A well-intentioned birthday gift

[sinkwriter]

To the lovely lostakasha on the occasion of her birthday.

Sincerest apologies... I haven't written in ages, and this attempt was the best I could do under the influence of cold medication and a cloudy brain.

P.S. I'll fill in the headers later, after you've read the piece. I don't want to give away anything! (Not that it should be that challenging to piece together. *GRIN*)

For your reading pleasure (I hope!)...


Meet Cute

Heavy, black combat boots clomped to an abrupt halt before him where he sat at his lab table. He didn't bother to look up. "I was told you'd be here an hour ago."

A smoky voice murmured, "Did you want it quick, or thorough?"

His head jerked up; his pen stilled. "I ... was told you'd be military."

The corner of her mouth curving, she arched a shapely, dark eyebrow at him. "I was told you'd be an F.B.I. suit."

He huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. "Do I look like an uptight federal agent?"

"Do I look like a cranky Marine?"

He grinned, glancing up from her short, black plaid skirt to her black t-shirt with the skull and crossbones emblem. The skull bore a happy pink bow. "Hardly."

The young woman gave him another quirky shadow of a smile. "So, are you ready for this or not?"

He shoved his notebook to the side and stood, tugging his lab coat back into place. "Absolutely. Let me take that," he said, reaching across the table for the box in her arms, grasping the cardboard insert handles on its sides as she let go. He set the box down on top of his papers and looked back up at her.

She was digging through her messenger bag. As she bent down, she brushed an ebony, pig-tailed braid out of her way, revealing an intricate spider web tattoo that covered the side of her pale neck. He cocked his head, studying the inked design. "Araneus diadematus."

She glanced up at him, her eyes bright. "Right on."

"I'm a bug guy."

He admired her contrasts: bold makeup highlighting wide eyes and gentle features; bad-ass rings decorating willowy hands; the web tattoo and a thin band of tough black leather, studded with small circles, clasped in back with a wide, silver buckle, wrapped around her delicate throat. Probably too early to joke about other tats.

He swallowed, waiting, as she continued her search, the ring on her right hand flashing shiny silver stars and dangling loops of fine, lightweight chain as she flipped through her folders. Make that two rings: one thumb, one ring finger. A matched set of rings on the same fingers of the opposite hand. Short nails, probably a nervous biter. Long, slender fingers. He imagined them moving quickly across a keyboard; or carefully, meticulously handling the tiniest pieces of evidence; or slowly, luxuriously... the skilled goth spider goddess, weaving lazy patterns through the soft curls of his hair.

Clearing his throat, he grazed the contents of the box, each piece of evidence carefully packaged and labeled with thick, black marker. Surprisingly neat penmanship.

"It's all there," she was saying, and he lifted his eyes to meet her striking light green ones. "You'll need to sign for chain of custody. I can't leave until you do."

He kept his voice light as he accepted the folder of forms. "Looks like a lot to initial. Could take some time. I think you should stay and have lunch with me while I sort through all this."

She paused, the hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. "I think I'll need a name first."

His heart thrummed faster. "Dr. Hodgins. Jack."

Her Marilyn-red lips parted and stretched into a delighted smile. "I'm Abby."

end


Now that AF has had the opportunity to read the piece, I'm popping back in to add the story headers. :)

Fandom(s): Bones and NCIS

Character(s): Jack Hodgins and Abby Sciuto

Rating: G

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: No money has been made (and no animals injured) during the creation of this very brief story. Bones belongs to Hart Hanson, Josephson Entertainment, Far Field Productions, and FOX. NCIS belongs to Donald Bellisario, Belisarius Productions, Paramount and CBS. The fascinating character of Dr. Jack Hodgins is all due to the excellent work of actor TJ Thyne. Goth goddess Abby Sciuto is played inspiringly by the unique and lovely Pauley Perrette.

Author's note: The title "Meet Cute" comes from an amusing Jack Hodgins line from the 1x04 Bones episode "The Man in the Bear."

Feedback: I gratefully welcome your thoughts.

Summary: Two great minds and unusual personalities meet.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AF!

Comments

[willowwood.livejournal.com]

Sherry! Damn girl! why are you not writing more often!? Seriously, I haven't seen a huge amount of NCIS, but I've seen it enough to be familiar with the characters, and especially enough to recognise who Abby is, hell can anybody actually watch the trailers for that show and not know who Abby is?! or at least be able to recognise her in some way?!. However even if I didn't know who she was, or what she looked like, your descriptions here are that precise, and intriguing that you'd be dying to know who she really was or you'd be that determined you go off to look her up lol.

I adore their beginning interactions, especially the whole "Do I look..." exchange, cause quite frankly neither of them look entirely what you'd expect them to look like lol, and then the way you describe Abby with her "short, black plaid skirt to her black t-shirt with the skull and crossbones emblem. The skull bore a happy pink bow." is the icing on the cake lol. I love it!

Also I just love how he identifies the spider tattoo on her neck, and you can tell she's impressed, after all would we all be lol =D =D

If there ever was a cross-over between these two shows, I could definitely see an attraction between these guys =D =D =D

Now how much begging would it take for you to write me some Jack/Angela, cause well you know my birthday's coming up soon too lmao =D =D ;) ;) ;)

*massive hugs*

[lostakasha.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Oh, you wrote for me!!!

Sherry, I just can't words patch sentence together in so freaking happy you just oh Abby! wow and Jack and wrote it you did for me and love is what I have, I tell you, buckets of brimming over love for this and you. You!!!

YOU!!

Oh, just let me *crushes you to bits in a massive hug*

delighted. unable to make sense. Just.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think you know how happy you've made me, but I'll be trying to let you know for months.

OMG I need a Jabby icon!


♥

[lostakasha.livejournal.com]

OMG It's perfect.

Just perfect. Thank you. And, um. Wow.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

So.... you like it, then?

;D

(heee heeeee)

Oh, AF, I am SO pleased. What a relief.

I just kept reading it over yesterday, grumbling about how I couldn't seem to make it any better because my brain isn't working and the cold medicine's making me fuzzy and mildly incoherent, and I just wanted it to be good but I wasn't sure it got there! All I can say is, I tried. *sheepish grin*

P.S. Of course I wrote for you! You did for my birthday, and I was so delighted, I still can't even say. You mentioned these two characters, and it just felt like a fun little exercise. Can you imagine? CBS and FOX should consider a crossover. Jack needs a little rebound fun of his own.

;D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*beams and bounces happily*

You're very welcome. Happy Birthday!

*hugs*

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Will, you are marvelous! Thank you so much for the feedback and the compliments. I'm so glad the descriptions hit you positively. I worked really hard on trying to find the right ways to describe Abby, for she is wonderfully unique and cool.

I hadn't thought about these two characters together before, but lostakasha mentioned enjoying NCIS (she hadn't been watching it before), and I've only recently started watching it (my aunts have the seasons on DVD), then taraljc started watching it too and she's only recently started watching Bones, and she posted wondering if there were any NCIS/Bones crossovers and then she posted about how cool Jack and Abby would be and that one of her friends was trying to get her to write it...

The more I thought about it, the more tickled I was at the idea of these two characters meeting. And like you said, neither of them are what we expect someone in their profession to look like, so they're fun and unusual and different, which makes that something they both have in common.

And come on... after this season of Bones, I think Jack needs a fun rebound girl, don't you? *laughing uproariously*

Now how much begging would it take for you to write me some Jack/Angela, cause well you know my birthday's coming up soon too lmao =D =D ;) ;) ;)

Hmm... *smiles wickedly* We'll see........ ;)

Thanks again for commenting. I really appreciate hearing what you think! *hugs back*

[willowwood.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't exactly say I was marvelous lol, the way I see it you've reviewed, with wonderful praise, enough of my fics so I'm just returning the favor. Besides, something as wonderful and enjoyable as this was deserves all the praise it can get.

To be honest if you hadn't instigated the idea, I don't think I would ever have imagined these two "getting it on" either lol, but now that the idea's out there I can definitely seem the sparkage lol. Although now I have to admit I'm intrigued as to what Angela's reaction would be?! and yes this is totally me hinting for you to write some wonderful jealous Angela fic lol *sly grin*

And come on... after this season of Bones, I think Jack needs a fun rebound girl, don't you? *laughing uproariously* - See now you've got me itching to write some crossover fic of my own....if only my muse was in the mood to cooperate *pout*

Hmm... *smiles wickedly* We'll see........ ;) - *tries unsuccessfully not to grin like an idiot*

[rainkatt.livejournal.com]

Came here from lostakasha. I LOVE this!! I've only recently started watching NCIS, and I adore Abby. (She's the reason I didn't flip the channel.) She and Hodgins together is genius!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, rainkatt!

Your user name seems familiar to me. I must have seen comments from you posted over on lostakasha's site. Very cool of you to stop by. :)

If I may say so, I like your striking user pic. It's from such a vivid Buffy episode, probably one of the most unusual of the series, I'd say, one that really sticks with you, it's so surreal. I'm a big fan of BtVS (and Angel, and Firefly... pretty much the whole Whedon trifecta, heh). What are some of your other favorites?

I'm like you; I've only recently started watching NCIS. I'm pretty sure I was always watching something else that aired at the same time, so I never gave it the time of day before. Plus, I suppose I was a bit of a snob and assumed it was like all the other CSI spin-offs, none of which really interested me. I like intrigue, but I think I just got so sick of hearing about all the various Law & Order and CSI clones, that I didn't really feel like giving any of them a shot. My aunts watch the show, though, and have been trying to get me to watch it for ages now. I heard about Abby, and thought that was a particularly fun, interesting character choice. Like you, I was curious about her character and checking that out was the one thing keeping me from reflexively changing the channel. But eventually I saw a few scattered episodes, all the characters began to grow on me in different ways, and I appreciated the humor amidst the case work, so I started watching from the beginning (borrowing my aunt's DVDs). I knew Lostakasha was just getting into the show, too, and she mentioned Hodgins and Abby, and somehow I thought it might be fun to play with that possibility. (Wow, is that a long tangent, or what? *sheepish grin*)

At any rate, I'm so pleased you popped in to read my little bit of a story. I really appreciate that. You just never know how something you write will be seen or received, so it's wonderful when someone actually speaks up and says what they think. I'm glad you liked it!

Have a lovely rest of the weekend, and thanks again for posting your thoughts.

[rainkatt.livejournal.com]

I believe we've exchanged comments at lostakasha's lj (one of them), but it's been a while. I've been away more than I've been around, lately.

I tend to choose user pics based on how they make me feel, and I've always loved that image of Buffy. It sets her apart; something I can identify with, usually in the not-fitting-in way. I love that episode.

I like the obvious BtVS eps: Hush and Once More, with Feeling being the biggies. I love Family, partly because I completely identify with it, and still get all teary-eyed when Spike punches Tara and the sisters rally around her.

I'm all about the emotional reactions, see all the Joss series through my own feelings, and was/am a Spike fan. A kind of odd one, I think...

I still have no continuity for NCIS. I thought, like you, that it was the same as the other CSIs, plus, I avoid military stuff. (20 years as a Navy wife. I never want to see or hear anything about it, ever again.) But Abby and Ducky got my attention, and I've been watching the reruns on USA and wherever else they show up. They're pretty well done, and the thing that continues to draw me is the feeling of family that comes through. I love the humor, as well.

I have issues, obviously, but found family will always be a huge draw for me.

As for the fic, how could I resist? I love Hodgins, I trust lostakasha, and I'm a huge fan of good writing. \o/

[rodabug.livejournal.com]

Can I just say thank you! I firmly believe there needs to be more NCIS/Bones crossover stories. I hope you write more!

[monjinator.livejournal.com]

Abby + Jack is just a great combination! Thank you for writing this. :D

[priscillaf.livejournal.com]

So I love both shows, they are so much a like!!
And I live for any and all Bones/NCIS crossovers.
Excellent read!

The shows should network jump and do a few eps together. Because everyone knows how much NCIS loves FBI

[mistopher.livejournal.com]

i usually hate crossover fics but wow these 2 would be so great together!

[madscullyx13.livejournal.com]

Bones + NCIS = ♥

More please :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*laughing* Thank you, meira_xx! I'm so glad you liked it.

P.S. I love your Ziva and Tony user pic. They are terrific characters, and very sexy together (as partners, though I think it would be cool if they got together eventually). Are they your favorite NCIS characters? What do you like best about that show? I confess I just started watching it. But my aunt had the first five seasons on DVD, so I borrowed them and just finished catching up to the current season. Very fun.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting, rodabug! And can I just say how much I love your user pic? I love those drawings Kate did of her colleagues. I'm sorry we never got to see the one she did of Gibbs! ;)

As for writing more, I just started watching NCIS, so you never know if/when inspiration will strike me. *GRIN* What do you like best about that show? And Bones? Who are your favorite characters, if I may ask?

Thanks again for coming over here to let me know what you thought. You are much appreciated!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you, monjinator! I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for popping over to read my little story and let me know what you thought.

:)

P.S. Loving your Man in the Fallout Shelter user pic. HOT. *wicked grin*

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your compliment!

A network jump -- wouldn't that be fun? I really think these characters would mesh hilariously. (Like you said, NCIS just loves the FBI. Heh. Just imagine the possibilities for clashing.)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

It's funny... I don't usually get into crossover fics either, and I've certainly never written one before. This was a first for me. I wasn't sure how it would fit but thought it might be fun to play with the possibility, especially because the birthday girl I wrote it for likes Hodgins, and (like me) just started watching NCIS. I wanted to give her something entertaining.

I'm so pleased it worked for you! And thank you for letting me know. I really appreciate it. :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Can I first say: welcome, fellow X-Files fan! ;) Love that.

And thank you for stopping by to comment about my bitty little story. I'm glad you like the pairing of the two shows in this way. I've never written a crossover before, so this was quite the experiment for me. Fun, though.

Thank you again for the compliment! :D

[madscullyx13.livejournal.com]

I think that these 2 characters were destined to meet anyway, you just got to it first. :)
PS: We have 3 fandoms in common. friends?

[faith-less-one.livejournal.com]

That can't be all there is!!!

I absolutely adore your characterisation - so perfect - and your style is really amazing too. Please say there's going to be a sequel (lots of sequels?)!!

[rodabug.livejournal.com]

NCIS? I love Abby. I'm a big fan of McGee/Abby, and I love the interaction between Gibbs and Abby. Oh, and I love Bert. If you haven't met Bert yet, he's Abby's stuffed hippo who farts when you squeeze him(see icon).

And Bones...I'm not a big fan of Cam, I just don't feel she's that interesting, and I'm not too thrilled with the rotating crop of interns this season. But I love everyone else. I look forward to the few episodes with Zach this year...I miss him.

[deliriums-dream.livejournal.com]

*applauds* Very nice exchange between Jack and Abby!!! You write wonderfully. I'll have to go through your pages for more morsels of goodness.

[deliriums-dream.livejournal.com]

or any number of chapters!!!!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

It was fun, watching all the seasons. *GRIN* Only now I'm totally caught up, and I wish I had more to watch!

I think NCIS is one of those shows I enjoy because I can find something to like about each and every character on the program, you know? Each person has something interesting about him or her that draws me to them. Different reasons for each person, of course, but I like them all. Ziva is definitely cool.

I didn't know the actress who played Ducky's mother passed away! That is so sad. Her character was very funny, though at the same time tragic (because some of her oddities came from the dementia she was suffering, which was terrible). Still, I liked that Ducky kept referencing her, even when we didn't see her. That made it realistic and kind of sweet.

I think NCIS has a nice balance. It's sometimes predictable, but I like the consistency it has in its storytelling and characterizations. It feels like the essence of each character has never wavered from the beginning, which I think is important; yet, at the same time, they manage to nudge each character forward a bit, developing them emotionally, which I love. For example, Tony is still a big flirt and comic kind of guy, yet he's definitely had moments of character growth -- he can be more serious, he can listen to his colleagues, and take charge of missions and know what he's doing. And Ziva is such an ass-kicking character, but they've managed to show her in a softer light sometimes, while still reminding us that she has moments where her instinct is to fight. It fascinates me.

Sorry... I could go on and on. I love talking characters. Especially when they're done well and in an interesting way. :) I'll stop talking now. *GRIN*

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I love Abby, too. I love the relationship between Abby and McGee, the little hints of affection and teasing and even flirtation from time to time. I keep hoping they find a way back to dating each other, or something. *GRIN*

And I agree with you -- I love the Gibbs and Abby relationship. They have such a cool connection. It's kind of difficult to define, actually, because it's so unique. He can be a parental figure for her, very protective, very loving, which is so sweet. But then there are the scenes where he comes in and brings her the Caf-Pow's and jokes with her about poker and even flirts with her (or jokes that he's there to flirt with her, when we know his next line will probably be to get evidence information), and she calls him her 'silver haired fox' and in those moments they're fun and flirty with each other, which you'd think would contradict the parental relationship, or make the parental relationship seem icky, but somehow the two actors make the whole thing work so it's not inappropriate at all. Instead, it's all fun and wonderful and unique. Do you agree?

Bert! At first I didn't realize it was Abby and Tony in your user pic, because they were upside down, but once I saw who it was, I realized who Bert was. hee heee. I love that they keep using Bert. They didn't use him as a one-time gag (when Tony needed to lie down); instead, Bert keeps coming back like an inside joke. There's always a reason for Abby to bring out Bert, but so far it's been in ways that are fitting to the story, which is so funny and clever to me.

Bones... ah, Bones... I admit, I've had issues with the current season (the approach to it feels unfocused and a bit muddled, but I could go on and on about that so I'll stop here, heh). But Bones is one of those shows where I find something to like about each and every character. (I feel that way about NCIS and its characters too -- I like each character for different reasons.)

I agree that Cam hasn't been particularly interesting. I don't think the writers know what to do with her. Honestly, no offense to Tamara Taylor (who is lovely), I'm not sure Cam is necessary as a weekly presence on the show. Like Dr. Goodman, she's meant to be an administrator. She's in charge, but that doesn't really give her much to do other than get involved when the cases get challenging and need her bureaucratic interference or involvement. It seems to me they could bring her out when it's necessary, like they did with Goodman, and otherwise not use her in the episodes. I appreciate that she is a qualified professional with examining bodies, but I think her being there, doing that task, takes away some of that lab work from the original team -- Hodgins, Zack (*sad face*), Angela, and Brennan. It gives each character less to do when you keep giving their work away to more and more characters. (Don't even get me started on Sweets being in the lab too much when it's not his profession or his job to be there in that capacity. *GRIN*)

I miss Zack, too. I've been watching some episodes from my Season 1 DVDs this past week, and it's made me realize just how much I miss him and his dynamic with the rest of the team. The whole team feels splintered since the writers made that choice. Granted, that could be interesting to explore, storywise, what that fracture does to the rest of the team, but truly, I miss the team interactions as a whole, with Booth in charge of investigations and Brennan heading up the lab and all of them banding together to figure out what happened to the victim. I feel your pain -- I'm definitely weary of the rotating interns.

Thanks so much for discussing this with me! I love a good character conversation. :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*goes over to browse your profile*

Actually, we have more fandoms in common than three. I've just been too lazy to update my profile. *GRIN*

In looking over your fandom interests, we've got:

Bones (of course)

Buffy (nice!)

Dead Like Me (Oh, I love that you like this show... I miss it... everyone cracked me UP, especially Mason.)

Doctor Who (whee! who's your favorite Doctor?)

L.A. Ink (I'm behind on watching that program, but I love seeing all the different, individual, very personal tattoo designs... really makes me want to get a tattoo.)

NCIS (*smiles*)

The Daily Show (makes me laugh out loud, yet disturbed about our political climate at the same time *wry grin*)

What Not To Wear (again, haven't watched in a while, but I find it entertaining)

and

The X-Files (Classic.)


Friends, indeed! I'd be honored. :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you, faith_less_one! Your words are so kind. I'm so glad you liked it.

I feel like I'm still learning as a writer, so my style is... well, I don't know how to define it yet, but I'm working on it. My friend Liz says I definitely have a specific 'voice' as a writer, but I think I'm too close to it to see it as clearly.

Nevertheless, it tickles me that you liked it enough to want to read more. I hadn't thought about it. I wrote this piece as a birthday gift for my friend, just meant it to be entertaining. Though I suppose there's always possibility for more story... I left it open at the end, for the fun of it, for the hint of whatever the reader wanted it to be next. Who knows? Maybe if I nudge myself, I'll come up with the next scenes in their story. :)

Thank you again so much for coming over here to read it and tell me what you thought.

P.S. Your user pic is mesmerizing. Love the contrasts between the bright lipstick and vivid hair color versus the light eyes. Very cool.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the compliments! Clearly you're still delirious (heh, just kidding), but I'm really glad you liked the story. :D

I'll have to go through your pages for more morsels of goodness.

Thank you! I appreciate the assumption that there could possibly be morsels of goodness to be found here. *GRIN* Oh wait... *ahem* If you mean you're going through to find more stories, I'm afraid I don't have any more posted. Yet. ;)

This piece is the very first story I've posted to LJ. I've written more than this (especially for The West Wing fandom, and one X-Files piece), but I'm new to LJ, so the majority of my posts have been general life ramblings and commentaries on various topics (which of course you're welcome to read if you find them at all interesting *smiles*). I've been meaning to post more of my fictional writings to LJ, but am still editing a couple and want them to be complete before I post them here. I'm also working on another Bones-themed piece (for another friend's birthday), but regrettably it's not done yet. Maybe (I hope I hope) by the end of today, I'll have it ready for posting. *bangs head against desk* I hope so.

Thanks again so much for the compliments, and for coming by here to read it. Especially when you were tired the other day, and could have forgotten all about this little story, but instead you remembered and came back to check it out. I really appreciate that. :)

[madscullyx13.livejournal.com]

Mason was def my favorite! And mostly because he reminds me of David Tennant, who plays my favorite doctor.
LA Ink is awesome and makes me want to get more tattoos every time I see it.
Yay friends :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*pokes you again* Next time you're online here, come check out my LJ. I believe there's something you'll want to read, Birthday Girl!

It's killin' me that you haven't seen it yet (that I'm aware of, anyway, LOL). Busy Paula. ;)

[mysticalchild_isis]

Oh man, two of my favorite characters from two of my favorite shows. Fantastic. :D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*GRIN* You have excellent taste in characters.

Thanks for coming by to read my little story. :)

P.S. Your user pic is adorable and funny. I love it.