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

Chapter 7

The drive home was completely silent with not even the radio on to distract Taylor from worrying about what was gonna happen when her dad got home. Her mom only spoke when they pulled up at the house, instructing her to change into her pyjamas (This seemed to be their favourite method now to stop her going AWOL), and then bring her work down to the kitchen table.

Taylor sat down quietly at the table, watching her mom warily. The kitchen wasn't the safest place to be when her mom was angry with her. Patricia glanced up, but then went back to her marking. Taylor started writing, but the silence was unsettling and it was beginning to scare her. At least when her dad was mad at her he always made it perfectly clear what he was thinking, and how he felt about what she'd done, even though it always involved a lot of shouting. It was probably a bad move, but Taylor had to ask.

"Aren't you gonna say something?"

Patricia set down her red pen and looked at her daughter.

"I thought I'd let you finish your homework and essay first. Your dad's not going to be very happy if he comes home and you haven't finished."

"Oh." That made sense. Taylor started writing again, but she was nervous and found it difficult to concentrate. "I can't remember how to do this."

"You want some help?" Patricia asked without looking up.

"Yes please." Taylor figured being polite might make things a little better.

Patricia moved round to sit beside her. It didn't take long for her mom to explain where she'd been going wrong and before she knew it she'd started on her essay. This time it was easy, all she had to do was remember one she'd already written at her old school. Pity she hadn't thought of that earlier today, the whole mess she was in now could have been avoided.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Taylor picked her way through her dinner, trying to drag it out.

Her mom had been watching her carefully. "Not hungry?" That was something that didn't happen very often.

"He's gonna kill me, isn't he?" Taylor didn't look up, instead she pushed a bit of broccoli around the plate with her fork.

"That's a bit overdramatic. He's not going to kill you, but you can't blame him for being angry. You have no idea how close you came to being expelled today."

"Sorry." She was saying that a lot today.

"Are you?"

"Well maybe not about the prank, or the essay, but the blackmail thing, yeah. It's not as if I planned it."

"So why'd you do it then?" Her mom asked.

"He got angry about the essay. That man has no sense of humour!"

Patricia raised an eyebrow, but waited for her to continue.

"He was gonna give me a detention, just for that, and you know what dad said would happen if I got another one. So I said the first thing I could think of to get out of it. Didn't exactly work though." Taylor admitted sheepishly.

"What about the cheating? Did you even think about how much trouble you'd be getting Jared into? I assume it was your idea."

Taylor had forgotten about the homework thing. "Well I didn't think we'd get caught. How'd he figure it out anyway?"
"You're the only one in the whole class who crosses their sevens Taylor, and just because you thought you'd get away with it doesn't make it right. Don't even try to convince me otherwise!"

Looking back down at her plate Taylor didn't try to deny it.

"As for the tantrum you treated everyone to, how could you speak to your father like that?"

Taylor's head snapped up. "You heard what I said?" That meant they'd heard her dad belting her too. Crap!

"Every last word." Patricia realised what her daughter was worried about. "You needn't feel sorry for yourself because everyone heard you being punished. You deserved every lick!"

Taylor glared at her, but kept her mouth shut. Her butt was still tender without pushing her mom to the point where she'd reach for the wooden spoon.

Pushing her plate away Taylor stood up. Perhaps it would be safer if she went upstairs before she lost her temper again.

"Where are you going?"

"Don't I have to wait in my room?" That was the standard procedure.

Patricia thought about it for a couple of seconds before nodding. She didn't want another full scale war breaking out either, and watched as Taylor made her way slowly towards the stairs.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Jared sat in the back seat of the car beside his sister.

"What'd you do?" She whispered.

Not answering, he tried to ignore her.

Kayla could see the expression on her dad's face from where she was sitting. "It must have been really bad! You gonna get spanked?"

Jared glared at her. "Will you shut up!" He told her in an angry whisper, but that only made her grin smugly.

"You are, aren't you?"

Angry now, Jared reached over and pinched her, causing her to cry out. "I told you to shut up!"

Jacky turned round in her seat, giving both a warning look. "That's enough!"

Giving her brother a final dirty look, Kayla turned to stare out of her window, leaving Jared to contemplate just how much trouble he was in.

He didn't have to wait long to find out. As soon as they arrived home his father sent him up to his room, following close behind. Jared swallowed hard when his dad closed the bedroom door behind him, and began to speak.

"Sit down." Leon pointed to the bed and waited until his son obeyed. "I don't think I've ever been so angry or disappointed in your behaviour as I am now."

Jared dropped his eyes and stared at his shoes.

"I know you were only trying to protect Taylor, but when I ask you a question I damn well expect you to answer it! Is that clear?"

"Yes sir." He mumbled.

"I didn't quite hear that, and look at me when you're speaking!"

Jared looked up at his father. "Yes sir." He was certain he'd never seen his dad look so angry before.

Vance nodded. "Exactly what was your involvement in the prank?"

Scared now, he had no problem answering. " I helped buy the crickets."

"That's all? You didn't play any part of the video or blackmail?"

"No sir." If Jared could put money on it he would bet his sister was listening through the adjoining wall.

Leon believed him and moved onto the more serious of his son's crimes. "How did you ever come to the conclusion that it was alright to cheat?"

Jared shrugged, he was not going to admit it was Taylor's idea, no matter what his dad said or did.

"What did I just tell you about answering a question when I ask?"

"I don't know what to say. It seemed like a good idea at the time." He really did feel bad about cheating, and had known it was wrong.

"Why? You've never had problems with your schoolwork before. What's changed?" Leon was hoping for some sort of reasonable explanation that would justify his son's actions.

"Just seemed like a waste of time, both of us doing the same thing, at the same time." That was the only answer he was going to give.

Jared watched in horror as his dad's expression became even angrier.

"Not only are you in detention until the end of the school year, but you're also grounded."

Jared shrugged again, trying to put on a brave face. That didn't really make a lot of difference to him. Taylor was bound to be in the same boat.

Leon unbuckled his belt, and Jared's bravery vanished.

"Stand up and lean over the bed." He ordered.

His son just stared at him, unable to move.

"Now Jared!"

Slowly he did as he was told. Burying his face in the quilt Jared cried from the first smack. His dad had only ever used his hand before, and it felt nothing like this.

After about eight licks, Leon paused. "Are you going to cheat again?"

Jared shook his head and let out a muffled "No."

Leon landed another four swats, making it an even dozen.

"You're sure about that?"

"I'm sure. I won't."

Sitting down beside his son he gently rubbed his back, trying to soothe him. "You know, I'm really pleased you've found yourself a friend." Even if it is a Gibbs he thought. "But I know you're smart enough to keep yourself out of trouble, and I'm sure Taylor's not going to stop liking you if you try and talk her out of doing something stupid. I'm positive that right now she wishes you had."

Jared pushed himself up, and stood in front of his father. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Standing up he gave Jared a quick hug, before lifting his belt off the bed and turning towards the door. "You might want to make a start on your homework, you'll be going to bed straight after dinner."

"Yes sir." Jared reached for his backpack, and hoped that Taylor was still in one piece.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Taylor stood at her bedroom window watching the torrential rain forming giant puddles in the front yard. It was already half past eight and there was still no sign of her dad. She had her fingers crossed, hoping he wouldn't get home until after she was in bed. Taylor was dreading the upcoming confrontation, especially after what had happened at school. She very much doubted he would be any less angry with her, and although her butt was only a little sore now, it was a dead cert that it would be hurting like hell by the time he got through with her. On top of that she was going to have to face Millar tomorrow, and he would know exactly why she would have a problem trying to sit still. That thought just reminded her that he'd already heard her getting walloped. This had to be her worse day ever. Maybe Abby would let her come live with her, that way she could avoid her dad, and go back to her old school. Taylor was trying to figure out just how feasible that would be when the room lit up.

Before the rumble of thunder hit, Taylor was down the stairs and had thrown herself onto the couch beside her mom. "I think I'll wait down here instead." She managed to get out, just before the room was filled with a gentle rumble. The storm was still some distance away, but Taylor wasn't taking any chances.

Patricia fought the urge to grin, and put her arm around her nervous daughter. Taylor was trembling, so she started talking to try and distract her. "You seem to be getting on really well with Jared."

"I like him, he's funny." Taylor was anxiously anticipating the next lightening flash.

"You know he wouldn't tell his dad anything, said he couldn't say anything because of rule number one."

"He said that?" Taylor sounded both surprised and pleased.

The room lit up again, and Taylor tensed.

"Are you going to tell me what rule number one is?" Patricia asked.

Taylor shook her head and moved even closer to her mom, waiting for the thunder she knew would follow. "I can't."

"Let me guess. Rule number two."

"Uh huh." The thunder rolled again. It was getting closer.

Patricia ignored the rumble. "So you're making up rules like your dad?"

"Yeah, but we've only got two so far, dad's got loads."

"I've got loads of what?" Gibbs appeared in the doorway, water dripping from his hair and jacket. The thunder had drowned out the noise of the car pulling up.

Taylor's mouth suddenly went dry, so her mom answered. "Rules."

"Going by today, I don't have enough!" He glared at his daughter. "I'm going to get dried off, and changed. If he said anything else, Taylor couldn't hear it over another peel of thunder, and when she opened her eyes again he was gone.

"He still looks mad mom." Taylor whispered.

"Now you can't be surprised by that, you really screwed up."

"But I…" Taylor didn't get the chance to finish. Her dad was back. He had changed into a pair of jeans and an NCIS t-shirt.

"Come on Taylor, let's get this over with."

Very reluctantly Taylor left the safety her mom provided and followed her father upstairs. They had just reached the top when there was an extremely loud thunder clap, and Taylor almost knocked her dad over in an attempt to get closer to him. Jethro took her hand and led her into her bedroom.

"It's just not your day is it?"

Taylor shook her head and sat down on the bed. "I am sorry you know."

He didn't seem impressed by her apology. "You almost got kicked out of school today."

"I know, but I didn't do it on purpose." Surely that had to count for something, she thought again.

It didn't. Her father looked disappointed. "I never thought you'd resort to cheating or blackmail. For heaven's sake Taylor, what were you thinking?"

Hanging her head Taylor mumbled. "I already told you about the homework thing, we were just saving time."

"It's cheating!" He roared, almost as loudly as the thunder that immediately followed.

Taylor cringed. "Well I think I've got that now."

"What about the blackmail, did you really expect that to work?"

"He was gonna give me another detention, it was the only way I could think of to get out of it! Besides, I wasn't actually gonna put it on YouTube."

"You threatened your teacher!" He yelled.

"So! He threatens me all the time!"

Jethro was trying hard not to completely lose it. "You know it's not the same thing."

Taylor did know, so there was no point arguing. "I'm sorry."

"You realise you're grounded until your detentions finish, don't you?"

"Figured." Taylor looked at the floor. She might have known it was going to happen, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

"On your feet." Jethro ordered, as he turned to lift the strap off the desk, where he'd left it earlier.

Taylor stared at the wicked strip of leather in her father's hand, and forced herself not to run. Not that she could go anywhere in the middle of a thunderstorm. "That's….."

"Uh huh."

"You stole it!" Taylor accused, more shocked that it was here, rather than the fact he was actually going to use it.

Jethro propped his left leg up on the bed frame. "I didn't steal it, your grandpa knows I have it."

He held out his hand for Taylor to take. At first he thought he was going to have to drag her over, but another clap of thunder and her hand was in his. Lifting her over his leg he quickly pulled her pyjama pants and shorts down. Not because he wanted it to hurt more, but he wanted to make sure he didn't want the licks to overlap. Taylor gave a small groan, but didn't try to get up.

The intensity of the first stroke made her gasp, and the second had her crying out. Now she did start to struggle, but to no avail. The entire spanking must have lasted less than a minute, and had only consisted of six swats in total, but Taylor didn't think her dad had missed a single inch of her backside. When her father pulled her pants back up and set her on her feet the blaze in her butt intensified and made her cry harder.

The thunderstorm was almost overhead now, and the next rumble sent Taylor, not into her dad's arms but under her quilt, throbbing backside momentarily forgotten about.

Jethro shook his head. "Slide over a bit."

Taylor shuffled over to give her dad enough room to stretch out beside her. Propping himself up against the headboard he lifted the duvet a little. She was still crying, into the mattress, so he gently stroked the side of her face.

"You want me to stay until the storm's over?"

Taylor nodded, before pulling the cover over her head again. Tomorrow had better be a hell of a lot better than today.