They waited at the curb for Logan and the crappy pickup truck to make an appearance. They'd been waiting nearly an hour for him. Ziva looked at her watch. "Where is he?"

Lenny kicked at a pebble. "The bar?" he grumbled.

Skylar giggled as she playfully slapped his arm. "Lenny!"

Craig sighed. "I wouldn't put it past him. Did you two find anything out today?"

Skylar shot a look behind her and then back at Craig. "Later, at home."

Craig followed the direction of her gaze and almost groaned out loud when he spotted Brittney and her Barbie girls heading their way. "Great it's the Barbie triplets."

And wouldn't you know it, right then, Logan pulled up. Battered pickup, cigar stub clamped in his teeth and looking like the badass uncle he was supposed to be. He eyed the Barbies like he would love to do something particularly evil to them before he turned his gaze to his charges.

"Let's go you four move it."

Craig's look was slightly put out. "Wow, great to see you too, Uncle Logan." He was well aware of the Barbie triplets standing closeby watching and listening to everything.

"Just get your ass in the truck, kid. I haven't got time for this my poker game is tonight. I need to pick up some beer before we go home. You kids need to stay in your rooms. Got it?" Logan eyed them as they climbed into the truck. He too was well aware of the three girls watching them.

Ziva smiled widely at him. "Sure thing, no problem. We'll stay in our room, right Craig?"

Craig wrapped his arm around her and nuzzled her neck. "Yep, not a problem." He glanced back at Logan. "That is if you share some of that beer."

"Fine, just stay out of sight."

"No problem," Craig replied.

Logan nodded, satisfied, and shot a look at Lenny and Skylar, where they sat in the back of the extended cab of the truck. "Great. What about you two?"

Lenny shrugged and hugged Skylar against his side. "So not a hardship, right babe?"

Skylar giggled and playfully slapped at his arm. "Stop, Lenny! You are so bad!"

On the sidewalk, they could see the three cheerleaders gawking at them as the pickup pulled away from the curb and drove off. Brittney had her eyes narrowed slightly. Ziva wondered what exactly was going through the girl's mind as she watched them. She shook her head, the cheerleader and her plastic friends weren't their concern, finding the drug dealers was. Besides, Brittney didn't strike her as the intellectual type.

Hopefully, Wannabe's boss would be interested in finding them after Craig's little display in history class. The less time she had to spend as Craig's girlfriend, the better. She was starting to like the guy. Come to think of it, Skylar's cheerfulness didn't seem as grating as it first had been, and Lenny didn't seem quite as annoying either. She needed to get away from these people before she started liking Logan and his damn claws too.

***

Ziva rubbed at her eyes as she walked into the kitchen the next morning. "Uh, Craig what are you doing?"

"Making breakfast, what does it look like?" he told her.

"No, right, I got that much. The question is why?"

"Would you rather Logan did it again?" He smirked at her.

"No, not really. I didn't realize that you could cook." She took a seat at the table as she watched him flip a pancake with an expertise she wouldn't expect from a football jock.

He looked over his shoulder at her with a wide grin before going back to the pancakes he was making. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

Before she could ask what else she should know Skylar came skipping into the kitchen.

"Ohhh, Craig is making pancakes goody! He makes the best pancakes ever! You are so in for a treat, Ziva, like totally!" Ziva shuddered as Skylar then clapped—yes, actually clapped—before sitting down, like a small child who was expecting to get a treat they had been waiting for.

Lenny dragged into the kitchen next, studied Craig and his pancake pan for a moment, grumbled that it was better than Logan and the rock-hard Pop-Tarts, and then sat down.

Craig began plating up pancakes, turned, and set a plate before Ziva with a grin. She stared at the plate in disbelief. "You can't be serious." She looked up at him, then back down at the plate in front of her. The pancake had blueberry 'eyes', a cherry 'nose', a chocolate chip 'smile', and whip cream 'hair'. Ziva shot Skylar a death glare when she clapped again in obvious joy over the happy looking pancakes.

"You have an issue with my pancakes, Ziva?" Craig asked her seriously.

"Yes, as a matter-of-fact, I do. I'm not five. What in the hell is this thing?"

"They're happy cakes. I make them all the time back at school and everyone loves them. Now eat your breakfast or you can wait for Logan to make you a Pop-Tart instead."

Instead of arguing some more, she picked up her fork and ate the stupid happy cake. Of all the idiotic things in the world she had ever imagined she'd get stuck eating, this was not one of them. Honestly, your food should never smile at you. She stabbed the pancake in the eye and forked down a bite as Logan walked into the kitchen.

"Oh joy, the return of happy cakes. Flip one over here, Nappy Time," Logan called out to Craig.

"Logan, you know I hate when you call me that," Craig shot back at him as he put a plate down at Logan's spot at the table.

"And I hate babysitting you four, and yet we shall all persevere. See if you can get closer to your little wannabe friend today. If you didn't alienate him with that nap yesterday." Logan began forking down bites of the happy cake quickly as if he didn't want to think about what he was eating.

Ziva was with him on that, she poked at her happy cake with disgust. "Don't worry Logan we've got it covered."

"Fine, good. Besides what you told me about yesterday, you notice anything else?" He held his plate out to Craig and wiggled it, indicating he wanted a refill. Craig complied, dropping another happy cake onto his plate.

"Nothing exciting. I mean unless you count the Barbie triplets," Craig replied as he took his spot at the table, plate in hand.

"Barbie triplets? Is there something else going on at that school that I should know about?"

"He's talking about Brittney and her two clone friends, the cheerleaders," Skylar told him around a mouth full of happy cake. "Brittney is head cheerleader and she thinks we're a bunch of freaks."

Ziva shrugged. "Like we care. We're after the drug dealers, not some stupid cheerleaders."

Logan eyed her with a frown. "How do you know these cheerleaders aren't part of the crew?"

Ziva rolled her eyes at him. "Really? A bunch of, stuck up, fashionista, cheerleaders are going to get down and dirty with some drug dealers. Suuure, Logan."

"Trust me, little girl, I've seen stranger things happen. Keep an eye on your Barbie triplets, they could be trouble." He checked the hideous looking ceramic dogs playing poker clock above the sink. "Time to get going kids."

With groans all around, they dumped their dishes into the sink and grabbed for their backpacks, before heading out the door to the dream pickup truck.

***

"Ooh, look it's the looser crew. Like, you're still here I see," Brittney sneered as they mounted the front steps of the school.

Craig rolled his eyes as he tried to pull Ziva past Brittney and her crew. He was unsuccessful in his attempt. She stopped, swept a gaze full of contempt over the three cheerleaders before settling her eyes on Brittney, and propping a hand on her hip with a smirk.

"Wow, Brittney I can't believe that you were brave enough to wear those pumps. You do know they pulled them from last year's line. Right?" She dropped her voice to a stage whisper and continued, "Issues with the cheap materials used to make them. It was a total scandal. But I guess if you can't afford better ..." She added a fake gasp of concern in for show before letting Craig pull her inside. She didn't turn back, but she was certain she could hear Brittney reassuring her little Barbie sisters that Ziva was completely incorrect about her shoes.

Skylar giggled and moved next to Ziva. "Did you make that up?"

"Yes. Totally. But anyone who was within hearing probably won't care one bit whether I did or not, especially if they hate Brittney." She winked at Skylar.

"Hey, yo, guys hold up there!" Wannabe was jumping up and down as he pushed his way through the crowd, to get to them. His short stature made getting through the crowds in the hallway difficult.

Ziva looked around with a frown, the hairs on her arms rose, she really couldn't be certain if another mutant was near or if it was because Craig had just slipped his arm around her.

Craig smirked down at Ziva, while Lenny just smirked and shook his head at the guy's antics. Wannabe finally made it over to them, panting, leaning over, hands on his thighs.

"Need a moment?" Lenny asked.

He held up a finger, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before standing up. "Sorry, I've been looking all over for you guys. I didn't know when you'd get here this morning. Hey, like my boss is kinda interested in meeting you guys. I mean, you know if you're interested in a job and all."

Craig looked down at Ziva with a frown, then back at Wannabe. "Job? Is the pay any good?"

"Hell yeah, it's awesome." Wannabe's face lit up like a kid at Christmas.

Skylar clapped happily. "We could use jobs, I mean really, Craig, come on, your uncle Logan isn't gonna give us an allowance. He could care less if we're even alive! We're lucky he allows us to live with him."

Craig shrugged. "He has to keep me; it was in my parents' will. Chill Skylar, he won't toss you guys out. He knows it would upset me and if he boots me, there will be no money from my parents' estate."

Wannabe shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Uh, guys?"

Ziva rolled her eyes at Craig and Skylar. Lenny shook his head and said to Wannabe, "What exactly would we have to do?"

He shrugged. "Not much really. Sell some stuff. Do some errands. It's really easy."

Lenny snorted. "Yeah, I've heard that before. It's what almost got me snagged by the cops at my last school. No way buddy, we need something a bit more specific. What are we selling exactly?"

Wannabe looked uncomfortable with Lenny's question. "I can't say."

Craig sighed. "In other words, it's illegal."

Wannabe paled and looked around. "Man, shut up!"

Ziva poked Craig. "Just stop it, seriously. Don't act like a complete wuss. We'll do it, whatever it is. Where do we meet your boss?"

He smiled brightly at Ziva. "After school, today, we meet behind the gym. Four o'clock."

She smiled back at him. "We'll be there." They watched as he rushed off, probably to call his boss.

Craig looked less than pleased. "We need to call Logan right away and let him know what's happening."

Ziva nodded in agreement. "The question is how and where? We need to do it without anyone knowing what we're up to."

Skylar looked around before answering. "I'll handle it, don't worry. Let's get to class before anyone suspects anything."

They separated and headed off to class.

***

"It's four-fifteen, boss man is late," Lenny commented.

Craig shrugged as he propped his shoulder against the brick of the building. "He's showing us who's in charge, chill, Lenny, he'll be here."

As if on cue, Wannabe, his buddy from history class, and a guy big enough to double as a Mack truck rounded the corner of the building and headed for them. Craig gave Lenny a knowing look and pushed away from the building, coming to stand protectively beside Ziva, just as the three thugs stopped in front of them.

The man—who probably has his own zip code—eyed them each for a moment before he finally spoke. "I know your mutants. What can each of you do? You either tell me or you walk. Now."

Lenny arched an eyebrow. "Wow, tough application process."

Mountain man growled down at Lenny, "You don't like it, you walk."

Ziva's brows scrunched together. "Wow, join, or walk. Only choices huh?"

Another growl.

Craig shrugged. "I can put someone down with a touch. Make 'em sleep however long I want to. Minute, hour, days, forever. I can also walk in the dreams of those I've put to sleep."

Ziva shot him a look but he kept his gaze fixed on the mountain. She turned back to the boss. "I can manipulate electricity."

Lenny shrugged. "Hey, why not join the party. I can manipulate water."

Skylar bit her lip, looking unsure. Lenny nudged her, and she finally spoke up, "I can possess inanimate objects and teleport."

"Good, good. Nice assortment." He rubbed his hands together a moment. "I'll get back to you on the job. I'll give Buck here the details and he'll be the go-between." He jerked a thumb at Wannabe.

Craig shot a look at Ziva. At least they knew Wannabe's name. A few more words were exchanged before the brief meeting broke up and the boss moved off—taking his associates with him like planets orbiting around their sun.

Logan moved out from where he'd been hiding around the opposite side of the building. His nose was scrunched in obvious distaste. "The big guy needs a shower, maybe a few of them. Good meeting. He's real interested in hiring all of you. Not the least bit wary at all. A little too trusting for a thug." Logan let out a snort.

"Skylar was good with the hesitation it gave the illusion that we weren't all eager to join up," Craig tossed in. Skylar beamed at him.

Logan grunted in agreement before he turned away and gestured for them to follow. "Great, at least we have something to report back to Storm. Let's get home." He led the way back to the pickup truck that was parked in front of the school.

Logan was already behind the wheel when Ziva spotted Brittney and her followers as they came out of the front doors. "Oh, great here come the Barbie triplets."

Craig paused outside the pickup, looking back at the school. His gaze flicked to one side and he frowned when he spotted Buck approaching Brittney. "Hey, check it out, guys."

Skylar cocked her head to the side. "Why would Brittney be friendly with him of all people?"

"Worth checking out, don't ya think," Lenny asked.

Skylar groaned. "Oh, I suppose that means me, doesn't it?" They all stared at her silently. She harrumphed and vanished. The only thing worth possessing near where Brittney and Buck stood was the campus security camera. Skylar took quick possession of the camera and settled in to listen and learn what she could.

Brittney flipped a lock of hair over her shoulder and stared silently at Buck, waiting for him to speak. He shifted tugged at his shirt and stared at the recently flipped lock of hair for several seconds before swallowing audibly. If she wasn't currently possessing the security camera, Skylar would have rolled her eyes. Boys were such morons when a pretty girl was involved. Especially a pretty, popular girl.

"Uh, listen, Britt, the boss wanted me to let you know he's thinking of hiring those four new kids."

"Oh god, not the freaks? I so hate them," she groaned out.

"Yeah, them. Anyway, he wanted you to know, and you know, like tell you to stop picking at them 'cause they're like going to be like on our side now. Like, okay?" Skylar wondered how many more 'likes' Buck was going to throw in.

"Fine, I guess if I have to. But keep the girl with the purple hair away from me, I don't like her. Her fashion sense is awful and her personality is like so beneath me," Brittney told him.

"Sure, sure, no problem." Buck held his hands up in front of him.

She flipped another lock of hair. Again, Buck seemed entranced for a moment. "I don't like those four, Buck. They're losers. I followed them home the other day. Their house is a dump. I mean did you see the truck that loser of an uncle picks them up in? The guy looks like a circus freak reject. They so belong with him." She went on a tangent trashing Craig's uncle.

Buck finally seemed to grow weary of Brittney's complaints. "Look, I get it all right, Britt, but the boss likes 'em, so what can we do?"

She flipped her hair again, harrumphed, and flounced away from him, heading for her BMW convertible that was parked in the school parking lot. Complete with the vanity plate: BRITT1.

Skylar popped back into the cab of the pickup, beside Lenny. Ziva jerked in surprise at her sudden appearance. "Can't you warn us somehow when you're gonna do that!" Ziva complained.

"No. Impossible. Do you want to hear what I found out or not?" Skylar said.

Everyone gave an affirmative answer and Skylar proceeded to tell them the conversation she'd overheard as Logan drove home. Logan guffawed over the circus freak description Brittney had given of him.

"See, I did warn you that those Barbie triplets could be involved. Looks as if those cheerleaders might be mutants. Better keep a close eye on them," Logan warned as he parked the truck in front of the house.

Lenny jumped from the truck, held the door for Skylar, and then headed inside. Ziva watched Skylar skip inside, she followed more slowly, unsure how they were going to pull off working for the drug boss. This job had sounded cooler when it had started, now, not so much.

Craig fell into step beside her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about how this is gonna go down."

He gave a serious-looking nod. "Mmmhmm sounded easier going in."

"Exactly what I was thinking. You think we can handle it?"

He gave her a gentle little jab with his elbow and smiled down at her. "Hey, the four of us can handle anything as long as we stick together and work as a team."

When he said it, it sounded good, like it might be true. Like, it might all work out in the end. As if she actually belonged here with these people.

***

Ziva looked up as Lenny crossed the cafeteria to drop down beside Skylar at their table.

"Hey guys," he said as he stole a few fries from Skylar's tray.

"Those were mine," Skylar told him with a pout.

"Perks of being the boyfriend," he told her with a wink.

"Yeah, goodie for you, where have you been?" Ziva snapped.

"Buck found me this morning. The boss likes my attitude and he wants me to start working for him. I'm sure they probably did a little investigating and found the false school records we created for me. He wants to bring me in first as sort of like a test run before he brings the rest of you in."

"I guess that's a good start. You need to keep us all in the loop. Especially Logan," Craig told him."

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry so much. This is the break we needed."