La Mer

The sun was partially hidden behind a bank of clouds by the time they reached Crowley's home. Alex sat on the large leather sofa, staring into the crackling log fire, watching small sparks fly into the air and burst like miniature fireworks.

Crowley stared at her, pondered for a moment, before decanting some of his best Scotch into a crystal carafe and seating himself beside her. He poured himself a drink, glancing surreptitiously at her, "Drink?"

She shook her head; she already felt numb enough without pouring more of that rot-gut down her throat.

The demon shrugged, feeling strangely ill at ease, and let some of the liquid slide down his throat. "Fine, suit yourself. " He let the events of the day filter back into his mind slowly, trying to remember a time when he was human, trying to imagine how it had felt when he had been new and just learning. He failed. "So, if you fancy a bed time story, I can go and pull out Dante again. You seemed interested earlier on."

Alex let a small smile creep across her lips despite herself, "Can I change my mind about that drink, please?" She turned her gaze to Crowley, who nodded and reached for the Scotch. She took the glass from him, noting the fancy crystal ware, and let the liquid burn down her throat. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, "I can't do this."

Crowley placed his glass down on the side-table, turning towards her, "I thought I'd perhaps gone too far in telling you that I actually enjoyed the whole torturing, maiming, killing thing. In anticipation of this, I hope you don't mind, I've prepared a short speech."

She stared at him, no sign of fear or despair or pain on her face. And he hated her for it.

He grabbed her forearms, shaking her, "Don't be so bloody stupid!"

Alex smiled, draining the last of the amber liquid from her glass, "Why did you do it?"

"Excuse me?"

She stared at him, momentarily, before drawing her arm back and hurling her glass at the wall, "Tell me how you ended up in Hell." She felt a tear roll down her cheek, "I want to know whether you deserved it. I want to know what it was that I did that was so wrong. Why did you make the deal with me?"

"It's what I do, love."

"If you understood what it feels like to be here because you were trying, to the best of your ability, to help someone else then you wouldn't have made the deal with me. You wouldn't have put me through this." She stood up, walking towards the drinks table, holding her hand up as if to swipe the contents onto the floor, "Tell me!"

"Fine!" Crowley shouted. He stared past her, at the fire, "I'll tell you what I can remember; it's not much. I did what I did because I loved someone too much. I was married once; her name was Elizabeth. She was everything to me." He paused, looked down at his half empty glass, "You won't understand, but, I was so poor, so desperate to impress her. And I did, eventually. When she smiled at me it felt like everything would be ok." He shrugged, "But, she got sick. Tuberculosis."

Alex nodded, "I'm sorry..."

"I made the deal to save her. My soul in ten years so that she could live on and raise our son." He shook his head, "But, the demon lied. She died anyway and I was left to raise him. He looked so much like her. I hated him."

He paused, still not looking at her, "That's why I started working the crossroads. I wanted reform." Finally, he raised his eyes, "At least now it's fair."

Alex screwed her eyes shut, trying not to let it get to her; to no avail. She flew towards him, barely registering her own actions, bringing her fists down on him repeatedly, as quickly as she could, and not caring where they landed.

Crowley let her hit him, the bruises and scratches she was inflicting making him feel strangely better than he had in a long while. Finally, she grew tired of it and pushed herself away from him, "Take me back. I can't work with you."

He shook his head, standing up and walking towards her, grabbing the back of her head and pulling her face towards his, "Don't make me do this."

She sighed, "I've made my decision."

The demon nodded, leaning closer, looking for the entire world like he was about to kiss her. "Maybe it's for the best, "he muttered, "I was going to betray you anyway. "

Alex backed away, "What do you mean?"

Crowley walked away from her, headed towards his desk. He rummaged in one of the drawers for awhile, before pulling out the gun he had been contemplating the first night she'd been there. Slowly, he walked towards her and placed it against her chest, "This gun can kill Lucifer. At least, I think it can."

Alex nodded, swallowing slightly as she felt the cool metal against her breast.

He pushed it against her harder, "I'm going to give it to some people who want Lucifer dead."

She nodded again, "Ok."

Crowley frowned, backing away slightly, "Ok? Are you for real?"

Alex shook her head, holding her hands above her head in surrender, "Hey, look, new to Hell here. Don't understand a damn thing that's going on."

He smiled, dropping the gun and quickly stowing it away in the drawer he'd pulled it from. He held his arms open, "Look, you don't have to make any decisions now. Stay. At least for a week. Then decide."

She nodded, once, and then turned, "I'm going to bed. Good night."

"Just so you know, your sister is still alive. I honoured our deal."

Alex stopped, her breath catching in her throat. She turned to stare at the demon, "Is she happy?"

He smiled, "Yes."

Alex bit her lip, stepped towards him slightly and then thought better of it, "Thank you." She dipped her head slightly at him, before leaving the room.