Captain's Orders
Summary: Tim can't resist shiny new technology. Warning: spanking of 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 was inspired to some extent by McGee's little boy delight at the 'toys' in the NCIS:LA pilot but it is set late in season 5. It takes place just after the events in Just Wait and probably makes more sense if you read that first.
Warning: this story contains references to the disciplinary spanking of adults. If you have a problem with that, click on that 'back' button now. You've been warned.
Tim felt himself straightening to stand nearly at attention. Even though he wasn't in the military himself, it was an instinctive response to being scolded by a ship's captain.
'I appreciate your need to investigate, Agent McGee, but your investigation does not give you licence to interfere with the operation of my ship! It is going to take my crew hours to repair the sensors that you damaged – hours during which this ship and everyone on her is in unnecessary danger!'
'I know. I... I'm sorry, Captain...'
'Might I ask what possessed you to meddle with technology that you do not understand?'
'I... I was curious.'
'You were curious?'
The captain, with his patrician bearing and elegant accent, stared at him in astonishment. Tim hung his head. It had been stupid, he knew. But he'd been drawn to the display screens on the ship's bridge like a moth to a flame, helpless to resist the allure of the unfamiliar electronics. His scientist's mind had quickly processed the new information, deducing the functions of the various knobs and levers. And then, inexcusably, he'd reached out and touched one, and then another, stopping only when a shrill klaxon had alerted a distracted ensign to his actions.
'I... I work with computers at NCIS. I thought... I mean, I wanted...'
'Your desire to learn is admirable, Agent McGee, but your method is not.'
'Yes, Sir.'
'And I believe that what you need to learn, is to keep your hands to yourself!'
'Yes, Sir.'
'I'm afraid you're going to find it a most unpleasant lesson, Agent McGee.'
Tim's brow furrowed in confusion as the captain turned his back to him and strode briskly to one of the display panels that lined the walls of the spacious ready room.
'Computer, strap. Leather. Severe.'
Tim's eyes grew wide with astonishment as the specified implement materialised out of thin air. Surprise turned to panic when the older man reached out a hand for it.
'Hold out your palm, Agent McGee.'
X X X
Tim bolted upright, breathing hard.
It wasn't the first time he'd dreamed about being on the Enterprise. And after a rather surreal movie night in Gibbs's livingroom, it wasn't surprising that his subconscious mind had taken him back there in his sleep, and combined it with the afternoon's anxiety.
But, he thought sullenly as he rolled onto his side and tried to find a more comfortable position, his escapist fantasies were not supposed to end with him being spanked by Captain Picard.
