Then Busted Again

Maria ran down the events of the afternoon as she and Jethro finished the meal and cleared the table.

Gibbs looked at her after the recitation and said quietly, "You know he adores you, don't you? He was just trying to hurt you the only way he could, with words. It just shows that skipping the store this afternoon was a good consequence for cutting up in school."

Maria nodded and smiled. "I do know. He has been mine for too many years now."

Jethro agreed and drained the last of his coffee from the cup. "Ok, I'm going upstairs to deal with him."

By that time, Tony had come to the conclusion that he was way out of line, and he definitely regretted his actions and words. Closing his eyes, he evaluated his rough afternoon. How could he have talked so meanly to Abuela? He knew how much he loved her, and he also knew how much she loved him. His stomach knotted as he remembered the hurt expression on her face as he had hurled insults her way.

The longer his father made him wait in his room, the more sickening was the realization that he had caused some major damage.

Finally opening his eyes he saw his father standing in the doorway and he sat up quickly, "Dad, I..."

Jethro didn't let him continue. "You have earned yourself a spanking, and Anthony, you have until I count to three to get yourself across my lap. One..."

Tony started fumbling with his jeans and boxers, and finally got them pulled away from his about- to- be- torn- up butt while hot tears began spilling from his eyes. Jethro didn't waste time, but sat down on Tony's bed and pulled his son over his lap, wrapping one arm around his son's body to keep him in place across his knees.

Tony buried his face into the bedspread, then eased up to put his hands underneath him. When his dad's strong hand made its first contact with his bare bottom he would have fallen off the bed if his father hadn't held him tightly. It hurt, hurt, hurt! Strangled cries and sobbing followed smack after painful smack, and Tony thought his father would never stop the punishment. His butt was on fire, and his responsive writhing did nothing to relieve the sting and throbbing of the spanking.

Jethro punctuated the licks with a lecture on what the consequences for disrespect were, how Tony had better figure out a way to make things right with Maria, and what would happen if the teacher notified them of further misconduct.

After he concluded the very effective and painful reprimand, Jethro kept Tony across his lap until the sobs stopped and shuddery breaths took their place. Pulling up his son's clothing he eased him off his lap and stood him in front of him. Then he took his chin in his hand so Tony was making eye contact with him.

Shifting from foot to foot, trying to ease the agony of his spanking, he met his dad's gaze. "Dad, I'm sorry. I don't know why I acted like that. I didn't mean to hurt Abuela. I was just mad at her 'cause I wanted to go to the store and look at some equipment. I guess I was also kinda mad at Mr. Runyeon for going and telling on me. Before you came up, Dad, before you got here, I already had figured out that what I did was stupid and it wasn't a good solution."

Rubbing at his bottom in an effort to ease the discomfort he added, "Daddy, that spanking really hurt."

Jethro nodded and stood up. "Go take your shower, Son. I'm putting you to bed in fifteen minutes." Tony flinched and glanced at the clock. That meant he was going to be in bed by seven. It wouldn't even be dark for another couple of hours. This was truly an awful night that just kept getting worse and worse.

He spoke up quietly. "Ok, Dad, but before you start timing, may I go talk to Abuela first? I want to tell her I didn't mean it." His dad smiled and pointed towards the bedroom door and the hall beyond.

When Tony got downstairs he found Maria in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher with the last of the supper dishes. Tony spoke softly as Maria turned to acknowledge him.

"Abuela, lo siento- I am so sorry, and I don't know what to say. I was mad, and I wanted to hurt you." Maria nodded, but Tony sensed that he had wounded her with his words. "What I said- all of that wasn't true. I wanted to make you feel bad because I was in trouble. It was my fault. Te amo, usted sabe que- you know that I love you, and I don't know how to make it right! I don't know how to take it all away and make it like it never happened. But please, please, don't stop being my Abuela!"

Tony's eyes filled with tears and Maria's heart went out to him. He was growing up on her. Now he was understanding the consequences and power of damaging words. Tony threw himself at her and she embraced him, rubbing his back as he cried against her. When the tears finally stopped she pulled a tissue out of her pocket and wiped his eyes, then kissed him on the forehead.

"It is ok now, bambino. I accept your apology. But you understand that you can have a tantrum if you want, or act the way you want, but you still are not going to get out of a consequence for your behaviour. All that you are going to do is add to your problems. Remember that you always reap what you sow. Is that understood?"

"Si, Abuela, comprendo and thank you. Thank you for forgiving me." Tony pulled her down and kissed her, then headed up the stairs to take his shower. As he pondered the past few hours he decided that the next time he wanted to alter a course of events, he'd have to come up with a solution that had a less painful and far reaching reaction.