DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NCIS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS
JIMMY VS THE GIANT
Ch 3
Jimmy ran chancing a glance back to see if the giant was in pursuit. Not seeing any sign of him he slowed to plan his next move. He decided to take the goods he managed to escape with home and return again the next day. Perhaps the giant would venture away from the castle and he could search for the giant eggs.
Climbing to the bottom of the stalk he was greeted by his aunt's screech. "Who are you and why are you in my garden?"
"It's me Jimmy, Aunt Victoria. I've brought some food staples for your pantry."
She eyed him suspiciously following him into the house. He carefully put all the items in her pantry. Her mind eased as she saw the many items.
'He must be a good boy,' she thought.
Jimmy made quick work of his afternoon chores and sat to plan his adventure for the next day. Abby would be the key to helping him, if the castle boss was to come around. He only hoped that she'd be willing to help after what had happened today.
The next morning he again did all required of him before returning to the stalk. Having a better idea of the climb he better prepared himself. He stealthily made his way to the castle noting that the wagon and horses were no where in sight.
Taking that as a sign the giant was away he gave the door a knock. There was no answer, so tried the door expecting it to be locked. Surprisingly it was not, so he entered looking all about.
He wandered into rooms he hadn't had the opportunity to see; one being the master bedroom. He wasn't surprised by the giant-sized dresser or bed, but a photograph framed on the bedside table gave him pause.
She was a beautiful woman with wav red hair tied back off her face. 'Could the giant have been married? Was she a giant too? Wouldn't she have to be?' His mind flooded with questions. There was no sign of her anywhere in the castle. Jimmy wondered what had become of her.
So engrossed in thought he was startled when a hand fell hard on his shoulder. "What are you doing back here? Are you insane? Or simply have a death wish? I could kill you myself. You have no idea how bad things were after you ran away."
"I'm sorry Abby," Jimmy told her sincerely. "I didn't mean to get you into trouble, but I had to come back. I've got to find one of those giant eggs and maybe even bring one of the chickens home, so my aunt and I won't have to worry so much about eating."
Abby took pity on him. "Are you that poor?" she asked.
"Oh my aunt has lots of gold coins, but no one takes them for payment these days."
"Hmm… I think I know someone who may be able to help you, but the coins would have to be much larger. Maybe we could melt them down and form them into larger coins."
"Do you think he'd give me an egg or a chicken?" he asked excitedly.
"Well, the boss doesn't own any chickens, nor does he have any of the eggs. I do know where you can get them though. "He hasn't had any since his lady love moved on up."
"Moved on up?" Jimmy was confused.
"Yes she wanted a better view of things and left him here."
"Maybe I could find her and bring her back to him," Jimmy suggested.
"Good luck with that, but she's the one with the chickens and giant eggs," Abby told him.
"Well then I'll have to try," Jimmy was determined.
"Okay. Bossman will be gone for two days, so you have until then to bring me the gold and try to convince the girl," she informed him.
"I'm off then," Jimmy left deciding to climb up the stalk in search of the giant's love.
The climb to the top of the stalk took a lot out of Jimmy and he laid down on the road there panting and wondering if this was one of his smarter moves. Once he could breathe normally he sat up and looked around. The scenery here was very plush and vibrant colors of flora adorned both sides of the road.
Still it was quiet without much sign of life aside from a few birds and small animals he could see. Standing he walked down the road enjoying the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
It wasn't long until he saw the castle of the giant's love. At least he hoped it was hers. After all how many giants could exist up here?
This castle was pristine and almost sparkled in the sunlight. Surely she would be a kind giant. He knocked on the door and again was greeted with the opening of a smaller door.
"Who are you?" a dark man with a wooden stick between his teeth asked gruffly.
"I'm Jimmy sir. I was looking for a giant with red hair. Does she live here?" he asked hopefully not sure what to make of the stern looking man dressed in a black suit.
"What if she does? What do you want with her?" he continued to stare at Jimmy warily.
Not wanting to reveal too much and be turned away Jimmy simply said, "I'd like to speak with her."
"Oh yeah. About what?" he humphed.
"Leon, enough. Let the poor boy in," a melodic voice spoke.
"Very well. Come on in," he stepped to the side allowing Jimmy room to enter.
Easing past the man, Jimmy looked around seeing all the beauty the castle offered. The sight of her sitting on a large fluffy couch made his jaw drop.
"Come on in young man. Whatever brings you all the way up here?" she asked curiously. "I've never had any visitors before. Guess it's true what they say."
"What's that?" Jimmy asked still a bit stunned by the sight of her.
She smiled a bit sadly, "That it's lonely at the top."
"Then why stay here?" Jimmy shrugged.
"Good question," she stared off contemplating the answer. Not really expecting an answer Jimmy started when she spoke. "I guess I figured I'd made my choices and had to live with the consequences."
Shaking his head in disagreement, but not sure what to say Jimmy asked "Have you ever tried to contact him?"
"Who?" he eyes narrowed wondering how much this tiny stranger could possibly know about her past.
Swallowing he answered quietly, "Gibbs."
"You know him?" she looked at him with contempt.
Stammering he replied, "N-Not ex-exactly. I d-did stum-umble up-on his cast-le yest-erday.
"How did you know I would want to seek him out?" she asked still unsure of his intentions.
"I saw a framed picture of you in his bedside table," Jimmy managed to pull himself together and answer.
"Hmm... you were in his private quarters?" ever the more doubtful she glared at him.
"Yes today. He wasn't at home, so I chanced a look around his place."
"Do you make it a habit of searching homes without their owner's knowledge?" she accused.
"No Ma'am. It's just," he paused to get his words right, "I was searching for giant-sized eggs and perhaps the chicken that lays them."
"He doesn't have any."
"That's what Abby told me today," he admitted.
"I see so she told you I have them and you came to seek them out." She looked him over. "Why should I give them to you?"
"My aunt and I have little money, and our garden isn't growing much, aside from the giant stalk that brought me here. She does have some gold coins, but not many vendors will trade for them."
"Perhaps we can arrange a deal," she said. "I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Jenny."
"It's nice to meet you," Jimmy bowed.
"If you bring me the coins I could be persuaded to give up an egg or two, maybe even a chicken. Though I would like something else as well," she smiled with a gleam in her eyes.
"What would that be?" Jimmy's hope rose as he wondered if he might actually get what he'd set out for.
"I'd like you to bring Gibbs up to see me," she smiled shrewdly knowing it would be no easy task.
Jimmy bit on his lip thinking how that could be accomplished. "Okay, but he's supposed to be gone for a few days. Meanwhile I'll gather as many gold coins as I can."
"Very well. Go on then," Jenny sent him off with a genuine smile. She really thought he was a cute little person and he certainly had a big heart.
The next few days Jimmy brought coins up to Abby. Together they melted them down and poured them into large molds to make giant-sized gold coins. One by one they carried them up the stalk to give to Jenny who was impressed enough to reward Jimmy the sight of her chickens.
Seeing the proof of their existence was enough of an incentive to ground Jimmy's resolve to bring Gibbs to her. It would be risky, some would say fool-hardy, but he knew they still loved each other. In the end they would all win.
"He'll be back tomorrow morning," Abby told Jimmy as he was saying goodbye. "Come around nine a.m. after he's eaten and has had some coffee. He'll be a little less grouchy then," she suggested smirking.
The next day Jimmy was nervous about his plan, but as he approached the castle and saw the horses and the wagon his nerves stopped cold. Taking a breath he squared his shoulder and knocked loudly on the door.
Abby answered with a shocked expression and loudly accused, "Why are you back?"
"Who's there Abs?" came Gibbs' booming voice. "Ah, that gremlin I see," he answered himself spying Jimmy at the door. "You've made a bad choice returning here," he warned heading for Jimmy.
Jimmy took off for the stalk, but went up instead of down confusing his pursuer for a moment. With a growl Gibbs was hot on his trail. Jimmy climbed faster than he ever had, reached the top and took off toward Jenny's castle.
He was grateful to see Leon at the door and ducked in just as Jenny opened the larger door to confront Gibbs.
"Hello Jethro," she cooed in her silky voice.
Gibbs stopped short staring at her as visions of their past crosses through his mind. "Jen," he said softly.
"Would you like to come in?" she gestured with her hand for him to enter.
He walked in and looked around at the shiny interior. "Nice place you got here," he complimented.
"Thank you," Jenny said demurely. She nodded at Leon to give Jimmy his due egg and chicken.
Before Jimmy could walk away he had to see if it was worth the risk. As Jenny put her arm in Gibbs' elbow and laid her head on his shoulder and Gibbs pressed his cheek against her head, Jimmy smiled. 'Yeah, they were going to be just fine.'
With great care Jimmy managed to get his rewards down the stalk. He wasn't sure where he would house his giant chicken, but for now it seemed content to strut around the garden pecking away at the seeds that never grew.
Jimmy cooked up the egg and invited the villagers over for a feast. Ducky was ecstatic to learn that all the stories were true and vowed to relate them all over the lands he travelled.
A darkness shadowed over all of them bringing a stunned silence. Jimmy looked up to see what had blocked out the sun and smiled as Jenny and Gibbs smiled down at him.
"We wanted to thank you for bringing us back together," Jenny said to him.
"It was my pleasure," Jimmy replied. "We couldn't be enjoying this fine feast without your generosity," he smiled at her.
"Still if you need anything," she left it open.
"Well," Jimmy looked at his chicken, "It would be nice if I had a place to protect my chicken for the weather."
"It's done," Gibbs smiled. "I can build that in no time."
True to his word the next day Jimmy's chicken had a nice little, well not so little, place to call home.
Every month or so Jimmy and his aunt would throw a feast for the villagers and as they all became good friends, they offered their help around the cottage, finally bringing the garden to life.
Gibbs and Jenny would visit from time to time, as would Jimmy go to see them. Over the years the stalk withered and died away.
Still Jimmy would look up into the sky and swear he could see them looking down at him. He would give a small wave and a nod of thanks.
"May you live happily ever after," he would wish them and return to his home, where Abby had come to live with him and his aunt. He was hoping that they would have a happily ever after some day, too.