Chapter 1
"Before we get started how was everybody's holiday?" asked Gibbs mindful of his family's celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah.
"I had a great time," blurted out McGee and Jimmy, "it was good seeing family and friends from home once again."
"Ziva, how was yours?" asked Gibbs with concern. She didn't look all that happy when he first asked about her time back home.
"It was fine."
Gibbs didn't press her then but knowing they would have to talk later. "Well I'm sure you are all curious about this New Year's party," he began as he looked around the room and seeing their nods.
"Well, to begin with Tony and Abby unfortunately were unable to get out of Washington before the snows hit so we all met here at Ducky's and spent Christmas together. It was during Christmas eve that Mr. "I don't believe in Santa" DiNozzo decided to piss him off by staying up to prove that he didn't exist.
The rest of the team just looked at Tony with disappointment written on their faces except for Ziva who had a confused look on hers.
"I don't know if there is a real Santa that still exists but I know that there was a real individual that he is based on and that his spirit still survives," explained Gibbs tactfully.
"Tony wasn't able to prove or disapprove Santa's existence but he did experience George that night," began Gibbs as he watched the faces of Tim, Jimmy and Ziva…they were intrigued.
"Who is George?" they all asked in unison.
"Santa's brother…also known as 'Bad Santa', the one that dishes out paddlings to naughty boys when the switches that were placed in their stockings the year before didn't change their behavior," replied Gibbs.
"It seems that Tony's behavior demanded an attitude adjustment and he was there to remind Tony on why he should change. What was it that he told you Tony?"
"That he mainly dealt with boys but after learning about mine he decided to make an exception and handle me personally," muttered Tony embarrassedly.
"What did he do?" asked Ziva interestedly.
Tony pretended not to hear and said nothing until Ziva repeated her question and Gibbs gave him a very pointed look.
"HE paddled me," replied Tony as his face turned an interestingly shade of red.
"Boss! You spanked Tony on Christmas Eve?" Tim asked incredulously. He believed that Gibbs had dressed up as Santa and had been the one to spank Tony. Ziva nodded with Tim's statement. She believed the same.
"It wasn't him," replied Tony before Gibbs could defend himself.
"What?"
Bad Santa had a real beard, the boss doesn't," replied Tony.
"How do you know…did you try and pull it off?" asked Tim.
Tony nodded remorsefully, "Yep, which is why he was quick to paddle me. I pulled so hard that he yelled out in pain and anger."
Tim and Ziva only looked at him in amazement before Tim murmured; "Only you could get Santa mad…"
Gibbs nodded and continued his story telling of how the paddle was discovered and everything came true about its magical abilities. "The main reason I called you three here, speaking to Tim, Jimmy and Ziva, is the tag on the present was addressed to Papa Gibbs. I asked Tony and Abby if that is how they thought about me and they agreed. They considered me as a surrogate father. What I want to know is if that is how you three feel, too?"
"You are the only caring father I have now," admitted Ziva, and at Gibbs questionable look she continued, "Hanukkah wasn't so happy this year…Eli barely talked to me in fact he seemed to act as if I didn't exist. It was good seeing my other family and friends but…," she broke down in tears.
Gibbs hurried to her side and drew into a loving hug as any father would have done for a distressed child. "That's okay Ziva, you have a father now and I won't give up on you," he whispered in her ear.
Ziva nodded and stayed within his loving embrace until she was able to control her emotions.
"Boss, I feel the same except for the father not caring part. You're the father I have here…I feel blessed to have two," admitted Tim as Jimmy nodded his agreement.
"Good…because as your 'father' I want to tell you that I take my duties seriously….and by that I mean that you will be accountable for your actions outside of the office, on your own time and I will exact punishment whenever I feel you have done anything to deserve it and I think you know what type of punishment I use," explained Gibbs seriously.
The young agents and Jimmy looked startled at the proclamation and groaned as they took in what he was saying, "Boss you don't mean that you will spank us if we do anything you don't like?" asked Tony carefully.
"No I don't mean that DiNozzo," replied Gibbs as Tony sighed with relief until Gibbs began to explain further.
"What I mean is that I will bust your butt for anything I feel you have done to put yourself in danger…which will include drinking and driving or anything that seriously endangers your life and for the latter the instrument I will be using will be my new paddle."
Tony paled at the mention of the paddle, "Boss, I thought that you could just put that paddle up and not use it!"
"Nope…that is why I brought it with me so the others could see it for themselves," Gibbs added as he pulled it from the gym bag he had brought with him. It wasn't that large but Tim, Jimmy and Ziva knew from the way Tony was protesting that it must leave a powerful sting.
"It doesn't look that bad," ventured Jimmy as he looked it over from afar.
"Tony…explained to Jimmy about its magical qualities," ordered Gibbs.
"It has the ability to cause your pain to extend longer than others," began Tony. "Bad Santa gave me two licks and told me that I will be sore for two days…and it did. My butt was sore for exactly two days from the moment Gibbs opened the package on Christmas Day…that was what he told me after he paddled me…as soon as the initial pain from the paddling had worn off that the pain would resume from the moment Gibbs and the paddle met…and it did…I couldn't sit comfortable for two days up unto the minute that the 48 hours was up and then the pain was gone."
The proclamation brought silence as the others considered both is words and Gibbs before Abby spoke, "I don't know about the others but knowing that you care enough to bust my butt for the reasons stated kind of makes me feel safe, Gibbs…after being on the receiving end of your kind of discipline isn't nice but knowing that you care enough to do it makes me feel loved."
"Yeah…what she said boss…I've never really had a caring father, as you all know….my father punished me mainly for his amusement than for things I actually did to deserve them…except for that Halloween when I destroyed his skiing outfit…but you have always put my welfare ahead, like my record at work…except for your unusual method of punishment my record would be riddled with black marks….my butt was sore but I had rather have a sore butt than no chance for advancement. To be punished after hours has a caring feel to it, as well," Tony said next.
Ziva, Jimmy and Timmy nodded their agreement with their friends' statements.
Gibbs looked them all over and said, "Okay…now that you have agreed …lets party!"