Chapter Twenty Nine

Directed by the Father, Tess had driven to a small house on the edge of town, which had been provided by Him for the angels to stay in until Monica was feeling better. As she parked the car in the drive, she turned to Andrew, who was still watching Monica carefully- he hadn’t taken his gaze off of her for the entire journey, and even as he spoke to Tess, still he only had eyes for the little Irish angel. “Is she going to be okay, Tess? I-I mean... we don’t know what’s wrong with her...”

Tess reached across and laid her hand on Andrew’s knee. “But she’s got the best Angels to take care of her, baby. Not to mention the Father. Now, let’s get that baby girl inside where it’s warm, okay?” She watched as Andrew nodded and then reluctantly let go of Monica temporarily as he got out of the car, then scooped her up into his arms again. As he followed Tess to the house, he barely noticed that the dog was following also.

As Tess opened the door they stepped into a warm, welcoming house, a fire already burning in the hearth, and both Andrew and Tess sent up silent prayers of thanks to the Father for giving them just what Monica needed right now. “Why don’t you set her down on the couch, Angel Boy, that way she’ll get the warmth from the fire.” Andrew nodded and laid Monica gently on the couch, covering her with a blanket that was folded on the back. Kneeling beside her he stroked her cheek tenderly with one hand, grasping her hand with the other, taking off her glove to rub the soft, cold skin. “Monica... wake up, Angel Girl.”

But still Monica remained asleep, unaware of the two concerned faces that looked at her. Even when Tyler came up to nuzzle her hand, she didn’t respond.

***

Tess came into the living room with a mug of hot chocolate to find Andrew still kneeling beside Monica, holding her hand and watching her intently. Although the fire had warmed the room, her skin still felt slightly cold to his touch and she shivered occasionally, never rousing from her deep sleep. Tearing his gaze away from his friend for just a moment, Andrew lifted concerned green eyes to the oldest angel. “Why doesn’t she wake up, Tess?”

Placing a gentle hand on Andrew’s shoulder, Tess sighed as she looked at her young charge’s sleeping form. “Our Angel Girl has been through a lot, Andrew. And her body needs to rest, that’s all. She’ll wake up when she’s good and ready.”

“Do you really believe that, Tess?” The Angel of Death sounded as weary as he looked.

“I believe in the Father, baby, and you should too. He wouldn’t lead us to Monica, only to take her away from us again. And I’m holding onto that fact to get me through until that little Angel decides to wake up.” She handed him the hot chocolate and he took it without letting go of Monica’s hand. “Now, make sure you drink that... and I’m making some soup, too.”

“I-I’m not really hungry...”

“Well, maybe not, but you’re gonna eat it anyway. You’re not going to be any good to her if you don’t keep your strength up, Angel Boy.”

“Where has she been all this time, Tess? I mean, look at her...” Andrew narrowed his eyes as he brushed a strand of hair away from the youngest angel’s face. “She’s been sleeping rough... with nowhere to go, nothing to eat... and how did she get here? The beach house is a couple hundred miles away.”

Tess shook her head. “I don’t have any answers, baby. The Father hasn’t told me anything yet, although I have asked. So, we just gotta wait until our Angel Baby wakes up, and then we’ll find out just what she’s been doing these past few days.”

====================

Chapter Thirty

A couple more hours passed, giving time for Andrew and Tess to eat some of the soup the oldest angel had made, when shortly before midnight, Monica finally awoke from the deep sleep she’d been in since her friends had found her out on the streets. Tess was asleep in the armchair by the fire, which still burned warmly in the hearth, while Andrew had stayed by Monica’s side, now sitting on the floor as it was more comfortable than kneeling, but still holding his dear friend’s hand while she slept. He was tired, and was dozing on and off although not sleeping deeply, which is why he was instantly alert when he felt the small movement of Monica’s hand as she stirred, groaning softly.

Andrew sat more upright, watching as Monica opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the light and looking around her with a confused, slightly fearful expression. “Monica.” Her name was said on a breath of relief, glad at last that the younger angel was coming back to consciousness.

Monica took a moment to focus, and then her gaze fell on Andrew’s green eyes, looking at her with nothing but love and concern. “A-Andrew?” He nodded, smiling. “I’m right here... and I’ve missed you so much...”

“What... where am I?” Her voice was soft and weak.

“You’re safe, Angel Girl. We’re in a house that the Father provided for us- Tess is here too.” He leaned sideways slightly, nodding his head to the side to indicate Tess’ sleeping form behind him. Always a deep sleeper, Tess hadn’t yet been wakened by the quiet conversation going on between the two younger angels. Rubbing Monica’s hand softly, Andrew gazed intently at her, sending up a silent prayer of thanks to the Father for her waking up. “How are you feeling?”

Frowning, Monica thought for a moment. “I feel... tired. Kind of achy... like my whole body hurts.” As she tried to lift her head she started coughing, and Andrew remembered how she’d been coughing badly when they’d found her. Reaching up he gently felt her forehead, and frowned. “Monica... you’re sick.”

Not saying a word, Monica dropped her gaze to look at their conjoined hands. Andrew sighed lightly, realizing that his concern for her had sounded like anger. “Monica... I’m not angry at you, okay?”

She looked up then, studying him carefully for a moment as if trying to gauge if he was telling her the truth, even though she knew that angels don’t lie, and he would never lie to her. “I’m... sorry, Andrew. For... for everything.” She looked away again, and Andrew couldn’t help but remember how difficult it had been for Monica to look at him back at the beach house. But as the little angel started coughing again, the older angel realized that now wasn’t the time for this discussion.

“You know, that doesn’t matter right now, okay? First of all, we have to get you better.” Getting up, Andrew squeezed Monica’s hand before walking over to Tess, shaking her shoulder gently. “Tess? Tess, wake up.”

Moments later the oldest angel stirred then woke up suddenly. “Angel Boy? What is it? Is something wrong?” But as she looked over at the couch she saw that Monica was awake, and a smile spread across her face. “Angel Girl?” Getting up, Tess moved to her young charge’s side. “Oh, baby, am I glad to see you awake!” She leaned down, embracing Monica in a hug and as she did so, the youngest angel started coughing again.

“She’s running a temperature, Tess. We need to do something.”

Tess stood and turned to look at the blond angel, sensing something in his voice, and feeling a need to leave the two younger angels alone for a while. “Well... I’ll go and make some camomile tea- that’ll make you feel better, baby.” She smiled warmly at Monica before heading out of the room.

Andrew remained standing in the middle of the room, running a hand through his hair and suddenly feeling awkward, although he didn’t really know why.

“Andrew?”

Monica’s small, tentative voice broke into his thoughts and he looked at her, seeing the confusion and worry in her soft brown eyes, and immediately went to her side, kneeling beside the couch once again, taking her hand and resuming the position he’d been in while waiting for her to wake up. “You need to rest, Monica.”

“No... Andrew, I have... I have to say this.” She paused to take a breath, and Andrew was concerned to see just how weak she was. “I never meant to hurt you, Andrew. Believe me, that was the last thing I wanted.”

“Then why did you shut me out?” He didn’t mean to sound accusing, but it must have come across that way because Monica averted her gaze again, playing with the edge of the blanket with her free hand.

...Please, Monica, don’t do this again.... “Look... I have to admit that yes, I was hurt that day when you walked away from me on the beach- and I was angry, too. That’s what made me leave, because I felt you were just pushing me away when all I was trying to do was help you.”

Monica lifted her gaze to him then, and he felt pain in his heart at the tears glistening in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to push you away, Andrew. I just wanted to protect you.”

Those words startled him and he raised an eyebrow. “Protect me? Monica, what...?”

“You had to go through it too... and I didn’t want you to remember what happened to you every time I got upset about what I’d been through. I-I wanted to spare you those memories....” She coughed again and Andrew stroked her hair soothingly until the coughing subsided, now feeling tears prick at his own eyes.

“That’s why you didn’t want my help, because you wanted to protect me? Angel Girl...” He sighed, never failing to be moved by the depth of Monica’s love for others, and especially for him. Smiling through his tears, he squeezed her hand while stroking the side of her face tenderly. “I’m... I don’t know what to say, Monica... except... I love you so much, you know that?”

=====================

Chapter Thirty One

Tess walked in to find the atmosphere in the room feeling much lighter, and one look at Andrew’s face as he gazed at Monica was enough to confirm to her that the problems between her two ‘Angel Babies’ had been sorted out. Sending up a silent prayer of thanks, she smiled. “Okay, baby, do you think you can drink this?”

Andrew helped Monica to sit up, propping her against the cushions on the couch and eyeing her carefully to make sure she wasn’t about to start coughing again, then Tess handed her the cup and she took it gratefully, looking up at her supervisor tentatively. “Tess... I-I’m sorry...” But the oldest angel shook her head. “Baby, after what you went through, I’m not surprised you were having a hard time. But I need to apologize too- I wasn’t exactly kind to you after Andrew left.”

Monica took a sip of the tea, enjoying the feel of the warm liquid on her scratchy throat. “It’s okay, Tess- I’ve already forgiven you.”

Tess grinned as she took a seat on the end of the couch. “Well, in that case, I’d say this little family is all back together in one piece, isn’t it?” Andrew chuckled. “But Monica, you’re still sick and you’re gonna have to take it easy for a few days, okay?”

“Okay, Andrew. And I promise, I have no intention of going anywhere.”

Andrew smiled lovingly at her. “Well, that’s good. But just in case, I think I’d better keep a close eye on you. Not that I mind.”

“Well I don’t think I’d mind that either.” Monica managed a smile then, a genuine smile that Andrew hadn’t seen in such a long time, and oh how he’d missed it.

“You’re something, you know that, little one?” He squeezed her hand again, happier that now at least her skin felt warm, and she wasn’t shivering anywhere near as badly as she had been earlier. But he was still worried about the fact that she was sick, and he sent up a prayer to the Father to ask for her to get better soon.

Suddenly Monica frowned. “Andrew? Where’s Rascal?”

Andrew shared a glance with Tess before indicating the corner of the room, where the dog had retired to sleep an hour or so ago. “Right over there... except, his name isn’t Rascal, it’s Tyler.” Monica’s smile at seeing the dog turned into a puzzled frown. “Tyler?”

Hearing its name, the dog suddenly pricked its ears up and awoke, and seeing Monica awake, trotted happily over to see the young angel, wagging his tail as he pushed his nose into her hand, making all three angels laugh. “Angel Boy, I think that dog’s trying to push you out of the way!”

Monica petted the dog happily. “Oh, wee Rascal, I’m glad you’re here...” She caught Andrew’s look and quickly corrected herself. “Um... Tyler...” She sighed then, looking up at Andrew. “How do you know his name?”

Tess leaned forward to also stroke the dog’s head. “Because he’s part of our assignment, baby. Andrew and I were sent here to find a lost dog, and bring him back to his owner, a little boy who’s gonna be real upset if he doesn’t get his best friend back.” Tess spoke gently, aware of Monica’s affection for the dog but also aware that the young angel would shortly have to say goodbye to Tyler.

Andrew nodded, looking at Monica compassionately. “He belongs to that little boy, Monica... and tomorrow, Tess is gonna have to take him back.”

Monica nodded, staying silent for a moment as she took another sip of her tea, watching Tyler carefully and trying to get used to his new name. “He stayed with me the whole time...” She spoke as if talking out loud to herself. “I couldn’t have made it without him...”

Tess sighed, sharing a sad glance with Andrew. “Baby... that’s something else we have to talk about- just what you’ve been doing with yourself for the past few days.” She watched as Monica yawned and Andrew took the half-empty cup from her as her eyelids began to droop. “But I think that story can wait until tomorrow.”

Andrew nodded. “Come on, sleepyhead- I think it’s time you went to bed, okay?” He smiled tenderly as Monica opened her eyes again but as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stay awake. Tess got up from the couch and took the cup from Andrew, who stood and scooped Monica gently into his arms. “Can you take her upstairs, Angel Boy? I’ll find her something to wear, she can’t sleep in those dirty clothes.”

“Okay, Tess.” Andrew carried Monica out into the hall and up the stairs, into the bedroom the Father had designated for her. Sitting her on the bed he somehow managed to remove her coat, then Tess walked in carrying a pair of pajamas, which she managed to get a half-asleep Monica to change into while Andrew soaked a washcloth in cold water from the bathroom, coming back to find Tess had managed to get Monica into bed and she was now sound asleep.

“Can you manage from here, Angel Boy?”

Nodding, Andrew smiled at the older angel. “Yeah, I think I can manage.”

“Okay, baby. I’ll see you in the morning.” Tess glanced at Monica. “It sure is great to have her back with us, isn’t it?”

Andrew nodded, smiling. “Yeah, it is.” As the oldest angel left the room, closing the door quietly behind her, Andrew pulled the covers tightly around Monica and sat down beside her, switching on the bedside lamp and smiling when he noticed a small stuffed bear sitting on the nightstand. Glancing upwards he smiled thankfully, then placed the bear in Monica’s arms, his green eyes filled with tenderness as he watched the angel who was now sleeping peacefully.

Andrew felt Monica’s forehead again as he placed the cool washcloth there, still concerned that her temperature hadn’t gone down, but he hoped she might be feeling better in the morning. For a while he just sat by her side, not wanting to sleep, but eventually tiredness overcame him and he felt his eyelids growing heavy. Standing up he leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, intending to go to his own room, but instead something made him change his mind and he walked around to the other side of the bed, climbing in beside the younger angel.

Curling up beside her, he whispered a gentle “goodnight” before drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

====================

Chapter Thirty Two

The following morning, Andrew awoke as the sun came streaming through the window of the bedroom, and he was pleased to find that Monica, who was still asleep, hadn’t woken during the night- and he was glad, for he knew how badly she’d been plagued by nightmares since the assignment in Whisper had finished.

He turned to look at the sleeping angel, smiling with wonder at the fact that she really was there with him, and last night wasn’t a dream- it was real; his dearest angelic friend was back with him, and nothing could make him happier. Glancing upwards, he whispered quietly, “Father... thank You so much for bringing Monica back to us... and for keeping her safe while she was out there on her own.”

Remembering that he still didn’t know just what Monica had been doing since running away, or how she’d managed to travel the almost two hundred miles from the beach house to here in Albany, the blond Angel frowned- he was anxious to know, but told himself to stay patient- when Monica was up to telling him and Tess what had happened to her, she would. Reaching across he lifted off the washcloth and felt her forehead; it was still warm but perhaps not quite as feverish as it had been the night before. His touch roused her though, and she murmured something unintelligible, blinking her eyes slowly open.

Andrew smiled down at her. “Hey, baby.”

The younger angel appeared disoriented for a moment but as she became fully awake, she smiled up at him. “Andrew...” She looked around her, realizing her surroundings were different from where she’d been the previous night. “Where am I?”

“In the house- after you fell asleep last night I carried you up here. You were exhausted, baby girl- and I was gonna leave you alone, but...” He sighed lightly. “Well, I kinda wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Monica smiled, her whole face lighting up, momentarily hiding her exhaustion and illness. She looked around the room, at the sun streaming through the window, then noticed the stuffed bear lying on the bed next to her, and turned back to look at Andrew. “This is a perfect moment, Andrew. I’m glad you’re here with me.”

Andrew nodded and smiled back at her. “How are you feeling today?”

“Um... still tired, even though I’ve slept...” She frowned, puzzled. “And I hurt all over...” She coughed slightly then and Andrew looked at her with concern. “I think you have the flu, Monica.”

“Flu?”

“It’s an illness that humans get... it makes you feel pretty bad for a while, but don’t worry, you will get better.” He sighed, reaching up to brush a strand of hair away from Monica’s face. “You weren’t eating properly when I last saw you, Monica, and since you left the beach house...” He sighed, wishing he knew what she’d been through. “It’s so cold out... you really have to take better care of yourself, you know?”

Monica nodded somewhat sheepishly. “I know... I’m sorry, Andrew...”

“Hey...” Andrew gently lifted her chin so she faced him. “I’m just concerned about you, that’s all. And I always will be- nothing could make me care about you any less. I just want you to be okay, little one, and if that means worrying about you twenty-four hours a day then that’s what I’ll do, whether I’m with you or not.”

Hearing a knock at the door, Andrew looked up as Tess entered, smiling when she saw the two angels were both awake. “Well, good morning, babies. Did you sleep well?” They both nodded. “I’m gonna make pancakes- they’ll be ready in a few minutes, okay?” Andrew and Monica nodded again and Tess closed the door, leaving them alone once more.

“You feel like getting up, or would you like your breakfast in bed this morning?”

Monica smiled up at her friend. “I think I’d like to get up, Andrew. I do feel ill, but...” She sighed. “I want to be with you, and Tess... I missed you both so much.”

Andrew nodded. “Okay. But if you start to feel too sick, I’m taking you straight back to bed, no arguments, okay? I don’t want you ending up with pneumonia.” He smiled at her, letting her know that despite his stern tone, he wasn’t angry at her in any way. “Now, how about we go get some of those pancakes, huh? And then you can tell Tess and I just what you’ve been up to since we last saw you.”

***

Andrew and Tess were both pleased to see that Monica managed to eat two pancakes, although her cough had returned with a vengeance since she’d gotten out of bed and started moving about, and both of the older angels knew it would be quite a few days until her human body had recovered from the illness that had most certainly been caused by lack of food and sleeping rough, something they knew she’d done because of the state her clothes had been in when they’d found her.

So, true to his word, Andrew had taken Monica straight back to bed, tucking the covers around her once more, and he sat beside her, watching her carefully and still concerned about the cough that didn’t seem to want to go away. He’d been around enough humans to know that this was only the flu, and wasn’t life threatening, but all the same he worried about Monica, not liking her to be ill at all, no matter what illness it was.

He looked up as Tess entered the room with another cup of camomile tea, and she frowned when she saw that Monica’s eyes were closed. “Is she asleep again, Angel Boy?”

Andrew shook his head. “No... she’s just resting.” Hearing voices, Monica opened her eyes, smiling first at Andrew and then her supervisor. “I’m sorry- I just feel so tired, and achy...”

Andrew grasped her hand reassuringly as Tess handed her the tea. “Now you just drink that, baby, and it will make you feel better. But this takes time, and it’s probably gonna be a few days before you’re completely better.” She glanced at Andrew, sharing a look with him and he nodded. Tess took a seat on the other side of the bed and watched Monica carefully for a moment. “Baby... are you up to telling us what you’ve been doing for the past couple of days?”

Monica sipped her tea and then after a long moment of thinking, she nodded. “I-I think so...” She looked and sounded fearful and both the older angels were quick to put her at ease. “Monica... you’re not in trouble for what you did, okay? We just need to know where you’ve been, and how you ended up here.”

“Our Angel Boy’s right, baby. It’s important for us to know. We’re a long way from the beach house, you know- almost two hundred miles.”

Monica’s eyes widened slightly. “Two hundred... miles? I-I didn’t realize...” She took another sip of tea and then lowered the cup carefully, allowing it to sit on top of the quilt as she held it with both hands, savoring the warmth it brought to her aching body. “Well... the day you left, Andrew...” A look of sadness crossed her face and she hesitated for a moment. “I-I went back out to the beach, just thinking... and there was this dog... he appeared out of nowhere, but then he ran off and I didn’t think I’d see him again.”

She paused to take a breath, fighting back a coughing fit as she took another sip of her tea. “Then, later... I wanted to talk to you, Tess, after we argued, but... well you’d gone, and it started to rain and I saw the dog outside... oh, he looked so cold and lost, so... I let him in the house and dried him off, and I gave him something to eat. Then... well, we were only going to go for a short walk, but...” She paused to take a breath, looking at each of her friends carefully; they were both listening intently to her story, flashes of guilt and sadness passing across their faces at certain parts of the story.

“I suppose that, after we’d gone right across the beach to the rocks, well he wanted to keep going, and...” Monica dropped her gaze, falling silent. Andrew and Tess shared a worried look, and Andrew leaned across and touched Monica’s hand, causing her to look up at him. “Monica? Are you okay?”

The youngest angel nodded, tears pricking at her eyes. “I felt... well, I felt that I’d been abandoned, neither of you were at the house and I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again... I felt like I had no one, and it hurt so much, I just wanted to get away from there!” By now the tears had started to fall and Tess and Andrew were having a hard time keeping their emotions at bay too.

“Oh, baby... Andrew and I love you very much and you know we’ll always be there for you, no matter what happens or even if we have arguments- we never stopped loving you, Angel Girl.” Tess leaned forward and embraced Monica in a hug, then moments later Andrew did the same. As he pulled back he looked deep into her eyes. “Nothing could stop us from loving you, Monica, okay? You’re a part of us- a very dear friend and so much more. And I’m so sorry that you felt that badly.”

Monica nodded and sniffed, wiping her eyes as she put her cup onto the nightstand with shaking hands. “Well, I just... I was so confused, and so I just followed the dog- he seemed to know where he was going, I don’t understand how, but...” She shrugged. “Anyway, I named him Rascal, and... that first night, we slept in the forest, near a highway. I was so afraid, but the Father was with me, I know He was, and He kept me safe that first night.”

Tess nodded. “The Father was always with you, Angel Baby. He never left you.”

Monica started to cough again then, and Andrew looked at her with concern, seeing the weariness in her eyes. Standing up, he carefully pulled her forward so he could rub her back gently, until the coughing subsided. “You know, Monica, I think you should rest- all this talking isn’t doing you any good.” He looked across at Tess, who nodded. “Our Angel Boy’s right, baby- you can finish this story later.” She hesitated, looking upwards as she heard words from above.

“Babies... the Father tells me it’s time to finish the assignment here- I’m to take Tyler back to his owner now.” She saw Monica’s face fall and her heart went out to her. “I know you’ve grown attached to him, but he isn’t yours to keep, baby. Now, there’s a little boy who needs that dog back- do you understand that?”

Reluctantly, Monica nodded. “I like him so much, Tess- but I could never take him away from his real owner, especially a little child.” Andrew, who had gone out of the room, returned then with Tyler walking beside him. “I thought you’d like to say goodbye to him.” He chuckled as Tyler jumped up at the bed, allowing Monica to lean forward and wrap her arms around him, which made his tail wag furiously. “Goodbye, wee fella. I’m going to miss you, but you have a home to go to...” She looked up at her friends. “I’ve found my family again, and now it’s your turn.”

Andrew and Tess exchanged a smile and Tess nodded, grinning. “And I know one little boy who’s gonna be so happy to see this mutt again.” She frowned down at the dog, but was unable to suppress a smile. “Even if he does have one ear higher up than the other.”

====================