Chapter 10

Friday 2:04am

“As soon as we left the farm, it was searched,” Paul explained, running a tired hand through his hair. It was now two ‘o clock in the morning and he wanted a hot shower and eight hours sleep, but was settling for the hour nap he and Andrew had caught and the splash of cold water on his face that followed.

Andrew’s eyes widened in surprise, “I didn’t notice anyone pulling in after we left.”

“They came in a back way and are still there in the event that Jackson comes back. I’m sure he’ll want to monitor the progress of his two hostages,” His eyes flashed with anger as he said the words. He was trying not to think of what the next day would bring for Monica and Alex, but he knew that they had to find this man and fast, “But between you and me, they aren’t going to catch him there. He’s too smart for that.”

The angel continued to pace, unable to sit down. His entire body was in a state of high alert as worry plagued him. He had checked on Monica three times already and though she was still sleeping, it was restless at best and he didn’t know if the almost constant movement was from whatever was surging through her system or from nightmares. Each time, his touch calmed her somewhat, but each time, his heart broke just a little bit more. She was feverish and the cough continued to torment her in sleep. The knowledge that she would soon feel even worse was hard to swallow.

“We need to get some information from Alex and Monica once they wake up. Actually, I think we need to wake them soon,” Paul was loath to do so, but they were working against the clock right now. He needed to know what Jackson had looked like, and what he had been driving. When he had been there and the things he had said. He also needed to explain everything to his partner.

Andrew nodded his head as he turned and walked towards the kitchen, “I’m going to fix them something to eat. They haven’t had anything in three days.”

The angel looked up in surprise as he walked into the kitchen, “Tess.”

The older angel looked up from stirring the large pot of soup on the stove, her dark eyes taking in the weariness and tension that were present on the younger angel’s face, “Hello, baby.”

“What are you doing here? Do you know what has happened?”

Tess nodded her head, “Yes, the Father has told me everything and I’m here to help any way I can, even if it is by reminding certain angels turned agent that God is still in control of this situation, grim as it may seem.”

He was quiet as he retrieved two bowls from a cupboard as if contemplating her remark, “I know that…”

“In your head you know it, but your heart is doubtful at the moment from what I can see,” She informed him sternly, though her eyes remained warm as they met with his.

“I don’t understand this, Tess. I understand Monica being there for Alex, but I don’t understand her having to go through this with her.” His voice was tight though he managed to contain the anger.

“Sometimes to truly understand, we have to place ourselves in another person’s shoes, Angel Boy. Monica is exactly where she needs to be and though I don’t like the thought of what is to come anymore than you do, we need to keep our minds and hearts focused on the One who does understand.” She sighed softly, seeing the great sadness in his eyes and she moved to wrap her arms around him in a tight, reassuring hug.

He accepted the gesture before he pulled away, “She’s handling this better than I am, Tess.”

“She’s afraid as well, Andrew, but will do anything to keep from upsetting you and she knows you are already upset,” She explained as she ladled out soup into the bowls before retrieving a few more so everyone could eat, “There are sandwiches in the refrigerator, baby. Grab them, please.”

Andrew obliged, trying to draw his strength from the older angel’s calm resolve. Even when his own emotions seemed beyond his control, Tess, at least on the outside, always maintained it and this was one of those times it left him in awe. He managed a smile in her direction, “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too, baby.”

*****

Friday 5:18am

“Alex.” Paul looked up in surprise as he saw her slowly coming down the stairs. He could tell her movements were stiff and still laden with exhaustion, but he didn’t move to assist her. She was independent as hell and though she had not argued with him carrying her out of the barn earlier, he was not about to push his luck.

She managed a slight smile as she sat down on one of the sofas and reached for the throw that hung over the back of it in order to wrap it around herself, “What have you found out?”

“First things first, Bennett,” He stated as he sat down next to her, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired and have the headache from hell, but at least the feeling of being Jack Frost’s latest conquest is better. The doctor wanted me in bed, but she doesn’t know me all that well,” A tiny grin crossed her lips then faded, “She thinks the headache may be the first of several side effects we’ll be experiencing.”

Paul looked down at the floor, reigning in his emotions, “Or it could mean you are just hungry. Andrew is fixing either a very late dinner or a pretty early breakfast.”

“Who is he, anyway?” She inquired as she pressed her fingers to her temple for a moment, trying to ward off the throbbing.

“An old partner. He…retired, but came back to help with this case as a personal favor. Monica is a friend of his; a good friend.”

“Yeah, I found out she is your cat woman,” She joked lightly, feeling another surge of relief that Monica had denied romantic involvement. She wasn’t sure why it mattered at this moment. Unless they worked fast, she would not be around to ponder what could evolve between her and her partner.

He chuckled, wondering if there had been anything else she and the little angel had discussed, but he would hold those questions for later. He turned serious once more, “What do you know that will help us, Alex?”

“Blond hair, shaven, his eyes were almost black from what I could tell,” She pursed her lips as she thought, “He had on jeans each time, but he was getting changes of clothes from someplace and not there at the farm. Wherever he was he had the ability to watch the news. He didn’t know Monica when he first kidnapped us, but the second day, he knew who she was…he said she was the one you were able to save,” She raised her eyebrows slightly in his direction, knowing she would be holding her own question session shortly, “It was me he was after, poor Monica just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, though she is tough for a little bit of a thing.”

“Yes, she is,” Paul replied softly, even as he made notes of the things she was telling on the notebook that was in his lap, “What else do you remember?”

“He was doing it to get even with you. He said he already killed someone that was important to you; she was quiet. You broke his arm…you must have been the one to put him behind bars,” She closed her eyes as she thought, “As far as the injection goes, he has a connection in the penitentiary. He said it acted slow, that there would be symptoms. It’s a foreign substance and deadly. There were two syringes, but he only used one, half of it injected into each of our arms.” She drew in a tired breath, “That’s all I can think of.”

“That helps a lot and you know it,” He informed her, “We’ll get someone down to the state pen to find out who he hung out with. We could get a lead on this injection. Mills and Benkert can break anyone’s silence.”

“Who is he?”

Her question hung in the air as Paul looked up at her, knowing he had to tell her the truth, “His name is Devin Jackson. He escaped the night of your parent’s party. Six years ago, he killed one of my witnesses; one I was going to marry.”

Alex sucked in a deep breath, seeing the raw pain in his eyes. The words “I’m sorry” were on the tip of her tongue, but she knew he had probably heard that more times than he could count. Sorry didn’t bring her back. “What was her name?”

“Lauren.”

“We’ll get him, Gatlin,” Her words were earnest and despite all that was probably wrong with her body at the moment, she found herself reaching across to lay a hand on his arm in comfort. She could tell the gesture surprised him briefly. Yes, they would find him, though she might die trying, “I don’t think I ever thanked you for finding us.”

His eyes held hers as he tried to find his voice. Her hand on his arm felt warm and right. He would be disappointed when she pulled it back, “You and Monica are important to me, Alex. We weren’t stopping till we did. Whatever he did to you both, we will beat it. I promise we will beat it.”

She felt a fearful lump rising to her throat as she nodded her head, deciding to choose to believe that the words he said were true.

*****

Sandwiches and soup were spread out on the dining room table, and Alex was in there with Paul and a few other agents, trying to act as if she didn’t know that she was living life on the clock. Andrew managed a sad smile as he passed the doorway carrying a tray. Monica had shown no signs of waking but she needed to eat and he knew that she was going to be every bit as stubborn as Alex about finishing her job, no matter the cost.

He walked down the hallway, his footsteps silent on the plush carpeting. Monica’s door was opened a crack and he slowly pushed it open the rest of the way. Then, as he entered he let out a little sigh of relief. She was awake, and sitting up in bed, her eyes focused on him, hands folded on top of the green and blue plaid comforter.

She had woken up when Dr. Pelletier was examining her, and between the two of them she had managed to take a short bath and change into one of Alex’s mother’s nightgowns. She was still far too pale, and her hair hung ragged and uneven around her face, but she looked much better than when they had found her, especially now that her eyes were open.

The words stuck in Andrew’s throat and he said nothing as he crossed to the bed and set the tray down on the bedside table. Monica followed him with her eyes and self-consciously reached her hand up to finger the cropped ends of her hair.

“I guess I look pretty bad,” she said with a tiny shrug.

Andrew turned to her immediately, the color rising in his cheeks as he saw what she was thinking. He grabbed her hand and held it in both of his.

“Monica, you look more beautiful right now than I can remember, and your hair has nothing to do with it,” he said as he leaned forward and cupped the side of her face, letting his fingers move into the shorter strands.

She let out a massive breath and he saw tears close to the surface and sat down on the bed, pulling her into his arms.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I know it’s stupid and not very angelic… I think I feel worse about what you must think… what you are thinking…”

“What I’m thinking? Monica I’m just thinking about how grateful I am to have you back.”

She shook her head and he felt the movement against his chest. “No… I know you… I know…” She moved her hand to his chest. “You’re hurting as much as me… and I know how hard you’re trying not to let anger overtake you again… and every time you look at me…”

Andrew covered her hand and was able to feel his own heartbeat transmitted through it and into her. She was right. She always was when it came to him.

“I don’t want you thinking about me right now. I’ll be fine, I promise you. You’re right. It does hurt when I see what a vengeful, hate-filled man has done to you, but I swear, when I look at you now I am only seeing my closest friend and the incredible strength and love inside you.”

“Not that strong,” she muttered. “I didn’t help Alex… I was even more frightened than she was, and I knew that God was watching over us. Every time he came… it felt like my heart stopped beating…”

“Alex lives with dangerous situations every day, and you weren’t sent there to save her from Jackson.”

“No, I was sent to help lead her to God… and I don’t think I did a very good job of it.”

Andrew hugged her tighter. “I think you’d be surprised. You can be very persuasive… just look at Paul.”

She grinned and pulled away slightly. “Well I’m not done yet. There’s still time…” her voice faded. “Four days…”

The blond angel looked her right in the eye, his gaze stern and determined. “You are going to have a lot longer than that.”

“I know that God is watching over us, and He will keep us safe, either here or at Home… but I am a little bit afraid… It feels like there’s nothing I can do…”

“Then don’t think about it, angel. Let us take care of it. We’ll find him and you and Alex will both be fine.”

A brave little smile flitted across her lips. “I’ll try, Andrew. What I really want is to be able to talk to her some more.”

“You’ll get that chance, but right now you need to eat something. You need to get your strength back.” He didn’t mention how much lighter she had felt when he carried her out of the barn and into the house.

“I know I should eat, but I’m not that hungry…”

“Monica, it’s been three days! You should be starving!”

She leaned back against the pillows and bit her lower lip, a sure sign that she was anxious. “My head hurts… the doctor gave me something, but my stomach feels strange too…”

“It’s probably the pain from your head affecting how you feel… and an upset stomach from going so long without food. Come on, you have to at least try,” he insisted as he lifted the tray onto her lap. “Tess will be very disappointed if you don’t.”

“Tess?”

“Yes, she’s downstairs right now.”

The relief was visible on Monica’s face. Just having them all together was enough to make her feel more secure and confident. She sent a quick thank you up to God for sending her supervisor.

“All right… If Tess made it then I’m sure I’ll be able to eat it.” She looked up sharply as Andrew stood up. “You aren’t leaving yet, are you?”

He pulled a chair over to the side of the bed. He sat down and reached over to squeeze her knee through the covers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

*****

“Hello! Anyone home?”

Alex’s head shot up at the sound of her brother’s voice. She had just finished her second bowl of soup and was deep in the middle of a strategy session with Paul and three agents from her old Violent Crimes unit.

“In here,” Paul shouted, wondering if Rob would try to deck him again. He hoped not. The younger man had a wicked right hook.

Rob entered the room and stopped dead for an instant as he saw his sister. It was just an instant though, and then he was moving towards her as if there was absolutely nothing in the world wrong although he had already been told exactly what had happened.

“I hope I’m not around when Mom sees your hair. You know she’s always loved it long,” he said with a wink and a broad smile, designed to set her at ease.

It did the trick. “Yeah, well I was thinking of starting a new fashion trend,” she shot back. “I expect the weed-whacked look to be all the rage in Paris next spring.”

Rob laughed, and Paul watched the two interacting and smiled. He was glad that Alex had someone she could be so comfortable with. A second later he was hoping that someday that person could be him, and then he mentally slapped himself. Now was certainly not the time for that.

“Well, just in case you decide to change your mind, I took the liberty of bringing Pauline along with me,” Rob continued. “She does all the girls’ hair over at the Post, and she’s setting up in Mom and Dad’s bathroom.” He leaned forward to kiss Alex on the cheek. “You look great to me, but maybe she can just even it up a bit,” he said quietly.

When he stood back Alex’s eyes were shining and she quickly looked down at her bowl and blinked rapidly. Nothing like a brother to think of such things. She looked up when she felt a gentle pressure on her hand, expecting to see Rob holding it. Instead it was Paul, looking at her with concern and affection.

“Just for the record,” he said, “I think you look great too.”

Chapter 11

Friday 8:24am

Alex smiled, for the first time in her entire life, feeling somewhat shy, “Thank you,” She said softly, giving his hand a squeeze. She had the feeling that things were changing between them and that only meant one thing. They had to find this antidote.

She looked back to her brother, “Rob, my friend…Monica…she was kidnapped with me. Do you think Pauline would…”

“Sis, you don’t even have to ask. I already told her she would have two customers,” He winked at her, “I promised her a good tip.”

Subconsciously, Alex had wrapped her fingers around Paul’s hand. She liked the way his hand felt in hers. His fingers were a bit rough, but strong and something about the man just instilled a confidence and a calm that she was having trouble feeling right now, “Thanks, Rob.”

Rob’s attention moved to Paul, seeing the bruise on the man’s jaw, “I’m sorry about the other day.”

“No real harm done,” Paul assured him, “Besides, given the circumstances, it was well warranted.”

“I’m just glad you found her. Now, tell me what I can do from my end of things.”

Paul considered his offer, realizing how valuable it could be, “We’re composing a photo of what Jackson looks like now that he has changed his appearance…”

“Consider it done. It will be front page news by the afternoon.” He was determined to stay involved. His sister’s life was on the line and Devin Jackson needed to be found. He would pull every string he had if necessary.

*****

Monica closed her eyes, wishing she had never eaten. Andrew had taken her dishes back down to the kitchen and only then did she allow her head to rest back against her pillows as she took deep breathes to try to calm her stomach, but nothing seemed to be working.

“Not feeling well, baby?”

“Tess!” The little angel’s head shot up and she winced slightly at the pain in her head, “It’s so good to see you!”

Taking the chair that Andrew had beside of the bed, the older angel reached across for her hand, “It’s good to see you too, Angel Girl. I only wish you felt better.”

“I’m all right, Tess,” She stated softly, her voice still hoarse after her ordeal in the barn. She saw her supervisor’s eyebrows raise in question and she lowered her dark eyes.

“Trusting the Father, baby, never meant being a martyr,” She advised gently, reaching out to tilt the younger angel’s chin to meet her eyes.

Monica bit her lip, trying to ward off tears, “I suppose I really don’t feel all that well, but no one needs to hear an angel complaining about it. I can’t think about it either, not while I have so much work to do with Alex.”

The glassy look in her charge’s eyes, caused Tess to draw her into the safety of her arms, “You’re doing just fine with Alex, baby. She is questioning things, even though she may not be vocalizing them. You’ve started the wheels turning. However, denying what you are feeling is not going to change any of that.”

“I’m scared, Tess,” She whispered after a moment, allowing a few tears to come, “I don’t know what this is going to feel like, for me or for Alex and there is nothing anyone can do to help us.”

“God is always helping you, Monica but it is still all right to feel afraid as long as you don’t let it become all you know.”

“What if they don’t find him in time, Tess? Paul will lose Alex and Andrew…I don’t want him to have to go through this. Sometimes I think he feels what I feel more than I do,” She uttered tearfully.

“There is nothing you can do to stop Andrew from worrying about you and he needs to turn this over to the Father as well. Right now, what I think you need is a bit more sleep,” but her comment was cut off by a stubborn shake of Monica’s head.

“No, I’d rather stay awake,” Truth be told, she was terrified of sleeping and not being aware of what was happening to her or to Alex. She wasn’t about to risk going to sleep and not waking up due to whatever was in her angelic system.

Before Tess could argue, there was a soft knock at the door, before Paul stuck his head inside, “We’re on a break and I just wanted to check on you, honey.”

Pulling away from Tess, the little angel wiped hastily at her eyes as she managed a smile, “I’m glad you did.”

Tess sighed softly as she rose to her feet, “I’ll leave you two alone to talk.”

“You’ve been crying,” The agent observed after the older angel had departed and he was seated on the bed beside of the angel.

“I’m fine, Paul, really,” Monica protested softly. He had enough on his plate at the moment and she didn’t want to add to it.

“This is me you’re talking to, little angel,” He grinned at her as he took her hand into his own, “One of your ever loyal protectors and I want to help, even if it is as simple as protecting you from your thoughts.” Noticing she didn’t comment, he continued gently, “We’re going to find him, honey. I promise you that. You saved me in all the ways that mattered a year ago. Now it’s my turn to return the favor.”

Brown eyes peered up at him through dark lashes, “You’re in love with Alex.”

He felt his face flush at the statement at the comment that seemed to have come out of nowhere, “I’m in like,” He grinned with a chuckle and a shake of his head, “We can save love for a little while yet.”

Monica smiled and gently touched his hand. “She’s a good person.”

“I know,” he replied, with a smile of his own, “and I guess that now that you’re on the scene I don’t have to worry about getting her to believe in God.”

Monica laughed ruefully. “I don’t know. Right now I think I can use all the help I can get in that area.”

Paul rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t think you need any assistance. Just take a look at exhibit A here. If you could get through my five layers of straight stubbornness, you can get through to anyone.”

The little angel laughed. At times she had felt like she would never be able to convince Paul to trust in God, even after he knew of His existence as a fact. Now she was able to look back on those times and just concentrate on the lovely memories they had together, but yes, he had definitely been a challenge. But she had been given two chances with him, and a lot of time. Now time was her enemy.

The agent saw the curtain draw over her features and he tilted her face up to look at him. “Everything’s going to work out just fine, Monica… and by the way, that’s supposed to be your line,” he finished with a twitch of the lips and a raised eyebrow.

“I know that things will go the way they are meant to, but I would feel better if Alex would listen to me sooner rather than later.”

Paul chuckled. “Well, you and me both!”

“How is she doing?” Monica wondered if she was feeling the same headache and nausea.

“She’s holding up fine… walking around and ordering everyone around… so pretty normal.”

Monica nodded.

Paul lowered his voice. “But I see her eyes. She’s hurting.”

The angel heard the pain in his voice. It sounded just like Andrew’s. “You’re remembering Lauren,” she guessed.

“Hard not to,” he admitted. “At least that was sudden… once that bullet was in the air there was nothing I could do. Now this feels like some test I have to pass in order to keep her.”

“You know it’s not.”

“Yeah. I keep sneaking away to talk to God and it settles me down.”

“He was with me when I slept,” Monica told him. “It made waking up seem not as bad.”

Paul leaned forward and kissed Monica on the forehead.

“What was that for?”

“For sticking with it despite how obstinate I was. If I didn’t have my faith right now, I don’t think I could get through this… at least not without punching my fist through a wall every half hour.”

A little laugh escaped from between her lips, and her eyes were bright. “I’m so glad that I stuck with it too… but you know there was no way I was going to give up. You may act stubborn, but Andrew says I’ve got a will of steel,” she said as she made face that was more cute than determined.

“Believe me, I can tell,” he agreed quickly. The smile faded slowly and then, “I know I said I’ve been going off by myself,” he said slowly, “but if you wouldn’t mind…”

Monica’s eyes widened. “Of course not!” She pushed herself forward and he quickly helped her and took her hands in his. She glanced into his face quickly and then they both closed their eyes. “Father,” she began, “You know that we’re going through a very trying time right now. You know what has happened and we know that it has saddened You. We’re holding onto Your strength right now, but sometimes we are still overcome with fear and anger. Please, when those times come, be with us and hold us up. We are trusting you with everything and we know that You will be with us always.”

She was silent for a moment and both she and Paul felt a sense of peace and calm wash over them. They opened their eyes slowly and smiled at each other. It didn’t solve all of their problems, but now they both felt more prepared to deal with them.

Outside the bedroom door, Alex stood, holding her breath. She hadn’t been able to move when she heard the last part of the conversation, followed by their prayer. The tone of Monica’s voice was so gentle and trusting, and there was even a trace of that in Paul’s when he asked. It brought a lump to her throat. They were so sure and so pure in their belief, and it seemed to give them both comfort. She bit her lower lip, wondering why it was that she couldn’t bring herself to have such faith. For that brief moment she wished that she could.

She took a deep breath, willing the pain in her head to recede. “Knock, knock,” she said softly as she pushed open the door.

Paul turned around as she entered and his mouth nearly opened in surprise. Pauline had done a wonderful job. Her once ragged hair was cut into a neat bob that hit just at her jaw. It was thick and had a little bounce to it along with a natural wave. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks as Paul stared at her without speaking.

“Monica… if you’re feeling up to it Pauline is all ready for you.”

The angel smiled, both at the thought of getting her hair cut and at the reaction she saw taking place between her two friends. “I’m up for it,” she said, struggling only slightly to disentangle her legs from the covers.

“Let me help you,” Paul insisted.

“Really,” she said as she looked up at him, her eyes speaking to him. “I’m fine.”

He nodded very briefly and stepped out of her way. He wasn’t sure how long she was going to remain ‘fine’, and he wasn’t about to hinder her.

*****

Monica felt both better and worse after the hair cut. Physically, Pauline had done wonders, evening out her hair to just above her shoulders. The auburn locks now possessed more body and her hair flipped up ever so subtly on the ends. Pauline had added in a few layers and her head now felt much lighter which was a bit of a relief, judging by how badly it was now pounding.

She slowly headed downstairs, feeling unsteady on her feet all of a sudden, but wanting to find Andrew. As she descended the last step, she leaned against the wall and closed her dark eyes, willing the pain in her head to just go away.

“Hey, hey, Angel,” Andrew’s soft voice caused her eyes to open and he frowned at the pain that was present there. He wrapped his arm around her waist to support her as he led her into the living room, feeling how heavily her slight frame leaned against him, though he didn’t miss the grateful, though weak smile she managed for him.

Paul gave a low whistle as she came into the room, managing to mask the concern he felt over her hurting. He knew Alex was feeling it too, but as a highly trained agent, she was so far able to disguise it fairly well. Monica, on the other hand, though trying to hide it, was unable to deny how she felt at the moment. “Pauline sure did a nice job, but then again, she had such lovely canvases to work with,” he winked and was rewarded with a smile as Andrew led the little angel to a sofa.

“Thank you, Paul, but Pauline really deserves all the credit,” Monica stated softly, waiting until Andrew sat down as well, so she could lean into him. He was making a silent fuss, knowing how much she didn’t like the attention, as he covered her with a quilt before wrapping his arms around her, “I guess if you are ever protecting me again, you won’t have to worry about it waving around like a flag.”

Andrew heard the trace of sadness in her voice and he dipped his head to her ear, “You look beautiful, angel. Your shorter hair suits your spunk if you ask me.”

Her eyes glistened with happy tears at his words, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” He smiled at her tenderly as he felt her forehead. She was still very warm and he then frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me before you weren’t feeling well? What is hurting you?”

She gave a tiny sigh, “My head mostly… and my stomach is rather upset.” She looked up as Alex walked slowly into the room and Monica could see her own symptoms reflected in the agent’s light blue eyes.

“Maybe tea will help,” Paul offered as he rose to his feet, “Let me make you both a cup.” He knew that tea would not really solve anything, but he was desperate enough to try.

“I’ll help,” Andrew offered, knowing Monica had wanted to speak to Alex and the opportunity had just presented itself. He moved carefully, placing a pillow against the arm of the sofa for her head and pulling the quilt up more snugly around her. He rested a hand against her cheek, “I won’t be long, angel.”

Monica watched them leave before looking over at Alex, “How are you feeling?”

“About the same as you, unfortunately,” She sighed with a disgusted shake of her head, “But I keep ignoring it, hoping it will go away,” She fell silent for a moment before meeting the smaller woman’s eyes, “I overheard you and Paul praying.”

Monica’s eyes widened slightly as she said a silent prayer of thanks for God’s impeccable timing. She wasn’t too sure of how to respond to the comment though, so she simply nodded and waited to see if Alex would continue.

“You seem to have a…peace, that I can’t begin to understand.”

“That peace comes from God, Alex,” The angel replied steadily, temporarily forgetting that she wasn’t feeling all that well, “It comes with trust in Him.”

“Monica, there is a poisonous chemical running through your veins. How can you trust that God is going to keep you safe from that?” The agent’s expression was skeptical as she awaited an answer.

“Because I know that whether I live or whether I die, God is going to take care of me. Trusting Him doesn’t do away with the fear I feel. I am afraid. I’m afraid of what lies ahead in the next few days, and how badly I’m going to feel. I’m afraid of what toll that will take on Andrew and Paul, because they care about me. But what I’m not afraid of is dying, because if He chooses for that to happen, He will be right there with me, just as He is now.”

“But why doesn’t He just cure you? He obviously has the power to do that-.”

“Yes. He does. But His plan for me is greater than I can fathom. If He chooses for me to suffer, it is part of His plan. I know that plan is perfect and I accept it.” Yes, she accepted it, she just wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Paul has that peace too,” Alex observed, her eyes flitting briefly towards the kitchen.

“Yes, but he hasn’t always. When I met Paul, he was a lot like you. He didn’t want to trust anyone other than himself, especially after losing Lauren.”

“But you changed his mind.” She was guessing, but she had a feeling it was true.

“God changed his heart,” Monica corrected gently, “And first, Paul had to let Him in.” Still seeing doubt in the agent’s eyes, Monica summoned her waning strength and continued. “Alex, this thing that was done to us; it’s bigger than you or I. It’s bigger than Andrew or Paul or the entire FBI, but if it is not God’s will for us to die, a cure will be found, with or without catching the man who did it to begin with.”

Alex smiled ruefully, “I don’t except these kinds of things easily, Monica. I need time to think about it. It’s a big risk.”

“You take those every day in your job. Imagine the peace you would find at not having to take them alone.”

Chapter 12

Friday 6:23pm

The lights spilled their golden light out onto the street, catching the snow as it fell, and making it look like there was a party going on inside the townhouse. All of the cars parked on the street enhanced that impression, but the man driving by knew better. He kept his eyes focused on the road ahead and pulled his ski cap further down over his ears.

Damnit! They had found them! He had been so certain that no one would ever track him to a little known relative and an even lesser known bit of property out in the middle of nowhere. The blood pumped through his veins faster as he clenched the steering wheel in his fists and ground his teeth together. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down. He had a camera all ready and everything. He narrowed his gaze as he looked at the house in his rearview mirror just before he turned the corner.

Well, luckily he was well adapted to change. Hell, that was why he drove past the house on Waverly street every day before heading to the barn. It kept him informed. He accelerated as he pulled into traffic headed for the center of DC. Obviously they would have the barn staked out so there was no point heading back there. No, he was going to have to do another quick-change and hole up for a while.

As he continued driving his thoughts drifted to the two women he had held captive. He was sure they had to be feeling the effects of the poison by now. It had been nearly twenty-four hours. Slowly an evil grin spread across his face. Yes, they would be feeling the poison now, and Paul Gatlin would be right there to see it first hand. A low chuckle rose in his chest. He hadn’t even considered it before, but the agents had actually done him a favor. If he thought that Paul knowing they were dying would be a torture, he could only imagine what witnessing it would be like. Things were working out even better than planned.

*****

“You’re cheating, Gatlin and you know it!” Alex exclaimed as she slapped him on the arm.

He had just won a seventh consecutive Boggle game, and Alex was craning her neck at every angle, certain that he had been able to see her list of words from where he sat. Paul was outright laughing while Monica and Andrew shared a small grin. The hours of waiting for something to happen had finally become too much, and Alex had dragged out every game she had ever played. Paul had rolled his eyes at “The Merry Milkman” and “Hi-Ho Cherri-O” but they had played just about everything else.

Alex and Monica were still plagued with headaches, and the pain had become so intense that Paul had insisted that the doctor give them something stronger. Now, with vicodan pills fighting the effects of the poison they were at least slightly more comfortable.

“I am not cheating,” Paul insisted after he managed to stifle his laughter. “I’m just having a run of good luck.”

Alex glared at him. “Mmm-hmmmm.”

He smiled innocently, then looked to Andrew and Monica for support.

“Uh-uh… you can’t have both of them just because you’ve known them longer. Monica’s on my side, aren’t you?”

Monica looked over at the younger agent and let a tired smile emerge. “Well, I can’t say that I actually saw him cheat…”

Alex pursed her lips in mock annoyance. “Okay then… new game!” she announced as she swept the Boggle game, along with its little hourglass, off the table and into its box. “Well that’s the last of the games, but I think that there are some cards up in Rob’s old room,” she said.

Paul was about to stop her, and tell her that what she really needed to do was rest, but he stopped himself before the words left his mouth. She didn’t want to think about what she needed to do. She wanted to forget all about it. If playing a hundred games would make that possible for her then he would do it.

“I’ll be right back down,” she said over her shoulder as she left the room.

Once she was out of the room Paul immediately stood up. “This looks like a good time to go get a progress report,” he said grimly. He already knew that if anything had turned up, he would have been the first to know, but he had to at least pretend, if only for himself.

“How are you doing, Monica?” Andrew asked as he looked over at where the little angel sat, still wrapped up in a blanket but looking slightly better.

“I’m doing all right.” She saw the look of doubt in his eyes. “Really, I am.”

She was in less pain, but she knew that meant little. The poison would do its work, whether or not she could feel it. She glanced at the door that Alex had passed through. At least she felt that she had made some progress. Alex was definitely thinking about what she had told her, and that brought her some much-needed comfort.

“If you need anything…”

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I have everything I need.”

A minute ticked by, and then another, and the two angels began to wonder what had become of their counterparts. Andrew suggested that they had probably wound up together in the dining room-turned-headquarters, and Monica nodded her agreement. She didn’t know if it was the action of moving her head so suddenly or not, but suddenly her stomach clenched.

“I… I think I’ll just go upstairs and make sure Alex isn’t up there,” she said. “Maybe she just needs help looking for those cards.”

Andrew looked up at her with concern. “Are you sure? Why don’t you let me go…”

“No, Andrew. I’ll be okay and she and I still have some talking to do.”

He was reluctant to let her out of his sight, but he let out a small sigh. “All right. Just call if you need anything.”

“I will,” she promised, and then quickly left the room.

She wasn’t sure if she would be able to make it to the second floor. Her stomach was churning and acid burned the back of her throat. She didn’t want Andrew to see her like this. Quickly she rushed up the last three stairs and then the two paces to the bathroom. She flung open the door and stopped dead, forcing down her own nausea as she saw Alex, pale and sweating, vomiting into the toilet with tears running down her face. It only took her an instant to drop to her knees beside the woman.

“Easy,” she soothed, rubbing the agent’s back, even as her own insides threatened to revolt. “You’re all right… you’re all right…”

Alex turned her head slightly and looked at the Irish angel, her eyes red and still filled with tears. “No… I’m not… and neither are you.”

She wanted to protest, not willing to admit that they were anything but all right, but her sensitive stomach lurched once again, and despite the pounding in her head, she leapt to her feet, remembering a second bathroom off the master suite. The angel barely made it before the heaving began and it felt like an eternity before it subsided, leaving her weak and for the first time since this had started, defeated. Her stomach continued to churn, despite the fact that there could be no more in it, as she sat with her back up against the wall and her knees close to her chest.

“Father,” She uttered breathlessly, “This hurts…please…”

“Something’s wrong.”

Andrew’s statement caused Paul’s head to jerk up from where he was reading Rob’s story in the post, “Where are they? Still upstairs?” The angel nodded and a split second later, the two of them were sprinting up the steps, taking them two at a time. Paul stopped at the entrance to the bathroom, sympathy and fear filling his eyes at the sight of his partner.

“Go,” Andrew instructed, before he continued on his search for the little angel.

“Alex,” Paul entered hesitantly, seeing she was trying to catch her breath, “are you all right?”

She wanted to tell him yes. She wanted not to cry, but the pain and the nausea had her feeling like surrendering to much more than those two things.

He dropped down beside of her as she helplessly began to cry and without giving it a second thought, wrapped his arms around her and pressed her head to his strong chest as she abandoned her strength for the first time since she had known him.

Alex relaxed up against him, his hand in his hair soothing her weary heart as he offered her quiet strength. Even once she had managed to stop her tears, she made no attempt to move from his arms as she rested her hand against his chest, “I’m scared,” She whispered finally, “Paul, I’ve never been so afraid.”

“I know,” He replied softly, daring to kiss the top of her head and relieved when she didn’t object, but even snuggled a fraction closer. Yes, things were changing and he was determined she not die now that they were. Her next question caught him completely off guard.

“Monica said that God is with me. Is He?”

“Yes, honey,” His voice was firm and filled with conviction, “He’s here in more ways than you realize and He knows you and Monica are hurting and that because of that, we all are.”

“I want to believe what you both are saying, but…”

“It’s hard,” He finished for her, his fingers brushing against her pale cheek, “It was for me too, Alex, but the changes since I have accepted it have been amazing.”

“I want that kind of peace, now more than ever,” She pulled away enough to look up at him, “But I don’t know how…”

The look in her eyes tore at his heart and he found himself stepping out onto a limb without abandon, “Then let’s ask Him for it, Alex.” He saw her uncertainty, but he was determined to help her anyway he could. He was helpless to make her body feel better, so he would do all he could for her spirit. He wrapped her hands up in his own as he closed his eyes, and for the first time, since the dinner with the angels a year ago, he prayed aloud, “Father, Alex is searching for You and I’m asking for You to bring her the rest of the way. She needs Your peace now, Lord, and to be able to feel Your love and strength while she is so afraid. Touch her, God, as only you can. Show her the way to You.”

She didn’t know if it was indeed Divine Intervention or not, but something about Paul’s simple words calmed her and she drew in a deep breath, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She suddenly felt even more aware of his closeness and though she was loathe to pull away, she knew she had to, “You need to check on Monica and I need to brush my teeth.”

He nodded his head as he rose to his feet, pulling her up with him, “I won’t be long.”

She watched him go before reaching for the spare toothbrush she always kept at her parent’s house. She had already made up her mind. If she was going to die, she was going to kiss Paul Gatlin first and hope that one kiss lasted her for the rest of eternity.

******

“Monica?”

She looked up from where she was sitting on the floor to the desperately worried eyes of her best friend. The tears were still streaming from her reddened eyes and one hand was lying against her stomach as if willing it to settle, “I’m sorry…”

He blinked back tears at her words as he sat down beside of her and cupped her cheek in his hand, “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, angel.”

“I didn’t want you to see this…”

“Monica, please, don’t think you have to hide anything from me. It’s hard enough knowing what is happening to you, but to not be able to be there and help…” He shook his head as he wiped away her tears with gentle fingers, “Don’t hide from me, sweetheart, please?”

Monica nodded tearfully as she drew in a trembling breath, “Is Alex all right?”

“Paul is with her,” He assured, reaching for her hands, “Can you stand?” Seeing her nod once more, he stood up and helped her to her feet, watching her pale a little more. “Let’s go see if the doctor has something to take the edge off your nausea.”

She sighed softly as she allowed him to lead her to from the bathroom, wondering how many more pills it would be before medication would no longer take the edge off the feeling of dying.

*****

”Still nothing?” Andrew asked some time later as Paul came back into the living room. Monica was resting up against his chest, the exhaustion finally having caught up to her but he could tell she was sleeping no more peacefully then Alex was on the other sofa.

“The guys are still working on Jackson’s buddies down at the prison but they are confident the men will crack eventually. I just need for eventually to be a little sooner,” He replied wryly. Approaching Alex, he moved to brush a strand of hair from her cheek, watching as she stirred slightly before stilling once more, “There has still been no word on Jackson and my guess is he figured out that the farm was under surveillance. He won’t be returning there anytime soon.”

Andrew nodded his head, his jaw clenched in frustration, before he gazed down at the sleeping angel and his expression softened slightly, “With everything she is going through, she is worrying about upsetting me.”

The agent smiled, “She’s stubborn that way, but I thank God for that stubbornness. She has Alex questioning things.”

“Really?” His eyes shot up to meet with those of his friend.

“She allowed me to pray with her. She isn’t there yet, but the ground work has definitely been laid.”

“People want to believe more when their lives are in danger,” Andrew observed, “I’m just sorry that either of them are going through this.”

“I’m not losing her, Andrew,” His eyes shone with resolve as he looked back to his partner.

“Monica told me you were ‘in like’. Is that changing?” He grinned, despite everything, enjoying Paul’s ever so slight embarrassment.

“I’m dangling on the precipice of something more. Hell, I’ve spent half my life on that cliff.”

Chapter 13

Friday 10:12pm

“Paul?” her voice was slightly hoarse but he heard her even from the next room.

She was propping herself up when he entered and he was bold enough to rush over and help her. Something had changed between them and now he didn’t think she’d mind.

“Are you feeling sick?” he asked quietly. Monica was curled into a ball on the other sofa and he didn’t want to wake her.

“No… I feel… well, not better… but I won’t ruin that nice shirt of yours anyway,” she said with a wink.

He stared at her, mind spinning at the fact that she could sit up and smile and joke with him. “Something to drink then? The doctor left some special cans of something… supposed to have all the nutrients you need or something like that,” he said, glancing towards the kitchen.

Alex closed her eyes for a second to push back the pain and then shook her head lightly. It seemed incredibly stupid now. She had woken up and he hadn’t been there, and for some reason she had just needed to see him. His name had been out of her mouth before she had time to think about it. Damn him for having such a short name… it rolled right off her tongue!

“Alex, what is it?”

He felt her forehead and then grabbed her wrist, looking for her pulse the way the doctor had shown him. Very gently, she pulled her hand back, and he looked up at her questioningly. A little shrug was her only response.

“If you need something we can get it here,” he insisted. “Just name it.”

Clearly she wasn’t going to get out of this without telling him. She rolled her eyes slightly and a sarcastic smile played over her lips.

“I called because I wanted to see you,” she admitted finally.

Paul remained clueless. “I know, Alex, that’s why I came… just tell me what’s wrong.”

She let out a sigh and grabbed onto his hand, pulling him to sit on the edge of the sofa. “Nothing’s wrong,” she said with a touch of exasperation. He certainly wasn’t making this any easier to admit. “I wanted you. That’s all. Just you.”

Finally realization crept into Paul’s expression. His eyes opened wider and he looked a trifle dumbstruck. Inwardly Alex chuckled, comparing him to a deer caught in headlights. He was awfully cute when he was surprised. She didn't have long to gloat however, because her heart started pounding when he picked up her other hand and held it tightly.

“I’m not going anywhere, Alex. Not now, and not for the foreseeable future.” He grinned. “Well, until you order me out, anyway.”

She blushed when he dropped her hand and briefly touched her cheek. This was so strange and so completely unexpected. Such horrific circumstances had pushed them closer together but at the moment she was finding it difficult to regret them if this was the outcome.

He saw that now she was the speechless one, and took pity on her. “If you’re feeling up to it we could use your help in the other room,” he told her. “You worked VCS a lot longer than I did. I may know Devin Jackson, but you know his mindset.”

“I’ll do anything I can,” she replied, holding out her hand to let him help her to her feet.

She looked briefly at Monica. The smaller woman seemed to be faring even worse than she was. The whole situation was so damn unfair. Jackson had already killed too many people. She tightened her free hand into a fist. He wasn’t going to claim two more victims.

*****

Monica opened her eyes not long after Alex and Paul left. She looked around the empty room and felt tears welling up in her eyes. She knew that everyone was no more than a room away and yet she felt very alone. She had been doing a relatively good job of ignoring what she knew to be the facts, but her bout of nausea, and her pounding headache had plowed through her defenses.

“No I’m not… and neither are you…” Alex’s words echoed in her head.

She hadn’t lost her belief that they would be cured, but the question now was when? How long would they have to endure, and would the man who had ruined so many lives be brought to justice? Paul had been very stoic, holding in whatever emotions he was feeling regarding Jackson, but she knew him. He was holding onto his patience with his fingernails, and she wondered what would happen when Jackson was eventually found. She knew that she was supposed to hope that Paul would control himself, and Jackson would repent. She was going to need a lot more help from God before she could bring herself to hope that.

“Angel Girl?” Tess walked in carrying a cup of tea. “Why didn’t you call us when you woke up?” she asked, seeing the tearful look in the young angel’s eyes.

“I was all right. Just thinking,” she answered as she pushed herself up. Everything ached.

“Well here, baby. Try to drink this. I know that medicine only keeps you from actually throwing up. This may help to settle your stomach.

Monica smiled gratefully. No matter how hopeless things seemed, she was eternally thankful that God had allowed Tess and Andrew to be with her. He had spoken to her in her dreams again, and she knew that she was finally helping Alex. Hearing God’s praise spoken to her had actually lifted her out of her weakened body and made her feel like an angel again. He never failed to give her exactly what she needed.

“Thank you, Tess… it is feeling a little wobbly,” she admitted as she took the cup.

“I know, and I wish there was more I could do. I keep puttering around back there and making phone calls for the agents here, but it doesn’t feel like enough. I sent you out on this assignment alone, and I had no idea what would happen… but I never imagined…”

“You didn’t send me, Tess. God did. I know that you wouldn’t send me into danger if you could help it. Maybe that’s why God made that call. I’m helping Alex, Tess. I’m making a difference. Right now, that’s enough for me.”

Tess pressed her lips together and swallowed hard. It wasn’t often that she felt tears in her old eyes, but Monica’s words touched a deep part of her heart. “Of course you’re making a difference, Miss Wings,” she said a moment later, voice strong and decisive again. “You make a difference on all your assignments.”

Monica smiled and brought the cup of tea to her mouth. It was extra sweet, just the way she liked it, and she took a small sip to test its heat. She was about to take another drink when her fingertips began to tingle. Her eyes went wide at the feeling, the sensation of weakness that radiated through her hand. It shook for an instant and then the cup was falling, spilling tea all over the Oriental rug. She stared at her hand and then raised her eyes helplessly to Tess.

“Andrew! We need you in here!”

A moment later Andrew, with Paul on his heels appeared, Tess’ call terrifying them. The blond angel looked from the spilt tea to the look of horror on his best friend’s face and he was at her side an instant later, “Angel?”

Her hand was shaking and no amount of will would cause it to stop. Whatever he had given her was effecting her nervous system and frightened tears filled her eyes, “Andrew. Get me upstairs. I don’t want Alex to see…”

He wanted to argue, but he understood. The poison was working faster on her angelic system and she wanted to spare the other agent the preview of what was to come if she could. Wordlessly, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her close to his chest and honored her request. He only had to hear the footsteps behind them to know that Paul was following and he could hear the curses on the agent’s breath.

Andrew laid her gently on the bed while Paul busied himself adjusting her blankets, neither agent nor angel wanting to state what they knew was happening to her. The little angel bit her lip, trying to bring her hand to wipe at her eyes, but her body would no longer follow the most simple of orders. It was Paul who reached up and swiped away her tears and she managed a trembling smile of thanks.

Her dark eyes turned to Andrew then, seeing the pain in his expression, “I won’t be able to talk to you too much longer.” The words held great sadness, even more so than fear and he was quick in reaching for her hand.

“You know you will always be able to talk to me,” He replied softly as he laid their joined hands against his heart.

“I’ll go and check on Alex,” Paul offered, sensing that his two angelic friends needed to be alone for a few moments. Leaning down, he gently kissed the little angel’s cheek, “Thank you for the things you have said to her, honey. They are working and if you lose your ability to speak to her anymore, I will be your voice.”

Fresh tears welled up in her eyes at his words as she pressed her forehead against his, “I love you, Paul,” She whispered, wanting him to be reminded of that fact while she was still able to say it.

“Ditto, little angel. You let me know if you need anything.”

“I will,” She promised, her eyes following him as he left the room and softly closed the door behind him. She then looked over to Andrew, noticing he still had his fingers laced through her own, “Thank you for being here.”

“You know that there is no place else I’d want to be, angel,” He replied, steadily meeting her eyes.

“I don’t want you worrying, all right? Please Andrew, you know I’ll be fine,” She knew she had told him that before, but she had a feeling that soon she would not be able to remind him. Other parts of her body were becoming weakened already and she could feel tingling in her legs. It was only a matter of time.

Andrew was quiet for a moment as he nodded his head as with his other hand, he reached up to smooth her bangs back away from her face, “Do you know what I would give to be able to do this for you?” The words were so soft she had to strain to hear them.

“But you can’t,” Monica replied firmly, “Nor would I want you to. I would never want to trade my pain for yours,” A shaky grin crossed her face as she struggled to squeeze his hand, “Besides, Paul needs you. I don’t know anything about this agent stuff.”

He chuckled softly, “I’d imagine, angel, that you could learn anything if you set your mind to it, with or without God’s help. It’s that stubborn streak of yours, but I wouldn’t trade that streak for anything in the world,” He saw her blinking back tears and he softly kissed her hand, “I love you, angel. God loves you. Now rest in knowing those two things are true and will never be traded.”

*****

“What’s wrong with her?”

Paul sighed. Alex was demanding answers. Tess’ call for help had not gone unnoticed and he was trying to abide by Monica’s wishes to spare her the truth, “She doesn’t have the strength training you have, Alex. This is affecting her much quicker…”

Frustration shone in the blue eyes, but then they turned pleading, “Paul, I need to know what I am up against. The fact that it is hitting her faster is not going to stop it from hitting me and I don’t want any surprises if I can avoid them. I need to know. Please.”

He knew he had no choice but to grant her request when she put it like that. Reaching for her hand, he explained, “It’s hitting her nervous system. She couldn’t manage to hold onto a cup full of tea. She didn’t want you to know, Alex. She didn’t want to frighten you.”

She lowered her eyes, wondering how much time she had before she would be completely incapacitated. She would lose her ability to use her arms and to walk and she would be forced to be bedridden until the end came or the antidote was found. She would lose her ability to speak, “Paul.” His name hung in the air as she met her eyes once again with his.

“What is it, honey?” He could tell that there was something she needed to say and she looked more than slightly uncomfortable.

”I…I just wanted you to know…well,” Oh, damn it all to hell! A moment later, she had brought her hands to his face and her lips touched his in a tender but meaningful kiss that left him breathless.

Paul was more than slightly flustered for a moment as their lips parted, before a quirky grin crossed his face, “Well, I’d say that there are no signs of weakness in your lips as of yet.”

She laughed and the sound filled the air, breaking through the tension that had been lingering for hours, but he silenced her as he kissed her once more, “What’s happening here, Gatlin?” She whispered, once he had pulled back once more, though his hands were still cupping her face.

He pondered her question for a moment and then answered her honestly, “I’d say what is happening is that if I’m not extremely careful, you are going to steal my heart, Bennett.”

His truthfulness surprised her and a second later, he had wrapped her up in his strong embrace, “Good,” She whispered into his shoulder.

“I’m not about to lose you, Alex,” Paul replied, his voice laden with emotion, “Not now.”

“That’s also good to know, Gatlin.”

*****

Paul was dozing in the easy chair early the following morning, scattered notes lying in his lap and around his feet. He, Alex and Andrew had worked late into the night, in constant communication with the other agents in the field. The angel had been back and forth between their established headquarters and checking on Monica, but the little angel had slept most of the night. She had woken up once, the pain in her head had intensified and had caused her to cry out in her sleep. But with Andrew’s presence and more medication, she had fallen asleep once again.

The ringing of the doorbell caused Paul to awaken with a groan, as he ran a tired hand over his face. He got up, his body stiff after sleeping in the chair and made his way to the door. It was a flower delivery truck and he checked the gun in his holster, just in case he was being set up. Opening the door, he looked suspiciously at the delivery man, but everything seemed to be on the up and up.

“Paul Gatlin?” Seeing him nod, the young man handed him a large flower arrangement, “Special delivery.”

“Thank you,” Paul’s voice was tight as he closed the door, already not having a good feeling about this unless for some reason Alex had ordered him flowers and he really didn’t think that was high on her priority list at the moment. Holding the vase of flowers in one hand, he opened the card with his other one and anger began to surge through his body. The top of the card, as offered by florists across the United States, read “In deepest sympathy” while the message that followed read “Remembering you on the death of your partner. DJ”.

“Son of a-“ He hurled the vase across the room, feeling the smallest satisfaction as it shattered against the wall.

He pounded his fist against the wall, surprised that didn’t go all the way through. He didn’t think he had ever been angrier in his life than he was at that moment. The man who had already taken everything from him once, and was now threatening to do it all over again, was taunting him. Taunting him, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

“What happened? What’s wrong?” Alex’s footsteps on the stairs were followed quickly by Andrew’s

Paul looked at the spot on the wall where the water was slowly dripping down to form a puddle on the parquet floor. “Little accident,” he said tightly. “I’ll take care of it.”

“That doesn’t look like an accident,” Alex replied, hands on her hips.

“He’s playing us, Alex. He’s playing us all. To him this is a game and he’s off laughing his ass of somewhere while I’m sitting here watching you and Monica suffer.” The sound in his voice was as close to defeated as she had ever heard.

“He’s not going to win,” she said, and when he looked up at her there was a strength in her eyes that he envied.

He climbed the stairs to where she was standing and took her hand in his. “No. Of course he’s not.”

“Monica’s still asleep, so I’m going to join the guys in the dining room and see what I can do to help,” Andrew said.

“Are you sure?” Paul asked, knowing how he felt about being away from the little angel.

“Yes, I’m sure.” He looked at Paul as he passed and the agent saw the well-hidden frustration peek out from his eyes. “You’re not the only one who feels like he’s just sitting around watching.”

Paul watched him go and then put his arm around Alex’s waist to guide her the rest of the way down the stairs. She had shown no signs of weakness so far, but he knew that it was coming and he worried that as much as she pushed herself it wouldn’t be long.

“I was thinking of something,” she said as he led her to the kitchen where Tess had already laid out breakfast. “The van he was using… they found it abandoned, right?”

“Yeah, out by the Amtrak station. Looked like he probably stole another car from the station there, but that’s all long-term parking so the people probably haven’t even reported it missing,” he answered, wondering where she was going with this.

“There have been parking bans all over the city because of the snow, and if he was parking it anywhere in the city over the last few days, what do you think the chances are that he was ticketed?”

Paul shrugged. “Pretty good, I suppose.”

“And what are the chances that he would have shoved those tickets into the glove box?”

“Again, pretty good, but the guys were all over that thing and I don’t remember them mentioning tickets in any of their reports.”

“Well, of course not. They were looking for fingerprints or something like that. Everyone shoves tickets in the glovebox. They probably just filed them to check later, but Paul… the address of where he was tagged would be on those tickets.”

His heartbeat seemed to echo in his ears as he thought about what she was saying. They could have his address and they didn’t even know it. He was shouting out orders before he even made his way out of the kitchen. Alex was running behind him, still not willing to be left on the sidelines. Naturally no one knew exactly what had become of the contents of the van, and the next thirty minutes were spent on the phone talking to everyone who had touched it. Fifteen minutes after that, a box containing everything from the glovebox was special delivered by an agent.

“Here it is! Here it is!” Paul shouted as he pulled up a handful of tickets and started flipping through them. A second later he let all but one drop to the floor. “You were right, Alex,” he said as he put the ticket down on the table. “There. That’s where he is.” He pointed to the street printed on the ticket. It was less than twenty minutes away.

*****

“Monica?” Andrew’s voice was low and gentle as he lightly shook her. Paul and Alex and a whole crew of other agents were almost ready to leave, but he couldn’t go with them without talking to her first. “Angel, wake up.”

With agonizing slowness her eyes finally opened partway and she turned her head towards him. “Andrew, what’s wrong?” she whispered, forcing the words out.

“We’ve found him, Monica. I’m leaving with Alex and Paul right now.”

“You found him?” she could hardly believe that it had finally happened.

“We think so, and I’ll be back before you know it and then you’ll start feeling better as soon as we get that antidote into you.” He stroked her forehead, stomach turning at the heat he felt radiating off of her. “Hold on for me, angel. Just hold on a little while longer.”

“I will, Andrew,” she said, her eyes tired and already beginning to drift closed.

“Everything’s going to be all right,” he said as he kissed her hair. “God’s holding you, angel,” he whispered, in a voice that was barely audible, “and I’ll be back soon to hold you too.”

Chapter 14

The small brick rancher was surrounded by FBI agents when Paul, Andrew and Alex arrived. The twenty minute drive had been quiet as the threesome had been lost in their own thoughts. Paul kept glancing at Alex every minute or so, trying to decipher how she was feeling. He had a hunch that she was running off pure adrenaline, not permitting her body to break down until the antidote could be recovered and he found himself praying constantly that Jackson really did have it. He couldn’t bear to lose her now that he had just found her and they were beginning to admit the feelings they had for each other.

He glanced in the rearview mirror to the angel, seeing the great sadness and determination that was in Andrew’s eyes. Andrew had told him quietly that Monica seemed to be starting to fade, the poison working more quickly on her angelic system and Paul had not missed the tremendous pain in his eyes when he had said those words. Paul knew that God would take of Monica, and even Alex as she was starting to come around, but to watch them both suffering was nearly intolerable.

They got out of the car quickly and Paul laid a gentle hand on Alex’s shoulder, “Why don’t you wait here? You’re not feeling all that well…” He could see the pain in her eyes, but she was already shaking her head.

“I want in on bringing this bastard down, Paul,” Her voice was determined though she refrained from saying all that she was feeling. Not only had this bastard hurt her and Monica, but in the past, Paul as well and as she came to know more and more about her partner and the way she felt about him, she found that fact unforgiveable.

He briefly looked as if he might argue, but then nodded his head, “All right, but stay behind us, please?”

“That I can do,” She consented, knowing with the way she was feeling she did not want to be the first one to face Jackson. She couldn’t afford a mistake, and neither could Monica.

Andrew was walking back in their direction having just spoken to one of the other agents, “They have the house surrounded…he won’t be getting out if he is indeed in there.”

Paul nodded his head, expression set in grave determination, “All right then. Let’s move.”

Breaking the door in only took a matter of seconds and Paul’s eyes scanned the foyer and living area for any signs of Devin Jackson. The house was remarkably tidy and not at all what he would have imagined, but he gave it little thought as he motioned to Andrew and Alex that all was clear. His heart was racing as he offered up prayer after prayer that the man was indeed here.

They proceeded carefully, guns drawn, covering each other around every corner. It was only when they reached the outskirts of the kitchen did the voice of the man that Paul had hated for four years caused him to look up with raging eyes.

“Well, well, well, Agent Gatlin. I’ve been expecting you.”

Andrew looked at the man who had caused so much pain and he felt his heart nearly stop. Jackson was looking remarkably comfortable as he faced them, a small glass vial in his hand which he held precariously above the linoleum floor. One wrong move, one gunshot, and it would shatter to the ground and with it the chances of Monica and Alex recovering.

“Alex, you’re looking a little under the weather,” Jackson remarked, with a small satisfied smile, “Not feeling well, dear?”

Her face burned red with anger as her hand tightened on the gun she held, “Hand it over, Devin,” She uttered, trying to contain her fury, “And I might let you live.”

He laughed, the sound echoing off the walls, “You might let me live, Alex? I’m the one holding what you want and I assure you, neither you nor I will be living through the week.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Paul growled. It was taking everything in him to not strangle the man with his bare hands. He had not laid eyes on him since his murder trial for killing Lauren and he felt those memories washing over him painfully.

“You’re in love with her, Agent Gatlin,” Devin remarked calmly as his eyes met with the agent, “I know your taste in women. Smart, beautiful and unfortunately, dead. Even your little mousy witness that you managed to save fits your tastes and I can only assume that she is not feeling up to par or she would be here as well.”

Andrew’s hands clenched into fists as his green eyes burned with fury. He knew that the man before him neither knew nor spoke truth, but to hear the bravest little soul he knew be referred to in that way enraged him.

“I suppose this is what you are after,” Devin continued, holding up the delicate vial so it caught the light from the sun, the glare nearly blinding them for a split second, “You’re hoping to be able to save them, Paul, but let me ease your mind. That will not be happening.”

Paul’s mind was racing as his eyes rested on the vial, knowing he had to find a way to get it, no matter the cost, “We can work out a deal with the D.A. Just give me the damn antidote and you’ll do less time.”

“Groveling doesn’t become you, agent,” He shook his head in mock disappointment, “Nor does it do you any good. You see, I’m not going back to prison. I’ve spent four years in that hell so going back is non-negotiable. No, what I want is to take you down with me. You’ll kill me, but Alex and Monica will also die, slowly and painfully.”

“Fine, you won’t go to jail. I’ll get you off,” He was lying. As soon as he had that vial, he planned on putting a bullet through the bastard’s head and ending this once and for all. He had been denied that privilege when Lauren had died. He would not be denied again.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” He replied calmly, continuing to hold the antidote up at a frightening level, “You know that is outside of your domain, Paul.”

Alex was blinking back tears, refusing to cry in front of this animal, but her heart was breaking. The situation was hopeless. He was not going to turn what she needed over to them to spare his own life and in turn she and Monica would also die. She closed her eyes briefly, offering up silently what was so foreign to her, “God…I’m not sure what I believe yet, but I’m trying. Please, spare my life. Spare Monica’s life. Give Paul the peace he needs and deserves. Find a way.”

As she opened her eyes, she watched as if in slow motion, Devin Jackson released the vial from his hands and a cry escaped her lips as it shattered to the floor, the glass splintering into hundreds of pieces, and taking with it the only thing that could stop the poison from running through her veins.

“Damn you!” Paul’s outburst was so angry and so pain-filled, Alex flinched and she could barely see through the tears in her eyes. She blinked to clear them, seeing the raw agony in her partner’s eyes and glancing at Andrew, she saw he had closed his eyes, though his face was taut with anguish.

She hadn’t even realized she had raised her gun nor that her finger had tightened on the trigger until the impact of the shot nearly sent her stumbling backwards in her weakened state. She was just able to watch as the bullet caught Jackson in the chest, throwing him back up against the counter, where he seemed suspended for just a moment before his body crashed to the floor. She knew he was dead from where she stood and she felt the smallest sliver of satisfaction run through her before her eyelids fluttered and she slumped bonelessly to the floor.

*****
Paul sat in the backseat of the car this time, Alex cradled in his lap, as his fingers brushed tenderly through her hair. He kept telling himself that it could not end this way, that she could not die, but her breathing was labored and he knew his earlier assumptions had been correct. She had been pushing herself, just like she always did and in that moment of defeat, her body had finally ignored her demands. He was praying and willing her wake up, just so he could talk to her one more time before that became an impossibility.

Andrew had not uttered a sound as he drove the car back to the townhouse, though he was clutching the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He only knew he had to go back and tell his dearest friend that they had failed, though he had no idea of how they would have won as Jackson had already made up his mind. But now, Monica would have to experience death and painfully at that. It was almost more than he could bear.

Alex’s eyes fluttered briefly as a small sigh escaped her. She could feel the soothing motion of fingers in her hair and despite how terrible she felt at the moment, she wished she could suspend the moment in time indefinitely. She had always considered Paul’s hands to be remarkably strong, but now they touched her with a gentleness she didn’t know he possessed and she wearily opened her blue eyes.

“Alex,” he said softly as he touched the side of her face. “Welcome back.” Calloused fingers stroked her flushed skin, and she somehow managed a weak smile as she struggled to cover his hand with her own.

“I’m a tough chick,” she replied, then winced as they went over bump and her aching muscles tensed. He held her tighter to buffer her and she bit her lip to keep her tears hidden. She wasn’t sure if they were triggered by the pain or by Paul’s affection. “I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on,” she admitted in a voice he could barely hear.

“No!” his harshness startled her. “Don’t even think like that. This isn’t over yet. It isn’t. We’ll keep working it. We’ll find something. We’ll tear that damn house upside down if we have to. But you’ve got to stay strong for a little while longer. I don’t want to hear you talking about giving up.” His eyes were boring into hers, filled with pain and anger and desperation.

“I don’t want to give up… I don’t.”

“Good. That’s more like it.” He hugged her close and allowed himself to brush an almost nonexistent kiss across her brow.

“I killed him,” she said several minutes later, eyes staring blankly out the window.

“He deserved to die.”

“I didn’t plan it… it just happened… I saw that puddle on the floor, and your face, and Andrew’s face… I saw my life slipping into the cracks in the floor…”

“Shh. Alex, stop. You need your strength for more important things.” They went over another bump and she let out an involuntary sound that went straight to his heart. He wanted to raise Devin Jackson from the dead just so that he could kill him again more painfully. “We’re almost home, sweetheart, just a little bit further.”

Turning her head to look up into his face, her eyes met his and she felt a bit more of her heart open up to his. “Could you say that again?” she asked, surprised at how she suddenly didn’t mind showing him the side of herself that she rarely revealed.

“We’re almost home,” he repeated clearly, but she shook her head and he swallowed hard and bent his head to kiss her lips. “Sweetheart,” he murmured into her ear. “You can close your eyes. I’m not letting you go. I’ll be strong enough for both of us if I have to be.”

They arrived back at the townhouse less than five minutes later, but Alex had already slipped into unconsciousness and Paul silently carried her up to her room and tucked her into the bed. Tess watched him and felt herself wondering, not for the first time, when this was all going to end. She had been speaking to God almost continuously, but His only reply had been to wait. It was enough to let her know that He was watching over them, but not enough to ease her anxious heart. Monica’s breathing had become labored in the hours since Andrew and the agents had left, and she hadn’t woken up since saying good-bye to her dearest friend.

“You didn’t get it baby?” Tess asked as Andrew slowly walked up the stairs. It was an unnecessary question. The answer was written all over his face.

“No. He was there, but just to taunt us. He had the antidote right in his hand, Tess. I almost could have reached out and grabbed it. But he wanted Paul to suffer. He wanted Monica and Alex to suffer. I will never understand people like that, Tess. He had no regard for life. None.” He shook his head as if trying to fathom such ignorance and depravity.

“You keep saying talking in the past tense, Andrew. What happened to him? Where is he?”

Andrew looked Tess square in the face, and unflinchingly answered, “Alex shot him through the heart just before she passed out, and I wish it had been me.”

“Don’t talk that way. You know that isn’t right, no matter what the circumstance. I’m sure that when it’s all over it will even weigh heavily on Alex’s mind.”

“It isn’t right. It isn’t God’s will. I keep telling myself that, but then I see his snide face, staring at us. Mocking us. He already put Paul through hell once, but it wasn’t enough for him. And I’m supposed to have pity on him? Leave the judgement to God? You know how hard it has been for me to control my anger, but what I’m feeling isn’t anger now. It’s disappointment and disbelief. He took numerous lives. People that I had to escort home. God can judge him, but I will never pity him. He deserved exactly what he got.”

“But it still hasn’t helped the girls,” Tess reminded him sadly.

Andrew said nothing. Tess was right. The grim satisfaction he got from knowing that Devin Jackson would never hurt another human being was tempered by the fact that even with him dead, Monica and Alex were still suffering. He refused to think of them as dying. That wasn’t going to happen. That couldn’t happen. He clenched his jaw before looking down the hallway.

“Did she wake up while I was gone?”

“No, baby. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be in with her if anything comes up,” were his last words as he walked to her room, shoulders slumped and hands jammed into his pockets.

*****

A delicate hand found its way outside the covers and reached for Paul as he stood up. “Please don’t go yet.”

Paul looked down into Alex’s eyes, surprised but grateful to see her awake. “I was just getting a chair. I’m not going to leave.”

She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “Do you know if they found anything yet? How long was I out?”

“It’s only been a few minutes since we got back. I haven’t heard word yet.” He grabbed onto her hand and held it tightly. “What are you thinking, Alex?”

She looked at him briefly and then blinked quickly and stared up at the ceiling. “You told me not to think.”

He closed his eyes and kissed her hand. “No… I know… but…”

“I want more time,” she whispered, cutting him off.

“You’ll have it. I swear you will.”

“When I was in that house… I prayed that God would spare me… and Monica. I guess it was selfish, but I thought, you know, maybe it would work. Maybe He was really listening. Then all I heard was that glass shattering. Did He not hear me? Doesn’t He care? Is He even up there?”

“Alex, I know you’re having a hard time believing, but trust me. He is more real than anything in this life. He heard you. Please just try to believe.”

“I’m trying… I really am.” Her eyes were almost closed and Paul gently rubbed her hand between his.

“Let yourself sleep now. I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t leave you alone.”

“That’s good to know,” She whispered, before completely closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Chapter 15

Andrew sat alongside Monica’s bed, watching each agonizing breath she managed to take into her lungs. The effort she seemed to be putting forth was so hard to watch, while at the same time, he loved her even more for it. He reached for her hand, feeling the coldness of it as he held it tenderly in his own. Running his thumb across the back of her hand, he marveled at how small it was and he wondered how one little angel could possess so much courage when he could barely contain his own anger.

“Andrew?” the sound was but a whisper and not even all that clear and his jaw clenched at the fact that soon she would be unable to speak at all, “Did you find him? Is Alex all right?”

Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed it softly as he looked into her eyes. They were clouded with pain she was trying to hide, but her hopefulness was still there as well, “No baby,” He whispered to her, “We weren’t able to get it,” He left it at that, not wanting to burden her with details when she had so much to contend with as it was.

Monica blinked as if trying to understand, “How is she?”

He wanted to lie. He wanted to tell her Alex was fine, but he knew that he couldn’t, “She isn’t doing all that well, angel. Please, try to rest. You need to save your strength.”

But she refused to be silenced. She knew she didn’t have much time and there were things she needed to know while she could still ask the questions, “Has she accepted God yet?”

“Monica, please,” His other hand reached to run his fingers through her hair, but her eyes were pleading, “I think she is close, angel, but not there yet.”

She closed her eyes, taking in a shallow breath, “I need to talk to her one more time.”

“Sweetheart, I think she is sleeping…”

“Andrew…please…” She hesitated to state the truth, knowing he was doing his best to deny it, “I…I don’t have a lot of time…”

He closed his eyes, unable to fathom that God would allow this to happen to her, to either she or Alex…to Paul…to him, “Let me go talk to Paul,” He said softly, as he stood up and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“Thank you,” Monica whispered, wishing she had the strength to squeeze his hand, “I love you.”

He was blinking back tears as he walked to Alex’s room, laying a soft knock on the door before pushing it open. Alex was indeed asleep, but Paul looked up at him through worried eyes.

“How is she?” The agent asked, though the expression on Andrew’s face told him enough.

“She wants to talk to Alex one more time,” He explained, voice thick with emotion, “Every breath she takes is an effort but she is insisting. Maybe I should have tried to talk her out of it, but…”

Paul nodded his head at Andrew’s helpless expression. He understood all too well, “You can’t deny her, Andrew. Get her in here. I’ll wake Alex.”

The angel returned several minutes later with Monica cradled tenderly in his arms as Alex was just starting to come around. Paul looked up and felt sick at how deathly pale the little angel was, but he did notice that her tired eyes were alert. Stepping over to her, he laid a gentle kiss on her cheek, “Thank you, sweetheart.”

She looked up at him, her quiet voice strained, “Paul…you’re going to be all right…” She needed to remind him, just in case things continued along the path in which they were moving, “Either way.”

His expression clouded briefly as he nodded his head, “You and I have been through too much together, Monica, for me to ever doubt you…but I can still pray for a happy ending.”

“I want that too…”

Alex felt her stomach clench at the sight of Monica, knowing that in a matter of hours, she would probably look just as badly. She watched as Andrew sat down in the chair near the bed, so he could support the weakened angel in his arms, “How are you doing?” She knew it was a terrible question to ask but she was even more surprised at the answer.

“I’m okay…but I need to talk to you…and I need for you to trust me…” Monica felt Andrew’s arms tighten around her as she silently prayed for strength to say what needed to be said.

“Not a problem, honey, as I think we are now in some exclusive club,” Alex joked softly. She felt Paul’s hand wrap around her own and she sensed his seriousness.

“At the house, Alex…God heard your prayer…” Monica watched the agent’s eyes widen and knew her next thought would be that Paul had told her, “You told Him that….you were trying to believe…you asked Him to spare us…you asked Him to give Paul peace…He heard you…”

Paul felt a tinge of moisture in his eyes. Not only had Alex prayed, but she had prayed for him and despite everything that fact warmed his heart.

“How..how do you know that?” Alex didn’t often find herself awestruck, but this was one of those moments.

“I can’t explain it all now…” Monica replied, “But that was what you asked for, and no matter what happens…those things will happen…but the hard part is what you have to do now…trust Him…”

“How can you say that? How do you know we are going to find the antidote?”

“I don’t know…but if you trust Him, Alex, He will spare you…He will give Paul peace…” The angel faltered slightly, trying to draw in another breath as the effort to talk was exhausting, “You’ve been trained to look for hard evidence…something you can see…that you can trust…but sometimes you have to rely on instincts alone…because you can feel it is the truth and sometimes you don’t find out until later that those instincts have paid off…isn’t that right?”

“Of course, but…”

“Then trust Him now…your heart wants to, but your mind is stopping you just short of doing it…you take risks all the time…but now, you have to take the greatest risk you have ever taken…and the one that will positively pay off in the end…” Monica closed her eyes wearily, feeling Andrew kiss the top of her head as his love filled her heart.

“She’s right,” Paul whispered, seeing that Monica had tired and he had promised to be her voice if that time came, “I felt the same way at one point, sweetheart, before Monica convinced me to let go of that ledge I was clinging onto. There have been no regrets since that time.”

Alex looked at him, then over to Monica, who had opened her eyes once more. Yes, it was a risk, but she was running out of time. She had nothing left to lose. The antidote was gone and she was dying and if she did die, she still wanted that peace for Paul.

Closing her eyes, she gave a silent consent; a promise to trust and she felt a peace fill her heart that she had never imagined before. She was still a little uncertain about the objectivity of it, but for now, it was good enough. She was still afraid, but suddenly she didn’t feel quite so alone.

Monica closed her eyes in relief, needing to sleep, but she forced herself to open them once more to gaze up at her dearest friend, only now showing him some of the fear she was feeling, “Stay with me?”

“Always, baby,” He whispered and then his heart nearly leapt out of his chest as she went completely limp in his arms.

Alex’s eyes widened in fear and Paul was instantly standing, but Andrew was quick to alleviate their fear and his as well, “She’s breathing…she’s breathing….”

“Paul?”

The agent looked up as another one of the FBI agents who had been working with him stuck his head in the door, “What is it?”

“The guys down at the prison have a lead…they know what poison he used…they’re trying to get it here, but it’s out of the country…”

“How long, Mills?” He dreaded the answer. They were running out of time.

He shook his head, “Twenty-four hours maybe…”

“Tell them to cut that time in half…do whatever it takes.”

He watched as Andrew silently carried Monica out of the room and in his heart he wondered if she had even twelve hours left. The other agent hurried back down the hall and they heard him jogging down the stairs. Part of Paul wanted to be right there with him, but a larger part never wanted to leave Alex’s side. The other agents could handle it. She needed him more.

“Just a little while longer, sweetheart,” he told her, repeating the word that had brought her to tears earlier.

“Monica… Monica’s not going to make it, is she?” Alex scanned Paul’s face, looking for the truth.

“She’s stronger than she looks. She’ll pull through,” he replied, although even he was beginning to have his doubts. He didn’t know if she would die, exactly, but it was obvious that her human form was breaking down.

Alex’s jaw tightened but she refused to cry. Instead she reached out for Paul’s hand and was filled with a sense of security when he immediately grabbed it and held it tightly. He told her to try to rest, but she only seemed to be able to keep her eyes shut for a few minutes at a time. The nausea was back along with dizziness, and when she closed her eyes it felt as if she was on a boat in very rough seas.

“Please go check on her,” she said suddenly, needing to know that the smaller woman was still all right.

“Andrew is with her. She’s in good hands.”

“Please? I need to know for sure.”

Paul knew what she was really asking. She needed to know what was happening because she needed to be able to prepare herself. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he gave her hand a squeeze.

The door to Monica’s temporary bedroom was closed and Paul knocked lightly before opening it. He wasn’t surprised to see Andrew sitting up in the bed with Monica still in his arms, and covered with the thick comforter. The angel looked up, and the look in his eyes made Paul hesitate to ask how she was doing.

“Alex wanted me to check on her,” he said helplessly.

“I don’t think she’s going to wake up again,” Andrew said, his voice rough and choked sounding.

“Andrew…”

“No… it’s all right. I keep telling myself that God isn’t going to just let her die… that he’ll turn her back to her true form before that happens, and at least this way she isn’t in pain anymore.”

Paul could see how hard it was for Andrew to convince himself of those things, but he tried to believe them as well. How could an angel die? Her soul was already inextricably linked to God’s. Andrew was right. At least she wasn’t suffering. Yet at the same time he prayed that the angel’s theory wouldn’t be put to the test.

Looking down into Monica’s face, Andrew smiled slightly. “She’s never been a quitter, this one,” he said. “She wanted to see Alex again, and I think she knew her job was over the moment Alex opened herself up to God.”

“Yeah. And she didn’t even need to resort to glowing,” Paul struggled to lighten the mood. “She must get extra points for that.” He forced a chuckle, but it was cut short by a loud crashing sound from down the hall.

“Paul!” Alex’s scream was almost inhuman and the agent bolted from the room faster than he had ever moved.

“Alex!” he was calling her name before he even reached her door and he practically ripped it from its hinges as he flung it open.

The dark-haired woman was collapsed on the floor, surrounded by the shattered remains of the lamp from the bedside table. Her whole body was trembling, but it was her eyes that forced his gaze. They held absolute fear. He was beside her and lifting her up as she murmured desperately.

“My… my legs… I thought I was gonna throw up… I just needed to get to the bathroom… my legs… I can’t walk… Oh God…” she clung to him when he tried to tuck her in and he ended up sitting much as Andrew was with Monica.

“You’re all right,” he tried to sooth her. “Calm down, sweetie. Calm down.” His words were in direct opposition to the way he was feeling. “Just a little while longer.”

“This is how Monica feels,” she whimpered, “It’s getting harder to breathe…”

“You’re going to get through this. Listen to me. You’re tough. You’re strong. This isn’t going to beat you.”

“I did what she asked. I’m putting all my trust in Him,” her voice was getting fainter and he knew she was fighting to stay awake. “If she believes… if you all believe… you can’t all be wrong…”

“No, Alex. We aren’t wrong. Relax. He’s watching over you.”

“But Monica… she’s so much worse… she’ll never last…” the tears finally broke free and Paul hastily wiped them away, knowing how she hated them.

“Like I said, sweetie… she’s a lot tougher than she looks.” He looked upwards and sent his own prayer to the Father. A prayer that come morning they would all be able to breathe easier and rejoice in His saving grace.

Chapter 16

The night was long and Paul, Andrew and Tess kept a constant vigil over Monica and Alex. The older angel spent most of her time on a chair right outside Monica’s door between periodic checks on the little angel and the ailing agent. Her heart was both grieving and extremely touched as she listened to the constant monologue that Andrew kept up, hoping that Monica could hear him.

He spoke of past assignments, those of which had brought her the most joy, of the budding romance between Paul and Alex, of how he wanted to take her to the ocean she so loved as soon as this assignment was over and she was feeling better, of his love for her and anything else he could think of inbetween. The entire time, he held her close, keeping with his promise to not leave her. She never once stirred, not even briefly and even her heart was silent thus making his feel somewhat empty, other than God’s love which was with him constantly. Andrew still felt connected to her, but on a more quiet level that went beyond words, even those spoken to his heart. Her soul was still intertwined with his, even now as she fought for the life of her human form.

He had no idea what would happen if she did die, but he was trying not to entertain those thoughts as he was certain that even with his knowledge that she would immediately go to God, that it would be more than he could bear to watch. The fact that he knew she was afraid as well only added to his torment, even as he continued to speak her well into the wee hours of the morning before dawn’s light had yet to form in the sky.

“Has she woken up at all, baby?” Tess’ voice was quiet as she checked in on the two agents at nearly five ‘o clock in the morning. Paul looked exhausted, but his eyes held the grim determination that she was now accustomed to seeing from him.

“Once or twice, Tess, but only briefly…she would say something I couldn’t even understand,” He ran a hand through his hair while his other one continued to hold onto Alex’s hand, “She had to pull through this. She had to last until they get the antidote here. There is so much I want to tell her and I just need the chance to do it,” He looked up at her worriedly, “Monica. How is she?”

“She hasn’t woken up, Paul,” She replied quietly, leaving it at that. She watched as he nodded his head and then looked back to Alex, “You know, you have a very good opportunity right now to tell her the things you want to tell her, baby. Don’t let it all slip away just because her eyes aren’t open. The heart can hear more than it is often given credit for.”

He looked a little surprised and then managed a tired and worry laden smile, “Thanks for the reminder, Tess.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Tess replied with a wink. As she turned to leave, she stopped suddenly, her focus completely on the head of Alex’s bed.

Adam.

She dared not say anything, not wanting to alarm Paul, but her demanding eyes asked the question her voice could not.

The angel’s eyes held sadness as he gave a small shrug, “I’m on standby, Tess. I was just told to wait.”

She gave an abrupt nod as she then turned away and exited into the hallway, her quick strides moving to Monica’s room. When she opened the door, she saw what she had been dreading. Though everything else appeared the same way she had left it moments ago, now the angel who held Monica and spoke to her in gentle, loving whispers was now surrounded by a warm glow and the older angel felt tears in her eyes.

Andrew looked up at her helplessly and Tess could see the barely contained emotion he was holding back, “Tess…I don’t want to do this…”

“You may not have to, Angel Boy. Just keep praying, baby. Just keep praying.”

*****

Paul continued to watch Alex for several more minutes as he mulled over the things that Tess had said to him. He had never been a man to express himself all that well, especially when it came to bearing his soul. He had gotten slightly better at it since meeting Monica, but talking to Alex was still a different ballgame altogether, but on the same token, he was running out of time, and he didn’t want her going anywhere without knowing what was on his heart.

His thumb brushed over her hand gently as he tried to place some semblence of order on his thoughts, “Just a little bit longer, Alex. Hang on just a little bit longer. I know you’re tired, sweetheart, and that it would probably be easier to just give in right about now, but you can’t do that. We’re so close to having the antidote, honey…don’t give up now,” He swallowed past the lump in his throat and briefly pressed the fingers of his free hand to his eyes, “Alex, I’m not very good at this kind of stuff, but…I do believe I’m falling in love with you, lady. So you need to hold on so I can find that out for sure,” He was lying, as he already knew what the score was with his heart, “I promise I will make it very worth your time, if you just fight a little bit longer. You’ve always been a fighter, sweetheart, so don’t back down now.” Realizing he was still holding onto his infamous cliff, he moved and laid a soft kiss on her lips, “I love you, Alex. Please hang on.”

There were no words from her and she never opened her eyes as she continued to struggle to draw in breath, but Paul could see the slightest trace of a smile on her lips.

*****

By the time the sun rose in the sky, Andrew knew that Monica was losing the fight. Each breath was now ragged and each one farther apart than her last. She was completely limp in his arms and he felt as if he could physically feel the life draining from her.

“Just a little bit longer, angel, please. They’ll be here soon,” His whispered tones were pleading, unable to fathom the thought of her actually dying. But he knew that was exactly what was happening to her.

“Angel Boy?” Tess’ tired eyes were filled with concern as she walked in the door, “Any change?”

He was silent for a moment before he finally met her eyes and she could clearly see his grief and torment, “She’s dying, Tess…and…it isn’t going to be much longer. Maybe…maybe you should let Paul know.”

A look of shock appeared on the older angel’s face before she nodded her head, “I’ll get him, baby. I think Rob just came up to check on Alex.”

As she departed, he turned his attention back to his best friend, hearing the low rattle in her chest and he tightened his jaw to hold back tears, “I love you so much, angel.”

“Andrew…” Monica’s words were but a breath and it was obvious it was taking every ounce of strength she had to speak them. She forced herself to open her eyes ever so slightly as she gazed up at him and a tiny smile appeared on her face as she saw the glow that surrounded him. “It will be you… I was hoping you would… take me… Home…”

Her words caused a rush of emotion that nearly caused his throat to close, “It won’t be much longer, baby. Please, just hold on for a little while longer…”

“Tired…” She whispered, trying to catch her breath, “Thank you… for talking to me… all night...”

He was blinking rapidly against the moisture in his eyes, “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

Monica closed her eyes wearily, feeling safe within the shelter of his arms as she prepared to face what she had never faced before. “I’m sorry, Andrew… I just… I think I need to go…”

He tightened his arms around her and pressed his face into her hair, “It’s all right, angel,” He whispered finally, knowing she was waiting for his consent though she didn’t need it, “You’ve fought hard enough…”

“I love you…” Her words were barely audible but he could feel them with his whole heart.

“I love you too, angel…I love you too…”

Paul and Tess rushed into the room as Andrew felt the little angel go limp and still in his arms and he looked up at them with tear-filled eyes, “She’s gone…”