Lee opened his eyes and looked around at the hospital room he was in. God damn it. He didn't have time to be injured and in the hospital. Every single part of his body hurt. Even his hair. But he needed to put the pain out of his mind and focus on what really mattered. Where was Matty? Those men in ski masks better not have hurt his son. He needed to get out of here and go find him. He tried to push himself up but it hurt too much.

Then he looked around the room. Someone was in there with him. Lee saw his assistant Tony sitting in the chair next to him reading a book.

Tony was a very skinny British looking young man with glasses. Tony was only twenty-three years old. One year younger than Jamie. He had been one of Lee's students when Lee had first started teaching at Chelsea college. Lee had helped Tony and his mother get away from an abusive boyfriend. He had also helped Tony's mother get into rehab. Lee hadn't really wanted or needed a personal assistant but Tony had needed a job. Tony also had found out the truth about Matty and him. But Tony was extremely loyal to him because of what Lee had done for Tony and his mother.

"Tony? Where's Matty? Is he alright? Is he with you?"

Tony smiled at him, "Thank Christ. You woke up. Matty came to my flat. We followed your plan if something ever happened to you. We thought you were dead. I helped him get on the plane to Dulles yesterday evening. He should be there by now."

Oh no. Lee was hoping that Tony would just say he was back at his flat or something. His son was only ten years old, was deaf, and couldn't speak. Irene was in Wales. Tony was in the hospital room with him. Had Matty gone to DC all by himself?

"That was only if I died. I'm still alive. At least tell me that Irene came back from her trip early and went with him. Tell me that my 10-year-old deaf and mute son did not travel to DC all by himself."

Tony sighed, "I'm sorry, mate. Matty told me you were dead. We followed your plan if something were to happen to you. I would have gone with him, but you know I can't leave my mum on her own. I'm sure he made it to Mr. Melrose. He had the note in his shoe. Sunshine is real smart, Lee."

Lee looked at Tony, "Damn it Tony! You could have checked. Made sure I was really dead first before you put him on a plane."

Tony looked down guiltily, "I'm sorry, Lee. I really am. We just reacted. We did what you trained us too."

Lee hadn't meant to snap at Tony, he knew he was just trying to help, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. Just did you call the numbers I gave you to call in an emergency at least."

Tony nodded yes, "Yeah I called Phillip King. There was no answer. Goes right to voicemail. Then I called that Barnstorm number. It was the Antiquarian's office at the Library of Congress. He was out of the office bird watching or something. Something about their being sightings of white-eyed warbling vireos in Leesburg. It was a bonkers voicemail greeting. Not sure I even had the right number? Do you think it was outdated?"

Lee had not really listened to Tony after he heard the part about Matty thinking he was dead, "Believe me that's the right number. Matty thinks I'm dead? That's even more reason I need to find him. He must be terrified."

Tony sighed, "I think he was more in shock. He seemed very determined to do exactly what you trained him to in case anything ever happened to you. It was strange not seeing him smile all the time. It made him look a little different. He was being very strong and brave."

His son should not have to be strong and brave. The idea that his son thought he was an orphan like Lee was. That hurt worse than the pain of the bullets. Lee needed to get to him. He needed to let Matty know he was alive.

He looked over at Tony, "Help me get out of the hospital. I haven't been away from him for more than a day in almost five years. I need to know that he's he's safe."

Tony looked at him, "You just had surgery to remove two bullets, Lee. You aren't going to be able to go anywhere. I'm guessing you can't even get up from that bed. Let alone get on an airplane. I'm sure Sunshine made it. I've been trying to get a hold of Irene too but Scotland Yard is looking for her. She's a person of interest in your shooting. I did leave her messages in code. If she got them. I'm sure she'll go to America. She loves you and Matty."

Lee considered Irene family. She had been good to both him and Matty. "There is no way Irene is involved with what happened. She wasn't even in London. Look if you can't get a hold of Irene or Phillip. Go back to the estate. Look for the paperwork for my grandfather's will in Irene's office. There should be a letter from Joseph King at EAO in there. His office number is on there. Call him and see if you can get a hold of Phillip that way. He's Phillip's father. He'll help."

Tony looked confused, "Why don't I just try to call Billy Melrose? The man you sent him to?"

Lee sighed, "No, I don't want Billy to know I'm alive. The contingency plan was only if I was killed. I can trust Billy to take care of getting Matty to my family. He'll make sure that Matty gets home to his grandmother and brothers and get him agency protection. Just if he knows I'm alive. I committed treason to rescue Matty from that warehouse. I can't let him risk his job. I'm going to need all the friends I can get at the Agency to watch over my son if I end up going to prison."

Lee ran his hand through his hair, "Actually, the more I think about this. Joe is my best option right now. I am going to need a good lawyer that I can trust when I go back. Give him the message in code. He knows what Barnstorm is. He'll pass it on to Phillip. Phillip will know what it means. Tell him if he can't get it to Phillip. Give it to Jamie. I made up a code with my older boys for fun years ago. That's what Phillip's message is in."

God it would even be good to see them all again. He just hoped they would all forgive him for what he'd done. He had to get out of here. There was no way he was going to stay in this hospital bed worrying.

He tried to push himself up out of the bed but Tony came over and pushed him back down. "No mate. You can't go anywhere for a little bit. You have to recover. Then I'll help you get to him. I promise. Look I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding with the coppers and Irene. As soon as I get a hold of her. I'll send her to help Matty. She loves you and that boy. I always figured you and her would end up together eventually. She's in love with you and Matty is like a son to her. You are already a little family."

Lee did know that Irene had a crush on him., but Irene was just a kid. She was younger than Phillip. She could be his daughter. It was weird enough that she was his step grandmother. Even if she was closer in age to him. He couldn't do that to Amanda's memory.

Lee was going to get out of this hospital bed and help his son if it was the last thing that he ever did. He had promised Amanda that he would take care of their son. He needed to get to him. He did not care how he got there but he was going home.

Both of his stepsons were in their mid-twenties now. What if they had sold the house and moved? He should have checked up on them more often. He guessed Phillip and his mother-in-law were still there. He knew his stepson. He probably would stay in that house until they knew what happened to Matty.

Irene had sent the paperwork for Matty to Phillip at Maplewood. It had not been returned. They had gotten a return letter from Joseph King that they would reach out if Alex was ever returned. It had only been a year since his grandfather had died.

God, he felt so guilty about leaving them. Being another man in their lives that had abandoned them. But they were both adults.

He gave them both a lot of money. He had a number setup if they were ever in trouble to call. He would have helped them himself if they ever needed him. He knew Jamie was doing well because he was an active photojournalist for the New York Times. He also had made a name for himself in the art world. He was one of the Top 25 Young Artists in the country. Lee had a subscription to the NY Times in London and cut out every single one of Jamie's pictures or articles he was involved in.

He wished Phillip had never gotten hurt. He might have still been playing basketball. Then Lee could at have at least kept tabs on him that way.

Whatever the circumstances, he was going to get to see his family again. He would get to see his mother-in-law too. He hoped they would all forgive him. He also hoped that he did not end up having to go to prison. Matty was still so young. He didn't want him to grow up without at least one of his parents.

Lee needed to get out of this bed. He would wait for the first chance he was alone. Tony left to go make the phone calls. The nurses and doctor came in. Then Scotland Yard came and interviewed him. He told Scotland Yard everything he could. That he was worried about his son. That he didn't think Irene was involved.

That night when he finally was alone in his room. He tried to get out of bed, but he couldn't do it. He fell back. He would need at least another day. He just hoped Matty could hang on. He was coming for him.

Notes:

Lee will be back very soon.

Next chapter - Phillip reunites with his brother.