A/N: Number one: I warned you. :D Number two: when I say I'm taking a break, in my world that means I don't have a hot idea that I feel the need to write and complete. This little idea just came along and said, "Take your time." I did.

As always, this is completely written so it's a chapter a day. And I must admit that FF has been acting quite well lately. (Yes, I realize that statement will come back to haunt me.)

All rights to the CM characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.

*Knightly bow*

Chapter 1

Dave walked out of his office on Thursday afternoon, looking at his watch. He took a quick peek at the team in the bullpen. JJ and Reid were heads down in catching up on their consults with the team having been out for six days on a case. They had gotten home last night.

As he approached Hotch's office, he noticed Cruz standing in front of Aaron's desk. Since the door was open, he knocked on the doorframe and stuck his head in. Both of the men turned to look at him. "Thank God, I've got back-up," Cruz smiled.

Dave smiled, walking in. "I take it you're trying to chase his ass out of here so he goes home and gets ready for his long weekend with the boys?"

Cruz nodded. "And I'm failing at the moment; any suggestions?"

"You got one in the chamber," Dave said with his broad smile.

"Yes I do," Cruz smiled back.

"He'll be out gunned with the two of us," Dave said, looking at Aaron, who just shook his head.

"What do you have left Aaron that Dave or I might be able to help with," Cruz asked.

"I've just got two more reports…." he started.

"Which you can finish tonight at home after the boys are in bed," Dave reasoned. "Zach can make that drive in his sleep."

Cruz stared at Hotch. "Don't make me give you an order Aaron. Get the hell out of here and spend a much deserved weekend with your sons."

Hotch looked at the two men, hit a button and shut down his laptop. "Thank you," he smiled. "You saved me from a text from my oldest son that is now big enough to kick my ass." Cruz and Dave laughed.

"Have a good time Hotch," Cruz smiled, turning to leave. "Drive safe and see you Tuesday." Hotch nodded as Cruz left.

Dave looked at Aaron. "You sure about Mudg; I can find someone else to watch him."

Hotch shook his head with a smile. "Mudg rides great in a vehicle, we're going to a cabin on a lake and Jack is excited to have him along." Dave smiled. "Just don't get arrested in AC gambling with you buddies. I won't take the call to bail you out."

Dave laughed, shaking his head. "We're just a bunch of old farts that duck hunt together doing some gambling and drinking. We're all in bed by midnight." Aaron laughed. "I'll drop off Mudg later this evening." Aaron reminded him that he and boys were going to Thursday night church. Dave nodded. "I'll drop him off when you get home."

"See you then," Aaron smiled, putting his laptop and a few files into his briefcase. "Hold down the fort," he added, getting up from his chair.

"Morgan and I got this tomorrow; and the team is on stand down for the weekend," Rossi said, moving out of Hotch's office.

Hotch pulled his SUV out of the Quantico underground parking lot and pulled out his cell. He heard Zach answer seconds later. "Hey dad; what's up?'

"A slight change in plans Zach; I'm on my way home but I just looked at the sticker in my windshield. I'm overdue for an oil change. I know you just had your truck done and while it doesn't get the gas mileage mine does, I'll pay for the gas. Do you mind?"

"Hell no dad," Zach smiled. "I'll need to top off my gas tank but I can do that after church. Where are you?"

"I'm just pulling out of the parking garage."

"Then stop at Sal's on the way home. I was just about to call in an order for a pizza. I'm not cooking tonight."

"Works for me Zach," Aaron smiled. Forty minutes later, Aaron and his sons were devouring the pizza, sitting together at the nook table. They cleaned up quick and headed to church.

Dave stopped by a little later, dropping off Mudg. He looked at Zach. "Is the tailgate of the truck open?"

Zach shook his head with a smile. "No; but all you have to do is pull it open. But I'll come out to help you so you can tell me how to work that cooler of yours." Aaron eyed the two of them.

"I'm counting on all of you to catch enough crappies so I can get invited more than once," Dave explained. "I'm sending along my cooler that's a freezer I use for my ducks."

Zach looked at Aaron. "We don't ask dad; we just follow." Aaron laughed and went up the steps to help Jack finish packing, with Mudg at his side.

-00CM00-

Aaron and Zach were both up at six-thirty the next morning. They met in the kitchen a half hour later as Aaron was sipping his coffee, letting Mudg in the deck door. Zach went to the fridge and grabbed the apple juice container. As he poured his glass, his dad looked at him. "I'm surprised you shaved," Aaron noted with a smile.

"All bets are off the rest of the weekend," he beamed, looking at his father. "You do know how much Jack and I have been looking forward to this?"

Aaron nodded with a soft smile. "My bag is next to yours in the entry way to the garage. You load up the truck, I'll get Jack up."

Zach polished off his glass of juice and put the glass in the dishwasher. "Good luck with that," he smiled, heading out of the kitchen. He came in fifteen minutes later, having put the luggage into the back of his truck and his backpack into the backseat on the right hand side. Zach knew Jack liked to sit behind him and respected his space. His iPod was hooked into the sound system of his truck. While Aaron was trying to get Jack to get his teeth brushed, Zach made another pit stop in his bathroom. He flew up the steps, pulling his zipper up on his cargo shorts. "Come on JP! We need to roll!"

Jack came down the steps from the upper tier of bedrooms of the house, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Not this early Z-man." Aaron was carrying his backpack.

"Bro, you better get used to this hour again; school starts again on Tuesday. Your days of sleeping in are numbered."

"Zach's right," Aaron said. Jack looked at him. "So are his; he'll be starting college the same day; let's get rolling."

A little later, Aaron proudly smiled at Zach getting through the DC beltway traffic to westbound I-66. Zach looked at him and shook his head with a laugh, turning his concentration back to driving. "Dad, I battle this every day to school going in-bound. We're going outbound against the traffic into DC metro. This is a piece of cake."

They all talked with Aaron getting caught up with his sons. Forty minutes later, Zach took the exit ramp into Markham. "I love that oval green sign," Zach smiled at his dad.

"A Perkins breakfast in the best Z-man," Jack piped up from the backseat. Mudg looked up, yawned and conked back out on the floor next to Jack.

"Especially with dad buying JP," Zach smiled at him in his rearview mirror, pulling into the parking lot. Aaron and his sons fueled up for the day with the hearty breakfast. He shook his head at how his growing sons ate. While Jack still ordered pancakes from the kid's menu, he and Zach shared part of their omelets and hash browns with him.

As they finished, Zach looked at them. "I'm gonna head to the bathroom and do my thing. Jack, Mudg has got to do the same. His leash is next to my backpack."

"I saw it Zach," he said. "But ….."

Zach smiled. "You walk him," he pointed to a grassy area by the restaurant. "I'll take care of dump duty. I've got a plastic grocery bag in the side of backpack for that." Jack gave his brother a relieved smile as Zach handed him his truck keys, getting out of the booth. Zach walked out ten minutes later to see Jack getting Mudg off the leash and into the truck and his dad depositing the plastic bag in a trash can.

Aaron smiled at him. "My contribution; you get the next one." Zach smiled back.

Zach pulled back onto I-66. It took Jack five minutes to fall asleep in the backseat, securely buckled in with a full stomach. Aaron yawned and pushed the passenger seat of the truck back to take a nap as well. Zach had his music softly playing on the radio.

Aaron turned his head to look at his now matured son. Zach carried himself much like Aaron did; with a quiet, yet visible confidence. He thought back to a couple weekends ago. Zach had kept his promise to him to take care of his arm for the summer. But he still played baseball. Nate Johnson, one of his high school coaches, played on the Annandale town team. Zach and Pete had played for them the summer before, which Coach Taylor of their college team highly supported.

Pete played with them again and silently lobbied Nate to get Zach on the team, telling him about his injury. Zach agreed to join on one condition. Nate respected Zach's decision to go easy on his arm, using Zach as the team's designated hitter. Zach used the time with the team to get his arm back into baseball shape. Virginia was known as a state that had a very competitive town team culture, with each team supported by local businesses. The Annandale Pirates finished first in their league and were one of four number one seeds going into the Virginia Baseball Association playoffs.

Aaron, with eyes shut, softly smiled at the memory. Dan Monahan, a prized pitcher and catcher who played for the Air Force Academy, handled most of the catching duties. The days they needed Dan to pitch, Ben Kringes, a reserve outfielder and part-time catcher filled in behind the plate. Ben wasn't the best but the team got by. Yet, when the Pirates made their way to the eight team state finals, Nate pulled Zach aside. "I need Dan to pitch tomorrow night," he said after the Pirates won their quarter final game. "You ready to be a catcher again?" Zach just smiled.

Aaron started to doze at the memory of seeing Zach in his catcher's gear, completely in synch with Dan who threw a three hit shutout game. He fell asleep to Zach and Pete hitting back to back homeruns to help the Pirates win the VBA State Championships.

Aaron woke two hours later to Zach and Jack talking together. He pushed his seat back up and looked around. Zach looked at him. "How was the power nap dad," he smiled.

"Much needed," Aaron smiled, rubbing his eyes a bit.

"Duh," Jack said from the backseat. "You snored like a bear." Aaron laughed, turned in his seat and smiled at him.

"You OK buddy?"

"Yeah dad; for now. But I'm thinking Mudg and I might be getting antsy soon."

Aaron smiled. "Where are we?"

Zach shook his head. "Some profiler you are. We're on Highway 50." Zach pointed over the steering wheel. "A two land road dad," he smiled.

Aaron smiled back. "I'm off duty and I make no apologies." Folsom Prison Blues came over Zach's radio.

"Bro, crank it," Jack smiled. Zach turned the volume up.

"Sing it loud and proud my sons," Aaron smiled. They complied, as they entered into Ohio and Zach turned on State Highway 32.

They made the pit stop that Jack and Mudg needed. A bit later, they stopped for fuel and drinks, quickly getting back in the truck. An hour later, Zach made the turn onto the small county road that would lead to their destination. They pulled into Williamsburg and Aaron pointed at Zach to pull into Wayne's Market. He came back out with a gallon of milk and a case of him and Zach's favorite beer, along with a large bag of ice cubes. Zach got out to help him get them in their cooler.

The next stop was Leo's Bait Shop for fishing licenses. Leo, reading a magazine behind the counter, looked up at the three walking in the store. "Hey you guys! Welcome back; I heard a rumor you were coming," he brightly smiled.

A little after four, Zach made the turn onto Stub Lane. He drove to the end of the one way dirt road and honked the truck horn, pulling onto the grass outside the lake home. Merrill and Sela Dobson came out the back door, smiling and waving at them.

###