Disclaimer: You know the drill… I haven't purchased the rights in the last 24 hours… I still don't own it!

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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It was like running into a brick wall. So off guard was she that only his hand kept her from teetering. She had been moving so fast to keep up with his long urgent strides that she barely noticed when he became an immovable force. All of a sudden she was faced with piercing blue eyes that wouldn't allow her to avert her gaze. Her breathe caught in her throat and a shiver ran from the tip of her toes to the edge of the follicles in her hair.

"Something you want to tell me?"

Shaking her head Abby couldn't generate enough saliva in her mouth to formulate the words she knew she was required to produce.

"If you have something to say now would be the best time to do it Abs."

"I don't know what Mrs. Updike wants to tell you daddy." Knowing how immature it was Abby still wanted to cross her fingers behind her back for the lie she just told because she did in fact have a little bit of an idea of what might be said.

Not saying another word Leroy Jethro Gibbs turned from his daughter with military precision resuming his pace across the quad. Just as quickly as she halted Abby took off in order to catch up with her father ensuring a simultaneous arrival.

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When they got into the office Missy was at the reception desk looking slightly pale and nervous. Abby couldn't read if she was worried before they walked in or because they had walked in.

"I'm here to see Mrs. Updike."

"Yes sir. Hey Abs. Is this your dad?" Missy was making a timid attempt at small talk.

"Yeah, sorry about that Mis, daddy this is my house-mate Missy. Missy this is my dad Special Agent Gibbs."

"Nice to meet you sir," Missy said extending her hand. "You can go on back to the office. Abby knows where it is and I'll ring to say you're on your way."

Gibbs took the corner first giving Abby an opportunity to question her friend with her eyes. All she got in return was a shoulder shrug.

The office door was closed. Never one to stand on ceremony Gibbs walked into the room. At the desk was Mrs. Updike and in the chair to her left was Mrs. Sculdini.

Her knees went week and Abby had the sudden urge to clutch the door frame.

The ever efficient federal agent stepped up to the desk and extended his hand much in the same fashion as Missy had done with him. Both women stood to meet him.

"Special Agent Gibbs it's a pleasure to see you again." Mrs. Updike started. "And this is Abigail's Chemistry teacher Mrs. Sculdini. She's been looking forward to meeting you for some time."

Everyone sat down except the center of attention. "Abigail, please join us," Mrs. Updike requested.

There wasn't any scientific proof that you could actually dissolve into a puddle of your own sweat, but Abby was sure she was on her way to that happening considering the amount of sweat she could feel her body producing. Only being about ten feet away from the "hot-seat" the jumpy 15-year-old couldn't make her steps small enough to delay the proximity shift.

Mrs. Sculdini began. "As you know Abigail was struggling in Chemistry for sometime and I thought speaking to you and your wife regarding her lack of attendance and effort would be necessary to motivate improvement. I'm just sorry that your schedule never allowed for that meeting to take place."

"I'm inclined to agree that things probably wouldn't have gone as far as they had with some more involvement from you and Mrs. Shepard."

Gibbs looked puzzled. Mrs. Updike looked concerned. While Abby imagined she looked like a ghost since all of the blood felt like it had drained from her body. If she wasn't mistaken old Sculdini looked, at least, a little bemused. This was bad.

"I have to say struggling seems to be over stating things a bit. The progress report that came home wasn't her usual, but I didn't think a B- was something to be overly concerned with."

Oh dear Lord why can't this chair swallow me whole Abby kept thinking. She could feel the involuntary shaking her head was doing and willed herself to stop. Cracking under the pressure wasn't an option too many others were involved. Either she'd gone deaf or the room had fallen dead silent. In her head the thunderous beating of her heart sounded like it could fill the room.

Sculdini suddenly got uncomfortable and locked eyes with Mrs. Updike. Abby knew that was some sort of unspoken green light for something, but couldn't figure out what. Gibbs was growing impatient. If someone didn't start explaining he would start interrogating. Abby couldn't take it the room was suffocating her where she sat. Shooting up from her chair she made to bolt but was stopped by her father's hand on her wrist.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

"It can wait. Sit down Abigail." Gibbs firmed up his tone considerably very away of the science teacher's comment regarding Abby's sketchy attendance and from the look of things she had plenty of other surprises up her sleeve before this meeting came to an end.

Sliding back into her seat without further protest was the least she could do to not escalate the situation. As her backside connected with the chair the head-mistress reached across her desk and extended a folder to one very perplexed father.

He wouldn't even open it. He just locked gaze with his daughter giving her one last opportunity to come clean about whatever was in the folder. Abby just hung her head lower. She was giving him no choice.

Opening the folder and just skimming the top pages the former Marine was schooling his expression in an attempt not give away how furious he was.

"Agent Gibbs I'm guessing that much of this comes as a surprise and I'm sure you have as many questions as I do. I'd love to say go home and work this out as a family, but we really would like an explanation for whatever is going." Mrs. Updike stated.

"I will get to the bottom of this I assure you, but clearly my wife and I aren't up to speed with everything in this folder. We'll need some time to sort this out."

"I wish it were that simple, but this is a serious school wide problem and if Abigail is involved in any way I don't see how we could welcome her back next semester."

Brain please take over, take over and stop my mouth from… the thought wasn't completed as Abby got up again, yelling. "Would everyone stop talking about me like I'm not in the room! Geez, dad I thought the accused had a right to know what the charges were."

"Young lady unless you plan on giving a full confession I suggest you sit down and be quiet. Now!"

Abby threw her body back into the chair full of piss and vinegar crossing her arms at her chest. There was that bloody silence again. Finally Mrs. Updike spoke up again.

"Why don't we," she gestured to Mrs. Sculdini, "step out and give you a few minutes together. Would you like some water or coffee?"

"No, thank you." Gibbs offered to the retreating ladies. They had dropped the bombshell, but obviously didn't want to be around for the aftershocks.

Standing the sulking 15-year-old's father was now leaning on the desk looming over her. "Exactly how many classes did you miss that ended up with this happening?" He dropped photos in her lap that clearly showed her, Tony and Kate huddled around the desk in this very office with their faces nicely illuminated by the antique lamp to the right of the computer.

Tears dropping on the photos were the only sound filling the room now.