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: 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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"Now how about you tell me what possessed you to think anything you did tonight was a good idea."

She wanted to answer. She wanted to say something… anything that would make her choices seem less… well, less outrageous. Her brain was shut down and her salivary glands were running a close second in the malfunctioning department. All she could do was stare at the non-descript spot on the floor in front of her wondering what caused the swirl pattern in the wood.

"Caitlin Nicole you can believe staying quiet won't make this go easier or quicker. Now I expect an explanation!" It wasn't exactly shouting, but his voice wasn't calm and soothing either.

This wasn't a favorite position to be in as far as Katie was concerned. If she had her wish she would only experience this side of her dad when he was dealing with her brothers or unruly agents. Tears threatened to spill down her face while terror constricted her throat. Coughing to clear the 'lump' Kate attempted to be as honest she could be in this moment.

"I don't know daddy. I really just wanted to go."

"Oh, you better have something else to back that up young lady. Just because isn't going to cut it as a reason. Kate, you took advantage of people who have been very good you, who love you like their own. Not to mention the outright lying to them, to your brother and to me. And you did it because you wanted your own way. I did not raise you to be so selfish little girl."

There was nothing in the world Kate wanted to be in that moment other than a turtle. She wanted a hard protective shell to drag her head inside of so she didn't have to hear her father's words or see the disappointment that clouded his eyes. It seemed amazing to her that Tony ever risked making him this upset no less that he did so repeatedly. If by some miracle she survived this and her dad ever spoke to her again or trusted her again Caitlin Nicole Gibbs was making a silent vow to NEVER get herself in this kind of trouble again.

~*~*~*~

"You know the last person that got caught doing that almost ended up in the same situation."

Tony reached for his sister's trembling friend before she fell into the door she was pressed up against eavesdropping. No sense in letting her give away both of their positions.

"Jeez Tony give a girl a heart attack!"

"I'm gonna give a girl more than that if she doesn't," he leaned in way too close for comfort, "lower her voice and move it to the other room."

Pulling her into Tim's room Tony closed the door behind them without making a sound.

"So, nosey…"

"That was a lousy thing to do I know, but I was just curious about how… well, you know… he was really mad."

"Gibbs doesn't get mad."

"Oh, it's Gibbs now?" Falling back on the bottom bunk smirking Stacey thought better of it and shot back up. "Isn't Tim too old for the bunk beds by now? My God… being underneath here is totally claustrophobic."

"And they say I have a hard time paying attention. Look animals get mad. Leroy Jethro Gibbs gets… well, it's deeper than mad. It's more a combination of disappointment, righteous indignation, definitely a lot of pissed off at the displayed level of stupidity… but he's never M-A-A-A-D."

"Yup, that clears it right up for me. You know my dad gave him permission to punish me too."

"How'd you get out of that?" Tony asked sitting on top of Tim's desk. He purposely moved a few things around while he chuckled at his own actions. When Stacey gave him the 'crazy-eyed' look he explained.

"McNeaty can tell when ever any little thing has been touched. It drives him positively nuts."

"Real mature Tony… and I didn't get out of anything. Your dad said he declined the offer. I just can't imagine what my dad thinks could've happened that would deserve… you know… punishment by someone else's dad."

Pushing his lanky form back off the desk and heading toward the door Tony offered a few pearls of 'older-sibling' wisdom. "It's what we like to call divine intervention. It's like your own little private stay of execution kid, so don't waste it because the next time you might not be so lucky."

"Well, I was eavesdropping, but what are you doing up here?"

"Boy you are nosey… It's just a little post spanking sibling snuggle. Kate usually receives a lot better than I do. I'm usually such an ass to her it's a wonder she checks on me at all. The boss man isn't prone to dragging things out. I kinda thought he'd be done by now."

"You missed the rest of the excitement. We weren't the only ones in trouble tonight."

"Who else? What'd you guys do bring a posse to that place with you?"

"His agent. Katie said Jen was his… probie. Even hearing one side of the conversation we knew how much trouble she was in. He must have dealt with her first 'cause he just came up a little while ago."

When Tony put his hand on the knob he heard his sister's door close. Cracking it a smidge he peered around Tim's door to watch his dad go down the hall to his own bedroom. Quickly assessing his dad's slumped shoulders and deliberate gait Tony knew it had been bad. His father hated having to punish his sister. Not because Gibbs loved her more, but she was his little girl and part of him always thought maybe just maybe her mom would do things differently. The other reason was that Kate rarely got in too deep. Unfortunately when she went off the rails it was always in a major way. Caitlin Nicole Gibbs didn't do things small.

~*~*~*~

Knocking was just a formality. She was on her stomach with only the lamp by her bed creating an eerie glow about the room. Her journal and a purple pen lay beside her.

Leaning against the door he waited to be acknowledged. Clearly she was contemplating the best way to ease herself off the bed with minimal contact of backside to the bed. Flipping quickly Kate hopped off bee-lining it for her big brother's opened arms.

"Rough night, huh kid?"

She just nodded into his chest, almost as broad and strong as their dad's, letting more tears fall. Even she was surprised that she had any left in her.

"Aw, Tony dad hates me. I couldn't even look at him. He kept looking at me like I killed grandma and grandpa instead of just lied to them."

Rubbing his sister's arms up and down on both sides Tony tried calming her as he backed her up to the bed.

"He doesn't hate you trust me. You're looking at the guy who took his truck around the block for a quick spin, while he was sleep, then managed to hit a hydrant right at the corner. Hello, I've also lost Tim… what… I don't know… at least half a dozen times. If he doesn't hate me he could never hate you."

At least she was smiling a little now. Kate took to her side leaning on her right elbow. "He never used the belt before Tony."

"Woo, that is bad. Sorry Katie, but I can't really say I'm surprised. Putting yourself in danger and lying are at the top of his DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING IT list."

"Believe me I got it. After about the hundredth smack…"

Tony cut his sister a look of utter disbelief. He knew she had to be exaggerating.

"Alright fine, after about… probably the twentieth one I got real clear."

"So, jammies up or down?"

Kate swung at him with the arm she wasn't resting on. "You big jerk you always need the details. For your information… up, but he said another stunt like this and I wouldn't have that privilege."

"Yeah, I think you better lay low for a few weeks."

"Not to worry there since I'm grounded. He took my phone, said no Stacey plus I have to go to Grandma's every Saturday to help in the garden and with other chores for a month."

"Ouch, that was harsh, but I still can't believe he didn't forgive you or tell you it was over."

"He said the words…" Kate started.

……………………………………………

(Flashback… Gibbs/Kate)

Kate had been thrashing about promising all things to all saints in an effort to get her dad to stop. Gibbs had been bringing his thick brown belt down across her behind and upper thighs for some time. In her mind it felt like forever. He hadn't wasted a lot of time with talking before or during the spanking. Gibbs just needed to impress upon her that lack of impulse control was a dangerous game to engage in. She couldn't feel his anguish at having to be so hard with her nor could she see the glisten in his eyes at her every outcry, but they were there. Finally, having reached the upper threshold of her tolerance Gibbs put the belt down after the fifteenth swat. Her trembles were being soothed by his left hand on her back while his right brushed the tears from his own eyes. He heard her breath start to slow and deepen, but Gibbs couldn't let her fall asleep before telling her the rest of her punishment. Standing her up before doing so himself he used both his thumbs to clear the streaks from her cheeks, then he proceeded with the rest of what he thought was a fair punishment. Caitlin didn't voice one protest. He had to hold her face in his hands to get her to look at him. He explained how much he loved her; how he didn't want to punish her, but would do so every time she made dangerous or reckless choices. Tucking her into bed Gibbs told his little girl that she was forgiven. Besides her grounding he wouldn't bring up the incident anymore. Kate never spoke a word. He finally surrendered her to her thoughts. Leaving the room he figured she hated him for the punishment and she thought he hated her for the 'crime'. Unlike the television shows her brother was prone to watching things didn't always wrap up warm and fuzzy at the end of 30 minutes.

……………………………………………….

"…then he meant the words Katie. Dad doesn't say things he doesn't mean… period." Tony was getting up from the bed now and heading back to the door.

Getting herself resituated on her stomach under her covers Kate propped up again. "I still think I need to do something to make it up to him."

Scratching his head in deep thought Tony made a suggestion. "I think a nice batch of your cinnamon rolls for breakfast will go a long way toward true forgiveness."

"That's your favorite thing I make Tony… it's not dad's."

"And I'd be willing to put a good word in for you."

"Get out!"

As he closed the door Tony quietly went down the stairs back to his room knowing that in the morning things would be mostly back to normal. Gibbs wouldn't bring a thing up, Stacey would leave with her mom to face her own music at home, Tim would be back and operation torment-the-brother would resume full force. These were all things he could live with easily.

Gibbs had gone down to his basement sanctuary a while ago. Hearing his son make his way back to his room gave him an internal sigh of relief. Perhaps her big brother had gotten through to her where he couldn't. Downing the final sip of amber liquid from the Mason jar he used as a glass Gibbs rose up from his saw horse to head to bed. It had been a very long night. He had to be fresh in order to deal with whatever tomorrow would hold. He may have gotten his daughter straightened out, but he knew tomorrow would be all about straightening out his stubborn, fiery probie. Apparently their little talk earlier had done nothing to quell her insubordination. According to Stan's last message she'd been giving him grief since his plane touched down. The sun was barely up on that side of the world yet his youngest agent had already raised a full days worth of hell.

~Fin~