Up A Notch Read online

  Dr. Quimby returned the hug. "I know, baby.... Now, I'm going to give you a choice. You can either lean back over the edge of the bed, or you can bend over my lap to finish this up. Whatever you decide, will be fine. And you'll be getting another twenty five with my hand."

  She didn't know how to respond to that. Her real choice would've been just skipping the remainder of the spanking altogether. She really didn't care how she was situated at this point, so she just shrugged.

  Dr. Quimby kissed her forehead. "All right, over my lap, darling, we'll do it this way. No reaching back or you get extra with the hairbrush."

  Sam wiped her eyes a final time and positioned herself across her father's strong thighs. She took a deep breath and gripped his calf, bracing herself. Dr. Quimby placed a hand on her back, and raised his broad hand, bringing it down swiftly with a loud CRACK. Sam winced and cried out, tears beginning to flow again. Dr. Quimby reigned down the next ten in rapid fire.

  "Oooowwwwww Dadddddyyyyyy!" Sam screamed, reaching her hand back to rub and then quickly moving it away.

  "Give me your hands, Samantha," Dr. Quimby ordered gently, but firmly.

  Sam did as she was told. "Sorry," she whined.

  "You know the consequences," Dr. Quimby reminded her. He brought the next ten swats down sharply to her upper thighs. "I only do this because I love you and want what's best for you. Sammi, I know it has to be hard on you, but I am doing the best I can." The next five came down quickly as well.

  Sam kicked and squirmed, dissolving into sobs and unable to speak. Her bottom stung tremendously and she felt horrible for how she behaved. The father took pity on his youngest, and gave her the extra five with his hand in lieu of the brush. Once that was over with, he sat her up, and hugged her tightly. "I love you so very much, my girl."

  "I love you too, Daddy," she sobbed, burying her face into his chest.

  He sighed warily as he helped her back into her panties. She refused the shorts. He handed her a tissue and sat on the edge of his bed, waiting patiently for her to come to him when she was ready. She did, sobbing freely into his shoulder and, shaking as she repeated her promises. She was a pitiful mess, needless to say. He rocked her gently as he held securely, whispering his love and hope to not have to be that severe again.

  Once she started to regain her composure a little, he asked her about some of her confessions. She was open and truthful with him, admitted to still swearing a little, but nothing like she did before, and that she still took real deep dives to test her own tolerance. He made her promise to cease that activity immediately. She agreed. When asked about stealing from her brother, she admitted to frequently borrowing small amounts without asking, but said she always paid him back eventually.

  “You are to speak with him about this when we are done tonight. You know my thoughts about stealing. Even if it is from your brother. How much do you owe him?”

  “Maybe 50 bucks. Daddy, when can I have access to my paychecks? It’s not fair. I work for it, and—”

  “I will think about raising your allowance. In the meantime, that money stays in the bank. It’s not healthy for someone your age to have access to an adults’ salary.”

  “But Michael—”

  “Is twenty-two,” he reminded her. “That is his money to do with what he wants. And most of it is in the bank. When you turn 21, you can have that freedom as well. Be grateful you don’t have to worry about bills right now. You still have me to take care of you and I rarely tell you ‘no’ to things you want. Now, come give me loves. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up and leave me.”

  He held her tightly, her hot body melting into his for comfort. She smelled sweet, like plumeria, mixed with the fresh scent of open ocean. Kissing her smooth forehead, he held her chin in one hand. “Are we good now? Okay, go speak with Mike then go to your room. One of us will check on you in a while.”

  “Yes, Daddy,” she picked up her shorts and very carefully picked her way down the hall. She tapped at her brother’s door, waiting impatiently for it to open.

  “Sammi? What are you doing here? Are you OK?” He glanced down the hall, concerned that they would get busted. They weren’t allowed to “play” with each other when grounded.

  “Daddy said I had to talk with you about something I did before I go to my room.”

  “Okay, come in. How… oh, gee. This looks bad. The strap? Oh God… Sam, I’m sorry. This is my fault,” her brother said, turning her so he could look at the damage inflicted upon her backside.

  She nodded, eyes still red and glassy. Filled with concern, he pulled her to lie on her stomach across his bed then went into his bathroom to get some lotion. “Please let me help. This has lanocain in it. It might sting a tiny bit. You are closed to blistering down here. Damnit,” he said softly, peeling away the thin material and gently rubbing the ointment over her hot, swollen flesh. She whimpered, trying not to fight his gentle touch. It just hurt so badly!. Shushing her, Michael continued until she started to relax.

  “Let that sit. Ok, baby, what do you need to talk with me about?”

  “Three things,” the girl took in a deep breath. She knew he would not strike her again, no matter how tempting the situation- or her position- was. “The first is that this isn’t your fault. I crossed the line when I was rude to Daddy. You’re right, I need to watch my big mouth.”

  “He was really hard on you. It hurts just to look at that bottom,” her brother sighed, rubbing her shoulder. “I don’t like seeing you get punished. We’ll work on avoiding this, okay?”

  “Sounds like a good plan to me. Anyway, he wanted me to tell you that I’ve been taking unauthorized deep dives behind your back. I agreed with him that I would stop.”

  “I’m aware of your adventures. The computers track your transmitter, remember? I know almost everything you do, little sister. What else?” he smiled with amusement. She had forgotten that her device plotted her whereabouts unless she deliberately deactivated it.

  “I’ve been taking some money from your wallet without asking. Not a lot.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that as well. About $50 or so, I believe? And you decided to confess, why?”

  “Aren’t you pissed? I really should ask,” Sam bit her lip as his hand traveled to the small of her back.

  “You always repay me. Besides, I wouldn’t refuse you even if you did ask. I make sure I keep something there in case you need it. I would prefer you asked me, out of courtesy, but everything I have is yours, so it isn’t that important. I keep telling you. I’m a great big brother,” Michael said, lying next to her on his bed and reaching up to stroke her face.

  “You’re the best. Thank you. I’ll ask you from now on, I promise.”

  “No problem. Sam? Are you starting to get the idea about how we feel about you? This,” he very gently touched her tender bottom, “was harder for Dad to give than for you to receive. It will eat him alive for the next couple of weeks, long after you’ve recovered. Can we try to make it a little easier on him?”

  “We? I thought I was the problem child.”

  “I realized that I give him more than my fair share. I really shouldn’t, but I do. It usually involves you, though,” her brother smiled, smoothing her hair from her face. She reached to hug him and was pulled deep against his chest. Sam rested her head on his shoulder as he pillowed his head with the other hand.

  “You really are the best brother in the whole world. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she sighed, closing her eyes.

  I wish I could have spared you this, but at least Scott wasn’t as harsh as he normally would have been. I guess he took some pity on you for once. Speaking of which, you need to go back to your room before we get busted. I don’t need them jumping down my throat for this too, okay?”

  “Carry me,” she asked in her little girl voice. Michael nodded, easily scooping her into his arms and taking her into her room. He gently set her on the bed then went to close the windows.

  “No, leave them
open. I need the cold air tonight. Thank you, Mike, for everything.”

  “You’re welcome. Sleep well, baby sister. I’m just across the hall if you need me.” With a kiss, he was gone.

  ***

  “Must you watch that trash?” Dr. Quimby asked Scott, who had happily settled back to watch wrestling.

  Scott nodded, handing him some popcorn as his friend sat down. “You know I like it. How’s our girl?”

  “15 with the strap, then 25 with my hand plus penalties. Sore, I’m sure. Did you know she was still swearing, taking unauthorized deep dives and stealing money from Michael’s wallet?”

  “Wow, all those confessions in one session. I’m impressed. Do you need me to go check on her?”

  “Maybe before bed. She has Mike right now for a bit. I told her to talk with him about taking his money.”

  “He’ll take good care of her. He always does. Now shut up so I can watch my show.”

  ***

  Scott walked silently into the girl’s room that evening. The wind was blowing through the window, filling the rooms with the scent of salt, jasmine and kelp. Like his niece, he loved the wind and took a moment to pause and inhale the fragrance. Sam was on her stomach, half under the sheets, and bathed in moonlight. Her little bare bottom still glowed and the outlines of bruises were faint, but visible. Poor thing, why couldn’t she behave? He gently covered her and with a tender kiss on the cheek, he left the room.

  Several minutes after he had gone, Dr. Quimby entered. He walked across to close the windows and draw the sheet up to his daughter’s chin. He sat on the bed to study her beautiful face in the light of the full moon. Picking up a stuffed polar bear that her brother had given her after they finished their first Alaskan dive, he looked around her bedroom. It was filled with mementos of all their adventures together. His eye caught one in particular. It was a snow globe with a red-haired, blue-eyed mermaid swimming within it. Dr. Quimby’s eyes misted as the memory of her accident drifted through his mind. He then caught site of the newest one- a sea lion wearing a naval uniform. Pride swelled his heart.

  His gaze fell to the first gift his son had given Sam. The four year old had picked up a whole bag of leaves and sticks from the yard to earn money for it because he insisted on buying the gift by himself. It was a tiny dolphin rattle that Sam had promptly thrown right back at him, earning her first scolding. It was perched next to the picture of Michael holding his baby sister the day she was born. The little boy looked so proud and so protective. Dr. Quimby smiled as he recalled the screaming fit the child displayed when the nurse tried to take the baby from him.

  “Mine! No!” The nurse looked startled, especially since the newborn infant did not react to the yelling. The little boy kicked her to keep her away from his sister.

  “Michael, honey, its okay. Let her take the baby,.” his tired mother had said softly.

  Michael shook his head. “No! She’s mine.”

  Dr. Quimby walked into the room, hearing the commotion. The nurse was beside herself.

  “Doctor, I’m sorry. He refuses to let me have the infant.”

  “Michael Scott, where are your manners? You know that you aren’t to yell at grownups.”

  “She’s mine! Mommy said so. My birthday present and no strangers can have her! Sammi belongs to me!” The defiant little four year old said, holding the baby snugly in his chubby little arms as he sat on the floor and glared at the nurse.

  His father nodded, holding out his arms. “Samantha’s a very special birthday present that all of us get to share with you. May I see her? Thank you. You’re going to be a great big brother. Come here.” He scooped his little son in one arm and newborn daughter in the other, and sat with them on the bench near the window. Smiling, his wife took a picture.

  “You are a great big brother, my boy,” The man whispered, putting down the frame before turning to his little girl. “I love you, my sweet. Tell me where I’m lacking so we don’t have to keep doing this.” With one last kiss, he was off to bed.

  Chapter 4

  The crew wisely avoided their young commanders the next day. Both the lieutenants had quietly entered the lab, abstained from yelling and demonstrated the utmost in polite interaction with each other. Michael apologized to the crew for the upset and dismissed them for the remainder of the day, smiling as they quickly scattered before he changed his mind. He held office chair out for his sister and bit his lip as she painfully eased into it.

  “Wanna go for a swim?” he asked kindly.

  She shook her head. “It was hard enough getting into cammies. I can’t even imagine squeezing into that wetsuit.”

  “Okay, just let me know if you are getting that urge. Can I get you anything?”

  “No, thanks. I’d like to go over those findings from yesterday.”

  “No yelling, though.”

  “No yelling,” Sam promised.

  Dr. Quimby and Scott entered the lab to gather the two for lunch. They were surprised to see it empty and, even more, to see the two discussing work like adults.

  “Let’s go eat. How are you feeling, honey?” Dr. Quimby asked.

  Sam shrugged. “Ok, I guess. Really sore. I want to go home.”

  “No ma’am. This is the price you pay when you act up during the work week,” he answered firmly. “Sit down and eat. No fidgeting, either.”

  When Sam didn’t argue her case with her father, Scott frowned. He nudged Michael and received a look of concern. Scott silently shook his head. Sam looked exhausted, sad and more than a little uncomfortable. Of course, he knew her well, so these things might not be evident to anyone else.

  “Michael, do you need your sister this afternoon? I was thinking about taking the Grunion out for some shelf readings. You know,” he caught Michael’s eye, “to work on that sensor we’re trying to design.”

  “Oh, the one for blind diving? Cool.” Michael played along. “Do you need my help too?”

  “That’s up to you. I need her to direct Ton to different depths. Are you up to it, Sam?”

  “Whatever you need, Uncle Scott,” she said flatly.

  He squeezed her hand under the table. “Joe? Wanna come along?”

  “I have things to do and frankly, physicists’ work bores me. Samantha, no swimming unless necessary.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she acknowledged quietly.

  Scott glanced at Michael. The spark was gone. “Meet me at the dock in an hour. Joe, got a minute?”

  “Sure. See you kids later. Please behave yourselves.”

  “Yes, Sir,” both answered.

  He didn’t miss the sadness in his youngest’s eyes. He turned to his friend as they left the dining hall. “You think I broke her, don’t you?”

  “Something’s not right. I thought we were good last night. Maybe she’s just tired. She probably didn’t sleep that well.” Scott said softly.

  “Keep an eye on her. If she starts to act strangely, toss her overboard to rebalance her and send for me.”

  “Sure you can’t come?”

  “Sorry, got a meeting with contracts for the budget. Important stuff,” he snarled. “I trust Michael to know how to handle anything better than we would if anything happened. My instincts, though, are telling me she’s all right, just feels overwhelmed. We laid a lot of stuff on her.”

  “I hope not too much. I got to thinking about this last night, in fact. If you don’t mind, I’d like to send them on a mission up north somewhere. Get them out of the lab and sharpen their senses. They’ve been diving almost daily for nine months prior to coming home. Sam might be feeling too restrained.”

  “It’s worth considering. The coast guard has been talking about planting monitoring devices along the shelf for a while to keep track of traffic. Maybe they can do that. It’s more cost effective than a dive team, plus it would give them a better feel for this region.”

  “I’ll look into it. Got any other suggestions?”

  “Migrations are starting soon, maybe a long swim up
to Alaska? Sam’s been begging for my permission to do that forever.”

  “At least that was one thing she actually asked for without doing on her own. Think they are ready?” Scott looked nervous.

  Dr. Quimby sighed. “They are,” he said quickly, “we aren’t. I’m guessing it would be three weeks all on their own. Poor Mike.”

  “I’m opting for our girl to gain that sympathy. Big bro won’t put up with too much for that period of time,” Scott grinned. “Maybe they won’t fight.”

  “They won’t unless its work related. But then, they always find something to brainstorm. We could make it easy on all of us. Let’s plot a day course with markers. This way they come onto shore for the nights they aren’t on ship and we know they are all right. I’m betting they won’t make it much farther than Monterey anyway. It will exhaust them. We also have constant comm with them with the transmitters. They’ll be fine,” Dr. Quimby said, hoping sounded more convinced than he felt.

  “Yeah, but will we?” Scott sighed.

  “Let’s talk with them during dinner tonight. In the meantime, try to figure out what’s going on with my daughter. I’m not comfortable with her being so subdued.”

  ***

  Michael wrapped his arm around his sister’s neck as they headed to the lab to pack their gear. Except for the humming of the consoles, it was quiet. “Hey, sis, wanna talk?”

  “About what?” she asked, slinging a pack across her shoulder.

  Michael took it. “Let me get that. What’s eating you? Still upset about yesterday?”

  “Thanks. No. I’m fine. Let’s go, we’re going to be late.”

  “I won’t push, but you know I’m here if you need me.”

  “Mike that is one thing I can always depend on. Thanks. I really appreciate it. And you.”

  He wondered what the statement meant. Was it as she said it? Or was there something behind it? He shook his head. The sense of time rang through his brain. He touched his band. He only saw her brief smile.