A/N: After I wrote The Paper, I knew this one would be my next with this ensemble. So yes, it is a sequel. And honestly, I've been licking my chops to get at it for five months. I wanted to write this one. But I want the timing to be right for a specific reason. Given my respect and affection for members of the military, that should bear out soon.

As always, this FF is completely written. You will get a chapter a day; barring my usual fights with FF posting issues. However, I've stuck by that promise for over two years now. I'm not backing down or letting go of it. *Knightly bow to mentor for that sage piece of advice*

All CM characters, whether cast or guest actors, are the sole property of Criminal Minds, CBS, ABC Studios and Mark Gordon Productions. I take great pride in the OMC that is my own.

Chapter 1

Harrison Scott sat relaxed in his seat on the airplane winging east. Seat 5C, in the first row of coach class, that had been selected for him, compliments of his friend David Rossi; the friend he was going to see. Dave had told him about commercial flights via their emails. Do you want to look out the window or do you want to be able to get up and move around easier Dave had asked him. His age was kicking in a bit, and using the head was more prudent than sight-seeing at thirty thousand feet plus.

He smiled. This whole grand plan started the day he got his second paycheck. He was still at New Directions, yet comfortably settled into one of their dorm rooms and thankfully, without a roommate. He knew that the staff had arranged that. He had found a job at a local mega-complex, with the help of the New Directions staff, at a home improvement store that supported New Directions. They welcomed the seasoned carpenter into their building department. And it was five blocks away from the New Directions campus. He walked to work most days. On the ones there was rain, much against the lyrics of a '60's song I remember Harry once said to one of the staff members that drove him.

Harry would work his schedule and do counseling at New Directions in his off time. His days were filled and usually ran twelve to fourteen hours, depending on his job and his counseling hours. And as much as he loved his job; getting back again to help young carpenters make decisions on what they needed for their project, he loved the counseling more. He was just simply content. Plus he got some down time for himself, usually spent surfing the channels of the TV he had in his room. It had been many, many years since Harrison Scott had watched TV.

But one thing ate at him inside; one thing. He told Rossi about his ache, deep in his chest; an ache that plagued him. Dave emailed him back. I've got the solution less than thirty minutes away from my home. Why don't you come and take care of that ache?

Through subsequent emails, they worked out the details. Dave made the flight reservations through his personal travel agent. Yet, through Harry's demands, and almost dire threats of loss of his life, Dave agreed that he would accept the cashier's check that Harry would send to him to pay for the reservation. Damnit Dave, I'll bunk in with you but I pay my own way getting there. Dave knew Harry's pride and quickly agreed.

Jake Moreland, learning of Harry's plan was all in and gave him a ride to LAX.

As the plane gently reached its cruising altitude, Harry settled into his seat. Having talked with some of the other staff that had flown before, he had saved enough for a piece of rolling luggage from one paycheck, which he bought at the discount chain store next door to work. A couple of paychecks later, he bought the carry-on bag that held his meds for his high blood pressure and arthritis; along with his book.

He loved the counseling he was doing with his fellow veterans. He loved his job, being back in the building industry but without the physical burden to his body. Yet, his day truly started with the counseling sessions with his fellow vets. But their stories began to weigh on him and about six weeks before this trip, he had shared that with Jaci, his counselor.

"Harry, you're doing a great job with all of them but I know it's tough on you," she smiled. "You gotta find something to distract you when you're done before you go to sleep. Watch some TV; write in a diary, read a book…"

"Jaci, I used to love to read."

She smiled. "So find a book to read."

When Harry, a few weeks later, at the same store where he bought his luggage, he found the book, Jaci looked at him with a question in her eyes. "Really Harry? A book about what the Marines that went through in World War II. My grandpa was a Marine. He was in the third assault wave at the Canal; that's all of the rest of us in the family know. He wouldn't share anything more. He took that memory to his grave."

Harry softly smiled. "It's what I need." She shrugged and let it go, keeping a sharp eye on him for the next couple of days. She didn't need to worry. Harry knew himself. He looked more rested than he had in weeks. He smiled at her when she questioned him about it. "I've learned to relax reading again. It's special."

The pilots had shut off the seatbelt sign as Harry pulled out his book. Yet through his talks with people around New Directions and Dave, he kept his buckled, just loosing it a bit. He reached into his carry-on bag and pulled out his book. One of W. E. B. Griffin's Brotherhood of War series. The Corps; Book 1. He dove into his bookmark, started reading and got lost.

Sometime later, he felt the plane begin to bounce at bit. He remembered Dave's hint in his last email the night before. Harry, hit the head before the plane gets to the turbulence over the Rocky Mountains. He unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up, setting his book into his seat.

A flight attendant, just going through first class saw him get up. "Sir, is there something you need?"

"No ma'am; I'm just going to head to back of the plane to use the facilities," he smiled.

She smiled back, gently grabbing his arm, noticing the graying of his beard and hair. "I've got one closer," she smiled, pointing to the bathroom in the first class section. "I won't tell if you don't," she winked at him.

Harry nodded his thanks to her with a large smile and headed forward. When he returned to his seat, he picked up his book, re-buckled his seat belt and settled back in.

Thirty seconds later, the pilot came over the intercom to announce he was turning the seatbelt sign on "due to the usual turbulence of going over the Rockies." Harry smiled at Dave's advice.

As the jet got into clear air again, the plane ride was smooth, Harry put his book in his lap and conked a bit with his usual one hour afternoon nap. He did that every day, between work and counseling sessions.

When he woke, he went back to his book and got totally absorbed again. The next thing he felt was the pressure on his ears. His only flights before were into and out of then Saigon in the early 1970's, serving his tour of duty in the jungles of Vietnam. Yet he recognized the sensation. We're starting to land he smiled to himself.

He had looked forward to this weekend since the day he had sent David Rossi the check. He needed this weekend.

-00CM-

Zach Hotchner leaned against the tailgate of his truck in a polo shirt, cargo shorts and sandals. My baby he thought. Two, soon to be going on three years later, he was still extremely proud of the vehicle his dad had bought for him. He looked up to see the kids coming out of the school building and spied the reason why. He let out a whistle that only one person would recognize and crossed the street to the sidewalk of the school.

Jack looked around and then saw him. "Hey Z-man! What's up?" he smiled as the aide, getting the kids on the busses smiled at Zach as well.

Zach approached the two of them. "Hey Tara," he smiled his bright, now totally handsome grin at the aide, pulling Jack to him. "Change in plans. Jack and I need to make a detour. Do you care if I grab him?"

"Not at all Zach; you know better. I'll let Joanie know."

"Thanks Tara. Have a great weekend."

She smiled. "You boys as well."

Jack slid his hand into the offered one of his big brother as they crossed the street in front of the school and made their way to Zach's truck.

Zach got to his driver's side door, clicking the lock open. He opened his door and then the half door that Jack used to get into the backseat of the truck. He knew better than to help Jack get in and buckled up. Mr. Independent Zach smiled.

Once Jack was in and secure, Zach shut the back door and climbed into the driver's seat, shutting his own. "Z-man, what's going on?"

Zach smiled at his brother in his rear view mirror. "We're covering for Uncle Dave."

###

A/N: The Canal is US Marine lingo for the Battle at Guadalcanal in WWII, one of their bloodiest. Saigon is now Hanoi City. I could say more, but I'll just bite my tongue.

A very special thank you to cinnysangel and my mentor Thn0715 for recommending the author I referenced in this chapter. I sent out a shout out looking for a book like this. They responded. I told you ladies! It was gold and fit perfectly! Hugs and luvs to ya both!