While Monica observes her new assignment, David, at a zoo with his family, Tess talks with the angel, Sam. He tells her that she must be strong for what is coming, and not fear because God is with her. Tess says she isn’t afraid for herself, she is afraid for Monica. Sam nods and leaves.

David Satterfield is a husband and a father, and while he loves his family, he doesn’t have much time for them. Even now, at the zoo, he spends his time talking on his cell phone, when he should be watching the bird show with his daughter. He is unwilling to let the day go by with out getting a little business in. His company is going through a major transition, and he feels the need to involve himself in every aspect. Tess joins Monica in her observation, and gets David’s name wrong. Monica corrects her, thinking nothing of it. Later on, Tess is watching some zebras, but forgets what they are called. She refers to them as “stripey-horse-things.” These slip-ups come to a head, when driving back from the zoo, Tess freezes up at a green light. She can’t figure out how to make the car go. Monica is very worried. When they manage to get the car to the side of the road, another motorist, Dr. Coburn, pulls over to assist them. He asks that Tess come to his office the following afternoon for an examination.

The next day, Dr. Coburn, checks on Tess’s condition. After asking her a series of questions, he is certain of the diagnosis, but Monica has trouble believing that Tess has Alzheimer’s disease. While trying to come to terms with this, the two of them must also work on David’s transition team. Tess is of little help in her present condition, and Monica isn’t much more useful because of her concern. Still, she tries to help David along, and also to urge him to cut back on work, and become more involved in his daughter’s life. David shrugs off such suggestions, and becomes irritated with the lack of work getting done. When Tess finally wanders off and Monica is forced to admit the problem, David is outraged. He hires a new transition team, and gives Monica the name of an assisted living center that takes care of Alzheimer’s patients. Monica is at first flustered, but regains some composure when she discovers the Rafael and Sam are the new transition team. She checks Tess into the center and watches as she slips further from the angel she used to be.

Monica is surprised to discover that David’s mother is one of the other Alzheimer’s patients. She begins to see that Tess’s illness and her assignment are somehow related. If only she weren’t so worried about Tess, she might be able to figure it out. After a particularly frustrating day trying to communicate with Tess, and after speaking with Sam, Monica is resolved to finish what she started. She goes to David, and talks to him about his mother. She reveals to him, that while his mother is unable to speak with him, his love is still able to reach her. If he goes on treating her as though she is lost, she truly will be. In the midst of her revelation, she realizes that the same is true of Tess, and resolves to stick with her.