A/N: This chapter was way harder to write than I thought and kind of took off in a surprise direction, but I hope you like it! Please be sure to answer my question at the end…thankyou in advance!
And to the guest reviewer that gave me ideas for future chapters, thank you, I'll absolutely try to include your wishes!
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just thinking." Nate sighed turning away from the window.
"Want to share?" Knowing it really wasn't a suggestion Nate answered:
"Not if you're going to tell King, no."
"Nathan…"
"I'm serious Chris, you can't laugh and you can't tell King."
"I can't promise that Nathan and you know it."
"It's not anything bad, I promise, please, I just want to keep this conversation between us."
"Okay, but if it's something bad I'm telling King."
"King said that I could make Williams-Pride my official last name."
"That would be about time." Chris stated calmly, causing Nate to stare at him surprised. "What?! You've been like a son to him for 8 years kiddo."
"Are you sure that's what he wants? That he didn't just say it as a joke or…"
"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there Nathan. You know you are the son King never got."
"And you aren't?!"
"We both are, but the point is that you should know King well enough to know this isn't a joke to him. He truly means it little brother."
"I know how he sees me but giving me his last name?!"
"Kid, I'm running out of options how to explain this to you." Chris groaned.
"I just want to be sure…"
"And you can be."
"What if he changes his mind?!"
"After all you've done?! I'm pretty sure he's immune to your stunts by now kiddo."
"Are you?!" Nate asked giving Chris a look that spoke volumes. While Chris groaned loudly Nate found himself going back an hour in time to the time Chris arrived:
"Hi Chris, how are you doing?" King greeted Chris as the other man stepped through the door.
"I'm fine King. Nathan." The way Chris said his name let Nate know that the older man despite earlier reassurances wasn't too impressed with him right now. Turning around Nate decided to just man up and greeted Chris back.
"Hi Chris." He knew though that there wasn't much but time that could calm his older brother, so he kept quiet while the trio finished making lunch. Nate knew King noticed but ignored the look King gave him. When Chris was ready, he'd tell him.
"Pass the salt Nathan." Once Nate had done so wordlessly Chris thanked him and returned to his food. The rest of the food was digested without much talking at all. Nate had gone to his room to think things through.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm not thrilled about what you did Nathan. I thought we'd gotten further than you hiding from us when you make a mistake. You know that I would have talked to King for you if you'd just come to me. That you didn't really hurt me Nathan. I thought we trusted each other more than that." Nate felt tears spring to his eyes but rapidly tried to blink them away.
"I'm sorry. I trust you Chris, I just…"
"You just what?"
"I was ashamed. I never thought I could hurt Donnie that way, if nothing else you all raised me better."
"Yeah we did, but you are still our little troublemaker."
"Not so little anymore Chris, I should have known better."
"I won't argue with that." Nate dropped his head at that and turned around, so he was facing away from Chris. As he usually did when he was younger he turned to anger to hide the vulnerability he felt in the situation.
"Nathan." Nate didn't respond and stayed turned away. "I know I'm hard on you, but it's not without a reason."
"I know Chris. I've got it. It won't happen again."
"Would believe you if you turned around little brother." Nate reluctantly did so.
"I got it. King is going to deal with it and then it's over. I'm fine, you are fine."
"You are far from fine and if you really want to try to lie to me you could have tried a bit harder." Chris said with a raised eyebrow.
"Whatever. Say what you want to say and get it over with." The swat that landed on his rear caught Nate off guard and caused him to yelp loudly.
"Want to continue with that attitude?!"
"No sir." Nate muttered, not in the mood for more swats. It was bad enough that King was going to spank him the same evening. That didn't mean he was going to give in though. Chris could be annoying when he wanted to and now was clearly one of those moments.
"Good. I told King I wouldn't chew you out too badly, but I do have one requirement before we move on." Seeing the all too familiar face of a Nate that tried to keep his emotions under wrap, Chris changed his mind: "Make that two, little brother." Nate scowled at Chris's continuous use of the word little but kept quiet until he realized that Chris wasn't about to continue.
"Are you going to tell me or make me guess?! Because if it's the latter you are even more stupid than you look."
"One. I would watch myself really good Nathan, seeing as I do have permission to roast your ass myself if I need to."
"You haven't done that in years."
"Doesn't mean I can't." Nate narrowed his eyes and was met by an almost perfect imitation of King's stern gaze.
"I'm taller and just as strong."
"This isn't a fist fight we are talking about, little brother"
"Stop calling me little!"
"With the way you are behaving now?! Little suits you more than anything Nathan."
"Ass." Nate spit angrily.
"Two, I won't warn you again Nathan James." Chris warned in his best big brother voice.
"If you are that desperate to kick my ass, then do it! Rather that, than you keeping away because you are mad at me!"
"I'm not, but I will kick your ass if I have to."
"Leave me alone!"
"Everything alright in there Christopher?" King called from outside the door.
"Yeah King, I'll take care of it."
"Nathan?"
"Yes sir, we are fine."
"Don't believe you son, but I'll let Chris take care of it."
"You have one chance to grow up little brother and talk to me like an adult before I reach three."
"Grow up?! You are the one that's been ignoring me!"
"I tried to control my anger!"
"Like now?!" Nate challenged.
"I came in here to talk to you and hopefully let us both move on, but I see you aren't ready yet to earn my forgiveness. Give me your phone."
"What?! Chris! I'm not 14!"
"No, you are a 22-year-old behaving like a five-year-old and since you can't bother using your phone anyway, I'll let King take care of it. As long as you are here you have one phone call each night to your parents, but that's it. Once you go back home I'll personally talk to James and Katherine."
"Go to Hell Chris!"
"Three. You brought this on yourself Nathan. Come here."
"No way in Hell."
"You leave me no choice." Chris started to advance on Nate but Nate was faster and jumped out of reach. "Nathan!"
"Not feeling like letting you beat me up big bro so no thank you." Seeing the open window, he had been looking out through Nate turned to instincts and climbed out through it. Unfortunately for him, Chris was faster than he had hoped for and managed to grab his arm through the window.
"You aren't going anywhere." Nate tried to pry of Chris's hand but lost his footing and was momentarily thankful for Chris. Until he found himself getting hauled inside, that was. Chris's grip was never wavering as he closed the window and lead him over to the bed. Seeing what was going to happen Nate renewed his struggles and even went as far as head butting Chris in the stomach. When that didn't work Nate continued to struggle enough for Chris to be unable to get him down over his knees. He knew that he could have easily gotten away from Chris with some navy tricks, but he didn't want to hurt his brother.
"Nathan James Williams Pride! That's enough son." Nate froze instantly which gave Chris the perfect opportunity to haul him over his knees.
"Christopher. Let him up and then go for a walk. You aren't doing anything to him while you are angry." Chris hesitated a moment, but eventually let Nate back on his feet.
"He tried to run."
"We'll go through what happened later, right now I think there is one discussion that is overdue between me and Nate."
"You said tonight!" Nate almost panicked.
"Sorry kid, but I think that the sooner we do this, the better." Nate knowing that he didn't have a choice and that King wouldn't change his mind, just stood there defeated. "Chris, take that walk."
"Yes sir."
"Nate…" King started once they were alone. "I believe that the faster we get this done with, the better, okay?"
"Yes sir." Nate answered even though he desperately wanted to say the opposite. Giving him a sad look before hardening his resolve, King pointed to Nate's jeans.
"Jeans down, Buddy."
"King…"
"Strike One. I really don't want to make this harder on either one of us." Swallowing hard Nate unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall to the floor.
"Good boy. Now come here." Giving King his best puppy dog eyes, Nate shuffled over before realizing that this had nothing to do with Chris and him, this was about Donnie. Reminding himself of that Nate's face changed into a combination of shame, disgust and anger. King seeing it clearly too quickly guided the young man he considered his son over his knee. Putting his arm around Nate's waist, King started it off with three smacks to each of the cheeks before pausing. "What is this spanking for, son?"
"Messing with Donnie."
"Good boy. Why was that wrong?"
"I hurt him, I didn't mean to, but I did. I hurt my brother." Nodding sadly, King gave Nate's shoulder a quick reassuring squeeze before continuing with the spanking until the young man's backside was a faded red.
"We warned you to take it easy, Nathan. We had a better understanding of the situation than you at the moment and trusted you to talk with your brother without our supervision. Instead of taking it easy though you blew Donnie right into a full-fledged panic attack until he fell asleep from exhaustion. There is a reason we tell you to do something Nathan and knowing how good you can be to Donnie at times, this was no mistake." Knowing the young man would protest, King quickly continued. "You misguided a situation and even though you didn't mean to hurt your brother the fact remains that Nathan you did. That is not something that will happen again Nathan James, am I clear?"
"Yes sir. I'm sorry." Nate's voice was restrained from an effort to keep his tears at bay.
"Good." Wanting Nate to fully release his guilt, King started spanking again, this time aiming for the sit spots. The first swat there clearly caught Nate off guard, who yelped loudly before once again clamping his mouth shut. Continuing with the same force King swatted fast and methodically until he heard the first sob escape. Then he started alternating the swats between the until then, completely ignored upper thighs and the sit spots. It only took a few of those swats before Nate lost his resolve and gave into the tears that started falling freely. Pride kept going for a few more rounds, knowing Nate needed the extra incentive to let go off everything. Once the final swat had landed King started rubbing Nate's back soothingly. It took Nate a few minutes, but he eventually pushed himself off King's lap and righted his clothing, just to turn back around and fall into King's strong arms.
"I'm sorry." Nate sniffled.
"It's okay son, it's okay." The pair stayed like that for another ten minutes before King let Nate break the hug. Looking up a bit embarrassed at having cried like a baby Nate only saw calmness and understanding in the blue eyes of his mentor.
"Sorry."
"As I said earlier, it's done and dealt with. No blaming yourself anymore, and no embarrassment Nathan. You and Chris still have some things to work out but I believe that once both of you have calmed down you can sit down like adults and discuss this."
"Is he gonna…you know…as well?" Nate asked, feeling the need to know for reasons he couldn't quite understand himself.
"That's a question only Chris can answer, buddy. But he'll forgive you and you'll both move on after whatever it is is done."
"I know."
"Good. I think you should lay down for a while, it's been quite a few weeks for you."
"Yes sir."
"And Nate, call James."
"Yes sir."
"Goodnight son try to rest some."
"I will."
A/N: 1) Who is your overall favorite character from all my stories? I'm really curious and hope somebody loves Luke or Donnie or Nate that aren't real characters from NCIS If somebody loves AJ as well after the little you've seen, make sure to tell me even if he isn't your absolute favorite character.
2) Who are your favorite pairings? Who would you like to see interact more with who? As with my other question feel free to use characters that aren't in Nathan James if you want to…
Thankyou!
-AlexJoSkyler