Chapter 8

After learning of Neal's and Tony's involvement in the protecting of two young women both Gibbs and Peter agreed to forgo with their bedtime spanking as long as the two behaved as a reward for their actions Sunday afternoon; something they both knew that Tony and Neal would agree to.

Monday and Tuesday went well with Neal and Tony doing the chores Jack set out for them as well as painting Gibb's boyhood room. The two easily worked together and the chore was done in record time. They decided that they would go with the colors Gibbs knew so well…Marine colors and to make it even more special Neal sketched several people important in Gibbs life and had them matted and framed and hung around the room.

He had found an old picture of Gibbs with his wife and daughter when Kelly was around six. It had only been a snapshot but it showed the love he had for the two. Neal just enlarged it and it stood next to his bedside as did a group portrait of his other family…Tony, Abby, Ducky and Ziva.

Jack knew that as long as Tony was there with Neal he probably wouldn't get into too much trouble because Tony had known from experience what buttons not to push and Neal didn't but all of that was to change real soon when on Wednesday afternoon Gibbs appeared to take Tony back to Washington to help with a case that had just been handed the team. Gibbs would need them all to solve it.

"Leroy," Jack had said when his son walked into the house at lunch, "what are you doing here now?"

"I'm here to collect DiNozzo…we've got a case and I need them all. Sorry Neal but you are going to have to stay and finish out your week with Dad," explained Gibbs as he noticed the expression on Neal's face.

"Boss, before we leave I have something for you to see," cried Tony as he pushed away for the table and hurried upstairs to pack.

"You should go Leroy, the boys worked hard in your room and they did a great job especially Neal," praised Jack as Gibb started up the stairs now that his curiosity was stirred.

When Gibbs opened the door to his boyhood room he was amazed a the change…the color caught his eye at once and as he turned to Tony to ask Tony replied,

"Its Marine colors, Boss. We thought you would be more comfortable with them then any others."

Gibbs nodded as he let his eyes travel the room stopping at each framed picture before moving on. "We found those pictures in your chest drawers and Neal sketched them a little larger that way you would always have your family surround you. These are of Shannon and Kelly, your first family and then these are of the team and Ducky, your second family and we "borrowed" the one grandpa had of the three of you when you were a family…when your Mom was still alive. I hope you aren't mad that we invaded your other life but they all look good here," Tony continued to explain.

"Y-you said that Neal did the sketches?" Gibbs said as he tried to keep his emotions in line.

Tony nodded, "He's a good artist, isn't he?"

Gibbs nodded once again as he picked up the one of Shannon and himself with Kelly in the front. "Yes, he is," he agreed as he was reluctant to leave the picture there.

"Oh, I forgot, Neal made an extra of each sketch in case you wanted to take them home with you," Tony said as he reached in a box next to the bed and pulled out the extras. "This one is special," Tony added as he handed over a sketch that featured the team, Shannon, Gibbs, Jack and Kelly all together and handed it to Gibbs. "Here this is one of you and Shannon with all of your kids and Grandpa, too."

As Gibbs viewed that one a few tears did fall as Gibbs hastily pulled out his handkerchief to wipe them away. "Everything is perfect Tony, and Neal?" Gibbs looked around but Neal wasn't to be found. "Tony where is Neal, I want to thank him, too."

"I don't know; I'll go and look for him; with that anklet on he shouldn't be too hard to find," replied Tony as he dashed from the room.

"Grandpa! Where's Neal?" shouted Tony as he bounded down the stairs.

"Tony! There is no reason to shout," scolded Jack as he added, "Neal is outside…under the trees. He's a little upset that Peter isn't coming for him too."

Tony looked out the window and saw his 'sibling' and walked over to speak to him. He was still there when Gibbs came down a few minutes later.

"DiNozzo!" shouted Gibbs as he motioned for Tony to join him. He saw Tony speak hurriedly to the younger man before running off to Gibbs' side.

The expression on Tony's face was enough for Gibbs to ask,

"What's wrong?"

"Its Neal…he wants to go home and with me not here I fear he's going to do something stupid to get Grandpa to call Agent Burke to come and pick him up," Tony replied. "He doesn't know your Dad well enough to know that whatever he tries is going to just cause him a lot of pain…and you know where that pain is going to be located."

"Yep…I know and so do you; we've both been there. Maybe it's a lesson Neal needs to learn as well but I'll go and talk to him; I want to thank him for the sketches he did anyhow. Go get your stuff and I'll meet you at the car. Hurry now I'll only be a few minutes," replied Gibbs as he started towards Neal.

Gibbs waited until he was face to face before speaking, "Neal, I want to thank you for the sketches you did of my two families. I had forgotten about that snapshot you and DiNozzo found of me with Shannon and Kelly; your rendition of it made it even better…thank you," began Gibbs as he thanked the young man from the bottom of his heart.

"It was nothing…I like to draw and enjoyed doing the sketches of your family and the one of your team. To tell you the truth it was a lot more enjoyable for me than painting the room. I tried to tell your Dad that I wasn't a house painter but he ignored me and handed me a paint brush and told me I could either paint your room or see the inside of that building out back. I chose to paint your room; from what Tony has told me about the 'woodshed' I don't want to ever see the inside of that building."

"I don't blame you. I have had too many experiences in his woodshed to last a life time….but Tony fears that you may try something that will put you in that woodshed getting your butt beat by my Dad; is that right son,"asked Gibbs quietly?

"Maybe," replied Neal honestly. "I was thinking that if I can be too much of a headache for your father he will send for Peter to come and get me. I really miss New York City, Gibbs."

"I can tell you from experience that your plan is not going to work on my Dad…he's just going to take you to the woodshed and deal with your foolishness and you are not going to enjoy that encounter. Look it will only be four more days, surely you can last that long. Just think how proud Peter will be of you for sticking it out," Gibbs said as he tried to persuade Neal into behaving.

Neal nodded and said, "I'll try and do as you suggest and stick it out a little longer but I wish that a case would appear that needs my expertise and then Peter could come and get me early like you did with Tony."

"Good-bye son and behave. My Dad may look small and old but trust me he's sneaky when he has to be and he has made adjustments so he can handle you if he needs to," Gibbs added as he pulled Neal into a quick hug and left him standing there as he headed for his car.

Neal watched for several minutes after the car drove away thinking of what Gibbs had told him before walking back to the house…maybe he would wait for Peter. 'I guess it all depends on how the next few days go,' he thought to himself.