CHAPTER 12
The Irish angel's lips moved in constant prayer as she held Andrew to herself long after he had lost consciousness. Her skin was burnt and a fever still raged within her but all she could focus on was the fact that Andrew was still breathing. She counted each one and how many seconds there were between. It was all she could concentrate on now as she wondered if sheer will could keep his human form alive.
At first, Monica thought the sound of a car was only wishful thinking or her imagination. When she realized she was really hearing it, her exhausted body tensed up completely, certain that Kathleen and her master were returning. Could she resist his help this time, now that her beloved Andrew was on the edge of death?
So when the red caddy, now fully functional, stopped right in front of them, all the little angel could do was cry; helpless, relieved, terrified sobs that shook her to the core of her being, as she attempted to shake Andrew awake, "Andrew…they're here…they're here…"
"Angelita," Rafael uttered her name as the three angels scrambled from the car.
"Help him…." The plea was a desperate whisper, "There's no more water…I tried to help him…I tried to keep him awake."
"We know you did, baby," Tess soothed as Rafael and Adam carefully lifted Andrew from Monica's arms and the supervisor helped the crying angel to her feet, not at all surprised when the little angel's legs nearly gave out from beneath her, "You did everything right, Angel Girl. I've got you, baby."
Monica's frantic dark eyes watched as Adam and Rafael got Andrew into the back seat of the car and then she lurched towards the car, desperate to be able to touch him once more. Adam moved so she could get in the car next to Andrew and then he climbed in beside of her as Tess and Rafael took their places in the front.
"We aren't far, Monica," Adam assured her as she managed to bring her tears under control, "We'll be at the hospital quickly and you will both get help."
"I'm fine….just Andrew," She stroked his hair back from his face, "Thank you for coming. Thank you for finding us."
With Divine Intervention, the car was pulling into the hospital parking lot in moments and Tess was surprised to see two paramedics with a stretcher racing toward the car immediately and Andrew was quickly loaded onto it. The old angel's eyes were confused as they prepared to wheel Andrew into the emergency room, "How did you know…."
Adam and Rafael were helping Monica out of the car as one of the young men answered, "She called us, didn't she? A woman called us and told us a snakebite victim and an exposure victim were on their way." He cast a concerned look in her direction, "Miss, they are coming now with a wheelchair for you…"
"Someone called?" Tess stopped Monica from walking and forced her to wait for the wheelchair as the little angel looked ready to drop.
"Kathleen…" Monica whispered, a flicker of awe in her eyes despite her exhaustion and the way her skin now felt as if it were burning, "Please, take care of him…save him…."
"We're going to do all we can," He assured her as the two medics rushed Andrew into the building.
The cold air conditioning hit the little angel full force as she was wheeled into the building, closely flanked by three angelic bodyguards and she instantly began to shiver. The redness of her skin combined with her fever caused her lips to quiver with the cold and her body to tremble.
"We need to get her hydrated and her fever down," The doctor demanded as he quickly took control as Andrew was wheeled down the hall to another room, "A nurse will show you three to the waiting room."
"Tess!" Monica's weak voice called out and her supervisor kneeled down at her side instantly, "Please…don't let them make me sleep until I know Andrew is safe, please! Don't let them give me anything…"
"Baby, listen to me," The older angel's tone took on her the air of authority that she knew her young charge would heed, "You need help too and I promise you that your Angel Boy is in good hands. The Father would never abandon either one of you; He is with you both and Monica, He wants you to rest now," A gentle smile appeared on her old face as she cupped the angel's sunburned cheek delicately, "But He is proud of you, baby. He knows what you faced out there and He wants you to rest and know that He is in control…He has been this whole time." She searched Monica's eyes for the understanding she knew she would find, "All right?"
"Thank you…" A lone tear slipped down her cheek as she nodded her head.
"That's my Angel Girl," Rising to her feet, Tess shot the doctor a stern look, "You take good care of her."
X
Lying in the hospital bed, the angel in human form slowly opened her soft brown eyes, at first distinguishing only blurred images around her. Monica's thoughts were also confused ones and it took her a couple of minutes to understand she was in a hospital bedroom and to remember how she got there.
And all of a sudden, it all became clear to her and her eyes were immediately wide open with fear.
"Andrew!" She suddenly spoke, lifting up her shoulders from the bed. It was only then that the angel realised she was not alone in there.
"Shh... calm down, baby!" Tess' soft voice and her gentle touch, pushing Monica back to the pillow, made the little angel look at her supervisor with anguish and urgency written in her eyes.
"Where is Andrew, Tess?"
"Andrew is fine. The worst is gone now, angel girl."
"How do you know? Where is he?" She insisted, not really trusting the information she had just been given.
"The doctors monitored him all day long and applied the appropriate medicine to stop the venom from spreading in his blood. I just got the latest report: he's reacting to the treatment and is going to heal. Everything is under control now, baby."
Tears formed in the corner of Monica's eyes as the older angel spoke and they did not take too long before falling down on her cheeks in profusion. Slightly worried, Tess took her charge's hand and squeezed it.
"Please, baby, calm down... Don't forget that you too need medical care! The sun exposure caused you dehydration and fever and your human organism is still too weak!"
Tess watched as little by little the Irish angel managed to control herself even though her anguish was still too vivid. "Can I see him?"
"Soon. Andrew is in another room but I'm sure that taking you there can be easily arranged."
Realising that the her friend's breathing was slowly coming back to normal, Tess stroked Monica's hair with affection. "You and Andrew have gone through perhaps one of the most difficult tests an angel can take." She smiled. "And you accomplished it beautifully."
A lonely tear rolled down the Irish angel's face. "I was so scared."
A third voice was heard inside the room and they saw it as Adam and Rafael came along, both with a slight smile for now their friends' ordeal had finally come to an end.
"We were all scared, Monica." The angel of death spoke as they approached the bed. "We prayed for you and Andrew all the time, sweetie." He added, gently tugging her foot.
"Asking God to save you from the dangers you'd find in the desert and restore your angelic forms." Rafael also spoke, standing next to her.
The little angel gazed back at them; her eyes holding much gratitude for what they had done. "We knew it... Andrew and I could feel you were close."
"We thought that you two were there because of your feelings. Because your destiny as angels was under judgement."
Monica shook her head with confusion. "I don't understand, Adam..."
"What he's saying is that you and Andrew were out there on a very important mission, baby." Tess intervened one more time. "But this is not for now. Now you have to focus on recovering because your human form still needs a lot of care!"
"Can I see Andrew? Please?"
The pleading tone in Monica's voice was moving and required them a lot of effort not to oblige her.
"You'll be able to see him soon, angelita." Rafael spoke, with all the kindness he could muster.
"I have no doubt that Andrew can't wait to see you too, but he's sedated." Adam spoke, and one could easily see his contentment at knowing that his dear friends were not under any kind of risk any longer. "And believe me, he's having a fine recovery!"