I would like to thank everyone for their reviews and alerts. I appreciate them all very much. I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

Thank you again to Gibbs Fan who once again helped me with the characters. I hope I got them right.

Chapter 4

As they left the Principal's office Harm turned Mattie to face him. "You know you need to stay here. No ditching, no ducking out for a burger...nothing. Stay here all day."

"Got it." Mattie said with a smirk. "Stay away from the malt shop." Harm narrowed his eyes.

"Not funny Mattie." he said. "If you don't go to all your classes you'll get suspended."

"Yes Harm." Mattie said. "I get it."

"Really?"
"Yes...I really get it." Harm kissed the top of her head and gave Max's harried looking Mom a sympathetic smile as he left. Max twisted his hair nervously and looked at the ground as Harm walked by.

"See you in class." Mattie said with a mock smile. They'd have to be careful for a while. She did get it. Suspension if they didn't attend. What she didn't get was how being suspended would be a bad thing...she'd be at home...by herself, while Jen and Harm were working. Kind of a win, win. Still...her ass had really smarted last night after Harm had spanked her and she didn't really want to go there again."

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

Mattie and her friends did in fact behave for a couple of days...until Harm travelled interstate on business...

She'd stood looking at his car keys on the counter for a while. Harm had been away for a day and wasn't expected back until the next day. She and Mac had dropped him at the airport in his car and Mac had left his keys there when she'd brought Mattie home.

"If you need me you call." she'd said as she'd dropped the keys on the counter, never dreaming that Mattie might use them. It hadn't occurred to Mattie either until she'd missed her bus. Well she WOULD miss her bus in ten minutes...besides, they were just sitting there, and the car was just sitting there. Such a waste. It wasn't like she didn't know how to drive.

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

Her friends stood at the back gate to the school. "What are we waiting for?" Issy asked.

"Dunno." Max said. She texted me and asked us to wait here. Just as he spoke a re corvette pulled up beside him and Mattie jumped out.

"SHUT UP!" Amy said. "Does this belong to...Harry?"

"Harm..and yes."

"Wow and he let you borrow it?" Max asked with a grin. He already knew the answer to that question.

"Well...we're family..families share don't they?" she said.. "Who's for a drive...?"

She didn't have to ask twice...they all piled in and Mattie once again took to the wheel. With the music now blaring, they took off down the road.

"Where we goin?" Amy asked.

"Dunno." Mattie said.

"Beach?" Issy asked.

"Fine by me." Mattie said. "But you'll have to show me the way."

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

A couple of hours later Mac looked up to find Jen standing nervously at her desk. "Problem?" Mac asked.

"Ma'am...sort of.."

"Would you like to tell me what it is?" she asked with a grin.

"Not really." Jen felt like a heel. Mattie was more like a little sister or a young friend, she didn't like telling on her. Mac frowned.

"I think you better don't you?"Mac asked seriously.
"I got a call..." Jen said. "From...you know what...it's ok Ma'am. I can fix it." Mac stood and grabbed the younger woman's arm.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me. Spit it out." Jen sighed.

"It's Mattie. She's ditched again." Mac grimaced.

"Again... Mac's gonna kill her." Jen looked a little guilty.

"He is a way."

"Loose that train of thought. We can't cover for her...we can get her to school though and lessen a little of the trouble she's in." Jen smiled. "Was she still at home when you left this morning?"

"Yes Ma'am. I started early. She was going to catch the bus." Mac stood up and picked up her hat.

"Then let's start there. She's probably still asleep." Jen hoped so.

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

Max had whined about the beach so they kids had opted for a drive in the country. After picking up a bucket of chicken they'd pulled the car up at a sleepy spot where a weeping willow overhung a small creek. It looked pretty shallow but they could splash around a little if they wanted.

They sprawled all over the grass while they munched their chicken and fries, with the radio turned up full blast in the car.

"This so beats school." Max said. He had all of his favourite things. Food, music,friends and being horizontal...bliss.

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

"Ahhh Jen...where are Harms keys?" Mac said as she nervously moved the box of Coco puffs and the used bowl and put the Orange juice back in the fridge.

"Harms keys?" Jen asked in a panic. "They're not there?"

"Nope. Damn."

"Oh this is so not good Ma'am."

"That...is an understatement."

"Whadda we do?" Jen asked. All she had to do was keep an eye out for Mattie and she'd totally messed that up.

"Hey. This is not your fault." Mac said. "We'll find her." She had no idea how but they'd find her. She just hoped she was gonna be in one piece. At least until Harm got a hold of her.

JAGJAGJAGJAGJAG

"Can't really hear the music." Amy said. She got up and opened the doors.

""Can't leave them open Amy." Mattie said. "It'll flatten the battery."

"I can't see why."

"It just does." Amy pouted and then climbed in to see if she could turn the music up higher. She couldn't. So she reluctantly climbed back out and slammed the door.

The others all sat bolt upright at her sudden squeal.

"What did you do?" Mattie yelled as she jumped to her feet. Max was right beside her but they couldn't move fast enough...they all watched with open mouths as Harm's beautiful red car rolled down the small hill picking up speed as it went. Mattie covered her face as it finally slid silently into the water.

Mattie opened her eyes in time to see the water lap over the edge of the open windows and flood into the car. What in the hell was she gonna do? Harm was going whale the tar out of her for this.

"Fuck!" she said. Sometimes there just wasn't another word that could sum up a situation.

TBC