Angelique knew she must trust Gabriel, but there was so much at stake here, and her faith was faltering. She didn't want to lose Heaven Sent. It was all she had left, but if it could secure the loan, giving her the chance to raise the funds... 

Could she can save them both, Heaven Sent and the shelter?

There wasn't enough time to make a sound decision. The Judge had returned. She knew that woman had talked to John. Maybe they wouldn't accept a deal. After all, the shelter's property was what they needed. Heaven Sent wouldn't serve any purpose. 

As the Judge spoke, Angelique could feel the lump in her throat threatening her speech. 

"Have we come to any agreements, Counsel?" 

"The offer still stands," she heard Gabriel say.

She wanted to scream out, "No, I want to withdraw my offer!" but the blood pounding in her head and the dryness of her mouth made saying anything impossible. 

"Does your client accept this offer, Ms. Landis?" 

Angelique could feel her body go numb. 

"Yes, your Honor. With the condition that all funds including penalties are paid one month hence." 

Angelique jumped out of her chair, sending it sailing backward. "That's not enough time!" she yelled out. 

Veronica looked at her like she just swallowed a canary and looked back at the Judge, explaining, "This is our last offer, your Honor. We can have a contract to that effect drawn up this afternoon for Ms. O'Bryan to sign and she will have one month from this date to turn in all funds required." 

"If she cannot make good on her mortgage loan, we will take the pro-offered store as part of the payment. As a show of our generosity, my clients will add a clause to the agreement which will state that once all assets of the shelter and Heaven Sent are liquidated any additional funds required to pay her debt will not be pursued. We will take what we have and cut our losses and Ms. O'Bryan will be considered paid back in full. 

Gabriel rested his hand on Angelique's shoulder and lowered her into his seat. Looking back at the opposing counsel, he agreed to her terms. 

The judge felt Angelique's outburst was just. He wasn't crazy about the deal himself. Believing it to be financial suicide, but with both sides in agreement, there was little else to be done. 

"Agreed. All paperwork is to be delivered to Ms. O'Bryan this afternoon. One month hence the debts are to be paid in full or we will foreclose on the shelter and Heaven Sent will be taken as collateral. Court is dismissed."

As the gavel struck the bench, Angelique felt it shatter her last hope. The judge left for his chambers and she watched him depart with a heavy heart. She now firmly believed there was no real justice in this world. Only the justice money could buy. 

Gabriel picked up the fallen chair, and he sat next to her, putting a comforting arm around her. "You did the right thing." 

Tear-filled eyes met his. "Are you sure? Because I can't figure out how something that feels so wrong can be right."

Gabriel thumbed away a tear that escaped Angelique's lashes. "Sometimes we don't like or understand the answers we get to our prayers, but Angel, you know I would never lead you astray?"

John was a ball of barely contained rage. Veronica, so pleased with herself, seemed to have forgotten she had totally ignored his directive and went bounding up to him, wanting to celebrate such an excellent victory. 

"Utterly destroyed!" Veronica smiled as she approached him. She was too self-absorbed to notice the look of murder in John's eyes. "I can't wait to get back to the office to report. This is so exciting! It just couldn't have gone any better, really. We MUST celebrate," she added. 

It was then she saw the look on John's face. Veronica could not suppress the shiver that ran up her spine. 

She realized instantly that she's not ready to deal with the consequences of deliberately disobeying John. Veronica feared, if given the chance, he would harm her. She hailed the bailiff, who was about to leave the courtroom, waving her hand for him to wait for her. As quick as she could, Veronica put as much distance between her John as possible.

He will deal with her later. Right now, all John could think of was Angel. How will he ever be able to explain this was not his idea? She'd never believe him. Instead of saving Heaven Sent, he watched helplessly as it was all taken away from her. 

Why did that bastard lawyer let her do it? Doesn't he have enough common sense to realize that without the store she'd have no income to live off of? What was she to do now?

He stared in cold-hearted disbelief as he watched Gabriel comforting Angel. Seeing the tear fall. Knowing he was the direct cause. She will never trust him. He's lost her forever. Well, she was never truly his to have, but now he didn't stand a chance. John felt his chest constrict as if it were trying to concave in on itself. God, if only there was a way. I'd do anything to save her. 

Just then, Gabriel looked at John. Gabriel knew the enormity of the step John just took, even if he did not. Looking back at Angel, Gabriel saw the light of her eyes dimming. He prayed John didn't wait too long before she was completely lost. Her hope was waning, but if she lost all faith, Gabriel knew he'd be powerless to help her. She'd become fully human and he could not intercede. She'd become lost to them all. Left alone to live out her life out, an empty shell. 

Angelique rested her head on her arms, folded on the table in front of her. It just felt too heavy for her to hold up any longer. Stroking her hair, Gabriel prayed. "Please, Lord, she did it out of love. Please." 

Gabriel would get no answer today.

Watching Gabriel comfort her, recalling vividly their conversation regarding this exact moment, John felt his hopelessness being replaced by hatred, the only feeling he fully understood. John grasped on to it firmly. He will not allow it to happen. He will help her. His very life's existence depended on it, but as much as he wanted to go to her, John knew that now was not the time. Soon, however, he'd get the justice he was searching for. John turned on his heel and left the courtroom.

Still not lifting her head, Angelique asked, "Is he gone?" 

"Yes, Angel. He's gone."

"I knew he left," she said, rather distantly, as she looked at Gabriel. 

"What do you mean?" Gabriel questioned her. 

"I could feel it," she answered, as she turned to stare at the doors John just walked through. "Why does he hate me so much?" she asked, misinterpreting what she felt coming from John so intensely to be aimed at her. 

"He doesn't," Gabriel affirmed. 

"I know what I felt," Angelique countered.

 "Yes," Gabriel agreed, "but you just don't know for whom he felt it." 

"Who else is there? At least now that they have what they want they can leave me in peace."

"Oh, no you don't," Gabriel admonished her. "This is not over yet." 

"Gabriel?" Angelique made his name sound more like a plea. "Can we go see my father now?"

Not wanting her to give up hope but not willing to press her either, Gabriel helped Angel out of her chair, resolving to take the issue up later. "Yeah, sure, Angel. I'll take you."

On the way to the hospital it had dawned on Angelique that of all the questions she had asked of Gabriel, she neglected to ask whether her father's condition had improved. She remembered Gabriel saying they were keeping him for evaluation. That he was weak. Stealing a side glance at Gabriel, she realized now she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. She wasn't certain she could handle any more bad news.

As they pulled into the visitor's lot, Angel placed her hand over Gabriel's, needing his strength. 

"I'll drop you off here," he told her. "I'm sure you would like some time alone with him." 

She couldn't bring herself to let go of him just yet. Searching his steel-blue eyes, those same eyes she sees staring back at her in the mirror every morning, she pleaded with him, "Please come with me. I don't think I can do this on my own." 

It broke his heart to see her like this. She was on the brink, and he could not catch her this time. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed her fingers and said, "You are stronger than you think. Go." Unlatching her seat belt, he leaned across to open the door for her.

Scared senseless, she slid from the seat, staring at the hospital entrance. "Gabriel, can't you just tell me if he's all right?" When Gabriel didn't answer her, she turned to look behind her, but both Gabriel and the convertible disappeared.

As she traveled up to the fourth floor, Angel kept mulling over the day's events: The hearing, the shelter, Heaven Sent. She thought of the last time she was at the hospital and what Gabriel had made possible for her to see. She still hadn't dealt with the enormity of what she had learned about herself. 

What good was being an angel, anyway? She certainly hadn't been able to make any actual difference. 

Her father's church, ruined. Who knows what condition she will find him in. There was no way to save the shelter and now there was no way so save Heaven Sent. She was fooling herself to think that John held any feelings for her. She should have stayed in heaven and not interfered as Gabriel had wanted.

She wondered if John's father had committed suicide after all, but surely John and Michael couldn't collect if he died by his own hand. Then she remembered John had insisted on cremation for his father's remains. Which meant no autopsy? Which sealed it. No money. His father died in vain.

John had paid for Michael to get through school, and she was pretty certain there were no additional funds to be had. It was no wonder that John worked so hard for money and that money was where he placed his trust. Lack of money killed his father and John most likely blamed himself, but she knew she was to blame for all his misery. What did she think to accomplish by coming here to intercede? She's ruined his life. It's no wonder he hates her. They all would have been better off without her.

This was her thought as she exited the elevator and walked directly into someone trying to enter. "I... I'm sorry," she stammered. Blinded by her tears, she stared directly at the chest of the person in front of her because of their proximity. A pair of firm hands reached out and steadied her. 

So absorbed in thought John wasn't paying attention either. When the woman spoke, his hold tightened a little more. 

"Angel?" her name a mere whisper on his lips as he tried to understand how it was possible she ended up in his arms. Perhaps miracles can happen.

Hearing his voice, Angelique strained to lean back to get a look at his face. Surely, it couldn't be John, but it was. She couldn't speak another word. Angelique knew she should step aside or move away, but her feet wouldn't cooperate. All she could do was stare into those jade-colored eyes that seemed so intensely focused on her. 

John knew he should let go, back away, but after believing that he'd never hold her again, he just couldn't. He looked as lost as she did. He shook his head in disbelief. 

"No, Angel. I'm the one who's sorry."

Gone was the hate she felt in him this afternoon. He replaced it with such immense sadness and self-loathing, Angelique thought she'd drown in the sensation of it. Such hopelessness matched her own, and it was more than she could bear. She felt weak, felt her legs buckled, and he scooped her up in his arms, crushing her in his embrace. He could feel the moisture of her tears slid down his shirt as she clung to him. 

John moved them away from the elevators but refused to relinquish his hold on her. Taking a seat in the empty waiting room with her on his lap.

"Are you okay?" he knew the question seemed ridiculous to ask, but his concern grew as he took in how pale and withdrawn she looked, almost a shadow of her former self. 

He held her close but tilted her head so she had to look at him. 

"I can't expect you to forgive me," John said, "and I don't. Veronica went against my orders. I told her, 'No deal.'"

"It doesn't matter," Angelique said, defeated. "Not anymore."

"What do you mean?" John was now concerned on several levels. 

"I've given up everything for love, and in doing so, I believe I've now destroyed it completely. I should have never come. I'm sorry. I should have protected you. I should have found another way. Blinded... I've just caused more pain."

"Angel, you're not making any sense. When was the last time you've eaten anything?"

"A week ago..." Angelique laughed at her own insider joke and then burst into tears. 

John brought her to this. She was losing her grip on reality. I've broken her. "Let's get you something to eat," he offered, hoping it would somehow help the situation. 

"I can't," Angelique said, scrubbing at her eyes. "I haven't seen Father yet. He must be sick with worry and his heart is already weak. I have to see him." Angelique tried to stand up, but John held her in place. 

"You can't see him, Angel."

Fear struck at her heart. "Why not?"

"He's no longer here."

"Oh, God... no!"

John immediately realized his mistake in his wording. "No! Angel, he's fine. They released him today, he's home. I came by to check on him and they said Ms. Duncan had taken him home this morning."

Angel took a few deep breaths. "Why were you checking on him?"

"When you disappeared. I was in a panic. No one would give me any information. I kept coming here, hoping you would drop by. Then it just became a matter of habit, I guess. Your Father and I have had some long talks, but most often when I'd visit he was asleep."

"Why did you come today?"

"I wanted to tell him I saw you. Just in case you disappeared again. I wanted him to know what happened in court today, and to ask for forgiveness. I couldn't ask for yours, but I could beg his."

John mentioned her disappearing, and she thought of Gabriel and how he disappeared after he led her here. He would have known her father was home. That's why he didn't answer her. He wanted her and John's worlds to collide once more. The question was... why?