Chapter 9: Rest Now, I'll Hold You
Summary:
The aftermath, the family, Aziraphale and Crowley
Chapter Text
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Anathema came back the following morning, she glanced into Crowleys room knowing he wouldn't be there, with a deep sigh she continued toward Aziraphale's room. Of course, he was there, Anathema quietly stood in the doorway looking into the room, you could feel Crowleys worry, his heartache drowned the place. Looking past Crowley was Aziraphale still silent, no movement, holding on, his lungs were barely keeping him where he was, and no one knew where that was exactly. Talk of putting him in a medically induced coma and using life support until they healed was talked about. Crowley learned quickly about Aziraphale's family, when he had called, instead of hate towards Crowley, they were panicked about both of them, asking as much as they could, Crowley told them everything he knew. Aziraphale's mother stayed on the phone with him for a few hours, trying to comfort him, asking more about him.
Aziraphale had already told his family about Crowley; for the first time in Crowley's life, he was wanted by a family, and his love wasn't ashamed of him, he was proud to be with him. Aziraphale's family was going to be getting on a plane to get there as soon as possible, and they thanked Crowley for their son for saving his life. That they loved him, and couldn't wait to meet him, to keep their son safe and not give up. Crowley looked at his angel, he indeed was an angel, he decided right there he would stop time itself to keep his angel alive. Anathema sighed, looking at the smile that was on Crowley's face, she could tell that any wall or worry that he had left was wiped away by Aziraphales family and it was about time that Crowley was truly loved.
Anathema came back later to check on Crowley, slowly she walked in, Crowley didn't move, so she walked around the bed and looked. Crowley was asleep, holding Aziraphale's hand in his, his head on the bed. A doctor came in, waving Anathema out of the room, she nodded and went with him. "We need you to help us out, Anthony needs to rest as well, he should have his legs elevated, he hasn't left him since he first came in yesterday,: Anathema sighed again, "Okay, I'll get him to rest, but, is there any way to get a bed moved into this room? He isn't going to leave him for long, that I can promise you." The doctor nodded, "I can check, maybe get something in here." With that the doctor went about his business leaving Anathema to try and get Crowley to go back to his room, at the far end of the hall, she already knew it was going to be a wasted effort.
Placing her hand gently on Crowley's shoulder, his eyes slowly opened, begrudgingly taking in his angels face still quiet, bloodshot, swollen eyes looked up at Anathema. She could see he was lost, in pain, from both his physical wounds, and his mental state was in no condition. "Crowley, you need to rest, please, you aren't going to do him any good if you get worse, please come lay down for a while?" Crowley scooted closer to the bed, his hand holding further up onto Aziraphale's arm. "No. what if he opens his eyes, and I am not here. What if something happens and I can't say goodbye..No, just no. I can't." Crowley sobbed, dropping his head back onto the bed, Anathema went to him, wrapping her arms around him. "He's going to be okay Crowley, he's too stubborn, and just enough of a bastard to drive you crazy."
Anathema stayed that way, Crowley holding Aziraphale's hand, while she held Crowley. There wasn't much else they could do, but wait, she hoped the police would do something before Crowley got back on his feet. Anathema knew there was no way of knowing what Crowley would do, and god forbid Aziraphale die, she didn't even want to consider what would happen. They just stayed that way, waiting. Finally, Anathema had to go; she was running Horns n Halos while Crowley was injured and healing, and well, she wasn't sure when he would indeed be back. Placing a kiss on his cheek, she left him with Aziraphale, letting the doctor know there was no way they were moving him from that room. So a couch was brought in for him to at least lay down on, which he never actually used.
Three days later, Crowley was asleep. his head on the bed, Aziraphales hand carefully placed in his own. A gentle hand was placed on his shoulder, it was small, warm, lovingly it rubbed his shoulder. "Anthony?" came a melodic female voice. Opening his eyes he took in six people looking at him, next to him was a tiny little woman with curly white hair beaming a smile at Crowley, she could only be one thing, and that was Aziraphales mother. Crowley's eyes were a dead give away of how much pain he was in, how many tears had fallen from them. "Aziraphale was right, you do have the most beautiful eyes, even if they have been crying. It just makes them all the more beautiful because it is for my son."
Crowley nodded as tears welled up, her arms wrapped around him, "He's strong, he will pull through this. He has too, doesn't he." Crowley nodded, letting his arms wrap around her waist, he sobbed, a stronger hand came down in a pat on his shoulder. Aziraphale's father, Crowley tried to stand, but he was stopped by everyone in the room, "No, that lovely Anathema told us that you are not supposed to be walking and that you haven't slept." Crowley adjusted in his seat, as everyone in the family introduced themselves, asking Crowley questions about himself, the business, and then a more in-depth conversation about what had happened. Crowley told them everything leaving nothing out, he thought Aziraphale's father, who was rather tall and much like Aziraphale plush, he thought the man was going to go kill Gabriel right then.
Anathema made a stop in to check on everyone, they all thanked her for being there for their son. Visiting hours were coming to a close, the family gathered themselves, as they were going to be at a hotel for a while until they had to go back, but Aziraphale's mother was going to stay the night. Crowley didn't know why she was staying, other than it was her son, but he was wrong; she had stayed for him. Sitting on the couch she called him over and tapped her lap, "Rest your head here please young man, you are not doing my son any good if you are wearing yourself out.," Crowley was about to say something. She gave him an Aziraphale look, he crumbled and crawled up onto the couch, she had a book in her hand and was getting ready to read. Crowley placed his head down, her tiny fingers slipped through his hair as she read, it was a motherly touch, one filled with love and care, he couldn't help it as he drifted to sleep.
Two weeks had passed, and Crowley was being sent home; Aziraphale's family had to finally go home, but he promised to keep them informed of everything. That became a daily call, to both check on Aziraphale and himself, it felt beautiful to Crowley to have a family. Aziraphale hadn't woken up yet, but he was getting stronger. Crowley was beside himself having to leave, having to leave his angel behind. Anathema was coming to get him, so they let him stay with Aziraphale until Anathema got there. Crowley brushed Aziraphale's hair off his forehead, his curls, frizzy, not kept like he would have done, his angel was a mess. "Angel, Aziraphale, please, my love, you have to wake up, you can't give up, don't leave me. I promise I will be back every day until they kick me out, and even then, I won't want to leave you." Crowley kissed Aziraphale's forehead, then gently on his lips, "Please, my angel, wake up." Anathema was in the doorway, she wished there had been traffic, but Crowley needed to go home, he was a mess. Crowley turned to leave, letting go of Aziraphale's hand, but it didn't drop, he felt a slight tightening on his finger. Turning Aziraphale hadn't woken, but he was holding onto Crowley's finger.
Crowley's eyes filled and ran down his cheeks, it was something, his angel was in there, he was fighting to get out. "Keep fighting Aziraphale, please. Don't give up, I love you." Anathema couldn't hold back the tears, she would have to tell Tracey and Shadwell, flagging a doctor down he came in. Crowley looked at his fingers, Aziraphale was holding on to one of them, weakly but it was there. The doctors had to have them leave so they could recheck everything, see where they were at, Crowley went begrudgingly, but it was something he knew needed to be done; he needed his angel back. Anathema wheeled Crowley out, per hospital rules; as soon as they were out the door, Crowley was up, limping, but on his own two feet. Anathema opened the door to the car for him, Crowley passed out within minutes of the vehicle rumbling towards Horns n Halos.
Anathema pulled behind the Bentley, she gently tapped on Crowley's thigh, waking him, looking out the window, he could see he was home. Anathema watched the sigh that left him, she got out of the car, opening his door, they both went inside. "Let's get you upstairs, Crowley, he held your finger, its something." Crowley nodded and headed for the stairs, Anathema didn't follow as she could hear the sniffle, and he needed time to process everything on his own for a bit. Anathema turned to leave, "Thank you for everything Anathema, really, you heard me, if it wasn't for you hearing me, we both would have been far worse than we are, Aziraphale wouldn't be here at all, so thank you, I am in your debt." Anathema watched as he closed the door and went inside, slowly and quietly she left the bistro, making sure to lock up. Taking out her mobile phone, she called Tracey and let her know what had happened.
Crowley crawled into bed, it felt empty, that was when he noticed over in the corner was Aziraphales shirt, the button issue. Crowley got out of bed picking it up, he held it to his face, it still smelled like Aziraphale, he cried crawling back into bed, where Crowley stayed, until he cried himself out, sleeping. Crowley's dreams were horrible, the doctors told him it was to be expected. It didn't make it any better, as Crowleys dreams would start with a kiss from his angel, and then flames would overtake him, Crowley not being able to get to him and seeing him fall into the fire. In one dream, his angel had wings, and as he fell, they turned black, he burned in the fire, falling into a pool of boiling sulfur. With that, Crowley startled awake again. Crowley was still holding onto Aziraphale's shirt, he sniffled, all cried out he had no tears left.
Getting out of bed, he went for a shower, it would make him feel better, the hot water on his body felt amazing. His legs and feet didn't appreciate the warm water, but at least he was clean, his hair washed. Looking at the time, he noticed it was almost visiting hours, he smiled as he headed downstairs. Anathema was already there, music was playing, but he couldn't stand the sound, it would never be the same. His angel graced this place with his songs, with his angelic voice, singing celestial harmonies as though god herself was in the audience. Crowley waved at Anathema, she gave him a nod preparing for the day, he left, getting into the Bentley. The roared too life, the radio coming on, softly playing Queen, he could swear the car had become sentient, it felt as though it was trying to comfort him. This went on every day for another week, Crowley would go to bed, get up, go to the hospital, get kicked out and start over.
Arriving once again at the hospital, Crowley had stopped and brought a bouquet of flowers; the room was depressing. Crowley got to the floor where Aziraphale was, the nurses and doctors knew him well by now, and they nodded to him, one had a strange look on their face as they nodded. Crowley turned into Aziraphale's room, his angel still quiet, he sighed, placing the flowers in a vase, sitting in his spot by Aziraphales bed and taking his hand. Crowley quietly sang to him, "L. is for the way you look at me, O is for the only one I see, V is very, very, extraordinary, E is even more than anyone that you adore.." he kept humming...
"l..is for the way you look at me..." a rather raspy, breathy, and quiet voice tried to join in.
Crowley didn't register it at first, he kept singing, then it hit him, his head slowly turned towards Aziraphale's face, his breath coming in gasping hitches. Brilliant blue star dusted eyes were open and looking at him, tired, still some red mixed in on the whites of his eyes, but all Crowley saw was that they were open. Aziraphale, as tired as he was, looked at his love and smiled a smile that was reserved wholly for Crowley. Tears ran down Crowley's face, he stood without thinking, touching Aziraphale's face, careful kisses were planted all over Aziraphales face as Crowley cried. Aziraphale brought his bandaged hands up to Crowley's face, stilling him, "Eyes my love" Crowley reached up and tossed his glasses, not caring where they went. Aziraphale gently pulled Crowley towards him, more so directed, and Crowley followed, putting a kiss on each eyelid, each cheek, his forehead, and lastly, a brush of a kiss against his lips.
Crowley felt the air from Aziraphales breath on his lips, it was more than he could have ever asked for, he teared up not caring who saw, the nurses and the doctor had waited to see his reaction. Aziraphale had been examined in the early morning hours, what Crowley had done, and that he had not left his side the entire time he was in the hospital was relayed to Aziraphale. Doctor Wenslydale closed the door to the room, Crowley carefully slid his arms around his angel. "You came back, Aziraphale, you're here, you came back." Aziraphale nodded, burying his face in Crowley's neck, "I'm sorry it took so long, my love, I didn't mean to worry you so." Crowley rested his head on Aziraphale's as his angel nuzzled up under his neck, he took a deep breath, he could breathe again. Crowley's heart thrummed again, he held him to his chest, he was never letting him go, not now or ever. "Thank you, Crowley, you saved my life, you could have died, and you still saved me, my husband."
Crowley nervously chuckled, looking down at a smirking little bastard, he was back. "I don't mind Crowley, I never would have minded." Crowley smiled at him, "Well, when we get you home, we'll do something about it." Aziraphale smiled at him again, "Really, are you asking me then?" Crowley hugged him, "Angel anything you want, and it's yours, I would be honored if you wanted me as your husband." Aziraphale rested his head against Crowley's chest, "I would." Crowley kissed the top of his head, squirming his way into the bed next to Aziraphale, being oh so careful, as not to hurt him. "It's going to take a while till you're back on your feet. Your lungs and throat took a lot of damage." Aziraphale nodded, "I know they told me, singing may be out, but I am alive, and I have you, you saved me because you love me, I have nothing to complain about." Both quieted, Aziraphale fell asleep against Crowley's chest, listening to his heartbeat, Crowley, for the first time since the fire slept without a nightmare.
Anathema had gotten a call from the hospital, letting her know that Aziraphale had indeed woken up and was doing fantastic. She asked if Crowley knew, and the chuckle told her all she needed, Anathema was informed that they were both sleeping together, contently. Calling Tracey to let her know, they all got together and headed for the hospital, as they rounded the corner to turn into Aziraphale's room they all stopped. Taking in the two sleeping together, Anathema teared up; Crowley had a slight smile on his face, his arms wrapped around Aziraphale, who was asleep on his chest. You could feel the change in the air of the room, there was hope and love again, and of course, Anathema was about to interrupt it, or was she.
"Let's go get something from the cafeteria, give them a little more time. They've been through a lot." Tracey and Shadwell both agreed, so the three friends headed to grab a bite to eat, leaving the two to sleep a bit longer.
Notes:
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