Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is a writing job… a writing job. Gee, all I want for Christmas is writing job on NCIS!!! Alas, that may be a wish even Santa can't fulfill!

So, 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 :-)!

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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Dinner carried on with the usual banter. The evenings earlier antics momentarily shelved. Tony attempted to 'steal' food off his sisters' plates and made a mess trying to use chopsticks. One had to give him credit because he did keep trying even though he always ended up with a fork. Jenny and Jethro kept the work talk to a minimum and somehow even Mike Franks had decided that he'd give his best agents a break from his constant calling. As cartons were emptied and the constant stream of conversation dwindled to a comment or two paired with occasional giggles the meal came to an end. The air once again filled with trepidation.

Eyeing her husband Jenny banged the invisible gavel and brought the meal to a close. "Alright, I know I'm stuffed and you all should be too. Abby help me put away the leftovers please. Maybe Tony will eat those tomorrow instead of using our account to order pizza."

His ears turned bright red and Tony immediately put his glass down deciding if he drank even a sip it'd come right back out. "Sorry mom, but Kate wouldn't make me a sandwich."

"Kate doesn't have to make you a sandwich. I'm not raising a son who has to depend on restaurants and the women in his life for square meal. The account is frozen to you mister." His sisters snickered as his mother started moving things to the counter.

"Yes, ma'am." Tony responded. Even when he wasn't trying he managed to find his way into the dog-house.

Getting up from the table the senior Gibbs moved to the door calling his children. "Tony… Kate with me."

The gulps were audible.

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They were a few paces behind him and upon entering the office his children found him seated behind his half of the desk leaning back in the chair with a folder in front of him.

"Sit down you two."

There was no choice but obedience. Sliding down into the chairs they kept their eyes averted.

"You know why you're in here. I'm so beyond angry right now I can't even tell you. This is the one and only chance I'm giving for you to tell me the truth about what happened up at that school last week without increased consequences. Anything after today and the penalties start going up." He kept tapping on the folder.

"Dad you have to know our first thought was to protect Abby. I know we went about it wrong, but she was our priority." Tony sounded far stronger then he felt.

"I'm not interested in a justification. I want a full detailed account of actions, period."

Kate was willing her brother to keep his word and at least try to keep her part to an absolute minimum.

"It was my plan, my fraternity brother, my execution… the girls were barely willing accomplices. Kate was only there to make sure things didn't veer too far off track. I know it was wrong to cover for Abbs, but she needed me. I'm ready to accept the consequences." Tony was sitting up straight and looking his father square in the eye. Kate's entire body took a visible sigh of relief.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs wasn't buying one word of it. "Caitlin, is your brother telling me the way things went? Is there anything you want to add?"

Kate shook her head avoiding eye contact.

"Look at me Caitlin." He was around the desk and in front of her now.

"What Tony said was true. I did tell her to call you and mom. She was just scared of what you would do."

"Your sister wasn't just worried about my reaction and we're not talking about her. We're talking about you now." Reaching back for the folder Jethro revealed the photos he'd been given by the Headmistress.

Kate wanted to vomit. She looked a bit more than unwilling in the photograph. "Is there anything you want to add now Caitlin?"

Jumping from his chair Tony made to distract attention from his sister back onto his self. "What do you want her to say? You don't listen and that's exactly why Abby got in over her head. It was me. All me. I drove down and picked up Kate. I told Abby exactly what to do and how to fix this. We got caught. It was a risk and it backfired." Snatching the pictures, "and these don't change the story at all!"

"SIT DOWN NOW! Don't pick now to challenge me Anthony it won't serve your cause. I don't know what you two are trying to pull, but I know you're not telling me the truth." Gibbs slammed his fist against the desk. "And I want the truth."

Father and son were locked in a glare that could peel paint off a wall. Kate's insides were a fluttering mess. Her mouth was dry, her palms were wet, and she was sure her dinner was moments from reappearance. Guilt was consuming her psyche and she wanted to pull Tony back, but she knew at this point it could only make things worse. Her brother had thrown himself in front of the bullet for her and countering that move wouldn't spare him any harm.

"I will drop you were you stand if you don't sit back in that chair." Gibbs stood at full Marine posture.

Tony never took his eyes off the man he respected more than anyone in the world. He saw the range of emotions in those eyes and knew he had pushed as far as he could for the moment. He slid back into the sit beside his sister.

"You two clearly haven't spent enough time working on your story." Jethro went to the door to step out. His son's voice stopped him.

"It won't make a difference if you leave us in here all night. Nothing I said is going to change. I'm the oldest. I made the call. I was watching my sister's six. It's what you taught me to do."

"I never taught you to lie to me or your mother and I certainly never taught you to break the law. Don't pervert the rules to suit your choices."

Kate was silent. Why couldn't she be as brave as her brother was being for her and Abby? She should be able to own up to what she'd done. Now, Tony would be in for it because of what happened at Hilton and what was happening right now.

"Caitlin Marie Gibbs did your brother force you to go along with this plan?"

"Yes." Tony answered and was met with a silencing glare from his father.

"Kate, look me in the eye and tell me your brother made you do what you did that night."

"Yes sir... I mean I wouldn't have made those choices myself." She heard the words. She knew they had come from her mouth, yet she couldn't believe she was saying them.

"Then you're excused." It was Tony's turn to sigh with relief. He couldn't believe they pulled it off. Sure he was dead-meat, but at least Kate was off the hook. Disappointment rolled off their father in waves. She couldn't bring herself to leave things as they were. Getting off completely free didn't seem right. She wasn't open to losing Ashen as a consequence, but she felt she deserved some punishment.

"Goodnight Kate," Gibbs moved to the door.

"Can I just have my punishment now?"

"I'm not going to punish you. Abby made poor choices and your brother made them worse. You just told me he forced you to go along, so I have nothing to punish you for. It would be like blaming the victim."

"I… there were…" Why couldn't she form a sentence or speak around the lump in her throat.

"Nice try Katie dad knows a true suspect when he meets one. Thanks for having my back, but I can handle it."

Slowly she rose from the chair. Looking between her brother and her father she stage whispered, "I'm sorry Tony."

Seconds later she was gone.

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She could hardly catch her breath when she got up the stairs and in her room. She'd gotten off scot-free. Tony was going all the way with the story and refusing to let her back pedal from their plan. But, her dad knew something was up. How was she going to look him in the eye everyday for the next three weeks without her guilt giving her away?

There was a knock on her side of the bathroom door.

"Katie, Kate… what's wrong? Did dad speak to Updike? Are things worse?"

"No, actually things are great for me. Tony told dad it was all his idea, plan, and execution."

"Why'd he do that?"

"I asked him to because dad was already so furious with me. If he knew I helped plan it and that I was a very willing accomplice he'd make me end things with Ash for sure."

Abby went over and hugged her sister. She knew how guilty she must be feeling. "Sweetie I know you feel awful, but Tony wouldn't have done it if he didn't want to. You have to let it play out now."

"What if dad can't forgive this? What if he does something terrible to Tony? He might think this is pushing it too far Abby."

"I forged his signature, lied, committed a B&E, and almost got expelled believe me Tony's not in any worse trouble than me."

Kate had to smile at those facts. "Thanks Abbs I feel a little better now."

"That's what I'm here for. Well, that and my quirky sense of style." Both girls giggled and headed into the bathroom to get washed up for bed.

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"Stand up Anthony."

Tony did exactly as he was told.

"I know what you're doing here and I'm willing to take it as far as you are, but I want you to know you can come to me with the truth at any point."

"I know dad. I should have made better choices, but I don't regret helping my sister at all. I would do it again if she needed me."

Placing his hand on his son's shoulder Jethro spoke in a calm and comforting manner. "I admire that about you son. Kate and Abby are lucky to have you for a big brother. But, I can't let what you did go unpunished and I think you know that."

"Yes sir I do."

"Alright then head upstairs. I have a call to make then I'll be up to finish this conversation."

When the door closed behind his exiting son Gibbs picked up the phone to speak to the one man who might be able to help him figure out what was best.

"Hey dad, you got a minute? I need some advice."

***TBC***