A/N: I have the best readers in the world! Everyone passed the test! I did deduct some points from one for blowing a raspberry at me. ;) Hugs and luvs to you all!

Chapter 21

Cait napped for a while on the couch with a very contented Beans. When she woke up, Aaron helped her get a shower. "Feel better," he asked, helping her slide on her sweatshirt after changing her dressing. The surgical area didn't look bad, but the bruise around it was horrible. He could still see the white spot in the middle where the corner had hit her.

"A shower always make me feel better; this one was special," she smiled. Aaron slid on her wool socks and helped her off the toilet seat. They went into the nook and they all had some of Maggie's chicken salad. It was the same recipe that Cait used. Cait had learned it from Maggie.

When she finished, Cait looked at Aaron. "Now our bed and a nap; I want to be up when Jack gets home."

Aaron got Cait on her side of the bed, helped her pull off her sweatshirt. He went to the drawer he knew had her t-shirts and grabbed one for her. She got it on as Aaron got her socks off and helped her get into bed. He sat down on the side and looked at her.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Just how much do you talk to my team?"

Cait smiled at him. "That's confidential information; get a subpoena."

"You're claiming doctor/patient confidentiality?"

"Nope, the lady that understands what they do that's married to the boss confidentiality." Aaron rolled his eyes at her and got her settled. He gave her a kiss, quietly left the room and pulled the door almost shut. Beans laid down in front of the door.

Aaron helped Maggie take care of the last two loads of laundry she was working on and then went to his study to catch up on some of his emails from the office. Jarrod was conked out for his afternoon nap in the recliner with Maggie joining him in the living room on the couch, and Jake went for a run.

As he caught up on the ones that needed his attention, he looked at his watch. He knew the dryer buzzer would be going off soon. He moved to the laundry room smiling broadly, remembering Matt and Mike's words: the laundry buzzer from hell. Aaron wanted everyone napping to stay napping so he pulled the door open before the buzzer went off. He was able to separate out his and Mike's boxers and got them folded, along with Jack's briefs and hung up him and Mike's jeans and folded Jack's. The rest of the boxers, he set neatly aside for Maggie to get them sorted for her family as well as a pair of Jake's jeans.

When he came out of the laundry room, Beans was speeding across the living room towards him. She met him in the kitchen, barked softly and then headed towards their bedroom door. Aaron followed her and opened the door to see Cait lying on her back, wide awake.

She smiled. "I know its mom and dad's nap time. That's why I just whistled for Beans." He helped her up, get her sweatshirt on and use the bathroom. She got a new contact in her left eye.

They entered the nook and he got Cait sat down at the table. Jake came in from his run. "How do you feel?"

Cait smiled. "I'm fine; go take your shower." He smiled at her, rubbed her shoulder and headed upstairs. Maggie and Jarrod woke from their naps. Maggie took care of her family's laundry as Jarrod joined Cait.

Aaron kissed her. "Time to get Jack."

"Take Beans with you again."

He rubbed her shoulder. "Way ahead of you." He looked at Beans. "You going with me to get Jack?"

Beans barked her happy reply and headed towards the garage door.

-00CM-

Aaron was leaning against the back of his SUV, waiting for the first graders to be let loose for their weekend. The first group, escorted by two teacher's aides, followed single-file to the busses waiting to take them home. Aaron smiled. He knew the kids that walked to school and those that parents picked up, would be next.

Less than a minute later, the second group came out, free for a couple of days. Their smiles say it all Aaron thought. Jack spotted him and gave his father a large wave. Aaron crossed to get him safely across the school driveway.

When he reached Jack, he noticed the look of anticipation. "She's home Jack," he smiled.

Holding his dad's hand, Jack skipped to the car. "Yes, yes, yes," he said to no one in particular.

Jack blew into the home. Jake just pointed him to the recliner in the living room, smiling broadly. Jack dropped his book bag on the floor, speeding to his mom, ripping off his jacket, which he dropped on the floor as well. Aaron shook his head at Maggie, picking them up. Maggie smiled as well as Jake threw his big arm around his mom's shoulder. They watched the scene together as Jarrod grabbed his youngest grandson and put him in the recliner with his mom.

Jack buried his head into Cait's neckline and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Cait wrapped him in her arms, her right hand rubbing his back, her left rubbing his hair. Aaron walked to the recliner and rubbed Cait's hair, then her left cheek with his index finger. He knew how much this meant to both of them.

Jack rolled into her left arm and looked at her. "It's super cool to have you home mom."

Cait kissed his head. "I totally agree." Jack gave her his megawatt smile. Beans stuck her head on the right arm of the recliner.

"Beans really missed you too, mom."

"I know; we've already snuggled."

"Really mom?" Cait rubbed Beans behind her ear again, hitting the sweet spot. If dogs could moan with enjoying something, she did.

"Yup," she smiled, giving him another kiss on the forehead. She whispered, "On the couch."

Jack looked at her wide-eyed. "Wow, mom," he smiled. Aaron rubbed his head with a smile.

"Jack, its Friday. What does that mean?"

"Mom?"

"It's puzzle weekend," she said tickling him. "But since we have company, I think dad needs to get the card table up from the basement and Uncle Jake to help him with the chairs, so we can leave the lunch counter open. Where do you think we should put it Jack?"

Jack leaned up with Cait's help and looked around the room. He smiled. "There's room by the fireplace."

"Perfect," Cait smiled.

"Uncle Jake….." Aaron said, looking at Jake approaching him.

"Lead the way bro."

Cait rubbed Jack's hair. "Pick out the biggest and baddest."

Jack smiled. "Got just the one mom." He rolled off the arm of the chair and raced up the steps to his bedroom. Maggie and Jarrod, arm in arm, just smiled at the scene. They shared the same thought: she's so happy with this family, so content and oh, so blessed.

As Jake and Aaron started up the basement stairs, they heard Jack rumbling down from the upstairs. "Why only three chairs Aaron?"

Aaron turned to look at him. "You'll understand soon."

Jack flew to Cait, now standing near the spot where the table would be set up with her dad's help. Jack rolled up with the puzzle box as Aaron and Jake got the table and chairs set up. He smiled at his grandparents. "The ones that you gave me; the biggest one was 500 pieces," he enthused. "This is part of the set that Uncle Jake gave me. It has….." Jack studied the numbers.

Cait rubbed his back. "Think it out; you know your numbers."

"It's….wow! 750 pieces. And look grandma and grandpa. I haven't opened it yet. It still has the cello….. cello…."

Cait smiled. "Cellophane"

Jack smiled. "Yup; that's it mom; around the box," he pointed, smiling at his grandparents. "It's a whopper."

Jake rubbed his neck. "A whopper Jack?"

"Yeah, Uncle Jake; that means a really, really big one. You're the best." Jake smiled. "When we go to Uncle Dave's cabin in the summer, we all go finishing together. Mom always catches the whoppers."

Jake rolled his eyes at his dad. "Some things never change." Maggie laughed.

Jack tried valiantly to get the cellophane off. Jarrod leaned down and pulled him to his side. "Need some help there Jack?" He just smiled at Jarrod and shook his head, handing him the box.

Jarrod pulled his pocket knife out and cut the cellophane under the edges of the upper lid of the box. Maggie helped him pull it off. Jake took it from his mother and started to head for the trash bin in the kitchen. "Uncle Jake wait; there's more," Jack said, pulling out from the box a bag holding the pieces.

Jake turned around to see his dad using his knife to open the plastic bag holding the pieces. Jack dumped them on the table and handed the bag over. "Thanks Uncle Jake." Jake just simply smiled at the boy that was part of the equation that made his sister's life complete and rubbed his head.

"But Jack, dad said you only need three chairs at the table. Can you tell me why?"

Jack proudly put the upper and lower lids of the puzzle box back together and set it on the front of the table on the bottom part of the box so it was vertical, showing the completed puzzle picture. He looked at Jake. "That's why Uncle Jake."

Jake smiled. "Got it big dog; you rock." Jake got Jack's wide grin as they shared a fist bump. Jake went into the kitchen to throw the garbage away, hearing Jack bubbling over.

"Oh wow, mom and dad. Look at all these pieces."

Aaron got Cait sat down and Jack curled up on her lap. Aaron sat down and Maggie took the other chair. As Cait and Aaron put the border of the puzzle together, Maggie helped Jack work on a smaller section that featured R2-D2. She marveled at his abilities, not so much putting the section together, but his eye in finding a piece that he knew was part of R2-D2.

Lisa and Jamaal came in the door with the BBQ's, and the group joined them in the kitchen to get the rest of the meal going. They were standing around enjoying a beer, including Cait. Aaron looked at her. "You sure you don't want to sit down?"

"Aaron," she smiled, "I've been mostly horizontal for two days. I like being vertical," she said with her left arm wrapped around his waist. He kissed her forehead.

Dave and Father Jimmy showed up five minutes later, with Mudg bounding in in front of them. He had to get his love from the lady in his life as well. They all stood around the kitchen talking and laughing; except for Jake and Jack sitting at the lunch counter.

Dave, next to Cait, looked at her closely. "That scar so close to your eyebrow, no one will notice."

Cait looked at him. "Vanity of appearance is your specialty, not mine," she teased. Dave feigned getting shot in the stomach with an arrow. Father Jimmy pretended to pull it out and put his finger in the hole. Jack roared.

Aaron's cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID. He smiled at Cait. "It's Matt." Cait smiled as well.

"Hi son; you're on speaker. How'd the Cavaliers do today?"

"We won 6-4; big win for us. South Carolina is leading our division of the conference. And on their home field was huge."

"How'd you do Matt?"

"Hey mom! You're home! How do you feel?"

"Glad to be home. You haven't answered my question."

They could hear him smiling through the phone. "Guess who hit his first homerun of the season today?" The kitchen erupted with cheers and congratulations.

With Cait being home and Matt's news, the tone was set for the evening. Lisa, Jamaal, and Father Jimmy had left after dinner for other commitments. The rest had a wonderful family time together after dinner. Dave got a huge fire roaring in the fireplace to warm the room as Mother Nature was refusing to grant the area spring like temperatures. Jake put Remember the Titans into the DVD player. Between the movie, the puzzle and the largest bowl of buttered popcorn Maggie could make, the family enjoyed just being a family. The only bug in the whole night was Cait not being able to tuck Jack into his bed.

-00CM—

Cait felt a hand shaking her awake Saturday morning. As she smiled at Jack, she looked at her clock. 5:45 it read. She whispered to Jack, "If you want to sleep between dad and me, you'll have to go down to the end of the bed and crawl up."

Jack shook his head. "I want to snuggle with you mom." Cait rolled onto her side to make room for him in her arms. Aaron spooned in behind her and rubbed Jack's tummy.

-00CM00-

The church family coffee klatch that Cait and Aaron were part of brought the meal in Saturday. They insisted upon it, a little perturbed they weren't allowed to help earlier. Before they arrived, Matt called to give them the details of the sweep against the Gamecocks. He and Pete both had homered in the second game. "We're in second place in our division now," he proudly said of the two huge team victories and promised to be home Thursday to go to church with the entire family.

Jarrod, Maggie and Jake, when making their plane reservations to get to their daughter, had intentionally made them through Easter Sunday. It was a good thing. Aaron returned to the office on Monday of Holy Week, and the team was in the air by two that afternoon. He appreciated his in-laws being there to take care of Cait and the boys.

Heads down in a quickly evolving case, Aaron took the time to call home Tuesday evening and see how Cait's doctor appointment went. "Dr. Michland is very happy with my progress. I go back in Monday and she'll make the final assessment whether I can go back to work or not on Tuesday." Cait reported. She smiled. "And I know you; mom was in the room with me. Want to talk to her?"

"No Doc," he smiled through the phone. "I trust you."

"Now that I have someone to collaborate my story," she teased.

He wouldn't bite. "Good night Cait. I love you. We should be home by Thursday afternoon at the latest." The team was home Wednesday night, with Matt coming in late after classes and baseball practice.

The entire family attended Maundy Thursday services, with all of them, except Jack not old enough, receiving Holy Communion on the night the congregation reflected on their Lord instituting that blessing. Those in attendance, knowing Cait and Aaron silently grimaced a bit at the look of her and Aaron helping her up and down the steps to the altar in the church. Yet they all silently rejoiced that she was on the mend.

Easter Sunday, after church services and the arrival of the Easter Bunny for Jack were once again spent in wonderful family time; Dave of course was there and craved the ham Aaron had cooked it on the Weber. Cait spent as much time in the kitchen as Maggie, healing that fast.

Aaron took the next day off. Through arrangements with Dr. Michland, she had an MRI at a clinic on the way to Reagan International. After the scan, the two of them went to the airport to send the Barkley's winging back home to the valley. The hugs and heartfelt love were sincere. Jarrod looked at Aaron. He shook his head. "Your cell will be the first I call with the report."

Cait and Aaron made their way into the city to Dr. Michland's office across the street in the clinic building connected to the hospital.

Dr. Michland walked in, carrying something. She smiled at Cait and handed it to her. "You use this for another ten days outside of your home; no questions and no stairs, at least without using the hand rail. But I'll let you tuck in Jack," she smiled. "You are cleared to drive on your own, per Dr. Jeffries. See you a week from Thursday for your final exam," she winked and left the room.

-00CM-

The senior class students in Dr. Caitlyn Barkley's most prominent class were back from break. They all looked up to see her walk in, albeit with a cane, compliments of Dr. Michland. Her left eye still showed the colors of a bad bruise slowly fading. However her eye was wide open.

She looked at them with a smile, setting the cane on top of the table she used in her lectures that held a laptop she used to present additional visual materials on the screen in the lecture hall. She leaned against it. "Let's get back to work."

###

A/N: Matt is a student at the University of Virginia. The school nickname is the Cavaliers. Remember the Titans is just a special, wonderful movie. It involves US football. However the underlying theme of the story is the integration of a HS in the early 1970's. It's a must see. And yes, my faith is showing again. My apologies to anyone who might be offended; that is not my intention.

And thus we come to the end again with my special family. I know, I know; I didn't want it to end either. However, I promise they will be back again. I'm looking at a June/July timeframe.

I can't thank all of you enough for the reviews, the favorites, everything in supporting this story. It amazes me and means so, so much. I'm humbled by your support. That's why I'll keep writing!

The usual shout outs: to all my luvs at CM Rev; my Twitter gang; the OK teacher and my 'Sconnie Hotch sister that's settling into her new life on the other side of the globe from me. Miss ya hxchick!

*Knightly bow* Thanks Tigs.