A/N: *sets out tissue box and runs like h_ll*

Chapter 3

It took Aaron Hotchner all of two minutes to throw on a pair of jeans, grab a t-shirt and then sweatshirt, tugging them over his head. He hastily pulled on a pair of socks and descended quickly, yet quietly down the steps. He silently raced into the laundry room, grabbed a pair of his tennis shoes there and quickly threw them on, grabbing the first coat he could reach from the closet.

He looked around the kitchen. Where the hell are my keys? Spotting them on the counter, he quickly grabbed them. Like Dave, he set the alarm for its 60 second pause, went out the door and re-locked the deadbolt.

Sprinting off the steps of the deck, he thought Jack's alone in the house. He hesitated a bit. But I've set the alarm and I hope and pray there's no unsubs waiting in the woods. He raced to the dock, noticing Dave was already around the point, coming at the dock at the top speed the Mercury motor could put out.

As Dave approached the dock, he cut the engine. It took all of Aaron's muscles to stop the rapidly approaching boat. Dave got up from the driver's chair. Aaron quickly looked at him and didn't notice any blood coming from his clothing. Thank God, Aaron thought as he pulled the boat to the dock. "Dave?"

His partner and lover looked at him with already bloodshot eyes. Aaron reached in to grab the front tie-up rope, quickly tying it off and jumped into the boat. It was then he noticed the whole scene. By Dave's feet laid a dead duck. To the right, just in front of the boat's captain's chair and wooden console, laid Mudgie, with his life vest thrown off to the side.

Mudgie was still, with a small part of his pink tongue hanging out from his muzzle. "Oh my God Dave," he said shaking his head. "No," is all Aaron could get out. Aaron bent down and put his ear to the dog's chest. When he lifted up his head, he sadly shook it and then petted the family's beloved pet, rubbing his head.

He looked at Dave with tears in his own eyes. "What happened," he barely choked out.

Dave swallowed hard. "Mudg got into the boat with the duck and started panting horribly. I knew he couldn't be hot with the water temperature. By the time I got to him, getting his life vest off, he collapsed onto the deck," Dave said, softly crying again. "I knew he was gone."

They both looked up to hear silent footsteps on the dock. It was Cory, part of the husband and wife team that took care of the cabin for the couple. "I'm so sorry you two,"' he softly said. They both looked at him with a question. "I was watching you through our study window," he said softly nodding at Dave. Cory and Tina's home was set back a bit from the point. "I knew something was wrong and I grabbed my binoculars." He looked at Dave. "When I saw you trying to do CPR on Mudg, and then speed off, I knew." He opened the blanket he had brought with him. "Aaron, hand him to me." Cory had one half of the blanket wrapped around his shoulders, the other in his arms. Aaron nodded and gently lifted Mudgie off the boat's deck and handed him to Cory, pulling the top half of the blanket over Mudgie's lifeless body. He climbed out of the boat and stuck out his hand to Dave to help him out. Dave barely reached for it when Aaron pulled him onto the dock and into a hug. They stayed like for a few seconds as Cory started to move off, giving the grieving couple some space.

"Cory wait," Aaron said, letting Dave go. "I'll take him. Would you mind taking the boat back out and getting the decoys?"

"I can do that Aaron," he said, handing him Mudgie. "What about the ducks?"

"They're yours and Tina's for New Year's," Dave softly said. Every New Year's Eve the couple hosted a party for the people that lived around the lake year round. The featured dish was a delicious mixture of duck meat and soups that Tina made in a crockpot that their guests put on a bun. Dave had given the couple the recipe five years ago when their dream home had been built near the point as welcome gift. They both looked at each other that August and politely thanked him. October rolled around and Dave showed up at their doorstep with three frozen duck breasts. "What? You didn't think I'd provide the ducks," he smiled brightly back then. It was a treat the couple's friends looked forward to every year.

"Sorry they're not cleaned."

"No worries. But Dave," Cory softly said, "Tina only needs three."

"I don't want that damn fourth one," he said.

Cory released the front tie-up rope and quickly jumped into the boat. He pushed it away and started the motor.

Jack, with his long night's rest and the relaxing of his tired muscles had heard his dad get up and head down the stairs. He rolled over a bit, grabbed a bit of a snooze and woke again. This time, his ears were more alert. The cabin was dead silent. That's not right he thought. And I don't smell coffee. He climbed out of bed, pulled his wool socks on with the rubber gripping on the bottom and headed down the hall. Since the door was open to his dad's and Papa's bedroom he plowed in. "Hey dad," he said, looking at the empty bed. He stuck his head in the bathroom and found it empty as well.

He went down the steps. As he got to the bottom, he called out. "Hey dad; where are you?" He looked all around and then went into the kitchen. He noticed the bright blinking light of the alarm set. 'DAD?" he shouted. He reached the alarm pad and shut it off. Maybe dad's doing something outside he reasoned.

Then he looked towards the lake with his dad slowly walking up the hill. He could see in his arms he held a blanket with four paws hanging out. He threw the door open and raced to the steps of the deck.

Cory approached the home he and wife shared driving Dave's boat. He spotted her in the window and slowly shook his head. Tina moved away, wiping a tear as Cory heard the most haunting sound on the lake he would ever hear.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooo," a young voiced pierced the mid-morning splendor. Cory hung his head as he steered the boat toward the reeds. A flock of ducks scattered.

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A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all my online friends that share their pets with me and let me live, as I've said before, vicariously through their shared stories and pictures of their beloved pets. I've adopted them all in my heart.

I know this chapter cut deep, and to some, more than I'll even know. I honor all pets; past, present and future. I've lost my share four legged friends as well.

This chapter is for those beloved companions.

And mine; Ginger, Shasta and Dixie.