Author's Note:
So here's the much anticipated next chapter of Tali's weekend with Grandpa Gibbs.
WARNING: This chapter includes spanking of a child as discipline. If this upsets or offends you in any manner, please don't continue reading.
For those along for the ride, please read and review. This was a tough chapter for me to write and it went through many edits! A big thank you to all my faithful readers and reviewers and MaidenMoonshine for being my editor and support!
Happy Monday! : )
Chapter Six
Tali trailed Gibbs out to the car and got into her seat without a word. He buckled her in and got into the drivers seat.
"Grandpa Gibbs," Tali started in a small voice.
"No talking right now, Tali," Gibbs directed in a stern tone. "We'll be home soon enough."
Tali dropped her head and started to cry quietly. This had gone all wrong. She had hoped to tell Gibbs what she did before he heard it elsewhere.
Soon enough, the car pulled into the driveway and Gibbs opened Tali's door to help her out. His stern demeanor softened as he saw the trails of tears on her little cheeks.
"Come on," he said gently. "Let's go."
Tali obeyed, wishing she had made a different choice with every step. Soon she was sitting on the couch with Gibbs across from her on the coffee table.
"Tell me everything," Gibbs commanded. "Start at the beginning."
"But, but you already know," Tali responded, tears threatening to fall again. "I don't know how you know but you do. I asked Ms. Wilson to call because I needed to tell you first. I feel terrible. My stomach hurts. I know you're mad at me. And Abba and Ima would be too. And…and…I don't want to go to jail!"
Tali burst into tears, covering her face with her hands as she sobbed. Gibbs immediately moved to the couch and picked Tali up, rubbing her back as she cried on his lap.
"Hey, hey it's okay now. We're going to fix this. And you're not going to jail. I promise."
Tali kept crying and Gibbs hoped his words had gotten through to her even though she was upset. He sat silently for a few minutes as Tali began to calm.
"But Ima and Abba said people who steal go to jail!"
Gibbs's heart was breaking to see how much fear and guilt Tali was carrying over her theft. He rubbed her back a little more and kissed the top of her head.
"Tali, I want you to listen to me, okay?" He said slowly.
The little girl nodded.
"Ima and Abba are right. People who steal sometimes go to jail. But no one is going to send a six year old to jail for stealing a pencil."
Tali's whole body relaxed at that statement.
"But that doesn't mean you are off the hook, young lady," Gibbs said, adopting a more stern tone. "Stealing is wrong and you know it."
Tali opened her mouth to say something but Gibbs beat her to it.
"And I don't care that it was a dare. Or that Madison's brother said it was a game," Gibbs added. "Stealing is wrong for any reason."
Tali hung her head but remained silent.
"Now, look at me," Gibbs said. "I am proud of you for calling me even though you didn't know Madison's mom had already told me what happened. That took guts, kid."
Gibbs let that sink in before he continued. He knew Tali wouldn't like this next part – he disliked it even more – but he had to continue. Ziva and Tony has long ago given Gibbs permission to discipline Tali as needed when she was under his care.
It would have gone without saying that spankings would be part of that discipline, considering Gibbs disciplined his kids in that same manner when needed. But the trio had talked extensively about it when Tali grew old enough to understand discipline. Tony and Ziva made it clear they expected Gibbs to provide guidance and discipline for Tali – including spankings – in the same way he did for them.
It was because of their insistence and faith in him, that Gibbs continued.
"But you will still have consequences, Tali. I'm going to give you a spanking. And then we are going back to the hardware store and you're going to return the pencil."
Tali started crying, knowing even at her young age, that when Grandpa Gibbs made up his mind, that was it. If he said he was going to spank her, then that is what was going to happen. He wasn't like Abba in that way. Occasionally, Tali could convince her dad that she had learned her lesson without the promised spanking. That never worked with Grandpa Gibbs.
Tali suddenly had the urge to run away and somehow Gibbs seemed to sense that. He held her gently and firmly as he stood her in front of him between his legs.
"Talia Elizabeth, tell me why you're getting a spanking."
Tali responded with more tears. Gibbs waited patiently, even though he wanted to get this over as soon as possible.
"We're not moving on until this is done, Tali. I need to know you understand why you are being disciplined."
"Be-because I stole a pe-pencilll…" Tali eeked out around her tears.
"That's right," Gibbs affirmed softly as he lifted Tali to lay over his lap.
Gibbs began spanking the girl with his hand. Tali's sobs went up a few octaves as Gibbs peppered her small backside with spanks. He landed a handful of swats on her sit spots as she kicked and cried.
"Please, Sabba," Tali wailed. "I'll be good!"
Tali wasn't the only one crying. Gibbs's eyes held unshed tears. He knew he was right to spank Tali but it didn't assuage the pain he felt for being the cause of her tears. Gibbs held Tali firmly as she squirmed, relieved that he was nearly finished.
Gibbs landed four more spanks on her bottom before pulling her onto his lap to comfort the sobbing girl.
Tali immediately threw herself into Gibbs's chest as she sobbed. Her bottom was stinging but it was the fact that her favorite person in the world – outside of her parents – had disciplined her that hurt more.
Tali immediately popped her thumb in her mouth as she cried. She had long given up thumb sucking but returned to it when she was really upset or tired.
Gibbs rocked her gently in his lap and rubbed her back. He saw her sucking her thumb and that made his heart ache even more.
"It's okay, Tali. It's all over. I promise, baby."
As Tali began to calm, she held out her free hand and Gibbs instantly knew what she wanted. Mr. Max, the stuffed bunny he had given her when she was born, was sitting on the far end of the couch. Tali didn't go anywhere without Mr. Max.
Gibbs easily reached over and gave her the bunny, which she immediately took.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Love you."
"I love you, my Tali," Gibbs said, squeezing her tighter.
Gibbs continued to rock Tali and whisper comforting words to her until she was cried out. She took her thumb out of her mouth but stayed laying on Gibbs's chest.
"How about you go wash your face and then we'll take that pencil back?" Gibbs asked. "Then we can put this completely behind us."
"Okay," Tali agreed, but didn't move. "Grandpa Gibbs? Is Abba gonna spank me too when he and Ima come home?"
Gibbs wanted to say no, but he couldn't. He didn't know what Tony and Ziva would do but he intended to put in a good word for the girl.
"I don't know," Gibbs answered honestly. "But I promise they will know that you chose to come to me first and accepted your punishment without fuss."
Tali seemed to understand so she eased herself from Gibbs's lap and headed to the bathroom with Mr. Max still in hand. She was walking carefully so that her skirt didn't brush up against her sore bottom.
Gibbs watched her go and used the time to make a quick call to Abby and one other person.
—NCIS—
Gibbs pulled up to the hardware store and cut the engine. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw a very unhappy Tali holding the stolen pencil in one hand and Mr. Max in a chokehold in the other.
He almost smirked at the scene but remembered the seriousness of the lesson he was trying to teach and got out of the car.
Gibbs had known the hardware store owner for years and had called ahead. The owner agreed to say a few words to Tali to reinforce the lesson. But Tali didn't know any of this and was worried about owning up to her behavior.
Gibbs opened her car door but Tali didn't so much as move an inch.
"Come on," Gibbs coaxed, kindly.
He understood Tali was worried and that this was as much a part of her discipline as the spanking. Gibbs recalled having to make a similar confession at a local candy store when he was a boy and was caught swiping a candy bar.
Jackson had paddled Gibbs and sent him back to the store to confess and pay for the sweet treat before the fire in his bottom had died down. Gibbs had been reluctant, much like the little one in front of him.
"Tali," Gibbs said in a warning tone.
Still, the girl didn't move but instead turned as far away from Gibbs as she could while still strapped into her booster seat.
"Young lady," Gibbs said in a low but stern voice. "Out of the car. Now. This is part of what happens when you take something that isn't yours. You need to take responsibility for it now."
Tali hopped out of her seat and got out of the car with Mr. Max and the pencil.
Gibbs considered having Tali leave her security bunny in the car but decided against it when he saw how nervous she was. He led her inside and straight to the counter where the owner, Jeff, was waiting.
Tali stood there for a minute before a loud clearing of Gibbs's throat got her going.
"I, um, I came to give you back this pencil," Tali said in a small voice, setting the center of all her misdeeds down on the counter. "I stole it. I'm sorry."
Tali's head was down so she missed the nonverbal exchange between Gibbs and the store owner.
"Well," Jeff began. "I know it took some guts to come and admit what you did. I admire that. If you can assure me you have learned your lesson we will leave it at that."
Tali listened carefully, furrowing her brow in concentration.
"I promise," she replied. "I've learned my lesson. I'm never, ever going to steal again. Not even on a double dare!"