A/N: The "perfect couple" I've written for how long hits another speed bump; a big one.

But that's what family, friends and a good agent are around for.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios. I think you know how I feel about all of them. I'm just keeping alive a character they threw away over a BS incident. And then the BS publicly they tried to bury Thomas Gibson's good name and reputation to cover their tracks. Why I'm solidly #NoHotchNoWatch on Twitter.

I refuse to let this kind of garbage happen to this man and the character he portrayed that I love. I fight on Twitter. And I fight here.

*sets out case of tissue boxes and runs*

Chapter 1

Zach Hotchner heard his phone buzzing on the night stand next to his side of the bed around five thirty the Monday after Thanksgiving. He rolled over, looked at the caller ID and quietly answered it. Listening for nearly four minutes, he rolled onto his back and took a deep breath. Caleigh rolled over, put her head on his chest and fell back to sleep.

"Pedro," Zach said. "Thank you for everything. Josh too. We'll be down there by the end of the day." Zach listened more. "Thanks Pedro. We've got a lot to sort out. But that's what I pay Jose for. This is his job. Thanks man; see you later today."

Caleigh stirred. "Pedro? Jose? Later today?" she asked as Zach ended the phone call. He just shook his head and then hit a speed dial button to another number.

Jose and Kelly Campos were pretty much like Zach and Caleigh. Jose sleepily rolled over, looked at the caller ID and answered the buzzing call. "God damnit Zach, if you are arrested and in jail…"

"God damnit Jose, I'm in bed with my wife in our DC home." Caleigh fully woke to Zach's tone. That also got Jose's attention.

"What's up?" Jose asked.

"You're about to earn your money as my agent," Zach growled.

"Zach?" Jose asked. Caleigh leaned up to look at Zach. She knew the Hotchner tone. So did Jose. He sat up in bed. That woke up Kelly.

"I just got a phone call from Pedro. You know; our friend that lives around the corner from us?"

"Zach?" Jose said.

"They had a major severe thunderstorm front move through about four hours ago. It woke up Pedro and Alec along with Josh and Moesha with a huge lightning strike in the area. Jose; it shook them out of their beds. Including the boys."

Zach paused. "That directly hit our house." Caleigh sat up in bed. "The two ladies both called 911 as Pedro and Josh throw on some clothes, braved the weather, and got Caleigh's car out of the garage with them having the back garage door key and the key to Caleigh's car with the electricity already gone. Josh pulled the manual release to get the garage door up as Pedro got the car out." Zach paused again. "That's about the only thing that got saved."

Caleigh looked at Zach with tears, shaking her head. "The firefighters are still there. But according to Pedro, there's major damage. You are my agent…"

"Zach, don't chew out my ass. I know you're upset," Jose said. "You have every right to be. And you are right. This is where I and Kelly come in. We're on it. Give us a couple hours."

"A couple hours?" Zach demanded, pulling Caleigh to him with her crying.

"Zach listen to me. I can't pull this off in a second. But Kelly and I will take care of this as soon as we can. Starting with getting you two down there; and getting your home owner insurance agent involved immediately."

"Jose," Zach growled as Caleigh wept against his chest. Lexie heard them and came up the steps. She jumped on the bed and curled up next to Caleigh. Caleigh rubbed her head for comfort.

"Zach!" Jose barked back. "This is what you pay me to do. But I can't pull this out of my ass in an hour. And especially at this hour of the morning. Give me time!"

"Sorry Jose," Zach sincerely apologized.

"Zach, we've got you on this. Trust us," Jose said.

"Thanks man," Zach replied, rubbing Caleigh's back.

"Try and get some more sleep," Jose said. "I'll call you in a couple hours with an update."

"Jose, you really think sleep is in Cal's and my future?"

"Kid," Jose said. "I'm sorry; please try. That's why you pay Kelly and me the big bucks. We're going to make this happen. Maybe not tonight Zach; or tomorrow night. But we are going to make this happen. You two trusted us with your lives. Let Kelly and me live up to that."

"Thanks man," Zach said, comforting Caleigh.

"I'll call you in a couple of hours. You two just get ready to head to Atlanta later this afternoon."

"Thanks Jose," Zach said, pulling Caleigh towards him to lay down with him.

"Zach," she protested.

Zach shook his head, lying back on the bed, pulling Caleigh to his chest. "Babe, I'm hurting too. It's god damn tough to get that phone call. But we've gotta trust Jose and Kelly. Thank God we have them."

"I know," Caleigh sniffled, rubbing Lexie. "But with the holidays coming up, shopping for family presents," she said, breaking down. "And losing our baby. It's just too much. It hasn't been a great last part of the year."

Zach pulled her close. "I know babe. I'm overwhelmed right now too." He kissed her head, rubbing Lex as well. "But who guides our lives?"

Caleigh rubbed away a tear, lifted her head off Zach's chest and slightly smiled at him. "What did Pastor say in his wedding sermon? We cling to our faith to get past things like this." Zach smiled at her. "Now what?"

"I'm letting Lexie out, feeding her and then, maybe, we get some rest. It's going to be a long week," Zach said, getting out of bed.

Zach crawled into bed five minutes later as Lexie crunched away at her breakfast. Zach pulled Caleigh to him and she laid her head on his chest. With a part of their world now in embers, they held each other tight with their faith. They softly slept with Lex joining them after finishing her breakfast.

Two hours later, Zach woke with his stomach grumbling with a new problem. He quietly shook Caleigh awake. "Babe, we need to have breakfast. It's going to be a long ass day."

Caleigh lifted her head. "What about our families?"

Zach shook his head. "For now? Don't call your mom. It will totally screw up her day and she has patients that need her." Caleigh nodded her agreement. "If you need to talk to someone, call your dad."

"I need to talk to someone?"

Zach looked at her. "We've both been pretty dependent on our families." Caleigh looked at him. "And rightly so; but babe, this is on us. It's our time to be married adults."

Caleigh kissed his cheek. "I agree. But Zach, I can't just lay around knowing what we face. I shower, you shave. And we have breakfast together."

Zach kissed her. "And then wait for Jose to call. I'll be totally calm through that."

Caleigh kissed him again and then seriously looked Zach in the eye. "We are strong today for each other."

"I love you," Zach smiled as they both climbed out of bed. Lexie growled at them for being woke from her after breakfast nap.

"What about her?" Caleigh said as she headed for the bathroom.

"I'll text Jack later to come down and get her."

Caleigh stopped and looked at Zach. "I agree with you. We handle this today; get out families' support later. This is our life. I love them. But it's our time to step up and show them we're not kids anymore." She looked at Zach. "As much as this day is going to totally suck."

Zach kissed her. "Same page babe; get your butt into the shower while I shave. I'll cook breakfast."

-00CM00-

Five hours later the couple was in a town car limo with Jose and Kelly heading for Reagan International. Caleigh was on the phone with her dad. "Dad I know you want to help. Right now just let us deal with this with your support when we call you."

"Message received my daughter," Tom said. "You know we'll do that."

"Thanks dad."

"Caleigh, hang in there. You and Zach are going to get through this. Just call if you need anything. And know we all love and support you."

Caleigh wiped a tear away. "Thanks daddy. We'll keep in touch and we love you all."

"We all love you two as well," Tom said. "Hang in there."

Zach pulled her to his shoulder and called Beth. "Hey you! What's up," Beth cheerfully answered.

Zach laid out basically the same that Caleigh did. But with one big caveat. "Beth, I know dad and the team are out. You do not," he emphasized, "say a word to dad or Uncle Dave about this. They stay heads down with the team. I know you want to help Beth. I love you for that. And there's going to come a time when Caleigh and I will take that love and support. But right now, keeping dad and Uncle Dave in the dark would be the biggest in my world."

"I understand Zach," Beth said. "Just know you have lots of support from here. I'm going to have to tell Jack with him getting Lexie. But I'll get him in on dad and Dave being heads down with the team. I promise. Just know Zach your family is a phone call away."

"I know," Zach said. "I love you. We'll call you later tonight after we get to Minnie and Vic's. That's where we're staying tonight."

"Talk to you then Zach."

The town car pulled into the private jet area of Reagan International. Zach and Caleigh looked at Jose. "I got the four of us hooked up on a rental Gulf Stream jet with two DC lobbyists. They'll do their thing; we can do ours," Jose said. "And we'll get there faster."

Caleigh smiled at him. "Why do I think 'thanks Jose' might be the mantra for the next couple of days?"

Jose shook his head with a soft smile. "I'm doing my job."

"We've got you two," Kelly added.

Half way through the flight with Zach and Caleigh listening to music on their phones trying to keep their minds at bay saw Jose take another text and smile. Jose had been on his phone most of the flight. He looked at them across the four top they shared on the jet.

Caleigh pulled out her ear buds and Zach put his headphones around his neck. "You two ready for an update?"

"Please," Zach said.

Jose looked at them. "I've got a rental car for Kelly and I to use." He looked at Zach. "You're driving; I don't know Atlanta. Your insurance agent and a fire department inspector are going to meet us at the house. From there, it's up to Calvin."

"Calvin?" Caleigh asked.

"Your home insurance rep. He's the top rated one in Atlanta. Why I hired him." Jose looked at the couple. "I just got a text from him." Jose showed it to them. Sadly, it's not my first. I'll take care of the kids.

Two hours later, Zach drove the rental car into the development area, driving towards their home. Former home Zach thought. He and Caleigh shook their head as Zach made the right turn and drove down the street towards the house. A second later it became visible. "Oh. My. God." That was all Caleigh could get out, starting to cry. While the outer shell of the home was intact, most of the roof was missing. All in the car could see the bedroom suites of the upper floor had sustained major damage.

Zach shook his head as he made the left turn to drive in front of the house. He parked the rental in front of the burnt out structure. "Babe, a home is what we make on the inside. Right now, this is just a house. We'll make a new home here. I promise," he said rubbing her shoulder.

Getting out, Caleigh and Zach shook their heads at those waiting to greet them. The gang was all there. Andy and Victoria, with her now being five months pregnant. And the Willingham and Gutierrez families. Rashad ran to Caleigh to give her a hug.

Two men stood off to the side as the rest shared hugs. The most special was Miguel's. He quietly patted Caleigh's back. "Sorry Cal," he quietly said. "Where's Lex?"

Caleigh softly rubbed his back, kissing his head. "She's at our other home with Jack." Letting Miguel go, she looked at Zach with tears in her eyes. Zach pulled her into his arms. "I know babe. It hurts like hell." Caleigh broke down and cried in his arms. The other four husbands pulled their wives to their shoulders, comforting them as well that cried with Caleigh.

Rashad softly patted Miguel's back.

###

A/N: Yeah, I'm sorta doing a dirty on you to start out this one. I did supply ample tissue boxes.

And while I'm so glad my OK Teacher is blessedly off the DL, it just gotta say. *whispers* I miss my proofreader!