Chapter 4
Dave looked at Hotch. "Why are we getting so much federal buy-in and intel? I thought we all didn't get along and share information?"
Cruz came back in the room. "While we may still be learning after 9/11, we're getting there." Dave looked at him. "Everyone agrees with the team's profile that Lewis is probably going to target Hotch. But we can't totally count on that. He releases that phantosmiact drug on a subway system and all hell would break loose."
"While Lewis' gas of choice isn't lethal, and in an open environment, it dissipates quickly, leaving only the sage smell behind," Reid added, "the aftermath to those he affected in the area he released it, could affect up to ten to twelve people per dose and that could be lethal."
"Remind you of anyone else," JJ questioned.
"Chad Brown," Tara said. "I studied that case. I thought about interviewing him."
"Why didn't you," Emily asked.
"He was too deeply bought into Dr. Nichol's theory. He was simply delusional. I wouldn't have learned anything from him in my world."
Dave looked at Aaron and Cait. "Do me one favor." They looked at him. "You are not going to call your sons. You are going to go home and explain to them in person what is going on. We can handle this around here until you get back."
Cruz looked at them. "I'm making that an order. Get out of here."
"Rossi and Cruz are right," Morgan said. "By the time you two get back, the tactical teams involved should have a working plan. Rossi knows your neighborhood to give them a head start. I'll help them. When you get back, we'll refine the plan." Cruz nodded.
JJ waved a palm up open hand at Emily knowing what was coming next. "Wait for it," she smiled.
"Looks like you two are voted off the island," Prentiss snarked.
"That's my girl," JJ smiled.
-00CM00-
Aaron looked at Cait as they drove home together. "Can I admit something to you?" Cait looked at him. "I'm glad I'm going to have you around," he said with a small smile.
Cait looked at him. "Aaron, I understand the hell you went through when Haley and Jack got sent into witness protection. And I know this feels a lot like that."
"It does," he admitted.
"You know my background. I'm a Barkley that is also a certified federal agent. I'll stand up and fight for my family. Haley didn't do that but ultimately, she did. But she didn't have the advantage I do."
Aaron shook his head. "You're missing one thing."
Cait looked at him. "I have something to admit to you." Aaron looked at her. Cait picked up her purse from the vehicle's floor and pulled out her Glock.
"You're certified to carry that?"
Cait nodded. "When Cruz called the Director Monday, he got it fast-tracked with the Director's approval."
Aaron smiled at her. "I was wondering when you were going to tell me. And by the way – nice shooting Doc."
"Thanks," she smiled. "Now do me one favor please."
Aaron reached up, pulled his tie loose and unbuttoned his shirt collar. "You win," Cait laughed.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into the garage and walked into the kitchen to Jack sitting at the breakfast counter. He was engrossed in the new fad of coloring intricate patterned pictures and looked up. "Now I really know something is going on."
"And hi to you too," Cait said. Jack just looked at her.
"Buddy, talk to me," Aaron said, rubbing his shoulder.
"Matt and Mike have been whispering or upstairs for the last half hour."
Lauren came out of the half bath off the kitchen. "He's not the only one."
Aaron put his arm around her shoulder. "Plug your ears."
Lauren shook her head. "My ears are used to Cait's whistles by now," she smiled.
Cait smiled at her and put two fingers into her mouth. The whistle made Beans and Mudg, peacefully sleeping by the French doors going out onto the patio, spring to their feet. Like always, Matt and Mike rumbled down the steps as Cait and Aaron petted the dogs.
Matt looked at the two of them. "What the hell is going on?" He got the two parent glare.
"It's OK mom," Jack said. "I've heard some of the guys on the playground saying the f word for two years." Mike pointed at Jack, looking at them.
"There's a situation going on," Aaron said. "And you're mom and I talked on the way home. We're going to be honest with all of you," he said, looking at Jack. They laid out for boys what was happening; leaving out Peter Lewis' involvement. That was one case that Aaron faced that was solely a secret between husband and wife.
"Not witness protection again," Jack pleaded.
"Only for tonight Jack," Cait said. "The Marshall Service will get all of you on the plane tomorrow as we originally planned for our vacation. You'll go the ranch to be with grandma and grandpa and the four of you will be safe there." She smiled at Jack. "No worries and no safe houses."
"What about you two," Jack asked, beating his brothers to the question.
"Buddy, mom and I have to stay back and work the case with the team. When we close it, we'll join you."
Cait cell buzzed. She looked at the text. She looked at the boys. "The Marshall Service will be here in fifteen minutes."
"Shit," Jack said under his breath, sliding off the counter stool.
Aaron stared to open his mouth. Cait shook her head at him with a smile. "Welcome to fifth grade dad."
"You ain't the only one bro," Mike said, following Jack to race up the steps. Matt was right behind them.
Cait followed them to the steps. "Remember my Outer Mongolia mantra and prioritize!"
Lauren looked at Aaron. He pulled her to his chest. "It's going to fine sweetheart. Cait and I will join you soon."
Lauren shook her head as Cait chased the dogs outside and rejoined them. "It's not me I'm worrying about. It's Matt and the boys." She looked at Aaron. "And you two."
Cait rubbed her shoulder with a smile. Lauren looked at her, still in Aaron's arm. "Once you get out to the ranch and meet my big, bawdy, slightly belligerent family, it will all come together for you," Cait beamed. "You'll get it." Cait looked her in the eye. "Just don't take any of their shit."
Lauren laughed as Cait pulled her into a hug. "And I know you'll watch over my sons like my family. Why we sorta like this new daughter we're gonna have." Aaron rubbed Lauren's shoulder as Cait kissed her cheek.
"And rely on Maggie and Jarrod," Lauren smiled.
"Ummmm hon," Cait smiled. "Grandma and grandpa to you now." Lauren beamed. Cait gathered up Jack's book and coloring pens. She pointed at the backpack in the chair next to one Jack vacated. "Yours?" Lauren nodded with a smile. Cait handed the book and colors to her. "That will keep him occupied on the flight from Denver to Sacramento."
"And the first leg," Lauren asked.
"Stay up late tonight and then sleep on the first leg," Aaron smiled. "The time change from east coast to west coast is not fun."
Cait laughed. "It's a bitch Lauren." Aaron pointed at her with a smile.
-00CM00-
An hour later, Aaron and Cait flew up the steps to the Round Table room. When they walked in, they saw a DHS, Marshall Service and FBI agent, all with the designation on their collars that said they were high ranking members. Rossi and Cruz looked at them. "The kids out the door," Dave asked.
"Yes," Aaron replied.
JJ rubbed Cait's shoulder, knowing how tough those good-byes were. "Thanks Jayje," Cait smiled.
"What's the plan," Aaron asked.
"It's solid Hotch," Morgan said.
"Hey Hotch," the FBI tach agent said.
"Hi Mike," Aaron smiled. He introduced Cait to Mike Laughlin.
"Hi Cait," he smiled, shaking her hand. "I'm lead on this since it's a Bureau thing. But these two," he thumbed at the others, "are damn good. We've got your backs." He introduced Winston Jackson, a huge shouldered Afro-American man from the Marshall Service and Tom Banks from DHS. Banks was five foot eight at best; and probably one hundred sixty pounds soaking wet.
Banks looked at Aaron and Cait. "I may be the short fry around these big guys. But that gives me the advantage of being the sneakiest."
"And with his clearance," Morgan said, "he is. And damn good."
Laughlin looked at the two of them. "Tommy already has agents sent up in the house across the street from yours that's up for sale and vacated."
"When DHS calls realtors, they cooperate," Banks smiled. "We've got the front side covered."
"There's two, two person teams imbedded in the woods behind your property in the woods that rotate out every two hours," Laughlin said, pointing to the map Garcia had up on the screen. "They're using Rossi's garage as the staging area for that."
"That's mostly us," Jackson said. "But with the heat, we're all working together."
"Thanks for that," Cait smiled. "Or you'd get my MD wrath."
"Way ahead of you Cait," Dave smiled. Morgan pointed at him.
"My command center," Laughlin said, "is Rossi's kitchen. From there, I and two agents have clear line of sight to the back of the house." Aaron and Cait eyed Dave.
He smiled. "I know you two have kept tabs on me with that line of sight back. I'm just returning the favor." Aaron and Cait just shook their heads as the rest of the team smiled.
"And I called Jamaal and Lisa," Dave said. Cait and Aaron looked at him. "The west part of your property is a street corner and wide open. The team's base of operations is in their basement with their egress window that faces your house on the east side," he reported.
"Damnit Dave," Hotch growled.
"Aaron – relax. Jamaal is on his summer break from school. He noticed the same thing Matt did earlier. They want to help. They sorta love you two remember?" The team could see the two of them relax.
"And I'll be holding down the fort here with Garcia and Lynch doing their usual," Cruz reported. Aaron looked at him. "They are heads down trying to track the internet chatter between the anarchist cell we busted. We didn't get all the members."
Cait shook her head at Aaron. "All this," she whispered. "For us?"
"Dr. Barkley," Banks spoke up and a bit forcefully. "We consider Peter Lewis a threat to national security with his phantosmia gas. We've got our usual security in place for a possible mass hit. And by the way, NSA has drones up covering your home 24/7." Cait looked at Aaron. "But we agree with the BAU teams' assessment that with him being hunted, he would be recognized immediately on any video surveillance. Your home gives us the best possible chance to capture him. And Doctor, if we all fail, we agree with the rest of the teams' profile."
"He'll do it publicly," Reid said.
Cait nodded at the learned doctor and looked around the room. "Can I quote a line from one of our youngest son's favorite movie?" The three men looked at her. "Failure is not an option." They all smiled.
"We just really appreciate it," Aaron added.
"Thanks for buying in," Banks smiled. "We all understand home; and the stress the two of you are facing."
"I'm just astonished that all these government agencies are working together," Cait noted. "That's comforting to know we've all learned since 9/11."
"Tell me about it," Tara smiled at her with a point.
Cruz smiled. "The monolithic government we all serve finally saw the light."
"About goddamn time," Prentiss said under her breath. Morgan pointed at her. The three bigwigs smiled.
"So now comes the fun part," Cait said.
"Doctor Barkley," Laughlin asked.
"All of us sitting on our asses waiting for something to happen."
Laughlin looked at Aaron with a point. "She's good Hotch," he smiled.
"Why I married her Mike," he smiled.
-00CM00-
And that's what they all did. For three very long days.
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A/N: The unsub Chad Brown is from the S3 episode Amplification.
Phantosmia is an olfactory hallucination. Through my research, that is the generic title of what Peter Lewis used in the S10 episode Mr. Scratch.