Title: The First Time

Author: Tearsofamiko

Rating: K

Disclaimer: Nuh-uh.

Spoilers: Heartland

Summary: She smiles and he knows he's lost.

A/N: Shameless quote thievery – all of the dialogue comes from the episode. ^^ This might not make sense unless you've seen the episode...then again, it might if you read it for what it is. ^^


"What were you and those guys fighting about?"

"Um…I don't even remember." He looks at her sheepishly.

"You should stop," she suggests, nodding at him in emphasis.

"Are you waiting for the train, too?" he asks, desperately wishing, yet almost wanting her to deny it. She nods and he accepts it, not smiling despite the bubble of happiness that begins to inflate deep in his chest. "We could sit together," he offers.

"I don't know, it's a long ride," she smiles as she says it and he knows he's lost. "But I guess you aren't a lumberjack."

He's confused for a second. "No..."

"Well, I have a rule - it's either rule #1 or rule #3 - never date a lumberjack." She looks completely serious, but her eyes sparkle.

He grins at her. "You got a rule for everything?"

"Workin' on it," she replies immediately, her smile breaking though. "Everyone needs a code they can live by."

He agrees, nodding.

"What's your name?" she asks.

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs," he replies hesitantly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge her reaction as he names himself as the town bad-boy.

"I'm…just gonna call you 'Gibbs.'" She nods conspiratorially.

"You can call me anything you want."

She smiles back at him, staring straight into his eyes. "I'm Shannon."

He returns her gaze, losing himself in the green of her eyes, calm for the first time in a long time, truly lost for the first time ever.


A/N: I really loved the flashback at the end of the episode. ^^ Shy Gibbs is adorable!