A/N: Since I have late, late shift tonight, you get early bonus. Thank a teacher for this. But heck, always thank and hug a teacher anyway!

Chapter 28

Dave walked into the Hotchner home with his chicken tetrazzini in a casserole dish late Friday afternoon with Mudgie. Mudg immediately flew to Jack's room. Dave knew they would be heads down in getting ready for their vacation, and shaking his head, probably not thinking of eating. The three of them were all looking forward to this so much.

Aaron heard Mudg barking delightfully at Jack and walked into the kitchen to see Dave getting one of the ovens warmed up. "What are you doing here?"

"Bringing you guys dinner; you all need to eat, even though you're busy." He burrowed a look at Hotch. "Aaron, I don't have to tell you how much the boys need this, do I?"

Aaron pulled two beers out the fridge, handing one to Dave and uncapping the other for himself. "No Dave you don't. And very honestly, I'm looking forward to it as well." Dave uncapped his own bottle of beer, tossing the cap into the air. Hotch snatched it and put in the trash basket. He smiled at Dave as they clinked the long necks of the beer bottles. "Thanks Dave; again."

Dave waved him off. "Aaron, you know how I feel about you and the boys. Let it go," he smiled. "However, and btw, Zach is going to pay for some of the gas, and yes, on me. Just don't give him hell about it." Aaron just shook his head. "Just promise me one thing." Aaron looked at him. "You enjoy this time with your sons and appreciate it. You've got two very special gifts in your life, my friend. I wish Haley was here to see that, just like you. But Aaron, they're boys and they've got to move on. And so does their dad."

Aaron lowered his head for a second then looked Dave in the eye. "I know that Dave. Thank you; for everything. You've been a rock to all of us." Aaron smiled. "And why we all sorta love you."

"Sorta?" Dave smiled wickedly and widely.

"Asshole," Aaron responded looking at Dave. They both smiled and took a swig of their beers as Jack flew into the kitchen with Mudg.

He crawled into Dave's lap, who was sitting at the lunch counter. "I'm going to miss you Uncle Dave," he said as he gave him a hug. "But us guys just really need this."

"Yes, you do," Dave said, planting a kiss on top of Jack's hair. Zach hobbled in ten seconds later on his crutches. "And you boys promise me one thing, OK?" They both nodded. "You get your dad to relax and have a good time as well." Both the boys smiled.

The four of them enjoyed the chicken tetrazzini. Zach looked at Dave. "You're good big dog," he smiled at Dave, as he moved off his chair, jumping around on one leg to get his plate cleared from the table. Jack had already done the same to his plate, moving back into his room to finish packing. Mudg bounded around him into the room.

Pete came in through the garage door and ambled into the kitchen. Zach looked at his watch. "It's a Friday night; shouldn't you be cooking?"

Pete smiled broadly. "I'm not going to see my friend for nine days. I thought we could hang out for bit and then Lisa and I could go to a movie. I took the night off, with mom and dad's full support." He looked at Aaron. "And their best wishes that you guys have a great time."

Aaron smiled. "Tell Mama and Papa S thank you. We appreciate that." Dave smiled. The teenagers headed to Zach's room.

Hotch cleaned up he and Dave's plates, as well as Dave's casserole dish. They enjoyed a scotch together, Aaron telling Dave his full plans for their vacation. Dave smiled. "I think the boys will love that," he said rubbing Aaron's shoulder. Dave moved into the kitchen.

He grabbed his casserole dish and whistled for Mudg. He came flying out Jack's room, with his two legged friend in hot pursuit. Jack ran into Dave's arms, giving him a massive hug. "Bye Uncle Dave, I'll miss you," he said as he tightly wrapped his arms around Dave's neck. The words melted Dave's heart.

Zach hobbled in, followed by Pete. Zach pulled Dave into a hug as well. "Me too, Uncle Dave," giving Dave a big hug.

Dave smiled at them. "You guys have a great time." He moved to leave.

"I'm following the big dog out," Pete said. "You three have fun. And keep in touch."

Dave standing in the door of the garage echoed that thought. The three Hotchner's smiled their reply.

-00CM00-

By eight the next morning, Team Hotchner was on the road, having had a huge breakfast at the local Perkins. They made their way into West Virginia, getting on the highway that led them southwest to the Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee. Aaron and Zach had worked heads down together on the first part of the trip using Zach's laptop. Yet, the boys did not know what their dad had in store for them the later part of week. Aaron stopped along the way, letting the boys get out and stretch their legs, yet still reaching their Saturday night destination. It was a small, family-owned business that had cabins in a wooden area that was in the foothills of the Smokey's.

Part of the fact that brought them there was the nightly cookout the family supplied. The boys and Aaron roasted hot dogs on a stick over a fire pit, as the family dished out the baked beans from the pot over the fire. The meal included potato salad and chips, along with smores. The boys loved it and slept soundly that night in their cabin.

They spent the next day lazily making their way through the Smokey's, with Zach pulling out his digital camera he had saved to buy to record the trip for Jack at almost every turnoff from the road.

At one pull off area through the mountains, giving a breath-taking view, a motorcyclist, in full leather and long hair walked up to the three of them. Aaron was immediately on guard, having his Glock tucked into the back of his cargo shorts.

The biker smiled at them. "You obviously are a family. Would you like me to take a family picture?" he smiled. Zach handed him his camera and the three sat down on the rock wall of the lookout. The biker took a bunch of pictures, finally smiling at the results he looked at.

Handing the camera back to Zach, he smiled. "I think the last one is the best. Enjoy the rest of your trip." He moved off and the Hotchner's mounted up, back into the car.

Zach laughed at his dad as he climbed in, after getting Jack buckled in his car seat. "You butchered that profile, didn't you dad?" showing his dad the pictures the biker had took.

"Yeah, I did," he smiled. They moved down the west side of the mountains, with Zach's iPod, even being a Shuffle, plugged into Aaron's radio sound system. Pete's brother had figured a way to do it. Gloria Estefan's Everlasting Love belted out. The boys sang along with the words to the catch phrase of the song title, enjoying the Latin dance beat. Aaron smiled at his sons.

Zach's song selections on his iPod were eclectic, to say it best. Folsom Prison Blues played a few songs later. Aaron looked at him. "Johnny Cash?"

"Dad, its Johnny Cash singing Folsom Prison Blues; doesn't get much better than that." Aaron just smiled. When Prince came on a little later and thundered out Purple Rain, Aaron just looked at him and shook his head.

They enjoyed the special time, just the three of them, as they drove out of the Smokey Mountains.

They pulled off the road around dinner time to a local diner and had a wonderful meal. The waitress dotted on the three of them. Zach looked at his dad and pulled a generous tip out of his wallet to leave on the table. Aaron looked at his oldest son. "Dad, this on what you give me, not Uncle Dave." Aaron smiled.

They found a hotel outside of Knoxville, Tennessee and spent the night there. Zach, with his laptop along, connected up with Pete. Aaron called Dave and Zach gave him a heads up to have Garcia help him check his email at work the next morning. He forwarded the pictures he had already taken and downloaded on his laptop to Dave. The next morning they slept in a bit, as much as Jack would allow, and then started a trip north on the freeway. They stopped quite a few times to let Jack get out. After riding in a car for two days, he was getting antsy, even with the portable DVD player that Aaron had bought. Aaron and Zach switched off driving.

As the sun was setting, Aaron drove his SUV into Lower Canaan, Ohio. This was the part of trip that Zach was not in on. Yet, Zach immediately recognized the name of the city. Aaron and the boys had received a very special and heartfelt sympathy card from Merrill and Sela when Haley died that Zach noticed had a Lower Canaan return address. In his own fog those days, he never questioned it.

Yet, as Aaron pulled up to the motel, he looked at his dad. Aaron read the question on his oldest son's face. "You remember the card; you commented about it." Zach shook his head. Aaron, reaching for his door handle to get out, looked at him. "They are very special people. I want them to see that we are moving on and more importantly, healing, because they care that much. And I care for them that much," he added, smiling at Zach. Zach beamed at his dad.

"Sounds like they're pretty special people dad," he said, as he got out as well, putting his crutches under his arms.

"They are," Aaron smiled. "And so are the people around here." He led the boys into the motel lobby.

Delores Johnson looked up from her book at the visitors that came in the door and broke out in a huge smile. "Welcome back Agent Hotchner. I thought that was you on the reservation."

"Hi Delores," he smiled. "First off, I'm Aaron and I'm on vacation; and these are my sons; Zach and Jack." She smiled brightly at the boys, which they returned.

She returned the smiles. "I got y'all set up." After she took Aaron's credit card, she handed him two room keys. Actual keys, not the swipe kind. Zach looked at Aaron. Delores laughed. "Welcome home son," she smiled. She looked at Aaron. "I got ya on the backside so you won't hear the highway traffic. And your room is right next to the pool," she winked. "Drive around to the back," she nodded.

Aaron smiled at her. "Thank you so much."

"Bob and I are just happy y'all are here," she smiled. The boys climbed back into the SUV and Aaron drove around to the parking space outside their appointed room.

He and boys climbed out and Aaron stuck the key in the door and opened it. They had a full suite. Two beds were in one room off to the left, with a third, neatly made up at the end of the main room. The bath was off to the right. The rest of the area was filled with a kitchen nook, including a mini fridge, and a huge screen TV and a sitting area. The boys smiled widely at Aaron.

Zach put his hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I think these peeps around here sorta like you dad," he smiled. Aaron simply smiled back at his son. They unloaded the SUV and settled in for the night.

The next morning, Aaron led the boys to the restaurant attached to the motel. He pulled the door open to let them in. Zach hobbled in on his crutches, followed by Jack. Aaron followed them in and smiled to see Doris, as usual, behind the counter. Aaron already knew she was Delores' sister. It truly was a "family run" motel/restaurant. He smiled at her. "Got room for two big ones and a not so big one?"

She smiled brightly back, looking at Hotch and Zach, on his crutches. "Got just the spot for you," she smiled, leading them to a booth. She rubbed Aaron's arm. "Good to see you again," she smiled. Aaron smiled at her and nodded his head. The usual coffee klatch was gathered.

As the boys climbed in, Sela Dobson nodded at her husband sitting at the next table, beaming. They both rose out of their seats and went to the booth. The rest of town people sitting around smiled. Sela reached them first and tugged Aaron's arm before he could sit down. "What are you doing here," she asked as she pulled him into a hug.

"I brought my sons here on vacation. You folks have a special town," he said smiling, pulling out of the hug. Sela beamed, as Merrill warmly shook his hand. He and Hotch exchanged pleasantries as well. The locals smiled.

Hotch introduced the boys to the two of them. Zach blushed. "I'm sorry ma'am, but I just got planted in this booth so I can't get up to shake your hand and give you a proper greeting." Sela smiled at a young man that obviously had been taught manners and shook his hand.

"No worries Zach; you just stay put," she smiled.

Merrill smiled at Zach. "How does the other guy look?"

Zach beamed. "Honestly Sheriff, I don't know. But he didn't get score on my watch." Aaron smiled at Merrill, giving him the replay of the action that left Zach hobbled.

Jack piped up. "But he pitched a relief inning and we won," he broadly smiled. Aaron filled the both of them in on the rest of the story. They, and the rest of diners, beamed with pride.

"And you were in on that Jack," Sela asked with a smile.

"Yup; I was the team's batboy. I even got a medal like Zach," he proudly stated.

Merrill and Sela smiled brightly. Merrill touched Aaron's arm. "Why here?"

"Because you made my team feel at home." Merrill looked at him. "The brownies," Aaron smiled. "I was struggling with something at the time concerning my ear and another issue." Merrill looked him in the eye. Hotch smiled. "Dave, you remember him?" Merrill nodded. "He gave me some advice that I followed when I couldn't fly back with the team and I drove back to Quantico. It was a beautiful drive and I took a couple of days. I wanted my sons to see that as well. It's truly a marvelous drive. We'll go home that way. We took our time and came up through the Smokey's."

The Dobson's smiled. "We'll let y'all eat and catch up with you later." The breakfast was as good as Aaron remembered and they all fueled up; both the boys wolfing down the homemade pancakes. They spent part of the morning at the local laundromat, with Jack happily playing on his DS while Aaron and Zach did laundry. When they returned to the motel, they spent the rest of the day frolicking in the pool. Zach had got from Dr. Carlson a special waterproof cover to protect his cast after his surgery. He used it in the shower as well. For a July day in southern Ohio, the weather couldn't have been better, and the three of them had a great time. As Aaron and Zach swam lazy laps later in the afternoon, with Jack playing on the pool steps, Sela and Merrill walked into the pool area.

"What are you guys doing tomorrow?"

###

A/N: For those of you that don't recognize the names or the city, it is from The Angel Maker episode. Perkins is a chain restaurant in the States that is a pancake house. And IMHO the best place in the world to eat breakfast. Which I could do; three times a day, and every day. My cardiologist would highly disagree. He's no fun. Smores are a half of a graham cracker, half of a Hershey chocolate bar, a jumbo marshmallow roasted over a fire that melts when it hits the chocolate, the other half of the Hershey and the other half of the cracker. They and the brownies are a shout out to my peeps at CM Rev. Luvs to y'all! To the rest of my readers, sorry, it's a CM Rev inside joke.