A/N I decided to start a series of Neric one shots, each telling the story of their first time doing something together. Not sure how many I will do, if I get good feedback I shall continue :)
Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS: LA or any of the characters
(Going back in time a little to talk about their first hang out)
Nell had been working with Eric and the rest of the NCIS team for quite some time now. Sure they had talked in the work place but they didn't really know much about each other. It was a slow day in OPS, as they had no current case to work on, so they both sat at their computers running tests.
"So how do you like working here Nell" Eric was suddenly curious because it wasn't very often they had new members added to the team.
"I like it, the work is good and I'm glad to help protect our country but…" Nell's voice became quiet.
Eric turned away from his computer screen now looking at Nell who had her eyes down on her keyboard. Nell slowly looked up to meet his eyes. Eric flashed a sweet smile at Nell telling her to continue.
"It's just that with this job it's hard to keep friends, you know? I can't tell them why I work late hours, and sometimes all through the night. When they ask to go out on Friday nights and I'm here working I have to make some excuse as to why I can't go. It's just tough sometimes" She sighed deeply and was instantly filled with regret, why was she telling this to Eric, who she only met a few weeks ago. Nell became shy and started typing on her keys as to distract herself from what she just confessed.
"Hey, look here" Eric directed to Nell, she turned her head slowly. "How 'bout you and I hang out? After work on Friday, you can come over we can watch a movie have a few beers, how's that sound?" Eric wasn't sure why he was offering to hang out with her, as he was so sure he hated her, and the way she finished his sentences, but then again he's been wrong before.
"Thanks" She said softly, as Eric smiled. They continued their work in silence for the rest of the day.
Friday night quickly rolled around, and although neither one would admit it, they were excited. It had been a while since Nell or Eric had made any close friends, so this was the perfect opportunity. They had just closed a case involving bomb threats in downtown Los Angeles, and were currently in the bullpen debriefing.
"So the bomb squad has officially defused the final bomb and all terrorists are currently locked away for what is going to be a very long time" Eric explained to the rest of the team
"Sounds good who's up for a beer?" Deeks questioned
"Me!" Kensi blurted out too fast, the team laughed.
"Yeah of course you are, let's go" Deeks said as he pulled kensi by the elbow and out of the building, Sam laughing and Callen shaking his head as they left.
"Well I'm heading out, it's game night with the kids" Sam explained
"Can I join?" Callen already decided he was going regardless of Sam's answer. Sam laughed as they headed out the door.
Eric turned over to Nell who was sitting patiently on top of Kensi's desk. "You ready to go?" He asked her.
"Yeah, I just have to file a few pieces of paperwork, mind if I meet you at your house, I won't be long?" She asked already knowing that he wouldn't mind.
"Yeah, sure, that's no problem see you in a few" Eric was glad for her delay as it gave him a chance to do any last minute cleaning that was needed
Eric arrived at his house unlocking his door and throwing his messenger bag off to the side. After a minute he realized that he should probably put his bag away for once, so he grabbed it and headed to his bedroom where he threw it on the floor. He placed a few beers in the freezer so that they would be extra cold for when Nell arrived, and washed his dishes that he had left from breakfast. Just after he dried and put away his dishes he heard a knock at the door. It must be Nell he thought to himself. He dried his hands on a towel and brushed off his clothes just in case he had made a mess of himself while cleaning, and made his way over to the door.
"Hey Nell" Eric smiled as he opened the door wide for her to come in. Nell stepped inside and took a quick glance around.
"It's a nice place you got here" She said as Eric helped her out of her jacket and placed it over the back of the couch.
"Thanks" He smiled, "Would you like a drink?"
"Yeah I'll take a beer if you got some" this had Eric laughing quietly of course I have beer he thought to himself.
He pulled two beers out of the freezer, ignoring the chills the cold beverages sent down his spine, and popped them open with the bottle opener he left aside earlier. As he walked backed to Nell he noticed she already made herself comfortable on his couch, this made him chuckle lightly to himself.
"Here you are" He said handing her the beer and taking a seat next to her. They were sitting closer than they ever have up in OPS, but not close enough where they were touching. Eric scooped up the TV remote from the coffee table in front of him and clicked the TV on.
"So do you want to watch a movie?" He asked, and then took a swig of his beer.
"Yeah sure!" She smiled "What do you got?" She asked unsure of the types of movies he would have in his collection of DVD's.
"Well let's have a look shall we" he said putting his beer on the table and walking over to the cabinet underneath his television, she did the same. Eric took a seat on the floor sitting cross legged and opened up the doors revealing hundreds of movies. Nell also took a seat, but sat on her knees with her legs closed tight, as she was wearing a sundress and didn't want to reveal too much. He started listing off movies, when he spotted one he thought they would both like.
"What about Back to the Future?" he suggested
"Perfect!" Nell smiled at him. At the same time they both reached for the movie brushing their hands together. Eric pulled his hand away quickly and gestured for her to grab the movie, so she did. They stood up and Nell made her way back to the couch, as Eric put the movie in the Blu-ray player, Eric always had the latest toys in technology. He sat back down on the couch as pressed play on the remote. They sat in silence for most of the movie with the exception of a few comments and laughs here and there. As the movie ended and the credits rolled, Eric grabbed their now empty beer bottles from the table to go put them in the bin.
"Would you like another Beer?" He asked as he grabbed one for himself
"I better not, I have to drive home" She smiled
"Alright how about a coke?" he smiled back at her
"Sure thanks! Umm Eric do you have a washroom I could use" Nell felt a little awkward asking, but there was no way she could wait until she got home.
"Yes of course" Eric laughed, "It's just down the hallway over there" pointing in the general direction of the hallway.
Nell walked over and opened up the first door she saw in the hall, but it wasn't the bathroom it was his bed room. She quickly closed the door hoping Eric wouldn't notice her mistake. Eric had just put her drink down on the table when he saw her close his door; his cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
"Oh um sorry it's at the end of the hall my fault for not specifying sorry" He was now embarrassed of the fact that he had just thrown his messenger bag on the floor, contents spilling out. Nell just smiled down at the floor and made her way to the end of the hall. Eric exhaled deeply as he sat down running his hands through his hair. He wasn't sure why he was so embarrassed by her seeing his room, he just was. But all was soon forgotten when Nell and Eric were back on the couch each drinking their beverages and snaking on the chips Eric had pulled out while he was alone.
"So what made you want to do this job" Nell ask Eric genuinely curious.
"Well, it's kind of a long story" Eric smiled lightly, "I had kind of a troubled youth, and some family issues growing up, so I spent most of my time alone. I used most of this time on the computer learning how to hack and understanding coding. Eventually I got really good at, especially the hacking part" Eric said looking down at his hands in his lap, Nell motioned for him to continue so he did.
"One day I was hacking around in some files that, well I shouldn't have been looking through and I got caught. To be honest I was shocked I hadn't got caught earlier I was pretty sloppy and left a trail that led straight to me. Anyway I was sitting in a café alone, when a small lady, who I didn't know at the time, came and sat next to me. She looked me in the eyes and said 'You shouldn't been looking at those files Mr. Beale' I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. She cut me a deal, she told me if I came to work for her and NCIS she wouldn't report me, I was fresh out of college at that point and didn't want to risk it so I said yes." Eric was oddly relieved to tell her this, as he had never told anyone before.
"Let me guess, the small lady was Hetty?" Nell assumed, as she laughed at the situation.
"Yup, scared me the first time I saw her and to this day she still terrifies me" They both laughed, and that was when Eric noticed Nell's smile for the first time. Her smile was bright and lit up the whole room, when she smiled he wanted to smile back. Without realizing it he had taken a moment to soak in all of her beauty. The way her hair looked soft to the touch, the way her hazel eyes twinkled, and how she wore the cutest little dresses every day.
"Um Eric, you're kind of staring at me" Nell said shyly looking down at her hands.
"Oh um sorry, it's just that I never noticed how beautiful you are." Eric admitted and regretting it instantly. Nell's cheeks turned a light pink colour, as they sat in awkwardness for a few moments. Eric cleared his throat breaking the silence.
"What about you, what made you want to work for NCIS?"
"Well I always loved computers but I also really wanted to help people. I thought of doing a few different jobs, and was volunteering at different businesses in college, but then I found NCIS. It just stuck with me something about the fast pace work environment, my close proximity to computers and helping people all rolled into one, it was something I knew I had to do" She admitted openly
"That's really great Nell" His voice laced with honesty. They were interrupted by a small beep from Nell's watch, telling her it was midnight and a new day has started. She looked down at her watch.
"Oh geez is that the time?" She was completely unaware of how much time had passed. "I should probably head home; I don't want to be on the road too late." She smiled standing up grabbing her jacket off the back of the couch. They both walked over to the door.
"I had a really fun time tonight Eric."
"Me too! We should hang out again sometime."
"Agreed!" They both smiled. Eric pulled her in for a friendly side hug, and then opened the door for her.
"Thanks again Eric" Nell smiled as she headed out the door and down the walkway to her car. Eric closed the door behind her, but watched from the window to make sure she got in her car safely. Once he saw she was on her way he headed back to the living room to clean up. Too lazy to put anything away he moved their bottles, and chip bowl from the coffee table to the counter. He decided to go straight to bed to end the night on a good note. He stripped down to his boxers and slipped under his blankets, turning off his lamp and closed his eyes, thinking about how maybe he and Nell could be best friends after all.
Nell arrived at her house shortly after midnight. She unlocked her door and made her way inside. She threw her purse and jacket on the armchair in the living room area of her house, and made her way to the washroom. She quickly cleaned up and put on her pyjamas, she decided to go straight to be as it had been a long, but enjoyable, day. As she closed her eyes and went to sleep she thought to herself that maybe Eric wasn't such a bad guy, and maybe they really could have a strong friendship after all.
A/N Let me know what you think, should I continue? Also special thanks to densiandneric and Zoe (nelliskinkyinbed) on tumblr for helping me decide what movie they would watch :)