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

Chapter 27

It was dark now, and from the corner of the boathouse where Taylor was sitting, she could see very little. Every so often her mind would play tricks on her and she would convince herself something was moving towards her, through the darkness. Taylor had lost count of the number of times she'd used her dad's lighter to check she was alone. No people, no monsters, just herself and her guilty conscience. She was tired too. Not just because she'd spent the whole day on the move, trying to avoid detection, but she'd also been beating herself up over the decisions she made, and boy had she made some bad ones! Taylor couldn't even convince herself anymore that she wasn't to blame. Just about everything had been her fault. Not the baby Jesus though, that was all Lucas, so he could deal with the creepy minister. Right now, Taylor was trying to build up enough courage to go home. It wasn't easy. She had a fairly good idea what her reception would be like, and was not looking forward to it at all.

o

Taylor fished the last cigarette out of the pack and lit it. Not that she really wanted, or needed it, but if her punishment was anything like Lucas's, it was probably the last chance she'd have in a very long time. Taylor stared at the tip of the cigarette glowing so brightly in the dark and thought about her friend. Lucas was lucky. He'd already taken his spanking, and knew how long he was grounded for. Two whole weeks of the summer he was going to miss out on, and his mom had confiscated his camera. Maybe she should of gone home with him earlier, and just got everything over with, instead of making things worse. It was really late now, and judging from the number of text messages and missed calls on her phone, her parents were bound to be furious right now. Taylor tried to push that thought from her head. If she kept worrying about what was going to happen when she got home, she'd end up spending the next nine years or so hiding out in the woods, and that would never work, she was already hungry. After taking a few drags in quick succession Taylor flicked the cigarette into the water and replaced it with a piece of gum. She couldn't put it off any longer. It was time to go home.

o

The closer Taylor got to town, the more nervous she became. She was starting to wish she'd saved her last cigarette until the last possible moment, she doubted if her dad would go for the cigarette and blindfold thing before he executed her. All thoughts of nicotine flew out of her head as she turned the next corner. Her feet stopped moving, all of their own accord. In front of the Sheriff's office was a large group of people, maybe eighteen or twenty, all of them armed with torches. Even from where she was standing, still a good distance away, Taylor could make out her dad in the middle of them. Shit! It was a pretty safe they were all looking for her. This was not good. Feet rooted to the spot, she tried to figure out her best move. She was still planning on giving herself up, but wasn't keen on doing it in front of all those people. It was extremely unlikely that her safe return would resemble that of the prodigal son, and it might be better for all concerned, well not everyone, just her, if she picked another route home.

Taylor was just about to retreat back around the corner, when someone broke away from the group, and all heads turned and stared in her direction. Even though she wanted to run, Taylor forced herself to walk towards her mom. Seconds later, she found herself being poked and prodded as her mom checked her for any injuries. That was embarrassing enough with all those people watching, but then her mom's concern was replaced by anger. Taylor tried unsuccessfully to avoid the sudden onslaught of swats, but Patricia had her arm in a death grip, and all she could do was yelp.

"How could you worry everyone like that?" Her mom's question was accompanied by a sixth and final smack.

"I'm sorry! I was comin' back!" She was trying to avoid looking at the search party.

Releasing her arm, Patricia took her hand instead, and led her towards the Sheriff's office. "See all the people standing there?"

Taylor whispered her answer. "Yes."

"Well they were willing to help search for you, in case you were hurt or in trouble. You're going to apologise for wasting their time."

"Okay." Taylor was too busy rubbing the sting out of her backside right now, to worry about being embarrassed. She could live with saying she was sorry. When they reached the group Patricia did not let go of her hand. When Taylor felt her mom squeeze her hand she stopped rubbing and looked up at her.

"Go ahead, we're waiting."

Focusing on the window just behind the searchers, she made sure not to make eye contact with any of them, especially her father.

"I'm sorry I wasted your time." The apology must have been accepted as the group started to disperse, and her mom tugged her further along the street, towards the store. She glanced back over her shoulder. Her dad wasn't following. He was talking to the Sheriff, but his eyes were locked onto her, making sure she didn't try and make a break for it. As if she'd even try when her mom was this mad. Taylor was starting to miss the dark, scary boathouse.

o

Taylor soon found herself sitting at the kitchen table, with her grandpa keeping watch. He hadn't said anything yet, but she was sure he wanted too. Her mom was standing beside the microwave, waiting for it to ding. It looked as if they were gonna feed her first, before they started reading her the riot act.

"Where's Vicky?" Taylor had to break the silence.

"It's almost midnight Taylor, she's in bed, where you should have been, hours ago." Patricia answered as she set the plate of reheated food in front of her daughter, then sat down opposite. Taylor ate quickly and quietly.

"Why don't you go to bed Jack, I know you're tired, and Taylor's not going anywhere" She looked directly at Taylor. "Are you?"

"No." That was crazy. Knowing her luck she'd run straight into her father.

Jackson lifted his walking stick. "You sure?"

Taylor wasn't sure who the question was aimed at, but she answered anyway. "I'm not goin' anywhere grandpa."

He rested his hand on her head as he passed behind her. "You better not! And don't think we won't be having a discussion tomorrow about some of the things you've been up to."

Taylor stared intently at the food her plate as her grandpa left the kitchen, then glanced up guiltily at her mom. If she'd been looking for even the slightest trace of sympathy she was out of luck. The woman was seething. Taylor shifted nervously on the chair. It couldn't be a good sign that her mom was that angry, that meant her dad was gonna be even angrier. She was mid thought when the door behind her slammed shut and she suddenly found herself lifted out of the chair by the scruff, dragged through the kitchen and into the living room, feet barely touching the ground. Yep, he's definitely madder than her mom, she thought as a single tug left her pants round her knees and she was hauled across his lap. Her shorts changed position just as fast. It was at this point Taylor found her voice.

"Dad, I'm ….."

"Zip it Taylor! I don't want to hear it right now!" He started to spank and Taylor started to struggle.

The powerful smacks reduced Taylor to tears in no time, but her dad didn't slow down until she stopped fighting him.

"Don't you EVER run away like that again! Do you hear me?"

"I…wo..nt! Dad…"

Two more swats and he was done. He lifted her back onto her feet and stood her in front of him, keeping a hold of her arms so she couldn't reach back.

He looked straight into her eyes. "We're going to sort this mess out once and for all, tonight."

Shit! Taylor thought, this wasn't even for blowing up the tree.

Taylor felt her arms being released and quickly ran her arm across her face to wipe away any remaining tears.

"Fix your pants and go sit at the table again. I'll be back down in a minute."

Gingerly, she pulled up her shorts and jeans over her burning backside as her dad disappeared upstairs. She'd known it wasn't gonna be easy or pleasant, but a bit of warning would have been nice. Sitting innocently one second and getting your butt roasted the next was not to be recommended.

o

Her mom was still sitting where she had been when Taylor had made her unorthodox exit. She sidled up to her, looking for a little comfort. It didn't happen.

"Didn't your dad tell you to sit down?"

Taylor fought the urge to scowl and made her way around the table, before lowering herself slowly onto the chair. The heat in her bottom intensified for a few seconds before levelling off at a dull roar. Folding her arms on the table, Taylor rested her head on top, closed her eyes, and wished she could just go to bed.

"RIGHT!" Her dad smacked the table in front of her making her jump.

"Start talking." He looked a bit calmer as he sat down beside Patricia.

"Bout what?" When it looked as if her father was going to grab her she quickly added, "Running off or the tree thing?"

"Why don't you start with this morning? I warned you what would happen if you put a foot outside the door, didn't I?"

Taylor nodded. "I didn't. I climbed through the window."

"Jethro!" Patricia reached out to stop him moving from his chair to his daughter's side, but she wasn't quick enough.

Taylor braced herself, but he didn't touch her. He knelt down beside her, and spoke so softly she had to strain to hear him.

"I'll let you get away with that one. It's the only one, so the attitude better improve, fast."

"Sorry." She whispered as he moved away.

"Why did you run off?"

Taylor glanced at her dad before she dropped her head and answered. There was no way she was going to risk lying to him when he was in that sort of mood.

"I felt guilty when I heard mom."

"You what?" He sounded confused.

"I felt guilty when I heard mom." She repeated, "Cause I made her cry. Then Lucas's idea sounded good, so I went to meet him."

Patricia spoke before her dad had the chance to. "There's nothing wrong with feeling guilty. It means you regret what you did."

"Well I don't like it!" Taylor protested.

"You're not supposed to like it, that's how it stops you wanting to do the same thing again." Patricia gave her a small smile, and she relaxed a little.

Her father though, did not want her to relax just yet and fired another question at her. "Why didn't you come home with Lucas?"

She answered honestly. "Cause he made me angry when he chickened out, and it was all his flamin' idea in the first place. I just wanted more time to think."

"What was his idea? The bomb?"

"No. That was all me. He reckoned we wouldn't see each other this summer so he wanted to pull a Ferris Bueller.

"A Ferris Bueller?" He had no idea what his daughter was talking about.

"You've seen the movie dad. They cut school, steal a car and just have fun."

"You were going to steal a car?"

"What? No. That's just the movie. I can't believe you don't remember it. It's a classic!"

"You're spending too much time with DiNozzo!"

Taylor sighed. "I just needed to think, that's all. I thought you wanted me to think."

"The last time I told you to think you just tried to justify your actions." Jethro sat back in the chair and folded his arms. "Alright, let's have it. What conclusions did you come to this time?"

Taylor stood up, making her dad mirror her actions. "I'm not goin' anywhere." She pulled the scrap of fabric from her pocket. Sitting down again she set it on the table in front of her.

Her mom reached out to touch it. "This looks like …. Is this your sweatshirt?"

Nodding, Taylor's stomach lurched. She was afraid her mom was gonna cry again.

"It's all my fault." She finally admitted. "Except for Jesus." They were waiting for more.

"I shouldn't have …" Taylor was about to say borrowed then changed her mind. "Stolen the fireworks."
"Go on." Her dad prompted.

"I shouldn't have decided to make a bomb. That was just stupid."

"Uh huh?"

"But the worst thing I did was …" This was not easy. "I should have listened to you, and not lit the fuse. I almost killed me, and you, and if you hadn't been there I might have hurt Lucas." There, the truth was out, and she did feel slightly better. She just hoped her mom and dad felt the same.

"Why did you light it?"

Taylor glanced up sheepishly. "I ah …." She slid her hands under the table in preparation for a lie.

"HEY!" Her father barked at her. "I want to see your hands!"

Reluctantly she rested her hands on the table. "I got mad cause you tried to stop me."

"That's it? You nearly killed yourself because you were having a temper tantrum?" Jethro was on his feet now. "How many times have I tried to drum it into that stubborn head of yours, that if I tell you do something, you do it, no questions asked."

"Now I know why." She might of mumbled, but she meant what she said.

Taylor became more and more uncomfortable as the silence stretched out. Her dad must be trying to decide what to do with her.

"You're grounded until we can trust you again, and you can prove you can do what you're told. The internet seems to land you in an awful lot of trouble, so for the foreseeable future your going to have restricted access. You can only go online if there's an adult present. As for the stealing, building a bomb and blatant disobedience, you already know you've got a strapping coming, don't you?"

"I know." Taylor was starting to feel sorry for herself. She might know what was gonna happen, didn't mean she had to like it. Besides, her butt was already sore.

"If I send you back to the corner are you going to stay there this time?"

"Yes." Crap! He was gonna strap her tonight, not tomorrow, as she'd hoped.

He nodded towards the doorway. "Go on then."

Taylor made her way back to the corner she'd been in that morning and tried to convince herself it wouldn't be that bad.