CHAPTER 16

One week was enough to allow Monica and Andrew a fine recovery. The blond angel was admitted to the same hospital and treated there as he refused to go anywhere away from his angel girl. And truth to be told, the permanent spark in Monica's eyes returned due to his loving company and to the good news on Annie. The young lady had been in critical condition and even her doctors didn't think she would survive the serious wounds. But contrary to the expectations she did, and exactly on that Saturday morning she was leaving the ICU and going to a regular room. Miles separated both hospitals but Monica had decided to pay her a visit as soon as possible.

Andrew had been taken to another room so that his doctor could take care of the stitches on his stomach and Tess was away on a short assignment. With usual curiosity, the little angel watched as Katie removed the IV from her arm. She didn't need it any longer.

"There you go! Your doctor will come to see you and I believe that tomorrow you'll be allowed to go home, Monica!"

The grateful smile upon her face spoke volumes. "Thank you so much, Katie. You were... like a guardian angel to me."

The middle-aged woman smiled in reply. "You don't have to thank me, dear. You know it might sound a bit repetitive but seeing you practically healed and ready to leave is quite a reward."

Katie looked at the toy ring Monica had been wearing on her left hand and added. "And I can see many things happened while you were here and some of those things were not necessarily bad ones!" she joked, causing Monica to blush slightly.

"Andrew... he says it's a symbolic ring until he gives me a true one but the truth is that this wee ring is worth a fortune to me..."

The nurse became serious again and eyed her with a motherly look. "Monica, I've been working as a nurse for many years now. All those years I've witnessed young ladies who have been raped having to deal not only with pain and shame but with their boyfriend's rejection. And it totally devastated them."

"I've been blessed as I did not go through their experience but my heart aches with sorrow for each of them." The Irish angel replied.

"Mine too. And when you arrived here I thought the same had happened to you. That's why I can tell you that Andrew loves you beyond words. When he 'proposed' to you, you were lying on this bed, unconscious, and everybody including Andrew himself thought you had been raped. But this fact alone didn't matter to him. All this time he was worrying about how you'd deal with it, he was worried and determined to heal your pain. What he feels for you is far too strong and very precious. Take care of this feeling, dear."

"I will... I made a promise that I will..." there were tears in the corner of her eyes as she spoke. Katie's words were wise and very true: Andrew had proposed to her thinking that the worst had happened.

Monica was going to say something else but a light knock on the door interrupted her. She already knew who it was. "Come in, Andrew..." came the soft reply, when he opened up the door.

The angel of death had a small flower in his hand and as he approached the bed he gave it to her and kissed the top of her head. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine and Katie says I'm getting better and better."

Amused to see the couple's evident love reflected in their eyes, Katie realized it was time to go. "Well, I'll leave you two sweethearts alone for a while. Later on, Dr Edmonds is coming to see you, Monica."

As the nurse left the room, Monica looked at Andrew and their joined hands. "I love you beyond words, you know..." she said, all of a sudden.

Although her face remained serious, those words brought a happy grin to his face. "And I can assure you the feeling is mutual!"

Still very serious, Monica looked deep inside his green pools, searching for the right words to express what she was feeling inside. "When you found me... When you knew I was hurt and unconscious... When you thought I had been raped... All that mattered to you was for me to heal."

The warm smile also disappeared from his face and he moved to sit beside her, wrapping his arm around her small shoulders somewhat protectively.

"I prayed so much to have you back, right here in my arms like you are now!" he said, kissing her temple lovingly. "And yes, all that mattered was to hear your voice again and see your smile."

"I know... I guess I could feel your presence all the time..."

Not wanting to see her sorrow in any way, he tried to change the subject. "But you're doing great now, angel, and will leave this hospital soon. Let's leave those sad things in the past, ok?"

She looked at their engagement ring and then back at him. "If... someday we have a disagreement, Andrew, I want you to know that I'll never stop loving you..."

Andrew playfully touched the tip of her nose with his index finger. "I don't think there'll ever be a disagreement, baby. But if there is, I will never doubt of your love. I promise you that!"

A lonely tear made its way down her cheek. "This little play ring is far more valuable than a rare jewel."

The angel of death gently made her lean against him so that she was now resting her head against his chest. "That's what you are to me, baby. A precious gift. A treasure that I will always keep close to my heart." He kissed the top of her head repeatedly and was twice grateful when she returned his warm embrace.

X

A few days later, the two angels were finally released from hospital much to Tess' happiness, as watching her two babies confined in that room and in human form was far too painful. But they didn't head to the cabin in the first place, as Monica insisted they should go to the Salt Lake City Hospital. The Irish angel needed to check on her assignment first, it was more than pure kindness, it was her duty.

"I still keep having nightmares about all that, but in the end... it's so good to be alive. It's actually a miracle and I don't think I'll thank God enough for giving me this chance. But... when I was told what happened there in the woods, that you had been involved in all this too, I felt so sorry, Monica. So amazingly guilty." Annie spoke, reclined on her bed, and with a few tears in her eyes.

Andrew had paid her a quick visit and now he was waiting outside in the corridor while his angel girl did the job she knew so well - touch other souls with her kindness and permanent compassion for the human beings. Just some of the uncountable things he loved about her.

The Irish angel was sitting at the edge of her bed and reached out to squeeze her hand. "You're not to be guilty, Annie. You are a victim as much as I was, and our Loving Father was as good to you as He was to me and Andrew. Besides... I was doing my assignment, you know."

"No, no one should have been through that, Monica... I-"

The young lady stopped speaking when all of a sudden, Monica was surrounded by an intense glow. "I... I guess my mind is playing tricks on me... M-Monica... you're..."

"What you see is real, Annie. And so is the message I have for you..." she noticed as her assignment kept on staring at her with confused eyes and smiled friendly and warmly. "Please, don't be afraid."

"M-message?" Annie managed to speak, and somewhat her friend's soothing voice did put her at ease.

"Yes. I'm an angel, sent by God."

Fresh tears fell from her eyes and she covered her trembling lips in awe. She knew there was something special about that new friend who she got along with so well in such a short time. Kind and friendly, Monica's presence was enough to make the atmosphere around her a light and pleasant one. The angel of God was protecting her all the time.

Outside the bedroom, Andrew remained with his hands tucked in his pockets and with a slight smile playing on his lips. Having his Monica back and watching as her cheerful personality little by little emerged from the depths of her soul caused him to feel enormously grateful. He was lost in thought when steps in the corridor called his attention. A tall man with dark brown hair and brown eyes walked slowly, checking the bedroom numbers on each door. He was carrying a bouquet with beautiful flowers and seemed worried and anxious at the same time. The man stopped in front of Annie's bedroom and after checking its number he turned to Andrew.

"Excuse me, is Annie Parker in this room?" he asked the angel of death.

"Yes, she's with a friend now..."

"Oh, I see. I'll wait here then..." he said, and then noticed something familiar about Andrew. "Wait a moment, I know you... You're the man we found in the warehouse, together with Miss Parker... My name is Nicholas. I'm one of the paramedics who rescued you two in the farm."

"Hey, nice to meet you, Nicholas. I'm Andrew."

They shook hands and the bedroom door flung open. Monica was standing there, with a broad smile on her face and looking at Andrew in a way that both could exchange some silent words. Her assignment was over.

"Monica... there's someone here that I believe Annie wants to see..." Andrew announced, and both angels watched as the young lady and her saviour shook hands with each other for the first time, and he gave her the bouquet of flowers. The young lady smiled broadly for the first time in days.