Chapter 10

Jack was back in thirty minutes with no signs of being upset so Neal started to breathe a bit easier as the older man walked closer. "How did it go?" Neal asked nervously.

"They were happy that it was found and nothing more was said," replied Jack as he looked at his watch. "We only have a few more minutes left before its time to close; why don't you head home and set the table while I finish up here. You can make a salad if you like; we have leftovers we can finish and then we need to have a little talk."

Neal didn't like the sound of that but he nodded and left Jack to close up. He was in the midst of salad making when Jack arrived but he wasn't alone. "Look who decided to drop by," he said as he stood back and Peter and El walked in.

Neal was speechless for a few minutes as his eyes took in his friends' faces before he said, "It's so good to see you…you must have missed me, to come a day early."

"No…it wasn't me but El who persuaded me to come today to get you," protested Peter.

El went to Neal and gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek before telling him the truth. "Don't you believe it for a minute, Neal; Peter has been missing you terribly and today he said that he couldn't take it a minute longer, so we left Satch at the vet's and packed a bag or two and took off. I hope you won't mind the uninvited guests Mr. Gibbs," she added as she turned to Jack.

"Oh, no…the more the merrier; I'm afraid all I can offer is leftovers for supper though and Neal's salad although it looks like he had an inkling that someone was coming he's made enough to feed a houseful," replied Jack with a twinkle in his eye.

"Well buddy, you must have been good because I haven't gotten any bad reports on you since you have been here," Peter said with a smile; a smile that dropped when he saw the look on Neal's face.

"Honey, would you finish Neal's salad; I think there is something he wants to tell me," Peter asked of his wife.

Sensing something was wrong El nodded and took over as Neal wiped his hands on dish towel and led the way out into the living room with Jack bringing up the rear.

Peter waited until they were all seated before he turned to Neal and asked, "What did you do?" and when he didn't reply right away Jack spoke up.

"Neal got into a little trouble today and except for the punishment all has been fixed," and preceded to tell Peter the whole story finishing with, "so the wallet has been returned and the tired fixed…Billy needed to be the one to change the tire since he really was the real reason that Neal reacted the way he did. All that is left is a trip to the woodshed which we were going to see about as soon as supper was over with."

"I'm sorry Peter," Neal said soulfully, "I know you are disappointed in me."

"No, not disappointed but wished you could have held on to that temper of yours a few days longer. I can see why you felt you wanted to get Billy back and the one flat tire would have done it, but what's going to get you that sore bottom is the stealing of Billy's wallet," replied Peter gravely.

Neal nodded his understanding, not liking the consequence of his actions but understanding that Jack really had no other recourse. He was about to say something when Elizabeth called from the kitchen, "Supper's ready!" and they all went back in to find that had she not only finished the salad but got the leftovers out and warmed them and had everything ready to eat.

Jack smiled his thanks and soon they were all eating while Elizabeth regaled them at her husband's expense on how his week went without Neal. "I can't believe that you asked Mozzie for help…I thought you considered him 'odd'," replied Neal with a laugh.

"He is odd…but in a nice way…I guess," responded Peter, "but his taste in clothes needs improvement…anyhow I survived and everything will be back to normal Monday with your arrival…of course you will probably have some trouble sitting comfortably," he added in a low voice that only Neal could hear and blush about.

"Peter, stop teasing Neal," scolded El as she punched her husband lightly on the arm.

When the last mouthful had been eaten no matter how slow Neal was eating, Jack made eye contact with Neal and said, "We have some unfinished business to attend…it will only take a few minutes and then I'll be back to clean up," and got up and left assured that Neal would follow which he did a moment later.

El waited until they had left before she turned to Peter and asked, "Neal's did something bad, didn't he?"

"Bad enough," replied Peter as he told her what had happened earlier that day.

(The Woodshed)

Neal looked around the room wondering what was so bad that Tony was scared to come in. He noticed a table in the back of the room and walked towards it as Jack walked in closing the door behind. Jack turned on the lights illuminating the room so that Neal could see everything clearly and the first thing Neal saw was a leather strap hanging on the wall the strap that Jack now had in his hands and Neal knew that he was really in for it. This was going to hurt worse that the paddles Peter used on him and maybe even worse that Hughes' belt.

"Neal lean over the table and hold on; this is going to hurt," instructed Jack as he waited for Neal to obey him.

Neal took a deep breath before doing as he was told.

The first lick came hard against his buttocks and causing him not only to gasp in pain but the force of the lick was enough to lift him to his toes. Before he had time to acknowledge the pain another lick visited the same area causing Neal to cry out with pain, after that the licks came more often and soon he was openly crying as his bottom burned. "N-o more," pleaded Neal as Jack continued to place lick after lick to his burning backside finishing with the four to his sit spots before hanging the strap back up and pulling Neal into a hug of forgiveness.

"Let's get you to bed; you've had a busy day today and need to recoup if you are going home with the Burkes tomorrow."

Neal hung on to the older man as they made their way back to the house and up to his room; Peter joining them along the way and between the two of them Neal soon found himself undressed and lying on his stomach fast asleep.

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