Author's Notes: To all of you that have followed my Family stories, long ago I made a promise in the original that I would involve the team again. Hopefully, this will settle that promise. For those of you just finding this story, it should pretty much be a standalone. However, if you want all the background info, you're going to have to start with my original. And no, I'm not subtle. Also, I've played a bit with the CM plots/timeline. There's a first! ;) Enjoy!
As always with me, this fic is complete and a chapter a day will be posted. Please know how much I love writing this family. And to finally get the team involved? My muse ran away with my brain. One of my mottos is "go big or go home". I went big.
Do I really have to do the disclaimer? Again? Y'all know it. And the rest that usually follows.
Chapter 1 – Invitation
The team said their good-byes to Sheriff Allison early Friday morning, having helped the Ravalli Sheriff's Department in western Montana solve a serial rapist case in the sprawling area. Leaving Darby, they got in the bureau SUV's and made their way back to Missoula and the Gulf Stream waiting to take them home. It was their fourth case out since Emily had returned and the team was still on edge with the tensions that existed from "the secret".
As they drove north on Highway 93 to the comforts of the jet, they all secretly hoped the early morning departure of 7 am would get them back to the DC area at a reasonable time in the afternoon. Judging by Hotch's discussion with Chuck, their pilot, that sounded in question. That fact did not help the mood of the team.
While they functioned normally, you could say on autopilot in the field, with Sheriff Allison glowing over what they did, to all of them, it wasn't right. Hotch and Dave were in the first SUV with JJ, while Morgan drove the second with Emily and Dr. Reid. Morgan and Reid would not say anything to Emily. She was not their problem. It was the two in the vehicle in front of them. Yet Emily rode in basic silence, only to briefly pause to answer a comment that Morgan or Reid made in passing. "This is my fault," she thought, as she glanced in the rear view mirror to the backseat, seeing Reid almost glaring at the SUV ahead.
In the first black vehicle, things weren't much better. While Dave had told Hotch he had figured things out, JJ was still feeling the sting from Spencer's very cold shoulder. And Hotch didn't feel much better with how Morgan was reacting. While Hotch drove and JJ looked at the scenery of the beautiful area through the window, trying to take comfort in the mountain surroundings, Dave silently stewed, getting more fed up by the minute to the entire situation.
An hour later they arrived at the jet, handed off the SUV's to the local field office agents and quickly boarded. Through the last opening of the weather window as a fast moving winter storm was approaching the area, their pilots sped them towards home. "That was a close one," Angie, their co-pilot, announced from the cockpit. "We should be arriving at the Quantico airfield at approximately 2:30 pm local time."
Hotch and Dave both looked at their watches, sitting in the two-top of seats in the rear of the plane. JJ and Emily were in the same in the front, while Reid and Morgan were in the four-top of seats. Reid pulled out a book as Morgan plugged in his headphones and stretched out his legs. Normally a time when they would enjoy the moment together after the huge case they had assisted with, the mood seemed to be even more fractured. The jet winged east in virtual silence.
As they began their descent into the DC area, Morgan rose out of his seat to use the restroom. Walking past Hotch and Dave, he heard Dave say, "We're still on for this weekend? You, Cait and the boys at the cabin?" Looking at his phone, he added, "The weather sounds fantastic."
"I called Cait this morning before we left," Hotch said as Morgan lingered in the galley to eavesdrop. "She said she had made up her mind that her and the boys were going no matter if we got home or not. It's teacher's convention so the boys have a long weekend. We want to spend that as a family." What Hotch didn't say, but Dave knew was that times like this for the Hotchner family were quickly slipping away. Matt would graduate in the spring and soon head off to college. Aaron and Cait wanted as much family time as possible.
A few minutes later as Morgan walked back into the galley, he heard Dave say, "I'm just glad the weather is going to be so great. I've never had the pool open at the cabin this late." Mother Nature was indeed cooperating with this bonding time for the Hotchner family. By all forecasts, she was going to bless the area with a gorgeous Indian summer weekend, especially for the second one of October.
As Morgan made his way back to his seat, he paused in front of the two senior agents. "So Rossi, it's a weekend at the cabin and you don't invite your friends?"
"I always have an open invitation to my family and friends," Dave retorted. "But this isn't a family, far less friends, and it sure as hell isn't a team." The bluntness of Rossi's tone hit Morgan and he made his way back to his seat. Everyone else on the jet had heard the words as well. They stung: hard. For David Rossi to say that, they knew he was pissed.
Hotch, working on reports as usual, with his yellow notepad at hand, slipped to a new sheet, scratched some words out, tore the bottom off, folded it and handed it to Dave. "Later, please," is all he whispered. Dave slipped it into his suit jacket pocket as he nodded.
As the team got off the elevator on sixth floor, Garcia, as always, was waiting for them. She could immediately tell that there were major problems. As Morgan looked at her and barely smiled, she grabbed his hand and literally pulled him to his office. As they entered, she shut the door. "What the hell is going on?" she questioned, and not so calmly.
"Baby girl, it's nothing…." is all he got out.
"Nothing my ass, my Agent Morgan." Her tone set Derek on notice. "What happened to my awesome, ninja, mad peeps beater team? JJ hardly smiled, Em wouldn't look at me, and Reid was, well, he was just really off. And Hotch and Rossi were pissed. Talk to me."
Morgan sighed as he rubbed his hand across his face. He recounted for her Rossi's words on the jet. "Penelope, all this with Emily being alive and the damn secrets is taking a toll. Give us…."
Garcia got incensed. "Derek Morgan, my chocolate cupcake of delicious delight, do I really have to kick your ass? You really don't get it?" Morgan looked at her with his mouth agape as she continued.
"Dammit Derek, what's wrong with all of you? The decision about Emily was made above both Hotch and JJ's pay grade. Strauss wasn't even in on it. But because Hotch is Unit Chief and Jayje was involved with State, they were informed. I've did the checking, which btw, is not for publication." She softened as she rubbed Morgan's bicep.
"Derek, please think and think hard. Ian Doyle had become a family annihilator. Hotch and Jayje had to tow the company line, not only because of their knowledge, but because they had to protect all of us. Starting with their own families. Derek, what would Hotch or Jayje do to protect Cait, Will and all the boys? And let's not forget about Emily. Plus you, your family, Reid, his mom, Kevin and I? How would Hotch feel knowing because he said something, Doyle killed Rossi?" Derek looked at her and blinked.
"I know it was tough going through the grief assessments with Hotch. Especially now, knowing the truth. But Derek, would you have wanted to go through that with Strauss? Or a bureau shrink? My love muffin," she said as she stuck her index finger in his forehead, "think."
Derek walked behind his desk to his chair as he took in Garcia's words. "Derek, do you realize how hard that was on Hotch to hear all of us tell him how we felt about losing Emily and not being able to say anything? And not having Cait or Dave, for that matter, as a back-up? Contrary to popular belief, our liege is human."
"I know that Penelope. It's just like Hotch doesn't trust me and….." Derek left his words hanging with a shrug of his shoulders.
"My sensitive sunshine," Garcia said as walked to him and grabbed his hand. "Who did Hotch trust to run this team when he needed back up with Strauss and the FBI hierarchy?" She narrowed her eyes and looked at him squarely. "You, sugar plum. That says trust in capital letters to me."
Morgan raised his hands in surrender. "I give up baby girl. You've got me. But how do we fix this?"
"We have a family talk."
"Well that, the goddess of info, isn't going to happen. I have it on very good authority that Hotch and Rossi will be sliding out of this building very soon. They have a big weekend planned at Rossi's cabin."
"Let them go Derek. We have our own family convo with the peeps that need it the most. Let the big bosses do their thing. And then….." Penelope got a large smile on her face.
"What baby girl?"
"We crash the party."
Derek thought for a few seconds and then smiled. "Penelope Garcia: that is why I love you so much." He kissed her on the forehead. "Think you can find a way to get all the rest of them in here?"
Garcia winked. "When are you going to give me a tough one?"
As the rest of the team left the bullpen through the side exit towards Morgan's office, Hotch and Dave, watching through their blinds, made a run for it. They got on the elevator together. Being the only two on board, Hotch smiled brightly. "Damn big dog, I like going fishing with you," he said as they shared a fist bump.
"It's all in the bait my boy, all in the bait," Dave smiled smugly.
When they reached the parking garage, Hotch looked at Dave. "You going to stop over and pick up Matt and Mudg?"
"Yeah, I'll enjoy Matt's company on the ride. Mudg isn't much on conversation." They both smiled.
Aaron turned serious. "Dave, please do me and Cait a favor?"
"Name it Hotch."
Hotch laid a hand on Dave's shoulder. "Please don't teach our son all of your sexual experiences. He's getting curious."
Dave couldn't help the opening. "He hasn't asked his dad questions?"
"Yes, he has and btw, I've answered them very honestly. Remember, I have a wife that kicks my prude ass." Dave smiled broadly. "But, we would truly appreciate him not knowing all of your," Aaron paused, "expertise."
"Deal my friend," Dave smirked.
"And Dave; read the note." Hotch moved towards his SUV and got in.
As David Rossi got in his SUV, he pulled the note out of his jacket pocket. In Aaron's very well defined handwriting he read, They think I'm the mother hen. You just proved I'm the dad.
Dave couldn't help but smile as he pulled his seatbelt over his shoulder. Goddam you Aaron; you got a one up on me. But paybacks are a bitch my friend.
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A/N: I know I still have to do it. I don't own anything related to the CM franchise. And you know my mentor.
