Tim remained motionless outside his own office door. He had dealt with Sam and needed a few seconds to breathe before beginning his discussion with Luc. He had been disappointed that Sam had gotten into trouble but he wasn't actually angry with the young boy, he knew he'd had to use the situation to teach a lesson but remaining calm, cool and collected had been easy. The conversation he was about to have was nothing like that. He needed every ounce of energy he had to not go in guns blazing. He wasn't going to get any real answers or be able to convey appropriate responses if he went in all 'hell fire'.

So sighing deeply he turned the handle and entered to find Lucas sitting on the big chair in front of the desk, his knees drawn up to his chin and his face buried in his lap.

XXXXXX NCIS XXXXXXX

Lucas tried listening at the door. He wasn't actually interested in what his father said to Sam, he wanted to know the tone and demeanor of the conversation. That way he would be able to better judge how his father was feeling and react accordingly. What Luc failed to grasp was that his situation was nothing like his younger brother's. When he has surmised that his dad was actually quite calm and he was simply reinforcing the school rules Lucas' heart rate decrease ever so slightly. He was able to stop pacing and moved instead to sit on the big comfy chair in front of the desk. A chair he would curl up on to do homework or read. From this location it was even harder to hear what was going on in the living room but enough sounds carried that Luc could tell when the conversation ended and Sam's lesson was reinforced physically. It was the second time that day his body involuntarily winced at his brother's predicament. This time however it came from a place of great worry about himself.

XXXXXX NCIS XXXXXXX

Lucas didn't look up when the door opened. He didn't need to see his father to know it was he who had entered. Tim holding on very tenuously to his composure didn't like that his arrival was not being acknowledged. After counting to ten in his head to keep from blowing up Tim was able to address Luc in an even voice although not necessarily calm or understanding.

"Lucas I want a full explanation of what in the hell you were thinking" Tim commanded.

"Dad…. I… I'm really sorry… I just… I didn't mean for … I … I'm sorry" unable to continue as his eyes filled with large pools of tears and his throat closed in an effort to stop from sobbing.

"Lucas… don't even try it… I am beyond disappointed with your recent behavior. Don't try and tell me that you didn't know full well what you were doing. Trying to play us for the fools? Did you really think we wouldn't find out? Did you really think Mr. Harper wasn't going to contact us? Not only have you accumulated 10 demerits earning you a trip to the principal's office you deliberately tried to start a fire at the dance. And then after having committed both offences you chose to not only hide them from us but you played the doting perfect child in an effort to win favour where none is deserved." While he spoke it positioned himself standing against the desk facing the young teen.

"I didn't do all that" Lucas tried to defend his actions.

"No?" Tim asked eyebrows raised and arms folded across his chest. "What did you do then?" although the words were meant to give Lucas a chance to fully explain himself the tone with which they were delivered suggested that any answer would be sorely lacking in believability.

"I did do those things Mr. Harper said… but you make them sound … so much more horrible then they were… I got 10 points… but I was trying really hard not to… I've had 9 for a really long time… and the 10th just sort of happened at the dance… none of them were huge offences Dad … really… just little things… I forgot to hand something in… the whole class got one for being loud… and I was late a couple of times… " Luc tried to explain although he was having a hard time speaking through his crying.

"Were you late to class because you were dealing with Sam?" Tim asked knowing the answer already but giving his son the benefit of the doubt even if he didn't feel that generous.

Lucas thought for a few moments about lying and using Sam as a scapegoat. He knew that it wouldn't alleviate all of the trouble he was in but it would mitigate it to a point. But Lucas wasn't that stupid and he shook his head no.

"So you were sitting on 9 demerits for some time… and in none of that time you thought it wise to come to me or your mother and give us a heads up? … you didn't consider coming to us and explaining that you understood what sort of predicament you were in and that you were making a great effort to change your ways?" Tim continued snarkily.

"Dad… I didn't say anything to you because I was changing my ways… I was working very hard at school and being very careful to follow all the rules and be one time and hand everything in… I really was" Luc breathed out through hitched sobs that were slowing.

"And what about your behavior at the dance?" Tim asked.

"I went down a hall I wasn't supposed to… Dad it wasn't a big deal… I just forgot… we are normally allowed in that part of the school… it was just off bounds for the dance… but there was no sign or anything… it was a mistake… nothing sinister or deliberate" Lucas was moving from self-pitying to anger. His dad was not being reasonable about these 10 demerits and Lucas in his emotional state didn't think through his thoughts before continuing.

"You aren't being fair… you make it sound like I set out to do wrong" he half yelled back.

Tim took a step forward before stopping himself. He closed his eyes and once again counted to ten. "Lucas I highly suggest you rope in your attitude young man because I am this close" holding up his finger and thumb only a quarter inch apart "to giving you the licking of your life without so much as an explanation as to why.. am I clear?"

"Yes" Lucas answered in a whisper tears falling in earnest once again.

"Do you have a decent justification as to why you might want to set the school on fire?" Tim asked to continue the conversation.

"I wasn't trying to set the school on fire… I wasn't … we just thought it would be funny to see someone have to use the fire extinguisher… and I had a cup of water with me… just in case… I didn't want to hurt anyone or anything… I really didn't …." Lucas sputtered between hiccups. "I didn't want to set anything on fire for real" for the first time during the conversation Tim saw actual and real remorse and heard the honesty in the words.

"Let's then move on to why on Saturday when you got home from Sean's did you not come to me or your mother to confess what had happened. You knew before you left the dance that you would be visiting the principal on Monday with severe consequences. You understand how this family works and you know darn well that if you had come to us over the weekend this conversation would be very very different." Through talking Tim was calming down, his anger released through his words until he remembered that which had made him furious in the first place. "Not only did you not tell us you tried to curry favour by being the 'perfect' big brother. You were doing those nice things not out of the goodness of your heart but to keep yourself out of trouble. You even canceled your trip to the movies to garner more good will. That sort of behavior is deceitful, under handed and belittles the times you do those things for the right reasons."

"Daaaaadddd" Lucas began. "Tell me I'm wrong" Tim offered "tell me I'm wrong!"

Lucas' guilt had been building since well before the weekend, it had begun to grow when he had received the warning slip he'd reached 9 demerits. From that point forward many if not all of his actions were to minimize the fall out should he ever receive the 10th. And since Friday's dance every decision he made was done to put himself in the best light, not because he wanted to be the 'perfect son' but because he needed the brownie points for this moment. And in this moment all of his plans were backfiring. They had gotten him into more trouble not less. His actions had been seen for what they were, deceitful. Instead of offering any excuses Luc just whispered "I'm sorry Dad… I really am sorry".

"I'm pretty sure that most of those tears are because you're sorry your plan didn't work. I don't doubt you are also sorry for your actions; however I truly believe that your feelings of remorse are for how deep you've dug yourself."

Lucas wanted to argue, he wanted to tell his father that he was wrong. That he was this sorry over his behavior, but he couldn't. It wasn't the truth. He was tied up in knots over how much trouble he was in and the guilt of the original sins was well overshadowed by the looming reprimand.

"Do have anything else to say for yourself?" Tim asked knowing full well that Lucas couldn't say anything that would justify his actions or mitigate the consequences he was about to receive. But he wanted to be fair just in case there was something he had overlooked.

"I am sorry" was all Lucas could offer. With that Tim wordlessly directed his son to stand and come closer. Lucas robotically responded as his muscles were fighting his every move to obey.

Tim stepped from his leaning position against the desk and quietly demanded "let's go…bend over" knowing that his son had heard something very similar earlier that day. Lucas already fully crying slowly conformed. He was slightly confused as he had never been punished like this at home before; if he had been on the receiving end of more than a swat or two he had always found himself draped over one or the other parent's lap. This new more formal punishment had him feeling lost and on edge.

Tim retrieved his Gibb's made paddle from the desk drawer before returning to his son's side. Lucas' heart was pounding while he waited. He did not like this new ritual and was about to say something to that affect when he felt the paddle rest on his backside and then he felt it being lifted. He mentally felt the sting before the paddle even landed. His mind augmenting the reality as his guilt, worry and boxed up emotions finally found release.

Tim delivered a serious thrashing before replacing the paddle in the desk drawer. Lucas cried vehemently through the entire episode. He didn't move even after he heard the drawer open and close. Lucas didn't even try to stop the sobs and continued to let them rack his entire body even after Tim gently pulled him to standing and then wrapped his arms around the boy holding him close to his chest. Tim kissed Luc's head and smoothed his hair as he waited for the crying to abate. It took quite some time as Lucas had many weeks of pent up emotion to let go of as well as the actual pain his backside was in. He was no stranger to a sting in his tail, but this was very different as he was actually feeling sore.

The two of them stood in an embrace for a long time. Tim not wanting to let go as he wanted Lucas to feel the love he always had for his son, even when he had to punish him. Lucas because he desperately craved the physical contact that let him know he was loved no matter what. When the boy was finally noiseless Tim continued to hold him close with his right arm while he tipped the child's face to his with his left. "Lucas I will always love you no matter what" Tim whispered and then kissed the child's forehead. Lucas leaned back into his father's chest for another few seconds before finally stepping away. He wasn't sure of what to say or do so he headed for the door. Tim watched him leave and fell into the chair his hands holding his head as he breathed for the first time since the punishment began.

Both father and son spent the next few minutes in quiet solitude working through the conversation and chastisement. Both needed time to process the words, actions and feelings produced by the situation.

Lucas was dressed in his sleep pants and laying on his bed when Tim finally came to tuck him in. Once again he kissed his son, smoothed his hair and said "I love you with all my heart".

"I know Dad… I know" Lucas answered as he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.