CHAPTER 16

She had stayed with Andrew all through the surgery, watching through tear filled eyes as they had extracted the bullet. She had listened with great relief as they had discussed that the bullet had not done any major damage, but that his arm would need to be in a sling for a few weeks or until his angelic status was returned to him. But even though they had declared the surgery a success, nothing would calm Monica's anxious heart other than seeing Andrew awaken.

He had been taken to his room hours ago, but still he remained asleep. Monica had pulled a chair up next to his bedside, and held the hand that was not in the sling and with her other hand, she had continuously stroked his hair or touched his face, whispering words of love to him over and over again. Her own angelic form had given way to her human one but though tired, she could not sleep.

Day gave way to night and night to early morning, and still she remained by his side, her eyes constantly searching his face for any sign he might be waking.

Running a tired hand over her face, Monica then took his hand into both of hers and pressed it to her lips before laying their joined hands against her heart, "Andrew…I'm here. Please wake up. I know how tired you have been, how hard this assignment was for you, but I need to tell you how proud I am of you. You were so brave, what you did for Aiden, but I would never expect anything less from you, my love. You have always looked out for everyone, not the least of all me," She smiled tearfully and released his hand with one of hers long enough to wipe the tears from her face, "I wish I could express in words the depths of my love for you, but…I just can't. I only know that when….when she shot you, I felt your pain in my own soul and I felt so afraid. I know in my heart that you're an angel and God surely wouldn't take you from me, but in those minutes, I couldn't help but to fear what my existence would be like without you and Andrew…I believe it would be unimaginable…."

A small sob escaped her as she took their joined hands and rested them against her forehead as she tried to bring her tears under control. It had been so long since she had seen him truly happy, not since the days before this assignment had begun, and now knowing he was hurt felt like more than she could bear. She wanted to make certain he knew that Aiden was safe, that Beth was in prison, that he had fulfilled his assignment.

"Please? Please wake up?" She murmured the words over and over again, eyes closed, tears escaping from beneath long lashes.

"Angel?"

The word was scarcely a whisper, but it caused Monica's head to shoot up, her eyes instantly going to his face. His eyes were opening and his fingers were curling around hers.

"Andrew?" She struggled to blink back her tears, "Can you hear me?"

He swallowed against the dryness of his throat and Monica, anticipating his discomfort, grabbed the cup of water next to his bedside and brought the straw to his lips.

"Baby," He stated softly once she had returned the cup to the tray, "I have been hearing you since the moment I was shot." His hand held hers tightly, feeling the trembling of her fingers and taking in the exhaustion on her pale face, "I heard you in the ambulance and in the operating room and in every moment since then and I have just been waiting for the moment when this human body would allow me to tell you how much hearing you say all those things helped me every minute to come back to you."

A trembling smile appeared on her face but it quickly crumbled into relieved tears. Carefully, Andrew drew her close until her head was resting against his unharmed shoulder. He had been longing to comfort her since those moments when only he and Aiden had known her presence and he could so clearly feel her fear for him. Now, being able to hold her close, being able to turn his head to kiss her forehead, it was like coming Home. A little piece of heaven in the middle of a hospital.

"I have so much more to tell you," Andrew stated softly, feeling her initial tearful outburst beginning to calm, "This assignment, Angel, I couldn't have done it without you. You were my strength, baby. When I wanted to give up, you wouldn't allow me. When I felt hopeless, you were my hope. "

"It's only what you have always done for me," She whispered, her fingers reaching up to touch his face, "And you were so brave."

"Aiden was the brave one, and I couldn't allow him to be hurt."

"He's safe at home now, thanks to you," Her dark eyes gazed into him, no longer seeing the anguish she had seen in the past weeks, but instead seeing only the loving spark she always saw when he looked at her, "I love you so, Andrew and I know I shouldn't have been, but I was afraid when you were hurt. So afraid and I felt as if…as if I had failed you."

"Failed me?" Concern flooded his eyes as his hand rested against her face.

"It was my job to keep you safe this time but I couldn't. I don't know how I could have done it differently, but…"

"You couldn't have done it differently, Angel. I made a choice that did not allow for free will to take another life. You did so many things for me, Monica, but failing me was never one of them. You held me during that surgery; I felt you with me the whole time and it brought so much peace to my soul, but yet, being in your presence always does that for me." Her eyes were shimmering with tears once again, "I love you so much, my precious angel."

"I love you too," Her voice trembled as she felt another tear escape her eyes, "so much Andrew, just so much."

Carefully, he moved over in the bed, giving her room to slip next to him. As she slowly wrapped her arm across his stomach, he kissed her forehead once more, "Rest now, Angel. All is well."

Finally relaxing for the first time since it all started, Monica began to drift off to sleep in the safest place she knew; her husband's loving arms.