Jethro Gibbs walked into his house after a long day of work. He hung up his coat and noticed a smaller one already there. On the table was a pair of keys and shoes by the door. His daughter was there and if she beat him home it was never a good sign. He smiled none the less. He missed her being at school most of the time and with her Mom the other half.

"Cassie," he called stepping into the living room. Her bag was on the floor. The kitchen table was littered with papers and books. The basement light was on and he descended the stairs. When he was about half way he noticed something was wrong. Cassie was not alone.

"Hmm," said Jethro walking down the rest of the stairs.

"Dad! Hi, your home…early," she said looking at her watch.

"Yeah, and this is my house," he said eying the young man lying on the boat frame shirt unbuttoned.

They just stared at each other for a few minutes before the young man spoke.

"I'm Erik, sir. I go to school with Cass,"

"I see, what are you doing here?"

"Daddy, we were doing homework and I decided to show him the boat,"

"It's getting late I'm sure that you guys didn't finish everything," said Jethro watching the young man.

"No, I'll see you tomorrow Cassie," he said practically running up the stairs.

Cassie just glared at her father and walked to the work bench and turned to lean against it.

"How was work?"

"Don't change the subject Cassie. What was going on with you two? In fact let's start with what is going with you? Why aren't you at Mom's?"

"We sort of had a disagreement,"

"What happened?" he asked sitting down on the boat frame.

"She told me and I quote, "I'm too young to have a boyfriend and he can't be at the house unsupervised."

"So you decided to come here where I could approve of your behavior?"

"No, but I got privacy which she doesn't seem to get,"

"Cassie, your sixteen,"

"Yeah and I deserve to be treated with the same respect as she does with her boy-toys,"

"Hey, don't talk about your mother like that,"

"Sorry, but she's got a new guy about every other month. I get so sick of meeting all these guys and getting my hopes up,"

"Honey, you know that I'm always going to be there for you. I'm your father and your mother is not replacing me,"

"I know, but it still sucks. Sometimes I really like the guy and then he's gone. I want her to be happy, but it's hard,"

"Honey, you need to just worry about being you. You know you can come here anytime, but your mother also needs to know where you are,"

"I kind of turned my phone off,"

"Damn it, she probably has every agent looking for you," he said picking up his cell and dialing her number. He talked to her and by the way the conversation went she was really pissed.

"Daddy," whined Cassie nearly in tears.

"I'll talk to her Cassie, but you know better than to turn that phone off. Come on let's go check on that homework. By the way tell Erik he can come by anytime too,"

"Yeah, I showed him the sniper. I don't think he'll be sticking around long,"

"What you purposely scared him off?"

"Daddy, you think I just let any guy date me? I have standards. I am your daughter after all,"

"Especially after Mom gets here," he smiled wrapping his arm around her.

"I'm so dead," she groaned walking up the steps. Jethro just smiled turning off the basement light.