A/N This is my story for how Neric essentially plays out. This came out of a PM conversation with somuchmorethanpartners and she suggested that I try to write this. She also helped me with some information about the show, so if anything is wrong blame her. Kidding, if something is incorrect, it's most definitely my fault, not hers! So, anyway, here it is, I hope y'all like it!

Ch. 1

Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones had pretty much always known that Eric Beale liked her. She wasn't exactly sure when she figured it out, or even when she figured out that she harbored feelings for the geeky surfer herself, but she couldn't exactly deny it. To herself or to Eric when he finally worked up the nerve to ask, on like their third or fourth semi-awkward, teenagerish date. Their first semi-awkward, teenagerish date, the one that started it all, was sorta unconventional, as well.

~o0o~

"Hey, Nell?"

"Hmm . . .?" Nell responded, not quite looking up from the screen in front of her. She was in the middle of an interesting bit of tracking and was only partly paying attention to her partner in OPS.

Eric coughed nervously, "Uh, I was wondering, when this case is over . . . do you wanna go out for a drink or something? Just the two of us? I mean, not like . . . I mean if you want. Do you want?" he ran a hand through his hair.

Nell turned and finally gave Eric her full attention, "Eric, you do realize that we are currently tracking members of a notorious gang, known for harming children to get their way, right?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

"And you choose now to finally ask me out?"

"Um . . . yes? It doesn't have to be a date, unless you want . . ." Eric stuttered, trying to find the right words to say. Nell just turned back to her computer, leaving Eric looking at her uncertainly, "Uh . . . Nell?"

"Pick me up at eight, computer-brain," Nell said, rolling her eyes, "But if you don't get to work, we won't catch these guys and they could hurt more children, and I refuse to date guys who indirectly aid in children harming."

"So, it is a date?"

"Get to work," Nell said, biting back a smile at Eric's obvious excitement.

Nell had stopped smiling when she realized what she'd just done. She'd agreed to do on a date with Eric. Not that she didn't like him. She liked him a lot, actually. And that was the problem.

How could she have been so stupid? Eric would obviously been just fine with going out as friends but she, with her stupid super-brain, had realized how he felt a long time ago and, coupling that with her own affections, had agreed to a date! Hell, she'd been the one to suggest it! What was wrong with her?

What was wrong with her? It's just Eric. No big deal, she sees him every day. And it's not like she doesn't want to date Eric . . .

Nell heard the doorbell ring, breaking her out of her musings. Standing, she straightened her dress. It wasn't anything special, she'd worn it to work a million times, but Eric had once told her it brought out the green in her eyes.

The night was warm, but she'd brought a light cardigan in case the restaurant was cold (Eric had told her since it was a date, he'd splurge for dinner to go with the already offered drink). She placed the cardigan in her lap as she slid into the shotgun seat of Eric's car, to hide the nervous movements of her hands. She watched Eric as he shut the car door for her and went around the front to get in the driver's side.

"Hey," she said when he got in, the first one to speak, even though he'd awkwardly met her at her door and led her to the car.

"Hey," he started the car, "What's up?"

"Right now? The roof of your car."

"Thanks, I really needed you to tell me that, even though I'm way closer to it than you are."

Nell rolled her eyes (It's amazing how often she found herself doing that around Eric) and said, "So, Wolfram, where are you taking me?"

"What, someone with an IQ like yours can't figure that out?"

"Nice try, but I'm not telling you my IQ."

"C'mon, you can't hold out on me forever!"

Nell snorted, "Me telling you my IQ would be about as likely as . . . as us getting married!"

"So all I have to do to find out is marry you? I think I get the better end of that bargain."

She blushed, but nodded anyway, "Sure, Eric, the day I marry you is the day you find out how much of a genius I really am."

"Well, then, Nell Jones, will you marry me?"

"Nope. We haven't even finished our first date yet. Seems a bit early for marriage, don't you thing?" she raised an eyebrow, "And, you still haven't told me where that first date will be taking place," she added pointedly.

"Right. How does McDonald's sound?"

"What?"

"Kidding. But it would be cheaper than the fancy Italian place I made reservations at."

"What fancy Italian place, Olive Garden?" Nell laughed.

~o0o~

That's how it all started. After their first date, they'd started going out more and more often. And when Eric slipped up and called Nell his girlfriend . . . well, she'd realized just how much she liked the sound of that.

A/N Please review, especially if you have something good to say! Once again, I'm kidding, I love feedback of all kinds. I'm thinking, for the next chapter, the third or fourth date. How's that sound? Thanks for reading, everyone out there in internet-land!