A/N: Thanks for the reviews and alerts!

Chapter 14

By Tuesday night, the team was landing in Duluth, Minnesota. And after that, they were in Jackson, Mississippi.

While they were gone, Caleigh had spent some time with the boys. She joined them in the park a couple of times to play with Mudg, having their usual wonderful time. And one afternoon, since it was late, she joined them at the local McDonald's for dinner. Caleigh didn't want to be a crutch for them, yet she wanted to help Zach out when she could with her summer job schedule.

On a rainy Wednesday morning before Labor Day, Zach and Jack were putting a puzzle together when Zach's cell rang. He looked at it, didn't recognize the number and let it go. Two minutes later, his cell pinged with a voice message. Hey Zach, it's Rachel. Caleigh told me your dad has been gone for a while. Please let me cook dinner for you and Jack tonight to give you a break. You need it. I'm on a quick break at work. Call Caleigh and let her know what you think.

Zach smiled deeply. He needed the break. He looked at Jack. "Bro, would you mind if we ate dinner at Caleigh's house tonight? Her mom said she'd cook for us and I need the break."

Jack smiled. "I know you do Zach. But…." he hedged. Zach knew that new situations in his brother's life made him nervous.

Zach smiled at his brother. "Do you think Caleigh is cool?"

"She's way cool Zack."

"So is her mom and dad," he smiled. "They're trying to help us out. Doesn't that say something to you?" Zach grinned from ear to ear as he heard the wheels in Jack's head turning.

Jack nodded his head. "Let's do it Zach. You need a break," he smiled. Zach called Caleigh and gave her the news.

As the time got nearer, Jack walked into Zach's room. "Do I need to dress up?"

Zach shook his head. "This is what I'm wearing," he smiled. Zach was in his basketball shorts, a t-shirt and his flip flops. Jack was wearing pretty much the same thing. Zach smiled. "Jack, that's how comfortable we'll be; we can dress like this."

Jack smiled and then sorta shook his head. "But I'm still getting a little tummy ache Z-man," he said, looking at Zach.

Zach crouched down and wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulder. "Jack, it's going to be OK. Trust me," he smiled. Jack looked at him. "You know what I think you should do?" Jack shook his head. "I think you need to put a coloring book and some of your colors in your backpack. You can color Caleigh's mom a picture to thank her for cooking for us. Rachel can tape it up on her fridge to remind her how much she helped us out. Maybe Caleigh will help you color it," he smiled, rubbing Jack's back.

Jack smiled his megawatt Hotchner smile. "That's a good idea Z-man."

"Then JP, let's get it done," Zach smiled. Jack sped off to his room.

Mudg, stretching from his afternoon nap, started to follow Jack. "Mudg," Zach said with a whistle, "you're with me." Mudg came back down the steps. Since the boys slept together in the downstairs level together when the team was out and they had Mudg, the food and water dishes that Zach had bought when he and Jack started taking care of Mudg were in the laundry room.

Zach let Mudg out his patio door and filled his food dish. Using the laundry sink, he gave him fresh water as well. Jack hollered down from the landing/entry way. "I'm ready Zach!"

"Bro, hang on a sec, I'm letting Mudg out and getting him fed." Jack rumbled down the steps. When Jack entered Zach's den, Mudg barked at the door and Jack let him in as Zach appeared from the laundry room. Mudg made a beeline to the laundry room and his dinner. Zach helped Jack get the patio door shut, put the round wooden trowel into the opposite side of the patio door floor track so it couldn't be slid open from the outside and nodded at Jack with a smile. After Foyet, security for the home was still number one. Both the boys understood.

Zach set the alarm and they went to garage and climbed into Zach's truck. Zach made his way to the Graystone home. As he pulled to the stop sign to make the left onto their street, he looked across the intersection to Tom, signaling a right turn. They waved at each other, and Tom made his turn. Zach followed the rules of traffic and then made his turn.

When he pulled down the street, he noticed Tom in driveway waving him in. Zach pulled his truck in behind Tom's car. Tom smiled as Zach got out, opening the door for Jack. "It's a busy street Zach and I know how you take care of Jack. It's safer here in the driveway."

"Thanks Tom," he smiled, helping Jack climb down.

Tom walked up to Zach's truck as Jack was getting out, grabbing his backpack. "Hi Jack," he smiled. Jack took the shy route, standing close to Zach.

Zach crouched down. "Bro, this is Caleigh's dad; he's a good guy," he said rubbing his back.

Tom smiled at him, bending down, putting his hand out. "I'm Tom," he smiled at the young boy, gently putting his hand out.

The youngest Hotchner smiled, taking the hand. "I'm Jack," he shyly smiled.

Tom winked at him. "Already got that one figure out Jack," he said. "Come on inside you two," Tom smiled. They boys followed him into the house through the garage door.

Caleigh looked at her dad and gave him a hug. "Hi dad," she smiled.

"Hi you," he smiled, kissing her cheek. "I have friends for you," he smiled.

Jack beamed at seeing her. "Caleigh," he nearly shouted, with a large smile. He powered into her legs for a hug as only he could do. Tom and Rachel, sharing a hug, watched the scene with a smile. Caleigh wrapped him in her arms.

"Hey Jackster; glad you're here," she smiled, rubbing his back.

Jack looked at her. "Caleigh, can you help me color?"

Zach smiled. "Jack, can you please say hi to Caleigh's mom, before you do that?" Caleigh rubbed his back again.

"Jack, this is my mom Rachel," she smiled.

"One of the good guys Jack. We can trust her." Caleigh, Rachel and Tom all looked at him. Zach just smiled and mouthed the word "shy".

Rachel bent down to him. "Hi Jack. I'm glad you and Zach are here," she smiled.

"Thanks for inviting us," Jack shyly said. Caleigh tickled him and it was game over. Jack settled in and Caleigh led him to the lunch counter so they could color together.

Tom looked at Zach. "Caleigh said when you cooked the pork chops you did something different with the coals. Would you mind showing me?"

Zach smiled. "Not at all." They went to the garage as Caleigh picked out a picture for her and Jack to color.

When they came back in, Jack was heads down in his project. Caleigh looked at Zach. "He always like this?"

Zach nodded with a smile. "Mr. Concentration; get the job done." Rachel smiled. Zach rolled his eyes. "It's in the genes." Just then his cell phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out, looked at the caller ID and smiled. "And it's the donor," he said. "Hi dad," he said into his phone.

"Hi Zach. We're taking a break and eating an early dinner. What's going on?"

"Actually dad, I'm getting a break too. Caleigh's mom invited us to dinner. I don't know what it is yet, but it sure smells good."

Hotch smiled. "Tell Caleigh's mom thank you for me. You deserve the break Zach."

JJ raised her eyebrows at Rossi, who was already smiling. "Zach, my boy, has got himself a girlfriend," he proudly beamed, leaning back in his chair.

"Took him long enough," Morgan smiled.

"You should talk," Emily snarked.

Alex and Reid laughed, with Reid pointing his finger at Morgan.

"Is Jack there Zach?"

"No dad, I left him at home with Mudg." Caleigh and Jack both snickered. "Hang on a second."

Rachel and Tom eyed Zach as he handed his phone to Jack. Jack said hello to his dad and Zach smiled at them. "When dad is on the clock, he wears the FBI shorts and sometimes they're just a little too tight. It's my job to get them loose," he smiled.

"You do it to perfection," Tom laughed.

Zach laughed. "Dad is a big and easy target. He started dating a little over a year ago and he and Beth are pretty involved. You should have heard me giving him the s-e-x talk," he said, looking at Jack and winking to them, "about three weeks ago when Beth came down for the weekend and I let them have a date night," he devilishly smiled. "It was classic." Rachel and Tom roared.

Caleigh smiled at her parents. "I'm learning his humor is wicked," Jack handed the phone back to Zach.

"Yeah," Jack said with a big smile, "you should hear him with Uncle Dave."

"Hey dad."

"So Caleigh and Jack are coloring?"

"Yup dad, Rachel should have a Jack Hotchner masterpiece in about ten minutes."

"Sounds good Zach," Hotch smiled. "I'll call you tonight when we get back to the hotel."

"You got it dad," Zach smiled. "Stay safe; all of you. Tell the other ding dong we love him."

Hotch smiled. "I'll be sure to tell the other ding dong." The team all laughed at Dave. "Talk to you later son; love you."

"Love you too dad." He ended the call. Rachel and Tom shared a look. They learned more about Zach listening to his conversation than they could have talking with him for two hours.

-00CM00-

Zach was in his usual position watching baseball when his cell rang. "Hey dad," he smiled.

"Hi Zach; you're on speaker phone. Uncle Dave is here as well."

Zach couldn't resist. "That's got to be loads of fun listening to him snore every night."

"Zach, I'll have you know your dad snored the paint off the ceiling last night." Zach laughed.

"Zach, how was dinner?"

"OMG dad, it was beef stroganoff. I ate so much I'm waiting for it to run out my ears. And I had to stop Jack from putting some in his pockets." Aaron and Dave both laughed.

"So you had a good time?"

"Yeah dad; we had a great time. After Caleigh, Caleb, JP and I cleaned up, Caleb and Jack played Angry Birds. Btw, he got three stars; I'm sure he'll tell you all about it tomorrow."

"That's my boy," Dave, the gamer proudly smiled.

"And you and Caleigh," Aaron asked, looking at Dave.

"We went for a walk. Dad, don't get me wrong. I love Jack and taking care of him so you, Uncle Dave and the team can do your thing. But just a break, if it's only for an hour is good for both of us."

"Yes it is Zach."

"So when do I get to meet this lady Zach," Dave asked.

"I dunno Uncle Dave. You throwing your annual Labor Day shindig?"

"If we get back, hell yes."

"How's the chances of that looking dad?"

"Tomorrow could be the key. Dave and I have been bouncing some ideas off of each other. We'll see. Either way, Beth will be down for the weekend, so you and Jack will get a break from each other."

"Looking forward to having Beth here dad; btw she called tonight to check in on us. Keep me in the loop." Zach yawned deeply. "I'm hitting the wall here you two. Good night; love you both."

"Good night Zach," Dave smiled. "Love you." Aaron and Zach both smiled knowing those words were from his heart.

"Good night son; love you too."

-00CM00-

Rachel looked at Caleigh in the living room and knew she had plans with Zach for the holiday Monday. Her packed beach bag was sitting in Tom's recliner. Yet Caleigh was pacing a bit. Rachel walked up to her and rubbed her back. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Caleigh turned to her and smiled. "Mom, it's not Zach; please trust me. I trust him with my life."

Rachel smiled. "So do your dad and me. He's a wonderful young man," she smiled. "Your dad and I are really impressed with him. But honey, you're pacing."

Caleigh looked her in the eye. "I'm meeting Uncle Dave today." Caleigh, getting her parents in to her finally dating again, and in a way, getting herself used to it as well, had told them everything. Even what Zach had told her about one David Rossi.

"Sweetie, I think if the boys call him Uncle Dave," she smiled, "it'll be fine. They obviously love him and I've sorta figured Zach out. Love is a two way street for him or he doesn't trust it."

Caleigh smiled. "He does really love Dave; and totally respects him. Dave is the one that called him out on the two of us," Caleigh admitted.

Rachel laughed. "You'll be fine Caleigh. Zach will see to that. And I'm sure Dave, with his love for Zach, will be wonderful with you." They both noticed a glistening coming through the living room window with Zach pulling his truck into the driveway.

Caleigh grabbed her bag. "Thanks mom," she said giving her a hug and headed out the door. Rachel followed her and stood in the doorway to wave at Zach.

He rolled his window down and waved. "Hi Mother Goose," he shouted.

"Hi Zach! Have fun you two," Rachel said with a wave and a big smile. Zach smiled and waved at her as Caleigh got in and buckled her seatbelt as Zach backed out of the driveway, waving once more at Rachel.

As he drove down the street to the stop sign, Zach looked at Caleigh. "You OK?"

Caleigh looked at him. "How did I fall in love with a profiler's son?"

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A/N: Mother Goose is for someone special that sorta likes that term. ;)