They waited in the driveway for his mom. He attached himself to his dad. He was so happy. He hoped he was not going to wake up on all of this was a dream. His dad tapped on him. "What happened to your arm?" Matty tapped back "How are you here? I thought you were dead." "Takes more than a couple of bullets to take me out kid. I can't believe your mom is alive. I hope that part is not just a fever dream and I'm still on the plane."

Then Matty tapped, "You feel pretty real to me dad. You aren't dreaming. Mom is amazing. She is even better than I pictured her." His dad smiled. "Yeah, she really is. Isn't she?"
Then she pulled up the Wagoneer into the driveway. His dad and him got in the back seat.

Matty tapped on his dad, "Can you tell mom I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell her you were still alive and then died again. I didn't want to make her sad" His dad spoke "Your mom understands kiddo. You don't have to apologize to her for that." He saw his mom's lips in the rear-view mirror. "What is he apologizing for?"

Lee sighed. "He's apologizing for not telling you who I really was. That he did not know how." She smiled. "Well, your right I understand. He does not need to apologize for that. I don't know how he could have. With his broken arm and fingers." Lee spoke "What happened to him? Why is his arm broken?" Matty tapped on him. "I screwed up. I let the bad men take me again dad."

His dad looked worried, "Karbala got you again?" His mom spoke. "No, it was not Karbala this time Lee. It was the Agency. Billy's been getting death threats. There was an Agency guard around his home when Matty went to see him." His dad looked mad "Damn it! I should have sent him to Francine. I didn't because she moves almost as much as I used to. And Billy's lived in the same house for almost 30 years. Who broke his arm? So, I can return the favor."

His mom spoke. "Look Lee it was a misunderstanding. Matty fought hard and well he is so small that when he was trying to get away. He got tackled. Then Henderson interrogated him." His dad looked mad. "That asshole is still at the agency? And they are letting him near kids? They let him near my kid?" His mother sighed. "Lee it's worked out now. And we are here. We will tell you everything later."

They got to the emergency room. Amanda helped Lee check in as Michael took him in the back. And Matty and his mom were in the waiting room. She went over to the payphones. She dialed "Oh hi Carrie, is Phillip there? Hey sweetheart. I need you to pretend I'm not telling you this right now. I need you to figure out a way to ditch Jaime & your dad. Matty & I are fine. But I need you to come to Gallilee General. Michael Winthrope is not dead. He came to the house.

I know taking Matty out of the house was not a good idea. Look just come here. You need to meet Michael Winthrope. You will understand everything when you do. I love you too sweetheart."

She turned to Matty. "Phillip will be here soon." About fifteen minutes later a nurse came over to them. "Are you Mr. Winthrope's family?" His mom nodded. "We are." "Well, you can come back to the Emergency Room." Amanda spoke, "My oldest son he will be here shortly. His name is Phillip King. Can you send him back there when he arrives? "

The nurse nodded. "Yes, that should not be a problem." They followed the nurse as she buzzed them into the ER, and she walked them to where his father was. He was in the bed hooked up to an IV." His mom moved some hair off his forehead and gently touched his face. She played with his beard a little. They gave each other an intense look. Then his mom stopped and moved to the chair.

Matty just jumped on the bed with his dad and put his head on his chest. It was his non-injured side. His dad kissed the top of his head. Then his mom pushed the chair closer to his dad's bed and grabbed his father's hand. "I called Phillip. He is on his way here as soon as he can figure out a way to ditch Joe & Jaime." Lee looked at her. "It's ok if Jaime comes too. I am kind of looking forward to seeing him again too."

She smiled at him. "I know but for right now. I just want Phillip. We need to come up with a plan first. If everyone finds out who you really are. You will go to prison. You committed treason to rescue those kids from the warehouse as Lee Stetson. And as Michael Winthrope technically you kidnapped him. We will have to talk to Joe too. If I don't' press charges against you for kidnapping. I am not sure they will do anything to you. But Joe is the lawyer."

Lee sighed. "All this hair I'm hiding under is not much of a disguise. Is it? You knew it was me as soon as you saw me." She looked at him. "Lee no matter how shaggy you make yourself look. I'll always know it's you. You do look different enough. You might get away with it. You were hiding in your own family. Some family resemblance can be explained away."

Just then Phillip came in the room. Matty noticed Phillip looking at his mom holding his dad's hand. Phillip did not look happy. "Hi Mr. Winthrope. I'm Phillip King." He shook his father's hand. "Um if you don't mind, I would like to talk to my mother outside for a couple minutes."

Then his dad tapped on him. "He didn't recognize me." Matty tapped. "I think you and mom holding hands like that it is only a matter of time." "Well, your mom wants to see how long it takes Phillip to figure it out."

His mom and Phillip walked back in the room. Phillip went over to the bed. He looked at him. "Look Mr. Winthrope. I don't know what you said to make my mom want to protect you. But I'm about five seconds away from calling the Agency and letting them do their worst to you. 5 years you had him. Whether you thought my mom was dead or not. He has a family. A family that loves him very much and has been worried sick about him. I would have taken him in. What right did you have to keep him away from his family all this time?"

His dad's eyes filled with guilt. "I know Chief. I really am sorry. It was not right of me not to let you know he was ok. But Karbala is still out there. He is still in danger from them. There are a lot of people out there that would pay a high price to have the son of Scarecrow and Mrs. King be their mercenary. Even if he is deaf now."

Phillip looked at him and was staring at him. "What did you call me?" He looked at him. "Phillip?" "No, you just called me Chief, didn't you? The only person who ever called me that was ... But you can't be. There was a body."

His dad spoke "That body was only supposed to buy Matty & I extra time to get to London. He did not even look like me. Except his hair was the right color and we are about the same height. But I did beat him up pretty badly and I shot him in the head. Then I threw the son of a bitch in the Potomac. But I switched out my wallet for his and put my ISP with it. He was the bastard that gave Matty that scar."

Phillip looked at him. "Lee? It's really you?" "Yeah, Chief its me." Phillip started crying. "How could you leave mom like that? Mom was a wreck after you died." His dad looked at him. "I thought your mother was dead. That explosion. I still don't understand how she's alive. Nobody could have survived that fireball."

His mother spoke. "You put me in the sub-basement remember? Because the shrapnel from one of the grenades got me in the leg. I was down there for 3 days before they found me. I almost was dead from dehydration and my leg wound was infected. Another day and I would not have made it." His dad looked at his mom "I'm so sorry Amanda. If I had known there was a chance you were alive. I would have done things differently. I just wanted to get Matty out of there." She kissed the back of his father's hand that she had been holding "I told you to leave me there."

Phillip went over and hugged Lee. "I really missed you dude. But if you ever hurt my mother like that again. You are going to wish you really were dead." Lee smiled. "I really am sorry Chief. You look good though. Like a real adult." Then his mom spoke "Until he opens his mouth. Oh, I'm sorry was that out loud?" Phillip pretended to be hurt but he laughed a little.

Then Lee said, "So I guess congratulations are in order." Phillip looked at him. "For what?" Lee looked at him. "The little girl's room at the house." Phillip started laughing. "Wait you think? Nope she is not mine dude." His dad raised an eyebrow. "Jaime?" Then Phillip looked at his mother. "Um mom you better take this one."

Notes:

Next chapter We learn more about Leann Stetson. Leann and Dotty are arriving at Union Station just about now. But it may be a chapter or 2 before we get those reunions.