Rachel didn't fight or argue about her punishment like usual. She had no excuses, and was already feeling consequences of her disobedience anyhow: she felt guilty about her behavior and absolutely crushed from all the criticism she'd binged on from those articles, blogs, and video reviews. She knew Kurt had been right to try to protect her from the hurt of all those mean-spirited commenters. Why couldn't I just have listened? They're right. I'm a terrible actress. From Ohio. Who gave me the idea I was any match for Broadway performers? They should have given Fanny Brice to Meryl's Streep's daughter. Why can't I be just a little bit taller? The self-criticism was on a relentless feedback loop in her brain. She couldn't get the voices out of her head.

Kurt pulled her closer to him, trying to focus her attention. "What did I tell you about looking up reviews on the internet?" he asked, trying to muster up as strict a tone as he could.

"N-not to." Rachel pouted, hating knowing how badly she'd disappointed him.

"And what happens when young ladies choose not to follow the rules?" Rachel scowled miserably, wishing Kurt would speed up this lecture and get on with it so she could fully go back to feeling sorry for herself and cry herself to sleep. In less than 24 hours she was supposed to be making her Broadway debut and all she wanted to do is wallow in misery at the thought of all the ways it could be a disaster, and all the awful things people might say about her performance.

"Young lady." Kurt tone got lower, causing Rachel to stiffen.

"They g-g-get punished, sir."

"That's right. You deliberately disobeyed me, Rachel—"

"I didn't mean to—" she stuttered.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean I-" Rachel stared at the floor. "I'm sorry."

"Me too, Rachel." Not feeling particularly inclined to give more energy to what would normally be a more thorough dressing down, Kurt pulled Rachel unceremoniously over his knee. She buried her face in the comforter, hoping he would at least make it quick. She whimpered, though, as she felt his hand pull her pajama pants down, baring her. She scowled a bit, unseen, into her comforter. Kurt spanked hard. It wasn't going to be fun. And, already emotionally exhausted, she had no fight in her to try to talk her way out of it.

Kurt rested his hand on Rachel's bare bottom. "I don't like doing this Rachel. And I know you're hurting from all those internet commenters. But you have to learn to obey the rules."

"Yessssirrrrr…." Rachel's whimper turned into a squeak at the first sharp SWAT against her bare bottom. Kurt followed up with another, lower, and she winced. SLAP.

"OWwwwwwwww."

Kurt had lost his fight too, and resolved to just spank her until she was crying and put her to bed without further lecture. There wasn't anything much more he could say anyway. He focused on warming the bottom across his knee, watching it pinken and spreading his swats out to cover as much ground as possible.

"OW OWWWWWWw owwwww…..ss-ss-ooorrrryyyyyyy." Rachel whimpered and whined as the rhythm of punishing slaps increased. It was by far not the worst spanking she had ever received, but Kurt wasn't going to go easy on her. Maybe if it stings bad enough she'll be distracted from all those idiots' comments, he mused.

She started whining, "Noooooo." It was a sign he was getting through to her. Her feet rubbed together and her little bottom started to squirm more at each swat. He squeezed her tighter to him and slapped his hand down hard on her sit spots, several times. Inwardly, he hoped this would be the last this would be needed for a long while. But with Rachel, you never knew. Legit reviews would be coming her away again soon, and the internet's always open. She'd need discipline to learn to manage it all eventually. But for now maybe this would be a reminder against any temptation to go down the rabbit hole of self-abuse for awhile.

Finally Rachel stopped her squirming and just sobbed, hanging across his knee. Kurt sighed, examining the now pinkish-red bottom before him. Why does she have to be so stubborn? He sighed. He helped her up and then tucked her back under her covers. She kicked off her pajama pants from her ankles and curled into herself, knowing she'd be sleeping on her stomach tonight.

She was still crying quietly, hiccupping pathetically into her pillow. Kurt lay down next to her, rubbing her back until she calmed. "Shhhh… it's okay. Time to sleep now, little one. We'll figure it all out in the morning."

"N-nothing will helllllp-" she objected.

"Shhh…. Just sleep now. That's an order. Our friends will be over tomorrow and they'll help lift your spirits."

Kurt knew Rachel didn't believe him. But getting a sore bottom had worn her out, and her eyes fluttered shut fairly quickly over that. Kurt lay with her until he heard her breathing even out.

Finally, he carefully snuck out of the bed and padded back to her bedroom. 24 hours to bring Rachel to her senses. What on Earth was he going to do now?