Chapter 2

Elizabeth Burke and Satch looked up as the two men of her life, her husband Peter and the man they both considered to be a pesky kid brother, Neal Caffrey, entered the house arguing. She knew that Neal must be in trouble because for one thing neither man greeted her nor for the other she heard Neal say

"Don't Peter!"

"And what happens when Hughes asks?"

"Tell him that you did it," replied Neal earnestly.

"Lie to Hughes? I don't think so," replied Peter seriously.

Neal was about to argue more when Elizabeth spoke up. "What did Neal do this time?" as she helped Neal out of his suit jacket.

"He took Hughes' car," replied Peter angrily.

"I borrowed it," argued Neal, "I left a note."

"Did you ask Hughes if it would be okay to 'borrow' his car?" Peter asked pointedly.

"Well, no but.."

"No but about it if you didn't ask permission then it is taking…another word for stealing and it could have landed you back in prison from someone other than Hughes. You are so lucky you are going to only get your tail paddled instead of wearing orange jumpsuits again…now get into position,"

Peter added sternly.

Neal turned to El and said, "Can't you do something…talk to Peter about this."

"Yes I can," replied Elizabeth to Neal joy until she added,

"Peter be sure to give Neal a paddling he won't soon forget…he has to understand that the consequences of this action could taken him away from us and back in prison."

"I'll go and turn your bed down, Neal after this you won't want o sit any time soon," El said as she called Satch to her they left Neal to his fate.

"You heard her Caffrey…back over the table…and drop your pants this time," ordered Peter as he retrieved the paddle and stood waiting.

"Peter? No!" pleaded Neal as he looked hopefully at Peter but when he saw it wasn't going to convinced Peter he unbuckled his pants and let them fall to his ankles before bending back over the table.

"Shorts, too."

"P-Peter!" came the strangled cry.

"I mean it Neal; Hughes was quite clear on what he expected from me and he wants to see you hurting when you sit…so drop your shorts and bend over…this isn't going to be pleasant."

El had just arrived at the top of the stairs as she heard the first licks and cries from Neal.

"Owww! Not so hard…ow…ow…oww…Peter! It's not like I stole a painting…ow…ow….oww…oww…owww…owww," yelped Neal in pain.

"Nope you stole a car from Hughes…which is just as bad," replied Peter as he paused surveying the red backside in front of him.

"I only b-borrowed his c-car…owwww…owwwww…owwwww…I l-left him a n-note," replied Neal as he tried to keep the sobs from his voice.

"Unless he said okay that is called stealing, Neal," lectured Peter as he laid the next four licks to Neal's sit spot on his right buttock followed by four to his left sit spot causing Neal to burst into sobs and caused Peter to put the paddle down. Neal's butt was a deep red as was his two sit spots quarantining that Neal would have difficulty sitting for the next few days and should appease Hughes.

Peter pulled Neal up and pulled up his boxers easing the cloth over his flaming backside before pulling the still sopping young man into a forgiving hug, rubbing his back comfortingly as Neal got his emotions back in line.

He clung to Peter as he stepped out of his pants.

"Do you think you can walk?" asked Peter sympathetically.

"Y-yes, if y-you help me," cried Neal.

"Okay then lets take it one step at a time," Peter replied gently as he helped him walk towards the stairs; grimacing whenever Neal cried out as he walked up the stairs. He hated to be the disciplinarian in the family but it was a job he would accept if it kept Neal on the straight and narrow.

El was in Neal's room when they arrived as she hurried to help her husband get Neal ready for bed. She removed his shirt as Peter helped him into bed. Neal winced as his butt touched the mattress before turning quickly on his stomach.

"Are you hungry Neal?" asked El.

Neal shook his head, "No."

"Do you need anything?" El asked as she sat at the edge of his bed and ran her fingers through his hair in a manner to comfort him.

"No thank you," replied Neal sleepily as he fell into a peaceful sleep before them.

El and Peter stayed until they were sure he was out before tip toeing out of the room leaving Satch to guard after their 'little brother."