Chapter 7

Zach pulled his pick-up into the lot of the funeral home and opened the back door to let Caleigh out. As she climbed out, Zach rolled down his sleeves, buttoned the cuffs and pulled his suit jacket off the back of his seat. He pulled it on and Caleigh straightened the collar of his shirt for him. Aaron buttoned his shirt collar and pulled his tie tight, checking that it was straight in the rear view mirror on his side of the truck.

They walked up the sidewalk and Zach opened the door for them all. Once inside, Caleigh waited for Zach and they walked into the viewing area with their arms around each other. Penelope Garcia couldn't resist. "They're a cute couple," she whispered to JJ, standing next to her. JJ nodded her head in agreement with a small smile. The two of them and Will were standing off to the side talking, having just paid their respects to Erin's family. Morgan and Reid were in the line slightly ahead of the Hotchner group.

They finally got to Erin's coffin. She looked peaceful. They paid their respects, Beth crossed herself and they moved to greet the family. The three kids were hanging in there considering their loss. The oldest daughter, Corrine, looked at Aaron. "Dave said mom died in your arms Agent Hotchner."

"Yes she did," he softly said. "And she went very quietly, thinking of you kids and her love for you," he said, rubbing her arm. Erin Strauss' children took great comfort in that.

As Beth was pulling Dave into a hug, Zach got to Corrine. "I'm very sorry for your loss. Your mom was a neat lady. We had a lot of fun at Uncle Dave's."

"Thank you Zach. Dave has told us that you know the feeling."

"I know exactly what you're going through; I'm sorry."

John, Erin's son was next and Zach pulled him into a hug. A couple years younger, they played baseball against each other in high school. They always chatted for a second or two after the game. "I'm sorry for your loss, man."

"Thanks for coming Zach; I know it's not easy for you. I really appreciate it." They shared a warm handshake. Lisa, the youngest, thanked him for coming as well.

Zach got to Uncle Dave just as Caleigh was letting go of their hug, wiping away a tear. Zach pulled Dave into a massive hug. "You OK Uncle Dave?"

"Yeah, I am. Are you?"

Zach pulled out of the hug. "I am too," he softly smiled. Caleigh looked at the line continuing to grow.

"We'll see you tomorrow," she said, rubbing his bicep.

Dave looked at Zach. "We're good?"

"We're good."

He pulled Zach into a hug. "Thank you."

"We're a family Uncle Dave. We love each other and take care of each other. I believe us Hotchner's owe in that department."

"Love ya Zach."

"Love you to Uncle Dave," Zach said releasing the hug. Caleigh smiled at Aaron and Beth.

Zach and Caleigh walked over to the rest and quietly greeted them. Aaron, along with Beth, had got sidetracked by an FBI bigwig. They again had their arms around each other. Penelope curled up to other side and put her arm around him as well. "You keep getting more handsome by the day my oldest golden boy."

"Thanks Penelope," he smiled, blushing a bit and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"And maturing," Morgan said, shaking his hand as Garcia let go. "Three years ago you would have blushed worse than Reid."

Caleigh looked at Spencer standing next to her. "You put up with that Dr. Reid?"

"First off Caleigh, I'm Spencer or Reid. Secondly, I let Morgan keep thinking that his muscle to fat ratio makes him superior to me, when I know better," he winked at her.

Zach looked at Morgan. "Brains over brawn? Perish the thought," he smiled.

Will looked at Morgan and Zach, who he could not compare to in size or muscle. "Guess that leaves me out in the cold," he drawled with a smile.

JJ pulled Zach into a hug as Aaron and Beth walked up, along with Alex. "You're handling this pretty well. I'm proud of you."

Zach kissed her cheek. "Thanks JJ; it still hurts." He let her go. "But I'm not sixteen anymore."

JJ smiled at him, rubbing his bicep. "No you are definitely not."

Aaron nodded at the team. "Let's take this outside."

"Thank you dad," Zach whispered to Caleigh.

Aaron looked at the team. "I've just been informed the team is on indefinite stand down until this can all be sorted out. Please use the time for yourselves. I'll see you all at the church tomorrow. You don't need to go into the office. We've worked enough hours this week already."

They all smiled, enjoyed a bit of small talk and then dispersed to their vehicles. Zach drove the four of them back to Caleigh's house. Caleigh rubbed his shoulder. "What was that with JJ?" Beth nodded her head at the question.

Zach shook his head. "After Uncle Dave, she was the first one that got to me the day mom was killed. She helped take of Jack; she stepped up huge. I've never forgot that." He pulled into the driveway and they all got out and went into the house.

They could hear Jack roaring in Caleb's room. Rachel and Tom smiled at them. "How'd it go?" Tom asked.

"Better than I thought," Zach said.

Caleigh rubbed Aaron's arm. "What you said to the kids was wonderful," she smiled.

"Thanks Caleigh," he said putting his arm around her shoulder. "It's what happened."

Rachel and Tom looked at Zach. "Erin died in dad's arms. She wasn't alone and the kids know she thought of them last and that she loved them. Mom couldn't say that to any of us because of Foyet. But we knew," he smiled.

-00CM00-

Aaron and Beth got Jack on the school bus as Zach slept in. When he came up the steps a little after eight, he smiled at the two of them in the kitchen. Aaron and Beth both heard him drop his backpack at the door.

"Zach?" Aaron said.

"My nine o'clock dad is my engineering class. I can make that, get back here, change and be to the church on time. Caleigh has an eight and nine class, is going to meet me here and do the same. We'll be there."

Beth smiled at Aaron. "Works for me."

Aaron smiled back. "Works for me; btw how did you do on the quiz?"

Zach smiled, gulping down his second glass of apple juice. "I aced it," he said with his mischievous smile to Aaron. His dad just shook his head.

Beth was finishing cooking scrambled eggs. "Do you have time? I made enough for you."

"Not really," he smiled, sticking in two pieces of bread into the toaster. "But I'll take some on my toast," he smiled, reaching into the fridge and pulling out two cheese slices, putting them on the toast. "Dine and dash," he smiled. "I can stop at the market on the next corner and get some milk."

"Works for me," Beth smiled, putting some eggs on the toast.

-00CM00-

The entire team, now including Kevin, Gina and Brian along with Will were waiting to be seated. Aaron looked at his watch one more time, wondering where Zach and Caleigh were. Beth approached him and smiled. "I think you can get the team sat down."

Aaron looked at her. Beth showed him a service folder she had picked up. After Father Jimmy's homily, the congregation was to sing a hymn. Aaron looked at the folder more carefully.

Hymn No. 286 For All The Saints

The soloist will sing the verses listed. The gathering will join in on the refrain.

Beth flipped the service folder over to the back page and pointed.

Soloist: Zachary Hotchner

She smiled at Aaron. "I don't think he's sitting with us." The rest of the team just smiled and they took their places.

The priest from Erin's church conducted the service while Father Jimmy gave a wonderful, special homily, filled with laughter and love. Erin, the weekends she spent with Dave, went with him to Mass at Father Jimmy's parish.

When he finished, he looked at those sitting in the pews. "We follow along with our next order of worship. Please note the soloist's contribution," looking into the balcony of the church. He slightly smiled and nodded at Zach.

The congregation sang the first verse. The organist lowered the volume and Zach's rich, deep, mellow baritone voice sang the second.

You were their rock, their fortress and their might;

You, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight

And in the darkness drear their one true light.

The congregation joined in the Alleluia of the hymn.

JJ bowed her head as Will squeezed her shoulder. It's as much about his mother as it is about Strauss. She pushed away the teardrop that threatened to run. Will held her closer. Penelope, sitting next to her, clamped onto her hand.

Zach sang the third verse as well.

Oh, may you soldiers, faithful, true, and bold

Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old

And win with them the victor's crown of gold.

Alleluia. Alleluia the congregation sang, with JJ joining in.

Zach sang the seventh verse of the hymn of comfort.

But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of glory passes on his way.

They all sang. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Zach sang the last verse through the PA system with the congregation.

The team all moved to the limos that Dave had hired. Erin's flag draped casket was already in the hearse. Her children were in the first limo, already seated. Dave, Aaron and Beth were waiting on Zach and Caleigh, who appeared moments later.

Zach looked at his dad. "Sorry dad, the organist was the bomb. We talked last night and knew we could make it work. I had to say my thank you." Aaron proudly smiled at him, rubbing his shoulder.

Beth looked at him. "You were amazing Zach." Caleigh smiled along with her.

Dave looked at Zach, shaking his head. "Thanks Zach; you'll never know how much I appreciate it." Father Jimmy was standing next to him, smiling with pride.

Zach pulled him into a hug. "Uncle Dave; I told you last night. Family takes care of family. And I love you. Just don't ask me to sing in public again."

Dave pulled out of the hug and smiled at Zach, rubbing his bicep. "I think we're even kid," he smiled with a wink.

Aaron got the ladies into the limo and climbed in. Zach looked at Dave. "Thanks Uncle Dave for letting me get the payback." He hung his head a bit and then looked at Dave.

Dave shook his head. "You were singing for mom as well," he smiled. "I get it kid. I knew that's why you'd do it."

Zach smiled at him. Jimmy rubbed his shoulder. The three of them got in the limo.

###

A/N: First off: I am Protestant. I know through a Google search, the hymn I quoted is in the Catholic hymn book as well. But I couldn't find if the number is right; I just pulled that out of my head. Please accept my deepest and sincerest apologies. I mean no offense.

Once again, I must give out my end of story shout outs. To the crew at CM Rev: my heart and my soul. I know I did this one sorta on my own. Please know you were there in spirit as I wrote.

To my Twitter mates; especially my Euros that are my late night peeps of gold. Thanks for all the love.

To the OK teacher and my 'Sconnie sister: hugs and luvs to ya both!

And to my two US East Coast twitter mates as well; thanks for all the love.

*Knightly bow*