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The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship, by kageygirl
Title: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
Author: ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
kageygirl
Category: Gen
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: G
Spoilers: minor for "Twilight."
Summary: Gibbs didn't quite get it, but he didn't have to--for Abby, it was love at first sight.
Disclaimer: So very much not mine.
Notes: Big thanks to shetiger for pointing out where my shorthand was way too short. *g*
The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
With a sharp report, his target vanished.
Easing his finger off the trigger, Gibbs surveyed his handiwork with a critical eye. The carny kid pulled the popped balloon off the plastic clown head opposite Gibbs, and fitted a new one over the nozzle behind it.
Gibbs dropped another dollar bill on the counter, but before he could take aim again with the water gun, the kid hustled over to him. "Look, just--take any one you want, all right?" He pointed to the left wall of the booth, where a bunch of garish stuffed animals dangled from hooks.
Gibbs smirked at the kid and nodded at the little cardboard sign over the toys. "But I haven't won twenty times yet."
"Look, you're bad for business, man." The kid eyed the small crowd that had gathered to watch--but not to play; the other water guns were mostly going unmanned. Shooting water into each clown's mouth inflated a balloon, and whoever popped his balloon first won the match... but Gibbs wasn't getting a lot of competition any more. "So, just--let's assume you're gonna keep nailing it, and take your prize, okay? I gotta eat tonight."
"Sure, okay," Gibbs said amiably. He looked behind him and raised his eyebrows. "Abs?"
"The hippo!" Abby pointed at a lump of gray plush, her pigtails bobbing as she bounced. "I want the hippo."
"One hippo for the lady," the kid said, and if his enthusiasm was less than genuine, well, Gibbs would let it go. "Here you are, ma'am."
Abby pushed her giant cup of frozen Coke into Gibbs's hands--no Caf-Pow! at the carnival, and she'd pouted until they found the next best thing--and took the hippo. She hugged it hard, and it made a loud, flatulent noise.
Gibbs gave the kid a look.
"Sorry, it's a novelty thing," the kid stammered, turning red. "I'll get you a different one--"
"No! I love him." Abby squeezed the hippo again, and the noise it made this time was even ruder.
"All right." Gibbs shrugged at the kid. "Thanks."
"Sure," the kid muttered, already turning to two new customers and the dollar bills they were waving.
"Sights are off," Gibbs called, casually and disingenuously, but the kid ignored him, and Abby pulled him away.
As they moved down the midway, Abby tucked the hippo under her arm and unbuckled one of her studded collars. She fastened it around the hippo's neck, then stopped to stare at it for a moment.
Gibbs took her elbow and steered her out of the way as three little ones stampeded past.
Finally, Abby gave a decisive nod, and turned the hippo to face him. "Gibbs, I'd like you to meet Bert."
"Nice to meet you, Bert." He frowned down at Bert's beady little black eyes. "I don't have to hug him or anything, do I?"
"Nope! Just me." Abby wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. "Thank you, Gibbs!" Trapped between them, the hippo farted again, and Gibbs chuckled as he patted Abby on the back.
She pulled away from him and reclaimed her soda cup, sipping loudly through the straw. "Oh, and you have to buy me fried dough. And Dippin' Dots. A corn dog and a slushee do not a birthday dinner make."
"What the hell's a Dippin' Dot?"
"You'll love 'em." She looped an arm through his and aimed them toward the concession stands, giving him a big, cheery grin. "Trust me."
Bert farted, and Gibbs rolled his eyes, hiding a smile as he let himself be led onward.
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ncis_flashfic,
