Disclaimer - I do not own NCIS.

Warning - Contains spanking, don't like, don't read - Step away from the story now!

The following morning had been going predictably like the others had in the previous couple of weeks. Even Tony had made an extra effort to get in on time and reduced his complaints and movie references to the absolute minimum.

"Where the hell is McGee?" Gibbs snapped as he almost ran into the bullpen, his fourth coffee of the morning in hand.

"He's just gone to the head, Boss," Tony replied quickly.

"Has he finished his part of the case report?"

Tony pulled the corners of his mouth down, "I...uh...don't know, Boss."

"You don't know, DiNozzo? You are the senior field agent and yet you don't know if the Probie has finished his work? Well, that is just great work, great leadership!"

Tony swallowed hard, "When I said I...uhm...didn't...uh...know...what I meant was that...uh...he...has..."

Tony's voice trailed as Gibbs stood toe to toe with him and narrowed his eyes at him dangerously.

"We closed this damned case yesterday, DiNozzo! I want those case reports on my desk by 1200 hours or you'll be writing the ten copies we need to keep by hand, are we clear?"

There was a slight whimper from Tony, "Got it boss, 1200 hours...no problem."

Gibbs returned to his desk and started to pound at his keyboard. Tony sighed and his shoulders relaxed at yet another head slap averting moment. He sat back down at his desk and opened up his email box and noticed the message from Ducky, which he opened up immediately. He read the contents carefully, grateful for Ducky's meticulous minute by minute plan to deal with Gibbs set out in great detail.

"It's all systems go at 1300 hours," he thought to himself as he glanced at his watch, "not long to go now."

At 1245 hours, Ducky glanced at the clock in autopsy and smiled, "In a few hours Jethro, you will feel the heat of the Mexican sun, my dear boy."

He took the elevator to Abby's lab and she greeted him with a hug as he entered,

"Ducky! You all set for the Gibbs showdown?"

"Yes I am, Abby, are you?"

Abby lifted the small holdall and beamed with pride as she held it out for Ducky's inspection.

"Everything he needs for his Mexican vacation is in here, Ducky, including some sun screen, because you can never be too careful, especially if he is going to be relaxing on the beach. I also got him a new hat, with little boats on it, again for protective purposes. The Mexican sun is just as strong and just as dangerous to the skin."

Ducky grinned, "you've done exceptionally well, it truly has been a team effort."

Abby smirked, "let's just say, Duckman, we weren't exactly unmotivated to fix the problem, he hasn't been himself lately."

She pouted as she continued, "I mean, I can understand how he gets really angry with Tony, but he was screaming at me yesterday, and he threatened me too."

Ducky frowned with concern, "threatened you, in what way?"

Abby blushed, "he reminded me that he would follow through on his promise that if he had to start smacking me like DiNozzo, he would."

"Oh dear" Ducky said quietly,

"Yeah...and that...you know...it...uh...wouldn't be on the head."

Ducky winced, "Well, my dear, perhaps after a few days away from the Navy Yard, Jethro might have calmed down enough for him not to fulfil that particular promise"

Abby's eyes widened in agreement and she nodded.

Ducky made his way to the Director's office and smiled nervously at Jen as she lifted the phone to ask Cynthia to contact Gibbs.

Tony DiNozzo glanced sideways at the scene in the middle of the bullpen as Gibbs and Tim stood toe to toe. He winced in sympathy for the Probie, who, despite having made the deadline for the completion of the case report, effectively saving him from a handwriting nightmare, was in the firing line for a simple error.

The unnerving feeling of déjà vu was the only thing that Tim McGee could comprehend as he found himself facing an angry Gibbs once more, as he bawled at him furiously,

"What the hell has gotten into you McGee, this report is a disgrace! I know you are a Probie, but on my team we sure as hell do not mix up Marine ranks on a formal report, do I make myself clear?" Gibbs yelled.

"I...uh...boss...I do know the difference, it's just that...the...uh...personnel records kinda said that he was a Gunnery Sargeant till two days before we interrogated him...and...uh...at that point in the investigation...we...uh...he was a Gunny...boss. But...uh...you're right, I should have checked."

Gibbs narrowed his eyes and glared hard, making Tim gulp nervously.

"Do you want me to spell it out McGee?" Gibbs growled just as his phone began to ring.

Tim frowned with confusion and then winced as Gibbs hand collided with the side of his head. It did, however, provide him with the clarity he needed,

"I'll uh...change the report...on it...boss!" he spluttered and returned quickly to his seat.

Gibbs threw himself down in his chair and picked up his phone,

"Gibbs!"

"Jethro, I have a little assignment for you and Ducky, could you come up here please?"

"What kind of assignment?" he snapped.

"Just get your butt up here Jethro!" Jen sighed at his tone.

The stilled silence, broken only with the angry sigh from Gibbs, was quickly replaced with the beeping tone as he hung the phone up.

In the bullpen, Gibbs jumped from his chair and bounded angrily up the stairs. Reaching the Director's office, he thrust the door open and was stopped in his tracks when he saw Ducky.

"Okay, assignment, speak," he said brusquely.

"Jethro, SecNav has asked for a second opinion on a case being handled at Gitmo. The agent in charge will brief you guys when you get there on the case, but your orders are to cross check and verify the team's findings including the autopsy results."

Gibbs sighed heavily and folded his arms defiantly, "What's the problem, why the double check?"

Jen tried desperately to hold her ground, "The problem is Jethro, is that when SecNav asks for a second opinion, then he gets my best agent and medical examiner to do the job no questions asked. Got me?"

He frowned at her response and as the silence continued he rolled his eyes,

"and?"

She raised an eyebrow confused,

"When are we going? Did you get booted back down to Probie today Jen? Cos you're sure as hell acting like one!" he growled sarcastically.

Jen scowled, "Enough Jethro! SecNav's jet is waiting for you when you're ready. I suggest that you and Du..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Gibbs was already out of the door. Jen sat back in her chair and eyed the anxious ME with concern,

"You deserve a medal for this Ducky. I only hope Mike Franks can sort him out."

Ducky smiled and took a deep breath before heading out of the door.

To be continued...