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… 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: This is brief… but more will follow…

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 had been over a week and Kate was cracking under the pressure. She was doing everything (short of a full confession) she could think of to get her brother back home.

Her parents had been at work for a few hours and a call to the bullpen told her they would be at an active crime scene for a couple more. She just wanted to talk to Tony. Needing to know if he was really handling this or if he was going mad would help her stick to the plan. Sitting on her dad's side of the desk Kate picked up the phone and dialed the number to the store. After five rings the gruff oldest Gibbs picked up. Kate disconnected the call putting the phone back in the cradle. Deciding to wait her grandfather out Kate stayed put resolved to keep trying until her brother picked up. It wasn't just Tony she was worried about now. Abby was miserable too.

FLASHBACK

That first weekend Abs was a pouting, sulking, ball of depression. Her eyes were all puffy from crying. Not only was she carrying guilt over starting this, but Gibbs wouldn't let them call Tony or e-mail. Kate had tried texting from her mother's cell, but when she didn't get a response she figured her dad or grandpa had confiscated his phone too. It all came to a head at dinner on Sunday night.

"Abigail I wish you would eat something and stop playing with your food." Jenny was fully on-board with waiting out Kate, but didn't like putting her youngest through this. Abby hadn't been eating or sleeping well and she kept pushing all of her father's buttons. Navigating the turbulent waters between them was taking up all of her spare time. The sympathetic mother was on the verge of breaking her own rule several times and letting her daughter call her big brother.

"What? I'm not three you know. It's not playing in it if you just don't want it." Abby continued snidely under her breath. "Maybe next time we could have something I'd actually like."

Jenny just shook her head and directed her energies back to her own plate. Her husband wasn't feeling anywhere that generous.

"Get up." Gibbs squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"Now I have to eat in my room?"

"Apologize to your mother and then you can just go to your room. If you don't like the meal in front of you then your next meal can be breakfast."

Slamming her fork down it clattered against the plate as she angrily scooted her chair back nearly toppling it. Standing up Gibbs reached for her arm as she rounded the table.

"Jethro I'll deal with it. Let's go Abby." Gibbs released his hold and Jen followed her daughter from the kitchen.

"May I be excused? I'm not really hungry anymore either." Kate wouldn't even make eye contact with her father.

There was a small spot in him that was moderately impressed he didn't think she could hold out this long, especially with Abby's added emotional turmoil. Taking a deep breath Gibbs put on the ultra gentle tone he'd taken to using with his little girl. "Caitlin, eat your dinner. I don't want your mother worked up over you next. Our meal shouldn't be ruined because of your sister sour attitude, right?"

Kate almost choked on her own saliva. Her father's temper had completely softened and he was being way too nice. She couldn't believe it he was smiling at her across the table. This wasn't happening. How was it that he was so furious with Abby and Tony, but treating her like she could do no wrong? Now she was really losing her appetite, but picking up her fork she made a valiant effort to swallow normally.

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It took six more tries before Kate finally heard her brother's voice on the other line. She started spewing immediately.

"Oh, my God Tony, I've been so worried about you. Are you alright? Is it awful there? Is Grandpa Jack being impossible? Dad is being so weird. He's like super nice and mom is acting like your being gone is fine by her. Abby is a wreck though. I didn't tell them anything though. I will if you…."

"Can't talk… need you to breathe Kate and calm down," silence followed.

"Tony, Tony… what's going on? Talk to me."

"No problem sir we'd be happy to make that delivery. I could call you back when things slow down and arrange a time. Thank you we try sir."

The phone line went dead. Taking off upstairs Kate wanted to let her sister know the little she'd found out. She went to her door and burst in practically crippling her sibling.

"Geez Kate, try knocking."

"Sorry Abs I was just in a hurry to tell you I spoke to Tony."

"How is he? Is it awful? Why didn't you call me so I could talk to him?"

"No time Abs. We were only on the line for a minute before he got all strange and started calling me sir. I think Grandpa was coming by. He sounded fine and I think he may try to call us later."

"When is he coming home?"

"I don't know. We only talked like a minute remember."

"Maybe it's time to tell dad the real truth about how things went down. Mrs. Updike already called and he knows we didn't have anything to do with the bigger scam. Once my work is turned in I can go back to school, on probation of course, but she's not making me repeat chemistry if the work is up to par."

"What's your point?"

"Things are cooling off. Dad's not as pissed anymore. Sunday was a little setback, but I was just upset about him sending Tony away. I already apologized to him and mom. You're not going to be telling them anything much different then what he already knows and maybe he'll let Tony come home."

"Or he could just punish us all more. I'm telling you he's looking for a reason to make me break up with Ash. What if he does cut Tony off or send you back to Hilton? I thought you were lobbying to stay her to finish school."

"I don't know. I don't feel so good about this anymore Katie."

"Let's just wait until we talk to Tony again, okay?"

"It'll be fine Abs. Come on I'll make you lunch."

The girls headed downstairs, but Kate was portraying far more certainty than she felt. She was quickly coming to the realization that telling the truth might be the only way out of this self-created mess. There were only three days before Tony and Gibbs Sr. were due in. Sink or swim time… everyday that passed only made it worse when the truth finally did surface. She'd talk to Tony and then she'd find a way to just spill it all. What choice did she have?

**TBC**