CHAPTER 14

Surprisingly, Monica was not told that her assignment was over in the days that followed and the angel suspected that God was allowing her to find out about Carrie's test results, which were due to be back that very afternoon. Regretfully, Andrew had been given an assignment that morning and with a kiss and a promise that he would be back as soon as he could be, he'd vanished.

Now, the little angel sat in the waiting room at the hospital with Jenny while Jim and Carrie were back in the doctor's office getting the results. Though the tension between her and Jim was calmer, they still said very little to each other, but Monica suspected that was far better then the man snapping at her all the time.

She cast a glance over to Jenny. The teenager was sitting up straight and still and Monica could clearly see the worry on her face. Thankfully, Tess was sitting with the two young boys back at the house as Jenny had been certain that she would "lose her mind" sitting at home and waiting to hear her mother's test results.

"It shouldn't be much longer," The angel whispered gently as she laid her hand on Jenny's arm.

"I know. I just hate the waiting." The girl sighed, managing a tiny smile, "I just want to know that she'll be all right."

"No matter what happens, Jenny, she'll be all right. God will make certain of that."

"I know, it's just that…I want her around, Monica. I'm the only girl and there are just things that I need her for...that I want her to be around for. I mean, can you imagine me telling Kevin when a boy asks me out on a date?" She let out a short laugh, but it sounded hollow to her own ears.

The angel's heart ached in sympathy. Monica knew that if the worst happened, Jenny would be all right; the girl was a tower of strength. But it would still be so hard as so many of the home burdens would end up falling on the teenager's shoulders.

Before she could think of something to say in response, Jennifer was on her feet, seeing her father walking down the hall toward them and the girl met him before he could reach her.

"Dad, what happened? Is she going to be okay?"

Jim ran a tired hand through his hair, barely glancing at Monica, though he could tell the angel was listening, "She needs a bone marrow transplant, Jenny. I'm going right now to be tested. If I'm a match, the transplant will happen as soon as possible."

"They can test me-."

"Jen, no. If I'm not a match then we'll talk about it," He almost couldn't bear the thought of Jenny having to go through the transplant procedure. One of his girls in trouble was enough, "Hang tight. I'll be back."

Monica watched as Jim followed one of the two nurses down the hall as the other nurse, gave Jenny a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Standing up, Monica approached the pair, "Excuse me. Can you have me tested as well to see if I might be a match for Carrie?"

Though God was not telling her to do it, Monica had to find out. If Jim wasn't a match, then maybe God would see it fit for her to be able to give Carrie a new lease on life.

"Why yes, of course," The nurse looked surprised, knowing that the little Irish beauty was not related to the family, "Come with me and we'll get you tested right away."

Twenty minutes later, Monica waited in a small exam room for the nurse to return to do the test. Fact was, the angel had no idea what the test entailed and she bit her lower lip in her anxiety. She had been asked to slip into a hospital gown and now she waited nervously to find out exactly what she had signed herself up for.

A small knock at the door sounded before it opened, and Monica eyes widened with relief, "Andrew!"

"Angel, Jenny told me you were being tested," He pulled her into his arms to hug her tightly, "Have they done it yet?"

She gave her head a little shake against his chest, "No, not yet." Squeezing her eyes shut, she swallowed hard and then whispered, "Will it hurt when they take marrow from my bone, Andrew? Will it hurt very much?"

Hearing the deep rooted fear in her voice, Andrew pulled away but kept his hands on her shoulders, "Angel, no. Sweetie, it's a blood test is all. Nothing more than a tiny needle to draw some blood."

He watched the relief that washed over her pale face and his heart constricted with love for her. She'd had no idea what she had volunteered to do, but had simply done it selflessly to help her assignment.

"Really? I thought I heard Carrie talking about a big needle and that they had to draw marrow from the donor's back?"

"Only if you would be the donor, Angel," He assured her, running his hands tenderly over her hair, "The blood test will tell them if you are a possible donor."

"Oh," She smiled fleetingly, but then looked worried once more, "If I am and they have to take my marrow….will you be with me when they do?"

His green eyes filled with tremendous love and fierce protection, "Absolutely, baby."

Though still a little frightened should she be the donor, Monica smiled, relief written on her face, "I love you so much."

Andrew's hands moved to frame her face, "My beautiful angel, you have no idea just how much I love you back."

Hours later, they all waited together in the large waiting room. Carrie had grown so weak, that Dr. Fogarty had admitted her to the hospital, where she was now sleeping.

"How much longer?" Jenny murmured as she sat next to her father on one of the sofas, "How long can it possible take to test two people's blood?"

Jim's eyes widened slightly as he looked at his oldest child, "Two people? Jen, I thought I told you-."

"Not me, dad," the girl's eyes glanced across the room where Monica sat with Andrew, the blonde angel's arm ever-protectively wrapped around Monica's shoulders, "Monica was tested too. She asked them to do it."

Jim's shocked expression settled on the Irish angel that he had held captive not so long ago and it saddened him that when Monica sensed his gaze, she immediately lowered her eyes. Andrew had been right; the angel that he had hurt had been trying so hard to help his family and he had been anything but grateful.

"Excuse me, Jen," He gave his daughter's leg a squeeze before standing up and making his way across the room to the angels.

Seeing Jim approaching, Monica immediately shrank back into Andrew's embrace, certain that the man would now be angry that she had been tested. He would accuse her of meddling instead of simply trying to help.

Andrew tightened his hold on her, almost certain she would find a reason to flee if he didn't. His protective instincts were in high gear, but a gentle whisper to his heart told him that they weren't needed…this time.

"Hey, Monica…Andrew…" Jim shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shifted his weight uncomfortably, "Jenny just told me what you did, Monica; getting tested and all and I wanted to thank you."

The little angel's dark eyes widened, "T-thank me?" She stammered, certain she had not heard him correctly.

The man lowered his eyes, hating the uncertainty he had caused her to feel, "Yeah. Listen, Monica, I know I've been a real jerk to you…from the moment we met actually. Kidnapping you was wrong enough. Not appreciating the fact that you were still willing to help my wife is unacceptable."

"I just wanted to help," Monica stated softly.

"I know that now. Everything just felt so hopeless in my marriage and then you turned up and were trying to help Carrie and all I could think about was how badly I'd treated you. But instead of apologizing, I instead just kept lashing out at you. Now, you may be the one to save my wife's life, but I want you to know that no matter what happens, that I'm thankful you were willing to put up with me. I know it wasn't easy."

A tiny smile flitted across the angel's face as she felt Andrew squeeze her hand reassuringly, "It's all right, Jim. I pray every day for you and for Carrie."

"Funny thing," The man remarked, meeting her eyes, "I've been praying for us too and if nothing else, it has been helping me."

"Excuse me?" All eyes turned to the nurse who had just returned and Andrew was sure at that moment they were all praying for the same thing. A donor.

"Jim, you're a match. I need for you to come with me so the doctor can meet with you to go over everything. They want to do the procedure in the next day or so."