A/N: *hands out tissues* Sorry peeps, had to go there. The rest will be fun and hopefully some giggles. Thank you again for the reviews and alerts. *just shakes head* They are truly appreciated.

Chapter 12

Aaron woke at his usual 6:30 and silently crawled out of bed, not wanting to wake Cait or Jack. He noted as he pulled on some cotton sleep pants that Cait was sleeping on her back. She only did that when her hip was bothering her.

Walking into their study, he powered up his laptop and went into the kitchen to get some juice as the coffee maker timer kicked in on the machine. He took his juice back into the study and sent an email to Strauss. Chief Strauss, I know the team is on stand down the rest of the week. Do you mind if I work from home today and tomorrow?

He checked the rest of his emails and fired off replies to the ones that needed a response. His mail pinged. Absolutely Aaron; I know what you've got going this weekend. And Cait texted me last night about meeting with David's doctor this afternoon. Just keep me in the loop.

Absolutely; and thank you. Looking forward to seeing you, John and Jay on Sunday, he responded. Aaron folded the laptop shut, and finishing his juice he walked into the kitchen and put the glass in the dishwasher. He headed back to their bedroom and crawled back into bed. Snuggling next to Jack, he reached over to rub Cait's hip as he drifted back to sleep.

He woke with Jack rubbing the stubble on his chin. "You awake dad?" he quietly asked. Aaron rolled on his back and rubbed his eyes.

"Buddy, what time is it?" he whispered as he yawned. Jack, who had slept between his dad and mom, leaned up on his dad's chest to look at the clock on Aaron's nightstand.

"8:53 dad." Aaron rolled his head to check on Cait. She was still sleeping on her back.

"Come on buddy, let's get up and start breakfast," he whispered and started to get out of bed. "But be really quiet getting out of bed so you don't wake mom." Jack reached for Aaron to pick him up. Aaron picked him silently out of the bed, walked out their bedroom, shutting the door as they left. He carried Jack into the kitchen. He put Jack down and he headed to the half bath off the kitchen, while Aaron poured him a glass of apple juice and set in on the lunch counter.

Jack came out and climbed into a chair at the lunch counter. "You OK Jack?"

"Yeah dad, the nightmare just really scared me."

"You've had a lot to deal with the past couple of weeks. It was bound to happen," Aaron said as walked to rub his shoulder. "But maybe after last night, what happened to mommy won't bother you when you're sleeping."

"Ya think dad?"

Aaron shrugged. "Mom seems to think so," he smiled.

Jack hung his head a bit and then looked his father in the eyes. "How 'bout you dad?"

Aaron smiled at him. "I'm better too bud."

Jack looked in his juice glass. He quietly asked, "Dad is there something wrong with mom?" Aaron leaned down a bit to wrap his arm around Jack, marveling at how he picked up on things.

"Jack, her hip got hurt really bad just before Mike was born. It bothers her every now and then; especially when she doesn't get enough sleep. That's why we're going to let her sleep in."

"That helps dad?"

"Yes son," Aaron smiled, placing a kiss on his son's forehead. Jack matched his smile. "So buddy, I need your help. What will get your brothers out of bed," Aaron said as he moved to the coffee pot and poured a cup. Having heard the movement in the kitchen, Beans and Mudgie loped in. They both gravitated to Jack.

"Pancake and sausages!" Jack said as he pet both the dogs. He jumped out of the chair to let them out the French doors in the nook.

"You sure buddy?"

"Positive dad," Jack smiled, as he shut the alarm off and let the dogs out. As Jack climbed back up into the chair, Mike walked into the kitchen.

He signed to Aaron, "I got up to let the dogs back out. What's going on?"

Aaron signed back. "I'm working from home today. Mom's sleeping in. Jack and I are about to start breakfast."

Mike smiled, as he signed a good morning to Jack, which his brother returned. "Then I'll take a quick shower and help," he said as moved to the steps.

Jack smiled at his dad. "This is going to fun dad."

"And hey Jack," Aaron smiled. "Who's coming this afternoon?"

"Grandma, grandpa and Uncle Jake for Matt's party!" Aaron beamed as he got things rolling for breakfast. Mike appeared less than fifteen minutes later with a sleepy Matt in tow.

As Mike set the table in the nook, Matt pulled Jack into his arms. "You OK bro? You scared me last night."

Jack wrapped his arms around his oldest brother's neck. "Sorry, Mattie, I'z OK now. Love you."

Matt tussled Jack's hair. "Love you too bro." Mike looked at all of them and smiled.

Jack smiled, as Matt gave Jack a short whisker rub and then set his feet back on the floor, with Jack giggling.

The four Hotchner men turned to hear the door to the master bedroom opening. Cait walked out in a Georgetown t-shirt and her own cotton sleep pants.

"What's goin' on," she sleepily asked.

The three Hotchner boys answered in unison. "Breakfast mom." Cait just smiled at them as Aaron flipped the first set of pancakes on the range top griddle. Jack ran to her for a hug.

"You feel better mom?"

She knelt down next to him and pulled him into a hug and lifted him up. "Much better; how 'bout you?"

Aaron smiled as he watched the two of them. Yet, he noticed that Cait was still extra careful in picking up Jack. He knew his wife, when her hip was hurting, was very careful not to make things worse. By picking up Jack, Aaron knew that she getting there. Two down with a little more sleep, one to go he thought to himself.

Jack put his arms around her neck. "Me too mom; I love you." He pulled back to give her his wide smile. As Cait smiled, she noticed something.

"I love you too. Jack, smile real big again for me."

"Mom?"

"Jack, please just do it." Jack complied.

Cait beamed at him. "Jack, push you tongue against your bottom row of teeth." While Jack looked at her with a question, he did what she asked. "Push a little harder Jack."

Jack felt the movement in his gum line. Reaching up into his mouth, he pulled the very loose tooth out. "Mom, it's my first tooth!"

Cait hugged him. "When you smiled at me, I saw it leaning over. It was ready to come."

Jack, the tooth between his fingers said, "Hey guys! Look!"

"Cha-ching bro," Matt smiled. "The tooth fairy will be making a visit tonight."

"And with grandma and grandpa here tonight too; bro, you're going to make a haul," Mike beamed. Cait carried him into the kitchen and handed him to Aaron, giving her husband a kiss. Aaron pulled Jack into his arms as Cait checked the first batch of pancakes and put them on the plate Aaron had next to the range.

"Look at it dad," Jack enthused, showing Aaron the tooth.

"Aaron, check his mouth please." Aaron pulled Jack's lower lip down to look as Jack opened his mouth.

"It's barely bleeding."

Cait smiled. "That how much that tooth was ready to come," she smiled. Aaron pulled a glass out of the cupboard and had Jack put the tooth in it. He grabbed another glass, put a little salt in it with some cold water and had Jack go into the bathroom to rinse his mouth. Jack came back out and Aaron handed him the plate with the first batch of pancakes. He pulled Cait into a deep hug and kissed her cheek.

"You sit down and eat. This is guys' morning to cook." He gave Cait another kiss and she turned to walk to the table. Mike pulled the sausages out of the oven that were keeping warm and handed them to Matt.

"Sit down with mom and Jack dad. Matt and I'll do the next batch." The family worked as a team getting everyone full as they laughed and enjoyed the morning together.

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