Tuesday Afternoon

The students stood in a line in a spare classroom the Principle had managed to find because there were too many people to fit in his office. While the adults stood opposite them, some of them leaning on desks, and all of them glaring at their wayward children.

"Let's get to the bottom of this shall we." Principle Jones glared at them all. The bulk of them were bright and studious pupils, it was a surprise to him that they would skip school. But there was one or two, mainly Zach but Tom was included in that, that he wasn't surprised about at all. "Why did you think your time was better spent in the zoo, rather than in school learning?"

Zach spoke up before anyone else had the chance. Also he wasn't sure if any of the others would speak "It was my fault. I set Jay up on a date, and I convinced the others to come because it would be fun."

"As much as I'm glad that you are owning up Zach, I highly doubt that you forced anyone else to come with you. I think it is fair to say that you all share a part in today's adventure, so you can all share a part in your punishment. All of you have two weeks lunch time detention, anyone think that is unfair?" The principle dared them to answer back, but even Zach wasn't that stupid.

"No sir" They all chorused.

"Good. I'll leave you in the capable hands of your parents and guardians in a minute. But first I want to know who changed the school register" He eyed each and every one of them, looking more closely at Jayden though because he knew of his computer brilliance.

"It was me sir" Zach once again stepped forward, trying his hardest to not look at the disappointment in his grandfather's face. The man had no idea that he didn't have the slightest idea where to begin when hacking someone, so for all he knew, Zach was telling the truth.

"So why don't you show any of these talents in your I.T class?" The principle asked disbelieving; he knew the teenager was just managing to get an acceptable grade in most of his classes.

"There are no assignments on hacking" The blond shrugged.

Principle Jones narrowed his eyes at him "I think me and you have talked about your smart mouth on numerous occasions Zach."

"Sorry" Zach was extremely grateful his dad wasn't there, because the man was still blissfully, in Zach's opinion, unaware of most of the trouble he caused in school time. He knew it would catch up with him eventually, but he was pretty sure that it would be a while yet.

"I don't want your apologies, I just want you to watch what you say before you get yourself in big trouble for it" The principle warned him.

He glanced one look up and down the line of teenagers, noting each of them looked extremely guilty besides Zach. It was obvious to the Director and the principle that he was not the hacker; even it wasn't as obvious to his own grandfather, who didn't know the extent of Zach's computer skills.

"Are you sure it was you Zach? Because if it was, I have no choice but to give you suspension for the rest of the week" He doubted Zach would own up, but he hoped the person who was responsible would.

The blond teen was standing next to the twelve-year-old, and tried to subtlety elbow him when he tried to speak. He spoke loud himself to ensure that no one heard the quiet voice that said 'He didn't do it'.

"Yea, it was me. I would show you how I did it, but a magician never reveals his secrets" He knew being cocky would force the attention onto him, and hopefully the adults would forget about the rest of them.

"Zach, you do know that hacking is a criminal offence. You could get arrested for this" Director Vance stepped in. He knew it wasn't the British teenager, but he also didn't know who it was, and he wanted it to sound as serious as possible so hopefully the culprit would own up rather than let someone else take the fall.

The teenager gulped visibly, he didn't know that, and sent a look that said to Jayden 'keep quiet' before standing with his hands out, wrists together. "So, arrest me"

"You are gunna wish you had just been arrested by the time I'm done with you" Jack growled, walking closer to him. He could see so much of Leroy in Zach that he knew he would have no problem disciplining his grandson.

All of the pupils were dismissed soon after that, except for Zach, into the care of their parents. Leon looked like he wanted to push the issue that it wasn't Zach who had hacked the school, but he guessed that Jackson would know that it wasn't him and left it.

"Sarah, Jayden, If you would mind waiting outside please while I talk to your grandfather and Zach alone" Principle Jones dismissed them and the youngest boy looked like he was about to say something before Sarah gripped his arm and dragged him out.

"Why did you do that?" Jayden scowled at her, shaking her off him the second the door had closed.

"Because Zach wants to take the rap, so let him." Sarah felt guilty, but she knew that she they couldn't say anything now after Zach had gone to all that trouble to make it believable.

"But it wasn't him who did it. And he's getting suspended. Gibbs will murder him!" Jayden felt even worse than Sarah. He had tried twice now to own up, but both times he had been unsuccessful.

"Jay, look." She understood why her boyfriend was doing this, and she honestly thought she loved him a little bit more because of it. "Zach has already gotten expelled from a school before; a few days suspension isn't going to bother him. But you've got nothing written on your record, so this will seriously affect you. He's doing the right thing, whether you know it or not"

"Oh…" The boy smiled sadly, being told that did nothing to ease the tremendous guilt he was feeling. "But… it was still me, not him."

"If it makes you feel any better, you know our family will see right through it. They all know that Zach can only work the internet on the computer" She joked weakly.

"True" He nodded.

"Zach, I don't think you realise how serious this is" Principle Jones still hadn't given in and 'believed' that Zach had changed the registers. "If you still insist that it was you, I am going to have to suspend you for three days and put it on your permanent record. I'm sure you friend, who ever it was, would understand why you told"

"Why doesn't anyone believe me! I'm not a complete moron that I can't do something" The teenager was getting bad tempered now. He knew he was getting into a lot of mess and just didn't want to think about it for any longer than he had to. He knew it would all be worth it if it meant his cousin didn't ruin his perfect record though.

"I never said that you were a moron" Principle Jones had an amazing ability to stay calm where other teachers would have flown of the handle weeks ago with Zach and his mouth. "I'm just making sure that you know the consequences before you carry on down this route"

"Yes. I do!"

Jackson didn't have the same ability as the Principle, and was seconds away from smacking the boy in front of him. "Zacharriah Jethro Gibbs, I'll remind you to not use that tone in front of me"

"Sorry grandpa. But no one will listen. I hacked the school register, just give me suspension and get it over and done with"

The principle and Jack shared a look, and the elderly man had a shot at getting the teenager to tell the truth. "Give it up; we both know you are lying. Just tell us it wasn't you, before you end up in worse trouble for lying."

"But… I'm not lying." He lied, deciding to use what Jay had told him this morning when he had done it. "I'm telling you the truth. I did it before school today, and I timed it so that when the registers were sent, it would change our mark to present"

Jack stepped closer, looking into the icy blue eyes. "I want you to promise me Zach, that you are telling the truth."

The blond didn't see a way out of it, and did his best to not give the game away. "I promise you grandpa."

He must have done a good job of it, because his grandfather nodded in acceptance, and turned away to the school principle to talk about the suspension and detentions.

"Kate, sweetie, go get your monster dolls from your bedroom to play down here okay?" Jack talked gently to her, watching her skip up the stairs before turning on the three teenagers.

"While you three, can go sit in your bedrooms and think about today and last night. Zach go to my bedroom." His voice wasn't as soft as he spoke to the elder three.

"Grandpa, why are you punishing them? I already told you it was my entire fault. I'm the one whose idea it was to go to the Zoo, and I managed to get Jay a date and dragged everyone along." Zach wished that Jack wouldn't punish the other two.

"It takes two to tango son. In your case, it took three of you and all your friends" Jack glared.

"Yea, but it was mostly my fault. And last night, I swear to you that Sarah didn't know where we were going, I was trying to surprise her. And I just landed her into trouble. So, I should be the one getting sent upstairs, not them"

Zach was trying to cover for Sarah too, because he didn't want to think about his girl getting into trouble, even if it was her idea. And Jayden was his little cousin; of course he was going to protect him.

"I wouldn't be worrying about anyone else if I were you Zacharriah. I'm planning on taking a switch to you tonight, so I'd be concerned for yourself" Jack was beyond angry with his eldest grandchild. He couldn't believe the teenager had gotten himself suspended, and had dragged everyone else along for the ride. But he did fully blame the others for their own actions in today's small adventure.

Zach went white, and kept his mouth shut, following the other two upstairs when Jackson pointed. He had heard a very unpleasant story about his dad getting switched when he had gotten suspended from school, and needless to say he was terrified. His dad had even promised him that he would never do that to him, because he thought it was too harsh for any possible misdeed.

He stopped the other two in the hallway before they split up. He knew he was going to have to keep the lies running or he would end up worse off, and so would those two. "You cannot tell him that I'm lying, okay?"

"…But Zach, he's going to use … you know you heard him." Jayden looked like he was close to tears.

"Don't worry mate. He's only using that on me, I can take it." I hope "You'll make it worse for yourselves, and me, if we tell him the truth now."

"It won't be worse for you Zach." Sarah told him, biting her lip. "You were only trying to protect us, he'll understand"

"No" The blond shook his head firmly. "He won't. He made me promise him I was telling the truth. And I know he will just be that bit madder if I tell him I was lying."

"He won't be. He'll understand"

"Just trust me, both of you, I know what I'm doing, and I know what I've got myself into. Just stick to the story, and we'll all come out of this alright. Okay?" Zach wouldn't let them see the fear that had nearly over taken him.

"Okay Zach." Jay's voice was shaky, not afraid to show his fear.

"Fine" Sarah agreed. "But please Zach, don't get cocky with him, for your own sake."

Zach grinned at them both, trying to show them he would be okay. Before they split up and went into the separate rooms. Zach pacing agitatedly around the bedroom, positive that the other two were doing the exact same thing.

He waited half an hour before he heard Jackson's footfalls climbing up the stairs. And he sat down on the bed, overhearing the man talking to the youngest of the three. It wasn't long before Zach heard a sound he wished to never hear again, it was the sound of flesh hitting flesh, and his young cousin crying.

The blond tried to block the sound out by covering his ears with his hands, but it wouldn't work. As he sat there he grew more and more scared about his upcoming chat with Jackson. He was already terrified, more so than he had ever been about a chat like this with his dad.

The sound of Jayden crying still continued, and Zach wanted to get away from it. He didn't think he would be able to stomach anymore, especially not if Sarah started crying too. He also didn't think he would be able to take his own, he was shaking at the thought of it, just like Jayden had been before.

Instinct took over, and Zach was quietly sneaking out of the bedroom, down the stairs and past the oblivious Kate in the living room, before he knew it, he was bolting it out of the house and down the street.

A/N: Thanks for your reviews. I'm on a role at the minute, third chapter in a day. Though to be fair, I had write the first two the other day, just couldnt log in to post them.