CHAPTER 7

Andrew walked out to the living room a little while later, his green eyes filling with sympathy at the sight of Tess. He immediately knew
that she had been crying, though she was trying desperately not to show it.
“Tess, I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t you feel sorry for me, Mr. Halo,” She replied, her voice trembling a little, even as she tried to control it, “I’m just fine. Sam said she might not know us when she woke up, so it wasn’t like it was unexpected. I guess I just didn’t expect her to remember you and not me, that’s all.”

Andrew shook his head as he approached her and sat down on the ottoman across from her, “No, Tess, you’ve got it all wrong. Monica doesn’t know me—I asked her. For some reason that she doesn’t understand though, she trusts me, or seems to, and I’m thankful for that. But she has no idea why she knows me. “ Tentatively, Andrew reached for Tess’ hand, “Tess, I know it had to hurt you when she pulled away from you in there. I know how much you love Monica and she loves you too, she just…doesn’t remember that right now.”

Tess lowered her eyes as she faced her feelings, “You’re right, Andrew. I am hurt and I’m angry and I don’t want to feel that way because that baby in there is lost in a world of darkness right now that I cannot begin to understand. I just hate to see her suffering the way she is, Angel Boy and not be able to help her. But while you were back there with Monica, the Father and I had a little talk and He reminded me that this assignment belonged to you and to Monica from day one and it looks like it still does.”

Andrew’s face paled a little as he looked into her eyes,
“You’re not leaving are you?”

Tess smiled sadly as she reached out to cup his cheek in her hand,
“No, I’m not going anywhere and thank you for still making me feel
needed.”

Andrew took her hand from his face and kissed it tenderly,
“Tess, you know we always need you. I definitely need your guidance and
support in this and so does Monica, she just doesn’t realize it yet.”

“Well, the way I see it, she’s a human and will need to eat and even
though you are an angel, you like to eat, so I can keep myself busy that
way. Not to mention that this is going to be a hard time for you too,
Angel Boy. It’s hard to watch someone you love hurt and Monica is
hurting right now. I worry about you too, Andrew.” Tess looked into his
eyes with her knowing brown ones, able to see all the sorrow and grief
he was feeling. She watched as he struggled with his emotions and she
patted the seat beside of her,
“C’mere baby.”

Andrew swallowed hard as he moved to sit beside of Tess and she wrapped
her arms around him in a warm, strong hug. There were no words between
them for several moments as they gained strength from each other and
from the Father.

Tess felt some of the tension leave him and she said softly,
“Now, tell me, what does our Angel Girl remember?”

“Not much,” He replied in a whisper,
“She says that something keeps trying to hurt her and there is so much
fear in her Tess. I can feel it and see it. She doesn’t understand why
she can’t remember anything and I didn’t tell her much. Only that she
had been through something difficult and she needed to remember it on
her own. I just wish I knew why she was so afraid of you, Tess. She’s
terrified and she won’t tell me why. “

“Have patience, Andrew,” Tess said soothingly,
“The things she went through are rooted deeply in her mind and it’s
going to take time to dig them up. We don’t want her to remember too
fast because I have a feeling that if she does, it will overwhelm her. “

Before Andrew could reply, a scream came from Monica’s room, followed by
a loud crash. Both angels scrambled to their feet as Andrew took off
running down the hallway.

“Oh Father, help,” Andrew uttered as he entered the room to find Monica
huddled in the corner of the room, her brown eyes filled with tears and
wild panic. Her gaze seemed fixated on something at the foot of the
bed, but Andrew saw nothing there.
“Monica,” He said softly, hoping she would look at him, but her eyes
never moved from the foot of the bed. Purposefully, he stepped
carefully in front of her, breaking her line of vision and he watched as
the frightened eyes turned to him. It was then that Andrew realized she
was bleeding and he was beside her in an instant. Gently, he took hold
of her wrist and brought her arm straight out, his face turning deathly
white when he saw the slash across her wrist,
“Monica, why?” He asked painfully as he quickly took off his shirt and
ripped it in half to wrap around her wrist to try and stop the
bleeding. His heart was pounding so loudly with fear over what she had
done and he couldn’t begin to understand,
“Why would you do this, huh?” His hands took hold of her shoulders as he
forced her to look at him,
“Answer me, Monica. Why?”

Tears flooded her eyes as she shook her head,
“I didn’t do it, Andrew.”

“Monica, no one else is here. How else could this have happened?” His
concerned eyes searched hers, looking for answers.

Misunderstanding his concern for anger, she began to sob brokenly,
“I didn’t do it, Andrew. I swear to you I didn’t do it! Please don’t
be angry with me. You’re all I have!”

Realizing what he had done, Andrew closed her into his arms and hugged
her fiercely,
“No, I’m not angry with you, sweetheart. You just scared me is all.” He
scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to bed,
“I need to get something to bandage your arm with Monica,” He said
softly as he tried to pull away, but Monica wasn’t letting go.

She looked into his eyes, her expression one of complete desperation,
“Please help me, Andrew. I need to remember what happened to me and I
know you know at least part of it. “ She paused as sobs overcame her
once more.

“Baby, I cannot remember for you. I wish that I could, but I can’t,”
Andrew explained, his own voice laced with tears.

“Then please, just don’t leave me alone, please don’t leave me alone.
They come here when I’m alone.”

“They? Monica, who are they?” He asked pleading for an answer, but he
would not get one now. Monica had clamped her hands over her ears once
more, hearing things that only she could hear. As he watched her, he
fell to his knees on the floor, pleading with the Father for her
healing. Tears streaked his face as he prayed over his friend, praying
that she would be once again made complete.

Standing at the foot of the bed, unseen by Monica or Andrew, stood
Kathleen, a satisfied smile spreading across her lips. Then she laughed
loudly once more, watching as Monica cringed at the sound, before she
vanished from the room entirely.