The cab ride gave her time to think, but she still had no resolution to any of her current problems. Michael was going to continue taking care of the shelter. Angelique was grateful for that, as it would give her the time needed to find benefactors to save the shelter, or perhaps an investor to bail them out.

She still wasn't sure what to do about Heaven Sent. Michael said Rebecca was enjoying running the place, so perhaps she could hang in a little while longer. She had to concentrate her efforts on saving the shelter and preparing for the trial against Bobby.

"This is your stop, lady," the cabbie had told her. She handed him her fare, plus a generous tip.

"Hey thanks!" he said, smiling at her.

"You're welcome."

She stood and watched as the car drove away. Even though she had all that on her mind, the thought that plagued her most was John and what to do about him. She wished she knew where he lived, or his phone number. Of course, she had his office number, but she wasn't about to call there. If only she could talk to him and ask him why he left last night. For once they were making progress and then...

Angelique opened the door to her apartment building. She only took a few steps inside before a door opened and both Rebecca and Saint tackled her. 

"I'm so glad you 're back!" Rebecca exclaimed. 

Then the teen awkwardly backed away, looking rather shy, like she expected Angelique to reject her affection. Angelique grinned and pulled her back into her embrace.

"I've missed you too," Angelique said, hugging her. They both laughed as Saint kept trying to push himself between them. Angelique let Rebecca go and knelt down to Saint's level, who jumped up to hug her, putting his front paws around her neck, and started licking her face.

"Okay, boy. I missed you too!" Angelique took the dog's paws from her shoulders and ruffled his fur.

"I was hoping you'd show up. How did it go today?" Rebecca asked.

"Good, got a postponement. Now I just have to find the money."

"Is that possible?"

"I don't know, all I know is I have to try."

Rebecca looked worried.

"I need your help," Angelique said.

"Name it!" Rebecca was eager to help in any way that she could.

"Can you continue on with Heaven Sent, just for a little while? I need to find an investor or benefactor to secure funds for the shelter. I promise to pay you for your time."

"Yeah, no problem, and don't worry about that last part. I've been wanting a way of repaying you for all you've done for me, just happy to have the chance."

Angelique smiled. "I'd like you to keep Saint with you. I would feel better about you traveling back and forth with him in tow."

"Well, he does usually go with me anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem. As for the travel... Deacon Michael brings me home. He didn't like the idea of me traveling alone."

Michael... she wondered what she would do without him. Thankful that he chose to still be a part of her life.

"I'm glad to hear it."

"You look exhausted. I'll let you get some sleep," Rebecca said. "Come on Saint," Rebecca called the dog back into the apartment and hugged Angelique one last time.

Saint looked like he didn't want to leave. "It's okay, boy. I'll see you soon," Angelique said, and the dog let Rebecca lead him back into Mrs. Dolton's apartment.

Angelique climbed the stairs to her place since the elevator was still broken. It was rather old. Perhaps it was beyond repair. She immediately thought of her and John's relationship. Could they be beyond repair, too? God, she hoped not.

She entered her apartment and crashed on her couch, the exhaustion of everything that had taken place taking its toll on her. "Please Lord, help me, help them. Help me make this right."

Angelique fell into a deep, exhaustive sleep, with Gabriel watching over her. He gently picked her up, carried her over to her bed, and laid her down. "My sweet Angel, you've fought well today, but the battle is just beginning. Not even I know the outcome. Michael has clouded my vision. He fears what I will see will cause me to cross that last line. He is right to be afraid."

Gabriel pushed the hair from her face. She looked so peaceful as she slept. Too exhausted to dream, she slept uninterrupted for the first time in a long time. He stayed with her throughout the night, fearful of what tomorrow might bring.

Please, don't let her become lost.

Angelique awoke the next day, ready to take on the world. She must have been more tired than she realized. She couldn't remember how she came to be in her bed. Today, however, she felt better than she had in weeks, having gotten a good night's rest for once.

She had her entire day planned. She would tap every resource she could think of and try to raise the funds required to save Heaven Sent and her shelter.

She opened the door and gasped in surprise.

"John? What are you...?"

He was sitting on the steps leading up to her apartment. He'd been sitting there for a while, debating on whether he should be there at all.

"I don't know. If you were going to ask what I'm doing here... I really don't know. I shouldn't be. If I care for you at all, this is the last place I should be."

"Why would say that?" Angelique said, coming to sit next to him. "I'm glad that you're here."

He looked up at her, his look conflicted. "You are?" He was at war with himself.

"Yes, you left so suddenly last night I never got to say thank you." Angelique wished she could reach out and touch him, but it seemed out of place to do so.

"I left because... well, you and Michael... he's a better man, a better choice. I shouldn't get between you," John told her.

Angelique laughed, and her reaction surprised him. "First, I know you don't mean that, as sweet as it is for you to say. Second, there is nothing between us, Michael and I. Michael just wanted to help me, albeit misguided in his tactics. His heart was in the right place."

John's eyes met hers and he searched them for the truth he heard in her words.

"Nothing?"

"Never. There has been no one else for me... but you."

John's heart leaped at her words. He reached out, grabbing Angelique in a crushing embrace. He let go only long enough to cradle her face in his hands and kiss her lips. Angelique kissed him back happily. He paused, his uncertainty creeping back into his gaze, "But Angel?"

"Stop, John." Angelique scolded, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Stop asking questions. No more asking why. Just have a little faith that some things are meant to be."

He looked into her eyes. Oh, how he wished he could.

"Where were you headed?" he asked.

"I'm a woman on a mission. If I'm going to save my shelter, I need to find a benefactor, or at least raise enough money to get a fundraiser going."

"That reminds me," he told her, and he pulled out an envelope from a laptop bag he had sitting next to him. "The paperwork from the hearing. It spells everything out. I wanted to be certain they didn't mess with the wording by adding any hidden clauses. There isn't, which goes to show just how confident they are that they can't lose."

Angelique just took the papers, stood, tossed them on the side table in her apartment, and shut the door. "Well, just goes to show how little they understand their opponent. The underdog wins because we always underestimate them."

John laughed. "They have no idea."

Angelique laughed with him. "No, they do not."

"Care for some company?" John knew it was a crazy request but held on to hope.

"Seriously? Isn't that a conflict of interest or something?" 

"I'm only interested in one thing and one thing only, spending more time with you. If you'll have me, that is?" 

John's uncertainty made him so adorable. Angelique positively beamed at him. "I'd love nothing more."

They spent the day together. It amazed John at the tenacity at which Angelique attacked the problem at hand. She called every person in her contacts. Met in person anyone she knew did not care for dealing over the phone.

Unfortunately, although she collected a few hundred dollars in donations, none of her contacts could give her anything substantial. He could see it wearing on her enthusiasm.

"Let's take a break," John offered, and he drove them to a great little Italian restaurant for lunch on the west side of Manhattan. He knew she just adored Italian food.

They placed their orders, and she left him for a moment, excusing herself to use the restroom.

While there, she placed a call to both Michael and Rebecca, checking in. They both reassured her they were fine. Having seen how distraught they both were at not hearing from her the week she disappeared, she wanted to be certain to keep in touch. The last call she placed was to her father.

"How are you?"

"Doing good, sweetheart? And you?"

"I'm having lunch with John."

"Really?" her father said.

Angelique could hear the smile in his voice. It was good to know she had his approval. 

"He's been with me all day as I've been scouring the upper west side for donations."

"You don't say? Any results?"

"Some, but nothing serious. I have to admit, I'm a little worried."

"I should think John might have a connection or two?"

Angelique didn't think of that. "I don't know, Dad. Hanging out with me while I look for funds is a lot different from handing me the key that can bail me out of all of this. His job...?"

"Doesn't mean as much to him as you think."

Angelique was not so sure. "Well, I had best get back. He's waiting for me."

"Okay, Angel. Talk to you soon. Love you!"

"Love you, too!"

Angelique came back and seen John toying with his fork and knife, straightening out the table settings... he seemed rather distracted.

"Hey, everything okay?"

He looked up and smiled at her. "Yeah, just have a few things on my mind but nothing to concern yourself with."

"You've been helping me all day. I'd be happy to return the favor," Angelique offered.

John smiled at her. Oh, how she loved that smile.

"Thank you, but it's unnecessary, really. Besides being your chauffer and taking you out to lunch is really not that helpful."

She sat across from him, taking his hand in hers. "You're keeping me sane and away from my negative thoughts, which surely would have ended my journey before now. You can see how successful this trip has been, and I love Italian food... so it goes without saying, you're a godsend."

John laughed, knowing he would be the last person God would send on a mission to help someone. "If you say so."

"I do."

Their food came, and they enjoyed every bit. Even sharing a tiramisu for dessert. Angelique sighed in satisfaction, and John laughed.

They continued in the same vein for the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening.

Angelique felt beat, both physically and mentally.

"Thinking of calling it a day?"

Angelique was resting with her eyes closed and her head against the headrest while driving in John's car. She opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile and shook her head yes.

"Your apartment?"

"No, not yet. If I go in, Rebecca and Mrs. Dolton will most likely want to know how things went and I'm a little tired of talking about things. Especially when I don't have answers for them."

"Then I believe I know just the place to help you rejuvenate." John made a turn that took them towards the Hudson River. 

"Close your eyes, get some rest. I tell you when we get there."

Angelique smiled at him. She did not know where he was taking her and realized she didn't care. She was grateful for this time with him, away from everyone and everything else that weighed on her mind.

John drove her to the Haverstraw Marina. He stopped the car, and he gently woke her. Angel looked around. There were a bunch of docked ships. What in the world were they doing here?

He got out and opened her door. "Come with me," he said. Taking her hand, he led her across the boards to a slip that had a beautiful yacht.

"Is this yours?" Angelique asked.

He beamed back at her proudly. "Yes, she's not very flashy but she's mine." It was the first big purchase he made after landing his job at the law firm once he finished paying for Michael's education.

John swung himself onto the stern of the boat and gave her his hand to help her climb up as well. As Angel climbed up, she saw the scripted letter of the name of the boat. 

The Sea Angel

Odd name, she thought, because she was pretty sure John didn't believe in angels. He was definitely right not to put his trust in this angel. John helped her to the top. 

It struck Angelique how little she knew about John now. As his angel, she was privileged to every aspect of his life and now he had a life that she had no part in. She hadn't even realized he liked boats.

John wondered at the frown that creased Angelique's features but didn't ask, not wanting her to change her mind about coming with him. If that's what she was considering. He untied the boat from the slip.

"I wish there was enough wind that I could use her sail, but I promise you'll enjoy the trip just the same."

He pulled out a key and started the engine. "Take a seat, I want to show you something."

He took position behind the helm and she sat behind him on deck. He masterfully backed the boat from the dock and took them down the river. It was a relaxing ride, and she felt refreshed from the misting water that sprayed from the boat slicing through the still waters.

He took her to the bay.

It was such a large expanse of water and the surrounding area was beautiful, but the most breathtaking view was the sunset. John cut the engine and helped Angelique to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. Angelique stared in awe.

"It's hard looking at something so beautiful and not thinking there is something greater at work in the world."

John turned Angelique into his arms. "For once I have to agree with you." But John wasn't looking at the sunset. He was looking lovingly into her eyes.