Here's the next chapter. I wanted Vance and Brown (from Human Resources) to get involved again.

Also, I'd like to thank MissJayne, for consistently reviewing my story.

Never use or threaten to use corporal punishment to correct an employee's behavior. It abuses your power and is blatantly against NCIS policy. Using this technique for discipline will cost you the respect of employees and your job.

Tony winced as Gibbs's hand made contact with the back of McGee's head. He nodded sympathetically and watched Gibbs storm away. "Is it just me, or is the Boss Man especially slappy today?"

"Definitely," McGee confirmed. "That was at least my third one today. He's gotten you about five times and Ziva a couple, too."

"Twice," Ziva called over from her desk.

"And it's barely noon," McGee added. "At this rate, we might not make it to the end of the day."

"You definitely won't if you don't sit down and get some work done," Gibbs threatened, striding back into the bullpen with a cup of fresh coffee while slapping McGee with his spare hand.

"That makes four," McGee silently mouthed to Tony, rubbing the back of his skull.

"You too, DiNozzo," Gibbs said, slapping Tony. "Now get to work."

"Yes, Boss. Right away," Tony nodded.

"Agent Gibbs."

"What now?" Gibbs groaned, glaring up from his desk.

McGee, Tony, and Ziva looked up to see Thomas Brown, the man from Human Resources who had created the new Employee Handbook.

"What?" Gibbs repeated angrily.

"I just saw you use corporal punishment on two employees within thirty seconds," Brown said, crossing his arms.

Gibbs squinted and stared at Brown."So…?"

Brown tapped his left foot angrily. "Corporal punishment is against office policy. If any one of your employees, or myself, reported you, you could lose your job."

"I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen," Gibbs replied, looking back at the papers on his desk.

"It could very easily-" Brown began.

"No, it couldn't."

Brown turned to see Director Vance, standing at the window with his arms crossed. "Let's take a walk," Vance said. "You too, Gibbs."

Gibbs shrugged and followed Vance and Brown away from the bullpen toward the stairs to the catwalk.

"Mr. Brown, I appreciate the fact that corporal punishment is not tolerated at NCIS," Vance began, jogging up the stairs, "but Gibbs is a, well, special case."

Brown shook his head. "No one is exempt from the rules."

Vance leaned against the rail and turned to face Brown and Gibbs. "Agent Gibbs isn't being exempted. Think of him as a 'special circumstance'."

"And how is that?" Brown asked.

Gibbs folded his arms across his chest and stared Brown in the eyes. "It get me results. Also, I've never had an employee complain."

"I just saw you slap two employees," Brown said. "They both looked like they were in pain and that they were too threatened by you to say anything. Are you really telling me that you've never had a single employee complain?"

"Not to Human Resources," Gibbs smirked.

"Gentlemen, let's try to come to an agreement," Vance said, nodding to the other two men. "Brown, get on board with this 'special circumstance.' If you ever actually have a complaint, you're free to investigate it. And Gibbs…try to keep it to a maximum of three head-slaps per day, per employee."

Gibbs nodded, barely resisting the urge to smile. "I can't promise that. You know how DiNozzo can get."

"Well, do your best," Vance nodded back, dismissing Gibbs.

Brown frowned as the agent walked away. "But-"

"No," Vance said. "The numbers speak for themselves. His team closes the one of the highest percentage of cases in the entire agency, and there are no complainants. We're done here."

The Director turned on his heel and disappeared around the corner, leaving Brown alone on the catwalk.

Brown frowned. From what he had seen recently, Gibbs and his team seemed to have a general disregard for the rules. He was going to have to reevaluate his plans for testing the Handbook.

Tony flicked a paper clip at McGee. "So, do you think Human Resources is going to make Gibbs stop slapping us?"

"Nope," Gibbs said, striding into the bullpen and giving Tony a hard head slap. "The Director gave it the okay. Said that since it gets results, it becomes a 'special circumstance'. So unless one of you wants to complain to Human Resources, expect this for the rest of the time you work here. Or until you learn how to work properly. Whichever comes first."

Tony groaned internally and flopped down in his chair, exchanging glances with McGee and Ziva. They had a painful future to look forward to at NCIS.

Thanks for the great reviews on the last chapter. Each and every one made my day.