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Angel's Call

By: tenger



Thanks a lot to Techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

"Even a teacher has the right to be drunk," thought Chris as he emptied the last drops of the fine red wine into his glass. The acid taste of the fermented grape made him grimace and he shook his head slightly. Contrary to what he told his students at school about drinking much, that was his second bottle that night and he was somewhat drunk which wasn't quite what he wanted at the first place. He wanted to be so drunk that he could forget everything. Every single thing, including who he was and who Lisa was, and of course who that bastard friend of his, George, was.

As he ordered the third bottle he was thinking why the spirits wouldn't do its job and make him forget. The waiter eyed him suspiciously.

"Would you like something more to eat, sir? This brand is really good with our house specialty of fried cheese." 

The waiter was trying to attract the attention of this overdrinking customer from wine to food, hopefully slow him down, and avoid some ugly scenes that would come afterwards. He had seen that the man was drinking too much on an almost empty stomach.

"No."

"You'll find it is delicious."

"I said no. Thanks," Chris replied again feeling a little more annoyed. 

The waiter tried again. He was sounding more polite than he ever was that night. "But I insist, sir, at least give it a try. Consider it a present from the chef." The price of the cheese was much less than the bad PR this man would cause if he got too drunk. He was even thinking of calling the boss and having Chris kicked out politely if he refused to eat.

"Fine. Bring it along with the bottle." Chris gave in and fell back into his thoughts.

He had had an almost perfect life, a job as a teacher in Saint Nicholas High School which he loved and which paid enough, a gorgeous fiancee, a house he shared with his almost best friend whom he knew from college. He was even saving for his wedding which was being planned for the next fall and paying mortgage for a house Lisa and he were supposed to live in after the wedding. The house was rented out for now which helped his finances some, too. He had a regular routine of going to gym and running in the park whenever the weather permitted. No health problems other than the rare flu. He was totally at peace with himself and sure of his life until tonight... 

The little waves in the clear wine twisted and turned along with the dim lights of the restaurant and there he saw the reflection of his fiancee and his friend on his bed. That was how he had found them earlier that day. His last hour at school was cancelled due to a theater practice and he was home early with a bunch of red roses. Lisa loved roses. He didn't expect George to be home at that hour because he had a boss who thought his employees were his slaves and usually kept them working till late. Lisa shouldn't have been there as earlier that day; she had said on the phone that she wouldn't be able to drop by early because of an emergency about one of her friends. He was planning to give the roses to her when she came and they would head out to the restaurant he was sitting in at the moment. 

So when he opened his bedroom door and saw George with Lisa under him on his own bed, he was stunned speechless and paralysed for some time. 

He pinched himself. Many thoughts passed through his mind in full speed. "This can't be happening. I must have fallen asleep and am having a nightmare. Maybe he forced her to do it. No, this can't be." But her fingernails were running tracks along his back as he pushed his cock in and pulled out of Lisa's dripping pussy, both oblivious to his presence and obviously enjoying the act until he shut the door when he finally came to his senses. The porcelain vase in which he had put the roses crashed on the wall a few seconds later. The crashing sound equalled the crashing sound of his world.

Chris was at a loss of expressing his feelings. Hell, he didn't even know what he felt anymore, but he noticed the shameless look in Lisa's eyes as the couple explained the situation a couple of minutes later. He found it truly hard to believe what was going on. While that witch, his supposed-to-be fiancee, was handling two men at once, she had continued supporting Chris about getting married. She was the perfect fiancee while she was with Chris and perfect bitch while she was with George. Chris's perfect world, on the other hand, had crashed down with incredible speed in a few minutes. 

His supposedly best friend didn't even say 'sorry' as they sat down on the sofa in the living room and talked about the three-way relationship. After one point, he could hear their voices but couldn't make out what they were saying anymore. He had stood up abruptly as if something bit him. Finding it impossible to listen anymore, he had run out of the apartment. 

Thinking over it again, he realized that the last drop of water in the glass was Lisa admitting that she had had an abortion. It wasn't an admittance actually, just a mere referral about the time her relationship with George started. When he asked, she said she was sure it was Chris's baby but she had never told him, had never given him a chance to express his feelings, never given him a choice. Chris loved children very much, which was why he was a teacher. He loved them a lot and he wanted to help them through their struggle to get ready for life. 

Lisa's denial of a child made him furious, maybe even more than her betrayal although that was also something he wouldn't ever be able to forgive. How she could get in the same bed and have sex with his friend was something he couldn't make sense of. Not once, not twice, an ongoing relationship right in front of his eyes, or rather right behind his back. He had walked around the town aimlessly for a while, then got in his car and drove to the restaurant to drink it over. He had a reservation there anyway.

It was a cosy restaurant with live music. Some forgotten pianist was crying his heart out on the piano. The interior was painted with orange to red and the tablecloths and furniture covers were the shades of the same colors. As it was a weekday evening, there weren't many customers. Looking around, he saw a few couples, a group of six all in suits possibly out for business and a foursome which seemed to be close friends dining and having light conversation. 

It was a fine restaurant with an elegant atmosphere where the only single customer was Chris himself. Everybody else seemed to be having some degree of fun. Even the business group was toasting and laughing over possibly a good contract. He should have gone to a dark, smoke clouded bar with meaningless music to dull the senses, he reasoned, and gave up the attempt to lose himself. He took a last bite off the cheese, paid the bill and stood up. His mobile phone under the handkerchief he'd placed on the table was forgotten.

A trace of worry passed through his wine fogged brain as he stepped out of the restaurant into the cool air outside. Where would he go now? Certainly not back to the apartment he shared with George. There was a great possibility that Lisa would still be there. Well, at least until she found a new lover and moved on. Now that he had seen what she was capable of, he looked at their relationship from a different point of view. 

He tried to imagine what the couple were doing right now. Were they amusing themselves on how he made a fool of himself by believing in romance and the right woman was Lisa? Were they also drinking but for a totally different goal? Were they asleep? Were they making love? Was George kissing her smooth, silky body while he drew circles on her clit with his fingers? Was Lisa moaning like she did when she was with Chris? Was George a better lover? 

Chris had a vision of him finger fucking Lisa to a mind blowing orgasm of which the neighbors were informed by her screaming and afterwards Lisa giving head to the cock that waited for attention, stroking the engorged head slowly at first then taking it into her skilled mouth, licking and sucking and, well, she could do that very well and push anybody over the sweet edge in a considerably short time.

Oh, enough! He mentally kicked the thoughts aside, shook his head and concentrated on accomodations for the night again. He couldn't go to his parents' house at this hour. They were away on an extended holiday wandering around Europe, discovering its old and beautiful cities and the housekeeper wouldn't be there till the morning. The most logical thing seemed to sleep overnight in a hotel and start looking for a new apartment during the weekend. George and Lisa could go to hell in the old apartment; he wasn't going back there again. 

"Now, where is the closest hotel?" he asked himself. God, it was hard to put a hold on his thoughts and arrange them after so much wine. 

"All right, there is the Stardust Hotel right across the bridge," he answered his own question. 

He started to walk slowly in the general direction of the river which separated the two parts of the city. It was late and there weren't many people left on the streets. A distant siren could be heard in the background but he couldn't figure out whether it was the police or the ambulance. The weather was chilly with some smell of rain. It must have rained while he was drinking. When he put his cold hands in the pockets of his coat to warm them, he discovered the keys of his car and remembered that he left the SUV back at the parking lot of the restaurant. 

"Can I drive to the hotel this drunk? Yes. Should I? No. Will I? Yes."

It wasn't the time to be sensible. While walking back to the car, he made several funny sobriety experiments, tried to walk in a straight line, tried to touch the tip of his nose with his index fingers, even tried some of the poses which he remembered from his yoga classes with kids. All were successful, so he decided that he could drive. The streets were almost empty anyway and in case of an accident, most probably he would be the only one injured and as nobody he could think of gave a damn about his health state at that moment, he started the engine. 

The parking sensors did a good job of warning him about the pole at the back, but as his mind was elsewhere thinking of a certain blonde guy pushing his large cock into a red-head bitch's ass, the information was disregarded which ended in his bumping into the pole. 

"Shit!" he thought and, trying the gas pedal, he murmured, "well, at least the car is still going."

So he decided to move on before anybody from the restaurant came out to investigate what happened. With screeching wheels he turned the corner and took another turn towards the river on the same road he had walked a few minutes earlier. He looked at the river which appeared beautiful. It was so black with tiny lights of the other shore shimmering like stars. All the boats were moored. Not a single sound of a motor coud be heard; there was complete silence and tranquility. On this side there was only the commercial and business district which looked like an abandoned city at this hour. He felt a strong urge to stop and walk alongside the bank where there was a narrow track of grass. It was really peaceful at the moment but in his mind he could see the people running along the river early in the morning. 

"I have no curfew to be met. I can spend my time anyway I want!" he reasoned with himself. 

He parked the car and, thinking what the day was and if he would resent his choice of spending the night like he did the next morning, he got out of it. After some mental effort he remembered that it was Thursday, well, maybe early Friday by now. And luckily he didn't have a class until two. He walked in the black of the night accompanied by the humming background noise of the city and a slight breeze which from time to time made him shiver and hold on to his coat. He ran over his life again and again and tried to figure out where exactly he had lost control of a great part of it. He thought he was in love with Lisa. His heart had ached so much he had thought of going to an ER instead of the restaurant. Now it was all numbed by the wine, and he felt quite ok. 

He sat down on a bench and watched the silent water. Just when the cold started to get to him and he figured out that that much torture was enough for the night, he heard a cry which seemed to be coming from a nearby alley. He was going back to his car and had decided to head for the hotel. It was a muffled cry but it carried so much hurt that without giving a single thought to the dangers of dark deserted alleys at night he headed towards the sound, trying to see the source. 

The alley was a forgotten space between two huge buildings. It was possibly a blind one. There were no street lights in it. The only light source was the stars far away which were not helping much. The garbage bins were here and there as far as he could see and there was a foul smell. Nothing could be heard for a while and he almost believed his wine-fogged mind had made up the sound when he heard the cry again. Somebody was in pain for sure. He pinched himself to make sure he hadn't passed out somewhere and dreaming. 

"No, I am wide awake," he continued talking to himself and he desperately wanted to be more sober to find the source in the pitch dark alley. He called out but there was no answer. He looked for his mobile phone in his pockets to use the screen light as a flashlight, only to discover that he left it on the table at the restaurant. Reaching ahead with his hands and with short steps he tried to adjust his eyes more to the dark. Then he heard her again, this time closer. 

"Hello. I'm here to help you. Are you hurt?" 

No answer. 

"Hello. Let me help you." 

He could make out from the cry that it was a woman. He thought that maybe it was the drunk undertone in his voice that scared her but he sensed that something was very wrong and he simply had to find and help her.

At that desperate moment, like a miracle, a car passed from the deserted road, its headlights helping to lift the darkness a little bit just for a second and Chris saw the woman a few feet away. She was lying on the ground, eyes shut, her legs drawn to her stomach. When he reached the woman he felt that she was wet and trembling worse than a leaf in a storm. 

"I will help you. Please don't be afraid." he whispered, in as much a soothing and sober voice as he could manage. 

Deciding to take her out to the light of the street to evaluate the situation, he tried to make her stand up but, as soon as he figured out that she was unconscious, he knew that he had to act quick. So he took her into his arms, not caring about his coat being soaked with mud and water. She seemed bony and wasn't too heavy anyway but she had a large bundle in her lap, at least that was what Chris thought until he took her out into the streetlight.

The first time he really saw her under the pale streetlight was a total shock to him. At the same time, the sight was cause to sober him up quicker and more effectively than anything that could be used in this case. She was very badly beaten up, eyes swollen, some blood running from her nose and mouth, ugly bruises all around, the bundle seemed to be a baby yet to be born and from the looks of it, she was in the process of giving birth but she was totally unconscious. When Chris saw the blood running down from her legs Chris swore loudly and adopted a faster pace to his car to take her to the nearest hospital. He was practically praying and begging to God that the woman and her child would be ok.

She was crying weakly each time a contraction came. That was how he had heard her. Remembering from a movie he had seen that the time between contractions is a key information, he tried to calculate the minutes after he laid her at the backseat of his car and thanked god that nobody got away with the car because he had forgotten to lock it when leaving it, buried in his thoughts of Lisa and George, both of whom seemed like stangers in a far away land now.

Two and a half minutes between cries. That information combined with the blood scared him to hell. What if he couldn't make it on time and both the baby and the mother died on him. The police would have a few words with him for sure. They still would even if they were fine. He felt afraid that the woman would say that he was responsible or worse, that she wouldn't make it. His teaching career could be ruined by being accused of violence against a defenseless pregnant woman. But still, he had to try.

"Where is that damn state hospital?" he asked himself, then answered his own question once again, "No, that is too far away. I have to find a closer one. Come on, think, think!"

Remembering a small hospital across the bridge, close to the hotel he intended to stay at the first place, he pressed the gas pedal more. 

"Please, God, please help her to hold on. Go, go, faster, faster," he repeated to himself.

He parked in front of the ER with a jolt caused by his fast braking and very calmly went inside to call somebody with a stretcher for help. The lights inside were too bright, he thought, it was too cold and the personnel on duty seemed to move in slow motion although he couldn't tell why.

Angel's Call Ch. 02



Thanks a lot to Techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

The next thing Chris remembered was a very bad smell and a nurse leaning over him. He jumped up and went crazy thinking that the woman and the baby were still in the car. 

"Woman, car, baby, woman in the car," he muttered.

"Calm down," said the nurse, "You've had a concussion, possibly because of the combination of alcohol and the excitement. As you mumbled about her right when you were falling, we reached them; your wife and unborn daughter are in the labour room under control. How was she so beaten up?"

Chris's first thought was, "Oh, God, they know that I am drunk!" Then came, "OH, GOD! They think that she is my wife and most probably also that I beat her to death!" and he frantically started to explain to the nurse that he had found her in an alley and that she wasn't his wife. In fact he didn't have a clue about who she was and what had happened. The nurse seemed a little relieved with the information that Chris might not be responsible for the state the woman was in but she was cautious.

"The police have been informed and they will be here in a short while." 

"How is she?" Chris asked the nurse. 

"The doctor will be here in a minute and although it is a policy not to give information to non-relatives, I will ask if we can make an exception since I have a feeling that you have a right because you brought her in and seem to be sincere in your concern." 

"Where can I get a cup of coffee? And where can I wait until the cops come?" asked Chris rather timidly. He was afraid of being accused but he had to help the police find who did this to her. Whats more, he felt he had to see that the woman was fine, maybe reach her family and hand her to safety. The nurse showed him the coffee machine around the corner and told him to wait right by the side of it. 

The doctor, who seemed disturbed about the whole thing going on during his shift, came after what seemed like an endless five minutes. After talking with the nurse and making sure that Chris was fine, he walked towards him.

"Hand your car keys to me. I'll get your car moved from the front of the ER to the parking lot of the hospital."

"Here you are. How is the woman?"

"She is in fact very badly beaten with a fractured leg, an arm and two ribs, is unconscious, is in labour but hemorrhaging. Given her situation we will do a C-section as soon as the operating room is ready. The baby fortunately is still holding on and seems to be coming just a little early. The nurse told me you don't know who she is." Then he continued just above whispering as if speaking to himself, "We should inform her family."

"I really don't know her but I'd like to stay until she and the baby are fine."

"You'll have to, until the cops come anyway." said the doctor surly.

Sometime during the short conversation, a uniformed guy headed towards them. He introduced himself as the cop assigned to the case and asked Chris what happened. Chris explained all that had happened from the time he left the restaurant until he reached the hospital in as much detail as he could remember. 

"I have to check your statement with witnesses from the restaurant and check the alley where you found her before I can let you go and you can pray that the woman will wake up and tell her story soon. You are a suspect right now." said the cop coldly.

"Are you going to take me to the police station? Please can't I stay until I see that she is fine, and at least someone from her family has come. Please?" begged Chris to let them leave him there to see the woman. "After all the trouble and stress I went through for her, I want to see that she is fine until her family comes." He was also afraid of going to the station. The police were nice but who knew what waited for him in there.

The police consulted with the doctor first. On learning that the doctors should keep him under supervision because he had a concussion and shouldn't sleep until morning anyway, the officer decided to leave Chris in the hospital until he came back. He had all his communication information and had the dispatcher run a check on him. He seemed clean and afraid and they could easily find him in his workplace if he decided on running away.

After making the agreement with the police, Chris started to look for the woman. The doctor had hurried away, saying they were taking her into the operating room. 

"Where can I find the woman?" Chris asked the nurse who had looked after him a while earlier.

She answered while hurrying to another curtain. "The operating room is on the third floor but you should wait until Jerry comes. He will keep an eye on you until the sergeant returns." 

He dashed towards the elevator without waiting, pushed the call button restlessly a few times and thought about running up the stairs about ten times before it reached the ER floor and took him upstairs. 

"Are you all right?" asked the nurse in the nurses station which was in front of the operating room. He was white as a sheet with the blood stained coat still on his back and looked about to faint again. 

"I came for Mrs.Whatever. She should be in there," Chris spoke, indifferent to the question, pointed to the operating room and removed the coat.

The nurse showed him a seat. "Mrs. Doe is in operation. You can wait over there." 

"Do you know who she is?" Chris asked amazedly.

"No, it's standard policy to call unidentified female patients Jane Doe, that's it."

Well, he really tried to sit down. He was tired and dizzy after all. But he was also uneasy. He decided that some praying could do good and that was what kept him sitting for a full five minutes before he jumped up and asked the nurse what took them so long. 

Nancy, the nurse, was used to anxious fathers waiting for their babies to be born and started explaining to Chris about how a C-section is done starting with the incision. The details seemed to make Chris feel nauseous, so he ran towards the loo, emptied what was left of his small dinner, two and a half bottles of wine and the last cup of coffee. He felt better immediately. That was when the guy designated to keep an eye on him came in.

"Are you all right, sir? I am Jerry. I will be with you until the cops come back."

"That seems to be the favorite question around here. Yes, I am fine. Is Mrs. Doe out yet?"

"No, sir."

"Then, I'd like to go back to the front of the operating room to wait. Do you know if they've reached her family yet?"

"Nope. Maybe that cop will come up with some information."

Chris was dragging his feet to the seat across from the nurse when a man in green scrubs came out with a small baby in an incubator. She was so helpless and tiny but a beauty.

"Is it Mrs. Doe's baby? Is she all right?" Chris asked the man in green.

"Yes, she seems fine and healthy but we will keep her in an incubator for a while."

"Is Mrs. Doe all right?" Chris asked again before he let the man go.

"She seems so. She should be out in about an hour. Now let me go. I have to take this little one to the NICU."

Chris was puzzled.

"Where?"

"To neonatal intensive care unit."

"You just said that she is fine."

"Yes, right now she seems to be, but as she decided to come to world a little earlier than she should have, we have to keep her under control."

"Ok."

Turning to Jerry, Chris said, "I will wait until I see that Mrs. Doe is out alive and well."

"That's fine by me. I can doze off in this chair for a while. Wake me up when you're ready to go. By the way, why are you so interested in a woman whom you do not even know? Are you sure you are not the father?"

"I am sure that I haven't met her before and I am absolutely sure that I am not the father and wondering very much where that father is right now. I only have a strange urge in me that says I have to see that she is fine. That is all."

"You are a good man in a cruel world. She is lucky that you found her. She could have bled to death. How could a person beat a pregnant woman like a punching bag and leave her to die?"

"I've got no idea but it is really a miracle. If it were a normal Thursday night I would have been fast asleep by the time I found her. But still it might be that I need to see her well and say that I am not responsible for the state she is in. I am a suspect right now, after all."

And a long silence followed when Jerry slept and Chris had a nasty vision of Lisa and George in his bathroom this time. Had they had sex there, too? George was kissing Lisa eagerly under the shower, his hand over her breast. Lisa was breathing heavily. Then he saw George playing with her nipples, Lisa tracing his back with her nails, then his cock was in and out of Lisa's dripping pussy camouflaged by the running water. He was awakened from the trance with the banging of the operating room door. 

"O RH- blood needed immediately," a woman shouted to the nurse.

"I'll check the bloodbank. They usually have it but it is rare," the nurse answered.

Chris pinched himself, "I am O RH-, that is, if it is all right."

"Come in, we'll run some tests in case they cannot find it, quick."

The woman took some blood, running it to the lab for immediate tests and came back in a short while.

"They cannot find anyone to send the blood right now. Yours'll have to do."

Chris laid down on a bed and cursed his bad luck as the procedure was carried out. He hated needles. The woman told him to lie down for another ten minutes after it was over and then she left. Chris counted the minutes and walked out to meet Jerry.

Mrs. Doe was wheeled out some time later. Chris spotted the doctor who had talked to him before.

"Will she be all right?"

"I hope so. We did all we can. Now it is up to her."

"Can I see her? When is she going to wake up?"

"Well, my guess is that it will not be before noon. She will be taken to the ICU for the first few hours. Visitors will be allowed after she is taken to her room. Is there any news about her family?"

"Not that I know of. Can I see the baby?" 

"I don't know. You should ask the NICU doctor on duty."

"Thanks. I'll check. I am stuck here anyway."

"Where is the neonatal ICU?" Chris asked Jerry.

"On this floor. Turn right at the end of this corridor. Wait, I should also be coming with you."

Chris was dragging his feet since he felt really tired and sleepy but the urge was still there. A little voice was constantly saying, "You have to make sure that she is fine." He wondered if it was totally his need to be cleared of this mess or his mind just holding on to a different subject than Lisa and George.

They knocked on the door of the neonatal intensive care unit and a sleepy nurse showed up.

"We want to know how the Doe baby is doing." Jerry said.

"Oh, she is sleeping soundly. I will feed her soon. I heard that her mother won't be able to feed her for a while."

"Can I see her?" Chris asked.

"I have to ask Dr.Lou. Will you wait for a minute please?"

"That's all I've been doing until now."

The nurse went in and came out a few minutes later holding scrubs for Chris to wear.

"You can come in for five minutes. Don't forget the shoe covers. Oh, and wash your hands over there."

"I will wait outside," Jerry said.

Chris went in following the nurse. She showed him where the little baby was. She seemed small and fragile with an angry red face, her eyes were so puffy, the color of them couldn't be seen.

"Can I hold her?" Chris asked and amazed at himself. It was as if somebody else was speaking for him.

"I am surprised. Many men are afraid to hold a normal baby, much less a premature one."

"Well, she seems like she could use a hug,"Chris spoke instinctively.

"Here you are. You should support her head and hold her in your arms like this."

Chris looked at the little girl, hugged her and, feeling that he had to comfort her, whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, little angel. Your mama will be fine. I am not going anywhere until I see both of you are fine."

The girl chose to open her eyes, show the beautiful dark blue color of them and give an unconscious toothless smile for a second at that very moment. Chris thought his heart stopped, smiled back at the baby and kissed her forehead.

"Let me take her back," the nurse interrupted.

"Here you go, bye. Thank you."

Returning to the door, Chris found Jerry. "I need some rest. Since I cannot see Mrs. Doe right now, where can I wait for the cop?"

"Let's go down to the reception area. There are some comfortable armchairs over there. Besides, the receptionist can inform us when they take Mrs. Doe to her room. But you shouldn't sleep."

Chris and Jerry went down, leaned on adjoining armchairs and started to doze off after they informed the receptionist about the situation and asked her to notify them when Mrs. Doe was taken to her room. About an hour later the cop came.

"We've checked the restaurant and the waiter remembered you and the time you took off, leaving your mobile phone behind. If you tell me the brand and type and after I make sure it is yours, I'll hand it over to you. There is also the pole you hit on your way out. You're going to have to pay for that. We couldn't get much information out of the alley but it is quite sure that somebody dragged her over there by the looks of the blood traces. And the shoe prints, let me see yours... aren't matching yours, lucky for you. I have to take prints of these anyway. Step in this box here. Right in the middle. Fine. Now the other one. She seems like she moved herself towards the exit of the alley. Your prints don't go all the way in. You can go now if Dr.Geoffrey is letting you go."

"Did you figure out who she is, call her family?"

"No, we don't know for sure who she is yet but there is a possibility that she is Anna Collins. If it is her, her parents are dead, there is no husband or spouse that is known, and she had been working as a secretary until she disappeared about a year ago. Her boss filed a missing person's case but she was nowhere to be found. She has an uncle but he is some kind of researcher in a remote place and, as we understand the emergency word will reach him in about two days, and if he chooses to come it might take him at least a week. But we aren't counting on him as we are informed that he didn't show any interest in her after her parents died."

Chris listened to the small voice inside which said, "Don't go, make sure she's well," and spoke, "Then right now I am the only person interested in her health. I guess I'll stay at least until she is awake. I am sure Dr.Geoffrey will inform you as soon as she is able to give a statement."

"All right. I'll talk to him, too. She still can say something against you when she wakes up. You have to come to the police station to sign your statement as soon as possible. Here's my number. Give me a call when you feel up to it. I'll be off duty until five today, though."

Jerry said goodbye to Chris, told him that he would rest for a while and disappeared behind a door that said "Personnel Only".

to be continued... (hopefully soon)



Angel's Call Ch. 03



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one. 

Chapter Three 

Chris asked the receptionist where Dr.Geoffrey was. She called him and then told Chris that he was in the ER. He walked to the ER, found the doctor and remembered that he still had the keys to his car. 

"I figured you wouldn't go away without these," said the doctor.

"How is Mrs. Doe? Have they taken her out of the ICU yet?"

"I was just about to go and check," added Dr.Geoffrey. "Would you like to come?"

"Sure."

"Did the police find out who she is?"

"They think she might be Anna Collins but they are not sure and there are no close relatives around if she is Ms.Collins."

They walked to the elevator silently. Chris saw that the elevator went up to the third floor. 

"So she is on the same floor with her daughter," Chris thought.

After a nurse handed him scrubs and warned about shoe covers just like in the neonatal ICU, he went in. Mrs. Jane Doe was still unconscious, white as snow where it wasn't an ugly purplish black. Her hair fell over the pillow in a mess. Her fist was closed as if hanging on to something. Chris stood by her and stroked her hand. She looked like she was in pain. He suddenly felt angry. He wanted to tell her that everything would be all right - he wanted to take the pain away from her. 

"What a thought," he talked to himself. "Haven't you had enough trouble over this woman?"

The little voice inside him shouted, "Make sure she's ok."

Chris opened her fist and held her hand. It was cold. He thought how he disliked all the IVs and monitors when he was in hospital for an appendectomy. He leaned towards her and said, "Everything is going to be all right. You are in a hospital and your daughter is also fine." She didn't move.

After checking her vitals and taking information about her situation from the ICU nurse, Dr.Geoffrey returned to Jane's bedside.

"I could have her out to a room but she needs somebody to stay with her."

"I can stay with her," blurted Chris without thinking and continued, "Do you think she'll wake up soon? It might be best that somebody be there to explain her situation once she does."

"Well, she should be awake by ten o'clock normally, but I can't guarantee that as she is not a normal patient. She was already unconscious when you found her. Thank god there is no brain damage or such but there is possibility of an infection and she simply might not want to wake up after the trauma."

"I am going to stay with her for a while. After all, I promised her baby that I would not go anywhere until I see that both of them are fine."

"You are keeping your promise to a little baby? Don't you have anything else to do?"

"I have to call the school to inform them that I am not coming today. I have only one class at two anyway, then I'll be free for the whole weekend and I'm hoping she will wake up within three days. We'll see what happens later."

"Still it is weird that a stranger like you is doing so much for a woman whom you do not even know."

"I know. I feel odd too but I also feel I have to do it for her; God had a reason to send me to that alley to find her."

"I am not going to argue with you. If you're sure you can make it, I'll have her taken to room 205 in half an hour."

"I'll be there. Is there any place where I can get some quick breakfast?"

"There is a cafe on the fifth floor."

"Thanks."

So Chris rushed upstairs for a cup of coffee and a sandwich, while Anna was prepared for the transfer and taken to her room. She wasn't there yet when he reached her room. The nurse on duty questioningly eyed the tall, handsome man with broad shoulders, olive green piercing eyes but a tired look.

"I will stay with Ms. Doe until she wakes up. Dr.Geoffrey told me she was to be brought in Room 205," Chris tried to explain.

"She's not here yet. Are you a relative?"

"No."

Dr.Geoffrey arrived at that moment with the stretcher carrying Anna and, after having her placed in the single bed with all the IVs and stuff hanging at different places around her and the monitors arranged, turned to the nurse and explained Chris's situation. Heather, the nurse who would be there during the day, stared at Chris amazed. When he thought of the situation, he himself found it weird but was thankful to the doctor because he believed in him.

"I will be on duty until five o'clock. I'll come to check her every two hours and Heather will call me if there is a change in her situation. To tell the truth, my personal opinion is that she won't wake up today. Tell Heather if you change your mind and want to go."

"I'll be here. Thank you."

Chris checked his watch as he sank down in the chair next to the bed. It was eight o'clock. He hadn't slept at all. Despite the large cup of black coffee he had gulped a few minutes ago, he fell asleep. He woke up with a gross headache and a biting pain in his neck and back due to sleeping uncomfortably. Checking Ms. Doe, he saw that she was still sleeping, the bruises an uglier shade of black now with an eye almost closed due to swelling. His watch showed 11:15. He walked out of the room and spotted Heather.

"Heather, do you happen to have a painkiller I could swallow? My head is killing me."

"Do you know why? Maybe you should see a doctor."

"I was drunk last night," Chris answered quite embarrassed.

"Oh, in that case you can take this." She handed an aspirin.

"And could you keep an eye on Ms. Doe for a few minutes? I'd like to check on her daughter."

"If it is only for a few minutes ok, but if duty calls I have to go."

"Thanks. Will the baby still be in the neonatal ICU?"

"Let me check."

Heather called the nurse on duty in the NICU and learned that the little baby had been transferred to the pediatrics department. 

"She was transferred to the pediatrics on this floor. Turn left at the end of the corridor and you'll see it ahead."

"Thanks again. See you soon."

Chris headed to pediatrics to see the little baby who was awake and crying like somebody cut her leg off or something. She stopped crying as soon as he took her into his arms, though. Once more he felt like he was looking at an angel.

"I hope she is not making much trouble," he said to the nurse. "Her mother is not awake yet."

"Well, she had been crying until you came. I heard about her mother. I am sorry."

"Can I take her to see her mother? Just for a little while maybe."

"I'll check with the doctor. Can you wait here with her for a few minutes?"

"Sure."

When the nurse came back, the little angel was peacefully asleep in Chris's arms.

"You sure know how to take care of a stressed baby." The nurse said, "You can take her to see her mother. In fact, if you think you can manage it, I'll lend you a baby cradle from here and you can keep her there until noon which will be the feeding and changing time."

Chris, who believed he didn't have any idea how to take care of a child let alone a small baby, was amazed at himself, too and spoke with a renewed courage, "I can give it a try. You want me to bring her back in here by 12?"

"Yes, you are such a sweet man."

"Thanks. I have no idea why I'm doing this. It's like some outer force is making me do it. Let's hope her mother wakes up soon."

He thought he heard the little voice saying, "Thank you." Holding the sleeping little angel in the crook of his left arm and pushing the wheeled cradle with the other hand, he headed towards room 205. 

"Hi, Heather. I am back. Look who I've got here. I hope she will persuade her mother to wake up."

"Hello, Mr.Taylor. I see that you've already got a beauty in your arms which zeroes my chances of any involvement with the hero of the day."

Chris eyed the plump brunette with golden brown eyes, medium sized breasts and nice round hips questioningly.

"Sorry, bad timing."

"Never mind, you seem too good for me anyway. If you need any help with the baby, call me. As far as I could see, Ms. Doe didn't even stir."

"Let's go and see mama, little angel. Do you mind if I call you angel? No, you don't, thanks." Chris went into the room talking to the sleeping baby. He found that Anna was still sleeping. 

"Look, Ms. Whatever. Your baby is waiting here for you to wake up."

He couldn't stop looking at the innocent sleeping baby. She had come to the world in such cruel circumstances but was unaware of anything going on. She could have been dead with her mother in the alley by now if he hadn't found them. He felt anger and wanted to go and find who beat her mother so badly and give him a beating. Deciding to turn the TV on to keep his mind occupied, he found an interesting talk show and sat down on the chair with the baby still in his arms. Some time later Dr.Geoffrey came.

"I see that she is not awake yet. Let me check her."

"I've got to take this little one back. Will you be here for a few minutes?"

"I'll wait till you come back."

Chris took the baby to the pediatrics and found the nurse who had handed her to him.

"Is she still sleeping?"

"Yes."

"Are you fine with her or do you want to leave her here?"

"I am fine, why?"

"I'll change her diaper. If she doesn't wake up, take this bottle and feed her when she does, but no later than one o'clock. Wake her up and feed her by then because her blood glucose level will fall. That's not good. Bring her in for the next diaper change if you feel the diaper is dirty or by four at most. Do you think you can do that?" 

"Oh, fine!"

It was a confused Chris who walked back to room 205, really thinking about what he had gotten himself into for the first time since he found Ms. Doe in the dark alley. Even some fathers didn't act the way he did and this little angel's father certainly was one belonging to that kind. Maybe he didn't have any idea where the baby and the mother were. Maybe he was wondering, maybe he wasn't. Maybe the person who almost killed the mother and daughter did the same to the father. Maybe he was the one who did this to them. If she is Anna Collins, he wondered what happened to her during the last year. Had she run away with her boyfriend? Maybe she had committed some crime and ran away because of it? The cop on the case, Sergeant Young, would have mentioned it if it were the case, wouldn't he?

"Dr.Geoffrey, how is she?"

"She is a little feverish but generally she looks fine and ready to wake up. We have to wait and see. I see that the little one is back."

"They didn't want to wake her up because she was sleeping."

"You could have left her in the pediatrics."

"I think it's better for both of them to be close. Is Ms. Doe in pain?"

"No, I don't think so, at least not much. There's a painkiller going down that IV."

"Will she be able to hold her baby when she wakes up? I remember hearing that she had a few fractured bones."

"Not for a while. Even sitting will be painful for a few days. Somebody else has to hold the baby if she wants to breastfeed, too. Her left arm is broken along with two ribs on the same side. I have to go now. Good luck."

"See you in a couple of hours."

After Dr.Geoffrey left, Chris put the baby in the cradle, went to the mother's side and held her hand.

"Ms. Whatever (he was avoiding calling her Ms. Doe), you are safe now. The doctor says you could be awake by now. There's a lovely little girl waiting for you. Come on. You have to come back for her."

A disappointing silence followed to be broken by the cry of the baby. Chris lifted her up and fed the bottle to her. She was so small that she fit in the crook of his one arm with her head only as big as a palm. She sucked the bottle quite powerfully though. He remembered that babies have to burp after feeding so he tried to copy what he saw on TV with success and the little one went back to sleeping again. 

The woman didn't wake up and a fierce fever overtook her in the afternoon. After the doctor ordered medication, he said they have to wait. He was gone by five o'clock and the night shift doctor came to check on her every couple of hours.

Chris felt helpless. She was burning with fever. He had taken the baby back to pediatrics in case this was something infectious. He was putting a wet cloth on her forehead and brushing her healthy arm and leg with cool water but the fever stayed. She wasn't fighting. It was an endless night. Each time he checked her fever he felt more hopeless. Every time he felt hopeless the voice told him to carry on. The second night in a row he hadn't slept. He was bordering on exhaustion. The nurse on duty was amazed at his determination to get her healthy.

The next morning at dawn, the miracle happened. Her fever went down. He had some opportunity to sleep in the chair and afterwards went to bring the baby back. He had missed her.

After Dr.Geoffrey's next visit, Chris decided to talk to Anna again; he had read somewhere that people heard what you talked about even when unconscious. 

"Ms. Whatever, let me start by introducing myself. I am Christopher Taylor. I found you in an alley the night before last. You are in a hospital now and you are safe. I don't know what happened to you but I gave my word to your daughter that I will not leave you until I see both of you are fine so I am staying. I am a teacher with no attachments, who has the whole weekend off to stay here, meaning you are lucky." 

He stopped briefly to draw in a breath. "Yes, you have a daughter who is also fine, sleeping soundly in the cradle beside you. I just fed her. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, 2.8 kg., 47cm. and probably is looking like you when you were a baby. I bet she is missing her mother, though. The police think you are Anna Collins and are trying to reach your uncle but we don't know if he's going to show up yet. Dr. Geoffrey, who took care of you when I brought you in here last night, has checked on you a few times and says you could be awake by now. Well, I think you have to try, if not for anything else, for this beautiful baby you've got. Now, come on. If you hear me, hold my hand."

After some long seconds, he repeated, "Come on, Miss. You seem like a strong lady. Let's surprise Dr.Geoffrey. He doesn't think you'll wake up today." 

When there was no movement, he gave up. Taking the remote he turned the TV on. Then he held her hand again. Somehow he felt she needed the touch. He felt he needed to touch her. 

"I had read that music is good for healing. I would have your favorite music played but I have no idea of what it is so you have to settle for this."

He had found a channel where they played meditative, slow and classical music. Ten minutes later a very slight squeeze made him jump. She tried to hold her hand up but it was secured in place because of the IV's and the monitors along with other things he didn't even know the names of and she started crying. Chris froze for a second, not knowing what to do then pressed the button to call Heather who came in smiling.

"Is the little angel causing trouble? Oh, Ms. Doe, you are awake," and ran back to call Dr.Geoffrey.

to be continued... (hopefully soon)



Angel's Call Ch. 04



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

"Does it hurt? Can you talk?" Chris asked excitedly.

The woman only cried in response and the baby, probably disturbed by the noise, woke up crying, too.

"Oh, great! Now we have two angels crying in the same room. Hey, come on, little darling, you wouldn't want Dr.Geoffrey to blame me for this mess, would you?" Chris said turning to the baby and lifting her out of the cradle.

"Look, your mother is awake. Maybe she'd like to see you. Would you Ms... what is your name anyway?"

Anna's brain was still fogged and it took her a little while to process the information that the baby was her daughter. She remembered the pain she felt in the alley. She had tried to crawl towards the exit but it was blank afterwards. 

"It hurts so much," was the first coherent sentence that Anna Collins could manage to form, then, "Is that my daughter? Let me see her."

"I'll ask Dr. Geoffrey if they can give you some stronger painkiller. He said they were already giving you one. What is your name?" Chris asked again.

"Are you a nurse?" Anna asked tears still flowing down from her cheeks.

"No, I am not a nurse. I am Chris Taylor, a teacher. I found you in an alley the night before last. You are in a hospital now and you are safe from whoever did this to you. I don't know what happened but I gave my word to your daughter that I will not leave you until I see both of you are fine so I am staying. I have no attachments and the whole weekend off to stay here if needed, meaning you are lucky. This, by the way, is your daughter who is also fine, although the doctor said that she came a little early. The police think you are Anna Collins and they are trying to reach your uncle but we don't know if he's going to show up yet. Oh, here's Dr. Geoffrey who took care of you when I brought you in here."

"Well, well, look who is awake. I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon."

"It hurts a lot."

"You have a few broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken arm, and lost a considerable amount of blood. We had to make an emergency C-section to save you and your baby and adding the fact that somebody used you for a punching bag just before all this happened can be the reason. I'll order another shot of painkiller. Do you remember what happened to you?"

She started crying again and, in a barely audible voice, said, "Yes."

Chris interrupted the doctor, "Aren't you a little harsh? I'll try to talk to her after the medication takes effect. Do you think she can make a statement?"

"If she feels up to it, yes, but I'd advise her to wait until tomorrow at least. What is your name, by the way?"

"Anna Collins," was the trembling answer.

Chris turned to Anna, "Do you think you can make a statement to the police? It might do good to clear my name out of all this."

A weak "yes" was heard and Dr.Geoffrey said it was fine with him, he would call Sergeant Young. He gave instructions for a new painkiller and left.

Heather came in with the new medicine and after she injected it into the IV she asked Anna if she would like to breastfeed her daughter.

"Yes, but I don't know if I can manage it."

"I will help. You won't be able to sit or turn on your side for a few days. Mr. Taylor, can you give the little angel to me and leave for a while. I hope she's hungry."

Chris handed the little baby to Heather after kissing her forehead and whispering, "Little angel, hold on to your mother. I'll be back shortly."

He went upstairs to the cafe where he had a quick late lunch and back to room 205 where he wanted to be when the police came. He knocked and heard Heather's voice.

"Come in."

"I hope you're done. Are you feeling better now, Ms. Collins?"

"I feel like trash."

"Don't say so. You'll be fine in a short while. Is the pain better?"

Heather popped her head in, "The sergeant is here, I'll take the baby to pediatrics so they can check her and change her diapers."

"Please bring her back."Anna pleaded.

"I will."

"Mr. Taylor, can you stay? I don't want to be alone," Anna asked, quite unsure of herself.

"I'll ask the cop. I don't know know what their procedure is."

"Thank you."

The cop who had taken Chris's statement earlier came in after knocking.

"I thought you wouldn't be on duty today."

"I thought you would be long gone by now."

"Oh, here's Ms. Collins. She is awake but hasn't told anything to us yet. Can I stay with you while you write down her statement?"

"Normally we don't allow that. Give me five minutes. If it's fine with her, I'll make an exception for you afterwards." Sergeant Young answered and continued speaking to Ms. Collins. Chris went out of the room.

"I am Sergeant Mark Young, Ms. Collins. This tape here will record all you say and I am going to get that written down once I get back to the station, then I will request you to read and sign the statement. Ok?"

"Ok."

"Firstly, what is your name?"

"Anna Collins."

"Do you know the man who just went out of your room?"

"He introduced himself to me as Mr. Taylor."

"Did you know him before? Does he have anything to do with the state you are in right now?"

"No, I didn't know him. And, no, he hasn't done anything to me."

"Do you want him to be in this room while I record your statement?"

"Can he?"

"If you want, I'll call him in."

"Please."

Sergeant Taylor went out and invited Chris in and started questioning her again.

"Can you tell me what happened to you on the night you were found?"

"It was Stephen who had decided to get rid of me at last."

"Who is this Stephen?"

"The guy who kidnapped me, locked me up, treated me like a slave, physically and sexually and beat me and left me to die in that dark alley."

"Is he the father of the baby?"

"Yes, but he never wanted her."

"Where can we find this guy?"

"I don't know. I was going home one night after work when he dragged me into his car. He made me smell something, and I don't remember where we went after that. I woke up in a windowless room and have practically been there ever since then. I don't even know how much time has passed. What's the date today?"

"Friday, April 14." 

"It has been so long. When he realized I was pregnant he went mad but he couldn't take me out for an abortion. He used to beat me, trying for a miscarriage but it never happened and last night he decided to get rid of me totally, I guess."

"Do you have any idea who he is? Did you hear any voices in the house or near the house that can help us to identify the place?"

"No, I have no idea, but he seemed to have followed me for quite a while before he kidnapped me. He knew that my parents were dead and there wouldn't be anybody who would look for me once I went missing. And, no, it was quiet. Maybe it was soundproof. I couldn't even hear the street noise. I've been so alone and afraid for my baby. I was afraid of going crazy. I tried to get out but he had me locked up in a little room. About the other night, I don't remember being dumped in an alley. I must have been unconscious. But I remember trying to get myself out of there. I thought it was a nightmare. I wished it to be one."

"Would you recognize the guy if you looked at some photos?"

"I sure would, although I'd rather not see him again."

"I would like you to come to the police station and look at some photo albums after you are discharged from the hospital. Do you have any place to go?"

"I was living in my parents' house on Down Street. I guess I'll go back there if it's still standing."

"Ms. Collins, I would like to and have to interrogate this case further but I do need your cooperation. I understand that you are not very well right now. I'll trust this man to bring you to the station after you are discharged. By the way, I brought your statement in for you to sign, Mr.Taylor."

"Thank you. Can I have a few words with you outside?"

"Let's go out."

They went out side by side and Chris asked the cop if he knew the address of the house she was talking about. He said the department ran a check on it and it was standing just like it was left about a year ago. The uncle hadn't bothered to show up and assume the place.

"Can you help me get in? I don't think she has the key. I want to have the place ready to go by the time she can go there."

"Meet me at 153 Down Street tomorrow at 10 o'clock."

"I owe you a lot, man."

"You seem like a decent man. Take good care of her. She will have lots of problems."

"You can count on me."

"I hope so."

Chris went back into the room, found that she was crying and he couldn't say anything. Mumbling something about checking the baby, he went out again.

Praying "Dear God, please help me find the power to help her," he sat in a chair in the corridor until Heather came with the baby.

"I'll be going home in fifteen minutes. She did fine with her mother and I'll give information about her situation to Nina who will be taking over for the night. Will you stay?"

"I don't know. I'll ask Ms. Collins and I have to go home to change some time anyway," Chris answered, thinking about Lisa and how he would go to that house to pack his things. He needed to find a new apartment first. He couldn't move to his own house because the rental agreement was not expired yet.

"I have to take the baby back if you are not staying."

"Let's go in and ask."

Chris knocked on the door and entered the room together with Heather and the baby.

"Ms. Collins, I would like to stay here for the night but, if you don't want, I can go and come back in the morning."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I gave my promise to this little one. Does she have a name?"

"I thought of calling her Angela. She seems like a little angel."

"That's what I thought, too. Would you like me to stay? Heather has to take Angela back if I'm going."

"How would I trust you? What if you are a friend of Stephen?" The thought had just came to her. A few moments ago she couldn't stand being alone. Now, she couldn't bring herself to trust a man she didn't know.

"I can only give my word and add that I'd gladly beat him senseless if I had the chance of knowing who and where he is," Chris answered angrily.

"Heather, do you know this man?" Anna asked the nurse.

"No, but after all he went through for you, I started to believe that he is of a rare species. He was practically awake all of the last two nights checking on you and the baby."

"Then it would be too much to ask for you to stay although I'd like Angela to be close to me."

"I need to go, take a bath, shave and change but I'd gladly come back. Believe me or not, there is a little voice in me nagging all the time that I should see that you two are fine."

"It is hard to stay alone after all that time alone. I keep thinking he'll come back," Anna muttered. She was going back to her own inside world.

"Nina, the nurse on duty after Heather, will keep an eye on you until I come back then."

"I'll take Angela back to pediatrics. You can take her on your way back," Heather interrupted.

"Thanks, will I see you tomorrow?" Chris asked Heather.

"I'll be here on duty tomorrow morning. See you, Ms. Collins. Angela, say bye to your mother."

Chris went out to his car and headed towards his old apartment. Luckily neither George nor Lisa were there. He didn't feel like he could stand another confrontation. He packed some of his belongings in two suitcases, left a note telling George to send his other stuff to his parents house and took off. After giving some thought on where to go, he decided on the Stardust Hotel for a few days until he found a new apartment.

The shower was like a blessing. The hot water falling on his shoulders erased all the tension that was collected during the last two days. He fell on the bed relaxed and tired and looked around the hotel room. It was a standard one with plain ivory wallpaper, two single beds, a TV and a minibar. There was a cheap painting hanging over the television about some forest, just like the kind they teach you to paint in five minutes on tv. He liked it though. Especially the bed seemed comfortable and welcoming.

He thought, "I need to plan my schedule for the classes next week." And feeling miserable he fell asleep.

Two hours later he jumped from a nightmare starring Anna and an unknown man. He knew he had to go to the hospital but his stomach was growling from neglect. Deciding to give the hotel restaurant a chance, he went downstairs. About an hour later he figured that he felt fine to go.

Angela was crying and the nurse was desperately trying to console her when he reached pediatrics.

"I have come for that little crying angel," he said, recognizing the baby.

"Are you sure? She seems like a little devil to me right now. I haven't been able to stop her crying although she has just seen her mother."

Chris took the baby in his arms. "Maybe she doesn't want to be away from her." And the baby stopped crying immediately.

The stunned nurse looked at Chris and said, "Maybe she doesn't want to be away from you."

"I can handle her from now on. I'll be with them through the night. When is the changing time?" Chris said with a renewed courage he gained from Angela.

"Here, take these diapers and baby wipes. You'll know when to change."

"It seems like you want to get rid of her."

"I've got five other crying babies here. If you can take care of her, it'll be a great relief."

"I'll try though I will bring her back if I can't manage it."

"Thanks."

So Chris went back to Room 205 with Angela, diapers and baby wipes. He saw Nina behind the desk where Heather sat during the day.

"Hello, Mr.Taylor. I am glad you're back. Ms. Collins is not feeling very well, I think. She could use some company."

"Is her health ok?"

"As fine as she can be but she is restless and can't sleep."

"It's no wonder after all she's been through. Let's see if Angela can change her mood."

The door was open for Nina to be able to see Anna if she needed something and he walked right in. "Ms. Collins, I thought you would be asleep by now," and added with a cheerful voice, "Sorry it took me so long. I had to go back to my old place to pack and check in a hotel where I fell asleep."

"Never mind. I thought you wouldn't come back. Why did you, anyway? I cleared your name, didn't I? You shouldn't be interrupting your life because of me," Anna said with an edgy voice. 

"No interruption on my side, it was something I had to do as soon as possible," Chris answered patiently. He knew the road to gaining her trust wasn't full of flowers.

"Why?"

"Because I caught my fiancee in my bed having wild sex with my apartment mate and decided to let both of them go to hell by moving out."

"Sorry."

"Well, maybe you should thank them. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be wandering out on the streets in the middle of a weekday night to find you."

"And you could have been dead," Chris thought further, the thought making him more uneasy than he'd like to.

"Well, I don't know how to thank you and I have no idea why you're doing this but thank you. You are our hero." Anna said nervously and pointing to Angela she continued in a softer voice, "She is a miracle. Can you hold her close to me? I wonder how she can look at me and not be afraid. I must be looking terrible. Nina refused to give me a mirror."

"She has some right not to but I'm sure very soon you will be as beautiful as you've been before. Here you are. Is this ok?" Chris put the baby right in front of her mother's face and held her there.

"This is good," Anna said and closing her eyes she fell asleep as she smelled her baby daughter.

*

Thanks a lot for your patience, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. Don't forget to vote, please, it only takes a second.



Angel's Call Ch. 05-06



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

Chapter Five

Chris examined Anna's features for a while. She had long curly blondish brown hair which was tied in a ponytail but a few strands fell on her face. Her face was almost completely bruised making it hard to imagine her real features. And her eyes were green, he remembered. The light in them was lost but he hoped to see that light back in her eyes before he went out of Anna and Angela's lives.

Anna was sleeping in peace when Chris changed Angela's diaper and found that it wasn't such a hard thing to do. About midnight Anna started crying and trying to free herself from the hospital equipment in her sleep.

Chris tried to wake her up first. But possibly because of the effect of the medication she was taking, she couldn't wake up. Then he took her hand into one of his hand and held her in place with his other hand and started to talk soothingly.

"Ms. Collins, please calm down. You are safe now. You are not with Stephen. You are safe. I am here. Please calm down. You will wake Angela."

Anna calmed down and went back to her sleep but she didn't seem very comfortable and about an hour later she woke up screaming.

"Help me! Help me!"

Chris rushed to her side and made her look at him to make her understand that she was in a safe place now. Nina ran to the room and asked if anything was wrong. 

"Ms. Collins was having a nightmare but she is awake now," Chris answered.

"Are you feeling fine, Ms.Collins? As you are awake, you may as well feed Angela."

"Y-yes, I think I am fine," Anna said, trying to gather her thoughts and get rid of the effects of the nightmare. "Please bring her here."

"I'll go out for a cup of coffee," Chris said.

Half an hour later, when Chris returned, room 205 was again in peace with its members soundly sleeping. He decided to doze off in the chair, too.

Around four in the morning Angela woke up hungrily. Nina helped Anna again while Chris waited outside.

Heather woke Chris up when she came on duty. He couldn't remember having a more uncomfortable sleep since two days ago. Now it felt like he didn't sleep at all. Anna and Angela were yet asleep. Heather said she has to wake Anna up for medication and she would take the IV out, too. 

"Angela should be hungry by now, too. I'll go up for breakfast." Chris said and went out before Heather woke Anna up.

It seemed like he was getting used to this unhealthy breakfast style of coffee and sandwich but that was the best he could get there. Remembering his appointment with Sergeant Young, he checked his watch and saw that he had about half an hour to leave the hospital.

He went down to room 205 to find a restless Anna.

"I thought you were gone," she said like a stubborn kid.

"I said I won't, not until I see both you and Angela are fine and that means that I'll see you get out of this hospital. But I have to go now for a couple of hours. Will you be ok?"

She suddenly seemed oblivious, "It seems strange to see the sun shine. I never gave much thought to it before. It is beautiful. There is so much darkness on this world, though, so much darkness it cannot shed a candle light on."

"Ms. Collins, I have to go but I'll be back, ok?"

"Call me Anna, please. Yes, Heather has to take Angela to pediatrics, I guess, while you are not here."

"Yes, she will but please concentrate on thinking positive things and watch some TV while I am gone. I'll tell Heather that I am going. See you soon."

Chris arrived at 153 Down Street ten minutes early and waited in his car for Sergeant Young to show up. It was a lovely two storey detached house with a small garden which was in a mess due to neglect. The sergeant arrived on time accompanied by a locksmith. A neighbor asked questions about what was going on and after the sergeant shortly told her that Anna would be back in a few days and they were there to prepare the house for her, she disappeared into her own house.

The locksmith produced two keys to the house. Chris thanked him, paid for his service and went inside with Sergeant Young.

"Wow, this place needs a thorough cleaning," said the sergeant.

"And painting," continued Chris, "and a room arrangement for Angela."

"I somehow trust you to make the best out of this. Do you know when they are going to discharge her out of the hospital?"

"Dr.Geoffrey said it is up to her development but in case she has a helper at home, it might be as soon as a week."

"My mother has a friend who is a retired nurse. I'll call her if you want."

"That will be fine. Thank you. You seem to care for Ms. Collins more than just a case," Chris stated.

"Man, your enthusiasm in this must have effected me. Keep the keys. You can give them to Ms. Collins after you are done. Don't think I won't check on you, anyway." 

"Can I ask one more favor?"

"Yes."

"Don't tell her anything about this before I get a chance to explain it, all right?"

"Not a word, I swear."

"Thanks."

Chris phoned his parents' housekeeper and asked for a reliable cleaning company. After arranging the cleaning for Wednesday, he made a mental note to pay the electricity, water and gas bills the next day so that the house would be ready for the cleaners.

He went through the rooms and found that there were three bedrooms upstairs, one of which seemed like Anna's childhood room. There was a single bed on the post of which was a beautiful violet rose, a closet which contained some worn out toys, and an oriental rug which seemed gray because of the dust. The sun was trying to shine happily through the dusty window. 

"This is the room," the little voice had spoken again. He agreed that it would be the best room to convert for Angela. Deciding to come back after the cleaning company did its job, he went back to the hotel, and took his laptop and some books to make plans for the next week's classes while he was in the hospital.

When he came back it was past noon. Anna was dozing but he could see it was a restless sleep. He left his stuff by her bedside and walked down the corridor to take Angela. A doctor said she had to be kept in an incubator for a while as she had developed jaundice but they would take her to Anna during feeding times. He felt the world move beneath his feet and asked the doctor if she was going to be all right. The doctor did his best to assure him that this was a pretty common case and she would be well after a day or two in phototherapy. Chris tried to look brave and went back to Anna hoping that she wouldn't ask about Angela for a while. 

After crying for some time after hearing about Angela's sickness, she calmed down and started to watch TV with unseeing eyes. Chris settled down to prepare his weekly class schedule and explained to her that he has to be away at school during the week but he would come back after school as long as she needed him. She didn't answer; she was away from this world.

The week started with Chris dozing off once more in the chair. Angela was better but was to be kept under the blue light. Anna was barely speaking. He went to school, ran to the electric, water and gas departments in his lunch break, went back to school in the afternoon and was in time to see that Anna refused to eat her dinner made up of disgusting hospital food according to Chris but he had to persuade her to eat at least some of it, if not for herself, for Angela.

Tuesday was almost the same with his lunchbreak spent in a baby shop, this time. He bought everything that a little baby girl could need and want and left the shop with a much lighter wallet than he had brought in. The items would be delivered to her house on Friday, which was the day he was planning to skip going to school for the second week in a row. The end of the semester was not far and children were already in spring mood anyway. Some discussion with Dr.Geoffrey revealed the fact that she might be well enough to go home by Monday, so he had to be quick. Mrs. Sanders, the retired nurse friend of Sergeant Young's mother, would also come on Friday. He hoped she would be a nice old lady who would like to help him arrange and prepare the house.

Wednesday's lunchbreak was spent in checking the cleaners, Thursday's lunchbreak went to painting and arranging Angela's room. He decided not to paint the rest of the house as there was no time and he didn't actually know what color she would like. On Thursday afternoon a gardener came and put the little garden in order with green grass all over, neat bushes on the borders and some flowery plants here and there. 

He kept going to see Anna in the evenings and stayed through the nights. She physically looked better now and could sit with some help but she was crying at odd moments, not talking very much and seemed timid. Dr.Geoffrey advised therapy but she didn't want it.

On Friday, the house was almost ready. Mrs. Sanders came and, deciding to help the guy, ran an inventory of kitchen stuff and made a long list that she thought had to be bought for the young mother and the baby. Chris went out and did the shopping and while Mrs. Sanders put them in the pantry, the baby stuff which Chris had bought for Angela a few days ago, were delivered.

"Oh, look how cute the little flowers on this bed are," Mrs. Sanders shouted. "You even bought a little merry-go-round! Oh, I love this lullaby. How sweet of you to go through all this for her. She must have a big wallet for all this though."

"No, I didn't charge her for anything and I won't."

"What? You are unbelievable kind. Why are you doing all this then?"

"I feel sorry for what happened to her and want to help, that's all."

Mrs. Sanders left Chris to organize Angela's room talking to herself, "I didn't think such men existed on this planet."

Chapter Six

When Chris entered room 205 that night the house was ready for its new guests but he saw that Anna wasn't ready to go at all. She was crying once more.

"Anna, are you in pain? Can I do anything to help you?"

"No, you can't bring my last year back, can't erase my memories of that horrible man, can't even understand me. Why are you so helpful to me? Are you some kind of freak obsessed with me, too? I don't need you. I don't need your pity, so go. I don't need you."

Chris felt his joy shatter. He had come to tell her that her house was ready but he forgot about that and only blurted that Mrs. Sanders, who will help her after the hospital discharged her, will come in the morning.

"I guess I should go. Goodbye, sweet angel. Take good care of your mother," Chris said to Angela and kissed her on her forehead as loving as a father can be. He could swear the little voice shouting angrily, "Don't go!"

When he went out of the room he saw Nina and told her that he wasn't needed anymore. Nina stared at the door unbelievingly and went in to ask if Anna needed something. She returned in a few minutes to confront Chris.

"She is lying in her bed like she doesn't want to live anymore, and she is crying again," Nina reported to Chris. 

"I don't think I'll be able to leave her like this and go."

"I figured you were not the kind. Do you have a plan?"

"I'll sit and think for a while. Maybe I can seek some advice from a shrink. Do you have one here?"

"Let me see, there's Dr. Boots on duty tonight. I'll call him to see if he has some free time."

"You are an angel, too."

"Thanks for the compliment though I'd advise you to wait before you jump to conclusions. He might not be available." She spoke into the phone at the nurses' station, "Hello, this is Nina. Can I talk to Dr. Boots?"

Nina arranged a meeting between Dr. Boots and Chris in his office in half an hour so Chris sat and waited for the most part of that thirty minutes trying to figure out a way to help Anna.

"That looks like a very classical case of strong emotional trauma," Dr. Boots said, "and I'd very much advise therapy."

"Her doctor couldn't persuade her to do that and right now as far as I know she has no relatives who would care about her well being. It's only me and I am a stranger who has just been kicked out of her room. The only time she is conversational is when Angela is around, she has been crying most of the time, doesn't eat if not forced, has nightmares in her sleep and I sometimes think she doesn't even want to live."

"She feels she has the right to all of that," the doctor commented. "You could let her feel her grief for a while, because a year is a long time. It takes time to heal that kind of wound. Acting as if it never happened won't help. Maybe you could use Angela, if Anna doesn't hate her. After all she is the daughter of her kidnapper. Concentrate on good things around her. Try to make her take over her daughter's responsibility. Talk about good weather although she seems to be in a hurricane. Take both of them out for a walk in the park on a sunny day. 

"Don't try to make her tell all that has happened during the last year but try to make her see that she couldn't change what happened and has to go on. Concentrate on today. Relaxation techniques can help. Be sure this retired nurse help of yours is somewhat bossy. She has to have Ms. Collins eat and do things in the house. Don't leave her with nothing to do for long periods to think over and over on what had happened to her. Try some natural remedies like St. John's Wort, fennel or even lime tea."

"You sound promising but how will I get her to let me into her life to do all that?"

"Does she have any other choice? Well, don't give up on her. She must be really scared from everything right now, including you. It is really unusual for a man to go through so much for somebody whom he doesn't know and it might be scaring her that you could be someone obsessed with her just like the other guy who kidnapped her. Are you?"

"Well, I don't know myself. I simply have a feeling that I've got to see that she is fine. It was quite a miracle to find her and thinking that both she and Angela could've been dead if I wasn't there makes me want to make sure that they are ok."

"At least that sounds like a healthy kind of obsession. Good luck and give me a call if you need to. I could advise some medication for depression, if you can convince her."

"Thanks."

Chris wanted to see Anna for a last time before he went home, so he went to room 205. 

"How did your meeting with Dr. Boots go?" Nina asked.

"He gave me a few tips. I can just pray that they'll work. Where's Angela?"

"In the room, asleep. I'll call pediatrics when she wakes up and is fed."

"How is Ms. Collins doing?"

"She is also asleep right now, I think."

"I'll check before I go."

"So you'll be getting a bed to sleep on tonight. A comfortable change."

"How come you are here every night? Don't you do rounds?"

"I packed in my duties in this week. I need to take some time off next week."

"Oh, I see. It must be overwhelming to be here every night."

"It has its benefits and drawbacks. The benefit is a hot, sandy beach with an equally hot guy, next week."

While walking into the dimly lighted room, Chris tried to imagine the woman in a swimsuit but decided that she would prefer a bikini. The hot guy in question was lucky. Nina was a hot blonde with good proportions of curves. She was beautiful, too. A young, bright face and strong build. She must have been doing some kind of sports. 

The room was disturbingly quiet. He went to Angela first, kissed her forehead and wished her good night. Then he approached Anna. She was really sleeping but restless again. He could see in the pale bedside lamp that her bruises had started to get lighter, her hair fell onto the pillow and her hand was over the sheets. It was nice to see her getting well, at least physically. And just at that moment she started to cry in her sleep. He reached and held her hand in his. 

"Calm down, you aren't in danger anymore. Please let me help you," he said softly.

Anna calmed down surprisingly and a few moments later opened her eyes which showed a great relief along with a faint smile when she saw Chris, then closed her eyes to a more peaceful sleep. Chris took this as a hint that she was pleased that he was there. 

He stood but, as he let her hand go, Anna started to toss around again. He tried holding her hand again and saw with relief that it calmed her so he sat there like that until Nina came in.

"It is Angela's milk time. You said you were going to go."

"I couldn't. Everytime I let her hand go, she gets restless. But wait, I'd better not be here when she wakes up. She had kicked me out anyway."

"Fine. I'll wait until you go out. Where can I find you?"

"Right outside."

Nina touched Anna's shoulder, "Ms. Collins, it is time for Angela."

Anna woke up startled. She had just had a dream where Chris was holding her hand in a garden full with colorful wild flowers. Angela was hopping around them and she was happy. Waking up to a dark and lonely hospital room in the middle of the night made her feel depressed once again. Nina arranged the pillows at her back and held Angela. 

"Has Mr. Taylor gone?" Anna asked.

"He said you kicked him out which wasn't very wise of you if you ask me," Nina answered trying to avoid the direct answer.

"Why is that?"

"Because he is the only person you've got in this world who really cares about your and Angela's well being right now and you are such a fool to lock his generosity out."

"He could be a freak just like Stephen. He looks obsessed with me and even if he is not he has gone through enough trouble for me anyway."

"Try to see him as a good friend. All the personnel whom he had a word with think that he is a kind modern hero and a rare species of some kind. I have a feeling that he isn't the kind to kidnap and abuse women." 

"Angela is done on this side, I think," Anna said to Nina and added quietly, "I don't know where to go if Dr. Geoffrey discharges me."

"You said your parents had a house."

"Yes, but it must be in ruins after a year of neglect and I just can't afford to run it on unemployment money." She started to cry. "I don't even have clothes to put on other than this hospital gown!"

"I have a feeling that everything's going to be all right. Try to get some sleep."

Nina went out to find Chris sitting and dozing off in the chair right outside the door. 

"Hi, handsome. I think you might have a chance with Ms. Collins. She's just asked about you and you owe me a dinner for the compliments you got from me."

"Thanks. Shall I sign an IOU?"

"Don't bother. Just your promise will be enough. I see how stubborn you are in keeping those."

"I promise that once she gets all right I'll have you out to dinner."

"She said something about her house being in ruins and that she doesn't have any clothes to put on once she's discharged from here."

"I took care of the house and I'll take care of the rest tomorrow."

"Somehow I knew that!"

"Don't tell her about it please. I'm hoping I can have a chance to explain it to her tomorrow."

"Fine by me. Are you going to go back in?"

"I'll check her before I go."

"I've heard that script somewhere... Wait, it was four hours ago, wasn't it?" Nina said teasingly.

"Oh, all right. I'll try better this time. Can you check if she's asleep?"

After Nina verified that Anna was sleeping Chris went in to say goodbye for the third time during that night. He found Angela was restless this time indicating that she needed to burp. He took her to his shoulder and patted her back lightly until that releasing sound came and she fell asleep. Anna had woken up to Angela's whining but Chris didn't know that she watched him quietly while he helped the baby. After an initial fear of this man hurting Angela, she saw his love for the baby; a part of her wanted to believe that he was a nice man after all and not wanting him to see her awake she shut her eyes.




Angel's Call Ch. 05-06



Chris walked towards the bed and put a light kiss on Anna's forehead saying, "I'll never hurt you. Good night." She wanted to open her eyes and tell him not to go because she didn't feel safe when he was away but she couldn't. Chris decided to use the room and the nice bed he was supposed to occupy at the hotel and headed out.

Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote, please, it only takes a second. 



Angel's Call Ch. 07-08



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

The next morning he met Mrs. Sanders at the reception area of the hospital, introduced her to staff he knew by then and explained her how Anna didn't know about his involvement in the preparation of the house and the need to buy her some clothes afterwards so she should try to get Anna's clothing sizes and that he would be paying Mrs. Sanders. She didn't need to know more than the hospital provided the housecare. 

"How am I going to explain the house?" Mrs. Sanders asked unbelievingly. 

"Tell her you think it is some kind of insurance that she had. I don't think she'll inquire more."

"What about the food in the fridge? Those haven't been there for a year for sure."

"Tell her that you bought them and you will expect her to pay once she gets her unemployment paycheck. Here is the receipt. You can show her that and buy new food with the money."

This man was doing everything he could to make life comfortable for this poor woman whose life was in a mess right now and Mrs. Sanders didn't quite understand why he didn't want the credits for that.

"Why don't you want her to know?"

"Because she will feel more in debt to me and is already thinking that I am some kind of freak who is obsessed with her, which scares the hell out of her after her last year."

"I still don't understand, I must admit, but I'll cooperate. I'd like to talk to Dr. Geoffrey. I'd like to get first hand information on her state of health."

Heather was at the desk in front of room 205 when they arrived.

"Hello, Mr. Taylor. I hear Nina has taken a promise for a dinner from you. I'm jealous."

"Don't worry. I'll call you, too. Do you know where Dr. Geoffrey is?"

"Yippee, thank you. I'll page him here. Who is this?"

"Mrs. Sanders will look after Ms. Collins once she is discharged."

"We'll miss you around here. Here's the doctor."

"Good morning, Mr. Taylor. Is there anything new?"

"Good morning, doctor. I have to ask you because I've been out for the most of the night."

"That's a change. I thought you were upstairs having our delicious hospital breakfast during my morning rounds. She seemed as depressed and reserved as she was before. Didn't say a word but her physical health is getting better."

"Good morning, Dr. Geoffrey. I am Melinda Sanders. I'll be taking care of Ms. Collins once she is discharged. Can you summarize the situation for me and when do you think you'll let her go?"

"Sure, nice to meet you, by the way. She has had a C-section eight days ago. Her left leg is broken but she will be able to walk with crutches once her broken ribs and arm get strong enough, which will not be at least for another week. That's why she cannot sit or stand up right now, is in need of constant help with her baby and her needs. I expect she'll be able to sit with support and hold her baby with her good arm in two to three days." 

He continued without a pause, "The only medication I'll prescribe will be pain killers and sleeping pills once I discharge her and I have been keeping her here mainly because she wouldn't be able to survive on her own but I figure you two have created a team for her. So I can just let her go. I know the baby was an early comer but is doing well right now. I have to ask her doctor but I think it will be ok if you can bring her in for control when you take Ms. Collins in for control and I will discharge her now!"

"Wait, wait," Chris jumped in, "can we delay the discharge until tomorrow morning? There are things I have to coordinate. This was too quick. I was not expecting it to be for a couple of days more."

"Oh, ok. I'll get the paperwork done and hand it to Heather. You should deal with accounting. I don't know who is paying for her."

"I'll check but I hope she has some kind of insurance covering her situation. Otherwise I get to pay," Chris said.

He told Mrs. Sanders to go in and introduce herself to Anna and tell her that she'll come tomorrow morning to pick her up to take her to her house. He wasn't sure if she would like to see him and he wanted to go and check on the financial stuff.

What he found out was partly relieving. Her insurance paid for Anna's expenses but it didn't cover Angela, so he paid for Angela hoping his savings account would survive the month. When he went back Mrs. Sanders was out. She told him that Anna didn't really take her for granted but she knew she had to be content with what was offered, asked if Mr. Taylor would come. Mrs. Sanders had answered with a non-consoling, "I don't know."

The two teammates went shopping afterwards. A long skirt for Anna, a wool sweater and a nice coat, even some underwear, some make up and other stuff that Mrs. Sanders thought would be needed; some baby clothes other than what Chris already bought and placed at Angela's room, diapers, baby wipes, baby shampoo,... and sometime during the afternoon Chris started to think that he had really gone crazy. He even thought he had heard the little voice telling him about her favorite color and style a couple of times.

They packed the things in a suitcase which would be taken to Anna the next morning. They were to meet in front of room 205 the next morning at eight. The agreement was that Chris would be the driver to her house and leave Anna and Mrs. Sanders to settle. He gave her his mobile number in case they needed anything and remembering that they didn't have a baby seat for the car he went to buy one.

The next morning, Mrs. Sanders was on time but Chris had overslept. Around a quarter to nine he showed up at the end of the corridor with puffy eyes. He had on an unironed white cotton shirt, a pair of faded jeans and two days of moustache.

"Look at yourself. What happened? I've been waiting here for the good part of an hour!"

"Excuse me. I have overslept and don't even have the vaguest memory of shutting off the alarm clock. I practically ran here."

"Maybe you should at least wash your face before you show that pretty face of yours to Ms. Collins. She could wait for a few minutes more."

"Here, take this razor. We have them for patients," Heather interrupted, "and hand me the shirt. I'll get it ironed downstairs." 

Chris took off his shirt and headed for the bathroom and, seeing what a mess he was in the mirror, he decided to shave after all. He was somewhat more presentable in ten minutes after he put on his pressed shirt.

Mrs. Sanders was with Anna, helping her to dress when Chris came in. "See, this is more like it." she said cheerfully. "Let's get our patient out of this gloomy place."

Chris spoke hesitatingly. He was afraid to be rejected. 

"Good morning, Anna. I hope you won't be disappointed that I will be driving you home."

Anna was completely quiet. She had put on the clothes which Mrs. Sanders had brought. Her bruises were still not gone but Mrs. Sanders had managed to put some make-up on her face to cover most of them. Heather entered the room with a wheelchair. Mrs. Sanders and Chris helped Anna move to the wheelchair and Chris took Angela in his arms as Heather was wheeling Anna out. He loved holding and talking to the baby. They placed Angela in the baby seat and Anna in the rest of the back seat while Mrs. Sanders sat in the front. Angela didn't say a word until she saw her house then she burst into tears.

"I thought it would be in ruins. Did my uncle take care of this?" she managed in between sobs.

Mrs. Sanders looked at Chris and decided not to say anything until directly asked.

Chris held Anna in his arms carefully. He could see that she stiffened and fear settled in her eyes along with the pain but there was no other way of taking her inside. Mrs. Sanders took Angela and the group went into the sitting room on the first floor. Chris put Anna down on the sofa which was arranged by Mrs. Sanders to her comfort and Chris had stopped by and placed a cute swinging chair, which he had bought along with the car seat, next to the sofa last night.

Once everybody was placed Anna had a lot of questions in her mind but she couldn't get herself to talk. Mrs. Sanders excused herself to carry her luggage into her room and settle. Chris asked Anna if he could stay for a while and play with Angela and then he had to plan his class schedules for the next week. 

"You cannot take her out of my sight," Anna commanded.

"I promise I won't leave this room. Would you like to watch TV? It must be boring not to be able to move although Dr. Geoffrey said that you'll sit without much pain in two days."

"He knows so much! I am the one in pain."

"Would you like to take a painkiller?"

"No!"

"Fine. Here's the remote for the TV and the stereo. Do whatever you want. Little angel, did you like the trip in the car? Yes, if we can persuade mama I can take you out sometime. What did you say? No, it won't be a problem for me but it might be a little disturbing for other women to see me with two beautiful women. Look, your chair rocks like this. Isn't it time for you to sleep? You know I have a terrible voice but let me try... silent night, holy night, all is warm and all is bright... Already asleep? I had just started singing. Anyway, I have to go now. See you in the evening. Take care of your mama."

Chris had talked and played with the baby as if Anna wasn't there. Leaving Angela asleep, he saw that neither the TV nor the stereo was on. He asked Anna if she'd like anything and went out. He met Mrs. Sanders in the kitchen preparing lunch.

"I have to go now but I'll be back in the evening to help you carry Anna upstairs to her room. Angela's asleep right now but she might need a change of diapers shortly. Try to get Anna to take over some of the tasks of the baby. The doctor said she should be able to sit in two days. We'll take them to the hospital for control on Wednesday. I'll arrange a couple of free hours in the morning. And beware that this Stephen guy is still out there somewhere. He might figure out that she is still alive. Call Sergeant Young and me at the smallest strange thing you see. Always lock the doors. I am trusting you to keep Anna occupied. Bye."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of both. Be back for dinner. See you in the evening."

Chris went to his hotel room and attacked his class preparation for the next week. He was finished by seven and was knocking on Anna's door at half past seven. He saw Mrs. Sanders look through the peephole and she let him in.

"How are we?" he asked.

"Well, I had to feed her lunch, had her watch some comedy movie on TV, even had her help with the preparation of dinner which took some time as she swore at me and the vegetables most of the time and had her change Angela's diaper a minute ago. I must admit she's a stubborn lady."

"What about Angela?"

"She was an angel all through."

They heard Angela start to cry and went into the sitting room. 

"Good evening, Anna," Chris said. "Let me see what this little angel wants. Hello, did you miss me? Yes, I missed you a lot, too. I had to go to prepare my schedule for the next week."

The baby had gone quiet as if she really listened to him. He was talking to her like nobody else was in the room, "Yes, I am a teacher. Don't make a sour face at me. You are too small to hate teachers. Besides most of my students like me. There's this little Becky, for example,..."

"I hate to interrupt your sweet conversation but dinner is ready and my stomach is growling," Mrs. Sanders said. She had arranged a coffee table in front of Anna and another larger one in front of where they would sit.

"I am not hungry," Anna said. She was disturbed from all that was going on around her and wanted to sleep.

"You should eat at least this soup. You're breastfeeding, you need to put liquid in to produce milk. I am going to make sure of that even if it means I have to feed you by squeezing your stubborn nose," Mrs. Sanders answered.

Anna didn't want to be embarrassed in front of Chris so without another word she ate the soup and Chris noticed she was sitting on her own, too. The bruises were now a lighter shade of brown and the soft light in the room made them blend into her skin color more. The swelling was almost gone, too. She looked beautiful even when she was being pigheaded and angry. 

Mrs. Sanders found a comedy show after dinner and they sat together and watched it with popcorn although Anna turned her back and didn't join them; Chris carried her upstairs to her room afterwards which she saw for the first time in a year. It was neat and clean and even her laundry was done. She had asked Mrs. Sanders about the situation of the house and received a vague, "It must be the insurance," answer. Chris noticed that she froze on being touched by him, her eyes turned blank, teeth clenched and her face showed that she was going through torture just to let him carry her.

Chris tucked her in bed, said good night, kissed Angela on her forehead as usual and went back to his hotel.

The next week passed more or less in a routine. He was stopping by Anna's house each morning before school to take her downstairs, even if she pretended to be asleep most of the time. But her body language told him that she didn't like to be touched. He went back for dinner and after dinner activities which included playing with Angela and Mrs. Sanders and telling them about his day at school. Anna never participated, mostly not even saying a word. 

Chris carried the statue-like Anna to bed and went back to the lonely hotel room every night to prepare himself for the next day and hope that she would be in a better mood. As far as he knew Mrs. Sanders did all she could do to keep her occupied during the day. She had Anna solve crossword puzzles, read the newspaper to her if she didn't, made her help prepare food, and left most of the baby care to her. The visit to the doctor on Wednesday proved that she could sit and by the end of the week she would be able to walk with crutches, too if her broken arm permitted.

Chris planned to take the group out to a park on the weekend as the weather forecast was nice and hot. He even borrowed a wheelchair for a few hours from the elderly home on the next street, thinking Anna wouldn't be able to walk. By the time he got to Anna's on Saturday, she was being as obstinate as she could be. She didn't want to get dressed, she didn't want to eat, she didn't want to go out, she didn't want to sit, there was nothing that she wanted to do. Angela was restless because of all the negative energy surrounding her and Mrs. Sanders looked like she was about to give up. 

Chris figured somewhere along the conversation that Anna was afraid to go out because Stephen could be there waiting for and watching her again. He called Sergeant Young to ask if they had anything new on the case. The sergeant reminded him that Anna should come to the station to give and sign her statement. It wasn't what he had planned but he thought they could as well be done with it and maybe Anna would recognize Stephen from the photo album. Leaving Angela back wasn't an option so the whole group including Mrs. Sanders drove to the police station.

Sergeant Young took Anna in the room alone. He asked her what she remembered about Stephen, what he wore, did he have a job, what time he went and came back to the house, if he cooked, was there any receipt or anything she saw that could be a clue to where he shops and his whereabouts, etc. It took them an hour and as Angela started to cry of hunger the door opened and the sergeant invited the rest of the group in. Mrs. Sanders gave Angela to Anna, threw a baby blanket over her shoulder and Angela and helped her feed the baby while the sergeant told them that they would evaluate the information to see if there was anything they could use and explained how they would go through the photo album after Anna described Stephen to a crime artist who would hopefully draw a picture of Stephen to be distributed to the stations and cops around the city.

Half an hour later the police had a robot photo of Stephen and Anna was sitting in front of a computer and clicking on pictures of known criminals and perverts in the state. An hour later she started crying. She was mumbling that they would never be able to find him. Chris took her hand, made her look at him.

"Look, Anna. The picture you helped them draw is pretty good. Let them do their job. This is enough for you today. We'll come back another day to look at more photos if you want. Meanwhile Mrs. Sanders or I will always be with you and I promise you that I won't let him do any harm to you or the baby. You see, I am quite stubborn in keeping my promises." 

She wiped her tears with her hands and thanked Chris but kept the frightened look on her face. Chris decided to take them to the park after all. It was a lovely day, the sun was shining and there was a slight wind. Thank god the temperature was suitable for a walk by the lake. It was a short and quiet one. Chris bought hamburgers for the group as they sat down on a bench. Angela was in her pram. 

Mrs. Sanders related stories from her youth when walking in the park hand in hand with a boy was something revolutionary and could mean that you had to marry the boy in question. Chris laughed a lot at the antics but Anna was again back in her own world. Neither the merry sounds of the children running around nor the romantic couple sitting hand in hand by the lakeside caught her attention. Chris tried to draw her into their conversation a few times but gave up. 

On the way back she said she wouldn't be able to help Mrs. Sanders with dinner and fell asleep in the car. She was still scared of being touched by a man and avoided Chris whenever she could but as she was sleeping Chris held her in his arms and carried her to the sitting room once again. This time as he put her down he kissed her forehead just like he used to kiss Angela. The smell of her shampoo reached him as he did. The little voice inside wished things were different.

After the cast on her leg was cut off, he wasn't needed to take her to her room each day. He was disappointed. He still wanted to see her and Angela, who was becoming prettier each day. After three weeks of agony, he had only stopped by for a few dinners and a weekend trip along the river to the northern side of the city where it was untouched by the modern construction monster. 

Mrs. Sanders had expressed that she missed him but Anna didn't say a word. She had wanted to go back to the station for more photos but he didn't have spare time as the holiday was coming in a month and he had to finish all the kinds of bureucracy which was on his tail so Mrs. Sanders, who was still there to look after the baby and Anna for one third of what she normally would have earned on a similar job, had gone with her. That was what Anna paid her; she was getting another one third from Chris and some support for other expenses, too. 

Meanwhile Chris and Sergeant Young had become closer friends. Mark introduced Chris to his group of friends who went out for drinks twice a week. Chris was accepted immediately and became a regular in their meetings.

Chris's parents came back from their long Europe journey in the middle of May. He didn't get a chance to explain about Anna and Angela before they were off to Africa this time. When he told them about Lisa, they said they were happy that he broke up with Lisa though. They had never liked her anyway. He moved his things to their place after the hotel. It was cheaper and easier to live in his parents' house. He didn't need to do house chores as the housekeeper was dropping by every other day. She was even leaving cooked meals for him. He had phoned Sergeant Young to ask if there was any information about Stephen but so far the police couldn't find anything.




Angel's Call Ch. 07-08



Chapter Eight 

One night, right after Chris went to bed, his mobile phone rang. 

"Chris, there's a man outside who is trying the lock on the door," Mrs. Sanders said silently.

"Call Sergeant Young. I'm on my way." Chris jumped out of the bed and ran out in his pajamas, only taking his coat on his way out.

Some of his neighbors peeked out of their windows to see what caused the screeching sound of his car and some even reported that a speeding vandal was in the neighborhood. When he reached Anna's house a police car was turning around the corner. They checked the outside of the house and found some footprints, samples of which they took. They tried the lock but the man obviously had a glove on so there were no fingerprints. 

Chris asked Mrs. Sanders if Anna was awake. She said that she was sleeping; she had taken sleeping medication that night. Then he asked the men to be more quiet and sent Mrs. Sanders upstairs to check on her again. When they were done with statements, Mrs. Sanders asked him if he could stay there. She was afraid. He said that he would but Anna would be curious if she found him in her house in pajamas. They agreed that a police patrol car would wait until the morning in front of the house and in the morning he would send Sergeant Young who will advise that somebody should stay with them.

"That will scare her but I will feel much safer if you stay here." Mrs. Sanders said.

After a long sleepless night he packed some of his things in a small suitcase and threw it into the back of his car. After meeting Sergeant Young in front of Anna's house, they knocked on the door and Mrs. Sanders opened it after a brief check through the peephole and the window on the side.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I can't say how glad I am to see you."

Sergeant Young smiled brightly, "Good morning. I am glad to see you, too, Aunt Melinda. Where is Ms. Collins?"

"Aunt Melinda?" Chris couldn't believe his ears.

"What else can I call my aunt?"

"Mrs. Sanders for example."

"Funny!"

"Anna is in the sitting room right now. I haven't told her anything about last night. Please try not to scare her more than she is."

"I'll give you ten minutes. Then I knock on the door."Chris explained. They had already made a plan. Sergeant Young was to go in first, warn Anna about possibilities of danger then Chris would go in. They were expecting that she would want him to stay.

"Ok."

They went into the sitting room in a row, Sergeant Young at the front and Mrs. Sanders at the back. It was obvious that they had something to tell.

"Good morning, Sergeant. You haven't come for a courtesy visit, I'd say. Do you have any news?"

"Good morning, Ms. Collins. I'm sorry, I don't have much good news for you but we believe that this Stephen might be feeling insecure nowadays because of our probing and might be wondering if it has anything to do with you. I don't want to scare you but there is a slight chance that he might start searching for you, that's why I have come to recommend that you should be more cautious and maybe have someone living with you."

"But there's Mrs. Sanders," Anna stuttered, her face white as snow.

"I mean someone who can protect you. Aunt Melinda can only look after you and the baby."

"Aunt Melinda? I didn't know you were relatives. Never gave a hint when we were at the police station."

"Well, when it became obvious that you'd need somebody to look after you at home, I recommended her to Chris."

"Chris? Is he your friend? This is becoming more confusing. What kind of a game are you playing?" Her mind was overworking. She thought they were part of a plot to return her to Stephen, maybe worse.

Chris chose to knock on the door at that unfortunate moment and Mrs. Sanders, who opened the door, briefed him shortly on what had happened before he entered the sitting room and she headed towards the kitchen.

"Good morning, Anna. I see you've got company." Chris said and deciding to avoid her turned towards Sergeant Young, "Oh, it's you Mark. What's up? Is there any news?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. I had come to recommend a few things to Ms. Collins. I have to get back on duty. See you. Goodbye, Ms. Collins. Think about what I said," Sergeant Young said in a breath and rushed outside to avoid more questioning.

Anna looked at Chris trying to make a sense out of what had happened then gave up. 

"Did you know that Mrs. Sanders was Sergeant Young's aunt?"

"I didn't know it until today," Chris tried to answer without lying and then went to Angela and had her giggling a little bit. He had bought a new rattler which seemed to interest her for a while but every time she tried to hold it, it dropped. Chris had endless patience with her. 

Anna spoke after a period of silence, "Did you arrange her to be my house help?"

"I think you know the answer to that."

"I had told you once I didn't need you. Would you do me a favor and go now? I'm sick and tired of seeing you around all the time. I've had enough of your pity and enough of your time. Go and don't come back," she said in a bitter voice.

That wasn't what he had expected. He had hoped that after the sergeant's visit she'd turn to him and let him stay with them, not ban him from their lives. His heart was torn into pieces and it hurt so much that he wondered if he had a heart attack. This was if possible worse than he felt that night when he had found out about Lisa and George. He hadn't thought about them for weeks. 

He ran out, not even kissing Angela. He bumped into the door because he couldn't see it through his tears. Anna had shut him out again. The first time, when she was still at the hospital, he had managed to stay near her, but this time it hit him like a train. He felt he didn't have any hope or energy left now. He was falling into depression. The depression which he had started to fall into on the night he found his ex-fiancee with his roommate; the depression into which he didn't fall because he found Anna and Angela and taking care of them took his mind off of things. He made it to his car and drove out of the city into the wood cabin where he and his father spent time when they needed to be away from it all.

Mrs. Sanders came to the sitting room some time later wondering why Chris didn't console Angela when she was crying but he wasn't there. Anna was also crying cuddled in a fetal position. She immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Anna, what happened here?"

"Nothing."

"Then it is for nothing that Angela's crying her lungs out and you don't even seem to notice her and where is Chris?"

"I-I told him to go," she said between sobs.

"What? Where? I go too if he goes. Have you lost your senses?"

"To whereever. He's already gone."

"Ok, I ask again, what happened here? If you don't give me a convincing explanation, I'm out of here this moment," Mrs. Sanders asked insistently.

Anna tried to dry her tears but some still came down. She had no explanation for what she did, even to herself and she was surprised that she felt torn apart and sad to see Chris go. There was an ache in her stomach which clenched every time Chris came into her mind.

"I asked him if he knew you were a relative of Sergeant Young and if he arranged you to be my house help."

"And you didn't like the answer, one of which was 'not until today' and the other 'yes'?"

"Something like that. I am crazy that he is there all the time, trying to control my life, pitying me, playing with Angela, like he has to."

"Excuse me, but is your vision ok? You seem to have lost it completely. This man is not doing anything he doesn't want to, not pitying you but trying to help you so that you can return to a normal life. He cannot keep himself away from you or Angela because he loves both of you," Mrs. Sanders interrupted, clearly angry this time.

"Loves us? Did he tell you that?"

"Of course not. I just happen to have eyes on my head which you lack. He's coming here with nice flowers almost always; they're the ones in the corridor, on the table here, in the kitchen, upstairs, all around. He's saved you from the alley, given you his blood when you were in the operating room, had your house cleaned and prepared, paid your due bills before you came home, bought all that you and Angela would need so you wouldn't have to worry over that and, yes, arranged for me which was not a service provided by the hospital anyway." 

She continued feeling her anger bubbling and about to burst, "He paid for Angela's hospital bills, and has been supporting you since you came out. He even bought a car seat for Angela and all the decorations in her room is his work and he doesn't even say a word to you. He bears all the torture you make him bear because he doesn't want you to feel in debt to him but you, pigheaded lady, are blind enough not to see the love he has for Angela which he showed freely in front of you and if I have a word that little angel knows who is the good and who is the bad guy around here." 

"Oh, I wasn't supposed to tell you all this but as he is gone and I'll be going shortly, it doesn't matter. It probably won't have any effect on your rock hard head anyway. So, go on pitying yourself. You have lost a year, I know it was a hard one but you have your daughter and your whole life ahead of you. It will be a long lonely one by the looks of your behavior. Good bye." 

After this long speech which Mrs. Sanders managed to utter in a single breath, she turned around and left for good.

*

Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote; please, it only takes a second.



Angel's Call Ch. 09-10



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

Chapter Nine

Anna stood still for half an hour. She was trying to process everything that Mrs. Sanders said, make a sense out of all that. She thought about how Chris behaved at the hospital by her bedside and at her home. She was actually trying to punish him by pushing him away from Angela because she knew that he loved her. Angela was asleep after Mrs. Sanders put her back into the rocking chair. She woke up and Anna realized that she was alone. She fed Angela and stood up to walk around the house. She saw the house from a different point of view now. She saw the beautiful flowers in the corridor, the cleanliness of the house, went upstairs and checked every room and seeing the loveliness of Angela's room, she cried again. She had thrown away the only two people on earth who cared about and helped her.

Meanwhile Mrs. Sanders was looking for Chris who was nowhere to be found. Around two in the afternoon she gave up and went home. Sergeant Young called her to ask how Anna took the news and she said she kicked Chris out and she walked out on her shortly afterwards. Then she remembered that this was all about not leaving her alone and she was left all on her own. She didn't even know about last night's event as she had slept through it. Sergeant Young promised to put a patrol on that district at night; that was the best he could do. If this Stephen guy showed up, they would be able to arrest him.

Anna ate what was left in the fridge from the day before for lunch but she had to prepare herself a meal for dinner. She was half expecting Chris or Mrs. Sanders to come home but she knew neither of them would come. The next day she called Chris to apologize but had to listen to a recorded "The person you have called cannot be reached at the moment" message each time she tried. She gave in and made an attempt to relax and enjoy the loneliness. She had never been alone since the hospital, even in the hospital. She remembered Chris, his loving kisses for Angela, how he fed her, changed her diapers and played with her. He was behaving better than any father she could dream of. All that because of a promise he gave to Angela on a half drunk head in the middle of a night. He was unbelievably sweet.

After a couple of days, Mrs. Sanders was dying of curiosity about how Anna was doing and where Chris was. She spied on Anna's house and was convinced that she was doing good on her own. That left Chris. After two weeks without information, she wanted Sergeant Young to do a search on where he could be. He hadn't been to the school or to his house. The housekeeper said his things were still there. Knowing his love for the children and his job, she was worried. If he didn't show up soon she would have to inform his parents.

Meanwhile Chris was away in the woods, living in isolation. He hadn't bathed or shaved since he came. He was barely eating and mostly sleeping or wandering in the woods. His world had really crashed this time. The support which held it up from the last disaster of Lisa and George was Anna. He didn't understand why but it was gone. He didn't even want to raise a hand or even live anymore. He had thought the woods would help him but they didn't.

After some investigation Sergeant Young found out that the Taylors had a cabin up in the woods. It was probable that he was there. There was no village close by and no phone in the cabin so he decided to go and have a look.

The road was slightly more than two wheel tracks in mud. There were trees all around. It seemed like a forgotten paradise with the sun shining through the leaves. The feeling was so different than urban life that the sergeant felt out of place. He concentrated on not falling in any of the holes on the road and his mind turned to Chris. He was wondering if he was really at the cabin or the trip would be just a nice memory. 

Chris heard the sedan park next to his SUV but decided to stay in bed. He didn't have any energy left anyway. Sergeant Young got out of his car and studied the surroundings. It was so beautiful that it could have been a picture. The cabin was surrounded by some tall trees. Only the front side was open for a nice pastoral view. There were wildflowers everywhere dancing in the slight breeze. All the colors in the world. Butterflies were flying around. You could almost picture a small girl running around chasing them, giggling all the time. The uproar of the city was far away. Every now and then a bird sang from somewhere in the woods. He felt reenergized. 

"Chris, are you inside? Can I come in?" he asked. He had no idea how he would find him in case he wasn't there. If he were in his shoes, he would have been stomping around and probably chopping down some trees with fury but Chris wasn't him.

Chris only moaned in answer. Sergeant Young rushed in the house. The door was unlocked. Why would it be anyway? Only bears and wolves could be expected as visitors here and the cabin didn't have much to steal. 

"The weather is so nice here. If I were you I'd sit outside," the sergeant said in a cheerful voice. But as soon as his eyes adapted to the gloomy interior, he was shocked. The cabin was hardly larger than a standard living room. On one side there was the kitchen, on the other side a sofa on which Chris lay. He looked pale and undernourished. The unshaven beard on his face was at least a week old.

"Chris, what do you think you're doing here? Are you sick? Did you run out of food? Why didn't you call any of us?" Mark asked but he already knew the answer.

Another moan was the answer followed by, "I didn't see any reason to eat."

"Come on. What's going on here? Your students told me that they missed you. I'm sure Anna and Mrs. Sanders are worried to hell. Do you remember them?"

A flicker of joy and remembrance passed his eyes, "I loved them." Then he passed out.

Young cursed under his breath and checked his pulse. Relieved that he could still feel it, he carried Chris to his car and drove to the nearest hospital. He would send someone else to bring the SUV back later. It was obvious that Chris was deep in depression and he possibly hadn't eaten anything for a long time.

The ER of the small hospital in the nearest village didn't satisfy him and he decided to take him to the same hospital in the city where Chris had taken Anna. He arranged an ambulance and when they reached the hospital Chris was immediately admitted, shaved and cleaned. The first hospital had started to feed him through IV. He was still unconscious.

Mark was still unsure if he should say anything to Mrs. Sanders and was waiting for what the doctor might have to say when Heather spotted him.

"Isn't that Chris over there? I almost didn't recognize him. What happened?" 

"I don't know much. He was reported missing last week. I found him in this state."

"Poor guy. I wonder what happened. I wonder if it is related to Ms. Collins. Do you know how she is?"

"She's getting along pretty good as far as I know but we still didn't get the man responsible for her state."

"My prayers are with these two."

"I hope he'll be fine. I'm waiting for somebody to give some information to me."

"I'll find out who is responsible for him. Wait a moment."

Heather found a young doctor who was checking lab reports about Chris. He explained to Mark that Chris was probably in shock and the results show that he didn't eat anything for the last several days. He would be well and ready to go in a couple of days. No serious damage was done to the internal organs during his fast. 

Mark found himself admiring Heather, the brunette with golden brown eyes, medium sized breasts and nice round hips which her dress showed nicely. He wondered how he didn't notice her before. Maybe he could ask her out. It didn't occur to him that she could have a boyfriend or even be engaged. He had to shake his head to concentrate on the doctor.

Heather felt his eyes on her and thought about more or less the same things. How didn't she notice this cool guy with black hair, dark black eyes in which the lights shimmered, just the right nose and wonderfully shaped lips before. She wondered if she would look stupid if she kissed him right there and then.

Mark was glad that she stayed around during the doctor's explanation. He didn' know her name but her nameplate helped him. "Heather, thank you very much for your help. Would you go out for a dinner with me, I mean after all this is settled?" He had a miserable pleading look. He wanted it to sound like he was offering the dinner in return of her help but his eyes showed how nervous he was. Before Heather had a chance to answer he cut in, "Oh, silly me. Your boyfriend must object to your going out with other men." He had figured she wasn't married or engaged because there was no ring on her fingers. 

"No, I mean yes. Or no." Heather was so surprised that she was stuttering, "Let me start again. Yes, I would love to go out with you and no, my boyfriend wouldn't object..." she let that linger a moment, just to check his reaction, "because I don't have one."

Mark gave out the breath he was unconsciously holding and tried to gather his thoughts. Why was he acting like a teenager who had just asked his first girlfriend out and like his life was depending on the answer? But he was obviously relieved and smiled. 

"So I'll pick you up from your place say at eight, Friday night. Will that be ok?" he asked.

"Ok. Here's my phone number and address. I'll be waiting. I don't like Chinese food, by the way."

"Fine, I'll arrange something else then. I'll go up to see how Chris is doing. Will you be on his floor?"

"I think I will be but I've just finished my shift for today. I'll be back tomorrow morning. Bye!" She felt like she could hop and jump and maybe play hopscotch on the way home. Her heart did an imaginary somersault. The weather was brilliant, she thought. The sweet smell of spring still held on to the air.

Mark waved goodbye with a smile reaching his ears. He was whistling merrily as he went towards the elevator. 

Chapter Ten

Mark called Chris's housekeeper to tell her that he had found Chris and there was no need to be worried. However when Mrs. Sanders learned all the truth, she came to the hospital immediately. Chris was still asleep in his room.

"Are you sure he is all right? He looks bad," Mrs. Sanders said worriedly. 

"There is no physical damage that they could track but God knows about the emotional ones," Mark answered, thinking about the conditions in which he found Chris. "Do you think we should inform Anna?"

"No, that woman has no wits whatsoever. She is the cause of all this. If she wants to stay alone then let it be."

"I have to arrange things to get his car back to the city. Will you stay?"

"I'd like to."

Chris slept through three straight days. On worse periods he would talk in his sleep calling Angela and Anna. During better times he would just sleep. Mrs. Sanders was by his side all the time. She talked about the funny things they did together, trying to avoid mentioning about Anna or Angela. They hadn't informed his parents as the doctors said there was no life-threatening danger. He simply didn't want to wake up. On the third day he opened his eyes. It was pretty clear that he was in depression. When he saw Mrs. Sanders he looked around as if looking for somebody else. Then he sank back into his bed. She told him about how Mark had found him and brought him here and what a fool he was to let that happen. She also told him that she had left Anna and Angela shortly after he left but she checked on them and they were doing well. 

After he was released, she took him to her house and together with Mark, they tried to persuade the Chris they knew to come back. Mark took him out to the usual meetings of the cop group, Mrs. Sanders made him work in the garden. Chris welcomed anything that took his mind off Anna. He was fervently solving crossword puzzles or even working five thousand piece puzzles if he had a spare minute and he took pills to sleep. He gradually started to feel better. Sometimes he sneaked near Anna's house and checked on them. He told himself that he had kept his promise and his duty was over. They were doing fine on their own. After two weeks he was ready to meet his students again.

In the meantime, Anna was quite used to her new lonely lifestyle. She even went out shopping. Angela was a miracle. She felt proud to be able to raise her on her own but she missed the company and help of Mrs. Sanders. Sometimes she wondered how Chris was doing but, as he didn't return her calls, she thought he didn't want to talk to her. 

One night when she began to prepare dinner, she heard someone at the door. Hoping and thinking that it was Mrs. Sanders or Chris, she went and froze at the sight she saw through the peephole. It was Stephen. He knocked a few times more and shouted.

"I know you are there. You and that baby are mine. Come on, open the door so that we can be together again," he said loudly.

She was trying to think, to act. All the scenes from the past year with him passed in front of her eyes. She ran to the phone and called 911, shouted to the operator that Stephen was banging on her door and thankfully she was coherent enough to give the address. The operator asked her to calm down and look for another way out of the house. Anna ran upstairs and back downstairs to the sitting room to take Angela and ran out of the kitchen door just as Stephen kicked the front door open. 

"Come on. You must be punished. Where are you hiding? You know I'll find you," he shouted.

She wasn't suitably dressed for a chilly evening but she didn't feel the cold. She didn't know anybody, didn't know Chris's or Mrs. Sanders's house even if she had the heart to go so she ran to the police station looking over her shoulder with every step. 

The sergeant on duty listened to her and seeing that she had an open case with Sergeant Young, called him to inform of the news. The patrol car which would be there later that night was instructed to go to the house immediately and was already investigating the scene. Stephen was gone but this time he had been careless and had left a few fingerprints here and there and there was a mud stain on the carpets from his shoes. He had taken good care to trash everything; the house looked as if a hurricane passed through it. Mark called Mrs. Sanders. As she hurried to the police station she called Chris.

"Come to the police station. It's about Anna. Emergency," she said and the line went dead. Chris had dropped the mobile on hearing the word 'emergency'. He was once again breaking the speed record in the district, which he had set the night he ran to Anna's house in pajamas. All along the way he prayed and amazed himself at how religious he became.

"Please, God, please let her be all right. I can't forgive myself if anything has happened to her or Angela. Please, please," he begged.

When Anna saw him, she looked at him unbelievingly, as if she had just seen a ghost. She hadn't called him, didn't have the courage, was thinking of where she would go because the cops had just told her that her house would need to be searched thoroughly which would take some time and she was afraid to go outside. Stephen was out there somewhere, he had found her and right at that desperate moment Chris was there again like an angel when she needed him. He looked a bit thin and shadows lingered under his eyes. He came over and taking her head into his palms, looked at her. The worry and hope could easily be seen in his eyes. Seeing no new bruises or cuts, he gave a breath of relief.

"Thank God, you are fine."

"I am sorry," she said, embarrased from her previous behavior.

"For what?"

"My behavior that day. I called you to apologize but your mobile was out."

"That is already forgotten. I should have explained things to you well before. Can you tell me what happened?"

"Stephen came to the house and actually broke the door, I think. I ran out of the kitchen door."

"I am happy and proud that you were strong and courageous enough."

"I froze for a moment and ran around aimlessly afterwards but I made it out in time. But what if I couldn't. Next time I might not be able to. He knows I'm alive. He'll come back for me. He said he would punish me," Anna said, and broke down crying.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore, Anna. Mrs. Sanders is moving back in and I'll also be there. No harsh words of yours can drive me away. I almost died of anxiety on my way here," Chris said and held her in his arms and he realized that Angela was missing.

A new wave of fear swept through him, "Where's Angela?" 

Anna saw the worry in his olive green eyes, "She's sleeping over there. They made a makeshift bed for her."

"Oh, thank God!" he said with relief and saw the old nurse coming. "Here's our sweet, Mrs. Sanders."

"My nephew told me that we wouldn't be able to get in the house until the morning and it was in a mess."

"Then we're going to my place which is large enough to accomodate all of us. And Anna, please let me take care of the house before you get back, I don't want it to cause you any more stress than necessary."

"Like you did before?"

Now it was time for Chris to eye Mrs. Sanders who looked suspicious.

"I threw it all out before I walked out. I was so angry and figured it wouldn't matter, since you were gone, too. I'm sorry."

"Anna, I had meant to explain it to you but never could."

"Mrs. Sanders put it in a clear way to go through my thick head. Thank you for everything. And yes, I'd like you to take care of it cause I don't think I can stand seeing it that way."

"Done then. Let's go. We all need some peace and rest. I'll take Angela. I think we have to stop at the mall to buy some essentials for her," Chris said.

"Oh, what a nice way to point out that I forgot to pack a baby bag on my way out!" Anna said jokingly and the group headed towards the mall, "but I get to pay. Mark had my bag brought from my house."

Mrs. Sanders and Mark were extremely happy that the couple had made peace at last. Chris seemed to return to his previous self. Anna was already very tired so they kept the mall visit short. They bought some heat-in-the-microwave quick dinners for themselves and diapers and wipes for Angela. Anna had difficulty keeping her eyes open on the way to Chris's house and was more than delighted to find that there was a soft sofa in the living room. Mrs. Sanders and Chris decided to let her rest for a while until they prepared the dinner and the table. 

"If this Stephen could track Anna, he probably knows that I am going in and out of the house and it won't be long until he finds this place. Don't be alarmed and please don't say anything to Anna but I think we have to go somewhere else," Chris said to Mrs. Sanders in the kitchen. 

"I feel guilty because I left her alone. I'm a free woman. If you want, I can come too." 

"I'll be very happy if you could. I can't leave town for another two weeks. I have obligations at the school and I'd die to see my students graduate but after that I'll take a leave. The summer break is coming anyway. I'll talk to Mark and try to arrange a patrol 24/7 here until we head out. Maybe they can find the bastard before we do actually go. Then we'll be going to the seaside to my aunt's house. You'll love her. She's not a real relative but is a good friend of my mother. She lives in a small town so we'll be informed about anything or anybody strange if Stephen figures out our place but I don't think he'll be able to."

"So you have a plan already. Let me take care of the patrol."

"I said I won't leave them until I see both are fine. I walked away from that once and look what has happened. I'm not leaving Anna alone for a second more than I have to." Chris was enthusiastic and Mrs. Sanders was enjoying herself even under these conditions. Chris had become like her son.




Angel's Call Ch. 09-10



Anna woke up shouting and Chris ran back to the living room. Angela had started crying, too. Deciding that she could be hungry, Chris gave her to Anna and sat next to her. Anna was disoriented. She had had a dream about Stephen knocking on Chris's door. She tried to tell him about it but she was having difficulty breathing. Chris sat by her side and seeing it as an opportunity to explain his plan he started. 

"Just breathe, ok. Deeply. Once more. Good. Now, look, I don't want to alarm you more than you already are but there is a possibility that he knows this place, too. If he has followed you, he must have seen that I was paying visits. Please don't cry. I have to stay here for two weeks more. It's something I owe to my students. Mrs. Sanders is arranging a constant patrol with Mark until we go. Then we will be going somewhere remote and peaceful for the summer. Mrs. Sanders is also coming. I repeat again, I'm not going to leave you alone in any way, Anna."

Anna looked down at her shaking hand, tried to stop crying and asked, "I can't stop them from shaking. Can you hold my hands?" between her sobs.

Chris took Angela back to her chair, held Anna's trembling hands in both of his hands. She sighed and calmed down.

"Thank you."

"You'll always be welcome. You didn't make any comments on my plan."

"What can I say? You've thought about it. Although I hate to lose the control of my life, there is no alternative right now. I wish we could go sooner."

Getting her consent on the subject, Chris let the breath he held go. He felt like jumping in the air even though the danger hadn't passed.

"I thank you for giving me a chance to help you. I'll get the guest room ready for you."

That night a police patrol started to wait in front of the house. The next day at lunch break Chris went to Anna's house to estimate what had to be done and get some clothing and stuff for Anna and Angela.

Mrs. Sanders was more comfortable with Chris being around all the time. She had missed his companionship and the games they played at nights. Being around Anna again had helped his mood better than anything she had tried with the help of Mark. Anna was more social, even played some of the games with them but she still avoided direct contact with Chris if possible and she never went out of the house, not even to the balcony. Angela was just as content as a baby can be among people who loved her. Her special bond with Chris was visible; she was always peaceful and happy when he was around. Chris in return didn't leave the room without kissing her goodbye, played endlessly with her, sang lullabies, rocked her; he even bought and read some books on babies.

They spent the weekend indoors although the weather was fine. None of them admitted it but they were all afraid and trying to avoid another encounter with Stephen. Mark dropped by for a visit and said that they'd identified the fingerprints' owner who was a certain Theodore March. He obviously had lied about his identity. He had been working in an office close to Anna's but was fired due to misbehaving around the time he decided to get rid of Anna. He had moved out of the house he rented a month ago. Mark asked Anna to go over and look if she could remember it was the house she was kept in. Anna's face went pale and collapsed down on the sofa on hearing about it. Chris told the sergeant that he'll take her after he could convince her.

The visit was painful. It was the first time Anna was out of Chris's house since the break in to her house. She was nervous, always checked around, and held Mrs. Sanders's hand like she held a lifeline. Chris spoke to her softly about the weather, news, Angela, anything to get her mind off the subject but it didn't help much.

They met Sergeant Young in front of Stephen's house. Anna looked at the house with curious eyes. It was the first time she had seen it from outside. It was a one floor detached house with a large untended garden and the street in the front didn't have much traffic on it. There was a garage for one car on the left side. Anna reluctantly stepped inside and went around the house without saying a word until she came to a room adjacent to the garage.

"This was it. He held me in there."

"I am glad we are making some progress. We'll find this man, Anna."

Anna took another look towards the room, felt her vision blur and turned back.

"Chris, please take me out of here. I feel bad." And she fainted on the floor. Chris immediately handed Angela to Mrs. Sanders and sat down next to her.

"Anna, please be strong. I am taking you out at once. Please open your eyes. Are you hurt?"

Anna only moaned and didn't open her eyes until they went outside and Chris lay her at the back of his car. He splashed some water on her face and checked if she was hurt. There would be a bruise on her forehead which seemed to be getting pinkish brown already on her white skin. 

"Come on, I'll take you to a hospital. Sorry you had to go through this again."

A weak, "no hospital" answer came from Anna which relieved everyone.

Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote; please, it only takes a second.



Angel's Call Ch. 11-13



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

*

Chapter Eleven

Two weeks later Chris had paid a few more visits to Anna's house which was in an order now and they were ready to go. Chris had sent some suitcases and things like Angela's crib beforehand because there wasn't enough space in the car. 

The journey started quietly. Ms. Sanders and Anna were wondering what would be waiting for them once they get to the lovely seaside town. Chris was happy to go away from the city. Although he loved it, it was becoming a great burden to be alert all the time, check over his shoulder, check the mirror if someone is following, check the patrol car, worry about the ones at home when he went to school. Some walking on the sand without any concerns would surely lift his mood. 

It was a long drive for the group. They had to stop for lunch and once for a rest at a roadside park with beautiful scenery. As they streched their sore arms and legs Anna walked towards Chris and touched his arm timidly.

"I want to thank you for all you are doing for me. I don't know how to pay it back. But I must tell you I feel much better now that we are away from him."

"Firstly, you're always welcome. Secondly, no need to pay anything back and I don't want to hear about it again. Seeing you back on your feet and happy will be more than enough. I'm going on holiday with two beautiful ladies and an angel. What more could I want? And thirdly, I must admit I feel relieved, too."

Mrs. Sanders complained about her knees and didn't join them but Chris and Anna found themselves on a narrow path into the green forest with Angela in Anna's arms. The rays of the sun were looking for open places to shine through the leaves, the birds were singing merrily and, even though each of them were buried in their own thoughts about the future, Mrs.Sanders observed that they looked like a family and promised herself that she would see to that they became a real family.

They reached the lovely seaside village just as the sun was setting on the sea. Aunt Katherine had already cooked dinner, arranged their rooms and was waiting on the porch as Chris drove into the driveway.

"Welcome, welcome, sweet son. Where have you been? It has been so long. I've missed you so. Here, let me see you. You look a little famished. I'll take care of that while you're here. You must be Anna. My girl, you are a beautiful lady and this little angel should be Angela. Oh, Mrs. Sanders, I didn't see you, welcome," she said without giving a break.

Mrs. Sanders felt insulted by Aunt Katherine's comments about Chris being famished as she had been cooking for them for the past couple of weeks but didn't say anything on the subject.

"Thank you. I hope we won't be a burden for you."

"Of course not. I must thank you for bringing my favorite nephew to me. I couldn't convince him to leave his students and come down here for any holiday for years now. Chris, you'll carry the luggage, I guess. I have placed Anna and Angela's stuff in Clara's room upstairs. You take the room on her right and, Mrs. Sanders, you take this guest room here downstairs."

"Where is Clara going to sleep?" Mrs. Sanders asked with suspicion in her voice. She wasn't too happy to be left away from the group, either. Katherine explained that Clara was her daughter who was away studying and wouldn't be back for summer and even if she came she could use the attic where she preferred to be anyway.

"Call me Melinda, please. Thank you for all the trouble," said Mrs. Sanders.

"And you call me Katherine. It's nothing. You all come down for dinner after you've settled." The two middle aged women had finally started to warm to each other.

Chris looked around the small study which held a single bed that didn't look very comfortable. There was hardly any space left to stand after the bed was pushed in but the view from the window made him sit and watch the last rays of the sunset and thank god for the place. 

Aunt Katherine had cooked wonders for them. Even Mrs. Sanders had to admit that they were delicious. Anna had more appetite than she usually had. Chris asked for second servings. They settled in the cozy armchairs in the living room after the meal for coffee. The quiz show on the TV was a nice distraction. They took rounds trying to answer the questions. The winner was to eat the home made ice cream which still sat in the fridge. 

"It must be Budapest. I remember reading that somewhere," Anna exclaimed. She was feeling safe, relaxed and comfortable. 

"No, dear. The answer is Bucharest. I get the ice cream," Mrs. Sanders said merrily.

"That is so unfair. The ice cream should have been mine. I love strawberries," Anna said and sank back to the couch.

That night the whole group slept peacefully for the first time in a long while. Chris lay in his bed listening to the silence of the night and the waves of sea breaking on the shore before he fell asleep. He felt that he was a lucky man and slept with a smile on his lips.

In the morning he woke up with a hesitant knock on the door. He could see that the sun had hardly risen. And just as he was about to curse he heard her.

"Chris. Are you awake?" 

"No, I am not and this is his ghost speaking. Leave Chris be or he'll come and haunt you! God, what's the time? It's hardly morning." Chris was used to sleeping in late on holidays and his voice was rather edgy because of the sleepiness he still felt.

"Sorry, Chris. It's just that we are going for a walk on the beach. I thought maybe you'd like to come, too," Anna muttered apologetically.

He softened as he listened to her sad apology and decided to go with them, anyway. "Wait, I'll be downstairs in five minutes." True to his word he was downstairs in five wearing khaki shorts and a matching worn t-shirt and his brown sandals. "Here I am. Don't leave me back if I fall asleep somewhere."

All the group went out to the warm morning weather. It was a warning not to be caught in the midday sun, when it would be hotter than Hades. Mrs. Sanders put sun lotion on everybody's faces. Chris caught himself wishing he was the one instead of her as she caressed Anna's cheeks. Then he scolded himself. He was there to help her and she was only trusting him because he had assured her of that.

They had taken their shoes and sandals off once they reached the sand. The feeling of the fine sand under their feet was almost meditative. They were having light conversation about the news, politics, weather, global warming, etc. Everybody was so happy and careless. "I can carry Angela if you get tired," Chris suggested. He didn't want this magical atmosphere to come to an end and disappear.

The slow flow of life in the town and the holiday spirit was surrounding them. From the next morning on they settled on a relaxing routine of taking walks by the seaside early each morning, coming back for breakfast then going back and lazing under the sun until 11, coming back inside the house for house games and activities, then going swimming before dinner. Chris found himself gazing at Anna at odd times and verbally punished himself each and every time for trying to breach her trust. She was really beautiful and, with almost all the stress gone off her shoulders, she radiated. She had long legs to adore, nice curves and her breasts were just the right size to hold in your hand and tease. 

Her bikini didn't leave much to imagine and some time later Chris gave up the fight with himself and started to fantasize about her when he needed to jerk off which was becoming more often nowadays. He hoped Anna didn't recognize how he felt about her. Well, Anna didn't but Mrs. Sanders and Aunt Katherine did. They had become good friends and had decided that the two young people belonged together. They took every opportunity to drive the two into each other. They usually found a way to leave them alone walking side by side. They made them sit together at the table. They were keen on trying to have the two understand that they loved each other by the end of the summer.

Everybody could see the special bond between Angela and Chris. She cried a lot in the evenings but Chris had a way with her and made her smile and eventually sleep peacefully every time he held her. Even Anna wasn't that successful and was jealous of Chris from time to time.

Anna was grateful to all of them. She was getting used to being sociable and also being casually touched by Chris. They learned about each other's previous lives piece by piece. One night while they were watching a movie about high school kids she began to tell about herself.

"I was an average student but I was a very good cheergirl. I wanted to go to college but we didn't have enough money. I decided to work to save some money for further education. I had wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. Now, it is blown apart." She cried as she realized that now the dream seemed to be blown as she was now a single mother without any decent income. 

"We'll help you in any way we can," Aunt Katherine said. She would gladly give the girl some money if she had saved some. Chris made a mental note about it to be remembered in the future.

However relaxed and far away from her problems, Anna still had hellish nightmares about sexual abuse and Stephen coming back to punish her. They were getting less frequent but they were there. On such nights she knocked on Chris's door and had him sit by her side until the morning. She had grown to trust Chris. The armchair was far from being comfortable but he was happy to be able to be there and help her. 

One night as he sat by her bed after another episode of nightmares, he heard Angela whining. When he checked on her he figured that she had a high fever. Anna woke up and they had Mrs. Sanders and Aunt Katherine also wake up. They tried to break the fever for an hour or so and then decided on rushing to the town hospital. 

Anna was disoriented from the nightmares and the sleepness night, so Chris did all the explaining to the doctor on duty in the little ER of the hospital as Anna stared around blankly. They had stayed in the sun more than usual that day. No, she hadn't eaten anything suspicious. The doctor said he would keep Angela till the morning at least and her mother could stay with her but Chris insisted so much that he should be there too that he turned to the nurse and said, "This little baby is Angela. We have trouble breaking her fever which is too high right now. This is her father who is going to stay with her mother until the morning. Check on the fever every half hour. Page me if it's more than 38,5oC."

Chris didn't even realize that he was introduced as the father. He felt like it anyway. He placed Anna on an empty bed, Angela in a crib next to her and held their hands. Both slept peacefully until the morning. Angela was perfectly healthy by the morning and sent home to rest for the day. 

One night towards the middle of July, Chris found Anna sitting alone on the porch, rocking in the swinger with Angela. It was a lovely warm night, the stars were bright, the air peaceful, the salty smell of the sea mixed with the smell of the flowers. She was gazing out towards the sea. Anna was talking softly to her sleeping daughter.

"I feel so good, Angela. I wish this moment would last forever. I'm happy and feel safe here. I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Chris heard this conversation through the screen door, wanted to go out, hold them, make promises but he couldn't. He didn't have the courage as she showed no sign that she would tolerate such behavior.

By the end of July he had to go back to the city for a teacher's seminar for a few days. He warned Mrs. Sanders and Aunt Katherine again and again against Stephen and went unwillingly. It was that first time he left them alone since the beginning of the summer. His mind never reached the city but he checked on the houses where everything seemed fine, attended the seminar and came back with a lovely bouquet of daisies which he handed to Anna as soon as she opened the door. 

"The smile on your face is worth every bit of trouble," Chris said as he stepped inside. "You cannot know how much I missed you."

"Daisies are my favorite. How did you know? And we missed you a lot, too," Anna asked happily smelling the flowers.

"They seemed to be right."

Chapter Twelve

A few days later, Aunt Katherine's daughter Clara came for a surprise visit. She was a lively and lovely blonde, self-conscious woman about Chris's age and they were joking around that they were fiancées. Anna told Clara that she could move to the attic out of her room but Clara loved the attic and didn't want to disturb them as she was to go back soon. Anna was jealous of Chris and Clara's close friendship. Stress made her more shy and withdrawn. Chris heard her cry at nights though she didn't call him to her room like before. 

Clara and Chris spent time together, talked a lot, went out at nights and although they invited Anna, too, she didn't join them. He was sorry and sad to see this and puzzled about that drawback until Clara and Aunt Katherine decided to step in one night after coffee when he questioned them about her behavior.

"I don't understand what happened to Anna. We were getting along pretty well and now she wouldn't share anything with me other than the air we breathe. I know she is distressed but she wouldn't let me help. What happened? Is it something that I did?" Chris asked Aunt Katherine. He was afraid that he had let his feelings show and got Anna freaked.

"It is me," Clara answered. "It's pretty clear that she is jealous of me being around you so much."

"But you are my friend."

"She doesn't see it that way. For her I am the enemy. I doubt she herself has realized yet but I see that she loves you and I am the threat here."

"I still don't see."

"She thinks I will take you away from her, my thickheaded friend."

"That is never going to happen."

"I know that you love her. Why don't you tell her?"

"I am only keeping my promise to Angela. And she is not ready for a relationship yet."

"What would you describe as going on between you then?"

"Friendship."

"Oh, I see!"

Clara had to go back a few days later, then things slowly started to get back to their previous routine.

Chapter Thirteen

"Let's do something different. All of our days are alike," Mrs. Sanders said one night as they sat and watched TV.

"Like what? I thought you liked the routine," Aunt Katherine answered crossly.

"I do, but something different would be good for our minds. Why don't we rent a sailboat and spend tomorrow at sea?"

"I'm afraid I won't enjoy being captured in a small boat in the middle of the sea. I might be seasick. And the sun could be harmful," Anna listed cautiously.

Chris jumped to the idea. "Come on. We'll rent a large one with shelter. We'll come back shortly if you are seasick. It'll be a nice change." Chris talked so enthusiastically that Anna didn't feel like opposing anymore and accepted the idea. 

Mrs. Sanders excused herself from the trip the next morning saying she wasn't feeling well, and Aunt Katherine stayed back to help her and so Anna and Chris were left with Angela on the trip. They felt like they were set up but they decided to go on with the plan and rented a boat with crew so they didn't need to do much other than sit and enjoy themselves. Anna had packed a cold lunch. They talked about the weather, the birds they saw, the water shining, and how happy they were. They shared lunch with the crew. Anna leaned on Chris and slept on his shoulder. He smelled her hair, even dared to play with some of her curls as she slept and whispered, "I love you. I don't know how long I'll have to wait but I'll wait for you." 

When August came, there was still no news about Stephen. The group was relaxing more and more each day. They never talked about Stephen and they almost acted as if he never existed. 

Chris came home with a bunch of wild flowers one evening and invited Anna to the town dance which was held once a year at the end of summer on the beach. Even though her heart did a flip flop she murmured something about Angela and was about to reject him when Aunt Katherine and Mrs. Sanders promised to look after Angela and didn't want to hear anymore of it. 

When the night came Chris was restless. He had changed his clothes three times, much wasted effort for a casual dance on the beach, he decided, while pacing on the porch as he waited for her. He couldn't believe his eyes as she descended the stairs. The pale yellow dress she wore accentuated her slender figure. She was like a princess, at the same time a delicate flower. Her smell made him dizzy. Anna on the other hand was gazing at the handsome man by the door and couldn't believe that they were going out. She felt her stomach clench; he set little fires on the points he touched. There was a strange electricity in the air. They danced all night. First awkwardly, but then as they got to know each other's steps, more effectively. They were an inseparable couple. A few couples offered swapping partners but they wouldn't take it.

After the dance they took their shoes off and walked by the seaside in the moonlight, side by side. The cool sand under their feet felt great. When Chris turned his head to say something to Anna, he saw the look in her eyes. She was happy and longing. He was drawn to her and their lips connected for the first time. It was a very short kiss. The sound of waves crashing on the sand became unhearable, the only sound was their heartbeats for that single second. Anna forgot about herself just a moment and thought she could be happy after all. Chris ended the kiss afraid to scare her. She was at a loss for words. A million thoughts attacked her at the same time and she wasn't sure of what she felt. Chris was content to just hold hands while returning home. He had feelings to sort out, too. And they were both afraid that the magic of the moment would disappear once a word was said.

When they got back they saw Mrs. Sanders and Aunt Katherine waiting for them seriously. 

"Is there anything wrong with Angela?" Anna asked with concern.

"No, she is fine. Look, we don't want to ruin your night. I hope it was good, by the way."

"Then what is going on? Is it about Stephen?" Anna asked again with fear. The coldness started to creep from her feet upwards; she held Chris's hand so strongly that it hurt but Chris didn't feel it as he was just every bit as concerned.

"The sherrif was here half an hour ago. He told us that a stranger has been asking around for a woman with a baby who came to stay in the town at the beginning of the summer. It might or might not be Stephen."

Anna was immediately depressed, started to sweat coldly and felt herself sinking down to the ground.

"Anna, come on. We are here with you. Don't let him spook you." Chris held her strongly.

"I don't want to go through this again. I am not strong enough to fight him. He'll come for me, for me and his daughter," Anna murmured, all the hope of happiness gone, already closed to the outside world.

Chris felt her withdrawal and carried her upstairs to her bed. He was murmuring all kinds of soothing meaningless things to her. She didn't let his hand go even when she slept and she had nightmares one after another with crying fits in between. Chris felt so helpless, so angry at Stephen that he found a way to her life again. 

She never recovered to her summer self until they had to head back to the city. The stranger wasn't seen anywhere again. When the group headed back to the city they were silent and worried. Aunt Katherine was sad to see them go as she had grown used to their company. She made Melinda promise that she'd bring the group back as soon as possible.




Angel's Call Ch. 11-13



When they reached Anna's house Chris carried their luggage inside.

"Your other stuff will come tomorrow with the mail," he said and started to walk away. He was kicked out of this house before and didn't know how to act now.

"Thank you. Chris, would you consider living here with us? I feel safe when you are around," Anna asked hesitantly.

Chris thought for a moment. "I am surprised but I'll accept as I won't get much sleep wondering about you, anyway, but I have to visit my parents. I haven't seen them for so long. I'll be back before dinner, if you're sure."

Chris's parents tried to understand the situation which Chris tried to explain shortly and miserably. Mrs. Taylor understood that this Ms. Collins had the heart of her son although he insistently said that he was keeping his promise to the baby. They also figured out that their son could be in danger because of that woman. That night after dinner Anna's doorbell rang. Chris went to open the door and was surprised to see his parents.

"Hi, mum, dad. What are you doing here?"

"You've forgotten some of your CDs. We brought them."

"Thank you. I could have come tomorrow to pick them up."

"You're welcome. Won't you invite us in?" Mrs. Taylor asked impatiently.

"Well, come in," Chris said unwillingly. He was afraid that Anna and his parents might not like each other.

After the introductions Mr. Taylor settled down playing with Angela, as Mrs. Taylor shared a recipe with Mrs. Sanders. Chris took a relieved breath. 

"We love them. Take good care of them," Mrs. Taylor said in her son's ear as they were leaving.

The educational year started and Chris was in a constantly happy mood because he had his beloved students again and every night he was going home! to find Anna waiting for him. Every now and then he could be seen in the sitting room with a baby bottle in his hand and Angela in his arms. They were like a family but they never were close to the kiss on the beach. They never talked about it.

*

Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote, please, it only takes a second.



Angel's Call Ch. 14-15



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.


Chapter Fourteen

One sunny Saturday morning in October, Lisa showed up on their doorstep. She had broken up with George, learnt about Chris's whereabouts from school and had decided to go after him again. That was it. 

"I can't believe you have the courage to come here like you do. No word from you in more than six months and you show up saying you'd like to try again. I can't believe my eyes or ears."

"I realized my mistake. Come on, we were a good couple. Everybody deserves a second chance. Or are you with that lady?"

"No, I'm here to protect them. I gave a promise to her daughter. Look, I don't have time for you in my life right now." 

He didn't want to mess his life up again but Lisa was so insisting. Anna felt that she had no right to keep him to herself and told him to go so at the end he agreed to go on a trial date to see if they could bear each other. They would eat somewhere and possibly go to a movie afterwards.

Just when he was thinking that much disturbance was enough, later in the day Chris's younger brother James showed up. He was in town for a meeting and had taken some time off afterwards to see his brother. He expressed instant liking for Anna and Anna seemed to be interested in him.

"Hey, bro. Is the lane clear here? Are you sure you won't mind my asking Anna out?" James asked over a cup of coffee in the kitchen away from the women in the sitting room.

"You can do anything you want. I am only keeping my promise to Angela," Chris said dryly. 

He was going to date Lisa again anyway. She had every right to do anything she wanted. He thought Anna could be happier with James. Anna had to be persuaded to go on a date after some discussion. Mrs. Sanders eyed the newly formed couple suspiciously and wondered when Chris and Anna would see the truth and be brave enough to express their feelings to each other.

The couples dated a few times. Anna felt that she could not continue it and broke up with James. She couldn't bear his touch and she was comparing him with Chris all the time. He just didn't seem right; he wasn't the one. James thanked her for the nice time they had together but he knew inside that Chris was the reason for the breakup. He silently wished his brother good luck. 

Chris, on the other hand, had an argument with Lisa who didn't seem to understand the situation. He drove home regretting that he even agreed to go on a date with Lisa. He bought Anna some daisies and decided to tell her about his feelings. 

He was so occupied in his thoughts that he didn't see a van not stopping at the red light and coming to hit him on the side. 

Anna was helping Mrs. Sanders prepare dinner in the kitchen and she suddenly sat down as if hit in the stomach.

"Melinda, I have a bad feeling. Chris is not well."

"Come on, girl. I didn't know you were a psychic. He's just called; he'll be home in a few minutes."

"No, Melinda. I feel it. He's not well. Can you take the phone?"

Mrs. Sanders went to the ringing phone saying, "It must be Chris."

"Hello, yes." And her voice trembled, "When? How? Where? We're on our way. Thank you."

It was a bewildered Mrs. Sanders speaking now. A really special bond actually had been formed between these two poor souls. 

"Anna, Chris just had a traffic accident and they're taking him to the hospital. Put on your coat. We're going."

Tears fell down Anna's cheeks and she was worried to death. They took a taxi to the hospital where Chris lay unconscious. The police handed her the bouquet of flowers and a small gift box they found in Chris's car. She knew they were for her because it was her birthday. She cried hard and held his hand throughout the night. Mrs. Sanders was sent home to look after Angela but she was back first thing in the morning. 

Mark saw them when he stopped by to see Heather. They had realized that they were totally in love and couldn't take their hands off each other most of the time. Heather had secret dreams of marrying Mark although he didn't show any interest in that direction.

Chris didn't wake up for two days. Anna only took breaks to breastfeed Angela who was taken home right after by Mrs. Sanders. She was constantly talking to him, telling about who came to visit him, about Angela and begging him not to leave her. But he didn't even stir. She was scared to death that he could die; she tried to keep her mind occupied with better thoughts. His students had all come to visit. If allowed his room would've been mistaken for a flower shop. But among all this, for some reason he seemed like he wasn't fighting and didn't want to wake up. She had been informed about how he reacted when she kicked him out and she was now afraid that Lisa did a similar thing and made him feel bad. It was suspicious that the woman hadn't come to the hospital to visit Chris.

One midnight two days after the accident, Anna jumped from her restless sleep in the chair by his bed, saw that there was no change and feeling depressed, started to talk to him.

"Chris, I don't have any idea why you are not fighting. I am desperate here. I want to help you but unless you decide to return to us I cannot do anything. Angela is stressed and missing you. I cannot bear losing you. I-I-I..." She burst into tears but continued, "I love you. Please wake up. I cannot let you go. Please Chris."

Chris was dreaming. He was in a cabin near the sea, enjoying life. He had no worries. He walked by the seaside happily, he felt like a weight had been lifted from his hands and sat down under a tree. Just then a little girl in a flowery dress showed up.

"Hello, Chris. I know it is nice here but you have to go back," she spoke as if she knew him.

"Who are you? Do I know you? Why would I want to go back? Life is so meaningless over there." Chris stood up and walked towards the cabin. He was uneasy talking to the girl and wanted to get away from her. He didn't want the peace he had found to be disturbed.

"I am Angela, Chris. You still haven't lived through your promise to me. My mother is not safe, yet." 

"What? You are just a little baby. How am I supposed to believe you? Besides, Anna will be happy with James."

"I am the one who called you to help mum out of the alley. I've been talking to you since then. I know James is not the one for mum."

"If you had the power to do, why didn't you help her before, when she was with your father?" Chris was angry at the girl.

"I couldn't do anything until I came to the world. It worked that night because I was so close to being born."

He accepted the reason and her identity, thinking of all the times the little voice spoke to him, helped him, encouraged him. She was a little angel who called out for help for her mother.

"You have to go back to mum. She needs you and I need you. I miss mum. I only see her when she's feeding me then I'm sent back home. It is so lonely there. Mrs. Sanders always thinks about you, while you and mum are in the hospital. I miss you and the games you play with me. Come on, you can hear mum calling you, if you try."

Then the cabin disappeared. He felt like the earth moved under his feet and he fell deep into darkness.

Anna buried her face into the sheets near his hand. There was nothing she could do but to cry and pray. His first tiny movements were disregarded as she thought they were from her own sobbing but when he groaned and complained about pain she jumped and ran out to the nurse. 

He was ready to be discharged the next week. She stayed by his bedside all the time and brought him home. Chris stayed at home to rest for a few weeks more, enjoying the interest in him very much. James and Chris's parents came to visit him. They actually wanted to take him home but seeing him in good hands with Anna's care and Mrs. Sanders being a retired nurse they left him there. He seemed happier than necessary anyway. James had told Chris about their decision to break up somewhere in between.

"How come Lisa didn't show up?" Mrs. Sanders asked sarcastically.

"We had an argument on the night of the accident. We had broken up."

"Lucky for you. You should never have gone out with her at the first place."

"I know, I know. But she was so insistent and so was Anna."

There was another restless person at home. Angela knew when to start whining and attract attention to herself. She was teething and kept them awake at nights. One night they decided on doing shifts. They figured they all could get some sleep this way. But Angela, being an angel, slept through Chris's shift and was constantly crying on Mrs. Sanders's. Chris heard that Anna was crying on her shift because she couldn't bear the stress anymore, so he got up and took Angela. He said that he was fine, and Anna should go and rest for a while. Anna was grateful but she couldn't stop the tears so he held them both. Angela seemed to let her mother have some peace after grabbing Chris's index finger to chew on. Anna cried herself out and slept on the sofa holding Chris's hand. Chris was sitting on the floor by the sofa. One hand with Angela, the other with Anna, he fell asleep, too. 

Mrs. Sanders smiled happily when she saw the trio and started to sing on her way to the kitchen. It was a beautiful morning after all.

Chapter Fifteen

Mrs. Taylor called Mrs. Sanders about the Thanksgiving dinner. She said she was organizing a family reunion and wanted to see her and Anna along with Chris at the dinner. Mrs. Sanders was invited by her own family before so she thanked and excused herself but agreed to send the rest of the group along for a delicious turkey feast. 

Anna was quite nervous and fiddled a long time with the dress she would wear. She wasn't a real part of the family and she didn't want to be pitied. She was already too angry with Mrs. Sanders that she forced herself to go. Chris, on the other hand, had no considerations at all but he had her mother warn every family member who would be there not to ask anything of Anna.

Mrs. Taylor welcomed Chris, Anna and Angela warmly. After the hugs and kisses the Taylors settled down to acting like grandparents as they played with Angela. A few relatives who asked if she was Chris's daughter under their breaths were hushed by Mr. Taylor. Angela was playful and made everybody smile. Anna was not disturbed by the coziness of the family-only meeting. Nobody questioned her or her position as they were strictly instructed not to do so. Although she sensed that, she was grateful. At one point, trying to be nice and polite to everybody, trying to act happy and grateful, trying to supress her urge to run away became too much. She felt like she was suffocating, so she had to go out.

Chris saw her running out to the garden. Suddenly fear caught him. Didn't she like his family? Did somebody say something to her? Was she running away? No, Angela was playing happily in his mother's lap. So he dashed out after her. She was a few feet away, sitting on the ground in the cold weather.

"Come in, you'll catch cold." He attempted to sound unaware of her sudden exit.

"I need some fresh air. Leave me alone," Anna answered. Chris heard the tears in her voice and sat down next to her. 

"What about telling me what upset you so much? Is it one of my idiot relatives?"

"No, you have a nice family. They are trying their best not to make me feel out of place, but I still do. I mean I am jealous of your family. I wish Angela had such a nice family. I am so alone."

"Now, now, you have Mrs. Sanders..." Chris started.

"...who has her own family to spend Thanksgiving with," Anna ended the sentence.

"You know, she wouldn't go anywhere if you were not coming here."

"I don't know. I just don't feel like I belong here."

Chris handed her his pullover. "Give me ten minutes and I'll take you home, if it's going to make you feel better."

Chris went inside to explain to people that it was Angela's bed time and they should go. Mrs. Taylor eyed his son suspiciously because the baby in question was still playing merrily in her lap. Chris whispered in her ear that Anna wasn't feeling well. The drive home was silent. Angela really fell asleep in her seat, and Anna didn't say a word.

Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote, please; it only takes a second.



Angel's Call Ch. 16-17



Thanks a lot to techsan who edited the story pretty quickly and turned it into a better one.

Chapter Sixteen

One Saturday morning when they were reading the newspaper Anna suddenly said, "I would like to see that movie. I wonder when it will be shown on TV." 

"I'll be honored to take you to the movies if you let me," Chris said half heartedly, not thinking she would agree to go.

"Can we go today? I don't feel good. Maybe some distraction will help."

"Sure, let me check the time." Chris choked on his coffee and he ran to the kitchen actually singing.

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Sanders asked with interest.

"You are going to have to deal with Angela on your own tonight. Anna and I are going to a movie."

"I get the privilege of baby-sitting, then! Oh, anyway, you can stay out all night if you want. It was about time you two started to date."

"It is not a date."

"Yes, yes. I know it isn't a date when two people who love each other go out to a movie."

"Melinda!"

It was a romantic comedy. They had fun, shared a big box of popcorn, and talked but as they headed out of the movie theater Anna stopped and started to shake like a leaf.

At first Chris didn't recognize it and continued talking, "The hero was such a fool, don't you think? He kept falling when he saw her."

There was no answer. He turned to Anna and saw that she had gone pale and shaking.

"Anna, what's going on? Are you ok? Are you cold? Anna!" Chris asked worried and almost in panic.

"I, I, please," Anna said incoherently.

Chris didn't understand anything but held her tightly in his arms until her shakes subsided and she could talk. She buried her head in his shoulder and refused to look anywhere for a while. Chris was trying to talk as soothingly as he could but it was mostly gibberish as he didn't know what caused the fear attack until she could tell him that she thought she saw Stephen. Chris neither wanted to remember the guy, nor wished he had so much effect on her life. 

His warmth, the smell of his aftershave, his strength was already calming her. When she looked up at him with teary, grateful and loving eyes, he was once again drawn to her lips. The kiss was such a great distraction for her that she forgot where they were, what she was thinking; there was only the soft and sweet kiss which she didn't want to end. He kissed her so longingly, so lovingly that her stomach clenched, a warmth spread downwards from her stomach, a little voice shouted, "more, more". The kiss was a distraction for Chris, too. He had lost track of time and place. There was only Anna and him in the world. She was so sweet, so giving. 

They parted with an "oh, thank you." Both of them were trying to put their feelings in order and understand what was going on once again. They talked about nothing in particular as they drove home and neither one was able to talk about what had happened once again. In front of her bedroom, Chris took her head in his hands, kissed her good night on her forehead and ran to his room. He had even forgotten to kiss Angela goodnight like he used to do every night. Although she didn't object to either of his kisses and actually was reciprocating, Chris hoped he didn't scare her. He was so blind with thoughts that he couldn't see that she wanted him, too.

Chapter Seventeen

Christmas was a merry time for all. It had begun to snow. They persuaded Mrs. Sanders and also Mark, who had come for a visit, into a great snowball fight in the garden. Mark had come to inform them that Stephen was found dead. That was a great relief to everyone. But Chris started to feel uneasy. Now that Stephen was no longer a concern, would she still want him in her life? His duty was over. She and Angela were safe. The wonder started to eat him inside. He had to find a way to stay.

To ensure he stayed through Christmas, he brought a Christmas tree to be put up in the sitting room along with many decorations. The little angels, snowflakes, little shiny balls, and stars were everywhere. The weekend before Christmas they decorated it. He was on top of the ladder and Anna was handing him the decorations and showing where they should be hung. After she gave him the last star and said its place is on the very top of the tree, he placed the star. Nevertheless a surprise was waiting, he slipped and fell on her as he was getting down from the ladder.

"I am sorry. Are you hurt?"

"No."

He turned around to stand up but they ended in a position lying face to face so close that he could smell her shampoo and she could smell his aftershave and her stomach again clenched. Chris was lost again to her attraction and they started kissing. His hands travelled downward passing over her nipples. She quivered but she froze when his hand reached her underwear. He immediately sensed it.

"I am sorry, I am sorry. Why am I always doing things I shouldn't do?" Chris said more to himself than Anna then continued without giving Anna a chance to recover and answer. "I love you, Anna, and I won't lie. I want you but I will never do anything you don't want, anything that could hurt you."

Anna was speechless. She felt a deep void after he stopped kissing her but him loving her - she had to admit she knew it all along. She searched for words to express her feelings, but there were none. She was happy, sad, excited, worried at the same time. Chris had jumped to his feet by the time and was walking out of the door. 

Mrs. Sanders came in to announce dinner time and they were saved for the moment from further wondering what they would do with their feelings.

Everybody received presents. Chris had bought a golden necklace with an angel and two flowers on pendants. He said those flowers were Anna and Angela. Anna gave Chris a new watch. Angela received a teddybear and a teether. Mrs. Sanders wasn't forgotten, of course; Anna had bought her a new sweater and Chris a new blanket for her knees which ached in the evenings. In the following days Anna was never seen without the necklace or Chris without the watch. 

"I have a present for you for New Year's Eve," Mrs. Sanders said after Christmas, "I'll babysit Angela and you two are going out to Luciano's Restaurant for dinner. I won't take no for an answer. I've already made the reservations and paid for it, so go and enjoy yourselves."

"You didn't need to do it. It is an expensive restaurant."

"I wanted to," Mrs. Sanders answered, hoping the romantic, cozy atmosphere of the restaurant would help these two blind lovers. She was getting bored waiting for them to figure out their love at their own pace. She thought they were so slow that they could be in a nursing home by the time they married.

Anna once again stunned Chris by wearing a red silky dress with thin straps made up of little shiny red beads. It fit her like a glove from the stomach up but had a nice wavy skirt which was just long enough to cover her knees. The matching pumps made her legs look longer and firmer. Her hair was pulled up in little curls. The necklace which was her Christmas present was around her neck. She was glowing and anybody could see that it was the happiness light in her that was shining.

They had a very romantic time at the restaurant. They ate and drank a little. Their nerves were working overtime but they had fun and toasted Mrs. Sanders who organized the night for them. Seeing Mark and Heather there was a great surprise but they eventually ended up at the same table. The couple was so into each other that Chris gulped every time he saw Mark kissing Heather or caressing her. Chris was holding himself back like a gentleman so no kissing accident happened. He was fighting with himself but he couldn't extinguish the fire she lit on his skin whenever she touched him, couldn't avoid the pain in his stomach when he looked at her, couldn't avoid wishing. 

Anna was feeling the same fire but avoiding the truth. She thought that maybe it was the wine or the atmosphere of the restaurant which made her feel strangely. Nevertheless she felt so comfortable in Chris's arms that it was like she belonged there. There was magic in the air. They were dancing in such harmony that the other couples envied them. They weren't aware of the others, though. When they danced it was like only they existed on the stage. And when the dance ended, they didn't want to let each other go.

"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four..three...two...one!" Everybody shouted and the new year came with the cheers of the people. Everybody was jumping, baloons and confetti were set loose. Anna was watching the entertainment like a little child who has seen the amusement park for the first time in her life. She pulled Chris to a relatively quiet corner of the restaurant.

"Thank you, Chris, for everything. I didn't even know when new year came last time and I had no hope of seeing the next one," she said with gratitude and kissed him lightly on his cheek.

Chris was timid. "You're welcome. I was more than just happy to help two lost angels. Not everybody has the chance to have even one angel in his life, but I have two. But you are not kicking me out, are you?" Chris answered in her ear. Her perfume made him feel dizzy and electricity flew over his hand which he had put on her shoulder unconsciously. He pulled it back suddenly.

"No, of course not. I need some more time to adjust myself to the feeling that Stephen is not there anymore. But still there are many people like him. No, would you please stay for a little while more?" She thought he wanted to go now that he had kept his promise. She desperately wanted him to stay. 

Chris was a little relieved and led her to their table.

They drove back a little while later. Angela was still too young to understand New Year and would be awake early in the morning just like any other day. There was a strange tension in the air. Anna went to check on Angela to escape. 

After seeing her sleeping soundly, she went down to the kitchen for a glass of water and she saw Chris sitting all alone next to the Christmas tree which hadn't been pulled down yet. She wanted to thank him for the wonderful evening and wish good night. 

"Chris," she called him softly as if afraid to break the silence. 

He was asleep. She watched him for a few seconds. His face was taut. He didn't seem to be at peace. Wanting to comfort him, she bent down and kissed his forehead. 

Chris woke up startled. He was having a nightmare about Anna again. When he opened his eyes and saw her, he reached out and held her as if he would lose her forever if he let go. Anna tried to soothe him. 

"Chris, I think you were having a bad dream. You are awake now. Eveything is ok," she said as calmly as possible. Chris was still reluctant to let her go.

"Chris, you are going to choke me. Come on. It must be this uncomfortable armchair. Go to your room to sleep. Good night," she continued.

"I just wanted to watch the tree for a moment. Thank you for the night," Chris said. The pain was still obvious in his eyes.

"Would you like to tell me what it was about?" Anna asked.

"No, I have no business worrying you like this. Good night," Chris answered as if he was lost back in the dream.

She bent down again and kissed his lips lightly. His hands went to her bare shoulders and caressing downwards along her arms he groaned. He was still disoriented and couldn't be sure if this was real or a dream. He so longed for Anna that his reasoning was gone. She sat in his lap and loosened his tie. He traced her breasts from the top of her dress. Her skin was as soft as the silk itself and her perfume was intoxicating. He tried to pull the strap of the dress down but when the little beads that held it broke and skittered all around he woke up fully, came to his senses. 

"I am sorry, I am sorry. Why do I do this all the time?" he muttered and frantically ran upstairs cursing himself along the way. Anna was left to realize what had happpened. She ran after him as if a lightning bolt had struck her head. 

She went up to his room and knocked on the door softly. She didn't want to wake Angela or Mrs. Sanders. He didn't answer, so she pushed the door slightly. 

"Chris, can I come in?" 

"Anna. I'm sorry," Chris managed to say. He was sitting in the armchair facing the window and he was crying. His face was in his hands. His loosened tie, half unbottoned shirt, and crumpled pants were barely visible in the light of the moon and the night lamp. When he looked up at Anna, the pain in his face was as clear as if in daylight, though. She kneeled in front of him and held his tear soaked hands.

"Chris, you didn't hurt me," she said with an attempt to comfort him.

Chris didn't hear her; he was still muttering, "I am sorry, I am sorry. I have to go. I can't keep doing this."

"Chris," Anna started louder and held his head to make him look at her. "You did not hurt me. You did not. I wanted to do that as much as you did. I love you."

Chris eyed her unbelievingly as she wiped his tears away. She desperately wanted to ease his pain.

"I love you, Chris," she repeated and sat in his lap.

"I love you, Anna," Chris said just over a whisper and added, "Are you sure?" with hope struggling to find a way to be seen in his eyes. 

She kissed him on his lips lightly. The touch sent shivers down their spines.

"I am. I've let that bastard ruin my life longer than enough and I've had enough time to heal, thanks to you. I want you." She added with a bit of uncertainty in her voice, "But I might not be good at it. He always said I was not worth anything in bed. He said he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of kidnapping me if he knew I was so bad. You know, I tried to be good. He used to hit me when he didn't like what I did."

"Don't think of him. You must have heard other opinions, too," Chris said trying to cheer her a little. He felt the roles being reversed. One moment ago she was trying to console him but now he had to take control.

"He was the first," Anna broke down this time. Although she tried to be strong, the tension, the realization, the confession were still too much for her fragile mental state.

Chris once again cursed Stephen and wished him to hell for the thousandth time since he walked into that dark alley. The hope disappeared and pain returned to his eyes.

"Anna, I might hurt you and I can't live knowing that. I can't do this," he said, each word he said shredding his heart into smaller pieces.

Anna couldn't bear to see him suffer; she was feeling his agony deep inside her. 

"All right, we'll talk about this later." Not knowing what to do, she kissed him lightly on his cheek and quietly made her way to the door. She felt that she wouldn't be able to reach Chris. Stephen would always be in the way. Chris would always be afraid. By walking out of the door she was walking out of his life. She didn't have the right to hurt him so. She was opening the door when she heard his cracked voice.

"Anna," he muttered with grief, "please don't go...please."

She ran back to him. He was standing. He held her and kissed her, an attempt to make her forget all her life before that moment, if possible. She was somewhat scared at first but her lips opened slightly. Chris was trying to control himself but the hunger that waited there for so long destroyed the barriers of his reasoning. The sensual kiss turned into a wild mating. The fire burnt them both. They were devouring each other's lips with so much hunger as if their life depended on it. Chris pulled the remaining strap of her dress down and peeled the dress down. The strapless bra was gone in a second. He admired her in the moonlight for a split second.

"Oh, my god, you are so beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful. You make my heart ache for wanting to touch you," he whispered. 

Meanwhile she unbuttoned the remaining few buttons on his shirt and reached for his belt. He moaned with her touch. She felt his muscles under her hand contract and shiver, she felt the tiny forest of hair on his chest, she trailed kisses down from his shoulders as she let his pants fall free. He laid her on the bed and one hand went up to cup her breast. As he touched her nipples she felt a dark, blinding need reaching from her breasts towards the secret place between her thighs. 

She reached down and tugged his underpants downwards. He kicked them towards the door in a hurry. When she held his steel-hard, throbbing shaft, she gasped.

"Wow, this is large!" she said hesitatingly.

"I won't hurt you, just tell me if it is uncomfortable," Chris told her, holding back the urge to bury himself in her hard and fast. He had to find gentleness in him; he had to find a way to do this without causing pain. She was somewhat stiff at first, not knowing what to do but decided to copy him and behave instinctively. 

Chris waited for a second for her to relax and get used to the feelings when he reached her secret valley and found her clit. The lovely ache started when he began to play with it. He was kissing and talking to her in a calm voice at the same time. It was too overwhelming for her. She had never had such loving, so tender love. Stephen had taken her virginity without giving a thought to her feelings, rudely and painfully. And all the sex afterwards had been anything but joy. But there was no past at that moment, only the present and only Chris and Anna. When he tentatively pushed one finger into her, she quivered and with the second finger she saw the stars. 

Then he slowly positioned himself on top of her, between her legs. His cock eagerly waited for permission in front of the entrance of her pussy. She looked in his eyes and when she moved her hips in agreement he slowly pushed into her. Inch by inch he waited for her to grow accustomed to him. Inch by inch the fierce lion grew again; it wanted to be set free. He started to push slowly in and out when he was all the way in her. The lion roared, bright golden colors flashed in front of her eyes and with a last push she saw the stars. It was a very toxicating feeling. She felt like she was drunk, unable to move, unable to say a word. Chris went over the edge, too. He had come when her body was spasming and milking his cock. Then she started crying.

"What? Did I hurt you? I am sorry. I should never have let myself go," muttered Chris guiltily.

"No, no. You didn't hurt me. I don't know why I am crying. I am so happy, I guess. I never thought it could be this beautiful," Anna answered smiling; the tears were still falling.

Chris held and kissed her tenderly and they fell asleep naked under the sheets. Chris watched her for a while before he himself fell asleep and thought that he was so lucky. 

Some time in the middle of the night Chris woke up with a strange feeling in his groins. He realized that it was Anna running her fingers up and down his cock. When she saw that he was awake she started licking it. She was a natural. Instinctively she knew how to suck, just where to lick, where to apply pressure. Chris was hard as a rock in a moment. He went for her clit and pussy. They did 69 for a short while but his cock longed to be in her. 

They turned around and the moment it was in her he felt like he came home from a long journey and breathed a sigh of relief. The first time was somewhat hurried and strained. He was afraid of hurting her, afraid that she might back away, not sure if this was really the thing to do. He pushed all the way in as she acccomodated him and the sounds woke Mrs. Sanders up. She went back to sleep with a satisfied smile on her face and a mental note to call Katherine the first thing the next morning. Angela slept through the night like an angel.

The next weekend Chris asked Anna to marry him on a boat trip on the river. She was wearing a flower crown made out of daisies by him and looked like a fairy princess. They called Heather and Nina to their wedding to keep their dinner promise. It was a garden wedding with daisies everywhere. Chris helped her go to college while Mrs. Sanders took care of Angela and Jerome at home. Yes, Angela had a baby brother. Although they had occasional disagreements, they never forgot what they are blessed with, thanked God in every opportunity they had and they lived a long and happy life as a family.




Angel's Call Ch. 16-17



Thanks a lot for your nice comments, I'll try to post the next chapter soon. 

Don't forget to vote, please; it only takes a second.



Angels Carry Guns



I would like to thank SouthPacific for his editing work on this story, his offer to edit this story was very much appreciated. Any errors in this story are mine and mine alone.

*****

I had been up since just before dawn and, considering it was still dark, I hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary. To be honest, mind you, I wasn't looking. I had heard Tessa moving around, so I had her breakfast ready as her bare feet padded down the stairs.

"Daddy, who does the car belong to?"

Tessa was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she walked into the kitchen. My daughter looked at me like I knew what she was talking about, then rolled her eyes and tilted her head towards the kitchen door as I followed her into the day room. It was now light enough to see to the far end of the clearing, where a dark colored saloon car was parked against the barn. Not much else could be seen, since the barn stood fifty yards from the house and the car sat in the shadows as the sun's rays came up on the other side of the barn.

Leaving Tessa to eat her breakfast, I wandered over to the car. As I closed the gap I couldn't see the driver's seat, so I guessed that someone had pulled it down to sleep. My guess was proven correct when I got close enough to see a woman's head sticking out of a blanket. Her eyes opened before I got close enough to knock on the window, and she got out to meet me as I passed the front of the car.

"I know you!" I exclaimed. "You're Savannah Gordon."

The woman looked more intensely at me, recognition failing her, and I knew why. I held out my hand but all she did was watch me do it.

"You have me at a disadvantage, mister. Who are you?"

I smiled, and I think that pissed her off as well. 

"Martin Holdsworth. I recognize you from all the pictures that the Gordons had around the house when I bought the place."

She rested against the car as she absorbed the information I had given her. It was clear to me that she knew nothing of what happened. What saddened me the most was that a complete stranger was about to tell her the truth. As Savannah followed me towards the house, Tessa came out and sat on the porch with her breakfast on her lap, watching us move around the back.

Other than open the gate to the family cemetery I said and did nothing. Savannah knelt in front of the graves of her folks. She mumbled something, more to herself and her folks than to me, but she did notice the flowers on both graves.

"My daughter Tessa: every Monday, Wednesday and Friday she comes home from school with flowers for both graves, and has done since we've lived here." 

I'm not too sure how much she heard. I suppose if I was where she was now my mind wouldn't have heard all that much either. Savannah lifted herself from her kneeling position and stood in front of me, the sadness clear to see. I recognized it from burying Connie just over two years before.

"How did they die, and why did you come to own the farm?"

Once again I did the thing that seemed to piss her off and smiled. Holding the gate open for her to exit the cemetery, we walked towards the house as I explained that the boiler in the basement was old and simply had had too many repairs done to it instead of being replaced. Both her folks simply went to bed one night and never woke up. Since there was no will, their bank took possession of the farm to cover outstanding debts and I bought it days after it came on the market.

"I was brought up in a small town myself, Savannah, and I respected everyone's wishes. I put a shipping container in the barn and moved all your folks' personal possessions into it. There is only one key and I will give you that as soon as we get into the house."

Even I could see she was on a slow boil, so I continued before she had a chance to say anything.

"No one knew where you were. Your folks told everyone you worked for the Government, but that's all they told anyone. I wasn't about to go through their possessions, so I stored everything. The rest of the money for the farm is in the bank in town under your name."

Tessa watched as we got closer to the house. The day was a lot brighter now, and it was plain to see my daughter sitting with her mouth hanging open, watching us as we stepped onto the porch.

"You're the lady in the photos."

Savannah stopped and knelt next to my daughter. Her hand slowly came out and held onto Tessa's.

"The flowers are lovely. Thank you for looking after my folks like that."

I went indoors and they both followed. Tessa washed up her bowl and headed upstairs to get changed. Savannah sat at the kitchen table, and her eyes scanned the room before they settled on me as I placed a key in the middle of the table.

"The Sheriff tried to find you, Savannah. Old Hank phoned a friend of his at the FBI. He checked a couple of other agencies but came up with nothing; you seemed to have literally disappeared from the face of the earth. Marsha Turnbull took over the funeral arrangements, and almost the whole town turned up."

Although her head nodded, I'm not sure how much she actually heard. When I stopped speaking she just leaned across, picked up the key, and walked out. I watched her walk to her car and, seconds later, pull away. The school bus came by half an hour later and our day resumed its normal routine.

It was the weekend before we saw Savannah again. Tessa called me from out front as her car pulled up by the barn. She got out and walked over to us.

"You asked Jacob and Terri Browner to value the farm at full market value, not a foreclosure. You opened the account at the bank that has my name on it with the Mayor and Sheriff present, and deposited all the money that was left after deducting what the bank and Government were owed in debts and taxes."

She hadn't ask me a question, but simply told me something I already knew, so I just nodded my head. Her eyes narrowed and she looked more closely at me. A little air seemed to leave her before she looked once again at the key in her hand. Savannah asked to see the container, so my daughter walked off the porch and placed her hand into Savannah's before both walked in front of me towards the barn.

It was plain to see that my own daughter wanted Savannah to know she understood death. With the loss of her own mother she wanted to extend that bond to one other, the woman walking with her.

*******

The size of the container gave her a hint, but when she opened it she still took a step back and slowly shook her head.

"Jeez... This is going to take me days." 

For a ten-year-old, Tessa was ever the pragmatist. She tugged on Savannah's sleeve until she pulled her eyes away from the contents of the container.

"Then stay. I have a big bed; we can share."

I quickly tried to deflect Savannah having to give an answer. "Honey, I think..."

Savannah knelt in front of my daughter. Tessa wasn't about to give in so quickly.

"I watched Daddy spend a week getting all your stuff in that box. You need somewhere to stay, and I'm strong so I can help you."

Her shoulders lowered slightly and our guest nodded her head a second later.

"OK, but you need to bring tissues so we can both have a cry when we do this."

Tessa bounced up and down, clapping her hands at the same time. It was an odd sort of bond they had between them, and since the death of her mother Tessa hadn't really been close to any woman other then my sister. Yet now a person we only knew from the folks in town, and from pictures that had hung on almost every wall in the house, had pulled more out of my daughter than anything I had managed to do in two years. 

When they looked at me all I could do was nod my head. I wasn't about to get in the way. Hell, I had tried a moment ago and was overridden, so perhaps this could be a healing process for both of them.

"I'm going back to the house to make you two some cold drinks. I will also swing by every fifteen minutes or so to see if you need me to lift anything heavy out of the container."

Both nodded, although it seemed to be an automatic reflex since their attention was already on the first box in the container. By the time the first drinks came out a few feet of the inside of the barn already had furniture on it. Savannah thanked me for the drinks and pointed to the first box they pulled out of the container for me to place them on. I stood and watched for a while waiting to see if I was needed. I'm sure my daughter remembered I was there; at least, I hoped she did.

A couple of hours later Marsha Turnbull pulled up outside the barn, waved at me sitting on the porch, and came to join me. This was the happiest I had seen Marsha in all the time we had been here.

"She came to my house in tears. Savannah even told me what you had said to her, and cried in my arms the rest of the morning. I've known that girl over twenty seven years, Martin, and didn't think anything could faze her. She was coming home to stay, Martin - she put her notice in with that job of hers in the Government and was coming home."

Both of us knew how that ended. It just didn't feel right that a perfect stranger should tell someone that her folks were dead. I could understand why Marsha was the first person she went to see afterwards. Marsha leaned over and gripped my hand really tightly, causing me to look at her.

"This is a small town, Martin, and we all know why you're here. What Tessa does with those flowers she buys on the way home softened the blow of her folk's death. We all understand loss in some way, shape or form, Martin - perhaps that yours and Tessa's is still fresh to you both helped her in some way." 

I squeezed Marsha's hand a little to let her know that I understood, and pointed to the barn, telling her that Savannah and Tessa were sorting through her folks' stuff in the container.

"Savannah phoned me an hour ago and told me, and even that she had a helper. For a moment I thought it was you until I heard Tessa's voice in the background. Thank you, Martin, if for nothing other than being you. It seems that you were in the right place at just the right time for her."

Marsha leaned over and kissed my cheek before getting up and walking to the barn. Half an hour later a truck pulled up, and two men took a double bed and a wardrobe away. It seemed to be a conveyor belt of cars and trucks after that - men and women would go inside and bring something out, and maybe tie it down before leaving again. I replaced the jug of lemonade and ice twice more: both times I asked if they needed me, but no-one said they did so I left again. 

As it started to get dark Marsha came out of the barn, followed by the girls. They locked the barn, and both hugged her before she got in her car and drove off. I sent them both upstairs to shower while I got dinner out of the oven. As I was about to call up the stairs for them both, they came down. Tessa was in her usual PJ's and Savannah in an over-sized tee shirt, shorts and legs - damn long legs!

"Daddy, what are you staring at?"

"Nothing, honey, just spooked at how quick a shower you had! I usually have to take a crowbar to you to get you out of the shower, you take that long."

My daughter went beet red. "I do not."

Savannah noticed and smiled. She didn't say anything, just smiled.

We had started dinner when Savannah spoke. "I went looking for my case and found it in the guest-room. Did you forget my girlfriend and I are sharing?"

Both girls stared at me, waiting for an answer. My first thought was that the only thing missing was the light aimed at my eyes. The idea of who would play good cop and who would play bad cop did occur to me, and I just caught the smile before it fought its way out of me.

This time I held up my hands. "OK, if you want to share then fine by me. I wasn't going to bring up the fact my daughter snores like a camel."

The redness went quickly up her neck, drowned her ears and turned her cheeks the same color as her fingers clenched her knife and fork.

"I do NOT!"

We both laughed at her discomfort, Savannah placing her hand on my daughter's arm.

"So it's not just me, then! I'm glad I'm not the only one."

The attack dog mode my daughter was going for quickly deflated as Savannah smiled back at her. She gently nodded once, and the fire in Tessa's eyes quickly diminished. The look I got from her, however, let me know I should stick to the more playful teasing that my daughter was used to.

Tessa started to wilt soon after dinner, a full day of pulling furniture and memories out of the container having taken its toll on her. I picked her up and took her to bed, Savannah making us both drinks for when I returned. It was clear to me she wanted one of those "clear the air" talks.

"You're worried about me spending so much time with your daughter?"

My first thought was to be philosophical about it, but the look she gave me as she waited for my answer told me something else.

"This is as alive as I have seen my daughter since her mom died. Even when I quit my job and moved here to devote more time to her she never really shared her feelings with me about it. She would talk to my sister of course, but that put Sandy in a position she didn't want to be in. Tessa sensed this and clammed up, and no amount of trying on mine or my sister's behalf opened her up again." 

"Where is Sandy now?" 

I shrugged my shoulders and told her that my sister was career army, so there were times she simply dropped off the grid for weeks, if not months, but she always came back here to recuperate.

"All I have is a phone number and when she goes away she gives me an email address. Other than that I wait and worry like an older brother should."

I caught the intensity of Savannah's look. Sandy gave me that same one at times, like she was evaluating how much she could share with me about her life in the army. The look seemed to pass a moment later, and she seemed to use the time she took to pick up her drink and take a sip as an excuse. Something was playing on her mind, and she seemed to have a great deal of trouble with trying to figure out just how to put her own thoughts into words.

"Even at the speed I'm going, it's still looking like a week for me to clear the container."

I shrugged my shoulders before answering.

"So what? That's your life in there; it's also memories of your folks. There is no time limit on those memories, so take your time and keep what you want. It's obvious from my seat on the porch that you have a list of people waiting to make use of the stuff you no longer need." 

She smiled and nodded her head. The yawn didn't escape my attention either.

"Get to bed - and remember the ear plugs!"

Other than a smile and a gentle punch on my arm as she passed, I got nothing more from her than a "goodnight" as she went out the door. I cleaned up and spent an hour in my home office paying bills before I headed upstairs. Habit made me check out Tessa on the way to my room. She was curled into Savannah, her head resting on her chest and giving out those gentle little noises she makes when she's sleeping soundly.

Savannah's eyes were open the instant I moved the door, and she watched me for the length of time I had it open. Her arm came around Tessa, who then gave off a low moan as she moved slightly and once again made herself comfortable. She saw me smile as I watched my daughter, then I mouthed a "goodnight" and, as quietly as I could, closed the door and headed for bed.

*******

The smell of coffee drifted up from the kitchen as I came downstairs. Savannah was sitting at the table, a fresh coffee placed where I sat last night.

"I heard you moving about," she said, "so I figured it wouldn't take you long to come down. You're an early riser."

"Habit I suppose; more so now we live here."

"You meant what you said last night about taking my time?" 

This time I nodded. I had no use for the barn at the moment, which is why I moved the container in there in the first place. 

"Same rules apply - if you need anything heavy moving, call me. The drinks will be coming out to you both on the hour."

My daughter walked through the door just then, scratching her head and yawning. I did get a thank you from both for different reasons, Tessa for her breakfast and Savannah for giving her time with her memories - not to mention an incessantly talking ten year old!

That day was a repeat of the one before. Marsha Turnbull came by about mid-day, waved at me sitting on the porch as she got out of her car, and walked into the coolness of the barn. The procession of trucks and cars started around two o'clock and finished about five when all three came out of the barn, and I went back inside to start dinner. 

Marsha came in first, the other two still talking about clothes and school. She kept me company as the conversation drifted upstairs, and couldn't keep a grin off her face.

"We opened Ben's writing desk today. As we lifted it out of the container the drawer opened and a bottle of ink rolled out. Tessa went to catch it and Savannah thought she could too, as well as hold her end of the desk up at the same time. You may have to burn their clothes, because there is no way that stain is coming out of what they're wearing."

We laughed, and the talking upstairs stopped for a second as the girls figured out what we were laughing at. I asked Marsha if she was staying for dinner, but she declined on account of the cats she had to get home to. I held the door open for her and we both heard the shower running. This time we both managed to suppress the laugh and kept it to a grin.

The girls came down as I was placing their dinner on the table. A black stain still showed on my daughter's arm, although a lot lighter than it was when she went up the stairs. That ink was sure going to take its time coming off, that was for sure. Once dinner was over, the girls shared the couch to watch a little TV while I was in my home office doing some work.

Little arms came around my neck and a cheek touched mine.

"Goodnight, daddy; I love you."

"I love you too, baby."

Holding her in my arms and giving her one of those goodnight hugs reminded me that this was all worth it. By the time I had closed the computer down and come out of my home office Tessa was at the top of the stairs, where she gave a little wave and disappeared into her room. Savannah was still slouched on the couch, those tee-shirts and shorts seeming to be the only thing she had as nightwear.

The TV was off by time I sat across from Savannah. She watched me for a moment before sitting up and, even though I knew it was just my imagination, those legs looked even longer.

"Leg man, huh?"

I refused to rise to the bait.

"How is the work in the barn going?"

"About a third of the way left to go, and I suspect the hardest part. Marsha plans to bring the women from the knitting club by the day after tomorrow, and they are going to take all mom and dad's clothes to Goodwill for me. That's going to leave me with all the boxes of paperwork and photos, family albums and so on left to get through."

She decided to once again test her theory, and moved her legs - just to get comfortable, of course! My eyes followed the movement and, when my attention was once again on her face, I was met with a smile.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Still getting over the blush of being caught out, all I did was nod my head.

"Are you OK with independently-minded women, or are you a man who needs to be in control over everything?"

Still unsure where this conversation was going, I sat and waited, more confused by her question than anything.

"The reason I ask is, I'm about to get naked and I know you haven't had sex for nearly the same length of time as me. So do you want me to blow you for the first one, or are you going to suck it out of me when we sixty-nine each other?"




Angels Carry Guns



Fighting the embarrassment of her honesty was real hard when all she did was sit there waiting for my answer.

"You're very forward, aren't you?"

I was still watching her when she stood and pulled her shirt off her body.

"Through reasons that you best not know about, I've been without male company for a few years now. So...we could go the seduction route, but I know that won't work since you're too much of a gentleman."

By now her thumbs had disappeared into her shorts, and my eyes followed them down her ever-so-long legs.

"Or...I can just get naked in front of you. Check to see if your pants are showing me the appreciation I hope for."

Her eyes took a long hard look, and the smile just got bigger. Her eyes seemed to shine as well.

"The rest, however, is up to you. I'm attracted to you, Martin, and have been almost since we met. We both know I've been too much of an emotional wreck for you to take advantage of. But I'm not fooling myself here: the worst is yet to come when I start going through their private papers, so I need to get this awkward moment out of the way to let me come at you anytime without fear of rejection."

That tee and shorts had hidden so many surprises. Tessa and I had watched athletics on TV; Savannah looked like a runner. She was perfectly toned in every aspect of her body, even down to the hint of a six pack. If there was an ounce of body fat on that woman I never did find it, and I looked hard - really hard.

Her hand came away from her body and towards me. I looked up at her face.

"It's called the point of no return, Martin. I'm hoping you make the right choice because rejection is kind of foreign to me. It's bedtime, Martin - take me to bed, and hold me if that's all you wish to do. Make love to me and I will return in full the love you give me. This girl can't do it all on her own anymore; she's asking for your help."

The distance between her outstretched hand and me was but a foot and a half, yet every inch towards her was of quiet acceptance that it was all so right. The warmth of her hand as I held it was nothing like the warmth of her smile when I once again looked at her.

Once in my room, Savannah insisted that she undress me. When she went to her knees, with no pretence about what she had planned, her hand went around my ass to hold me close to her in case I had a change of mind. Seeing this beautiful woman attached to me like she was, I seriously had doubts I would be doing that anytime soon. 

Savannah made it clear that she wanted the first one out of the way quickly, and let me know in no uncertain terms where she wanted it. My hands automatically went to her shoulders, and I do seem to remember telling her that I was about to cum, although my head felt a little light about then and I can't be totally sure she heard me mumble that warning.

I had to hold her shoulders just a little tighter. Her fingers digging deep into my ass cheeks let me know that she had junior sorted, and not to worry too much. Savannah still didn't stop when I had finished, her tongue and the gentle movement of her mouth being so erotic that I don't think I had a chance to go soft. With a slow moan that traveled out of her and through me her lips finally left my steel-hard cock. 

When she stood, her arms went around my neck and pulled me close to her, and we kissed. I tasted me as we did, and my hardness just got a little harder. Savannah gently moaned and wriggled her pubic bone against me to let me know she knew. As our kiss ended it seemed a total stranger looked back at me, and something in my heart stopped just then.

"Confession time, Martin. We can do anything - we are adults and I like variety. Make love to me, or have great monkey sex with me; I'm good to go and will never refuse. But don't tie me down, Martin."

A hardness came to her eyes; her arms held me just a little tighter to her, although I suspect she didn't realize she was doing it.

"Please don't ever tie me down, OK?"

Although I waited a moment for her to elaborate she never did. I made love to Savannah Gordon that evening, and well into the night. My tongue mapped out her exquisite body, and my cock found a home in her pussy and mouth for as long as she could keep me hard. She leaked our cum and shared it with me whenever she could. By the amount of times she looked at the clock on the side cabinet we both knew she would be getting up to return to Tessa's room soon.

Savannah thought it best she shower alone. I had to agree with her, and five minutes later she came out in her shirt and twirling her shorts around by her finger, the sway of her hips all too evident. 

"Thank you! That was fun, and I'm looking forward to more. I will need that a lot in the coming weeks."

Her statement seemed to stop short, as though she had decided not to say what was on the tip of her tongue. Her finger went under my chin and, as she applied gentle pressure, my head lifted to be met by her lips. Our kiss was soft and gentle, with perhaps just a hint of something more to come. I watched her leave my room, and took a shower wondering how all this started. Then I remembered those damn long legs and smiled once again.

******* 

Over the next week the actress in Savannah came out. When evening came she would cuddle up to Tessa, and both of them would watch a chick flick or some program on TV. When Tessa went to bed Savannah would pull a file out of somewhere, or a piece of paper that she had stashed in her pocket, and show it to me.

Her mom had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctors had done surgery on her and she had gone through chemotherapy. At the time of her death she was in remission, and by the time I had finished reading the file Savannah was in tears right next to me. I held onto to her as she beat herself up for not being with her folks before they died.

It was harder for her when she found her mom's diaries. She could never read them near Tessa because some of the information in them brought out her temper. Even when I suggested she put them down and burned them she just couldn't. Those diaries became all-consuming for her, yet her true patience also came to the fore when she found them. But downtime with Tessa was always more important than the diaries, and she would only ever read them when Tessa had gone to bed.

Invariably she would need to be held. Sometimes on the couch was enough, but when I heard her gasp or mumble the words "Oh, no!" I was already in the process of standing and pulling my shirt off at the same time. Even though I could have, given the position we lay in bed, I never did read over her shoulder. It just didn't seem right, and Savannah would inevitably tell me about what she had found anyway, and use me as a sounding board when she wanted to discuss that day's entry in the diaries.

What raised an eyebrow and caused me to hold Savannah down was when she found out about Marsha Turnbull. I didn't even get a forewarning on that one; no gasp or "Oh, no!" came from her lips. 

Instead, she shot off the couch screaming. "Why, that two-faced conniving BITCH!"

Savannah looked around and then grabbed my hand before heading off to my room. She tossed the diary onto the bed and started to pull clothes off herself, mumbling all the while. Feeling it wise to follow suit, I did just that, although I left the mumbling bit to Savannah for the moment. As soon as I had my arms wrapped around her, she read out loud the section from her mom's diary that had sent her orbital.

Once she had finished I felt it wise to place my leg over her body as well. It seemed Marsha had had to have her house fumigated; Savannah's folks offered her a place to stay, so she put her cats in a cattery and moved in for three weeks. The three weeks seemed to turn into six weeks, and all of that time she spent in their bed with both of them. I'm sure glad Savannah didn't see me smile when that little secret leaked out of her mom's diary.

Savannah would never be drawn on her own sexual history, so it was hard to draw any comparisons - if indeed there were any. The threat of violence towards Marsha eased somewhat when we talked about how long they had all known each other and, since her own mom wrote so eloquently about those weeks in her own diary, she obviously enjoyed Marsha's time with them both. 

The thing Savannah struggled so much to get her head around was that it was her own folks. After all, moms and dads don't do that sort of thing, do they?

I felt it best to leave that unanswered, although I did extract a promise from her that she would talk to Marsha and not judge her. Just as I had put that little fire out, her ass wriggled and then stopped, her head turned to me, and she quickly dropped the diary and sat up in the bed. She sat cross-legged and looked down at me.

"You're not hard. You're always hard - you're a man."

Confused by this twist, all my brain could do was ask, "What?"

Savannah seemed to head towards full panic mode and nothing was going to stop her.

"It's because I won't talk about my past, isn't it? You don't find this body attractive anymore, do you? You don't find ME attractive anymore."

Trying to keep up with her in the verbal stakes would have been a complete waste of time, but my finger gently pressing against her lips did the trick though. Once I adjusted my position I pointed to the middle of the bed and watched her. Savannah went to speak, and I once again touched her lips with my finger. The nod of her head told me she had got the message and she moved to lay on her back, her chest rising up and down a little faster right about then.

My kisses and touch were slow and gentle, and her legs parted to accommodate the position I had moved into. By the time my kisses had reached just above her knee a slow moan escaped her, her thigh trembling in anticipation of where I would kiss next. Her scent grew in insistence that my travels pause for awhile, and pause I did, gently sucking in a pussy lip as another moan would give itself to me.

Savannah moved her hands onto my head and I stopped. Although her finger delved deep into my hair she quickly released me. Placing my hands on each wrist, I moved hers back to her sides, the smile on her lips not escaping me either. Although her fingers would clench every now and again, they would stay by her side, my mouth once again seeking her out and my teeth gently running along both sides of her pussy.

Her hips rose and she gasped. I waited for her to return her body to me before I once again attached my mouth to her pussy. This time my own hands went to her hips to hold her down as my tongue went to her clit and pushed it back into her body. She made a noise that didn't seem human yet it sure left her lips, and her own hips used what little freedom they had to push down onto my tongue in an effort to meet that challenge.

Savannah's own body heat gave away her impending orgasm. Her legs instinctively wrapped themselves around my head, and her hands held mine as her pussy sent pleasure coursing through her body, covering my face in her cum as it did so. I stopped long enough for her breathing to return to normal before I took another bath in her juices.

She tried to pull away from the assault that was being made on her clit, only for me to follow her up the bed. Her legs opened and her own hands moved to my head in an attempt to halt me, gasping out the word "stop" as she did so.

This time I rose from my favorite position between her legs and, when our eyes met, hers looked like they were on fire. I went to my knees and my cock was but inches from her lips. Savannah's hand went around my hardness and her mouth opened.

*******

Morning brought a few surprises, one of them from Tessa. We were still at the table eating breakfast when, right out of the blue, she said "I know you're sleeping with daddy."

We both paused; Savannah's hand reached out for Tessa's.

"You smell of shampoo and body wash when you come to bed, even though we have both had a shower, so I know you're sleeping with daddy." 

Savannah nodded her head. I could tell she wanted to smile and reassure Tessa, but the trouble was my own daughter had initiated this conversation and neither of us were sure how it was going to pan out.

"Do you love him?"

A defining moment if ever there was one. Savannah squeezed Tessa's hand, paused for a moment, and nodded her head.

"It's still a little early to tell him I love him, girlfriend. There are still too many emotions I'm dealing with that are coming out of that box in the barn, but your father has helped me a lot. Are you OK with this, Tessa? Please be honest with me: are you really OK with this?" 

Tessa nodded her head and squeezed Savannah's hand right back.

"I think you should take a break from the barn today, and move your stuff into daddy's room while I'm at school."

Both stood and hugged, and I got one too before she started for her room to get changed ready for the school bus. We watched Tessa leave on the bus, then Savannah went straight back inside and moved out of Tessa's room. When I said we had all day to do this, her reply was that she wanted it done before my daughter changed her mind. I had never seen a grown woman so afraid of a ten-year-old before.

By mid-day Savannah had waited long enough, so she phoned Marsha and asked her to come on over for a chat. I left them to it when Marsha arrived, and hid in my home office. Neither of them told me the outcome of their talk, and an uneasy peace reigned between them until I told Savannah to look on Marsha as a link to her folks and as not someone hell-bent on tearing her family apart. Her own mom wrote fondly of the time Marsha spent with them, and she should respect that.

"You're taking all this lightly, aren't you? She had an affair with mom and dad." 

"Last time I looked they were all over the age of twenty-one, and all three of them went into it with open eyes. Your own mom's diary tells you that much. It also tells you that they didn't continue the affair after then, so what is the problem?"

Even she had to concede that I was right. It still took a few days, but the thaw started between them and a week later things were back to normal. Savannah asked if the storage box could be removed now that the personal items had been reduced to seven boxes, all of which were closely vetted for any more surprises about her folks before they themselves found a home in the spare room.

In total it took her three months to empty the storage box. We all kept telling her that there was no time limit, and she finally got the hint. She and Tessa started having a girls' day out each Saturday, which consisted of spending the day at the mall with maybe a trip to the cinema thrown in if something caught their eye.

As for me, it seemed I had found love in the most unusual of places, the daughter of the past owners. She was great with Tessa, and both connected real fast. At night I got a woman who cuddled when she felt I needed one, but was happy to leave me alone when I had my own memories to deal with. Yet she was never far away; when she felt I had moped enough she would either come in or send Tessa to drag me out of my home office.

*******

"I have to take Tessa to school today; I have a meeting with her teacher about some of the work she is doing."

Savannah looked over to me and then to Tessa who just shrugged her shoulders.

"Anything bad?"

"No; nothing like that. I got a phone call from Tessa's school yesterday, wanting me to come in with her today. Her teacher has noticed her workload increase, and wants to know if her home circumstances have changed. I plan to tell her we have a live-in nanny that does all Tessa's homework for her as part of her board and lodging."

Tessa went beet red and Savannah quickly got between us, the dig in the ribs a reminder that I wasn't to torment my daughter as often as I did. Tessa and I waved at Savannah as I pulled away from the house. Tessa took over the radio in the car, and on the way to school we talked about a holiday together.

*******

It was the knock at the door that surprised Savannah. She pulled the cover off her legs and walked barefoot to the door, an outline of a figure the other side letting her know someone was there and that it wasn't her imagination. She held the door for support when she saw the look on the Sheriff's face.

"Afternoon, Savannah. I need you to come with me."

The chill crept down her spine and she held the door just a little tighter.

"Is anything wrong, Sheriff?"

"We came by earlier, Savannah, but you weren't home. You need to come with me, please; it's Martin. He's in hospital. We need you to come now, Savannah."

*******

Savannah wasn't even sure how she managed to get back to the house. It was as she got out of the cab and looked around at such familiar surroundings that her own mind was made up. Her priority was Martin and Tessa; she would come to terms with her own demons later. Even as she locked the front door and picked up the phone she had a doubt that she should do this. That doubt quickly disappeared when she thought back to her man at the hospital and what was happening to Tessa at this very moment.

The four numbers came first; they would bypass the billing centre. The ten second pause was needed before the rest of the numbers followed; as she pushed the button for the last number the line stayed silent. Savannah tried to keep her breathing normal for the next fifteen seconds as she listened to what sounded like a dead line. Thankfully she knew different.

A click followed, and then the female voice. "Identify yourself."

"Angel 257 dash 41."

"Wait."

The line once again fell silent. Savannah remembered to breathe this time.

"Savannah? Is everything all right?"

For the next twenty minutes she told the voice everything, from returning to her folks' home to finding out they had both died. The slow attraction to the man who now owned the place and her love for Tessa, and finally the kidnapping and hospitalization of Martin. From time to time she could hear the person on the line type as she spoke. 

"What do you want?"

"This got personal when they took Tessa and beat Martin into a coma. I'm going to need authorization from upstairs and also firepower."

Once those few words had left her lips she smiled. This was the closest the voice had come to hopefully sanctioning what she was about to do. She verbalized the list in her head. 

"I want Sandy here as soon as you can get her here. From what Martin has told me, and although he doesn't know it, she is the military version of me which may well come in handy later, plus she needs to know what's going on."

Once again she listened to the typing coming down the phone line.

"Your assumption is correct. I will make the necessary arrangements and notify you of when she will arrive. Next?"

The voice at the other end waited. Her list still focused in front of her.

"I need information. The Sheriff has wrapped this up tight; Hank is not letting anyone in on it. The FBI will no doubt be here real soon, and I'm not going to get anywhere near any good intel."

Again the typing sound came down the line; this time it lasted a few minutes.

"I have a direct feed into the computer mainframe in the building, and the CCTV cameras all over the building, plus sound."

The pause was longer; the sound of typing was almost frantic.

"Upstairs have been informed, and your preliminary authorization has been confirmed. Wilson is the closest to you, and he will arrive in four hours. Sandy has been pulled from active duty and her boss is already aware that she is needed by this department. Her ETA will be about the same time as Wilson's. Next?" 

Before Savannah could continue the line double-clicked.

"Hey Savannah, I just got off the phone with Sandy's commanding officer. He's pissed that his favorite toy is being taken away from him for an unknown time period. She knows nothing, so be ready for a bitchy broad getting off a Blackhawk."




Angels Carry Guns



For the first time today she truly felt a calm descend around her and she smiled. The all too familiar voice was watching over her now.

"It's good to hear your voice, Andy."

"You too, sweet cheeks. I've got visual and sound being piped into one of the ops rooms, and I will watch and feed you intel on what's happening at the Sheriff's office; more so when our friends get there. I'm sending you Angels 229 and 813 and, before you go all nuclear on me, that order comes from upstairs. They are your back up: use them, don't use them, but they will be close by if needed."

Before Savannah could vent her feelings a low whistle came down the line.

"Wow, Savannah didn't you luck in! Martin Holdsworth, the prince of the Stock Exchange and Brandon and Associates' highest paid employee, reputed to be worth more than the owners of the company he worked for. Quit suddenly when his wife died; he up and took his little nest egg and his daughter and went native. Brandons went belly up not long after he left. Shoes that were too big to fill, apparently." 

She knew of the collapse of Brandons. Its fall sent shock waves so deep in the Stock Exchange that the President himself got in on the act and had to hold a meeting with most of the major players in an attempt to stabilize the market once again.

Yet Savannah saw the man, not his worth; she watched him putting his own mourning process to one side whilst hovering over the daughter who still grieved for her mother. Not to mention the times he sat her down and talked to her about her own folks, whenever she came across a personal letter or a picture that would leave her on her own brink of despair that she never got to say goodbye to her own parents. 

That's the man she knew; that's the man that had her heart. What he had in the bank was irrelevant to her. He had won her heart by being Martin Holdsworth, a steady rock she could hold onto when her own grief almost overwhelmed her.

Andy quickly overrode the other voice. "Savannah, your back up will arrive at the Marriott on Church Street in a little less than five hours. I've had their numbers fed into the cell that Wilson will give you for the duration of this operation."

"Thank you, Andy."

"I suggest you rest. Sandy will be there in about three hours twenty and, from the report I've just got from her Commanding Officer, she's so pissed right now about being pulled out of a mission briefing that she might do anything."

Since Andy was on board, Savannah knew she could relax - if only a little. His suggestion that she rest wasn't easy to accept, yet she knew he was right. It had been a long night and morning, and her body was running on adrenaline alone. With eyes closed and her mind at ease the clock quietly ticked away the time.

She heard a vehicle approach a while later and instantly rose from her bed to look out of the open window. The familiar van made its way past the barn and came to a stop next to her own car. Savannah made it downstairs by the time Wilson had got out of the van. 

"I heard you retired; almost believed it until I got the call earlier."

His sideways grin made her smile. Wilson was cute in a nerd sort of way, the steel rim glasses not hiding the deep blue eyes. His penchant for Hawaiian shirts hid the toned body really well, but the short sleeves gave away the muscles in his arms. People like Wilson simply drove around the country at legal speeds, and remained as invisible as possible whilst hiding the armory they looked after in the backs of the vans. 

Wilson spotted the dot in the sky heading towards the farmhouse. "We have guests?"

She followed his line of sight and watched for a moment as the dot steadily turned into a Blackhawk. Wilson closed the doors to his van and once again moved alongside Savannah. They watched the helicopter hover just short of the barn for a moment while the pilot chose a landing spot. 

The Blackhawk had barely touched down before a figure jumped out of the open door and squatted down while the helicopter lifted off and headed back the way it came. By the time it had passed the barn the figure was standing, watching both the people by the van.

"Now that looks like one SERIOUSLY pissed-off lady!" Wilson grinned. "Do you think you can take her, or am I going to have to shoot her?"

Sandy walked directly up to Savannah. Wilson knew better than to move.

"I figured as much - too many holes in your past not to be something like this. Where are my brother and niece?"

A knife slid out of the bottom of her sleeve. Sandy caught it and for now held it loosely. She turned to the man in the very loud Hawaiian shirt.

"You have a good fifty to sixty pounds on me but, if you move again towards that van, or pull that gun out of its shoulder rig," Sandy warned, using her knife to point towards his pants before finishing her statement, "I'm going to cut them off your body and listen to you sing soprano for the rest of your life."

Both women heard Wilson say, "I think I'm in love."

"Don't sweat it, hillbilly, you're not my type. It was clear to see all the way over here that you ain't packing enough to keep me interested."

"Dammit, Savannah, this little lady is giving me a hard-on."

Savannah went to take a step towards Sandy, who in turn held her knife even tighter. It still didn't stop Sandy taking a half-pace back, adjusting her stance as she did.

"Look, Sandy, we don't have time for this! Surely the fact I could reach out and pull you out of a briefing room and get you here as quickly as I did, and the fact that you're still breathing, means something?"

"Don't care: I will ask you once more. Where are my brother and niece?"

A cell phone went off in the back of the van. Both Wilson and Savannah looked at each other. Wilson just shrugged his shoulders since it was going to be Savannah's call from here on in.

"I need to answer that - it's going to be important."

Sandy just stared right back and shook her head.

"Not going to happen."

Red dots appeared on both Wilson's and Savannah's chests. They danced for a moment and then disappeared. Sandy watched them dance; she knew why they did and, when they disappeared, she also knew where they were now. 

"I'm sorry, Sandy, truly I am, but I don't have time to play nice. Two rifles are now pointed at your back, and the two Angels holding those rifles will kill you if you move."

Savannah walked to the back of the van and retrieved the cell phone. As she answered the phone she waved Angels Patti and Tina in from the side of the barn.

"Good to see you remember how to answer a Goddamn phone! What took you so long?"

"I love you too, Andy; what have you got?"

"Well... Oh, before I forget, your back-up should arrive a little early; they will probably swing by your place before they head to the Marriott."

She smiled as she watched the two women move either side of Sandy, rifles strapped to their backs, and both holding handguns aimed at her head.

"You should also find this interesting. We downloaded all the names of the people who once worked for Brandon and Associates and, just for laughs, we added spouses and children and cousins and nephews and nieces of said employees. It seems the Highway Patrol pulled over a Jeffery Sanderson for speeding - they let him go with a caution since he was only a mile or two over the limit. He was twenty miles from your location, heading back to the city."

With the link they had into Brandon and Associates' personnel data, they found that Jeffery Sanderson was a cousin of one of the board members. When Brandons went belly-up and the money dried up, the need to send his favorite cousin to private school was no longer a priority. Faced with being dropped from a life of luxury in a private and very exclusive college that catered for the rich and lazy, life in the real world became just a little harsh for Jeffery.

Andy went looking and found rap sheets for minor offences. He now had a thread and, Andy being Andy, he just kept pulling on that thread. It yielded a very deep-seated resentment aimed at one person: the man who he felt had taken away his life of being pandered to by the minions. Jeffery Sanderson had already done a year in jail, which added to his resentment of a certain Mr. Martin Holdsworth for having had the audacity to leave Brandons and then, by extension, taking his own life of privilege away. 

Savannah watched as Wilson took the knife off Sandy, who just stood and watched all those around her.

"I will download everything we have to the tablet Wilson has for you, but you know I don't like coincidences, and the fact that he was over three hundred miles in the wrong direction from home is a big one." 

Andy paused. Savannah quickly picked up on the hesitation, and was about to ask him what was wrong when he spoke.

"Use it if you have to, and I suggest you do, but I got a hold of the doctor's report from the hospital. I'm going to add that to the download; something tells me Sandy is going to want to see her brother, so it may be best that she's prepared for what she's going to see."

The download would take a few minutes, so she used the time to watch Sandy more closely. It was clear she was planning something by the way she continued to watch where everyone was standing. Although both Angels were out of reach, Wilson was in the process of patting her down so they didn't have any more surprises. 

She noticed Sandy move her right foot a couple of inches back and redistribute her weight onto the ball of her foot.

"Stand down, Sandy. He will kill you first and regret it later. I know we have to talk, but I have too much to do at the moment, so how about you get changed out of that uniform and into some of the casual clothes I know you keep here? I will explain everything when you come back down, I promise."

Wilson stepped back out of Sandy's reach before looking towards Savannah. "Don't sweat it, girl, she was only going to give me a hug, weren't you?"

"Hillbilly, you have no idea what I plan for you, but you will real soon."

Patti slipped off her rifle and handed it to Wilson as she and Sandy headed into the house, her gun still in her hand. Wilson watched both disappear into the house before he joined Savannah at the open doors to his van.

"Now that is one feisty lady. Do you think Patti is going to be OK in there on her own with her?"

"I hope so. I just need this download before I can talk to Sandy. The last thing I need is for her to go rogue on us and shit all over her career in the process. I'm sanctioned - she isn't if she goes it alone."

Wilson nodded his head; a moment later she noticed him wander into the house and she smiled. The tablet blinked once and then opened a file. She was still sitting on the bumper of the van when all three came back out of the house.

"This fucking pervert watched me get changed, and made the lame excuse of looking for more hidden weapons. I'm going to enjoy killing him."

Even Patti grinned when she watched Wilson go a little red around the neck. She walked past them both, retrieved her rifle from where Wilson had left it in the back of the van, and put it back into the car both the girls came in. Her Colt was holstered, so she obviously felt safe around Sandy. Wilson, on the other hand... 

*******

Savannah sat Sandy down on one of the porch seats, and told her what had happened the evening before - how she came home to find that Martin wasn't back from picking up Tessa at school, and that an hour later the Sheriff came by and told her that he was in hospital. It was at the hospital the Sheriff told her that an eye-witness had seen a car crash into Martin's, forcing it off the road.

Two masked men got out and pulled a screaming Tessa from the car while another man fought with Martin. Once they had got Tessa into a second car another man joined the first. Martin was outnumbered and the beating was merciless. It was obvious from the eye-witness that one of the masked men had taken the beating too far because the second man was screaming at him to stop and eventually had to pull him off.

Sandy sat and listened to everything. It was also one of the hardest things Savannah did when she handed Sandy her tablet and watched her read the hospital report of Martin's injuries. At first her jaw tightened, her hands gripping the tablet so hard Savannah actually thought she would break it. Then a tear rolled down her cheek. Sandy wiped it away as she handed the tablet back to Savannah. 

Savannah could tell by the emotion in her eyes that parts of her own brain had started to shut down. She knew why, and felt her pain. Both simply sat on the porch for a moment, each coming to terms with their own thoughts.

"My brother spoke often of you; he loves you, you know. You called your backups Angels? I met one once; when I asked if you are all Angels she said our number makes us individuals. Hers was 133."

"Bethany. She's now married and expecting her second baby."

Sandy nodded. "I want to go and see my brother. Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not at all. I had you brought here because I know the unit you work with. I can't have you go rogue on me, Sandy. Join me and my people, or I will have you sent back to base and put under house arrest until I'm done. You can get even with me later if that happens, but I'm not going to let Martin wake up to find his sister is in jail." 

It was clear to Savannah that Sandy was considering her deal. The look in her eyes and the tightening of her jaw left her in little doubt that Sandy wanted revenge. She would want it even more when she saw the condition in which they left Martin by the roadside. Savannah's phone went off, and she pulled it out of her pocket so she could read the text.

"Six of our cousins have just turned up at the Sheriff's office."

Time was quickly running out, and she also needed to get Wilson on his way. With six FBI agents now camped out at the Sheriff's office it wouldn't take them long to seal off any access to Martin, even from family members, if they thought it would give them an edge in all this.

"Come with me: you need to get kitted out."

As they approached Wilson's van he opened both back doors, and the array of firearms inside made Sandy speechless. He handed Sandy a vest and told her to take what she was comfortable with. Savannah grabbed a vest and set about pulling firepower off shelves while Sandy stood still with the vest in her hands.

Wilson went around to the side door and started pulling ammunition and clips out of boxes, as well as a cleaning kit. He sat them down next to Savannah as Sandy suddenly came to her senses and started selecting hardware. When she was done, Wilson once again came around the side of the van, this time with ammunition and a cleaning kit for Sandy. He grinned when he also handed back her knife. 

Savannah sent both Angels to the hospital as backup, smiling to herself as she did so. Andy was going to go all "I told you so" when he found out how much she planned to use them, even though she had protested so much in the beginning.

*******

The swelling distorted so much of Martin's face; tubes in both his nose and mouth, and the drips going into his arms, made him look so strange. This wasn't the Martin she loved, and Savannah knew that, as hard as it was on her, it would be even harder on the woman who stood next to her.

"Martin. I know you can hear me, big brother. I love you so much, and I plan to make everything all right. You have to believe that; hang onto it and please get well. For all our sakes you HAVE to fight with us on this. Come back to us all, PLEASE, Martin."

The emotion in Sandy's voice was also felt by Savannah, and she mirrored the promise his sister gave to her man. A coldness enveloped her heart, and the time for talking was over, for now at least. The room darkened slightly as a man stood in the doorway, his hand going to his pocket, and the badge identified him.

"Special Agent Donald Prendergast. And you ladies are?"

As Sandy told the agent their names, Patti wandered past the door and "accidentally" bumped into his partner standing in the middle of the hallway. Donald quickly took in the scene and turned back to the ladies in the room.

"So that would mean you're his sister and you're his partner?"

Savannah smiled back at him.

"Just for the moment I am. I feel him weakening by the day, and soon I will be moving up from partner to wife." 

The agent gave his sympathies to both women, and told them that the FBI were already investigating the incident and would have Martin's daughter back in no time. Both women echoed his statement with the words "amen to that," only for much more different reasons. Patti slowly moved off and sat further down the corridor. With a magazine on her lap, she seemed to be giving a really good impression of someone who had found an interesting article to read.

The Sheriff turned up and smiled at Sandy. He even came in and hugged her before telling her they were doing everything they could to find Tessa. The words "no stone unturned" were dropped into the conversation as well, before Special Agent Prendergast asked them both where they were when Martin was being beaten and Tessa was kidnapped.

Sandy gave the standard answer for her: she was filing reports on base, and had sixteen witnesses other than the base commander, who she sat with for part of the day while she took shorthand notes of all the letters he wanted done before her shift ended. Savannah was actually shopping, and gave names of two of the people she spoke to that day. The fact that she shopped in the mall made the agent smile; all he really had to do was to send one of his people to get the security footage to confirm it.

Once Donald was happy he let them both leave. Both women leaned over Martin and gently kissed him, whispered their own little messages of getting better soon, and left. Patti waited for them both to pass her, finished the article she was faking reading, and left five minutes later.

Savannah's cell beeped once and the text message read. "He believes you both, although they have the house phone tapped and your cell just in case." She smiled; Andy always seemed to surprise her by somehow remaining one step ahead of her when it came to needing intel. She had little doubt they were somehow in the hospital system watching everything, leaving her feeling that Martin was in the safest place possible for more reasons than it just being a hospital. 

Both got into their car, Savannah watching the Angels' car pass them in the car park and head off to the Marriott. They would come back when she needed them. The black sedan that followed them out of the car park and back to the house didn't go unnoticed by either woman. Savannah flipped a switch under the dash and a green light came on. Leaning slightly to one side, she asked Sandy to pull her cell out of her pocket, press three and then send.

Once Sandy heard it ringing she put the cell on speaker, it ringing once more before it was answered. "I won't insult you by telling you you're being tailed. Do you want me to turn the Angels around?"

"No; let them rest up. Do you have anything else on Jeffery Sanderson?"

"Just got it. The dumb ass is driving a rental. As soon as we had the registration we switched the tracker on. I will send you his location in a moment."

"Andy, I want all this going public. No one touches Tessa or Martin ever again without knowing the consequences."

The pause was longer. They could both hear him sigh down the phone. 

"OK. Let me clear it with upstairs and then, if it's authorized, I will drop Mandy Fulton a heads up. Both of you rest for now and, when I have something, I will use this cell. Keep using your own to keep our cousins happy." 

The line went dead and Savannah turned onto the dust road to the house. The sedan passed them and pulled over down the road. As they entered the house Savannah was already telling Sandy what she had planned for Jeffery Sanderson and his friends.




Angels Carry Guns



*******

Andy read the text and smiled. He turned on the TV and selected the channel.

"This is Mandy Fulton reporting outside the Elizabeth Schweitzer Memorial Hospital where Martin Holdsworth, known at one time as the prince of the stock exchange, and Brandon and Associates' highest-paid employee, was brought two days ago. The Sheriff's Department aren't releasing many details, but it is believed that he was involved in a kidnapping attempt. Reports are unconfirmed, but it is believed that Mr. Holdsworth's daughter Tessa was kidnapped at the scene, and Martin Holdsworth was left with life-threatening injuries." 

All hell broke loose. The FBI tried to suppress more information coming out of the Sheriff's office, but it was impossible without knowing the source. The phrases "no comment" and "we will hold a press conference later in the day" were the only words from the lips of everyone leaving the building. With the press sensing that they were about to be shut out, and with Mandy being the one to find the story, they quickly struck a deal with her boss to syndicate if needed.

Special Agent Donald Prendergast seethed and demanded to know who leaked the story, the temptation to put his foot through the TV being almost overwhelming. With over fifteen years at the Bureau, he sensed that something was way off base in this case. A call to the surveillance team got only the response he expected. They had followed both women back to the house and were parked with a visual on the only exit.

Both girls stepped out of the shower and dried off, Savannah checking her cell as she did so. Wilson's van yielded a few more items that were going to be needed: footwear in their size and thin jump suits. With their vests over the top, they adjusted their weapons for comfort and personal preference before turning the lights out and giving themselves time for their eyes to adjust to the darkness.

They set a steady pace across the fields, taking a course so familiar on Savannah's part. After all, she had grown up right here, so she knew where every ditch and fence was between the house and the road. The angels were waiting. Patti stepped out of the shadows as they approached, holstering her Colt as they all got into the car.

*******

A deputy stuck his head into Donald Prendergast's office. "We've just got a report of multiple shots being fired. Units are already on the way, but you may want to turn on the TV before we leave."

Dreading going anywhere near this architect of his torment, he nonetheless did so.

"We are about to go back to our reporter covering the Tessa Holdsworth kidnapping. Mandy, what have you got for us?"

Mandy Fulton gave a quick nod to whoever was working the camera. Police cars could be heard getting closer to wherever the report was coming from.

"A source within the Sheriff's Department revealed that the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, acting on a tip-off, assaulted the building behind me. Unconfirmed reports are that there have been no casualties to the Hostage Rescue Team, although it is suspected by this reporter that all of the kidnappers are dead. There is still no news of the whereabouts of Tessa Holdsworth."

The noise of police cars skidding to a stop around the house, as well as beside Mandy Fulton and her crew, made it impossible to hear anything else she said. The cameraman had to jump out of the way of another car, causing the live feed back to the studio to cease for a few seconds. One police car skidded to a stop in front of the house, and one brave officer ran into the building while his partner went around the back. 

Another car arrived, and officers started to push the onlookers nearer to the end of the street. More news crews joined the feeding frenzy, and then the TV went bang as Donald Prendergast slowly removed his foot from the screen and walked out of the office.

While another agent drove, Donald made yet another call that he knew would be pointless. Within five minutes he had the answer he fully expected. The only Hostage Rescue Team in this area was actually sitting watching the news at the main FBI building seventy miles away. 

The house was swept for Tessa Holdsworth and, although a cot was found in one of the rooms, there was no sign of Tessa anywhere. There were three bodies in the living room, presumably the kidnappers, and they had guns in their hands. They may have wanted to put up a fight, but whoever killed them had caught them totally by surprise because they had not even had time to release the safety catches. "Amateurs," Donald thought to himself - professionals would never have even considered putting the safety on. There was a fourth body in the kitchen, and it was this one which held Donald's interest. He asked the MO when he arrived if he would start with this one first.

The man was clearly dead, yet he was also the only one without any clothes on. They were dumped carelessly in a pile beside the wall, but Donald couldn't find any identification in the pockets. As he looked again at the body, he was struck by how bruising was already visible in certain places. The man had been beaten, that was for sure, and it almost looked personal. Revenge, perhaps? But why?

He wondered how he was connected to the Holdsworths, and hoped that it wouldn't take too long to identify him. He also desperately wished that, whoever the killers were, they were going to take care of Tessa and not subject her to any more of an ordeal than she had already suffered.

Once outside again, he went looking for Mandy Fulton. He found her surrounded by other reporters. Most spotted Prendergast and, as the Red Sea had parted for Moses, the sea of bodies opened up, leaving the reporter and the agent facing each other.

"I want your source." 

Mandy smiled. "I would sure like to help you, Donny, but I've just received a tip-off on the whereabouts of Tessa Holdsworth."

And, once again like Moses, the sea closed around him as every reporter who heard Mandy swamped her with microphones and handheld tape machines. The convoy of vehicles that followed Mandy's news van looked rather comical as the police stopped traffic at junctions so the procession following Mandy could keep up. Patti watched the cavalcade of vehicles as it approached the main entrance to the hospital and sent Savannah a text before she turned and once again disappeared into the evening.

*******

The picture that made the front page of every national paper was of Tessa asleep on Martin Holdsworth's bed. Her school uniform was bloodstained and dirty, torn in places, while one half of a handcuff was still shackled to her wrist, a reminder of the past three days. 

When the hospital's security footage was handed over to the FBI it yielded nothing. One moment Martin Holdsworth was on his own, the next Tessa was right beside him. Everyone on that floor was interviewed and no one knew anything until the floor was invaded by the FBI, almost half the Sheriff's Department, and a ton of reporters.

A doctor checked her over and informed Special Agent Prendergast that Tessa had been drugged. They got the one remaining handcuff off her wrist, and then nurses washed her and changed her into a gown. The doctor sent Donald a file late the next day, showing that the drugs in Tessa's body indicated that she had been out for the duration of the kidnapping; she would have been no use in identifying any of her kidnappers even if they were alive.

Once they had discovered what drugs were used on Tessa the doctor set about a strict and very slow regime to wake her. A couple of hours later Tessa woke in a bed next to her father, Sandy and Savannah in chairs across the room. Both were silently crying and smiling at the same time. 

Donald Prendergast was standing just outside the room when he heard Tessa's first words.

"Hi, Aunt Sandy; hi, Savannah! Will daddy be OK? They hurt him real bad; I tried to make them stop."

As he entered, Tessa was holding herself as both women rushed across the room to comfort her. He watched both women as they supported the little girl, with her father, not more than three feet from them all, unaware of the drama happening within his room. As Donald stood and watched, both women took their time calming Tessa. The trauma that the girl had gone through, both watching her father being beaten and her own kidnapping, had left her with little in the way of trust for any man at the moment.

It still took both women, sitting either side of Tessa and holding a hand each, before Tessa would even look at Donald, let alone answer his questions. Every question he asked would cause Tessa to look at her father lying on the bed next to hers. Eventually even Special Agent Prendergast had to concede that Tessa Holdsworth couldn't offer up any information that they didn't already know.

******* 

The knock on the side of the door made Donald stop reading and place the file back onto his desk.

"Your daughter on line four, sir."

He nodded before picking up the receiver and pushing a button.

"Hey baby! What's up?"

"Hey Daddy; just checking up on you. This lump is due to drop any day now, and I want you close by to see your grandson."

"Honey, didn't that foreign school teach you anything? I seem to remember it cost a pretty penny sending you there. You don't go around calling my grandchildren 'lumps.'"

"Daddy, I am fluent in four languages as well as sailor-speak, or at least I can swear as well as one. I also finished top of my class in political science, I can make a mean pot roast and a damn good apple pie. I figure you got your money's worth from sending me to Switzerland to finish my education. Not only that, but I came back with a husband you and mom sure like, so I figure I have some leniency in calling your grandson a lump."

Both laughed, Donald taking yet another look at the file in front of him. It had everything, and yet it had absolutely nothing. The newspapers raved at the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and called them heroes. Forensics checked every single shell casing in the house and, other than those of the kidnappers, no fingerprints were found either in the house or on the casings that they themselves fired. The MO checked the bodies thoroughly and three died of gunshot wounds with one final round to the forehead, execution style.

The last of the kidnappers was clearly tortured. He must have given up the information they wanted, as in the location where they were holding Tessa Holdsworth. The medical report stated he was long dead before the bullet to his forehead, but it showed a pattern.

No real witnesses to the assault of the house the kidnappers were in, and yet the whole neighborhood saw the Hostage Rescue Team leave the scene, each of them wearing the standard issue face cover and with the letters F.B.I. adorning the backs of their Kevlar vests. Not to mention that all four of them were armed to the hilt. Upstairs were asking him daily when they would get his final report, and yet he had nothing.

The media were bathing the FBI in publicity, and the bosses were simply lapping it up. As far as they were concerned they had four dead kidnappers, and the FBI's popularity soared higher than NASA's last rocket. No one came close to figuring out who the team was that assaulted the house, although they were clearly militarily trained. Inquiries by the FBI gave up no missing members of the armed forces that night. In effect, they kept drawing blanks, and the longer the enquiry went on the sooner they figured the press would get to know about it.

The fallout from that piece of information getting into the hands of people like Mandy Fulton didn't bear thinking about. Not to mention the sudden nosedive in popularity his department would receive when they finally got to admit that, after a week on the case, they had absolutely nothing on the four men who stormed the house and killed the kidnappers.

With a sigh he pushed the file to the corner of the desk and concentrated on his daughter.

"I'm all but done here. I have to finish my report and get a good night's sleep, then head home. Other than that, Bethany, I will see you later on tomorrow."

The squeal that followed made Donald remove the phone from his ear as quickly as he could. His daughter made him promise again to stop by when he got back, they passed a few words of love, and the phone went dead.

Andy watched from the ops room as Donald Prendergast put the phone down and picked up the file, shaking his head once again as he read it. Finally, with a shrug of his shoulders, he pulled a pen out of his pocket and signed at the bottom of the page.

The cell phone next to Andy beeped with a message, a second beep being muffled as he covered it with his hand. He read the text. "133. He's on his way home tomorrow. The girls did good and left nothing for him to find. I assume each of the rescue team will get a medal for this. Baby due in a few days. Please swing by in three months. Want to talk to you about returning to work, end." 

*******

Donald Prendergast and his partner were informed that the hospital was releasing Tessa the same morning that they were both leaving to head back to their office. They both went to see her one final time; he knew Sandy and Savannah would be there, even though they no longer had them followed. The reports from the hospital told him either one or both were there twenty-four seven. He couldn't blame them. The thought of anything happening to his own daughter and grandchildren would drive him to distraction.

He did have both alibis checked out as a matter of routine, but the security footage clearly showed Savannah enjoying shopping with a couple of local women and they even interviewed both of them. Sandy's case was a little harder, even though the base commander personally phoned him and echoed exactly what Sandy had said. He even invited them to the base to interview all the secretarial staff if he felt it was needed, as long as he knew what date so he could fix passes at the gate. Donald's gut instinct told him to dig further on both these women but, no matter what avenue he tried, it all came back clean.

He did worry about Tessa's mental well being; the doctors had assigned her a therapist and, although he was only given an outline, the therapist did say that she was young and resilient. It was also clear to see, even from the corridor, that both these woman loved that little girl. How long her recovery would take would surely depend on how much longer Martin Holdsworth remained in a coma.

That, for now, would be down to him and, judging by the fight he put up trying to protect his daughter, that man had enough willpower to see him through this. Donald wished all three well, shook the ladies' hands, and knelt down to talk to Tessa. He didn't have the heart to tell her that it was against regulations for him to accept a hug as a thank you. The father in him overruled that regulation in a heartbeat.

It was three weeks later that Donald Prendergast got a follow up call from the Elizabeth Schweitzer Memorial Hospital, more a courtesy call than a request really. Martin Holdsworth had regained consciousness early that morning, squeezing the hand of Savannah who was asleep on the chair next to him. The nurses rushed in when she screamed, and everyone smiled when they found Savannah lying on top of him showering him with kisses.

*******

My muscles ached. The doctors all told me the same thing over and over again - that I had hours, days or, most probably, weeks of physical therapy to look forward to. Savannah would drop by as soon as she had dropped Tessa off at school, and became the physical therapist's assistant. I had weeks' worth of wasted muscle to rebuild and, seeing my therapist behind me and a hot-looking Savannah in a skintight outfit in front of me, I hoped it wasn't going to take too long to get me fit again. 

On one of my lowest moments the frustration that I couldn't get all this done quicker caused the only time I lost my temper and shouted at both of them. Savannah asked my therapist to leave the room and get himself a coffee. When the door closed, she sat on a chair nearby and pulled her shorts down, quickly followed by her panties. Her legs opened and her hands went straight to her naked pussy. 

For a moment she rubbed her hand up and down, and then a finger would sink into her, only to come out again glistening with her juices. My body reacted the only way it always did around her lately - I was as hard as steel.

"You're getting with the program, Martin, and when they let you home again then you get to be in here again. Until then you can look but you can't touch. Once I have you home you can touch all you want; that's my promise to you."

Again her finger delved deep into her, and once again came back out, only this time she sucked on it. The smile held me: I smiled back and nodded my head, although we both knew she hadn't finished.

"The promise I want from you is that you stop with the anger issues. Tessa's fine, you're on the mend, and they are all dead. That means I get my hands on you for the rest of our lives, and I want a fit Martin - not the one I see now."

It was with a fair degree of sadness that I watched her pull her panties and shorts back on. Once the image of her pussy being again covered left my mind and I looked at her, she smiled that one smile that held so much mischief.

"Now, as an incentive, Martin, you have until David gets back from his coffee break. So get yourself over here and I will blow you until we hear him in the outer office."

My hands once again went to the rail on either side and, with our eyes locked on one another, I walked towards her outstretched arms, my outburst long forgotten.

******* 

The Sheriff did drop by a couple of times and, other than confirm what the witnesses had said, I couldn't be any real help. Although I was told I was still an out-patient, and would be for some weeks, I was released two weeks later, and was so relieved to be back home again. Sandy was on compassionate leave from the army. Tessa was like a limpet the first day I got back, and I was thankful that both the women understood and left us alone for the day.

We didn't do anything exciting; we just sat on the porch and watched the day go by. One or the other would pop their head out of the door to see if we wanted anything or to let us know that food was ready. We would eat, then once again gravitate towards the seat out on the porch.

We would hold each other and, when my mind betrayed me and once again played the scene of the crash and the hooded man pulling me out of the car while another stole my daughter from me, I would hold Tessa a little tighter in my arms. She knew, and she cried as she squeezed me in turn.

"I didn't want them to take you, baby; you have to believe that with all your heart."

Tessa pushed more of herself against my side, and cried right alongside of me.

"I know, daddy. I screamed like you once told me to if a stranger touched me. I kicked him as hard as I could until I couldn't kick him anymore. I saw you fighting that man, and then there were two of them and you went down. They wouldn't stop, daddy; I begged them to stop, but they just wouldn't," she sobbed.

Kissing the top of my daughter's head seemed to help calm her.

"Perhaps it's best that we sell up and go back to the city, baby. I will hire people to protect us."

It was then my own daughter proved to me that she was older by far than her years.

"We can't do that, daddy! That would be running away, and I don't want to run. When I woke up in the hospital next to you, Aunt Sandy and Savannah made me a promise that they would never let this happen again. I believed them Daddy; you have to as well."

I thought I was humoring my daughter by agreeing with her. Three days later that one statement came back to bite me on the ass.




Angels Carry Guns



*******

Sandy was heading back to her base after the weekend. I had gone into my den to pick up some bits while the girls were in town, and I actually had the place to myself. The blinking light on the security system caught my eye, which I found unusual since everyone knew my home office was out of bounds. Curiosity being what it is, my hand went to the switch, and I watched as Savannah came into my den, picking up a pair of scissors that, in my haste, I had forgotten to put back in the kitchen.

Checking the time and date stamp, I quickly realized that this was when I was still in a coma and Tessa was still missing. Since I had little else to do, I sat and watched what the girls got up to.

*******

Savannah's car came to a stop outside the house. Savannah and Tessa carried flowers to her parents' graves while Sandy got out and headed towards the house. She saw me standing at the window watching what was going on.

"How are you feeling? Tessa told me that you are still thinking about moving back to the city, even though she's against it." 

I didn't say anything, just shrugged my shoulders, as I was still undecided myself. Moving here was for Tessa's benefit although, to be honest, we both needed a change of scenery. It seemed that everywhere we went something always reminded her of her mom. Quitting my job was easy and, as the days passed, I missed the stress even less each day.

The bond between us grew tighter as a result as well, and then Savannah came along. Both girls bonded, and it didn't take long for me to grow really fond of her as well. I would say love, which is why I was struggling with what I was about to do to my own sister.

"I'm a bit confused about something, and I thought perhaps you could help me with it."

As my gaze fell on the envelope on the coffee table, my sister walked over and opened it, pulling the picture out as she did. It showed Sandy and Savannah sitting in the day room, towels around their waists, their hair still wet from the shower. Savannah was in the middle of cleaning a Sig automatic, while Sandy was putting a Browning M1911 back together again, obviously having cleaned it, while a Heckler & Koch MP5, loaded and with the safety off, lay within easy reach.

"Who are you?"

The anger at that question tightened Sandy's jaw. It still took her a moment before she could not only tear her own eyes away from the picture but answer me as well.

"I'm who I've always been. I'm your baby sister."

"So it was you who rescued Tessa?"

Other than a nod of her head she refused to say any more, her eyes still looking at the picture. Finally she looked up at me, her puzzled look already telegraphing her question.

"How?"

"The security system in this house has a secondary security system installed into it. Let's say it's a throwback to my past life with Brandon and Associates. No-one trusted anyone in that building and, out of habit, when I had the security system put in here I asked that certain modifications be made."

Sandy put the picture back into the envelope and placed it back onto the coffee table.

"You can shut down the security at the door using the access code, but the system remains on for my home office. If anyone opens that door then the system records everything going on in the house via motion detectors until I override it."

This time my sister nodded her head.

"You and Savannah killed four people."

Sandy was clearly having trouble holding it together.

"No. We killed four scumbags who beat you into a coma and stole my niece, and then kept her quiet by keeping her drugged up."

She took a lung full of air and slowly let it out before walking over to me. She held me tight; she was my sister, and I held her right back. It was also clear to see she wanted so much to say something.

"Please, Martin, listen to what I'm about to say to you. I love you so much, and so does Savannah. We had no choice other than do what we did. No-one will ever come for you or Tessa again."

I had been standing here for almost an hour now, trying to understand what I knew and could only guess at. I loved my baby sister; I guess I simply wasn't prepared for knowing so much about her real life in the army. This wasn't going to be a condemnation of their actions; Tessa was back, and with the best protection known to man - a woman who loves her as her own and would kill to protect something she loves.

"Nice rack, by the way."

The giggle came a second before the punch to my arm.

"You had better be referring to Savannah's tits, big brother, or I may have to call you a pervert."

"Yes, of course, that's exactly what I meant."

This time we both giggled at the out and out lie I had just told.

"It's only because you're my brother that I will give you this much detail."

Sandy paused even then, making me believe she was still having second thoughts about telling me anything.

"Civilian organizations such as the ones that have three letters as their names have people like Savannah working for them. They are euphemistically called Angels, brother of mine. Savannah is a natural-born killer; she came home because she had retired. It hit her hard that both her folks were gone, but you made her welcome."

Tessa came out of the barn first, Savannah a second behind her. Happy with their inspection of the barn, both pushed the big door closed, locked it for the night and headed towards the house.

"You both changed her mind when she had finished with her folks' personal effects. She found love and a home again, in a place she was comfortable with, and she does love you both very much. When Tessa was kidnapped she did what she was trained to do. She found them and killed them."

Tessa continued to walk and talk. Suddenly Savannah stopped, my daughter's own momentum placing her in front of Savannah, who scooped her up in her arms and swung her around in a circle. I could hear the screams turn to laughter from here.

"Martin, it's clear to me that you both love her. What she did was protect her own. She's retired, Martin; she's had enough of that life and wants to settle down. That's why she came back to her folks, but you were here instead."

"Angels of death."

I heard a sigh. My sister stood her ground, even hugging me a little harder as we both watch the girls playing outside.

"Angels also guide and protect. She put down her past life, Martin, and she only picked it up again because of the kidnapping. It's clear to me that you all love each other. Heck, I've not seen Tessa this happy since before the funeral - or you for that matter. It's time to share the love you have with her, Martin; she's already shown how much she loves you both."

For a sister, and especially one that was two years younger than me, she sure spoke a lot of sense. Don't we all have pasts, some perhaps more jaded than others? I fell in love with the woman who spent her time out in that barn mourning her folks. I fell in love with the woman that could also help my daughter with her own mourning process. Tessa turned to Savannah to help her; Sandy and I had tried, but perhaps we were just too close and tried too hard.

"Come on, brother of mine! I'm going to help you make dinner, and then Tessa and I are going to go to the movies together. Savannah will know something is up even before I tell her, and I'm going to tell her. She doesn't deserve to be sideswiped by this and, if you want advice from your baby sister, then talk to her like you've never talked to her before." 

*******

We both waved the girls off, Tessa waving back so hard that she was almost hanging out of the car window. The chick flick that Sandy found being shown in town made her euphoric; something about the leading man being such a hunk. When I mumbled, more to myself than to anyone, that he was probably gay, I got a dig in the ribs from Savannah.

Savannah took a step back as I gave my final wave. When I turned to look at her she was naked, her clothes still around her feet.

"Sandy did mention we were going to have one of those clear-the-air talks?"

She nodded her head.

"Oh, yes, I got all that."

"So why are you naked?"

"Because I assume you want total honesty. I can't give you that; I can give you an abridged version, and hope like hell that will be enough. I know your body, and when you get angry with me - and you will do, so lets not deny it - then I'm going to make that anger go away."

Even as I asked my first question she was already pulling off my clothes. It sure made it hard for me to remember asking questions.

"A friend of mine was in the army, even served in Iraq and Afghanistan. When he came back he told me the one question he hated the most was 'have you ever killed anyone?' It was the look in his eyes that told me that he had, and that he hated people asking him."

By now Savannah had knelt down, taking my pants with her. Out of instinct I stepped out of them. She stood once again, wrapped her arms around me, and we kissed. My body reacted as it always did around her, and she adjusted her stance when it did.

"So did you ever ask him? Your friend, I mean."

"Nope, I heard him give an answer that I actually believed said it all. He said that, if he says he never killed anyone, would the person he was talking to act any differently towards him? He then said that, if he said he killed ten men or twenty, would they act any differently towards him?"

Savannah gently nodded her head.

"Good answer. So does that mean you want to know how many people I've killed?"

This time her hand went around my cock, and we headed inside the house. As we climbed the stairs I thought back to my friend. He's a successful lawyer now and, whenever he's asked about his own past, he tells people that he was tucked safely away in stores or the armory all the way through his tour of Iraq. He never mentions Afghanistan anymore. We both knew it was a lie; I had even seen his medals. 

In one drunken moment when he let his own guard down he spoke words that became so profound to me that, even now, I remembered them as if he had spoken them not ten minutes ago.

"I did what I was ordered to do, Martin. I did what I needed to do so that I could come back to my family. To some I'm a monster, but to the people I love the most I'm dad and husband, and those are the people I will never tell the truth to."

Savannah kicked the door open and turned me around, using my cock as a guide. She then pushed me onto the bed and straddled me.

"You don't seem to be asking me too many questions, Martin."

As my hand reached for her breast she swatted it away.

"Question first and then you can play with your toys."

"How long have you been an Angel?"

"Seven years, nine months and four days. Plus a week."

This time she pulled my hand to her breast, and boy did I get to play. She reached out to steady herself as her hips moved, lifting her pussy off and back down onto my hardness in the process.

"I have one more question, and I want an honest answer."

She stopped moving and looked down at me, her hand slipping under the pillow on her side of the bed.

"We both know I can't do that! Honest to God, honey, I truly wish I could but I can't."

"This time you have no choice, Savannah. It's the God's honest truth or this stops now."

Her hand gripped the Sig just a little tighter. I rolled her onto her back and her legs automatically locked around me.

"Savannah Gordon, will you marry me?"

Her hand relaxed and the Sig slipped from her grasp, the sheets on the floor enveloping the gun when she dropped it down the side of the bed. The kiss was a mixture of frantic and urgent; the gentle sob came a moment later.

"Yes, yes I will. Fuck yes, and I'm going to be the best step mom to Tessa."

She held me just a little tighter as her own emotions smothered her.

"Oh, and Savannah: I took the clip out of the gun in case you didn't answer." 

Even as she kissed my ear she just had to have the last word.

"That's OK, honey; I figured it felt a little light. But don't worry; I still could have beaten you to death with it if I had needed to."

The End...