Chapter 4

As soon as they arrived and the boys had helped unload the car Jack directed them upstairs. "After all of that walking I thought you might want to take a shower. I have some of Leroy's clothing from when he was younger, they should fit you easily. Just search through the chest of drawers in the first room."

"Well that went well," remarked Neal as he grabbed some clothing and headed for the backroom.

"You think," replied Tony as he shook his head at the young man. "He never did ask why if we are traveling where our bags are; he's up to something so be on your toes."

While Tony was waiting for his turn in the bathroom Jack called for him to come down and he obedient did as he was asked. "What do you want Jack?"

He was totally unprepared when Jack suddenly grabbed him by the ear and led him protesting out to the woodshed. "I think you know why you are here?" Jack said as he picked up the strap hanging near the door.

"Jack! There is no need for that," pleaded Tony as he looked into jack's eyes. He didn't like what he saw and after realizing his pleas weren't going to save him leaned over the bench there and waited for the inevitable to occur and when it didn't come he looked over his shoulder at Jack as to ask, what now?

"Drop them…your lies have brought this on you," jack explained sternly.

Tony turned back and quickly unbuckled and then unzipped his pants and allowed them to drop to his ankles and then after a pause he pushed his boxers down as well before bending back over the bench. He had only just gotten back into position when he felt the strap visit his backside and had to bite his lips to keep from crying out…the next lick ripped the yell from his throat as did the next four before he heard Jack say, "We're finished…you can have your shower now."

Tony ripped the tears from his face a minute after he pulled his pants back up and turned to face Jack. "You took it easy on me; does that mean you expect your son to continue it when he arrives?"

"Yep, but I wanted you to know that I don't like to be lied to. Leroy was worried about you today Tony when he couldn't find you and then learning that your ID had been found during a violent incident at the FBI building in New York City caused him much anxiety. That alone is going to cause you a lot of pain once he gets his hands on you…and that doesn't have a thing to do with the fact that you lied about being sick today. You are going to pay for playing hooky today," lectured Jack as they walked back.

"I'm sorry Jack," replied Tony.

"I know you get bored at times Tony; Leroy has told me of some of your antics when you get bored but surely by now you know how Leroy shows his displeasure when it gets out of hand. I called him just now and he told me exactly what happened today. He sounded so relieved to know that you were safe but angry that you did what you did and turning your phone off is not a smart thing to do. Go and have your shower and send your friend down…and Tony don't tell him about the surprise out in the woodshed….his Agent Burke has given me permission to handle him in the same manner as I have you," Jack said sternly as he gave Tony a smack to his sore backside sending him on.

Tony yelped as he gingerly went up the stairs and met Neal as he was coming out of the room. "Where did you go?" Neal asked curiously.

"Jack want me for something…why don't you go on down while I grab a shower," directed Tony as lightheartedly as he could. He knew that after his trip to the woodshed Neal would think twice about lying to Jack again.

Neal walked into the kitchen and not finding Jack called out, "Mr. Gibbs?"

"Out here, son," replied Jack as he waited in the back yard for Neal to join him. As soon Neal appeared Jack motioned for him to follow him as he led the unsuspecting Neal into the woodshed; he stopped only after Neal had preceded him through the door.

"Neal, as I'm sure that Tony warned you, I don't like to be lied to and when I am I deal with it most harshly. So I want you to bend over that bench minus your pants and boxers; I'm about to address those lies in a manner I'm sure you will remember for some time," Jack said sternly as he picked up the leather strap from where he laid it after correcting Tony earlier.

"Uh," replied Neal shocked. Tony did warn him but he had disregarded the warning and had tried to con this man into believing he was who he said and now it was about to cost him a sore backside. "I didn't lie to you," began Neal as he tried to come up with something to save his ass…literally.

"You told me the truth, earlier?" asked Jack.

Neal was about to nod when Jack added, "Funny that isn't what Agent Burke told me about you."

Neal looked at Jack in shock, he wasn't expecting that and hung his head and muttered, "I lied."

"What was that, son?" instructed Jack grimly.

Neal looked up into the face of a stern but caring man. "What I told you earlier in the car was a lie. I'm an ex-con that has been paroled into the hands of the FBI serving the rest of my sentence helping them solve white collar crimes. Agent Burke is my handler; I report to him; he is my boss…and friend…more like a big brother who I must have worried deeply today," he confessed.

"I'm sure that Peter Burke will handle your punishment if it is warranted when he arrives with my son but I'm going to handle the lies you told me earlier now. So do as I say and it will be over soon and you can spend the rest of the day recovering for their arrival.

Neal nodded but reluctantly got into position with both is pants and boxers at his ankles waiting for his comeuppance. Jack lit into him with the same ferocity that he used on Tony. He had Neal yelling and crying after the second stroke and didn't let up until he had given Neal the same amount as he had Tony for his lies and left him with a sore backside too. As soon as it was over Jack waited until Neal had his emotions under control to offer him comfort. He waited until after Neal had pulled up his boxers and pants before offering him his hand.

"Come on son, let me give you a hand," offered Jack as he helped Neal to the sofa in the living room and sat him down next to Tony. "Now you both can discuss why lying to me is not a good thing."

About an hour later Jack looked up to the sound of a car driving up and saw the familiar NCIS emblem and called, "Boys, your keepers are here," before going out to greet his son and Agent Burke to his house.

"You made good time, Leroy," greeted Jack, as he introduced himself to the passenger, "You must be Agent Burke; my name is Jack."

"Pleased to meet you Jack and the name is Peter," replied Peter as he shook Jack's hand.

"How are they?" asked Gibbs of his father.

"Sore," smiled Jack as he glanced towards the woodshed at the back of the yard.

"Tony lied to you?" asked Gibbs puzzled.

"He tried to sneak in a little lie in his explanation on why they were coming to Stillwater; he knows now why that wasn't a good idea."

"You spanked Neal?" asked Peter.

"I could have spanked him longer but decided that six licks for his first time was enough; but if he continues then I will add on the licks," explained Jack as he watched Tony and then Neal exit the house.

Gibbs and Peter followed his glance and saw their "kids" and walked towards the two. Gibbs grabbed Tony and looked him over, "Are you okay?" he asked as soon as he was sure that Tony was uninjured.

"I'm fine except for a sore backside," admitted Tony as he watched Gibbs warily.

Gibbs gave him a swift smack to his sore backside and said, "Don't you ever do that again; you scared me when we couldn't find you and then when Agent Burke told me that your ID had been found at the scene of a shootout at the FBI caused me great anxiety. We will be having a strong discussion about your behavior later," scolded Gibbs as he gave Tony a quick hug.

While Gibbs was talking to Tony; Peter and Neal were having a similar discussion of their own. "Why didn't you call me as soon as you were free of Rico?" asked Peter.

"Ruiz said that he was going to send me back to prison for associating with Rico. He must have recognized him," concluded Neal.

"Ruiz overreacted; he's never liked you from the beginning and he saw that as a way to an end…he was wrong. I would have protected you; you know that," Peter said with concern. "So why didn't you call?"

"I was scared that you wouldn't be able to help me this time," repeated Neal in a different way, "there were so many officers looking for me."

"You talk about my not trusting you and here you are doing the same. Neal you came to me after you escaped for the Judges' office and you had OPR as well as FBI agents searching for you; you did that because…"

"I knew you would help me; that you were my best chance for getting my name cleared," Neal said completing the sentence.

"So why not now?"

"I don't know; I screwed up…I'm sorry," replied Neal softly.

Peter looked at him for a moment before he said just as softly, "Well, kid brothers do that sometimes and when that happens big brothers usually take care of it."

"How?"

"I think you know how by now," replied Peter as he took a hold of Neal's arm and led him towards the woodshed…

"NO! Not there…please Peter can't you wait until later," pleaded Neal,

"my butt is still sore after Mr. Gibbs' spanking me for lying."

Peter paused and nodded, "it can wait…other than a sore backside are you okay?"

"Yep, everything is fine now."

"Good," replied Peter as he gave Neal's hair a ruffled and they headed back to where the senior Gibbs was watching.

"Jack, I want to thank you for taking such care of him…he can be a pain at times but he has a good heart and is trying to change," Peter said with a smirk.

"If you let him stay with me for a while I guarantee that his changing will improve; I have ways to motivate that work wonders," invited Jack with a smile.

"Peter, don't we have cases that need solving," said Neal quickly? He didn't even want Peter to consider Jack's offer…he knew about the motivation Jack would be using and he wanted no part of it.

"Well, I do have some mortgage cases that could use your talents," teased Peter. He knew how Neal hated those.

"When do we leave," replied Neal, which got a great laugh out of both Peter and Jack.

"What's with all of the laughter?" asked Gibbs as he and Tony walked up.

"Neal accepting any case just as long as it gets him away from your father and I guess the woodshed," explained Peter with a chuckle.

"Let me guess, Dad offered his services in breaking Neal's propensity for lying?" asked Gibbs giving his father a knowing look.

Peter nodded adding, "and don't think I haven't considered it either. Your father could put him to work doing chores for a week or so and then with a daily spanking for past lies he might come back a totally different consultant."

"PETER!" cried Neal horrified at the suggestion. "My anklet won't allow it, remember."

"I could always get the radius changed," argued Peter teasingly, "to that of Stillwater; I'm sure that if I told Hughes that it was a disciplinarian action that he would back it." Neal looked so troubled that Peter was about to admit that it was only a tease when Jack spoke up.

"You know that might just work…I can always use some help around here and some physical labor can be consider a punishment in itself…and may keep Tony's and Neal's backsides from being so sore and red.

Peter and Gibbs looked at each other than at their charges before coming to an immediate agreement, "We agree, but physical labor can't be the only punishment they receive. They scared us with this stunt, Dad and they need to feel some pain as well," said Gibbs as Peter nodded his agreement.

"Well, then about they stay for a week and receive a bedtime spanking until you come back to retrieve them," offered Jack.

"That would work for me, would it work for you?" asked Gibbs as he looked at Peter.

"Oh, yes, but before we leave they are going to need some more clothes; of at least Neal will. The ones he is wearing now make him look the little boy they are so big," added Peter.

Neal finally found his voice and cried, "Hey…NO! Peter you can't be serious…what would Mozzie, June or El say if you told them that you have left me here to be punished for the week?"

"I bet they would approve especially after I tell them what you did and that it is for your own good…tough love is what I think they call it now," replied Peter seriously.

"What about the mortgage cases that are waiting," argued Neal?

"I think we can handle things without you for a week, especially if we get the new and improved Neal in return," replied Peter.

"I'm not wearing the anklet now, you know…I could just leave," threatened Neal half serious.

"Oh, I'm glad you reminded me," replied Peter as he pulled out a replacement anklet and pulled Neal's foot up and attached it instantly. "Now you are back on line. I just need to tell the Marshals' what your new radius is…and Neal if you stray I will instruct Jack to give you a morning spanking for the week as well," threatened Peter quite sternly…."do you understand?"

"I understand," replied Neal dejectedly.

Once Tony saw how Neal's argument went he didn't think he stood much of a chance in persuading Gibbs to change his mind but he thought to give it a try at least but before he could open his mouth Gibbs growled,

"And don't think there is anything you can say to change my mind DiNozzo…you wanted a vacation from work and now you've got it. Dad if he gives you any trouble you can add a morning spanking as well."

Tony hung his head in defeat and muttered, "I can hardly wait…OWWW!" Gibbs with his excellent hearing had heard and reacted swiftly with a hard slap to Tony's sore backside.

After glaring at Tony for a minute Gibbs' gaze softened and he said, "look on the bright side DiNozzo, now you can get Dad to tell you all of those stories about my childhood that you have been so interested in."

That bought a smile to Tony's face as he replied, "Hey, that's right."

"I think we have better get them some clothing so that they can start work tomorrow reasonably clad," Gibbs said as he motioned for Tony and Neal to follow him with Peter bringing up the rear. "We'll be right back Dad."

"I'll have supper waiting for us in an hour, make sure you aren't late," shouted Jack as he saw them get in the car and drive off.