Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or its characters.
Author's warning: I do not condone the use of mobile phones during class – you got that Twilight1987, okay please continue.
Chapter 2
Jethro had called Patricia after he'd had his little chat with Taylor, to explain what was going on. Patricia's brother was still finding it difficult looking after both his ill wife, and his daughter, who at fourteen was quickly becoming a bit of a handful. Patricia was eager to get home too, so as a compromise they had agreed that Vicky should stay with them for a while. That way Patricia could get home to her family, and James could concentrate on his wife.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"You sure she's comin' back tonight?" That was the third time Taylor had asked her dad in the past hour.
Gibbs sighed and lowered the paper he was reading to look at his daughter, who was sprawled out on the floor, and trying to make it look as if she was doing her homework. He wasn't fooled, but Taylor wasn't the only one excited about Patricia's return.
"Yes Taylor, and before you ask again, yes you will be in bed when your mom gets back, no I'm not gonna wake you up, it'll be too late, and yes she's still bringing your cousin."
"Oh, okay, I was just checkin'."
"Speaking of checking, do you need me to check your homework yet?"
Taylor, looking a little bit guilty now, picked up her pencil again. "No, not yet."
Jethro lifted his newspaper again, fairly confident it would be a while before she embarked on the same line of questioning again.
Reluctantly Taylor read through another math problem. How was she supposed to figure out what time the train was gonna arrive at the station? Who cared about the flamin' train anyway? What time her mom was getting back was way more important right now. Now that she would be allowed to wait up for her. Oh no, it didn't matter if her mom had been away for a week, apparently her nine thirty bedtime still stood because according to her dad, she needed her sleep. Well she would just see how long it would take to finish her homework. It could be a very long time!
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Not surprisingly Taylor's plan was not a great success. All she'd got for her trouble was a swat to help her on her way up the stairs, and homework she'd have to finish in the morning. Lying in the dark, Taylor listened carefully to the sounds of the house, determined to try and stay awake. Her dad must have been right though, by ten o'clock she was fast asleep.
In fact Taylor forgot all about her mom's return until she was standing in the shower, warm water slowly waking her up. Finishing her shower, Taylor dressed in record time and went to find her mom.
Patricia was standing in the kitchen when Taylor flew in through the doorway and almost mowed her down as she wrapped her arms around her in a way that resembled a football tackle more than a hug.
"So you did miss me then." Patricia hugged her back.
Taylor, feeling a little self-conscious stepped back a bit.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" She grinned down at her daughter.
Taylor nodded. "Maybe just a bit."
"Yeah well, I missed you a lot, so I'll need a longer hug than that!"
Secretly pleased Taylor allowed her mom to pull her closer again."
"Hey! That's not fair, I didn't get a hug like that!"
Taylor hadn't even noticed her dad was sitting at the table.
"That's cause she didn't miss you as much dad!" She stuck her tongue out at him before raiding the cupboard for cereal.
Jethro waited for his wife to respond to their daughter's statement and when she didn't, he tried to look hurt.
Didn't make Taylor feel guilty though, she just grinned smugly and poured some milk onto her Rice Krispies. "Told ya!"
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The reunion was interrupted by the appearance of Patricia's niece. Taylor kept eating as she eyed the girl warily. A good head taller than herself she looked a little like Patricia. Same long dirty fair hair, and blue eyes. Her expression however was similar to the one she normally sported herself on a school morning, and when they were introduced Vicky just raised a hand and gave a tired "Hi."
Patricia set a bowl in front of Vicky and passed her the box of cereal. "How'd you sleep?"
"Not long enough! Still don't see why I have to sit at the back of your class all day. I could work here on my own you know." Vicky had spent most of the flight trying to convince her aunt that she was old enough to stay on her own during the day. It was only a week until the schools closed for their two week spring vacation and she had managed to talk Patricia into postponing her enrolment into a school here until they had a better idea how long she'd be staying. Unfortunately it hadn't been so easy trying to obtain some freedom. Her aunt wasn't budging. Now she was expected to spend her days sitting with a class full of eleven or twelve year olds.
Taylor was following the conversation, only mildly interested. She knew there was no way Vicky was gonna win. Then a thought struck her.
"Wait a minute!" Her head spun towards her mom. "You mean you're back at school today?"
Patricia looked surprised at the question. "Didn't your dad tell you?"
"No." She looked accusingly at her father. " You knew I didn't have to do my homework? That is so not funny!"
"Sorry kid." He ruffled her hair as he passed behind her. "Must have forgotten. Still it gave you something to do last night, didn't it?"
Figuring now was a good time to leave, Jethro kissed his wife, and made a quick exit. Taylor's glare burning into his back.
"So do you two want a ride, or are you going to walk?" Patricia wasn't going to give Vicky the opportunity to start arguing again.
Vicky and Taylor answered at the same time. "Walk."
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By the time they had reached the school, Taylor had decided she liked this girl. She was nothing like that psycho Megan. Vicky, although older, seemed to have a lot in common with her. Maybe it wasn't going to be as bad as she'd thought it would be. Vicky had even pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered her one when Taylor had stopped to point out the skate park. Yeah, this having a cousin was definitely showing promise.
Taylor had found the day pretty tough, because now Michael was gone she actually had to work. Still, Vicky kept her amused with funny text messages throughout the day, so it wasn't as boring as it normally would have been.
Both girls were chomping at the bit to escape the classroom by the afternoon, even though they had to go to NCIS because Patricia had an unexpected meeting to attend. Vicky was full of questions as they made they started walking again. Her dad was an accountant, and compared to that a federal agent sounded so much more interesting, and Taylor was more than happy to oblige.
When they found the bullpen empty, Taylor decided to give her a guided tour, starting with Abby's lab. Vicky seemed really impressed with both Abby and the lab, especially when Abby produced her parasite slides. They kept them amused for a while, until Abby had to go down to the evidence garage, and didn't want to leave the pair of them on their own.
They rode down in the elevator with Abby, but didn't get out. Instead, Taylor hit the button that would take them back to the bullpen. She didn't notice Vicky's interest in the control panel.
"What's on that floor?"
Taylor looked to see which button she was pointing to. "Autopsy."
"What, you mean where they cut up dead bodies?" Vicky wasn't sure she believed her.
"Yeah, but I'm not allowed in there."
"So, you've never seen it?"
"Course I have, I've been in with my dad."
"So what's it like? Did you see any bodies?"
Taylor shook her head. "No bodies. Just a lot of stainless steel. Not very exciting." She had a nasty idea what was coming next.
Vicky hit the button for Ducky's lab.
"Are you nuts? We're so dead if we get caught! Taylor wasn't sure what to do.
"Aw come on, you know you want to!" Vicky winked at her. "If you're scared you can always wait at the elevator."
She thought frantically for a few seconds, and when the elevator doors slid open Taylor said a quick prayer, crossed her fingers and followed Vicky.
Autopsy was deserted, except for the body lying on one of the stainless steel tables at the far side of the lab, and the two girls made their way quietly over. Taylor was on full alert, if Ducky reappeared he would freak. From the moment she was old enough to make her way around the building on her own, she'd had it drummed into her head that autopsy was off limits. She'd never been brave enough to disobey that order before.
The body in front of them was so still it didn't look real, until they got close enough to see the Y incision Ducky had already made on it's chest. Then it looked real enough. From behind them, the elevator dinged a warning, and Taylor grabbed Vicky and pulled her down behind the table. There was nowhere they could go. Taylor was sure whoever was there would be able to hear her heartbeat. From the footsteps they could tell it was only one person, but there was no way Taylor was gonna risk taking a peek to see who it was.
When the unidentified person sneezed, Taylor knew it was Jimmy. That made her feel a bit better, at least it wasn't Ducky. With Palmer there was a chance of talking him out of telling anyone. She was gonna have to risk revealing themselves, and put their fate into his hands, because Ducky was likely to show up soon too, and then they'd be in big trouble. Taking a deep breath Taylor stood up, pulling Vicky to her feet at the same time. Palmer was only a few feet away, standing with his back to them. "Hi Jimmy."
Jimmy screamed and dropped the tray of instruments , scattering them over the floor as he spun round to see who or what was behind him. The blood had drained from his face and he stood staring at the pair, hand over his rapidly beating heart, mouth still wide open.
Taylor used her best puppy dog expression. "Sorry Jimmy, we didn't mean to scare you. Honest."
Vicky was scrambling about the floor, picking up Jimmy's dropped equipment, leaving her cousin to explain them selves to the autopsy gremlin.
Palmer finally found his voice. "Wha…..what are you doing down here?" He stammered and pushed his glasses back up on his nose. "You know you're not allowed in autopsy! Your dad's not going to be happy!"
She couldn't think of a reason, her brain was frozen.
Vicky, realising Taylor wasn't going to come up with anything, stood up and set the shiny metal instruments onto the closest empty table, and offered up an excuse.
"I got lost and Taylor came in to find me. You just spooked us."
"Well, I … ah…. suppose…."
"You're not gonna tell are you?" Taylor ventured.
Vicky gave him a disarming smile. "Don't worry, we won't tell anyone you screamed like a girl."
He blushed, but also looked relieved. "Thanks." If DiNozzo found out he'd never hear the end of it.
For the first time Jimmy seemed to notice the body they were standing beside and quickly ushered them towards the door.
"You'd better go. If Dr Mallard finds you here he won't be happy."
"Very good assumption Mr Palmer." Ducky appeared in the doorway. He gave Taylor a disapproving look, and she guiltily hung her head, and stuck her hands in her pockets. He pressed the button on the elevator before he continued. "You can sterilise the instruments again Mr Palmer, while I escort Miss Gibbs and her friend back to Jethro."
