Author's Note: This chapter contains some foul language and the disciplinary spanking of a teenager. If you don't like it, don't read it.
CHAPTER 3
Gibbs entered the conference room to find McGee waiting there with Special Agent Dawson and Peter Sokolov. Gibbs moved straight to the table and sat down. They sat in silence for a moment before he finally spoke. "Ziva and Abby are on their way up here with Anya. But, before they get here, I want to get a few things straight between us."
Peter studied his old friend. He had seen many sides to this man during the years of their friendship, and he knew that the hard-edged man that was addressing them now would give his life to keep Anya safe and would accept nothing less than complete cooperation from everyone in return. He mentally sighed, his little Anya was in for a rough time. His thoughts were brought back to the present with Gibbs' next words.
"Peter, I had my team do some digging, and they uncovered Anya's juvenile record. It's sealed, of course. It will take time, but we'll be able to break that seal. It will be a lot easier if you tell me what I'm going to find."
"Why do you need to know? How will that help you protect her?"
Gibbs looked steadily at his friend. "Even one small bit of information that I don't have at my disposal could mean the difference between keeping Anya alive and not being able to stop Lubivich from getting to her."
Giving Peter time to think about his words, Gibbs then turned to Special Agent Dawson. It was still incredulous to him that the FBI would assign a rookie to protection detail - Especially since it appeared that she was working without the benefit of guidance from a senior agent. "My team will be conducting their own investigation into Lubivitch's whereabouts." He held up his hand to forestall her when she started to interrupt. "We will, of course, share any information that we uncover and request that the FBI do the same. When it comes time to bring the bastard down, you can take credit for the collar."
He then turned to Peter, but before he could again press the matter of Anya's juvenile record, the door opened. Gibbs watched as Ziva steered the teenager through the opening, followed shortly by Abby. He was sure the forensic scientist was there because she didn't want to miss any of the action. Sighing, he thought he only needed Tony to show up to make this little gathering complete.
Gibbs watched as Ziva steered Anya to an empty chair at the conference table. She exchanged a look with him that clearly said things hadn't gone quite as easily as expected. Although he wondered what had happened, he wasn't all that surprised that Anya had given Ziva trouble.
As usual, Gibbs cut right to the chase. "We need to set the ground rules until this thing with Lubivich gets resolved." He noticed that his team members had moved to stand along the wall. He noted with some curiousity that Ziva had taken up position beside the door. Did she expect Anya to try and make a break for it?
Anya slumped in her chair and tried to look bored. Inside she was seething. Her entire life was ruined all because of one overheard conversation. She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "There doesn't need to be any ground rules, because I don't need your protection."
Nobody in the room could believe what she had just said. "Anya, please," Peter began, but Gibbs interrupted him.
"Young lady, you are the primary witness in a murder investigation against a known member of the Russian mob." His voice was stern. "Someone who has already made at least one attempt on your life, and you say you don't need protection?"
Anya sat forward and met Gibbs' angry gaze. "He was able to make that attempt because I was under the so-called protection of the FBI. Why should I believe it will be any different with you?" She demanded.
Gibbs voice softed slightly as he attempted to reassure and comfort her. "Because I care about you. I promise neither I nor any member of my team are going to let anything happen to you. And, part of keeping you safe includes setting up rules for you to follow."
"You don't need to protect me. Just let me go, and I'll disappear. He'll never be able to find me." She was afraid of what might happen, not only to herself but to her father if Lubivich found her, but she wasn't ready to admit that to anyone. It was better to her mind to present the image of an angry, spoiled brat rather than the scared little girl she felt like.
A movement from Abby caught Gibbs' attention and he looked in her direction. She quickly signed "she's scared." He nodded once to let Abby know he understood her message and turned back to Anya.
"That's not going to happen. Until further notice you are going to be in the company of at least two members of this team at all times. You will do what you are told, when you are told, and you will show respect at all times. Am I understood?"
Anya plopped back in her chair and returned Gibbs' hard gaze for several seconds before replying, "I don't need a damn babysitter."
Gibbs had heard enough. He moved quickly to shove Anya's chair away from the table. Bracing his hands on the arms, he leaned down until his face was only inches from hers. "This is your one and only warning, Anya. If you insist on behaving like a disobedient child, I will treat you as one. Do you understand me?"
Anya glared at him, but remained silent. She was aware that the attention of everyone in the room was directed at her and Gibbs. Embarrassment only served to fuel her anger, but she instantly regretted her next words as soon as they left her mouth. "Fuck you."
Gibbs straightened and without taking his eyes off Anya's face calmly ordered everyone to leave the room. Peter started to protest, but Abby took his arm and led him through the doorway. She had a good idea of what was going to happen next and Peter arguing with Gibbs about it would only make it worse.
Once they were outside the conference room, Abby continued to lead Peter down the hallway. She could tell the older man was upset and thought he might need to talk. It wasn't long before she was proven correct.
Peter stopped and turned to look at Abby. It was the first time he'd really looked at her and was slightly surprised by her gothic appearance. Since she had entered the conference room with Ziva and Anya, he knew she was a member of Gibbs' team, so he felt he could trust her. "I don't know what happened to Anya. She used to be such a sweet little girl. Now," he paused to gesture in the direction of the conference room. "Now, she seems determined to cause trouble for all those around her."
Abby patted Peter's shoulder. "She's scared. Once she realizes Gibbs will keep her safe and find that Lubivich guy, she'll calm down."
Peter shook his head. "No, I'm afraid it's a bit more than that." He glanced down the empty hallway to gather his thoughts. "She's been wild ever since she became a teenager. I don't know what happened." He shrugged. "No, that's not entirely true" he admitted. "I was a single father with a very demanding job. I let her do things that I shouldn't have. I suppose I was trying to make up for being gone so much. Before I knew it, it was too late." Peter met Abby's gaze again. "She has a juvenile record, you know. Gibbs was asking me about it when you came in the room. Everything on it is for underage drinking and for using false identification to get into places where she had no business being. Every time I pulled strings and kept her from being locked up."
Abby was starting to understand that Peter blamed himself for Anya's behavior. "It's not your fault. Lots of kids, even those whose parents are there all the time, end up in trouble. You did what you thought you had to do." She moved to stand in front of Peter so she could look him in the eyes. "Not only will Gibbs keep her safe and find Lubivich before the FBI does, but he'll help her get off that self-destructive path she's on. You'll see – she'll be just fine."
While Abby and Peter were having their conversation down the hallway, McGee, Ziva, and Agent Dawson were carrying on their own conversation.
"Exactly what do you think Gibbs is planning on doing?" Agent Dawson asked.
McGee stuttered a moment before responding. "I'm sure he just plans to make sure Anya sees the error of her ways." Although Gibbs' chosen method would likely be readily apparent in a very short time, he didn't think it wise to advertise it. He knew both Abby and Ziva had on previous occasion felt Gibbs' heavy hand of displeasure. He'd managed to escape that particular experience except for the occasional slap to the back of his head.
"And just how is he going to do that?" Agent Dawson pressed. "Why did he want us to clear the room. Surely he could have lectured her in front of witnesses."
McGee sighed. He supposed he was going to have to say it. "I don't think he's just going to lecture her."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Gibbs tends to take a hands-on approach to discipline."
"You don't mean he's going to . . ." Agent Dawson was flabbergasted. She'd never heard anything like that before.
"What McGee is trying so hard not to say is that Gibbs is probably going to spank her," Ziva commented. She wasn't going to say it out loud, but she thought the girl definitely deserved it.
Meanwhile, in the conference room, the tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. "You want to tell me what all that was about?" Gibbs demanded.
"I told you I don't need a babysitter," Anya crossed her arms over her chest. The pout on her face made her look like a petulant child.
"I know you're not deaf, Anya. You've been told that you don't have any choice in the matter. You need to accept that. And, you need to start showing some respect to the people who are trying to help you. Whether you want to admit it or not, we're the only thing that stands between you and Vladimir Lubivich." Gibbs paused for a moment to allow his words to sink in. When he spoke again, his voice had hardened. "Now, can you give me one good reason why I shouldn't blister your ass for acting like a spoiled little brat?"
Anya swallowed hard. Despite Gibbs' earlier threats, she really hadn't expected him to actually carry them out. "You don't have the right to do that."
Gibbs grinned. If Anya had known him better, she would have realized that grin meant that she was in serious trouble. "I don't care if I have the right or not. You're officially under my protection, and that means I'll do whatever I deem necessary to keep you safe. That includes turning you over my knee whenever you need an attitude adjustment."
He grasped Anya's arm and pulled her up out the chair.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded.
"I would have thought it rather obvious, given our conversation," Gibbs replied as he sat in the now vacant chair and pulled her face down across his lap. "You're going to loose this attitude of yours and start cooperating, or this is going to become a regular occurrence."
His hand landed hard against her backside. Anya jumped and cried out at the first punishing swat. She struggled, trying to free herself from Gibbs' grasp, but the former marine held her easily as he continued to swat her upturned bottom. Finally, when she had stopped struggling and lay sobbing across his knees, Gibbs paused and asked, "are you ready to listen now?"
"Yes," was Anya's tearful reply.
"You are going to stop acting like a spoiled brat and cooperate with us. And you are going to stop cussing. Do you understand?" When Anya didn't answer right away, Gibbs swatted her three more times. "Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good." Gibbs helped Anya stand and held her arms until she was steady on her feet. Then he stood and pulled her into his arms for a hug. While she was in his embrace, he whispered into her ear, "I really do care about you and want to keep you safe. But, you fighting me every step of the way isn't going to help." Gibbs pushed Anya back so that he could look into her eyes. "I don't want to have to do that again, but I will if I need to." Anya nodded her understanding. Gibbs smiled and pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket. He handed it to her. "Get yourself pulled back together. I'll go round everyone up so we can finish this. You're going to apologize to everyone for causing trouble."
Anya nodded. She was embarrassed at the thought that there was no way everyone who had left the room didn't know what had just happened.
A few minutes later everyone was back in the room. Only this time, Tony had joined them. Once everyone was situated, Gibbs gave Anya a hard look and stated. "Before we get started, Anya has something she wants to say."
All eyes turned expectantly in her direction. She squirmed in her seat, and the pain from the spanking she'd just received made her wince. The sound of Gibbs clearing his throat in obvious warning spurred her along. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."
Gibbs nodded his approval. "As I was saying before I was interrupted, Anya will be in the company of at least two team members at all times. Until other arrangements are made, she'll be staying with meand at least one other agent at my house at night and coming to NCIS during the day. We will also be conducting our own investigation into Lubivich's whereabouts. If we find him before the FBI does, we will share that information, and I expect the same cooperation in return," he said looking pointedly at Agent Dawson.
"You'll get it, sir," she responded.
"Don't call me sir." Gibbs turned to look at his team members. "Ziva will stay tonight, and we'll work out a schedule for Tony and McGee." His team members nodded. "Abby, would you pick up some things for Anya – whatever you think she might need?"
"I'd be happy to, Gibbs," she replied with a glance at Anya. She could tell that the teenager was still very unhappy about the turn of events. She only hoped that things would turn around quickly.
"Good. Tony, you and McGee, see what else you can dig up on Lubivich. Check for all the properties he might own, known contacts, and any known alias." The two agents nodded and excused themselves to get to work.
"Peter, can I speak with you for a moment out in the hallway?" Gibbs asked. When Peter nodded in agreement, both men rose and exited the room.
"I'm not going to apologize for spanking Anya." Gibbs stated as soon as the door was closed. "She needs to understand what I will and will not tolerate."
"No apology is necessary, my friend," Peter responded. "As I told Abby, I am responsible for the way she acts today." He shook his head in regret. "I was far too lenient with her. I suppose I wanted to make up for spending too much of my time working instead of being there for her." Peter paused to gather his thoughts and then went on to share the information he had given Abby about Anya's juvenile record.
Gibbs nodded. He hadn't been all that surprised by what Peter had told him. In fact, he had assumed it had been something along those lines. "Would you like a few minutes with her before we leave?"
Peter nodded. "If you wouldn't mind."
The two men entered the room. Soon, Peter and Anya had the room to themselves. Abby had left to go shopping for Anya, and Agent Dawson was going to report the day's events to her supervisor. Ziva had returned to the squad room to wait for Gibbs and Anya.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Finally, Anya spoke. "Daddy, I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble. I never meant for any of this to happen."
Peter opened his arms wide, and Anya quickly moved into the embrace. "You have nothing to be sorry about, baby girl. However, you must take responsibility for your actions and do what you can to help bring this man to justice." He leaned back so that he could look down into Anya's face. "Gibbs will keep you safe, but you have to do what he tells you."
"Yes, Daddy."
Peter pulled his daughter back into his arms for another hug. "Good girl." He couldn't shake the premonition that this was the last time he would see his daughter. "I love you with all my heart, Anya. I wanted you to know that."
"I know, Daddy. I've never doubted that." Anya couldn't put her finger on anything specific, but she knew something was wrong with her father. She hoped it was nothing more serious than worry over what was happening to her. "Daddy, what's wrong."
"Nothing, my dear," Peter replied. "I suppose we'd best be going. Gibbs seemed anxious to get you home." He forced a smile and looked reassuringly at his daughter.
***TBC***
Additional author's note: My next update may be delayed for a bit. I'm going to be traveling and when I return I have a very hectic work schedule. I know some of you are impatient to see the next chapter, so I'll try to post it as quickly as I can.