-Where to go to from here-
"Good morning." I walked into the kitchen a little wary. Since our talk yesterday I felt a little naked. It was weird not having the anger to hide behind and kid myself with.
"Good morning." King smiled his eye-wrinkling smile at me and drew me into a quick side armed hug. "What kind of pancakes would you like?"
"Extra chocolate chip and blue berries, please."
"Does that make them less unhealthy?" Chris wondered with a grin from where he was sat with Will at the table.
"Jay thinks so at least." Will teased light heartedly.
"That's what you think about putting peanut butter on plain ones." I reminded him. "What's happening today by the way?"
"First of all, we are going to have a talk about your rules. There are a few more we are going to add to the list."
"Why?"
"Because there is a need." Chris answered firmly. "Secondly, we are going to talk to your parents. There are a few things we need to start thinking about. Thirdly you have homework. And then it's quality time on the agenda."
"Sounds like a fun day." I muttered sarcastically.
"First we will have breakfast in peace. Sit down Jay."
"Can't we discuss the rules at the same time? It's not like I can stop thinking about it."
"Eat first."
-Finding a way-
"Could you repeat your rules please?" King asked me once we were seated in the living room.
"No lying, be respectful, eye contact, no putting myself or anybody else in danger and keeping you informed of my whereabouts when I'm your problem."
"No lying means what?" King asked, ignoring the "your problem" bit for now.
"No upright lying, lying by omission or half-truths.".
"What about your stone face, do you feel like that is lying?"
"Not in itself." I protested. Sure, I usually used it when I wanted to keep somebody out of the loop but in itself? No.
"But does it fit into the category if we add; no hiding things?"
"I guess." I muttered unwilling to give up my best way of keeping everybody out of the loop.
"Then we'll add that to your rules. Your stone face is a thing of the past Jason. It's both disrespectful and classifies as lying in my book. Are we clear on that?"
"Yes sir." I wasn't happy about it, but knowing Chris was going to hand me my ass later was enough for me to bite my tongue. Besides, if I only had to see them once a week, I could keep a lot of things to myself anyway. How much could they possibly get out of me in an hour?
"Good. And this is all I'm going to say about the topic, but your brother deserves your respect, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes sir." I repeated, blushing. I knew I hadn't exactly treated Will with the respect he deserved the past few months.
"We also wanted to add a rule about taking off since your habit of doing so seems to be a hard one to break. I think it already falls under the last category, but just to make sure we are on the same page. And then lastly, in light of recent information there are two new rules: Your bedtime is 10 pm every night. I want you laying in your bed by that time. We are going to talk more about bedtime routines to make sure you get proper rest, but I wanted you to be aware of that becoming a proper rule. A rule you will follow even when you aren't here. The other new rule is that unless you want to be grounded, we expect you to have a B average in school. If you are struggling with a subject, you can always come to us for help. Don't stay quiet on us kid. Does these seem fair to you?"
"I guess." I sighed, not thrilled about having more rules to follow.
"Does a B average seem manageable? It's half a grade lower than you had two years ago." King pressed, and I felt touched that he cared enough to ask.
"Do I have a choice?" I still asked snappishly.
"If you speak up now. We trust you to tell us honestly if it's something you can't manage." I grimaced at his words. By wording it that way and talking about trust King had made it almost impossible for me to lie about struggling.
"Once I get my grades back up I should be able to handle it." I admitted.
"Good boy." King praised. "I think you've realized it already but listening to and doing as Chris says is unnegotiable. He is just as capable as and has as much authority as I do to deal with any rule breaking.
"I know."
"Now about how we'll make this work." Chris started. "It would be best to have a special day when you usually check in with us and if something big happens, we'll let you know and take it another day instead. Since our schedule is changing all of the time, you get to pick the day."
"Tuesday. Mondays sucks enough as it is."
"Okay. Tuesday it is."
"You know where the office is, right?" I nodded. It had been two years since I'd been there but I had biked past it a few times since. "It shouldn't take you longer than ten minutes on your bike from school so you can check in with us right after your school day ends."
"Sure."
"Now about who deals with what; we still need to talk to your parents but the bottom line is that any misbehavior that happens during our watch or we catch you in, Chris and/or I will deal with."
"I'm not that much trouble." I protested. After the past few days I didn't intend to let either of them catch me doing anything I could get a spanking for.
"Nobody said that. It's just so you know what to expect." King said calmly. "Don't try to find a hidden meaning behind our words that we didn't put there." I nodded that I had heard, but didn't otherwise answer. Instead, I pushed the conversation forward; wanting it over and done with as soon as possible.
"What else?"
Chris and King shared a look that didn't bode well for me.
"What?!" I demanded impatiently.
"Let's talk to your parents before we decide anything. Chris and I want to discuss a few things first and then we'll all talk to you, okay?"
"There you go again deciding about my life behind my back." I grumbled.
"Yes. Because I think it's best that we grown ups come to a solution first, before we include you in the discussion. You will still get your say in some things, but not everything." I glared at him, but with yesterday's spanking fresh on my mind, I didn't want to push my luck before it was absolutely needed.
"While we chat with your parents you can write down your rules. Will, get your brother a paper and a pen please." Chris ordered.
"Suck-up." I muttered when Will instantly rose to do as asked.
"Seems like there is another rule that's needed." Chris observed, having overheard my comment. "Or at least a clarification of the respect rule. Why don't you tell me Jay what you think that rule includes?"
"Being respectful. Using a respectful language, I guess. Following the rules."
"Yes and who should you be respectful towards?"
"Well, everyone. Because that's good manners."
"Good boy." Chris's praise was instant and I ducked my head.
"Put down all the specifics of the rules too so that it's 100% clear." King requested and ruffled my hair affectionally before standing. "Give us about half an hour. If you are done before us, you are free to do what you want, just don't leave the property."
-Finding a way-
"We talked to your parents and we all agreed on the best course of action. Chris and I seldom work 7 days a week. It happens if there is a time sensitive case, but we'll deal with that when it happens." King told me once they joined us again.
"I'm not following."
"We agreed that whenever your Mom has a night shift or has to work overtime, you'll stay here. That way you don't have to sleep alone at your place and we can work on both your homework and bedtime routine, as well as spend some quality time together."
"That's not the 'check in once a week deal' we agreed on." I protested upset. As much as I hated the thought of more nights alone in our big house, I really wasn't keen on having to spend more time with King and Chris than possible.
"No it's not, but we do think it's for the best. Your Mom get's her schedule once a month so we can plan according to it."
"And what if you have a case then?! Besides, Will is home for two months, so I won't be alone."
"He has a point." Will admitted.
"You need to study though, not keep track of your brother." Chris told him firmly.
"I won't study 15 hours a day Chris." Will protested.
"How about this? As long as Will is home you can sleep at home, but instead I want you to come by the office the afternoons your Mom is working so we can make sure your homework gets done."
"That's still more than one afternoon every week."
"You've got your only choices." King replied firmly. "Call it probation or half-grounding, but you are on a short leash right now kiddo."
"Not fair." I grumbled, and kicked the coffee table for emphasis.
"Life isn't fair." I glared at Chris then who met my gaze steadily, daring me to act on my anger.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Not really, no."
"Afternoons then." At least that was better than sleeping at King's. Who knew what I would say or do when I was tired?!
"It's decided then." King said with finality.
-Finding a way-
"I know what I did wrong Chris, can't we please leave it at that?" I pleaded once the inevitable knock on my door sounded later that afternoon.
"No. I intend to make the lesson stick." I watched in growing horror as Chris unbuckled his belt and laid it on the bed next to where he had sat down.
"Chris! No, please don't." I pleaded; my eyes fixated on the belt.
"Think about what major rules you broke repeatedly."
"I endangered myself by leaving King's place by myself. I didn't let anybody know where I was going and I went to a bar and drank alcohol." I rattled off, almost on auto pilot, my eyes still fixated on the belt.
"How many times did you break the same rule?"
"Four." I winced internally. It hadn't seemed so bad while I did it, but in hindsight I could see why Chris felt it warranted the belt. Didn't mean I wanted him to use it though.
"So, can you see where I'm coming from?"
"Maybe." I admitted. "But I've learned my lesson, I promise. And besides, you handled everything but the drinking."
"That's good but it won't save you." Chris beckoned me to him. "And it's the drinking part that will get you a taste of my belt."
"Chris, no! Not the belt! Please!" I pleaded and stayed rooted to the spot.
"Come here." He ordered gently. "Before you do something you'll regret."
"No. Not as long as you intend to use your belt."
"We'll talk first."
"I'm good talking from here."
"Jason."
"Have you used it on Will?"
"Yes. More than once and the lesson seemed to stick for a long time afterwards."
"That doesn't reassure me."
"Are you scared of me or the spanking?"
"I'm not scared." I protested even though I knew I wasn't kidding anybody.
"Jason." He sighed. "Just come here please."
"No way." I shook my head and started backing towards the door.
"Kiddo…" Chris's voice held a warning in it.
"Not the belt." I pleaded.
"We'll talk if you come over here." Chris promised, holding out a hand for me.
"Put that back on and I might believe you." I took another step backwards.
"Running won't solve anything."
"So you keep saying." I kept inching towards the door.
"Remember what I told you when I busted you for drinking?! I don't tolerate running. Come here Jay before you panic."
Call me stupid but I turned on my heel and was out the door in a flash. Chris had given me too long to think and I had planned my escape route carefully the day I arrived. I hurried downstairs, hearing Chris closing in on me. Hiding was a much better option than trying to outrun Chris, so I with a quick glance over my shoulder suddenly turned right and reached for the door to the backyard. My fingers closed around the handle but before I could get the door open Chris had a steady arm around my chest, keeping me where I was. With the other one he loosened my grip on the handle carefully. Then he without ever loosing contact with me, swung me over his shoulder in a fireman hold.
"Let me down!" I pounded on Chris's back angrily.
"No, you and I are going to have a chat." King suddenly emerged from the kitchen and wiped his hands on the apron he had on.
"What's going on?"
"Kid tried to run. He isn't too keen on me using my belt."
"Jay..." King's tone was laced with disappointment. "We are going to talk more about your running habit, but for now I'll join you. Just let me put the casserole I the oven. I'll be up in a minute."
Chris nodded and started walking up the stairs with me determinately. Back in my bedroom he waited until King joined us to put me down on my bed.
"Sit."
"I think we've discussed you treating me like a dog before." I commented, glaring at him. He only raised an eyebrow in return.
"Sit down, Jay." King ordered from where he stood leaning against my closed bedroom door.
"Fine!" I spat, seeing no chance to escape now.
"Running like that only means I'm going to put you over my knee for a warm up with my hand before using the belt. Be thankful that I stopped you from really taking off or you would be looking at double." Resigned to my faith, I only glared at him in response. "It's going to hurt, and you will remember it, but you forced my hand kid, when you tried alcohol at 14. Let's get it over with."
Mindful of King and his hands of steel only a few steps away, I let Chris flip me over his knee without protesting. I even managed to stay quiet during the warm up as Chris had called it, but once he stopped to pick up the belt, I had to say something:
"Doesn't circumstances mean anything to you?! King kind of turned my life upside down less than an hour before I made the decision to drink."
"A decision in which you used a fake ID. Whatever way you twist it Jay, it well and truly warrants the belt."
"But I've learnt my lesson!" I protested, furiously blinking back my tears. I wouldn't admit it but I was getting scared and working myself up because of it.
"You've never been spanked with a belt before, have you?" King asked in sudden realization and knelt down next to my head, gently running a hand through my hair to calm me down a bit.
"No." I admitted quietly.
"Oh kid." Chris groaned above me. "You need to tell us these things so that we know. The lesson is meant to stick sure, but that doesn't mean I want you scared out of your mind. If I had known I would have gone about this all differently." Chris sounded regretful now. "Have you ever been spanked with anything but a hand?" I shook my head. No. Never.
"Okay. You'll be okay. I'll stay here." King murmured and kept running his hand through my hair to keep me from freaking out.
"You get to keep your pants this time, but if it happens again, you won't have the same luxury." Chris warned me before settling the belt against my butt. "You are still getting four. You don't need to keep a count, but it might help you knowing. As I said it will hurt, but it won't last. Are you ready?"
"Never. But I want it to be over."
"In that case I'm going to start now." The four licks came down in quick succession. Either Chris wanted them done with as badly as me or he knew I would only freak out more if I had time to think about and anticipate the next lick of the belt. Still, I couldn't control the tears that streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably after the first lick.
"It's okay, you are forgiven." Chris murmured and rubbed soothing circles on my back for a moment before righting me into his arms. When I out of sheer habit by this point tried to get free from the hug, Chris only tightened his arms around me. "Cry as long as you need to, we aren't going anywhere." King moved next to us and kept up with his hair rubbing. A part of me wanted to keep fighting the comfort they gave, to demand Chis to let me go so I could curl up into a ball and tell myself I didn't need them. But the bigger part that felt calm and secure and loved in their arms won, and I lent my head against Chris's shoulder in response, inhaling his scent and letting it calm me.
"Love you, kiddo. And there is nothing you can do to change it."
A/N: Reviews are as always highly appreciated!