Chapter 3
The three sat in the new TV room downstairs the Sunday after Christmas, watching the Redskins game. Jack was on Cloud Nine. "The surround sound watching a game is awesome!" Aaron and Dave smiled at each other. Max cozily slept near the fireplace, his long legs spread out instead of his usual ball of a body.
Just then, Aaron's cellphone buzzed in his pocket. Jack thought nothing of it, immersed in the game. Aaron pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. He shook his head. Dave looked at him and Aaron showed Dave his phone. Dave shook his head as well. Aaron answered it. "Chief Cruz?" was all he said. Jack's head snapped around to look at his parents.
"That's me; the Section Chief from hell. Aaron, I'm sorry, but I just got a call from the Director. There's a major case in Chicago. The CPD Chief called the Director, his golfing buddy, begging him to get the team on the case. They've got two bodies in less than thirty-six hours. The MO, victimology and signature are all the same. While Captain Gordinski is not the primary on this one, the lead detective on the case is Lieutenant Wally Dennison; I'm sure you recognize the name." Aaron nodded his head. "He called Gordinski for advice. Gordinski pushed it up the ladder at CPD. I know you and your team expect downtime during the holidays with the large ration of cases you get after the first of the year. But I need the team on this one Aaron. And I'll be coming with you to have your back so you don't have to handle the political stuff."
"I appreciate that Mat, but I can't just pull this all together in a heartbeat. With the long holiday weekend," he said, looking at his watch, "JJ, Will and the boys are probably still in Pennsylvania at her mother's farm. Morgan and Savannah are in Chicago with his mother so I can get him going on the case. But honestly Mat, I have no clue where Garcia is, far less Lewis and Reid is still on leave. Plus there is Dave and myself. We give Rosa the time off over the holidays to visit her family in Central America. Jess can help, but she has to work. Dave and I need to figure out something with Jack." Jack crawled into Dave's lap and whispered in his ear.
"Aaron, I understand all that; which is why I had a long and not tempered conversation with the Director. I bought us all some time; we need to be in Chicago by lunch tomorrow. I didn't know about Morgan being there. If he could get to the CPD HQ tomorrow morning, that would be huge. The investigation is now running from there. But Aaron, there will probably be more bodies by then."
"I get that Mat," Aaron said. "Give me a couple hours and I'll call you back with an update."
"Fair enough Aaron."
"Thanks for buying us some time Mat; I appreciate it. And you joining us; that's huge for me."
"Aaron, I hated to call you; it's the least I can do."
"Talk to you in a couple hours," Aaron said, ending the call. He looked at Jack.
"Gotta be big one for Cruz to call you," Jack said.
"It is buddy; I'm so sorry."
"When do you have to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning buddy."
"I told Papa; Carter's mom and dad took the week off. They were just going to hang out together as a family. Maybe Max and me can spend the days with them and then Aunt Jess can pick us up?"
Aaron looked at Jack and then his cellphone. Because all the boys spent so much time at the home together in the summer, he had all their parent's numbers on speed dial to back Rosa in case something happened. He looked at Dave. Dave shrugged. "It's worth a try; being military they'll understand the most." Jack nodded his head.
Aaron hit the button. Moesha Willingham answered on the second ring. "Hi Aaron! What's up?" Aaron explained what was going on and started to apologize for the intrusion into her family's life. Moesha cut him off. "Aaron, Jamaal and I are military; we understand the call to duty. And I can't tell you how much we appreciated Carter being at you and Dave's home this summer. He loved it; Camille as well. That was huge for all of us. We'll happily take Jack and Max until you get back. And don't bother Jessica; they both can just bunk in here. Ginger our cat is used to a dog; ours passed about nine months ago. Max will just have to learn to accept her terms." She giggled. "It won't take long; trust me."
Aaron smiled. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate that Moesha," Aaron said.
"And honestly Aaron, Keegan's mom called me this afternoon, suggesting a play date for all of the boys on Wednesday. She's already singing the same song lyric I am. Mom and dad can't hardly wait for school to start again," she laughed. Aaron smiled. "I was going to call you and Dave about it tomorrow. And when the parents of the gang find out what's happening, I sure they'll be happy to help. We've got you covered."
"We really appreciate that Moesha," Aaron smiled. "Dave and I will owe you one."
"Aaron, I already told you; it's us that owe you two. We appreciate the opportunity to pay you both back."
"Dave or I will call you back later with more details."
Moesha smiled into her phone. "Sounds good Aaron; just give me a shout."
Jack looked at Aaron and Dave. "I'm not a little boy anymore," he quietly said. "But can I sleep with you guys tonight?"
Aaron and Dave pulled their son into a large hug.
-00CM00-
A week later, the four families of Jack's buddies and their siblings were in a local bowling alley, putting on their bowling shoes. The kid friendly tubes down the alleys of two lanes were already in place. They would have no gutter balls. The adults had the next two lanes.
Jack was just tying his bowling shoes when the hair on the back of his neck stood up. That happened only one other time. The day his mother got killed. His head jerked up. Jamaal noticed and looked at him. "Jack?"
"Something's going on Jay," Jack said.
They both looked around together, Jamaal on high alert. Aaron and Dave walked into the bowling alley, dressed down. "Dad! Papa!," Jack said, racing towards them.
"Buddy," Aaron smiled. "Stay down there with your bowling shoes," he smiled.
"We'll be there in a few Champino," Dave smiled. Dave accepted his size bowling shoes giving his AmEx card to the attendant. "I've got the bowling," he smiled. "The other parents have got the pizza and drinks."
"Got it sir," the attendant smiled.
Dave and Aaron recognized the pile of tennis shoes belonging to the boys and added theirs. Descending the steps to the alleys, Jack nearly tackled them. The rest of the group, including the other kids smiled at the reunion.
After picking up Max and Jack's bag from the Willingham's, the three rode in Aaron's SUV towards home. While they had talked to Jack every night they were gone, Aaron and Dave loved hearing the details of how Max got along with Ginger, the cat. "Bottom line guys," Jack summarized, "Ginger rules the roost." The three laughed together. It got quiet for a bit and then Jack looked at the two of them in the rearview mirror. "With our new basement, when can I have the guys to our house for a sleepover? I really missed you guys; especially New Year's Eve. You owe me."
Dave turned and looked at him. "Dad and I are working on that Champino," he smiled.
"Awesome," Jack smiled back.
A day later, the team had another case. Yet they were home by Friday morning and Cruz met them in their Go Room. "Thank you again for bringing home another big one," he smiled. "I'm not going to take too much of your time. You're on the bench for two weeks." Aaron looked at him. Cruz smiled. "Aaron, you know Cooper's team is in Miami chasing their kind of whackadoodle. But Jack's team has been in town for the holidays and is sitting on their butts. They're covering for you all. Get the hell out of here for the weekend; and make plans for the King Holiday weekend. I'll put you all back to work after that."
Aaron stood up and extended his hand. "We really appreciate all the support you given us Mat. Your help with the Chicago case was huge."
Cruz smiled. "Why I make the big bucks," he winked.
Later that afternoon getting off the school bus, Jack raced up the driveway seeing his dad's SUV and burst in the door. Dave was packing a few things in a cooler. "Hey Papa," Jack said, throwing off his bookbag and coat, as he pulled off his shoes, rubbing down Max. "What's going on?" he asked as he got a huge hug entering the kitchen.
"We're going to the cabin," Dave smiled. "You're dad has got your bag packed; get upstairs with your bookbag to load up what you want to bring."
"Awesome!" Jack shouted, grabbing his bookbag and racing off. Dave just shook his head at Jack's energy as Max barked running after him.
"The homework stays in the bag," Dave shouted at Jack at he raced towards the steps.
"You're no fun Papa," Jack hollered back. Dave smiled as Jack and Max thundered up the steps.
They had a wonderful weekend of playing hockey on the ice pond Cory had ready for them. Max had proved to be equally adept as Mudgie in finding the puck that errantly got shot into the snowbank around the rink. The nights were spent tackling Jack's homework and watching movies with a warm blaze going in the fireplace.
Packing to head home Sunday, Jack noticed Dave putting in two boxes into the back of Aaron's SUV. "Papa?" he questioned.
"Those Champino," Dave smiled, "are two king size air mattresses." Jack looked at him. "You know, king size, like dad's and I bed. I've had them for when I used to have all my hunting buddies here."
"I got the king size part," Jack said. "But why bring them home Papa?"
Dave smiled, grabbing Jack, hugging him. "So you and your buddies can have a monster sleep over this coming Friday."
Jack pulled away, giving Dave an astonished look. "No way!"
"Yes way," Aaron smiled, adding five sleeping bags, rubbing Jack's neck.
"That's totally awesome!"
Aaron looked at him. "With the weather forecast for next weekend being so cold, we wouldn't be able to skate and play hockey. Papa and I when we met you at the bowling alley had asked all the parents their plans for the holiday weekend. None of them are going out of town."
Dave rubbed his head. "Like you said Champino; dad and I owe you."
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A/N: Think y'all have figured out where I'm finally going with this story? hehehehehehe
Thank you so much for the luvs; being it reviews or the favorite/following alerts. Or, just taking the time to read. I know this storyline is not everyone's cup of tea. I accept that. Thank you to those that do. :D