I would like to thank everone for their lovely reveiws and alerts. I really do appreciate them all. I'm sorry I haven't thanksed anybody personally yet, but I'm getting to it I promise. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 4

"Boss, I can explain." Tony said as Gibbs stood glaring at him. He still hadn't said a word.

"Get that thing off and get against the wall with the rest of your illicit friends."Gibbs said snarkily when he finally did speak.

"But Boss...."

"Don't make me get the cuffs Dinozzo."Tony went and joined the prison line.

Gibbs left them standing like that for a good fifteen minutes while he paced up and down. Finally he spoke. "Of all the stupid, harebrained schemes that you lot have ever come up with; this one has to take the cake!"

"Boss....." Tony was trying to say that it was his idea, but Gibbs wasn't ready yet to hear him utter a single sound. His voice was dangerously low.

"Did I give you permission to speak Dinozzo?"

"No Boss."

"Then don't." Gibbs said, angrier than any of them had ever seen him. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't fire you all on the spot?"

Abby opened her mouth to speak but Gibbs held up his hand. "That, Abigail, was a rhetorical question. Not only should I fire all of you, but you should all be arrested. What you did was against policy, it was against MY rules and IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW!!!!" They all jumped at Gibbs loud bellow. He hadn't said anything else for at least another five minutes when the thing, happened.

Tim of all people started first, he didn't know why, maybe it was all the adrenalin and then the sudden comedown, but whatever the reason, he lost control of himself. A low giggle started in his tummy making it contract. He knew that this was a most unfortunate time for this to happen, but it was out of his control. The giggle started bubbling like simmering water about to come to the boil. Abby glared at him, she knew what was about to happen but she didn't know what to do, or even if she could do anything, except glare. It didn't work. The giggle boiled over the top. Tim's shoulders started to shake. He bit the side of his cheek but his eyes started to water regardless. It's a funny thing about laughing, it's one of those unexplainable things like yawning. No one knows why it's catching it just is. So when Gibbs paced back in their direction and he saw four sets of shoulders shaking he watched in muted disbelief as the damn finally broke and they all lost total control. The shaking and quiet giggles very quickly turned into full-blown laughing. Gibbs could not believe his eyes.

"Are you children LAUGHING! Do you mean to tell me that you think being caught with stolen evidence from a government investigation, IS FUNNY?" Gibbs asked incredulously.

He didn't get an answer because none of them were sure if this was also a rhetorical question. "Answer me!"

There was a chorus of No Gibbs, No Boss, No Bossman. Nothing from Tim who still couldn't get out any words.

Gibbs came up right behind him. "Do you think this is FUNNY McGee?"

"No bo.........." but then before he could stop it a wave of laughter descended on him again. Funnily enough, it disappeared just as quickly as it had come when he heard Gibbs belt hiss through the loops. Abby didn't dare cover her face but she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to sing in her head to block out the sound.

Tim hissed out a breath as the belt left a line of fire across his rear end. This was followed by another and another. Gibbs went along the line then bringing his belt down hard three times on each backside. "That is not your punishment, it's a taste of what you have to look forward to. Now get this equipment back to where it's supposed to be NOW! And you two....." he said waving a finger at Abby and Tim. "You better do your thing that makes sure that nobody ever finds out about this. Got it?"

"Got it Gibbs." Abby said sadly,still rubbing her backside. "Gibbs, you never used the belt on me before."

"You never stole evidence before Abby." He said. "And I intend to make sure that you never do it again. Now move! All of you." And they did. "Then meet me down at my car."

They moved so quickly that it was only a matter of minutes until they were back in the elevator. "He is going to kill us." Ziva said. "I told you this was a bad idea."

"Oh shut it Zi-va! No one held a gun to your head. You weren't complaining when you were surfing the skies."

"I know." Was all she could come up with.

"I for one, think it was sooo worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat." Abby said enthusiastically.

"Me too." Tony said. "What's a few whacks with a belt compared to the magical experience of Jetpack freedom."

"If I had been absolutely certain that this was gonna end this way, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I have lived a dream." Tim said still with stars in his eyes.

When the elevator stopped Ziva tried to hustle them along. "Come on dreamers, Gibbs is waiting. And I can still feel the reality of his belt on my ass. I do not wish to feel anymore reality than I have to so can we hurry please."

They did all hurry and were soon down in the parking garage standing by Gibbs car. He wound down his window. "Get in."

"But Boss our cars are at the mall." Tim said.

"You won't need them. Get in. You're coming to my place." he said and they all got in and buckled up without being told.

When they pulled up Gibbs driveway he turned so that he could see all of them. "Abby and Ziva corners in the living room. Tony and Tim corners in the basement." When they all just stared at him he barked. "Now!" They all scrambled out of the car and into the house, and by the time Gibbs made it inside there was total silence as four very quiet miscreants stood with their faces in corners waiting for Gibbs' next move.

TBC