CHAPTER 12

"Faith Elizabeth Tate," Monica read from the official poster tacked to the post office bulletin board and surrounded by the state wanted posters. "You were right. She’s eight years old and it says here that her father’s name is Gregory."

"Well it’ll be nice to stop calling him ‘Faith’s Father’," Andrew commented with a wry grin.

"She disappeared Easter Sunday and there’s no information on who might have taken her," Monica continued somewhat defeated. She had been hoping that they would find out a little bit more.

"Well I think we’re both guessing that she ran away," Andrew said. "The real question is; who has been helping her?"

Monica shook her head. She agreed that it seemed unlikely that Faith had been taking care of herself since Easter, but the child hadn’t mentioned seeing or talking to anyone else in the forest. It was always possible that someone else had been secretly keeping an eye on her but that only begged the questions: who? and why?

"C’mon, Monica. Maybe if we wander around town we’ll meet up with someone who can answer some of our questions. Maybe the Father has someone in mind for Faith…" he trailed off as Monica looked up at him sharply.

"She isn’t a cat, Andrew. I’m not going to just drop her off with someone."

He quickly moved to placate her by draping and arm around her shoulders. "Of course not, angel, but God must have something planned for her, and a new family sounds like a good start."

He didn’t want to mention the fact that the possibility remained that they were supposed to be working with Gregory Tate to turn him into the kind of father that Faith deserved. They had turned gang members and adulterers around… and whether or not they agreed, God was always willing to forgive those who truly repented.

Unfortunately Monica’s face was troubled and he had a feeling that she was already thinking the same thing. "I promised Faith that I would bring her back a present," she said quietly.

"I saw a toy store just around the corner, and maybe one of the parents will know something," Andrew said as he opened the door for her.

They walked out of the post office and were about to cross the street when Andrew’s spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. "Actually, I think it might be best to go this way," he said as he placed a hand behind his friend’s back and guided her back towards the center of town.

"Angel!" The word was shouted from directly behind them, and before either of them could react, Greg had grabbed Monica’s arm and wheeled her around to face him.

He wasn’t actually violent, but Andrew still had to hold himself back from punching the man. As it was, the angel’s eyes went ice cold and dark as he stared straight into his face. He reached out and wrapped his hand around Greg’s wrist, holding on with an unnatural strength until the man released his grip on Monica.

He did so reluctantly, and his piercing gaze never wandered from the little angel’s face, even as all color drained from it. "I told you that you’d never find her."

He was repeating words he had said to her before, but while they had seemed somewhat crazed and disturbed before, now there was an undercurrent of hostility. The subtle change was not lost on Monica, but she was determined to stand her ground. With Andrew and God beside her, and the knowledge that Faith was safe at with Tess, she found her courage.

"I’m not even looking for her," she said, and it was not precisely a lie since the girl had already been found. "Please, just leave me alone!"

"You’re a liar!" he spat in her face. "I’ve seen you out there. You think I don’t know what you’re digging around for?"

Andrew didn’t think he could hold himself back another instant, and his muscles tensed as he prepared to physically push the larger man away from Monica. Fists tightened and released and a frighteningly familiar surge of adrenaline pumped through his system.

"What seems to be the trouble here, Greg?" The gravelly voice came from an older man who was making his way towards them from the doorway of the post office. He was a physically imposing man, even at the age of fifty, and he wore the badge and gun of his position with the comfortable air of one who had been keeping watch over his town for years.

"I’m just asking them about Faith, Sheriff," Greg answered quickly.

"Well it doesn’t look like they know anything, so why don’t you head on home."

He looked like he was about to argue, but when the sheriff took a step closer he quickly changed his mind. "Yeah… yeah… I suppose I will…" he muttered as he backed away and then turned to walk quickly across the street.

The sheriff watched him go with a look akin to distrust, and then switched his focus to the two angels. "I hope he wasn’t bothering you too much," he said. "Sheriff Benson, by the way." He held out his hand and even Andrew’s disappeared in its bear-like grip.

"No," Andrew replied for the two of them as he could tell that Monica was actually quite shaken. "But it wasn’t the first time we’ve seen him. He keeps asking us about his daughter…"

Sheriff Benson shook his head and pressed his lips together. "Yeah, he’s always saying something about her."

"What happened?" Monica ventured to speak, her curiosity overriding her remaining unease.

"Little thing vanished off the face of the earth on Easter of this year," he said with regret. "He hasn’t been right since…"

Andrew could hear the things the sheriff left hanging in the air unsaid. "You think he…"

"Can’t prove it," he said brusquely. "Not that we didn’t try. Searched his house up and down, in and out. I was afraid I’d find her the same way I found her mother. ‘Fell down the stairs’, he said…" a shake of his head told what he thought of that excuse. "Couldn’t prove that either…"

His words caused Monica to suck in a breath and tighten her hold on Andrew’s hand. "So if she was ever found, she would have to go back to him?"

"Miss, I’m afraid that child isn’t ever going to be found, so whatever nightmare she left behind in that house… Well, one way or another, it’s over." He tipped his hat to the two of them. "I’d better get going, but if he gives you any more trouble, just stop by the town hall. My office is right on the first floor."

He left the angels standing there, staring after him, both reluctant to speak. Monica was the first to break the silence as she stood up straight and turned to face the blond angel.

"I won’t let her go back there," she said with quiet determination.

Andrew shook his head, and although he agreed, he was forced to remind her of why they were there in the first place. "If God wants them back together, Monica…"

"I don’t care." Her words were calm and steady. "I would rather spend an eternity in God’s Country than let her spend one more minute with him."

Though her words were strong, her eyes held sorrow in their depths. She knew that such an act would separate her not only from God, but from him. The fact that she would give up everything that was precious to her for the sake of one small girl only made him love her all the more.

"It won’t come to that, angel. I’m sure it won’t come to that."

"I hope not," She whispered, as she squeezed his hand more tightly, as if she never meant to let go, even if it meant taking him to God's Country with her should the need arise.

*****

Monica watched as Faith colored in the coloring book she and Andrew had brought her back from town earlier in the week. The "present" that the angel had promised the little girl had wound up consisting of not just the coloring book and crayons, but also a doll, a painting set, and a stuffed teddy bear. Andrew had teasingly told her she was going to spoil the little girl, but nothing had been further from the truth.

Faith had seemed reluctant to accept the gifts, though her green eyes had shone in her desire to have them. It had taken all three angels to reassure her before Faith had taken them, but not before bursting into tears as she had hugged them each fiercely. Monica had cried along with her, and even Tess and Andrew had tears in their eyes before the exchange was finished.

The Irish angel was careful to keep Faith indoors and herself as well, not wanting to run any chance of seeing the little girl’s father and Faith seemed perfectly content with the arrangement. Though talking more, she was still rather quiet, though much quicker to show her affection for her newfound friends. She would clamor into Tess’ lap each night for a story, eagerly await a piggyback ride and a tickle session from Andrew and snuggle up next to Monica as she fell asleep.

The days had fallen into a pleasant routine and only Tess was beginning to show signs of discontent. The oldest angel still had been given no word as to what they were supposed to do with the child and she constantly badgered the two younger angels to try and get more information out of Faith. She couldn’t help but to wonder if the assignment now lay with whoever it was who had been helping to keep the child alive in the time before Monica had found her.

Faith finished her picture and looked up at Monica, who was sitting next to her at the table, for approval.

"It’s a lovely picture, Faith," She smiled, reaching for the child’s hand and squeezing it, "You got the colors for the flowers just right. I’ve seen flowers just like them outside in the forest." She gazed over towards the window, feeling a sense of restlessness come over her. She remembered the last time she had been held hostage inside of a house and the feeling was not comforting. She was missing God’s creation outside, but her fear of Gregory Tate made her powerless to change her current situation. She longed to take Faith on a picnic and down to the lake to swim, but the risk was too great, for both of them.

"I was looking at the flowers when the man came," Faith remarked softly as she lowered her head once more to begin coloring in the next picture.

The little angel’s eyes widened slightly, though she kept her voice soft, "What man, sweetheart?"

"The one who wanted to take me to my father. He told me he wanted to take me home, but I got away from him," She replied, almost offhandedly as she focused on the tree she was diligently coloring green.

"Did you know who he was?" She asked curiously.

"No."

"Did he help you while you were in the forest? Did he give you anything to eat?"

"No."

Monica sighed softly as she gazed out the window once more, almost afraid to push the little girl for information, "What did you eat while you were in the forest, little one?"

"You left your picnic basket," She remarked simply before holding up two crayons, "Which one for the bird, Monica?"

She smiled, "The red one would be pretty, don’t you think?" Faith smiled her agreement and Monica felt the familiar flutter in her heart, even as she tried to deny it. She was growing attached to the little girl and couldn’t even begin to imagine not having her around.

*****

"Angel?"

She turned around at the sound of Andrew’s voice and managed a smile. She had been gazing out the window that overlooked the lake. Faith had gone to help Tess make cupcakes and she had once again felt restless. She felt his hands on her shoulders and she leaned back into him slightly.

"Are you okay?" His concern was evident and he frowned as she nodded her head, "How about a walk outside?" But she shook her head and now he had a feeling of where to begin, "I’ll be with you, Monica. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

She was quiet for several moments, her eyes still watching the geese who had recently flown in and were now floating peacefully on the lake, "He’s changing, Andrew. I could feel it when we were in town a few days ago. I didn’t feel threatened very much before, but for some reason, I do now." Gregory’s grip on her had been rougher and the look in his eyes colder and she felt an involuntary shudder flow through her at the image that played in her mind.

"So you’re locking yourself away in the house," He guessed, not liking her decision, but on the other hand, not being able to blame her. He also knew that there was another issue at hand that Tess had warned him to prepare her for, "Angel, you do realize that eventually, Faith will have a new home, as soon as the Father shows us where that might be."

"Of course I do," She stated softly, but her voice held strain, "I was permitted to keep a kitten but a little girl is pushing it, don’t you think?"

Her small laugh was strained at best and he sighed as he turned her to face him, before placing his hands back on her shoulders. "Sweetie, the way you fall in love with your assignments, especially children and animals, has always touched me, but this time, I don’t want you to get your heart broken."

"Too late," She replied, forcing a smile, though with now looking into his eyes she could no longer fake the truth.

The deep sadness in her eyes gripped at his heart as he reached up to stroke her hair, "You know, whatever the Father has planned is going to be wonderful, not to mention perfect."

"I know, but it doesn’t change how I feel. Everyday, I watch her come around a little bit more. I’ve watched this little person who first walked in here acting as if she was the hired help become an eight year old girl again. She trusts us, Andrew, where I’m not sure she has trusted anyone in so long and its going to be hard to let that go when the time comes." Her eyes were bright with tears that she refused to let fall.

"She’s worked her way into that heart of yours the same way someone else did awhile back, Angel Girl," He said knowingly, "It hurt you to let Paul go and now you’re thinking about facing the same thing with Faith."

"But I don’t have a choice," She stated firmly, trying to convince herself, "It’s what we do, Andrew. We help them and then send them on their way, on God’s way. Sometimes… sometimes I just wish He made loving them easier when it was time to say goodbye."

"You miss him, don’t you, angel?" Andrew asked gently, referring to the agent that had become her friend.

Monica swallowed against the tightness in her throat, "Every day, Andrew. I miss him every day."

He tugged her into his arms, giving her time to control her emotions. He was certain that being locked up in the house had caused her to relive moments when she had last been presented with that situation and now the two assignments were mirroring each other in many ways.

She loved them both, and would once again have to say goodbye.