A/N: The "T" rating warning still stands. But it's just a potty mouth alarm.
Chapter 10
Ray Smith looked at the rest standing around the two way mirror. "I'll say it again; I don't want to play poker with the three of them."
"That's why I don't," Reid smugly smiled at Emily and Morgan. They just shook their heads at each other.
Hotch looked at Matt as he came into the conference room. He silently watched as Matt took off his suit jacket, draped it over a chair and then dropped into it. Matt pulled his weapon from his briefcase, putting it back in his shoulder holster. "Feel better now with that?" Hotch asked.
"Right now? Yeah Hotch, I do." Matt looked at him. "You gonna send me to the Bureau shrink?"
Hotch shook his head. "You know better."
Dave walked in. "You OK Matt?"
"Yeah, I'm good Dave," Matt smiled. "Let's just bring this bastard home. Who's got the follow-up?"
"Prentiss and Reid," Hotch said. The rest of the team walked in.
Matt looked at all of them. "You all wonder how I compartmentalize this job. It's easy for me; my dreams aren't any of our cases. It's that head; rolling on the ground."
"Jesus Matt," Dave said. Emily looked at Morgan.
"Yup." He looked at Prentiss and Reid. "You two need to get your heads together to finish him off."
"You expect Reid and me to follow that act?" Emily asked.
Matt smiled. "Princess; your well-defined snark once again is delivered at the right moment." He looked at her. "Maybe you should re-consider Easter's offer in London."
Emily shook her head. "I like my life in DC with Declan," she smiled. "Just like you," she said, rubbing Matt's shoulder, "I like my family. It's sanity from the insanity we face."
"Thanks Em," Matt smiled.
Hotch and Dave smiled at her. "Come on boy genius," Emily smiled at Reid. "You and I need to find a conference room to talk in." Reid nodded and followed her out the door.
Morgan looked at Taylor. "Seriously Cob?"
"Welcome to the joys of command Morgan," Matt said.
Morgan looked at him and then Hotch. "And you two wonder why I turn down job offers; I don't like losing people either on my watch that I'm close to."
Matt sadly smiled. "You can't help but get close to those you work with every day; even in the chain of command be it military or not. It's just human nature."
"And why you're such a hardass on team security," Morgan said.
Matt looked at Hotch and Dave. "Did the heavens just open up so the angels could sing," Matt snarked, raising his arms apart with his large wing span, his hands to the ceiling.
Dave smiled at Hotch. "He's OK Aaron."
"Yeah, he is," Morgan smiled. Hotch added his.
-00CM00-
Two hours later Emily and Reid walked into the conference room with Emily shaking her head. Smith walked in behind them. "And….?" Rossi asked.
"The bad news," Emily said, dropping into a chair. "Minton gave us chapter and verse."
"The good news is he gave us some amazing insight into a housecleaner's profile," Reid added.
Matt looked at Morgan. "You or me?"
"I'm not touching that man."
"Amazing Doc? With a housecleaner?" Matt asked.
"We see them as simple killing machines; it goes much deeper than that," Reid said. "And Minton has agreed to let us interview him more. That alone could be extremely valuable to add to our database." He looked at Hotch. "I'd like to be the one to do it."
Emily looked at Hotch. "Reid definitely has the rapport with him."
Hotch shook his head. "That may not happen."
"Why not?" Reid asked.
"Because the federal prosecutor in Denver got wind of the case and wants to try Minton in federal court under the hate crime statute."
"Figures," Smith said, sadly shaking his head. "The bastard."
"Detective?" Emily asked.
"He's made no bones about things like that. He's been trying to push his nose into cases across the state. Rumor has it he wants to make a run for Congress." Matt pulled out his cellphone and started to type a text as Hotch excused himself from the room, pulling out his cell.
Dave looked at Smith. "Hotch is working his sources in the Justice Department. Minton agreeing to our interview should help that. Matt is working his as well."
Smith looked at Rossi. "I know he's a former federal prosecutor." Rossi nodded. Smith looked at Matt as he tapped the send button.
"My wife is one," he smiled.
Smith smiled back. "Damn, you two put the slap down on Minton." He reflected a bit. "Agent Morgan said something about you teaching interrogation skills," he said, looking at Rossi. "Is that just for trainee agents?"
Matt shook his head. "No," he smiled. "And no you don't have to go to Quantico. Dave's lectures on interrogation are online for all members of law enforcement. You just need to go the Bureau's web site and log in with your department email address."
"Once that's verified," Dave said, "you can get access to the online classes."
"But we both know how quick that can happen," Matt smiled. He pulled out his credentials and handed Smith one of Penelope's business cards. "Just contact Garcia; she'll get you through the maze."
"In mere seconds my mortal," Dave said with a laugh. Smith smiled, taking the card as Matt pointed at Rossi with a huge smile.
Smith smiled. "So now what?"
Hotch re-entered and looked at him. "We pack up and head home."
"Correction," Matt said. "We pack up everything with it ready to go to the jet tomorrow morning." Hotch looked at him. "Aaron, I know the word 'tired' is not in your vocabulary; and I'm too damn tired to argue about that again. But since I'm the one that gets Chuck and Angie going, that's my call." He looked at Hotch.
"You know a place?"
Matt shrugged and looked at Morgan. "Get Mama," he said.
Morgan pushed the speed dial to Garcia. "Hey you! You solved the case without me? How could you do that? I mean I know Monty is good but…."
"Slow your jets Baby Girl," Morgan interrupted. "Cob needs some info. And my hot Mama, it's pretty important."
"When you put it that way, The Office of Greatness is ready for Sir Cob."
"Garcia, back in my Academy days there was a fantastic restaurant in Castle Rock that was called The Manion House. It was owned by Jim and Ardy Manion."
"GAHHHHH! That's a Google search," Garcia said. "Sir, when I signed on with this team you said I wouldn't be doing Google searches for you."
"Mama, come on; don't play the boss trump card on us," Morgan said. "You got your beauty sleep with Monty covering for you. We're all still butt tired."
"Just for you my Chocolate Thunder," Garcia said as she typed. "The Manion House is still owned and operated by James and Ardess Manion. It features a full menu and their world famous salad bar."
Matt smiled at Hotch. "I know a place." Dave anxiously looked at Hotch. He wasn't the only one.
Hotch smiled. "Thanks Garcia; your Google search is done."
"Sirs, I didn't do a Google search. I used my binary systems as usual. And btw, two of their kids have now taken over the day to day operations. But they are holding true to their parents' original plan."
"Thank you Penelope," Matt sincerely smiled. "I appreciate it."
"I was playin' with you," Garcia said. "Happy to help out as usual Sir Cob."
"Play on player," Matt smiled. "Now get your lovely tusch back home and enjoy some more down time. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks PG," Emily said.
"Loves and hugs to you all," Garcia said. She clicked off.
Smith looked at Matt. "It's that damn good?"
Matt got out of his chair and disconnected his laptop. "Yes, it's that damn good."
"Being in business for over twenty five years is a helluva testimony," Dave said, doing the same to his laptop.
"You all need anything, just let Sergeant Thompson, the desk officer downstairs know. He'll help you out. I'm gonna head home. I'll see y'all in the morning." The team all said their good nights.
-00CM00-
The team was in Rossi's room enjoying some of his scotch, mixed with the contents of the bottle Bailey's Prentiss had bought at the liquor store next door to the Manion House. Matt had the TV on with a baseball playoff game, the sound turned down. Morgan had brought in the two chairs from Matt and Hotch's adjoining room while Reid brought in the two from he and Morgan's room. The team was giving Matt a hard time about using his Marine rank with all the former Marines they ran into.
Rossi looked at him. "You gonna take all that?"
"If I dish it out, I've got to be able to take it," he smiled.
"Very good Matthew," Dave smiled back.
"You don't count," Matt retorted. The rest, including Hotch laughed. Dave smiled.
"Damn Matt," Dave said, raising his usual glass of scotch on the rocks in a toast. "You were right about the Manion House. That was primo dining."
"The salad bar and the warm rolls could have been enough for me," Reid smiled.
Hotch was sitting on Dave's bed; suitcoat and tie off, with his dress shirt open at the collar. "And the Bureau number crunchers won't blink at the bill."
"You can't beat an eight ounce Ribeye steak and three large shrimp for eighteen bucks," Emily said.
"And the eight ounce Ribeye wasn't paper thin," Dave added. "They did it right; slice a nice thick sixteen ounce and then cut it in half."
"It isn't pretty," Matt and Morgan quoted Carla their server. "It just gets the job done." They pointed at each other with a laugh.
"Do I get to look forward to eating like that at the end of every case?" Lewis asked.
"Tara," Emily said. "Between Matt and Rossi, if they don't know a place, they'll sniff one out."
Dave smugly smiled. "I've already got breakfast tomorrow. The hell with the hotel food." Hotch and Matt shared a look and shook their heads. "I know you two, it's not Bureau approved. It's on me."
"I'm in," Morgan smiled.
"Count me in," Emily added.
Matt smiled. "You know me and breakfast."
"Yeah," Dave said, taking a sip. "You'll break my budget," he snarked.
"I'm piling on," Hotch smiled at him with Reid and Lewis nodding as well. Matt, already dressed down for the night with his chair leaned back with his feet up on the bed, felt his cell vibrate in his cotton lounge pants' pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID.
"Babe, everything OK," he answered. The team hushed to listen to their side of the conversation.
"Yeah, everything is fine," Abbey said. "Our paths just didn't cross today on talking to you and I wanted to hear your voice before I went to bed. By the way, I got your text. Between Aaron's connections and mine, that fire is out."
Matt smiled. "Thanks babe. Give me a sec to tell the team." They all smiled at the news. "I miss you too babe; and love you more. How's the kids?"
"They're fine; Colin knows he's deep in the doghouse."
"Sorry I wasn't there to lay down the law babe. That's the part of this job that sucks. Sometimes I can't back you; keep the doghouse warm for Colin in the meantime." He could hear Abbey smile. "How's Wilma?" Dave and Hotch looked at him.
Abbey smiled with a yawn. "I love you and signed onto this with you."
"Thanks babe," Matt smiled. "I love you too. But you haven't answered my question."
Abbey smiled. "Our patient is back home, curled up on the bed with me. She knows she's in the doghouse as well; to the tune of nearly eighteen hundred dollars."
"Ouch," Matt said. Hotch and Dave shared another concerned look.
"And she's not liking her cone around her neck that keeps her away from the stitches."
"Part of the tough love Abbey. Hang in there mom."
She laughed. "How are you?'
Matt smiled. "I'm good now; we all are. We're having down time that we badly need. I'll be home tomorrow afternoon at my usual time. We could have left tonight; but babe we just needed this. I'll add the hammer to Colin."
Abbey yawned again. "Matt, as long as you and all the team are safe, take the down time. It sounds like you need it. As for Colin, that's part of his penitence," she smiled. "He knows dad is going to lay down the law."
Matt lightly laughed. "Maybe in the end, they'll both learn some lessons."
"I'm not holding my breath on that one Matt."
"Neither am I babe," Matt smiled.
"I miss you not in bed with me."
"You're not the only one babe."
Tara looked at Emily and whispered. "That's how you make this job work in a relationship?" Emily just nodded with a smile.
"Good night my love; I just needed to hear your voice."
"Same here babe; I love you too; see you tomorrow." Matt ended the call.
"Why is Colin in the doghouse," Hotch asked.
"And what's up with Wilma?" Dave added.
Matt shook his head with a smile, draining his glass. "I need the real stuff now."
Morgan got up from his chair. "I'm there too," he smiled. "Although the Bailey's was mighty fine after that meal," he smiled at Emily. Matt pointed at him with a smile. "I'll pour, you tell stories Cob," Morgan smiled brighter. Dave handed his glass to Morgan as well.
"Time out," Tara said. The rest looked at her. "If it's story time, I need to know all the players." She looked at Matt. "I know who Colin is; he's your youngest right?" Matt nodded with a smile. "Who's Wilma?"
Matt smiled again. "Our seventy-five pound yellow lab."
"Got it," Tara said. Morgan handed Matt his glass, now filled with scotch on the rocks.
"Proceed Matthew," Dave gently ordered, taking his glass from Morgan with a smile. Hotch winked at Matt with a smile, handing his glass to Morgan to refill as well.
"For some damn reason other than it fits in Colin's world, he decided a week ago that he would leave his socks laying on the bedroom floor. Abbey and I both bit him in the butt about it. But in Colin's world, it was all good because the next day the socks would disappear. Our first thought is Raquel is picking up after her little niño that has her wrapped around his little finger and the dickweed knows it."
Dave smiled, leaning his head back in the recliner in the room. "I already know where this story is going," he laughed.
Matt looked at him. "Ignore him," Emily said, "and keep talking."
"So Abbey and I asked Raquel. She said 'no, I support you two in your discipline of my niños'. Abbey and I had figured Cam would finally step in, sharing a room with him because Colin's socks stink when he takes them off."
"Like father, like son," Hotch smiled.
"Thank you for that Hotch," Morgan said, handing him his glass.
Matt looked around the room. "Remember last Friday when I left the building for lunch?" They all nodded. "That's because I got a frantic call from Raquel. Wilma hadn't ate her dinner the night before and passed on her breakfast as well. Raquel, knowing she wasn't feeling good, let her out and kept on eye on her. She tried and tried to poop and couldn't. When Raquel let her in, she was wobbly with her eyes rolling around. I went home to rush Wilma to the vet."
Emily looked at Dave. "And you wonder why I have a cat? Because I know where the socks are as well."
"Very good Emily," Dave smiled. Emily flipped him off.
Matt laughed along with the rest. "The vet had to do emergency surgery Saturday morning to remove Colin's socks from Wilma's stomach." Matt shook his head. "To quote my wife, 'to the tune of eighteen hundred dollars'."
"Ouch is right," Morgan said, sitting down with his refreshed glass.
"So Abbey is dealing with one kid moping around because he can't use his DS; and a dumb dog that doesn't like the cone around her head so she can't get at her stitches."
"And dad is coming home to lay out the real punishment," Hotch smiled.
"Yup," Matt smiled and then laughed. "But Wilma still gets to sleep with mom tonight."
"Now that's not fair," Reid said, looking at Matt.
"Don't start on me Doc," Matt said.
"Our pets are part of the family and loved," Dave smiled. Dave got the Rossi point back from Matt.
"Let me get this straight," Tara said, looking at Matt. "This is usual in your world?"
Matt laughed. "With three kids and a dog? And throw in a slightly hot-headed Honduran nanny slash housekeeper?" He laughed more. "The circus is always in town."
The rest of the team, including Hotch, laughed.
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