His mom and Francine came back in the room. Francine looked at his father. She looked like she was about to say something. A flash of emotion went through her eyes but only for a second and she changed back into agent mode.

She turned her attention to Matty. She came over and put her hand on his shoulder. "Alex, I mean Matty. I was going to ask you some questions too. But well the both of you look exhausted. I will just have Phillip ask you the questions later." Francine went over and touched the side of Matty's face gently.

"I am very sorry about the way you were treated at the Agency. The next time you go. I promise you. The experience will be much better. Your mom and dad still have a lot of friends at the Agency. I am one of them. I always will be." He noticed that she glanced at his dad for just a second when she said that.

His mother spoke, "Well Matty is never setting foot in the Agency again as long as I can help it." Francine turned to his mother. "Oh, please Amanda. I think Matty is going to be the future of the Agency with those martial arts skills of his. Plus, he has a photographic memory and can lip read. "
His mother looked annoyed. "Stop it. He is only 10 years old. You are not recruiting another one of my children. It's bad enough that you recruited Phillip." Francine smiled at his mother. "Ok. Ok. I'll stop at least until he turns 16. Then all bets are off. I'm still going to get Jamie to come back one day too." His mother gave Francine a dirty look.

Then Francine got serious and turned her attention to his dad. "Well Mr. Winthrope. Thank you for all the information today. I will pass it along to the detectives handling your case. I will also send Phillip home tomorrow with some pictures of known Karbala operatives that are at large. We can see if you can help identify who killed Lee." His dad nodded. "Thank you, Ms., Desmond." His dad was being very quiet. Matty could tell he was nervous around her.
Francine shook his dad's hand. "Well until next time." Phillip walked her out.

His dad looked at his mom. "Did that work? Did she buy it?" His mom looked at him like she was going to say something but thought better of it and just said "Yes, for now anyway. She is still suspicious of you. Just be careful around her if she comes back. Now both of you. Get some rest. I mean it." She kissed Matty's forehead.

Then she grabbed his dad's hand and squeezed it. His dad ran his thumb over her knuckles. For a second it looked like his mom was going to lean in and kiss his father. But she stopped herself and pulled her hand away. "Good night. If you two need anything. My bedroom camera is #3, Matty. There's a little light that looks like a nightlight in all the rooms that are equipped with the cameras. It turns on whenever someone has a camera on. If you turn it on. I'll know you want me to come back downstairs."

Matty crawled over to his father and put his head on his dad's chest. Matty was tired and he fell asleep quickly.

He had gotten away. They were lined up outside doing maneuvers. And Lazlo turned his back for a second. Matty just ran off as fast as he could. His heart was beating fast. He knew he did not belong there. He was pretty sure he had a home. But he could not quite remember it. But anywhere was better than this place. He got to the road and started walking down it. A car was coming. He flagged it down. The car stopped. Gregor and Lazlo got out of the car. "If it isn't unlucky number 13. Trying to get away. Are we? You will learn your place." Gregor slapped him. Picked him up and threw him in the trunk of the car.

Matty opened his eyes and sat up. He was sweating and his heart was beating fast. His dad put his arms around him. "I've got you kid. You are safe. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. I promise. Gregor is dead." Matty hugged him back.

Then Matty tapped. "It was the dream about the second time I tried to escape." His dad looked at him. "You are amazing. You know that right kid? The fact you were only five years old, and you almost got away twice. Your mom specializes in helping kids like you now. She is the expert the Agency calls in whenever they recover one. Most of the Karbala kids they rescue have alot of issues adjusting to normal life. Your mom told me that she is impressed with how much you haven't changed. That you are still you despite everything that happened to you.

I can get you real help with your nightmares now. Ok kid? No more hiding or pretending. You don't have to hold back anymore showing off how smart you are. When your arm is better. I'll make sure your mom signs you up for soccer and baseball. Then you can break all of Phillip's sports records. I'm sure your mom is going to sign you up for Junior Trailblazers too. You were born at Camp Raccoon you know? You will have to have Phillip tell you that story sometime. He tells it the best." His dad pulled him closer and held him protectively, and they both fell asleep again.

Matty woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee. It smelled wonderful. He looked over at his dad who was still fast asleep. Matty went in the bathroom and washed up a little. Then he went upstairs. He walked to the kitchen. There was so much food. He saw bacon, eggs, sausages, hashbrowns, and pancakes. Matty went straight to the coffee maker.

Then he felt arms go around him and his mom kissed the top of his head. "Good morning sweet boy. Yes, you can have one cup but that's it. Go sit with your sister at the kitchen table. I'll bring everything to you. Is Uncle Mike awake yet?" Matty nodded no.

He went and sat at the kitchen table. His sister smiled at him "Hi Matty." Matty smiled back at her. "I'm going back over to Jessie Gilstrap's house after breakfast. Do you want to come?" His mom came in the room and put a plate of food in front of him and a mug of coffee.

"No sweet girl. Matty needs to rest. But that was very nice of you to invite him along." Matty started eating his breakfast. Everything tasted wonderful. It was so much better than the breakfast he had yesterday at Aunt Carrie & Uncle Joe's house.

His little sister finished her breakfast and then left for the Gilstrap house. His grandmother came to the kitchen table and ruffled his hair. "Good morning angel. Did you sleep well?" Matty nodded yes. Then he pointed to his plate and gave his grandmother a thumbs-up.

"I'm glad you like it. Maybe if you start eating breakfast now, we can get some meat on those bones of yours I know your father's feelings about breakfast. Did he even feed you any at all when you were living with him?" Matty laughed. Then he pointed at the coffee mug. His grandmother rolled her eyes. "Well, he's getting a big plate of everything whether he wants it or not as soon as he wakes up."

His grandma kissed the top of his head and went back in the kitchen. His mom came back to the table and sat next to him. "If you are wondering where your brothers are. Phillip had to go to work. Jamie went to the park to take some pictures. Then he is going to meet up with some friends for lunch. He will be home in time for dinner."

His mother grabbed his hands. "Now I don't want you to get upset. But the doctor from the agency is coming to see you in an hour or so. Doctor McJohn he's a very nice man. I know what happened to you at the Agency was scary. Oh there will also be another doctor coming but he wanted to come around lunchtime. Felt that if he had to do a house call on a Sunday. I had to feed him. That reminds me. " She yelled towards the kitchen, " Mother, do we still have that ice cream in the freezer or did the boys eat it all?"

Why was she asking about ice cream? It was too early in the morning for ice cream.

Notes:

Next Chapter - Doc McJohn and Doctor Pfaff examine Matty. Also in the next chapter. I will be giving Doctor Pfaff the first name Walter. He just kind of looks like a Walter to me but if he has an actual first name on the show. Just comment or message me. I will adjust to the right name. Or if you have a better first name for him. Just let me know. LOL

The Camp Raccoon story of Matty's birth is 100% going to be my follow up when I finish this Prodigal Son story. It's already written and way shorter than this one. Wrote that one before this one actually. It's from my original version of Prodigal Son that was not just in Matty's perspective.