A/N: Welcome back to another saga of real life meets fanfiction. Just like Zach, it took me a while to digest and get my feelings settled. You will understand as you read.

Yes, it's baseball again. I know that's not your favorite. I get that. But it's the behind the scenes part.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.

*Jedi Knight bow*

Chapter 1

Zach Hotchner was sitting across from David Rossi's desk after his morning workout with his dad and Derek Morgan at the BAU facilities. He looked at Dave. "This all sucks."

Dave smiled. "I'm sure it does. Dealing with a labor lockout when you're part of it can't be easy. I know you. You'd rather be in Florida than here."

"It's my job Uncle Dave. You know me. I love my time here with our families." Dave nodded his head. "But I'm a baseball player. I want to be playing baseball instead of sitting on the sidelines while the two sides argue about money, which they both have up the wazoo." Dave softly chuckled.

"I support the union trying to get more money for the minor league players," Zach continued. "They play for peanuts. That said, it's the end of February and both sides have barely talked to each other."

Zach shook his head. "Sorry Uncle Dave. I shouldn't be ranting on you."

It was Rossi's turn to shake his head. "I'm Uncle Dave, remember? I'm here for you."

"Yup, you always are," Zach grinned. He got out of the chair. "So now I need to get my ass home and follow that example and be there for my wife. Our crawler has discovered the pots and pans in the kitchen. And when Lexie tries to stop Logan, the little shit sits down on his butt, laughs at her and then crawls right past her."

"Have fun with that," Dave laughed.

A half hour later, Zach walked into the home with Logan loudly crying. He sped in to see Caleigh standing outside of the kitchen, her cell in hand, giggling while filming. Zach looked. Lexie had a firm grip with her teeth on the bottom hem of Logan's shirt, stopping his crawling progress. Zach laughed, putting his arm around Caleigh. "Good girl Lexie."

-00CM00-

Zach, Caleigh, the kids and Lexie returned to their Georgia home the first Thursday in March. A week later, the baseball lockout between the player's union and the owners ended with a tentative agreement. All players were to report to their respective training camps by Sunday, with spring training starting Monday morning.

Zach and Andy Minton were on the jet winging to St. Petersburg, Florida Saturday afternoon. Andy looked at Zach. "I miss them already," he said. "But we made the right decision. Packing up our families for three weeks doesn't make sense. Especially after just getting back to Lawrenceville."

Zach smiled at Andy. "I agreed with you from the get go Minnie. Caleigh didn't put up much of an argument."

"Neither did Vic," Andy smiled. He turned serious. "Have you talked to Freddie lately?" Zach shook his head. "What do you think?"

"I dunno," Zach softly answered. "I just don't want to think about it."

The guys settled into their condos and reported in Sunday afternoon for their physicals like all the rest of the team. They both rejoiced in seeing Ronnie back. "I'm good to go," he smiled at Zach.

He and Zach shared a thumb handshake. "Let's do it," Zach smiled back.

After a nearly four-hour light workout and drills on Monday, all of the team was directed to the team meeting room at the CoolRay Park facility. Dansby Swanson walked into the meeting room with Zach. "Why do I not like the looks of this?" he asked, nodding at the front office execs gathered.

"I don't either," Zach replied.

"Guys, please sit down and get settled," Brian Snitker, the team manager said. Zach and Dansby shared a look.

Travis d'Arnaund, Zach's back up and a veteran catcher, looked at Zach and Dansby, sitting down in front of them. "This is not good," he whispered.

"No it isn't," Dansby said. Zach shook his head.

Alex Anthropolous walked up to stand in front of the players. "Guys, I have some news. With the full support of Terry and Derek, I had to make a decision for the best interests of this team. All of you walked in the door with the intention of repeating as World Champions. That is our goal as well. Yet circumstances that I cannot comment about made me have to do what is best for this team to repeat." Zach looked at Dansby and shook his head.

"Earlier today, I made a trade with Oakland to get Matt Olson on our club." Zach shut his eyes and hung his head. "I informed the media about this trade while you all were working out. Out of respect for all of you, we asked they not be around when you leave. We know you need the time to digest and process this news. They respected that request."

Alex shook his head and then looked at the players. He had tears in his eyes. "Guys, I tried my damndest. I really did. The bottom line is we have to have a team in place by Friday. I made the best decision I could at this time for us to repeat."

At the same time, David Rossi walked down the catwalk to Aaron's office and knocked on the open door, sticking his head around the doorframe. "Got a second?"

Aaron looked up from his files. "Sure Dave," he smiled. "What's up?"

"I needed a break from working my profile for the Toledo PD. So I checked out social media on my cell."

Aaron smiled. "I'm not going to bust you for that Dave."

Rossi shook his head. "Aaron you don't understand." Hotch looked at him. "The Braves traded four minor league players, three of their best prospects, to Oakland for Matt Olson. An Atlanta native." Aaron looked more intently at Dave. "To play first base. They aren't signing Freddie Freeman." Aaron shook his head. "He might need his dad tonight."

Aaron thought for a second. "No Dave, he won't. I know Zach. He doesn't need me. He won't need Caleigh. And he doesn't need you. He'll just need quiet time to get his head around it all. And then move on." He looked at Dave. "My youngest son may be a different thing."

Dave softly smiled at Aaron and started to head back to the doorway. "Good luck with that."

Around nine that night, Caleigh's cell rang. She smiled at the caller ID and answered. "Hi Aaron."

"Hi you. Is it your favorite time of night?"

Caleigh softly laughed. "Yes it is. All three of your grandchildren are sleeping."

"Have you talked to Zach?"

"Briefly," Caleigh answered. "We both know where his head is."

"Yes we do," Aaron responded. "If you need to send up an SOS, I'm here."

"I know that dad," Caleigh smiled. "But I don't think it's going to happen. With time," she added.

"Me either." Aaron smiled. "Good night my daughter. Love you."

"Love you too dad."

Beth looked at Aaron. "How's Zach?"

"Hurting, but he'll make sense of it."

"He's not the only one," Beth replied.

Aaron kissed her. "My next stop," he said, heading for the steps.

Aaron walked into Jack's lair. Jack was watching an episode of Blue Bloods. Jack paused the DVR. "How are you buddy?"

"I'm OK dad," Jack softly smiled. "This isn't the first one. But it sure hurts the worst."

"I get it," Aaron smiled back, sitting down next to him on the couch. "Give it time."

"I know dad," Jack said. "I'm sure Zach feels the same."

"Yes, he does," Aaron said, getting up off the couch. He gave Jack's shoulder a squeeze. "Don't be up late. You've got school in the morning."

Jack nodded his head. "This episode is five minutes from being done. Good night dad," he smiled.

"Good night Jack. Love you."

"Love you too dad," Jack grinned back. "I'll tell Beth when I let Molly out." Aaron gave Jack's shoulder another soft squeeze.

The next morning, after all the players were dressed for practice, the media was allowed into the locker room. They all made a beeline to Zach's locker.

Zach turned and looked at them, shaking his head. "Before you all start asking your questions, I'm gonna say this. And this only. I respect each and every one of you and have always answered all of your questions. But right now, I can't. I'm still processing. And I don't want to say something I will regret later. I ask you to please respect that."

"You got it Cob," echoed from the media horde as they moved to other players.

Dansby smiled at the reporters that gathered around his locker. "Before y'all ask, all I'm gonna add to what Cob told you is that all the team from last year showed up at Cob and Minnie's condos. We had a few beers, ate pizza and talked. Please give all of us time."

After the first training session of stretching and running exercises, the players returned to the locker room. Matt Olson walked in. Zach walked up to him. "Welcome Matt," Zach smiled, shaking his hand. "Do you have a place to stay?"

"Cob?" Olson asked.

"Minnie and I each have a condo in a complex near here. But no family down with us, given the tight spring training schedule."

"I get that," Matt smiled. "My wife is in our home in Atlanta."

"You're welcome to grab a bedroom and split the grocery bill three ways," Zach smiled.

"I'm in," Matt smiled back.

After the final practice ended, the media horde was waiting for Zach. Zach smiled at them. "Thank you for being patient with me. I appreciate it.

"First off, let me say this. From the first day I joined this team, Freddie Freeman was my big brother. And he always will be. That's why yesterday was so tough. And I had every emotion. I was pissed at Alex and the organization. I was pissed at Freddie and his agent. I was sad. I was upset.

"But the biggest take away from last night getting together with the guys was the bottom line. Baseball is a business. And business decisions have to be made. Travis and Marcel got that home to all of us. I wish Freddie all the best. That said, Matt is a terrific addition to our team and a great guy. He's going to be sharing my condo. And what I seen this afternoon on the field was very impressive. I can't wait to play with Matt on a regular basis."

A half hour later, Aaron's laptop on his desk pinged with a new email. He opened the email from Dave that was titled Update. Your son is OK it said. Dave attached the video of Zach meeting with the media.

-00CM00-

The first two weeks of the regular season were literally a blur for Zach and the team. They played fourteen games in fourteen days. MLB had adjusted the schedules to make up for the first week of the regular season that was missed due to the lockout. Yet the Braves came out smoking, picking up from where they ended last season. They won eleven of the fourteen games, including sweeping the Dodgers, the team Freddie signed with, in LA.

Zach quietly crawled into bed with Caleigh a little after four in the morning after the flight home from LA. Caleigh wrapped him in her arms. "Good to be home?" she quietly asked.

"Yeah, it is," Zach said, yawning. "And to have a day off with my family."

"Go to sleep," Caleigh smiled.

-00CM00-

After winning the Sunday afternoon game against the Brewers on Mother's Day, Zach softly knocked on the open door to Snit's office in the clubhouse. "Got a second Skip?"

"Sure Zach," Snitker smiled. "Come in."

Alex was there as well. "I'll leave you two," he smiled.

"No Alex, please stay. This will get to your desk anyway," Zach replied.

"What's up Zach?" Snit asked.

Zach smiled. "I became an uncle early this morning. Mike and Sarah welcomed an eight pound, four ounce baby girl. Mom and daughter, Katie, are doing wonderful. The verdict is still out on dad."

Alex and Snit laughed. "Tell them congratulations from all of us," Alex smiled.

"I will," Zach grinned back. "But here's the thing. We play the Nats in D.C. the second weekend in June. They want Caleigh and me to be Katie's godparents at her baptism. I was wondering if I could get that Sunday off."

"Isn't your birthday around then?" Snit asked.

"Yeah, the day before," Zach answered.

Alex walked up to the big schedule that was hanging on the wall of Snit's office. He took a black marker and wrote Cob off on the second Sunday in June.

"I think it's taken care of," Snit smiled at Zach.

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A/N: Since this is a one-shot, thank you all in advance for the alerts and the reviews. Like always, they are appreciated.

My thanks again to the OK Teach for doing the proofreading. She laughed when I told her this was going to be a one-shot. "Don't you know by now to not say how long a story is going to be?" she emailed back when I sent her the start of the story. The drinks are on her. Hehehe

Gee, ya think there might be a follow-up to this story? See ya then!