His mother came in the bedroom. She looked like she had been crying too.
His dad looked over at her, "Everything alright?"
She nodded, "It will be. We just need this to be over. We need to bring Jamie home. Phillip wants to go see Joey in the hospital."
Matty spoke, "Can I go see Joey too?"
His father spoke, "No. You aren't leaving this house any time soon if ever. I don't think Phillip should leave either. I don't trust him not to do something stupid. To try and save Jamie on his own. Maybe Joe can just come here. "
His mother spoke, "That's a good idea but Joe is not exactly my biggest fan right now. He blames me for all of this. For bringing the spy world into our lives."
His dad looked at her, "If he needs to be mad at someone. Tell him to blame me. I am the one that got you involved with the spy world. You would be married to that weatherman Dan right now. If you hadn't met me."
She looked at him, "I never would've have married Dean. It wasn't working with Dean even before I ever met you. I think I stayed with him even longer because I met you. I was afraid of being single around you."
His dad smiled at her, "Amanda, you didn't have to worry about that. I was a mess back then. I never wouldn't have taken advantage of you. Not back then. Well actually I take that back. I did try a couple times in the very beginning, but you shot me down. None of that matters anymore. What's important is that I'll take advantage of you now, whenever and wherever you want me to."
Matty cleared his throat to remind his parents he was in the room. Then Matty said, "Uncle Joe doesn't have any right to be mad at you, Mom. Not for that. I should not have told Lazlo I was Joey. That's probably why they thought he was me."
His dad nodded no, "No kid. That had nothing to do with it. Remember the first time Leann came home with Joey. They were at the park. The guys that were following them that day were taking pictures of her and Joey. Joey and Leann were signing with each other. That's why they thought Joey was you. I think they thought I sent you to Joe's house to hide you. I think they thought that we switched you and Joey."
Matty looked at him, "Still my fault. Tell Uncle Joe to be mad at me instead of Mom."
His mother smiled, "Your Uncle Joe just needs someone to take it out on right now. He will be back to his old self when Joey wakes up from his coma. I would rather he be mad at me than Phillip. Phillip needs him too right now and I think Joe needs Phillip."
Matty looked at her. "Yeah, well he has no right to be a jerk to you, Mom."
Phillip walked out of the bathroom. He looked and smelled a lot better in fresh clothes. He hadn't shaved though. Matty pointed to his chin.
Phillip looked at him, "I'm not going to shave the beard until Jamie is home. If Lee can do it. So can I. This beard is for Jamie."
Matty looked at them, "I'll try growing a beard for him too. Although I haven't shaved since before I was taken and you can't really tell. It just kind of looks like five o clock shadow."
Phillip smiled at him, "That's not even that noticeable. The little bit of scruff you have got going on is kind of making you look hotter, little dude."
Matty wanted to be weirded out but Phillip was acting more like himself. He was calling him little dude and telling him he looked hot. Whatever his mother had said to Phillip must have worked.
His mother smiled at Phillip and walked over and touched Phillip's beard. "Well make sure you don't shave it off until Jamie sees it. It will cheer him up to be able to make fun of your beard. Especially after all of the jokes you made about his goatee."
Phillip nodded, "Least I can do for him. Maybe I'll stop showering again for a few days so he can get some jabs on me for that too."
His mother looked at him, "No, just the beard. Don't stop showering ever again for all of our sakes. You are feeling better then? "
Phillip looked at them, "Me feeling sorry for myself isn't going to bring Jamie back. I want to go back to the Agency with you guys. Please I have to help."
HIs dad looked at him, "No Chief, I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on Matty. Make sure he doesn't go and hand himself over to Birol again."
Wait Matty thought, what was his father doing? Matty was supposed to be the one that was watching Phillip. He had just promised his father he wouldn't leave. Then Matty figured his father was using the same tactics with Phillip that he used with Matty.
Phillip looked at him, "Irene or Grandma can do that. Matty actually listens to them. Actually, put Leann in charge. Matty is a little scared of her. I kind of am too. If I can't go to the Agency, Mom said I could maybe go to the hospital and see Joey. She thinks Dad and I need to talk. I kind of think we do too."
His dad spoke, "No Chief. It's not safe. I don't want you out there. You aren't yourself right now. Your Mom is going to call your father. Have him come here. That's what we were just talking about."
Phillip looked at him, "Dad's pissed at mom for what happened to Joey. Blames her for the whole thing. God he was being so good for so long too. I can call him instead of Mom. I'll talk to him. One of his son's is in a coma and the other is missing. I doubt he'll want his third son to never talk to him again. I really don't mind going that route. If he's still an ass, I'll do what I wanted when I punched him that time. I'm an adult now. I can change my last name to Stetson. I only didn't last time because I was only sixteen and Mom wouldn't let me."
His mother spoke, "Phillip he's just upset about Joey & Jamie. Let him take it out on me. I don't care. I would rather it be me than you. Believe me I can handle your father."
Phillip looked at her, "Well I do care. Hang on. One second. Yo, Babe!"
Irene came in the room and smiled at Phillip, "Your mom got you to take a shower. Thank goodness."
Phillip looked at her. "Yeah, I'm sorry about everything. Look if you, me and the kids change our last names to Stetson because my dad is an asshole. Do you care?"
Irene smiled, "Well it will be a pain. But what did he do now?"
Phillip said, "He's being an ass to my mom. Blames her for Joey."
Irene went over and kissed Phillip, "If it means I get my husband back. Do whatever you need to do. I can find a new lawyer to help with Matty's estate as well. Joe is a very good lawyer though."
Phillip looked at him. "We can figure that out later. It might not get that far. My dad usually caves."
Phillip seemed more energized. He went over to the phone on the nightstand and dialed a number.
"Hey Dad. It's Phillip. ... Yeah, I'm alright... How's Joey doing?...Still in a coma...I've been thinking about him. ... Yeah Matty's home now. Matty is doing good... He's right here... Look can you come to the house for a little bit so we can talk?...No, Lee doesn't want me to leave the house...He's afraid they'll either grab me or I'll do something stupid...Look Mom won't be here... Alright?... It's not her fault...You know what? Forget it...You never wanted me to be your son in the first place. I can just change the kids and my last name to Stetson. You can be done with me. It'll save your marriage... You'll never see me again... ... Alright, okay. I'll see you then... Bye Dad."
Phillip hung up, "He'll come by around six tonight."
His parents looked at them, "Well, we are going to head back. It was good to see you, Chief."
His dad went over and hugged Phillip.
Then his mother went over, "You remember what we talked about. Okay? We all love you just the way you are. We need you to be you more than ever right now."
Phillip looked down at his feet, "I'll try to be less responsible, Mom. I am sorry I scared you all. I just love you all so much. If we get out of all this. Irene, the kids, and me are going away for a little bit on vacation."
Matty spoke, "You said Leann and I could come too."
Phillip smiled, "Of course. But it's up to Mom and Lee. I think it would be nice if maybe all of us went together. Grandma too."
His dad smiled, "Yeah, I think it would be great. But let's focus on getting Jamie home first. Then we can go on vacation anywhere you all want in the world. It's on Matty. Least he can do for scaring us all like that."
Matty looked at his dad, "Yeah go nuts. You and Irene can plan it, Dad."
Irene smiled, "I'm up for that. If Joey recovers. Maybe they will let us bring him along."
Phillip spoke, "Maybe we don't ask when my father comes by tonight. He's already in a mood."
Irene touched Phillip's shoulder, "Do not let him stress you out tonight. I don't want him to ruin whatever magic your mother performed on you."
Phillip spoke, "Yeah well, I am sorry to all of you. I know I haven't been the easiest person to be with the past few days. It's just all of this. It's too much. We can't lose Jamie. We just... "
His mother went over and hugged Phillip. "We aren't going to lose him. Jamie's a lot tougher than he looks. All of my kids are. We are going to get him back. Whatever state he's in. We will deal with it. But we will get him back."
His dad put his hand on Phillip's shoulder, "I promise. I will do everything in my power to bring him home."
Phillip looked at him, "Just don't get yourself killed in the process, Lee. We can't lose you again either."
His dad smiled at Phillip "I already promised your mother that. Her and I are working together like the old days on this. We will bring him home. No matter what."
Matty looked at him. "Phillip and I will keep researching down here."
His mother looked at them. "I want you both to rest first. Then you can help with the research starting tomorrow morning. Okay?"
Matty nodded, "Alright mom."
She looked at Irene, "Oh and no coffee for Matty, today. He's cut off because he needs to rest."
Matty was going to complain but he didn't want to give his parents any ideas that taking coffee away from him for a few days would probably be the most effective way of grounding him. So he kept his mouth shut.
His mother then yelled, "Mother! Can you come in the bedroom for a minute?"
His Grandmother came in. "Is something wrong, dear?"
His mother spoke, "No Mother. It's my understanding that Phillip's barely been eating. I'm guessing Matty also hasn't eaten much in the past couple of days. Can you make sure these two eat? Also, no coffee for Matty until tomorrow morning. Then he's limited to two cups."
His grandmother smiled at them, "Of course I'll feed them. Are you two headed back in the office?"
His mother nodded "Yes. Also, Joe is coming around six. Just a heads up on that."
His grandmother looked at her, "Just him. Right? No Carrie? I don't think Phillip is up for her."
Phillip spoke, "Do you think Carrie's ever going to set foot in this house again after what happened to Joey? Who knows if any of us will ever even be able to see him again until he's eighteen?"
Irene spoke, "Irene Stetson does have a nice ring to it."
Phillip kissed Irene, "I love you. Yeah, but I shouldn't have to threaten my father with that just to see him or my baby brother. When Joey wakes up. I propose that we buy him the nicest video camera and whatever the newest state-of-the-art video editing equipment is."
Phillip looked sad, "Mom, if we get Jamie back, you need to grant permission for Lee to spoil Jamie too."
She smiled, "Jamie's thirty years old. Lee doesn't need my permission to spoil him anymore."
Phillip looked at her, "So that means I can ask Lee for stuff without retribution now?"
She looked at him, "Phillip, sweetheart. Yes, but I think you need to clear it with your own wife."
Phillip laughed, "I have the opposite problem with her. Her childhood was just as lousy as Lee's. I'm the one that has to stop her from spoiling our kids too badly."
His father spoke "I think her childhood was a little worse than mine. The Colonel may not have been the most affectionate guardian. But at least he's a good person. Look I will make sure all of you get spoiled rotten after all of this. I can handle the heat from your mother."
Matty spoke, "Don't spoil me. That can be my punishment for running off."
His mother laughed, "Nice try, sweet boy. I think for you, no more agency unless it's an emergency until this summer. That's what we are going to do."
Matty looked at her, "Ok. Um do you think one of you can tell the security guard George that I won't be able to see Patrick's baby album for a while."
His mother looked at Matty, "Speaking of George. I forgot to feed you, really?"
Matty looked at her, "George ratted me out?"
She smiled, "There's surveillance cameras with sound in the new holding cell area. We watched all the footage of your escape."
Matty hung his head, "I needed a distraction so I could talk to Lazlo. I'm sorry, Mom."
She smiled, "You really are going to make a good agent one day, sweet boy. I'm just going to have to make sure that George gets better dinner options from now on. He really is a very nice man."
Matty nodded, "He is. Maybe we can invite him and Patrick over for dinner at our house sometime. The twins and Baby Dottie would probably love Patrick the parrot."
His mother smiled, "Maybe just George."
Matty smiled. "Ok, Mom."
Then his mother spoke, "Ok your father and I need to get back to the Agency. We love you. Phillip and Matty take care of each other. Leann! Come in here!"
His sister came in, "Hey Mom. What's up?"
His mother spoke, "You are in charge of your brothers. Do not let them leave the basement for any reason."
Leann looked at her, "You mean brother. That's no problem. I can keep an eye on Matty."
His mother spoke "No I mean brothers. Phillip and Matty."
Leann spoke, "Ok, Mom. But umm shouldn't Irene be in charge of Phillip?"
Irene put her arm around Leann, "I need all the help I can get when it comes to this one. Matty is easy."
Leann sighed, "Well at least you got him to take a shower, Mom. The smell was starting to seep into the game room. There are no windows down here."
Phillip spoke, "It wasn't that bad."
His mother spoke, "Sweetheart, I love you. But it was almost as bad as that time you got sprayed by that skunk when we were on that retreat for Junior Trailblazers."
Phillip looked at her. "Mom, it wasn't that bad. No tomato juice was necessary. The smell washed right off."
His mother ruffled Phillips hair and kissed the top of his head" Well we all love you very much. No matter what you smell like. We are going to get going. You kids take care of each other."
His father spoke, "Next time you see us. Hopefully we will be bringing Jamie home. Please stay put. All of you. Your mom and I have enough to worry about."
Matty went over and hugged his dad. "I won't leave again unless you know about it, Dad. I promise."
His Dad ruffled his hair and went over to Leann and hugged her. " Make sure your brothers don't go anywhere. I'm counting on you, Junior."
She smiled at him," I will, Dad."
Then his dad walked over to Phillip and hugged him, "You take it easy, Chief. Need you not to burnout on us. You are the only one I trust to take over my job whenever I can finally retire."
Matty's parents left. His grandmother looked at Matty. "Okay you two. Stay in here. I'll go heat you up some chili."
Matty nodded, "Okay Grandma."
Phillip flipped on the television and found a basketball game. Matty was on one side of the King sized bed and Phillip on the other.
Their Grandmother and Leann came in with two trays. There was chili and tortilla chips. Matty and Phillip started eating.
Then their sister got in the bed in between them. "Can we watch a movie or something instead of stupid basketball?"
Phillip looked at her, "Hey, you don't need to be in here with us."
She looked at Phillip, "Dad said that I have to keep an eye on you two. Plus, I kind of missed Matty."
Phillip looked at him, "I kind of missed him too. When Jamie comes back, I think just the four of us at Goofy Golf or something."
Matty smiled, "When I turn 25 and get full access to my trust fund. I'm buying you that Goofy Golf. You and that place. But I get it you did meet your true love at Goofy Golf."
Phillip smiled, "Maybe we can find Jamie his true love at Goofy Golf too."
Matty spoke, "He's into Sven's daughter Hannah. She just moved to New York."
Phillip looked at him, "Hannah's hot but Jamie needs a girl with a brain. Please never tell Sven I said that. You know Hannah hit on me when Irene and I were living over there."
Matty nodded, "Yeah, I know. She caused some issues between you and Irene."
Phillip smiled, "No, there weren't any issues. I didn't do anything with Hannah. Irene was pregnant with the twins at the time. I love Irene. She's such a cool chick. She's hot, smart, and has a sense of humor. I could never do better than her. I really am kind of glad you are so young, Matty. I know we joke about it. But if we were closer in age. Irene totally would have chosen you."
Matty looked at Phillip, "No she wouldn't. I was just a little kid when I proposed to her. It would never work between her and I. Irene had a crush on my Dad."
Phillip looked at him, "Dude, thank God that Lee is so lovesick over Mom. Like nobody would have a chance competing for a girl against him."
Matty spoke, "Yeah, you don't have to worry about that though. I don't think anyone or anything could ever come ever come between Mom and Dad."
Leann spoke, "Yeah, they are so sickening. Like aren't you supposed to get sick of the other person after a while or at least tone down the honeymoon phase. Like you and Irene. You are still into each other. But if you're in a room it's usually safe to go into it."
Phillip looked at her. "We aren't out of the honeymoon phase. I have 3 and a half kids to prove it."
Matty looked at him, "Dude c'mon she's right, its usually safe to walk into rooms that you and Irene are in without knocking."
Phillip looked at them. "Irene and I don't have time to be as sickening as Mom & Lee."
Leann looked at them, "Well I remember what Mom was like when I was little. Even though they can be sickening sometimes and I've seen things I can never unsee. Mom's so much happier with Dad. You don't think anything bad will happen to Dad do you?"
Matty sighed, "Dad's almost invincible. Nobody can hurt him."
Leann spoke, "He isn't invincible Matty. Have you seen all his scars? He has more than even you. Everyone in the family has so many scars except Jamie and I. I guess that's going to change when Jamie comes back. I'll be the only one in the family without any scars."
Phillip put his arm around her, "Runt, I hope you never get any ever."
Matty spoke, "I don't have any new scars from this time. Jamie probably won't either. It was more drugs and stuff. Birol is more about playing mind games. Messing with your head. I mean I've got a little bruise on my head from the butt of a machine gun and some other bruises just from a couple of the fights I got in."
Leann looked at him, "Were you scared?'
Matty looked at her. "Yeah, a little. More for Jamie and Joey though. I was more scared when my mind was all jumbled up and I didn't know who I was. You're lucky you've only ever been Leann Stetson."
She looked at him, "No, I'm not lucky. I missed out on five years of you and Dad. That isn't lucky."
Matty nodded, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I know. I'm so sorry."
Leann hugged him, "No, Matty. I don't want you to feel bad. I just wish sometimes you didn't always have to be the one that gets hurt. That I could have at least shared some of the pain with you. You have so much guilt and stuff. I wish I could take some of it off of you."
He looked at his sister, "No, I would do it all the same again. I'd rather it be me that gets hurt than any of you. I'm used to it. I can handle it."
Phillip looked at him, "Well you shouldn't have to. You are still just a kid. You deserve to be a kid. Or you'll end up being like Lee and Irene. Spoiling your future kids rotten."
Matty smiled, "I don't think I'll need to. Dad will spoil Leann and my kids for us. Just like he does with yours."
Phillip smiled, "It's so funny how he thinks he's lousy with kids too."
Leann smiled, "Yeah. I mean he's the best father ever. I feel bad for you and Jamie having Uncle Joe."
Phillip nodded, "Yeah, I'm so glad Mom met your dad. I mean I wish my real father would be more like him sometimes. The way you can tell Lee really loves you with all his heart. Like I remember when my mother first started bringing him home. He was so different from her other boyfriends. He genuinely cared about us. And he was a cool guy. It was kind of like just hanging out with another kid. He loved doing stuff with us. I think because he got to do stuff he never did as a kid. Jamie tried so hard not to like him in the beginning. He gave Lee such a hard time. Lee wore him down though. Bought Jamie's love by giving him his first real camera. I mean Lee went a little overboard too on us. He was so funny."
Leann smiled, "Yeah Dad is funny. I remember that first Christmas when you two first came home, Dad bought me the fanciest Barbie dream house and like every single Barbie ever made."
Philip smiled, "You know for my eleventh birthday he had a Captain Galaxy flown in by the Air Force. He had to call his Uncle for help with that and he hates asking his Uncle for help. That was before I ever even met him officially. Mom told me that when we thought Lee had died."
Matty smiled, "My first Christmas in England. He went nuts. Got me this whole big train set that went around the whole mansion and it even went across the courtyard into the guest house. It was insane. He told me that he hated Christmas but he didn't want me too. He wanted me to have good Christmas memories."
Leann smiled, "Yeah Dad really goes nuts at Christmas. Remember when he hired the real reindeer, and the Ferguson's dogs got in our yard. And the reindeer and dogs were running loose in the neighborhood."
Phillip laughed, "Yeah, it's kind of awesome when Mom lets him go overboard. Alright enough reminiscing for me, I'm just going to close my eyes for a little bit. Wake me up when my father gets here."
Notes:
Next Chapter - Joe comes. There may be hijinks in the air. It's been way too quiet for the past couple of chapters.
Story is almost over. The end of Prodigal Son II is nigh. About 5-7 chapters left.