"Afriel, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed
to be watching your charge?" Bielz floated down to where his friend was
hiding.
"I'm tired. I have to watch him 24 hours a day
and still he gets into trouble. John Gage is too much work for just one
Guardian Angel!"
"Now, Afriel, you were warned that the boy
would require extra work," Bielz protested.
"Extra work, fine. But I don't just have to
watch him while he is on duty with the fire department, I have to watch him
when he's off duty as well! He hikes, he camps, he mountain climbs, whatever
might be dangerous, John does!"
Bielz tried to disguise his laughter as a cough,
but could tell by the glare in the other angel's glow that he wasn't
successful. "You could always request reassignment. It's rare, but not
unknown."
Afriel humphed angrily. "I'm not looking
for removal, I just want some help! I'm exhausted, Bielz. If I lose my
concentration for just one second, he could suffer the consequences. He
already has come close to death a few times."
"Not due to your carelessness, my friend. You
know as well as I do that we cannot save them from all injury."
Afriel's light flickered in reaction. "I know,
but he's such a good soul, Bielz. He does so much for others, by his
paramedic talents and his wonderful way with others. I would hate to see his
light snuffed out."
Bielz hovered in silence, thinking through the
problem. "I don't think you'll be allowed assistance in watching John. It
would make a bad precedent. But maybe there's a solution."
"Anything."
"John is usually with his friend, Roy DeSoto, or
his other stationmates, correct?"
Afriel agreed.
"Why can't their guardians help watch over
John while he's on duty. Their charges don't seem to be quite as...", Bielz
tried to find a tactful way to say it, but soon gave up, "...accident prone as
John."
Afriel thought it through from all angles and his
glow brightened. "That would help. Do you think the others would agree?"
"Why wouldn't they? Johnny takes care of his
friends who are their charges. So watching out for him would be part of their
job." Bielz was pleased with his logic.
"That might help. Let's go find them before the
Station is called out on another run." The two bright lights, one now
brighter, flew off to find the rest of the Station 51 Guardian Angels. Afriel
was pleased with the idea. His charge's coworkers all took care of each
other, why wouldn't that idea work for their guardians?
