Chapter 4
Rachel and Beth looked at Caleigh coming into the kitchen a little after eight that morning. "How's the birthday boy?" Rachel asked with a smile.
"Honestly mom," Caleigh smiled. "I didn't even hear him come to bed. I woke up at four to pee, and he was spooned up against me, softly snoring as usual."
"I heard Aaron get up in the middle of the night," Beth said. "I think he heard Zach get home," she smiled.
Aaron walked into the kitchen. "Dad sleeping with one ear open," he smiled, kissing Beth.
"It must have been the good ear," Beth smiled.
"Aaron, you're still having problems with that ear?" Rachel asked.
"I'm around too many loud bangs on occasion. It can act up. But no worries Nurse Rachel," he smiled, "I've got a Mother Goose to kick me in butt about it." He gave Caleigh a hug which she happily accepted.
Dave walked into the kitchen. "I resemble that remark," he smiled. Caleigh handed him a cup of coffee as Dave kissed her cheek. "How's the birthday boy?"
"Still sleeping," Caleigh smiled.
"But not for long," Aaron said. The group looked at him as Tom walked in. "He told me he slept on the plane and would be ready to go by nine-thirty."
Beth looked at Aaron. "What about Jack?"
Aaron smiled. "I'll get him moving around in a bit."
Tom shook his head, moving to the laundry room. "I'll get Bub rousted. That won't be easy." The group in the kitchen all laughed.
Dave looked around, taking a sip of his coffee. He smiled at Lex and Mudg, soundly sleeping by the doors of the outdoor patio. "Who took care of them this morning?" he asked.
"The cat lady helped me," Beth smiled, winking at Rachel. Rachel smiled at Dave as well.
By nine-fifteen, the entire group was assembled in the kitchen, with Jack tumbling in from his shower. Aaron looked at him as Beth handed him a glass of apple juice. Jack was wearing a t-shirt, sports shorts and slides. "Really?"
Jack smiled. "In honor of my big brother's birthday." Zach walked into the kitchen two minutes later, wearing the same thing as his brother.
Jack looked at Aaron. "I rest my case your honor." The group roared with laughter as Zach kissed Caleigh.
"Happy birthday you," Caleigh said, hugging him. "Welcome home."
"It's good to be home," Zach said, pulling her into a large hug. "And thank you. But I need some of that apple juice action." Caleigh looked at him. He smiled. "I just need my traditional finally at home, off the major road trip helping of juice that will…."
"Hold it right there bro," Caleb smiled. "You're crossing the TMI border."
"Got it bro," Zach smiled, accepting Bub's hug.
"Happy birthday bro," Caleb smiled.
"Thanks Bub," Zach said.
When the final birthday hugs were done, Jack looked around. "Are we going to get some breakfast or not?" The group laughed. He looked at Zach. "Can I ride with you and Cal?"
Zach smiled, pulling Jack close. "You bet bro."
Caleb smiled at the two sets of parents. "I'll ride with them as well." He looked at his dad and Aaron. "You two duke it out who's going to drive."
Tom shook his head. "I know better than to argue with an FBI agent," he smiled. "And who's going to be the navigator," he smiled at Dave.
"My usual job," Dave smiled. "Sitting number two."
"Hell on your ego," Zach snarked, heading to the garage.
Dave looked at Aaron. "He's not mine anymore Dave. He's married and going to be a father. Suck it up and deal with him on your own."
"Thanks partner for the back up," Dave snarked.
"Home sweet home," Zach smiled at Jack.
"Yupppppp," Jack smiled, sharing a high five with his brother and Caleb. The parents laughed getting into Aaron's SUV.
-00CM00-
Rose looked at Zach as he placed his order and then looked at Caleigh. Caleigh just shook her head. "You're an athlete," Rose challenged.
Zach looked at her. "Number one: an athlete who has been on road trip, not getting a proper breakfast with our schedule. Number two: as an athlete, I know how to work it off. Number three: it's my birthday and Uncle Dave is buying."
Rose smiled. "I'm all over your two platter order."
Jack, being the last to order looked at Zach. "You gonna share some of your pancakes?"
Zach smiled. "You know better bro." Jack placed his order.
Rose shook her head at Aaron and Beth. "Tell me you two thank your god that one of them is no longer in the house."
"Every night," Aaron smiled at her.
Zach got up from the assembled tables the group had. "Look out plumbing," Caleb snarked, taking a sip of his orange juice.
"I'll give it all a good home in your honor Bub," Zach smiled, slapping his brother-in-law's shoulder, moving to the bathroom.
"God damn him," Caleb muttered.
Dave smiled at Caleb. "Seems I'm not the only one that can get their ass punked by his shit this morning."
Caleb looked at Dave. "His shit sucks."
"Tell me about it," Dave responded. "But Rose's sewer system is about to get the real deal."
The rest all laughed more.
Zach ate the last bite of his sausage, bacon, ham and cheese omelet followed by the last bite of the mound of hash browns he plowed through and washed down with his large glass of milk. Jack was finishing his last bite of his ham and cheese omelet, having given Caleb half his hash browns. Zach looked at Jack sitting next to him and pointed at the last bites of the three high stack of pancakes on the second platter they shared. Jack waved him off. "I'm stuffed Zach." Caleb snagged a bite.
Aaron stabbed the last bite, eating it, smiling at him sons. Beth and Dave shared a smile. "They need some time together today," Dave whispered.
"I know," Beth whispered back. Rachel and Tom looked at the two of them with knowing smiles and a nod of their heads.
Caleigh put her arm around Zach. "So what's on the menu for your birthday dinner lover?" she smiled.
Zach looked at her. "You, Beth and your mom haven't already figured it out?"
"Of course," Caleigh smiled. "You and your appetite get the royal treatment today. Why, I don't know," Caleigh zinged. "But I wanna hear it."
Zach shook his head. "If I do, Uncle Dave will give me hell about being pussy whipped."
"I owe," Dave said. "Remember, I got that from you when you helped me pick up my outdoor fireplace."
Zach shook his head. "Grilled chicken, cheesy potatoes, corn casserole, Asian cole slaw and Italian garlic bread."
Rachel smiled at Beth. "Damn we're good."
Beth smiled. "Your daughter might have called that three days ago."
Zach smiled, putting his arm around Caleigh, pointing at Rachel. "You just got your butt punked." The group laughed.
Rose handed the tab to Dave, looking at him. "Is butt punking part of the norm?"
Dave smiled, handing her his credit card. "With this group? Its SOP," he smiled.
Chet came out of the kitchen to wish Zach a happy birthday. He and Zach talked a bit of baseball. Rose returned with the tab and Dave's card. "Don't bother adding a tip," Rose growled at him. Dave looked at her. "Someone already took care of that before he unloaded on our sewer system."
Dave looked at Zach. "Yuppppp," Zach smiled.
Walking out of the café, Dave looked at Beth. "Do it," he whispered as he opened the front passenger door of Aaron's SUV and nodded at Beth to get in. Rachel rubbed Beth's back as she got in the backseat and slid over to the middle. Tom and Dave got in.
"Aaron wait," Beth said, before he could start the engine, buckling her seatbelt. Zach had already pulled out. "We need to talk." She nodded towards the backseat. "And I've got back-up." The three smiled. Aaron looked at her.
"When's the last time you and your sons had some time together? Just the three of you?" Beth asked. Aaron looked at her. "And when are you going to get that chance again? We're going to be grandparents in the fall. That window is gone then." Beth looked at him. "Aaron, this isn't about Zach. It's about Jack. He needs this with the two of you. He turns thirteen in the fall." Beth shook her head. "We've already seen the signs of teenager-itis. It will really set in then." Beth looked at him. "You and your sons need this Aaron."
Aaron looked at Dave sitting behind Beth. "Do you really want to know?" Dave said. "Aaron; think. You've got one final opportunity to spend some quality time with your sons. Key word Aaron: final. Take it my friend," he smiled. "And for the record partner…" Aaron looked at Dave. "Don't you ever think I'm going to overrule your wife. I'll kick your ass."
Rachel smiled at Tom. "Thank god we don't need to pile on."
The group in Zach's truck got into the home. "Where's the rest?" Zach asked, as Jack sped into his room.
"Conspiracy my brother," Caleb said. "Which I highly support." Caleb eyed Zach. "Take it idiot."
Zach looked at Caleigh. She gave him the same sermon Beth gave Aaron. Zach pulled into a hug, smiling at Caleb. "Thanks bro."
Caleb smiled. "Kick your dad's ass."
Zach whistled for Jack as Aaron walked into the kitchen. Jack came out of his bedroom. Zach looked at him. "Jack, go back and get your slides on." Jack looked at Zach. "Please Jack," Aaron smiled. Jack took off.
Dave looked at Zach. "Mini-golf," Zach smiled.
"Perfect," Dave smiled.
Tom rubbed Zach's shoulder as Rachel rubbed Aaron's back. "Thanks Beth," Aaron said, kissing her.
"Have fun," Beth smiled at her husband. "Please just do the rest." Aaron kissed her again.
Zach kissed Caleigh. "Thanks babe; love you."
Caleigh smiled. "I love you. Have a good time." Zach rubbed Beth's shoulder and kissed her cheek with a knowing look.
Jack looked at his dad and Zach. "What's going on?"
Zach smiled. "You and me time with dad. Get your butt in dad's SUV," Zach smiled, winking at the group in the kitchen.
Jack looked at his dad and Zach. "Really?"
Aaron looked at Jack. "Really," he smiled.
"Mount up JP," Zach smiled, kissing Caleigh again.
"Thanks grandma," Zach smiled at Beth, with a wink.
Beth smiled. "Have a good time."
Zach kissed her cheek. "Thank you. I love you."
Beth smiled, kissing his cheek. "Back at ya."
"Hey," Dave barked. The three Hotchners stopped and looked at him. "Enjoy this my boys," Dave smiled.
Rachel rubbed his back and pointed them out the door with a smile.
"Hey Bub," Zach shouted. "Get the chemicals churned up in the pool!"
"All over it bro," Caleb shouted back. "Have fun!"
Within forty minutes of starting, Aaron learned the true competitive nature of his oldest son. And the language skills of his youngest son. Neither one of those observations surprised him. Jack, on the seventh hole, dealing with the windmill, showed his true colors. He hit his putt off the "drive" spot for the golf course. "I timed that damn thing down," Jack growled as his ball bounced off the windmill blade back into the fairway of the hole. Aaron growled at him about his language.
Aaron's try at a hole in one got the same results as Jack's attempt. Zach laid up, putting his "tee" shot with the putter within two feet of the windmill. "You suck," Jack snarled.
Aaron chided Jack on his language. Again. Zach looked at his dad. "Family bonding," he beamed, moving up the course along the side as Aaron and Jack took their second shots, missing again on their timing of the windmill. Zach, being close, timed out the windmill perfectly and holed his putt. "That's a two for me," Zach smiled at his dad and Jack.
"I'll say it again," Jack growled.
"No you won't Jack," Aaron growled more.
Zach just shook his head. "So much for father and sons time."
Aaron looked at his sons. "Boys, this might be the last time we get to have this time together. Just the three of us. We got through a horribly tough time and had some wonderful times together. That's going to end." He looked at Zach. "You're going to be a father. That family will come first. I know you'll try to juggle all the rest of us. But Zach, you've got to put your family first."
He looked at Jack. "So that's why this is so important Jack. It's not about scores. It's about the three of us having some time together."
"Like the Labor Day fishing trip a couple years back," Zach smiled.
"The first trip there was a lot of fun as well," Jack smiled. "I get it now."
Zach smiled. "Good. So just relax and let's have some fun."
Aaron ripped up the scorecard, putting it into a garbage can. "As Dave would say," Aaron smiled at his sons, "let's rock and roll gang." The three of them laughed.
The next eleven holes was a lot of horsing around with Aaron doing as much as the boys. Jack looked at his dad as Zach and Aaron got in the SUV. "I haven't heard you laugh that much in a long time dad."
Zach smiled at his dad. "Mission accomplished."
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A/N: SOP = Standard Operating Procedure.