Chapter 9

Saturday evening

Gibbs and his team returned late from processing the scene of the crime. Kate felt that they took the majority of the cabin and grounds back with them. Gibbs was very thorough not wanting to leave anything that might be of use in convicting the ones responsible of kidnapping and beating of DiNozzo. Now while they were unload the boxes to be taken to Abby's lab Gibbs was on his way to Autopsy to check on his agent.

When Gibbs walked into Autopsy he wasn't surprised to find Abby already there trying to cheer up his son. Ducky had Tony resting on his couch from the moment of their arrival and now he was in a desperate need of going to the restroom.

"Jethro, you're just in time; young Anthony could use your help in getting to the head."

Gibbs moved into position next to the couch and easily pulled his son up. "You think you can walk, son?"

"With you to help me, I can."

"I see that you have changed into something a bit more comfortable," Gibbs noticing the set of scrubs for the first time.

"Yeah, they aren't as rough as my jeans; I'm too sore to put underwear on," responded Tony at a whisper.

"Then lets get you to where you need to be," replied Gibbs as they walked towards the Autopsy locker room and Tony was able to take care of business. When they had returned Abby was gone.

"Abby said to tell you that she will check back later but now she had to get to work," explained Ducky.

"Then I think it is time to get you home, young man," Gibbs said as he reverted back to father mode.

"Dad!"

"What?"

"Not the 'young man' bit again. I've noticed that whenever I'm hurt and no one is listening I get hit with the 'young man'," grumbled Tony.

Ducky and Gibbs just laughed at Tony but just as quickly grabbed him as he began to falter. "You need to get him home, Jethro" and then turning to Tony Ducky added, "and you young man need to do exactly as your father says….understand?"

Tony nodded as Gibbs asked, "Do you think that you can walk as far as the car for your ride home?"

"As long as I don't have to sit for the trip home," joked Tony.

"I think you've earned a trip home lying down this time, son. Let's give it a try," motioning for Ducky to help and with Ducky or one side and Gibbs on the other was able to make it to the car where he slid on his stomach in the back seat for the ride home.

The ride home was quick and before he knew it Tony was upstairs in his old bedroom. He didn't even protest; it was something so comforting to be with his dad when he wasn't feeling well.

It was when Gibbs helped strip Tony that he saw the extent of his whipping and realized at once why his underwear had been taken. The bastards who had whipped him wanted him to suffer when he walked knowing that his jeans would hurt as they rubbed against his sore bottom.

"Come on son, it will be easier on your bottom if you just sleep in the raw tonight…hopefully by tomorrow you can tolerate wearing underwear again," Gibbs said as he pulled back the sheets allowing Tony to slide in.

Thanks to the painkiller Tony was able to tolerate the sheet on his backside and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Gibbs parked himself in the chair next to the bed to watch over his son…and there he stayed until Tony woke up the next morning.

Tony opened one eye the next morning and nearly panicked when he found himself face down on his bed. For a minute he thought he was back at the cabin but his breathing slowed down as he noticed his father still sitting in the chair next to his bed…asleep.

'Dad, you are going to get a stiff neck if you keep sleeping like that,' he thought before moving ever so careful to get out of bed. He had to go to the bathroom and hadn't wanted to wake his father. He nearly made it when his bottom made contact with the bed and he gasped, waking his father.

"Tony…what's wrong?" Gibbs cried as he realized that the cry of pain came from his son.

"Nothing, just a reminder of the beating I got yesterday," responded Tony as he tried again to get out of bed.

"Here let me help you," cried Gibbs as he moved towards his son. With his father helping him Tony was finally able to get off the bed with little pain. He headed towards the bathroom quickly with Gibbs following behind just in case he was needed.

"Wow…they really did a number on me yesterday," remarked Tony as he was able to see the damage to his backside, "and to think I always thought that you hit too hard."

"Yeah, but my punishments were done out of love and theirs was done to hurt your physically as well as mentally. Are you going to be able to come to terms with this, Tony?"

"Yeah, I think so Dad. I know now that while I was growing up I did a lot of stupid and insensitive things that had to be addressed. While I didn't always like the way you addressed them I know that you corrected me because you cared what type of individual I would grow up to be," Tony said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean while you were growing up, kid; you are still doing some of those stupid things…surely you haven't forgotten the week you spent with your grandpa?"

Tony winced as he remembered, "no that I won't ever forget, Dad," but the spanking you gave me was still done out of love and that you cared…that is what I was talking about."

"I know son, I know. Someday after your grandpa and I are gone you might miss the fact that we won't ever be around to give you a spanking when you need it…because the spankings also serve another purpose they absolve you of your wrongdoings; and that's why I always like to give you a hug afterwards, so you will know that you are forgiven," explained Gibbs as he gazed lovingly at his son. Now let's get you dressed and get some food into you. You must be hungry by now," added Gibbs as he tried to lighten the conversation.

"I am starved…tell you what Dad. I'll get dressed and you fix breakfast…and don't forget to grab a pillow as you go; I know I won't be able to sit in one of your hard chairs without help," joked Tony as he began to pull out some sweats.

Gibbs smiled as he left and soon with pillows in hand headed downstairs.

Sunday morning

NCIS

Gibbs had decided last night to let the four sweat it out in their interrogation rooms while he took Tony home. H wanted them to worry a bit about the trouble they were in and had instruct his people to make the rooms as cold and noisy as possible…so they would definitely be on edge when he interrogated them. He had called while Tony was sleeping and directed Kate and McGee to leave as soon as they had left all of the evidence with Abby but told them to return by 0700 Sunday. Abby was given the same message but she had ignored him opting to continue and sleep in her lab instead.

Tony insisted on accompanying his father to work that morning, dressed in the softest pair of sweat pants he had and an Ohio State T-shirt. He also was wearing a pair of boxers instead of normal briefs.

Before Gibbs even thought about interrogation he insisted that Tony visit Ducky for a check up and if he still needed a painkiller Ducky would be able to apply that as well.

"Duck…check Tony out. He says he's fine but I can tell that he isn't being completely truthful."

"Dad! He'll make me strip for a check up," argued Tony.

Gibbs didn't even pay Tony any mind when he repeated his earlier request. "Check him out, Duck and if he meets with your approval send him to interrogation room one where he will stay in the observation room," ordered Gibbs.

"Come on Anthony, the soon you drop your pants and bend over the sooner you will be on your way," instructed Ducky as Gibbs left the room.

"But this isn't necessary," grumbled.

Gibbs hearing not being a problem turned around and added, "Tony…I know that you aren't going to disobey an order and think that just because you are too injured to get another spanking that you won't receive it once you are well."

Ducky had a hard time not to laugh out loud at Tony's expression or the fact that he was in the process of lowering his sweatpants just seconds later.

********************

Gibbs entered the interrogation rooms holding the Johnston brothers and took little time in getting confessions of their participation in the kidnapping and assault on a federal agent. Gibbs felt that the brothers had readily confessed because they expected the charges to be dropped like they had been back home. They would have quite a surprise coming when they learned other wise.

He then went to the room housing the boyfriend, Steve Jenkins who bent over backwards to squeal on everyone as long as it got him a lighter sentence. He even confirmed Gibbs suspicions that the reason for the beating Petty Officer Matthews had received stemmed from his talking to Lucy May. She seemed to be the vindicated little witch he pegged her as being.

Then Gibbs went to interrogate Lucy, saving her for last since he blamed her most for the whole crime. When he entered he saw that she was definitely on edge; and smiled knowing that she was more likely to let something slip and convict them all.

Lucy looked up and began to yell as soon as she recognized who it was.

"It's about time you got here," she ranted, "I've never been treated as badly as I have while here. Your people didn't offer me anything to eat or drink, kept me in this lighted room all night without any chance of getting any sleep and when I did doze off someone would drop something and wake me up…and I'm sure I'll catch a something due to the coldness in this room," and on she went while Gibbs only stared at her.

He didn't give a damn if she was uncomfortable, it was a small price for what she and her family put his son through. After a while Lucy changed her tactics and asked,

"How is Agent Tony…you know I really didn't want anything to happened to him…it was my jealous boyfriend whose to blame…he gets mad if I even glance at another male and Agent Tony is so cute," and when that didn't get a response from Gibbs she changed her tactics once again.

"You know there are no way you can make any of your charges stick and even if you do once we show the papers and network the pictures that were taken; your agent will be the laughing stock of the country," she threatened. "We have pictures of him being beating and his cries and sobs and afterwards Dave took a picture of his red bottom…how would you like everyone to see that Agent Gibbs," she said vindicated.

Before Gibbs could reply the door opened and Tony burst in. "I'm sorry boss; I just couldn't stand by and listen to this without replying. You little bitch, do you think you can blackmail me or my boss into accepting your terms and letting a piece of filth like you or your family walk away to do this to some other poor soul. I don't care if you do have pictures I'm not dropping any charges," shouted Tony as he came face to face with Lucy.

"DiNozzo…that's enough; leave, now and I'll be talking with you later about this break of procedure," ordered Gibbs as he glared at his son.

Tony nodded and left his father to do what he did best…break dirtbags and went down to stay with Abby.

When Gibbs turned back to Lucy he could see the indecision on her face. Tony's remarks had shaken her and now he was ready to go in for the kill.

"Before we were interrupted, I was about to show you something Miss Johnston," began Gibbs as he took several photographs out of the folder he carried, "are these the pictures you were threatening me with?"

Lucy paled as she recognized that they were indeed the pictures she thought they could use. "You found them," she said simply, all of the fight driven out of her.

"Yep, there will be no photographs leaked to the press and my agent's name won't be dragged through the mud so you can walk. While we were searching the cabin for evidence linking you with Agent DiNozzo kidnapping we also found these," producing a another set of pictures but these were of Petty Officer Matthews being beating and the accused were all seen clearly in that beating even Lucy.

"When we are finished with you and your family, with the exception of your father who's background check came up clear, you all will be facing some years in a federal penitentiary, most likely Leavenworth," declared Gibbs upon leaving.

******************

After leaving the interrogation area Gibbs went in search of his son. He wasn't in the squad room or Autopsy and Gibbs knew he had to be with the only other person that really knew him, Abby. They had always considered them to be siblings and had often gone to each other when they were in trouble or hiding from Gibbs. So Gibbs hadn't been surprise to find him with Abby now, he was residing on his stomach on her futon watching her work as Gibbs walked in.

"Abby would you mind going to see if Ducky needs anything," requested Gibbs upon entering.

"You know all you have to do is just tell me to get lose for a few minutes," remarked Abby with a smile. "I think I will go and check with Ducky," she obediently said as Gibbs turned his glare in her direction.

Gibbs waited until Abby had left before turning his attention back on his son.

"I'm sorry Dad, for breaking in on you like that. I just didn't want you to have to make the decision about not giving in to their blackmail. I wanted her to see that their beating didn't make me weak," explained Tony as he looked up into his father's face.

"Son, I came in here to tell you that you have better never interrupt a interrogation of mine like that again….and to tell you that I have never been so proud of you as I am now when you stood up to her blackmail scheme and told her that no matter what the charges would not be dropped," Gibbs said proudly as he bent down to hug his son.

"Aww…that is so sweet Gibbs," cried Abby from behind them.

"I thought I told you to go to Autopsy?" barked Gibbs.

"But you didn't tell me how long I had to stay," replied Abby with a smile.

"Come here," ordered Gibbs and when she approached gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Dad," Tony started, "I want to apologize for not believing your gut Friday night. It's never been wrong before but there I was ignoring it and if I had stayed with you this would have never happened.

"Your gut???" asked Abby curiously.

"Dad and I had supper a t his place Friday night, Abs," explained Tony, "Dad tried to warn me about going home…he had a feeling and I ignore it and left anyhow…that was how they were able to catch me. They were waiting for my arrival and grabbed me. I only had time to call and warn Dad but nothing else."

"Oh, I see…but Tony, you of all people should have known to always listen to Gibbs' gut."

"I know and that is why I'm apologizing, Abs."

"You have nothing to apologize for son…if I had just kept you with me this wouldn't have happened either," cried Gibbs, but I tell you the next time I will keep you from leaving whenever I have a strong feeling of something being wrong.

"Yeah, and how to you supposed on doing that?" argued Tony playfully.

"I don't know…lock you in your room," suggested Gibbs smiling.

"I know what you can use the next time, Gibbs," cried Abby as she joined into their game.

"What?"

"You can strip him naked…then he couldn't leave!"

"Abs! Don't give him any ideas; he'll do it next time," groaned Tony as Abby and Gibbs began to laugh…their Tony was back and he would be okay…

The End

A/N I want to thank finlaure for her comment in her review of chapter 11 of the story Memories.."someday Tony will want to give
anything to have one more spanking from his grandfather, or his father". I was able to use it in this chapter and I want to thank you for the sentiment.