Chapter 8

"...Andrew, what did Adam say to you back there?" Monica gently asked as

        soon as her friend was able to get ahold of himself for the time being.

        Reaching for his hand and holding it lovingly in her own, the angel met

        his sad, green eyes and saw all the confusion in them.

        Heaving a loud, shaky sigh, Andrew turned his gaze away from his friend

        for a brief moment before continuing,

        "Adam...I never would have thought that he'd say something like that to

        me, Monica..." he began, the tears starting up again. "He--he told me

        that I was crazy for wanting to switch to Search and Rescue and leaving

        him behind. He told me that he'd probably never see me again and that I

        was being selfish for making this choice..."

        Looking tearfully up at the Heavens, Andrew gave one last sigh before

        continuing,

        "I lost my temper, Monica...it--it hurt so deeply to hear one of my

        supposed friends say something like that. I know I probably shouldn't

        have yelled back at him and take off like that, but--I had to,

        Monica...those words stung and the words kind of just...came out, you

        know?"

        Shrugging helplessly, the angel lowered his eyes to the grassy ground and

        started fingering a beautiful flower beside him. Turning back to his

        friend for a second, the Angel of Death continued speaking his thoughts,

        tear after tear streaking his cheeks,

        "I don't know, Monica...maybe Adam's right. Maybe I AM crazy to be

        transfered to Search and Rescue and leave being an Angel of Death. Maybe

        I shouldn't move...if this is what Adam wants..."

        "Andrew," Monica interrupted, grasping both of her best friend's hands

        tightly in her own, tears falling from her eyes as she met Andrew's green

        ones, "Andrew, listen to me here, my friend. Listen."

        Giving the angel's hands a warm squeeze, Monica opened her mouth, her

        gentle, brown eyes locked on Andrew,

        "Andrew...my friend...this position is what you want, right? Just like

        I've been wanting for seven years to be promoted to Supervisor...and it

        happened! Andrew, please don't let the words of a friend destroy your

        dream. The Father doesn't make mistakes; when He agreed to transfer you

        to Search and Rescue, He didn't do it just for the fun of it. There was--

        and is--a reason, my friend. Yes, things are going to change--just like

        you told me not that long ago--but we will all get used to it sooner or

        later. I'm going to miss you and Tess alot after tonight is over and Adam

        will miss you; yes, there will be alot of goodbyes to make, but we all

        have to move on. Andrew...please...I want you to be happy after today. Do

        this for Tess and I. Do it for the Father, Who loves you so very much, my

        friend..."

        Her voice getting choked up as she spoke, the angel gulped and continued

        quietly, her Irish voice soft,

        "And, also, could you...could you forgive Adam, too? Please, my friend.

        I'm sure his words only came out like that because he loves you and will

        miss you terribly. But...can you find it in your heart, Andrew, to accept

        his forgiveness and move on? The past is the past, my dear friend...can

        you?"

        Her brown eyes still on her friend, the Irish angel watched tearfully as

        Andrew lowered his head and closed his green eyes, tears flowing faster

        than ever before. Without uttering a word, exept for the sounds of heavy

        sobbing, the Angel of Death turned to Monica and grabbed her up in a bear

        hug, burrying his wet face in her curled, auburn hair.

        Wrapping her arms tightly around her best friend in return, Monica rested

        her head on his shoulder, allowing herself to really cry since she had

        found Andrew by the lake. Tightening her thin arms around the angel, she

        whispered softly,

        "I love you, Andrew...I love you so much..."

        Resting the side of his head against her shoulder, Andrew quietly

        answered back, allowing his tears to trickle into his friend's long hair,

        "I love you, too, Monica..."

        *****

        The heavy doors shutting behind him, Adam left the Country Club's main

        building nearly a half hour later in search of Andrew...and ask for

        forgiveness.

        If there was even a possibility for that now...

        Heading as fast as his feet would allow him to go, the Angel of Death

        rounded a corner and glanced nervously around him, trying to find some

        sort of trace of his friend. Any trace at all...

        Turning to his left, Adam suddenly stopped in his tracks as his blue eyes

        suddenly came upon two figures heading towards him from the nearby lake.

        Gulping loudly, Adam stepped closer and his heart just about leapt out of

        his chest as he recognized the two as Andrew and Monica.

        Oh, God...will he ever forgive me?? the angel thought desperately to

        himself. Or will he hate me forever...God, please...please let us be able

        to work this out...

        Stepping closer hesitantly, the angel noticed that Monica was holding

        Andrew's hand in her own as they walked towards him. Watching closely as

        his friends finally came face-to-face with him, Adam sucked in a shaky

        breath as he looked into Andrew's red-rimmed, green eyes.

        No words spoken between the three friends for a minute, Monica suddenly

        broke the tense silence as she glanced between Andrew and Adam.

        "I'll give the two of you some space, okay?" she whispered, glancing up

        at Andrew and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Flashing one last

        grin to her two friends, the Irish angel released Andrew's hand and

        headed down the same path Adam had took earlier to the Country Club

        doors.

        His gaze leaving Monica's retreating figure, Andrew stared at his fellow

        Angel of Death and heaved a loud sigh, not knowing exactly where to

        start.

        But, suddenly, before he could say a word, Adam spoke up, his voice quiet

        and filled with regret.

        "Andrew...man, you may not believe me when I tell you this, but I am so

        sorry for what I said to you back there...I'm so terribly sorry. You were

        right; I WAS being selfish. Not you, man...it's just that-- I'm gonna

        miss you so much. You've been one of my best friends for who knows how

        long! But--dude, I really do want what's best for you, Monica AND Tess.

        It's just so hard to say goodbye...I haven't had to do it with a fellow

        angel and friend in quite a while. I guess I've kinda forgotten how to do

        it, you know?"

        His voice cracking with emotion, Adam shook his head, not knowing what

        else to say to his friend. Feeling his blue eyes start to well up with

        more tears, Adam lowered his eyes to the ground, gazing at the pavement.

        Knowing in his heart that he had forgiven his friend for his earlier,

        painful words, Andrew, without saying a word, headed towards the angel

        and grabbed him in his arms, hugging him tightly.

        The tears flowing like rain, Adam wrapped his arms around his friend,

        returning the hug, and sobbed against his shoulder,

        "I'm sorry, Andrew...I'm sorry, man..."

        "I know, Adam," Andrew quietly answered, not bothering to wipe away his

        own tears as he allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of his mouth,

        "I know...and it's okay. I forgive you."