Facing the Music

Summary: Part of my 'Lessons' series. Tag to 'About Face'. Gibbs told Jimmy to 'stay'. He didn't. Warning: spanking of an adult. Don't like? Don't read!

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just play with them.

A/N: This is part of my 'Lessons' series and builds on a larger plot arc. This is a tag to 'About Face' and begins later the same day as the final scene of that episode.

This is a gift for KlairI, with thanks.

Warning: This story contains the disciplinary spanking of an adult. If you have a problem with that, click on that 'back' button now. You've been warned.

Jimmy worked as quickly as he could, efficiently tidying up Autopsy for the evening. Dr. Mallard was still upstairs talking to Abby about some of the evidence, and he didn't dare leave until the ME returned, but he hoped he'd be dismissed as soon as possible after he got back.

He definitely wanted to get out of here before Agent Gibbs came looking for him.

The senior agent was scary enough at the best of times. Jimmy had a hard time stringing a sentence together in his presence without stuttering – and the few times he'd managed to blurt something out without stumbling over his words, he'd said something so idiotic that it had still resulted in those blue eyes being turned towards him with a look that made his blood run cold. The expression on the older man's face when he'd slapped the window of the car out at that trailer park had been horrifying, and even that had been mild compared to the way he'd looked after the crash. He really didn't want to face him again tonight.

Especially since Gibbs had promised that they would be 'discussing' his actions this afternoon, and he had a pretty good idea what he meant by 'discussion'. He'd only experienced Gibbs's discipline once before, but it was enough for him to know that the window wasn't going to be the only thing getting swatted. And it was more than enough for him to know that that was something he wanted to avoid for as long as possible.

If he was really honest with himself, though, there had been something other than just anger in Gibbs's face earlier. It had been the kind of angry concern that he remembered seeing on his parents' faces when he was a kid. Like when he'd set his bedroom curtains on fire with his chemistry set. And when he'd brought home the snarling raccoon with the broken foot.

And Gibbs had been gentle when he'd handed him the tissues to wipe his bloody nose. And he'd seemed almost... nice... about his self-doubts earlier in the day. It was freaking him out. If it had been Tony, he could have dismissed the unexpected kindness as a lead-up to some sort of joke, but it didn't seem like Gibbs's style to pretend to be nice just to humiliate him more later.

His thoughts were cut off by the swish of the doors. He turned, his mouth already open to ask if he could leave for the day. The words died on his lips when he saw that it hadn't been the kindly ME entering the room. For a long moment he simply stood there, gaping. Finally, he stammered out an explanation that Dr. Mallard was with Abby, and was met with a raised eyebrow and small smile.

'Yeah, Palmer, I know. C'mon, let's get this over with.'

He found himself being propelled towards the desk that stood at one end of the room, his elbow held firmly. Finding his voice, he started to protest.

'You deliberately disobeyed a direct order and put yourself in danger. You really think I'm just going to ignore that?'

'I'm sorry, I should have listened... I won't... I'll never disobey you again... I... please...'

He knew he was babbling, but he couldn't help himself.

'Dammit, Palmer, you could have been killed out there! What were you thinking?'

To his horror, the older man reached for his belt, unbuckling it and drawing it from its loops with an ominous swish. He knew that Gibbs whipped his agents with his belt, but it hadn't occurred to him that the same thing would happen to him. He wasn't an agent. He...

'Bend over.'

'No... please... I don't want... I'm not...'

'You pretty much unilaterally joined my team, Palmer. And you knew full well how I manage my team. So, I don't think it's unfair for me to treat you the way I'd treat any member of my team who pulled a stunt like that.'

'But... I...'

'Bend over,' Gibbs repeated.

Jimmy stared at him miserably for a long moment before slowly turning to face the desk and bending slightly at the waist. He had no desire to do this, but the senior agent's matter-of-fact demeanour seemed to compel compliance. And he couldn't honestly disagree with his assessment of the situation.

A hand on his back pushed him gently downwards, and he found himself sprawled across the desk and held firmly in place. He screwed his eyes shut and gulped frantically for air, fighting down a wave of sheer terror.

'Jethro, I'd thank you to take your hands off my assistant.'

In his panic, he hadn't heard the doors opening again, and the steely words were entirely unexpected. He glanced over his shoulder, his relief plainly visible on his face. But, to his dismay, Gibbs's hand stayed on his back, keeping him firmly pinned to the desk.

'He damn near got himself killed, Duck.'

'I know. And I assure you that I...'

'He disobeyed me, Ducky.'

'And he's my assistant. I shall deal with this, Jethro,' the ME insisted.

The pressure on his back was finally removed and he sprang upright, quickly putting as much distance as possible between himself and Gibbs. Gibbs and Ducky were exchanging a look that he couldn't interpret, but, at the moment, he didn't care. Ducky would lecture him interminably, but at least he was safe from being spanked.

With a final parting nod, Gibbs finally headed towards the door, and Jimmy turned towards his mentor, ready to face the music. To his surprise, he saw that Ducky was reaching for his coat.

'Go home, Mr. Palmer. We will address your foolhardy behaviour in the morning.'

Relieved, Jimmy made a hasty exit.