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

Chapter 3

There was absolutely nothing Taylor could do their change their minds about school. She sulked, cried, and when she saw the uniform her mom brought home, started to throw one almighty tantrum. Until her dad walked in, that was, and threatened to take her back down to the basement to explain in a way she'd understand, what was going to happen and what he expected from her. So now, here she was, following the school secretary towards her new classroom, wearing her new shoes, red plaid skirt, white blouse and to top it all off a red and gold striped tie. Whoever designed it ought to be shot Taylor thought, as the secretary abandoned her at the front of the class.

"Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?" Mr Millar folded his arms and waited for Taylor to speak.

Taylor looked at the rows of strange faces. Jared was sitting near the back, grinning at her, the only familiar face there. Kayla must be in another class.

"No."

"Sorry?"

From the look on her new teacher's face, he wasn't sure if he had heard correctly.

"I said no. Now where do you want me to sit?"

Mr Millar took a sheet of paper out of the drawer and began to write. "I think you've just broken a school record. You've been here all of two minutes, and you've already earned yourself a detention. When Taylor didn't respond he handed her the sheet of paper and nodded towards the desks. "Take your pick."

She chose the one closest to the back, which just happened to be beside Jared, and ignored the looks she was getting from the other students. They could think what they wanted.

As the roll was called Jared whispered over to her. "That was amazing! No one's ever done that before."

"Is he always such a di**?"

"Most of the time." He admitted.

Their conversation was cut short. "Congratulations Jared, you've just secured yourself a place in detention along with your new friend. You know the rule about talking in class."

As Jared made his way up to the front desk to collect his detention slip, Taylor slid down in her chair. This was even worse than she'd thought it would be. If she was going make it through the rest of the day without landing in any more trouble she was just gonna have to sit right where she was and keep her mouth shut.

When school was over for the day Jarod showed Taylor where her mom's classroom was. Her mom was sorting through a stack of books.

"You're going to have to wait for a while before we go home Taylor, I have to go to a staff meeting."

Hanging around was the last thing she wanted to do. "But I've been stuck in here all day!" She protested.

"You could come with me." Jared offered. "I'm going to meet my dad at NCIS."

Taylor looked at her mom hopefully. "Can I?"

"Isn't it a bit far to walk?"

Jared came to the rescue. "We don't have to walk, I'm taking a cab."

Patricia nodded and the two kids made for the door before she changed her mind.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Taylor had figured Jared would leave her alone when they reached NCIS, but as she walked into the empty bullpen he was still following her like a little lost puppy. Making herself comfortable in her dad's chair she spun round a few times in the hope that Jared would be gone by the time she stopped. Nope. He was still there and had pulled a chair over to sit beside her.

"Aren't you going up to see your dad?"

Jared shook his head. "Don't go to the gym until five."

"What do you go to the gym for?" She asked, curious now.

"I box."

"You do?" He didn't exactly look like a fighter.

"Well I'm learning." Jared admitted modestly.

Now this could be interesting Taylor thought. "Show me."

The boy looked around, suddenly shy. "Here?"

"Sure. There's no one around."

Jared stood up and placed himself into a defensive position, standing side on, fists raised. "Try and land a punch."

Taylor was happy to oblige. Copying Jared's stance she tried to hit him, only to have it blocked. She tried again with the same result.

"HEY! PACK IT IN!"

Jared looked up towards his father's voice just as Taylor took another swing. This time she did make contact and knocked the boy on his ass.

"Looks like you need to work on that!" Taylor held her hand out to help him up.

He rubbed his jaw before speaking. "That was a lucky shot, I was distracted."

Gibbs, with Vance close behind, had made it down the stairs and both were now glaring at the pair.

"What do you two think you're playing at?" Vance asked.

"Just showing Taylor a few boxing moves dad." Jared answered, still rubbing his face.

When Jethro looked to his daughter for an explanation she shrugged.

"What can I say, he needs more practice."

The uniform jogged his memory and Gibbs forgot about the boxing. "How was school?"

"I hate it. Oh, …yeah… " Taylor reached into her bag and handed over her detention slip. "You have to sign this."

Jethro looked at it in disbelief. "Already?"

"Mr Millar said it was a new school record. Two minutes!" Jared informed him.

"What did you do?" What the hell could she do in two minutes?

"I didn't do anything!" She argued.

Gibbs held up the slip. "You must have done something."

"I didn't. I just told the truth, like you tell me to." Well she had.

"You got a detention for telling the truth? What did you say?" Getting information out of his daughter was sometimes harder than getting it out of some of the criminals he interrogated.

"He asked me if I wanted to introduce myself to the class, and I said no."

"Taylor….nevermind." Shaking his head he slipped the paper into his pocket. He really didn't want to get into this with the director there.

Vance put a hand proudly on Jared's head. "Jared's never had a detention. Isn't that right son?"

Jared looked up at him guiltily before pulling an identical piece of paper out of his bag. He handed it to his dad. "Sorry."

Gibbs didn't try and disguise his amused smile. Leon wasn't looking so smug now. He hadn't been expecting that.

"What's this for?" He wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Talking in class."

"Do I even have to ask who you were talking to?" Jared didn't appear to be the least bit upset about having to spend time with Taylor in detention.

"Don't blame me!" Taylor was not going to take the rap for that one too.

Her father stepped in before she could lose her temper.

"Have you got any homework?
Taylor and Jared answered at the same time.

"Yes."

"No." Taylor nudged Jared with her elbow, she was going to explain a few things to him later.

Instead of calling her on the obvious lie, Jethro let it slide. At least she wasn't refusing to go back to school tomorrow.

"Take it down to Abby's lab you can do it there."

Grabbing her bag, Taylor headed for the stairs.

"Dad?" Jared asked, assuming he would know what he was talking about.

Leon nodded, and watched his son run after Taylor. Then called out after him.

"Jared!"

The boy stopped and turned.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He pointed to the backpack on the floor.

Vance turned to Gibbs as Jared disappeared round the corner, but it was Jethro who spoke first.

"Should I be worried?"

Vance pulled out another toothpick and grinned. "About a crush?"

"Yeah about a crush." This was his daughter they were talking about after all.

"Relax Gibbs. I know he hasn't stopped talking about her for the past week, but he doesn't have a lot of friends. The other kids tend to pick on him a lot, hence the boxing. I'm sure Taylor's safe!"

Gibbs did not appreciate Vance trying to wind him up. It was time to turn the table on him.

"Oh I know she's safe. I'll make sure of that. Just don't come complaining to me when Jared ends up in some sort of trouble right alongside Taylor."

Leaving Vance to ponder on just what sort of trouble Taylor could land his son in, he went to find the rest of his team.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Over the next couple of days Taylor's dislike of Mr Millar grew at an alarming rate. He hadn't handed her any more detentions, but it wasn't for the want of trying. The man took every opportunity to show her up by asking her questions he thought she wouldn't know the answers to, and when she answered correctly he would turn his attention to Jared. What she really wanted to do was tell him exactly what she thought of him and his school, but knew it would only result in her having to pay for it once she got home. Subtly was called for.

Once Taylor had decided Mr Millar was a legitimate target she began to watch him carefully, looking for anything she could use. Now she had something to aim for, school actually became more bearable and it didn't take Taylor long to come up with a plan. Travelling to and from school with her mom turned out to have its advantages after all. Now all she had to do was convince Jared to help.

Taylor brought up the subject at lunch.

" You ever think about getting even with Millar for being such an asshole?"

Jared swallowed before he answered. "No. Why?"

"A little payback can be good for the soul." She stabbed her juice box with the straw and took a drink, wondering not for the first time, if Jared would have the nerve to prank someone.

"You've already thought of something, haven't you?" He might be shy, but he wasn't stupid.

"Yep." Taylor gave him a small grin. "You in?"

"What are you going to do?"

She shook her head. "Can't tell you unless you're in!"

He thought for a couple of seconds. "Is it dangerous?"

"No." At least he was considering it.

"Illegal?"

"No. Don't be an idiot! It's just a harmless prank. It'll just piss him off." This kid was hard work. Now Jason, he would have signed himself up the moment she mentioned getting even. Still, she wasn't giving up on Jared just yet, he was growing on her. "Come on, you know you want to!"

Jared set his sandwich down, and sighed. He really liked Taylor, and didn't want her to think he was a coward. "What do I have to do?"

Taylor's grin spread right across her face. "Just a bit of shopping. How much money do you have?"