chapter 18 and now what for

Both men were silent for a few minutes, was it possible they were thinking the same thing. Aziraphale wanted answers just as much as he thought Crowley did.

"The last," Aziraphale starts up again, hoping that his friend was going to open back up to him, for they never kept any secrets from each other well almost. Aziraphale had yet to tell him that he was the one that took the secret book from him.

"Yes, that was the last time," Crowley adds, "That was one of my downfalls I...I was drunk at a bar, the next thing I remember was waking up in well, a filthy place even for a demon, naked. Surrounded by some cloaked men, When I tried to walk I couldn't. I could only well you know the story. That's when you meet me, I could only slither around my skin was scaly and my eyes they changed. which they never went back." Crowley fumbles with his glasses.

"Then the whole man-woman thing in the garden happened. I became somewhat human again. But that was centuries later. I...now I..." He takes a few breaths and sits down in a chair next to Aziraphale.

Crowley starts to tell Aziraphale the other reason why he came by.

"I came here also to apologize about my behavior at dinner that night at the Ritz to ask..."

"Ask what?"

"For you to forgive me again, that's when. I saw you with that girl the first time, you kissed her and told her to come back anytime."

"Correction, she kissed me for helping her."

"So I overreacted?"

"Yes, it...I."

"To be honest I don't remember much, that night."

"You got drunk off wine and started dancing on the tables with..."

"What with you?" Crowley thought that might have been a sight to see.

"Heaven's no," although Aziraphale wouldn't have minded that at all. "With your wings spread out."

"Bet that was a sight to see. I bet it was scary for some."

"Yeah, you scared a lot of people that night and made a mess of the place, which..."

"You covered for me, didn't you. I guess we got kicked out of there too."

"Yes, well," Aziraphale pauses, "What happened to you? Never seen you get that drunk that quick, actually I have never seen you like that at all."

Crowley leans back in the chair putting his hands behind his head, all relaxed now, "Oh, now it's coming back." He blinks, "I remember, I took some loose pills that were in my pocket."

"What loose pills?"

Crowley, shrugs. He was still fuzzy on that detail. "I don't know! They were in my pocket when we were in the park. You know the day we switched bodies."

"Wait, your pocket or mine? Was it before we switched back?"

"Not sure," Crowley leans forward. "Do you carry pills in your pocket?"

"I don't take pills. and I certainly wouldn't have them loose in my pocket like that."

"well, I that's where I got them. I mean, I think. I remember reaching down, finding some and well knowing me popping them in my mouth."

"Crowley,"

"I know it's dangerous, but I..." Crowley watches Aziraphale's eyes he could see the fear taking over. "You don't think,?"

"Gabriel? Yeah, I do." Aziraphale responds.

"Are there any drugs that will kill an Angel. He sure wanted you dead." Crowley swallows, "Sorry."

"None that I know of, and killing is not the right word but to make an angel fall into well, sin," Aziraphale lowers his eyes, "That's."

"That's what happened to me. So they were for you? He wanted you to have the same fate as me?"

"I believe so, I..."

"Those little..." Crowley makes a fist with his hand but then quickly releases it, after seeing his friends face. "Anyway," Crowley continues, "I took them and then drank all that wine at dinner, then the rest is blank."

"All blank."

"Yeah, I don't know how I got back to my place let alone upstairs if I was that drunk. Did I..."

"I...we drove your car,"

"Wait, you what?" Crowley stands. That was one of Crowley's rules, that nobody under any circumstance drove his car!

"Crowley, I...I can't lie remember. You and I drove it." Crowley walks around some. Aziraphale was hoping he was going to stay calm and not throw something at Aziraphale.

"After we got to your place, I put you to bed and left. I just that figure you sleep it off," Crowley was now eying his friend.

"You're holding back something, Aziraphale I see it in your eyes."

Aziraphale didn't want to tell him the story about the morgue but he had to. Aziraphale stares at Crowley for a second.

"Look I just had to go id your body at the morgue."

"My body? It's right here," Crowley pats himself, "I think." He smiles,

"Yes you are now, but at the time I didn't know that. It wasn't you in that car,"

"The Bentley, my Bentley."

"Yes, someone seems to have stolen your car and well,"

"Who was it? I want a name so that I can get them back for that one."

"I don't know who it was but." Aziraphale starts to have a flashback of the dead man on the table. He shakes the thought. "It was the scariest thing I had to do."

"And my book?"

"I...um..."

The news came on over the radio, "In other news, a fire breaks out in the field,"

"Crowley, don't tell me that was you." Crowley pulls on the bottom of his ear and darts his eyes away.

"Crowley," Aziraphale calls turning Crowley's face so he has to look at Aziraphale, Crowley grins sliding his hand through his hair.

"You didn't."

"I didn't start them, I put them out."

"Wait, you what?"

"Your voice..."

"What about it?"

"It was in my head, it was like I was turning into you I mean..."

"What did you do this time?"

"I know that I am not suppose to, but the look on those kids' faces, I couldn't just leave them to die in the circle of fire."

"What you..."

"I after seeing you and that girl, needed to go vent some, that's when I heard those kids, saw the fire and..." Crowley was going to tell the rest of the story when the news lady starts to interview the kids.

"And this man with wings swoops down rescues us,"

"Yeah, and then he calls out Angel and makes it rain."

"The rain fell, which was so cool thing and put out the fire. We were saved, thanks to Dark Angel."

"Why did you guys call him 'Dark Angel?'

"Well, this man had dark-angel like huge wings,"

"Sunglasses and..."

"His cloud-like fluffy hair so we called him dark angel."

"And what would you say to this 'Dark angel' man?"

"Thanks, we love you our hero." All three kids say at once.

"Hero, hey." Aziraphale laughs, but he knew that Crowley in his own way was a hero in many ways, not just because of this tonight.

"I did I don't know why though I...I guess my angel is coming out." He winks. "For, I am 'dark angel' now. Protector of fires."

"Crowley,"

"Okay, I won't do it again. That's why I need you to keep me more in line. I promise no more wings, unless I am eating them." Crowley lifts his eyebrows. Crowley always loved chicken wings with his alcohol at the bars.

The bells of the bookshop rang out.

"I got to go take care of this then we will go find your daughter," Aziraphale orders Crowley, "Now get upstairs out of sight."

"One thing you before I go."

"What's that?"

"You didn't sleep with my daughter did you?"

"Crowley," Aziraphale shouts pointing his finger, "I am still a..." Crowley puts his finger against his friend's lips, which gives Aziraphale chills throughout him.

"Don't say that word,"

"Ummmmmm." Aziraphale tries to mutter.

"Hello, Aziraphale! It's me Cyntha. I came back after our talk. I..."

"That's my daughter," Crowley whispers as he peers around the bookshelves to get a look.

"Yes, I think." Aziraphale answers pushing pulling Crowley back some. "Now I have to go help her, go!" Aziraphale makes a swooshing motion for him to leave to the upper floor.

"We might have to change that one day!" Crowley winks at Aziraphale as he went up the steps.

"Wait what? Change what?" Aziraphale was confused for a second about what Crowley was getting at. He shaking his head he greets his guest.

to be continued...