Chapter 14

Caleigh woke to her cell phone alarm going off at 6:15. She had an eight o'clock class that Zach would have to get her to, with his first class at nine. Yet she knew he would be up to see Jack off to school. That meant they both had to shower before Jack got up. Since she slept through the game, she let Zach sleep a bit more.

She quickly got her shower done and pulled on the clothes she had worn to the hospital early Friday morning. No one will know differently she smiled as she pulled them on. Zach was up and waiting for her, with his TV softly on to a local station as she exited his bathroom. They exchanged a quick kiss and Zach went into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, he came out in a clean pair of boxers, shaved and ready for the day. He put his day old boxers and t-shirt into the hamper in the laundry room. Looking at the hamper, he shook his head. That needs some attention tonight since my weekend got thrown out of whack. He headed into his room, pulled on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He smelt coffee brewing in the kitchen. Caleigh can drink that stuff to no end he thought, shaking his head.

He looked at his alarm clock and stuffed his socks into his tennis shoes and padded up the steps barefoot, dropping them in the foyer and headed into the kitchen. Uncle Sean was already up, sipping a cup of coffee with Caleigh. "Zach do you care if I get Jack up," he smiled.

"Hell no Uncle Sean; go for it." Sean set down his coffee cup and started to head out. "Just be prepared."

He stuck his head back in the kitchen with a question on his face. "World War III doesn't compare to the first five minutes of trying to get him out of bed," Zach smiled. Sean looked at him. "He's all yours." Sean looked at the "gotcha" Zach smile and headed towards Jack's room, shaking his head.

Yet Sean was able to get his youngest nephew moving with the thought that maybe dad would be home, waiting for him after school. After a few minutes, he had Jack up and chased into the bathroom.

Zach started Jack's breakfast, hearing him in the bathroom. He got his oatmeal going as Caleigh poured him a glass of orange juice. Sean got him chased back into his room and watched him get dressed in the clothes he had put out the night before at Zach's insistence. Jack grabbed his bookbag, with Aunt Jess' signature on his homework assignments being done and flew into the kitchen with Sean behind him. He crawled into one of the counter chairs and took a sip of his orange juice.

Zach pulled his bowl of oatmeal out of the microwave and added the light topping of brown sugar that Jack loved, along with some milk. Caleigh put in her bowl of oatmeal as well, looking at Zach. "Aren't you going to eat any breakfast?"

Zach shook his head. "After I get you to class, I've got an hour to kill. And the grill in the Student Union serves the best diner style breakfasts. And I've still got some of Uncle Dave's funny money. I'm going to splurge; the number six. Two eggs cooked to order, a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, hashbrowns and two pancakes," he smiled.

Caleigh shook her head as Sean got Jack to shovel in another mouthful of oatmeal. "Heart attack in the future on a plate," she said, shaking her head.

Zach smiled at her, downing his glass of apple juice and kissed her. "Two plates actually," he said. Caleigh just rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she joined Jack at the lunch counter and ate her oatmeal as well.

He pulled his wallet out and handed Caleigh a twenty. "Try it yourself; I know you have two hours to kill after your eight o'clock class." Caleigh looked in Zach's wallet and pulled out a ten dollar bill. "Works for me," she smiled. Zach shoved the twenty back in, taking another drink of his apple juice.

Sean laughed at the two of them. "You two are how old? And been dating how long? You already sound like an old married couple," he smiled. He looked at Jack. "Eat," he simply said. Jack plowed into his oatmeal, finally getting awake.

Jack and Caleigh finished their oatmeal at the same time. Zach chased Jack down the hall to get his teeth brushed as Caleigh rinsed the two bowls and got them in the dishwasher. Zach added the juice glasses and went to the foyer to get his socks and shoes on. Caleigh drained her lukewarm coffee and added the cup to the top rank. She went downstairs to brush her teeth.

They all converged in the foyer. Zach handed Jack his coat, which got he zipped up on his own. Caleigh gave him a hug. "See you this afternoon Jack," she smiled.

He smiled back. "Will dad be here?"

She pulled his jacket collar up a bit for the morning chill, pulling his stocking cap down over his ears better. "Let's just hope," she smiled, giving him a kiss.

Jack powered into Sean for a hug and then looked at Zach. Zach lifted him up and gave him a huge hug. "Bro, like Caleigh said, we can only hope. After my classes, Caleigh and me will meet Uncle Sean at the hospital and we'll find out."

"Zach is there a way you can let me know?"

"I don't know Jack; let's see what happens first."

Caleigh rubbed Zach's back, looking out the tall windows on each side of the foyer door. "Bus," she simply said. Zach shut off the alarm and Sean opened the door, pulling Jack into a hug.

He carried him out the door and then set him down behind the bushes the covered the walkway from the front door to the driveway, giving his cheek as kiss. "Get going big guy," he smiled. Jack raced down the driveway as Marie, Jack's current bus driver opened the bus door. Zach stood in the doorway, like always did when their dad wasn't home and watched Jack get on the bus, waving at him as he got on the first step with his usual smile. Zach and Sean both waved back. Sean was standing next to him as Marie closed the bus door and waved at Zach. He waved back with a smile.

They both entered in and Zach looked at his watch. "Cal, we've got to get rolling with traffic."

Zach looked at Sean. "What's your plan this morning," he asked, reaching for his jacket.

"Watch a little TV, take a long, hot shower and leave for the hospital around nine."

"Text me with an update after you see dad."

"Me too," Caleigh chimed in.

"I need a number sweetheart," he smiled. They pulled out their cellphones and quickly exchanged numbers. Zach and Caleigh grabbed their bookbags and headed to the garage.

"Uncle Sean, do you remember the security code for the alarm?"

"Yes Zach; get your ass moving."

They kids flew out the door, waving their good-byes. Sean just smiled.

-00CM00-

Sean walked into Aaron's room a little after 9:30 to see the curtain pulled around Aaron's bed. Since he heard a nurse asking him about the boys, he figured it wasn't anything major and temptation took over. "Hey bro; I thought you already had a woman in your life?"

Aaron looked at Janice and rolled his eyes. "I'm getting my surgical dressing changed you ass." Janice just laughed at the brothers.

Five minutes later, Janice pushed the curtain open and waved her left hand at him. "Besides, I'm married," she smiled.

Sean shrugged with a smile. "Sorry; you weren't my target and I couldn't resist." She laughed and exited the room.

Sean walked to the bed. "How do you feel Aaron?"

"Ready to get out of this bed; give me a hand please," he said, adding the Hotchner glare, "and no bullshit. Just help me." Sean laughed and helped him get out.

"Hey bro; you did most of that on your own. Are you faking it to get the hell out of here, or do you really feel that good?"

"Right now, I feel that good. I slept like a log, had a decent breakfast and I'm starting to get antsy," he said, walking to the recliner. He sat down and reached for the lever to get the footrest up. He winced a bit.

"Let me do that Aaron; don't push things around here. The boys really want you home today."

Aaron nodded. "I want to go home too. I'm starting to go a bit stir crazy in here."

"Have you heard anything more on that?"

"Janice just told me Dr. Mercer is in surgery for the morning. After he finishes, and Zach gets here after classes, he'll meet with us all."

"So we've got waiting game until the kids get here," Sean stated with a bit of a question. Aaron nodded. Sean pulled out his cell and sent that message to Zach and Caleigh. "The kids are updated."

Aaron looked at him. "Did Caleigh stay at the house last night?"

"You mean did Caleigh stay and sleep with Zach? Yes, she did," he said. "And you should have heard them at breakfast. They sound like they've been married for ten years," he added with a big smile. "You ready for a daughter-in-law bro?"

Aaron smiled. "If it's her; more than ready; but don't go renting your tux yet. I know those two; it's graduation first, then they'll think about the wedding."

"Thank God; I hate wearing a tux," Sean said. They both looked around the room. "So now what Aaron?"

"Sean, is there a gift shop on the first floor; one that might have a morning paper?"

Sean smiled. "Great idea; I'll be back in a bit." Sean got up and headed for the door and then stopped and looked at Aaron. "Give Beth my love," he wickedly smiled. Aaron looked at him. "You may be the profiler, but I noticed you slip your cell into your robe pocket. And no phone sex," he said, waving his index finger at his brother. "You want to get out of here, remember?"

Aaron flipped him off as Sean left the room laughing.

Sean returned ten minutes later, and as he predicted, Aaron was talking with Beth.

"Oh babe, don't do that to me." He paused. "Please don't babe, I really can't," he moaned. "I really want to, but I can't," he almost panted, shutting his eyes.

"Aaron?" Beth said. Sean just stared at him.

Aaron laughed. "Two can play the game Sean," he said, adding an explanation to Beth of what had transpired earlier. Beth roared with laughter. Aaron put her on speaker phone.

"Well, if that's any indication how the two of you are going to spend the day, someone might as well call Jack and break the bad news to him that dad won't be home today," she chided. The brothers both laughed.

"Actually Beth, I'm gonna read the news section while Sean reads the sports section."

"And then we'll fight over answers to the crossword puzzle," Sean added, looking at Aaron. The brothers shared a smile and a Zach approved finger point.

Beth laughed. "Well, you two play good together. I've got to get back to work. Call me later Aaron, OK?"

"I promise; love you Beth," he smiled.

"Love you Beth," Sean added, mimicking his brother. Aaron shook his head.

Beth laughed. "I love you both; take care Aaron."

"Talk to you tonight," he said, ending the call. Sean put his feet up on the coffee table and threw the news section at Aaron with a laugh. He pulled out the sports section.

Both of them read for about ten minutes, when Aaron put his part of the paper down and looked at Sean. Sean looked back at him. "The age difference between Zach and Jack is just about like us. Do you think they'll get along the way we do when they're adults?"

Sean looked at him. "Hell no Aaron; the oldest one is smarter than that." He looked at his brother and then laughed. Aaron just shook his head and went back to reading his paper.

###