Author's note: I do not own NCIS:LA or its characters
Fatima climbed into Rountree's truck and smiled. They were going to Universal Studios for the weekend with his sister Jordan. Fatima had been incredibly nervous the whole time she was packing her suitcase. She really, really liked Devin, and and desperately wanted to make a good impression on Jordan. She wanted Devin to like her. She tried to push those thoughts out of her head as she buckled her seat belt.
"Um, am I going to have to sit in the back when we get her?" she asked.
"If you want to. She's cool, she doesn't care," Devin replied. He noticed Fatima's hands were shaking, so he reached over and gently took her hands in his.
"You're nervous," he noted. Fatima nodded meekly.
"I just really want to make a good impression, I want her to like me," she explained quietly.
"She will, if you just be yourself. Fatima, you're incredible. You don't need to change who you are to make a good impression on her. Be yourself, and she'll love you. I promise," he replied sweetly. Fatima nodded a little.
"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous, I'll be okay," she whispered. Devin nodded.
"Don't be. For real," he replied sweetly. He pulled out of her driveway, then started the music. Fatima smiled and shyly turned it up a little. They teamed up on duets for most of the ride.
When they got to the UCLA campus, he pulled around to the dorms. Fatima decided to ask if it was okay for her to run in and use the bathrooms there.
"Of course it's okay. You can go in over there," he replied. Fatima got out and made her way in. She quickly located a women's room. The problem was getting back out. She was wandering around for several minutes before she came across a young woman with a suitcase.
"Excuse me, I'm, like, really lost," Fatima said sheepishly. "I'm trying to get out of here, it's like a maze." The woman nodded.
"Of course! Yeah, I felt the same way. I'm leaving too, so I'll walk you out," she said. Fatima nodded a little, and the two women walked away. Fatima realized that the exit they used was nowhere near where she'd went in. Her eyes widened and she looked around, hopeful to see some sign of where to go. "The main parking lot is over here. I don't know what you're looking for, sorry," the woman said sheepishly.
"It's okay. I'm just looking for my friend and his sister," Fatima explained. "I'm going to call him," She dialed his number and looked around. "Hey, where you at? I got really lost and I can't find you and I'm a little scared," she said, tears forming in her eyes. She felt like she was right back in her first day of school, lost and begging for help.
"Hey, hey. Chill out. Tell me what you see," he said softly.
"Um. There's a big glass door. Trees. It just looks like everything else!" she said, trying not to cry for real.
"Okay. Fatima. Chill. You are fine. You're not lost. I'm going to come look for you, okay?" Pretty soon, she could see his truck coming around the corner.
"I see you!" she said excitedly. She hurried over and smiled.
"Hey, there she is," he teased gently. The woman in the backseat giggled. Fatima pouted and climbed in.
"It's okay. I totally get it. It took me months to figure this place out," Jordan said sweetly. Fatima smiled a little.
"Jordan, Fatima. Fatima, Jordan," Devin said sweetly.
"Hi," Jordan said shyly. "He talks about you a lot." Fatima immediately blushed and batted her eyelashes at Devin. Devin turned around.
"Traitor," he whined. Jordan giggled and smiled.
"Well, he talks about you a lot too," Fatima replied. Devin smiled and pulled the truck to the exit. They drove for about forty-five minutes, then pulled into a parking lot. The girls were chatting the whole time Devin checked them in. They made their way to the hotel. "Oh, my God, this place is beautiful," Fatima said excitedly. They got up to their suite and immediately set their bags on the couch. Fatima looked around and realized there were only two bedrooms. Devin caught her looking around and gently put his hand on her back.
"Hey. You don't have to share a room with either of us if you don't want to, okay? I'll sleep on the couch if I have to," he said gently.
"We can share, if you're okay with that," Jordan offered.
"Okay, yeah. We can take the room with two beds," Fatima said. Once it was settled, Devin spoke up.
"It's too late to head to the park tonight, but we can go to the pool, if you girls want," he said. Fatima bounced up and down and squealed. "Okay. Pool it is. You two go get changed," he said. The girls headed into one of the bedrooms. Fatima opened her bag and pulled out her swimsuit, then looked around nervously.
"You okay?" Jordan asked.
"Yeah, I'm good. I'm just a little shy," she admitted.
"I can run to the bathroom," Jordan offered.
"Um, I will. Thanks," she said quietly. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw Devin standing shirtless in the main room. She blushed a little and tried to pretend she wasn't checking him out. She had to admit, he was pretty good-looking. He was very muscular and toned, and she had to admit, he looked damn good without a shirt. She heard the door open, and Jordan came out. She was wearing a teal bikini, with her hair pulled into a ponytail. Fatima suddenly felt self-conscious about the fact that she was the only one that wasn't half-naked. Devin caught her looking away, then went over to her.
"Hey. You're beautiful," he said gently. Fatima smiled a little.
