A/N: This is the last really downer chapter. Promise! To my guest reviewers that I can't contact back, thank you so, so much. But I get a feeling I might know one or two of you. Do you mind leaving me a screen name so I can hook up with you on the net so I can thank you properly? I truly appreciate your comments and want to acknowledge them. However, it is your choice.

Chapter 9

Dave met Sean at Metro Station. Sean extended his hand to Dave for a handshake, with the words, "How are they?"

Dave shook Sean's hand and put his other hand on Sean's shoulder. "They're getting by. Jack really doesn't completely understand what's going on." Sean looked him in the eye. "He's four; how the hell can he?" Sean nodded his understanding. "Aaron and Zach are hurting, both physically and emotionally, but they're Hotchner's. They'd never admit the emotional part. Zach took it all pretty tough the first night. But their Pastor stopped by yesterday morning. He was huge, as usual. The two of them just had a really rough day yesterday." Sean eyed him.

Dave filled Sean in on everything, including Strauss' board of inquiry and what Zach went through. He finished his summation as they reached Dave's vehicle. "Dave, Zach can handle that?"

"Sean, when's the last time you seen all them?" Sean looked at the ground. "Sean, it's OK. You're here now and that's all that matters. But I know the answer to my question. Your brother and I are close; we talk. And those two nephews of yours mean more to me than anything else in this world." He nodded at the car door on Sean's side as he unlocked the doors. "Sean, Jack isn't a baby in diapers. And Zach stands shoulder to shoulder with me." He got into the car, with Sean following. He put the key in the ignition, turned the engine over and then put his hand on Sean's shoulder. "They just need family." Dave looked at Sean. "And maybe a good chef; your brother sucks when it comes to cooking," he said, smiling at Sean.

Sean sat in silence, digesting all of Dave's words as Dave drove them to Aaron's apartment. As they got out, they saw Haley's family arriving as well. Dave and Sean waited for the three to join them, and Sean greeted them all with heart-felt messages of condolences and hugs. "She was my sister, and I loved her."

The five of them walked down the hallway to the apartment. Dave noticed the large box of Krispy Kreme donuts that Jessica carried. He smiled at her. "Perfect Jess," he said.

"Mom and dad have another gallon of milk," she smiled at Dave. "Aaron has growing boys and we know Zach's stomach." Sean and Dave just smiled. They reached the apartment and Dave rapped softly on the door.

Getting no response after a minute, Dave pulled out his car keys. "I've got a key to their place," he said. He unlocked the door handle and the deadbolt, only to be stopped by the chain on the door. He pulled out his cell phone and shot Aaron a text, already figuring out what was going on.

Hannah worriedly looked at Dave. Dave smiled and softly shook his head. "They're still sleeping; just what they all need." Less than a minute later, Aaron, in a white t-shirt and cotton sleep pants, slide the chain off the door. As he pulled it open, clearly just waking up, he put his index finger to his mouth.

"The boys are still sleeping," he whispered as he let them all in. Sean balked for a second at the injuries that Aaron showed and then he and Sean shared a large, silent hug. Aaron pulled away. "Thanks for being here bro."

Sean hugged Aaron again. "I need to be here. And I'm here for you bro, and the boys," he whispered. He looked around to see Zach, sleeping on the couch, his frame filling the area. "My god Aaron," is all he could choke out. Aaron just rubbed his shoulder as Jess and Hannah moved into the kitchen to get the coffee brewing.

As Aaron began to take his shower, the boys started to stir. Jack sleepily walked out of Aaron's bedroom, rubbing his eyes. He didn't even notice the group in the kitchen as he headed for the couch to curl up with Zach. Zach, clearly half asleep, simply pulled Jack into his arms, and conked back out. Sean, remembering his youngest nephew as a baby, just shook his head at Dave as he accepted the cup of coffee he poured.

Hannah rubbed her hand across Dave's shoulder. "Thank you," she said with a smile.

"You're welcome. I love them all. They are more family to me than my own. And I'll help you all take care of them."

John Brooks stuck out his hand. "We know that Dave and appreciate that." Dave shook his hand. "And Sean, we're glad you here as well. Aaron needs his family. So do the boys."

Jack finally stirred off the couch and headed into the kitchen. "Can I have some juice please Aunt Jess?"

"You sure can Jack," she smiled as she pulled a glass out of the cupboard. Aaron came in and joined them.

"Jack," he said, lifting him up to his chest, "this is your Uncle Sean."

"Hi, Uncle Sean," Jack said as he accepted the juice from Jessica.

"Hey Jack, how ya doing?"

"OK." Aaron took him to the table and sat him in a chair.

"I'll get you some breakfast in a minute."

"We brought donuts, Aaron," Hannah said. Aaron moved to the couch and gently shook Zach.

"Do you want to sleep?" Zach sleepily nodded his head. "Then go climb in my bed." Zach moved off the couch and down the hall. Sean just shook his head at how much Zach had grown. The rest sat down with Jack and around the counter to enjoy their breakfast. Dave stayed long enough for a quick donut and cup of coffee and then went to the BAU. They spent the morning relaxing, knowing what was facing them later. Sean got to know his youngest nephew, playing with him and his cars on the living room floor.

Zach finally rolled out of Aaron's bed a little after eleven. Despite the swelling and bruising around his left eye, he looked rested. He walked into the kitchen still wearing his cotton sleep pants and t-shirt. He shared a hug with Sean. After pounding down a large glass of juice, five donuts and a two glasses of milk, with Sean just shaking his head at how he ate, he looked at Jessica. "Aunt Jess, can you get my hair washed? I can't take a shower for a couple of days with the stitches."

She just smiled at him. "Sure Zach; do you need to get cleaned up more?"

He shook his head. "I jumped into the tub after Jack got out last night. Dad helped me."

"He soaked for a long time Aunt Jess," Jack reported. "He should be good and clean." They smiled at Jack's youthful observance. Five minutes later, Jess had Zach at the kitchen sink. She helped pull his t-shirt off and get his face and underarms washed. Leaning his broken arm on the counter, she got his hair washed. He gave her a kiss on the cheek as he made his way down the hallway to finish up. He emerged ten minutes later, barefoot and dressed in cargo shorts and a shirt. Jessica got him back in his sling.

John rubbed Aaron's shoulder. "I think you and the boys need some time with Sean. We'll see you all a bit later at the funeral home."

Zach turned the TV on to watch a bit of Sports Center on ESPN to get caught with the baseball playoffs, while joining Jack and Sean on the floor. The three of them soon had cars picked out and started a race around the top of the coffee table. Zach and Sean kept crashing into each other, giving Jack the edge to win. He laughed with delight. Aaron stood behind the couch and smiled.

After he put a movie in to get Jack settled a bit, learning from Zach that he no longer took an afternoon nap, he handed his car keys to Zach. "You have a suit to pick up. And Zach, I trust you behind the wheel, but make your dad happy and take Sean along." Zach went into Jack's room, threw on a pair of shoes and the two of them started out the door. Zach smiled at his dad as they walked out. "Thanks dad." Aaron smiled at him and snuggled down on the couch with Jack.

As they pulled up to the funeral home, Zach got out of the back seat and took a huge, deep breath. Sean, getting out of the passenger door on the same side of the vehicle noticed. He put his hand on Zach's shoulder. "You OK?'

"Uncle Sean, I'd rather have my toe nails pulled than go through this," he whispered back to his uncle.

"You're not the only one," Sean slightly smiled, wrapping his arm around Zach.

The four Hotchner men walked into the funeral home a little after 3:30. Hotch was in his usual suit, Sean in a suit with an open dress shirt collar, and the boys in the khaki's, polo shirts and brown leather loafers Aaron had bought the day before. The funeral director and Haley's family were waiting for them.

Aaron introduced his sons and Sean to the director. He shook their hands and said the polished words a man of his profession had done many times. "I know you agreed on a closed coffin and I respect that. However, I do have it open at the moment for any of you. You can't see a thing," he said, subtlety referring to Haley's injuries. "It's your decision."

Aaron looked at Zach. He shook his head. "I don't want to remember mom that way. I want to remember her happy and smiling." Aaron nodded at him and looked at the director. Jack, in Hotch's arms, just wrapped his arms tighter around Aaron's neck. The director looked at the rest of the family. They all shook their heads, agreeing with Zach.

"Please, then, give me a moment." He walked through the doors and shut them. Five minutes later, he escorted them in. The room was alive with flower arrangements. On top of Haley's silver casket was the picture she had taken of herself when she had the ones done with her and boys that Hotch carried in his wallet. A large spray of red roses lay next to the picture. The red banner that flowed out simply said in gold letters "mother". A smaller spray of white roses lay at the foot of the casket; the banners bearing the words "daughter" and "sister".

The funeral director looked at Aaron. "She's holding the one red rose you requested." Sean, seeing Zach's tears beginning to build, pulled him into a hug. Haley's family did the same thing with each other. They all took their time to put their hands on Haley's casket, the tears flowing. The funeral director silently slid out the door, shutting it until 4 pm, giving the family the privacy they needed.

As things started to settle, the family made their way around the room to see the names on the floral arrangements. Of course, the one from the BAU team was the biggest. The one from the church family of the Hotchner's wasn't far behind.

By 6:30, the BAU team had made their appearance, along with all of the Hotchner church family. Their Pastor had come as well, along with his wife. Zach pulled him into a large hug. "Thank you," he said as he looked him in the eye.

"Zach, I'm here for you," he simply said.

"And I can't tell you how much that means to Jack and me. All of you; our entire church family." Pastor just smiled at him and rubbed his shoulder.

Sean had the boys at the back, sitting on a couch. The ones that matter the most to the boys, all of them, took the time to stop and see the boys. Zach exchanged huge hugs with Gary and Brenda. As they finally exited, Sean looked at Dave, who was hanging around. He nodded his head at Dave to move away from the boys, as Zach helped Jack play a game on his DS. "They don't need to be here anymore and they're getting hungry."

"Agreed," Dave said.

"I'll let Aaron know; you'll back me?" Dave just nodded.

Ten minutes later, Sean and the boys were in Dave's car, Zach having pulled the car seat for Jack out of his dad's to put in Dave's. As Rossi drove towards the apartment, Sean noticed a large grocery store. "Dave, pull in."

"Sean?"

"The boys need to eat. And you're Italian. You do know how to make carbonara?" Dave just smiled. Sean jumped out after Dave parked. He flew back into Dave's SUV ten minutes later. "Home please," he smiled at Rossi.

After Rossi unlocked the door, Zach quickly entered in and got the security alarm shut off. He and Jack raced down the hallway to get changed as Dave and Sean took off their suit coats and hung them over the dining room chairs. Zach ambled into the kitchen, barefoot as usual in cargo shorts and a t-shirt, as Dave handed Sean a beer from Hotch's fridge. He and Sean began to roll up their shirt sleeves. "Thanks you two," he simply smiled at them.

Sean looked Zach in the eye. "You two had enough for this day." He and Dave dived in to make dinner for the boys.

-00CM00-

The bigwigs from the Bureau and the members of Haley's family, as well as her church members gasped as Aaron slowly walked his sons up the aisle of the church. Hotch and Zach clearly showed the signs of the war they had waged with Foyet. Yet, for the solemn occasion, the boys were very well-dressed. Gino, true to his word, had made sure of that. Aaron had his son's ties perfectly knotted.

JJ, Strauss, the Director and his wife, along with Emily, Penelope and Gina, the team's CSU tech, sat in the third pew of Haley's church on the left side. In the pew in front of them sat the six pall bearers; Dave, Morgan, Reid, Will, Kevin and Brian Anderson.

Haley's immediate family sat in the front right pew. John, Hannah and Jessica sat at the far side, with Sean sitting next to John. It wasn't a big church. Getting six into a pew was a stretch. Zach sat next to Sean, with his dad, holding Jack in his lap.

The usual readings were read, and Haley's pastor gave his sermon. Zach tuned it out, knowing that it would offer him little comfort. He already had his, and from the man he respected. But he silently wished that their Pastor was giving the sermon. As the pastor from Haley's church finished, an Irish tenor began the strains of Amazing Grace. By the second verse, Zach hung his head, the tears beginning to flow. Dave, sitting across the aisle, shook his head. Hang in there Zach he willed to one of the people he loved more than his own life hurting so badly. Aaron wrapped his arm around Zach's shoulder as Sean tightly held his right hand, being very aware of his finger.

Haley's pastor went through the rest of rites of funeral service. The closing hymn, with the congregation singing, was For All the Saints. Dave silently beaded his eye to burrow in on Zach, staring at him. He had spent more than one Sunday in church with Hotch and boys, especially when Jack sang with the kids his age. But what he truly loved and appreciated was hearing Zach's smooth baritone, having inherited Haley's genes to carry a tune. He had heard Zach sing the hymn before. Hell, he thought, Hotch isn't that bad of a slouch either when it comes to singing. But Zach, kiddo, it's gotta start with you.

The organist played the intro to the well-loved hymn, and the congregation began. For all the saints… Dave noticed Zach's head snap up. The Hotchner's church family, sitting in the back, known for their singing church that allowed Zach and Aaron to show their voices, led the congregation. Dave smiled as he seen Zach look at his dad. Who from their labors rest...

Haley's church had the words to the hymns posted on monitors to the sides of the front of the church. Zach opened his mouth, his rich baritone joining in with his church family as they sang they sang the rest of the first verse. Dave looked to his left to see Morgan with a silent question across his face. Dave just smiled at him and nodded at Aaron and Zach as they sang.

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