A/N: It's Monday! I know; bah humbug. Here's a little something for the start of the work week.

Chapter 11

By Tuesday, the emails and texts between Zach, Beth, Rachel and Dave were daily as they made plans for the weekend. Aaron came into the kitchen Thursday after work, his tie undone. Zach was putting together a small pan of broccoli casserole, a favorite of the older Hotchner men but much to the ire of the youngest. "Dad, do I really have to eat some of that?"

"Yes, you do," Aaron smiled, rubbing his head as he pulled off his suitcoat. "What's the rest of the menu Zach?"

"Pork chops on the grill, baked potatoes in the oven and Jell-O for the squirt so we don't have a complete mutiny." Jack stuck his tongue out as his brother. Aaron laughed. "You're on bread patrol."

Aaron looked at the halves of French bread Zach had thawing on the counter. "See Jack," he smiled, "you get cheese bread."

Jack shook his head. "There's still broccoli," he grumbled.

-00CM00-

A little after lunch Friday, Aaron was at his desk, doing paperwork as usual. Mat Cruz softly knocked on his open door and walked in. "You get Cooper's team briefed on the case in Santa Fe?"

Aaron nodded his head. "They're heading for the jet as we speak."

"How was Cooper?"

"Sir?"

"He grumbled a bit to me this morning about his team working back to back cases for three weeks in a row." Hotch looked at him. "I reminded Sam that he's said loudly on more than one occasion he's allergic to office environments," Cruz smiled. "And added that maybe his team is learning what your team does most of the time," he smiled.

Hotch smiled. "That explains everything. He was pretty quiet." Hotch softly laughed. "Thanks Mat; he got the kick in the butt he needed. He doesn't want to be in the office? Fine; but then step up to the plate."

"Agreed," Cruz said. "Plans for the weekend Aaron," he asked with a smile.

"Yeah," Aaron smiled back. "Zach's birthday was Wednesday. He wanted to go to Dave's cabin for the weekend; Caleigh and her family our joining us."

Cruz smiled. "A birthday and Father's Day?" Hotch nodded. "Beth coming down?"

"Jack, Dave and I are picking her up at the Huntington Metro stop around four to head to out." He looked at Cruz. "Any plans for your Father's Day?"

Cruz smiled. "Teresa and I are both from NYC; we'll meet Beth's train in passing. Both of our fathers are still around," he said, rising from his chair with a smile. "The girls get to spoil them. Have a great weekend Hotch," he added.

"You too Mat."

-00CM00-

Zach and Jack pulled into the driveway behind their dad. They all got out together. Aaron looked at Zach. "Did you get Dave's stuff?"

"I've got all of Dave's groceries he wants to bring along and got his cooler packed per his orders," Zach smiled. "They're in the back of my truck."

"What's next," Aaron asked, pulling off his suitcoat. They air was warm with a touch of humidity.

"My suitcase is already in; we just need to get our cooler ready and loaded. Then I'll head over to Caleigh's and pick her up," he said, hauling out a twenty pound bag of ice cubes from the back. Zach had the cooler sitting by the fridge in the garage. Aaron helped him put in the eight gallons of milk that would probably last until Saturday afternoon, given the size of the crew of the males that weekend. Zach added the ice and Aaron helped him put in the back of his truck.

He noticed that Zach took his end of the cooler handle with his left hand. "Zach?"

"Dad; it's still not 100 percent. I get the summer to let it heal. I'm not going to set it back."

Aaron smiled. "Good thinking son," as they shoved the loaded cooler into the back of Zach's pick-up. Jack climbed up into the truck bed to help attach the bungee cords to keep the load from sliding. When they finished, Jack jumped down from the truck's tailgate and Zach shut it.

"You got a key right," Aaron asked. Zach just looked at him with the exasperated look that Jack had already perfected. Aaron laughed. "Drive safe son; see you later."

"You too dad," Zach smiled. "Have Beth shoot Caleigh a text when you're on the road."

"You got it Zach."

"See ya when I see ya bro," Jack smiled. Aaron shook his head. It was obvious that he had a watched Delta Force with his brother and Pete three too many times. They shared a knuckle bump and Zach climbed into his truck, buckled his seatbelt, and waved at the two of them as he backed out of the driveway.

Twenty minutes later, Zach pulled into the Graystone driveway. He noticed Mike's car parked behind Caleigh's. As Zach unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the truck, Mike came out with Caleigh's suitcase and another one. "Zach, mind if I throw my suitcase in with you two? Dad's trunk isn't exactly the biggest," he smiled. "And guess how mom is packing?"

Zach rolled his eyes. "No bets Mike," he smiled. He opened the back door to have Mike put the suitcases in there. "Your cooler ready?"

It was Mike's turn to roll his eyes. "You deal with mom," he laughed.

"Thanks bro," Zach sarcastically said.

Zach walked into the kitchen to hear Caleb say, "Mom, it's OK."

"Mom," Caleigh added, "we're not going to outer Mongolia. I know there's a grocery store around there."

Zach kissed Rachel's cheek. "Abe's Place," he smiled. "And while they make a buck off the tourist crowd in the summer, they don't gouge people too bad."

Mike looked at his mother. "Everything in?"

Rachel looked at him. "Maybe one more check?"

Mike shut the cover and nodded at Zach. They carried it to the truck. Caleb opened the truck gate and Mike and Zach got the cooler in. Mike took an appreciative look in. "Nice job getting the two big coolers strapped in. They won't slide."

Zach pulled out another bungee cord. "Let's make sure on this one." Caleb hopped up into the bed to help. Mike headed to his car, beeping the trunk open. He pulled out two cases of Miller Lite and put them against the two big coolers. He winked at Zach. "You and I are going to drink some beer this weekend."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Zach beamed. Caleigh shook her head at her mom and opened the passenger door to the truck. She put her overloaded backpack in behind her seat. Zach looked at Mike.

He roared. "Get used to it kid."

Rachel pulled Zach into a hug. "Drive safe," she said.

"Always," he responded, giving her a hug. "Let us know when you're on the road." He kissed her cheek.

"You got it Zach," she smiled, rubbing his bicep. Zach and Caleigh said their good-byes. They got in, taking off for a weekend that they all hoped would be Shangri-La.

The couple enjoyed Zach's Nano with its eclectic song mixture that Pete's brother had wired into Zach's radio system in his truck. They sang along to some of the tunes while sharing a soft conversation in between. Caleigh's cell buzzed with two messages; the rest were an hour behind them, but on the road. Caleigh laughed at the texts she got.

From Beth: Dave's pissed that he's in the backseat with Jack and Mudg. Sorry Dave; I'm his lover; you sit in the backseat with the kid and the dog. Zach roared as well. "Tell Beth to rock on for me," he said as he tooled his truck down the interstate highway. Caleigh, giggling, typed like a fiend.

From Rachel: Finally on the road; dad was home on time for a change! I think we're all sorta looking forward to this weekend.

From Mike: Hey Sis; there's a part of me that wanted to ride with you and Zach. I know he's still babying that arm of his. He picked up the cooler with his left arm. But two's company and three's a crowd! I sorta luvs ya sis and that dummy you've got in your life. Don't let him unload those coolers on his own; make him wait til the rest of us get there. Bite him in the butt if you have to; but Sis, don't let him do it on his own. And I haven't been home in two weeks. Having fun catching up with mom and dad and needling Bub. :D Caleigh only told Zach the last part of Mike's message. Zach laughed at them all and then belted out singing along again with Johnny Cash on Folsom Prison Blues.

They all had made out through their planning that dinner would be on the road. Whether it was sit down or drive-through was up to each group. Zach and Caleigh chose drive-through, hitting the last McDonald's before they would pull off the freeway to take the two lane state road to Dave's cabin.

Zach eyed Caleigh as they pulled into the drive-through. "You sure," he asked. "We can go in and take a break."

"Do you want to," Caleigh asked in return.

Zach shook his head. "Not really; I want to get to the cabin," he smiled.

Caleigh beamed. "So do I." Zach looked at her. "Zach, I've heard how many stories about Uncle Dave's cabin from you and Jack?" Caleigh looked at him with the soft eyes that were one of the many reasons he fell in love with her. "I want to get there as much as you do."

Zach paid for their dinner order and pulled out of the drive-up, heading back out onto the freeway. As they finished their dinners, with Zach pulling onto State Highway 39, Caleigh looked at him, shoving the last of the French Fry boxes and soda cups into the bag. "Zach, how close are we?"

He smiled. "About forty minutes; why?"

"We need to talk."

"Cal?"

"Zach, Mike picked up on that you lifted the cooler into the truck with you left arm." Zach looked at her for a glance, then putting his eyes back on the road. "How is your arm?"

Zach shook his head. "It's getting there." Caleigh gave him the version of the Hotchner glare that she had learned. "OK," he smiled. "It's still not 100 percent." He looked at Caleigh. "I admitted the same thing to dad. So yes; I'm still babying it. But I've got a whole summer to do it."

Caleigh looked at him. "Be honest with me."

Zach drove for a minute before he answered. "Cal, I still can't get my thumb with that arm more than half way up my back." Caleigh looked at him. "That was Sara's biggest measurement; she let me go to do what I did for the team." He shook his head. "But it's still not there."

Caleigh shook her head. "We've all suspected that Zach; me, your dad, Uncle Dave. Why didn't you say something?"

"Because Cal, I wanted to help out the team; babe, that's the only thing that kept me sane through all this. That maybe I could come back and help out towards the end of the season."

Caleigh looked at him. "How'd those throws feel to TJ Memorial Day weekend? Far less in the Regional?"

Zach smiled. "Like heaven," he said, shooting her a sideways look as he drove. "But it barked pretty badly afterwards." Caleigh shook her head. "Babe; I love you. It got tested; which honestly, shared the shit out of me." Caleigh looked at him. "But I know it's good for the most part. I just take the summer off and let if finally heal."

Caleigh looked at him with her sideway smile; another look that Zach fell in love with. "So you'll listen to me and let your dad or Mike help you with the coolers?"

"Yes dear," Zach smiled.

Caleigh smacked his lower bicep of his right arm. "Asshole."

Zach beamed. "Yes dear."

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