Chapter 6

Jack waited until the NCIS vehicle with his son and Agent Burke had driven off before calling, "Come on boys, your day is just beginning. I thought that you should start with your yard work this morning and then after lunch you can join me at the store."

Tony and Neal turned slowly and drudgingly walked back to Jack where he pointed out what he wanted done and where the tools could be found. "I have two lawn mowers and thought that one could start in the back yard while the other did the front…that way it won't take so long."

Tony and Neal surveyed the yards and soon realized that the back was the larger. "I'll flip you for who mows the larger yard?" Neal said hurriedly as he pulled out a coin to flip when Jack arrived with a solution of his own.

"That won't be necessary Neal…you do the front yard and Tony will do the back and when you finish you can help him finish the back…then you both can rake the cut grass and leaves…now get to it; I'll be checking to make sure no one is shirking their jobs."

Jack waited until both boys were hard a work before he headed to the store to open up. His store was one of the few that opened early and by eight he was greeting his first customers.

Tony and Neal kept up their mowing for the first hour but after that they began to slow down and by the time Jack made a surprised check he found them both resting in the shade. Neal had mowed the front yard to Jack's satisfaction even though it looked like Tony hadn't done but a fraction of his. He would discuss that with Tony later he thought as he asked, "If you two have rested enough the back yard still needs cutting and the yards raked by lunch or you will be hearing about it tonight before bed," he threatened which he saw to his amusement worked great at getting them both motivated to finishing their morning chore…he didn't have to threaten them again that morning.

Just before lunch Tony and Neal came to the store to announce that they were finished. "Then why don't you grab a cold drink and take a rest," Jack offered and watched as the two did just that. Soon they were sitting at a table at the back cooling off as customers came and went; a few stopping to ask if they were relatives of Jack.

Tony answered those questions with a tired smile, "yes ma'am, we are his adopted grandsons…our Dads decided that we needed to help him out this week. You see we got into a small bit of trouble and this is part of our punishment."

Jack only nodded and smiled with Tony's explanation but knowing that he would have to explain further to his friends about the two; but was eager to accepted both of them as grandsons.

"It's noon and time for us to close the store for lunch. Tony, turn that open/closed sign over please," instructed Jack as he exited the front door. Tony and Neal followed closely.

"Aren't you going to lock the door?" asked Neal.

"Nope."

"What if someone comes in and steals something," he asked next.

"They won't; and if it is locked then if they won't be able to get something if it is needed. They will pay me the next time they see me. The cash register is locked and that is all that is needed. Now what do you two want for lunch?"

"I don't really care," replied Neal, "I'm too tired to eat anyhow."

Jack turned to look at Neal with that comment and said sympathetically, "then why don't you take a nap on the couch while I fix you something…afterwards you can grab another one."

"Thanks Mr. Gibbs," replied Neal as he headed for the living room and the nearest couch. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

It didn't take Jack long to get something on the table for lunch…he thought sandwiches would do quite nicely saving a bigger meal for the night and sent Tony to get Neal. He became concerned when Tony returned without Neal.

"Neal said that he rather rest than eat, Jack," offered Tony as he sat down and began to build his sandwich.

"I'm going to check on him; apparently he's not used to so much manual labor and I've tired him out," Jack said as he voiced his concerns as he hurried out of the kitchen.

Jack came upon Neal as he was stretched out on the couch dead to the world. He sat down next to him and shook his arm to wake him. "Come on son, you need to eat something."

Neal opened his eyes protesting, "Mr. Gibbs, I'm too tired to eat now; I just want to rest."

"I know you are tired, son but I think that after a light meal you will feel even better then you can rest…come on," he said kindly as he pulled Neal gently from the couch.

Neal nodded and allowed himself to be pulled up and obediently followed Jack from the room and into the kitchen where he found Tony in the midst of eating a huge sandwich and laughed. "Are you sure Tony has left us anything to make a sandwich with Mr. Gibbs?'

"I have plenty; help your self and please call me Jack or if you like Grandpa. I understand that Tony has referred to me as his kind of grandfather. I don't mind being a grandfather to the both of you," replied Jack kindly.

Neal nodded and quickly made himself a turkey sandwich and before he even knew how it happened he told the story of Peter and his devil's ham sandwiches. He had them both laughing at the story. Jack informed them that devil's ham was a favorite of his son's as well. "Well I guess that makes us family then," quipped Tony.

"How do you figure that?" asked Neal.

"My boss and yours by liking devil's ham must be kin and with us as their underlings that would make us at least cousins…and with Jack as grandpa…family," explained Tony in his kooky way.

Neal only smiled, "not a bad family by any means except for their way of punishing…that hurts!"

"Don't I know it…the first time Gibbs' laid in to me I thought I would never sit comfortably again…he has a wicked way with that paddle and his belt hurts even more," Tony confessed. "Jack did you teach him that?"

"Only because it was the way I disciplined him and he remembered enough to use it on the ones he cares for…like any father would a son…or daughter who had strayed too far or did something to endanger their life," replied Jack as he looked pointedly at Tony.

"I bet Peter only disciplines you like that for much the same reasons," Jack added as he directed his comment to Neal. "Leroy is old enough to be Tony's father but Peter is a bit younger so he probably treats you more like a kid brother who never learned and so takes it upon himself to teach you to be more careful."

Neal looked at him in shock, "How do you to that? That is exactly how Peter feels towards me."

"I can read people quite well Neal and you need more caring people in your life; with Peter you have a caring big brother and I bet his wife mothers you as well," explained Jack.

Neal nodded and added, "June, my landlady, also mothers me and my friend Mozzie has looked after me ever since I ran away from an abusive father at the age of sixteen…he's been more of a caring father than my own has ever been. I guess a grandfather would really complete my family," Neal added as he looked expectantly at Jack.

Jack nodded and said, "I will be pleased to become that Grandfather, Neal," as he leaned over and ruffled his hair affectionally.

"Thanks Grandpa," replied Neal with a smile as he finished his sandwich and asked if the could finish his nap.

As soon as Neal left Jack turned to Tony and said sternly, "we will be addressing the fact that Neal did more of the work this morning than you and that along with the fact that he isn't used to it is probably why he is so tired now."

Tony grimaced and opened his mouth to protest but stopped as soon as he saw the expression on Jack's face and quickly nodded. He had to admit to himself that he did slack a bit on mowing the back yard while Neal had slaved in the front before joining him in the back. "Where do you want me?"

"Woodshed…go now and I'll join you after I clean up the kitchen," admonished Jack as he watched Tony reluctantly head out back.

Tony was sitting on the table when Jack arrived but quickly jumped down and bent over in anticipation of the paddling he was going to get. He had sent he paddle in Jack's hand when he arrived.

Jack made his way to Leroy's agent and laying a hand on his back swung the paddle and laid into the backside in front of him with a vengeance. His first few licks caught Tony dead center on his backside causing Tony to yell loud with each lick and then he paused to start his lecture, "Tony, I'm ashamed of you for shirking your chore this morning. That poor boy mowed the front yard while the sun was shining on him while you had the pleasure of mowing in the comfort of a shaded back yard. I gave Neal the front yard because I knew he was most likely not used to doing this type of work; I had hoped to ease him into it and the front yard being so much smaller would have been easier for him to handle. You on the other hand have experienced this and were more used to doing it. Leroy has told me how you have mowed his yard as punishment before."

"I'm sorry Grandpa," apologized Tony once the lecture was over. "Are you finished?"

The following lick answered that and the paddling continued for a few minutes more during which Jack had reduced Tony's yells to sobs stopping only then and pulling him into the all forgiving hug. "I'm finished now and I hope you have learned your lesson…now go and wash your face and it you want to lay down before we go to the store, now is the time to do it," added Jack as he left Tony to get his emotions back under control.