Chapter 6

"DiNozzo, what were you thinking when you decided to disregard my orders about seeing Petty Officer Baker?"

Tony did a double take; this wasn't where the conversation was supposed to go. He thought he had fooled everyone about his little romantic liaison with Robyn Baker.

Tony only shrugged his shoulders as he said, "Boss, I just came over and talked with her a few times. At first it was concerning the case if she might have remembered anything. When we were unable to locate him I thought that maybe she might have remembered something that might gives a lead…you know after she had a chance to calm down and think about it," Tony explained.

Gibbs nodded as he talked, "But it went beyond that, didn't it?"

Tony nodded helplessly, "yeah…she is so pretty Boss and before I could stop myself I asked her if she would like to go out for a cup of coffee…maybe a chance of environment might be nice."

"And that is the only place you went?" asked Gibbs as he dared his agent to lie.

"No," whispered Tony, "I took her back to her apartment to pick up some medicine for her and some of Bruce's toys…but Connery was long gone…he was in Montana."

Gibbs glare intensified with the answer before he said, "What you didn't know DiNozzo, but should have, is that Connery had returned that day and had the apartment staked out. He saw you and more importantly Petty Officer Baker and followed you both back to her brother's. He was planning on attacking her again but this time he was going to make sure that both her and her little dog paid a high price for his troubles."

Tony paled with the indication of his stupidity and disobedience.

"Connery was about to move in when he noticed her leaving and decided to follow her instead. He noticed that the dog wasn't with her and thought he would have an easier go at it if he could only catch her unawares. And he did…almost; if the petty officer hadn't called before she left he would have finished the job he started and who knows he might have killed her…so don't even try to explain your actions," Gibbs said quietly.

"Boss…I'm sorry," replied Tony, and after a moment added, "where do you want me?"

Gibbs nodded to the table he had been examined. "That will do nicely…and because of the severity of your actions, you can lose the pants and briefs…you will be receiving this punishment on your bare butt!"

Tony didn't even try to argue he just did as he was told and leaned over the examination table bare from the waist down. He felt Gibbs get into position behind him and heard the belt leave the belt loops of Gibbs' trousers and steadied himself for the first lick. It was always the worse because it was the beginning of what he knew to be a terrible strapping.

Gibbs stood behind and to one side of Tony placing his left hand on Tony's back to steady him before bringing the belt back and then blazing a trail of pure fire on his agent's backside. It left an inch and half red stripe and caused Tony to cry out in pain. Gibbs didn't prolong the punishment as he steadily and strongly gave Tony an additional nine licks before pausing," that is for endangering your life in stopping Connery when all you need to do was to identify yourself and threatening him with being shot if he didn't stop."

Tony was sobbing and could only nod his acceptance of his punishment as he began to get up. "Oh, no, it isn't over yet DiNozzo," Gibbs said quietly as he gently pushed Tony back in place, "the next twelve licks are for disobedience and endangering Petty Officer Baker's life," and rained down an additional twelve licks on the already sore and red backside of his agent causing Tony to shriek and struggle to get away. Gibbs didn't let up until the last lick was given and then he threw his belt aside and pulled the man he considered to be a surrogate son to him and held him as he cried out his pain and suffering. "Its okay Tony…you have been fully and thoroughly punished for your misdeeds and all is forgiven and forgotten. When you have calmed down wash your face and go down to Abby and lay on her futon until the day is over…then I'll drive you home," ordered Gibbs as he gently released Tony. Tony nodded as he leaned on the table.

Tony was startled as he felt his briefs and then his pants being pulled gently up by his boss and he blushed. "I-I can d-do that, B-Boss," he said as he winced.

"I thought that it was the least I could do since I was to blame for your backside being in the shape it is," replied Gibbs quietly.

"Thanks, Boss."

"Now go and wash your face and then see Abby. The team will not be on duty this weekend and that should give you amble time to get over your present condition," Gibbs added as he lightly patted Tony on the back before retrieving his belt and starting towards the door.

"Boss…."

"What?"

"I'm sorry…." began Tony only to be interrupted by Gibbs, who admonished him,

"What did I say about saying you're sorry DiNozzo?"

"That it is a sign of weakness, Boss," Tony replied automatically.

"Damn straight…because I see nothing weak about you, DiNozzo…a little stubborn but not weak…now it is all forgiven…but if you ever disobey me again you will only wish that the strapping was this light," replied Gibbs as he left the room.

Tony watched him for a moment before he washed his face at the Autopsy sink and headed to see Abby muttering, "great this is just how I wanted to spend the weekend, safely resting on my stomach…again!"

The End