Title: Losing Faith In Happy Endings
Summary: An unexpected death causes Tony's life to spin out of control. Special Agent Jethro Gibbs tries to help him, but you can't save a person who doesn't want to be saved. WARNING: story contains non-sexual discipline of an adult , if that's not your cup of tea, don't read!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The following story is for fan entertainment only.
Chapter Six: It's All Wrong, But It's All Right
Dinner had been a little shorter than Tony had hoped, despite he efforts to consume his hamburger and fries as slowly as possible. He tried to make finishing off his glass of water take an extra five minutes, but Gibbs kept shooting him his 'Gibbs' look, letting him know hurrying it up would be a good idea.
When Tony offered to wash the dishes, Gibbs actually chuckled.
"Don't think so, DiNozzo" he said lightly, a little amused by his agent's avoidance strategies. Tony let out a sigh that was a little more emphasized than was necessary.
"Come on" Gibbs exited the kitchen and Tony followed him into the bathroom.
"Sit" Gibbs ordered as he flipped down the lid of the toilet. He opened the medicine cabinet and Tony had a glimmer of hope that he was out of soap.
When Gibbs' hand emerged with the dreaded object, Tony couldn't resist jumping up.
"Bosssss!" Tony whined, "You don't have to do this. I'm really sorry I swore at you" Tony figured he'd try his best to convince Gibbs that he'd already learned his lesson.
"Sit" Gibbs stated. Tony did, but he didn't stop protesting as Gibbs peeled the paper wrapper off the soap.
"Come on, can't you just let this one slide? This doesn't seem safe. What if I swallow it? I'll get sick!" Tony was thinking he might have to try and convince Gibbs he was allergic or something, anything to keep that dreaded object out of his mouth.
"It's all natural" Gibbs said, throwing the paper in the trash and running it under the faucet. He hoped it wouldn't take too much convincing to get the younger man to cooperate. He didn't want to have to resort to part two of the night's events before he was finished with the first part.
"Maybe I should read the ingredients first?" Tony said, eying the soap nervously.
"Open" Gibbs demanded, the bar of soap hovering menacingly close to Tony's mouth.
"I don't want to" Tony said, fully aware of how childish he sounded. Maybe flat out refusal would work? Tony thought. It was the only other option he could think of.
"You remember what happens when you don't do as I ask?" Gibbs reminded. Tony sighed and opened his mouth, deciding he didn't need to give Gibbs more to spank him for.
Gibbs deposited the soap in Tony's mouth, ignoring the tortured face he was making. Tony felt the waxy substance scrape against his teeth and suds drip onto his tongue.
"Bite down" Tony reluctantly did as he was told, already wanting to gag. The younger man looked down, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He absently wondered how many people over the age of ten had to endure this torture. The experience was quickly becoming more emotional than he anticipated, and he wasn't sure the funny feeling in his throat was from the soap or from being treated like a potty-mouthed child.
"Look at me" Gibbs demanded. Tony looked up and hoped that Gibbs didn't see the tears starting to form in his eyes.
"You never use that kind of language towards me or anyone else, especially at work. It's completely unprofessional. You understand me?" Gibbs said sternly.
Tony nodded, really hating the situation he was in. He tried not to swallow as he felt the suds slide towards his throat. He had to bite down harder when he felt the soap dip towards his tongue.
"Ten minutes. And if you take it out, it'll be another ten" Gibbs said as he exited the room.
Tony wanted to cry. He couldn't do this for ten minutes! He felt the mixture of soap and saliva leaking out of the corners of his mouth and he resisted the urge to hurl the bar at the tiled wall. It tasted so bad and his jaw was starting to hurt from the awkward positing. He was defiantly never going to let Gibbs hear him swear again.
When Gibbs came back ten minutes later, Tony was miserable. Bits of soap were stuck in his teeth and his face was damp from a few stray tears he hadn't noticed.
"Alright, you're done" Gibbs said, removing the soap. Tony leapt for the sink, but Gibbs' hand stopped him from turning on the water.
"You can spit, but you're not rinsing until we're done" Gibbs instructed, placing the soap back in the cabinet for possible future use.
"Done with what?" Tony asked, already knowing the answer.
"We still have to deal with your behavior at work today"
"This was enough, I'm sorry, okay? You don't have to…do the other thing" Tony stuttered, hoping that he would never actually have to say the word out loud.
"Do you want to go back to the corner?" Gibbs questioned, thinking maybe Tony needed some more time to process their earlier discussion.
"No!" Tony wanted to rinse the foul taste out of his mouth as soon as possible.
"Then come on" Gibbs said, grabbing his arm and guiding him into the living room.
Gibbs had debated whether or not he should use his belt on Tony. He had told him he would if he but his career in jeopardy, which Tony did indirectly. If Jenny had been present, it would be a little tricky explaining to her why Tony thought the floor was a good place for his coffee and screaming in his boss's face was a good idea. But seeing Tony's face after he removed the soap, he decided that the hairbrush would be sufficient.
Tony spotted the hairbrush Gibbs had placed on the end table next to the couch. He raised his eyebrows at his boss.
"I thought you said you'd use a paddle?"
"Yeah, well, don't exactly have one. I can go buy one, if you'd like?" Gibbs joked.
"Ah, not necessary" Tony quickly replied. He watched Gibbs sit down on the couch and he subconsciously took a step back.
"Pants off" Gibbs directed.
Tony shot Gibbs one more pleading look before he complied. Gibbs grabbed his wrist and guided the young agent over his lap, feeling him tense as he settled over the couch cushions.
Tony was feeling very nervous and not sure what to do with his hands. The last time he hadn't had an option. He settled for wrapping his arms around his head. He felt Gibbs wrap his arm around his waist to secure him and he couldn't resist squeezing his eyes shut.
"Alright, Tony. Tell me why you're being punished" Gibbs said as he picked up the brush.
"What?" Tony picked his head back up to look at his boss. He wanted him to actually say what he'd done wrong?Hadn't they discussed that enough already?
"I want you to tell me why you're being punished" Gibbs reiterated. When Tony didn't answer, Gibbs brought the bush down hard on Tony's boxer clad backside. Tony didn't feel the smack at first, but a second later the pain made itself know, causing Tony to kick his legs.
"Why are you being punished, Tony" Gibbs stated again, landing three more hard smacks.
"Okay!" Tony yelped. The brush hurt more than he had expected.
"I yelled at you" Tony grunted out. His response was met with another round of smacks.
"Why did you yell?" Gibbs asked.
"I lost my temper" Tony figured that Gibbs was done with the questions when he started landing the smacks at a steady pace. Tony was determined not to cry this time around. His teeth were clenched and he was already breathing hard.
"When you have a problem" SMACK SMACK SMACK "You come to me" SMACK SMACK "and talk to me" SMACK SMACK "like an adult" SMACK SMACK SMACK
Tony felt the tears he was tying to hold in escape from his eyes and when he felt Gibbs' hand on the waistband of his boxers, he choked out a sob and threw his hand back to pull them back up. Gibbs had anticipated Tony's moved and pinned his arm to his lower back.
Tony felt his face flush as the cool air of the room on his bare skin. He didn't think the pain could get any worse until Gibbs brought the brush down on his now unprotected backside. He kicked his feet in protest and was really regretting his earlier actions.
"If you ever behave like that again" SMACK SMACK "You'll get more than this brush" SMACK SMACK.
Tony lost count of how many more times Gibbs brought the brush down. All he could think about was the pain he was feeling and how he had doubted the one person he truly trusted. The one person that was still alive, that was. When Jeanne entered his mind, he sobbed harder, and Gibbs dropped the brush on the cushion beside him. He pulled Tony's boxers back up and rubbed Tony's back reassuringly. He hadn't expected Tony to be so upset. The spanking hadn't been nearly as bad as the first time. Gibbs started to get worried when Tony didn't calm down.
"Hey, you're okay" He tried to soothe the younger man, but Tony only cried harder. He couldn't stop thinking about betraying the people he cared about most. He had abandoned Jeanne, and now she was gone and his trust in Gibbs had faltered when all the older man wanted to do was help him.
Gibbs pulled Tony off his lap and positioned him on the couch next to him. He pulled the sobbing form into his arms and was surprised by how tightly Tony wrapped his arms around his neck. Gibbs held him just as tight, taking solace in the fact that the embrace didn't feel awkward.
"We're all done, now. You're okay" Gibbs continued to try and comfort the younger man, but it took a good ten minutes before Tony calmed enough to speak.
"Talk to me" Gibbs said gently, knowing that Tony wasn't so upset just because of the pain.
"M'sor—sorry—I—thought—you—that—I—doubted" Tony tried to tell Gibbs he was sorry for thinking he betrayed him, but he still didn't have complete control over his breathing.
"It's okay, it's okay" Gibbs interrupted Tony's feeble attempt to explain. He ran his hand through Tony's hair soothingly.
"I—do—trust—you" Tony stated into Gibbs shoulder through his hitched breathing.
"I know, son" Gibbs knew he should get Tony to bed, but he wasn't quite ready to let the younger man out of his grasp. He knew Tony needed to feel sure he was forgiven, and Gibbs wanted him to know he was loved.
TBC...