A/N: I wanted to give you all another Family story. I hope you enjoy it!
All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.
Chapter 1
Dr. Caitlyn Barkley walked out of her office, dumping her briefcase and purse on the floor next to her secretary's desk. "Molly, I'm sorry," she smiled. "But you've got to do some juggling for me."
"Cait," Molly asked, raising her eyebrows, "what's up."
"There's been a situation brewing at Jack's school for about two weeks and it flared big time today after lunch on the playground. I've been summoned to the principal's office to discuss the situation," Cait explained, rolling her eyes.
Molly eyed Cait. "That doesn't sound good," she noted, and then smiled. "But why do I think Jack has already talked to you and Aaron about this?"
Cait smiled. "He has; it's been on-going and honestly, this final act is not a total surprise to either of us." Molly looked at her. "We knew it would come to this."
"What do you need me to do Cait," Molly retorted with a smile. Cait filled her in on the re-scheduling the valued secretary needed to do.
Aaron Hotchner was in his office with Chief Cruz and the door closed. The meeting was a much needed review of the first quarter of the BAU that JEdgar brass were hammering both of the two men over to receive. His cellphone buzzed on his desk. Aaron quickly looked at the caller ID and shot Cruz a glance. "I need to answer this Chief Cruz." Cruz knew the heads down agent that Hotchner was. He nodded his acceptance.
Cruz listened to the one-sided conversation with Aaron ending, "Doc, I'll be there as soon as I can." Hotch ended the call.
"Aaron, a problem," Cruz asked.
Hotch shook his head. "One of the few problems of having a child in the public school system." Cruz raised his eyebrows. "One of Jack's best buds since he started school in the district after Haley died has been Jonah." Cruz looked at him, knowing more was coming. "Who has Muscular Dystrophy." Cruz, a father as well, shook his head at the diagnosis. "Since last year, Jonah has been in a power wheelchair. Jack and his group of buddies on the playground include him in their games as much as they can."
Cruz smiled at Jack's thoughtfulness and then shook his head. "I think I know already where this is going."
Aaron nodded. "Jack has talked to Cait and me about this for two weeks. The problem started when their usual volunteer for their playground area took her maternity leave. Ms. Sheila," Aaron softly smiled, "as all the boys call her, stood behind Jack and his 'posse'," Aaron said.
Cruz looked at him. "Something a little deeper going on?"
Aaron nodded again. "Jack, from the first day of kindergarten has had a problem with a boy named Kenyon." Aaron shook his head. "While the school can't verify his background to Cait and me; we're figured it out. Kenyon is living with a highly bigoted father that is borderline abusive. That's his mentor."
"He and Jack have butted heads before," Cruz asked.
"All minor," Aaron nodded. "But with Ms. Sheila on maternity leave, the new volunteer won't get involved to protect Jonah from Kenyon's gang." He shook his head. "Jack has talked to us at length, asking what he can do. And we've both spoken to the principal, who's normally a level headed guy."
"And," Cruz asked.
"His hands are tied with a volunteer; the school district cannot discipline them," Hotch quoted, shaking his head. "They can only advise and mentor."
Cruz smiled. "Jack and his friends took their Waterloo with the other gang, and he led the fight." Aaron proudly smiled. "Good for Jack and his friends. Get the hell out of here Aaron; you've got more important things to take care of than our usual politics. Go back your wife," Cruz said. He smiled a bit fiendishly. "I'd love to see her in action."
Aaron shook his head with a small smile. "My problem isn't Jack actions; it's what my wife's may be."
"Go Aaron," Cruz laughed. "I'll let Dave and Morgan know they've got the show the rest of the day. We can finish this tomorrow."
-00CM00-
Cait walked into the office of McAuliffe Elementary. Dr. Hawthorne, the School Principal looked up from behind his desk to see her. He rose up and walked to her. "Thank you for coming Dr. Barkley," he said, extending his hand. "I know you and your husband want to correct this situation as soon….."
Cait glared at him. "Correct this situation? Dr. Hawthorne, you are the one that has a situation to correct. My husband and I do not with our son."
"Dr. Barkley, you don't know what happened," he defended back.
"No, I don't; but that's the first thing that is going to happen. I'm talking to my son to get his version before I talk to you."
"Dr. Barkley," Hawthorne said, shaking his head. "You know your judgement is biased, given your own son's involvement."
"Dr. Hawthorne," Cait snapped back, "both my husband and I have talked to you on multiple occasions the past two weeks about this situation." Hawthorne looked at her, gulping. "That is why I talk to Jack first," she said. She burrowed a look in his eye. "And it gives his father a chance to be part of this meeting as well." He deeply gulped again as Cait went into his office.
Jack was sitting on one of the chairs in front of Hawthorne's desk, holding an ice bag to his left eye. Cait smiled at him. "Come on you; we need to talk," she said, holding out her hand. Jack eyed Hawthorne over Cait's shoulder. "Jack, my call; not his; let's go." Jack sprang off the chair with a smile, grabbing her extended hand.
They got to the hallway. Cait knelt down, pulling the ice bag off. She looked at Jack. "Garden variety black eye in two days," she said. "But we need to talk."
"Mom," Jack said, "I'll be drop dead honest with you. But…"
Cait slightly smiled. "You gotta whiz?"
"Something bad mom," Jack said. Cait shooed him into the bathroom with a soft smile, taking the ice pack. He came back out a few minutes later. He took Cait's offered hand. They went to the atrium of the building behind the main doors. Cait sat down on one of the padded cushions of the seats that lined the window area. Jack scrambled up next to her.
Cait softly smiled, putting the ice bag gently back against Jack's eye, pulling him to close to her. "Drop dead honest buster."
Just as Jack finished the whole story, Aaron walked in the doors. Cait kissed Jack's head. "Now we're ready to talk to Dr. Hawthorne."
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