I know that I have been terribly derelict in responding to your wonderful reviews. I'd like to blame something for it, so let's make it Facebook games. Totally addicting! Anyway, I do appreciate my readers - more than you can know!

Sorry for the cliffhanger last time. All will be answered here.

Chapter 21

Since they'd begun treating Teresa Ramone, Michael had called almost every day. Even after the girl was in the rehab facility, he still called every day or so. When almost a week went by with no call, his family began to worry. But since they didn't have any way to get in touch with him, they had to just wait.

They were gathered in the den. Brianna was sitting on House's lap, as she loved to do and the two of them were watching a movie. Alison was reading and Marianne was sketching. The doorbell rang and Marianne got up to answer it.

She came back in a few seconds later.

"Alison, someone is here to see you." She told her daughter-in-law.

Perplexed, Alison came out to the living room. Curious, House put the baby down and followed her. She stopped in shock when she saw the man standing there was Ruiz, Ramone's lieutenant.

In stuttering Spanish, Alison began saying, "What are you doing here…?"

But he answered her in perfect, un-accented English, "It's okay, Dr. Newman. You don't have to speak Spanish."

Despite her shock, Alison remembered her manners. "Uh, Marianne, House, this is Antonio Ruiz…"

He interrupted her again. "Actually, the name is Tony Ross. I'm an American."

"But you were working with Ramone! He trusted you."

"I know. That was the plan."

"Are you a spy?" Marianne asked.

"Almost. Military, special ops."

"Oh, god." House muttered disgustedly, almost under his breath. But Tony heard him.

"Do you have a problem with the military, Dr. House?"

"Yes, I do. And how do you know who I am?"

"Michael told me about his father, Doctor Gregory House."

"Michael knows who you are?" Alison asked.

"Yes, I told him."

"Is he alright?" Marianne wanted to know.

Tony hesitated and took a breath before saying, "Yes. I think he will be."

All three of them sat at attention. "What happened to him?" Alison asked.

"I'd like to tell you, if I may?"

"Of course." Marianne said. "Sit down, please Mr. Ross. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, beer, soda?"

"A coke would be great. I haven't had one in a really long time."

House was impatient and wanted to hear about his son, but Marianne insisted and got drinks for everyone before they sat down to listen to what Tony had to tell them.

But first Alison had to ask, "Where is Michael?"

"Actually, he's on his way home. He should be here in a few hours. I'm waiting for a call."

House was suspicious. "What happened to him?"

Tony took a deep breath and told them about Michael visiting the villages and his encounter with Nita Lopez. He left out the attraction he knew that Michael had for the woman. If he wanted his wife to know that, he would tell her.

Then he told them how Michael had saved Ramone's life by killing Nita.

"He was still upset about that when he went back to his hut. And that's when he encountered Almosa."

Alison stiffened at the sound of the name. "What—why-?"

"Almosa was the one who revealed Ramone's location to Nita. She found us because of him. He didn't know she was dead. He was there to kill Michael."

Michael's Journal

I saw Almosa's gun pointed at me and knew this would be the end of my life. I'd never get a chance to hold my wife again, to see my daughter, my parents ever again. I closed my eyes and heard the shot ring out.

But I didn't feel any pain. I opened my eyes and saw Almosa lying on the ground beside me. I looked up and Tony was there, with his gun in his hand.

He came over to me. "Mike, are you okay?"

"You killed him."

"Yeah, no big loss. He was a piece of scum. Not just for what he did to your wife. He was working with Nita."

"He was? Why? And how did you know?"

"Ramone dressed him down for what he did to your wife. And took away most of his power. He was pissed. So he teamed up with Nita to betray Ramone."

I looked at the man lying there dead. I wasn't sad that he was dead. But…

Tony looked at me. "You wanted to be the one to kill him."

I nodded.

"You wouldn't have done it. Not today, not right after you killed Nita. You're feeling enough guilt right now for that."

I sighed. He was probably right.

Then Tony looked at my leg. "Christ, Mike, you're bleeding like shit! We need to get you taken care of."

"There's a box of medical supplies by my bed." I told him. "I keep them there in case someone needed us during the night."

Tony pulled the box over and opened it. With his help, we managed to get my leg bandaged and the bleeding to stop.

"The bullet is still in there. We need to get it out."

"There's no other doctor in the area to do it."

"I know. Wait here."

He left and returned about twenty minutes later with Ramone

"You're going home." He said.

"What? No, I need to…"

"You need to get out of here. Nita did not work alone. There were more than just Almosa working with her. And when her minions find out you killed her, your ass is grass."

Ramone nodded. "Miguel, you saved my life. Now, let me save yours. You have done much here to help my people. I am thankful that you came. But now you must go home."

"But you don't have any other doctors." I protested.

"I will find another doctor. But your work here is finished. You saved me, you saved my daughter, and you helped my people. Now go home to your family."

"I want to…"

"You want to help more. I know." He nodded. "But not here. Are there not people in your country that you can help? Because I feel you will always offer your help to others."

I thought about what he was saying. And I knew that he was right. I was finished here.

One more chapter to go after this. Thanks so much for your response. Oh, and in case anyone is interested: Remember when I started this story, I told all of you that my inspiration was my daughter going to study in London? Well, she's home now. She had a wonderful time, a great experience and even got to do an internship with Alexander McQueen (the designer for Princess Kate's dress!). So now I will bring Michael safely home.