Chapter 20

The rest of the holiday season went quietly for the Hotchner's. Sean stuck around until the 27th and then had to head back to NYC. "New Year's Eve is our biggest night. I have to get back to start doing prep." The boys were sad to see him go, as was Aaron, but they all knew he'd drop in on them now and again.

The team enjoyed some down time as well. They all thoroughly appreciated the time.

The three Hotchner's quietly planned to welcome in the New Year, going to a restaurant close to their church after the service. After Aaron got Jack tucked in, with Zach joining them for prayers, the two headed out Jack's door. As they entered the great room, Zach pulled his dad into a huge hug. "The New Year will be better dad. I know it will."

Aaron matched the hug. "I know son." He followed Zach to his room and they played a bit on his gaming system together, until Mudg ambled in, wanting to be let out. Dave was in Atlantic City with some of his duck hunting buddies, no doubt spending his money and drinking too much.

During the down time of the holidays, Zach had a chance to talk with Aaron and laid out a new game plan. With his study hall the last hour of the day, if he could get released from school for that time, he could get much more done, and without having to tow around Jack. Aaron had full buy-in on Zach's plan.

They met with Principal Shaw the first day back from holiday break before school started. Zach pled his case. "The new semester is starting so it fits. And when baseball starts… It gives me 70 minutes of down time for me. I can do homework at home. And start dinner. The grocery store is less than four blocks away from school. If I need to run and get something, I don't have haul Jack out and back into his car seat. Not that the car seat is a bad thing…."

Dr. Shaw cut him off, waving his hands in the air. "Whoa Zach, take a breath and a pill. I'm in."

"You are Doc?"

"Zach, when you took over taking care of Jack, I've wondered why you didn't come up with this idea sooner." Zach smiled at him and his dad.

Less than five hours later, that plan started to come in handy. The monsters that the team chased always seemed to take the holidays off. The team marveled at that with Dave nodding. "It's been that way since we started." Dr. Reid, as usual, spouted the statistics.

Yet, for the month of January, it seemed like the monsters were playing catch up. The team spent twice as many days out as they did at home. Zach and Jack rolled through it all with Mudg.

When Aaron walked in the door the first day of February, Zach was waiting for him, knowing he was on his way home. He already had his coat on and looked at his dad. "He's your kid; I'm out. I'll be home by curfew," and he stormed out the door. Aaron heard him slam his truck into reverse and looked at Jack. Dave, following Aaron in to get Mudg, grabbed him quickly and hastily exited.

Jack just looked at his shoes. Aaron pulled him into a hug. "Do we need to talk buddy?"

The tears rolled. "I just had a really bad day at school. Tanner and me got into a fight over a puzzle piece." Aaron knew that Tanner was Jack's best friend. "And I was still mad when I got home and I wasn't nice to Zach."

"Zach's pretty mad. Care to explain to me how you weren't nice to him?"

The tears rolled harder. "I was pretty bad to Zach."

"Jack, I want some answers."

"I wouldn't do what Zach asked me to do. And I threw my crayons at him when I was coloring."

"Why did you do that Jack?"

"'Cause Zach was asking me questions 'bout what happened." Jack looked at his dad, gulping through his tears. "He's not you. But I know that's wrong. Zach is so great to me when you're gone. I even get to hang with him and Pete. And I'm just a little guy. I shouldn't have done it, I know." Jack sobbed into his father's dress shirt and tie. Aaron hugged his youngest son tightly, got him settled down and made dinner for the two of them.

As they finished, Jack looked at his dad. "Is Zach coming back home?"

Aaron nodded. "He promised me he would be home by curfew. And Zach keeps his promises. Jack, I need him to help me with you. And even if you've had a bad day, you can't take it out on Zach. He was offering to help you. Next time buddy, let him."

"But daddy, sometimes Zach can't talk to me like you."

"Jack, I'm your dad; and Zach's. I've had more practice at being a parent than Zach which means I can handle things a bit better. But Zach is really trying to do his best. Buddy, I just need you to help Zach with that. Baseball season is coming. And as much as Zach has stepped up to the plate around here, that's when I'll need you to step up to the plate. You gotta support Zach and help him out." Jack slouched in his chair and looked at his plate.

Aaron put his finger under Jack's chin and lifted it. "Buddy, look at me." Jack complied. "With the age difference between you two, I knew this was going to happen. Zach has been huge but he has a breaking point." He rubbed Jack's cheek. "And so do you. I just need my sons working together."

"So you can catch monsters, daddy."

"That's right; so Uncle Dave and I and the rest of the team can catch the monsters. But you and Zach have to be a team as well."

Jack looked at Aaron. "Zach and I are a team?"

"Yes, buddy you are; along with Pete, Lisa and Mama and Papa Stan. And Principal Shaw and Tami; you all work together to help Zach do what he has to around here." Aaron rubbed his cheek again. "Son, every time I go away, I worry so much with you guys here alone. But Zach works his butt off to make me not worry so much. You know Dave and are partners, right? Just like Morgan and Prentiss." Jack shook his head.

"Then buddy, I need you to be Zach's partner. A partner protects his partner. Can you do that for me?" Jack nodded his head and then looked at his plate.

"How much trouble am I in, daddy?"

Aaron reached over and pulled Jack into his lap. "You owe your brother a big, heartfelt 'I'm sorry' before you get on the bus tomorrow morning. That's called an apology Jack." He kissed Jack on the top of the head. "And that's all your brother will want. He's sorta good that way, and I support him."

"And maybe tell him we're a team," Jack smiled, brushing away the tears.

"That won't hurt buddy," Aaron said, kissing his son again on the head.

Dave knew what time Aaron put Jack down. He called Aaron twenty minutes later. "Everything OK?"

"I found out what happened. Jack had a bad day at school and took it out on Zach. And Dave, through it all with what Zach is doing around here and the age difference, they are still brothers. Hell, Sean and I had ours."

"Where's Zach?"

"He said he'd be home by curfew which is 10 pm. I trust him, and then we'll talk as well."

"How'd you handle it with Jack?"

"I told him the truth. Just like I need my partner, so does Zach; Jack needs to step up like Zach and be his partner." Aaron could literally hear Dave smiling through the phone.

"See ya in the morning partner."

Zach walked in the door at two minutes to ten, hung his jacket on the coat rack and started to head downstairs. Aaron, waiting for him, stopped him with the words, "You aren't cooled off yet? I know your temper; it fires quickly and burns out quicker."

Zach looked at his dad. "I love my brother and you more than my own life. You know that." Aaron nodded. "But the shit I took from that munchkin today was over the top. And I don't have to put up with that shit."

"Language Zach and Jack knows that. I'm sorry. Welcome to being a fill-in parent. You're getting a better life lesson than mom and I could have ever pounded you over the head with."

Zach flashed Aaron his smile. "I know; I've got that class this semester. I think I'll get straight A's in that one. And Ms. Barker has already said I don't have to bring the doll home for a weekend. I've got my own, and it doesn't run on batteries. I just have to write my paper about my experience."

Aaron smiled as well. "You'll be getting an apology tomorrow morning."

Zach smiled again. "Thanks dad for backing me."

"And btw, you've got a partner." Zach smiled at his dad and pulled him into a hug huge.

"I can work with that partner. Just like you and Uncle Dave."

Aaron matched Zach's large huge. "Thanks son; I love you."

"Love you too. Good night," Zach said turning to go downstairs.

"Good night son."

###

A/N: The class Zach is referring to is taught in most US high schools. It teaches the students about social responsibility. One part of the class is that each student, over a weekend must bring home a doll that is like an infant, including waking and crying in the middle of the night. It teaches the students the responsibility of being a parent. They must have the child/doll with them at all times.