Chapter 67
"Hey, Hun," Kahlan answered Hotch's call on the first ring.
Even though her tone sounded even, Hotch could tell that it was forced. "Hey, Babe." He sighed as he cringed. "I'm sorry."
She took a deep breath. "You don't need to be sorry, Aaron. Dave told me all about it, and you did what you had to do. I'm just glad you're alright."
"I know. I really scared everyone this time."
"You didn't do it on purpose and you all stopped a vicious killer. You don't have anything to feel bad about."
"And yet I still do. If I hadn't have. . ."
"Just stop," she demanded. "Everything worked out and you guys are coming home soon, just be happy about that."
He sighed again. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Don't get so excited about the prospect of coming home, Aaron, people may get the wrong idea, and by people I mean me."
"What? No, I didn't. . . Of course I'm happy about coming home, Babe. I miss you and the kids something fierce."
She giggled. "I know, Hun. I was just giving you shit."
"This case has seemed like it's taken forever," he admitted.
"Yep."
"Dave said that they should be wrapping things up tonight, so we'll probably head back tomorrow, but I can't promise what time."
She laughed. "And if the girls have their way, you'll be there for one more day at least."
"What do you mean?"
"They want to enjoy the islands, Hun, and they should while they can. It actually snowed here last night."
"What? Already?"
"Just a light dusting, but yeah. I'm almost tempted to grab the kids and join you all."
"Well, I'm pretty sure they want us back in Quantico as soon as possible, so. . ."
"You do realize you're in paradise, right, Aaron. Have you even noticed the beauty around you or have you been too focused on your case?"
"I have all the beauty I need waiting at home for me."
She burst out laughing. "You are such a dweeb."
"You love me."
"Yes, yes I do," she agreed. "But you can always put a hold on officially closing your case. Letting everyone enjoy themselves for a little while will go a long way to heal them after what you all have witnessed on this case."
He took a deep breath as he considered her words. "You're right, as always."
"Of course I am."
"Exactly what do you get for talking me into it?"
"What do you mean?" she asked trying to act innocent.
He chuckled. "It's obvious they put you up to it, what are you getting in return?"
She giggled. "It's not what I'm getting, it's what we're getting," she led.
The way her tone had taken on a slightly seductive vibe made his breath catch in his chest. "Meaning?"
"Meaning that the second night you all are home, someone else is keeping the kids."
He took a deep breath and had to adjust himself. "Then I guess I should say that I will call you tomorrow night because it will take us at least another day to get things settled here."
She giggled her secret giggle. "Don't worry, Aaron. It'll be worth the wait."
He blew out a breath. "Promise?"
"Promise."
"And Hotchners don't break promises," he put in.
"No, no they don't."
"Oh God. I think I need to go take another shower."
She laughed. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Babe."
"Then I will talk to you tomorrow. Try to enjoy yourself, too, Hun."
"I'll try, but now you've made waiting torture, so I don't know how well that's going to work."
"Torture? Hmmm. . . I wonder if I have anything I could tie you up with that you wouldn't be able to break."
He ran a hand down his face. "Just stop, or I'm going to jump on a commercial flight back tonight and let the team come back whenever they're ready!"
She laughed again. "Goodnight, Aaron. Sweet dreams."
"You are mean, Woman! But good night. I love you."
"Love you, too," she offered and then ended the call.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and stood up. He took one step towards the door to go to Rossi, but he froze and looked back to the table and the glass full of blood that was waiting. He sighed and picked it up. If I don't finish it, he'll just yell at me. He downed it, had to calm himself down again, and then went in search of the older man.
When he stepped out onto the porch, his eyes were drawn to the coast not that far off. "Kahlan was right, the sunsets are amazing."
Rossi stood up and looked towards the purple and yellow splashed sky. "That they are."
Hotch sighed as he looked around. "This whole place is beautiful."
"And now that it's safe again, it's even more beautiful."
Hotch nodded once. "Do we need to go meet up with the team?"
Rossi shook his head. "They're coming here. Hell, they may already be here. Come on," he urged and stepped off the porch.
Hotch frowned. "Where are we going?"
"Towards the main house," is all Rossi told him and turned towards the right.
"Just let me grab. . ."
"We can get it after," Rossi insisted.
"After? After what?" Hotch asked as his stare came out in full force.
Rossi just smiled. "Listen to your elders."
Hotch studied him for a few moments and then wilted knowing he wasn't going to tell him. "Fine."
After they had walked a fair distance from the guesthouse, Hotch stopped in his tracks and fixed Rossi with a look. "What's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I hear drums and people. It's almost like there's a party going on or. . ." Rossi's smile froze the words on his tongue. He shook his head. "What the hell is going on, Dave?"
Rossi took a deep breath, grabbed the younger man's arm, and started them forward again. "The Schewels have decided to celebrate the fact that they can rest easy again. What's wrong with that?"
"There's nothing wrong with them celebrating. I just don't understand why we're about to join them."
Rossi held his chin up as he stopped and looked at him. "I figured that you wanted to thank them for their help. Was I wrong?"
Hotch winced. "No, of course not, but I don't want to intrude."
Rossi shrugged. "I thought the team could use a party. They deserve to relax a little after all the hard work they put in. Don't you agree?"
"What? Of course. They. . ."
"Just come on before they start worrying about you even more than what they already were," Rossi told him as he started off again.
Hotch wilted and moved to keep up with him.
"Even though I have talked with them and assured them you were fine, you know they won't truly relax until they can see you with their own eyes," Rossi continued.
Hotch nodded. "I know."
"And if you have to suffer through a little fawning over, then tough. They deserve to have a little fun."
"Fawning. . . What?" Hotch asked as he stopped and then sighed. "They're doing this for me?"
Rossi feigned a shocked look. "For all of us. We are kind of a team, Mister Unit Chief."
"I didn't mean it like that, and you know it, Dave."
Rossi chuckled and grabbed his arm. "Just come on."
Once they got close enough to see, Hotch groaned. There was a bonfire, torches lining the perimeter, floating candles in a small pond, drums playing, several grills smoking, tables covered with food, and people dancing, drinking, and laughing everywhere.
Rossi chuckled and urged Hotch on with a hand in the small of his back. "A real luau and you are the man of honor." Hotch cringed but Rossi's smile widened. "And you are going to get in there and accept it graciously, or you're going to be grounded for a month."
Hotch took a deep breath. "Yes, Sir."
"That's a good, Boy."
"Shut up, Dave," he offered as he shook his head but forced a smile when Jimmy turned and saw them approaching.
"Agent Hotchner, it's so good to see you up and about."
"It's good to be up and about, Jimmy."
"And you're just in time. They just opened the pit."
"The pit?" Rossi asked as he studied the party around them.
"The main course, kalua pua'a, is pork that's roasted in the ground and it's delicious, but so is everything in my opinion," Jimmy explained with a grin.
"I know it smells amazing," Rossi offered.
That made Jimmy's grin even bigger. "Come on, Tutu and Kuku have been waiting for you to arrive," he told them and then started across the lawn towards a palm covered seating area.
Rossi grabbed Hotch's arm and pulled him close enough to whisper in his ear. "You don't have to stay all night, but remember that they helped heal you."
"I know," Hotch assured him.
Before they reached the raised platform where the family leaders were sitting, Garcia had spotted them and quickly moved to intercept them. "Oh, Sir. . ." she gushed and then wrapped Hotch in a massive hug. "I was so worried about you."
Hotch hugged her back. "I'm fine, Penelope," he assured her but let her hold him as long as she needed to.
She took a deep breath and pulled back as wiped her face. "I know. Pasts Primo assured us all that you were, but it's just really nice to have it confirmed first hand."
Hotch smiled and nodded. "I understand." He looked around. "Is the rest of the team here?"
She nodded and looked around and then pointed towards the bonfire. "Little Mama and Chocolate Thunder are over there entertaining a few of Jimmy's cousins, and our resident genius is over there entertaining some of the children with his magic tricks, and Red is. . ." she looked around some more. "Well, Red was supposed to be going to get us a drink but I. . . Oh, there she is," she explained and Mack finally spotted them and moved to joined them.
"See, everyone's having a great time," Rossi assured Hotch.
Hotch nodded. "And they deserve it." He put in and then fixed Garcia and Mack with his stare. "Just make sure you all don't party too hard tonight," he insisted as he pointed at the drinks that Mack had brought over: two small, cored pineapples that held something pink with slices of fruit and flowers sticking out of the tops.
Garcia drooped. "Of course, Sir. We know we have to. . ."
"Because I would hate to see you all waste your one day of free time tomorrow by nursing a hangover and sleeping too late."
The colorful woman's eyes grew wide. "Oh, Sir. . . You mean. . . We get to. . .," she sputtered.
He smiled. "The jet is scheduled to pick us up at noon the day after tomorrow."
Garcia hit Mack's arm repeatedly. "Did you hear that, Red? We get a whole day to explore and have fun!" she exclaimed as she bounced on her three inch heels.
"Yes, Pen. I heard," Mack assured her as she smiled.
"And why don't you wonderful ladies go let everyone else know," Rossi suggested.
"They're going to be so happy!" Garcia proclaimed as she and Mack started out.
Hotch shook his head.
"You are a good man, Aaron," Rossi told him as they started to go to Jamison and his wife.
"Yep," Hotch agreed with a grin.
As soon as they passed two guys twirling flaming sticks, Jamison and Nora spotted them and stood up as they waved the men over to them. When Hotch stepped up onto the raised platform, Nora threw her arms around him. "It does my old eyes good to finally see you moving around on your own, Son."
Hotch nodded over her head because she only came up to his chest. "Yes, thanks to you and your husband," he told her as he looked at Jamison. "And, by the way, it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Schewel."
She pulled back and smiled at him as she stuck out her hand. "It's Nora, and it's nice to meet you, too, Agent Hotchner."
"It's Aaron, and I really appreciate everything you all have done. I really can't say how. . ."
"Nonsense, Boy," Jamison put in as he put his arm around Hotch's shoulders. "After everything you have done for us, it was the least we could do." He pulled Hotch over to the table and gestured to the chair in the middle. "Now forget all that stuff, sit down, and enjoy the night."
Hotch took a deep breath and looked at Rossi, who was smiling, and let himself be pushed into the chair.
Rossi sat down beside him. "This is great, Jamison, Nora, really it is."
"Just a small get together," Nora offered as she sat down in her seat.
"Small? I'd hate to see what a big get together would be," Hotch offered as he studied the scene before him.
Jamison laughed as he sat down on the other side of Hotch. "You have no idea, Mana'akua."
Rossi leaned forward and fix Jamison with a look. "Alright, you keep calling him that. Exactly what does it mean? I asked Reid but he said it wasn't Hawaiian."
Jamison smiled. "No, it's not Hawaiian. It's shifter."
Hotch frowned as he studied the old man. "And what does it mean, or do I even want to know?"
Nora reached over and placed a loving hand on her husband's back. "Just tell them, Pilikua." She looked at Hotch. "It's nothing bad, I assure you."
Jamison locked eyes with Hotch. "Literally it means 'little god' but the implied translation is 'honored one', and that's what you are to this family," he told him seriously.
Hotch's eyes flicked to Rossi and he shrugged, so Hotch took a deep breath and looked back at the family leaders. "While that's not warranted, thank you."
Jamison pointed a finger at him. "You helped my great granddaughter through the change, you saved Jimmy's wife and children from hunters, you got rid of the hunters and saved all of us, and you hunted down that beast. How is the title not warranted?"'
Hotch opened his mouth to argue, but Nora cut in. "I will not accept any arguments, Young Man. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself," she ordered.
Hotch sighed as his cheeks heated. "Yes, Ma'am."
