Chapter 3 – Incentive
The next morning the girls were all up and busying themselves with breaking camp, ready for the trek home. Nate came out of his tent and was met by a chirpy Piper bringing him a steaming mug of coffee.
"Thought you might need one of these" she beamed, handing Nate his mug. That had never happened before.
"Morning gorgeous," said an equally chirpy Cait as she began dismantling their tent. He had been called handsome by Cait before, in fact that was her default name for him, but gorgeous is not a pet name she had ever called him before. What was going on he wondered, Cait was usually cranky first thing in the morning and she never volunteered to pack up the tent.
The walk back to Diamond City was uneventful in that they didn't meet dangers on the road but the girls were definitely up to something, Nate was sure. They had suggested Nate take point and then all three of them had hung back about ten paces and continued to debate in a low tone. Nate was able to make out no more than a few words on the whole trip back, and certainly not enough to make any sense of what they were discussing.
They arrived back to Diamond City in the early evening and Nate suggested a stop off at the Dugout.
"I'd like to get home, Blue," Piper remarked as they reached the marketplace.
"And we have something to propose," continued Cait.
"Oh, do tell me more," Nate enquired, guessing that this proposition had everything to do with the general subterfuge the girls had been engaged in on their walk back from Greygarden.
"Not here, I will make us a nice dinner and then we can have a talk" Curie chimed in.
"Ok, sounds good," responded Nate, looking forward to discovering what it was the girls had been discussing in so much detail last night and all of today.
Dinner was superb as always and given that he knew the girls wanted to have a talk, Nate opened a bottle of wine. Now the plates were cleared away, Nate topped up the four glasses and took a seat at the dining table.
"So, what is this proposition?" he asked, "I am intrigued."
"The first thing," Piper began "before you hear what we have to say, you must promise to us that you will not speak to anyone else about what we are going to propose, and," she took a deep breath "you can't say no, or laugh, or say it's ridiculous until you have heard us out, properly," she continued nervously.
Nate looked at the other two, Cait was looking at him earnestly and Curie was biting her bottom lip. This was obviously something they wanted him to listen to and to take seriously.
"I promise," he answered earnestly, "please go ahead," he signalled to Piper. She visibly relaxed a little and then shifted her eyes to fall on Cait.
Cait took the cue and began speaking, "Piper told us that you are not happy with us as your companions," she started.
"That's not quite what I said," responded Nate, concerned where this was going.
"Blue!" exclaimed Piper "you know you are doing the listening thing, right."
"Sorry," Nate nodded to Cait.
"Ok, you think we are dangerous," Blurted out Cait, not wanting to be interrupted again. Seeing that Nate intended on keeping silent, she continued, "Basically you are not happy with how we fight as, you believe we are a danger to you and each other, is that fair?"
"Yes," Nate answered.
"We know you think we are perfectly capable on our own, but you worry about us working together," Piper looked at Nate for further confirmation.
"Yes, that's right," Nate replied, choosing to keep his answers short at this time, as he was fascinated to see where this was going. Hope was mounting inside him that this was, in some way, the girls taking his tactics training more seriously.
"Well, we owe you an apology," Cait continued, "As we had no idea you were getting so frustrated with us, that you were thinking of calling it a day and sending us all away."
Nate was surprised by this as he had never said he would send the girls away or ever think of breaking up the team however, replaying the talk with Piper from the evening before, he could see why she may well have thought that. He felt a pang of guilt for having not explained himself properly to Piper as he would never kick the girls out. However, feeling that this chat was going in the right direction, he decided he would keep that fact from them for the moment and let them continue.
"Don't let this go to your head or anything Blue, but I am not going anywhere," Piper jumped in, "I am staying here with you and that is final," she continued, pointing her finger repeatedly onto the table surface.
"You have saved my bacon more than once and I am not going back out there without you watching my six," she finished.
"And what a cute six it is," smiled Nate.
Cait, who was sat next to Nate slapped him playfully on the arm, "You are supposed to be taking this seriously," she exclaimed.
"I am also not going anywhere Mister," Cait changed the slap to a point, jabbing at the same arm she had just slapped. "I'd be dead if it wasn't for you and if you kick me out, I might as well be," she changed her tone, a glistening in her eyes showing she was clearly getting emotional about the subject. It wasn't often you got Cait to open up and show real emotion so Nate concluded that this must be serious for her as well.
Was Nate really going to kick them out? Admittedly, there was some amount of frustration at the lack of commitment they had shown in learning his new drills. But when he had said to Piper that he didn't think it was working, he was referring to the tactics and not their whole relationship as a team. Despite being surprised that the girls had reached this dramatic conclusion purely from one conversation he had with Piper, he was still interested as to where this proposal was going. Sat around the table, right now, were three women who up until very recently had barely taken anything he had said seriously. That was clearly changing. So, choosing to let them continue, Nate turned to Curie as she cleared her throat.
"I can't even imagine what it would be like not being part of this team," Curie added. "It would be horrible beyond imagining," She looked as if she was about to cry.
"So" Cait jumped in "Because we are not going to let you split up the team, or even think about it, we have a plan that will fix things and set them back on the right tracks."
Piper and Curie were watching Nate's reaction carefully, as if on tenterhooks.
"Ok," Nate nodded "I am all ears."
"And you promise you will take everything we say seriously, everything?" Piper asked.
"I promise," Nate answered in a serious tone. He wasn't sure where this was going but they obviously had a plan, and so the least he could do was to hear them out.
"We don't always take our training with you as seriously as we should, we know this," Piper began, sounding apologetic "But because there are no consequences to not listening, for any of us, there is no real motivation."
"Consequences like you could be killed if you don't listen," Nate responded, needled at Pipers comment. There are always consequences to actions, Nate thought to himself.
"No not that," Cait snapped, sounding a little frustrated, she then blushed a complete scarlet and said quietly "Consequences for us," as she looked down at her clasped hands.
Piper could see Nate was a little puzzled, "You are one of the most infuriatingly nice people we have ever met." Piper explained, "We make a mistake or even worse mess around when you are trying to explain something, and you just go quiet, smile and move on."
"And when the shit hits the fan, you are one of the coolest people under fire, totally unflappable," Cait cuts in "Which annoys the shit out of me, by the way," she finished with a smirk.
Nate smiled back but didn't interrupt.
"You have never got really cross, you have never got properly angry or shouted at any of us. I bet there have been more than a few occasions when you have wanted to," Piper continued.
"We think it would be best for us, and the team, if you did introduce consequences. Rather than cursing silently and beginning to think the unthinkable."
Nate was genuinely moved that the girls found being with him, in this team, something worth fighting for. It was clear to him that whatever the girls had in mind as a fix, it was serious enough for them all to have worked on it, agreed on it and now they were presenting it to him.
"What do you mean by consequences," Nate asked, "I am not the barky, drill sergeant type of soldier, I am afraid."
"Oh no," exclaimed Curie "Nothing like that, we want you to spank us," she said in a complete matter of fact way.
Cait looked as if she had been slapped in the face, "Oh go right ahead and say it, why don't you," she snapped, obviously embarrassed at Curies' straight forward speaking. It seemed Cait at least was wanting to introduce that bomb shell in a slightly more subtle way.
Nate must have also looked shocked as Piper jumped straight in, "Before you say anything, let us explain," Piper had begun to blush slightly as well, shifting uneasily in her seat.
"We would do absolutely anything to keep the team together," Piper was pointing at Cait and Curie "and when we say anything we mean it."
"When Piper mentioned how you were feeling, we were all so shocked we couldn't quite believe it," added Curie.
"In fact," continued Cait "We were so shocked that we couldn't say anything for a good long time."
"And then," Piper interjected, "At pretty much the same time, we all blurted out that we had to stop this break up, no matter what it took."
"Whilst you have tried to train us to make us better, we have been nothing but brats in return and when we realised that," Cait Paused, "It was like being hit by a train."
"We have behaved appallingly for you, and we are ashamed," Curie added.
"You have every right to be angry, disappointed, let down and frustrated," Piper was looking down at her lap, "And yet here you are being magnanimous, calm, gentle and kind, as always."
"So, we have all agreed that to make up for our past behaviour and to do this," Curie began pointing to the other girls, "to truly show you how committed we are, we have to put our actions in front of our words."
"And the action that we have decided upon is for you to punish us for our previous behaviour and to put into place boundaries and expectations, that if crossed or not met, are also punished in the future." Piper exhaled, Nate could see that this proposal was not an easy thing for any of the girls to do, especially Cait and Piper. "Just giving you our word," she continued, "Or promising to be good" She made little speech mark gestures with her hands "Doesn't mean anything if it is not backed up by actions."
"And if we have severe consequences for any infringement, what better incentive to keep us focused and motivated," Curie explained in her matter-of-fact manner.
"I can't think of anything more embarrassing for any of us than being turned over your knee and spanked like a naughty little girl!" Cait exclaimed, the blush on her cheeks returning.
"And if the punishments are embarrassing to us, then they should show to you that we are serious." Piper stated.
There was a long pause as Piper let the request sink in. "So…what do you think?" She asked quietly "Will you give this a go rather than break up the team?"
All three of the girls were looking nervous, Curie was nibbling at her lower lip but the other two were just as apprehensive in their demeanour. Nate had to admire all of them for this rather dramatic but entirely sincere proposal. Despite the fact that he would have never guessed in a million years that this was what they were thinking when he sat down with them this evening, he was starting to see how this might just work.
What was crystal clear to him was that when these girls said they would be willing to do just about anything to keep the team together, it seems that they really meant it. But, on the other hand, what they were asking him to do was to implement a system of corporal punishment, requiring that he spank them each time they stepped out of line. His level headed rational side was rebelling against the notion of hitting the girls to get what he wanted, but his teacher/instructor side had already decided, a long time ago, that a hiding was exactly what these girls needed. On top of that there was the hot-blooded male part of him that was excited about the prospect of disciplining these three beautiful women, and being asked to do so by them! Although his head was swimming with a thousand questions about this new proposal, his overriding emotion was one of pride and love for his girls and for the way they had dealt with this.
"Wow!" Nate exhaled "I wasn't expecting that!" He said in disbelief.
"Do you hate it?" Curie blurted out.
"It was a silly idea," Piper said under her breath.
Reaching over to Piper, Cait said "No it wasn't," reassuringly squeezing her hand.
"No" Nate answered, "I don't hate it, or think it is silly," he paused for a few seconds looking at each
of them in turn. Then he laughed, "You're faces are a picture," he shook his head, "no, I don't think anything you have said this evening is silly. The fact is I am proud of you, I am so proud of you all" he continued "proud and touched by your commitment to keeping us together."
"This means you aren't going to throw us all out," Asked Cait, a tear trickling down her cheek.
"No" Nate said reassuringly, "I am not throwing any of you out," and before he could say anything further Cait threw her arms around him and gave him a huge hug. Over the other side of the table, Curie and Piper embraced each other in celebration.
Releasing Nate from her hug, Cait whispered to him "thank you," as she quickly wiped away the tear that had run down her face.
Nate gave her a reassuring smile and turned to Piper "I do have about a million questions though," He said and picked up his glass "but this is going to need another bottle."
"Oh, I'll get it," Curie jumped up from her seat "whisky as well?" She asked. Nate looked at Cait who smiled and nodded, "sounds perfect, yes please."
Once Curie had returned to the table with the wine and a bottle of whiskey, she handed the whiskey to Nate and opened the wine, refilling her glass and Pipers. Nate poured a good double for Cait and himself and raised his glass.
"To the team," he toasted.
"The team!" the girls laughed, more out of sheer relief than anything else and clinked their glasses.
"So, you have questions," Piper asked.
"Well quite a few to be honest but let's start with whose idea was this?" Nate asked taking a sip of his drink.
"It was all of us really," Piper replied. "After we had each agreed that we would do absolutely anything to stop the team breaking up, Curie asked how we were going to show you that we were serious about staying together."
"Whatever we chose needed to be dramatic enough that you knew we were being serious," Cait added.
"But how could we show you that we were serious and that we meant everything we were saying?" Piper continued "and then Cait gave me the idea," Piper indicated to Cait, "She said 'we need to show him that we are willing to put our arses on the line no matter what and get him to believe us'. Now I know she wasn't meaning that literally but…" Piper shrugged, "why not put our arses on the line, as Cait put it. You have always been 'one day we will be having a discussion young lady' and 'what punishment should I give these wayward girls' etc." she laughed.
"Am I really like that?" Nate asked a little shocked
"Yes," all three girls replied in unison.
"So, I thought it wouldn't be much of a stretch to show you we were sorry and that we meant what we said, by asking you to spank us. Let's be honest I am sure you have wanted to do just that for months," Piper concluded.
"Well, I suppose it had crossed my mind once or twice," Nate then held his hands up, "But Only when I was feeling particularly frustrated, and not something I would have ever actually tried to carry out." He turned to look at Cait "I'm not sure which bit of me you would break if I ever came after you with a wooden spoon, Cait, but I wasn't willing to give it a try," he chuckled. The girls laughed.
"But now you can," Cait responded in a matter-of-fact tone "No, it's not that you can it is that you must," She corrected herself, "the moment any of us step out of line or you feel the tiniest bit frustrated with us," Cait smiled to herself, "It's not like I ever thought I would be begging someone to put something across my arse anytime I did something bad, but here I am, doing just that," she shrugged "but when we agreed we would do absolutely anything to keep the team together, we meant absolutely anything."
"But we would like to ask something of you though" Piper looked at Nate.
"You mean apart from having just asked me to spank all three of you," Nate still looked a little shocked.
"I mean" Piper blushed a little "if we are going to do this, can we have your agreement that you won't split the team."
As Nate hadn't had any plans to split the team anyway that would be an easy agreement to make. But what he also decided on, there and then, was that he would never tell the girls that they had mistaken his original intentions. He was so impressed by their commitment and the resolve they were showing, he thought, he most definitely did not want the girls thinking that this proposal was unnecessary and that there had been no real risk to the team. He wanted them to truly believe that their actions had turned the situation around. If they found out things weren't as dire as they had thought, he worried they might quickly slip back to old habits. And on top of that, this newfound passion and commitment they were displaying, to keep the team together, touched him profoundly. This he needed to keep.
"That sounds fair" Nate nodded.
"You promise?" Asked Curie.
Nate smiled "yes Curie, I promise."
"Oh and you promise to keep this between just the four of us?" Piper confirmed.
"Yes, this is just between us," Nate agreed, "it's none of anyone else's business anyway."
"And you have to promise that you will take this proposal seriously," Cait asked with a concerned look on her face.
"To set your minds at rest" Nate began holding his hands up in a mock surrender, "I think what you have proposed today not only took a huge amount of courage but it is also a genius way of moving forward."
"Ha! Genius for you maybe, but it's not your arse that will be getting tanned" Cait blurted out.
"Genius," Nate began, as if he was a teacher explaining an idea to some slower students, "because, the alternatives wouldn't work." He looked at each of the girls in turn and could see their confusion.
"In the military, discipline was maintained in a number of ways," he continued, "lesser infractions would result in restrictions of privileges, most especially confinement to barracks during leave periods. I'm not sure confining you to base would work when we are at home, as the rest of us would be here too, that just doesn't make much sense. Also, keeping someone at home and therefore having the team a person down during a patrol is dangerous."
"But they also had prisons in the military, didn't they?" Confirmed Curie.
"Yes, the more serious infractions could result in time spent in the military jail and even a dishonourable discharge. Well, we don't have a jail and even if we did, I would then lose one of you to watch over the one in jail." Nate shook his head "then we would lose two for any patrol, no, this solution suits our set up perfectly" He then paused "in theory."
"So, now come the questions." Piper looked a little apprehensively at Nate, showing that she was obviously nervous about Nate picking holes in their proposal.
"So, you want me to spank you" Nate mused "but that in itself has a hundred variations on a theme. Where and when, for a start? If we are keeping it between us then I assume punishments could only be given at home or on a base, shut away from prying eyes," He enquired, looking at Piper. All three of the girls nodded, "Ok, but then there is the question of the spankings themselves," Nate continued.
"Surely you know what to do," - Piper exclaimed.
"Surely you must have spanked Nora on occasions?" Cait asked, as if Nate spanking his wife was as common a thing as going to the pictures or out on a date.
"Before the war things were a little different. But well, yes, I did spank Nora once, but that was for fun in the bedroom, and I don't even think you can really call it a spanking," Nate smiled, "That is a little different to what we are talking about here," He looked at Piper, "and yes, I know what to do" he chuckled, "What I was looking to establish is what type of spanking would be given for what infringement…or…" He paused, thinking, "is this something you want me to pick depending on the situation?"
"Of course, you should pick," Curie answered, "We don't get to decide what we are going to be punished with, or how hard it will be or for how long each punishment will last. You will be the only person to decide that."
"What we are saying," Cait jumped in, "Is that we will sign up for whatever regime you decide on and we will submit to whatever punishments you feel are necessary."
"Ah but then," Nate interjected, "there is the inevitable bad blood that you will feel once the punishment has been given. You can't honestly tell me that the moment I spank one of you, you will just get back up and carry on as if nothing had happened. I shall have to start keeping one eye open when I sleep," He smiled, but still wondering about the answer.
"Then that person can leave," Stated Curie, "Before every punishment you can ask, if you want to be sure." She shrugged.
"Curie's right," added Piper, "If we didn't want to get our backsides heated, for one we wouldn't be asking for exactly that now and for two, we can always take the alternative which is to leave the team. We are all making this proposal because we are determined to keep the team together."
"You are that serious, aren't you," Nate confirmed, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the emotional outpouring that has happened this evening.
"You've got that right!" stated Cait, her eyes glistening in the light. It was obviously emotional for them all right now. "Don't think I won't curse you and hate everything about you as soon as you start blistering my poor backside, but that will soon pass, I promise."
"But cursing might earn you extra," Nate smiled, giving Cait a mock disapproving look and then he continued, "I also do not want to suddenly become the bad guy in the team." Again, looking at each of his companions in turn "If your view of me changes, or the way you speak to me or act around me alters in any way, then this deal is off. You are all fun to be around, and I don't want that to change. You are all going to have to get used to the fact that you are asking to be spanked by a friend, a friend who cares and loves each of you very much and does not want that friendship to change. You are not the only ones who gets to feel passionately about keeping the team together."
The girls looked at each other, with Piper and Cait saying "Agreed," and Curie joining in with a "Yes, absolutely."
Nate paused to gather his thoughts. "For a punishment to work it will need to be hard enough to sink in and to be memorable, but not over the top. I am sure there will be times that won't warrant as harsh a punishment as others, but if I am going to be allowed to choose for each situation, I want your explicit understanding and consent as to what this new agreement will involve."
The girls were silent, whether in respect to this new agreement or apprehension as to what Nate was going to say next.
"Each punishment will consist of three parts," Nate continued "I will always spank on the bare, whether by you removing your underwear or by the very fact that what you are wearing doesn't cover your backside," Nate was referring to the girls preference for wearing thongs when in the Sirius Suits. "At home you will be punished naked, so if you are on, we will wait. When I am explaining your misdemeanour and the punishment I am going to give, you will be stood in front of me completely naked." Piper was blushing furiously as Nate described this first part of the punishment. She had always been the most prudish about showing her body off to the others.
"The spanking will be done in any position I chose, depending on the severity of the misdemeanour. I will use anything and everything I see fit when carrying out a punishment, but it will always be a smack to the backside. I will not punish hands, feet, back, soap your mouths or any other punishment that doesn't involve you getting a smarting bottom." Nate was in his stride now and was enjoying the looks of complete concentration, and apprehension, he was eliciting from his companions. If only they were like this in all his lessons, he thought.
"Whatever I spank you with I can assure you it will hurt during the punishment itself and on occasion it may leave marks for a few days. What I will never do is cut skin, leave permanent marks or cause any kind of long lasting damage, that is not what this is about at all." Nate wanted to make that bit very clear.
"But we trust you with this," Cait murmured.
"Sorry?" Nate asked softly, not hearing her.
Cait looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, "We trust you with this, otherwise we wouldn't be handing ourselves over to you." She reassured him, a sincere look on her face. Nate's heart nearly melted when he heard that. Cait especially had been through hell on earth as a young girl and a young woman. Through most of Cait's life she had been subjected to the most horrible forms of violence at the hands of her parents and then a raider group who had bought her as a slave. For her to be asking for physical punishment was surely taking an enormous amount of courage.
Cait picked up on Nate's look, "And if I thought for one second you could be like those bastards called my parents, or any of the other lowlife I have lived with, I would not be here now. I would have run for the hills a long time ago."
"We are asking this of you, specifically because you are not like them," Piper added, "We are placing our trust in you to punish firmly but fairly every time, otherwise none of us would be suggesting this."
"And we know you will, because…" Curie was searching for the right words "Because you are you!" she finally exclaimed.
"And the third part?" Piper asked.
"Corner time," Nate replied, "If the situation allows and the punishment warrants it, once you have been spanked you will spend a few minutes, facing the wall or nose in the corner, your newly acquired red bottom on display, just enough time to let the punishment sink in." Piper blushed furiously again.
"And this is one of the most important things I must have your agreement on…" Nate scanned the girls faces, "once the corner time is up and you are free to go, all is forgiven, you have paid your debt and there is no lingering anger or resentment from either person. Once it is done it is done and we move on."
"So, we forget it happened?" asked Curie
"Not quite" Nate responded "Lessons have to be learnt from every situation so we can discuss the issue, but it can never be brought up in anger, by anyone. The genius of this relationship, that I mentioned before, is that this new arrangement suits our situation. Someone does something wrong and it is dealt with straight away and we move on. And just as crucial is that by punishing a misdemeanour as soon as is practical, this gets rid of mounting frustration and removes any lingering negative feelings between the team. The punishment happens and we are reset back to 'good'," Nate using air quote marks to emphasise the word. "This is as important between you girls as it is with me," Nate continued, "no keeping score, bringing up past punishments, reminding others of previous mistakes. When one of you gets punished you all have to feel a sense of forgiveness and atonement and that the slate has been wiped clean."
Looking at each of the girls around the table he could see that they were all nodding along with his proposals.
"This is good," Smiled Curie.
"And we check in regularly." Nate jumped in, "I will be checking in with you all on a regular basis to ensure everything in our new arrangement is working as it should. I will ask you all together and each of you alone. I am not going to allow any resentment to build up or any issues to go on without discussion. We have always been an open team and whilst it is my orders you will follow on the battlefield, i.e. out there," Nate pointed generally outside the building, "When we are not in a fight, you all have equal input into our team, agreed?"
Each of the girls remained quiet, continuing to nod their approval, "and you will all be honest, even if you think by telling the truth you will earn yourself or a team member a punishment." Nate fixed each of his companions with his gaze. "I have no intention of acting like an Ogre, If I see you do something dangerous or just downright stupid I will tan your hide. However, if you make a genuine mistake then we will discuss the issue and learn from it, so never keep anything from me as that is guaranteed to earn a much more severe consequence." Nate exhaled a breath and sat back.
"So how does all that sound?" Nate looked at the girls "Serious enough for you?"
Cait blew out a breath, "Erm, yeah, very comprehensive." She exclaimed.
"I understand that we have given each other a great deal to consider. This is a learning curve for us all, and there are bound to be mistakes, so that is why checking in is so important." Nate reassured "So after everything I have said ….Friends?" he asked looking around.
Piper smiled at Nate and reached across the table to take one of his hands, "Always," She beamed, "just remember that tomorrow, ok?"
"Merci beaucoup for all your understanding in this and your patience," Curie added.
"Well, it is getting late and I have been given a lot to think about. So, for tomorrow we have two things to deal with" He continued, "You say you are all due a punishment for your previous behaviour," he looked at the girls who all nodded, "And then there is the new training regime, with the new incentives to put into place?"
"Yes," Piper responded.
"Oui monsieur," Curie added.
"Ok" Nate finished the last of his whiskey, "Then sleep well and I will see you all in the morning."
Nate stood up making for the stairs, he then turned back to the girls, "Whilst I have a great deal to think about concerning the introduction of our new agreement, I am very grateful. So, thank you for coming to me with this, it means a lot to know you are all just as keen to want our team to work as I am. Sleep well."
The girls all got up to clear the table. "Thank you for listening," Piper said, "And for understanding," but as soon as she had said it, she was already wondering about tomorrow and whether they had done the right thing. She thought about that for a moment; No, she thought, we are good with this. They had got exactly what they wanted and prevented the breakup of their team, and if she was going to have to take a spanking for that, then she was sure she could handle it.