Chapter ELEVEN - This really stinks doesn't it?

Lee Stetson, Sam Foster and Phillip King looked over the map surrounding the Bureau. Phillip was explaining to his father and Sam what house he came out of, what it looked like and what direction he went running. Lee ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. His thoughts traveled to when Phillip showed up at the Bureau.

Phillip said "We have to go get Jenny and Jamie! They are literally only a few blocks from here!"

"Chief, what do you mean they are only a few blocks from here?"

Phillip stood up and started pacing. He ran his hand through his beard and shook his head. "I know that I wasn't running very long, Dad. Once I got out of there. I did what Jennifer told me to do…I just ran. I never looked behind me. Next thing I know I am standing right in front of this place! Phillip sat down and explained to his parents what he remembered and what his siblings remembered. He then told them about their plan to get him out.

Amanda took his hand and asked "Is Jennifer okay? Jamie too?"

Phillip nodded. "She's okay Mom. She had some morning sickness but other than that….she seemed to be okay. Just worried that I had to make the big escape. I just want them back. Have you figured anything out?"

Lee and Amanda explained what was happening on their end.

Lee's thoughts were interrupted by Sam asking him a question.
"Scarecrow, do you think that Beamon would know where this place is?"

Lee's head jerked up from his thoughts and he stared at Sam. Phillip also looked at his father. "Beamon is HERE?"

Lee nodded. "Yeah Chief, Francine wanted him here so we can keep an eye on him and maybe get through to him. Your mother has been working on him…trying to get him to talk."

Phillip stood up straighter. "I want to talk to him."

Lee and Sam looked at one another. Lee shook his head. "No Chief. I can't ask you to do that. He's not going to tell you anything. Come on. Let your mother talk to him. She's the best there is when it comes to Class C Interrogations. If anyone can get through to him…it will be your mother."

"I don't care. I want….I need to talk to him. This man has tried everything he can think to destroy my family. How many times in the past twenty years were my car accidents actually real accidents? Think about it. This man has planned things from the tiniest detail for years. He had Travis shoot Jennifer! If he can do that, how the hell do I know if he didn't pay someone off on my team to sabotage my car? I love you guys but how much longer do we have to look over our shoulder because of some asshole who didn't like the fact you fell in love with my mother?!"

Lee slumped into the chair that was beside him. He hated thinking that his children would always have to look behind them. Phillip was right. How much of the drama in their lives after leaving the Agency was caused by Beamon and his partner. Were there other partners? Lee looked at his son and said quietly. "I am so sorry Phillip. I never wanted any of this for your mother. I tried so many times to push her away when we first met. But….I just couldn't let her go. This is really all my fault."

Phillip leaned over the chair and looked at his father. Lee Stetson was the only father he ever really knew. Joe King was a decent dad but he always felt that his work was more important than Jamie or Phillip. Lee was the opposite. Lee wanted to be there. Lee made the effort to be involved and even quit his career so he could be there for him, Jamie and Jennifer. Phillip placed his hand on Lee's arm. He smiled as he looked into Lee's hazel eyes. "Yo, Dad, having you as my father was the best ever. Don't ever doubt that. You and Mom were the best parents a kid could ever ask for. Jamie and I were thrilled when you and Mom finally got married. We were tired of watching you hide in the gazebo. We wanted to know you. And you took interest in us, Dad. That was something that Joe could never figure out. All we wanted was someone to know who we really were. You did that. I just hate what you did for a living always seems to get in the way of you and Mom having your happiness. You have done so much for us…as well as this country. The two of you deserve to live your life happy and at peace. Having you as my father….well…damn it…I couldn't ask for a better man to have as my dad." Phillip squeezed Lee's arm a bit and said "So please don't think that you falling in love with Mom was a mistake and that you are at fault for any of this. This is ALL Beamon. He was just jealous of what you found and he couldn't handle it. Please let me have a crack at him and get some damn answers. Like I told Jenny before I took off. I am the son of the famous Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I am the brother of the best team the Bureau has. Some of your talents and instincts HAD to rub off on me….right?"

Lee chuckled and patted Philip's hand. "Thanks Chief. You are taking lessons from your mom and brother. You know just what to say to this stubborn old man."

"We have had years of practice, Scarecrow. We kinda had you pegged pretty early on."

Lee stood up and gave Phillip a hug. "Thanks Chief. What you said means a lot. I really appreciate it."

Lee looked at Sam. "Lets get Amanda out of there and let Phillip take a crack at Beamon. I think he needs to be the "bad cop". What do you think?"

Sam started chuckling and Lee felt that for a brief second Billy Melrose was standing there laughing instead of Sam. He snickered to himself and they headed towards the interrogation room where Amanda was talking to Beamon.

************ "NO! I am not letting my son anywhere near that man! Lee Stetson, you cannot make me change my mind!" Amanda put her hands on her hips and she glared at Lee. Lee tried to say something but Amanda continued to go on her rant.

"What do you think having Phillip go in there and talk to Efrim is going to do? Seriously? It's bad enough that two of our children have this life…I wanted at least one of our kids to have a normal life! I never wanted Phillip to have anything to do with this! "

"And how is me driving around a race track going two hundred miles an hour any different than dodging bullets and having revenge plots against me?" Phillip King stood at the end of the hallway where his parents were arguing. Lee rolled his eyes at his son and tried to tell him to back off because Amanda was mad. Phillip ignored him and continued. "Look, Mom, I am going to tell you the same thing that I told Dad. Ever since all of this came out…that my family is literally spies….my life hasn't been the same. But in all honesty, how is it any different than when I was a kid? How many times did you have the Agency watch the house because of something that you and Dad were a part of? Tell me the truth. And the time that Joe was involved with something regarding the Prime Minister of Estoccia….the time in the gym when LEE saved us. Joe was the one who actually put us in danger and it was LEE who saved us. So I think I get a bit of a free pass here, Mom. You and Dad and now Jennifer and Jamie do this for a living. I don't. But I do know that I will protect my family at all costs." He looked at Lee and smiled. "My dad taught me that."

Amanda smiled through her tears at her oldest child. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Oh Phillip! I am so sorry. You are right. I won't stop you from talking to Beamon." Phillip smirked at his dad and Lee just shook his head.

"Well, Chief, go ahead and talk to him. Good Luck."

Phillip nodded and opened the door to the interrogation room. He took a deep breath and walked in the door.