CHAPTER 4

Monica walked for a long time with paying very little attention to where she was actually going. Her tears had dried, but her heart was in such horrible turmoil that she just wanted to lie down on the sand and sleep away her problems. Her human form was exhausted, but it was so dark and she had no idea how far she had come. Turning around, she could see that the waves had already erased her footprints and she knew she would never find the beach house until morning's light.

So she just continued walking and close to an hour later, she could see the faint glimmer of lights up ahead. Monica quickened her pace a little, as much as her weary body would allow, and before long she was walking on the sidewalk of the same little town where her last assignment had taken place. The town was small and she had come to know it well; well enough that she knew there was a small twenty-four hour diner just around the corner where she could sit down and rest and have a hot cup of coffee. She felt chilled right down to the bone and she wished she had a sweater to wrap around herself to take away her shivering.

The diner was fairly deserted in the wee hours of the morning and the little angel slipped into a booth near the back, her arms wrapped around herself as she tried to get warm. Human forms could be so constricting. She had so much to think about and all she wanted was to get warm and sleep. When her coffee came, she wrapped her small fingers around the mug gratefully, savoring the warmth. The only problem was that now that she was warming up, she had no choice but to think about Andrew.

She had never felt so hurt before in all her existence and even if she could maybe understand why Andrew had done what he had, nothing could erase the pain of the last several months. Missing him, feeling so terribly ashamed and so utterly confused; yet all that time he had been feeling the same way she'd felt. Surely they could have found their way together. But instead he had left her feeling like an outcast, unable to share her pain with anyone else other than him.

Feeling tears starting to fall from her dark eyes, Monica pushed away the half empty cup of coffee and left the money on the table to pay for it. She needed to find a place to sleep. Maybe her assignment would put her up for the night. Hannah had been a lovely young woman and she and the angel had hit it off immediately. Hannah would also not ask her a lot of questions that she felt unable to answer right now.

Leaving the diner, Monica walked back out into the chill and started in the direction of Hannah's home. She was so tired, it was all she could do to keep walking and she shook her head occasionally to try and clear her weary mind. Her head was beginning to ache and her chest felt a little tight and Monica hoped she wasn't falling prey to a human illness.

There was no sound. Nothing to give her any warning that danger was so close at hand, but it suddenly grabbed her. A hand clamped over her mouth deterred her from releasing the frightened cry that was welling up inside of her, and her exhausted body kept her from struggling hard enough to get away. There were two of them and the angel's tiny human form was no match for their strength. Everything moved so quickly, and before she knew what had really happened, she found herself thrown into a large cage in the trailer of an eighteen wheeler. A lock was put in place and the door of the trailer was pulled closed and locked from the inside.

"Can't believe we caught the angel." One of the men stated to the other one as they stared down at the little woman who was looking up at them with frightened brown eyes.

"You know, Jim, they might not even believe us in Washington. I mean, she looks just like a regular person and had we not seen her light up and then disappear yesterday, I would have never believed it myself."

Monica was breathing hard as she managed to digest what it was they were saying. Somehow, they had witnessed her revealing herself to Hannah, but instead of being full of the love of God, these men were filled with dreams of wealth. She was trying not to panic, but fierce memories came flooding back to her from one other time, only that time she had admitted to being an angel and had found herself in a mental institution. The thought of anything like that happening again was terrifying.

"Please…" She uttered tearfully, "Just let me go." Monica knew that surely God had a plan for even this, but it still didn't stop her from being afraid.

"Sorry. No can do, little angel," Jim replied, looking at her thoughtfully, "If we can make the secret service believe that you really are an angel…well, there might be some money in it for us somewhere and unfortunately, that is something we both need right now."

"We have a long drive ahead of us," the other man stated, "So don't you be raisin' no fuss now, ya hear?"

The two men started to walk up through the trailer to the cab of the truck but then the second man stopped and looked back at their captive, "Jim, we got a blanket she can have. She looks a little cold."

Jim nodded his head as he shuffled around through a box and returned with a slightly tattered but heavy blanket, "Here ya go, Mike."

Mike watched as Jim vanished up into the cab and then he handed the blanket to Monica, "Here ya go, angel."

Monica took the offering and then watched him follow his friend up to the cab, where they slid the door closed behind them, leaving her all alone in the dark.

X

Andrew paced back and forth on the deck of the beach house. He had been waiting for over four hours now and still the little angel had not returned. He knew that Monica was upset, but still, it was dark out and growing colder and the longer she was gone, the more concerned he became.

He knew he had been an idiot and that he had deserved all of her anger, but he was having a hard time forgiving himself for hurting her. He loved her so much. Just her smile alone was enough to brighten the darkest, most difficult of days. He had wanted to end this night by seeing her smile, but right now, he'd be satisfied with just seeing her.

What Andrew could not begin to understand was why they were both having these feelings of human love for each other. It had almost been easy when he had loved the Irish angel in silence for years, but to hear her utter that she was in love with him…there were no words to describe what that confession had made him feel. Sadly though, he had chosen to react in fear; fear that was more for her sake then his own. He didn't know what could happen to angels who felt this way, but if there was any consequence, he certainly didn't want Monica suffering it.

"Angel Boy!"

The sound of Tess' voice nearly made him jump as he turned around to face the older angel, questions written on his face, but she gave him no time to ask any of them.

"You need to go, Andrew. You have a very important assignment involving one little Irish angel-."

"Monica? What?" His protective nature was immediately kicked into overdrive.

"She's been kidnapped for lack of a better word by a couple of men who only want their thirty seconds of fame at her expense," Her own worried eyes met with those of the younger angel, "They're on their way to Washington with her, baby, and need I remind you of how difficult it was for her in the mental institution a few years back?"

He was trying to take it all in. Monica was in trouble. She had walked away because of him and now she was in trouble. Was she hurt? Surely she had to be afraid.

Only Tess' voice brought his thoughts back to the present, "God can turn this into something good, Andrew and you know that, but for now, you are to be with her," Only after he nodded his head, his green eyes determined, did she allow her own concern to shine though, "Take care of my baby, Angel Boy."

"I will."

The words were barely said when Andrew found himself in a dark trailer, filled with crates. His eyes darted around through the dark, knowing she was here somewhere and a moment later, a dry hacking cough led him to her.

The little angel was huddled beneath a blanket, but she was still shivering and Andrew had a feeling it was as much from fear as the cold, "Monica?" His voice was soft and soothing but her eyes remained closed. Kneeling down he reached a hand inside to touch her face and he frowned, finding her feverish.

"Father, please help," He said softly before he was transformed from outside of the object of her confinement to inside, seated next to her. Tenderly and lovingly, he gathered the little angel into his arms, hoping to stop her shivering with the warmth of his own body.

Monica stirred and wearily opened her dark eyes, aware of a familiar heartbeat beneath her ear, "Andrew?" She murmured her voice scarcely a whisper.

"Yes, angel," He replied softly, his lips grazing her forehead, "I'm here, Monica." He wanted to pour out once again how sorry he was for hurting her, but not knowing just how coherent she was, he hesitated, "Are you hurt, baby?"

She gave her head a little shake as another dry cough escaped her, "I just feel a wee bit sick…and very tired, Andrew."

He pulled the blanket more snugly around her, "I know, Angel….Monica…are you still angry with me?"

He heard her draw in a sharp breath before she answered, "Please….Andrew, I don't want to talk about it now….please."

His heart ached at her words, but he was unable to let it rest just yet, "Angel, just let me say again how sorry I am. I behaved terribly and I hurt you and I hate myself for that. I promise I..."

Two things stopped him from going on talking: Monica's tears and a noise on the door. One of the men who were keeping her hostage appeared a second later and, with a cold look in his eyes, he gave a few steps towards the fragile angel lying on the chilly floor. "You keep quiet in there, you hear me, angel? We'll make a stop here to eat something and rest and then we can continue driving up to Washington. You keep quiet in there and don't even think of running away! The road is deserted and we stopped the truck far from the motel, nobody will hear you!"

Mike, the other guy, remained at a certain distance, quietly staring at Monica with still haunted eyes. And Andrew could not miss the hint of pity and concern in the expression on his face: the man was afraid, that was for sure, and might be acting not only because of the dream to become rich but also under his friend's influence.

Right before they left, Mike ventured, "Jim... don't you think she looks a bit sick?"

"Sick?" the man frowned, not really believing that was possible.

"Yes, just... look at her, she's not feeling well..."

They both stepped closer to Monica, and that simple act made Andrew tighten his hold around her, feeling fiercely protective about his beloved friend. Weakly, she raised her head and looked at them, "Please... please, let me go..."

"Nah, she's not sick, she wants to escape, that's what she wants!" Jim spoke, turning his back on her, "C'mon, let's have something to eat, I'm tired of driving along these roads, my back is killing me!"

Had he seen the angry look Andrew had shot him, the man would think that a punishment from Heaven was about to hit him. The blond angel's kind and compassionate heart would certainly hurt whenever he saw somebody acting cruelly or cowardly towards innocent people. And when the victim was his dearest friend, anger rose inside his very soul and for a moment he felt like grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt and making him release Monica at that very moment.

Reluctantly, Mike followed his friend and the trailer door was closed with a slam. Monica and Andrew still heard them locking it from the outside and then everything became dark again. Only then, he turned his eyes back to the little angel. "Monica? Baby, talk to me..."

"Yes..." her voice came out as a whisper and he could easily tell how weak she was. That fact alone was enough to break his heart.

"You have a slight fever, angel."

"I'm so cold..."

He kissed her forehead repeatedly, caressing her long auburn hair and rubbing his hand up and down her arm. Only a thin lilac cardigan over a flowered dress protected her delicate skin and he could feel her trembling against his own body. After the two men had left, he returned to his human form and quickly, the blond angel removed his jacket and draped it over her small shoulders, once again wrapping his arms around her weak form, "Did they give you something to eat?"

"No..." a few coughs interrupted her.

Sighing deeply and frowning with great worry, he watched as she closed her eyes again, exhaustion written on her meek but now pale face. "Father... Please, help us. She can't stay here..." he prayed, desperately trying to figure out a way to save his beloved friend. The truth was that he was also feeling terribly guilty for what was happening to her – had he not been such a fool hiding his true feelings, they both would certainly be someplace else, maybe far away from all that trouble she'd got herself into because of him.

"I won't let you down, angel. I promise you," he kissed her temple lovingly, "I made this mistake once and now these two men are trying to take away the most precious thing I have in my existence. Only God knows how sorry I am... I wish I could change places with you, but since I can't, I'm taking you with me and nobody's gonna stop me."

Monica's eyes flickered open at the sound of his voice and at those words, which she knew came from the bottom of his heart, she could feel it through their permanent connection. In his green pools she saw nothing but fierce protectiveness and the deepest and purest love. She could be still angry with him, but what the little angel couldn't deny was how honest he was being with her now – and specially, she couldn't deny how much she loved him.

"I acted wrong... I made a terrible mistake, I know that. But I give you my word, sweetie, that I'll make it up to you..." Andrew lay one more kiss on the top of her head and rested his forehead against hers, trying to figure out a way to take them both out of there. The keys to open the door were with the two kidnappers and when they returned there would never be able to escape. Andrew had to do something now.

Gently, the blond angel laid his dearest friend on the floor and straightened the blanket around her, "I'll be back with you in a minute, angel." he said, watching as she turned her questioning eyes to him. Then he walked over up to the trailer door and surveyed it – it was old and in bad condition. A few seconds later, Monica's body trembled in fear, scared with the loud sound she heard: Andrew was trying to put the door down with repeated strokes and it seemed to be working. Ten minutes later, the weak lock finally broke down and the door flung open. He took a look at his surroundings and frowned with concern, noticing how isolated they were. There wasn't a single house nearby, only the woods, and he had no idea where to go in the first place. Then, he looked back at the little angel lying on the cold floor pondering about how risky it would be for him to take her away from that place.