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…

A/N: This is an interlude (flashback) type tale explaining Kate's tumble down the path of poor credit choices. She's just finished the 8th grade, is prepping for her first fancy boy/girl dance, and is celebrating with her best-friend the throw-all-caution-to-the-wind Ms. Stacey. Both girls are 14, although Stacey is about 6 months older and has picked up her mom's casual attitude regarding money and men.

Here's the 3rd installment of Type II Family… The boys will NOT be featured in this story at all.

A/N: Sit back, suspend belief and enjoy it as the fiction it's meant to be.

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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Jethro had been on the phone with Stephanie for about twenty minutes. She was part of a string of calls that included Stacey's mom and a MTAC arranged call to Commander Colby, Stacey's father. Gibbs had not mistaken the man's calm tone to mean he found any of what he'd been told acceptable. Having only met the man once Gibbs never understood what brought him together with his wife. Then again he had married Diane, so clearly good judgment and romance didn't necessarily go hand-in-hand.

"Stephanie I know what I said, but don't you think I need to handle this tonight… she's upstairs… no there wasn't… I don't take out my frustrations about work on you or my kids… I know how many times I've cancelled…this is a good reason… Tony's out until eleven… no I'm not suggesting that Stephanie, I'll come to you… best I can do… thanks babe, you know you might be cut out to be an agent's wife after all… I'm well aware of everything I say…" After hearing her goodnight and low throaty laugh Gibbs closed the phone to head upstairs. He'd been cooking dinner during most of his calls. Tim would be eating at the counter alone tonight. There was less of a chance of eavesdropping if his youngest was downstairs.

~*~*~*~*~

Kate had been in her bedroom for more than an hour. Sure she was in the wrong, but she was starting to feel just a little angry at being left to stew over her punishment. Whatever he decided the former 8th grader knew her dad would make it miserable and make it count. Why did she let herself get sucked into these situations with Stacey? With the Commander gone so much her best-friend never got in a fraction of the trouble she did when one of her 'brilliant' ideas went horribly wrong.

Walking to her door Kate once again contemplated going down to demand resolution. Lucky for her that choice never really took wings. There was a corner of her brain that hoped against hope that Gibbs would let her go to the dance. No matter what other heinous punishment was given, if she could still attend her first real dance, she would live with it… without protest.

Standing so close to the door, in such deep thought, Kate was nearly knocked over when the door swung in her direction.

"Daddy, what happened to knocking?"

Gibbs' immediate response was to glare, but he softened his look slightly knowing what was to come.

"I did. What were you doing?" He was gesturing for her to move to sit on her bed.

Taking the invitation begrudgingly Kate sat, but wouldn't make eye contact when she answered. "I was just thinking. You were taking a long time to come up."

"Not something I wanted to rush. Besides I needed to fix dinner and call Stacey's mom."

Kate was mortified. "You called her mom?"

"Yes I did and I spoke to the Commander."

Insert drama… Kate threw her body down on her bed screaming into the mattress. "Daddy how could you! She says her dad is awful. Who knows what he'll do? What if she can't go to the dance? I can't go without her!"

Watching and listening to his daughter in near hysterics over something she caused made his blood pressure shoot back up. She was still faced down screaming. He was sick of it. Walking over Gibbs swatted her backside firm three times making her yelp!

"Now sit up and knock off all that screaming."

Easing her body into a seated position once again Kate swiped at her eyes leaving her pout in place.

"Every decision you've made since you walked into that store has been wrong. Don't make it worse by acting like a brat now. I won't tolerate it Caitlin Nicole."

Holding onto her pout she managed to squeeze out a, "Yes daddy."

"Stacey's folks needed to know the truth about what's been going on. Now what happens after that is between her and them. You better start worrying about what's going to happen between us."

Taking a deep breath Kate mustered up the courage to look up and ask what she really wanted to know, "so what's my punishment?"

"What's the rush?" The immediate need to get in and then out of trouble was more Tony's style. Gibbs was figuring it had to do with her wanting to know if she'd be going to the dance. He didn't expect to hear what came from her next.

She was finally making eye contact allowing the pout to slip from her face. With more relaxed features and eyes Kate spoke from the heart which nearly broke Jethro's.

"Because I know I deserve whatever punishment you decide. You let me buy my dress, hangout with my friend, trusted me with your credit card and gave me mommy's earrings. I'm nothing but a liar and a thief!" Heavy sobs wracked her body.

There was something about your little girl crying that could bring a father to his knees. Jethro figured a little pre-punishment comfort wouldn't take things too far off course. Crossing to the bed he sat down and pulled her into a tight embrace. She was drenching his shirt mumbling out apology after apology. When she seemed to pull it mostly together Gibbs let her up.

"Stop saying sorry. Let's get on with this." She only nodded her agreement. "You will be paying for everything you bought out of your graduation money and allowance. The only thing I'm letting you keep is the dress I gave you permission to buy. Everything else you will personally take to the shelter to donate to a needy family."

Not being able to keep her graduation money and next few weeks allowance would put a serious dent in her funds for the rest of the summer. Those things didn't seem that expensive when it wasn't her money. She waited for the rest giving him silent doe eyes.

Standing first Gibbs braced himself for the more difficult part of the punishment. Spanking the boys wasn't easier, but it was different for the father of three. She most certainly deserved it or being grounded for a long while, but doing that would mean she couldn't go to the dance. Leroy Jethro Gibbs might have been a bastard at work and an impossible husband, but he was always able to strike a better balance as a father. Kate had earned the dance with all of her hard work in school. It was a culminating activity. Taking it away would mean the punishment didn't fit the crime. Pulling her up from the bed Gibbs sat back down bringing the trembling teen with him.

He made quick of baring her and brought his hand down immediately. They were both talked out making an accompanying lecture unnecessary. Neither was keeping count of the number of times hand and behind connected. There's a point when acceptance takes hold. Kate was there. She stopped the wriggling and involuntary kicking finally going limp. Her backside was red and tender. She'd never gotten a spanking with the belt the way Tony had, but she could imagine how bad it was if the force of just his hand was so bad. Quickly remembering why she never pushed him this far Caitlin Nicole was regretting that she had done so this time. When he felt, then heard, her breaking point in the sobbing she was doing Gibbs quickly righted her clothes and her.

Rubbing her back, "you better remember this young lady the next time you think about lying to me or taking anything that doesn't belong to you."

"Yes daddy."

"Caitlin this is over. We'll take care of donating the things this weekend. Go wash up and come down for dinner."

Kate headed for the bathroom and Gibbs started for the stairs. "Daddy, you never mentioned…"

"You earned the dance kiddo. You can still go."

Scurrying over with a lot of the pep out of her step, due to a still throbbing bottom, Kate ran up to give her dad a hug. Her guilt had gone away considerably and even though most of her head thought the spanking was enough punishment she was still a little shocked at being given a green light for the dance. Mostly she was just grateful. She'd have to text Stacey after dinner to see how things had gone with the Commander.

"Thank you daddy and I'm s…"

"I love you Katie." Kissing the top of her head Jethro went downstairs to check on his son before heading out to smooth things over with the number two lady in his life. No matter how many wives came and went his little girl would always be number one.

~FIN