Disclaimer: Of course NCIS… characters… and such belong to the powers that be & not ME!!! Story created for purely entertainment value.

You know the drill… I haven't purchased the rights in the last 24 hours… I still don't own it!

A/N: Thank you to the many readers that have shown their support for this story with their reviews, PMs, questions, criticisms (yes those are important to if they're constructive) and tags as a favorite story/author :-)!

Warning: THIS STORY will CONTAIN NON-SEXUAL SPANKING; ABORT THE MISSION… DO NOT READ… TURN BACK NOW IF THIS ISN'T YOUR THING.

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She had been careful not to toss and turn. Lying on her stomach with her head buried in her pillow most of the night had been spent sobbing… out of both pain and guilt. Her mother had tried comforting her and talking, but her words fell on deaf ears. Sometimes a good cry was what was needed most, so she was left to it. Finally drifting off at some point the wrung out college freshman was jarred from fitful slumber by the earthquake type rumbling her bed experienced. Had she been 3,000 miles west she would have been certain it was one.

"Hi ya Kate!" Holy-freaking-nightmare she thought. I must seriously be miss…

"Ow, what the… TONY!" Abandoning caution Kate flipped over to sit up and face her brother. She was in shock that he was actually there and that it was so early.

"Oh, come on you used to be able to take a hit better than that Katie."

Punching him in the shoulder she countered with, "Well, I've already taken my fair share for one night. What are you doing here? I didn't think you were coming until much later."

Pushing his lanky body back on to the headboard Tony stretched his legs out and threw his arms open, "come tell big brother all about it."

Kate just shook her head. Had she actually been missing the big lug… yeah, she did. Rolling over she put her head on his lap and told him all about what happened just a few hours before.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Flashback

KATE'S BEDROOM

Kate had changed, brushed her teeth, paced, sat at her desk to journal, checked her phone a few times, and contemplated calling Ash… immediately abandoning the idea. Being caught on the phone with the boyfriend was definitely a bad idea. She knew her parents had been talking about her. Undoubtedly, compromising on the severity of her punishment, at least she hoped it was compromising. Kate was depending on her mother to run interference. She never heard Abby come up. Her sister must have been warned to stay put until the older of the two had been dealt with. Settling on her bed lost in thoughts of all the ways her brother would make her 'pay' him back the door opening didn't get her attention instantaneously, but the voice did.

"Caitlin Marie," Gibbs' crooked his finger drawing his daughter to him. She was clear that hesitation on her part would only seem like more blatant disobedience and she didn't need the added charge. She also didn't open her mouth because that too would not help.

"I think you know that leaving this house, besides going to the Mallards, won't happen until I take you back to Georgetown."

Her mouth only curled to being forming words when a glare from her dad had her clamp her lips shut once more. Guiding her by the shoulder toward the only chair in the room Kate swallowed deeply but inaudibly. She hated when her dad got all 'old-fashion' on her to prove a point.

Settling her over his knee she barely winced when she felt her pajama bottoms and panties head south. Kate went rigid feeling both sets of cheeks turn red. She hated this and her anger at it was coming back full force. Drawing in a breath she held it tight.

Tapping her shoulder Gibbs said only one word, "breathe," before bringing his hand down on her bared backside. Talk about not holding back. There was no lecture. No words were spoken. Only the sounds of heavy breathing, shallow gasp and flesh on flesh could be heard.

It would seem that getting the belt would be worse, but a true over the knee spanking with his hand was always worse. That consensus had been reached some time ago by his children. Over the knee meant you didn't just do something dumb that was a clear bonehead move or bad choice. Over the knee with his hand meant he was deeply disappointed and that the length of the spanking would be undetermined. Kate's two weeks of selfish lying and the fact that she let her brother take all the blame placed her squarely on the course for what Tony had once called a very humbling experience.

When the heck had she lost count? Suddenly feeling her clothes take the journey back north the hand on her back was gentle as she composed herself. Placing his hand under her arm Gibbs pulled her upright. Her face was still cherry tomato red. Not making a sound or eye contact Kate rubbed the tears off her face. Tipping her chin to get her undivided attention Leroy Jethro Gibbs laid down the new law of the land.

"On Tuesday the three of you will take a little trip with me back to Hilton where you will present Mrs. Updike with an overwhelmingly apologetic letter that you'll spend the next few days working on. Your mom seems to think we have little control over your choices when you're at school. I completely disagree. We're putting in a request for a housing change. Perhaps moving to a quiet floor in Harbin Hall near the chaplain will help you keep focus. You will not get your car this spring. We'll put it back on the table after your birthday."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Do we need to revisit part one of this conversation?" Gibbs responded.

The sting in her backside had her responding quickly. "No sir."

"You're also home on weekends until further notice."

"Great you're not making me break-up with Ashen you're just making it impossible for me to see him." In her mind Kate thought 'crap was that out loud'. The at once renewed heat in her butt confirmed that it was.

"I suggest you don't say anything else."

Walking her to the bed Gibbs pulled back the covers and wordlessly indicated it was time for her to go to bed. Climbing in bed solidified Kate's feeling that she was six years old again. Once on her stomach she buried her head in the pillow completing the picture of immaturity. She knew she deserved it all, but it took her a while to own it or verbalize it. Luckily her daddy was well aware. Pulling the covers up Gibbs kissed her head.

"I know you're still angry and I know it'll pass. Katie-lin your mom and I want you to be the best you can be in life. Sometimes that means you need to be reminded of the better choices we expect you to make. It might seem like the last thing you want right now, but I will always be here to set you back on track."

He said 'I love you' as he kissed her head again, since she never came up from the pillow for air. Leaving the room the compassionate father left the stern Gunny behind. Passing his wife as she left their other daughter's room Gibbs placed a kiss on her lips and smirked as she made her way Kate's door. It was time for the 'good-cop' to make it all better.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Present

Kate's Bedroom

By now they were sitting side-by-side propped up on the headboard. "Sorry Katie-did. I never said…"

"I know Tony. You were a much better brother to me than I was a sister to you."

"Hey, forget it. I backed you because I wanted to and I knew you'd owe me." Kate elbowed him.

"Okay, I'm kidding. I'm sorry it didn't work out. He's making us face Updike the battle axe? I kinda wanted her to remember me as an image in a photograph."

"Wasn't my choice maybe you can change his mind."

"I'm not even going to try. Let's keep it quiet for a few days." Hopping off her bed Tony headed to the door.

"Hello, you wake me up and then just leave."

"I'm dying here Kate. I gotta get some sleep before Abby gets up and dad and Grandpa Jack find something they want me to do. It's like those two have never heard the phrase 'taking it easy'."

Sliding back under the covers his sister tossed a 'night T-man' at him.

"Morning," Tony (ever the big brother into corrections) tossed back.

***Epilogue coming up next.