Stepping Up

Summary: Tag to Last Man Standing. Tim can't stop thinking about what Gibbs said. Warning: spanking of adult. Don't like? Don't read!

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just play with them.

A/N: This is part of my 'Lessons' series and builds on a larger plot arc. This contains the disciplinary spanking of an adult. If you have a problem with that, click on that 'back' button now. You've been warned.

Tim took a deep breath and got out of his car, moving quickly before he changed his mind.

He must be crazy, he thought, climbing the familiar porch steps and opening the door with a perfunctory knock. Gibbs never locked it, and he'd been told often enough to just walk in, but he'd never been entirely comfortable doing that. It wasn't just that he'd always had a hard time believing that he really was included in the 'family' that was always welcome. He also doubted the wisdom of surprising a Marine by appearing, unannounced, in his basement.

'Boss?' he called out, heading towards the rectangle of light spilling from the doorway at the top of the basement stairs. Passing the kitchen, he noticed a wooden spoon drying on a draining board next to the sink. He shuddered, wondering if it was the same one that had left such a memorable impression on his butt.

He really must be crazy, he told himself as he started down the stairs.