WARNING: Spanking in this chapter. Please see chapter 1 for other warnings and disclaimers.
Author's Note: 1) Thank you all for the great reviews! 2) Thanks to GibbsFan for the suggestion about the conversation between Abby and Ashlynn. 3) The flashback in this story is a little drabble that I wrote a couple of years ago. It's hardly unique; I've seen more than one ff story using the same premise, which is partly why I never developed it into its own story. It seemed to fit well here within this story, though, so I hope you will forgive the fact that the idea is less that novel…though perhaps just a slightly different take on the situation.
Chapter 5
"For God sakes, how many teenagers can hack into the FBI? " Gibbs demanded his hand slamming down onto his desk in exasperation.
"Ah, well, um, I did," McGee muttered, turning red and glaring at a smirking Tony. "But, I, ah, I guess that's not really what you meant. She's definitely good and she's really smart, Boss. I mean no one saw her on your computer, which means she had very little time to accomplish what she did. If she'd had more time, I seriously doubt anyone would have found out, and that Trojan she used – really impressive."
"I want you to find out exactly how smart she is," Gibbs replied, offering his youngest field agent a glare. Impressive was not the word he would have used. "In fact, I want you to find out everything that you can about our little hacker." Though he couldn't put his finger on it, his gut was telling him that Ashlynn was keeping something from them. He only hoped it wasn't something that was ultimately going to cause heartache to his sons.
XXX000XXX000XXX000
Ashlynn sat watching Abby prepare several samples for testing. Spending time with Abby was far more preferable to being babysat by whichever agent Gibbs assigned to the task. Since his immediate team was busy helping with the FBI investigation relating to her mother, she was stuck with whichever probationary agent wasn't immediately busy.
Considering her earlier telephone conversation, Ashlynn bit her lip. She hoped she was making the right decision. The boys would be fine with Gibbs, of that she was certain. After this last weekend, she really had no doubts. Not only was the boys' room fabulous, but they had settled into his place like they had never known another home, which they really hadn't she supposed.
Given his hours, Gibbs was probably going to need to consider a nanny of sorts. She should probably look into that for him. Sunday she had shared her school searches and Gibbs had decided to take her recommendations. Both boys would be attending a charter school and then ride a bus to an afterschool program at the navy yard. Gaining acceptance to a charter school this late in the school year was unheard of, but lucky for Ashlynn Gibbs didn't know that. All that mattered was that each of her brothers were in a program where they could be challenged and excel. The fewer questions the better, she figured. The boys should be able to start next week.
Her mind kept wandering back to the conversation with Gibbs and Fornell in the elevator. Well, there really hadn't been much conversing. She was well aware that Gibbs was not the type of man to make idle threats, but he could not truly be serious. She was an adult, young yes, but still an adult and a cooperating witness with a federal investigation to boot.
As her blue green eyes followed Abby, she remembered the signed conversation between Gibbs and the forensic scientist last week. She wondered if she had misinterpreted Gibbs's warning to the Goth. Abby was older than she was by a bit, not to mention a federal employee.
"Abby?"
"Yeah."
"Can I ask you something that might be a little personal?"
"Sure. Of course, I might not answer, but then again I might, because I am generally a fairly open person. Well, at least about some things. Other things, not so much, so I guess it really depends on what level of personal you mean."
"You know I sign?"
"Yeah, I figured that one out."
"So Gibbs's conversation with you on Friday, when AJ brought you the Caf Pow…"
"Yeah?"
"It almost seemed that he was threatening to…well, I mean when he asked if you wanted a demonstration…"
"Oh, that! That was his way of telling me to chill out."
"So he wouldn't ever really do something like that to you?"
"Well, I am his favorite," Abby said with a grin. "At work I mean, because now of course with the boys in his life they will of course take precedence, and rightly so, but in the past I have always been his favorite. Don't get me wrong because this is great with me. I love the boys and I am so glad that you all came into our lives. I would never –"
"Abby."
"Yeah?"
"I get it," Ashlynn said with a smile. "At work you're his favorite. So he would never actually smack you?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you said…"
"That I'm his favorite. So he'll head smack Tony, McGee, and even Ziva, but he would never do that to me, but I will admit that on occasion when I've really irritated him I've earned a swat or a few on my butt."
Ashlynn swallowed, wide-eyed in amazement.
"What?" Abby demanded.
"Abby, you are an adult. A professional working for a federal organization. He can't do that."
Abby snorted and came to stand right in front of the auburn-haired girl with her hands on her hips. "We are family. And Gibbs has earned the right to do whatever he sees fit to keep us in line. We might not always like it and we might gripe amongst ourselves, but that doesn't change a thing!"
"Well, I'm not family," Ashlynn defended heatedly. "He has no right to threaten me. OUCH!" The girl ended on a shriek as Abby had reached out and pinched her – hard!
"Don't say that. Of course you're family," Abby chastened turning around to return to her work.
Ashlynn scowled at the other woman for a moment, but really it was impossible to hold a grudge against Abby. "So, he hasn't ever done more than uh," Ashlynn cleared her throat, "Smack you a few times, though, right?" In her estimation that was more than enough, but somehow she figured the threat to "blister" her ass before he parked it in an interrogation room would entail more than a few swats.
"Oh yes he has and believe me that is not an experience that you want for yourself."
Flashback
Abby sat nervously on the front porch steps of Gibbs's house unable to decide if she was more relieved or more anxious. The week following the attempts on her life by a hit man not to mention the psychotic stalking by her defective lunatic of an ex-boyfriend had not been a good one. During the ordeal, Gibbs had been nothing but supportive and protective of his young forensic scientist, but once all was said and done there was an unresolved tension between them. Abby was not good with unresolved tension.
They had immediately become involved in a new case and there had been no real opportunity to talk to Gibbs. She had tried of course, but he had insisted that she focus on the case, telling her they would discuss it later. This had only served to elevate her anxiety levels, decrease her ability to sleep and make her extremely cranky. Cranky hadn't gone over well with Gibbs. Neither had sarcastic and mouthy. Finally, the lead agent for NCIS major case response team had had it and ordered her to report to his house after work so that they could deal with a few things.
Looking up as his truck pulled in, Abby wondered just how badly she had managed to anger her boss. Licking her lips she regretted letting herself get into such a destructive headspace and wished she had heeded the warnings of her friends and co-workers. She tried to console herself with the knowledge that she was his favorite. He had been so kind and loving the prior week when she was terrified for her life. A quick look at his face now indicated that she might be seeing a different side of Leroy Jethro Gibbs this evening.
"Come on, inside," he commanded sternly. As soon as they entered he pointed to the couch, "Sit." He proceeded to remove his sidearm and put it in a safe in the bookshelf. He removed his jacket and tossed it aside. Taking a deep breath he turned to look at the young woman who had become like a daughter to him.
"Talk," he said, folding his arms and pinning her with a stare that was usually reserved for the interrogation room.
"I'm not a dog, Gibbs," she noted sarcastically. "Sit, speak –"
"Abs, do you remember what I said would happen if I had to start smacking you like I do DiNozzo?"
"Yes," she said sheepishly her stomach plummeting like when on a roller coaster ride.
"You're this close," he held his fingers about a centimeter apart, "And believe me, you do not want to add to what you have to look forward to this evening."
Abby swallowed and looked down at the floor. "I thought you agreed that it wasn't my fault."
"Mawher's actions were in no way your fault, Abs," Gibbs stated gently.
"Then why aren't things right between us?" Abby had almost wailed.
"Do you trust me, Abs?"
"Gibbs, how could you even ask me that? I trust you more than anyone. You're like, like a father to me...especially after my dad died. I thought you knew that," Abby's voice almost broke and her eyes were rimmed with tears.
Clearing the distance between them, Gibbs took a seat on the couch beside the distressed young woman. He gently lifted her chin.
"Then how come you didn't come to me and tell me you had a more than questionable ex-boyfriend stalking you? And don't tell me you didn't think it was anything. You got a restraining order."
"I felt stupid!"
"Abs, I need to be able to protect you and I can't do that if you keep things from me. You are like a daughter to me and I can't bear the thought of losing you. Had we not been distracted with Mawher, we might have caught on to the hit man a lot sooner."
"It won't happen again," she stated meekly, a tear trailing down her cheek.
"No, it won't," he agreed with a bit more metal in his voice. "Come on Abs," he said patting his lap.
Looking somewhat horrified she shook her head, more in denial than refusal.
"I won't fit," she squeaked.
With the smallest hint of a smile, Gibbs gently guided the young woman over his lap. "Why are you getting spanked, Abigail?"
"Because I showed a lack of trust. I didn't tell you about Mikel," she sniffed, feeling terrible. She offered no resistance determined to prove that she trusted Gibbs.
"And?"
"And that put me at risk and interfered with the case, and I opened the door at McGee's, which was really stupid and dangerous, and then I drank your bourbon, and then I broke your boat. I guess I was kind of a brat at work this week, too, and sort of mouthy and generally not very pleasant to be around." She wanted to justify her actions and explain the degree of stress she had been under, especially with the unusual tension between the two of them, but decided this might not be the time.
"You don't put yourself into dangerous situations, Abs, and you don't keep things from me that make it so that I can't protect you." Gibbs stated so that she would know exactly which of those things had actually led to this punishment. Not that he'd been pleased with her behavior this week. That probably warranted at least a few swats.
With that the man flipped up her skirt only to find himself staring down at a green 'Mr. Yuck', insolently sticking his tongue out him. Who would think to make underwear with a poison emblem on them? Shaking his head he brought his hand down forcefully on Abby's bottom causing her to jump. She wasn't going anywhere, though, as Gibbs held her firmly about the waist.
"OUCH!" She shrieked. "That really hurt."
"It's supposed to, Abs," he replied with regret, "That's what helps you remember to make better choices next time."
With that comment, Gibbs proceeded to make sure every inch of her bottom would be party to serving that reminder. As hard as it was for him to cause Abby any pain, it was far harder to consider standing at her grave so he made every swat count. Turning a deaf ear to her yelps he continued to reign down one powerful smack after another, until her bottom was radiating heat through her cotton Mr. Yuck panties. Steeling himself, he lifted his leg slightly raising her bottom and laid down five final swats right on her sit spot.
Abby just lay sobbing over his lap. Ever so gently Gibbs turned and lifted her so that she was sitting in his lap and she leaned into his shoulder, bawling into his shirt. "I'm so, so, so sorry. I was so stupid."
"Shhhh." Gibbs held her tighter, knowing some of this was a release of residual stress from last week. "You are not stupid, Abs. And I will say again, Mawher was not your fault. You just should have told me about him."
"I should have better taste in men."
"You see the best in most people, Abs. That's what makes you so special. Although, I wonder if I shouldn't start screening your dates. Might save us some trouble in the future," he quipped.
"Oh, no. No. No. No," Abby said shaking her head.
He grinned and wiped her tears away, pleased to see the smile return to her face. He had missed it. More than he cared to admit.
End Flashback
"A psychotic maniac almost killed you! That doesn't even compare to a little bit of harmless hacking," Ashlynn commented after Abby had shared the story with her.
"Actually, it was the hit man that almost killed me. Mikel never really made the attempt, though he was apparently planning on it. Besides it's not like that was the only time or anything, just the first. Not homicidal lunatic ex-boyfriend, he's the only one of those. Of course after that I tried to be a bit more careful in my dating. It was just the first time Gibbs ever spanked me, but there have been another couple times and those had nothing to do with psychotic ex-boyfriends. But anyway none of that is really the point. The point is Gibbs protects his own in whatever way he thinks will work. We're family, Ash."
After the pinch that Abby had delivered earlier, Ashlynn didn't dare voice her opinion that she was not included in this category. In her mind, his onetime relationship with her mother and his current custody of her brothers gave him no say over her actions. Perhaps being in charge of her protective custody was the issue. She had been right to make that phone call after all.
XXX000XXX000XXX000
That evening, Ashlynn spent a little extra time reading with AJ and sparring with Cam out in the backyard. She then made spaghetti with meatballs, which was one of their absolute favorite meals. By bedtime, Cam had gotten very quiet. Despite being only ten, he was remarkably perceptive particularly when it came to his sister. He didn't have an opportunity to ask her about it, but he was determined he would find out tomorrow.
Once the boys were settled in for the night, and McGee was typing away on his computer, Ashlynn made her way down to the basement. Gibbs wasn't surprised to see her. Things had been off tonight and his gut was telling him that something was up with the girl. He waited for her to speak.
"I would never intentionally do anything to hurt my brothers."
Gibbs looked at her. "Sometimes unintentional things can be just as hurtful."
"I'm eighteen and legally an adult," she said with a hint of annoyance.
"Legally," the man agreed, turning back to the wooden structure.
"Being father to my brothers gives you no authority over me," she pointed out.
He didn't even bother to respond, just continued fashioning the wooden pin he was working on. Ashlynn sighed. Time to move on.
"You're going to want to hire someone. To help with the boys when you have to work late, maybe even shop and do a bit of cleaning. After I leave, I mean. I've researched some possibilities for you."
The man paused and looked up at the girl. She had put her pajamas on and brushed her hair out so that it fell about her shoulders and slightly obscured her face. She looked so young sitting there, but there was a look in her eyes that made one think she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. "You don't have to leave, Ash. You are more than welcome to stay here with your brothers. If you're looking at a local school there's no reason you can't live here while you attend."
"Yeah, I'll just kick you out of your room indefinitely," she said shaking her head.
"We could work something out. I spend most nights down here anyways. Think about it."
XXX000XXX000XXX000
The following morning was rather rushed. Gibbs had to take the boys to the school for an interview and to complete some paperwork. Tony came by for breakfast and then he and Tim were escorting Ash to NCIS headquarters.
"Have fun," Ash said, giving AJ a kiss goodbye. "We'll see you for lunch." Turning to Cam, the girl pointed a finger. "Behave, don't get smart with the principal, and don't give Gibbs any trouble."
He swatted her finger away, but when she blocked his move he grinned taking an offensive stance ready to try for a more aggressive swipe. "No sparring now," Gibbs warned. "We have appointments to keep. You two go get in the truck. And you," he turned to Ashlynn, "Behave, remember our discussion from yesterday, and don't give anyone any trouble."
She narrowed her eyes at his choice to mimic her instructions to Cam, but Gibbs just smirked and headed out. "Don't be late, DiNozzo," he warned in parting.
Ashlynn and the two NCIS agents headed out just minutes after Gibbs, offering a friendly wave to the FBI car to let them know that they were officially off duty. They drove to a Starbucks where they stopped briefly while McGee ran in to get them coffee.
"Do you always get girlie drinks?" Ash teased DiNozzo.
"So, what did Gibbs say to you about using his computer to hack into the FBI?" Tony shot back with a smirk, ignoring her jibe.
"Oh, he was genuinely impressed with my abilities."
"Yeah, I just bet he was. In fact, if I-" Tony's response was interrupted by the sound of gunshots.
XXX000XXX000XXX000
"Sit Rep," Director Vance demanded, as Gibbs walked into his office. Ash and Fornell were there waiting for the NCIS agent.
"It was sloppy at best. Not something you would expect from the caliber of people that we've been investigating. CIA hasn't heard any chatter about Covas finding out about Ashlynn or putting out this kind of hit. "
"Have you contacted anyone?" Vance demanded, turning to Ashlynn. "Does anyone know you are here?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Regardless of how unprofessional this was, I think it's time the FBI assume responsibility for Ashlynn's protection, Jethro," Fornell stated softly. "Take her to a safe house and get her out of the open, just in case, until we learn something more."
Ashlynn responded before Gibbs could answer the FBI agent, "He's right. I don't want the boys to be at risk."
Gibbs looked at the girl. She was remarkably calm. Granted she hadn't had an ordinary life, but she was only eighteen and he'd seen trained soldiers practically wet themselves the first time they were shot at. Once again his gut told him something was off, but he noted the look in the director's eye and nodded.
"You're here now, why don't you spend some time with your brothers. I'll make some calls. We'll leave later this afternoon," Fornell suggested, well aware of the tension in the room.
"Okay," Ashlynn whispered and she blinked several times. "She turned to Gibbs. Let me tell the boys."
He nodded, his jaw clenching. It was obvious that she was upset at having to leave her brothers, holding tears at bay by sheer will power. Somehow, though, he believed it the first honest emotion he had seen this morning and that really bothered him. Gibbs sincerely wished he knew what the girl was up to.
Ashlynn and Fornell left the room and Gibbs turned to Vance.
"Something isn't right."
"Find out what that is," Vance stated by way of agreement.
Gibbs stormed down the stairs into the squad room. "McGee! What do you have for me on Ashlynn?"
"Ashlynn Leigh Connely was born in Kilkenny, Ireland to Deirdre Connley. No father was listed on the birth record."
"Ireland?" Ziva interjected.
"Yes, her grandfather was originally from Ireland, became a US citizen and then returned to Ireland following his divorce. He died five years ago. Her grandmother was a native of Virginia and remained there until her death six years ago. Her house now belongs to Ms. Connely's heirs. Ash's vaccination records were updated at six months of age in Langley, Virginia and US passport was obtained at the same time. Vaccination records were updated regularly in various locations. Not much then, until her enrollment in the International Virtual Academy at age ten. She excelled in her course work with a 4.0 GPA."
"Yeah, but a virtual school, come on!" Tony interrupted. "That's just not right on so many levels. How do you get a Phys Ed grade from a computer class anyway?"
"Well, in Ashlynn's case," Tim answered with a note of irritation, "You get a letter from your martial arts instructor stating above average weekly progress."
"What else?" Gibbs demanded.
"Notes from Ashlynn's teachers consistently encourage Ms. Connley to apply to specialty programs for gifted and talented children. According to her transcripts she excelled in languages and took courses in French, Spanish, Italian, Greek and German. She also showed tremendous potential in the area of computers and surpassed the courses offered by the school two years ago. Her SAT scores are all 800s. She has applied to a number of colleges and universities in the DC area and a few others no more than 300 miles away to include: Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, George Washington, Penn State, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon."
"So she's smart?"
"Yeah, Boss."
"Cell phone?"
"The only number that doesn't match one of ours or someone directly involved in the investigation is this number, dialed yesterday. Phone is registered to a Rudy Davis. Local small business owner. Apparently if you are visiting town and want reservations, tickets, rental car whatever, he is the guy to call. He's up north right now, but his flight has him returning by the end of the week."
"She lied," Gibbs said quietly.
TBC