Guardian Angel – Chapter Six

Posted on | July 28, 2009 | No Comments

What should have been less awkward became more so, now that Gabriel was aware of her presence. He was always watching her, even when he had other visitors in the room. It was as if he wanted to see what her opinion was, or if she had something to say in regards to what the current conversation was about.

She could only shake her head at him and give him a quiet smile in those moments, hoping to encourage him to go on with the world around him and not attach himself to her. She was someone they both knew would probably not be there for the long haul, at least she hoped he realized it. But then again, she knew there were never any guarantees about the long haul anyway, her own story attested to that. She tried not to let her own thoughts dwell too long on thinking about family and friends when she watched him interact with his own. Envy was not well suited to the roll of an angel and she wouldn’t let it consume her.

The last of the guests had gone and she could see that Gabriel was almost beyond exhaustion. But instead of him turning over and falling into a deep sleep, he turned his head to her direction and spoke in a soft, low voice. “You know, I never did ask your name. What should I call you?”

“Oh, I guess in explaining why I was here I failed to say. You can call me Jessica. My parents and friends called me Jess more often than not. So you have your pick.”

With a quirk of his lips, he said, “Has anyone ever called you Jay?”

A small shake of the head was her only response. “Well then, I think I’ll call you Jay. Reminds me of Men in Black, you beginning a new life and all; leaving your old life behind, so to speak.”

Laughter escaped from her lips and she could feel a smile pulling on her face. She liked that, liked his way of thinking. She had always considered that movie as one of her favorites and it definitely did have a plot that fit her life. Well, if you traded out secret agents for angels and the aliens for just your normal, everyday human, it would. Kind of.

“Alright, and so does that make you G or something?” she asked with a touch of sarcasm, but the sting is lost with the happy smile gracing her face.

Gabriel chuckled and shook his head, “How about Grand Master G, because G alone just sounds odd? It makes me think of exclamations like ‘golly gee’ or ‘gee whiz.’” Jessica almost giggled in response, but she swallowed them in time and just groaned instead.

“I don’t think I could call you Grand Master G with a straight face if my life depended on it… Oh wait, my life doesn’t depend on it.” Both man and angel fell to laughing at that. It was nice, having a quiet moment to chat — very comfortable in fact.

Gabriel gasped and wrapped his arms about his waist as if to hold in the pain. He told her to not make him laugh, that it hurt to much. “I know they say laughter is the best medicine, but not when it makes your sides and chest hurt. Ouch. I think it’s late and I should start getting some rest. In fact, I bet one of the nurses watching over me will walk through that door any minute and I think it would be best if she doesn’t catch me talking to ‘myself’. Don’t want her having to call a psychiatrist on top of everything else that has made this day so strange and memorable.”

Jessica stood up and walked towards Gabriel’s bed and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. “Sleep well, Gabriel and know that I am here watching over you.”

“Thanks, Jay. For being here and for being my guardian angel. I know you’ll have my back.” Gabriel yawned and his eyes fluttered shut. It was as if her touch had let him relax and let go.

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The next morning, Gabriel once again had a long trail of visitors arrive and depart from his room, making it almost as busy as a train station. His parents came, his agent and assistant were there off and on throughout the morning, nurses would deliver medicines, and floral deliveries from fans and fellow actors were made — they quickly filled the room. Through it all, Jessica stood out of the way and in the corner. She was glad that with her becoming an angel, the higher ups had granted her infinite patience in just watching and observing. Just over a week ago when she had first started, she thought it would be trying to just sit around and do virtually nothing, because when she had been alive, she had been easily distracted and in need of something to keep her attention — movies, books, games and TV shows. She had never been a person to just sit and watch other people. As the week had passed, she had slowly learned that this was not the case. She could in fact watch people all day now.

She noticed again that Gabriel would occasionally glimpse her way when he was sure no one was paying him any attention and she always graced him with a serene smile.

It wasn’t until a woman walked in that Jessica felt something odd in the air, like a ‘disturbance in the force.’ She wanted to snicker at the analogy and how it was playing into the sci-fi movie theme they had started yesterday with making the comparison to the movie, ‘The Men in Black,’ but something about the hair raising off the back of her neck clued her in that this wasn’t a funny situation. Jessica looked closely at the woman and noticed that she was beautiful and definitely an actress; she had that certain air of assurance about her. She looked familiar to Jessica, but couldn’t place exactly where she’d last seen the woman.

Behind her, Jessica could detect a dark, un-natural shadow. This is what she felt was wrong, making this woman off in some way. Jessica reached for the sword she had almost forgotten hung by her side. When she touched the hilt of the sword, a glow started to be emitted from the sheathed blade. Jessica drew the sword from the scabbard and a bright golden light poured forth.

Gabriel turned and looked at her with shock, “What?!”

The lady, who couldn’t see Jessica or the light that spilled forth marched straight over to Gabriel’s bed. “Gabriel, dear. I’m so sorry to hear about your little incident.” Gabriel looked back and forth between Jessica and this other woman. Jessica stalked ever closer to the dark shadow that lurked by this woman, and as she got closer the shadow started to form into this twisted human-like creature with glowing white eyes and sharp, pointed teeth. It hissed at her.

Gabriel yelled out Jessica’s name when he saw her raise her sword at who he thought was solely the actress person standing in front of him. She ignored his call, and attacked the creature who was leeching itself off the woman.

“Honestly, Gabriel. Did you hurt your head when you were shot? It’s me Patricia, not this Jessica person.” Jessica ignored her and she swiftly struck at the creature. The light sliced through the darkness and the darkness splintered into tiny shards of black glass before disintegrating in mid-air. Jessica saw the actress jerk as if a plug had been pulled and she saw the woman shake her head to clear away the dizziness.

“Patricia, Jessica…” Gabriel looked confused and frustrated, not knowing what was going on, but only seeing Jessica’s actions and the result that she hadn’t struck Patricia like he’d assumed.

“I’ll explain later Gabriel, focus on Patricia. She’s going to need you for the moment.” Jessica put her sword away and retreated to her corner. Gabriel looked at her for a moment more, before he turned his attention away.

“Patricia, I’m sorry. Why don’t you sit down in a chair and rest a moment, you look like you’re not feeling well.” The woman who had come in had been assured and poised, the woman who now stood before him was withdrawn and tired looking.

“Thank you, Gabriel. I appreciate that.” Patricia turned and pulled a chair closer to Gabriel’s bed. She sat listlessly and seemed to almost shrink in on herself. Jessica felt horrible that she had caused this change, no matter how much for the better she knew it to be for both Patricia and those around her.

“I had come by to give you an ear full for having ignored my phone calls these last few days, but now, all of a sudden, I feel like I owe you an apology for my behavior the other night when I said unkind things about you and Jeri. I think I have quite a number of people to say ‘I’m sorry’ to.”

Patricia started crying and Gabriel looked almost lost in this situation. He had no script to follow and he’d never dealt well with women’s tears. He cast a pleading glance at Jessica and she sighed. She walked back to his side and decided now was a good time to explain what was going on.

“The woman you see before you is a woman who has had an evil parasite cut away, like a puppet with her strings cut. She was probably once a truly kind, generous woman before she embarked on an acting career, but this parasite latched on to her, on to her desire to excel and be the best at what she did without consideration for others, and that changed her. She grew powerful and extremely talented, but her personality was warped and changed. She became this bitter, vindictive woman you’ve known for a while now.”

She could see him want to open his mouth and ask, but instead he mouthed the word parasite with a question lurking about his eyes. “Mmmm, my first time encountering one. First time using my sword too. Parasites are just pure evil. I was told almost nothing about them. Just that they were Satan’s follower and that I had to make sure they didn’t affect you. They are here to wreck havoc on the person they are attached to and anyone around them. The reason I call it a parasite is because it was one ugly looking thing, like a shadowy tick with sharp teeth and glowing eyes.”

Jessica looked at the women who was still crying. She was going to need lots of therapy after all was said and done and she said as much to Gabriel. He absently nodded his head in response.

Jessica backed away again and watched Gabriel be a kind, supportive man. He hadn’t questioned either her explanation or her sanity. Of course, it could be that he was still a little in shock at what had happened and would question her later and in more detail. She would just have to wait and see.

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