DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS
JIMMY VS THE GIANT
Ch 2
As Jimmy tossed and turned the clouds gathered and filled the sky with an ominous forecast. Torrential rain began to fall lightening flashed and thunder rumbled causing restless dreams to invade his sleep. One almighty clap of thunder had him sitting up in bed with a start. Breathing rapidly and sweating despite the chill from the storm, Jimmy tried to calm his nerves.
Storms usually foretold of bad events in his life. He dreaded the morning. Eventually his heavy lids forced him back into a fitful slumber.
Thankfully the morning greeted him again with a sunny day, though a new shadow was cast across his bedroom floor. Taking a look out his window he had to rub at his eyes with disbelief and wonderment.
The old man had been telling the truth about the magic of the beans. At least what grew from his ground into the sky could only be explained by magic. A stalk as wide as any giant oak he'd ever seen and so tall the top could not be seen, even though the sky was blue. There must be some rather high stratosphere containing clouds to hide it.
Getting dressed and making a hasty breakfast for his aunt, young Jimmy set off to find where the top of that stalk could possibly lead.
He gathered some tools and rope and put a satchel across his shoulder. Checking all his supplies he took a deep breath and began to climb. It started out fairly easy. Easier in fact than he figured it would be. He paused to get a drink from his water pouch while resting on a leaf that was almost as large as his bed. He stole a look down and could barely make out the cottage.
Craning his head to peer upwards he still didn't appear to be near the top. He began to think this had been a bad idea, but remembered the words of the peddler and the treasures that he may find, if nothing else the giant-sized eggs.
The climb became bit more laborious due to number of possible factors: the thinning atmosphere, Jimmy's fatigue or the fewer and farther spaced hand and foot holds. As Jimmy was ready to convince himself to call it quits he paused.
Believing the thinning air must be making him hallucinate Jimmy shook his head and squeezed his eyes closed. Opening them again the scenery didn't change. Incredible as it was, an alternate plateau spread as far as he could see.
Green fields, a dirt road, trees filled with leaves, fruit and birds, tiny and not so tiny critters scampered about. Taking a tentative step Jimmy put pressure down to secure his footing before releasing his hold on the endlessly growing stalk.
After turning in all directions to take in all that surrounded him, Jimmy began his exploring. A few deserted looking cottages were set off the road seemingly being overgrown by the vegetation residing around them.
Not thinking anything could stun him more; Jimmy soon proved that was erroneous thinking. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened at the enormous castle that loomed at the end of the road.
The true size of it wasn't appreciated until he stood at the foot of the front door. The knocker was much too high for him to reach, so he attempted a tentative knock on the wooden door.
To his astonishment there was a response. A smaller door cut into the larger door opened revealing a dark haired young lady wearing all black except the white apron wrapped around her.
"Who are you?" she asked in a raspy voice clearly nervous about having a visitor. "You really shouldn't be here," her eyes darted around as she looked everywhere at once making Jimmy very nervous.
"My name is Jimmy and I'm looking for giant-sized eggs. This looked like a good place to find them," he told her wondering why she was so fidgety.
"Look Jimmy," she spoke directly, "You really need to leave. If the boss of the castle catches a whiff of you, you're a goner!"
"A whiff of me?" Jimmy asked incredulous. "What is he a man-eater?"
"He's not fond of interlopers. He doesn't trust them. Now please just go!" she slammed the door.
Put out Jimmy became curious about this castle's 'boss'. He decided to poke around a little. As he rounded the first corner of the castle he stopped short seeing an impressively large model of a horse drawn wagon. At least he thought it was only a model until he came across to gigantic horses.
'Who would need a wagon and horses so large?' He looked again at the castle and its immense size. 'Nah! It couldn't be,' he thought considering the absurdity of a being that large.
Suddenly the ground began to rumble. Jimmy pressed himself flat against the castle wall, unsure what the source of such a disturbance could be. To his utter amazement he saw what could only be a man's shoe, but was the size of his aunt's house. 'What kind of man could be attached to such a foot?' He soon had that answer as the rest of the body appeared walking toward the horses.
Jimmy held his breath when the giant's steps ceased suddenly. Wishing there was a place to hide Jimmy stood completely still and watched as the giant turned. When he thought for certain that he was busted, he felt a hand grip his shoulder and pull him back into safety.
"I thought I told you to leave," Abby stomped her foot with her hands on her hips.
"Miss, I'm sorry," Jimmy mumbled.
"Don't apologize. And call me Abby," she steamed.
"Yes, Abby. I'm afraid my curiosity got the better of me," Jimmy calmly explained.
"Hmph," she turned away walking toward the back of the house. Not knowing what else to do Jimmy followed.
As he hurried behind Abby, he couldn't help but see all the items around the castle. Nothing was overly ornate, but all obviously belonged to the boss, judging by their size alone.
Distracted by his snooping Jimmy lost track of Abby. He was about to open a door when she screamed, "No. Don't open that." Startled he pulled his hand away.
"No one ever goes in there, except the bossman. It's his inner sanctum."
"What's in there?" Jimmy queried.
"That's for him to know and nobody else to find out!" she stated firmly.
"Huh?" That wasn't enough to curb his need to know. Before Abby could stop him he was through the door and down the steps.
Jimmy looked at all the tools that hung on the wall and impressive collection of giant-sized bourbon bottles. As if they weren't enough to amaze him, the sailing vessel filling almost the entire room took his breath away.
It would take ten villages of men to row it. Or a sail the size of all the land to catch the wind to carry it across the sea.
Jimmy scratched his head looking around the cramped space. "How in blazes does he expect to get this boat out of here?" he wondered aloud.
"He'll carry it out in the bottle," Abby smirked at him. "Now come on and get back upstairs before he catches you here."
As they reached the top of the stairs near the kitchen, a growl echoed off the walls. Abby grabbed Jimmy's arm and flung him into a pantry filled with food. Enough food to feed his entire village for at least a year.
"Whatcha got for me Abs?" a deep voice resonated through the room.
"Good timing as always Gibbs," she replied with more mirth than Jimmy suspected she could possess. "Sit and I'll serve you."
The screech of the large wooden chair against the wooden floor tore at Jimmy's ears, but he remained silent. The clatter of a plate soon sounded as Abby must've put it on the table.
"Bourbon!" Gibbs ordered.
"Yes, Boss. Of course," Abby sounded insulted.
"Abs?" Gibbs seemed distracted.
"Yes?" she inquired innocently.
His eyes narrowed and she tensed recognizing the look he got when his senses were aroused.
"There's a gremlin in my house," he eyed her suspiciously.
"Why would you think that?" she wrung her hands in her apron and tried not to let her eyes wander by the pantry door.
He stood quickly and in one stride had his arm out to open the pantry door. Jimmy sensed his goose was soon to be cooked, grabbed what stores he could putting them in his pockets and his satchel, and then prepared to make a break for it.
Once the door was flung open he took off between the giant's legs and toward the front door. Gibbs was hot on his trail. Figuring he couldn't out run the giant Jimmy ran around the larger pieces of furniture and under pieces to get around him.
No matter the giant was there. 'He must have some kind of sixth sense,' Jimmy deduced.
Jimmy was tiring and was sure Gibbs was moments from squashing him when a new voice boomed, "Leroy, what do you think you're doing?"
"I'm trying to catch a gremlin, Dad."
"What did I tell you about leaving those little creatures alone?" his father chastised.
"He's in my house. I'll do as I see fit," Gibbs turned to glare at his father who was not nearly as large as him.
Jimmy amazed by not only the smaller stature of the man, but that he had such a booming voice as well, decided to take advantage of the distraction and exited post-haste.
"Now see what you've done," Gibbs threw his hands up in disgust.
"Let him go, son. He won't be back."