Chapter 17

Andrew knew he needed to get back to Kristin, but to leave Monica was not an option. Until he fixed her door, he couldn’t even lock her inside long enough to even get Kristin up here with him and he offered up a silent prayer for help.

A moment later, he heard voices and knew that the Father had sent him not only one angel, but a human he was almost convinced could be an angel in disguise.

“What the hell-?” Paul’s usual tact when he was sideswiped was like music to Andrew’s ears as with all the gentleness within his being, he slipped from Monica’s embrace and pulled the quilt gently over her sleeping form.

“I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” He whispered as he leaned down to kiss her forehead and as he stood back up, he looked into her pale face once more, completely overcome by her vulnerability and the fact that anyone, human or not, could look into that face and raise a hand to hurt her. He knew he could never begin to understand nor did he want to.

“Andrew?” Tess looked at him expectantly and he could sense the deep concern behind his name.

“What happened to the door?” Paul demanded, his eyes moving from the object that had been torn from its hinges to the angel.

“About the same thing that happened to Monica,” He replied grimly even as his eyes flashed with anger, “David happened.”

“That son of a-.”

“Is she all right, baby?” Tess’ voice held urgency as she took a step nearer to the bedroom.

“She’s sleeping,” Andrew replied, choosing not to answer the question directly, “I need to go and talk to Kristin for a minute. She’s in my apartment. Stay with her and I’ll explain what I know in a few minutes,” He didn’t allow for a reply as he quickly headed out of the apartment, not wanting to tempt fate with giving David time to find his wife.

Tess and Paul exchanged a glance before they walked into the bedroom and the older angel felt tears fill her eyes as she was able to at least piece together part of the story, “Oh Angel Girl,” She whispered softly as she approached her sleeping charge, her eyes taking in the already forming bruise on her swollen cheek as well as the bandage on her forehead. As Monica stirred slightly, Tess’ eye caught sight of her wrist and the deepening bruise and increased swelling and she fought to keep her anger at bay. David had opened old wounds in more ways than one.

Paul’s jaw was set in deep anger and he felt an ache fill his heart as the little angel whimpered softly in pain, even in sleep. He should have taught the bastard a lesson the other night while he had the chance, knowing that David would have then reconsidered his actions against Monica out of fear for his life if nothing else. Well, it would not happen again.

“I’ll be back,” His voice was low and threatening and he caught the argumentative look in Tess’ eyes, but he was not about to allow it to deter him, “What apartment is he in?”

Knowing she could not interfere with Paul’s free will, not to mention that she had a feeling he would beat on every door in the building if she didn’t tell him, she relented, “He’s right below Monica’s, but Paul,” She watched as he stopped at the bedroom door and turned to face her once more, “Don’t do anything you may regret, baby. We don’t even know what happened yet.”

“I know enough, Tess, and believe me, I will not for one second regret it.”

As he departed, the older angel took a seat in the chair beside of Monica’s bed and moved to stroke her hair gently, her mind going over all the things that the little angel had been confronted with the past few weeks and she shook her head sadly, “Father, You know that I am not generally one to question the plan, but please help me to understand this.”

*****

“Is she all right?” Kristin sat up straight on Andrew’s couch as he entered into the apartment. She could clearly see the answer to her question in his eyes and she wanted to weep over her husband’s actions without even knowing in detail what those actions had been.

“She’s resting,” He began, wanting more than anything to be able to return to Monica’s side, but knowing he had to speak with the young woman first, “I think she’ll be all right.”

She knew Andrew was being vague intentionally to spare her feelings, but it was doing little to make her feel better, “I’m so sorry. I never should have gone to her this morning. I didn’t even know that David knew about her.”

He sat down beside her, knowing he needed to explain at least somewhat, “Because Monica knows you, and she works at O’Reilly’s, she has been trying to talk to him; trying to get him to open up and he has not reacted kindly to her attempts.”

“She’s been trying to help me? Trying to help David?” Tears shimmered in her eyes as she was no longer accustomed to such kindnesses being offered.

“Yes. Monica cares about people very much and she hates to see anyone hurting,” He replied, knowing that much at the very least had been true at one time, though now he was concerned that his friend might become apathetic to the whole human race, “Her main concern this morning was to keep you from being hurt.”

“David would never hurt me,” She whispered, shaking her head, her expression one of conviction, “though there have been moments when I had wondered if he could, he always leaves before he reaches that point. He loves me, Andrew, and somewhere in there is a good man. He just needs to find that part of himself again.”

Though he didn’t look convinced of that, he nodded his head for her sake, “I’m not sure if he went home or not. Is there someone I can call to be with you?”

“No. He may be afraid that Monica will call the police,” She looked up at him worriedly, “She won’t, will she?” Kristin almost immediately felt sorry for even asking the question. Monica had every right to call the police and David had every right to go to jail, “I’m sorry. She should call them. She put herself in danger to help me and now she is hurt.”

Andrew had to smile, wishing that his friend could see as clearly as he did, the many lives she touched on a daily basis, “For what it is worth, I don’t think she has any intention of calling them or pressing charges.”

“I don’t know. Maybe a few nights in jail would do him good and sober him up,” She muttered sadly.

“What are you going to do? You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need to,” He offered, hoping that she would take him up on the offer.

“I think it best that I go home, though I doubt he is there,” She met her eyes with his hopefully, “Would it be all right if I stopped in to see Monica later?”

“She needs a little time, Kristin, but I think that later she would very much enjoy seeing you,” Andrew replied carefully, not sure of what the little angel would be up to dealing with today.

“Tell her ‘thank you’ for me and that I’m sorry,” She told him remorsefully, as she tried to squelch the nagging thought that maybe it was time she packed her bags and moved on with her life.

*****

“Where is Paul?” Andrew asked quietly as he stepped inside of Monica’s bedroom once more, relieved that she was still fast asleep.

“He went to try to find David. He was furious.”

“Yeah, well, that makes two of us then,” The words slipped from him before he had time to consider them, but just looking at the sleeping angel was enough to send anger flowing through him once more. Not wanting Monica to wake up and overhear his words, he motioned to Tess and the older angel followed him out of the room, as he pulled the door shut halfway, wanting to be able to hear her if she woke up.

“He wasn’t home,” Paul stated as he met them in the living room, quiet fury still present on his face, “Is she still sleeping?” Seeing them both nod, he crossed his arms across his chest, “What happened?” He had made a trip to the corner store for an ace bandage for Monica’s wrist, in an attempt to control his anger, but it had been of little help.

As they all took seats in the living room, Andrew ran tired hands through his hair, “From what I’ve been able to gather, Kristin showed up here this morning as David was in a rage about something. When he showed up, Monica told him that Kristin wasn’t here as she was trying to protect her.”

The mere thought of the petite angel trying to protect anyone against a man of David’s weight and build was enough to send Paul over the edge, “So he then broke down her door and beat the crap out of her? Is that it?”

“Kristin came to get me,” Andrew replied, electing to dodge the question and the pain that flowed through him at Paul’s words.

“He must have snapped over her lying to him,” Tess mused, but Andrew interrupted her heatedly.

“She lied to protect Kristin, Tess!”

The older angel looked shocked by his outburst and held up her hand in defense, “Baby, I’m not judging her. I’m just trying to piece this together, the same way you are.”

Paul watched as Andrew nodded his head, “I don’t care if she hit him first. He would have deserved it and he had no right to lay a finger on her. He’s lucky he wasn’t home, but his luck is going to eventually run out,” The agent’s tone was threatening and he had already decided that if he had to take up residence at O’Reilly’s, he would do just that, “How bad is that cut on her head, Andrew? Should she even be sleeping?”

Andrew shook his head. “Honestly? Probably not, but I thought if I just woke her every hour or so that she would be alright. She was in pain, and when she fell asleep…” he shrugged. “I just wanted her to have a little bit of peace.”

Tess looked at him sadly. She knew how much this had to be upsetting him. It was upsetting for all of them. She tightened her hand around the arm of the sofa. Judging people wasn’t in her nature. That was for God to do, and she had experienced centuries of men doing inhumane things. From the Romans sacrificing Christians to lions, and on down through the Inquisition and numerous wars, she had been a witness, doing God’s will when asked, and standing back when His love had been completely rejected. It had been difficult to simply watch without becoming enraged over the atrocities, but although she had been deeply saddened, she had known that in the end all things were part of a larger plan. Now, one man striking her little Angel Girl had suddenly made acceptance much harder to achieve.

“So she didn’t need stitches or a doctor?” Paul’s words cut though the older angel’s thoughts.

“No, it bled a lot, but it wasn’t that deep.” Andrew closed his eyes. Even talking about it was bringing back the terrible feelings of fear and helplessness he had felt as she lay unmoving on the bed. “I can’t even imagine how scared she must have been,” he whispered, not realizing until the words were in the air that he had actually spoken them aloud.

Tess reached over to run a soothing hand along Andrew’s arm. “She knows she’s safe now, baby. She’ll be alright.”

“She wants to go Home, Tess, and I can’t say that I blame her. I told her to just wait and see what happens, but really, how much more can she be expected to endure?”

Paul was nodding his head in agreement. As much as he didn’t want to lose Monica’s company, he couldn’t stand the thought of her in any more pain. Tess didn’t know how to respond. Her own doubts were strong, and she opened her mouth wordlessly, grappling with what she needed to say versus what she was actually feeling. She closed her eyes briefly and a flash of peace swept into her soul, renewing her faith.

“I know that we all want to protect Monica and keep her from all harm,” she said, “and no one wants that more than the Father. This is very hard for Him as well. Monica started this assignment with distrust of all humans in her heart, and even though she has been touched by the kindness of some, the pain caused by one has kept her from seeing it. By the time this is all over, she will see. She will even witness the goodness within David.”

Paul looked absolutely shocked by Tess’ announcement. “David? Goodness?” he let out an involuntary snort. “Yeah, well I’m afraid I won’t be holding my breath waiting for that to happen. Although after I get through with him he’ll probably be willing to say just about anything you want.”

Tess’ dark eyes shifted to the agent and stared into his face. The solemn gaze was enough to make him blink and look away. “Paul, you can’t go out seeking vengeance, even for this. Monica wouldn’t want that, and you know it.”

He pressed his lips together, unwilling to agree but knowing she was right. Instead he decided to switch topics altogether. “I hate to bring this up, but David’s attack here this morning has made something I should have told you yesterday impossible to ignore.”

“What are you talking about?” Andrew sat forward, not in the mood to hear any more bad news.

“If David had been the one to wreck this place night before last, he would have gloated about it this morning… to you as well as her. That brings me back to the case I’m working on. I didn’t tell you yesterday because I didn’t want to worry Monica, but whoever broke into my room took all of my notes and just the important bits of some files I was studying. David wouldn’t have done that, and the picture that you found here came from one of those file.”

Andrew’s face hardened, his eyes grim. “So you’re telling us that you’re sure that Monica has not one person out there willing to hurt her, but two.”

“I’m sorry,” Paul lowered his head. “I had no idea that just talking to her would be enough to get her involved.”

“It’s not your fault, baby,” Tess assured him. “You wouldn’t do anything to endanger her on purpose.”

Andrew was more to the point. “Do you know who it is? Do you have any leads? What is this case, anyway?”

Paul took a breath. “I’ve been trying to discover who the leak in the agency is. Someone let McArthur know where we were going, and after some digging I found out that there were other cases just like that one… including Lauren’s.”

“That’s why you had her file.”

Paul nodded. “Yeah.” His piercing eyes met first Andrew’s and then Tess’. “But I have some ideas… some people I’m looking at. I must be getting close, and trust me, I will find him.”

“I have no doubt about that.” Andrew met his gaze again and a shared understanding passed between them. They were still partners. Partners dedicated to keeping Monica safe.

Paul stood up. “In fact, I want to start tracking down something I found yesterday,” he said. “But I want to just see Monica one more time before I go.”

“You two go on,” Tess pushed herself off the sofa. “I want to fix her something to eat.” She shook her head. “That angel has not been eating properly.”

Andrew smiled inwardly. He had a feeling that Tess just knew that having everyone hovering over her at once would be too overwhelming for the little angel. Paul grabbed the ace bandage from its bag and headed into the bedroom, waiting only just long enough for Andrew to catch up to him. He paused at the doorway, looking in at Monica’s tiny body, curled in on itself protectively.

“Tess says that there’s some good in him, but I don’t know how anyone could hurt her, much less someone who’s supposedly good.”

“I keep thinking the same thing.”

Chapter 18

Andrew and Paul went into the room quietly, not wanting to startle the angel if she happened to be awake. She didn’t even move when Andrew sat beside her on the bed, and he had a brief moment of anxiety, wondering if he should have insisted that she stay awake.

“Monica?” he called, moving the icepack from her face and gently stroking down the side of her swollen jaw.

He breathed in deeply as her eyes flickered open. They still held traces of fear, but cleared as she saw that she was still in her bed, and the voice calling her had been Andrew’s.

“I was dreaming, I think,” she said quietly. “We were back at that little house in the woods, and Tess kept giving me coffee ice-cream.”

“Then you know it was only a dream,” Andrew chuckled, “because Tess monitors your caffeine intake like a hawk. He was hoping for at least a small grin, but none appeared.

“Paul!” she turned her head slightly and saw him standing near the door. “You can come in,” she told him, her heart warming slightly at his sudden shyness. She raised her uninjured hand to her face. “I hope I don’t look as bad as I feel.” she was joking, but without the accompanying smile her words took on a poignant tone.

“You look just fine,” he said. “Much better than David’s going to once we have a little chat.” He meant to be supportive and reassuring, but he realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth.

Monica was shaking her head and looking at him with heartbreaking eyes. “Paul, you can’t. That’s not what I want.”

He knew that the smart thing would be to agree with her and apologize but his emotions had seemingly taken control of his voice. “Monica, the guy beat you up! You think I’m going to let him get away with that?”

“Yes,” she replied, staring right through his eyes and into his soul. “Promise me that you won’t seek revenge for me.”

Paul sighed as he sat down at the foot of the bed, reaching out one hand to pat her leg. “I promise,” he agreed, but inside he was thinking that it wouldn’t actually be revenge if he just happened to pick a fight with the guy.

“Thank you.” She reached out to him and he inched closer to take her hand. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “I know it sounds strange, but having you and Andrew both around makes me feel completely safe.”

“You seem to forget that we didn’t actually do that great a job of it last time,” Paul scoffed as one eyebrow crept up.

“Maybe, but I can’t change how I feel.”

“Well I don’t think I have to tell you that I’d do anything in my power to keep you safe.”

“I think it’s part of some contract we signed,” Andrew piped up as he stood up to give Paul more room. “Once a protector, always a protector.”

Monica finally smiled, and even let out the tiniest of laughs.

“Here, let me see that wrist,” Paul said as he took Andrew’s place at her side and, reached into his bag to take out the bandage. “I’ve had more than a few sprained wrists in my time.”

He had to clench his jaw to keep from saying all that he wanted to as he looked at the swelling and bruising. He didn’t think that the two angels would be interested in the various and inventive ways he had learned to swear during F.B.I. boot camp at Quantico. Instead he was as gentle and quick and quiet as could be as he bandaged her wrist.

“It feels better already,” Monica said, tracing a finger along the tan wrap. She hoped that she sounded as grateful as she felt despite her grief over needing such attention in the first place.

Paul looked into her eyes, but didn’t comment on what he saw there. “I’m glad,” he said instead. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have some work I need to get done,” he said after a brief pause, “but I’ll be checking in on you later and I expect to hear that you followed all of Andrew and Tess’ advice.”

“Since I don’t feel much like leaving this bed, I think that won’t be a problem,” Monica answered, a slight hint of sadness back in her voice.

“Just rest. You’ll feel better later, I can practically guarantee it.” Paul squeezed her hand for a long moment before rising and heading out the door.

“Paul?” The sound of Monica’s voice stopped him as he turned around once more, something he was trying to forget stirring in his heart at the hopeful look in her dark eyes, as he waited for her to continue.

“Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

He smiled, shaking his head slightly, “No need for you to worry about that, honey. I’m here for as long as your Boss allows me to be. I’ll check in with you later. I promise.”

She nodded her head, reassured, but being careful to not cause herself any unnecessary pain. As she watched Paul leave, Andrew resumed his seat on the bed beside of her and gently reached to stroke her temple, “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

Monica debated how she wanted to answer that question as she tried to separate the physical from the emotional in her mind and not being at all sure of which one Andrew was referring to so she settled on the most honest answer she could find that summed up all of her feelings, “I hurt.”

“I know,” He replied just as simply, so clearly able to feel the fear the confusion in heart, “Tess is fixing you something to eat. Do you want to try to sit up?”

Nervousness appeared in the little angel’s dark eyes at the thought of Tess being here and undoubtedly knowing of her failure. Though she had known that there was no way to really keep it from her supervisor, she had hoped for more time… a lot more time.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Andrew told her gently, seeing the worry in her eyes and only wanting to erase it, “Everyone understands that you had no control over how things happened today, even Tess. Now, come on, let me help you up.”

He was as gentle and slow as he knew how to be, as he wrapped his strong arm around her and helped her to a sitting position with pillows behind her back, but even despite all his efforts, her eyes were still clouded with tears of pain as she pressed the fingers of her good hand to her forehead.

“I’m sorry, angel,” He said his voice heavy with remorse over having caused her additional pain.

“It’s not your fault,” She insisted weakly, her fingers hesitantly touching the bandage above her eye. She wanted to burst into tears at the terrifying memories the bandage evoked in her, but she refrained, not wanting to put Andrew through anymore than she had already put him through today.

Seeing her struggle, he reached up and touched her bruised and swollen cheek, watching as the gesture caused a tear to escape her eye.

“Why is this happening to me, Andrew?” Her voice was so soft and filled with such sorrow that it nearly broke his heart.

“I don’t know, Monica,” He admittedly truthfully, wishing he had a better answer for her.

“Only the Father knows that right now, baby,” Tess added as she walked into the room carrying a tray containing a sandwich and a cup of coffee for the younger angel. She watched as Monica looked at her, her expression one of remorse and gulit and Tess knew she had to find a way to alleviate those feelings.

“Tess, I’m sorry, I-,” But her supervisor was quick to cut her off as she set the tray on Monica’s lap.

“Angel Girl, an apology is not warrented nor needed for the things that have happened so far with your assignment,” Tess told her gently as she sat down on the other side of the bed, “Truth be told, I am the one who is sorry for how things happened today as I never want to see you hurt, especially not at the hands of a confused, though violent man.”

Monica lowered her eyes, feeling unable to meet her supervisor’s gaze at the moment, “I lied to him,” She stated simply, as if this justified whatever actions David had taken against her.

“You protected Kristin from him,” She contradicted, waiting until the little angel had raised her eyes once more to continue, “The Father still has a plan, baby and though He is the last one who wants to see any pain come to you, He can take even this and turn it into something good if you just give him the chance to do so.”

“But I promised David I’d stay away from he and Kristin,” She explained tearfully, “I had to promise or he…”

“Or he wouldn’t have stopped his abuse against you,” Andrew stated, a hint of anger in his voice at this information that he had just pieced together.

She started to nod her head, but stopped the motion as pain tore through her, “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. Maybe I should have just allowed him to continue until God found a way to stop him…”

“No one deserves such acts of abuse, Monica, not even an angel,” Tess replied adamently, knowing that was true, “And God can help you turn this around.”

Monica fell silent for a moment, her eyes on the sandwich on her plate, the very thought of eating causing her to feel sick on her stomach as her body ached so badly, “What if I don’t want to turn it around, Tess?” She whispered, “I’m so tired of people trying to hurt me and tired of making mistakes that make them feel like they need to do that in the first place.”

There it was. The guilt that Tess and Andrew had started to expect was beginning to leave the oldest angel more than slightly unsettled, “Listen to me, Monica,” She began, reaching to take the little angel’s hand in her own, “These mistakes that you speak so freely of are simply the Father’s plan unfolding around you. Joshua would have died that night, with or without you. Did it ever occur to you that you were right where God needed you to be in order to be able to identify the man who had done that? You may think that you lingered in a place when you should have been moving on, but God has a plan, baby. He always does. We may not be able to always understand it and we may not be able to always see His hand, but in our hearts we know that He is always in control of every situation. He brought Andrew to you, and He gave you Paul, who has become a loyal friend and the Father did these things because He loves you. But in return, you need to trust Him, Angel Girl and just like you have told many an assignment, He is always with you and He catches every tear you shed.”

The tears that Tess spoke of trailed down her pale face as she felt Andrew move closer to her, as if trying to shield her from her own pain, “I don’t want to let Him down…”

“You could never do that, angel,” He offered her, trying to take strength from Tess’ words of wisdom, “He knows your heart, just as He knows David’s heart and for some reason, only known to the One who knows all truth, He placed the two of you together, though that reason will only become known to you both in His time.”

“I don’t see how I can help him now,” She pleaded, a part of her wishing that she could find a way and another part of her not caring enough to try, “He’d rather raise his hand to me than to listen to anything I have to say.”

“His heart isn’t ready to hear the truth yet, baby. Sometimes a man has to hit rock bottom to be ready to embrace what God sends us here to tell. The good news is that even at the bottom, He is there as through you, God will meet David in the place where the truth can be heard.”

Slowly, Monica leaned her pounding head back against her pillows as she closed her eyes, “God wants me to go back to work at the bar…”

“Not tonight, baby,” Tess admonished softly with a shake of her head,” Paul was going to stop at O’Reilly’s on his way back to his hotel to let then know you wouldn’t be in tonight,” She explained, saying a silent prayer that the agent was not going to wait at the bar for David to show up in order to even the score on Monica’s behalf, “But when you do return, the Father wants you to proceed gently and carefully, until David is in that place where he can hear what you have to say.”

Eyes still closed, the little angel let out a trembling breath, “I’ll try, Tess. I’ll try.”

“That’s all He is asking you to do, baby,” Her supervisor replied, as she reached over and laid a hand on her swollen face, just as Andrew had done moments before, “I know this has been hard, Angel Girl, and you have felt unprepared, but you are doing just fine. The Father says so, and so do I.”

*****

Paul ran his fingers through his hair and then swept the back of his wrist over forehead, brushing away the light sheen of perspiration that had gathered there. Then it was back to typing as he peered into the small late-model monitor and ran searches and crosschecks and verifications against his three most likely suspects. He paused once more to redirect the small fan that was clamped to his desk. His temporary office at the main agency headquarters was more like a storage closet with a desk, and it was hot, stuffy and uncomfortable. He longed for his own office, at the satellite branch near his farm, with its sleek black seventeen inch monitor and adjustable air-conditioning.

His notebook, with the dates and transaction amounts from Mike’s bank account lay open on the desk. He still hadn’t run the checks against them. He told himself that he had other leads from other suspects that were more incriminating, but the truth was that he didn’t want to discover the truth if it meant that the man he had trusted for so many years was also the man who had led to the death of at least a dozen innocent people, including the woman he had planned to spend the rest of his life growing old with.

Paul was the type of man who kept to himself much of the time. He didn’t have a lot of close friends, preferring to be more selective. He had always thought himself to be a very good judge of character, something that came in very useful in his line of work. The idea that he could have been so wrong about someone close to him set his stomach churning. No. There were other men who could be responsible.

“Hey, Paul, how’s it going here in the sauna?” Mike didn’t bother knocking before stepping through the open door, and Paul nonchalantly stacked a pile of folders on top of his notebook.

“Not bad,” he replied. “Going slower than I hoped, but I’ll get him.”

“I’m sure you will… eventually,” Mike leaned against the doorframe and folded h is arms across his chest. This was his last chance. If he couldn’t distract the younger agent then he was going to have to put into motion the plan he had already thought out in his head.

“You look like you have something on your mind.”

“Yeah, actually I do,” Mike said. “I know how much this mission means to you, but I might have to ask you to hand it off to someone else.”

“What? Why?”

“There’s another witness due to need protection within the week.”

“Mike, you have other agents.”

“I know that, but you’re the best, and don’t pretend you don’t know it. It’s a high profile case. I can’t just leave it to anyone.”

Paul balked. There was no way he was giving up without a fight. “Fine. You can put me on it, but I’m not handing this off to anyone. You say I’ve got a week? I’ll just have to work a little faster, and if I don’t have it nailed down then I’ll work on it in the field.” His dark eyes met Mike’s. “This is Lauren’s case. I’m not just giving it away.”

Mike nodded, mouth stretched into a grim line. He had been expecting that. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said Paul was the best, and he already knew that he was on the short-list of suspects. Paul was already so close he doubted that it would take a week to piece together enough to have a prosecutable case.

“Alright, Paul. You know I’m not gonna yank it out from under you.” He was going to play this out as long as he possibly could. He stepped forward and stretched out one hand to point the fan at his face. “You really need to get a few more of these,” he joked.

Paul smiled, but then his eye caught on something. Mike’s watch. It was a gold Rolex and worth probably more than he made in a month. “Nice watch,” he commented, as much to see the reaction as anything else.

The other agent withdrew his hand and then looked down at the slim, distinctive watch. “Yeah, and it cost a bundle too,” he said, his words carefully measured. “Rich old aunt died and left me with some kind of trust fund. I don’t keep track of it much, just smile every time I see a deposit from it.” His head was still tilted downwards, but he kept glancing at Paul out of the corner of his eye. The other agent looked relaxed, almost relieved, and he took a breath and looked up again. “Anyway, I’d better not hold you up anymore. Remember, just say the word if you need any help.”

“Will do.”

He watched as Mike left the office and headed down the hallway towards the elevators, probably on his way to his own office. He carefully moved the files off of his notebook and looked down at the scribbled dates and amounts. Everything in his heart wanted to believe that the money was the gift of an extremely generous and wealthy relative. His eyes flicked up to his monitor, and to the tiny clock in the corner. Nearly four o’clock. He closed the notebook and tucked it under his arm as he stood. He needed to get to O’Reilly’s. Maybe he’d get a chance to compare his notes to the newly copied files after he got back to the hotel. Or maybe it could wait until morning.

*****

The day had started out hot and it had only gotten hotter as the minutes and hours passed. Even the shady spot David had found in the park wasn’t much cooler than the rest of the city. He sat on an old stone bench, head cradled in his hands as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. His head wouldn’t stop pounding and he squeezed it tightly as if he could press the pain out. He needed a stiff drink.

He lifted his head and looked down at his hands, slowly making each one into a fist and then uncurling it to lie harmlessly in his lap. He still couldn’t believe he had actually hit her. Like an old nickel movie it played over in his brain, scratchy in places, with a soundtrack that skipped and repeated. He hadn’t planned it. It had just happened. He clenched his fists again. She had deserved it. He never would have done it if she hadn’t deserved it.

A light breeze carried the scent of roses, Kristin’s favorite flower, and he dropped his head to his hands once more. He remembered when he had brought her flowers at least once a week. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, with the menial jobs he picked up at the dock and a few warehouses every once in a while, he was lucky to keep them in food. Unemployment was going to run out soon, and then the baby would arrive and he wouldn’t even have the money to pay hospital bills. This was not the way his life was supposed to go. He had done everything right. Finished school, gone to college, gotten a good job and married the love of his life. He was supposed to be enjoying life. All he wanted to do was forget it in the bottom of a bottle. He needed a stiff drink. It was four o’clock, and O’Reilly’s was only a block away.

Chapter 19

The intense heat had kept most of the early bar patrons inside, choosing an ice-cold draft in a frosted mug and the air conditioning over the sweltering temperatures outside. Late spring in the city felt more like the balmy heat of August today.

Paul assured himself again and again that he was only going to talk to David; just scare him a little and make him regret ever raising a hand to the little angel, who he held such affection for. After all, he had made a promise not to seek revenge on her behalf. But the second he saw David approaching, he was on his feet and laying a hand on the man’s shoulder.

Feeling someone’s firm grip on his shoulder, David turned around just in time to see Paul’s fist coming at him, as the agent’s anger over seeing the bruises on Monica’s face and wrist flowed through him once more as if seeing them for the first time. He watched in satisfaction as David’s knees buckled under the force of the blow, knocking him to the ground as he raised a hand to his eye where Paul’s fist had made contact. The agent’s entire body was on high alert as he stood over the man, his expression daring David to fight back.

“That was for Monica,” He stated, his voice low and dangerous, “How does it feel to be as out matched as she was?”

“Get the hell away from me,” David growled, though he elected to remain on the ground lest Paul should hit him again. He knew the man’s strength could easily overpower him.

“Then you stay the hell away from Monica. You got that? If you so much as look at her wrong again, and rest assured I will be watching, and your wife will not even recognize you when you get home.”

“Your little girlfriend had it coming to her,” He retorted, instantly regretting his words as Paul leaned over and grabbed hold of David’s shirt, yanking him roughly to his feet.

Bringing his face close to David’s, Paul continued, trying to fight the urge to lay the man out till he wouldn’t see the sun rise again for a week. “There are few things I hate more than someone who preys on women, but you’ve chosen the wrong one this time, Dave. When you next see her, I had better hear an apology coming from your lips, immediately followed by a thank you for her not calling the police. Do we have an agreement or do I need to blacken your other eye for you to make it a matched set?”

David nodded his head, though in his mind he was already deciding that snow would fall in hell before he would apologize to a waitress, but he had a feeling that if he didn’t at least pretend to comply, Paul could easily kill him.

“If you were smart, you would pay attention to the things she has been trying to tell you as she wants to help you.”

“I don’t need help from anyone, especially not from a mouthy cocktail waitress,” David snapped, trying to back away, but the agent held on fast.

“You know, you’re as delusional as you are stupid,” Paul scowled, releasing him with a shove, “She’s probably the only person on the planet willing to give you the time of day and you could care less. You prefer the incredible insight you get from a drunken stupor. Let’s just hope your baby doesn’t follow in daddy’s footsteps.”

David lunged at him in a fury, but Paul lifted his arm and stepped out of the way, bringing his forearm and elbow down on the man’s back with such force, it once again knocked David to the ground, this time on his stomach and he heard David swear under his breath as he struggled to catch it.

“Next time you want to pick a fight, you come looking for me, buddy, not that you stand a chance, but at least the fight would be slightly more even,” He stated in disgust before he turned and walked into the bar, having told Tess he would let Beth know that Monica would not be in this evening. Then he planned on letting work go tonight and paying a promised visit to check on Monica as after all the time spent today on Lauren’s case, he felt the need to live in the present for a few hours.

*****

Monica awoke with a start, her heart pounding loudly in her chest until she realized she must have fallen back to sleep and that she was still safe in her room. Calming, she looked over at the clock, surprised to see that it was nearly six o’clock in the evening. She sat up cautiously, wincing slightly but a bit relieved that the acute throbbing of her head had subsided to more of an annoying ache.

She swung her legs off the bed and stood up, surprised to find herself a bit unsteady as she made her way over to the dresser and slowly raised her eyes to the mirror. The image reflected there caused tears to prick at the corners of her dark eyes. David had hit her twice, and the area between her jaw and cheekbone was swollen and bruised, though she was sure the bruises would look much worse tomorrow. The image was hard to face and even more difficult to fathom, as she raised her hand to tentatively touch her face, then the bandage on her forehead.

As an angel, she knew she really shouldn’t be concerned with how she looked, but to look at herself was a reminder that she had somehow become a victim and the thought was anything but comfortable. She had helped women and children in the past who suffered from abuse, reminding them that though their fathers may strike them that their heavenly Father’s hands were filled with nothing but love. She had told women who were battered and verbally abused by their husbands or boyfriends that God could heal their hearts and she had believed that the words she had been given to speak were filled with the truth.

But now she was finding herself on the other side of the spectrum, walking in the shoes of every victim she had ever known; feeling what they had been feeling and she now understood just how hard it was to see the truth. To be treated as if she was nothing, as if hurting her made no more difference then swatting at a fly, took something from her heart. Worth.

Monica had always believed that her existence held worth in a hurting world, until now. Until David had disregarded her so completely when he didn’t even know her at all. He made insinuations about her having multiple boyfriends, not knowing nor caring that Andrew and Paul were simply her friends and despite the fact that she was an angel, those words hurt much like the physical blows he had inflicted this morning. She had assignments in the past who had pushed her aside until they were finally ready to hear the truth, but to be so completely disregarded, to be struck out against with violence and words, left her feeling as if she meant little.

And what did it say about God to allow this to happen to her in the first place? That He had a plan? But why would His plan entail her getting hurt over and over again? Whatever it was He might be trying to teach her, she no longer wanted to learn.

“Angel?”

The sound of Andrew’s voice brought her from her reverie in front of the mirror as she managed a faint smile in his direction, “Hi.”

His brow furrowed in concern, seeing things in her eyes that he didn’t understand and he wondered if once again, she had shifted gears in the way she had been thinking, “How are you feeling?” He approached her carefully and gently touched the backs of his fingers against her face, still able to feel the heat that emanated from her cheek and jaw.

“A little better physically,” She admitted, touching her hand to her forehead once more, “My headache isn’t quite so intense. Where is Tess?”

“Making dinner, as you barely touched your lunch,” He explained, resting his hands on her shoulders to look into her troubled eyes. Though he knew she had agreed to not give up on her assignment, part of him still wished that she hadn’t made that decision. He wanted her kept safe and he had a feeling that if David were involved, she would be anything but that.

His thoughts were interrupted when she leaned into him heavily and he wasted no time in wrapping her up in his arms, “What is it, sweetie?”

“Nothing.” She whispered, closing her eyes as she focused on knowing that she did matter to someone; that there was someone who would never hurt her and whom she could always trust.

The way she clung to him didn’t feel like ‘nothing’, but he accepted the fact that at the moment words were not what she needed. “Let’s get you back to bed,” he said after a few minutes of silence. “Tess will bring in a tray.”

“No. I don’t want to stay in here anymore. I can eat at the table.”

“Whatever you want, Monica.” The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel like he was trying to bully her. He had to trust that she knew what she could handle. “Let me just get your robe.”

“What are you doing out here, baby?” Tess exclaimed as she caught sight of the little angel walking down the hall.

“She didn’t feel like staying cooped up in the bedroom,” Andrew answered for her, hopeful that Tess would catch the subtle inflection in his voice and not push. Thankfully, she seemed to understand immediately.

She already had one eyebrow raised in question, but she smoothly pushed aside what she had been prepared to say. “Well, that’s pretty understandable,” she said instead. “Dinner’s still cooking, so you just get all cozy on the sofa and I’ll bring you something to drink.”

“That’s alright, really,” Monica said, her voice sounding strangely hollow to her ears.

Monica made her way to the sofa rather slowly, not wanting to move too fast for fear the dizziness would return. Still, she was grateful that Andrew kept a few steps away from her instead of hovering at her side. She needed him so much, but she didn’t want to have him treating her any more like a delicate flower than he already did.

“You should drink something,” Andrew prodded gently.

He was looking at her not with concern because she had been hurt, but with love simply because of who she was. She reached out to grasp his hand and answered without moving her eyes from his face. “A glass of water would be nice.”

Tess nodded and smiled. She could see that her Angel Boy had things well under control and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Monica glanced around the living room, scenes from the morning replaying in her mind against her will. “You fixed the door,” she said quietly.

Andrew followed her line of sight to the new door, the light colored wood still needing to be painted to match the rest of the woodwork. “Had to do something to keep this little one from escaping,” he joked as he scooped Lucy up from the floor and deposited her on the angel’s lap. He thought his lighthearted approach would be better than telling about how pounding in each nail had been the only way to keep his recently all-too-human temper in control.

It worked. She smiled as soon as Lucy looked into her face. “Well that’s true. I wouldn’t want her running amok… she’s quite ferocious you know,” she teased as she held the kitten up and kissed its little nose.

“Oh, I can see that, Angel,” he smiled, glad to see that she hadn’t lost the last bits of her formerly fun-filled nature.

She was looking up at the door again when someone on the other side of it knocked. Even though it was a rather quiet knock, nothing like David’s earlier pounding, she started nonetheless and her grip on Andrew’s hand tightened.

“I’ll get it,” he said reassuringly. “It’s probably Paul. Remember? He promised to stop by.”

He left her sitting very stiffly on the sofa and went to open the door. He swung it wide open, intending to prove himself right, and was a little surprised to find himself looking down at Kristin, her small first still raised.

“Kristin! Come on in,” he said, not noticing that Monica had quickly turned away.

The Irish angel had both hands to her face, gently feeling the bruises and bandage. How was she supposed to let Kristin see her? She had told her she would be fine… that David wouldn’t hurt her… that they were just going to talk. Unfortunately there was no place to run to, and the floor stubbornly refused to open and swallow her. She kept her eyes fixed on her lap until she felt Kristin sit down beside her.

“Monica?” she said tentatively.

The angel looked up slowly, her eyes going first to Andrew who immediately sensed her distress. She couldn’t ignore the slight gasp from Kristin though, and she made herself look into the woman’s face.

“Oh, my God… Monica…” one hand flew to her mouth while the other reached out helplessly, wanting to do something though she knew there was nothing to do.

“It looks much worse than it is,” Andrew stepped in to fill the silence when he saw that Monica was at a loss for words.

“Yes… really… I’m fine, Kristin,” Monica found her voice at last.

Kristin shook her head. “No you aren’t! He hit you!” Her voice lowered, “He hit you instead of me…”

Monica’s eyes widened and she quickly took Kristin’s outstretched hand. “Kristin, this wasn’t your fault. It was beyond your control.”

“I came to you, Monica… he never would have come up here if I hadn’t run away from him.”

“Getting away was the right thing for you to do, and what happened afterwards wasn’t something you caused. You didn’t want it to happen…”

“Of course not! But it did! Andrew told me how you’ve been trying to help David all this time, and look what it’s gotten you…”

The angel of death was watching Monica very carefully, and when she raised her teary eyes to him he quickly moved closer and sat down on the coffee table, resting a hand on Kristin’s knee. “Monica tried to help because that’s part of who she is,” he explained, “and neither of you have anything to feel guilty about.” His words were pointed and he glanced up at the little angel’s face as he spoke.

She sighed. It was hard to let go of the guilt when it felt like if she had only been able to get through to David earlier then the whole situation could have been avoided. However, one look at Andrew told her that blaming herself wasn’t going to be an option.

Kristin finally got Monica to meet her eyes, and she poured all of her sympathy into that brief connection. “I just wish that things were different,” she said sincerely.

“I know you do… but keep believing… they’ll get better,” Monica assured her, hardly knowing where those words of hope were coming from, but feeling them echo within her own heart.

Another knock sounded at the door and this time it was Kristin’s hand that tightened on Monica’s reassuringly, “Don’t worry. David has barely warmed his stool up at the bar for the duration, so it can’t be him,” She tried to smile, but the expression only came across as seemingly sad.

Tess poked her head out of the kitchen, seeing Kristin, just as Andrew opened the door to Paul. The older angel made her way over to the pregnant woman and looked into her eyes, “Are you all right, baby?”

She looked slightly surprised to see Tess here, but then it faded, deciding that the woman from the Unemployment office could not have chosen better friends, “I will be, Tess.” She replied, having already decided that before David came home tonight, she would be gone.

“How’s she doing?” Paul asked quietly as he came in the door, his eyes darting over to the little angel, a bit relieved to see that she had decided to get out of bed at the very least.

Andrew gave a slight shake of his head, “I’m not even sure at the moment, Paul. She seems to be holding her own, but I can tell when there are unsaid things going on in her mind and she definitely has that going on at the moment.” He led Paul inside and over to where Kristin and his two angelic friends were talking, “Kristin, this is a friend of ours, Paul Gatlin. Paul, this is Kristin…” He hesitated briefly before adding, “She’s David’s wife.”

Paul decided against expressing his deepest sympathy as he accepted her hand and gave it a gentle shake, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kristin.” Always a quick and usually accurate judge of people, he could clearly see the sorrow in her eyes and he was certain it was over the violence her husband had taken against Monica.”

“You too, Paul,” She replied as she released his hand and managed to rise to her feet, “But for now I need to get going. I have things to do and that way you all can visit with each other,” She managed a smile before she turned once more to Monica, “I’m sorry,” She whispered, taking the angel’s hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Don’t be,” Monica told her solemnly, “None of it is your fault.”

Kristin nodded her head slightly as she let go of Monica’s hand and turned to smile at the others, “I’ll see you all later. Nice meeting you, Paul.”

As Kristin closed the door behind her, Tess looked over at the agent, “Were you able to speak with Beth, baby?”

The guilt that flashed in Paul’s eyes did not go unnoticed by Monica and she immediately knew that Paul had done much more then just talk to Beth to let her know she was not coming in tonight, and she lowered her eyes sadly.

“Yeah, I did,” He replied, his eyes never leaving the Irish angel, as he flexed the fingers of his right hand that were behind his back.

Tess had always been observant and to the point and this time was no exception, “Why do I get the feeling that you did more than talk to Beth?”

Monica looked up, her eyes holding a combination of hurt and accusation which she directed at her human friend, which in turn made him feel terrible. The last thing he had wanted to do was to upset her further, but he had always had a knack for doing that or so it seemed.

Sensing the tension that was now abundant in the room, Tess turned and headed back to the kitchen, “Dinner will be ready shortly. Andrew, care to give me a hand?”

Andrew looked worried, unsure if leaving Monica alone with Paul right now was a good idea. It was obvious that Paul had at the very least, hit David and that his dearest friend was feeling completely betrayed, not to mention vulnerable. But on the other hand, the last thing he wanted for Paul and Monica to not work out their differences. He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile before he followed Tess into the kitchen.

There was an awkward silence between them for a moment, before the agent slowly made his way over to the sofa and took a seat beside of her, “I’m sorry,” He offered, knowing that didn’t begin to touch how terribly he suddenly felt for breaking a promise to her.

The little angel looked up and met her eyes with his and Paul was further dismayed by the tears that shone in them, “Why is it that nothing I say anymore seems to have any impact on anyone?” She asked softly, her feelings from the mirror coming to the surface once more, “Everyone just pushes me aside, not caring about how it makes me feel to be disregarded.”

“Honey, I would never disregard you and I didn’t do what I did to hurt you,” Paul started to explain, but she cut him off abruptly.

“What you did hurt more than what David did, Paul. I trusted you.”

Her admission caused his heart to swell and break simultaneously. He watched in agony as she looked away from him to hide her tears and he wasn’t sure of when the last time had been that he felt about two inches tall. She had been betrayed so much lately and he was anything but proud that he had been amongst those to do that, despite his earlier satisfaction at the look of fear on David’s face. Now he had no idea of what to say, but he knew that he’d better think of something quickly.

“You know, when I was but a rookie with the agency, we had to go through weeks of training. Rigorous exercise, building of body strength, multiple tests of endurance that would leave me wanting to sleep for days on end once they were over,” His voice was soft and forced himself to keep talking, knowing she was at least listening, “We learned a technique they called ‘React then Reassess’, simply meaning that in a situation of life or death, whether that life be your own or that of the person you are protecting, you didn’t always have time to think. The few moments it may take to do that could be enough to get you or someone else killed. So we learned to react first and once the immediate danger was done, then was the time to reassess the situation and decide where to go from there and if your initial reaction had been the right one.”

”I don’t see what this had to do with breaking a promise to me,” Monica stated as he paused briefly, still never meeting his expression, though he could hear the tears in her voice and he understood them. He had spent his life protecting people who were made to feel like victims and he knew it was far from a pleasant feeling.

“’React, then Reassess’ has also followed me into my personal life unfortunately,” He continued, as he found himself silently praying for her to understand. Now that he knew she had trusted him, it was not something he was going to give up easily, “I fell in love with Lauren and I really should have thought about that one before diving in head first. Loving her made me careless, though not intentionally. There were just too many other emotions in the way for me to see as clearly as I should have been seeing,” He pushed away the memory, knowing it had needed to be said, but now needing to move away from it, “I nearly did the same thing with you, as you know all too well,” He could just see the tiniest glimpse of a smile on her lips before it faded, but that fleeting second gave him some hope that he could fix this.

“The other thing you know is that I’ve spent years protecting people and this has also followed me around. Whether I’m getting paid or not, to see someone hurting doesn’t fare well with me, especially when it is someone I happen to care about. So my intention today at O’Reilly’s was to simply talk to David and maybe scare the hell out of him if he so much as even considered laying a finger on you again. But when I saw him, I reacted first and hit him because he had hurt someone that I care about,” He grinned slightly, “I have a feeling that if Andrew wasn’t an angel, he would have been right there with me with a pretty fierce left hook, but I knew he couldn’t do that.”

Once again, a little smile appeared before it faded and he took a chance and reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away, “I didn’t regret it at the time, honey, as hurting you should not have been an option for David. However, in reassessing the situation, I realized that hurting you shouldn’t be an option for anyone, including me.”

Chapter 20

Monica sighed very softly and closed her eyes, dark lashes fluttering tremulously against her cheeks. Her heart still hurt, but there was no denying that Paul was genuinely sorry for what he had done. After the past traumatic month she had some idea of what it felt like to act without thinking. She had done it herself more than once.

She looked up and saw his eyes following her every move, and they held apprehension as he waited for her to speak. She was an angel and there was no way she could withhold forgiveness, but the truth of the matter was that she would have forgiven him even if she hadn’t been an angel. She cared too much for him to even consider anything else. He seemed to sense her decision and a slight spark lit his eyes.

“It doesn’t hurt any less, but thank you for explaining everything to me,” she said slowly.

Paul leaned forward but he made no move to touch her. “Monica, I am so sorry. I wish I had more words… whatever it takes to gain your forgiveness… I swear I’ll do it.”

“You already have it.” She could see that her words surprised him. “All I ask is that you please, please try not to do anything like that again.” She carefully avoided using the word promise.

“If I have to handcuff myself to a chair, I’ll do it,” Paul answered. “I will not raise another hand to him, scout‘s honor.” He held up his right hand in the old boy scout salute and felt real relief begin the trickle in when a very small and lopsided grin curled up the corners of her mouth and stayed there.

Monica noticed how he remained slightly distant, not allowing his fingertips to even brush her hand although for a moment it looked like he was about to grab it and hold it tight. “I don’t know much about scout’s honor, but I wouldn’t mind a little hug,” she said, wanting and needing to get them back on firm footing with one another.

She didn’t have to ask him twice as within a moment he had moved closer and wrapped his arms around her small shoulders. He was infinitely careful, not wanting to cause her any pain at all, and forgiveness had never felt so wonderful or so tangible as when she relaxed in his arms and hugged him back. For a split-second it was Lauren in his embrace once more, and her forgiveness for letting her die that was being given. No. He didn’t deserve that yet, but soon. Soon he would have the man responsible and maybe then he would be able to believe in true and complete absolution.

“I hope everyone’s headed to the table,” Tess called from the kitchen, “because dinner is done and here at Tess’ restaurant we don’t hold for any stragglers.”

Paul’s chuckle rumbled in his chest and through Monica’s ear, making her smile. “Sounds like she means business,” he said as he pulled away.

“Oh she does. Tess is very serious about food,” she said with a wink and the two of them quickly took their places at the table. “It all smells wonderful,” she said as Tess and Andrew entered, carrying trays crowded with serving dishes full of food.

“Well, thank you, baby,” Tess smiled. “I hope you like everything.”

“I always like whatever you cook.” She reached out to serve herself from each of the dishes, from chicken pot pie to macaroni and cheese. It was an eclectic selection, but she recognized what Tess had been trying to do. Each of the dishes was one of her favorites and she realized with some surprise that she was actually quite hungry.

Only Tess noticed that after the first few bites the Irish angel started spending more time pushing the food around than actually eating it. “Excuse me, everyone,” she said. “I just remembered one more dish I left in the kitchen.” She reappeared less than a minute later with a large bowl. “Minestrone, your favorite,” she said as she set it down beside Monica’s full plate. “There’s more in the kitchen for anyone else who wants it,” she continued as she sat down again.

Monica had thought she was doing a reasonably good job of hiding the fact that eating, at the moment, was somewhat painful for her. She glanced up at Tess quickly, her gratitude met with a slight nod of the head. Andrew and Paul were both eating, but Tess had noticed her discomfort, had even anticipated it. She smiled inwardly, feeling so blessed to be surrounded by those who cared so much about her. “Lord,” she prayed silently, “I haven’t felt like doing much besides question You lately, but please know my heart. Know how grateful I am for everything you have given and shown me. I will never fully understand all Your ways, but I know that at their beginning and end is love.”

*****

The dinner conversation was carefully steered away from any topics that dealt with David, bars, broken doors, and rogue agents, and if Paul and Andrew noticed that Monica had chosen not to finish the food on her plate, neither of them was insensitive enough to mention it. Instead they all concentrated on making Monica feel relaxed and comfortable, at least for a little while. Andrew even managed to hold his tongue when the little angel offered to help Tess with the dishes.

“She’s pretty stubborn,” Paul said, jerking his head in the direction of the kitchen as he and Andrew were relegated to waiting in the living room.

“Very,” he replied, shaking his head, “and lately I can hardly keep up with what she’s decided to be stubborn about. Two days ago she was determined to leave. Now she’s determined to stay. All of these emotions are really wearing her out.”

“Sounds like they’re wearing you out too, buddy. You’ve got some circles under your eyes that almost match hers.”

He shrugged. “She hasn’t been sleeping… so neither have I… and I’m afraid that isn’t going to change anytime soon.” His lips pressed together in a frown. “I’m still having a hard time forgiving myself for not being here this morning. She was so tired last night that she just fell right to sleep and I thought I’d try to do the same.” His expression showed exactly what he thought of that decision.

“Not your fault,” Paul said firmly. “If you angels have one fault it’s trying to take responsibility for things you have no control over.”

Andrew smirked. “Yeah, I seem to remember calling Monica on that once or twice,” He grew serious, “but it’s hard to think about finding her up here, all alone with him, and not blame myself for not being here.”

The agent nodded. He hadn’t been anywhere nearby and he still felt a twinge of guilt for not somehow knowing she was in trouble. “I admit it can be tough, but don’t dwell on it.”

“I’m trying. I know that’s the last thing she needs.” He paused for a second before going on, voice lowered. “I think the other thing that’s been bothering me is actually worse.”

“Worse? What are you talking about?”

Andrew took a breath. “You had your chance with David today and for better or worse you took it.”

“Definitely worse,” Paul said, face grim. “I broke my promise to her.”

“But it felt good at the time, didn’t it?” Paul didn’t answer immediately, but Andrew knew what the reply would be. “Let’s just say that when I found him with her there was only a tiny thread keeping me from doing the same thing… and even now I don’t think I can trust myself to be in the same room with him. I’m angry all the time, Paul. At McArthur, at David, at whoever broke in here… and it isn’t something I’m used to.”

Though Andrew appeared calm, it didn’t take much for Paul to sense his distress and he pondered it thoughtfully. What he knew about angels did contradict all this one was feeling, but on the other hand, it was Monica who was being hurt, so to him, that made it more or less understandable, “With your status and all…if you need some time to cool off, I can take up residence at O’Reilly’s for the remainder of this week until I’m placed on assignment,” He scowled slightly, not liking the idea of leaving when the little angel was in the middle of such a difficult situation and Andrew seemed to be needing an ear to bend. Then there was the fact that he needed to solve Lauren’s case, for her sake as well as Monica’s.

Andrew sighed softly and shook his head, “We’ll see. She depends on me, just like she is growing to depend on you, despite the fact that she doesn’t want to have to depend on anyone other than God. Bottom line is that there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for her, including finding a way to control my temper around her assignment. There are too many things going on in her mind and heart for me not to be there for the times when she is ready to voice them.”

He nodded his head in agreement, “She feels disregarded as she said as much to me before dinner,” He watched Andrew’s brow furrow as he decided to elaborate, having dealt with a wide range of emotions in numerous witnesses, “David doesn’t even know her and he judged her, and hurt her and she is struggling for a reason that he feels that way. Fact is, it isn’t about her at all, but about David, but his hurting her made it about her in her mind. He has suddenly made it that this has nothing to do about her trying to help him, but about her worth in general.”

The angel’s eyes widened, not liking what he was hearing and almost unable to fathom that the once confident angel now felt this way about herself. He supposed it made sense and would be the normal progression for the way her emotions had been running, but he liked this emotion least of all and knew that he was going to have to nip it in the bud quickly before it had a chance to blossom and grow.

Paul read his saddened expression and knew he needed to say something as none of them could afford for Andrew to get discouraged, “She’ll be all right, buddy. It may take time, but this assignment surely cannot last forever.”

Looking up, Andrew met his eyes with Paul’s, “You’ve only ever seen a glimpse of who she really is, Paul. Vibrant doesn’t really begin to describe the way she once was. She looked at the world with child-like innocence and awe; it was a blessing to see, almost magical. When she spoke God’s truth, her assignments had no choice but to listen to her as it was spoken with such compassion and such love…I want that back, for her as well as for myself.”

Paul listened intently, surprisingly aware of what he was talking about. He had caught many a glimpse of Monica’s innocence back on the farm after they had first met and little by little he had seen that trait pushed further and further away. He remembered her delight when the kittens had first been discovered, much like a kid on Christmas morning and now that Andrew had mentioned it, he realized that he missed that about her as well.

“You know, something I’ve felt really badly about is making things so tough on you two before when we were protecting her,” The agent commented honestly, “She needed you and I made that more than difficult. It was no wonder she wandered off a few times as she was probably feeling lost in every way that counted,” He let a quirky grin cross his face, “Of course at the time, I thought you and I might be fighting to the death for who would win her over.”

Andrew chuckled, the sound and the feeling a great relief, “Well, there was that. But no, we found ways to talk as God makes everything possible,” His expression turned pensive then, “I just hope He makes Monica see that bit of truth soon.”

Chapter 21

David grabbed hold of the refilled beer mug and gulped down half it, still struggling to bring his fury back under control. He was sitting alone at his dark table in the corner, not wanting to answer any questions about his eye, which was still smarting, though not as much after a few shots of whiskey.

“Looks like he nailed you pretty good.”

David’s head jerked up, a scowl on his face as he saw a man standing before him. He was rather well dressed and his arms were crossed in front of his chest as his eyes remained focused on him calmly. Taking another swig from his mug, he just grunted something as means of an answer.

“Mind if I join you?”

His first impulse was to tell him no, that he was in no mood for company, but yet he was curious about what this guy wanted, so he shrugged his shoulders, “Suit yourself.”

Sitting down, he extended his hand, “The name’s Mike.”

“David,” He replied, begrudgingly shaking Mike’s hand even as he eyed him warningly, “I’ve seen you here before.”

“Yes, you have. I understand you are out of work.”

David was suddenly sitting straight up in his chair at full attention. If the man for some reason had work to offer, then he was all ears, “Yeah. It’s been a few months now.”

“Then lets talk business,” Mike was direct and to the point, almost amused with how quickly David’s attitude had turned around, “I have a job that needs to be done and I think you are the man to do it. It’s a one shot deal, but the money is good.”

“How good?” He asked suspiciously. He had been hoping for something permanent, but he would almost take what he could get.

“Fifty grand once the job is completed. Ten of that up front if you are interested,” He replied, delighting in the way the man’s eyes lit up with disbelief, “The job itself however, is not for the weak of heart.”

David looked uncertain though he almost couldn’t believe his luck with the amount of money that was being offered, “What would I have to do?”

“I have a little problem that I need dealt with and dealing with it would solve a little problem of yours as well, other than your financial situation,” Mike had witnessed from a distance Paul’s shot at the man and he had a feeling that David would be all too eager to seek revenge.

But David barely heard him as he was already planning on what to do with such a sum of money. He and Kristin would be set for a while and their baby could have the things it needed. This could be a new start for them and he was determined not to make the same mistakes, “How so?”

“The man who blackened your eye for you…he works for me and he is in the business of protecting people, or at least he was before he turned into a bad seed. I need for him to disappear,” This was the moment of truth. If David declined or looked horrified, then Mike had more than just the problem of Paul on his hands, “I think you are the man to do it.”

David played his best poker face, though inside his heart was racing. He had seen enough movies to know that to make someone disappear meant killing them and there was something about that thought that didn’t settle well in his gut. But Paul had been nothing but trouble for him and the fifty grand was enough to stop him from saying no. He had a feeling that after what had happened this morning, Kristin might be considering leaving him as things had just gotten too hard. With that kind of money in the bank, he could turn his life around, provide for his family and find something permanent in the way of work, all for the cost of a man he didn’t like anyway, “Let’s talk.”

*****

Her eyes flew open, wide and startled as they flickered around the room. She took deep breaths, seeing that she was safe in her bedroom with a warm and comforting body beside her in the bed. Her hold on him tightened and she glanced up into his face before settling her head back on his chest.

She wasn’t at all surprised to see that he was still there. While Tess had left promptly at nine-thirty with ‘you need your rest’, and Paul had left reluctantly at eleven with ‘call me if you need anything’, Andrew had never made the slightest hint of leaving. He had settled her into the bed, serving as her pillow, and she had drowsily told him that he didn’t need to stay. Her eyes had already been drifting closed and she couldn’t remember what his reply to that had been.

Tentatively, she moved one hand to her face. The swelling had gone down somewhat, but it still ached in a throbbing beat. In the back of her mind she had expected it to fade, the way God had healed her bruise in the park. She closed her eyes against the disappointment of knowing that apparently her pain was part of the plan at the moment.

“Monica?”

She hadn’t meant to wake him, but it was hard to deny the comfort that just him say her name brought to her. “Mm-hmm.”

“How long have you been awake?” He tilted his head, trying to make out the fine details of her face in the dark.

“Not long.”

“Do you need anything? Aspirin?” He felt her shaking her head slightly. “Bad dream?” A nod. “Do you want to talk about it?” Another shake.

He absentmindedly starting running his fingers through her hair. He didn’t need to hear the words to feel the aching in her heart. It echoed in his own. Ever since Paul had told him what the little angel was feeling he had been hoping that she would talk to him about it… just so that he could assure her of how very wrong she was. She did matter. She mattered much more than she knew.

“Did I ever tell you about what happened when I first met Paul?” Andrew asked.

“No… I don’t think so.” She was a little surprised that he wasn’t pushing her for more information, but also relieved.

“He hardly spoke two words to me for the first day we were partnered… and it didn’t get much better after that.” Andrew smiled a little, remembering how stoic the agent had been. Completely focused on keeping their witness safe, to the exclusion of everything else.

“Really?” Monica asked on a yawn. She knew how serious Paul could be but during the time she had known him she could only remember a few times when he hadn’t talked and laughed with her.

“Yeah. If I hadn’t known better I’d have thought he was my assignment from the Father. He’s changed a lot over the past month, and all for the better.” Andrew paused and held Monica a fraction tighter. “He’s changed a lot since he met you.”

She was about to say that it wasn’t due to anything she had done, but Andrew didn’t give her a chance.

“You know, Kristin had no idea you were trying to help David,” he quickly switched topics. “I don’t think she even imagined someone would do something like that for her.”

“He’s my assignment… and it didn’t really work out…”

“Even if it doesn’t work out the way we think it should, you still made a difference in her life. You let her know that there is goodness out there at a time when she had just about given up.”

She sighed, but remained silent.

“And have I told you lately about how much I depend on you?”

Her eyes opened wider and she tilted her head up to look at his face. “Andrew, you’re the one who picks me up and puts me back together. I haven’t done anything for you but cause you pain and worry.”

A gentle finger against her lips stopped what had promised to be a long list of her self-perceived faults. “No, you’re the one who shows me every single day what love and patience and true strength are all about. With everything you’ve been through, you keep pushing on. You may have setbacks, but in the end you put yourself last and everyone else first… Kristin, David, Paul… me.” He leaned in and kissed the top of her head. “I take my strength from you, Angel.”

“Lately I don’t feel like I have enough strength to get myself through the day, much less anyone else.”

“I know that’s how you feel, but I’m telling you the truth when I say that your presence near me is enough to inspire me to be the best and truest version of myself.”

He felt her hugging him tighter and went back to stroking her hair. “So remember everything I’ve said tonight the next time you don’t think you’re worth anything. God made you, Monica. He made you perfect and complete, and you are worth so much more than you know.”

She didn’t answer, but a second later he felt a slight dampness through his t-shirt. He moved one hand to brush the warm tears away from her cheeks.

“Do you think you’ll be able to fall back to sleep now?” he asked.

Once again she was reduced to nodding her reply, but then a few minutes later, when he was certain she had fallen asleep again, her thin voice slid through the air to his ears. “You may depend on me for strength, but every night I think God for sending you to me. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect friend than you, and feeling you in my heart is the most wonderful gift that the Father ever gave me.”

*****

It was two-thirty a.m. and David fumbled for the lock, scratching the already peeling paint on the door. He shook his head to clear his vision. After his talk with Mike he had tossed back a few extremely strong drinks and they clouded his vision even after the walk home. He finally pushed the door open and reached for the light switch automatically before realizing that the light was already on.

“Kris? You up?”

There was no answer as he lumbered into the kitchen and then back to the bedroom. That was where he saw the note. He took it into his clammy hand and sat heavily on the edge of the bed.

Dearest David,

I had to leave for now. I’m staying at a hotel and I’m begging you not to try to find me. I will call you, but right now I just need time to think. I saw what you did to Monica and I wish that I hadn’t. It made me realize that it could so easily have been me. I know how much you love me, but you’ve changed, and even you must know that it wouldn’t take much for you to lash out… even at me. I can’t keep waiting for that next explosion.

I love you so much, and I want us to be together. Please, pray with me for that to happen.

All my love,

Kristin.

The note fell from his numb fingers but he kept staring at the place where it had been, an afterimage of it burned in his mind’s eye. For the first time he was feeling something that wasn’t completely alcohol induced. His sorrow and guilt filled every pore. Kristin was right… things needed to change, and now he had the means to do that. He could change everything. If they just had some stability he could stop worrying and he could stop drinking. He knew it. It had to end, and Mike was going to help end it. They had one more meeting planned, and he intended to be stone cold sober for it.

*****

“I think I got what you asked for,” Andrew remarked, though he looked exceedingly unsure of himself as he laid the bag down on Monica’s bed the following afternoon.

“Thank you,” The little angel replied softly as she dumped the contents of the bag out on the bed and surveyed the makeup with uncertainty. It wasn’t something she had ever really had to wear and she picked up a bottle of foundation and eyed it curiously.

“Why don’t you just take tonight off, angel?” He asked, knowing he was going to be met with the same resistance as when he had suggested this earlier, but still feeling desperate enough to try. He was in no hurry for her to be face to face with David again and he was also unsure if he could manage to control himself at all from his space across the bar from her assignment.

“Hiding isn’t going to help things, Andrew, and I have this feeling that I am running out of time to help him,” Monica explained as she dabbed on some of the foundation in distaste. She knew to go into the bar tonight would run the risk of Beth asking questions about her face, and rather than to lie, she was hoping the makeup, along with the dim lighting would hide things well enough. If she told Beth the truth, she was certain her friend and temporary supervisor would see to it that David could not return and no matter how much she wanted that to happen, she also knew that it could not.

Monica was doing her best to appear brave and certain, but inside she was feeling anything but that. The very thought of seeing David again after yesterday morning was enough to send a shudder through her body and she had no idea of how she would react when the moment presented itself. She was doing her best to trust God as trusting herself or David was something she just couldn’t bring herself to do.

Sitting down on the bed, Andrew watched her, his expression pensive. He could clearly sense that her thoughts were miles away and he was sure she was worrying about what might happen tonight, as he was concerned about that as well. He wasn’t sure that her heart could take any more violence against her, “Sweetie, you’re shaking,” He observed, getting up and leading her over to the bed so she could sit down.

She sighed heavily, looking into his eyes, the pain in her own raw and causing his heart to ache, “I’m a bit nervous, I suppose.” She ventured honestly, no longer wanting to withhold anything from him. He was the one angel who knew her heart and soul and after the things he had told her last night, she had decided that trying to hide her feelings from him was not only senseless but not needed.

“Here,” He took the foundation bottle and the foam applicator from her trembling hands, resigning himself to the fact that he was going to be unable to change her mind about working tonight. He worked tenderly and with great care to not hurt her as he covered the bruises on her face as well as he could in order to still allow her to look relatively natural. The gray and blue bruises could still be seen, but he was fairly certain that given the darkness of the pub, she could avoid any questions. Her bandaged wrist was still an issue, but not as much so as Beth already knew about the first incident with David.

He surveyed his handiwork thoughtfully as a small grin played on his face, “Not bad for a first timer.”

A small laugh escaped her as she stood up to look in the mirror once more. Yes, they were still there, but not as noticeable and her hair did a pretty good job of covering the bandage on her forehead, though even the covering of her injuries caused her expression to sadden that she had anything to hide to begin with. Pushing those feelings aside, she glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly time for her to leave in order to make it to the pub on time, “You’re walking me there, right?”

He didn’t miss the hopefulness in her voice and he was quick to nod his head in reply, “Absolutely. You’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me,” He stood up and followed her out of the apartment after waiting for her to bid good-bye to Lucy. She took longer than usual to do so, and he was sure she was stalling as though she had made this decision to work tonight; it was really something she would rather not do. He waited patiently until she was ready, before taking her hand once they had closed and locked the apartment door.

The walk was quiet and he noticed that her steps slowed the nearer they got to O’Reilly’s and a look of dread that she was trying to mask had fallen over her face. As they neared the entrance, she stopped suddenly and turned to him realizing his intention to follow her inside.

“Go back to the apartment, Andrew,” She requested softly, not missing the look of surprise that came over his expression. They were connected enough that she had been able to feel the constant anger that had been just beneath the surface inside of him, and she was not about to tempt fate by his being near David, “I’ll be fine.”

“Monica-.”

“Please? I think I need to do this on my own and the chances of David talking to me at all are even slimmer with you there acting as my protector. The Father will let you know if I need you,” She wanted to state that she always needed him, but she was not about to allow him to risk who he was by not being able to control himself around her assignment.

Andrew frowned, not liking what she was asking of him, but once again, not wanting to force the issue with her. Monica felt as if she had little enough control over everything as it was, and he didn’t want to be just one more individual who took that from her, “Are you sure?”

No. “Yes, I’m sure,” She moved to hug him tightly, trying to relay how thankful she was for his presence in her existence with the gesture.

He tightened his arms around her before releasing her and watching as she disappeared behind the heavy wooden door, a part of his heart going along with her as he was resorted to simply offering up prayers for her safety.

Chapter 22

Much to Monica’s relief, the makeup and the lighting served its purpose. Beth had asked her no questions, though the little angel was certain that the young woman had looked at her curiously more than once. Her wrist was still giving her some grief in serving drinks, but the bandage that Paul had bought was helping and as long as she favored it, she seemed to get along just fine.

The night had been going rather smoothly, with no sign of David, which brought her more relief than she wanted to admit, but beings she was where she was supposed to be, his absence was not accompanied by any guilt on her part. The hours had ticked by uneventfully, other than the headache that was forming in the area of where she had banged her head the previous morning and she was grateful when Beth informed her to take a break.

With neither Paul nor Andrew to talk to, Monica chose a quiet table in the corner, along with a glass of water and some aspirin. After taking the pills, she pressed her fingers to her temple and closed her eyes briefly, relieved that the bar was not as crowded during the week and that the noise seemed to be at a minimum. Despite her relatively decent night’s sleep last night, she was beginning to feel tired and surmised that it was due to her ordeal from yesterday.

She still felt sick to her stomach whenever she thought about David’s attack on her, almost as if she were reliving those terrifying moments physically as well as emotionally. In the few quiet moments, she went over and over the progression of her assignment thus far, trying to decide where she could have made more of an impact on David so that yesterday could have been avoided and she was finding more than she was comfortable with, starting with her very first night. She had not been prepared to deal with this assignment and it was David who was suffering for it, and she had to find a way to turn that around.

Monica’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice she would recognize anywhere and she remained frozen in place, realizing just how close David was and wondering how long he had been here without her knowledge.

“Did you bring the money?” David asked, his voice holding a bit of suspicion, knowing this deal was really too good to possibly be true.

Monica listened as the other man chuckled and replied, “I take it you have made your decision then?”

“You didn’t answer my question. You answer mine and I’ll answer yours,” He stated a bit harshly. He had no time to waste on formalities. Kristin was gone and time was of the essence, lest he never find her again and that was not something he was willing to consider.

“Yes, I brought it. Ten grand, just like we discussed.”

Monica raised her head slightly and risked a glance at the man David was speaking with and her eyes widened at the fact that he was familiar to her as she struggled to remember how she knew him.

“Good, so all I have to do is take care of the guy and the rest of it is mine as well,” David stated, wanting to make sure that Mike didn’t have any hidden surprises in store for him.

“That’s right and you cannot have any mistakes. We can’t afford them.”

The night of the fight, the little angel realized. He was the man who had helped to break things up along with Paul and now she wondered if he was the man Paul had been meeting with to discuss her case as well as Lauren’s.

“No mistakes,” David confirmed assuredly, “I just need to get rid of your bad seed and after that punch he threw at me the other day, that will be a pleasure, I assure you.”

Monica covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes widened and her heartbeat quickened. Paul. They were talking about Paul. They were talking about killing Paul.

*****

Typing was not one of Paul’s greatest skills, and he hunt and pecked his way through queries and cross-checks. If he was honest with himself he would admit that he was actually going slower on purpose. He was finally running the checks on the information he had discovered in Mike’s office, and he was in no hurry to learn that his friend was also his enemy.

He checked his watch as the computer searched. Nine o’clock. Monica was half-way done with her shift. He had wanted to go there to support her. He had also wanted to go there to make certain that David saw him and had a healthy dose of fear injected into his brain. He had wanted to go, but he had held himself back. He didn’t want to make her feel like he didn’t think she could handle herself. Andrew’s presence was one thing. They had known each other for years… maybe decades... but if he had insisted on skulking around it would have smacked of protection and it was obvious that she was sick of having to be protected.

The screen flashed and a new window opened, listing all of the information he had requested. He wished that he didn’t have to look, but he scrolled through it, his stomach twisting at each connection. Every time one of the witnesses had been murdered a large sum of money had been transferred to Mike’s account. He didn’t have the ability to trace where the money had come from, but one search warrant and they’d have that information too. He rubbed his hand over his face, eyes suddenly much tired than they had been just five minutes before.

He went through the information again and noticed that the only time there hadn’t been a transfer of money was during Monica’s case. Rather than making him feel better it made his heart sink even more. Josh had done more than prosecute MacArthur. He was part of a grand jury investigation into some other leaks in the Bureau. There had been more than revenge behind that murder. Mike had probably ordered it to hide yet more indiscretions.

Paul’s fist came down on the desk, narrowly missing the keyboard. Mike had known about Lauren. He had known about their engagement and he had still allowed her to be killed. Paul wanted to run up the flights of stairs to the other agent’s office and confront him right then. He wanted to dare him to deny it right before he showed him the proof and beat him within an inch of his life.

But it was late. Mike wouldn’t be there. And if there was one thing he had learned in the last day it was to control his temper. Monica hadn’t asked him not to hurt anyone else, but he didn’t want to risk seeing that disappointment in her eyes again. He hit the print button and waited for the pages to clatter their way through the old printer. He was actually glad for the chance to calm down.

Paul still had some evidence to compile before he could go to a federal prosecutor with enough for an indictment. By this time tomorrow, Mike would be in jail. That would have to be soon enough. He grabbed the printout and wearily trudged out of the office. He hoped that Monica was having a better night than he was.

*****

Monica shrank down in her seat as she watched Mike stand up. She was still in shock, and had no idea what to do. His back was to her, but she saw his profile as he turned to David and withdrew a thick envelope from inside his jacket and placed it on the table.

“You’ll get the rest when it’s done,” he said, and then quickly made his way out of the bar.

Thankfully he didn’t notice her pushed into the corner of her booth. She slipped out and hurried back to the bar, heart pounding. Her eyes moved back to the booths and followed David as he moved to the bar.

Beth was quick to go to him, and Monica was surprised to hear him order coffee. Even from a distance she could tell that he was sober. His eyes were clear and his hands had stopped their usually constant tapping. Maybe… maybe she still had a chance.

“I’ll bring that over,” she said as she intercepted Beth on her way back from the coffee pot.

“Monica…” Beth looked doubtful. She may have held her tongue, but she wasn’t’ blind. She had a feeling that Monica’s wrist was only the beginning of what David had done to her.

“Really. It’s okay.”

Reluctantly the woman handed the mug of coffee over and sighed. “I’ll be right here,” she said firmly.

Monica nodded and hurried over to David with the coffee. “Here you go,” she said as she carefully set it down in front of him.

He looked up, taken aback at the sight of Monica standing before him in place of Beth. She was the last person he had expected to see. For an instant his eyes flashed anger, his expression one of contempt. Then as he stared at her he noticed her carefully concealed bruises, bruises that he had caused. His thoughts drifted to Kristin hiding in some hotel. Lowering his eyes he felt an unfamiliar stab of guilt.

“About your face…” he gestured vaguely, not exactly sure what to say. The whole situation was foreign and uncomfortable for him.

“It will heal,” she replied quietly, knowing for the first time that it really would, and so would the injury to her heart and soul. God could heal anything, and through her he could even heal David. She opened her mouth to say more, but he held up his hand.

“Look… Maybe you think you know all the answers, lady, but you don’t. Okay? So just for once, could you please just leave me alone?”

“But David…”

“I said, leave me alone!” his voice was loud, thundering over the other noises in the bar and instantly bringing fear to Monica’s eyes.

Before she could react she felt a soft hand on her arm. “We’re leaving, we’re leaving,” Beth said. “C’mon, Monica.”

Beth led the angel away, gently propelling her to the other side of the bar. She could feel Monica trembling and shook her head. “Why do you keep doing that? He’s a lost cause, Monica, and you’re going to get hurt,” she stared into the Irish angel’s dark eyes, “if you haven’t been already.”

“You have no idea how much I want to, but I can’t. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t.”

“Yeah, well I wish you could explain it to me too, because right now I see a sweet girl who’s already been hurt just throwing herself in front of a Mac truck’s worth of trouble.” Beth was older. She had seen more than one woman come through the bar and leave it a few pounds lighter and a few bruises heavier. She couldn’t understand why Monica would set herself up for that kind of pain. “You know you just have to say the word and I’ll kick him out of here so fast it’ll make his head spin.”

Monica shook her head. Her mind was still reeling. She needed to call Paul and warn him. She needed Andrew. She needed to stop David. Beth walked away slowly and the angel turned back to David. Her heart stopped beating. He was already gone.

Panicking, she struggled to remember the name of the hotel where Paul was staying, knowing he had mentioned it more than once. The mere thought of anything happening to him was enough to make her heart stop. He was her friend, the first true human friend she had ever had for any length of time. David was her assignment and there was no way she could allow the two paths to cross in such a violent and potentially fatal way.

“Beth, I need to leave,” She heard the words before she realized she was the one saying them.

“Are you all right?” Beth looked at her closely, seeing something resembling sheer terror in her eyes.

“Yes. No. I just have to go, but listen to me. My friend, Andrew, will be here soon to walk me home. Tell him I went to Paul’s hotel and that it was important. He’ll understand. Tell him to meet me there,” Her words were rushed, panic stricken, and Beth nodded her head, sensing the urgency.

After getting directions to Paul’s hotel from Beth, who insisted it was within walking distance, but that Monica should still take a cab, the little angel bolted out the door of the pub and into the muggy early morning air. Her prior exhaustion was forgotten as she jogged down the block, having not noticed any cabs in sight and not willing to risk taking the time to wait.

Her fear of the darkness was temporarily forgotten in her haste to warn Paul. David was taking money from Paul’s friend to kill him. The words echoed inside of her mind as she quickened her pace. But why? Paul must have been to close to finding out how suspects had been finding the agencies witnesses; how McArthur had found her. How someone had found and killed Lauren.

“Please, Father,” She whispered breathlessly, “Don’t let this be Your will. Let me get there in time.”

Moments later, she burst through the doors at the hotel. The lobby was lavish and beautifully decorated, but Monica didn’t talk the time to notice as she approached the desk.

The young man looked at her questionably, noticing her flushed cheeks, and bruises she had obviously been trying to hide, “May I help you?”

“Paul Gatlin,” She gasped, trying to catch her breath and her racing heart, which had little to do with having run the entire way to the hotel, “I need to know what room he is in.”

The clerk checked the computer, the action taking far too long, even though he was trying to hurry, sensing the young woman’s distress, “715…Seventh floor…”

Monica barely took the time to nod before she bolted away from the desk and to the elevators in the far corner of the lobby. She pressed the button repeatedly, almost wanting to break into tears at how long it was taking. David could be up there right now. Paul could be dead…

“Please…please…” She whispered desperately, and nearly cried out with relief the ding of the elevator sounded to announce its arrival. She hit the number seven and her anxious eyes watched as the display moved in time with the elevator. Four, five, six…

As the doors opened on the seventh floor, she scanned the room numbers and bolted up the hallway until she found his door, which she banged on furiously, “Paul! Paul! It’s Monica…please, open the door!”

Getting no reply, her hand moved to the knob, both surprised and distressed to find how easily it turned and she pushed the door open and entered the room, hearing it close behind her. Paul had a suite, and the light was on in the living area, though it was strangely quiet, but she knew he never would have gone out without locking the door. Not Paul. Not safe, detail oriented Paul.

Blinking back frightened tears, she walked through the living area to the bedroom, where her eyes met with those of the agent. She could clearly see his distress at seeing her shining through the anger in his hazel eyes. The little angel’s eyes moved from Paul’s to the other side of the room.

They weren’t alone.

*****

Andrew opened the door to O’Reilly’s at just after one o’clock in the morning and his eyes scanned the room for any sign of Monica or David. With not seeing either one of them, a sinister feeling slowly crept over him; a feeling that something was just not right and the uncomfortable sensation seemed to be growing with each beat of his heart.

“Are you Andrew?”

He turned to see Beth. Though they had never been formally introduced, he knew who she was and her eyes flashed with familiarity as they fell upon him.

Seeing him nod his head anxiously, she breathed a small sigh of relief, “I’ve been waiting for you as I’ve been worried to death about Monica. She told me to tell you that she had gone to Paul’s hotel and for you to meet her there.”

“Did she say why?” His brow furrowed, as his anxiety rose a notch.

“No. It was actually a bit strange. She was fine until she came back from break, when she looked rattled. She tried to talk to that jerk, David and he snapped at her and a moment later, he was gone and she was telling me she had to leave.”

“Was he drinking?” He hated to ask the question but he now knew that the feelings that were creeping over him were an indication that the little angel was in trouble.

“That’s the other weird thing,” Beth replied thoughtfully, “He was stone cold sober tonight…first time I had ever seen him drink coffee…”

Andrew suddenly knew he had to get to Paul’s hotel and quickly. Whatever this was had to do with David, of that much he was certain, though he could not begin to understand why Monica would go the whole way to the hotel for help with him only a few blocks away.

Whatever it was didn’t feel good in his heart and he could only pray that he could get to her before David did.

Chapter 23

“Monica, what…” Paul looked over at her, taking his eyes briefly off of David and the gun that he was holding, which the nervous man was now pointing back and forth between the agent and the angel.

“You again!” David all but exploded. Suddenly everything was so complicated. It was not supposed to happen this way…she was not supposed to be here. Would he now have to kill two people? Mike had never told him how to handle such a situation.

“Don’t do this, David, please!” She begged, trying to mask her fear at the sight of a gun once again being pointed at her, “This is not the answer, no matter how much money he is paying you.”

Paul’s eyes widened at her words, “Who, honey? Who is paying him?” He asked, though he had a feeling that he already knew the answer.

“Your friend…your friend from the bar, who works at the agency…”

He closed his eyes briefly and drew in a deep breath. He had figured out that Mike was the one who was responsible for Lauren’s death and for the deaths of countless other witnesses, but never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed that the man he called “friend” would pay someone off to kill him. He supposed he really shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Mike had Lauren killed, even after Paul had asked him to be the best man at his wedding. The bastard had even accepted, all the while knowing that Lauren would not live long enough to walk down the aisle.

“Let her go,” He heard himself saying as he nodded his head towards Monica, “She has nothing to do with this.”

“No-,” Monica began, but David cut her words short.

“Why? So she can run downstairs and call the police?” David stammered, tiny beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead. He wished he had taken the time to have a drink…maybe even more than one…it would have made killing the little waitress so much easier.

Sensing his nervousness, Monica ventured a step nearer to him, shaking off Paul’s hand as he tried to hold her back, “David, you don’t want to do this. I can see it in your eyes and so can God.”

“Kristin is gone,” He uttered weakly, redirecting the gun at her and causing her to not come any closer, “I can get her back with this money. I can have time to find work. We can have time to plan a future for us and our baby.”

“And for the rest of your life, you would have the blood of an innocent man on your conscience,” She contradicted him gently.

“Why did you have to come here? I had everything worked out in my head until you showed up!” David shouted. “Now just shut up and let me think.”

The gun he was holding never wavered from its position but he ran his other hand through his hair, looking to the ceiling as if to get his answers from God above.

Paul eased himself away from Monica. He didn’t want her anywhere near him if David decided to go through with his plan. In his head he was going over the possible scenarios. With his gun still holstered and sitting in the living area, none of them seemed good. The best option he could think of was for David to shoot him first. It was obvious that the man had never shot anyone and the shock of it might give Monica a chance to run. He also considered that if he was going to die then Monica might be given her angelic form again and allowed to bring him to Heaven. Either way, she would be safe.

“Look… I’m going to have money. I can give you some if you’ll just keep quiet.” Monica looked at him as if he was insane, asking her to let him shoot her friend. “You like Kristin, right? This will help her! Don’t you want her to be happy?”

“David, this is not going to make her happy!” Monica cried.

The troubled man shook his head. “I really wish you hadn’t come here. I don’t want to do this, but I will if I have to.”

He also wished that he could find that formerly inexhaustible source of rage that usually pooled in his gut, but without the alcohol to fuel it he found it almost completely lacking. He raised the gun a fraction of an inch, and steadied it on Paul’s chest. The agent was looking at him with a steely gaze, his eyes showing no fear for himself, only anger. It was enough to make David remember the dark bruise that still discolored his eye, and a hint of the old rage stirred within, but it wasn’t quite enough to take away his doubts.

“I thought this would be a lot easier,” he muttered as he racked the gun, chambering the first bullet.

Monica saw his finger starting to squeeze the trigger and she was right back in the barn again, with McArthur the one wielding the gun. Paul still looked unfazed but he made no move to avoid what was certain to be a direct hit. She didn’t know if this had been the Father’s plan all along, but there was no way she could watch Paul die without doing anything to help.

She launched herself towards the agent just an instant before she heard the bullet explode from the gun and saw the muzzle flash out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t feel anything at first, only a pressure that forced her into Paul’s arms. The pain came an instant later, a burning that spread outward and soon became all that she knew. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. This was what it felt like to be shot. Then she managed to turn her head and she saw the look on David’s face. It wasn’t the evil, malicious look of McArthur. It was an expression of horror and remorse.

“Monica!” Paul caught her against his body and looked down to meet her eyes. She looked confused as if she couldn’t believe what had just happened, and then the dark pools clouded with pain and he held her tighter, recognizing that look.

David’s hand had instinctively pulled back as if he could somehow reel in the bullet and undo what had just been done. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this!” he shouted to the air.

The agent was now easing Monica to the floor as blood flowed from the wounds in her back and chest. A nine millimeter bullet fired at point-blank range was not easily stopped by a little flesh and bone. It had entered the upper left part of her back before passing through her shoulder blade, altering its trajectory and coming out just below her collarbone. The change in course had kept the bullet from striking Paul. Instead it was lodged in the wall, just a foot below the ceiling.

The blood came out fast, and David stood nearly motionless, his gun hand shaking. He wanted to just finish the job, but suddenly it all became real to him. The woman lying on the floor was dying, and he was her killer. The gun fell with a deadened thud to the floor and he ran out of the suite as if the devil himself were behind him.

Paul hardly noticed him leave.

“Monica? Monica, you have to stay with me!” he shouted, quickly ripping the sheet from the bed and pressing it against the exit wound. That was where most of the blood was coming from. As usual, the entrance wound was a neat hole, while the exit wound gaped open, flesh and bone pushed out of place, the edges torn and ragged.

“Paul…” the angel gasped. “It hurts… please…” she broke off, not even knowing what to ask for, only knowing that if Paul could help her he would.

“I know… I’m sorry… please, just hang on.” He moved her hands to the sheet and pressed. “You have to hold this. I need to call an ambulance.” He searched her face for understanding and saw her nod slightly. A second later he was on his feet and lunging for the hotel phone. The bell-desk operator sounded shocked but he had to believe that she would take care of the 911 call. He couldn’t afford to stay on the phone.

“Paul…” he heard her whisper as he knelt beside her again. “Where’s Andrew? Andrew should be here…” Her eyes were beginning to glaze over and he knew that her thoughts were jumbled and confused.

“He’ll be here, Monica. I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can be.” Oh God, please let that be the truth.

“He needs to be here,” her breath was raspy and her words were short and stuttering. “He has to take me Home.”

Home. She was talking about dying. “No! No Monica, you are not dying, do you hear me? You’re going to be alright!” He shouted the words but in his head he really had no idea what to think. What was going to happen to her? If she was an angel then why wasn’t God healing her instantly? His eyes caught on the gun that lay forgotten on the floor. David. He was going to kill him when he found him, but not before making him wish he was dead. Then he was going to find Mike and do the same to him. Monica’s blood was sticky against his fingers, and not even the soulful, disappointed look in the angel’s eyes was going to be enough to keep him from hunting down the two men responsible for that.

*****

Andrew was running towards the hotel at a sprint when he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Monica.

“Father,” he begged, “please send me to her!”

He kept running, but suddenly he wasn’t running down the street, he was running down the hallway in Paul’s hotel. He had no idea what room he was in, but then he saw the open door at the end of the hall and pushed himself on even faster.

“Monica! Paul!” he shouted as soon as he entered the room.

“In here!”

Andrew rushed towards Paul’s voice but froze as he crossed the threshold into the bedroom. The scene before him was nothing like what he had expected. His heart seemed to slow, along with all other action in the room as he took it all in. The gun, and Monica’s blood, and Paul leaning over her, eyes frantic. He wanted to ask what had happened, to demand an explanation, but he could tell that there wasn’t time for that. Monica was hurt. He knew enough.

“Andrew… you’re here…”

“She’s been asking for you,” Paul told him as he fell to his knees on the other side of the angel.

“Of course I’m here, Angel. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Will you take me Home? Please ask the Father… I don’t want any other angel of death. It has to be you.” Her voice was barely audible but Andrew caught every word, and he grabbed onto both of her hands and held them tightly.

“Monica, stop. You aren’t going to die. You’ve seen this before. God will hold you in His hand. He’s watching over you right now.”

“David…. David….”

“I know he was the one who did this,” Andrew said quickly. “The police will catch him. He won’t hurt anyone else.”

“No…” she closed her eyes and shook her head. “He…” she took a shuddering breath, “he’s not what I thought. He’s not McArthur…”

Andrew looked over at Paul and saw that the agent was just as confused as he was. “No, Angel,” he agreed as he squeezed her hands again, “he’s not. Now just hold onto me. Hold on, Monica, and don’t you dare let go.”

Her trembling fingers were weak as she struggled to hold onto his hands. She tried to focus on the feel of them, hands that contained such great love and tenderness that she could feel shaking as they held onto her own. He was afraid for her. But she knew that after the fear would come anger and that thought hurt nearly as much as each breath of air she barely managed to take into her lungs. “Don't be mad…” She uttered, beginning to grow light headed as a sensation of floating surrounded her. She could still feel the pain, though it was not as intense and she briefly wondered if this was what it felt like to die.

“No, angel, no. I’m not angry,” He told her, though he didn’t understand the things that she was trying to tell him as her words were lacking explanation. He just knew he had to reassure her anyway he could. His eyes burned with tears as he watched hers close briefly before she forced them open once more. Her breathing was slowing. He was terrified.

“Stay with me, baby,” He whispered, bringing her hands to lips and kissing them gently, “Help is coming, Monica, but you need to stay awake.”

“Trying…” She uttered, but she suddenly only wanted to close her eyes and slip into the welcomed darkness, “I love…you both…”

Her words took Paul’s breath away as the sacrifice she had just made for him hit him harder than anything ever had before. He had always been the one to try to save people from vicious killers, but now one little Irish angel had thrown herself in front of a bullet for him in a selfless act of courage, though she would never see it that way.

His eyes clouded and he rose to his feet to hide that fact, as he turned to the window, “Where the hell is that ambulance?”

As if hearing his rant, the sirens sounded in the distance and quickly grew closer as Paul turned back around. The color had drained from Monica’s face, leaving it an ashen color as she struggled to breath and suddenly it was Lauren he was watching the life drain away from. No. It would not end this way. Angel or no, she could not die. He couldn’t lose her too.

“It’s going to be okay, angel,” Andrew’s soft words pulled the agent from his thoughts and he focused on the look of complete fear that surrounded his former partner.

“Not…afraid…” Monica tried to reassure her friend before her ice cold hands went limp in his as she gave up the fight.

“Monica? Monica?” But the angel received no response as he desperately searched for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there and he had never been more thankful. There was so much blood and his trembling hand moved to stroke the hair from her face, only wanting to touch her…needing to touch her to assure himself that she was still with him. She was the bravest little soul he knew and he could only pray he would get a chance to tell her that.

*****

David had burst out the door of the back entrance of the hotel before forcing himself to slow to a walk, not wanting to look as incredibly guilty as he felt. He had shot someone…by this time had probably killed someone. How had this happened? What had he been thinking? He shook his head, unable to believe he had honestly thought that taking money for someone’s life would be worth it.

The look of pain in Monica’s eyes and the way the sheer force of the blow had physically thrown her into Paul kept playing over and over in his mind. What had he done? She had been harmless really and though her constant badgering him about how he was handling his problems had annoyed him, in retrospect, he knew she had been only trying to help him. He had certainly never wanted her dead.

Murderer. The word left a bitter taste in his mouth and an even worse ache in his gut. This was not what he was. He had never planned it this way. He only had wanted to get Kristin back. Had only wanted to be able to provide for her and the baby and now there was no chance of that. Not now that he had killed someone.
He had to get out of the city. Had to get as far away from here as he could and if he was thankful for nothing else, he was thankful for the ten thousand dollars in his pocket. It was a start and the rest he could figure out later.

Chapter 24

Andrew stared at the doors that Monica had been pushed through on a gurney for several long minutes after she had vanished from his sight to be taken into surgery. He felt numb, but he had still noticed the grim looks on the medical staff’s faces when she had brought into the hospital. Expressions that told him that her condition was not only bad, but also critical.

The last hour felt more like a nightmare than anything that could possibly contain a shred of truth and reality. He had watched as the EMTs had worked over her small body in the hotel and he had never before felt more helpless. He had only wanted to gather her close and love away the pain she had been in, but it hadn’t been possible and he was struggling with why God had allowed this to happen in the first place.

He looked down at himself, realizing that the blood of his dearest friend was on his shirt and the reality of it settled in once more, nearly buckling his knees as he sank down into a chair.

“I’m bleeding….”

He remembered her words after David had hit her as he dropped his head into his hands for a moment before whispering to the agent who was sitting next to him, “What happened? I need to know…” Andrew wasn’t sure if that was the truth or if he only had to do something to pass time.

Paul glanced over at his friend, noting how Andrew never once raised his head and he struggled to keep his anger at bay, “Mike is the one who turned against us…the agency…he was one getting paid to divulge information as to where the witnesses were being hidden. I figured it out tonight. Somehow, Monica did too,” He closed his eyes, despising the facts of the entire night, “Mike paid off David to kill me and she knew it and showed up at the hotel. David was already there holding a gun on me. The stupid bastard was terrified. He wanted to let her go, but she refused to leave. She wasn’t supposed to get hurt…”

“Then how did she?” He asked tensely, finally raising his head to meet Paul’s expression with his glassy green eyes.

Paul was quiet for a moment, still almost unable to fathom what had occurred, “She took the bullet that David intended for me…he was aiming for me, not her, but she saw what was about to happen and she stopped it…”

She had saved Paul’s life. The realization took Andrew’s breath away. The angel who had been questioning everything she did, felt guilty for all that had happened so far and was convinced that she had done nothing right, had not hesitated in putting her safety on the line for a friend. He had a feeling that in part, she had seen it as her failure with David putting Paul in danger and she had been unable to allow that to happen, but whatever her reasons, the outcome didn’t change, no matter how badly he wanted it to.

He felt a surge of anger flow through him at her assignment and he had a feeling that if his path ever crossed with that of David again, that there would be no stopping him from acting on that anger and that David had better be praying that it was the police or Paul who reached him first.

“She’ll be fine, right?”

Andrew heard the uncertainty in Paul’s voice and tried to sound hopeful, despite his own worries. He had never been in this situation before. The territory was completely unfamiliar to him and the only thing he was certain of was that Monica had been dying on that hotel floor, “She has to be.”

The stark black and white clock on the wall ticked off the passing minutes with agonizing slowness as Paul walked up and down the length of the room casting occasional glances at Andrew. Three hours had passed and the angel had barely moved. He sat with his head cradled in his hands, only glancing up to check the time before lowering his face once again. Paul guessed that he was praying and wondered if he should do the same.

Even after all that had happened he still found prayer to be a foreign concept. He had spoken to God once, in the barn right after Andrew had revealed himself to be an angel, but since that time he had gone back to keeping his own counsel. Paul wasn’t a man easily given to opening himself up or asking for help.

He stopped his pacing for a moment and looked down the hall towards the surgery. If his prayer had even a chance of helping Monica then he was willing to lay himself bare and beg for her life. He sank into a chair near Andrew and leaned back, closing his eyes and willing God to hear his unfamiliar voice.

The doctors, nurses and other workers who passed through the waiting room sensed the pall that hung over the room. They lowered their voices and softened their footsteps. Whatever tragedy had taken place they did not want to add to the pain of it.

“Andrew?” Tess concerned and comforting voice was the most welcomed sound he had heard since arriving at the hospital.

He looked up at her, his face taut with worry and fear. “You know what happened,” he said, seeing the knowledge written on her anxious features.

“Yes. The Father let me know almost as soon as it happened.”

Andrew was surprised by that. “Where have you been?” His eyes clouded. “Tell me that you weren’t sent to David first.”

Tess heard the barely contained anger in his voice and quickly sat down, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. “No, baby. I was in with our Angel Girl.”

As soon as Tess had appeared, Paul had moved to join the two angels and now his eyes widened. “You were in surgery with her? How is she? She’s going to be alright, isn’t she?” His questions were quick and demanding.

Andrew, on the other hand, said nothing. He knew what it meant to have an angel by your side in such a situation. It meant you were walking the fine line between life and death. He lowered his eyes, unable to comprehend such a fact.

“God will tell me when I need to go to her, won’t he?” he said miserably. “I’m not letting anyone else do it. She asked for me.”

Tess straightened up in her seat and Paul took a step back as if Andrew’s defeated words had dealt him a physical blow. “Now listen to me, Andrew, I don’t want to hear talk like that coming from your mouth. God didn’t send me to her to watch her die. He sent me to hold her and help her live!”

The older angel’s eyes were flashing and when Andrew looked into them he was overcome by two feelings; hope and shame. In his heart he had nearly given up on the little angel. He wasn’t sure exactly what would become of her if she died but he had begun to ask God to help him through the loss.

“Now get that look right off your face, Angel Boy,” Tess said sternly. “She’s not going to need a whole lot of long faces when she wakes up.”

“Tess, I… I’m sorry… I just keep seeing her on the floor and I…”

“For a second there you forgot about the miracles that He performs every day.

Andrew nodded. “I’ve been sitting here asking God to help her, asking for His healing, and believing that he would give it, but when you said you’d been with her…”

Tess smiled kindly. “Well I guess that was sort of my fault. I guess I should have told you why I was there first.”

Paul had been following the conversation between the two angels, eyes moving rapidly between them, and he couldn’t remain silent any longer. “So what is happening?” he asked with a hint of desperation in his tone. “Is she going to be okay? Is God going to heal her?”

“Oh, Paul, I’m sorry,” Tess said with a little shake of her head. Paul had become such a fixture lately that it was easy to forget that he wasn’t an angel as well. “She will be alright, but as for God healing her… I can’t tell you that.”

The agent was about to ask why, but he was interrupted by the arrival of several doctors who came into the room still untying their surgical masks. “How is she?” he asked, before the two angels could even open their mouths.

He knew he was being pushy and demanding, but it seemed beyond his control. While Tess and Andrew were worried, his anxiety was compounded by guilt. She had taken a bullet meant for him. How could he even begin to explain the intense feeling of responsibility that filled his heart?

“You all came in with Monica Doe?” one of the doctors asked.

“That’s right,” Tess answered. “We’re very close friends.”

The doctor nodded. “I’m Dr. Harris, and this is Dr. Boyle. We’ve been the ones working on your friend.”

“How is she doing?” Andrew asked, repeating Paul’s insistent question.

“Frankly, she’s doing better than expected considering the amount of blood loss,” Dr. Harris replied. “The bullet went through her shoulder blade and then nicked her lung before hitting her third rib and passing out through her chest. Thankfully the damage to her shoulder bone was minimal, but there was extensive soft tissue damage and we did have to rebuild part of her rib with pins.”

“But she’ll recover, won’t she?” Paul asked, taking a step closer.

“She’ll need therapy for that shoulder but she should get back at least ninety percent mobility,” Dr. Boyle answered.

Paul was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was hurt at all. Wasn’t this where God was supposed to swoop down and transform her into the same glowing form that Andrew had taken on? Wasn’t this where He came in and made her as good as new again?”

“When will we be able to see her?” Tess asked the question that she knew was foremost in all their minds.

“She’s being wheeled to recovery right now and in about an hour we’ll have her set up in a room on the third floor.”

“An hour?” Andrew’s face showed his disappointment.

Tess shot the doctors a quick pleading look that held a touch of the stubbornness that was her hallmark. They wisely reevaluated their statement.

“We could probably allow one of you to see her now,” Dr. Harris offered.

Andrew looked relieved but then he glanced around at Paul. He knew that the agent was almost as eager to see her as he was.

“You go on, buddy. I’ll head upstairs with Tess.”

“Thanks, Paul. I’ll make sure to tell her you’re waiting for her.”

“I know you will,” Paul said, and then he watched as the doctors led Andrew down the hall towards the little angel he owed his life to.

*****

With the doctor’s instructions to not stay too long, Andrew slowly opened the door to Monica’s recovery room and with one look at his friend his heart filled with love for her as if he were feeling such an emotion for the first time.

Her dark lashes lay upon pale skin, the color of her face causing the bruises from two days ago to appear even more dark and ominous. Her arm rested in a sling against her torso, in order to limit movement of her shoulder. For the first time he realized it was the same arm as her sprained wrist and he was relieved that she would at least have use of one arm until she either healed or the Father healed her. Secretly, he was hoping she was given recovery time as opposed to a miraculous healing. He wanted her to have time to rest and to get her bearings from the battle zone she had just come in from.

Unable to wait another second, Andrew approached the little angel, who was lying so still, noting just how small and vulnerable she looked right now and he felt his anger towards David resurfacing once more. Forcing himself to push it aside, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, before resting his own forehead against hers.

“I love you so much, angel,” He whispered, hoping that on some level she could sense his presence. He knew how much it frightened her to be hurt, and he wanted to be able to reassure her, “You’re going to be fine, sweetie, just fine.”

Seeing a stool near the bed, he caught it with his foot and pulled it close as he took her hand into his, wanting to maintain contact with her. Resting the back of her hand against his cheek as he sat down, he thought about all of the things he wanted to tell her, but as he was unsure if she could hear him, he elected to wait for most of them. He wanted to make sure she was listening before he told her how proud he was of her and how brave she had been.

“Paul cannot wait to see you,” He continued softly, his free hand moving to stroke her hair which was fanned out over her pillow, “You saved his life, Monica, of that I am certain. He’s okay, other than being worried about you and he knows who was behind all of this, so you have nothing to worry about except for getting better.”

He felt his eyes clouding as he gazed down at her and his voice became thick with emotion, “You are so brave, angel, regardless of what you may think. But I know the truth and so does Paul. The Father knew it all along.”

Knowing he shouldn’t stay, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, hating to leave her if only for less than an hour, “I have to go, but I’ll see you upstairs very soon. Rest, sweet angel. God is holding you in the palm of His hand.”