Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1

"I don't wanna go to some dumb wedding." Taylor glared across the table at her father.

"It's just one day, and Patricia really wants you to be there."

"I don't even know her sister. I could stay with Abby or Tony."

"Not an option, you're coming with us. Patricia's even going to take you out this afternoon to get you something to wear."

"But this is Saturday! You want me to spend it tryin' on clothes I ain't gonna wear?" Taylor shook her head. "Not happenin'!"

Gibbs stood up and leant over the table towards her, making Taylor slide a little further back in her seat. "Oh it's happening alright. I think I'll tag along today, just in case you decide to give Patricia a hard time."

Taylor met his glare for as long as she dared, before looking down at the table.

He sat down again and lifted his coffee. He'd known this wasn't going to be easy, that was why he'd left it as long as possible to tell her about the wedding. He glanced over at his daughter again. That mutinous look was still there. He was going to have to watch her like a hawk. If Taylor came up with a way out, she'd take it.

"Can I go see Jason?"

"I just told you we were going out!"

Yeah well she hadn't said she was going. "Just until we gotta go."

"Don't think that's a such a good idea." When she didn't say anything more he continued. "You can wash up, I have to go shave."

Taylor was halfway down the front path when the alarm went off. For a few moments she froze as she watched the neighbours looking out their windows to see what was going on. Damn it. The alarm wasn't on earlier, her dad must have set it before he went upstairs. Huh, nice to know he trusted her. The alarm stopped just as suddenly as it had started, and Taylor turned to see her father standing in the doorway.

"Get in here."

"I'm just going to tell Jason where I'm going." Keeping her eyes on her dad she took a few slow backward steps towards the gate,

"Not going to tell you again Taylor."

Well aware that he wasn't the only one watching her, she stuck her hands into her pockets and walked towards him. She stopped at what she considered to be a safe distance and looked up at him. He still had bits of shaving foam on his face.

"I was only gonna tell Jason."

Her dad didn't reply, just nodded towards the interior of the house.

Edging past him she anticipated the swat that was coming her way.

"Ow!" Yep, there it was.

Taking her arm, he led her into the living room and pointed to the couch.

"Sit there, and don't move until Patricia gets here. Understand?"

Taylor nodded. This time she saw him reset the alarm before he went back upstairs.

*******

The mall was absolutely packed as the three of them, Patricia at the front, Taylor in the middle and her dad bringing up the rear, trailed from one store to another. Twice she'd tried to slip away unnoticed, and twice she'd been swatted and hauled back. The second time came with a threat to expect a lot more when she got home if she tried to disappear again. Her butt demanded a change of strategy, so now she just shook her head every time Patricia held up a dress for her to see. Yeah like she was gonna wear a dress anyway. An hour later and Gibbs had had enough. Taking Patricia's latest choice of dress from her he handed it to Taylor, before marching her over to the dressing room.

"Go put it on, or I will." he growled.

Taylor looked from the him, to the dress, then back to her dad. "It's too small for you, besides it's not your colour."

When he reached out to grab her she ducked into the dressing room. Patricia followed her in and found her sitting on one of the benches. Realising Taylor had no intention of trying the dress on, she sat down beside her.

"You know if you don't try that on, your dad's not going to care that this is the ladies dressing room."

Taylor looked up at her. "He wouldn't!"

Patricia held her thumb and finger about a quarter of an inch apart. He's about this close, and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes if he does."

Taylor stood up and snuck a look out of the door. He did look pissed. Admitting defeat, she lifted the dress and took it into one of the cubicles to try it on. One pair of shoes later and they were heading home again. Taylor's feet hit the ground before the car had come to a complete stop in their drive. This time her dad didn't stop her, just reminded her to be back in time for dinner.

*******

Taylor made it back just in time and slid onto her seat at the table. Patricia was still there, which wasn't exactly unexpected, she was there most of the time now anyway.

"So what have you been up to?"

She stopped eating and looked at her father. "Nothin'"

"Nothing? Or nothing you want me to find out about?"

"Nothing."

"Are you going to let me see you in your new dress?"

"Just cause you bought it doesn't mean I'm gonna wear it!"

"Come on, you can't just wear it for one day."

Taylor set down her fork and stood up. "I told you already, I'm not going to any wedding!"

"And I told you that you're going. Now sit down." When she didn't move, he added "While you still can."

Not taking her eyes off his, she did as she was told.

"So what are you going to do tomorrow Taylor? Patricia asked in an attempt to diffuse the situation. It worked.

Taylor looked at her and shrugged. "Maybe the skate park, Jason's going." She looked over at her dad. "Can I?"

He nodded. At least the whole weekend wasn't going to be a complete disaster.