A/N: *points again*
Chapter 4
Dave and Aaron went down the steps together on Thursday at two-thirty. The rest of the team was waiting on them. "How are my guys?" Morgan asked. Cruz came into the Bullpen. They all knew what was happening.
Aaron smiled. "The boys are good. We had family night Monday. Zach is starting to heal up following his mother-in-law's regime of heat and ice. Thank God for the family nurse." He smiled. "And his wife being a rock is taking care of the other hurt."
"I'm assuming since you're leaving early," JJ said, "you two both are expecting the wake to be huge."
"We know we'll have to stand in line with Beth not getting home until four. That's when it starts," Aaron answered.
"And Jack," Cruz asked.
Aaron smiled. "Jake was his friend. But he begged off on the wake. He'll be in church tomorrow though for the funeral."
"Who's going to watch Jack while you're at the wake?" JJ asked.
Aaron smiled at her. "He is going on twelve JJ. Beth and I trust him to stay by himself. And he's staying with Lex."
"Or he and Lex could go next door. Will is off today. And maybe Jack could use the distraction with Henry. Michael will be all over having Lex around," she smiled.
"We'll give him the option," Aaron smiled back.
"Take care of your sons Aaron," Cruz said. Hotch looked at him. "Aaron, I don't give a damn how big he is or that he's a pro athlete. That oldest son of yours needs his dad in times like this just as much as his younger brother."
JJ smiled at Tara. "I think the big boss has bought in on the profiling homework," Tara smiled at her with a wink. Cruz shook his head.
"They're right," Reid said.
"No statistics Doc," Rossi asked.
"Other than me adding the boys might need their Uncle Dave as well?" Reid asked with his usual casual smile.
Morgan looked at Rossi. "The kid just punked your ass Big Dog," he brightly smiled.
Garcia spoke up. "Perspective peeps; a much too young man lost his life to cancer."
"After bravely battling it for seven years." Aaron rubbed her shoulder. "Thank you Garcia."
Morgan shook his head. "My bad."
"Thank you luvs," Dave said, kissing Garcia's cheek. "Why I'm leaving as well at this time," he smiled at Reid, "and won't be here tomorrow."
"See you all Monday," Hotch said.
"Enjoy the downtime you two after the funeral," Cruz said.
Aaron smiled at him. "I will when I get the text Saturday that Zach and Caleigh are back in their southern home." Cruz rubbed his shoulder with an understanding smile.
The team watched Hotch and Rossi walk out the door together. "I wish we could do something," Garcia said. "It's so sad for them. They need to feel love too; especially the boys."
-00CM00-
As Aaron predicted to his team, by the time the Hotchner and Greystone families, with Dave riding with Zach and Caleigh found parking spots near the funeral home, there was already a line outside the building.
The group walked up together and joined the line. "Thank God the weather broke," Caleb said, wearing a suit and open collared dress shirt like the rest of the males. "This would have been brutal yesterday." A storm front the night before had brought welcome relief to the northern Virginia area from the usual summer heat and humidity.
Nearly an hour later, they all got to the family. Caleigh and Zach were first. Caleigh moved to Anne, Jake's mother, and pulled her into a hug, whispering a few words of comfort and moved to John, Jake's dad. Anne looked at Zach and tears formed in her eyes.
Zach tightly pulled her to his side and looked at her and John, who was releasing his hug of Caleigh. "God guides our lives. I got a minor injury." He looked towards Jake's open coffin. "My friend fought a courageous battle for seven years and still graduated from college. I thank God my very minor injury allows us," he smiled at Caleigh, "to be able to be here to honor my friend and his courage. And our family will do that tomorrow." He looked at them. "For your family. My injury is nothing compared to his battle."
"Thank you Zach," Anne said, hugging him.
Zach kissed her cheek and moved to John, giving him a hug. "We all get it. You know there's a line outside; keep it moving. See you tomorrow Johnny."
"Thanks man," John said. "And Zach…" Zach looked at him. "Tell your teammate thank you. We needed down time Tuesday night from processing all this so we watched the All-Star game together," he slightly smiled.
"Already done man," Zach smiled. "Ender was honored to do it."
After greeting Chance and his financé, Zach and Caleigh walked arm in arm to Jake's open coffin and paid their respects. Zach rubbed the side of the coffin. "Rest well my friend; you fought the good fight. You humble me. Welcome home. Look up my mom and give her a kiss for me." Caleigh rubbed Zach's back as they moved on to greet the rest of the family.
The family left and went to the church to practice with Nadine. Jake had specifically asked for her to play. She was just finishing up with Dan Larsen that would sing the Lord's Prayer like he did at Zach and Caleigh's wedding.
Dave smiled, sitting in the back pew of balcony with Aaron and Beth. "I like these front row seats."
"Big Dog," Zach smiled at Dan. "Ya wanna help us all out on the last one?"
Dan smiled. "You know better."
An hour later, the two families pulled into the neighborhood. Zach looked around, recognizing vehicles. "What the hell is the team doing here?" Zach asked, looking at Dave.
"Probably doing a little payback," Dave smiled. "And support."
The three of them walked into Zach and Caleigh's home to the team all there and the kids with Lisa trying to calm down Amelia who was crying horribly as Pete was cutting his mother's large pan of lasagna for Jack and Henry. "What's up with her?" Zach asked, looking at Lisa.
"She just had her dinner but won't burp." Zach pulled his suit coat off. JJ took it from him with a smile. Caleigh grabbed the dish towel hanging from the fridge door handle as Zach reached for Amelia. Caleigh put the towel over Zach's shoulder as he took Amelia into his arms.
But the time the Greystones entered the home Amelia yawned, out-stretched her right hand and promptly feel asleep on her godfather's shoulder. "Thank you," Pete smiled at this friend.
Zach smiled back at him and looked at Dave. "Don't start," he commanded, taking a drink of his beer.
"I'm not saying a word," Dave winked at Mike. They clinked the bottle necks of their beers together.
Between the large pan of lasagna that Mama Stanlovsky prepared for the families mourning Jake, plus Big Pete and Joey sending along their fantastic garlic bread and the pizzas the team ordered, they all ate well.
Morgan looked at Hotch. "I was an ass in the Bullpen today. Mama called me out. She was right; it's perspective. I get it," he said and then smiled. "And we wanted to help you all out."
"Thanks Derek," Hotch smiled.
-00CM00-
The next morning, Zach, Caleigh and Lex walked into Aaron and Beth's home a little after eight-thirty. Lex flew up the steps towards Jack's room. Sniffing the air entering the kitchen, Zach smiled at Beth giving her a kiss. "You know me too well; scrambled eggs and bacon."
"Yes, I sorta do," Beth smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You need comfort food," she smiled, rubbing his chest. "But you're on English muffin toasting."
"Yes ma'am," Zach smiled.
-00CM00-
Father Jimmy walked towards the church a few minutes before eleven the next morning wearing his clerical collar. He held the door open for Lisa and Pete, carrying a sleeping Amelia in her car seat. The four of them headed for the steps to the balcony of the church. And usher cut him off. "Father, I'm sorry. The balcony is reserved for the vocalists and their families."
"My son," Jimmy smiled. "We're part of that family. And why we're here to support them as they honor this courageous young man." The usher handed them a service folder with a smile and a nod. The group went up the steps. They walked into the balcony area to see the Hotchner and Greystone families sitting in two of the first three pews. Dan and Jenn Larsen were sitting in the third pew and smiled at them and slide over in the pew to make room for them. Dave was sitting in the first one with the Hotchner's. Jimmy reached over Rachel to touch Jack's shoulder. Jack looked at him. "You OK?"
Jack smiled at him, sitting between Aaron and Beth. "Yeah, I am Father Jimmy; thanks for checking on me," he whispered.
The service that Jake wanted was beautiful and moving. It opened with the first four verses of his favorite Easter hymn. Jimmy marveled at the voices, including Jack's that sang the Easter song I Know My Redeemer Lives. Nadine, by Jake's request to play, smiled at the families in the balcony singing along.
Pastor Jon read the Bible verses Jake had selected. When he got to the Gospel lesson, asking the congregation to rise, he said, "This reading will also serve as Pastor Thiel's sermon text." He read the Gospel verse of John 11:25. "I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he will live." The congregation sat and sang the final four verses of the opening hymn.
Pastor Thiel moved to the sermon pulpit and looked out over the over-packed church. "It's all a bit confusing isn't it? An Easter song in July?" He smiled. "That was Jake's faith. And what he wanted."
"Jake lived by his motto for seven years of giving up is not an option. We honor that being here today. But Jake also knew that his end was coming near when his fourth round of chemo treatment wasn't working. That's why we are here to honor that as well. Jake did not give up; he just understood the odds. And we honor his faith in his selection of the Gospel passage he wanted for a sermon text." Pastor Thiel smiled, slightly shaking his head. "I didn't dread writing this young man's funeral sermon." He looked to the congregation. "In all honesty," Thiel smiled. "Following Jake's faith; he made it really easy for me. If you look at your service folders you'll see my sermon theme is 'Which holiday? And in July?'" Thiel smiled. "This was how special Jake was."
Pastor Thiel expounded upon the verse Jake selected, correlating it to the Easter holiday. He talked about Jake's courage and his long battle with cancer, going through chemo so many times yet, achieving his goal of getting his college degree. Thiel smiled. "I think back to a couple years ago. I had just joined to serve this congregation as its second pastor. Jake got to sing a special song with a wonderful family." He smiled more. "Being members of the congregation, you can hear those voices from the balcony. But you can't see them. Pastor Jon and I can from our view in the altar area. We can clearly see into the balcony." He lightly laughed. "As Jake sang the first verse alone, Caleb rubbed his bald head." Mike rubbed Bub's shoulder as Zach, his around Caleigh's shoulder, lightly swatted Bub's leg with a smile.
Jack leaned over and looked at Zach. "Really?" he whispered.
"Only Bub bro," Zach smiled with a whisper back. Jimmy rubbed Caleb's shoulder with a smile.
Thiel looked at those gathered. "So guess what other holiday Jake wanted today?" He smiled. "Yup; Christmas. Because this strong, fight so hard young man knew that without Christmas, there is no Easter. That child born would be our Savior." He paused. "A year ago, that special family that Jake sang with, sang a song on Christmas Eve here at St. John's and later at St. Andrew's, part of the family's home church in their Christmas Eve candlelight service. Jake couldn't sing with them, coming off another round of chemo. But he asked that family to do that today. They're about to do that."
"And while it's a Christmas song, please listen; listen carefully to the last phrases of the last verse. It is Jake's faith; his life. 'The way into my heart; unasked; unforced; unearned'," Thiel emphasized the last three words. "To live and die and not alone for me. Jake knew his Savior and his saving promise. Jake is now home with all the other angels," Thiel said, and then looked into the balcony at the Hotchner boys. "I'm sure he's greeting some special ones." Beth rubbed Jack's back, putting her other hand on Zach's thigh, giving it a rub.
Thiel looked at Jake's family. "I know you take comfort in that." They all nodded. He looked at the congregation. "Losing someone that fought so, so hard is tough. Especially with Jake being this young. We will all shed tears. And rightly so; because we hurt losing this special young man."
"But then, rise up and honor this young man's courage. For Jake; honor his courage with his great fight. And most importantly, his faith." He left the sermon pulpit and sat down in the chair on his side of the altar.
Zach, Caleigh, Mike, Caleb and Rachel went to the microphones in the balcony. Ed, the church's PA expert smiled at them at his station at the other end of balcony from the organ and piano. Nadine started the opening strains on the piano of Where Shepherds Lowly Knelt. Ed put the corresponding video on the church's altar screens as they sang. Father Jimmy just shook his head listening to their voices doing the third verse acapella.
Pastor Jon finished the final portion of the funeral service with Dan doing his amazing version of The Lord's Prayer with Nadine.
After giving the final blessing, Pastor Jon looked at the congregation. "This hymn was Jake's final wish. With his friend singing the first verse."
Zach sung the first verse of the hymn that was sung at he and Caleigh's wedding. Which Jake and his parents had attended. In Christ Alone. Caleigh rubbed his back as he sang. She, Rachel, Mike and Caleb joined in on the next verses with Dan taking over the tenor voice on the next verses. Zach sang his usual baritone. Nadine played the organ with Rachel playing the piano.
Jack buried his head into Beth, shedding tears. Zach wiped one from each eye when they finished. Caleigh rubbed his back, wiping one of hers away as well. They weren't the only ones in the balcony. Lisa cuddled her daughter closely to her, wiping away hers.
Zach looked to the heavens and pointed. Welcome home bro. Caleigh rubbed his back more as they sat down together.
The Pastors looked at each other, nodding their heads at each other.
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A/N: There are many amazing versions of Where Shepherd Lowly Knelt on YouTube. My favorite and the one I reference in my head in writing this story is the one performed by the University of Utah's choir.