Part 4

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A special thanks to supergirl and accounting professional for the reviews. They mean a lot to me.

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About two hours later Don gently woke her up, "Hey Megan, my dad made Chili for dinner. I want you to get dressed and come downstairs."

"I don't want to." Megan protested without looking at him.

"I know, but you only had a sandwich and a handful of cookies today. You need to eat. My Dad is a good cook and he likes you around. We all do. Let's just eat and forget everything else for the moment." Don proposed and left the room to not give her any further opportunity to argue.

Huffing Megan got up and dressed. When she came downstairs she purposefully did not sit on the chair that had a pillow on it – although she regretted this little act of stubbornness the minute her backside touched the wooden surface. Don ignored her choice of seating as he placed a bowl in front of her, "You want some bread?" he asked but didn't push it as she shook her head.

The three Eppes men sat down and tried to include Megan in their conversation. The young lady in question however was still sulking and only responded in monosyllabic answers pushing her food around instead of eating.

"Megan." Don warned in his strictest tone after five minutes. That got her to eat about three bites before she went back to just stirring her food. After another warning she completely ignored Don got up frustrated. Turning to his father and brother he said, "Please excuse us for a moment." Then he eyed his wayward agent, "Megan, with me."

Seeing the defiance in her eyes he just pulled her up by her upper arm and dragged her out of the dining room. Barely out of ear shot from the other two he turned her around, tugged her under his left arm and gave her a dozen firm spanks with his right hand.

Standing her back up he scolded, "I will not let you ruin your health just because you feel the need to disobey me. We will go back in there and you will eat. If you don't want Chili, that is fine. Tell me what you want and I'll get it for you. Megan, I really do not want to have to give you two spankings in one day but I will if you don't start doing what you are told."

Without giving her any time to gather herself he let his shamefaced agent back into the dining room and sat her down. Avoiding everybody's eyes she slowly picked up her spoon but seemed unable to start eating.

Alan Eppes felt bad for her, "Megan, would you like something else?" he asked kindly. Megan turned to look at him and realized that she probably made him feel like there was something wrong with his cooking. She felt guilty. "No, sir. I am sorry for making such a fuss." she answered him softly.

"Alright, then at least let me heat it up for you." With these words he took her bowl. She looked at him gratefully. Turning to his eldest, Alan's tone became much more serious, "Donald, maybe you should heat yours up as well."

Understanding an order when he heard one Don picked up his half-empty bowl and followed his Dad to the kitchen with a roll of his eyes.

Megan stared wide-eyed as the two Eppes men left. She turned to Charlie, "Is your Dad mad at Don?"

Charlie shrugged, "I am not sure. He probably just doesn't like to see you this upset and unhappy. None of us do." he added softly.

Megan looked away again not really knowing what to say or how to feel.

"Hey, do you want this?" Charlie pulled her from her thoughts holding out the pillow. Megan blushed but nodded anyway and accepted the piece of comfort thankfully.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Charlie asked, "You know, if you ever want to talk ..."

Megan nodded sadly at him but didn't say anything.

Meanwhile in the kitchen Alan had placed both bowls in the microwave before glaring at his son, "Was that really necessary?"

"Look, Dad," Don explained, "I had her talk to Dr. Greene and we specifically discussed this eating problem. He is convinced that she is just defying me by refusing to eat."

"Oh, I see" Alan Eppes conceded. He had met Dr. Greene a couple years ago during the time his wife was sick. The Doctor had been a great help to him and Don and he had nothing but respect for the man. He looked at his son dismayed, "Sounds like you have a real problem on your hands."

"Tell me about it." Don answered ruefully as they went back to the dining room.

Once there Megan actually managed to eat and carry on something like a normal conversation with the other three. After dinner Alan brought out the Scrabble board and they spend an hour just playing. There wasn't much laughter but at least everyone seemed calm for the moment. Seeing Megan get tired, Alan excused himself, "I think I should go take care of the dishes."

Charlie, not usually as observant reacted to a pointed look from Don, "I still need to do some work in the garage."

To her dismay Megan found herself alone with her boss way too quickly. She hadn't forgotten his bedtime threat and wasn't looking forward to it.

Somewhat resignedly he instructed her, "Please go upstairs and get ready for bed. I'll be there in a minute."

Frowning she did as she was told and then waited for him. After a couple of minutes Don came in. He sat down on her bed and asked not unkind, "Are you ready to talk to me?"

Getting no reaction he tried to reason with her, "Megan, what have I done to you? Why are you fighting me like this? We used to get along fine. I am here for you and I really want to know what is going on in your head."

Megan just crossed her arms and would not even look at him. He sighed. "Okay, I guess you are telling me that you are ready for the bedtime spanking I promised you earlier."

Before she had a chance to fight him he had her pinned across his knees. Quickly he gave her another dozen spanks over her pajama pants. Although they were not overly harsh, being spanked for the third time in one day – not counting the swats she had gotten at the office – had Megan crying softly.

He pulled her back up and into a hug but she started to fight him again. Sighting he let go of the hug but still held on to her shoulders looking into her eyes, "Megan, I wish you'd stop being stubborn and let me comfort you. It's a part of being punished. I know you are angry with me and I am sorry about having to spank you. But you are too important to this team and to me to loose. I will not let you endanger your life or your health and I will not accept anything less than your best behavior anymore. I hope we will not have a repeat of today. But if we do be advised that next time you are loosing your pants and I might find it in my heart to use the hairbrush on your backside."

Megan continued to cry but would not look at him. Don didn't care anymore about her being a woman and what wrong signal it might send. Someone he cared for was hurting and the team lead reacted instinctively. He pulled her back into his hug and held on until she stopped fighting it and just cried on his chest.

"We'll get through this." He whispered in her ears. "I am right here and I won't go anywhere."

At some point he could feel her go completely limp against him, eye lids dropping. He put her gently under the covers and left her room troubled and wondering what was to come.

The next day he just let her sleep knowing she did not get much of that lately. So when Megan came downstairs at 10 am she felt refreshed after the first good nights sleep in weeks even though her backside was still throbbing. She found her boss in the kitchen by himself, the other two already gone.

Don looked at her trying to read her mood which seemed improved to him. "How are you feeling?" he asked with a friendly smile.

She shrugged and just said, "Ok. Don't we have to be at the office?"

"I figured you could use some sleep. Colby and David are working the case. We don't need to meet them until later. I though we'll have breakfast and then talk about yesterday." Her boss answered.

Megan looked at him seriously and took a deep breath, "Can't we skip the talk? Please! I am alright and I promise I'll do better." she pleaded.

"I think it would help …" he tried to persuade her but got interrupted, "Please, I won't be any trouble anymore."

"Megan, you aren't trouble. I want to help." He gave it one last try but Megan just looked at him pleadingly.

Don sighed resignedly knowing that whatever bothered her had not been resolved but he also knew that he didn't have it in him to force her to talk. So he said with a little grin to lighten the mood, "Well, are you at least going to eat breakfast without a fuss for Uncle Donnie?"

Involuntarily she chuckled a bit herself and asked, "Is Uncle Donnie the one doing the cooking?

"Sure, if you'd like me to. I can make decent eggs or pancakes or you can see if you like any of the cereals or fruit we got." The senior agent offered.

They shared a quiet but peaceful breakfast and Don was pleasantly surprised to see her behave for the next three days. She was on time and seemed to have her head back in the game, supplying him with the kind of quality results he was used to from her. The team lead made sure to tell her that he was proud of her work and happy that she seemed to be feeling better. But he knew the calm would not last long and when it ended it, it did so in an unexpected way.