DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS
JIMMY VS THE GIANT
A/N: Written for the NFA "Once Upon an NCIS" Challenge.
Ch 1
Rising with the sun even on a summer's day was the life a young Jimmy Palmer led. He was sent to live his aging and often forgetful Great-Aunt Victoria to help care for her since her son had gone off to the city to pursue his medical career.
He swung his legs out over the side of his bed, stretching his arms behind his head before reaching for the ceiling. The smell of burnt toast alerted him that his aunt must be attempting to make breakfast, again!
Rushing to the kitchen in only his boxers and a t-shirt, he arrived in the nick of time to save the smoke alarm from going off for the third time that week.
His aunt was no where in sight so Jimmy quickly cleaned up the mess and made a quick meal to serve her when she ventured back.
"Are you overcooking my food again?" her accusing voice announced her arrival.
"Sorry Auntie. I'll try harder next time," Jimmy had learned there was no use explaining it was her own doing; she was completely unaware of the fact she'd been there earlier.
After breakfast Jimmy got to work on the many chores around the tiny house. He looked up surprised to find his aunt standing tapping her foot waiting for him to notice her.
"Aunt Victoria? Is everything okay?" Thoughts of all the different disasters she was capable of causing coursed through his mind.
"Young man," she shot shortly.
'Great she forgot who I am again,' Jimmy sighed.
"I need you to run into town and buy me some eggs," she ordered.
"Yes Ma'am," Jimmy answered brushing the dirt off his hands. He'd been working at the garden for weeks, but nothing seemed to be growing.
He held out his now semi-cleaned hand as she dropped in a few gold coins. 'Who uses gold coins nowadays?' he rolled his eyes knowing he'd have to scrounge out some of his own money to pay for the eggs.
As he walked toward the house he put the coins in his pocket planning to return them to his aunt at the first available moment. Once he got enough money for eggs and maybe even some cheese, he headed on his way to town.
When he neared the edge of town he noticed a crowd of people surrounding an elderly man with glasses who seemed to be regaling them with quite a tale as they appeared to be enraptured by him.
"And so my fine people," he heard the bespeckled gentleman saying, "I have in my possession three of the magic beans that I spoke of."
"How can we get them? I have some money."
"Ah, my dearest Anthony," he spoke to the young man eager to get his hands on the beans. "I am not selling these for money."
"Barter with me then," another young man interrupted. "I'm sure I can find something you'd be interested in," he continued searching all his pockets for a plausible item.
"No, no Timothy," he waved his hand to stop the futile search. "I want only for a few gold coins."
"Gold coins?" a dark haired woman interjected. "Where would one go to find such things?" She glanced around to see the others looking equally as flummoxed.
"Well, Ziva, they are a rare find these days; hence my desire to acquire some."
"Yeah, Zee-Vah!" the young man, Anthony taunted earning himself a dark eyed glare that caused him to wince and turn away.
The older man looked at all the faces that expressed disappointment. All except a younger man who arrived after the story was told.
"Young man?" he hailed Jimmy.
"Yes sir?" he responded respectfully unsure what the man's interest in him could be. Could he possibly know that he had his aunt's gold coins in his pocket?
"Please call me Ducky," he told Jimmy.
"Okay, Ducky. How can I help you?" Jimmy asked.
"Would you perchance be interested in purchasing my beans?" he inquired stepping closer to show the shiny golden beans lying in his palm.
"They're very lovely, but my aunt has sent me to return with some eggs," Jimmy spoke apologetically.
"Then you missed the best part of my tale," Ducky drew the young man into his arm. "These magic beans will lead you to the largest eggs ever known to man."
"You don't say," Jimmy stared longingly at the beans.
"I do indeed say. Why just one of the giant-sized eggs would feed you and your aunt for a month," Ducky smiled knowing he was on the verge of a sale.
Pushing his glasses up his perspiring nose, Jimmy asked, "How many gold coins are you asking for?"
Thinking of a fair number Ducky answered, "Two is all I ask in trade."
Knowing his aunt would be none the wiser about the missing gold coins, Jimmy conceded and purchased the beans from the odd street vendor.
"You will not be disappointed my dear boy," Ducky assured him as he handed him the beans in a small winched sack.
Upon returning home with his newly acquired beans, a few eggs and even a small block of cheese, Jimmy's excitement couldn't be reined in. His anxiousness got his aunt's attention.
"What has you so jumpy boy?" she snapped.
He pulled the sack out of his pocket and showed her the golden colored beans.
"Why would these old dried beans cause you to get so excited?" she frowned.
"They're magic Auntie," he tried to explain.
"Bah, magic! You're such a foolish boy," she berated him tossing the beans out the window.
Dismayed and embarrassed by his aunt's words, Jimmy hung his head and sulked off to bed.