A/N: I know this one is a bit late. I took a much-needed break.
This is my newest spin on the vacation west to the Barkley ranch. I hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing it.
All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.
Chapter 1
Mike Hotchner walked into the home on Deer Valley Road a little past nine the Wednesday evening before the Fourth of July. Tate and Jack smiled at him, bringing their shared bag into the kitchen with each of their backpacks slung over their shoulders. "How's Sam?" Tate asked with a smile.
"Sleeping," Mike smiled back.
Aaron came into the kitchen with his and Cait's bag. "The way he should be." He looked at Mike. "You gotta love the federal government's maternity plan for its employees," he smiled, rubbing Mike's shoulder.
"Yeah dad, I do," Mike grinned, rubbing down Bella. "I'm glad I'm around to help Andi with Sam for the first six weeks." Cait blew into the kitchen with her backpack. "Thank you mom for all of your help," Mike smiled at his mother. "It's been huge. Andi and I have appreciated it so much. We finished off the last of your pan of lasagna last night. And the chicken salad is still holding out."
Cait smiled. "I was happy to help. I know those first two weeks. You all need to adjust to a newborn around. Now, this grandma slash doctor has no problem going to the ranch and letting you and Andi settle into being parents. You don't need the parachute," Cait winked at him.
"Thanks mom for the vote of confidence," Mike grinned. He rubbed Bella again. "I'll pick you up on the way back from dropping all them off at the airport."
Cait deeply petted Bella. "You spoil Sam for me my loves." Bella happily barked back at her.
An hour later, the Hotchners walked into the gate area of their redeye flight into Denver. David Rossi got up out of one of the chairs and smiled at them. "What took you so long?" he grinned.
Jack and Tate hugged him. "Thanks again for the first class upgrade," Tate smiled.
"Any time Topolino," Dave smiled back at him.
"What gives Uncle Dave?" Jack queried.
"After the team's visit to the ranch this spring, I decided Champino that I needed to do the Fourth at the ranch again. And join you two on a ride," Dave broadly smiled. "So you two don't get your asses lost." Cait and Aaron laughed.
Tate shook his head at Jack. "Should've seen that one coming."
"Ya think," Jack snarked back.
"You better not snore on the plane," Tate zinged back at Dave.
"Busted," Cait smiled at Dave.
"Thanks Topolino," Dave growled back at Tate.
Nine hours later, a little past six in the morning west coast time, the group silently got into Barkley family home on top of the hill. Cait quickly shut down Bernie from barking. They quietly got up the steps and into their bedrooms on the second floor to get a couple more hours of sleep with Bernie following the boys to their bedroom.
They all woke up three hours later to the smell of sausages cooking. The boys rumbled down the steps and into the kitchen first, giving hugs to Maggie and Jarrod. Cait, Aaron and Dave weren't far behind. They all shared hugs.
Jarrod smiled at Aaron and Dave. "Do I get to judge the whisker contest?" with both of them still not showered and shaved.
"Dad, it's food first and then we get cleaned up," Aaron smiled.
Maggie poured the first batch of pancake batter onto her large griddle. "Belly up to the lunch counter gang," she smiled.
Cait came into the kitchen. Maggie looked at her. "Yes mom, I'm helping."
Maggie smiled. "Good to have you back home."
"It's good to be back home again mom," Cait grinned back, rubbing her mother's shoulder.
The family enjoyed a laid-back day at the home. Like always, the pool got a workout. Jake and Steph joined them for dinner with Aaron and Jake cooking pork chops on the grill. Cait smiled, holding her newest niece. "Hi Ellie," she cooed, giving her a kiss.
Ellie kicked her legs a bit. Steph shook her head. "She'll be howling for something to eat in ten more minutes."
Cait smiled at Steph. "Don't worry about her weight. When she starts walking, she'll burn off all of it. Matt was my forty-pound butterball when he had his first birthday. Six weeks later, he was walking and my beanpole."
After dinner, Dave looked at the boys. "What's up tomorrow?"
"Riding," they both smiled.
Aaron shook his head. "I don't think you two read Uncle Dave's question right." The boys looked at him. Aaron looked at Dave. "What's on your riding agenda?"
Dave softly smiled. "I would like to go up to Victoria Falls and see the monument Topolino made for the dogs." Tate beamed.
Jarrod grinned. "The boys can go up to Miner's Falls tomorrow. I think a Sunday service at Victoria Falls sounds like a plan."
Dave smiled. "Thank you Jarrod. I'd appreciate that."
Jake looked at Steph. "Mind if I join them?"
"You don't, I'll kick your ass," Steph snarked back. Cait grinned, rubbing Steph's back.
Maggie looked at all of them. "I'm in too. But Sunday is the Fourth. We've got the big ranch picnic."
"We do prep for the ride and our dishes for the picnic Saturday night," Cait suggested.
"I'm in," Steph grinned.
"So am I," Maggie smiled.
The next morning, Jarrod smiled at the boys in the kitchen, dressed for their ride. They were powering down the donuts Maggie had for them with some milk and glasses of apple juice. "Which one of you is driving my truck down to the stable now that you both have your drivers' permits?" Jarrod grinned.
Tate looked at Jack. "Rock, paper, scissors?"
Jack shook his head. "You got your driver's permit before me. You drive down; I'll drive back."
Jarrod sadly smiled. "You two gotta stop growing up on me and grandma." The boys looked at him. "Yeah, I know. That's not happening. Let's go," he smiled, tossing the keys to Tate.
-00CM00-
After an early breakfast Sunday morning, the group enjoyed their leisurely ride up to Victoria Falls. Cait and Maggie rode together having a long chat. "How you doing grandma?" Maggie smiled.
"Mom, I'm glad I was around to help Andi the first couple of weeks. We both know how that is." Maggie smiled her assent.
"What about Andi's parents?" Maggie asked.
Cait rolled her eyes. "They are more absent than Lauren's. I feel sorry for Andi. She and Mike got one text from them."
Maggie smiled. "That's why those girls are so close to you. You're there for them. Just be you Cait. The mom and grandma that will be there for both of them. And Sam," Maggie grinned. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you mom," Cait smiled back at her mother. "That means a lot coming from the wonderful role model I had."
Jarrod looked over his shoulder at them. "You two just about done? Or I might need my hankie."
"Thank you dad," Jake snarked, riding behind his mother and sister, leading Duke, the packhorse. Cait and Maggie stuck their tongues out at Jarrod in unison, drawing a large laugh from him.
Dave turned in his saddle. "Us guys up here missing something?" Jack and Tate were leading the group up the trail with Aaron closely behind.
"No, you're not," Cait softly growled.
"I know that tone," Dave winked at Jarrod. "I'm going to enjoy my ride and the scenery."
"Wise decision," Maggie snarked. She and Cait enjoyed a laugh.
Getting to the falls and securing the horses, Jarrod looked at the group. "It is Sunday," he said, walking towards the lake. The rest followed him. They all gathered around the stone monument Tate had built to honor Beans and Mudgie. Cait and Aaron stood together with the boys in front of them. Jarrod looked at all of them. "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."
"Amen," the rest intoned.
Jarrod smiled. "Back in high school, when I was thinking about where I wanted my life to go, I wrestled with a big decision. I had two career paths in mind. One was to be a lawyer. The other was to be a priest." Cait looked at her mother. Maggie softly nodded her head.
"Thankfully, God guided me to choose the first," Jarrod smiled. "It led me to Harvard, where I met my beautiful bride of over fifty years."
"Thank you dad for not reminding me of my age," Cait snarked. Both the boys softly giggled.
"Shut up Catie," Jarrod snarled. The boys snickered more. "The bride who stood by my side when I told my mother I was joining a Protestant church."
Jack shook his head. "How did that go grandpa?"
"Jack, your great-grandmother gave grandma and me her blessing. 'It's your faith and your choice. All I care about is you raise your children in a church'. We promised her that."
Cait looked at Maggie. "Really?" she softly asked.
"Really," Maggie smiled. Cait shook her head with a smile. Aaron put his arm around Cait.
"That said," Jarrod continued, "there were days in law school when I regretted my decision. Being a lawyer, you have to make passionate arguments to sway a jury that can be lengthy. Being a priest or pastor, you can make it short and sweet."
He looked at the group. "The Bible passage I've chosen for today is Psalm one forty-seven, verse three," Jarrod said and paused, looking at the group. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Cait pulled Jack to her, rubbing his chest. Aaron did the same with Tate. The verse resonated with them. It was more than Beans and Mudgie.
"You would have made a helluva priest dad," Jake smiled. "It's perfect." Jarrod smiled back at him.
Cait rubbed Dave's back. "Yes it is," Dave softly said. They all spent a few quiet moments in reflection, remembering those they lost.
Dave turned and squeezed Tate's shoulder. "Thank you Tate. It's beautiful and I love it."
"Thanks Uncle Dave. I'm really happy you like it," Tate smiled, giving him a hug. Jack joined the hug. Tate looked at Dave. "I had help Uncle Dave," he smiled.
"Thank you Jack," Dave said, hugging him as well.
Dave released them and looked at the boys. They both turned and went to hug Jarrod. "Thanks grandpa," they said together.
-00CM00-
The annual Fourth of July picnic later that evening at the ranch was the usual. Family, food and fun. Maria, Miguel's wife, confiscated Ellie the minute Jake and Steph appeared. All the ranch hands warmly greeted the newest Barkley.
Around eight-thirty, Miguel and Maria approached the family table. "My Niñita is getting hungry," Maria smiled at Steph.
"Thank you so much Maria for letting us enjoy the party," Steph smiled, taking Ellie.
"De nada Senora Steph," Maria grinned back. "I loved taking care of her."
"But we need to head home and get someone fed and to bed," Jake added.
"Good idea Senor Jake," Miguel said. "We're starting the fireworks soon."
"We'll be able to see them from our back patio," Jake smiled at Miguel.
Jake and Steph said their good-byes to the family. Jake shook his head at Cait, Aaron and Dave. And his parents. "Good thing you all have legal underage drivers," he grinned.
"Jake, you always take advantage of the perks," Dave said.
Jake roared with laughter. "You've perfected that Dave," he said, rubbing Dave's shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
XXX
A/N: Did I forget a tissue alert? I'm bad.
Just wait for my curveball.