Isabelle got home and her dad was back from the hospital.
"Dad!" She said as she ran to hug him.
"How are you doing Isabelle?"
"Oh my God" she covered her mouth in disbelief, crying profusely.
"Dad. I can't remember the last time I saw you this conscious or even call my name"
"I guess I'm better now"
"Oh dad" she said, hugging him and crying.
"My little girl. I've missed you too" he said as he hugged her.
"I've missed you both as well" he said as Rosa and Jimmy joined them for a hug.
Benjamin wiped the little tears that came out of his eyes, he was touched.
"And Doctor, I cannot thank you enough" he said, turning to Benjamin.
"Oh please. You have no idea how happy I am to see you all this happy" he said sniffling.
"Thank you so much Benjamin" Isabelle said as she hugged him.
"You are very much welcome, lamb. You're welcome"
"Following a couple more treatments and steady medications, your dad will be able to walk again" Benjamin announced.
"Oh my God" Rosa shouted as she jumped all over her father.
"Now, I must take my leave" Benjamin said.
"No, please stay. Rosa just made dinner. Her cooking may not be as good as Isabelle's but it's something"
"Dad!" Rosa said in defense, and they laughed.
"I can testify of Isabelle's cooking" Benjamin chuckled,
"And I wish I could stay to testify for you as well, but I must be somewhere right now" he said.
"Perhaps some other time doctor" Isabelle's dad said.
"Goodbye everyone" he said and left.
"Bye Benjamin" they chorused.
"Hey Jameel" Isabelle said, picking his call.
"Sure. About twenty minutes ago. Why would I see anyone or anything unusual. Is everything alright? she continued,
"Oh my God. Is he okay?"
"I'm perfectly fine. Thanks," she said and hung up.
"What's going on Isabelle?" Her dad asked.
"It's my driver"
"You got your own driver?" he asked, shocked.
"What? No, he's not my own driver"
"He's her driver dad, he comes to pick her up every morning and he drops her off every night," Jimmy said.
"Good heavens. This is rather exciting to hear"
"Dad, ignore that little fella. Jameel's not my driver, he's my boss's"'
"Your boss?" He asked.
"I got a job at The Castle and..."
"What! The Castle?" Her dad exclaimed.
"Yeah, Sophie's friend got me in with his influence"
"Oh, that was very kind of her and her friend" he said.
"So, what do you do?" He asked.
"I'm personal assistant to the President of the company"
"My God, that's wonderful"
"He's been to the house a couple of times" Rosa said.
"Is that true Isabelle?" he asked in disbelief.
"Dad, don't listen to these exaggerative kids, but yes. He's been over a few times"
"Heavens. That's good, I'm proud of you"
"Thanks dad"
"Rosa, fill me in on your life. How's school?"
"Jimmy and I won a fully funded scholarship till we're both done with college"
"What!" Isabelle and her dad shouted at the same time, they looked at each other and back at Rosa and Jimmy.
"You didn't tell me it was till the end of college" Isabelle said shocked.
"It's been good news upon good news since I got home" her dad said.
"I have gotten better in spelling and in calculations" Jimmy added.
"Isn't that excellent, congratulations my boy" his dad said and bopped him.
After dinner, Rosa and Jimmy did the dishes.
"I must say I'm really impressed" her dad said, it was just the two of them in the dining room.
"I'm glad I didn't let you down" she smiled at him.
"I have told you how proud I am. But I haven't thanked you"
"C'mon now dad, you don't have to"
"No. You won't understand," he said, his voice breaking.
"She promised to stand by me, in good and in bad, in sickness and in good health" he continued,
"But she broke all promises and left. I remember the last day I saw her. How she walked out from my bed side with her bag"
"And that was the last I saw of her. She left her family, her kids, Isabelle, she left me" her dad said as he broke down in tears.
"Please don't cry dad, I beg of you"
"You and your siblings were the only reason I didn't give up and turn off my life support. And you had to give up your life to start living as both mom and dad"
"And I must say, you've done excellent work, you have done excellently well"
"So, I say thank you. Thank you so much Isabelle"
"For being the father, I couldn't be, and filling the void of the absent mother" he said, Isabelle wiping the tears off his face.
"Even in another life, I would choose you. Over and over again, as
my dad" she said, still hugging him.
"Are you okay Dad?" Jimmy asked as he walked in on his dad.
"Of course, champ. Never been better"
"Are you in pain?" He asked.
"No, I'm very happy"
"Then why are you crying?"
"It's called tears of joy, you little killjoy" Rosa said
"Be nice Rosa" Isabelle said and she chuckled.
"You're sure it was them? Cartel del Sol?" Dominic asked.
"Yes. I happened to see their signature tattoo on one of the men"
"Those little fuckers are back in town. We'd have to tighten all ends, increase security"
"Yes Sir"
"And Isabelle, she must be kept safe, Jameel"
"Done"
"And you too, stay safe"
"I will boss"
"I can take care of myself" They both got into the elevator and headed home.
José punched the wall hard and shouted in frustration.
"You were six men! Six men against one man! And you had one job"
"Just one job, to bring him back alive. And you let him slip through your fingers, all six of you!" He shouted in anger.
"And you! You let him fuck you up like a niñita" he said, addressing the one who was beaten up by Jameel.
"You let a nigger fuck you up like this. Tsk tsk tsk. Qué lástima!" He took a deep breath and faced them again.
"Now this doesn't only concern my brother. This also concerns Diego" he addressed everyone.
"I want everyone on deck. I'm not assigning six men this time. Everyone is in on this"
"You may shoot him in the leg or the hand. But he must be brought to base"
"Hello sweetheart," Dominic said over the phone with Isabelle.
"Hey handsome," she said happily.
"Ouu, it seems someone is in a happy mood tonight" she chuckled lightly.
"My dad came home today, Dominic"
"Wow, that was today?"
"Yes. I've never seen my siblings so happy before" she said, laughing in tears.
"Isabelle, how about you? What about how happy you were?"
"Well. I was overjoyed"
"Are you crying?"
"These are tears of joy, hearing him talk, being conscious of his surroundings"
"Being able to eat proper food, express himself, and Benjamin says he may walk if all things go well" she said, sniffling.
"I'm happy you're happy Isabelle. That's all I want, for you to be happy"