Disclaimer: HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!! I wish you all a most splendid & creative 2009.
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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"Leroy, what's going on son? Midweek chit-chat isn't really your style." Jackson didn't spend too much time on pleasantries beyond the greeting.
"Don't start dad I call, but you're right there is a lot going on. The kids have gotten themselves into some trouble."
"What'd that wile grandson of mine do this time?"
"Actually that's the problem Jack. I think Tony's the most innocent in this mess for once. Abby got into some trouble at school. Tony and Kate went up to help and of course made things worse… they made things a crime."
"So, what you need me to bring down the Winchester and help you break 'em outta lock-up?" Jack laughed at the thought of that scenario. He knew Tony would get a bang out of it, but his son rarely expressed humor about breaking the law.
"Not funny dad. They're not in lock-up. Dishing out consequences is my sole responsibility. That's what I'm calling about."
"I don't even need to know the specifics Leroy, but if what they did bordered on the criminal it shouldn't be that hard to figure out the level of punishment. You know exactly what I'd do."
"Yes sir I do. The difference is I wouldn't push anywhere near as much as they do. I had to spank Abby and ground her for the entire vacation. Plus she's making up a semester worth of work. Tony and Kate are still lying to me though. For some reason Tony's taking the blame for everything and letting his sister walk away smelling like roses. They're loyal Jack I couldn't break him."
"Sounds like you and that pretty wife of yours have done a great job raising a loyal, caring, strong young-man. Did you ever think maybe he wasn't lying?"
"Not even for a minute. I know my kids Jack. Trust me they are lying. I let Kate off without so much as raising my voice. Figured I could shame and guilt her into spilling the truth. They wouldn't budge. Dad, Tony is 20 years old. I don't know if it's right for me to spank him."
"Do you love him?"
"What? Of course I do. Where are you going with this?"
"I'm going down the road of expectations Leroy. It doesn't matter what his age is Tony understands the pecking order; he knows the rules and the consequences for breaking those rules. Including lying, if that's what's still going on. Shifting that now will just confuse things for all them. You're footing the bills, they're living under your roof… then they follow your rules plain and simple."
"You certain about that? I don't think I could've handled it if you wanted to haul me to the 'woodshed' at twenty."
"Different time and circumstances son. You had gone off and joined the Corp. You were out on your own and getting your discipline elsewhere. Rest assured though if you came in my house disrespecting me and your actions were still my responsibility I wouldn't hesitate."
"I'll try to remember that next time we come out for a visit. Dad I need my children not to lie to me. Kate won't come clean if Tony is here reinforcing the story every chance he gets. I can't punish him as the mastermind when I know he wasn't."
"Then punish him for what you're sure he did and send him here for the rest."
"You lost me again."
"Look, things get busy around here before the holiday's I could use the help and I'll pay the boy. Then you can squeeze the truth out without interference."
"Send him to Stillwater? Jen isn't going to be thrilled with him not being home for Christmas Jack. I could end up there right behind him."
"I coming for Christmas he'll come back with me. You should have the whole story by then right?"
"I better… He does need to earn some money because I will not support his antics beyond graduation. He needs to make some decisions about what he wants to do."
"Well, maybe sometime with good 'ole Grandpa Jack will help him sort things out. Now I gotta go. You let me know what time to expect him. Bye Leroy."
"Bye dad… thanks."
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It was going on a half an hour and Tony was pacing in front of his bed seriously thinking that maybe he'd gone too far. His father had given him more than one out and he just refused to take it. He couldn't betray Kate… he wouldn't. It wasn't something he understood (the whole I'm in love at 17), but she was happy and he didn't want to be the one to spoil it. Frankly he thought she was missing out. Georgetown was a big school with endless dating opportunities and she was all consumed with the boy next door. Clearly he didn't have as much influence on his little sister as he thought. His other thought was, 'boy is she going to owe me.' Gibbs looked like he was going to rip his head right off his body at one point. A tiny surge of strength and pride welled up when he thought how he had stood his ground.
Turns out that surge was a short lived moment as he came face-to-face with his father when his door opened.
"Give me your car keys Tony." Gibbs remained by the door after closing it.
"Sir?"
"Your keys son… I'll be holding on to them until you get back."
"Where am I going? Dad I don't think you can just drop me off at the Marine Corp recruitment office and have them take me. You can't do that… can you?"
"I would not set you loose on the Corp Tony no matter what you did." Giving him a pointed look a smidge of the tension in the room dissipated.
Pulling them from his jacket Tony walked over and place his most prized possession into his father's hand.
"You know I'm going to get to the bottom of all of this, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking…."
"Any good will I might be having is going to fade fast if you keep looking me in my face and lying. I know you're far from innocent, but I also know you wouldn't and couldn't strong arm Kate into doing anything she didn't want to. So, like I said I will get to the bottom of it. Until then I need my daughters' under more of my influence and less of their big brother's. Oh, yeah… gonna need your phone too."
"Aw, dad please don't take my phone. Come on…"
Gibbs just held out his hand and turned a deaf ear to the begging.
Tony was far less gracious with this hand-off. He was into a full on sulk now.
"I know getting into that building, calling your fraternity brother and covering cost for this little caper was all you. If you can't use that brain of yours for something productive you need to just keep all your thoughts to yourself. It's my job to make sure you remember that. Tony you're graduating in five months and it's time that you grow up. Life is not a series of mini-adventures for your entertainment. Taking two and three months to figure things out after May isn't an option and neither is my covering your expenses while you do it. You've had plenty of time to find and keep a job all semester and you didn't, so I found one for you."
"You found me a job. Where I don't need a car or my phone? That doesn't sound good."
"You're leaving for Stillwater in the morning on the first train. Grandpa Jack is expecting you. He needs some help in the store and you need the money. He'll drive you back when he comes for Christmas."
"What? No, no, I will not survive that dad. There is nothing to do there… ever!"
"First off stop raising your voice and secondly what you're going to be doing is work. That is unless you have something more to tell me."
"So, this is blackmail? Nice."
"This is not open for discussion. Now let's finish because you need to pack."
"Mom is okay with this?" Tony was stalling there was no doubt about it. Going to Stillwater was going to suck. Kate more than just owed him. He would be collecting on this debt for years.
"She will be." Sticking the phone and keys in his pocket Gibbs took off his belt for the second time that day.
"Are you kidding me? Dad, I'm a college senior you can't…"
"Can and will… now drop the pants." His resolve was stronger after speaking to his own father. Leroy Jethro Gibbs was clear that punishment was always undesirable to your child, but not setting boundaries always did the greater harm. What Jack hadn't instilled in him the Corp did. Discipline needed to be immediate, meaningful and memorable. Until that responsibility was handed off to another authority figure in his son's life he'd continue in the manner expected and that he saw fit.
Knowing that continued defiance and arguing would yield no different results Tony did exactly what he knew he'd have to the moment he agreed to take the blame alone. He actually knew it the moment they decided to go along with this crazy scheme. As long as getting caught was a possibility getting his ass beat was a possibility. His head wanted to rail and protest, but he admired his dad's consistency. You always knew where you stood with Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Once he started in Gibbs' didn't feel nearly as bad as he thought he would. Jack had been right it was his job to set the tone. He was at least 25 strokes in when he started to lecture. Tony, never one to be stoic in these instances, was gripping the foot-board of his bed and not being shy about his tears or moans. His ass was ablaze. He kept thinking Kate's debt was increasing with every blow and how the hell was he going to sit for the three hour ride to Stillwater.
Sucking in a huge breath after the last contact the belt made Tony waited to until he was told to gather himself. Facing his father there was no resistance left in his eyes or his body. He made to apologize and was stopped.
"Don't… you need to understand a few things. Sometimes really helping someone you love means giving them exactly what they don't want. The next time you really want to prove your love and loyalty to your sister I suggest thinking long and hard about what that should really look like. Don't be sorry for wanting to help. You be sorry for how you did it."
"Understood dad."
"I don't care what age you are I am your father and you will respect me as such. You better get it in that head of yours that lying, defying and putting your sisters in jeopardy will end like this every time. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir, crystal."
"Put your things together Tony we're leaving at 0600."
"Can I say goodbye to the girls… mom?"
"Your sisters should be in bed, when you're done packing mom's downstairs."
He wasn't taking any chances on them putting their heads together to come up with another hair-brain plan. Agent Gibbs was about to work his own plan.
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The next morning Kate went to her brother's room around eight when she finally woke up. His bed didn't look slept in, but she figured part of his punishment must have involved bed making and early morning runs with their dad. It sucked, but it was at least livable as far as consequences went, so Kate wasn't feeling too bad.
Downstairs in the kitchen her mom was drinking coffee and dissecting the newspaper.
"Morning mom."
"Morning Katie… if you want something hot you have to cook it yourself."
"Yogurts fine. Dad and Tony out for a run?"
"No, daddy is in the basement and Tony's gone."
"Where'd he go?"
Jen wasn't a fan of being blatantly lied to either and had no problem making her daughter sweat a little. She'd had it out with her husband for an hour before she came around to seeing things his way. In the end getting the truth was the most important thing and they agreed to go as far to get to it as their off-spring was going to keep it from them.
"Oh-my-God, did dad make him join the Marines?" Panic was creeping up in her voice.
"No, Kate even your dad can't make anyone join the Marines."
"Then where is he… where's my brother?"
"Stillwater with Grandpa Jack," Jen answered turning the pages to the paper with great care.
"Did he put him out… like for good?"
Gibbs walked in dressed casual and covered in dust particles. Leaning down to kiss his wife she shooed him away. Then he went to kiss the top of his daughter's head to say good morning.
Kate was having none of it. Her speech was frayed and agitated. "How could you just put him out? We're a family. I thought you said things were forgiven after you were punished. You didn't put Abby out and what she did was much worse."
"Thanks Kate," Abby said not sure what she had walked in on.
"He sent Tony away Abs. He made him go live with Grandpa… in Stillwater. Tony'll die there."
"Settle down," Jen said finally putting her paper aside.
"I sent your brother to live with Jack because clearly the only way you two will listen to us is if you're not listening to him. You best finish up your breakfast because you both have plenty to get started on."
Taking his wife's hand in one and his coffee in the other both agents left the room leaving their puzzled daughter's to sort out everything they just heard. They both knew they owed it to their brother to do something to get him out of this mess.