Tap-tap…tap-tap. Gibbs strummed against the wheel of his car. He has been sitting in his car for the past twenty minutes; trying to think things through. Tap-tap…tap-tap again and again Gibbs swallows hard. Thalia isn't his daughter. It isn't the same with Ally. She knows how it is with her mom and him dating. Thalia is different; she reminds him a lot like an older version of Kelly. Only she's so different as well. He drums against the steering wheel; tap-tap. After a few moments, Gibbs gets out of the car and strolls inside.
Gibbs has already decided to let Thalia stew for a little bit longer. It isn't like she has any plans today. He decides on going to see Ally's teacher; first. He got a call from Julie; explaining how she was selling the apartment and club. How she'd be booked with meetings all day. The little cutie pie is in the hallway. Gibbs can tell she has been crying; due to her reddened eyes. "What's the matter, Princess?" he asked softly.
"Nothing" Ally harrumphed at him.
"Why did mommy call me then?" Gibbs asked looking very calm.
"Cos, she's a tattle tale" Ally grumped.
"What happened?" Gibbs asked. His steel blue eyes look soft around Ally.
"Teacher called mommy who called you" Ally said trying to think of a way to get out of this mess. Why did Sister Paula even call?
"Why did your teacher call mommy?" he asked seriously.
"It's all your fault" Ally clenches her fist at him. Gibbs latches onto her hands he isn't really sure if she's going to hit him.
"What happened?" Gibbs asked ruffling her red hair. She's such a feisty little girl, reminds him nothing of Kelly. Maybe that's a good thing.
"You shouldn't ave give me da doggie tags" Ally said, crying into her hands. Gibbs squeezes her shoulders. He suddenly wishes Julie didn't call him. He isn't very good with angry six year olds.
"Is this about the dog tags? Did you lose them? It's okay if you did it by accident, princess" Ally secretly likes it when Gibbs calls her princess. That meaning, he's giving her a nickname; like daddies do with their little girls.
"No. No. No" Ally shakes her head, she starts to tremble. Gibbs gives her a gentle hug and smiles down at her.
"I'm going to talk to the nun now, okay? You just wait right here" Gibbs goes into the classroom; not hearing a response from the little red-head.
"You must be Mr. Gibbs. I'm Sister Paula, Ally's teaching. You can call me Paula or Sister Paula; whatever you feel most comfortable with"
"Did Ally do something? Is that why you called me in? Because if she did. I can assure you I will talk to her about it"
"No, Ally didn't do anything. This…well I was really hoping her mother could come in, but…Ally seems to have gotten into a fight today; due to bullying" Sister Paula said sounding like she's reading from an article.
"Was Ally the bully? Or was she being bullied?" Gibbs asked sounding very concerned.
"She was being bullied. I have already contacted the other students' parents and talked over punishments, but I think Ally may need to talk to her mother or maybe both of you about a few things" Sister Paula informed him.
"Like what?"
"Parental roles, Julie has already told me that you two are an item and I think for Ally this could be a confusing time. She doesn't know if you're her daddy or some man who'll only be around for a few months. She's six years old and I think that for Ally's sake. You need to sit her down and discuss these matters"
Gibbs pinches the bridge of his nose. "Julie and I've been putting that conversation off for a long while" Gibbs admitted quietly. "Thank-you, hope we don't have to see each other anytime soon." Sister Paula nods, she watches as the agent goes back into the hallway to leave with Ally.
"Princess, could you wait in the hall?" he lets go of her hands. Ally looks up at him with an indignant scowl on her face.
"Gibbs, I'm sick of the hall" she's been having to wait in the hall all day and she's sick of it. Gibbs has to agree with her, what kid wouldn't be sick of waiting around all day.
"I know, but Thalia will be out in a minute to keep you company" he promised smoothing out her red hair.
She lets out a breath of annoyance. "Okay"
Thalia almost smiles when she sees Gibbs. That is, until she sees his pissed off face, her eyes wander back down onto the tile-floor. "Hi Gibbs" Thalia mumbled softly.
"Don't you 'hi Gibbs' me, Thalia Caruso" Gibbs ordered his tone as hard as stone.
"I didn't start it" Thalia glared at him. She sounds so much like Ally. Now he knows where that six year old, gets her attitude.
"I don't care who started it. You never assault anyone. Do you hear?" Gibbs asked lightly shaking Thalia's shoulders.
"But, I didn't start it" Thalia repeated. He isn't letting her talk, this is SO unfair.
"Do you hear, Thalia Caruso?" he repeated sternly.
"This isn't fair. Everyone's against me! I want a lawyer" Thalia said slamming her hand against the desk.
"Don't talk, you don't get to talk. Go, in to hall" Gibbs ordered loudly. There's really no need to yell, if Julie was here. Things would be so different. She'd just apologize and stuff like that.
"But, Gibbs, this isn't fair" Thalia complained.
"I mean it, Go!" he lightly taps her knee; as a warning.
"No…no" Thalia said weakly. She has tears shining in her eyes. Gibbs doesn't dare look into those eyes of hers, he knows when he does. He'll melt, like an ice-cream left out during the summer.
"Trust me when I say this Thalia. I may look angry right now, if you don't go into the hallway. I'll smack your bottom" it's an empty threat, but Thalia turns red. Her teacher is smirking at this.
"But, Gibbs"
"Go, young lady. I mean it" Gibbs ordered firmly. What girls him the right to tell her what to do? Although, she doesn't want to get spanked if front of her teacher.
"Yes sir" Thalia wipes tears from her cheeks and reluctantly does as she's told.
"What's wrong, Thalia?" Ally asked trying to sit down beside Thalia who gently pushes her away. She doesn't like crying in front of people...not even her cousin.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Gibbs is a dick" Thalia blurted. She usually has a better tongue than that in front of Ally.
"What's that?" Ally asked, it sounds like a bad word. Even hearing that word; Ally can tell that her cousin knows it's a bad word too.
"It's…" Thalia stops herself and shakes her head. "A really bad word that Gibbs will swat you for…if Aunt Julie heard you say it she'd probably swat your ass too"
"Mommy, doesn't spank"
"She would if she heard you say that"
"Never!" Thalia grinned, wiping a few tears from her cheeks. She lets her cousin lean against her and starts humming a Taylor Swift song. Ally tries to hum along too. It's a shame she doesn't know the words.
Gibbs sits at one of the desks in the front row. He nods for Mrs. Owens to start talking because he has to bring the girls home. "Thalia, brutally injured one of the students, for that I think she shouldn't have recess for a month" Mrs. Owens said with a happy look in her eyes.
"That sounds fair"
"She should also apologize to the student"
"I agree, but why did Thalia fight?"
"She got mad and attacked the girl. From what I hear, Thalia was taunting the girl and then she attacked her because the other child retaliated" Mrs. Owens lied. Gibbs rubs his chin and sighs.
"I hope you know that I will have a very serious talk with her. When we get home and I can assure you. This won't happen again" Gibbs promised.
"Thank you so much for coming in, Mr. Gibbs. You defidently solved a problem. That was in need of attention"
"I hope so, have a good day"
"Oh I will" Mrs. Owens nodded at him. Her facial expression full of complete and utter happiness; Gibbs notices the faint smile appearing on her lips, but ignores it.
"Luke…I'm sorry. I was a jerk" Johnny said trying to keep up with his fast cousin. Boy, Luke oughta join track in high school.
"It doesn't matter"
"It does and you know it" Johnny sighed sadly. "I guess we're…sorta family" in Luke's opinion, it's a start. He guesses. Luke really doesn't know how to react to this change in character.
"Can you help me?" Johnny asked weakly. He knows that Cody and Kayla would never go for this idea, but Luke is new to the family. So he won't catch it too bad.
"With what?"
"One itty bitty little thing" Luke shakes his head. He knows full well that Johnny has something planned and it isn't going to be good.
"Depends on what it is"
"I need to get my I-pod back" Johnny explained. "You're gonna help me get back all of the stuff, Sister Kathy steals"
"Are you crazy?" Luke asked stunned.
"No, but she steals our stuff. DS's, comics, tec-decks, everything…come on Luke. We'd be doing our class a favor. And favors are good right. Anyway it isn't like Sister Kathy cares. It isn't her shit" Johnny said sounding very convincing. He oughta become a lawyer or something.
"I guess"
"Cool, come on. I have good pranks for Vance" Johnny said starting to walk a little faster. Luke struggles to catch up.
"You mean our dad's bosses" Luke asked with raised eyebrows. He cannot be serious; Vance doesn't have the best sense of humor. Ask Jared, he knows firsthand how Vance can be harsh since he is the Director of NCIS.
"Yeah, we're gonna have a prank fest" Johnny said his eyes glowing with happiness.
"Now I know you're insane" Luke confirmed, now he knows why his dad doesn't want him hanging around them. Johnny is a bad influence, but he's such a fun-loving guy. You can't help, but love to chill with him.
"Is it my fault I like to have fun? I think not" Kyle looks back and watches his brother and Lucas communicate with one another. They're actually acting like they somewhat enjoy one another's company. Johnny just needs to take his time with thing.
Luke couldn't help, but grin at him. He's such a clown; he must really like living each day like it's his last. "Do you wanna come over to my house?"
"I hafta call my dad" Luke blurted. Johnny looks over and grins. His green eyes are clouded with confusion.
"Does it matter?" Kyle called over his shoulder. Both boys look up; stunned. They didn't know that he could hear them.
"I don't think so" Luke lied. He's almost certain that his dad will be mad that he didn't call sooner to tell him. It isn't like he'd punish him or anything.
"Well if it doesn't, do you gotta call him?" Johnny doesn't have a cell phone. Kyle does, but he's hesitant with anyone who wants to touch it.
"I…no I don't" it slips Luke's mind that Candy is waiting at his house for him. Instead he turns with Johnny and Kyle towards their house. He's astonished to find that their house is much smaller, but much cooler looking than his own house.
Johnny leads Luke up to his bedroom; leaving Kyle downstairs to start a project. Luke looks around completely amazed. His bedroom is cool. Much like his, Johnny has a T.V. only it's smaller and is very messy.
"Sorry bout' the mess" Johnny said plopping onto his bed and making just enough room so that Luke can fit too.
"Doesn't matter" Luke said. His mom makes him clean his room a lot, even if it's a little messy. Luke bets that Tony and Ziva don't make Johnny clean his room a lot.
"What game do yah wanna play?" Johnny thumbs through the games he and Kyle are practically forced to share "Grand Theft Auto 3, Smash Brothers is okay, what about Call of Duty 3" Johnny said, technically he's supposed to do his homework when he gets home and let Ziva correct it after dinner. They should change it to when they get home.
Luke's almost positive like this isn't good for a kid whose dad is a secret agent. "Umm, are you sure Uncle Tony…I mean your dad, lets you play these games?" Luke asked with an unsure look in his eyes.
"Hell no, he doesn't know I got em"
"He doesn't?"
"No, I'm not allowed to have violent games. That's cause they think I'm some itty bitty baby. So I swiped it" Johnny explained simply. He makes it sounds like stealing doesn't even matter. He makes it sounds like what he does isn't illegal.
"You stole?" Luke's eyes look as big as saucers.
"Yeah, it's really easy. Kyle taught me, I'm like his, Apprentice. You ever see that movie?" Luke shakes his head. "So what do yah wanna play?" Johnny repeated his green eyes filled with excitement.
"Grand Theft Auto" Johnny hands him a controller. Then the real game begins. Luke looks over at Johnny who begins explaining how things work in the game. It's a one player game, but the boys have decided to switch off; every twenty minutes.
Thalia nervously walks into the house. The entire car ride was in silence. Not even Ally was cheeky when Gibbs said they couldn't go to McDonalds. She just harrumphed and looked out of the window. She must sense that she shouldn't push Gibbs too far or else he might spank her too. Thalia taps her fingers against the window; wondering what sort of torturous thing Gibbs is going to do. She knows that he's not going to actually torture her, but still…he is Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Ally already knows for certain Thallie's gonna get it. It meaning her butt spanked. Ally tries to suppress her giggles. She doesn't mean to be happy, that Thalia's going to get spanked. Everyone thinks Thalia is so awesome and when she gets caught; it's a remarkable moment. Both girls are too wrapped up in their own thoughts, to notice that Gibbs has pulled into their driveway.
All three of them walk into the house. Gibbs makes a mental note, not to ever let Thalia fight another student again. It isn't how girls should act. "Ally, go up to your room. Mommy and I will talk to you later" Ally looks from the stairs to Gibbs and grumps something along the lines of 'everyone always bein mean'. Gibbs takes a deep breath and rolls his steely blue eyes.
"Gibbs it wasn't my fault" Thalia said the second Ally is out of the room. "She started it not me."
"Don't talk, you don't get to talk, miss" Gibbs ordered. He guides Thalia over to the couch and pulls her out in front of him. "Listen up, little miss. I can tolerate many things, but lying and fighting aren't them." Thalia rolls her eyes. She feels like she's five years old again; being called little miss or miss when she's in trouble.
"I didn't do that" Gibbs gives her a look. "Well I got into a fight, but I didn't lie" Thalia said meekly. The look on Gibbs face, makes Thalia wanna start crying.
The older agent sighed. He hasn't had to be a father figure in such a long time. He runs a hand over his face. "Thalia, I want you to explain to me, why you did what you did and why was it wrong?" Gibbs ordered sounding very kind.
"Do I have to?" Thalia whined.
"Yes, you do. Now, tell me"
"Cos, I hate her Elizabeth…she's such a jerk. I'm glad she has a black eye" Gibbs motions for her to continue. "And, it was sorta wrong cos I shouldn't fight with people" Thalia said feeling weak.
"Why?" he urged with a smile on his face.
"Cos it's wrong"
"Why is it wrong?"
"Cause I should think before I do something" Thalia offered up. Her blue eyes are filled with such innocence. It almost makes Gibbs regret what he's going to do.
"That's right, Thal" Gibbs said pulling the unexpected ad surprised Thalia over his knee.
She's too stunned to speak when he starts spanking her ass over and over again. By the fourth hard smack she squeals and begins to realize what's going on. "Stop, your hurting me…it hurts" Thalia complained, tears start to roll down her cheeks. Gibbs ignores the protests and continues to spank until he hears soft sobs coming from the thirteen year old.
Thalia gets up from his lap and wipes the tears from her cheeks. She studies Gibbs saddened face and glares at him. How dare he? He isn't allowed to do stuff like this. Her dad is the only one allowed to stuff like this. If only he and her mom would finally stop trying to 'discover themselves' and come home.
"Are you okay?" Gibbs asked. Thalia gives him a hard look. She just got her ass whipped and he's asking if she's okay.
She shrugs her shoulders and bites her lip. "I'm sorry" Thalia offered sadly. Her blue eyes are red and filled with complete embarrassment.
"I understand that and I'm glad you're sorry, but I still need to know if you're okay" Gibbs said. He's never spanked anyone older than eight years old. Thalia is defidently not his baby Kelly or little princess Ally, but she's a special girl.
"I'm fine"
"Do you understand why I spanked you?" Gibbs asked softly. Thalia doesn't say anything for a few seconds.
"Cause I got into a fight"
"That and because I want you to grow up to know the difference between right from wrong. When you grow up, I won't be there to tell you how to live you're life. So right now, I want you to understand that whenever your aunt or I punish you. It's because we care about you and want you to grow up to be the best possible person in the world. Do you understand?" Gibbs asked looking very serious.
"Yes Gibbs, but what if I make lots of mistakes" Thalia asked an important question.
"We all make mistakes Thalia. Julie and I are here to help you learn from them" Gibbs said his blue eyes are sparkling with delight.
"Will you spank me, every time I make a mistake?" that's a very good question.
"It depends, I will if you lie, cheat, smoke, drink, get into a fight, or if you disrespect an adult. Although if you mistakenly make a mistake or act out because you have mixed feelings. Then we'll all talk about it. Does that make sense?" Gibbs asked his tone becoming softer.
"Yeah" Thalia agreed looking up at him. Now Gibbs knows that she knows why he spanks and knows what to do so she doesn't get any more.
"Good, now let's work on that project of yours" Thalia almost smiles as she sits down, but leaps up and starts rubbing her ass. 'He's way better than her real dad.' Julie comes home ten minutes later and helps out too.
Ally comes downstairs and watches while playing with her dollies. "What were you like when you were a kid?" Thalia asked she's never heard Gibbs say anything about his childhood.
"You were a kid?" Ally asked her eyes wider than anything. Thalia and Julie start laughing while Gibbs smiles playfully at her and taps her on the nose.
"Yes I was" Gibbs said, his eyes shine down at the fiery little girl.
Gibbs starts explaining what he was like as a boy. It turns out he was adventurous and always fooled around with the other boys. Julie starts laughing in the middle of the story when he stole apples from a lady across the street and sold them for two dollars. His dad really spanked his behind. In the end he got to keep the sixteen dollars he made that's only cos his mom never knew he made a profit.