Hello, my loyal readers!

I've been finishing out the semester - two giant papers and an exam are all what are left. Anyway, that's why the writing and updates have been slower lately. I've been saving this one to tide everyone through. It will probably be at least two weeks before another update on any stories are even a possibility. I appreciate your patience, everyone!

Thank you to my lovely reviewers - Troubled-Angel-26, dawnmarie1971, Earthdragon (thanks for reviewing twice ;D), JessicaG06, Loads of Randomness, didemi, Luvreading67, Sarai, Guest, Suzy Q1068, Fan, DS2010, NaughtyAngelBrat, KrisShannon, xstargirlx123, NCISLover (you also reviewed twice, and I like your idea; I'm not sure if I'm going to use it but it was lovely, so thank you for sharing!), and two Guests (not sure if you are the same as the previous guest or if there were three separate people, but thank you to everyone!).

Now, enjoy!

...

Gibbs had been in many awful situations, but he found himself struggling to think of a worse situation to be in as he slowly trudged up the stairs to Ziva's room. He felt sick to his stomach but tried to ignore the feeling. Ziva was the one who had been wronged. He might have been tricked by Abby's sob story at the start of the situation, but he had been an idiot. Why had he not checked his understanding of the situation thoroughly with Ziva before raising a hand to smack her bottom? Why had he scolded instead of listened? Why had he crushed her heart instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt? A Bible verse from long-ago Sunday school drifted back to mind - "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." Yes, he had utterly failed at that today.

And Ziva - his poor, precious Ziver - had paid the price. Her lashing out and quick temper had been nothing compared to his lapse of good judgement.

How can this ever be made right? I failed her - my ... my daughter.

He wanted to hang back, to avoid having to go into the room to see the distraught young woman who he could hear crying from the hall. Ziva had gotten better are understanding that crying during and after discipline was not only admissible but encouraged, but she still was less likely to resort to crying to unleash her emotions after a spanking than any of the others. Sulking and sleeping it off were her more common choices. Ten minutes later and she was still sniffling - what have I done?

Gibbs rapped lightly on the door, then opened it a crack as he asked, "Ziva, can I talk to you for minute?"

"I said I was sorry," came a low whimper.

Gibbs pushed the door open a little bit more and moved quietly over to the bed. He hesitated before sitting on the side, then hesitated again before reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. "I'm the one who's sorry. So, so sorry, Ziver. And I have no idea on how to make this right."

"Y...you?" Ziva sniffled, turning around with a wince as the motion made the blanket draped over her rub against her bare bottom hidden underneath. Her voice cracked a little as she asked, "Why are you sorry, Gibbs?"

"I ..." Gibbs paused and fought past the tightness in his throat, blinking back the tear that came to his eyes. "Ziva, I didn't stop and ask you why you reacted by shaking Abby. She explained and ... there's no way I would have punished you in that way if I had known what started it."

"You did not ask. I did not think you would care," Ziva mumbled against her pillowcase.

Gibbs fought back the nausea Ziva's words added.

"I ... do. And I was wrong, Ziva. Very, very wrong. I had always promised myself that I wouldn't punish a kid in anger and ... even though I thought I was calm enough to deal with you, I clearly wasn't if I couldn't take five minutes to ask what got you that upset. I'm sorry. I don't know how to make it right to you."

"Then do not spank me ever again!" Ziva huffed.

"Okay. I won't."

The quiet words shocked Ziva and she sat up and turned to Gibbs, her surprise at the agreement overriding the pain in her bottom.

"Wha... what? Are you giving up on me because I shook Abby?!" Ziva's voice was loud and shrill with shock.

"No. No, Ziver! But if you can't trust me to spank you, I'll never do it again. I understand - I broke your trust."

Ziva stared at him in surprise before squirming into a position without so pressure on her still-sore backside.

"Re...really? But that would mean you would not want me on your team anymore!" The horror was clear in her voice and Gibbs rushed to reassure her, feeling relief that at least she was not eager to abandon the team.

"No. You're on my team until you're ready to go elsewhere, or the agency needs your talents in another area -although I hope that won't be anytime soon. You were on my team for what? A year before I gave you your first spanking? As far as I can remember, you learned to follow the rules pretty well anyway..."

"Because you left me behind when I did not!" Ziva's voice was still indignant at the memory of being left behind for disobeying orders. It had stung her soul in a way that even a spanking did not.

Gibbs felt a slight smile come to his face at the indignant tone, despite the situation. Ziva hated being left out of the action. Her frustration at being left behind had been part of the reason why he more often spanked then grounded her. There were times that warranted being left behind, but he tried to be careful in using it with any of his team and especially Ziver.

"Well, we can work things out when we've had time to think about it. But no more spankings. We can use groundings and chores and other discipline methods when needed."

"But ... will you still spank everyone else?" Ziva asked.

"Yes, unless they tell me some day that they don't trust me to spank them. Abby's about to get a big one for hiding the fact that she was the instigator of this whole fight," Gibbs answered a little grimly.

Ziva gave a little nod - that seemed fair. But the idea of being grounded or left behind when everyone else got spankings and then moved on with their lives? This would require some more consideration on her part.

Very careful consideration.

...

Thank you for reading! If you want to review, please do so. I love hearing from my readers if they are in a talkative mood. :D