Disclaimer: Tragically NCIS is the sole property of the creators, studio, writers, producers, directors, etc. Lucky them….

I consider myself lucky to be able to take them out to play for a while.

Warning: THIS STORY will CONTAIN NON-SEXUAL SPANKING; ABORT THE MISSION… DO NOT READ… TURN BACK NOW IF THIS ISN'T YOUR THING.

A/N: This story is complete AU and is an installment of the This Means War series. Have fun suspend belief and read it like the fiction it's meant to be… Read, Enjoy, Review….

Dedication: This goes out to all the wonderful folks who have reviewed the series and enjoyed what I've taken great pleasure in writing. We are back to present time (Abby 17/Kate 19/Tony 21) and the focus of the trio's trouble is Abby, again.

No one gets away with anything forever… There's no such thing as the perfect "crime".

(Eight Months After: Abby's Trouble)

Abby sat on the arm of the sofa in the family room and slid back leaving her feet dangling over the edge. Grabbing the remote she turned on the television with the volume at a deafening decibel. Abigail Grace Gibbs was not a good waiter!

"Abs, turn it down mom's working across the hall."

"Sorry." Gibbs swung his daughter's legs off the armrest forcing her to sit up. She proceeded to mute the volume.

"What time is your sister supposed to be here?" He asked.

It wasn't her intent to give their dad cause for quibble so Abby, glancing at her watch in what she thought was a subtle manner, decided to put the time an hour later than whatever time it was.

"About eleven o'clock," she said rolling her neck and standing to stretch. "I'm going to go grab a snack. Kate isn't big on stopping for snacks or bathroom breaks."

Following her into the kitchen Gibbs just watched her rummage through the fridge. His girls were about to embark on their first road trip together without their brother or him and Jenny. He sat down every rule he could think of before finally agreeing that they could go. It was Labor Day weekend and even though Kate and Tony had gone back to college weeks ago Abby wouldn't start school until after the holiday. The girls were off to Ohio State to see their big brother for the Big Greek Back-to-School event. There was every reason to say no, but as his wife informed him one good reason to say yes... the house would be empty for the last time for a long time. Since Abby wasn't at Hilton Preparatory Boarding School anymore and her summer camp job was done they would once again be contending with a teenager at home full-time and all that went along with it.

"Let's put your things in the car." Gibbs said abruptly turning away to leave the kitchen.

"Dad there's only one bag and it's already by the door."

"I don't want to find shells under the cabinets a week from now Abs," Gibbs said before he exited. Abby had been shelling and eating pistachios by the handful during their exchange. She pulled a bottle of water out making a mental note to herself about stopping for a Caf-Pow on the way out of town. Her mother was on another of her health crusades and was seriously monitoring her caffeine intake. Willing her sister to hurry up and get there with her mind Abby headed back to the family room.

"What'd you do?" She figured he must have been giving their youngest a hard time about something when it took him so long to get back after the volume went down. He just gave her an innocent look and sat on his side of the desk.

"You get anything from the interviews with her roommates?"

Reclining a little Jen removed her glasses with a huff. "According to these," she held out the documents to her husband/partner, "Corporal Foglia had no enemies. Hell even in a war zone it seems the enemies found her likeable too."

Jethro reached for the interviews taken by the junior member on their team (Mike had insisted on it saying he was leaving soon and expected Jethro to step up as Lead). Holding the papers out at arm length Gibbs squinted.

"Here use mine. I swear you need one of those little granny chains." That comment earning her one of her husband's patented glares. She smirked in response then stood up to face the window behind her.

"Well, he asked everything I would have. What about you do you think he left anything out?"

"No, he was thorough. You and Mike will have to find another reason to get rid of him." She hadn't turned around, but he could hear the mirth in her voice. Jen was always accusing them of running off any potential new teammates.

Walking around the desk Gibbs dropped the forms back on his wife's side. When he stood behind her he wrapped his arms around her waist placing his chin on her shoulder. They looked out onto their driveway from an angle.

"It has to be the right fit Jen."

"I know. I thought Ash was supposed to drop her off by now?"

"Abby said eleven although I suspect it was because she didn't want me to think she was late."

Rubbing up and down his arms Jen pressed into his hold a bit deeper. "They'll be fine Jethro stop worrying."

"Not gonna happen Jen."

"Well, there they are, so just pretend." Both parents left their shared home office headed for the front door.

They were on the other side of the foyer table when Kate opened the door boyfriend in tow.

"Hi guys. I wasn't expecting a receiving line."

Hearing her sister's voice and the front door close Abby went running. "Kate! You're finally here." Abby pushed past her parents to hug her sister. "Hey Ash."

"Hey Abby… Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs," the poor boy was still very nervous in the house, however Mrs. Gibbs didn't make him quake nearly as much as the Gunny. Even though they hadn't been forced to end their relationship Ash knew he remained on very thin ice with his girlfriend's father after being caught in her bedroom. Jen made the first move toward the boy.

"How are you doing Ashen? Thank you so much for driving Kate home today. I understand you have your own trip planned, so we really appreciate it."

"Yes ma'am, no problem I was happy to do it."

Kate and Jen were giving Gibbs the 'get-over-here-and-speak' look. Leroy Jethro Gibbs would not be pulled in.

"Well, don't let us keep you the girls need to get on the road so they're at Tony's well before dark."

"Daddy, we have time." Kate was downright scowling now. "Let me get you something to drink Ash."

"No, Katie that's alright, really. I do need to get going."

"I'll walk you out."

"Jethro!" The man just waved his wife's recriminations off with a grunt.

When Kate walked back in the door was shut with the intent of a mission both Abby and her mother recognized. Jennifer Shepard immediately went to embrace her middle child.

"No mother," Kate attempted to wiggle free.

Smoothing her daughter's hair Jen whispered, "If you walk in there and lose your temper you ruin everyone's weekend." She felt her begin to relax and released her.

"Ash is a good guy mom. It's been like forever and dad's still, what… holding a grudge? He could be a little nicer."

"He could but he won't until he's ready, so I'd just let it drop." Putting their arms around each other all three headed to the kitchen where they could smell the pot of fresh coffee brewing.

Kate sucked down her frustration and put on her good girl persona. Tapping him on the shoulder she said, "hi daddy."

Gibbs turned into his daughter's embrace. "Well, let's get you two on the road you have a long drive ahead of you."

"Tony mapped it all out for us daddy. We're going to stop midway get some gas and food and should be to his frat house by dinner time."

"You girls be sure to check in every hour. That was the deal."

In unison both girls replied, "We know!"

The girls had been on the road for some time having a blast. They didn't even argue over the music because it was just so good to be on the road and on their own. Of course they checked in repeatedly. During the second hour when they forgot to call both parents had dialed both girls' cell phone. The loud music however drowned out both ringtones. It cost them a tongue lashing, which inspired them to put their ringers on vibrate so that they would feel the phones even if they didn't hear them.

"Think we overreacted?" Jen was smiling, but the look on Jethro's face said he thought their reaction was well within reason. If the rule was never being unreachable then not answering the phone was a punishable offense.

"Not even a little. Now, am I going to actually get to eat any of that popcorn?" His wife was notorious for only making a little and then eating more than her share. It was a lot cuter at home where he could just microwave another bag then when they were at the theatre and he had to wait in the concession line a second time.

When they finally pulled up to the house Tony was standing out front. Abby leapt from the car. "Tony, Tony, Tony!" Throwing her arms around her big brother Abby was positively bouncing. She was also thrilled to be out of the car because even though the first leg had been great fun Abby never did well sitting too long.

"Hugging a little tight kid," Tony said as he disentangled himself.

Kate finished parking, got out, stretched and offered her brother a loving albeit less enthusiastic embrace.

"Let me guess dad?" The tall frat boy asked, having seen his sister close then pocket her cell.

"Yes, dad, the man has been driving us nuts. Hopefully we won't talk again until were leaving here on Monday. So, what ya got planned big brother?"

"Well, I'll take you to meet Heidi and the rest of the Gamma sisters so you can drop off your bags then we can head out for dinner. In the morning we hit the beach."

Lying back in her husband's arms completely sated Jennifer Shepard loved the freedom of being able to make love in her office, eat naked on the kitchen counter wrapped in a blanket and make an enthusiastic return to love making in front of the fire in her den. Tomorrow afternoon it would all come to an end. The girls would be back with Abby starting school the next day. She was happy to have her daughters return, but she would miss the quiet and calm. Not having to go into the office also made the weekend nice.

"So, how'd Stan measure up? I mean you didn't take too many frantic calls this weekend. Either Mike was feeling generous or the kid really is getting the hang of things."

"It's called a preemptive strike Jen. Mike spent the weekend hanging out at Marta's Cantina and Stan spent it watching the phones. I've been checking in with him every hour, seems like naval crime is down in the district."

"Well, whatever the reason I'm grateful that we didn't have to go in. Did anything new come in on the evidence from Corporal Foglia's crime scene?"

"Not that he mentioned," rolling over onto his gorgeous wife Jethro held himself up on his forearms. "No more talk about murder, Stan, and definitely no more talk about Mike Franks! I want to spend the next few hours on focused on you."

(Six Months Later ~ Spring Break)

"I can't believe you! This is such an invasion of privacy!" Abby was shrieking on the outside and in full panic mode on the inside.

When she stood on the threshold of her room she could hardly believe her eyes. On her bed were all the pictures from her trip to Ohio State with Kate splayed out around her mother. As she and her sister shared their trip antics and photos with their parents they'd both been cautiously selective regarding details. The pictures had been purposefully developed before they got home so the batch could be "cleansed" before viewing. Trying to control what they saw as she attempted to flash by them on the camera would've just been a stupid and unnecessary risk. Of course only her mother had questioned the efficiency of getting them developed right away, but Kate was quick to say that they had only used the one camera and wanted to separate the duplicates before she went back to school, so she could scrapbook them in her free time. Although she hadn't seen that save coming Abby was grateful for it.

Jennifer Shepard wasn't anymore happy with her daughter than the 17 year old seemed to be with her. Trust there were a number of things in the stash of photos she found that should've set her blood boiling, but only one really had her head set to rupture.

"You are in NO position to be upset about anything young lady! Abigail I cannot believe…"

Running over to sweep up the photos in a less distasteful pile Abby's shrill tirade continued. "What gives you the right to go through my things? If I wanted you to see these I would have shown you! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"

Snatching her daughter's arm, sending pictures scattering across the bed and now floor, Jenny turned her around.

"Let me make something perfectly clear to you right now. This is my house and technically my room. I will come and go as I please. You just remember that every privilege and bit of privacy extended to you is a gift subject to revocation anytime I see fit. Now you pick up these pictures, put them in my hand and plant yourself. Don't even think of leaving this room until I can think about looking at you without wanting to wring you neck!"

Not sure if it was the deep resonating tone of the words or the vice grip on her arms, but Abby could feel the moisture rising in her eyes. Never making a move to budge she kept her eyes on her mother's outstretched palm for a second before dropping to her knees to get up every last 4x6 glossy square of evidence.

Marching toward the door it was a trembling Abby that made to follow, but mother stopped child dead in her tracks. "Stay!"

There was nothing more the teen wanted to do then slam the door after her, but she wouldn't get the chance as her mother obviously had the same idea.

Damn, she thought she'd been so careful!

Jenny was trying her best not to make a rash decision in the state she was in. It had been a mostly peaceful year since she'd left Hilton Prep. Of course there had been the typical teenage escapades of broken curfews, bad attitudes and borrowed cars left on empty, but nothing that even touched on what she'd put them through the previous year before trading in her burgundy Hilton uniform for the navy blue color of Allenington. The trip to Ohio over Labor Day weekend had been a reward for her staying out of the deep end during that first semester at the new school. Now she'd be graduating in a few months and hopefully heading to LSU (Louisiana State University). Maybe Jen was overreacting.

A ruined night with her husband was not how she wanted to start the weekend. Since Jethro had taken over as team lead, with Franks retirement, their time alone was limited even at work. Although he swore it would get better once Abby went to college, Jethro spent plenty of time in the field with Stan and Jenny spent a lot more hours in bull pen. Her overprotective, oft times chauvinistic (and he never denies it) husband rarely allowed them both in the field at the same time unless it was completely unavoidable, especially since Abby was still a technical minor. Now this was destined to bring their evening to a screeching halt. Each time she thought it wasn't a big deal she got those images in her head again. Alcohol, men and a tattoo… No, there was no way in hell she could keep this from Jethro. Weekend be damned, spring break be damned, and date night be damned she had to make the call.

"Jethro, we have a problem."

Honestly it was a miracle she'd managed to hide it as long as she did. That was probably the MAIN reason she got busted in the first place. She'd let her guard down and now she'd be paying the price for it. Her mother was livid. If she could've locked her in her room Abby was certain her mother would've done exactly that. They had been in this stalemate for the last hour and a half. The one time she ventured downstairs all she got for her efforts was a bellowed, "Get back in that room!"

Kate and Tony were supposed to pick her up for a movie, so her parents could have their 'date' night. Then she made one stupid slip up. She'd just taken the pictures out for a minute to show Holly one of the guys she was still in touch with, who might be in town over break. The fail was leaving them on her dresser while she went to change out of her uniform. Why her mom had come in her room during that brief window could be only be chalked up to coincidence, if she had been raised to believe in them.

It was the start of spring break of her senior year. Kate was volunteering with a research company in the District for her two weeks off and rooming with a friend from Hilton Prep that had her own place. That of course was after her father ruptured a vein at hearing the plan. Tony was spending the time working out with his dad and shadowing some teams before going off to join the Peoria Police Academy after graduation in May. That being much to his mother's displeasure, Jennifer Shepard had ruptured her own vein. It was supposed to be a fantastic two weeks with weekend trips to Virginia Beach and time with her siblings before so many things changed for them all again.

She had NO idea how she was going to fix this!