Origins: Snapshots In Time 165

"Are you sure you don't mind? I can find somewhere else if you th--"

"Now don't be stubborn, Matthew. Of course I don't mind. I'll take the boy in, and when you are ready, come back to me and get him." Chang replied, cutting off Matthew's words before the man could finish what he was saying. She glanced over at Michael, who was standing there frowning, and just patted the boy on the head with a smile. "And you don't worry so much. Everything will be fine."

Michael wisely chose not to say anything to that.

Matthew looked between them with a sigh. "Alright. His meds are in the black bag. There's refills left on all of them, and another script for each med just in case I'm gone longer than the refills are good for. Most of them he has to take with food.." He reached a gloved hand up and worked at the back of his head.

"There's a backup pair of glasses in that bag, too, in a hard case. Just in case he breaks the set he's wearing right now. If he gets sick or has any kind of serious problems, the card inside of the med bag has the contact information for a doctor I know is trustworthy. Please, please don't take him to just any doctor - there's enough people in the area looking for him and--"

"Don't worry, Matthew." Chang smiled again, and took the bag from the man's hand, holding it out to Michael who moved to set it aside with his other things. "You worry too much. He'll be fine, we'll be fine - when you're able to come back, just come back."

Matthew looked between the two of them, then looked back over at Chang again, frowning. "I still don't like doing this."

"Of course you don't. But if it's what's best, then you'd be foolish not to."

"...it's the safest thing for him right now."

"Then quit beating yourself over the head over it." Chang retorted, and chuckled slightly at Matthew's exasperated look.

Matthew glanced over at his son at that point, brows knitted. "You mind Mrs. Chang properly, understand? I don't want to find out you've been giving her a hard time. I shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks."

Michael eyed him, then looked away again. "If you say so, Dad. I don't like it. And Bridgette--"

"Bridgette is just as capable of defending herself as any of my team is, son. You of all people know that."

"Yeah, but she's getting scary lately...."

"She's getting ruthless." Matthew sighed. "We all are. Now, nevermind about your sister. You help out around here, and you do as Mrs. Chang tells you to do. Understand, son?"

"Yessir." Michael said quietly, and glanced over at Chang. The older woman reached up and ruffled the boy's hair, then looked up at Matthew again.

Matthew looked between them one last time, then turned on his heels and started walking away.

"YOU mind yourself, boy!" Chang called to him as he walked away. "Don't you let me find you in another ditch somewhere! Leeling isn't around to drag you home this time!"

Matthew didn't look back. Just held up his left hand. "I will... don't worry." He called back, and lowered his arm again, and continued walking away.

Chang watched him go, and shook her head. "...why is it every time he says not to worry, I feel like I should be worrying more?" She chuckled.

Michael wasn't laughing, though. He was standing there frowning, really frowning as he watched his father walk away. And when Chang spoke, the boy didn't turn his head, but answered in a low tone. He didn't want it to carry across the courtyard to where Matthew was just leaving the gates.

"Maybe it's because when he says that, you really should. I don't like this. It doesn't feel right. He's walking into a trap and--"

"Don't you start fussing." Chang tapped the boy on the arm. "Go on inside, the room at the end of the hall is yours to use. Your dad uses it when he's here, you'll use it while you're here. No go on, boy."

Michael glanced at the gates again, then over at Chang and sighed. "Yes, Ma'am." he replied, and grabbed his bags, turning to go inside.

Chang let the boy go, and once his back was turned, she finally allowed the frown to show on her face as she just looked at the gate Matthew had stepped out of. The Scorpion paused on the street to look back at her. He raised his hand one more time in farewell, and Chang lifted her own in return. Matthew turned away, then, and disappeared into the countryside, headed back towards his vehicle.

It was less than an hour later that his vehicle would be found abandoned in the middle of Bangkok.