AN/Disclaimer: Welcome to Just Our Luck! I do not own NCIS nor do I own the song 'Restless' by Sara Evans. I own nothing but the original characters that randomly come out of the wood work.
So this started out as a tiny plot bunny to gain inspiration for my other stories and ended up becoming a massive story that I've now started writing with a friend of mine after writing a chapter and a half by myself. I owe her a lot for putting up with my crazy ways and odd ideas.
This one's for you girl!
"Seriously? They still do that?" 21 year old Andralissa Thomas asked, slightly in shock as she read the contract of arranged marriage. The man sitting next to her let his copy fall onto his lap and sighed, his thumb and forefinger pinching the bridge of his nose. "How does this work between this young lady and I?" He asked the lawyer. "You must follow through with the contract. It clearly states that two eligible people from your families must marry. That's you two." the lawyer said adjusting his glasses. "Why us though?" Andralissa asked helplessly.
"Because your brother and his daughter passed away the contract fell to the next available down the line. Since Agent Gibbs has no other children and is unmarried and you are also unmarried that means it falls on him to marry you. I'm sorry but because of the circumstances there's nothing we can do. You have to go through with the marriage." The elderly lawyer sighed. "Perfect…" Andralissa muttered. NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs stood and leaned on the desk. "You're sure there's nothing you can do?" He said hoping that there was something, anything that could be done.
"I'm afraid not. You must marry Miss Thomas before her 22nd birthday." The lawyer stammered. Andralissa stood up. "Thank you for trying anyway." she sighed. Agent Gibbs shook his head and left the room without another word. She sighed again and left as well and began to walk to her car. She saw him waiting on the corner and went over to him. "Whatcha waitin' for?" She said leaning over. "They didn't have any rental cars at the airport so I had to take the bus." He said gruffly. "Oh screw that these buses are always half an hour late, not to mention full of crazys. Let me give you a ride." she said shaking her head. He looked down at her. "Wouldn't want to put you out."
She laughed. "Oh nonsense, it's no trouble! I mean come on, after what we just heard in there? I don't know about you but I'd rather not marry a total stranger if it can be avoided." He grinned slightly and shook his head. "Alright then lead the way Miss Thomas." She grimaced. "Andralissa then?" he tilted his head. "Oh god no! It's Andie. No one gets away with calling me Andralissa unless they can out run me...or they're my Grandma." she added as an afterthought. He laughed. "Andie it is then. Shall we?" he motioned to the parking garage. "Yes let's." she lead the way.
"It's not much but it's mine. I grew up with this baby then my dad sold it when it was covered in rust and missing second gear. I bought it back four months ago. Turns out the kid that bought it only wanted to fix her up and sell her again." She said patting the old '67 light blue Ford F-350 Ranger. "He even added a middle seat belt when he redid the old ones to bring it up to standard." She unlocked the passenger side then went around and got in the driver's side. He nodded as he got in and put his seat belt on. She started the truck and '70's rock started to blare from the speakers. "Whoops!" she said turning the radio down. "Sorry 'bout that. I always forget to turn down the music after driving with the windows down." She laughed sheepishly, blushing.
He raised an eyebrow at her but didn't say anything as she pulled the truck out of the parking garage and onto the road. He was a bit grumpy having not had his morning cup of coffee yet. She drove through the downtown area, pulling into a Starbucks parking lot and going into the drive thru. "You want a cup?" she asked rolling her window down. "Coffee, black." he said looking out the opposite window. She rolled her eyes and turned toward the speaker. "I need a coffee, black and a Mocha Latte, both in the largest size you've got." she said, a little cranky herself. He looked over at her with his famous glare. "Not gonna work, I've faced scarier things than you in my lifetime, short though it may be." she said pulling up to the window and grabbing her purse. He reached for his wallet but she was faster with her credit card. "I got this one, no worries."
He just stared at her as she handed him his coffee and placed her own between her nylon clad knees. "The only thing he didn't add was cup holders…don't worry I do this every morning on the way to work." she smirked noticing the way his eyes kept going to her cup. "What do you do?" he asked moving his eyes up to her face. "I'm a nanny. I look after three crazy little boys from 7:30 in the morning to whenever their parents get home." she smiled. "I love them to death but sometimes I just wanna duct tape them to the wall." Gibbs gave a rare chuckle as he nodded.
She was speeding down the highway taking intermittent sips from her steamer, taking turns on two wheels. "My dad complains about my driving but I don't really care so long as I get where I'm going as fast as possible." she said trying to make conversation. He just sat there silently drinking his coffee. She held back a sigh and turned her radio on, also turning on her iPod and turning it up enough to be heard above the truck engine. She started to sing along.
"I'm a leaf on the river
Fallin' from an old oak tree
I'm a tumble weed
In a desert wind
Just tumblin'
While the sun's shining
I have no boundaries
Call me a gypsy
I'm restless
Just ramblin'
What do you do,
Where do you go,
When no where feels
Like home?
I'm restless
Am I an Angel,
Fallen from heavens grace
Oh it feels like that some days
When I can't find my place
I guess God just made
Some of us to live
And die by highway dust
Guess I'll just have to trust
On the days I'm crawlin'
This is my callin'
I'm restless
Just ramblin'
What do you do,
Where do you go,
When no where feels
Like home?
I'm restless
Oh, to hold somebody
Close that cares
Oh, to finally
Find some roots
Somewhere
I know, someday
I'll find it it's out there
So until then
I'll just keep
Movin'
And ramblin'
What do you do,
Where do you go,
When no where feels
Like home?
I'm restless
Just ramblin'
Oh I'm restless."
She had a faraway look in her eyes as she sang, as if the words to that song had a special meaning to her. Gibbs listened, watching the city fly by wondering what they were getting themselves into.
