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

A/N: Thank you to the many readers that have shown their support for this story with their reviews, and tags as a favorite story/author... you have my Muse on fire & you ROCK:-)!

A/N: In the words of 'Abby' there is something hinky with the reviews… if you posted one I did receive it via e-mail even though it didn't show up on my review page… so please keep them coming.

A/N: Hopefully this chapter will explain Abby's out of character rebellion. My take on it is even the favorite and mostly good girl goes through a phase at 15/16.

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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Leroy Jethro Gibbs had started this day with all sorts of hope. It was the first time in over a month that he'd taken a day off. He wasn't a fan of Hilton Prep, but he had to admit that the drive down I-95 was beautiful. This was part of the tradition he tried to establish with his girls when they first went there five years ago. They would drive down together and home for every break and summer vacation together. The first year they started stopping for ice cream at this old fashion parlor one town over. Initially it was a bribe to get Abby to stay without incident. She had wanted to stay in the house with Kate, but because of the age difference the school wouldn't allow it. She had to be in the dormitory with the other junior high girls. Over the years though she had come to love it and her moaning and complaining along with the ice cream stop bribe all became a part of the tradition. On the return trip they stopped at this café that sold fancy French food and pastries. The girls knew he hated it, but he knew they loved it and would always get hungry about a mile away so stopping seemed more like a need than a want. All part of the tradition he would think as he watched them buy over priced cheese and a box full of treats for their mom. Gibbs wasn't so sure this wouldn't be the last time he got to pay for that funky cheese. It was Abby's first year at Hilton without her sister and she seemed more than in a mood about it. This year the ice cream stop and the complaining seemed a little more forced than usual. He had hopes that lunch on the ride home would make up for it. Like the rest of his day it just hadn't panned out.

Now, he was standing in the door to the home office he shared with his wife fearful that his sudden appearance would cause her trembling hand to drop the bourbon that was in it.

"You wanna tell me that was all about up there." He kept his voice even.

"What? You heard it all. She's rude, disrespectful, insolent, disobedient and now apparently well on her way to topping the ranks in cyber-crimes." Jen took a sip feeling nowhere near as steady as she wanted to portray.

"Aw, Jen come on… cut the crap. You went into her room and provoked that response out of our 15 year-old daughter like you were goading a suspect and I want to know why. I told you I would get to the bottom of it."

"Really Jethro… let me ask you a question," she slammed her glass down harder than she intended; "when the hell did we step back in time to 1960? I can question my daughter, interrogate her, and punish her without your help or permission!"

He just stared at her. It wasn't his usual piercing penetrating scary stare but the loving understanding silent gaze that made her weak in the knees. Walking over he moved her glass across the desk and reached his hand out to her. Jennifer Shepard needed that hand more than ever. Taking it she let him guide her around to stand in front of him.

Only when he felt her trembles subside and she was able to meet his gaze did he speak. "You are their mother you can do all of those things and I will support you every step of the way. It's just that things have been more than tense with you and Abs and we both know if you keep pushing someone against a wall they're gonna push back, even Abby."

"Oh, God Jethro I was awful. I barged in. I didn't give her a chance to explain. I was every horrible thing I remember about growing up with my father and none of the good things. I kept barking about the family name and her being a disgrace. I lost control. I don't loose control."

Putting her head on his shoulder Jen came as close to breaking as he'd seen in a long time.

"She hates me. My baby girl hates me and everything she thinks I stand for. When did that happen? We used to be so close and now… I don't remember things getting this bad with Kate or Tony."

"Tony's a boy. Plus you always tell me every kid is different. Abby's just growing in a different direction right now. We put her on the right path Jen. She's just trying out shortcuts, but she'll get back on the road."

Pulling away his wife regained her resolve and reached around him for her drink. "So, you think we should overlook what's happened. We should just let her explore this defiant criminal side."

"Don't put words in my mouth and don't make this about something it's not Jen. Do you really want to do this?"

"Yeah, I really want to do this. Apparently you have some things on your mind. Spit it out Jethro."

"That school was never right for Abby and it's been hell since Kate left. I'm not making any excuses for her behavior. She will be punished for every one of her actions, but my punishing her only has to do with the behavior. That shouting match wasn't about that at all. I wanted her to transfer. You were dead set against it, but I still backed the play. Jen we've always known that Abby was more sensitive and that her needs were different. Being away from home is too hard for her. Sure she's been giving more attitude lately, but it's all surface and you know it."

"She's testing me and I'm failing." Jen wasn't sure who she was more disappointed in… her daughter or her self.

"At fifteen she's testing everything." They both let out a nervous chuckle.

"So where does that leave us."

"I'm heading upstairs to deal with actions and consequences. We've been down here so long she's probably thinking I forgot. You know what that means in about half an hour you get to come up and play 'good cop'."

"I actually like playing that role at home Jethro. It's a nice change of pace. You should try it sometimes. The second 'b' doesn't always have to stand for bastard."

Catching her around the waist he turned his bride around pulling her into the only leisurely kiss they had shared all day. Leisure soon turned to passion forcing them to focus on their parental duties and pushing aside their very physical need to come together as husband and wife.

Releasing her and stopping at the door again he reminder her that they still had more to talk about. "Jen, we have to talk about that school. I spanked her for being disrespectful to you, but I don't disagree with everything she said. I think it's time she came home."

"What are my chances of winning this one?"

"I'll keep an open mind if you will." Then he was gone.

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Upstairs Tony and Kate were having a different kind of argument. Tony the pleaser and Kate the challenger, were both in awe of Abby the baby really coming into her own. Tonight's display surpassed any of the tiny intermittent spats she'd had with their mother over the last five months. This level of trouble went way pass sibling co-conspirator, which was usually the only way she ever got in trouble. Her brother and sister were very clear about the magnitude of hot water she was in. They weren't sure she had any idea. Tony usually saw that Gibbs look and felt the disappointment because he often acted without thinking. Kate usually felt it because she… well, she liked to 'poke the bear' even when her head begged her not too.

"Why'd you push me out the room? Don't you think we should have stepped in?" Kate went in her closet to throw on some pajama bottoms and a tank top. She came out with the towel around her shoulders catching the water droplets from her tangled hair.

"No, I don't. It would've been like stepping in front of a grenade launcher… pure suicide. Abby's bugging out I mean did you see the look in dad's eyes."

"Hello, that's why we should've stepped in. Abby isn't as familiar with that look in his eyes. She has no clue how pissed he is and how much trouble she's in. Witnessing our messes isn't adequate preparation for her dealing with her own. Seriously after what happened in there our little part in this disaster will barely register."

"You wish," Tony said as he went to her desk draw looking for the candy she kept stashed.

"Get out of there! What have I told you about going in my stuff?"

"Lighten up Katie it's just a piece of candy."

"That you didn't ask for." Hands on hips she waited for him to put it back until he went through the ritual of asking.

"Kate may I please have a piece of candy?" He asked as he popped it in his mouth without waiting for the answer.

"Well, I guess that's a start."

Tony walked to the connecting door, which was closed now, to see if he could hear anything. "Seriously, do you think we should go and check on her?"

"I don't know maybe you're right and we should stay out of it. What if she doesn't want our help or advice? She was pretty clear when she told us to get out."

"You mean get the HELL out! I thought we were gonna be orphans when both their heads exploded. I've never seen mom that angry… except with dad."

"I know. Can you believe he was gonna use his belt with us all in the room? He's the one that always says punishment is private. It's not supposed to be about humiliation."

"Public action… public consequences I guess."

The knock on the door didn't startle them, but it did give them pause. "Come in," Kate answered.

"It's been a long day and night. I need to spend some time with your sister, so you two are off the hook for tonight. I know you were trying to protect her, but I hope I don't have to tell you that you went about it in the exact wrong way."

"No sir," Tony piped up.

"We will talk about this in the morning. Right now Kate I want you to go hang out in your brother's room."

"You're sending me to the 'locker room'. Is that my punishment 'cause I gotta tell you I haven't done anything that bad."

Her brother was man handling her again. This time it was tossing her over his shoulder like he used to do when they were younger. "Come on Katie we'll go watch a cheesy black-n-white holiday flick."

"Put me down ape."

"Stop kicking or I'll start tickling."

Their father wanted to ring their necks for a lot of very good reasons, but he smiled in spite of himself because they truly brought him joy. Stepping further into the room he cleared the doorway for them and went through the bathroom to get to his youngest.

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Standing stock still in the middle of her room once everyone departed Abigail Gibbs was attempting to make sense of the many things that had gone wrong with her day. The ache in her behind didn't stop her as she slid down to the floor and started crying. She was feeling so incredibly guilty over her outburst. Her mother wasn't just angry. She was hurt. Even though Abby disliked Hilton most of the time she didn't really hate it and she certainly didn't hate anything about her mom. If she wasn't being stubborn she would have blurted out that apology much quicker, but since it took such prompting from her dad Abby was sure her mom didn't even believe it was sincere. Stubborn or not… right or not telling Leroy Jethro Gibbs no that many times was crazy on any day. Some how she really did manage to take a bad situation and make it worse. Righteous indignation could be very lonely. Her parents were furious and her siblings had abandoned ship. It was like an entity had taken over. She knew she should stop, but she couldn't. For months she had felt like she was shouting from a sealed jar. The sound was blaring to her ears, but no one else seemed to hear. Now everyone was listening.

Dropping her head back onto her raised knees Abby cried some more. She never heard him come in.

Walking over to her the exhausted father dropped down to her level and sat on floor beside his little girl. He nudged her shoulder.

"Think we need to talk," all he felt was a head nod as she rested on his shoulder.

"I'm in big trouble, huh?"

"Uh-huh, but it can wait," he said as he pulled her into an embrace.

They sat that way for awhile until her tears subsided and her breathing returned to normal. Patting her shoulder he released his hold and stood up extending a hand to help her do the same. Pointing to the bed for her to sit Gibbs brought her desk chair over so they would be sitting eye-to-eye. The only problem was she couldn't allow her gaze to meet his.

"Look at me Abs." Once she complied, "I think you need to start at the beginning and don't leave out a thing."

"Yes daddy."