Disclaimer: Of course NCIS… characters… and such belong to the powers that be & not ME!!! Story created for purely entertainment value.

You know the drill… The character of Kathleen, the 2nd Mrs. Gibbs, is complete fiction and has no connection to actual show history.

A/N: In great appreciation for the story support I say a heartfelt thank you to my consistent reviewers, my new reviewers and those that have put me on alert. Your generous support fuels my fingers to tickle the keyboard.

A/N: Sit back, suspend belief and enjoy it as the fiction it's meant to be.

Warning: THIS STORY will CONTAIN NON-SEXUAL SPANKING; ABORT THE MISSION… DO NOT READ… TURN BACK NOW IF THIS ISN'T YOUR THING.

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If wetting his pants wouldn't add to his extremely awkward position Tim would've burst like a dam. Hearing the voice made him release his hold on the banister bars and scoot back on his bottom toward the wall. He knew how wrong it was to eavesdrop and snoop. It was one of the few things his mom, dad, and grandparents all agreed on. No one could get caught more spectacularly at 'overhearing' then Timothy. Maybe it was because he was small and folks forgot he was there or it could've been because he knew how to be 'invisible' when he wanted to know stuff everyone thought he was too young to hear? Sometimes he just got so engrossed in his observations that he stopped being aware of his surroundings, which increased his odds of getting busted exponentially.

Tony shook his head walking toward their bedroom never saying a word to the kid. Scrambling to his feet Tim doubled timed it to match his brother's steps. Anthony David was leaning on the dresser with his elbows propped on top giving him an almost reclined stance when the little guy came in.

"You ready to answer my question?" Tony asked.

In his defense Tony acknowledged that Tim's confusion or angst didn't appear to be a put on. The boy was definitely off kilter. Clearly not remembering the question the little guy remained silent.

"I asked if you took it all in. That wasn't for your eyes or ears kid! It's rude to listen to other people's private conversations."

"I know Tony. I'm sorry. Are you going to tell daddy and get me in trouble?"

The older boy had to turn away quickly to keep his smirk out of view. Pulling open one of the draws he took out a pair of sweats that would surely provide more post spanking comfort then his jeans were offering. He could hear his brother not breathing. Still he waited a beat before responding.

"That's not how this works Timmy. Just don't do it again, alright or I might have to change my mind." Of course he never would, but Tony wanted to sweat the kid a little longer.

Finished changing with a lot of time on his hands before dinner Tony decided to venture up to his bunk. He was very clear on what grounded the rest of the weekend meant. Thank goodness for his comic book collection. They were on the approved punishment activity list. Mostly because it was the only thing he'd read without arm twisting; that and Gibbs knew if he took those away too his son's complaining and restlessness would end up being his punishment.

As he passed the 'statue' of his little brother seemingly rooted near the ladder to the top Tony could see more questions on his face. He'd been ordered to talk to the kid. He was told to make it right. The fourteen year old in him wanted to say screw it and ignore his little brother for the rest of the night, but the other part (the tiny one that he was sure must have come from his mom) remembered how much he needed to know things were alright between him and his dad. He had to offer that Tim.

"You got something else you want to ask me?" So, he didn't have to be all Katie about it!

"Tony, how come I bug you so much?" Not daring to make eye contact or bring his voice above barely audible Tim waited for the answer he feared he would get.

This is exactly why his dad had a rule about listening to other folk's conversations. The snooper never got it right.

"Who said you bug me so much?"

"You did. That's what I heard you say to daddy." Tim still wouldn't look at his big brother.

"Hey, little-brother-big-ears that's not what I said! I said you bug me different than Kate. Now I know with that supersized brain of yours that you know what the word different means."

"Yeah, but how did you mean it?"

Looking forlorn at his bed Tony stated a fact. "I'm never getting up there, am I?" Tim had the puppy eyes down better than his sister. "You're killing me kid. What do you want me to say?"

"How come you don't mind Kate bugging you, but you mind me bugging you?"

"Wrong again, I mind both of you bugging me!"

Tim's eyes filled a little faster then either boy expected. The shift in tone and body language was immediate in the older of the two. Kneeling in front of his brother Tony attempted an explanation. He also kept thinking it was taking his dad a long time to call for the little guy so he could talk to Kat.

"Look, Katie's a little older and I've known her longer." More sad eyes… great he was making it worse not better. "You know how dad works with a team? Mike, Ducky and dad are really used to each other, right?" Okay, a head nod meant he still had him. "But sometimes the Director will send in another agent to help out. Dad always says it's hard because the new agent doesn't understand all of the team rules and the way they get things done. It doesn't mean they don't like the new person they just have to work on not bugging each other so much." Now the look was puzzled. "Kid, does any of this make sense to you?"

Poor Tim just shook his head. He thought he was following for a minute, but by the time his brother was done wrapping up his analogy and sticking a bow on top the boy was truly confused.

The hell with it if his dad was still pissed about how the conversation turned out then he'd deal with it later. He was done. Standing up he looked down popping his hand on his little brother's back. "You bug me exactly the way you're supposed to kid. Your just gonna have to live with it!"

He was on his bed engrossed in his comic when the door finally shut and he was left alone with his thoughts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Without looking up from Batman's latest adventure Tony barked. "Can't you ever KNOCK?"

"If I thought you were in here being disgusting I would have. So, what'd he do to you?"

Grabbing a pillow he aimed at the door hitting his target dead on. "GET. OUT. CAITLYN!"

"Wow, Caitlyn… you must really be pissed. Look at least you found him. Imagine what daddy would've done to you had you lost the little ankle biter." Refusing to stand on ceremony and knowing her brother wouldn't come down to talk to her Kate climbed on Tim's bed so she could at least have a better look at her brother.

He kept reading. "I'm not talking about this Katie. I thought you were having dinner at Stacey's."

"I couldn't because of you. Dad gets all ultra-protective-gotta-have-'em-under-one-roof when one of us… you mess up. I'm thinking misplacing our kid brother qualifies as a mess up."

"Oh, so you're here to blame me."

"Nope. I'm actually here to get your dinner order. Dad's calling for Chinese food. What do you want lumpy?"

"Whatever, I don't care. I'm not even hungry."

"You will be, so think. Every time you say whatever you get mad at what you have, pick at everyone else's plate whining about how you never get what you want. I'm telling you the man does not look like he's in a soup sharing kind of mood."

"Fine… cold sesame noodles, sweet and sour shrimp, two egg rolls and a hot & sour soup."

"Your appetite came back quick?" Hopping from Tim's bed Kate made her way to the door. "He's fine you know. I heard him talking to Kathleen and daddy. Tim's very loyal Tony he didn't make you out to be a big jerk at all. I think he might have completely down played your stupidity."

Seeing him pick up his other pillow Kate bolted from the room slamming the door.

~*~*~**~*~*~*~

Dinner saw the return of the Gibbs' family banter. Tony ordered half the restaurant, but still snatched stuff from Kate's plate. He also continued his never ending battle to work chopsticks. It really stuck in his craw when he saw the ease that Timothy accomplished it. The little one explained that his mom had taught him the way his grandpa had taught her. By putting a rubber band around the top end so the sticks wouldn't keep moving. Jethro got up to find a band in one of the kitchen junk draws. Momentarily horrified by the act Tony had to admit it was a little easier. However, after the third shrimp flew across the table he went to get a fork. Kate kept saying, 'clean up in aisle seven'. Tim tried not to make a big show of his success. His dad just gave him a nod and a look that conveyed exactly what it was supposed to.

Clean up was easy since most everything was disposable. The collective dispersed to their own corners of the house. Gibbs was basement bound. Kate and Tim headed to the family room. Tony started upstairs to his room.

"You're not going to play with us?" Tim asked.

"Being grounded doesn't work that way kiddo."

"Tony, I'm sure dad just meant no video games. We can play a board game. Come on." Kate was pleading, which she didn't do often.

"Alright, but I get to pick the game."

"I like Scrabble." Tim chimed up.

"Clue it is…" Leading them into the room Tony's siblings watched as he set up the game never having gotten an agreement from them. Kate just rolled her eyes. That was how he operated. She was plenty use to it and well, Timmy would just have to get on board.

It was a little over an hour when Jethro came up to refill his coffee. Hearing the laughing, arguing, and reasoning coming from beyond the dinning room he went to go peek at what had his kids up in arms. The sight before him warmed his heart and eased his mind. Even though there had been a hiccup or two along the way Tim's moving in hadn't turned out too bad. His youngest was going to fit in just fine. Not that there wouldn't be anymore problems, but from the looks of things Jethro felt confident that they'd all be in it together.

Moving out of the space unnoticed the day weary federal agent passed the photo of Shannon with their three kids. She'd had the portrait taken to send to him in the Gulf, but never got the chance. Touching her face he stared into her eyes getting lost for a moment. When he came back to the present he removed his hand whispering, "We miss you sweetheart, but we're going to be okay."