A/N: Thank you again to all of you for reviews and the favorite alerts. They are greatly appreciated. I'm touched you are liking this story!
Chapter 9
When they got into Dave's rental, the first thing Zach did was pull his tie loose and opened his shirt collar. Harry smiled and followed him. Dave just shook his head at both of them. Dave drove the three of them back to hotel. As they drove, they discussed dinner options. Harry spoke up from the backseat. "Dave, I'm sure you want something fancy, but you know what I'd really love to have?" Dave smiled at him in the rear view mirror. "A burger and some fries. Remember that awful shit they tried to pass off on us when we had just came out of the jungle?"
Dave smiled. "I remember. That was disgrace to the American way. But I'm not doing McDonald's. I get that enough on the road, traveling with the team."
Zach smiled at him. "Uncle Dave, as good as that breakfast was I bet they can make some mean burgers there."
"They can," Harry said. Zach swiveled in his seat to look at him. "I would walk by there some nights just to take in the smell."
"Close and easy to find," Dave said. "Works for me," he added looking at Zach. "But I'm buying and there will be no arguments this time." Zach held his hands up like an unsub surrendering to Morgan.
When they pulled into the hotel, Dave after tipping the valet told him they would need the vehicle again in an hour or so. "I'll take care of it Agent Rossi," he smiled. They went up to the room.
Zach looked at Harry. "If you want to change first, that's fine. But I've got to get some more ibuprofen in me first. It will take me a minute."
"Zach, I was in the Marines. I've seen other guys in their underwear. Grab your clothes and change in the bathroom and take your pills. I'll change in your bedroom," he smiled.
They both walked into the living room five minutes later joking and laughing. Dave joined them soon afterward, and they headed for the restaurant, enjoying the walk and the conversation. They walked in and were greeted by LaTasha. "What are you still doing here?" Zach asked.
She smiled. "I'm a sophomore at Pepperdine. I work doubles on the weekends to help with my tuition."
Zach smiled. "Can we sit in your section?"
"Sure handsome," she smiled, her eyes twinkling that she could get him to blush so easy. She pointed at booth in the back part. Take that one. I'll be with you in a second." They moved towards the booth.
Dave looked at Zach and shook his head. "Whattttt?"
"I need to get you out with me; gotta get in you into the real game," Dave smiled.
"Oh yeah, like dad is going to let that happen," Zach said. "And no thank you. I've got enough on my plate right now." They sat down.
"Zach, what has your plate so full?" Harry had taken to Zach and could see the love he and Dave shared. He just didn't just seem like a wonderful young man. Harry simply knew he was.
"I'm a freshman at George Mason University in a DC suburb, carrying 18 credits, while trying to juggle my schedule so I can take care of my little brother when the team goes out." Dave had filled Harry in on the family and knew how Zach was stepping up. It was one of the reasons he respected the kid.
"And after the holidays, when the second semester starts, he'll have baseball practice as well," Dave proudly smiled.
"How you gonna handle that with your brother?"
"Our aunt, mom's sister will take of Jack until I get home from practice," Zach smiled. "Once the team starts playing and traveling, she will step in and stay through the night. And the woman across the street from us home schools her son, so if Aunt Jess can't get there before Jack gets off the bus he goes over to Janelle's. Jack and Danny are good friends and love to get together to play."
Harry smiled. "You do have your plate full." LaTasha showed up with water glasses and menus. She noticed the insightful conversation and quietly slipped away.
Dave proudly smiled. "Harry, you're looking at the number two prep catcher in the country entering the college ranks."
"Really?"
"Really. And he chose to go to a university with an up and coming baseball program with a coach that can do that."
"I played some ball back in my day; talented catchers are a rare find." He looked at Zach, with a smile. "You got a great future in front of you."
"Maybe; get injured, get a batting coach that tinkers with your swing the wrong way, a coach that tinkers the wrong way with your catching mechanics," Zach said shaking his head. "Too many variables for me. I'm getting my college degree first; I'll worry about a baseball career after that."
Harry smiled and looked at Dave. "And he's smart."
Dave smiled softly. "Plus, he made a promise I know he's going to keep," he said, rubbing Zach's shoulder and neck, sitting next to him in the booth. Harry looked at the two of them across the booth with questions.
Zach smiled. "My mom worried about putting all my hopes into a baseball career. I promised her I wouldn't. The day she got killed, I re-iterated that promise to her." Zach hung his head a bit. Dave rubbed his neck more, having heard that awful conversation. But knowing that Zach had no problem talking about it openly told the profiler that Zach had moved on and healed. And he would keep that promise to his mother.
Dave smiled as Zach lifted his head, looking at his uncle. "You will Zach." Zach nodded his head.
Harry smiled at him. "For a big, and excuse me Zach, white boy that scared the shit out of me less than 24 hours ago, you're a good kid."
Zach smiled. "No offense taken Harry. You're pretty impressive yourself."
"I'm just a homeless Vietnam vet that has made too many excuses for too many years," Harry said shaking his head.
"Not in my book and not for much longer," Zach smiled brightly. Harry looked him in the eye. "I'm a profiler's son and a profiler's nephew. You were a sergeant, leading a platoon in Vietnam. I think you have more skills than you think. And the capabilities to use them. And with New Directions, you're going to get that chance. Plus, you've taken the first step by joining AA. Harry, while I'm in on my college studies and dedicated to keeping my promise to mom, I'd be liar if I didn't look you in the eye and say, 'I'd like my chance at the bigs'. You're going to get your chance at the bigs at New Directions." Dave just proudly smiled at the young man sitting next to him.
It was Harry's turn to hang his head for a second. "You think I got game kid?"
Zach gave the Harry a serious look. "I think you have more game than you know. If you worked your ass off that hard to protect you platoon in combat, every day, under those conditions, very honestly Harry, and then to step up and join AA, you have more game than me." Dave just nodded his ascent, with a large smile.
LaTasha came up to the booth, and with her great personality, had read the situation. "Is it a bad time?" she quietly asked.
"No beautiful," Zach smiled, sitting on the outside seat of the booth, leaning into the backrest, "Your timing is perfect. Whatca got for me?"
Harry laughed at Dave. "I think the kid has more game than you know." Zach joined in the laughter at Dave's expense as LaTasha told them the nightly specials.
"You are good gorgeous. We need a few minutes to look over the menu now that our big chat is done," he smiled.
LaTasha rubbed his shoulder, looking at Dave. "The handsome one does have game," she smiled. "Any one need something other than the waters?" Dave and Harry ordered a Pepsi, while Zach stayed with the water. LaTasha topped it off with the pitcher she was carrying.
Twenty minutes later, Dave and Harry were diving into a traditional California burger, with Zach, always the carnivore, choosing the Western. Burger, cheddar cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce. Dave and Harry shared to Zach the whole story about Hernandez, with Zach shaking his head. After a bit of silence, Zach egged the two of them on, eating his burger, with his large glass of milk for his stomach and got to hear some of their more pleasant war stories. They had a great time with Dave and Harry laughing at the memories. Zach just smiled and listened to the good friends.
LaTasha cleared their plates, the burgers and fried completely gobbled up. "Dessert anyone?"
Zach shook his head, having ordered the half-pound variety of his burger. "I'm stuffed. Good thing we're walking back to the hotel." He smiled at LaTasha. "And you were right about the BBQ sauce. It won't keep my stomach up tonight." Dave and Harry, who had settled for the quarter pounders, nodded their heads in agreement.
Dave looked at Zach. "You can't squeeze in a chocolate malt shake. I know you love them. And it will help your stomach."
"And I'll have work out three days harder to burn it off," Zach smiled. "I'm trying to get into shape for the season, remember Uncle Dave?" Harry smiled at him. LaTasha came up with the tab in the black folder.
Zach handed it to Dave, already knowing what he was going to do. Dave stuck a $100 bill in the folder and looked at Harry. "Let's be shepherds and get the flock out of here." Zach was already out of the booth and shook his head at Harry with a smile. He smiled and joined Zach.
LaTasha walked up to the three of them as they moved to leave. Zach gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks luvs; see ya in the morning. Save us a spot."
She smiled back. "You got it handsome." As they left, LaTasha couldn't believe her eyes when she opened the black folder. The tip was nearly seventy dollars.
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A/N: The "bigs" is the big leagues, as in Major League Baseball. As in playing professional baseball. A California burger is burger, lettuce, tomato and onion. And of course, the bun. :D