Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS or any of its characters.
Chapter 21
Jethro felt Taylor relax and lean into him, her hand slipping into his.
"So were you two at the Anderson place all day?"
"Yeah. Gotta say you're not very observant, you know for a sniper and all."
"Oh so you're funny now are you? I should have shot you out of the tree."
A small laugh escaped from his daughter. "You should of seen the look on Lucas's face when you said that. I thought he was gonna pee his pants."
"Anything else you want to confess while you're at it?"
"Rule one dad." Taylor managed to jet out before yawning.
"You still haven't told me what rule one is yet, have you?"
"Nuh huh." She left it at that.
"Your grandpa said you fancied yourself as a Buddhist." Jethro wished he'd been there to see his dad's reaction when he realised what she was doing. Taylor had figured out a long time ago that religion was an easy way to wind her grandfather up.
"He told you that, huh? Kinda went off that idea."
"Said he talked to you about Kelly too." He'd expected her to tense up and become defensive, but there was no change in her body language. "You okay with what he told you?"
She nodded.
"You wanna ask me anything else?"
Taylor didn't answer immediately. He was really hoping that he wasn't going to have to explain everything to her. He still thought she too young for the whole truth just yet.
"Did Kelly really like Sunday school? Or was grandpa trying to trick me into going?"
"Yeah she liked it." He was relieved at the simplicity of the question. "Anything else?"
She shook her head as she opened his hand and traced the lines on his palm with her finger. "Nope. Grandpa explained it good." Taylor had spent enough time worrying about her sister and didn't want to start all over again.
Jethro breathed a sigh of relief, and both sat soaking up the silence before he shook his head, he'd almost nodded off. "You need to put your pyjamas on before you fall asleep.
There was no response from his daughter. Too late.
o
The first words out of her grandpa's mouth when Taylor showed her face in the kitchen the next morning were, "You needn't be planning on leaving a note and disappearing again."
Taylor grabbed a packet of cereal and sat down. Reaching into the box she lifted a handful out. "Not going anywhere." She just managed to get out around a mouthful of dry loops. It wouldn't be worth the risk now her dad was back.
He tutted loudly when he saw what she was doing before setting a bowl and the milk carton in front of her. "Eat it properly."
"Where's dad? There was no way he was still in bed at this time.
"He went for a run."
Filling her bowl up Taylor managed to get almost as much cereal and milk on the table as in the bowl.
When Jack gave her a disapproving look she shrugged. "It's not as messy if you eat it straight from the box." The milk wasn't her idea after all.
"Am I workin' in the store today?"
"It's Sunday Taylor."
"Sorry, I forgot." She wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to yank his chain though. "Do you really go to hell just for working on an Sunday?"
"How many times Taylor? No you don't go to hell for working on a Sunday."
It was too easy. She tried to hide her smirk. "You don't have to go all grumpy. I was just checkin' it hadn't changed."
"Well maybe if you want to keep up to date with any new developments you should come to church with me."
"That's a bit drastic ….."
"I think that's a great idea dad." Jethro stepped into the room. He knew exactly what his daughter had been trying to do.
Taylor's head snapped round. Her dad didn't look as if he was joking.
"We'll all go."
Jack beamed happily. Taylor did not.
"I'm going to hit the shower, Taylor you can go and wake your cousin, you wouldn't want us to be late."
Her father vanished just as quickly as he'd appeared, leaving her dumbstruck. She'd walked right into that one.
o
Vicky was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the torture that lay ahead. Gently shaking the girl's shoulder Taylor waited for her to sit up before she broke the bad news. "We gotta go to church."
"Huh?"
"Church, we gotta go."
"You're kidding me, right?"
Taylor shook her head.
"I'm not going, no way, no how!" Vicky was on her feet now, pulling on a pair of jeans.
"Don't thing we've got much of a choice." Taylor watched in amazement as Vicky hopped about on one leg trying to pull on a shoe.
Vicky was fully dressed now. "What? You're not actually going are you?"
"Well where are you going?" Taylor was unsure now.
"Does it matter?" Vicky headed to the door, then stopped and looked back. "You comin' or not?"
"There was no way she was going to church if Vicky wasn't, so with a quick nod Taylor followed her cousin out of the house and towards the lake.
o
Instead of heading towards the water Vicky took a sharp turn towards the trees, and didn't stop until they were in a clearing. She sat down on a fallen tree before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
"How come you're not mad at me?" Taylor finally built up enough courage to ask her.
Vicky drew deeply on the cigarette before passing it to Taylor. "Dunno. Suppose I should of kept my nose out, or checked with you first. I am sorry I upset you."
Taylor grinned at her. "A good dealer's hard to find you know." Taking a drag she passed the cigarette back. "But I'm sorry too. You gotta admit though, taking the rap for warning DJ, that was just plain suicidal."
Vicky picked up a small rock and tossed it in Taylor's general direction. "It was a hell of a lot safer that waiting for you to ambush me."
The church bells started ringing and both of them looked guiltily towards town.
"How pissed do you think they're going be?" Vicky asked as she crushed out the cigarette out with her foot.
"No idea, but there's no point worrying about it until we have to go home." Taylor stood up. She'd sat still for long enough. "So, what're we gonna do?"
o
"FREEZE!"
Taylor and Vicky almost managed to make it to the bottom of the stairs before being collared by Jethro.
"Oh, hi dad." Taylor was trying hard to look innocent and failing miserably.
"Don't you 'hi dad' me!" He pointed towards the living room.
Taylor took a few steps, then stopped, causing Vicky to bang into her. She'd realised he was waiting for them to walk past.
"What are you waiting for?" He asked, exasperation clear.
"Nothin'." Sticking her hands firmly into the back pockets of her cargo pants she edged along the wall.
Vicky gave her cousin a strange look, confused by her behaviour, until Jethro grabbed Taylor and turned her sideways.
"Hands."
Taylor groaned, but removed her hands and braced herself.
Cringing at the smack, Vicky now knew exactly what to expect, and both girls entered the living room with stinging backsides.
Feeling just a tiny bit guilty when she spotted her grandpa in his chair, Taylor tried to ignore him as she sat down.
Vicky soon joined her.
"Right you two, let's have it!"
The older girl spoke first. "Sorry."
Jethro turned to Taylor. "What about you?"
"I decided that I agree with grandpa. You shouldn't work on a Sunday."
Jack took off his glasses and set them on the arm of the chair.
"Going to church is not work Taylor." Her dad informed her.
"It is for the minister, and he should know better. He's supposed to practice what he preaches."
Her grandpa didn't look very impressed by her reasoning and was just about to get up when Jethro stopped him.
"It's alright dad. Taylor and Vicky will both be there for the evening service." He said with a warning glare. "Won't you girls?"
An elbow in the ribs courtesy of her cousin stopped Taylor from objecting and they both nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Good. Now that's settled you can go help Patricia with lunch."
"Isn't that working too? I…" his daughter started to object, but she didn't finish. Vicky grabbed a hold of Taylor's arm, and pulled her from the room.
o
"This has gotta be child abuse." Taylor protested as the four of them walked along the sidewalk to the church. Just to make matters worse her dad was holding her hand as if she was six years old. There was no hope of a second escape.
"It's not abuse Taylor."
Taylor glanced behind at her grandpa to make sure he wasn't listening before whispering up to her father. "You're not gonna think that when you hear the choir."
"Not going to talk your way out of this one. Now, if I hear one more word from you I'll sign you up for the choir. I'm sure they're always looking for new people.
o
Taylor had been surprised when Vicky and herself were allowed to sit in the pew directly in front of her parents. She assumed this was a good thing until she tried talking to her cousin and discovered the real reason behind their good fortune. Not only was her dad in the perfect position to watch what she was doing, but he could hear what she was saying too. Her conversation with Vicky was cut short when her father leaned forward and whispered into her ear.
"Like singing do you?"
Mumbling a hasty "no" she folded her arms and tried to find something else to keep her from going crazy. Eventually her eyes settled on the choir, hymn books in hand, ready to go. Taylor recognised the first few notes being played on the ancient pipe organ. It was one of the slower ones, and she let out a moan. There must be at least eighty verses. Well maybe not eighty, but way too many.
The choir had not improved since she'd been forced to listen to their last practice. Taylor, now on her feet along with everyone else, twisted round and aimed an 'I told you so' glare at her dad. He did not look guilty though, just raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to turn back again.
Vicky, standing beside her might have looked the picture of innocence from behind, but she was having a difficult time trying to keep her giggles under control. One of the choir was singing louder than the others and must have been completely tone deaf. The problem was that the more she thought how inappropriate laughing in church was, the funnier it became. By the time the choir sat down again and the minister told everyone they were going to pray Vicky had tears running down her cheeks and was biting her lip to stop herself from laughing. It was just as well the congregation had their eyes closed.
Seeing Vicky so close to losing it Taylor just couldn't resist the temptation of trying to push her over the edge. After checking everyone to make sure that their eyes were closed, Taylor nudged her cousin.
"Think that deserves a Mexican wave, don't you?" Standing up, Taylor raised her arms in the air.
Two things happened at once. Vicky spluttered and bolted out of the church, hand covering her mouth, and Taylor found herself lifted into the air and dropped none too gently onto the wooden benc between her mom and dad. It wasn't her fault, but the shock of being lifted and the impact of her rear on the hard surface made her cry out loudly.
"FU…!" She stopped herself from finishing, but it was too late. All eyes were now open and directed at her. "Fu…Fu…" she stuttered, not sure how to diffuse the situation. Then her brain kicked in. "Fu... ever and ever, amen."
o
Vicky didn't reappear, she just couldn't bring herself to walk back in again. Instead she waited outside on the top step. The thought of Taylor's Mexican wave and the look of horror on her face as she was lifted into the air kept setting her off again.
Inside Taylor was afraid to move, and for a long time, even though she wouldn't look up, was acutely aware of at least two pairs of eyes firmly aimed in her direction. It was flamin' typical though, now she was in trouble the rest of the service flew in.
The instant it was over she found herself being whisked out of the building. Her mom and dad weren't too keen on hanging around to shake hands with the minister. Taylor didn't ask why, there was no point. She had to grin when she was reunited with her cousin who had now regained her composure.
"Race ya back!" Taking off at a sprint she only made it about twenty feet before a whistle from her dad made her skid to a hault.
He crooked his finger at her, but didn't look mad, so slowly she walked back to him.
"Was only goin' home." She muttered as he took her hand.
"Well maybe this way you'll stay out of trouble."
"That was your fault, you scared the crap out of me. Thought I was sent for!"
"Uh huh. So that wasn't a Mexican wave then?"
"You were supposed to have your eyes closed."
"So were you."
Patricia hooked her arm through his. "Try controlling a whole classroom full of them."
"I have to work with DiNozzo, that's no walk in the park."
Vicky walking beside Taylor was having yet another attack of the giggles.
"What's so funny?"
"Sorry, just you thinking God was plucking you out of church."
`'Hey! Don't encourage her!" Jethro warned . "Besides it's not God the pair of you have to worry about right now. You'd better start praying your grandpa sees the funny side."