Returning Home By Draconia Xander looked over the carnage of the latest battle, his axe resting on his shoulder, feeling tired and out of sorts. He watched as the others slowly gathered, not noticing that he was still off to the side. They smiled at each other joking over different things making plans for the next day. He sighed slowly shaking his head and looked to his left side when he felt some one join him, watching the others. “You leaving?” Buffy asked quietly, slinging an arm around his waist and lent her head against his chest. “You’ve been talking about it for awhile now, wanting to go and see a normal life.” “Yeah, I think I might be, Buff.” He wrapped an arm around her giving her a gentle squeeze. “Not so much a normal life but time to recover from all the recent battles, go catch up on life for awhile.” He bent a little and kissed her forehead. He looked back at the group watching Willow laugh tiredly with Dawn and the others. “I’m not needed so much anymore.” He snorted. “You know what the newbies call me?” He asked her bitterly. “No.” She frowned. “The useless one. Time for me to move on, as you said I’ve been talking about it, been actively doing something about it for the last month.” He released her and took a step back. “My place has sold, everything has been packed up and moved. I got a job waiting for me in two weeks.” “You changing your name?” She asked quietly. “No, I just don’t want to be found for awhile. Consider me a safe house only for awhile, I’ll keep my old voice mail number open so you can call if you need to send someone to me for protection but other than that...” He shook his head. “We all need the down time but unless we quit we aren’t going to get it.” “If that’s what you want.” She nodded slowly in understanding. “You got someone waiting for you?” “Maybe.” He gave her a slow smile. “Someone I met awhile ago, we meet up once in awhile to catch up.” He pulled her into a tight hug for a moment before slowly letting her go and began walking away. He limped his way back to his car, tossing his axe into the boot, changed his top to a cleaner on, stared at the battle ground for a moment before he put his car in gear and drove off, leaving the city behind. ** Xander looked over the house he’d been working on, on his off time with a small smile on his lips. It was finally finished, he turned to face the beach, listening to the waves crash against the shore, closing his eyes letting it sooth him. Opening his eyes with a deep inhale he let it out slowly before he turned, locked up the house after patting his pockets to make sure he had his keys and climbed on his bike, zipped up his leather jacket and pulled his helmet on before speeding through the streets. He stopped for a takeout dinner and began fiddling with his phone sending a music clip to the two people he wanted to see, they would know that he was in town, watching over them from a distance. If they wanted to meet up they knew how to get a hold of him. He lent back in his seat to enjoy his meal and stared out the window, just enjoying the busy city noise as people began heading home for the day. ** Horatio looked up from the file he was going through as his and Speed’s phone beeped letting them know that a message had been received. They glanced at each other grimacing tiredly, hoping that it wasn’t a last minute call out to a scene. They looked at their phones, not recognising the number but opening the file anyway. Music started to play. Beyond the boundaries of your city's lights stand the Heroes waiting for your cries so many times you did not bring this on yourself when that moment finally comes I'll be there to Help... They looked at each other, smiles playing on their lips as they recognised the tune and the song. It brought back memories of the young man who had helped them out a few years ago on a case that didn’t make sense. The young man who had grown on them both. On that day when you need your Brothers and Sisters to care I'll be right here Citizen Soldiers holding the Light for the ones that we Guide from the Dark of Despair Standing on Guard for the ones that We've Sheltered We'll always be ready Cuz' We will always be There... From in we hear the people crying in the streets for when their starving for a meal to eat for when they need simply need a place to make their beds right here underneath My Wing you can rest your head Horatio closed the file and left the office with Speed a step behind him and locked up his office for the night. The song still playing in sync on both phones, signing out for the night. The young man they had both taken in as a lover in times of need and one they had mentored. On that day when you need your Brothers and Sisters to care I'll be right here Citizen Soldiers holding the Light for the ones that we Guide from the Dark of Despair Standing on Guard for the ones that We've Sheltered We'll always be ready Cuz' We will always be There... Hope and Pray that you never need Me but rest assured I will not let you down I walk beside you but you may not see Me the strongest among you may not wear a Crown... On that day when you need your Brothers and Sisters to care I'll be right here On that day when you don't have the strength for the burden you Bear I'll be right here... Citizen Soldiers holding the light for the ones that we guide from the Dark of Despair Standing on Guard for the ones that We've Sheltered We'll always be ready Cause We will always be There... Speed followed Horatio through the streets, passing by most of the places the young man liked to frequent when he was in town until another bike joined them after they passed a nice Chinese restaurant. Horatio sped up once the new bike had joined them and led the way to his home. He waited patiently until they both pulled in and the young man dismounted, removed his helmet and gave them both a goofy smile in greeting. “Missed me that much?” He grinned placing his helmet on his bike and chuckled as he was pulled into a bear hug by Speed. “It has been awhile since we heard from you, Xan.” Speed chided him releasing him, looking him over carefully. “We were getting worried.” “You look like you’ve been ill.” Horatio commented giving him a one arm hug guiding him inside. “Been a hard year, spent the last two months recovering.” He shrugged as the door was closed behind them and moaned as he was pushed against the wall and kissed deeply. “You’re still recovering, I can feel your ribs.” Horatio chided releasing him. “How long you been in town?” Speed asked leading the way to the kitchen and began pulling out food to cook. “I’ve had the feeling that someone has been following me around for awhile.” “As did I.” They both locked eyes with Xander who just smiled. “Xander.” He gave him a stern look. “Two months, I got settled in, rested for two weeks, ate and slept a lot before I started work.” He admitted sinking down on to a stool and lent on the bench. “I finished fixing up my place this morning, no more leaks or drafts.” “You still doing construction?” Speed asked shaking his head. “You could have told us you were here earlier.” “Yeah still working construction, managed to find a good company to work with, at the moment we are gearing up, getting ready for hurricane season.” He nodded and smiled as Horatio handed him a cup of coffee, taking one for himself and leaving Speed’s in reach. “As for not calling earlier, well I knew you guys were busy, run off your feet busy but most I didn’t because I wanted to rest and heal up a bit so I wasn’t hair triggered when I did finally call.” “That bad?” Horatio gave him a concerned look. “It was one battle after another back home, no more than a few days to rest in between.” He nodded slowly sipping at his coffee. “We knew that the last one was going to be the last one for a few months so I made arrangements to leave.” “Did anyone even notice?” Speed snorted. “Buffy did, I told her that I was going and that I was pretty much retiring from the field” He pulled a face. “It took the others up until last week to notice that I wasn’t around and that my place had been sold.” He shrugged. “Buffy sends me emails to my old address once in awhile letting me know what is going on. Willow was the only one who threw a fit, the other three all understood.” He shook his head. “Buffy slapped her and told her to get over it.” “I would have done more than that, some best friend not to notice that you were gone for two months.” Speed snorted in disgust. “Doesn’t matter now.” Xander shrugged and lent back against Horatio who moved behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. “I’m here now, where I’ve wanted to be for awhile and that’s all that matters.” “It does.” Speed grinned at him, leaning forward over the bench and gave him a quick kiss before turning back to the meal he was pulling together. “You hungry or did you pig out at the restaurant?” “I could eat something small.” He grinned. “I only had some noodles and garlic beef.” “Could taste the garlic.” Speed chuckled in agreement. “So are you going to stay retired from that life?” Horatio asked giving his sides a gentle squeeze. “going to try, unless it’s something big or deadly to a lot of people here.” He nodded. “I’ve already done some recon on most of Miami and there is nothing here that is enough to grab my attention unless they bring it to my attention.” He shrugged. “The ones who needed to know, know that I am in town and will step in if it gets out of hand.” He grinned. “As soon as the Masters heard I was here violence died down.” He added in amusement. “We had wondered about that.” Speed snorted. “Even the drug runners and everyone else toned it down for two weeks and we couldn’t figure out why.” “Hmm don’t have much sway over them, unless they work with demons there is no way they would know about me or what a threat I am when provoked.” Xander frowned. “Mostly I think it was because H here went out of town for five days on a cross over case in New York and every one acted up, as soon as he got back, within two days they toned it down again.” He grinned as Horatio glared at him. “You know it’s true, H. As soon as you leave town everyone takes advantage of it.” “True.” He sighed shaking his head. “So how many speeding tickets have you gotten since you’ve been here?” He asked looking curious. “None yet.” He grinned cheekily. “If I had you would have known, I know you’ve got a tag on my name in the system from the last time.” He looked up and kissed Horatio’s chin. “He did?” Speed laughed. “He did” Xander nodded. “I wanted warning if you were in town or in trouble.” Horatio shrugged releasing him and sat down next to him. “He did the same for mine.” Speed shook his head. “True.” He nodded. Speed put everything in a casserole dish and placed it in the oven. “It will be ready in forty five minutes.” He told them before moving around the bench, spun Xander around and gave him a proper kiss.