Chapter 13

The team returned to the Dallas Field Office as the clock read nine. Hotch's cell buzzed with an update from Matt. Hotch put it on speaker. "Dave's got one cracked rib; the bullet nailed it. The doc said that means the other two, below and above, are going to be bruised as well. They're going to kick him out in a bit."

Cruz looked at the stalwart leader of the team. "Hotch shut this down for the night. We've all put in long hours already. We get back here tomorrow at ten; wrap up what we need to with the locals, pack our gear and head back home."

Hotch smiled at him. "Was that the third or the fourth text you got from Matt?"

Cruz looked at Hollins who had joined them. "Malcolm, a word of advice; don't work with profilers," he smiled.

"Mat, this merry band of profilers are welcomed in this office anytime," he smiled, shaking his hand. "And you're right. Get them the hell out of here." The team, along with SWAT teams, finished signing off on the evidence they had logged in; the laptop with the videos of the accidents filmed with Baxter's glasses; the glasses as well. The FBI teams found everything. The BAU crew shut the conference room down.

By eleven that evening, the team were all in Hotch's Dallas hotel room, drinking beer and eating pizza. Aaron looked at his watch again. "Hotch," Morgan smiled. "Relax man; Matt said they were on the way."

They all heard the door open two minutes later. Dave walked in first, followed by Matt. They looked around to see some of the trash baskets from the team's rooms filled with ice and bottled beer. Morgan pulled out an ice cold Miller Lite and handed it to Matt, taking a long swig of his own Bud Light. Matt uncapped it and they clinked beer bottle necks. Matt winked at him. "I think I'm done sitting tonight," he said, taking a long tug of his beer.

Morgan laughed and nodded at Matt. JJ, Prentiss and Blake were all over Dave, getting him gently settled into a chair, with Hotch keeping a close eye. Cruz walked up to the two of them smiling, drinking his own beer. "I think Agent Taylor you're officially off duty."

"Roger that sir," he smiled. His cell buzzed in his pocket and Matt fished it out. He looked at the caller ID and rolled his eyes at Morgan and Cruz. "Then again; maybe not." He put the phone to his ear. "Hi babe; we just back to the hotel room. Dave's fine and here with us." Cruz and Morgan shared a smile and Matt moved into the adjoining room to talk to Abbey in private. He walked in a couple minutes later saying, "We'll be home tomorrow afternoon. When I have an ETA, I'll let you know." He listened for a minute and smiled. "I'll add that to all the attention Dave is getting. He's milking a couple bum ribs for all he's worth." Dave gave Matt a one finger salute and took a sip of his beer. "Love you too babe. Good night; see you tomorrow." Reid handed Rossi a plate with pizza slices as Matt dug in as well.

When Dave finished eating, Matt looked at him, pulling out a prescription bottle from his pocket. "Scotch or Percocet? You can't have both."

"Scotch," Dave smiled. "I'll save the pills for tomorrow." Matt tossed the bottle to Hotch as Morgan poured Dave's magic elixir.

"Chief Cruz said I'm off duty for the rest of the night. He's all yours," Matt devilishly smiled at Hotch.

-00CM00-

The team walked into the conference room at ten the next morning. They dived into taking down all the boards and gathered the files they had created. Dave sat in a chair, marking each box with notations that were needed to summarize what each box held. "Why in the hell do I get this job," Dave groused with a question.

Matt smiled. "Because you've been milking being on the DL."

Reid beamed. "Better you than me."

"Screw you both," Rossi responded. Matt and Reid shared a high five.

Cruz and Hotch finished the final paperwork with Hollins, which was considerable with so many Field Offices involved. Matt and Morgan helped stack the boxes next to a wall as they were filled. It was up to the Field Office staff to get them shipped to the BAU. They knew the drill.

Tanya Mays dropped in as they were about to pack up briefcases with their laptops and Tablets. "Sorry, I didn't get to connect with all of you on this one, but I'm working my own case. Great job again," she smiled. "I'd love to talk with all of you more, but I'm waiting on a search warrant to catch my own idiot. Have a safe trip home."

Hotch and Matt shook her hand, wishing her well. She nodded at the rest and headed to her office. Matt's cell buzzed. He looked at the text and then Hotch. "Chuck and Angie's flight plan is cleared and the jet is fueled and ready to go." Hotch smiled his assent.

An hour later, the team put their weapons into their go bags so they could be loaded on the jet at Dallas Love Field. It was Chuck and Angie's favorite option to dealing with Dallas-Fort Worth International. Cruz got a very sore Dave on the jet and settled into the two top of seats in the back.

Hotch got on behind them, dumping his briefcase in the seat next to Matt's. He went into the aft galley and grabbed a bottle of water from the small fridge and handed it to Dave. "Take a pill and sleep." Cruz nodded and smiled at Dave. The rest of the team got on quickly and found seats, stowing their briefcases.

Matt got on last, checked in with Chuck and Angie, and looked the team over as he made his way to his seat. After handing his briefcase to Hotch for him to stow, he pulled a blanket from an overhead bin and tucked it around Dave. "Good night sweetheart," he devilishly smiled. Dave just smiled, putting his legs up on the other seat.

Twenty minutes later, the wonderful flight crew that served the BAU team had them winging towards home. Dave softly snored. Once they reached cruising altitude with a promised smooth ride back to Quantico, the team took their seatbelts off and milled around. Cruz eyed Hotch and Matt across the four top. "I've heard a rumor floating around about a cribbage board on this bird," he smiled.

Hotch and Matt looked at each other, smiled, then focused on Cruz again. "Do you want to take the two of us on alone," Hotch challenged.

"Or do you need a partner for back-up," Matt finished.

"Oh a partner," Cruz laughed. "I definitely need the back-up." He looked at JJ.

JJ shook her head. "I've still got some aches from the last time. Recruit Emily; I'm sitting this mission out." The team all laughed at the joke, yet still remembering how close they all came to losing the two of them a month ago.

Hotch provided the ace to gain the winning point of the rubber match. "Goddamn you Hotch; I always thought Cob had the ace up his sleeve," Emily snarked.

JJ's cell buzzed with a text. Meet you at the Taylor's. Henry been staying there. See ya then. Luvs, W.

JJ looked at the Irishman. "Matt, Henry has been staying with Abbey and the kids this whole time?"

He smiled. "Will had a big case and Kate's mom ended up needing surgery." He shook his head with a smile. "It's all good, except for one thing."

Hotch eyed him. Matt smiled. "You really, really think Jack was going to walk away from that?" Hotch shook his head with a smile as Cruz did as well. "Jess has been there both nights to help Abbey out after Raquel left."

Matt's cell buzzed with his own text. He pulled it out and looked at it with a smile. Hey! ETA?

Matt hit the speed dial, putting it on speaker. "Hi babe; is Operation Team Relax a go?"

"Roger that Colonel. Raquel has the chicken hotdish heating up and I'm kicking her out the door while I'm stirring up a veggie quiche for Garcia and Kevin."

"Let me guess how that is going," he smiled. "Raquel isn't leaving until she gets hugs and loves from all her Niño's getting off the big yellow bus."

Abbey smiled, having her cell on speaker as well. "No I'm not," the occasional Honduran hot head that Matt could push her buttons and loved to spar with said. "I get my loves from my Niño's."

"Love ya Raquel; thanks again for everything sweetheart."

"Da nada Matt; Senor Dave? Is he OK?"

Matt slightly laughed. "The pain pills are working quite well Raquel. Senor Dave is sound asleep." A moment of quiet on the jet was interrupted by Dave snoring. The team all laughed. "See you both in a bit," Matt said. "Abbey, call Garcia to make sure her and Kevin are there. She has our ETA."

"See you soon Matt." The call ended.

Cruz looked around. "What the hell is going on?"

Reid smiled. "We're eating good in the neighborhood." Morgan and Blake shared a high five.

-00CM00-

Hotch quickly blew out of the go room after the team got to the BAU. Matt caught up to him as Hotch was locking his office door. The two of them had sent Dave home, with Matt taking care of his go bag. "What gives Hotch?"

He smiled, pulling his arm out from his suit coat to look at his watch. "I've got to pick up Beth at the Huntington Metro Station. She's got a long weekend."

Matt rubbed his shoulder. "See ya at the house," he smiled. Hotch nodded and flew down the steps. Matt smiled and headed to his office. He re-connected his laptop to the Bureau system, grabbed his briefcase and headed out as well.

The elevator he was on stopped on the next floor down and Cruz walked on. He looked Matt in the eye. "You're sure your wife and Raquel are OK with this?"

Matt smiled. "They are more than OK with this. Why don't you follow me to the house?"

Cruz parked his car behind the SUV that he recognized as Hotch's as Matt pulled his truck into the garage. Matt waited for Cruz to enter the garage, his luggage bag in hand. Matt reached into the beer fridge and pulled out a Miller Lite. He waved Cruz to the fridge door. "The team is here quite a bit," he smiled. "Take your pick." Cruz pulled out a bottle and Matt uncapped it for him. He nodded towards the door, opening it for Cruz.

"Make yourself at home Mat," he smiled. They walked in together, with Matt putting his luggage bag on the steps to the upper bedroom suite. They walked into the kitchen and Abbey met her husband with open arms. They shared a deep and quiet hug and a kiss. Matt introduced the Section Chief to his wife and Raquel.

The five kids went off. Again. "Hey dad!" Matt heard from his sons as they left their cartoon to welcome home another one of their conquering heroes. Matt gathered them both in his strong arms to hug them.

He looked at Colin. "Did you behave while I was gone?"

Colin thought for a second. "Did the best I could dad."

Abbey shook her head, standing next to Cruz as he smiled. "That's all I want son; you do your best; and then maybe a little better." Colin beamed and Matt kissed his cheek. Matt looked Cam in the eye. "You and Jack helped mom and Aunt Jess hold down the fort?"

"You know it dad," he smiled.

"You rock son; I'm proud of you," Matt said, placing a kiss on his forehead. Cam beamed his response. He put the boys down and pulled Casee into a hug. "Hi luvs; missed you much. You got a smoochie for me?"

She let go of the bear hug she had her father's neck in and gave him a wet, sloppy kiss. "That's the lovin' I need," Matt smiled. He put her down and grabbed Henry, tossing him into the air. "Hey hammerin' Hank!" That was Matt's nickname for the young LaMontagne, remembering listening to Atlanta Braves games on the radio with his grandfather that remembered the Braves in Milwaukee.

"Hey Uncle Matt," Henry beamed, giving Matt a hug. "Is momma coming here soon?"

Matt put his forehead against Henry's, smiling. "And maybe an extra surprise." He crouched down to put Henry on the floor and looked at Jack. "You gettin' too old to give me a hug?"

"No way Uncle Matt," Jack smiled. Cruz looked at Hotch and Beth beaming. Hotch introduced Beth to Mat as Matt gave Wilma and Mudg their glad I'm home rubdown. Both the dogs barked their delight as he finished. Beth and Matt shared a hug.

Dave walked in five minutes later. It took all the adults, save Cruz to keep the kids from attacking him. Abbey and Beth got him tucked into the recliner in the living room with boys jumping back on the couch to resume watching their cartoon. Dave laughed along with the kids watching Tom and Jerry.

Morgan came in a few minutes later, beer in hand. He made his way around the kitchen island, playing his ladies' man persona to the hilt with Raquel, Abbey and Beth. Hotch and Cruz just shook their heads at each other; then noticed Matt. He was beaming.

Casee, with her piercing blue eyes met Morgan in the kitchen, her hands on her hips. Matt winked at Cruz and Hotch. "Whoa," Morgan said.

"You and me need to talk D." Morgan froze. Casee laughed, holding out her arms. Morgan smiled and picked her up in his muscular arm, getting a kiss on the cheek from her. "D, you didn't get a picture the other night. Do you still love me?"

"Always, my luvs," he smiled, softly kissing her cheek. "Just seeing all you kids makes my day. But hey you; don't you have a job to do?"

"Derek?"

"Doesn't Uncle Big Dog need his favorite nurse," he asked, smiling at Casee. Casee kissed his cheek again as Derek carried her into the living room. Dave held out his right arm with his soft smile and Derek tucked Casee into the right side of Dave's chest. Derek looked at the four boys on the couch, intently watching the cartoon. He dived on the couch, setting off another melee with the boys.

Matt shook his head at the Section Chief. "When it's down time, sometimes it's hard to figure out with this group who the kids really are." Cruz roared.

As dusk settled in the area with all the team gathered, the Taylor home was once again filled with the laughter and love of the BAU family.

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