Chapter 4

The pontoon secured, Jack emptied the minnow bucket back into the live well attached to the dock. They left all the fishing equipment on the pontoon and made their way to the cabin. Mudg raced off to chase a squirrel up a tree. It got to the first branch safely off the ground and then chattered loudly back at Mudg. They all laughed. "Mudg, get back here," Zach said, "before that squirrel chews you a new one." Mudg barked one more time; the squirrel climbed the tree higher. Zach smiled at his dad. "Just like Uncle Dave; gotta get the last word in." Aaron roared.

Sela rubbed his shoulder. "It's good to hear you laugh like that," she softly smiled.

"It's good to laugh like that again," Aaron admitted, rubbing Zach's shoulder. They shared smiles and headed in. Jack curled up in the recliner, pulling Sela's afghan lying on the chair top around his legs. Aaron rubbed his head. "You do not conk out buddy," he said, handing Jack the TV remote. "You need to get used to being up this early; school starts Tuesday."

Jack took the remote. "Thanks for the reminder dad," he said, rolling his eyes, turning the TV on.

"I'm on pancakes," Aaron smiled, walking into the kitchen. Merrill was already pulling out the breakfast sausages from the fridge.

"I've got the scrambled eggs and fruit," Sela smiled.

Zach looked around. "I'm taking a shower," he said, heading for his bedroom. He came out fifteen minutes later and set the table as the kitchen hummed with activity. "Hey bro; mind turning on SportsCenter?" Jack smiled and turned the channel so the two baseball fans could catch up with the scores from last night.

Jack come up to the table as Sela set down grapefruit halves for the boys. They both sat down, eating the wonderful delight as Aaron and Merrill ate quarters of cantaloupe while cooking. A few minutes later, the table was filled with a brimming plate of sausages as Merrill sat down, a large bowl of scrambled eggs, with Sela taking her chair. Aaron put a plate of eight pancakes on the table while a second batch cooked on Sela's large electric flat griddle. They quickly prayed together and the boys dived in. When Aaron brought the next batch of pancakes over, Sela looked at him.

"Aaron, sit down and eat with your sons," she smiled. "You don't get to do that as often as you would like. I've got the next batch." Aaron smiled his gratitude and sat down. Jack, Zach and Merrill passed around the rest of the feast with Sela smiling in the kitchen, eating from her plate while keeping an eye on the pancakes.

As the four guys ate, Aaron eyed Zach. "Nice job shaving this morning son."

"I left the razor at home dad," Zach devilishly smiled.

Aaron gave him the same look back. "Wanna have a whisker contest?" Aaron was still unshowered and not shaved.

"Dad," Jack emphatically said. "No! You did that in the desert. I don't like your scruffies." Aaron laughed as Zach explained the story.

He pulled out his wallet and threw a ten dollar bill at his dad. "You win; I can't compete with that dark hair of yours. Which btw dad, has some lighter hair in it," he said, pointing out a few as he winked at Sela. "Could that be gray hair?" The Dobson's roared with laughter.

Aaron pushed the ten back at Zach. "Grocery run for you this morning; more milk, juice and eggs." He looked at Jack. "After you two clean up the kitchen." Jack smiled his acceptance, putting in another bite of pancakes.

When they all finished, Sela went to take her shower. Aaron and Merrill helped the boys clear the table and load the dishwasher. Zach put the items that needed to be hand-washed on the countertop as Merrill went to take his shower. Aaron helped the boys, putting the flat griddle and skillets away; the profiler had noted where they were pulled from earlier.

Sela walked into the kitchen as the Hotchner's finished up. "I could get used to this," she smiled. Jack plopped back down in the recliner to watch more TV.

Zach grabbed his truck keys and headed towards the back door as he heard Merrill shout "Next!" Aaron waved at Zach and went to take his shower, chasing Jack in to brush his teeth and get out of his p.j.'s.

Aaron went outside twenty minutes later to see Jack helping Merrill and Sela pick up the few tree branches and twigs that had broken off during the thunderstorm last night. They were putting them in a wheelbarrow. Mudg bounded around, picking up a larger twig. He raced back to Jack, dropping it at Jack's feet.

Jack laughed, picked it up and gave the twig a mighty throw. Mudg raced off to retrieve it. Sela looked at Jack with a smile. "Mudg likes that."

"Yup Sela, he does. He's a Labrador Retriever after all," Jack intoned. Merrill looked at Aaron, who just shook his head.

A bit later, Zach joined them as Merrill dumped the twigs and small branches into the brick fire pit they had. He rubbed Jack's shoulder. "Think you could do s'mores tonight after we're done fishing?" Jack's face lit up.

Jack frowned as Zach's cell went off in his pocket. "That's Caleigh," Jack said, shaking his head. "I thought this was guy's weekend?" Zach looked at him and rubbed his dad's unshaven face with a point at his brother.

Zach pulled his cell out and smiled at the text. "It is," he said. "I talked with Caleigh while I making the grocery run." Jack rolled his eyes at Merrill; he laughed. "This one is from Uncle Dave." He smiled at his dad. "He got the pics and vid you sent him."

Aaron gave Zach a devilish smile that rivaled his oldest son's. "You know what to do next?" Zach matched the smile and fired off a text, showing it to Aaron. He laughed his approval.

Zach broke down a couple of the bigger branches to fit the pit. His cell buzzed again. Zach pulled it out of his pocket. Yes you all are getting me up you wise asses; I'm here to have fun. Why you have my mutt.

Zach relayed the message to the rest, drawing laughter. He sent a text back. How's the headache?

They kept working until Zach's cell buzzed again. He pulled it out and laughed, telling the others. Shuddup damnit.

Jack looked at Zach with a smile. "Uncle Dave isn't happy with you." Zach fired off another text, winking at Jack. His cell pinged less than thirty seconds later.

Tell champino I'm pissed as hell. The group all roared.

Zach looked at his brother. "I think it's time for Mudg's workout," he smiled. Mudgie, wandering around barked at the sound of his name.

Jack looked at Zach. "But maybe with our swimsuits on; ya know; just in case," he smiled.

"Brilliant plan my brother," Zach said. They went into the cabin to change.

"This I've got to see," Sela said, following them.

The boys came out in their swimsuits with t-shirts on. Jack was carrying the empty two liter soda bottle that served as Mudg's "duck". Mudg happily barked, racing ahead of the boys to the lake. Aaron looked at Zach. He held up the can of aerosol sunscreen he had with towels for each of them. "Thanks Zach," he smiled. They both were wearing their sunglasses.

Merrill smiled. "I think I'm in on this too." Hotch nodded with a smile and they went to change as well.

With the thunderstorm chasing away the humidity, it was a glorious day. Sela and Merrill loved watching the boys giving Mudg his workout. Yet, after four long throws by Zach that sent Mudg on a long swim and some shorts ones by Jack, they let Dave's aging hunting partner be done. Zach went into the fish cleaning shack that Merrill and his dad had opened up for the day. He found a clean plastic bucket and poured a cold drink for Mudg, taking it to the east side of the shack in the shade and set it down. Mudg took a long drink and plopped down in the shade for his mid-morning nap.

When Zach came back to the dock, he found Sela in her usual spot on the pontoon; her feet up, reading a book. Merrill walked the beach with a shovel, cleaning up the shoreline from debris and dead fish that washed up during the storm. Zach pulled off his t-shirt and smiled at Sela. She got the rest of him sprayed with sunscreen. Aaron and Jack stood at the end of the dock. "You sure buddy?"

Sela sat back down, picking up her book. "Aaron, Merrill didn't put it out as far as he usually does," she said, nodding at the swimming raft anchored a bit away from the dock that had a diving board. "We knew you all would be coming," she smiled.

"But Jack remember; the water level is up," Aaron said.

"I know dad; and it's not like Uncle Dave's swimming pool. I can't swim a few feet if I think I need help." He looked him. "I still kinda want to do it dad; but I'm a little scared."

"The Hotchner's ride again," Zach said, blowing by them diving off the end of the dock. When he re-surfaced, he turned and looked at Jack. "We do it together," he smiled. Jack dived off to join Zach with Aaron right behind him.

Jack started to swim like a shark was chasing him. "Buddy, relax; take it nice and easy. Zach and I are right here with you." The three lazily swam to the ladder, letting Jack climb up first.

"I did it," Jack shouted, dancing around the raft. His voice echoed around the lake.

"Way to go Jack!" Merrill praised.

"Team Hotchner," Sela smiled. Merrill let Aaron have his time with his sons.

And they enjoyed every second together. Jack worked up the courage to take his first dive into the lake. Aaron and Zach, very conscious of the deep, dark water watched him like a hawk until he was safely back on the raft. They took turns diving with Aaron showing the boys a perfect jackknife dive.

"That was so cool dad," Jack said, as Aaron climbed up the ladder. He took two steps onto the raft and Zach pushed him back in the lake.

When he re-surfaced, he looked at Zach. "Just keeping your ego in check dad," he devilishly said. That set off a twenty minute "king of the hill battle" with the three of them laughing, shoving each other in the water.

Merrill looked at Sela with a smile. "Just what they need."

Jack sprawled out with a yawn and laid on top of the raft. Zach dove into the water and did his workout for his arms and shoulders, using the end of the diving board. Aaron stood on it a bit to add some more weight while Merrill swam out to join them. He climbed up the ladder. "You're giving him a workout," he smiled at Aaron.

They enjoyed a lazy, wonderful afternoon.

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A/N: "Scruffies" is homage to my mentor who absolutely loves a bearded Aaron Hotchner. She's getting her ultimate fantasy with this chapter; a wet, bare chested scruffy Hotch. *rolls eyes* The things you do for your mentor. :D Oooppppppps! My Jedi Master. *Knightly bow*

Sorry; with the jackknife dive, I do my usual bailout. Goggle it!