Timeline: BtVS: Post-Chosen & anytime after Alden Parker joined NCIS.
Disclaimer: Nothing copyrighted belongs to yours truly.
Author's Note: Written for Day 3 of the 2024 August Fic-A-Day.

"Buffy? What are you doing in D.C.? Why didn't you call? We could've met up somewhere."

The Slayer spun around and gave the man a vaguely surprised look. "Uncle Alden! Um, hi!" She gave him a good smile while trying to find a plausible answer. "Uh, I'm just passing through. Business trip, you know how it is. I'm only here for a few days."

It was true. She was only passing through; Slayage was her business; and she really was only staying for a few very busy days. Now all she had to do was sell the story without accidentally spilling any supernatural beans, or making him suspicious enough to investigate, and she'd be golden. What was it Spike had kept saying? If you want to lie convincingly, keep it as close to the truth as possible. Right. Piece of cake.

Besides, she genuinely liked this particular uncle, even if she had never kept in very close contact with him.

"Business trip? What do you do for a living?" He appeared to be genuinely interested in hearing her answer. She could do this. Had even practiced a little with Willow and Xander to try to become a little more convincing in case she met someone she had known before who was likely to ask exactly that question.

"Private security. Some potential associates insisted we come all the way here to discuss a possible job thing."

Uncle Alden gave her an amused grin, "Well, look at you. All grown up and sitting through serious meetings." He dialed back the grin before he continued. "Interesting work? Do you like it? Last I remember us talking about your career path you seemed to be aiming for becoming a trophy wife."

Buffy wrinkled her nose. It was a little embarrassing to be reminded of how low her aspirations in Junior High and the beginning of High School had been, but her Uncle was right; back then her intentions had effectively been to get a rich husband and use his money for endless shopping sprees. Ah, to be so very young and careless again.

"I did not need a reminder of my lack of ambition back then, Uncle Alden. I've come a long way since then. Moving to Sunnydale and getting away from all the rich and snobby people changed my view on a lot of things. But yes, I love my job. It's very diverse and takes me to some interesting places."

Then she flipped the script on him to try and avoid more questions about her life. "What about you? Still an FBI Agent?"

"Actually no, I was fired a while back for reasons I can't talk about."

Buffy raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow, "Go you?"

Alden Parker laughed a little, "Yeah, pretty much. My boss didn't agree, but luckily I was offered a job by NCIS right after, so it's all good."

She cocked her head to the side, "What's that?"

"Naval Criminal Investigative Service." She considered for a split second to play into the blonde act but chose not to. For some reason, she didn't want him to believe she was that dumb, or pretending to be. "It's a lot like the FBI, except we investigate crimes committed by or against members of the Navy and Marine Corps and their dependants, felony crime, and preventing terrorism. It's a smaller agency, but I prefer it over the FBI."

"Sounds like your slight career change was a good one then." She would've asked more questions, but his phone rang and he had to run. Federal cases didn't take a break just because one of their agents ran into long-lost family members.

"Rain check? Call me the next time you're in town, even if it's just for a day or two. We can do a proper reunion with dinner and the works."

She smiled and promised to check in the next time she was around his part of the country, and then they went their separate ways. Buffy really was in town for a series of meetings, just not for security reasons. A glance down at her watch told her that she would officially be late for said appointment, and she powerwalked to her rental car.