A/N: You know, this writing at a leisurely pace is kinda fun. But I've been hearing that some of you peeps are getting antsy, so I decided I better pick up the pace to get y'all a new story. *shakes finger at certain peep in the Empire State*

As always, this is a completely written story. You will get a chapter a day with my usual codicil about the bugs and gremlins around here.

All rights to Criminal Minds and its characters are the property of Mark Gordon Productions, CBS and ABC Studios. I just borrow them. The OCs that are featured in this one are all mine. And since this story is my take on the episode Route 66, I must acknowledge the backdrop that was penned by CM writer Virgil Williams. The Big Dog reigned!

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

Zach's cell buzzed on the coffee table by his legs as he watched the ALCS game between Boston and Detroit. He looked at the caller ID and smiled. "Hey dad, wassup?"

"Zach, I'm so sorry. I feel asleep on my couch here at the office. I'll be home in about twenty. Jack OK?"

"He's fine dad; we did homework together and he's out like a light. You OK dad?"

"I'm fine; I've just been trying to get the new Section Chief up to speed and keep up with my paperwork. As you can tell by my long hours, it hasn't been going the best."

Zach smiled. "It's OK; I've got this end; just get Cruz up to speed so you can have some down time. You need it."

Aaron smiled. "See you in a bit son."

He hung up and went to pull on his suit coat as his cell phone buzzed again. He saw the Amber Alert and shook his head. He re-dialed Zach. "Dad?"

"Change of plans Zach; we just got a case. I've got to call in the team."

"No worries dad; I've got this. Get the asshole."

"It's a child abduction by a parent with a felony record. We've got to get on it."

"Where's the case?"

"Wichita Kansas."

"Be safe dad; I've got the fort. Have Uncle Dave drop off Mudgie."

"I'll tell him. I love you Zach; I'll call Jack in the morning."

Zach smiled. "I love you too dad. Relax; I've got this like usual."

"Thanks son. Talk to you in the morning."

Zach hung up his phone. After the game was over, with Boston winning the AL pennant to face the St. Louis Cardinals, Zach let out Mudg after Dave dropped his off. When he came back in, he made a beeline back to Jack's bed. Zach got his contacts out, brushed his teeth, put on his glasses and headed to bed. He put his cell phone on his bedstand and set the alarm. He climbed in and began to doze off.

As he was in blissful sleep, Zach heard his cell phone buzz on his nightstand. He looked at the caller ID. Uncle Dave he thought with a question.

Yawning he answered. "Uncle Dave?"

"Zach listen to me carefully. Something is wrong with your dad. He passed out at the end of the team briefing. The ambulance is here and the EMT's are working on him. But they feel they need to transport him to a Level 2 trauma hospital. They're going to take him to Dale City. I know you'll want to be there so call Jessica to come and take of Jack. I know that will take time. I'll be with your dad until you get there."

"Uncle Dave, what is it?"

"The EMT's don't really know Zach; his blood pressure is really low so they're thinking it's some sort of internal bleeding. They're getting some IV's in and trying to get him stabilized."

"Uncle Dave; I'm going to hang up and make a call. I'll keep you in the loop."

"I'll do the same Zach; I promise kiddo." Zach hung up and made a frantic call to Jessica. He gave her the same details that Uncle Dave had gave him.

"Zach, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thank you Aunt Jess; please drive safe." Jess smiled slightly as she ended the call and dived out of bed. Only Zach would say that but he needs to be with his dad she frowned. She threw on clothes, grabbed her car keys and headed out.

As Jess pulled into the driveway, parking behind Aaron's part of the garage, she ran up the sidewalk. Zach had the door unlocked, pulling on his coat as she walked in. Jessica shut the door and locked it. "I'll reset the alarm after you leave. Go Zach and keep me in the loop."

Zach kissed her. "Thanks Aunt Jess; I really appreciate this."

Jess rubbed his bicep. "Just get going to your dad. And Zach," she said, grabbing his arm. "You drive safe," she smiled. Zach nodded his head with a small smile and sped into the garage, hitting the button to open the door to get his truck out. Jess went into Jack's room and checked on him. He was blissfully sleeping. She heard the garage door go back down

I wish I could do the same, she mused.

Zach drove down I-95, pushing the speed limit but not by much. He needed to get to his dad. But the last thing I need right now is to get pulled over by an over ambitious newbie State Trooper on the night shift.

His cell phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. It was Caleigh. He had quickly texted her that he wasn't going to be in school tomorrow.

"Zach, what's going on?"

He filled her in on the details of Dave's phone call. "Uncle Dave just texted me; dad's at the hospital and in the ER."

"Where Zach?"

"Dale City; they have a Trauma 2 level hospital there. The EMT's said dad needed to go there."

"Keep me in the loop."

"I promise Caleigh." He hung up. What Zach didn't know that Caleigh was already out of bed, pulling clothes out of her closet and dresser drawers. She was going to be there for Zach because she knew that Dave would go out and help the team, once Zach got there.

After she dressed, she quietly walked into her parent's bedroom and shook Rachel awake. "Caleigh," she yawned with a question. Caleigh explained what was going on as Tom rolled over and listened as well.

"What about Jack," Rachel asked.

"Their Aunt Jess is there, taking care of Jack. Zach would never leave without someone there for him."

Rachel smiled. "Please honey, drive safe."

Caleigh smiled. "I will mom. I just want to be there for Zach."

"Caleigh," Tom said, "you keep us in the loop and let us know if the boys need anything or if Jess needs some back-up."

"Thanks dad, I promise." She kissed Rachel's cheek and flew out the door.

Tom wrapped Rachel in his arms. "I think our daughter is in love for real. And she's got a keeper."

Rachel smiled. "Yes, she does. But I'm really worried about Aaron. It doesn't sound good Tom." Tom rubbed her side. I don't think we're sleeping too much tonight as well.

-00CM-

Zach blew into the ER of Langer Hospital. A nurse looked up at him. "I'm Zach Hotchner; my dad, Agent Aaron Hotchner was recently admitted."

The nurse smiled at him. "The person that rode in with him," she said, pointing, "is in that waiting room." Zach nearly ran into the room to see Dave pacing amongst all the other people that had loved ones in the ER. He grabbed Zach's arm. "Follow me Zach."

Zach did as he instructed and watched one David Rossi very politely, without the person really knowing it, chew a new one to get a private waiting room for them. A nurse's aide ushered them into the room. Zach shook his head at Dave.

"I was done putting up with all of those other people." Zach just shook his head again.

"Is there any word Uncle Dave?"

Dave shook his head. "The EMT's felt like they got him stabilized in the ambulance; after that, no." Zach took his jacket off.

"What the hell happened Uncle Dave?"

"We were doing the team briefing on the case and everything was going like it always does. Your dad started to say something, I watched the blood drain from his face and he dropped over. The Bureau EMT's got there and called the Quantico EMT's for an immediate transport."

Zach thought for a second. "Uncle Dave, he called me a couple hours before that. He said he fell asleep on the couch in his office. I know how dad is when he's working on cases. And he admitted he's been burning both ends of the candle trying to get Cruz up to date while handling he normal paper load."

Dave nodded. "That's good information Zach; which you should share with the doctors when we get the chance."

"Uncle Dave, you're not going out with the team?"

"I'll meet them later; right now I take care of you and your dad."

"Thanks Uncle Dave; I'm glad you're here." Dave pulled him into a hug.

That's how Caleigh found them. Zach's back was to the door. Dave pulled out of the hug and smiled. "I think we've got more back-up," he softly smiled. Zach looked at his uncle with a question. Dave nodded at the beautiful woman in the door.

Zach looked. "You don't need to be here Caleigh."

"I know," she smiled, pulling Zach into a hug. "I just wanted to." Dave rubbed his shoulder as she held him in her hug. Zach softly exhaled. Dave smiled.

An ER Doc appeared at the door, softly knocked and entered. "Hello, I'm Dr. Markert." He looked at Dave. "You must be Agent Rossi that rode in with Agent Hotchner."

Dave put out his hand. "Yes, I am Doctor. And this is Agent Hotchner's oldest son Zach and his girlfriend Caleigh Graystone," he said shaking the doctor's hand.

"Doc, what can you tell me about dad?" Zach asked, shaking his hand.

Dr. Markert nodded to the couch and got them all sat down, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of the couch. "We've got him stabilized as best we can and he's on his way for an MRI. We think he's bleeding internally. But we don't know where."

"Bleeding internally? From what," Zach questioned.

Dr. Markert smiled. "I was hoping you could give me some clues." He put his head down and then looked at Zach. "We all noticed the scar tissue and got the report about his ummmm previous injury."

Zach stiffened, which Dave and Caleigh both immediately noticed. It didn't get by the ER doc as well. "If you know his medical history, why do you need to ask?"

"Zach, work with the doctor," Dave gently said.

"Zach," Dr. Markert said, rubbing his knee. "I just finished reading the whole report. But I need to find out what set this off. As I said, scar tissue can raise its ugly head; especially in the abdomen area. Has you dad suffered a blow to the area recently?"

Dave shook his head. "Not on the job." Dr. Markert looked at Zach. He knew he was running past days through his head.

Zach shook his head. Caleigh looked at him. "Zach?"

"Dad, Jack and I played football over the weekend in the backyard; tackle football. Jack nailed him pretty hard in the stomach area with his head and dad went down pretty hard; it took him a couple of seconds to get up."

Dr. Markert nodded his head and rubbed Zach's knee. "That's what we needed to know."

"Doc?"

"Zach, scar tissue can be funny. It can build up and if gets hit the right way it can cause obstructions that slowly build up for a couple of days. Can you tell me anything else that's out of the ordinary with your dad?"

Zach shook his head. "He called me earlier; the team was in the office so I expected him home for dinner. But he's got a lot on his plate helping a new supervisor get acclimated and his usual paper work. He admitted to me that he fell asleep on the couch in his office. He doesn't do that; he's usually heads down at his desk in the office."

Dave nodded. "That's not Aaron Doctor."

Dr. Markert smiled. "I think my original conclusion is correct; you all just supported that."

"Next step Doc," Zach questioned.

"He's going to need some more surgery." Zach shook his head and tried to rise.

Caleigh and Dave held him down. "Zach," he said, continuing to rub his knee. "You're not going to lose him." He looked Zach in the eye. "In the end, this is probably the best thing that could have happened." Zach glazed the Hotchner glare into his eye. "Zach," Dr. Markert softly smiled, "this was going to happen sooner or later. The later the option, the more risk. We've got this son. You've given me valuable information. We just have to take that info and treat your dad."

Zach shook his head. "Can I see him?"

Dr. Markert looked at him. "He's unconscious Zach; you can but I wouldn't recommend it. Let us get the MRI done, pass him off to the surgical staff and get things taken care of."

Zach zeroed a look. "He's that bad?"

"Zach we needed answers; you've provided the most telling; from here on, it's on us; the tests we need to run. He's critical; I'm sorry son. But I do not see it as life threatening." Dr. Markert rubbed his knee again. "Zach, look at me." Zach complied.

"I know he is you and your younger brother's sole parent. I told you walking in; I've read all the reports. We will not let you and Jack lose your dad," he softly smiled. "Just let us do our job so that I can keep that promise to you."

Dave rubbed Zach's shoulder, as Caleigh rubbed his back. Zach looked Dr. Markert in the eye. "I know you have buy-in and what's at stake for Jack and me."

Dr. Markert rubbed his knee. "Yes, I do Zach; trust us."

Zach nodded at him with a small smile.

###

A/N: ALCS is the American League Championship Series. It is play-off bracket before the World Series; the title game in American baseball. Winning the AL pennant meant that the Red Sox qualified for the World Series.

Langer Hospital is a made up name. In the video conference between Dave and the team, in the background was a hospital name that started with the first two letters. I ran with the rest.