A/N: Thanks for hanging in with me on the baseball stuff.

Now you get the good stuff.

And just a head's up. All this time I've called a certain sports flip flop shoe exactly that. I just received my new pair that I ordered to replace the rundown, five year old pair that I had.

And they are called "slides". I'm now duly educated. So are you. :D

Chapter 4

With the time it took to get the team and their equipment to Denver International Airport and all loaded on the charter jet, along with the time change, Zach walked into a mostly darkened home a little after midnight. He set down his book bag, containing his laptop on the kitchen table. Lexie, already sleeping in her bed, woke and wagged her tail at him. Zach knelt down and petted her back to sleep. He shut off the kitchen light above the sink Caleigh always left on for him and headed upstairs with his luggage bag.

Walking into the bedroom, he opened his bag so his suits the team required the players to wear on road trips wouldn't get so wrinkled. He looked at pulling the suits out and then softly mumbled, "The hell with that." He left the suitcase lying open, moving to take off the suit he was wearing, pulling off the coat.

"I heard that," Caleigh softly giggled. "Welcome home."

Zach yawned. "It's good to be home. That bed looks damn good."

"You didn't sleep on the flight home?"

Zach shook his head at her, taking his dress shirt and t-shirt to the clothes hamper in the laundry room down the hall. He came back in the room unzipping his suit pants, sitting on the bed. "It was rookie classroom 1101. Now that we've got them on board; more importantly, them seeing that it works, they've become sponges. Not that I'm complaining. We're all glad they're finally stepping up and getting it. I'm just damn tired. Playing at Coors Field with that high altitude air is always tough on me," he said, throwing his suit pants into the closet. "Then throw in some August heat and humidity."

Caleigh looked at him. "Is that how Aaron Hotchner takes care of his suits?"

Zach looked at her. "I'm not Aaron Hotchner," he said, collapsing into bed. "Thank God." He pulled Caleigh to him pulling the blanket up. "How are you feeling?"

She kissed him, curling up onto his chest. "I'm fine Zach like I've told you every day you've been gone," she smiled. "But I'm not listening to you snore. Curl up on your side on your side of the bed," she said, rolling off. "I'm going the other direction." Caleigh got on her side. "I'll cook you a big breakfast at eleven."

His answer was his first soft snore. Caleigh smiled and joined him in sleep.

At seven the next morning, Lex put her cold nose into Caleigh's face. Caleigh heard her coming up the steps and smiled at Lex. "Thanks girl for not waking dad," she whispered, quietly climbing out of bed. Lex raced down the steps.

Caleigh came up the steps ten minutes later and climbed back into bed. Zach rolled over and spooned up next to her. He started to softly snore again. Caleigh smiled.

A few minutes later, Lex walked into the room, burping loudly and then jumped up on the bed.

"Really?" Zach mumbled.

"Really," Caleigh softly laughed. "Just get back to sleep before she starts snoring."

Caleigh woke a couple hours later to Lex's first fart bomb. "That's it," she said, nudging Lex awake with her foot. Head downstairs." Lex lifted her head and yawned at Caleigh. "Now," Caleigh softly growled. That got Lexie's attention along with another foot push. She jumped off the bed as Caleigh softly rolled out from Zach's arms, leaving him in blissful sleep.

Starting her breakfast prep, Caleigh heard Zach come down the steps. He walked into the kitchen in sport shorts and barefoot. "How much time do I have?" He looked around. "And what are you making?"

Caleigh smiled. "Your breakfast of champions you did for your dad one time when you were so sick." She looked at him. "And yes, you have time to take a twenty minute nap and then shower and shave."

Zach pulled her close to him, kissing her. "Why I love you," he smiled. "Hey Lex! You in on naptime together?" Lexie barked, racing him up the stairs. Caleigh smiled.

The couple sat around the kitchen table eating Zach's concoction of hashbrowns, covered in shredded cheddar cheese with scrambled eggs on top. Caleigh took another bite. "This is good," she smiled. "I like this power breakfast right now."

Zach looked at her. "How are you really feeling?"

Caleigh smiled at him. "Having Moesha around last weekend, knowing how I was feeling, both physically and emotionally, was huge. Thank you for that. And Vic bunked in with me like you predicted." Zach smiled. "Zach, after talking to Moesha, I'm really at peace with this. It hurts to lose our child together. But I'm good; I really am. And I'm ready to move on when the time is right. And God does guide our lives and will bless us with a child when he sees fit." She looked at him. "For now, I'm keeping mom happy eating protein."

Zach smiled. "God bless your mom." He looked at Caleigh. "I think we owe our neighbors."

Caleigh smiled, sticking in another bite of her breakfast as Zach wolfed down more of his. She looked at him. "With your day game on Sunday, do you mind if I invite them all down for a reciprocal grill out later Sunday?"

"Bring it on babe," he smiled. "It's just what the doctor ordered for me. And I'll help you out with dinner prep."

"We supply the chicken, cheese potatoes and baked beans. And have Alec make the fruit salad with all us kicking in to help out on the cost of the fruit. Moesha said she'd make dessert."

"Please god, let it be her seven layer bars." Caleigh pointed at him with a smile, putting in another bite. Zach smiled. "I'm in; just don't plan dinner before six."

Caleigh smiled. "Moesha and I have already talked a bit about this. We're making the appetizers."

"That I'm going to miss out on."

"Poor working boy," Caleigh grinned, sticking in another bite of her breakfast, smiling at him.

-00CM00-

The Braves swept the up and coming, much like them, Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Zach did not catch the Sunday day game. After catching two night games Brian Snitcker's philosophy was to give Zach Sunday's off. He quickly showered. His pinch hit in the eighth inning did score an insurance run to give Folty another win. Kake looked at him coming out of the shower. "Hot date," Nick asked with a smile.

"Actually Kake," Zach smiled. "Cookout with our neighbors; guess who's doing the grilling?" he smiled more.

"Get your ass out of here Cob," Kake smiled, slapping him on the back.

Zach flew into the backyard after grabbing a beer from the garage fridge. "You're home early," Caleigh smiled. Zach kissed her.

"Why I didn't imbibe with beers at work," he smiled; putting his beer bottle into his cooler cup, greeting their guests. With home games, the dress policy of the Atlanta Braves was off. Zach was wearing attire ready to cook and relax; his usual sports shorts, t-shirt and slides.

Miguel was in the shallow end of the pool with Lexie. Lexie brought in her "pool" ball. She nosed it to Miguel. With his soft smile, he'd push it back at her.

Josh looked at the couple. "I thought dogs weren't allowed into pools with the chlorine additive," he asked, keeping an eye on Rashad in the deep end of the pool.

Zach smiled. "There's a special brand out there that is pet friendly. We use it." Josh looked at him. "She's a lab; she's bred to be a water dog," Zach said. "We can't have a pool and not let her in. The costs of the water and time to rinse her off, not to mention the possible medical side effects on her from the chlorine would outweigh what we spend a bit more for the special chemicals. And those chemicals are easier on swimsuits as well."

Pedro looked at Zach with a sly smile, already knowing the answer. "How does your agent Jose handle that expenditure?"

Zach smiled. "He's my agent. Screw him and the horse he rode in on. That's our decision; he lives with it," Zach smiled taking a drink of his beer. "And then Kelly, his wife and the accountant to our bank account cuts the check and sends us an email so we can do the math on our own as well." The other couples smiled.

Rashad climbed out the pool and looked at this dad. "I gotta whiz dad," he said. "I need a towel."

Caleigh smiled at him, shaking her head. "No you don't Rashad." She pointed at the door that opened to the area outside the wooden board fence of the pool. "If the Brothers Hotchner can pee out there, so can you. Please just shut the door so Lexie doesn't bolt."

Zach smiled at him. "Come on Rashad; I'll show you how to work the door latch." Miguel followed them needing to do the same. Showing Rashad how the latch worked on both sides, Zach shut the door, smiling at the parents. "Like Cal said, it works for Jack and me."

Rashad came back, safely bolting the door after Miguel hopped back into shallow end with Lex. He looked at Caleigh, nodding at Miguel. "When do swim lessons start?"

"On Tuesday; with Alec and Jose's blessings." She looked at him. "But Rashad, I have to back down on our original bargain. The more I know, the more I think I need those lessons to be one on one. Sorry kiddo; you're not in."

Rashad looked at her. "Can I ask why? I want to support my friend."

Caleigh rubbed his head with a smile. "I know you do. But Alec told me every attempt to teach Miguel to swim had a private teacher. But there were other kids in the pool. He needs quiet time to concentrate on what he's learning. Just me and him. And maybe a little help from a seventy pound lad," she winked.

Rashad hugged her. "Please just try and make that happen Caleigh," he said into her chest. "I know he can do it."

Caleigh kissed the top of Rashad's head. "That's the plan Stan." Zach winked at the other parents with his smile.

-00CM00-

Miguel rode up to the Hotchner home on his bike Tuesday afternoon. He put the kickstand down on his bike, walked to the front door and pushed the doorbell like Caleigh had taught him Sunday night.

Lexie flew to the door, ready to bark. "Lex!" Caleigh commanded. "It's Miguel," she said, heading for the door. Lex relaxed, wagging her tail. Caleigh opened the door with a smile. "Come in Miguel." She noticed the bag he had over his shoulder and knew his grandmother that took care of him in the summer while Alec and Josh worked was in on the plan.

Caleigh looked at him. His hand was twisting. "You know where the bathroom is down here."

"There," Miguel pointed.

Caleigh smiled. "You go in there and change into your swimsuit. I'm going upstairs to change into mine. It will probably take me a little longer; so you and Lexie hang out until I come back down. OK?"

"OK," Miguel said, heading for the bathroom. Caleigh noticed his hand was still twisting.

They walked out onto the back deck of the home. Caleigh got them both covered in sunscreen and then walked to the pool area. Lex walked quietly by Miguel's side. Caleigh looked at Miguel. "Let's go down the steps." Miguel went into the water with her and looked around.

Caleigh looked at Lexie. "Where's your pool ball?" Lex ran off, found it and brought it into the pool. "Thank you sweetheart," she said, petting Lex. Miguel slightly smiled at Lex as well. "Now please Lex, get out," Caleigh said, waving her off. Lex obeyed and went off to find a patch of shade to take a snooze.

Caleigh held the ball up to Miguel. "Do you remember this?" Miguel nodded, still twisting his hand. "Tell me what it is Miguel."

"Lex pool ball."

Caleigh smiled at him. "Very good Miguel." She pushed the ball down to the shallow end bottom and let it go. The ball sprang to the surface. "What made that ball come up so quick Miguel?" He looked at her. "You know the answer; tell me." His hand stopped twisting.

"Ball has air."

"Exactly," Caleigh smiled. "Air always makes things float to the top in water. Air always wins over water." She looked at him. "Always Miguel." Miguel looked at her. "A human body has water and air in it. Mine does; Rashad's does; Zach's does. Jack's does." She looked at him. "So do you. Yet with water in our body, what always works Miguel?"

He softly smiled at her. "Air."

Caleigh smiled. "That's how you trust water Miguel. The air in your body. It works every time, balancing with the water in our bodies. If you can learn to trust that, you'll learn how to swim."

"Teach me that," Miguel said.

"That's the plan pal," Caleigh smiled, rubbing his head.

-00CM00-

Two days later, Zach and Caleigh were enjoying a day off for Zach with a late breakfast. Lex, sleeping in the kitchen nook, suddenly sprang to her feet. The kids heard a car pull into the driveway. Zach went to the front door to look out the side windows of the door as Lex deeply barked. "Babe, you're not going to believe this."

Zach shook his head as he saw Dave get out of the front passenger side with Jack blowing out the backdoor on the same side. His dad got out of the driver's seat and smiled at Beth getting out behind him.

Zach opened the door, letting Lexie out. She nearly tackled Jack. "What the hell is going on?"

Dave smiled at him. "I had airline points to burn up."

"Yeah right," Zach said.

His dad looked at him, heading for the trunk to pull out their luggage as Jack frolicked with Lex. "Actually son, he did."

"You bought that bullshit Aaron?" Caleigh asked, joining Zach on the porch.

"He showed me his online account," Aaron said, pulling out the first bag as Zach moved to help his dad.

"And you don't think Garcia hacked that bullshit dad?"

Dave grabbed his arm. "This is no bullshit Zach. It was use it or I lose it. You know me kid," he smiled. "I don't waste the money I spend."

"You mean what your publisher's spend sending you out on your book tours," Zach smiled, pulling Dave into a hug. "Thanks Uncle Dave," Zach whispered into his ear.

Dave tightly held him and then let him go. "I sorta love you two." Lex blew up to Dave as Jack nearly tackled Zach for a hug.

Beth warmly took Caleigh into her arms, hugging her deeply. "Don't doubt this; it's legit." She looked at Caleigh. "And we had no qualms taking advantage of," she smiled, hugging Caleigh more. "How are you?"

Caleigh smiled at her. "Ready to try again when the time is right."

"I like the sound of that," Aaron smiled, pulling Caleigh into his arms.

Jack deeply hugged Zach. "You and Cal OK," he whispered, hugging his brother. Dave smiled at Zach, rubbing Jack's head.

"Yeah JP, we're good. Rashad and Miguel's parents have been a god send to us."

Jack let Zach go and looked at Caleigh coming around the rental car with Beth and Aaron. He went to her and hugged her. "I'm so sorry Cal." Caleigh pulled him into a deep hug, kissing the top of his head as Zach hugged Dave.

"Thanks bro; but Zach and I don't think of this as a loss." Jack looked at her. "It was just a false start; that will get us ready for the real deal."

Aaron looked at his oldest son. "That's the way we feel dad," he smiled. "We're good."

Aaron shook his head, pulling his oldest son into a hug. "Your mom and I went through three of them after you."

"I sorta love the fourth outcome," Zach smiled at him. He looked at Jack. "Sometimes," Zach wickedly smiled. Jack stuck his tongue out at his brother.

Dave smiled at father and son, sharing some time together; now with a shared memory. He rubbed Caleigh's back, pulling her into a deep hug. "I'm glad you're OK sweetheart," he smiled.

"I'm good Uncle Dave," Caleigh smiled back, rubbing his shoulder. "And we really do love the surprise."

Jack looked at the group as they grabbed the luggage. "What's for dinner?" Zach and Aaron shook their heads at each other.

"Ribs Jack," Caleigh smiled. "And extra folks to join us for dessert."

Beth looked at Caleigh. "We get to meet the neighbors?" she smiled.

"If you help me put together Grandma Brook's chocolate cake recipe," Caleigh smiled.

"Done," Beth smiled, walking into the home with Caleigh. Aaron, Zach and Dave brought in the luggage. Jack brought in his backpack and got Lexie in the door.

"Cal, can I go up and get Rashad and Miguel on my bike," Jack asked, putting his backpack on the steps.

"No Jack, you can't." Jack eyed her with the rejection. Caleigh smiled at him. "Welcome to Georgia bro; they're already back in school."

"That's sucks," Jack said, grabbing his backpack.

"Hey you," Dave growled. "You're big enough. Take your luggage bag as well."

"Jack, you take the bedroom next to Zach's and me," Caleigh said.

"Oooo good," Jack mumbled. "I get to listen to them trying again."

Dave shook his head, grabbing his bag. He looked at Jack. "You having knowledge of things sexual? To paraphrase our mutual friend Penelope - that has seriously wonked my brain."

Caleigh laughed as Zach pulled Beth into a hug. "You know what Dave," Beth said, hugging Zach. "Look at the bigger picture." Dave looked at her with a question. "You might listen to Aaron and me tonight."

Zach roared with laughter lifting her off her feet to hug her. He kissed her cheek. "You rock," he smiled at her.

"The idea works for me," Aaron deadpanned with his usual, all business FBI tone.

Jack looked at Caleigh with a smirk. The group broke out in laughter.

###

A/N: "Swept" means the Braves won all three games against the Reds.