Chapter fourteen
They all stood shook up while Josh, still in Abi's body was laughing out loud.
Ben fell down to his knees. He wanted to die, to be with her. Nick was just standing shaking tears he didn't let drop filling his eyes. Derek possibly for the first time is his life actually cried. So did Alex and Rachel. Phillip was shocked. He had no idea what to do now. If he'll continue with the ritual then the body of Abi will die to. And what if that's not meant to happen?
+++
In the other realm
Abi took one last look at her father and her friends and crossed the threshold into the light. She followed the light until she stood in front of a big table with three people sitting on one side of it.
"And you are?" asked one of them.
"Abi, Abigail Hirsh Rayne" she answered.
All three people looked in some papers they had in front of them. "I don't have an Abi Hirsh Rayne scheduled to arrive today," said the one who asked her for her name. "Neither do I" said the other two together.
"I am judge Othniel," said the first judge, "And you my child are not supposed to be here. It is not your time yet."
"Well tell that to the evil spirit that possessed my body," said Abi.
"Oh yes," he said. "The one called Joshua Hirsh. How did he mange to escape us?" asked Othniel.
"He had help your honor," said the other two judges. "We know who that person is, and we will dill with him when the time comes."
"My dear child," said Othniel, "Your work on earth is not finished yet. You have to go back. You will be accompanied by these Two gourdian angels that will help you banish the evil spirit from your mortal body."
"What do you mean? What work? Do I have to go back?" asked Abi.
"You don't have to. If you choose to stay you can never go back as a human. This was your choice. Do you not remember?" asked Othniel.
"Remember? Remember what?"
"You, Abi Hirsh Rayne, are an angel. Or at least you were before you decided serving humanity in a physical body is preferable."
"Here, we will remind you." The two-gourdian angels approached her and held her hands. She began having images of the time prior to her birth as a human, and some of her incarnations.
"God, I did not remember all that" she said.
"And should you return to your mortal body you will not remember again," said Othniel.
"I understand" replied Abi.
"Now you have to go back. He can not stay in your body. He must be brought here and be judged for his crimes. Once he is removed you can go back into your body."
"And if I choose not to enter my body again?" she asked.
"Then Abigail Hirsh Rayne will die, and you will be returned to your angelic duties. But you will never be able to go back to being human again," said Othniel.
"Thank you your honor," she said as she was led by the two angels back towards the door.
+++
None of the people in the living room noticed that the door didn't fully close behind Abi. They sat there for a few minutes when suddenly the door opened again and the bright white light filled the living room again. Two light balls came out followed by Abi's image. The two balls of light changed into two images. Familiar images. One of then was Julia; the other one was Jimmy, Nick's brother.
Both Julia and Jimmy looked at the others. Then moved over towards Abi's body still occupied by the laughing Joshua. The two of them and Abi formed a circle around Abi's physical body. Light started purring from them surrounding it. Josh started screaming and twisting.
"No," screamed Joshua, "you can't do this to me."
It took a few minutes but then finally Joshua's spirit left Abi's body. Abi's spirit looked at the angels that saved her. The two of them started firing light balls at Joshua's spirit. It began to crumble and fall apart until there was nothing left of it.
"It's time to go back Abi," said Julia.
Abi looked at her friends and family, then at the two images. She hesitated.
"Abi, it's now or never. You have to go back before it's too late," said Jimmy
Ben looked at her with begging eyes "Please Abi, come back. I need you. Please don't leave me," he asked.
She looked at him still hesitating.
Derek got up and walked towards her "Please Abi. Come back to us. We all need you. Your children need you. Who will protect them if you're gone?"
At the mention of her children she knew she must return. She smiled and slipped back into her own body.
Derek and Ben rushed over to Abi and quickly untied her. Derek checked but there was no pulse and she was not breathing.
Julia and Jimmy moved back to her and ran their hands above her body all the way from her head to her toes. Light and energy filled the young woman's body. And she woke up staring into her two guardian angels.
Julia turned over to Derek "It was not her time yet," she said. "When I died I wanted to be watching over you my friends, but I was instead assigned to be your daughters guardian Derek. So was Jimmy."
"But why? Why does my daughter need angels to protect her? He asked.
"Because she is one Derek. Did you not tell Nick that she has an old spirit, ancient I believe you said? She is. She was an angel and came to this world in a physical body many life times ago to help people. She felt she could do more to help, being human then an angel."
"You can rest assured we will always be there to guard and protect her," said Jimmy.
"Thank you man," said Nick to his brother.
"You're welcome brother," said Jimmy and vanished back behind the door they came from, Julia heading after him.
"Julia," Nick cried.
She stopped for a minute.
"I miss you," he said. "And thank you for bringing Abi back."
Julia smiled "I miss you to Nick. Goodbye my love," she said then disappeared behind the door. Then the door vanished as well.
Abi looked at Ben who was sitting next to her. She couldn't bare the look in his eyes, overwhelming love. She turned her face from him tears filling her eyes. "Dad," she whispered.
"Welcome back my precious child," he said tears in his eyes.
"Joshua?" she asked.
"He's gone. Never to return."
"So I guess Phillip came through after all," she said.
Derek was puzzled. She didn't seem to remember what had happened. "Yes. I guess he did," he said looking at Phillip and the others. "Thank you Phillip" he said.
"Yes indeed, thank you Phillip," Abi said.
Phillip just nodded his head, not knowing what to say.
"Dad, can you get me out of here please?" asked Abi.
Derek picked his young daughter in his arms and carried her upstairs to her room. He laid her on the bed and wanted to leave her to get rest and sleep. She sat down and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Don't leave me dad. I don't want to be alone." She asked. And so he held her close to his heart. She grabbed him as if her life depended on that. Couldn't let him go.
After about an hour he felt she was deeply asleep so he freed himself from her embrace and went down to talk to the others.
They were all waiting in the living room in anticipation.
"So Derek, how is she?" asked Rachel first.
"She is asleep now. All we can do is wait and see how she'll be when she wakes up. I don't want to leave her alone for long, but I had to let you know she's ok. I'm gonna sit with her for a while longer. And maybe we should take turns at keeping an eye on her tonight."
As he turned to walk back to her room he asked, "Did any of you inform her grandparents of what happened?"
"No," said Nick
Derek turned to go upstairs and said, "I'll talk to them."
He walked into her grandparent's room. They were watching over the children silently. As soon as they saw him they both jumped to their feet. "Is it over?" they asked. "Is she ok Derek?"
"Yes," he said. "She's fine. She's asleep now. I'm gonna go sit with her for a while."
He looked at the two children playing quietly as if they knew something. He came closer to them and kissed each one on the head, then went back to look after his daughter.
About two hours later Alex came in and relieved the tired precept form his post. She sat down for a while reading and watching over the young sleeping woman.
Abi suddenly opened her eyes and rose up to a sitting position. "Alex," she said.
"Well helsleepy head. How do you feel? Do you want me to get you something? Call Derek maybe?"
"No Alex, nothing thank you. I want to ask you something."
"Well sure, you can ask me anything."
"You and Nick are good friends, right? So he probably shares things with you."
"He does, but not everything. He is quite reserved. Like Derek" answered Alex.
"Oh," said Abi. "Do you know how he feels for me? Is he in love with me Alex? I need to know that, Please."
"I can't tell you that Abi. You will have to talk to Nick your self."
"I really don't want to do this," she said. "But I guess I'll have to, I just fear I'm gonna hurt him," she said.
"Do you want me to go get him?" asked Alex.
"No. I can't face him now, or Ben. I don't want either of them here tonight. Please Alex, promise me. I can't face either one of them tonight."
"Ok. I'll make sure none of them bothers you tonight. I promise," said Alex trying to calm the young woman.
Rachel came in to relieve Alex of her shift.
Alex went down to look for the two young men. They where still in the living room talking quietly.
"Ben, Nick" she said. I'm taking you out of rotation for tonight. Abi does not wish to see either of you tonight."
Nick didn't say a word. Ben was looking at her amazed. "She will not see me?" he asked. "Why?"
"I think she needs time Ben. What I got from her is a feeling of shame. She's embarrassed. She needs time to sort out her feeling. Her emotions are a mess right now. You have to give her a few days to get back on her feet," replied Alex.
"I understand," he said his voice broken. "I better get outta here. Alex, will you tell her…"
"Tell her what Ben?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. I hope to meet you guys before you leave back to San Francisco," he said then left the house.
Alex wanted to go after him but Nick stopped her. "Leave him alone Alex. He needs time to recover too."
"But he probably thinks, I don't know, That he lost her for good. Maybe to you."
"She loves him Alex. She just needs time to handle what happened here. They are both gonna be ok," he said.
"Why Nicholas Boyle, I had no idea you're such a romantic guy," Alex giggled.
Barbara, who was sitting there all this time suddenly got up and said "I'm gonna go upstairs and sit with my granddaughter for a while."
"Thank you mother" said Derek.
She went upstairs and entered Abi's room. Abi was asleep and Rachel sat there looking over her. "Hello Dr. Corrigan" said Barbara. "May I call you Rachel?" she asked.
"Of course, Mrs. Rayne" said Rachel.
"Good, then please call me Barbara. May I sit with the child for a while?" she asked.
Rachel got up and gave her sit to the older woman. "I'll be downstairs if you need me," she said.
"Thank you Rachel," she said and sat down besides Abi's bed.
Abi started shaking and moving restless in bed. She then woke up screaming "Ben."
Barbara moved on to the bed besides her holding the shaking young woman. "Ben went home," she said. "He was really hurt you did not want to see him."
"Oh god," said Abi. "I didn't mean to hurt him so." Abi looked up at the woman holding her. She never met her before but she knew who she was from the pictures Derek sent her. "You're my grandmother," she said.
"Yes Abi, I am."
"Oh god I'm so ashamed. I called you a bitch, didn't I? Oh god, I'm so sorry about that."
Barbara laughed. "That's ok my dear. I realize it wasn't you talking."
The two women heard a knock on the door. "Come in," said Abi.
Hanna and Joseph looked in and saw Abi awake. "It is so great to see you're still with us dear. We have some little people here who want to see their mother," she said. They entered the room holding the children in their hands. Abi reached out her hands and took the children into her arms. She started kissing and hugging them tears filling up her eyes.
"Barbara, these are my grandparents Hanna and Joseph. And these two creatures are my children, Sarah and Noah. Grandma grandpa this is Barbara Rayne. My other grandmother."
They all shook hands when Barbara said, "I had no idea I have great grandchildren. Derek never told me."
"Derek didn't know," said Abi. He only found out a few days ago."
Abi looked at her grandparents and her children "Why don't you all take the kids and get to know each other. I need to get some more sleep. And tell Dad I don't need to be watched all night long. I'll be ok."
They all left heading down back to the living room. Barbara told Derek of Abi's request.
"Ok he said, then I guess we can all go about our business." He looked at the rest of the house members; "If you all want to leave and see your families then feel free to do so."
They all started spreading each to his/her own way, except for Ethaniel.
"I'll stay here just incase" he said.
"Sure" said Derek and went back upstairs to check on his daughter. When he came in to her room he found her sleeping peacefully. He sat beside her and after a while fell asleep as well.