<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">“Well, I've never been one to refuse a decent mean,” Jaxon affirmed with a smile. He liked the quality food and it sounded like it would be an experience he'd enjoy, even if he wasn't exactly used to that type of cuisine.<br/>
<br/>
“I'll stop by Friday then,” Jaxon decided, more for the music than the alcohol. He wasn't supposed to be drinking on his medications, but he wasn't going to go into any of those details. He'd just decline anything of the alcoholic variety when he got there, and hope he didn't have to explain himself further.<br/>
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“Thanks,” Jaxon spoke as they got into the truck. “I just got this one recently, but I've always had a truck of some sort.” He upgraded when it was obvious he was going to be staying home longer than he'd originally intended. “Not an easy decision. My dad knows a thing or two about diesel so I picked up my first one cheap, and had him get it running.”<br/>
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Gabriel took notice of the dog, reaching towards him to make his introduction. Kiv responded well to him, accepting his touch because he'd been deemed as 'friendly', with Jaxon having invited him into the vehicle.<br/>
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“He won't, not unless I ask him to and I think we've already gotten off on the wrong foot without my dog trying to take a few fingers,” Jaxon spoke with a sideways smirk. “He's a Belgian Malinois. Not related to shepherds. They're bred for their higher focus and drive. Best sort of working dog there is, if you ask me. And the public has yet to ruin them with overbreeding, so not as many health issues.” Jaxon reached behind to pat the dog on his chest. “He was imported from Europe. His name is Kiv.”<br/>
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Jaxon followed the directions as they were given, having no issue with just verbal references. He didn't look over when Gabriel asked him what he did for a living.<br/>
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“Military. Eight years. Right now I'm home, working with the young dogs in the training program before I send them off. Kiv technically should have gone on without me, to another soldier. I don't own him, but he's displayed handler aggression in high-stress situations. They decided it's best just to leave him with me for now.” And given Jaxon's situation, no one was going to push for taking away his long-term partner. The dog was difficult to work anyway, and Jaxon knew what set Kiv off. Directions had to be clear, and the body language had to be right. Kiv was easily frustrated, and that frustration turned to whoever was holding the end of the leash. Muzzling and restraint only made it worse. Jaxon was skirting the truth of it, no intention of mentioning his discharge, honorable or not. He fully intended to go back once he'd been cleared medically, with Kiv at his side as it had always been.<br/>
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“In recent years me and Kiv did a lot of IED and weapon recovery, as well as disengagement and negotiations. Being home so much now is new to me, but I grew up here.” The smile had fallen from his face and he gripped the steering wheel a bit harsher than necessary. Being home should have been welcomed. Time for him to take a rest, but for a man like Jaxon it was anything but. Home was foreign, and he'd had a hard time adjusting to 'normal' after spending eight years in high-stress situations. He was programmed differently than any average citizen as a result.<br/>
<br/>
They pulled into the place Jaxon had been directed to, in the back to Gabriel's little place. Jaxon saw another little car parked there, and a mean leaning against the sporty little vehicle, on his cell phone. He looked up to see them pull in, scowling. When Jaxon parked the car he came straight over.<br/>
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“What the hell, Gabriel. Where have you been?” the young man demanded, taking hold of the truck's door handle and reaching in to grab the person in the passenger seat to forcibly drag him out. He must had missed the dog in the backseat, not to mention Jaxon's own hackles raising as he assessed the situation. Kiv had jumped into the front seat, and then over Gabriel's lap to launch himself at the stranger reaching into the vehicle. Kiv was trained to take initiative and assess threats. He wouldn't typically bite without command unless someone directly put their hands on Jaxon, or so his training had gone. The young man's body language was enough to set Kiv off, and him reaching into the vehicle was the final straw.<br/>
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Slater scrambled back, Kiv barking in the way he did when he found the threat, or the target he'd been asked to find. Jaxon had slipped out of his truck to come around, all serious business now.<br/>
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“<i>Don't</i> come up on us like that again,” Jaxon warned, his hand resting on his holstered weapon beneath his shirt. It was reflexive, just as it was reflexive to Kiv to respond to what he deemed an aggressive behavior. “<i>Laisse</i>,” he commanded, taking hold of the animal's collar to pull him away. It was the French command for 'leave it', the language Kiv had been originally trained it. Jaxon still used the language when he was serious with a command, and the animal responded to him immediately, but he certainly didn't settle. Jaxon looked to Gabriel in askance, even if it wasn't his place to inquire about who this was. If he was a problem, Jaxon would be more than happy to remove him from the property. Slater was brushing himself off, seemingly sizing Jaxon up.<br/>
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“This is why you blew me off?” Slater demanded, his voice taking on an accusatory tone now that he saw who Gabriel arrived home with.</span></span>