Author's Note: You all know what's happened. This is immediately after the end of "100".

Chapter 14 – Going Home

Dave told Cait about their day. Her heart was pounding the more Dave recounted the afternoon. "Foyet is dead. Aaron killed him with his bare hands."

"So Aaron is alright?" Cait asked, almost pleading.

"Yes," Dave answered.

"And Jack and Haley?"

"Jack is fine. Cait, there's no easy way to say this. Foyet killed Haley. He shot her."

"No Dave!" Cait cried. "Dave, please, that can't be. Oh God, in front of Jack?"

"No, Aaron had got him out of the room. Cait listen to me. Aaron needs medical attention. He can get around; he just needs to be looked at."

"Where are they?" Cait asked.

"They're still here."

"No David, where are they right now?"

"They're in a Bureau SUV with the door shut. And I've got the police radio off. Jack doesn't need to hear that."

"Does he know about Haley?" Dave could hear in her voice she was crying.

"Aaron is telling him now."

"What happens now?"

"I'm going to try and convince Aaron to go to a hospital."

"No, bring them home to me."

"Cait….."

She interrupted Dave, her brain in overdrive. "Dave, Jack has enough to deal with. Waiting around a hospital will only upset him more. And he needs his father and familiar surroundings. I'm a doctor; I can look at Aaron and I think I can talk him into going to a hospital if he needs it."

"OK, I'll bring them as soon as I can."

"Dave listen," Cait said as she rattled off things she wanted him to bring along.

"Got it; I call you when we're on the move."

An EMT had tried to pull Hotch into an ambulance as they were getting in the door. He wanted to check Hotch, but Aaron pushed him away. His only concern was his son. Dave interceded and got the EMT away. Hotch and Jack were sitting in the SUV. "Daddy, where's mommy?"

Aaron swallowed hard and fought back tears. "Buddy, the bad man, he shot mommy. She died. She's gone Jack. She's in heaven." How could he make his four year old son understand what had happened?

"I'm not going to see mommy anymore?" Jack cried.

"I'm sorry buddy. Mommy is with the angels now." Jack sobbed and Aaron silently shed his tears along with him. Dave, standing outside of the SUV, had to walk away so he could wipe his own tears.

Cait looked at the clock in her vehicle. 2:20 it read. She had to talk to the boys before Aaron and Jack got there. She picked up her cell and called Jamaal at school. "I'm sorry, he's in a meeting," the secretary said. "May I take a message?"

"Yes, this is Dr. Caitlyn Barkley. Please have him call me on my cell. It's an emergency." She hung up. Less than a minute later, it rang.

"Cait, what's happened?" Jamaal asked. She recounted a short version of what Dave told her. "What do you need me to do?"

"Get the boys out of school as quick as possible and bring them home. I should be getting there about the same time. Just tell them I need to talk to them and its urgent."

"I'll take care of it."

Twenty minutes later, she pulled into the garage. Thankfully, Jamaal and the boys weren't there yet. It gave her a little time to think about what she was going to say. She pulled a big bowl of stew out of the freezer and started to unthaw it in the microwave when she heard the door. The three of them come into the kitchen. "Jamaal, please stay. You might as well hear this, too. Boys please sit down," she said as she motioned to the lunch counter. Her cell rang.

"We're on our way. We've got an escort so it shouldn't be long," Dave quietly said.

"Jamaal and the boys just walked in the door. See you when you get here." Cait hung up. "Jamaal, I need another favor."

"Cait, I'm here for you and boys. And you know Lisa will be soon. Just talk to me."

"There on their way. They're bringing some things. Can you help them get them into the laundry room? I'll deal with them later."

"You just tell Lisa and me what you need done, and we'll take care of them." Cait nodded.

"Mom, what's wrong," Matt asked.

"Matthew, please just sit down and don't ask any questions until I'm done." She took a deep breath. "Aaron and I were not having problems; something did happen. I'm so sorry I lied to you but it had to be done. Please know I love you both very much and it hurt me more than you'll ever know."

"Let me start at the beginning." She recounted the Reaper case, what happened in Boston in as little detail as possible and Foyet's attack of Aaron. "Remember the night when Dave came for supper and then I went with him to help him with his publisher?" They both nodded. "I really went to see Aaron in the hospital."

She continued on about the danger that Jack and Haley were in. "To keep them safe, they had to go into the US Marshall's Witness Protection Program. While Aaron and Uncle Dave didn't feel we were in any danger, to be on the safe side, we thought it was best to not have Aaron come here. Also, Uncle Dave hired a private security firm to watch over the three of us. And I thought it was best not to tell you two. I didn't want you looking over your shoulders." Mike started to say something, but Cait cut him off.

"Michael, please, there's more. This man was truly dangerous and wanted to hurt Aaron in the worst way he could; by hurting his family. This morning, he killed the US Marshall assigned to the case and got Haley's cell number. He convinced her to come back here. When he got them in Haley's house, Aaron was on his way there. He and the team figured out where he would be with them but….. Boys," she hung her head for a moment and then looked at them. "There is no easy way to tell you. Before Aaron could get there, he shot and killed Haley."

"No mom!" Matt shouted as Mike began to cry. "And Jack?"

"Jack is safe. Aaron was able to talk to both of them over a cell before…. part of this man's sick plan, and he secretly told Jack where to hide."

"Did Aaron and Uncle Dave get him?" Matt asked, his tears starting to flow as well.

"He and Aaron got into a big fight. Aaron killed him. He's no longer a threat." The boys raced around the counter and hugged their mother, openly crying for Jack's loss. Cait's own tears began again. "Boys, they are going to be here soon. Uncle Dave is bringing them. But I want you to know that Aaron is a little beat up. The first thing I want to do when they get here is check to him out. Please take Jack upstairs and play with him quietly while I do that. Can you do that for me?" The nodded their heads as they continued to cling to their mother.

Jamaal rubbed Cait's arm. "Cait, what do you want me to do?" She recounted to Jamaal all the things she asked Dave to bring for Jack. "I can figure out where they need to go. Don't worry; I'll take care of it all. You just focus on Aaron and Jack. I'll give you and boys some space and call Lisa and get her home ASAP. And I'll call Pastor and see if he can come over later this evening." Part of the special friendship Cait had with these two special people was they all belonged to the same church.

Cait merely nodded her thanks to Jamaal and he went into the garage to call Lisa and then wait for Dave. The boys stood in the kitchen with Cait rubbing their backs when they heard car doors outside. They let go of their mother and wiped away the tears. Soon the screen door opened and Aaron walked into the kitchen carrying Jack. Jack had his arms around the back of Aaron's neck and his head against the side. Aaron looked like hell. Cait walked to them and embraced them both. Aaron put his free arm around her and held her close.

Dave came in and took the boys into the nook. He wrapped his arms around the boys and held them close. "Sorry boys about not telling you what was going on. I thought it was for the best. Your mom took my advice," he whispered.

Jack pushed away a little and held out his arms to Cait. She took him and held him tightly. "I'm so sorry about mommy, Jack. She was a special lady and loved you very much. She will always love you." She gave him a kiss and let him cry.

Aaron looked at the boys and they quickly crossed the space to him. "Easy boys," Dave warned as Jamaal nodded to him that all was done. Aaron pulled them into a tight hug. "We're so sorry Aaron," Matt sobbed. What was probably five minutes seemed like an eternity. Dave walked into the great room and pulled out his handkerchief and wiped more tears.

Jack started to relax a bit and said in Cait's ear, "I'm thirsty." She sat him down on the kitchen island.

"Let me look at you first. Do you hurt any place?" Jack shook his head.

"What about daddy?"

"I'll take care of daddy in a minute. Would you like some apple juice?" Jack just nodded.

Dave came into the kitchen. "I'll get it. Please look him over anyway." Cait pulled up Jack's shirt and did a quick check.

"I'm OK Cait," he said. Dave handed him the juice. It was in a Sippy cup. "I don't use that anymore," Jack protested.

"Jack, it's just this once. While I check out daddy, I want you to go upstairs with the boys. Can you do that? Beans has missed you and wants to see you." Jack nodded as he grabbed the cup. Matt walked over and picked him up.

Dave looked at Cait and said, "Jamaal has everything taken care of for now. Don't worry about the rest until I get back. I have to go back to the BAU. I'll be back here as soon as I can. Give me a call when you're done with him."

"Thanks Dave." It was just Aaron and Cait in the kitchen. She walked back to him and he pulled her tight to his chest.

"Aaron," she started to say.

"Cait, please, I just need to hold you." She could feel a tear running down his face. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you." They stood there for a few moments. "Aaron, please, I need to look you over. And you need to spend as much time with Jack as you can." He released her.

"Thanks for having Dave bring us here." He started taking his tie off when Cait noticed his hand. She grabbed a towel and some ice and wrapped his hand.

"Let me do that," as she finished his tie and started opening his shirt. "Do they need to be saved for evidence?"

"Probably." Cait helped him get out of his shirt and she reached for his t-shirt. "Jack hasn't seen my chest yet." She led him to their bathroom and had him lean against the counter. She gingerly pulled the shirt off and saw some bruises already forming around a couple different spots on his ribs. She took a wash cloth and gently wiped the blood off his face.

"Hold that on your nose while I go get my bag." She returned and gently checked his nose. "It's broke but I think I can get it back into place." He shook his head in understanding and she set the bone. He winced.

Cait began to gently check his ribs. "Does it hurt to breathe," she asked.

"No, they're just sore." Cait grabbed her stethoscope and began listening to his lungs. She had him take some deep breaths and was satisfied, that while one rib may have had a crack, all the spots seemed to be just badly bruised and neither of his lungs were punchier. She reached into the medicine cabinet and handed him some Advil. While Aaron took those, Cait went and got a clean t-shirt for him and a pair of jeans.

"When you're changed, come sit down on the couch. I've got to get some ice on that nose. Then you and Jack can be together."

"This was not how I envisioned our homecoming," Aaron said sadly.

"Neither did I. But you and Jack are home. I just wish the price wasn't so high. However, Haley is home also," she said, drawing once again on her faith.

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