A/N: Yes, I'm going to take y'all down that dark valley. Again. But with a different spin. I hope you like it. Notice, I didn't say enjoy it. I know it's tough.

There are some lines in this story that are from CM scripted episodes. They belong solely to that specific writer and the others that I mentioned in my opening A/N's and are not mine.

Chapter 2

When Zach got pulled out of class at school, he knew something big was going on. He walked into the school office to see his mother standing there with Jack and a man in suit. His stomach did flips. "Mom, what's going on? Is it dad?" he barely got out.

"He's OK Zach." She just asked him to go get his personal stuff from his locker. Zach gave her a questioning look and then left. Another suit escorted him to his locker. He came back and followed her out, escorted by the suit man. They got into the car, with Zach sitting up front with the suit, his mom, Jack and the first suit in the backseat. They weren't off the school property, when Zach swung around to look at his mom.

"What's going on?"

"I'll explain later," she said, nodding at Jack. Zach looked at her for a second, and then the first suit, and turned to face to the front.

The suit man in the back, trying to ease the palpable tension in the car, reached his hand across the seat to Zach. "I'm Sam Kassmeyer."

Zach, his father's son, burrowed a look into Kassmeyer's eyes. "And….." refusing to shake the hand.

"Zach," Haley reprimanded.

Zach looked her in the eye. "Mom, I love you and respect you." Looking at Kassmeyer, he added, "Not until I get answers."

Sam looked at him. "Fair enough Zach; I respect that." Zach faced forward again, his stomach churning worse. His tangle with the oak tree root could do that, even with the meds he took. When they pulled into the St. Sebastian Hospital parking lot, Zach shot his mother another look. Haley's response was just to look her oldest son in the eye. Zach, with his love for his brother, didn't say a word.

Kassmeyer, and the other suit lead the three of them into the hospital. They got on an elevator and went to the fourth floor. As they got off and headed into a closed door room, Jack started his "dance" as Zach always called it. He had to go to the bathroom. "Zach, can you take your brother…"

Zach cut Haley off. "No, one of the suits can. I want answers, and I'm not leaving this room until I get them." The second suit walked out the door and less than a minute later, a young nursing assistant entered to take Jack to the bathroom.

The second the door shut, Zach looked at his mother and Kassmeyer. "Spill it."

Sam pulled his badge out. "I'm US Marshall Sam Kassmeyer with the Marshall's Witness Protection Service."

"Witness Protection," Zach asked.

"Zach, hear me out." Kassmeyer laid out to Zach what had happened to his father, George Foyet's involvement, and what it meant to his brother and mother as well as him.

"I have three weeks left in school," Zach said. "What happens now; with all that; and my grades? I work hard to get those grades. I'll miss finals." Haley, scared to her bones over the situation, had to smile a bit. Zach was keeping his promise. His grades were the first thing Zach thought about.

"We'll handle that," Kassmeyer said.

"How in the hell can you handle that," Zach said.

"Zach," Haley scolded. "Tell you've been hanging around with Dave too much."

"Mom, I don't care. I just want answers. And I'm not getting them." Kassmeyer could see that Zach was extremely worked up.

"Zach," he said, putting his hand on his shoulder, "you've just got to trust me."

Zach pulled away from Kassmeyer's hand. "I have no reason to trust you right now as far as I can throw you." He looked at Haley. "When can I see dad?"

"After I see him."

"No mom, I'm in on that conversation, because I know I'll get more answers. If not, I'm walking out the door. I know how to get to Uncle Dave's cabin. I'll be safe there."

"Zach, Jack and I need you right now," Haley pleaded. "You're going to have to be the man of the family."

"Well then if I'm to be the man of the family, I gotta know what is going on," he looked at her. Haley looked him in the eye for second. She knew her son and nodded her head to Kassmeyer.

"Zach, part of my job is to support all of you any way I possibly can. And I will do that. And if your mom agrees that you're to be in on the conversation, I will give you every last detail. We do need you to step up; and so does your mom." Zach looked Kassmeyer in the eye, read him a bit more and then extended his hand.

"You and I are a team, or I walk away," Zach said to Kassmeyer.

"Done deal partner," Kassmeyer said, shaking Zach's hand. Jack came back in. Sam walked to the other Marshall and the nursing assistant. Zach got Jack watching some TV.

He looked at his mom, and pulled her into a large hug. The development of his shoulder and chest muscles closed Haley in a cocoon. "I'm here mom, for you," he whispered in her ear. "I really am. Just don't leave me in the dark. I need to know what's going on." He pulled back to look Haley in the eye.

She rubbed his chin that had the hair of what would soon need to be shaved. She kissed his cheek as the tears formed in her eyes. "I'm supposed to protect you," she half smiled.

Zach kissed her forehead, now on the same level of his growing body. "Not any more mom," he softly smiled. He noticed Kassmeyer nod to her. "Hey JP," Zach said kneeling down into his usual catcher's crouch. "Dad got hurt and that's why he's here in the hospital." Jack nodded his head, looking deeply into his big brother's eyes, trusting every word. "Mom and I are going to see dad and talk with him for a while." He nodded at the second suit and the nursing assistant. "These really cool people are going to hang out with you while mom and I do that. OK JP?"

"Z-man, I need to see daddy too," he sadly said.

Zach kissed his brother, knowing that Jack had picked up on his nickname, the lingo of baseball teams that had a nickname for every player. Zach pulled his little brother into a huge hug. "Promise JP. You going to be good until then," Zach asked, holding his fist out for a bump.

"All good Zach," Jack smiled, answering the fist bump. Haley gave the top of Jack's head an affectionate rub.

She reached down and gave Jack a hug. Jack looked at her. "I promise, you'll see daddy." She kissed his forehead. She smiled at the other Marshall and the young nurse.

Zach did as well, rubbing Jack's back. "See you in a bit bro." Jack just smiled at him, trusting every word. Kassmeyer led them down the hall to Aaron's room. Haley let Zach go in first.

Zach looked around and froze in the doorway, taking a deep breath. His dad wasn't supposed to be in hospital room in this condition. Haley rubbed his back. "Go in," she whispered. Zach walked in and squeezed Aaron's foot. He opened his eyes to see his oldest son and Haley. Haley walked to the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm OK," Aaron said, putting on a brave front for his son. "Do you know what's happening?"

"Yes, the Marshall Service is standing by to take us."

Zach squeezed his dad foot again. "Sam Kassmeyer is leading the detail."

Hotch looked at Zach. "Good son; please trust him."

Haley looked at Hotch. "Are you sure we are in danger?" Zach slowly shook his head at the question, understanding more than he should about the job his dad and Uncle Dave did.

"Yes," Aaron simply answered, his heart breaking seeing the same in Haley's eyes. They may have been divorced, but to him, she was his one, true love.

"What about you? Are you going to be safe?"

Aaron looked at Haley and then his son. "Foyet wants me to suffer; knowing that my sons are out there and I can't see them. It's better than killing me."

Haley's tears began to flow. "How am I supposed to keep our sons safe, knowing there is no one to help me?"

"Zach will be there to help you Haley. Please lean on him. And you've raised Jack almost on your own. You are an amazing mother. Zach will help you get through this." Zach squeezed his father's foot for the third time, getting the message.

"Can you catch this man?" Haley looked at him.

"I will catch this man and I will make all of this up to you. All three of you; I promise," he said looking at Zach. He looked deeply into his oldest son's eyes and saw no tears; just a young man, on a mission, that would have to grow up quicker than he should. He didn't doubt that Zach could handle it. "I love you son."

"I love you too, dad."

"Zach, you've gotta step up to the plate."

Zach smiled, the Rossi charm rubbing off on him the right way. "I know dad. I've got it. Just catch this SOB." Haley frowned at her oldest son's language and then smiled a bit at Aaron.

"This is one of few times I'm glad he hangs around Dave." Hotch smiled slightly.

Haley squeezed his hand. "Jack wants to see you." Hotch started to shake his head.

"I want to see him too, but I just don't think it's a good idea."

"Aaron, I know you are trying to protect him, but he has to see you." Aaron looked at Haley and then Zach, who added his assent.

"Dad, he's tougher than you think." Hotch nodded and Haley left the room to get Jack. Zach moved to the side of the bed.

"Dad, tell me anything, everything you can to keep an eye out for Foyet." Hotch looked at him. "Dad, I'll take care of them and protect them. But I need to know everything." Hotch leaned his head back into the pillow, took and deep breath and laid out to Zach his entire profile of George Foyet.

Zach tightly squeezed Aaron's hand, causing him to flinch for a second. "Sorry dad; you've helped me build my muscles." Aaron slightly smiled. "I'll miss that dad, but I'll keep at it; every day."

Aaron squeezed Zach's hand back. "Just make me proud; every day son."

Zach looked his dad in the eye. "Promise."

Haley brought Jack into the room. While he shared his time with his dad, David Rossi showed up in the doorway. Zach made a beeline for him. Dave pulled him out of the room into the hallway.

"Zach, this has to be done. It's the only way we can keep you three safe."

"I know Uncle Dave. Do you know Kassmeyer and trust him?"

"Your dad does. That's good enough for me, Zach."

Zach nodded, and then gave Dave a small smile. "Then that's good enough for me." He looked Dave in the eye and then back into his dad's hospital room where he was still talking to Jack. "You'll take care of him, right?" Zach asked, finally showing a tear in his eye to the situation.

Dave Rossi pulled Zach into a huge hug. "That's a promise kiddo." He rubbed Zach's back affectionately, adding, "This team will get him Zach."

"Uncle Dave, I don't know if I can pull this off." Dave looked into Zach's eyes.

"You can Zach, and you will. I know you." They embraced again. Dave rubbed his back deeply, seeing Haley watch their exchange. Dave pulled out of the embrace to look Zach in the eye. "I promise you we will get Foyet. You just step up and do your job, knowing that your dad and I are damn proud of you." Dave wiped away the tear that ran down Zach's face. "Go in and say to your dad 'see ya soon'." Haley, standing at the end of doorway to hear the conversations of her two sons, smiled at Dave and the tears began to run again at their words. JJ came in the doorway and rubbed her shoulders. Dave kissed Haley as Zach and Jack said their good-bye's as they left.

Two minutes later, Haley and the boys were gone.

Dave re-counted to Hotch the day the team had. "Do you know why I'm telling you this?"

Hotch bared his soul to Dave. "What is Jack going to remember about me in ten years?" Dave noticed the small tear run from Aaron's eye.

"Aaron, look at me. I give you the same promise I gave Zach. We will catch Foyet."

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A/N: A certain line was for a certain special person. ;)