The door to the basement opened right up after Phillip punched in the code. Phillip made sure to close the door behind him quickly. He walked into the game room.

His mother came into the game room with the boy behind her. she came over and hugged Phillip. "Hello sweetheart."

Phillip grinned at her. Doing this felt so right. "Hi Mom. How's your day going? You blew me off for lunch."

He saw a peanut butter and fluff sandwich with one bite on the coffee table and he grabbed it. "I'm starved. Do you mind?"

She smiled. "Help yourself. Alex didn't like that one because it had fluff on it."

Phillip looked at her and smiled. "Oh yeah. He hates marshmallows. I used to tease him about that. Maybe you aren't nuts?"

Phillip pointed to his earpiece, "One second and we can talk. Just got to do one thing. Francine, I'm so sorry about this but well she's, my mother."

Phillip walked over to the sink in the little kitchen area that was in the back portion of the game room. He pulled out his earpiece, threw it down the drain and ran the garbage disposal. He heard Francine cry out in pain from the monitors in the other room.

Then they went back into the office and Francine said, "What the hell Phillip?"

Phillip knew that if somehow he got to keep his job after doing this. Francine was going to get her revenge on him for doing that but he didn't care. It felt really good to buck the system and join his mother's side,

Phillip spoke into the microphone "I'm sorry about that. Look even if it turns out my mom's crazy. She is still my mom. And well my family will always be more important to me than my job. It does not matter if my mom's cracked or not. I will stand by her."

Billy spoke. "Philip you're throwing away your whole career."

Phillip had made a vow to himself a long time ago that he'd never be like his own father. He would always choose family first. "Yeah well, I'm not sure I want to be loyal to a place that lets people torture kids. My mom she has always been there for me, so I am going to be there for her now. Sorry. Just go back to the Agency let the old man do his worst."

His mother smiled at him appreciatively, "Phillip and I need to talk. I'm turning off the microphone. I really am sorry about all this. I know you two were just trying to help me. I am not going to leave my son. He's home now and he is never leaving this house again if I can help it."

Phillip started staring at the boy. He looked better. He wasn't sweaty and pale anymore. He really did look like he could be Alex, but he looked different too. He was older. Seeing Alex with his mother. He noticed there was a resemblance. They had the same color hair and eye and both were very thin.

His mother spoke, "Let's go into the other room. I'll make you another sandwich. Also, that story you told them about the tree house. I seem to remember it had a little different ending. I got the chainsaw from the garage and threatened to cut down the tree to get you two out of it. That was the opposite of a truce, sweetheart."

Phillip laughed. "Yeah well, I wanted you to know I was on your side. That's also why I told them that bit about their not being microphones outside too. Figured we would get more information if they thought it was safe to talk outside. Told them I didn't know the codes either even though I'm pretty sure Jamie & I were the first ones Lee gave them too. Anyway, I'll be right back. Need to get something out of the storage room."

Phillip had an idea that would convince him that the boy was his brother. His little brother was nuts for these weird granola bar things that Lee had gotten when he stocked the supply room with supplies that would make it so they could last at least a year or two living down there. Maybe even longer. When Alex had liked them so much. He had bought at least 10 or 20 cases of them. He hadn't thought about those things since before Alex had gone missing. I mean it wasn't a real test because who knew if they really stayed fresh forever like it said on the label.

Phillip came out with a box of granola bars.

His mother looked at him like he was crazy. "Oh my gosh, no. Phillip those must be over 10 years old. And I am not sure they were fresh when Lee bought them."

Phillip smiled. "Mom these are supposed to last forever. It says so right on the box."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Well, if you are going to make him eat one of those. You take a bite first. Make sure they aren't moldy or anything."

Phillip opened the box and took out a bar. It was in a shiny blue and pink wrapper. Phillip unwrapped it, he took a bite, and he gagged. "Oh my god that's horrible."

His mother gave him a look. "Well do not make your brother eat it then."

Phillip smiled. "No mom it tastes just as bad as I remember. I don't think they have gone bad. I mean I don't think it's possible with all the chemicals that are in these."

Phillip handed Alex the granola bar. "Take a bite of this little dude. Trust me."

Alex looked at their mother with a do I really need to do this look

She sighed. "Just a tiny one sweet boy. Otherwise, he is never going to stop."

Alex took the bar and sniffed it. Then he took a very small bite of it. Phillip couldn't tell at first if he liked it or not. But then Alex took a bigger bite, and he smiled. Oh my gosh as soon as he saw that smile. Phillip knew it really was his brother. How could he not have seen it before? His mother was right. Alex wolfed the rest of the granola bar down and then looked at their mother and pointed to the box. He wanted another one.

Phillip had the hugest smile on his face. "Holy crap! It really is you."

Phillip was overcome with emotion. His brother was alive and standing in front of him. Then a wave of guilt washed over him. All of it had been his fault. He had not been able to protect Alex. Alex had been with him when he was taken. If he had not picked that stupid fight with Jamie and been outside in the driveway.

"I'm so sorry. It was all my fault." Phillip heard himself saying over and over again. Phillip felt tears welling up in his eyes. If Phillip had not picked that stupid fight with Jamie. He and Alex would have been safe in the basement. None of this would have ever happened. Lee would still be alive. Phillip still had nightmares about that day. Nobody blamed him at all because he had almost died that day too. Phillip knew Jamie felt just as much guilt about that fight. Except Phillip was the oldest he was responsible for them. He had failed them both that day. Phillip hugged his little brother and started sobbing into him.

His mother came over and started gently rubbing Phillip's back. "Oh sweetheart. It is okay. None of it was your fault. I almost lost you too that day. You were so brave trying to stop those awful men from taking your brother."

Phillip let got of Alex and wiped his tears with the palm of his hand. "God how did I not recognize my own brother? The granola bar thing was a joke. Mom's right they are old. I did not really think... It is really you. You used to love those things. Lee bought all the other boxes from Leatherneck when you were like 2 or 3 years old. I mean you were still on the first box but there are like 10 more boxes of them back there because you loved them so much. Lee bought the whole supply. God I cannot believe I doubted you for a second, Mom. I also cannot believe I am crying like a girl."

His mom still had her arm around Phillip. "Sweetheart, its okay to cry. I cried too when I first realized it was really him."

Phillip sighed. "Yeah, but you are a girl, Mom. It's okay for you."

She looked at him. "It's okay for you to cry too. Never let anyone tell you differently. He's home. He's finally home"

Phillip looked over at Alex as he wiped his tears away. "I am so sorry for what happened to you at the agency. Henderson is a grade a douchebag. Seriously I would have done a lot more than just punch him if I had realized that you really were my brother. I'm so sorry, little dude."

Alex just put his hand on Phillip's shoulder and smiled. Alex hugged him again. Phillip hugged him back. "Do not make me cry again little dude. God, I forgot how sickeningly cute and sweet you are."

Then Phillip composed himself. He had so many questions, "Okay, I have so many questions for you. Can you speak?"

Alex nodded no and moved his hair off his ear. There was a burn scar on his ear. He pointed to the scar on his ear and nodded no again.

Phillip looked at him, "Are you deaf?"

Alex nodded yes. Then he pointed to his mouth and nodded no. His brother couldn't speak and couldn't hear.

"You are deaf and you can't speak. But you could speak before everything. You were fine. What did they do to you?"

His mother looked at Alex, "You could speak and hear the last time I saw you. Before the explosion. You had that scar on your ear back then too. I noticed it. That's not what made you deaf is it?"

Alex just made a explosion with his mouth but no sound came out and then pointed at his ear.
She looked at him. "You got injured when the warehouse exploded? Is that how you become deaf? You were with your daddy when the warehouse exploded. Those men got you again. Didn't they? They killed your daddy and took you."

Alex nodded no. Phillip could tell his little brother was trying to communicate that is not what happened. Alex was getting frustrated that he couldn't say anything. He wanted to tell them something. The story had to be more complicated. Phillip decided to help him out.

Phillip walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed an almanac, and opened it to a map of the United States. "Okay little dude. Where were you all this time? Do you know?"

Alex looked down at the map and nodded no. Phillip said. "You don't know where you were?"

Then Alex pointed where it said United States on the map and nodded no. Alex flipped to the table of contents using his thumb and looked up what page Europe and England were on. He flipped the map to the British Isles map and pointed to London.

"You were in England?" Alex nodded yes. There was a picture in the corner of Buckingham Palace with the changing of the guard. Alex pointed to it.

Then Phillip said, "You were with the Queen?"

Alex laughed a little and nodded no. When Alex laughed he looked even more like he used to.

Alex pointed to where London would be in England.

Their mom spoke. "You're trying to say you were in London, right?"

Alex smiled and nodded yes. Then it looked like he remembered something. Alex took his shoe off and handed the shoe to Phillip. Then he pointed to the heel and motioned for Phillip to push and pull.

Phillip did so and the heel opened, and he pulled out a little piece of paper. "Holy crap! There's a note in here."

Phillip read it. "Dear Mr. Melrose. Mind your manners. This boy has clicked his heels together three times and wants to go home. Please help him. Sincerely, Mr. Barnstorm 838220."

Their mother spoke. "Oh my gosh. Lee hid you in his Barnstorm network when the warehouse exploded didn't he?"

Alex smiled a little and nodded yes.

Their mother touched Alex's face gently. "Did they treat you alright? Barnstorm. Who were you with? Why are you back now?"

Alex looked like he wanted to say something again but did not know how. Phillip could tell he was trying to figure out an easier way to communicate.

Alex then started tapping on his mother with his index finger "Morse code. Is that what you are doing? Your daddy used to always tap that he loved you in Morse code on your forehead. You remember that?"

Alex smiled and nodded yes and then he started tapping on their mother's forehead again, but it was a different set of taps.

She looked at him "You are trying to tell me something in Morse code?"

Alex nodded yes. "It has been a while since I took that class. Phillip your closer to your training classes. How good is your Morse code?"

Phillip knew Morse code. He just needed a pen and some paper "Let me grab something to write on and a pen. I still know it. Just go slow little dude. I'm a little out of practice."

Alex waited for Phillip to grab a pen and a notepad that was by the phone.

Then Alex started tapping on him. Phillip wrote down "MATTHEW WINTHROPE."

Then Phillip looked at him. "Who is Matthew Winthrope? Is that the man you were with?"

Alex nodded no. Then Alex pointed at himself. "You are Matthew Winthrope."

He smiled and nodded yes Then he tapped. "MATTY" and pointed at himself.

Phillip wrote it down, "MATTY? Is that what people call you."

Then Alex pointed to them and then himself. He did it a couple of times.

Their mother spoke, "You want us to call you Matty instead of Alex? Is that what you are trying to say."

Alex nodded yes and looked like it was important to him.

His mother smiled "Okay we will call you Matty. That is your middle name anyway."

Then she said, "Who took care of you?"

Matty tapped on Phillip again. "MICHAEL WINTHROPE"

Their mother looked at the paper as Phillip wrote it down. "Michael Winthrope. That's the name of the man that's been taking care of you? It sounds familiar. I've heard that name before. Is he part of Barnstorm?"

Matty nodded yes.

She smiled at him. "Was Michael Winthrope with you when you got taken by the Agency?"

Matty nodded no. Tears were starting to form in his brother's eyes. He tapped. "DEAD"

Phillip wrote it down. "Dead? Michael Winthrope is dead?"

Matty nodded yes and he just broke down sobbing. Phillip felt so bad for his little brother. Their mother went over and grabbed his little brother and just held him.

She rubbed his back and rocked him gently. Phillip wanted to comfort his brother too. It was so sad to watch. He was just a little kid and he'd been through so much. Their mother was telling him that everything was going to be alright. That he was home now. He was safe.

Matty stopped crying after a few minutes and he yawned. He looked exhausted. Their mother let go of him. "No more questions today. Alright, sweet boy. How about you go lay down a little bit? I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."

Matty nodded yes and they disappeared into the bedroom.

Phillip walked to the storage room and grabbed a bottle of scotch from one of the many cases of Scotch in the basement. He went and got two tumblers and poured some Scotch for both himself and his mother.

Notes:

Next chapter - Joe gets a strange phone call from England. He can't get a hold of Phillip so he calls Jamie.