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

Chapter 11

Her grandfather was waiting for her in the kitchen. He saw her glance down at the table. It was only set for two.

"Your dad had to go back to DC for a few days, so it's just me and you. You ok with that?"

Taylor grinned. "Sure." This day was only getting better. Okay, she might miss him, but she wouldn't miss his constant checking up on her, telling her what to do, and all those flamin' rules.

He looked relieved, "Well then, you'd better go and wash up, dinner's nearly ready.

As she walked up the stairs she put her hand into her pocket and felt the bung, she smiled to herself. This was gonna be her new lucky charm.

Lucas showed up early the next morning while she was busy packing shelves.

"Can't believe you did that yesterday!" he whispered "They're gonna kill you when they find out who you are."

"Do I look worried? She said casually as she placed another can on the shelf. "Besides, by the time those two idiots figure out where to find me I'll be long gone."

"I wouldn't wanna bet on that. You do know Ethan's dad is the Sheriff?"

Taylor dropped the can she was holding and spun round. "You couldn't have told me that yesterday?" she whispered as loud as she dared, glancing over to check her grandpa hadn't heard anything.

"Sorry, I sort of forgot you didn't know, and anyway how was I supposed to know you were gonna sink their boat?"

Taylor thought for a moment. "We're just gonna have to make sure we stay out of their way for a while, and hope they find something better to do."

Lucas didn't look convinced, but nodded anyway. "Just thought I'd warn you. You still on for this afternoon? Or are you gonna hide in here for the rest of the week?"

"No way am I gonna be stuck in here, I'll meet you out back when I'm done here." As Lucas left, she picked up the can she had dropped and placed it on the shelf. Now she was worried!

Despite having to avoid the 'two idiots' all afternoon they still managed to have a pretty good, if less eventful time. They had spent most of it at one of the old abandoned properties north of the town, just hanging out, and every now and again re-enacting yesterdays sinking. They felt pretty safe there, it was surrounded on all sides by fields, giving them plenty of notice if anyone showed up. In fact they were having such a good time Taylor completely forgot about her curfew. By the time she remembered it was already 8.00pm. Swearing loudly she jumped down from the fence she was sitting on, yelled a hasty goodbye to an amused Katie and Lewis and hightailed it back home.

Taylor flew in through the kitchen door as if she was being chased by the hounds of hell. "Sorry I'm late I……" She stopped speaking and running at the same time, skidding slightly across the floor. Her grandfather was not alone. Sitting beside him at the table, drinking a cup of coffee was the sheriff. Glancing quickly from one to the other Taylor tried to read their expressions. She wasn't sure about the sheriff, but her grandpa didn't look angry, that had to be a good sign.

"The sheriff here wants a word with you. Ed, this is Taylor, my granddaughter." Still shocked she just stood and gaped at him, saying nothing. The sheriff set his cup down and pushed out the chair opposite him with his foot.

"Take a seat."

Slowly she did, and focused intently on her hands as she waited for him to speak.

"Were you at the lake yesterday?" he opened with.

"Yeah."

"Did you take a boat out for a spin?"

She glanced briefly at her grandpa before she answered.

"Yeah, but we brought it back. We weren't the last to use it!"

"So I believe. What happened?"

Taylor was starting to panic a little, and she didn't think before answering. "Why don't you ask your idiot son?"

He ignored the reference to Ethan. "I'm asking you."

"Answer him Taylor"

She sighed. "We rowed the boat about for a while, then brought it back to the jetty. Then your son and his mate took it out." she paused trying to think what she was gonna say next. "We watched them row out, but then they started jumping about all crazy, and yelling." Trying very hard to hide the smile the image in her head produced, she finished in a rush "then the boat sank, and they had to swim back. Unlucky huh?"

"They're not so sure it was bad luck." he growled, "and neither am I."

"What do you mean?" she asked, putting on her very best innocent face.

"What did you do to the boat?"

"I didn't do anything to the boat!" trying to sound indignant, even though she was lying.

He just stared at her.

"What? You think I drilled holes in it while Ethan watched. I didn't do anything! It was an old boat, maybe they damaged it when they jumped in!"

Feeling pretty confident now that he couldn't prove anything she folded her arms and stared him out.

He sighed, and finished the last of his coffee, and stood up. "Thanks Jack, sorry I had to bother you with this. Looks like Ethan and Patrick will be busy this summer working to pay for the boat."

"No problem Ed, I understand you were worried about Ethan. As he led the sheriff out through the store, Taylor was left on her own. Convinced she was home free, she helped herself to the food being kept warm in the oven.

Taylor had finished eating and cleared up by the time her grandfather reappeared.

"Sit down." he pointed towards the table. "I think we need to talk."

As she lowered herself down she started explaining why she had been late. "I'm sorry I was late, I know I'm meant to be back by seven, but .."

He interrupted her as he sat down opposite. "That's not what I want to talk to you about."

Relieved she wasn't in trouble, she waited for him to continue.

"What did you do to the boat?"

Okay, she hadn't expected that. "I already said, I didn't do anything to it!" The lie came easy to her lips but she avoided his gaze.

"I expect you to tell me the truth, now look at me." he waited until her eyes met his before he asked again. "What do you do to the boat?"

Taylor swallowed hard before answering. "I didn't do anything to the boat."

As soon as the words were out she realised that she had seriously misjudged her ability to lie to her grandfather. She recognised the furious glare he now aimed her. It was identical to the one her father used when he knew she was lying. Now she knew exactly where he got it from. He didn't say anything, just reached into his pocket and placed something on the table in front of her. Taylor had to force herself to look down at it, afraid of what it might be. Her fear was justified, and she had no reasonable excuse as to why she was now looking at the bung from the boat.

"Upstairs!"

Obeying immediately, she pushed the chair back and fled to her room.