CHAPTER 3

Andrew found Monica thrashing and crying out in her sleep, her hands curled into fists as if she was trying to fight off invisible demons. He was at her side in an instant, catching both her hands up in one of his, as his other hand moved to stroke her hair back away from her face as he spoke softly to her,
“It’s okay, Monica. You’re safe here and no one is going to hurt you, I promise. It’s okay, sweetheart.” He watched as she began to quiet and the fight slowly drained from her exhausted body.

Tess had watched in horror as Monica had fought as though her life depended on it, her fists swinging in the air and her cries so full of pain, and her heart broke as she tried to imagine what it was she had undergone. How could she and Andrew possibly bring Monica back from that dark place in her mind when they didn’t know what she had gone through? It was obvious that Andrew’s presence had calmed her, which to Tess seemed like a good sign. He had always been able to do that for Monica when she was struggling with something. Tess walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down in the chair. She wrung out the cloth again and bathed Monica’s forehead in the cool water,
“That’s right, baby. There’s nothing to be afraid of here. Everybody here loves you very much,” Tess drew in a sharp breath as Monica’s eyelids fluttered for a moment before opening. Tess gazed into her charge’s brown eyes, which seemed glazed over and held no sign of recognition.

Monica glanced at the woman beside her and squinted her eyes, trying to bring her into focus. Unable to, she sighed softly and closed her eyes once more,
“So tired…” She uttered weakly as she fell back into unconsciousness once more.

Andrew felt as if he had been holding his breath for an eternity, when it had actually only been seconds. He exchanged a glance with Tess as he pulled the blankets more snugly around Monica, noticing she had begun to shiver once more,
“Then you sleep, Angel Girl,” He whispered, taking her hand into both of his and squeezing it gently,
“You sleep for as long as you’d like,” His eyes never left her face until it appeared she was resting relatively peacefully. He then drew in a shaky breath and looked back at Tess, his eyes filled with unanswered questions.

“I dunno, Angel Boy,” Tess sighed, seemingly reading his thoughts,
“There is an awful lot we don’t know about what happened, including what led up to it. Why was she running away with Stacey to begin with? Not that it matters, the damage has been done, but it might help us to help her if we knew.”

Andrew nodded his head, his own guilt put aside for the moment as they struggled to piece together the puzzle that Kathleen had created,
“There is so much I don’t know, Tess. I know Kathleen had her filled with doubts, but I don’t know to what extent.” He thought long and hard, trying to remember the little Monica had told him,
“When I helped her in the field yesterday, when she was being attacked, she asked me when it was over, if God had sent me. When I told her ‘no’, Tess, she was devastated and said that maybe Kathleen was right, that maybe God had left her out there to die.”

“How could she have thought that?” Tess exclaimed softly, not wanting to wake Monica.

“I’m telling you, Kathleen did a huge number on her this time, and Tess, I know this is not very angelic, but that demon does not want me to be around the next time she makes an appearance.” Andrew’s cheeks flushed with anger, which he struggled to hold back.

“Point well taken, Mr. Halo,” She replied,
“I wouldn’t mind having a go at her myself for what it’s worth,” Tess sighed, gazing down at the sleeping angel,
“Did she say anything else to you yesterday?”

Andrew nodded his head, remembering the other cause of deep fear for her,
“She made mention of the fact that if she remained human, she would never get to go Home. She was so afraid, Tess and she just didn’t know where to turn.”

“Angel Boy, she had to know where to turn. When we’re afraid, we turn to God. Monica knows that.”

Andrew was quiet for a moment, reflecting on what she had just said,
“I think Monica the angel knew that, but the Monica who had been human for over a week and had been through all that she had, may have forgotten.” He hoped he didn’t sound sarcastic, as he didn’t mean it that way. He just felt that being in human form for so long had been a factor in Monica’s actions,
“All she knew, Tess, was that she was out in the middle of a football field, having just survived an attack that I cannot imagine any human could have survived, hoping and praying that God had sent me to protect her. Kathleen had her feeling lost and alone and that she had betrayed God and in return was being betrayed.” He brought Monica’s hand to his lips to kiss it gently as his eyes rested on her face.

“But she knows that isn’t the way God works, Andrew,” Tess retorted, unable to fathom that Monica, even in her helpless human state could even think such things.

Andrew locked his eyes with Tess’ as he replied,
“But things aren’t always what they seem, right? That’s what you said to both of us when this whole thing started. We both know that she knows the truth, deep in her heart. She’s been speaking it for years. But at that moment, when so much had gone wrong already, she felt like she was surrounded by darkness. Kathleen made it seem that way to her, don’t you see?”

Tess sighed softly as she nodded her head,
“I suppose you do have a point, Andrew. Anyway, we aren’t going to have all the answers for a while yet. She’s the one that knows them and she has to be ready to talk about it. “

Andrew grew silent again as he moved to touch Monica’s cheek,
“Do you think she’ll recover, Tess?” He whispered, his voice almost like that of a frightened child.

Tess considered his question carefully, wishing she knew the answer to that herself,
“If love can bring her back, Angel Boy, then there is no doubt in my mind that when this is over, we’ll have our Angel Girl back Home with us. We just need to take this one day at a time and see what happens. “ She read the exhaustion in his face and eyes and stood up,
“C’mon, lets get some rest while she sleeps.”

Andrew looked up at Tess and shook his head,
“You go ahead, Tess. I’m going to stay with her if that’s alright.”

Tess felt a tug at her heart as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him tightly,
“Of course it is. You’ve always been a great comfort to her, Andrew. If anyone can chase away those demons she is dreaming about, you can.”

Tears burned in his eyes as he returned her hug,
“I’ll do my best,” He uttered softly.

“I know you will, Angel Boy. I know you will.”