A/N: To all my U.S. readers, Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes, I got another one done. That said, I'm not going to revisit some of the usual stuff. After all these years, you know what's going on, including the Thanksgiving dinner and the night with the team. This chapter will cover the team. The rest will come next. And like last year, I'm going to concentrate on the core of my OC universe. The title should tip you off.
All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, ABC Studios and CBS.
*Knightly bow*
Chapter 1
The week before Thanksgiving, Cait came into the BAU conference room with Dave. It was twenty minutes to ten. They sat down at the table with JJ, Tara and Reid already there. Reid looked at the two of them. "You came in together."
"Very good agent," Rossi said.
"Something we need to know?" Tara asked.
"Work wise?" Cait said. "No," shaking her head. "Dave does the profiles. I may challenge some things. But only to make his profile better."
"So?" JJ asked with a smile.
Dave smiled at her as Derek and Emily came into the room. "We went toe to toe on me cooking dinner Friday night after Thanksgiving. She doesn't need to do it all. And I have a big house."
"Bout damn time," Morgan said, sitting down next to Cait. She glared at him.
"Cait. Honestly?" Emily said. "You should welcome the break. My God, you cook for how many? And how many meals all weekend. I'd take the break and run with it."
JJ looked at Cait. "Em is right," she smiled.
"Jayje, I don't have a problem with it. I love Dave for stepping up. But what's my motto beyond Thanksgiving?"
"Everyone chips in," Reid said.
Cait pointed at Dave, looking at Reid. "Now get Dopey to buy in on that Spencer."
"You make the big Thanksgiving dinner," Dave defended.
"With lots of help, starting with you buy the turkey," Cait fired back. "Mom and dad always give Aaron and me money for the weekend food bill. Which we don't need. So do Sean and Leslie along with Jake and Steph. And Matt and Mike with their wives cook breakfast Saturday morning, paying for it all. I'll say it again. Aaron and I don't need the financial help."
Dave looked at Cait. "Ted wants to help out. He enlisted me as his cook. Lasagna."
Cait shook her head. "Damn it Dave, why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
Reid smiled. "You two need to work on your communication skills."
"No shit Doctor," Cait snarked back. She looked at Dave. "You let Sean help you with prep Friday." Dave looked more deeply at Cait. "If you're cooking, Sean will want to be in on the action. You don't think he knows lasagna? He's in or no deal."
"Damn Rossi," Tara smiled. "Rock or hard place." The ladies all grinned at each other.
"Dave," Cait said. "I mean it. If I start farming out dinners, Sean will be all over it, wanting to be a part of it. And as much as I love you, he's my brother-in-law. You're number two."
"Sucks to be you Rossi," Emily snarked.
Dave smiled. "I'll admit making three pans of lasagna might push my buttons. I know Ted is no help." He smiled at Cait. "I could use a great chef. Sean is in."
"Hallelujah," Cait said. She looked Reid. "Spencer, in the break room you said something about your mom and a DVD."
Reid smiled. "You all know mom and her aversion to technology." Everyone around the table smiled. "She does put up with dad and his cell. Why I was able to share with you a few pictures dad took when they visited Maggie and Jarrod at the ranch in August, including their two day stop at Yosemite." Everyone grinned, remembering the pictures. "But dad wanted to make a DVD of the trip like Mike and you," he nodded at Cait, "have done with your vacations. He emailed Mike. Mike walked dad through how to do it."
"One day," Reid continued, "mom walked in on dad working on his project after he had downloaded all the pictures from his cellphone." Reid beamed. "Mom started picking out pictures to add. It became a shared project for them."
Cait looked at Reid. "With your dad working on his laptop?" she questioned with a smile.
"Yup," Reid grinned.
"That's fantastic Spence," JJ said, rubbing his shoulder.
"Can't wait to see it," Tara smiled.
Reid looked at Cait. "Dad is going to email it to you. He knows Mike can do the rest so we all can watch it that Saturday night in your home."
"Consider it done," Cait beamed.
Penelope came in the door, followed by Chief Cruz and Hotch. "What good stuff did I miss?" she asked, sitting down next to Emily.
"I took notes," Prentiss smiled. "Fill you in later."
"Chief Cruz," Morgan said, as Mat sat down.
"Relax all of you," Cruz smiled. "I'm only here to delegate." Everyone looked at him. "Next week, is going to be team light. Derek, you'll get your least favorite job, filling in for Hotch."
Morgan shook his head. "Dealing with paperwork." He looked at Aaron. "Thanks Hotch."
"You're welcome," Aaron smiled back.
"That said," Cruz continued, "you'll be in the office. And like previous years, the quicker you get caught up on your paperwork, the quicker you'll be out the door for the week. Hotch, Dave and Cait will be available via, take your pick medium, to help with consults."
"Where are you all going to be?" Morgan asked, looking at Hotch, Dave and Cait.
"I'm senior," Dave smiled. "Enjoying some time off."
"Cait and I will be grandpa and grandma," Hotch smiled.
"Mike and Andi are leaving early Saturday morning for a five day cruise from Miami to the Bahamas," Cait explained. "A parent break they need and we," she nodded at Aaron, "both heartily agree with."
Penelope broadly grinned. "You two are spoiling Sam."
Hotch smiled. "Throw great grandpa and grandma into the package."
"Mike, Andi and Sam are spending Friday night with us. Aaron drops off Mike and Andi and picks up mom and dad from their redeye," Cait said. "Jake, Steph and Ellie can't come until Tuesday. And you know mom and dad. It's their trip east to be with all of us. When they found out that Aaron and I would have Sam, they were all over that."
Dave looked at Cait. "Talk about lack of communication. You didn't tell me that."
"We can handle my parents and a seventeen month old Dave," Cait responded. "And Lucy." Dave, Cruz and team looked at her. Cait grinned. "When Sam was born, Mike told me he worried about his hearing with having a child in their home at night. I told him to follow his big brother's lead and get a dog to love. It took them a while, but they finally found the special one a month ago." Hotch pulled up the picture on his cell and passed it around the table.
"Another pit bull?" Tara questioned, looking at the picture, passing Hotch's cell to JJ.
"They've always been bred to be family defenders," Reid chimed in. "Sadly, humans took advantage of that gene in their breed. In reality, the breed is just as gentle as labs," he smiled at Cait.
Hotch smiled. "Lucy is a bigger love bug than Millie. And Sam is her bud."
"Sean, Leslie and the boys are taking the Acela out of New York late Tuesday afternoon," Cait said. "Their boys have the week off from school. But they are celebrating Thanksgiving with Leslie's parents Monday night."
Dave looked at the couple. "Please let me help you Tuesday night in getting people home. I can have my car service pick them all up."
Aaron smiled. "Thank you Dave. We appreciate it like always. But I can pick up Sean, Leslie and the boys at the Huntington Metro Station. Cait can handle Sam. And she does have back-up. Jack and Tate can make the run to the airport to get Jake, Steph and Ellie."
Morgan looked at Hotch. "Really?"
Cait smiled. "They can. We have to trust the pilot and co-pilot."
"Two heads are better than one," Reid said.
"Exactly," Hotch said.
JJ looked at Cait. "Really mom?" she smiled.
"Jayje, I've got to cut the apron strings sometime. As much as it scares the hell out of me."
Morgan smiled. "Who's refereeing the fight over which one gets which role in the cockpit?"
"Their father," Cait wickedly grinned.
Hotch smiled. "That's easy. It's a two way trip. They each get to be Maverick one way."
Emily looked at Cait. "How's the Top Gun analogy working for you mom?" she grinned.
"Not well," Cait admitted. "But that's why God invented the Virginia State Patrol. And they've both been warned any tickets come out of their pocket, not ours," she smiled.
Dave looked around the table. "Is Boom outdated?" he grinned.
"Yes," Morgan, Emily, JJ and Tara said together.
"Really?" Reid questioned with his big grin.
Morgan looked at JJ. "Hit him please." The team all laughed.
"I want daily updates, with video grandma," Penelope smiled at Cait.
"That's doable," Cait grinned back.
Hotch looked around the table. "You all done?" Everyone smiled. "Let's get started."
-00CM00-
"Gam-ma!" Aaron, Maggie and Jarrod heard as they came into the home Saturday morning. Aaron helped them both out of their coats.
"Sam," Cait said, "your oatmeal needs to cool off. Or you won't like grandma."
"Bown stuff gamma?" Sam asked as Maggie and Jarrod walked into the kitchen.
"The brown sugar is already on," Cait smiled, taking the bowl to Sam's highchair. "And some milk." She put the bowl down. "Now you blow on it to cool it off." Maggie and Jarrod beamed at their great-grandson blowing on his oatmeal.
Cait looked at Sam. "Who's that?" she smiled, nodding at her parents.
Sam brightly grinned. "Gam-gam and poppa."
"Hi my loves," Maggie grinned, kissing Sam.
"You gotta love Zoom," Jarrod said, pulling Cait into a hug.
"Hi dad," Cait said, hugging him back. "Good to have you here again."
Jarrod kissed her temple. "It's good to be here again. We miss you."
"Back at you dad," Cait smiled.
Sam took a spoonful of his oatmeal and started to lift it. He stopped. "Gam-gam. Hot."
Maggie beamed, blowing on Sam's spoon. "Try it now."
Sam touched it with his tongue. "More gam-gam," he smiled.
Jarrod grinned, looking at Cait. "That is so special."
"We're loving having him around," Aaron smiled at Jarrod. He took their bag to the den.
Sam stuck his first spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth and dived into the bowl for the next one. Lucy, Bella and Max came into the kitchen to get loves as Cait hugged Maggie. Maggie shook her head. "Really? Another pit bull?" Jarrod gave the dogs a big rub down.
Cait shook her head at her mother. "Who was your big four-legged baby the last time you were here?"
"Millie," Jarrod answered, rubbing Sam's head while Sam was eating his oatmeal.
"Poppa," Sam smiled.
Cait smiled at her mother. "Busted." Maggie shook her head with a smile.
"Where's Dave?" Jarrod asked.
"His traditional after duck hunting season weekend gambling trip to Atlantic City with the hunting crew," Aaron said.
"I need a nap," Maggie smiled.
"Go," Cait said, nodding at the den. "Breakfast sliders with Tate and Jack are at ten."
Maggie looked at her daughter and son-in-law. "And you two?" she smiled.
"We'll nap this afternoon when Sam does," Aaron grinned, putting his arm around Cait.
A little after ten-thirty, Sam was down for his short morning nap as the family enjoyed their breakfast. Maggie looked at Cait as she sat down at the table. "Where's Sam sleeping?"
"In his playpen in our room. On top of a big, fluffy comforter. And Lucy is lying on the floor next to the playpen." Bella and Max, like usual, were sprawled out in the Great Room with the fireplace going.
Jarrod and Maggie looked at Cait. Aaron smiled. "Sam and Lucy are attached at the hip."
"No kidding," Tate snarked.
Maggie looked at Cait. "What's your dinner plan this weekend?"
"With the crummy weather today, you're helping me brown pork chops and make scalloped potatoes to go into the oven together."
"Betty Crocker boxed ones I hope," Maggie said.
"I only buy the best like you mom," Cait smiled. "The weather tomorrow is supposed to be better. We're having ribs with Aaron doing his part on the grill along with baked potatoes. I know its pork and pork but…"
"It's all easy," Maggie smiled. "I'm in."
"Mom, how much bacon is left?" Jack asked, getting up off his chair from the nook table.
"Enough for this crew," Cait answered.
"More pork," Aaron smiled.
"Thank you Mr. Profiler," Cait zinged back at him with her broad smile.
"Who else wants another slider besides me?" Jack asked, heading into the kitchen.
"I'm in," Tate said, following Jack. "You fry the eggs, I'll toast the buns."
"I'll take another one boys," Jarrod said.
"I'm in guys," Aaron smiled.
Maggie looked at Cait. "Mom, if they are driving, they better know how to fry an egg."
"Or lose their inheritance," Jarrod snarked.
"Thank you dad," Cait smiled.
Tate lightly wrapped Jack's arm. "Who invited him?" he snarked.
"I dunno," Jack smiled back. The four adults at the table laughed.
The next morning in church, Pastor Jon, singing the second hymn, looked out over his congregation from his vantage point, sitting in the altar area. He quickly spotted the war going on in the Hotchner pew. Sam, your mom and dad may let you walk around their legs during the service. Your grandma won't he thought as Cait pulled Sam off the floor and sat him down in the pew. Again. When Sam made his third attempt, Pastor Jon hung his head to hide his smile. Cait pulled Sam off the floor and put him in Aaron's lap. Sam looked at his grandfather and got the Hotchner glare. You're toast Sam Pastor Jon grinned.
It was a communion Sunday. As the ushers got near their pew, Aaron did the math. He set Sam on his feet. "You get to walk buddy," he whispered. "To gam-gam. And then sit with her," he growled. Jack and Tate shared smiles as Sam walked past them. Maggie pulled Sam up into her lap as Aaron, Cait, Tate and Jack moved out of the pew to get in line to receive the Sacrament.
When they finished, Maggie, holding Sam in line with Jarrod to receive the Sacrament next, handed Sam back to Cait as the four of them left the communion rail. She and Jarrod went up the steps to take the Sacrament. When they came back to the pew, Sam was conked out, his head resting on Cait's shoulder.
Jarrod and Maggie, after bowing their heads in prayerful thanks for the Sacrament, smiled at each other. Jarrod put his arm around Maggie. "You didn't know who would win that battle?" he whispered with a grin.
-00CM00-
Tuesday evening, Sean, Leslie, Wyatt, Ethan and Aaron walked into the home with Sam in the kitchen with Cait. He was sitting on the floor, happily banging a pot lid on top of the pot. Wyatt looked at Cait. "Really Aunt Cait?"
"Really," Cait smiled. "It's music to my ears. I remember his dad doing the same thing. And he couldn't hear it."
"Too cool Aunt Cait," Ethan grinned.
Aaron looked at Cait. "Grandpa, he has the attention span of a gnat. He'll move off in thirty seconds." Sam spotted the boys, got on his feet and walked to them. Sean scooped Sam up. Cait looked at Aaron with her I told you so grin.
"Dude, you have the coolest grandma around," Sean grinned, hugging Sam..
"Amen," Wyatt said, hugging Cait.
"Love you too," Cait grinned, kissing the top of Wyatt's head. Ethan nearly blew Cait over with his hug.
"I've missed you too," Cait said, hugging Ethan. Cait brushed Wyatt's chin, still holding Ethan. "I love you both."
"Back at ya Aunt Cait," the boys smiled.
Sean handed Sam to Leslie and pulled Cait into a huge hug. "Hi sis," he smiled.
"Hi little brother," Cait smiled, accepting Sean's hug. "Welcome back to your second home."
"It's good to be here," Sean smiled.
Leslie put Sam on his feet and hugged Cait. "We've been counting the days for this."
Cait smiled at Leslie. "So have we."
Bella and Lucy bounded into the kitchen. "Whoa," Ethan smiled as Lucy gave him her total lick attack.
Aaron and Sean got the luggage into the Great Room as Maggie and Jarrod came up the steps from the den downstairs. Wyatt and Ethan hugged them both. Sean looked at Aaron. "Where are the boys?"
Aaron softly smiled. "Picking up Jake, Steph and Ellie at Reagan."
Sean looked at his brother. "No shit?" Sam was throwing around one of Lucy's toys. Lucy was happily playing along with her bud.
Aaron pointed at Sam. "We're back to watching our language," he smiled. "And yes. We trust them to do that."
"Welcome home Sean," Maggie smiled, giving him a hug. She looked Sean in the eyes. "Don't ask how grandpa and I are handling that."
Sean shook his head as Jarrod hugged Leslie. "Hi Mother Goose," Sean smiled, kissing Maggie's cheek. "I get it. It's tough for me as well." Maggie smiled, rubbing Sean's chest.
Just then, Jake came in the door carrying their large bag, followed by Steph, carrying Ellie's car seat. Ellie toddled in behind her parents, jabbering at Jack and Tate that followed them in.
Cait eyed Jake. He grinned at his sister. And then looked at Sean and Leslie. "Please tell me your boys have seen Maverick."
Sean smiled. "In a theater and three more times on a YouTube rental."
Jake winked at Sean. "I was Rooster. Closed my eyes and said holy s-h-i-t." Sean roared with laughter.
"Thanks a lot Uncle Jake," Tate groused.
"Uncle Jake," Jack said. "I love you. But you can be a turd."
Cait looked at Jack with a smile. "You're finally figuring that out?"
The two families settled into the home for the holiday weekend.
XXX
A/N: More Rockie cooking tips for my US and Canadian friends. Betty Crocker boxed potatoes are the best. Simple and easy. Three words I love in my cooking world.
Yes, my love for Top Gun: Maverick is still strong.