Chapter 5

Crowley sighed as he dipped a rag into the cool water bowl and placed it on Aziraphale's forehead. It had been 3 days since he had rescued Aziraphale from Heaven. Aziraphale's healing factor was working and he was getting better. He helped to heal the Hellfire wounds as much as he could, but they had learned they couldn't force it. Forcing it just wiped them both out and slowed it down.

Crowley wanted to get them healed though, to try and keep an infection from happening. Unfortunately his efforts had been unsuccessful. It had started last night. Aziraphale's sleep was restless. He tossed and turned, mumbling incoherently. At first Crowley thought it was nightmares. He tried waking him and reassuring him he was safe. That was when he noticed Aziraphale's head was burning up. He immediately started to try and lower the Angel's temperature. Even now Aziraphale was not resting. His head was tossing from side to side and he was trembling. His breath coming in short gasps. Aziraphale hummed as the cool rag was pressed against his forehead.

"Try to lay still and rest Angel." Crowley soothed.

"It burns. It's like the Hellfire again." Aziraphale gasped out.

"I know it hurts, Angel. I know. You have to relax though." Crowley whispered.

Another wave of pain went through Aziraphale and he grabbed Crowley's hand, squeezing it hard.

"Do you want me to help you sleep?" Crowley asked as he stroked his thumb across the back of Aziraphale's hand.

"No!" Aziraphale shot up in bed. Pain shot through his head causing him to grab it. He had a really bad headache from the fever.

"Easy Angel, it's ok. I won't," Crowley coaxed as he guided Aziraphale back down to the pillows.

"No. I don't want to sleep. The-the nightmares...Sandalphon..." Aziraphale mumbled.

"Shhhhhhhh. It's ok, it's just bad dreams. He can't hurt you anymore, I'm here you're safe. Please let me help you sleep." Crowley whispered as he ran a hand through Aziraphale's curls.

"No please, just talk to me. I don't want to sleep." Aziraphale begged.

"Okay. Ok Angel. Just relax, would it help if I read to you?"

"Yes please."

Crowley grabbed the Oscar Wilde book from the bedside table and climbed up onto the bed next to Aziraphale. Aziraphale rested his head in Crowley's lap as Crowley pressed the cool rag against his forehead and cheeks and began to read. They were only half way through the second chapter when Aziraphale finally fell asleep. Crowley blew out a deep breath and set the book aside. He really hoped this infection ran its course fast. He just wanted Aziraphale to be well again so they could move on with their lives. But he knew it was going to be a long night.

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Night had fallen and Aziraphale woke with nightmares and hallucinations. It had startled Crowley out of the light slumber he was in. Especially when Aziraphale had grabbed him insisting they needed to run. Crowley tried in vain to calm him, but Aziraphale's mind played horrible tricks on him.

"Aziraphale please, you have to relax. Your trembling. You're not making any sense." Crowley coaxed as he held onto Aziraphale's shoulders.

"Crowley...we...we have to...have to get out. S-S-S-Sandalphon will be...back soon." Aziraphale gasped out his eyes squeezed shut.

"Aziraphale you're not in Heaven anymore. You're in my flat on Earth. You're safe, Sandalphon is not here. It's just you and me." Crowley assured.

"He...he's coming...you...you need to run." Aziraphale mumbled.

"Aziraphale open your eyes. Just for a minute and see you're safe."

Aziraphale's eyes blinked open and tried to focus on Crowley. His eyes had been dull earlier in the day. But now they had a glazed and glassy look to them.

"Crowley...we...we have...have to run. S-S-S-Sandalphon...he...he's here." Aziraphale gasped out.

"He is not here Angel. It's just you and me. Whatever you're seeing is not real. I am real and I'm here. You're safe." Crowley soothed pressing the cool cloth against Aziraphale's face trying to meet Aziraphale's eyes. The angel just stared past him.

"He...he is...he is gonna kill...me. Please...Crowley...please don't let..."

"No one is going to hurt you Aziraphale. Not while you're with me." Crowley assured running a hand through Aziraphale's hair.

"No...I-I-I have to...protect you. Can't...can't let him...hurt you." Aziraphale began tossing his head to the side and trying to push himself off the bed.

" No no no no no. You're not going anywhere angel. No one's here. No one is gonna hurt you or me. Please rest." Crowley insisted as he tried to push Aziraphale back onto the bed.

Aziraphale became more agitated, insisting that Sandalphon was in the flat and that he had to protect Crowley. He struggled against Crowley's hold trying to get off the bed. Crowley finally sighed realizing what he had to do.

"I'm sorry Angel."

He took Aziraphale's face in his hands and let energy flow into his hands. Aziraphale's struggles slowed and his eyes widened as the magic flowed through him. His eyes started to droop and he fought to keep them open. Finally losing the battle his eyes slipped shut and his entire body relaxed into the bed, his head lolling to the side. Crowley pulled his hands away, letting them fall in his lap as he let all the breath out of his body. Turning back to Aziraphale he ran a hand through his curls.

"I'm sorry Angel, I didn't have a choice." Crowley whispered.

Aziraphale didn't answer him. Crowley went back to his side of the bed and sat next to the angel pulling his head back into his lap. He cursed God again for the 1,000th time that day. How could She let this happen? Aziraphale didn't deserve this or any of the previous punishments he had received for any time he disobeyed or fell wayward as they told him. Crowley wanted to summon Sandalphon here and torture him like he had done to Aziraphale. Only he would use his bare hands a little more, made sure he really suffered before killing him in a wave of Hellfire like they had planned for Aziraphale's execution. Crowley shuddered to think of that time. His arm tightened around Aziraphale's shoulder for a minute as he thought about the heat of the flames and how if they hadn't switched appearances how scared Aziraphale would have been.

Crowley shook his head of the thoughts. That was in the past. Aziraphale was here now, he was alive. He was in bad shape, but he was alive and Crowley vowed right there that no matter what was coming their way he would protect Aziraphale at all costs and never lose him again. Crowley settled in for the night to watch Aziraphale and make sure he was comfortable for the night. He just hoped the fever would finally work it's way out of his system.