Disclaimer: I don't own Touched By an Angel or any songs used in this chapter.

Tess, Andrew, and Monica were standing outside a church one Sunday morning.

"So, our assignment is a believer?" Monica asked.

"Yes. All of God's children go through the same problems, though some say that believers in the Son don't. Some people say it's the believers who are our toughest assignments. Our job is to help a girl who, oh, there she is." Tess said, pointing to a blue mini-van that held a family of five.

"That's Lisa, the youngest. The one with the black hair and eyes. She's your assignment, Monica, Andrew is their as support. Mine is the parents. With their busy schedules, they don't have much time for their children, Lisa, Susan- the middle Child- and Tiffany-the oldest."

"Andrew, is one of them going to die?"

"Well, your job is to prevent that from happening, but yes, one of them might die."

"It's your job, too, angel boy."

"Why is Kathleen here?" Monica asked, having just spotted the fallen angel.

"Her job is the opposite of ours. But the family is safe for now, let's attend the service." Tess said.

This church had been blessed with a pastor who knew what he was talking about. And Lisa and her family also seemed to know what the pastor was talking about, following along in their Bibles diligently, Lisa trying to find every verse the pastor mentioned, with limited success.

"Now then, the Beldon family has prepared something for us while the ushers collect offering." The pastor said and Lisa and her family stood up. They sang the song 'Go Light Your World' by Kathy Troccoli.

"That family has lovely singers in it. What a great gift God has given them."

"God gives wonderful gifts to all his children, Miss Wings." Tess said. "But Lisa's most important gifts right now are her friends. They'll be helping us by simply being there for her. She might confide in them where she might not confide in you two."

"Why are you assigned to the parents?" Andrew asked. From what he could see, that family got along well enough.

"My job is to show them the importance of their family, and that they need to focus more on their children then their job. Now then, we should wait for them at their house."

At the house

"I didn't know we had visitors." Lisa said. As the family of five exited the car.

"You two must be Monica and Andrew." Mr. Beldon said, shaking hands with them. "Girls, these two are going to take care of you three and the house while we're away. You got our note about the rules? We need to be going."

"Yes, but just to make sure I've got it right, we are to ignore their rooms and when Lisa and Susan are at their activity on Saturdays give them a break from chores?"

"Yes, and they can have pizza on Fridays, it's all in the list." Mr. Beldon said, looking at his watch.

"We don't need baby-sitters." Lisa said.

"Since you three are too lazy to take care of the house on your own, we had to hire some help." Mrs. Beldon said, a hint of iron in her voice, and the girls shrank back, Lisa and Susan taking a step backwards.

"You told them about praying before we eat?" Lisa asked.

"We already do that. And, we hear ya go to church?"

"Take them if you can, we have to be going." Mr. Beldon said.

"Hold it. My name is Tess, I believe I called you about observing you two at work and at home and taking notes?"

"Yes, hello, hop in, we need to go. Oh, yes, Lisa and Susan have guests coming over to help with their activity."

"And what is that activity?" Monica asked.

"Colorguard." Lisa answered excitedly as another car pulled into the driveway. "Oh, their are Brad and Emma. We'll meet you out back!"

After roughly half an hour, lunch was ready, and when Monica went to tell them, she found them enjoying a game of sorts where they tried to make the flag material stay on the top of the pole and then saying 'so-and-so's sailed!' triumphantly if they succeeded.

"Are you four hungry?" Monica asked.

"Because we just finished preparing it." Andrew spoke up from behind Monica.

"Where'd he come from?" Lisa said, startled by his sudden appearance.

"Sorry, I'm pretty quiet at times." Andrew said with a smile, grinning even more when Lisa declared a race to the door, which she lost saying 'tall people' to Brad and Emma.

At five the two had to leave, but that was fine since the Beldon's as well as Andrew and Monica had to leave for church soon after.

"She seems to be happy enough." Monica told Andrew.

"Yes, she's very good at hiding her problems, and that is probably going to turn out to be her biggest problem." Monica didn't see it yet, but when he looked at Lisa, instead of the bright, cheerful sixteen year old, he saw a girl in tears, holding a knife and looking ready to use it.

AN: I based most of the characters in this off of real people, so I don't own them, either, but I do own Mr. and Mrs. Beldon, because I don't know any adults who are like that. :P Oh, and y'all are welcome to tell me that this story's bad. I'll still keep writing it.