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Adrian hurried as fast as his wings would carry him, literally in the blink of an eye. Arthur’s instructions were crystal; bring Dino to Hank’s church. He didn’t know the reason, but that didn’t matter. Arthur didn’t make direct commands often, but when he did, it was important.
Dino was staying at Hank’s house until he could find a place of his own. Enjoying a ham sandwich and going over musical arrangements, Dino was unaware the presence of an angel filled the room.
Adrian wondered how he was supposed to get Dino to leave. It would take a ‘suggestion’ strong enough to motivate this human into action. A slight grin ran across his face when it came to him.
“DINO! What are you doing? Don’t you remember? Hank wanted you to help him today. You forgot Dino! Hank is counting on you. Go! Now!”
Dino had taken the last bite of sandwich, washing it down with his beer. As if a bolt came out of the blue and hit him, Dino remembered Hank was getting in a large shipment of food supplies and asked him to help stack the boxes. Lending a hand when needed was the least he could do to repay Hank for his kindness.
“Oh shit! I forgot! Hank’s counting on me.”
Dino jumped to his feet. He grabbed his hoodie and locked the door behind him as he left. On the street, Adrian supplied the transportation, a city bus that just happened by at that moment. It took him to the church building in no time. At the Church on the Strip, a crowd was forming outside. The commotion bewildered Dino. He asked one of the men standing there what was going on.
“Some kid’s in there with Pastor Hank. He’s got a knife. Mark told us to leave,” a bearded guy dressed in worn jeans and a sweatshirt said. He was there for the weekly distribution of free groceries.
“Mark?”
“Yeah, he’s the dude who runs the kitchen and food bank. He told us to get away. He’d handle this. No one had to tell me twice. I ain’t no hero.”
Dino didn’t think; just reacted. His friend was in danger. He ran around to the backdoor of the church building and pushed his way in.
Unfamiliar with the place, Dino wandered around until he finally found his way to Hank’s office. It was next to where he held Sunday services. It was a sizeable room with two couches and a cot in case Hank was too tired to go home. He could crash there.
Standing at the entrance was a tall, lean man, with silky, blondish-white hair tied back in a long ponytail, possibly in his fifties. His face looked old yet young. Deep, penetrating blue eyes met Dino. There was wisdom and kindness in his expression. He was wearing a chef’s apron over a t-shirt and jeans.
“Are you Mark?” Dino asked, breathless from running and his enhanced sense of danger.
“Yes, I am. You must be Dino, Hank’s friend.” Mark/Arthur, an angel in human form, offered his hand to shake. It felt unusually warm and comforting.
Dino nodded sharply. “Yep. What’s going on?”
“A troubled soul is acting foolishly. I’m glad you made it in time to help.”
It seemed like an odd answer, but Dino didn’t know Mark/Arthur. Perhaps that’s the way he communicated. Before Mark/Arthur could say more, they heard shouting coming from the room.
“That’s Hank!” Dino yelled. “He’s in trouble!”
Mark/Arthur nodded his head. “Yes, he is. Are you ready?”
“Huh?” Dino was confused. This man was unusually calm for such a tense situation. Disregarding his feelings for Mark/Arthur, Dino scanned inside the room. His eyes widen with fear at what he saw. Hank was trying to talk to a wild-eyed teenage boy who was wielding a switchblade knife at him.
“HANK!” Dino screamed.
Hank spotted the two men in the doorway and pushed the air with his hand, telling them not to interfere.
“Stay back, Dino. You too, Mark. I’ve got this.”
Hank caught the teenager trying to rob the church office and get away with a computer to sell at a pawnshop. Being in Special Forces, Hank was an expert at hand-to-hand combat. His eyes never left the knife blade. But this was not war, just a scared kid making a foolish mistake. Hank had to be careful.
“Hank! What the hell are you doing? He’s got a knife, for Pete’s sake!” Dino shouted. He whipped out his cell phone. “I’m calling the police.”
“NO! Don’t do that. I know this kid,” Hank replied.
The young man’s eyes shot back and forth from Dino and Mark/Arthur to Hank. “Stay back!” he warned. “I’ll cut him!”
“You don’t want to hurt me, Sammy. Just put the knife away. I won’t call the police,” Hank pleaded. He knew this boy’s story.
Sammy was a wannabe who was trying to show the local gang leader he was tough enough to join. His mother asked Hank to talk to him, and it was working until now. It was surprising to see this turn of events. Mark/Arthur knew why.
Across the room, Arthur spotted a lesser fallen angel. She was prompting the boy to act this way. Only Arthur's immortal eyes saw her. She hissed at the presence of a powerful and experienced ministering angel such as Arthur. Red eyes glowed threateningly. Arthur was unimpressed. It wouldn’t take much to scare the novice demon away, but he was letting Hank handle this. The free will of the boy picked the wrong side to be on. If Hank could talk to him rationally, it would give the boy a chance to pick the right side. Arthur understood from his Father, Hank was strong in faith and unafraid of evil.
“What can I do, Hank?” Dino asked. He felt helpless.
“Just stay there.” Hank drifted closer to the teen who had backed himself into a corner. A doorway behind Hank was the only way out.
Dino didn’t listen to his friend’s orders. He came at the kid from another side, boxing him in even more. The boy was frightened and panicky. No one knew what to expect next.
“Stay back, dude! I mean it!” Sammy shouted at this unfamiliar man coming at him from the right. Hank was on the left.
“Take it easy, son. No one wants to hurt you,” Dino said in a calm voice.
Adrian arrived, but only Arthur and the fallen angel saw him.
“Arthur, do something.”
Arthur shook his head. “No, this is a test for the humans. I’ve been told to stay out and let them handle it. We did our part getting Dino here.”
Adrian scowled at the fallen angel, who was now in a panic with a second heavenly being on the scene. Unable to maintain her hold on the boy’s actions, the fallen angel screamed in frustration, flapped her black wings and flew away.
Adrian called after her, shaking his fist in the air, “Good riddance and stay gone!”
Arthur smirked, mocking his former apprentice. “You’re so tough. I’m impressed.”
“Well, you gotta be in our business,” Adrian could have blushed at the teasing if angels did that sort of thing.
The fight was over. Without the influence of the demon, the teenage boy weakened. Now all he wanted to do was escape. Hank was in the way and another man was coming toward him. He lunged at Hank at the same time Hank went to grab his arm. They struggled, and the boy sliced a gash into Hank’s hand. Hank shouted out in pain and grabbed his hand as the boy fled out the door, dropping the knife as he ran.
Dino was at Hank’s side instantly. Mark/Arthur was too and handed Dino his clean dish towel to wrap the wound.
“You need stitches, “Dino said, examining the wound. “Let’s get you to the emergency room,”
“No, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Hank sighed. “If I go in with a knife wound, then the police have to be notified. I don’t want to get this kid in trouble, and I don’t want to lie.”
“But why?” Dino protested. “Do you want me to go after him? At least let me call the police. The kid is dangerous.”
“No, he’s not,” Mark/Arthur spoke up. “Just mixed up. Hank’s been working with him, trying to keep him in school and out of gangs. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt Hank. He was scared and misguided.”
Dino looked up at Mark/Arthur. There was something strangely familiar about him and those unusual blue eyes. He didn’t remember he had met Arthur in another human form before in Florida. This ministering angel had been with Dino since he left medicine, caring for him and helping him through his struggles. Arthur knew Dino’s thoughts and smiled, wanting to tell him why. It’s all right, my child, I’m here to help you as I have always done. Dino experienced a long-ago emotion, the kind he knew when his dear grandma held him. He felt loved and safe.
“Mark’s right. Sammy isn’t a bad kid. I don’t know what got into him, but I’ll visit him and his mother later. They live in the apartment building behind us. Times are hard on those folks. Perhaps Sammy is upset about something.”
“Forget him! What about your hand? You’ve gotta...” Dino began.
“Hey buddy, I don’t need a hospital when I’ve got the best surgeon in the country right here.” Hank pushed his hand in Dino’s face. “You fix me up.”
“How?”
“I’ve got a first aid cabinet in my office. We do some people-patching up from time to time. Not everyone can afford a doctor or hospital. Let’s go see if you can use it to patch me up.”
“You’ll need a tetanus shot and some antibiotics so that wound doesn’t get infected,” Dino said, spoken like a doctor.
Hank held his bloody hand next to his chest. “Yeah, I know I do. Not to worry. I got one already. I cut myself on a nail last week fixing up this old place. As for antibiotics, there’s some penicillin in the refrigerator. I get it from a guy I know who sells drugs. He keeps it around for the hookers. Now are you going to take care of this or not, Doc?”
“Okay. Fine. I’ll fix you up but don’t call me Doc,” Dino insisted.
Mark/Arthur helped Hank to a chair next to a small cabinet with a red cross on it. Dino looked inside and found what he needed to stitch the wound; disinfect and bandage it. Mark/Arthur helped, doing what he could as Adrian in his heavenly form watched perching on top of the file cabinet like a gigantic bird.
“Dino is so good at what he does,” Adrian commented to Arthur in the language of the angels.
Arthur agreed. “It’s too bad he doesn’t think so. Something that must change.”
Dino finished stitching Hank’s wound and wrapped a clean bandage. He found the penicillin and gave his friend a dose. Hank smiled as he watched him, despite how much it hurt.
“Do you have any pain meds around here like morphine?” Dino asked.
“Nah, can’t do that. Too much of a temptation for those coming off opioids. I’ll take some aspirin.”
“Well, that’s going to really hurt later after the numbing cream wears off. At least get a few shots of whiskey in you. That’ll help.”
“I’m a recovering alcoholic, sorry. No booze for me.”
Dino cursed. “Damnit then what can I do for you? I wish you’d let me take you to the hospital, Hank.”
“Can’t do that.” Hank held up his bandaged hand, admiring the work. “Do you know this is the first time I’ve ever seen you doing your doctor thing? You’re very good at it, Dino. Looks like you haven’t forgotten how.”
Awkwardly, Dino diverted his eyes to the floor. “Thanks.”
“You should do this instead of pounding on those piano keys. Are you sure I can’t interest you in helping me out around here? We could open a free medical clinic. The people here can’t afford doctors, much less health insurance. Some of them are illegal so they won’t go to a hospital for help. I need ya, man. They need you. Be a doctor again.”
Dino ignored Hank’s pleas as he cleaned up. Mark/Arthur helped, putting away the supplies. His eyes watched Dino’s reaction. It was obvious to the angel what Dino was feeling. He’s afraid to try again. He’s terrified. Mark/Arthur said nothing because Hank would have a greater influence on his friend than an angel would. A devoted friend is one who can tell you when you screw up and still love you despite your faults.
Dino didn’t dare look at Hank’s probing stare. It revealed too much. Hank said those things because he wanted Dino to remember who he once was and why he became a doctor but he wasn’t sure the kid was listening.
“Well? Whatta say... Doctor Dino?”
“Stop it. Please. I can’t. I just can’t.” Dino said as he continued to avoid the actual reason. He started for the door. Hank stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“That’s bullshit and you know it. You loved what you did just now. I saw it in your eyes. You’re a doctor! You once loved being a doctor more than life itself. I remember how important it was to you. Damn it, brother! Stop punishing yourself!”
Dino nervously chuckled. “I thought preachers didn’t curse.”
Hank frowned. “Well, sometimes the dumb excuses people give you for not living up to their God-given talents deserves to be cursed. I call it righteous indignation. The Lord understands.”
Arthur had to agree, although he wouldn’t be doing any cursing himself. It was time to step in.
“You’re a doctor?” Mark/Arthur asked Dino. The angel knew the entire story, but he wanted Dino to confess it. “Hank never told me. Why did you quit?”
Hank spoke up before Dino could open his mouth. “He was once, but one mistake and he folded like a bad poker hand.”
As he listened, Adrian drew up under a cape of folded wings as if to protect himself. He could feel the waves of pain coming from Dino’s heart.
“That one mistake cost a child his life. Don’t you understand?” Dino plopped down on a floppy, old couch in Hank’s office. “I was so sure of myself, so prideful I had God’s healing power in my hands.” Dino held out his shaking hands. Quickly he pulled them back and tucked them under his armpits, hiding his trembling. “There’s no healing power in these hands anymore.”
Knowing he had pushed too hard, Hank tried to console him.
“Dino, it’s okay, man,”
“No, it’s not! It never will be again. I overlooked the simplest thing a first-year resident would have found.” Dino looked up at Hank and Mark/Arthur, tears brimming in his eyes. His hands curled into tight balls of rage. “I killed that boy! How can I call myself a healer ever again?”
Hank joined his friend on the couch, wrapping his arm around Dino’s trembling shoulders. Mark/Arthur took a seat in front of them, concerned Dino would never forgive himself. He patted the young man’s knee. Slowly, Mark/Arthur forced Dino’s fists to open and relax.
“Really, it’s okay, Dino. You’re among friends. Peace, my son.” Mark/Arthur reassured him. “Let your guilt go. It hurts only you.”
Dino stared into Mark/Arthur’s piercing blue eyes and felt the weight of his pain lifted as the ministering angel offered Heaven’s comfort. It was much deeper than any on Earth.
Hank wasn’t so kind. It frustrated him. “The medical review board found you innocent. Even the kid’s parents forgave you. I swear, Bertelli, you love wallowing in your self-pity, don’t you? It gives you a way out, so you don’t have to own up to your human failings. Admit it! You quit because failing was not in your master plan. You thought you were invincible, and you couldn’t deal with not being perfect. It’s your hurt pride that keeps you from your true calling... maybe even cowardice.”
Dino looked surprised at Hank’s reprimand. “No, that’s not true.”
“I think Hank hit the nail on the head. Failure makes us afraid to try again,” Mark/Arthur added calmly. “It seems to me you can’t admit you’re only human.”
Adrian’s angelic eyebrows arched with surprise. “Of course, he’s only human. That’s the reason he failed.”
Arthur ignored his angelic brother’s observation and spoke to Dino.
“In life you will make mistakes, big mistakes, but when you let the mistakes take over your life, you stop the healing of your soul. If you can’t learn from your mistakes and grow, then you stagnate, poisoning everything around you. The Father wants to love you, but when you are so absorbed in your own guilt and self-pity, how can He break through? It’s up to you to take that first step. Father wants to welcome you home. He has so many blessings waiting for you. You must decide. Is this how you will waste your life and waste the talent our Father gave you?”
Hank jumped in. “Mark’s right. Suck it up and get over it. Live life again as you were meant to. Do you think I didn’t have guilt after getting out of the Army? I was a sniper, and I killed people for a living. Then Brad died in my arms. Talk about massive guilt and self-loathing. I hated me! But God turned me around with His love. He forgives anyone if they ask and truly seeks Him. I came to you and asked forgiveness. You forgave me for abandoning you. If a weak and flawed person like me can be forgiven, wouldn’t you think God would forgive you?”
Dino threw up his hands at the absurd question. “I forgave you because you are my best friend, my brother. I love you Hank.”
“Then why don’t you forgive MY best friend and brother? You! Don’t you know how much I love that guy?”
Dino leaned over and buried his face in his hands. In a broken voice heavily laden with tears he spoke, “I... I... don’t know how... to forgive... me. I’m afraid to try again. I... I don’t know what to do. What if I fail again?”
Hank exchanged glances with Mark/Arthur, and both understood what had to be done. He laid his hand gently on Dino’s back and rubbed it as a father does a hurting child.
“You won’t fail because God is with you this time. It all starts with a prayer.”