CHAPTER 14

For long hours, Andrew and Monica walked through the woods, searching for any sign of what could be a shelter to keep Aiden a prisoner. But an angel in human form was exposed to the cold and the exhaustion of an entire day of work. Besides this, Andrew had been awake for so long now that he found himself fighting against his organism just to keep on searching.

A delicate hand over his shoulder was what stopped him.

"You should rest." Monica said, the way she looked inside his eyes gave him a hint that she was practically begging him to stop.

But he shook his head reluctantly. "We could be close now…"

"And things will be easier in the sunlight." She stood in front of him, as Andrew could not stop scanning their surroundings, even in complete darkness. "You need to recover, otherwise this assignment can become more dangerous than it already is."

Andrew knew she was right. Besides, he felt he was coming close to his limits.

"Come here…" she softly spoke, and they sat down on the grass, next to an old fallen tree trunk and under the shade of an oak tree. "You will sleep a little. Let me watch over you for the night."

The blond angel still resisted. "This is not fair…"

Monica inched closer and gently lay her hand against his cheek. "Oh, yes, it is. Do you have any idea of how glad I am to have the opportunity to look after you?"

He returned the slight smile upon her face and lowered his eyes for a moment, somewhat admitting defeat to the weakness of his human body. "I'm fairly certain that there isn't anything in this world that I can deny you."

The Irish angel lifted his head up and stared at his green eyes for some instants, drinking in all the love he felt for her until she brought her face closer and caressed his lips with her own, very softly, like a summer breeze. That brief contact lasted enough for Andrew to feel his own soul involved in the beautiful aura that surrounded her angelic form. For a few moments it was like coming back Home.

"This is not fair either, you know…" he whispered, as they rested their foreheads together, and that remark made her smile again.

"I won't be in this form forever." Came the whispered reply, eliciting a small chuckle from him.

Andrew pulled away and searched for her sweet brown eyes. "You look gorgeous when you glow like this. The most beautiful angel of God I have ever seen."

"I too know of an angel of God who holds much beauty… inside and outside. And right now, he needs to rest for he's been carrying a heavy burden with him." She motioned him to lie down and rest his head on her lap. There was a slight smile on her face as he finally gave in and allowed himself to be taken in her arms. Her voice was soft and she knew he was suddenly lulled by the tender movement of her fingertips through his short blond hair.

It was cold and dark in the woods, but the Irish angel's glow kept the shadows away and warmed the soul and the human body of another angel, temporarily exposed to the adversities of the weather. Silently, as Andrew finally fell asleep, she prayed. For Aiden, for Andrew and for the family that was now grieving together.

Monica caressed his hair with tenderness, making out the traces of exhaustion on his face. "I love you so much, Andrew… So much… And I know that in your loving heart you feel responsible for this little boy's life. I know that you are ready to do whatever it takes to find him. And I will walk with you every step of the way. Forever."

X

Streaks of red, orange and yellow were just beginning to break through the blackness of the night, when Andrew opened his weary green eyes. Though he knew he had not slept more than just a few hours, he felt more rested and he knew that in part, it was due to the gentle and determined little angel, whose fingers were still softly stroking through his hair. Despite the woods, the cold and the hard ground beneath him, with Monica's presence, he felt completely relaxed.

Monica's hand stilled as she instinctively knew her beloved was waking. She wished he might have slept longer as great was her worry for his human body, but she also knew that they were running out of time to find Aiden alive. Concerned dark eyes watched as Andrew sat up and ran a hand through his tousled hair.

"You slept soundly," She remarked softly.

Leaning in, Andrew brushed his lips against her cheek, "Thank you for that."

"You needed to rest…and now you need to eat." She knew she would not get him to eat much, but she held out a sandwich to him with great hope.

"I need to find him, Angel." He was already standing up and brushing the dirt from his pants before he extended a hand to her to help her to feet.

"Then you'll eat it as we walk."

Her tone left no room for argument and despite the heaviness of his heart, Andrew had to suppress a smile. It was a complete role reversal and though he preferred it when he was the one taking care of her, he knew that she had been sent to him now for a reason and that reason was to care for him.

He hadn't realized how hungry he had been until the sandwich was gone in a matter of four bites, but Andrew ignored the fact that his stomach was still rumbling and instead took his wife's hand to soothe his own troubled soul.

They walked in silence for several long minutes before Andrew broke it, unable to keep his thoughts silent any longer, "I'm running out of time." His shoulders sagged in defeat, though his eyes remained focused on the landscape in front of them.

"But you won't give up," Monica remarked, giving his hand an encouraging squeeze, "and you know with the Father, anything is possible."

"What if he sent the wrong angel?"

The words were little more than a whisper but they sent a shiver down her spine, "He didn't. He doesn't make mistakes and he put the best angel he had in Aiden's path. That angel is you, Andrew. Please don't doubt your abilities; the Father doesn't…and neither do I, not for a second."

Andrew blinked to clear the moisture from his eyes but before he could reply, he came to an abrupt halt and Monica's eyes immediately followed his train of vision. The small cabin sat just on the far side of the next patch of trees and it appeared to be deserted, but it was still early so anyone who might be inside could very well still be asleep.

"Promise me you'll be careful." Though the glow that surrounded her reminded her that they were both angels, she also knew her husband was in his human form.

Kissing her hand, Andrew then released her and quietly began the short journey to the cabin, with Monica close on his heels. Ducking down before he approached the window, the blonde angel carefully stood up taller to peer inside.

The main room of the cabin was devoid of any furnishings and the only person he could see was one little boy with his hands and feet tied. The gag in his mouth silenced the tears but the evidence was streaked down his face. The relief that washed over Andrew was almost palpable. Aiden was alive and he wasted no time in contacting his superior to give him their location and to send a vehicle and backup.