A/N: Some quick throwbacks to previous stories in this one. There will be no quiz at the end. But there is a tissue alert.

OK, I lied. There's a hint of baseball. It is preseason folks (as I was writing this).

Chapter 5

Zach, Caleigh and Pete walked into the Stanlovsky home that was on the other side of the development where Zach and Caleigh lived. With some financial advice from Jose and Kelly, they had sold off their small ranch-style home they bought when they married. Pete had done some major DIY upgrades to the small home, which made it highly valuable at the time on the real estate market. Plus, they scored a deal for the upgrade, buying a spec home, much like Zach and Caleigh had done. Zach and Caleigh had provided the financial help.

"Want a beer Cob?" Pete asked, pulling off his suit jacket.

"A quick one Stan. As long as I'm here, I want to absorb as much time with Caleigh and the kids as I can. And see dad, Beth and Jack."

Lisa can down the steps with Logan. "Da-dee!" he shouted. Lisa smiled, putting him on his feet. Logan ran to his dad.

Zach scooped him up with a broad grin. "Hey Lugnut," Zach said, kissing and hugging his son. "Were you good for Aunt Lisa?"

Logan bobbed his head. "I snooze," he reported with his happy smile. "Daddy look," Logan said, opening his mouth.

"Wow, look at the second molar," Zach smiled, looking into Logan's mouth. "You're moving up in the world Lugnut."

"Mama says eat steak. Be big boy."

"We'll have to take care of that soon," Zach smiled, kissing Logan again. Pete handed Zach a bottle of beer.

Five minutes later, Zach enjoyed a reunion with the twins. He and Caleigh drained their beers. "Go," Lisa smiled. "We get it."

Caleigh hugged Pete. "Thank you for the back-up today."

"I'll always be your back-up," Pete smiled.

They moved out to the driveway. Zach and Caleigh got the kids in Caleigh's car. Just then, the school bus pulled up to the bottom of the driveway, letting Amelia off. "Uncle Zach," she smiled, running at him.

"Hi Princess," Zach grinned, hugging her as he squatted down. "You have a good day at school?"

"I got a hundred on my math and spelling tests Uncle Zach!"

"Give me some," Zach grinned. They shared a high five. "Amelia, Caleigh and I want to get home and spend time with the kids."

"I get it Uncle Zach."

"We can't wait for you, mom, dad and PJ to come down and visit us in Atlanta in July."

"Neither can I," Amelia enthused with her big grin.

"Hey girlfriend," Caleigh smiled at Amelia. "I need a hug before we head out." Amelia ran to Caleigh to hug her.

Zach looked at Pete. "Thanks Stan."

Pete rubbed his shoulder. "Any time Cob. See ya in July," he smiled.

"We'll talk before then," Zach grinned.

When they got home, Zach enjoyed some more time with the kids. And then smiled at them. "OK guys, I need to change."

"Yeah, ya do dad," Taylor smiled.

"Thank you sweetheart," Zach said, kissing her head.

"Suit is for church dad," Trev added.

"You got it dude," Zach smiled, sharing a high five with his oldest son. He went up the steps. Five minutes later, he came out of he and Caleigh's bedroom dressed like usual. Long-sleeved t-shirt, sport shorts and slides. The family now kept two separate wardrobes at both homes. Caleigh just culled out the kids clothes as they grew, sending the outgrown ones, mainly Taylor's, to one of the Braves wives' charities. Logan didn't notice Trev's hand-me-downs.

Heading to the steps, Zach noticed Taylor in her bedroom. It was tea time. He stood in the doorway of Taylor's room. "Excuse me my lady," he softly smiled. "May I join you for tea?"

Taylor grinned from ear to ear. "Sure daddy." Zach came into her room and sat down on the corner of Taylor's bed.

"Daddy, you sit at the table."

Zach smiled. "My lady, that table is reserved for your special friends Gretchen and Harriett." The two dolls were Cabbage Patch dolls that Caleigh had played with at Taylor's age. Rachel had stored them away in a plastic bin after Caleigh out grew them for just this time.

"OK daddy," Taylor said. She poured pretend tea into the two dolls' cups. And then handed a cup on a saucer to Zach. She poured him a cup of tea.

"Thank you," Zach smiled. He took a very polite sip of the tea from the plastic teacup. "My lady," Zach said, "this is the best tea I've ever tasted."

Taylor beamed. "Thank you daddy."

Zach set his saucer and teacup down on the table. "My lady, I thank you deeply for the fine cup of tea and your wonderful service. However, if you will excuse me, I need to head downstairs to help mom."

Taylor jumped into Zach's arms and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you daddy."

Zach kissed her cheek. "It was my honor my lady," he smiled at her.

Caleigh looked at Zach as he came into the kitchen and pulled out a beer from the fridge. "What took you so long?"

Zach smiled. "I had tea with our daughter."

Caleigh grinned, kissing him. "You going to wear the suit back to North Port tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he smiled, kissing her. "I'm sharing the flight with some bigwigs."

"Wear the ring," Caleigh grinned.

"Way ahead of you," Zach smiled. "Who are we calling for take-out for dinner?"

"Mom and dad. They wanted to do it."

"They OK?"

Caleigh nodded her head. "All this has brought up some not so pleasant memories for them as well like I told you. That said, they've been highly supportive on the sidelines."

"Good," Zach smiled, kissing Caleigh again. Caleigh looked at him. Zach grinned. "Yes, I'm getting you naked tonight. It's been nearly six weeks."

"You horny thing," Caleigh snarked.

Just then, Caleigh got a text. Heat up the oven to 450˚. Zach looked at the text. It was from Beth. Zach smiled. "Oh shit. It's going to be the whole crew?"

"Did you tell anyone you were coming?" Zach shook his head at Caleigh. She smiled. "It's family support for me. But I'm sure there will be enough so you won't starve."

"Thank you babe," Zach grinned, kissing her again.

An hour later, the crew was all there. They all got hugs and time with Zach. Mike and Sarah's daughter Katie had a field day crawling after Lexie, Molly and Livie. When Katie took a nosedive, Livie was the first one there to check on her. "My dog is good," Dave proudly smiled, sitting at the nook counter.

Zach, standing in the kitchen with Caleb, shook his head at Dave and looked at Bub. "I hear you're single again."

Caleb sadly shook his head. "You know the scare we had. It became the blame game."

Zach nudged Caleb's shoulder with his. "Hang in there Bub. The right one will come along."

Caleb smiled. "Worked out for you and Caleigh."

Zach smiled back at him. "Bub, she chased my ass."

"You didn't run dude," Bub zinged back.

"No, I didn't," Zach grinned, clinking beer bottlenecks with Caleb.

Beth came into the kitchen. "You two lugs move your butts. I've got tater tots to bake."

"I hope you have a big enough pan Beth," Zach smiled. She picked up the large jelly pan that Caleigh had on the counter and lightly swatted Zach with it.

"Think this will work?" she smiled while pulling the five pound bag of tater tots out of the freezer.

"Rock on," Zach smiled at her. He pointed at the bag of Tater Tots. "You sure that's enough?"

"Get your ass out of here," Beth growled with a smile.

"Yes ma'am," Zach grinned, kissing her cheek.

Zach walked out of the kitchen as Caleb went to grab Katie for some Uncle Bub spoil time. Dave and Beth were talking together. Zach walked into the great room and made eye contact with his dad. He slightly nodded his head to his dad to follow him out to the garage.

Aaron did, walking into the garage as Zach pulled another beer out of the beer fridge. "Really?" Aaron asked.

"Dad, I've been a thousand miles away, while some major shit has happened and you took care of my wife and children That hasn't been fun for me." Zach took a drink of his newest beer.

Aaron pulled out another beer for himself. "I know the feeling."

Zach shook his head. "Yes, you do." He looked at Aaron. "But that was a long time ago."

Aaron looked at Zach. "I can't forget that time. That's etched in my memory forever." He shook his head and looked at his son. "I didn't want you to go through the same thing."

"It was hell dad," Zach admitted. "But it was nothing like what happened to mom." He looked Aaron in the eye. "Let's move on. Thank you dad."

Aaron softly smiled. "I love my daughter-in-law. And if you don't understand it, I've got some major investment in three kids I call my grandchildren."

"No shit," Zach snarked. That got him the Hotchner glare. Zach laughed. "Still doesn't work on me any more dad." Aaron smiled. Zach turned serious. "Honestly dad? I slept at night because I knew you were across the street. And I told Caleigh you were her first call before 9-1-1." Zach shook his head. "I expected that of you." He looked at Aaron. "I'm talking about Ashley being in court."

It was Aaron's turn to shake his head, leaning against Zach's truck, taking another sip of his beer. "I knew Galvez's game plan. When she got ADA Reardon's witness list, she saw an opening."

"The BAU," Zach surmised.

"Zach, I had to keep the team out of that courtroom. That was the last thing that Erin Reardon needed. Us skulking around. Because I knew Galvez would use it."

"So how did Ashley get the spy role?"

Aaron smiled. "Ashley and Renee cracked a major, and I mean major, human trafficking ring the end of February. Andi Swan put their butts on the bench for a month." He looked at Zach and smiled. "I knew Ashley would be bored. Andi approved it."

Zach shook his head. "Dad, I need to ask one more question. With you using your lawyer smarts."

Aaron smiled. "Fire."

"Not that I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth," Zach said. "But why didn't Galvez hammer Caleigh more?"

Aaron softly smiled. "Because Galvez over-played her hand with Stephanie."

"Dad?"

"Son, defense lawyers are allowed to cross-examine witnesses. What Galvez did crossed that line. Ashley sent me a text that nailed it." Aaron pulled it up on his cell for Zach to read. Three hours I expected. Going on hour five, she's losing the jury.

"Dad?"

"Zach, to hammer a victim over a rape that long is unconscionable. Galvez crossed the line. By hour three, Ashley noted the body language of the female jurors. She had lost them. By hour five, she lost most of the male jurors. And she knew it. To go after Caleigh, when Galvez knew that Erin had Pete on deck would have been foolish. The BAU was her only hope to taint the jury."

"I'm still not following you dad," Zach said.

"Zach, the judge has the final word before the jury leaves to deliberate their verdict. Every judge will issue the same statement. 'Your vote must be without a shadow of a doubt'." Aaron shook his head. "The second case I tried, the judge said this. 'That means your subconscious let's you sleep at night'. I've never forgotten that. If Galvez had been allowed to bring up the BAU, she could have planted that seed of doubt. Juries have a tremendous burden on them when they are in their room deliberating. That's why the lawyers on both sides work so hard to present a slam dunk case. To make it easy for the jury."

"When we all met in Erin's office after Caleigh got to talk to Stephanie, Erin said she felt very confident in the case she presented."

"She should be," Aaron smiled. "That's my assessment as well, given my reports from Ashley."

Zach grinned. "That, dad, is what I've been waiting to hear from you all this time."

Aaron softly smiled. "Next time, just tell me to bottom line it."

Zach shook his head. "You're like Uncle Dave. I like the folksy wisdom before I get the real deal." It was Aaron's turn to shake his head. "Come on dad," Zach grinned, putting his arm around his dad's shoulder. "Let's rejoin the party. I intend to eat well, get half drunk and then get some lovin' from my wife."

"TMI Zach," Aaron grinned.

-00CM00-

Zach walked out of the Master bathroom around seven-twenty the next morning in his boxers. He grabbed a white t-shirt from the drawer, pulled it over his head as Caleigh, still naked, rolled over, and smiled at him. "How do you feel?"

Zach crawled onto the bed and kissed her. "Like the breakfast I'll get this morning with the kids, plus the hour-and-a-half nap I'll get on the jet, should get me to one hundred percent," he smiled, kissing Caleigh again.

"Are you in the line-up for the pre-season game tonight?" The Braves had an evening game with the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Zach shook his head, getting off the bed. "I'm at the CoolRay complex, doing a drill down throwing session with Minnie, Mort, Max and Doggie. And Murph."

"How's he fitting in?" Caleigh asked. Like every new season, there were new players in camp. The Braves, like Zach predicted, lost Dansby to free agency. He signed a huge deal with the Chicago Cubs. Travis d'Arnuad, Zach's back-up for the past three seasons, signed a deal with the Texas Rangers. Alex Anthropolous made a three team trade to get Sean Murphy, a rising star catcher with the Oakland A's.

"You know I loved Trav like a brother." Caleigh nodded. "Murph is the real deal. And a sponge. He soaks in everything Doggie, the pitchers and I tell him. And he's a hitting machine. He made us stronger."

"What time is the car service picking you up?" Caleigh asked with a yawn.

"Nine-thirty. The flight is at ten-thirty." Zach looked at Caleigh. "I sorta wish you all were coming with me." Caleigh smiled. "But I get it. The flight for all of you is set for Monday."

"Don't forget Jack," Caleigh smiled. "He's on spring break next week and can't wait to fly with me and the kids to Atlanta to spend a few days there and then fly back with you and the team for the Nats' home opener on Thursday."

Zach smiled at Caleigh. "Snit already has him approved to be a bat boy for the game."

Just then, Lexie walked into their bedroom and jumped on the bed to get loves from Caleigh. Zach smiled at Caleigh. "You forgot someone."

Caleigh gave Lex a big rub down and then looked at her. "Tell dad to put on some shorts and let you out."

Lexie barked at Zach. He shook his head. "Another demanding female I have to put up with," he smiled as he pulled on a pair of sports shorts. Caleigh laughed as Lexie jumped off the bed and started to follow Zach to the steps.

"Mama," Logan hollered.

Zach stuck his head back in the door and smiled at Caleigh. "You know the payback rule," he grinned.

"Shuddup," Caleigh growled, getting out of bed and pulling on her bathrobe.

At the same time that Zach was saying good-bye to his family and getting into the town car that would get him to Reagan International, Judge John Novak called the court session to order.

"Proceed Ms. Galvez," he said.

Galvez called a witness, one of Delaney's cronies, that swore, under oath, he and Phil were at the strip club Shamus in Alexandria the night Stephanie was raped.

When Marcus Talbert finished his testimony, Galvez smiled at Erin Reardon. "Your witness."

Erin Reardon rose out of her chair. "Mr. Talbert, how well do you know Club Shamus?"

Talbert shrugged. "Phil and I like to hang out there."

"Mr. Talbert," Erin said, "do you know Club Shamus has one of the highest security protocols in the city of Alexandria?"

"No," Talbert said, shaking his head.

"It gets them some major leverage from the Alexandria City Council every year when they have to renew their liquor license," Erin said. "That security includes a photo of every person entering into the club for possible facial recognition in the event of a security threat to the club and its patrons.

"Mr. Talbert," Erin said, "my investigator went through every inch of their security video the night in question after they were served a subpoena." She pointed at a TV screen set up in the courtroom. "Let's run through that video."

"I think I need to talk to my counsel."

"Wise decision Mr. Talbert," Erin said.

Stephanie Holden, sitting in the gallery with Alex McBride, smiled at him. "Thank you," she mouthed to Alex. Alex put his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, smiling at her.

Galvez stood up. "Your Honor, may the defense have a recess."

"Granted Ms. Galvez," Novak said. "We are adjourned for fifteen minutes."

Five minutes later, Maria Galvez walked in the open door to Erin Reardon's office. Erin was there with Alex. "I'm waving the white flag Erin."

Erin shook her head. "Maria, other than Caleigh, your client has five victims on his belt that have had no justice. I promised Stephanie she would not be his seventh. I'm going for the max sentence. Life, per the Commonwealth of Virginia sentencing guide lines."

"Come on Erin. Throw me a bone."

Erin looked at Alex. He shook his head. Erin looked at Galvez. "The only deal I'll make is your client admits to all six rapes. And does forty years without parole."

"Thirty," Galvez countered.

Erin looked at her. "See you in court."

XXX