See chapter 1 for any warnings or disclaimers.
Chapter 3
Warning: Talk of discipline and actual spanking.
"Well it is time to go to the barn and deal with my other miscreant and then decide which one of my miscreants I'll take on the next camping trip." Gibbs thought and began the short trek to the barn.
Tony was nervously tending to the horses. He knew that his dad would be coming in the barn in a few minutes. He felt sorry for Billy, but he knew that they were wrong for not telling Gibbs the truth.
He was broken from his thoughts when he heard, "Tony. Come here. Sit." Gibbs commanded while pointing at a bale of hay. Tony obeyed immediately.
"Tell me why we are here Tony." Gibbs wanted to make sure that they were on the same page.
"I lied to you when you asked if anything happened while you were gone. In all fairness though, I felt I had handled it." Tony said hopeful that Gibbs would understand.
"I would have felt you had handled it too if you would have just told me the truth." Gibbs replied.
"I just get tired of being treated like a kid." Tony admitted.
"Part of being an adult is learning to own up to what you did. It will never be adult-like in my book to hide the facts from me. Billy needs adults around him who will protect him even though it means his backside is unprotected. The adult thing to do is to tell Billy that he has to face his consequences when he messes up. Then you'll be one who is teaching him to be the man he will be one day."
"You're right, Dad. Where do you want me?"
"I'm proud of you Son. I want you right here." Gibbs said as he was pointing to his lap.
"Aww Dad! Do I have to?"
Gibbs had to hold back a chuckle at how young Tony sounded. "It wasn't a request."
After Tony draped himself across Gibbs' lap, Gibbs began the spanking.
After ten swats to Tony's jean clad backside, Gibbs stopped.
Those swats really hurt, but were not nearly what Tony was used to receiving from Gibbs.
Gibbs helped Tony stand. Tony sniffled and asked, "That's it?"
"I can give you more if you don't think it was enough." Gibbs said sternly.
"No, Dad, I'm good."
"It will be a lot worse if you ever withhold information from me again. I trust that you will help us with Billy. You are not helping when you think you are protecting him from us. Got it?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Go on up and tell Billy goodnight and then go to bed."
Tony wanted to argue about how early it was, but thought better of it after he thought about the fact that he had gotten off pretty easy with Gibbs.
Tony knocked on Billy's bedroom door and waited to be invited in. Once inside, he found a sorry young man on his stomach in bed. Tony thought, "Yep, Dad did a thorough job."
"How are you, Buddy?" Tony asked softly.
"I'm fine Tony. I will never lie to Uncle Gibbs again."
"Well, there are two things Uncle Gibbs does not tolerate."
"Lies and putting yourself in danger." Tony and Billy said in union.
"How about you? Are you alright? What did Uncle Gibbs do to you? Did he give you more chores?" Billy innocently asked.
Tony knew Gibbs would never divulge punishments with others so he was not surprised that Billy did not know.
"Can you keep a secret Billy?" Tony whispered in a way that made Billy believe that Tony was going to tell an ancient secret.
"Yes Tony." Billy whispered back.
"Promise?"
"Promise." Billy lifted the pinky finger and he and Tony locked fingers.
"Okay, Uncle Gibbs spanked me too. He does that sometimes when I disobey the rules." Tony did not want to speak for anyone else.
"Really Tony?"
"Really Buddy. He feels that once he spanks me, it is over. If it calls for more, he gives more chores. Billy, I was wrong for not telling Uncle Gibbs. We have to own up to our mistakes and confess when we are wrong. I won't hide anything from the adults again. So don't ask. Okay Buddy?"
"Okay Tony. You're right."
"What's wrong Billy?" Tony could see a look of despair on Billy's face.
"Awww! I'll never be too old for a spanking!"
"Here I thought you were upset for me. All you are worried about is that you'll never be too old for a spanking?" Tony said while tickling Billy.
"Alright boys, don't make me come in there." Gibbs said jokingly. He had heard the conversation between Tony and Billy and waited for the right time to interrupt. "I didn't say you could move in here Tony."
"Good night Billy. I'll see you in the morning for breakfast." Tony said and then went to his room.
"Well, Billy. Are you okay now?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry Uncle Gibbs."
"Hey none of that. It's over. Just don't do it again."
"Yes, Sir."
"Goodnight, Son."
"Goodnight, Uncle Gibbs."
Gibbs stepped into the boys' room and announced to Tony that in a couple of days he'd be taking him on the next camping trip.
Tony was excited about it. Jimmy and Tim were happy for him too. They knew their turn would be coming and respected Gibbs' decision to take whomever he wanted. They knew he had a reason for everything he did.
Gibbs really wanted some quality time with Tony. He felt that since he had developed this new technique of disciplining his family, he was always the bad guy. He wanted to just do something fun with them. Tony probably never had much time with his biological dad except for the very occasional fishing trip.
"Well how did the 'talk' go with the boys?" Jenny had been waiting for Gibbs in the kitchen. She knew he would need another cup of coffee after his confrontation with the boys.
Scrubbing his hand over his face, Gibbs said, "It went as well as expected. I hate doing this, but they have to learn to not..."
"Lie or put themselves in danger." Jenny said in a childish and mocking tone trying to lighten the mood.
"Are you trying to put yourself in danger with me Jennifer?" Gibbs asked challengingly.
"And what if I am?" Jenny decided to continue the flirting while feeling a flutter in her stomach.
"You know how I deal with that, don't you?" Gibbs asked sternly.
"You wouldn't dare!" Jenny said.
"Now that sounded like a dime store novel." Jenny said as an afterthought.
"Yep. Here is my take on that." Gibbs smiled mischievously. "Oh wouldn't I?"
Gibbs then proceeded to throw Jenny over his shoulder and smack her backside lightly as he was walking to their room.
Two days later, Gibbs and Tony were sitting quietly and staring at the campfire. Tony was thinking about Senior and that sent a sudden chill down his spine. Gibbs noticed it, but said nothing. Gibbs had been more open with Ziva, but was waiting for Tony to talk.
Finally Gibbs decided to pry a little and asked, "Why are you so quiet Son? You know this isn't like you." Gibbs said in a joking tone.
"I was thinking about Senior. I was comparing the two of you. You are a better dad than Senior ever was."
Gibbs was touched and asked, "Why Tony? You don't seem to like me when I spank your backside or slap the back of your head." Gibbs said with a smile.
"That is okay. I mean, I don't like it when you do that, but I know you love me and want the best for me. Senior never cared about any of that, much less took the time to discipline me. That was what the nanny was for according to him. He wasn't around for report cards, games, etc. I have a feeling you would have been there if it had been you."
"I assure you Tony; I would have been to every game possible. I would have monitored every report card for grades and behavior."
"I have a feeling the nanny would not have been the disciplinarian either." Tony said jokingly.
"You know it. If those grades had slipped or behavior not been where I expected, I would have been there to hand out the discipline too." Gibbs said with a smile while he ruffled Tony's hair.
"Yes well, at least you would have been there." Tony said with a blush.
Gibbs smiled and hugged Tony.
The two eventually drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, they headed back to the ranch.
Everything was peaceful until they rode into the yard and heard Jenny fussing.
"Abigail! I cannot believe you did that!" Jenny said in frustration.
Gibbs almost laughed when he saw Jenny walk across the yard and into the barn with a wooden spoon in her hand.
"Never a dull moment around here." Gibbs said knowingly, dismounted his horse, handed the reins to Tony and followed Jenny into the barn.
"Oh oh." Tony said.
TBC...