Still can't respond to reviews! And I don't even know if FF is doing anything about it. I will try to get in and send messages to those of you who have commented. And I want you to know, again, how much I appreciate those reviews. It lets me know that you're reading and liking the story enough to take the time to comment or to add it as a favorite or put it on alert, etc. I really lov eyou guys!
In case you're confused, there are two different time lines here: House and Marianne's and Michael and Alison's. Eventually they will meet up, but right now, House's is a little ahead of Michael's. Hope that's clear.
Chapter 10
House made sure his phone was with him, charged and turned on, wherever he went. He was not going to miss another call from Michael, should one come.
In the meantime, he continued working and living his life. When he was alone, he would play back Michael's message.
One day, Marianne asked him, "Greg, do you still have Michael's message?"
He nodded.
"I know this sounds silly, but could I hear it again?"
He smiled and pulled out his phone and played it for her. At the end, he could see the tears in her eyes, so he took her into his arms.
"It's okay, Meg. He's alive. We'll hear from him again."
But secretly, he wondered if that was true. If he was alive, why hadn't he called again?
Then, two weeks after the first call, his phone rang one evening when they were just about to go to bed.
The number was unknown so of course, he immediately answered it. He felt a lift in his heart when he heard his son's voice.
"Hi, Dad. I'm glad you answered this time."
House put the phone on speaker and said, "What's going on? Where are you?"
"I have no idea. The most I can tell you is that I am somewhere in Jacinta."
Marianne spoke up. "Michael, are you and Alison alright?"
"Yes, Mom, we're okay."
"We were so worried, honey. We thought…" Marianne couldn't finish, but House did it for her.
"We thought you were dead."
"Yeah, I figured that. Look, don't worry about us. I'm making sure that we survive. And I will get us home. I promise you that."
"When, Michael?" Marianne asked.
"I don't know that, but we will come home."
"Just stay alive." House told him. "Everything else can get worked out. But first you have to stay alive."
"Agreed, Dad. And I will do that. I guess Brianna is asleep?"
"She is." Marianne said.
"Okay, well, hopefully, I'll be able to call you again in two weeks. And I'll do it earlier and make sure Alison is here too so that we can talk to her."
He rang off then and House and Marianne just sat there for a while and stared at the phone, almost as if they were willing Michael's voice to come out of it some more. Then, by unspoken agreement, they went to bed and made love, holding each other after.
Michael's Journal
Alison and I found the people in Ramone's village to be in much more desperate need of care than the ones in Jacinta City and even the surrounding villages there. There was one very old doctor who had tried to care for everyone, along with a few woman who had very rudimentary nursing training. But now he was usually sicker than the patients. There was another doctor who was a bit younger, but he spent most of his time with Ramone's army, treating his men. There was no equipment and practically no supplies. It was primitive medicine at its worst.
I felt exhilarated.
This was what I had come to Jacinta to do. And even though we were technically being held prisoner, we were still doing what we had wanted to do.
And the stories told by the people we treated was much different than what we had heard in Jacinta City. There, Ramone was painted as a madman, a terrorist.
But here, people told us of Marino's abuse of anyone who did not agree with him and of how Ramone had taken care of the people banished by Marino. Ramone brought them to this village and made sure they were protected and taken care of. The fights he'd had were to take care of the forgotten people of Jacinta.
We worked our asses off for the next two weeks. I almost forgot how many days it had been.
Almost, but not quite.
I went to see Ramone and reminded him of his promise.
"You have a good memory, Dr. Newman. Of course I will keep my promise."
He took out a cell phone that looked like one of the disposable types and handed it to me.
"Doctor, I would ask that you not reveal where we are. It is important to keep this location secret."
"Not a problem, since I don't know where we are."
I had thought about whom to call. I decided that my father's cell would be best. He almost always had it with him and would usually answer it. Although this would be an unfamiliar number, still, it was the best I could do.
I dialed the number and waited, but I got his voice mail. I left a message and hoped that he would listen to it. Ramone watched and listened the whole time, making sure that I didn't tell any secrets. As if I had any to tell.
When I was finished, I handed the phone back to him and said, "Thank you. I appreciate that."
He inclined his head. "And I appreciate how hard you and your wife have been working with my people."
"That's my job, why I came here in the first place."
"True. But as I have kept you as a prisoner, you did not have to work as hard as you have."
"I'm a doctor."
He nodded. I started to leave, but he called me back.
"If you would like, in two more weeks, you may call them again."
"I would like that, thank you."
"Perhaps they will be there to talk to you then."
"I hope so."