Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters.

Chapter 6

It didn't take Taylor long to give Vicky a guided tour of the town, and when they returned Lucas and Katie were sitting outside the store.

Lucas grinned. "Heard you were back."

Taylor returned his smile. "Yep, for almost two whole weeks." She introduced her cousin before relating their encounter with Ethan.

"So what are you gonna do to him?" Katie asked.

"She's not going to do anything, are you Taylor?"

"Hi mom, didn't see you there."

Patricia let the subject drop as she handed each of them a can of coke, before disappearing back inside again.

Taylor glanced at the empty doorway. "That place we went to last time still deserted?"

Lucas nodded.

"Well what are you waiting for?" She started walking. "Let's go."

XOXOXOXOXOXO

The four of them sat on what used to be the front porch of the derelict building, looking out at the surrounding fields, and drinking from their cans.

It was Lucas who brought up the subject of Ethan again. "So you're just gonna let him get away with saying those things?"

"I never said that." Taylor protested.

"But your mom did." Katie reminded her.

"That just means we have to be really careful not to get caught."

Vicky set down her coke. "We?"

"Well yeah, you wanna help, don't you?"

Vicky looked at the other three who were all waiting for her to answer, and thought again about how hurt Taylor had been when Ethan had teased her about her height. "Okay, I'm in. But we better not get caught!"

Taylor smiled, pleased that Vicky was willing to help. "So, anybody got any ideas?"

She was rewarded with three blank stares, and sighed loudly. "Well get thinkin' then!"

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Lucas and Taylor were still thinking long after Katie and Vicky gave up and decided to explore what was left of the house.

"It definitely has got to be something to do with his car." Taylor announced. "Do you have any idea where he goes in it?"

"I've seen it parked at the lake quite a lot, he's always fishing these days."

Standing, Taylor wiped her sticky hands on her jeans. "Wanna check it out now?"

He nodded towards the house. "What about Katie and Vicky?"

"We can be there and back before they even know we're gone." Without checking he was following, Taylor hopped the fence and took off towards the lake.

Both were breathing hard by the time they located Ethan's fishing spot, his car parked on the dirt track behind him as he sat at the end of the jetty, headphones on and line out.

They knelt in the undergrowth watching him for a few minutes, before Taylor whispered to Lucas.

"Tyres?"

He nodded and watched as Taylor picked up a small twig and crept towards the car. In no time the dust caps were off, and the tyres on their side completely deflated. He gave her the thumbs up sign, thinking she would be happy enough with that. She wasn't. Taking a quick peek around the car to check that Ethan's attention was still on his float, Taylor disappeared vanished from Lucas's sight and let the air out of the other two tyres. Now she was happy. Lucas breathed a sigh of relief when she reappeared unscathed, and not wasting any time they hightailed it back to the others.

Vicky and Katie were still somewhere inside when they made it back to the porch. Once Taylor's breathing returned to normal and she was actually able to speak, she leaned over towards Lucas and whispered to him.

"Don't tell them, not yet anyway."

"Why not?" He whispered back.

"They can give us the perfect alibi, and they won't have to lie."

Feeling content now that she had exacted at least some revenge on Ethan, Taylor sat happily beside Lucas and waited for the other girls to emerge from the house.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Both Vicky and Taylor were in a good mood when they sat down to dinner that night, although for different reasons. Vicky had really hit it off with Katie, and Taylor, she was trying to imagine Ethan's reaction when he'd loaded all his gear into the car, only to discover he wasn't going anywhere. To top it off, Vicky had described in detail to everyone at the table where they'd been all day, and what they'd been doing. It was perfect.

They had just finished eating when they were interrupted by someone knocking loudly on the store door. Jack went to see who it was, and when he returned he was followed by the Sheriff.

"Evening folks, sorry to disturb you like this, but I need to have a word with Taylor."

All eyes turned to Taylor, and most of them did not look happy.

"Is that okay with you Jethro?"

When her dad nodded Taylor protested. "But I didn't do nothin'!"

Jethro just pulled her up from the table and led her through into the store. "Well then you have nothing to worry about, do you?"

"I know you had a bit of a run in with Ethan today."

Before Taylor had the chance to say anything she found herself being spun round to face her father."

"I thought I told you to stay clear of those two!"

"We did! Ethan pulled up beside us and called me a munchkin, but we just walked away. Ask Vicky!"

The Sheriff nodded. "That's pretty much how Ethan described it."
"See!" Taylor turned back to the Sheriff again.

"I just need to know if you were out at the lake today."

Taylor folded her arms and glared at the man. "I did NOT sink anymore boats!"

Gibbs decided it was time to step in before his daughter really lost her temper. "The four of them spent the day up at the old Anderson place Ed. What does your son think Taylor did anyway?"

"Someone let his tyres down while he was fishing this afternoon."

"Sounds like he pissed someone else off too." Taylor suggested helpfully a split second before her dad's hand made contact with her backside.

"Ow! That hurt!" Sheriff there or not, she couldn't stop herself reaching back to rub.

"Watch your mouth." He warned.

"Sorry. Can I go now?"

She was actually asking her dad, but both men nodded.

Taylor slid back into her place at the table, butt still stinging. When she reached for her glass of milk she suddenly realised everyone was looking at her.

"WHAT? She yelled, feeling more than a little pissed off. "JESUS CHRIST! I TOLD YA I DIDN'T DO NOTHIN! HAVEN'T YOU LOT EVER HEARD OF 'THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, OR, OR, INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY?"

Unfortunately Taylor was so engrossed in her rant she hadn't noticed her dad had followed her in. Not until he yanked her out of her seat.

"I think it's past someone's bedtime."

Taylor found herself being propelled up the stairs and into her bedroom.

"You have three minutes to put your pyjamas on and clean your teeth." He ordered.

She didn't argue, even though it was only eight o'clock. Or ask him how the hell he came up with three minutes, why not two or four? He wasn't in a listening mood. Taylor dragged her bag out from under the bed. It was empty. Her mom must have unpacked it for her earlier. Four drawers later she found her pyjamas.

As she stood in the bathroom brushing her teeth Taylor tried to figure out what had just happened. She'd been home free, until she'd lost her temper. The only explanation she could come up with was 'nervous energy'. She had been worried that someone would ask her a direct question, meaning she would have to lie, and then she'd have landed herself in it, she was a crap liar.

Her thoughts were rudely interrupted when her dad banged at the door. "Time's up, get out here!"

He was waiting for her as she opened the door. Taylor really wanted to tell him she knew where her bed was, and to just leave her the f*** alone. Instead she kept her mouth shut and followed him.

Maybe it was guilt? No, she ruled that one out when she remembered what Ethan had called her. She should have known he'd go running straight to 'daddy' he was such a ….

SMACK

"Ow!"

"That's for your language."

Taylor had been so deep in thought she hadn't seen that one coming. She took a step away from him, but he just pulled her back again.

SMACK

"Ow!"

"And that's for the attitude."

When her father held the covers up for her to climb into bed Taylor reversed in, just in case he decided to throw in another swat for good measure.

"I'm giving you 'the benefit of the doubt' now." He told her as he tucked her in. "It's been a long day so I can understand why you're cranky. If the attitude's still there tomorrow, I won't be quite so forgiving." With that, and a kiss to her forehead he was gone.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Sleep came quickly to Taylor even though it was early, bud she did wake when Vicky came up to bed.

"Are they still mad at me?" Taylor asked, making her cousin jump.

"No. Well, maybe your grandpa. He told your dad he should have strapped you for taking the Lord's name in vain like that."

"Oh." She'd have to remember that in future, not only was it bad news for her ass, but it might just give him ideas about takin' her to church.

Vicky climbed into bed. "So who do you think let the air out of Ethan's tyres?"

Taylor propped herself up on her elbows. "I did."

"Yeah, right!"

"I did! Just ask Lucus, he'll tell you!"

"You went while I was with Katie?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you tell us? We would have helped." Vicky felt a little left out.

"It was sort of a spur of the moment thing, besides it worked out pretty good didn't it?"

The only reply she got was Vicky's pillow hitting her on the head.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Taylor thought she was the first one up the next morning, but she found her grandpa at the table reading the paper. She came up from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Mornin' grandpa."

"Who's that?"

"Funny grandpa, just for that you don't get a kiss!"

She didn't get away with it that easy though, as she moved away he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her down to sit on his lap.

"I think I remember you now."

Grinning up at him she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"So what have you got planned for today?" He asked.

"Maybe go to the lake. Vicky hasn't seen it yet. You wanna come?

"No, I'd only slow you down."

"We'd walk slow."

"Maybe next time. Do you want to go and pick a cereal from the store?"

"I can pick any?" Taylor slid off his knee.

"Whatever you want."

Taylor disappeared into the store, passing her dad as he stood in the doorway. He'd been watching the two of them together. Smirking he grabbed himself a coffee and sat down opposite his father.

Jack looked over his glasses at him. "Problem son?"

"I think there's something wrong with my memory. I don't remember you 'reading the riot act" being anything like that. She's got you wrapped round her little finger."

He glared at his son. "I'm her grandfather, I'm supposed to spoil her. Besides I had enough trouble with you, it's only fair that it's your turn now. So the next time Taylor gets you all worked up, just remember you did the same to me. I think it's what's known as karma."

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Taylor waited for as long as she could for Vicky to drag herself out of bed, before taking off towards the lake on her own. She did ask her dad though, to point Vicky in the right direction when she eventually did wake up, so she wasn't going to go too far. It was another bright day, but it was still only March, so the sun didn't do too much for the chill in the air. Taylor didn't care, she just shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket and headed towards the first jetty.

She was sitting contentedly at the end of the wooden platform, legs crossed, watching a pair of swans glide elegantly through the water when she heard a car pull up behind her. Taylor clambered quickly to her feet and turned round, but she'd been too slow. Ethan was standing at the other end of the jetty, cutting out her only line of retreat. She was trapped. This time he wasn't on his own, Patrick stood on the track, but didn't come any closer. Instead he lit a cigarette before making himself comfortable on the hood of Ethan's car.

"Suppose you think you're clever, don't you?" He was slowly walking towards Taylor, in an attempt to intimidate her. It was working. She swallowed hard. This would be the perfect time for Vicky to show up she thought, as he stopped right in front of her. Funny, she'd never noticed before, how big he actually was. A wave of panic ran through Taylor and she opened her mouth to ask him what he was talking about. That was not however, what came out.

"What's wrong Ethan, did it take you a long time to blow up your tyres?"

Ethan's face turned bright red in anger, and when he raised his arm Taylor ducked, fully expecting him to hit her. He didn't though, instead he grabbed the front of her jacket and pulled her up, so she was just about standing on her tiptoes.

"You touch my car again and you're dead!" He snarled. "Got it?"

She nodded.

"Now let's see how you like it!"

Taylor had no idea what he meant, until she hit the water."