Chapter 21

The first full week in February had the team in the office for four days. Even Chief Strauss, who had got her butt thoroughly, yet privately chewed, by the Director himself over the Foyet case and her handling of it, welcomed seeing them around with a smile. She walked up the steps to Aaron's office with its open door and knocked. Reid and Prentiss looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

But she was extremely cordial with Aaron, asking how things were going at home. "The boys had a minor blow out, which I expected. There's a twelve year age difference. It was bound to happen." She nodded her head in agreement. "It's just really good to be home and be the fulltime parent."

"Aaron, Zach is taking on a huge responsibility. You should be very proud of him. But when you're home, he needs the downtime. I hope you are giving him that."

Aaron smiled. "After dinner, it's just Jack and me. Zach disappears." Strauss smiled, discussed a few minor matters with him and left.

Friday afternoon, the team was winging towards LA. "The City of Angels," Dave groused. "They need to re-define that."

"Agreed Big Dog," Garcia pinged in on the laptop, giving the team more details on their latest case. By Sunday, while heads down in the case, they were all nervously eyeing a major winter storm that was threatening the DC area. But Garcia broke in with some news and they spent the next 18 hours, with little sleep, tracking the lead. It turned out to be a dead end, but added to the profile.

By Monday, Aaron, simply exhausted, let his guard down around the team and the LA cops and called Zach at 8 pm Monday night in the area that the LAPD had set up for them. That was 11 pm in Zach's world. He just needed to talk to his son. Dave, hovering around him, had full buy-in. Aaron put his cell on speaker phone, waiting for Zach to answer. After the second ring, Aaron impatiently said, "Damnit Zach, answer." Dave put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"You're probably waking him up; give him a chance."

Zach groggily answered on the third ring. "Hey dad; what's up," he yawned into the phone.

"How's the weather back there?"

"I checked on Jack a bit ago after working on a book report for English class before I climbed in. It was spitting rain."

"Son, you are keeping an eye on the weather?"

"You, me, Tami and Principal Shaw; he's been all over my ass," Zach yawned. "Sorry 'bout the language dad, but I got it covered. The brunt of the storm isn't supposed to start until tomorrow night. I beat the idiots to the grocery store and loaded up tonight. Jack and I are set and ready to hunker down if necessary."

"Zach, I know I don't have to give you this sermonette but I'm going to do it anyway. That truck of yours, even being a 4x4, doesn't make you a hero."

Zach yawned again. "Dad, did you just hear what I told you? Jack and I are in and prepared. My partner was huge in the grocery store. The way the weather sounds, we'll both make school tomorrow. After that, all bets are off. I'll put my truck in the garage, and us guys and Mudg will ride out what Mother Nature may or may not throw at us." Dave smiled as Mudg quietly barked in the background.

"Zach, Mudg isn't sleeping with Jack." Dave questioned.

"Nope, Uncle Dave," Zach yawned again. "He's been really on edge since Jack and I got home. Which makes me think the weather forecasters may be right for a change. Uncle Dave, you've taught me too much. I'll trust an animal before I trust a human with millions of dollars of equipment."

"So you boys are all set?" Dave asked, beating Aaron to the question.

"Yes, mom, we'll be fine. Can I go to sleep now?" The team, as well as Detective Owen Kim smiled. Detective Kim, having worked with the team twice before, was one of the many members of law enforcement that knew what happed to Hotch and his sons. And like many of his brothers and sisters in that world, had sent a sympathy card to the family.

"Love you son," Aaron said, with a smile.

"Love you too dad. I'll keep you in the loop. And dad, once again, my partner was huge tonight."

Aaron got the message. "Got it Zach; good night son; I love you." Aaron clicked off his cell.

By the time Jack got off the school bus on Tuesday, with Zach waiting for him in the entry way to their home looking out the window, the wind was hollowing and the rain had turned to snow. Jack made his way up to the house, one of the few kids on the bus that was dressed for the weather. Joanie, the bus driver noticed, having got a heads up the family situation. His big brother had made sure. Joanie smiled and waited a bit longer to make sure Jack got into the house. Zach waved at her as he opened the door for Jack.

Aaron called the boys while the team was taking a break and eating some dinner, along with Detective Kim. Dave nudged him to put his cell on speaker phone. JJ, worrying about her own family, nodded her agreement.

Zach answered on the second ring of his cell phone. "Hi dad; I'm putting you on speaker so Jack can talk to you as well."

"Hi daddy; I miss you so much."

"I miss you buddy; a whole lot," Aaron said. "What ya doin'?"

"Takin' a bath daddy."

"I miss you too Jack," Dave added. The team and Detective Kim smiled.

"But buddy, I really need to talk to Zach."

"'Bout the weather, right daddy?"

"Yes buddy."

"Daddy, when I got off the bus, it was snowing."

Zach chimed in. "I think you've got an idea dad. And it's blowing like a hurricane around here right now so it's a complete white out."

"That bad Zach?"

"Dad, I've never seen it like this and I sincerely hope I don't again. It's unbelievable. I'm waiting on the message to ping my phone and laptop that school is cancelled tomorrow. You'll get it as well. It's just nuts. I'm glad we're in."

"Zach, how's Mudg handling it?" Dave asked. "He's not the best with snow."

"That's the screwy part Uncle Dave. The area where I let him out from the garage door should be getting the brunt of the storm. It's coming from that direction. But the only snow piling up there, at least right now, is what is blowing off the roof. The wind is swirling that bad. But I shovel off an area, he does his thing, and we're all good."

"Zach," JJ asked. "We're hearing about power outages."

"JJ that's mainly to the west and south of us; they got more rain. We've got power and heat. And Will called an hour ago to check in on us. So has Penelope. They're good and so are we. Dad, trust me." Just then Aaron heard Zach's cell ping with a text message. "Hang on dad, I'm getting a text." He paused to read the message. "Yup dad, its official, no school or bus service tomorrow. Jack and I are sleepin' in. Now if we could just get someone's dog to buy in on that, we're set."

Dave laughed. "He's a pain in the ass, like his master," Dave said. "But like his master, a very loveable one." Everyone laughed. Aaron glared at Dave about his language, as he heard Jack giggle in the background. Dave just shrugged his shoulders at him and smiled.

"We love ya Uncle Dave," Jack said. "And Zach and I are a team. We're partners, just like you and daddy."

Dave absolutely beamed. "I know that kiddo. I love you. You take of your partner and I'll take care of mine."

"Deal Uncle Dave," Jack enthused.

"Love you too Uncle Dave," Zach added. Owen Kim smiled as broadly as Dave.

"Zach, so I suppose with the wind you can't even tell how much snow you've got."

"Exactly dad; but it's coming down pretty hard. We're supposed to get the worst part tonight and tomorrow morning."

"Just stay in and stay warm."

"That's the plan dad."

"I'll call in the morning. Take care guys and love you both."

"We love you too dad. Don't worry, we're fine." Aaron smiled.

"Bye daddy. Love you."

"Good night buddy. I love you. Love ya too Zach."

Aaron called the next morning as he and Dave were having some juice, coffee and a muffin in the hotel lobby's area for breakfast. It was about 9:30 DC time.

Zach sleepily answered on the third ring. "Hey dad," Zach yawned.

"Mornin' daddy!" Jack said.

"Hey guys, how's it going?"

"We're fine dad."

"Jack, what are you doing in Zach's bed?" Dave could see the concern on Aaron's face.

"Dad, it's OK. With the wind hollowing so bad it was rattling the patio doors. Jack couldn't sleep so he bunked in with me. It's all good."

"Zach, what's it like there?"

"It's still snowing, but the wind has died down. But when I let Mudg out this morning, I had to shovel out nearly twenty inches of snow away from the door so he would go out. I didn't even bother to look at the driveway."

Dave just blinked and shook his head. "Zach, listen to me," he said. "My lawn service does snow removal as well. I've already called them. They'll take care of it."

"Good luck with that Uncle Dave."

"Zach?" Aaron questioned.

"City Services is already saying they don't know when they'll get the residential streets cleared." Morgan and Prentiss walked in on the conversation. "They won't start until it stops snowing and then it's the major roads first. The rumor is that school will be cancelled tomorrow, possibly even Friday. They don't know how many bus drivers and staff they can get in and maybe only 20% of the students; through the whole district."

"Zach, it's that bad?" Prentiss asked.

"Yeah, Emily it is. It's a mess. And like I told dad and Uncle Dave, it's still snowing." The four of them heard Jack giggling uncontrollably.

"Zach," Aaron asked with a smile.

"Daddy; help me," Jack giggled. "The tickle monster has me." He laughed more. Dave smiled broadly at Aaron as Prentiss and Morgan beamed. Mudg started to bark.

"Zach," Dave said, "don't tell me you had him sleeping with you as well."

"Yup Uncle Dave; it was guys night. It's all good." Prentiss rubbed Hotch's shoulder.

"Zach, do you have enough supplies to stay in that long, including milk?"

"We're fine dad. Just don't go ballistic on me when you see the grocery bill."

"I won't Zach. Thanks son. You guys have fun. Jack, don't forget to give Zach a little space every now and then."

"Got it daddy," he giggled.

###