Chapter 7

"Thank ye, Dr. Einmug," O'Hara said, shaking the old man's hand. He stood outside of the mouse collector's house, it rematerialized on the hill it had been previously. Mickey stood beside O'Hara, holding onto Barkley's panting while Oswald worked with Dr. Shaffer on the tablet.

"Don't dank me, dank Atomo, he did all der work," Dr. Einmug said, releasing his hand to motion down at the little blue boy standing beside him.

"Well, thank ye, Atomo," O'Hara offered, holding out his hand to the boy. "Who knows how long it would've taken us to get back here on our own."

"Hey, I would've figured it out," Oswald called out, throwing a glance at the group. Turning back to Dr. Shaffer he mumbled, "Okay, so it might've taken some time."

Minnie stepped out of the house, staying on the front steps, as she ended a phone call. "The police are on their way," she announced to those on the lawn.

"I must make mine leave," Dr. Einmug admitted with a nod to O'Hara. He looked down at Mickey and added, "I hope, next time, you vill have de time to chat. You say dat rabbit ist von brot'er?"

"We will have to catch up again," Mickey offered, smiling at the man. He looked down at Atomo and added, "And I'll make sure some of his kids come along. I'm sure you and 42 would be fast friends."

"Alright, Atomo," Dr. Einmug said, taking hold of the boy's hand. "Let us go home."

"Bye-bye," Atomo said, waving his free hand as they disappeared out of sight.

"Dr. Shaffer, Oswald," Michael said, stepping out of the house. He threw an "excuse me" to Minnie as he passed her and jumped down the steps. He skidded to a stop as O'Hara and Mickey turned around, surprise mirroring the mice's faces.

"How's the organizing going?" Oswald asked, keeping his eyes on the tablet. He looked up and took in the two mice. "Oh, right. Michael, we just figured out how to free Mickey while you were organizing."

"I would've liked to have been there when you did," Michael grumbled. He stepped over to Mickey, the younger mouse giving the portrait over to O'Hara, as Michael's features softened up. "Kind of hate I won't even be able to tell Clementine about this. She wouldn't believe me if I did."

"This is who I was telling ye about," O'Hara offered. "We got yer grandfather on accident trying for ye."

"Oh boy, I've missed you," Mickey said, smiling as he gave the older mouse a hug. "It was your stories that gave me so many ideas."

"I hope none that get you in trouble with your folks," Mickey said with a laugh as he hugged Mickey back.

The two broke apart as Mickey admitted, "Probably a few."

"Sorry to break this up, but you were calling for us?" Oswald asked as he and Dr. Shaffer stepped over.

"Right, every room is organized by period, and there's a pile by the stairs that I'm not sure," Micheal admitted.

"That's still a great help," Minnie offered, walking over.

"And we figured out how to send you back," Dr. Shaffer offered.

"The only thing is, you're probably gonna end up back in front of that propeller," Oswald admitted, glancing down at the tablet in his hands. He looked back up and admitted, "The cloud wasn't designed to just drop people off."

"Can you even say you know what you're doing?" Minnie asked.

"99 percent," Dr. Shaffer said in answer.

"Nope," Oswald simply said.

"I can tell you it'll work," Mickey said, his eyes wide in realization. Looking at the group he explained, "I still remember him as my Grandfather, telling me stories."

"And if I got stuck here or worst," Michael added, following Mickey's train of thought, "you wouldn't have any memory of me." He turned to Oswald and smile wide. "Give my good bye's to Mrs. Ortensia and the kids. I will miss them, as well as you."

"Thanks, it's been nice having..." Oswald's voice fell away as he lowered the tablet. "Having a Grandpa."

"Come here," Michael ordered, giving Oswald a hug.

"If something happens and sends us back your way, we'll stop and say hey," Oswald promised before they broke the hug.

"I'll keep you to that," Michael said with a smile. He let out a sigh before saying, "Okay, I'm ready. Send me back."

"Remember to run," Oswald reminded. He looked down at the tablet and took a few steps back as a dark cloud formed in the clear blue sky. It spiraled down and around as Michael gave them all a wave.

"Good-bye, Michael," Minnie wished as she waved.

"Good-bye," Mickey offered as the man disappeared behind the dark cloud. Green sparks appeared in the clouds before disappearing, leaving nothing in its wake as police sirens sounded in the distance.

Oswald looked up at Mickey, seeing a sad smile on the mouse's face. "Kinda wish I had grown up with him," Oswald admitted.

"I could go through the old photo albums with you," Mickey offered.

"I'd like that."

"Delivery for Oswald T.L. Rabbit!" a voice called out as a mail truck drove up the driveway.

"Well that's a new one," Oswald commented, walking over to the driver's window as the white vehicle slowed to a stop. "I'm Oswald."

"Sign this," the dog said, holding out a paper on a clipboard.

Oswald tucked the tablet under his arm so he could sign his name as he asked, "How could I have mail out here?"

"Don't ask me, this thing's almost a historical relic by now but this is the orders that were written up with it," the dog said, taking back the clipboard. He swapped it with a yellow foxing envelope with the abbreviated name written on it. "Wait till the guys hear about this," the mail man said with a laugh. "Have a good day."

Oswald watched the mail truck back out of the drive just in time to avoid the three cop cars that pulled in.

"Well, what does it say?" Mickey asked as he and Minnie stepped over to Oswald.

Oswald opened the envelop and pulled out the letter to exclaim, "It's from Michael!" He started from the top and read aloud, "Dear Oswald and family, I returned just as you predicted, back running for my life. But thanks to you I had enough time to dodge out of its way. I'm writing this not even a week after my return and I must admit, I did tell my wife of my adventure through time. She knows me too well. But we've sworn to not tell anyone else, not even our own children.

"Mickey, I can't wait until I can see you again, and Oswald..." the rabbit read it to himself before reading it aloud. "I'm glad to call you family. With warm regards, Micheal Mouse Jr."

"You've got a lot of family to learn now," Mickey said, throwing an arm around Oswald for a side hug.

"Great, and I'm bad with names," Oswald said with a laugh.

The End