A/N: Thank you all for the reviews. And yes, I know I'm not playing fair with my normal happy Family. But I told you at the start – I needed something to get this one beyond my usual.

Chapter 3

The Wednesday briefing with the team was cursory at best even with Cruz sitting in. The only new news was an update from Cruz. "Ten of the serial killers we're seeking have been apprehended either by US Marshalls or the Bureau Fugitive Team." He looked at Cait and Garcia. "And I keep my promises. But I really didn't have to." They both looked at him. "By the time I made my phone call yesterday afternoon, the SWAT officer in question was already assigned to desk duty. The team leader and the other two members reported his actions. The MPD police union obviously is involved. But from what I'm hearing, the officer in question will face a board review and possible suspension."

"The blue line crossed it," Emily asked.

Cruz looked at her and nodded. "The others didn't like it any more than Cait." Everyone quickly rose to get to their normal routine.

Aaron grabbed Cait's elbow as she gathered up her tablet and coffee cup. "What did you do?"

Cait looked at him. "I bitched, loudly about a SWAT team member pointing a semi-auto, given the circumstances, at our youngest son. You have a problem with that?"

"Cait, we have to get along with the local PD's or they won't call us. Pissing off a local PD union doesn't help. That message will spread like wildfire to all the PDs across the country." The team looked at each other wondering if they were going to see a public argument between the couple.

"I don't give a damn Aaron. And did you hear Mat? The other three members of that SWAT team reported him before Mat raised the red flag from the Bureau. And like Emily said, the blue line rarely rats out one of their own."

Morgan started to open his mouth. Dave quickly and silently shook his head at him.

Aaron looked at her. "All I'm saying Cait is tread carefully."

Cait glared at him. "When it comes to our sons? That isn't happening." She quickly left the room. The team dispersed with her.

Cruz looked at Aaron. "For the record Aaron, the watch commander I talked to said he was expecting my call. I don't think you need to worry. Reading between the lines from what I heard, they've thought the guy was a bit of a loose cannon for a while."

"Mat, I just don't want my wife caught in the crossfire between the Bureau and local PDs that could potentially hinder what we do here and what she does here. We need her."

Cruz shook his head. "That's why she's here." He looked at Aaron. "But she's still a wife and mother first. I respect that."

Hotch looked at him and softened. "I love her for that." Mat rubbed his shoulder with a smile.

Around ten, Dave came down the steps with his empty coffee cup past Reid's desk. He stopped in the aisle by Reid, JJ, Emily, and Tara's desk. "Yes ladies, it's that time for the old man."

"Rossi," Tara asked.

"Dave," Reid added with a question. Emily swung in her chair to face him.

Dave thumbed at Reid. "If he knows how long it takes me to read a newspaper article, you don't think he has extrapolated out to all of you my morning dump schedule."

"TMI," Emily snarked.

"Don't give me that bullshit Prentiss. You've challenged him about it." He looked at Lewis. "And you and ding dong," he pointed at Prentiss, "have made bets on it."

"Busted," JJ whispered, looking up from her file.

"Thank you my Padawan," Dave smiled, moving to the doors.

Prentiss and Lewis looked at Reid who had a big smile. "Totally busted."

Yet Dave took a bit more time from his usual break and softly knocked on Cait's door. "Come in," he heard.

Dave opened the door. "Hey you," he smiled.

Cait looked up from her files. "Really Dave? I'm fine." Dave gently shut the door and sat down in one of the chairs across from her desk.

"Cait I know you. There's something eating at you. Please talk to me." She looked at him. It wasn't her usual. "Now I know something's up; talk to me." Cait glared at him. "Damn, I wish I had refilled my coffee cup before I came in here. Because I'm not leaving until you do."

Cait shook her head and smiled at him. "Thank you my friend."

"Talk to me Cait," Dave gently said.

Cait laid out the same evidence to him that she did Cruz and why she was at BAU fulltime the rest of the week. "Am I nuts and being hyper vigilant?"

Dave shook his head. "You're being a wife and mother that also know these people like the rest of us; hell maybe better. I'd say your analysis is spot on."

Cait shook her head. "Dave, I've had a nasty, gut feeling from the minute I heard Lewis was involved."

"Garcia's snooping through prison emails found that the fringe group of anarchists did the mediatory communication between Rawdon and Lewis."

"But other than Rawdon wanting to make something go boom like Garcia said, what's the bottom line between the two of them?" Dave looked at her. "They want revenge on Aaron." She looked at Dave. "Remind you of anyone?"

"Foyet," Dave simply said. Cait nodded. "What do you want to do?"

Cait looked at him. "Honestly? Our family trip to the ranch is coming soon. We've already got our plane reservations. I'd like to get our sons on an airplane ASAP."

"Not you and Aaron?"

Cait shook her head. "Lewis knows he's on a most wanted list. He's going to move quickly before the authorities catch up with him. We've got to protect the boys."

"And then what?"

"Let him come," Cait said. "I'm not going through the hell that Aaron and Haley did. I'm a Barkley. We stand and fight."

Dave shook his head. "That's too risky."

"Dave, I'm talking about my husband and my sons. I'm willing to take the risk to protect them."

"And leave Aaron a widower again?"

Cait shook her head. "I thought you knew me. Peter Lewis doesn't have an A game for me protecting my husband and sons."

"Cait….." Dave said.

"Dave, you're not hearing me." Rossi looked at her. "I'm the wild card that Lewis will not expect."

Dave looked at her. "OK, I get it. But how are you going to do that if and I mean if, it comes down to that?"

"I'm certified to carry." Dave looked at her. "Cruz fast forwarded it going through the Director."

Dave eyed her. "My alpha male ego has to ask," he smiled.

Cait smiled. "I'm in the Big Dog League."

"Does Aaron know this?"

"Not yet." Cait smiled and shook her head. "Yes Dave, I'm edgy and maybe not thinking the clearest. But all I can think about is Lewis, my husband and our sons."

Dave looked at her for a few seconds. "When's the last time you've slept?" Cait looked at him. "I know Aaron is running a quart low. But honestly, you look like you're running on fumes."

"I am Dave," Cait admitted. "And I'd dearly love to get a good night's sleep."

"Curl up with Aaron tonight and sleep. We'll revisit this tomorrow."

Cait nodded with a smile. "Thank you. Again."

Dave rose out of his chair. "Why the old dog is still around. I fricking hated retirement and wanted contribute," he smiled.

-00CM00-

The team, with Cruz included, had just sat down in the Round Table Room Friday morning for their usual briefing. Garcia and Kevin flew in. "We've got news," Garcia said in her usual rushed fashion given the situation.

"Penelope, start at the top please," Cruz said.

"Roger sir." The team all looked at her. "Following your profile, we've both been digging into the emails of the anarchist group that linked up Rawdon and Lewis. Like you profiled, not all of the group got captured. And Lewis needs the help to stay under the radar. Kevin and I found a link late yesterday afternoon. Ladies and gentleman, I give you," she said, pushing a button on the remote, "one Joseph Atchison." His picture appeared on the screen.

"You profiled him exactly. He's in his early fifties; and wants to help. But he won't do the down and dirty stuff."

Cruz looked at the team. "Garcia and Kevin sent the info to me last night." Hotch looked at him. "Aaron, you and the team are still behind in sleep. And I have more connections than you. I forwarded their information to the NSA."

Kevin took up the briefing. "NSA has been tracking Atchison's cellphone since last night. Per Chief Cruz's request, they've been funneling any pertinent intel to me. They just sent me this." Garcia pushed another button.

A grainy security camera video appeared. Two men got out of a car. "That's Atchison," Kevin said pointing. The video zoomed in on the second man. The graininess quickly disappeared to show a clear picture of Peter Lewis. "NSA positively ID'd Lewis."

"When was this taken," Hotch asked.

"Two hours ago at a small coffee shop just north of Gaithersburg, Maryland from a bank security cam across the street," Kevin said. Cait looked at Dave.

"Do you have an address on Atchison," Morgan asked.

"DHS hit the address thirty minutes ago," Cruz said. "Atchison was arrested but he's not talking. Lewis wasn't there."

"Garcia, did you ever find a home base for Lewis," Rossi asked.

"Sorry sir; I've tried everything and came up empty."

"But this means Lewis somehow got from Indiana SuperMax to this area," JJ said.

"And I hate to say it – in the wind," Prentiss added.

"And he could be after any of us," Tara said.

Reid shook his head. "Rawdon and Lewis targeted only one person with the unknown help of Asher." Cait zeroed a look at Rossi which Cruz and Aaron both noticed.

"Cait," they questioned together.

"What does your profile say?" The team just looked at her. "Someone step up to the plate and say it."

"Lewis is after Hotch," Rossi said.

"Thank you Dave," Cait said. She looked at Aaron. "I'm OK with that. And I'll stand beside you and fight with you with the help of this team. But we get the boys on an airplane to the ranch ASAP." Cait looked at him. "He gave you your second worst dream with the team getting killed. You don't think those anarchists have filled him in on your personal bio?" She looked at Reid. "What does the profile say?"

Reid looked at Emily and Morgan. "He'll want Hotch's worst dream this time," Morgan softly said.

"You're going with the boys," Hotch said.

"No I'm not," Cait said. Hotch glared at her. "We'll discuss that later. But right now Aaron, I want our sons on a jet heading west."

"I've already got US Marshalls at your home. It's very quietly," Cruz said, waving at Cait and Aaron, "shut down like Fort Knox. The boys shouldn't notice." Rossi shook his head. "Dave?"

"Mudg might."

"Dave," Cruz questioned back.

"During the summer, I know Cait and the boys are home. I drop him off every morning before I come to work."

"But that gives us an advantage," Morgan said. The group looked at him. "There is no way that Lewis could get from Gaithersburg to Woodbridge in two hours. From the video footage, he walked away from the coffee shop."

"And there's no video of him on public transportation or getting a rental car," Kevin said. "NSA checked."

"That means he's hitchhiking or in a taxi. Either way, he can't get there in time. We get the boys out of house before Lewis knows they're gone." Dave pointed at Morgan.

Just then, Aaron and Cait's cells buzzed with a text on the table. They both looked at the text. "It's Matt; Dave is right," Hotch said. "Mudg noticed something. Matt has too." He looked at Cait. "You or me?"

"Hang on you two," Dave said. "Let's plan this out a bit more." He looked at Cait. "I know you too well. Since your plane reservations are for tomorrow morning, I'm assuming you've got the boys already getting packed." Cait nodded. "What about Lauren?"

"She came early this morning before we left with her packed bag," Aaron said. "She's ready to go."

"And all four of them know your mantra Cait," Dave smiled.

Cait took a relaxing breath and smiled at him. "We're not going to outer Mongolia. There are stores in the area if you forget something." The team all smiled.

Cait looked at Aaron. She quickly deuced he was thinking. He looked at her. "We call Matt together and tell him we've got a case to work. And all of the team might be at risk. They've been through that before with the Replicator."

"And for their safety," Dave said, "the US Marshalls are going to get them into a hotel room for the night and on the flight tomorrow. After that, they're good."

"We'll join them at the ranch when the case is done," Hotch added.

"It works Cait," Emily said.

"In theory," Cait said. The group in the conference room looked at her. "Matt will see through it; Mike as well." She looked at Aaron, who nodded his head. "But they both will keep their dad's and my secrets from Jack to protect him. And Lauren," she smiled.

Cruz reached for his cell getting out of his chair. "Excuse me while I call Ben Reyna. He needs to get a hotel room for the kids near the airport for the night."

"Ben Reyna," Tara questioned.

"Benigno Reyna is the head of the US Marshall Service," Reid said.

###

A/N: NSA is the National Security Administration.