FINALE

FINALE

Paul watched her from where he stood leaning up against the wall in her apartment that night. She was laughing and smiling, bantering playfully with Andrew and even daring to tease Tess a bit. Monica had not only been transformed that morning, but also healed, body and soul. He knew that there could still be some residual fear from time to time if she was presented with a dangerous situation, but this angel he was watching completely embodied how he had always imagined that God’s angels would be. Even in the early days of their relationship he had not seen her so happy and what pleased him the most was that he was a part of that happiness.

They had spoken briefly on the ride back to her apartment earlier about his long awaited conversation with God and though she was no longer “lit up” as he liked to put it, she had been positively beaming at the things he was saying. His heart felt lighter than it had in years, and though he knew he would be faced with difficult and dangerous situations in the future, he knew he was no longer facing them alone. It was a burden he was grateful to have lifted from his heart and his shoulders.

The evening had been a joyous one. Andrew and Tess were abundantly pleased at the change they were seeing in Monica, though the two older angels and the agent had all expressed concern when the little angel had vanished into the kitchen. She had been back and forth, though she was allowing no one through the kitchen doors and Paul kept bracing himself to hear the fire alarm going off, but so far she had remained incident free.

“Are you ready?” Monica poked her head out of the kitchen door, her eyes twinkling with mischief, “Sit down, it is nearly ready.”

The threesome exchanged a glance before they moved to the neatly set table, complete with lilacs in the center of it. Tess sighed heavily as she sat down and muttered, “And though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, even in the form of food that a non-culinary little angel has prepared…”

Andrew nudged her and gave her a mock stern look, “She is happy. Whatever she has fixed you will eat and you will like.” He winked at her and Paul chuckled.

“I’m just impressed that there has been no smoke,” He remarked wryly, his eyes dancing with amusement as he was met with a look to hush up as the kitchen door opened and Monica entered carrying a large bowl of salad.

Tess gazed at it skeptically for a moment, but then her expression relaxed as she noted it looked crisp and very good, without a hint of coffee grounds and even Andrew noted that the vegatables were cut in various shapes and sizes, which no one else would notice, but came as a great relief to him and caused his grin to widen.

Monica had vanished back into the kitchen and now returned with a large, round baking dish, which she set down on the table, her expression that of someone who was obviously quite pleased with herself.

Paul looked at the deep dish pizza with awe and wonder. It looked delicious but then a peculair look crossed his face, “Do I smell coffee?”

Tess rolled her eyes heavenward and Andrew stifled a laugh, both knowing that Monica had prepared her one and only recipe.

“That’s because it is coffee pizza, but I elaborated a bit this time,” She grinned as she took her seat and began serving up their plates, “I added a hint of mocha…well, a heavy hint, but it tastes wonderful.”

Paul threw his head back and laughed. Angel or no, this one would never cease to amaze and amuse him and he found the qualities endearing, “Well, give me two slices then as I have got to try this.”

Monica was delighted at his request and did as he asked before handing Tess and Andrew’s plates to them as well.

“Someone needs to say grace, as we could use some divine intervention about now,” Tess remarked, but her expression was warm, causing Monica’s grin to widen.

Her smile faded somewhat as she looked over at the agent, “Would you do it, Paul?”

Their eyes met from across the table as he replied steadily, “I’d be honored, honey,” He waited until his angelic friends had bowed their heads before he lowered his own and spoke reverently, “Father, bless this meal that was prepared in love and thank you for the gift of your angels with which to share it. Also, thank you for Your amazing grace which I am just starting to see and now wonder how I ever could have missed it in the first place. Amen.”

He noticed the happy tears in Monica’s eyes as he raised his head and he wordlessly accepted her hand as she held out her own and gave a gentle squeeze.

The evening progressed nicely and it wasn’t until nine o’clock that Tess looked up from her seat in the chair in the living room and stated softly, “Babies, it’s time.”

Andrew looked up sadly before looking over at his dearest friend and seeing the grief reflected in her own eyes. He knew she had been dreading as well as avoiding talking about this moment that was now before them and he squeezed her hand from where she sat on the couch between he and Paul.

“Time?” Paul asked, though he knew full well what Tess was referencing. They were being called to do God’s work someplace else and where only meant one thing to him. That he would not be present this time to see it take place.

“We have a new assignment, Paul,” The oldest angel replied as she rose to her feet and watched as the other two angels as well as the agent did the same, “It’s time for us to say good-bye, baby.”

“Oh,” His voice was soft and he found himself already struggling with his emotions as Tess approached him and wrapped him up in a tight hug.

“You stay on that path you found today, Paul,” She advised him sternly, “It is the only path that matters and God will light the way for you.”

“You’re one tough cookie, Tess,” He managed a grin as she pulled away, “If you ever have the need for a job with the FBI, please look me up. You’d fit right in with us tough guys.”

She chuckled, “You never know, baby. You never know.”

Andrew clasped his hand on the agent’s shoulder and looked into his eyes, “Thank you for everything. Working with you in protective services is not something I’ll be forgetting any time soon.”

“Be sure that you don’t, Andrew. We are now both part of some exclusive club, I think, designated to the protection of little Irish angels.”

The blond angel chuckled, “Take care of yourself, Paul and God be with you.”

“He is, Andrew. For the first time in my life, I am certain of it.” He replied, watching as Andrew motioned to Tess and the two of them started for the front door.

“We’ll be outside, Angel Girl,” Andrew stated softly, exchanging a look with his teary eyed friend, “Take your time.”

As her friends departed, Monica looked up at Paul and drew in a deep breath. She knew the moment she had been dreading was at hand, but what could she say to even begin to sum up her feelings? Her chin trembled slightly as she threw her arms around the agent that had become her friend and hugged him tightly, “I’m going to miss you so much.”

Paul held onto her, never wanting to let her go, “Honey, you have no idea,” He managed to choke out the words, “Thank you for everything…for saving my life in all the ways that matter.”

“It has been a pleasure, Paul. Thank you for everything you did for me, and for the gift of your friendship. At least I now know you will be okay…” She pulled away from him and looked into his eyes, her own blurred with tears.

He blinked rapidly, feeling the unfamilar wetness in his own eyes, as he moved to brush at the tears on her cheeks, “Remember that if you ever get a day off, you have four other kittens to check on.”

Monica laughed and nodded her head, “They are in good hands as I know you’ll keep them safe.” She could feel the tugging at her heart that it was time to leave and she felt another tear trail down her face, “I love you, Paul and I’ll never, ever forget you.”

Softly and tenderly, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, “Ditto, Monica, in both cases.”

A sob escaped her and she knew if she didn’t leave that she never would, “Good-bye, my friend.”

As she vanished from his sight, Paul felt tears escape his own eyes and he knew that for the moment his tough guy image had been blown, “Good-bye, sweet angel.”

Monica appeared outside where Andrew was waiting for her and he looked at her with sympathetic green eyes, “Tess went on ahead. Are you all right?”

The little angel nodded her head, then changed her mind and shook it sadly and a moment later she was being held in Andrew’s arms as she released the rest of her tears against her chest, “I’m going to miss him, Andrew,” She whispered a few moments later, as she struggled to stop her tears, “I know it sounds silly, but I know that Lucy will be wherever I am next and just wish that Paul would be too.”

He smiled softly at her words and at the vision of Monica opening the door on each assignment they had from here going forward to both a cat and an agent, “He has his own life to lead, angel, but the good news is that he is not doing that alone anymore.”

“I’m thankful for that,” She replied, pulling away and feeling Andrew wiping at her tears and her expression softened. Andrew, her loyal, stalwart, dearest friend that she would never have to say good-bye to, who had shared with Paul what he thought was his responsibility alone-keeping her safe. He had seen her through so much of the last two months, just as he would continue to see her through whatever the future held.

He smiled knowingly at her expression, “It’s always a pleasure, Monica and yes, you are stuck with me indefinately,” He saw her tearful smile before he glanced up at her apartment window before gently turning her around to face the building, “Look, angel,” He stated softly as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.

She gazed up at her window and saw Paul watching them. As the agent noted her gaze, he rested his palm against the window. She could see tears in his eyes and her heart ached as she raised her hand in a little wave before the pair vanished from the street.

It was time to move on with Andrew, Tess and God at her side and just as she knew that Andrew would be an immovable object, she also knew, deep in her heart, that somewhere out there was an FBI agent whose life had been changed and who would always hold a very special place in her heart.