I'll be trusting to have my six in the field." Tony was matter-of-fact, like it should have been obvious.

"And McGee?"

"Was dragged along as an unwilling accomplice," McGee muttered.

"Thought he should know the guy who'll be sitting at his desk for the next few months," Tony smoothly interjected.

"So this is a 'get to know the new guy' interrogation-and-hazing combo?"

Tony laughed loudly, exaggerating it a little bit. "Of course not, Probie." His face switched to deadly serious and he leaned forward. "Now tell me everything!"

Xander snorted and tried to suppress a grin at Tony's antics. "Anything in particular you want to know?" He hoped the questions would be ones he could answer honestly.

"Girlfriend?"

"Not at the moment," he answered easily.

"Does the eyepatch help you pick up girls?"

"Yes." Xander grinned. "Unless they see what's underneath."

"Why would you let them see that?" Tony asked in shock.

"I don't," Xander shook his head. "But you know what girls can be like, especially in college, at a party. They get a few drinks in them, then curiosity overcomes politeness and they reach for the eye patch without even asking."

"Ouch," said Tony sympathetically.

"Is it that bad?" asked McGee, looking between them.

"You would turn green, McQueasy," said Tony. "Wanna see?"

Xander was about to protest but McGee beat him to it.

"No, no, that's fine, really," he said quickly. "I don't need to see." Xander smiled and relaxed -Tony had clearly offered because he'd known McGee would decline.

There was a knock at the door indicating the pizza had arrived. McGee and Xander managed to work out the money between them, causing Tony to repeat his suggestion that they become flatmates. For his part, Tony pulled a six pack of beer from his backpack and handed one to each of them. He found a baseball game on TV and they settled down to eat.

"So, back to the important stuff," Tony said, mouth still full. "What do you drive?"

"A 2001 Honda Accord. Old but reliable. College mate sold it to me," Xander replied.

"Okay, dream car then?" Tony amended the question. Xander thought about it.

"Always been partial to Corvettes."

"Nice choice. I used to own a Corvette," said Tony, sounding wistful. "Coupe or convertible?"

"Convertible. What happened to yours?" Xander asked.

Tony affected a long suffering sigh. "It was stolen and destroyed in a high-speed police chase."

McGee grinned. "And then there was the Mustang."

"Oh?" Xander sensed a story.

"It got blown up, by the CIA," Tony admitted. "Did you know car insurance doesn't cover 'bombs planted by rogue federal agents'? They refused to pay it out."

"The CIA blew up your car?" Xander exclaimed.

"I don't think that was ever proven, Tony," commented McGee.

"Didn't need to be. I know Kort did it. Next topic!" Tony steered the conversation away. "Movies."

"Um.. yes?" answered Xander. "I watch them. I like them."

"What kind?"

"Comedy, action, sci-fi, documentaries. Whatever's on, really."

"You seen The Fugitive?"

"Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford? Great movie."

"Bond?"

"Hasn't everyone seen the Bond movies?"

"The Godfather trilogy?"

"Bonasera," Xander intoned in a slightly husky voice. "What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully?"

Tony nodded in approval. "Good man." He settled back, his main lines of questioning apparently satisfied.

"So, uh, what other jobs have you had, Xander?" asked McGee.

Xander finished his last piece of pizza and picked up his beer. "I worked in a bar during college. Did construction for a while before that. Carpentry, mostly, and that was pretty good. Various crappy jobs before that."

"Carpentry?" asked McGee. "Gibbs will like you better when he hears that."

"Really? Why?" Xander couldn't see any obvious reason.

"The boss is always building things in his basement," Tony explained. "Used to always be boats, but he's built some other stuff too, I think. And he does it all by hand, no power tools."

Xander chuckled. He could imagine it. He stood up and collected the pizza boxes, and McGee gave him a hand with the empty beer bottles. They moved into the kitchenette area, discussing their worst jobs -McGee cringed at Xander's 'phone sex operator' but Xander thought McGee's 'porta-potty cleaner' was the winner by a long shot. They were interrupted by an exclamation.

"Harris! Tell me you never take these out in public?"

Oh crap. Tony had wandered into the bedroom. What had he found? Xander had a reasonable collection of weapons in there -a battle axe, a proper sword and a crossbow -which he had obtained whilst travelling with the Scoobies in Europe. Along with a few 'standard' items like a couple of spare stakes and a few bottles of holy water. Old habits, etc. He planned to hang the bigger weapons as 'decorative pieces' when he found a flat. But he was pretty sure he had left them safely stored away in a closed suitcase. Just how nosy was DiNozzo?

Xander and McGee quickly crossed to the bedroom. They found Tony standing over a suitcase he'd put on the bed and opened. It was a suitcase full of... clothes. In particular, there were several horribly bad Hawaiian shirts. Xander burst out laughing in relief.

Tony pulled out an old -but still lurid -multicoloured shirt, and waved it around. "Seriously! There are Hawaiian shirts, and then there are these. These should never see the light of day! It's a crime, and one I could not idly stand by and watch you commit!"

"I won't wear them to work, Tony," Xander replied, still chuckling. Tony threw the shirt back on top of the pile.

"Shouldn't wear them at all," he replied. "Even McGeek has better taste. Tell you what, when you get that first paycheck you let me know, and I'll give you a list of decent stores to shop at."

"Uh, I think my first paycheck will be going towards a permanent place to live," Xander replied.

"Priorities, Harris." He shook his head as though Xander's taste in clothes was a lost cause. "Come on, McGee, time for us to be off. Another fun-filled day at the office awaits us tomorrow."

Xander followed them to the door of the suite. McGee paused in the doorway.

"By the way, Abby and Ziva will probably demand you go out for drinks with us on Friday night. If they, you know, hear about this, tonight." McGee gestured vaguely at Xander's suite. "They'll probably be annoyed they weren't invited."

"Should I be worried?" Xander asked.

McGee inclined his head. "You may face the same 'twenty questions' again, especially from Abby. But if you willingly submit yourself to their interrogation, you should be fine."

Xander chuckled. "I think I'll cope. Thanks for the heads up."

McGee flashed him a grin and headed down the hall after Tony. Xander closed the door with a relieved sigh, and called it a night.