A.N.- My life has been really complicated lately, and I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner. I've gotten very little sleep this week, so I apologise for my writing possibly sucking more than usual. Also, in the last chapter, I mentioned that Lauren was 12. I decided that for this story, the age would be better off changed. So you can approximate Callen's age at 16, Kensi's at 13, and Lauren's age at 9.

Disclaimer: As always, I own absolutely nothing

"And in school today, we learned that 'my very educated mother just served us nachos,' and my favorite planet is Mercury... Or maybe Mars... No, wait! Neptune... No, Mercury! Or Jupiter..." Lauren trailed off.

"Okay Laurie," Callen said chuckling, "I'm glad you had fun at school today. But right now we need to speed up a little bit, 'kay?"

"Kaykay!" Lauren chirped. "Where are we even going anyways? This isn't the way home from school that we usually take! Are we goin' somewhere fun?"

Callen could always be amazed by just how bubbly the younger girl was. She had come a long way from the timid six year old girl with straggly hair in her face. In the last two years, he mused, she had come so far. Rather than rebelling against everything he said, she usually accepted it as a good idea. Rather than hiding in her room all day, not saying a word, she could be counted upon to be fluttering around his room, brightening up his day.

"We're going to pick up Kensi from middle school Laurie!" Callen said, trying to make it sound more exciting than it actually was. The walk was much longer than she was used to, and he wanted to keep her happy for as long as possible on it.

"Yay! Guess what G?" Lauren chirped.

"What Laurie?"

"I have so much homework!" She said excitedly.

"Laurie, how are you excited about that?" Callen asked.

"Because homework is fun! Duh!" She gave Callen a cheeky smile.

"You know I don't like that word, but I'll let it slide this time," Callen responded in all seriousness. He usually would not tolerate the word "duh" in any situation, but he knew she wasn't using it to purposefully be disrespectful.

"Okay kiddo, we're here! Now we've just got to wait for Kensi to come out, okay?"
"Okay dokey artichoke-y!" Lauren giggled.

"Oh look Laurie! Here she is! Wave!" He said, smirking, as he stood next to the frantically waving girl. Kensi soon found her way over to them, and they started the walk home.

-

"G?" Kensi said timidly, knocking at his door frame.

"Yeah, Kiddo?" Callen looked up from his calculus notes.

"I, er, well... I, um... Here!" She exclaimed, thrusting a piece of paper at the other teen. "I'm sorry I suppose..." She trailed off, running back to her room quickly.

Callen unfolded the piece of paper, and stared at it for a long moment. "To the parents/guardians of Miss Kensi Blye," it started. "It seems as if Kensi has gotten into quite a bit of trouble lately at school. The guidance counselor chalked it up to a rough transition, but her behavioral issues have exceeded the level we would tolerate from any student. Her teachers have complained about her being rude and disrespectful in class, often insulting the other children. This behavior will not be tolerated anymore from Miss Blye. This is her first and only warning. Please discuss this behavior with her, and sign the bottom of this letter, which she will return to the office tomorrow morning. Thank you for your role in keeping this school running smoothly. Regards, the Administration."

Callen paused for a second. His blood was boiling, and he had to calm down before he dealt with any wayward teen. He got that she was angry at the world, but bullying would never be tolerated. He thought for a moment, when would he deal with this behavior. He knew that the anticipation for her would be building, and that it would be eating at her. He didn't want it to kill the poor girl, but he needed to think. Still, it wasn't fair for her if he was just to let her sit there worrying.

He made up his mind, and strode over to her door. He knocked on the frame twice, and then crouched down beside her desk chair so that he was at her eye-level. "Kenz," he started, "I know that this has been a rough period of time for you, but you will never, and I mean never, be allowed to bully your classmates. This behavior is simply intolerable, and we will deal with it after you are through with your homework. Come to see me when that is the case, and if I find out that you were through with your homework and did not come to me, you will be in more trouble than you are already. Got it?"

"Yeah, G..." She trailed off, looking down. Her hair was in her face, and he couldn't read her eyes.

"Now go get washed up for dinner," he said, and only left the room to tell Lauren the same when he saw Kensi's small nod.

-

All throughout dinner Kensi was jumpy. The poor girl looked terrified, and she was antsy. Callen finally let her leave the table when she was done, with a warning that she better be doing her homework.

"Laurie," Callen started as she was finishing her chicken nuggets.

"Yeah G?" She asked with her mouth still full.

"First, swallow your food before you talk. Second, I know we don't usually shut doors here, but tonight I'm going to have to have a talk with Kensi. So, can you shut your door and stay in your room until I tell you I'm through?" Callen asked.

"You're gonna spank her, aren't you?"

"Maybe. So can you do as I said?"

"Of course I can, G! I'll just do my homework!"

"Alright Laurie, when I'm through with talking to Kensi I'll come in and look over it, 'kay?"

"Kaykay!" Lauren said giggling.

-

An hour after dinner, Callen heard a knock on his door. He looked up to see Kensi, her hair still hanging in her face.

"G?" Kensi said timidly, staring at the ground.

"Done with your homework, kiddo?" He asked.

When he received a small nod in reply he asked again. "Bear in mind that I will be coming to check your homework later tonight, so it would be best for you to tell the truth. I don't want you to have to worry about homework after this."

"I'm finished with my homework, G." Kensi replied. "For real."

"Alright kiddo, come over here." When she took a few tiny steps into his room, he took her hand and led her over to his bed. Sitting down and patting beside him, he said, "You know we have to talk about this, kiddo."

"I know," Kensi responded meekly. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sure you are now. Are you sorry for the act or sorry you got in trouble for it?" Callen asked.

"Both," Kensi replied, still staring down.

"Alright, that's a start. Thanks for being honest with me, kiddo. Here's the deal: I know you have had a hard time lately, and I respect that. But kiddo, you have to understand that you cannot bully any other student." He paused so Kensi could reply if she wanted to.

"But G, they deserved it..."

"Kenz, kiddo, I don't care if they really deserved it or not. You can't do that. I will not allow this behavior. You cannot grow up thinking that it's okay to bully others. Now, kiddo, here's what's going to happen. I'm gonna sign the letter, which you will return tomorrow. I will give it to you when I come to check your homework. Right now, I'm going to spank you."

He looked for any reaction from Kensi, but found none. "Kenz," he said, "You do have some say in this. Is this method of discipline alright with you?"

Kensi gave another small nod, before responding, "It's okay. I deserve it anyways."

Callen tipped her chin up, surprised that she was already crying. "Let's not drag this out any further, okay?"

Another small nod from Kensi prompted him to take the girl and drape her over his lap. He started the spanking, and as expected, Kensi tried to be stoic. He picked up the speed and intensity of the smacks, and soon he heard sniffles. He kept going at that pace until he heard the first sign of a cry. He slowed it down a little, but her crying picked up. He stopped and let her lay sobbing over his lap for a little while. He rubbed her back until she calmed down, and started to hiccup. When she started to struggle to get up, he helped her until she was sitting on his bed.

She winced as her bottom made contact with the bed, which brought a slight smirk to Callen's face. "Do you want to lay down in here, or would you rather go to your room."

"I guess I'll go to my room," she said.

"Alright," Callen said, "Go lie down for a little while. You'll feel a little better. Come on, I'll walk you to your room."

He walked down with her, and made sure she was settled before he left. His eyes scanned over her desk, she looked like she was telling the truth: her homework was done. After she was settled, he headed towards Lauren's room.
He knocked on her door, and pushed it open. "Hey Laurie," he said.

"Hey G! Are you here to look over my homework!?"

"You bet, Laurie!" Callen mustered up all of the energy he had left.

-

Lauren's homework was impressive for an eight year old, he had to admit. After hearing her ramble about the solar system for the fifth time, he told her he had to go check on Kenz.

He knocked on her door frame, signed letter in hand. When she refused to move from laying on her bed, facing the wall, he got worried. When he walked over, however, he saw that she wasn't ignoring him. She was asleep.

The sight of that brought a smile to his face, and he scanned over her homework. She had done a thorough job, and he saw no glaring mistakes. He left the note on top of her homework for her to find in the morning, and covered her slender body with a blanket before leaving the room to send Lauren to bed.

A.N.- Wow this is longer than I usually go! So tell me your thoughts: what you like, what you don't. All I asked is that you be respectful. No flaming please. Tell me what you want to see and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading!