Chapter 5

About fifteen minutes later the door to Sheriff Black's office opened and Tony and then Officer Williams walked in. "Here are the papers, Sir," Williams said as he handed them over to the Sheriff before leaving once again.

The Sheriff glanced at them momentarily before handing them to Gibbs. "There you go Jethro, your boy is officially yours now."

Gibbs took them without looking and shoved them in his pocket. "Are you ready to go DiNozzo?"

"I'll say and the sooner the better…no offense Sheriff," Tony said as he cast his eyes everywhere except in the direction of his boss. "I'll just follow behind you, Boss" he added as he headed for the door.

"Not so quick Tony. Hand Ducky your keys; he'll be driving your car. You and I have a lot to discuss about your behavior among other things and I think the ride home should do nicely," ordered Gibbs.

"But Boss, I've…"

"NOW DINOZZO!"

"Yes, Boss," Tony said as he reluctantly handed Ducky his keys.

"Sheriff I can't think you enough for taking care of my agent and making his stay here educational," he said cryptically.

If Tony was puzzled at the comment, he didn't show it; all he wanted to do was put as much distance between Micksville. He walked out of the office with Ducky talking about the case while Gibbs stayed a moment longer talking with the Sheriff.

"Get in the car Tony, we have much to discuss," Gibbs said as the walked up to the NCIS vehicle.

It only took Ducky a few minutes to climb into the vehicle Tony came down in and drive behind. And with their little caravan they started off. At first Tony was so intent in defending his actions that he didn't notice where they were heading and when he did he stopped in mid sentence to say, "Why are we stopping here? Boss???"

Gibbs turned off the engine and looked Tony in the face before replying.

"I see this as the solution to both my and your problem, DiNozzo."

"Problem? What problem do we share, boss?" he asked anxiously.

"Well, the way I see it no matter what good intentions you had about going AWOL you still left without my permission or authorization and that kind of action requires me as your superior to officially write a disciplinary report on you; and if you get enough they can cause you not to advance. I already have several written reports on you I just haven't put them in your file yet….but the AWOL is too major not to do something; I will have to put it in your file. So I offer you a solution…let me handle your discipline and punishment in my manner or I will have no recourse but to handle it by official means," Gibbs explained.

"Just what way did you have in mind to handle my punishment?" asked Tony fearfully.

"By continuing where the good Sheriff left off," replied Gibbs as he motioned towards the woodshed.

"Boss!!! You can't be serious…that's so old fashioned and what if Director Morrow doesn't approve then I'm left with a sore butt plus the disciplinary report," protested Tony.

"Don't worry about the Director…he was a boy once and I bet he's experienced a woodshed like punishment once or twice growing up. He knows how it will benefit you, but if you like I will call him and ask…do you want me to do that DiNozzo?"

Tony only nodded as he watched Gibbs do just that. It had been a short conversation…too short for Tony but in the end he had no other recourse but to agreed to what Gibbs proposed.

"Come on, lets get this over with," said Gibbs as he left the car.

Tony opened the passenger side of the car and put one foot out but then as he saw the building and remembered the spanking he froze and said, "Boss, surely there is some other way?"

Gibbs turned realizing how hard this was for Tony and replied gently, "I'm afraid not DiNozzo…not any more. It's either this or your career, and you are too good of an investigator to lose."

Tony forced himself to follow as slowly as he could but eventually he entered the building and stopped next to Gibbs.

"Get in position Tony; I'm sure Sheriff Black showed you where and how…and lose the coat," ordered Gibbs as he took the razor strop down and folded in preparation of being used.

Tony walked over to the bench and removed his overcoat and shivered, "but its cold in here, Boss."

"Don't worry I'm about to warm things up for you real soon," and walked over to lay a comforting hand on his agent's back forcing him to bend over the bench and then without another word he brought the strop down hard on Tony's butt.

"Owwwww…that's was harder than the Sheriff's, Boss!" he cried as a mighty burn began and he tried to straighten up.

He was pushed back and held in place as the strop came down again and again until Tony lost count of how many licks he was receiving; he only knew that the burn in his butt began to intensify which each lick and his cries became louder and louder until he began to sob. It was at that very moment that Gibbs laid the strop down and allowed Tony the option to straighten up. Tony moved slowly still sobbing as he straightened up keeping his back to Gibbs, embarrassed that his Boss was watching him cry.

"Tony there is nothing wrong with crying," Gibbs said fatherly as he pulled the agent into a hug. Tony returned the hugged and held on tight seeking the comfort that Gibbs was offering. They stayed in that position for some while as Tony fought to control his emotions.

"B-Boss, you h-have a mighty s-swing; y-you should have been a m-major

leaguer-r," Tony said before pushing away.

"Are you okay, DiNozzo?"

"Yep, except for having a sore b-butt. I'm glad that is over," Tony said with relief.

"Yep, for this time," replied Gibbs as he replaced the razor strop.

"What do you mean for this time?"

"With you DiNozzo, there will always be another time," laughed Gibbs.

The End