Chapter 11:

Taking a deep breath, Edgar stood and wandered around the compact stateroom. Not that there was much space…even though this was the captain's quarters. His memories of this room went a long way back; his dad had been taking the boys on the boat (most of the time when it was docked) practically since they were born. Still looks the same, though. Same wooden paneled walls and blue carpet…but then decorating was never Dad's thing. I bet if Mom had been the one to decide the décor, it sure would look different. Edgar waited for the rush of grief that usually engulfed him when he thought about his mother. This time, however, he felt only a sweet sadness. Blinking back tears that had nothing to do with the coming discipline, the young teen sat back down on the bench seat. A surreal feeling enveloped him…almost like he could feel his mother's hand stroking his cheek. Momma, I'm in trouble again. I didn't want to let Sig go...so I followed him, and stowed away, and almost fell overboard before I caught up to him. He's pretty mad cuz what I did was really dangerous. I wish you were here…even though I know you wouldn't save me from what's coming. You never did …cuz I guess you knew I deserved it. Like this time. It's okay, though, Momma. Sig loves me, and I know he won't give me more than I can handle.

Calm washed over him, and he resolved to take the spanking that was coming without any more begging and pleading. Can't believe I did that. It's hard enough for him to do this without me making it worse for him. Even though he was only wearing thin sleep pants over his boxers, Edgar decided to take them off before Sig came back, to show that he accepted and was ready for the coming punishment. He stuffed them into his backpack and sat back down to wait.


The sky was still covered with grey clouds as Sig slowly made his way back to his quarters. The gale-force winds had died down, and he hoped that Edgar's stomach would fare better now that the water was calmer. Having arranged to cover part of Neil's wheel watch in the afternoon, he now had the time he needed to accomplish the upcoming dreaded task. Taking yet another deep breath, he opened the stateroom door.

Edgar looked up and met his brother's blue-eyed gaze steadily. Sig's eyes traveled over his little brother's lean form, noticing that the boy was now clad in just his boxers and the faded black AC/DC t-shirt that he had slept in.

Smiling slightly, he asked, "That's the shirt I got when Norman and I went to the concert, right?" That was a crazy night. I'm surprised Mom let us go…we were only 14 and 13.

"Yeah, I like to wear it to sleep in." It helps me feel close to you. I like to wear your old stuff.

Sig walked over and sat down. Taking his cue, Edgar stood hesitantly. Sig gently took the boy's arm and maneuvered him to stand between his spread knees. Noting that the green eyes were again trained on the floor, the oldest brother sighed to himself.

"Edgar, look at me, please." Blinking back tears, the boy obeyed.

Taking both the small hands in his own, Sig squeezed slightly. "You know why you're being punished, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me."

Edgar took a deep breath. "I snuck on board a boat that I had no business being on. I lied to Dad and Norman, and now they don't know where I am. I—I almost fell overboard cuz I was puking my guts out. I put myself in a lot of danger and I…" He paused for a moment, wanting to come clean about everything. "I took some food when I was on the Time Bandit."

This was news to Sig. His eyes narrowed. "What did you take?"

The teen looked away for a moment, not wanting to look his brother in the eye. "Ummm, just some steak and onions that Andy cooked for lunch. And some cookies…and a soda."

Bringing his eyes back up without being told, Edgar bravely met Sig's hard look. The boy's cheeks were tinged pink with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Sir. I'll pay Captain Hillstrand for what I took."

"Yes," Sig said sternly. "You will. We'll have to talk to him, and you can tell him what you did." Edgar cringed, hearing the disappointment in his brother's deep voice as he continued, "...you know better than to do something like that."

"I know," was the tearful reply. "I was just so hungry. And then...I threw it up anyway." Sig hid a smirk. Serves him right, I guess. He squeezed Edgar's hands lightly again, lifting them and studying the palms.

"Your hands look as good as new."

Smiling slightly, Edgar looked down at his fully healed hands with a nod.

The reminder of his brother's dangerous activities this past summer brought Sig sharply back to the present. He's STILL making these poor decisions that put him in harm's way. Time to prove to him again that I'm always gonna be strong when it comes to handing out the consequences of those decisions.

"Well, little brother...I think we'd better get this over with."

Satisfied that Edgar understood exactly why this was about to happen, Sig let go of the small hands and sat back on the vinyl bench.

"You remember the last time I spanked you…I had you wrap your arms around my leg? When your hands were still raw?" Edgar sniffed and nodded.

"That's how we're gonna do it this time. The bunk is too high for me to sit on, and this seat is pretty narrow. I want you to feel secure." Spreading his knees wide, the older brother waited, giving Edgar the time he always seemed to need at this point. Sig himself could remember how difficult it had always been... to bend over the table and expose his backside, while his father stood ready with the strap. The difference here was that while Dad had expected instant obedience, Sig was willing to wait and let his little brother come to terms with what was happening. This patience paid off in that it only took about a minute for Edgar to lay down across his brother's knees, wrapping his arms snugly around Sig's left calf.

Sig looked down at the boxer-clad bottom before him. I sincerely hope that this is the last time I'm ever in this position, at least until I have kids of my own. He placed his left hand lightly on Edgar's back, rubbing soothing circles over the soft cotton t-shirt.

Edgar braced himself for the coming punishment, his breath coming quicker as he held tight to his brother's leg. Feeling the soft touch on his back, he sniffed back the tears that were already threatening. Sig always found a way to help him feel safe, even when he was about to set his backside on fire. He rubbed his cheek against the rough denim, finding it oddly comforting.

"You ready?" The older brother asked softly.

He could hear the quiver in the boy's voice as he answered, "Y-yes, Sir."

Sig knew he couldn't put it off any longer. He raised his right hand and brought it down hard on the thinly covered bottom. Edgar let out a small yelp, and held tighter to his brother's leg as more swats rained down, slowly building in intensity. Sig didn't feel the need to lecture. He let his hand do all the talking, the loud smacks echoing in the small room. The tears that had never been far away were soon streaming down Edgar's cheeks, and he began flinching with every smack of his brother's calloused hand.

Sig could feel the heaving of the boy's back, and his heart broke as Edgar's crying became audible. Undeterred, he started landing two to three swats in a row before moving on to the next spot...communicating to his brother in a crystal-clear fashion that his reckless actions were not going to be tolerated. Having already lost the battle of trying to keep quiet and stoic throughout this ordeal...Edgar just let the tears come, soaking Sig's denim-covered knee.

Preparing to finish this part of the punishment, the older brother set his jaw and increased the strength and speed of the swats. Edgar immediately felt the difference, and he began to involuntarily squirm in a vain attempt to avoid the ever-increasing sting.

"Owww, Sig! Please!" he wailed, fighting the urge to fling his hand back to cover his bottom. Deciding that he had made his point, Sig ended with two hard smacks to the bare thighs. Edgar cried piteously, his legs kicking a little as he tried to deal with the intense sting.

"Shhh, that part's over. It's over," the older brother soothed. "It's gonna be okay..." He gently rubbed the boy's head, carding his fingers through the soft brown hair.

Edgar knew that the brush was still to come, and he felt a little panicky. How am I gonna handle that? It already stings so bad…I wish I'd never got on board the Time Bandit. I wish I was at school. I wish...I wish I was ANYWHERE else right now…

Sig was blinking back his own tears and wishing he didn't have to finish this when he felt Edgar twist around. Looking down, his heart broke at the sight of the flushed, teary face. Edgar was still crying, his breathing hitched as he tried to speak.

"Sss-ig…I—I ," his attempt to get the words out was hampered with sobs. Sig tenderly wiped a few tears away with his thumb.

"Shh, take your time. We'll wait a few minutes. Take some deep breaths." Edgar lay his head back on the wet-spotted denim, clasping Sig's leg with his arms as he breathed deeply. The older brother continued to sooth him, rubbing the boy's back as he slowly calmed.

Edgar decided not to try to twist again to face his brother, but he really needed to know.

"Sig, y-you never said how many l-licks I'm gonna get. W-with the brush." Sig's eyes closed as he let out his breath in a rush. Shit...I always tell him how many beforehand. I guess I just forgot.

"You're right, Lil Bror, I didn't. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to leave you hanging." Having already decided, the older brother then answered the question without hesitation.

"You're getting twelve…and the last four are gonna be on your bare bottom." Sig wanted this over in the worst way. "We're gonna finish it now, okay?"

Edgar dissolved back into tears, squirming a little in anticipation as he nodded his head frantically.

Sig wrapped his strong left arm around his brother's middle, to provide comfort as well as help the boy stay in place for the final swats. Twisting his body a little, he picked up the hairbrush with his other hand. Raising it high, he landed two smart smacks, one to each cheek. Edgar yelped loudly, trying hard to stay still as he felt the deep burn settle into his bum. The fire burned hotter and hotter as Sig rained down firm swats, alternating cheeks and covering all areas. Edgar was crying hard tears, squirming in spite of his efforts not to. Reaching number eight, the older brother quickly pulled back the legs of Edgar's boxers...exposing the soft under curve on both sides. He winced at the sight of the bright pink skin, and had to harden his heart to finish the way that he'd promised. The last four smacks landed in quick succession, two to each sit spot. Edgar's head jerked up and he let out a wail.

"Owwww! Oww! Owww!" Sobbing hoarsely, the little brother unexpectedly pushed against Sig's arm, trying to stand. Releasing his hold, tears flooded Sig's eyes as he watched Edgar jump up and grab his rear end. Bouncing on his toes, the boy continued to sob and try to rub out the sting.

Sig winced. His brother had never tried to rub out the sting before. Guess it just hurts too much, he thought sadly. Hardening his heart once more, the older brother raised his voice to be heard over the crying.

"Give me your hands." Edgar's teary eyes widened and he hesitated to obey. Before, he'd always thought that it would be disrespectful for him to rub his backside after Sig spanked him. Now, he couldn't help himself...not that the rubbing was doing much to dull the roaring fire in his butt. Slowly, he let go of his rear end and brought his hands around to place them in Sig's.

Sig's shiny blue eyes communicated his pain. "I know it hurts, Lil Bror. It's meant to, so no more rubbing. The next time you even think about pulling a dangerous stunt like this one, you remember how your butt feels right now. You got me?"

Sig let go of Edgar's hands, his eyes serious. He raised the teen's chin, forcing the eyes up. Determined blue eyes met teary green ones.

"Y-yyess, Sir."

The tears were streaming down his little brother's flushed face, and he hiccupped with noisy sobs. His hands started to go back, but he stopped them at his brother's stern look. Sig shifted his rear end back on the narrow seat with a sigh, drawing the boy between his knees once again.

"C'mere, Kid." Edgar threw himself into his big brother's arms, burying his face against Sig's broad chest. The tears continued, Sig stroking the Edgar's back as he held him tightly.

"M'sorry," was the heartfelt whisper he heard, so soft he almost missed it.

"I know you are. I'm sorry, too. I hated being so tough on you. But, Edgar, you can't keep doing things like this. The ocean is nothing to play with. I could've lost you! And it was that thought going through my mind over and over that made me be ABLE to wallop you so hard. Christ, I hated having to do that! But I can't let your disregard for your own life go unanswered. It's all over now...you and me are square. You're forgiven, totally and completely. The only thing is...and I think you know this….you're not gonna be square with Dad."

Edgar nodded his head against his brother's chest. "I-I know. He-he said he'd spank me bare with his hand, if I ever put myself in danger again." This was news to Sig, who wondered what his father would say when he found out that Edgar had already gotten a pretty severe spanking from his elder brother. He also felt a glimmer of relief, that his father was keeping his promise about the strap.

"I know I told you before that you wouldn't ever be spanked twice for the same thing, but this time...I don't know."

"You think he'll still spank me? Even though you already did?" Edgar blinked back new tears at this thought. Now, with his bottom stinging mightily, his previous bravado over the anticipated punishment from his father was fading. I told myself it was worth it, but my butt hurts so bad right now….I don't even wanna think about what Dad's gonna do.

"Well, kid, I hate to say it…but there's a good chance. Our father is a man of his word. I guess you should consider yourself lucky that you won't have to face him for a couple of weeks." Sig could feel Edgar's body relaxing in his arms, his head lolling a little bit. He felt a frisson of alarm.

"You okay?"

"Yeah..." drawled Edgar drowsily. "I took some more Dramamine while I was waiting for you to come back from talking to Captain Lammond." He burrowed further into Sig's arms, sniffling. Stroking his brother's damp head, Sig sniffed hard himself as a few tears rolled down his own cheeks. The post-discipline guilt was not as bad this time, but it still killed him to cause his little brother pain. Even though it had been necessary pain, he wished it had been someone else...anybody else...that inflicted it. Coming out of his reverie, Sig realized that Edgar had fallen asleep against him.

"Come on, kid. You get some rest." He hefted the lanky teen up in his strong arms, stepping up on the vinyl seat to lay him down on the bunk. Edgar muttered, "Nooo!" holding on tight. Sig chuckled.

Some things never change. He STILL fights taking a nap. Ignoring the protest, he loosened the boy's arms from his neck and settled him on his stomach in the bed. Blinking owlishly, Edgar tucked his arm under his cheek. His other hand reached back, rubbing his sore backside over his boxers. Sig didn't have the heart to scold him. Let him rub. It's over now.

"Get some sleep. I'll wake you in a little while to eat."

"M'kay," was the drowsy reply. Sig gently covered his little brother with the scratchy blanket, rubbing his shoulder lightly as he tucked him in.