Matty and his parents left the Agency and went to their house. They walked into the house and went right down to the basement. The first person that they saw was Leann when they went in. She ran up to Matty and just hugged him for a minute.

Leann broke the hug, "Are you alright? We were so worried about you. I know everyone thought what you did was dumb leaving the Agency like that. But I think it was really brave. I would have done the same thing if I thought I could help Jamie and Joey."

His father grabbed Leann and hugged her, "Not you too. Don't even think about it, Junior. None of you kids are leaving this basement anytime soon if ever. Now your mother and I are going upstairs to take a shower and change our clothes. Is Phillip still holed up in the office?"

Leann nodded, "Yeah, he is a total wreck. Like he's reached new levels of Phillip stink. If nothing else one of you has to try and get him to take a shower. The smell is starting to seep into the game room. Mom, you should go talk to him. Irene gave up trying."

His mother sighed, "How about Matty you go in there first? Let your father and I go clean up a little bit. I can't talk him into taking a shower when your father and I probably smell just as bad. We will be back down in an hour or so."

Leann spoke, "No, you and Dad don't smell bad at all. You just both just smell like you're wearing a lot of Dad's cologne."

Just then his Grandmother came into the game room, "Oh my gosh. You're home, Matty. We were all so worried about you. Is Jamie coming home too?"

His father spoke, "No, Karbala still has him. Matty escaped. He had to leave Jamie behind."

Matty looked down at his shoes, "I'm sorry. Jamie wanted me to leave him. I wasn't really me. I should have tried harder. He told me to leave him."

His Grandmother came over and hugged him, "Oh sweet angel, we are just happy your home. Nobody blames you for leaving Jamie behind. What's important is you got away from those awful men."

Irene was behind his Grandmother holding Baby Dottie. Matty noticed Irene looked tired and sad. The twins also were behind her. They were not the little balls of energy that Matty was used to. They were both quieter and more subdued than Matty had ever seen them. They were quieter than even when Matty was fully deaf.

His niece Mandy came up to him and gave him a big hug and then Jimmy hugged him.

Irene looked at Matty. "Go see Phillip, Sunshine. Maybe seeing you will snap him out of his funk. He hasn't left that room since Jamie and Joey were taken. Then when we found out that they had you too. He just kind of turned into a zombie. All he is doing is looking through files on that computer. I can barely get him to say two words or eat anything."

Baby Dottie spoke, "Mommy, if Daddy is a zombie. Does that mean he is going to eat our brains?"

Irene looked at the toddler in her arms, "No darling. Daddy would never eat any of your brains even if he was really a zombie. He loves you too much."

Baby Dottie spoke again, "I don't want Daddy to be a zombie. We are supposed to be the monsters. Not him."

Irene looked at her, "Uncle Matty and your Grandma are going to try and help turn him back."

Baby Dottie pouted, "I don't like Zombie Daddy. He's smelly and sad. I want fun, silly Daddy back."

Matty looked at her, "I'll try and change him back. But I think it may be only your Grandma that has the power to change him back."

His mother walked over her and touched the side of her face, "Grandpa Lee and I are just going to go clean up a little and then I'll talk to your Daddy. Okay, sweetheart?"

Baby Dottie nodded, "Okay Grandma. Don't let Daddy eat your brains when you talk to him. You too, Uncle Matty."

Matty smiled gently at his niece, "Your Daddy is the type of zombie that won't eat the brains of people he loves. Your Grandma and I should be safe."

Matty patted his niece's head and walked to the office. Phillip had a glazed over look and was just staring at the computer screen. He looked awful. He had a beard growing. His hair was unkempt, and his sister was not wrong about the new levels of Phillip stink. Matty wished they weren't in the basement so he could open a window.

Matty smiled gently at Phillip, "Hey dude. Are you alright? Everyone is super worried about you."

Phillip looked up from his screen, "You're home? Are you okay. Did they find Jamie too?"

Matty looked at his feet, "I escaped. Jamie made me leave him behind. He told me to tell you that he loves you, he's sorry and to never grow up."

Phillip's eyes teared up, but he didn't cry. "So, he's alive?"

Matty nodded, "As of yesterday, he was. I think they are probably going to brainwash him next. But he was alright. They beat him up a little."

Phillip looked at him, "I know everyone thinks what you did was stupid. But honestly, I would've done the same thing if I was in your shoes. Hell, if I thought it would help. I would turn myself over to Birol right now to save Jamie. I wish it had been me instead of him. I'm a trained agent. I can handle it. I've seen things. Jamie is not supposed to be a part of that world. It should have been me."

Matty went over and hugged Phillip. He really did smell awful but Matty didn't care. Phillip was his brother, and he was really hurting.

Matty broke their hug "Dude, I'll help you figure out how to rescue Jamie. If only for the reason he's the only one that would be able to properly make fun of how bad you smell right now."

Phillip smiled sadly, "I know. He would never let me live it down. I'm scaring my wife and kids too. When this is all over. I'm going to be nicer to Jamie. I won't ever call him a name again. I promise."

Matty looked at Phillip, "I don't think Jamie would like that. Jamie likes you just the way you are or were. You realize he's just as bad as you with the name calling. We all like the Worm Brain and Doofus show like my dad calls it. Even Mom likes it. I mean her yelling at the two of you to stop at the end is sometimes the funniest part."

Phillip looked so sad, "I can't lose him. He's not just my brother. He's my best friend. He and I have been through everything together. My parent's divorce, your kidnapping, and losing Lee."

Matty looked at Phillip, "I'm sorry, Phillip. Dad was a mess when he thought Mom was dead. He should have checked on you guys himself. He talked about you and Jamie all the time. Not so much about Mom unless he was drinking."

Phillip nodded, "I should have called the Barnstorm number he gave Jamie and I with the money. If something happens again. First thing I'm doing is calling that number. He promised if he faked his death again. He would send a message."

Matty spoke, "Well if any of us need to run again because of this. We can't use Dulles right now. I kind of got busted at the airport. They spotted my fake passport. Plus, I had a backpack full of just cash."

Phillip looked at him, "Oh wow, little dude. Yeah well, the airports are a lot higher security now since 9/11. Lee probably needs to update our escape plans."

Matty nodded, "Yeah, he's working on that now. I don't think he's going to run this time though. It would have to be really bad."

Phillip looked at Matty, "It could get really bad. What if we don't get Jamie back?"

Matty looked at him, "My dad isn't going to stop until Jamie is home. He'll do whatever it takes. Birol has to run out of abandoned warehouses eventually."

Phillip nodded, "Well your dad already has people watching all the abandoned warehouses in the DC Metro area now. The agency is also researching cabins in VA. They think that may be where he is headed next. Seeing if there's any new activity in either abandoned warehouses or cabins. That's actually what I've been doing down here. There are so many cabins in VA and MD. Don't even get me started on PA. But we think he will go for the ones that are closer to DC area for now. He is targeting our family, so he is not going to go too far away most likely."

Their mother interrupted by coming in the office. Matty noticed that even though it was obvious that his mother had just showered. She still smelled really strongly of his dad's cologne. Matty could guess why so he decided to keep his mouth shut in fear she would answer him if he asked.

His mother put her arm around Matty, "Why don't you go clean up and change clothes, sweet boy. I want to talk to Phillip alone for a little bit. I put some fresh clothes in the bathroom for you to change into."

Matty went to the bathroom in the basement bedroom and saw two sets of clothes very neatly folded. Each with a note on top. One said "Matty" and the other said "Phillip". His mother had drawn little hearts after both of their names.

Matty jumped in the shower. It felt really good to wash the past couple of days off of him. He wondered if he was smelly too. But his sister had not said anything to him. So it probably wasn't too bad. Matty thought it was more a chemically smell that had been emanating from him. Probably from all the drugs and that goo that was on the net he got captured in.

He got out of the shower and put the clothes laid out for him on. He threw his dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom. He walked back into the bedroom in the basement. His dad was laying on the bed.
His dad sat up when Matty walked in. "I wanted to talk to you alone for a minute."

Matty nodded, "Sure, Dad."

His dad motioned for him to sit next to him. "I want you to promise me. That no matter what happens you will not turn yourself over to them again."

Matty looked at him, "Dad, I'm guessing you are probably going to have people watching me for the rest of my life. I won't do that again. Even if I wanted to. I most likely won't have that kind of opportunity again. I'm sure someone will stop me."

His father looked at him, "I know you, kid. If you wanted to. You could find a way to escape again. You've been escaping bad situations since you were five years old. You have a talent for it. I just... I need you to promise me. The next time you have a crazy idea like that. You'll come to me or your Mom first. I really can't lose you. When Francine told your mother and I that they couldn't find you in the agency. Then we saw you on the surveillance footage in the agency garage leaving. When we looked at the surveillance footage of the holding cells and saw that you had talked to Lazlo. It was my worst nightmare. Never do that to me again. Ok? Promise me."

Matty looked at him, "I promise, Dad. They have surveillance cameras down there?"

His father nodded, "In the new wing they do. They have sound too. We saw and heard everything. Your whole conversation with Lazlo. Then Birol called me the next day to let me know he had you. I lost it on him. I shouldn't have let him know I cared about Jamie that much. I probably made it worse for the poor kid."

Matty nodded, "Birol said he had talked to you. That he knew now that you cared about Jamie like a son too. I think you made Jamie less expendable by doing that. Even if they brainwash Jamie. I can't see him killing anyone. Jamie hates guns and stuff like mom does. He's really stubborn too."

His dad sighed, "I know. But Birol he plays mind games. When your mother was kidnapped the first time. He messed with her mind too. But it could have been worse he could've done other stuff to her."

Matty looked at his dad, "He threatened to do the other stuff if he gets her again. Mom, said not to worry though she has a mean right hook now."

His dad nodded, "Don't I know it. She gave me a black eye once by accident when I was helping her practice to qualify in hand-to-hand combat. Your mom is a lot tougher than she looks but I am not letting Birol get anywhere near your mother. Birol uses drugs and mind games more than brute force."

Matty nodded, "He does. He tried to convince me he was my father. But I knew he wasn't. I know that you're my father. That my father wasn't a creep show. But then he told me about Mom dying in a car accident in Canada. That seemed right. I was so confused, Dad. I should have tried harder to get Jamie out of the van. I shouldn't have left him behind."

His dad petted Matty's hair, "I'm glad Jamie got you to escape. You did the right thing, okay? You never should have been there to begin with. I am going to get Jamie away from Birol. I promise."

Matty looked at him, "I know you will. You always come for us when we are in trouble."

His dad smiled, "And I always will even no matter what kind of trouble you get yourself into. Just never make it that easy for the bad guys again, alright?"

Matty nodded, "I won't, Dad."

The door of the bedroom opened and Phillip who looked like he had been crying came in.

Phillip just nodded at the two of them and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

Notes:

Next Chapter - Phillip invites Joe to come over. Matty, Phillip and Leann hang out.