A/N: The honored tradition lives on! Welcome to the Monday 2 for 1 special! And thank you for all of the reviews! I have to say, I was a little bummed that some of you figured out the basic plot to my story. But after thinking about it, I realized you all know Cait as well as I do. And that's quite a compliment! Thank you my fantastic followers! However, you know me. I have to keep all of you on your toes, so expect a few sharp curves! And btw, the whole Hotchner family is now going to appear. Thanks again peeps!
Chapter 7
Aaron rolled out of bed and put on a pair of cotton sleep pants and a t-shirt. Cait did the same. After they both had brushed their teeth, they headed into the kitchen and started breakfast, including the coffee. Jack roared in and watched as the well-oiled team that his parents were, quickly put the meal together. Two teenagers sleepily walked into the nook and helped Jack finish setting the table as Cait and Aaron set the food on. Matt made eye contact with his dad, who slightly smiled and nodded.
As they ate as a family, the older boys chatted with their dad, who explained why he was still home at that time.
Mike rose out his chair to start clearing the table. Aaron asked him to sit back down. "We need to talk to you boys."
"Knew there was a reason why we got breakfast. What we screw up now?" Mike asked, having put his hearing aids on before he came down the steps.
"Michael, none of you screwed up anything. If you did, you three know you would have heard about it from dad and I long before this."
Matt, swallowing his last bite of toast, added, "And hadn't got breakfast." Cait glared at him. "Whattttt?" Cait just rolled her eyes at him.
"Boys, please. Mom and I really need to talk to you." All three of the Hotchner sons, knowing their dad too well, took notice.
"Dad," Mike asked, "what's going on?"
"The case the team and I were working on ended last night in a warehouse with concrete walls. That means bullets can ricochet around." Aaron looked around the table at his sons. "Uncle Dave got hit by one of those ricochets."
"How bad dad?" Mike anxiously asked as Cait kept a sharp eye on Jack. She could see the tears welling in his eyes.
"His femoral artery in his right leg was nicked. And I mean nicked. He was in surgery for a little over two hours and the surgeons had no problem taking care of it. He will make a full recovery."
Ever since Aaron and Jack had moved in, Cait, as usual, sat in the end chair of the small nook table closest to the kitchen. Aaron sat at the other end. Matt sat on one side by himself, while Mike and Jack shared the other side, Jack next to Aaron. Cait nodded at Jack looking Aaron in the eyes.
Mike looked at Matt. "You knew."
"Yeah, I was still up when mom got the call. I held down the fort."
"How come you didn't tell me," Mike demanded, looking at Cait.
"Mike, there was no reason. He wasn't critical or in a life threatening position. Matt was still up. You weren't."
"Which means there was no reason to wake you Mike," Aaron added.
Jack looked at Cait as a tear dripped down his cheek. "When I fed the dogs this morning I noticed daddy's shirt and coat in the laundry tub." Another tear ran. "That's not Uncle Dave's blood?"
"Yes Jack, it is. Dad got to him first and helped stopped the bleeding. The whole team helped. And dad rode in the ambulance with him. That's why Uncle Dave will be just like himself in a couple of weeks." Jack just looked down. "Jack, look at me." He slowly lifted his head to look at Cait. "When you were in bed with dad and I earlier, remember dad got a text." Jack slowly bobbed his head. "That was from the nurses at the hospital, telling dad and I how well Uncle Dave is doing," she said smiling.
"Really mom?" Jack said as he wiped the tears.
"Yes, Jack," Aaron said. "He's going to be fine son," rubbing Jack's shoulder. "But mom and I need to go to the hospital this morning to be there when he wakes up. The nurses said that would be around 10 and then I have to go the office. So if you boys could clean up while mom and I shower and get ready that would be huge."
"And if everything is going OK with Uncle Dave, like I feel it is, we'll take all three of you there later to see him," Cait added.
Jack climbed out his chair and walked to Cait. She pulled him up into her lap and snuggled him into an embrace. Kissing him on the top of the head, she said, "Jack, I promise you Uncle Dave will be fine. When I was on the way to the hospital last night to meet dad, I prayed for Uncle Dave for all of us."
"So did I lil' bro," Matt added. Looking at Aaron, he added, "You two go and get to the hospital. We've got the kitchen covered." He added with a deep look into his father's eye, "Just give us an update as soon as you know." Aaron nodded and smiled at his oldest son as he rose out of his chair.
Cait gave Jack's back a rub. "You OK?" He shook his head in the affirmative. "Then please help your brothers. Dad and I need to get moving."
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