Payback
Summary: Hetty's version of payback for stealing one of her flowers brings out another side of Eric which brings Eric and Nell closer together. Seeing them brings Kensi and Deeks' feelings to light.
Author's Note: I own nothing! This is fiction! Please read, review (I love feedback!), and Enjoy!
Chapter One:
NCIS Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones knew something was up the moment she stepped into the building of the Office of Special Projects. She found her team of agents talking amongst themselves.
"Can you believe that?"
"I know, I never thought I'd see the day."
"This has to be a joke."
"What kind? April Fools?"
"Deeks, its March."
"So? Either way, this has Hetty written all over it."
"Definitely." All four agreed in union.
"What's got Hetty written all over it?" Nell asked, looking up at them curiously.
Four pairs of eyes glanced at Nell and grins appeared, "It's something you have to see with your own eyes." Again this was said in unison.
Arching her brow at the four agents, Nell headed up the stairs to the OPS center. When she stepped inside her mind went uncharacteristically blank.
Eric Beale, her partner in all things tech, stood in the corner of the room, his eyes transfixed on the information displayed on the screen. His usual attire of surf shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops were gone, instead he wore an immaculately fitted black suit with a pale yellow tie with white poka dots, and his glasses were replaced with contacts.
Nell felt her IQ slip away and she uttered a few syllables, upon hearing them, Eric turned and his face lit up when he saw it was her.
"Hey Nell, what do you think?" he asked, grinning like a little kid.
Nell couldn't help it, she was charmed.
"You look great." Nell said, "What's with the change?"
"Hetty." Eric replied sheepishly and made sure the coast was clear before continuing, he said. "Remember when I took one of her flowers?"
A faint blush covered Nell's cheeks, knowing he'd done so because he was jealous over the fact she seemed to have a boyfriend. That he risked death for her. Apparently, Hetty wouldn't kill him but Nell wondered what else Hetty had up her sleeve.
"I take that as a 'yes' so this is her form of payback. She waited until I thought she forgot about it and wham! I was instructed this was my new uniform." Eric explained, and then sighed as he tugged slightly on the sleeve, "I hope this isn't permanent."
Nell patted his arm in sympathy. Eric covered her hand with his. "I would do it again though. For you." He admitted quietly.
Nell blushed again only deeper. Suddenly shy, she stepped away as the doors opened and Hetty, Kensi, Deeks, Sam and Callen entered the room.
"So Nell, what do you think of Eric's new look?" Callen asked with a grin.
"It's…something." Nell managed, while the four agents ribbed each other about Nell's constant blush when she was distracted by the information on the case at hand.
"Look at the way they glance at each other and try not to get caught." Kensi whispered to her three cohorts.
"It's so cute." Deeks murmured, "You can tell they like each other but don't want to admit it because it might be capital L love."
"Capital L love?" Sam echoed quietly.
"Yeah, you know, like the love of a lifetime. They are afraid to risk it." Deeks answered, glancing at Eric and Nell's dance of denial. While he did this, the others shook their head at Deeks' choice of words.
Hetty corralled the agents back to the case at hand and they were off on their prospective leads. Nell sat in her seat and studied Eric, who was focused on hacking into a computer system. She bit her lip and fired an email off to Nate, and it was three simple words. 'You were right.'