Chapter 9

By the time Peter arrived he saw the Headmaster and a security guard walking on the other side of Neal as they were escorting him to the entrance of the school. Peter felt for sure that the Headmaster was going to give Neal a paddling or a strapping for being on school grounds after hours and even though Neal definitely deserved it, but he just couldn't stand by and allow it so Peter called out,

"Did you find your text book, son?" and started walking towards the trio.

The Headmaster and his security guard stopped at Peter's call and waited for him to get closer. "Mr. Franklin, we caught your son rummaging through his locker a few minutes ago after school hours. I was just about to take him to my office for a long discussion on why he was here now," the headmaster said sternly.

"I dropped him off to get his text book which he foolishly left behind. Did you say caught? He told me that he had called you and you said it was okay and that you would have the security guard meet him at the entrance of the art building to let him in," explained Peter as he gave the headmaster a confused look.

"Well, he lied to you Mr. Franklin when he told you that. He didn't call, and set off a silent alarm when he entered the building. It alerts me first, and if we find out that it is vandals, we call the police," explained the headmaster, "but if it is a student, I take him to my office and punish him before calling his parents to pick him up. Since you have vetoed the cane, then I'm going to use either a paddle or a strap."

"Headmaster, you have every right to punish my son for this stunt, but I ask you to let me handle it. He did lie to me too. I promise you that he will be squirming in class tomorrow," pleaded Peter as Neal looked remorseful and scared to convince the headmaster of Peter's promise.

The head master nodded and Neal said a silent thank you as he continued to look down. "Neal get into the car and wait for me," ordered Peter as he watched Neal hurry to the car with textbook in hand.

Peter waited until Neal was out of earshot before turning back to the headmaster.

"I don't know what has gotten into him tonight. He got an excellent grade on an assignment and I guess he got a little bigheaded. I assure you this won't happen again," and shook the headmaster's hand before turning and walking away as he breathed a sigh of relief. This could have gone so wrong if the headmaster had decided to handle things differently… Neal could be cooling his heels in jail while he tried to keep him from returning to prison.

The ride home was tense only Neal didn't feel it; he was too excited about what he had found, but felt that before he said anything, he should thank Peter for getting him out of trouble with the headmaster. "Peter thanks so much for getting me out of that situation without me losing any skin on my butt. You really convinced him that you were going to punish me. I'll have to make sure to play the part and squirm a bit whenever the headmaster is watching."

Peter nodded still too angry to speak his mind when he saw Neal opening his mouth to say more and jumped in before that could happen. "Save it Neal until we get home and then we can discuss it in length….okay?"

Neal nodded and watched the scenery go by as they drove home.

"Honey, we're home," called Peter as he and Neal entered the house.

"Where did you find him?" El asked as she walked out of the kitchen with a cup of tea.

"In the grasp of the headmaster and his security guard. They caught him rummaging through his locker in the art building, which I assume was your back up plan when you realized they were coming?" Peter replied before turning to Neal.

"Yeah, I missed an alarm obviously and when I heard voices I hurried to my locker as if that was my intension to begin with… to retrieve a text book," explained Neal.

"You disobeyed me, Neal. I told you to wait until tomorrow when you would have backup and we could set up a sting if needed but once again, you decided that your way was the best," Peter said angrily. "You could have landed back in prison if Martin had a mind to call the police instead of handling it himself."

"I was willing to take that chance if it meant we might find the press and I can graduate from college," snapped Neal.

"NEAL! You apologize to Peter immediately. We were just worried and concerned about you… and this is how you act," admonished El is full mother mode.

"I'm… sorry," Neal said at once. El's words surprised him. "I'm just not used to having anyone caring for me like this," he added instantly repentant.

Peter nodded accepting his apology.

"Can I tell you what I found?" Neal added a moment later.

"Take a seat, while you can, and tell me everything," requested Peter.

Neal nodded, not catching the possibility of not sitting comfortably in his haste to tell what he found. "I took a picture of this," Neal said as he handed his phone over to Peter who took it and whistled at the documents Neal photographed. It gave an address which he hoped would lead them to a printing press along with a list of bill denominations that they had plates for… and a name. Maybe that was the one who actually made the plates. Peter hurried to his desk and wrote all of the information down. "We will check these names and address out tomorrow and you will go back to class and see what else you can legally discover… and Neal if you get into any trouble in school tomorrow you are on your own… understand?"

Neal nodded and then yawned, "I think I will turn in for good now… Good Night Peter… El," Neal said as he started towards the stairs only to be grabbed by Peter.

"Not so fast Buddy, we have a discussion to take care of. I believe I told you no about going to Stanton and getting this information. You willfully disobeyed me and put your freedom at risk. That will not go unpunished."

"But Peter everything went well," argued Neal.

"I promised Martin that you would be squirming tomorrow and I intend on carry through with that promise," replied Peter sternly.

"We are only playing a role, I can convince Martin tomorrow… you don't have to carry through," Neal continued to argue.

"Yes, I can, but you disobeyed me and risked your freedom and that I cannot let slide. Now go to your room and wait for me there," ordered Peter as El handed him her grandfather's leather strap.

Neal's eyes widen at the sight of the leather strap and he turned to El and cried without thinking, "Mom you can't let him use that on me… I won't be able to sit at all tomorrow."

El went to him and pulled him to her as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "I'm sorry son, but you deserve this. We could have lost you tonight and that is unacceptable. You have to learn that there are consequences to your actions," she added as she pushed him towards the staircase and motioned for him to go on up.

Neal looked once more at his surrogate parents before slowly going to his room to wait for his dad to arrive to spank him.

El waited until after she heard the door close from upstairs before allowing the tears of anguish to fall. "I know this has to be done, but he looks so forlorn and forsaken that it breaks my heart. Be sure to explain why you have to do this and that we will always love him no matter what. I'm going to stay down here until it is over with," El said before retreating into the living room and turning up the volume of the television.

Peter nodded equally sad that he had to punish his kid but knowing he had no choice, not if he wanted Neal to learn from his mistakes and improve. When he entered carrying the leather strap he found Neal sitting dejectedly on his bed dressed only in his undershirt and boxers. "Come on buddy; let's get this over with so you can get to bed. Stand up and drop your boxers and bend over your desk," Peter ordered firmly.

"Peter…please…not bare," begged Neal once last time.

"I'm sorry son, it has to be done…now do as I say," he ordered gently and was relieved when Neal finally obeyed. He slowly lowered his pants before letting his boxers drop but Peter had to gently push him over the desk and keep his hand on his lower back to keep him in place. He drew his arm back and let the first lick fly catching Neal fully on his backside.

Neal hissed with the first two licks but by the time the third lick landed on the previous two licks he let loose with a strangled cry before yelling with the remaining licks and finally, after Peter had given him a total of eight licks, he was sobbing. Peter placed the last four licks on Neal's sit spots guaranteeing that Neal would feel them for the next few days whenever he sat.

After the eighth lick Peter laid the strap down and gently pulled Neal's boxers up and pulled him into a forgiven hug. Neal hung on as he sobbed his pain and disobedience out on Peter's shoulder. After a while his sobbing slowed down to sniffles and he pushed back to stand shakily facing Peter.

"I'm s-sor-ry D-Dad," apologized Neal as he looked into the face of his surrogate father and seeing sadness there realizing for the first time just how much it cost Peter to punish him. "I guess it is really true," he muttered.

"What, son?"

"That it hurts you as just as much as it does me when a parent has to punish his child," replied Neal humbly.

"So you're finally admitting that you are our son?" quizzed Peter as he gently pulled up his son's boxers. Neal nodded and asked,

"It's tough being a parent, isn't it?"

"It has its ups and downs…and this is definitely is one of the downs. Let's see if we can experience some ups next," Peter replied as he pulled the covers back to allow Neal to quickly climb in to settle on his stomach.

Peter felt El as she walked up to stand next to him. "Neal sweetie, you know that we care and love you deeply and Peter had no choice in punishing you tonight. We want to know that when that anklet comes off, you will know right from wrong and will strive to stay on the straight and narrow. It is something every parent wants of their child," she explained lovingly as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, "Goodnight son."

Peter added "Goodnight Buddy" a moment later with the ruffling of the hair as they watched their kid drift off to sleep knowing that besides the soreness in his hindquarters that the warm feeling that washed over him was from the love he felt. "Love you too, guys," he muttered just before sleep caught him.

El and Peter walked arm in arm out of the room turning the light off as they left.