Night

Tony talked non stop from the elevator to the parking garage, as Jethro strapped him into his car seat, and all the way home. He was very excited, and had enjoyed a great day which he wanted to share in childish detail with his father. A couple of times he asked worriedly about his abuela, but his father reassured him repeatedly that he would see her in the morning.

Once home, Jethro allowed Tony to play in their fenced backyard while he finished supper preparations, and Tony made the most of the outdoor freedom. He ran, and jumped, and rode his tricycle full force. His father was not surprised halfway through dinner when he looked over at Tony in his booster seat and saw him nodding off to sleep. All of the day's activities had worn him out. He jumped up quickly, afraid that the child would fall out of the chair and get hurt.

Picking him up, he sat him down on the counter by the sink and began washing off his face and hands. Tony was immediately suspicious. "Why can't I eat some more, Daddy? We didn't have dessert. Did you make my bath now?" Jethro shook his head and told him that he was skipping his bath tonight, which wasn't what Tony wanted to hear whatsoever.

"I can't go to bed dirty!" he wailed. "Abuela said so, and I need to play with my bath toys. I'm s'posed to have bubbles in the tub, Daddy, and play. Let's go make the water now."

When Jethro didn't immediately agree to the bath plan, he became suspicious, puffed his lip out into a pout, and spoke with firmness, "I'm not sleepy, either, Daddy!"

Jethro ignored the observations and carried him upstairs to his room. When they got to the upstairs landing, then passed the bathroom, Tony started crying, not wanting to miss out on any activity. Fisting his hands to rub his eyes, he repeated emphatically, "I'm not sleepy, Daddy! My eyes aren't sleepy and my legs aren't sleepy. I want my bath, please."

Jethro set him down on the bed and said softly, "Take your shoes off, all by yourself, Tony, and then start taking your clothes off." He pulled open the drawer with Tony's pajamas and grabbed some adorned with Cookie Monster's image. "Here, I have Cookie Monster for you to wear to sleep tonight. I know how much you love him."

Tony refused to be soothed and his crying turned to fussing. "I don't want to go to bed. I am not sleepy, Daddy. Did you hear me?" He threw himself dramatically across the bed, but his dad had seen that ploy before and announced somberly, "Anthony, you know that you get into trouble when you disobey and I start counting. One..."

Tony didn't move, but eyed his father warily. "Two," prompted the latter, then he sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled his son over to him. Tony tried to slip away, but Gibbs stood him up and gripped him between his knees while he pulled off his shirt and quickly pulled the pajama top over his head. Tony started sputtering, annoyed that he was being stripped and bedtime was still imminent.

Jethro released his grasp and slid Tony over him to lay him on the bed, then pulled off his shoes and the rest of the clothes, quickly putting him into his pajama bottoms. Tony jumped up to stand on the bed while Gibbs gathered the dirty clothes by the door to take with him when he left, then he reached out his hand and motioned for Tony to come. Tony stayed rooted in his spot and intensified his pouting, so his father moved back to the bed and swept him up and carried him to the bathroom, then supervised him as he brushed his teeth and used the toilet. Once back in the room he got the covers pulled down and slid Tony between the sheets.

"What book do you want me to read to you tonight, big boy? How about Cat in the Hat?"

"I don't want a book!" Tony replied with annoyance, still angry that he had been denied his bath.

"Ok, then what stuffed toy do you want to sleep with tonight?"

"I don't want that, either!" was the response.

Gibbs leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, then ordered, "Prayers-" Tony closed his mouth dramatically and Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Ok, then, I'll say your prayers for you. Now I lay me..."

"Stop, Daddy, I want to say them," Tony contradicted, then recited his bedtime ritual in a mixture of English and Spanish. When he was done Gibbs kissed him again and stood up, cutting off the bedside lamp. "Night, night, Son, I love you a bunch-"

Tony sat up and called in an urgent tone, "Daddy, I need perro to sleep with me now."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow but went to retrieve the stuffed dog and handed it over. "That's it, now. You are not allowed to talk anymore. Close your eyes."

Tony scowled, aggravated because he had planned to demand the story next. "Daddy..."

"Tony!" his father interrupted firmly, "that is enough. This is your bedtime. Remember that I have already counted from one, then to two. If you keep fussing the count will move from two, to three, and then I will put you across my knees and spank your bottom. Close your eyes, and I do not want to hear another sound from you tonight."

Tony gave his father an appraising look and realized that he meant business. He closed his eyes tightly and Jethro couldn't help but smile at his scrunched up face. "I love you," he whispered loudly, switching on the baby monitor. He grabbed the dirty clothes and headed downstairs.