DINNER MEETINGS 3 – NICE MEETING YOU AGAIN
Author: Dampyria
Fandom: M7 / BtVS crossover
Summary: A week-end spent together (part one)
Rating: PG17
Paring: JD/Xander (slash)
Spoilers: BtVS (Post season 7 – Pre Comics season 8), M7 (none – ATF universe)
Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent Seven or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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First of all thanks for all the great reviews. They really helped me finish the story sooner, a great incentive. Hint, hint…
For what concerns the beta reader I am still searching for her/him. In the mean time I'm doing all that is in my power to check the story over. I am well aware that this is not enough, so I came up with a plan. If you, gentle readers, notice a mistake that I keep making over and over, please drop me a PM or an e-mail and I will try to make it all better.
As for the Mythos – Methos I will fix the spelling as soon as I figure out how to change the documents, without erasing the reviews. Thanks Kohanita.
Now on with the X/JD goodness…..
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It was a busy day at team seven office. Kind of unusual, considering that they spend most of their time in the field. Today, there were no big cases on the horizon. Normally that would mean an early dismissal and whiskey all around at the Saloon, normally!
Team seven might be one of the best out there when it comes to fighting crime, sadly the same couldn't be said about paperwork, as all the desks filled with papers could attest to. All, except one.
JD finished the last file and closed the computer with a satisfied smile. After days and days of boring, repetitive work he was finally free to enjoy the rest of his well earned week-end. He shut down the computer and went to find Chris.
"Hey boss-man, I'm all done for today," he smiled.
Chris lifted his head from the file he was finishing up: "All the cases?"
"Yes," grinned JD, swaying on his heels.
"The Johnson, Parker, Leonard case?"
"Yes, yes and yes."
"The Santi, Cornwell, Leopoldi?"
"Yes, yes and yes," said JD with a growing smile.
Chris shot a disgusted look at his overflow desk and snarled "Get the hell out of here before I shoot you!"
JD laughed and turned to leave when Chris stopped him. "After this we will spent the week-end at the ranch. Can we expect you?"
"Err no, sorry. I have other plans."
Chris smirked, "New girl-friend?"
After the horrible break-up with Cassie, the kid hasn't looked at another girl. Buck was desperate for his young friend, deemed it unhealthy and unnatural to be celibate at that age, with the possibility of serious consequences for the future development of the boys psyche.
But JD just shook his head and smiled. "Nope, just a new friend that is in town for a couple of days."
Watching the kids departure he wasn't so sure about the 'just friends' story. JD practically skipped out of the office like a five year kid that was promised an ice-cream. On the other hand it wasn't his place to interrogate his subordinate about his personal life. It would be unprofessional. No, he smirked; he will leave that pleasure to Buck and then just wait for the man to report back to him.
Buck and Ezra exchanged a confused look as JD resurfaced from Chris' office with a big smile on his face. Nobody leaves Chris office with a smile when there is paperwork involved! Something was wrong with that picture. Fact confirmed when JD begun to pack his over shoulder bag.
"Hey JD, what are you doing?" asked Buck.
"Did Chris assign you a new mission?" guessed Vin.
JD shook his head and without missing a beat, begun walking toward the elevator.
"Hey kiddo, wait up. Where are you going?" asked Back already hurrying after him.
"Airport," replied the young agent, stepping into the elevator.
"What for?"
Buck was about to follow him in the metal box, when a booming voice from the other side of the office stopped him dead in his tracks: "Don't even think to put your foot in there unless all the work is done Buck!"
"But Chris…" he whined. He wasn't about to let their younger colleague just walk out like that, without even a smidge of an explanation. Not in normal circumstances and certainly not when there is paperwork involved. If the kid was a real friend he should have offered to help with Bucks work when he finished his. That's what friends do!
"No buts. Finish the paperwork and then you are free to go where ever you want," said Chris feeling much like a babysitter watching a bunch of undisciplined kids. He had to confess that he was as eager as Buck about what JD was up to, but he wasn't going to put his own curiosity in front of his responsibilities. Besides, there was always Monday.
"JD…" Buck started to say but stopped when he found himself in front of closed doors, JD nowhere to be seen.
"Damn Chris, look at what have you done! Now I haven't found out what the kid is up to… … but I don't have to, do I? What is going on?" he asked his oldest friend.
"What is going on is that your stack of paper seems to multiply instead of decreasing. Back to work!"
"But JD…" protested Buck.
"JD actually finished his work, unlike the rest of you." Chris glared at the others members of his team. All of them were pretending to work, while secretly listening to the conversation. 'Bunch of kids indeed.'
"Back to work. Now!"
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JD shuddered in the elevator. Even if it was impossible through steel walls, he could swear, that he heard Chris booming voice yelling orders to the others. Silently he offered a prayer for his still suffering companions, while at the same time celebrating that he got out of there.
As soon as he reached the underground parking lot he hurried to his car and jumped in. Despite what he had said to Xander in his email, he still couldn't believe that Chris had authorized him to leave work early.
He half expected a phone call telling him that he was needed back in the office. Of course, rationally he knew that Chris would never do that, but emotionally he wasn't so sure. So nobody could really blame him if he stepped a little too heavily on the gas, not even the stupid patrol officer. 'Damn, he was gonna be late!'
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Surprisingly enough, Xander's plane landed on time. He has already gone through the security check and was now waiting to pick up his bag, all the while surveying the airport for any sign of his friend.
Hoisting his bag onto the shoulder Xander moved to the waiting area and sat in one of the chairs, wincing as his bruises made contact with the hard surface. He wondered briefly why the hell they didn't use a more comfortable material for the seats.
As the discomfort faded so did all the questions of soft surfaces, leaving space for more important thoughts to enter his mind. More accurately the whereabouts of one ATF agent, that was supposed to pick him up.
Picking up his cell phone he hit the speed dial and waited for a response.
As it turned out JD was running a little late, due to some trouble with a patrol officer. It's funny. One might think that cops help each other out in situations like that, or at list that's what happens in the movies. In reality there was some kind of animosity between different branches of law enforcers.
So instead of going away scot free, JD received a ticket and on top of that he was forced to listen to a half an hour long sermon about the dangers of speeding.
With JD's rant still loudly ringing in his ear, Xander got as comfortable as he could manage and promptly fell asleep.
When JD finally made it to the airport he had no difficulty finding Xander. All he had to do was follow the loud snores. Taking a moment to study the other man, he noticed the dark circle under his eye that had started to fade to a dark purple and the ruffled clothes. The other appeared to be tired, but JD was happy to see that the air of despair that surrounded the young man on their first meeting was gone.
Deciding that he could not possibly part with the cuteness without taking some kind of trophy, he fished out his cell phone and took several photos before finally waking his victim up.
"Hey Xan!" he called before gently shaking him awake. "Taking an afternoon nap, are we?"
"Wha…?" Xander blinked, looking around himself, confused until his gaze stopped on a grinning JD. Matching him grin for grin Xander stretched on the plastic chair trying to work out the kinks without to much pain.
"Yes old man, you should know all about it," he shot before standing up to engulf the other man in a bear hug.
"From the mouth of the babes…" retaliated JD returning the hug.
After a while they separated with a last manly pat on the back and started moving toward the parking lot.
"How was your flight?" asked JD trying to start a conversation.
"It was good. No murderous attendants or angry passenger mobs, ready to draw out their pitch-forks the moment I close my eyes."
"I take it that today you were on time?" smirked JD.
"Not only on time, but I got there one hour early. Can you imagine? Of course there was another poor bastard that was late twenty minutes."
"Was he also afraid for his life?"
"Strangely enough there was no sigh of impeding doom. The other passengers were a little annoyed, but that was all. Figures, that the one time I am a little late the flight attendant turned out to be the easily angered type. It's the story of my life."
"You are aware that now you will have to explain that statement?"
"Yes, but not right now. So what's the plan?" asked Xander stopping right behind JD as he was unlocking the car. "And by the way, nice car!"
"She's a beauty, isn't she? Unfortunately it's not mine, a friend loaned it to me for the week-end. I don't own a car, but I have this fabulous bike, it's my baby," Smiled JD proudly, as if he was talking about his child. "I rebuild it myself, piece by piece."
"So you are quite good with mechanics. It would have come in handy the time that my engine literally fell out of my car."
When JD opened his mouth to ask further questions Xander silenced him with a hand gesture: "It's a really long story and no power on earth is going to make me reveal it."
"Okay so then how about a bike race? I could show you some of my moves." Grinned JD suggestively.
Xander looked at JD strangely for a moment then shook his head: "Sorry but I am not a big fan of bikes. Still having nightmares of the time I rode with Faith. I thought we were as good as dead. That girl is a public menace."
"No big, it was just an idea. So what would you like to do today? Sight-seeing, movies?" asked JD, while starting up the car.
"Well. I'm pretty beat from the last couple of days. What do you say if we dump my bag at the motel and then go to the theatre, followed by a delicious dinner?"
"Works for me," said the agent carefully driving out of the parking lot. Xander relaxed on the soft, comfy seat and closed his eye for a minute, only to open it again in terror, as JD left the parking lot and sped up at inhuman speed leaving behind him screeching tires and angry shouts.
"Say wouldn't you happen to take your driving lessons from a short blond girl named Buffy, would you?" Xander griped the door handle and closed his eye as they speed by a truck, nearly colliding with a car coming from the opposite direction.
"Nah, Buck gave me some lessons. She one of your friends?"
"Yeah, second oldest," said Xander holding his breath as they took a nasty looking curb at full speed. "Merciful Zeus! Have I told you that we don't allow her to drive anymore?"
"That must suck for her," replied JD cheerfully, then taking pity on his companion slowed down. "Relax. I'm good at this. Here, put this CD in. You will love it."
Still a little mistrustful, Xander forced his fingers to let go of the handle and grabbed the item, studding it, trying to guess its contents. When no answer was forthcoming from the blank CD label, he plucked it in and waited for the music to start.
He didn't need to wait long. Pretty soon the vehicle was filled with the longing sound of a guitar. Now Xander was, what you call, a western guy through and through, but there was something about the music that spoke to him.
"Pretty good," he found himself commenting, relaxing a little more. "Who is playing?"
"Remember we talked about Highlander?" JD reminded him.
"So?"
JD waited a couple of minutes for Xanders brain kick in and then: "No way! This is Joe Dawson? Damn he is good!"
"Actually his real name is Jim Byrnes, but yeah that's the guy."
The rest of the ride was spent mostly in silence, broken only when JD asked for the address of the motel Xander was staying at.
Once they arrived at the destination Xander jumped out of the car and went to the reception, leaving JD alone to admire the place.
The motel was old and a little run down, but kept in good shape by the owners. It was probably build in the seventies. The small buildings that housed the rooms were scattered around a small patch of land surrounded by threes and pick-nick tables. All in all not bad, but he was sure that Xander could afford a five star hotel in the center of the city, if he wanted to. It was one of the things that bothered him about his new friend.
"Ready to go?" asked Xander, joining him at the car. "My room is lucky number 13. It should be one of those rooms back there." He said and pointed his finger to one of the most isolated rooms.
Following the one eyed man with a light jog he decided to satisfy his curiosity. "Why did you choose this location? Don't get me wrong, but since you travel first class, shouldn't you be able to afford a nicer place?"
"Yes, but I … It doesn't feel right. The new places don't have that feeling of being lived in, of having a soul. They are nice, but feel empty."
"I guess I get where you are coming from. Even if I would prefer a five star place myself. So what is about the planes then? Why go first class?"
"That is a whole new can of worms. I like being comfy when I travel," grinned Xander, unlocking the door.
"You're a very strange man," commented JD.
"You have no idea!" smiled Xander, quoting his favorite line from the movie Reversal of Fortune. "You mind if I take a quick shower?"
JD head shot up while imagines of a naked Xander filled his mind. The tepid water hitting his lean body, leaving it wet and lick-able. Then there comes the soap, bubbly and slippery…
"Hey JD, you still in there?" Xander poked him in the arm, trying to get his attention back from wherever it went.
"Oh yes sorry. Sure I will just wait here." JD wasn't sure how he managed it, but he was able to put more than two words together and made them make sense. A real accomplishment if you ask him.
"Be right back and then we can decide about the movie we are seeing."
With that Xander left the room and closed himself in the shower. There was a moment of silence and then the water started to run. Before he understood what he was doing JD had already crossed the room and was lifting his hand to the bathroom door, before stopping himself. What the hell was he doing?
A couple of hours in Xanders company and he had turned into a pervert that spies on people in the showers. Shaking his head he took a step back and then another, until he was with his back to the opposite wall. Then, and only then, he found the strength to turn around and leave the room.
Sitting on the near-by wooden table, he cursed himself about not smoking. If he ever needed a cigarette, it was now.
His hands were shaking as if someone had just taken a shot at him. He didn't get it. One moment he was talking to his friend, the next he had this urge to jump the guy. Something like that never happened to him. Not with boys or even girls.
The feeling was so instantaneous that he hadn't had the time to police his actions. He just went for it. If Xander only knew…
Fifteen minutes later the young watcher emerged from the house, clean shaven and in new clothes. Seemingly unaware of the others turbulent feelings he sat on the table and opened the laptop that he brought with him.
"So I was checking the local theatres and came up with a couple of different choices in movies. See?" he asked angling the screen so that they could both look at it.
"We have Spiderman 3 at tree p.m., than there is Hulk 2 at three thirty. We could watch one of these. Or we could go to the mall and make a marathon out of it. Watching one movie after the other and taking a quick bite in between. What do you think?"
"JD? Are you okay?" was concerned Xander. He didn't know the boy all that well, but the impression he got from him was that JD wouldn't normally stare at tin air.
"What? Oh sorry I spaced out. Again. I guess I still have my head screwed on work. Let me see… Yes the mall has definitely my vote. What about you?"
Xander didn't look all that convinced that everything was okay with his friend, but he would let it slide, for now. "The mall it is. Quick, to the bat-mobile."
JD watched Xanders retreating jeans clad ass, and not having the crazy urge to tackle him to the ground and ravish him, he chunked his reaction up to the dry spell that hit him the moment Cass dumped him, four months ago.
When they arrived at the theatre most of the tickets were already sold, as it was to be expected, but they managed to score a couple of good seats from a girl that was stood up by her boyfriend. From her angry face and snide comments, they really didn't envy the poor bastard.
The movies were okay, even if the first ones were much better. In the time between the movies they mostly discussed sci-fi, the movies, series and special effects. Xander was ecstatic. Finally he found a guy with whom he could freely discuss sci-fi without the other thinking that he was a geek and with no need to be fanatic about it like with Andrew.
Time passed quickly and before they knew it, they were back to the motel, with a bag of junk food and sodas. This setting reminded JD a lot their 'first night together' without all the alcohol.
It was the perfect time for him to make his move on the unsuspecting youth, but like with all best laid plans, thing didn't go according to his wishes.
The TV was playing an old Spiderman series and pretty soon they were deeply involved in discussing the differences about the series and the movie they just saw.
At some point JD noticed that his companion had suddenly gone silent. Looking back at Xander, he saw that much like the first night the boy had fallen asleep with a soda can still in his hand. At first he was a little stunned and disappointed by the turn of events, but soon he found the funny part of it and started snickering.
It seemed like it wasn't meant to be tonight. Besides, he rationalized, Xander was dead tired. Not the perfect time to start anything. Also they had another full day to play together.
Bending over, he retrieved the half empty can and put it on the night-table on Xanders side. On his way back he couldn't help himself not to touch him. He put his hand on the others' chest and then slide it slowly down to his hip.
Looking up, from his illegal exploration he noticed a single chocolate eye watching him sleepily. With his hand still on Xander's hip he lowered his eyes to the full, slightly parted lips and then back to the eye.
His heart was pounding like crazy. Without saying a word he bended toward the inviting lips, and than he chickened out.
"You fell asleep with a half empty soda in your hand," he murmured.
Xander stared at him for a couple more minutes and then, instead of taking the initiative like JD hoped he would, he turned around and promptly fell back to sleep.
JD observed the turned back with regret, before deciding that nothing more was going to happen tonight. He laid down and tried to go to sleep. Two hours later he was still wide awake and painfully aware of the Watchers body right beside his.
'Tomorrow.' He repeated to himself over and over. 'Tomorrow is another day.'
Tbc…..
Next: Second part of the story – day two.