Michael heard his cell ringing, but couldn't remember where he had left the darn thing. When it stops after two rings, he figured it was a telemarketer and began heading back up to bed. Then he heard it again. He methodically searched for it by the sound and finally located it on a bookshelf, but by the time he reached it again, he missed the call.

He knew something serious must be going on, for none of his friends would call this late, and when he had seen 'call missed Heaven Sent', he became immediately alarmed. Then he got Angelique's text, and he instantly called back.

"Michael?" Angelique said hesitantly as she picked up the phone.

"Yeah, Angel it's me. What's wrong?" he asked, not liking the distress in her voice.

"Thank Heaven you're there. I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked, as the thought just occurred to her.

Although he was on his way upstairs when the phone rang, he couldn't possibly entertain the idea of sleep until he knew what was wrong. "No, Angel I'm up. What is it?"

"One kid got themselves into trouble and she's pretty banged up."

It didn't add up Angel had seen it all when it came to injuries, but still... "Isn't Alice there?"

"Yes, SHE is, however," Angelique added, "I am not. I was closing up shop and well, the kid landed herself on my doorstep, so to speak."

"Is she hurt bad?" Michael asked, concerned.

"Physically? No, at least I don't think so, but I want her checked out just in case. She seems really shaken up. I was wondering if you'd mind taking over my shift at the shelter tonight. I'll be there at nine to relieve you so you won't miss the ten at church. That is the mass you're assisting with this week, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is. Don't worry about a thing. I'll try to get in touch with Alice. I'm sure she won't mind hanging out until I get there," Michael told her.

"You're wonderful. I'm worried about this girl. I have a sixth sense telling me I haven't gotten the full story yet." Angelique glanced at the closed bathroom door where Rebecca chose to hide out.

"Well rest easy, Angelgirl, help is on the way. You just take care of the kid and yourself and I'll see you in the A.M."

"Thanks, Michael." Angelique smiled as she hung up the phone. It was a comfort to have Michael to rely on. She looked over at her disheveled companion as she came out of the bathroom and knew under no uncertain terms it was going to be a long night.

"Sorry, no windows," Angelique said, accurately reading Rebecca's disappointment.

Rebecca just rolled her eyes and shrugged, as if she didn't care, although that was the purpose she had for going in there.

"Look, I want to take you to the hospital," Angelique said, not liking the look of her black eye.

Rebecca immediately shook her head no. "No way! I hate hospitals. It's just a black eye. It will go away."

It wasn't just the black eye that worried Angelique. From the look of those boys and the state of Rebecca's clothes, Angelique feared much worse. "Okay fine, no hospital on one condition, you have to answer one question for me. I will know if you're lying, so don't even bother saying anything if it's not the truth."

Rebecca squirmed a little under the scrutiny of Angelique's blue eyes. "And if I don't answer your stupid question?"

"Then we go anyway," Angelique answered her. "If you lie to me...we go anyway. The only way you are going to get out of going to the hospital is to tell me the truth."

Depending on what the question was, Rebecca wasn't sure if she could tell the truth.

"Before I ask you anything," Angelique said, "I need to get something. Hold on a minute." Angelique returned within seconds with a book in hand. Placing it on the counter she said, "Okay, now we're ready."

Looking oddly at the shiny red leather-bound book, Rebecca had to ask, "What's that for?"

"It's a Bible," Angelique stated it as a matter of fact, "and I am going to ask you a question and you have to swear to God that the answer you are telling me is the truth."

Rebecca wasn't a very religious person but the idea of placing her hand on the Bible and swearing, to tell the truth, didn't seem like such a hot idea. "Well, why do we need that?" Rebecca asked, pointing at the Bible, "Isn't my word good enough?"

"Forgive me," Angelique scoffed. "I didn't realize that the last twenty minutes we spent in one another's company qualified us to be such trusted companions. And now, to answer your question without the sarcasm this time, yes, it's necessary. It has been my experience that people who would normally lie under most circumstances tend to hesitate when their eternal soul is at stake."

Now Rebecca was looking over at the Bible as if it could somehow swallow her up whole if she dared lied to this woman, but her fear of hospitals far surpassed her fear of the unknown. "Okay fine, ask your stupid question already."

Suddenly very serious, Angelique looked right into Rebecca's eyes and with as much tact as she could, asked the question that was plaguing her since she had first taken in Rebecca's haggard appearance.

"Okay then, put your hand on the Bible." Rebecca did as instructed. "Now Rebecca, this is very important... did any of those boys tonight...did any of them have sex with you?"

Biting down on her lower lip, Rebecca looked at the book her hand was on and she could feel her moist palm sticking to the leather cover. "You mean did they rape me?" she said, turning haunted eyes to Angelique.

Angelique never took her eyes off the girl. If she lied, she would know instantly. She had way too much practice at this. Letting out a heavy sigh, Rebecca looked away. "No," she answered, " ...no they didn't rape me. Not that they didn't try, but they didn't get that far. That's why Bobby was so mad because I wouldn't have sex with him and his friends."

"So that was Bobby with the scratches on his face?" Angelique asked, looking as unnerved as Rebecca.

"You said only one question," Rebecca said rather defiantly, and Angelique conceded with a nod.

"You're right I did. No more questions," Angelique conceded, turning to place the book back to its place on the shelf. Picking up her backpack and tossing it over her shoulder. "Ready to go?"

"Can I ask to where?" Rebecca inquired as she followed Angelique to the back entrance.

Flicking off the lights and setting the alarm, she opened the back door and answered, "I thought we'd go home."

Rebecca had slept most of the ride, which allowed Angelique to think about the problem that had been plaguing her all day. How to handle the possibility of foreclosure on the shelter? If it were her usual mortgage company, she may have been able to reason with them for more time, but she knew there was no reasoning with Progressive Properties.

She wished she could find a local benefactor to donate to the shelter. It may not be enough to pay the mortgage but it may cover the costs of a fundraising event. If she could raise enough money, perhaps she could persuade the courts to give an extension on her loan until she can cover what the government would have provided.

Pulling up in front of her apartment building, she put aside her worries and focused on the young girl next to her. Shaking her gently, she said, "Rebecca we're here."

Rubbing her eyes, forgetting about her bruised face, Rebecca winced in pain. She made an even worse face when she looked over the shabby five-story apartment building and for a moment; she thought Angelique was joking.

Laughing at the girl's obvious distaste for the place, Angelique stated lightly, as she opened her door to get out, "Don't worry, it looks much worse in the light of day." She opened Rebecca's door for her out of a habit of traveling with Saint.

Rebecca's eyebrows were drawn in obvious confusion. "I don't get it?" she stated as they climbed the stairs to the entrance. "How is it you got your own business and run the shelter while living in a dive like this?"

"Hey, watch it. I resemble that remark," Angelique retorted cheerily. "Yes, I own my store, but I invest any profits back in St. Gabriel's. What I have leftover allows for food, utilities, rent, car payment, insurance, and gas."

Both seemed deep in thought as they entered the building and climbed the stairs. Turning at the bend to the fourth floor, Rebecca was out of breath. "Don't you have an elevator in this place?"

"Yes," Angelique said, not winded at all, "but it's broken."

"Perfect," Rebecca said flatly. "If I were you, I would have invested in something a little more profitable than St. Gabriel's."

Angelique laughed. It was a musical sound and Rebecca found despite all her troubles; she felt like smiling just from hearing it.

"Trust me, Rebecca, the wealth I receive in getting one of you kids off the streets, even if it's only for one night, is worth more than all the money that changes hands on Wall St."

"You sure are strange, Angelique," Rebecca told her.

"I know... I've had people tell me that for years. So, I'm afraid you're not the first. Of course, there are other adjectives: freak, oddball, nut case..." Angelique said as they finally reached the fifth floor where they located her apartment. "But I never give up hope someone is going to come up with something new to call me," Angelique finished as she unlocked the door and turned on the light.

It surprised Rebecca. The inside of the apartment was more spacious than the outside hinted it would be. The colors were a mixture of cool off white and cream, warm tangerines, and mauves. There was a small love seat and two comfy-looking armchairs by a fireplace that never looked to be used.

In front of the fireplace, there was a rag rug multi-colored woven into an oblong shape. The couch wasn't like your ordinary couch. They did not attach the pillows to the back, and there seemed to be tons of them, invitingly soft pillows that just begged for someone to flop down and snuggle in.

"I didn't mean strange in a bad way, you know," Rebecca said, not wanting to insult someone who, beyond reasons that she could understand, was trying to help her. Angelique smiled at Rebecca as she ushered her around the couch to the worn, broken in armchair.

"Well, in that case, you are a first," Angelique said as Rebecca plopped down on to the chair that seemed made to fit the contours of her body as she sank into its plushness.

"Sit here for a moment. I'll go put on some tea and run a hot bath for you. I have a feeling you may be sore tomorrow and a hot bath always helps me relax before bed."

Rebecca liked the feel of this place. She immediately felt at home. If she had a home, she believed it would look very similar to this, but she didn't, and she wasn't sure how to act. She was used to fighting for what she needed her next meal, a place to stay, for the boys in the neighborhood to leave her alone. Having someone to take care of her, especially when she needed it the most, was a Godsend but put her a little on edge.

Angelique ran up the short two stairs that led to a landing, which was the dining area and then through an arched doorway to the kitchen. After putting on the kettle for tea, she crossed a short hall to the main bathroom and set about making Rebecca's bath. Having completed her task, Angelique shut the door behind her and once again wandered into the kitchen. She pulled out two mugs from the overhead cabinet for tea. "Rebecca, how do you like your tea?" she asked as she reached over the electric stove to turn off the heat from the now boiling water.

Only silence came from the other room. Turning around to look out the window cut from the wall, she had an unobstructed view into the living room, but she no longer saw the girl sitting in the chair where she had left her. Becoming immediately alarmed, Angelique ran to the front door.

"Oh God, no," she thought. "I should have locked it so she couldn't leave." Her mind had been so preoccupied, she hadn't thought of locking the door for the girl's protection.

Rubbing her temples, she walked over to the armchair, trying to decide if she should call the police. As she flopped into the chair, she reached for the phone. Startled, she let a small squeak past her lips before she covered her mouth and replaced the phone on the receiver.

All curled up on the couch was Rebecca, sound asleep, with her head on one pillow and another tucked under her arm. Angelique pulled the chenille blanket off the arm of the couch to cover her. It struck Angelique hard how much younger and innocent the girl looked as she slept.

"Sweet dreams, Rebecca," Angelique said, pushing a wayward curl from the girl's forehead and tucking it behind her ear.