CHAPTER 5

Paul, Alex and Andrew, along with Matthew in his car seat, waited in the car outside the radio station after church on Sunday, waiting for Monica to go through her meeting with the show’s host. Glancing at Andrew in the rear view mirror, Paul was unable but to comment, though he feared a jab in the ribs from his wife, "You okay with this, buddy?"

Andrew gave a sigh, but then nodded his head, "She wants it, Paul, though I wouldn’t be terribly disappointed if she didn’t get it, but I don’t think that will happen. After all, she has convinced the hardest of hearts to turn to God, so this should be relatively simple for her."

"It’s a perfectly safe job, Andrew," Alex admonished, turning in her seat to look at him.

"Yes, Alex, it is, but this is Monica we’re talking about," He grinned as Paul chuckled, "She has an eye for trouble."

Rolling her eyes, she retorted, "You certainly can’t expect her to just sit home and worry about you all day-."

"Of course, I don’t," Andrew replied seriously, "If she wants to work, I am behind her one hundred percent and I suppose I couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere for her."

"Glad to hear it," Alex grinned, settling back in her seat, "Then I won’t be needing to beat you up in order to convince you that this is a good thing."

Andrew chuckled. "You would, too!"

"You bet your ass I would!"

Paul started to laugh and it was only with extreme effort that he was able to stifle it when Monica appeared in view. She was smiling and she gave them a little wave as she walked down the steps from the building. It was obvious what the outcome of her interview had been.

She pulled open the door and hopped into the door, face still glowing. "I got the job!" she exclaimed. "He really liked me and thinks that I’ll be an asset to the show." She grabbed Andrew’s hand and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Of course you will, angel!" he said, his own misgivings beginning to fade in light of the sparkle from her eyes.

"I start next week and he said I can come in any day this week to get myself familiar with the station."

"Well we can drop you by any time you want to come," Alex offered. "It’s part of the Gatlin taxi service you’ve heard so much about."

Monica laughed. "Thank you, but I was thinking… with Andrew commuting in with Paul everyday…"

"Uh-oh… she’s goin’ for the car, buddy," Paul said with a grin.

"Hey! I’m a very good driver. Even Tess thought so… well… there was that one little time that I had to go to traffic school, but that was a definite exception and anyway it ended up being an assignment so I sort of think I was set up."

Andrew let out a bark of laughter. "So God’s running a sting operation? Is that what you’re saying?"

"Well… I wouldn’t go that far…"

Alex was trying hard to keep from launching into hysterical laughter and was grateful when she saw Andrew patting Monica’s knee through the rearview mirror.

"I’m just teasing, baby. Of course you can have the car. It’s more yours than mine anyway. After all, Tess was your supervisor and if I recall correctly it was actually given to you in the first place. If I ever need a car of my own we’ll just look into buying another one."

Monica gave a satisfied smile. "That’s very true." She squeezed Andrew’s hand. "But thanks for the okay anyway."

"It sounds like you’ll have just enough time to get things really moving with the house," Paul said.

"And don’t forget a doctor. You need to make an appointment with my doctor, Monica. She’s great. You’ve love her. And even if you don’t you have to go to see her. That’s an order."

"I know you mentioned her last week, Alex, but really, I feel fine. I don’t think I need to see a doctor quite yet. Doctor Gibson gave me the vitamins I need. Isn’t that enough?"

"No!" The word was echoed by both Gatlins and Andrew.

"Monica, remember our little deal? You said you’d take care of yourself."

The little angel rolled her eyes but it was clear she wasn’t being given a choice. "All right. Fine. Women have been having babies for millennia but I’ll go to the doctor."

"Women have been. You haven’t. You should know how important all the prenatal care is," Alex said, slightly surprised by Monica’s opinion.

For her part, Monica felt certain that being pregnant was the one thing about being human that would go flawlessly. After all, it was the whole reason she and Andrew had been made human in the first place. God wasn’t going to do that just to have something happen to the baby before it was even born. However, if it was that important to Andrew, she would go along with it.

"I’ll call her tomorrow, Alex. I promise," Monica said, making a cross over her heart.

"That’s what I like to hear. Beating up Andrew is one thing, but I really don’t want to have to rough you up too."

Monica’s eyes widened in amusement as she felt Andrew wrap his arm around her shoulders.

"Yeah, I think I might have to take issue with that too," he said with an arched brow.

Paul merely chuckled and held his tongue.

"Do we still have time to see the house?" Monica asked, deftly changing the subject.

"Plenty of time," Paul replied. "They’re out of town for the weekend and he gave me the key. We can stop on the way back to the townhouse if you want. Unless you’re too hungry. We can always go this afternoon." He had noticed that Monica, who normally ate only slightly more than a bird, had taken to devouring huge platefuls of food.

"No, I’m fine. I want to see it," Monica’s smile from getting the job still hadn’t completely faded and she was clearly wanting to continue the good feelings.

"Your wish is my command." Paul winked and quickly pulled away from the curb and into the light morning traffic.

The house was only fifteen minutes away, and only ten from the Gatlin’s house. Monica spotted it as soon as they turned down the street. She scooted away from Andrew and closer to the window as they drove closer. It was a cape-style house with two big dormer windows in the front and a full dormer in the back. Painted a pale yellow color with green shutters and a dark green door, Monica fell in love before they even pulled into the driveway.

She practically ran up the brick walkway and Andrew had to chase after her as Paul and Alex hung back and smiled at the two of them. Monica was trying to stand on tiptoe to look in the half-moon window at the top of the door, and Paul had to gently push her aside to slip the key into the lock.

"It’s perfect!" the little angel exclaimed as soon as she stepped into the front hall.

Paul burst out laughing. "Honey, you haven’t even seen it yet!"

She wheeled around to face the rest of them. "I don’t care. I love it anyway," she said with a grin as she made note of the hardwood floors and the oriental carpet running up the stairs.

Andrew took her hand in his. "Well let’s just take a tour through anyway, shall we?" he teased.

She didn’t answer, just nodded her head and pulled him into the living room.

"This really is the perfect house for them," Alex said as she watched them pass through a set of french doors and into the dining room.

"Things are coming together for them," Paul agreed, and then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, "just like they did for us."

"Absolutely," She replied, wrapping her arms around his waist, "And from here, they just keep getting better."

*****

The next four weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity and Monica didn’t even have time to think about the fact that she needed to catch her breath. They closed on the house and moved in, spending the next few weekends and evenings shopping for the things that they needed, mostly using the credit that had been provided for them in order to make their start as human angels. Even Lucy seemed to approve of her new residence and the cat was blissfully content that "her people" came home every day.

Alex had quickly discovered that the little angel had an eye for antiques as the two of them spent a few Saturday afternoons exploring used furniture shops and the agent mused that it had to be because Monica had been around for hundreds of years. But she could spot a piece a mile away, a little gem that the shop owner half the time didn’t even know he was sitting on and with a little help from Alex, Monica could soon refurbish nearly anything. Alex loved the quiet afternoons the two of them were able to spend together as she watched a friendship she already treasured, deepen. The angel had questions about so many things with now finding herself in her current situation and Alex was only too willing and happy to be able to offer an opinion or advice.

Monica loved her job at the radio station and working with Pastor Ray was indeed a pleasure. Middle aged with sparkling blue eyes, he had taken an immediate liking to Monica and it wasn’t long before he was asking her opinion of woman’s Christian issues on the air with different callers and Monica was quite pleased with the pleasant turn of events. One or two of their regular callers would even call in regularly to ask for her specifically and at first she had been hesitant, not wanting to step on Ray’s toes. He had sensed her reluctance and had pulled her aside during a commercial break.

"Monica, this is a ministry," He had informed her gently, laying a fatherly hand on her shoulder, "And you are doing what God called you to do and ministering," He chuckled, "Sometimes it takes another woman to understand, so you are just what this show needed. I’m blessed to have you."

With those words, her hesitance had vanished, knowing that God was still leading her where He wanted her to be. Andrew’s eyes always held intense pride for her when he would come home at night after hearing a particularly harried call that morning, and Monica knew that he, along with Paul and Alex were tuned into the show each morning in their respective offices. Her husband had been nothing short of supportive and for that she was eternally thankful, but then, he had always supported her in everything.

She was equally thankful that other than an off day here or there, her morning sickness had finally gone away and after a few more subtle nudges from Alex and not so subtle threats from Andrew, she had gone to see Alex’s doctor. Just as she had suspected, everything was fine and the baby seemed to be developing perfectly. Her next appointment, they would do a sonogram and she had felt her heart flutter with excitement at the thought. She could now feel the shape of her stomach forming ever so slightly and it filled her with great joy.

Now, with the house more or less in order, today was the first day Monica could come home from work and do exactly what she had been longing to do for weeks; curl up on the couch, watch the news and take a little nap. She had been doing her best to hide her exhaustion, but she had a feeling those days were numbered as she had awoken this morning feeling as if she were catching a little cold. Fall had begun to take hold and the mornings had been considerably more chilly when she was leaving for work….and there was still that lack of sleep issue.

The first piece of furniture Andrew had insisted upon had been a bed and once it had been delivered, he had teasingly told her it needed to be broken in. Now she was wondering just how long the breaking in period on one bed could possibly be. She told herself it must have something to do with suddenly being a human male instead of an angelic one, but there were mornings, she was simply exhausted and nearly on the verge of tears when her alarm went off. This she contributed to the "raging hormones" Alex had always referred to, but after a loving kiss from her husband, and heading off to a job she adored, all seemed right with her world again.

Pulling the quilt from the back of the sofa, she wrapped it around herself and grabbed the remote to turn on the television. There were times that the calls they received at the station had to do with some situation that had been on the news, so Monica found it better to be prepared. Right now though, she was just hoping she could keep her eyes open long enough to watch.

A robbery, another protest march outside the White House and she was just about to drift off to sleep when a story broke of a shooting downtown. No one seemed to know where the shots had come from and Monica bolted up from the couch when the commentator announced that the victim had been an FBI agent. Her heart suddenly felt as if it had stopped and her hand shook as she reached for the phone, but it rang before she ever had the chance to somehow dial Andrew’s cell phone number.

"Angel, I’m fine."

The sound of her husband’s voice caused a tiny sob to escape her, "I…I just saw it…Andrew, I was afraid…"

"Shh. I know, baby and that’s why I called. I knew you would be watching. Paul and I are heading down there, but I had to call you first," His voice was laced with concern for her.

"You’re going down there?" Her panic was back, even as she tried to squelch it. Of course he was. It was his job now, "Be careful, please? Promise me you’ll be careful."

"I promise, sweetheart. Please try not to worry."

Monica forced a laugh, "You’re asking a lot. The agent…is he okay?"

A pause and then, "No, angel. He’s dead."

She could hear the remorse in his voice and she wiped at her eyes, trying to summon all her strength to not break down into frightened tears, "I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby. I need to go. I’ll be home as soon as I can, but it may be a bit later than is usual."

"I understand. Call me if you get a chance?"

"I will."

As she hung up the phone, her dark eyes returned to CNN as she rested her head back against the pillow, her hand automatically going to her stomach, now understanding just what it was like to be the wife of a federal agent.

*****

Success came with guilt. Yes, agent Bryan Mahoney was dead and he felt intense satisfaction, but the guilt quickly followed. The man really had little to do with his vendetta, but he was an agent just the same, so he was guilty by association. Being a trained sniper, the shot, even from his distance had been child’s play for him. Maybe the guilt would vanish with more of a challenge. Yes, further away next time and there would be a next time, and a time after that, until someone could stop him.

Stopping himself was simply not an option.

*****

Andrew was very quiet as Paul drove along the quiet streets towards their homes. It was almost nine o’clock and the two of them had been either at the scene until the sun went down, and then back at the bureau trying to analyze evidence. Agent Mahoney’s body had already been gone by the time they got to the courthouse but there had still been blood on the ground, and Andrew had known all too well exactly how he had died.

It was very strange for him, knowing that someone had died and yet not being the one to take him Home. Not even knowing who had. Just accepting that at the end of his life an angel had been waiting and he had been brought to the presence of God. Andrew had never before wondered at the incredible leap of faith it took to believe such a thing.

Mahoney had been at the courthouse to escort a witness into a trial, and of course the first thought was that the witness had been the intended target. He had been whisked away to a safe-house and the lawyers for the prosecution had requested and been granted a continuance. After finishing at the scene Andrew had spent the next hours going over the files of every person who had anything to do with that trial. Paul had been right there beside him, and after three hours they had still come up empty. There were plenty of possibles, but no one that they could immediately pinpoint, and that’s what they had been hoping for. Of course nothing ever came easy.

"How you doin’ over there, buddy?" Paul broke the silence and, glanced at Andrew out of the corner of his eye.

"About as well as can be expected," he responded.

"Yeah." He was silent for another moment. "It doesn’t ever get easier, but knowing that we’re doing something to bring closure helps." Another beat. "I suppose the same was true when you were an angel."

"God has a plan and it will all be revealed in time," Andrew quoted one of Tess’ favorite phrases. "Yes, something like that. Even when I was an angel I had to be reminded of that on occasion."

"Some things never change." He looked at him again and his expression turned to regret. "Look… I’d love to be able to give you tomorrow off to regroup. I know Monica’s probably going to be half-frantic, but I just can’t do it. I worked with Bryan back in Witness Protection and…"

"Paul, don’t even think about it. It’s nice of you to even consider it, but it isn’t necessary. I knew what I was getting into, and Monica may not have liked it, but she knew too. We’ll be fine, and I’ll be ready at eight, as usual."

"Thanks, Andrew. Maybe next week…"

"I told you… no need," Andrew insisted as Paul turned into the drive way at the little yellow house.

Paul nodded his thanks, the gratitude showing in his eyes. "You’ll say hello to Monica for me, right?"

"Of course," Andrew replied, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Same to Alex."

"Try to get a good night’s sleep, buddy. I’ll see you in the morning."

"You too, Paul. Drive safe." He pushed the door closed and headed up the walk, not at all surprised when the light beside the front door flashed to life.

He didn’t even have to think about using his key because he had barely set foot on the front step before the door was open and his wife was throwing herself into his arms. She didn’t say anything at first and he gently stroked her hair as he maneuvered them both into the house and shut the door.

"I’ve been wanting to do this all night," she murmured faintly, breathing in the scent of his cologne and the wool of his suit jacket as she nestled her head against his shoulder.

"Me too, baby." He pulled back slightly to look in her face. "Are you doing all right? I told you not to worry."

A little shrug was her reply.

"Monica, this was a one in a thousand chance. He was part of Paul’s old division. He was protecting a witness. It’s not the same as what I’m doing now."

When she still made no move to reply he pulled her close again. "I’m sorry," he whispered as he kissed her head. "I know it’s hard."

"I was so scared."

"I’m sorry," he repeated, "and I’m sorry it took so long to come home."

"Not your fault. It’s your job."

"You’re right." He hugged her tighter. "But I still wish I’d been able to hold you like this about four hours ago."

"Can we go upstairs now?" she asked as she pulled away looked up at him. At the moment she no longer cared how tired she was or how intense their lovemaking had become. She wanted to be with her husband, connected to him in the only way that was possible now.

His answer was to pick her up in his arms and carry her up the stairs, taking some of them two at a time.

He placed her gently on the bed and immediately climbed on top of her, straddling her body and kissing her hungrily as his hands stroked her face. As had become he routine, kissing was soon not enough and he moved to unbutton her blouse. Monica wasn’t surprised when she heard buttons popping. She had become very good with a needle and thread since their move. A moment later and he had unclasped her bra but made no move to touch her. She had closed her eyes but she opened them to look up at him.

He was staring down at her lovingly, tracing her form with his eyes. Her breasts had just begun to grow larger and the rosy pink tips hardened just from his gaze. Monica reached up to touch his face and he caught her hand and held it against his cheek, then turned his head and kissed her palm.

"I love you so much," she whispered. "Promise me again that you’re always coming home to me."

"I promise," he said huskily, and then descended upon her once more, catching her mouth with his and moving one hand to her breast.

She was out of breath by the time he moved lower, latching onto one erect peak and sucking gently, and then harder as he rolled the other between his thumb and finger. Monica was gasping and letting out small whimpers of need as he continued to tease her until she was on the verge of begging. He loved hearing her whisper his name so low and huskily and when he finally pulled back to remove the rest of her clothing along with his own, he was already hard and ready for her.

Her eyes had opened during her brief respite and as soon as she saw him she reached out, grasping him firmly. "Please… please don’t wait. I need you now…" she urged.

The words were barely out of her mouth before he pushed all the way into her, groaning at the silky warmth surrounding him. She immediately started to move her hips, needing to feel him move within her, but he remained completely still, his length a throbbing presence within her. Instead he rubbed his fingers over her delicate nub, driving her closer and closer to the edge while still denying her exactly what she wanted.

Feeling herself rushing towards climax, Monica kept up a steady stream of pleading words interspersed with words of love. Just when she knew she would not be able to hold back any longer Andrew leaned forward and whispered into her ear.

"I love you, my beautiful angel," and then he drew back, pulling almost all the way out and then plunged back in again.

Monica was so close that it only took three more strokes before she was screaming out his name but he continued to drive into her, feeling her pulsing and clenching around him. He never stopped delicately rubbing her tender little bud, either and the sensation was almost too much for her to take. She nearly pushed his hand away but then she felt herself climbing again and as he thrust into her hard one more time she felt herself falling again. He emptied into her shouting her name and only then began to slow his pace, enjoying every feeling and making certain that she did too.

When at last Andrew slipped from her body she was completely worn out but this time she had asked for it and when he pulled her onto his chest she had a contented smile on her face.

"I know you can’t feel it all the time," Andrew whispered as she drifted off to sleep, "but you are my world, angel."