Chapter 10

The dad walked in to see a hand sticking out with a man smiling at him. "Hi, I'm Aaron Hotchner. Seems we're sharing a suite tonight. These are my sons Zach and Jack," he nodded to the boys, "and my friend Beth Clemmons."

"Gary Mayer, Aaron," he drawled, accepting the handshake with a smile. "Pleasure to meet you; this is my wife Melanie, Mel for short," whom smiled, "and our sons Josh and Sam."

The four adults and Zach shared handshakes. Zach noticed an older brother in protective mode and smiled at Josh. "You're big brother and protect your little brother; so do I. Pleasure to meet you Josh," he smiled, sticking out his hand.

Josh eyed him and Jack for second, and then smiling, took Zach's hand. "We're from the DC area Josh; Jack's a big Nat's fan; sorry, I can't convert him," he said, giving his megawatt smile. Both the Mayer boys smiled largely. Josh told Zach he was eleven.

"He's forgiven," Sam drawled with a smile. He looked at Jack. "Hi Jack."

Sam got the youngest Hotchner son megawatt smile. "Hi Sam; I hope we can still be friends." The boys looked at each other and then laughed. The smiles around the suite were sincere.

"Sam, what happened to your leg," Jack innocently asked.

"I had cancer; the docs tried everything; but in the end, losing my leg was the only thing that was going to save my life."

Jack shook his head and then perked up. "So you're OK now," he smiled with a question.

"Yup," Sam drawled. "I'm all good." The boys shared a high five that the two families knew would bond them together.

"I'm sorry about your leg," Zach said, crouching down to talk to Sam at his level. "But I'm really glad you're OK," he smiled, rubbing Sam's shoulder.

"Thanks Zach; me too," the boy smiled. The ice broken, the two families joined in a conversation. The Mayer's were from Birmingham, Alabama and had made the trek to the stadium that day.

"What brings y'all here," Gary asked.

"Zach's birthday," Hotch smiled.

"Our uncle hooked us up with the tickets," Zach smiled, nodding at Jack.

"But why are you a Braves fan living in DC?" Mel asked.

Zach shook his head with his soft smile. "I play ball and wear number 31 for my favorite player: Greg Maddux. I try to play the game the way he did; using my head."

Gary smiled. "Maddux was the best at that. Where are you playing ball Zach?"

"At George Mason University," he smiled.

"You pitching," Gary asked.

Zach shrugged. "I'm their catcher and closer," Zach smiled.

"D2," Josh asked.

"No," Zach smiled. "D1."

"They made the NCAA's this year," Jack bragged.

Gary looked at Zach. "We lost in the super regional final; but we're a young team that made some mistakes. We've got a great coaching staff and we look at it as an opportunity to grow and learn."

Gary smiled at Hotch. "Sounds like you've got a smart young man. I hate to ask; their mom."

"She died a few years ago."

Mel looked at Beth. "With the obvious age spread, they're really close," she smiled.

"Aaron's job requires him to travel a lot. Zach takes of Jack when he's gone," Beth smiled. "And during baseball season, Jessica, their aunt, Haley's sister, helps Zach out." They all smiled.

Gary looked at Hotch. "What do you do?"

Hotch smiled. "I'm with the Justice Department," he said.

"And the age difference," Mel asked.

"Eleven years," Hotch smiled. "Haley had three miscarriages between the two boys."

Sam, the other one in the room connected with Braves organization, piped up. "Hey folks; we're going to get the game in. The weather is clearing to the west. There might be a small time delay to the start of the game, but it looks like a go from there."

Jack smiled at young Sam. They shared a high five. In the meantime, Big Sam, as they all started to call him, had the food ready. The Mayer family enjoyed the ballpark food of hot dogs, while Beth and her men feasted on grilled chicken sandwiches. Beth smiled at the Mayer's. "We did the ballpark food last night. The boys eat well. Zach is a great cook."

Mel devilishly smiled at Aaron. He shook his head. "I can hold my own; but compared to Zach, I'm not that good. He's the primary cook in our home."

"You travel that much," Gary asked.

"More than I like being away from the boys," Aaron sadly smiled. "But, we make it work; basically it's on Zach. That's why he's getting his weekend," he smiled. "Uncle Dave knows what he contributes," Aaron smiled.

"Uncle Dave is the bomb," Jack beamed. He thought for second and looked at Zach.

"Way ahead of you bro; let's send Uncle Dave a picture of you and your new friend," he smiled. Jack and Sam had already compared ages. They were both soon to be eight. Jack wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulder and Zach snapped the picture of the two smiling boys. He hit a few buttons on his cell. "It's off to Uncle Dave," Zach smiled.

He hit a few more buttons on his phone and sent a text. Sam looked at Jack. "Zach has a girlfriend. He's sending the picture to Caleigh too," he said rolling his eyes. The adults in the suite roared with laughter as Zach looked at Jack.

"Yup bro, I am," Zach smiled. "She sorta likes you."

Jack smiled at Sam. "She is pretty cool," he admitted. That set off more laughter. They all ate and mingled.

Sam looked at Mel. "Mom," he said, with a question.

Zach smiled. "If you don't mind, I've got this. I've got to go as well and by looking at the happy feet of my brother, he isn't far behind."

Josh looked at Zach. He smiled at him. "Come on guys, let's rumble." The four boys headed out of the suite to the nearest men's room in the public area of the stadium. They returned ten minutes later with the two little boys laughing hysterically, Zach shaking his head with a smile.

The adults looked at him. "There was a drunk guy trying to use the urinal. It wasn't going well," Zach laughed a bit. The boys laughed more.

True to Big Sam's word, the game was only ten minutes late starting. They all sat in the seats outside of the suite. In the bottom of the first inning, the Braves' first baseman Freddie Freeman came to the plate and fouled a ball over the screen. While it was in their area, it wasn't going to get there. Yet the four boys stood up in the front row.

Somehow a fan missed catching the ball. It landed between some fans, hitting the top of a seat and careened towards them. Zach, being higher up in the suite's seats, out reached over some guy walking in front of them to snag the ball.

He looked at Jack with a smile. Jack smiled back with a nod and Zach gave the ball to Sam. The fans sitting around saw Sam and his crutches and applauded for him getting the ball. Aaron and Beth proudly smiled as Zach and Jack shared a high five.

However, with the storm passing through, the air cooled considerably and all the boys were wearing shorts. They watched the rest of the game from the confines of suite.

And watched; and watched. The game went into extra innings. All the parents tried to convince the little boys to leave, but they wouldn't hear of it. The Nats finally won it 8-7 after fifteen innings. The two families, after sharing email addresses in the suite, walked out of the stadium together a little before 2 am Sunday morning. After saying their heartfelt good-byes, they went their separate directions.

Beth and her men started walking towards where the shuttle would pick them up when she noticed some taxis lined up. "Aaron," she said, who already had Jack on his shoulder, "let's not mess with that." He nodded his head and they made their way to a cab. They were back to the hotel in 20 minutes.

-00CM00-

Aaron woke the boys at ten the next morning, with both of them groaning their protest. "Come on guys," he said. "We're got to get to breakfast and be checked out by noon." The food part helped motivate the boys and by ten-forty five they were walking in once again into the Kozy Korner.

By eleven thirty, they were back in the suite, all packed up and waiting on a bellman. Zach had stopped at the valet station to get his dad's SUV brought up and Aaron had stopped at the front desk to check on the bill. As he already suspected, Dave had taken care of everything.

The SUV loaded and the tips paid, they made their way to the freeway and started their trip back home. Two and half hours later, Aaron pulled the vehicle into a rest stop. They all needed both the restroom and stretch break.

Zach moaned, getting out of the car. "I'll be stiff as a board by the time we get home," he said walking up to the curb, trying to stretch out his cramped muscles. After using the restrooms, they all took some time walking around before climbing back in with Zach driving.

As they continued to move northeast, once again enjoying Zach's eclectic music selections, he and Aaron in the front seat began to notice the skies to the west darkening a bit. The closer they got to Greensboro, the more ominous they looked. Zach pulled into a rest stop forty miles southwest of the city. Aaron looked at him. "Dad, I'm comfortable driving in any weather in my truck on freeways I know. But I don't like the looks of that," he nodded at the skies.

"Good call," Aaron smiled.

"You two just switch places," Beth said. "I'm fine back here with Jack." The Hotchner men jumped out to gusty winds and some rain starting. They quickly changed places and Aaron got them back on the freeway.

The closer they got to the metropolitan city, the darker and more threatening the skies became. By the time they reached the southern boundary of the city, it was pouring. Aaron looked a Zach. "Turn the radio on and see if you can find some weather." Beth pulled out her cell phone and pulled up an app for a weather radar. Aaron, along with the rest of the traffic, slowed to nearly 35 mph, it was raining that hard.

Hey folks, the DJ said, take precautions and keep it tuned here to WSMW at 98.7 for the latest in weather warnings. Looks like we're in for a long night; we are currently in a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:30 this evening.

Beth handed her phone to Zach. He looked at it, zooming the radar picture out on her iPhone. "Dad, we're going to be running into this the rest of the way home."

Aaron shook his head. "We're all worn out and with that forecast, who knows what time we'll get home. Let's find a place to stop for the night."

"Dad," Zach said. Aaron looked at him. "I know it's not fun driving but let's at least make it to the north side of the city. That way we won't have to fight morning traffic."

Aaron gave his oldest son a quick smile. "You just keep thinking Zach," he said as a semi-tractor and trailer passed them, spraying the vehicle with water from the roadway.

Zach shook his head. "Those eighteen wheelers are always in a hurry," he said, handing Beth's phone back to her.

Beth softly smiled. "They've got to move to make their money."

"I know Beth." As Aaron continued to concentrate on driving, his co-pilot watched the road signs as they passed downtown Greensboro, looking for signs indicating motels. "Hey dad, there's a Midway Motor Lodge at the next exit. They usually have a pool."

"Works for me," he said. He took the exit and slowly made the way to the intersection. It was pouring so hard, they both could hardly see which way to turn.

"I've got it," Beth said. "Take a left Aaron."

Aaron pulled the vehicle under the canopy that protected the entrance. Yet with the wind of the storm, the rain, although lightly, still swirled through the area. Four other cars had just pulled away from the area, having the same idea.

"Hang on," Zach said, taking his seatbelt off and jumping out. He entered through the double doors of the hotel and looked at the front desk staff. "Tell me you have one room with two double beds."

One of the clerks nodded, with a smile. "You're good." Zach went back to the car and grabbed Jack to get him inside along with his backpack, as Aaron shielded Beth from the storm as best as he could with her bringing in Zach's backpack and got her inside as well. Aaron and Zach went back out, grabbed their bags and cooler from the back and got them in the door as well. Zach looked at Aaron, pulling his cellphone out of his cargo shorts pocket and his wallet from the back pocket. He handed them to Aaron with a smile and went back out to the SUV. Aaron shook his head, albeit a bit proudly and grabbed the three bags. Zach jumped into Aaron's SUV, moving it to a parking spot.

By the time he got to front desk, Beth already had her credit card out, handing to the clerk. "Beth….."

"Hotchner," she smiled. "I work for a living too. And you've bought all the gas and meals." Aaron shook his head. As she finished the check-in process, getting three room keys, Zach made his way into the first set of doors and shook himself off like a drenched puppy, pulling his soaked t-shirt off. Another clerk noticed as Aaron looked, went into the back office and came back out with a towel.

"Thank you," he smiled and went to Zach, opening the other set of doors. "You didn't have to do that."

Zach gave his dad his BS smile. "I move faster than you." Aaron handed him the towel, taking his dripping wet t-shirt from him. "Thanks dad," he smiled. Zach dried off as best he could, shivering a bit.

"You need to get out of those wet clothes and get warmed up." The walked inside to see Beth and Jack waiting for them. Beth had her and Aaron's roller bag in her hand, Zach's backpack on the top along the handle. Zach threw the towel over his shoulders and grabbed the cooler.

They made their way to them, with Aaron grabbing the boys' bags. "Follow me," Beth smiled. She led them into Midway Motor Lodge's signature atrium and a poolside room. The air was warm in the atrium. They all got into the room.

"Zach, please get out of those wet clothes," Aaron advised. Zach grabbed his bag from his dad and headed for the bathroom. He came out three minutes later in his swimsuit and smiled at his dad.

"I think I know how to get warmed up," he smiled, opening the door. The three of them stood in the window of the room to watch Zach dive into the deep end.

Ten minutes later, as the storm continued to rain down on the roof of the atrium, he had three others joining him.

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A/N: Once again, that was actually how that Saturday night game ended between the Braves and the Nat's.