healed and sealed?" Damali said with a wide grin.
"Many!"
"How many places we lived, roads we've traveled, shit we overcame at the eleventh hour?" Carlos folded his arms over his chest
"Many!"
Damali and Carlos looked at each other, smiling.
"So the next time a brother or sister Guardian gets on your nerves, you're gonna remember the many times they might not have been here - 'cause if it wasn't for Heavenly Grace, they ain't have to be," Damali said, her gaze roving the group. "You're gonna imagine what life on this team could be like if their aggravating ass wasn't here. You're gonna do a self-check, put your bullshit on hold, and step back and get perspective, and
pray that demon up outta you before it affects the team, your partner, or you."
"That's right, baby!" Marlene shouted, waving her hand from where she sat. "Tell it like we used to do! That's right! We've gone too far to turn back now."
"Our jobs may be hard, not like the average person has - but we've been blessed beyond measure along with that, too... what'd they tell me, when they snatched me up and out of the pit? To whom much is given, much is expected - I got a lot of shit in the transaction, so a brutha gotta work... that's how I see it." Carlos shrugged and opened his arms. "Ain't no use in whining. Ya saw what happened to me when I wasn't grateful. Do as you like, but I'ma tell ya, you don't wanna go there."
"That's the stone, cold truth," Shabazz said, glancing at Rider. Rider slapped Shabazz five. "My bad. My serious bad, brother."
" Hey," J.L. said, looking around the room. "Many are called, few are chosen, and even fewer step up."
"No, lie - might be your choice, but that's a bad move," Jose said, shaking his head. "Real bad move not to heed the call from up there."
How we gonna complain about anything, even this insane job description, when we've got an embarrassment of riches?" Berkfield asked, glancing around the group. Marjorie's head bobbed up and down. "There are people who never did anything wrong, per se, who haven't been blessed with good health, or can't find that special someone to love... or are destitute due to no real fault of then-own."
"Or are living hi war-torn lands in refugee camps," Jasmine said sadly. "If they live long enough to make it there."
"Or have family so crazy and mean-spirited," Heather said quietly, "they never knew this... this oasis of love from people that they weren't even blood-related to." She glanced around the team and then at Dan. "I d'not know I was already fighting demons, didn't understand they were inside people, I mean really inside them. But I would have still signed up for this tour of duty to get you all as my gift." Dan pulled Heather into a hug. "When I think of how it could be, I'd take this any day."
"I hear you," Inez said quietly and then looked at Mike. "This is it, for me."
"Me, too," Tara agreed in a near whisper, her gentle gaze going to Rider.
"It's easy, especially when things get tough," Bobby said, looking around the team, "to start bitching and moaning about what isn't right, instead of looking at all the things that are. Guess we're all guilty of it... and having a demon jumping around the family like head lice definitely doesn't help."
"That's why you gotta guard your head," Carlos said, looking at everyone.
"I think I finally get it, what you always meant when you'd tell us that, Carlos," Krissy said, looking at him straight in the eyes. "During early training, I didn't get it. Not until I saw it today."
"Better late than never, girlfriend. Ask me how I know - and I'll definitely tell you all about it. Had me acting real crazy, I won't lie," Juanita said, her gaze catching Krissy's and opening to a new bond.
"Aw'ight, then," Carlos said, nodding as he scanned the group. "You're gonna realize that if you can do Hell, loading furniture into a new house ain't shit," Carlos said, new energy making his fingertips tingle. "You're gonna say, Thank you, God, that I have a house,
'cause some folks are homeless."
"Now, you ain't said a mumblin' word, brother," Mike said.
"Yeah," Carlos said, patting down his body theatrically. "You gonna say, Thank you, 'cause not only am I healthy, alive, able-bodied, and whole, but even got a few extra gifts that the average bear