A/N: Okay. So it appears that uploading on a Saturday evening is a lot easier than on a Sunday so I guess I will be seeing you on a Saturday.

Ok some background for this chapter... I wanted to do a short story about Jane dealing with having a 16 yr old and it just wasn't working so I amalgamated that idea into this chapter. It is rather long and some of the dialogue has been taken from episode 5x02.

Thanks once again for the reviews. It really means a lot to know there are people out there reading this story! See you next week! A/N

March

February merged into March and brought the promise of spring with it. The weather was getting warmer and they were seeing more and more sun. Willow, T.J and Chris were enjoying their freedom, having just completed their winter test season and even though they had homework, it was slightly more relaxed than it had been in recent weeks. But even though things looked rosy, they were soon going to be turned on their heads.

Willow had three close friends at junior high; Olivia Shaw, Katherine Barnes and Kaitlyn Jones. They had met when Willow moved to Sacramento and had taken her under their wing and had been inseparable ever since. Willow and Olivia were similar in temperament, both gentle girls, very aware of their actions having consequences. Katherine was slightly louder than Olivia and Willow and was easily led astray and Kaitlyn had no regard for her actions. She was a bit of a troublemaker, often getting Katherine into trouble and trying to get Olivia and Willow into trouble. Kaitlyn was also dating a high schooler who happened to have his own car. So, one day she approached Willow and Olivia by the lockers.

"What are you doing on Friday?" she asked, looking hopeful.

"I'm meant to be helping my brother with his science project if he doesn't get held up at football practice and I think my Dad wants to watch Labyrinth with me."

"I'm going to do some studying before spending the evening up at the stables." Added Liv

"Why?"

"Fancy coming to McKinley Park with the guys?"

"Whose 'the guys'?" asked Willow, cautiously, looking at her friend.

Kaitlyn sighed, "Me, Chester, Kathy, Robert, Dylan, David and Hunter. Just the squad." She smiled hopefully at Willow and Olivia.

"It couldn't hurt to have an evening off studying…" began Liv, looking at Willow and smiling, "Who knows, it might be fun." She winked, smiling.

"Oh, it's not in the evening." Said Kaitlyn, smirking, "We're ditching this place and spending the whole day there."

"You're ditching school?" asked Willow, incredulously.

"Shh!" hissed Kaitlyn, "Keep your voice down, moron!"

"Do you know how much trouble we'd be in?" asked Olivia.

"Oh, no one's going to do anything about that. What's the worst they'll do to you guys anyway? You've never done anything wrong in your whole school career!"

Olivia looked at her friend, "I mean, we're straight A students who have never done a thing wrong in their whole lives as students, the worst I think they'll do is give us detention?"

"If we get caught?" Willow replied.

"Which you won't. I've been bunking school for months now and I've never been caught!" smiled Kaitlyn.

"I don't think that's something to be proud of." Smiled Olivia.

Kaitlyn waved her hand, dismissing the comment. "So, you up for it?"

Olivia and Willow looked at each other. Olivia smiled, "I am. Count me in!"

Willow sighed, "If I can get past my dad without him finding out then, yes, count me in too!"

Kaitlyn squealed and hugged her friends, "We're going to have so much fun!"

Willow gave a small smile, the feeling of panic and guilt rising in her chest. She knew this was wrong but at the same time, she couldn't have her friends thinking she was a wuss and anyway, Liv seemed up for it. What's the worst that could happen?

Friday morning came round and Willow woke up just after six. She put her bikini under her clothes for that morning as Kaitlyn had text to say they were going swimming. She would have felt more comfortable in her bathing suit but her bikini was more discreet. Just as she was pulling her top on, there was a knock at the door.

"Shoot!" Willow muttered. Her books were scattered over her bed. She had been working out how to fit her towel in her school bag without it looking suspicious.

"Willow? Are you ok?" came the voice of her dad.

"Yeah, I'm just… not decent!" she called back.

"Can you shove a top on or something?" he called back, "I made you a cup of tea!"

"Hang on!" she quickly shoved her books back in her bag and hurried to the door. Opening it, she grinned at her dad, "Thanks Dad!" she said, taking the tea.

"Well, you know what I say, there's no better way to start the day than with tea!"

"I think Mom may disagree with you there!"

"Eh, it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things." He looked over her shoulder into her room, "Everything ok?" he asked, seeing the mess.

Willow looked behind her, "Oh yeah, I couldn't find my history textbook but I must have left it in my locker. I'll get it at school!" she said in a rush.

Jane looked at her, "What's wrong?"

Willow tried to look puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"You normally have your bag packed and down in the hall the night before school. Means you can sleep in a little."

"Oh, Olivia and I had a long phone call. She wants to hold a study session on Saturday and we were sorting out the details." Willow lied.

"Hmm." She could tell that her dad didn't believe her and was thinking about coming clean and telling him the whole thing when Jane said, "There's eggs in the kitchen when you're ready to come down and then you can leave for school. Mom wants me in at the office, so I have to drop Sophie off at daycare."

"Auntie Grace?"

"How did you know?"

She shrugged, "Spooky isn't it?"

"You are so my daughter!" he grinned, tapping her on the nose.

"Good to know!" she took a sip of tea, "I'm going to finish getting ready. I'll be down in five minutes."

"Okay, see you down there!" and he left the room.

Willow shut the door and let out a sigh. Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she sent a message to Olivia.

Managed to convince Dad. I'm game if you are.

She packed her bag and as she was leaving the room a message flashed up on her phone:

100% in. I'll meet you at the end of your road. I know where we're meeting everyone. Apparently, Chester and his friends are driving us there. See you soon.

Willow smiled. It was going to work. It had to.

Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she left her room. One floor down, she bumped into T.J who was just leaving his room.

"Morning!" she said, smiling as she walked past him.

"Whoever invented mornings needs their head examining!" grumbled T.J as he followed her down the stairs. The smell of eggs hit their nostrils almost as soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"What is it with Dad and eggs?" asked T.J, barging past her. Willow just rolled her eyes. She knew better than to argue with her brother in the morning. Upon entering the kitchen, she found Chris already at the table, tucking into some cereal. Sophie was sat next to him, eating a plateful of eggs. She kissed her sister on the forehead as she dumped her bag and headed to the fridge. Grabbing a yoghurt, she sat down next to Chris.

"Are you sure you're ok making your own way to school?" Jane asked her, concerned. "I was thinking, and I could drop you off, its not too much of a problem."

Willow smiled, "Dad, I'm fourteen. I should be walking to school by now! Anyway, Liv's meeting me at the end of the street so I won't be alone."

Jane smiled, "Well, if you're sure…"

"I am!" Willow said rather quickly. Jane gave her a look but then Sophie finished her breakfast and Jane's attention was diverted.

Willow felt her phone buzz in her pocket:

I'm at the end of the road. O x

"Dad, that's Liv. Gotta run!"

"What about the eggs?"

"Again, with the eggs!" she grinned, "You have a definite tendency to obsess. Anyone told you that?"

Jane smiled, "Love you!"

"I love you!" she smiled, running out the back door.

A few hours later and Patrick Jane was working with his wife at the FBI offices in California. It was a good little team they had. Teresa was the head of the team, like she had been at the CBI, but she worked for an Agent Molly Goode, who was gentle yet firm. Jane liked her, she reminded him of Abbott, once he had gotten to know him. Then the other team members were Agent Andrew Matthews, a tall, yet surprisingly well built man in his thirties, Agent Luis Hernandez, who reminded Jane very much of Rigsby in the sheer amount of food he could eat and Agent Giovanna Brown, who was the youngest member of their team. She was keen to learn and was proving to be a useful asset. All in all, Jane liked the team and respected them. He looked forward to the times that he would go into work and would often go for socials with them, now that Willow was old enough to be left in charge of the younger kids.

Jane was perched on the edge of Teresa's desk, talking over the case with her and maybe flirting a little when his phone began to ring.

"Patrick Jane?" he answered.

Mr Jane, its Principal Sladen here, I'm calling from California Middle School?'

"Yes, I know who you are. How can I help you?" he sighed, "What's Toby done this time?"

I'm not calling about Toby, Mr. Jane. I know that may come as a surprise. No, I'm calling about Willow.

"Willow?" he asked, looking at his wife, alarmed, "What's wrong with Willow?"

She didn't show for homeroom . And it's not like Willow to miss school.

"I don't know why she's not in. She said she was walking in with a friend."

Which friend is this?

"Olivia Shaw. They arranged to meet at the end of our street and walk up together. She even text me to let me know she was there safe."

I don't know what to tell you Mr. Jane, only that she isn't here. And it seems that Olivia is missing as well.

"Well, I'm sure there's a perfectly ordinary explanation to be found here. Thank you for letting me know."

You're welcome, Mr. Jane and please, let me know when you find them.

He hung up and looked at his wife. "Willow didn't show up for school this morning. Nor did Olivia."

"Oh my… are they ok?" she asked, panic setting in.

"Tee, I'm sure there's a logical explanation for where they are. Out of all of our children, Willow is the most sensible." He placed his hands on her shoulder to calm her down. "She was acting odd this morning, now that I think back."

"Odd?" Teresa asked, "Odd how?"

"Well, she was packing her bag this morning instead of the night before like she usually does, and she did answer my question about me running her in rather quickly, almost as if she needed to walk in."

"You're thinking, that what… she bunked school?"

Patrick nodded slowly.

"But… Willow wouldn't… she's a good kid. Why would she ditch school?"

"I can think of a couple of reasons why." He murmured.

"I never did anything like this in school!"

Jane grinned, "Well, that's cause you were a goody two shoes!"

Lisbon was just about to respond when Jane got up and walked over to Matthew's desk.

"Andrew!" he smiled as he got to the desk, "I need you to track a cell phone for me."

"Sure thing, Mr. Jane. What's the number?"

"916-219-0887" he recited Willow's number.

"Give me one second…" he typed in the number and some other fields.

"You're tracking her cell?" Teresa asked.

"She's bunking school. She's not going to answer the phone. Not if she's smart about it."

Teresa looked at her husband. "She's in so much trouble." She muttered, looking back at the screen.

"Yeah which is why she won't answer the phone." He replied.

"Got a hit. Looks like they're in McKinley Park…" he zoomed in on the map, "…by the pools." He added.

"Great. Thanks Andrew!" and he walked over to the elevators.

"Wait!" called Lisbon, "So, that's it. You're just going to drive over there and get her?"

Jane nodded, "She's bunking school, Teresa."

"I know that, but wouldn't it be better to wait until schools finished and see if she comes home and tells the truth?"

"And what if she doesn't?"

"Then we'll tell her we know where she was all day." He replied as if it were the simplest thing on earth.

Teresa's forehead creased in a frown and Jane placed his hands on his shoulders and rubbed them gently, his green eyes melting into hers.

"Look, I know we thought that Toby was going to be the only problem child that we had, but Willow is just being a teenager. It's normal for kids to bunk off school. Willow will be alright and I'm sure she'll never do it again…"

"But why did she do it this time?"

"Peer pressure maybe. She could be rebelling, testing the waters, seeing if she really is the straight arrow that everyone thinks she is. There are plenty of reasons."

"So, what do we do?" she asked, as the elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside.

Patrick looked at his wife and took her hand in his, "I don't know." Was his reply.

A few hours later, everyone was home. Grace dropped of Sophie and then T.J and Chris came running through the door.

"Was Willow not with you guys?" Lisbon called after them as they charged up the stairs.

"No!" shouted T.J.

"Reece, I just got a text from Willow. She says, "Gone to the park with Liv, Kath and Kaitlyn, will be home late. Love you, Will."" Called Patrick from the kitchen.

"Well, she's certainly covering her bases." Said Teresa, folding her arms.

"You want me to tell her to come home?" he asked, looking at her.

Teresa shook her head, "No, she's made her bed. She can lie in it as well."

Jane grinned.

"What?" she replied, smiling in spite of herself

"Nothing. Well… its just that I remember when you used to say that about me."

Willow approached the end of her street just after seven. She said goodbye to Olivia and turned and walked up the street, humming September by Earth, Wind and Fire. She put her key in the lock, opened the door- leaving her bag by the door and creeping upstairs.

"You're late." Came a voice from the sofa.

Willow jumped and turned to see her Dad lying on the sofa, eyes shut, but fully aware of what was going on.

"Geez, Dad. You made me jump!"

"Hmm."

"I'm heading to bed, you know, long day at school and then chilling with the guys this evening."

"I got an interesting phone call today." He said, sitting up and looking at her.

"Oh really?" she asked unphased.

"Yeah, a certain principle was wondering where you were today, when you didn't show up for homeroom."

"Oh." Willow's face fell and her heart felt like it was in her stomach.

"So, where were you?" he asked.

"Am I required to tell you?" she asked, bluntly.

"Oh, I'm just your Dad, you don't have to tell me anything."

"You think you can manipulate me with reverse psychology?" she asked.

"You've gotten lippy as you've grown up." He commented.

"Get that from you." She replied.

"Willow, I'm really disappointed that you would think it was ok to skip school like this. I thought you were the sensible one?"

"Oh of course, everyone thinks I'm the sensible one so of course I couldn't possibly contemplate the idea of breaking the rules. What is it you always say, Dad? The rules are made to be broken?"

"Not when there their to keep you safe!" he retorted.

"Okay, whatever!" she muttered rolling her eyes.

"What does that mean, 'Okay, whatever?'" he replied, copying her language and behavior

"Nothing." She sighed, "How long am I grounded for?"

Jane got up and walked over to her, "I haven't decided yet. I want to talk with your mother and you still haven't told me where you were today."

She looked at him, "Again with where I was. If I tell you, will it make you more lenient on how long I'm grounded for?"

"Maybe."

She sighed again, "I was at McKinley Park. Olivia, Katherine, Kaitlyn and a few of the guys were there too, and if you must know it was Kaitlyn's idea. The whole thing."

"Thank you for being honest with me." He replied, kissing her forehead.

"Whatever." She replied, turning and starting back up the stairs.

"And, Willow?"

She turned back to look at him, "I know you're mad at me right now, but please remember that I love you and I only want to keep you safe. I can't lose you."

Willow stopped and smiled. "I know Dad and I am sorry." She turned and walked up to her room. Jane watched as she went, smiling slightly and shaking his head.