A flash of lightning jolted me back to consciousness. Pain swam all around, but this time, it did not belong to the humans, but to me. That was something.

I opened my eyes and saw the Compliance, or whatever it was, looming over my prone body. Waiting for me to die. It would not have long.

"Oi. Ugface. Over here."

That was Crowley's voice. It couldn't be.

"I'm talking to you, pinbrain."

That was definitely Crowley. And he sounded very cross.

The monster's shadow left me and I blearily saw it move towards the sound of the demon's voice.

Lightning flashed again, this time in a single dagger of searing heat and light, a molten blade which struck the Compliance full across the head.

I opened my encrusted eyes wide as the monster split in two and toppled, oozing yellow pus. It flopped to the ground where a third lightning bolt took care of its remains, leaving only a scorch mark and the smell of burnt eggs.

Crowley skittered up to me, elbows flailing, and careered to a halt on his knees beside me.

I had to smile. I had told him not to come, and yet here he was. It was typical demonic disobedience, but I could not pretend I wasn't glad to see him.

Crowley's coat, usually the colour of a moonless night, was covered in ash and his flaming red hair stuck out all around his head. His mouth fell open as he took in my injured state. "Angel, angel, what have you done?"

"Only what was necessary." I gestured at the wreckage of the monster.

"But you, your body, you'll die."

"I've been discorporated before. It worked out all right then."

"Only because we had the son of Satan on hand to grant you a new body. For heaven's sake Aziraphale, what were you thinking?" He grabbed my hand and bent his head over it.

"Are you weeping?" I was astonished.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Nonetheless, I saw tears. "Please don't, dear friend."

"What have you done, you bloody idiot." His dark glasses hid his eyes, but the first drops of rain fell from a sorrowful sky and mingled on our hands..

I said, "I had to do it. You were safe, that was the main thing, and humanity. I realised too late that it wasn't the real Compliance, that I wasn't strong enough alone..."

"So you thought you'd try anyway."

"I thought... I could absorb its hatred... take the edge off, so to speak." I managed a small smile. "I was right."

"You fool. You utter, utter fool."

"Don't cry, please. I can't bear to see you cry."

"I'm not." Now the ground was wet, and the rain fell harder.

I tried to lift my hand to his cheek, but he batted me away.

"I've got to - do something!" He tore off his dark glasses, and screwed his features into an agonized scowl.

I whispered, "Heaven won't take me. Hell certainly won't. Soon, I will be ether, and then, nothing. It's all right, Crowley."

He shook his head. "Just - keep still." He leaned over me, and pressed his mouth to my forehead.

I murmured my surprise, his name, and closed my eyes, as prepared as one can be, for the end.

But the end never came.


A shiver of cold ran through me, fresh and cool like an alpine lake. I had expected, what, a sizzle at his touch, demonic fire? But that was the pain talking. I have on occasions touched my adversary, and neither of us was burned. But it never felt like this, like refreshment, renewal.

As the thought entered my head, I opened my eyes and saw Crowley's face close to mine. His lips moved, but no sound emerged.

The pain had taken a bit of a toll, and so I had trouble understanding what he was saying, or rather, miming. Shards of agony arrowed through my being. Corresponding icicles pierced me, chasing down my torture, quashing the damage.

This did not feel like disintegration, like vanishing into the neverwhere. It felt entirely corporeal. And it hurt.

Perhaps I was too far gone to speak, but still I could look, and I looked at him, my dear friend, my ally. The only person in heaven or earth who truly knew me.

And as I looked, I understood his speech, and his distress. He was praying, repeating two words, over and again.

"Please work. Please work."