A/N: My muse showed up! Or more like my muse felt sorry for me because I'm feeling somewhat the same way Zach is as I write this. My two least favorite things are happening at the same time: pollen and low pressure.

But speaking of pressure…the major idea of this story.

All rights to the Criminal Minds characters belong to Mark Gordon Studios, CBS and ABC Studios.

Chapter 1

Zach Hotchner walked into the family home late Saturday night in mid April and dumped his suitcase and sports bag by the steps to his hideaway on the lower level. Aaron and Beth were watching a movie on the TV in the living room and heard him. He went into the kitchen, coughing horribly. "Aaron, that's a deep cough; something is wrong," Beth said. Aaron was already getting off the couch, noticing the same and headed to the kitchen. Beth was right behind him.

Pouring a large glass of apple juice, Zach looked at his dad. "Don't come in here dad." Aaron looked at his oldest son to see deep, dark circles under his reset eyes. "I've got the flu; and I don't want to spread it around." He deeply coughed more, noticing headlights pulling into the driveway. "And that's Caleigh," he pointed, taking a large drink. "Keep her away from me. She's got too much to do before graduation." He finished the glass of juice, setting the glass in the sink. "Tell her I love her. But keep her away from me. Her studies come first." He deeply coughed more, grabbed his bags and headed down the steps.

Aaron looked at Beth. "I've got her Aaron," Beth said. "You take care of him," she nodded towards the steps. Aaron flew down the steps behind Zach into his lair. Zach threw his bags into the laundry room and rushed into his bedroom, shutting the door.

Aaron opened the door to Zach sitting on the end of his bed, coughing horribly. And it was a deep, deep chest cough. "Damnit dad," Zach bit out.

Aaron shook his head. "Son, someday you'll understand this when you and Caleigh have kids of your own." He reached his oldest son and put his hand on Zach's forehead. "You're burning up."

"No shit dad. Everything hurts; my knees, ankles, hips; every joint. Even my knuckles in my hands."

Upstairs, Beth was doing her best with Caleigh. "I need to be with him Beth," Caleigh pleaded.

"I know sweetheart; but Zach, Aaron and I know how busy you are with finals coming up before graduation," she said, trying to restrain Caleigh. "If you get want he has, Zach will never forgive himself."

Caleigh looked at Beth with tear filled eyes; Beth pulled her into her arms. "Something is going on Beth. He's been distant with me. Pete has texted me; he's not Zach batting. The coaches are noticing as well. They've asked Zach about it; he's blown them off." Beth looked at Caleigh. "Pete says it's almost like he doesn't give a shit." Caleigh started to cry a bit more. "That's not Zach."

Beth pulled her into a deep hug. "Aaron is down there talking with him," she said, rubbing Caleigh's back with her hand. "How'd you know to come here?"

Caleigh pulled out of the hug and wiped a tear. Beth smiled at her and wiped the other. "He texted me on the bus ride home from Rutgers that he felt like shit. I texted Pete to let me know when they got back to Mason." She looked Beth in the eye. "He won't even talk to Pete."

Beth hugged Caleigh. "We'll all get to the bottom of this. But hun, as much as he loves you, right now he needs his dad."

"I know," Caleigh said in her ear.

Downstairs, Aaron came into Zach's bedroom, coming out of his bathroom. Zach slipped into bed, moaning in pain. Aaron rubbed Zach's shoulder. "Hey you; take these," Aaron said, offering him three Advil and a glass of water. Zach coughed horribly again, leaned up on his elbow and took the pills from his dad and downed them with the water.

"Lay back down," Aaron softly said. Zach complied in his t-shirt and boxers. Aaron pulled up Zach's t-shirt and the Vicks jar from the pocket of his cotton lounge pants. He fingered out a large dab, rubbing it over Zach's upper chest. When Aaron finished, he pulled the blankets Zach had on his bed up around his neck.

"You need to get hydrated more; I'll bring down a water bottle from the fridge upstairs for you. But Caleigh is here; I won't let her sleep with you. But her job, while sleeping on the futon will be to keep that water bottle filled." Zach eyed him. "Don't argue with me; just use it," Aaron growled. "The condition you're in, I can kick your ass." Zach just simply shut his eyes.

Aaron went up the steps and looked at Caleigh in Beth's arms. "There's something more going on. While I haven't been able to get to his games due to our cases, I've been following the team online. His batting average is dropping like a stone. There's something more going on in his head than a bad bug."

He pulled Caleigh into his arms. "Between the two of us," he said, kissing Caleigh's cheek, "we'll get to the bottom of it. But for now, you're sleeping on the futon. Just keep the bottle of water I'm about to set out for him filled when you check on him during the night." Aaron looked at her, pushing her a bit away from his chest. "I'm sorry Caleigh," he slightly smiled. "I back my son taking care of you."

Caleigh smiled at Aaron, wiping away another tear. "When do I push more Advil down him?"

Aaron shook his head with his soft smile. "I know you'll call your mother. I gave him three. Beyond that, I'll defer to your mother, the nurse," he smiled more.

Caleigh kissed him. "Thanks Aaron."

"Do you need help getting the futon ready," Beth asked.

Caleigh shook her head. "No, I've got plenty of practice of that with the squirt," she smiled.

On cue, Jack came down the steps, rubbing his eyes from waking up from a deep sleep. "What's going on?"

"Zach's got the flu," Caleigh and Beth said together.

Aaron didn't give away what was in his head. There's more troubling my son than a flu bug.

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