Chapter 17

“No… She can’t be…” Paul was shaking his head in disbelief as he haltingly stepped forward.

Tess was beyond words for one of the first times in her existence. One hand covered her mouth and tears tracked down her face. As an angel she knew better than most that death was nothing to be feared, but that dialed to wipe away her grief. There was no precedent for this. She didn’t know when Monica would be returned to them, or if she would remain in God’s presence forever. The little angel would be at peace but she and Andrew would not be.

Paul couldn’t believe what he was seeing and hearing. Why were Andrew and Tess just staring at her? Why weren’t they shaking her awake? Why was she so still and pale? She couldn’t die. It wasn’t possible. He couldn’t know that the two angels were waiting for her soul to break free from her body so that Andrew could escort her to God. Brushing past Tess he surged forward, one arm outstretched. He was reaching for her hand, but just as his fingers brushed her skin the room was filled with light.

It was a pure white light, so bright it was nearly blinding, but it was filled with warmth and it flooded the room for an instant before focusing at the center of Monica’s chest. After a moment it began to grow again, encompassing her body until it appeared that she herself was glowing.

No one dared to blink as they witnessed the miracle taking place in their midst. Andrew was holding Monica as tightly as he could, praying that he was right about what was happening. He nearly burst into overjoyed tears when she stirred slightly in his arms. Tess and Paul both saw the movement and walked closer to the bed. Only an instant later the little angel’s eyes sprang open and she drew in an enormous breath, gasping as she pulled oxygen into her lungs

“Monica!” Paul was the first to call out her name but not the last, as both Andrew and Tess repeated it soon afterwards, Tess in her booming voice and the blond angel barely above a whisper.

“It’s all right, angel,” Andrew continued to hold her and rock her back and forth as she struggled to catch her breath and regain her bearings.

She remembered him telling her she could let go. She remembered the horrible pressure in her chest and the weary ache in her limbs. Tentatively she shifted in Andrew’s arms and her face registered her shock at not feeling any pain. Tess and Paul were crowded around her, both touching her gently with tears in their eyes.

“I… I died… didn’t I?” she said, confusion winning out over all other emotions.

“Yes, you did, baby,” Tess answered.

“And then I felt Him with me. I was warm and safe.” Her eyes crinkled up at the corners as she tried to remember everything. “I think I was waiting for something.”

“You were waiting for me to take you home,” Andrew told her, “and I was waiting for your soul to be ready to go.”

“That’s right,” she nodded thoughtfully, “and I was glad because I knew you were going to be with me. But then things got a little fuzzy. I could feel God holding me… and then I was opening my eyes again.”

“He brought you back, Monica” Paul said almost reverently. “I don’t exactly know how it happened, but I’m not gonna question it either.”

“I don’t even feel sick anymore,” she told them as she moved one hand to grab hold of Andrew’s and squeeze it tight. “I feel a little tired, but that’s all.”

Andrew bent his head to kiss her forehead and felt that her temperature was back to normal. “He took care of the poison. He took care of everything.”

Quickly her eyes moved to the door. “What about Alex? Is she better now too? How is she doing?”

Paul shook his head. “I think she still needs the antidote. I have a feeling Rob would have run in here if she’d suddenly started glowing.”

“But the antidote is gone!” she exclaimed.

The agent remembered that Monica had passed out before word that the cure was on its way had come. He softly patted her knee and smiled at her reassuringly. “I think God had a hand in that too. It’s on its way. Should be here any time now. I guess you just couldn’t wait for it.”

Monica finally seemed to recognize just exactly what had happened to her and what it had done to her friends. “I tried to hang on. Really… I did,” she said, a bit shyly. “I didn’t mean to upset you all.”

Tess let out a laugh as she sat down on the corner of the bed, feeling as if the world had suddenly been lifted from her shoulders. “Leave it to this little angel to apologize for her own death!” she exclaimed. “Angel Girl, you have got absolutely nothing to be sorry for. We are just so relieved that God saw fit to breathe new life into you. I guess He knew you could do more good down here than at His side, though I wouldn’t have blamed Him for wanting you nearby.”

Monica was grinning widely by the time Tess stopped talking, and she threw her arms around her supervisor and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Tess,” she murmured. “Thank you for saying that and thank you for loving me the way you do.”

“Oh, baby, I am not the only one.” She drew back and Monica glanced first at Paul and then at her best friend.

Her two protectors, by her side, as usual. “You know I love you both,” she said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I know this has been very hard for both of you.”

“I think it’s been a little harder on you and Alex,” Andrew countered. “But I think I answer for both of us when I say that we wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.”

Monica nodded and leaned closer to Andrew, feeling the exhaustion of everything that had happened coming back to her. “I guess I’m just triply blessed to have such wonderful friends to take care of me,” she said, and then looked up at Paul again. “You should go to Alex. She needs you more than me right now.”

She had noticed the way he kept looking at the door and knew that his heart was already down the hall.

“She hasn’t woken up?” Paul asked softly as he walked back into Alex’s room. He was still reveling in the miracle he had just witnessed down the hall and though he knew he was extremely blessed to have seen such a thing, he was still praying for just one more like it.

“Nothing,” Rob mumbled, getting up from his chair to allow Paul beside of her. He was anxious to get out of the room, though that fact brought him great shame. But he couldn’t bear to see his sister in this condition, hovering on the brink of death. As he had sat by her side, a million childhood memories had flitted through his mind each one causing joy and pain simultaneously. They had always been so close, even as children, and now…

He stopped abruptly before he turned to leave, seeing an expression on Paul’s face he really didn’t understand. If he didn’t know any better, he would say it was almost peace, “The antidote, Paul? How much longer?”

“Any time now,” He replied firmly, taking Alex’s limp hand into his own.

Rob studied the floor for a moment, “Paul, I don’t think…”

“She’s going to be fine, Rob,” Though he didn’t know for certain that his words were true, he had to trust God. There was nothing left for him to do, “She’s strong, and God is ever stronger.”

“Alex doesn’t believe in God,” He started to object, but he stopped when Paul turned to him.

“She’s starting to and He will bring her the rest of the way…”

Before he could say anymore, the heart monitor began to beep alarmingly, the shrillness shattering the quiet in the room and Paul was standing immediately, “Damn it, no! Don’t you do this, Alexandra!”

“We’re losing her..” Paul and Rob barely heard the doctor’s words as the younger of the two pressed himself against the wall, eyes completely grief stricken as he watched the sister who had run through the fields with him behind their childhood home fighting for her life.

“God, don’t You do this!” Paul was angry, partially pleading, “She’s almost there with You…give us another miracle and You’ll have her brother too,” He squeezed Alex’s hand desperately, “Hold on, baby, please hold on…Damnit God, what do you want from me?”

“You know what He wants Paul.”

The sound of Andrew’s voice caused him to whirl around, never releasing his hold on Alex’s hand, “Stay away from her, Andrew,” He growled threateningly. The angel was his friend, but he was not about to allow him to take her away.

“A minute ago you were trusting Him to take care of her, Paul,” Andrew’s voice was soft, his green eyes filled with compassion for the agent who was his friend, “That trust cannot only be there when you feel that things are under control. It’s when your life spins completely out of control that you need to trust Him the most.”

“I can’t do this again, Andrew,” Paul’s voice was hardly audible as his hazel eyes filled with tears, “Please…I can’t…”

“Give it up to Him, Paul,” The angel admonished gently, “and He will lead you through whatever is to come.”

Paul closed his eyes, allowing a tear to fall as he gave in, uttering the only words he knew to say, “Your will be done, God,” Opening his eyes, he looked at Andrew through blurred vision, suddenly longing for the comfort of one small angel, “Monica? Where is she?”

Andrew was quiet for a moment before replying, “Where God has asked her to be. With Alex.”

*****

The tightness in her chest and the pain that surrounded every fiber of her being eased as she opened her blue eyes and looked around her. Alex could see the clear blue sky above her, and could feel the grass beneath her feet. The colors were vivid and so beautiful, as if they had been painted for her alone. She then realized that she wasn’t alone.

“Monica.”

The angel smiled, so happy to see her friend out of pain, “Hello Alex.”

“Where are we? Have we died? Is this heaven?” The questions came quickly as she looked around her once more before meeting Monica’s dark eyes again.

“We’re in God’s Country, Alex, and no, you haven’t died. God asked me to bring you here until things were a bit better down there. He didn’t want you to hurt anymore.”

“I…I don’t understand. God asked you?” She was struggling to wrap her mind around the words, but then she gasped as a soft glow surrounded the little female standing in front of her, “What the hell…?” She was completely startled by this glowing business, making it feel that suddenly being in a field were the most normal thing that had happened all day.

“I’m an angel, Alex,” Her voice was gentle and soothing as her friend’s breath caught in her throat, “God asked me to bring you here to give you a message. The antidote is arriving at the house right now and in a moment it will be adminstered to you and you will live, but what God wants you to know is that He wants you to live for Him.”

“I’m…I’m going to live? I’m not going to die today?” She was shaking her head, wondering if she was dreaming, but then her eyes widened incredulously, “Wait. That’s how you knew my prayer in the car…He told you.”

“Yes. He knew that you have been so conditioned to look for proof that He gave you some as proof of his existence. But don’t you see, Alex? He’s been giving you proof all along, only you called it ‘luck’. But God doesn’t give luck, He gives blessings and gifts and one of the gifts He has given you is down there beside of your bed, praying for your life right now.”

“Paul…” The words were but a breath and she felt the presence of tears in her eyes, “We’re going to have a chance. He isn’t going to lose me like he lost Lauren.”

“No, he isn’t. He’s cared about you for a long time, but was afraid to admit it, even to himself and as Paul has seen the proof of God, he so desperately wanted to be able to share it with you.” She grinned and let out a small laugh. “Though he’s a little rough around the edges, his heart is so full of love, Alex, and he wants to share it with you.”

“I want that too,” She whispered with a smile, “So he knows about you?”

“Yes, and Andrew and Tess,” Monica explained, watching as Alex shook her head in amazement once more. “You’ve had angels around you your entire life, Alex, helping you out of every tight spot you’ve ever been in, but now God wants you to acknowledge that fact… to acknowledge Him and His love for you.”

“He must love me if He sent an angel to tell me personally… if He sent an angel to go through this whole terrible thing with me…” she added, pain in her eyes at the realization that Monica had suffered for no other reason than for her to not be alone in her fear. “Thank you.”

“No, Alex. The thanks don’t go to me, but to God. I was afraid as well, but knowing He is always with me gives me to the strength to endure whatever He needs me to. He will do the same for you.”

“I know that now, but if it’s all right with you, I’d like to thank you just the same,” Alex stepped forward and hugged the angel tightly, “I think this must surely make us friends for life, right?” Tears stung her eyes as she hinted at what she really wanted to ask.

Monica smiled, pulling away to look into her friend’s eyes, “Yes, I have a feeling you’ll be seeing us again,” She saw the relief and happiness on the agent’s face, before she turned more serious once more, “Are you ready to go back?”

Alex drew in a deep breath, before she nodded her head confidently, “Yes. God is with me and He will see me through all that happens next down there. Besides, Paul must be frantic.”

Monica winked at her teasingly, “Oh, I think he has had a little Divine Intervention of his own as he is still learning. He’s pretty stubborn.”

“Doesn’t begin to describe it,” Alex laughed as the angel reached for her hand, “But then again, I wouldn’t have him any other way.”

Another smile and then Alex felt her vision fading, and Monica and the field, and the clear blue sky gradually disappeared. The next thing she felt was a terrific pressure on her chest and throbbing in her head.

“She’s coming back! She’s coming back!” Alex heard the words in the farthest reaches of her mind and then felt the pressure on her chest decrease.

The stopped chest compressions and stepped back from the bed as she checked the heart monitor. She was relieved to see the steady beeping beginning to pick up and turned to Andrew and the two men.

“She’s all right?” Rob asked, as Paul didn’t even dare to ask the question.

“For the moment.” She was hesitant to give any false hope. “She needs that antidote.”

“She’ll make it,” Paul murmured under his breath. Putting his complete trust in God had carried him this far. He knew he could rely on Him to take them all the rest of the way through this dark valley they had been forced into.

At the end of the bed, Andrew nodded and then clamped his hand onto the agent’s shoulder. “I think you’re right, Paul.” He could see the faith that had settled over his friend, and the peace as well. It was a wonderful thing to see and he couldn’t wait until Monica saw it as well. Thinking about the little angel he suddenly needed to be near her and make certain that she was still faring well. He had a feeling that she was going to have a little revelation story to tell him as well, and he loved to see the twinkle in her eye when she bubbled over with happiness at having led someone closer to God.

Paul caught the way Andrew glanced at the door and he motioned towards it. “Go. We’ll take care of Alex.” Then, as Andrew was about to leave he spoke again. “and tell Monica, ‘thank you.’”

Rob looked at him as if he was just a little bit crazy, but Andrew knew exactly what he meant.

Chapter 18

Andrew walked back to Monica’s temporary room and opened the door to reveal her sitting up in bed with a beautiful smile on her face. He knew immediately that she had indeed been given another opportunity to talk to Alex. Tess was not in the room and he could only assume that she had gone down stairs to pace and wait for the antidote to arrive.

“I take it that Alex believes now?” he teased.

“In her heart she already did, but it was so wonderful to be able to reassure her that there really is a bigger plan out there, and a bigger future ahead of her.”

“You know what happened,” he said solemnly.

“She came very close,” she replied quietly, “but she never gave up… not for a second, and God isn’t done with her yet. She has more to accomplish down here.”

“I know one agent who is particularly grateful about that.”

“Paul was there?”

“Yes, and for a second I thought he was going to throttle me. Luckily he didn’t say too much or Rob would have been looking at him even more strangely.”

Monica let out a little laugh. “I think so!”

Andrew sat down on the bed beside her and picked up her hand. “Are you sure you’re feeling better now?” he asked, still unaccountably concerned though he knew that God had healed her.

“I’m fine, Andrew,” she answered, laying her other hand on top of his. “In fact, I haven’t felt this good in a long while.”

He smiled and raised one eyebrow. “Well actually, you’d better try to look at least a little bit sick, because you know the doctor is going to want to give you the antidote when it arrives and I don’t think telling her you’re an angel who has been miraculously healed will be an option for you.”

“Hmm. Probably not. She would just call in another kind of doctor and I’m really not in the mood for that right now.”

Wrapping his free arm around her shoulders he gave her a little hug. “No. I think you’ve been through quite enough for now.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes as they both contemplated what had happened over the past week. It certainly wasn’t anything they had ever expected but as usual it had ended up working according to God’s plan. Andrew was having a slightly harder time accepting that Monica’s pain had been a necessary part of that plan, but in his heart he knew better than to doubt God’s reasons.

“It’s here!” The rallying cry could be heard throughout the house as one of the agents downstairs called out. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and Monica and Andrew heard Alex’s door being flung open.

“Give it here!” Paul’s voice was strong and didn’t lend itself to debate.

Andrew kissed the top of Monica’s head. “I wonder if God will let us come back for their wedding?” the little angel wondered.

“Monica! They aren’t even dating yet… not officially…” Monica’s rolled eyes made him chuckle. “All right… yes… I have a feeling He will.”

She smiled in satisfaction as he laughed once more before he turned more serious, “I have a feeling the doctor is going to be in here soon, so I suggest you feign sleep, so we don’t have to try to explain anything.”

Monica gave out a tiny sigh as she laid back down and Andrew tucked the covers over her, “She’s going to have a needle, isn’t she?”

He knew her fear of them, though the experience in the psychiatric ward was before he had known her, “I’ll have your hand the whole time, angel,” He promised, taking her hand into his own and holding it tightly.

She met his eyes in a look of love, before she closed her own just as her bedroom door opened and the doctor hurried inside.

“We have the antidote,” She informed Andrew as she readied the syringe.

“How is Alex doing?” He asked immediately, knowing that Monica was very much awake and that question is the one she wanted answered.

“Only time will tell, but hopefully it will reverse the affects of the poison. It will take a few days to know that there are no lasting affects from what the poison did to her system.”

He felt Monica give a small squeeze to his hand and he knew what she was telling him. Alex was going to be just fine. The small squeeze tightened as the needle entered into her arm and he ran his thumb gently over the back of her hand as he watched her face worriedly. Though it was a small thing really, he didn’t want her to go through anymore than she already had, but her expression of sleep never changed, only the pressure on his hand.

The doctor was checking the little angel’s vitals and she shook her head slightly, “She’s doing better than the last time I checked her. I don’t quite see how-.”

“She’s a fighter,” Andrew replied quickly, unable to keep the affection from his voice, “She isn’t one to walk away from a fight, not even one of this nature.”

She gave another shake of her head, “I’ll be in to check on her in a bit. Give a yell if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” He watched her leave the room before he turned back to his best friend, “Are you all right, angel?”

Monica opened her eyes and gave a nod, “I wish I could go and see Alex, but I suppose that would be pushing things.”

“Afraid so,” He smiled down at her, clearly able to tell that she was growing tired. Though healed, her mind and body had been through plenty the last week, starting in that freezing cold barn, and now that she was no longer in pain, and relaxed, the mental exhaustion was catching up to her, “Why don’t you try to get some sleep? We’ll gauge how quickly you can be up and around by how Alex does.”

Emitting another sigh, she consented, though it was obvious she was no longer interested in being confined to a bed, “I know I’m all better and I feel fine, other than a little tired, but-.”

“Of course, I’ll stay,” He finished for her, smiling as she immediately moved over in her bed to make room for him. Moving in next to her, he leaned up against the headboard and waited for her to curl into his arms. Andrew marveled at how much stronger she had become since the days of McArthur, but then he realized rather selfishly, that he hoped she was never so strong that she no longer wanted him holding her when she drifted off to sleep.

Gazing down at her, he realized she wasn’t quite asleep as a smile crossed her face, “What is that for, Monica?”

“I’m thinking about that visit to the ocean you promised me last night. I’m looking forward to collecting on that,” She glanced up at him hopefully, “If you really meant it…I know I was dying, but-.”

A kiss to the top of her head silenced her, “I always mean the things I say to you, angel. Our next day off together, that is where we’re heading. Consider it a date.”

Content, she closed her eyes once more and drifted off to a peaceful sleep in the safest place she knew on earth. Andrew’s arms.

*****

As the hours passed, Paul began to relax more with every stronger beat of Alex’s heart. She was still sleeping, but her features had begun to relax, a sure sign that her pain was lessening. He had thanked God more times than he could count as he had sat beside of her bed holding her hand. He knew he should be exhausted, having had minimal sleep since all of this had begun, but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes from her face long enough to close them.

The sun was just setting in the winter sky when a small murmur escaped her and he was instantly sitting up in his chair, his hand tightening on hers, “Alex?”

Ever so slowly, her eyes inched open. There was still pain present, but just the fact that she was awake was a significant improvement, “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

She considered his question for a moment, “A little better actually,” She stated softly, though her voice was still weak, “How long as it been since they gave me the antidote?”

“You know it arrived?” She had been so out of it, fighting for her life and he couldn’t imagine her being coherent enough to remember.

A sleepy smile crossed her face, “Monica told me in the field. It was so beautiful.”

Of course, he realized. Monica had explained it all to her as well as had shown her the truth, “You believe everything she told you?”

“How could I not?” Alex whispered, feeling tears forming in her eyes at the memory, “She’s pretty convincing and if that left room for any doubt, all I have to consider is the fact that I’m alive.”

Paul smiled, moving his hand to stroke her cheek, “And I, for one, am eternally grateful for that fact, Bennett.”

She met his gaze and bit her lip with uncertainty before speaking, “You told me you were falling in love with me…”

He lowered his eyes briefly, before looking back to her once more, “That’s because I am, Alex. I’m just sorry it took this to make me realize it.”

A small grin played on her lips, “Hey, whatever works.”

His laugh echoed through the room and he was fairly sure it was the first bit of laughter he had heard in days. It felt wonderful.

“I have many questions about these angels you keep hidden away,” She teased, even as her eyes began to droop in sleep.

“And how about I answer all of them once you are better, over dinner?” He offered, pleased when she smiled happily.

“That sounds like a very fair deal,” she muttered, and a minute later she was asleep.

*****

“I can’t believe the messes these people get themselves into,” Monica remarked with a shake of her head as the foursome sat on Alex’s bed. The angel had all but abandoned the Scrabble game in lieu of the soap opera that Andrew feared she was becoming addicted to, “I mean, I’ve seen quite a lot but never coming from the same dozen humans. They seem to find themselves in one disaster after another.

Paul exchanged a sly wink with Andrew as he replied, “Sounds like someone else we know…”

It took the little angel a full minute to realize that Paul was referring to her, and leaning over, she slapped at his arm playfully, “Hey, that wasn’t very nice.” She informed him with a little pout.

“Perhaps not, but it was near enough true,” The agent chuckled.

“It’s all part of my charm,” Monica informed him indignantly.

“Most definitely, angel,” Andrew replied, stifling a little grin as he tried to unruffle her halo. He knew she wasn’t really upset, but he also wasn’t sure of just how sensitive she was feeling after everything that had happened since they had first met Paul.

“Yeah, so leave my friend alone, Gatlin,” Alex grinned, giving him a tiny, playful kick from under the covers.

Paul’s eyes widened as Monica giggled, “Your friend? Andrew, this can’t be good. If these two have bonded, I see nothing but heartache in our futures.”

“Looks like you’ll just have to suck it up and deal with it,” Alex retorted, meeting his eyes in challenge, “You and Andrew will just have to keep on your toes.”

Andrew laughed, now truly wondering if Monica and Alex had been comparing notes as he had heard the little angel say that to both he and Paul on more than one occasion.

Paul’s expression softened as he looked into Alex’s eyes and he smiled, “Yes, I suppose I will. I don’t plan on allowing you to nearly slip away again, Bennett.”

She was no longer surprised at the tears that would spring to her eyes when he would say such things, nor at the fact that he leaned over and kissed her gently, “Again,” She whispered with a little smile, “Good to know.”

“Shhh,” Monica scolded softly over her shoulder, “The commercials are over.”

Her angelic companion chuckled and shook his head as he reached for the remote, switching off the television, despite Monica’s look of annoyance, “Angel, I really think it’s time for the soaps to go. A coffee addiction for you is plenty.”

“But Andrew, I was just about to find out if Jade was going to continue taking guitar lessons from her roommate in the mental hospital while on a twenty-four hour suicide watch because her mother took away her computer! You can’t turn it off now!”

Catching Andrew’s pleading eye, and knowing that Monica, along with Alex were slowly going stir crazy, Paul spoke up quickly, “Actually, as Alex is feeling so much better, what do you say to going out to lunch for a change?”

“You’re really going to let me out of bed?” Alex looked slightly skeptical, but her hopefulness was shining in her eyes.

“Sure am. We’ll call it a trial run. What do you all say?”

Casting Paul a look of gratitude at seeing Monica’s pleased expression, soap opera now forgotten, he nodded his agreement, “I think that sounds like a great idea.”

As Andrew and Monica hurried off to get ready, Alex reached for Paul’s hand, “Thank you,” She said softly.

He grinned and cupped her cheek in his hand, “I know you’re bored to death in this bed and it will probably do you good to get out a bit and get some strength back…slowly,” He emphasized, “No pushing yourself, okay? If you get tired, just tell me.”

“I will. I promise,” She crossed her heart and then leaned over to kiss him, having a feeling that if God agreed, she would promise him her heart and life before it was all said and done. The thought alone made her smile.