Title: He Doesn't Care
Author: Tearsofamiko
Rating: K
Disclaimer: If wishes were money, I'd have enough to buy the show. But it's not, so I don't.
Spoilers: Heartland
Summary: For once in his life, he simply doesn't care who knows.
A/N: So, I was watching Heartland again and completely relearning why I love the episode so much when this little drabble snuck up outta nowhere. BTW, I LOVELOVELOVE the look on Gibbs' face when he sees the car and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the sight of him laughing. –sigh-
He stands in shock, almost winded by the sight before him, by the gleaming yellow risen straight from his teenage dreams. He only half-hears the specs Jack lists, knowing that it's all there, everything he'd ever wanted, though how Jack knew he'll never know.
"Just like you wanted. Right down to the color."
And Gibbs just looks at him, pleased surprise evident on his face. His eyes gleam in the semi-dark of the garage as he looks back and forth from his father to the car. The car he'd wanted to rebuild but never finished. The car he was sure his dad had gotten rid of. For the longest second he had no clue what to say, not about the car, or the simple straightforwardness of the unveiling. He reaches a hand out, almost afraid to touch the car, almost believing that touching it will wake him from what is surely a dream. And as the silence stretches, he realizes that he doesn't have to say anything.
His dad knows.
"Are we gonna stand here starin'? Or're we gonna get goin'?"
He looks up at his dad, tears his eyes away from the gleaming beauty in front of him. He opens his mouth to say something, still riding that pleasant high that comes with seeing a dear wish realized. The feeling almost has his eyes tearing, but he's still too rigid for that. He's cut off, though.
"That's right. I said 'we.'" It's obvious Jack thinks his last silent look was one of censure. In the emotional high, though, he could care less that his dad wanted to come. Jack holds out a key-ring holding one key and he takes it from him, the slight weight almost surreal. He glances down at the key, connecting it with his emotions and tying them all firmly into reality. A grin finally spreads across his face and he looks back up at his dad, meeting damp eyes, the same shade of blue he sees in the mirror each day. He lets the joy take over and turns away, laughing silently, supremely happy for the first time in a long time.
He peels out of the garage with the same recklessness as always, but with new abandon. Now he knows why DiNozzo loves his Mustang so much. As it purrs and thrums under his hands, he revels in the sound and the feel, blowing past his team and laughing at the look on DiNozzo's face. Nothing could kill this moment, not the man sitting next to him, not the case that brought him back, maybe not even the memories that linger in the very air of the sleepy town.
He's on top of the world and, for once, he doesn't care who knows.