Updated: 15/07/2018
Hi guys! So, I know it's been ages since I wrote for this fic [The Gibbs Project: Extras], but with all of the updates to the original story and its sequel, I felt as if it was also time to rewrite these oneshots, since they all fit into the timeline somewhere. I'm still taking prompts for oneshot ideas, so I can try and slot them into the timeline, and once I've completed Rider's Return and get started on Scorpia's Return again (two sequels to The Gibbs Project) I'll also be starting on oneshots for the Alex Rider side of the series (heck, I might even start earlier if there's enough demand for it).
Anyway, since I've now got a name for the series and I know where I kind of want to go with it, I decided to go ahead and post it as a new story, but with the same oneshots. The original will be staying up for you guys to read (though I don't know why you'd want to do that) but I'll be posting here now.
So, ladies and gentlemen and awesome peeps who don't identify as either, read ahead for the first rewrite of my oneshots!
Subject: Parkson, Andrew
Date: (25th) June 2012
Location: Virginia, U.S.
"So, how are you getting to the coffee shop, then?"
Andrew glanced up from where he was fumbling with the zipper on his hoodie, blinking at Gibbs with wide eyes as he took his time to comprehend the question.
After a good couple of weeks of regaining his courage and trying to find time in his schedule of homework and sports (he'd re-joined some of his school sports teams at the suggestion of his psychologist in an effort to find a way to release some of his pent-up energy and frustration, and it was working wonders on his sleep patterns), Andrew had finally decided to pick a date and time for his coffee date with Alice. Which happened to be that afternoon, at a coffee shop Ziva had recommended just the previous week.
Part of him was really excited about it – this was his first date ever, with a girl he really liked (and happened to be his best friend), and he felt as if he had ideas all planned out for what they could do and talk about – but at the same time, he was incredibly nervous. After all, this was his first date ever, with a girl he really liked, who also happened to be his best friend, and if he screwed this up there was no way he was ever going to live it down or restore whatever lost friendship he had. Alice was his best friend, and he didn't know how he would be able to cope with losing her.
All of this flitted through his mind in the little while it took him to answer Gibbs' question; the man waited patiently for Andrew's answer, his eyes watching him over the top of the reading glasses he wore to read the morning paper. He knew that sometimes Andrew had to go deeply into his thoughts and didn't like to be disturbed whilst he was thinking, so he just waited.
The sudden blinking told Gibbs that the teen was now thinking properly about the question he'd been posed. "Uh… I was going to take the bus…?" he offered nervously. He wasn't going to tell Gibbs on how he was actually planning to walk there, or how he'd turned down multiple offers from Tony on being dropped off already (if Tony dropped him off, he knew for a fact that he'd at least stalk the two of them a little on their coffee date).
Gibbs raised an eyebrow at the teen's apparent uncertainty. Despite the fact that he trusted Andrew to be able to go out on his own… he wasn't sure that he wanted him to be out with no idea on how to get where he needed to be. That wouldn't be good parenting on anyone's part, foster parent or not.
Closing the newspaper he had been reading, Gibbs stood from the couch and slipped his glasses off his nose, tucking them onto his shirt. "I'll drop you off."
Andrew started a little at that. "Oh no, you don't need to—"
Gibbs shot him a look, shutting him up. "I'm dropping you off," he repeated, making it sound more like an order than a suggestion. Andrew nodded at that, hurrying off to collect his coat before Gibbs could say anything else. As the teen did so, Gibbs moved to stand at the bottom of the stairs. "Jessica," he called up, waiting for a few moments for her response.
A few seconds later, the small redheaded girl appeared at the top of the staircase, clutching a book to her chest and her eyes wide. "Yes, Gibbs…?"
Gibbs offered the girl a small smile. "How about we go for a drive?" he asked. "Let's get some fresh air."
The little girl seemed hesitant for a moment, not wanting to leave the comfort of the house (or, more specifically, her room) to go for a drive, but eventually she nodded, turning back to grab some of her sketchpads and a hoodie (even though it was nearly summer) to wear.
Turning back to Andrew, Gibbs noticed how his lips were pursed, and he was picking at his fingernails. The older man sighed.
"If you think I'm there to keep an eye on you, I'm not," he told him, making the boy look up sharply. "And if you're nervous about today, that'll also be fine. You'll be perfectly fine, alright?"
The boy took a deep breath, before nodding with a smile. "Yes, sir."
Gibbs knew that the use of the word "sir" right then was less because it was drilled into the teen out of politeness, and more to ease his nerves, so he gave the boy a smile before looking over at Jessica as she descended the stairs. "Right, shoes on and into the car, both of you! We don't want to make Andrew late, and we don't know what traffic's like."
Luckily for the three of them, despite it being an early Saturday afternoon there wasn't much traffic at all – it was as if everyone was taking that Saturday off shopping and saving it for the next few weeks. Of course, Gibbs thought this was great, because then he could get some grocery shopping done and give himself and Jessica something to do. Though, from the look of concentration on her face Gibbs saw as she attempted to sketch in a moving car, he doubted that she would want to actually do anything other than sit in the car and do some sketching, or maybe do some reading on that Amazon Kindle they kept in the car just in case.
Slowing down in front of one of the few coffee shops down the main street, Gibbs pulled up in front of one where he spotted only two people sitting at the tables outside – even though it was warm, it seemed as if people were either inside or headed to other places to eat. The two individuals were sat at a single table, one definitely female and the other male. As soon as the car pulled up, both individuals turned towards it. The female's face seemed to light up, and the male stood from his seat, pulling down his shirt.
Gibbs glanced back at Andrew and noticed the boy had paled slightly, and quickly deduced who the guy was.
"Want me to come out with ya?" Gibbs asked, fully prepared to actually step out of the car if that made Andrew more comfortable. He wasn't going to let the boy have a panic attack or pass out because his crush's brother was there to give him some sort of warning talk.
Andrew was silent for a few moments, seriously considering asking Gibbs to head out with him. He hadn't seen Alice's brother around for what was probably a good couple of years at least, and the last time he could remember them meeting he and Alice had just been starting middle school. Like their parents, he had gone to enlist, instead joining the army (this was literally the butt of all the family's inside jokes). The buzz cut and stubble made him appear more intimidating than Andrew once remembered him to be, only making his palms sweatier the longer he sat there, trying to build up the courage to get out of the car.
Eventually, after much internal debate, he decided that he wouldn't make much of a good impression (if at all) if he decided to go with Gibbs. So, taking a deep breath, he gave Gibbs a smile. "I'm good. I'll be fine."
Gibbs gave a single nod as he watched Andrew undo his seatbelt and move to climb out of the car. "You need me, you either signal or pass out – either will be fine."
Andrew scowled over at him. "I'm not going to pass out."
"Sure you aren't."
"Quit it, Gibbs!"
"You just have a good time." The older man smirked as he ruffled Andrew's hair, watching him leave the car and head over towards Alice.
Andrew barely heard Jessica call out a distracted, "See you later," before he'd shut the door and the car headed off, leaving him standing alone on the pavement with Alice and her brother at the table ahead of him. Steeling up his nerves, he made his way over to them, forcing a smile onto his face.
As soon as he reached the table, Alice stood to greet him, a smile on her face whilst her brother continued to watch him, unnerving him.
"Hi," she greeted him with a smile, hesitating for a moment before hugging him. Andrew was startled for a moment, meeting her brother's eye for a moment, before hugging her back.
"Hey," he greeted as she pulled away, before looking over to her older brother. He held out his hand in greeting. "Brandon."
The young man smiled, taking Andrew's hand in a firm handshake. "Andrew. Good to see you've at least still got your manners."
Alice glared at Brandon as Andrew's face flushed red. The older male only laughed at their reactions.
"Hey, hey! I'm just kidding." He nudged Andrew playfully before leaning over to give Alice a soft kiss on the forehead. "Just take care of my sister, will you Andy? We kind of need her back in time for dinner."
"Got it." Andrew nodded once and grinned, though it faltered when the intensity of the glare on Alice's face increased.
"Just leave," she snapped, which only made Brandon laugh as he walked off, sending the duo a wave as he rounded the corner.
Once the two were alone, they continued to stand awkwardly for a few moments before Andrew cleared his throat and spoke.
"You, um, look cute."
He wasn't kidding. In the moments they had been stood there staring at each other awkwardly, he'd taken the time to actually look at her outfit. Her hair curled lightly, with her makeup a faint pink to match her pink blouse and dark jeans with dark, plain ballet pumps. The fact that she still managed to look cute in Andrew's eyes whilst wearing a simple outfit astounded him, honestly, and put his simple hoodie with plain t-shirt and jeans to shame.
Alice's faint blush only worked to make her look cuter, and his own blush deepened.
"Your ponytail suits you," she replied, which only made him scoff.
"Gibbs wants to chop it off."
"No, really? Why?"
"He says he could use it to sweep the—wait, you agree with him, don't you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
She rolled her eyes at him before turning to head into the café. "You want an iced tea or something?"
His jaw dropped as he watched her head inside, before he scrambled to follow her into the small, cosy building. "Hey! You didn't answer my question! Alice!"
Walking slowly along the street, Andrew smiled over at Alice as they walked, the straw to his iced tea sat between his lips. Alice had already finished her drink and was snacking on a blueberry muffin she'd bought at the café, whereas Andrew had already finished his baked treat (a triple chocolate muffin which he'd got through in minutes) and had slowly gone through his iced tea, before buying another for on-the-road.
Noticing his smile, Alice raised an eyebrow at him, a piece of muffin partway to her mouth. "What?" she asked, her lips quirking up into a slight smile.
He simply shrugged. "Nothing much."
"That still implies that there's something." When he blushed a little, she laughed. "Okay, come on, spill."
"It's nothing, really!" he insisted, taking a sip of his drink and turning to look ahead. Realising that she was staring at him, now, he gave her a side glance. "What?"
"You're cute when you're awkward, you know that?"
His face flushed red at that.
She laughed at his reaction, popping another bite-sized chunk into her mouth. "What? It's true!"
"Why'd you have to put it like that?" he whined, his face still bright red, though he was smiling now. "You're embarrassing me."
She shrugged as she nudged him playfully, laughing when he nudged her right back. "I just say it as it is, Parkson," she teased, before trailing off. Something appeared to catch Alice's attention and she turned to look towards it, which directed Andrew's attention.
A movie theatre.
"Want to go catch a film?" he suggested with a slight grin. She returned the grin with her own smile, before reaching out and grabbing his arm, tugging him towards the cinema.
"Come on, then!"
Minutes later, the two of them were stood in front of a board showing the list of films available to watch. Andrew pursed his lips as his eyes scanned through the available films: Brave, Madagascar 3, Snow White and the Huntsman…
"What tickles your fancy?" Andrew asked, glancing over at Alice to see her scanning the board herself.
"I don't know… that Abraham Lincoln film looks good…"
"I thought you'd want something where you won't have nightmares?"
"You mean where you won't have nightmares?" When she noticed his glare, she winced. "Too soon?"
"Too soon."
As Alice opened her mouth to speak again, she heard a pair of familiar voices off to the side, and she tensed.
"Uh… Andy…?" Glancing over at him, she noticed that he'd tensed as well, and was looking over towards the entrance to the theatre.
The entrance that two very familiar special agents happened to be walking through.
"Hide!" Andrew hissed, grabbing Alice's arm and pulling her round to the other side of the board so that they could hide behind it. The two of them stayed silent for a few moments, before Andrew decided to poke his head around to get a view of what was going on.
Tony and Ziva were stood in front of a listings board not too far from where Andrew and Alice were hiding, their backs to the pair as they tried to decide on what film to watch. Which would have seemed normal, except for the fact that Andrew didn't know the two were that close – he'd never seen Tony hanging out with McGee outside work, so what made Ziva so special?
"Do you think they're on a date?" Alice asked quietly as she poked her own head around to get a look at what was going on.
Andrew shrugged. "I don't know. I never knew they were dating or anything." He paused to think. "Maybe they're just watching a movie as friends?"
"Yeah, likely story."
"What, guys and girls can't be friends?"
"I mean, I'd think they were only friends if they weren't standing so close to each other."
Andrew glanced up at Alice, raising an eyebrow and then realising he and Alice were in pretty close proximity. Blushing, he turned back to focus on Tony and Ziva, trying to listen in on their conversation.
"Anything in particular you want to watch?"
Ziva raised an eyebrow at Tony. "I thought you were going to teach me the basics of American culture with a strong film?" When he opened his mouth to argue, she added, "I am quoting you and not just making the claim myself."
"These are all American films – I was just wondering what kind you wanted to start off on," Tony argued. "We could go DreamWorks or Disney?" he suggested, gesturing to Brave and Madagascar 3.
"I have experienced Disney many times in my childhood," Ziva commented, folding her arms. "That would be cute, but maybe not at the movies."
"Or some horror sci-fi with Prometheus?"
"I would like for you to not wet yourself, Tony."
"How about some good American history with a modern twist: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter?" he asked, ignoring the blatant insult she'd thrown his way like it was nothing new.
"That movie sounds ridiculous. Vampires do not exist. And do not," she said quickly, before he could make any remarks, "say that Twilight is a real love story. Vampires are not real." She turned and moved closer to the board to get a better look. "Perhaps if we had waited a few more days, we could have seen Magic Mike?"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Ziva David seeing a movie about strippers?"
She smirked slightly. "Perhaps I could have used it to give you some pointers," she commented off-handedly.
"That implies that I'll ever strip for you."
At the raised eyebrow she gave him, he smirked.
Andrew gagged. "That was way more than I ever needed to know," he hissed.
Alice could only nod her agreement.
"Perhaps Snow White and the Huntsman?" Ziva finally suggested. "It has Chris Hemsworth in it, and I would very much like to give him a try."
"On screen, or...?" Tony asked, his question trailing off.
Ziva merely smirked at him as she sauntered off to buy their tickets. "You ask that as if you are jealous, Tony."
He scoffed, following after her as he pulled his wallet out to try and pay for the tickets before she could. "What, me? Never!"
The two behind the board waited for the two agents to disappear from view, and once they were completely sure that two had moved off and out of view, Andrew turned back to Alice. "Okay, so we know what film we need to avoid—"
"You mean, what film we need to watch?" Alice corrected, grinning as she stood up straighter and straightened her blouse out by brushing it down. "Come on, we can tail them!"
He stared at her for a few moments before he finally decided to speak. "What for?" he asked her slowly, a frown on his face.
"Don't you want to find out what they'll be doing in the theatre?"
His expression turned incredulous. "After eavesdropping on that conversation? I'd rather not."
"Oh, come on, Andy. Stop being a wuss." Alice moved forwards slowly to see if Tony and Ziva were still at the ticket desk, before tugging Andrew to buy tickets for the same movie, the boy whining the entire time. "If you shut up, you get to pick snacks and I'll pay."
That kept Andrew quiet, until: "I thought guys were meant to pay for first dates?"
"Then you're doing a sucky job. Now shut up."
Walking into the theatre, the two weren't surprised to find it almost packed – though the film had been released weeks ago, most of the kids their age had only just started their summer vacation and were free to watch what they wanted. Plus, more recent reviews were saying that the film was actually good.
Then again, if it had Chris Hemsworth in it, it was bound to be a good looking movie – at least, that was what Alice had said as they headed into the theatre with their popcorn and sodas. Andrew hadn't hesitated to throw a small handful of popcorn in her face.
Looking around the darkened theatre, Andrew's brows furrowed. "I can't see them…" he whispered to Alice.
The blonde, on the other hand, was focused on a spot in the middle. "Hey, there's a pair of seats there. Maybe if we sit down first we can look after."
"Sit first? Wouldn't we want to find them?"
"Yeah, walk around a theatre with popcorn and sodas. Because that doesn't look stupid at all."
"Oh, shut up."
It took them a couple of minutes to reach the seats, considering they were right in the middle of a row, and Andrew almost dropped his popcorn multiple times as he edged his way past the various patrons in their seats. Once they'd reached their seats, Andrew let out a sigh as he sat down, tucking his soda into its holder and leaning back into the plush seating. "Okay, now look?" he asked Alice lowly.
Before Alice could reply, the already fairly dark screening room turned even darker.
"I guess not," Alice whispered in return. Nudging Andrew slightly, she smiled, though she knew that he wouldn't be able to see it in the dark. "Maybe we can just enjoy the movie instead."
Andrew smiled slightly, leaning towards Alice so that their shoulders were touching. "I guess we can."
Andrew swore he could see Alice's bright smile as she shifted slightly closer.
Andrew couldn't remember the point in the movie at which he'd slid his arm over and around Alice's shoulders, but he definitely remembered the feeling of her head tucked against his shoulder throughout the rest of the movie, up to when they actually started holding hands nearer to the end of the movie.
In fact, as they left the theatre, they were still holding hands, laughing at some joke Andrew had made as they headed out to the exit.
"I liked that film," Alice commented with a wide smile. "It was a nice twist on Snow White, I think."
Andrew raised his eyebrows at her. "What, nothing about Hemsworth?" he asked.
Alice shrugged. "He was cute. Maybe too old for me, though."
Andrew burst out laughing at that, though the laughter stopped abruptly when he heard a voice behind them.
"We're glad you enjoyed the movie – we did too."
The two teens froze, before turning slowly to face the two agents standing behind them, both of whom had smirks plastered on their faces. When the agents' eyes directed down to their intertwined fingers, the two quickly pulled their hands apart, blushes on their faces.
"So, you did follow us into that movie," Ziva pointed out with a grin, folding her arms as she watched the teens' reactions with interest.
Tony scoffed. "Of course they did, curious little things."
"Wait, you knew we were following you?" Alice asked, her eyes wide.
Andrew narrowed his eyes at them for a few moments before it clicked. "Of course they did. They're federal agents." He gave them a deadpan expression. "Gibbs sent you."
"Are you stating that or asking?" Tony asked.
"You know."
"We have to watch out for you both," Ziva said softly as she looked between the two teens. Seeing how they still appeared disgruntled, she sighed. "Imagine if something had happened in there. What if we had not been there to watch out for you?"
"Was Gibbs afraid of us seeing a film that we weren't allowed to, or that we'd get hurt by someone else?" Alice asked, frowning.
"Both, and more," Ziva responded before Tony could. She sent Andrew a pointed look as she said, "After all, not all of us are completely comfortable with dark spaces cramped with many strangers."
Andrew tensed at that, crossing his arms. "…Okay, but," he argued after a few moments of silence, "we were fine, weren't we?"
Tony smirked. "Honestly, Gibbs should've been more worried about you two messing around with each other. My little man, pulling off moves!"
Both teens' faces turned a bright shade of red.
Ziva stepped harshly on Tony's foot before smiling at the two teens. "Ignore him. He is a fool."
"A loveable, special—"
"A fool, Tony." Focusing on the teens again, she continued. "Anyway, we have completed our job, and you are both safe, so Tony and I will both be heading off. You two will stay safe, correct?"
Both teens nodded, still too embarrassed to speak.
And with that, Ziva grabbed a whining Tony's arm and began to tug him out through the movie theatre main exit. Just as the two agents reached the door, something suddenly popped to Andrew's mind.
"Hey, Tony!" he called out, causing both agents to stop. "How did you know that we were coming here? And seeing a movie?"
Tony and Ziva shared a look briefly, before Tony called back, "We tailed you." The two agents scampered out of the building before Andrew could lose his temper with them.
Andrew's jaw dropped at that revelation, but before he could get angry at them Alice tugged on his arm.
"Let's just head home," she suggested, offering him a small smile to try and calm him down. "We can walk together back to the coffee shop and get picked up from there?"
Andrew seemed to contemplate this quietly, before nodding in agreement. He smiled as Alice began to tug him towards the exit, leading the pair out onto the street to begin their walk back to the coffee shop they'd met at earlier that day.
The walk the two took back to the coffee shop was much longer than the walk from the coffee shop to the movies, with the pair often dawdling and pausing during their walk to look at something they hadn't seen before, or just because they got distracted chatting and didn't realise that they had stopped walking until someone bumped into them. By the time they reached the coffee shop, the number of customers had dwindled significantly, with the waiters mostly cleaning tables instead of serving people their drinks. Two familiar cars sat outside the café, waiting for the teens: one of which belonged to Gibbs, the other belonged to Alice's mom, and the two could clearly see Brandon sitting in the front passenger seat next to her.
Andrew took a deep breath as they slowed, reaching the coffee shop. "I guess this is where the date ends," he said, a hint of sadness in his tone.
Alice gave him a slightly sad smile. "Yeah, I guess."
He took a deep breath, before giving her a bright smile to try and brighten the mood. "I had fun, though. A lot of fun."
The sad smile on Alice's face brightened. "So did I, Andy. I'm glad we did this."
"Same here." He squeezed her hand lightly, and she pulled him into a tight hug. He returned the hug just as tightly, and as they pulled away he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "We should do this again."
She nodded, blushing faintly and pushing some stray hair behind her ear. "We should."
The two stood there in silence for a few moments, before the sound of someone clearing their throat startled them out of the silence. Andrew looked over Alice's shoulder to see Brandon stood there, leaning on the open door of her mom's car, a single eyebrow raised.
"I think your brother wants to go," he whispered loudly to Alice, and she looked over her shoulder to see her brother there, looking expectant.
"Huh, I guess you're right," she responded, before turning back to Andrew. She remained standing there for a few more moments, a conflicted expression crossing her features the whole time. Andrew's brows furrowed.
"Alice? What's—" He was cut off by a sudden pressing of lips against his. Soft, gentle, and brief, but it was enough to stun him into silence with wide eyes, a shocked expression on his face once Alice pulled away.
Her face was beet red as she pulled away and started walking backwards towards her mom's car, a small smile on her face. "See you again soon, Andy," she said with a small wave, before she turned and ran over to the car, ignoring the smirk on her brother's face as he watched her climb into the backseat of the car. Andrew hadn't even realised that she'd left until someone else called out to him, and he realised there was only one car waiting in front of the coffee shop.
"Hey! Andrew! Quit acting all gobsmacked and lovestruck and get in the car!"
The teen visibly jumped at the call, and he stared at Gibbs with wide eyes before practically stumbling over to the front passenger seat of the car and climbing in, slamming the door shut once he was sat. It took him a few more seconds to realise that he needed to put his seatbelt on, though it took Gibbs reminding him more than once to actually do so.
As the car drove off, Andrew slowly placed his fingers to his lips, still stunned by the kiss. Gibbs glanced over from where he'd been focusing on the road and smirked.
"First kiss?"
Andrew managed a numb nod.
"Good kiss?"
Andrew blushed brightly, but grinned, making Gibbs chuckle.
"Maybe next time you'll initiate?"
Now Andrew was flustered, and he opened and shut his mouth a few times before he finally answered the chuckling Gibbs. "Oh, shut up."
Hope you enjoyed! Don't forget, I'm still taking prompts for the NCIS side of the plot, so feel free to send them in with reviews as I rewrite the other oneshots!