A/N: Thank you everyone for the favorite and following alerts; and the reviews. Plus all of you that are just taking the time to read. I appreciate it!
Chapter 2
Zach pulled into the parking lot of the clinic next to Beth's car. He shook Beth off as she started to open the passenger door. "Bro, can you put your arm back into you shirt and take care of it like you did before?"
Jack nodded his head and did what Zach asked, grimacing a bit. "Now Beth," Zach smiled at her. He got out quickly as Beth opened the passenger door.
"Hey Jack," she said, rubbing his head. "How are you doing?"
"The ice is helping," he weakly smiled. Zach came around the truck.
"Bro, you keep that arm stable. I'll get you out of the truck." Zach lifted him out, setting Jack on his feet.
Beth put her arm around his shoulder. "You OK," she asked, rubbing his back.
"It really hurts Beth," he said, burying his head into her stomach. Zach smiled at her.
"I know buddy; let's get you inside and let the doctor take a look," she said rubbing his back. Jack clung to her a bit.
Zach looked at her. "You doubt you're needed," he asked, kissing her cheek. "Come on bro; I know you're hurting. But we've got to get it checked out."
Beth rubbed Jack's back. "Zach's right." He looked at her. "Let's head in," she nodded.
The three of them walked in. One of the reception workers smiled at Zach. "Hey Zach."
"Hi Judy," he smiled. "You've met Beth?"
Judy Grow smiled. "Yes at church; hi Beth," she said.
"Hi Judy," Beth smiled.
"Jack, how are you," Judy asked.
"Not the best," he confused, tugging up his shirt more to make his arm comfortable.
Judy looked at the three of them. "I just need someone to sign off on the form that our minor child can be treated." Zach pointed at Beth with a smile. After they got married, Aaron made sure that Beth could legally make those decisions as well for Jack.
Beth looked at him. "Your job now," Zach smiled. Beth looked at him more, signing the paper. "I'm getting you broke into Jack being an elementary school student in that germ infested environment." He smiled broader. "Welcome to my world the last six years."
"Gee thanks Zach," Beth said, handing the form over to Judy.
Judy winked at Zach. "Now that school has started, get her trained in quick." She smiled at Beth. "Sorry Beth; reality."
"I'm beginning to get that," Beth smiled back.
Judy handed Jack's paperwork for Dr. Schmidt and his nurse to Beth. "The boys know the rest of the drill."
"Thanks Judy," Beth smiled. Zach and Jack added their thanks as well.
The three of them walked away from the reception desk and headed towards the waiting area. They started to move to the chairs. "Hey Jack," Jess, Dr. Schmidt's nurse smiled, crooking a finger at him. "You've got priority status," she smiled. "Follow me." The three followed her towards an exam room. She did a quick weight check on Jack and then opened the door to a room. Patting the exam table, Jess smiled as Zach gently lifted up Jack and sat him down. Jess did a quick, almost remedial check of Jack's vitals. "Doc should be in soon," she smiled at Beth and Zach, rubbing Jack's shoulder.
Dr. Schmidt, the now beloved family physician knocked on the door less than a minute later. "Hey Zach," he smiled, walking in.
"Hey Doc," Zach smiled back, offering a handshake which Schmidt took quickly. "This is dad's wife Beth," Zach introduced.
"Nice to meet you Beth," he smiled, shaking her hand. "Sorry it's not under better circumstances."
"Likewise Doctor," Beth said.
"Awwwww Beth," Jack piped up. "He's just Doc."
Schmidt smiled. "Ninja fighting on the lunch time playground Jack?"
"Nope Doc," Jack said. "A first grade girl tried to run under the swing I was on; I bailed out to protect her so I wouldn't kick her in the head."
"Ever our hero Jack," Schmidt smiled. "Just like your dad." Jack proudly smiled. "Let me take a look at the damage." Jess moved to help him get the ice and splint Marie had put on Jack's arm. Jack grimaced again.
"Doc, can you two hang on a second?" Dr. Schmidt nodded with a smile. Zach grabbed Jack's left hand. "Remember when I broke my ankle?" Jack nodded. "You concentrate on squeezing that hand as hard as you can." Jack gripped it with all his strength, tightly shutting his eyes.
Schmidt smiled at Zach and did a quick check. A small tear escaped out of Jack's eye. Beth rubbed it away and then rubbed the side of his head. "Hang in there buddy; you're doing great. Keep squeezing Zach's hand."
Gently running his finger down the outside of Jack's wrist, Schmidt got a yowl out of Jack. "Sorry pal," he smiled, putting Jack's wrist in his lap. Beth wiped away the single teardrop that came out of each eye. Zach noticed she was near tears as well.
"I'll need some X-rays to confirm his wrist is broken for the school's medical insurance company." He looked at Jack. "But you're gonna be sporting a cast when you get back to school pal," he smiled, rubbing his head.
"Does that hurt," Jack asked. "The X-rays?"
"It's taking pictures bro," Zach smiled. "And the X-ray techs are the best."
"They really are," Jess added with a smile.
Dr. Schmidt looked at Beth and Zach. "I'll take a look at the pics and sign off. After that, our intern, Dr. Jeffries will do the cast job so I can get back to my regular patients."
Zach held out his hand. "Thanks for squeezing us in Doc," he smiled.
Schmidt shook his hand. "You Hotchner's are sorta special to me," he smiled. Looking at Jack, he smiled. "Think you can do that t-shirt that works as a sling thing again?"
"I've got it," Jack sniffled.
Schmidt rubbed his head. "I need to see you in two weeks to take some more pictures to see how that bum wing of yours is healing," he smiled. "In the meantime," he said, looking at Zach and then Beth, "you know the OTC pain relief drill. Advil, Motrin, whatever. As big as Jack has grown since his last check-up, he can have two every eight hours for the next twenty-fours. After that, scale it back to one every six hours. And keep it iced the next twenty-four hours, even with the cast."
"Been there, done that," Zach smiled. Jack produced a small grin and gave his brother the Rossi point.
Schmidt looked at Beth. "No school tomorrow; Thursday is entirely up to how he's feeling. But I wouldn't doubt he'll be ready to get back," he smiled. "It's a very simple break. Jack will be in the cast four to five weeks max."
"Thank you Doctor. Doc," she added, with a smile.
"See you in a couple weeks Jack," Schmidt smiled, leaving the room.
Jess looked at them. "The X-ray techs are waiting on him." She looked at Zach. "Remember the way?"
"More than I care to," he smiled, lifting Jack off the table, setting him on his feet.
As the three of them walked down the hall to X-ray, Beth's cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her purse. "It's your dad," she said, looking at the caller ID. "It must be lunch time in Denver."
"Thank you Uncle Dave," Zach smiled, putting his hand on Jack's back. "You're the wife; you give him the news and talk him down. I've got Jack."
"Thanks a lot," Beth smiled, answering her phone, moving to the waiting room.
Two hours later, the tree of them walked out of the clinic. Jack was doing the sling routine with his t-shirt again, supporting his new cast of maroon red to match the color of his favorite DC football team. Zach looked at Beth. "How'd it go with dad?"
Beth smiled. "I took a page out your playbook." Zach looked at her. "I told your dad to put me on speaker phone and the first thing I said was "we're gonna need some back up Dave'."
Zach and Jack both beamed. "Good call," Zach said. "Do you have to go back to the museum?"
Beth shook her head with a smile. "They know I'm a mother now with priorities. Plus what I need to do, I can do from home."
Zach smiled. "Thank you," he said rubbing her shoulder. He looked at Jack. "Who you riding home with?"
Jack looked at the two of them, clearly torn with his decision. Beth laughed, rubbing his back. "You got to ride in the front seat of Zach's truck," she smiled. "I get you boys and your toys." She looked at Zach. "I'll stop and get a bag of ice."
"Try two Beth," Zach said. She looked at him. "Trust me, I know this drill. Ice works through the cast. You just need a lot of it."
"Got it," she smiled. "See you two at home," she said, rubbing Jack's back, giving him a kiss.
"See ya Beth," Jack sincerely smiled. "Bring three."
Zach winked at her. "Might not be a bad idea."
-00CM00-
An hour later, Zach walked into the kitchen. Jack was conked out on the couch, a pillow supporting his casted wrist encased in ice. Beth was boiling three eggs and cutting some iceberg lettuce into bowls. "Salad is on the menu," he smiled with a question. He looked at the two pounds of hamburger she had thawing in the sink. "What else?"
"Spaghetti," she smiled. "Did you check on Jack?"
Zach smiled. "The Advil kicked in; he's out. What about later tonight?"
"Zach?"
"Beth, I don't have school tomorrow and you have to work with a huge presentation coming up. How 'bout letting him sleep on futon tonight. I'll keep the Advil and ice regime up. I can sleep tomorrow when he does."
"You sure?"
"Positive," Zach smiled. "Caleigh wants to come spend the night and help me but I said no." Beth looked at him. "She's got classes tomorrow and soccer practice. They have their first game Friday. She needs to get her sleep as well. It's all good."
Beth smiled. "Gee, I think you love that girl."
"Gee I just slipped a diamond ring on her finger a couple of weeks ago. Ya think?" They both laughed.
"Then I'm cooking dinner tomorrow night."
Zach smiled. "I just talked to Uncle Dave." Beth looked at him. "He called to check on Jack." He smiled more. "He's the one trying to keep dad's head together." Beth smiled. "But he thinks they should be home by dinner tomorrow night. I cook on Wednesdays," he smiled. "Dad will be home, Uncle Dave will be planted in his usual chair," Zach pointed. "And I'm sure Caleigh will be here as well. I can handle it."
"Zach, promise me you won't let your studies slide."
"I promise," he smiled. He pulled her into his huge arms and hugged her. "I love and appreciate you being here and in dad's life," he smiled, looking her in the eye. "You've took a lot of pressure off me." He deeply looked at her. "I make no apologies that I can't call you mom. But…."
Beth interrupted him. "You and Jack have a mother. I deeply respect that and the sacrifice your mother made."
Zach kissed her cheek. "Why I and Jack love you more," he smiled.
"I love you both Zach," Beth smiled. "Your dad was very honest with me about what I was walking into. I came in with eyes wide open."
"Beth, I can't begin to imagine how it must have been for you to try and fit in around here," Zach smiled back. "But you've did it." Beth looked at him, still in his arms. "I love you too."
"Thank you Zach," Beth smiled back.
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A/N: *slides out Kleenex box* Just in case. ;)