Chapter 9

Thursday morning came with Neal waking up to the knowledge that Tony was gone and he had to stick it out until Sunday when Peter was coming. He didn't know if he could do it; having Tony around made life a bit easier knowing he wasn't by himself in this punishment week but now he was alone. He didn't have Tony here to caution him against doing anything that the elder Gibbs wouldn't approve of and that most likely would earn him a trip to the woodshed…an event that he had yet experience. Tony had told him horror stories about its function but surely he had been teasing him in an effort to make him behave. He couldn't believe that Jack would be strong enough to get him in there or to keep him bent over and take a whipping. After all they only reason he had agreed to the bedtime spankings was because Tony had agreed to them, too. "I'll behave just as long as Grandpa doesn't try and make me do too many chores," he vowed as he hurriedly got ready for breakfast and went downstairs.

"Good morning, son," greeted Jack as Neal appeared.

"Morning, Grandpa," replied Neal with a smile. He liked having a grandfather, even if he was only a surrogate one.

"Have a seat I was in the mood for pancakes and sausage for breakfast and made enough for us both. Coffee?" he asked as Neal looked longingly at the coffee pot.

"Yes, sir, but I can get it," he replied as he started to get up.

"No trouble," replied Jack as he poured Neal a cup before placing a platter of pancakes and sausage on the table between them. "I have butter, maple syrup and fruit…just help yourself."

This time Neal knew to wait until after a blessing had been said before helping himself to the pancakes and sausages. Jack waited until he had eaten a few before initiating conversation.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, but if was a bit quieter without Tony being there," he admitted around a bite of food.

"I thought you could help me in the store for the rest of the week; I've got cans to stack and get ready for the shelves as well as groceries to deliver. It usually gets busier closer to the weekend," explained Jack as he took a bite of sausage.

Neal nodded not wanting to protest but that sounded like a lot to do, 'of course, it wouldn't be that bad if Tony was there to help out,' Neal thought to himself.

All too soon breakfast was over with and they were opening the store for business.

Jack had decided that the best way to keep Neal from doing something stupid would be to keep him busy and tired. At least that was his first thought after Leroy's call the night before.

(Wednesday night)

Gibbs had called his father Wednesday night after taking a break from their current case to warn his father of Neal's possible plan for going home soon.

The call had come after Neal had retired for the evening to make a quick call to his older friend Mozzie and while he was unburdening himself to his friend Gibbs was telling his father of the conversation he had with Neal earlier that day.

"Dad," began Gibbs, "Neal wants to go home; I think having Tony there was the only reason he didn't try something that would cause Peter to come and get him early but now that Tony isn't there Neal may try something," explained Gibbs.

"Did he say something to make you feel this way, Leroy?"

"Oh, yeah…he plans on being such a pain in the ass that you will want him gone and will call Peter to come and pick him up. I warned him that if he did it would only land him worse trouble and he would see the inside of the woodshed quickly."

"Did you convince him?"

"I don't know…maybe; but if I were you I would keep a close watch on that boy and deal with it quickly and remember he is a master pick-pocket and con artist and uses those skills quite well especially when he's in trouble," warned Gibbs. "What are you going to do?"

"I think that if he is too tired he won't be able to get into too much trouble. I'm going to keep him hopping for the rest of the week and maybe it will be enough to keep him from misbehaving…and if it doesn't then a dose of the woodshed will keep him too sore to try anything else…thanks for the warning…goodnight, son," Jack said before hanging up the phone.

(Thursday…present time)

'We shall see if my plan works,' thought Jack as he entered the store with Neal close behind. The plan worked well that first day without Tony as he instructed Neal on how to run a grocery store. He had him pricing and shelving cans when he wasn't delivering groceries and by the end of the day Neal was exhausted. He had opted to go to bed early after supper and was asleep within the hour when Jack came up to check on him.

'He looks so young and vulnerable when he sleeps,' thought Jack as he watched him with a grandfather's love.

Friday morning at the store began much like it had Thursday with the pricing and shelving of stock…the pace did pick up a bit earlier than it had Thursday but that was due to the fact that the weekend was almost here and people tended to buy more groceries for the weekend activities.

The first sign of trouble began when Billy Matthews entered carrying a grocery list from his mom which he thrust at Jack and demanded that it be filled. Billy was a conceited bully who, unfortunately, was the apple of his mother's eye but a pain in the butt for the rest of Stillwater. He was in his early twenties and had been treating people wrongly for some time.

Jack had given him a disapproving look when the list had been thrust at him but because Emily, his mother, was such a good customer swallowed his pride and took it. He glanced over it before calling to Neal,

"Neal, please fill this order for this customer."

Neal looked around from where he was shelving cans to ask, "why can't he do it…I'm kind of busy here."

"Because I'm the customer and you are just an employee here," jeered Billy before Jack could explain.

Neal hurried to Jack intending to give Billy a piece of his mind when he was grabbed by Jack who whispered in his ear, "Do it Neal and no getting back at him or else," he warned as he gave him the list.

Neal grudgingly took it and began to fill it while Jack gently chided the boy, "You know Billy we usually only do this for the older customers; you are quite able to find your own groceries without having some one else do it for you."

"Oh, I'm sorry…I didn't know. I know you have done it for my Mom before and thought you did it for anyone. I do it myself the next time," Billy apologized sweetly to Jack.

"Yeah, right…sure you will," muttered Neal under his breath as he brought the last few items to the counter for Jack to package and ring up. After giving Billy a glare Neal returned to what he was doing.

"There you go Billy. The bill is $25.00 and here are your groceries…tell your Mom I hope her luncheon will be a success," Jack said as he waited for payment.

Billy handed the money over and then said, "Can you have these delivered Mr. Jack? I'm on my way to an important date with my girl and don't have time to take them to Mom myself. I told her that I would have her order filled on my way and that they would be delivered by Johnny, your delivery boy."

"Johnny is on vacation this week, Billy," explained Jack.

"What about him," asked Billy as he pointed to Neal?

"He's been delivering groceries. Are you sure you can't deliver them yourself; it's going to take him a while to do it by bike and with your car you can be there in minutes," replied Jack.

Billy shook his head, "I'm sorry but I'm expected at my girlfriend's in a few minutes and won't have time…'bye," and with that he was gone.

Jack sighed and having no choice called, "Neal, I have a delivery for you to make."

"No…why me; he could have done it quicker," complained Neal as he picked up the box of groceries.

"He should have, but he's gone now and they have to be delivered. His mother is a close friend and a good customer and she is having a luncheon and needs these groceries…be a good boy and hurry along," Jack said as he gave him a sympathetic smile.

Neal was still grumbling as he placed the groceries in the basket of the bike and rode off. The further he biked the angrier he got until he arrived to find Billy waiting in his car in the driveway.

"You took your time getting here," sneered Billy as he hopped out of his car and walked over to Neal. "I'll take these from you now and deliver them myself like I told Mom I would," he confided with a grin.

Neal watched with surprise as Billy lifted the box of groceries from his basket but before Billy could go any further got off the bike to confront him. "You told Jack that bunch of bull so you wouldn't have to do anything and I was forced to deliver the groceries…what is it she's going to pay you something extra for taking your time to get her groceries?"

"Yep, something like that…and you know there is nothing you can do about it," Billy replied with a sneer.

Unbeknown to Billy, Neal easily picked his pocket during the confrontation pocketing his wallet before Billy turned to walk away. "As soon as Mom pays me I'll be on my way; I surely don't want to be here during her luncheon."

Neal waited until after the door closed to hurry to Billy's car where he quickly deflated the back tire. "That should keep you busy doing some manual labor," muttered Neal as he quickly got on the bike and pedaled back to the store.

It wasn't until after lunch that Jack got a call from Mrs. Matthews about a missing wallet. "Jack…this is Emily. Did Billy leave his wallet at the store when he paid for my groceries?"

"No, I don't think so but let me look around. I'll call you back if I find something," replied Jack as he looked thoughtfully at Neal who was helping a customer.

"Well, he was on his way to meet his girlfriend for a movie when he discovered a flat tire and by the time he had changed it he was running very late. It wasn't until he got to the theater that he discovered his missing wallet and they had to come home. He's been searching everywhere when I thought that maybe he left it there," explained Emily Matthews.

"I'll let you know if I find it…good-bye," Jack said before ending the phone call.

"Neal," Jack called as soon as Neal's customer had left, "would you come over here please."

Neal appeared quickly, "What's up, another delivery?" he asked.

"Nope…I just got a call from Emily Matthews, Bill's mother, about a missing wallet," he began as he watched Neal's face. He saw a change in Neal's expression and knew that Neal had something to do with the missing wallet.

"Hand it over," he ordered quietly as he held out his hand waiting for compliance.

Neal sighed but quickly handed the wallet over.

"Did you find this?" quizzed Jack.

Neal shook his head.

"You took it?"

This time Neal nodded, "I picked his pocket while I was delivering his Mom's groceries," he admitted quietly.

"After work today we will be having a long and painful discussion about this," replied Jack sternly. "I take it that you were the cause of his flat tire?"

Neal nodded, "I was provoked into seeking retaliation," he explained.

"We will be discussing that too. You watch over the store while I return the wallet," replied Jack as he started for the door.

"What are you going to tell them?" asked Neal quietly.

"That I discovered it in the store and I'm sorry about the inconvience," replied Jack before he headed out the door leaving Neal time to reflect on his actions and to worry about the consequences.

9