Disclaimer: I don't own Touched By An Angel Nor Do I Own The Judge

Monica observed the family carefully. They seemed happy enough. They were a loving family. Still, under the surface there seemed to be something missing. Something seemed amiss. There seemed to be some sort of sadness lingering. She looked at Tess hoping for some answers.

"That's Judge Joseph Palmer," Tess explained.

"He seems like a kind man," Monica said softly.

"Well he is," Tess replied, "But he's also a very sad man. You see 10 years ago there was an accident. His only daughter, and oldest child Lauren had died in the accident. She was only 18. His 16 year old son had been badly injured and could never play baseball again

"The saddest part though was it tore apart this family. You see Angel Girl his middle boy, Henry took the blame for the accident."

"He was driving?" Monica asked.

"No," Tess said, "Glenn was driving and Glenn was high that night. Henry knew that Glenn would get in trouble if he been behind the wheel so Henry took the fall."

"What a loving thing to do," Monica said smiling.

"Loving yes," Tess said, "But there was a whole argument and now Judge Palmer is about to find out the truth and there is going to be a lot of fixing to do in order to clean up this disaster."

"I just went off the deep end," the man in the nice tie and the well pressed suit explained.

"Yes I can see that," Judge Palmer told his friend, "But you have yet to answer my question. WHY did you go off the deep end?"

"My daughter is sick," Nick explained, "She had ALL which is a cancer of the bone marrow. She needs a bone marrow transplant. Can we find any matches? No

"Because of all the medical bills we couldn't pay our mortgage and we lost our house and I lost my job for taking so many days off of work."

Judge Palmer thought for a minute.

"Here's what is going to happen," he said, "I have a universal bone marrow type. I am going to donate my bone marrow to your daughter. I had a daughter once and I would have given her my heart and lungs if she needed it. You and your family are going to move in with me and my family until you're back on your feet."

He looked at his wife who nodded in approval.

Joseph had learned long ago that you don't make decisions affecting your family without discussing it with your family. When you do that it gets you in a lot of trouble.

"Also I have odd jobs that need to be done and I need a friend to hang around with. I will provide for your expenses and pay you say $100.00 per day for doing the work around here that needs doing."

"What a wonderful man," Monica said to Tess.

"Yes he's wonderful," Tess said, "But he's sensitive and he hide it. The problem with that is he's not going to be able to hide it forever and when it comes out we have to be there to make sure he isn't destroyed. You know the devil comes out when you're most vulnerable."

Monica knew that all too well.

"He blames his son for the accident that killed his daughter. The truth is that the other one was injured and he couldn't see the one who was injured as the one who was in the wrong. Some people are so blinded to lies they miss the truth. His grandfather was like that."

"Did he inherit that trait from his grandfather," Monica asked.

"Yes and no," Tess said.

"See his mother was a kind and good lady. She was a Daughter of the Father and proud of it. She was very sensitive. He was the youngest having 3 sisters and 2 brothers. He looked up to his eldest sister very much. Than one day his mother was driving home from work when she took a detour. That detour cost her, her life.

"A drunk driver also was on the road that day. He crashed into the car. She died. He got away without a scratch."

"That's terrible," Monica said.

"I know Angel girl I know," Tess said, "But that's why he's got an angel... 3 to be exact."

Monica hated to ask the next question.

"Is Andrew part of this assignment," she asked.

"Yes he is," Tess said, "But not as an angel of death."

Monica smiled in relief. She hated to see humans hurting.

"Beyond the wind

"Across the sea

"I know my true love

"Waits for me

"Beyond the shore

"Above the sand

"I know he's holding out his hand

"and then the gray sky will no longer be gray

"I know I'll see him again someday

"On that perfect, perfect day"

"Tess," Monica asked, "Who is that little girl singing?"

"Oh that is Lauren," Tess said, "She's the judge's granddaughter; named for her Aunt."

"She's so small," Monica said, "and she has such a strong voice."

"It's one of the Father's gifts to her," Tess said smiling.

"The Judge really seems to love her," Monica observed watching the two of them interact.

"Oh he loves all of his family," Tess said, "But Lauren... she's special."

"Because she's named for her aunt," Monica asked.

"Because she brings out the best in him," Tess said.

"That's great," Monica said.

"She's so small," Monica said, "and she has such a strong voice."

"It's one of the Father's gifts to her," Tess said smiling.

"The Judge really seems to love her," Monica observed watching the two of them interact.

"Oh he loves all of his family," Tess said, "But Lauren... she's special."

"Because she's named for her aunt," Monica asked.

"Because she brings out the best in him," Tess said.

"That's great," Monica said.

"It's good," Tess said, "and at the same time it's not so good. You see when something brings out the best in you it can also bring out the worst in you."

"Oh," Monica said, "Yes I see your point."

"The thing is," Tess said, "This is a time sensitive case."

"Time sensitive?"

"Yes," Tess said, "It's not like the teacher you helped with his anger issues. This family is about to undergo some major changes... bigger then the family who discovered they had another child."

"Oh," Monica said.

"Now you are going to be assigned to the judge. I am assigned to his sons Glenn and Henry. Andrew will be assigned to his youngest son, Cammy."

"Isn't Cammy a girl's name?"

"It's a nickname," Tess explained, "He loves his camera."

"Oh so Cammy like Camera," Monica said understanding

"Exactly," Tess replied.

"Oh and good news Monica," Andrew said, "There will be lots of coffee on this job."

"Well I do love a good cup of coffee," Monica said.

"Don't we all know that" Tess muttered, "The Father knows His babies well."

"Tess," Monica asked, "What's your secret?"

"Angel girl we're talking about an assignment not me," Tess said, "If you want to talk about me we'll talk about me some other time; like when we don't have a family to keep from falling apart."

Andrew, Tess and Monica appeared where they belong.