Chapter 9 Xander pottered around the house, trying to kill time and not feel sheepish at the amused look that Rio had thrown at him before he had left when he had been called out to an early scene. When the clock finally told him that it was just after nine he called Speed hoping that he wasn’t waking up the grumpy man on his day off. “Speedle.” Speed answered, in the background was the sounds of dishes being moved about. “Hey Speed, it’s Xan.” “What’s up?” Speed asked. “It’s Friday, Speed.” Xander pointed out, leaning against the back of the couch to stop himself from pacing. “I know, that’s why I have the day off, your point?” Speed drawled. “Speed.” Xan sighed. “What did we do last Friday?” Xan asked, with a slight shake of his head. “Oh.” Speed sounded uncomfortable. “That.” “Yes that. I was kinda hoping afterwards we could talk?” Xander asked, wincing when he heard that uncertainty in his voice. “Yeah sure, there is a cafe not far from the range.” Speed agreed quietly. “I’ll meet you there, when?” “Sooner you get it done, the sooner you can forget about it for another week.” Xander told him with a small smile. “Sure, I’ll meet you there in twenty.” Speed sighed before hanging up. “And before we both lose our nerve.” Xander muttered, before scooping up his bike keys, his helmet, made sure that his wallet was on him, his cell and pager in his jacket and his gun was secured and headed out. He parked and entered the range, booking two lanes, showing his ID and licence and waited leaning against the counter. “Who you waiting for sugar?” The woman behind the counter asked after he had been standing there for twenty minutes. “Detective Speedle.” He sighed. “I’ll be back, see if I can get him on the phone.” He headed out side and slid his helmet on, changing to the channel Rio had told him about. “Speed? You read me?” “Yeah I read you, ETA Ten minutes, traffic snarl.” Speed growled back. “Roger that, I’ll meet you inside, I booked us in already.” Xander informed him. “Roger and over.” He pulled the helmet off and headed back in. “Bad traffic, he’ll be here soon.” He told the woman before heading back to the two lanes he had booked. He donned the ear mufflers and goggles and took a few shots, before straightening and settled down in his mind, centring himself before taking a few more, emptying the clip. He clicked the safety on and slid the empty clip out and slid in a new one. He turned when he sensed Speed was near and titled his head and raised an eyebrow at the grumpy look on his face. “Three clips?” Speed grumbled as he got into his own lane. “Two for practice and one for stock up.” Xander nodded, coming to stand behind him watching as he set up. “I’m just watching today, though I will tap you if your stance needs correcting.” “Thanks.” Speed nodded, sending out the paper. “H pulled a surprise inspection on my gun two days ago.” Speed said casually as he slid a clip into the gun. “He looked pleased that it was clean.” “Good, you get Calleigh to look at the pin?” He asked, tapping on foot to correct his stance a little. “Yeah, she replaced it for me.” Speed nodded, taking a deep breath and let it out slowly as he pulled the trigger. Xander watched as each bullet went through the paper, wounding shots only, as they were taught to take. “Shoulder still stiff?” Xander asked. “You’re pulling a little to the left.” “Yeah, I have to build it back up.” Speed nodded. “Not sure how to compensate yet.” “Aim a little more to the right, see if that helps.” Xander told him, watching as he changed papers, and shot again emptying out the first clip. “Better, as the shoulder gets better you can adjust.” Speed changed papers again and slid in a new clip. This time he went for kill shots. When his clip was empty they collected their gear, cleaned the gun in the range in an area that was marked for that purpose and then headed out for the Cafe, with Xander following Speed. They ordered a lite early lunch and settled down in a booth away from the other customers. “So, talk.” Speed said bluntly, stabbing some of his salad. “Remember our conversation about me banging my head against the wall?” Xander asked, looking down, not able to look him in the eye and fighting from shifting in his seat. “Yeah,” Speed nodded. “You figured it out?” He sounded amused. “Yeah, the other morning, nearly brained myself on a cafe table when it hit me.” He sighed. “And?” He waited a moment watching as Xander stabbed at his food. “Just be blunt, it seems we are good at being blunt with each other.” Speed prodded, sipping at his bottled water. “Sexual attraction and my hyena approves.” He said bluntly but quietly, so it would travel past them. “Of you and Rio.” He looked up as Speed slowly put the bottle down, and set his fork aside. “Well I can’t say that I am surprised about H, I noticed it before.” He smiled slightly. “Can’t really blame you about that.” He leaned back in his seat. “You talked to him?” “Last night.” Xander nodded, putting his fork down and sipped at his soda. “He told me to talk to you.” He sighed. “I hope that I haven’t made things awkward between us.” “No, I’m a little surprised and flattered.” Speed shook his head. “What else did he tell you?” He gave him a intense but amused look. “He mentioned your arrangement, that nothing is...exclusive between you.” Xander shifted slightly, pushing his salad away and lent on his arms. “Okay lay it out for me, Alex, what does it mean with you and miss happy?” He asked looking curious. “How is this...casual thing going to work for you?” “It will probably be a little hard to control at first, I’m possessive and protective of what I consider mine, more so when she’s marked them as pack.” He shrugged. “No biting of the neck, that’s mate territory, which means no one else and she’ll get territorial.” “can you control that, say if we share you?” Speed raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, it’s everyone else she’ll have a problem with.” Xander nodded. “I’ll probably have a rough week or two but she’ll settle down after that once we both get used to it.” He rubbed a hand over his cheek. “But we can both take no as an answer and that won’t affect your place in the pack, you’ll just become brother instead of potential mate.” He eyed Speed for a moment. “You are taking this a lot more calmly then I thought and by what Rio implied.” “What did he say that I would do?” Speed raised an eyebrow. “That you would be flattered, and go away to consider it.” “And I will.” Speed nodded. “Doesn’t mean that I won’t hear you out first. I need to know what I’m going to be getting into.” He ate a few more bites of his lunch. “Anything else that is a no go, with you?” “Occasionally I need to be in control, if I’m with a guy, which I’ll admit is rare, I get around that by riding them.” He shrugged. “You’re a bottom?” Speed looked amused. “I don’t mind topping, but I find it’s much easier to control myself and her when I don’t top. She maybe alpha but I’m not.” He gave a wry smile. “Don’t get me wrong I can be alpha and a very good alpha at that, it’s just that I...” “I get the idea.” Speed raised a hand, smiling at Xander flushed cheeks. “You prefer not to. It won’t surprise you to know that H is pure top, it’s very rare that he lets go of the reins, me, I switch all the time, I get the best of both.” He sipped at his water. “So no biting, what about being held down or tied up?” “Don’t mind it.” Xander shrugged. “Providing I know who and that I can get free.” “Fair enough.” Speed nodded, watching him carefully as he finally started to eat his lunch. “Give me a week, but if you need an ear besides H, I’ll listen even before I make a decision.” Speed said as he capped his water and pushed his salad aside. “After too.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” Xander smiled faintly. “One thing, Xan. Don’t tell anyone, nothing changes outside.” Speed warned as he stood up, tossing down his share of the bill. “Understood.” Xander nodded. “Same again next week?” “Yeah but it might have to be after work.” Speed nodded grimacing a little before giving his a little salute and headed out. Xander picked at his food for a little longer before he paid the rest of the bill and headed out, stopping for gas, changed his helmet back to his frequency and plugged his cell into it, before settling in for a long ride. ** Xander returned home in the late afternoon, pulled out a blank journal and began to write. He decided that both of them needed to know how to deal with him and his hyena if she ever came out inspect them, what they could expect and what they should and shouldn’t do. He also added in some of the reactions he’d had sleeping in someone else’s bed and what precautions they should take so they didn’t get pounced before he was awake. When he was done he slid it into an envelope and put Rio’s name on it, left it on the table where he would find it, left everything on the table and went out to side down on the beach watching the waves, letting them help clear his mind so he could have a long think. ** He came back into focus as he sensed Rio sit down beside him, taking in the last rays of the sun on the ocean. “That was very interesting reading, Alex.” Rio commented softly. “You needed to know either way, both of you.” He shrugged, glancing at Rio as he stared out over the ocean. “You might need to know how to talk me down, or how to get her to back down if she comes out for any reason.” “True, why not just tell me?” he asked looking over, pulling off his sun glasses. “It was easier to say on paper, I can be detached on paper, I don’t have to explain it in detail.” He sighed. “I can’t be that detailed verbally, I can’t explain it in words, it’s hard enough to describe on paper let alone verbally.” “I’ll let Speed see it and then burn it. It could be dangerous in the wrong hands.” “Probably a good idea.” Xander nodded slowly. “How did your talk with Speed go?” “Well he listened, asked a few questions, then said to give him a week to think about it.” Xander shrugged. “That’s good enough for me.” He looked back out to the darkening sky. “I’m going to be working at the houses for the rest of week, getting them ready for repairs. How long until hurricane season is over?” “A few more weeks officially, but we very rarely get a hurricane this late in the season, not to say that it won’t happen though.” Rio replied easily. “Did Speed tell you about the other rules?” “Yeah, other’s don’t know, and nothing changes outside.” He nodded. “Fair enough considering what you do, even if the policy is towards tolerance, I don’t that would stop some from trying and not all states or precincts have the policy.” “We do, but it doesn’t stop some.” Rio nodded. “MDPD is half, half, half intolerant, half tolerant. Each year there is a few less intolerant officers, having transferred out either willingly or forced to. Wither it is because they were intolerant of gays or those from another culture, the latter don’t last long here.” He smiled faintly. “Over fifty percent of the officers aren’t white, and believe me they don’t suffer fools, and about half of those are either gay or bi.” “I like bi, you get the best of both sides.” Xander shrugged. “But no one said that humans had to be smart and there is never an excuse for pure stupidity. Which covers about...oh I guess at least twenty percent of the population.” “True. Then again some people like their black and white views and the little box of reality that they live in.” Rio pointed out with a small smile. “Oh, to be that naive again.” Xander sighed shaking his head with a small amused chuckle. He slowly rose to his feet, helping Rio get to his. “And what about you? You going to think it over for a few weeks?” “A few days at the very least.” Rio nodded. “I admit that I am not sure how it will change our current relationship, of friend, and confidant.” They slowly made their way back to the house. “I’m not sure if I could keep those separate, or if you would still be comfortable in still telling me things.” He turned to lean against the railing when they reached the patio. “You might not think that it will change, but it will.” “I know.” Xander nodded, leaning next to him. “I’ve seen it happen, with not so pretty results as an ending.” He sighed. “Whether I talk to someone or not, I always write in my journals, I could always do what I do now when I can’t verbalise something.” “Hand me your journal to read and then talk about it?” Rio tilted his head. “You won’t edit?” “I swore I never would when writing something that I needed to get out, and I haven’t yet.” Xander pointed out. “Even when you wished I had.” “Very true.” Rio nodded. “I’ll let you know in a few days.” He nudged Xander’s shoulder. “What do you want for dinner?” He chuckled as Xander’s stomach gurgled it’s agreement that it was time for food. “Didn’t eat?” “I had an early lunch with Speed, and then got distracted.” He shrugged looking a little sheepish. “Do we even have proper food in the house?” “Let’s find out.” Rio suggested as they headed in for the kitchen and opened the fridge and pulled out a casserole dish, pulling a note off the lid. “Looks like Speed snuck in while you were out at the beach, he left us Beef Strog.” “Sounds good.” Xander turned and turned on the oven. “How high?” “One eighty for twenty minutes to reheat, stirring once in awhile.” Rio slid the dish into the oven when Xander opened the door. “Are you going to head out tonight or stay in?” Rio asked as he pulled down plates and Xander got the cutlery. “I might go bounce on the dance floor for awhile, depending on how long I’m out for I might head straight to one of the houses to start writing out lists of things that I’ll need.” Xander considered it. “Yeah I might go out for awhile.” “Alright, I’m heading out myself tonight, so don’t worry if I’m not back before you.” Rio nodded. “I think I’ll grab a quick shower before dinner, that way you can hog it after.” Xander gave him a cheeky grin before hurrying out of the kitchen and Rio’s amused snort followed him. ** Xander looked up from where he was making notes in the smaller house as some one knocked on his door. He set the note book down and headed for the front door, which was propped open. “Yes?” “Mr Harris?” The young man asked looking at his clip board. “That’s me.” Xander nodded. “Delivery from Cleveland, please sign here?” Xander took the board and signed where it was marked. “Where do you want us to stick it?” “Front room please.” He let the man in to look at where he was going to be putting things and then left, returning with a large box on a trolley and three other men with him, all with their own trolley’s. He was curious at what was in them and wondering if it was really Giles who had sent them. He slit the first box open and peeked inside and grinned. It was his work tools, he wouldn’t have to buy new all over again. When the delivery men were gone he had a room full of boxes, twenty three in all. He scanned them for magical residue before opening each box to see what was inside, he knew that he didn’t have that many tools, so he tried to find out what else had been sent. He pulled out his tools as he found them to see if he needed to replace anything. He found two boxes of old clothes, which he would go through later and give most of them to a second hand clothes shop. Nine boxes were tools, two of clothes, four boxes of knick knacks from his apartment, five boxes of books and comics and three of old kitchen things. He left everything else packed after picking through them until he had all his tools, and stacked the other boxes out of the way. That done, he went back to taking notes of things he needed to buy from the hardware store, after crossing off tools from the list. Then he went shopping. ** By Monday mid morning Xander had all the supplies delivered to the small of the two houses and had cleared and prepped the roof ready to be replaced. By Tuesday afternoon he had replaced the beams, plaster and rerun the wiring in the roof in the damaged area, and was in the middle of checking it all, ready to retile the area. “Alex?” Xander looked over the side of the roof when he heard his name called faintly. “Outback.” He yelled, double checking the wall that had been damaged to make sure that he didn’t have to replace it before he finished off the roof. He looked down again when he heard footsteps and frowned, a little to see Rio with a few police officers with him. “Horatio.” He waited until he had located him and inclined his head, he could see that Rio was tense and was not happy about something. “What’s going on?” He secured his tools and climbed down the ladder. “I need you to come to the station with all your ID.” Horatio asked calmly. “At the moment that is all I can tell you.” He glanced around the backyard. “Do you have all that here?” “Yeah, I needed it yesterday, when I put some paperwork in.” Xander nodded, headed inside, easing his tool belt off. “Can you lock that please?” He asked the last officer in, watching as it was locked, then grabbed a satchel bag from the pantry in the kitchen, made sure it had everything that was needed, his keys, cell, pager, grabbed his jacket and gestured for them that he was ready to go. He locked the front door, made sure the garage was closed and slid into the back of the police car, while Horatio climbed into his hummer and followed them in. He followed the officers once they were at the station and was a little surprised that he was lead into the Chief’s office. He waited until the door was closed behind him, staring at the two men who were already in the room. Horatio was standing nearby, fiddling with his glasses. “May I ask what is going on?” Xander asked politely. “What were you told?” The younger second man asked sneering. “Just that I was being asked to come to the station, and to bring my ID.” He locked eyes with the man his face bland and turned to look at the older man when the first looked away. “You are Alexander Harris?” The older man asked, looking faintly surprised and threw a look at the other man. “I am.” Xander nodded. “Very well, this is Rick Stetler of the IAB, I’m the Chief of the police, Sergeant Stetler brought to me evidence that Lt Caine here was in a underage relationship, and the underage teenager...” He glanced at Xander with a raised eyebrow. “Supposedly you, and that he was forcing you to stay at his house and blackmailing you.” Xander couldn’t help himself but burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, sir but that is the most ridicules thing I have ever heard . Especially about Horatio Caine. As for being underage, well that was quite a few years back. Am I staying at the Lt’s house, yes, until I can fix up my own that I bought last week. Blackmailing, no, he is an old friend, relationship? No, only that of friends.” He shook his head. “May I ask what evidence he has?” “A birth certificate, and some photos.” “May I see the birth certificate?” Xander requested, and took the offered sheet of paper, snorted and handed it back. “Sorry not Florida born, that’s not mine.” “You aren’t from here?” The chief set the birth certificate back in the file. “No sir, I’ve only been in Miami a few weeks.” Xander shook his head, opening his bag and handing a file and a wallet to the man. “That is me.” He watched as he went through the file piece by piece and then froze when he opened the wallet. “You are an old friend of Lt Caine’s, how did you meet?” He asked slowly, setting the wallet aside. “He was undercover looking for a serial killer about eight years ago.” He stopped when the chief raised his hand. “I know the case.” He flipped open another file and looked at the photos again. “Sergeant where did you get these photos?” He asked blandly. “Took them last week.” Stetler glared at Xander. “I’ll ask again and this time don’t lie to me.” The Chief glared at him. “Remember that you are already on probation, for wrong conclusions, harassment and falsifying reports. So I ask again where did you get these photos?” Stetler said nothing. “These photos are from a classified case, Stetler and one that was sealed, far above your clearance, just having them is a jail term.” Stetler’s face paled but said nothing. “Mr Harris how old are you in those photos?” “Eighteen, post graduation vacation.” Xander replied with a small shrug. “Very well, I consider this matter closed.” He handed the file and the wallet back to Xander. “Lt Caine, Mr Harris you may go, Sergeant Stetler stay.” He said firmly. Xander followed Horatio out and back to the lobby. “Stetler really doesn’t like you does he.” Xander stated shaking his head. “He never could get that I was not my brother.” Horatio shrugged. “It was his delusion, we all put up with hit.” He tilted his head. “What was in the wallet that shocked the Chief, Alex?” Xander studied him for a moment and then handed him the wallet and watched as he flipped it open. “While I may not be in the field at the moment those are still valid until I tell Giles that I fully retire.” “Homeland Security?” Horatio met his eyes. “It makes it easier when we have to deal with the police during hunts.” Xander shrugged. “Only travelling field agents get those...” He pulled a face. “Mainly me and a few others.” “Interesting.” Horatio shook his head and handed it back to him. “So basically Stetler has once again run over another agency’s toes. He really knows how to pick them.” “The question is where did he get those photos, Rio.” Xander pointed out quietly as a group of officers went passed them. “Those files were classified and sealed.” “They were. Stetler will either tell or someone will be investigating. Either way Stetler will be stripped of his badge and will more than likely spend a few years in jail for it.” Rio sighed. “He brought it on himself, Rio.” He rested a hand on his shoulder. “Can I get a lift back to the house? I’ll buy you lunch .” He caught Eric hurrying towards them. “Though if you are very busy I’ll catch a cab.” He offered. “H, the warrant came through.” Eric informed him, nodding at Xander. “I’ll have to take a raincheck, Alex, Speed could run you home, he’s only in for half a day.” He pointed to the man heading toward them, obviously ready to leave. “Sure.” Xander nodded smiling slightly. “Speed, can I grab a lift?” He called turning, leaving Horatio to talk to Eric. “You’re here with your car?” Speed frowned, pausing just out side the door. “Had to see the Chief about somethings, with Horatio, got driven in.” Xander shrugged. “Sure, where you been, no one has seen you since Friday night.” Speed asked as he headed for his bike. “Working on one of the houses, kinda got distracted with the work.” He gave a sheepish smile. “Feel better now that you’re working again?” Speed grinned. “Oh yeah.” Xander laughed. “What’s the address?” “Remember the place Horatio got the warrant for and had to get the keys and proof from me? Body in the hidden basement?” “That’s yours?” Speed turned on the bike to look at him, before handing him the spare helmet. “Yep, I liked it, Horatio was sneaky. I bought it and then he asked if he could go through it.” He shook his head, securing his bag and pulled on the helmet. “Then handed me the warrant after I said yes.” “He can get like that.” Speed’s voice came through the small speaker in the helmet. Xander settled in behind Speed, and just enjoyed being driven. He didn’t say anything, just relaxed when Speed took the long way around to the house. Speed pulled into his driveway and Xander got off, putting the helmet in its bag on the back of the bike. “You want to go clubbing with me tonight?” Speed asked, pulling his visor up. “Sure, I could go out.” Xander nodded. “Meet you there or you gonna pick me up?” He asked. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” Speed smirked. “Here or at H’s?” “Rio’s.” Xander shook his head. “All my gear is still there.” “See you at eight.” He pulled out and headed off. ** Xander came out of his room ready to go when he bumped into Rio. “Sorry.” He apologised. “It’s fine, you going out tonight?” He asked looking over Xander’s tight club clothing. “Yeah, Speed offered to take me out clubbing.” Xander nodded, pulling on his jacket. “Have fun.” Horatio smiled. “I plan to.” Xander grinned, grabbing his keys and cell, waved and headed out the door as Speed pulled into the drive way. He pulled on the helmet and held on, Speed drove them through the streets and pulled in at one of Xander’s favourite clubs. They started out dancing separately for a few hours, before Xander felt hands on his hips, pulling him back into a body. He tensed at first until he recognised the smell and relaxed into Speed. Their dancing left Xander panting for breath, his body aching for more, as the song ended Speed spun him around and crushed his lips to his, kissing him hard, hands holding his ass, pulling him tight to his body. As the next throbbing song pulsed out of the speakers, Xander moaned into Speed’s mouth and opened himself up for Speed to taste him and devour him.