A/N: This one is sorta special. Hope you all agree. Once again, my heartfelt thanks for the reviews or you just hitting the fav/following button. It simply means the world to me. It says that you've taken the time to read and enjoy what I write. That, to a FF author, means the world. So y'all get the Monday 2 for 1 Special!
When I start writing, I just write. And when I start posting, I just start posting. There's no looking at a calendar, figuring dates or grand plan. Yet, by some special reason, these two chapters fell together at the right time for my Monday special. They are turning points. And why I'm just giddy and super hyped to give them to you. I hope you love them both!
Chapter 15
The next day, Aaron unlocked the apartment door to see Jack watching the video of the baseball game that he, Haley and Zach had on Zach's birthday. While that hurt him, he still silently smiled. Zach was sitting at the lunch counter, doing his homework. He gave each of his sons a big hug, got his usual update from Zach, and then went to change in his bedroom. He had got the keys when he signed the paperwork that morning.
Aaron walked out from his bedroom a short time later. "You two ready?" He had texted Zach that he was getting home early and taking them out for dinner.
Jack shut off the DVD. "More than ready daddy; I'm starving." Aaron just shook his head at his youngest son. He looked at Zach, knowing that his oldest son's stomach was already rumbling for food. They put on their winter coats, the Virginia December weather setting in and started to leave.
"Hey Zach, why don't you drive?" Aaron said. Zach smiled and pulled his car keys off the counter. The three of them climb into the loaner that Zach was driving; Haley's car had bailed on him again. One of Aaron's best friends from high school had inherited a Chevrolet dealership from his father. His service and repair crew, as usual, was working on the car.
"Hey Zach," Aaron said, as Zach drove; "Swing into Marston's" meaning the dealership. "Mike texted me; your vehicle is ready."
"Sure dad," Zach said. Aaron smiled to himself again. Zach hadn't picked up on what he was saying. As the three of them walked in, Mike, waiting for them, greeted Aaron with a huge smile.
"Aaron, can I talk to you in my office for a minute or two?" Aaron nodded and the boys ambled around the showroom, Zach stopping to take an extra-long look at the newest truck model. Mike handed two sets of keys to Aaron with a wink. "It's all set, including the temp license plate," and led him out of his office and nodded to the front window of the dealership. Aaron had ran there before getting to the apartment to sign all the paperwork. "Its right out front," he smiled. Aaron shook his hand, thanked him profusely, and rounded up the boys eyeing the newest Corvette model. Zach looked at his dad. "Zach, what's the sticker price on this beauty?"
He just shook his head. "Sixty-eight thousand," he said, "for a two-seater." Hotch looked at him. "Yeah, I know; it's a trophy car that Uncle Dave would drive."
Aaron led the boys out the door, most importantly Zach, to a 2005 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck. It was champagne colored, with extended cab seating with half doors for the back seats. The bed of the truck was covered with a roll up protective cover. Zach looked at his dad. Aaron tossed a set of keys in the air to Zach. "It's yours." Zach caught the set of keys with his catcher's lightning reflexes out of the air. "If you are taking care of Jack, I need you in a dependable ride. While we both love mom, you know how she was on a car." Zach just shook his head.
Mike standing in the window watching the scene smiled broadly. He was one of the many people, his friendship with Aaron that deep, he had attended Haley's wake, even though he and Aaron had lost contact through the years.
"Son, Mike has promised me this ride is solid." He pulled the driver's side door open and then the half door behind to the extended seating. Jack's car seat was already firmly bucked into position.
Zach looked inside the truck and then Aaron in the eye, with tears. "Really dad?"
"Really son; you deserve this," Aaron said, pulling Zach into a huge hug. He whispered into Zach's ear. "My way of telling you how proud I am of you."
"Have I told you lately dad I love you?" Aaron just smiled and hugged Zach tighter. Jack started jumping up and down.
"This is really Zach's daddy?" Aaron smiled and nodded at him after he let go of Zach.
Aaron swung his youngest son in the air and then got him into his seat. "It really is buddy." Mike came out the door.
"Zach, while it's a used truck with nearly 45,000 miles on it, I've given your dad my absolute word. This will take care of you and Jack. It has new brakes and tires. Your dad negotiated that out of me. I think he's done that before because he swindled a car salesperson," he smiled. Aaron and Zach both smiled as well. "And if you have any problems at all, you call me. Not the service desk; me."
Zach just stood there, still dumbfounded, shaking his head. Aaron reached his hand out to Mike. "Thanks again for taking care of my sons."
Mike clamped his hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I'm glad I could help you take of your sons Aaron." He looked at Zach. "I meant what I said. You need anything, and I mean anything, with this truck, you call me." He put out his hand to Zach.
Zach shook this hand. "Thank you Mike," Zach said, still in a stupor.
Aaron looked at Jack, smiled broadly and got him buckled into the car seat. "You ready to check out Zach's ride?"
Jack raised his left hand for a high five to his dad, which Aaron matched. "More than ready daddy," he smiled broadly. "This is awesome for Zach," he smiled.
Aaron rubbed his head. "I think so too buddy." He looked at Zach. "You driving or not?" he smiled as he crossed around the truck to get in the passenger front seat. Mike got Zach in the driver seat and explained all of the working parts of the instrument panel, steering wheel, radio, and settings for the air flow through the truck, as well as the driver's seat. As he got Zach adjusted into the driver's seat, he offered his hand again to Zach.
"I agree with your dad and brother; you deserve this." He rubbed Zach's shoulder. "I meant what I said Zach. You have any problems…"
Zach looked at him and turned the engine over. "I got it." Mike slapped him on the shoulder. "Oh, I almost forgot," he added, digging into his coat pocket. "The keys for the other car I've been driving," and handed them to Mike.
Hotch leaned to look around Zach. "Thanks Mike."
He smiled. "Any time Aaron. We appreciate the business. And Aaron, I'll take care of this truck." He looked at Zach. "Seat belt," he pointed. Aaron smiled as Mike shut the driver's side door after shutting the half door by Jack and Zach slide the shoulder belt around and buckled it.
Zach looked at his dad. "Zach, I believe to make this vehicle go backwards, you have to move that lever there," Aaron said, pointing to the transmission handle in the middle console between the two seats, "and put it in reverse. That's the 'R' on the gauge." Jack giggled, buckled into his car seat.
Zach just shook his head. "Dad, I don't know what to say."
"I do Zach," Aaron smiled. "Get Jack and me to Stan's Place. We're starving," he smiled. Zach pulled his truck out of the parking lot of the dealership and made their way to the restaurant that Pete's folks owned.
The three of them ate heartily, with Mariska Stanlovsky stewing over them like a mother hen. Aaron and the boys just smiled and Zach got up from his side of the booth to give her a big huge. "Thanks Mama Stan," he said, pulling her into his large embrace.
As she pulled out, she smiled at Zach and rubbed his cheek. "You boys mean the world to me and Stan; and our Pete. We love you all." She smiled at Aaron. "We'll help Zach take care of Jack."
Aaron smiled and nodded his head. "I don't doubt that for a second. Thank you so much."
"Aaron," Mariska said, her Polish accent showing, an immigrant, married to one as well and the mother of seven kids, Pete being the youngest smiled, "you chase the bad guys and keep us all safe. Us Poles will help you take care of the boys." Jack added his own bright smile. Aaron smiled as well and marveled at the special relationship his oldest son had developed.
"Mama S, can you cut Pete loose for second?" Zach asked. Pete worked in the restaurant, helping in the cook line.
"Sure Zach; what's up?"
"He's gotta check out my new sweet ride," Zach proudly smiled. Mariska looked Aaron in the eye.
"You finally took care of the boy?" she asked with a broad smile.
"Yeah, Mama S, I did."
Jack added his big smile to the conversation. "Mama S, ya gotta see it! Daddy tripped Zach out!" Mariska smiled at Jack's enthusiasm.
"I'll go get Pete. But Papa and I will want to see as well," she smiled at them.
Aaron paid the bill, with Zach paying the tip. Aaron looked at him. "Dad, I can do it. What you give me every month is more than fair." Aaron gave Zach the amount that he received every month from Social Security for Jack: nearly four hundred dollars. While that covered his expenses for gas, part of the deal, Zach used that money to also chip in on quick groceries and the like he and Jack needed when Aaron was away.
Zach was a responsible spender, checking the grocery store ads for their weekly stock up, using Aaron's bank card. And he got five cents off a gallon for fuel, which he used to help pay his gas expenses at a local station. And the three of them, once a month, went to a discount warehouse grocery store to stock up on items that would last; like TP and cereal. Zach had even convinced his dad to buy other supplies at the wholesale price like canned vegetables. "And when we get a house dad, we can buy some meat here and freeze it 'cause we'll have the freezer space. You know, I can break ten pounds of burger down into individual packages. The same with pork ribs, roasts, chicken and the like."
And Aaron didn't really need the money he gave to Zach. While he and Haley had put a good deal of money away for the boys' college fund, Aaron knew that it would just be extra. One night, shortly after JJ had Henry and re-joined the team, following a very tough case they just solved, Dave had drank a bit too much scotch in the hotel bar. Aaron knew the case hit Dave pretty hard, and let it go. When Aaron finally got him up into the room they shared, Dave, in his stupor admitted he had college funds set up for Zach, Jack and Henry.
"Don't worry my friend," Dave slightly slurred. "I'll take care of my boys." He hiccupped. "And take a tax break for me," he winked. Aaron thanked him and got him tucked into bed.
As the six of them walked out into the Virginia night, Pete took one look and threw his big arm around Zach's shoulder. "Cob! This is just awesome! You scored man!" Zach just smiled broadly, and proudly, accepting a huge high five from his best friend.
Mama and Papa Stanlovsky added their loving approval, with Mama S giving Zach a big hug, pulling her handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe a tear. Nickoli Stanlovsky shook Aaron's hand. "He needs this Aaron. Zach is wonderful with Jack and needs a dependable ride." Aaron just shook his head as Papa S pulled him into a hug and then Zach. He grabbed Jack, opened the driver's side door, and then the half door behind.
"I knew you'd be Zach's co-pilot," he smiled. "Get in there my young friend." He got Jack into his car seat. "Your brother will have to buckle you in because I don't know how these seats work, but I want you to be safe," he smiled, tussling Jack's hair.
"Good night Papa S," Jack smiled. Nick rubbed his finger down Jack's nose. Mariska reached in to give him a hug as well.
While that was happening, Pete engulfed Aaron in huge hug. "Thanks Aaron; he needed this," Pete whispered in his ear. "He's been worrying about not having a reliable car taking care of Jack."
Aaron pulled out of the hug and looked Pete in the eye. "You are a wonderful friend," he smiled. "You have my cell number; keep me in the loop, OK?"
Pete gave him the same big broad smile that Zach could. "I pick my friends well," he winked. "And ohhhh man, I can't wait for ball season with him around." Aaron just smiled.
Nick gave Zach a big hug as well, Zach got Jack buckled in, and the Hotchner's climbed into Zach's ride and waved at the Stanlovsky's as they pulled away. "Let's go for a drive," Aaron suggested. Zach was all in on that, smiling happily.
Aaron directed Zach around the two miles from the Stanlovsky restaurant to the house. "Pull up there," Aaron said, pointing.
As Zach pulled his truck to the curb, he noticed the "Just Sold" sign on top of the "For Sale" sign in the lawn. As he shut the truck off, he looked at his dad. Aaron ignored him, and started to climb out of Zach's truck, trying desperately to hide his very bad poker face at the moment, which, for the record, could at times even bluff the mismatched socks off of one Dr. Reid. Yet, he knew his oldest son. Zach had figured it out. He started to walk up the driveway and then the sidewalk leading to the front door.
Zach helped Jack get unbuckled from his car seat and pulled him out. Jack looked at him. "Z-man? What's goin' on?" Zach didn't want to ruin the surprise for Jack. He had learned to hang with his dad and Uncle Dave, playing poker at the cabin after Jack was sleeping.
"I dunno JP," he said, setting Jack on his feet on the pavement. "Guess we'll just have to follow dad and find out." By the time the two boys got there, Aaron had the door open and the entry way lights on.
He nodded as the boys walked in and then waved at them to look around. "Welcome home sons," he said with the broadest smile that Zach and Jack had seen from their dad in a long, long time. With Zach's size, Aaron Hotchner was tackled in the foyer of their new home, with Jack piling on. When they finished looking around, Aaron reached into his pocket and handed Zach a key. "I keep my promises son."
After they locked up, they got into Zach's truck. Zach put it in gear and headed out. "Zach, you're going the wrong way."
Zach smiled his broad Haley smile at him and shook his head. "No, I'm not dad. Uncle Dave has to see my truck as well." Aaron looked into the back to see Jack smiling just as broadly, nodding his approval.
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A/N #1: Here in the States, all children that lose a parent, and if that parent paid into the US Social Security system through working, get a monthly check that is sent to the other parent. It is to "help with the welfare of the child". Each child receives it to age 18. Back when my sister was growing up, our dad received this same check for her. It was until 21 if the child went to college. But that might have changed. You get the idea. Aaron, by giving Jack's check to Zach, was using it legally. Yet, he also got a check for Zach as well.
A/N #2: Yeah, when it comes to nicknames, I have no imagination and follow a pattern. I like the significance. If you follow my stories, you've heard this before. *shrugs* The analogy fits, which you will see soon. ;)
A/N #3: A Corvette is THE top of the line car that Chevrolet manufactures. It's a "sports car" as referred to here in the States. In other words, it's a show off car meaning money and nothing I can afford.